《Rise of the Desolate Star》


 Prologue - Sacrifice

    Prologue - Sacrifice


    Tear by tear, it was a quiet love song that would echo for eternity in the uneasy moment when sudden loss blooms into abiding grief.


    It was the reckoning of ages, a tribute to finality.


    For hope is but a new beginning, and all beginnings necessitate an end.


    Timeless and eternal, Avaria, Goddess of the Elements and Sovereign of Aeria seemed to drift serenely across the boundless stream of time as her tender gaze fell upon the masses of the dead and dying below.


    Only the shimmering drops of starlight sliding down her alabaster cheeks seemed to mark the passage of time.


    ¡°My lady, you must not do this,¡± came the breaking voice of mighty Atlas, her stalwart protector for countless millenia. For once the Immortal Paragon sounded powerless and utterly defeated, even as he pleaded one final time, all the while knowing it was for naught. ¡°You cannot.¡±


    Perfect rose lips gracefully arched into a breathtakingly beautiful smile, even as it danced upon the forbidding abyss where sorrow begets despair. It shook only slightly, like petals bestirred by an unkind wind, and more tears rained upon the dreadful war being waged upon her subjects.


    ¡°Can you hear them, dear Atlas? My children cry out for me, and in their despair their hearts break like waves upon the uncaring sand.¡±


    ¡°Mortals tread upon their allotted span of days, my lady. Theirs is a fierce, yet ephemeral light. Charming, even mesmerizing, but only in their brilliant and necessarily brief glow.¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Then may my own candle burn all the more fiercely in this one moment of boundless love, rather than in an eternity of immortal apathy.¡±


    ¡°My lady! This act is an abomination. The All-Father shall never allow-¡±


    "Father will forgive, and if not, then forsake. However, in the here and now, it is beyond him to forbid. For you see, precious Atlas, even Father is bound by a power not his own. It is there that I consumate this small betrayal."


    "Please, my lady, speak no further! You are the All-Father''s most beloved daughter. There must be another way!"


    "There is, but such is not my path to walk. This may be the end, but it is an end of my own choosing."


    "My lady!"


    ¡°Fare thee well, gentle Atlas. May you find release from your ungentle oaths, and the unkind fates which have cast your lot with mine.¡±


    ¡°I serve you of my own-¡±


    ¡°Well I know, dear Atlas, of your unswerving loyalty and your steadfast love. They will guide my final steps and rest upon my lips as they draw their final breath.¡±


    ¡°Please, my lady!¡±


    ¡°Remember me kindly, fair Atlas, and look after my children once I am no more.¡±


    ¡°I will not.¡±


    ¡°Your eyes are more honest than your words, gentle Atlas.¡±


    ¡°Lady Avaria!¡±


    ¡°At last you call my name, if only to mourn my passing when you should be celebrating its whispered promise.¡±


    ¡°It is a whisper I cannot hear, my lady.¡±


    ¡°You hear it now, as you¡¯ve heard it all along, though you know it not. One day, when you finally hear it no more, you will come to know this.¡±


    ¡°My lady, without you I will hear nothing, know nothing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but my dear, foolish Atlas..¡±


    One final, tremulous smile, glittering in stars and moonlight, in fire and brilliance, a perfect poem of sweet sorrow, bitter farewell and the love that is forever left behind.


    ¡°I will always be with you.¡±

 Chapter 1 - An Obvious Misunderstanding

    Chapter 1 - An Obvious Misunderstanding


    Dark shadows fell over the ravine as the sun slowly descended from its lofty perch, giving way to a blood colored sky that reflected dully from the flecks of crimson blood the small, boyish figure was carefully examining on the ground.


    ¡°Still hasn¡¯t stiffened,¡± Skyle thought, rubbing the blood between his fingers. ¡°I¡¯m closing on it. It¡¯s losing blood faster than I¡¯d thought. After that last arrow, it can¡¯t outrun me like it did the last time.¡±


    Squeezing his small hands into fists, Skyle¡¯s steel grey eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled the last time his prey had eluded him, only a week earlier. After snatching one of the precious energized elenium crystals under his watch, the culprit had easily evaded the one hastily loosed shot Skyle had managed with his bow, before vanishing into the trees.


    For a small elenium crystal farm such as the one his family owned, it could take upwards of three months for even the tiniest crystal to absorb enough elemental essence to become fully charged and ready for sale. Those were three months of constant vigilance through rain, snow, hail or worse.


    Of course, Skyle hardly had time to gape at the outrageous speed of the little thief before his father had seemingly appeared out of thin air behind his back to ungently nudge him forward.


    ¡°Go on. It¡¯s your watch, it¡¯s your responsibility,¡± his father had chuckled, and that was that.


    Skyle knew it was useless to argue that he was only 12 this year, and that most parents would never even consider letting their children set a foot into the Felwood Forest, let alone send them on a wild chase after a wildefox.


    After all, Skyle reflected, should he truly push his luck and decide to protest, his father would likely waste no time to point out that other 12 year old children wouldn¡¯t have their own Asarian heartwood bow and tencopper bits every ten days either.


    Mostly though, it was the fact that Skyle knew his father was a man who would seldom, if ever, take back a word he spoke. Other men might be persuaded one way or another, but only one person could ever hope to change Kendric Farrow¡¯s mind once it was set. Unexpectedly, that was none other than the gentle tyrant of the house - Adrienne Farrow, Skyle¡¯s mother.


    As such, Skyle had wasted no time and rushed into the woods after the thief. However, after half a day of chasing its tracks over the outer reaches of Felwood Forest, he had been forced to concede defeat when he had finally lost the trail under the fading light of the setting sun. He had spent that whole night huddling inside the hollowed out trunk of a dead tree, shivering from the cold and mindful of every noise around him as the night came alive in the darkness. A fire might have been able to provide some warmth, but he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to risk drawing the predators of the forest. Instead, he had rubbed the special herbs he had not neglected to pick up during the daytime chase just as his father had always taught him. By the next day, their godawful stench had successfully warded off both unwanted predators and his own peaceful sleep.


    Undaunted by his failure, and after being the butt of his father¡¯s jokes as well as his mother¡¯s smothering care for the next week after the incident, Skyle had daringly decided to set up a trap for a rematch against the offending thief. After all, if a wildefox was clever enough to weave through their traps and snatch a single elenium crystal before making its escape, it would likely be back for another. The temptation would be too great, as the condensed elemental energy in one elenium crystal could well nurture its growth into the next layer of its spirit veins.


    His father had smirked and shaken his head, but Skyle had stubbornly refused to give up. His only advice had been a final reminder that he would dock the eightsilvers another emptycrystal would cost straight out of his son¡¯s already overdrafted wages. That was all. No tips on how to track down his prey, what arrows to bring, predators to watch out for. Heck, not even a token gesture of good faith or an encouraging pat on the back for his eldest son''s daring expedition. Instead, Kendric had braved the disapproving sigh Skyle¡¯s mother had let out in her husband¡¯s direction and drawn her inside the house by drawing her close to his chest with an arm around her waist, all the while flicking a dismissive wave to Skyle over his shoulder.


    Ten copper bits for one silver. Skyle had managed to secretly save up the massive fortune of 8 silvers this year. Only two more, and he would be holding a full golden sun, with its sun-embossed radiance. His father had promised to pay the difference for a true atawan bowstring should Skyle manage to scrounge up a golden sun. However, his savings would never get there if he kept losing crystals worth his entire savings for the whole year!


    So, he had dug in with grim determination, ignoring the smothering heat and the tantalizing smells of food coming from the house. Eventually, his patience was rewarded. Three interminable hours later, the wildefox had indeed returned, and had even managed to dodge the first two arrows to come flashing from Skyle¡¯s prized Asarian bow. The little devil must be a high initiate ranked wind beast, which would explain the uncanny agility and speed with which it moved. However, on the third shot Skyle had finally read the clever beast¡¯s movement patterns and was rewarded with a startled cry of pain before the wildefox had once again vanished into the trees.


    Now, as Skyle took in the dense canopy of trees that lay before him, he knew the chase was almost over. Though it looked like a bewildering maze to most adults, Skyle¡¯s well trained vision could read the telltale signs of movement and disturbance in the forest like lanterns shining brightly in the growing gloom. A broken branch here, a fresh paw print there, a disturbed pile of dead leaves beyond - they all told a story his father had spent many painstaking hours teaching him to read, until it became almost a second nature to Skyle. His feet lightly picked their way forward, an arrow nocked to his bowstring, ready to unleash the killing shot as soon as he sighted his prey.


    There! About sixty paces ahead, he could see the glimmering coat of silver-tinged red that marked a young wildefox. It lay panting on the ground, the stolen elenium crystal still gripped tightly between its teeth. Skyle raised his bow in a smooth, practiced motion, ready to finally end the chase, when the smell hit his nose.


    It was a shocking mix of offal with wet earth and the sweet, musky scent of death and decay. Skyle had personally never smelled it before, but it was so unique and his father had described it enough times, each with graver warnings than the last, that he instantly froze on the spot while cold sweat ran down his back. All the while, his mind frantically repeated one word over and over.


    Troll.


    The gruesome killing machines had not been sighted in the outer borders of the Forbidden Forest for the past hundred years, at the very least. Many thought them little more than legends, nightmares from a bygone era. However, his father had dutifully taught him about almost every mythical monster Skyle had ever heard of, and even a whole lot more that he hadn¡¯t. Now, his very life depended on how well he could recall those lessons.


    Trolls were mostly nocturnal hunters, carrion feeders who prefered the easy pickings of dead meat rather than having to hunt food for themselves. However, they were fiercely territorial and formidable fighters who could easily wipe out a full squad of adepts, let alone mere initiates like most commonfolk were.


    Skyle himself, of course, did not even rank as an initiate.


    The young boy desperately ran down a mental list the assets he could bring to bear to fight off such a formidable beast, but quickly realized the sole weapon he possessed - his bow - would do him no good at allif the troll had him in his sights right now. Worse still, his short legs and budding stamina would avail him for nothing against a monster that could outrun a horse and outmuscle it to boot!


    Seconds trickled by slowly, with Skyle still not daring to move a muscle as his eyes scanned the area around him, afraid that the faintest motion might alert the troll nearby. However, he soon found the smell receding, and slowly breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps this had been a lucky day, for the wildefox and himself both.


    As Skyle lowered the bow in his hands while his chest slowly deflated, familiar sounds gradually crashed through the drumming of his heart and finally registered in his brain. The sounds of movement and the shouts of many men carried surprisingly well across the otherwise eerily quiet forest.


    There were people nearby! That was probably what had drawn the troll¡¯s attention away!


    Skyle instantly struggled with a dilemma. On the one hand, he had barely escaped a deadly encounter with a troll and should consider himself lucky to be able to head home safely. On the other hand, a troll crashing into an unprepared line of innocent people would be a massacre that would weigh in his conscience forever.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    It really wasn¡¯t a choice at all, as Skyle bit his lips before throwing a respectful salute towards the distant wildefox in silent farewell.


    He had the feeling the wildefox was a whole lot smarter than himself, after all.


    ¡°At least it couldn¡¯t leave a wider path down the forest,¡± Skyle silently thought as he eyed the path of devastation laid out before him. Branches thicker than his arm were casually snapped off, and the vegetation underneath lay crushed under an unfathomable weight. ¡°Father said adult trolls can weigh over a ton. Judging by these marks, this seems a little short of that. I wonder if that¡¯s good or bad. Adults are stronger, but younger beasts are usually far more aggressive.¡±


    Skyle nervously licked his lips while he followed the trail. He knew it was a dangerous game he was playing, but he couldn¡¯t simply leave the people ahead to their fates and he¡¯d rather keep the troll in front of him rather than behind. Perhaps the troll would be too lazy to confront so many humans and would simply pass the travelers by. If so, Skyle could hurry back to his father so they could get word out to the Crimson Guard stationed at Redemption Keep.


    ¡°Besides, if the troll ends up eating me, father will never hear the end of it from mom,¡± Skyle noted to himself with a sickly smirk.


    However, as he followed the tracks left by the troll, the sounds of humans seemed to be drawing gradually closer. Unable to delay any further and finally reaching a decision, Skyle gave up on stealth and instead took off dashing in the direction of the human voices. The troll¡¯s tracks were slightly off to one side, and perhaps if Skyle hurried, he might reach the humans first.


    After a few moments of frenzied movement, Skyle sprinted in the direction of a towering oak that had collapsed, leaning against a nearby tree. Agilely dashing up the length of its trunk, he slung his bow over his shoulder and leapt off the top of the fallen tree, reaching out with both hands and barely managing to cling onto a higher tree¡¯s branch. After hastily pulling himself up, Skyle used this new elevated vantage point to scan the area ahead.


    There! About 250 feet to his right he could see a long line of mounted soldiers advancing through the trees in a double file. The fading sunlight glittered against the polished metal of their armor, and the leading men bore several impressive flags that flapped in the breeze.


    ¡°Free Duchies¡¯ men?¡± Skyle frowned, recalling the neverending lessons on the heraldry of the various Kingdoms and Duchies of the continent his father had forced upon him. ¡°That looks like one of the eastern duchies¡¯ crests. It can¡¯t be though, what would they be doing all the way here in the Empire¡¯s borders?¡±


    Then Skyle gasped in shock as he turned his head to the left and caught sight of the monster he¡¯d been tracking. It was a troll alright, fully 9 feet tall with shoulders at least half as wide. It lumbered ahead with a slow, steady gait as he crashed through thick trees as though they were mere kindling.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, it¡¯s making enough of a ruckus that even Fatty, hopeless as he is in a forest, would have heard it coming from a mile off!¡± Skyle cursed to himself as he carefully unslung his bow and reached for an arrow.


    Skyle finally discovered the reason the incoming party of humans didn¡¯t seem to have noticed the troll yet. It took the shape of a huge black horse charging ahead of the crowd, bearing an immaculately dressed youth who was emphatically pointing with his hand in the air while roaring wordlessly.


    His target lay just ahead, about fifty feet in front of the youth. Skyle spotted a small shadow swiftly running deeper into the forest, in the very direction of the troll was heading in. The vague silhouette was so fast on its feet that Skyle couldn¡¯t make much more than its general outline. It swerved and leapt about the forest with incredible grace. At the last moment, it seemed to finally sense the deadly danger that lay ahead, and it dove into a thick clump of bushes before turning and dashing away in the another direction.


    The youth seemed to be oblivious to this fact, and ignoring the frantic calls of the men that had been left far behind, he plunged ahead on what was sure to be a direct collision course with the advancing troll.


    ¡°Stupid nobles, can¡¯t even see down the end of their upturned noses,¡± Skyle cursed to himself.


    ¡°Beware, TROLL!¡± Skyle shouted, aware that he might risk drawing the troll¡¯s attention but unwilling to be a simple spectator to this unfolding massacre. Fortunately, the troll did not even turn its head in Skyle¡¯s direction as it picked up its pace forward. Unfortunately, neither did the foolish noble, fixated as he was on his stupid hunt. If this continued, the troll would tear him to pieces before any of his men had the opportunity to help.


    Skyle shook his head and closed his eyes for a moment to recall his father¡¯s instructions when faced with mortal danger. Skyle could almost hear his father¡¯s relaxed, dry voice, ¡°Woah, calm down boy. Breathe slow and regain your focus¡±.


    Drawing deep, even breaths he began to examine each element at play here. The troll lay about 150 feet away to Skyle¡¯s left at the moment. The unknown youth riding his white steed was roughly 150 feet in the opposite direction, to Skyle¡¯s right hand side.


    150 feet might not seem like too great a distance when the target is nine feet tall. However, it was picking up momentum, and the abundant trees offered enough cover that it would be a slightly challenging target. The more important factor was, even if Skyle did strike the target, how much damage could his arrow do to a high adept or maybe even master ranked monster like the troll? His bow was made from heartwood, an extremely flexible material that was a rare and expensive luxury in this part of the Empire. However, with Skyle¡¯s boyish strength, there was no way he would be able to pierce the hide of such a monster using a normal arrow.


    No, such an action would be almost as stupid as some spoiled noble blindly rushing into the Forbidden Forest in a suicidal hunt.


    Whatever else Skyle¡¯s many complaints against his father may be, at least Kendric Farrow had not raised a fool.


    Since stopping the troll¡¯s advance did not seem likely, perhaps he could at least slow or better yet, stop the foolish noble until the rest of his retinue caught up with him. Immediately moving into action, Skyle kept his eyes closed and swiftly concentrated on that inner spark of power all living beings on the surface of Aeria were granted. He could feel his spirit senses tugging at the edges of the greater elements in the world around him as air, fire, water and earth sang their hymns directly into his blood. The power of the World Spirits was intoxicating in its freedom, its everpresence. If only he could reach out and actually taste of this boundless source! Then, as always, the illusion shattered and it all came crashing in a painful wave of black smoke as Skyle failed to draw any elemental essence at all. The spirit vision was ruthlessly torn from him and all he was left with was the rising taste of bile in the back of the throat and blood where his teeth had bitten too deeply into his own lips.


    Skyle should have become used to such failures since he went through the experience at least several times every day. However, the young boy had refused to give up and fought claw and nail to hold on to the spirit vision, even if it was only for one breath longer. In that split second before he was completely ejected from the ethereal sight of the elemental world around him, Skyle drew on the lightest, faintest thread of the most dominant color in his spirit veins - blue. It fizzled weakly before the smallest of lights flickered into being, but this pathetic success was almost enough to nearly bring a shout of joy from his lips.


    Though he had half-expected to fail in the attempt, Skyle unknowingly bit even deeper into his lower lip as he blindly focused on his target. The last remnants of the spirit vision at least served to enhance his vision and grant the illusion of slowed time. It was just a slight enhancement to his natural reflexes, Skyle knew, but at the moment he needed every edge he could muster.


    ¡°Even a broken arm is too cheap for you,¡± Skyle muttered to himself, as he carefully took aim at an area just ahead of the horseman.


    Relying on both his eyes and his spirit senses to guide the shaft, Skyle let loose in one smooth motion while releasing all the energy he had accumulated thus far.


    The arrow flew in a high arc as it sped into the distance. Skyle followed its trajectory with tired, but satisfied eyes. Weaving its way past branches and leaves, the arrow flew true. The arrow would stab at the ground just in front of his rushing mount, stopping his heedless chase. This should let him know thatthere was danger in these woods. Hopefully, he would do the sane thing and withdraw to his men. Skyle had only needed to buy those precious few seconds for the escorts to catch up with their ward.


    Skyle blew out a relieved breath and slumped back against the knotted trunk of the tree he was standing on. His eyes slowly drifted shut as exhaustion hit him, as it always did after another painful attempt to open his spirit senses. That he hadn¡¯t managed to draw any elemental essence at all, or that he was unable to even keep his spirit vision open for longer than a few breaths no longer burned him with disappointment. As his father always said, what would be would be, and there was no use crying over spilled milk. At least he had saved a life, and he could rest easy on that knowledge.


    ¡°You dare?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyes instantly popped open, and he stared in absolute disbelief as the youth in the distance roared in rage and his eyes began to burn with a red glow easily distinguishable even from this far away. An instant later, Skyle¡¯s perfectly aimed arrow struck a translucent barrier only a foot away from its target and exploded into flaming splinters.


    ¡°You dare strike at me with such pitiful aim, you cowards? Come then, I will show you the fury of the Lions of Draxas!¡± The young noble roared, then expertly drew a sword from his saddle and commanded the horse to charge in Skyle¡¯s direction. Had this idiot gone completely insane?


    Skyle winced as he saw the troll slowly adjust its course to a new direction, following the bright flash of his arrow¡¯s impact, and the shouts from the charging youth. Then it hit Skyle that as far as the young noble was concerned, he had just committed attempted murder. The youth raised his sword and Skyle cursed his own bad luck as a glimmering line of fire came into life from the edge of the sword.


    ¡°Great, he must be a mid-ranked fire mage adept at the very least,¡± Skyle grumbled, as he wondered whether he would be cut down by the youth and his followers first, or eaten by the giant troll.


    "Hold, it''s just a misunderstanding," Skyle cried out, but the rest of his words died in his mouth as more flames leapt from the youth''s sword.


    Skyle barely had time to reflect that indeed, that wildefox was a great deal smarter than him, before the charging horse and its fire wielding adept were nearly on top of him, with a monstrous troll following hot on their heels.

 Chapter 2 - Two is Company, Threes a Crowd

    Chapter 2 - Two is Company, Three¡¯s a Crowd


    Skyle cursed at his rotten luck as he eyed the magical prowess of the mad noble youth rushing toward him with bloody murder plainly written across his features.


    The power of the elements could be channeled by warriors in order to augment their own bodies in countless ways. Elemental warriors could open their spirit vision and attune their spirit veins to become living channels for their dominant element. For instance, fire warriors could absorb the raging energy of their flames in order to increase their resistance to pain, boost their strength, and even channel a tendril of elemental power into their source weapons in order to imbue them with the power of their element. In battle, an elemental warrior could become an unstoppable avatar of destruction that could absorb the very elemental essence of the world around them to fuel their rampage.


    A whole level above that, however, stood the elemental mage. Mages were granted the same spirit vision as warriors. However, they were also granted the Blessing of Avaria, Goddess of the Elements. Such a blessing took the shape of a unique and precious gift: the Voice of the Elements. The Voice would allow an individual to speak to the elements using ancient words of power and arcane rituals, summoning forth elemental essence to create powerful spells - like the fiery shield that had blown his best shot away without so much as a ripple.


    Of course, Skyle was not facing a fire mage at this moment. If only he were that fortunate. Once again he cursed under his breath as he scrambed off the tree he was perched upon, desperately grabbing hold of a branch from another nearby tree. The dizzing height was nothing compared to the disturbingly bright glow of the fiery ball of death roaring on its way to blast him apart.


    The fist-sized red-hot ball of fire roaring through the air on its way towards the tree Skyle had smartly vacated not a second ago had required none of the odd gestures and strange words mages needed. Instead his young would-be murderer had simply raised his blazing sword high in the air with a wordless roar of fury, andthe fire element had answered with glowing streaks of red that had swiftly converged upon the tip of his sword. After that, an imperious wave of the blade had propelled a deadly ball of fire towards Skyle at astonishing speeds.


    Skyle had always dreamed of seeing a summoner with his own eyes, but he could have never imagined that he would finally make the acquaintance of one such genius under these circumstances.


    ¡°I need to create some space, just a moment to explain the situation,¡± Skyle cursed in his own mind as he nimbly climbed on top of the branch he had grabbed hold ofand caught his balance before wincing as he heard a loud explosion erupt from the tree he had just leapt from. ¡°Before he burns down the entire forest, that is.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a troll behind-¡± Skyle managed, before nearly biting his tongue off as he launched himself towards another tree a bare moment before the branch he had been standing on also exploded into fiery sparks as another fireball struck it.


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to listen to reason, and he¡¯s almost on top of me!¡± Skyle noted in his mind as his arms reflexively spread around the trunk of the tree he¡¯d crashed against, arresting his momentum with a bone-rattling impact and nearly punching all the breath from his lungs. If that deadly pyromaniac closed the distance any further, it would be impossible to avoid those deadly fireballs without some more effective cover than a couple flimsy - and very combustible - branches.


    ¡°And that horse must be an Asarian purebreed. Still, how is it moving so fast through the trees? Agh, damn filthy rich nobles..¡±


    Out of time and any better ideas, grim determination flashed in Skyle¡¯s eyes as he swiftly grabbed hold of a vine hanging nearby and violently twisted it around his waist and leg. Skyle hardly needed to look up in order to know that another fireball would soon be roaring its way toward him. Whether it was a trick of his mind or not, he could swear he could almost feel the heat of it on his skin.


    With a snarl of defiance, Skyle pumped his legs furiously as he clung onto the vine, dashing around the tree trunk and launching himself off into the air as soon as he picked up some momentum. Another violent explosion rumbled in the air and the tree shook violently as a brilliant shower of red sparks rained all around the deepening gloom of dusk.


    Skyle did not truly mind the explosion so much this time, as he had already used the swinging motion of the vine to fling himself to the other side of the tree. Fortunately, this tree was massive enough that it could withstand the devastating missile. However, it wouldn¡¯t take his enemy long to track his movement and launch another flaming projectile by the time Skyle swung back around.


    This seemed to be the very same thought crossing through the young nobleman¡¯s mind as Skyle¡¯s motion finally brought him back around the burning tree. Indeed, thick streams of fiery elemental essence could be seen pouring into the upraised sword of the nobleman as a grim, victorious smile stretched his lips. However, his expression quickly turned to one of shock as his eyes finally caught sight of Skyle¡¯s figure.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    As the vine swung him around from the other side of the tree, Skyle was hanging upside down from it, suspended by his waist and leg, while in his free arms lay a fully drawn bow stretched as far as it could go, and his steel grey eyes smoldered with a resolute, indomitable will.


    The nobleman¡¯s eyes bulged in astonishment as he waved his hand in front of him, banishing the fireball and instead hastily summoning a semi-transparent sphere that glittered with a faint reddish hue.


    True, if the fire summoner closed the distance, Skyle would find it much more difficult to avoid his ranged attacks. However, the opposite held true as well.


    Swiftly sighting his target and compensating for his swinging motion, Skyle released his arrow with a loud TWANG.


    The semi-transparent sphere was incredibly swift, and had already completely covered the nobleman in that impenetrable barrier of fire energy. However, the same could not be said for his mount and the arrow struck true, burying itself deeply in his mount¡¯s front leg, causing the poor beast to whiny in pain as the limb collapsed under its weight. The horse fell on the ground with an earth-shaking crash, and its rider was violently flung forward at a bone-breaking speed.


    Skyle didn¡¯t have time to glory in the beautiful shot, however, as the fires from the tree licked at the vine he was swinging from and snapped it at that exact moment, sending him tumbling helplessly through the air.


    A single crash resounded through the forest and twin cries of pain followed, then there was no sound except for the distant cries of riders approaching, and the panting breath of two figures that lay in a tangled mess of intertwined limbs and blood.


    ¡°Stupid.. Moron..¡± Skyle wheezed past trembling lips as soon as he recovered enough breath to speak, though his limbs didn¡¯t seem to be responding quite yet.


    Skyle¡¯s venomous glare met the bewildered stare of a pair of fire-tinged eyes that stood barely two inches away, and though fury still swelled the irises, the reddish, fiery glow slowly faded out and was replaced by a light amber hue that quivered in anger. ¡°You.. an idiotic child? Where.. assassin?¡±


    ¡°What.. assassin.. blind fool..¡± Skyle replied caustically before running out of what little air he¡¯d managed to gather back in his lungs.


    ¡°All this.. You imbecile serf,¡± the nobleman growled, or tried to, though all he could manage at the time was a hoarse whisper. He twitched momentarily, but was forced to give up with a grunt of pain as his body seemed to be as unresponsive as Skyle¡¯s was.


    That didn''t still their tongues, however.


    ¡°Spoiled brat..¡±


    ¡°Upstart bumpkin..¡±


    ¡°Lumbering halfwit..¡±


    ¡°Malodorous peasant..¡±


    ¡°.. Troll..¡±


    ¡°Foul peon..¡±


    ¡°Troll,¡± Skyle repeated, this time more insisntently, while his skin finally began to tingle as feeling slowly leaked back into his limbs.


    ¡°Already said that.. You country buffoon..¡±


    ¡°TROLL!¡± Skyle finally snarled right against the other youth¡¯s face, sending flecks of spittle flying as his widening eyes tracked movement on the trees at the far range of his vision.


    The nobleman seemed to finally catch on the urgency of Skyle¡¯s call, and painfully turned his head around just as a thick branch parted in the distance for a brief moment. That brief instant, however, had been enough to glimpse a terrifyingly large set of fangs protruding from a cruel mouth drooling with a green, viscous liquid.


    ¡°What in Avaria¡¯s sweet mercy..¡± the shocked nobleman murmured, staring at the branches that had once again obscured his vision, perhaps mercifully so, and Skyle couldn¡¯t tell whether it was him or the nobleman who shuddered first.


    ¡°.. Troll..¡± Skyle couldn¡¯t resist repeating somewhat smugly, and receiving a baleful stare from the other boy. ¡°I was trying to warn you off. You were headed straight for it, you fool!¡±


    ¡°Some warning. You shot an arrow at me!¡± the nobleman grumbled.


    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been such a blind, deaf fool chasing some stupid game for your moronic noble''s hunt,¡± Skyle acidly pointed out, but was interrupted by the other youth as an arm nearly as thick as his own legs firmly shoved him away, sending him tumbling backward.


    ¡°I was chasing an assassin we had been pursuing for the entire day,¡± the nobleman replied, then hissed in pain as he rolled on his back to gather his legs under himself. ¡°Now what in Avaria¡¯s sweet mercy was that thing?¡±


    ¡°A troll that has apparently picked up your scent,¡± Skyle exhaled, as feeling slowly bled back into his limbs and he woozily tried to stand, only to cry out involuntarily as a ferocious wave of pain drew his attention to the oddly twisted angle of his left leg.


    ¡°Oh by the bloody..¡± Skyle groaned, staring in dismay at his broken limb.


    ¡°Hells..¡± the nobleman hissed out, examining his own right arm which was bent at an unnatural angle below the elbow.


    Both youths couldn¡¯t help but smirk in grim satisfaction as they glanced at the other¡¯s injury, but the loud, rumbling sounds of very heavy footsteps at their backs immediately wiped their smug grins from their faces, only to be replaced by equal parts of dismay and surprisingly, anger.


    ¡°Your fault..¡± they both burst out, at the same time and in identical tones of injured self-righteousness.


    ¡°Stupid gorilla..¡±


    ¡°Moronic imp..¡±


    Abruptly, a third voice joined the discussion as a great, savage roar echoed in the air, and the violent sounds of branches being snapped and the rhythmic rumbling of the earth below announced the troll had finally caught sight of its prey.

 Chapter 3 - The Price of Brotherhood

    Chapter 3 - The Price of Brotherhood


    Two youths stood rooted on their spots, watching with horrified fascination as several thousand pounds of bulging, scar-covered muscle pounded its furious way towards them. The troll had a vaguely humanoid shape, but its green skin was covered in matted blood and dirt, though they did little to conceal the countless scars that crisscrossed every inch of its body. A ferocious gleam burned in its eyes, and fangs that were over three inches long protruded from a mouth that had a green sludge continuously sliding down its chin.


    Skyle was the first to react, as he grimly weighed the situation and realized his broken leg would become a huge liability in his ability to flee from this fight. In the other hand, standing his ground was not an option either, as during the crash he had somehow managed to maintain his grip on his precious bow, but his quiver had lost all its arrows. Then again, how much good would an arrow do against that monstruosity? Let alone piercing its thick hide, attempting to penetrate the thick muscle underneath would be like trying to drive a toothpick into a block of stone.


    The only remaining option, at least for the time being, was to delay for the precious few seconds before the young noble¡¯s escort finally caught up. The only ways to achieve thiss that he could think of were both outside of his control, and at this moment Skyle hated himself for his weakness. After all, Skyle couldn¡¯t wield the power of the elements, not even for something as commonplace as strengthening his own body with elemental essence like every living being in Aeria learned to do during their first years of life. It was something that should come as naturally as learning to breathe, or walk. It was the reason why elemental warriors were the most commonly found and easily adopted path for manipulating the power of the elements. Not being able to absorb elemental essence was like a death-sentence.


    A cripple.


    That¡¯s what Skyle was, plain and simple. No matter how much he tried, how hard he worked, until his lips were bleeding and his teeth ached from clenching them too hard, Skyle had never managed to maintain the most basic step in interacting with the elements, the spirit vision, for longer than a couple breaths.


    If Skyle could have imbued his arms with the strength of the earth element, or imbued his arrowhead with the explosive power of fire, or enchanted the arrow shaft with the swiftness of the wind, then he might stand a fighting chance, even against the behemoth charging at him right now.


    Instead, Skyle had to rely on the nobleman to snap out of his own private reverie, and call forth the legendary might of an elemental summoner to engage in a glorious battle against the savage beast.


    Skyle found himself almost wishing the other youth wouldn¡¯t, because if he did it would only drive Skyle''s own powerlessness deeper into his own heart, like daggers that had silently been sharpened during the long 12 years of his own life, and would at last plunge deeply during this, his most vulnerable moment.


    ¡°If only I had a single drop of that great sea he draws from..¡± Skyle whispered in his own mind, with a despairing sigh.


    ¡°If only, if only, if only.. Losers spend lavishly on wishful thinking, while winners are misers who haggle shamelessly against reality,¡± Kendric Farrow¡¯s pitiless snort rang out clearly in Skyle¡¯s mind, and his ears felt hot as he recalled the many times he had been mocked out of his depression by his no-nonsense, down-to-earth father.


    ¡°Only you can write your own if onlys in life, Skyle Farrow.¡± His mother had once whispered in his ear while staring down his father as only Adrienne Farrow could, as though daring him to contradict her. She had tenderly drawn Skyle¡¯s crying face into her warm embrace, before turning his gaze upward, towards the clear blue heavens and dazzling golden sun.


    ¡°You can do anything as long as you don¡¯t give up. The sky is the limit, but only you can stretch out your hand. Remember, no matter how hard it is, how long it takes, I will always believe in you, my precious Little Sky,¡± his mother had finished, placing a loving kiss on Skyle¡¯s forehead, as if to seal it into place. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t forget.¡±


    He had promised, but he had almost forgotten it again.


    Right, second option. Distraction! That troll looked hungry enough to devour an entire horse, and Asarian purebred or not, it would just have to do. Skyle felt a pang of regret in his heart as he looked towards the spot where the poor horse lay, obviously crippled and unable to stand. Strangely, in the beast''s eyes Skyle couldn¡¯t find a trace of the terror he had expected, and instead could only see steely determination.


    Only a moment had passed, but it was enough for Skyle to draw a rough plan in his head. He would drag the other youth with him so as to put the horse between them and the incoming troll. Trolls were naturally wary of fire, as their unnaturally high powers of regeneration would be suppressed by it. If the other youth could manage a few warning shots with those fireballs he had so casually waved back and forth earlier, they should be able to withdraw to a marginally safe distance while the noble¡¯s escorts caught up. Already their sounds were drawing closer. Though they likely would not be riding Asarian purebreds, it should only take a minute or two, at most.


    True, they would have to sacrifice the horse in order to delay the troll, but as unpleasant as the option was, it was better than Skyle and the other youth replacing the horse as the main dish.


    Right when Skyle had been about to enact his plan, he turned his head to the side and realized the other youth was no longer standing still. Instead, he was advancing towards the incoming troll with grim, determined footsteps, all the while gesturing with one arm while the other hung limply by his side.


    ¡°What in the Ashen¡¯s Abyss are you doing, you fool? Come back here!¡± Skyle growled, disbelief and fury pouring out of his lungs.


    ¡°Run, little peasant. Run while you still can, and tell my men that they have not failed in their oaths,¡± The nobleman replied in a somber tone, his gaze staring fixedly at the massive beast pounding its way forward. Trees in its path were knocked down and branches were snapped like twigs as it howled in ravenous expectation. Even in the face of all this, the youth¡¯s face only grew more determined. ¡°Tell them that I, Leon Draxas Di Adrausier, stared death in the eye rather than submit.¡±


    Skyle grit his teeth, ignoring the flashing stabs of pain coming from his injured leg as he reached out and took hold of the suicidal noble¡¯s massive shoulder. A simple tug did nothing to stop the youth¡¯s forward movement, so Skyle grunted with the effort as he dug his one good leg into the ground and yanked as hard as he could with the added leverage.


    ¡°Are you insane? We can both live if we sacrifice the horse-¡± Skyle began.


    Abruptly, Leon Draxas stopped in midstep and swiveled his head around to glare furiously over his shoulder. ¡°His name is Tannos, and unless you let go of me in this instant, it is you who will be the sacrifice. It will be my life before I let Tannos come to harm.¡±


    Skyle wanted to argue, but in Leon''s amber eyes which were already starting to burn with that restless sea of elemental fire, Skyle could see that the formidable youth meant every word he had just said. Skyle''s hand slowly relaxed its grip, and he once more glanced sideways at the horse. Surprisingly, it seemed to understand its master¡¯s words, and it seemed to struggle with renewed determination, dragging itself forward on the ground and leaving a trail of blood behind.


    ¡°Damn you both for suicidal fools, master and mount alike,¡± Skyle growled, and he let go as he limped back painfully. ¡°You will both die for no good reason when at least one could live!¡±


    Leon had already turned back and resumed his resolute stride towards the troll. His massive shoulders twitched imperceptibly as he shrugged, ¡°Tannos is no mere mount to me, and neither am I his master. We are brothers, but you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Skyle cursed vehemently under his breath as he continued limping back, all the while thinking furiously. Any other person, and they would have been cursing Leon for a deluded fool. Brothers with a horse? What sort of nonsense was this? Give your life for your mount? Snap out of your fancy tales of knights and chivalry. This was the real world, and life and death were at stake! Any other person, and that¡¯s what would have been going through his head.


    Not Skyle, however. Instead, he cursed at that bloody wildefox who had stolen his parents¡¯ elenium crystal. He cursed at himself for being too stubborn to forget about the whole incident. He cursed at the damn noble who had charged at him instead of doing the sane thing and drawing back towards the escorts the moment Skyle¡¯s arrow had been fired. Most of all, though, Skyle cursed vehemently at a certain ball of fur and claws always hovering near the edges of his mind.


    ¡°Damn Ash, I knew the tiger cub be the death of me one of these days. Never thought it¡¯d be this soon..¡± Skyle muttered bitterly in his mind, as he bent down to pick up an arrow, then another, all the while ignoring the agony spiking from his leg. ¡°Probably sprawled on his back on mom¡¯s deck, lazy little bastard, snoring away the sun.¡±


    After another few steps, Skyle bent down to pick up another object.


    ¡°Stupid mutt, it¡¯s all your fault.¡±


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    The troll was barely 40 feet away from Leon Draxas when he finally raised his arm high in the air, eyes closed while moving his lips in a rapid chant. Red spirals of fire energy slowly began to converge upon his fist.


    It was slower than the previous fireballs. Too slow.


    Tannos the horse was still valiantly trying to catch up to itsmaster, but the crash had injured it far worse than either Skyle or Leon. By the time the first fiery projectile sprang forth from Leon¡¯s hand in a streak of flames that sped off towards the incoming troll, it was barely 25 paces away from the nobleman, who was standing all alone.


    With a flash of red, the fireball struck the troll directly in the middle of its chest, right where the heart should be, and the beast howled in agony as an explosion of flames rocked it back a couple steps. When the fire finally died out a few seconds later, a charred mess of blackened skin lay in a smoking crater around a wound that was about six inches in diameter.


    To a human, such a blow would have been devastating. To the troll, however, it only served to incite a cry of rage as it beat its fists against its chest in a show of dominance, before resuming its charge towards Leon with renewed fury. Though Leon was bravely channeling another fireball while slowly retreating, the troll would be upon him in a mere instant. How many fireballs could he get off in the meantime? Two? Three?


    Leon¡¯s face turned darker as he grit his teeth and let out a low cry of his own, his hair fluttering though there was no wind, and his eyes flooding over with a torrent of fire that swam in their depths.


    ¡°If Leon Draxas falls today, he shall not fall alone!¡± Leon cried out, lifting another imperious fist high into the air and the strings of red elemental energy he was channeling suddenly thickened into veritable streams that glowed with intense power.


    ¡°That¡¯s for damn sure, you fool,¡± a voice muttered darkly from behind Leon. A stroke of wind darted past Leon¡¯s ear as something flickered in his vision. The troll once again stopped its charge, letting out another bellow of pain as it clutched a hand against the ruined mass of skin left by Leon¡¯s first fireball. In the middle of the wound, the fletchings of an arrow could be seen quivering slightly. The rest of the arrow had been driven past the broken skin, and deep into the troll¡¯s flesh, towards its heart.


    Barely had the troll managed to stabilize itself and taken a hand away from the wound in order to let out another roar, when it turned into another howl of agony instead. The moment the wound was exposed, a second arrow buried itself into its chest, a scant inch away from the spot where the first arrow lay. The troll clutched at its chest and convulsed in agony, all the while drawing panting breaths that sent flecks of green sludge spurting out of the fresh wounds.


    ¡°Slowly make your way to me,¡± Skyle instructed calmly, another arrow already notched on his bow and sighting down its shaft. ¡°I will cover you while you recover your source weapon.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes widened even more when he heard the words. Indeed, the reason his firebolts were not as strong or fast as before was because he had lost his source weapon in the mad crash from Tannos. An ordinary source weapon would raise the affinity of a wielder of the elements by 10%. However, his own source weapon had been crafted especially for him with mithril, vulcanite and other precious materials, raising that figure to over 20%.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to-¡± Leon began, his eyebrows tilting down vexedly, still gathering more fire power upon his upraised fist.


    ¡°Fifteen feet to your left, at the feet of the mature dacian cypress,¡± Skyle interrupted impatiently, his eyes still fixed upon the troll. ¡°We only need to delay it a minute or two before your men arrive.¡±


    ¡°Let it come. I will teach it to fear the fury of the flames of the House of Draxas!¡± Leon cried out, finally bringing down his arm in an imposing gesture as another ball of fire streaked through the air, exploding against the troll¡¯s head and sending it tumbling backwards with another howl of agony.


    Skyle blinked as he watched the spectacle, impressed despite himself. True, a troll was naturally weak to the fire element. Still, the youth did not seem that much older than himself, yet he could almost single-handedly halt the troll¡¯s rampage, even sending it crashing to the ground.


    What impressed him the most, however, wasn¡¯t only the power and speed of the fiery missile. As an accomplished marksman himself, he recalled his father¡¯s admonitions against headshots. The head was a vital target, but it was also where the sensory organs were located. Any target would instinctively seek to first protect its head, and even without such a reflex, the head was a small, moving target protected by some of the most solid bones in a creature¡¯s body, risking deflection.


    All of that only made it that much more impressive that Leon had the presence of mind to aim for the troll¡¯s head when it was distracted and unable to protect itself, as well as actually striking it dead on even in the midst of all the troll¡¯s movements as it squirmed in pain from Skyle¡¯s arrows.


    Of course, Skyle was not one to be outdone, and he had also managed to send his third arrow on its way right along with the bolt of fire, also aiming for that same vulnerable head which had presented too tempting a target.


    In truth, Skyle didn¡¯t know and didn¡¯t care if his arrow had actually struck. He had done his best with what he had at hand, and that had bought them enough time to withdraw. Perhaps this would be the end of it, and the troll would decide this target was simply too much trouble. Still, it would be best if they were ready for another fight.


    Leon seemed to share similar thoughts, and promptly marched over to the left, obviously looking for his source sword - around the wrong tree.


    ¡°I said the dacian cyp.. The big tree with small, long leaves and yellow blossoms,¡± Skyle grunted, exasperated. What kind of fool didn¡¯t know the difference between a weeping willow and a dacian cypress?


    Leon had the grace to flush slightly as he moved over to the correct tree and began to look in earnest.


    ¡°Why did you come back?¡± Leon asked, not raising his eyes as he continued to search.


    ¡°Because I do understand,¡± Skyle sighed, still thinking of Ash and his great, gray-furred belly as he dozed under the fading light of dusk.


    Leon looked up at that, his eyes asking a question while his mouth pressed into a faint line to hold back his tongue.


    ¡°My lord Draxas! My lord! Where are you?¡± came the frantic cries from beyond the trees.


    ¡°Here!¡± Leon cried on instantly, and his shoulders seemed to sag somewhat in relief. Now that Skyle had drawn closer, and without the heat of the moment, he could see how pale the young noble¡¯s skin was, with a sickly tinge and a slight trembling to his arms. The constant summoning of elemental power had been incredible, almost unbelievably so for someone so young, and that final fire blast must have taken a heavy toll from him.


    The sounds of voices and movement drew closer still, and Skyle relaxed the arm which held a fourth arrow notched on his bow. Maybe it would not be needed today.


    ¡°The sword is not here,¡± Leon mumbled, returning to his search.


    ¡°What do you mean? I saw it there a moment ago,¡± Skyle retorted, drawing closer.


    ¡°Exactly what I said. I would be able to feel its elemental resonance, to which I have been attuned, if I were standing this close to it,¡± Leon stated in an annoyed tone, with bone-deep weariness lingering just underneath the surface.


    ¡°Seriously, blind noblemen..¡± Skyle trailed off as he limped his painful way to the tree, and scratched his chin awkwardly while staring at the empty grass.


    Skyle looked up to find Leon gazing back at him with satisfaction. ¡°See? Not here. No matter, I will have another one forged later. Let us see to Tannos and withdraw before that foul beast recovers.¡±


    ¡°I know I saw it here,¡± Skyle muttered, craning his head here and there.


    ¡°Time presses..¡± Leon faltered.


    ¡°Skyle. Skyle Farrow,¡± Skyle replied, still furrowing his brow as he bit his lip thoughtfully. ¡°And you¡¯re right, of course. Lets see to Tannos, and get out of here while we still can.¡±


    ¡°So, young Skyle Farrow. Obediently assist me with Tannos, and I will see you well rewarded in spite of your many wrongdoings,¡± Leon waved a hand in an off-handed manner, as though he were granting Skyle a precious boon he was clearly undeserving of.


    Skyle was about to tell him exactly where he could shove his rewards, and it sure wouldn¡¯t be anywhere the sun shone, when Leon let out a cry of joy.


    ¡°Wait, I see it now! There¡¯s my sword!¡± Leon cried out, pointing with his one good hand towards a crumbling structure of aged rock about 20 feet away, almost completely covered by green moss and vines. It was nearly eight feet tall and four feet wide, standing almost like some bizarre monument in the middle of a small clearing. Leon¡¯s sword seemed to be gleaming with an unnatural sparkle, lying right in front of that monument.


    Skyle paused abruptly, his breath suddenly catching in his throat. Skyle looked up at the deepening gloom, and tried to gather his bearings within the woods. A moment later, his blood ran cold and Skyle shouted out, ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t move!¡±


    Leon looked back at him with a bewildered expression. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Do. Not. Move. We have entered the Forbidden Forest¡¯s inner reaches,¡± Skyle whispered hoarsely past the constriction in his throat, feeling sweat suddenly trickling down his face.


    ¡°Bah, superstitious nonsense. As expected of a peasant,¡± Leon muttered derisively.


    Skyle did not mind the tone at all. Instead, he forced his hammering heart to slow down and spoke in soft, even tones.


    ¡°Ever since I reached the age of 9 and could competently fire my bow, father constantly found an excuse to send me into the forest, even to the outer borders of the Forbidden Forest. I have since killed timber wolves, red striped cougars, and even a couple dire bears, all in order to survive. However, in all this time father has always ordered me never, ever to set a foot into the inner reaches of the Forbidden Forest.¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡± Leon mumbled, clearly unnerved by Skyle¡¯s words and expression, but still stubbornly looking towards the place where his sword lay on the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯ve long learned to keep constant track of my surroundings. That stone structure wasn¡¯t there a moment ago, and your sword was lying right here underneath this tree,¡± Skyle answered with a dead serious expression, then pointed back towards the gloom beyond, where a few fires were on the verge of sputtering out at the spot the troll had fallen at. ¡°And that troll should by all rights be terrified of fire, but I have a feeling something unnatural is driving it to ignore all its instincts and push forward until it kills us.¡±


    ¡°I don''t know how many more firebolts I can channel with my current strength,¡± Leon muttered glumly, brushing some errant sweat off his brow. ¡°But as long as we can hold for thirty seconds, my men should arrive.¡±


    ¡°About that,¡± Skyle noted as turned his head towards the sounds of men and horses. ¡°I wouldn''t keep my hopes up.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°In spite of your shouts and the blazing flames from your firebolts, the sounds of your men are moving farther away. For whatever reason, something is drawing them away and they won¡¯t get here anytime soon. Besides..¡±


    Leon clenched his fist into a ball as he tilted his head to confirm Skyle''s words. ¡°Besides what?¡±


    ¡°That troll seems ready for round two and it does not look like it''ll be sitting this one out,¡± Skyle sighed, lifting his bow once more and firing an arrow in one smooth motion, barely taking the time to aim.


    A few dozen paces ahead, a roar shook the trees around them, but it was a cry that went far beyond simple pain.


    It was a roar of rage, and a promise of bloody vengeance.

 Chapter 4 - To Write an Ending

    Chapter 4 -To Write an Ending


    Skyle¡¯s arrow hit its mark, but the troll simply ignored the shaft stuck in its arm as it rushed forward in an avalanche of violence and blood.


    ¡°Back!¡± Leon shouted, using his one good arm to physically shove Skyle aside, his eyes already shining with scarlet elemental power. Skyle went tumbling a good five feet to the side, but far from complaining, he was almost inclined to thank the other boy. A mere instant later, several thousand pounds of furious muscle crashed against the protective fiery barrier Leon had summoned at the last instant.


    The barrier shattered with a loud crackling sound, and a loud explosion knocked back the troll on its steps while it shook its head in a daze. Smoke rose out of its blackened arms, but the worst out of the exchange had definitely been Leon. As the barrier shattered, he had been knocked into the air and sent flying a good twenty paces, eventually slamming against a tree with a bone-shuddering crash.


    Skyle swiftly rolled on the ground as he sought to gain as much distance as he could from the troll before regaining his feet. Pain from his broken limb began to throb and gnaw at the outer edges of his conscious mind, but for now the adrenaline was pumping in his ears so fiercely that it drowned the agony out.


    Springing into a kneeling position, Skyle had already knocked one of his last three remaining arrows and was ready to stare death in the face, exchanging one final shot for his life. However, he was met with the receding back of the troll as it slowly staggered its way in Leon¡¯s direction. The other youth seemed to be hanging on to consciousness, if only just barely, but he was definitely in no shape to deal with the troll¡¯s retribution at the moment.


    The arrow in his hand drooped slightly as the strength leaked out from Skyle¡¯s arms and the bowstring lost its tension. Unbidden, a new plan sprang into life within his mind. The troll seemed obsessed with Leon. As a matter of fact, before Skyle had foolishly decided to give chase to its tracks, the troll had passed him by and had clearly been heading away from him. For whatever reason and in spite of its natural aversion to fire, this troll seemed drawn inexorably towards the young noble. If Skyle could manage a decent headstart while the troll sated its bloodlust on the other youth, perhaps he could lose it in the woods. After all, these had been Skyle¡¯s hunting grounds for all his life.


    It surely wasn¡¯t his fault if a stupid young noble wandered in far too deep for his own good, and got killed by a rare beast. It would be far better than both of them dying, which seemed to be the most likely end result. There was simply nothing Skyle could do about it. He was just a 12 year old boy who couldn¡¯t even use his own heartwood bow at full draw, let alone wield the power of the elements like every other person could.


    He was powerless, and could only resign himself to his fate, just the same as the other doomed youth. Skyle would forever be a cripple, and Leon, supremely gifted as a legendary elemental summoner, would die alone in this dark corner of the Forbidden Forest.


    That¡¯s just life, Skyle realized, as he slowly put his hand back in the quiver he wore on his back.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s life. It¡¯s just not my life,¡± Skyle vowed to himself. ¡°I will write my own end in my story.¡±


    Kendric Farrow had not raised a cripple, and he sure didn¡¯t pamper Skyle like one. Adrienne Farrow would never allow her son to believe such nonsense either, not for a second. Her arguments went beyond words, or even actions. With just one look, Skyle found the strength and courage to continuously, fiercely assault his limits. Else, he wouldn¡¯t be one of the most accomplished trackers in the forest, nor would he stubbornly continue to attempt to summon his elemental spirit day after day. In fact, if he weren¡¯t possessed of such strength of will and courage, he wouldn¡¯t be Skyle Farrow at all.


    Sighing deeply and with a fierce, almost self-mocking smile, Skyle withdrew his last two arrows from the quiver and placed them upright in the dirt below him, then breathed deeply as he nocked the first arrow and carefully took aim.


    The troll seemed to have regained some of its balance, and its steps were much more steady as it rumbled towards Leon, who was just now beginning to shake his head as though awakening from a stupor.


    ¡°I write my own endings!¡± Skyle shouted at the top of his lungs as he drew the arrow back as far back as he could. His hands were steady and his eyes blazed with a singular focus as he sought the most vulnerable area he could.


    The troll seemed to ignore all else as it closed in on Leon, and Skyle¡¯s lips quirked slightly as he shrugged. Usually, when faced with such formidable defenses an archer like Skyle would have no choice but to aim for the vulnerable, vital spots. Spine? Kidneys? Hamstring? Back of the neck? Skyle knew the troll¡¯s skin was too thick and it would be near impossible for him to wound, or even slow it down.


    Well, if all else fails, then there was only one target left.


    Skyle carefully sighted down, and though at roughly ten paces he could hardly miss his target, he still needed to carefully wait until the troll¡¯s movement revealed his objective. Then, he released.


    The arrow unerringly found its mark, and the troll howled in renewed agony as the arrowhead managed to weave right past the massively muscled ass cheeks, and buried itself deeply in the narrow, tightly puckered up hole in the middle of its ass.


    The troll jolted forward from the impact, and animalistic cries of pain and fury shook its lungs as both its hands clawed towards the intrusive arrow, all else forgotten for the moment. Leon finally seemed to return to his senses and frowned in confusion as he watched the troll¡¯s reaction, as though he couldn¡¯t comprehend how Skyle would have caused such a huge reaction with a mere arrow.


    Finally, the troll seemed unwilling to risk messing with the arrow shaft, and instead turned around to stare balefully at Skyle. Leon¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he saw the results of Skyle¡¯s exquisite marksmanship.


    ¡°Ugh, I feel sick,¡± Leon muttered, not bothering to hide his disgust.


    Skyle didn¡¯t have to to appreciate such, however, since his hand had rapidly reached out to snatch up a second arrow as soon as the first one had left his bow. Then, he had waited, slowly releasing his breath as he aimed the arrow directly at the back of the troll¡¯s head.


    As soon as the troll turned around and brought its baleful gaze to bear upon its attacker, Skyle had unceremoniously released his second arrow before the troll could even react to the new threat.


    From this close, and presented with a practically still, unmoving target, there was simply no way for Skyle to miss his target, even as small and challenging as it was. The shot pierced into the troll¡¯s eye with a sickening squelching sound, as green blood and a clear, viscous liquid splattered down its face. Screaming in pain, the troll lifted its massive hands away from its ass in an instinctive bid to protect its vulnerable, wounded eye. However, it was too late as Skyle had already nocked and released his third and final arrow.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    This final shot did miss, if only barely and because of the troll¡¯s sudden, frenzied movements as it writed in agony. However, Skyle was already content with the results and came to his feet, trying to limp away in a last ditch effort to gain some distance from Leon before the troll would catch up to him and tear him limb from limb.


    Shockingly, the troll surged forward in one violent lunge as it blindly thrashed its massive arm in Skyle¡¯s general direction. Even without the broken leg, Skyle would have had no chance to avoid such a rush of speed, and though he desperately attempted to dive away from the incoming blow, a massive fist connected with a loud, snapping sound. A new surge of agony flooeded Skyle¡¯s mind as all the air was punched from his lungs and he was violently thrown spinning through the air at a dizzying speed. He crashed through several bushes and branches before finally grinding to a painful, wheezing halt against the ground, where he lay in a boneless heap.


    The troll let out one final roar at Skyle¡¯s writhing body, sending flecks of green spittle flying, before once again turning around in Leon¡¯s direction, whereupon it was promptly greeted with yet another fire blast to the face.


    An intense heat seared Skyle¡¯s skin even from where he lay, a good fifteen paces from the explosion, as small globs of fire flew in the air from the ferocious impact. The troll once more stumbled unsteadily on its feet as it was rocked back by the explosion. Leon stood with his back against the tree, breathing heavily with his one good hand lifted in the troll¡¯s direction and still smoking from the release of fire energy.


    Suddenly, as the troll was still staggering in pain, a great roar rang out through the air, and the entire forest seemed to shake under its might. It came from a beast that even Skyle was unfamiliar with, but it seemed both ancient and powerful, full of rage and frustration. Even the troll froze for an instant, as its agonized howls were infinitely dwarfed by the might of this new entity. It was this ferocious cry that woke Skyle from his stupor, as he finally came back to his senses.


    ¡°Another monster in the forest?¡± Skyle wondered, then snapped back to reality as he realized the one they were currently facing was more than enough to push him into an early grave.


    ¡°Such a fool,¡± Leon panted heavily, pushing himself off the tree and swaying on his feet for a moment before steadying himself. Blood trickled slowly from his lips, and his face scrunched up in agony as he clutched at his ribs.


    ¡°It¡¯s winning this fight,¡± Skyle grunted, as he dazedly pushed himself to his feet. In his hands lay his precious heartwood bow, or what remained of it. The exquisitely crafted bow had snapped in half and lay sad and broken in his hands.


    ¡°I was referring to you. You should have run, Skyle Farrow,¡± Leon stated somberly, locking eyes with Skyle while lifting a trembling hand skyward. ¡°It¡¯s obviously after me, and only a fool would have stayed behind.¡±


    ¡°Speak for yourself, highness,¡± Skyle bit back, shaking his head in order to clear it, hoping the world would stop tumbling around sometime soon so he could at least take a good look at the place where he would die.


    As soon as the stars faded from his vision, Skyle froze and stared at the ancient stone monument standing ten paces in front of him, and his skin crawled as he realized he had finally done what his father had repeatedly told him to never, ever do.


    He had entered the inner reaches of the Forbidden Forest.


    It seemed strange to Skyle that he still cared so much, even as the troll was once again recovering and getting ready to kill him and Leon both.


    The ground trembled under Skyle¡¯s feet as the enraged troll lifted arms corded with massive muscles and pounded the ground fiercely, roaring in a grim combination of pain and rage.


    ¡°I need that source weapon,¡± Leon growled, his face gaining an even more unhealthy sheen to it as he began to silently move his lips and lifted a slightly trembling fist above his head, summoning a deep red glow above his head. ¡°My spirit vein is severely spent.¡±


    Skyle glanced back towards the sword lying ten feet away. The energy of the elements was boundless as the skies and the seas, but each individual could only channel as much as their spirit veins would allow. As more elemental energy was channeled, spirit veins would be depleted to the point where any more channeling would result in the elements wielder to seriously injure himself, to the point where he could burn their spirit veins out, effectively crippling themselves, or even dying from extreme spirit depletion.


    Ideally, a source weapon would relieve much of the stress placed upon Leon. Still, there were simply too many variables in place. Why had the sword moved? Unless it had suddenly grown feet, it would not have done so out of its own initiative. Also, where had that strange object come from, and what exactly was it? All Skyle could tell was that he had somehow wandered within the borders of the Forbidden Forest, and his senses shouted danger at him even without the troll ready to pound him into a bloody meat paste.


    Now that Skyle took a second, more careful look, the troll made even less sense. Its chest was battered into a blackened mess, but its head looked even worse. One side of it was a nightmarish mask of melted flesh and exposed bones, and the scorched remains of an arrow shaft protruded slightly from a vacant eye socket. Wounds this severe should force it to back off, but the troll seemed fixated on Leon. Its one remaining eye was glazed over with bloodlust, and its mouth was overflowing with more of that green sludge. It almost seemed like some sort of trance had taken over it.


    Trying his best to ignore the agonizing pain, Skyle limped towards the sword. After all, the sword was most likely a trap, but the worst end result would be death. On the other hand, without the sword the troll would likely eat a couple more of Leon¡¯s fire bolts, then proceed to the main course and eat Skyle and Leon for good measure.


    A ball of fire swirled into place within Leon¡¯s upraised fist, but it was visibly smaller than the previous missiles. It flickered with intermittent tongues of flame that hissed and crackled as it spun in place. With a visible effort of will, Leon launched the fire bolt at the troll, but this time the troll lifted its hands in time to shield its vulnerable head. A loud explosion rocked the air, and the troll let out another ear-piercing howl. Its body swayed visibly, then fell to its knees while flames eagerly licked at its flesh. Still, the flames soon began to die as great streams of green blood began to pour forth from its many wounds.


    ¡°It¡¯s already beginning to heal,¡± Skyle whispered, shocked. ¡°I thought flames were supposed to suppress their abilities.¡±


    ¡°Sword,¡± Leon said while breathing heavily, clammy sweat dotting his brow. Still, in his eyes Skyle could find no hint of fear, nor weakness, but rather only a grim resolve shone within. ¡°Now.¡±


    Skyle almost spit out a scathing reply about sending him to fetch a sword with a broken leg, but one look at Leon¡¯s drawn face let him know the fire summoner was reaching his limits.


    As he finally reached the sword, he kept his wary gaze on the strange stone monument. Though its outline lay crumbling under the weight of time, complex symbols were etched onto its borders, while the middle of it seemed strangely smooth and unbroken.


    ¡°Almost like a gate of some kind,¡± Skyle thought to himself.


    Another earth-rumbling growl shook Skyle into action, as he finally went against his every instinct and clenching his teeth, he snatched the sword from the ground as quickly as he could, all the while staring at the strange stone arch. It felt strangely cool in his grip, and much heavier than he had expected from watching Leon hefting it so easily earlier. Still holding his breath, Skyle limped back a couple steps without even daring to turn around, as every hair in his body stood on end and goosebumps rose on his skin.


    ¡°SWORD!¡± Leon yelled hoarsely, urgency clear in his voice, as rumbling steps could be heard rapidly approaching.


    With one final glance at the inert gate, Skyle screamed in pain and fear as he twisted his body around and hurled the sword towards Leon as hard as he could. The sword drew a smooth arch in the air as it slowly spun on its way forward. Skyle¡¯s eyes were glued on to the movement of the sword, completely riveted in it, which is why he almost jumped out of his skin when Leon suddenly shouted a frantic warning.


    ¡°Watch out! Behind you!¡±


    Too little, too late. By the time Skyle turned his head around, the only thing he could see were twin claws, dark and smooth as obsidian, firmly grasp hold of his arm. Reflexively following the claws to their origin, Skyle was dumbfounded to see that the symbols on the stone arch had lit up abruptly, and a pitch black mist was swirling in the middle of the archway. It was from this bizarre portal that the claws had reached out and taken hold of him.


    Skyle didn¡¯t even have the time to move his hand towards the dagger he kept sheathed by his side, when an irresistible strength yanked him back, in the direction of the swirling darkness within the gate.


    The last thing Skyle saw over his shoulder was that of Leon frantically shouting in his direction, with the monstrous silhouette of the troll charging at his back.


    At that moment, that mighty roar shook the entire forest once again, seeming to be infinitely closer than before.


    Then, the darkness swallowed it all.

 Chapter 5 - The True Sight

    Chapter 5 - The True Sight


    The claws squeezed with irresistible power, and Skyle screamed in agony as he felt his abused arm shudder, threatening to break at any moment. The momentary blindness and nausea that had overwhelmed him as soon as he had been pulled through the strange portal were wiped clean off his mind by the new wave of agony from his arm.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Skyle cried out in alarm as he instinctively reached towards the dagger hanging from his belt in order to defend himself. However, his hand froze halfway through the motion when his eyes finally had the opportunity to examine his surroundings. The skies were pitch dark, with no stars or moon to illuminate them. However, a dull, weak light seemed to suffuse the very air, dimly tracing the contours of a spectacle that took all of Skyle¡¯s breath away.


    It was an army.


    However, it was an army the likes of which he had never even heard of in his life, let alone see with his own eyes. Neat rows of figures stood side by side in formation, thousands upon thousands of them, each massively muscled and reaching at least two meters in height or more. They all bore similar armors of a glittering black metal with intricate engravings decorating its surface. Full facial helmets hid most of their features, but their eyes glowed with a quiet air of confidence that strangely enough, reminded Skyle of his father.


    ¡°Lord Vissus, we have captured another sacrifice for the ritual!¡± a shrill voice cried out excitedly, and it took Skyle a moment before he realized it came from the figure who was holding him dangling in the air by his arm. When Skyle turned to examine his captor, his eyes widened as far as they could go.


    His captor was dressed in the same black armor of the other men, although it was much less intricate. Also, he was not wearing a helmet. Instead, bony spikes poked out from his flesh all over his face. A small, beady pair of eyes glittered with excitement as the dark claws shook him once more, drawing a grunt of pain from Skyle.


    ¡°Stop squirming, you little beast,¡± the monster holding him ordered. Skyle slowly let his hand drop while surreptitiously shifting his clothes around so as to hide the dagger. Confronted with the sight of this massive army, it would do Skyle no good to lash out rashly. Although his mind was reeling from shock, Skyle still tried to remember the lessons his father had taught him for emergencies. Putting on a terrified expression on his face was not difficult at all, and Skyle¡¯s eyes betrayed none of the myriad thoughts flashing through his mind as he quickly began to try and make sense of all this madness.


    ¡°Well done, Mercius. It¡¯s a young one, but I can smell great power in his blood!¡± a dry, rasping voice crooned from behind Skyle¡¯s back with a satisfied tone. Glancing back, Skyle spotted another figure wearing the same dark armor, though this one had four great horns curling above a face that seemed the stuff of nightmares. ¡°You shall be properly rewarded. Put him in the cages with the other sacrifices.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my Lord Vissus!¡± Mercius acknowledged with fervor, saluting an upraised claw and marching towards the left while holding Skyle aloft with the other . Over the vile creature¡¯s shoulder, Skyle could see another dismaying sight in the distance. There were dozens of metal cages, each filled to the brim with naked figures of men and women huddling in small groups.


    ¡°By the Abyss, they¡¯re all caged and naked, with guards all around them!¡± A block of ice fell on his heart as he realized he would soon be joining that pitiful group of captives, and he would be powerless to resist. Briefly, the idea of joining the group and attempting to escape later flitted through his mind, but the cold gaze of the guards around the cages, as well as this army¡¯s blood-thirsty aura and the mention of ¡°sacrifices¡± quickly drove that option from Skyle¡¯s mind. Besides, the usually calm and methodical youth was truly angry now.


    ¡°Power in my blood?¡± Skyle hissed within his mind, and that last comment only added insult to injury. His whole life he¡¯d suffered from being a cripple, and this monster had dragged him through the portal because they mistakenly thought Skyle had some great power in his blood? It was as though all the ridiculous events of the day, starting from the aborted wildefox hunt all the way down to having his precious heartwood bow shattered in one blow from the troll and his own life about to share a similar fate, they all surged in Skyle¡¯s heart into a great, roaring furnace of anger and frustration at the unfairness of it all.


    ¡°Blast it all, then at least I will write my own ending!¡±


    ¡°Smell this!¡± Skyle shouted while drawing his dagger and bringing it down on the claw of the monster holding him as hard as he could.


    The creature called Mercius flashed a wide, mocking grin while complacently eyeing Skyle¡¯s attack, as though he could simply not be bothered to defend against this mere child¡¯s strike.


    *CRACKLE*


    The smug smile instantly faltered when a brilliant azure glow surrounded the dagger as its edge struck the claw, but its momentum did not even slow down as it effortlessly pierced through the hard outer layer as though it were a hot knife cutting into butter. Hissing sounds emerged from a terrible wound that started to smoke as blood fountained from the neatly severed stump of Mercius¡¯ arm.


    ¡°ARRGH!¡± Mercius screamed in agony as he clutched at his maimed arm, staring in shocked disbelief at the streams of dark crimson blood pouring forth from the ghastly wound. Skyle fell to the ground with the monster¡¯s dark claw still clutching fiercely at his own arm, and couldn¡¯t help but cry out in pain as he had managed to land on his broken leg. It instantly folded under him, but through the haze of pain Skyle managed to grit his teeth and turn the motion into a forward roll, which brought him into close quarters to the still moaning Mercius.


    ¡°You little shi-¡± Mercius screamed shrilly, finally moving his bloodshot eyes from the mutilated arm onto Skyle. The monster watched Skyle¡¯s clumsy roll and took a faltering step back, his remaining hand reaching blindly towards the sword strapped at his side.


    Too late, however, as Skyle used his good leg to propel himself forward while driving the dagger in his fist straight towards Mencius¡¯ chest.


    Monster and child crashed together in a blur of blood and flailing limbs, as Skyle¡¯s reckless leap and Mencius¡¯ own desperate attempt to avoid the attack drove them both hard to the ground in a tangled mess. Skyle could only feel a white hot bite of more pain screaming in his mind, but a hot rush of blood covered his face as he convulsively seesawed his dagger back and forth in a blind rush of rage. He could feel some slight feedback from the blade as it met some resistance and a muffled, breathless grunt reached his ears every time this happened. However, Skyle would simply grit his teeth and ferociously plunge the edge even deeper still, twisting it with even more vigor, issuing even more grunts from above his ears.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    This continued for several more moments, during which Skyle continued his frenzied, desperate assault. Soon, all the sound he could hear was the ragged gasping from his own throat as a hot, sticky liquid covered all of his face and completely blinded him, and a massive dead weight slowly fell forward to blanket over him, pinning him to the ground.


    Skyle instictively shouted in protest and fear as he pushed away at the foreign mass, but try as he might he could barely make it budge. All the while, it felt as though he were drowning under an ocean of the viscous, warm liquid bathing every single inch of him.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t hold out any longer and desperately took in a greedy mouthful of air, which was immediately choked as a rush of hot liquid rushed into his throat. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, making his guts convulse in revulsion as he gagged, then began to cough convulsively, all the while his vision began to swim with stars as he grew light-headed from the lack of air.


    Just as his consciousness began to grow dimmer, Skyle could feel the massive weight being lifted from over him, and through his tightly squeezed eyelids he could feel the shadow that had been blanketing him being drawn back. Then, he sensed movement near him, and Skyle howled in desperation and fear as he flashed his dagger in an arc above him, all the while his mouth drew desperate mouthfuls of air while trying to spit out the blood he had sucked in earlier.


    ¡°You crazy little beast!¡± a raspy voice cried out in his ear, and Skyle finally managed to wipe enough blood off his eyes that he could try to open them, only to glimpse a shadow swiftly approaching from a corner of his vision.


    Stars exploded in his eyes as a ruthless blow struck him in the ribs and Skyle could distinctly hear bones cracking as several ribs broke and he was violently flung into the air from the impact. Skyle wanted to blindly swing his dagger in the direction of his attacker, but it was all he could do to hold on to his weapon as he flipped end over end in the air and crashed into the ground, tumbling painfully a few times before coming to a halt, having left a trail of blood in the ground.


    ¡°Hot damn..¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s one fierce little demon..¡±


    ¡°Help Mencius, he¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s gone. Little beast gutted him like a fish..¡±


    Skyle could catch some of the words from around him, but he couldn¡¯t even feel the pain from his broken ribs, at least not just yet, let alone even feel his own limbs in order to get up or attempt to retaliate in any shape or form.


    It was all he could do to simply try to draw one more breath. His lungs convulsed within his chest and his pale lips trembled uncontrollably, but inhaling that first great mouthful of air seemed impossible at the moment.


    ¡°Breathe,¡± Skyle snarled in his mind. ¡°Breathe, you useless trash of a body. Breathe, you stupid lump of meat. Breathe, at least obey me this once so I can at least take out one more of them before I die.¡±


    Skyle felt hot tears silently roll down his cheeks, and he was not sure if they were from his own fear at the fact that his young life would end at the hands of these monsters when he had only seen 12 years; or perhaps they were anger, at this body that had endlessly frustrated him and worked against him, turning him into a useless, pathetic cripple, betraying him even now at this final moment; or perhaps they were sorrow, at the fact that he would never see his loving family again. His father would rage and rampage, while his mother would weep disconsolately, and his younger siblings would never forgive him for leaving them behind. And Ash, he would be all alone again.


    ¡°Breathe. It is the least you can do, after a lifetime of disappointments,¡± Skyle begged, and his little fist shook as he slowly lifted the knife held in his grip. Its tip trembled uncontrollably, as though it couldn¡¯t decide who its next target would be. ¡°Breathe, burn you!¡±


    And suddenly, he did. His lips twitched convulsively as his lungs finally expanded, drawing in a great, endless breath that surged into his mouth, coiled down his throat and exploded in his chest with a sweetness greater than any he had known. Colors instantly exploded across his vision as Skyle opened his eyes and found the world around him had been banished and been instantly reborn.


    The dark skies above were suddenly filled with a myriad different hues, flashing from one mesmerizing shade to the next, from snow white to bright crimson to sky blue to emerald green, all in the blink of an eye. Swirling across this grand spectacle of lights, brilliant veins of light shimmered and pulsed with energy, covering the entire firmament.


    Skyle stared at the unbelievable sight above, his imminent danger momentarily forgotten, when an intense, melodious voice entered his ears.


    ¡°Draw back! I shall handle him myself,¡± the voice stated solemnly.


    ¡°By your command, Lord Vissus.¡±


    ¡°Vicious little beast, for your bravery you shall have the honor of being the first sacrifice to christen the ritual.¡±


    Skyle looked down in the direction of the voice, still in a daze, and he stared blankly at the figure calmly approaching him.


    The dark armor now shone dimly with countless symbols glowing faintly with a multitude of colors, swirling and subtly shifting around as they seemed to flow endlessly across its surface. Vissus himself had undergone an even greater transformation, as underneath an elegant helmet that bore the likeness of four golden birds taking flight in different directions, Skyle could see the smooth, refined features of a handsome man with piercing green eyes watching him intently with renewed interest.


    ¡°Hmm. It seems you have somehow managed to gain the true sight,¡± Vissus murmured while tilting his head to one side. ¡°I see none of the disgust or horror etched in the faces of the other sacrifices. You behold the true shape of all matters, which is the gift of the chosen. Most peculiar, and rather fascinating. How would you, a base mortal beast from a lower plane, gain the true sight upon merely stepping foot into the Blessed Realm? Ah, under other circumstances, my curiosity might extend your life for a while longer.¡±


    Vissus furrowed his brow, then shook his head minutely. ¡°No, we have nearly reached the appointed time and the ritual must take place. You, oh child of the true sight, shall be the first to behold the glory of the Blessed Realm as you give your lifeforce to water its advent.¡±


    Skyle only continued to stare straight ahead in a daze, the rest of Vissus¡¯ words completely lost to him.


    He could see it. Skyle could finally see the power of the elements, and it was glorious. This was more than he had ever dreamed of, when he had been told of the spirit vision, the sight that was the very first step and allowed an individual to draw upon the might of the elements.


    Whereas before Skyle could only see a blur of different colors flash across his vision for a mere instant before the whole sight fragmented painfully in his mind, he could now only stare in wonder at the vivid veins of raw elemental power flowing endlessly through every object before him. They had ceased to be simple items, rocks or metal or people. Instead, they pulsed with different colors that were exquisitely interwoven together in a dazzling tapestry, all the elements being fused together to form each object as though it were an impossibly complex combination of countless notes resulting in one final breathtaking song.


    It was as though the world were a poem, and Skyle could finally read its words.


    And just beyond, Skyle could feel the distant rumbling of a great power echoing the power of this majestic song from inside his own veins.


    It felt as though Skyle merely had to effortlessly summon it forth.


    All he had to do was sing.

 Chapter 6 - The gorilla, the imp and the beast

    Chapter 6 - A gorilla, an imp, and the beast


    Skyle couldn¡¯t bear to close his eyes, enraptured as he was by the spectacle this ¡°True Sight¡± displayed before him. He had been waiting his whole life for this moment, and now that it had finally come to pass, it had even exceeded his wildest dreams.


    A slight ripple spread through the streams of elemental essence in the air around Skyle, and he shivered at the wonder of watching these subtle waves slowly spread through the air and clash against other glowing objects of elemental essence. Laid bare before his vision, every object had its own elemental aura, and as Skyle slowly lowered his hand to look at a rock at his feet, he could see that what his physical sight perceived as a dead, unmoving object was in fact pulsing and rippling with these constant waves spreading through the air, the ground, everything. It was as though the rock was no mere rock, and was in fact a spectacularly intricate set of nets of elemental essence strands, constantly shifting and swaying to the constant pulses radiating through it. Though the rock seemed to be composed of all kinds of different colors, it was predominantly brown. These flecks of brown would sometimes fall away to gently sway in an invisible breeze, before slowly dissipating in the air.


    So mesmerized was Skyle by his study of a mere rock at his feet, that he was only brought out of his reverie when a thick current of yellow elemental energy entered his vision, rapidly approaching him. By the time Skyle took notice and jumped back, it had already reached towards him and hauled him up by his neck.


    ¡°Brave or foolish, little manling, you will still die by my hand,¡± Vissus stated flatly, holding Skyle aloft with one powerful arm.


    Skyle grunted as the sudden motion pulled at his broken ribs, and he was abruptly jolted out of the spirit vision. Instantly, the world lost its previous vibrancy and clarity, and Skyle¡¯s lips curled back in a fierce snarl as an animal sound of loss and rage escaped his lungs. Immediately, he brought the dagger still gripped in his hand in a reflexive stab towards his attacker¡¯s arm. Still, the clumsy move was far from enough to surprise his opponent, as Vissus didn¡¯t even shift his eyes from Skyle¡¯s face even as a numbing pain stung the boy¡¯s forearm and his dagger flew spinning out of his numb fingers and up into the air harmlessly.


    Vissus kept his eyes on Skyle while he nonchalantly snatched the dagger out of the air by the hilt, but then started visibly, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at the dagger in his hand. A moment later, his features instantly resumed his previous aloof expression, but there was a fire in his eyes that hadn¡¯t been there previously, not even when he had seen his underling savagely butchered before him.


    ¡°How did you come by this blade, little beast?¡± Vissus asked in a clipped, even tone, but there was a quiet intensity to his voice that could not be mistaken.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t utter anything but a low growl of frustration in reply. He had been so close to being able to hear the song inside him, one that had hinted of a mysterious power, of depths he hadn¡¯t even dreamed of. He had been but a step away from it, but this vile creature had interrupted him. No, if Skyle hadn¡¯t stopped to look at a stupid rock, if he had been more disciplined, more focused.


    Vissus narrowed his eyes slightly as the iron grip on Skyle¡¯s throat tightened minutely, but it was enough to emit an alarming creaking sound from the boy¡¯s fragile bones.


    ¡°Where did you find this blade?¡± Vissus repeated, his voice gaining more heat. ¡°Who gave it to you? How are you able to wield it?¡±


    Skyle gagged and struggled to draw breath past the hand clawing at his throat, and Vissus seemed to finally realize this as he relaxed his grip just enough so that Skyle could take a convulsive, gasping breath.


    ¡°Speak boy, or I will make you speak. You will tell me of this blade!¡± Vissus demanded, his eyes slightly bloodshot.


    ¡°I.. I found it by the ruins..¡± Skyle managed hoarsely, his last words giving way to a wet coughing fit that flecked his lips in blood.


    Vissus narrowed his eyes even further at Skyle¡¯s words, and within burned a fire that frightened Skyle more than any of the experiences he had been through earlier.


    ¡°Manling, you will-¡±


    ¡°Lord Vissus!¡± came the alarmed shout from somewhere behind Vissus¡¯ back.


    ¡°Not now,¡± Vissus growled, his previous indifference and aloofness melted away like wax under the heat of his glare.


    ¡°My lord, it¡¯s urgent! There¡¯s an anomaly at the rift. The protective wards are under attack. The outer perimeter is already strained to its limit, and as we speak the final two-¡±


    A massive explosion suddenly rippled from the direction of the voice, accompanied by a blinding flash of light and multiple screams of pain.


    ¡°Arrgh! Help me!¡±


    ¡°The outer layer has been breached!¡±


    ¡°Reinforce the inner perimeter!¡±


    ¡°What are the casualties?¡±


    ¡°Healers! I need help here!¡±


    Vissus glanced over his shoulder and growled in his throat before throwing Skyle towards a couple soldiers standing at attention nearby. ¡°Watch him, I will be back shortly. Guard him well, or your lives shall be forfeit.¡±


    The soldiers quickly caught Skyle and saluted by striking their fists against their chests.


    ¡°My lord, by your command!¡±


    Vissus threw one last look towards Skyle before unceremoniously ripping a strip out of an elaborate cape worn on his back and carefully wrapping the dagger in it. Tucking it into his belt, Vissus swiftly turned on his heel and marched away.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    As the crowd of soldiers around them hurriedly parted to make way for Vissus, Skyle finally caught sight of the rift that had brought him here. It looked much like the archway through which he had been pulled, standing at about 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide with complex symbols glowing with power all around it, and a black void swirling at its center. However, this time the dark, smoky mass seemed to be pulsing inwards in waves, as though some great power were attempting to force its way through from the other side.


    ¡°The attack is at the 6th circle level of power! The wards won¡¯t hold, rift collapse is imminent!¡± a desperate voice shouted, and a chorus of alarmed responses followed.


    ¡°You will hold!¡± Vissus¡¯ steely voice rang out, immediately silencing the panicked shouts and bringing a semblance of order to the chaos. ¡°Rift mages, untether the rift anchors and sever the aether connection.¡±


    ¡°Bu.. but my lord! The rift anchors will-¡±


    ¡°Do it,¡± Vissus repeated in the same tone. ¡°Better to risk damaging the anchors rather than losing them completely. Wards of this realm won¡¯t hold for much longer against a 6th circle assault.¡±


    ¡°By your command, my lord!¡±


    ¡°Som.. something is coming through!¡±


    ¡°Brace! Brace!¡±


    ¡°Guards, establish a perimeter around the rift. Mages, untether those anchors now!¡± Vissus growled while slowly drawing a magnificent one-edged sword from its sheath and clutching a round object in his other hand. ¡°I will deal with the intruder.¡±


    The ripples from the rift grew more violent and unstable as not only the inky darkness in the middle churned and boiled, but the rift¡¯s frame itself began to shake and flash with bright flashes of light every, as though an irresistible power were forcing it beyond its breaking point.


    ¡°Hold your ground!¡± Vissus stated coldly, staring at the seething rift threatening to collapse, and loud shouts of assent could be heard as multiple sounds of weapons being drawn and shields being lifted rang out across the small clearing.


    The two guards tasked with watching Skyle had been restraining him with a firm, professional grip as they immobilized both his arms and legs, heedless of Skyle¡¯s battered appearance. The fact that he was a 12 year old child with a broken leg and covered in wounds and blood seemed to matter very little to these soldiers. Then again, the gutted remains of Mencius likely served as a powerful reminder not to underestimate him.


    Thus, Skyle could do little but watch the rift along with Vissus and the rest of this huge host. What could possibly be so powerful as to threaten such a large force? Surely, it could not be the troll?


    The rift suddenly stilled for a moment, the churning mass of darkness abruptly calming until there was hardly a ripple in its surface, the symbols crackling with barely contained energies around its edges finally going inert.


    A collective sigh of relief seemed to echo around the grim faced soldiers standing guard around the rift.


    ¡°Mages, untether NOW!¡± Vissus suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, while crushing the object in his grip and lifting the sword held in his other hand high above his head. A shimmering globe of energy exploded forth from Vissus¡¯ hand, but all the light was swiftly absorbed into his skin. Vissus¡¯ eyes seemed to suddenly glow with incredible radiance, and the sword in his upraised fist began to crackle with energy.


    Confused looks crossed the faces of the soldiers around the rift, when it exploded with a blinding flash of light, all its symbols burning with scarlet energies. The black mass surged outward as some terrifying power stretched the trembling layer of darkness taut. Then, it suddenly collapsed and a clear point of glowing gold could be seen penetrating from the other side, making the darkness of the rift recoil from it like shadows fleeing the light.


    ¡°Red Crescent Blade!¡± Vissus immediately cried out, releasing a spectacular wave of scarlet light from his sword that rippled with power as it cleaved the air in its way to the rift.


    The golden light from the rift solidified into a massive, gold-furred claw that was almost as wide as the entire rift itself. It brutally forced its way forward, producing a keening sound from the rift as the edges warped and stretched around the terrifying power of the claw.


    Just as the claw was about to fully cross the threshold of the rift, Vissus¡¯ attack struck it dead on with a deafening explosion, scarlet waves of flame bursting forth in a blinding flash.


    Numerous men were knocked down in huge waves from the aftershock of the collision, but shockingly, the claw seemed to be resisting the power of Vissus¡¯ attack. However, the combined power of the rift and the Red Crescent Blade seemed to be too much for even the formidable attacker. The crimson energy from Vissus¡¯ sword crackled with power as it released wave after wave of intense heat, slowly pushing the claw back until it was enough to loosen its grip on the rift, and it was pushed back into its inky depths as the boiling darkness swiftly closed in on it.


    The scarlet fire was still burning in a painful aftervision in Skyle¡¯s eyes when a shadow abruptly flashed from the middle of the rift right before the last of the light was completely banished and the rift once again seethed with darkness, drawing closed once more. The shadow hurtled through the air and landed in front of the rift with a loud crash.


    ¡°Intruder!¡± voices cried out.


    ¡°To arms!¡±


    ¡°Exterminate the.. eh, threat?¡±


    As Skyle¡¯s eyes finally adjusted back from the glare, the first thing he noticed were the stupefied expressions on the guards faces as they stared at the figure that had launched itself from the rift.


    ¡°Rift mages!¡± Vissus growled once more, while glaring at the rift.


    Indeed, once more the dark mass of the rift began to churn furiously, but this time a loud cracking sound ecchoed across the rift, and several symbols on its frame seemed to shudder before slowly crumbling to dust. Instantly, the rift began to shrink down, and along with it, the struggles from the other side diminished greatly.


    Right before the final point of darkness in the rift finally disintegrated, it rippled explosively one final time, and a spine-shuddering growl of fury could be heard from the other side. Then the rift finally closed and the last of the darkness blinked out of existence, leaving only a blank stone surface once more.


    This roar, it was somewhat familiar by now, as Skyle had heard it before crossing the rift. It had been the same beastly roar from the forest.


    Skyle nearly failed to notice all this, of course, as most of his attention was riveted on the unexpected ¡°threat¡± that had sprung forth from the rift right before it closed.


    As dozens of sharp instruments of death and mayhem were pointed at his face, neck, heart and other vital parts by grim-faced men reeking of murder and destruction, Leon Draxas Di Adrausier slowly stood up and dusted himself with one hand while the other hung limply at his side, dripping blood from where it obviously had been broken.


    Leon¡¯s eyebrows shot up as he eyed the massive host surrounding him, the whites of his eyes widening further and further as his lips parted slightly in a wordless expression of stunned disbelief. His roaming eyes finally stopped as they latched on to Skyle¡¯s gaze, and for a moment many complex expressions seemed to flicker across them as the two boys stared at each other across hundreds, thousands of hostile swords.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± A soldier prompted in an imperious voice, and one of the spears leveled at Leon waved threateningly at his face.


    Leon sighed deeply before muttering under his breath, words that no one¡¯s ears could catch, but which Skyle was somehow certain he had correctly read in his lips. And for once, Skyle wholeheartedly agreed.


    ¡°A stupid gorilla following a moronic imp..¡±

 Chapter 7 - Captured

    Chapter 7 - Captured


    Chaos erupted everywhere at the camp. Vissus grunted as he spit a mouthful of blood and fell to one knee on the ground, breathing harshly. Soldiers milled about in frenzied activity as they sought to help those wounded, while others moved to work on the now inert rift.


    After a moment, Vissus slowly rose to his feet and issued a set of commands which were too low to be overheard by Skyle, but which further spurred the soldiers into action. Then Vissus seemed to recall something as his eyes went back to Skyle.


    Motioning to another soldier standing respectfully behind his shoulder, Vissus motioned towards Leon and then in Skyle¡¯s direction. The soldier saluted smartly before gathering a half dozen soldiers and bringing Leon over to Skyle¡¯s side at swordpoint.


    ¡°Put them in one of the cages by themselves. Lord Vissus will interrogate them later,¡± the soldier ordered, and the rest of the men saluted, their armor echoing loudly as they struck their fists against their chests.


    Rough hands shoved Leon and Skyle together in the direction of the cages, where the milling masses of human prisoners stared at them in a pitiful mixture of fear and desperation.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t wait any longer and purposefully put his weight on his injured leg. It instantly gave out under him as he let out a low cry of pain, and Leon was quick to step forward and catch him before he fell onto the ground. The soldiers looked on with an icy expression, but didn¡¯t seem to care overmuch as they once more prodded the boys forward. Still, the soldiers kept enough of a distance from them that Skyle felt it would be safe to talk.


    ¡°What happened out there?¡± Skyle asked under his breath, glancing sideways at the guards to make sure they were not being overheard, while slowly moving towards the cages under their watchful gaze. The guards didn¡¯t seem to care about their conversation at all, as though they were merely herding unruly sheep towards the slaughterhouse.


    This didn¡¯t bid well for Leon and himself, Skyle realized.


    ¡°One moment the troll was rushing towards me, then the next you got sucked into that rift and a bizarre shockwave of elemental energy rippled from it. A couple seconds later, the troll was almost on me and I was desperately trying to release one more fire blast to hold it off when I saw a blur out of the corner of my eye and the troll simply turned into minced meat. Its upper body just exploded in front of my eyes and the legs collapsed to one side. Then I saw it.¡±


    Skyle raised an eyebrow at the other youth¡¯s tone.


    ¡°It?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to describe it, I¡¯ve never seen its like. It was a golden furred beast at least twenty feet tall, surrounded by a berserk aura that froze my blood just to look at it for a moment. Fortunately it wasn¡¯t paying any attention to me, or I don¡¯t think I would have been able to bear the pressure of its gaze even for a second.¡±


    ¡°It still saved you,¡± Skyle whispered, his eyes narrowing in thought.


    Leon scoffed, ¡°More like the troll was on the way and the monster couldn¡¯t be bothered to swerve around it. It just charged at the rift and the shockwave from that impact was enough to nearly send me toppling backward. It didn¡¯t even look at me twice.¡±


    ¡°What happened next?¡±


    ¡°The beast went berserk against the rift, swinging its paws and charging against the rift over and over. I saw discharges of energy that were entire levels above anything I¡¯ve ever seen, and I¡¯ve been around some of the top elemental mages out there my whole life. It was insane, that thing was ripping apart those defenses like they were made of glass, and it didn¡¯t even seem to care about any of the backlash from its attacks,¡± Leon muttered grimly, still helping Skyle along. ¡°It was blood and explosions all over the place. Whatever it wanted, it wasn¡¯t about to let anything get in its way.¡±


    ¡°Then how in the world did you manage to get in here?¡± Skyle asked in a low, astonished tone.


    Leon cleared his throat slightly.


    ¡°Ahem, well, when I saw the beast driven back from the rift just as it was about to cross over, I was stunned. That¡¯s when I spotted that huge red energy slash light up the night and send the beast hurtling back a hundred paces or so. I knew the beast was about to go berserk and I wasn¡¯t in any shape to take cover anywhere else. So, I sought refuge in the only place I could think of.¡±


    Skyle eyed the other youth with a disbelieving stare. ¡°So you just jumped into the rift? Right, right. I know we haven¡¯t had the most brilliant run so far, but I think we both know better than that.¡±


    Leon simply shrugged, avoiding Skyle¡¯s gaze.


    Skyle sighed, letting out a tired breath.


    ¡°You know, you didn¡¯t have to come after me. I was the one that chose to get close to the stupid rift. After all, we wouldn¡¯t have lasted much longer against the troll without that focus sword. Which you still managed to lose, I see.¡± Skyle added while looking down at Leon¡¯s empty scabbard.


    Leon¡¯s ears grew slightly red as his face flushed, but he grumbled, ¡°It was ripped from my hands by some strange power when I jumped through the rift. I.. I must admit I thought your earlier warnings were just some superstitious peasant nonsense. I never would have imagined it was actually a rift. That¡¯s spatial magic! Asides from a few rare storage artifacts, that sort of magic has been extinct for the past few hundred years! Do you realize the implications?¡±


    Leon stopped abruptly as he saw the withering gaze Skyle was directing at him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Eh, right. Well, any idea where we are and who these soldiers are?¡±


    ¡°No idea, I was hoping you might have an idea. Their armor is unlike any I¡¯ve seen, and I don¡¯t see any pennants or banners anywhere,¡± Skyle muttered.


    ¡°They¡¯re monsters, of course they wouldn¡¯t fly any banners,¡± Leon interrupted, as he almost but not quite rolled his eyes.


    Skyle started, and looked back at Leon in surprise. ¡°Monsters?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m surprised you can act this calm. To be honest, I¡¯ve been around monstrosities all my life and even I feel rather.. ahem, unnerved by these beasts,¡± Leon muttered, glancing around at the soldiers escorting them.


    Skyle followed Leon¡¯s gaze, studying the soldiers around them.


    ¡°What monster are you talking about?¡± Skyle asked slowly.


    ¡°Are you blind? You take your pick, the goat-headed behemoth to our right, the purple skinned bastard with tentacles extending all under its gigantic maw, the two-headed blue crow with three eyes.. The list just goes on. What? Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Skyle silently shook his head as he recalled his first experience upon crossing the rift. He had seen the same terrible visions, but when his true sight had opened, the world had changed completely.


    The dreary, desolate landscape filled with red sand and rocks had vanished, to be replaced by a a lush, verdant landscape filled with trees and plants of every imaginable shade, from purple to green to red, each more vibrant and beautiful than the last. Even the skies were no longer black, filled with ominous clouds. Instead, they were clear and bright, with flashes of colors constantly illuminating it, though no sun, moon or stars were present.


    Even the monsters were gone, replaced by soldiers who looked human, though taller and much more formidable looking than most men Skyle had ever seen, even by the standards of the Crimson Guard, back at Redemption Keep. The dreadful armor filled with dark symbols was gone, replaced by gleaming metal skillfully embossed with intricate designs.


    ¡°Can you understand what they¡¯re saying?¡± Skyle murmured.


    ¡°Of course I can. Can¡¯t you?¡± Leon still stared at Skyle as though he had gone insane.


    ¡°So, it only affects the sight. I wonder if its time, or some other effect.¡± Skyle murmured to himself. Then he promptly shook his head. ¡°No matter. Leon, can you summon your elemental power?¡±


    Leon¡¯s shoulders visibly sagged, and he wore a vulnerable look that Skyle had never seen on the other youth¡¯s face, even when the troll had been about to rip him to shreds.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t feel the elements at all in this dreadful place. I don¡¯t understand,¡± Leon muttered, and there was a shudder that ran through his voice. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be possible. The elements should be ever present, they should be everywhere. Yet, I can''t feel a thing! I feel smothered, trapped. I hate this place.¡±


    Skyle narrowed his eyes as he recalled the item Vissus had crushed in his grip before releasing that terrifying attack. Obviously, the commander had been reluctant to use the attack, and there had been quite the backlash after he had unleashed it.


    However, what puzzled Skyle was that while the true sight had left him, for the brief moment he had been immersed in it, the world had seemed to be filled to the brim with raw, untapped elemental essence. It had felt as though he merely had to stretch out a finger, and he could have unleashed all that power at his beck and call.


    ¡°Listen Leon, I heard them mention a sacrificial ritual,¡± Skyle whispered, leaning heavily on Leon¡¯s shoulder while staring ahead at the cages in the distance. ¡°Unless I¡¯m mistaken, the captives in the cages ahead of us might be people like us who have been captured when crossing the boundary of the Forbidden Forest.¡±


    ¡°Human sacrifices?¡± Leon hissed, his grip on Skyle¡¯s shoulder tightening unconsciously.


    ¡°I would guess so. Either way, it doesn¡¯t look as though those prisoners are being used for labor or other purposes. They look too clean, in spite of the lack of clothes.


    ¡°All those naked people.. It is almost like they¡¯re rounding up cattle,¡± Leon agreed, his face twisting in disgust.


    ¡°I doubt they¡¯re going to put us with them, at least not for now,¡± Skyle pointed out.


    ¡°They did say that, didn''t they? Why are they so interested in you?¡±


    ¡°Because I gutted one of their soldiers like a pig, and managed to catch their commander¡¯s attention,¡± Skyle answered honestly. ¡°He specifically charged these soldiers with my safety, at the cost of their own lives. They wouldn¡¯t risk anything happening to me while I¡¯m in with the other prisoners.¡±


    Skyle intentionally left out the dagger. He didn¡¯t quite know what to make of Leon just yet, and while he appreciated the fact that the other boy had risked death to follow after him in order to help him, the whole scene where the dagger¡¯s terrifying power had been revealed, as well as Vissus¡¯ vehement reaction, had simply been too shocking.


    Skyle shook his head to clear it, returning his attention to the current conversation.


    ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like they¡¯re short of cages,¡± Leon was saying bitterly. ¡°From our reaction to each other, we obviously know one another. So, they will keep probably keep us separate from the others, at least until their commander comes around.


    Skyle nodded, ¡°This is an opportunity.¡±


    Leon quickly agreed, ¡°Escape will become a lot more difficult once we¡¯re put in with the rest of the captives. They¡¯re under constant surveillance and we won¡¯t be able to make a move without drawing attention. The other option would be a mass break out but that sort of thing takes careful planning. Otherwise, it will be crushed by these monsters.¡±


    Skyle sighed. ¡°Still, what about all those people?¡±


    ¡°What about them?¡± Leon growled, staring holes through Skyle. ¡°I¡¯ve got a broken arm, you have a busted leg, surrounded by an army of nightmarish beasts, and you¡¯re still thinking of being the hero?¡±


    ¡°Not a hero. I just.. We can¡¯t just ignore all those people,¡± Skyle murmured.


    ¡°Look, you have to look at this logically. We need to save ourselves first if we want to save others. Besides,¡± Leon said in an exasperated tone. ¡°We are under a deadline, remember? We need to make our escape good within the next three days. Agreed?¡±


    Skyle nodded slowly.


    ¡°I.. I suppose you¡¯re right. Alright,¡± Skyle agreed haltingly, but his voice gained confidence as he kept going. ¡°Yes, we need to take advantage of this momentary chaos in the enemy forces.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re wrong about one thing,¡± Skyle¡¯s hand gripped Leon¡¯s shoulder forcefully, all the while staring at the guards who wore indifferent expressions as they slowly, inexorably led them towards the cages ahead.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Leon asked.


    ¡°Tonight.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Tonight,¡± Skyle repeated slowly.


    Skyle could still feel the fire burning fiercely in Vissus¡¯ eyes as he¡¯d demanded to know about the dagger. He had lied to Vissus as best as he could about its origins, saying he had merely found it in some nearby ruins. However, for some reason Skyle was sure that the enemy commander had not believed him in the least. He would be back for answers, and Skyle wasn¡¯t sure if he was more afraid of what Vissus would do in order to get his answers, or what he would do once he did find them.


    ¡°We need to make it out tonight, or I have the feeling we never will.¡±

 Interlude - A Mans Duty

    Interlude - A Man¡¯s Duty


    As his shaking hands pulled on the bowstring, the arrowhead wavered ever so slightly, as though mirroring the crumbling resolve of the archer himself.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this,¡± Skyle whispered through clenched teeth, squeezing his eyes shut.


    A strong, heavily calloused hand blanketed over Skyle¡¯s trembling fingers, easing the relentless pull of the heavy bowstring for a moment.


    ¡°Focus, Skyle.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to focus, that¡¯s not the problem here!¡± Skyle rebutted angrily.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this, or you won¡¯t?¡± came the slow, mild question.


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Skyle muttered.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, then I will understand and we will go over the basics again first thing tomorrow. However, if you won¡¯t do it, then we will stand here until your mother comes looking for us and scolds us for freezing our butts off while the dinner she¡¯s slaved making all day gets cold.¡±


    Skyle scowled indignantly at Kendric Farrow¡¯s face, but his father merely grinned back at him as he would at an unruly child.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand why I need to learn this stuff!¡± Skyle complained, his small hands shaking even harder, the arrow coming dangerously close to being dislodged from the bow altogether.


    ¡°I already told you, no son of mine is going to be a defenseless little chick. The Farrows will be lions among men!¡± his father exclaimed happily.


    ¡°I get that. I really do. Why do I have to kill a poor little rabbit though? What has that little thing ever done to me?¡± Skyle glared at his father, demanding an answer.


    ¡°It is a lesson, son. A lesson which you must learn sooner rather than later,¡± Kendric chuckled, rapping a knuckle against the top of his son¡¯s head. ¡°Given how thick your skull is, I think we had best get a headstart, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to grin your way through this, da! I can hit it, I really can. I don¡¯t need to kill anything to prove it.¡±


    ¡°This is not a lesson in archery, son,¡± came Kendric¡¯s calm reply.


    ¡°Then it is one on murder!¡± Skyle accused, bitter tears welling up in his eyes.


    For once, Kendric Farrow seemed at a loss for words as the cold winter winds howled through the trees, stirring the branches above and bringing a fresh shower of snow swaying down from above.


    After a deep sigh, Kendric¡¯s hand tightened over his son¡¯s, pulling the bowstring taut once more.


    ¡°Is that your answer?¡± Skyle spat out heatedly.


    Another heavy sigh ensued.


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± Skyle continued, tears blurring his sight. ¡°I hate this.¡±


    ¡°I know it is not fair. Believe me, I know a thing or two about that,¡± Kendric muttered, running a frustrated hand through his hair. ¡°Look, you know I¡¯m no good with words-¡±


    ¡°Amen to that,¡± Skyle agreed emphatically.


    ¡°Shush, this is important,¡± Kendric said gravely, lifting his gaze to look into his son¡¯s eyes. ¡°Look, I wish I could stand here and look at you in the eyes and tell you the world is about hopes and dreams and love and that so long as you always believe in those things, everything will be alright.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°Mother would,¡± Skyle cut in.


    ¡°She would, and bless her for that. And when the sun dies over the horizon, when the shadows creep in during the night, when the wind bites into your flesh and the rain freezes your blood, it is at those times you will be forced to take up your bow, and knife, and fight until you taste blood on your lips and your fingers are too numb to feel anything. You must fight until your every breath is a struggle and every beat of your heart is borrowed time, and never, ever give up. Do you know why?¡±


    Skyle stared at his father¡¯s sudden outburst in dazed confusion.


    ¡°Because your mother is right, and it is up to us to prove it,¡± Kendric Farrow grinned his roguish smile at his son, and though there was a haunted quality to his eyes, deep within Skyle could see a man¡¯s unrelenting resolve to be beaten, yet never defeated.


    Kendric Farrow¡¯s smile slowly withered, contracting from the corners and continuing all the way until his eyes lost that perpetually jovial glint. Instead, the cold of winter blew through the depths of his eyes until it was all Skyle could do to keep hold of the bow instead of dropping it.


    ¡°Now, kill that rabbit and let¡¯s go home, son. Your mother is waiting.¡±


    Moments later, an arrow glittered brightly under the last rays of the setting sun before striking home with a spray of crimson blood.


    As Skyle stood above the still-warm body of the rabbit slowly dyeing the bright snow red, his father placed a heavy hand on top of his shoulders and shoved a hard object into his numb hands.


    Skyle looked down and was stunned to see it was his father¡¯s old hunting dagger. It was always by his side, and in fact Skyle couldn¡¯t recall the last time he had removed it for any longer than absolutely necessary.


    ¡°Here, take it,¡± Kendric said simply, ruffling his son¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Da? What is this?¡± Skyle mumbled, staring in confusion at the dagger in his hands. It was much heavier than he¡¯d expected for such a small thing. Of course, it had looked small in his father¡¯s practiced grip, but they absolutely dwarfed Skyle¡¯s own tiny fingers. The fine double edged blade was about one inch wide and twelve inches long, with an elegant but well worn crossguard. The hilt was wrapped in supple leather, with a peculiar emblem at the very bottom. It looked like it had been an eagle once, but several vicious blows had defaced its outline to the point where it was difficult to truly make it out.


    ¡°This is your favorite dagger,¡± Skyle blurted out, staring down at his hands in disbelief.


    ¡°And now it belongs to my favorite child,¡± Kendric chuckled, then winked at Skyle as he put a thick arm around his son¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Of course, that¡¯ll be our little secret from your little brother and sister.¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes in spite of himself. ¡°I know you tell the same thing to Reik and Kass behind my back all the time.¡±


    Kendric put on an expression of shock. ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Because you say the same thing every day in front of all of us!¡± Skyle laughed helplessly, but as his eyes flicked towards the dead body of the first life he had ever taken, his hands began to shake and his smile withered.


    Kendric¡¯s hand around his son¡¯s shoulders tightened, and Skyle could hear his father¡¯s gentle whisper in his ears.


    ¡°It was also a gift, from the man who taught me this same lesson,¡± Kendric whispered, and Skyle nodded slowly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget this lesson, Skyle. Your mother believes in love, and it is up to us protect that faith. For that, you need courage and strength in equal measures. That¡¯s as fair a bargain as you¡¯ll ever get from this life.¡±


    Kendric¡¯s other hand slowly tightened over Skyle¡¯s fingers as they held the dagger¡¯s hilt, and Skyle nodded once more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever let her down, boy.¡±


    Skyle bit his lips and nodded a third time, finally speaking in a determined voice, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Good. Good. You know how your mother nags,¡± Kendric finished, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes once more as he turned around and began to head home.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re forgetting your prize,¡± Kendric reminded his son.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my prize, it¡¯s my victim,¡± Skyle called out over his shoulder. ¡°And I think it deserves a little respect. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m taking it home with me. Not this time.¡±


    Kendric paused for a moment, looking at his 7 year old son¡¯s retreating back, and for a second his good-natured grin melted off his features and they took on the look of a deeply conflicted, guilty man.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, son,¡± Kendric mouthed silently, and unshed tears glistened in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    Skyle froze in midstep, frowning, and whirled around to glare at his father.


    ¡°Are you coming or what? We are late as it is, and Mom is not going to be happy,¡± Skyle complained, waving the dagger in his hand excitedly. ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t wait to show this to Reik and Kass!¡±


    ¡°Coming, coming,¡± Kendric coughed, quickly turning his head. ¡°Be right there, go on ahead. I¡¯ll race you to see who gets back first, you little rascal.¡±


    ¡°Hah, I¡¯m really going to beat you this time!¡± Skyle cried out excitedly, dashing off into the trees like a gazelle.


    With a final sigh, Kendric nodded his head slowly and pressed a fist against his heart, eyes heavy and shoulders sagging. Then he lifted his gaze, and a fierce determination burned deep in his eyes.


    ¡°I will protect you,¡± Kendric whispered in the direction his young son had left in. ¡°I swear it..¡±


    ¡°This time, I will!¡±

 Chapter 8 - Escape

    Chapter 8 - Escape


    Skyle and Leon grunted as they were both unceremoniously thrown into an empty cage that was isolated from the rest of the cages. Twenty meters to either side, countless humans milled within similar cages. Their eyes were full of fear and despair though none dared to make a sound under the cruel eyes of a half dozen guards stationed to keep watch.


    ¡°You will await the Lord Commander¡¯s pleasure here,¡± one of the soldiers escorting them stated flatly, contempt dripping from his voice. ¡°Any act of disobedience will be punished by death.¡±


    Skyle glared at the guard in defiance. ¡°Your commander said-¡±


    The soldier met Skyle¡¯s gaze for a moment, then tilted his head to one side. Immediately, one of the soldiers behind him stepped forward and delivered a violent kick against Leon¡¯s broken arm. Fresh blood splattered against the dirt floor of the cage as Leon gritted his teeth, refusing to let out a sound but writhing on the ground in agony.


    ¡°Hmmph. This one¡¯s got some mettle,¡± the soldier murmured, then slowly turned his eyes back to Skyle. ¡°I know a hundred different ways to break such men, let alone pups like you. The commander didn''t say anything about your friend. Go on, just try me.¡±


    ¡°You bastards!¡± Skyle cried out in outrage, but suddenly doubled over in a violent coughing fit, clutching at his own ribs where they¡¯d cracked in his previous fight. When his head came back up, there was blood dripping from his lips.


    Still, Skyle glared furiously at the soldier. The soldier narrowed his eyes and was about to motion to the soldier next to him again, but Skyle finally conceded, dropping his gaze and hurried to Leon¡¯s side to see to his wound. Meanwhile, with a cold clang, the cage door was shut and their escort left, though not before leaving two men to stand guard over the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± Leon said through clenched teeth, but blood was still oozing from the wound where the jagged end of a bone broke through the skin of his arm. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re not looking too good yourself.¡±


    ¡°Good, then that¡¯s as it should be,¡± Skyle easily agreed, glancing back towards the door, beyond which the sentries had been posted. ¡°As for you, I think your arm is just about bad enough to suit us.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Leon froze and looked up at Skyle in confusion. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°We need to break out of here, and that means either us getting out there or them coming in here. We have no weapons, and no elemental power either. That only leaves two things,¡± Skyle stated matter-of-factly, pointing to his own head, then to his bloodied lips. ¡°Our wits, and our injuries.¡±


    ¡°Hey, what about your-¡± Leon cut off abruptly as Skyle showed him his bleeding lips where he had bit into to them to produce the blood. Then Leon glanced down at Skyle¡¯s broken leg. It was still slightly bent at an unnatural angle, but it was not as severe a wound as Leon¡¯s own. ¡°So you pretended?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a couple cracked ribs and a busted leg, but the worse our injuries look, the better for now.¡±


    ¡°I see. Yeah, not bad, not bad at all farmboy. Will they really come to treat our injuries?¡±


    ¡°Most likely, yes, even if only to ensure that I survive until their commander¡¯s interrogation. A better question would be, so what if they enter? I doubt we can overpower them, at least not without weapons and in this state,¡± Skyle muttered.


    ¡°Speak for yourself!¡± Leon growled in a low voice, glaring hotly at the guards outside the cage.


    Skyle raised an eyebrow at Leon, and the other boy¡¯s shoulders slowly sagged.


    ¡°If only I had access to my fire spirit,¡± Leon growled.


    Skyle narrowed his eyes momentarily as he glanced at Leon. Perhaps it was the fact that he had never been able to rely on any elemental power to help him through his own hardships, but Skyle was truly taken aback at how much others depended on it, and how much its lack crippled their own abilities and potential. After all, the flame-flinging Leon that Skyle had faced earlier had been much more domineering and confident than the Leon sitting on the ground now.


    Maybe that¡¯s part of the price of great power, Skyle pondered to himself. We become too dependant on it. Then again, who would begrudge that small price for such incredible power? That brought back the memory of the overwhelming currents of raw elemental power coursing through every inch of this world. That feeling of being on the cusp of being able to wield such intoxicating power, it had been terrifying yet wondrous at the same time. Skyle closed his eyes and tentatively attempted to reach out for that same state once more, but reality proved cruel and the elemental sight was elusive as ever.


    Had Skyle simply dreamed all of it? Had it been a delusion?


    After failing a few times, Skyle decided he simply did not have the time at the moment. Kendric Farrow hadn¡¯t taught Skyle to rely on wishful thinking, and the only miracles he believed in were those of his own making.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Are you done yet?¡± Leon asked when he noticed Skyle opening his eyes.


    ¡°With?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t sense your elemental power either, can you?¡± Leon asked, his mouth twisted in disgust. ¡°I can¡¯t even enter the spirit sight.¡±


    Skyle opened his mouth, then closed it. There would be little point to explaining the fact that he was crippled and had never been able to truly enter the spirit sight until just a moment ago. Instead, he commented on something he¡¯d observed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone can, at least not without paying some kind of price,¡± Skyle pointed out. ¡°The guards haven¡¯t used any elemental power, and even that commander was using some sort of object to power his attack against the beast.¡±


    ¡°Just what kind of pit in hell is this?¡± Leon grumbled, glancing at the sky above.


    Skyle followed his gaze, but all he saw were the bright lights of a beautifully multicolored afternoon slowly giving way to a breathtaking dusk as the brightness slowly receded from the sky. Glancing sideways at Leon, he wondered if all the other boy could see at the moment were the ominous dark clouds that Skyle had also seen when he had first arrived. The power of the True Sight offered many advantages, Skyle realized. He simply needed time to learn to familiarize himself with it and capitalize its assets.


    Of course, life seldom would be so accommodating. His father had warned Skyle not to expect life to be fair, but at the very least he had expected a fighting chance. Broken, injured and captured by a vast army of hostile enemies in an alien environment, what was a mere 12 year old to do? Lie down and wait to die?


    Shaking his head from unnecessary thoughts, Skyle whispered, ¡°Hey, at least we¡¯re not naked.¡±


    Leon glanced at the milling masses of naked captives trapped in the other cages in the area and shuddered. The cages were made of sturdy, interwoven bars of metal driven deeply into the ground. On the other side of the bars, many naked people stared at them with unreadable eyes.


    ¡°You think there¡¯s any chance of talking to the other prisoners?¡± Skyle asked.


    Leon shook his head, ¡°None of them dare to raise their voice that much. Doubt they¡¯ll be much help for now.¡±


    ¡°No matter then,¡± Skyle continued in a low tone, ¡°I saw the keys they used to lock the door hanging from the belt of the guard on the right.¡±


    Leon blinked, then quickly looked towards the men guarding their door. They wore a strangely nondescript armor but Leon could see no belt, and neither could he spot any keys.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Leon muttered.


    ¡°You know, the guard on the right, with the brown belt and the tasseled sword.¡±


    ¡°What belt and what sword? All I see are a couple clubs hanging from both the guards¡¯ waists.¡±


    Skyle at once realized it must be the True Sight at play once again. Upon explaining his theory about the illusions and the true sight, Leon frowned at Skyle as though he were trying to decide whether his cellmate was going insane. After going through the same explanation three times, each coming under heavier and heavier barrages of skeptical questions, Skyle finally decided enough was enough.


    ¡°Either you¡¯ll have to trust me about the keys, or we¡¯ll have to take our chances against two heavily armed professional soldiers with nothing but hot wind and busted limbs,¡± Skyle pointed out matter-of-factly, and Leon looked even gloomier than he had when he was trying to decide the matter of Skyle¡¯s sanity.


    ¡°Ah hell, I¡¯ve been pounded to bloody chunks by a troll, then sailed through a magic portal into a land of nightmares filled to the brim with blood-thirsty monsters. More than likely, I¡¯m the one going insane,¡± Leon muttered almost to himself before taking a long, deep breath. ¡°Fine, but since I can¡¯t see the keys, you¡¯ll have to snatch them. Are you up for it?¡±


    ¡°So long as you can provide a big enough commotion, I should be able to.¡±


    ¡°Pickpocketing come naturally to farm boys where you¡¯re from?,¡± Leon raised an eyebrow.


    Skyle eyed the other boy coolly and without any heat, but Leon slowly lowered his own gaze first.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± Leon murmured in a low tone.


    Skyle just shrugged it off. ¡°Not pickpocketing but.. Ah, just wait until you meet my da. Then you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡°Was he the one who taught you how to shoot?¡±


    ¡°Much more than that,¡± Skyle replied, his eyes hardening. ¡°He taught me how to kill.¡±


    ¡°I guess we have that in common, then,¡± Leon muttered bitterly, and both boys shared a long look of unexpected, but much welcome common understanding.


    ¡°Look, I think we somehow got off on the wrong foot. As it seems likely that we will be risking our lives together for the immediate future, it only seems proper that we should know who we are and what we can do,¡± Leon stretched his healthy hand towards Skyle in an elegant, noble gesture.


    ¡°Allow me to, most humbly, extend my salutations as Earl Leon Draxas Di Adrausier, heir of the House of Draxas, scion Di Adrausier of the Grand Duchy of Adrausier and Delphos. I¡¯m a fire elemental summoner adept at the third stage, mentored by Archsummoner Faustus Brigandir of The Nine Suns. I¡¯m also the student of Grand General Marius Poncius, trained in the martial arts and strategic endeavors of war from early childhood. As well, I¡¯ve had the honor to be tutored in the arts and sciences by the sage philosopher Articitus and initiated into the holy mysteries of the Sacred Flame by his Holiness Archbishop Albedar Sumnus IV.¡±


    After finishing this smooth, obviously well polished and rehearsed recital, Leon looked expectantly at the other youth.


    Skyle scratched his head awkwardly before reaching out and shaking Leon¡¯s hand with a bashful smile.


    ¡°Eh.. Skyle Farrow. Um, eldest son of the Farrow Farm of Sunny Meadow. Taught hunting and herding by Kendric Farrow. Ah, that¡¯s my da, owner and master herder. Also learned letters and numbers from my mother, Adrienne Farrow, erm, Mistress of the Farrow Farm.¡±


    Leon¡¯s lips twitched a couple times before he nodded energetically with a twinkling fire dancing in his eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to say, Skyle. If you learned it all from your ¡®da¡¯, he has got to be a mean bastard of a farmer, no offense intended.¡±


    Skyle chuckled darkly at that.


    ¡°Hah, none taken. And you¡¯ve got no idea.¡±


    Leon pointedly glanced down at his broken arm and raised at eyebrow at Skyle.


    ¡°Really?


    ¡°Really. Now, let¡¯s get this show on the road.¡±

 Chapter 9 - Escape (Part 2)

    Chapter 9 - Escape (Part 2)


    ¡°G.. guards,¡± Skyle panted harshly between chattering teeth.


    As he lay on the cold dirt floor, Skyle raised a trembling hand in the direction of the cell door, all the while cursing at the guards in his heart.


    ¡°Guards!¡± he tried again, with just a touch more desperation.


    Skyle remembered hearing countless tales of lazy and overweight guards who spent most of their time snoring the hours away while drinking themselves senseless the rest of the time.


    Of course, this was no such tale, more¡¯s the pity.


    The sentries with their backs to the Skyle¡¯s cage did not even twitch, standing stoically with their vigilant gazes looking out for any sign of trouble. They did not even exchange any words with one another as they carried out their duty to the letter.


    ¡°Guards.. Help.. Cold..¡± Skyle moaned, and the last words barely made it out of his chattering teeth, before his hand fell limply to the floor, followed by the rest of his body as it collapsed in a heap.


    Ostensively, the youths had spent the past fifteen minutes attempting to bandage their wounds as well as they could. However, their clumsy attempts had failed to stop the flow of blood and while Leon had continued to maintain his silence while glaring at the guards, Skyle had began to call out to their captors for assistance.


    Even though Leon had looked at Skyle with a marked disdain, Skyle hadn¡¯t minded as he kept pleading to the guards, though his cries fell on deaf ears. After a few minutes of this, Skyle¡¯s complexion had become gradually paler, his lips constantly flecked with blood.


    Upon seeing his companion finally collapse onto the floor, Leon dragged himself to Skyle¡¯s side and began to shake him in alarm.


    ¡°Skyle! Skyle!¡±


    Upon being unable to reach a response, Leon rushed towards the cage door and snarled at the guards, ¡°You bastards, my friend¡¯s not responding! You have to do something!¡±


    Both guards still didn¡¯t turn around, but Leon knew he had their attention now.


    ¡°He¡¯s been spitting blood for the past hour and now he won¡¯t even answer to me. You can¡¯t let him die! Your commander wants him alive!¡±


    Both guards frowned at this and exchanged a long look. Finally, one of them murmured something and the other nodded. At this, they turned around and drew their clubs while one of them fiddled with something from his waist. Keys? But Leon truly couldn¡¯t see anything at all!


    ¡°Back, animal. You will sit at the opposite wall. If you move at all, I will break your other arm for you,¡± one of the guards said coldly.


    Leon rapidly backed up, all the while looking at Skyle in obvious concern.


    The guard who had just spoken grunted, then nodded to the other. He reached toward the cage¡¯s door, and after fiddling for a moment, unlocked it with a loud click. Then they both entered the cage, one standing vigilantly by the door, watching Leon, while the other approached Skyle, club in hand.


    The man first gathered Skyle¡¯s hands together and immobilized them while he checked his condition in a rough but professional way. Seeing this, Leon cursed at the guards¡¯ caution. They were just some kids, not some hardened criminals! If it was like this, how would they find their chance to get the keys?


    ¡°Hey, be careful! He¡¯s badly injured, burn you!¡± Leon snarled furiously, and his emotions this time were no act at all.


    The guard standing watch by the door merely rapped the side of the cage with his fist, but just that simple blow made the whole wall rattle heavily, even shaking the back wall of the cage where Leon was leaning. Unconsciously, Leon frowned. Given that soldier¡¯s strength, he was definitely a strong elemental warrior at the very least!


    The guard examining Skyle¡¯s condition had quickly taken his pulse, and his expression grew complex as he made to stand up. However, at this time Skyle¡¯s trembling hand rose up to snatch at his hand.


    ¡°P.. Please, help me! I¡¯m scared!¡± Skyle cried out pitifully, between shaking lips.


    The guard had instantly tensed up when he sensed movement from Skyle, but relaxed when he saw the boy¡¯s expression. He tried to shake Skyle off his arm, but the grip was much stronger than he¡¯d anticipated, obviously fueled by the fear and desperation in the boy¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Help me! I don¡¯t want to die! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Skyle whimpered.


    ¡°Get off me, you little animal!¡± The guard scoffed dismissively, and attempted to shake off Skyle more vigorously. He even raised a hand to strike Skyle, but he paused for a moment as he seemed to recall his orders. With a disgusted expression, he looked down to Skyle¡¯s broken leg and mercilessly stepped on it, applying pressure.


    Skyle cried out in agony, but instead of letting go, he only pulled harder at the guard. Leon joined as well, instantly springing up to tackle the guard while screaming, ¡°Hey! Stop that you bastard!¡±


    The guard struggling with Skyle seemed surprised to find the heavily wounded boy desperately clutching at his legs now, and although he saw Leon charging at him at the last minute, he was too late to react as Leon shoulder charged him with all his strength.


    Leon Draxas was only a youth, but his height and build were already that of a young adult. In addition, years of studying the fire elemental summoning arts to supplement his own body¡¯s growth had yielded spectacular increases to his physical power and explosive strength.


    The shock and surprise were obvious in the faces of both guards as Leon¡¯s charge bodily lifted the guard off his feet and bore him down to the ground with a resounding crash. However, these were well trained guards and the element of surprise only won them this much, as the soldier Leon had tackled had already delivered a vicious elbow to Leon¡¯s face and expertly twisted his body to disentangle himself from Leon, rolling away from him in spite of the heavy armor the soldier wore.


    Leon was left behind on the ground as his charge had explosive power, but little technique to follow through. surprisingly, Skyle¡¯s hand had apparently become caught up in the guard¡¯s armor and he was jolted forward with the guard, entangling himself further with the soldier.


    Leon sat up dazedly and immediately made to move forward to assist Skyle, but he suddenly felt impending danger as he saw a blur from one side of his vision. He reflexively raised an arm while averting his face, but the fist of the guard who had been guarding the entrance crashed through his guard and connected painfully with his head. To his credit, Leon didn¡¯t fall and instead only backed up a couple steps before snarling and blindly charging forward, trying another tackle against his new foe.


    This desperate move didn¡¯t work this time, and instead the veteran guard sidestepped the move and delivered a vicious blow to Leon¡¯s ribs, making the youth expel all the breath from his lungs and bend over in pain. Still, Leon refused to go down and instead flung out a clumsy hook with his unbroken arm.


    The guard easily blocked the blow with an expert grip, then twisted it painfully away from his body. Leon instantly cried out in pain as he felt his joint being twisted, then one vicious blow after another began to land on his face. Still, his arm was being held by the joint lock, so Leon couldn¡¯t even fall back as thunderous punches struck his face over and over again.


    ¡°E.. enough! He¡¯ll die!¡± A croaking voice sounded from behind the guard striking Leon, and he was shocked to find that somehow Leon had driven him back close enough to the spot where Skyle and the other guard had fallen that even the heavily wounded boy had been able to reach up with his shaking arms to hug his waist and cling on desperately in hopes of helping his friend.


    The guard looked down at Skyle in suspicion for a moment, and his eyes seemed to narrow as the hand he had used to strike Leon now moved down towards a specific spot on his waist. Skyle felt his heart shudder, but already he felt a vise grip fasten on to his neck from behind, effortlessly pulling him off before he could distract the guard or do anything else for that matter.


    Skyle didn¡¯t have to look back to know that it was the first guard who had already stood up and had instantly apprehended him. Already, it was a miracle that Skyle was able to reach up towards the guard facing Leon a split second before he was incapacitated. However, if the guard facing Leon, the guard with the keys now checked his belt he would notice what they had done and the whole gig would be up!


    Splat.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It was a very low sound, almost unnoticeable. Still, it seemed to echo loudly in the confines of the cage, especially now that the brief scuffle had finally ended. Skyle as well as the guard now restraining him from behind could only stare in astonishment at the source of that sound.


    It had been a punch.


    Leon¡¯s punch.


    More like a love tap, no more than a nudge. Leon still swayed on his feet, held up by the joint lock on his healthy arm, blood copiously pouring down his face from his nose and lips. His eyes were already swelling up with angry bruises covering them, but they still glittered with satisfaction.


    The guard who had been punched by Leon stared at the boy in mute stupefaction. Leon¡¯s good arm was trapped in his grip, but that hadn¡¯t posed a problem for the tenacious youth as he had somehow managed to clench the fist on his broken, bloody arm and swung it against his foe¡¯s face with all the force he could muster the moment the guard¡¯s attention had turned away from him and towards Skyle.


    For a moment, complete silence fell upon the cage as both guards and Skyle stared at the scene of this crazy kid who had just used his own broken arm to strike back against his enemy. Then the guard facing Leon snarled in fury as he put his hand on his belt, reaching for his weapon.


    A sharp cry from the other guard, however, stopped him, and he stood there breathing heavily, glaring bloody murder at Leon. Leon simply stared back at him, anger and defiance burning in his fierce glare.


    ¡°Enough. Remember our orders. Besides, it¡¯s over,¡± the other guard said, though his voice was still slightly disbelieving.


    The guard grunted, then released his grip on Leon¡¯s arm. Immediately, the boy collapsed to the ground in a soundless heap, his eyes rolling up in his head.


    ¡°Leon!¡± Skyle cried out in a weak voice, and began to slowly crawl towards the other boy as soon as the guard holding him released his grip.


    Shortly after, a loud clang rang out in the cage as the door was shut. The guards then began to confer with one another, but Skyle didn¡¯t even seem to notice. Instead, he quietly reached Leon¡¯s body and prodded his ribs.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Leon hissed, his eyes still closed.


    ¡°That was some fine acting,¡± Skyle complimented.


    ¡°What acting? Bastard damn near broke my nose, and I can¡¯t even see past the swelling in my eyes!¡±


    ¡°At least that should help you greatly in a little bit, when we make our escape,¡± Skyle chuckled, then hissed as the motion pulled his own injured muscles.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Leon asked, his eyes still squeezed shut.


    ¡°With the look of those bruises, your face will just be one big patch of black in a few minutes. Blend in perfectly- Ow!¡± Skyle wheezed out, still trying aching from the pain of his laughter.


    ¡°Ha. Ha. Funny, very funny farmboy. Wait, does that mean you got it?¡±


    ¡°The other guard should leave soon. As soon as he does, we¡¯ll have to make a run for it,¡± Skyle confirmed, all humor gone from his tone as he flashed the key held tightly in his grip.


    Of course, plans never go as intended. That was to be expected. After determining that the guards were either overly zealous or very experienced, Skyle had been afraid that the guard with the keys wouldn¡¯t step within reach.


    Indeed, as Skyle lay on the floor feigning unconsciousness, Leon had not said the key phrase they had prearranged, which meant the guard Skyle had pointed to earlier as bearing the key had remained out of reach, by the door, while the other guard approached Skyle to check his condition.


    Then it had all been up to Leon. Stealth was the key, as they had to take the key from the guard without him noticing it. If there was a good chance of snatching the key unnoticed, then Leon would produce a distraction any way he could and Skyle would play along. Once they had the key, and with only one guard with his back to the door while the other went to call for the healers, their chances of overwhelming the lone guard would be much better. Reflecting on just how ruthless and capable the guards had been, Skyle was quietly grateful they had decided to take a more stealthy approach rather than try to overwhelm both guards by force. After all, a single cry would have been enough to draw the attention of the rest of the guards, who were guarding the other cages about 25 meters away.


    The sky above had been gradually dimming in Skyle¡¯s vision, into what he assumed would be the night cycle in this place. If so, then perhaps in the darkness and shadows the two boys would be able to slip through.


    It was a desperate plan, but far better than trying to break out through force from a camp of hundreds, thousands of soldiers armed to the teeth!


    Luckily, Skyle had noticed that the cage did not need to be locked after being closed, and so the guards had neglected to check for the key upon exiting the cage. After all, Leon had definitely provided enough of a distraction to keep the guards¡¯ minds off the key - at the cost of looking like a malcontent raccoon.


    Now, it was a game of patience as they waited for a good opportunity to use the key without being detected. First, the other guard would leave to notify the healers, then the boys could make their move while a lone guard stood by the door. Skyle returned his focus on playing dead, which meant re-entering the meditative state that automatically lowered his pulse and slowed his breathing while his consciousness extended beyond his body to attempt to commune with the elements.


    The brilliant clarity of his previous experience was gone, though not entirely. Skyle still felt the power of the elements vibrating in the world around him, even with his eyes closed, but that feeling as though he could stretch forth a hand to wield it seemed impossibly far. Although he hadn¡¯t attempted to force the spirit vision as he always had in previous occasions, he didn¡¯t feel he would succeed even if he tried.


    After all, the one time he had succeeded had been a mere fluke, and he didn¡¯t understand what had triggered such a phenomenon. The one thing he was sure of, however, was that it had felt as natural as merely breathing the elemental essence in.


    Maybe like a baby first being born, he had instinctively taken that first great breath. However, try as he might, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so now.


    Thus, while an irritated, nervous guard ran to seek a healer, and Leon ran through dozens of iterations on how to create a suitably loud distraction without being killed like a dog for it, Skyle lay limply on the floor, making the best use of the time and trying with all the fervent power of will in his young body to learn once again to take that one first step.


    To breathe.


    ¡°Breathe,¡± Skyle chanted in his head, as he immersed himself into his mediation, and time slowly trickled by.


    ¡°Hey, the other guard¡¯s leaving!¡± Leon whispered urgently. They had agreed that Leon would be keeping watch while Skyle pretended to be unconscious again in order to try and lure the guards into complacency.


    ¡°I know,¡± Skyle agreed, slowly opening his eyes. His voice was slightly off-key, and Leon looked back at his partner with concern.


    ¡°You alright? I was the one who got his brains nearly battered out, remember?¡±


    Skyle smiled at that, but his eyes had a peculiar glint as they slowly roved about the cage, then they slowly focused on a point far off in the distance.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter? Wake up, it¡¯s time!¡± Leon whispered urgently, slightly alarmed now.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°No what? Too late to back off now!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not time yet,¡± Skyle murmured, still gazing into the distance.


    Leon followed Skyle¡¯s gaze and finally realized that he seemed to be gazing in the direction of the rift they¡¯d come from, though it was out of their line of sight.


    ¡°What do you mean? You see something?¡± Leon asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s coming soon,¡± Skyle nodded imperceptibly, his eyes still riveted on some far away spectacle that absorbed all his attention.


    ¡°We can¡¯t wait. The other guard might come back anytime now! We have to-¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± Skyle mouthed, and Leon resisted the urge to shake the other boy out of his delirium.


    ¡°What are you-¡±


    BOOM!


    A loud explosion thundered in the air and the ground seemed to tremble in the aftermath as a brilliant flash of energy lit up the skies above in a terrifying surge of energy. Loud cries of alarm could be heard from the distance as the whole camp seemed to be stirred up by this sudden outburst.


    The prisoners in the other cages began to panic, some begging to be released while some others were whimpering or crying for help. The handful of soldiers on watch immediately came to attention as they drew together and turned to look towards the source of the explosion.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Leon exhaled in shock.


    ¡°Our friend the Beast has come knocking again,¡± Skyle whispered, a half smile on his face.


    Instantly, Leon¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You mean that thing is back?¡±


    Skyle nodded, ¡°I can see multiple rifts in the fabric of the elemental power here. They¡¯re like giant vortexes of darkness, like open, bleeding wounds in the tapestry of this realm. Right now, one of them is forcibly being torn open by a frightening mass of gold energy.¡±


    ¡°You mean there¡¯s more than one rift? And what the hell does that beast want?¡± Leon breathed out, his swollen eyes bulging out of their sockets.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, and for now I don¡¯t care. This is our chance,¡± Skyle nodded discreetly towards the cage¡¯s door.


    The sole guard standing in front of it had moved twenty meters away towards the station of the other guards, and was currently talking to them in low tones as they all gazed towards the center of their camp, where the rift had been set up, and presumably the other rifts were.


    Leon nodded, and he clenched his fist in grim determination.


    Another violent explosion rocked the air, and frightened murmurs continued to rise from the cages next to them. The soldiers ignored them as they continued to stare towards the rift, where a frightening vortex of crackling energies seemed to be gathering.


    Skyle turned his head to look at Leon, and was momentarily startled by what he saw. Leon expression was one of grim determination, but further than that, his whole body seemed to be glowing with swirls of reddish energy that radiated outward to buffet against the waves of elemental power surging through the air. In particular, at his chest Skyle could see a glowing ember of burning red, like a smoldering coal that was slowly being fanned back into life.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Leon stated firmly, and sparks seemed to fly off the embers in his chest, sending a dazzling shower of glowing crimson fluttering down around him.


    ¡°I can see that,¡± Skyle smiled faintly, to which Leon raised an eyebrow.


    Skyle shook his head.


    ¡°Never mind, little Lord Firebrand. Let¡¯s do this!¡±

 Chapter 10 - The Might of the True Sight

    Chapter 10 - The Might of theTrue Sight


    ¡°Little Lord Firebrand?¡± Leon simply gawked at Skyle, uncomprehending.


    Skyle smirked but said nothing. He felt it would be simply too annoying, almost insulting to the whole transcendent experience he was going through if he were to stop and explain himself to the other boy. Besides, he wasn¡¯t sure of Leon would even believe him.


    In truth, Skyle wasn¡¯t sure he wasn¡¯t just dreaming the whole thing himself.


    The second sight, it had returned!


    In his current stage, the world around Skyle revolved in the simplest and purest of elements contained within. Skyle didn¡¯t know if this was the Spirit Sight, or the True Sight, or some combination or evolution of both. In truth, at this moment he didn¡¯t care. He was simply lost in the whole surreal beauty of it all.


    His eyes were still conveying images into his brain, and so there was nothing wrong with his eyes at all. If anything, it felt as though even his physical senses had been augmented. However, what caused Skyle to almost shiver uncontrollably was the vast, near overwhelming surge of sensorial information he was receiving via his second sight.


    This sight was able to perceive so much more of the world around him. The world consisted of strands of glowing elemental fibers, some so fine that they seemed like spidersilk, fluttering delicately as though stirred by an invisible breeze. Others were as thick around as his own leg, possessed of an imposing aura that thrummed with power.


    Each of these fibers was but a single strand that was artfully interwoven in the fabric of all things. Skyle wondered if these were conduits for elemental power. If so, was that subtle vibration that seemed to emanate from them the stirring of the elements contained within? Indeed, in Skyle¡¯s eyes even something as mundane and inert as the metal bars trapping him within the cage seemed to be overflowing with this elemental power. However, from what he had witnessed earlier, he also knew that striking them would do nothing to interact with that power. They were just metal bars. Then what were these glowing strands he saw with his other sight? How could he interact with them? If he could somehow manipulate this great power, was that what being an elemental summoner was all about?


    ¡°Skyle!¡± came Leon¡¯s urgent voice.


    Skyle took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Though he seemed to have finally taken the first step towards harnessing the power of the elements, right now he had to concentrate on staying alive. When he opened his eyes once more, a fierce focus was burning in them, and Leon let out a relieved breath.


    The guards were still anxiously watching the commotion near the rift area of the encampment, but who knew how long they would be distracted for? Skyle firmly tied down the rough bandage he had fashioned for his broken leg, then silently approached the cage door with Leon.


    Then he waited.


    Leon frowned and opened his mouth, but then he closed it again and decided to wait. Skyle had struck him as a very level-headed, capable person in spite of his young age. If he was waiting, then there must be a reason. The way Skyle was firmly gazing in the direction of the far off rifts seemed to confirm this.


    BANG!


    Another loud explosion rattled the air, and dense plumes of dust rose in the air in the distance. A chorus of shouts ensued, drowning the camp in a cacophony of sounds for a moment.


    Leon stared in the direction of the column of dust, wondering at the kind of energy that needed to be released to create such a large reaction. However, he was interrupted from his thoughts by a light tap on his shoulder, and he immediately turned his head.


    It was Skyle, who was in the process of tucking something back inside his pocket while he cautiously pulled a half inch gap in the cage¡¯s door. He must have unlocked it when the explosion was masking the noise of the turning lock!


    Leon nearly jumped out of his skin. The door was open! However, Skyle motioned him back when Leon had been about to spring to his feet. Skyle now seemed to be watching the guards standing 25 meters away from them with extreme focus.


    In truth, when he focused his sight, Skyle was able to pick up incredible details such as the grains on the skin of the guards, or the minute cracks in the leather of their belts. However, this paled with what the second sight offered, as Skyle had taken to thinking of it. Moments earlier, he had been able to accurately predict the exact moment when the next outburst of energy would pour forth from the rift under attack.


    Even from this distance, and while obstructed behind numerous tents and other objects, Skyle could see the rift as a great tear in the fabric of the elements. It was a dark void in his vision that was currently being assaulted by a massive golden energy. This energy seemed to emanate an aura of ruthless determination and boundless bloodlust as it smashed time and time again against the rift.


    Just now, it had just discharged its power against its rift but Skyle could see that golden energy once more accumulating momentum from beyond the rift. In a short while, the young boy knew there would be an even greater outburst of energy as the golden force unleashed another assault.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Skyle had noted that the cage doors produced a great deal of noise when being opened, so he had intended to use the previous explosion to unlock the door, then open it and close it after exiting, all in one quick rush. As planned the explosion had gathered the attention of all the guards, and Skyle had promptly unlocked, then opened the door. All the while, Skyle had been secretly laughing at the foolishness of the guards. However, he had been left speechless when he noticed that Leon, the great fool, had also been staring stupidly at the great explosion instead of following Skyle.


    Biting back a scathing remark, Skyle had quickly propped the door closed once more, leaving only the smallest gap. From a distance, it looked as though the door were still closed. Tapping Leon¡¯s shoulder, Skyle motion towards the door, then signaled the other boy to be ready. Skyle knew that in a moment, the next explosion would arrive.


    It was at that moment, however, that Skyle froze and motioned Leon back. While glancing over at the guards, Skyle noticed that the guard who had previously been standing guard over their cage was by all appearances still standing motionless while watching the cloud of dust in the distance. However, when Skyle narrowed his eyes and focused his vision, a pale yellow light began to suffuse the guard''sotherwise grey-blue aura. It began with small specks of yellow that swiftly began to spread, turning into a stream that seemed to be pointing towards his back. It was pointing straight in Skyle¡¯s direction!


    Skyle didn¡¯t know what to make of this scene, but he still reacted at once. He urgently shoved Leon back toward the center of the cage. The other boy stared at him like he had gone crazy and he would be demanding an explanation. Skyle just flung an arm around the bigger boy¡¯s neck and dove to the ground while dragging Leon with him.


    Thankfully, although clearly shocked, the other boy didn¡¯t resist at all. They both fell down at once, and Skyle even had the presence of mind to cover the other boy¡¯s mouth with his hand. Leon¡¯s confused eyes followed Skyle¡¯s gaze, and alarm also flashed in them now.


    The yellow streams finally gathered into a solid curtain that enveloped the left side of the guard¡¯s head. Immediately after this happened, the soldier turned his head to the left, a worried frown on his face. His eyes searched the shadows within Skyle and Leon¡¯s cage, but when he saw the prone figures of Leon and Skyle, the guard¡¯s expression instantly relaxed. The yellow streams also dispersed almost instantly, though the last few hints of yellow still remained at the corners of the guard¡¯s aura. Then dots of pink and reddish light seemed to spring into life from the center of the guard¡¯s chest, slowly revolving together until they became a constantly revolving circle.


    At this, the guard scoffed lightly and turned around with a dismissive snort. However, with Skyle¡¯s extraordinary physical eyesight, he was able to perceive the slightest hints of red tinging the guard¡¯s skin.


    Skyle¡¯s breath caught in his chest. Had that been embarrassment and annoyance in the guard¡¯s flushing face? Then those pink and red dots coalescing into a circle in the guard¡¯s chest, could those have been the man¡¯s emotions? When Skyle recalled the yellow dots, his eyes widened even further. Could it be the yellow color represented caution, or fear? The momentum behind that emotion had slowly sprung into life after that latest explosion, but it had slowly coalesced into a specific direction. Skyle couldn¡¯t tell for certain, but the way all those streams of yellow had gathered in a single direction had alarmed Skyle into a panic.


    Thankfully, Skyle had reacted in time and avoided the guard¡¯s suspicion. However, that meant that what he had seen was real! He could read the guard¡¯s emotions with his second sight. Then Skyle looked at the boy next to him.


    Leon¡¯s aura had countless motes of yellow light fluttering about as his eyes studied the guard. However, in the core area a fierce, dark red glow was pulsing steadily, growing larger and larger with each pulse. Every time it grew larger, it would swallow those yellow dots as though they were mere fireflies being consumed by a great, hungry sun. By the time the yellow dots were gone, the red fire was burning so fiercely it was a wonder that Leon¡¯s chest wasn¡¯t melting from the heat of it!


    This, it could only be the power of the True Sight!


    At first, Skyle had thought the True Sight would allow him to look into the true shape of illusions in this realm. However, he had never imagine that it would allow him insights into the hearts of people, the very essences of men.


    Skyle had heard countless tales of the exploits of great mages and summoners throughout history, but never had he heard of something like the True Sight. As he thought of the potential for such a power, Skyle barely suppressed a shiver of pleasure.


    Being able to read others¡¯ emotions could allow him to tell when someone was lying, or pretending. He would also be able to watch people¡¯s reactions and judge accordingly. Not only that, but he could also somewhat predict what people might do based on how their aura was revolving!


    What was even more amazing was that Skyle didn¡¯t know if there would be anyone who could be inmune to such a power!


    What if this was only the beginning? What if Skyle could somehow manipulate the tendrils of emotion he was seeing? Would that be possible if Skyle become more familiar with his powers?


    ¡°That was close,¡± Leon breathed out, but in his eyes there was no fear to be found. Instead, the red emotion pulsing from his chest seemed to be burning brightly within his gaze. Little Lord Firebrand indeed!


    Skyle flashed Leon a smile while gazing deeply into his eyes, apparently mesmerized by the fire burning within that his True Sight revealed. It was a small, sedate smile that could barely contain the boundless excitement and joy caused by the newly found power that Skyle now wielded.


    ¡°Ew, don¡¯t look at me like that!¡± Leon spat out, shoving Skyle¡¯s arm from around his neck and pushing the other boy away. ¡°I don¡¯t swing that way!¡±


    Skyle¡¯s grin only grew even wider, still raptly watching Leon with that disturbing gaze.


    To Skyle¡¯s eyes, Leon¡¯s aura was now filled with an endless stream of colors, ranging from the red of anger and courage, to the white and yellow which might represent doubt and fear, and finally even to the slightest hint of pink and bright red. Could that possibly be embarrassment and pleasure?


    Skyle winced and he shuddered violently, all the while drawing just a little further away from Leon.


    Leon¡¯s aura now seemed suffused with a thin blanket of green, which perhaps represented joy or relief. That hint of bright red which Skyle had taken to be pleasure also grew slightly more pronounced, which confused Skyle. What was he so pleasured from?


    Shaking his head, Skyle whispered, ¡°Next explosion will come in a couple minutes at most. Be ready or I¡¯ll just leave you behind.¡±


    ¡°You wish, farmboy,¡± Leon snorted, but the fire of deep red instantly roared into life, drowning out all the other colors, and for once Skyle agreed wholeheartedly.

 Chapter 11 - In the Midst of the Enemy

    Chapter 11 -In the Midst of the Enemy


    ¡°3.. 2.. 1.. Now!¡±


    BOOM!


    An explosion even fiercer than the previous ones shook the night, and a storm of red-gold lights danced in the skies above the central area of the camp. Several cries of pain could be heard, and all the prisoners within the cages began to move about anxiously, uncertain of their fates.


    The guards didn¡¯t seem to pay the prisoners any mind. In fact, their gazes were absorbed in the spectacle of the flashing lights coming from the distance.


    To Skyle¡¯s eyes, the golden energy of the beast was still struggling fiercely against the rift. At first, Skyle had assumed the beast would eventually break through. However, even the beast¡¯s overwhelming power had finally met its match.


    Though Skyle hadn¡¯t noticed it at first, there were thin, pulsing lines of blue and white snaking across the rift, as though threads attempting to sew a wound closed. Each seemed relatively puny in comparison to the great golden ball of fire that was constantly trying to force the rift open. However, by now dozens of such lines had come into being, constantly drawing the edges of the rift together.


    Still, to Skyle the more both sides struggled, the better. In this last explosion, Skyle had instantly sprung to action, opening the door decisively and closing it after pulling Leon through. Immediately, Leon crouched low and began to sneak his way towards the far edge of the cage area, past several rows of empty cages. However, Skyle hadn¡¯t moved yet as though he were debating something.


    Leon hissed under his breath as he saw this, and motioned urgently in Skyle¡¯s direction. Skyle seemed torn as he glanced back towards the many people trapped in the cages. Finally, Skyle seemed to make up his mind and he took something out from his pocket.


    Leon could only see a ball of cloth at first, but then he realized there seemed to be a stick of some kind tied at the end of the strip of cloth. Skyle took a few steps in the direction of one of the cages with captives in it, then he threw the stick with the trailing cloth in front of the cage. The person the key fell closest to was a man who seemed calmer than most prisoners, and when he heard the slight noise of the stick hitting the ground, he turned his head. After seeing the stick, the man frowned slightly, then lifted his eyes to meet Skyle¡¯s meaningful gaze towards the empty cage from which Skyle had emerged.


    The man instantly gaped in astonishment, then nodded to Skyle in silence. Skyle returned the nod, then turned around and followed lean as swiftly as his badly wounded leg would allow him. The man in the meantime studied the guards as he drew closer to the key just outside his cage, all the while the rest of the captives and guards continued to be completely distracted by the chaotic storm of lights in the central part of the camp.


    As soon as Skyle reached Leon, he was met by a single withering stare from the other boy. Clearly, he was disapproving of his actions. While Skyle understood that the possibilities of the men escaping were close to none, still Skyle simply couldn¡¯t bring himself to abandon them to their fates. He had clearly heard of some sacrifice, and the least he could do was give them a chance, small as it was.


    Skyle didn¡¯t need Leon to remind him that as soon as the prisoner managed to open his own cage, the commotion would draw the guards¡¯ attention. As soon as that happened, they would also discover Skyle and Leon missing.


    ¡°You just blew our headstart,¡± Leon remarked heatedly. ¡°This could be our best chance of escaping.¡±


    ¡°And this could be their only chance,¡± Skyle answered helplessly.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Leon sighed and his shoulders slumped in defeat.


    ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s get out of this place first. Then we can worry about what to do next,¡± Leon muttered, still leading.


    Skyle followed for a while as they made their way through rows of empty cages, farther away from the areas illuminated by torches. It had barely been a handful of minutes when loud whistles rang out through the camp, coming from the area they had just left.


    Leon growled in his throat, but Skyle simply looked back in the direction of the sound for a moment, seemingly with no regrets.


    After that, the whole place seemed to come alive as though it were a hornets¡¯ nest. The boys picked up the pace, but suddenly when Leon made a left turn, Skyle reached out to grab his shoulder.


    ¡°Turn right here,¡± Skyle whispered, his breath labored as he heavily favored his broken leg.


    Leon raised an eyebrow in Skyle¡¯s direction, but didn¡¯t argue and nodded. A moment later, Leon heard the sound of boots as a patrol of two men bearing torches rounded a corner and walked down the path the boys had been about to follow. If Skyle hadn¡¯t stopped him, they would have definitely been caught! Leon breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the guards walk past, then resumed their escape.


    The boys made further progress along the camp, choosing the darkest spaces to crawl through, avoiding torches and all sounds of activity. This seemed an almost impossible task, as the whole camp seemed to have come into life and lights seemed to be dancing about everywhere, with endless groups of soldiers searching every corner of the camp.


    Leon knew it was a miracle that they hadn¡¯t been captured yet, and this miracle had a name: Skyle Farrow.


    From time to time Skyle would stop Leon and point to another direction, and Leon would silently obey. In every single instance, moments after they changed their course, Leon either heard or saw an enemy patrol move through the space the boys had just left. The first couple times, Leon simply shrugged it off, but after the fourth and fifth times, the hairs in Leon¡¯s arms were standing on end, and he was watching his fellow escapee as though he were seeing a ghost.


    This wasn¡¯t far from the truth, as during the past ten minutes, Skyle¡¯s face had grown increasingly pale, his features twisted in a grimace of pain with sweat pouring down his face constantly. This wasn¡¯t the kind of pace a 12 year old boy could maintain for long with a broken leg, no matter how resolute and brave he was!


    Finally, after they rounded one more corner Leon heard a sharp hiss of indrawn breath, and he turned just in time to catch Skyle as his leg gave out under him and he fell forward.


    ¡°Give me your arm and lean on my shoulder,¡± Leon whispered.


    ¡°Not needed,¡± Skyle panted out, his breathing ragged. ¡°Just slipped.¡±


    From his short, clipped words Leon could tell Skyle couldn¡¯t even waste breath of a couple additional words. However, the more time passed, the tighter and wider the net would spread and within a short time, they would be helpless, like fish in a net.


    Leon¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at Skyle¡¯s bent figure, and he nodded resolutely.


    ¡°Good. Then get up and prove it to me, Skyle Farrow. Else I swear by the Lady Avaria, I will haul you up by the scruff of your neck and throw you across my shoulders like a side of lamb.¡±


    Skyle gritted his teeth and nodded, grunting as he straightened up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s- Down!¡±


    Skyle abruptly pushed Leon inside a canvas tent erected next to the boy, while he himself hid behind a pile of crates at his back. Leon had barely managed to pull down the tent flap when he heard footsteps approaching from outside. Leon looked around himself in the dark, not daring to move in fear that he would step on something and make a noise, alerting the guard outside.


    The footsteps slowly grew near, accompanied by the rhythmic clanging of metal armor armor as a flickering torch could be distinguished through the fabric of the tent. Leon blindly groped with his hands in the dark, trying to orient himself.


    The footsteps paused for a long moment just outside the tent, and Leon¡¯s heart started to hammer in his chest as his hands found a solid object and his fingers slowly curled around the object. It was a handle!


    There was a shuffling noise outside, then he heard a spitting sound, followed by a sigh. Then Leon could heard a deep voice muttering to himself.


    ¡°Damn fool¡¯s errand, trying to catch a couple escaping rats in this chaos. Haven¡¯t seen a single thing, would be better off stopping those damn explosions tearing the sky apart. Damn waste of time.¡±


    Leon silently let out a breath of relief as he relaxed his grip around the handle he had found, closing his eyes and reflecting that this really had been too close a call.


    ¡°Leon, get back!¡±


    Leon barely had time to register Skyle¡¯s urgent cry before he saw a deadly flash of steel easily cut through the tent flap, reaching for his throat.

 Chapter 12 - Leon Draxas Di Adrausier

    Chapter 12 - Leon Draxas Di Adrausier


    Skyle¡¯s sudden warning just when he had dropped his guard had caught Leon completely by surprise, but all those instances of blindly following Skyle¡¯s directions while on the run showed their effect here. Leon instantly obeyed the instructions without even pausing to think about why, and not a second too soon either.


    Leon blindly leapt back from the tent flap, and his feet caught on something in the dark, causing him to fall to the floor in a sprawl. To his horror, even as he was falling, he saw the flash of steel arcing through the air just above his head. The vicious slash easily pierced through the flimsy cloth of the tent and drew a deadly circle a scant inch above his eyes, and it might have sliced his head cleanly off if he hadn¡¯t leapt back the instant that he had. Even then, perhaps the blow would have still wounded him if he hadn¡¯t fallen to the ground.


    Still, it was too early to be relieved as he saw the shadow of a huge man holding a torch aloft. The soldier¡¯s countenance was deadly, and looked nothing like the lazy, discontent soldier he had impersonated earlier to put Leon¡¯s guard down. He looked down to see Leon¡¯s figure drawing back, and narrowed his eyes as he hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°Little rat, you have good reflexes, and even better luck. However, the order was to catch the small one, so I think you have just drawn the short stick. Stand still and I¡¯ll let you have a quick death,¡± The man coldly stated, drawing back his sword for another blow, though he still didn¡¯t step inside the tent. Instead, he flicked a quick glance to his back, to where Skyle¡¯s voice had come from, and turned his profile so he could enter the tent sideways.


    If it had been any other boy, this cold threat would have been enough to sap the courage from their limbs. However, not so with Leon Draxas Di Adrausier, fire summoner of the third adept stage. Born into a spectacularly wealthy and powerful family, he had been further hailed as a genius elemental summoner from infancy. He had nothing but the best instructors and plentiful resources. He was used to looking down upon the world, and every person around him would beg for the privilege of bending before his will.


    This was inevitable. After all, even without taking his background into consideration, his talent alone was simply astounding. Most common people would spend their entire lives as elemental warriors of the initiate rank, perhaps reaching the 7th or 8th rank if they were particularly dedicated. Elemental warriors could summon the Spirit Sight and channel the energy of the elements into their own bodies, but that was it. At most, they would become famous warriors or generals. Elemental mages, in the other hand, could learn numerous spells which fueled many of the core needs of Aerian society. Even in the field of battle, the worth of an elemental mage was easily ten or twenty times that of a warrior. Even a mere initiate rank mage would be guaranteed a good living for their entire lives. However, most mages would advance to the adept level, a level which was difficult yet still relatively common. With enough dedication and some luck, talented warriors and mages might even achieve the master rank towards the end of their lives.


    As for elemental summoners, they were simply legendary individuals over whom entire kingdoms would hungrily vie in order to entice into their ranks. No matter whether they were adepts or even just initiates, they would still be part of the elite among the elite in Aeria.


    As for Leon Draxas Di Audrasier, he had been first begun to train in the elemental arts at 4. At 6 years old, he had already broken through the mid-initiate ranks. At 8, he had reached the peak Initiate rank, rank 9. At 9 years of age, he had shocked the entire continent by breaking into the adept rank, becoming one of the youngest adepts in recorded history. At 13, he was a fire elemental summoner adept of the 3rd rank, and there was no kingdom where the name of Leon Draxas was not a synonym for excellence and genius.


    As the soldier¡¯s threat rang loudly in Leon¡¯s ears, his earlier surprise quickly melted before the overwhelming surge of fire in his blood. It drummed loudly in his ears as he lifted his gaze to meet his opponent''s, all the while his fingers clutched the handle he had found while groping in the dark in a white-knuckled grip. Leon¡¯s entire body shook, but it would be impossible to mistake this emotion with fear. Instead, anyone who looked into those eyes burning red would know they were the wounded pride of a fierce warrior.


    The soldier facing Leon seemed somewhat taken aback by Leon¡¯s reaction, and he was startled to find that he had just taken half a step back when faced off against this young boy¡¯s intense, murderous gaze.


    However, the soldier was an experienced one, and he quickly disciplined his thoughts, focusing his attention on Leon.


    Of course, Skyle would not miss such an opportunity. His leg was broken and he could hardly move, certainly not with any kind of alacrity. However, his arms were still relatively healthy, and though they were still a boy¡¯s spindly arms, they had been strengthened constantly by heavy farm work, and trained ceaselessly in the art of the bow and arrow.


    Though Skyle did not have a bow at the moment, his eye-hand coordination was peerlessly sharp, and he did arm himself with a couple nearby rocks while he hid from the guard¡¯s presence behind the crates.


    Skyle had also been breathlessly examining the aura of the soldier as he approached. To his delight, Skyle had found that if he focused, he could deepen his awareness of elemental auras in a particular direction. His heightened perception was even able to pierce through solid objects, offering Skyle advanced warning well before his eyes could spot any incoming guards. It was thanks to this benefit of his True Sight that Skyle had been able to direct their escape, narrowly avoiding countless disastrous encounters.


    Of course, this came with the added cost of severely taxing Skyle¡¯s strength. Not only his physical energy, but also his mental energy seemed to be vanishing at an alarming rate as he kept exerting his True Sight. Though he had become more practiced in activating it, Skyle was afraid that he would not be able to turn it back on at will, and thus couldn¡¯t help but move while keeping the True Sight on the whole time.


    By the time he had faltered, Skyle had truly been near collapsing from sheer exhaustion. However, this still didn¡¯t prevent Skyle from vigilantly spotting this new guard approaching their position by himself. In the incoming guard¡¯s aura, deep flecks of brown-streaked yellow and a vicious shade of red were interwoven as they twisted randomly every which way even as the guard briefly scanned the area with his eyes. The yellow and red had slowly begun to die down, and Skyle had begun to relax his fingers from around the stones he held while hoping that the guard would move on. However, at the last instant and right before the guard had turned around, he had stopped abruptly and begun to examine something on the ground, all the while not producing a single sound.


    Then a massive wave of that vicious red current had overwhelmed his aura, all the while flowing in a single direction: the tent that was Leon¡¯s hiding place!


    Without wasting a single moment, Skyle had cried out his warning.


    ¡°Leon, get back!¡±


    After that, Skyle had been constantly waiting for an opportunity to assist Leon. Before, the guard had seemed to guard against this by keeping a side profile and thus keeping both Leon and the place where Skyle¡¯s voice had come from within his vision. However, the sudden surge of bloodlust from Leon had distracted the guard, and Skyle immediately stepped out of his hiding spot while leaning forward in an overhand throw with all the strength in his body.


    The fist-sized rock streaked through the air and struck the back of the soldier¡¯s unprotected head, violently whipping it forward and stumbling the guard for half a step. However, there was no blood and Skyle knew without a doubt that this soldier must be at least an adept warrior with a strengthened physique.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Still, Leon didn¡¯t miss his chance either and he let out a vicious snarl as he lifted a hammer and swung it against the stunned guard¡¯s forehead. The hammer was a small, crude instrument likely used to strike the pins of the tent into place. Still, the heavy metal head struck the unprotected head of the guard with a sickening thud, and this time blood flew in the air as Leon¡¯s own element strengthened arms bulged with the power of the blow.


    The soldier faltered back a couple steps, and there was disbelief and denial in his eyes when he stared at Leon as the boy spun his body around with the momentum of the first blow and swung his hammer in a wide arc with both hands clutching the handle. The air rang out with a howling sound as the hammer was propelled in a terrifyingly swift arc, ending in a bone-crushing impact that rang out with a loud, sickening crash of wet timber being viciously snapped. Blood fountained into the air as the guard was violently flung backward into the air from the impact. He landed in a lifeless pile of flesh, his skull viciously caved in with half the cranium missing.


    Skyle stared at the scene of destruction before his eyes, alternating between the blood-splattered countenance of Leon standing with both feet spread wide and gripping the hammer like an avenging god, and the pitiful aftermath of the soldier who had mere moments before been an experienced, confident man of war, but was now reduced to a broken pile of bleeding flesh and crushed bones.


    Swallowing loudly, Skyle then glanced at the rock in his hand and flicked it over his shoulder with a helpless shrug of his head.


    ¡°That was kind of impressive,¡± Skyle breathed out, flicking his head towards the dead soldier. ¡°Your arm alright?¡±


    Leon was still breathing heavily, his eyes storming with bloodlust, and he only flicked a passing glance at his bleeding arm before shaking his head.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Leon growled. "I was just so angry.¡±


    ¡°Well, that ought to send a clear message for those who want to capture us again,¡± Skyle noted.


    Leon shook his head.


    ¡°No, not that. Just, just this. Me, hiding in a tent, my heart pounding in my chest and hoping that the big bad man will leave, wondering if I will die in the next moment or not.¡±


    Skyle cocked his head to the side and asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°That¡¯s only normal. No one wants to die, especially at our age.¡±


    Leon shook his head again.


    ¡°You know the words that were ringing in my head, over and over?¡±


    Skyle raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Not like this!¡±


    Leon lifted his angry gaze to meet Skyle¡¯s, and simply lifted his chin. After a moment, Skyle nodded minutely.


    ¡°I will die, but not like this,¡± Skyle agreed quietly, looking down to his hands. They had clenched into fists without him realizing it, and they were shaking.


    ¡°Not like an animal, like a scared dog. If I die, I will be the dragon, and my last breath will be such a fierce fire, it will forever burn in the nightmares of my foes!¡± Leon stated passionately, that familiar fire burning hotly in his eyes.


    Skyle sighed, then nodded his agreement.


    ¡°Fine, then I don¡¯t need this anymore,¡± he mumbled, dropping the rest of the stones he had collected.


    Leon tilted his head to the side, asking, ¡°What do you mean? That throw with the rock was incredible. It saved my life! Without that opening, I couldn¡¯t have caught that soldier unprepared.¡±


    Skyle glanced at the dead soldier with a look of mingled sorrow and disgust.


    Leon caught that look and snarled, ¡°It was him or us. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re having scruples in killing these beasts!¡±


    Skyle turned his serene eyes on Leon and shook his head.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t regret my actions, but it doesn¡¯t mean I like them either,¡± Skyle said softly, but he still crouched in front of the guard and reaching out with one hand, closed the corpse''sblank, staring eyes. ¡°No, it was necessary. Like you said, I will not die like a dog.¡±


    Leon scowled as he watched Skyle, but bit back the words he had been about to speak. After a moment, he said, ¡°We should leave. More could be on their way soon. All this blood, doesn¡¯t take a genius to know that we¡¯ve been through here.¡±


    Skyle shook his head as he calmly stood up.


    ¡°First, since we will be killing our enemies from now on, we need to be more methodical about this. That means no more random stones. We need to arm ourselves.¡±


    Leon gawked at Skyle, ¡°You mean this entire you¡¯ve been hoping to get away without killing anyone? Is that why we haven¡¯t stopped so far?¡±


    Skyle shrugged. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re killers capturing hundreds of helpless people in order to sacrifice them in some ritual!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re also just soldiers taking commands from others. They¡¯re all someone¡¯s fathers, sons, husbands, and brothers.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at Skyle critically. ¡°Mercy to your enemies is a huge liability. That kind of weakness will get you killed eventually, especially in this kind of situation.¡±


    ¡°Mercy is never a liability. In fact, this kind of weakness is also my strength, especially in this kind of situation,¡± Skyle replied without a hitch, approaching the crates lying behind without looking back.


    Leon growled in frustration, putting a hand to his temples.


    ¡°Oh great lord summonerDraxas, move your exalted ass and search the nearby tents for anything useful. I¡¯ll do the same with these crates.¡±


    ¡°The tent I was in was empty, what makes you think the other tents have anything?¡±


    Skyle pointed at a sign hanging from one of the tents. ¡°I can make out some of those words, thanks to my True Sight.¡±


    Leon squinted at the sign, which was an unintelligible mess to him. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s got something to do with essential equipment,¡± Skyle nodded with eyes brimming with honesty.


    ¡°So what? Didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Leon asked, bewildered. ¡°We need to leave. More soldiers could come at anytime.¡±


    Skyle carelessly pointed with his finger over his shoulder.


    ¡°You notice that there haven¡¯t been any more explosions after that last one?¡±


    Leon frown as he thought about it, then nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. What about it?¡±


    ¡°My guess is they¡¯ve been reinforcing the rift the whole time,¡± Skyle answered as he began to tear open one of the crates, seemingly disregarding the noise he might be causing.


    ¡°So?¡± Leon prompted, still hefting his hammer threateningly as though he expected enemy soldiers to leap out of the shadows anytime now.


    ¡°So, the beast likely saw that and it is no fool. But now, it¡¯s ready. And it looks like third time¡¯s the charm,¡± Skyle said casually, rifling through the contents of the crate.


    ¡°What does that-¡±


    BOOOOOM!


    Leon cut off abruptly as a brilliant flash of light lit up the skies above, immediately followed by a deafening explosion that was so intense it felt like a physical blow against his lungs, even from such a long distance.


    His eyes automatically turned towards the source of the light, and when the blinding heat in his eyes cleared, he could see a thick column of dust rising in the distance, and a golden aura seemed to light up the deep gloom of the skies above the center of the camp.


    ¡°What in the abyss is that thing?¡± Leon breathed, his hands clasping the hammer to his chest as he stared at the dust cloud in amazement.


    ¡°An opportunity we shouldn¡¯t waste. Get a move on, mr. elemental adept.¡±


    Thus, hundreds of soldiers stared in shock at the aftermath of the great explosion that had rocked the entire camp, except for one herder boy methodically digging through a battered crate, and a genius fire summoner of world renown bitterly cursing under his breath as he rummaged through a pile of slightly soggy, squishy objects in a dark, cramped tent reeking of unwashed armpits and fetid sweat.


    ¡°Summoner adept of the third rank, you ignorant bastard,¡± Leon muttered, squinting his eyes against the tears that threatened to overflow from his stinging eyes. The stink was unbelievable. ¡°Lord summoner adept to you.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡± came Skyle¡¯s voice from outside the tent.


    ¡°No-¡± Leon coughed violently, retching at the foul stench. ¡°Nothing. You sure aboutwhat the sign read?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, important equipment of some kind,¡± Skyle repeated. ¡°Just give it 30 seconds per tent, something should turn up.¡±


    Skyle allowed himself the tiniest of smiles as he read the script of the sign hanging from the tent.


    ¡°Discarded undergarment depot.¡±


    ¡°They are, after all, part of a soldier¡¯s indispensable equipment¡±, Skyle noted in his mind while nodding judiciously.

 Chapter 13 - Malpractice

    Chapter 13 - Malpractice


    ¡°C''mon, give me something, anything..¡± Skyle whispered urgently while searching through the crates in front of him as fast as he could. Box after box of boots, belts, socks, and the like were quickly discarded to the side.


    By this point, Skyle would have really settled for anything. Still, nothing useful had turned up thus far. Leon had even thoroughly searched the dead soldier for anything of use, but aside from the guttering torch, the guard''s oversized armor, boots, clothes, and his sword, there hadn''t been any other items on him.


    The torch would obviously be of no use to the boys, since they were trying to be stealthy. The guard''s pockets proved to be empty, and in fact upon close examination even his armor looked as though it had been donned in haste. After all, the poor devil had not even been wearing a helmet.


    The sword, the only useful item, had been claimed by Leon as Skyle did not know how to use one, and besides it was too big and heavy for him to wield. However, the sword looked too big even for Leon, who was well built to the point where he looked many years older than his true age. After all, the dead soldier was 2 meters tall and Leon barely reached his shoulders. Leon was able to lift the sword with one arm, but being able to swing it competently would be a impossiblegiven its size and weight. In the end, Leon had opted to lay the sword down in hopes of finding a weapon more suited to his current capabilities.


    Both boys kept urgently searching, one inside the tents, the other through the crates outside. It was only after a while that Skyle''s persistent, methodical search finally yielded two smaller boxes that looked better cared for. When he lifted the cover, Skyle''s eyes shone as he saw it was filled with bandages, needles, jars and bottles. Immediately recognizing it as medical supplies, Skyle pulled the stoppers of a few of the bottles but was unable to identify any of them. They had labels, but the names were unfamiliar and no other explanations were written.


    Shaking his head helplessly, he pursed his lips while thinking furiously. They needed medicine. Though so far they¡¯d been able to persevere on pure guts alone, they were on the verge of collapseand Skyle knew it. Also, Skyle had been taught that even the smallest wound can rot and fester if not treated properly.


    Skyle had a broken leg, and though it had stopped bleeding, the makeshit bandage he had wrapped around it was doing nothing to stop the pain or the swelling. Skyle remembered his father¡¯s survival and hunting lessons. This kind of wound would soon make it extremely difficult for him to move unless he could treat it properly.


    Back home, he knew a dozen different herbs he could use to alleviate the pain, fight the rot, reduce the swelling and accelerate the healing. Here, none of these medicines were familiar, and his father had taught him that sometimes the wrong medicine could be almost as deadly as poison.


    After a moment of pause, Skyle gritted his teeth and made his decision. If Skyle couldn¡¯t treat his wounds soon, he would be incapacitated, captured, then likely killed in any case. He might as well take a calculated gamble.


    After all, he had a new trump card he could rely on.


    Skyle narrowed his eyes as he focused his gaze on the medicine jars, trying his best to perceive every variation in the strange amalgamation of colors shown by his True Sight


    It took him a while to separate the aura coming from the bottles and jars from the aura of their contents, but after a few seconds of careful examination, Skyle was able to determine that most of the bottles shared a similar brown texture that could help him separate them from the substances contained within.


    Interestingly, the bandages were also glowing with a slight brown sheen, but by contrast most of the contents of the flasks and bottles seemed to be tingling brightly with several different colors. Some had a pink tinge to them, others a smooth blue aura, and yet others a bright green glow.


    Skyle picked up the vials that were glowing pink. For some reason, these bottles gave him a feeling like they would burn, but it would be a good fire, like a cleansing fire. This struck a memory, so he immediately openned the vial and carefully sniffed again. Though his father had taught him to identify hundreds of herbs, the scents from all these bottles were unfamiliar. Still, by the faint stinging smell, Skyle was reminded of an herb that emitted a similar sensation when crushed. This herb was used for treating wounds and fighting the rot, so Skyle decided to take an educated guess that this vial would have similar properties.


    Skyle picked up another jar, this one glowing with a few bright blue threads. This blue color reminded him a chilly winter wind, bringing a cool, numbing sensation to his skin. Skyle was somehow able to associate this feeling with another medicine he had been taught. When he smelled its contents, he couldn¡¯t identify anything specific. However, his nose had a tingling sensation before slowly becoming slightly numb. With a flash in his eyes, Skyle remembered a salve that was the product of mixing three different herbs together. Two of these herbs were completely innocuous, and had no other effects by themselves. The third was a potent poison, and his father had repeatedly warned Skyle to be careful in its handling.


    It was only when all three herbs were mixed in the right proportions, that they produced a special salve. Skyle still remembered the first time his father had manufactured it. Inadvertently and against his father¡¯s prior warnings, Skyle had gotten too close and caught a whiff of the concoction while it was still being brewed. It had immediately numbed Skyle¡¯s nose so that he couldn¡¯t smell anything at all, and given him a headache that had lasted for the rest of the night.


    Of course, the reason why the lesson had been so memorable was not because of the headache, but because his father had spent the rest of the night making him identify herbs by smell, and had deducted his pay for every wrong answer.


    Skyle could still remember his helpless, frustrated moans while his father handed him herb after herb and chortled the night away.


    The salve that had been produced, it was a potent medicine that numbed the pain from wounds and reduced inflammation. Could the substance in this jar do the same thing?


    Last of all, Skyle picked out a bottle glowing with a brilliant green aura. When he pulled the stopper, the smell was surprisingly pleasant, and a small but puzzled smile stretched across his face. This sensation was strange and unfamiliar, and he couldn¡¯t identify it with anything he was familiar with. However, both the strange effect of its smell and the comforting, almost soothing green glow of its elemental aura gave him the strong conviction that this was definitely nothing harmful, and instead would be greatly beneficial.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    So far, his True Sight had been extremely accurate, so Skyle carefully set it aside with the other two medicines he had selected.


    Taking a deep breath, Skyle untied his bandages to examine the wound on his leg. The flow of blood had stopped, but the leg was bent slightly and he knew that it had not been properly set. Fortunately, Skyle had experience with such wounds before, and his father had of course taken the opportunity to teach him how to treat such wounds.


    With a determined glare, Skyle placed one of the rolled up bandages in his mouth and with a firm, jerking motion, he pulled the broken ends of his bone apart, then twisted and hurriedly pushed them into place before the oncoming tide of agony hit him in a wave of dizzying red. He grunted and howled silently as tears flowed down his face. His jaw made popping noises as all the muscles in his neck stood out and his teeth bit savagely on the bandages in his mouth.


    After a few steadying breaths, the stars finally cleared from his vision enough that Skyle could trust himself to continue to treat his wound. The violent motion had pulled the small tear on the skin of his leg open again, so Skyle used another bandage to wipe the area clean, then tipped the contents of the substance glowing pink on top the wound.


    Another surge of agony rushed up his leg as a dark green liquid fell from the bottle and covered his wound, making it bubble slightly. Skyle was slightly alarmed at first, but the pain slowly receded and the boy didn¡¯t pause at all as he finished applying the substance. He then set it aside and opened the bottle with the blue glow, but before anything else he paused for a moment to study the wound with his True Sight.


    Angry spikes of red were swirling around the wound, but deeper within, Skyle could see a few dots of an ugly purple coming in contact with tendrils of the pink substance, and being swallowed up. The pink glow gradually spread along the wound, but it didn¡¯t seem to have any other effects.


    So far so good. It was time for the next bottle.


    Skyle narrowed his eyes as he braced himself for another wave of pain, but when he tipped this next bottle, a dark liquid dripped out of the opening and covered his wound. Immediately, a slight numbness spread up his leg, and only from its sudden absence did Skyle realize just how much pain he had constantly been in.


    In his True Sight, the wound that had previously been flaring with an angry red had now blended with the blue substance, and a much more mellow pink glow was the result. Also, the size of the now pink glow was shrinking visibly.


    Nodding to himself, Skyle reached inside the crate for the rest of the supplies he¡¯d seen. Swiftly and with practiced motions, Skyle applied splints to his leg, then firmly bandaged it while still retaining as much motion as he could. When he stood up once more, he found that the pain was now greatly reduced, and he could place much more weight on it now.


    By then, Leon had returned with his own bounty and had been observing him quietly for the last thirty seconds.


    Though the first tent had yielded nothing but a dead sense of smell and watering eyes, Leon¡¯s quick search through the next tent had yielded a supply of worn but thick and warm cloaks in one tent, one of which miraculously seemed to fit Skyle¡¯s smaller size. Cloaks were impractical for combat, but they could keep a body dry from the weather and warm during the night.


    The next tent had yielded an even more important item.


    ¡°Is that a map?¡± Skyle stared at the large piece of parchment Leon was holding.


    ¡°How should I know,¡± Leon grumbled, scowling indignantly at the other boy. ¡°I honestly can¡¯t make out anything on it. Damn curse-infested place.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you pick it up?¡± Skyle asked while grabbing the map and studying it wide-eyed.


    ¡°It seemed important, as it was lying neatly folded on top of a table while everything else inside was a mess,¡± Leon shrugged. ¡°Is it really a map?¡±


    Skyle nodded. ¡°It shows the general layout of the camp, and identifies a few landmarks around us. This could make all the difference!¡±


    Though it was more of a rough sketch than a real map, it was still possible for Skyle to identify the general supply tents and the cage area. Checking for the nearest tree line, Skyle was able to find the closest way out of the camp.


    ¡°Time to go,¡± Skyle nodded to Leon, then turned around, but was grabbed by the arm by the other boy.


    ¡°Wait, there were no weapons, but at least this is better than nothing,¡± Leon said, offering a small knife to Skyle.


    It was a common, utilitarian knife. Though the blade looked rather worn, overall it had been maintained well and sharpened often. It was likely used for odd jobs around the camp, but given Skyle¡¯s small hand, the size was almost perfect for him to wield with ease.


    Skyle noddded his thanks to Leon.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Skyle asked while holding the knife in his hand, testing its balance. ¡°Since you can''t use the sword, you might be able to put the knife to better use than me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about me,¡± Leon shruggeed somewhat sheepishly and pulled something out from around his back.


    It was an axe.


    The axe was almost more of a hatchet for chopping smaller kindling, given the smaller handle. Still, Leon looked threatening enough with it as he hefted it in his huge hands. Although the wooden handle was well worn and the single edged blade had a few nicks, the metal itself seemed of decent quality and still carried a sharp edge. Moreover, the axe head was heavy enough that even if the edge had been completely blunt, a well delivered blow would still deal a vicious injury.


    ¡°If only we had found a-¡± Skyle said wistfully, but was interrupted by the other boy.


    ¡°No bows or arrows,¡± Leon shook his head helplessly. ¡°No weapons of any kind around here, for that matter.¡±


    Skyle nodded ruefully, then nodded towards the medicinal crate.


    ¡°Let me take a look at your arm.¡±


    Leon opened his mouth as though to protest, but then he glanced at Skyle¡¯s leg once more, and finally nodded decisively.


    ¡°Make it quick,¡± Leon muttered, offering his arm to Skyle.


    ¡°Sure, as long as you can take the pain,¡± Skyle raised an eyebrow, at which Leon simply scoffed.


    A handful of minutes later, a much more subdued Leon swayed woozily on his feet as Skyle patted his heavily bandaged shoulder in a mock-reassuring way.


    ¡°All done, your lordship,¡± Skyle smirked.


    Sweat streamed down Leon¡¯s face, his skin as pale as a ghost¡¯s and his teeth still biting down convulsively on the bandange Skyle had given him to muffle his screams.


    ¡°Damn, did you learn that from a hedge witch or a torturer?¡± Leon muttered under his breath as soon as he could draw normal breath again with his trembling lungs.


    Skyle tilted his head upwards while he seriously considered the question for a moment, then thinking of his father, he nodded solemnly to Leon.


    ¡°You could say it was a nasty combination of both.¡±


    ¡°It shows,¡± Leon grumbled, scowling fiercely at his bandaged arm. He moved it experimentally a few times, and seemed surprised at how flexible it still was. ¡°This is not bad. Not bad at all. And here I thought I¡¯d have to have you hanged for malpractice.¡±


    ¡°Tell me that again if your arm doesn¡¯t suddenly rot and fall off in the next twelve hours,¡± Skyle scoffed.


    ¡°Might not even live that long,¡± Leon raised an ironic eyebrow.


    ¡°I suppose. Anyway, try not to move it too much for now. I tried to leave as much leeway for movement as possible since you will need to use it again soon,¡± Skyle advised in a low tone.


    Leon glanced at the other boy for a moment, noticing his tone. ¡°Then, we¡¯re finally committed?¡±


    Skyle let out a long sigh, but in the end he nodded resolutely as his hand found the hilt of the knife hanging by his belt. ¡°Yes, it is now us or them.¡±


    ¡°Kill or be killed,¡± Leon agreed, hefting his axe, then took breath to add in a more serious tone. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Skyle paused for a moment, then nodded solemnly.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Now, lets get the hell out of here.¡±

 Chapter 14 - Cold Blood

    Chapter 14 - Cold Blood


    ¡°Not arguing with that. Let¡¯s go,¡± Leon said.


    ¡°Oh, wait!¡± Skyle put a hand on Leon¡¯s arm to stop the other boy just as he had been about to turn around.


    Leon looked puzzled, but complied silently.


    Skyle looked down at the flask he was holding in his hand, apparently completely absorbed in studying it.


    After a while, just as Leon finally couldn¡¯t wait any longer and was about to ask a question, Skyle suddenly unstoppered the flask and took a tentative sip from it.


    Instants later, the color began to return to Skyle¡¯s skin while it took a much healthier tone. His eyes looked more alert and the deep weariness within them seemed to have dwindled somehow. A small smile stretched his lips as his tongue unconsciously licked at his lips.


    Skyle squinted down at the flask once again, then lifted it to his lips once more, this time taking a bigger mouthful of the liquid. Immediately afterwards, Skyle offered the flask to Leon.


    The bigger boy didn¡¯t speak a word as he took the flask and took a deep drink from it, but his reaction was completely different from Skyle¡¯s, as his face turned slightly green as he gagged. However, with a visible effort of will, Leon gulped down the mouthful of liquid.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Skyle asked with concern.


    ¡°How the hell can you keep down that swill?¡± Leon asked, horrified.


    ¡°What? The taste is a bit outlandish, but pleasant,¡± Skyle retorted, puzzled.


    The greenish tinge in Leon¡¯s face slowly faded away, but clearly his reaction had not been feigned. Could the illusion affect not only the sense of sight, but also taste? Just how powerful would such an illusion have to be? Just what could be the purpose for such a massive illusion?


    Returning to more pressing concerns, Skyle narrowed his eyes momentarily while he studied Leon¡¯s body with his True Sight. In his vision, the greenish glow of the liquid had began to spread throughout Leon¡¯s body as soon as it entered it, and with it an overall brightening of Leon¡¯s aura could be seen, though it didn¡¯t last for very long. Still, the added brilliance left a pleasant flurry of green sparks that floated within his body, especially concentrating around Leon¡¯s wounded areas, where his innate aura showed definite signs of having faded.


    ¡°Was that a healing essence?¡± Leon asked, staring at the flask with a new look of shock in his eyes. Healing essences were elemental essences specifically refined into a liquid form in order to treat grievous injuries. However, the mix was usually very unstable, and it was hideously expensive. How could such a precious item be left just anywhere?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but for now I think it is better if we don¡¯t take too much of it at once,¡± Skyle murmured, noticing that the greenish glow in Leon still hadn¡¯t faded. ¡°Help me pack some of this stuff, and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±


    Swiftly taking a few bottles of every variety from the crate, they bundled them up with bandages around them, making a few tidy bundles that fit perfectly in a couple carrying pouches Skyle had found in another box. They could be securely slung over their shoulder with a few clasps, and allowed free movement while letting them access the contents of the pouch at any time.


    ¡°They are well equipped,¡± Leon muttered.


    ¡°And now it will only bite them in the ass,¡± Skyle commented, securing the pouch and its contents and nodding to Leon in order to set off.


    Though the medicine seemed to take effect very swiftly, Skyle¡¯s leg had already swelled up to a great size, and for ease of movement Skyle was limping along with his arm around Leon for support, while he continued to use his True Sight to hide from patrols.


    Still, the beast¡¯s ferocious new assault had come at the perfect time, as most soldiers seemed to be rushing towards the center of the camp and left many other portions almost completely deserted.


    Making much faster progress thanks to this fortunate incident, Skyle and Leon had to dodge less patrols and at last arrived at the exit shown in the map. However, they had been immediately dismayed while gazing at the brightly lit entrance of the camp that lay a mere 300 feet away.


    Several torches illuminated the area surrounding a sturdily build wooden gate, which was the only opening in a twelve feet high wall made of thick wooden trunks. At least a dozen guards could be seen standing at the entrance with a watchful gaze, though most of them couldn¡¯t help but throw an uneasy eye towards the disturbance at the center of the camp.


    After agreeing that it would be simply suicidal to try to exit through the gate, they¡¯d decided to follow the walls until they found an unwatched point where they could make climb their way out.


    ***


    Eyes closed, Skyle tried to remember why it was necessary as his breath began to accelerate.


    ¡°Simple survival of the fittest,¡± Skyle chanted within his mind. ¡°No matter what, I need to get out of here. I need to go back home.¡±


    A heavy hand landed on his shoulder and shook him abruptly.


    ¡°Hey, what is going on?¡± came Leon¡¯s concerned voice from behind. ¡°I can see the wall from here, why have we stopped? Patrol incoming?¡±


    Both boys were crouching beneath a wagon, seeking shelter within its shadows while bright torches cast a flickering light over the vacant tents around them. Though it seemed almost deserted in this part of the camp, perhaps it was not so strange given the constant sound of explosions coming from the center of the camp, where the rifts lay. Sounds of men shouting orders were intersped with screams of pain, and occasionally a great, beastial roar shook the air.


    ¡°Who knows how much longer that beast will distract them for? We need to make our move while we still can,¡± Leon whispered fiercely, his fingers tightening over the handle of the axe he had replaced the small hammer with.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    In the end, Skyle seemed to finally reach a decision and gave a small, if heavy sigh, before turning towards Leon.


    ¡°We must survive, right?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Eh, of course,¡± Leon stammered.


    ¡°Kill or be killed?¡± Skyle asked, though it didn¡¯t sound like a question.


    Leon nodded grimly. ¡°Kill or be killed.¡±


    ¡°Then here¡¯s what needs to happen,¡± Skyle explained in a low tone, and though his voice was firm, his eyes were trembling.


    ***


    Skyle¡¯s senses had received an incredible boost since he had awakened the True Sight. Not only was his sense of hearing amazingly acute, his eyesight was now akin to an eagle¡¯s, able to catch the smallest details from a great distance.


    At first, this had been incredibly disorienting. Unfamiliar sights had constantly assaulted his vision, from the hideous expressions on the faces of the captive people who were at the edge of despair, to the scar tissue crisscrossing the arms of the guards standing outside his cage, to the details in the grains of sand of the dirt floor below him.


    However, Skyle was an exceptionally disciplined boy, and within the cage he had already become somewhat accustomed to dealing with his newly heightened senses. He had even been able to turn it into an asset, as he used not only his aura, but also his refined sense of sight in order to avoid patrols.


    In this one instance, however, it had become a burden.


    This burden might save their lives later on, but it was a heavy burden for Skyle nonetheless.


    Still, he had to survive.


    And so, in order that he might survive, others had to die.


    Repeating this logic over and over in his mind, Skyle reckoned that it didn¡¯t make him feel any better. That fact alone at least offered some small, cold comfort in a tiny, shuddering corner of his mind.


    Skyle glanced towards the shadows opposite from where he stood, and saw the darkness shift as Leon nodded minutely towards him.


    It was time then.


    Skyle studied the profile of the man huddling quietly by the bonfire not 30 feet away from him. At the moment, Skyle was hiding behind the corner of a tent and the man couldn¡¯t see him yet. In fact, due to the angle in which the light hit the man, Skyle couldn¡¯t see much of the him except for his silhouette. However, that was enough, because it confirmed that he was still there, and that he still carried the object which had marked him as a target the moment Skyle had first caught a glimpse of the man from the distance.


    The man was carrying a bow with him, though it was not strung. He had been carrying it in his grip, ignoring the bustle of the other soldiers as they rushed towards the center of the camp. By the clothes Skyle had seen with his incredible eyesight, this man was not a soldier. Rather, by the scars in his arms and the callouses on the tips of his fingers, Skyle could tell this man was an archer, though long past his prime.


    This had to be a bowyer.


    It would make sense for a professional army of this size to employ several bowyers to maintain their bows and arrows. Skyle knew that many bowyers had themselves been lifelong hunters or archers, slowly learning the trade of shaping a bow and arrow from wood.


    Back when he was hiding underneath the wagon, while Leon had been spying the wall, Skyle¡¯s gaze had been mesmerized by the man and the bow he was carrying. He did not treat it lightly, as most ordinary soldiers would. Instead, care could be seen in the way he handled the bow. Almost unconsciously, he had picked up the man¡¯s distinctive aura, and had begun to track it as it moved along the camp.


    He didn¡¯t need to follow it far, as it had come to rest within a corner of the camp that was completely devoid of any other auras.


    He was alone, and he had a bow. Furthermore, he was an old man, was not wearing any armor or weapons and would likely be easy to subdue. Though the bow he carried did not have a bowstring or arrows, surely a bowyer would have plenty of both close at hand.


    Evidently, this man had settled at that secluded corner of the camp, just a few hundred feet from where Skyle hid. One part of Skyle¡¯s mind told him to leave the man alone and climb the wall, making his escape right now.


    However, Skyle¡¯s more ruthless side knew well that at the moment he was barely more than a liability in any combat situation. His broken leg effectively prevented him from being able to fight properly in close combat, and without any ranged weapons, he would only be able to watch as Leon carried the brunt of the weight.


    Would they be able to avoid any alerts before leaving the camp¡¯s well defended perimeter? Even if they did, who knew what dangers awaited beyond the confines of the camp? Would he be pelting everything with rocks, praying for another lucky shot?


    Skyle needed that bow. It would strongly increase his chances of survival.


    However, Skyle had still hesitated.


    Skyle had never killed another man before this night. In fact, the soldier Skyle had gutted when he had first leapt through the rift had been the first man he had ever killed. The experience had been harrowing, and shocked Skyle to his core. He had been telling himself it had been self-defense, that he had panicked and he had not truly meant it, but thinking back on the gruesome fight only made him shudder uncontrollably. Besides, with his survival still hanging on a thin thread, Skyle had chosen to bury the incident under the mountain of problems he faced for now.


    Now this, this was different.


    This was murder. Cold blooded murder.


    There was no argument for self-defense now, no panic.


    Skyle had seen the man and more to the point, had seen the things in his possession. Now Skyle would kill this man in cold blood because he wanted them.


    He would become a thief, and a murderer. All in one single moment of ruthless action.


    ¡°Mom..¡±


    For some reason, as he stepped around the tent, even as he expertly followed the shadows to stay out of sight, in his mind it was his mother¡¯s beautiful face with that adoring look in her eyes that struck his chest as though it were a physical blow.


    Still, he did take that first step, and now he must see it through.


    In his hand, he hefted the knife he had received from Leon. Its cold weight felt as though it were pulling him to the ground, dragging his steps. Still, he moved forward as stealthily as he could, trying to minimize all noise.


    The man still had his back to him, facing the fire. It crackled loudly, sending sparks into the night. Skyle took a few more steps, cautiously approaching the man. Even with his injured leg, they had decided that Skyle would make less noise as he was used to such when moving in the forest, while Leon had all the grace of a lumbering behemoth.


    Sneaking and skulking in the shadows, apparently, did not run in the blood of the noble and exalted lineage of the House of Draxas.


    The man sitting before the fire seemed to be working on something, as his shoulders slowly moved up and down, all of his attention focused on the object in his hands.


    Carefully setting down the tip of his toe before shifting his weight and moving forward, Skyle took a full minute to close the 30 feet gap between himself and the man. His wounds slowed him down considerably. Still, he had managed to close the distance undetected, and was now within range striking range. The man still seemed to be completely oblivious to his presence. As a further reassurance, the man''s aura had not suffered any ripples in all this time.


    Curling his fingers around the dagger he held, Skyle slowly lifted it high above his head, staring at the man¡¯s back, where his heart would be, and it was then when he made his first major mistake.


    As he stared at his target, at the region where he imagined the heart would be, it also brought up a vivid vision of him plunging his dagger down. In his mind¡¯s eye, the cold edge stabbed deeply past soft fabric and into yielding flesh, pale and wrinkled with age. It penetrated deeply with surprising ease, and the man gave a hoarse cry of surprise and pain. In his dying moments, the man would turn his head around with the last of his strength, and gaze upon Skyle¡¯s blood-stained face with unblinking, accusing eyes.


    It was only then that Skyle came back to himself, snapping out of the mental vision. His knife still trembled in his grip high above his head. His eyes were still staring at the old man¡¯s back. As his breath quickened and his pulse beat in his ears, Skyle lifted the knife higher still, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth to brace himself before the deadly, final plunge.


    ¡°No child, you are no killer.¡±


    The soft words uttered by none other than the man facing the fire instantly froze Skyle¡¯s blood.

 Chapter 15 - The Price of Murder

    Chapter 15 -The Price of Murder


    The words surprised Skyle so much that he almost dropped the knife. Skyle had imagined the man¡¯s voice would sound feeble and tired, but instead it seemed filled with a calm confidence that would never waver under pressure.


    The shock of being discovered barely registered before Skyle¡¯s hand began to violently shake around the knife. The man¡¯s tone was light, almost casual, yet his words etched themselves in Skyle¡¯s mind like fire.


    Once more the image of his mother appeared in Skyle¡¯s mind, and this time it seemed to be her lips that were moving as he heard the same words.


    ¡°Skyle, you¡¯re not a killer.¡±


    With a hoarse cry, Skyle forced his eyes shut and struck down blindly with his knife. Whether he was roaring in protest or begging for forgiveness, perhaps not even the small boy knew. Skyle could only think of home, and surviving long enough to get there. His father would know what to do then.


    As for his mother, she would forgive.


    She had to.


    Skyle¡¯s desperate thrust downward was soon met by resistance, but this wasn¡¯t the feeble resistance of cloth and skin. No, the tip of his knife didn¡¯t touch any surface at all. Instead, his hands were seized by an iron grip and his blind attack died in its infancy.


    Skyle¡¯s arms trembled as he panicked and increased the pressure by exerting his arms as best as he could, gritting his teeth and howling wordlessly in desperation.


    It was all in vain. It was as though his arms were locked in stone. Though he could feel his entire body shaking with his exertion, the knife¡¯s tip didn¡¯t so much as waver once.


    ¡°Younger than I¡¯d thought,¡± came the calm voice once more, this time mere inches from his ear. ¡°Ah, it only weighs the sins we bear even heavier still.¡±


    The last part came out in a soft whisper, and though the voice was still firm, it finally sounded tired.


    So very tired.


    Skyle still winced, imagining that anytime now, he would receive a blow, some swift and brutal reprisal for his cowardly, despicable act. Instead, he was startled to feel the hand around his knife relaxing its grip, and the small weight of another hand settled softly, almost comfortingly on top of his shoulder. Unexpectedly, this casual gesture spread warmth into Skyle¡¯s chest.


    Cracking open his eyes, Skyle saw that the man was now facing him. Though the fire behind his back made it difficult to distinguish his features well, Skyle could still make out a pair of serene eyes resting upon him. They did not demand anything, seeking neither explanations nor offering accusations. Instead, they simply cast their calm regard upon Skyle, waiting without any demands nor expectations.


    They instantly reminded Skyle of someone. The one person Skyle trusted and relied upon most in this world. The only person Skyle knew who was stronger than his own father.


    His most well loved person.


    ¡°Mother..¡±


    Indeed, they were eyes much like his mother¡¯s.


    Though it was a man, and an old man at that, this serene gaze resting softly upon Skyle¡¯s face made him instantly recall that same imperturbable, ever comforting look in his mother¡¯s eyes.


    The old man nodded gently to Skyle, the hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder squeezing lightly as though to give him strength and courage.


    ¡°Though I can¡¯t redeem myself from a lifetime of sins, perhaps this one mercy is a gift from the gods to an old man with far too many regrets. I will not let you be one more added to that frightful tally, child.¡±


    As he spoke, the placid light in the man¡¯s eyes seemed to waver, then fracture slowly into countless shards, crumbling into a deluge that spoke of sorrow and regret.


    Endless regret.


    Skyle stood before the old man, his useless knife still gripped in his hand, though he seemed to have forgotten all about it. Instead, the boy stared at his unexpected captor turned savior.


    The man¡¯s lips stretched slowly into a smile. It stretched the man¡¯s skin awkwardly, creating many new creases and faltering many times until finally it succeeded in its valiant task. It was an artless smile, one that almost smelled of rust and dust from lack of use. Still, when it finally did bloom it radiated honesty and warmth.


    ¡°Go on, child. I will not stop you. You must make for the Shrine of T-¡±


    The faint rustling sound was almost imperceptible, barely distinguishable from the intermittent crackling noises of the fire. In truth, Skyle did not even notice it. However, it was all the warning the old man needed.


    Perhaps it was old instincts, or maybe it was what the old man had wanted himself, deep down. His gods had delivered Skyle into his hands, and now they asked for one more sacrifice to atone for his sins.


    In the end, the answer would never be found. Would it have mattered?


    The old man seemed to explode into motion as he turned around, all graceful serenity one moment, a lightning fast blur of shadows and flesh the next. Skyle¡¯s wide-eyed gaze couldn¡¯t keep up with the sheer speed of the motion, but he belatedly followed the direction of the old man¡¯s turn and gasped as he saw a dark silhouette rushing forward from the shadows, jumping directly across the fire with a flash of steel trailing sparks just above it.


    Two red-hot coals burned in Leon¡¯s eyes as his face contorted into a mask of fury and blood-lust. Soaring high above the fire, tongues of brilliant red flared under his feet as his fierce leap parted the flames¡¯ scorching kiss. Both arms were held up above his head as they gripped his axe in a two-handed grip, and a soundless roar burst out from his lips as he brought down his weapon with all the power his desperate fury could muster.


    Leon¡¯s assault had taken both Skyle and the old man completely by surprise. Perhaps they had both been far too entranced in this sudden, casual meeting where they felt as though they¡¯d met old friends, or perhaps new ones.


    In a way, they were similar, these two. The old man had a lifetime of sins weighing down his back, and Skyle had yet another lifetime of dreams and ambitions dragging on his.


    Whatever the reason, the old man had been effectively caught unprepared by Leon¡¯s attack.


    However, it was simply not enough.


    In a moment of perfect, crystal clear serenity where time seemed to suddenly freeze and everything seemed to hang still and unmoving in the air, Skyle could see it all. He could see everything as it was going to happen, mere fractions of a second from now. It was an unavoidable, unstoppable chain of events that had already begun to take its relentless course the moment Leon had taken his very first step.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Leon stood frozen in the air, drops of saliva hanging perfectly still in front of his mouth as he gave voice to his rage and fear in one great, soundless roar. The axe he was bringing to bear would be a mighty swing, and it would have been enough to nearly bisect the old man, cleaving deeply into his shoulder, and all the way down to his lungs in a great killing blow.


    However, the old man was still moving, even in this great vacuum where time lay still. Skyle¡¯s horrified eyes could clearly see the man¡¯s hand beginning to lift the unstrung bow he had been holding earlier. On both ends of the weapon, Skyle could see the gleam of sharp, deadly steel fashioned into a narrow, cutting edge. The man¡¯s balance had already begun to shift forward, and as time flowed forward, Skyle knew beyond any shadow of doubt that this deadly warrior would take a short step forward and arc his chest down.


    This simple, elegant maneuver would send Leon¡¯s reckless, overbalanced slash soaring harmlessly over the man¡¯s shoulder, but not before granting the lightest of caresses from the deadly tip of that razor sharp edge glimmering at the end of the bow the man held.


    That soft kiss, granted with such easy grace, would spell certain doom for Leon. Perhaps he would not even notice it at first, landing heavily on his feet and turning around in a hasty rush with his axe raised up in a guard position, or knowing the foolish noble¡¯s recklessly brave heart, he would be preparing yet another mighty two-handed slash.


    It would all be for vain, for before Leon could take another step, he would be startled to see a spray of red arterial blood spraying into the air. The boy would be alarmed by sudden rush of liquid warmth sliding down his neck, wetting his chest. A stubborn hand would hold up the axe to mount a defense against an assault that would never come, while his other hand would reach with painful hesitation towards the great, gaping wound leaking life and spelling disaster.


    The look in Leon¡¯s eyes would be an extremely complex maelstrom of surging emotions, with shock, fear and despair all howling like rabid wolves towards the dying moon. In the end, however, it would be only fury that remained.


    A red tide of relentless rage, of unwillingness to submit, to let this be the ignoble end to his tale, to his legend. It would swallow all these other lesser, fickle emotions in a storm of fire and blood.


    In the end, however, the rage would also bleed away, then be carried down the stream of time until it slowly diluted, then finally dissolved in the great sea of oblivion.


    ¡°Leon!¡± Skyle cried out in his mind, echoing the other boy¡¯s silent howl.


    It was this fire scorching in Leon¡¯s eyes, even now as he hung frozen up in the air, that also ignited the air pent up within Skyle¡¯s own lungs. As he expelled this unbearable air that had been burning his heart, Skyle saw another shadow of motion approaching him.


    It was a hand, one that had only moments earlier been resting upon his shoulder, offering warmth and comfort.


    The old man, even as he was moving forward to avoid Leon¡¯s attack, had the presence of mind and the nobility of soul to stretch out his other hand towards Skyle¡¯s chest. It was an open-palmed push that would bodily shove the small boy backwards, and effectively out of danger in case Leon¡¯s attack were to miss badly and threaten Skyle.


    Such a move didn¡¯t require much at all, and the man¡¯s focus was still entirely upon Leon.


    It was here, in this one beautiful, fleeting moment of trust and therefore vulnerability, that Skyle finally made his choice and sealed his destiny.


    The man¡¯s bushy eyebrows creased slightly as they drew together in an expression of puzzlement when he felt small, nimble fingers firmly grasp the arm he had stretched behind his back in order to protect the innocent boy. Half-turning his head, wise eyes that had seen far too much of the bitterness and betrayal that pervaded the world of mortals flickered with sudden, unexpected realization as they found the small boy¡¯s hand grasping his forearm in a firm, forceful grip. His trained eyes automatically followed the boy¡¯s arm to his center of gravity, his chest, then moved on towards the stream of motion that focused on the boy¡¯s other hand, expertly reading the next move as though it were clearly written in words.


    This was the hand that held the knife, and it plunged forward with resolute force. The move was imbued with a fierce determination that had been wholly absent in the earlier attack, when the man¡¯s back had been turned to the child.


    This was no longer a child now, for he had come of age.


    He was now an enemy, striking for his heart and threatening his life.


    The old man¡¯s eyes erupted with a storm of emotions, surprise and fury and betrayal mostly, though with the ominous shadow of death hanging like a tragic pall over them all. Not his own, of course. The man was far too mighty a warrior, too seasoned an expert, to be struck down by such an honest, simple thrust. The arm Skyle held tensed in anticipated motion as rock-hard muscles and thick veins snaked all the way down to a hand that had now tightened into a fearsome fist.


    Before the collected might of this one arm, Skyle¡¯s puny fingers seemed to lose all strength and certainty, destined to lose before they even had a fighting chance.


    Then, just as abruptly and unexpectedly, the fist relaxed. The mad emotions thundering in the old man¡¯s eyes were all swept away, vanquished by a strange wind that if anything, would have smelled of yellow flowers and sweet tarts.


    It was a gentle tyrant, this new emotion, one that would brook no contention, no hesitation at all. It spoke of weariness, of yearning, but most of all, it spoke of irredeemable regret. It was the waters of this new ocean that swiftly crashed against the sandy shore of the man¡¯s crusty, crumbling heart, then slowly washed away all the spirit to fight. Or more aptly put, perhaps it was the will to kill.


    With a small spray of crimson, Skyle¡¯s knife bit into the old man¡¯s side, just under the armpit. As he had previously imagined, there was little resistance as the cold tip punctured cloth, then parted skin to sink deeply into yielding flesh. The knife in Skyle¡¯s hands didn¡¯t waver at all as it sought for the man¡¯s beating heart.


    It found it, but in that last moment, Skyle looked into the man¡¯s eyes and was surprised to see no anger, no unwillingness, but rather simple and elegant acceptance.


    Then Leon¡¯s blow struck, cleaving the man¡¯s shoulder almost in half, sending a frightful shower of blood fountaining into the air. Through it all, the old man held his unwavering gaze on Skyle, only shuddering slightly as the grievous wound was inflicted. It was only after a long moment of silence, during which Leon released his grip on his axe and staggered back a couple steps with a confused look on his face, glancing back and forth from the old man to Skyle, that the man gave an overt acknowledgement of the fact that he had been struck, and grievously wounded at that, by a slight trembling of his legs.


    The old man¡¯s knees slowly started to give way, and Skyle wanted more than anything to close his eyes, to escape the terrible guilt he saw in the small, boyish face he saw reflected inside the old man¡¯s placid eyes. A man¡¯s life lay bleeding at his feet, and this time it had been no accident.


    No, it had been coldly premeditated. There had been no panic this time. Instead, Skyle had known it was a choice between two lives, and have made his decision in full understanding of the consequences.


    It had been the lesser of two evils.


    It the only choice left in this new world Skyle had just stepped into, the world of adults.


    The real world.


    Skyle knew he could have made no other choice, but it hardly made him feel any better about it. Still, even though he wanted more than anything to escape the guilt, and close his eyes for a moment while the old man drew his last breaths, something told him that would perhaps be an even greater evil than his previous act.


    At least he would accept the consequences of his own actions, and look into the eyes of the first man he had chosen to kill in cold blood.


    The old man was first to break off eye contact. As his legs finally gave way under him completely and he collapsed towards the ground, his eyes briefly glanced to the side, where Leon stood with a bewildered expression on his face.


    ¡°Ah, another boy. And to think I almost-¡± The old man said softly, and tried to chuckle but only coughed up blood.


    Then he returned his gaze to Skyle as the boy knelt in front of him in solemn silence.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± The old man said while nodding meaningfully to Skyle, and the boy still couldn¡¯t find any words.


    With a visible effort, the old man pushed the bow in his hands into Skyle¡¯s numb fingers.


    ¡°Moon Shadow,¡± he panted raggedly, with a proud look in his eyes. ¡°My final.. Masterpiece. May it.. Redeem.. Safeguard..¡±


    The man coughed feebly once again, but visibly gathered himself in order to force a few more words.


    ¡°Go.. Shrine.. Of Tears..¡±


    With this, the man seemed satisfied at last. As his eyes slowly drifted close and the last of the light within them faded away, a last whisper floated in the air between Skyle and the old man.


    "Ah, the yellow flowers.. Missed th.."


    Then the man was no more, and Skyle finally spoke, though it was too late to be heard.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Then the young boy suddenly become a man wept bitter tears, for such is the price of murder.


    It is dear, this price.


    Very dear indeed.


    Especially that of murdered innocence.

 Chapter 16 - Masterwork: Moonshadow

    Chapter 16 - Masterwork: Moonshadow


    The fire dancing on the ground cast a gentle light across the old man¡¯s face. His final expression upon death was one of release, of having found a long sought peace.


    It was a stark contrast to Skyle¡¯s own expression, which stood frozen in a rictus of loathing and contempt, both aimed squarely at himself. Kneeling before the old man¡¯s corpse, the boy¡¯s hands clutched the bow which had been a final parting gift.


    Skyle¡¯s small hands unconsciously stroked the smooth curve of the bow, feeling the complex grain through the tips of his fingers. This action was completely involuntary, as his mind was still trying to process what had just happened and its aftermath. His hand unconsciously curled around the grip of the bow and tightened its hold of its own accord while his other hand gripped its upper limb and tugged gently but firmly. It was a maneuver that had long become as much of a habit for Skyle as nibbling the nails or biting the lips was for other people.


    This simple move immediately sent a shiver down Skyle¡¯s spine and shocked him out of his reverie. Through his hands, he could distinctly feel a shocking burst of tightly contained power quietly waiting for an explosive release from the bow. This instantly caused the vacant-eyed stare to disappear, giving way instead to astonishment. Skyle involuntarily moved his gaze to truly look at the bow in his hands for the first time.


    It was a simple, unadorned recurve with a matte black finish. The only accessory was a band of leather that had been wrapped around the center of the bow to aid the grip. No other decorations had been added, because truly, none were needed.


    It was the most beautiful bow Skyle had ever seen.


    Even his father¡¯s prized bow, the one Kendric Farrow half-jokingly compared favorably to his own eldest son, paled in comparison. The simple elegance of the bow¡¯s curves, the smooth finish of its limbs, the complex grain on its sides, they all spoke of uncompromising devotion to ultimate craftsmanship.


    It was a tribute to perfection.


    It was made of a solid, yet flexible material that felt like metal yet was lighter than most wooden materials Skyle knew of. The grain spoke of a complex pattern of layers, but they were so smoothly integrated together Skyle was sure the grain was there simply as a further testament to the excellence of this bow, and for no other reason.


    This was not a bow made for parades, or to hang on a wall. It was one made for striking its target with unerring accuracy and shocking power.


    It was the ultimate killing weapon.


    In fact, at both ends of the bow dark metal tips flared out. They were shaped like wings, simple like the rest of the bow, but wickedly sharp. A swift slash from either edge would guarantee a deep, potentially fatal wound even if any would be attacker were to miraculously close the distance on the bow¡¯s wielder.


    The strung bow drew a beautiful, complex half circle. The dark finish of the material prevented any light from reflecting off its surface, and instead seemed to absorb it. Most likely, only the violent impact of an arrowhead piercing flesh would warn any victims to its lethal presence.


    Moonshadow was aptly named.


    ¡°That is a superb bow,¡± Leon whispered quietly next to him.


    Skyle closed his eyes and nodded his head solemnly, holding Moonshadow reverently in his hands.


    ¡°Worthy of a master of the art,¡± Skyle said quietly, once again looking at the old man¡¯s body lying on the ground before him.


    Leon coughed uncomfortably.


    ¡°What was that all about? I thought.. I thought that, ah, that monster was attacking you, so I only tried to help-¡± Leon began hesitantly.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Skyle cut in gently, though tears glimmered in his eyes. ¡°You did your best with what you could see before you, and that will have to be good enough. It has to. You.. you have my thanks.¡±


    Leon stood uncomprehending, glancing between the corpse of the hideous monster he had just slain, and his obviously grieving companion.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Skyle repeated, this time with a little more conviction, though his voice was still low and muted. ¡°After all, he chose his own ending. Whatever the demons haunting him, I can only hope he has found peace at last.¡±


    After a final bow of his head, Skyle vowed in a low, determined voice, ¡°I will let Moonshadow honor your memory. Rest well, old man.¡±


    Leon shook his head slowly, but his hands twitched at his sides as he glanced at the axe that was still buried in the old man¡¯s shoulder.


    Skyle caught the look and sighed deeply, before nodding to Leon.


    It was a messy affair, but they needed all the resources they could get. Skyle knelt before the old man, hesitating as his hands hovered over the old man¡¯s body.


    Leon lay a hand on his shoulder and quietly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this. I can-¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Skyle shook his head firmly. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s my responsibility.¡±


    With a firm, resolute nod, Skyle began to search the old man. He did so with surprising thoroughness, but the only things they found was a ring with a complex pattern hanging from his neck by a golden chain and a key that was suspended from the same chain.


    Skyle pursed his lips, but then took both the ring and the key but chose to leave the golden chain behind.


    ¡°You can retrieve your axe now,¡± Skyle got to his feet and gestured to Leon.


    Leon glanced wonderingly at Skyle before stepping forward to do just that. In the meantime, Skyle began to search the tents in the vicinity.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Leon asked, grunting with the effort of pulling the axe free.


    ¡°This,¡± Skyle replied, dragging a tiny chest out from within one of the tents.


    It was a solid wooden chest, worn by age but with a very solid looking lock. Skyle produced the key and the lock turned with a smooth click.


    Skyle and Leon immediately craned their heads forward while opening the chest.


    The inside of the chest was lined by a fine velvety material. Within were three thumb sized crystals, a tattered book and a small, flat oval disk.


    Both boys glanced at each other before studying the crystals with a closer look. They were smooth hexagonal crystals that gleamed with a crimson hue. Upon closer inspection, in the center it almost seemed as though a mist was constantly swirling.


    ¡°Just what is this?¡± Leon muttered, frowning.


    Skyle narrowed his eyes, thinking carefully while studying the crystals with his True Sight. A fierce vortex of scarlet energy seemed to be spinning madly around a central core. This core was made of countless hair-thin strings of different colors.


    As he focused his gaze on these strings, abruptly a sickening feeling rose from his stomatch, and Skyle involuntarily retched while turning pale as a ghost.


    ¡°You alright?¡± Leon asked worriedly.


    ¡°Fine. Fine. I think I saw one of their commanders crush this in his hand before unleashing a powerful elemental attack against the beast,¡± Skyle turned to Leon. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s the only time I¡¯ve seen anyone wield the power of the elements in here.¡±


    Leon stared at Skyle wide-eyed.


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean that crimson energy projection I saw come through the rift?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that one. You saw it as well?¡±


    ¡°Saw it? Impossible to miss it. It knocked the beast right out of the rift and just kept on going. It must have incinerated a fifty foot wide swathe of forest all the way to the edge of my vision, where I lost track of it.¡±


    Skyle frowned in thought. ¡°It seems that regular elemental power is unusable in this place, but these crystals could help you.¡±


    ¡°Worth a shot,¡± Leon nodded passionately, reaching towards the crystals with a hungry glimmer in his eyes.


    Unexpectedly, Skyle placed a restraining hand on his arm to stop him.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°I.. I think it''s best you don¡¯t use it unless its an emergency,¡± Skyle said haltingly, still recoiling from the crystals¡¯ aura. ¡°That stuff makes me feel sick.¡±


    Leon frowned as he heard the words, but he seemed to take the warning seriously and nodded slowly.


    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll do that then.¡±


    Carefully storing the crystals into his shoulder slung pouch, Leon closed the flap and looked up with a happy expression. Even his shoulders relaxed slightly, and he even seemed to stand taller, as though his confidence was slowly trickling back in.


    Skyle shook his head ruefully, then returned his gaze to the book he had retrieved from the box. Its cover was scorched and many of its pages were either missing or had been partially burned. Carefully flipping the pages and skimming its contents, Skyle¡¯s eyes seemed to brighten up momentarily before a more somber mood descended upon him.


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s the old man¡¯s journal,¡± Skyle murmured softly, glancing towards the body lying not far away. ¡°It could have useful information, but here is neither the time nor the place.¡±


    Leon nodded his agreement, then quirked his eyebrow at the oval disk still lying in the box.


    ¡°What about that?¡±


    The disk was about three inches in diameter and only as thin as a coin. Its surface was plain without any details or patterns. Skyle used the True Sight to examine the disk, but found nothing remarkable about it. It seemed to be a simple disk.


    Shrugging, Skyle picked up the disk and placed it in his own pouch.


    ¡°Can we risk the time to search the tents around here?¡± Leon asked in a low, worried tone. Without quite knowing when, he had become used to letting Skyle make the decisions.


    Skyle furrowed his brows as he studied his surroundings with the True Sight.


    ¡°Coast is clear for now, but we should hurry,¡± Skyle began, then suddenly swayed on his feet as he brought a hand to his temple, his expression contorting with pain.


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep using that thing all the time,¡± Leon muttered worriedly.


    Skyle took a deep breath and waved him off. ¡°Beats getting killed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it''s too important to squander away. We need to move,¡± Leon countered.


    ¡°Fine, just give me a second then.¡±


    Skyle rushed back into the tent, and within moments walked out with a quiver of arrows on his back and a small sack in one hand.


    ¡°Supplies,¡± Skyle answered the other boy¡¯s unspoken question shortly, before decisively striding off in the direction of the walls.


    Within a couple minutes, they had returned to the wagon where they had been hiding before. The seven foot wall stood a stone¡¯s throw away. Torches placed at regular intervals illuminated the perimeter, and a pair of guards could be seen slowly patrolling by the light.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Skyle cursed softly under his breath.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Wall''s too high, I¡¯ll need help to climb it,¡± Skyle muttered, pointing at his leg.


    Leon shrugged and noted, ¡°I¡¯m more worried about the fact that they have so many soldiers, thousands, and yet they still need a wall that big. Takes a lot of work to build a wall like that, especially around a camp this size.¡±


    ¡°Your point?¡±


    ¡°Just what are they trying to keep out?¡± Leon answered in a low tone.


    A short silence ensued, during which both boys exchanged a meaningful glance. Then another explosion rocked the entire encampment and a hair-rising roar shook the night.


    ¡°At least it can¡¯t be any worse than that thing,¡± Leon pointed out while tilting his head in the direction of the roar.


    ¡°Guess we¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Skyle sighed.

 Chapter 17 - Blood Sacrifice

    Chapter 17 - Blood Sacrifice


    Skyle ran his fingers along the taut bowstring, an absent minded gesture while his eyes followed the two guards marching along the perimeter of the wall. They were both wearing full armor and open faced helmets with a nose guard that allowed a wide area of vision. Their eyes were alert but calm, which was quite the feat considering all the commotion within the camp. Identical looking longswords were sheathed at their sides, and from their belt hung a small, circular horn - likely for sounding the alarm in case of an attack.


    ¡°Their intervals are just too tight. Burn me, but they have been trained well,¡± Leon muttered with a strange mix of anger and admiration in his voice. ¡°There, the next patrol is rounding the corner just as this one¡¯s about to march off our line of vision. No gap at all.¡±


    Skyle eyed the twelve foot tall palisade wall and frowned, lost in thought. It had been cut from thick tree trunks smoothed out of branches and other irregularities by quick, efficient chops. Each log was fairly uniform in size and shape, being about twice as thick as Skyle¡¯s own waist. Glancing sideways at the length of the wall, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but shake his head in admiration. There must be thousands, tens of thousands of logs in this side of the wall alone.


    A narrow wooden walkway had been erected behind the wall, and it was along this platform that pairs of guards made their rounds. They always kept within sight of the next patrol, neither hurrying nor dilly dallying. Also, at regular intervals especially fortified towers that rose a few feet above the wall itself had been placed. Several men armed with bows could be seen manning these towers.


    All in all, it was an impressive fortification effort, and it truly made one wonder just what this army was trying to defend against.


    ¡°It is unlikely that the threat is humanoid,¡± Leon murmured, almost as though to himself.


    Skyle pondered at that.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± he asked quietly.


    ¡°Wooden palisade walls are always vulnerable to fire,¡± Leon explained patiently. ¡°And a capable commander would be remiss to invest this much work and resources into building a wall this big unless it was purely temporary, or they didn¡¯t need to fear fire to begin with.¡±


    Skyle nodded thoughtfully. It made sense. No matter how green a trunk was, it would still go up in flames under prolonged exposure to fire. Then it would become a liability rather than a protection.


    ¡°What interests me for now is, how do we get out of here?¡± Skyle grumbled.


    Leon glanced down at Skyle¡¯s leg and pursed his lips. ¡°Well, climbing is out of the question for you. I judge that gallery stationed behind the wall to be at least eight feet above the ground. That means we need to use one of the ladders.¡±


    Skyle nodded. ¡°There are several that we can see,they all have guards stationed on top of them. Even if we manage to somehow subdue the guards, withthe time it will take to climb up the ladder, then over the wall, a patrol is sure to see us.¡±


    ¡°Too many patrols,¡± Leon growled.


    ¡°We need a distraction,¡± Skyle glanced towards the closest torch, which lay a mere ten feet from the wagon they were hiding under.


    Leon followed Skyle¡¯s gaze andsnorted lightly,¡°The idea is to draw their attention away from us, not to light up a flaming beacon on top of our heads.¡±


    Skyle tapped a finger on his bow, but Leon¡¯s face twisted in distaste.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen flaming arrows before, and they will draw a hell of a lot of attention, especially in the middle of a pitch black night like this one,¡± Leon muttered, looking up towards the sky.


    Skyle followed his gaze, but all he could see was one of the clearest and most beautiful night skies he¡¯d ever seen. True, the complete absence of any moon or stars was slightly unsettling, but somehow he doubted that was what Leon was referring to.


    Stilll, Skyle decided not to take up the topic of the strange illusions filling Leon''s vision, and instead opted for a more practical and down to earth approach.


    ¡°Come here and see,¡± Skyle said slowly, pointing with a finger in the direction they had come from. ¡°If we part that tent flap there, and move a couple of those crates..¡±


    Leon scrunched over to look in the direction Skyle pointed, and his expression turned from one of healthy skepticism to serious consideration.


    ¡°Look, I know you¡¯re a good shot. Hell, you¡¯re probably the best archer of your age I¡¯ve ever seen. Still, there¡¯s just that one thing I just mentioned: Your age,¡± Leon sighed, openly looking Skyle up and down with a look of honest disbelief. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to arc a flaming arrow without drawing attention, and that only leaves a flat shot.¡±


    Leon slowly turned away from the other boy to look at the target once more. It was the tents in the area they left the old man¡¯s body at. From where Skyle lay, there was coincidentally a small gap about three feet off the ground that ran through all the tents, crates, and other obstructions.


    Leon shook his head firmly.


    ¡°Even for a veteran archer, such a small target wouldn¡¯t be an easy shot. If you¡¯re talking about a flat shot, I¡¯m not sure even a crossbow would be able to accomplish it, let alone a bow that either you or I can manage to draw.¡±


    Leon was right to express serious doubts. Skyle knew that the heaviest bow he had been able to properly draw had a pull of about seventy five pounds, and a single shot from that bow would leave him exhausted, to say nothing of his accuracy with it.


    In order to make a flat shot of two hundred yards, his father¡¯s bow would be able to accomplish it with its 180 pound pull. However, Skyle wouldn¡¯t be able to made such a bow even budge, let alone hit the target.


    Still, Skyle experimentally gripped Moonshadow in one hand while taking a deep breath and pulling the bowstring with the other. Even prone as he was, the motion was shockingly easy to manage, and though he had yet to reach full extension, he was confident that he would manage an accurate shot.


    He would be underdrawing by a good twenty five percent, perhaps more. Still, Skyle got the strangest feeling from his fingers, arms and most of all, his heart, that this would be his most powerful shot yet.


    ¡°I can do it,¡± Skyle said seriously. ¡°Trust me.¡±


    Leon scowled at Skyle, but the other boy only stared right back at him.


    Leon Draxas was resolved not to give in this time. He was, after all, the heir of House Draxas, born to command and lead. His opinion would always be regarded as the golden standard, whether it proved right or not. Even low ranked army commanders could only raise indirect concerns and voice idle speculations, but never would they so firmly oppose him. Only his direct teachers or the most senior officers could truly disregard his opinion, and even then it was a rare event.


    With a string of muttered curses, Leon broke off eye contact, as he found Skyle¡¯s quiet, placid gaze strangely convincing. That only infuriated him all the more.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Leon growled under his breath. ¡°Now where do we get a flaming arrow?¡±


    Skyle grinned like a happy child and instantly produced an arrow from his quiver. The arrowhead was made of a brittle material and had a hollow channel carved within. Before Leon could raise the next question, Skyle pre-empted him by taking one of the potion bottles out from within the pouch.


    ¡°Sure it¡¯ll catch AND hold?¡± Leon asked gruffly.


    Skyle only raised an eyebrow, then shrugged helplessly. ¡°It should. We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    Thus, after finding an empty tent nearby, Leon found himself parting the tent flap just a few inches. According to Skyle, that would be enough for the shot.


    Skyle himself was standing on one corner of the tent, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. The arrowhead had been filled with the liquid from one of the bottles Skyle held, one which he remembered as being particularly reddish in hue under his True Sight. Red usually meant an abundance of the fire element, and the smell had strongly corroborated this hunch.


    ¡°Remember, as soon as I open my eyes, get the torch and light me up,¡± Skyle instructed once again, and Leon barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, the bigger boy nodded gravely and glanced at a big earthen jar lying by the ground. Light flickered from the torch they had hidden within, in order to draw the least amount of attention until the last moment. In fact, they had taken a precious few moments to find a tent from which they could still find that angle to make their intended shot. The advantages of making the shot from within the tent would be the ability to make the shot covertly. After all, this was no longer a deserted area like the one where they had fought the old man. Guards were still patrolling all around the wall and the nearby areas, and only darkness would keep the boys safe.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Skyle asked softly, nocking the specially treated arrow.


    ¡°Get on with it, farmboy,¡± Leon replied with feigned indifference, but he licked his lips anxiously.


    Skyle took one final breath, and slowly began to exhale through his mouth. At this point, Skyle finally opened his eyes and again entered the True Sight. Slowly, a myriad colors dawned into existence all around him. Much more experienced with it now, Skyle quickly filtered out the unimportant details, and instead narrowed his sight towards his target and brought it to incredible focus just as Leon reached into the jar and lit the arrowhead with the torch.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    At the same moment, Skyle¡¯s lungs finally settled down and his heart seemed to almost stutter to a stop. Immediately, the muscles in Skyle¡¯s arms bulged as he swiftly drew the bowstring as far back as he could. At first, the motion was smooth and easy, but towards the end Skyle could feel the resistance growing exponentially harder.


    Skyle hadn¡¯t expected this, and indeed, the few practice draws he had made on the bowstring a few moments earlier hadn¡¯t been like this. Still, Skyle knew he was beyond any extra thoughts or doubts.


    He needed to make the shot, and by the Gods he would make it if it was the last thing he did!


    Thusly armed with a fierce determination to succeed and the fine focus to channel that will into results, Skyle¡¯s face showed none of his emotions. Only his eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he finally released the bowstring and loosed the arrow.


    It was only now that Skyle noticed that Moonshadow¡¯s limbs had bent in a strange fashion, curving three times in total. He noticed this only as the bowstring propelled the arrow with an impact that was far beyond what he had expected.


    With a loud twang, the arrow soared into the distance and only the briefest of flashes could be seen before it completely disappeared from sight. Not even the trail of the burning arrowhead could be seen, such was the incredible speed of the projectile. For a brief instant that seemed to stretch endlessly, both Skyle and Leon stood frozen, staring blankly ahead in vain hopes of spotting the errant missile.


    Finally, far in the distance the smallest flash of orange fire lit up the night, drawing a faint line of sparkling light that was, incredibly, almost completely parallel to the ground.


    In fact, it drew a perfectly flat line!


    Both boys stood staring at the arrow in utter stupefaction. Let alone Leon, not even Skyle had expected such incredible power from the shot. In fact, Skyle hadn¡¯t expected a perfectly flat shot and had arced his shot just slightly in case he undershot his target. This led to him actually overshooting his intended target. Thankfully, the gap along the course of the shot only narrowed downward, leaving an even wider gap the higher the shot went.


    Leon seemed to relax slightly, but Skyle still stood perfectly still, staring after the arrow with his enhanced sense of sight.


    Ironically, he was now worried about whether he would badly overshoot his target. Moreover, with the speed with which the arrow was hurtling through the air, Skyle was no longer very concerned about whether anyone would spot it, and instead began to worry about whether the fire would be snuffed out by outrageous acceleration.


    Indeed, the arrow looked like it would shoot straight over the tent for which Skyle had aimed, but at the last instant it seemed to dip just enough that it managed to catch the very top of the highest tent pole.


    Moments later, a bright blaze burst into life and both boys let out relieved breaths. Leon quickly threw the torch he was still holding into a bucket and covered it with sand, instantly putting it out. Complete darkness engulfed the tent, and both boys safely snuck toward the wagon once more. Then it was another waiting game.


    They did not have to wait for long, as loud cries of ¡°Fire!¡± began to resound through the camp, each cry being repeated and spread over a wider area.


    Skyle and Leon both cautiously slunk back into the darkest shadows under their wagon as they watched the booted feet of the pair of guards who had been patrolling the section of wall closest to them rush in the direction of the fire.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Leon cried out as soon as the guards turned around a corner, getting to his feet and pulling Skyle up after him. ¡°The next shift may or may not go to help with the fire!¡±


    Skyle nodded and immediately placed his arm around the bigger boy¡¯s shoulder while holding Moonshadow in his other hand, keeping a watchful eye with his True Sight. Leon stared straight ahead while he wordlessly reached around Skyle¡¯s back in order to support his weight, and they began to rush towards the wall at top speed.


    Thanks to the commotion caused by the fire, they arrived at their destination without raising any alerts. The section of wall they had aimed for was placed furthest away from any torches nearby. It also had several long wooden boards lying next to the wall, perhaps to be used as wall supports in case of an outside assault. Skyle swiftly slung Moonshadow around his back and grabbed one end of the board with both hands, while Leon used his good hand to do the same from the other end.


    Moving in such coordinated fashion, within moments they had placed three of the boards end to end. Skyle took out a bedroll and placed it on top of the intersection between two boards. Leon stepped forward and brought down the flat side of his axe head on top of the bedroll.


    Surprisingly, a muffled metallic clang was produced by the impact, and a satisfied Leon repeated the movement while Skyle unslung another bedroll from his shoulders and placed it at the intersection between the next two boards.


    In fact, the boys had removed a few of the pins nailing the tents to the ground, then had wedged them into the bedrolls. Having practiced the motion beforehand, Leon was able to secure the pins into place on the board with a single blow, and thereafter needed only three to four more to completely drive each bundle of three pins through both wooden boards.


    In less than thirty seconds, they had nailed together three boards roughly fivefeet long each, effectively producing a fifteen feet long board. Bracing the bottom end of the first board against the pile of boards, they pushed the other end toward the nearby wall.


    The boards now made a natural ramp to the eight feet high wooden walkway situated behind the wall, which would have been otherwise unreachable without going to the brightly lit and well guarded ladders. Thanks to this particular spot¡¯s distance from any torches, the boys were able to swiftly climb up their improvised ramp. As soon as Skyle set foot off the ramp, Leon pushed it off the edge of the walkway and it fell down with a thump.


    The sound didn¡¯t attract any attention as cries of ¡°Fire¡± were still resounding through the camp.


    Overjoyed at the success of their plan, Leon moved to the edge of the wall and looked at the other side.


    ¡°As expected, they dug the outside perimeter to increase the height of the wall. Good thing I found us that rope inside the wagon,¡± Leon exulted as he swiftly looped one end of the rope he had slung around his shoulder on top of one of the wooden logs making up the wall. ¡°Time to go!¡±


    Leon turned around to motion to the other boy, but then he had to furrow his brow as he once again spotted Skyle staring into the distance, towards the center of the camp. Leon followed his line of sight but could see nothing in particular thanks to the deep gloom of the night.


    ¡°Skyle?¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t answer, as his attention was entirely consumed by whatever he was seeing.


    Leon lifted a hand and reached out towards Skyle, but then hesitated as he now knew beyond doubt that Skyle¡¯s extraordinary sense of sight was very real and extremely important for their survival. What if he interrupted Skyle while he was identifying an important threat, or some clue as to where their situation? Then again, up on this wooden walkway they were clearly illuminated by several torches, and they would be easily spotted should anyone turn their eye in this direction. Should he wait, or carry Skyle away, forcibly if need be?


    Then, as Leon still wrestled with the difficult decision,the matter was taken out of his hands altogether.


    ***


    Blood.


    It was the smell of it, strangely enough, that first drew Skyle¡¯s attention back towards the camp, instead of the wall and the freedom that lay just beyond it.


    The salty, coppery smell of blood.


    Skyle frowned deeply as his nose scrunched up, involuntarily inhaling but finding nothing amiss with the air. Then he focused his attention on the True Sight, and was instantly shocked.


    A great vortex of a deep, bloody red was spinning in the middle of the camp. It rose a good fifteen feet in the air, even taller than the walls of the encampment, and seemed to only grow in mass by the second. Like torrents of blood rapidly whirling into a terrifying twister, it seemed to send a deafening howl into Skyle¡¯s soul that chilled his veins.


    Just what is going on? Skyle couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Where is this terrifying energy coming from?


    Just then, as if to answer his question, a thick stream of bloody red rose from the ground and was instantly absorbed by the vortex, once more increasing its size.


    Skyle followed that last stream of red to its source, and narrowed his eyes as his supernatural sight slowly brought what would otherwise have been a mere indistinguishable blur into sharp contrast.


    The first thing Skyle saw were the sacks. There were literally hundreds of them, all hanging dangling in the air from ropes above a vast cauldron. Dark robed men stood underneath, holding a hook on one hand, and a knife on the other. They deftly used the sharp tips of the hooks to pierce each sack, bringing it closer to the center of the cauldron. Then the knives in their other hand would flash briefly, after which the bags would be torn open and pour their contents into the steaming cauldron below. Meanwhile, the men would flick their hooks and the loose flap that had been cut off from the sack would be discarded in a rapidly growing pile surrounding the cauldron.


    Then Skyle¡¯s face drained of blood, and if he hadn¡¯t been so horrified by the sight that greeted him, he would have surely doubled over and puked all over himself in horror and disgust.


    The sacks, they were not sacks.


    They were people.


    Naked people, hanging upside down by chains that ended in wicked hooks that pierced their ankles. Grim faced executioners indifferently used their steel hooks to catch on their victims¡¯ heads. They didn¡¯t seem to care whether it was eyes they gouged, or mouths they tore, or skulls they pierced. In the end, they would slowly drag their madly twitching victims towards the rim of the cauldron, then with a single flash from the curved blades in their other hand, yet another head would be detached and sent flying to join that macabre pile while blood poured forth in a grisly shower into the hissing cauldron.


    The terrified victims were gagged and bound, but to Skyle their eyes were far louder than any words could have been.


    Some eyes were squeezed completely shut, as though to deny the reality of what was about to befall them. Others were streaming an endless torrent of tears, begging to be spared all the while realizing the utter futility of their actions.


    One particular set of eyes caught Skyle¡¯s attention. Not because they were particularly brave, nor even composed. In fact, the eyes had long ago lost any hint of sanity within. Instead, the irises had shrunk until the eyes looked almost completely white.


    Still, they immediately drew Skyle¡¯s attention because of one reason, and one reason only.


    Skyle knew this man.


    He didn¡¯t know his name, age, or any other information regarding him. However, Skyle knew this man because he had spotted his calm, intelligent gaze regarding him from the other side of a cage when the boys had made their escape.


    Back then, Skyle had acted on impulse and had thrown the key to the cage doors to the man. While he had known that it would be almost impossible for the man to actually make his escape, still Skyle had drawn at least some measure of comfort in knowing that he had given the man a chance, as minute and insignificant as it seemed.


    It had been a sudden decision, reached as much out of Skyle¡¯s own naivete and lack of experience, as of a sudden rush of adrenaline during which he had dared to hope for the impossible.


    What was the worst that could happen, after all? Skyle thought he had been ready to deal with the consequences of his own actions, but as he looked into the unknown man¡¯s eyes and saw within the reflection of that evil edge flashing on its way to cleave his neck, Skyle finally understood just how unprepared he was.


    How woefully inadequate his every preparation had been for the massive cost of his actions.


    Indeed, how could a boy like Skyle possibly be prepared to pay such a steep toll?


    Thus, the man would pay the price, and with a quick flash of steel and a burst of arterial blood, he did.


    As Skyle¡¯s will began to crumble and his vision began to lose focus, the final sight that he saw clearly was that of one of the executioners.


    More precisely, it was his lips.


    They were constantly moving, their speed always increasing, but still chanting the same word over and over until the words they were uttering echoed deafeningly in Skyle¡¯s own mind.


    ¡°SACRIFICE!¡±

 Chapter 18 - Fury

    Chapter 18 - Fury


    How fleeting life is.


    Like a blade of grass floating in the wind, borne by the capricious whims of fate.


    In the end, they would all either wither away, or burn.


    Wither away, because that is what time and circumstance wills.


    Burn because I will be the fire, to scorch this rotten world to the ground.


    A savage howl roared into being within Skyle¡¯s mind, and a vast void opened its maw to swallow all conscious thought, leaving only the most basic and primal of instincts behind.


    Fury.


    With a hand that was shaking, not from terror, but rather fury, Skyle lifted Moonshadow high over his shoulder, his arm held out straight as his other hand drew an arrow from the quiver on his back and nocked it on the string in one smooth, graceful motion.


    ¡°Skyle?¡± Leon called out from behind.


    Ignoring the call, Skyle took a deep breath and his gaze instantly traversed hundreds of feet. In his mind¡¯s eye, objects seemed to suddenly zip past him as his gaze narrowed down on a singular target far, far away from him.


    Taking a single moment to fix the position of his target firmly in his mind, Skyle released the breath he had been holding while drawing the bowstring all the way back until it touched his cheek. He held it there for just a fraction of a second, long enough that he felt the cold kiss of the string against his lips.


    Then his lungs stopped, and at the same instant his heart also skipped a beat. It was in this brief pause between one beat of his heart and the next that his fingers relaxed their firm hold and the bowstring became a blur.


    A loud twang that was practically a physical slap against the air echoed loudly in the night, the vibrations still spreading in an almost tangible ripple. Blood splattered in the air from a wound in Skyle¡¯s wrist where the bowstring had cut into flesh after rebounding from the shot, but he seemed not to notice as his eyes seemed to be firmly fixed upon a target far in the distance.


    Leon reflexively tried to follow the trajectory of the arrow as it leapt off the bow, but immediately realized it was futile as the arrow had instantly vanished, a mere shadow that had accelerated into a near invisible streak of light.


    Leon looked back to Skyle and was stupefied to find the boy already fitting another arrow onto the bow. Frowning as he noticed a few drops of blood sliding down the bowstring, Leon hissed in shock as he saw that Skyle¡¯s fingertips were torn and bleeding where he was pulling back the string.


    Still, Skyle¡¯s expression was one of coldly burning wrath as he froze for just a single moment, arrow pointed high into the sky, before loosing the arrow with another humming twang.


    Another spray of blood flew into the air as the bowstring cut a deeper wound into Skyle¡¯s arm, but Leon again found his gaze turning to try and follow the newly released arrow¡¯s path.


    By the time he again realized trying to spot this arrow was just as futile as with the arrow that had preceded it, Skyle had already reached his hand back over his shoulder towards the next arrow.


    Leon immediately leapt forward and this time managed to catch hold of Skyle¡¯s wrist before the boy could fit another arrow on the string.


    ¡°Skyle, stop!¡± Leon hissed urgently.


    Skyle slowly turned his head over his shoulder, regarding Leon with eyes that burned with a frost-covered fury that sent shivers down the bigger boy¡¯s spine.


    Leon had fought many battles, and faced many terrifying opponents, but the light in Skyle¡¯s eyes belong to no human. Instead, they were the eyes of a feral beast stalking its prey, on the cusp of pouncing from its perch in order to sate its thirst for blood.


    ¡°Skyle! Snap out of it! We need to go!¡± Leon shook Skyle¡¯s arm, sending a few drops of blood sailing through the air.


    ¡°They must pay,¡± Skyle said in a cold, mechanical voice that nonetheless seemed to bring with it the promise of winter.


    ¡°They will, but not today. Not when our lives are the price!¡± Leon nearly shouted in his face, urgency twisting his face. ¡°We need to go. Now!¡±


    Skyle stared back at Leon calmly for a long moment, but just as Leon began to wonder whether he should try his chances at knocking Skyle unconscious in order to haul him away, Skyle finally relented, slowly lowering his bow.


    Just as Leon was exhaling a slow sigh of relief, a sudden clamor rose from the middle of the camp. Without even bothering to turn his head, Leon grasped the rope and jumped off the wall.


    Skyle turned his head to look towards the camp one last time, before gripping the rope Leon had flung over the wall and leaping off into the darkness beyond. In his eyes there was a dark promise, and slung across his back was its grim fulfillment.


    ***


    The first arrow struck like a lightning bolt, smoothly punching through the thick bone of the skull of the dark robed man who had just beheaded another victim. The impact jerked this man¡¯s head to the side, loudly cracking his neck and twisting it in a gruesome fashion. The arrow didn¡¯t stop there, but instead penetrated through the top of his cranium all the way until stopped by the fletchings. On the other side, the bloodied arrowhead glinted dully with wet blood as it stuck out from below the impaled man¡¯s jaw.


    The dark ritual suddenly stopped as every set of eyes stared at the man who had been struck by the arrow. He swayed drunkenly on his feet for a moment, before coughing out a spray of blood and slowly toppling to one side, face first.


    Before the man had even hit the ground, however, a second arrow fell from the sky, unerringly striking its own target. The arrowhead impacted with a solid bone wrenching sound as it pierced through another dark robed man¡¯s forehead as easily as though it were paper.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    The man¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t even have time to fully register his surprise as he was bodily lifted off his feet by the impact. As though he had been struck by the hammer of the gods, the awesome blow loudly wrenched his head backwards, and his entire body followed suit. He slammed back into the ground with a bone-popping crash. He twitched spastically a couple times, then finally lay still in the midst of a swiftly spreading pool of his own blood.


    All the dark robed men lay completely still, looking on with uncomprehending gazes at the two dead men who had been struck down from their midst in the blink of an eye, one after the other. No sound could be heard except for the muffled, desperate struggles of the next sacrificial victims still hanging from their bindings over the cauldron.


    Finally, after the initial moment of shock had passed and reality finally registered in the minds of these stupefied men, one of them stepped forward and motion the rest of the men back. His gaze was fixedly staring at the giant cauldron as the bubbling liquid within continued to sizzle and steam, forming a purple cloud that hung like a sickening miasma over the congregated crowd.


    The man who had stepped forward raised his hands and began to chant words in a slow, rumbling staccato, punctuated by glowing sigils that were traced into the air by his nimble fingers. More voices soon joined the first man¡¯s, uttering the same chant, and more sigils soon joined the first man¡¯s to form a wide circle of light around the cauldron. The purple cloud began to solidify even further as the contents of the cauldron quickly evaporated into mist.


    With a final rumbling shout, a shocking sound like the roar of a terrible beast rang out from the midst of the cloud, and the entire mist slowly began to take the shape of a reptilian head. The dark robed men all fell to their knees except for the first man who had stepped out to take the lead. His arms were shaking and his face was bathed in sweat as he made a final, grand sweeping gesture emcompassing the cloud overhead, then finished his chant with a loud shout as he pointed in the direction of the rifts.


    The mist that had vaguely come to take the shape of a dragon¡¯s head roared loudly once again, then soared through the air in the direction of the rifts, where a man wearing an impressive slate grey suit of armor currently knelt on the ground. Both his gauntleted hands were clutching a sword that had been driven into the ground as the man panted harshly. His lips were bloodied, as was his whole body. Minute cracks could be seen running down his breastplate as well, and one of the bracers on his arms had a deep crack where fragments of bone could be seen.


    This man was Lord Commander Vissus, whose expression was a mask of grim determination as he glared at the great beast that continued its vicious assault from the other side of the rift. The beast itself was hardly in better shape than the commander, as it had sustained harrowing wounds in its stubborn assault of the rift¡¯s defenses.


    As Vissus shifted his feet minutely, the cracking sounds of shattered blood crystal shards reverberated in his ears. He had been forced to consume two more blood crystals in order to battle against this beast, and still it looked as though the beast would not relent its onslaught.


    The beast glared its bloodshot eyes at Vissus, and though its blood covered visage was twisted by rage and hatred, undeniable intelligence gleamed deep within those twin orbs of fire. Even in the midst of this brutal battle, those eyes had continuously been roving about, as though desperately searching for something.


    It was only now, when both beast and Commander Vissus had taken a momentary step back to gather their strength before another reckless assault, that those eyes briefly paused while looking towards the east.


    ¡°That¡¯s where the sacrificial grounds are,¡± Vissus reflected, as he turned his gaze to follow the beast¡¯s, and saw the approaching mass of purple mist.


    ¡°Finally, the sacrificial ritual is ready. Such a waste of blood essence, but this beast must be stopped before it crosses the rift, else years of hard work and untold thousands of lives sacrificed may come to naught.¡±


    Vissus firmly determined that he could not allow such an outcome to pass, and with a ssoft grunt drew forth his sword from the deep scar in the ground where he¡¯d rested it. His eyes moved from the approaching cloud to meet the gaze of the beast crouching beyond the rift¡¯s boundary.


    For one instant, Vissus matched gazes with the beast, and beyond the simple veneer of savage fury visible from the surface, he was once again shocked by the intelligence and cunning he detected in its depths.


    ¡°After all, it was able to find and activate one of the inert rifts that we had not even empowered yet. How did it manage in a couple hours what it takes a whole team of rift mages weeks to accomplish?¡±


    Vissus slowly lifted his sword before his chest, his gaze not leaving the beast as he braced himself for what was coming next.


    ¡°Hundreds of lives that were meant to open the way for The Advent, and now they¡¯ve been wasted, poured into the dust because of you.¡±


    The great cloud of purple mist seemed to open its great maw as it swooped down from the skies and swallowed Vissus whole, suddenly enveloping his figure. From within the mist, red and purple arcs of lightning could be seen crackling in dozens of directions, and a great roaring explosion boomed into the air. Dust billowed from the impact zone, and dozens of soldiers maintaining the perimeter were blown away by the blast.


    The mist slowly cleared away, drifting away as though borne by an invisible hand. In its wake, Vissus stood like a blood-soaked demon, whole aura emanating a vicious atmosphere. Whereas before his whole figure had looked worn and haggard from the battle, it was now bursting at the seams with barely suppressed power.


    The beast¡¯s eyes suddenly stilled as it watched the transformation unfolding before it. Then, with a rather dismissive shake of its head, it turned around and slowly drifted back towards the depths of the rift.


    Lord Commander Vissus grit his teeth and the hands gripping his sword trembled with barely suppressed fury, but he did not move to give chase or further retaliate against the beast. He knew full well the price for using the blood magic directly, and the only thing he could do was attempt to recoup his losses.


    The beast¡¯s massive figure slowly faded away from his vision as the rift finally winked out of existence, but Lord Vissus did not miss the final glance his opponent had thrown over its shoulder right before the rift collapsed completely.


    Vissus slowly turned his head to look in the direction of that gaze.


    ¡°Report,¡± Vissus grated out through clenched teeth. The losses for his side this time had been disastrous. The Advent would have to be pushed back by several days, perhaps even weeks. His own body would need an extravagant amount of resources to recover. At least the rifts¡¯ energy had been worn thin, almost to the point of collapse. The beast would not be able to launch another assault for a long time. Still, victory had come at too steep a price, and Vissus could only swallow a bitter aftertaste as he spat out his orders. ¡°Immediately send a team to investigate the eastern quarter and the sacrificial grounds. I want to know exactly what happened.¡±


    ¡°Lord Commander? The blood sacrifice was a success, what could have happ-¡±


    His subordinate¡¯s reply was cut off short of Vissus¡¯ frosty glare.


    ¡°Yes, my lord! As you wish!¡±


    The Lord Commander¡¯s body suddenly froze as his hands reached towards his chest. There, he could still feel the silhouette of the object he¡¯d carefully placed under his breastplace, carefully wrapped in cloth. As he felt the contours of the dagger, his eyes drifted back in the direction of the cages.


    ¡°Oh, and bring me that boy we captured earlier,¡± Vissus added slowly.


    ¡°But my lord, your injuries must first be properly-¡±


    Vissus waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Summon the healers to my own command tent, and bring the boy. Now.¡±


    As his men rushed off to comply, Vissus couldn¡¯t help but feel a shadow hanging ominously overhim. Such a feeling confused him, as Vissus was a methodical man who would do anything to accomplish his mission and disregard all else. Especially his current mission, given that it was a most secretive and extremely vital task for the sake of the future of his own clan, even his whole world.


    ¡°The Advent must take place, and soon. Nothing will stop us.¡±


    Vissus glanced up towards the skies that seemed to churn and roil in his eyes, a perpetual reminder that they were the intruders in this accursed land. Already, thousands of his men had poured their own lifeblood to defend this tiny foothold in this wretched realm. All for the sake of accomplishing their mission.


    Lord Commander Vissus knew that even if every single one of his men were to perish to the last of them, it would still be well worth it if only they could finally accomplish their mission. Recalling the importance of their task, his fingers unconsciously tightened into a fist as his gaze became filled with iron determination once more.


    ¡°Nothing.¡±

 Chapter 19 - Battlefield of Nightmares

    Chapter 19 - Battlefield of Nightmares


    Wind howled in Skyle¡¯s ears as he zipped down the line at reckless speeds. Fortunately, even as his grip on the rope began to slip, he was soon caught by a massive arm around his chest just before landing.


    ¡°You trying to break your other leg, you fool?¡± Leon reprimanded him, but in his eyes Skyle could see an odd mixture of relief and concern lingering behind.


    In his own blood, Skyle could still feel the remnants of that odd sensation that had exploded in his veins. It left him slightly dizzy and confused as well, drained of all strength while his mind reeled in exhaustion.


    Among the boys of Skyle¡¯s age, he had always been the voice of logic and reason, the calm anchor in the sea of trouble that his friends would often stir up with their mischief. Even amongst his siblings, he had always been the stable, comforting older brother who would always look after wilful little Kass and shy little Reik.


    Skyle could count the number of times he had been truly infuriated in his entire life in the fingers of one hand, and never to the extent he had experienced upon that wall. The comforting rule of reason had shattered under the repeated duress of this harsh new world and its cruel rules. In its place, a vicious storm of emotions and desires had been summoned, as though by magic.


    Even now, Skyle could feel the fearsome beast still lingering within his subconscious. He could feel it in the most remote corners of his mind, like a lofty predator who sat within its cage not because it lay helpless and trapped, but rather because it couldn¡¯t be bothered to struggle.


    Sooner or later, it knew its time would come, and then the hunt would begin.


    Skyle shivered unconsciously at the naked certainty he felt from that last thought.


    ¡°What is happening to me?¡± Skyle thought, a white hot edge of panic entering his mind.


    Leon had already begun to walk forward, pulling a blankly staring Skyle trailing behind. The outter perimeter of the palisade wall had a ditch dug all around it, and since they had landed straight in the bottom of the ditch, they had to use both hands and feet to struggle up the steep slope to reach level ground.


    Leon quietly reflected that it could have been worse, as there could have been spikes or other traps underneath. He was still wondering just what could cause such an impressive army to huddle behind such massive fortifications, when both he and Skyle finally reached the top of the slope, and climbed up onto level ground.


    Both boys stared dumbly at the sight before them, their minds blanking out as their eyes slowly widened.


    A long plain stretched out before them, with a thick tree line rising up high into the sky in the distance. The open ground covered a stretch of at least one mile, and it was all one massive battlefield.


    The surface was littered with shattered swords, broken spears and sundered shields, carelessly strewn about the ground like so many toys. A vast sea of arrows could be seen, most of them driven deeply into the ground, their fletchings dirty with mud or blood, it was impossible to determine. Other shafts lay scattered all about, snapped into several pieces, the arrowheads blunted or broken outright.


    Still, it wasn¡¯t the various implements of war that shocked the boys into stunned silence. Instead, it was all the corpses.


    It was a veritable sea of corpses that met their horrified gaze. Here and there, humanoid corpses could be seen wearing the same armor as the ones within the complex, but these were invariably torn to pieces. The armor on their body lay shredded by tooth and claw, as easily rent asunder as though it had been mere paper. White bones gleamed dully in the dark, some with strips of flesh still attached, but no whole body could be found anywhere.


    However, these corpses weren¡¯t the center of the boys¡¯ undivided attention. Instead, it was the other corpses, the inhuman ones, that stilled the breath in their lungs as a numb ringing sound resonated in their heads.


    There were easily thousands upon untold thousands of beastial corpses strewn all about the battlefield. Some were as small as a cat, though they still bore fearsome fangs and wickedly sharp claws. Others were as tall as a house, with a head that was as wide as Leon¡¯s full stature, armed with razor sharp horns that jutted out a good four feet. Long, cylindrical bodies belonging to the most massive snakes Skyle had ever seen had been viciously chopped into several sections, each as thick around as a horse¡¯s flank.


    The beasts didn¡¯t share any one physical trait, and instead they all had a myriad different shapes, sizes and unsual traits, though they did share one commonality: they had all been killed by weapons. Some had several spears sticking out of their chests, others had their eyes pierced by sharp arrows, and some others still had the handles of swords jutting out of their bellies.


    Here and there, massive craters could be seen, with huge holes in the ground leaving a circular scar that left bits and pieces of flesh and bone scattered in a grisly spectacle. The ground had been churned into a gruesome mudpit that glistened dully with a distinct reddish hue.


    Here and there, massive bonfires burned in the midst of the great battlefield. Huge platforms of dried out logs had been gathered together. Upon it lay huge mounds of corpses, and movement could be detected as a few figures toiled in the gloomy darkness, dragging more carcasses towards wooden pyres that had yet to be lit.


    Leon was the first one to snap out of it, as he had witnessed many battlefields in his young life as part of his military training, though seldom, if ever, had he witnessed a massive scene of carnage such as this one.


    ¡°I guess we found the reason for the walls,¡± Leon whispered in awed tones. ¡°It¡¯s a battlefield pulled straight from some sick god¡¯s insane nightmares.¡±


    Skyle slowly shook his head numbly.


    ¡°They¡¯re still cleaning up. Looking at the aftermath, it must have been a scene straight from hell,¡± Leon whispered, instantly crouching down low and dragging Skyle down with him.


    Skyle looked blankly in Leon¡¯s direction for a moment, before turning his gaze towards the figures he saw moving in the midst of the battlefield.


    ¡°Why are they burning all the corpses?¡± Skyle wondered out loud. ¡°It seems like a waste of energy and resources.¡±


    Leon shook his head firmly. ¡°Rotting corpses will bring plague and corruption. Looking at this slaughterhouse, within days it would be festering, ripe for disease.¡±


    Skyle nodded absently as he glanced sideways. ¡°There must be at least a dozen pyres just within our range of sight alone. Each of those pyres must have hundreds of corpses on it. How many dead bodies is that?¡±


    Leon shook his head, too shocked by the numbers coming to his head to reply.


    ¡°The good thing is that only the outer sentries should be alert. The soldiers on clean up detail will be numbed and exhausted, and if anything they¡¯ll be looking towards those forests for any unexpected attacks. That leaves us relatively free to sneak up behind them.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Skyle studied the lay of the field, and nodded slowly.


    ¡°Looks like you won¡¯t have to settle for a measly axe anymore,¡± Skyle whispered, his gaze wandering around the field.


    ¡°And you won¡¯t be running out of arrows anytime soon,¡± Leon countered, then continued speaking in more somber tones while nodding pointedly towards a particularly massive beast shaped like a black panther, only each of its claws was easily the size of a small horse. ¡°The only thing is, just how much safer will those forests be, if they¡¯re overrun by beasts as tyrannical and blood-thirsty as these.¡±


    ¡°Staying here is not an option,¡± Skyle replied in grim tones, his eyes hardening. ¡°I saw.. They were sacrificing the captives who tried to escape after us. It was a hard death. I¡¯d rather take my chances in the wilderness with the beasts.¡±


    Leon looked at Skyle and finally seemed to understand part of what had happened previously upon the wall. He laid a solidary hand upon Skyle¡¯s shoulder, and squeezed gently.


    ¡°Sorry you had to see that,¡± Leon whispered. ¡°We¡¯ll see to it that they get the punishment they deserve, these bastards.¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly. ¡°But first we need to survive. You look for weapons, I¡¯ll keep an eye out while guiding us through this nightmare.¡±


    Leon nodded his assent, and checking that his axe was still securely fastened to his belt, gave the go ahead to Skyle.


    As the boys moved closer to the treeline, they were able to use the corpses of particularly huge beasts in order to conceal themselves from the soldiers. However, true to Leon¡¯s statement before, most of the soldiers kept their gazes to themselves, their minds numb as they engaged in the plodding, monotonous work of dragging dismembered corpses into huge piles before setting them on fire.


    Still, the pyres provided plenty of illumination, and each group of soldiers carried their own torches. Thus, the boys had to move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being detected. It was as they crouched next to the corpse of a particularly huge beast that misfortune struck.


    Skyle stiffened momentarily before hissing under his breath and diving towards the ground while dragging Leon with him, seeking to hide from the gaze of one of the guards in a particular squad of ten soldiers that were walking about fifty feet ahead. Mysteriously, this man''s aura had suddenly begun to glow with the now familiar yellow tones of caution and he had abruptly turned around to gaze straight in the direction of the boys.


    While Skyle was fairly certain that they had managed to avoid being spotted, the guard¡¯s yellow sparks only grew larger as he stopped for a moment. Skyle held his breath while he watched the guard¡¯s aura, fervently wishing for it to go away. Leon lay face down next to Skyle, remaining completely still and not daring to make a sound. So determined and disciplined was the young nobleman, that he did not turn his head an inch even when he felt a warm, wet touch slithering across his leg.


    At first, Leon thought it must be his imagination. Then he thought perhaps he¡¯d disturbed the dead beast¡¯s carcass and a portion of it had settled down on top of him. It was only when he gradually felt the warmth of the weight slithering around his leg that he slowly turned his head around to take a look.


    In the end, it was actually Skyle who turned his head around first. This wasn¡¯t because of any sound or sensation he felt from behind. Instead, it was because the thick yellow of caution in the approaching soldier¡¯s aura had finally solidified enough that Skyle could now distinctly read the direction it was aimed it. It was not the ground, where both boys lay prone. Instead, it was centered upon the center of mass of the huge beast they were hiding next to. Or more accurately, they were lying right under the gaping maw of the beast as it lay curled in a fetal position, its back exposed to the approaching soldier.


    ¡°Oh hell, don¡¯t tell me..¡± Skyle¡¯s eyes widened in sudden realization as he immediately turned around to gaze around his back, whereupon his eyes found that two eyes as big around as his own head had fluttered open and were now concentrating upon Leon¡¯s prone figure, all the while a steady stream of drool slowly slid down its slowly widening maw, one filled with a terrifying row of sharp teeth, to land squarely on top of Leon¡¯s leg.


    Skyle was barely able to contain his scream of surprise, and instead acted reflexively, springing to his feet and curling his hand around Moonshadow¡¯s grip. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he spun his body around in a tight circle, and dark steel gleamed at the tip of his hands as Moonshadow¡¯s razor sharp wings tasted blood for the first time.


    A savage roar filled the night as the beast instinctively recoiled in both pain and surprise. Its whole attention had been focused upon Leon, and this was the only reason why Skyle had been able to use his bow¡¯s cutting edge to deliver a wicked cut straight across one of its eyes. The delicate membrane couldn¡¯t withstand Moonshadow¡¯s deadly kiss, and instantly ruptured, sending a stream of blood mixed with a foul smelling clear liquid gushing forth.


    Even as Skyle finished executing his attack, he had firmly grasped Leon¡¯s arm. Now he pushed himself off the beast and dove towards a nearby dip in the ground. Leon visibly recoiled from the shocking roar that filled his ears, but naturally trusted Skyle and let himself be pulled into the ditch.


    No sooner had both boys landed within, than a loud crackle rang out in the air above them, as though a solid object had just struck a terrible blow against the ground they were hiding behind. Fortunately for them, a thick cloud of dust arose as a result, and it effectively obscured the sight of the boys as the soldiers cried out in unison and charged towards the beast, lifting up the long spears they carried at their backs. Several of them launched their weapons, and the beast above Skyle¡¯s head roared in pain once again, turning to meet its new foes.


    Skyle breathed out a sigh of relief, then turned to Leon.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Holy mother of the abyss, what in the god forsaken trials of cerberus was that flaming son of a..¡±


    A long string of curses followed, flowing out of Leon¡¯s mouth in a constant stream. The shocking smoothness and increasing creativity of the long litany of crass insults impressed Skyle. It just went to show that you never knew with these noblemen, behind their civilized and genteel veneer.


    ¡°Leon, we need to get away before the beast draws more attention,¡± Skyle interrupted Leon¡¯s stream of expletives, pulling the boy along as he crawled through the ditch on his belly.


    ¡°..Mangy son of a fornicating goat, misbegotten spawn of Cilcer¡¯s moldy balls..¡±


    The sounds of fighting continued unabated as the boys slowly crawled away. By the time the sounds of battle were finished, two of the soldiers were down and a third was limping slightly as they finally nailed the horrifying beast to the ground. At this point, the boys had finally reached the relative security of the forest bordering the clearing. As they entered the treeline and took shelter under the branches of a low-hanging tree, Leon finally stopped and turned around to face Skyle, clearly struggling for words.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t your True Sight detect it?¡± Leon suddenly demanded out of Skyle, glaring indignantly at him.


    Skyle coughed sheepishly, ¡°I was looking at the guards in front of us and didn¡¯t really pay attention to the beast. I thought it must be dead for sure.¡±


    Leon snorted loudly. ¡°Next time you think something¡¯s dead, dip your own leg under a starving behemoth¡¯s salivary juices.¡±


    Wrinkling his nose, Skyle raised an eyebrow. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I think the two of you had the beginning glimmers of a beautiful thing, back there. I almost felt too embarrassed to intervene.¡±


    Leon grumbled under his breath as he flailed his arms wide in protest, but under the flushed cheeks Skyle could see the true intent behind the other boy¡¯s words and actions.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Leon Draxas,¡± Skyle said in serious tones, though a small smile soon quirked his lips. ¡°You did leap into this nightmare to haul my own arse out of the fire first, after all.¡±


    Leon paused for a moment, then his own rueful smile slowly spread across his face. ¡°Much good it ended up doing.¡±


    Skyle firmly shook his head, ¡°No, I would have never made it this far without you, my friend.¡±


    Leon seemed to think on that for a moment, before he held out his hand towards Skyle.


    ¡°Those should be my words, my friend. I do not say these words lightly, but you have won my respect many times over. From this day forward I, Leon Draxas Di Adrausier, do solemnly vow to share both honor and glory, life and death with you, Skyle Farrow.¡±


    Skyle nodded solemnly and took the offered hand, shaking it firmly.


    ¡°Right back at ya, Leon Draxas,¡± Skyle grinned, then intentionally wrinkled his nose while glancing down at Leon¡¯s soaking wet boot. ¡°Though you¡¯re gonna have to do something about that awful stink, yer lordship.¡±


    Without even missing a beat, Leon sighed mournfully as his hand tightened even further, intentionally pulling Skyle even closer.


    ¡°Honor and glory, life and death. I share this ungodly stink with you freely as well, my brother. Though I do greatly fear that it will overtly distract your mind, taking you back to your golden days rolling in the mud with pigs and fornicating with-¡±


    The rest of it was cut off as both boys broke out in laughter, a much needed release from the terrible trials they had just overcome.


    It was in such a fashion that the first day Skyle Farrow and Leon Draxas spent in the rift¡¯s nightmarish realm finally came to a close.

 Chapter 20 - Fierro Latimus

    Chapter 20 - Fierro Latimus


    Word has reached me at long last. Words I had been praying for. Words I had long been awaiting. Words I had long since expected. Words I dreaded seeing every day upon waking, and every night before sleeping.


    Words, mere words, yet they have completely unmade me.


    Such simple words.


    Such fearsome words.


    Lothar is dead.


    Finally, confirmation. At long last, peace in knowing that the last of my children is dead. They say he died bravely, just like his brothers before him. A hero spilling his blood to stem the tide of our enemy¡¯s implacable assault, earning him eternal rest among the celestial hosts.


    Bullshit.


    The daemon horde continues its relentless onslaught, and leaves nothing but despair in its wake.


    Sixty years, and what do I have left? My wife left this world before me, and all my children have spilled their blood fighting the daemon juggernaut.


    I despair of this world. What hope can there possibly be before the inexorable tides of the daemon legions?


    These days, I find myself thinking back on those days, back when it was all better. When the world was bright and that word, hope, it lit a fire in everybody¡¯s eyes.


    Back when I had a sense of purpose, when I was proud to look in the mirror and see a Knight Protector to the Lady.


    I should have died on that day, spilled my blood and given my life on those steps, even knowing it was in vain.


    Would it have eased the pain of bitter betrayal in the Lady¡¯s heart? I know it would have done so in mine.


    It is a regret that I shall carry to my dying day.


    My lady, forgive me. Your servant has failed you. May you allow this unworthy one to swear fealty to you, should I be fortunate enough to encounter you in the next life.


    Now, there¡¯s only death before me.


    Death, old friend, where is your bite?


    I sit here, all alone, and even death seems to shun my company.


    Lothar. Duros. Stanley. Garritt.


    My lady.


    I shall join you soon.


    Skyle carefully closed the book held within his hands and rested his head back against the tree he sat upon. Leon was sleeping soundly at his feet, his huge frame oddly contorted as it lay wrapped around the branch both boys had sought in order to rest.


    They had both been completely exhausted, and had agreed that they needed rest, brief as it may be. Skyle had offered to take the first watch after both boys found the tallest tree and climbed upon its branches. Leon hadn¡¯t protested, and like a true soldier, had demonstrated the very first skill any capable man of war must learn: sleeping like a rock at the drop of a hat.


    Such ease in finding rest after a long, harrowing day fighting for your life was a true blessing, understated by many but appreciated by every veteran in the cruel art of war. Thus, as Leon slept soundly by his side, Skyle had decided to finally examine the journal he had found from the old man''s treasure box.


    His name had been Fierro Latimus, and his story had been a truly tragic one. Most of the book had been badly burned, but from the few pages Skyle had managed to rescue, he had put together the pieces of Fierro¡¯s life.


    Fierro did not specify what land he was from, but he had been a strong soldier, specially gifted with what Skyle assumed was the earth element, though Fierro had named it differently. Though his elemental strength or defensive power wasn¡¯t very great, Fierro¡¯s elemental power had taken a shape that had stunned Skyle speechless. From what Skyle had been able to gather, Fierro had been a genius not at manipulating the forces of the earth element, but at the art of fighting itself, especially when it came down to wielding weapons or crafting them.


    Fierro¡¯s innate understanding of metals had led to the uncanny ability to capably wield a weapon, any weapon, upon the first five minutes of picking it up. Within an hour, Fierro would know everything there was to know about the weapon, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as many techniques to bring out the best from it. After a single week he would become an exalted expert of the weapon, as though he had devoted his entire life to its study.


    Within a year he would become a true master, capable of being compared only with a handful others in the whole world.


    Though his strength, stamina or speed did not differ too much from any other elemental warrior, Fierro¡¯s ungodly fighting skills had quickly won him renown across the lands, eventually landing him the role of Knight Protector to a person he only referred to, with deep respect and affection, as the ¡°Lady¡±.


    Running his fingers down the length of Moonshadow, Skyle seemed to gain a better understanding of just how priceless an artifact he had gained. It also seemed to explain the nagging feeling that the old man could have chosen, at any time, to easily stop Skyle¡¯s attack and eliminated both Leon and Skyle without blinking an eye.


    With a deep sigh, Skyle skimmed a few more pages, most of them completely unreadable. Then he paused as he saw a couple lines jumping at him from a particular page. They had been written in a firm hand, the strokes bold and strong.


    I have finally made my decision. Perhaps I have waited too long, a coward to the very end. Still, perhaps there is redemption for me yet.


    Finally, I have found the name of one the traitors. That is all I need. This is but the beginning. I shall pierce his black, treacherous heart with my sharpest arrows, even if it means my certain doom. But not before he spits out the names of his despicable friends.


    The hunt begins.


    Would it bring a smile to the Lady¡¯s lips, I wonder?


    Yes, she would smile. Only it would be a small one, filled with sorrow and pity.


    Still, I cannot do anything else. My soul burns for revenge, and as I await death, it is only proper that I should drag a few of those bastards to the abyss with me.


    The rest of the pages were either torn, smudged by blood, or scorched. Turning the pages faster, Skyle finally found a page with legible writing. However, he wondered if it was the same Fierro who had written these words, for the strokes were now weak and unsteady, as though the fingers had been trembling uncontrollably the whole time.


    Three men, their wives, their children. I wiped them all out, all in a single night. I showed no compassion, and still feel sorrow yet no regret. Now I¡¯m on the run, for I¡¯ve uncovered the true mastermind behind the plot, and only now do I realize the identity of the puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    I am doomed, just as my wretched revenge has always been.


    Even now, I can feel my pursuers closing on me. I shall be caught, charged for my crimes, stripped of my exalted titles, then executed like a base criminal.


    My only hope now is that I die a death worthy of the final Knight Protector of the Lady.


    I¡¯m afraid, not of death, for it has been my only companion for these last few years.


    No, I¡¯m afraid of not dying, of being denied the final rest and being forced to atone for my sins.


    What would my Lady wish of me, I wonder?


    They come..


    Skyle frowned deeply as he reread the entry. Fierro had finally succumbed to become a ruthless assassin, killing children in cold blood. However, the man Skyle had killed tonight did not have the cold eyes of a killer.


    Then what had happened to Fierro to transform him?


    Several pages further, Skyle found his answer.


    In the end, I could not do it. I could not take the final step, knowing full well the weight of my sins.


    So, though there is no hope, though there is no redemption, still I have taken the road less traveled.


    It must have come as a shock to everybody, even to that master puppeteer. Yes, not even those cold, cruel eyes could have seen this move.


    I have chosen to become one of the Gestahl.


    Even as a convicted criminal, I am still an exalted Lord Triunvir, one of the last ones, Commander Supreme of the Northern Frost Legions. With but a single stroke of the pen I hold in my hands at this moment, I could give the order to raze continents to the ground and drown the highest peaks in blood.


    Tomorrow at noon, I shall drink of the Aktaris, and purge myself of my elemental gift.


    I shall become Gestahl, and forever become an existence baser than the lowest slave.


    Envied by millions, even in my current straits, yet spurned by all at this same time tomorrow.


    Such are the insane contrivances of our mad world.


    Gestahl? Lord Triunvir? Aktaris? The unfamiliar terms confused Skyle, but he could still grasp at the general idea. Why would such an exalted individual throw it all away in one senseless act of slaughter? Simple revenge?


    On the next page, Skyle found only couple lines, written by yet another script, with the lines being soft, yet steady. Calm and composed, Skyle supposed he could call it.


    Even as a lowly Gestahl, even stripped of my vast elemental powers, my few friends worth calling such have offered me a choice in regards to my future.


    After some thought, I¡¯ve decided to join the one I thought would carry the least hopes for success, yet the most crucial in our desperate efforts to save our crumbling world.


    I shall step through the rift, and join the cause derided as sheer lunacy by most sane men, including myself.


    Why?


    Because I¡¯ve heard a whisper, a hint of a promise, no more. Still, it was enough.


    The Lady, her final resting place, it might lie beyond the rift, past that forsaken realm.


    In the world of the Betrayer of Hope, where she carried out the Great Betrayal.


    Is that where my Lady¡¯s final resting place lies?


    A whisper, no more, but it is more than I had hoped for, and so I must go.


    Skyle bit his lip as he thought furiously. Had Fierro come from the other side of a rift as well? Could Fierro have come from another world? Then the world of the Betrayer of Hope, could it be referring to his own world, Aeria?


    It made no sense, as he had never heard of a Great Betrayal. Also, who was this Lady whom Fierro constantly mentioned? If Fierro had been one of the greatest generals of his world, then this Lady should have been an even more exalted personage.


    Skyle massaged his temples as he continued reading. He didn¡¯t have to look very far, for just a few pages further, he found another entry he could read. However, this one was splotched and the writing was blurred, as though stained by countless tears.


    I cannot do this. No more!


    The cruelty of war is nothing compared to this endless, brutal slaughter. Men, women, even children and babes, all butchered like fattened sows, just so that we may extract their blood for profane rituals?


    I came here to fight for a cause, not to participate in a holocaust.


    The gods surely have forsaken me, but now I must daily ask myself.


    Lady, have you turned your back on me as well?


    Skyle sighed deeply as he read those final lines. He could finally understand the old man¡¯s cryptic words before dying, as well as his final actions. Perhaps death had been a release for him, after all. It didn¡¯t change the fact that Skyle had killed a man in cold blood, but at least it took a very heavy weight from his shoulders.


    Those were the words of the final entry in the journal. The rest of the pages involved maps, figures and various schematics. Skyle instantly grew excited as he studied them closely. Many maps had unknown names and locations, but they were extremely detailed, with an eye for accuracy and practical concerns. It listed different locations along with an analysis for different strategies as they applied to war. Perhaps there would be a map of this place!


    As for the figures, they contained several stacks of numbers. Skyle finally realized they some must becalculations on military maneuvers, but could make out little more than that.


    Finally, the schematics were incredibly detailed, with many explanations for the different functions of a vast array of implements and weapons. Everything from swords and spears to gigantic siege engines, they were carefully drawn out with all the component parts needed, as well as the process on how to manufacture and assemble them.


    In truth, even as smart as Skyle was, most of the details were lost on him, but even so the great value of this journal was not lost to the little boy. Of course, the true importance of these plans and schematics couldn¡¯t be properly measured by a relatively inexperienced boy raised in the countryside.


    After all, who was Fierro Latimus? One of the exalted Triunvir! Only the three most legendary leaders of men of any one age, charismatic heroes of war who decided the fate of millions with a single command, could earn such a title! Fierro had earned this honor, not because of a profound mastery of the earth element. Instead, it was purely through his martial skill, his excellence upon the field of battle. As such, each of his maps were priceless treasures. His treatises on military theory were treated as holy relics, to be honored and studied by all generations. As for the schematics created by one of the true peak experts on weapons and artifacts in the whole world? These were secrets that entire kingdoms might be willing to go to war for, even for a single one of those pages, let alone the entire book.


    In truth, even as Fierro Latimus had been stripped of all positions, rank and wealth, his friends and former influence had still guaranteed that he would be able to hide his final possessions, which were precisely the book and Moonshadow.


    When he joined the expedition to the rift, he had become just one more lowly bowyer, quietly keeping to himself and doing his job as ordered. Who would have imagined that this quiet, humble man was the legendary Lord Triunvir Fierro Latimus? Likely, the entire camp would have erupted into an uproar, and even a Lord Commander of the army like Vissus would have had to either have Fierro stealthily killed in order to keep the order and the chain of command; or subtly deferred to him as his former exalted status seemed to demand.


    After all, Fierro Latimus had become one of the Gestahl. Yet, he had also been one of the three legendary Lord Triunvirs.


    All of this was perhaps slightly guessed at by Skyle, but how could the full scope of all this knowledge possibly be grasped by a small twelve year old child, born and raised in the mountains?


    Skyle smiled in appreciation as he reached the final part of the book, but his expression quickly withered away as he found out that apparently the last third of the journal was filled with blank pages.


    True enough, what he had read so far had answered many questions but had left even more behind. The many diagrams and schematics were an incredible windfall, but not very practical or useful for his immediate survival in this accursed realm. Nowhere in the maps section had Skyle seen details related to the Shrine of Tears, or anything that could help him escape this nightmarish place. As he reached the very last page, Skyle frowned deeply in disappointment. Maybe he had been hoping for too much from a world that seemed, at least at the current moment, hellbent upon trying to get him killed.


    Almost as though to answer his unspoken thought, at precisely this moment a sudden sound instantly grabbed his attention. Though it just barely reached his ears, given his current state of mind this small sound was enough to almost make him jump out of his skin.


    Smoothly and with practiced ease, Skyle activated his True Sight and gazed down in the direction of the sound. There he found the aura of a small animal shaped like a field mouse scampering about while shaking its whiskers.


    Skyle let out a relieved breath, but as he turned his head back towards the book he received a pleasant surprise. The True Sight inadvertently fell upon one of the blank pages near the back of the book.


    The book had already been examined by Skyle using the True Sight previously. It had shown nothing out of the ordinary. However, contrary to what the cover of the book had led him to think, each page of the book was bursting at the seams with a dense pattern of lines of different colors. They were so complex and intricate that Skyle momentarily forgot to breathe as his brain tried to process all the information it was perceiving.


    Then all of a sudden, three words jumped out clearly in the middle of Skyle¡¯s mind.


    ¡°DesolateStar Technique¡±

 Chapter 21 - Desolate Star Technique

    Chapter 21 - Desolate Star Technique


    The words glowed within Skyle¡¯s mind as his True Sight continued to circulate before his eyes, rapidly absorbing an overwhelming amount of detail in the shape of elemental currents. Incredibly, this in turn became a deluge of information that flooded his brain until his ears were filled with a vast roar and his heartbeat was thumping madly within his chest.


    ¡°Desolate Star Technique!¡±


    Skyle was shocked speechless as he finally realized that Fierro, an ultimate expert from an unknown realm, had passed down his final legacy in the shape of this journal. As to what sort of technique it would be, Skyle didn¡¯t know. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel thrilled at his fortune.


    Even as a young boy growing up in the mountains, well away from any major cities, Skyle had still heard of the countless experts roaming the lands. These experts relied on diverse methods to cultivate their elemental energy and turn it into a peerless tool or weapon. Of course, just as there were different degrees of talent and ability, there were countless different techniques that sought to guide the elemental energy as it nurtured the expert¡¯s body. With truly excellent techniques, it was even possible to push the human body¡¯s limits beyond a certain threshold. They were marker lines that separated the different elemental experts from one another.


    For instance, Skyle knew that the lowest level for any elemental expert, be that a warrior, mage or summoner, was the Initiate level. Practically every person on Aeria was innately able to reach this level, and in fact did so without much difficulty.


    Beyond this level, was the Adept level. This was the next level, separated from the initiate level by ten whole ranks. Only half of those who assiduously practiced and cultivated their elemental energy could reach this level. The rest would forever wallow within the initiate rank, regarded as simply trash.


    It seemed Leon himself was an adept of the third level, which had astounded Skyle as he had a slight idea of just how difficult it was to reach the adept level at such a young age.


    Above the adept level was the Master level. These masters were respectfully referred to by others as master warriors, master mages, or master summoners. Even if they dedicated their lives to the pursuit of elemental power, only one in ten people might be able to reach such a high level of achievement in the elemental arts. The requirements in regards to the discipline of their minds as well as the power of their elemental gift were very steep. Because of this, masters were individuals to be both feared and respected.


    For instance, Captain Beltrand of the Crimson Guard was a famous master warrior, well respected and held in high regard throughout the territories guarded by Redemption Keep.


    As for the next level, it was the first line clearly demarking the line between a strong person, and an inhumanly strong individual. It was called the Mortal level. The name of this level made an allusion to the fact that any expert who reached this level at last had the qualifications to look down upon the entire mortal realm, as from that point forward they would have taken their first real step towards the barrier of the mortal world.


    The might of mortal experts was without question, of course. Any mortal level expert could easily defeat a handful of masters, they were that strong. In truth, finding an expert of the mortal realm was truly difficult, especially in a small place like Redemption Keep. Still, Skyle knew that to reach such a level of power, special techniques were essential.


    As a peerless expert, how could Fierro¡¯s final legacy be an ordinary one? Even the method of passing down the technique was incredible, as Skyle¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t see any words on the pages themselves. Instead, a complex array of elemental energy seemed to be interacting with his True Sight, directly transmitting the information into his brain.


    Skyle¡¯s entire body shook as his eyes lost focus, a sign of his consciousness focusing on the seemingly endless torrent of information being absorbed by his brain. It was just too much to process all at once, and after a few breathless moments, Skyle felt as though his head was about to burst. Still, Skyle was no stranger to pain and he had endured far worse every day as he tried to enter the spirit sight and commune with the elements. Even that daily failure had failed to stop him, how could this little pain now pose any serious obstacle?


    In the end, the ordeal ended of its own volition. The light shining from the book in Skyle¡¯s hands gradually dimmed down, then died off altogether. With loud gasp and a desperate intake of breath, Skyle¡¯s consciousness returned to normal and he found himself staring straight into the trembling hands that held Fierro¡¯s journal. Who could have imagined that such a small object could be so important?


    As for the importance of the object, how could anyone be any clearer about it other than Skyle himself? As he narrowed his eyes and focused on the new clump of information within his consciousness, Skyle found that he could access a new set of memories that were completely unfamiliar to him. As he concentrated on this new branch within his brain, Skyle let out a gasp of surprise and pleasure.


    It was the first level of the ¡°Desolate Star Technique¡±!The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    As Skyle began to mentally organize the new memories he had been granted and slowly delved into the information, his brows began to draw together in a deep frown and beads of sweat rolled down his face. After all, it was a vast amount of information. It was akin to being given the building blocks for the grandest and most ambitious construction project of a lifetime, yet having to lift each individual block by hand.


    Still, a smile crept into Skyle¡¯s lips as unfamiliar memories were processed into knowledge, then finally they bloomed in understanding.


    The Desolate Star Technique¡¯s first stage was named Heart of the Blade. Unlike what the name suggested, it was a peerless method to flawlessly master all manner of weapons, not just a sword. Fierro¡¯s logic-defying ability to master any weapon within a day of wielding it, even if he had never seen its like before, was finally explained to Skyle. It also infused Skyle with joy and trepidation. If only the first stage of the Desolate Star Technique could allow one to master any weapon, then what would be the second stage?


    Unfortunately, it seemed as though Skyle¡¯s current power was simply not enough to unlock the second level. The boy¡¯s eyes slowly drifted back towards the open pages of the book held within his hands. They were still as empty as before, without a single word upon them. However, Skyle¡¯s True Sight still saw the myriad complex patterns of elemental energy painstakingly arranged within.


    What would have happened if Skyle didn¡¯t have the True Sight? Could the requirement to unlock the second level have something to do with a higher level of the True Sight ability? Was it some other sense he would have to further develop? At least, Skyle was fairly certain the barrier was not elemental power.


    After all, Skyle did find an oddity within the first level of the Desolate Star manual. Heart of the Blade¡¯s main focus were not fighting drills or skill moves. Instead, it devoted most of its instructions on developing the senses. There were five main movements detailed within, and they targeted the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.


    Furthermore, Skyle was taken aback by the fact that there seemed to be no onerous requirements in terms of elemental power in order to train in the first level of the Desolate Star technique. In fact, it seemed to focus on the physical senses to an excessive degree. It was to the point where it made Skyle wonder if this was truly an elemental technique or simply a martial skill manual. Though a martial skill manual passed down by a peerless expert like Fierro would still be a priceless legacy, how could it compare the value of an elemental technique? The two simply couldn¡¯t be compared!


    At this thought, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy and just a little disappointed. After all, Skyle had been hoping to find some secret legendary elemental technique which could cure him of his crippled elemental veins. He knew it was simply wishing for the stars, but he still couldn¡¯t help himself. Seeing first hand the incredible might of an elemental summoner like Leon who did not back down even when facing a vicious monster like the troll, Skyle had deeply felt his own lack in elemental power.


    He wouldn¡¯t even ask to be one of the legendary elemental summoners. Just a lowly mage. If he was a mage, he could have reinforced his arrowhead with an explosive charge. Then the arrow he¡¯d used to pierce the troll¡¯s eye might have inflicted critical damage after exploding near its brain.


    Even if he was nothing but an ordinary elemental warrior, the power of his element enhanced bow might have been able to drive the arrows faster and deeper, perhaps even reaching the troll¡¯s brain. Then again, they might have been able to avoid the unpleasant encounter altogether if Skyle had been able to make use of the elements.


    ¡°If only. Heh, the world is truly filled with if onlys,¡± Skyle abruptly thought to himself.


    Shaking his head, Skyle rapped himself on the head with his knuckles and smiled ruefully. Here he had received the priceless heritage of an exalted hero from another world, and he was still complaining about that which he could not change.


    No wonder his father insisted on calling him a knucklehead.


    ¡°So what if its just a martial skill instead of an elemental technique? It is still another step. Just one more step, but it¡¯s still farther than I¡¯ve ever been. This is my journey, my story, my life.¡±


    Here, Skyle¡¯s exceptional discipline and focus showed its value. Most adults, let alone children, would easily be distracted or discouraged, at least for a while, and find themselves unable to properly focus. However, Skyle was able to instantly return his attention to the newly acquired information, and followed what he considered to be the most practical step he could take at this time. This involves far more than simply deciding what to do. After all, logical decisions are not very hard to reason out for most intelligent individuals.


    Instead, this was a matter of the heart.


    It was about whether one has the will and strength of character to rein in one¡¯s own weaknesses and negative traits. It involves the inner person, and this is a quality that can only be grown and nurtured, not given or taken. This was, perhaps, one of the greatest gifts that his parents had bestowed upon this young man, although he didn¡¯t quite understand it as of yet.


    Of course, not understanding doesn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t make full use of it. Although Skyle was wounded, exhausted, lost and on the run, uncertain of whether he would live to see another day or not, Skyle still decided the most productive course of action in his present circumstances would be to carefully study the instructions for the first technique he had just received in order to train in the first level of the Desolate Star technique, Heart of the Blade.


    First, Skyle patiently reviewed all the information regarding this first exercise, making sure he had not overlooked anything and ensuring that he had rightly understood each part before moving forward. This slow and methodical way of approaching a peerless secret manual was uncharacteristic of most people, let alone children. Most would not be able to restrain themselves from gobbling it at once! Still, Skyle was not impatient and preferred to do things in the right order, in as calm and efficient a manner as possible.


    A full hour had passed until Skyle felt he had grasped the basics for the first method. It was only then that he felt ready to begin to practice the first movement of Heart of the Blade - The Infinite Eye.


    ¡°Wait a second, what is this?¡±


    Skyle sat there frozen upon the branch, feeling as though he had been smacked silly on the head with a club. A big club.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be..¡±

 Chapter 22 - The Infinite Eye

    Chapter 22 - The Infinite Eye


    Skyle sat frozen on top of the branch with a dumbfounded look on his face. As soon as he had begun to regulate his breathing in order to sink into the meditation routines needed to practice the first movement of Heart of the Blade - The Infinite Eye, a small cry of surprise left his lips and he almost lost his grip on the book.


    Sinking into the meditative trance instructed by the training manual was almost effortless to him. From the copious amount of information regarding methods to achieve this state of peaceful relaxation and absolute openness of mind, Skyle could only conclude that it should be a long and difficult process for a complete beginner who wanted to initiate himself in the deep mysteries of the Desolate Star Technique. Thus, he had mentally steeled himself for a long and arduous struggle. After all, this was the great legacy of a peerless expert! The sacrifices would surely be worth their cost in the end.


    However, after all the thorough analysis and preparation Skyle had taken, he was shocked at how simple and effortless it was for him to reach this state of meditative trance! As a matter of fact, he had hardly even begun to relax his consciousness and focus his attention on the first steps to reach the meditative state, when almost instantly, a great void had appeared in his mind¡¯s eye.


    This great void was a dark space with a few motes of multicolored light swirling around. Skyle¡¯s consciousness was an incorporeal ball of awareness that was floating in the middle of this great void. This mysterious space was steeped in darkness, with the small, flickering sparks of light fluttering around being the only source of illumination. There was no sound, and even any sense of weight or texture was absent, as though he were simply a disembodied consciousness floating in this great sea of darkness.


    Although Skyle couldn¡¯t put his finger on it, he was sure this void space was vast, and stretched far beyond what his sense of sight would be able to tell him. As he cast his gaze around, he could see a handful different motes of light swirling in the air, casting a gentle, flickering right within the dark. These motes of light were of different colors, ranging from mellow blue tones to deep, almost angry looking red hues.


    Skyle¡¯s shock at having his awareness suddenly transported to this place lasted for only a few moments, before he recalled the instructions for the cultivation of The Infinite Eye.


    According to the manual he had inspected, the human body was a living wonder, and locked within it were mysteries far beyond a mere mortal¡¯s comprehension. Although most warriors would seek to train and condition their muscles and bones first, this only showed a lack of foresight and understanding regarding the true potential of the body.


    Most experts would slowly condition their bodies by exerting their muscles and bones, constantly straining them beyond their endurance. This continued stress would break down their structure, but the body¡¯s remarkable healing abilities would immediately begin to bind these minute fractures back together. Even more amazingly, the body would automatically reinforce such wounds, making them increasingly resistant to similar stress. After a matter of days, or even hours, muscles would grow larger and bones would become more solid.


    This was something that even Skyle could understand, as he had experienced many bouts of soreness after a particularly grueling day working at the farm or training under his father¡¯s demanding standards. He also remembered the first time he¡¯d tried to draw a bow. The bowstring had been so tightly drawn that Skyle had been unable to make the string budge even a single inch! Only after countless long sessions of training had he eventually developed the strength and endurance necessary to wield his bow with the deadly efficacy he now had.


    However, the Desolate Star Technique boldly stated that such an approach was at best crude and woefully inadequate in order to hone one¡¯s body to the ultimate peak of perfection. Break down your own muscles and bones in hopes that your body would somehow repair the damage carelessly left behind? Thinking upon it, Skyle realized this perspective clearly had its merits. It was akin to a mad bear rampaging through his mother¡¯s kitchen, blindly tearing open cabinets and crushing doors to find food. How could such small morsels be worth invoking the wrath of the mistress of the Farrow family?


    Then again, what other option was left then? The body would only strengthen what was once broken down, like laying foundations after first clearing away the old. If one could command the body to reinforce and strengthen itself in a systematic way, methodically focusing the core areas that would maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole process, then who would choose the first option? It was truly akin to comparing the mad bear to Skyle¡¯s own mother as she expertly commanded her troops - Skyle, Kass, Reik, and occasionally even Kendric Farrow himself - in dicing, chopping and sauteeing their way through the prodigious mountains of food required to keep the Farrow family well fed and happy. Spoon in one hand, ladle in the other, who would dare contest the absolute supremacy of Adrienne Farrow in her kitchen?


    This was exactly the concept that the first layer of the Desolate Star Technique - Heart of the Blade introduced. Mastery of the body could only come through complete awareness of self and the world around you. Thus, the first step was complete mastery of the senses. Only through this heightened sense of awareness would it be possible to command one¡¯s own body on its path towards the pinnacle of perfection, channeling all of its resources in as efficient a manner in order to guide it towards unlocking its own hidden potential.


    This potential, the secret manual claimed, was vast beyond imagining. It was a long process, and one which couldn¡¯t be merely stumbled upon. Instead, careful guidance and deliberate steps were needed. The very first one was the mastery of the senses, the ability to perceive the true aspect of things, both within and without. In order to reach such mastery, the five senses must all be trained and cultivated to an incredible level.


    The Infinite Eye itself introduced the very first concept that must be mastered in order to begin this process: See far as though near. The idea was familiar to Skyle, and he realized that this was very similar to the effect he had already achieved through his True Sight. His eyes had developed the amazing ability to capture the most minute details of the world around him. Beyond this, he had also begun to fuse his archery technique with the True sight. This technique of his allowed him to isolate a single target from the distance and call it to him, therefore zooming his vision in on this single point, even if it stood a great distance away from him.


    This fusion of techniques had come upon him unawares when he had been consumed by the rage upon watching the cruel slaughter of the sacrifice from the top of the wall with Leon. This unfamiliar emotion had beat within him so strongly in that moment, as all his pent up frustration at his own powerlessness merged together with his guilt towards the victims, that all conscious thought had ceased to exist for a handful of breaths. Instead, raw instinct had taken over, and in that mysterious state Skyle had somehow known that he could apply the knowledge of the sure-fire shot he could summon once a day, with the power of the True Sight.


    In an instant, Skyle¡¯s sight had soared hundreds of meters until he had been able to not only make out the distinct features of the dark robed man as he drew back his knife in order to slaughter his next victim, but also send his own vision forth in an instant of complete awareness of the course the arrow would have to take. His sight had revealed the currents of wind blowing about, the very wind essence circulating in the air which would modify his shot, as well as the earth elemental power slowly drawing the arrow¡¯s flight downward. It was like the guided shot with the blue elemental line that Skyle had used on Leon, only there was no visible line under the Spirit Vision here. No line was needed. Under the melding of his old technique and the True Sight, Skyle had seen exactly what path the arrow would take. Indeed, it was as if he had instantly traveled that whole length himself, as though experiencing it in the flesh.


    When he finally released the string, he had known beyond all shadow of doubt that his arrow would strike true, and smite down his opponent. The second arrow he had launched had been even more effortless, as Skyle had become more acquainted with this wondrous new technique.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Now, as Skyle floated in that great dark void, he realized his True Sight had given another unexpected advantage. Skyle knew that only upon touching upon the borders of The Infinite Eye¡¯s first concept, that of seeing far as though near, would he be able to use his sense of sight within this dark void. Skyle still didn¡¯t understand what the dark void represented, but he knew that it was from this place that the Desolate Star Technique would be born.


    Skyle was greatly surprised by the speed of his progress thus far. Ordinarily, a beginner would be expected to spend many days fruitlessly attempting to enter the meditative trance, then many more in order to slowly visualize and enter the dark void space. However, for Skyle it had been a matter of a few breaths before instantly entering this space, which aside from the strange lack of sounds, smells or even the sense of touch, seemed as real as the world outside.


    Still, Skyle slowly pushed down his joy and excitement, and resolved to move forward to comprehend the concept of seeing far as though near. He focused his attention on his sense of sight, determinedly following one of the motes of light as it slowly swirled within the darkness. It spun about aimlessly, drifting away into the shadows beyond. Skyle kept his vision trained upon this ball of light until he could no longer make out its silhouette from the darkness that swallowed it. As he retracted his vision, Skyle was instantly startled to realize that he had followed that point of light at least 300 meters into the darkness. In the other hand, the motes of light floating around him were only visible within a circle of about ten meters.


    Skyle immediately began to follow another ball of light. It drifted lazily through the air, spinning back and forth as though borne by an invisible breeze. It slowly began to move farther and farther away from Skyle. 20 meters. 50 meters. 100 meters. 200 meters. 300 meters. This time Skyle was sure he had followed the light at least 320 meters into the darkness before losing sight of it. After repeating the process several times, Skyle was forced to admit his limit was 350 meters. He decided to summon all his strength for one final attempt. Truly focusing all his power and will, he was able to follow this ball of light until it reached a distance of 400 meters. However, upon returning his gaze to the dimly lit circle around himself, his vision blurred momentarily, and he felt himself jolted slightly, as though losing his grip on this space.


    Skyle felt excited at being able to reach 400 meters so soon, and decided to make another attempt. However, his vision began to shake uncontrollably, and he lost sight of the target within the first hundred meters. When his vision returned to normal, the entire space seemed to be flickering in and out, and Skyle knew it was time to end this training session.


    Leaving the void was unexpectedly easy. He simply had to will it, and the dark space began to blur around him. In the next moment, Skyle felt as though his eyes had blinked for a single moment, when in the next he found himself sitting upon the tree trunk, his hands still holding Fierro¡¯s journal aloft in front of him.


    What truly surprised Skyle was that the book was still sliding from his grasp. This was the exact scene from when Skyle had first entered the meditative trance and gained access to the dark void space. He had been surprised at how familiar the whole process felt to him, and his grip on the book had begun to loosen. Now, after spending a good amount of time training The Infinite Eye within the dark void space, Skyle had returned to the real world only to find the book still sliding from his grasp.


    The time Skyle had spent in the dark void space had been considerable, as he had spent some time watching his surroundings, then began to train in the concept of seeing far as though near using the motes of light. Each mote moved exceedingly slowly, sometimes swirling forward two meters, only to float back one meter in the next moment. As such, tracking the movement of each cluster of light was an extremely time consuming activity. Skyle couldn¡¯t be sure, but he would not have been surprised if he had spent at least two or three hours within the space.


    Now, upon returning to the outside world, Skyle was shocked to realize that the book still lay in his grasp, having barely moved a single inch towards the ground. Skyle stared at the book in stupefaction for another moment, the implications sending his mind reeling, before hastily reaching forward and barely catching its flap before it fell out altogether. As he did so, his sudden motion almost overbalanced him and he had to throw out his other arm in order to catch himself before tumbling off the branch.


    This sudden movement stirred the whole branch, and Leon snapped his eyes open with a low scream while jumping to his feet, his hands reaching towards the weapon hung by his side. This further movement only shook the branch even harder, making it so Skyle had to throw his arm around the branch in order to keep his balance.


    ¡°What-¡± Leon growled in his throat, both eyes wide awake and roving back and forth to scan the area for enemies.


    ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Skyle mumbled, feeling rather chagrined.


    ¡°What do you mean? What just happened?¡± Leon grumbled, his eyes still scanning the surrounding area.


    ¡°I.. Ah, I almost fell,¡± Skyle finally confessed, avoiding Leon¡¯s gaze and coughing uncomfortably.


    Leon raised an eyebrow in his direction, an amused smile slowly spreading across his face. ¡°You mean the Lord of the Forests, expert on all things green and blooming, the one who specifically warned me time and time again to tie a rope around myself in case I slip and fall from the branch, this same most revered sage of woodlore nearly brained himself because he didn¡¯t follow his own advice, and at the same time nearly got himself run through by his startled, sleep-deprived companion?¡±


    Skyle sighed deeply but couldn¡¯t help nodding. ¡°Just go back to sleep, will you?¡±


    Leon chuckled softly and shook his head. ¡°Nah, I¡¯d rather sit here and laugh at your clumsy arse.¡±


    Looking up, he added with a frown, ¡°Can¡¯t tell how long I¡¯ve been asleep, all I see is those dark clouds boiling over all the time. Still, I feel as though I¡¯ve gotten at least a couple hours. That ought to be good enough to hold me up for now. Now you take a couple hours while I keep watch, then we can get away from this place.¡±


    Skyle followed the other boy¡¯s gaze, looking up at a sky that was still dark, but was beginning to show some faint signs of light spilling over from its edges. It should be an hour or two at most before dawn broke. That would be the safest time to stay away from the most dangerous predators in a forest.


    ¡°Hey, how are you holding up there?¡± Leon asked with concern, laying a hand on Skyle¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Considering that I¡¯ve been closer to dying more times than I care to count in this one night than I have ever been in my entire life,¡± Skyle replied with a wry smile, tapping himself on the chest. ¡°And given the fact that I¡¯m still alive and kicking. Well, I¡¯d say I can¡¯t complain. At the very least, I¡¯m better off than those poor..¡±


    Skyle¡¯s smile visibly wilted, and his eyes began to take on a haunted look as he thought back on the fates of those prisoners they had left behind.


    Leon¡¯s hand tightened minutely on the other boy¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not our fault. Listen to me!¡± Leon spoke a little more forcibly, using his grip on the other boy to turn his body so as to look him in the eye. ¡°It is not our fault. We were dealt harsh cards, and we made the best play we could with them. Until we get out of this mess, we can¡¯t afford the luxury to look back on what we wish would have happened. We are buried neck deep in piss water and for now, our only choice is to keep bailing water for all we¡¯re worth.¡±


    Skyle nodded numbly, all his former excitement buried under the gruesome memories of all the torn and bleeding bodies feeding that monstrous cauldron.


    ¡°Skyle,¡± Leon warned in a steely note. ¡°I will survive. I will live because I will make every single one of those bastards pay for what they¡¯ve done to me, to us. I will bail piss water until my arms break, then I will drink it like it was the best damn wine I¡¯ve had. All because I must survive.¡±


    Leon waited for a moment until his words registered with Skyle, then looked into his eyes while finishing in a low, but grim tone. ¡°We must survive.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away from the raw determination and barely contained fury he saw boiling within the other boy¡¯s eyes. After a long moment, he nodded wordlessly.


    Armed with this determination, Skyle leaned back and closed his eyes. Leon nodded in satisfaction after seeing this, and settled down a little further down the branch to begin his watch.


    What Leon didn¡¯t know was that Skyle would not get a single moment¡¯s rest this night. Instead, as soon as he closed his eyes, he was determined to enter the dark void space once more. He simply had to survive, and he would do anything to get back home!


    ¡°Skyle!¡± Leon whispered urgently, startling Skyle and forcing him to open his eyes.


    Skyle only had to follow Leon¡¯s worried gaze towards the trees in the distance to feel a shudder run down his spine, all the while a grim fire lit itself in his chest.


    ¡°Light,¡± Leon muttered gloomily. ¡°And it''s getting closer.¡±


    ¡°I can make out the shapes of many people through the gaps between the trees, and they¡¯re approaching fast,¡± Skyle added. ¡°Time to go.¡±

 Chapter 23 - Teamwork

    Chapter 23 - Teamwork


    Leon knelt on the ground while breathing harshly, trying to take deep breaths and slow the mad hammering of his heart. He leaned with one hand upon the trunk of the giant tree where he waited, his eyes searching the shadows around him for any hint of a threat.


    Within moments, a smaller shadow landed within a couple feet of him, but Leon didn¡¯t show any reaction other than to wave a weary hand in its direction.


    ¡°See anything up there?¡±


    Skyle nodded grimly, adjusting the splint on his wounded leg and wincing slightly at the pain. ¡°You want the good news or the bad first?¡±


    ¡°Bad first. You know I¡¯d rather stare defeat in the face than turn my back on it and run like a coward,¡± Leon muttered darkly.


    ¡°Kind of grim of you, and I appreciate the sentiment. Still, I¡¯d rather shoot an arrow at their back, then run away while they bleed to death, thank you very much,¡± Skyle snorted, then shrugged at the face Leon made. ¡°They¡¯re definitely following us. I can¡¯t be sure about whether they¡¯re following our tracks or using another method, but we have a tail that is getting closer and closer, no small thanks to the fact that they can actually see where they¡¯re going-¡±


    ¡°Not my fault I don¡¯t have magicked eyes like you,¡± Leon grumbled with his head down, still breathing heavily, but Skyle ignored his comment and kept on going.


    ¡°-and they don¡¯t have to haul over a hundred pounds of deadweight on their backs,¡± Skyle finished wryly, shaking his head while gesturing helplessly towards his bandaged leg.


    Leon immediately looked up at that, and indignation shone in his eyes at that last comment. ¡°That¡¯s preposterous and you know it. You¡¯re the only reason we¡¯ve made it this far. I can¡¯t see anything in this forest, and you¡¯ve already steered us clear of god knows how many foul beasts. Damn place is crawling with death at every turn!¡±


    Skyle shrugged, not denying it. In fact, if it hadn¡¯t been for their teamwork, they would have never made it this far.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the good news?¡± Leon muttered.


    ¡°They¡¯ve had to split up several times, and their numbers have thinned. This time I could only see around a hundred people or so in the group in our trail. My guess is they¡¯re trying to spread their men in order to spread a wider net and capture us before we make it deeper into the forest.¡±


    ¡°A hundred people is still a hundred more than we have, Skyle,¡± Leon remarked, shaking his head. ¡°And at this pace, it will be a hundred more people than what they¡¯ll need to finish us off. We can¡¯t go much further at this breakneck pace.¡±


    ¡°You mean..¡± Skyle left off, staring at Leon.


    Leon took a deep breath and lifted his head to meet Skyle¡¯s gaze, meaningfully closing his hand around the handle of the sword strapped to his side. It had been the only weapon Leon had been able to scrounge up in their haste while the boys had made their escape across the battlefield.


    ¡°I mean we need to thin their numbers and lose them somehow, or they will run us down sooner rather than later,¡± Leon stated matter-of-factly, the fingers around the hilt of the sword tightening until they turned white.


    Skyle did not reply as he found himself studying Leon¡¯s newly acquired weapon. It was a serviceable sword, plain without any decorations, but made of good steel and still carrying a sharp edge. The blade was a double edged length of steel about thirty five inches long, with a thin channel for blood in the middle.


    That was it, just a simple yet effective tool for killing. Recalling the expensive focus weapon Leon had at his side before coming through the rift, Skyle had to acknowledge the fact that sometimes you just had to make do with whatever you were given.


    ¡°I have a plan,¡± Skyle began, his tone low and quiet, but it instantly made Leon¡¯s ears perk up. ¡°It carries a great deal of risk, but I see no other choice at this point.¡±


    Leon nodded wordlessly.


    ¡°I have been purposefully avoiding any signs of life or activity, steering us clear of danger along the route. There are tracks everywhere, some small, some bigger, but there have been a few that frankly scare the crap out of me,¡± Skyle confessed with a shudder.


    Leon¡¯s face turned slightly green as he recalled the fiendish monster that had drooled all over his leg and had almost gobbled him up.


    ¡°We came across a whole set of such tracks about ten minutes back. I think it was a whole pack of them. The tracks were fresh enough that I veered us right off their path. However, at this rate our pursuers will be upon us before dawn breaks, so we might as well try to use the darkness to the best of our advantage.¡±


    Leon frowned as he considered his companion¡¯s words, ¡°You mean to draw them towards the beasts?¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly.


    ¡°What if the beasts find us before they do the soldiers?¡± Leon asked slowly.


    Skyle just shrugged helplessly, not bothering to answer.


    ¡°Huh, should have known better than to ask,¡± Leon muttered, rolling his eyes. ¡°Well, guess having a plan beats running myself to the ground while hauling a lazy farmboy on my back like a damn packmule.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you said it, not me,¡± Skyle chuckled.


    Leon simply knelt on the ground with his back to Skyle, growling under his breath. ¡°After you, smartass. Just remember that if any beasts pounce on us, it¡¯ll be your ass going into their maws first when I flip you overhead and haul my own the hell out of there.¡±


    ¡°Given the maneuver a lot of thought, haven¡¯t you?¡± Skyle pointed out dryly, gingerly climbing on top of Leon¡¯s back.


    ¡°You bet your ass, what else do you think I¡¯ve been thinking about while sweating rivers as you pull me left and right in this god forsaken forest?¡± Leon climbed to his feet and shuffled Skyle¡¯s weight on top of his back a couple times before turning his head back towards his passenger. ¡°So, which way to the pack of giant, vicious man-eating beasts?¡±


    Skyle pointed out the direction, and they quickly backtracked along the way they¡¯d come earlier. The boys had long developed an understanding, with Skyle pointing out any uneven ground, along with low branches and any other potential obstructions. Leon simply had to focus on keeping one foot ahead of the other, not having to worry about the dangers that may lurk in the dark woods around them. This simple trust allowed Leon to focus all his attention on preserving as much energy as possible while moving along the forest. Thankfully, Leon had a much bigger frame than Skyle, and in truth the hundred pounds was only slightly heavier than the full gear he had to wear when undergoing basic training in the army.


    There was also the fact that Leon had been a renowned genius fire summoner. Usually, mages and summoners did not devote as much attention on strengthening their bodies with elemental energy as warriors did. After all, upon the field of battle they were too precious to waste in close range combat, and were usually escorted by a sizeable contingent of elemental warriors. Much more so in Leon¡¯s case, as he was not only a summoner, but also the heir of the House of Draxas.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Still, in keeping with the deep martial traditions of the House of Draxas, Leon had devoted a great deal more attention and energies towards strengthening his body with elemental essence. In addition, he had been wielding the element of fire since he was a young boy of four. All these years, he had been feeding elemental essence to his body, to the point where at 13 he was already the size of most fully grown adults, and could more than match the strength of most initiate warriors.


    This meant that not only were they able to make much better speed with Leon bearing Skyle on his back, but they were also able to run longer than they otherwise would have been able to, since Skyle had never been able to strengthen his own body with the elements at all.


    ¡°Wait, those vines up ahead, make sure to circle wide of them,¡± Skyle murmured, tapping Leon¡¯s shoulder on the left.


    Not even wasting energy with any questions, Leon immediately followed the instructions by turning left and circling wide of the spot Skyle had pointed out. The bigger boy couldn¡¯t make out any vines in the gloom, but he didn¡¯t doubt his guide¡¯s words at all.


    ¡°Wait, another couple steps left,¡± Skyle commended, tapping the left shoulder once again.


    No sooner had Leon complied, when he felt a slight breeze upon his face. Leon blinked a couple times as he found an acrid air assaulting his eyes, then blanched visibly as his eyes slowly focused in on a double row of sharp teeth-like thorns running along the edges of a vine that looked more like a snake than anything else, as thick around as his own legs. It snapped loudly in Leon¡¯s direction, but was unable to close in any further than three feet from him.


    Swallowing loudly, Leon carefully sidestepped around the quivering vine, wincing as it snapped loudly in their direction every time he took another step. The smell of rotting meat assaulted his nose as they moved forward, and not for the first time Leon was glad he couldn¡¯t see as well as his friend could in this nightmarish forest.


    ¡°Are we on the right trail yet?¡± Leon muttered, knowing he shouldn¡¯t waste the breath, yet unable to contain himself any longer.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been on their trail for a while now. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Skyle quickly added as he felt Leon immediately tensing under him. ¡°I should be able to spot them before they do. My True Sight seems to have received somewhat of an upgrade.¡±


    Indeed, Skyle was marvelling at how much easier it was to use the True Sight to scan the surrounding area now. Back at the enemy¡¯s camp, it had been a heavy burden to constantly use the True Sight to search for dangers. Skyle¡¯s vision had been blurring constantly, and a massive headache had threatened to split his head in two every time he used it. Truly, it had been a constant drain on his body, taking a huge toll on his reserves.


    After training in The Infinite Eye, however, Skyle had seen immediate results as soon as he activated the True Sight. The whole process was much smoother, costing him less time and effort for better results. Before, Skyle could only use the True Sight to scan auras within thirty meters or so around him. Beyond that, only huge auras that were blazing like the sun could be distinguished. However, after touching upon the borders of The Infinite Eye, Skyle had quickly learned that he could narrow the scope of his vision in order to zoom in on a specific direction.


    Whereas before he had been spreading his vision in a wide circle all around him, Skyle had recalled the technique he had used to focus on a single mote of light as he followed its movement across the dark void space. By thus shaping a rough cone of vision with his True Sight, he could now scan a much more narrow and tightly focused area that extended to a distance of up to one hundred meters. By making a periodic sweep with this narrow band of vision, Skyle could safely scan a much wider area with much less effort.


    Still, Skyle was now focusing much more tightly because instead of trying to avoid any danger areas, he was now trying to purposefully skirt the very edges of them while closing in on the trail of the pack of giant beasts. This was because he was hoping their pursuers would have to sustain at least a few losses or slow down in order to deal with the hazards Skyle was weaving through.


    Leon was stalwart as he wordlessly complied with Skyle¡¯s instructions, and the most reaction he showed to the next few close calls was a barely audible grunt. Carnivorous plants and poisonous flowers were only a few of the dangers on the trail. Thankfully, the trail they were following was devoid of any other beasts.


    While Skyle was thankful that they did not have to deal with any deadly creatures, he also realized that it was only because the pack they were following was so domineering that lesser beasts would instinctively seek to avoid any confrontation. The further they advanced, the more worried Skyle became as the path ahead continued to be completely devoid of any activity.


    Then finally, a few minutes later, the boys spotted other beasts after they had started to follow this trail. Or rather, they found their bloodied remains. Skyle tapped Leon¡¯s shoulder with his open palm, indicating that they should stop. He hardly needed to do so, however.


    Leon had already come to a complete stop as the stench of blood and feces filled their heads, and Leon¡¯s boots squelched wetly as he shuffled his feet warily. Leon¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t quite make out the shapes collected in a messy pile at their feet, but he didn¡¯t need to. He could tell by the sight of the broken corpses lying before him that whatever it had been, it was now simply meat waiting to rot. He wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d be able to make out any distinct shape even if he could see in the dark as well as Skyle could.


    Skyle, in the other hand, grit his teeth as his eyes took in the scene before his eyes. After taking several deep breaths, Skyle motioned Leon to set him down.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Leon asked.


    Skyle nodded wordlessly, and though Leon couldn¡¯t see the motion, he still complied with the request.


    Skyle slowly approached the pile of meat, examining various parts of it closely, and even reaching out a few times to shuffle a few pieces one way or another.


    Skyle had been trained to read tracks by the best hunter he knew, his father. Just as he could read the traces left by another living being upon a tree or a patch of soil, he could also read the tracks left behind on the dead bodies before him.


    ¡°They must weigh over two tons from the depth of their tracks, with long, agile limbs from the length of their stride. They should run low to the ground judging from the lack of disturbance on the branches above, so most likely some sort of hunting cat, larger than any I¡¯ve ever seen. Sharp claws with brutal strength, and teeth used to tear flesh but with the strength to crush bone.¡±


    ¡°Two tons? You¡¯re saying we¡¯re after a pack of tigers that¡¯s more than double the size of a mature bull!¡± Leon cried out in disbelief.


    ¡°Two tons is a conservative estimate,¡± Skyle nodded calmly, pointing out to a few of the trees around them. ¡°Many of these trunks have snapped violently, and I can see claw marks etched deeply on them. Our cats likely used them to pounce on their prey from an angle. They¡¯re too heavy to truly perch on top of these trees, but they¡¯re agile enough that they can use them as footholds.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s insane,¡± Leon whistled.


    ¡°Well, at least there¡¯s good news,¡± Skyle continued. ¡°These beasts have been slaughtered but not eaten. That means they¡¯re fiercely territorial and will ruthlessly kill anything that enters its territory. It is no wonder we haven¡¯t seen any other beasts while on this trail.¡±


    Leon coughed. ¡°You really, really need to work on your definition of good news.¡±


    Skyle shrugged, slapping his hands together to brush them clean. ¡°It¡¯s the only hope we have of losing our pursuers.¡±


    ¡°If we¡¯re not eaten long before that,¡± Leon muttered under his breath, but nonetheless knelt down as he motioned to Skyle.


    ¡°Relax, you big baby,¡± Skyle chuckled. ¡°I told you they¡¯re not killing to eat. They¡¯ll pounce upon us from the shadows and crush our heads to pudding with a single swipe of their claws before we even know they¡¯re there.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I feel so much better now,¡± Leon grumbled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. That¡¯s what friends are for, right?¡±


    Leon suddenly let out a soft chuckle.


    ¡°What?¡± Skyle asked while climbing on Leon¡¯s back again.


    ¡°With you on top of me, if anything pounces on top of us, you¡¯re taking the dirt nap first,¡± Leon grinned. ¡°Now, that¡¯s what true friends are for.¡±


    ¡°Shhh, I think I see something up ahead,¡± Skyle suddenly tensed up, narrowing his eyes as he focused his gaze on the darkness ahead.


    Leon suddenly held his breath as he squinted uselessly at the trees in front of him.


    ¡°Twelve,¡± Skyle suddenly mouthed.


    ¡°Minutes?¡±


    ¡°Giant murderous cats headed our way.¡±


    ¡°Shem¡¯s balls, this was a bad idea..¡±


    ¡°Technically, the last stand thing was your idea, you know?¡±


    ¡°Cilcer¡¯s bloody ulcers, why¡¯d you ever listen to me?¡± Leon moaned loudly.


    ¡°Point taken.¡± Skyle acknowledged.


    ¡°Ah, run now?¡±


    ¡°Too late.¡±


    ¡°Toss you overhead now?¡±


    ¡°Too early.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Quite.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Dig.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Dig,¡± Skyle repeated flatly.


    ¡°Our graves?¡±


    ¡°Quite likely, but hopefully not,¡± Skyle shrugged, pointing with his finger.


    ¡°Wait, you can¡¯t mean..¡±


    ¡°Yep, exactly what I mean.¡±


    After a final glance of shared understanding and flawless teamwork, both boys nodded resolutely and said together as one.


    ¡°Dig!¡±

 Chapter 24 - The Long Road Home

    Chapter 24 - The Long Road Home


    Blood and guts sprayed about in the air to land in a messy pile on the cold dirt below, which greedily sucked the liquid until it became tinged with an ugly reddish hue.


    Heedless of anything but the absolute need for haste, Skyle used the knife he had found earlier to seesaw its edge against the ragged flap of flesh he was working at. All the while, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the knife his father had given him, the one the enemy commander had taken away. Skyle couldn¡¯t recall any time when he¡¯d found that knife¡¯s edge dull. It had always maintained its sharpness, easily cutting through anything he applied its cold edge to.


    The knife in his hands, on the other hand, was struggling to cut through the thick leather and underlying tendons of the beast he was working on. It was only thanks to the huge tear already in place in its flank that Skyle was able to work his knife into the tenacious flesh at all, enlarging the existing wound with maddening sluggishness. Still, the only other weapon Skyle had was Moonshadow, and the bow was simply not suited to this kind of task.


    Briefly risking a sideways glance, Skyle was relieved to see Leon making much better progress from his own end of things. The bigger boy was working with his proportionately bigger blade from the opposite end of the same gash Skyle was trying to enlarge. With swift, vigorous motions, Leon grunted with the effort as he pushed his blade in, then retracted it with similar vigor.


    ¡°Mind your own end, farmboy,¡± Leon breathed harshly, his face red from his exertions, yet not daring to stop nor taking his eyes away from the bloody sword in his hands.


    Skyle didn¡¯t waste his breath to answer either, as he knew haste was essential for their survival. The twelve fearsome beasts whose silhouettes he¡¯d managed to distinguish were not rushing yet, which meant they had only caught a hint of an unfamiliar scent but hadn¡¯t sighted their prey yet. Which was just fine by him, since in this case the prey would be two lame and helpless boys who wouldn¡¯t even have time to squeak before they were torn to pieces.


    The scent of blood and feces had struck Skyle as very important as soon as he¡¯d entered the scene of this carnage. One might assume that this smell was from the blood and feces released from the dead beasts, but that would be the dead wrong.


    From his lessons in hunting, Skyle knew that predators with strong territorial instincts marked their boundaries with their own feces, particularly so with large cats. Since these lesser beasts had intruded upon their territory, it was logical to assume that the more dominant beasts had slain them, then marked them. If so, Skyle thought to use this scent to his advantage.


    It was their only chance, as they definitely would not be able to outrun the beasts now that they had caught their scents. Skyle had been hoping to spot them ahead of time and lead them towards their enemies, but clearly he had underestimated just how acute their sense of smell was. Now, it was about whether they would be able to fool them for just long enough to survive.


    More guts and blood gushed forth from the hideous wound as both boys worked frantically in order to enlarge it, red liquid splashing on top of their faces and dripping down their shoulders. Still, they did not let up and instead renewed their efforts with even more desperation. Seeing just how difficult it was to merely cut through the thick hide and muscles, Skyle had to wonder at the sharpness and strength behind the beasts who had inflicted these wounds.


    ¡°Done!¡± Leon cried out, then Skyle felt hands hastily pushing him aside.


    Skyle let Leon take his place, and Leon did not hesitate at all as he plunged both arms deep into the wound on the dead beast¡¯s flank. Growling deep within his throat, Leon¡¯s jaw tightened as his arms retracted with a handful of sinewy, fleshy ropes along with a new torrent of blood.


    Steaming entrails splattered wetly at his feet, but Skyle didn¡¯t pay it any mind as he swiftly pulled on the guts, uncoiling even more from within the dead beast¡¯s abdominal cavity. Then he risked a glance over his shoulder, focusing his True Sight into a cone that traveled 100 meters into the distance.


    ¡°No time! It¡¯s now or never!¡± Skyle called out hastily, and Leon wordlessly pulled aside the flaps of skin, then nodded to the other boy.


    Skyle took a deep breath, closing his eyes, then plunged into the cavity. Leon took one last glance over his shoulder before following suit. It was disconcertingly warm and dark inside, with a strong stench of blood and a sour scent. As Skyle pushed further in to make room for Leon, he could feel spongy tissues giving way under him with a mushy sound, and he nearly threw up then and there. Also, hard objects would poke into his body from time to time. Reaching behind his back, Skyle tried to shuffle one such object and winced as he felt a strange numbing sensation. As he rapidly drew his hand back, something nearby ruptured and spilled a fresh wave of pungent liquid all over his back.


    ¡°You mind?¡± Leon growled softly in his throat, but didn¡¯t seem to pay much attention to his surroundings as he was busy pulling as much of the intestines as he could back into the wound. After forming a gruesome wall with them, Leon took hold of the open flaps of skin and drew them closed, leaving only the smallest of openings to breathe through.


    Then there was only a disturbing silence, punctuated by the rhythmic breathing of both boys echoing within the small cavity. They didn¡¯t dare move at all, even as the weight of the dead flesh slowly began to shift on its own and press more heavily upon them, sending more liquid gushing over their bodies. At least they were able to keep their faces clear and close to the small gap they were using as a breathing hole.


    Seconds ticked on by in this uncomfortable silence, until at last it was broken by the smallest of sounds. It was a light rustling sound, as though a soft cloth had just brushed across some pebbles. Still, the sounds began to grow more distinct as they slowly drew closer. Then a huge shadow covered the small flap the boys were using to breathe, and Skyle¡¯s heart nearly stuttered to a stop when he heard a loud, distinctive sound of inhaled air from outside.


    As both boys held their breaths, the dead body trembled and a heavy impact was felt through the many layers of flesh. A slow, distinct tearing sound could be heard, like a sharp knife cutting through cloth. Then Skyle froze completely as he saw three claws matching the size of his own dagger easily slicing open the flesh just above his face. They moved unbearably slow, parting skin and tendon as easily as a hot knife through butter. As they drew nearer to Skyle¡¯s face, the boy had to squeeze his eyes shut, not daring to move back to avoid the claws and fiercely determined not to cry out even if the claws tore into his own face.


    Just as the claws were about to reach his face, a small mass of entrails suddenly uncoiled from above his head, spilling out through the new tear in the dead beast¡¯s skin. The terrifying claw stopped a mere couple inches from Skyle¡¯s face, then withdrew. Gushing sounds could be heard as though a heavy object were kneading wet flesh, then a deep, rumbling growl could be felt even through the walls of flesh separating Skyle from the outside.


    What followed were more sounds of light claws padding across soft soil, then simple, blessed silence. Skyle was breathing raggedly through the small air hole, not daring to take a deep breath though his lungs were desperately aching to.


    It was a long moment before Skyle even dared to turn his head in order to use his True Sight and scan the surrounding area. The monsters were moving away, the last of their auras rapidly drawing father away in his vision. It was then that Skyle detected a peculiar aura he hadn¡¯t noticed before, just off to his side. Turning his head, he saw a small, fingernail sized globe of glowing elemental essence. It was compressed so tightly that it veritably glowed in his True Sight, churning slowly with a deep brown aura. As he extended his hand to catch hold of it, his fingers felt a jolt of energy as soon as they touched it, but it was cool to the touch.


    Leon noticed Skyle¡¯s movement and whispered in between mouthfuls of gore and blood, ¡°We clear?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Skyle replied absently as he stared at the small sphere of elemental essence within his grasp. It was the same hard object he had shuffled to one side before.


    With a muffled thump and a great sloshing sound, Leon let go of the skin flaps and both boys crawled out of the nightmarish cage of flesh and blood.


    Skyle glanced at Leon¡¯s figure kneeling next to him, taking great gulps of air through a face that was completely bathed in blood. Figuring he wouldn¡¯t be looking any better himself, Skyle swiped a hand across his eyes in vain, leaving even more streaks of red across his vision for all his troubles.


    Returning his gaze to the object in his hand, Skyle could now see that it was a red crystal the size of a small pebble, rounded and smooth in all sides. It looked like a raw gemstone one would find near riverbanks, though its surface was much clearer. Inside, small sparks could be seen flashing intermittently.


    ¡°Where did you find that?¡± Leon asked, staring at the stone.


    Skyle motioned with his head towards the dead beast behind them. ¡°You know what it is?¡±


    ¡°It could be a power crystal. They¡¯re found in higher level beasts, after they¡¯ve condensed their elemental power for a long time. That¡¯s a huge crystal though, I wouldn¡¯t expect something of that size from anything other than a master ranked beast.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Can you use it?¡± Skyle immediately asked, pressing the stone into Leon¡¯s hands.


    Leon closed his eyes, concentrating, and a red hot glow could be briefly glimpsed around the hand holding the stone. When he opened his eyes a moment later, they were glowing with excitement, and brief sparks of crimson light could be seen dancing within.


    ¡°Hell yes, finally! It¡¯s not a fire elemental crystal, but it¡¯s still got a little that I draw from!¡± Leon cried out joyfully.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s search these other corpses and see if there are any other power crystals,¡± Skyle suggested.


    ¡°What about the big scary cats?¡± Leon asked, looking around.


    ¡°They left following the scent of our trail,¡± Skyle murmured, trying not to think about the substance caking every bit of his body at the moment. Thankfully, his sense of smell had already shorted out while inside the awful hiding place they¡¯d fashioned. ¡°At this rate, they will hopefully run right into our pursuers and either scatter them, or at least slow them down dramatically.¡±


    Leon only nodded, immediately turning to the beasts¡¯ bodies. Clutching one hand to the crystal, and the other to his sword, slowly a fine crimson edge began to form on the blade¡¯s edge. When Leon pushed the red-hot blade into the side of the body of another of the beasts, there was a brief hiss as it easily pierced the thick hide, then began to part the flesh underneath as though tearing through paper.


    As the smell of burned flesh assaulted his nostrils, Skyle sighed with a helpless expression on his face. Glancing down at his dagger, he sighed again as he sheathed it, then squatted down next to Leon. ¡°You cut, I¡¯ll dig the crystals out. I¡¯d rather be away from here sooner than later.¡±


    In the end, it took them only a couple minutes to search the 6 bodies around them. What shocked Leon was the fact that all six bodies had power crystals in them, and they were all just as big as the first one they¡¯d found.


    Not only would power crystals accumulate elemental essence slowly, but only powerful beasts of a very high level would be able to form them at all. Usually, power crystal hunting parties would have to take down a dozen powerful beasts or more to find a single crystal. Furthermore, most crystals Leon had seen before were the size of a pea. Only the rich and powerful would have access to bigger crystals.


    Leon stared numbly at the six crystals lying on the palm of his hand, unable to believe how easily they¡¯d stumbled upon such treasures. They were easily the size of large grapes. Such crystals could command staggering prices in the market, and would be difficult to find unless one had the necessary connections.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Skyle asked in a flat tone.


    Leon looked up and found he lacked the words to explain all this. Instead, he stared at the other boy. Why had he given all the crystals away so easily? Why wasn¡¯t he keeping a few for his own elemental reserves? Even Leon, as proud as he was, couldn¡¯t help but want to madly clutch these precious stones to his chest. Finally, he could access his elemental power! Though he couldn¡¯t absorb the elemental energies from the world, he could use the energy contained within these crystals.


    ¡°You should keep a couple of these,¡± Leon began once more, but Skyle firmly cut him off.


    ¡°No need, let¡¯s keep moving.¡±


    Leon shook his head, bewildered, but stopped insisting.


    Taking a deep breath, Skyle unsteadily rose to his feet and began to scan his surroundings, trying to discern the best route to escape the beasts¡¯ territory. ¡°I think we should move this way, as it is the shortest route towards the direction we were headed in before. Leon?¡±


    Skyle turned around with a puzzled expression, when he saw Leon blinking his eyes and staring stupidly at the trees around them, as though he couldn¡¯t believe what his eyes were showing him.


    ¡°Leon? Are you alright? Are you wounded?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± was all Leon murmured, his eyes still roving all about the clearing.


    Skyle rocked back on his feet, staring at Leon. ¡°You can see now?¡±


    The question didn¡¯t need to be any more specific, since they both understood its meaning.


    Leon nodded absently, his gaze still exploring the edges of the forest which his eyes were showing him.


    It was not unexpected, this reaction. After all, Skyle could remember the night and day difference in his own perception of this realm before and after receiving the True Sight. Dark, ominous clouds had turned into beautiful skies painted with a myriad different colors. Soldiers with demonic faces had turned into regular human features. The forest around them was filled with danger, but also with an alien, almost primeval beauty that captivated the senses. If not for the danger all around them, Skyle could not have denied the startling beauty of the massive trees and colorful plants growing all around them.


    Skyle swiftly recalled his own experience when he had received the True Sight. Thinking back on it, hadn¡¯t he also been choking on the blood of the soldier he had just killed. Did blood have something to do with the ability to gain the True Sight?


    ¡°Can you see the auras as well?¡± Skyle asked anxiously.


    Leon frowned for a moment, then shook his head disappointedly. ¡°No auras, no spirit vision. All I can see is the true shape of the trees. I had no idea they were so beautiful. Same goes for this beast. It was a grotesque monster filled with bizarre tentacles, but now I see it as an oversized boar, no more.¡±


    ¡°Strange,¡± Skyle muttered to himself. ¡°Was it the power crystals, or the blood?¡±


    Leon turned to look at Skyle with worried eyes. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Skyle quickly shook his head, ¡°No matter, let¡¯s get going. I¡¯m not sure if the beasts following our trail will actually encounter our pursuers or not, but we¡¯ve done our best. Now lets get out of here before more of them come.¡±


    ¡°Wait, now that I have some elemental essence, I can treat our wounds. It¡¯s not my specialty, but I should be able to speed the recovery process,¡± Leon murmured, closing his eyes and waving his hands while a red glow began to emanate from them.


    In the True Sight, Skyle was fascinated to see several strands of red elemental essence forming strange patterns in the air between Leon¡¯s hands. They grew in complexity as they turned in the air and merged together, before slowly dissolving into several strands of energy that flowed into Leon¡¯s body. As the wounded areas absorbed these energies, their auras surged momentarily with life and brilliance, before slowly dimming down. However, they had a much healthier glow now!


    Leon let out a pleased sigh, then opened his eyes and turned his attention to Skyle. ¡°It¡¯s just a simple purification and elemental strengthening prism, but now that I¡¯ve seen that it actually works as intended, it ought to help you as well.¡±


    Skyle nodded with a small smile, indicating his thanks.


    Leon began to move his hands in the same gestures he had used before, and in Skyle¡¯s True Sight the complex patterns began to take shape again. As Leon finished the process and gestured to Skyle, the patterns slowly dissolved into streams of light that landed upon the many wounds. However, this time something unexpected happened.


    Instead of merging with the wounds and healing them, the strands of light seemed to falter for a moment, before being quickly absorbed into Skyle body and disappearing altogether. His wounds didn¡¯t look any better, and instead Skyle felt a momentary spell of dizziness assault him.


    Leon stared for a moment with a surprised expression, before jumping forward and leaning closer to support the swaying boy. ¡°You alright?¡±


    ¡°Yes, just give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Leon muttered. ¡°It worked just fine on me. Did I mess up the spell prism somehow?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault,¡± Skyle shook his head, not understanding what had happened to those strands of energy, but the complex patterns themselves had been executed flawlessly. ¡°Let¡¯s just move along, we¡¯ve wasted enough time here. I¡¯ve also got things to tell you on the way.¡±


    As Leon carried Skyle on his back, Skyle recounted his experience in acquiring the True Sight after choking on the soldier¡¯s blood. They speculated on the fact that perhaps there was a connection between the blood of creatures in this realm and the ability to see through the strange illusions, though they allowed that perhaps it had been the power crystal instead. He also explained what he had found about Fierro Latimus and his journal, though he kept the hidden parts of it to himself.


    ¡°So, Fierro was a peak expert from another realm?¡± Leon breathed, as though he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°In the end, he died such a sad death, in this terrible place.¡±


    ¡°Deadly, maybe. But terrible?¡± Skyle mused, his eyes taking in the beauty of the woods around them.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. I really wonder what this place is,¡± Leon muttered. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a more breathtaking sky, or a more beautiful patch of forest, yet it is also filled with a wildness that seems to defy any attempts to trespass upon its confines. You sure you didn¡¯t find anything else about this realm from Fierro¡¯s journal?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to study it in detail, but I will do so as soon as we can afford to stop,¡± Skyle called out. ¡°First, let¡¯s get to a safe distance. Then we need to find some water and food.¡±


    Leon wrinkled his nose. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind a wash, either. All this blood on us is bound to attract unwanted attention from the beasts of the forest.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily. We are covered in blood and cat feces. The cat feces will likely act as a good deterrent, at least while we¡¯re still near their territory,¡± Skyle shrugged.


    ¡°And here I thought blood was bad enough. If only my seneschal could see me, all covered in cat excrement. You know, this one time the old fool tried to convince me to put rose-petals and lilac in my bath water? ¡®Good for the young Lord¡¯s complexion¡¯, he said with a completely straight face,¡± Leon chuckled, imitating a stiff, thick voice.


    Skyle grinned despite himself. ¡°Kass - my little sister - will absolutely refuse to share the bath water with anyone else. Says we are all a bunch of unwashed, malodorous miscreants.¡±


    Leon laughed softly at that. ¡°Sounds like she¡¯s a little lady of discriminating tastes.¡±


    ¡°The little lady still sneaks into the bed of this here unwashed, malodorous miscreant at least once every week because she¡¯s scared of the dark, though she¡¯ll die before she admits it,¡± Skyle said with a wistful smile. ¡°And smell be damned.¡±


    ¡°At least she has someone to go to,¡± Leon spoke softly, almost as though to himself. ¡°My third brother is still convalescing from the near-fatal attempt on his life a few months back.¡±


    "Sorry to hear that," Skyle murmured.


    "My sixth brother was even sorrier, trust me. He was the one who sent the assassins," Leon snorted coldly.


    A long moment of silence ensued, while Leon resolutely moved forward and Skyle found himself at a loss for words.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Skyle Farrow. You must return home, to watch over little Kass and ward off her imagined monsters.¡±


    Here Leon paused for a moment, taking a long, deep breath before finishing with steely determination.


    ¡°As for me, I must return to the intrigues and deadly plots of the great and lofty House of Draxas, where the real monsters await.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t find anything to say still, so he simply lay a hand upon his friend¡¯s shoulder, and said nothing at all.


    Still, it was enough.

 Chapter 25 - As the River Flows

    Chapter 25 - As The River Flows


    ¡°So, about that river, oh great vaunted hunter and master of the wilds?¡±


    Skyle would have loved to respond with some sassy comeback, but couldn¡¯t find the heart to. Not after seeing how soaked in sweat Leon was after the two hour trek they had undergone just now, all through woods steeped in shadows, with precarious footing and while bearing another person on his back.


    Instead, Skyle opted for the high road.


    ¡°The tracks continue this way. These tracks are overlapping with old ones, meaning this is a trail they follow often. That greatly increases the chances a water source is nearby.¡±


    ¡°Chance doesn¡¯t seem to be smiling on us of late, don¡¯t you think?¡± Leon wheezed.


    ¡°Aw, my lordship is sad? And here I thought you were the great fiery lord summoner supreme with the big muscles and flaming cape,¡± Skyle rolled his eyes. Alright, so he couldn¡¯t resist poking fun at the great flaming Lord of whining about everything he seemed to think he was entitled to.


    ¡°Left it back at my castle along with my kick the smartass farmboy¡¯s ass boots,¡± Leon countered, though there was no malice in it. ¡°Seriously though, this march is killing me.¡±


    ¡°Here, you really should try these,¡± Skyle offered the pink, oval shaped fruits he had plucked from a peculiar looking plant the last time they had taken their break. ¡°They¡¯re really not that bad, and they have a high water content.¡±


    Leon instantly recoiled from Skyle and shook his head in disgust. ¡°Ugh, I still can¡¯t believe you actually picked up those things, let alone eat them.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re pretty good, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Skyle popped another one into his mouth.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Oh what a great question. Here, let me see if I can find an answer, as impossible a challenge as though it may seem. First, how about the fact that you had to shoot the flaming, daemon-accursed plant first before it could bite your face off? Then there¡¯s the little detail about it actually bleeding, as in blood, real red blood. From a plant!¡±


    Leon flailed his arms wildly about, his eyes glimmering with the deep-seated horror that belonged to the survivor of a horror tale. He had to swallow loudly before he continued with a voice thick with revulsion.


    ¡°And please let us not forget the fact that it was growing out of a dead bull¡¯s ass. Yes, I do not jest, a bull. A dead, rotting bull. And not from its back, not from its flank, not even from its head. From its god-forsaken, stinking, decomposing ass!¡±


    Skyle stood impassively, listening to Leon¡¯s tirade while nodding his acknowledgement that yes, the other boy was in fact correct, and that all of his points seemed quite valid.


    Leon stood there frozen, staring at Skyle with his arms spread wide to his sides, gesticulating wildly and saliva flying from his mouth. After a moment, and seeing that the expected reaction would not be forthcoming, Leon flailed his arms again and screamed frustratedly at the other boy.


    ¡°Look, I told you that according to my True Sight, they should be perfectly safe to eat,¡± Skyle chuckled, popping another of the fruits into his mouth. They were extremely juicy, with just enough sweetness and a tangy finish that he had to admit to himself, they really were pretty damn good. In fact, he immediately said as much to Leon.


    For growing out of a putrefying bull¡¯s ass, that is.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point!¡± Leon roared, his horrified eyes visibly cringing each time Skyle took another bite from the small fruits. ¡°I don¡¯t care how it tastes, it is a matter of principle! You just don¡¯t eat rotting shit from a dried up bull¡¯s ass, and I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the gods¡¯ own divine nectar and your tongue is more dried up than my grandfather¡¯s - may Avaria rest his soul - old boots!¡±


    Skyle paused for a moment and looked into Leon¡¯s eyes with a somber expression. Only then, and with a slow, deliberate motion, did he pluck another fruit and toss it in his mouth.


    Leon shuddered and closed his eyes involuntarily, his face turning green as he turned away, unable to witness this horror any further.


    ¡°Your loss, big guy,¡± Skyle simply shrugged, chewing happily in between words. ¡°You don¡¯t want the fruit, then you¡¯ll just have to wait until the tracks we¡¯re following lead us to this area¡¯s watering hole.¡±


    ¡°Well, how about these ones right here?¡± Leon approached a tall tree to his right, plucking a plump round fruit about the size of his fist, gleaming with a healthy, eye-catching red skin. ¡°Now this here fruit is what I truly call the quintessential fruit. It looks like a winning combination of the humble, yet glorious tomato and the queen of all fruits, the ever delightful apple. Surely, it should be safe to eat, and furthermore, be a far more pleasant fare than that abomination you¡¯re hellbent on consuming?


    ¡°Sure, you¡¯re right. That should be perfectly fine to eat,¡± Skyle nodded graciously, waving his hand towards the fruit in Leon¡¯s hand. ¡°If you want to keel over and die in, oh, fifteen minutes maybe? Perfect combination of diarrhea and vomit, if you ask me.¡±


    Leon dropped the fruit as though he¡¯d been bitten, and slowly turned his head in Skyle¡¯s direction.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Nope, not kidding at all. Dead serious, Lord summoner. So, care for some fruit?¡± Skyle held out the fruit to Leon with a beatific smile.


    In the end, Leon actually refused, his face going even paler. Apparently, even legendary elemental summoners and heirs of great houses have their standards, which they absolutely won¡¯t compromise.


    Or perhaps his lordship simply has a weak stomach.


    In any case, they resumed their march, Skyle scanning their surroundings with the True Sight while Leon grunted and sweated what precious liquids he had left, all the while cursing loudly at whatever sadistic gods had created the bullcrap fruit.


    His lordship¡¯s own invention, that expression. That one would go down into the annals of history, to be sure.


    In all honesty, if his life had truly depended on it, Skyle knew that Leon would have taken the fruit. After all, they still had blood and bits of intestine plastered all over themselves from when they had dug themselves into the chest cavity of a large, dead mammal.


    However, as a skilled tracker Skyle was fairly certain they would find water soon, given the signs they¡¯d seen from the forest around them. In the meantime, Leon hemmed and hawwed, and Skyle simply went along with it, all the while both boys knew it was a half-hearted attempt to shy away from the horrors of their experience so far, and the uncertainty of things yet to come.


    Eventually, Skyle did tap Leon¡¯s shoulder in order to stop his newest tirade about the absurdity of Mercedian virgin wool being sold exclusively during two of the hottest months of the year and commanding such a ridiculous premium. In truth, Skyle had almost given in to the temptation of unsheathing his knife and just putting an end to their misery right then and there.


    Still, saner heads and prevailed and Skyle had almost sobbed in joy when he had heard the whispered promises coming from the distance. They cried river, and Skyle almost did cry from the relief. As soon as Skyle motioned Leon to stand still, they were able to hear the rustling rounds of moving water from the distance, just as the first rays of a beautiful golden light were beginning to filter through the tallest trees.


    Instantly and before Skyle could even interject his own opinion, Leon clenched his arms around the other boy¡¯s legs and sprinted in the direction of the sounds. Never mind the fact that Skyle almost brained himself against a couple of the low hanging branches on the way, Leon seemed to have forgotten about all else as he rushed forward with reckless abandon.


    At long last, they finally found the river. It was a small stream that may have run waist-deep, about six or seven meters wide. The waters ran crystal clear, and as soon as Skyle gave the all-clear signal Leon plunged headfirst into the river, and his lordly dignity be damned.


    While Skyle did share Leon¡¯s enthusiasm, he was still wary enough that he decided to keep watch while Leon dunked himself in the water. Fortunately, no auras seemed to be nearby, and they were both able to drink their fill and rinse themselves in order to finally wash off the blood and gore caking their hair and clothes.


    ¡°Finally, I feel like a man again,¡± Leon sighed contentedly, having shed his shirt and wringing it vigorously between his hands.


    As his powerful arms exerted their strength, Skyle was startled to see a long, white scar going down the middle of Leon¡¯s chest, from the bottom of his neck nearly down to his navel. The scar was thick and puckered, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but stare as he wondered at how terrible a wound would have to be to leave such a hideous scar.


    Leon caught Skyle¡¯s look and his cheeks colored slightly as he followed the smaller boy¡¯s gaze to his own chest, coughing uncomfortably and half-lifting the shirt as though to cover the scar.


    ¡°So.. sorry,¡± Skyle murmured, averting his gaze.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Leon sighed, shaking his head from side to side. After a short pause, he lowered the shirt and looked down at the scar, one of his hands tracing its edges. ¡°It¡¯s the price of trusting too much, of being too innocent in a world that won¡¯t wait for anyone to grow up.¡±


    Leon let out another slow breath, his massive shoulders slowly deflating as he turned around to gaze at the gentle waters of the river.


    ¡°You know Skyle, when I said all those things about those poor people trapped back there, I meant every word. Each and every single word of it. I may be the scion of one of the richest houses in the Great Duchies, but compassion and humanity are luxuries I never could afford. It¡¯s a lesson that came at a great price, and I cannot afford to pay it again.¡±


    Turning around, Leon¡¯s eyes found Skyle¡¯s gaze and held them in a moment filled with uncompromising determination.


    ¡°Do you understand?¡± Leon asked after a moment.


    ¡°Y..¡± The words died in Skyle¡¯s mouth as he thought back on all those people being massacred at the sacrificial ritual. The weight of all those dead people instantly nullified the validity of any of his arguments. It tore all of his conviction to shreds, leaving him hollow and lost, without knowing what to say.


    ¡°Ah..¡± Skyle opened his mouth a couple times, but in the end he really couldn¡¯t say anything so he finally had to lower his eyes, unable to meet the open, brutal honesty of Leon¡¯s gaze and the iron will behind it.


    Leon smiled then, though it was a smile filled with a sorrow that was too old for his young age. Then he turned around to face the river, filled with his own thoughts and not wanting to make his friend needlessly uncomfortable.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Skyle. I know you don¡¯t understand yet, and I respect you for it. In fact, I hope you never have to pay that terrible price, my friend,¡± Leon said in a sad voice, as though a candle were flickering out.


    Skyle had to think about all the horror and death he had seen thus far. Terrible sights which he would never be able to forget as long as he lived. Still, as he gazed at Leon¡¯s broad back, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of pain inside at how cold and lonely it looked.


    Just how many deaths were enough to so heavily weigh upon so young a set of shoulders? Just what kind of world was out there, beyond the confines of his happy life with his loving parents and adorable siblings? What price did Leon have to pay so early in his young life, and why would anyone place such terrible demands upon so luminous a soul?


    Skyle had always considered himself intelligent and wise beyond his years. He was, after all, an expert of the hunt and the arrow, a mature boy who could distinguish between what was right and what was wrong.


    Little did he know, the world he had known, the world where all his certainties lay, it was simply a castle made of sand, crumbling under the relentless assault of this grim new world. His was a world filled with absolutes, of black and white opposites neatly separated by the innocent virtue of a naive child.


    This here, it was the real world, where everything lay smothered in a thick, velvety curtain of endless gray. It veritably choked the life out of dreams and hopes, spitting out acid-spitted shards of an orphaned past.


    As the river flows down the mountain, and the first glimmers of early morning rises over each horizon, there lays a small child quietly huddling in his shameful ignorance, while another stands wishing in vain that he could somehow buy back such enviable innocence.


    And thus the river flows on.

 Chapter 26 - The Color of Gold

    Chapter 26 - The Color of Gold


    After shaking off the uncomfortable silence that had ensued after Leon¡¯s words, both boys sat by the riverside, quietly talking about their immediate plans.


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯ve lost our pursuers?¡± Leon asked, carefully adjusting the freshly changed bandage on his arm.


    It was fortunate that the shoulder bags they had found in the enemy camp were waxed so as to be waterproof, and the contents within had not been tainted by any of the blood while they had hid within the dead beast¡¯s corpse.


    The cloaks they had found also seemed to be slightly water resistant, but with all they had been through, Skyle and Leon had taken the time to rinse them in the stream. Although they had a disturbing shade of faded pink to them now, at least they should be marginally cleaner than they had been. Given the warm, pleasant weather brought on by the coming of day, both their clothes and cloaks should be dry soon.


    ¡°That pack of hunting beasts should stop or at least delay them for a while. In any case, now that we¡¯ve found a stream it will be easier to hide our tracks as we move along with the stream, then find a good opportunity to slip away,¡± Skyle answered, readjusting his own bandage with a pleased smile.


    The wounds had shown remarkable improvement. Although broken bones couldn¡¯t be expect to heal within a few days, the medicine seemed to be aiding the healing process and speeding it up. Skyle still couldn¡¯t bear to put much weight on his leg, but the swelling had gone down and the edges of his wounds had lost their red, angry hues.


    In treating all their wounds, the boys had expended a considerable amount of the precious medicine they had found within the camp. After some careful shuffling around with the liquids, they had ended up with two empty mid-sized bottles, which Skyle thoroughly rinsed, then used to put water in.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s follow the stream and see if we can find any food along the way.¡± Leon eyed the stream beside them as his stomach began to growl loudly.


    Skyle smirked, but then his own stomach began to rumble as well.


    They had not had any food for the past day, and after their considerable exertions, it was no surprise that they were hungry. In truth, they were famished and the fruits Skyle had managed to pick up on the run were simply not enough to satisfy his needs.


    After spending some time hiding the marks of their presence here, Skyle once more climbed on top of Leon¡¯s back, the ritual now a familiar one to both boys. Leon wordlessly stood and shuffled Skyle¡¯s weight once in order to make himself comfortable, then followed the direction indicated by his guide.


    They traveled up the small stream, avoiding the softer, wet soil and instead using the rocks washed up by the shore to continue moving upstream. It made for slower progress and some treacherous footing, but it should buy them some time if their pursuers were still after their trail.


    Skyle periodically used his True Sight to scan the area around them, using the new method he had learned to push his scanning range to the maximum, which was about one hundred meters. Although both boys¡¯ nerves were on the edge, Leon still maintained a steady stream of commentary on the lifestyle of the northern nobles who made up a great majority of the Free Duchies¡¯ aristocracy.


    Skyle listened to it all with mixed emotions. Their spectacular wealth and the way they flaunted it, or outright wasted it, simply disgusted him, but at the same time the outlandish tales from an upper nobleman¡¯s perspective was like seeing another world for the first time. After all, Skyle had never set foot outside the province of Lacrima. One of the northernmost provinces belonging to the Empire of the Sun, Skyle had only heard or read about the other ten provinces.


    In truth, Skyle knew more about some of the nearer bordering Free Duchies than some of the more distant provinces, as the Empire¡¯s vast lands spanned nearly half of the inhabited portion of their continent, Iria. A quarter was distributed between the various other powers, including the Free Duchies to the northeast, the barbarian tribes of the north, the wandering desert people of the south, the Linden Republic to the west, and the Conclave Arcana.


    The remaining quarter of the continent lay beyond the Great Scar, and no one knew what lay beyond. In truth, no one was even sure as to whether there was anything there at all, except for the fact that every brave explorer or reckless adventurer who had wandered beyond the Great Scar had never been seen or heard of again.


    His father seldom mentioned anything about the world outside of their small community in the town of Sunny Meadow, let alone any news concerning the Province of Lacrima. Perhaps from time to time some proclamation from the Imperial City, Solaria might reach Glory Peak, the humble capital of their province, but that was about the extent of his interaction with the world beyond.


    That was not to say his education had been neglected. His father had taught him the names and capitals of every province, the crests of every one of the Great Duchies, and even taught him the convoluted system of checks and balances that governed the Linden Republic. However, that was all just page after page of dry data, and like any normal child, Skyle had always been curious about the world beyond the borders of Glory Peak, and beyond the reach of Redemption Keep.


    ¡°Ah, da was right. Wealthy folks are all crazy, and it is their riches that fuel their madness,¡± Skyle tsked loudly, shaking his head. ¡°No wonder he told me to keep my distance from them. ¡®The color of gold is not yellow, but the red-eyed madness that is reflected in men¡¯s greedy gaze. Spot a noble, run for the hills. Spot a rich man, clutch your purse. Spot a rich nobleman, just say your last prayers, because your time is done on this green place.¡¯ he would say.¡±


    Leon flinched involuntarily at that, but Skyle seemed not seem to notice.


    ¡°Quite, quite. Ahem,¡± Leon cleared his throat, then continued hurriedly. ¡°So, the recent influx of cheap Republican dyes have precipitated quite the upheaval in the Greater Courts, driving many of the smaller merchant houses and mercantile exchanges to the brink of ruin. In their desperation, they are rumoured to be planning an expedition into the Great Forests, to attempt to open a trading agreement with the fabled Elven Court. Of course, that is the utmost of folly, as any educated individual well knows that the gates of the fair folk have been closed to all outsiders for over a millenia now, and even the latest great expedition ended in an abysmal failure. As a result, rampant speculation has been-¡±


    ¡°Wait, go back. They actually tried to establish contact with the Elven Court?¡± Skyle quickly interrupted.


    Leon scoffed, ¡°Greedy or deluded fools have always tried to reach out to the storied Elven Court, and gotten nothing for it but an arse full of arrows or scorched by all those damn magical barriers they¡¯ve erected. Every five or ten years, yet another great expedition will call for volunteers, and like sheeps to the slaughter countless fools answer with nothing but wool for brains.¡±


    ¡°So no one has ever succeeded in contacting the elves?¡± Skyle asked again.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Leon shook his head in derision, then cursed as the motion almost caused him to miss his footing. ¡°Damn slippery stones. Ahem, no, it is impossible to cross the arcane wards the elves have erected across their realms. After hundreds of years of study, our best mages have never proved their match. Even now, there are countless mages who live by the barrier, hoping in vain that they will be able to crack the puzzle and gain instant renown throughout the ages. Vainglorious fools, all of them.¡±


    ¡°Then what about the famous elven bows and arrows? How do they continue to be produced?¡± Skyle frowned as he recalled the tales of the fantastical artifacts he had heard.


    ¡°Bah, nothing but smoke and mirrors. Nine times out of ten, they¡¯re just rumors or tall tales spread by greedy merchants seeking to increase their profits through dishonest means. The tenth one, that one will be a masterwork made by a master at the peak of his craft. Whether by purpose or chance, it may resemble one of the legendary elvish weapons, but in the end it was definitely made a human.¡±


    Here Leon paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as he looked up with a thoughtful gaze to his eye. ¡°Well, perhaps one in every hundred, or even a thousand, will be a true Elvish relic, a priceless artifact that traces its origins back to over a millennia, to the times when elves and humans could still be considered allies.¡±


    ¡°So they do exist,¡± Skyle breathed, somewhat in relief.


    ¡°Most legends do, though they are indeed rarer than a unicorn¡¯s horn,¡± Leon mused.


    ¡°Have you, ah, ever seen one?¡± Skyle asked hesitantly.


    Leon shook his head. ¡°No, I personally haven¡¯t. But then again, I¡¯ve never met any master archers who could afford such extravagant weapons. After all, the price for any sort of Elvish artifact is exorbitant.¡±


    ¡°Define exorbitant,¡± Skyle urged.


    ¡°Hmm. I seem to remember a rather pretty looking Elvish hair pin made of amber being auctioned last year for 20,000 gold coins,¡± Leon replied, shrugging indifferently.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°What? Was it enchanted with a legendary summoning creature?¡± Skyle gasped, disbelieving.


    ¡°Nah,¡± Leon scoffed, ¡°it was plain as could be. Rather small too. Collectors will pay an arm and a leg for any elvish artifacts though, no matter how trivial.¡±


    Skyle sighed softly as he tried to wrap his head around the concept of paying 20,000 suns for a simple hair pin.


    ¡°Ours is one of the more successful elerium shard farms in the area,¡± Skyle mumbled numbly to himself. ¡°Still, I have never seen more than a hundred suns together, and that was only three years ago at our largest sale yet, thanks to the spectacular shard harvest we had that year. 20,000 suns, I can¡¯t even begin to imagine what it would look like.¡±


    ¡°Um,¡± Leon began to look a little uncomfortable, ¡°I suppose that is a lot of money, when you think about it.¡±


    Skyle began to nod his head in agreement, but a thought crossed his head and instead the smaller boy furrowed his brow as he glared suspiciously at his friend.


    ¡°Wait, how much did you pay for that focus sword?¡±


    ¡°Eh, well, I don¡¯t really remember. It was a gift, you know? It is not polite to keep track of such things,¡± Leon mumbled under his breath, suddenly speeding up his pace.


    ¡°Well, what would its fair market price be then?¡± Skyle continued doggedly.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Leon coughed awkwardly, sweat rolling down his face. ¡°Well, depends on the market, really. I¡¯m no merchant, you know?¡±


    ¡°Leon,¡± Skyle chuckled. ¡°Out with it, I won¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Well, I suppose if you took my focus sword to an auction house and had it appraised by one of their men, they would quote a price somewhere along the high thirties or..¡±


    ¡°Or?¡±


    ¡°.. Or sixties,¡± Leon finished, then quickly continued. ¡°But those auctioners always inflate prices to increase their commission, so my focus sword should have been bought at half that price.¡±


    ¡°Thirty to sixty thousand suns?¡±


    ¡°Eh, well, see, the exchange rate between our golds and your suns are somewhat fluid, so the concept of value-¡±


    ¡°Sixty thousand gold coins for a single sword? One that is currently out there in the forest, lying discarded on a patch of grass next to the bloody remains of a troll?¡± Skyle stared at the back of Leon¡¯s head as though to bore holes through it.


    Leon laughed awkwardly, then shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Ah, yeah, more or less. You have to remember I¡¯m an earl. My personal elite guard of fifty should receive a wage of about 90 golds per month. That¡¯s over one thou-¡±


    ¡°1080 golds every year,¡± Skyle gaped at the figure.


    ¡°Right. Times fifty, that makes about-¡± Leon continued.


    ¡°54,000 golds per year,¡± Skyle interrupted again, his voice woodenly, as though he were about to become violently sick.


    Both of Leon¡¯s eyebrows climbed up his forehead as he glanced back over his shoulder. ¡°Maybe you should seriously consider becoming an accountant rather than a farmer.¡±


    Skyle ignored him completely as he wrestled with the concept of so much wealth. The sheer enormity of such figures was simply staggering.


    ¡°You know, I earned eight silvers by scraping every last copper bit I could scrounge up during the entire year minus the costs of feeding my little siblings¡¯ candied corn addiction,¡± Skyle mumbled in a tragic tone. ¡°I¡¯m curious how much you get for spending money every week, but I¡¯m afraid to even ask.¡±


    ¡°Not much, really,¡± Leon quickly responded. ¡°Perhaps a handful of gold, but not much else, as most establishments of good reputation will take credit instead.¡±


    ¡°Credit?¡± Skyle asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Yeah, haven¡¯t you heard of it?¡± Leon dug through his pockets, then snapped his finger. ¡°Ah, it is in my enchanted pouch. It was also lost during the transfer through the rift. My seal of credit issued by the Fairlight Banking Exchange will be accepted by most stores and businesses across the continent. So, I only carry a handful of coins on my person even when my serv.. Err, when I am unaccompanied by my retinu.. Ahem, friends.¡±


    ¡°And how much is that seal of credit worth?¡± Skyle asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a good for exchange. It is more of a promise, like promissory notes. Surely you¡¯ve heard of them?¡±


    Skyle nodded dully, then realized the other boy couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°Yeah, yeah, of course. Promissory notes are issued by the major monetary institutions as a promise to issue gold to the bearer to the figure stated on the note, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Credit works like that, only it goes a step beyond. It basically stands in good faith of the bearer that the financial institution will pay for the incurred services or products, up to a certain amount. All this means I receive a negligible amount of golds.¡±


    Skyle decided to ignore the fact that several golds every week were already more than his family¡¯s whole farm earned in the same time period. ¡°Up to a certain amount, huh?¡± Skyle cut in.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Leon began, then hastily tried to redirect the topic. ¡°A very ingenious system, first proposed by the Linden Republic¡¯s major mercantile-¡±


    ¡°Just out of a morbid sense of curiosity,¡± Skyle murmured, ¡°what¡¯s your own credit?¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± Leon cleared his throat uncomfortably once more. ¡°From time to time I must deal with some of the lesser matters of the House of Draxas, such as issuing payments for minor trade agreements or rewards for meritorious services..¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± As Leon trailed off, Skyle merely made a neutral sound of agreement.


    With a deep sigh, Leon continued. ¡°Around two hundred, more or less. I haven¡¯t checked in a long time.¡±


    ¡°The Fairlight Bank will pay two hundred thousand suns on your behalf, anywhere and anytime, no questions asked?¡± Skyle stammered in shock.


    Leon nodded mutely, a flustered look on his face.


    ¡°Rich noblemen..¡± Skyle mumbled softly to himself.


    Hearing this, Leon almost tripped.


    ¡°So, your family runs an elenium shard farm?¡± Leon hurriedly changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard vague rumours of them, but never the details. You produce elenium shards, right?¡±


    Skyle chuckled softly at Leon¡¯s obvious discomfort and for his friend''s sake decided to go along. ¡°Well, rather than produce them, we only recharge them. We buy the empty shards, then we infuse them with elemental essence and sell them back.¡±


    Leon seemed taken aback by that. ¡°How do you manage to infuse essence into the empty shards?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t, but our magical beasts do,¡± Skyle answered simply. ¡°We raise a small streak of snowblade tigers for that.¡±


    Leon halted abruptly, turning his head to stare at his friend. ¡°Snowblade tigers? You¡¯re one of ¡®those¡¯ people?¡±


    Skyle frowned, ¡°What do you mean, ¡®those¡¯ people?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumours of some, ah, enterprising and um, courageous people who will attempt to domesticate wild magical beasts in order to generate magical essence,¡± Leon mumbled, stumbling a few times while he tried to find the proper way to express the idea without offending his friend.


    Skyle chuckled, ¡°You mean you¡¯ve heard tales of the crazy fools who, blinded by pure greed, will try to squeeze whatever dregs of elemental essence they can get from savage magical beasts and get their faces eaten for it.¡±


    ¡°Eh, I suppose,¡± Leon replied carefully.


    ¡°Ours is nothing like that. We are just one small family co-existing peacefully with a streak of overgrown kitties for whom it would be far too much trouble than it is worth to try to eat us,¡± Skyle grinned at the very idea, which seemed truly silly to him. ¡°In fact, I pity the tiger who so much as bares its fangs at da.¡±


    ¡°So, the beasts are magically bound?¡± Leon asked with a confused half frown. ¡°So many?¡±


    ¡°No, none of them are bound. We just understand them,¡± Skyle answered simply, but seeing the mystified expression on Leon''s face, he promptly elaborated.


    ¡°See, snowblade tigers have two overriding characteristics.¡± Skyle held up his fingers as he enumerated each one. ¡°First, they are incredibly smart. Smarter than some humans I know, even, and that¡¯s not just a joke. And second, they are unbelievably lazy. Their second most practiced skill is that of looking for a warm place to lay under the sun. Their most often employed skill is directly related to the previous one: sleeping under the sun.¡±


    ¡°Eh? I thought snowblade tigers were known for their fierceness and their deadly hunting skills,¡± Leon muttered.


    ¡°Yeah, they can be that, but that¡¯s only so they can kill and eat their prey with as little wasted energy as possible. If they find an easier supply of food which they don¡¯t need to work for, and even have a good place to nap their days away, you couldn¡¯t see a happier bunch of cats in all the world. Rather cuddly, too.¡±


    ¡°That sounds crazy,¡± Leon said, shaking his head.


    ¡°I know, right? Everyone thinks they¡¯re these blood-thirsty, ferocious killers, when really all they want is to eat and sleep with as few distractions as possible.¡±


    Skyle shrugged, chuckling softly at the irony of it.


    ¡°I meant you and your whole family,¡± Leon muttered in disbelief. ¡°How in Avaria¡¯s own mercy could you look at a snowblade tiger and think of it as a cuddly kitten? Are you mad, man? They have fangs longer than my own sword protruding from their mouth, and let¡¯s not even talk about the rest of the blades they can summon at will from various parts of their body. Each blade is made of a bone so pure in magic density, it is completely white, the color of snow. Sharper than any normal steel sword though, so much so that snowblade hunters will risk life and limb to collect them.¡±


    Skyle narrowed his eyes at the mention of the snowblade hunters.


    ¡°Bastards, every last of them,¡± Skyle spat vehemently.


    ¡°Poor bastards, you mean,¡± Leon countered. ¡°Heard most of them end up crippled if not dead outright, the beasts are so ferocious and deadly. Apparently if you kill one, the whole streak will go after you until either you die, or they all do. Crazy beasts.¡±


    ¡°Loyal, you mean,¡± Skyle grinned.


    ¡°Crazy farmers too, from what I see,¡± Leon grumbled. ¡°Seems fitting. To think you¡¯d talk to anyone about the color of gold..¡±


    ¡°Aw, it¡¯s not so bad, really. If we.. Ah, when we get out of here, I will bring you to meet Ash,¡± Skyle patted Leon¡¯s shoulder reassuringly.


    ¡°Another brother of yours?¡± Leon asked suspiciously.


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Skyle grinned toothily. ¡°He¡¯s my adopted snowblade tiger, like an unruly younger brother of sorts.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Skyle chuckled at the other boy¡¯s reaction. ¡°Oh, I can tell the two of you are going to get along famously. He wouldn''t harm a fly. Well, not unless it is messing with his food or pestering him while he''s trying to nap. After all, he¡¯s the epitome of your typical snowblade tiger. Whenever he¡¯s not thinking of the easiest way to get food, he¡¯s either dozing off or looking for the idea place to do so.¡±


    ¡°.. Crazy farmers.. Blinded by color of gold, alright..¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but laugh at that, but deep inside hebegan to wonder what Ash would be doing right now. Likely beginning to fret, as he always did on the rare occasions when Skyle didn¡¯t come home.


    ¡°Or just snoring up a storm, like usual,¡± Skyle snorted in his head.


    ¡°Wait for me Ash,¡± Skyle vowed mentally, the smile slowly disappearing from his face. Instead, a sort of grim determination took its place.


    ¡°I will return.¡±

 Chapter 27 - The Heavenly Talent Enlightens the Way

    Chapter 27 - The Heavenly Talent Enlightens the Way


    ¡°There! Right there!¡±


    ¡°Here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, almost. Almost there. Remember, slowly at first..¡±


    ¡°Like.. Like this?¡± Leon¡¯s nervous voice rang out.


    ¡°No, too much, too fast!¡± Skyle exclaimed, alarmed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got this!¡± came the enthusiastic reply.


    ¡°Faster now! Faster! Do it!¡± Skyle cried out excitedly.


    ¡°I¡¯m on it, I¡¯m on it!¡± Leon echoed his partner¡¯s excitement.


    ¡°Almost there! I can feel it!¡± Skyle panted.


    ¡°Please, I need this, I want this!¡± Leon breathed heavily, his chest heaving up and down, and there was a complex mixture of earnest entreaty and consummate obsession in his eyes. It was almost like a hunger consuming him from the inside. ¡°There! There! Finally! Take this!¡±


    Leon gave a great, unintelligible roar as he plunged his spear into the wet, roiling depths.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but squeeze his eyes shut, as though he couldn¡¯t bear to continue watching.


    Still, it was too late and his head hung down limply as he breathed out a long, defeated sigh.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°You missed it, didn¡¯t you,¡± Skyle muttered in a disturbingly neutral tone, though his eyes were still squeezed shut.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Heavenly talent my stinking butt!¡± Skyle roared in fury, flailing his arms to his sides as he popped his eyes open and glared at the bigger boy.


    Currently, Leon lay wading in the middle of a small pool of water that reached about waist deep for him. In his good hand lay clutched the roughly fashioned spear that the boys had hurriedly crafted from a nearby branch. It was an ugly, though serviceable spear with a slightly blackened tip, as though it had been hardened by fire.


    As heroic a figure as Leon usually cut with his long locks of blond hair falling on massive shoulders that should not belong to any thirteen year old youth, he presented a rather sorry figure at the present moment. The fierce fire usually found burning within his scarlet eyes had dimmed down with weariness and defeat, and his arms hung limply by his side as he dejectedly followed the lively movements of his enemy.


    The fish in the pool pirouetted in the water with a liveliness that seemed to be openly mocking a Leon who was simply on his last legs from hunger and exhaustion. The silver scaled fish measuring perhaps a foot long moved with startling grace as it spun in dizzying circles around Leon¡¯s legs, before lightly skipping out of the water right under Leon¡¯s despondent gaze for one last flip that sent a few drops of water splashing up towards his face. As Leon spluttered from the unexpected attack, the fish quickly swam its way out of the small pool and with another effortless hop, simply skipped its way out of the tree branch fence Skyle had fashioned at the entrance to the small pool of water in order to trap the fish swimming by the stream.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Both boys stood watching dumbly as the fish disappeared in the distance, flashing with a silver glint as it swam upstream with effortless speed.


    A long moment later, Skyle finally turned his regard towards his companion.


    ¡°You are eminently useless, you know that?¡±


    Leon glanced down at the spear still clutched in his hand, then quietly shook his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as it looks, you know..¡± Leon mumbled helplessly.


    Skyle pointedly looked towards the shore, where three fish were hanging from a tree, suspended by a tough, narrow vine that had been woven through their gills.


    Leon followed his friend¡¯s gaze and gave out another long sigh, before his eyes turned fiery once more. ¡°No, the House of Draxas shall not be defeated by a mere upstart school of fish. One more round! The last one, I say!¡±


    Skyle resolutely shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ve already wasted half an hour with this farce. It was kind of funny in the beginning, but somewhere within the past fifteen minutes the comedy has turned into an all out tragedy. One of epic proportions at that, which would make even the stones under our feet weep from despair.¡±


    Leon scowled at Skyle, but seeing his friend¡¯s impassive face, he turned his eyes to redirect the full power of his baleful glare towards the defenseless trio of fish hanging from the branch.


    ¡°C¡¯mon Skyle, just one more time, I promise it will be the last!¡± Leon cried out, looking with an entreating gaze towards the other boy.


    ¡°Fine, the last one. But only because I need your useless arse to light the fire for us,¡± Skyle finally acquiesced.


    Leon instantly held his spear aloft while shouting exultantly. ¡°Yes! I knew it! Prepare for swift vengeance, for the bitter ashes of defeat shall rain despair upon your puny, unsightly selves, you-¡±


    ¡°Tiny little fishies,¡± Skyle cut in helpfully.


    Grinning as Leon spluttered in outrage and easily deflecting his friend¡¯s glare, Skyle set about to scan the river for the approaching silhouettes of the strange silvery fish. They were like streaks of light that flashed about within the depths of the small stream, but Skyle¡¯s vision was such that he could easily follow their movements.


    In truth, Skyle reflected that he really couldn¡¯t blame the poor Leon. The fish in this stream were not only incredibly fast, but also unbelievably cunning! In fact, the only reason why Skyle was able to draw them towards their little pool of water on the side was in thanks to the strange little worms Skyle had placed as bait in the middle.


    The discovery of the worms had been a rather happy accident, discovered when Leon had begun to groan constantly from his hunger, and had at last relented from his resolute fast from the strange fruits found in this forest.


    As for what ensued next..


    ***


    It took Skyle a few tries before finally finding another plant that bore an edible fruit, as per the aura that it displayed under the True Sight. In truth, all Skyle had to do was stick with warm, mellow auras that gave him a feeling of comfort or nourishment, but those were surprisingly far in between within this forest. Not only that, but most of the fruits which looked most appetizing from the outside bore grim auras that both shocked and repelled Skyle in equal measures.


    In the end, they settled for a peculiar looking vegetable that looked like a short, fatter version of a cucumber. Skyle saw a warm, healthy green aura exuding from the vegetable, though he could also see streaks running throughout its length that pulsed with a strange, but also nourishing brown color.


    Leon could hardly wait for the go ahead from Skyle before promptly tearing one in half with his teeth, vigorously chewing with all the appetite of a famished lion. One that was being forced to eat a handful of fat, overgrown cucumbers, that is.


    Skyle raised an apprehensive hand towards Leon, wanting to comment on the strange brown auras he had detected in the vegetable. After all, though they shouldn¡¯t be harmful, they did seem very strange. However, at that point he really didn¡¯t need to. At least, not any longer, for it was already too late.


    Far too late.


    Leon closed his eyes in pleasure as he savoured his first bite for the whole day, but then paused briefly as his eyebrows scrunched up towards the middle. Shaking his head from side to side, Leon slowly resumed his chewing motion before pausing yet again, this time with a more serious frown on his face.


    Watching Leon closely, Skyle put his hands to his mouth, struggling mightily as he teetered on the edge of horrified disgust and absolute hysteria.


    Leon slowly moved his tongue inside his mouth with a puzzled expression, slowly shifting the contents of his mouth. Then suddenly, his left cheek bulged with motion that evidently had not been his.


    Both of Leon¡¯s eyes flew open and met Skyle¡¯s gaze, swiftly taking in his friend¡¯s reddened face, full of barely contained laughter mixed with deep revulsion, then followed the other¡¯s gaze towards the other half of the vegetable still held in his own hand. A long, dark green object seemed to be poking out from the open end of the vegetable.


    And then it moved, and that pretty much did it.


    Leon watched with growing horror as a green worm almost as fat as his pinkie finger began to squirm its body wildly, swiftly burrowing back into the vegetable. In the cross section of the vegetable itself, several holes could be seen, within which the now familiar green surface of several other worms glittered under the daylight.


    Watching his friend¡¯s reaction as his face swiftly transformed from an expression of blissful satisfaction to abject horror, Skyle couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore, and burst out laughing with a loud, raucous roar.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    This, he immediately came to regret, as Leon reflexively sought to divest himself of all foreign matters contained within his mouth in as quick and efficient a manner as possible.


    In the end, half of Skyle¡¯s face was splattered with a disgusting mixture of green vegetable mush and even greener worm puree, some of it even entering his mouth as he had been laughing heartily at his friend¡¯s hilarious mishap.


    ¡°What the hell is this god awful reeking pile of a goat¡¯s mangy shit!¡± Leon howled, spewing the last of the dreary mix onto the ground.


    Skyle spat out in disgust as well, using a hand to wipe off most of the greenish sludge covering his face. ¡°Take it you didn¡¯t like the menu, m¡¯lord?¡±


    Leon¡¯s face turned to a sickly green, almost as though he were trying to match the worms¡¯ coloration.


    Feeling rather bad for the unfortunate incident, Skyle managed to locate a small pool not too far away. It was just a small inlet where some of the stream¡¯s water would be collected and lie relatively dormant.


    Luckily, Leon seemed to have experience crafting rough spears from tree branches, likely as part of his training in the army. Using the small hatchet he had recovered from the camp, he made quick work of it. Skyle had also managed to retrieve a few decent branches he intended to use as an improvised gate, closing off the small pool after corralling in any fish which inadvertently made it into their little trap.


    Then, with Moonshadow in hand, Skyle quietly stood by in the side of the pool while Leon stood by the improvised tree branch net, ready to close off the pool.


    Here is where the fish first surprised them. They moved with incredible swiftness, and even Skyle blinked a few times as the fish seemed to almost sense that they were under attack even before the small boy had even begun to draw back his bowstring.


    Still, even before Moonshadow, Skyle could shoot a moving target at 100 meters with a fairly high chance of striking it dead center. Now that he had been able to train in the ¡°Infinite Eye¡±, Skyle¡¯s vision had no problem at all following the movements of the fish, as swift as they were. Adding to that, his True Vision also added a huge edge, since he could use the aura of the fish in order to roughly determine the direction in which it intended to move.


    It was not a foolproof method by any means, as the complex auras kept swirling around in a dizzying pattern that was simply too fast for his eye to follow. However, Skyle was pleasantly surprised to find that right before any major movements or decisions, even animals seemed to display a marked concentration of elemental aura towards their intended direction.


    As such, armed with the combination of his archery skills, Moonshadow¡¯s power and swiftness, his ¡°Infinite Eye¡±, and the ¡°True Sight¡±, Skyle felt very confident in his chances of success, even against these unbelievably swift prey. He knew the water would slow down his arrows and might even swerve some of the weaker ones off target, but Moonshadow¡¯s weight in his hand infused him with a calm confidence.


    Slowly studying the fish as it quickly flashed about within the small pool, as though playing with Skyle and daring him to try to capture it, Skyle collected a deep breath as he usually did before a shot. Expelling this one breath slowly, he had narrowed in eyes in concentration as he selected his target.


    It was the biggest of a handful fish they had managed to herd into the pool, with a healthy silver sheen as it vigorously swam about the clear waters.


    Once he selected his target, he smoothly pulled back on his bow, skillfully tracking his target as it wove in and out of the water in dizzyingly sinuous patterns. After only a second¡¯s pause, during which he used both the ¡°Infinite Eye¡± and the ¡°True Sight¡±, Skyle selected a spot two inches ahead of his target and loosed in a swift, decisive motion.


    The arrow flashed in the light as it plunged into the waters, but Skyle had underestimated Moonshadow¡¯s power. The arrow flew true, but far too swiftly, as it pierced the space directly ahead of the surprised fish, barely nipping its mouth before plunging into the ground below until the fletchings almost disappeared into the sand.


    Skyle blinked several times, clearly taken aback by the unexpected power of the shot, but Leon failed to notice this and simply laughed good naturedly at the near miss.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Skyle, this isn¡¯t as easy as it looks. At least you bled it. Now, don¡¯t give in to despair yet and watch closely, for this young master here is a heavenly talent who has been trained in the martial arts by the Great General Marcius Poncius himself!¡±


    Skyle just raised an eyebrow at Leon, holding his gaze while wordlessly drawing back on the bowstring in his hands once again.


    ¡°Eh, what are you-¡± Leon began to ask, but stopped when Skyle turned Moonshadow in his direction.


    ¡°Hey, wait.¡±


    Skyle let out another slow breath, then abruptly dipped the bow down, aiming in the direction of Leon¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Wait, wait a second!¡± Leon protested in alarm, holding one hand out in an appeasing gesture while the other dipped below the water to cover his manhood in a flustered move. ¡°Not here, there¡¯s more fish-¡±


    The last of his protest ended in a gasp as the bowstring thrummed but once, and a flash of steel streaked towards the water, shooting straight into the area just below Leon¡¯s crotch. The fletchings slapped against Leon¡¯s leg as the arrow hit its target and quivered on impact, before sweeping past and plunging into the muddy soil beneath.


    ¡°He, hey! What¡¯s the big idea, you damn country buffoon?¡± Leon exclaimed hoarsely.


    Skyle shrugged, nodding towards Leon¡¯s back.


    Leon swiftly turned around and gaped at the sight of the small column of blood slowly leaking upward from the puncture wound on the fat silver fish¡¯s head, where the fletchings of an arrow still seemed to be quivering from the power of the impact. The rest of the arrow had disappeared, driven deep into the ground below.


    ¡°That, that was too close, farm-¡± Leon began heatedly, turning around with an angry glare, but was interrupted by another loud, thrumming sound.


    Leon barely managed to turn around in time to see the bowstring slapping loudly against Skyle¡¯s wrist as another arrow soared forth, plunging into the water with a dazzling spray of water. ¡°Now you¡¯re just pushing it. First one was a great shot. A bit lucky, but I¡¯ll give it to you. However, you need to take your time with such things, be patient. Take it as this heavenly talent enlightening you on the way. You need to let it come to you, instead of-¡±


    The rest of his words were stuck in his mouth as he gaped at the sight of another column of blood slowly rising to the surface. As Leon drew closer with a disbelieving look in his eyes, he saw that this fish had also been shot cleanly through the head, with only the fletchings getting caught in the end and preventing it from cleanly piercing through to the other side.


    Loud splashing sounds abruptly shook Leon out of his stunned reverie. When he instinctively turned around towards their source, his mouth hung open in dumb stupefaction once more.


    There had been as many as nine or ten fish in their small pool, but now the fish seemed to have realized they were being hunted down, and that they were in fact powerless to resist the formidable might of this hunter. Now, they moved in a flurry of explosive motion in order to escape.


    Several streaks of silver could be seen swiftly weaving through the water in the direction of the stream. Apparently not minding the obstruction of the branches at all, the panicked fish didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of stopping.


    Leon began to furrow his brown in confusion. Were they planning on ramming their way through the branches, hoping to break their way through and risk getting stuck in the process? Then the lines of his face slacked into an expression of complete surprise.


    These fish didn¡¯t need to ram their way through. No, they wouldn¡¯t be as brutish and unrefined as that.


    Instead, they jumped.


    In long silvery arcs that glittered in the light, they effortlessly skipped over the barrier and straight into the river, swiftly swimming away into the stream beyond.


    ¡°They, they can jump!¡± Leon stammered, before giving a hoarse cry and rushing forward with his spear lifted high into the air. Nearly all their prey were gone now, with only one last fish still streaking towards the stream.


    It would be nearly impossible, Leon thought to himself as he urgently waded towards the barrier, but perhaps he could slap that last fish out of the air as it soared out of the water.


    Just as he was nearly there, he heard a cool, collected voice from behind his back.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    Leon was not truly not used to listening to others¡¯ commands. He had been born into one of the highest positions of power in the northern hemisphere, and even at an age as tender as five, he had already had dozens of servants and guards at his every beck and call.


    Still, the horrors of the past day had deeply ingrained within him an almost reflexive obedience to Skyle¡¯s instructions, as that act of obedience had surely saved his life more times than he cared to count. Thus, when he heard the lone word from behind his back, Leon instantly froze in the spot.


    As well that he did so, for no sooner had he stopped, than he once again heard that deep thrumming sound from behind his back, and almost at the same instant he felt a rush of wind sweeping past his left ear.


    Leon didn¡¯t even have time to react before he saw an explosion of red right in front of him, as the last of the fish braved the jump and paid the ultimate price for it. The arrow struck with a spray of red, then both the projectile and the fish were gone.


    A mere instant later, Leon heard a deep THUNK reverberating through the air, clearly audible in spite of the sounds of rushing water from the stream. Leon¡¯s gaze automatically followed the sound, and his eyes finally found the fish that had tried to escape.


    It was a gorgeous catch, just over a feet long with that sleek, silvery gleam to it as it flopped uselessly in the air.


    Yes, in the air.


    Leon¡¯s eyes were enraptured, not by the fish hanging three feet off the ground, but rather by the still quivering arrow driven straight through the fish, and into the tree behind. The shaft still lay quivering from the incredible impact, and Leon couldn¡¯t help but gawk at the magnificent shot it had been. The arrow had exploded in a straight line from Skyle¡¯s Moonshadow, cleaving into the fish midair as it soared in its swift arc towards the river beyond, then slammed into a tree on the other side of the river. There, it managed to bury itself almost halfway through the trunk, leaving the helpless fish flopping wildly in its dying moments.


    If anything, even the fish seemed to somehow mirror Leon¡¯s own astonishment.


    After a very long and very quiet moment during which the only sounds were those of the waters rushing down the river, Leon woodenly turned around to face Skyle, who stood in place with a satisfied smirk on his face.


    ¡°Ah, not bad. Not bad at all, farmboy. Now, let me show you how us real men do it,¡± Leon had blustered, hefting his spear in a rather sad looking motion.


    Still, Skyle hadn¡¯t said a word in protest. Instead, he simply shrugged carelessly, and began to gather the fish as well as the arrows.


    And that had been the beginning of a truly unfortunate debacle.


    ***


    ¡°Har har, this will be the one, I can feel it!¡±


    The aristocratic youth had seemed to view it as something of a personal challenge, and in truth seemed to harbour somewhat of a grudge against Skyle for the previous worm-infested vegetable incident, let alone the whole heavenly talent proclamation, after which Leon had splashed about in mad desperation and managed to catch a grand total of zero fish.


    Thus, he had not let up and in the end Skyle had no choice but to consent once more, attracting several more fish into their little aquatic corral.


    ¡°There! Over there!¡± Skyle shouted, pointing with his finger as he tracked the fish with the ¡°Infinite Eye¡±.


    ¡°Over here?¡±


    ¡°Look at where I¡¯m pointing, you fool!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying, dammit. Not my fault you point like a sissy!¡±


    ¡°Just shut up and kill one flaming fish so we can start eating already,¡± Skyle growled, and his stomach echoed him loudly.


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t want to eat? I could stuff half a horse down my gullet and it still wouldn¡¯t be enough,¡± Leon yelled back. ¡°Now settle down and do your job properly. Point!¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes, then quietly did as ordered. Inside, he silently prayed to all the gods that they would deign to bless the tip of that ugly freaking spear so that it could finally find rest in the guts of these flaming fish.


    Alas, it was no use and they still swam circles around the slightly befuddled, enraged bull that was Leon.


    ¡°Not there, you idiot!¡±


    ¡°Then where, you flaming buffoon?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s right there. THERE! Oh god, flaming talent my arse..¡±


    ¡°I AM there, you stumpy little brat!¡±


    As both voices began to rise in a heated crescendo once more, the only other voices were those of the fish silently laughing at the hilarity of it all.

 Chapter 28 - A Lesson Between Friends

    Chapter 28 - A Lesson Between Friends


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not going to-¡±


    ¡°Enough! I¡¯ve had it with these abyss accursed fish and their smug little smirks, the little bastards. I tried playing nice, now you burn, you little monsters!¡±


    ¡°What smirks, they¡¯re just a bunch of fish!¡± Skyle wanted to say, but seeing the expression on Leon¡¯s face made him wisely decide to keep the thought to himself. Not that it would have made much of a difference, in the end. The result would have been much the same.


    Blinding streaks of scarlet energy streamed up the length of Leon¡¯s upraised arm, converging upon his fist to form a growing ball of incandescent fire. The roiling sphere of fire elemental energy burned so hotly that even Skyle could feel the heat from where he crouched, more than five meters away.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Skyle cried out in alarm, half-crouching, half-turning away, awkwardly trying to find some cover, but it was already too late.


    Leon was past listening to reason, as he flung his hand down towards the middle of the pool, where three or four fish swam about in a sudden frenzy, as though realizing they had invoked the wrath of a predator they could not afford to anger.


    The ball of molten fire was somewhat of a familiar sight to Skyle. After all, he had been at the receiving end of a few of these fire bolts himself. Their destructive power had left a deep impression in Skyle¡¯s mind. That he had lived to tell about it was a feat Skyle rightly felt rather proud about, while at the same time it irked him to no end; this lord fire summoner was far, far too generous with his use of these fire bolts.


    The panicked fish tried to swim away from the fire bolt, but it was no use. In the blink of an eye, the fiery projectile struck the water and a great roaring explosion rang out. Some of the water instantly turned into steam, but the rest simply exploded in a great circle around the point of impact, causing a column of water as tall as Leon himself to rise above the water, causing its surface to shake greatly with big waves.


    The physical impact from the blast traveled through the water and knocked Skyle off his feet. Just as the boy was trying to find his bearings, he spotted a big shadow out of the corner of his eye, and looked up just in time to see a huge wall of water crash on top of him.


    Spluttering in outrage, Skyle wiped his face and stood up shakily, trying to clear a muted buzzing sound from his ears. Glaring hotly, he turned in Leon¡¯s direction only to see the big idiot grinning smugly to himself as he eyed the center of the small pool.


    Four small figures slowly rose up to the surface. It was the silvery fish, slowly bobbing above the surface of the water, belly up. They weren¡¯t even twitching, as it had seemingly been an instant death, whether due to the force of the impact or the temperature.


    ¡°You have been weighed and been found wanting. Far too wanting, little beasts,¡± Leon crowed, apparently hugely pleased with himself. The spear had long been cast aside and lay forlorn and lonely upon the sandy shore.


    Skyle opened his mouth, but seeing the happy expression on Leon¡¯s face, decided against speaking and just rolled his eyes upward.


    ¡°Of all the exalted summoners upon the surface of Aeria, I had to get stuck with the six year old kid,¡± Skyle moaned in his mind. ¡°It¡¯s like what I¡¯d imagine an evil combination of Kass and Reik to be, if I had another baby brother.¡±


    Skyle shuddered with the mental image, then dismissed it as he woozily began to make his way out of the pool.


    At least Leon had the grace to look embarrassed when he saw the condition of Skyle¡¯s clothes, and he smiled apologetically as he helped his friend get out of the water. Still, he gave small hoot of joy as he turned around and went back to retrieve his prize.


    It was a marked contrast from the expression Leon wore a scant five minutes later, as Skyle deftly began to gut the fish and remove the scales with his knife.


    A blank expression of disgust mixed with bewilderment could be seen on the bigger boy¡¯s face as he stared at Skyle¡¯s quick, efficient motions. Having done this hundreds of times with both his father and grandpa Rock, both of whom enjoyed fishing to an extent that defied the limits of Skyle¡¯s imagination, he didn¡¯t even have to think about it as his hands already knew what to do.


    Still, when Skyle stood up a handful of breaths later and lifted all three fish he had cleaned up, Leon gave a start and coughed uncomfortably. Skyle stopped for a moment and glanced over his shoulder, as though daring the bigger boy to say anything.


    ¡°Nevermind,¡± Leon muttered gruffly. ¡°At least leave me the knife.¡±


    Skyle grinned inwardly as he flicked the knife over, but his face was expressionless as he walked away from a rather sorry looking Lord Draxas.


    ¡°Big lump of meat, it was the least he deserved after the little scene he caused by the water,¡± Skyle chuckled to himself as he drew near the small fire Leon had lit up earlier.


    Squatting by the fire, Skyle expertly used a few short branches to lay the fish to cook. A satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he contemplated the results of his work. The smell assaulting his nostrils was heavenly, and his mouth began to moisten as his clothes quickly started to dry.


    A while later, heavy steps approached slowly from behind Skyle¡¯s back. Leon sat down with a thud, then glancing at Skyle¡¯s setup, the bigger boy began to imitate it as best he could. Still, the fish in Leon¡¯s hands looked like they had been through a grinder, with many parts torn and missing, some partially cooked while others were bare to the bone. It was likely due in part to the violent explosion that had killed the fish, and partly due to the cook''s own woeful lack of experience.


    Still, Skyle didn¡¯t say a word as he began to hum contentedly, and largely ignored the other boy¡¯s tribulations while he gazed at his own beautiful little fish. The skin was beginning to turn into a delightful golden brown as fat steadily dripped down its surface.


    ¡°If only I had some salt with it,¡± Skyle pondered, then shook his head.


    Leon had put his own fish by the fire at this time, but the whole time he couldn¡¯t help but keep staring at the irresistible picture drawn by Skyle¡¯s beautiful fish slowly cooking by the fire. Glancing at the results of his own work, Leon sighed deeply and resolutely told himself that meat was meat, no matter how it looked.


    It was a good philosophy to have, especially since Leon¡¯s fish kept sliding off and tumbling into the ground. Every time, Leon would scramble forward to pick it up before it got dirty, but the damage would already have been done. In no time at all, Leon¡¯s fish were covered in dirt and grass, the delicious skin scrubbed clean off by Leon¡¯s obsessive cleaning.


    In the end, Skyle didn¡¯t truly have the heart to force Leon to eat the gruesome looking results, and instead wordlessly offered one of his fish to Leon, not meeting his eyes.


    Leon seemed a little startled by this, and for a moment his eyes showed hints of pride as his hand half rose to politely decline the offer. But then Leon turned to look at Skyle¡¯s side profile, and with a twist of his mouth, accepted the fish without a word.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Skyle didn¡¯t show any reaction to all of this, and immediately began to dig into his food with gusto, finally sating his voracious hunger. The fish, Skyle reflected, didn¡¯t even need the salt. It was definitely one of the most incredible dishes he had ever enjoyed. The flavor was fresh and almost refreshing, as though it was without any impurities of any kind. The steaming meat practically melted in his mouth as he gorged himself with great bites that had him blowing out hot air in order not to burn the insides of his own mouth.


    Leon apparently didn¡¯t share this problem, perhaps as an added benefit of his high fire element affinity. Just as he had never indicated any discomfort while handling the fish that had fallen from the fire, Leon didn¡¯t have any problems with the steaming hot mouthfuls he was tearing from his fish.


    Neither boy spoke a word while they quickly ate their respective fish. Skyle leaned back, feeling rather full after eating his fish. After all, each was a giant specimen a whole foot in length. Thus, he passed the last of his fish still roasting by the fire to Leon, who had already finished the fish he had been eating and had been pointedly not looking at the last of the crispy golden fish.


    Upon Skyle¡¯s offer, Leon once again hesitated for an instant, his face complex with emotions. However, in the end he accepted the fish with a thoughtful twist to his lips while Skyle set about packing away the salvageable parts of Leon''s fish, wrapping them in long leaves.


    How could Skyle know that this was the first time Leon had accepted another man¡¯s charity? True, it was given in the spirit of friendship, but to a boy who had as exalted a status as Leon, his most cherished possessions were his honor and his pride.


    Friends? How could the heir of the House of Draxas afford such extravagant luxuries? The most he could expect would be temporary allies, an uneasy compromise between equals in order to reach a common goal. For the most, however, the ruling class had to resign themselves to a life surrounded by a smothering crowd of sycophants and hypocrites.


    They were like a pack of needy dogs, barking and jostling each other in order to vie for the crumbs falling from Leon¡¯s table. These dogs, they were not just any dogs either. They were the heirs of their own houses, children of great men, scions of wealthy dynasties. Only such jewels would have the qualifications to become the footrest of born kings like Leon Draxas Di Adrausier.


    Yet, here he was, the future ruler of House Draxas, accepting fish from the hand of a lowly farmboy as though he were a beggar. It was truly a testament to the nobility of Leon¡¯s soul that he would not only deign to regard Skyle as a friend, but perhaps someday as an equal.


    Of course, Skyle could not begin to fathom the deep thoughts that swirled behind Leon¡¯s eyes as he continued to eat the fish in his hands. After all, he was just a simple farmboy, one who had been raised in a loving family with strong values and a deep belief in the inherent virtues of humanity and the world in general.


    To Skyle, sharing the fish without a word was both a gesture of warmth, and his own deep consideration in order not to needlessly embarrass his new friend. No words were needed because Skyle believed that Leon felt the same under all that refined bluster and would have acted accordingly, should the roles have been reversed.


    To Skyle, just the fact that Leon had crossed the rift to save him, a virtual stranger, proved this fact. Little did he know that to Leon, the act had been more of a duty, a matter of honor since his pride would not let him limp away while an innocent boy suffered for his own negligence.


    Still, it is small misunderstandings as these that form the underpinings of human relationships. These tentative first steps, no matter how misguided, lay open the door to the mysterious ways of the heart, in which one soul recognizes another and forms lasting bonds with it.


    This simple act of sharing small three fish, it was the true beginning of just such a friendship.


    This friendship would be one that would not only come to define the rest of their lives, but also change the fate of the world.


    ***


    After cleaning up the camp and hastily hiding the marks of their passage, Skyle once more climbed on top of the other boy¡¯s back, and they set off on a different course from the one they had followed thus far.


    Instead of following the river, they moved perpendicularly from it, and finally exited the hunting cats¡¯ territory, according to Skyle. How the smaller boy knew this, Leon did not know and did not ask, as he was still distracted by the startling insights he had received previously, not only on his own character but upon the values he¡¯d upheld thus far in his life.


    After all, although Leon had offered his hand in friendship to Skyle, to him it was still bound to be a starkly uneven relationship. After all, Leon was the heir of one most exalted Great Duchies, surrounded by legendary figures who still treated him with the utmost respect, and with his talent as an elemental summoner, he would be assured an exalted place in the annals of recorded history.


    How could a simple farmboy, no matter how clever and skillful, truly compare to him? Thus, it had been a gracious offer from a future sovereign to a worthy commoner, who perhaps could even become one of his followers, should his talent truly measure up to such heights.


    Leon was thus deeply conflicted as he noticed a few things with his perceptive mind.


    For one, Skyle almost certainly had a critical problem with his elemental cultivation. What truly convinced Leon of this was not Skyle¡¯s strange and stubborn refusal to use any elemental power. After all, he could be a very weak elemental warrior who only manipulated the power of the elements to supplement his archery, no more.


    No, what led Leon to the tragic conclusion that Skyle was unable to channel the elements was his startling, and rather inspiring lack of reliance on elemental power. Let alone elemental mages, even warriors would learn many tricks to use their elemental gifts to the best of their advantage. In truth, as an individual¡¯s time and energy was limited, cultivation of elemental power was a far wiser investment than menial skills.


    However, Skyle had shown a vast repertoire of skills that had simply boggled Leon¡¯s mind. In one short day, the small, unassuming boy had proven himself a skilled tracker, archer, hunter, fisher, and healer, among others.


    What individual in his right mind would invest so much effort into cultivating so many skills at such a young age, and neglect the most important of all, the power of the elements? Furthermore, the depth and width of Skyle¡¯s skills obviously proved two things: he had been meticulously trained by an incredible figure, and Skyle himself was incredibly talented.


    Skyle¡¯s archery was one such example. Leon had trained in the army long enough that he knew that only singularly dedicated men who devoted themselves to a rigorous training regimen could be called archers and be truly worthy of that name. It was one of the reasons why crossbows had become so popular, after all. A crossbow simply needed an eye to aim and a hand to pull the trigger, while a bow and arrow required years of arduous training and at least some measure of talent.


    As for Skyle, Leon had witnessed the small boy stare unflinching into the face of a monstrous troll, and far from wetting his pants and crying for his mother, the small boy had driven an arrow straight into the monster¡¯s eye. IT wasn''t just about bravery or luck, either. Skyle''s little show with the fish had displayed the ease with which Skyle could handle the bow and arrow. Such skills could only be earn through years of painstaking training and effort.


    The sheer amount of time, energy and talent required to reach so high a level of proficiency at so tender an age simply boggled Leon¡¯s mind.


    Thus, at seeing Skyle¡¯s strange unwillingness to wield the elements in any form that he could detect, Leon had concluded that his new friend must have some serious, if not absolutely crippling, issues with his elemental powers, and had thus far purposefully steered clear of the subject.


    The second matter that had greatly shocked Leon was directly linked to the first. Elemental power aside, the level of Skyle¡¯s skills, talent, intelligence and resourcefulness were simply incredible, bordering on the impossible. The small boy¡¯s thoughts and actions showed a depth of thinking and a calmness of mind that complimented his amazing focus when confronted with a goal or obstacle.


    Leon had long grown accustomed to being regarded as a peerless genius, not just by the general crowd, but by the foremost experts of the realm. However, next to this little friend of his, Leon constantly struggled with the feeling that he had met a fierce rival. More shocking still, at times he suspected that he was on losing side of this rivalry.


    Leon Draxas Di Adrausier, losing to a mere commoner, a herder boy of his own age.


    Preposterous, he would have scoffed. Yet, it was happening, and it both greatly excited Leon and left him deeply disturbed.


    In truth, such a conflict of mind could be said to be the cause for the ridiculous scene against the fish earlier in the day. After all, Leon more than anybody knew perfectly well that his stubborn refusal to give up, as well as the final tantrum that had finally ended the botched attempt at catching fish had been about far more than just catching fish. He also knew that such boorish behavior was truly not like him at all.


    However, what could not be denied was the fact that just one day with this quiet, humble boy from a little unknown farm in the middle of nowhere had caused Leon¡¯s own core values to be shaken to their foundation.


    In the end, after all the upheaval and inner struggles, as the dust slowly settled within Leon¡¯s mind, one small but firm new conviction arose from the chaos posed by all the questions with no answers.


    It had a name, this new belief.


    Respect.


    I truly respect this friend, regardless of his station, his background, or his age.


    For Leon, it was the first lesson this new friend would teach him.


    The first of many.

 Chapter 29 - Rescue

    Chapter 29 - Rescue


    As soon as he felt the hand land on his shoulder, Leon knew something was wrong. It wasn¡¯t the usual tap to get his attention, nor the light tug that would indicate a change in direction. Instead, it was a convulsive grip that spoke of alarm and caution.


    Leon immediately stopped and crouched down low behind a nearby tree, all the while his eyes scanned the area around them. He didn¡¯t urge his guide to speak, trusting that the other boy would fill him in when he was ready.


    Long seconds trickled by without a word, and it was only during this moment of abrupt stillness that Leon noticed the eerie silence that had fallen upon the forest. Where the sounds of small birds and insects had but a moment ago been heard all around them, it was now only a hollow, lonely wind that whispered sullenly in their ears.


    One hand reaching for one of the essence crystals Leon kept tucked just under his belt, his frown eased just slightly when his fingers touched its cool surface. The other hand was firmly gripping the hilt of the sword sheathed by his side.


    ¡°Put me down here and help me climb this tree,¡± Skyle finally broke the silence, though his voice sounded somewhat distant, as though his attention were fixed on another place.


    Leon quickly complied, letting go of his friend and then boosting him up with his hands. Skyle was agile and light enough that an effortless lifting motion from Leon was enough to send him leaping high towards the branches above. Brief shuffing noises could be heard from the leaves, then another small pause ensued, during which Leon began to quietly absorb the fire essence from the crystal in his hand.


    ¡°Hold up. Five enemies about the size of an adult wolf incoming from the west, chasing two smaller animals. Though their flight is taking them close to our position,¡± came the steady, composed words from among the leaves of the tree. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t draw close enough to detect us, not with this wind.¡±


    Leon briefly glanced around, seeing the direction the leaves of the trees around them were fluttering, and nodded to himself. He would need to keep track of such information in the future, just as Skyle seemed to be doing the whole time. He couldn¡¯t just blindly rely on his friend all the time, after all.


    ¡°At least it¡¯s not enemy soldiers. Still, we should set a contingency plan in case we need to fight,¡± Leon muttered, examining the surrounding area. ¡°We¡¯re currently at a slight dip in the terrain, and the trees make it harder for you to attack the enemies at maximum range. That small hill we passed a couple hundred meters back should give us an advantage in elevation, giving you a clear shot and forcing them uphill against our fortified positions.¡±


    ¡°Good plan, let¡¯s do that,¡± Skyle called out from overhead, and the branches rustled as the small boy began to climb down from his perch. ¡°We should have plenty of time to reposition ourselves. In any case, it is more than likely that the hunters will catch up to their prey before they get anywhere close to our posi-.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s voice suddenly cut off, and the movement of the leaves stopped as well. Leon frowned, glancing up as he wondered what his companion had spotted now.


    ¡°Leon, a hundred meters ahead, go now and cut them off!¡± Skyle¡¯s frantic voice suddenly called down, while the now familiar glint of a steel arrowhead flashed through the branches above. ¡°We engage, now!¡±


    For a moment, Leon stood there with a deep frown on his face. However, an instant later he firmly pushed down his bewilderment as Skyle continued to speak.


    ¡°I should be able to get a clear shot about a hundred meters further out, beyond that small tree line ahead,¡± came the slightly more composed words, though they carried an edge to them. Anxiety? Desperation? What kind of enemies were they facing for Skyle¡¯s calm to be shattered so abruptly and so completely?


    ¡°Aim for the second one in line to disrupt their rhythm,¡± Leon called out over his shoulder, rushing towards the selected treeline. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the first one.¡±


    There was no reply - not that one was needed, as Leon advanced with deadly intent, his elemental power gathering at his fingertips, only waiting for the moment of contact to explode forth. Meanwhile, he prepared a quick lesser shield by visualizing the complex spell prism within his mind. As his glowing fingers traced out the pattern in the air before him, Leon bit back an exasperated growl.


    Here he was, a fire summoner who had already summoned his own elemental guardian spirit, yet within this realm he had lost contact with it and therefore he was reduced to falling back upon the crude spell matrixes that he had learned back when he was still a mere toddler at the initiate level.


    As a summoner, his guardian spirit should by all rights instantly answer his call and follow the power of his will in channeling the power of the elements through the rituals that had been carefully established for just such a purpose. Instead, at the moment he had no other option but to manipulate the fire essence collected in his own body, gathered from the crystal in his hand. Using the spirit veins in his own body as the focus, Leon had to use the cumbersome hand gestures and mental discipline exercises in order to manipulate the fire essence within him.


    At least he wasn¡¯t forced to recite the embarrassing spell commands that elemental mages needed in order to summon forth their elemental power, but it was still an insult added to injury. It wasn¡¯t merely a matter of pride, either. Drawing directly from his own body and channeling with his spirit veins carried far greater risks than doing so through his guardian spirit.


    Still, even with the dangers involved there were countless individuals who practiced their entire lives attempting to reach such a realm, though most couldn¡¯t activate even the most simple of spell matrixes.


    This was the painful divide that mercilessly culled the mundane from the exalted: talent.


    As for Leon, even though it had been several years since he had last employed these crude methods, he didn¡¯t even break his stride as he deftly placed the final touches upon the intricate formation glowing in the air before him. With a final gesture, one last stroke fell into place within the complex spell prism hovering in front of Leon.


    A shimmering net of thin strands that glowed with the fiery red of his elemental power slowly spread out from his fingers to encompass a translucent semi-sphere that floated just in front of Leon as he kept moving forward.


    Leon¡¯s mouth twisted in distaste as he eyed the fiery barrier surrounding him. It was clearly smaller in size and duller in brilliance when compared to the complete sphere Leon had summoned when facing the troll.


    Heaving a sigh, Leon shook his head and drew his sword while his other hand deftly traced out another spell prism on top of the blade. His nimble fingers moved with incomparable deftness, as though he had practiced the difficult gestures with daily devotion. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as Leon hadn¡¯t used this particular spell prism in at least four years.


    Compared to the barrier spell, this one was much smaller, and when he completed the complex array of lights, he gestured with it toward the sword. Immediately, the glowing spell prism sank into the sword, and the edges of the blade began to smoke, glowing with a dazzling red glow that made the air waver around it in strange patterns.


    ¡°Come then, taste of the fury of Leon Draxas,¡± Leon whispered, his eyes flashing with a fierce scarlet light as his hand tightened upon the essence crystal once more. The crimson jewel began to shake minutely, and the sparks flashing within were dancing about in wild excitement.


    ***


    Skyle pursed his lips as he eyed his friend¡¯s methodical preparations, though this time it wasn¡¯t that he was mesmerized by the fascinating movements of elemental essence as they were expertly twisted, then woven into spectacular patterns in order to suit the caster¡¯s needs.


    No, Skyle¡¯s mind was instead full of remorse, as he knew that the ever pragmatic Leon might not necessarily approve of his sudden decision to intervene. After all, though Leon couldn¡¯t know it, the lifeforms running in the distance would likely have passed them by, had they retreated to the small hill Leon had indicated.


    Even if the hostile beasts had caught their scent, the advantage provided by the ground as well as the prior preparation they would have been able to lay down would surely have greatly added to their strength.


    Drawing back and fortifying their position would have clearly been the wiser, more practical move. Skyle knew this well. Still, as the silhouettes of two people madly scrambling away for their lives became increasingly more distinct in the brief glimpses he caught through the many trees, Skyle could only believe he had made the right call.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    From the brief glimpses he had caught from as far as 250 meters away, Skyle had seen hints of a lithe figure with long hair who was leading a much smaller person by the hand, likely a child. As Skyle focused his will to ignite the Infinite Eye, each frame was accurately captured in his mind¡¯s eye. They focused briefly upon the panic-striken face of a small boy with doe brown eyes and dark curly hair, and the grim line on the full, pale lips of a girl in her teens whose eyes had still not given up.


    Turning his regard behind the two figures, Skyle had to concentrate for a while before his eyes finally found the hunters. Before, while he was still on Leon¡¯s back, only by happy coincidence and his own constant vigilance had he been able to catch a brief glimpse of an indistinct blur of motion accompanied by a dull glimmer of light that flashed through a tiny gap in the distance.


    Now that they were within 400 meters, Skyle could finally make out their precise shapes, and he shuddered inwardly as his Infinite Eye focused on the deadly predators.


    Skyle had mistakenly thought they were wolfish in nature. After all, their body shape vaguely resembled that of a fully grown lion, only they were covered with dark scales like that of a reptile that shone dully as it reflected the sunlight. Cruel looking claws resembling that of a bird of prey nimbly found purchase on the uneven forest floor. Their massive heads resembled that of a giant lizard, and a forked tongue flicked from double rows of wickedly sharp teeth as they hissed in their eager pursuit of the prey before them.


    They were fast, these beasts. That had been the first thought Skyle had, instantly realizing the beasts would catch up to the fleeing humans before they could get anywhere close to Skyle¡¯s position. Still, Skyle had only hesitated for a split second before calling out to Leon.


    ¡°Leon, you have to help them!¡± Skyle shouted, while blindly reaching towards the quiver on his back.


    By then, words were unnecessary, as Leon had already reached the treeline 100 meters away from Skyle, where he could finally look beyond the thick screen of green. Upon spotting the fleeing figures, Leon instantly rushed forward, his sword trailing red sparks behind him while his other hand cradled a brilliant ball of fire.


    Now, as the humans drew to within two hundred meters, they finally spotted Leon running towards them, and a desperate sort of hope lit up their faces briefly. It was only too brief, however, and Skyle watched with his breath in his throat as the scaled beasts quickly continued to close the gap to within 100 meters from their prey.


    Skyle nodded grimly to himself, nocking an arrow to his bow and closing his eyes for a brief moment as he tempered his focus and firmly brought down the mad hammering of his heart. Even many adults would struggle to find any sort of calm in this kind of life and death situation, but Skyle fiercely clamped down on his mind and willed himself to concentrate.


    When he opened his eyes an instant later and looked to his first target, a cold voice in the back of his mind remarked upon the fact that the child and the girl were now about 150 feet away from him, and his eyes momentarily unfocused as they activated the True Sight.


    When the Infinite Eye and the True Sight once again melded together into a seamless whole, Skyle was once again able to enter that almost supernatural state of awareness of his surroundings. He could see the essence of wind stirring through the air before him. He could trace the faint hints of other elements swirling through the space between himself and his first target, the giant lizard pounding along right in second position.


    Skyle¡¯s breathing grew imperceptibly faint as his vision focus down on this particular beast, until it was brought to his mind¡¯s eye in shocking clarity. He could clearly see how each individual scale twisted and flexed as its body bent and rocked on its wild chase. Vicious fangs were yellowed with age and dripping with a dark, green liquid, though scraps of torn, pink flesh wedged in the small gaps in between were plainly visible in Skyle¡¯s incredible eyesight. Deeper down its mouth, Skyle finally saw the briefest hints of a pea-sized piece of torn cloth, stained a bloody red.


    Fury pulsed through Skyle¡¯s veins then, but they were almost instantly extinguished by a supreme effort of discipline. Instead, Skyle focused upon the full breadth of information granted by the Infinite Eye, such as the target¡¯s motion, its speed, direction, and even as far as intent. Then his focus was upon the trajectory, the wind and arc of the shot, and just like that it was finally done. It had hardly been a split second, yet Skyle confidently lifted Moonshadow, pulled back upon the bowstring and released in one fluid motion.


    The arrow streaked high into the sky in a blur of motion, but at the moment the arrow was released, Skyle frowned slightly. His point of release had been off just by a hair, but he knew that at this kind of range, well over a hundred meters, such minute errors would be disastrous. Still, Skyle did not dwell upon his error as his eyes were still intently focused upon his target, reaching behind his back for another arrow.


    A moment later, the arrow descended with a flash of steel as it struck the second of the beasts upon one of its hind legs. The impact made it stumble in mid-stride, almost knocking it down altogether, but the most shocking fact was that the arrow had barely been able to penetrate a few inches beyond the thick scaly hide. Most of the shaft was still suspended outside, and the beast howled in rage as it instantly resumed the chase after only momentarily faltering.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes widened a bit at that, but he kept his fingers steady as they nocked another arrow and let fly, although with more care and precision, especially upon the release.


    It paid off, as he somehow received the feeling that he had successfully let go of the string just as Moonshadow¡¯s arc had reached the perfect position. This time, Skyle didn¡¯t even bother following the arrow¡¯s trajectory, and instead moved his focus upon the next target, the third beast on the line.


    Moments later, the second arrow plunged down upon its target in a blur of motion, striking the animal as it soared upward in mid-leap. This time, the arrowhead penetrated past the smaller scales of the more vulnerable neck area and dug deeply into softer flesh. This had been Skyle¡¯s aim with the previous arrow, as with the hints obtained from his vision he had conjectured that the neck, like with many other animals, would be more vulnerable.


    This time, the impact of the blow violently jerked the scaly beast to one side, a huge spray of blood issuing from the other side of its neck. Its front claws immediately folded under its massive weight as soon as they landed on the ground, and it crashed into a messy tangle of limbs and blood, sliding a dozen feet and snapping several smaller trees on the way.


    When its crazy roll finally stopped, it did not move again.


    The fleeing figures risked a quick glance over their shoulders when they heard the thunderous crash behind them, but Leon immediately yelled at them and they dragged their eyes back, both shock and relief visible in their eyes as they drew to within 50 meters of Leon.


    However, upon the death of one of its companions, the leading beast¡¯s eyes became bloodshot, and it released with a thunderous roar as it gained an astonishing burst of speed, instantly closing to within 25 meters of the fleeing humans. It was almost as though one last leap would be enough to crush the life from its prey.


    It was at this moment that the small boy once again risked a fearful glance over his shoulder. Upon seeing the beast gaining upon him with such terrifying momentum, the boy¡¯s face drained of blood, and he gave a small cry as his feet became tangled under him. The boy fell headlong against the ground, and this motion jerked his hand away from the girl¡¯s grasp.


    The girl turned around with an alarmed cry, pulled off-balance as she tried to desperately tried to hang on to the little boy. Still, she was simply moving too fast, and this last attempt finally forced her exhausted legs beyond their limits. With a loud cry of despair, the girl collapsed in a heap and rolled painfully along the ground, her body refusing to listen to her commands.


    In an act of desperate strength, the girl lifted her face towards the fallen boy, only to see him crawling backwards on his hands as a huge figure pounced forward, soaring through the air and cast its shadow over the boy.


    ¡°Emil!¡± the girl cried sobbed, her trembling hand lifted towards the boy.


    ¡°Down, girl!¡± a deep voice growled, seemingly right next to her ear, and a big hand pushed her down toward the ground with irresistible strength.


    ***


    As Leena fell down, she caught the glimpse of a scarlet light as it streaked past her in an impossibly quick flash. In the next instant, a brilliant flare of light was followed by a deafening explosion that filled her ears with a high pitched ringing sound.


    Leena looked up to see the back of a tall, muscular man moving past her, in the fallen Emil¡¯s direction. It was the back of a man filled with a heroic aura, one that seemed ready to defy the whole world with its majestic presence. She could only stare in astonishment as the man moved further away, and revealed the sight beyond.


    The terrible beast that had been pouncing in the air toward Emil was now lying on the ground in a miserable heap, blasted a good ten paces away by the terrifying explosion. A large, smoking crater was constantly bubbling with blood and gore in the middle of its chest, and high pitched moans of pain were issuing continuously from its frothing lips.


    The man didn¡¯t even pause as it swiftly rushed up to the writhing figure of the downed beast. The beast tried to regain its feet, but could only stumble uselessly on the ground, obviously still dazed by the terrible might of the blast that had inflicted such a fierce wound to its chest.


    It lifted its reptilian maw in a last act of defiance, roaring through its bloody lips as it glared fiercely at the young warrior. However, the man didn¡¯t even seem rattled as he unceremoniously swung a sword in a swift horizontal arc in front of him.


    A trail of brilliant scarlet light trailed behind the man¡¯s blade in a ghostly outline, and the beast¡¯s growl was cut off by a hissing sound, like that of meat being scorched by a red hot iron. As the man¡¯s silhouette swiftly moved past the beast, Leena could see a dim line of glowing red running directly across the beast¡¯s neck. It smoked and hissed for a brief moment, then the giant lizard¡¯s body crumpled to the ground while its head rolled in the opposite direction.


    Leena¡¯s wide eyes stared after the man¡¯s back as he advanced towards the remaining beasts, which only seemed further agitated by the death of two of their number. Then she seemed to recall something, and immediately turned towards the small boy.


    ¡°Emil, are you alright?¡± Leena cried out, and she tried to move towards the boy but her legs stubbornly refused to obey.


    Emil¡¯s eyes were still fixed upon the decapitated corpse of the reptilian beast, as though it couldn¡¯t believe it was truly dead.


    ¡°Emil!¡± Leena called out once again, and this time she managed to crawl awkwardly in the boy¡¯s direction.


    ¡°It.. it¡¯s dead. Leena, it¡¯s dead!¡± Emil¡¯s soft sobs burst out, and tears of relief and joy streamed from his eyes.


    Leena finally reached Emil¡¯s side, and cradled his head to her chest, whispering fiercely, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s dead. Finally, it is dead.¡±


    Tears flowed from her own eyes, and sobs racked her chest as the two clung desperately to one another.

 Chapter 30 - Rescue (Part 2)

    Chapter 30 - Rescue (Part 2)


    Upon the demise of two of their kind, the giant lizards only grew more enraged, their eyes flickering with a red color as their tongues belched out small clouds of a sickly green mist. Powerful muscles rippled under their grey scales as they pounded the ground furiously in their mad rush to reach Leon and avenge their fallen.


    Still, the three beasts seemed to have opened quite a distance gap between themselves and the first beast Leon had slain. As they drew closer, he finally understood why. The shaft of several arrows could be seen protruding from the bodies of each beast, and Leon sent a mental nod of acknowledgement to his friend. However, he also had to wonder at just how tough these beasts were if several of Skyle¡¯s arrows had only managed to marginally slow down their advance. After all, Leon knew first hand how formidable Moonshadow''s power was.


    Still, Leon¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t show any hint of fear as he lifted his left hand above his head and squeezed it into a fist. Arcs of fiery red energy swiftly converged upon his hand until a small ball of roiling crimson fire hovered within his fist.


    The three lizards howled in fury as they advanced upon Leon, their movement so swift that they were barely blurs of grey as they closed the remaining twenty five meters to Leon. The foremost beast pounced towards Leon in a straight line while the two remaining lizards moved to either side to flank him.


    With a loud cry, Leon swung his fist down toward the beast rushing headlong in his direction,flinging a fire bolt at it. Even as he felt the release of power from his hand, however, Leon¡¯s eyes widened when he saw that the lizard he had targeted had firmly dug its claws into the soil the moment Leon moved to attack and pivoted away from the fire bolt¡¯s trajectory, twisting its body in an impossibly fast evasive maneuver.


    Leon watched in shock at the beast¡¯s incredible reflexes, instantly knowing that his fire blast would miss its target, but it was too late to change its course now. Fire blasts were concentrated vortexes of fire elemental energy that were primed to explode upon impact, releasing all the energy within in one devastating blow. However, because of the unstable nature of the fire vortex, once released its course could not be easily altered.


    The fire summoner could only watch as the fiery missile flew wide, missing the beast by a good couple meters. The beast¡¯s lips curled into a vicious snarl and in its eyes a cunning look surfaced from behind the mad bloodlust Leon had seen earlier.


    This shocked Leon even more than the previous maneuver. After all, at a mere glance it might have been nothing but a display of superb reflexes. That light in its eyes, however, was deeply unsettling and sent chills down his spine. Could these beasts be so smart as to bait their enemy into an attack, only to exploit his weakness and avoid the straight path of the fire blast after only seeing it once?


    Leon firmly pushed down his shock as he lifted his hand once more, and more currents of red energy arced up his arm, quickly gathering into another ball of fire. This time, however, the beasts didn¡¯t hesitate at all and instead pounced upon him from all three sides, holding nothing back.


    They must have realized that he needed to charge his fire bolts prior to releasing them. Just how cunning could these beasts be?


    As the beasts roared exultantly, lunging forward from 3 directions at once, Leon¡¯s lips curled into a vicious snarl of his own.


    ¡°Underestimate me at your own peril, foolish beasts,¡± Leon growled to himself, abruptly twisting his body and throwing down his uplifted hand towards his left, while his right hand gripped his sword in a white-knuckled grip.


    The fire essence gathered in his fist did not finish converging into a full fire blast. Instead, as Leon spread the fingers of his left hand, the translucent semi-sphere of the energy barrier he had cast earlier shifted positions to cover his left side, and quickly absorbed the extra essence channeled into it from the caster''s left hand.


    This further strengthening made the barrier glow briefly with a powerful red glow, dozens of strands of fire energy pulsing with power. Then Leon lifted a foot as though he were bracing it against the back of the barrier, and leapt in that direction.


    Initially, the beasts had shown their remarkable intelligence by timing their attacks so they would strike at Leon from three sides all at the same time. However, Leon disrupted the timing of the attacks by leaping to his left, effectively drawing a few paces closer to the beast launching itself from that side.


    As the beast opened its ferocious maw and lunged toward Leon, the energy barrier exploded violentlyas it released a thunderous boom and a blinding flash of crimson light. Elemental energy shields not only protected the caster from harm, absorbing most of the force of an attack, but they also reflected part of it back towards the attacker. This particular shield had been further strengthened by Leon with an added charge of fire essence, for even deadlier results.


    The lizard howled in agony as a few of its teeth immediately shattered from the physical impact alone, and the flesh of its mouth was shredded by the ensuing blast of elemental energy. Gouts of fire spread from the shield to envelop the terrified beast, and as it was violently propelled backward, its eyes were turned into smoking ruins by the excessive heat.


    As for Leon, he had expertly placed his foot upon the inner layer of the barrier. Upon impact, he used the force of the explosionto push himself off the barrier and propel his body towards the opposite direction.


    The startled lizard approaching from his rear tried to twist its head in mid air in order to snap at Leon, but could only nip at the edges of Leon¡¯s clothes before the youth slipped under the pouncing beast, so swift was his movement after the recoil from the energy shield.


    Leon¡¯s hands weren¡¯t idle during this maneuver. Instead, he had braced the red hot edge of his blade against his shoulder as he used his momentum to dive under the pouncing lizard. Leon felt the fetid breath of the lizard brush past his face, but then felt the feedback from his right hand as the glowing tip of his fire enhanced sword bit deeply into the underbelly of the beast passing above him.


    The jarring shock of resistance against the blade bumped its weight against his shoulder, but he had been prepared for the impact. After the initial shock, the sword flowed more smoothly in his hand, cleaving scales and flesh with a hissing sound of scorched meat and entrails.


    Then he was past the beast, and Leon instantly rolled forward upon landing, shifting the remaining power from his energy shield to his back. The move was perfectly timed, as he felt a slight feedback from the shield and heard a scratching sound, not unlike that of nails scraping across metal. Ignoring both, he collected himself from the ground and regained his feet, sword poised in front of him in a defensive stance as he turned around to face any further threats.


    The lizard he had just dived under landed well enough, but afterward it tottered on its claws unsteadily, letting out a weak mewling sound. Small droplets of blood dripped steadily from the middle of its belly, but they quickly grew in volume until they became thick streams of red. Finally, with a tearing sound like old sackcloth, the skin of its underbelly parted oped and spilled a steaming mass of entrails and blood onto the ground. The eviscerated beast gave out one last keening cry, before slowly tilting to one side and collapsing bonelessly onto the growing sea of red underneath its claws.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The final beast still on its feet seemed to regard Leon with narrowed eyes, seemingly hesitating as it crouched low upon its thickly muscled legs. Its eyes glanced towards the first of the trio, the one that had been repelled by the energy shield¡¯s impact and following blast, being knocked to the ground. That beast was no longer moving, as sometime during Leon¡¯s disemboweling strike and his evasive maneuver, three arrows had struck the beast, two in the throat and one in its eye.


    Thus, Leon was content to stand his ground, making no further moves and focusing on maintaining his defense while he waited for the inevitable.


    Alas, the last reptile was not nearly as wise, as it continued to crouch in a moment of indecision.


    Such undecisiveness cost it dearly, as a mere instant later a barely registrable blur flashed down from the sky, and an arrow materialized itself within the final lizard¡¯s left eye with a bone-jarring impact. A great gout of blood spurted from the terrible blow, and the beast¡¯s head was violently jerked down from the power of the shot as the shaft buried itself deeply into sensitive flesh.


    From the angle, however, it had failed to reach its brain and the beast howled in agony, twisting and squirming in agony as it wrenched at the arrow with one of its claws. Leon briefly glanced back over his shoulder, and shrugged helplessly, as though to say, ¡°must I really do all the work here?¡±


    The answer arrived in the shape of three more arrows, arriving one after the other in quick succession. The first one hit the creature¡¯s skull with a loud thudding sound, but somehow bounced off and clattered onto the ground. However, the impact seemed to shock the lizard for a moment, and that one opening was all it took for the second arrow to find its neck. That shaft penetrated deeply and produced another great fountain of blood.


    However, the killing shot was the final one, as it caught the lizard when it lay on the floor in a brief moment of stunned stillness. Skyle didn¡¯t miss the opportunity, and the last arrow found its mark in the beast¡¯s remaining eye. This time, the arrow seemed to find purchase on the brain, because the lizard gave one final twitch, then lay still while the final arrow continued to quiver briefly. Then the only motion was that of the fletchings on the arrow shifting in the breeze.


    Leon couldn¡¯t help but turn his head towards the tree Skyle had climbed earlier. It must be a least some hundred and thirty meters, and the little monster apparently hadn¡¯t missed a single shot. Not only that, but the speed at which he had released the arrows was simply astonishing. Just thinking of how terrifying such an archer would be if he imbued his arrows with elemental force, Leon shuddered. It was simply unfortunate Skyle seemed to have a problem with his elemental powers.


    ¡°Perhaps the gods were fair, after all¡±, he reflected. ¡°Abyss take me, but I¡¯ve paid dearly for my own powers.¡±


    Shaking his head, Leon turned his gaze to study the two people they had risked their lives to save. They still lay huddled in each other¡¯s embrace, small sobs of relief wracking the chest of the smaller boy while the older girl tried in vain to comfort him.


    ¡°Not that I¡¯d be feeling any differently, were I in his shoes,¡± Leon reflected, as he approached the strangers.


    The sound, or lack of it perhaps, seemed to finally urge the boy to stop his plaintive cries as he finally lifted his gaze. As for the girl, however, even with the tears brimming in her eyes, she had never once stopped watching the battle, even through its most gruesome parts.


    Now that the battle was over, Leon had time to study the girl more closely. Long locks of silver hair fell to the middle of her back and shone in spite of the dirt and grass that matted it, ignoble signs of her desperate flight. Her features were fine and delicate, but there was a strength of will in that brow and a determined line to her full lips that told Leon this girl was no stranger to hardship, and overcoming it, for that matter. Her most striking feature, however, were her eyes. Hidden underneath long, delicate lashes, they shone with a violet hue, like glittering jewels whose brilliance couldn¡¯t be smothered, not even under the panic that had gripped them just moments ago, nor the complete exhaustion that flooded them now.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the girl whispered, and though her voice trembled slightly at first, just a layer below it carried a steady note to it that was truly startling, given the circumstances. ¡°With the dracolings on our tail, I feared we were doomed.¡±


    Leon nodded gravely, ¡°Dracolings?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the scaled beasts you just slew,¡± the girl replied, sounding a little confused. Her eyes grew a bit wider as she finally took a moment to truly study her saviour.


    ¡°You, are you a rifter?¡± she murmured, looking Leon up and down with a wondering look, but then stopped herself with a start.


    ¡°Rifter?¡± Leon repeated, puzzled.


    The girl shook her head slowly, as though confirming her suspicions, but the boy in her bosom lifted his face to look at Leon in shock.


    ¡°You¡¯re a rifter?¡± the boy cried out.


    ¡°Hush, Emil,¡± the girl chided gently, covering his mouth.


    ¡°Rifter?¡± Leon muttered, furrowing his brow. ¡°No, wait. Before that, you need to tell me who you are and what you¡¯re doing here.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the girl replied, putting a hand to her chest. ¡°I¡¯m Leena and this is Emil. We¡¯re both from a small scav¡¯er clan in Dalorn. Our caravan was headed to New Seras when we were ambushed by raiders. Most of our clan members were.. Murdered.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes softened slightly at that, but he nodded for the girl to continue her tale.


    ¡°Emil¡¯s parents and the other adults tried to buy the children enough time to get away, but the raiders were just so fast, so brutal. They were almost upon us, so I had no choice but to take the children with me and flee into the red zone.¡±


    A haunted look came to Leena¡¯s face as her lips began to tremble, and she continued to speak in a low voice, ¡°The raiders gave up the chase, and we didn¡¯t understand but we were so relieved. But soon after the children began to disappear one by one. No sounds, no warning, they just vanished.¡±


    ¡°The dracolings had come and they, they began to target the children.. I couldn¡¯t..¡± Leena¡¯s shoulders shook as sobs began to rack her shoulders. ¡°I had no weapons, not even a knife. By the time I saw them, there were only three of us left. I could only take Emil and run, even while knowing it was for nothing.¡±


    Leon winced as he heard the tale, growling under his breath. Emil squeezed his eyes shut as more tears flowed down his cheeks, but surprisingly it was Leena who gathered herself first.


    ¡°I know I have no right to ask this of you,¡± she pleaded with earnest eyes. ¡°But I need to go back. If there¡¯s at least one survivor, if we can save at least one more..¡±


    Leena reached out with a trembling hand toward Leon, her tear-filled eyes shining with a tragic light.


    ¡°Please,¡± Leena pleaded, bowing her head. ¡°I will do anything to repay you.¡±


    Leon closed his eyes for a moment while he considered his options. It wasn¡¯t that he did not want to help. However, after facing these beasts he had come to realize just how dangerous and deadly they were. Their scales were very tough on the exterior, and their speed was shocking. However, the most unsettling quality about these beasts was their insidious cunning!


    Not only would they be exposing themselves to potentially deadly harm, but what chance of survival could defenseless children have against such terrifying beasts? Leon knew that it was almost a certainty that even should they safely arrive at the location, they would only find the gory remains of the beasts¡¯ gruesome feast.


    It would be a waste of time and resources, all for nothing but more heartache and trauma in the end.


    Leon was just about to open his mouth to state as much, when his eyes caught movement behind Leena¡¯s back. It was a figure hastily approaching from the distance, though it could be seen that he was still limping badly. Leon¡¯s eyebrows drew together as he recalled his partner¡¯s disposition, and a long, helpless sigh escaped his lips.


    ¡°Leena,¡± Leon said.


    ¡°Lord?¡±


    ¡°Burn all naive, foolhardy farmboys with a death wish, and toss in beautiful damsels in distress for good measure,¡± Leon sighed inwardly, but unbeknownst to him, his fingers had already been curling around the hilt of his sword for a long time, as though all they needed was an excuse.


    Now he had one.


    ¡°How many did you see, and where?¡±

 Chapter 31 - The Last Survivor

    Chapter 31 - The Last Survivor


    Much as Leon had predicted, Skyle immediately agreed to help and in fact seemed driven by a sense of urgency as they moved in the direction Leena had fled from.


    The boys did not even have time to dig out the crystals inside the dracolings¡¯ corpses, and Skyle only paused briefly to extract as many arrows as he could before nodding to Leon.


    Curiously, Leon felt rather awkward as Skyle climbed on his back under the surprised eyes of the two strangers they had agreed to help. However, Skyle didn¡¯t seem to think much of it, deftly climbing up before Leon could refuse, and then Leon could only wordlessly go along with it. After all, it was only logical since Skyle still couldn¡¯t move with any kind of speed due to his injuries.


    The farmboy sure could shoot, though.


    In regards to this, Leena seemed more surprised by how young Skyle was more than anything else. When she saw the bow in his hands, her eyes had widened while she looked around the forest, as though trying to find the true owner of this bow. After all, she had clearly witnessed the astounding prowess of the arrows fired by Moonshadow.


    Now that a lame twelve year old boy had limped out of the forest to claim the arrows back into the quiver at his back, the initial surprise slowly gave way to open admiration.


    Leon¡¯s brow tingled slightly at this, as his natural sense of vanity felt just a little threatened by Leena¡¯s reaction. After all, he had been well aware of the young girl¡¯s awe when she thanked him, and to a certain extent he had come to expect it. In truth, he had long become accustomed to a multitude of such admiring gazes everywhere he went. Not only that, but as a wealthy noble, he was no stranger to a woman¡¯s embrace, and he had already plucked quite a few select flowers from the countless girls blooming all around him.


    After all, he was the heir to the House of Draxas, and as such he was expected to produce as many offspring as possible, in hopes that a strong bearer of his bloodline would eventually emerge. As such, beautiful, eligible girls were thrown to him in droves, and if he impregnated any of them, then so much the better.


    All for the glory of House Draxas.


    Of course, being tacitly regarded as a breeding stud had left a bitter taste in his mouth. However, now that he had finally found a rival he could both respect and like, Leon found an unfamiliar feeling swelling deep within the most remote confines of his heart. It grew with every furtive glance the young girl threw in Skyle¡¯s way, even though most of the glances were thrown in Leon¡¯s own direction in the first place.


    This was Leon¡¯s first tentative brush with the strange emotion called envy.


    After all, in Leon¡¯s privileged life, when had the young lord ever wanted for anything, or had cause to look upon another with wishful eyes? After all, a mere offhand comment of displeasure was enough to send the patriarch of a wealthy merchant house to his knees in groveling supplication. What could possibly incite the jealousy of Leon Draxas, the heavenly talent who was always two or three steps ahead of even the brightest, most gifted of his peers?


    Now, as he swiftly wove his way through the trees while Skyle vigilantly scanned his surroundings, Leon struggled with this unfamiliar feeling rising from his heart, but thankfully he had more pressing matters in his mind at the moment.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    Leon instantly stopped, as did the two people following immediately behind him. Both Leena and Emil were panting harshly, their legs shaking from the exertion. However, Leena had refused to be left behind and had instead insisted on following them.


    Thus, Skyle had quietly passed her his knife and told her to be careful, and had missed the frown that had clouded Leon¡¯s brow at the gesture, since it had come and gone in a moment. Leon¡¯s face showed nothing of the distrust that he naturally felt towards any strangers, and could only suppress his frustration at how naively trusting his friend was.


    Even now, as they came to a stop and Skyle scanned the area ahead, Leon stood in a casual stance that nonetheless made certain that he did not have his back turned to Leena.


    Leena seemed oblivious to all this, as she bent forward with her hands on her knees, breathing raggedly. Long strands of silver hair fell in waves over her shoulders, revealing a few errant drops of sweat that trickled down the snowy skin on the back of her neck.


    Leon unconsciously licked his lips, his eyes hovering over the sight of the young girl¡¯s gleaming skin for a moment too long to be mistaken for mere wariness.


    ¡°Leon, two dracolings seem to be, ah, feeding up ahead,¡± Skyle¡¯s words slowly floated down, but it was enough to instantly capture Leon¡¯s full attention. ¡°We have no time, so I want you to do a long hop when I tell you. Ready?¡±


    Leon squinted as he looked in the directed Skyle had pointed, but could distinguish nothing beyond the endless trees that covered the horizon. Meanwhile, Skyle inched his way up Leon¡¯s back until he was positioned over the bigger boy¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Should I prepare a barrier?¡± he asked, lifting his hand.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got them,¡± Skyle coldly replied.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m ready,¡± Leon called out helplessly.


    ¡°Then go,¡± Skyle said, who had already prepared his bow and had nocked an arrow. ¡°Leena, you and Emil stay here. It should be safe. Come to us as soon as I call for you.¡±


    Leon began to trot forward as Leena nodded, her hand clutching Emil¡¯s as her eyes stared back and forth in confusion between Skyle and Leon. Just who was leading whom here? At first it had seemed that Leon should be the leader, with the evident aura of nobility and command that the bigger boy exuded. However, increasingly she had found that it was instead the smaller Skyle who made all the decisions.


    In the end, Leena gazed thoughtfully at Skyle''s back as Leon began to rush forward.


    Thankfully, the forest ground was flat and the ground was even. Thus, Leon found it easy to move with a smooth, even gait. He had an idea of what Skyle intended to do, and while he wasn¡¯t as certain that it would work, Leon had to admit that if it did, that would be far better than using his fire blasts. After all, the disturbance they typically produced due to the ensuing explosion, as well as the thunderous boom that followed, couldn¡¯t be compared to Skyle¡¯s arrows. Such a clamor might draw unwanted attention. That was even without taking into consideration the fact that Skyle¡¯s deadly arrows likely outranged his fire bolts by at least eighty meters, perhaps more.


    ¡°Hop!¡± Skyle called out softly.


    Leon had been eyeing the ground this whole time, and as soon as Skyle called out, Leon jumped forward in a long, smooth arc that was powered by the might of his element strengthened muscles. It brought both boys a full two meters off the ground, almost brushing against some of the lower hanging branches.


    Just as they reached the apex of their jump, at the precise moment when their upward motion had ceased but right before they began to move down, a deep thrumming sound rang out by Leon¡¯s ear and an arrow flashed away into the distance.


    Leon followed its trajectory for over a seventy meters until it vanished behind the screen of the thick undergrowth, but didn¡¯t hear anything after that and frowned slightly at the missed shot.


    ¡°Perhaps it couldn¡¯t be helped,¡± Leon thought to himself. It was an unreasonable shot to begin with.


    Leon had kept on moving forward, and was startled when he heard Skyle call out once again.


    ¡°Hop!¡±


    Leon hopped, trying to match his previous jump both in stride and height.


    Once again, at the exact apex of their jump, another thrumming sound rang out and his shoulder vibrated from the recoil transmitted from Skyle¡¯s own body as another arrow was launched.


    It vanished into the same brush, though this time it went about two meters wide from the spot where the first arrow had gone.


    ¡°He missed by that much?¡± Leon thought to himself, surprised.


    Skyle was already preparing another arrow, however, and Leon didn¡¯t have to wait for long before he heard the familiar words.


    ¡°Hop!¡±


    Leon dutifully did his part, and another arrow was unerringly launched at the proper moment.


    There was still no sound nor any reaction to any of Skyle¡¯s arrows at all. Still, Leon kept moving forward, though he couldn¡¯t help but throw continuous glances towards the brushes, expecting two angry dracolings to come charging forth at any moment now.


    Strangely, after his third shot Skyle seemed to relax a little, sagging in his position behind Leon¡¯s back. Leon kept expecting his friend to call out for a jump once again, but he never did.


    Scowling, Leon began to slow down as his fingers closed around the hilt of his sword. The brush now lay only about forty meters away, and he was familiar with the terrifying speed of the scaly beasts.


    ¡°Why are you slowing down?¡± Skyle asked calmly.


    ¡°What do you mean? Why aren¡¯t you shooting?¡± Leon retorted, then closed his mouth as he realized there could only be one good reason for Skyle to stop firing his arrows and then complain about Leon slowing down.


    ¡°You actually hit them?¡± Leon coughed, once more surprised by his friend¡¯s uncanny skill.


    Skyle didn¡¯t answer, and Leon scowled deeply as he grumbled to himself.


    ¡°You missed at least one of the shots,¡± Leon muttered in his mind. ¡°What are you so proud about?¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°Leena, Emil! It¡¯s alright, you can follow now,¡± Skyle called out behind their backs.


    Moments later, as Skyle crouched down and retrieved his arrows, there was only a stunned silence hanging in the air as three pairs of wide eyes stared at the corpses on the ground.


    Lying discarded by the shade of a great tree was a foot long bundle of flesh, torn and mangled beyond recognition. Blood was spread in a great circle all around it, and obvious markings left byteeth and claws could be seen upon its surface. However, this was not the source of the surprise in everyone¡¯s eyes.


    Instead, they were all staring at Skyle like they were looking at a demon made flesh, as the small boy slowly walked up to the corpse of a dracoling with a single arrow protruding from its eye, the shaft driven deeply down to over half its length. Then he stood up and moved to the next corpse, another dracoling who had its own arrow driven straight through its left eye, this time stopped only by its fletchings. Finally, with everyone¡¯s stunned gazes still upon him, Skyle calmly knelt before a third dracoling, placing his foot against its forehead and slowly wrenching a third arrow from the place where it lay buried, deep within its ruined eye socket.


    ¡°Bullseye three times in a row, while on the move on another person¡¯s back?¡± Leon shook his head in disbelief.


    Leena¡¯s eyes seemed full of her own questions as she gazed wordlessly at Skyle¡¯s back. Then her eyes seemed to drift, almost inevitably, towards the broken bundle of flesh lying to the side. Her face lost all color, and she immediately averted her gaze, moving away while pulling Emil along with her.


    ¡°Leon, we need to make haste. These beasts were just lying on the ground, toying with their food instead of devouring it,¡± Skyle muttered worriedly.


    ¡°It means they¡¯re not hungry anymore,¡± Leon sighed as he followed the other boy¡¯s line of reasoning. ¡°We¡¯re probably too late and there are no survivors, but you¡¯re right nonetheless.¡±


    Skyle nodded grimly.


    ***


    In the end, their words proved wrong. Only, how they wished they had been right instead. Still, it is always too late for regrets.


    After slaying five more beasts in two separate occasions, during which they found increasingly large pieces recently savaged from human bodies littering the ground, and in his growing desperation, Skyle increased the pace of the pursuit to a recklessly dangerous speed.


    Finally, a full hour later they arrived at a small gully where a small stream of water trickled by under their feet. The mud was painted crimson, as was the tiny trickle of water coming downstream. The walls of the gully were narrow enough that Leon could touch both walls if he stretched out his hand, though they did rise to about fifteen feet in height. These walls could very well serve as a refuge, but they could also just as easily become a deadly trap.


    It was the latter that they found as the party moved forward. As soon as they ran under the shadows of the gully, the blood-stained mud splashing under their feet, Emil gave a small cry of terror as he realized that the walls were not empty, and fell back toward the entrance.


    Under the merciless light of the sun, countless streaks of red were painted along the wall. They were handprints, complete with heart-breakingly small fingers tracks, as though telling the grim story of the brutal tragedy that had befallen in this place.


    Leena¡¯s eyes began to waver as her heart seemed to give out from within her, but at the last moment she seemed to draw from an admirable reserve of courage not often found in one so young. Thus armed, Leena gripped the small dagger that Skyle had given her fiercely in her bloodless hands as she followed Leon deeper into the gully.


    ¡°Bastards,¡± Leon growled, fury boiling over in his eyes.


    Skyle said nothing he climbed down.


    ¡°This is it,¡± he said in a sad, empty voice. ¡°This is where the tracks end. Where it all ends.¡±


    At this, Leena let out a choked sob, and she lay a hand against one of the bloody handprints on the wall next to her while tears rolled down her cheeks.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered, a pitiful, ragged sound that barely made it past the knot in her throat. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry..¡±


    Skyle shook his head, letting out a deep sigh as he lifted a hand in Leena¡¯s direction. His lips parted, and he seemed about to speak, when he felt a hand upon his shoulder.


    Turning his head, he saw Leon gazing meaningfully at him, then wordlessly shaking his head.


    Skyle¡¯s lips compressed into a bitter expression, but he lowered his hand back down to his side.


    It was only in this uncomfortable silence, punctuated only by the heart-wrenching sounds of Leena¡¯s sobs, that they finally heard it.


    ¡°H.. Help..¡± came a barely audible voice from within the shadows of the passage ahead.


    Instantly, their heads came up with, each face reflecting a wide range of emotions. Leon seemed shocked, yet instantly wary at the same time. Skyle¡¯s was one of surprise, and of a firm resolve as he immediately stepped forward. Leena¡¯s was one of hope, one that was so tenuous and fragile, yet so painfully bright that it would have burned the eyes of any who beheld it.


    ¡°B.. Bryan?¡± Leena called out, her voice still raw from the depths of her disconsolate grief.


    ¡°Lee.. Leena?¡± came the hesitant voice.


    ¡°Bryan, I¡¯m back! I brought help. Thank god you¡¯re alive! Leena cried out, instantly rushing forward in a rush of emotion.


    Abruptly, her motion was stopped and Leena frowned as she looked down. It was a small hand, one that shook uncontrollably as its fingers tightened over Leena¡¯s wrist.


    Following the hand to its owner, Leena frowned at Skyle.


    ¡°Let go of me.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t speak a word. In fact, he didn¡¯t even look at her. Instead, he simply bowed his head while his grip on her wrist only grew more firm.


    ¡°I said, let go of me,¡± Leena repeated plaintively, her gaze dismissing Skyle as it returned towards the shadows at the end of the gully.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Leena?¡± came the small voice once again from the depths of those shadows.


    ¡°Let go. Let go. Let go right now!¡± Leena cried out, her voice rising sharply as she wrenched desperately at her hand, though her eyes were still searching the shadows ahead.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Leena, pl.. please help me,¡± came the fragile voice, barely audible though it pierced into the heart of the listeners with painful clarity. ¡°I¡¯m.. I¡¯m scared.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m right here. I¡¯m here with you. It¡¯ll be alright, it¡¯s over now,¡± Leena called out in a voice that shook from the raw emotion infused into the simple words. It carried warmth, love, but most of all, it carried hope. Hope, not towards the child lying lost and lonely in the dark, but rather the hope of a young girl whose entire life at this moment revolved around the ability to save this single solitary life calling out her name.


    ¡°What are you doing? Why would you do this? Let me go right now!¡± Leena turned her head back to Skyle, screaming in anger and frustration.


    In her desperation, Leena began to dig her fingers into Skyle¡¯s hand, her nails carving nasty trails of red into the soft, yielding flesh.


    Still, Skyle said nothing. Instead, he slowly pulled back on Leena¡¯s hand with surprising strength, until his other arm lay firmly wrapped around her waist.


    ¡°Leena?¡±


    ¡°Let go! Let go you bastard! Let go right now!¡± Leena cried out, her voice finally disolving into fitful sobs. ¡°He needs me, don¡¯t you see that? I must help him. I must help him..¡±


    Finally, the last of her desperate strength exhausted, Leena collapsed in Skyle¡¯s arms as she continued to cry disconsolately.


    ¡°Please,¡± Leena finally whispered, her voice low yet imbued with a quiet calm that had not been present before. ¡°I must go to him. At the very least, I need to be with him. Do you understand?¡±


    Finally, Skyle lifted his eyes to gaze into Leena¡¯s purple orbs, glittering from under the slow and steady onslaught of an ocean of grief. There, a small light seemed to float over the turbulent waves, a firm resolve that dared to brave over the stormy waters.


    With a tired sigh, Skyle slowly relaxed his grip and opened his fingers, releasing Leena at last. Surprisingly, the girl didn¡¯t immediately react, and neither did she turn towards the voice she had so desperately sought just moments ago.


    Instead, her trembling eyes sought Skyle¡¯s gaze one final time, speaking volumes though not uttering a single word while her lips bled scarlet blood from where her teeth were biting down on it.


    Skyle slowly nodded to her, offering a look that spoke loudly of the deep emotion that had finally forced him to open his hand.


    This emotion, it was nothing as crass as mere pity, nor anything as cheap as simple sympathy.


    Instead, it was respect. The respect he held for her choice, for her courage, and for her love.


    From this look, and the emotion conveyed from it, Leena finally seemed to gather herself, and with a final breath, turned around to approach the shadows beyond.


    There, she found sweet, innocent Bryan, or what was left of him. Little Bryan, who would often ask her why water was wet, and if the sun was ever tired, or where the wind came from.


    As she knelt down in front of the small boy and saw the bloody stumps where his limbs now ended, and the snaking coils of the few intestines that had not been devoured through the ghastly gap in his abdomen, Leena¡¯s face showed none of the grief or terror beating wildly in her chest.


    ¡°Leena,¡± Bryan breathed out, his dazed eyes struggling to find her even though she knelt right in front of him.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Leena whispered, and was surprised at how calm her own words were. ¡°It¡¯s alright now, I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Leena, the bad things came and I couldn¡¯t run,¡± Bryan coughed weakly before continuing. ¡°You told me to run, but.. but I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry. So sorry..¡±


    The words came in a rush, though gradually growing fainter as though they were the last surge of some desperate reserve.


    ¡°Shhh, it¡¯s alright,¡± Leena smiled, and it was the most painful thing she had ever done in her life, but she did it nonetheless. ¡°You did well. Don¡¯t worry now, it¡¯s going to be alright.¡±


    ¡°Really? I¡¯m.. so cold.. Hurts..¡± Bryan¡¯s small, beady eyes began to grow dim, his breathing more ragged.


    ¡°Just sleep, and when you open your eyes, it will all be over,¡± Leena comforted, the smile on her face beginning to waver as her eyes continued to mist.


    ¡°Will.. will you.. ruffle.. hair?¡± Bryan breathed.


    A pale, bloodless hand slowly drew closer toward the little boy¡¯s head, trembling violently. However, when it finally landed upon Bryan¡¯s brow, the fingers smoothly brushed back the errant locks of hair.


    ¡°Hurts.. so much..¡±


    ¡°Bryan..¡±


    ¡°Hurts.. hurts.. Hurts..¡± the small boy began to sob.


    Leena¡¯s fingers began to shake once again, and the smile on her face finally began to crumble, giving way to dark, painful despair.


    ¡°Bryan, no..¡±


    ¡°Hurts!¡± Bryan cried out again, and suddenly his words seemed to draw strength to give voice to his agony. ¡°It hurts!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Bryan,¡± Leena suddenly burst out, sobbing disconsolately. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡±


    ¡°Leena, it hurts, I¡¯m scared!¡±


    It was then that a heavy hand landed on Leena¡¯s shoulder, slowly but firmly pulling her back.


    Leena¡¯s head turned around in surprise, only to find Leon drawing her away his time. He moved with a gentle grace that nonetheless was irresistible in its strength.


    ¡°What are you-¡± Leena began, but gasped as she caught the grim light in Leon¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°But he¡¯s just a boy!¡± Leena cried out.


    ¡°All the more reason why we should relieve his pain,¡± Leon said slowly but firmly.


    Leena¡¯s face crumpled as she turned her head to look at Bryan once again. The small boy was still crying out in agony, his brave little heart still beating in spite of the horrific injuries.


    Leon exchanged a wordless look with Skyle as he motioned towards Leena.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what is necessary,¡± Leon said softly.


    Skyle shook his head, then opened the flap on the pouch where he had his healing potions.


    Leon frowned deeply, and only said a single word, ¡°No.¡±


    Skyle looked up to meet Leon¡¯s gaze, and paused for a moment, regarding his friend. Then he nodded slowly.


    Leon let out another deep breath, and released Leena, who had now stopped struggling. Instead, a look of horrified understanding flashed in her eyes as she regarded the exchange between Skyle and Leon, following its ramifications.


    Leon moved forward then, knowing what must be done and also aware that he was the only one who could do the deed.


    Abruptly, a hand stopped his advance by gently pushing against his chest. Looking up, Leon saw Skyle¡¯s sad, grieving eyes looking at Bryan.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Skyle whispered, not even turning to look at Leon.


    Leon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure? I can do it if-¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Skyle repeated, this time more firmly, then moved towards Bryan before Leon could say another word.


    In the end, it was the stark, lonely silhouette of this small boy that was left all alone within that gully as another innocent life breathed its last.

 Chapter 32 - A Dish Best Served Cold

    Chapter 32 -A Dish Best Served Cold


    ¡°You used one of the potions on him, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t show any reaction that he¡¯d heard at all, but that was all the confirmation Leon needed.


    ¡°You realize this is some sort of red zone, and even murderous raiders will balk at the idea of charging into these woods,¡± Leon continued in the same calm tone, as though he were merely commenting on the weather. ¡°One extra dose of those healing potions might mean the difference between life and death later on.¡±


    There was only more of the same silence.


    ¡°He was beyond any sort of help we could have given,¡± Leon said, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure they were not being overheard. Leena and Emil were a couple dozen steps back, struggling to keep up and too preoccupied by their own dark thoughts to try to eavesdrop. ¡°You chose to lower our own chances of survival in order to prolong the suffering of someone who would have only become a liability, even if he had survived.¡±


    At last, Leon could detect some reaction as he felt Skyle tensing up on his back. Apparently, the other boy was not as calm and collected as he tried to pretend to be.


    ¡°Good¡±, he thought. ¡°That¡¯s the opening I need.¡±


    ¡°Even now, we are saddled with two extra burdens who will consume resources and slow down our progress. They can¡¯t contribute anything to our immediate survival, and from what I¡¯ve gathered, even the girl can only provide some marginally useful information that we could obtain in less than ten minutes of interrogation.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s fingers were beginning to tighten upon Leon¡¯s shoulder, but the boy stubbornly refused to say anything.


    ¡°Still nothing? Huh, well be my guest,¡± Leon snorted mentally.


    ¡°Now, if you want to bed her, then that¡¯s fine by me but I think we should get it over and done with as soon as possible. Then, we can be rid of all the useless baggage and be on our way. Just like you did back in that gully, when you took care of that bit of deadweight.¡±


    ¡°He was not deadweight,¡± Skyle said coldly, finally speaking out.


    Leon was surprised at how calm he sounded. He had expected an outburst, a fit of anger, or some other sort of release.


    This cool, almost detached attitude took him slightly aback.


    ¡°Whatever you call him in order to soothe your wounded sensibilities is none of my business, but dead-¡±


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to do, Leon,¡± Skyle said in a low, even tone. There was neither heat nor much of any emotion in that voice. Instead, it just sounded weary beyond all caring. ¡°You don¡¯t need to help me vent, and if I¡¯ve made you worry with my silence, I appreciate your concern but I simply need some time to process all this. Alone.¡±


    This time, it was Leon¡¯s turn to be speechless, as he almost stumbled while moving forward.


    ¡°Oh, and I did use one of the potions on him,¡± Skyle added quietly. ¡°It was the numbing agent, to ease his pain. We could spare a dab of that, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Leon opened his mouth, then closed it without uttering a sound. Instead, he grunted as a vague reply. His expression made him seem disgruntled, and just a little surprised. However, inside Leon¡¯s mind was racing as he recalled the first time he himself had to take an innocent life.


    Even as calloused and battle-hardened as he had thought himself to be, the experience had nearly unmade him. The pillars of cold logic and utmost self-assurance that he had regarded as unassailable, as beyond reach of such contemptible emotions such as remorse or compassion, they had crumbled like a house of cards, blown away by the winds of fate.


    He had walked it off in the beginning, and the other officers had thought he was fine. In truth, however, his mind had been on the verge of collapse, and it had all come down in flaming ruins a few days later, in a spectacularly brutal incident which had only been salvaged by the weight of his lineage and the loyalty of his men.


    As for Skyle, it didn¡¯t sound to Leon as though his friend were simply faking it, pretending to be coping while his inner conscience savaged his reason. Instead, the smaller boy had sounded as though he truly were dealing with it, coming to terms with the harrowing experience by his own means.


    This was a concept that was simply too frightening to Leon. How could a boy with such strong conviction and power of will be so willing to compromise his own ideals and sacrifice the values he had upheld all his life?


    Leon didn¡¯t think he had misread the boy. But if he hadn¡¯t, then that meant Skyle should have been the last person to be willing to deal the killing blow to that small child, no matter how much of a gesture of mercy it might have been. Furthermore, he should have been tormented by his own actions, conflicted and lost.


    Instead, Skyle seemed to be truly coping, dealing with the tragic events in a somber, composed manner. That might be the best way to deal with such a blow, yes. However, human emotions seldom played along so nicely, and Leon began to feel even more impressed by Skyle¡¯s mental fortitude and maturity than by any of his miraculous archery skills.


    ¡°We¡¯re nearly there,¡± came Skyle¡¯s weary voice, interrupting Leon¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the dracolings here, you go fifty feet in that direction. You¡¯ll find two more carcasses there.¡±


    Leon nodded wordlessly, setting Skyle down and turning around in the direction his friend had pointed to. As worn and tired as they were from the whole ordeal, they needed to harvest the essence crystals. Already, one of the crystals behind Leon¡¯s belt had begun to show hairline fractures, and the glow within had begun to dim considerably. It was to be expected, perhaps, with all the power Leon had been drawing from it.


    As Skyle turned around to ask for the knife he had lent to Leena, however, the young girl wordlessly walked past him, then knelt next to the carcass of the nearest dracoling. Before either Leon or Skyle could even say anything, Leena had already plunged the knife deeply into the beast¡¯s chest, leaning down on the handle in order to open a wider cut.


    After widening the tear to just about six inches, Leena withdrew the knife and boldly inserted her hand into the wound. Her face was one of quiet concentration as she groped about blindly, the distended skin on the underside of the dracoling shifting and stretching with the movements of her arm.


    In a matter of seconds, Leena calmly withdrew her hand and used the grass underneath to wipe the essence crystal in her hand before offering it to Skyle.


    Skyle stared at her for a moment before shaking his head and gesturing toward Leon, who had the same dumbfounded expression on his face. Still, after a while Leon shook his head and stepped forward, taking the crystal from the young girl¡¯s blood-covered hand.


    Leena just nodded as though nothing unusual were happening, turning around and approaching the carcass again while both boys exchanged a long look behind her back.


    ¡°It will take me a lot longer to harvest its glands and claws with this knife. Can I borrow your hatchet?¡± came Leena¡¯s voice after a moment.


    Both boys immediately turned their gaze back toward Leena, who was now in the process of gathering the dracoling¡¯s limbs together. Satisfied, she turned around and stretched out her hand.


    ¡°Ah, the claws?¡± Leon asked dubiously.


    Leena nodded. ¡°They fetch a good price at the exchange. Their poison glands are also very valuable if you know what you are doing and you avoid rupturing them. If we¡¯re taking the risk to backtrack to all the beasts, I will harvest the most valuable parts for you.¡±


    It¡¯s the least I can do.¡± Leena glanced down toward her blood-stained hand, then glanced furtively toward little Emil. A slight tremor ran through her as she spoke without meeting Skyle or Leon¡¯s eyes. ¡°I wil.. I am willing to do anything for you.¡±


    Left unspoken was the plea that followed behind: Don¡¯t abandon us.


    Leon¡¯s eyes were unreadable as he gazed at Leena, taking a deep breath as he began to reassess his opinion of this girl upward yet again. Though she tried to hide it, Leon could see that she wasn¡¯t used to this kind of work, yet she had likely either overheard or intuitively known about Leon¡¯s words.


    Perhaps it was neither, and this world was simply this brutal. The rules of survival dictated that you must make yourself useful or become a liability. Clearly, Leena was not ready to be crossed off that easily, though whether it was for her own sake or for Emil¡¯s, Leon did not know, and frankly he didn¡¯t care.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    What mattered was that this was one determined girl, and Leon could respect that.


    Skyle, in the other hand, coughed uncomfortably and opened his mouth to speak, but Leon immediately threw his hand up, pre-empting his friend and stepping forward to offer his hatchet, handle-first, to Leena.


    If Leena truly had what it takes to survive no matter the cost, then Leon would not be some hypocrite and take it away from her. There was no room for sheltering anyone here, not anymore.


    Skyle glanced at Leon and let out a silent sigh, but then nodded towards Leena. ¡°Any help you¡¯re able to provide is appreciated, but don¡¯t overtax yourself. If you can show us how to do it, we can all help.¡±


    Leon shrugged noncommittally, but Skyle seemed to take that as tacit agreement.


    After that, the process went smoothly enough, and by the time four more hours had passed, they ended up back where they had first started. They used the long fibers from a plant to tie all the claws together, and even though her complexion was already pale and she was sweating profusely, Leena refused to let anyone else take it. Instead, she bore the grisly trophies across her shoulders.


    The essence crystals went to Leon, all twenty two of them. They glittered with a murky green light, and though their sizes were almost half as small as the ones they had recovered from the other beasts earlier, they would still be worth a fortune in Aeria.


    The poison glands went to Skyle, as he was deemed the one less likely to need sudden, unexpected movements. After dumping the water from one of the former medicine bottles, the 33 small poison glands still needed delicate handling. According to Leena, the poison was particularly deadly, leading to swift paralysis and eventually dead. This alone would have all but guaranteed that Bryan would have an agonizing death. These sold for an even higher price at the exchange, and this fact somehow surprised neither Skyle nor Leon.


    After all the harvesting was done, Leena identified the direction of the red zone¡¯s border as being west, so Skyle led the small party in that direction, constantly scanning the surroundings.


    Perhaps the small pack of dracolings had already established this particular stretch of forest as their territory, or maybe they were simply lucky. Either way, they did not meet any other enemies as they steadily made their way towards the border of the red zone.


    By the time the sun began to set, Skyle had already found a small hill, the summit of which was dominated by a massive tree. Gingerly, they were able to climb up to its branches. From the high vantage point, Skyle could see the end of the forest that marked this red zone. Instead of making for the apparent safety of the nearby yellow zone, however, Skyle and Leon had decided to make their camp here for the night. Settling everyone along the thick branches, Skyle began to shared the food he had packed away earlier.


    According to Leena, the dracoling¡¯s flesh was poisonous, and thus Skyle passed the leaf-wrapped fish Leon had caught earlier in the day. Leena and Emil dug into the fish with voracious appetite, though the girl blushed slightly when she realized Skyle and Leon were staring at her.


    ¡°These must be silverheads,¡± Leena said apologetically, slowing down and surreptitiously wiping at the corners of her mouth. ¡°No one I know has been able see one, let alone taste it. They are incredibly rare and very costly since can only be found within the red zone, where few hunters are daring enough to enter. Even less make it back out alive.¡±


    Skyle nodded his understanding, chewing his own fish with renewed appreciation.


    ¡°Now that we have a moment, can you tell us about this place? What is the red zone?¡± Leon asked.


    Leena nodded. ¡°The areas around Storm Mountain are classified with colors according to their danger level. Green areas are the ones that are relatively safe, and where almost all human settlements are. Yellow zones are where most hunters, seekers and scav¡¯ers make their living. As for red zones..¡±


    Leena swallowed loudly, and her eyes took on a slightly haunted look, but she quickly shook it off.


    ¡°As you¡¯ve seen, red zones are strictly off limits due to how deadly they are. Only the most daring hunters and seekers will enter a red zone, and even then they know they are simply gambling with their lives. Scav¡¯ers won¡¯t even think about entering. They wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    ¡°What do those three groups do, specifically?¡± Leon asked.


    ¡°Hunters, like their name indicates, seek out magical beasts and slay them for their power gems and other useful parts. Theirs is a dangerous life, but so long as they don¡¯t take on anything too dangerous, they can earn a great deal in return. The deadliest, most powerful warriors are almost always hunters, unless they are raiders, despicable bastards who hunt down their own kind.¡±


    The last of this was full of venom as Leena¡¯s gaze grew distant for a moment.


    ¡°Seekers?¡± Leon prompted.


    Leena shook her head, returning to the discussion. ¡°Seekers are the eyes of the people. They are fast on their feet and even faster with their heads. They are the ones who wander into the wilds seeking answers and return with enough information to keep updating the borders of the different zones.¡±


    ¡°They sound like a noble bunch who risk their lives in order to obtain precious information.¡±


    Leena¡¯s mouth twisted in a bitter smile. ¡°They would be, if they did it for such noble causes. Instead, they are glorified information peddlers. Nothing they tell you is free, and there is always a price to pay when you deal with an explorer.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a fair deal to me,¡± Leon shrugged.


    Skyle raised an eyebrow, but didn¡¯t bother replying. Instead, he turned back to Leena.


    ¡°You said you¡¯re from a scav¡¯er clan?¡± he asked gently.


    ¡°Yes, scav¡¯ers will buy information from seekers and enter relatively safe yellow zones in order to retrieve anything of use or value. Then we take it to the different exchanges and sell it to the highest bidder. We also accompany hunters in their expeditions in order to help them harvest the useful parts from their kills, as well as helping with their equipment and supplies.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like a very glamorous job,¡± Leon noted.


    Skyle frowned, but Leena didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    ¡°It is better than killing or manipulating others for a living,¡± she said in a neutral tone.


    ¡°You called us rifters before,¡± Skyle pointed out, quickly changing the topic.


    ¡°There are a few rifts spread out in different yellow zones, but I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s many more in the red zones. I myself have seen a couple, and we all know about the people who arrive through those rifts. We call them rifters. They wear strange clothes and bear expensive weapons, making them a target for unscrupulous individuals. It doesn¡¯t help that they are stricken by a strange disease of the mind that makes them hysterical and prone to hallucinations until they undergo a baptism by the blood.¡±


    Skyle and Leon look at each other in shock, recalling their own experiences.


    ¡°Are there a lot of rifters?¡± Leon asked.


    Leena shook her head helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m from a small clan, we don¡¯t really travel far. In Dalorn, our home, I¡¯ve only heard rumors and stories. Maybe if you go to New Seras, you¡¯d find more information.¡±


    ¡°How far is New Seras or Dalorn from here, and how big are they?¡± Skyle asked.


    ¡°New Seras is the trading hub of the area, with many of the strongest clans alliances keeping it safe and well defended. It¡¯s only about a day¡¯s travel from where we were originally attacked, close a yellow zone,¡± Leena answered. ¡°Dalorn is a small outpost two days away in the opposite direction, with a few clans sharing the wells there to eke out a living from the nearby ruins.¡±


    ¡°Do you know the way to New Seras?¡± Leon asked.


    Leena nodded and began to speak, but Skyle suddenly cut her off.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re just from a small scav¡¯er clan?¡± he asked slowly, though his eyes were staring into the night beyond.


    ¡°Ah, yes. We¡¯re one of the smaller clans to have settled near Dalorn. We only venture into the neighboring yellow zone twice a month, and by sending a monthly caravan to New Seras to sell our salvaged materials, we barely manage to earn enough supplies to survive,¡± Leena answered with a confused look on her face.


    ¡°Is it normal for raiders to waylay caravans only a day from New Seras, then?¡± Skyle pushed.


    ¡°No, which is why we were not prepared. We¡¯ve never had to deal with raiders, not this close to New Seras,¡± Leena mumbled, her hands grabbing at the tattered hem of her skirt.


    ¡°I will ask you one more time, and I need you to think carefully before you decide how to answer. Do you really not know why your caravan was targeted by the raiders?¡± Skyle asked, finally turning to look at Leena fully in the eyes.


    Leena seemed surprised, and instinctively drew back a little from Skyle¡¯s gaze. Still, she took a deep breath and met his gaze as she answered in a firm voice, ¡°No, I truly do not know anything.¡±


    ¡°The treasure,¡± Emil suddenly mumbled off to one side.


    Everyone turned to look at him, and the little boy shrank back toward Leena¡¯s side with fear in his eyes.


    ¡°Leena, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he called out with a trembling voice.


    ¡°Emil,¡± Leena said soothingly. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°What treasure? What is this all about?¡± Leon growled, though he looked to Skyle for answers.


    Skyle shrugged, turning his gaze back toward the darkness that blanketed the horizon beyond the great tree¡¯s branches.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to ask all the men standing out there in the dark,¡± Skyle whispered, his gaze narrowing as though he studying a puzzle. ¡°They¡¯re armed to their teeth, and preparing themselves for a fight.¡±


    Leena began to soothe Emil as the little boy began to cry softly, but the loudest sounds of all were those of Leon cursing bitterly as he stepped up next to Skyle.


    ¡°You ever, ever have some good news to share, for a change?¡± Leon muttered, his expression contorted as though he¡¯d swallowed a turd.


    ¡°At least they haven¡¯t seen us yet, and don¡¯t look likely to rush in quite yet¡± Skyle smirked. ¡°There¡¯s your good news.¡±


    ¡°Quite yet?¡±


    ¡°They seem to be waiting for something or someone,¡± Skyle said non-committally. ¡°We probably have until tomorrow morning, perhaps noon at latest.¡±


    ¡°You really, really need to work on your definition of good news,¡± Leon sighed mournfully.


    ¡°It¡¯s a work in progress,¡± Skyle replied with a shrug.


    ¡°Seems to be degenerating, rather than getting better from my end of things,¡± Leon complained under his breath.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a sourpuss. Look at it from the bright side: you get to play the faithful steed once again before the end of the day!¡± Skyle comforted.


    ¡°Oh joy,¡± Leon muttered, his fingers closing around one of the newly acquired essence crystals. ¡°Now let¡¯s go kill us some murdering scum.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s,¡± Skyle replied, all levity instantly gone from his face, as his own hand instinctively landed on Moonshadow¡¯s sleek outline.


    ¡°Tonight, we will make it rain blood,¡± Skyle muttered, and all the fierce rage Leon had been expecting earlier in the day seemed to be condensed into this simple vow of premeditated murder.


    It would be paid out in pure, cold and unadulterated fury.


    They do say revenge is a dish better served cold, after all.

 Chapter 33 - The Gentle Art of Persuasion

    Chapter 33 - The Art of Persuasion


    Skyle hugged Moonshadow to his chest as he struggled with all the recent changes in his life. Only a day ago, he would have never even thought of murdering another human being. Certainly not for anything as foolish and petty as revenge. He had been taught better than that by a rowdy, if well-intentioned father, and a kind, loving mother.


    Even as a younger boy, Skyle had always been conscious of the way little Kass and Reik would gaze at him when they thought he wasn¡¯t looking. Thus, he had always tried to act in a way befitting of an exemplary role model, doing his best to bring together the best qualities he saw in his own role models, his parents.


    Little did he know then, that only a day later he would find himself a cold-blooded murderer, currently stalking forward along the shadows of the forest in order to harvest a few more lives.


    Inside his head, this all made sense. Those men were obviously preparing to enter the forest after the fugitives they had missed. Once they did, they would have to worry about this dangerous band of murderers and thieves stepping on their shadow everywhere they went. Far better to deal with them now, before they received whatever backup it was they were awaiting.


    It would have been easy to deceive himself in such a way. In the end, however, Skyle knew what it was all about. He could still feel the slight resistance in his fingers as the knife pierced into the little boy¡¯s heart and could still vividly remember, as though his latest victim were still right here in front of him, the surprise and pain that filled those eyes as they slowly grew cold and devoid of life.


    Skyle had knelt there, looking into that gaze and refusing to look away, because he felt that was the least he could do for the little boy. He had fancied that he could feel the spasm of the heart as it fought bravely one last time, before it finally stopped altogether and all was still and quiet except for the hollow scream ringing inside his own head.


    It had taken a while before Skyle registered the fact that it was his own, because the little boy was now dead and Skyle had been the one to do the deed. In so doing, a part of Skyle had also died, back there in that obscure little gully.


    Moonshadow¡¯s limbs shook faintly as his hand twitched violently for a moment, but Skyle closed his eyes and took a deep breath, summoning the lessons from his father. This was about survival. This was about proving that love and hope and dreams could make a difference. It was up to him to do it, to defend this glowing belief that his mother had upheld for as long as he had known her.


    It was this thought that gave Skyle the strength of will and the determination to keep going and follow through with his current course of action.


    ¡°Mother will forgive, and it will all be alright,¡± Skyle told himself inside his own mind, refusing to let lesser considerations such as logic or reason to so much as brush against this thought, this ideal. ¡°I just need to go home.¡±


    Before that, however, he would bring swift retribution to the true murderers. This, he understood very clearly indeed. The hand upon the knife might have been Skyle¡¯s, but the ones who had killed both the innocent boy and that little piece of Skyle had been these men, and by the gods he would see that they paid for it.


    Thus finished with the necessary justifications for the vile actions he was about to commit, a fleeting thought of how the act of murder became increasingly about numbers rather than faces came to Skyle. After all, he could still see the old man and the little boy¡¯s face. Even that first soldier Skyle had killed when he had first been dragged through the rift, his every feature was indelibly engraved in his mind. However, these six men he was about to kill, though with his Infinite Eye he could distinctly make out their every feature, even down to each of the individual hairs in their beards, Skyle found that he couldn¡¯t recall their features at all.


    They were simple faces filled with numbers upon them.


    After climbing up to the highest branch on one particular tree that had a commanding point of view of the field, Skyle calmly set out the arrows in front of him, upon the branch, as well as the special gift he had prepared for these dead men walking.


    Preparing the arrows didn¡¯t take long at all, and after that it was simply a waiting game. Skyle was a veteran hunter, and as such patience was a virtue that he had honed into an art. Six adult men who earned their living through reaping others¡¯ lives could be very dangerous, even more so if any of them happened to be a mage.


    Having traveled with Leon the fire summoner, Skyle had grown familiar enough with the young elementalist¡¯s aura and its contrast with regular auras that he felt confident that he should be able to identify individuals strongly gifted with elemental powers. However, Skyle¡¯s True Sight did not extend as far as to be able to scan the men¡¯s aura, and so both boys had decided to take a methodical approach about this business of killing.


    Time slowly passed as Skyle sat upon his branch, his eyes fixed upon the six men who stood in a semicircle about 120 meters from him with an unearthly calm, as though he were simply waiting for the clouds to clear or rain to fall. Only, he was waiting for the men below to show a single opening that would mean their deaths.


    He didn¡¯t have to wait for long, as the men seemed to finish their discussion, and four of the men headed towards bedrolls lying near their feet, while two moved a dozen paces away to either side and sat on the ground, their eyes vigilant.


    Because of the tall grass covering the area near the tree line, and without a fire or torch to light the way, it would have been nearly impossible to spot the men now. However, thanks to Skyle¡¯s Infinite Eye, it was as though they were sitting right under the tree upon which the deadly archer lay in wait.


    Slowly and patiently, Skyle counted the time between the rising and falling of each of the four men¡¯s chests. After all the fighting and the chase, these men must have been exhausted, as their breaths quickly evened out into the long, drawn out movements that indicated sleep.


    It was only then that Skyle raised Moonshadow and sighted one of the sentries, whose face seemed to glow with a huge number 2 in his vision. With a thoughtful twist of his lips though, Skyle deliberately raised the tip of the arrow upward, far more than the shot would have otherwise warranted, and his eyes narrowed as he focused. Streams of wind and elemental essence swirled in his vision, and he let himself be borne away into the trajectory the shot would take when it arced high into the sky.


    Satisfied, Skyle took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled as he tried to focus all of his attention upon the right angle and point of release.


    Now!


    With a thrumming sound, the arrow shot away into the darkness, its trajectory taking it far higher in the air than Skyle would usually prefer. However, Skyle resisted the temptation to follow the arrow¡¯s flight, and instead his eyes found the other sentry, whose face had a big imaginary number 1 blinking upon it.


    The man was squatting upon the ground directly across from the other sentry, his eyes vigilant as he nibbled on a piece of bread. In the middle ground between the sentries, the four men slept in their bedrolls, though they still wore their armor and all their weapons were within easy reach.


    All this information flashed past Skyle¡¯s brain in the blink of an eye, as his fingers deftly picked up one of the arrows carefully arranged in front of him. This time the shot was executed immediately, the arrow flying away in a much flatter arc.


    By now Skyle¡¯s hands were a blur as they reached for the next arrow, his eyes already fixed upon his next target. It was a thickly muscled man, the most formidable looking one among all the men who were lying down. His face had a bright number 3 to Skyle¡¯s eye, because he had decided he would pose the greatest threat, and thus should be neutralized first after the sentries were dealt with.


    Skyle¡¯s third arrow was nocked and drawn back in Moonshadow, ready to soar into the sky, when down at the enemy camp an arrow finally struck its target. Surprisingly, it was not the first arrow Skyle had launched. Instead, it was the second arrow which tore into the chest of the man whose face had the imaginary 1 drawn upon it.


    The impact of the arrow was such that he was thrown off his feet, flying backward while the arrowhead exploded out on the other side of his chest. Only a shocked wheeze managed to squeeze itself through the constricted throat of the man, the rest of his breath punched out by the terrible blow.


    The other sentry turned around with a puzzled look on his face, but before his eyes could even focus upon the figure of his dying comrade flying backward through the air, another arrow plunged down from the sky straight into the top of his head, instantly drilling through his skull with a loud cracking sound and a small spray of blood.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The man¡¯s hands twitched for a moment before his eyes rolled up to the back of his head and he slowly tottered to one side, falling to the ground with a muffled thud.


    The flat arc of the shot had caused the second arrow to reach its target just a split second before the first, and the sentries didn¡¯t even have the opportunity to raise the alarm.


    Still, whether because these men were veterans, or because they were simply too close to the border to the red zone, the other four men began to stir. In fact, one of the men instantly popped his eyes open as his hand instinctively reached for his sword.


    It was the massively muscled man, and all his well-honed instincts served him for nothing, as no sooner had he opened his eyes, they then flew wide open in shock and pain. The hand that had been reaching toward the sword lying by his side instead grasped convulsively toward the thick arrowshaft now protruding from his stomach.


    The man¡¯s mouth opened wide as though to scream, but only a gurgling sound emerged from the man¡¯s throat, and his eyes showed deep unwillingness as a large mouthful of blood was coughed out. The cruel arrow had effectively nailed his torso to the ground, and it was an agonizing task to grasp the shaft and try to draw it out so that he could move. Even so, the man took hold of the arrow and began to jerk on it, apparently trying to snap the shaft, all the while screaming at the top of his lungs.


    ¡°Attack! Agh, we¡¯re under atta-!¡± The last of it ended in a wet gurgle as more blood was spat out.


    The remaining three men finally began to stir, but by the time they thought to sit up and take stock of the commotion in their camp, another man had been shot in the chest, right through the heart. The man, who had been in the process of sitting up, was flung back to the ground with a painful wrench. There, he only managed to lift his head off the ground for one last time to stare in complete disbelief at the arrow sticking out of his chest, before he slumped to the ground, dead.


    The last two men did manage to get to their feet, upon which they surprisingly did not panic, and instead they sought cover under the tallest grasses they could find nearby. All the while, they were calling out several names in succession, but the only answer came from the agonized roars of the man who was still pinned to the ground by that cruel arrow. His wet hands kept sliding off the blood-slickened arrow shaft, but he furiously kept tugging at the arrow, howling louder and louder with each desperate pull.


    Skyle¡¯s lips twisted in cold scorn as he scanned the tall grass. Though he could not use the True Sight to scan for their auras from this distance, with the Infinite Eye he could perceive even the smallest vibrations in each blade of grass, and could follow the movement patterns down to their roots, where his prey had sought refuge in vain.


    Of course, the men had no way of knowing this, and in truth, even if they had known, there was no other refuge to be found anywhere in the vicinity. Perhaps the men had been far too overconfident in picking their resting spot, but from their lack of panic and swift reactions, Skyle thought these men were decently trained. Thus, he feared another possibility.


    ¡°Maybe their reinforcements are very close by, or they have others who are guarding the perimeter of the red zone with them,¡± Skyle thought to himself.


    Narrowing his eyes, Skyle raised Moonshadow once again.


    ¡°First, finish the job - then we¡¯ll see.¡±


    ***


    Leon had begun to sprint forward the moment he heard the roar of pain from the enemy camp. With his enhanced strength and speed, closing the hundred or so meters separating him from the camp was a matter of seconds. He burst through the tall grass surrounding the camp with one hand cradling a deadly fireball, the other holding aloft a sword with a red hot edge. A translucent semi-sphere of red energy swirled in front of Leon as his eyes swiftly searched the area for threats, but this time he was to be disappointed.


    Instead, Leon felt an uncomfortable tingle in the back of his spine as his eyes took in the scene of the carnage laid out before him.


    Near the center of the camp there were three men lying still, obviously dead. The arrows that had caused their demise attested to the fact, boring deep into their flesh. Off to the side, he could see another set of feet which lay unmoving, the rest of the body hidden by a tall clump of grass.


    However, Leon¡¯s attention was focused upon the two survivors.


    The first was a man crawling pitifully along the ground, with two arrows cruelly sticking out of each of the man¡¯s legs. As soon as he saw Leon, the man drew his sword and raised it in a rather contemptible attempt to defend himself.


    Leon just shook his head scornfully at that, and for a moment he was tempted to fling the fire bolt roiling in his hand, just to see the look on the idiot¡¯s face.


    As for the other survivor, this one was far more impressive. The man was built like a bull, with a thick beard and many scars across his face. The beard was now painted thick with blood, and more blood periodically spurted from a hideous wound in his stomach. Still, even wounded as he was, the man crouched low in a veteran¡¯s combat stance, a huge sword gripped tightly in his right hand, while the other picked up one of the corpses from the ground and held it up at his side like a shield. Even though the dead man¡¯s body must have weighed at least a hundred seventy pounds, the warrior didn¡¯t even look strained by the maneuver.


    Still, the man made no move to attack, and instead stood his ground, glaring at Leon without saying a word. Meanwhile, the other man crawling on the ground slowly moved away from Leon, towards the warrior.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one chance. One of you dies right here, right now. The other will tell me everything you know about your purpose here, and I will not kill him,¡± Leon said, raising his right hand and displaying the burning mass of fire churning within his grasp. His voice was dead even, showing his complete lack of interest in which man would remain alive and which would burn to death, leaving no room for negotiations or pleas.


    A full second passed while both men stood rooted in place, their faces rigid as their brains processed the ultimatum. Then they both reacted at the same time, but the taller man had a decisive advantage, being already on his feet and with a weapon drawn.


    The man lying on the ground with the arrows in his legs began to back away from his one-time ally, his features twisting into a harsh expression of fear and despair as he slowly lifted a sword in a feeble, useless gesture. ¡°Captain, please! I have a wife and-¡±


    The rest of it was cut off as the tough warrior flung the corpse in his hand at the other man, hard. Powerful arms bulged with the effort, and the improvised projectile struck its target with a sickening crash of broken bones and torn ligaments. The smaller man¡¯s sword went flying to skitter across the ground, but his scream of pain ended in a wet gurgle. The tough warrior had immediately followed the throw with a vicious chop that crushed the victim¡¯s windpipe and took a fist-sized chunk of flesh off for good measure.


    Wet choking sounds echoed in the night air as the man desperately gasped his last few breaths, each with an accompanying spurt of blood. Then it was all silent once more as the warrior turned back towards Leon with a hot glare.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been eyeing the caravans passing this stretch and thought to disguise our attack as a demon beast overflow from the nearby red zo-¡±


    Leon¡¯s face didn¡¯t show any reaction as he lazily flicked his hand in the direction of the former captain.


    The man¡¯s face, in the other hand, immediately contorted into a mask of shock as he grit his teeth and flung up the shield in his hand, bracing himself for the blow he was too late to avoid.


    The firebolt struck the man¡¯s outstretched shield, exploding violently upon impact and almost instantly turning the fragile shield into a useless heap of slag. Shockwaves rippled outward as a tide of heat spread in a circle from the point of impact, along with the flaming remains of the man¡¯s arm, which had been literally blown apart into several fist-sized chunks by the violent explosion.


    The man¡¯s body was thrown into the air, spinning like a ragdoll before landing with a sickening crunch. He still tumbled crazily along the ground a few more times, leaving a trail of broken skin and copious blood behind until he finally came to a stop over a dozen feet away from his initial spot.


    A faint hissing noise could be heard intersped with an intermittent crackling noise as small lumps of flesh lay scattered along the ground, the flame consuming them brightening occasionally as they found and devoured a particularly thick pocket of subcutaneous fat.


    Leon wrinkled his nose in distaste at the not unpleasant aroma of roasting meat, and his expression finally showed a small change as his brow furrowed in an expression of annoyance.


    Still, Leon had the presence of mind to wait for a few more breaths of time. This was expressly so that the man whose arm Leon had just disintegrated into flaming chunks of cooking flesh could shake himself out of the state of semi-shock as his mind urgently attempted to catch up with the overwhelming amount of pain data that was being transmitted from every screaming nerve in his body.


    ¡°That was for lying to me,¡± Leon remarked calmly, as though admitting that he couldn¡¯t really blame the man for trying, and in fact almost felt sympathy for how things had turned out. Almost. ¡°First and last warning.¡±


    The pain and shock slowly began to bleed out of the man¡¯s eyes, and as some semblance of sanity returned to them, he gaped at the ruined stump that had once been an arm. When he lifted his eyes toward Leon, they were filled with hatred, with just a little fear mixed in as well.


    Too little fear.


    Leon¡¯s eyebrow hitched up minutely, and he casually extended his hand in the man¡¯s direction, palm facing up. Then slowly, very slowly, he curled his fingers into a fist, whereupon a small tongue of flame began to lick eagerly from the small gaps in between each digit.


    Under the horrified stare of the man, that small tongue of flame was soon joined by another wisp of fire, until one by one they became a jet of fire that rose a whole foot over his extended fist. When he finally loosened his fingers, cradled on top of his palm lay a small sphere of incandescent light.


    All the while, Leon did not take his predatory eyes from the man¡¯s terror-striken gaze.


    There. Now, that was just the right amount of fear right there.


    It was just enough fear there that what came out of the man¡¯s mouth next might be at least partially true, yet not quite enough to melt his brain into a useless, quivering pile of mush.


    He had seen that happen, after all. Quite literally so.


    ¡°Now that we understand one another, start speaking.¡±


    ¡°Nothing like a little gentle persuasion, after all,¡± Leon sighed in his mind, feeling justly satisfied at a job well done.


    ¡°And most importantly, I didn¡¯t even need to waste a single arrow.¡±


    Briefly glancing back over his shoulder, Leon unconsciously straightened his back a bit.


    ¡°Meh, peasants.¡±


    It was this same infuriatingly smug little smile that utterly confounded Skyle as the small boy finally limped his way into the clearing.

 Chapter 34 - Interrogation

    Chapter 34 - Interrogation


    Skyle¡¯s expression was one of forced indifference as his eyes took in the corpses littering the ground. There was a cold fury that burned inside his gaze, but it smoldered quietly, smothered by the presence of another emotion that was stronger still: disgust.


    It was hard to tell just how much of it was directed at the dead bodies, at the man with the burned off stump sitting up from the ground, or at Skyle himself. After all, there was a natural resistance towards the act of brutally taking another man¡¯s life that was still difficult to circumvent, no matter how much rage and justification his mind held.


    After all, the heart seldom listens to the mind¡¯s logic arguments. Instead, often emotions which were outside an individual¡¯s conscious control would bleed their insidious way into their thinking.


    Still, even with the anger and disgust contending with one another within his eyes, Skyle didn¡¯t miss Leon¡¯s smug smirk as the bigger boy glanced at the newly arrived Skyle.


    Although the look annoyed him, Skyle chose to keep his peace and simply nodded his acknowledgement to Leon before standing off to one side. In turn, Leon turned his regard toward the man on the ground, who had barely spared Skyle a glance before returning his anxious gaze to the ball of fire swirling in the summoner¡¯s hand.


    ¡°We were only following orders to intercept a specific caravan, retrieve a certain item, and eliminate all witnesses,¡± the man reluctantly began, sounding as though each word had to be forced past the constriction in his throat.


    Just as well, as Leon quickly interrupted him.


    ¡°There¡¯s obviously still an unfortunate misunderstanding here. Out of the kindness of my heart, I will clarify an obvious misassumption you seem to be operating under,¡± Leon sighed, sounding rather vexed and without a hint of any kindness whatsoever. ¡°If liquefying your flesh and burning your bones to ashes takes me less time than listening to some vague, generic information anyone with half a brain could deduce, I will save myself the trouble and just light up one more funeral pyre just like that.¡±


    Leon snapped his fingers, and the ball of fire suddenly flared up with a tongue of flame that rose a couple feet into the air. Although the words were spoken in a casual, indifferent tone, it was perhaps this blithe indifference combined with the brutal threat that made it all that much more effective.


    ¡°In fact, the less questions I need to speak, the higher your chances of keeping your other limbs intact,¡± Leon noted indifferently. ¡°Now, stop wasting my time.¡±


    The man seemed to struggle visibly for a moment longer, but there was defeat in his voice when he finally began to speak once more.


    ¡°I¡¯m the captain of a team of hunters contracted to the Seras clan. Ten days ago, we received orders from headquarters to intercept a caravan from the Greenwood clan in Dalorn. Upon arrival, we discovered nine other hunter teams already laying in wait, all with the same orders. Retrieve a specific package, eliminate all witnesses and make it look like a raid gone bad. A day ago, we finally discovered the caravan, but the package was nowhere to be found. We.. convinced one of the survivors to confess that the package had been given to a girl for safekeeping. The girl was not among the bodies, and one of our teams returned with word of a group of kids who had escaped into the red zone. Four teams entered the red zone shortly after while the rest of the teams established a perimeter.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits as he spoke softly, ¡°What was the package?¡±


    The man shook his head. ¡°It was a map, along with an unmarked medallion the size of a palm. We were not told anything else about the items.¡±


    Leon and Skyle quickly exchanged glances, recalling the treasure Emil had mentioned. According to this man¡¯s words, Leena should be the girl all the hunters were looking for.


    ¡°Where does the map lead?¡± Skyle demanded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t..¡± the man¡¯s answer abruptly cut off as he glanced at Leon. After swallowing loudly, the man continued in a low voice. ¡°Ah, I wasn¡¯t given that information. I only heard a couple other captains talking about Ashkandoren. That¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Ashkandoren?¡±


    The man shook his head. ¡°The Lost Ruins. Countless hunters and seekers have lost their lives searching the red zones for the supposed treasure of Ashkandoren, but no one¡¯s ever come even close. It remains nothing but a rumor, but every year more fools will rush to their deaths to chase after it.¡±


    Skyle frowned in thought as he pondered that they truly couldn¡¯t afford to get mixed up in some idiotic treasure hunt. ¡°What about the medal?¡±


    The man shook his head. ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything about that, other than the fact that it is smooth to the touch and impossible to scratch. It must be important, because they scrambled a 10 teams to retrieve just two items.¡±


    Left unspoken was the fact that a whole caravan full of innocent people had been slaughtered for the items. Clearly, clan Seras valued them highly.


    Skyle and Leone exchanged a quick glance, recalling one of the items taken from Fierro¡¯s chest. It was the metallic disk that they hadn¡¯t been able to figure out. The description given by the man seemed to match perfectly. Was it just a coincidence?


    ¡°How many men per team?¡± Leon asked.


    ¡°Six to eight, like my team,¡± the man replied.


    ¡°How were you supposed to contact the other teams?¡± Leon pressed.


    ¡°Using that,¡± the man answered gruffly, pointing to a small whistle hanging from a thick leather cord hanging around the neck of one of the corpses on the ground. ¡°It will emit a distinctive sound that will carry for a long distance, only we weren¡¯t able to even sound the alert.¡±


    The man glanced towards the arrows jutting out of his fallen comrades¡¯ corpses helplessly.


    ¡°How did they know about this package from the Greenwood clan?¡± Skyle spoke up.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The man shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re just paid receive orders and follow them.¡±


    Skyle frowned. ¡°Who is the man in charge of the contracted hunter teams in the Seras clan then?¡±


    ¡°That..¡± The man¡¯s eyes flickered back and forth from Skyle¡¯s face to the flame still dancing in Leon¡¯s hand. In the end, he shuddered as he closed his eyes. ¡°His name is Grimwald, the huntmaster for the clan. Look, I told you all I know, you must keep your word.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes flashed with a dangerous light. ¡°Are you doubting my word?¡±


    ¡°N-no, I just, I really don¡¯t know anything else,¡± the man raised his hands helplessly.


    ¡°How long until you check in?¡± Leon twisted his mouth in distaste.


    ¡°At dawn and dusk of every day.¡±


    After a few more questions, the interrogation finally drew to a close.


    ¡°Very well, we¡¯re done here. Now, strip.¡± Leon directed.


    ¡°Huh?¡± the man stared stupidly at Leon.


    ¡°Strip and place all your belongings on the ground,¡± Leon repeated emotionlessly, but his fingers began to trace small circles around the surface of the fireball he held in his grasp in a mildly threatening gesture.


    While the man slowly began to remove his equipment and clothes, Skyle laid a hand upon Leon¡¯s shoulder, drawing him back a few steps.


    ¡°You can¡¯t kill him,¡± Skyle whispered, his eyes serene though the words were barely audible.


    Leon¡¯s left eye twitched. ¡°Like hell I can¡¯t! Just watch me, I¡¯ll roast the swine in his own juices.¡±


    Skyle shook his head. ¡°You gave him your word.¡±


    ¡°A noble¡¯s word is only given to equals, not to animals like him,¡± Leon sneered.


    ¡°Your word is your word, period. Whom you give it to does not change its value. Only you can do that,¡± Skyle countered.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? You just killed all his men without batting an eye, and now you¡¯re complaining about one more?¡± Leon growled.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about the act of killing, it is about the integrity of the man I would call my friend,¡± Skyle calmly replied.


    A silence ensued during which only the sounds of the man throwing his gear and clothes on the ground could be heard.


    ¡°It¡¯s too much of a risk to leave him alive. It makes no sense to let him contact the other hunter teams and have them come after us,¡± Leon finally shook his head.


    ¡°I smeared dracoling poison from one of the glands onto each arrow. He should begin to feel it soon enough. According to what Leena told us about the poison, an adult will die within a day unless immediately treated.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a needless risk,¡± Leon muttered. ¡°Your squeamish conscience is going to get us killed.¡±


    ¡°You should have thought of that before giving that scum your word,¡± Skyle shrugged.


    ¡°You mean the one you¡¯re trying so desperately to save? And how else was I going to get him to talk? Tear off his fingernails and burn his fingers off one at a time? You want to play torturer now? Be my guest.¡±


    Skyle pointedly didn¡¯t glance at one of the man¡¯s limbs, which ended a charred stump. Instead, he held Leon¡¯s gaze without a word.


    In the end, it was Leon who walked away with a disgusted growl.


    Approaching the man who now stood completely naked, Leon ordered him to turn around. No sooner had the man complied, Leon stepped up behind the map and delivered a vicious blow with the flat of his sword to the man¡¯s head.


    The man slumped to the ground with hardly a grunt, out cold. Leon spat disgustedly to one side, and began to search through the man¡¯s possessions. Skyle didn¡¯t say a word as he did the same with the rest of the corpses in the small camp, while at the same time retrieving the arrows he could salvage.


    The men were bearing packs that each contained basic food rations and water skins. The food rations consisted of dried meat jerky and hard biscuits. They each also had a purse filled with small stacks of identical square notes with an intricate red seal on them. Bold letters stamped across the top read, ¡°Seras Seal of Exchange - Guarantee for 1 ration¡±. A few of the notes said 10 rations instead, with a slightly more complicated seal.


    What was far more fascinating were the weapons the men had been using. Only one sword and three knives were made of crude iron. The other blades were made of a grey material similar to bone that had been sharpened to bear an edge. Although it was much lighter than steel, it felt too light to land a hard blow and too brittle for sustained combat. Small cracks and chips could be seen along the length of the blade, proving Skyle¡¯s suspicions.


    The captain¡¯s belongings were a little more interesting. He wore a sword made of iron and a dagger made of steel, though both looked to have been worn down by hard use and age. Still, they were polished and well taken care of, showing that the man had valued the weapons greatly even though the craftsmanship didn¡¯t seem anything exceptional.


    Skyle recalled that Leena had mentioned rifters bearing excellent weapons. He now reflected that perhaps it wasn¡¯t that the people arriving through the rifts had any exceptional weapons. Instead, examining the quality of the materials used for weapons here, or lack thereof, Skyle concluded that there must be a chronic lack of basic essential metals such as bronze, iron or steel.


    The captain¡¯s purse held a couple notes of 100 rations in his stack, along with lower denominations. He also had four essence crystals of various sizes wrapped carefully in cloth, though the largest was only the size of a large pea. Finally, there was a medal with a design similar to the one in the seals found upon the notes. Upon closer study, the design seemed to resemble an elongated S.


    Skyle speculated that this might be the symbol of the Seras clan. It seemed logical to conclude that the Seras clan dominated New Seras, though they would have to confirm it. If so, then why would the foremost power in New Seras target a small, insignificant clan like the Greenwood clan? What kind of treasure were they after? How had they found out about it?


    Skyle glanced towards the unconscious captain lying on the ground, and shook his head ruefully. When the man had been interrogated by Leon, Skyle had been reading the subtle changes in the man¡¯s aura with the True Sight. To his delight, Skyle had been able to see consistent patterns whenever the man struggled between telling the truth or not, and Skyle had been able to confirm that the man seemed to be honest when he said he had told all he knew.


    In truth, Skyle could have used the threat of the poison to effectively obtain answers from the man without having to resort to torture or lies. After all, the man should have been feeling the initial symptoms of the poison, and an experienced hunter would know that without immediate treatment he would be doomed. Time would have been in Skyle¡¯s side, not the man¡¯s.


    Examining the blood still spreading out under the man from the deep wound to his stomach, Skyle wondered idly whether he would live. In truth, though his aversion toward taking another person¡¯s life was still there, buried deep inside his heart, his logical mind only had to recall the brutal images of little Bryan¡¯s final moments to feel little to no compunction at striking back against these cruel men.


    After all, how many helpless men, women and children from the Greenwood clan had they slaughtered? It was also unlikely to be their first job. How many other clueless caravans had they raided before, perhaps in this very same route? How many more would they continue to victimize in the future?


    As he looked down at the unconscious figure of the man at his feet, Skyle realized that the more he thought about these facts, the more comfortable he grew with the idea of this man dying. After all, hours later when the man finally awoke, he would be weak with bloodloss and the poison would have spread to every corner of his body. By that time, even if he received help it would likely be too late.


    If the man would die by Skyle¡¯s hand anyway, then why let him sully his friend¡¯s honor and good name? Even if Leon himself did not care, Skyle found that he did. His father had always taught him to be a man who stood by his family, his friends and his word.


    Doing two out of those three for the price of one more death added to his tally, Skyle found that he did not mind this bargain at all.


    Thus, they slowly made their way back to the red zone, and the tree where the girl and the treasure awaited.

 Chapter 35 - Ashukan DAhren

    Chapter 35 - Ashukan D¡¯Ahren


    ¡°Now, what is this treasure all about?¡± Leon asked in a deceptively casual voice, but Skyle could see the embers of fury bellowing in his friend¡¯s chest.


    In truth, Skyle couldn¡¯t blame Leon¡¯s suspicions. After all, he himself had been somewhat worried that Leena and Emil might take advantage of this opportunity to make their escape. If the treasure was anywhere near as precious as the Seras Clan seemed to think, who knew what the determined, strong-willed girl would be willing to do to protect it?


    Upon returning to the tree, however, they had found an anxious looking Leena cradling Emil¡¯s head on her lap as she breathed a sigh of relief after spotting the returning boys¡¯ figures. In Skyle¡¯s True Sight, the dark red overtones of worry and trepidation had steadily decreased upon seeing the boys¡¯ return. This predisposed Skyle favorably to the girl, as she was obviously genuinely glad to see them back safely.


    Leon, however, seemed to have a deeply suspicious character by nature, and had pointed the edge of his interrogation towards the surprised Leena as soon as they had finished climbing to the top of the tree.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about a treasure,¡± Leena stammered, shaking her head in confusion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you lie to me, girl,¡± Leon growled, his eyes hardening.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you found, but I¡¯m telling the truth,¡± Leena said in soft, even tones. ¡°I asked Emil about the treasure, but he only overhead the adults talking about some treasure they were hoping to find. But the adults were always dreaming of finding treasures in the ruins, as every scav¡¯er is wont to do. As for our cargo, it contained nothing special, just the typical scavenged materials we trade in.¡±


    From her aura, Skyle could tell the girl believed this to be true.


    ¡°Your caravan was targeted and ambushed by the orders of the Seras clan,¡± Skyle said softly, his eyes intently examining Leena¡¯s aura. ¡±They were to retrieve a package and a map, leaving behind no survivors and making it look like a raid.¡±


    Leena¡¯s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands as tears sprang forth from her eyes. Her aura was instantly stabbed by a sharp reddish aura of pain and anguish, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathetic towards the young girl¡¯s plight.


    ¡°Why would they.. I don¡¯t understand..¡± Leena mumbled, tears rolling down her cheeks. ¡°Then is everyone.. Did they all..?¡±


    Leon was still looking at Leena as though he couldn¡¯t make up his mind about her, so Skyle stepped forward and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Their men have been deployed around this red zone¡¯s perimeter. I doubt their men will have left any survivors when they left your caravan,¡± Skyle said slowly, his eyes full of sympathy for the pain he could see lancing through her aura. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry.¡±


    Leena let out a soft cry of grief as she fell forward, muffled sobs rocking her chest as she covered her mouth with both hands, trying to avoid waking up Emil. The boy must have been truly exhausted, as he did not even stir. Skyle¡¯s hand ended up somewhere near the back of Leena¡¯s neck when she bent forward, and as when he awkwardly tried to draw his hand back, it brushed against the exposed skin of her neck.


    Leena seemed to interpret the touch as a comforting gesture, and the grieving girl finally broke down, suddenly turning to Skyle and burying her head on his chest as both her hands latched on to his shoulders.


    A subtle smell of flowers rushed up into Skyle¡¯s nose, and a feeling of warmth spread across his chest as Leena clung on to his chest, her long silver hair falling in long, glistening waves at her sides. Her small, delicate hands were squeezed into fists, and Skyle could immediately identify fresh cuts and bruises on the snowy white skin. Recalling the decisive movements with which Leena had harvested the materials from the dracolings¡¯ corpses, Skyle felt a knot in his chest as he finally realized that Leena hadn¡¯t just been unfamiliar with performing the task, but rather that she had likely never done it before. Perhaps she had the knowledge, and had watched others do it. However, her soft, pristinely beautiful hands were unmarred by any of the callouses or roughened skin that were the signs of the hard, menial labor required to perform such tasks.


    Let alone approach the fearsome beasts¡¯ corpses, how determined did a girl have to be to instantly plunge her hand into its corpse and dig through its viscera while pretending not to mind the task at all? All this, while constantly blaming herself for the lost lives of countless children. It was a wonder that she had held up as admirably as she had thus far.


    Wet tears spread across Skyle¡¯s chest as his hands waved about awkwardly in the air, hovering over Leena¡¯s back. Although he had often comforted his little sister Kass, he did not have many dealings with girls of his own age. As for Leena, judging by how well developed her body was, as well as being taller than Skyle himself, she was likely older than him by a couple years at least.


    As Skyle thought of little Kass and her proud tears that she would never show to anyone but him, his mind calmed down and his hands naturally fell upon Leena¡¯s trembling back. There, they gently patted while his voice whispered gently.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can cry. Let it all out, let the tears flow. It¡¯s ok..¡±


    After a long moment, the tears finally abated, and Skyle stopped stroking Leena¡¯s back when he realized her chest was no longer shaking with grief.


    Another awkward moment of silence ensued as Leena finally emitted no further sounds, gently disentangling herself from Skyle¡¯s comforting embrace only to find herself gazing up straight into Skyle¡¯s eyes. The gentle smile on his lips along with the sincere warmth offered from within the depths of a gaze that seemed much too calm to belong to any ordinary boy his age, seemed to catch Leena by surprise.


    She rapidly averted her gaze and drew back abruptly, as though she had been burned, while spots of color glowed high on her cheeks.


    Skyle himself could feel his face heating up as he coughed uncomfortably, turning his head away and finding Leon¡¯s face just in time to catch his classic roll of the eyes while shaking his head, as though silently saying, ¡®Give me a break.¡¯


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Skyle asked Leena in a quiet voice, still averting her gaze.


    ¡°Yes, I feel better now. I¡¯m sorry for that embarrassing display,¡± Leena replied in a soft, subdued tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can underst-¡± Skyle began, but was rudely interrupted by Leon.


    ¡°What can you tell me of Ashkandoren?¡± Leon cut in, his voice still flat.


    Leena looked up with a start, her glittering violet eyes going wide. ¡°Ashukan D¡¯Ahren? No, not much. Just the typical nonsense about some lost ruins. Every scav¡¯er has heard about it.¡±


    Skyle gave a start as he caught the involuntary tremor that ran through Leena¡¯s aura the moment she told the lie.


    Leon grunted in a neutral tone, but kept pushing. ¡°I¡¯m no scav¡¯er, so do regale us with the tale.¡±


    Leena blinked a couple times before composing herself and answering in a casual tone.


    ¡°Ashkandoren is the rumoured legacy of some ancient civilization that ruled these lands a very long time ago. The whole range of the Storm Mountains is littered with innumerable ruins that suggest an ancient power once dominated our world. However, it is thought that the rifts brought vast armies and great powers who vanquished fair Ashkandoren, burning every last hint of their existence from the pages of history, until today only the bare vestiges of a vague legend remain.¡±


    That seemed to be all true, but for some reason that same trace of duplicity ran its ugly mark across Leena¡¯s aura as she continued the tale.


    ¡°Today, I¡¯ve heard of countless foolish hunters and seekers who wander deep into the red zone, chasing after the famed ruins of Ashkandoren, only to never be seen or heard from again. The Lost Ruins are nothing but the mad fancies of hopeless dreamers.¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t say a word, but rather looked down at his hand while it slowly formed a fist. Skyle could see ripples of elemental essence streaming down the summoner¡¯s arm, gathering upon that fist.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Before the first tongue of flame could spring forth, and without stopping to wonder how the other boy had known Leena was lying, Skyle reached out and took hold of Leena¡¯s hand. The move immediately drew her attention, and when her eyes came up to meet Skyle¡¯s intense gaze, he held them there while he asked with as much sincerity as he could muster.


    ¡°Leena,¡± Skyle said gently, but firmly. ¡°Ashukan D¡¯Ahren. Please, tell us the truth.¡±


    Leena face paled, and her expression froze over, but it was her eyes that showed the most change. They flitted through a storm of emotions, from shock to panic, to anger and fear, but finally, as they studied Skyle¡¯s earnest expression, they settled on calm acceptance.


    Skyle nodded slightly, more relieved than he would ever admit, as he released her hand and glanced sideways towards Leon.


    The fire summoner spread out his fingers and showed the empty hand to Skyle, shrugging as though nothing had ever happened, and he hadn¡¯t been about to summon another of those terrifying fire bolts.


    Then Leena began to speak once more, and all of the boys¡¯ attention was enraptured by her accompanying action.


    ¡°Ashkandoren is simple nonsense,¡± she began, shaking her head from side to side. ¡°Ashukan D¡¯Ahren, however, is a different matter altogether.¡±


    Then she raised her hands to draw her long, silver hair back from her face, drawing all eyes to the flawlessly elegant ears that unexpectedly stretched further than any regular pair of ears and ended in two sharp tips at the top.


    Regular ears by human standards, that is.


    Skyle stumbled back as he stared in shock at Leena, finally looking past the grime and dirt disguising her face as each of her refined features suddenly clicked into place. Long, slightly slanted almond eyes, sharply contrasted eyebrows as though they had been drawn by a brush, delicate nose sharply pointing up, soft lips that looked more tender than the fairest petals of any flower, and elegant ears that ended in charming tips at the top.


    ¡°You, you¡¯re an elf?¡± Skyle blurted out, breathing raggedly.


    Of course, it was Leon who answered first. ¡°No, you dumbass, she¡¯s an orc. Of course she¡¯s an elf!¡±


    Leena¡¯s lips quirked slightly as though suppressing a smile, but she nodded gravely in Skyle¡¯s direction.


    ¡°I am indeed of the fair folk, Arleena Starbreeze of the Sapphire Court. I apologize for the deception, but it was necessary to closely guard the secret of our presence here, lest our enemies discover us.¡±


    Leena spread her hands to her sides in a gesture of contriteness.


    ¡°What is an elven maiden from the Sapphire Court doing here? Are we near the realm of the fair folk?¡± Leon asked impatiently.


    Even Skyle had heard of the Sapphire Court. After all, the Sapphire Court was one of the major powers in the Elven realms of Aeria. Although they were not as dominant as the Emerald Court, before the Great Barrier had been erected, their power could still rival that of any of the human nations.


    Leena shook her head. ¡°This is a world beyond the reach of the Emerald Court. Our team.. We stumbled upon one of the rifts by accident, and were trapped and drawn in before we could react. This was over ten years ago. Along the years, all the other members of my team perished in here while attempting to find a way back into our world. I¡¯m the last survivor. Fortunately, I found refuge in the Greenwood clan, who kindly accepted me as one of their own, even in spite of my secret.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s mind spun with the implications. This meant that the rifts were spread out all over Aeria, reaching even beyond the great barriers erected to separate the realm of the elves from the rest of the world. What sort of power lay behind the creation of the rifts, and what was their purpose?


    ¡°10 years? Just how old-¡± Skyle stammered, but was interrupted by Leon.


    ¡°Ashukan D¡¯Ahren?¡± the taller boy prompted.


    ¡°I never heard of the place before, that much was true. However, I may have some idea of the meaning of the words.¡±


    ¡°Is it in Elvish?¡±


    ¡°Not Elvish, but as you may know the Elvish language was derived partly from the language of the ancients. As such, some remnant concepts are familiar to me. However, although modern language for humans seeks to convey the sound of words as a means of communication, the language of the ancients focused on the meaning of the words themselves. As for Ashukan D¡¯Ahren, the words convey a sense of remembrance, of honoring things past with a deep sense of reverence and sorrow. If I had to put modern words to it, they would be a temple of memoirs? No, perhaps-¡±


    ¡°Shrine of Tears,¡± Skyle breathed, remembering the final words of Fierro Latimus as the man lay dying in his arms.


    Leena seemed startled, but nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, that seems as accurate as any term I can think of at the moment.¡±


    ¡°So, the Seras clan attacked Leena because they think she holds a map and a relic from the Shrine of Tears?¡± Leon asked, disbelieving. ¡°How could a small clan like the Greenwood clan find something like that, and still keep it a secret?¡±


    Leena¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up as she reached inside the folds of her jacket. From an inner pocket, she retrieved a folded piece of parchment.


    ¡°The caravan leader shoved it into my hands when he realized they would not be able to repulse the raiders,¡± Leena said somewhat defensively when Leon glared at her and snatched the parchment from her hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t even have the time to look at it. I thought it was a final letter to his dear ones, as he asked me to give it to his family along with this.¡±


    Leena reached to her neck and pulled on a thin cord necklace Skyle had not looked at twice. Hanging from the cord, and hidden under her clothes, had been an oval disk made of a smooth silvery metal, glistening faintly under the moonlight.


    ¡°That¡¯s..¡± Skyle rapidly pulled out the disk he had found from Fierro¡¯s box. Holding it up side by side with Leena¡¯s disk, he realized they looked identical.


    Leena stared in astonishment at the twin disks, her expression clearly one that reflected the same puzzlement as Leon and Skyle¡¯s.


    ¡°Have you ever heard anything about this Shrine of Tears?¡± Leon asked, carefully spreading the parchment and examining its contents with a deep frown.


    Leena shook her head helplessly. ¡°No, and neither have I heard the words Ashukan D¡¯Ahren. I just happened to associate the word Ashkandoren with the ancient tongue by pure chance. How about you?¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t answer, and instead fell into a gloomy silence as he regarded the parchment.


    ¡°A wise old man told me with his dying breath to find the Shrine of Tears,¡± Skyle answered quietly. ¡°It may be a way out of this world. Perhaps the only way out and back home, if your team couldn¡¯t find anything in 10 whole years.¡±


    Leena¡¯s eyes glittered with unshed tears, but there was quiet hope and deep yearning in her voice as she said, ¡°Home.¡±


    Skyle nodded, ¡°And now we have a clue and a map.¡±


    Leena smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s more than I¡¯ve had in ten long years. I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    ¡°Even if it leads us straight back into the depths of the black zone?¡± Leon scowled, flicking the parchment over to Skyle with a disgusted wave of his hand when the other boy turned in his direction. ¡°Damn, we have to wander back into that deathtrap, and however many of those bastards are still looking for us.¡±


    Leon smacked his fist against the trunk of the tree, shaking loose a few leaves and sending them fluttering down into the darkness below.


    ¡°You came from the black zone?¡± Leena asked, horror in her voice, but Skyle was already absorbed into his study of the parchment in his hands.


    It was a rough sketch of various landmarks, showing several peaks with names on them, as well as several areas that were clearly annotated along with labels determining the different zones. Deep within the a zone labaled as the black zone, Skyle found an X along with a big letter A.


    ¡°No one has ever made it out of the black zone,¡± Leena breathed, still shocked. ¡°It is impossible.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Skyle noted grimly, finally looking up at Leon. ¡°We only made it out through sheer luck. I suspect those cats caught the scent of our pursuers and were distracted because of it. I doubt we¡¯ll be lucky a second time.¡±


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that? But what¡¯s our alternative? Rot in this nightmare for ten years?¡± Leon countered, growling in frustration.


    ¡°We can¡¯t go into the black zone,¡± Leena whispered, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two boys. ¡°It¡¯s practically suicide.¡±


    ¡°There is no we,¡± Leon spat out, glancing down toward the boy in Leena¡¯s lap. ¡°He¡¯s a liability and the sooner we¡¯re rid of him, the better. As for you, I¡¯m of half a mind to send you packing as well.¡±


    Leena¡¯s eyes turned cold as she frowned at Leon. ¡°Do you always look at the world in terms of assets and liabilities?¡±


    ¡°What else is there, then?¡± Leon replied, his hand unconsciously moving towards his chest while his eyes grew distant. It was where that hideous scar was, the one he had shown to Skyle, explaining it had been the price for trusting too much. ¡°A soldier once told me, in this life there¡¯s only the living, the dead, and those trying to make you dead. The sooner you realize you¡¯re the only one in the first group, the sooner you can start to make those in the third group join the second group.¡±


    ¡°And where is that soldier now?¡± Leena asked suddenly.


    ¡°He was part of the third group,¡± Leon answered reflexively, then clamped his mouth shut, as though he wished he could take the words back.


    Silence descended upon the forest, as a gentle breeze shook the leaves of the tree they stood on.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I doubt Fierro would send me to certain death,¡± Skyle whispered, almost as though to himself.


    ¡°You did stab him through the heart, remember?¡± Leon said, but it was without any heat or malice.


    ¡°Now that I think back on it, I think it is more like I helped him stab his own heart,¡± Skyle mumbled, then shook his head. ¡°No matter, I inherited Fierro¡¯s legacy, and I don¡¯t think he¡¯s that kind of person. It is already late into the night, and when dawn arrives in a few hours we should signal the other hunter groups with the whistle. Then we¡¯ll make our decision.¡±


    ¡°After all this, you¡¯re really considering returning to the black zone?¡± Leena asked, though much more calmly this time.


    Leon didn¡¯t seem inclined to answer, and instead studied Skyle¡¯s profile.


    As for Skyle, after a moment of deep consideration, he smiled wryly to himself and nodded to Leena.


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°What if the Shrine of Tears doesn¡¯t really exist? What if the map is a fake?¡± Leena pushed.


    Skyle simply shrugged, his smile widening. ¡°That¡¯s alright, I still have to go back.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Leena asked plaintively.


    ¡°Because that bastard¡¯s still got da¡¯s knife.¡±

 Chapter 36 - Breakthrough: Second Layer

    Chapter 36 - Breakthrough: Second Layer


    The three bloodied, battered and bruised survivors argued on for almost a half hour longer after Skyle¡¯s declaration. Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t about whether they should enter the Black Zone or not. That seemed to be a given at this point.


    For one, Leon had never been one to run from a fight, and he didn¡¯t seem inclined to start such a trend now. As for Leena, she had been confined in this realm far away from her home and her people for years. At this point, she seemed willing to risk anything, even a venture into the terrifying depths of the forbidden Black Zone.


    Thus, it would have fallen to Skyle, the cool, more rational and methodical minded in this trio, to put up any objections about walking into a death zone. However, as he was the one who had actually proposed the idea in the first place, there was no longer a question as to whether they would go or not. Instead, the argument had centered around the approach they would take.


    Leon wanted to go right away, at first light. He argued that they had created a big distraction on their way out, something to do with a massive army of soldiers and giant cats right in the middle of the Black Zone. Leena had balked at first, but seeing the serious look on Leon¡¯s face, she had set her doubts aside. Instead, she had pushed forth her own opinion even more forcefully.


    Leena was of the opinion that they should stop by the Greenwood clan in order to resupply, gather intel and thus better plan and equip themselves for the deadly perils of the Black Zone. She was adamant that she wanted to accompany them, and that she would pull her own weight in the venture, serving as both guide and servant if need be. In her near frantic insistence that she be allowed to join, Skyle could detect the ragged edges of desperation, of having been exiled and struggling for survival in a foreign soil for too long.


    Left unspoken was the one point that stuck out like a sore thumb and no one could ignore. Skyle turned his eyes upon Emil, who lay slumped in one corner of the tree, oblivious to the hot debate he¡¯d sparked and snoring through tear-streaked cheeks full of grime.


    The small, defenseless boy couldn¡¯t accompany the expedition to the Death Zone, and of course, Leena had been the first to point out this fact. She wanted to drop Emil off with his relatives in the safety of the Greenwood Clan. Leon, in the other hand, had surprisingly argued for taking the boy with them.


    Even Skyle had been surprised at this. After all, he suspected Leon was not nearly as callous and uncaring as the young lord strove so hard to pretend to be. Still, taking this small boy would not only hamper their own activities, it would mean putting the child through grave peril for no other reason than whatever perceived advantages their added haste would grant.


    Eyeing his friend sideways with a pondering look, Skyle wondered if there was something more to Leon¡¯s stubborn refusal to visit the Greenwood clan.


    In the end, no decision could be reached and as the argument slowly scaled up into a shouting match with Skyle as the unwilling, unwitting mediator, the young boy had finally put an end to it by suggesting that they lay this matter to the side so that everyone could rest, freshen their minds and reach a decision come first light.


    Leon now stood watch, perched upon a branch at the edge of their improvised camp, such as it was, on top of a majestic tree. Leena lay huddled on one corner with Emil in clingling tightly to her side, though from the vibrancy of her aura Skyle could tell she had not managed to fall asleep yet. Even deep as she lay within the yawning maw of exhaustion, Skyle could see the deep turmoil of the traumatizing ordeals Leena had gone through today in the ugly chaos of her elemental aura.


    Skyle shook his head. She was not the only one who wouldn¡¯t get any rest this night, he reflected, glancing down at his own trembling hands. Skyle had used some improvised bandages to wrap the raw flesh exposed under the peeling flaps of skin on his fingers and wrist. Moonshadow was an unforgiving weapon, both for its victims as well as its wielder. This did not come as a surprise to Skyle. Through some art which Skyle could not fully understand, the bow managed to compress a far greater power into each arrow than should be possible, given Skyle¡¯s own limited strength and reach. There was always a price to pay for power, his father had told him numerous times, and Moonshadow seemed to exemplify this. The masterwork bow¡¯s great arms seemed to shimmer under the night sky, and any hints of the blood splattered on it earlier were gone as though they¡¯d never been there in the first place.


    That was Skyle¡¯s own blood, of course. Each shot with Moonshadow was a test of not only skill and endurance, but willpower, as Skyle tested the strength and resiliency of his own body, and found them far too wanting in the task of mastering this formidable weapon. Thus, the only remedy was to bridge this gap with his own flesh and blood.


    So, that was exactly what he had done.


    Each terrifying shot had come with a price, as the taut bowstring continued to chew hungrily into his arm, even protected as it was by a strip of leather Skyle had improvised to wrap around his wrist. For every arrow sent soaring through the sky, an accompanying splash of blood had followed from his own fingertips, where the soft callouses, unused to being strained to such extremes, had already burst and given way to the tender, raw flesh beneath.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Now, with all the hatred and fury long spent, all Skyle was left with was the dull, throbbing pain. The small boy welcomed this pain, focusing on every minute wave of fire it sent through his body. This was not because Skyle enjoyed the pain itself, but he knew the alternative would be infinitely worse.


    His hands ached and stung, but that was nothing, less than insignificant. His soul, in the other hand, was alight, burning in a pyre of guilt and horror at the deeds he¡¯d witnessed this day, let alone those he himself had committed. With the swift urgency of survival and the blinding surge of vengeance all spent, Skyle was left alone in his own head with the demons his own tortured conscience conjured up as a vast, unending horde.


    Far better to focus all his attention on this lesser pain, that of his raw, bleeding flesh than to turn his consideration to the savaged depths of his own soul.


    Unfortunately, the capacity of the human body to withstand and adapt to pain never failed to surprise Skyle. It did not disappoint in this instance either, as the ache in his hands gradually faded into a numb echo of its earlier intensity. The bandages had stopped leaking blood, and he knew this momentary stopgap measure to deal with his tortured conscience was at an end.


    So, Skyle did the only responsible thing any twelve year old child would do in such circumstances: he looked for the next door leading the hell out.


    It was then when Skyle remembered the deep silence and disembodied serenity he¡¯d been able to achieve in one particular place, even as scared and desperate as he¡¯d been when both boys had just made their escape from the soldiers¡¯ camp.


    With barely a flicker of a glance towards Leena, Skyle surreptitiously reached within the folds of his clothes and removed an object carefully wrapped in cloth. Unwrapping it with obvious care, Skyle gazed down at a tattered journal, that of Fierro Latimus¡¯ final legacy.


    With an almost casual flicker of will, Skyle was now able to shift his gaze into the True Sight, which instantly made the myriad symbols and patterns etched into the seemingly random and tattered pages of Fierro¡¯s journal spring to life.


    As Skyle¡¯s focus narrowed into the scintillating patterns of the arcane script, perhaps it was the small boy¡¯s resolute single-mindedness as he desperately sought any escape from his burning conscience. Or maybe it was the constant use of the Infinite Eye and its first layer, Gazing Far as Though Near. Regardless of the reason, Skyle found it even easier to sink into the meditative trance than the last time he had done so.


    Once again, his consciousness sank through layers of darkness, until he was surrounded by a vast void. However, the lights he remembered from last time had now multiplied, from a mere handful to several dozen now. They roamed in a great circle around Skyle¡¯s own ball of awareness, glimmering brightly in a dazzling burst of colors through the dark.


    At first, Skyle was lost to this beautiful spectacle, but he quickly brought himself to his senses, remembering that his time in this realm was limited and he should make the best of it while he still had the energy to persist.


    Immediately, Skyle turned to one of the biggest clusters of light and activated his Infinite Sight. The first layer had been used extensively by him, so by now it came very naturally to Skyle. To his surprise, he found that his perception was able to follow the azure ball of light he had chosen with much more ease than before. As the light reached a distance that approached the 400 meter limit that Skyle had been able to achieve the last time with great effort, he wondered at the fact that it was still barely a strain to him now.


    As he pondered on this fact, the light continued to float away, slowly but steadily, as though guiding him, almost coaxing him to follow it. At the 500 meter mark, Skyle finally realized with a start what the difference had been. Before, he had been trying to follow the light with his sense of sight alone, as though the Infinite Eye were merely a means to enhance his visual percetion. However, within this dark void Skyle didn¡¯t even have any eyes, let alone any means to physically see. These clusters of light then, and the Infinite Eye which allowed him to follow their journey through the dark, must represent something else entirely.


    This time, Skyle had inadvertently used the new fusion of his True Sight along with the Infinite Eye which he had been using to aim and fire his arrows. This heightened sense of awareness, Skyle finally began to realize, went far beyond what his physical sense of sight was able to reveal to him. His eyes, after all, couldn¡¯t read the currents of wind, or the elemental flows of energy at such a great distance. Not his physical eyes, that is.


    This fusing of awareness to become one with the object of his scrutiny, it went beyond a simple enhancement of his eye¡¯s ability to see. The concept of Gaze Far as Though Near did not mean he could bring objects that were distant closer to himself to better examine them. Instead, he realized with a moment of thunderous inspiration, he was sending out his own awareness to encompass and merge with the object of his will. This was the true essence of the first layer of the Infinite Eye.


    As soon this epiphany struck him, the azure ball of light Skyle had been following abruptly stopped moving, and instead began to expand and flash with a blinding light, as though it were secretly celebrating and rejoicing at Skyle¡¯s newfound insight. Then, in an instant too fast to even perceive the shift in perspectives, Skyle was no longer a mere ball of consciousness floating in a vast sea of darkness. Instead, he found himself floating and swirling in the air, deep azure light cascading all around him as he gazed at a small ball of light pulsing with a dim, muted glow in the distance.


    ¡°What is this? What just happened? I was gazing at the azure light and suddenly..¡±


    Shock coursed through his mind like a bolt of lightning as Skyle finally realized he had become the azure light, and was now gazing down at the ball of light that Skyle had previously identified himself to be. A torrent of strange images and unidentifiable streaks of information flashed past his mind so quickly that he was simply overwhelmed, unable to cope with even the tiniest drop of that vast flood that had brushed past his mind.


    ¡°Se.. second layer? Gaze Near as Though Far?¡±


    In that one moment, just as Skyle struggled to cope with the consequences of this unexpected advance, his world finally exploded into a world of azure light, then he knew nothing but absolute darkness.

 Chapter 37 - The Farsight

    Chapter 37 - The Farsight


    Skyle jerked back as though he¡¯d been burned, his dazed gaze swimming back up to the surface of consciousness. Feeling like he¡¯d been fired up in a furnace, then quenched in a wintry pool of ice, his teeth chattered uncontrollably. His whole body felt numb and exhausted, and his throat worked uselessly for a moment while trying to form a sound that would not come.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You need a shoulder to cry on, farmboy?¡± came Leon¡¯s voice, his tone slightly mocking.


    Skyle craned his neck blindly, his surroundings blurring into indistinct shapes within a reddish haze as his eyes refused to focus due to a burning pain that felt like daggers chipping at his brain from behind his eyes.


    ¡°Hey, you alrig-¡± came Leon¡¯s voice, a touch more tentative this time.


    Skyle¡¯s vision finally came back into focus, just in time to see Leon stumble back a step with shock visibly written across his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, what is it?¡± Skyle croaked, his mouth slowly forming the words as though it were unfamiliar with the exercise.


    ¡°Your.. your eyes,¡± Leon muttered, staring.


    ¡°What about them?¡± Skyle grunted, still feeling the pounding headache crushing his temples. As he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, Skyle felt a warm liquid which had pooled unnoticed in his eyes dribble down his cheeks.


    ¡°I¡¯m not crying, alright?¡± Skyle grumbled in mild annoyance at Leon¡¯s gaping stare, dabbing absently at his face and frowning down at the tears he¡¯d wiped from his cheeks.


    Instantly, his jaw gaped open in surprise as he stared at the crimson smears that had been left on the back of his hands.


    ¡°B.. blood?¡± Skyle mumbled stupidly, staring at his crimson-flecked hands, then dabbing hurriedly at his cheeks once more.


    ¡°You.. sure you¡¯re alright, Skyle?¡± Leon asked, this time dropping all pretense of cheerful mockery as genuine worry entered his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m.. I think I¡¯m alright,¡± Skyle replied, turning his gaze back up in the other boy¡¯s direction. ¡°My eyes, well my whole head just hurts like a badger¡¯s been gnawing at it all day, but I¡¯m..¡± Skyle¡¯s words slowly faded as his brows drew together and his eyes narrowed, cocking his head to the side.


    Leon¡¯s frowning countenance was one of almost comical concern, as the tall boy teetered on the edge of feeling guilty for his earlier mocking remarks, and unease at feeling genuine worry for his friend and not knowing how much of it he ought to show.


    Any other time, Skyle would have thought of a way to put the big oaf at ease, but just now he was more absorbed in carefully studying Leon - all three of them.


    Skyle could clearly see Leon¡¯s true image before his eyes, but around it stood two blurry azure shadows that seemed identical in every way to the original. However, these two shadows seemed to be constantly shifting, moving around and engaging in various actions and assuming different postures. As Skyle squinted his eyes and focused his gaze, one of the shadows lost definition, growing more vague and incorporeal, as though it were made of mist.


    The other shadow, in the other hand, seemed to grow more substantial at a similar pace. In a mere fraction of a second, it grew more defined and solidified into an identical replica of Leon, only it was shaded in a lustrous shade of blue. It moved forward with a deep frown, moving its mouth while lifting a hand. Then abruptly, it was kneeling in front of Skyle, almost in a supplicant fashion.


    Then the shadows were gone altogether as his vision blurred once again and his head threatened to split open from within. A white flash of pain made him clench his teeth with a grunt.


    Skyle shook his head to clear it, all the while wondering where the hell he could have picked up such ridiculous hallucinations from. Leon, kneel before anyone, let alone a mere farmboy like himself? A fat chance in hell of that ever happening.


    The other boy¡¯s muted groan of pain seemed to dispel Leon¡¯s paralysis, and taking a deep breath, he lumbered forward to offer a hand to Skyle.


    ¡°Maybe you should let me take a closer look at your eyes,¡± Leon offered, though it sounded more like a command than a suggestion.


    Skyle reflexively drew away from the touch, turning around with his back to Leon to hide the irrational embarrassment brought on by the image his fertile imagination seemed to have conjured up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t look fine. You have blood pouring from your eyes, cattleboy!¡± Leon countered more forcefully, laying a heavy hand on Skyle¡¯s shoulder from behind. Or attempting to do so, at the very least.


    His eyesight still blurred from the blinding pain, Skyle instinctively moved to avoid Leon¡¯s grasp, taking the last clear image of Leon he had beheld as a point of reference. His conscious brain was more occupied in dealing with the massive headache he¡¯d brought on himself, however, and he hardly noticed that his body was reacting to the movements of the shadow image of Leon from just an instant ago, instead of what the real Leon might be doing in the present.


    Leon had obviously expected some resistance, but blind and pained as Skyle seemed to be, the bigger boy had expected to easily take hold of his friend. His concern overrode any misgivings, and Leon moved with decisive speed to stop Skyle while his back was still turned to him in order to take a closer look at his ailment by force if necessary.


    Little had he expected that the smaller boy would not even bother to turn around to face him. Instead, as though he¡¯d grown eyes in the back of his head, Skyle weaved his shoulder out of the way using a smooth shuffling step that left it just a scant inch from Leon¡¯s descending arm. The move was so flawlessly executed, the timing so impeccably smooth, that Leon couldn¡¯t help but gape in stupefaction as his disbelieving eyes watched his hand sail right past its intended target.


    In fact, so astonished was Leon that his brain was left fumbling in a vacuum of inertia as the huge mass of his body carried through with its initial momentum. This left Leon hopelessly overbalanced and by the time he realized it, he tried to overcompensate, and altogether missed the tangle of branches by his feet that caught on his leg like a noose and brought him down with a great, resounding crash that shook the entire branch their camp was perched upon.


    As Leon groggily tried to shake himself from his stupor, Skyle finally turned around. He gawked helplessly at the comical sight of his giant friend kneeling at his feet. The silly nobleman was shaking his head in a daze, clearly trying to gather his wits and make sense of what had just happened.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°And just what are you playing at, you overgrown oaf?¡± Skyle asked, a puzzled frown on his brow.


    ¡°What¡¯s it look like I¡¯m doing, I¡¯m testing the structural integrity of this branch,¡± Leon growled under his breath, almost as though to himself. Was that blood on his lips?


    ¡°Nevermind that,¡± Leon continued in the same breath, gulping in a big breath and glaring up at Skyle. Skyle had to struggle not to giggle at that. For once, the giant had to stare up at the smaller boy. Up!


    ¡°I could get used to the view from here,¡± Skyle smirked inside his own head, then stopped dead as he recalled an image engraved into his memory from just a bare moment ago.


    ¡°Just how did you manage to..¡± The rest of Leon¡¯s grumbling question was lost as Skyle called to mind the vivid details of the blue shadow Leon, the final pose it had assumed in particular. With a start, Skyle realized it was a similar position to the one Leon was occupying now. In fact, he realized with a shiver running up his spine, it was exactly identical.


    Skyle reeled back in shock, his breath cutting off short as his already overburdened mind struggled to deal with this incredible revelation. The fierce ache in his head, the one that felt like a ragged saw brutally scraping against the back of his eyes, it only got worse as his thoughts tumbled and crashed together in a clumsy attempt to draw a feasible explanation from the morass of his mind.


    ¡°Just what are these shadows? Are they actually able to show me the future somehow?¡±


    Before this, Skyle had been able to barely discern a hint of what others might feel inclined to do by carefully studying their auras. Even if it was something as minute as the direction in which their auras were turning or the shade of color which suffused it, that could serve as a reasonable basis for attempting to predict what that person might do next.


    However, that was a whole different level altogether from what these shadows had been able to do. They had shown fuzzy but distinct images of Leon¡¯s potential actions, but had steadily drawn clearer and more solid as his next choice grew more pronounced. That was something which Skyle could accept as part of the wondrous Infinite Eye, a technique left behind by a master such as Fierro Latimus. However, time manipulation? What else to call what had happened next? How could it have shown Leon¡¯s action, calculated Skyle¡¯s own reaction, and even gone so far as taking the gnarled branch underfoot into consideration as well?


    What technique could be so impossibly powerful, so godlike?


    ¡°The Farsight.¡±


    The sudden whisper echoed within his head, so soft that Skyle was almost tempted to believe he had imagined it. Almost. The words had been too distinct, too real to be a mere figment of his imagination.


    As though the words had been a trigger, some sort of key left behind by a benevolent hand to unlock a vast, hidden mystery within his mind, Skyle was suddenly able to remember that there was indeed an incredible technique within the second layer of the Infinite Eye, called the ¡°Farsight¡±.


    Seeing Near as though Far seemed a concept so alien to Skyle¡¯s regular way of thinking, going against what conventional wisdom seemed to dictate, that even now that he had reached this level, it still felt awkward. Perhaps, he thought to himself, it wasn¡¯t so much predicting the future as it was taking a step back from the confines of his own limited perception of the immediate surroundings, and instead taking in the world as one single body, each component a small part of a much larger whole. It was the difference between watching a drop of water strike the surface of a pond, to seeing the entire river and reading its many currents as it swept down to the sea.


    Was it really possible for such a relatively simple concept to reach such a terrifying height?


    Watching Leon slowly dusting himself and unsteadily rising to his feet, all the while giving the other boy a dirty, offended look like he¡¯d been conned but he couldn¡¯t quite put a finger on what exactly the con had been about, Skyle judiciously decided that yes, in fact it was possible.


    Very much so, indeed.


    The smug grin that had been about to stretch the corners of Skyle¡¯s mouth died in its infancy, however, as the throbbing in his head intensified and the splitting headache made its presence felt with a vengeance.


    ¡°Who cares, I can read the future!¡± Skyle crowed exultantly in his own mind, then winced at the pain in his head.


    ¡°I know this headache¡¯s not going away anytime soon,¡± he finished lamely, almost groaning the thought out loud. ¡°That¡¯s future enough for now.¡±


    Tentatively, almost as though he were afraid he might use the Farsight by accident, Skyle looked to Leon once again and tilted his head slightly.


    ¡°What?¡± Leon asked brusquely.


    ¡°You¡¯re a royal pain in my-¡±


    ¡°Arse?¡± Leon cut in, finishing the phrase.


    ¡°Head, actually, but I guess it is all the same,¡± Skyle shrugged, smiling self-deprecatingly.


    ¡°You know,¡± Leon suddenly breathed, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Skyle. ¡°They may have saved my life more times than I care to count, but your eyes sometimes scare the hell out of me.¡±


    ¡°They scare the hell out of me too,¡± Skyle admitted, idly wondering if the rest of the Desolate Star Technique would be as life changing. Somehow, Skyle couldn¡¯t imagine what the higher layers of the Infinite Eye would bring, let alone the other four senses. And that would still only be the first stage. What of the entire Desolate Star Techniques? The sheer magnitude staggered him.


    ¡°You know one of your pupils somehow has turned blue now?¡± Leon pointed out suddenly.


    ¡°What?¡± Skyle spluttered.


    ¡°Yeah, your right eye is still grey as before, but your left eye is definitely blue now,¡± Leon continued, his tone heavy with a contrived calmness that was probably for Skyle¡¯s sake.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not just seeing things?¡± Skyle asked, and had to bear the long suffering look Leon gave in reply to the admittedly stupid question.


    ¡°Well, I never heard of anybody dying from an eye that turned blue,¡± Skyle mumbled, almost half to himself.


    ¡°Never heard of anyone whose eye suddenly turned blue, period,¡± Leon snorted, then punched Skyle¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Ow, watch it you big oaf,¡± Skyle called out, but he couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle in spite of himself.


    ¡°You know that you are engaging in the most heinous of injustices in your perverse attempts to draw an inverse correlation between the physical prowess and intellectual acumen of this here Lord?¡± Leon objected primly.


    ¡°Oh, me¡¯s be sorree me lord, but me¡¯s no git yer fancy whatcha call all that hogwash, snort snort¡± Skyle instantly replied, making a show of hitching up his pants and scratching his armpit.


    Leon stared balefully for one long moment, during which Skyle returned it in kind. Then both boys¡¯ expressions finally cracked and they burst out laughing at the same time, letting out great, long guffaws that left them breathless, tears streaming down their cheeks as their bodies collapsed in a heap side by side.


    In the long silence that followed, as both boys struggled to catch their breath, then finally sighed deeply, each leaning against the other¡¯s shoulder, they both sank into a deep, contemplative mood.


    ¡°You know I don¡¯t really mean..¡± Leon began, uncharacteristically hesitant.


    ¡°I know,¡± Skyle cut his friend off. ¡°But you know you can sometimes be a little..¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Leon cut in this time, with a rueful shake of his head. ¡°I know.¡±


    Another long moment of quiet followed, during which both of the boys sat unmoving, each lost in his own thoughts.


    ¡°You think we¡¯ll make it?¡± Leon whispered, almost as though thinking out loud.


    ¡°Yes, we will,¡± Skyle answered firmly.


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Leon asked after a moment.


    ¡°I just know,¡± Skyle answered after another long pause, smiling.


    ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Leon grinned as well.


    As the first glimmers of light greeted the horizon, the new day found both boys sitting in the same position, still not looking at each other, but rather towards the distant future, and the solemn promise that they had just made to one another.


    They would make it.

 Chapter 38 - Good Intentions

    Chapter 38 - Good Intentions


    When Leena finally gathered herself and got to her feet, well before the sky had been completely lit by the coming new day, her eyes instantly sought out her two saviors, the unlikely heroes who had rescued both Emil and herself from a gruesome death. She knew it would fall upon these champions to continue to safeguard her life, and that of sweet Emil.


    Thus, she gathered her courage to once again attempt to ingratiate herself into their good graces, no matter the cost. Already she had spent most of the night trying her utmost to deal with all the senseless death and tragedy that had befallen her in this accursed realm.


    First had been the death of each and every one of her former comrades from the Sapphire Court. Each still weighed down on her soul with iron chains, even though it had beena long time since the last one of them had died. They had all given their lives to protect her, to shield her, though her exalted status meant nothing in these blasted lands.


    Then the pitiful humans from the Greenwood clan had been the ones to fall, scythed down by the same ill wind of tragedy that seemed to stalk this entire realm like a pestilence ruling over a plague infested ward.


    Now, the final blow had been the cruelest of them all. The sweet, innocent children who had been accompanying the caravan in order to be talent tested in New Seras, to see whether they might possess the one-in-ten-thousand gift of the blood crystals. True, such talent would all but guarantee a life filled with comfort and luxury in the big districts, far from the bone-grinding hard labor that was the bread and butter of the smaller, marginalized clans that clawed out a desperate living from the ruins of the beast infested zones. It did not matter that no one in the Greenwood clan had passed this test in all the time Leena had been here. For all that, the desperate light of hope in every parent¡¯s eyes stubbornly refused to die.


    Such had been the grim ghosts haunting every waking minute of Leena¡¯s night. That was alright, she supposed. The ones awaiting her inside her nightmares were twice as bad. So, she had made her peace with her grief, or whatever compromise could be found therein.


    Leena bent forward to gently brush an errant lock of hair back from poor Emil¡¯s face, whose features had finally shed that permanent terror etched so deeply from the last day¡¯s harrowing ordeals. She told herself that it was time to stop feeling sorry for herself. One whole night¡¯s sleep lost was enough of a price, at least for now. Once both Emil¡¯s life and her own were out of immediate danger, then there would be the devil to pay.


    Drawing a deep breath and visibly bracing herself for whatever trials the new day would bring, Leena grasped her resolve in a steely fist of tenacious will, then turned around and approached her guardians - or captors, she still could not decide which - with a measured, steady gait. As she did so, Leena mentally went over what little she knew of them, that she may better plan her approach. Her very survival hinged on how well she could deal with these mysterious youths.


    Leon had proven himself a formidable warrior whose girth and bearing were such, that had she not spotted the spots of baby fat still clinging to his youthful cheeks, Leena might have mistaken him for a veteran warrior of many campaigns. He certainly had enough cynicism for the role. As it was, the young human should be no more than 15 or 16. That age also meant he was one of the most formidably gifted human elementalists she had ever seen, let alone heard of. This alone demanded she tread lightly around this young dragonling who was already this fierce when he had yet to truly spread his wings. In fact, his bearing and talents would have placed him automatically and solidly in the lead of any company he might find himself in. In any company, that is, save for this one.


    That brought her attention to the other warrior in the group. Or boy, as this one truly could not be taken as anything but a youth, barely more than a child. Just a few years prior, and Leena would not have been surprised to find him playing with Emil in the small amusements children indulged in with their peers. However, Leena had come to the startling realization that even a talent of Leon¡¯s caliber seemed to regard him as a peer, and at times, even unconsciously deferred to him!


    Even more startling was the fact that it was not because of the astonishing ability he had demonstrated with that mysterious bow that glittered like midnight silk and thrummed with power. No, it was his confidence, the way he carried himself. Neither rash nor timid, his decision making so far had been admirably composed and intelligent, even intuitive. Leena found herself beginning to rely more and more on this small youth who was her junior by decades, and this fact did not evenshameher.


    One day, this boy would become a great leader of men, she knew.


    Running into these two youths had been a most fortunate accident. Had she run into any of their peers, and even many adults, Leena doubted she could find a more mature, reliable pair to lead her away from this nightmare - should they feel inclined to help her, that is.


    It was then that her steps came to an abrupt halt, and Leena almost choked on the words she¡¯d been thinking to herself not a moment ago.


    She found her two heroes, future leaders of men, plopped on the ground, leaning heavily against each other and looking nothing more like a pair of drunkards placidly waiting for the last vapors of intoxication to slowly drift up into oblivion. The stupid grin that stretched across their faces were twin reflections of an expression so devoid of the tiniest spark of wit that if an enemy sliced through their necks at this moment, their heads would simply float up until they vanished among clouds as airy as their brain pans.


    Leena opened her mouth, about to demand an explanation to this insanity that threatened to swallow her hopes of survival, and even more precious still, of fulfilling her purpose. She teetered there, on the edge of a vast chasm, but with a visible effort of will, she was able to pull herself back and remind herself that these were youths, barely more than children, and they were mere mortals. Their lifespans were as ephemeral as the morning dew, and by the time Arleena Starbreeze finally took up her true name in her coming of age ceremony, still centuries from now, these two humans would have long returned to dust, even the memory of their passing long forgotten by their own human world.


    That is, if Leena could manage to survive that long, of course.


    So, instead Leena just cleared her throat delicately to grab their attention. Having failed to do so in the first attempt, she coughed softly into her hand. Suppressing another long sigh, Leena turned away and began to prepare herself for the journey ahead instead, as the last tattered remnants of her dignity would not allow her to do anything more than that when she saw that this seemed to be something of a moment imbued of significance to the two youths. The reason for this escaped her, but then again, who knew why mortals did anything? It had been years since Leena had given up on the futile task of understanding these creatures.


    By the time Leena had arranged her share of the gruesome spoils from the day before into a neat pile by one side, she finally heard footsteps behind her.


    ¡°That¡¯s a clever way of bundling those claws,¡± came the casual comment from over her shoulder.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Not turning around, Leena nodded her acquiescence. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Look Leena, I know you¡¯re afraid we will desert you and Emil,¡± Skyle continued, in a slow and measured tone. ¡°I want you to know that I won¡¯t let that happen. Also, please understand that I appreciate the effort you¡¯ve put in to make yourself useful. But we will be dealing with a lot of unfamiliar dangers ahead, and while the initiative you¡¯ve shown is great, you don¡¯t need to pretend to be something you are not.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Leena blustered, but a current of unease slid down her throat as she studiously avoided Skyle¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Look.¡± Reluctantly turning her head, she saw Skyle extend his hands for her to study. They were smaller than she had expected, neatly bandaged though hints of blood still lay crusted underneath.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see what you¡¯re trying to do,¡± Leena murmured softly.


    ¡°See how worn down my fingernails are? That¡¯s from skinning and tanning hides with the old man.The cracks are from washing clothes two days a week by the riverbed. The callouses are from digging holes for posts and nailing fences. This is the story of my life, Leena. We all bear the marks of our days in our bodies, whether we like it or not. See what I mean?¡±


    ¡°I.. I see.¡±


    Leena did see now. She didn¡¯t have to look down at her hands to know they bore not the faintest mark. She had always been proud of her beautiful, unblemished skin, snowy white with just a hint of tawny gold. Unmarked as it was by the ravages of time or labor, Leena purposefully averted her gaze from Skyle¡¯s hands while surreptitiously pulling her own behind her back. For some inexplicable reason, in front of this seemingly simple country boy, she felt unbearably ashamed of her beautiful, flawless hands.


    ¡°That¡¯s very observant of you,¡± Leema remarked, still hedging.


    ¡°My da taught me how to track and read the traces of the forest since I was small,¡± Skyle began, and Leena nearly pointed out that he was still small now, but resisted the impulse.


    ¡°When an infuriating old man is constantly poking fun for every small detail you miss, you force yourself to look carefully at all times. To really see into things, you know? I guess it comes with the territory.¡±


    The pause that ensued was deliberate and pregnant with meaning, as Skyle patiently waited for Leena to understand she could not avoid this topic.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, I have not skinned an animal, nor washed clothes or cooked or sewn,¡± Leena began slowly, though her words gained an edge of urgency as she continued. ¡°But I will work hard, and I promise I will make myself useful. I will bear enough of the burden for both Emil and I, you will not regret it, this I guaran-¡±


    Skyle cut her off by gently taking her hand in his and giving it a comforting squeeze.


    ¡°I know, Leena. I believe you, and I will not abandon you,¡± Skyle promised solemnly, and though the voice was that of a child, Leena found the reassuring touch of those rough, calloused hands impossibly tender and precious.


    ¡°My da always encouraged me to push my limits, but he also taught me to be aware of my limitations and give them a healthy amount of respect, especially when they involved my own safety or that of others. Do you understand what I mean?¡±


    Leena nodded slowly, her hand still in the boy¡¯s gentle grasp. She lifted her eyes to his face, compelled to do so by a mixture of wonder and curiosity at just what kind of child could sound so centered and insightful.


    ¡°Aaaah!¡± Leena cried out helplessly, snatching her hand away and pushing herself away as far as she could before her heels clipped against something and she collapsed on the ground.


    ¡°Vash.. Ah! Your, your eye, one eye, blue!¡± She stammered, skittering back along the rough bark of the tree branch beneath her legs, heedless of the gashes it opened along her hands.


    Skyle gaped at her for one instant, before letting out an awkward chuckle and lifting a hand to the eye in question.


    ¡°Yeah, it just kind of happened,¡± Skyle said sheepishly, a loopsided grin on his face. ¡°Does it look that strange?¡±


    ¡°No, no. I just, ah, it just,¡± Leena worked her mouth hurriedly, babbling in spite of herself. ¡°It just really surprised me, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Skyle tilted his head to one side as his eyes held Leena¡¯s gaze for one long moment, his smile slowly fading away. Leena¡¯s breath once more caught in her throat, but she struggled with every fiber of will in her body until her face finally responded and fixed itself into an awkward smile she hoped Skyle would interpret as apologetic. All the while, she held his gaze as though she had nothing to hide.


    ¡°Are you sure..?¡± Skyle asked once more, and Leena¡¯s heart started thumping wildly inside her chest. Had he noticed? Did he know? He could not possibly know, but what if he did?


    A myriad questions were flashing past her brain, blinding her with the implications. Fortunately, Skyle¡¯s next words finally let her paralyzed lungs draw another breath.


    ¡°.. that you¡¯re alright, that is. You going to be ok?¡± Skyle smiled encouragingly at her once more, and this time Leena was able to muster a much better answering smile, filled as it was with all of the relief that flooded her entire body.


    ¡°Yes, I think I am. Thank you, Skyle,¡± Leena bobbed her head, then looked down as though to examine her wounded hands.


    ¡°How clumsy of me, you must think me a fool,¡± Leena laughed good-naturedly. ¡°Give me a second to sort myself out. After all I¡¯ve been through, I guess my nerves are just on edge and your, your eye just triggered it all at once.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, it¡¯s understandable. Just join us when you¡¯re ready,¡± Skyle nodded easily, then turned around and walked back to where Leon.


    As Leena watched the boy who had saved her life, who had extended his open hand to her and offered her such gentle kindness whenever she was in need, her eyes began to lightly mist even though she had vowed to herself that she would not shed any more tears this day.


    In truth, Leena paid little heed to the tears that began to silently streak down her cheeks, blurring her view of the gentle boy¡¯s figure as he walked away from her. Nor did she have any capacity to regurgitate on her grief or fear. That was all done.


    It was a thing of the past now, discarded like the ragged toys of a petulant child and left forgotten in an abandoned pile of ashes.


    Those considerations, emotions and fears were, after all, completely irrelevant to the one sole purpose that would henceforth fuel all her actions, guide her every thought, and even rule her every emotion with a tyrant¡¯s ruthless fist.


    It was a very simple purpose, as newborns often are. It had, after all, come to life not five breaths ago.


    There was no time nor inclination to consider the logic of it, to ponder reasons or weigh options. This purpose had seared all such complications from her mind with the terrifying weight of its significance.


    And so, Arleena Starbreeze of the Sapphire Court sat on her heels, tears flowing freely from her eyes, ostensibly nursing the fresh wounds on her hands. That was just her body, however. Her mind inhabited a whole different dimension altogether, her every conscious thought driven towards one singular objective: this gentle boy who had saved her life, who had comforted her and offered nothing but kindness needed to die.


    For that eye of his was a deathmark, and though innocent, Skyle must absolutely die.


    Leena would see to it,no matter the cost or consequences.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you dead even if it is the last thing my eyes ever behold on this life,¡± Leena vowed grimly, though tears flowed unheeded down her cheeks in a continuous stream. The weightof her past and a duty which could not be forgotten nor forsakentore mercilesslyat her soul, crushing the breath out of her in its painful inevitability. This rare moment of weakness lasted for but a second, but the scars, she knew, would remain forever.


    ¡°Leena, you coming?¡± came the question from one of the boys, she could not and cared not from which.


    Smiling brightly, wiped the last of her tears from her cheeks and a brilliant smile lit up her entire face.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be right there! Give me just a moment, please!¡±


    Dusting herself lightly, Leena sprang with her feet with more energy than she had shown in days and calmly walked forward towards the boys, who stood waiting.


    Skyle gave her an encouraging nod, which Leena returned in kind before sending a dazzling smile toward the boy whose life she would eventually take.

 Chapter 39 - Regrets

    Chapter 39 - Regrets


    A thin, shrill sound rang out through the pre-dawn air, distinctive enough from the sounds of the forest waking up around them that they were sure it would carry for a long distance, just as the mercenary had explained.


    Leon withdrew the whistle from his lips, then craned his head attentively to one side while his eyes drifted shut. The sound he¡¯d been listening for came not too long after, no doubt issued by a similar whistle though it sounded as though it¡¯d come from a long distance away.


    ¡°East,¡± Leon muttered, opening his eyes and gazing at his companions with a helpless look. ¡°I guess that decides it, then.¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly while Leena assumed a much more neutral expression, as though this outcome did not please her at all. Which, of course, was completely the opposite. She was simply trying to be graceful about her victory, but a twinkle in her eye revealed a hint of just how pleased she was.


    Not that she had even been the one to suggest this solution. Leon would have had nothing of it, had that been the case. Instead, Skyle had been the one to step in to cut off another stand off with both Leon and Leena¡¯s voices quickly rising both in tone and heat. Seeing that no compromise seemed near, and with the full light of day about to break over the horizon, Skyle had suggested that they try to ascertain the direction from which their enemies might approach using the whistle, and depending on the result they would either move west, towards Dalorn where the Greenwood clan was located, or northeast, where the ominous Black Zone awaited.


    Leena enthusiastically began to take up her things, ready to set off, but Leon held up a hand to forestall her.


    ¡°I want to make one thing clear. We reach Dalorn, you drop off the brat, and we leave within the hour.¡± It was apparent that this ¡°we¡± did not include Leena, but Leon obviously felt the need to further clarify things with his next sentence. ¡°With or without you.¡±


    Leena did not seem bothered by this at all, promptly nodding her agreement to Leon¡¯s conditions. Skyle¡¯s brow wrinkled a little, but he said nothing either.


    Satisfied at last, Leon dropped his hand and gruffly nodded his head towards Skyle, presenting his back to him. ¡°Alright, let''s get a move on then.¡±


    The smaller boy hesitated for a moment before climbing on Leon¡¯s back with practiced ease


    The party set off at a brisk pace, traversing a dangerous compromise between the obvious reluctance of their enemies to enter the Red Zone, and risking the hazards inherent to skirting the edges of this beast infested forest. Still, no one complained and even though they were still suppressed under the weight of the terrible ordeals they¡¯d faced the day before, Leena clearly was putting some visible effort into the act of moving on and dealing with the day¡¯s problems, rather than those yet to come, let alone those which lay behind in the past.


    It was a hard thing to not appreciate such a spirit in a traveling companion, especially under the circumstances. Still, Leon barely acknowledged her presence and instead made sure to keep her in the edge of his vision at all possible times. This was as much of a habit as it was a conscious choice, and in this, Leon reflected, he did have a decisive advantage over his more innocent and thus far more vulnerable friend.


    Armed with the very eye of the gods themselves and wickedly smart as he might be, Leon had quickly come to realize that deep inside Skyle was still only a naive country boy. After the first moment that Skyle had decided to let Leon into his life, there had not been the barest hint of the turbid depths that indicated a mind scarred with the necessary lessons for survival in the real world. His little friend¡¯s world was one full of trust and loyalty, one where promises actually meant something, and where vows were kept because of the weight of a man¡¯s word rather than a complex set of checks and balances which were carefully kept hostage as ultimate guarantors.


    His was a simpler life, and in truth Leon did not look down upon Skyle at all for such a deficiency. If anything, he found that he truly envied his friend. He had seldom, if ever had need to use such a word, to admit to such a feeling, but he did so now with no scruples. A life where one did not have to pluck every single petal from even the simplest flower in order to find the poisoned needle lurking within, this was a harsh, often colorless life.


    A life like Skyle¡¯s seemed impossible to Leon, a thing so alien to him that he could not comprehend it. Neither would he wish to adopt it even if he had the chance, for the past lessons which had been scorched into his flesh - bitter truths on the true price of loyalty and trust - were sobering reminders that murdering such innocence was the cost of survival. Though this knowledge poisoned his view of the world until he could no longer discern black from white, and instead blended everything into a deep, perpetual gray, he knew now that there was no going back, ever.


    Perhaps it was this last piece of knowledge which prompted that unfamiliar coiling of envy deep in his heart. Skyle¡¯s world was one which would be forever denied to Leon, and there was no medicine nor regret which would ever mend this lack.


    Thus, it was up to Leon to shoulder Skyle¡¯s share under this burden of mistrust which must be borne at all times for the sake of survival. Such efforts were always to be directed outwards from the inside. This meant that in the current situation, his defensive efforts must begin with this useless elvish wench and the sniveling little kid. Survival was not a charity ball, and at this point Leon frankly could not care less about whose toes he stepped on, let alone whether there would be any collateral casualties.


    Hell, he was still angry at Skyle for the knife he had given to the girl, even letting her keep it. Something told him she was not to be trusted,and Leon liked to listen to his gut feeling because it usually ended up saving his skin.


    ¡°Leon, stop. I think we need a break at this point,¡± Skyle said softly, interrupting Leon¡¯s grim line of thinking.


    Leon raised his head towards the light filtering through the sparse foliage of the branches above, noting that it was still far from noon.


    ¡°It¡¯s still too early to stop. We need to put as much distance as we can from that place before we lose the daylight and are not able to travel anymore,¡± Leon refuted, not pausing his purposeful stride.


    ¡°It won¡¯t do us any good if we exhaust all our energy, especially if we come upon an unexpected danger,¡± Skyle reasoned calmly.


    ¡°You mean if the girl and the kid can¡¯t keep up,¡± Leon muttered almost accusingly.


    Skyle shrugged from where he lay perched on Leon¡¯s back. ¡°Like it or not, we¡¯re all traveling together now. A body is only as strong as its weakest member, Leon.¡±


    ¡°We are most definitely NOT,¡± Leon began heatedly, finally stopping his steps, letting Skyle off his back and glaring hotly towards Leena and Emil, who recoiled as though stung, ¡°one body, as you put it, and I need you to get it through your thick skull once and for all. Playing at being hero is fine and all when we can afford it, but it is a luxury that will cost us our lives out here, farmboy.¡±


    ¡°There are no heroes here, Leon. Only people doing humane things for their fellow human-¡± Skyle began slowly, but was instantly interrupted by the other boy.


    ¡°Just listen to yourself, she¡¯s not even human!¡± Leon burst out, pointing towards Leena, who had chosen to withdraw, taking Emil by the shoulders. The little boy¡¯s figure had been shuddering under her grip. He was probably crying once again, the sniveling little brat.


    ¡°She¡¯s human enough for me, Leon,¡± Skyle patiently stated.


    After taking a deep breath, Leon began once more. ¡°Look, all I care about is getting you and me safely out of this nightmare and back home in one piece-¡±


    ¡°Me too, Leon,¡± Skyle began, but the other youth kept going right on top of him.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°- And the costs be damned!¡±


    A moment of silence ensued, during which even the forest seemed to have quieted somehow. Then Skyle¡¯s voice reached Leon as though from a far, far away place.


    ¡°And do you truly think survival is worth any cost?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± came Leon¡¯s instant reply.


    ¡°Are you sure of that?¡± Skyle asked, his voice tinged with sadness.


    ¡°Of course I am, you little fool,¡± Leon snarled, his voice hot and heavy with the razor-sharp frustration he had held pent up inside all this time. ¡°And if you weren¡¯t such a spoiled little brat, you¡¯d know it too! Life is a cold, vicious game of cards where the winner takes it all. Hell, winning is the only thing that matters.¡±


    Skyle opened his mouth, a wounded look on his face, but then it closed without uttering a sound. Then the smaller boy opened his mouth once again, but after a brief moment of struggle, it closed and there was sorrow and worse yet, disappointment in Skyle¡¯s eyes. Leon¡¯s stomach heaved at the sight like he¡¯d been gut punched. For some reason, that look had hurt more than a physical blow would have, and at just that moment Leon couldn¡¯t figure out why.


    ¡°Look, Skyle. It¡¯s not that I-¡± Leon began with an aggrieved tone, but was cut off by the hand Skyle held up.


    ¡°Quiet.¡±


    It was a harsh and cutting word, and Leon was surprised to find that instead of sparking the fury or indignation he would have expected, only hurt and sadness welled up within his chest. Just what was happening to him?


    Leon opened his mouth, about to protest, but Skyle¡¯s imperious hand gesture forestalled him.


    ¡°Not you,¡± Skyle whispered, his eyes roaming around and taking on that spooky air his friend assumed when seeing things no normal human being ought to be able to see. ¡°The forest, it is too quiet.¡±


    Leon¡¯s hand immediately moved to his sword, while his other dug into his pocket, towards the elemental crystal he¡¯d left there for easy reach. His heart finally stopped pumping wildly, however, and his pulse actually began to settle down as his mind calmed down from his earlier agitation. Deadly danger might be lurking just ahead, but that was just fine by Leon.


    At least this was the sort of fight he was used to fighting.


    Leon resisted the impulse to distract his friend with stupid questions, and instead slowly began to draw elemental essence into his veins from the crystal in his hand. His eyes darted around, but he was not looking for the threat. By now Leon had been through enough with Skyle that he trusted his friend would let him know of any impending danger the moment it presented itself. Instead, Leon was doing his part, carefully scanning the area around them and looking for any defensible areas or vulnerable points.


    That meant his eyes immediately sought out the girl and little boy. Granted, in his book they were liabilities at best, weaknesses the enemy might exploit against them or burdens that would hold them down in the crucial moment that would decide whether you lived to feel guilty about sacrificing a couple strangers, and simply died like some stupid fairy tale hero.


    At worst, they might turn against them, whether for their weapons, their crystals, or who knew what else the natives did to rifters like them. Sure, the girl was comely enough, but something in his gut just told him she needed minding. Leon had long learned to listen to his gut feeling. For instance, something had told him he could and should trust Skyle, and that had already saved his skin more times than he cared to count.


    For now though, they were not a threat. At least, not yet. They were, however, a glaring weakness because he knew full well that Skyle would not hesitate to risk his own life, and by extension, Leon¡¯s own, in order to protect these two innocents.


    That¡¯s how Skyle would view them, Leon knew, while to him they were simply victims. The world was full of them, and it was only a pity that Skyle had not learned this lesson yet.


    Shaking his head grimly, Leon briskly gestured to Leena and Emil, beckoning to them. Leena looked like it was the last thing she wanted to do at this moment, but with a deep breath, she turned Emil around and began to walk towards Leon.


    ¡°Faster, like you mean it,¡± Leon growled under his breath, not wanting to rise just yet in case Skyle needed him. His friend¡¯s splinted leg severely impeded the smaller boy¡¯s ability to move, and thus Leon might need to help him.


    Slowly, deliberately, Leon withdrew the sword from the scabbard hanging by his side, and his fingers tightened around its hilt. The muscles in his arm bulged as he reflexively clenched them, preparing for any sudden action he might need to take.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Skyle murmured, his eyes wandering as though he were lost. This was certainly unusual, Leon reflected. Usually, the farmboy¡¯s eyes were keener than an eagles, and would unerringly focus upon dangers far before they were an actual threat.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Leon asked, shifting his feet uneasily as he watched Leena and Emil make an agonizingly slow progress towards them. What was the matter with the woman, she¡¯d been running well enough back when the lizard dogs from hell had been nipping at their heels.


    ¡°You know that I periodically scan the forest around us with my True Sight. It usually picks up nothing of interest: small game, birds, rodents. Then during our conversation, it became too quiet and I did a routine scan with a cone True Sight. All the auras had gone berserk with fear, as though they¡¯re fleeing for their lives.¡± Skyle¡¯s tone was measured and composed, but the way he licked his lips gave away just how tense he really was. ¡°Now I see nothing around us, and that is the most disturbing thing of all.¡±


    Leon grit his teeth while he hefted his sword, his other hand deftly weaving the now familiar pattern of a fire shield. ¡°Whatever it is, you should be able to see it coming with your True Sight, right?¡±


    Skyle did not answer, and Leon had to turn his head around to see his friend shaking his head mutely, his eyes constantly scanning the area.


    Cursing under his breath, Leon finished casting the shield and a translucent sphere of scarlet energy flared into life around him, pulsing faintly with power.


    Suddenly, pain shot up Leon¡¯s hand and he looked down to see Skyle clutching at his hand in a deathgrip.


    ¡°Leon, no!¡± Skyle hissed, his eyes suddenly looking up, and all the blood drained from his face. Leon automatically followed his gaze, craning his head up and squinting.


    ¡°Wha-?¡± Leon muttered, but the rest was cut off short as Skyle¡¯s shout rang out painfully in his ears.


    ¡°Down!¡±


    Leon¡¯s gaze was still searching the skies for any perceived threats, and seeing nothing, was too slow to react to Skyle¡¯s warning. By the time he saw the barest hint of a shadow growing larger in his vision at a terrifying speed, it was simply too late to avoid it. All he could see was the cold glint of a massive talon aiming straight for his eye, and in his petrified state of shock, all he could hear was a small voice wondering, of all things, whether Skyle would remember him by the bitter words of the last argument they had.


    Then a heavy impact drove the air from Leon¡¯s lungs and he was flung off his feet, the air knocked out of him by the blow. The hit seemed to clear his head somewhat, and he recovered enough presence of mind to wonder what the hell had happened to his flame shield. It should have provided at least some marginal protection against frontal attacks, but Leon was sure it hadn¡¯t even activated.


    Still flying through the air, such thoughts were knocked loose from his head again as he felt his body lurch to a sudden stop and a violent explosion almost burst his eardrums. Leon felt the impact rattle his bones as crimson energy flared brightly in his eyes.


    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s the shield,¡± Leon thought lamely, as energy exploded forth and he was jerked in a different direction from the one he¡¯d been flung to initially. The jolt jerked his neck violently to one side with a deafening crack, and his vision swam as his body twisted in a crazy spin through the air, trailing smoke in a jumble of limbs.


    As his world spun in a dizzying circle around him, Leon struggled to draw in just one more stubborn breath. Only one, was his fervent prayer, though by the area he¡¯d felt the impact in, he knew it was close to the lungs and heart. From the force and violence of the impact, Leon knew it was only a fool¡¯s wish. That didn¡¯t stop him, however.


    ¡°Just one more breath so I can at least take one shot at whatever damnable beast has finally killed me,¡± Leon growled in his head, his fist clutching convulsively at the sword he still felt in its steely grip. ¡°Because I¡¯ll be damned if I¡¯ll walk to Cilcer¡¯s Torments by myself.¡±


    ¡°Skyle!¡± came the plaintive, morning cry, more of a howl, and that was enough to bring Leon fully back to his senses.


    It had not been Leon¡¯s own voice. Nor had it been Leena¡¯s. Instead, the voice that called out that wretched cry, more of a heart-broken lament, had been that of Emil.


    ¡°Why would he be crying Skyle¡¯s name when I was the one..¡± Leon began in his mind, then his blood ran cold as free hand desperately clutched towards his chest, where he had felt that first impact.


    Not his chest, Leon realized, with a growing horror clutching at his heart.


    It had been his back.


    Not a blow, either. It had been a push, as Skyle forcefully tackled the much bigger Leon from behind in order to shove him out of the way of impending doom.


    Rising to his unsteady feet, Leon frantically searched around, a violent cocktail of emotions bubbling up his throat from the acid scorching his heart. Fear was heavy there, and so was anger. The bitter taste of ashes that parched his throat, however, was mostly regret.


    ¡°Skyle!¡± Leon cried out, his eyes roving around, searching everywhere, but there was nothing to be seen, no hint that his friend had even been there except for some fresh blood marking the grass at his feet.


    Leena and Emil huddled there, taking refuge in each other¡¯s arms as they stared with grief-stricken eyes at Leon, who seemed as though he had gone mad, howling to the sky and demanding that it take him instead.


    A cold, indifferent breeze would be the only reply he received.

 Chapter 40 - Life is not Fair

    Chapter 40 - Life is not Fair


    Wind howled in Skyle¡¯s ears as it buffeted him, bringing blinding tears blurring across his vision. All the while, he cursed himself for a fool. He had come to rely far too much on the True Sight, and had only thought of using his newly acquired Farsight when it had already been too late.


    By the time Leon had finished casting his spell and conjured that brightly glowing ball of light into life around him, the warning had done little good. The only thing Skyle saw was a hazy afterimage of Leon being thrown into the air, as though by a violent impact. He hadn¡¯t even been able to see the attacker, except for a massive shadow streaking past his vision.


    Now, as the tears slowly began to dry due to the wind that brought them up in the first place, Skyle slowly craned his head up to see just what had attacked him.


    It was a bird, if such a massive creature could still be considered one. It was covered in iridescent feathers that glittered strangely under the light, as though they were made of crystal. Though its shape was similar to that of an eagle, its wingspan was easily forty or fifty feet from tip to tip. A wickedly sharp beak with a cruel curve to it told him this was a bird of prey, a hunter that would tear its meat to shreds, and its formidably muscled claws could easily let it prey on most of the creatures Skyle had seen in this world so far.


    In fact, as the wind roared against Skyle¡¯s face, the small boy was momentarily lost in a daze of wonder that he hadn¡¯t died when the beast first snatched him from the ground. Those claws would have driven through his tender flesh as easily as though it were butter, but they had been aiming for Leon. After Skyle¡¯s shove, fueled as it was by the panic burning in his heart, sent Leon sprawling sideways, he still had enough presence of mind to twist his body away from the incoming attack.


    However, the beast had simply been too fast. Its claws had still been reaching towards Leon, but missed their target and instead brushed against the edge of Leon¡¯s sphere of protection. This seemingly near miss had instantly shredded the shield and sent Leon flying away and to relative safety.


    Skyle, however, was not as fortunate. Incredibly, the instant its claws missed their intended prey, the flying beast had spread its wings wide in a dazzling display of glittering feathers. The sheer air pressure as it slowed down its descent had sent Leon flying even further away, but that maneuver had changed the trajectory of the beast¡¯s flight enough that one of its claws scraped against Skyle¡¯s shoulder. The razor sharp edges cut a thin line of blood, then streaked past in a near miss. In the last moment, however, it latched on to the arch of Moonshadow¡¯s limb sticking out over the boy¡¯s shoulder.


    Had the beast not slowed down its descent, this impact alone would likely have cut Skyle¡¯s body in half. As it was, the bowstring dug painfully across Skyle¡¯s chest as it lifted him off his feet. The sharp blow expelled all the breath from his lungs, and his mouth opened in a silent protest as the ground grew increasingly distant with alarming speed.


    It was hard to breathe as the beast kept soaring higher and higher, the great whooshing bellow of its wings drowned out only by the deafening thumping of his own heart as it stammered in fear. Skyle¡¯s first instinct had been to fumble for the knife at his waist. Belatedly, however, he realized that he had given it to Leena. Not that it would have done him much good, in any case.


    As he craned his head around, the trees below grew increasingly smaller and Skyle finally began to realize that unless the knife also sprouted wings somehow, he would be far better off just keeping itsafely tucked away where it wouldn¡¯t get him killed. As far as useless gestures of heroic defiance went, he figured, giving this giant beast a small nick in its claw would at best annoy it into loosening its grip and leaving Skyle to fall to his ignominious death. At worst, the great bird of prey might begin to feel peckish and tear his head off with that great beak before hauling Skyle to wherever place it was heading to.


    It only now began to slowly dawn on Skyle that the bird had not really harmed him yet. In fact, it had already shifted its grip but still held onto Skyle by the bow, and not his body. It was almost as though it were trying to avoid further injuring him. This caused Skyle to feel trepidation in his heart, but he stopped looking for a way to free himself and instead managed to calm his mind enough that he finally began to take stock of his situation.


    His shoulder felt numb but it wasn¡¯t broken, nor had he lost mobility in it. As he shifted his weight slightly, all the while keeping a wary eye on his captor¡¯s reaction, he finally managed to relieve some of the pressure from it and instead hung from the limbs of Moonshadow with his arms. The giant bird simply didn¡¯t seem to care as it kept flapping its great wings in powerful motions, steadily rising higher.


    Slightly more comfortable now, Skyle quietly checked his body for other injuries. Other than the shallow cut along his shoulder, he wondered at the fact that he seemed to be in one piece. Had he simply been fortunate?


    As the small boy pondered on this, the steady upward surge of their momentum finally stopped. Instantly and as though by magic, the thunderous roar of the wind died down and instead it was replaced by a mysterious silence that was deafening in its own special way. Moisture tickled his face, and as Skyle raised his head the puzzled frown he wore gave way to open astonishment, his mouth gaping open while his eyes drank in the majestic sight set before him.


    They were soaring past clouds, masses of white swirls that seemed solid from the distance but which became pure mist as they streaked past them in an exhilarating blur of speed. The wind, however, had stopped howling against Skyle¡¯s face, and quickly he realized this was because the bird had stopped moving its wings. Instead, they were stretched open and the crystalline feathers fluttered in place as they caught and rode a great current of wind that gently carried them as though they were floating through an invisible river.


    Now that the stinging wind was out of his eyes, Skyle could appreciate the incredible view for the very first time. Far below him, he could distinguish various landmarks he had hazily seen through the top of the trees whenever he climbed up high enough. In the distance, various peaks rose in solitary defiance against the great skies, but ultimately were dwarfed by the immensity of the heavens.


    Now, Skyle towered over them.


    Perhaps he would have enjoyed this moment for a while longer, had he not managed to distinguish a peculiarly shaped mountain rising higher than any other peaks. It was shaped almost like a crescent moon, as though it had been a cresting wave that had been solidified right before it crashed and broke against the sea of green spread out at its feet.


    ¡°That¡¯s the mountain from the map!¡±


    Skyle could still vividly recall the map Leena had shown him. Entrenched deep within the depths of the black zone, a solitary mountain had instantly attracted Skyle¡¯s eyes. He had thought it to be an exaggeration in the map, but as he stared at the peak silhouetted against the distant skyline, Skyle couldn¡¯t deny that it looked exactly like it had been drawn in the map.


    ¡°That means it is taking me into the Black Zone!¡± Skyle realized, and a potent mixture of fear and thrill ran through his veins.


    ¡°First things first, you dolt!¡± Kendric Farrow¡¯s voice berated inside Skyle¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t forget you have this overgrown chicken to deal with first.¡±


    A smile just barely nudged up the corners of Skyle¡¯s lips as he pictured his father scolding him good-naturedly, even adding another of his signature knuckles to his son¡¯s head as he impatiently urged him onward.


    ¡°He really would call it an overgrown chicken,¡± Skyle thought to himself. ¡°And probably treat it as one, too.¡±


    This added brief mental image pulsed strength into Skyle¡¯s limbs and spread warmth within his chest. His father had never shown dismay or fear when confronted with any obstacles. As far back as Skyle could remember, Kendric Farrow had never met a challenge he could not overcome, nor a problem he could not solve. Now, it was his son¡¯s turn to follow his example.


    Skyle could only hope that he could keep Moonshadow by his side by the time they finally reached their destination. Miraculously, he could even feel a few arrows left in the quiver. If he could evade quickly enough after the claws released him, he might be able to fire off an arrow into the bird¡¯s eyes and distract it long enough that he could lose it within the thick forest below.


    It was a very long shot, but Skyle nodded to himself with grim resolve, his hand on Moonshadow tightening in a white-knuckled grip.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Beating insane odds was, after all, part of the Farrow family¡¯s tradition.


    After another handful of minutes, during which the ground streaked by beneath his feet in a dizzying blur, Skyle had finally formed several contingency plans for each action the giant bird might take towards the end of their flight. It did not change the fact that he was in a hopeless situation, but just as his father had taught him, such careful, methodical thinking helped to calm him down. That could ultimately mean the difference between life and death.


    Now, as the bird finally began to descend and its speed decreased, Skyle could see a vast forest of stone pillars starkly outlined against the morning sky. These peculiar rock formations did not look to be man-made, but all the same Skyle couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion that some divine hand had picked up rock after rock and stacked them one on top of the other until they rose to their present mind-boggling heights in an impossible display of inhuman patience.


    As they drew nearer, Skyle could finally begin to take better measure of their scale, and it only left him further flummoxed. The smaller pillars of rock rose at least three to four hundred feet into the air, their bases so wide that it would take fifty men or more linking their arms to surround it. Again, these were the smaller towers. They were dwarfed by even more towering rock formations that stabbed a thousand feet or more into the sky, their sides faces of flat rock that had weathered the ages and stood in silent defiance against the ravages of time.


    The bird deftly flew past many of the pillars, easily swaying back and forth to squeeze through spaces so narrow that at times even Skyle couldn¡¯t help but gasp in fear. Still, the beast gracefully maneuvered its way past the sea of obstacles in a manner that belied its great mass. It pirouetted this way and that, barely needing to beat its great wings and instead gracefully gliding alonginvisible streams of wind with the ease of a fish swimming within a river.


    In the beginning, Skyle¡¯s gaze had been riveted on the rockly formations as each seemed to loom large in an inevitable collision course before another seemingly effortless maneuver saw them easily soaring past, straight towards the next inescapable stone face. However, Skyle had always been quick to adapt, and now his attention was completely focused on the bird. Specifically, Skyle was stuyding its aura with his True Sight, examining its focus and intent.


    For the time being, a serene shade of blue dominated the beast¡¯s aura, although a tinge of scarlet always seemed to be lurking in one corner. Skyle couldn¡¯t decide if this red indicated anger or hunger, and decided that ultimately it would not matter. He would still need to react as soon as this color blossomed further and finally turned its attention to Skyle.


    The moment this happened, Skyle had long decided, he would activate his Farsight. It was very taxing to activate, so he could only use it in the crucial moment when an extra moment or two of warning might end up saving his life.


    It was precisely because of this single-minded focus that Skyle did not even turn his head; he did not so much as blink his eyes as the great claws that had held him for so long abruptly let go. Skyle felt as though he were floating in the air for one endless moment, then abruptly plunged down towards the ground at a terrifying speed. His hands could notreact in time, as one of his contingency plans should the beast suddenly let go of him in the air had been to loop a corner of Moonshadow around one of the notches in the great bird¡¯s fearsome talon.


    Skyle belatedly began to cry out, panic finally rising up his throat as he clutched at the empty air with desperate hands. There was nothing to hold on to, nowhere else he could go but straight down. His stomach rose up into his throat as the feeling of plummeting in free fall gripped his heart and froze it cold in complete disbelief.


    He simply couldn¡¯t believe that this was how he would die, his small, boyish corpse shattered on the rocks below. He couldn¡¯t accept that this was all he would earn for all his years of hard training under his father, for all the struggles and sacrifices he had made in order to survive this far.


    It simply wasn¡¯t fair.


    ¡°Remember, son. Life is simply not fair.¡±


    His father¡¯s somber words came to him at this moment, and Skyle thought he finally understood what he meant. In this one moment that seemed to stretch endlessly as he plummetted to his death, Skyle finally began to grasp at a concept that had completely escaped his realm of comprehension before.


    He really could die, right here in this moment. He would die here, and for all of his training, for all his skills with the bow, the blossoming of his talent with the Solitary Star Technique, it was all useless. There was simply nothing he could do to change his fate, and he would die alone and broken in this forest of stones, the last marker of his early grave.


    This realization struck him like a physical blow, and at long last Skyle thought he could understand the frantic anger and the desperate fear that had seemed to bubble up from Leon from time to time.


    ¡°Because life is not fair,¡± Skyle snarled to himself, as his lungs finally emptied out the last of his breath and the wordless scream finally died down, leaving only the deafening howl of the wind as he plunged ever downward.


    CRACK!


    The sound of impact drove icicles of pain into Skyle¡¯s back, a series of bone-crunching cracks that terrified him as soon as the numb blankness that had blackened his mind dissipated enough that he could swim back up to full consciousness. Horror swiftly followed in the sound¡¯s wake, both at the breathless expectation of the savage pain that would be sure to follow and the fact that he was still conscious to experience it.


    Yet the pain never came.


    That was not to say he didn¡¯t hurt. As Skyle lay there, his limbs limply splayed out around him as pain wracked his entire body, he didn¡¯t even dare to draw breath for fear of the renewed surge of agony it would bring with it. Still, there was pain, and then there was pain.


    The kind of life-ending, all-encompassing pain that would swallow his world whole and leave only angry red flames licking at the ashes of his shattered sanity, that wasn¡¯t present. Only the normal pain that is your body¡¯s way to tell your brain that whatever you just did was a very bad idea, that was the only kind of pain Skyle could feel. In a way, this kind of pain was a good thing, because it let him know that first, he was still alive to feel it, and second, his body was at least functioning to the degree that it could still complain about it.


    The stars floating around in Skyle¡¯s vision slowly began to fade, and he squinted up to find the great, looming figure of the bird perched on top of a nearby mound of rock. It watched him with an eerie sort of intelligence Skyle wouldn¡¯t usually attribute to regular animals. Then again, this gigantic bird was anything but a regular animal. Still, that gaze tugged at his mind, demanding his attention. Its whole body reflected this fact too, vigilant yet expectant, as though it were waiting for something.


    Skyle was finally able to draw a deep, convulsive breath, and with it came a thousand needles of pain stabbing all across his body. They were surprisingly sharp, and Skyle instantly felt relieved at this fact. He had assumed that many parts of his body would have broken to the point where he would no longer feel anything but sheer agony, but instead all the nerves in Skyle¡¯s body loudly shouted to him that they were in fact working just fine, and were very displeased with him at the moment.


    As feeling slowly leaked back into his body, finally realized why he wasn¡¯t dead yet. As his body twitched stupidly in response to his command to move, he heard further cracks below him. The sharp needles of pain coming from below finally came through clearly enough that Skyle realized he had fallen on a pile of dry twigs. He shifted his weight more vigorously now, and more of the dry twigs underneath him cracked in response.


    This pile of twigs and branches breaking his fall were clearly the only reason Skyle had not pancaked himself against a rock. As Skyle threw a quick glance at his surroundings, he realized he had fallen right in the middle of an enormous pile of dry twigs and grass. The floor was sloped towards the center, and a rudimentary wall of thicker branches had been woven all around its perimeter.


    ¡°It¡¯s a nest,¡± Skyle thought numbly to himself. ¡°It brought me to its nest!¡±


    That the next logical question that should have immediately sprung to Skyle¡¯s mind took so long in arriving was just another indication of how dazed and confused he was by this whole ordeal. Still, eventually and after a small moment of stunned silence, he finally got there.


    ¡°Wait, why would it bring me to its nest?¡± Skyle wondered to himself, and his gaze once again returned to his captor. The giant bird still sat upon its perch in quiet expectation , calmly looking down at Skyle.


    ¡°Waiting,¡± Skyle thought, then finally the last question slowly oozed through the fumbling mess of his mind. ¡°Hold on, waiting for what?¡±


    This time, there was no hesitation at all, no pause to consider or weigh his options. Skyle immediately focused all the power of his will into his eyes, drawing upon the power of the Farsight.


    It wracked his head with a white fog of pain, but through it Skyle was able to see the dim silhouette of the bird¡¯s beak sinking into a small boy¡¯s back and ripping out chunks and pieces of spinal cord, flesh and blood with equal enthusiasm.


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not the same bird!¡±


    No sooner had he finished this thought, when he ignored all the screaming muscles in his body and pulled himself to his feet with sheer power of will. His body was still not fully responsive, however, and all it managed was a pathetic roll, more of a jerking roll that flipped him over and to one side.


    Still, that small victory was just enough as only an instant later, a wickedly curved beak stabbed into the twigs not two inches from Skyle¡¯s face. The boy¡¯s wide staring eyes swiftly followed that beak to its owner.


    Standing over Skyle was a bird that stood around two meters tall, covered in brown feathers, with limbs that were far too skinny and long to properly balance its body while the wings that lay tucked to its sides looked too small to actually help it fly. Its eyes, however, were alive with a fierce hunger that seemed entirely focused on its next meal. Then it all finally made sense to Skyle.


    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Skyle finally realized. ¡°I¡¯m the meal.¡±


    Still struggling to get to his feet, or to at least manage some semblance of movement from his twitching limbs before that beak found purchase in his flesh, Skyle reflected that life really wasn¡¯t fair at all.


    The damned bird had not even had the decency to leave him his bow.

 Chapter 41 - Little Gluttons

    Chapter 41 - Little Gluttons


    Skyle barely had enough time to stumble to his feet before he had to throw himself to the floor again, this time leaping sideways as the bird rushed forward once more, flapping its wings as it snapped its beak hungrily. The useless gesture with the wings seemed to be an indication of its excitement. Almost, Skyle could picture it as a young snowblade tiger cub reaching eagerly for its meal.


    Almost, if only Skyle himself weren¡¯t about to become that meal, the small boy reflected as he rapidly dodged yet another lunge from the hungry bird. The two meter tall chick who would be rather fetching, even cute if only it were smaller. That vibrant fan of feathers on top of its head was especially dashing.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Skyle growled to himself, shaking his head groggily. What was the matter with him? Why did he keep having these useless thoughts when he least needed them? Cute? The thing was trying to rip out his entrails to slurp them up for breakfast!


    Glaring at his attacker, Skyle breathed harshly through tightly compressed lips. He had no weapon, and it began to make sense to him as he realized that he¡¯d been dropped into this nest as food for the young chick. Skyle¡¯s father had taught him that some birds would refrain from killing smaller prey and would instead bring it back to their nests so as to develop their young offspring¡¯s hunting instincts.


    Skyle had to admit that the birds were certainly as beautiful as they were deadly, however. Even though the young bird¡¯s feathers didn¡¯t not have the same metallic iridescent quality as its mother, it still had the same air of grace and nobility to it. If anything, the slightly uneven proportion of its head to the rest of its body and limbs made it look even cuter, not less. Those feathers looked so soft, he wondered what it would be like to run his hand through and ruffle them.


    As the bird¡¯s beak rushed forward once more, Skyle barely managed to pull back the hand he had unconsciously begun to raise in its direction. The loud CLACK as it snapped its beak shut on nothing but empty air brought Skyle out of his reverie.


    ¡°Just what is going on here?¡± Skyle gasped inside his own head, rapidly backpedaling to gain some distance from his enemy as he tried to rally his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s trying to eat you, you fool. Wake up!¡±


    It finally struck Skyle as incredibly suspicious that his eyes kept wandering back towards the bird, and his focus would begin to waver once more.


    Hastily, Skyle dropped his gaze to focus on its legs as he continued to back away, but after a short moment his eyes would once again disobey him and begin to track upwards. Back towards those beautiful feathers.


    Skyle bit his tongue and the jolt of pain seemed to clear the haze in his head somewhat. Shaking his head, Skyle plunged headlong into the True Sight, grasping at straws that would help him avoid whatever strange hold the bird seemed to be able to exert over his mind.


    In his vision, strange waves of a soft red aura seemed to radiate from the young bird, and his eyes quickly found a mysterious pattern within these waves that seemed too complex to be random. They seemed to be originating from the crown of feathers on top of its head. However, as Skyle examined the patterns with the True Sight, to his relief he found that he was still able to remain clear-headed.


    ¡°These patterns, why do they seem so familiar somehow?¡±


    Finally free of the strange magic this aura had cast, Skyle was able to realize that this bird had to be very young, almost newly hatched. It lacked any of the grace that its mother was obviously capable of. In fact, its steps were rather clumsy and its movements were almost hesitant once it realized that Skyle would not just stand there and let it tear him to pieces.


    ¡°It must rely on the strange magic of those feathers in order to daze its prey,¡± Skyle realized. Still, there was a limit to how well Skyle would be able to dodge the bird with his injured leg, and it began to make its displeasure felt as fire began to crawl its way up his spine from it.


    Grimly tearing off a slender branch about the length of his own arm, Skyle swung it experimentally a few times as he cautiously eyed the mother bird. It still lay perched on top of the same rock, watching with an eerie intelligence in its eyes. However, it made no move to intervene and thus Skyle let out a small sigh of relief.


    ¡°Want me to serve as an object lesson for your child, do you? That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll teach it something alright,¡± Skyle promised darkly.


    When the baby bird once again rushed forward, leading with its beak, it finally learned its first lesson. Its clumsy attempt to attack what was likely its first target that was not distracted by its strange magic was met with failure, and a painful one at that. Skyle didn¡¯t even need to use the Farsight, as the little bird¡¯s attack was straightforward and easy to dodge by skipping sideways.


    All lessons must come at a price, and Skyle extorted such at the cost of a heavy rap against the top of the bird¡¯s skull. The branch in his hand crunched with the impact, and the small bird howled as it backed away.


    Quickly eyeing the branch in his hand, Skyle sighed in relief as he noticed he hadn¡¯t even drawn any blood. In fact, as he returned his regard to the bird, he could see that there were hardly any of the red colors which he had learned indicated pain or injury in a creature¡¯s aura. The cry had been one of surprise more than anything, as it likely hadn¡¯t dealt with much resistance from its prey before.


    In truth, Skyle had purposefully dealt a soft blow to the bird. After all, its mother was still watching him closely, and he had no doubt it would swiftly intervene should it determine that its precious offspring was in any real danger.


    As it was, Skyle reflected that he had just bought himself some precious time. This was time he badly needed, as Skyle began to to limp his way towards the sole object that offered some hope. It was the pack he had been wearing when the bird had snatched him into the air.


    Skyle snatched the pack off the ground as he began to slowly back away from the bird, all the while rummaging within it. Skyle let out a breath of relief as he realized that through some miracle, the bottle he had filled with the poison from the Dracolings had not broken. Initially, Skyle had intended to use the poison to set up traps if need be, or to use with his arrows in order to bring down bigger threats that his arrows otherwise would not be able to handle.


    ¡°Well¡±, he reflected, ¡°this certainly qualifies for the latter, I suppose.¡±


    While the mother bird would likely be far more resistant to such a poison, Skyle knew from experience that younger animals would be far more vulnerable to such. Still, as the small bird finally found its courage and began to approach Skyle once again, the small boy¡¯s hand paused briefly as it hovered over the bottle of poison.


    Skyle had thought of the poison because it would slow down the bird and allow Skyle to better resist its attacks, and buy him more time to find a way to escape the situation without invoking the mother bird¡¯s wrath by killing or injuring her offspring. Still, the thought of poisoning what amounted to a small baby, no matter how dangerous it might be to himself, was sickening.


    For some reason, as he watched the baby bird cautiously amble forward, Skyle was struck by an uncanny image of Ash and its first tentative steps when they had first met.


    ***


    ¡°Da, what is it?¡± Skyle murmured sleepily, rubbing at his eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t this wait till morn?¡±


    Kendric Farrow had returned one late night and much to Skyle¡¯s surprise, opened the bundle he carefully, almost gently cradled to his chest to reveal a small kitten with white fur streaked with gray. Though it sniffed in the air and shook uncontrollably, its clear, focused eyes revealed no fear nor hesitation, but rather the beginnings of an uncanny intelligence that captivated Skyle¡¯s attention from that very moment.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Skyle asked, breathlessly.


    ¡°Your new charge, from now on,¡± His father replied, while looking solemnly at the little boy. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s excited whoop of assent died in his lips when he saw the uncharacteristic seriousness in his father¡¯s eyes. Closing his mouth instead, he returned his attention to the small cub wrapped in the blankets, and amazing though it might be, he could swear the cub was returning his regard with equal seriousness.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost as though he can understand us,¡± Skyle breathed to himself, no matter how ridiculous his own words sounded to him.


    Kendric Farrow did not say another word, nor did he otherwise prompt another response from his son. Instead, he waited patiently. Though his expression was neutral, underneath the surface there lurked a somber severity to his expression that Skyle didn¡¯t quite understand. It was so unlike his father.


    Still, Skyle had no opportunity to ponder at this as his attention was wholly centered on the cub now. It gazed back at Skyle without uttering any sounds, and though its trembling grew even more violent, its eyes burned with ever more intensity.


    Just like this, several moments passed during which the small boy and the newly born cub seemed to reach something of an understanding. It was an exchange with no words offered, because they were not needed. Instead, a delicate communion was created between two remarkable young souls, and in the end it was well.


    ¡°Yes, I am ready,¡± Skyle said softly, his eyes still riveted on the small cub, and his father gently, if somewhat solemnly, passed the small bundle in his arms to his son.


    As though it could understand the words and their meaning, and almost as if it had been waiting for just such a declaration, the cub finally stopped trembling. Instead, lying cradled in Skyle¡¯s small arms, it lifted its head and let out a fierce cry as its body finally stopped shaking, and the fierce fire in its eyes finally seemed to come to rest.


    Kendric¡¯s expression did change now, and it was a smile that lit up his face. It wasn¡¯t a boisterous grin that stretched from corner to corner, nor a loopsided smirk such as the ones he used to infuriatingly good measure to encourage his children to do better. No, this one was the most rare of all, the secret ones his father allowed himself to indulge in when he thought his children were not watching. The ones that were the smallest rays of sunshine piercing through a patchy sky, bringing with it the radiant promise of a new sun. They were the ones that spoke of pride that burned deeply and shone brighter still, no matter how his father tried to hide it.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Good, good. Well done you little runt. Since this fellow seems to have taken a liking to you, you might as well give him a name.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Skyle started, looking up at his father in bewildered surprise.


    ¡°Do you see any other little runts here,¡± His father cried out in mock exasperation.


    ¡°Err, no. I just thought, ah, names were important to snow tigers,¡± Skyle mumbled, lowering his gaze to the small cub.


    Catching hold of his son¡¯s chin in one massive, calloused hand, Kendric gently lifted it to gaze into Skyle¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°They are,¡± came the simple response.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes beamed with joy, but then the fire died down slightly as his brow furrowed in thought.


    ¡°Ash?,¡± Skyle finally said in a hesitant voice, peering up at his father.


    ¡°You telling me or asking me, boy?¡± came Kendric¡¯s grunt.


    ¡°Ash,¡± Skyle said, more confidently this time. ¡°His name will be Ash.¡±


    ¡°Well, alright then. Ash it¡¯ll be,¡± Kendric nodded contentedly. ¡°It¡¯s a good name. Looks like the little fellow likes the name too.¡±


    Indeed, the cub had begun to let out contented cries that might have sounded fierce had it been little more than a newborn. As it was, it was simply too funny.


    Skyle began to laugh, and his father¡¯s hearty chuckle joined in. After a moment, the cub seemed to realize why they were laughing, and a prickling pain came from Skyle¡¯s hand as tiny fangs chomped down on the little boy¡¯s skin, an indignant glare burning in Ash¡¯s eyes.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but continue to laugh, especially when Ash began to mewl in protest. When the cub chomped down on his hand again and finally drew a few drops of blood, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but collapse backward.


    He was laughing so hard he could barely get a breath in.


    Finally giving up, Ash let go and instead raised his head to give another baby roar, and though this one was a good deal fiercer, it was still simply one of the most adorable things Skyle had seen in his young life.


    ***


    Snapping himself out of a memory that simply wouldn¡¯t help him in the current situation, Skyle frantically dug through his pack as he looked for something, anything that could help him in this situation. Finally, his hands reached a carefully wrapped bundle with several hard objects within.


    ¡°The essence crystals!¡± Skyle cried out in his mind.


    Shifting his gaze back to the bird, Skyle narrowed his eyes as he delved deeper into what his True Sight revealed. Those patterns that emanated from the feathers seemed to be consuming an inordinate amount of elemental essence, and Skyle could see that several of its colors were quickly losing their luster, as though being drained dry.


    Frowning in thought, Skyle decided that the crystals wouldn¡¯t do him any good in any case, since he couldn¡¯t tap into the elemental essence himself, in any case. They had only been gathering them for Leon¡¯s use and in case they could use them for barter later on. Now, a more intriguing idea sprang to Skyle¡¯s mind.


    Sifting through the handful of crystals in the bundle, Skyle risked a quick glance down to pluck out a crystal that seemed of a similar hue to that of the one being depleted on the small bird.


    The instant he took out the crystal, the baby chick¡¯s eyes abruptly shifted from Skyle to the crystal being held in his hand. When Skyle shifted the crystal to his other hand, its eyes followed as though they were glued to it.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s crystal, ah, candy. Delicious crystal essence candy, you little beast,¡± Skyle cooed in a soft voice, trying to sound as friendly as he could. ¡°You want this candy, don¡¯t you you little glutton?¡±


    The bird¡¯s eyes were rivetted on the crystal, and Skyle almost imagined that it nodded its head up and down as it slowly drew closer.


    ¡°Yes, a delicious essence crystal candy that costs more than what I¡¯ll make in ten years, now how lucky is that?¡± Skyle continued, and though it took every fiber of courage in his body to do it, he stopped backing away and instead let out a deep breath as it held out the crystal to the bird. ¡°Here, you can have it. All yours, little fellow. You know you want it, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The chick stepped forward, and a massive beak that could easily snap his entire hand off slowly yawned open. Skyle¡¯s eyes were open as wide as he could as he burned his True Sight as brightly as he could, inspecting the bird¡¯s intent. While Skyle could tell the bird¡¯s aura was full of a voracious hunger, Skyle simply couldn¡¯t tell if it was aiming at just the crystal or a crystal and a bit of little country boy on the side as well.


    Thankfully, Skyle¡¯s minucius attention paid off as he saw the bird¡¯s intent just a second before it lunged forward. Its beak dove towards the crystal and snatched it in the blink of an eye, but if Skyle hadn¡¯t let go and withdrawn his own hand, he had no doubt a few of his fingers would have been part of its prize as well.


    Skyle could detect no malice or disappointment in the bird¡¯s aura. Instead, it quickly backed away from Skyle while holding the crystal in his beak, all the while glancing sideways at the little boy with more than a little suspicion.


    Finally plumping down at a comfortable distance, the little chick began to nibble at the crystal instead of swallowing it whole. Skyle¡¯s gaze turned incredulous as just after a few moments, sharp cracks could be heard as the crystal¡¯s tough exterior was no longer able to endure under the chick¡¯s voracious assault. With a series of small explosions, hairline cracks finally burst open and the chick began to swallow the smaller pieces, gorging itself with happy sounds.


    Again reminded of Ash, for a moment, Skyle wondered if all baby magical beasts were as unashamedly gluttonous in their meal time.


    Reminding himself that now was not the moment to reminisce, Skyle glanced up towards the giant bird, but it seemed to be pointedly ignoring Skyle for the moment, no longer even looking at him. If it were his own father, Skyle could have sworn he would have been shaking his head and clucking his tongue, clearly far too embarrassed to even acknowledge what his child had been reduced to.


    Using his True Sight to inspect his surroundings, Skyle had to fight down despair as he realized just how deep his predicament was. The nest¡¯s walls extended to merely three times his own height, and he was certain climbing outside would be no obstacle at all. However, the true problem was what did lay beyond those walls.


    Nothing.


    This stupid bird had chosen to lay its nest on top of one of the tallest stone columns in this entire strange forest of such, and Skyle could see that the nearest column lay a good fifty feet or more away. It was an impossible distance to jump across. As for climbing down, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but glance down at his wounded leg.


    The broken bones had barely begun to knit back together. Although Leon had been able to use the medicine they had found to great effect, and further reinforced the effect with his own elemental spells, Skyle had not been able to make use of either. The potions, though helpful, hadn¡¯t been nearly as effective for him as they had for Leon. And though Leon had tried to cast the healing and reinforcement spells on Skyle on more than one occasion, it had resulted in failure time and time again. Not even Leon, let alone Skyle had been able to guess at the reason. Skyle¡¯s own True Sight could tell him nothing beyond the fact that the elemental essence seemed to simply scurry off his body as though it were rain bouncing off the surface of a rock.


    Thus, Skyle knew he couldn¡¯t possibly negotiate a three hundred foot climb down the pillar. There was a length of rope in the pack, looted from the camp. However, it wasn¡¯t even thirty feet long, and sorely lacking for the task at hand. Even in the event that he did manage the climb, travelling the hundreds of miles the bird had crossed in the space of a handful minutes of flight without Leon¡¯s help would be a nightmarish ordeal. After all, who knew what kind of predators lurked this deep in the forbidden Black Zone?


    ¡°One problem at a time, Skyle,¡± the small boy muttered, forcing himself to take deep breaths to calm down the frantic beating of his heart. ¡°First, I need to find a way to take little country boy off today¡¯s menu.¡±


    Almost as though it had heard him, the little chick finally raised its head back up from its meal, returning its hungry gaze towards Skyle. It stood back to its feet with an excited bounce, and began to draw closer while its hungry gaze lay rivetted on the pack in Skyle¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Want more crystals?¡± Skyle couldn¡¯t help but chuckle nervously. ¡°Come get them, you little glutton.¡±


    The little chick chirped a reply, somewhat sharp but not entirely unpleasant, as it slowed down and turned its gaze upon the little boy. Beneath the ravenous hunger, there seemed to be a little caution in its eyes.


    ¡°Hey, no need to worry little fellow. I got your crystal right here.¡± Matching words to actions, Skyle took out another crystal, this one a little bigger than the last one. It sparkled prettily in the morning sun, and the chick¡¯s beak let a thin line of drool slip down its face.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, come closer. I¡¯m not gonna hurt you, we can be friends. You be nice to me, and I¡¯ll give you all the candy you can eat,¡± Skyle grinned, growing more confident and endlessly grateful that they had collected all the crystals from the dracolings¡¯ corpses.


    Skyle¡¯s job had been to deal with what many people considered to be some of the fiercest magical beasts anywhere, snowblade tigers. From a young age, he had come to learn that the smarter the magical beast was, the more cues they took from your body language and the tone of your voice. Hell, some of them could obviously understand the human language!


    Thus, it was important to show assertiveness and strength from the very beginning. Only then could the foundation be laid for mutual respect. Without such a relationship, a magical beast would inevitably come to view you as food.


    ¡°Here, take it,¡± Skyle smiled with far more confidence than he felt, holding forth another crystal.


    The baby bird glanced back and forth between the crystal and Skyle¡¯s face, and Skyle could see far more complex thoughts in its eyes than he would have initially attributed to it. The fact that he could use the True Sight was infinitely helpful in this, but his own experience dealing with the often times canny and greedy younger snowblade tigers was as much of a factor.


    In the end, Skyle caught the covert glance the chick threw at the last moment and read its decision a split second before it acted upon it. Thankfully, Skyle had been prepared, once again aided by his experience dealing with his own roguish snowtiger cubs, Ash in particular. Clever and greedy little fellow that he was, he had given Skyle plenty of headaches while growing up, but now it likely saved the little boy¡¯s life.


    The little bird¡¯s last hidden glance had been towards the pack on Skyle¡¯s back, and at the final moment instead of reaching out for the crystal in Skyle¡¯s hand, it had decided to go for the much bigger prize of the bag where all these delicious snacks were coming from. That this pack apparently already had an owner seemed to be of no object to the baby chick, as it drove its beak right for the center of Skyle¡¯s chest.


    Skyle, however, was far too canny and had been prepared even before he saw that last glance betraying the chick¡¯s intentions. This was why on the hand he held the crystal while the other still held the stick.


    As soon as the bird¡¯s beak shifted course towards Skyle¡¯s chest, the little boy shuffled sideways as though he had been ready for the move and the little bird¡¯s attack met no resistance at all. Instead, it closed on empty air only seconds before a sharp blow landed on top of its head with a sharp crack!


    The bird instantly recoiled as it howled both in pain and surprise. However, it had already felt this pain before and this time it was better prepared to deal with it. Instead of backing away, this time it readied itself for another attack.


    Little did it know, his opponent was again prepared to meet this new attack. In fact, even before it had begun, the attack died altogether as another sharp blow fell on top of the bird¡¯s head. The sudden shock of yet another attack finally shook the bird¡¯s courage as it flapped its wings and scrambled back in surprise.


    When the chick finally lifted its gaze back towards this strange prey that had stung it several times, it couldn¡¯t help but shudder at its expression. Although the baby bird didn¡¯t have much experience, this prey was different from all the other ones previously. It had not only managed to dodge its attack instead of standing dazedly gazing at its feathers, it had even struck back!


    Now, the prey stood there in a stance that spoke of easy confidence and overbearing power. In one hand it still held out the delicious crystal, while the other casually swung that hateful stick which had already given the bird several stinging blows.


    ¡°Now, you fat little glutton, come get your prize and you better not even think of going for this little master of yours again, or I¡¯ll really make you regret it,¡± Skyle growled, his grin all teeth.


    At first with obvious reluctance, the bird finally drew closer to Skyle. Its eyes constantly darted back and forth between the crystal and the stick, but it no longer dared to even look at Skyle¡¯s face. Instead, it slowly and tentatively reached out for the crystal, this time being very careful to avoid touching Skyle¡¯s skin.


    This time, when it lifted the crystal it didn¡¯t immediately back away, and instead hovered there for a moment, as though waiting.


    ¡°Go on, it¡¯s yours to enjoy. Good little birdy,¡± Skyle said encouragingly.


    As though it could understand the words, the baby bird finally scrambled away from Skyle and after a final glance towards Skyle, it began to crunch away at the crystal.


    All the while, the mother bird stood impassive, its gaze focused at a point as far away as possible.


    Still, Skyle wondered if he imagined a few heavy sighs coming from that direction from time to time. They could easily have been the wind, but they were uncanny in the way they never failed to remind Skyle of Kendric Farrow, his own father¡¯s sighs whenever Skyle tried something and failed so spectacularly, that it was all his father could do not to slap a hand to his own forehead in despair.


    ¡°Skyle 1, Birdy 0, I suppose,¡± Skyle allowed himself a small smile of victory, though his smile withered away as he thought of his limited supply of crystals, and the impossible climb down that awaited him.


    ¡°One step at a time, right Da?¡±

 Chapter 42 - Gratitude

    Chapter 42 - Gratitude


    ¡°Seven left.¡±


    What began as a sigh instead turned into a barely audible grunt as Skyle grit his teeth and grimaced in spite of himself. Half a day had already passed since he had first started feeding Birdy, as he¡¯d taken to calling the baby bird. During this time Skyle had been exploring the confines of the nest and raking his brain for any ways to escape his prison.


    Looking up at the head warden, Skyle only grunted to himself, unsurprised to see that the mother bird had still not moved a single inch from its lofty perch above. It was truly a majestic sight to behold, as the great bird was easily twenty feet long from head to tail. This made it one of the largest beasts he had ever beheld, let alone heard of. Not that it was simply a massively sized brute. The whole length of the beast glittered under the fading sun, its feathers like glistening jewels covering the magical beast in a shroud of mystery and grandeur. Every inch of it was grace and elegance, and unlike some other beasts whose great size would hamper their mobility, every line and contour of this great bird of prey screamed of speed and agility. It was as though nature had engineered the perfect avatar to symbolize those traits.


    At the moment, however, it sat immobile as a statue, impassive to the repeated lessons Skyle carved into her young hatchling¡¯s still malleable mind. The lessons came at a dear price, for Skyle more than to the student in question, Birdy. After all, every time it misbehaved Skyle would use another swift rap of his flashing stick to deliver a stinging reminder to the little fellow. These weren¡¯t the problem. Instead, it was the increasingly more frequent times when Birdy behaved well enough to warrant a reward that Skyle had begun to dread far more deeply as he constantly checked on the dwindling supply of elemental essence crystals in his pouch.


    Making some quick calculations, Skyle guessed at the current pace, he wouldn¡¯t last a day. It wasn¡¯t that Skyle was not aware of this ruthless math every time he doled out another crystal candy to the increasingly more enthusiastic Birdy. However, the fragile relationship between them was tenuous enough that Skyle knew any unexpected shortage in the supply of the delicious snacks would quickly and quite irreversibly shatter the fragile compromise they had reached.


    Crunching sounds came from where Birdy currently squatted on the ground, not three feet away from Skyle. The young boy had intentionally reduced the gap between the feeding bird and himself, knowing that while this distance was a good meter of how accepting of his dominance Birdy truly was, wild animals, especially particularly strong ones, would heavily guard their space while they were feeding, and thus vulnerable.


    It had cost Skyle over half his crystals so far for Birdy to accept this grudging compromise between respect and obedience, as Skyle crouched near enough to the baby bird of prey that one sudden lunge might mean the end of the young farm boy. As it was, Birdy pretended to ignore Skyle, and more pointedly, the stick in his hand as it continued to peck at the crystal in its claws.


    The sight of this baby bird¡¯s seemingly fragile beak smashing against the hard surface of the essence crystal with impunity was still a mind boggling sight to Skyle. After all, these were essence crystals. He had worked with such crystals for many years at his family¡¯s farm. It had to be known that elemental essence crystals were some of the hardest materials he knew of, far sturdier than rock or even steel! His familyusually worked with the same set of crystals for months, sometimes years at a time, and the only reason they needed to replace them was because of the way their snowblade tigers charged them with elemental essence.


    They used their fangs, grinding them against the crystals throughout the day like dogs would gnaw on bones. Skyle always wondered why they did so.Judging from the other blades they could project from their bodies at will, Skyle knew that they didn¡¯t need to grind them in order to keep the edges sharp. Each of their blades were already bestowed by nature of an alarmingly sharp edge as it was. Neither did Skyle think, as many scholars seemed to believe, that they did it in order to curb their growth. Personally, he was more inclined to believe they were merely grooming them, making them smoother and prettier. Snowblade tigers were first of all lazy, then smart, and right after that came vain. They were incredibly proud and egotistical creatures, and this was reflected in their care of their fangs. Usually, the larger the fangs grew, the higher the status of that particular cat was in the pride. They were a snowblade tiger¡¯s pride and deadliest weapon, after all.


    Snowblade tigers had twin razor sharp fangs protruding from their jaws. His father had explained that these were made of crystallized elemental essence rather than mere bone. Thus, not only were they anything but hollow or brittle, but could be considered one the toughest substances Skyle had seen in his young life. They could slice through cold iron like a knife through butter, as many amateur crystal hunters would find, much to their eternal regret, when they attempted to trap a snowblade tiger using regular iron or steel traps. The canny beasts would pretend to be caught and vulnerable, cleverly luring their so-called hunters into a false sense of security, then instantly slice through all the restraints as though they were made paper, then tear through any protective armor they wore with the same ease.


    Skyle knew all this, not only because of what the adults had told him, but because he had once witnessed the terrible aftermath of one such hunting party himself. He had spent entire weeks shuddering at night after that horrific scene, even going as far as shunning the company of his family¡¯s tigers. Only Ash and his patient, steadfast companionship had gotten him through that.


    Now, Skyle supposed, watching intently as Birdy almost delicately shattered another corner off the essence crystal in its claws, he had met yet another terrifying beast that regarded essence crystals as nothing more than a nutritious chew toy.


    Blithely unaware of all these thoughts, Birdy happily continued to snack on Skyle¡¯s hard-earned essence crystals. After a while, and not for the first time, Skyle glanced towards the mother bird while wondering why Birdy seemed so starved for essence crystals.


    There were plenty of bone residues once Skyle had begun tentatively exploring the nest. The remains of consumed prey were scattered here and there, enough that Skyle could see a pattern emerge. Usually, a large indentation where they had been presumably dropped, then large branches scattered about as though a brief struggle had ensued. The rest of it, which amounted to brown flecks and splatter patterns of matted blood, had been easy enough to identify. However, what puzzled Skyle was that none of these marks were recent. The most recent one he had found had to be at least a couple weeks old.


    That prompted the question: What could possibly force this great predator to neglect the feeding of her offspring? Why was she still not acting now that Skyle had repeatedly attacked her young? Far from being alarmed or worried, it seemed as though the mother bird was still patiently waiting for something else to happen.


    Skyle was still ruminating on such questions when Birdy¡¯s shrill call jerked him up. Turning to face the greedy little bird and its now empty claws, Skyle¡¯s expression was one of helplessness as Birdy began to eagerly flap its wings and tilt its head towards the pack on the little boy¡¯s back.


    Finally, it had come to this. Skyle was very reluctant to try it, but he had decided he needed to take some risks.


    ¡°No,¡± Skyle said in a firm voice, shaking his head and holding his hand out with the palm facing the little bird¡¯s confused look. ¡°No more for today. You¡¯ve had enough.¡±


    As Birdy examined Skyle¡¯s stance and processed his tone, the little boy could almost see the tiny cogs turning behind the little bird¡¯s uncannily intelligent eyes. The excited caws suddenly turned into angrier, more demanding cries as it slowly got to its feet and rose to tower over Skyle. With Birdy¡¯s eight feet frame, he easily assumed a threatening stance while glaring down at Skyle¡¯s relatively pathetic five feet height.


    Skyle didn¡¯t allow his facial expression to so much as twitch as he slowly lifted the stick in his hand and waved it under Birdy¡¯s glaring eyes, almost as though to give him a better look at it.


    ¡°You heard me. No more for today, you will get more tomorrow,¡± Skyle repeated in the same firm tone.


    This whole time, Skyle had a strange suspicion that Birdy could somehow understand most of his words instead of merely reading his body language and tone. Thus, he had stopped calling it fatty or glutton, and instead begun to talk to it as he would a regular person. His experience with Ash had taught him that there were magical beasts which were far more intelligent than even some regular people.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Birdy cried out shrily in protest, and it spread its wings in a threatening matter, its brown feathers flaring out in what might be interpreted as a threatening gesture. However, Skyle had the benefit of the True Sight. Under his watchful gaze, Birdy¡¯s aura was filled with a yellow tinge that gave the feeling of extreme caution, along with muddled tones of blue and purple which Skyle assumed was sadness or disappointment. After having to stake his survival on the information garnered from the True Sight so many times in the past few days, Skyle had quickly learned to not only rapidly process and interpret this information, but also heavily rely on it.


    Now, Skyle almost constantly relied on the True Sight. At first, it had been a struggle to keep it functioning as it steadily drew upon his stamina and focus reserves. However, with practice Skyle was now able to instantly and effortlessly switch the sight on or off at a moment¡¯s notice, therefore keeping the drain at its lowest. This had been one of his most important harvests in terms of survival skills so far, even more valuable than the ability to extend the True Sight¡¯s range in a cone instead of a broad semicircle in front of him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t test me, Birdy. You know it won¡¯t end well for you,¡± Skyle stated firmly, his gaze not wavering in the slightest against Birdy¡¯s threats.


    Perhaps it was the many lessons Skyle¡¯s stick had already inflicted on the young bird, or maybe it was something about Skyle¡¯s confident stance or his steely-eyed gaze. Regardless, in the end Birdy seemed to slowly deflate, likely considering that this must be the strangest preyitsmother had ever brought back to the nest.


    As the sun finally set over the horizon, Skyle sat on an improvised mat he had fashioned from the smaller, softer twigs lying about. As he carefully unwrapped the bandages over his wounded leg, Skyle was both surprised to see that the injury was showing clear signs of recovering at an incredible speed, and yet also disappointed when he realized Leon¡¯s magic had definitely failed, as it clearly was still far from healing completely. Only the potion seemed to have some effect, and thus Skyle dutifully cleaned the wound with some water from one flask, then reapplied more medicine to the area. Finally, he carefully replaced the bandage.


    Thankfully, Skyle had been taught by his father in many survival skills, and one of his first lessons had been to ensure that each member had his own personal stash of supplies. Thus, Skyle and Leon had split most of the items evenly, including the medicinal supplies and the crystals. While he had not expected to be separated from Leon in such a dramatic fashion, Skyle was once again grateful to his father¡¯s lessons, which had already saved his life many times over.


    ¡°Here I thought all you wanted was for me to grow up to be strong like you, Da,¡± Skyle whispered to himself, looking up into the distance. ¡°I thought it was all so darned unfair.¡±


    Suddenly, as Skyle thought of all the times he had broken into bitter tears or cursed at his father for his relentless training, for all the bruises and cuts and hardships that were the standard fare under his mentorship, a sourness spread across his nose and his eyes began to sting.


    ¡°I never understood why.¡±


    By the time other children were learning to ride a horse, Skyle had already hunted his first pack of stone wolves. When they were feeding their chickens, Skyle had been staring down malcontent snowblade tigers as he led snatched filled essence crystals from jaws twice the size of his chest.


    Staring down at his broken leg, at the torn skin of his fingers where the bowstring had worn it raw, at the torn fingernails and his own shaking hands, Skyle¡¯s voice now contained a barely repressed sob that choked his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Da, so sorry.¡± Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Skyle wiped the tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand, but more kept rolling down his face until he finally gave up.


    ¡°I think it is only now that I finally understand what you meant about the world being cruel and unfair. About needing strength to protect the ones you love. To keep mom and Kass and Reik and Ash, all of them safe, and away from places..¡±


    His blurry eyes spanned a slow, deliberate circle around the desolate landscape all around him, bathed in the dying light of a sun that even now threatened to desert him, just like everything else Skyle had taken for granted a mere couple days ago.


    ¡°Places like this,¡± Skyle finished, and his chest heaved as he thought of all the deaths, all the killing. Of the blood he himself had spilled, and what his mother would think when she found out. If she found out at all, that is. Skyle couldn¡¯t help but conjure up the horrified gazes of his younger siblings, Reik and Kass, as they heard of the terrible things he had been forced to do in order to survive. Eyes that had once held nothing but love and admiration would now be filled with horror and revulsion.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore!¡± Skyle remembered once screaming up at his father while kneeling on the ground after collapsing from sheer exhaustion, in between tears of anger and frustration at the brutal, relentless training. ¡°What kind of father are you? Why do you hate me? Why are you doing this to me?¡±


    ¡°Because you are my son, and I love you, and because I must,¡± had been his father¡¯s flat, startlingly unapologetic answer. ¡°Now get up and do it again.¡±


    A tightness spread around his chest that made it hard to breathe, and Skyle found that it was almost easier not to fight, not to struggle, to simply sit there and tell his lungs not to move. Only then, was the pain bearable. But Skyle was no stranger to pain, and no coward either.


    Taking a deep breath that raked his chest with fire, Skyle lifted his eyes to the indifferent sky once again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Da. I¡¯m sorry I never understood, not really. I wish.. I wish I could see you one more time, tell you face to face, that I¡¯m sorry and that I¡¯m grateful. But I don¡¯t know if I will. I wish I could, if only for one more time. But, I don¡¯t think I can. I tried and tried and tried so hard, but I¡¯m just so little, and the world is so big. I¡¯m trying but it¡¯s not working anymore, nothing is. Leon is gone, Leena too. I don¡¯t even know how they will survive this world without my sight, and I can¡¯t even worry about them because now I¡¯m trapped and alone and I can¡¯t think of anything anymore. I just don¡¯t understand why this is happening. Why me?¡±


    It all came out as a great flood of all the complaints and questions that had been roiling in his mind, slowly drowning him under their implacable weight. Never had Skyle felt more alone and helpless as this moment, sitting sprawled on top of this towering monolith as darkness encroached upon the land and a vast silence offered no answers to all his questions.


    Instead, a cold wind blew against his back and sent involuntary shudders running through his whole body. Skyle huddled in a miserable ball as he hugged his own shoulders and burrowed deeper into the pile of kindling. It was of no use, as the cold grew even more intense and his teeth began chattering.


    Suddenly, movementatthe edge of his vision startled Skyle awake from his consternation. Turning his head, the shadow of motion turned out to be Birdy. It tilted its head in askance towards Skyle, clearly a question in its eyes that lay beyond the small boy¡¯s ability to interpret. Still, he could take a guess.


    ¡°I said, no more crystals for today,¡± Skyle growled angrily, suddenly feeling as though the bird was the root cause for all this troubles and suffering.


    Birdy crooned softly as it shook its head at him, still watching intently.


    ¡°I said no more crystals, damn you! Go away!¡± Skyle screamed for what seemed the first time in a long time, venting his anger and frustration.


    Birdy watched Skyle with disquieting intensity as it refused to back down, drawing closer to Skyle step by step.


    Raising his stick in a threatening manner, Skyle rapidly made to rise. However, the sudden motion sent a surge of pain screaming up his leg, and he was spent sprawling off his feet. Alarmed, Skyle tried to roll sideways, but his feet became tanged in one of the branches nearby. The best he could manage was to lift his torso off the ground with one hand while raising his stick with the other in a puny attempt to stave off any attacks from a beak that could shatter essence crystals. If the situation weren¡¯t nearly so desperate, he would have laughed at how ridiculous it must have looked.


    As it was, Skyle was panting raggedly as he stared at Birdy with the True Sight, all the while desperately tugging on his trapped leg. The burst of colors hit his mind more clearly than his real sight, and his eyes widened as he slowly lowered his stick.


    ¡°Birdy..¡±


    Birdy didn¡¯t make any more noises as it slowly approached Skyle until its height towered over the little boy. However, Skyle¡¯s look was one of surprise, and even more, of embarrassment, as he silently dropped the stick he had been holding in a white-knuckled death grip.


    Birdy didn¡¯t even glance towards the fallen stick as it plopped down to the ground like it usually did when it wanted to take a nap. However, before dozing off the baby bird carefully lifted one of its wings to drape over Skyle¡¯s shivering figure. Glancing down to make sure it had done a proper job of it, Birdy seemed to give a nod of self-satisfaction before promptly closing its eyes and once again drifting off to sleep so swiftly that Skyle didn¡¯t even have a chance to react, let alone give his thanks.


    Skyle¡¯s shaking hand gradually came to rest upon the wing that lay over him, feeling an unexpected warmth coming from inside his own chest that was surprisingly even more comforting than the snug shelter of Birdy¡¯s feathers.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Skyle whispered softly, seemingly speaking to no one in particular.


    Birdly only gave an irritated shake of its feathers, as though reacting to the noise of a buzzing fly, before promptly resuming its slumber.


    To his surprise, wrapped within the warm embrace of the giant bird who had been trying to eat him only a few hours ago, Skyle found that sleep was notso hard to come by, after all.

 Chapter 43 - Stupid On First Sight

    Chapter 43 - Stupid On First Sight


    Should he ever get the choice, there would be no better way to be awoken from sleep. Not the gentle chiding of his mother as her lips brushed his nose with an adoring kiss. Nor the incessant nagging of Ash as the insufferable cat repeatedly nuzzled Skyle¡¯s neck with the fluffy fur on the underside of his jaw. Certainly not the sharp rap of his father¡¯s knuckles against the top of Skyle¡¯s skull, accompanied by yet another dramatic bemoaning of the woes of a humble, industrious farmer afflicted by a horde of lazy, blanket-dwelling, late-rising children.


    This was, Skyle thought as he struggled to vanquish the final vestiges of sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand, the perfect way to wake, but not truly wake. Instead, the groggy-eyed boy felt he had stepped into a scene from a dream.


    That was not to say his surroundings had changed, for they had not. The cold wind still bit fiercely at his face, and the gloom of the night had yet to give way to dawn. Birdy¡¯s wings still lay draped over him in an oddly touching manner, enfolding the young boy within a precious cocoon of warmth. The bird lay still, most likely still fast asleep as Skyle should by all rights be, yet the boy found himself disengaging himself and stepping away without once diverting his gaze from the sight which had captivated the entirety of his attention from the first moment his eyes had snapped open.


    The giant bird which had been perched upon the rock high off the ground was finally gone for the first time in what seemed an eternity. Skyle had been struggling under the constant struggle of her presence, always wondering whether his latest interaction with Birdy would finally be one step too far. He had been suffocating under the unbearable pressure of her shadow this entire time, dreading the moment when the apex predator would finally swoop in and end his struggles. The most ironic thing was that now that she finally gone, he almost didn¡¯t notice her absence at all. Such was the dreamlike state Skyle found himself in, that he heard neither the howling of the wind, nor the brittle snapping of the twigs under his feet.


    All he heard was the song. It was a pure melody, sublime and perfect in its simplicity. Not pretentious like some of the traveling bards who visited the town every once in a while, with their powdered faces and loud bellows. No, this was soft, like the whisper of a stream during the first melts of spring carrying the promise of brighter days. It was warm like the scent of fresh baked honey-butter biscuits piping hot from his mother¡¯s oven. There was the light caress of an autumn rain drizzling over your feet during a sun sprinkled afternoon.


    All of this, and more threatened to overwhelm Skyle in a tidal bore of emotions that tightened his throat and stung his eyes until tears began to well up, then roll down freely down his cheeks while a truly foolish smile lifted the corners of his lips.


    The song, he had heard even before opening his eyes. He had been wandering in oblivion, in the darkness of unknowing, of being lost and alone. Then someone had called to him. It was not an obvious cry for attention, nor an intruding presence demanding an audience. Rather, it was the gentle tap on the shoulder one expects from a childhood friend, one whose shadow over your shoulder reminds you of days spent drinking away the sun while splashing in secretive swimming holes.


    It was soft, soothing and achingly familiar.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes demanded an answer, sought out the source of these entrancing notes. The voice was unfamiliar, the words unintelligible, yet this quiet hum resonated within the very core of his being. It brought him home.


    His desperate seeking eyes had finally found their mark, and this is when Skyle finally had convinced himself it was a dream. A mighty strange one, to be sure, but a dream nonetheless. For how else could he explain the fact that instead of a giant bird of prey of glittering lapiz jewels, sitting on the ledge of the rock towering in the middle of the nest he found the most beautiful girl he had ever laid his eyes upon?


    Beauty is measured by many factors, and judged by even more standards. Skyle had always been aware that his family genes were outstanding. Although his own reflection did little to inspire such confidence, Adrienne Farrow was a famed belle for miles around, and still had to decline countless suitors in spite of the many black eyes and bloody noses her husband delivered. Kassandra Farrow, notwithstanding the fact that she was barely eight years of age, was already famous for her perfect, porcelain doll-like features. Already, little Kass had all the boys her age twisted around her clever little fingers, commanding a whole army of fanatical brats who carried out her every wish and command.


    So all things considered, Skyle was used to being surrounded by beauty. If anyone could have the qualifications to judge the most absolute personification of beauty in all of Sunny Meadow, then such a privilege should rightly be his.


    Skyle had thought himself somewhat desensitized to the effects of physical beauty. He could appreciate the fact that his family members were good looking, but looks were superficial. They were just skin and bones put together in a particularly pleasing way. More of an accident of birth than anything else. Skyle had never understood why people, adults in particular, placed such stock in something so silly.


    It was at this moment that Skyle finally learned that there is beauty, and then there is beauty.


    True beauty, Skyle found, did not simply exist peacefully like a simple flower floating in the middle of a pond. It was earth shattering, it was all consuming in its insistent pull upon your every sense. Skyle drank in her lines, gloried in her silhouette, and ached to reach out and touch her. His fingers tingled as they imagined tracing the glossy length of hair cascading  down her back like a waterfall of black silk. Her eyes were of a startling silver color, shining brightly like twin moons suspended on a sea of stars. Her nose was a small dash of glory, perfectly placed to accent the flawless symmetry of her face. Her lips lay curled in a small, private smile that displayed hints of teeth that gleamed like pearls in the night.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Skyle¡¯s heart spluttered as though threatening to stop, nearly lurching to a halt. Finally, Skyle understood what beauty was, why it drove adults to such silly extremes. He understood perfectly well now, and beyond that, he knew he was lost. In fact, he was glad for it. Even here, lost in a nightmare realm where death stalked his every step, Skyle suddenly had the compelling thought that if such beauty could exist, then perhaps this place was not so bad after all.


    As Skyle stood rooted on his feet, he did not notice himself swaying gently to the tune of her song. It was not very loud at all. In fact, it was barely audible on top of the stinging wind. Skyle had at first thought the words belonged to a foreign language, which was why he could not understand their meaning. Eventually, however, he came to realize that the girl was not forming any words with her lips. She was just humming a tune, like one casually does when they¡¯re in a good mood, perched upon the back steps of the house in a pleasant summer night.


    Skyle lost track of time. He did not know how long he stood there while the mysterious girl hummed her simple tune. The whole time, he suspected he was dreaming still, not daring to say a word nor even move in fear that he would wake up and find that this whole encounter had been nothing more than a fantasy.


    When it finally drew to an end, it was faintly bittersweet. Part of him longed to continue drinking in the sight of her, while the remainder desperately ached to stretch out a hand and brush against her skin or feel her hair. Anything to draw him closer to her would do.


    After a few moments of silence, Skyle finally couldn¡¯t take the drumming of his heart any longer and opened his mouth to speak. However, no voice would come out, and his hand lay stretched out in front of him as his feet still refused to communicate with the rest of him. His hand kept reaching out further and his feet remained rooted to the ground, with a brain that was simply too overloaded to act as a mediator between these two opposing factions.


    So, Skyle¡¯s first act upon seeing the most beautiful girl he had ever beheld, was to fall flat on his face with a loud crash.


    Wincing at the pain and cursing softly under his breath, Skyle didn¡¯t even spare his stinging hands a glance as he lifted his eyes to search for the girl. A part of him hoped that the girl had not noticed, that she hadn¡¯t witnessed the whole embarrassing ordeal, while another tiny part fervently hoped that she would notice, and draw closer still.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes traveled up the length of the smooth rock, inch by torturous inch, until they finally found their mark. The girl had noticed, after all, and as Skyle¡¯s eyes roamed up, they gazed upon each other for the first time.


    For Skyle, this was to be a defining moment, as he lay staring dumbly while his body froze, lying prone on the ground and uncaring of the wooden splinters driven into his skin.


    The girl, on her part, tilted her head sideways and a small wrinkle appeared on her brow as her eyes regarded Skyle. More than surprise, they seemed to be asking a question, and Skyle cursed himself for a fool because he wished with all his heart that he could find the answer to this question he could not even understand.


    The frown dissipated in the next moment, gone like a small cloud momentarily covering the sun. A gentle smile replaced it, and this warmed Skyle deep inside, sending a wave of thrill surging through his veins. He quickly decided that falling flat on his face had definitely been worth it.


    While Skyle lay on the ground, still lost in fawning adoration, the girl lightly pushed herself off the ledge of the rock, well over fifty feet high in the air. Skyle¡¯s breath caught in his throat as fear burned his previous bliss like dry tinder under the flame, but before he even had time to react, the girl spread her arms and a gentle glow seemed to spread from her hands, slowing her descent as she airily fluttered down. Seconds later, as her feet lightly landed on the floor not three  feet from Skyle¡¯s nose, her eyes seemed to be asking another question.


    Skyle wracked his brains to try to find an answer, his mind running faster than he had ever worked it before. He ran through a whole gamut of possible questions, of answers and conversation topics. He worked feverishly in the span of a single breath, desperately fumbling through words that suddenly had lost all meaning and purpose. Skyle tried to work his mouth and demanded that his tongue move, but something had long exploded in the delicate connection between mind and body, and Skyle knew he was a hopeless wreck.


    Just as he despaired, the girl¡¯s lips stretched in a bright smile that reached all the way to her eyes as she held out her hand in Skyle¡¯s direction in a beckoning gesture.


    Angels sang in Skyle¡¯s ears and his body seemed to shed a dozen different shackles in the span of a second. His limbs felt lighter than air as he gloried in that smile, and he dared not believe that this incredible girl wanted anything to do with him at all. And yet, she had just gestured to him, asking him to draw closer. This must be a dream, or dare he hope it was real?


    Just as Skyle began to gather himself up, to reach out and finally draw closer to the object of his newfound obsession, the boy heard a frantic rustle of movement behind him. Before he could even wonder at its source and without any other warning, Birdy trampled all over Skyle as the treacherous little beast heedlessly rushed forward. It unceremoniously plopped down on top of Skyle¡¯s back, driving all the wind from the little boy¡¯s lungs as the dry branches underneath groaned in protest.


    There lay Birdy, crouched before the mysterious girl, stretching its neck to gaze up adoringly at her and nuzzling the back of her hand, looking nothing more like a kitten begging to be petted.


    Just like that, Skyle had his answer and knew that this could not be a dream. He knew this because his back hurt like the devil, but even more so, the little boy was certain as he had never been before, that this would be the single most painfully embarrassing moment of his whole entire life.


    Then the girl laughed, a tinkling sound like raindrops out of a clear summer sky, and Skyle was struck silly by the thought that even so, this may all have been worth it after all.


    Just because of the dazzling smile that lit up the girl¡¯s face as she gazed down upon Skyle.


    ¡°Yeah¡±, he thought, all pain forgotten and immediately lost in blissful idiocy once more. ¡°Definitely worth it.¡±

 Chapter 44 - Listening with the Heart

    Chapter 44 - Listening with the Heart


    Still feeling light-headed from drinking in the sight of the most beautiful girl Skyle could have ever imagined, the bewildered boy found himself unwilling to break eye contact. Let alone the fact that Birdy¡¯s considerable mass was still pining him to the ground, Skyle hardly even noticed the pins and prickles of tiny branches biting into his skin.


    The girl, however, did notice. She shook her head at Birdy and drew its weight off by simply nudging one side of its head. Birdy obligingly skipped off and Skyle found that he could finally breathe again - not that he had missed it much, really. He had been too busy to notice, after all.


    His lungs, however, did not agree and as they automatically drew a deep, convulsive breath Skyle began to cough violently. When he finally stopped, Skyle saw long, delicate fingers hovering in front of his face. Without thinking about it, Skyle reached out and took the offered hand, and only then did he realize whose hand it was.


    A furious blush climbed to his face, his heart beating madly and threatening to jump into his throat. Holding a girl¡¯s hand was nothing new to Skyle. In fact, he was often forced to hold Kass¡¯ hand all night when she snuck into his bed whenever the cute little rascal was too scared to sleep alone. Yet, this was completely different. This simple gesture had never felt so intimate, nor had the skin of another person felt so soft. It was an altogether wondrous feeling, and though he now did not dare to move so much as a single muscle, still he ached to stroke his fingers over the hand that rested so calmly in his grip. To compensate for what felt like the most awkward moment in Skyle¡¯s young life, his mind raced to find a proper way to address his rescuer and at the same time improve this poor first impression.


    Perhaps start with his name? No, that wouldn¡¯t make sense, what kind of pretentious fool starts off by declaring his own name as though crying out for recognition?


    Then perhaps ask the girl for hers? Of course not! Such blatant disregard for the privacy of others, he wouldn¡¯t dream of it! Skyle could hardly believe he had been this close to offending the girl.


    Maybe he could start by saying hello? Nothing wrong with that casual greeting, used by people of all walks of life to start off a meeting with any stranger. Woefully unoriginal and so very dull, Skyle bemoaned in his head. What kind of dullard will she think I am?


    Oh, surely there must be something he could say, but for the life of him Skyle could not figure it out.


    ¡°S.. sorry,¡± The flustered boy finally managed out, then promptly realized it was the worst option he could have picked and dejectedly hung his head down, avoiding her gaze. Why was he apologizing? Could it be that he had neither the guts nor the brain to come up with anything better than ¡°S.. Sorry?¡± Black despair rained in Skyle¡¯s inner world until puddles of it drowned out the last vestiges of his crumbling self-respect.


    A reassuring squeeze could be felt from the hand in his grasp, and this more than anything finally pulled Skyle¡¯s brain out of the morass it had been stuck in, like a ray of sunshine piercing straight and true through a murky, overcast afternoon. Instantly taking hold of this opportunity, Skyle rallied and took another shot at a first impression.


    ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m not usually this dull, I swear. Or clumsy. Or foolish. I¡¯m not any of those things. Not meaning ever, of course. I¡¯m dull and clumsy and foolish sometimes. A lot of times. Who isn¡¯t, right? But this is not me at my best, not nearly. I hope you understand that. Not that you must, please don¡¯t feel obliged, but it¡¯s just not how I would have imagined meeting you. Not that I¡¯ve spent my whole life hoping to meet you, that just sounds creepy and kind of sad, really. I wouldn¡¯t do that. Why would I do that? Well, unless you wanted me to, maybe?¡±


    From there, it continued to go from bad to worse, with Skyle growing increasingly horrified at the unstoppable barrage of sheer idiocy that continued to spill from his mouth. It was a disjointed experience, with one side of his brain heedlessly  running off with his mouth while the other was frantically chasing from behind with a butcher¡¯s knife and foaming mouth. At least both sides of his brain shared a commonality: they were both begging ever more fervently for the mother bird to finally show up so it could pick him up and drop him off the edge of the nest, finally putting him out of his misery.


    Even Birdy seemed completely bamboozled by this pathetic display of stupidity. Its disbelieving stare seemed to be asking how it could have ever allowed such a simpleton to ration off its precious supply of crystal candies. Finally, it was Birdy that came to the rescue, as it lightly pecked on Skyle¡¯s hand.


    It wasn¡¯t painful, barely more than a nudge. However, it was then that Skyle realized that he had been holding the girl¡¯s hand this entire time. Even worse, he could feel that he¡¯d begun to sweat profusely and his grip felt clammy and sticky. Absolutely mortified, Skyle let go of the girl¡¯s hand with a startled cry, jumping back so vigorously that another flash of pain shot up his leg and down he went for another tumble in the weeds.


    Wishing the branches could just rise up and swallow him whole, Skyle tried to roll over to his feet right away but a gentle grip on his arm stopped him. The confused boy looked up to see the girl kneeling down beside him, her eyes serene and her smile reassuring. Skyle instantly froze, hardly daring to breathe although his heart kept jumping madly about within his chest. An unfamiliar scent drifted in the wind in the wake of her hair as she turned her regard toward his wounded leg. Involuntarily closing his eyes as he took in this scent, Skyle was instantly reminded of his favorite place deep in the secluded woods, though he couldn¡¯t place his finger on the reason. It wasn¡¯t the earthy smell of regrowth, nor the sweet scent of wildflowers in bloom. It was subtler, more neutral but all the more recognizable for it. If he had to put a word to it, it would be spring. Like a river, like a brook, like waters in motion and life reaching towards the sun. It was clean, it was clear and it was refreshing like nothing else he had ever smelled.


    Skyle opened his eyes to find the girl¡¯s face hovering inches from his, her own eyes closed as she hummed in that hauntingly beautiful voice. The melody was simple as ever, but Skyle found that he couldn¡¯t follow its notes. It was all he could do to remain motionless as he let the music trickle in through his skin, feeling warmth filtering through it as though lying before the fireplace back at home.


    Again, the small boy lost track of time as he let himself be carried by the mysterious song. When he finally opened his eyes, the girl was kneeling at his side, a faint smile of satisfaction on her face.


    Feeling warmer and more energetic than he had ever felt in the past couple days, Skyle quickly rose to a sitting position while adjusting his wounded leg to stay out of his way, afraid that it might lead to another embarrassing episode. When he did shift that limb, however, Skyle found to his shock that it did not pain him. In fact, there was no hint of any discomfort at all.


    Skyle cautiously peeled back the bandages around his leg, and was confronted with nothing but unblemished skin. The faint greenish tinge of the healing salve still layered the area where it had been applied, but of the torn flesh and bone,  there was not so much as a hint, let alone a scar.


    Gaping in utter stupefaction, Skyle slowly raised his eyes to meet the dancing green eyes of the girl¡¯s openly amused gaze. Doing a double take, Skyle gazed down in dumb disbelief before looking up, then down again. Only after several more iterations did Skyle finally believe his wound had actually been healed this easily and this quickly.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Skyle breathed, awe palpable in his tone.


    The girl¡¯s only response was another smile, one that waved away both the question and the unvoiced thanks that would have been Skyle¡¯s follow up line. With a slow shake of her head, the girl stood up and lightly brushed errant spots of dust from her pristine white dress. Watching this, Skyle frowned as he tried to remember if she had been wearing such a dress when she had been perched upon the rock. For some odd reason, he could not for the life of him remember. What Skyle did distinctly remember, now that his brain finally began to collect some semblance of coherent thought, was that her eyes had been silver, reflecting the color of the moon. Not green.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Not blue, for that matter¡±, Skyle thought to himself in mute astonishment as he watched the color of the girl¡¯s eyes swiftly fade from their brilliant sparkle of green to match the shades of an endless azure sky.


    What was going on? How was this girl doing the things she did? How had she healed his leg in a bare instant? Skyle looked down to his leg once more, this time activating the True Sight in an almost instinctive fashion, and completely froze.


    His mesmerized senses struggled for a moment to process the sheer amount of detail they were taking in, with intricate patterns of elemental essence crisscrossing the area around his leg in a spectacular array of color and depth. Never had Skyle seen such complexity, product of skill and technique that simply beggared his imagination. If it weren¡¯t so unfamiliar, Skyle would have been tempted to assume that they were simply part of his leg, as the only thing he had seen that was nearly so complex were the structures of living organisms. These patterns ringing his leg were still moving, still working as they weaved in and out of the texture of elemental essence in his own flesh as easily and naturally as if they had always been meant to be there.


    ¡°This.. is impossible,¡± Skyle mumbled, his lips trembling with wonder as he turned his gaze towards the girl.


    That was a mistake.


    In his astonishment, Skyle did not retract the True Sight, this ever revolving tapestry rich with all the vibrant colors of elemental essence weaving and intertwining to form the underpinnings of every last bit of matter around him. His leg had already been quite the shock, making his eyes bulge as his breath grew ragged with the sheer complexity of the artistry involved in the power that had been at work there.


    That was child¡¯s play compared to awaited him next.


    As Skyle turned his head, he could see streams of pulsing energy rapidly condensing in the air all around him. They grew in number exponentially as he turned his head, blazing into life and pulsing like an exquisitely intricate spiderweb of essence streams that  flared into incandescent life as they all converged upon a single focal point.


    The sight hit him like a physical blow. It drove all the breath from his lungs as though he had been gutpunched. He jerked backwards even as his eyes widened as far as they could go. His mind felt like it had caught on fire, the lid about to explode like a cauldron that had been left boiling for too long. A great roaring filled his ears as his consciousness began to flicker in and out, like a campfire being blown by a terrifying storm.


    It was too powerful an experience, for which he could not have possibly been prepared. Just the faint memory of it blazed a fire so fierce within his mind that Skyle screamed in agony, even as he reveled in the glory of it. It was a great vortex of energy so intense that he wondered at the fact that it didn¡¯t just burn a hole through the core fabric of the world, all centered around the most amazing tapestry of patterns and colors Skyle had ever dreamed was possible, let alone witnessed converging upon one single point.


    This point was the girl. Her features blurred into non-existence under the awesome maelstrom of essence that revolved around her. Conduits of energy more intense than anything Skyle had seen lay tangled in a mad cluster of hundreds, thousands of pulsing veins, all feeding directly into one single point of light that blazed so intensely under the True Sight, it nearly seared his mind clean off.


    Skyle didn¡¯t get a chance to gaze directly upon this point of light, even had he been willing to brave the attempt. As soon as his gaze barely grazed the smallest, most insignificant corner of this wondrous core, his consciousness completely fractured into a cascade of chaotic lights, after which they all converged into a line, a fissure that ran the length of his mind. This crack instantly widened into an abyss, from which emerged a gigantic maw of darkness that rose up before him, promising utter obliteration.


    It was then that a small light, oddly familiar now with its gentle flickering, fluttered lightly in the breeze before daintily settling upon the dark abyss. With a deep groan of protest, the darkness receded, being drawn back into the fracture line until it disappeared altogether, along with the last vestiges of Skyle¡¯s conscious mind.


    The last things Skyle remembered were the smell, of spring and sparkling waters, and a smile, the most beautiful he had ever seen.


    ***


    ¡°No!¡± Skyle cried out, his hands outstretched over his head as he jumped up from where lay on the floor.


    All the response he got was a baleful glare from Birdy as it briefly opened its eyes. It made discontent clicking noises with its beak as it shook its wings in displeasure before closing his eyes and promptly drifting back to sleep.


    For once, Skyle could not have cared less for the bird¡¯s displeasure. His skin felt clammy and sweat ran in rivulets down his face in spite of the chilling wind still howling in his ears. Gazing up, Skyle could see the glimmers of dawn on the far horizon, but it was still dark enough that he had to squint as his eyes immediately sought out the rock raised up high in the middle of the nest.


    The spot was empty, the mother bird gone. More to his dismay, there was no girl, no hint that she had been there whatsoever. Skyle pulled himself away from under Birdy¡¯s wings, coming to his feet in a daze as his eyes wandered desperately around the nest.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Skyle called out, trying to prevent the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach from leaking into his voice. ¡°Is anyone there?¡±


    As expected, there was no answer except for the renewed howling of the wind in his ears. His hair fluttered in the wind as Skyle breathed in ragged pants, closing his eyes in a vain attempt to get ahold of his roiling emotions.


    He felt lost and lonely, but even more so, he felt devastated. He knew it had been a dream, yet it had felt so real he could have willingly spent an entire lifetime to turn it into reality. The girl, Skyle realized, may have been a dream but his emotions, they had been as real as they come.


    His sense of wonder at her beauty; his thrill at her touch upon his skin; the wild beating of his heart when her gaze rested upon him. They were all memories that burned so intensely in his mind that it was no wonder he had a fever, with sweat still trickling down his skin.


    Never had Skyle thought he would turn into a lovesick fool, but that was exactly what he was now. Not only that, but the most tragic and pathetic part of it all was that he had fallen for a dream, a mere fantasy. A shard of his imagination had cut away a piece of his soul, and even now, for perhaps forever after, he would gaze upon a world that lay gray and desolate, woefully inadequate and hopelessly incomplete.


    Maybe the most maddening thing, adding insult to injury, was the fact that Skyle had not even asked for her name.


    ¡°Hi, my name is Skyle,¡± the small boy whispered to nobody, his back slumping down in abject defeat. The kind that comes only when you¡¯ve lost the fight before you ever had the chance to even try. Why couldn¡¯t he say this simple line when he had the chance?


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he finished miserably, his legs finally collapsing under him as he slowly sank down.


    ¡°.. R..a..¡±


    Startled, Skyle¡¯s head immediately perked up as his eyes began to search frantically through the darkness.


    ¡°What?¡± he called out, his voice cracking with emotion as he struggled to keep the drumming of his heartbeat down in his own ears so he could hear the response.


    ¡°Ria.¡±


    The words were barely audible, so faint that he began to wonder if he had imagined it. Such faint words, how could he have heard them over the howling of the wind all around him? It was impossible, his mind playing petty tricks on him again.


    ¡°Skyle, I¡¯m Ria.¡±


    The words were distinct and unmistakable this time, and though for some reason his confused mind couldn¡¯t tell whether this voice was high or low, husky or sharp, all he knew was that this was the most beautiful voice he had heard in his whole life.


    ¡°Ria,¡± Skyle finally said, slowly, tentatively.


    ¡°Ria.¡± In this second repetition he took his time, almost as though savoring each letter and begrudging every sound as if he might accidentally wear it down.


    ¡°Ria,¡± Skyle whispered a third time, and though his lips barely moved and not even his ears could hear the echo of his voice, he was somehow convinced she could hear him. Because even in the vast emptiness of the night, he could hear her voice loud and clear, whispering to his heart. ¡°Will I see you again?¡±


    Laughter, that tinkling sound of bells and crystals singing in a gentle breeze washed over him, sparking a smile of his own.


    It was the only answer he received, yet it was enough.

 Chapter 45 - The Secret of the Spire

    Chapter 45 - The Secret of the Spire


    Still basking in the afterglow of Ria¡¯s presence, the first rays of dawn found Skyle sitting with his back against the tall rock in the middle of the nest. He was staring up into the skies, but his mind was still blissfully trapped in dreams of yesterday¡¯s visit.


    It was a long time before the grin pasted on Skyle¡¯s face finally faltered. One moment he had been staring up into nothing, lost in youthful daydreams. The next, a great splotch of liquid fell from above and splashed his face, covering it with a sticky substance. Skyle was shaken from his fantasies, reflexively reaching towards his face with a questing hand. Drawing it back to study it, he saw dark blood staining his fingers. Skyle couldn¡¯t hold back the dry retch that rose up in his throat as he scrambled to his feet.


    Frantically wiping away the rest of the blood from his hands, Skyle almost failed to notice the great shadow that settled over him where before only warm sunlight had alighted. Craning his head up, Skyle realized the great bird was back. His gaze was drawn by a flicker of motion as the giant bird spread its wings at the end of its glide in order to perch upon the same rock it had used before. However, at the last moment it seemed to falter, one of its wings drooping slightly. This small, seemingly insignificant change caused the bird¡¯s landing to go askew, its whole body unexpectedly twisting sideways while its shoulder smashed heavily against the tall rockface. Pieces of debris fell in a great shower all over the nest, and it was all Skyle could do to hastily scramble back. Watching countless rocks, some as big around as Skyle himself, the young boy grit his teeth and unhesitantly summoned the Farsight.


    Instantly, Skyle¡¯s perspective seemed to shift away from his own body. It was as though he were an outsider watching the ragged figure of a small boy who stared with otherworldly intensity up at a massive wave of rocks, too much concentration in his gaze to have any room for fear. In this view, the trajectory of the rocks seemed to accelerate until they should have been a barely visible blur, but to Skyle each frame was etched in his mind as clearly as if everything stood unmoving and he were studying each element in detail.


    This trance-like state passed within the blink of an eye, but by then Skyle¡¯s body had already moved with startling decisiveness. Guided by the information he had gleaned from the Farsight, Skyle was able to weave his way through the tumbling rocks as though he were a ghost and not flesh. He seemed possessed by an eerie calm, as though he were absolutely certain of his every step even though many rocks came so close to striking him that they tugged at the edges of his clothes. These close calls didn¡¯t seem to cause Skyle any concern, as he seemed certain that he would not be struck by so much as a pebble.


    Perhaps it was his overconfidence, since Skyle¡¯s shock was all the greater for it when he finally did stumble. Skyle was simply moving too quickly, his steps weaving a complex dance that shifted his weight in too many directions in too short a time. While his mind, still aglow from the aftereffects of the Farsight, was more than capable of issuing all these lightning fast commands, his small body fell woefully short of the task. If not for the grueling training regime he had been subjected to by his father, perhaps the young boy would have stumbled within the first step. As it was, the absolute confidence on his face cracked like a mirror and Skyle cried out in alarm as his feet became tangled on a branch. Only a quick roll sideways saved him, as no sooner had he moved than a heavy rock fell right into the space he had just emptied.


    In the end, a thick layer of dust slowly settled to the ground as Skyle coughed out his relief. How many times had his father told him never to become complacent, never fall prey to overconfidence? Skyle had been too focused on the Farsight, on trying to minimize the drain and weakened state it left behind whenever he used it. Because of this, Skyle had tried to use a similar technique as what he used with the True Sight, activating the ability, absorbing as much information as possible in the shortest amount of time, then exiting it before the drain on his mind exceeded his limits.


    Skyle had simply underestimated just how incredible the Farsight was. Not only did it grant him a vision that perhaps bordered on prescience, but it also left his mind in a heightened state of activity during which his thoughts seemed to be racing faster than lightning. To his surprise, the drain on his mind this time had been far smaller than the times when he had used the Farsight on living beings. Maybe inert matter didn¡¯t draw as much power as living beings did, since there was no element of choice involved. While with Leon the Farsight had displayed numerous shades representing his possible actions, with the rocks it had been a far more straightforward affair. With only a single track of movement, it seemed almost too easy in comparison.


    So easy, in fact, that Skyle had been blinded by the intoxicating feeling of being in control of every aspect of his environment. Laughable, he now realized, since he hadn¡¯t even been able to properly control his body. However, if in the future Skyle could train his body and hone his reflexes until he could actually act upon all the information provided to him by the Farsight, just how terrifying would that be?


    The farther Skyle delved into the mysteries of the Desolate Star Technique, the easier he found to accept and understand just how amazing Fierro Latimus must have been at the peak of his strength.


    A cry of distress shook him from his introspective thoughts. Glancing to one side, he saw Birdy anxiously flapping its wings while raising its head towards the rock. Great keening cries came from the young chick, obviously worried for the safety of its mother.


    Skyle¡¯s head followed Birdy¡¯s gaze, searching through the rubble for the great bird. He could have never imagined such a scene happening, so possessed of grace and elegance the great predator had seemed. As though suddenly remembering something, Skyle looked down onto his hand where a great patch of fresh blood not his own painted his skin crimson.


    As Skyle began to draw his own conclusions, a great, melodious trill rose from the rock high above. Looking up, Skyle saw that most of the dust had settled enough to see the great figure of the bird, calmly perched upon the same spot it had occupied yesterday. Though there were signs of destruction all around it, the bird sat calmly as though nothing was out of place, gazing down at Birdy with obvious affection and tenderness. Still, as the dust settled further and Skyle was finally able to fully inspect the bird, he gasped in spite of himself.


    Great furrows had been carved all along the great bird¡¯s flanks, and many scorch marks could be seen on its wings. The translucent, jewel-like feathers had been cracked, or torn off altogether in many places. Under its left wing there was a particularly hideous gash that ran so deep Skyle thought he could see the bone. Blood constantly flowed from the wound even as Birdy¡¯s cries grew more shrill and disconsolate.


    Another sonorous call came from the great bird, and though it sounded faintly reassuring, Skyle thought he could detect some hints of sorrow underneath. However, that seemed to pacify Birdy for the time being, as it kept its silence and the great bird once more closed its eyes.


    Rising painfully to his feet, Skyle squinted as he inspected the wounds on the great bird more carefully. Aided by the incredible magnification of sight he had gained along with the True Sight, Skyle was able to examine the injuries as though they were right under his nose. After a moment, a grim line spread across his lips as his heart began to thump loudly in his chest.


    Although it looked as though there were only a handful great wounds, Skyle could now see that the whole length of its body was covered in small scratches and nicks. Although the great majority of the wounds had not been able to pierce its incredible defenses, just this evidence was enough to chill Skyle¡¯s heart.


    First of all, the patterns of these attacks were far too uniform to be caused by wild beasts. The marks of tooth and claw were easily distinguishable from that of blade and arrow, and Skyle was almost certain that the great bird had been set upon by the latter rather than the former. More alarming still was that these small nicks were simply too numerous, as though an entire army had been directing all its attacks upon this one bird. Although they had failed to pierce through its great defenses, this was not just a large hunting party or even a coalition of such, even should humans dare to venture this deep into the forbidden zone. This was army, a vast one at that.


    Last of all, there were the handful of attacks the great bird had not been able to ward off, leaving great gashes and wounds on its body. Skyle could see that the great majority of the attacks against it had been completely nullified, barely leaving a mark on its crystalline feathers. Just how strong, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but ask himself, were those few attacks that wounded the beast so deeply? Especially that great wound on the bird¡¯s flank, not only was it deep but upon closer inspection Skyle could see that the edges of it were burnt, as though the feathers and flesh had been seared by a terrible flame. As he shifted to the True Sight, Skyle couldn¡¯t hold back the grimace he felt as countless furrows of chaotic red essence displayed themselves under his scrutiny, spread out all over the great beast¡¯s body. Clearly, it had been wounded far worse than its outside injuries showed.


    Slowly drawing the pieces of the puzzle together, Skyle was confronted with a reality he was loath to admit. A large army this deep within the Black Zone? It may have sounded preposterous to anyone, but Skyle knew better. Because he had seen this army up close. He had been their prisoner. Leon and Skyle had killed their bloody way out from their midst and just barely been able to avoid their pursuit, purely thanks to fortune smiling on them.


    Now, that same army was back, and Skyle¡¯s hands slowly clenched into trembling fists as he recalled the site of the ritual sacrifice where he had been meant to be killed. He had watched from far away, perched upon the wall of the enemy¡¯s encampment, as his fellow prisoners were gutted like animals, their blood spilled for perverse purposes.


    All this made Skyle wonder, why they were here? What could they possibly want in the middle of all these ferocious beasts? The small boy could not repress a shudder as he remembered that nightmarish battlefield, with thousands of corpses strewn about and the smell of blood thick in the air. These soldiers were paying a terrible toll in blood themselves, and Skyle couldn¡¯t understand the reason. If they were bent on conquest, shouldn¡¯t they be campaigning against cities like New Seras? What could possibly be worth all this? He paused for a second to briefly consider an essence crystal harvesting operation, but after witnessing the unspeakable carnage of that battlefield, he quickly dismissed it. No amount of crystals could be worth that.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Flicking his eyes back towards the great bird¡¯s closed eyes, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but wonder why it had been fighting that great army at all. By now Skyle was certain that Birdy possessed intelligence not far from Ash¡¯s, and if that was any indication, then why would Birdy¡¯s mother do something as foolish as provoking such a formidable host? Had that army pursued it because some of precious material that could be harvested from the great beast?


    Glancing up, Skyle had to admit this was plausible. The great bird, even in its current poor condition, emanated a radiant aura of power and elegance. Skyle began to suspect that though this colossal beast had suffered greatly in the fight, her enemies must have suffered far worse at the mercy of her claws.


    So absorbed was Skyle by his thoughts, that he barely blinked an eye when the great bird opened one placid eye and gazed straight into his eyes. Normally, this would have prompted alarm or at the very least, wariness. Instead, Skyle merely watched on as the great bird slowly shifted one of its wings to one side. It was barely an effort, the whole gesture as casual as a man stroking his chin, but the movement caused a rock twice the size of Skyle to wobble lightly at the very edge of the bird¡¯s perch. Still unmoving, Skyle stared dumbly at this rock until it teetered over the edge, then fell forward - sending it howling straight to where the small boy lay.


    Skyle barely had time to squeak in alarm as he hastily dove to one side, suddenly endlessly grateful that Ria¡¯s visit had not been a dream, though for a new reason. His recently healed leg easily took the strain as he leapt away from the rock. It fell at his back with a great crashing boom, then strangely enough a long whistling sound ensued. After a while, another crashing sound reached his ears, though this one seemed much farther away and was followed by a long series of echoes.


    Skyle rose shakily to his feet, his hair in disarray as he glared up at the great bird. In turn, the indifferent beast pretended not to notice, once again remaining still as a rock upon its great perch. If Skyle hadn¡¯t watched it almost squash him to death with a huge rock just moments ago, he could have sworn it was simply a statue, no more.


    The indignant boy thought of shaking a furious fist towards the beast, but he decided not to push his luck. As it was, he was fortunate to still be alive, let alone the fact that he stood unwounded. What was even more important, he was well aware that had he not been abducted by this great beast, he would have never met Ria. This, he decided, would have been unacceptable, and he was willing to put up with any number of crushing rocks casually tossed from above if that¡¯s what it took.


    Birdy did not seem to share any of Skyle¡¯s reservations, letting out cries of delight as it bowled over Skyle once more and rushed towards the spot where the rock had landed. Skyle grumbled under his breath, his hand unconsciously reaching for a stick before he stopped himself, and instead settled for standing up and dusting himself off. Still, the young boy decided he might as well have some choice words with Birdy, since he did not dare to do the same with its mother. Turning in its direction, Skyle was startled to find Birdy had vanished from sight.


    Drawing closer, he followed Birdy¡¯s enthusiastic trills until he discovered the place where the rock had fallen. There he found a great, gaping hole right in the middle of all the branches and twigs that made up the bottom of the nest. Under it lay a layer of rock that had been deceptively thin, now cracked and sporting a gaping hole twice as big as the rock the great bird had sent plunging down.


    Inside the hole, Skyle could see flashes of light but other shapes were difficult to make out due to the contrast between the sunlight bouncing from his eyes and the deep shadows below. Though reluctant at first, Skyle thought that anywhere Birdy could go shouldn¡¯t be too dangerous, and the trilling was still continuing to echo out from the hole below Skyle.


    Taking a deep breath, Skyle stared into the darkness for a few moments as his eyes adjusted to the lack of light. Grateful that another side effect of gaining the True Sight included exceptional night vision, Skyle¡¯s vision gradually cleared up until he could easily see into the gloom. Still, he blinked for a few moments and even rubbed his eyes in order to confirm what he was seeing.


    Just inside the hole, Skyle could see a snaking wall that nearly blinded him now that he was used to low light vision. He had expected rock or mud, but instead he found it was made from crystals. Countless multi-faceted gems glittered under his gaze, reflecting what little light was available until his head began to spin. Staring in wonder, Skyle carefully climbed down the hole, and had to catch himself with a hand against the wall as he almost slid on the slippery surface. Underneath his feet, more crystals crunched wetly, and though the footing was slightly precarious, there was a winding pathway made entirely of more crystals that wound its way down in a spiral, with a circular space in the middle. Skyle had to assume that¡¯s where the rock had fallen.


    Upon closer inspection, Skyle realized these crystals were different from the ones he¡¯d taken from the magical beasts¡¯ bodies. Whereas those were all different in proportion and structure, the thousands of crystals lining the sides of the walls and floor were all uniform in both color and shape. They rose in great waves all along the walls as far down as Skyle could see, each shining brightly in his vision with an inner spark Skyle had not been able to distinguish before. He briefly considered using the True Sight, but decided against it. After having his brain almost burned away just by looking at Ria, he did not need another fireworks display going off in his head.


    Just a few more feet further down the ramp, Skyle saw a frantic Birdy busily pecking away at the crystals on the walls. Already, its cheeks were bulging with its skin distorted by the shape of the dozens of crystals stuffed inside its mouth. As he continued watching in mute stupefaction, Birdy finally seemed to decide it had harvested enough, and pushed past Skyle in a great rush, hardly sparing a backward glance. It rushed off and out of the hole before Skyle could even utter a sound, looking as excited and panicked as though it had pulled off a daring heist.


    ¡°Just what is this place?¡± Skyle murmured, his mind still reeling.


    Extending his hand, Skyle felt the cool touch of the crystals but was startled by a surprising moistness on his skin. Drawing his hand back, he rubbed his fingers together and stared as his skin began to glow faintly in the dark, accompanied by a tingling feeling. Skyle reached out once again to lay his fingers on the crystal, and when he took his hand away, he could distinguish a faintly glowing handprint upon the wall. Within moments, this spot condensed a drop of glowing liquid that grew until it finally slid down the surface of the crystal, then fell towards the floor. It didn¡¯t stop there, but rather kept rolling towards the center of the shaft.


    Skyle followed the droplet with rapt attention as it trickled down until it hung on the very end of the ledge. This gave Skyle time to carefully crane his head toward the center, giving him a perfect view of the moment this glowing drop finally detached itself and fell into the air. Incredibly, the mysterious drop of shimmering liquid seemed to defy gravity as instead of plunging downward, it airily drifted sideways through the air as though it were a feather stirred by an invisible wind.Skyle¡¯s incredible vision was able to track this drop as it floated towards the center of the shaft, where it hit a surface that the boy hadn''t noticed until now. As the drop touched upona structure at the center of the shaft, a shimmering glow was released. There, it seemed to merge into what Skyle now realized were countless other streams that pulsed with a similar faint brilliance. All these ropes of light snaked down the surface of the structure, and as Skyle''s eyes finally stopped focusing on that one final drop and took a step back to identify this massive shape, the breath Skyle had been holding became stuck in his throat with a silent gasp as his eyes went wide in recognition.


    It was a woman. Or rather, it was the statue of a woman. Only, no woman could ever hope to match suchsublime beauty. Each detail of the statue was carved with flawless strokes that Skyle would have never believed were possible. From each strand of hair so lifelike Skyle could almost imagine running his finger across each individual fiber, to the graceful robe that covered each of her perfect curves, the boy''s heart began hammering uncontrollably at the peerless craftsmanship, and beyond that, the perfection of this woman that seemed to transcent anything he had believed possible. This feeling was strangely familiar, and Skyle was instantly sure it was nothing as base and common as excitement or lust. No, the heart-aching throb that seemed to fill his heart to bursting at the moment could only be described as deep, unalloyed awe. It was, Skyle realized, the same feeling he got when he stood at the feet of a majestic mountain and gazed at its peak soaring past clouds that seemed forever out of his reach. Or when he witnessed the first rays of dawn burning through the morning mists and breathing life and warmth into a new day. This feeling, it was the same grand reverence one felt towards a force of nature, a law of the world.


    "To a God.." Skyle finally let out the breath he had been withholding, and with it came a strange calm that surprised him all the more because of the incredible sight before him. This was an unexpected sense of peace, and with it came a faint aftertaste of sorrow.


    Indeed, as Skyle''s eyes continued to drink in the sight before him, his racing heart swiftly calmed down as though influenced by an aura he could not fully distinguish. All he knew, as his eyes traced the contours of the statue suspended in the middle of the shaft, was that this could not be any ordinary place.


    The statue of the mysterious goddess, for there was no longer any doubt in Skyle''s heart that this could be no mere mortal, hung suspended in the air as countless drops of shimmering liquid gravitated towards it. After merging into its surface, they ran down in rivulets that merged into two final points. These, Skyle realized with a start, were the goddess'' eyes.


    The goddess was crying.


    One by one, endless drops swirled deep within the goddess'' eyes before falling into the void below in a continuous stream. With one hand outstreteched down over her head, her pose as well as her demeanor depicted her as a celestial desperately reaching down from heaven, perhaps towards her worshippers below.Her expression was one of both deep benevolence and even deeper sorrow. They tugged at Skyle''s own heartstrings until he too felt tears slowly pooling in his own eyes.


    Self-consciously wiping the unexpected tears from his cheeks, Skyle forcefully tore his gaze away from the statue of the goddess to follow the endless stream of tears that fell from her eyes.


    They sparkled beautifully even within the deep gloom of the shaft, falling for a long time before reaching the bottom with a silent splash, sending a brief glow upon the surface of a circular pond that quickly grew dark once more.


    For a long moment, Skyle stood there with dozens of questions firing off in his head in quick succession. Finally, and careful not to look anywhere near the statue of the goddess, he decided to cautiously open the True Sightto investigate the shaft.


    Instantly, Skyle was nearly overwhelmed by the shower of colors that assaulted his senses. Thankfully, he had been somewhat prepared this time, and after blinking a few times, Skyle composed himself enough that he was able to examine the sight set before him.


    Bright, pulsing veins of elemental essence ran in a maddeningly complex series of forking branches all across the walls surrounding him. It seemed as though at the end of each vein lay a crystal, constantly feeding itself from the light given off by these streams. Each crystal, in turn, continuously condensed all the essence into a central focus point. Upon this spot a small droplet slowly began to take shape, all the while glowing with increasing intensity. Finally, a single drop rolled down the surface of each crystal, andfloated up in the direction of the goddess'' statue. In stark contrast to these floating drops of liquid,at the very center of the shaft a constant flow of teardrops blazed with blinding brilliance as they fell to the bottom.


    There were the goddess'' tears, which burned in Skyle''s vision as though they were each an incandescent star made of pure elemental essence, Skyle was suddenly thunderstruck as he recalled Fierro Latimus¡¯ final words.


    ¡°Go..Shrine.. Of Tears..¡±


    He had finally found it, thanks to sheer, dumb luck.


    He had found the Shrine of Tears.


    He had found his way home.

 Chapter 46 - Choices

    Chapter 46 - Choices


    ¡°Go back.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Leon¡¯s snarl of frustration was met with only silence, and tension so dense it was almost palpable drenched the moment as it stretched uncomfortably.


    Finally, a frustrated growl was cut short before it rose up Leon¡¯s throat, and instead the young lord of House Draxas glared balefully at the sources of his frustration. His eyes were blazing with barely contained fury, and even a hint of madness could be glimpsed hiding behind those roiling depths. It did not matter that the targets of such fierce fire were just a small girl who barely looked in her teens and a terrified child.


    There was no longer any room for weakness. Not anymore.


    ¡°For the last time, this is the end of the road for this sad little expedition.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes shifted minutely over Leena¡¯s shoulder, towards the distant treeline beyond. ¡°Your precious Yellow Zone should be a few hours¡¯ march that way. Now run along while you still can.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± came the quiet but calm reply once more.


    Leon grit his teeth so hard he could hear bone grinding against bone, and his hand clenched involuntarily over the hilt of his sword.


    ¡°We no longer have anything to do with each other. I never wanted you. You are just a burden. Sky..¡± Leon winced at the pain that knifed into his heart, but soldiered on. ¡°We have already paid too high a price. We should have simply left you two useless ingrates to die.¡±


    Emil¡¯s face crumpled as though struck by a physical blow, and tears once again began sliding down the little boy¡¯s grimy cheeks. However, Leena¡¯s only reaction was to stand there impassively while her eyes never left Leon¡¯s.


    After a brief pause only punctuated by Emil¡¯s quiet sobs, Leon finally could not bear the little stand-off any longer. There was simply no time for this nonsense. Skyle had been taken by that damnable flying beast just moments earlier. As soon as Leon had shaken off the initial shock and grief, he had gathered his wits about him and made what was likely one of the most important, yet easy decisions of his young life.


    He would go after Skyle.


    Important, because he knew it was a matter of life or death. Easy, because he had chosen death.


    Leon was not under any illusions as to whether Skyle would survive the attack. During his time with the army, he had heard many stories, and seen even worse. Any soldier worth his salt knew that the moment a magic beast managed to snatch a victim and ran off, that poor soul was as good as dead. In fact, basic training taught every recruit that they should either struggle viciously to force the beast to kill them quickly, or if all else failed, simply end their own lives before the unspeakable horror awaiting them later on befell.


    After all, most beasts liked their meat fresh. Very fresh.


    As for himself, Leon knew he would be helpless without Skyle¡¯s guidance. God only knows how many deathtraps they had been able to avoid thanks to his tracking skills, to say nothing of his supernatural vision. Though he felt the loss of his first true friend keenly, the loss felt even more painful as he reflected on how vulnerable he felt without Skyle.


    Thus, he thought with a self-deprecating sigh, it would be death for Skyle, and death for Leon. Hopefully, Skyle would die quickly and painlessly. Most likely, he was already dead, perhaps his neck snapped by the impact alone as he was snatched off the ground. Maybe he survived the initial impact, and was instead squeezed into an unrecognizable lump of meat between the great beast¡¯s claws. Leon could run through all these scenarios in his head with more calm than he would have thought. Perhaps it was because he knew that such a quick death would be far more merciful than the one Leon himself would get, in his mad and hopeless chase.


    Well, not completely hopeless. Not quite. There was still a tiny, insignificant speck of hope that maybe Skyle was still alive. That he could be saved. This, Leon told himself, was precisely why it had been such an easy decision. Had Leon no chance whatsoever of ever finding his friend again, he likely would have had to deliberate long and hard as to whether he would rush to an almost certain death simply to avenge Skyle. Hell, if he was completely honest with himself, he knew there would be no avenging. Let alone finding the damn beast, how would he kill what he could barely even see?


    No, the choice would be between retreating like a coward to weasel out some kind of compromise from this cruel world and find a way home by himself, or assuaging his guilty conscience by spilling his own blood in penance for his failure to keep the one person he had truly wanted to protect.


    What did he care about a sniveling little brat and this stubborn bitch? The lizard dogs could feast on their bones all day for all he cared. If only Skyle and Leon hadn¡¯t saved them. If only they hadn¡¯t been arguing about what to do with them, instead of staying alert in this damn death trap of a forest.


    Now, the first and likely only true friend Leon Draxas had and would ever know was dead, or wishing he were.


    To make things worse, after Leon made the easy decision to follow Skyle to his death in the Black Zone, this stupid girl insisted on following him and continuing to make a burden out of herself along with the little brat.


    ¡°Look, I have no time for this. I don¡¯t care what you do or where you go, but stay out of my way. We are done.¡± Leon spat out, the cold finality of his words burning in his eyes.


    Leena¡¯s own gaze did not so much as waver. The change that had come over this girl overnight was just unsettling. Ever since last night at the camp on top of the trees, her whole demeanor had undergone a subtle change that Leon could not quite point out, but had bothered him to no end. Still, it had only served to further spark the furnace of suspicion in his chest.


    This was just a niggling feeling in the back of his head, a tingling in his gut that vanished like a ghost as soon as he turned the light of logic or reason upon it, but kept coming back the moment he looked away. These were the whispers of his gut instinct, and it was precisely because they were so elusive that he had long learned to listen close and listen hard to such warnings.


    After all, they had saved his life more times than he could count.


    It was at this moment when Leon opened all his senses in an attempt to register any possible clues to this feeling that his gaze met solidly with Leena¡¯s. At this instance, and for what seemed the first time,Leon allowed himself to really look into the eyes of this girl who suddenlyseemed to forget to avoid her eyes or shrink away from his regard. In this one instance when their gazes were interlocked and truly engaged with one another, Leon finally caught a glimpse of the answer. It was a fleeting shadow, no more. Still, he recognized in this young girl¡¯s eyes a steely determination, a startling fire that burned quietly but fiercely nonetheless. Perhaps just as fiercely as the fire burning in his own heart ever since he had decided he would go after Skyle.


    Leon found this revelation startling because this was not as simple as gratitude, such as wishing to repay her savior. No, this was neither as impulsive nor foolish as that. This was something else entirely. Narrowing his eyes, Leon¡¯s mental finger finally managed to identify this nagging feeling at the back of his head.


    Yes, he recognized this look back from his days in the army. It was the same look, he now recalled, in the eyes of one unknown soldier under his father¡¯s command. The poor man, just a nameless footsoldier, had been selected along with a few dozen brave souls who had instantly stepped forward when the captain had asked for volunteers to hold off a bridge while the rest of the army retreated after a bad engagement.


    How could Leon ever forget the wordless stare of the soldier as he stood by the bridge, watching the crest of the hill for certain death to arrive. Leon still recalled this moment clearly because epiphany had struck him at that moment as he rode away towards life while this soldier calmly awaited his death. This was not despair, nor resignation. It was duty, heavier than a mountain, yet borne with singular focus and steely determination to see a supremely important matter through to the end. This calm yet burning intensity, Leon realized, came from the strength of purpose.


    ¡°What do you really want with Skyle?¡± Leon grated out, his eyes narrowing further.


    Leena finally showed some reaction to his words, blinking several times in surprise. It was a simple question, yet in this moment Leon knew he had her. His question had pierced straight into the heart of the matter just as unerringly as one of Skyle¡¯s arrows.


    The girl, to her credit, mastered herself immediately, and her inner thoughts were once again clouded behind that calm look.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You know exactly what I mean. I¡¯ve displayed nothing but aggression and mistrust toward you, so I doubt you¡¯d follow me for any longer than you absolutely must in order to survive. As for going after Skyle, you and I both know its a suicide mission. Even so, you insist in accompanying me, even dragging that brat with you. You must know you will slow me down, and this is not in Skyle¡¯s best interests. So tell me, what is it you want?¡±


    ¡°I merely wish to follow you and aid you as I best-¡±


    ¡°I need no aid from you, nor would I expect any. What can you do for me? Wield a sword? Summon a spell?¡± Leon cut in matter-of-factly.


    ¡°I can serve you as a guide-¡±


    ¡°You said you¡¯ve never been inside the Red Zone, let alone the Black,¡± Leon interrupted once again.


    ¡°I can help you carry your burdens,¡± Leena began, then trailed off as Leon casually shifted his massive shoulders from side to side, joints cracking menacingly as muscles flexed and stretched his clothes taut.


    ¡°I will do anything I can to help,¡± the girl finished.


    ¡°Then turn around and go home.¡± Leon¡¯s voice dipped slightly, and now his tone softened just a hair. ¡°Let the boy go to his family and friends. Staying here will inevitably get him killed. You and I both know that. He deserves a future, don¡¯t you think? Turn back. For the boy.¡±


    Leena¡¯s mouth opened, but for the first time she seemed at a loss for words. Her gaze shifted down towards the small boy in her arms, and countless emotions seemed to flash past her eyes. It only lasted for a brief moment, however, before the same insane calm returned to her eyes. Her hands tightened only ever so slightly over Emil¡¯s shoulders, but when her eyes met Leon¡¯s once again, he knew what she would say.


    Without bothering to wait for the same inevitable reply, Leon turned around and set out. Already, he had wasted far too much time.


    As expected, Leena¡¯s answer came from behind his back.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Hearing footsteps behind him, Leon did not even bother to turn around this time. Not anymore. He was done with this farce.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care where you go. Just keep your distance from me girl. This is the first and only warning: I will not hesitate to cut you down if I must.¡±


    Emil, the little brat, whimpered, but Leon was past caring.


    ¡°I understand. Thank you,¡± came the crazy girl¡¯s voice, and Leon had to suppress a shudder.


    ***


    ¡°Burn!¡±


    After a blinding flash, visible shockwaves spread through the air as a deafening explosion rumbled in his ears.


    A howl of agony was cut off short as a charred object crashed into a young tree, snapping its trunk in half. Clumps of flame sprayed all around the area of impact, and eager tongues of fire quickly spread down the ruined tree. Errant leaves rained all around from the heavy impact, but the mangled corpse slowly slid down to the floor and did not show any signs of life as it smoked and hissed under the hungry flames.


    Chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath, Leon leaned heavily on his sword as he knelt on the mossy rocks. His eyes, however, never stopped scanning the surroundings. No sounds other than his gasping breaths and the cracking of the fire spreading before him could be heard. Quiet, but not peaceful. Never that. This had been the painful lesson of the past six hours.


    The smoking corpses of several massive spiders lay spread out in a circle around him, each easily the size of a small horse. They had glistening shells of an iridescent green and fearsome fangs that dripped with smoking venom. Eight hairy legs, each thicker around than his own legs, ended in wickedly sharp tips. He should know; his shoulder had a finger deep gash in it that he hadn¡¯t even felt until he noticed the damp blood pouring from the wound. At least it did not seem to be poisoned, unlike the fangs.


    One. Two. Three. Four.


    Leon¡¯s eyebrows twisted into a scowl as his eyes searched around and counted again, even knowing that the result would be the same.


    Only four. There had been five of the monstrous creatures when he had first been ambushed. Three had dropped to the ground all around him, cutting off any avenues of escape while one leapt straight for his head from an overhanging branch. The last one, Leon had barely caught a glimpse of as it swiftly skittered across another branch.


    Now the third time he counted still yielded the same number. The first one still lay in smoking ruins, as his fireblast had directly burst its abdomen into a gory mess even as he rolled away from it. The second beast he had managed to nearly bisect with the red hot tip of his fire enhanced sword, while the third monster he had stunned with a fire shield before driving two feet of steel into its head. That had been his first mistake, as the massive beast had not died immediately and only quick reflexes had kept Leon from being decapitated by its sharp claws. A pulse of fire energy down the length of the sword had liquefied its brain then. The fourth spider had been more problematic, as the giant creature had grown frenzied in its attacks as it watched its fellows die. He had finally dispatched with a quick succession of three fireblasts. The first missile had blown off two legs, then the second bolt blew away three more. That had finally sent the miserable beast crashing to the ground, where the final blast had finished it off.


    It was only now that Leon recalled there was a fifth.


    Glancing over his shoulder, Leon let out a deep breath as he weighed the value of two strangers¡¯ lives against the small sliver of hope that he might find his friend and save his life. As expected, it was a quick and ruthless calculation, and instantly the balance tilted one way.


    ¡°I warned you. I told you it would be your death and now its on your own heads. First Skyle, and now you. Ah damn it,¡± Leon muttered in the silence that followed, finally using one last pulse of his fire energy to scorch away the remaining hints of greenish blood staining the blade of his sword. The smoke stung his eyes and Leon squinted past the tingling it produced.


    ¡°Damn smoke,¡± Leon told himself, his chest still heaving as his heart hammered against his chest. ¡°Just some damn smoke, right Skyle?¡±


    He instantly regretted that last question. For no sooner had he spoken the words, he knew it had been the wrong question to ask at the wrong moment and to the wrong person.


    Already, he could hear his friend''s simple, yet unequivocal answer. As expected, he did not like it.


    Not at all.


    ***


    In the end, Leon only had to backtrack a few hundred yards. Earlier, he had been moving swiftly using amilitary marching pace, a swift movement technique he could maintain for an entire day of forced march if need be. Still, that was thanks to his fire enhanced strength and stamina. No young girl, let alone a small child, would be able to keep up with such a grueling pace.


    So it was with great surprise that Leon arrived at the intersection of two thick clumps of trees not three minutes from where he had slain the four giant spiders. In the narrow space, Leena was desperately trying to fend off the last of the giant spiders. It kept trying to lunge forward to try to find purchase on any part of the small girl it could lay its fangs on, but Leena moved with surprising dexterity in order to keep her small knife between them.


    ¡°Leap back!¡± Leon shouted, at the same time flinging the firebolt he had condensed into his palm. Even though it was near maximum range, the beast had been preoccupied enough that it did not see its impending doom.


    The ball of fire smashed solidly against the side of its shell and instantly exploded into a furious shower of flames. The force of the impact flung it sideways against one of the clumps of trees. The thinner branches immediately gave way but the sturdier trunks held fast as the spider was brutally smashed against them. Leaving a trail of green sludge, the still flaming body of the spider slowly slid down to the floor where its many legs lay twitching.


    A pale faced Leena lay breathing harshly where she had landed from her leap along with Emil. They both looked miserable, the boy bearing a sickly face that was drained of all blood as he huddled miserably against Leena¡¯s side.


    ¡°Any bites?¡± Leon muttered.


    ¡°I.. I don¡¯t think so,¡± Leena gasped.


    ¡°I warned you to go back,¡± Leon growled furiously, stalking towards the unfortunate pair.


    ¡°So.. so you did,¡± Leena acknowledged, and though her hands were still trembling her stubborn eyes hadn¡¯t lost their fire.


    ¡°You are slowing me down,¡± Leon pointed out in no uncertain terms, looking down.


    ¡°I did not ask you to come back,¡± Leena pointed out.


    ¡°You dare-¡± Leon began, fuming. ¡°I should have let you die.¡±


    A brief pause ensued, then Leena once again surprised Leon with her answer.


    ¡°Maybe you should have,¡± the young girl whispered, as though to herself.


    Looking into her eyes, Leon had the feeling that perhaps she truly meant this.


    Leon brought a hand to his temples, futilely trying to knead away the pain in his head while trying to decide what to do with them.


    ¡°Why did you come back?¡± Leena asked suddenly, and Leon found that he was unwilling to answer. Maybe it was that he could not answer.


    After all, why had he come back? It was out of character for him to do such a thing. He could not justify risking his own exalted, precious life, let alone the fast diminishing sliver of hope of being able to rescue Skyle.


    Hah. Rescue Skyle? He could barely hold back a helpless, self-mocking sneer. How could he, even in the unlikely event that his friend was still alive? Indeed, what rescue?Perhaps deep down Leon already knew all this was simply a tantrum, an inept gesture of defiance in response to the deep wound Leon had only just begun to feel, let alone understand. Hadn¡¯t he already become completely numbed to loss?


    This sparked a whole series of unwelcome questions, and this only made his head hurt even more. Worse still, the questions refused to go away.


    Why give Leon the unexpected hope of finding one true friend only to dash it to pieces the very next moment? How could the ashes of his heart be so easily stirred back to fiery coals through a mere handful days in the company of one admittedly extraordinary soul?


    And inevitably, there was the main question that had burned in Leon¡¯s mind every moment, every second since Skyle had been taken: Why him? Why Skyle? Why not me? Why?


    Now, tormented as he was by this buzzing swarm of questions with no good answers, this damn girl had to add yet another?


    ¡°Because it wasn¡¯t just smoke,¡± Leon blurted out, grasping at the first answer that came to mind. At least, that made it one less question. One less, amongst a legion of them.


    Leena¡¯s expression made it clear she had no idea what Leon was talking about, and that suited him just fine. At least now it wasn¡¯t just him anymore that was wandering lost and confused - literally and figuratively.


    This time, Leon didn¡¯t say anything else as he simply turned around and moved away, not even when he heard footsteps following behind.

 Chapter 47 - Overdraft

    Chapter 47 - Overdraft


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop! Keep running!¡±


    The whole forest around them seemed to buzz with a sea of hisses and clicks that came from all around them.


    ¡°We¡¯re getting surrounded. Which way?¡± came Leena¡¯s ragged voice.


    ¡°Damn it, they¡¯re herding us in! Forget it, look for a defensible place where we can make a stand. We definitely can¡¯t outrun them and this way we¡¯ll only keep losing strength.¡± Leon''s firm voice reflected his decisive choice when confronted with the brutal reality laid out before them.


    ¡°Make a stand? There¡¯s hundreds, maybe thousands of them,¡± Leena pointed out helplessly.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been trying to get away from them for the past hour but we¡¯re only getting more deeply entangled by them. If this continues, soon we¡¯ll be exhausted and attacked from all sides. Now move!¡± Leon didn¡¯t even dare turn around, snarling over his shoulder as he threw yet another firebolt.


    After throwing so many firebolts, Leon¡¯s efficiency had risen considerably. This time, the explosion caught the legs of three different spiders as they skittered forward on those abominable eight legs. Each spider lost several limbs, but only one lay incapacitated on the ground while the other two were able to hobble forward with renewed violence. The one that couldn¡¯t get up was soon trampled under the claws of countless of spiders following close behind.


    Leon bit back a curse as he prepared another firebolt in his hand. Briefly risking a glance over the first few ranks of the pursuing spiders, he couldn¡¯t help but feel like a hand had reached up from the pit of his stomach to constrict his throat. An entire sea of sparkling green shells as far out as he could see relentlessly skittered forward in hot pursuit.


    Biting back another curse, he fumbled in his pocket for yet another elemental crystal. Drawing upon its essence energy, Leon¡¯s other hand blurred into a complex set of runes so quickly that they were simply blurs of motion to the naked eye. Immediately, a glowing ball of fire sprang into life within his palm, but then something went awry and the ball flickered instably for a moment.


    Leon¡¯s vision momentarily lost focus as he stumbled, just barely managing to catch himself against a nearby tree before he could fall to the ground. Leon bit his tongue and the pain made his eyes water as his numb mind swiftly regained focus. His dimming vision looked down to find the ball of fire in his hand flickering as though it might go out any moment. The young fire summoner did not have to look to his wrist to know what he wold find. Already, he could feel the painful throbbing of veins swollen many times their normal size. The color would be so dark they would resemble lines of charcoal running underneath the skin of his arms.


    ¡°Leon, you..¡± Leena gasped in alarm. ¡°You¡¯re overdrafting, you can¡¯t possibly-¡±


    ¡°I can and I will. Keep moving!¡±


    This was indeed a consequence of overdrafting his elemental veins. His elemental veins were being scorched into ruins by his own reckless abuse of essence. While throwing bolt after bolt of fire, Leon had barely managed to keep the army of giant spiders off his back. Every time he blasted one away, five more instantly jumped forward to take its place, all the while hissing and clenching their hideous two foot long twin fangs as they relentlessly pursued their prey.


    Had he known there was a whole colony of these accursed beasts, Leon would have avoided using his fireblasts. More¡¯s the pity, after the first five spiders he had slain, eight more had shown up only ten minutes later. While only mildly concerned at first, Leon had proceeded to slaughter the spiders with ruthless efficiency. After all, although they were agile, their shells were surprisingly weak to fire and their movements easy to read once he became accustomed to them. It was only after a few more fireblasts that Leon had finally realized the nightmare he had fallen into.


    At first it was only a slight tremor, but it had gradually risen in intensity until the entire forest began to rumble as more and more hissing noises had reached his ears from the trees all around him. It was only then that he realized he had awakened a whole army of the damn things.


    Now the beasts were nipping at their heels, and each fireblast only drained more of his power without any visible effect on their foes¡¯ numbers. Thus they had no choice but to run and keep running. Now, over an hour into this bloody, agonizing chase, they were running out of options.


    Leon had been fully cognizant of the fact that he would almost certainly die in his vain quest to save Skyle. Still, he had hoped to at least battle against a great hunter of the forest, a colossal beast. Better yet, a glorious final battle against the very same beast that had snatched his only friend away. This was an ending he could still accept.


    Dying after being run ragged by a bunch of overgrown bugs, where was the honor in this? Where was his last glorious battle? Was he to be torn into pieces by insignificant trash he could slaughter by the dozens, buried under the sheer weight of mountains of their useless carcasses? What¡¯s more, even dragging a helpless girl and little boy to their graves as well? No matter that he did not care for either of them, he had still tacitly accepted them into his care when he allowed them to follow after him in the aftermath of the first encounter with the spiders.


    Now, he stared long and hard at the most abysmal failure of his entire life. His friend gone, likely devoured by a feral beast. His charges soon to follow a fate even worse, for Leon truly looked down upon these damned bugs. But fall they would, simply because they could not possibly keep running much longer. Then Leon would fall, last yet most culpable of all. He would die an abject failure. He, who had never allowed himself to fail. He may stumble, he may fall, but he would not fail. Not again.


    Not after losing Skyle.


    Leon Draxas shall not meet his end like this.


    With a deep growl, Leon pushed himself off the tree and clenched his right hand into a fist so hard he couldn¡¯t keep it from trembling violently. Power. He needed power now more than ever. Power to burn the whole world down until nothing was left but ashes. This power, he gathered it from even the most minute part of his body. He channeled every last drop of this power into his trembling right fist and then with a great roar, he squeezed.


    Cracks could be heard from the bones in his hand, but he was beyond caring. Pain was inconsequential, only failure was not allowed. Summoning all of his arcane training, all his martial discipline, and even tapping into the last vestiges of his savage pride, Leon Draxas squeezed until his whole body wrung out every last drop of elemental essence into that one hand.


    When he finally spread his fingers open, a radiant ball of golden sunfire roared into life within his grasp.


    Leon didn¡¯t stop there, but rather reached into his pocket with his left hand and brought out four essence crystals. Then he once again squeezed. One after the other, the magical crystals shattered into fine powder as they were swiftly drained of all elemental essence. Leon recklessly allowed it to flood into his entire body. Liquid fire coursed through his every vein as they instantly went from empty to bursting. Leon felt himself dancing on the razor sharp edge between agony and ecstasy as he grasped power beyond any he had known - and he had known power. He was acclaimed as the most gifted fire summoner in the past hundred years.


    But there was power, and there was power.


    Now this was true power.


    Leon slowly breathed out, and he could feel elemental currents sparkling within the very air he exhaled. Looking down at his left fist, it shook uncontrollably as he continued to exert all his power to concentrate the purest essence of fire into a singular point. When he finally spread his fingers apart, he was not disappointed. Cradled within lay an orb of the purest crimson fire. It flared wildly with each breath he took.


    ¡°I am Leon Draxas,¡± he began, each word strained as if he were bearing an unimaginable load but in his eyes an indomitable fire blazed brightly.


    ¡°I summon thee, Fifth Flame, the Bright Star, the Final Scorch..¡± As he continued chanting the words of the spell, both hands rose above his head, each grasping an incandescent sphere of fire of different colors.


    ¡°I am Leon Draxas!¡± Shouting these last words, Leon forcefully brought both hands together and both orbs of fire merged together in a blinding flash. A resounding blast of energy immediately followed, sending shockwaves of power spreading in waves all around Leon. The insane clash of energy from each ball of fire seemed to repulse each other at first, threatening to destabilize the whole structure of the spell. The consequences would be catastrophic, and he could well imagine that he would directly be blown into ashes with this much elemental essence running rampant.


    This, however, was not his will.


    ¡°Lord of Fire and Summoner of the Everflame..¡± Leon chanted, as his mind willed the two conflicting essences to merge together while his hands sent wave after wave of reinforcing energy seals. The key to this spell was not to seamlessly merge the two flames together. Such a task, even if it were possible at all, was simply beyond the scope of Leon''s skill. Instead, it was to manipulate both the natural binding power of the fire element and the intrinsic repulsive properties of both spheres of fire in his hands to create a self-sustaining cycle. As both flames reinforced each other, they would continue to feed both on themselves and any other flammable matter in their surroundings.


    Such a delicate balance, of course, was easier said than done. Let alone being able to summon even a single source of fire of such high purity, to bind two of them into a reciprocalconnection with enough speed that their chaotic energies would not begin to run amock and melt every spell structure Leon had erected, it was simply a gargantuan challenge.


    "I.. command you.."Rivulets of sweat ran down Leon''s face, yet the fire summoner seemed not to notice. After a few final breathless moments of struggle, Leon slowly spread his hands apart and a surging maelstrom of fire flared into life above his head. This was a massive whirlwind made entirely of violent streams of fire so potent and concentrated, it looked like a turbulent river spinning around at dizzying speeds.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°A high third cycle spell..¡± Leena breathed, completely aghast andunconsciously stopping to stare wide-eyed.


    ¡°BURN,¡± Leon flung his hands forward as he snarled the last word. Immediately, the flaming vortexheeded his callas it soared high above Leon¡¯s outstretched hands with a great, deafening roar that sent a visible ring of energy rippling in a great circle around it. Numerous leaves and twigs flew into the air, straight towards the growing tornado of scarlet flames where they instantly caught on fire and flashed briefly before turning into ashes. As it howled on its way to meet the oncoming tide of monstrous spiders, it continued to feed on everything in its path and kept growing larger still, as though it were a titanic monster with an insatiable, terrible hunger.


    ¡°How did you-¡± Leena began, but was swiftly jolted into action as Leon shoved her forward.


    ¡°I said move!¡± Leon growled hoarsely, glaring.


    Leena shook her head as she seemed to come to her senses, and rapidly began to march again.


    As soon as Leena began to move, Leon staggered sideways and his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably. A thin line of blood trailed down his chin before Leon decisively wiped it away. There was a fierce snarl of defiance on his bloody lips as he willed his numb legs forward. Slowly but steadily, step by shaking step, they obeyed.


    Meanwhile, the ground rumbled as though in protest, and the air howled painfully in Leon¡¯s ears in an unnerving prelude before the first wave of explosions reached his ears with a series of muffled thunderclaps. Each burst of fire was followed by a shrill howl of agony as hardened shells melted like butter and greenish blood instantly evaporated. All giant spiders within range of the devilish vortex of flame couldn¡¯t muster even a single moment of resistance before they invariably flared into a brilliant, ghastly pyre of dark, hellish flames. Confronted with the brutal slaughter of dozens of giant spiders in mere moments, even this great horde of monstrous beasts couldn¡¯t help but beat a temporary retreat.


    Staggering step by step, Leon did not even look over his shoulder at the holocaust of blood and fire unleashed upon the nightmarish horde of creatures at his back. It was nothing unexpected, after all.


    Leon Draxas, Fire Lord and Summoner, had called for his fire, and thus they burned.


    It was as simple as that.


    ***


    ¡°Leon.. you..¡± Deep concern was etched into every line of Leena¡¯s face as she called out hesitatingly. After a brief pause, she couldn¡¯t even continue, and instead bit her lips.


    ¡°Fine.. Moving..¡± Leon coughed out, flecks of blood staining his lips.


    ¡°Your face,¡± Leena whispered, though she couldn¡¯t even meet his eyes and was instead looking down at her feet as though consumed by guilt or shame.


    ¡°Run.. be right.. Behind,¡± Leon growled, scowling fiercely towards Leena.


    The young girl seemed to struggle with some deely buried emotion for a moment, but then it was gone. With a deliberate nod, Leena bid Leon a silent farewell, then she turned around and left at a swift run, all the while holding little Emil¡¯s hand. As the corners of his vision began to black out, Leon could barely make out the blurry outlines of their retreating figures in the distance before they were lost among the trees.


    Sighing deeply, Leon glanced down at his arm with a resigned air. Bulging veins of deepest obsidian stretched his skin taut, pulsing with agonizing pain that increased with every breath he took. He didn¡¯t need to look at his face to know that the same dark lines would have spread all across his body. Furthermore, he felt thirsty beyond belief, yet he knew it was a thirst he could not bear to quench at the moment. Even though Leon could feel his elemental channels were completely drained, he did not dare consume even a single additional drop of essence from his crystals.


    If he said he had overdrafted, it would be the understatement of the century.


    Blessed with the highest order of elemental constitution seen in ages, his whole life he had felt as though his elemental veins were the rivers of an inexhaustible world, wide and deep beyond measure. Even when strained by the highest order of spells he could cast, his exhausted elemental veins still felt like a vessel of the finest mithril, soft like silk yet stronger than the sturdiest steel.


    Now they felt as brittle as the thinnest crystal, stretched and swollen to the point where the gentlest breeze could shatter them into dust. Even his breath had grown hot and uneven, an obvious sign that oversaturated elemental essence had broken through fractures in his elemental veins and contaminated his body.


    This was one of the greatest taboos for any wielders of the elements. Each person had their own limits in terms of the amount of essence they could safely wield within a specific amount of time. It was like any muscle within the body. If you exerted your elemental power conscientiously and deliberately, it would continue to grow to a certain degree. However, overuse would result in damage.


    This excessive channeling of elemental essence was overdrafting.


    If a person overdrafted slightly past their safe limits, their veins would swell up and their body would accelerate its functions in order to cope with the increased energy consumption required to accommodate the added expenditure of elemental essence. However, there came a point of no return past which irreversible damage would be inflicted upon the abused elemental veins. Swollen elemental veins were the initial symptoms, followed by fracture lines and scorched vein linings. Once a wielder of the elements reach this level, he would begin wasting his talent away. It would burn away until finally, the overstressed veins finally collapsed into dust. Thereafter, even the strongest elements wielder would forever remain a cripple.


    Was this what had happened to Skyle, Leon now wondered in the back of his mind. He felt the changes within his own elemental veins but there was an odd calm within his heart. Leon had well known the consequences of casting that Third Cycle spell. It had been a mere theoretical problem when he had memorized it, as he had known no adept level fire summoner, even one as mighty as he was, would be able to gather enough elemental essence for such a mighty spell, let alone deal with the complexities required to cast it. One would have to be at the Mortal level or at the very least the High Master stage in order to wield a High Third Cycle spell.


    Now, Leon found that his vision was fading to black and his whole body felt numb. His feet were moving forward only through a sheer exercise of will, but he knew he would soon fall. Then it would all be over, and Leon Draxas would meet his end in this unknown patch of forest. At the very least he would be accompanied by a veritable mountain of the damned spiders.


    He had no recollection of how long he stumbled forward for, but finally he reached his limit. Without any warning, Leon¡¯s legs finally gave way. He was barely able to utter a cry as he felt his knees turn to water, but before he could crash into the ground a firm pair of hands swiftly moved to steady his weight from his side while something soft supported most of his weight under his arm.


    Blinking dazedly, Leon was able to make out the blurry outline of Leena peering up at him in obvious concern. As soon as his eyes swept towards her gaze, however, she bit her lips and swiftly avoided his scrutiny.


    ¡°Girl, I told.. Run..¡± Leon mumbled, feeling like his tongue had become leaden.


    ¡°We did, Leon. Just lean on me. We have a little farther to go.¡± A barely perceptible tremor ran through the undertones of her voice, but her steps were surprisingly steady as she half-pulled, half-carried Leon¡¯s massive weight with her tiny frame. Leon was beginning to realize he had underestimated this seemingly frail girl.


    ¡°You.. you..¡± Leon began, but broke off coughing.


    ¡°Hush, conserve your strength. I found a chasm nearby, we might be able to seek shelter within. If not, we will have your last stand.¡± Surprisingly, there was little grief in the girl¡¯s tone, and no fear whatsoever. Only calm resignation and a quiet sadness.


    Leon wanted to ask a myriad questions now that he seemed to have achieved some strange rapport with this mysterious girl, but at the moment his breathing failed him. It was all he could do to put one step before the other.


    Numerous howls of agony could still be heard rising constantly behind their backs, and in the background the great roar of the fire vortex Leon had summoned seemed to only rise in intensity. There was still time, it seemed. A little, at least.


    Leon¡¯s consciousness was beginning to flicker in and out, and his memories grew foggier as he was gently set down upon the ground.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± Leon blinked his eyes disorientedly as he craned his head to study his surroundings. He felt cool stone underneath, and it brought a hiss of relief as his boiling hot skin was able to obtain at least momentary respite from the unbearable heat.


    ¡°A small cave we found down the side of the chasm. Fortunately, it was unoccupied when we first found it. Then I immediately rushed back to bring you here while Emil gathered some rocks to block the entrance.¡±


    Block a cave with rocks? Leon wanted to sneer at the idea of foiling the pursuit of that endless army of giant spiders with mere rocks, but he had neither the energy nor the pettiness to do such a thing. As for gratitude, he had saved them countless times, so in his eyes it was merely a transaction. Likely, they also hoped that he would be able to continue to protect them after he recovered.


    If so, they were bound to be disappointed. Leon knew that even if he survived the imminent collapse of his elemental veins, he would be a complete cripple thereafter. His days of blazing gloriously across the sky of Aeria were done.


    Ah, who was he kidding. The moment he stepped back into the red zone to go after Skyle, he knew he had signed his own death warrant. Strangely, there was no regret that accompanied such a decision. Regret that he had failed his friend, yes. There was a surprisingly deep sadness that he would die at such a young age after only briefly knowing his friend. However, death while struggling to rescue or avenge this friend, Leon felt, was definitely worth such price.


    ¡°Leon? Leon, please listen to me,¡± Leena pleaded, and only now did Leon realize that his mind had been wandering off. The girl now knelt beside him, holding his hand in an earnest grip while she gazed imploringly into his eyes.


    ¡°Huh? What?¡± Leon murmured, utterly confused by the change in Leena¡¯s demeanor.


    ¡°Leon, how well do you know Skyle?¡± The words were enunciated clearly and deliberately, and this only left Leon even more dumbfounded.


    ¡°I.. What do you mean?¡± He blurted out. Of all the things to ask now that they were trapped and wounded, waiting for a swarm of vicious man-eating spiders to slaughter them, why would she ask about Skyle? Wasn¡¯t he just as dead as they were? What was this sick obsession?


    ¡°I need to know. Please, this is more important than you can possibly imagine. Who is Skyle?¡± Leena¡¯s eyes were dead earnest, and as Leon looked into her eyes he could see that she had finally lowered that veil of impassiveness she had been holding up this entire time. She really thought this was important. But why?


    ¡°I, I know he¡¯s a farmer, but I¡¯ve only known him for the past few days at most,¡± Leon trailed off. He was just now beginning to realize just how little he knew about the person he had been willing to die for all this time. It was both shameful and deeply inspiring in some way, that he could learn to care so deeply about somebody else with both so little time and information. Maybe he was not as jaded as he had feared.


    Great disappointment instantly spread across Leena¡¯s features as her shoulders sagged down. She had obviously been hoping for far more. Still, it wasn¡¯t Leon¡¯s to give, so what could he do?


    ¡°Why do you ask this? I.. at this point, I deserve an explanation,¡± Leon said with as much calm as he could muster.


    Leena¡¯s gaze flickered towards the bulging black veins scattered all across his body, and with a final shudder, she relented.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± She nodded slowly, then whispered something about forgiveness to herself before continuing. ¡°This is far greater than just the three of us here. Regardless of whether one or all of us will fall, at the very least I must do what I can to accomplish my mission. After all, the fate of the entire world is at stake.¡±


    ¡°The World? Why? Wait, what mission are you talking about?¡± Leon felt lost and frustrated, as Leena still seemed to be speaking in riddles.


    ¡°Leon Draxas, you have been found worthy and thus will be made privy to one of the greatest secrets of the realm of mortals. Have you ever heard of the Shadowblight?¡±

 Chapter 48 - The Shadowblight

    Chapter 48 - Shadowblight


    ¡°Shadowblight?¡± Leon¡¯s mind drew a complete blank.


    ¡°It does not surprise me that you have not heard of this accursed name.¡± Leena¡¯s somber expression held the raw edges of a solemnity that faintly edged on terror. ¡°In ages past, well over a millennium by your human reckoning, the daemon threat loomed closer than ever before, smothering the very breath of Aeria in its dread grasp.¡±


    Leon¡¯s mind immediately began to protest that daemons were simply tales told by old crones to naive children in order to scare them into obedience. However, the sheer weight of Leena¡¯s words as well as the barely contained fear behind them stalled any protests from spilling forth.


    Seemingly having caught the hint of skepticism in her listener¡¯s eyes, however, Leena shook her head fiercely.


    ¡°Listen well, Leon Draxas. The daemons are the sworn enemies of all life upon Aeria. Their mere existence is the greatest bane to the future of our world, and their power is such that it would beggar the grimest, darkest nightmares conjured from any mad prophet¡¯s raving mind. Do not make the same mistake our forefathers made. They too once dismissed the threat of the Daemon Horde as mere legend. Even our fabled courts of the fair folk, long though our memory may be, failed to heed the warnings of our grand elders of times past. Much less the rulers of your human thrones, whom the gods have seen fit to grant too great an ambition for such fleeting lifespans. Perhaps it is only normal that they would develop such hubris, which would inevitably lead to their downfall.¡±


    Leon¡¯s expression tightened as he heard Leena¡¯s description of his race. As brutally honest as it was, the young scion of House Draxas found that he could not disagree.


    ¡°Legend told of the time of the gods, when they struggled mightily over the fate of Aeria. Bound as they were by their own covenants, they employed mortal agents in order to wage a bloody, ruthless war that spanned entire lifetimes of your human folk. The Daemon Horde tore the very essence of Aeria asunder to forge the Dreadgate. Its great maw spewed forth endless tides of daemons and their minions, ready to swallow all life in Aeria and forever blanket the land in darkness. Though fair folk, dwarven kin and noble humans all heeded the call to defend our lands, the blood they spilled proved useless in the face of the daemon juggernaut. In the final battle, when the last armies of our ancestors made their last stand and stood surrounded by the vast seas of the Daemon Horde, their prayers were finally heard by the Great Goddess Avaria.¡±


    ¡°It was the Fair Lady herself who broke the Covenant of the Gods, banishing the Daemon Horde back to their dark abyss and sundering the Dreadgate apart. The price was grievous beyond measure, for Great Avaria paid for the act with her own life. Aeria was, for the first time in untold ages, without its patron Goddess, and was thus a mere shadow of its former self.¡±


    Leon was, of course, familiar with the tale of Avaria, Goddess of Aeria. The canon of the Holy Church of the Sacred Flame, the most dominant religion in the world, preached of The Sacrifice and how it had come to create the Great Scar. However, Leon had never realized that even the elves held a similar belief. More shocking still, Leena seemed to have a fierce, unshakable belief in the veracity of such legends, to the point where even Leon found himself inclined to believe what he had previously considered as mere tales the Church fabricated to fool the masses.


    One stark difference, of course, was the fact that Leena claimed Avaria was dead, while the Holy Church preached that the Sacred Flame was everlasting, and Great Avaria had been reborn from its ashes. This shook Leon badly, as such clashing views would surely shake the very foundations of faith in the hearts of the Church¡¯s believers.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying the Sacrifice is no myth and truly happened? No, more importantly, you claim Avaria truly existed yet nowlies dead?¡± Leon blurted out, in spite of himself and feeling foolish while doing so. Though he, like most of the aristocracy, paid lip service to the Church and its beliefs, he had long forsaken true faith within his heart. Gods? What gods? Wait, was this part of the reason why humanity had lost contact with the elven courts for all this time? ¡°And only you elves are privy to this information?¡±


    Leena¡¯s hand on his arm tightened convulsively.


    ¡°Leon,¡± She hissed. ¡°You should know that power blinds the eyes of mortal kin. It conspires with time to banish truth from memory, until only false belief fueled by greed and ambition prevail. Whether deep down they are aware of this or not, in the end it is immaterial. They may close their eyes and leap over the abyss, but struggle as they may, in the end they will still fall.¡±


    ¡°Listen well, for I am not finished. For long centuries, Aeria slowly healed from the ravages of the Daemon Horde. Though the world mourned the loss of The Goddess, her parting gift was a land cleansed of the corruption of darkness. Perhaps it was due to this unexpected windfall, or maybe it was blind folly. Regardless, over seven hundred years after the destruction of the Dreadgate, chaos once again descended upon our world. This time, it was caused by the folly of mortal men.¡±


    Leena gazed directly at Leon, and there was unmistakable accusation in her gaze. ¡°It was you humans who first gave in to the corruption of darkness. Daemons had been banished back to The Abyss, their thirst for blood unquenched, their hunger for destruction unabated. They bent their powers to the creation of a new Dreadgate, but found their efforts futile against the enduring might of Great Avaria¡¯s sacrifice. However, after many centuries of continuous plots and stratagems, they finally found a loophole they could exploit.¡±


    ¡°Though the Dreadgate had been destroyed and its powers had been sealed, such a seal had been imposed upon The Abyss, not on Aeria itself. Through devious means, they managed to contact and seduce many of humanity¡¯s best and brightest, whispering from the shadows and offering great power. This power came in the form of the anti-thesis of elemental essence, wielded to great effect by the Daemon Horde, yet banished by Fair Avaria¡¯s sacrifice. Through the blind greed of humans, darkness insidiously crept back. After it was unleashed upon our world, burning great swathes of chaos and destruction, running rampant upon the land, it received a name that was both a cry of despair and a curse of irrevocable hatred.¡±


    Leena let out a shuddering breath, pausing while she visibly collected herself, before uttering the next words in a dead, toneless voice.


    ¡°This was the Shadowblight.¡±


    Leon¡¯s heart skipped a beat as his blurring vision focused at the severity in Leena¡¯s tone, struggling amidst the pain burning in his veins to listen carefully to the elven maiden¡¯s next words.


    ¡°The Shadowblight is aterrible curse under the guise of a gift. It feeds upon the elemental essence present in every living being of Aeria. It is like a fire that consumes elemental essence, and this fire is the power of the dread dark essence. The greater the gift of elemental power present within a person, the more fiercely this dark essence burns.¡±


    ¡°Dark essence?¡± Leon had never heard of this term before.


    ¡°Elemental essence will, by nature, always seek to nurture and grow. Even the fire essence you wield, volatile and fierce though it may seem, merely serves to release pent up elemental energy and release it back into the world. Limited though an individual¡¯s elemental powers may be, the world¡¯s reservoirs run deep and eternal. Surely you understand this to some level, as talented a weaver of the elements as you are. Channeling elemental essence is merely an act of borrowing, while releasing it through spells is the act of paying it back. In the end, you even add your own essence as a fitting tribute.¡±


    Leon¡¯s mind whirled as he listened to this simple, yet apt explanation of Leena. Though he had never viewed it as such a symbiotic relationship, at this moment many of the more profound intricacies of the elements which had escaped his grasp suddenly seemed to grow clearer in his mind. Truly, elves lived up to their reputation as the best wielders of elemental essence upon Aeria. Just a few simple statements, yet Leon was blown away by the implications. However, Leena did not give him time to ponder on such matters.


    ¡°Dark essence is the polar opposite. While elemental essence nurtures and grows, dark essence devours and destroys. Thus elemental essence is represented by light, while dark essence leaves only a deep void, where no light nor life can exist. As you may know, it is far easier to destroy than to create. Similarly, dark essence counters elemental essence and is not only deadlier than its counterpart, it is also relatively simpler to gather and wield.¡±


    ¡°This is the gift of the dark essence. Through such power, many talented weavers of elemental essence rose to great prominence and fame in a short time. Such was the devious plot of the Daemons, for only after their prey reached such positions, did they finally unveil the curse of the dark essence. This was the Shadowblight.¡±


    ¡°Like its name implies, it is a corruption of the elemental essence dwelling in each person. When the process is complete and there is no more elemental essence to devour, the Shadowblight begins to consume the mind of the afflicted. Subtle changes in behavior will occur at first, but quickly become more obvious. Abstractions such as morality and virtue will lose all value in the face of desire and greed. An endless hunger will burn in the victim¡¯s heart and mind, one that is impossible to appease. Madness will finally begin to set in, until the Shadowblight completely consumes the victim¡¯s mind. Then, it will enter its final stage, and initiate its assault upon the soul.¡±


    ¡°The soul?¡± Leon asked, clearly confused by such an abstract concept.


    ¡°This is the deadliest incarnation of the Shadowblight. Though neither the method nor its metaphysical implications are clear, we only know that until the second stage of the Shadowblight, the infected were still unwitting carriers who have voluntarily succumbed to the temptations of dark essence. However, the most terrifying aspect of the Shadowblight only emerges upon the advent of the third stage, when the soul begins to burn under the assault of dark essence. After this point, sooner or later the soul will finally succumb to the assault of the Shadowblight. When this happens, the last remnants of the soul will crumble into ashes and scatter like silent, invisible snowflakes carried by an evil wind, leaving behind an empty shell, a soul-less beast driven by a ravenous hunger to obey the commands of its daemon overlords.¡±


    ¡°Spawning a new slave to the Daemon Horde is bad enough, but each of the snowflakes spread in the final stage of the Shadowblight is a seed of darkness, bearing the dread dark essence to an unwitting new host. This host will find a newborn power burning through their elemental veins, and unknowingly nurture this seed of Shadowblight. Having found a new host, dark essence will once again begin its cycle of consumption and corruption, until in the end it completely devours the new host into a new slave before sprouting new seeds of darkness.¡±


    ¡°It is this terrifying cycle of corruption and enslavement that nearly destroyed us all. Before we even became aware of the existence of the Shadowblight in the human kingdoms, these invisible seeds had been borne by dark winds into the fair folk¡¯s domains. By the time human servants of the Daemon Horde finally arose all across the lands and began the construction of countless dark rifts to open the way for their masters, the taint of the Shadowblight had spread far and wide across the land. It even reached deep into the heart of the fair folk¡¯s land, where even the King of the Diamond Court succumbed to its temptation and became traitor to us all.¡±


    At this point, Leena parted her lips but words failed her. Anguish drowned all other emotion as though she were reliving memories far too painful to endure. After another moment, she finally drew a deep, shivering breath before visibly steeling herself and continuing.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I will not elaborate on this massive calamity. Know only that it was a holocaust the likes of which have never visited our world since the times of the Sacrifice. In the end and at great price, the threat of the Shadowblight was ended. Entire kingdoms were burned to ashes. Countless innocents were sacrificed in order to char the last vestiges of dark essence from Aeria. Even the fair folk engaged in the cruelest genocide they had experienced yet. The bitter fruits of such actions, necessary as they were, still echo in our days. Most of all, the fair folk have never forgiven the humans for ushering in this terrible curse.¡±


    ¡°In honor of the memory of those sacrificed to halt the Shadowblight, and so that Aeria would never again know the ravages of such a scourge, a select group of fair folk was created. They are known as Lightbearers. Thus I present myself to you, Leon Draxas. I am Arleena Starbreeze, Lightbearer of the Sapphire Court. My team of 12 Lightbearers were among many tasked to delve into the mysteries of a series of rift incidents, and to ascertain to what extent the Daemons were involved. Six long months have passed, and in the pursuit of our mission all my companions have given their lives. We have uncovered many of the mysteries of this land, but we have found even more questions in their wake. Unfortunately, in our last mission my final two companions sacrificed themselves so that I might survive. Left alone, I had resigned myself to halt investigations into the depths of the red zone. Instead, I began to blend into the local populace while I recovered my strength. It was precisely as I was still recovering that I met the bandit raid, and subsequently both you and Skyle.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you claim elves created the Lightbearers to guard against the Shadowblight returning. How come I¡¯ve never heard of any of this before? Why would you keep this as a great secret instead of spreading the word, especially among humans where you claim it first took root?¡±


    Even as Leena answered, Leon¡¯s own mind had begun to produce its own answers to his questions. Her words only served to verify his own conclusions.


    ¡°As I said before, humans have been gifted and cursed with great ambition. Knowledge of the dangers of Shadowblight is widespread within the circles of the fair folk so as to warn our people lest they should become tempted by it. Your own race, however, chose a different path, perhaps more suited to your own nature. As far as I know, several secret agencies police the knowledge of dark essence, holding it to be the utmost taboo. Even a mere whisper of it would be dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly, such that its seeds have been stamped out of existence through sheer brutality and death. By thus squashing even the mere mention of it from your histories, humans seek to ensure that not even fools blinded by their own greed would reach towards dark essence after hearing of its power. Still, I¡¯ve heard of stringent tests spread by different human organizations that periodically test for the Shadowblighted under the guise of various rituals.¡±


    Leon¡¯s face paled greatly as he processed all this information. He could, in fact, recall several archaic rituals performed by the Holy Church on a yearly basis which were mandatory for every man, woman and child. All this time, he never had an inkling of the importance of such. Leon found himself feeling a certain amount of consideration towards the Church for the first time in his young life. It had taken an agent from the elven court, a Lightbearer, for him to understand many things.


    ¡°Hold a moment.¡± Finally, he could see why his gut had been telling him that not all was as it seemed with this girl they had rescued. Then, his mind shifted towards Leena¡¯s most recent actions, particularly her sudden curiosity towards Skyle. Sudden realization hit him like a hammer, and his heart skipped a beat as his mind seemed to freeze for an instant.


    ¡°Skyle. No. You can¡¯t possibly think-¡± He stuttered.


    ¡°Yes, he is Shadowblighted.¡± Leena¡¯s reply was as grim as her face, her tone one of irrefutable finality.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± Leon exclaimed between clenched teeth, his heart sinking. ¡°Skyle.. No, it can¡¯t be!¡±


    Leena paused for deliberate moment but her eyes did not waver at all. ¡°Listen to me Leon. Listen well. I told you Shadowblight seeds target the bright and gifted. This is because the greater the original amount of elemental essence, the greater the dark essence when it finally erupts. As a consequence, when Shadowblight is transitioning between the first and second stages, a great clash will occur within the energies of an individual as the last vestiges of elemental essence are finally burned clean. The length of this process varies on an individual basis, and may last anywhere from days to several months. It is suspected, however, that the greater the talent, the longer the transformation process will last. The late King of the Diamond Court is even said to have endured a period of three years before finally breaking through and bursting with staggering power, burning the entire Diamond Court into cinders.¡±


    Leon swallowed the bitter aftertaste in his mouth while finally realizing why he had heard of the Emerald and Sapphire Courts, but never of the Diamond Court of the elves.


    ¡°It is known that within this timeframe the afflicted will be unable to channel elemental essence or dark essence as they usually would. Only upon completing this process would the dark essence finally surge and begin its assault upon the mind, while also granting a great increase in essence power. The Shadowblight discriminates not based on race, gender or age. Only talent draws its voracious maw. Now tell me Leon, you have seen how incredible talented and intelligent Skyle is, even at such a young age. And yet, have you seen him use his elemental powers these past few days?¡±


    ¡°But.. But you¡¯ve never used your own powers either!¡± Leon accused.


    ¡°So that I may never be exposed to even a hint of corruption, my oaths as a Lightbringer prevent me from drawing upon essence of unknown origins, such as the beast stones from this place. These oaths I hold more sacred than my own life. Tell me, however, would Skyle be beholden to such oaths?¡±


    Leon frantically searched for such a reason to justify Skyle¡¯s actions, but he knew clearly that Skyle was a practical boy, and beyond that, a simple farmer that would have no reason to have such oaths. As a matter of fact, Leon himself had often wondered why Skyle had never used his elemental essence.


    Leena¡¯s odious inquisition continued, and Leon found his mind sinking deeper and deeper into despair as he heard her next words.


    ¡°During this internal clash of energies, elemental essence from external sources would also be firmly repulsed from interfering, no matter how benevolent its intentions may be. I¡¯ve noticed that your own wounds have been well treated using elemental essence. However, Skyle¡¯s own bear not a single hint of such essence. Can you explain to me why? Surely, you tried to treat Skyle¡¯s wounds using your own powers, am I correct? What happened then?¡±


    ¡°I.. I..¡± Leon grasped for an answer, but could only squeeze his eyes shut as his shoulders sagged and his head slumped forward. Leena didn¡¯t seem to mind his silence, as she just continued in that same implacable tone.


    ¡°The most definite proof, however, is the matter of his eyes. It is said they are windows to the soul. Be that as it may, a sign of the final stages in the violent internal clash between elemental essence and dark essence is the change in coloration of one of the eyes. Sometimes, extreme reactions to elemental power can produce subtle variations in the hue of both eyes. However, as dark essence consumes the final vestiges of elemental essence within a body, one eye will remain the same color while the other will blaze brightly with the fire of dark essence. Do you know what color this flame takes?¡±


    Leon raised his head and stared speechlessly at Leena, wishing he could cover his own ears.


    ¡°Dark essence burns, not red, nor black, but rather a deep, icy blue that represents the coldness of the void.¡±


    These last words pounded upon the last vestiges of resistance in Leon¡¯s mind, opening wide the maws of despair.


    ¡°But Skyle, he¡¯s a good person. Much better than me, or you.¡± Leon protested in an almost inaudible voice.


    Leena shook her head. ¡°That is inconsequential. I told you that while the first corrupted become so of their own free will, the seeds of Shadowblight take root without the consent or even knowledge of their hosts. All they know is that a new talent has suddenly awakened within them. Since they¡¯re often the best and brightest in the first place, such a discovery does not come as a great surprise. By the time they might suspect something is amiss, they would already have fallen to the corruption of dark essence.¡±


    ¡°Are you so sure that Skyle has this Shadowblight? Absolutely so? You are willing to gamble on his life, on your own life that this is true?¡± Leon growled as fiercely as he could manage, though his voice trembled both with the great shock he had received from Leena¡¯s revelation, and his own state of utter exhaustion.


    ¡°How about you, Leon?¡± Leena countered softly, like a silken knife easily slicing under his ribs, and into his heart. ¡°I¡¯ve revealed to you the secret of the Shadowblight. Would you be willing to gamble upon the lives of countless innocents, upon the very fate of Aeria itself, that Skyle is absolutely pure and untainted?¡±


    Leon staggered back. First of all, did he trust Leena? He was relieved to find that he still did not, even after everything. However, was this Shadowblight a lie? His gut told him otherwise. Too many facts matched, like pieces of a puzzle Leon never knew were in his possession.


    Then the truly vital question became, was this suspicion enough to doom an innocent life? His upbringing and education had drilled into him the importance of principles in governing the masses. Such principles were different from those of moral or sacred virtue. Instead, they were the bedrock of pragmatism, upon which the altar of power was built.


    One such principle instantly sprung to the forefront in Leon¡¯s mind: the needs of the few were always subordinate to those of the many. The life of a single innocent to redeem the lives of ten, a hundred or a thousand was not just a sound logical decision, but also a basic principle of ruling. Thus did kings and princes make their decisions, so that the lands would prosper and the people benefit.


    Even when that single innocent was his own best friend, the true brother he never had.


    ¡°What happens if the Shadowblighted die before the end of the third stage?¡± Leon was surprised at how cool and steady his voice was.


    ¡°It is the only known method to contain its taint: drowning it under oceans of blood.¡±


    The cold answer did not surprise him at all. Now, all Leon could do was ask himself the simple question: would he do it? And if he did, would it not surely doom his soul in the process?


    Shocked and overwhelmed as he was, Leon was still able to appreciate the bitter irony of it all: that it was the death of his own heart that would be the first sacrifice for the many.


    It was thus, Leon finally realized, that the hearts of Kings became stone, and slowly died.


    Skyle..


    His mournful mental cry was cut short by a faint, yet unmistakable rumbling that had grown painfully familiar these past few hours. The ground trembled and the whole cave only served to amplify it further, until its echoes filled his ears with its droning din.


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Leon whispered, closing his eyes.


    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Leena echoed solemnly.


    ¡°Perhaps it is for the better,¡± Leon thought to himself. ¡°Better that I die here, torn apart under the ravenous fangs of a giant bug than to sacrifice the life of my friend in the name of some damn principle.¡±


    Such thoughts were interrupted by Leena, who gathered her hands under Leon¡¯s shoulder with unexpected gentleness.


    Shaking his head, Leon placed his own hand on the Lightbearer¡¯s shoulder, stopping her movement.


    ¡°No, this is as far as I go,¡± Leon sighed in reply to Leena wordless query.


    ¡°We can still move. Who knows how deep this cave goes?¡±


    ¡°Arleena Starbreeze, I am wounded, probably dying. I have overdrafted until my veins have run bone dry. Even now, I feel that the slightest breeze might scatter them into so much dust, and with it my own life,¡± Leon explained in an indifferent note, as though he were commenting on the weather and not about his own death. ¡°Still, even as I am now, or perhaps even more so, I am Leon Draxas di Adrausier, and this is where I choose to make my last stand. I will run no further, for I would rather look death in the eye than be stabbed in the back. Can you understand this?¡±


    Leena pursed her lips, but her next words were as direct and merciless as he had expected. ¡°It is no great honor to choose death before duty. Neither is it courage to await a quick death instead of struggling in the face of impossible odds for the sake of a greater purpose. Leon, you now bear a great burden in the secret of the Shadowblight. You are responsible, just as much as I am, in seeing.. This matter through to the end.¡±


    Only the slightest faltering towards the end indicated that she had changed her wording at the last moment. Still, they both knew the name that she had omitted in that last sentence.


    ¡°I am well aware that this secret you shared with me was no gift, but rather a huge burden. It is due to the severity of this burden that I will remain here. In my current state, if I were to join you in escaping I would only slow you down. This way, at the very least I will slow them down instead.¡± Leon jerked his head towards the mouth of the cave, where the roughly erected wall of stones left only a few faint rays of light in. These streams of light shook faintly as the rumbling grew louder and the rocks echoed the vibrations.


    After a brief, considering silence, Leena finally nodded with a solemn air.


    ¡°You know the burden I bear, and I trust you understand its gravity. No matter what happens now, we are now fighting for the same cause.¡±


    After a brief pause, Leena saluted in a formal manner, her right palm coming to rest over her heart.


    ¡°May you die fighting the Shadowblight, Leon Draxas.¡±


    ¡°May you die fighting the Shadowblight, Arleena Starbreeze.¡±


    In the silence that followed, the only sound that filled the air was the relentless rumbling of the ground, growing louder and louder with every breath.

 Chapter 49 - Sanctuary

    Chapter 49 - Sanctuary


    ¡°Welcome to the Shrine of Tears, young Skyle.¡±


    The sudden words startled Skyle so badly that he nearly jumped out of his skin. The only reason he did not do so was probably because at this moment his eyes were staring in complete stupefaction at the speaker.


    ¡°Im.. Impossible!¡± the young boy cried out vehemently.


    The whole statue of the Goddess had come alive, the life-like texture of her hair and skin now becoming flesh in truth. She wore a serene expression, wholy untouched by Skyle¡¯s own unsettled state, as her eyes patiently gazed upon him while waiting expectantly.


    ¡°Ah, greetings, eh, your divinity?¡± Skyle blurted out, bobbing his head down in his best impression of a respectful bow.


    ¡°No need, for I am merely the guardian of this small Sanctuary, and therefore no grand deity deserving of your worship,¡± came the ethereal voice. Her lips moved in sync with the words, but Skyle could hear the echoes reverberating inside his head as though she had spoken directly to his mind. This clearly showed she was no common mortal being, so Skyle decided to err on the side of caution and just treat her like he would any immortal, no matter what she said.


    Not that Skyle had ample experience dealing with gods and the like - or any at all, for that matter. However, treating her like he would his own mother on the very, very rare occasions when Adrienne Farrow was truly upset should do. After all, any mortal who could force Kendric Farrow to cringe like a weasel and walk on pins and needles was, by Skyle¡¯s reckoning, no mere mortal at all either.


    ¡°This place, this shrine is a sanctuary?¡± the young boy asked hesitantly.


    The Goddess¡¯ eyes grew distant for a moment before settling their focus back on Skyle. This time he felt the weight of the gaze even more fully, as though the mystical being before him could see through him and his every secret.


    ¡°Not only this shrine, young Skyle. This whole realm is under my care, and therefore constitutes the Sanctuary,¡± came the gentle correction.


    Skyle¡¯s expression scrunched up as he thought of all the nightmarish creatures outside, as well as all the terror and death he had seen. How could this be called a sanctuary?


    ¡°Though you dare doubt my words, this once I shall not lay blame on you. For truly Sanctuary lies desecrated, and even now struggles in the midst of a bitter battle.¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean-¡± Skyle quickly blurted out, but found himself unable to speak further, his lips no longer obeying his commands.


    ¡°Do not be troubled. I well know of your journey, of the many sufferings inflicted upon your young soul by the vicissitudes of fate and circumstance. Would that I had the power to spare the innocent such as you. Alas, it is not to be, as Sanctuary has lain under siege by outside forces for too long for your mortal ken to comprehend.¡±


    ¡°Who dares attack you, Lady?¡± Skyle found his voice once more, growing indignant in spite of himself.


    Her expression grew frosty and the air around the Goddess seemed to chill, while a somber frown flashed across her brows.


    ¡°Eternal enemies of the light, ever crouching within the shadow. Ever hungry though their whole existence is devoted to devouring. They seek to slake a thirst which is unquenchable, and knowingly they indulge in these depravities. Such are the mad cravings of an insane god.¡±


    ¡°If the enemy is an insane god, then who does Sanctuary stand guard for?¡± Skyle always had an inquisitive mind, and now that he had an opening he was starved for answers.


    ¡°For those who have forsaken the light yet refuse to embrace the darkness.¡± came the cryptic reply.


    ¡°Lady, you speak in riddles. I don¡¯t understand.¡± Skyle complained as politely as he could.


    ¡°Little manling, it is not for you to understand.¡± Along with this gentle reminder, the condescending arch of the immortal¡¯s brow did not elicit any feelings of shame or outrage. Instead, for some reason it reminded the little boy of his mother and her quiet air of dignity and authority.


    ¡°Then why am I here?¡± Skyle couldn¡¯t help but sigh, wholly exhausted from his ordeals and desperate for anything that made sense.


    There was a momentary pause, and the briefest flash of hesitation surged behind the Goddess¡¯ eyes. So quickly that Skyle began to doubt he had seen it at all, it was gone before he could blink.


    ¡°This,¡± She began slowly, her gaze growing distant once more. ¡°This is not for you to know either.¡±


    As her eyes gained focus again, her expression was still one of careful, minucius study as she calmly regarded Skyle without any further words.


    The young boy had endured the agony of Kendric Farrow¡¯s scrutiny many a time, and even though Skyle was his father¡¯s son, he knew very few adults who could stand unbowed under the full weight of Kendric¡¯s steely gaze. Still, this here was a whole different experience altogether.


    Although his father¡¯s gaze seemed to imply that no secret would be ever safe from his keen sight and even keener insight, the calm regard of a divinity held a colossal weight to it, a mass of gravity that simply could not be borne. This was especially so for a child such as Skyle, no matter how strong willed or well trained he was.


    It was only when a painful stinging sensation shook him awake from his trance that Skyle realized that thick beads of sweat had rolled down his forehead and into his eyes. All at once, he was floundering, choking under a massivepressure that threatened to overwhelm him at any moment, like a small boat about to capsize in a stormy sea.


    At this very moment, a glimmer of light flashed out of a corner of his eyes, and all the pressure weighing down upon Skyle receded completely as though a tide rolling back before the sand. In its wake, the small boy drew a deep, shuddering breath that shook more beads of sweat from his cheeks and hair.


    ¡°It shall be so,¡± came the next words from the divinity, and Skyle was only more confused.


    ¡°Huh?¡± he gasped, his lungs still quivering as they attempted to draw in fitful breaths.


    ¡°It was unworthy of me to test you so, young Skyle. I felt it a necessity of the times, but I shall not do so again.¡±


    The words sounded oddly like the closest thing to an apology a mere mortal could expect from such a presence.


    ¡°Uh, sure.¡± Skyle barely managed a wheeze, his knees still knocking together unsteadily.


    ¡°You have been granted two boons, Skyle Arrow Lyrianis. Such an opportunity is rare beyond compare, even more so than stumbling across the secrets of Sanctuary and surviving the ordeal as a young boy.¡±


    "Huh? My given name is Farrow, and mom''s is Lendis. Could my name have a different meaning in an ancient language?"Skyle frowned momentarily, but decided to focus on more pressing matters first.


    ¡°Why?¡± Skyle asked, his voice becoming just a little steadier.


    The Goddess¡¯ eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°You do not ask about the boon itself, but rather about its cause. I find it gratifying that you are still able to surprise me, little mortal.¡±


    Skyle did not say anything, and he unconsciously tried to mirror his father¡¯s impassive gaze whenever he wanted to extort an answer from his guilty children. Although Skyle did not fully understand why he did so, he simply followed his gut feeling. Something about this felt.. Not wrong, but not quite right either.


    A long moment of silence ensued, during which the air gradually grew heavier again and Skyle became aware of the quickening beat of his own heart. Still, a glint of defiance flashed in Skyle¡¯s eyes.


    Suddenly, as swift as it had come, the strange atmosphere was gone, and the barest hint of a smile curled the Goddess¡¯ lips.


    ¡°Perhaps it is not mere happenstance, after all. You are very unique, Skyle Arrow. I do not give such praise lightly.¡±


    ¡°I dare not receive it lightly, your divinity.¡± Skyle quipped, and instantly regretted it. His mother had always told him his smart mouth would land him in hot water, and one day it would be too deep to climb out of.


    ¡°Ah, young Skyle.¡± It was almost a sigh now, and Skyle instantly felt relieved that there was no heat nor displeasure in the words. Instead, they rang faintly of yearning and sorrow. ¡°How fate weaves and mortals tremble, yet a young boy who knows better still dares to chide an immortal. Such are the vagaries of destiny.¡±


    ¡°My apologies, I meant no offense.¡±


    ¡°Your words are not wholly unwarranted, and thus no apology is needful. As for your question, it is as sagacious as it is impertinent, but I shall oblige.¡±


    At this very moment, in the blink of an eye and without moving a single muscle, the Goddess seemed to gather herself and instantly the full majesty of her presence filled the entire cavern to bursting. Strangely, no pressure could be felt upon Skyle at all. Instead, he simply basked in a golden cascade of color and song that soothed his exhausted soul.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    In the midst of this, a light shone from within the folds of Skyle¡¯s clothes. It was pure and beautiful, this light, though it was not blinding at all. It drifted upward and only then did Skyle realize it emanated from the mysterious silver disk he had found among Fierro Latimus¡¯ possessions. Out of habit and before he could stop himself, Skyle delved into the True Sight. The young boy let out a relieved sigh when there was no outburst of divine light searing his eyes this time. Only the same warm glow suffused his vision, oddly comforting as he gazed upon it.


    The light didn¡¯t come from the disk itself, Skyle had to correct himself. Rather, it was a single tiny glyph carved into an inconspicuous side of the disk that hummed with gentle power. This mysterious glyph pulsed with an ethereal light that shifted from color to color without pause. Basking in this glow gave Skyle an oddly familiar feeling, but at the same time it was too alien to grasp.


    Before Skyle could do more than simply stare, the glyph rippled once. As it did so, it cascaded with a much more intense light, and that familiar feeling only grew stronger as well, even tugging at his heartstrings. Then the glyph unexpectedly curled upon itself and slid off the disk, floating up into the air and towards the expectant Goddess¡¯ hand. It fluttered airily before finally landing within her grasp, then vanishing with a whooshing sound and one final flare of brilliance. Then the light was no more, and only the Goddess¡¯ presence filled the shrine, even more majestic than before and filled with renewed energy. Only another brief flash of surprise was visible on her face when she realized that Skyle had been tracking the mysterious glyph¡¯s flight the whole time. Then it was all divine serenity once more.


    Skyle had no clue as to what had just transpired here. He had not dared look directly upon the Goddess with his True Sight, as he had learned his lesson and did not wish to be driven insane or go blind. Just the briefest glimpse of that divine hand had been enough to burn painful circles in his eyes. Still, reflecting upon what he had seen, Skyle did not dare believe that he had any involvement at all in infusing any energy into the disk himself. The thought that Latimus Fierro, the master craftsman, had carved such a mysterious glyph upon the disk flitted through his mind, but was instantly dismissed. That deceptively simple glyph that had only been revealed through his True Sight whispered to him of divine mysteries which were far beyond his reach or understanding. Then what was this nagging feeling of familiarity? Glancing down, he noticed that the surface of the disk was as it had been before, clean and without any marks or indentations. No sign of the mysterious glyph was left behind at all. It was a simple metal disk again.


    Should he risk another question towards the goddess? What was this disk? How about the glyph? How was he involved in all this? All such musings were wiped cleanly off Skyle¡¯s mind when the Goddess next spoke.


    ¡°You, Skyle Arrow, bear a Blessed Immortal¡¯s Seal, wrought of the finest divine ores, everlasting and all-enduring. It stands as manifest and incontrovertible proof that you have entered an immortal¡¯s regard. Thus, you shall be rewarded, for such grace is not casually extended. Does this answer satisfy your inquisitive mind, young mortal? Or would you further try this Shrine Guardian¡¯s patience?¡±


    ¡°It.. it does! I dare not, I could not-¡± Skyle stammered when he could finally draw another breath, clear in his mind that it was time to back off.


    ¡°Then let it be so, and nothing further need be spoken of this matter. Instead, choose your boons, and do so carefully. The first, is that your innate veins shall be cleansed.¡±


    ¡°You mean-¡± Skyle¡¯s heart instantly began to pump furiously within his chest, and his eyes popped wide open as a hope that he had regarded as long dead all these years roared back to life, burning with passion.


    ¡°Yes, young human. Your essential veins have been tainted by a darkness most foul. Such is its ferocity, that it not only consumes your power, in the end it would completely consume you as well. In but a few seasons, nothing would be left of you save for a desolate husk.¡±


    ¡°You, you can fix the problem with my veins?¡± Skyle cried out, his voice hoarse with raw emotion.


    ¡°Indeed, I can and I will, should you request this boon of me.¡± The Goddess smiled beatifically at the small boy whose cheeks were now stained with countless tears rolling down his face. It was almost as though she knew of all the years of painful, fruitless practice Skyle had forced upon himself. Again and again, he had burned his own veins in futile attempts to ignite his magic.


    Now, unexpectedly, he would at long last be whole. Be complete.


    ¡°Next, you may depart Sanctuary immediately, and return whence you came, bearing with you whatever rewards you have been able to reap from Sanctuary to aid you further in your endeavors. Else, you may choose to remain here, and learn what you can from my guardian spirit, the ancient crystal phoenix Rakasha, as she defends Sanctuary from its dreadful foes. Such a decision naturally bears far more danger than the former, yet the rewards would prove equally lavish.¡±


    ¡°Choose, young Skyle, as your fate, be it your glory or doom, lies entirely within your grasp.¡±


    The last words were somber enough that they sent a chill up Skyle¡¯s spine. He understood that the next choice would perhaps be the most important decision of his life. He would finally be able to wield the power of the elements! Such had been his obsession all these years, and yet he had never known such a fierce malady preyed upon his talents. According to the Goddess, wouldn¡¯t it have meant his death in a few years, had he not entered Sanctuary and entered this immortal¡¯s good graces?


    Surely, this must be his first boon. However, as for his second boon, another vital decision lay within his grasp. Leave this nightmarish realm at once and return to the loving embrace of his mother, who would surely be worried to death? Or remain here, delving deeper into the mysteries of Sanctuary, its foes and its defenders, as well as the Desolate Star Technique? After all, he had only discovered this frightful taint in his veins thanks to Sanctuary. What other secrets would he unveil here?


    In the midst of all this excitement, however, there was an invisible finger incessantly poking the back of his head, until finally Skyle had to turn his attention to an unspoken, yet equally important third option. However, such a decision might mean risking the Goddess¡¯ patience, and perhaps his own reward. Did he dare try this immortal¡¯s patience once more?


    Skyle teetered on the edge of doubt and fear, unable to make a decision even though that nagging feeling in the back of his mind whispered that he should not turn a blind eye to what he knew to be the right thing to do. What to do?


    ¡°When in doubt,¡± Kendric Farrow would often chuckle darkly to his son with a wide, knowing wolfish grin, ¡°always remember son: Mama knows best.¡±


    ¡°What would mom say?¡± Skyle thought, recalling Adrienne Farrow¡¯s dazzlingly beautiful smile, always full of wisdom and kindness. Then just like that, his doubts were instantly cleared and a bright smile sprang forth from his lips.


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve made your choice, young mortal?¡±


    ¡°I have, but I would like to ask a question, if I may.¡±


    The Goddess spread her hands in an easy gesture of divine grace.


    ¡°You have been watching my journey, and thus you know that I have only endured thus far thanks to my companions: Leon, Leena and Emil. May I bring my companions with me, should I choose to return?¡± Skyle asked, openly and with a gleam in his eye.


    A momentary silence ensued, during which Skyle could scarcely breathe while he awaited the answer that might decide his own fate, as well as that of his friends.


    ¡°Divine grace only extends to you as the deserving mortal, Skyle Arrow. Still, know that your intervention is not beyond our expectations. If you so wish it, then it shall be so, though you should fully understand what is offered before you forsake it in the interest of others.¡±


    Skyle nodded, listening carefully.


    ¡°You may request of me this boon, to bring my guardian spirit to look for your companions and take them home with you. Be warned, however, that you may not necessarily find what you wish for. Whether they are alive or dead, not only will this immortal have fulfilled your boon, but extending such grace to others will cost you the precious inheritances you have received within Sanctuary.¡±


    ¡°You mean-¡± Skyle began, then his voice died off as he gave the Goddess a stricken look.


    With an imperious nod, she answered in an almost painfully indifferent tone. ¡°A balance must be struck, and nothing worth its price is ever free. I believe you are familiar with this timeless principle. The masterwork weapon Moonshadow shall be exchanged for Leon Draxas di Audrasier. Fierro Latimus Primus¡¯ journal will be the price for Arleena Starbreeze Ainfandelsolas. Finally, the Desolate Star Technique shall be redeemed for Emil Goodwin Wester. Such is the price of your decision. Are you still resolute in your request?¡±


    With each word, Skyle felt like claws were tearing into his flesh, drawing rivers of blood. These were his precious inheritances, which he had vowed to treasure for all his life! Skyle¡¯s hand tightened as he reflexibly reached over his shoulder, towards the vacant space where Moonshadow would have normally hung. He had already grown so accustomed to its comfortable weight, that its absence still pained him greatly. Not only that, but even the Desolate Star Technique would be snatched from him! Would that mean this new world that the True Sight had opened for him would be gone forever?


    It was too cruel a blow, and Skyle staggered as his vision swam in black. He nearly tumbled forward near the edge of the ledge where he faced the Goddess, and only just managed to extend a hand behind himself to steady his weight against the wall. All the while, Skyle struggled with his own ambitions and grand dreams for the future. He weighed them all against his own set of principles which had been branded within his heart by his father¡¯s constant reminders and his mother¡¯s loving care.


    Throughout all this, the Goddess remained impassive, serenely watching over him yet not moving a single muscle nor hair. Maybe this was the lofty indifference that characterized a divinity¡¯s encounter with a mortal.


    After a few breaths to steady himself, Skyle ruthlessly crushed all the pain and regret within his heart and extinguished the flames of anguish scattered within his eyes. His elemental powers and his life, those were more than enough. Why be so selfish and ask for more? Would he become just another fool blinded by greed? In the end, it was a straightforward enough decision. He just had to ask himself a simple set of questions.


    Would he be able to face his parents?


    What would little Kass and Reik learn from their older brother?


    Would Skyle still be able to look Ash in the eyes as an equal?


    Most important of all, could Skyle himself bear to look at himself in the mirror?


    Just like that, in mere moments and in a remarkable display of discipline, the young boy mastered his emotions once again.


    ¡°Have you decided?¡± came the cool voice of the Goddess.


    ¡°I have.¡± came the simple, yet firm reply.


    ¡°I can see it in your eyes, and while I admire your moral fiber, I must question the soundness of your judgment. Still, it is your own fate, and you have thus chosen your own path. Need you deliberate further? Will you not reconsider?¡±


    Skyle firmly shook his head. ¡°No, and each passing moment only makes me regret my own selfishness further. I fear that already I may be too late. I beseech the Goddess, please allow me to go rescue my friends as soon as possible with your aid!¡±


    A long sigh followed Skyle¡¯s words, and the disappointment in the Goddess¡¯ eyes was neither fake nor concealed. Immediately after, a loud cry reverberated from outside, that of a fierce bird of prey, the mother of all celestial birds.


    ¡°So be it then. Set forth on your quest to collect your friends, and remember this was your own choice.¡± Another sigh escaped the Goddess¡¯ lips, and this time her expression was unmistakably one of genuine regret. This was the strongest emotion Skyle had seen on the immortal¡¯s features thus far.


    ¡°Ah, young, foolish mortal. There shall come a time when you regret today¡¯s decision. It is done! I shall speak no further. Rakasha shall bear you in her safekeeping until you return. Go now!¡±


    Immediately after, the radiance surrounding the Goddess swiftly faded, until the flesh once again became inanimate, and Skyle knew that the presence of the goddess had left him, to return to mere stone once more.


    ¡°Thank you, my lady,¡± Skyle whispered under his breath, then dared not tarry any longer. Instead, he swiftly sprinted up the slope inside the spire, rushing towards the beckoning light overhead.


    All the while, inside his heart Skyle called loudly enough that he could barely gather any breath from the excitement and trepidation.


    ¡°Leon, I¡¯m coming. Hold on. You must hold on!¡±

 Chapter 50 - Rakasha, the Crystal Phoenix

    Chapter 50 - Crystal Phoenix Rakasha


    Immediately upon rushing outside, Skyle was greeted by the imposing sight of the crystal phoenix Rakasha in all her shining splendor as she swiftly descended from her lofty perch above. Skyle found himself stepping back in panic as he watched the massive figure of the great bird plunging down at an alarming speed, but near the end of her dive Rakasha spread her wings and gracefully flipped in the air once. Incredibly, not a single gust of wind could be felt as her majestic wings were fully spread out to nearly encompass the whole width of the nest. The light reflected from each of her perfectly symmetrical jeweled scales was nearly blinding.


    Skyle gathered that there must be some incredibly powerful magic at work, allowing such a colossal beast to fully support its weight in the air without disturbing a single gust of wind. As he swallowed the lump in his throat, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but be dazzled by the spectacle. Glittering in all the colors of the rainbow, Rakasha was simply one of the most spectacularly beautiful creatures Skyle had ever beheld.


    Although her recent wounds somewhat marred the beauty of the crystal phoenix, Skyle still felt embarrassed that he had ever thought Rakasha was a simple oversized eagle. However, such thoughts were neither here or now, as Skyle recalled the urgency of his mission.


    ¡°Great Rakasha, by the Goddess¡¯ permission, I humbly request your aid to rescue my friends!¡± Skyle called out breathlessly.


    The glimmer of intelligence deep within the crystal phoenix¡¯s eyes did not surprise Skyle at all, so he was able to maintain his calm even as the great beast nodded faintly at him, then slowly lowered herself on the ground. Rakasha even extended one of her wings so as to form a natural slope that Skyle could use to climb. Otherwise, given the great girth of the crystal phoenix, Skyle would find it much more challenging to climb the small hill that was her chest.


    Just as Skyle finally reached the top and began to look for a proper perch, he heard a squeaking cry from behind. The young boy threw a look over his shoulder and found Birdy frantically trying to climb up Rakasha¡¯s tail. However, the jewel scales proved too smooth a surface for Birdy to gain a sufficient grip with its beak or claws, and no matter how frantically the baby bird beat its wings, it could simply not make it more than a handful of feet off the ground before unceremoniously sliding back down to sprawl in an awkward mess of flailing limbs and ruffled feathers.


    Each unsuccessful attempt was accompanied by an indignant, mournful howl, yet glancing towards Rakasha¡¯s face, Skyle found the same solemn indifference that had characterized the great bird, without any hint of the maternal love that he had briefly glimpsed at unguarded moments in the past.


    At this, Birdy¡¯s attempts became even more vigorous, even desperate. Still, after a few breaths Birdy had stumbled down its mother¡¯s tail countless times without making any significant progress. Skyle even felt tempted to lend some aid to the poor bird, but in the end concluded that sometimes he should not interfere in how a parent nurtures its child.


    After a minute, Birdy lay panting on the ground, squeaking loudly towards its mother. The ancient crystal phoenix did not produce a single sound, but Skyle could almost visualize his own father¡¯s indifferent, almost taunting look in Rakasha¡¯s expression. Even the slight arch of Kendric Farrow¡¯s eyebrow found a mirror match in the great bird of prey¡¯s left eye as she shook Birdy¡¯s final attempt off with a minute flick of her tail feathers. The almost imperceptible movement sent Birdy flying a handful of feet into the air, before it crashed against the soft bed of branches that blanketed the nest.


    With an involuntary shudder, Skyle was decidedly happy that he had decided to stay out of this business. Nevermind the fact that Birdy had dug itself out of the small crater where it had landed, and now stood glaring fiercely at Skyle as though all of this were the boy¡¯s fault somehow.


    Skyle simply grinned to himself, as he found yet another parallel from his family. This time, he could imagine his younger sister Kass pouting indignantly at him for daring to withhold the daily rations of candied corn that had become his younger siblings¡¯ newest addiction. How dare he, her furious and indignant expression seemed to shout, refuse to submit a fitting tribute of candied corn to this little empress of the Farrow clan?


    Shaking his head to himself, Skyle finally found a relatively secure perch within the groove formed in between two huge crystal scales near the back of Rakasha¡¯s neck. He was about to speak, asking for due haste when Rakasha immediately sprang into movement without waiting for him to speak.


    The sudden movement was jarring, and he was instantly petrified that he would be crushed by the sheer speed of the movement, or even worse, be blown off by the fierce winds that were sure to follow. However, he was immediately astonished. The ride this time was nothing like his previous trip when he had been caught in Rakasha¡¯s claws. Although the first time when he had been brought to the Shrine of Tears Skyle hadn¡¯t exactly been comfortable, being buffeted by the wind and swinging back and forth in the great beast¡¯s claw, only now did Skyle understand that he had not been merely lucky at that time.


    Skyle had thought that the bird had only coincidentally switched targets to him at the very last moment, and that only by a one-in-a-million chance the great beast¡¯s wickedly sharp claw happened to hook on his pack instead of his flesh, giving him a reasonably comfortable ride to its nest.


    Now, Skyle was again surprised as he felt neither wind nor much motion at all. He knew that they must be flying at terrifying speeds, much more swiftly than the first time he had been borne by Rakasha. Still, the crystal phoenix¡¯s body barely seemed to shift at all, asides from an occasional wave of its wings as it gracefully beat against the wind. Safe within his perch upon Rakasha¡¯s back, Skyle did not even feel the biting cold that he had experienced before. Skyle was no fool, and instantly he knew there must be powerful magic at work here. With all this, Skyle was forced to once again re-evaluate the intelligence and might of this great bird. Maybe the first ride had been a test of sorts, along with his own initial interaction with Birdy? If so, the only things Skyle regretted was that he had been unable to bring his friends along, and that Moonshadow had been lost.


    ¡°Ah, Moonshadow..¡± Skyle mumbled absently, keenly feeling its loss. Such a masterful weapon, he wished he could at least feel its comforting weight in his hand one more time before submitting it to the Goddess in willing exchange for his friend¡¯s life.


    ¡°Still, how could I ever forget the sheer pleasure of sighting down that flawless curvature, then pulling back on that exquisitely balanced string?¡±


    Skyle sighed heavily, and he was so lost in such thoughts that only a solid bonk on his head brought him back to the present.


    ¡°Oww!¡± Skyle cried out, clutching at his head in pain and reflexibly tilting his gaze upward. What he found made his jaw drop and his eyes began to tear up in earnest.


    ¡°Moonshadow!¡± the small boy cried out, genuine joy bursting across his chest. It felt like reuniting with one of his old friends, even though they¡¯d been together for but a handful of days, and been separated for only one.


    Still, to find the masterwork bow spinning idly over his head, Skyle was frozen stiff as his eyes feasted upon the sight of his beloved weapon. Only another solid thwak across his head jerked him into motion, and he reached up to snatch Moonshadow from the air.


    The moment his hand came in contact with the bow, it stopped swaying and instead surrendered into his grasp. The cool, smooth feel of the ebony material almost sparked new tears in his eyes, and the incomparably satisfying weight and balance of it made him sigh time and time again.


    ¡°Ah, Moonshadow, to think we will be parted..¡± Skyle exhaled, his chest deflating.


    Thump!


    Another solid hit on his head, and this time Skyle looked up to see the same quiver of arrows he had been carrying before being captured, hanging right there in the air above him. The arrows were all there, even the ones he had specially prepared for different purposes. Blunt heads, hollow heads, even the poison heads he had crafted from harvested poison sacks! None were missing, and it was just touching at the great crystal phoenix had devoted this much care to their recovery. This time, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but glance towards Rakasha. The ancient crystal phoenix completely ignored him, and continued to beat its wings at its own leisure, smoothly gliding through the air while the ground below them soared past at impossible speeds.


    ¡°Thank you, Rakasha.¡± Skyle wiped the tears from his cheeks, feeling no shame in the act but rather a genuine warmth and gratitude towards this graceful, lofty being. He was absolutely certain that, not only Rakasha¡¯s power, but her age and wisdom would far exceed even Skyle¡¯s fertile imagination. Still, she had deigned to retrieve this little boy¡¯s beloved bow and arrow. It was likely that she even knew what this expedition would ultimately cost Skyle, and that only made these short final moments even more precious still.


    ¡°Truly, thank you.¡±


    He did not expect any answer, but the great crystal phoenix abruptly parted its beak and let out a majestic cry. It visibly shook the trees below as it dove down past several clouds to approach closer to the ground. At this low altitude, still soaring at incredible speeds, Rakasha¡¯s shoulder twitched ever so slightly.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Skyle looked around, completely bewildered. Only after moment, did Rakasha¡¯s shoulder twitch once more, almost impatiently.


    Finally, Skyle understood, and he joyfully took out an arrow and sighted down his bow, aiming towards a distant tree top.


    Rakasha¡¯s shoulder did not twitch again, but then again, the dull human boy had finally understood, so it was not needed.


    ***


    Skyle only had time to fire a handful of arrows, most of them wildly off-target due to the sheer speed of their momentum as well as the chaotic winds formed by their passing, before the smell began to reach his nose.


    It began as a subtle hint of smoke mixed with an unpleasant, acrid scent that rapidly grew in intensity until it began to sting his nose in earnest. Perhaps it was due to how distracted he was by the newly recovered Moonshadow, but it was still a while longer before Skyle finally sighted the source of the smell.


    In the midst of the sprawling carpet of greenery below, thick with luscious trees and bushes, there was a great scar that still belched with a thick columns of black smoke. This was no single conflagration, but rather a jagged wound tearing through a lengthy stretch of forest canopy. Eager fire licked at the outer edges of the scar, which was as thick as fifty feet across at some places. The overall length of this trail of blazing destruction must be over five hundred feet.


    Skyle hissed in astonishment as he beheld this incredible display of destruction.


    ¡°Surely, this can¡¯t have been Leon? He¡¯s a powerful, even gifted fire summoner, but such a feat should be beyond even a master level summoner, no?¡± Skyle mumbled to himself.


    As they swiftly drew closer, Skyle switched to his True Sight, sweeping it along a thin cone all around him, scanning a circle of roughly 300 feet across. What he found took his breath away.


    Though to plain sight the ground was littered with blackened shapes vaguely resembling some sort of giant bug, when he switched to his True Sight an avalanche of chaotic red and purple auras immediately threatened to overwhelm his senses. Such massive scale destruction and death made Skyle¡¯s skin crawl, his mouth suddenly dry and retching as the smell assaulted his nose with renewed force. Suddenly, he knew exactly what this smell was.


    Endless mounds of giant spiders lay sprawled all across the blackened forest floor, their sundered corpses still easily distinguishable under the prowess of the True Sight. It was easy to see that their shells had violenty burst from within due to the immense pressure of liquids brought to boiling points far too abruptly to be resisted by their shells. Like rotten eggs, their thick shells had ruptured as easily as an eggshell, the remnant aura of their vital organs sprayed about in a disgusting cocktail that had long become ash. It would be completely undistinguishable, were it not for his True Sight and the auras it brought forward.


    ¡°Hundreds. There must be hundreds of the awful creatures. How could Leon bring such power to bear? And where is he? Did he survive?¡± Skyle mumbled, panic entering his voice. He knew for a certainty that this was the handiwork of Leon, for the pattern of the remnant fire was all too familiar to Skyle. After all the boys had gone through together, it would be an indelible mark in his mind.


    ¡°Rakasha, do you know-?¡± Suddenly, Skyle¡¯s sight caught the faint glimmering of a familiar aura to the west. It was fading fast, but it was clearly a residual trace of Leon¡¯s aura.


    ¡°Over there!¡± Skyle shouted, his hand tightly clutching Moonshadow as he desperately willed his sight to extend further.


    This time, instead of a cone, his sight further narrowed until it became a strip, barely a finger¡¯s width in length but twice as long as before. Like this, Skyle found it impossible to truly distinguish anything unfamiliar, but it was enough. He could still follow the faint trace of Leon¡¯s aura, but there seemed to be something wrong with it.


    What added to his desperation was the fact that his Infinite Eye could easily distinguish, even as quickly as they were flying, a vast swath of broken trees and crushed leaves, along with a greenish ichor that formed a trail of destruction at least a hundred feet wide. This was the fresh trail of an unstoppable army, and it was obvious to Skyle they were hellbent on pursuing its prey!


    ¡°Vicious creatures. We must stop them, Rakasha!¡± Skyle cried out as he glanced helplessly at his bow. What good could a few arrows do against such an onslaught? The sheer weight of the corpses would be enough to drown him under an ocean of green ichor.


    Rakasha¡¯s sharp cry brought him out of his reverie, as they finally caught the tail end of the enemy. While following their trail, Skyle had steeled his resolve, but nothing could have prepared him for the scene that met his eyes.


    High upon the sky, perched upon the crystal phoenix, Skyle could see a great, snaking column that glittered with a dark, deep green hue under the light. An unceasing skittering noise reached his ears, even from his distance, and it took him a while to realize it was the marching feet of thousands of giant spiders. Bloodthirsty screeches of rage raised goosebumps on Skyle¡¯s skin as he caught sight of a few wounded spiders, badly burned by the fire, occasionally stumble and fall from the march. Such unfortunate bugs were swiftly pounced upon by several surrounding bugs, which would immediately tear into the still-living spider, ravenously consuming its entrails.


    Moonshadow, glorious as it was, lay forgotten for the moment in Skyle¡¯s hand as he gazed at the massive army before his eyes. The only comfort Skyle could draw was that the spiders seemed to be moving swiftly and with a purpose, and therefore had yet to catch their prey.


    ¡°Rakasha,¡± Skyle called out helplessly, glancing bitterly down at his bow. Perhaps if his elemental powers were recovered, he could summon a miracle such as the one Leon had created. However, with just a plain quiver of arrows, no matter how exquisite a weapon of murder Moonshadow may be, Skyle didn¡¯t know if he could even pierce the tough shells, let alone prevail against such massive numbers.


    Perhaps such were the limits placed on those without talent.


    Skyle shook off his pathetic self-pity, and opened his mouth to request Rakasha¡¯s help once more. His pride be damned, time was vital right now! However, this made it so he almost bit his tongue off when Rakasha abruptly folder her great, shimmering wings and dove towards the ground at a speed which beggared Skyle¡¯s wildest nightmares.


    ¡°Waaaah!¡± Skyle cried out involuntarily, hanging on to Rakasha¡¯s scale for dear life, and almost losing grip on Moonshadow for good measure. Wind howled violently in his ears, and Skyle finally realized that perhaps for the first time, the great crystal phoenix would get serious.


    The ground seemed to approach at a terrifying speed, but they now moved within a vacuum of sound, almost as though they had outrun the noise of their passing. At this moment, Rakasha opened her beak and let out a ferocious howl that made Skyle¡¯s hands shake uncontrollably even though it was directed away from him.


    The effect on the intended targets was much more dramatic. As though it were a magical spell, time seemed to stop for the spiders as the sound wave reached them, making them shudder slightly before stopping all movement altogether. A vast swath of the spiders immediately froze, making them perfect targets for Rakasha¡¯s next attack.


    Skyle honestly didn¡¯t know what to expect. Would the phoenix belch out a stream of flames like a dragon, or a stream of ice that would shatter her foes? Surely, such an ancient and majestic creature would have a terrifying arsenal of magic at its disposal.


    What happened next made Skyle¡¯s jaw nearly fall off his face.


    Rakasha, the ancient crystal phoenix and guardian spirit of Sanctuary, did not summon a torrent of flame or a cascade of ice. It seemingly used no magic whatsoever, perhaps deeming such efforts unworthy for the bugs laid out before her. Instead, she simply extended her claws forward and opened her wings with a great whoosh of wind.


    The impact of the air alone from this action ripped towering trees off their roots and sent them tumbling into the air like a pile of sticks. Not a single branch was left with any leaves as they all flew into a flurry. These tore into the carapaces of the spiders as though they were sharp arrowheads, let alone all the branches, stones and other detritus, which acted as even deadlier ammunition. As mighty trees were tossed carelessly from the ground, one can only imagine what would happen to a comparatively tiny spider that only measured a paltry six to twelve feet in diameter. Piles of shimmering green carapaces were flipped up from the ground as though they were mere pebbles. Most of them crashed into trees or each other with violent, irresistible impact, instantly crushing them into unrecognizable lumps of flesh that sprayed ichor and vital fluids all over the air.


    The brutal wave of wind was only the first layer of attack. What followed was an invisible explosion of pure force that literally tore the few remaining spiders apart. The whole scene seemed surreal to Skyle, and were it not for his incredible vision, he would have had no understanding of what had befallen the massive column of spiders. Conceptually, the first wave of wind was easy enough to understand, though it completely defied the limits of what Skyle had thought was even remotely possible. Rakasha¡¯s actual attack, however, was this thick maelstrom of wind element that followed no pattern that Skyle could discern. It seemed shapeless yet still uniform; a product of raw power rather than any spell or summoning of elemental essence, but all the more terrifying for it.


    After a moment, watching the wave of invisible force continue to rip forward and devastate the whole line of spiders, leaving nothing but a trail of broken shells and a sea of green ichor in its wake, Skyle finally understood. It was not a spell nor elemental summoning. It was sheer physical speed and power concentrated to such a point that it had manifested its own elemental essence patterns.


    Such an idea simply shook Skyle to his very foundations. He had heard of element masters who strengthened their bodies using their elemental essence and achieving prodigious feats of strength and speed. However, Rakasha simply exceeded such rumors by several orders of magnitude, literally producing the effects of a cataclysmic spell by simply manipulating her physical body.


    Skyle¡¯s hand shook uncontrollably as his rapt gaze quickly moved from the scene of devastation before him, back to the still indifferent gaze of the crystal phoenix, and then back to the crushed spider remains again.


    ¡°Just what realm has this ancient beast reached,¡± Skyle couldn¡¯t help but ask himself. Then he suddenly seemed to recall something and glanced towards the wound on Rakasha¡¯s flank that was still fresh in his memory.


    ¡°And what sort of monster could inflict such scars on Rakasha?¡±


    This solemn realization lasted for only an instant, before Skyle recalled his most important mission at this moment.


    ¡°Rakasha, over there!¡± Skyle pointed towards a deep ravine where a few surviving spiders frantically jumped from, plunging deep into its depths without a care of the consequences, obviously absolutely terrified of the massacre visited upon them by this ancient beast.


    ¡°Who could blame them? Hell, I¡¯d do the same thing!¡± Skyle gulped in his throat.


    ¡°I just hope Leon is still alive. Leon, you big bastard, you better not die on me!¡±

 Chapter 51 - Trickery

    Chapter 51 - Trickery


    Gingerly climbing down from Rakasha, Skyle flexed his fingers several times to loosen them up. Satisfied, he plucked an arrow from the quiver at his back and smoothly sighted down Moonshadow, sending a streak of steel flashing towards the dark depths of a small cave. Immediately after, a howl of pain echoed from the shadows within. A mass of reddish aura sprang to life and rushed towards Skyle, but after only a few steps and another arrow, a purple haze enveloped its mass and it quietly came to rest upon the stone floor.


    ¡°So, it seems my arrows can penetrate their shells after all.¡± Skyle let out a relieved breath. Moonshadow truly lived up to its masterwork grade. Even with his relatively weaker arms, Skyle could create enough power with only about half the draw of the bow¡¯s capacity to pierce into the thick shells of these giant spiders. Skyle was certain that with any other bow, such a task would be impossible. Let alone a similar range, any arrows would likely just bounce off harmlessly from the glistening shells. Armed with Moonshadow, and with his ability to scan the area ahead, he would be able to pick off the surviving spiders before they could come anywhere near striking distance.


    Turning back towards the giant head of Rakasha, whose massive weight was calmly perched upon the cliffside by her claws as though it were the most common thing to do, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but cough uncomfortably.


    ¡°Rakasha, thank you once again. I know you wish you help, but the cave structure is unstable and might not withstand your power. I can take it from here.¡± Skyle tried to sound more sure of himself than he really felt, but this was truly the only option he could think of.


    Rakasha gazed upon the little boy with what could only be described as the doting eyes of an elder, but she simply nodded her head and closed her eyes. Taking this as her tacit agreement, Skyle dared tarry no longer, as each second might be Leon¡¯s last within this spider infested cave.


    Upon reaching the entrance, Skyle hissed under his breath as he saw the crumbled remains of a hastily constructed wall of rocks. It had been cleverly concealed, showing remarkable ability. Skyle wondered if Leena had also concealed such skills from the boys. After all, it would not be her only deception.


    Arleena Starbreeze of the Sapphire Court. That had been one of the very few absolute truths Skyle had salvaged from everything Leena had confessed to. His expression, of course, had shown no hint of such detection. Thus, Leena had likely been lulled into complacency by his act. Who could blame her? How could she possibly know that Skyle¡¯s True Sight could easily read the emotions of any living creature through their auras, especially those of humans as their emotions were so strongly tied to the movement of their elemental essence? Not even Leon knew the full extent of Skyle¡¯s powers, and he feared raising the topic because even the small boy found it far too terrifying in its implications.


    For instance, time and time again, when confronted by their questions, Leena¡¯s aura had spiked with an ugly green tinge, one surrounded by an overwhelming amount of deep yellow. This, Skyle had come to realize, meant deception, but one born of cautiousness rather than malice. This was something Skyle could easily understand, and even sympathize with. How could such a young girl not be cautious, especially after her ordeals and when confronted with these two mysterious strangers? Thus, Skyle had kept his peace and had decided to quietly monitor her aura as the group moved forward. When she was not answering questions, Leena emitted a startlingly pure aura of blue that gave a feeling of deep seated convictions and honor, even in the face of the most adverse circumstances. This, more than anything, gave Skyle the assurance needed to treat Leena as a companion, rather than a stranger.


    After all, everyone bears their share of secrets, and so long as they bore no malicious intent, who was Skyle to demand their absolute honesty as a mere stranger?


    ¡°Remember boy, trust can not be bought, nor coerced. It can only be earned,¡± his father had often reminded him, and Skyle had taken his words to heart.


    He was prepared to earn such trust, long though that road may be. Which is the reason why it was all the more disconcerting on that night when Skyle had almost reached for the nearest weapon, back when Leena had taken his hand with an innocent smile upon her face, while coldly calculating his murder behind her eyes.


    The sudden change had taken Skyle completely by surprise, and if it hadn¡¯t been for the obvious emotional spike that indicated how confused and altered Leena herself was, the young boy was sure she would have detected his ruse. As it was, Skyle was barely able to smile at her and speak more comforting words, before quickly retreating and watching Leena warily from a distance ever since.


    Skyle had contemplated on that very night whether he ought to disclose things to Leon, but he felt understandably reluctant to do so. He knew exactly what the big brute¡¯s reaction would be. Violence seemed to run deep in Leon¡¯s blood, and although his aura indicated that he felt justified and righteous in his words and actions, the innermost core of his elemental essence flared brightly with constant pain every time he followed his creed.


    To Skyle¡¯s eyes, it was simply too tragic to watch his good friend inflicting such hurt to his own soul, perhaps without even realizing it. His outer aura was so wild and ferocious, but its inner core looked nothing more like a giant ball of scars that bled pain at every turn. Why was he doing this to himself?


    Besides, Leena¡¯s own aura was an indecipherable puzzle. She would obviously leap at the first sure chance of killing him. Of this, Skyle had no doubt at all in his mind. However, the driving force behind this was not the red of anger, nor the pink of contempt. There was a hint of yellow, a shade that he interpreted as fear. But the most dominating shade was that same dazzling blue. She genuinely believed that it was her righteous duty to kill Skyle.


    This was absolutely baffling to him, and clearly indicated the limits for even the True Sight. After all, she had clearly been happily chatting with him one moment, her caution towards him gradually melting away. Then the next moment, she had recoiled from him as though he were a poisonous serpent, solemnly vowing in her heart to kill him at the cost of all else. That was the only way Skyle could read that frightening shade of pure crimson that had overwhelmed her aura in less than a second.


    Still, even with all this, Skyle couldn¡¯t bring himself to truly harm her. After all, that blue in her aura was simply too pure, and over the subtler tones of yellow from fear, the more present ones were the pink of shame and the darker blue of sorrow. What to make of all this impossibly obtuse cocktail of emotions? Only the gods knew. He certainly had not a single freaking clue.


    Thus, good farmboy that he was, Skyle was determined to see just how far he could take this. Without risking his own life, Skyle wanted to give Leena a chance to get to know him through his words and actions, and perhaps reach a point where a verbal confrontation might amicably solve any misunderstandings that might have arisen. He knew such thoughts might be overly optimistic, but he was still prepared to do so.


    After all, Leena might be veritably drowning in her desire to kill Skyle, but she harbored not a hint of resentment or hostility towards Leon. Just this was enough to earn her a pass from Skyle, as Leon did not really strike anyone as the most approachable or friendly fellow. Even more so since Leon clearly regarded Leena as a burden, and the instinctive suspicion in his aura towards Leena indicated that he smelled fish. Thus, Leon was actively hostile to Leena, yet she did not seem to mind at all.


    Baffling.


    In the end, Skyle could only fondly recall little Emil. That little puffball of mushy emotions was the only pure and transparent fellow in this whole pack, Skyle himself included. Thank god he didn¡¯t have to pore over the little kid¡¯s aura as if it were Adrienne Farrow¡¯s endlessly torturous book on advanced arithmetics.


    All this fleeted past his mind in the few moments it took for him to read the tracks that led further into the cave. As obscured by the numerous spider marks that had trampled over them, and even within this deep gloom, Skyle¡¯s exceptional vision was still able to easily distinguish three separate sets of footsteps. His brow crumpled up into a worried frown as Skyle tossed all other thoughts from his head and focused on his mission. They had been alive as little as a handful of minutes ago, but there were dozens of spiders hot on their trail.


    Skyle shook his head and a grim line spread across his lips. He refused to believe the worst, even under such circumstances. Leon had worked miracles before, and he simply had to believe that he could do so once more.


    Ignoring all his previous training, Skyle simply tossed caution to the wind as he rushed deeper into the cave. Everywhere, he could see the clear signs of the passage of a great number of spiders practically trampling over each other in their haste to move forward and hunt their hated prey. Skyle had to note that this species seemed particularly vindictive, and could only regret that he had not been there to steer the group clear of such a disaster.


    The young tracker once again spread his True Sight into a wider cone from the slim line he had used before. This would suffice to scout out the area at least one hundred and twenty feet ahead of him. Such a distance would give him ample time, he hoped, to spot any lurking spiders before he rounded a corner and was pounced upon.


    After a few moments, Skyle grew even more desperate as he saw clear signs of struggle. Limbs had been chopped off, and hollow carcasses of a few dead spiders lay in a rough semicircle. Still, there was no sign of his companions, and Skyle could only pray that the spiders were not so hungry that they would devour their corpses whole.


    Only a brief moment¡¯s inspection was enough, even in the deep darkness, for Skyle to pick up the trail again. They had been wounded here, their steps clearly slower and dragging more.


    Skyle could only grit his teeth in frustration and break into an all-out sprint, caution be damned. A nagging feeling in the back of his head told him something was wrong, but he simply could not devote the time or energy to pursue the feeling. Instead, he spent all his focus and attention into the chase, which had turned into a race against time. The lack of noise within such an enclosed cave system was terrifying, because he knew he was quickly gaining on his friends and yet no sounds, be it echoes of struggle or even movement, could be heard. Eventually, he even began shouting loudly, hoping to draw at least some of the spiders to him in a desperate hope that he could divert even a few spiders from flocking to Leon¡¯s group.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    However, all he found were more spider corpses. A group here, another group there, yet always three sets of footsteps made it out of each frenzied battle. A handful of live spiders also began to surface, scattered within the cave system. However, these were solitary spiders and efficiently dispatched by Moonshadow from a distance. The rest of the damnable bugs must still be hot on the chase.


    The moment he stumbled upon a wide cavern easily twohundredpaces across, a heavy scowl furrowed his brow. There were as many as five spider corpses littering the ground. Before he stepped further into the cave, however, he smoothly drew an arrow from his quiver and in one deft, practiced motion, pulled back on the string and sent an arrow streaking into the darkness without any hesitation. A loud howl of pain ensued, and a dark shadow detached itself from the wall. It fell on its back and twitched its legs a few times before lying still.


    Skyle frowned as he nocked the arrow he had automatically reached for as soon as he finished his first shot. Then he waited for two breaths, watching the silhouette that glowed brightly in his True Sight but was well hidden behind a giant stalactite. Only after this brief moment of silence, did the sneaky spider cautiously rear its head around the rock. It was at this precise moment that Skyle¡¯s arrow slammed into its eyes, driving deep into its brain and sending it twitching to the floor.


    Immediately, another howl echoed across the cavern, and Skyle was already nocking his next arrow as he dashed forward, crossing over the cavern¡¯s entrance. The instant that he did, a huge shadow fell from the ceiling, right on top of Skyle. The boy lithely changed his direction and used his legs to jump away, at the same time releasing an arrow. The abrupt motion spoiled his aim, but at such a distance it was enough to drive the arrow deep into the spider¡¯s underside.


    Ignoring its hideous screech, Skyle summoned the Far Sight. Instantly, four different shadows of the spider burst into motion around him. As Skyle turned his jump into a roll while gripping Moonshadow by the middle, three of the vague shapes gradually vanished while one rapidly grew clearer. Directly avoiding the pouncing image of his foe by a comfortable margin, Skyle dashed past the bewildered spider. Then he quickly spun at its side, letting the arms of his bow flare into a wide circle as he flashed past the rearing spider. The wickedly sharp metal tips hummed through the air as they briefly met resistance, before completing the circle.


    Skyle had already exited the Far Sight as ichor spurted from two legs that had been neatly severed while two others folded from the deep, slicing wound inflicted on them. The spider helplessly collapsed to the ground with a confused scream, still bewildered and looking for its attacker.


    Skyle swiftly nocked and aimed an arrow while waiting for the spider to turn so he could shoot its head, confident in finishing the creature off before it could retaliate. However, even as the massive figure of the crippled spider turned to face him, his True Sight detected the build up of a reddish fluid near the spider¡¯s mouth. Poison? No, that aura is not..


    Skyle¡¯s eyes abruptly went wide, and he fired off his arrow immediately, hoping to slow the spider down even if he couldn¡¯t kill it. Without waiting to see the results, Skyle frantically dove out of the way, scrambling for all he was worth. Instantly, Skyle knew this spider was different from the ones he had faced thus far.


    Daring boy that he was, he did not scramble away as his first instincts had urged, but rather dove towards the spider and past its crippled legs. This probably saved his life, as the wounded spider belched out a huge cloud of mist, spraying the whole area including where Skyle would have been, had he scrambled back. A strong resin-like smell assaulted Skyle¡¯s nostrils, but it only lasted for an instant before the massive spider¡¯s fangs grinded against each other and produced a spark.


    Immediately, the whole cloud of mist ignited with a huge explosion that sent violent shockwaves all around the cavern. Fortunately, the substance had been sprayed in a rough cone away from the spider, and thus Skyle was able to escape the deadly blast.


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen the fire aura in that liquid before it left its mouth, I would have backed away instead.¡± Skyle¡¯s mouth was dry as he banished harrowing images of his thin figure screaming as he desperately attempted to beat out the flames eating him alive before collapsing in a mound of sizzling flesh.


    The spider did recoil slightly from Skyle¡¯s last shot, but it still began to turn its body while another batch of that terrifying liquid began to gather in its mouth. This time, however, Skyle was prepared and loosed arrow after arrow from its side. The first struck deep into its shell, eliciting a screech but not much else. The next hit closer to its head, freezing it on its tracks but still failed to down it. With the final arrow, Skyle took advantage of the momentary stillness of his target to follow up in the precise hole left by his last shot. The arrow vanished deep within the shell of the beast and reached its brain, sending it crumpling down to the floor. The dangerous liquid spilled from its mouth, but without a spark to ignite it Skyle could finally breathe easy again.


    ¡°That was too damn close. No wonder they¡¯re monstrosities of the Red Zone. They still had this kind of hidden weapon. Not only that, but they¡¯re much more cunning than I thought.¡± Skyle growled under his breath, panting harshly as his eyes drifted to the side.


    With hardly a flicker of emotion, Skyle unceremoniously took another arrow and turned towards the first spider he had shot off the wall. At that very instant, the formerly ¡°dead¡± spider¡¯s eyes swiveled around with a cunning glint and its legs desperately struggled for purchase on the ground as it flipped itself over and gathered some liquid within its mouth.


    It was still too slow as Skyle shot it right through the eye. At this distance, it was practically impossible for Skyle to miss a shot on the relatively stationary target, especially since the spider''s eyes were over a foot wide in diameter.Armed with the speed and accuracy of Moonshadow¡¯s arrows, as well as his Infinite Eye, Skyle''s confidence grew with every battle.


    ¡°Clever bugs. A little too clever,¡± Skyle spat scornfully. ¡°You should have attacked me sooner.¡±


    Even twitching in its death throes, the spider still managed to spray out a cloud of green mist. Though Skyle was too far away to be affected by it, he shuddered as he saw the effects of the spider¡¯s venom. The spider corpses covered in the green cloud instantly started hissing and decomposing at a rapid rate. Even solid rock had no resistance towards the powerful corrosive, as it sizzled and cracked, then crumbled into a bubbling, steaming puddle.


    Skyle could only imagine what would have happened if he hadn¡¯t noticed the spider was merely feigning death, and he happened to walk within range of that deadly acid rain.


    After seeing the purplish aura of death overcome the final spider¡¯s carcass, Skyle turned his head as he compared this last spider he had killed with the fire-spitting spider. Only now did he realize that there were subtle differences in both pigmentation and shape that he hadn¡¯t paid attention to before. The fire spider had deep crimson flecks running across its underside and tips of the legs, while its fangs were massive and covered in crystalline, flint-like bumps. On the other hand, the acid spider had green markings next to its head, and its fangs were much thinner, but also longer, shaped like tubes. Perhaps that aided it in aiming and projecting its acid farther away. He wondered that he hadn¡¯t noticed these differences before. Were they the elite soldiers of the spider army?


    ¡°Damn, I¡¯m getting careless in my haste. There¡¯s no helping it though. I hope Leon¡¯s done better and hasn¡¯t fallen to their traps! I must not be too late!¡± Fear laced that final thought as he remembered the Goddess¡¯ grave warning. Would he find nothing but corpses at the end of his chase?


    He did not bother gathering the arrows from the fallen spiders. He had seen how thick their shells were, and knew beyond doubt that every arrow would be useless, the steel heads shattered beyond recognition by the violence of the impact. Besides, he was too pressed for time!


    Without skipping a beat, Skyle searchedthe cavern for his companions¡¯ trail, but then immediately froze.


    His blood running cold, Skyle retraced his steps. Clearly, he could see three sets of footsteps entering this cavern. However, after the violent battle involving the five original spider carcasses, only two had left.


    Only two.


    That meant that at least one of his companions had finally succumbed. More shocking still, of the two sets of footsteps that walked away from the scene of this carnage were first, the tiny feet of innocent Emil, then second, the narrow, graceful steps of Arleena Starbreeze.


    Leon¡¯s giant, imposing steps were missing, and this stabbed a cold dagger into Skyle¡¯s heart.


    He rapidly searched again, but could only see two sets of footsteps leaving. In Skyle¡¯s mind it was simply impossible for a dainty figure like Leena¡¯s to carry Leon¡¯s massive weight. What did this mean, then? Had his friend been eaten by the spiders he had just killed until not a single trace of him was left behind?


    Clearly, this was impossible. There were deep pools of spider ichor littering the ground, but there were barely any hints of blood. No matter how voracious their appetite, Skyle thought it would be impossible for all traces of a violent human death to disappear like this.


    In his frenzied desperation, Skyle could not think on the matter anymore, and instead rushed headlong behind the trail left by Leena and Emil.


    Five minutes later, he found several more torn corpses of spiders spread in yet another semicircle.


    ¡°Wait a minute! Torn?¡± Skyle breathlessly inspected the latest site of battle, where no less than six spiders lay sliced to pieces on the ground. Kneeling next to one of the remains, he ran one of his fingers along the clean cut that had bisected this spider. It was exceptionally smooth and straight, with no jagged edges, angles or hints of microfractures at all. This indicated the presence of a peerlessly sharp weapon that could cleave the enemy so swiftly that it had practically no time to react. Furthermore, it was sharp beyond belief.


    Only at this point did Skyle finally realize what was wrong with this picture. It had been there all along, yet Skyle had simply been too flustered, too desperate to stop for a single moment and use that damn useless nogging of his. Now that he thought of it, it was so obvious it would have been comical, if only his heart were not pumping enough ice to freeze his every last drop of blood as impending doom pressed upon him like an inescapable tide.


    All because the had missed once single, massive clue.


    Where was the fire? There was no sign of it anywhere within this cave, and the wounds on the spiders didn¡¯t show any sign of cauterization at all. Skyle could still recall the fiery edge of Leon¡¯s sword whenever he fought. It was an awesome sight that inspired confidence and courage.


    All this time, Skyle had seen the torn pieces of spiders. The edges were immaculately clean, which was why Skyle hadn¡¯t paid any further attention. He clearly remembered how sharp Leon¡¯s fire-strengthened sword was. However, only now did he recall that the edges should have shown signs of fire damage, and scorch wounds ought to have been easily distinguishable.


    Finally, frozen blood reached his heart and a cold shiver ran down Skyle¡¯s spine as he thought of the only remaining alternative.


    ¡°Leena?¡± he croaked, barely managing to push it past the ice choking his throat in a vise grip.


    It was at this moment that he felt goosebumps rising on the skin of his neck. Cold sweat trickled down his face as he slowly lifted his head. As he did so, he felt more than heard a sharp buzzing and an object lightly brushed past his face. Shifting his eyes downward without daring to move any other muscle at all, Skyle could see a thin lock of hair slowly flutter towards the ground. Raising his eyes upward, his True Sight saw a flat circle of elemental energy so concentrated it looked like a disk of solid metal. It spun fast enough that it did resemble a disk, but his True Sight told him it was merely a blade - one made of wind essence which was so sharp, and spun so fast, it simply looked like a solid disk hovering not two inches from his brow. The gust of wind it produced tickled his forehead, where more beads of sweat gathered.


    ¡°Skyle Farrow,¡± came the quiet reply, and it sounded strangely unfamiliar, though it was unmistakably Leena¡¯s voice. The tone had changed completely, however, and even the accent and the way the different letters of his name were pronounced was different. There was a lofty nobility to it now, but also a cold, ruthless quality that held no hint whatsoever of the warmth and vulnerability Leena the scavenger had shown.


    The next words, inevitable as they were, still felt like an ice pick stabbed into his chest.


    ¡°As the light endures, your life is hereby forfeit, effective immediately. May the spirit of Avaria have mercy upon your soul, and mine.¡±

 Chapter 52 - The Witchblade

    Chapter 52 - The Witchblade


    Skyle shook his head slowly in wonderment, still keeping his eyes warily upon the disk, which continued to hover in the air, not moving forward in the slightest.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± he whispered. ¡°You¡¯re simply superb.¡±


    A long silence followed, during which only the humming of the disk as it spun within easy striking distance of Skyle¡¯s forehead could be heard. It produced a deep, thrumming sound that made Skyle¡¯s skin crawl.


    ¡°You don¡¯t wonder how?¡± Leena¡¯s detached voice finally rang out from quite a distance behind his back, amplified by the cave¡¯s walls.


    ¡°I think I already knew, but the most masterful stroke was manipulating my emotions so that I wouldn¡¯t have time to think. Now that I had time to take a couple breaths to think it over, it seems so startlingly obvious. Leon and I had discussed my True Sight¡¯s scouting abilities openly in front of you, and thus you knew you could not hide from me within a certain distance. You probably led me on a merry chase around these caverns, of which you obviously obtained the layout through either your own scouting or your wind element. I even saw the traces of wind element, but thought nothing of it at the moment. Now that I look back on it, each site of battle had a clear line of sight leading away from it to at least a hundred and fifty feet. Thus, you quietly waited for your chance to strike at each one. I¡¯m rather surprised you didn¡¯t do it when I was fighting the three spiders in the other cavern.¡±


    Skyle stopped talking after this, and after another long moment, Leena¡¯s reluctant voice responded.


    ¡°Leon¡¯s body began to seize up and needed emergency treatment.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s expression tightened ever so slightly.


    ¡°How is he?¡± he asked, still not daring to turn around.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be worrying about anybody else, if I were you,¡± Leena snapped coldly, and she seemed particularly angry about this for some reason.


    ¡°He is my friend,¡± Skyle replied with as much calm as he could muster.


    When no other reply seemed forthcoming, Skyle sighed and began speaking again, still trying to keep as calm and composed as possible.


    ¡°You did very well at the last cavern, though I¡¯m not sure if it was intentional. When I saw that Leon¡¯s footsteps had disappeared, I immediately panicked and couldn¡¯t even put two coherent thoughts together. My da always taught me to be calm, to take a deep breath and always think before acting. He would probably die of shame if he knew this was how I.. well, how I met my end.¡±


    Even Skyle had a tough time articulating that last sentence. Still, he let out a deep breath and continued speaking, even as his thoughts were running as hard and fast as he had ever done in his life.


    ¡°Seeing as how you have yet to strike the final blow, even though I am at your absolute mercy, perhaps I can earn a little leeway from you.¡±


    ¡°Not a chanc-¡± Leena¡¯s steely reply was immediate, but Skyle gently interjected.


    ¡°I won¡¯t beg for mercy. I know how determined you are, after all. I know it all too well. I only have two questions, and after those, I can at least try to make my peace. That¡¯s not too much to ask, right?¡±


    Another long silence followed, during which Skyle had to force himself not to squirm, even as his brain was furiously pumping blood for all it was worth.


    ¡°Ask.¡± The reply was still cold and divested of any emotions, but finally Skyle could at least relax a little, and let the Far Sight go.


    Indeed, this whole time Skyle had been using the Far Sight at less than half second intervals. Each time he only used it for a single glimpse that would tell him whether the disk had moved at all. This way, he had been able to last this long, but already his mental reserves were stretched thin. Now he could finally relax a little while he attempted to find another solution to this deadly trap.


    After all, even with the Far Sight, Skyle was not at all confident in being able to avoid this deadly windblade hovering before him. Wind was the swiftest of elements, and Leena was obviously a master at wielding it. One only had to think back to the countless butchered bodies of spiders to get an inkling of her prowess. Although Skyle might be able to read moves ahead of time, it would do him little good if his speed couldn¡¯t match his thoughts.


    Thus, Skyle was stalling for time as he both recovered his mental reserves, and also drew a feasible plan.


    ¡°First question: why have you finally decided to use the blood crystals?¡±


    ¡°Skyle Farrow, although I must kill you, I have come to respect you. Thus, I will tell you the truth. This much, I can give you. Sacred oaths which I have observed since birth, for over 124 years now, expressly forbid me and my oath-brothers and sisters the use of these foul beast stones. I would rather die first, and even watch my brothers and sisters die right in front of my eyes, before reaching out to this corrupted energy. Indeed, they have already passed on to Goddess¡¯ Embrace, and I was the last survivor. I too was resigned to death, until Leon and you arrived.¡±


    ¡°At first, I had hoped for mere survival, that I may bid my time and regain the strength to continue fulfilling my oath. However, on that fateful night you marked yourself for death. Please know that I do this for wholly unselfish reasons, and indeed against my will. It both grieves me and wounds me deeply to commit this deed, and yet it is absolutely necessary. Know that in death, you serve all of Aeria, and the spirit of the Goddess shall bless your soul.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know whether it is the will of the spirit of the Goddess which allowed me to survive long enough to see your return, but the fact is that Leon lies grievously wounded and I had resigned myself to a quiet death trapped within these caverns. It was only at the last moment that I heard the arrival of the flying beast and the destruction it wrought.¡±


    ¡°Those moments were of deep inner struggle, and you may never understand how difficult the final decision was. All the while, I prayed that you were already dead and I wouldn¡¯t be forced to act. However, at the cusp of death I had to violate my own oaths and go against the very principles which I have striven for my entire life. I took the loathsome crystals, absorbed their essence into my body, and slew the spiders around me. Then, as you say, I crafted these elaborate series of traps. It was all so I may ascertain whether you had truly returned or not, and slay you without fail if you had.¡±


    The cold, ruthless quality of her declaration shook Skyle to the bone. There was no hatred still, just an absolute resolution to carry out her duty, unshaken by pain or shame.


    ¡°Rest assured, Skyle Farrow. With my elemental powers restored, I shall do my utmost to see both Leon and Emil safely out of danger. Immediately after that, I too shall follow you into death, for I have disgraced myself and broken my most solemn oaths. As an oathbreaker, I am not even worthy of sharing the same funeral bier as you. Still, my spirit shall strive to make up for this offense.¡±


    ¡°Now, ask your next question and make your peace, Skyle. That is all I can offer here and now.¡±


    Skyle strove to maintain his calm as he weighed his options. It seemed ironic that Leena spoke of the will of the Goddess, when he himself had just come from speaking to one. Not only that, but a divine guardian spirit lay just a handful of minutes away, still awaiting for his return. It had all been so that he might save the lives of his companions. Leon, Emil, and yes, even Leena. He had to wonder if the Goddess had seen any of this coming? Was this the reason for her warning?


    Now, having bought as much time as he dared, he must make a gamble if he wished to survive. Sweat-slicked hands tightened over Moonshadow¡¯s grip, showing white knuckles that trembled faintly with constrained energy.


    ¡°Damn, all that training and thinking, and this is the best I could do? After surviving an alien army, savage primordial beasts and the touch of a goddess, I¡¯ll be damned if I let a crazy elf girl be the one to get the better of me!¡± Skyle¡¯s lips twisted into a grim smile, but his eyes shone fiercely. Luckily, Leena stood at his back, for upon reading this expression she would have instantly chosen to strike.


    At times, it is such small differences which can decide between life or death.


    ¡°Speak now, or forever hold your peace, Skyle Farrow.¡± Once again, Leena¡¯s ultimatum rang out from behind his shoulder.


    ¡°Well, you wanted a piece of my mind? I¡¯ll let you have a piece of my mind, you crazy wench!¡± Skyle snarled in his mind. Seeing all the pieces in place, he knew the time had come. His True Sight had already been focused into a thin band merely a handspan in width. What Leena didn¡¯t know was that after sufficient mastery in the Far Sight¡¯s third person view, he could not only stretch his range in such a fashion, but also by sweeping such a band he could cover a 360 degree area around himself without the need to use his physical eyes. Already, he had locked in on Leena¡¯s aura, which blazed with a brilliant, resolute blue in spite of the notes of sorrow and pain suffusing its background.


    He watched every minute fluctuation of her aura, just as he had done throughout her whole confession. This was why so far he had not attempted to simply explain the situation to Leena and seek arbitration through the Guardian of the Shrine. He could see how obsessed she was on carrying out this execution. Rather than to believe his words and be shaken off course, Skyle believed she would kill him on the spot before further listening to him.


    So, Skyle would now speak the words he had carefully crafted together, and Leena¡¯s reaction  would determine his next actions.


    ¡°You speak of your sacred duties, but your ignorance blinds you as surely as your zeal betrays the true spirit of your oaths! Will you listen to the will of the Guardian of Sanctuary, Arleena Starbreeze Ainfandelsolas of the Sapphire Court?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°W- what?¡± Came the hoarse, startled cry of shock from behind his back. ¡°H-How could you possibly know-¡±


    ¡°Ah, Leena..¡± Skyle sighed inwardly. There was no other choice then. Her aura was already beginning to spike with the same shade of blue, only now the background was bleeding red with alarming swiftness, indicating her killing intent.


    Knowing he would never have a better opportunity than now that she was still shaken and distracted, Skyle instantly entered the Far Sight while spinning around in a tight circle, using his heel as a pivot while lowering his head. The split second¡¯s distraction provided by his words had been enough to allow him that much space before the glowing disk of death flared into life and dove towards Skyle¡¯s skull.


    Skyle thought that he had given himself plenty of leeway in order to avoid what he expected would be a blindingly fast attack by the windblade. Alas, it was still nowhere near enough. Within the Far Sight¡¯s predictive abilities, he could clearly see a multitude of shadows converging upon his skull. Although it was straightforward enough to pick the correct one - since Leena would waste no time and choose the most direct route to pierce his skull - Skyle¡¯s best attempt to dodge past the windblade¡¯s fierce first strike was simply not fast enough.


    Skyle grit his teeth and a wordless howl escaped his lips. His physical eyes did not need to gaze upon the approaching windblade to know its position, such was the wonder of the Far Sight and its third person view. Still, Skyle¡¯s attention was not on the windblade at all, but rather on another object that moved even faster than Skyle¡¯s own body could.


    DIIING


    The shockingly loud sound of metal being struck by a powerful impact rang painfully in his ears. His arm was forcefully pulled away from his body¡¯s initial trajectory as the hand Skyle used to grasp Moonshadow was shaken into numbness by the impact. As he had hoped, the masterwork weapon did not betray his hopes and firmly repulsed the terrifying windblade, though the force of the clash itself was too tyrannical to cope with his small body.


    Flung off his feet by this power of the blow, Skyle had no time to worry about the landing. His body would have to take care of that by itself. Instead, Skyle¡¯s other hand reached for the quiver behind his back, drawing three arrows clutched between thumb, index, middle and ring finger. He focused his entire attention and strength on the selection and positioning of each of these arrows, so that even as his shoulder landed against the ground with a bone-jarring crash, they did not so much as shift a single hair.


    Skyle knew he would only have one shot at this before the windblade recovered from the recoil and renewed its assault, so he had to make it count.


    Rapidly kneeling on the ground, Moonshadow¡¯s arms were stretched as far as his arms could go. All breath left his lungs with a whoosh as his frantic heart skipped a single beat, and an uncomfortable moisture began to drip from his eyes as he forced the Far Sight to activate at a range he had never attempted before. Multiple shadows flickered in the air, but Skyle¡¯s consciousness dove straight through them, and finally latched on to a distant figure that knelt on the ground, her expression of shock swiftly melting away and becoming one of absolute focus. Leena recovered with alarming speed, casually flicking her hand in front of her. Almost instantly, a semi-transparent mass of thickened air began to swirl in place in front of her.


    ¡°This better work!¡± Skyle snarled in his mind.


    Skyle had seen trick shots using multiple arrows before, and so delighted he had been by the skill displayed by these masters, that he had spent countless hours developing such a skill himself. It was completely impractical, of course, as both power and accuracy fell tremendously. Any sane archer in a real combat situation would be able to fire three arrows in quick succession nearly at the same time he would take in order to set up for the triple shot and actually have a hope of striking the target.


    However, Skyle truly had no choice and was desperate. He knew wind element wielders were masters of ranged weapons, and were nearly immune to such as well. This was thanks to one of the staples of wind element magic: the Stormshield. Simply put, this was a thick layer of rapidly revolving wind that formed a shield in front of the caster. So violent were such winds that all but the most potent projectiles had no chance of piercing through. Even if they did somehow penetrate the Stormshield, any such missiles would lose all power and be deflected off target.


    This constituted a nightmare for Skyle, whose only weapon was a bow and arrow. His opponent, on the other hand, not only had the perfect defense with the Stormshield, she also had the deadly windblade which she could use to attack at her leisure.


    The only desperate idea Skyle could come up with was the triple shot. Sadly, Skyle knew that Leena would never give him the time needed to properly line up such a shot. Within the Far Sight, countless shadow windblades were already converging upon his position, indicating that the next attempt on his life was imminent. Running out of time and options, Skyle could only attempt a use of the Far Sight he hadn¡¯t truly tested yet.


    Skyle¡¯s bloodshot eyes stared at Leena as though he had become possessed. In truth, it wasn¡¯t Leena he stared at, but rather the impact points of his arrows instead. These needed to be meticulous, and their cargo couldn¡¯t have any accidents on the way. Skyle frantically made adjustments to his shoulders, wrists and fingers, so focused upon his task he forgot to even breathe. Calibrating this vital shot back and forth numerous times in a split second, Skyle¡¯s body entered a strange state in which he could see the impact points changing in real time with each minute adjustment of his body. Not only that, but he could also glimpse the rotation of the wind forces within the Stormshield itself, and for a precious instant could grasp the exact timing and position needed to strike at the weakest points on Leena¡¯s defense!


    NOW!


    As he finally released this desperate shot, Skyle could see the surprise fade from Leena¡¯s face, turning into a look of condescendence., and by the time Skyle¡¯s arrows were released, complacency and pity could be read upon her expression.


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet, Leena!¡± Skyle shouted at the top of his lungs. and he leapt to his feet while placing Moonshadow as a shield in front of him and bracing himself for the impact of Leena¡¯s windblade.


    ¡°Oh no, this is far from over, you crazy, suicidal twit!¡±


    ***


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet, Leena!¡±


    Leena¡¯s brow wrinkled up for a moment, but her confidence did not waver, and instead her eyes followed Skyle¡¯s movement as her hand gestured toward the windblade. It obediently adjusted its course to align with its target as it began to whirl frantically once more. This time, wind began to howl as its spinning motion picked up even more momentum.


    ¡±Farewell, Sky-¡± Leena began, but it was at this moment that the three arrows released by Skyle finally arrived at her Stormshield. From their trajectory, the projectiles would strike in unison at three equidistant places upon the barrier. Strangely, every arrow had been aimed too high and none of them would have been able to strike her even if she had not put up her Stormshield. Leena sighed as she considered that even a genius can make such a mistake when pushed to the edge of desperation.


    PEEENG!


    RIIP!


    From the Stormshield, a series of sharp, metallic pings rang out, immediately followed by dull, tearing sounds. The first had been the steel arrowheads colliding against the tough outer exterior of the Stormshield. The second series of sounds, however, were promptly followed by the splashing of a dark liquid all across the area where each arrow had struck. Leena stared for only a moment, before realizing what had happened and quickly averting her eyes while falling back.


    ¡°The dracoling poison sacks! I forgot he made those poison sack arrowheads!¡±


    She had admired Skyle¡¯s ingenuity when she first saw the young boy carefully tying the smallest dracoling poison sacks in his collection to an arrow each. The boy had claimed it was for mass dispersion in case of an emergency, as one can never have too many tools. She had never image he would use to such effect now.


    The Stormshield still stood tall, but bent pieces of steel and shattered remnants of the wooden shafts fell to the ground behind it. These had lost all momentum, and were thus harmless. Not so harmless, however, was the deadly mist spreading out within the shield. A few drops even managed to splash behind the shield, and it was this that Leena had been trying to avoid when she quickly retreated. Her quick thinking had spared her the poison, but that had not been Skyle¡¯s aim after all.


    ¡°No!¡± Leena cried out, surprise and dismay equally present in her voice, but it was now too late. The Stormshield was now a murky barrier that obstructed as much of her vision as it did shield her from Skyle¡¯s arrows. Although she could use the wind element to scout out a location, the process of sending out wind elemental probes and receiving information was far too slow to use against a single target, let alone one as slippery as Skyle. It even seemed as though he had somehow recovered full use of his wounded leg!


    Her final, dwindling hope of a quick resolution was dashed as a loud metallic crash could be heard in the distance. It came from her windblade, which had followed her last command and had, as she had expected, been once again somehow parried by Skyle using his bow. Just how tough could a bow be, no matter how remarkable its origin? Her windblade could shear through a half inch thick metal alloy shield as though it were paper, yet this unassuming bow in the hands of a farmboy had thwarted the signature attack that had earned her the respectful moniker of ¡°Witchblade¡± not once, but twice!


    I must finish this, no matter what!


    Following up on her resolve, Leena advanced while recalling her windblade. The Stormshield hovering before her was still murky and impeded her vision. It did not matter, for she began forming another Stormshield on the spot. This took much of her concentration and even more time, as she was now maintaining three spells at the same time, all of them highly complex on their own right. While a Stormshield could be formed in little time when she could focus solely on that task, in this situation she dared not drop her previous shield. She was certain an enemy as canny as Skyle would be waiting for just such a gap in her defenses, no matter how short. As for her Windblade, it took time and effort to charge its energy, with each hundred cycles bringing more speed and power until it achieved optimum performance. Once at its peak, she was reluctant to dispel it unless absolutely forced to. Thus, she could only juggle these three tasks all at once, while also sending out a wind probe to scout out Skyle¡¯s general location.


    Here, Leena was stumped. Would he flee? Would he fight? She did not know, and while her elemental powers gave her a decisive edge on a head-to-head clash, Skyle¡¯s ability to sense and track her movements at a distance gave him a huge advantage in choosing the time and manner of confrontation.


    A few moments later, Leena finally finished weaving her second Stormwall. Once it was in place, she let the outer shield collapse, taking with it the odious poison that had obstructed her sight. However, no sooner had the shield started to shimmer out of existance, when two more arrows struck her new shield. Predictably enough, they both exploded into poison clouds, leaving Leena temporarily speechless.


    ¡°So devious, now I must weave another Stormwall while he gains valuable time. Still, I refuse to believe he has any more of these poison cloud arrows! Still, I must hunt now in earnest. After all, I thought I¡¯d been cautious enough in laying my trap, yet the proud Witchblade of Light was tricked by a mere boy, barely a teenager!¡±


    How had Skyle found out her full name? It was not a secret, but no one outside of the Fair Folk¡¯s Courts should know it. Furthermore, how did he know of the true meaning of Ashukan D¡¯Ahren? Even within the Sapphire Court, only a select few know of the ¡°Sanctuary of the Shrine of Tears.¡±


    All this had shaken her so badly that she had let her perfect opportunity to complete her mission slip past her.


    ¡°No,¡± Leena sighed within her mind, knowing she could not deceive herself. ¡°It was my fault. At the most important moment, I hesitated and could not execute this kind, innocent child on the spot, as I should have. His only crime is that his talent has drawn the attention of a seed of Shadowblight. He must die for the sake of all Aeria. Why did I still hesitate?¡±


    Once again, she resolved in her heart that she would pay for this murder with her own life. After doing her utmost to place Leon and Emil into safekeeping, she would surrender to the spirit of the Goddess and seek her embrace, that she may cleanse the blot in her heart as an oath-breaker, and atone to Skyle¡¯s soul in the Netherworld.


    Having confirmed this, Leena¡¯s heart finally calmed down and all emotion fell away from her like a bright jewel sheds the rain. When the last drops of it had been cleansed from her heart, Leena was gone, and all that remained was the Witchblade of Light, Lightbearer of the Sapphire Court and executioner of the spirit of the Goddess.


    It was time for one last kill.

 Chapter 53 - In the Deafening Silence

    Chapter 53 - In the Deafening Silence


    As soon as he saw the wind patterns of the first Stormwall show signs of being dispelled, Skyle sent the two arrows he had been aiming on their way. Thankfully, they both struck their target and provided precious seconds to make his retreat.


    This position was untenable, and he had no intention of slugging it out with the murderous elf within these caves. After all, Rakasha still waited for him right outside the caves. If anyone could teach this uppity elf some manners, that would be the ancient crystal phoenix.


    ¡°Let women deal with crazy women, I say,¡± Skyle grumbled in his mind.


    His hands were still numb from the last time Leena¡¯s windblade had clashed against Moonshadow, and he wasn¡¯t so confident he could do so a third time. Moonshadow itself showed not a single scratch, but his poor, spindly arms were not so fortunate!


    Without a care for decorum or pride, Skyle turned tail and ran as quickly as his short little legs could take him. From how long Leena had taken before being able to conjure her second Stormwall, he knew he had at least a couple breaths of time. Though his strength might not be Leena¡¯s match, Skyle had some confidence in his running, especially across treacherous terrain such as these pitch black caves.


    Besides, he was fairly certain that the range of his arrows was at least double that of her windblade. That mean that all those straight paths that Leena had selected in order to trap him while remaining outside of his detection range now favored him. At the very least, she would have to maintain her Stormshield the whole time she chased after him, and that should slow her down.


    So, plan A was to hoof it back to mother Rakasha like a good little chick and indignantly complain while the ancient phoenix spanked the bad, bad elf until her asscheeks were on fire. Let that be her lesson for being an ungrateful, murderous little wench!


    As for plan B, well, he was still working on it.


    While he ran, he was careful to regulate his breathing. It would be terrible if he ran out of breath in the middle of the chase because he panicked, no matter how close this latest shave against death had been.


    ¡°Two steps, breathe in. Five steps, breathe out. Two steps, breathe in. Five steps, breathe out.¡±


    It was an easy mental exercise his father had taught him for endurance running in the wilderness. It also served the purpose of calming his nerves while he considered plan B.


    ¡°Always have a plan B, and plan C, D, E, F..¡± his father would say. ¡°Trust me, you can never have too many tools, or too many plans.¡±


    Skyle had certainly confirmed the first part of that axiom today. The poison sack arrows had definitely saved his skin today, and he only regretted that he did not have any more of those.


    As he kept on running like his tail had caught on fire, Skyle kept shuffling down an endless mental list and hoped he could make it to at least letter E before he even heard a hint of that crazy elf chasing after him.


    Sadly, he was to be badly disappointed.


    Skyle had barely been running for four minutes when the omnidirectional strip of True Sight he used for long range scouting caught a bundle of wind elemental energy swiftly approaching from his back.


    ¡°That¡¯s just not fair,¡± Skyle moaned in his mind, as Leena¡¯s murderous crimson aura lit up his senses like a great bonfire within the dark confines of the caverns behind him. ¡°How is she moving so fast?¡±


    At maximum range, Skyle could spread out his True Sight up to 300 feet away, even through the solid rock of the cavern system. Although a few twists and turns separated them, he estimated that Leena was no more than three minutes away from this position, and closing the distance fast. At this pace, he had no hope of making it outside before she caught up to him!


    The next time he swept his True Sight towards her direction, he realized how she was moving so quickly.


    ¡°The lunatic isn¡¯t even using her Stormshield! She must have let her shield down as soon as she realized I was no longer there. Still, I didn¡¯t think she would be so reckless as to ignore the possibility that I might ambush her. Does she truly have a deathwish?¡±


    Sadly, the only way Skyle could call her bluff was if he actually stayed put and shot her.


    ¡°Fat chance that would happen. At least one of us doesn¡¯t have a deathwish.¡± Skyle sighed.


    Crazy as she was, this girl was too smart. Skyle was certain that Leena would put up her Stormshield while traversing potential ambush sites. As for the others, she must be confident that she could react in time. It was risky on her part, but it only went to show how determined she was to stop him. As things were now, she would definitely catch up to Skyle well before he could exit the caves.


    Well then, it was time for plan B.


    It wasn¡¯t that Skyle didn¡¯t have a plan B by now, because he did. It was just that plan B was, on the whole and judging by a Farrow¡¯s rather high and exacting standards, a godawful mess of a plan that he would rather not even touch with a ten foot pole, since it was more liable to get him killed like a fool by his enemy rather than the other way around.


    Sadly, as far as plans went, plan A had basically been the basket where all his eggs went. After that, they all pretty much went from bad to worse, until plan E was just a slightly over-complicated way of committing suicide.


    So, as the lucky runner up, plan B it would have to be.


    Upon arriving to the cavern where he had encountered the fire spider and poison spider, Skyle swiftly set to work. He would only have three, maybe four minutes if Leena was especially careful in deploying her Stormshield.


    ¡°Fat chance of that happening,¡± Skyle snorted to himself. ¡°Three minutes it is, maybe as little as two.¡±


    There was simply not much he could do with so little time, but he still busied himself as best he could.


    He spent thirty precious seconds gathering as much of the fire spider¡¯s flammable liquid as he could into the only five hollowhead arrows he had. Next, he used Moonshadow¡¯s bladed tips to shear off a decent chunk of the flint-like fangs.


    Moving on to the poison spider, Skyle used his True Sight to scan the monster¡¯s head. He then spent the next twenty seconds swinging Moonshadow over and over at its mouth, until finally he was able to carve open a wide enough hole for his purposes. The final minute of preparations were spent on carefully removing the small sack of acid he had spotted using the True Sight. After bundling it up with some cloth, he put it away with the same care. Immediately upon completing this task, Skyle crept towards the shadows of the cavern entrance and pulled a steelhead arrow from his quiver.


    The True Sight told him that he was out of time. Right on cue, the wild, crazy elf had arrived.


    Not one to be remiss in greeting old friends, Skyle immediately fired off an arrow the instant before Leena rounded the corner and came into sight. By the time she actually came into view, she had already run into the arrow. Or rather, the arrow ran into the Stormshield she had materialized mere moments ago. As Skyle had expected, Leena was reckless, but not stupid, more¡¯s the pity. She had mapped all these caverns before he arrived, so she knew this particular stretch would offer a perfect opportunity for Skyle to use his superior range to his advantage.


    Still, the arrow served its purpose, as it immediately slowed her progress. It seemed 150 feet was still beyond the range for her windblade, since she did not use it to attack him. Relieved, Skyle ducked back into the tunnel while drawing another arrow from his quiver. Leena¡¯s eyes followed him until he moved out of sight, and she seemed to hesitate over an idea.


    Not wanting her to get too comfortable, scant moments later Skyle popped back into view just long enough to fire another arrow. It still skittered harmlessly off the Stormshield, but Leena¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits and she nodded her acknowledgement towards Skyle for a point well made.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, you better not even think about lowering that Stormshield until you reach this place, or I might pop out at any moment and end this little chase of yours right there and then.¡± Skyle grinned.


    Of course, he would do no such thing. He had started running away again the moment he shot that second arrow, but Leena had no way of knowing that. This suited him just fine, as he had just bought himself another minute or so while he looked for the rest of the components needed for plan B.


    This same scene repeated itself two more times, with Leena closing the distance with Stormshield in place and windblade at the ready, while Skyle shot a couple warning shots to slow down her pursuit as much as possible. Unfortunately, Skyle knew there would be no third standoff. Already, Leena had closed the distance enough that the next time they met she would be within range to use her windblade. Without a way to obstruct her vision, Skyle would at most be able to fend off one or two blows from that formidable weapon before being severed from this mortal coil.


    Fortunately for him, he had finally found the last parts he needed for plan B. Thus, as Leena rounded the corner to enter a wide cavern filled with razor sharp stalactites hanging precariously from the ceiling, she was met with the sight of Skyle dressed in full battle regalia.


    Two mismatched plates of spider shell had been hastily tied in a makeshift fashion around his chest, one in front and the other at the back, in a laughable mockery of a breastplate. A third piece of spider shell had been fitted over Skyle¡¯s head, then also secured into place by a long strip of cloth.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Looking nothing more like a child playing at being a soldier, had the situation not been a desperate struggle between life and death, it would certainly have sent both parties to the floor in hysterical bouts of laughter. As it was, a corner of Leena¡¯s mouth twitched uncontrollably while her eyes gaped in disbelief. Skyle himself did his best to ignore the look, but a deep flush began to color his cheeks.


    ¡°So, you have finally decided to resign yourself to your fate and stop running?¡± Leena stepped into the cavern with easy confidence, the air in front of her rippling with tightly compressed air while above her upturned hand hovered a shimmering disk of wind energy.


    ¡°Leena, we don¡¯t have to do this. The Guardian of Sanctuary has sent me here to rescue you, Leon and Emil. We can all leave this place and go home!¡± Skyle slowly backed away while aiming down the length of the arrow he held nocked on Moonshadow.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that has no bearing on what must happen here,¡± Leena replied woodenly.


    ¡°Can you at least wait until after we reach Sanctuary? I don¡¯t want to hurt you!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a chance I can¡¯t take. I know you can¡¯t understand, but I must fulfill my duty, Skyle. I have no choice.¡±


    ¡°Then neither do I,¡± Skyle sighed and closed his eyes in sorrow. He truly did not wish to hurt Leena. On some level that he couldn¡¯t fully understand, reading her aura had given him a startling insight into her thought process. He could see both how deeply conflicted she was, and also how strongly her belief in her ideals burned. Such a purity of purpose made it hard for Skyle not to admire her, even though at the moment such a purpose included ending his life. If anything, Skyle found himself wishing he could earn the trust and loyalty of such a stalwart, principled companion.


    Though they stood on opposite sides of a deadly battle, Arleena Starbreeze had earned his respect. This worked both ways. While he was loath to hurt her, the moment there was no other alternative, he would do everything in his power to end her threat as efficiently as possible. When he finally opened his eyes again, they were the steel grey eyes of a hunter ready to spill blood.


    The first arrow was released without hesitation. It streaked towards Leena in a flash, but without the Far Sight to guide it, the arrow bounced off harmlessly against the windwall. Leena did not even flinch as she kept closing the distance.


    ¡°It¡¯s no use Skyle. I promise, I will make it painless.¡±


    Skyle ignored her and shot another arrow while trying to read the wind currents on the Stormshield with his True Sight. The timing proved to be a little better, and though the arrow did penetrate the shield, it was also hopelessly shredded in the process. Only a few fragments fell listlessly to the ground beyond the barrier.


    Skyle did not let this faze him. He focused even harder on the Stormshield¡¯s patterns and loosed a third arrow. This time the steel head actually made it through almost intact, piercing through the Stormshield and striking the wall four feet to Leena¡¯s left. It was obviously a huge miss, but just the fact that he had managed to pierce the Stormshield with any real power for the first time made Leena narrow her eyes dangerously.


    Still, she had finally reached her Witchblade¡¯s outer range, and it was her turn to attack.


    Skyle barely caught the flickering of Leena¡¯s wind aura in time to activate the Far Sight. As soon as he did so, he saw multiple shadows of Leena¡¯s windblade homing in on his location. With barely any time to react, it was all Skyle could do to lift Moonshadow in front of him while propelling himself backwards in an attempt to lessen the shock of impact.


    The windblade drew a complex curve through the air as it howled hungrily. Skyle knew for a certainty that if he didn¡¯t have the Far Sight, he would have never been able to follow its movements with the naked eye, let alone attempt to block it. So swift was its passing that it almost seemed to teleport from one point to the next, as though cutting through space itself.


    CLAANG!


    The force of the clash was such that it lifted Skyle off his feet and left his ears ringing painfully. He only just managed to shift his legs in order to stabilize himself at the last second in order to stay on his feet. Backing away a few steps to recover his balance, his back came to rest upon a thick stalagmite that reached as high as his head.


    The windblade was already looping around for another strike, and Skyle wasn¡¯t sure that he¡¯d be able to take it without losing grip on Moonshadow. Already, his hands were getting completely numb! These blows were clearly even stronger than the ones he had taken earlier. Maybe Leena was finally getting serious.


    Skyle swiftly turned around and scrambled behind the stalagmite, just barely managing to drag his bow behind him.


    Leena continued to walk closer while she swung her arm down in the direction of the stalagmite where Skyle was hiding. The witchblade obediently swung back around and smashed the rock formation with blinding speed. The stalagmite exploded into a shower of rock fragments, but the witchblade hardly even slowed down. As it swept through, there was nothing but empty air behind it.


    That was because the very instant the windblade struck, Skyle had decisively stepped out to the side with Moonshadow held out before him. As the stalagmite exploded into shards, a fist-sized fragment stuck Skyle in the ribs and drove all the breath from his lungs as though he had been gut-punched. Thankfully, the improvised spidershell armor absorbed some of the shock, else he might have collapsed to the ground. Swaying unsteadily from the blow, Skyle grit his teeth and lifted the three arrows he had prepared to the string. Though his chest was convulsing in agony, Skyle resolutely pushed the pain away to squeeze his eyes shut and struck the three arrows he held in his hand against the shard of spider fang he had tied to the inside of his other arm.


    With a great whoosh, all three hollowhead arrows filled with the fire spider¡¯s oil burst into blinding radiance. Eyes still tightly shut, he locked on to Leena¡¯s aura using the True Sight. Taking one final moment to steady his aim, he fired. Three blazing balls of fire streaked across the darkness and closed in on their target in an instant. All three fiery projectiles struck home, shattering against Leena¡¯s Stormshield. The hollowheads instantly exploded into dozens of fragments, showering the entire length of the wind barrier with a great shower of blinding fire.


    Leena cried out in agony while reflexively shielding her eyes, temporarily blinded by the sudden burst of light within the pitch black depths of the cave. She had been using the Fair Folk¡¯s innate gift of low-light vision to great effect. Now it only made her all the more vulnerable to this overwhelming barrage of light.


    Skyle coughed weakly, flecks of blood wetting his lips. He cut a pathetic figure as he scrambled to jump out of the way of the next great shower of rocks. At this point, the windblade had gone berserk and was spinning blindly around the room in random circles, crushing anything unfortunate enough to be standing in its way. Several impacts shook Skyle¡¯s thin frame as rocks pelted him like shraphnel, but there was simply nowhere to escape the deadly rain of debris produced by the windblade¡¯s berserk rush.


    Squinting against the sudden glare of the fire still burning fiercely on the surface of Leena¡¯s Stormshield, Skyle scrambled on all fours as he repositioned himself as quickly as he could. He knew the next few moments would decide between life and death, and he was determined to not let it slip past his fingers!


    Leena was carefully backing away as she began to weave another shield into place. The shield could only cover a 120 degree angle in front of her, thus leaving her sides vulnerable. With two shields, however, she would be able to protect herself so long as she kept backing away. It would be enough to buy her the precious time needed to recover her sight. Meanwhile, the roar of the fire and the constant explosions as her Witchblade smashed pillar after pillar of rock into oblivion filled the room with a cacophony of noise and confusion.


    To add to the chaos, Skyle began to fire arrow after arrow at Leena¡¯s shields. She was not able to see yet, but she could feel the terrifying impact of each arrow as it struck her shields from different angles. More alarming still was the fact that more and more arrows were forcefully penetrating her defenses. Each time she heard the unmistakable clash of steel against stone, it seemed to draw closer to her. It was as though Skyle were learning how to shoot past her Stormshield with increased accuracy.


    Each time she felt an impact from one of her shields, she could tell its general direction by feel. She would then back away from that direction while unleashing her windblade in indiscriminate attacks. While she held little hope that such an attack would kill Skyle, perhaps it could injure him. At the very least, it might buy her valuable time while she recovered her sight. If she allowed him to get around her shields, she would be dead in an instant, so Leena constantly backed away.


    Already, she was able to distinguish vague shapes through the haze of tears that flooded her eyes. In just a few more moments, she would recover enough that she could finally end the chase once and for all.


    Skyle began to grow increasingly uneasy as his supply of arrows began to dwindle. He knew this was a race against time, but he was still waiting for the perfect opening to unleash his ace. Until then, he could only keep applying pressure and corralling Leena towards his trap.


    This was a waiting game for both sides. One was attempting to buy enough time to recover her sight, while the other was breathlessly awaiting the single opening that would spell life or death in a single instant.


    In the end, it seemed fate enjoys its small ironies, as the right moment for both sides just so happened to arrive at the same instant.


    Leena¡¯s furious eyes opened wide as she was finally able to clear the tears from her vision and refocus, hunting hungrily for her prey. At the same time, Skyle lifted his bow for the shot he had been waiting for this whole time.


    In truth, had Leena been counting the sounds of impact from Skyle¡¯s arrows she would have known nearly half of Skyle¡¯s arrows had failed to strike her Stormshield, and were instead being directed to another important target. However, with all the noise and confusion created by Skyle, doing such a thing would have been next to impossible, even if she was of a mind to do so.


    Leena¡¯s expression was one of complete surprise, as the first sight that greeted her when she finally recovered her sight was that of her prey. Skyle was standing not 30 feet away from her, the string of his bow pulled taut and the arrow aiming straight at her. Though at first puzzled, Leena¡¯s expression turned into one of stony determination as she raised an imperious hand to command her Witchblade for what she hoped would be the final blow. Little did she care that Skyle was aiming yet another arrow, for many such had already crashed and failed against her Stormshield.


    On the other side of the Stormshield, Skyle met her eyes for a single, timeless instant. That expression, it honestly shook her, because buried within were none of the expected emotions such as fear, despair or hate. Instead, only a profound serenity that ached faintly with sorrow could be seen.


    Before she had time to further pursue this line of thought, Skyle raised his bow high above her head, and let loose. The arrow flew nowhere near Leena, but that was alright. Instead, it struck the same target Skyle had been hitting with the last eight arrows that had not struck Leena¡¯s shield. Each successive shot had been placed just slightly off from where the last had landed. With every impact, a barely visible hairline crack would widen just a little further.


    This final shot, it struck true on its target and left a visible dent from which a series of hairline fractures spread. Just left of this dent, eight similar mini-craters could be seen in a straight, horizontal line. Webs of small fracture lines spread from each of these dents, forming a perfect semicircle all around the giant stalactite. On the other side of this rock lay a puddle of bubbling liquid, which was all that remained of the acid arrow Skyle had carefully produced from the remains of the poison spider. That shot had been made as soon as Skyle had stepped inside this room, and his every move thereafter had been made in order to place his prey under this massive trap. Having been given plenty of time, the mixture smoked and sizzled as it hungrily chewed into the stalactite¡¯s base. This massive icicle of solid rock rumbled mightily upon receiving Skyle¡¯s final arrow, therefore drawing the disbelieving eyes of the person standing directly underneath.


    Leena¡¯s mouth opened in a disbelieving gape as the colossal rock gave one last cry of protest, then detached itself from the roof with a resounding crack. Leena reflexively raised her hand towards the stalactite and her Witchblade obediently soared towards the descending rock.


    They met with a thundering crash, spreading a huge shower of rock fragments. Most were only the size of a fist, but many were larger than Leena herself. As the great avalanche of rock descended upon her, Leena abruptly lowered her arms and turned her gaze towards Skyle.


    Their eyes met for one timeless instant, and in this final moment they understood one another perfectly.


    One was content, and ready.


    The other was disconsolate, and woefully unprepared.


    ¡°Leena, move!¡± Skyle cried out hoarsely, stretching his hand out as though he could snatch her from the death she had chosen herself.


    Leena only gazed upon Skyle and smiled, and said nothing at all.


    Then the whole world came crashing down, and only a deafening silence remained.


    The unbearable silence slowly faded, trailed by the heart-rending sobs of a little boy who had won a hard battle, yet lost the war.

 Chapter 54 - Too Late for Regrets

    Chapter 54 - Too Late for Regrets


    Rakasha¡¯s gaze was serene and indifferent as it followed the little boy¡¯s limping figure. Wheezing and panting, tears were freely mixed with snot in his soot-blackened face. Over his thin, trembling shoulders was a thin rope which was  coiled tightly around his hands, connecting him to a large, flat piece of spider carapace. Upon it rested two figures which lay side by side, their lengths stretched along the makeshift sled.


    One was that of a brawny youth with rich golden locks and a dashingly handsome face. His complexion, however, was pale as a corpse and thick veins of charcoal spiderwebbed all across his skin. These veins pulsed faintly with every second, as though every beat of his heart was threatening to burst them.


    The other was a small boy whose face wore a peaceful expression. Through the dirt caking every inch of his face it could be seen that his condition was relatively good, and he was merely slumbering deeply. Though each pull of the sled jerked his tiny head from side to side, he showed no signs of awakening anytime soon. Deep lines of exhaustion were visible etched across his haggard face.


    Of the three, Leon¡¯s condition was obviously the most critical. However, in terms of sheer anguish it could be seen that Skyle was not far from the edge, teetering on the brink.


    Rarely, even regular people can show incredible resilience when faced with extraordinary circumstances. However, everyone has a breaking point - a hard limit beyond which each step is like treading across thin ice. Only a fathomless abyss beckons underneath, patiently waiting for that one false step, which would prove to be the last.


    As for Skyle, he was resilient and remarkable as no other boy could hope to be. Still, he was a mere boy, and any of the trials he had faced could have broken a multitude of lesser men. However, like a full cup which needs only one final drop to finally spill its contents, Leena¡¯s death had a profound impact on Skyle.


    In truth, Skyle had grown overconfident over the time he spent in Sanctuary. His various encounters with foes he would not have even dared to even imagine existed had, for the most part, gone very favorably for him. His new gifts have fed this growing confidence, and his recent conversation with the Goddess had only added to it.


    When approaching the matter of his confrontation with Leena, in the back of his mind he had known it was unavoidable. Still, he had committed two critical mistakes in a world where just one was enough to spell doom.


    First, he had badly underestimated Leena. Her combat prowess, he could be forgiven for. So flawless had been her lost and helpless girl act that he really could not have had any inkling of how deadly a warrior she was. Second, and even more critical, he had badly misjudged the strength of her convictions and the purity of her will. He had naively thought that no matter what misunderstandings there lay between them, surely with the backing of the Guardian of Sanctuary and Rakasha, a fitting compromise could be reached.


    After all, she was a nice girl. Deep inside, within her core, Skyle could see she was a kind soul, one wholly devoted to unselfishly protecting others. This was the kind of person Skyle could admire and respect.


    He had wished so desperately that he could save her, that even when going through the plan to trap her under the stalactite, Skyle had a blind certainty that Leena would exhaust her powers to shield herself from the avalanche of rocks. Given her prowess, Skyle knew she would most likely survive, and indeed his Far Sight had shown multiple outcomes in which Leena escaped from his trap, spent but alive.


    He would then capture her while she was still weak, then carry her to the Shrine of Tears and solve this whole misunderstanding. That would be a happy ending for all parties involved.


    Skyle ground his teeth as he pulled harder, letting the rope bite deeply into his flesh and accepting the pain. His arrogance had been colossal, and so had been his downfall. This failure had hit him harder than he could have possibly imagined, and it struck him all the harder because he truly had wanted to save Leena.


    Instead, his blind arrogance and overconfidence had gotten her killed with his own two hands.


    Sooner than he realized, Skyle had already arrived at the cave¡¯s mouth. Before he could even speak, Rakasha¡¯s claw extended forward and enveloped the spidershell sled with surprising gentleness. Skyle¡¯s own body began to float in the air, and in a mere instant, he was deposited behind the ancient beast¡¯s back.


    The journey back was spent in silence. Rakasha maintained her usual aloof aura while Skyle struggled to shake off the depression that had come crashing down upon him. Rationally, he knew he must not blame himself, as Leena had made her own choices. His heart, however, pressed upon him with the irresistible strength of a titanic brute armed with not an ounce of logic, but a deadly arsenal of conflicted emotions.


    By the time they landed back at the nest, time had flown by and Skyle was still in a daze as he gingerly descended from Rakasha¡¯s back. The great crystal phoenix carefully laid the stretcher down next to Skyle.


    ¡°Thank you for all your help, Rakasha.¡± The boy bowed deeply to the ancient beast, for he knew now that she had repeatedly saved his life. Beyond that, she had also treated him with kindness, though she did not need to.


    Rakasha seemed to regard Skyle with a deep, meaningful gaze. Her head dipped in Skyle¡¯s direction just a fraction of a degree, so minute that the movement was almost imperceptible. Had that been an encouraging nod, or was Skyle simply imagining things?


    Then the moment was gone, and Rakasha¡¯s gaze shifted to her side. There, Birdy was surreptitiously approaching the stretcher, bloody mischief likely in its mind. Saliva drooped from a corner of his beak as he eyed Emil¡¯s tender complexion.


    This little glutton truly had a one track mind.


    Rakasha did not move, but Birdy abruptly squeaked and fell back on its haunches. After a quick glance towards its mother, Birdy shook its head vehemently and flapped its wings back and forth. Only after Rakasha¡¯s dignified gaze left him did Birdy turn its eyes to Skyle, once again glowering as though this had also been his fault, somehow.


    ¡°Rakasha, I must speak to the Guardian.¡± Skyle paid Birdy no mind, as he understood better than anyone what kind of state Leon was in. His friend¡¯s face was permanently twisted in a rictus of agony. His lips were cracked and bleeding, and from time to time terrible seizures would convulse his whole body. If his outer appearance was worrying, his aura under the True Sight was simply appalling. Chaotic streams of red and purple were running rampant within his core, while every other aura grew increasingly faint and sporadic. It was a wonder that his body could hold itself together at all. Worst of all, Skyle saw the torn remains of his friend¡¯s elemental veins and knew that even if he survived his wounds, this genius elemental summoner would never channel his power again.


    Like Skyle, he was now a cripple.


    Skyle stretched his hand out towards the stretcher, but at this moment a silver aura noiselessly enveloped Leon¡¯s body. This energy flowed into Leon, seeping into his eyes, nose, ears and mouth. Immediately, his face relaxed and his breathing seemed to stabilize.


    ¡°Come, Skyle Arrow. We must have words, and I shall tolerate no further delays,¡± came the imperious command from within the Shrine.


    Confused at the sudden coldness of the Goddess¡¯ voice, Skyle glanced towards Leon one last time before reluctantly making his way down the stairs. The darkness welcomed him into its embrace. Within its heart he found the Goddess fully awake and enveloped by divine might. She regarded him with the domineering eyes of a sovereign gazing upon an unworthy subject.


    Skyle swallowed painfully, licking his lips to moisten them but was not sure what he ought to say. Clearly, the Goddess was displeased, and Skyle did not understand if this was because he had killed Leena, or because he had failed some other hidden test.


    ¡°Your first boon is thus granted, mortal. Step now onto my hand.¡± the Guardian of Sanctuary¡¯s voice boomed within the enclosed space, echoing loudly against the walls. She stretched a gigantic hand towards Skyle. ¡°That I may cleanse the vile taint within your veins, and thus fulfill my word. Then begone henceforth from Sanctuary, and may you never return.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°L-Lady, I don¡¯t understand. May this poor child ask-¡± Skyle winced as his whole body shook from the sheer weight of her words, feeling as though irresistible ripples of divine might were emanating from the Goddess.


    ¡°The time for questions is done, manling. Step forth, then begone at once!¡± The tone had not changed, but the air within the chamber dipped into freezing temperatures. Skyle¡¯s teeth actually began to chatter uncontrollably while steam rose from his mouth.


    ¡°Great Lady, I- I must ask a further boo-¡± Skyle began, fear seizing his heart in a tyrant¡¯s fist that squeezed all the breath from his body so that only a pathetic squeak made it past.


    ¡°You dare!¡± The Goddess cried, and this time Skyle¡¯s hair was pushed back from his face in a wild corona as he was blasted with a wave of power that covered his face in a thin layer of ice. ¡°Have you a deathwish, mortal child?¡±


    Skyle shook his head frantically while cracking noises filled the air. Had he dared to risk a glance, he would have seen the multitude of crystals covering the walls of the shrine trembling as they resonated with the divine power being emitted by the Goddess. Small fracture lines could be seen running through several, threatening to collapse altogether.


    ¡°I- I must still ask, please save-¡± Skyle cried out hoarsely, his body trembling uncontrollably as he forced the words past numb, unfeeling lips.


    ¡°Silence!¡± came the furious cry from the Goddess, and hundreds of crystals shattered with a deafening explosion, sending glittering shards flying about everywhere.


    Skyle staggered as dozens of sharp crystal fragments shot into his body from all around. Blood began to drip down his face from several deep cuts. His heart nearly lurched into a halt as an unthinking, irrational fear rose from his heart and strangled his throat.


    He had finally come to realize that he could really die here. After all his trials and struggles, for this Goddess to kill him would be like snuffing out a guttering candle with a single breath. All of Skyle¡¯s dreams, hopes, and love for his family and friends would end right here and now. No one would know of his fate, and he would forever vanish from the universe as though he had never even existed.


    The Goddess wouldn¡¯t care. The world would not even bat an eye. Only his family would mourn his loss, but so what? They were worlds away, unable to aid or comfort him. They couldn¡¯t even see or hear him, so what use was all of their love and wisdom and care now?


    Again, the unfairness of it all burned in Skyle¡¯s heart. The flame was born out of despair, and this despair was the essence of the void within his heart. There was nothing left when a little boy must stare eye to eye with death while holding nothing in his heart - nothing but an all-consuming void.


    At this point, something broke with a sharp, crystalline noise inside Skyle¡¯s chest. At first he thought it was a bone cracking under the pressure, but he could now feel it come from somewhere far beyond the realm of mere bone and flesh.


    A great, deafening roar filled Skyle¡¯s head. Strangely, he did not feel it was loud at all. Instead, it was like a formless pressure that had been pent up for a long time, and finally burst forth with terrifying momentum. It swept past everything in its path, and howled a great, titanic roar of defiance.


    ¡°Little Sky,¡± came the soft call from within his heart, barely audible in the midst of the storm ravaging his mind.


    ¡°Ah?¡±  There wasonly one person in the world who called him little Sky.


    ¡°My little Sky.¡± This time, because he had been listening for it, he could clearly recognize his mother¡¯s bright, gentle voice. It fluttered airily into his consciousness like a spring breeze and filled the terrifying void inside of his heart like a ray of sunlight banishing the darkest night. ¡°Little Sky, will you now fly far, far away?¡±


    ¡°I- I-¡± Skyle found that he didn¡¯t know how to answer. He somehow knew that now that these invisible chains had shattered, he could simply not go back to the old Skyle. Beyond that, he wasn¡¯t even sure if he would wish to. But above all else, he did not want to disappoint this voice with his answer. During this moment of intense inner struggle he watched the beam of sunshine begin to flutter its wings and turn into a beautiful butterfly of golden light.


    Here, Skyle finally found his answer.


    ¡°Yes, but I will always return home.¡± Skyle found himself whispering this solemn promise.


    ¡°Then go, little Sky. Spread your wings and fly, but always remember home.¡±


    Tears had slid down Skyle¡¯s cheeks without his knowledge by the time his consciousness slammed back into his body. It mixed with the blood to create a truly grim visage out of his face, but the fear was now gone. So was the anger and confusion.


    Instead, only a will of iron remained, tempered by years of gentle, nurturing love.


    In the midst of the wild tempest unleashed by the Goddess¡¯ might, Skyle straightened his back and lifted his gaze to match the Goddess¡¯ own.


    ¡°By your word and promise, I beseech the Guardian to use my boon to heal Leon¡¯s veins, then send us away.¡±


    Loss and disappointment flashed across the Goddess¡¯ storm-filled eyes. The feeling was mirrored by Skyle, but was quickly washed away by a calm acceptance.


    The storm was suddenly gone, every terrifying ripple of power sucked out from the shrine as though it had never been. A bright glow surrounded Skyle and the wounds on his body disappeared at a rate visible to the naked eye. Within moments, he stood whole and unafraid before the immortal¡¯s regard.


    ¡°Blood does not lie, after all. Skyle Arrow, truly you disappoint this immortal. Must you refuse my grace and defy my will to the very end?¡± The fury was completely gone from her expression, replaced by a great exhaustion. Though her skin remained radiant and her hair glimmered brightly, her eyes reflected a deep weariness like that of a pebble worn smooth by the flow of countless years within the river of time.


    ¡°I thank you Lady, for your great grace and good intentions. However, my friend lies dying, his talent crippled. How could I do otherwise?¡±


    ¡°His bodily wounds, I shall restore for you. Must you give your gift to him as well?¡± The question was a sigh, all hope slowly shedding from it like the branches of a tree during winter.


    ¡°I have lived all my years without knowing the touch of the elements. I can live a few more without. My friend, however, is different. His talent is like a mighty river, and when it dries up his whole world will wither and die. His indomitable will surely allow him to recover his spirits, but he lives and breathes in a whole different world from mine. It is a cruel world that will never give him the time or opportunity to do so.¡±


    Skyle sighed deeply as he spread his hands helplessly to his sides. ¡°I¡¯m afraid he will be murdered in his weakness, before he can rise again.¡±


    ¡°Listen well, manling. Such are the decrees of fate. Each of you has a path to walk, and destiny does not take kindly to the intervention of outside forces. Even gods must pay a dreadful price for such presumption. Much less a little mortal such as yourself.¡±


    ¡°I understand, yet again I must refuse the Guardian¡¯s grace.¡±


    ¡°Even knowing the foul corruption within your veins shall claim your life five years hence?¡±


    This last statement struck him like a physical blow, for this was surely a death sentence. Not even Skyle could stare death in the eye without a trace of regret and sorrow.


    ¡°Yes, even still,¡± came the boy¡¯s calm reply.


    A long sigh was the only response he received, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but echo it himself. Giving up the chance to heal his own talent for Leon¡¯s sake, was it the right thing to do? Was he being impulsive? Would he not regret his choice a thousand times over? Every time his veins burned with yet another failure, would he not howl and curse the day he had chosen this doom for himself? That fateful day five years from now, when he lay on his deathbed and finally succumbed to this strange sickness, would he weep and desperately wish to take back his decision today?


    ¡°Ah, regret. Maybe this was the true meaning of the Goddess¡¯ warning. But it is far too late for regrets, even now.¡±


    Skyle knew that he could not take any other decision, here and now. Not with who he was, and the home that he had left behind, and still lay waiting for his return. A part of him had come to deeply understand that home was not simply a physical place that he could yearn for, nor a family that he could return to. Every path he walked, every choice he made, a part of home would be there with him.


    If the choices he made and paths he walked made him into another, lesser man, would he not lose that precious home that was built from the love, hopes and dreams that they had all built together?


    Yes, he would sacrifice his own talent for Leon because he was his friend, his brother. He would willingly give his life for him. That was the meaning of friendship to Skyle.


    However, the main reason he could not make any other choice, here and now, was because of who he was, and who he wanted to be, when he finally returned home.


    ¡°Mom, little Sky will be there soon. A little worse for the wear, but I am coming home.¡±


    Tears spilled unbidden from Skyle¡¯s eyes, but neither the Goddess nor the little boy minded at all.


    ¡°As you wish, it is done, then.¡± This carried an air of finality that suddenly sparked a sense of panic within Skyle¡¯s heart. He still had something he needed to do, someone he wanted to see!


    All his desperation was useless, as Skyle felt his consciousness rapidly begin to fade. Though he struggled, his vision grew blurry and his legs unsteady.


    ¡°Wait, please. I want, I need to see someone. Please! I may never see her again!¡± Skyle suddenly cried out in a panic. ¡°Can you tell me where Ria is?¡±


    The Guardian of Sanctuary looked at him in askance. ¡°There is no Ria within the confines of this Sanctuary, Skyle Arrow.¡±


    ¡°But the girl, she helped me. She healed me. You must know who she is. Please, let me see her one more time!¡± Skyle begged, his heart pounding in his chest as darkness crept up upon him.


    ¡°Some things are beyond even my power, Skyle Arrow. Return home with my blessings and make the best of these final five years you have left. Know that the Goddess is always with you.¡±


    ¡°Ria..¡± Skyle wanted to cry out, but darkness descended upon him and he knew no more.

 Chapter 55 - No Place Like Home

    Chapter 55 - No Place Like Home


    The rustling trees above whispered into his ears, full of sweet promises and half-remembered dreams. They were playful things, these silent words, and they skittered across his consciousness like the caress of an early autumn rain washing the face of a sun-baked crag.


    ¡°Skyle.¡±


    The name meant little to him, for he had forgotten such meanings in the face of more profound truths. How odd that he should have once placed importance on such things, an errant thought skittered across his mind. The meaning of names and their significance faded into dim obscurity, for how can one perceive the vastness of the world when stubbornly clinging to the notion of self?


    ¡°Skyle.¡±


    A momentary sense of discomfort intruded upon this moment of bliss. It was a rude gesture, like a finger poking his arm when he did not wish to be disturbed. Still, it was impossible to feel such, for he knew this voice, and it meant the world to him. This he knew beyond doubt, though how was a question he did not even think to ask.


    ¡°Skyle, wake up.¡±


    Slowly at first, but with dismaying momentum, the world began to fade around him. Instead, a suffocatingly sharp sense of contrast flared within his consciousness. It began with lines being defined with increasing clarity from areas that had only been delightfully hazy mists before. Borders were swiftly erected thereafter, and for the first time he became fully aware and cognizant of this alien concept: the self.


    He looked around, and he saw a world that was fading from brilliant light into darkness. They were oddly familiar, these looming shadows steadily creeping into place behind every object around him. They fed well, though he knew not on what. They grew tall and strong, eventually ushering the question, just which was the shadow of which?


    Skyle could not tell, just as he was not sure why he should suddenly find this name so familiar. Neither did he realize why upon finally opening his eyes and seeing for the first time, he felt a distinct absence that nearly brought him to tears.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Skyle.¡±


    He was disconsolate, without a clue as to the reason for his grief. It was only the voice that comforted him, and kept him company in the growing darkness encroaching upon this once bright and airy place.


    ¡°I am with you.¡±


    Skyle nodded, not in gratitude but acknowledgment.


    Names flooded into his mind in a bewildering torrent, quickly filling voids where there had been none mere moments ago.


    ¡°We are here.¡± These words from the voice sounded like a gentle reminder. Skyle instantly realized they were instead a farewell.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± Skyle pleaded in spite of himself, knowing better yet unable to help himself. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Silly Skyle. I will always be with you.¡± The words were said with a smile, but the words were steeped in sorrow.


    It was at that instant, right as the final vestige of this sanctuary was lost to the demands of the here and now, that Skyle knew this to be true. Both the words and the sorrow, he understood them completely. Only now did Skyle truly understand, and silent tears pooled in his eyes.


    Then the moment was gone, swallowed by shadow.


    Skyle ran a hand across his eyes and wondered, had it been raining just now?


    As he looked up, the darkness was upon him and he knew no more.


    ***


    A gentle touch brushed an errant lock of hair away from his forehead. The warmth exuded by this touch melted away the deep lines in his forehead.


    As though afraid of losing something precious, Skyle desperately knocked on the doors of his consciousness. The gates slowly parted underneath his pounding fists, and at last a sliver of light peeped through the widening gap between them.


    Cracking his eyes open, Skyle blinked to clear his vision.


    He immediately recognized his own bed. An unfamiliar weight lay upon his right side. With great effort, his turned his head and recognized the disheveled mass of golden hair to be the top of Kass¡¯ head. She was sleeping next to him, her body tightly curled up against his arm. Her tiny eyes were puffed up as though she had been crying, and a tiny bit of drool dribbled from her lips.


    Skyle tried to speak and poke fun of her condition, but found that his lips seemed to belong to someone else.


    ¡°Sky?¡± came the soft call from his other side.


    ¡°Ma?¡± Skyle instantly recognized the voice.


    He turned his eyes, but at that instant he felt a sudden headache pounding mercilessly against his skull. His vision went black and struggle as he might, he couldn¡¯t open his eyes again.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, little Skyle, you¡¯re safe now. Sleep. Shh. Sleep now.¡±


    Skyle relaxed under the soothing words, and soon felt into a dreamless sleep.


    ***


    The next time he opened his eyes, the only candle burning in the room glowed like a halo around the beautiful face of a woman Skyle had longed to see for a long time.


    ¡°Ma?¡± Skyle stammered, finally able to open his mouth.


    The placid cornflower blue eyes of Adrienne Farrow gleamed with emotion as she silently nodded to her son. The depths of her gaze were an overflowing mixture of both joy and relief.


    ¡°Is it really you? Am I - is it really you, ma?¡± Skyle.


    Adrienne nodded once more, her hand settling above Skyle¡¯s brow with a reassuring touch.


    ¡°It really is me.¡± The smile on her lips was subdued, but the faint trembling visible at their corners was as much as a shout of joy from the usually imperturbable mistress of the Farrow family. ¡°You¡¯ve returned to me, my baby.¡±


    Usually, such words would have prompted an automatic protest from Skyle along the lines of his merits as a young adult and first born of the house, and the great dignity and decorum such positions entail.


    Now, however, it was all Skyle could do to simply throw his arms around her waist and squeeze for all he was worth. He clung to her like a shaking leaf, desperately drinking from the warm comfort of her presence and the unshakable weight of her unconditional love.


    At first taken aback by Skyle¡¯s abrupt reaction, soon Adrienne¡¯s smile deepened. Her hand patted the little boy¡¯s back as she gently rocked him back and forth within her embrace.


    ¡°I came back to you, mom. I promised I would,¡± Skyle mumbled, his voice trembling with emotion.


    ¡°Welcome home, little Sky,¡± his mother whispered in his ear, and suddenly everything was alright in the world again.


    He had finally come home.


    ***


    Moments later, a much more composed Skyle followed his mother as she led him out the door of his own bedroom where he had been resting.


    ¡°How¡¯s Leon? And what about Emil?¡± Skyle asked softly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. They¡¯re still recovering in their rooms, they must have been through a lot. You can visit them later.¡±


    That set Skyle¡¯s mind at ease.


    ¡°Was there.. Anyone else with us?¡± Skyle asked tentatively.


    Adrienne tilted her head to the side, then shook it in the negative.


    ¡°No. Should there have been another person?¡± His mother asked, concerned.


    ¡°Ah, no. Never mind.¡± Skyle shook his head, trying to hide his consternation.


    Adrienne brushed the back of her hand against his cheek. When he looked up, she smiled at him encouragingly.


    ¡°I know a lot of things must have happened. How about we get some hot food in you first? Food first, worries later. I cooked all your favorites for you. I had a feeling you¡¯d be waking up hungry.¡±


    Skyle smiled his thanks and nodded, swallowing past the lump in his throat.


    As he followed his mother toward the dining room, Skyle relished in the cool feeling of smooth wood against skin as his bare toes stepped on the all-too familiar grain of the planks laid across the short hallway leading to the dining room.


    Embroidered tapestries hung on both sides of the walls. Those on the left were eyesores, the stitching uneven in most places and even coming nearly undone in some. Those abominations had been the product of Skyle¡¯s forced tenure as an embroidery apprentice under the long-suffering tutelage of Mistress Farrow - his mother. Clumsy and reluctant as he was, she had never once lost her temper or her patience. It had taken a good two years before Skyle realized that the lessons learned during those hellishly tedious winters had been about far more than mere needle and thread.


    The tapestries on the opposite wall formed a stark contrast, each stitch artfully placed upon another until they formed a harmonious whole. A clear progression could be seen. It began with simple yet elegant letters. These became flowers, then plants and animals, until whole forests were depicted in the last few. They were vast works that must have taken countless hours of meticulous, masterful work.


    Produced, of course, by the gifted little hands of Kassandra and Reikard Farrow. The twins had excelled where Skyle had failed ruinously, their deft little fingers weaving in and out with astonishing speed under the smiling eyes of their mother. Minute differences could be found in their work, of course. Kass¡¯ patterns tended to be elegant and complex - grand on a scale that teetered on the edge of ostentatiousness. Reik¡¯s, in the other hand, displayed disarmingly simple designs that were put together with meticulous care and attention to the finest detail. They might not be as showy or dazzling as Kass¡¯ work, but the deeper the examination, the stronger the fascination would grow towards the artfully humble talent shown.


    The worst of their works outshone Skyle¡¯s best by leagues. Only by age ten had Skyle finally earned a barely passing grade and graduated from long evenings spent by the fire snarling under his breath with thread and needle on hand.


    Reik had hung his last tapestry just last year, at age eight.


    As for Kass, the little empress of the Farrow clan had solemnly declared her time with needles was done by her seventh summer.


    As usual, no one had disagreed.


    Now, walking with his mother past these familiar sights, Skyle¡¯s heart ached deeply as he thought of the long, painful road he had walked to arrive here.


    It seemed a mere instant before Skyle finally arrived at the end of the corridor, and once again he was assaulted by a sight that had haunted his dreams for what seemed like ages, but had in reality only been a few days.


    A wide mahogany table dominated the center of the room, piles of hot, steaming plates heaped upon it like a small mountain. The great Farrow family lay spread out around it, attacking the food with relish.


    Reik was perched upon his usual spot on the corner, his entire face sunken inside a drumstick that was bigger than his head. Rich gravy dripped unheeded from his chin and onto the napkin tied around his neck.


    Kass sat at the middle of the table, within easy reach of the best parts of the feast. Her back was straight and her graceful demeanor was only ruined by the helpless roll of her eyes as she glanced periodically towards her twin brother.


    ¡°Must you swallow all your food like a pig at the table, Reik?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm, mmhm, hmmmph!¡± came the joyous reply, completely oblivious to his sister¡¯s dissatisfaction.


    Kass could only let out an aggrieved sigh before delicately cutting into the chicken breast on her own plate using the immaculate filigreed fork and knife held in her dainty little hands. She cut out a tiny slice of the white meat and lightly dipped it into a separate miniature bowl containing her own individual portion of gravy. Only then did she carefully bring it to her mouth. Little Kass looked like an exquisite doll as she chewed slowly and deliberately, putting down her dining utensils. After swallowing, she dabbed a fine white linen napkin across her lips, and followed it with a sip from the only glass cup in the entire household. It only held grapejuice, but Kass still closed her eyes as she swirled the liquid in her mouth. Only then did she pick up her fork and knife to start the process all over again.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The dining utensils were small and thin, but were made of steel coated in silver, and had been given to Kass as a gift from the blacksmith¡¯s son. They must have cost a good half year of his apprentice wages, but the lad had practically begged for Kass to accept the gift. When she had reluctantly agreed, the boy had a grin on his face that could have lit the town for a whole week while all his friends had groaned and cursed at the fact that they either hadn¡¯t thought of it first.


    The napkin, it was part of a set of twelve included in a gift package from the weaver¡¯s two boys. God knows how many months of savings that must have cost them, but the brothers had been positively exultant when Kass had finally relented and accepted the gift. She had immediately thrown the package to the back of their wagon as though it were a cabbage or a carrot, but the boys had not cared one whit. Their gift had gained the little empress¡¯ approval, and that was enough to earn them the envy of every boy in town.


    The same story repeated itself with everything else. The plate was part of a set from the potter¡¯s daughter. The glass cup came from the glass blower¡¯s son. The grape juice was part of a steady supply from the tavern¡¯s three daughters, who offered a weekly tribute to their little idol.


    Kassandra Farrow could be said to be a minor celebrity in Sunny Meadow, and her every action reflected this fact. She was like a diminutive version of her mother, all composed grace and flowing elegance. Of course, the little brat still snuck to his room when she was too scared to sleep alone in the dark and her temper tantrums were the stuff of legends in the Farrow family. Still, those small, lovely imperfections aside, Kassandra could truly be said to have been born in the spitting image of her mother.


    Her beauty reflected this fact. Though she was only nine this year, her crystal blue eyes, lovely dimples and flowing locks of gold were already the stuff of local legends. Rumours about the exquisite beauty of both mother and daughter had spread to every border of Lacrima Province. Even the province¡¯s capital, Glory Peak, held a substantial fan base. This was largely thanks to the Aegis Academy, the local branch of which both Kass and Reik had begun to attend a year ago. It wasn¡¯t rare for students to be transferred back and forth between the main facility in Glory Peak and the branch in Sunny Meadow. In truth, Skyle more than half suspected the unexpected popularity of the Sunny Meadow Aegis Academy Branch had more than a little to do with his sister¡¯s disturbingly high popularity. In fact, with every new student attending the academy, girls and boys as young as 7 and as old as 16 or even older had begun to join the ranks of this growing club.


    Still, at home Kass was more akin to Skyle¡¯s little kitten. She was liable to hiss and scratch from time to time, but mostly she just wanted to curl up by his side and receive the occasional pat on the head and scratch behind the ears. Well, that and candied corn.


    ¡°I¡¯m back, Kass, Reik.¡±Skyle whispered in his mind, his chest filled to bursting with joy.


    Reik burped loudly, and Kass hissed under her breath but went completely unnoticed.


    Indifferent to all of this was Kendric Farrow, who sat at the head of the table. His casually slouching figure did not inspire any of the paternal presence he ought to have projected. Instead, he lay elbow deep in grease as he dug into a piece of grilled thigh with great enthusiasm. In fact, he seemed oblivious to the scene of the new arrivals.


    ¡°Pretending he can¡¯t see me. Typical.¡± Skyle almost rolled his eyes.


    The first to show any sign of having noticed was, invariably, Ash.


    The young snowblade tiger cub lay curled at his usual spot under the table, right where Skyle¡¯s empty chair laid. Ash raised his head as soon as Skyle stepped into the room. After a lazy glance in his direction, the little tiger¡¯s whiskers shook for a moment before turning away and padding towards the door. There, it lifted a paw to push open the door, glanced back towards Skyle with obvious irritation, and stepped outside.


    ¡°Oh great, he¡¯s angry at me again. Of course he would. Worst of all, I do deserve it this time.¡±


    Skyle let out a great sigh, but at the same time his chest churned with warmth. He was back. This was his family.


    At long last, he was back where he belonged. No more life and death struggles. No more nightmares looming beyond every corner. He was finally back to the life he knew and loved.


    ¡°Well, what are you standing there gawking like a dumb turnip farmer for? Come sit and eat before your mother¡¯s food gets cold. We¡¯ll never hear the end of it, else,¡± Kendric chuckled in between mouthfuls.


    Immediately, the room froze as everybody stopped. Then the thin clatter of metal echoed in the room as Kass let her prized silver utensils drop heedless from her hands. She immediately sprang to her feet and became a streak of motion that buried itself deep into Skyle¡¯s embrace. Her tiny fists repeatedly struck his chest as tears began to flood her eyes.


    ¡°You stupid dummy, where did you go? Why did you leave me? I was so worried, wuuuu. I was scared I¡¯d never see..¡±


    The rest of it collapsed into fitful sobs, her back shaking uncontrollably as her cries filled Skyle¡¯s heart with warmth.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m really sorry Kass.¡± It was all that Skyle could keep repeating, over and over.


    The next instant, Reik had also thrown himself into Skyle¡¯s arms, adding his sobbing voice to Kass¡¯ in a growing chorus.


    ¡°Big bro, what happened to you? We couldn¡¯t find you. I wanted to go to the forest, but da wouldn¡¯t let me. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t help. We missed you so much,¡± Reik sobbed, his tiny face scrunched up in guilt and relief all at once.


    Skyle found himself patting their backs much the same way his mother had done for him. After all, while he was his parents¡¯ little baby, to Reik and Kass their older brother was the dependable brother who always knew exactly what to do whenever they needed help. It did not matter that Skyle had never felt as young and helpless as he had during these past few days. Though he himself felt lost and confused, for their sake Skyle couldn¡¯t help but put up a brave front. His smile was one of a confidence and calm that were nonexistent within his own heart. He desperately hoped that this mask he had donned would be enough to assuage their worries and lend them comfort, even if he himself felt slightly guilty at his own duplicity.


    As he tried to comfort his siblings as best he could, he wondered for the very first time whether his parents ever felt this way. Could Kendric Farrow¡¯s light-hearted banter and teasing smirk be a front to set his children at ease and lend them confidence when confronted with the devious tricks of fate? Was Adrienne Farrow¡¯s stately calm and everflowing kindness a necessary balm to water her children¡¯s hearts in the arid wasteland of this world?


    Only now did Skyle begin to think about many of his parents¡¯ lessons. Words he had previously taken lightly, and others he had disregarded altogether. Louder still were their actions, which had instilled the values by which Skyle would now live and die.


    ¡°If they knew I only have five years left to live, would that change anything at all?¡± Skyle wondered in his mind.


    This thought, which fluttered into his mind as though by chance, clung fiercely and refused to leave throughout the evening. Though he was starving, he couldn¡¯t find the appetite to gorge himself the way he usually would. Instead, he forced himself to eat under the beaming gazes of his family.


    They spoke little, and most of it was taken up by little Kass and Reik as they recounted their fears and deeds during these past days while Skyle had been gone.


    All the while, Skyle bravely tried to soldier on and put on a smiling mask to assuage the concerns of his family.


    At the end of the evening, the huge banquet was gone and the children were tucked into bed against their many complaints otherwise. His father had stepped outside with smoking pipe in hand while his mother tactfully busied herself with the affairs of the kitchen. Left alone within the room, Skyle blinked his eyes while his gaze followed his mother¡¯s figure as she tidied up the kitchen. The dishes had already been washed by Reik while Kass had cleaned the dining room. The children of the family had long been trained to do such chores, and thus there was little else for his mother to do. Still, she managed to busy herself in one task or the other, all the while never leaving Skyle alone.


    After a while, Skyle finally seemed to understand something. Standing up, Skyle approached his mother and hugged her back.


    ¡°Thanks, ma.¡± Skyle whispered, his face pressed tightly against the comforting warmth of her back.


    Adrienne¡¯s hands stroked her son¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Of course. I love you, little Sky.¡± she whispered back.


    ¡°Me too.¡± skyle murmured hoarsely.


    ¡°I know, sweetheart. Now, go outside and drag your dad in before he catches a chill. You know how he gets sometimes.¡± Adrienne laughed softly.


    Wordlessly, Skyle let go and headed for the door. Upon stepping outside, the cold air from the nearby mountains hit him like a splash of water. The worries and burdens he had not even noticed were upon his back suddenly dragged at him as he took a deep, shivering breath.


    He found his father sitting by the porch, surrounded by a thick cloud of smoke.


    ¡°You know ma doesn¡¯t like you smoking that stuff, da.¡± Skyle murmured, leaning his shoulder against a nearby post.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like me smoking this stuff, but sometimes we do things and we just can¡¯t help ourselves,¡± Kendric scoffed.


    Skyle glanced sideways at his father and smiled bitterly. ¡°Liar.¡±


    Kendric squinted at his son with a dark scowl, but after a moment he burst into a great guffaw instead. ¡°Hahah, reckon¡¯ I can¡¯t deny it. Love this stuff, ain¡¯t ever gonna change. Heh, my little boy¡¯s getting all growed up.¡±


    Skyle smiled in response, but after a moment his smile wilted away.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel growed up. And if this is what it means to be all growed up, then I don¡¯t ever want to grow up.¡± The words were filled with bitter conviction, and they gave Kendric a pause as he looked thoughtfully at his son.


    A great sigh escaped Kendric¡¯s lips after some time, and he nodded wordlessly to his son.


    Skyle was surprised at this reaction, for very seldom was Kendric Farrow left without a witty remark of one sort or the other. Tonight, his father seemed strangely vulnerable, somehow.


    Perhaps, Skyle reflected, it wasn¡¯t his father that had changed, but rather Skyle himself. This left him pondering deeply in the silence while the acrid smell of the pipe filled the air around him.


    ¡°Da, what¡¯s it mean to be growed up?¡± Skyle finally asked.


    After a moment of silence, Kendric removed the pipe from his mouth and exhaled a great cloud of smoke, watching as it drifted up into the air.


    ¡°It means you can make tough choices.¡±


    ¡°That could take you down an awful shady path, da.¡± Skyle noted.


    ¡°Ain¡¯t that the truth, son.¡± The dryness of his father¡¯s voice concealed a deeper layer of meaning within that Skyle couldn¡¯t sound out.


    ¡°What if the tough choices ain¡¯t good choices, da?¡±


    ¡°Often ain¡¯t. Don¡¯t matter, son. Times are, you gotta be willing to do things you ain¡¯t proud of for the sake of the things a man ought to be proud of.¡±


    ¡°You ever have to do that, da?¡±


    At this moment, Kendric Farrow took one final drag from his pipe and closed his eyes for a long moment. Just as Skyle was wondering if his father wouldn¡¯t answer, he removed the pipe from his lips and turned his head to gaze squarely at his son. There was an earnest light in his eyes that spoke of fierce emotion, barely held back by an iron will.


    ¡°I have, son. Times for the wrong reason, times for the very best of reasons. One day, mark my words, there will be the devil to pay. But I ain¡¯t scared. A man can only do his best, and that¡¯s that. When my time comes, I¡¯ll take that against anything the world can throw at me.¡±


    As the smoke drifted up into the night sky, Skyle wondered if he himself had the right reasons in his heart.


    ¡°How do you know what the right reasons are?¡±


    ¡°Hell if I know boy. Like I said, all you can do is try your best.¡± Kendric shrugged, leaving Skyle speechless.


    Upon seeing his reaction, Kendric sighed through his nose.


    ¡°Look now, this here is my own method. Maybe it ain¡¯t the smartest, but so far it¡¯s what has worked.¡±


    Skyle nodded eagerly.


    ¡°When you feel lost and confused and don¡¯t know which way is heads or tails, you close your eyes for a second. Take a deep breath and clear your mind. If you can do that, you oughta be able to look through all that useless crap clouding your mind. If you can manage that, you oughta.. Ah, well,¡± Kendric coughed uncomfortably, clearing his throat before continuing. ¡°You oughta hear a voice. I know it sounds mighty silly, but you will-¡±


    ¡°I already heard that voice,¡± Skyle nodded firmly, and Kendric¡¯s surprised expression seemed to mirror his own.


    ¡°Well then, that makes it easier. You see, then all I do is listen to your ma¡¯s voice inside my heart. She can be a right down mean tyrant in the house sometimes,¡± Kendric said, but suddenly stopped at this part. Visibly flinching, he seemed to glance surreptitiously over his shoulder towards the house at his back. Surely not, Skyle thought. Still, Kendric¡¯s whole expression seemed to sink as he swallowed hard.


    ¡°Ah, what I meant is your beautiful mother can be a trifle hard to deal with sometimes,¡± Kendric continued, but then the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. This time the glance he threw towards the house was definitely not Skyle¡¯s imagination.


    Strange, Skyle thought. His mother was the nicest, kindest and most angelic being he could think of.


    ¡°Forget all that boy. Just ah, just know that your mother always knows best,¡± Kendric finished, fat beads of sweat shimmering on his forehead.


    ¡°Uh, ok,¡± Skyle murmured, still confused.


    ¡°Skyle, ain¡¯t ever anything free in this world. Always a price to pay, make no mistake. Maybe you, maybe not. Hell, could be no one you know. But somewhere, someone always pays the price. So, just remember that if you have to pay, make sure you do it for the right reasons.¡±


    Had those prisoners who had been butchered by the hands of those cultists been paying the price for their own actions, or Skyle¡¯s mistakes? Did Fierro Latimus'' final, accepting smile mean that he had been ready and willing to pay a price that had been long overdue? Had those children slaughtered by the dracolings been paying for their parents¡¯ sins? Did Leena die at Skyle¡¯s hands because she wanted to pay a price for someone else? Last but not least, would Skyle die in five years in order to atone for all the lives he had reaped while trapped within Sanctuary?


    As all these thoughts flooded his mind, Skyle found tears overflowing his eyes and spilling down his cheeks, though no sound escaped his lips.


    Before Skyle even knew it, his father¡¯s firm hands had grasped his shoulders and pulled his little boy into his embrace. There, Skyle finally was able to give voice to his grief with a great, heart-rending howl.


    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s alright boy. Let it all out. You let it all out,¡± Kendric comforted while patting his son¡¯s back.


    "I.. I.. Da, I did.." Skyle tried in between fitful sobs, but couldn''t get the words out.


    "Shh, it''s alright. Don''t you worry none, boy."


    Skyle didn¡¯t know how long he cried, but when he was finally done, his eyes were swollen and his throat was raw.


    The night had grown cold enough that he began to shiver, even through the warmth of his father¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°You feeling better, you little runt?¡± Kendric¡¯s voice asked teasingly.


    Smiling for seemingly the first time in a long, long time, Skyle nodded.


    ¡°Yes, I think so.¡±


    ¡°Good, then get off me so I can wipe some of this snot off my shirt,¡± his father grumbled good-naturedly.


    Skyle chuckled in spite of himself, and self-consciously tried to gather some of the wetness he had left on his father¡¯s clothes.


    This earnest effort was rewarded by a playful knock on his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re making it worse, you little beast. Leave it alone, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve cried in my arms, and I finally remembered why I had you stop,¡± Kendric moaned disconsolately.


    Skyle laughed at this, and it felt good. Truly good. So he laughed some more, and his father soon joined in.


    ¡°Da, you think..¡± Skyle suddenly stopped laughing and began with a subdued tone, then hesitated before continuing. ¡°Can you forgive me?¡±


    Kendric turned to look at Skyle with somber eyes that had lost all humor.


    ¡°Of course son,¡± he answered with conviction.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really.¡±


    ¡°Good, because all this time, I was mighty afraid you were gonna flip out when you found out I lost your knife,¡± Skyle breathed out, then ducked under the inevitable knuckle to the head he knew would be incoming.


    Surprisingly, there was none. Instead, his father nodded smilingly to him.


    ¡°Uh, da?¡± Skyle murmured, starting to worry.


    The smile only grew wider, and Skyle began to sweat in earnest.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re starting to scare me, da.¡±


    ¡°Aw, don¡¯t you worry none son. Ain¡¯t no big deal, losing that rusty old knife of mine.¡± Kendric grinned at his son, putting an arm around the boy¡¯s shoulders and patting his back reassuringly. ¡°I got my son back, and that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    ¡°Truly?¡± Skyle asked, moved.


    ¡°Truly.¡±


    ¡°Thanks da,¡± Skyle whispered, smiling.


    ¡°Welcome son,¡± Kendric chuckled, and it was at this moment that Skyle felt a shiver run down his spine. Turning his gaze to look at his father, he saw the familiar devilish grin return. His heart instantly sunk to his feet even before he heard his father¡¯s next words.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ya worry none son, it is all coming out of your wages anyhow. I reckon, you¡¯ll be mighty busy for the next, oh, five years or so? And here I¡¯d been worrying sick about my poor old back and who would plow the new field, wash the hoghouse, dig the new latrine ditches, shovel the manure carts..¡±


    The list was endless, and so were the depths of Skyle¡¯s black despair.

 Chapter 56 - A Pact Between Brothers

    Chapter 56 - A Pact Between Brothers


    Skyle woke up as the sun hit his eyes. He couldn¡¯t recall the last time he got to sleep in this late, so he was genuinely surprised. Then again, it had been a long time since he was able to sleep without having to worry about whether he¡¯d wake up inside the belly of some hideous beast.


    All in all, it was a good morning.


    There was, however, a nagging feeling in the back of his head that he had just forgotten something. It was important, but as he rolled around in his bed and tugged at his blanket, he couldn¡¯t for the life of him remember what it was.


    Frustrated at the lack of progress, Skyle¡¯s stomach growled its dissatisfaction. Shaking his head, Skyle decided it must not be so important after all, and kicked off his blanket to rise to his feet. As he did so, he noticed a corner of his bedding was rather damp. It was the same corner where Ash slept every night, right beside him.


    ¡°Still mad at me. Figures. Stubborn cat,¡± Skyle chuckled in his head. Still, he did owe Ash an apology. If nothing else, the silly tiger would keep licking the fur off the blanket in order to conceal the fact that he had been sleeping next to Skyle. That was all fine and good, but snowblade tigers had tongues that could, if not carefully controlled, stiffen into thousands of tiny spikes that would shred his blanket if he let Ash continue.


    He certainly wouldn¡¯t put it beyond the temperamental cat to let just a little too much force enter its tongue one of these mornings, and snag a huge hole in it before he realized his mistake. Then both Ash and Skyle would be in for it.


    ¡°Come think of it, da will probably take it off my wages, but I¡¯m already so deep in the red, a blanket or ten won¡¯t matter all that much.¡± Skyle noted dryly in his head, while carefully checking for snags before putting his blanket away.


    Skyle¡¯s room was at the very back of the house. It was a homey little room with a wide window that faced the sun when it rose up over the east slopes of the majestic Blackstone Mountain. A narrow bed with a thin mattress filled with feathers was one of the few luxuries Skyle had been entitled to as a member of the Farrow family. Every member of the family had one, since Adrienne Farrow had insisted that mattresses filled with wool or worse yet, straw, would just not do. Hence, every night his family could float off into dreamland on the fluffiest feather mattresses on this side of Sunny Meadow.


    Besides that, Skyle also had a small desk where he kept several of his favorite books. These were very costly affairs that had his father hemming and hawing, but his mother had once again put her foot down. She would not let her children¡¯s education be compromised.


    Thus, each child of the Farrow family received one book every year, starting from their sixth year. This was when their mother typically finished their course and each child could competently read by themselves. Of course, oddball that she was, Kassandra had begun to read at the tender age of four. As for Reikard, he had struggled with his letters, but had finally caught up by his seventh year.


    The titles on the desks of each of the children were as particular to each child as one might think. Kassandra¡¯s collection included titles such as ¡°The Princess of Evermoor Kingdom¡±, ¡°High Court Etiquette of the Imperial Age¡±, and ¡°Adventures of the Enchanted Unicorn of Seles¡±.


    Reikard¡¯s books featured ¡°The Knightly Vows of the Champion Paragon¡±, ¡°Secret Histories of the Orders of the Old Kingdom¡±, and ¡°Tales of the Little Worm that Could¡±.


    As for Skyle himself, his own desk held titles such as ¡°The Elemental Master: Awaken the Power Within¡±, ¡°Nightingale and the Enchanted Arrow¡±, and ¡°Tales from the Tiger¡¯s Den: How I Befriended a Wild Snowblade Tiger Streak¡±.


    This last one was as much for his own curiosity as it was for Ash¡¯s sake. Curling up by Skyle¡¯s feet as he read from this book was one of the few things that could convince the lazy teenage tiger to do any productive work at all. Thus, of all the books in Skyle¡¯s collection, the pages of ¡°Tales from the Tiger¡¯s Den¡± were the second most worn out of all.


    The most tattered pages belonged, of course, to ¡°The Elemental Master¡±.


    ¡°Much good it¡¯s done me¡±, Skyle scoffed.


    This brought a pang that made him grimace, thinking of the chance he had back at Sanctuary. He could have been wielding the power of the elements this very instant. Yet, he did not regret his decision to save Leon¡¯s talent. If he had to do it over, he was proud to find that he would make the same choice. He could only hope that this would never change.


    ¡°You said I would regret it, but I will not allow myself to walk that path,¡± Skyle silently vowed to himself.


    Cracking open the door to his room, Skyle walked to the room opposite his. There were actually six different bedrooms in the house. Harvesting elenium crystals was semi-seasonal work, and during the harvesting season they would sometimes hire outside help. Mostly it was old man Arthos and his sons who would come and stay for a couple months at a time. They lived deeper within the Felwood Forest that lay just beyond the borders of their farm. Their hut was built right by shores of Lake Solace where old man Arthos and Skyle¡¯s father spent too much of their time fishing.


    Most of the year, there were two empty bedrooms in Skyle¡¯s house. Now, one was occupied by Leon while Emil was temporarily sleeping in Reik¡¯s room.


    According to his mother, Leon was in even better condition than Skyle had been. There had been no visible wounds on his body, but Adrienne Farrow likely had seen the faint ghosts of the ordeal the boys had been through in his eyes. They hadn¡¯t asked any questions yet, and decided instead to give the boys some room while they recovered in peace.


    Skyle¡¯s hand rose to the door, but hung there for a moment while the boy hesitated. He was concerned for Leon, and besides he missed the bigger boy¡¯s company. Still, he didn¡¯t know how to face him. Had his talent been fully restored? If Leon asked how that had come to be, what should Skyle say? Would the truth create an awkward distance between them? Or would Leon instead feel indebted to Skyle to the point where he would do something characteristically reckless?


    Taking a deep breath, Skyle¡¯s knuckles rapped on the wooden door and waited. After a moment, Skyle knocked again, then finally gave up and just pushed the door out of the way. After all, there were no latches on any of the doors of the Farrow family.


    He walked in to see a room that was quite more spacious than his own. It had a bigger bed with its own feather mattress and a simple desk. The window¡¯s curtains were drawn closed, and under them lay the massive figure of Leon. He was snoring softly, wrapped up in his blankets with his big feet sticking out and hanging over the side of the bed.


    Skyle coughed and whispered urgently next to his hear, ¡°My lord, the Lord Marshal requests your presence at the command tent at once. I fear you have missed muster, my lord.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes immediately snapped open while he jerked himself into a sitting position. This brought his ear smashing against Skyle¡¯s nose, sending both boys groaning to the floor.


    Skyle wiped the tears from his eyes as he scowled at Leon.


    ¡°You lazy bastard, not only have you been spoiled rotten, but you have damaged the precious legacy of the Farrow clan,¡± Skyle hollered, holding on to his nose. It didn¡¯t feel broken, not quite.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°You upstart peasant, they don¡¯t teach you any better manners than to wake your betters with a headbutt?¡± Leon shot back with an even darker scowl.


    ¡°Betters my butt. Last time I saw you, you were crying out my name like a scared little girl while some ancient god beast snatched me up for lunch.¡±


    ¡°It was a dignified battle cry filled with righteous indignation and.. Oh, come here you!¡± Leon cried out, laughing while pulling Skyle into a bear hug.


    Skyle joined in the laughter, his heart truly glad to see that Leon seemed to have recovered fully. The Guardian of Sanctuary had been true to her word, and not a single trace remained of Leon¡¯s grievous overdrafting, or any of his flesh wounds for that matter.


    After a long moment during which Leon squeezed all the breath from Skyle, they finally parted to grin at each other like fools.


    ¡°We made it,¡± Leon said simply, recalling the promise they had made to each other.


    ¡°I told you we would.¡± Skyle arched his eyebrow, suggesting that there had never been a shadow of doubt in the first place.


    ¡°Yes, you did,¡± Leon chuckled, throwing his arms over Skyle¡¯s head and locking his neck in a headlock. ¡°Take this for being such an insufferable smartass.¡±


    ¡°Mercy, my lord. Mercy. I fear this humble farmer lacks the brainless strength the lord has obviously been blesse-¡± The rest of it ended in a squeak as Leon mock-strangled him, shaking him to and fro.


    ¡°Keep talking, just keep talking,¡± Leon growled playfully, tightening his grip. ¡°An inch per sentence, lets see how long till you talk yourself into sleep.¡±


    ¡°I give, I give,¡± Skyle protested in mock surrender.


    As soon as Leon let him go, Skyle rubbed his neck and muttered under his breath, ¡°Convalescing my butt. You¡¯re stronger than that damn troll that got us into all this trouble in the first place. Why can¡¯t you pick on someone your own size and you choke it out instead?¡±


    ¡°I tried,¡± Leon grinned, pointing to the arm that had formerly been broken. It looked good as new. ¡°That¡¯s how I broke my arm in the first place.¡±


    ¡°I thought that was my expertly delivered flying dive kick.¡± Skyle raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You mean the same kick that got you that busted leg that forced me to lug you around like a sack of potatoes all over that god forsaken forest?¡± Leon snickered.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right!¡± Skyle exclaimed, slapping his own forehead. ¡°I had forgotten to feed you and brush your coat. No wonder you¡¯re so testy this morning, horsey. Well, giddyup. A morning ride will make you feel all better, I promi-¡±


    The last of it was cut off by a pillow crashing against his face, which prompted a renewed bout of wrestling. Of course, Skyle had the worst of it, but not by much.


    In the end, both boys sat side by side, sweat dripping down their faces as they leaned against one another.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t remember who began, but slowly they told each other of what had happened after they separated. Skyle whistled in appreciation as he heard Leon¡¯s account of the epic fight against the spider army, especially moved when he heard the details of the third cycle spell Leon had forcefully cast to hold them at bay. Leon struggled not to gape as he heard about the ancient crystal phoenix, the Guardian of Sanctuary, and Ria.


    When Skyle spoke about his final confrontation against Leena, Leon laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.


    ¡°Listen Skyle Farrow, and you listen well. You did the right thing. Killing that murderous bitch was just about the only productive thing out of this whole entire ordeal,¡± Leon spat out viciously.


    Skyle shook his head, still conflicted. ¡°I don¡¯t think either of us will ever truly understand Leena, but I don¡¯t think she was a bad person. Are you sure she didn¡¯t say anything to you?¡±


    Leon shrugged his massive shoulders. ¡°Why would she? The whole time I was trying to kick her out of the group, and even in the last moments we only banded together for survival. Honest to god, Skyle, I never trusted her. I¡¯m not surprised she tried to kill you, and I¡¯m glad you¡¯re the one who made it out alive.¡±


    Skyle studied Leon¡¯s features carefully, but he couldn¡¯t tell anything from the other boy¡¯s expression other than stony belligerence and a firm conviction in his own words.


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Skyle mumbled.


    ¡°Damn straight I am. The only thing I regret is that the finicky Guardian or whatever she is had the gall to take away everything even though Leena died.¡±


    ¡°Well, she did explain that would happen regardless of whether each one of us was dead or alive.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still a bunch of horsecrap.¡± Leon scowled at the air in front of him, as though he could through sheer power of will glare straight into the eyes of the Guardian of Sanctuary herself.


    ¡°At least it¡¯s a good thing the Guardian healed our wounds when she sent us out of Sanctuary,¡± Skyle smiled, his eyes genuinely glad even though his chest constricted as he was reminded of what was to be his fate in five years.


    Leon nodded solemnly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you had to give up so much for my sake though.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it was for the both of us. It was a transaction, is all. All the things we had gained within Sanctuary, in exchange of our old lives back, just the way we were before.¡± The lie didn¡¯t show at all in Skyle¡¯s expression.


    Leon nodded heavily. ¡°Still, I didn¡¯t have to give up anything while you lost Moonshadow, the journal and even your True Sight.¡±


    Skyle shrugged. ¡°Maybe such power was never meant to be wielded by mortals. I might be better off this way, happy in my farm.¡±


    Leon¡¯s hand moved to clutch the other boy¡¯s arm. ¡°There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m going to let my brother rot in this little corner of nowhere. We share both fortune and misfortune, don¡¯t you forget it. Of everything in my possession, now and forever, you need but ask and it shall be yours, my friend.¡±


    Skyle leaned back, taken by surprise. ¡°Woah, no need to take it to extremes, Leon.¡±


    Leon shook his head, his eyes set and determined. ¡°No, I mean it. Titles, riches, women. Anything and everything, I do willingly share with you.¡±


    ¡°Ew, women? No, nevermind that. I meant about calling my home a ¡°little corner of nowhere¡±. My da might have some choice words about the way you¡¯ve just spoken about his farm.¡±


    Leon¡¯s face didn¡¯t crack a smile nor move a muscle, as he regarded Skyle with somber eyes.


    ¡°Skyle, I meant every word.¡±


    The smile on Skyle¡¯s face slowly shrunk, until his eyes matched the seriousness on Leon¡¯s own face.


    ¡°Then we are in accord, Leon Draxas. We will share fortune and misfortune, and may this pact last until the sun dies and the skies fall into the sea.¡±


    ¡°It is agreed.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes twitched imperceptibly as a deep, rumbling chuckle rose from his chest. ¡°Now, on to more pressing matters. Till the sun dies? Skies fall into the sea? Waxing a little poetic, are we, farm boy? Is that how you seduce the pigs you cavort with in this farm?¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes helplessly. ¡°Here we go again.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes were dripping with mockery. ¡°What, scared now? Then bow before your betters and I might take you on as a page. After a few years of faithful service, if you learn to curb that mouth of yours, you might even make it to squire and be worthy of carrying my chamberpot into the fields of battle.¡±


    ¡°Says the guy who doesn¡¯t even have a rusty nail to his name at the moment, let alone a sword. If you¡¯re so fearless, oh dauntless Lord of Draxas, how about you take on a real challenge, for a change?¡±


    ¡°Meaning?¡± Leon quirked his eyebrow, this time interested in truth.


    ¡°Meaning, how about from tomorrow on you follow me in my daily ¡®cavorting¡¯ about the farm, as you so succinctly put it. Do some real work, for a change, instead of riding a horse and looking bored while you toss a few fireworks here and there.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyebrows bunched up into a cloudy storm as he pursed his lips in thought.


    ¡°Well? Who¡¯s scared now?¡± Skyle scoffed, his expression one of utter contempt.


    ¡°Who says I¡¯m scared!¡± Leon roared, and that¡¯s when Skyle knew he had him. ¡°I¡¯ll show you how real men work. Might as well repay your parents¡¯ hospitality with some honest hard sweat.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re in? You sure? The duresses of farmwork might not be suited to your fair and flowery complexion, my lord,¡± Skyle smirked.


    ¡°Why so many useless words? I¡¯m in! I¡¯ll show you who¡¯s the flowery boy here. I¡¯ve been to battlefields dripping with gore and blood, and I¡¯ve swung my sword against some of the best soldiers on this continent. I might as well take a vacation here and do some sightseeing while I¡¯m at it.¡±


    Skyle managed to look suitable impressed by Leon¡¯s words, but deep inside he was trying as hard as he could to suppress the grin threatening to burst forth any moment now.


    ¡°Here I was worried about the hellish work da would set me on. It¡¯ll be back-busting, grime-eating, tear-inducing labor from dawn till dusk, if I know Kendric Farrow at all. Here is all of my misfortune for you to enjoy. Leon, my brother, what would I ever do without you?¡±


    The thought that he was selling out his friend never even crossed his mind. Besides, Skyle was sure Leon would do the same thing.


    Friendship was one thing, after all. Digging latrine pits and carting waist-high piles of manure was a whole different world altogether.

 Chapter 57 - Dark King Rising

    Chapter 57 - Dark King Rising


    Leon, like the pampered noble that he was, decided he would rather sleep in for the rest of the day. Skyle did not begrudge him that. After all, he knew the poor noble would need all his stamina for the hell that would visit him in the next few days.


    Glancing down at his rough, calloused hands, Skyle smirked to himself as he recalled the soft, buttery-smooth skin of Leon¡¯s hands. Likely, Leon was the type of exalted nobleman who wore gloves even for sword practice, that the Lord¡¯s hands might not develop unsightly callouses.


    To Skyle, each of the bumps and cracks in the skin of his fingers told a story. Whether from practicing with his bow until his fingers were bleeding, or digging a ditch until his raw skin stopped burning and went completely numb, Skyle was quite familiar with hard work. It was the mantra of the Farrow family that nothing worth doing is ever easy.


    Somewhere along the years of hard labor Skyle had learned this lesson. It had not come easy, this lesson. That was the reason it was all the more precious.


    His family, he knew, had enough money to live comfortably, even by an elenium farm¡¯s high standards. They could more than afford to hire several laborers who could take charge of the many onerous tasks needed to run a medium sized farm like theirs. However, his father had always refused even the most honest applicants who had come to ask for work.


    By the time Skyle learned that the farm was as much a livelihood as a way to educate the Farrow children on the importance of basic values such as hard work, dedication and integrity, Skyle had long been past the stage of resenting his father. Instead, he had become used to the life at the farm, and grown to genuinely love it.


    This love-hate relationship, it was a process that like many things in the farm, could not be rushed. Skyle was really looking forward to seeing just how much hatred Leon could take before exploding. That would sure be a sight to see. He only hoped the fire summoner wouldn¡¯t blow up half the farm while at it.


    Smirking in satisfaction, Skyle stepped outside the door and headed to the dining room. Already, his mouth was watering from the tantalizing aromas coming from the kitchen.


    ¡°Buttermilk biscuits!¡± Skyle cried out in delight, rushing down the corridor.


    Adrienne smiled indulgently in Skyle¡¯s direction as she took a steaming hot tray from the oven. The heat had brought a lovely blush of rose to her cheeks and there was a thin layer or perspiration on her forehead. However, her eyes were glowing as she nodded to Skyle.


    ¡°Little Sky, did you sleep well?¡±


    ¡°I did! Slept like a tree, though I¡¯m surprised da didn¡¯t wake me up for chores this morning.¡± Skyle¡¯s response was animated, but his eyes were riveted by the biscuits.


    ¡°Nonsense, that man has too much time in his hands as it is. I caught him sneaking a glance towards your room when he got up this morning, and I let him know in no uncertain terms he¡¯d better not wake my little angel today.¡± Adrienne emphasized her words with an imperious wave of the brush she was using to smother each biscuit under a thick layer of honey. The golden sheen on top of the crusty exterior of each biscuit made Skyle gulp loudly. ¡°Sit over there, sweetheart. These will be ready in a moment.¡±


    Skyle sat as prompted, but suddenly his thoughts were elsewhere. As captivating as the biscuits were, in the back of his mind Skyle pondered on the mysterious power his mother held over his father. As far as Skyle or any of the other children knew, Adrienne Farrow had never come even close to using violence against her husband or anyone else, for that matter. The very thought of such seemed laughable to Skyle. At most, on very rare occasions, her tone would grow chilly and her words clipped. That was as far as it had ever gone before Kendric Farrow would stumble all over himself to immediately rectify whatever misdeed of his had prompted his wife¡¯s outburst.


    As for his father¡¯s attitude towards his mother, there¡¯s no doubt he loved her to death. That much was obvious, as was the fact that the feeling was mutual. As for his strange behavior, it was a head scratcher. It wasn¡¯t even as though Adrienne Farrow was physically frail, yet gifted with the elements.


    Watching as his mother transferred all the biscuits onto a plate and placed the baking tray back inside the oven, Skyle glanced briefly at the oven mitt she wore. It was worn and slightly blackened in the middle, no doubt soot accumulated from all the mouth-watering meals she had baked for her loved ones. As far as Skyle knew, however, items such as oven mitts were rare. Not because they were hard to manufacture, but because they were nearly obsolete. The small amount of elemental essence needed to shield one¡¯s hand from a hot piece of metal was insignificant. Most people wouldn¡¯t even need to consciously think about it, reflexively focusing their elemental power to achieve the task of insulating their skin from the heat.


    Only the sick, young or elderly needed such items. Skyle had often seen his father use his elemental power with finesse to great effect. His mother, however, had never used her own essence. In this respect, she was much like Skyle. They were the only two members of the family who were unable to wield the power of the elements. Thus, Adrienne¡¯s kitchen was full of items such as fire starters, oven mitts, bottle openers, and the such. Tasks that would be a trifle to others necessitated the assistance of such for people like Skyle and his mother.


    Still, no one really spoke of it. They had all simply grown used to the fact. Skyle had always assumed it was congenital, and he had simply inherited some freak blood from his mother. Now that he heard of a supposed taint within his veins, however, Skyle had to wonder about the true reason his mother couldn¡¯t wield the elements. It couldn¡¯t be the same curse he had, since Adrienne had been alive and well all these years. Then where had Skyle contracted this strange disease, and why did it let his mother live while he would die within five short years?


    His thoughts were interrupted as a huge pile of steaming biscuits was laid before him, along with a big pot full of creamy meat gravy. Not wanting to worry her, Skyle immediately dismissed his errant thoughts and dug into the biscuits, stuffing as many as he could into his mouth until his cheeks were bulging like a squirrel¡¯s.


    His mother''s laughter lit up the room as she settled her adoring gaze upon him. Skyle basked under this feeling. It filled his soul even as the biscuits filled his stomach, and he knew he had missed this cherished warmth far more than even the most mouth-watering biscuits.


    Make no mistake, however. The biscuits were a favorite of Skyle¡¯s and a specialty of his mother¡¯s. Obviously, they were delicious. Skyle lost count of how many biscuits he went through. By the time he finally leaned back in his chair, he couldn¡¯t even swallow a single crumb more, much to his dismay. The sweet honey glaze and the buttery smooth crust sang siren songs to him even now, but if he continued he would surely burst like a pinata.


    ¡°Happy?¡± Adrienne reached across the table and affectionately ran her hand through Skyle¡¯s hair.


    ¡°So happy I could die. In fact, I could die happily right here and now,¡± Skyle crowed, then covered his hand to burp loudly. ¡°Oops, excuse me.¡±


    Adrienne waved her hand as she chuckled indulgently.


    ¡°You silly goose. How would I bake more biscuits for you if you did that? Now, give me a few seconds and I¡¯ll pack a few of those to take along with you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Am I going somewhere?¡± Skyle asked, surprised.


    His mother nodded to him. ¡°Your friend Gordon has been worried sick about you. He even tried to sneak into the forest by himself! Fortunately, his father¡¯s men caught him, or we would have been looking for two missing children instead of one. You have a good friend in that one, Sky.¡±


    ¡°Fatty tried to enter the Forbidden Forest by himself?¡± Skyle stammered, disbelief painted clearly across his face.


    Adrienne nodded. ¡°I thought he was smarter than to try such nonsense, that boy. It seems someone has been a bad influence on him.¡±


    A slightly raised eyebrow in Skyle¡¯s direction left no doubt of whom she was referring to.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t muster an answer, and chuckled awkwardly instead. In his heart though, he was truly touched. Fatty was the only friend his own age Skyle had. His busy life at the farm and training with his father left him little time for the usual games most children occupied themselves with. Also, the childish interests that fascinated other kids had never drawn Skyle¡¯s attention. Instead, he found himself joining any circles of adults that would tolerate him and even participated in the conversation when it became pertinent enough.


    It was in one such circle of adults that Skyle had spoken up on a topic he had some confidence in. He had barely finished expressing his opinion, when another voice had instantly refuted his idea. He was mildly amused to find it had come from a chubby little boy. Why, he could almost see the baby fat still on his cheeks! The guts on this kid!


    Of course, it hadn¡¯t even occurred to Skyle that he himself was merely a 10 year old kid himself.


    What ensued was a heated argument that had nearly come to blows. Only when the adults had decided to punish both boys with working together for the whole day had they slowly realized that they actually had much in common.


    Fatty, whose real name was Gordius Interspinus, actually hated his name and went by Gordon. Much like Skyle, Fatty did not have many friends his own age. He preferred to read and plan for the day when he would inherit his father¡¯s prospering general goods store and turn it into a mercantile giant to rival even the great merchant families of the Linden Republic. His words, not Skyle¡¯s. Thus, he preferred the company of adult conversation rather than the mindless games of children his own age.


    Another commonality they shared were their elemental powers, or lack thereof. While Gordius had astounding talent in the water element, his veins had been diagnosed with a rare condition that left him unable to use the Voice of the Elements, let alone become a summoner. Thus, he could only become an elemental warrior. However, as his bulging belly evinced, he was truly ill-suited to any physical activity. In truth, Fatty could barely walk a few blocks before collapsing in a sweaty, wheezing heap. As for swords, as far as Skyle knew Fatty had never even lifted a practice one, and likely never would. His weapons, Fatty would proudly proclaim to any who disdained him for not practicing with a sword, were his word and wit.


    At least that, Skyle could definitely agree with. As helpless and innocuous as Fatty may appear at first glance, his beady little eyes shone with a dazzling intellect and a burning ambition. In truth, Skyle held no doubts that Fatty would, unless some tragedy befell, achieve his grand ambitions, perhaps on a scale even greater than he himself thought possible.


    Only two years had passed since they had become friends, yet Skyle had witnessed countless of Fatty¡¯s intricate little mindgames as he plotted the downfall of any of Sunny Meadow¡¯s children who made the grave mistake of crossing this apparently defenseless, chubby little kid. That he initially made no small amount of enemies was no surprise. Fatty¡¯s precocious intellect, arrogance and the fact that his family was far better off than most others in a small provincial town like Sunny Meadow, meant that he became the target of the envy and resentment of many children.


    Fatty might be roughed up by other children, and he would not defend himself. Instead, he would grovel and cower and get away with a few scrapes or bruises at most. Then he would unleash his vengeance upon them, visiting such horrors on the poor children that it had already been half a year since the last unfortunate soul had decided to cross the Demon Pig, as Fatty had come to be known. Fatty achieved this through acquiring vast amounts of information on anything and everything, storing it within his prodigious memory, and using it to either find or produce a fatal weakness against his enemies.


    Fatty could be a scary enemy, for sure. The worst part was, you couldn''t do anything to him. He left no traces behind his machinations. Whether it was the blacksmith¡¯s journeyman apprentice who was found fooling with his master¡¯s daughter right in the middle of the tour for the local town patrol captain and his deputies, or the beer brewer¡¯s son whose latest batch of brown ale had sent every last patron of a certain tavern scrambling straight to the nearest toilet with a particularly tenacious strand of the runs that had their bums burning for the next three days, not a single clue or vestige was left behind that could possibly link these nefarious acts to one Gordius Interspinus.


    Only the town¡¯s children knew that a few weeks previously, both kids had become fed up with the Demon Pig¡¯s arrogance and decided to rough him up to teach him some manners. The Demon Pig had squealed, and begged for forgiveness, and every child in town had shuddered as they awaited the inevitable.


    In the aftermath, the blacksmith¡¯s apprentice had been run out of town and was never seen again. Rumours said he was somewhere up the Lost Mountains, herding goats in the desolate plateaus for a distant relative. As for the brewer¡¯s son, he was still working double shifts at the tavern he had poisoned, taking daily abuse from the regulars and barkeep alike. Any time he saw fatty in the distance, he¡¯d nearly piss his pants and immediately head the other way in order to avoid him.


    What¡¯s pride, Fatty had once sniggered while treating Skyle to some ale pilfered from his father¡¯s store. Burping, he had gone on to boast that a man may force him to bend his knee, but he would definitely twist the man¡¯s neck in return.


    He that laughs last laughs best, was Fatty¡¯s motto.


    All in all, Fatty was alright in Skyle¡¯s book. He was vicious, cunning and easily intimidated by the threat of physical violence. However, he was also loyal and determined, fearless when his mind was made up. He made for good company. If for nothing else, Skyle found it amusing to stop by Fatty¡¯s shop just to pick up on the latest gossip around town.


    Now, the fact that this same Fatty who likely had not taken a single step into a forest in his whole life, and would rather grovel and beg than lift a sword to defend himself, had thrown aside his better judgment to rush into the Forbidden Forest for Skyle¡¯s sake, it really touched him. He had long come to regard Fatty as his good friend, but he had never been certain the feeling was reciprocal. After all, Fatty¡¯s cunning and intellect made it hard for Skyle to fully trust him. Now, he felt ashamed that he had ever doubted his friend¡¯s loyalty.


    ¡°I hope he didn¡¯t get into too much trouble,¡± Skyle murmured pensively.


    ¡°No, Merchant Lornius just declared his son Gordius had far too much free time in his hands, and doubled his shifts at the General Store for the next two weeks. I imagine he¡¯s doing just fine,¡± came his mother¡¯s amused voice.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand Fatty like I do, ma.¡± Skyle shook his head, feeling sorry for his friend already. ¡°He hates hard work more than anything. Claims to be allergic to it, as a matter of fact. Ledgers and accounts, he takes to like a fish in water. However, his father will be punishing him by making him a laborer at their warehouse.¡±


    ¡°Which is all the more proper for poor little Gordon. He should really watch his weight, and the physical labor will do the child good. If only Merchant Interspinus would finally settle down and find himself a good wife,¡± Skyle¡¯s mother sighed.


    ¡°You have no idea how inordinately proud Fatty is of his large belly. The larger the belly, the happier one¡¯s life is, he claims. I better be on my way to check up on him.¡± Shaking his head helplessly, Skyle picked up the package Adrienne had neatly folded for him and turned to head towards the door.


    The delicate sound of Adrienne Farrow clearing her throat stopped Skyle in his tracks. Grinning guiltily, he turned around and buried his face in his mother¡¯s bosom.


    ¡°Thanks ma, you¡¯re the best.¡±


    ¡°As long as you know it, little Sky,¡± his mother stroked his cheek fondly. ¡°Now go pick up your brother and sister. Don¡¯t forget to take a few cloaks. Looks like it will be raining soon.¡±


    Skyle nodded and after disengaging himself from his mother¡¯s embrace, picked up three small cloaks with hoods and headed to the door. Judging by the sun, it must be well past noon already. Kass and Reik would need to be picked up at Aegis Academy in the afternoon, and it was Skyle¡¯s daily ritual to do so. Settling back into his old routine with ease, Skyle walked towards the road that led to town.


    The Farrow farm lay a mere forty five minutes¡¯ walk from Sunny Meadow. Theirs was a sprawling stretch of land, but due to its relative proximity to the Felwood Forest, and the Forbidden Forest beyond that, the area was sparsely populated. This worked out perfectly for Skyle¡¯s family, as their snowblade tigers did not do well with crowds or strangers.


    On the way, Skyle was greeted by several people he knew from neighboring farms. The Farrow Farm was the largest in this area, and often helped the smaller farms with seeds and produce during leaner times. Their generosity had contributed to allay the neighbors¡¯ fears at having a pack of snowblade tigers living nearby. In all the years they had been here, which was around the time Skyle had been born, there hadn¡¯t been any accidents. Instead, the Farrow family had become something of a hallmark of these parts, and become an integral part of the local community.


    ¡°Skyle, is that you boy?¡± A voice cried out from behind.


    Turning around, Skyle smiled and nodded to a short, stocky man in his fifties. The bushy beard he wore did little to disguise the unfortunate weak chin on the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°Yes, Mister Meechum, it is me.¡± Mannu Meechum owned a small farm not far from here. He was a widower of many years with four children, all older than Skyle.


    ¡°Well, slap me silly and call me Doris, we were all afraid you had gone and gotten gobbled up by them ghosts at the Forbidden Forest.¡± The animated man swiftly traced a cross symbol in the air to ward off any foul spirits being drawn by the inauspicious name.


    ¡°Nope, I just got lost for a good while. Was plenty scary though,¡± Skyle grinned sheepishly.


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t say no more on account of the arse whuppin¡¯ you likely got from your old man. Fair fellow, but got a mean eye when he means it.¡± Farmer Meechum glanced towards Skyle¡¯s rear with no small amount of sympathy.


    ¡°Especially when he realized you were missing. Lord, I ain''t been so terrified in my whole life, not even when your da-.¡± he abruptly coughed a couple times, then continued. ¡°Ahem, I mean, we thought he meant to tear that whole haunted forest by its roots, and curses or ghosts be damned. Good thing he found you, else the devil knows what a man with his temper might do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to convey your kind thoughts to my da, sir.¡± Skyle commented off-handedly.


    Meechum instantly jumped forward to clasp Skyle¡¯s hand in a tremorous grasp. ¡°Hold up now, young fella. There¡¯s surely no need to bother Master Farrow with such nonsense. Holder of the largest farm hereabouts and honorary leader of the local beast hunters¡¯ guild, your father¡¯s a mighty busy man. Why add another earful to his burdens?¡±


    ¡°Oh, ain¡¯t no problem Mister Meechum. After the visit da made to your farm that day you accidentally bumped into ma at the town fair¡¯s dance, he told me to keep my ears peeled for anything you might say. I think da cares a great deal about you and your views on things, sir.¡± Skyle made his best clueless twelve year old kid face, smiling innocently.


    Poor Meechum began to sweat in earnest as his complexion turned waxy. His lips trembled as he stammered, ¡°Ah, h- he did? Ha. Haha. I- I¡¯m flattered, that I am. Quite an honor, to be worthy of the regard of a man of your dad¡¯s grit. Best man by far in all of Sunny Meadow. No, I mean all of Lacrima Province. Best shot by far too. Why, he nearly nailed my balls to- Ah, I mean, deadeye with a bow, your old man. Really, only man worthy of that fine and very respectable lady that be your mother. Wouldn¡¯t in a million years even dream of even rolling my greasy eyeballs her way, let alone speak to her. You be sure to tell him I said that, boy.¡±


    Skyle dug into his ear with a pinky. ¡°That¡¯s an awful lot to remember, Mister Meechum. What with my frightful experience in the forest, and the tremendous arse whupping my da gave me, might be you¡¯re asking a tad too much from a sad little boy like me. Might be different if I could cheer up somehow.¡±


    Meechum frantically dug around his pockets and shoved a handful of copper coins into Skyle¡¯s hands. ¡°Being as we be neighbors and all, let Uncle Meechum give you a few coins for some sweets from the store.¡±


    Skyle immediately pushed the coins back towards Meechum. ¡°Oh no sir, I couldn¡¯t possibly take this.¡±


    Meechum¡¯s words grew even more desperate as he forced the coins back into the little boy¡¯s hands. ¡°I insist, darn it, and I won¡¯t hear otherwise. Now you go tell your da exactly what I said, ya hear?¡±


    ¡°Well, then much as I¡¯m mighty embarrassed to take these, seeing as how you insist and are being so generous, I suppose I will have to accept. Why, thank you Mister Meechum, I will surely-¡± By this time, Meechum had already become a tiny figure scrambling away as though his arse had been lit on fire.


    Skyle sniggered at the sight, but was in truth grateful. After all, Meechum and men like him who had not been able to resist attempting to take liberties with his mother had provided ample funds that went towards feeding his siblings¡¯ candied corn addiction.


    ¡°Shame on you for jerking that poor man around like that, child,¡± came a woman¡¯s voice from not too far away. Turning his head around, Skyle saw that it was a middle-aged woman accompanied by two girls and a boy. ¡°Not that he don¡¯t deserve what¡¯s coming to him, mind, making himself a nuisance to Mistress Adrienne.¡±


    Skyle bobbed his head in greeting. ¡°Good day to you, ma¡¯am Willard.¡±


    Rosia Willard nodded her head in acknowledgement. Her expression was serious, but her eyes glimmered with humor. Her children were worse, as they were sniggering just as Skyle had been.


    ¡°Ma, that¡¯s what old Meechum gets for being such a creep,¡± Sunia, the eldest daughter and almost a grown woman at 14, managed in between stifled laughter.


    ¡°How dare he try to bother Miss Kassandra¡¯s kin,¡± Laria, the second daughter at 13 years old, chorused.


    ¡°Hush children. That¡¯s still no way for a little boy to take advantage of a terrified man,¡± their mother chided.


    ¡°Hmph, if I were in Master Farrow¡¯s shoes, I would have nailed his ballsacks to the wall!¡± Herman, the eldest son, snickered as he made a shooting motion with his hands.


    ¡°Herman Willard, you will not use such foul language in front of the children, especially young Skyle!¡±


    Herman shrugged unrepentantly but said nothing, winking to Skyle instead. Herman and his family lived in a medium sized farm close to Skyle¡¯s own. However, Herman was nearly 15, and he had made it clear that upon reaching majority age he would leave the farm and travel the world. His inspiration and hero was Skyle¡¯s own father, of course. It was widely known that Kendric Farrow had been quite the wanderer before he arrived to Sunny Meadow and settled down with his young wife. Many young men had been instantly attracted by his charisma, and begged his father for archery lessons, only to be refused.


    This did not prevent the children from trying to get into the good graces of Kendric¡¯s children. This mostly extended to Kass and Reik, but some fringe benefits applied to Skyle himself as well. The crumbs that fell from the table, so to speak.


    ¡°Skyle, it is so good to see you safe and well. We were all so worried about you. Oh, and could you please pass this on to Reikard? I baked some cupcakes and had some extra. I don¡¯t know if he likes cherries, but I sprinkled them on top.¡± Laria said, stuffing a small cloth-wrapped package into his hands.


    ¡°Laria, can¡¯t you see Skyle¡¯s heading to town? What would he do with your bulky package all the way there and back? Here, take this instead. I embroidered this handkerchief myself. The ¡®K¡¯ stands for little Kassandra, while the ¡®S¡¯ stands for my own name,¡± For all her sweet words, Sunia shamelessly added on top of Skyle¡¯s burdens, pushing the item in question into his arms. ¡°Just tell her to think nothing of it. By the way, when is little Kassandra going to host another tea party? I don¡¯t wish to impose, but it is already so hard to speak to her, with everyone crowding around her. Skyle, could you maybe find out yourself and let me know?¡±


    ¡°Children, must you all behave so shamelessly? Why, Mistress Farrow will think I¡¯ve raised a bunch of hooligans. Really, Skyle, do be a darling and convey my greetings and best wishes to your mother. Here, I bought these from the last trade caravan that passed through town. I think the blue in the brooch would really bring out that lovely color in your mother¡¯s eyes. I¡¯ve been meaning to give it to her for a while now, but she¡¯s always so busy helping others. You be sure to pass it along, you hear?¡± Just like that, yet another package was added to his hands.


    Skyle did his best not to roll his eyes, as he was long used to things like this by now. Laria baked an endless procession of cherry-related goods for Reikard, while Sunia was a devoted member of the endless mob of boys and girls who formed the Kassandra Farrow fan club. As for ma¡¯am Willard, she was one of his mother¡¯s most devout followers, going Mistress Farrow this and Mistress Farrow that. Everyone else was Joel or Mary or June, but Mistress Farrow was Mistress Farrow.


    Skyle was just caught in the middle of the crossfire, a consequence of being born into a family full of remarkable people, while he himself was anything but.


    As he finally managed to extricate himself from the Willards¡¯ and headed toward town, Skyle smiled to himself as he thought about his family.


    Kendric Farrow was known as a deadeye marksman, and his wind element was both fierce and strong. He was one of the first to be notified whenever there was a wild beast loose in the vicinity, and also the reluctant leader who led the local group of farm owners and hunters in ending the threat. Thus, along the years people had come to respect Skyle¡¯s father, and no one dared to send stray looks in his mother¡¯s direction anymore, no matter how beautiful she was. It had taken a great deal of bruised noses and egos, but now Kendric¡¯s reputation as a steady man who would fiercely defend his home and family was set in stone.


    Adrienne Farrow was widely recognized as the belle of Sunny Meadow, and both her grace and effortless elegance had drawn many hungry and envious stares from both men and women alike. However, with time her gentle nature, wise counsel, and mouth-watering cooking had slowly won over the hearts of women all over the vale. Now, a veritable army of loyal women would defend the honor of Adrienne to the death, particularly against their own men. These women flocked to Adrienne¡¯s kitchen with any problems or grievances, and his mother did what she does best, working her magic and turning tears into smiles as though by magic.


    As for Kassandra and Reik, they were both charming in their own ways. Kassandra had inherited her mother¡¯s beauty and intelligence, and was thus followed everywhere by packs of children in whose eyes she could do no wrong. As for Reik, he was as handsome as his sister was beautiful, and his calm temperament and honest good humor had won over the hearts of many mothers as a prospective future son-in-law.


    Skyle was the only odd bird in the family, constantly rushing from one place to the next and not spending much time with people at all. He had neither his family¡¯s good looks, nor their talent with the elements.


    Indeed, immediately upon testing of their elemental affinities, both his siblings had been given a full scholarship to the Aegis Academy, the top learning institution in the province. Reik had scored in the lower 90th percentile range in the earth element, as well as a high 70th percentile range on his water element, marking him as a rare dual element genius.


    As for Kass, she had broken all local records by testing in the high 90th percentile ranges in both water and wind, marking her as a terrifying genius in both elements. Such raw talent was one that might occur once in a hundred years, out of countless thousands of children who underwent testing every year.


    Immediately, Aegis Academy had offered to sponsor Kass¡¯ studies and her further development in the main branch at Glory Peak. As one of the top academies in the Empire, the benefits they had offered had blown Skyle¡¯s mind. Grand scholars to serve as private tutors, Sage elemental summoners to nurture her elemental powers, and private servants assigned to her own private mansion that she may better focus her attention on her studies. An extravagant stipend of hundreds of golds would be provided on a yearly basis to both Kassandra and her parents. In short, Kassandra would live like a princess, never wanting for anything, so long as she continued to nurture her natural talent.


    Both Kendric and Adrienne Farrow had adamantly refused, of course. No matter how high the representatives who came were, nor how lavish the gifts, they would not budge. In the end, when the headmaster of the Academy himself came to their humble abode, a reluctant compromise was reached where Kass and Reik would attend the Aegis Academy Branch in Sunny Meadow four days a week. In a few years time, the children themselves would decide their futures.


    This meant that the staff at the Academy showered Kass and Reik with one extravagant gift after another, and their merest wish was a command within Academy grounds. This only made the aura around his brother and sister grow even more extravagant, as even adults now began to pay attention to the little children. After all, their futures were all but guaranteed to rise to the very top. Parents who had previously only grudgingly allowed their children to seek the Farrow twins¡¯ company, now actively pushed their offspring to fawn over Reik, but especially Kass.


    As for Skyle, he was a bit skilled with a bow and handy with words, but next to the blinding radiance of the twins, he really was as ordinary as a lump of coal sitting next to a shining diamond.


    Occasionally, Skyle still felt a bittersweet aftertaste in his mouth when he thought of how different the talents of the Farrow children were. It was not that he would trade places with either Kass or Reik. He was very happy at their success and future prospects. Still, every time he saw how effortless wielding the elements was for both his siblings, Skyle felt a pang inside his heart. Skyle knew this was part of the reason why he had been so driven in his efforts to awaken his talent. It was also why his failures tasted all the more bitter.


    ¡°Just as well, I suppose,¡± Skyle murmured in his mind. ¡°Might as well load all the talent on the children who won¡¯t die in five years. It seems the gods do have a plan, after all.¡±


    Now that he knew his days were counted, Skyle reflected that all his pathetic efforts had truly come to nothing. What use would it be to spill blood and tears to awaken his talent when he would lie in a grave within a handful of years? All his tracking and archery skills wouldn¡¯t let him hunt down this damn curse that loomed over his future like an ominous star.


    ¡°So, what now? Stuff my face with honey buttermilk biscuits until I give Fatty a run for his money?¡± Skyle chuckled to himself at the mental imagery.


    Skyle was still pondering deeply on the direction his life should take from this point when he finally saw the weathered sign that read, ¡°Welcome to Sunny Meadow, where the sun always shines brighter!¡± The skies above began to rumble at this moment, and dark clouds churned. A storm was on its way.


    He stood there, looking at the sign for a long moment, thinking.


    His father, mother, Kass, Reik, Leon.. all the people in his life were such luminaries, stars who shone with dazzling brilliance. Perhaps it was inevitable that he should become the dark star that sucked in all the shadow produced by their splendor and grew darker still.


    Darkness within light, wasn''t this the way of the world?


    It was a desolate domain, this. A very lonely peak, with a singularly dreary throne.


    A dark throne on a dark land for a dark soul.


    ¡°A Dark King, ruling over a land of the shadows cast by the brightest stars shining in the sky. Hah, guess that title suits me as well as any. If I¡¯m to dwell within these shadows, might as well get a fitting title. You may rule over your bright side, but this here is my domain. My kingdom, my rules. Welcome to the dark side.¡±


    Skyle grinned at his own ingenuity, and wondered if Fatty would agree to become his prime minister.


    ¡°Skyle the Crippled and the Fatty the Coward. What a sad pair we make,¡± Skyle snickered to himself as he entered the outskirts of town and went to look for his future right hand man.


    ¡°Hah, weep, ye heavens, and tremble, ye earth. The legend of the Dark King and the Demon Pig is born!¡± the little boy crowed in his mind.


    At that very instant, lightning flashed at the corner of his eye. A mere second later, thunder roared in his ears, and the ground beneath Skyle¡¯s feet shuddered. As Skyle stood gaping in surprise, drops of rain began to splatter against his face.


    Thus did the world usher the birth of this dark legend.


    It shook. It wept.


    It knew a dark king was on the rise.

 Chapter 58 - Surging Currents

    Chapter 58 - Surging Currents


    A huge explosion of scarlet flames erupted like a great geyser of magical might. Ripples of power tore the tent apart and sent flaming chunks of debris flying all over the air. They rained down on top of the dozen soldiers kneeling in a circle around the source of this magical outburst.


    They were each elite operatives who had been through countless life or death missions. At the moment, not a single one of them were capable of lifting their terrified gazes from the ground. Their breathing came in harsh gasps as their bodies shook like leaves in a storm in the aftermath of the commander¡¯s outburst.


    ¡°Lord Vissus, please calm yourself. After your fight against the foul Phoenix beast, all traces of their passage were wiped clean. However, they will never escape the Cursed La-¡± the leader of the operatives finally managed in between clenched teeth, but stopped in mid-sentence as he felt the gravity of Vissus¡¯ gaze when the commander turned to look at him.


    Commander Vissus Attolian stood within the center of a gushing fountain of magical energy. It fluctuated wildly as it spat forces that could burn any of the elites kneeling around him to cinders. These mere fireworks were nothing compared to the storm raging within his heart.


    ¡°Fools. They do not understand. How could they?¡± Vissus snarled within his heart. Although rage was still rattling the cage of his chest, deep weariness and regret crashed shortly thereafter. It left his emotions floundering under a vast deluge of black despair.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the greater fool, letting the boy slip through my fingers just like that? Thirty four years in the Deathsworn, twelve of them leading as the Lord Commander, and I still can¡¯t even get my priorities straight. I should have secured the boy first and foremost, no matter how unbelievable the circumstances. Let the rifts crash down. Let the whole world burn to ash if necessary! What of it, should the boy¡¯s trail lead true?¡±


    The arcane energies slowly died down as his anger was drowned out by his bitter disappointment.


    ¡°Lord Vissus, for our failure we humbly request we be allowed to fulfill the final oath,¡± the leader of the squad of men kneeling before him cried out loudly. His voice was resolute and firm, prepared to fulfill the final oath of every Deathsworn.


    They were ready to spill their blood and give their life for the Crystal Throne.


    Vissus shook his head. He knew this man - Lieutenant Farhad. He was solid, devoted to his duty and diligent with his skills. He had dedicated his life to fulfilling the will of the Crystal Throne, and would not let anything - family, love, morality, even death itself -stand in the way.


    He was Deathsworn.


    ¡°My anger reflects upon my own shortcomings and failures, lieutenant. Stand down, it is not time for your final oath yet. Regroup your men and replenish your supplies. Your next mission has become all the more vital now. And summon the Grand Summoner at once.¡±


    ¡°By your command, Lord Vissus!¡± There was no relief in the voice at all. They would die today, tomorrow, or years after. It did not matter. They were ready to fulfill their final oath. It was simply a matter of time.


    As the Deathsworn retreated, Vissus finally became aware of the throbbing dampness in his hand. Looking down, he slow unclenched his fingers and relaxed the grip on the dagger within his grasp. It was the blade he had snatched from the little boy''s hands. The razor sharp edges had effortlessly cut through the hex enchanted metal plates of his gauntlets and sliced deep into his flesh.


    "To think this small dagger could so easily shatter the resolve of Vissus Attolian, Lord Commander of the Deathsworn. Who would have thought?"


    Crimson blood dripped unheeded to the ground. Vissus knew this was insignificant compared to the hemorrhage of his heart.


    ¡°How many lives could have been spared? The end of this entire accursed campaign? Overthrowing the hateful yoke of the Daemon spawn? The redemption of our entire world, fair Lyria?¡±


    Vissus closed his eyes as he was forced to admit that all of the former considerations faded into insignificance in the face of one name.


    ¡°Lady Lyrianis, where are you in this, our hour of darkest need?¡±


    An uncomfortable cough from behind his back interrupted his grieving lament.


    ¡°Commander Vissus, you summoned me?¡± came a low, raspy voice


    His posture not shifting in the slightest, Vissus swallowed the sea of magma boiling in his heart and spoke with a calmness that belied the utter chaos churning within his mind. ¡°Grand Summoner Narkosian, you are to divert all available resources from your current endeavors and devote them to locating the original landing coordinates of the collapsed riftgate at site 21 and opening a reverse rift as soon as possible.¡±


    The wizened old man¡¯s heart trembled as he stood staring at the commander with astonished eyes that only widened further with each word.


    ¡°Commander, the reclamation project in order to prepare for the Advent has been deemed our highest priority for the past ten years. We are close to reaching a landmark success. Given a few more-¡±


    ¡°Narkosian, I am not in the habit of repeating myself.¡± Vissus stated in a calm, gravely voice.


    Narkosian flinched as though he had been struck by a physical blow. How could he not know of Vissus Attolian, Commander of the Deathsworn? Even before working for years under his command, the man¡¯s reputation had preceded him. Cold, efficient, and ruthless, he was both grand judge and ultimate executioner answering solely to the Crystal Throne. No one was safe from the reach of his implacable will and unforgiving sword.


    ¡°Ah, L-Lord Commander Vissus, with all due respect my lord,¡± Narkosian began, and though his lips shook slightly at his own daring, when he thought of the Triumvirate¡¯s orders and all the sacrifices made in their name for these past ten years, he could not help but speak out. ¡°The recent incident to contain and seal the riftgate at site 21 has placed significant burdens upon the reclamation project. Twenty six summoners were wounded, three of them crippled beyond hope. Three hundred thirteen captive souls have been sacrificed. Already, the deadlines set by the exalted Triumvirs would have sorely tested our limits. I¡¯m afraid that if we divert any resources at all, we may fail to meet the expectations of the Triumvirate.¡±


    As intimidating as the Deathsworn¡¯s Commander could be, Narkosian was simply terrified of the consequences of failing to fully comply with the Triumvirate¡¯s express will. Surely, Commander Vissus would understand and accept the realities that faced them. It was the mighty Triumvirate, after all - the ruling council formed from the heads of the three Great Clans, ruling over the entire realm of Lyria at the behest of the Crystal Throne.


    Before the absolute might of the Triumvirate, even titans such as the Deathsworn¡¯s Commander Vissus could only bow their heads in obeisance.


    ¡°Then so be it,¡± came the cold, clipped words from Vissus.


    ¡°M-My lord?¡± Narkosian¡¯s jaw hung open as he sputtered and stared, completely frozen in his tracks.


    No answer was forthcoming. Instead, the Deathsworn Commander¡¯s only reaction was a minute, almost imperceptible shift of his back. This slight shift of his weight, however, seemed to usher in a complete transformation in the man¡¯s aura. Before, he had the air of a deeply conflicted man who was struggling with a sea of turbulent thoughts. Now, he stood up straight and tall like an unsheathed blade. The sharpness of his spirit seemed to cut the very air around him.This brought his transformation to even sharper relief, until he stood simmering with a quiet intensity that rattled the Grand Summoner¡¯s bones to the marrow.


    ¡°I- I hear and obey, Lord Commander.¡± Narkosian¡¯s lips shook as he stammered weakly, his knees almost giving way under him.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Vissus did not seem to hear him.


    ¡°Honor is a mountain when life is the prison.¡± Vissus chanted the familiar text from the Deathsworn¡¯s Codex of Vows in his own mind. ¡°Duty is but a feather when death isa release.¡±


    ¡°Lady Lyrianis, I shall find you even if I must tear this world and the next asunder.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Lord Inquisitor, urgent report. There¡¯s been a rift incident!¡±


    A tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a deep crimson hood glowered with narrow eyes.


    ¡°Location, date and magnitude?¡±


    The words were dry and emotionless, but the official struggled to keep his voice steady. He knew the fearsome reputation of the man standing before him. Worse still, he knew even better that the rumours paled in comparison to the truth. Inquisitor Seehurst was a model for all other Inquisitors to follow and emulate, after all.


    When an Inquisitor came calling, blood would flow and heads would roll. Guilt or innocence was irrelevant, for the Divine Will¡¯s judgment was unerring, and its ways mysterious. Even the most devout of followers of the Church might be hung from a stake at a public square and burned alive until his agonized death cries were scorched into the ears of every man, woman and child within five miles. The known gambler and drunkard living next door might live through the inquisition unscathed, left only with the stains of piss in his pants and the terror in his eyes to remember that he had survived what only a fortunate few could.


    Such was the nature of the Divine Will.


    These considerations ran through the official¡¯s mind like lightning, but he was used to working under pressure. As such, his words were neither hurried nor inaccurate.


    ¡°Lord Inquisitor, Area D-14: the Forbidden Forest, near Glory Peak, Lacrima Province. Estimates place rift incident within the past 72 hours. Level two magnitude.¡±


    After a short, considering pause, the same calm voice said a single word.


    ¡°Debrief.¡±


    ¡°By your order, Lord Inquisitor,¡± came the quick response. ¡°The reports come from the Lacrima Province, within a forest at the outskirts of Glory Peak. The incident was reported two days ago, after the heir of Duke Draxas was reported missing after tangling with an assassination attempt and chasing the assassin into the forest. He went missing in those same woods and the garrison at Redemption Keep was immediately mobilized. Our local assets identified the magical traces as remnants of rift magic. The whereabouts of the victim, young Marquis Leon Draxas, are still unknown. Signs of a great struggle were visible near the same location. An area of hundreds of feet was devastated from a tremendous clash of magical powers. Traces were found that indicate a magical beast of at least category 4 or 5 was involved. The other party remains unknown, but speculations have been made that the beast may have been fighting against an invader from the rift. All theories are unsubstantiated as of this time, sir.¡±


    A brief light seemed to enter the hooded man¡¯s gaze, and the lines in his forehead twitched in a momentary frown. All this went unnoticed even by the observant eyes of the agent delivering his report, as the man was devoting all his attention into his delivery. In any case, the brief crack in the impassive mask was gone in an instant, vanishing as though it had never happened in the first place.


    ¡°Any ancillary notes?¡± The inquisitor prompted.


    ¡°Ah, yes sir.¡± The man stumbled in his speech for the first time, as in all his years it was the first time a superior of such elevated rank had asked for the supplementary notes of a report. However, he was a professional and quickly recovered. ¡°The supplementary report notes two things. First, the mangled carcass of a troll was found near the presumed rift site. At the moment, its involvement with the rift incident - if any - is unknown. Second, that the son of a local elenium crystal farmer also went missing in the Forbidden Forest at about the same time, though his absence was never reported to the local authorities. He has since been found in good health and has returned to his- Ah, my lord?¡±


    As professional as he was, the man could not have been prepared when he saw the Inquisitor¡¯s face twist momentarily into a grimace. It was a fleeting sight, gone before he could make sure he had seen it. Almost, he could doubt himself and wonder if his eyes had deceived him. However, he knew better. Not even the most overworked mind could justify the shocking sight of an inquisitor displaying such raw emotion in front of a lowly subordinate such as himself as a mere flight of fancy.


    ¡°He did not even bat an eye when he heard about the rift incident or a category 4 or higher beast. Wait a moment, he only reacted when he heard about the boy..¡±


    Such had been his surprise, that the poor man had stupidly stopped short in his report and called out to the inquisitor. It was an admission that he had seen the inquisitor¡¯s slip up, and now he could not feign otherwise. Already, his trained eye could see the subtle shift in the inquisitor¡¯s demeanor that confirmed his fears. Cold sweat suddenly beaded his forehead, and a chill surged down his back.


    ¡°Oh mercies, what have I done?¡±


    ¡°Ah, forgive me, sir. The report, my lord. The missing boy¡¯s nam-¡± the man stammered, gasping for breath in between each sentence.


    ¡°That will do. You are to personally submit all materials related to this incident to my hands before the end of the day.¡± The official had been scared stiff when the inquisitor¡¯s eyes had glinted with cold indifference before, but now he was absolutely quaking in his soul.


    Those same amber eyes now burned with a fire that seared him to thedepths of his heart.


    ¡°In person. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes sir.¡±


    ¡°In addition, this incident shall henceforth be sealed under the flame. Need I remind you of the consequences of violating such a seal?¡±


    ¡°N-No, sir. Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then be on your way. I expect full compliance by the end of the day. Dismissed.¡±


    ¡°My lord, by your leave.¡±


    The cold voice could no longer hide the searing heat the official had felt under the burning eyes of the inquisitor. As he hastily retreated from the chamber, he finally dared to raise a trembling hand to wipe the sudden moisture that had beaded his entire face.


    ¡°Just who is this boy?¡± the man wondered, before gasping to himself and ruthlessly crushing any such line of inquiry.


    He was a professional, after all. He had endured in his line of work for a long time. Where others had burned out, died or worse, gone missing, he had persevered and clawed his way to where he now stood - at the peak of the most secretive and elite organization in the whole Empire: Shadow. Thesuperior he had just reported towas by far the highest ranking member of the organization he had ever served - an inquisitor of the Church, which was thought to be impossible to infiltrate. Even the man had been shocked when he found the true identity of this superior, and had felt all his years of dedication and service to Shadow were vindicated.


    As for his rise in the ranks, he would like to think it was due to his dedication to his duty, or to his endless honing of the crafts of his trade. In the end, however, he knew it would be deceiving himself. There were dozens of agents of Shadow more skilled, crafty or dedicated than he was. He was well aware of the limits of his own ability.


    No, the sole reason why he had managed to climb to his current status was because of one thing and one thing only.


    He never asked questions he should not ask.


    He was not about to start now.


    Swallowing past a painfully dry throat, the official quickened his steps to comply with his newest orders - the reason be damned.


    ***


    ¡°Mistress, there has been a new shift. The darkness advances and the light recedes.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Mistress, I do not understand.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Then may Mistress forgive this servant¡¯s candor. Surely, the darkness will eventually consume him utterly. What can one mortal do against his ordained fate?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Yet ultimately, the taint cannot be cleansed. But why offer such cruel hope, when thedarkness within hissoul is beyond redemption?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I dare not, mistress. I dare not. This humble servant lives only to carry out your will.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I did. But mistress, why allow a mere mortal to bear your token? How could he possibly be worthy of such grace?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Forgiveness, mistress. This lowly slave has grown senile in her old age.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°That.. Ah, mistress. Please, anything but that.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°I- I hear and obey.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°If this unworthy one may suggest, how about-¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°A- At once! I shall not tarry, I shall not tarry!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Never! How would I dare show any discontent upon your manifest will? Mistress, may my soul be flayed for eternity for such a disgrace!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Yes, mistress.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°No! These are tears of joy, mistress.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Yes, such unalloyed joy and boundless bliss.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As the old servant left, a faint smile curled the corners of her mistress¡¯ mouth. Skyle would have found that smile oddly familiar.


    ¡°I am with you now, and always.¡±


    A faint sigh escaped her lips. It was filled with the bittersweetpangsof yearning and the singingnotes of hope.


    ¡°I am waiting for you, Skyle.¡±

 Chapter 59 - In the Dark Tides Wake

    Chapter 59 -In the Dark Tide''s Wake


    Taking shelter from the rain as best as he could, Skyle scurried forward along the muddy streets along with dozens of other townsfolk who were caught just as unprepared as he had been by the sudden storm. Gusts of wind pulled at his clothes but Skyle hunkered down under the hood of his oiled cloak and splashed his way past growing puddles that lapped at his feet. A small town like Sunny Meadow could not afford the luxury of cobbling every street with stone like Glory Peak, so under the assault of a downpour such as this, the streets quickly became quagmires that made finding steady footing a very tricky proposition.


    A few miserable townsfolk bore testimony to this fact. Their bodies were caked in mud, and from the scowls in their faces it was obvious that they had slipped in the treacherous streets. In his rush to get out from under the rain, Skyle himself had a couple close calls. Still, the small boy nimbly found his balance every time, and his clever eyes were constantly scanning the ground under his feet.


    ¡°Strange,¡± Skyle thought to himself. ¡°The dirt on the streets has been churned so much. Last time I saw this many tracks, the Solvanfaire caravan had brought dozens of trading wagons to open up the biggest festival we had seen in years. Could it have returned already?¡±


    Just as Skyle was about to step under the arch of the town¡¯s tavern and Inn, he was stopped by a heavy hand landing upon his shoulder.


    ¡°Hold up there, young fellow. This place is off-limits to civilians for the time being.¡± Came a gruff voice.


    Skyle looked up to see a grizened soldier with a full beard of ginger hair. It was parted by a scar running down the left side of his chin. His skin looked crusty, and though his lips bore a lazy smile, his eyes were alert. Underneath the heavy cloak that shielded him from the rain, metal glittered as light reflected from a well crafted chain hauberk of black and gold. Upon its chest lay the ornate crest of a lion rearing up with its claws in the air and two flags upon its teeth.


    The little boy did not fail to notice that one of the man¡¯s hands rested casually upon the well-worn hilt of his sword. Just a cursory glance told Skyle that this was no ornamental weapon, no matter how fancy the man¡¯s armor looked. Though well maintained, the grip looked worn with age and use, and from the man¡¯s easy posture, he had been the one to place every groove and salt ring in it.


    ¡°You listening to me boy?¡± The soldier¡¯s other hand gently shook Skyle¡¯s shoulder while holding him at arm¡¯s length with easy strength.


    ¡°Uh, I just wanted to take shelter from the rain. Most folk do during a sudden storm like this,¡± Skyle mumbled, staring.


    ¡°Well, be that as it may, area¡¯s off-limits to civilians until further word. Now, off with you, little fellow.¡± The man¡¯s voice was calm but firm.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes were riveted upon the crest on the man¡¯s chest.


    ¡°That¡¯s the crest of the Lion of Draxas. They must be Leon¡¯s men,¡± Skyle maintained the dumb look on his face as his widening eyes took in the dozens of similarly garbed soldiers standing guard around the Inn. Underneath the thick cloaks, similar gleams of metal could be seen. Skyle had an idea of Leon¡¯s high status, and thought he had gotten used to the idea of having a duke¡¯s son for a friend. However, seeing all these veteran soldiers and knowing they were sworn to serve his young friend made Skyle¡¯s head spin for a moment.


    The soldier stood there watching the small boy with remarkable patience. It struck Skyle that he must hardly be the first little boy stunned speechless by the grandeur and presence of these steel-clad soldiers. Little did this soldier know that this little boy¡¯s thoughts were spinning faster than any normal child¡¯s.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let them find Leon yet. He mentioned some sort of assassination attempt. He hasn¡¯t even fully recovered yet. I can¡¯t trust them, and just from the fact that Leon did not ask me or my parents to contact his men, I can tell he doesn¡¯t trust them either.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment, small town like this, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen your face, and I¡¯m good with faces. What¡¯s your name, boy?¡± The words were casual, but Skyle didn¡¯t miss the sudden undertone of vigilance veiled within.


    ¡°Uh, mister, your armor¡¯s so shiny. Can I see your sword?¡± Skyle babbled in his best simpering child voice, making his eyes go as round as he could make them. ¡°Pleeeeease?¡±


    One of the other soldiers sneered from behind his back. "I see you''ve caught quite the skilled spymaster this time, Darius. He even managed to disguise himself as a scrawny little farm boy. Maybe your time would be better spent seeking the young lord?"


    ¡°Not this again,¡± The soldier sighed through his nose, then brushed some water off Skyle¡¯s shoulder with a surprisingly kindly gesture and handed Skyle something from his pouch. ¡°Here, run off to the store later and get yourself some sweets, kid.¡±


    Skyle looked down to see a handful of coppers in his hands. The town¡¯s militia wore plain leather jerkins and carried weathered clubs. They certainly couldn¡¯t afford to hand coins - even if they were coppers - to every kid who ran to them looking like a half-drowned cat.


    ¡°Wow, thanks mister! I want to be a strong warrior like you when I grow up!¡± Skyle giggled, and though he felt like he wanted to puke at his own simpering grin, the soldier seemed to have dismissed this simple child from his mind already. Mumbling happily to himself, Skyle walked off under the rain, his head spinning as he had the vague feeling that his simply farm life would never be the same again.


    Skye couldn¡¯t afford pay any attention to his steps any longer. As he rounded the front corner of the Inn, his gaze wandered to the stables at its back. They were packed to the brim with elegant carriages with extravagant decorations he had never seen. The edges of the doors were gilded with what looked like real gold, and silver motifs of the Lion of Draxas were embossed upon them. Just that one door represented more wealth than Skyle had ever seen, let alone the whole carriage. Now there were a dozen such packed in these rustic, muddy little stables.


    Skyle did not envy Leon his wealth, for he had already seen the price his friend had paid for such luxuries. Murdering one¡¯s own brothers and living under the constant threat of assassins - surely, no wealth in the world could be worth such a price.


    In truth, Skyle felt pity for the young Lord of Draxas. He could see the hesitant look in his friend¡¯s eyes when he invited him to the dining room. Perhaps Leon was worried about dragging his family into his convoluted political schemes. However, he knew there was more. It was almost as though Leon, the vaunted scion of House Draxas was intimidated by the tiny Farrow family.


    On some instinctive level, Skyle felt this fear and even understood it to a point. It was like a feral snowblade tiger who was first introduced to the streak of tigers in the Farrow farm. It was a completely different world, and such abrupt changes were not always easy to take in.


    Skyle felt that his parents understood this and thus let Leon have some time and space to deal with his own feelings at his own pace.


    Now that Skyle had finally seen the grandeur of House Draxas with his own eyes, even if it was just a tiny part of it, he felt a little lost himself. It was as though a whole new world had opened its ponderous gates to him, and the comfortable life at his parents¡¯ farm was just a tiny secluded corner hidden from the storm of the greater world outside.


    It was the first time Skyle felt as though his training with his father and the lessons from his mother were inadequate. Not that there was anything wrong with them, but he felt small and unprepared to face giants such as the Duchy of Draxas and Adrausier.


    Skyle had been so caught up in his own thoughts that he did not mind his footing and slipped. He flailed his arms awkwardly but it was of no use. He fell on his back and lay sprawled in the mud, and after a momentary struggle he spread his arms out to his sides and simply gazed up at the churning skies above. He followed the myriad raindrops as they fell upon his face like tiny rays of light that tickled his skin.


    At this moment, when he felt so small and insignificant in the grand scale of the great expanse of skies above, Skyle felt a faint connection to something greater than himself. It was nothing but the faintest whisper that seemed to come from the wind and the rain, and it was gone the moment he tried to focus on it. Like a handful of sand that would only slip past his fingers even faster the stronger his grip grew, this odd calling that he felt teased him from the edges of his mind.


    It was only when he gave up trying and simply allowed himself to indulge in this feeling, soaking it all in just like the mud in which he lay and the water that washed it off his face, that he truly heard it and was able to convince himself that he wasn¡¯t just imagining things.


    ¡°Skyle..¡± This voice, it was familiar to him, painfully so. He yearned for it like a desert longs for the rain under the blistering glare of a thousand suns.


    Skyle wasn¡¯t sure how, but his mind began to unfold, opening like the petals of a flower greeting the light of dawn upon the end of a wintery squall.


    ¡°Skyle..¡±


    Who was it? Why couldn¡¯t remember who it came from, and yet felt so familiar with it?


    ¡°Bastard!¡±


    The angry scream, immediately accompanied by a howl of pain, wrenched Skyle out of his trance. Suddenly, he shivered uncontrollably as he lay in the freezing mud, soaked to his bones.


    Skyle shakily rose to his feet, his gaze still fixed upon the sky above. That mysterious feeling was gone, however, and all he could see were grey skies and the cold, indifferent drops of rain.


    ¡°Damn beggar, how dare you hit me? I¡¯m going to kick in your rotten teeth!¡± came the same shrill voice that had forcibly dragged Skyle out of his reverie.


    Skyle recognized that voice. Shaking his head, Skyle tried to wipe some of the mud off his clothes before giving up and following the rising cries coming from the narrow alley ahead.


    There, Skyle came upon the scene he had expected to find. There were five teenage boys surrounding a smaller figure. The latter was a scrawny child who was likely around Skyle¡¯s age, though with all the filth and grime caking his face, it was hard to tell. He wore rags tightly bundled around his feet for shoes, and the thin tunic he wore had as many holes as it had patches. His black shoulder length hair was now disheveled as he was roughly pushed to the wall by the bigger boys.


    These boys were Ramsey¡¯s crew. Ramsey Barclay was the biggest of the teenages, his shoulders broad and his arms massive. Before meeting Leon, this was the biggest boy Skyle had ever seen. Ramsey was fourteen and worked at a nearby quarry. Years of hammering rocks and bearing their load had made his body resemble a rock itself. His face was also one of stony belligerence as he glared at the street urchin.


    ¡°I¡¯m sick of your stink every time I go take a drink from the well,¡± Ramsey growled as he cracked the knuckles of his massive fists. ¡°I told you last time, that well belongs to Ramsey¡¯s Crew, and I won''t haveno filthy street rats dirtying it.¡±


    The street urchin pushed himself off the wall and glared back at Ramsey in silence, though he had to crane his neck up to look at the giant before him.Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Well¡¯s not yours, and where I go is no business of yours either,¡± came the surprisingly intense voice from the beggar.


    ¡°It¡¯s my well if I say it is, and my business ain¡¯t nothing a filthy rat like you can say nothing about.¡± Ramsey reinforced this with a brutal kick to the smaller boy¡¯s chest. Though the latter raised his arms protectively before him, he was lifted off his feet and slammed painfully against the wall.


    Though visibly struggling to draw breath, the street urchin lay a steadying hand against the wall and raised his head to glare at Ramsey in wordless defiance.


    ¡°Take them damn eyeballs off me, you rat, or I¡¯ll gauge them out. I told you last time when I beat you bloody that I¡¯d break your legs if I ever saw you again.¡± Ramsey loomed threateningly over the smaller kid, with his four cronies laughing and jeering behind him. ¡°Well, any last words before I make you piss blood for the next two weeks?¡±


    Skyle stood at the mouth of the alley and swiftly looked around to see if he could see any of the town¡¯s guard. The rain had driven most folks off the street, however, and he could hardly see anyone he could ask for help.


    Ramsey was a bully, and like all small-minded bullies he would take his petty pleasure from roughing up his victims and asserting his dominance. Skyle himself had few encounters with Ramsey, as his family¡¯s status and his own lack of interest in the town had isolated him from Ramsey¡¯s sphere of influence. However, he had heard plenty of tales from Fatty and the other children. Adults frowned upon Ramsey and his crew¡¯s actions, but since it was limited to a few scraps between children they were left alone for the most part.


    ¡°Maybe a bloody nose and a few bruises would be a fair price to learn to stay away from Ramsey and his ilk.¡± Skyle shook his head and drew a breath to warn Ramsey that he had called the guards. It would be an empty gesture, and Skyle knew it wouldn¡¯t stop Ramsey. However, at least it should keep Ramsey from being excessive. That it would likely earn Ramsey¡¯s fury did not concern him at all.


    Skyle doubted Ramsey had ever killed a chicken, let alone other people. Wolves and bears made a small town bully like Ramsey look like a clown, let alone the magical beasts and deadly soldiers his own arrows had cut down. Just a single dracoling or giant spider would sent this entire town into chaos, and who knows how much innocent blood would be spilled onto the muddy roads before such deadly creatures could be slain?


    Skyle had never understood his father¡¯s steely insistence in passing down his skills, especially in the beginning when Skyle had absolutely loathed the lessons.


    Now, after all that he had been through and what he had seen of the world, he finally understood. It was a dark, grim place out there in the real world, and it took both the conviction of the virtues imparted by his mother and the strength of blade and arrow passed down from his father to protect both his own life and that of those dearest to him.


    Skyle¡¯s time in Sanctuary had been a true baptism in blood, and he now looked at the world through the eyes of a child no longer.


    Those same eyes flew wide as he witnessed what happened next. Skyle had been about to shout out his warning when the words got stuck in his mouth.


    Ramsey had lifted a finger to jab it at the little street kid¡¯s chest. The little kid abruptly grabbed the finger, then before anyone had time to react, he wrenched it sideways and up with a violent jerk.


    Skyle could imagine the bone-crunching crack as the finger broke. Ramsey himself howled as he clutched frantically at his hand. The street urchin maintained his grip on the finger as he pulled Ramsey forward, bringing the bigger boy¡¯s body following helplessly along. With a vicious twist, he sent Ramsey tumbling to the ground in a heap of flailing limbs and agonized cries.


    Still not done, the little street kid sat on top of Ramsey¡¯s chest as he maintained his hold on the broken finger. It was easy to see that it was no ordinary injury, as blood dripped steadily from his grip. He then raised his other hand and began to pound his fist against Ramsey¡¯s face. The bigger boy writhed and shrieked under the vicious blows, but he couldn¡¯t even put up a fight as any struggles were swiftly ended by a vicious twist of the broken finger.


    Clearly, the winner had been decided. However, Ramsey had help while the little kid didn¡¯t.


    After the first moment¡¯s shock had passed, Ramsey¡¯s cronies rushed up and kicked the kid off from Ramsey. The violent blow sent the small kid sprawling to the floor, but the one that screamed in agony was Ramsey.


    The street urchin¡¯s grip had finally been thrown off, but what was left of Ramsey¡¯s index finger was a mangled lump of flesh with jagged edges of bone sticking out its sides. Tears and mucus flooded down down Ramsey¡¯s face as he craddled his finger to his chest, his face pale with agony.


    Two of Ramsey¡¯s followers knelt by his side with apprehensive looks on their faces while the other two kicked the street urchin on the ground. The mud on the alley slowly began to drip with crimson as specks of blood flew in the air.


    Skyle snapped out of his horror when he saw Ramsey slowly getting up, his face twisted into a mask of pain and unreasoning fury.


    This wouldn¡¯t end well.


    If the victim was a normal child, Ramsey couldn¡¯t go too far as there was the family of the child to consider. However, this homeless street urchin would likely have no one to look after him, let alone demand justice should an unfortunate accident happen. Would anyone even ask after him if he disappeared?


    Skyle¡¯s eyes flashed with cold emotion as he recalled how incomparably easy it was so snuff out another person¡¯s life. A mere slip of the hand, a small length of steel driven a scan few inches into yielding flesh, and that would be the terminal end of a person¡¯s whole life and dreams for the future.


    As he approached, he could see a similar glint in Ramsey¡¯s eyes. He may just be a bully in a small town, but right now reason had fled his eyes and only a mad hunger for revenge blazed in his gaze.


    ¡°Hold him up,¡± Ramsey muttered, his voice rough and guttural. The naked hatred in his words was chilling, even under the heavy rain.


    Ramsey¡¯s flunkies stopped kicking the small kid, and pulled him off the ground by his hair. They held his arms to his sides while the child was gasping through bloodied teeth. Surprisingly, his eyes still held no fear, only defiance and contempt.


    ¡°Rake, give me your knife,¡± Ramsey rasped as he stared into the street urchin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can keep glaring at me like that when I gouge out your eyes, you filthy rat.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Ramsey, maybe we shouldn¡¯t-¡±


    The other boy¡¯s hesitant protest was cut off by a vicious backhanded slap that sent him reeling.


    ¡°Shut up Rake, when I want your opinion I¡¯ll ask. Now gimme your knife, damn it!¡± Ramsey screamed at the top of his lungs, his chest heaving as he glared at the little beggar boy.


    At this point, Skyle didn¡¯t even bother calling out. He knew Ramsey wouldn¡¯t listen to reason, not now. If anything, he was liable to be beaten or worse, stabbed by the giant bully, so blind was he in his madness.


    Dashing into the alley, Skyle¡¯s hand briefly twitched towards his back. It was only then that he remembered this was not Sanctuary. Moonshadow¡¯s comforting weight upon his back was gone. He didn¡¯t even have a simple dagger by his waist. His arms only held the oilcloth package with the gifts he had received and his mother¡¯s biscuits.


    Tossing down the package, Skyle¡¯s feet pattered against the mud as he rushed towards Ramsey¡¯s back. The two toadies holding the kid up frowned as they looked over Ramsey¡¯s shoulders.


    Skyle didn¡¯t even pause as he picked up a broken piece of wood along his mad dash forward. Hefting his make-shift club, he felt the solid grain against his skin as he gripped it tight in his hand and lifted it overhead.


    By the time the two kids holding the street urchin had cried out their warnings, Skyle was already leaping in the air towards Ramsey¡¯s back. The two flunkies by his side barely had time to turn around and gape, but Ramsey himself didn¡¯t turn around. He didn''t so much as twitch as his attention was consumed entirely by the knife in his hand and the street urchin.


    Just as Skyle was bringing his club down upon the back of Ramsey¡¯s head, Skyle realized there was a rusty nail at the end of the plank in his hand. Not only that, but the nail was facing Ramsey so that when the blow struck, it would become firmly imbedded in his skull. Then Skyle knew he could twist the club and the nail would scramble Ramsey¡¯s brains into mush, effectively putting this threat down for good and killing him.


    That same move would dislodge the club from Ramsey¡¯s skull so that Skyle could wield it against the rest of his opponents. He would attack the one on the left, as the boy on the right was already cringing back and was less likely to be a threat. If Skyle found an opening, he would go for his head. If not, he would try for his neck or another vital area. It was important to get rid of these threats as fast and effectively as possible, but he should also break a few bones if possible so as to intimidate them. That would make it easier to kill them.


    ¡°What? Kill them? They¡¯re just children!¡±


    Skyle was so shocked he almost dropped the club. At the last moment, he managed to change his swing and smashed the club into the back of Ramsey¡¯s knee. Skyle had also shifted the blow so that the nail would be facing away from his victim.


    The awkward swing still carried enough power to bring Ramsey screaming off his feet and into the mud. Thanks to his own surprise Skyle also slipped and crashed into Ramsey, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs.


    Skyle didn¡¯t much care. He lay panting on the ground as the full realization of the cold-blooded stream ofthoughts in his head crashed upon him like an avalanche.


    He had been about to kill Ramsey. For no other reason than the fact that he was a threat to himself. At first, Skyle¡¯s intention had been to save the street beggar and hold off Ramsey from doing something he would later regret. However, when Ramsey got that knife in his hand and Skyle realized he would be faced with a deadly threat to his life, something dark and cold in his heart had risen up and swallowed his every conscious thought.


    He was instantly transported back to Sanctuary, and he had slipped back into survival mode. Nothing else mattered, except ending the threat in front of him as swiftly as possible. He had to kill and kill until no enemies remained, all so that he could go back home.


    ¡°I¡¯m already home.¡± It was a breathless thought, but one that brought a new reality crashing down upon him.


    He had returned home, but already and before he realized it, it was a different place from what he remembered. It was darker, more dangerous, and infinitely more frightening.


    Skyle did not realize that perhaps it was he who had changed, for the world cared little for a little boy¡¯s thoughts.


    Rough hands on his hair pulled him out of his thoughts as he was dragged to his feet.


    ¡°You bastard, you trying to help your beggar butt buddy?¡± One of Ramsey¡¯s cronies shouted as he flung Skyle away with a vicious punch that smashed Skyle¡¯s nose flat and sent stars flying in his vision.


    Skyle groaned with the pain, but he was finally back and managed to duck under the next blow. Reflexively, he saw the next blow coming and he kicked out with his foot like he had been taught, striking solidly against the swinging boy¡¯s solar plexus. Struck with the force of Skyle¡¯s blow and the momentum of his own swing, all breath exploded from the assailant¡¯s lungs as he crumpled to the ground, his face growing purple and veins sticking out of his neck.


    Skyle had hardly recovered from the kick when he felt a painful blow strike the side of his own head. Instead of fighting it, he let the force of the blow drive him to the ground. There, he rolled forward and saw flashes of feet as they kicked the ground he had just vacated.


    Springing to his feet and shaking his head to clear his vision, Skyle saw that Ramsey was leaning against a wall while holding on to his knee. One of the boys was holding him steady with a shoulder under his arm. Another was holding the street urchin¡¯s arms while two more advanced upon Skyle, but not before sending a worried glance towards the boy who Skyle had just kicked. He lay on the floor, gagging as he struggled to draw a breath.


    ¡°Look, we can talk about this. Let¡¯s not let this escalate. We don¡¯t have to do this. It is all just a misunderstanding-¡±


    Skyle¡¯s words faltered as he remembered the last time he had used those words. He recalled that they had been spectacularly unsuccessful at fending off trouble. In fact, all they had earned him were a huge helping of flaming fire bolts and a flaming mad fire summoner. However, as he studied the boys standing against him, he saw hesitation in their eyes. Perhaps this time would be different.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s all just a misunderstanding. We can talk-¡±


    The rest of his words were lost into the scream let out by the boy who had been holding the street urchin¡¯s arms. The vicious little fellow had sunk his teeth into the hand that had been restraining him. The screaming boy flung him away as though he had been burned. The street beggar crashed painfully against the wall, but his expression was one of satisfaction as he spat out a chunk of flesh from in between bloodied teeth.


    ¡°No, wait-¡± Skyle began, holding his hands up desperately, but already it was too late.


    While wounded boy was still clutching at his hand and screaming in misery, the mad beggar charged him and sent them both to the ground. There, he straddled the bigger boy and began to pound him furiously with both fists, sending gushes of blood splattering against the walls.


    Skyle saw one of Ramsey¡¯s flunkies pick up the wooden plank Skyle had dropped before approaching the beggar. Ramsey himself finally pulled his weight off the wall while he squared off against Skyle.


    ¡°Come, you filthy beggar,¡± Ramsey growled, the knife flashing in his grip. At this point, Skyle didn¡¯t even bother explaining it was just mud and he was just passing by and it was all a misunderstanding. ¡°I¡¯ll gut you good, like the rotten fish you are.¡±


    Again, the dark tide within his chest began to rise. It was the great wave of an endless sea, and its surface rippled with an inky darkness that stained its waters with the color of obsidian. It glittered and beckoned, and Skyle¡¯s breathing grew strained as his fists clenched at his sides.


    The wave rose up before him like a great, impenetrable wall. It washed over him, and Skyle was no more.


    As the dark tide receded, only a stranger remained.


    This stranger slowly opened his eyes and drew a great, shuddering breath. It was as though it were the first breath he had taken in a long, long time.


    The dark tide was no more, but the stranger¡¯s eyes shone with an ominous light, and within his pupils there lay a vast ocean of pitch black.

 Chapter 60 - Desolate Flame

    Chapter 60 - Desolate Flame


    ¡°Skyle, come back.¡±


    It was the voice again. This time, he was not surprised.


    ¡°Skyle, you must come back.¡±


    Nodding, Skyle decided it was time, after all. So, he came back.


    ¡°P-Please, let me go. I- I¡¯m s-sorry, so sorry.¡±


    A comfortable warmth enveloped Skyle. It surprised him, because the storm blew fiercer than ever, and the great gusts flung his hair all around his head.


    ¡°I-I beg of you. Please, I won¡¯t ever tell no one. Please¡±


    That last word was cut off in a wet gurgle, and only choking sounds followed. They echoed from the narrow walls of the alley, and only then did Skyle seem to realize where he was.


    Feeble scrabbling sounds came from below him. Looking down, he saw a convulsing hand leaving great furrows in the blood-soaked mud as it clawed desperately. The other arm, Skyle noted calmly, lay at an odd angle and had obviously been dislocated.


    Skyle tilted his head sideways as he studied the scene before his eyes with cold detachment, as though he were a third party viewer to his own vision.


    The hands were torn and covered in wounds. As were the massive arms they were attached to. The boy himself was a hulking figure, which made the terror that twisted the features of his face all the more contrasting. Saliva drooled from his lips, dyed crimson with blood. His eyes were rolled back so far into his head that they were almost all whites, and it finally dawned upon Skyle that it was not only fear that tortured this boy so.


    There was a foot upon the boy¡¯s throat. It was crushing his windpipe and slowly squeezing the life out of him. Tears streamed from the boy¡¯s eyes as his mouth jerked in the same motions they had been repeating for the last minute or so.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry..¡± The same silent plea kept repeating itself over and over.


    It was so boring, Skyle thought. No wonder this foot is crushing the life out of him with such detached indifference.


    This foot, it possessed an air of poise and aloofness that contrasted sharply with the pathetic boy dying under its heel. It wasn¡¯t the boot it wore, as it was well-crafted but of a relatively inexpensive material. Rather, it was the sheer force and dominance the foot effortlessly exuded as it crushed the life out of an insignificant bug.


    ¡°Still, it is a nice boot. Very comfortable, too. I remember being so excited when da gave them to me-¡±


    The idle thought broke off as Skyle realized with dawning horror that it was his foot that was stepping on Ramsey Barclay¡¯s throat until foam began to froth out of his mouth.


    Jumping back as though he had been struck by lightning. Skyle¡¯s chest heaved as he panted heavily. Rocking back in his steps, Skyle reeled as he recalled what had just happened.


    Though the memories had a dreamlike quality to them, they had a crystal clarity that no dream could ever have. He could recall the exact amount of force he had needed to apply in order to twist Ramsey¡¯s shoulder to dislocate it. The rotten wood sound of bone being torn from its socket was so clear in his mind that it brought a sour taste of vile to the back of his throat. The look of abject terror in Ramsey¡¯s eyes as he was methodically picked apart by Skyle, piece by piece, would likely haunt him for the rest of his life.


    ¡°What happened? I- I don¡¯t understand,¡± Skyle clutched at his head as his panicked eyes searched around the alley.


    Most of the other boys who actually retained enough feeling in their legs to move without help were long gone. He could still remember the last of them running in terror after Skyle had driven the nail in his wooden club cleanly through Ramsey¡¯s leg and yanked it viciously it to drag him off his feet.


    The only remaining witnesses to this madness were one of Ramsey¡¯s flunkies who lay sprawled upon the ground and the urchin boy. The latter stood a fair distance away from Skyle. His face was covered in bruises and splattered with blood, but it was his expression that was most shocking of all.


    It was one of fear.


    Through all the threats he had received under Ramsey and his followers, and all the blows that had followed afterward, this insane little street kid had displayed not the slightest hint of fear. Instead, he was like a mad tiger viciously staking his life with his every move.


    For the first time, however, Skyle found fear in the other boy¡¯s eyes. More chilling still, it was directed at Skyle himself.


    This feral beast of a boy who had been unbowed before the threats and blows of five huge teenagers, was now deeply afraid of Skyle.


    Worse still, as he recalled the cruelty and viciousness that he had visited upon Ramsey and his crew, Skyle didn¡¯t find it strange at all.


    ***


    ¡°Damn little rat!¡± Ramsey cried out, lunging toward Skyle with his knife.


    It was an artless, clumsy stab that lacked finesse and had too much power. Thus, it was easy to sidestep and abuse. Skyle¡¯s training calmly told him exactly where to place his feet, and how to grip Ramsey¡¯s arm in such a way that he could redirect the force of the blow towards one of the other boys who was lunging at Skyle¡¯s back.


    Ramsey cried out in surprise as he found his attack effortlessly sidestepped by the much smaller boy. He felt small hands clamping down on his arm with surprising strength, then his foot was tripped and he fell in the direction of one of his friends with all the unstoppable momentum of his earlier, furious charge.


    Ramsey¡¯s toadie didn¡¯t even have time to shriek in surprise before the knife dug deeply into his leg. It wasn¡¯t a big knife, and the wound was scarier than it looked. Still, as blood spurted out of the cut, both Ramset and his victim clutched frantically at the wounded leg while the wooden plank fell from the latter''s grip.


    This was good, as it only left one other boy to deal with for the time being. This one was far more cautious as he approached Skyle, casting fearful glances towards his wounded friend. Still, he towered over Skyle and outmassed him by at least fifty pounds. Stupid pride pushed him forward when logic clearly should have had him running the moment he saw Skyle¡¯s deft maneuvers and ruthless aura.


    Shouting loudly in a vain attempt to get his own courage up, the bigger boy charged at Skyle while flailing his bare fists in a reckless windmill move. To Skyle, who had fought against an army of monstrous magical beasts with only a bow and arrow in hand, such an attack was only worthy of the greatest contempt.


    Knowing he could still not underestimate the sheer power of his attacker¡¯s frenzied punches, Skyle swayed away from them and kicked out towards his opponent¡¯s knee. He struck with surgical precision, producing a gut-wrenching crunch upon impact as he forcefully twisted the knee socket to the side right as it was flexing and beginning to bear his attacker¡¯s full weight while charging forward.


    A muffled howl of agony escaped the bigger boy¡¯s lips as he lost his balance and fell to the floor while clutching at his knee. Nothing was broken, but the violence of the attack would likely have that knee swollen to twice its size by tonight. Let alone run, it would be a wonder if that knee could bear enough of its owner¡¯s weight to hobble into a walk.


    Pressing his advantage while his opponent was frantically clutching at his knee with both hands, Skyle dashed forward and kicked the other boy¡¯s undefended head. The sharp, compact move belied the power contained within this deceptively simple kick. Unlike Ramsey¡¯s clumsy charge, Skyle called to mind his father¡¯s figure when he had drilled his son on how to properly power an attack. It began from the soles of his feet, finding steady footing and pressing down firmly. This momentum climbed up his knee and to the core of his back and hips. From here he would distribute the power back to his other leg as it flashed forward in a tight, powerfully compact move that carried the rotational power of his own twisting body.


    The kick found its target on the other boy¡¯s chin. The impact rocked his brain back and forth within his skull while his eyes instantly rolled up and he fell to the floor, unconscious before the back of his head even hit the floor.


    Satisfied that this threat had been eliminated, Skyle moved on to the boy whose breath had been knocked out by his kick earlier. He was breathing heavily now, watching Skyle with an intriguing mix of fear and hatred that fed upon each other so that both grew exponentially. Then the other boy¡¯s eyes shifted behind Skyle¡¯s back for just a moment. This was all the warning Skyle had before a pair of arms grabbed him from behind and squeezed with all their strength, practically lifting him off his feet. Meanwhile, the opponent facing him rushed forward, lifting his hand to punch Skyle while he was restrained.


    Skyle looked down briefly and saw the bloodied leg of the boy who had been stabbed by Ramsey. Apparently, the wound had been even more shallow than he had thought. Almost shrugging his shoulders in his apathy, Skyle reached out with one hand and dug his finger into the bleeding wound.


    Instantly, the arms holding him from behind sprang open as a deafening howl filled his ears. Skyle did not relent, however, and instead ruthlessly dug his finger in deeper before pulling the leg in the direction of his other attacker. The unbearable pain made it impossible for the wounded boy not to follow Skyle¡¯s lead, even as the poor bastard¡¯s legs collapsed and he fell towards the ground.


    After Skyle conveniently ducked under the incoming punch, it struck the descending head of the boy with the wounded leg. A dull cracking sound could be heard as the fragile bones in his attacker¡¯s hand snapped from the violent impact against his own friend¡¯s thick skull. Sidestepping the collapsing weight of the boy with the wounded leg, Skyle barely had to add an encouraging nudge for both his attackers to collide together and fall in a tangled mess. One writhed on the ground while clutching at his broken hand while the other moaned as new blood pumped furiously out of the cut in his leg.


    Skyle turned around just in time to see Ramsey lunging at Skyle with his knife once again. The clumsy boy apparently had learned his lesson, as this time he didn¡¯t rush and instead kept the knife between himself and Skyle, sending out tentative slashes. It was almost as though he were trying to fend off a vicious creature instead of trying to stab a much smaller and younger boy.


    Skyle easily dodged the first few crude attacks, biding his time. Time was on his side, as Ramsey¡¯s attacks grew more frenzied and panic bled into his pale features with every passing moment. With an idle indifference, Skyle dodged under a sweeping slash of the knife and paused briefly to pick up the wooden plank that lay forgotten on the ground. Ramsey desperately tried to use this opportunity to stab Skyle¡¯s back, sensing an opening.


    Sadly for Ramsey, this was merely a trap set up by Skyle. Sensing the attack incoming, Skyle rolled on the ground and avoided the knife thrust by a comfortable margin. Before Ramsey could recover from the thrust, Skyle spun around on his knee and whipped the wooden board at the same leg he had already injured once. This time, he drove the nail deep into Ramsey¡¯s flesh and felt it sink deeply before stopping cold with a bone-jarring impact. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Satisfied that he had hooked the nail on bone, Skyle placed both hands on the board and yanked as hard as he could. Ramsey barely let out a shout of startled surprise as he was pulled off his feet. A great gush of blood fountained into the air from the gashing wound left by the nail. The violence of Skyle¡¯s maneuver had dislodged the nail from Ramsey¡¯s bone and torn a nasty gash in his leg.


    Ramsey barely had time to look down toward the ruined flesh on his leg before he felt Skyle¡¯s shadow looming over him. One hand trying in vain to stem the alarming flow of blood, Ramsey grit his teeth and stabbed the knife he still gripped in his other hand towards Skyle in a pitiful last ditch effort.


    Taking advantage of Ramsey¡¯s extended arm, Skyle knelt and let the knife streak past his shoulder. Then he gripped Ramsey¡¯s arm into a lock, using both arms and his shoulder to leverage the much stronger boy¡¯s vulnerable elbow joint. Ramsey¡¯s own attack added momentum to the lock, and Skyle only had to exert a few additional pounds of pressure for the joint to flex a few painful degrees too far from its healthy limits.


    The sudden pain sent a shock up Ramsey¡¯s spine. His brain froze up for a moment while it struggled to cope with the searing agony. Skyle used this time to bend the same injured arm and this time leveraged Ramsey¡¯s entire shoulder, twisting it counter-clockwise and away from Ramsey¡¯s chest. By the time Ramsey¡¯s shock-slackened muscles stiffened in fear, Skyle had Ramsey lying on the ground with his face pressed against the blood-soaked mud. The much bigger boy barely dared to breathe, as he could feel that his entire shoulder was a scant hair of pressure from popping out of its socket.


    ¡°S-Stop, please stop!¡± Ramsey cried out hoarsely, in between mouthfuls of mud.


    Skyle tilted his head sideways for a moment, considering. Ramsey looked up from the ground imploringly, but this did little to affect Skyle¡¯s cool thinking. The other boy saw Skyle reach his decision at almost the very instant it was made, and a ragged scream of denial escaped his lips.


    ¡°No, please. Noooo!¡±


    The desperate scream was cut short by the awful sound of wrenched bones as Skyle casually leaned his weight against Ramsey¡¯s shoulder joint and popped it out of its socket with startling ease.


    Ramsey only had time to draw a shuddering breath before belting out a desolate howl of agony. Tears sprang unbidden from his eyes as they grew beady and unfocused from the unspeakable pain.


    The rapid sounds of retreating feet could be heard behind Skyle¡¯s back as he released Ramsey¡¯s arm. He watched with cold detachment as the nerveless limb fell limply to the ground, dragging out a renewed howl from Ramsey¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Still your tongue before I wrench it out as well,¡± Skyle called out in a slow, even tone.


    His voice was as calm as though he were talking about the weather, but that only served to terrify Ramsey even more than any screamed threats would have. The bigger boy clamped his mouth shut and bit his lips in order to stop himself from crying out, even as more tears and snot streamed down his bloodless face.


    By now, the urchin boy had long stopped punching his opponent and was instead standing as far away from Skyle as the narrow alley would allow. His victim had also stumbled away from the alley as quickly as he could, not caring how many times he stumbled on the mud and frantically pushing himself to his feet every time. His heedless panic made him forget the pain of his wounds and the fate of his leader, Ramsey. He only had eyes for his own survival.


    In the midst of it all, Skyle looked down at his rumpled clothes and straightened them out, then used the rain water to wash the stains of blood off his hands.


    Almost none of it was his.


    ***


    Shuddering at the vivid memory, Skyle swallowed hard.


    The most worrying part of it all was that it had all been Skyle. It wasn¡¯t as though he had become possessed by some evil spirit. Skyle had used the training he had received at his father¡¯s hands to bend joints in a way they were never meant to and to exploit vulnerabilities to break bones with crushing force.


    Skyle had never thought to apply his father¡¯s lessons in such a way. In Skyle¡¯s opinion, such lessons on hand-to-hand combat were easily the worst in the vast repertoire his father had passed onto him. Tracking, archery, raising snowblade tigers, and all the other skills - they were each unique and interesting in their own ways. Studying the human body and the ways it could be injured had always been, in Skyle¡¯s mind, a defensive measure. Since he only ever sparred against his father, he had never had the opportunity to use them offensively.


    Being on the losing end all the time and feeling completely helpless while at it, Skyle recalled with surprise how easy it had been to subdue the bigger boys. They had been like mewling cats under Skyle¡¯s moves. Even though their bodies were enriched by the power of their own elemental essence, their feeble attempts to strike him had been as clumsy in his eyes as ragdoll puppets. His own blows had no elemental essence in them. Instead, they came with murderous intent and steely strength, and the results attested to such purity of purpose.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± came the hesitant question from the urchin boy. It finally broke a silence that only made Ramsey¡¯s wheezing, gurgling breaths all the louder, so Skyle welcomed the question.


    ¡°I¡¯m Skyle.¡± He answered simply.


    ¡°No, who are you?¡± the other boy asked again after a brief pause.


    Skyle knew what the urchin was asking, but he didn¡¯t know the answer himself. Inside, he was just as terrified of himself as the other boy and perhaps even Ramsey himself was.


    What was happening to him? Was this part of the taint that the Guardian of Sanctuary had mentioned? Had something in Sanctuary changed him so greatly that he would become a completely different person?


    Most disconcerting was the fact that Skyle had not felt like a different person at all. While he had been cruelly suppressing Ramsey and his toadies, he had acted with full knowledge of who he was, and what he was doing. It was just that one single element had been missing.


    He had been emotionless.


    Skyle was still himself in every other way, but emotions had rained upon him and bounced off as though his heart had become a steel fortress. His every action had been ruled by cold reason and ruthless logic alone.


    Once he had become physically involved in the altercation, not fighting had stopped being an option. Consequently, ruthlessly crushing Ramsey and his friends had been necessary in order to ensure his own safety. A reasonable extent of injuries was required in order to infuse enough fear that they would keep their mouths shut and refuse to speak of the incident. Otherwise, things would become complicated. Also, he was not unmindful of the consequences of doing things by half-measures. If he did not completely crush their spirits, they might eventually forget today¡¯s terror, gather enough courage and plot their revenge.


    Untainted by the confusing and often diametrically opposing values brought by emotion, Skyle found it far easier to understand Leon¡¯s approach to problem solving, as well as Fatty¡¯s meticulous plotting. In contrast, he found his own personal behavior naive and sorely lacking, being neither decisive nor effective enough.


    What was strangest of all was the fact that once Skyle had been able to shed his mind of all emotion like that, he had felt freer than he had in a long time. It was as though tight constraints had bound his soul for a long time. Suffocated under their weight for what seemed like ages, he had finally found a breath of air.


    ¡°Am I a bad person for shedding my emotions and feeling liberated from doing so?¡±


    Skyle glanced toward the urchin boy as he thought this. The other boy shuddered and took a step back from him. His eyes reminded him of a wary beast being eyed by a terrifying predator.


    ¡°What does that make me? A monster?¡±


    A passage sprang to his mind at that moment. The words felt old and worn away by time, but they blazed in his mind as though with a will of their own.


    ¡°Mark ye the passage of the Desolate Star. By its dark flame shall ye know its touch. Hatred and love, fear and longing, friend and foe alike, all burned to ashes by the Desolate Flame.¡±


    It was a passage from the Desolate Star Technique! Skyle¡¯s mind had been scoured clean of everything related to the technique he had cultivated from Fierro Latimus¡¯ journal. He had assumed the Goddess¡¯ divine might had seen to that, just as Skyle¡¯s True Sight had also been washed away clean as though it had never existed.


    He could hardly believe that he had managed to recall a passage from it! It was only a single passage, which at the time of reading Skyle had skimmed over. He had dismissed it offhandedly, thinking that books of old were filled with such ominous, self-important warnings.


    Now, however, Skyle had to consider the warning far more seriously. Was the Desolate Star Technique the reason why he had entered that strange, trance-like, emotionless state? Unburdened by emotions like fear or compassion, the speed and focus he had been able to wield during those moments had far exceeded anything Skyle had thought possible. This made it easier for Skyle to understand how he had been able to overwhelm the other boys with such ease. After all, Skyle had never used the fighting techniques he had learned against anyone but his father, and then only defensively. However, in a fight where he was outnumbered and outmassed, he had easily crushed his opposition. That was even though he didn¡¯t even have the True Sight or the Farsight anymore!


    Was this the true power of the Desolate Star Technique?


    What would eventually happen to him if he continued down this path? Would he lose all touch with his emotions, eventually becoming a cold, unfeeling machine?


    Considering such a fate brought his thoughts to a shuddering halt, and he decided he needed to consult with his parents on this matter. So far, he had not explained any of the events he had undergone in Sanctuary. He had wanted some space while he recuperated and considered his options. His parents had wordlessly obliged. However, he was always mindful of the five year death sentence hanging over his head, and now this new aspect of the Desolate Star Technique had also become an important mystery.


    Tonight, he decided, he would have a long conversation with both his parents. He still had to think about how much he should reveal to them. On the one hand, he was scared by the Goddess¡¯ warning, yet what good could his parents do in the face of such a potent curse? He still recalled the Guardian¡¯s anger when he had been cast out of Sanctuary, and knew he could not count on her for help. Would worrying and bringing untimely grief to his parents over this implacable curse be worth ruining the few years of life he had left?


    By now, Ramsey had recovered enough that he had sat up. His eyes were downcast and he refused to meet Skyle¡¯s gaze, nursing his bleeding leg with his one good arm. In spite of his frantic efforts to staunch the flow of blood, it kept flowing from the gaps in between his fingers. All the while, he didn¡¯t dare make a sound in fear of rousing Skyle¡¯s wrath.


    Sighing to himself, Skyle nodded to the little urchin boy and extended his hand toward him.


    The other boy hesitantly reached out his hand, and Skyle dropped all the coins he had on him. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was the least Skyle could do.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Skyle asked.


    The other boy¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked warily at Skyle. ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter then. I¡¯m Skyle, and I¡¯ll be calling you.. Rain, I suppose,¡± Skyle added lamely as he raised his gaze to eye the thundering clouds up above. By now they were both soaked through, but at least the water was washing away all the mud and blood caking their bodies.


    The urchin boy didn¡¯t show any reaction to Skyle¡¯s words, his posture still that of a spooked cat.


    ¡°Listen Rain, unless we get Ramsey there some help he could bleed out and die. Not that either of us is particularly fond of him, but you could see how that would be bad. So, would you take those coins and run off to quarry master Martin and let him know Ramsey is heavily injured? Just drop the message anonymously and then you can take off and leave this whole unpleasant incident behind.¡±


    The other boy looked as though he wanted to protest, but refrained and bit his lips instead. After a moment of thinking about it, during which he glanced apprehensively in Ramsey¡¯s direction more than once, he seemed to reach a decision and nodded to Skyle.


    ¡°I am willing to do this, Skyle, but take your coins back.¡± Surprisingly, the urchin boy returned the coins. ¡°Though I may live on the streets and have no coins to my name, I¡¯m no beggar and won¡¯t take your pity.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyebrows rose, impressed in spite of himself. This boy had surprising spirit, especially considering his current situation. He looked as though he hadn¡¯t had a decent meal in a long time, his frame consisting almost entirely of skin and bones. However, recalling the vicious beatings he had doled out on much bigger boys, he knew his sinewy arms held surprising strength.


    ¡°Have it your way, then. Thanks. I¡¯d do it myself, but I would be recognized and then questions would be asked and everything would become more complicated. As it is, I doubt Ramsey wishes to see me ever again. Am I right, Ramsey?¡±


    That last was directed towards the wretched giant huddling by the corner of the alley. As soon as Skyle addressed him, he shuddered and nodded so vigorously that his whole head almost came off.


    Skyle had little pity for people like Ramsey. Not only was he a bully, but he had nearly committed murder in this alley. That he had received retribution was only fair, and the pound of flesh Skyle had exacted as the price was in line with his father¡¯s teachings.


    Nothing is ever free in life, after all.


    The injuries on Ramsey would heal, and hopefully he would learn his lesson. If not, that was a matter for another day.


    As Skyle turned away, Rain called to him.


    ¡°Wait. Skyle, you¡¯re from the Farrow farm, right?¡±


    Skyle looked over his shoulder and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, what is it to you?¡±


    If his voice dipped lower and was not particularly friendly, that was because his family would always be taboo. Just like his father, he would do anything to protect them.


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t get me wrong. I was just wondering.. If I might see you again, from time to time. If you¡¯re not too busy, that is. If you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    The rest of it dissolved into incomprehensible babble, and Skyle did his best not to gawk. Rain¡¯s words were the final nail in the coffin. Skyle decided right then and there that the other boy must absolutely be insane. After all, why would any sane person want to get to know a stone cold murderer such as the one Skyle had behaved like in this alley?


    ¡°Uh, sure,¡± was the only reply he could manage.


    ¡°Really? Great, that¡¯s really great.¡± Rain nodded, and though his face was still as serious as always, his voice sounded almost cheerful.


    Feeling like the wild beast who was being eyed by a terrifying predator himself, Skyle waved over his shoulder and rushed out of the alley with as much speed as he could muster without actually running away.

 Chapter 61 - Interspinus & Son

    Chapter 61 - Interspinus & Son


    ¡°Fatty!¡± Skyle cried out joyfully as soon as he stepped through the double doors of one of the most impressive buildings in all of Sunny Meadow - Interspinus & Son, general goods store.


    The name belied its wealth, as there was practically nothing that was sold in Sunny Meadow that was not available from the seemingly bottomless shelves of the gigantic store. Rows upon rows of items of every name and denomination were neatly stacked as far as the eye could see, with several clerks busily attending to both the goods and the numerous customers rifling through them.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back,¡± Gordius Insterspinus waved his hand in a casual gesture as he lounged in his usual seat behind the very last counter lying at a nearly forgotten, and thus neatly secluded corner of the store. The great rolling curves of his fat belly rippled as he spoke with cultured indifference. ¡°Your family was very worried. I tried to assuage their worries, as I know you¡¯re the cockroach of the Farrow clan, but it was all for naught.¡±


    Fatty yawned lazily and a tear rolled out from the corner of his eye. ¡°Good thing too, it¡¯s been too quiet around here without you.¡±


    Skyle quirked an eyebrow in his friend¡¯s direction, then smiled knowingly as he walked towards the counter.


    ¡°H-Hey, what are you doing? Stop, stop right there,¡± Fatty said nervously, edging back in his seat when he caught the gleam in his friend¡¯s eye. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Skyle Farrow, you better stop right there or you can forget about-¡±


    The rest of it was cut off by a shriek of pain as Skyle lightly poked a finger at Fatty¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Yeeoowch! Stop it, that hurts, burn you!¡± Fatty moaned as his mask of indifference fell apart and his face crumpled into the sagging lines of a crying monk. ¡°Dammit, it is all your fault Skyle, so stop it right now!¡±


    Skyle chuckled as he nodded his agreement. ¡°I know, Fatty. How could I imagine that my humble self occupied so gloried a space in your heart that you would brave the grave perils of-¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, so you heard I tried to go into the Forbidden Forest for you.¡± Fatty waved his hands in the air in a regal fashion, all the while his face abandoned the weeping monk look and took on the countenance of a martyr saint. ¡°All for you, my one and true friend Skyle.¡±


    Skyle raised an eyebrow and went on as though he hadn¡¯t been interrupted at all. ¡°Like I was saying, the grave perils of your father¡¯s boundless stockrooms and all the crates that need lifting and hauling by brutes endowed with much greater brawn than wits.¡±


    Fatty¡¯s expression collapsed in abject surrender as he moaned like a little girl who had been deflowered. ¡°Don¡¯t even remind me of that. Oh, my poor legs, they burn as if I¡¯d had acid poured on them. My poor abused arms can¡¯t even hold up a chicken drumstick, they shake so badly. I might very well starve to death if this goes on. Already, I have lost over ten pounds. Ten pounds!¡±


    The last of this was accompanied by a vigorous shake of his head as Fatty clutched at his bulging belly as though it were his most precious possession, and someone was hellbent on snatching it away.


    Skyle eyed his friend critically for a moment, but decided he really could not tell the difference at all. Fatty¡¯s rich dark curls remained as slick as ever, framing a round face with cheeks that practically seemed to drip with fat. His nose was round, his ears were rounder still. There was nothing sharp about Fatty¡¯s features except for his eyes. Those were deep and narrow, gleaming with intelligence. As for his body, it was one bulging curve after another. Not one inch of flat surface could be seen anywhere on Fatty¡¯s body. If there had ever been one, Skyle knew his friend would have quickly remedied that. Where had those ten pounds come from? Certainly not from the belly, which if nothing else only seemed to have grown even larger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you shake your head at me, Skyle Farrow. You know this is all your fault. Add insult to injury, you even dare poke more fire into my misery, well aware of the agony I¡¯m going through.¡± Fatty growled while glaring at his friend.


    Skyle spread his hands to his sides as he shrugged his shoulders indifferently. ¡°You deserve it for pretending to be indifferent just so you could hide the fact that you¡¯ve been working at your father¡¯s warehouse. Come here you big lump, I deserve a hug at least.¡±


    ¡°Mercy, mercy, I¡¯m really in agonizing pain here,¡± Fatty cried out, but still grinned broadly as he squeezed Skyle in a bear hug.


    A very fat bear¡¯s smothering hug, that is.


    ¡°You sure you lost ten pounds, Fatty?¡± Skyle noted after pushing himself away and finally being able to breathe again.


    A dismissive snort was the only reply.


    ¡°So, where did you go off to?¡± Fatty asked while carefully returning to his previous position. Now that Skyle looked at it more carefully, it was obvious to see that it was the best position his friend had found to rest both his arms and legs.


    ¡°Long story, with each leg of the journey more fantastical than the last. It all begins when this here master huntsman decided to bend all of his formidable wit and guile upon the daring hunt of a fearsome magical beast whose wretched lair lay hidden deep within-¡±


    Fatty waved his pudgy hands in Skyle¡¯s direction, rolling his eyes in the perfect portrayal of a penitent sinner. ¡°Spare me, I¡¯d forgotten how long-winded you can be. And to think I¡¯d missed this. Oh, gloried silence, how I miss thee and thy golden splendor.¡±


    Skyle grinned, and Fatty returned it without words. In this simple gesture both boys expressed just how much they had missed each other¡¯s company.


    ¡°Anyhow, how about you catch me up to what¡¯s been happening around town in my absence?¡± Skyle smiled innocently, knowing Fatty couldn¡¯t wait to begin telling his friend about the latest gossip. This was especially so since Leon¡¯s army had apparently taken over the town¡¯s inn.


    ¡°You mean besides you spending the afternoon rolling around in the mud and getting your nose caved into your face for your trouble by a bunch of poor devils?¡± Fatty teased.


    Skyle coughed uncomfortably. He thought he had straightened himself up as much as he could and the rest had been washed away by the rain. He had forgotten how observant his friend was. ¡°What do you mean poor devils? I was the victim, alright?¡±


    Fatty scoffed as he waved his friend into silence. ¡°Victim? Please, knowing you the way I do, you probably sent them weeping to their mothers, demanding to know why they had to be born into such a terrible world full of wolves hiding in sheep¡¯s clothing like you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, never have I inflicted bodily violence upon others without just cause..¡± Skyle began, but trailed off as he thought of Fierro Latimus and Arleena Starbreeze, and their demise by his hands. This dispelled any levity he previously had, and a sigh escaped his lips.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Fatty asked concernedly.


    ¡°Oh Fatty, a great and grievous injury has been visited upon my soul,¡± Skyle half-whispered as though to himself.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Fatty frowned as his hands tightened into fists. ¡°Who dares mess with you? Just tell me and I¡¯ll set them straight.¡±


    Skyle smiled sadly as he looked into his friend¡¯s eyes. ¡°Life, my friend. The wretched fiend has forced me to leave my childhood behind and grow up. Who can I demand justice from for this affront?¡±


    Unexpectedly, Fatty did not laugh. Instead, he sighed with the same desolate air as Skyle, and simply put a solidary arm around his friend¡¯s shoulders without a word.


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    ***


    ¡°So, you¡¯re really not going to tell me what happened to you?¡± Fatty grumbled some time later, in between mouthfuls of Adrienne Farrow¡¯s golden honey buttermilk biscuits. Though much worse for the wear, the rain hadn¡¯t gotten to them and Fatty came in only as a close second in terms of devotion towards the delightful morsels.


    ¡°Not now. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but I need some time to sort through this whole mess myself,¡± Skyle sighed.


    ¡°What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into, if not even your da can get you out of it?¡± That seemed to give Fatty a pause, as he gaped at Skyle with a biscuit lying half-forgotten in his hand.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t told them yet, more¡¯s the woe,¡± Skyle mumbled.


    ¡°Damn, only your parents could not give you so much as a spanking in the rear after you came back from a three-day trip lost in the Forbidden Forest without so much as an explanation,¡± Fatty said in a wondering tone.


    Snorting, Skyle stuffed a biscuit into his mouth. ¡°My da was the one that practically sent me chasing after that damn wildefox in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Hey, lay off. You must have stuffed your face full of biscuits before you came, don¡¯t steal mine!¡± Fatty grumbled, his eyes full of grievance. He didn¡¯t move to take the precious biscuit away though.


    Skyle chuckled, knowing there was only one thing Fatty would rather die than share, even with his closest friend. Fatty might lay his riches, his body or his life on the line for his friend, but that¡¯s as far as he could go. As soon as friendship began to intrude upon the boundary of tasty food, friendship might as well have never existed.


    Between one of Adrienne Farrow¡¯s honey biscuits and a friend, Skyle knew he could only come out as a poor second.


    ¡°C¡¯mon Fatty, I know you always share the juiciest morsels for last. What¡¯s with all the soldiers and the million gold carriages from the Draxas duchy?¡±


    Finally, Fatty seemed to shake off his lethargy as he eyed the last few remaining biscuits laid out before him. The food fiend had another pleasure, and this was information. He treasured rare and valuable bits of information almost as much as he did good food. Like any true connoisseur, however, Fatty knew such value tasted sweeter still by virtue of comparison. Thus, Fatty never missed a chance to show off his intelligence before his friend.


    ¡°Damn, you have no idea,¡± Fatty¡¯s pale cheeks flushed with blood as they began to quiver in excitement. ¡°I heard there¡¯s supposed to be a huge exchange between the top students of the Great Free Duchies and the Empire. For Lacrima Province, that means a cooperation between Blacksteel Academy and Aegis Academy.¡±


    ¡°Blacksteel Academy? Isn¡¯t that the famous military school?¡± Skyle muttered, frowning.


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re well informed. Yeah, Blacksteel Academy has produced more Sage level generals than any other military school in the Great Duchies. There¡¯s supposed to be an incredibly gifted fire summoner who was supposed to lead the exchange ceremony on behalf of the Blacksteel students. You¡¯ll never guess who that is!¡±


    ¡°The young Lord of Draxas, I presume?¡± Skyle murmured absently.


    Fatty gaped at Skyle like he¡¯d been pole-axed. ¡°H-How did you know?¡±


    Skyle quickly recovered and shook his head. ¡°Uh, I recognized the Draxas and Adrausier crest on the soldiers and the carriages. Only the scion of the house could warrant such an escort, right?¡±


    Fatty nodded but looked impressed in spite of himself.


    ¡°Man, I forget how clever you can be sometimes.¡± Fatty sniggered. ¡°But I bet you don¡¯t know what the juiciest bit of news is.¡±


    ¡°Young Lord Draxas has mysteriously disappeared?¡± Skyle said casually, his attention elsewhere.


    This time Fatty stared open-mouthed at his friend. ¡°Y-You! How did you know? Nobody is supposed to know this except for the mayor and the high ranking officers in town!¡±


    Skyle shrugged. ¡°One of the guards let it slip, saying that they should be looking for the young lord.¡±


    Fatty¡¯s tossed a dark look towards the street outside. ¡°Damn loose-mouthed guards. To think I had to bribe one of the town¡¯s guard sergeants for this information.¡±


    Skyle chuckled good-naturedly. ¡°Relax, he made it sound like they just wanted to seek him out to ask him a question. Only when you were circling around the matter did it become obvious that there was something deeper in that guard¡¯s comments.¡±


    Fatty suddenly eyed Skyle with a considering squint in his eyes, but said nothing.


    Skyle grew uncomfortable under his friend¡¯s scrutiny, so he prompted him with another question.


    ¡°So, any information on the young Lord Draxas?¡±


    Fatty shook his head. ¡°Leon Draxas di Adrausier is apparently one of the most talented fire summoners the Great Duchies has ever seen, perhaps even rivaling our own Empire¡¯s First Imperial Prince. Apparently he excels equally at both academic studies and martial pursuits. He even led his own squadron of mounted cavalry in a handful of wars, even though he¡¯s barely thirteen. It is said he will officially take the mantle of the young Lord of Draxas when he reaches majority age in two years. Until then, he¡¯s determined to graduate early from Blacksteel Academy¡¯s curriculum with full marks, so he temporarily left the army.¡±


    ¡°Wait, that means he¡¯s trying to reach the peak adept level by the age of fifteen?¡± Skyle stared in astonishment.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as that,¡± Fatty chuckled, darkly satisfied that he had finally managed to impress his friend. ¡°You know that most students enter at the initiate level and don¡¯t graduate from their academies until they reach nineteen or twenty years of age and reach peak adept level. However, Blacksteel is one of the top military academies in the Great Duchies and their requirement for graduation is reaching the master level!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Skyle cried out involuntarily.


    ¡°Yeah, each graduate of Blacksteel Academy is a certified master level expert. That¡¯s why the institution is so renowned. Even peak adept level students wash out.¡± Fatty explained with a pleased grin on his face.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the young Lord Draxas is a summoner? Isn¡¯t that a lot more difficult than being a mage?¡±


    Fatty snorted. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement if I ever heard one. Developing your power as a mage is thrice as difficult as doing so as a warrior. All the complex spells, rituals and equations demanded of a mage are just that much more complex than simply infusing elemental essence into your body as an elemental warrior. However, increasing your rank as a summoner is said to be five or even ten times more difficult than developing as a mage! That¡¯s why some call the summoner¡¯s talent the gift of the devil. After all, you wield incredible power but are also shackled by the strenuous difficulty of raising your power.¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes at that, and his voice dripped with undisguised contempt. ¡°Oh, the poor legendary elemental summoner. How very tragic.¡±


    Fatty face changed, and he looked chagrined. ¡°Sorry Skyle, I didn¡¯t mean.. I mean, your talent..¡±


    ¡°Or lack of one,¡± Skyle cut in, grinning at his friend¡¯s discomfort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. How long are you doing to pussy-foot your way around my disability. That¡¯s the same as me feeling bad you¡¯re so damn fat.¡±


    Fatty¡¯s lips stretched up in a valiant effort to smile, but there was little humor to it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Skyle. I¡¯ll keep searching, and one day we¡¯ll find a way to cure your illness. I¡¯ll make you an elemental warrior if I must dig up the earth and cleave the sky.¡±


    Skyle lay a grateful hand on his friend¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It is not your burden to bear, Gordon.¡±


    ¡°Nor is it your right to refuse,¡± Fatty countered. ¡°After all, your mother¡¯s biscuits are a large factor behind my captivating obesity. I don¡¯t take such favors lightly!¡±


    Skyle grinned in surrender. ¡°Have it your way, then.¡±


    ¡°Always!¡± Fatty crowed, then joined in as Skyle began to laugh helplessly.


    After a moment, Skyle returned to the topic at hand.


    ¡°So, any clues as to where this supremely talented fire summoner went? Surely he didn¡¯t magick himself into thin air?¡± Skyle asked in a carefully offhand manner.


    Fatty shook his head. ¡°He was last seen near the northern edge of the Forbidden Forest. I¡¯m telling ya, that place is spooky as hell.¡±


    Suddenly, Fatty frowned as he looked at Skyle in a considering manner. ¡°Wait a second, didn¡¯t you up and vanish in the Forbidden Forest as well? And right around the time Leon Draxas did. That¡¯s awful suspicious.¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes. ¡°Fatty, you¡¯re growing paranoid. How could I stumble across a legendary figure in between feeding the hogs and watering the turnips?¡±


    Fatty¡¯s heavy-lidded gaze did not abandon Skyle, however. ¡°Then why are you so curious about the young Lord Draxas all out of the blue? Usually it¡¯s all about bows and Ash and little Kassandra and Reikard.¡±


    Skyle felt bad for deceiving his friend, but for the time being it was not his secret to share. At least, it was not his alone. So, he was forced to pull out the shameful disability card to divert the other boy¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Well, I was just hoping to hear something that might help me.. Well, you know, help treat my crippled elemental veins..¡±


    As Skyle trailed off, he couldn¡¯t help but avoid Fatty¡¯s gaze and looked down at his feet, deeply ashamed.


    Fatty took this as a rare sign of vulnerability from his friend, and instantly felt wretched for his own actions. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Skyle. I¡¯ll keep an ear out for this whole thing. Maybe these northerners have their own ways to treat conditions like yours. Important thing is, don¡¯t give up!¡±


    Skyle could only nod his head numbly, his cheeks coloring.


    ¡°Here, let me go get your daily bag of candied corn,¡± Fatty murmured, feeling very ill at ease and getting off his seat with a pained groan. ¡°I tried to take some to Aegis Academy for little Kassandra while you were gone in order to console her, but she would have none of it. Strange girl, your sister. She¡¯s unhealthily obsessed with her own big brother, let me tell ya.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s heart warmed when he heard that. How much of Kass¡¯ candied corn obsession came from the actual sweet snack, and how much came from the great lengths and efforts to which her big brother had to go in order to procure a daily ration of it, Skyle himself did not know.


    In truth, he didn¡¯t care either. Let alone bearing the expenses and effort to procure some candied corn, for little Kass and Reik, he¡¯d bear the whole world upon his shoulders.


    That was family.

 Chapter 62 - An Aging Fathers Love

    Chapter 62 - An Aging Father''s Love


    ¡°Gordius! Where are you boy? Why are there ten crates of sunflower seed oil collecting rainwater on the floor with a perfectly fine wagon waiting to cart them away?¡±


    Merchant Lornius Interspinus¡¯ harsh voice rang out from the receded archway at the far end of the store, interrupting the children¡¯s animated banter. Beyond the humble swinging doors that hung from there walls there, lay a warehouse that simply beggared the scale of the front store. Even now and in spite of the heavy rain, Skyle was certain that there would be several wagons busily loading and unloading crates of goods.


    Skyle raised an eyebrow in Fatty¡¯s direction. Sure, his friend loathed physical work, but he was also very careful not to let his father catch him idling. Whereas Fatty¡¯s notoriety came from his cunning, even devious mind, his father was a whole different creature altogether.


    Lornius Interspinus had started out as the eighth son in a tiny speck of a farmstead in the neighboring province of Gellen. When he was but seven, he had been sold off into a so-called apprenticeship that had been little more than indentured slavery under the local tanner¡¯s shop. Underneath the fancy jeweled rings he was now known for, Merchant Lornius still bore countless discolored scars on the skin of his hands. Tannery shops, especially poor ones such as the one Fatty¡¯s father had been sold off to, could only afford the harshest of acids to break down the hides they worked on. Worse still, the workers wore no protection at all, and thus their health suffered greatly under the harsh conditions.


    Most tannery apprentices were bald before their time, their faces pockmarked and their lungs feeble from the noxious fumes they breathed day in and day out. Few made it past their fifties before they succumbed to some malady or the other.


    This had been Lornius Interspinus¡¯ lot in life, and sadly he had not been born with the wit or the education that would have afforded someone like Fatty a chance to weasel his way out from such a harsh fate. Instead, Lornius was a neither dull nor bright, not too ugly or handsome. He easily fell right into the middle of any crowd, not being tall or short, skinny or fat.


    If that was everything Lornius had to his name, that would have been the end of his tale and Skyle would have never heard of yet another pitiful tanner¡¯s boy whose sole pleasure in life would be to drown his sorrows in ale to numb the aching joints of his prematurely arthritic hands.


    There was one sole redeeming quality that was absolutely not ordinary in Fatty¡¯s father, however. It was this that made him one of the few people Skyle¡¯s own father, Kendric Farrow, actually held a grudging respect for. Whenever Skyle lay on the ground drowning in his own sweat and miserable tears after a particularly grueling training session, Kendric would once again launch into the tale of Lornius Interspinus¡¯ one redeeming quality.


    Perseverance.


    He never quit.


    It was widely agreed that half of every tannery worker¡¯s free time was spent drowning their brains in alcohol at the local drinking hole. It was the only release for their pent up frustrations and grievances at their sad lot in life. After all, not only were their bodies breaking down right in front of their eyes on a daily basis, but the awful stink of the dead animal hides and the potent acids they worked with made it so no one outside of their profession could bear to stand in the same room. Women fled from them and children were told they would end up sold to the tanner''s shop when they misbehaved. Truly, it was a sad existence where only the drunken stupor of alcohol offered some pale semblance of comfort.


    Not so for one Lornius Interspinus.


    It was rumored that Merchant Lornius had never touched a drop of spirits nor a pint of ale in his entire life. When all his friends and co-workers sauntered off to their daily debaucheries, Lornius would stay behind well into the night and clean up the shop for a handful of extra coppers. When the others bought a roasted leg of mutton at a cart, Lornius chewed the same sandy bread that cost a single copper. When they grew older and could afford to buy a woman, Lornius used his own money to bribe the local scribe¡¯s apprentice into teaching him his letters.


    This is where the hero of a story would find his sudden rise, the reward for his long years of suffering. In real life, however, there was no such redemption. For 23 long, arduous years, Lornius toiled and broke his back and sweated under the toxic fumes of the tanner¡¯s shop and the mockery of his friends.


    Only on the day he reached his 30th birthday, did Lornius suddenly throw a handful of coins at the tannery owner¡¯s feet. Every eye in the room had bulged when they saw the golden glint of the coins, gasping at wealth that seemed out of their reach for their entire lives.


    Little did they know, that was a mere fraction of Lornius¡¯ funds. He had patiently endured all these years until he finally had enough money to buy not only his own freedom, but also a new start in life. The cost of this latter and more important investment had taken far longer than his pitiful apprenticeship fees.


    The money was spent on new clothes and sturdy boots, but the main portion of it went toward a well placed bribe to a local merchant who was known for placing profits before his own honor. The last of Lornius¡¯ coin bought him a stamped letter of recommendation from said merchant and a wagon ride over the provincial border and into Lacrima, where no one knew of the tanner¡¯s boy who had finally bought his freedom after 23 long years.


    The letter and his bearing barely earned him a position as a lowest starting clerk in a small trading firm. There Lornius quickly became known for having no vices nor virtues except for being the most hard working clerk that had ever graced the payroll of the trading house.


    Always first to arrive before the crack of dawn, and last to leave, long after the moon had risen, Lornius Interspinus slowly and steadily rose up the ranks. He seldom managed to excel at any of the tasks assigned to him, but he never fell short either. Where others might depend on four portions of talent, four of effort and two of luck, Lornius¡¯ rise could be broken down into two parts talent and ten parts effort. Luck had never bothered to smile upon Lornius Interspinus.


    Now well into his fifties, Merchant Lornius was still as industrious as ever. The fact that he was already one of the wealthiest men in Sunny Meadow did not seem to matter at all. Only his failing health prevented him from working from dawn till dusk, no doubt a product of all the harsh substances he had been exposed to during his earlier years.


    Parents, Skyle had come to realize, seemed to project their own regrets into their offspring, leading them to overcompensate. Case in point, Fatty was obscenely obese and wreathed in expensive silks and extravagant jewelry. Few luxuries were ever denied to Lornius¡¯ only son, and though his girth was alarming, Skyle knew that Fatty was as healthy as a bull. Countless expensive medicines and treatments had seen to that.


    In the same token, however, Lornius made Fatty pay for his luxuries, pound for pound, in hard work at the trading floor. It was fortunate that Fatty had taken to the burgeoning accounts of ¡°Interspinus & Son¡± like a fish to water. His head for numbers and figures was simply unmatched by anyone of Skyle¡¯s acquaintance, except perhaps for the terrifying genius of the Farrow family, little Kass.


    Certainly, it could not be denied that Gordius'' father possessed none of the remarkable mental gifts of his son. The differences between father and son were so great that many a loose tongue had speculated on whether they were truly blood related at all. Still, none of this made Lornius treat his son any worse. If anything, it only seemed to spur the merchant to spoil his only son even more - though he did so in his own peculiar way.


    Speak of the devil, Merchant Lornius pushed past the warehouse¡¯s swinging door with thunderclouds brewing on his brow.


    ¡°Well, boy? I thought I told you to load those oil crates. They¡¯re expected at Thistletown by tomorrow and no rain or hail will make Interspinus miss a delivery, or so help me boy, I¡¯ll have you hauling the crates on your own back. First you misplaced that shipment from the Attawan Plains, then you got it into your silly head to rush to your death in the belly of some feral beast out in the forest. It seems I¡¯m not working you hard enough yet. Should I add some more tasks so that we can ground that flighty head of yours?¡±


    Fatty turned to his father with a nervous smile, but his next words were rattled off without any hesitation at all.


    ¡°Not at all, father. The cart for Four Points Town is set to arrive later this afternoon. 265 bottles of sunflower oil can be diverted from Thistletown¡¯s order as their stock during the last four months as only been depleted by 67.5%. The surplus in their inventory of 640 bottles has driven the prices down and I suspect the local competition is involved. If we lower this month¡¯s supply by 265 bottles and next month¡¯s supplies by 40%, I expect prices will rise once again by the next quarter without any negative effect upon our own firm¡¯s image.¡±


    It all came out as smoothly as though it had been rehearsed in advance, which it most likely was. However, Skyle knew only the words had been prepared. The figures had been a snap calculation that came as naturally to Fatty as breathing.


    Fatty had near perfect recollection of anything he read or heard. It was ridiculous to the point where the plump little merchant prince only kept written accounts as a formality. He hardly ever checked the figures when an inquiry arrived, spouting off mind-boggling numbers at a confounding rate.


    The scowl on Merchant Lornius¡¯ face lightened up a little. ¡°What about Four Points Town?¡±


    Fatty spread his hands as he smiled ingratiatingly at his father. ¡°Rumor has it that the Hirane Ale and Sausage Festival¡¯s main organizer, Jayed Pineoak, quarreled with Walden Town¡¯s mayor. Four Points Town¡¯s mayor took advantage of that to step in. The festival will be opening there next month.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of no such thing,¡± Lornius muttered under his breath, but the lines on his forehead eased even further.


    ¡°That¡¯s to be expected, father. The mayor was caught entertaining Madam Pineoak in a rather, shall we say, indiscrete fashion. Mister Pineoak was furious and will be looking to get even by moving the whole festival without so much as a warning. Only by next week will the word be spread to the masses. By then, Walden Town¡¯s mayor will be left footing an astronomical bill for a festival no one will be attending.¡± Fatty sighed as he shook his head. ¡°Silly man, he¡¯ll be losing at least 30% of his profits from the added expenses and missed revenue from the sudden change of venue. If it was me, I¡¯d simply hold the festival at Walden Town, secretly sabotage the entire affair and place the blame squarely on its mayor¡¯s incompetence. I¡¯d be laughing all the way to Four Points Town and the real festival I¡¯d hold there, all the while my pockets would be heavy with the compensation fees. The publicity from the scandal alone would draw the biggest crowds the festival has ever seen. Ah, amateurs.¡±


    Fatty shook his head sadly while Skyle squirmed uncomfortably at his friend¡¯s shamelessness.


    ¡°Why are you telling me this only now, boy?¡± Lornius demanded gruffly.


    ¡°Because they were only rumors until yesterday. Only then did I receive actual confirmation. Don¡¯t worry father, I have already taken the liberty of diverting supplies from our other warehouses. I fully expect the Inns and taverns of the area, not to mention all the food cart vendors, will be looking to stock up in basic cooking supplies. A conservative projection forecasts an increase of at least 300% in demand in the next month. Accounting for the extra labor to move all the stock around our different warehouses in order to keep up with our regular orders, a tidy profit of 2,350 golds should be in our coffers by the end of the festival.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Oh. Well, that¡¯s good then.¡± Lornius nodded as though to himself, and his face was obviously struggling not to break out into a proud smile. Skyle couldn¡¯t help but smile himself as he saw that even the gruff looking owner of ¡°Interspinus & Son¡± had vulnerable moments when his paternal love and pride gushed through the cracks of his weathered face.


    ¡°Still, that¡¯s no reason to be casually lounging on your indolent ass cheeks and prattling your tongue off during a deluge like this.¡± Just like that, Lornius¡¯ mask was back on and the scowl returned in full force. ¡°Off with you, boy. The warehouse workers at gate three need an extra hand to unload the barley from Windmere Keep before the water gets through and it becomes a soggy mess.¡±


    Fatty¡¯s smug grin was instantly wiped away, and dismay dragged at his features. This, Skyle knew, was the reason Fatty had been so nervous when he heard his father¡¯s call.


    ¡°Well boy? The crates won¡¯t unload themselves. Now hustle!¡± Lornius barked, and Fatty groaned as he obediently stood up and trudged towards the swinging door of the warehouse.


    Turning around at the last moment to wave to Skyle, Fatty¡¯s face looked as miserable as if he were about to walk through the Maw of Hell itself. ¡°Candied corn is right there, Skyle. I¡¯ll be seeing you if I survive the next hour.¡±


    ¡°Hours,¡± Merchant Lornius corrected instantly, his tone flat.


    ¡°Hours,¡± Fatty echoed with a haunted look on his face, before dragging his feet across the warehouse¡¯s doors with slumped shoulders and a defeated gait.


    Lornius¡¯ gaze turned to Skyle next, but the scowl was completely gone. It had been replaced by the kindly smile that the merchant only showed when Fatty himself was not around.


    ¡°Glad you dropped by, Skyle. I¡¯d heard from your father that you were back safe and sound. It is good that you are well, but you must really refrain from worrying your parents so,¡± Merchant Lornius nodded to Skyle in acknowledgement. ¡°Usually, I don¡¯t mind you keeping Gordius company. In fact, I¡¯m grateful for it, as you¡¯re a good influence on my lazy son. Still, right now he¡¯s being punished for the latest foolhardy escapade he nearly pulled off. Do return later, won¡¯t you?¡±


    That last was accompanied by a wink and a conspiratorial grin, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but nod and smile back in return.


    ¡°Oh, before you leave, I believe my son was trying to sneak that package over there into your hands. It was meant for the son of Lord Altur, but somehow it became inexplicably ''lost''. The compensation fees cost my son a pretty penny from his own savings and I gave him such a scolding for ¡®losing¡¯ the package that I boxed his ears until he looked more like a donkey than the fattened boar he usually resembles.¡±


    As Skyle picked up the package in question and felt the weight in his hands, his heart instantly sped up along with his excited breathing.


    Hurriedly unwrapping the package, Skyle stared as sudden tears threatened to burst from his eyes.


    A gentle hand came to rest upon Skyle¡¯s shoulders, and Lornius¡¯ voice came from his side in a surprisingly soft tone.


    ¡°It cost him well over six months¡¯ salary and even then, they¡¯re usually sold out long before they reach our province¡¯s markets. I had to give him a fierce talking to and an even harsher punishment, but seldom have I been so proud of my little boy.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s trembling hand carefully unfolded the oilskin package and held up the contents to his eyes. His gaze feasted upon the item that had been the stuff of dreams for the past year or so. Even then, he knew how difficult it was to acquire, and so it had remained a dream.


    Lornius¡¯ jeweled fingers gently wiped some of the moisture away from Skyle¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get wet before you have a change to wax it properly, son. I¡¯m sure you know better than me how to properly care for it. Attawan bowstrings are worth their weight in gold, but only if you properly care for them.¡±


    Skyle nodded numbly as he ran his disbelieving fingers over the bowswing coiled within his hand. The texture was surprisingly smooth, its grain so fine even though Skyle knew countless threads of sturdy sinew had been woven into it. So masterful was its crafting that it felt like a single string. The heavy heft of it in his hands alone told Skyle how valuable it was, but the weight upon his own heart was incomparably heavier.


    Skyle noticed that the package had already been opened, and a short length of the bowstring was already waxed. Recalling Fatty¡¯s feigned indifference when Skyle had first walked into the store, the small boy finally realized that his friend had likely been waxing the bowstring at the time. Likely, he had been preparing the gift when Skyle had stumbled in, and Fatty¡¯s uncharacteristically poor act of indifference had been because he had been flustered in fear that the package would be found before he was ready.


    Skyle felt ashamed that he had thought Fatty was simply trying to disguise the heavy labor the merchant¡¯s son had been subjected to as punishment. Maybe it was only fair that Skyle had made the assumption, for few people knew better than he did just how much Fatty abhorred physical labor.


    Long hours hauling heavy crates was no easy task, especially for one in as poor a physical condition as Fatty. In spite of all that, his friend had still painstakingly been waxing this bowstring. Doing so was a time-consuming, taxing task that strained your patience as much as your stamina.


    ¡°Gordius will likely be upset that I ruined his surprise, but his fingers are already weak enough with the tasks he handles in the warehouse. I¡¯m afraid he might botch the job in his eagerness to present the gift to you as soon as possible, but he¡¯s too proud to ask for my help. I wonder where he gets that from,¡± Lornius sighed, scratching his beard.


    Skyle shook his head as he clutched the package in his hands to his chest.


    Smiling in approval, Lornius gave the little boy an encouraging pat on the back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad, Skyle. In some ways, you¡¯re even more remarkable than that old fox that is your father. What I said earlier were not just empty words. You are a true blessing in my son¡¯s life.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s confusion must have been obvious on his face, as Lornius¡¯ smile was one of chagrin as he explained.


    ¡°Little Gordius is clever, sometimes too clever for his own good. I worry that life has become all too easy for him. Already, you can see how he twists the lives of the people in town around his little fingers as though they were his playthings. I may be old, but I¡¯m not blind nor deaf, Skyle. I know of Gordius¡¯ reputation, and I know that they¡¯ve been downplayed, if anything.¡±


    Skyle nodded in rapt silence, as he had never seen such depth in Lornius Interspinus¡¯ craggy exterior.


    ¡°Little does my son know, victory is not everything in life. At times, adversity is more precious than any amount of success. This precious bit of wisdom, I have earned with long years of my own suffering.¡±


    Shaking his head and sighing deeply, Lornius¡¯ eyes became lost in the distance. He seemed to be gazing far into the past, to memories that were still vivid though the river of time had washed so many other things away.


    ¡°I know why Gordius has no friends except for you, Skyle. He looks down on everyone and everything. Truthfully, half the time I can barely keep up with my own son. Already, he¡¯s running my own business twice as well as I ever could during my best days. I can barely hold on to my authority as his father to try to guide and nurture him as best I can. Sadly, I know I¡¯m figting a losing battle. Time waits for no one. He¡¯s fast approaching a point where he will realize that his old man is just that, nothing but an old man left behind by the times and with nothing to his name but a few stacks of gold and one son to carry on his legacy.¡±


    Skyle jumped up at that, shocked at the revelation that Merchant Lornius, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in town, could have such a vulnerable side too.


    Lornius shook his head, a wry, self-deprecating smile on his face.


    ¡°You may look upon me as Lornius Interspinus, the wealthy man who built up his own successful mercantile company from nothing but dirt and the rank stink of hides at a tannery shop in some speck of a village. Most everyone in Sunny Meadow does. Only rare individuals like your father can see past all that, and truly see and weigh an individual for what really matters.¡±


    ¡°These are just trinkets,¡± Lornius continued, lifting his hands in front of Skyle¡¯s face. Each of his fingers bore rings encrusted with precious stones that glittered with dazzling light. ¡°Just like the thin veneer of civilization all men bear in the grand masquerade that is life in our cultured society. I know you don¡¯t understand now, but you will someday. Your father will see to that. He¡¯s a great man, your father, and like all such great men, he bears a great many secrets. Like I said, time waits for no one. Your latest accident has likely served as an ungentle reminder that the time is fast approaching when your father¡¯s mask will fall away as well.¡±


    Skyle gazed at Lornius¡¯ gravely face, still incomprehending.


    Lornius sighed deeply and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m becoming maudlin in my old age, young Skyle. I have spoken too much. Let me just say that I am grateful that little Gordius has friends like you by his side, especially in the dark times that lie ahead. Please, look after my son. He may be smart, but his heart is willful and foolish. Much as I¡¯ve tried my very best, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve been far more remiss in looking after my own son than your father has been with you.¡±


    Skyle looked down briefly at Fatty¡¯s precious gift that still lay clutched tightly in his hands. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m afraid it is mostly Gordon who looks after me rather than the other way around.¡±


    Lornius smiled condescendingly at Skyle, as though he were indulging a child¡¯s sweet innocence. For once, Skyle did not mind at all. He really felt lost and confused as a small child right now.


    ¡°Coins and rare items, no matter how costly they may be, are in the end mere trinkets. The true gifts between men are the compromises they make for each other, and the lasting mark they leave upon another¡¯s life. Remember that, boy.¡±


    Skyle nodded, feeling like the words contained a profound truth that he could not fully grasp yet.


    Lornius smiled with a satisfied look upon his face. ¡°You¡¯re a good kid, Skyle. If I say I¡¯m proud of my little Gordius, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing compared to how your old man feels about you. Don¡¯t ever make the mistake of thinking otherwise just because we old men are too foolish to say it ourselves.¡±


    ¡°I know, sir.¡± Skyle answered calmly. At least this much, Skyle did know. Even though his father might bemoan the callous nature of the cruel fate which had saddled him with three insufferably lazy, spoiled and dull children, Skyle knew that deep down Kendric Farrow loved each of his children to pieces. This simple truth held even more strongly for Skyle.


    Most siblings would always wonder and argue as to who was the favorite among their parents¡¯ children. Even the Farrow children had done so many times, each arguing their case in the face of the others¡¯ skeptical doubts.


    Skyle, however, secretly harbored a deep, steady assurance that he was, in fact, the favorite child. This belief held true with both his father and his mother. There were many clues to the fact, and his parents had never really overtly favored him over their other children. In fact, Kendric Farrow would constantly tell each of his children, both in private and out in the open, that they were his one and only favorite child. Adrienne Farrow, in the other hand, never took sides and always displayed her unconditional love towards each of her children in equal portions.


    Still, Skyle knew that he was the favorite one. This deep-seated certainty came not from grand declarations or obvious acts, but rather from the small details that Skyle had picked up along the years. From the look in their eyes when they thought he wasn¡¯t watching, to the subtle emotions hidden underneath seemingly casual words, Skyle had felt this burning, steadfast love and had come to bask in it.


    Perhaps Lornius was able to see a hint of this rock steady confidence in Skyle¡¯s eyes, as the older man seemed taken aback for a moment. Then he nodded to Skyle and patted his back.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. That¡¯s very good. Make sure you never forget this. Sometimes love is the only enduring thing that a person can leave behind,¡± Lornius said with a longing look in his eyes.


    Skyle knew he was probably thinking about Fatty¡¯s mother, whom Skyle had never met. Her identity was a great mystery in all of Sunny Meadow. Just from the fact that Merchant Lornius had never remarried in spite of the constant stream of interested female parties besieging the rich, powerful man, anyone could see that he still loved her.


    Lornius smiled awkwardly as he caught Skyle¡¯s look, and gently nudged the boy forward.


    ¡°Rain¡¯s slowly letting up, and I believe the academy should open its doors soon. Off you go now, little fellow. Go before this old man makes a complete fool of himself.¡±


    ¡°Never, sir. Da always said you were a man worthy of his respect, and I can see why.¡± Skyle shook his head firmly.


    ¡°Shoo, little boy. And don¡¯t forget to take the candied corn for your little princess.¡±


    ¡°Empress, sir.¡± Skyle corrected almost automatically.


    Lornius chuckled helplessly then. ¡°Really, now?¡±


    Skyle shrugged awkwardly, embarrassed in spite of himself. ¡°She read it in some book that princesses always need rescuing while an Empress gets busy ordering that heads be chopped off. She seemed to take a particular liking to that last part, and ever since she insists she will be an empress.¡±


    Lornius waved Skyle off while guffawing in laughter. ¡°Convey my humble greetings to her Imperial Highness then, and watch your step out there, little Skyle. It¡¯s a long way from farm boy to Imperial Prince.¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes with flushed cheeks, but sped off with both the corn and Fatty¡¯s gift in his hands.


    It was time to render tribute unto his Empress, after all.


    God help him if he so happened to be late by a single breath.

 Chapter 63 - The Double-edged Sword of Fame

    Chapter 63 - The Double-edged Sword of Fame


    Carefully arranging the hood of his cloak so as to shield himself from the worst of the downpour, Skyle did his best to avoid crushing the delicate kernels of candied corn he carried under his cloak. It made his chest puff up from the bulk that lay upon his chest, but the discomfort was all worth it when he thought of how little Kass¡¯ face would light up whenever she nibbled at the sweet confections.


    In those brief, private instances, his baby sister would momentarily shed the aloof figure of the vaunted genius standing at the top of this branch of the Aegis Academy. Instead, she once again became his little kitten Kass. Skyle was surprised by just how much he had missed this simple daily ritual.


    When Skyle finally came within sight of the impressive spires of Aegis Academy, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a low whistle. By all rights, he should have long become used to the sight of the slender towers that stabbed well over two hundred feet into the sky.


    He was not. It seemed like there were things that you just could never quite get used to.


    Every time he gazed upon the vivid streams of flickering green light dancing over the alabaster surface of the Altars of Sylph, the wind element, Skyle felt a sweeping sense of awe rise within his chest. Each tower gracefully curled into a spiral shape while their bases lay upon the corners of a formation that took the shape of an equilateral triangle. It resembled the hand of a three fingered giant rising from the earth to grasp at the power of the skies. Thick snakes of green lightning flickered all over their surface as the altars drew upon the concentrated power of the wind element. It was an awesome sight to behold each and every time, and Skyle couldn¡¯t imagine ever getting tired of it.


    Next to the three Altars of Sylph, the crimson glow of the Altars of Ignius could be seen reflected from the shower of raindrops falling from the sky. Though at five stories high they were much shorter in comparison to the Altars of Sylph, both Altars of Ignius emanated a much more intense light. Scarlet shadows constantly danced upon the clouds swirling in the air above the area. They reflected light from the fires churning all along the surface of two sprawling structures that gave off an imposing aura. Skyle had been told that if one climbed the Altars of Sylph and looked down, the twin Altars of Ignius each resembled a teardrop that merged against each other and formed a perfect circle.


    The fiery skies churning above the Altars of Ignius were nothing, however, compared to the shimmering cascade of blue radiance that overwhelmed everything else in the skies above Aegis Academy at the moment. Directly opposite from the reddish glow of the Altars of Ignius stood a single dome that rose over a hundred feet high at its apex. The massive structure formed a perfect sphere that swayed up and down in a gentle rocking motion. Most regular folks would never have the opportunity to pass through the doors of the academy, so they simply had no way of knowing that the Altar of Ao-Nix, the water element, lay suspended over a large pool of water. It danced in eddies that formed fascinating patterns upon its surface. Many a student would simply lose track of time as they became entranced by this lake that had been blessed by the water element¡¯s touch.


    In a rainy day like this, the Altar of Ao-Nix easily stole the show. Thousands of water droplets flew towards the massive altar as though drawn by a primordial summons. Upon contact, each drop would instantly merge into the swirling vortex of water that layered the entire structure. During a storm such as today¡¯s, the radiance of Ao-Nix¡¯ elemental power drawn by the altar was simply too eye-catching to miss. Skyle was certain that every student hoping to one day become a water elementalist would be shaking with excitement as they rushed to enter the Altar of Ao-Nix and draw inspiration to further the growth of their own elemental powers.


    In comparison to the breathtaking majesty of each of the Elemental Altars, the elegant marble arch that decorated the main entrance of Aegis Academy seemed to pale by comparison. This was unfair in the extreme, since if one were to take the power of the elements out of the equation, the grand Arch of Aegis was easily one of the most beautiful structures in all of Sunny Meadow.


    Upon its elegant curves were the lifelike representations of the legend of Aegis, the immortal serving as the right hand of Litheon, the patron deity of Justice, Order and Law. According to myth, Litheon was born blind, that his judgment may always be fair and just. In his right hand he wielded Axuros, the edgeless sword whose bite no shield could resist. In his left hand he bore Aegis, the invisible shield which no spear could ever hope to pierce.


    After aeons serving the God of Justice, Aegis had become an immortal spirit himself, gaining sentience and faithfully serving his master as a bulwark against all evil until his heroic death during the apocalyptic Fall of the Gods.


    The original Arch of Aegis stood tall at the entrance of the ancestral grounds of the academy at Glory Peak, but each branch facility had a perfect replica sculpted by the hands of a master earth elementalist. Such experts could effortlessly carve stone with their bare hands as though parting water.


    Right above the entrance lay the academy¡¯s three enduring principles engraved in the old tongue:


    ¡°Veritas, Fortitudo et Constantia.¡±


    Truth, courage and perseverance.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he stopped for a moment under the shadow of these three words. Once upon a time, it had been one of his most cherished dreams to be able to enter the Arch of Aegis Academy and one day become one of its brightest stars. Long before his siblings had been tested, Skyle had once been a wide-eyed child brimming with barely contained excitement while he awaited the day of his elemental affinity test.


    Each year every academy across all the lands held elemental affinity testings in front of their main gates. Satisfying the requisite level of talent in the elements allowed one to lift his head up high and cross under the main arch of the institution under the elated gazes of friends and family. Such an act marked the establishment of a covenant between the academy in question and the young boy or girl. They would thereafter enter the school¡¯s ranks and devote their energies and talents to the furthering of their elemental talents, that one day they might bring glory and honor to their academy.


    The academy one attended was perhaps one of the most influential decisions in a person¡¯s life. This was not limited to the resources and staff available for the education of the student. That was only one aspect of the academy system. Far more significant were the many doors that would open to graduates depending on the different tiers into which each academy fell. Alumni associations branched across every facet of civil government and military command. In fact, one of the first questions any prospective candidate for a sought after position received would be which academy he had attended and its tier.


    Tier 5 academies were considered low ranked schools. Usually it was the most a decently talented child from a middle class family could afford. Everyone below this simple cutoff line would never see the inside of an academy in their entire lives.


    Tier 4 academies belonged to the middle rank institutions. Children of well off merchants and minor nobles who had fallen upon hard times would attend such institutions. They would have histories spanning perhaps two or three decades. The more successful ones might have a single elemental altar within its grounds, usually that of the strongest representative element of their school.


    A tier 3 academy was a place only the wealthy or powerful could attend. They would have one or two elemental altars, and a precious few would even count a Mortal ranked elementalist among its faculty - usually the dean.


    Tier 2 academies were the place for the elite. Students joining such prestigious institutions would have either astounding talent or deep reservoirs of wealth and social connections. Usually catering only to the children of major noble houses, even the wealthiest merchant families could only dream of one day sending their offspring to such a place. Such renowned institutions had little use for gold, however. They valued talent far more, and were willing to invest significant resources to nurture geniuses. These academies would have one or more altars devoted to each element, as well as a number of Mortal level elementalists devoted to their own elemental school. Many even had a Sage level expert, usually serving as the dean or head instructor.


    Each Tier 2 academy boasted a storied past stretching back to at least a century or more. There were only seven such institutions across the whole of the Empire, and Aegis Academy was one of them.


    As for Tier 1 academies, even in the Empire there were only two, and both were located at the capital city, Solaria. They had no branches anywhere else, and even Skyle had only heard rumors and legends about them.


    Skyle himself had once hoped to join a Tier 2 academy. In his most precious and private dreams, he had dared to dream of even a Tier 1 academy. Those dreams had been crushed flat when he took the examinations right in front of this arch, a little over five years ago. He could still recall the bitter tears that had slid down his face when he had been told by the examiner that he was a freak and a cripple. He could still vividly recall the man¡¯s open disgust and disdain as he literally kicked Skyle away.


    Of course, his father had instantly pounced forward and had barely been held back by the other adults while the examiner had crawled back with a bloodless face and shaking legs. It had been a cold comfort to a child whose dream had been mercilessly chewed to pieces and spat back upon his own face.


    No, he decided. He was past all this. He had to stop feeling sorry for himself. He was practically an adult now, and he would not let this festering sense of regret hold him back anymore. What was past was past, as simple as that. He needed to focus on the future.


    Each time he crossed the Aegis Arch, Skyle would utter the same promises to himself. Every time, he still found himself sighing and hanging his head down as he walked past the wealthy elite who made up the student body of the academy he could never join.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    This time, Skyle vowed silently to himself, he would walk tall and with his head unbowed. He had undergone a baptism of blood and fire in Sanctuary, and he was no longer a little boy. Skyle resolved firmly within his own heart that he would face the realities of this world head on, no matter how painful or distressing they were.


    It was the rite of passage from a boy to a grown man.


    Endowed with this renewed sense of pride and determination, Skyle nodded with familiarity to the two guards who stood vigil over the Arch. They nodded back and allowed him to pass uncontested, even though he was not wearing the academy¡¯s uniform.


    ¡°Hey, how come you¡¯re letting that raggedy boy walk right through?¡± complained a nasally voice behind his back.


    Skyle paused for a moment as he glanced back over his shoulder.


    As usual, there was a small crowd gathered at the Aegis Arch. Some were the families of students who had come to pick up their children, much like Skyle himself had. Of course, they had to wait outside while Skyle had been granted free passage into the school. It was only one of the numerous perks that had been offered to his baby sister. For her, it had been as simple as mentioning it in passing to one of the school''s instructors, and the very next day every guard of Aegis instantly recognized Skyle and let him through without a word.


    Most of the remaining people milling outside were simply passers-by who had been enchanted by the captivating sights of the elemental altars and the power they emanated. A smaller minority were part of the growing crowd of sightseers and tourists who had become a blight to the peace and quiet of Sunny Meadow.


    The young man who had spoken up belonged to the latter group. His flashy clothes immediately would have told Skyle this much, added to the fact that he couldn¡¯t recognize the man¡¯s face. Though Skyle could not possibly remember the faces of every townsman of Sunny Meadow, he at least knew the families of nearly every student of the local branch of Aegis Academy by now.


    People like him could only mill about outside of the Arch, vying against the crowds of people to get a better view of what little of the academy grounds could be glimpsed from the outside


    Skyle could only smile bitterly to himself. Not too long ago, he would have been one of those people who could only stand outside and watch enviously at the fortunate few who had earned the privilege of crossing the Arch. Now, he stood on the other side of the Aegis Arch. This was a dividing line that marked the difference between the exalted and the mundane.


    Diamonds and pebbles.


    Did this make Skyle a semi-precious stone, he wondered?


    ¡°Maybe I barely qualify as a pretty shard of glass. Shiny on the outside, but ultimately flawed within and destined to be shattered. I¡¯m not even deserving of anything like envy, since I cross this arch not by my own merits, but only thanks to the talent of my little brother and sister,¡± Skyle thought wryly.


    This was another aspect that he would never become used to, he supposed. Each time he crossed under the Arch and entered academy grounds, he felt a lurch within his chest as he thought of how ill-fated he was with the power of the elements and the academies which represented the peak of their pursuit within the human realms.


    Not this time, however. Today, things would change. He was not the same Skyle as before, and here he would prove it. Matching words to actions, Skyle raised his head proudly and began to walk forward with long, confident strides.


    ¡°Hey guards, I asked you a question. How come that little boy just walked right in?¡± the same guy asked.


    ¡°You fool, you don¡¯t even know who that is and you dare to spout off nonsense here? Crawl back to whatever hole you came from before you embarrass yourself further,¡± another voice replied in an acid tone.


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know he was that famous,¡± came the more subdued voice of the young man.


    Chuckling to himself, Skyle supposed he might as well enjoy what little fame he could, even if it was not his own. He didn¡¯t mind his baby brother and sister shining bright at the top, even if they happened to cast a long shadow over him.


    ¡°You dolt, of course he¡¯s famous. He¡¯s here practically every afternoon to pick up Kassandra Farrow!¡± the other person berated.


    ¡°Oh, Kassandra Farrow, the dual element genius! I heard the Water School and Wind School are still bickering over each other to try to get her to join them. Even after one year, she has not made a decision and yet, both schools remain wide open to her.¡± the young man gasped breathlessly, clearly in awe.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s only to be expected of such a rare talent. She¡¯s only been studying part time at Aegis for one year, yet she¡¯s already a 9th level Initiate mage. She¡¯s on the verge of breaking through to the Adept stage and she¡¯s barely 9 years old!¡±


    ¡°Heavens, I¡¯m only a low level initiate warrior myself,¡± the young man mumbled, aghast.


    Skyle himself was shocked. Kass rarely spoke about her Academy affairs, and certainly nothing about her elemental powers. The family rarely spoke on the topic, and Skyle felt this was largely his own fault. Everyone knew how obsessed he was with trying to awaken his elemental powers, and his baby sister was especially sensitive on the topic. He could tell she felt guilty about her own prowess in spite of Skyle¡¯s repeated urgings to the contrary.


    Skyle knew that Kass had entered at the 4th level of the Initiate stage after being tested. The authorities at Aegis had bemoaned the fact that her talent had been discovered so late, and even secretly blamed their parents for neglecting such a bright prospect. They felt such careless negligence was almost criminal.


    Yet now, only a year of half-time studies at the Academy, the little Empress of the Farrow family had already advanced to the peak 9th level of the Initiate stage?


    It would be a lie if Skyle said he did not feel bitter at the inevitable comparison. Still, he was glad that mostly his heart was filled with joy for his baby sister¡¯s talent. Though he did grow concerned at the fact that Kass had not even dropped a hint of such an important fact. Did his parents know about this? Reik surely did. Was Skyle the only one kept in the dark?


    ¡°How could you compare yourself to Kassandra Farrow?¡± The stranger continued in a reverential tone. ¡°Her status at this Aegis Academy branch is unmatched because they believe she will awaken as a summoner one day. With her high elemental affinity levels, it¡¯s more of a matter of when rather than if.¡±


    ¡°A summoner from own very own province. And at such a young age, what would that mean?¡± Another voice sighed out loud.


    ¡°No wonder she¡¯s so special.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s on a completely different world from the rest of us normal folk. Why, for example that boy you just mentioned. He always dutifully escorts her and her twin brother after she finishes her studies for the day.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I had no idea, hahah,¡± came the awkward, self-conscious chuckle from the newcomer. ¡°So, who is he?¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes. Here we go again, he thought. Big brother Skyle, riding the coattails of his baby siblings¡¯ fame and fortune.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡± the other man replied in a smug, self-important tone. ¡°He comes to pick them up every day and walks them home. Of course he¡¯s the family¡¯s butler!¡±


    Skyle stumbled in his step and nearly fell to the ground.


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡± the young man said thoughtfully. ¡°Yeah, now that I think about it, that makes perfect sense. No wonder. I heard Kassandra Farrow is as beautiful as a porcelain doll and young Reikard Farrow has the bearing of a noble knight-to-be, which is why I couldn¡¯t really associate that average looking boy with either one of them. Besides, those rags he''s wearing hardly look fitting for even the lowliest servant of an Aegis student.¡±


    The ¡®knowledgeable¡¯ guy scoffed loudly. ¡°Well, I heard Kassandra¡¯s parents are eccentric and bought an elenium farm to blend in with the locals. That butler boy was probably part of the package. How else could such a mundane little creature have any other type of relation to the little star of Aegis Academy?¡±


    Skyle caught himself running a hand over his face with a heavy scowl, wondering if perhaps the punch he had taken earlier had been a lot heavier than he had thought. Surely, he was no looker like his siblings but he wasn¡¯t that far off either, no?


    ¡°You fool, how could you think he¡¯s a buttler? I can¡¯t believe you don¡¯t even know who Skyle is, and you stand there pretending to be an expert,¡± a new voice cut in forcefully.


    ¡°Oh, and you know?¡± came the skeptical query.


    ¡°Of course I do. I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m one of the original members of the Kassandra Farrow Fan Club! I¡¯d die of embarrassment if I couldn¡¯t even recognize that boy!¡±


    ¡°So, out with it. Who is he?¡±


    Well, Skyle supposed he might as well take solace in the fact that at least one person would set matters straight.


    ¡°He¡¯s the Farrow family¡¯s pageboy. I see him all the time, most often when he brings little bundles of food for his young masters. He¡¯s always cringing as Kassandra berates him for not bringing the proper amount. He probably sneaks a few bites himself, which is why Kassandra is always so displeased with him.¡±


    Skyle stumbled yet again, which was strange considering the fact that the path he was walking on was perfectly flat with not a single rock obstructing his way.


    ¡°Head up high, Skyle. Ignore them, you¡¯re better than this. You''re almost an adult. Time to show the strength of your resolve. Just pretend you can¡¯t hear them and keep walking.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you great, flaming idiot, you don¡¯t even know him and you dare to call yourself a member of the Kassandra Farrow Fan Club? I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯m one of the co-leaders of the local club, and I don¡¯t recall ever seeing your face at any of our meetings!¡± A furious voice denounced.


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m a member of the Glory Peak chapter of the club. I come to Sunny Meadow from time to time for business and use the opportunity to visit the academy here whenever I can.¡± came the slightly apologetic words.


    ¡°I knew it, you big city folks really besmirch the good name of the KFFC. How could you claim to be a devoted fan when you don¡¯t even recognize Skyle Farrow?¡±


    ¡°What? They share a last name? Wait, that common looking boy couldn¡¯t possibly be-¡±


    Skyle nearly wept tears of gratitude and his back straightened up as he thought that at least someone had recognized him, even if they kept insisting on talking about him as though he wasn¡¯t standing right there in front of them and within easy earshot.


    ¡°Yep,¡± continued the smug voice of the same person. ¡°He¡¯s Skyle Farrow, the adopted child of Kendric and Adrienne Farrow. Truly a case of the ugly duckling entering the swans nest.¡±


    Skyle flailed his arms as he stumbled once again and barely managed to find his footing before he could brain himself on the cobbled pathway under his feet.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m adopted now? You¡¯re the adopted stepchild of a fornicating goat! Ugly duckling? Your mother!¡± Skyle growled in his head.


    Skyle covered his ears with his hands as he practically fled away as quickly as his feet could take him, but he couldn¡¯t help but catch the sniggers from the guards standing by the Arch.


    ¡°Oh Kass, if only you knew the great tribulations your ¡®adopted¡¯ ¡®ugly duckling¡¯ brother has to go through for your sake,¡± Skyle moaned to himself, thinking that every time he crossed the Aegis Arch he would resolve in his heart to put away any feelings of self-pity or regret.


    Great was his dismay as he realized that he was now drowning in equal measures of both, even if it was for all the wrong reasons.

 Chapter 64 - Angry Faces Frowny Laces

    Chapter 64 - Angry Faces Frowny Laces


    After practically fleeing from the Aegis Arch, Skyle rapidly traversed through the wide, sweeping grounds of the academy. The walls of the entire compound might very well rival the entirety of Sunny Meadow in its grand scope. Sunny Meadow had been built painstakingly brick by brick, but Aegis Academy had been erected using powerful spells matrices and magical constructs. While a small town like Sunny Peak could never afford that kind of luxury, such expenses were trifling to a tier 2 academy of the Empire.


    Skyle could easily see the difference from regular craftsmen¡¯s work in how smooth each block of stone was where it intersected with the next. There was practically no seam nor mortar visible holding them together, yet they had been built to withstand magical spells of class 3 or above. That meant a massive firestorm like the one Leon had cast in Sanctuary against the spider army would hardly even scorch these buildings. This ensured that the whole academy was safe and secure against attacks by a Master level mage even without any of its defensive spell formations.


    Many youths could be seen sitting on benches along pathways lined with beautifully trimmed flowers and graceful statues slick with the rain. These youths chatted animatedly as they completely ignored the pouring rain. The storm did not concern them at all. Not one hair on their heads was even a little damp, and no hints of moisture could be found on their brightly colored robes.


    Raindrops descended from the clouds above and stopped a few inches from their skin, where they would show different results depending on each individual¡¯s talent. Some gracefully slid off a faintly visible barrier that glimmered blue. Other raindrops hissed lightly as they bounced away, repelled by an invisible force while a few errant drops evaporated into the air the moment they came into contact with a reddish field of energy. A dozen different spells and abilities were at work here, mostly mages showing off their abilities. Elemental warriors could easily ignore the rain, as their strengthened physiques had little to worry from a little rain. Still, no one wanted to slop around the campus grounds looking like a drowned puppy.


    Already, Skyle was drawing countless eyes in his direction. Nearly all of them knew who he was, and thus didn¡¯t challenge his presence. Still, there was a combination of disdain and jealousy in those gazes. Every negative emotion that these scions of rich and powerful houses did not dare express towards Kass and Reik naturally were channeled towards their useless big brother.


    After all, who could blame an exalted elite student from Aegis Academy for looking down upon a farm boy with not an ounce of elemental power? This, more than anything, seemed to define the whole worth of a human being in Aerian society.


    Skyle was used to such attitudes by now, so he let them slide off his skin just as easily as those pretentious student mages repelled the rainwater. He might occasionally struggle with his own feelings of frustration and depression from his disability, but he could care less about the biased scorn of these spoiled brats.


    He knew the way by heart, but the academy was so massive in its scale that it still took a good long while before he finally entered the courtyard of Altar of Ao-Nix. As he did, he could only look helplessly at the crowd gathered here before plunging headfirst into the milling mass of people and simply forcing his way through.


    Beyond the courtyard lay a massive expanse of water. The grand Altar of Ao-Nix was suspended over a huge artificial lake. Several shimmering bridges of a tough, yet slightly flexible metal spanned the length of the Lake and led up into the altar itself. Usually, many students would spend their idle time leaning against the side rails of these bridges and gazing into the crystal clear waters of this lake. Its waters constantly swirled in fascinating patterns which legends said contained the secrets of Ao-Nix, Water Spirit itself.


    Today, no one leaned against the railings nor did they gaze upon the lake. They were too excited to do such a thing. Skyle should have expected this. During a storm like this, the water element saturated the air on these bridges until even a cripple like him imagined he could feel the cool, soothing elemental energy tickling the tip of his nose. He couldn¡¯t begin to imagine what it would be like inside the Altar itself. All these students were queuing up to enter the altar up ahead. Skyle could already see the frustration on the faces of many as they realized their chances of making it inside before the storm subsided were slim.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he mumbled as he gracefully stepped around the bigger bodies and delicately nudged the smaller to one side. He was making a beeline for the Altar¡¯s entrance, all the while standing on his tiptoes and trying to peer over the heads of the gathered throng. Many of the people he walked past let out dissatisfied noises, but he was past caring.


    He had spotted his objective.


    Fanning a delicate hand to shake a few water droplets from her sleeve, Kassandra Farrow was the very image of a fairy descended from a magical realm. She was dressed in voluminous robes of an azure shade that complemented the color of her eyes perfectly. They billowed out in the wind along with stray strands of her sun streaked hair, reinforcing the ethereal feeling she effortlessly gave off.


    Her usual crowd of followers were gathered in a tight semicircle behind her, full of supplicating gazes and ingratiating smiles. Reik stood by her side as usual, looking every bit like the knights he idolized as he stood in watchful vigilance by her side. Both their parents and Skyle himself had made her twin sister¡¯s safety his responsibility within academy grounds, and Reik took to such a charge with the same earnestness he applied to every other aspect of his life.


    As Skyle drew closer, voices began to drift over from the crowd surrounding Kass.


    ¡°Kassandra, please. You must simply let me have the honor of casting a mist shield upon you. I just learned it a couple months ago, and it is nothing as crude as the water shield most sophomores are still stuck with. I guarantee that you will feel nothing but a pleasant breeze, and not a single strand of your beautiful hair will be marred by even one drop of rain.¡± A handsome boy who was around the same age as Skyle placed a hand on his chest as he entreated Kass.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, Sean. I¡¯ve already told you I don¡¯t need you to follow me outside. In fact,¡± Kassandra swept her gaze at the small crowd shadowing her footsteps. ¡°I distinctly recall politely requesting that you absent yourselves from my presence for the time being.¡±


    Uncomfortable looks filled the faces of the youths, boys and girls who were likely near the top of their respective classes. Almost invariably, they had that haughty look of self-importance every snobbish kid picked up after a lifetime of privileged excess.


    ¡°But Kassandra..¡±


    ¡°We meant no offense..¡±


    ¡°Surely, you wouldn¡¯t mind..¡±


    A half dozen different protests rang out, causing Kass to close her eyes and lean her head back. She produced a beautiful fan from within the folds of her robe and delicately fanned her face with it, looking as though she wanted to massage her temples. In truth, only Skyle and Reik knew what she really wanted to do was throw the fan at the faces of each and every one of these annoying brats and leave a clear imprint of her foot on their silk-laden behinds while at it.


    Skyle snickered at the sight and waved his hand. Kass didn¡¯t see him, but Reik did. His affable expression was ruined by the enthusiastic grin that lit up his face as he waved back. He tapped Kass lightly on the arm, tilting his head in Skyle¡¯s direction with an ¡°I told you so¡± smirk.


    Kass followed her twin brother¡¯s gaze. As soon as she spotted Skyle, her brow grew stormy and her eyes glittered with a dangerous light. Her lips parted as though she wished to say something, but then she seemed to reconsider. Instead, she squared her shoulders with a minuscule shake of her head and stepped out into the rain.


    The crowd gasped as raindrops began to fall upon Kass¡¯ unprotected head, but she did not seem to mind as she moved forward with a stately calm that would have looked strange on any other nine year old girl. Kass embraced this attitude so firmly that it looked natural and graceful on her.


    As they reached Skyle, he brought out the two cloaks he had folded under his arm, shaking a few drops of moisture loose.


    ¡°Hey baby si-¡± Skyle began, then caught the murderous look in his baby sister¡¯s eyes and coughed. ¡°I mean, hello Kassandra.¡±


    ¡°Kass will do,¡± she replied coolly, stretching her hand forward to take the cloaks. ¡°I told you repeatedly not to come fetch me, especially under such weather. You should be resting. I won¡¯t have you getting sick and become an annoya-¡±


    The rest of the sentence was cut short as another hand slapped the cloaks away from Skyle¡¯s hand, sending them hurtling to the ground. They landed in a small puddle of murky water.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Skyle followed the hand to its owner and barely managed not to roll his eyes in exasperation.


    Handsome boy, whom Kass had referred to as Sean, scowled towards Skyle with all the contempt a spoiled brat could muster after a lifetime of practice looking down his nose at thousands of children with much inferior talents than his.


    ¡°What are these rags, you filthy peasant. How dare you sneak onto academy grounds, you rat? Away with you before I call the guards,¡± Sean sneered, naked disgust on his face.


    Skyle didn¡¯t recognize this new face. Sean must be one of the new transfers. Seeing this perfect opportunity to show off his latest spell before his idol, pretty boy wouldn¡¯t let Skyle¡¯s cloaks ruin his moment and cause him to miss this golden chance.


    Indeed, Sean stepped forward and waved a hand with a swift motion so smooth and theatrical that it obviously had been rehearsed in front of a mirror countless times, just for this one occasion. A bright lattice of blue energy sprang to life over Kass¡¯ head, glowing faintly with a warm magical aura that repelled all the raindrops with ease.


    Sean glanced sideways towards Skyle with a supremely self-satisfied smirk, then turned to face Kass. An eager, expectant glow radiated from his face.


    ¡°Great, this again. Silly stuck up brats, happens every time they get new transfers,¡± Skyle sighed in his head, bending to pick up the cloaks so he could shake them clean before they got too dirty.


    A firm hand on his wrist stopped him, and Skyle looked down in surprise to see Kass¡¯ tiny hand holding on to him with surprising strength.


    Kass¡¯ expression grew frosty. A chilly glow flashed in her icy blue eyes as she turned her gaze upon pretty boy. He recoiled as though he had been struck, shocked by the barely veiled hostility in his idol¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Sean Mallory, I learned Carillon¡¯s Art of the Curtains of Mist two weeks into my sophomore initiate class. I mastered it after one more week, and by the fourth I had already moved on to Leilitia¡¯s Greater Conjured Mystic Glass.¡±


    Sean Mallory¡¯s face grew paler by the word, looking as though he had been physically struck. His lips trembled uncontrollably as they parted open, trying desperately to apologize or beg for mercy.


    ¡°I- I- But I-¡± He began, stumbling over the words as his peers began to give him pitying looks.


    Kass did not give him the chance, speaking right over him and smothering any further protests. ¡°Do not interrupt me, I¡¯m not finished. You must have missed your courses on Basic Etiquette on top of Intermediate Waterweaving? Maybe your efforts would be better spent applying yourself to your spellcraft coursework instead of posing in front of a mirror all day.¡±


    Half-hearted laughter rang out amongst the crowd, but most were silent witnesses to this boy¡¯s lacerated ego.


    ¡°I- Ah, but Kassa-¡± Sean tried one last time, collapsing to his knees and looking on the verge of tears.


    ¡°That will be enough, Sean Mallory. I don¡¯t believe we will have a reason to ever speak face to face again. Good day, and good bye.¡±


    Gasps and tsking noises filled the air as people swiftly moved away from pretty boy. A ring of empty space was left around the kneeling, trembling figure of Sean Mallory. He looked lost and alone.


    ¡°Poor kid, he knows he blew it big time. He¡¯ll likely become an outcast now. Knowing Kass, she will never forgive him. I¡¯m gonna have to talk to her about it later,¡± Skyle sighed.


    Kass immediately turned her attention back to Skyle. Her blazing blue eyes seemed to be asking, ¡°What are you sighing about, you big lout?¡±


    Skyle shrugged his shoulders in a helpless gesture, trying to look as small and harmless as possible.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Law of the Jungle: when a bigger, meaner predator locks stares with you, you either run or roll over and play dead.¡± Skyle chuckled inside his head, but took care not to alter his facial expression one bit.


    It was still no use. Kass gave her older brother one last knowing look before rolling her eyes and shaking her head in frustration. She seemed to be asking, ¡°Why me?¡± to the uncaring heavens above.


    The skies gave no other response to the silent question other than to bring even more rain down upon her head.


    Skyle quickly made to crouch in order to get the cloaks. It wasn''t that he feared that Kass might catch a chill. Water elementalists had little to fear from a little rain. But he knew how much his baby sister valued her image, and at this pace she would soon join Skyle in looking like a drowned cat. However, Kass¡¯ hand once again stopped him in his tracks.


    Before he could do anything about it, Kass lifted both her hands to reach for the hood of his cloak. She gently pulled it over his head and adjusted it a few times before nodding with a vexed frown on her face.


    ¡°Angry faces, frowny laces,¡± Skyle mouthed silently. He couldn¡¯t help himself.


    Kass¡¯ face grew red like a beet, deep circles of color blooming on her fair skin. She patted the hood into place one final time, as though reassuring herself. Then she smiled sweetly at her older brother.


    A shiver ran down Skyle¡¯s spine, but before he could react Kass reached out under his cloak with her other hand. It was the one place the crowd couldn¡¯t see, and it was there that she twisted the skin over his ribs in a vicious pinch.


    Skyle bit his lips to stop himself from screaming.


    ¡°God, this vicious little kittens claws grow sharper every day. What is ma feeding her, iron files?¡±


    Kass quirked an inquisitive eyebrow at him. ¡°Anything the matter, dear older brother?¡±


    Skyle knew better than to complain. Besides, he had asked for it, and it did not go unnoticed that her hand still hovered dangerously close to his ribs. So, he quickly shook his head.


    Kass seemed to have expected this preemptive surrender. She was already bending down on her knees to carefully gather the crumpled cloaks on the ground in her hands. Ignoring the shocked gasps from the crowd around her, she shook the soiled garments in the air a few times before gently smoothing their fabric over her leg.


    A few people among the crowd looked like they wanted to step forward and help. A few even seemed to be considering casting a spell or two, but a furtive glance at the still kneeling figure of Sean Mallory quickly killed any such thoughts.


    Wet strands of shimmering hair lay pressed flat against Kass¡¯ tiny, heart-shaped face as she finally stood up and handed one of the cloaks to Reik. She spread the other one out and draped it over her own shoulders.


    Skyle instinctively moved to shift the cloak over her back and smoothed out the hood over her head, shaking off a few remaining spots of mud while doing so. Kass pretended not to notice as she drew the edges of the muddy cloak over her spotless azure robes with an air of cold indifference.


    ¡°Oh boy, she¡¯s mad at me again,¡± Skyle moaned inside his head. ¡°Can¡¯t just be because of Frowney Laces, can it? Then what did I do this time?¡±


    When Kass had been six, she had read a book about a princess who tied her head with a pair of magical ribbons. For weeks after, she would constantly pester Skyle to tie her hair with her favorite ribbon. At first he had happily indulged his baby sister, but then the request for ribbons had grown increasingly complex. God knows where a tiny pipsqueak of a girl found out the names and instructions for so many flaming ribbons.


    One night, when Skyle realized he had spent the last three hours learning and practicing how to tie an abomination called the Triple Fiorentine Inverse Sharfandel Stiletto Butterfly - just the name of that twice be damned ribbon made him wake up screaming in bed at night sometimes - Skyle had decided enough was enough. Knowing fully well that the little Empress¡¯ will was absolute within confines of the Farrow family, Skyle had gnawed his own fingernails raw all night to come up with a simple, yet elegant solution.


    His deliverance came in the form of a silly rhyme.


    ¡°Angry faces, frowny laces.¡±


    He would use the phrase to tease little Kass every time she was annoyed at something - which happened a lot. There were many things in Kasssandra Farrow¡¯s early life that the little Empress found not to her satisfaction. Most of them just so happened to be related to her older brother. This whole covert operation involved many sacrifices. Suffice to say, a lot of pinching and howling in the midst of tears was involved.


    At least, the rhyme had served its purpose and Kass had finally grown out of her obsession with ribbons. Operation code: ¡°Slay the Triple Fiorentine Inverse Sharfandel Stiletto Butterfly¡± was a resounding success.


    Thank god he never had to bring up that name again.


    To celebrate, Skyle had immediately taken that darned ribbon out back and buried it under two feet of soil, swearing he would go mad and frothing at the mouth if anyone asked him to tie so much as a Turquoise Turtle Shoelace knot.


    Yes, he knew how to tie it. Three different ways. One of them with only one hand and a blindfold across his eyes.


    Shuddering at the memory, Skyle snapped back to the present just at the right moment.


    Without even turning to look at him, Kass moved away at a stately walk. The mud-stained cloak, which had been rather shabby-looking in the first place, looked starkly out of place hanging from Kass¡¯ shoulders.


    ¡°It¡¯s like a fairy wearing a beggar¡¯s rags,¡± Skyle mused, absurdly proud of how cute his little sister looked even when she was boiling mad and blatantly ignoring him.


    Most of her fans fell away, as they seemed to detect Kass¡¯ stormy mood.


    ¡°Sensible fellows¡±, Skyle thought, rubbing the throbbing skin over his ribs where Kass had pinched him. ¡°Then again, if one day one of them ever marries that little minx - HA!¡±


    Skyle felt oddly pleased with the prospect of someone else being the object of his baby sister¡¯s fury for once.


    This was true, Skyle suddenly realized. Kassandra might have very demanding tastes, but she seldom lost her temper unless she was with Skyle. In fact, she never screamed, cursed, or pinched anyone else other than her older brother. Not even in the family. Reik never did anything deserving of such treatment, little saint that he was. He almost seemed like he could do no wrong. But that big scoundrel of a father they had? Surely he ought to have earned some of Kass¡¯ fury over the years?


    Yet the most she would do was glare with frosty indifference. That was the worst it had ever gotten. Just like that poor Sean fellow. Kass would never scream at or worse yet, physically attack others. She wouldn¡¯t lower herself to do so.


    It was only Skyle, her one and only older brother, that was deemed her official punching bag. The one who had been her playmate, her confidant, her guardian and yes, once upon a long, long time, her trusty steed. Though that was a secret that everyone in the Farrow family had solemnly promised to Skyle that they would take to their graves.


    It seemed like hardly a day would pass without Kass being mad at him for one reason or the other.


    Not that he was complaining.


    As Skyle threw an arm over Reik¡¯s shoulders and tousled his little brother¡¯s hair under the hood of the cloak, he sighed happily to himself. Skyle did not fully understand why, but his chest was bursting with a deep satisfaction that filled his heart to the brim at the moment.


    ¡°Angry faces frowny laces,¡± Skyle mumbled absently to himself.


    ¡°Huh? What was that, big bro?¡± Reik looked up, tilting his ear towards Skyle.


    Skyle simply laughed.


    He had seen Kass¡¯ tiny foot pause for just a second too long for it to be mere coincidence. Lowering her head to hide her expression, Kass¡¯ graceful steps suddenly became flustered. It only became worse after Skyle laughed even more.


    Kass was veritably stomping her feet in frustration with every step now, and Skyle was loving every second of it.


    ¡°You¡¯re being bad again, big bro,¡± Reik accused, but the smile on his face gave him away.


    ¡°Of course. Your big bro is a bad, bad man,¡± Skyle grinned back.


    Then they both started laughing, and the stomping only grew louder.

 Chapter 65 - The Wings of a Prayer

    Chapter 65 - The Wings of a Prayer


    Eventually, they drew away from the crowds and arrived at a more secluded spot. It was a round garden with trees planted all around its outer ring. Fluffy rose-colored flowers fluttered in the wind as willowy branches gently swayed back and forth.


    The trio took shelter under one particularly large tree. It was similar to all the other trees in the garden, only all its blossoms were a pristine white. Its slender leaves provided poor refuge from the rain, but for some reason Kass seemed very fond of this tree. Her smooth stride clearly indicated she was familiar with the place. Her cheeks puffed up as she blew upon an old chunk of drywood that lay by the tree. She wiped a hand across the drywood¡¯s surface before sitting down with a satisfied expression on her face. Skyle wanted to indulge her, so he said nothing as he leaned against the tree.


    The rain continued to fall, though it looked as though the worst of the storm was over. Skyle smiled as he reflected that it resembled Kass¡¯ temper. They would both erupt without warning, create a great commotion, then vanish just as quickly as they had come.


    After a long moment of silence, during which Kass pointedly ignored Skyle and avoided his gaze, he judged that enough time had finally trickled by. It was time for the storm to pass.


    ¡°Reik, this is a beautiful little garden. What¡¯s it called?¡± Skyle called out, though he was eyeing Kass.


    Reik smiled as he looked around. ¡°It¡¯s called the Garden of Prayers.¡±


    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s a meaningful name.¡± Skyle said with interest. ¡°Sounds like there¡¯s a story behind it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a great tale about the first dean of this branch of the Aegis Academy. He was a powerful, yet honorable man.¡± Reik said excitedly, his eyes aglow. His little brother loved this kind of story.


    Kass suddenly looked up as though she wanted to stop Reik. Then she caught Skyle looking at her. Huffing through her nose, she immediately turned her head away.


    ¡°They say he was not from the Empire, but rather a fierce warrior from a distant land.¡± Reik rubbed the palms of his hands as he began in a low voice. A flush covered his cheeks.


    ¡°He arrived at the Empire with grave wounds from a great battle. After he recovered, he asked the help of the Emperor to bring his wife and children to safety. The Emperor agreed, under the condition that the man promise to fight three battles under the Imperial Crest. The man quickly agreed, and the Emperor sent his armies to rescue the family. The warrior was overjoyed, and swore never to lift his sword again except for when the Emperor called, so that he could cherish the family he had almost lost. So he took up the position of dean in this academy.¡±


    ¡°A warrior? Not a mage?¡± Skyle interrupted briefly, surprised.


    Reik nodded, his voice full of fervor. ¡°He was still a great warrior, and it is said no mage could withstand his fierce sword.¡±


    ¡°Impressive,¡± Skyle commended.


    ¡°Right? Right?¡± Reik looked even more excited.


    ¡°So, what happened then? I assume that¡¯s not the end?¡± Skyle prompted.


    Shaking his head, Reik returned to his tale. ¡°After one year, the Emperor sent his crest, and the man honored his promise. Next year, another summons arrived, and the man faithfully answered the call. Then ten long years passed. One day, a message bearing the Imperial Crest finally arrived. By now the man was older, slower and weaker because he had kept his vow and hadn¡¯t touched his sword in all these years. Though his wife and children wept and begged him not to go, the dean was a man of his word and would not break his oath.¡±


    Reik¡¯s eyes glowed from within, and he seemed particularly moved by this last part.


    Skyle smiled indulgently as he waited for Reik to continue.


    ¡°The dean promised that he would return, and brought his wife to this garden. Here, he pointed to this tree, which was just a sapling back then. ¡®I planted this tree just last month, because something told me I would soon be going away. Don¡¯t worry, before the first bloom of this tree clothes it in your favorite crimson color, I will be back by your side. We will watch it together then.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Leaving those final words, he went away, and every night his wife would come before this tree to pray for his safe return. One year passed, then another. Soon it had been seven years without word. It was finally the night that the tree would finally bloom, and the man¡¯s wife cried disconsolately. Her children had long left their home to live their own lives, but the faithful wife had remained behind, waiting. Her husband had never broken his word, and so she had always believed he would one day return. Until tonight, when she knew the tree would finally bloom and her husband would never return.¡±


    ¡°Just as the tree was about to bloom, she heard footsteps coming from outside. She turned around and saw it was her husband, for whose return she had prayed every night. She ran and hugged him, and was overjoyed. Her husband didn¡¯t say a single word, and only hugged her back. It was then that the tree finally bloomed. Its petals were not red like the man had promised, but white instead. The wife looked up at the tree in confusion, but when she turned to ask her husband about it, he was no longer there.¡±


    ¡°The truth is he had fallen in a distant battle and had been dead all these years. Still, his ghost remained behind just so he could fulfill his promise to his wife who still waited for him after all these years. This tree saw the couple¡¯s faithfulness to each other, and asked God to allow them to meet for this single night. In exchange, it offered the prettiest color from its first bloom. God accepted and ever since then this tree has always borne white blossoms instead of red. That¡¯s why it is said than when this tree blooms white, you can pray for your loved ones and they will return to you safely.¡±


    ¡°It is Kass¡¯ favorite garden, as of four days ago,¡± Reik added with a wide grin.


    ¡°Reik!¡± An indignant protest came from Kass¡¯ direction, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Really? Is that true, baby sister?¡± Skyle said softly.


    ¡°This place just has really strong elemental resonance with my elements,¡± Kass mumbled, flustered. ¡°And how many times have I told you not to call me baby sister at the academy?¡±


    ¡°Many times, and I imagine many more in the days to come,¡± Skyle chuckled.


    ¡°Hmmph! And to think I wasted all those prayers on you,¡± Kass sniffed.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re my favorite little sister, Kass,¡± Skyle confessed, his face serious.


    ¡°I¡¯m your only sister, you big buffoon!¡± she cried.


    ¡°Which only proves how truthful my words are,¡± Skyle laughed and pulled Kass into his arms.


    She resisted, of course. She pushed and squirmed and struggled until she finally made a face of helplessness when she finally surrendered. Still, Skyle didn¡¯t miss the upward twitch of the corners of her little button mouth when she finally lay buried within his embrace.


    ¡°You know, you have a beautiful smile sis. You should let yourself do it more often,¡± Skyle observed, his chin resting upon the top of her head.


    ¡°Bully,¡± Kass murmured, her blushing face buried against his chest. ¡°Big, bad bully.¡±


    Skyle said nothing to that, and instead enjoyed the warmth of her breath snuggled next to his neck.


    After a long moment, Kass whispered something Skyle couldn¡¯t quite catch.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± He murmured.


    ¡°Corn..¡± Kass said before quickly burying her face in his chest once again.


    ¡°Oh, of course! How could I forget? It¡¯s right here,¡± Skyle patted the bulge under his arm. ¡°Ah, probably a little bit crushed. I have a little dragoness perched upon my- Owww!¡±


    Skyle rubbed at the red welt on his side. ¡°Fiercest claws you ever saw, too.¡±


    ¡°You better remember it next time you try to bully me,¡± Kass mumbled, using her hand to rub at her eyes. ¡°Now give me my candied corn. I haven¡¯t had any for the last three days!¡±


    The way she said it, it was as if she were talking about life-giving air or water.


    ¡°I heard Fatty swung by to give you some, but you didn¡¯t even go out to see him,¡± Skyle pointed out.


    Kass coughed a couple times, then cleared her throat. ¡°I- I have no recollection of that.¡±


    It was Skyle¡¯s turn to roll his eyes at his baby sister for a change.


    ¡°What?¡± she said defensively. ¡°Besides, his squinty eyes and greasy hands make me feel like I need to to take a bath every time I see him.¡±


    Skyle felt her shudder involuntary in his arms. He gave her a warning squeeze.


    ¡°Hey now, Fatty¡¯s my good friend. Be nice.¡± He scolded.


    ¡°It¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m civil to him. Be thankful for what you get,¡± Kass said primly.


    ¡°Uh, big bro, she¡¯s right. Sometimes, when he thinks no one is watching, Gordon looks at Kass like he¡¯s staring at a side of beef.¡±


    Kass lifted her face away from Skyle¡¯s chest for just long enough to glare at her twin brother at that.


    ¡°Eh, I meant, a very juicy, succulent piece of prime Northlander steak.¡± Reik quickly corrected himself, holding his hands up in front of himself.


    Skyle was a little surprised. He himself hadn¡¯t noticed anything like that. It seemed Fatty had ambitions for more than just being his friend. He smirked as he thought that for once Fatty would be in for far more than he had bargained if he ever got his wish.


    A slight, threatening pressure at his side wiped that grin clean off his face. The little kitten was getting ready to strike again.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Kass glared at him from under disapproving eyebrows. ¡°You know what. You were thinking mischief again.¡±


    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t.¡± Skyle protested, thinking that there was no way that his baby sister, even as mind-bogglingly talented as she was, could possibly read his mind.


    ¡°Yes, I can. And yes, you were.¡±


    Reik chuckled from nearby. ¡°That¡¯s true big bro, you definitely were.¡±


    ¡°Whose side are you on, anyway?¡± Skyle scowled at Reik.


    ¡°100% on team Farrow, like always!¡± Reik grinned cheekily.


    ¡°Hush, you big lump,¡± Kass murmured throatily, almost sounding sleepy. ¡°And don¡¯t start again. Don¡¯t you dare, not now.¡±


    Like a sleepy cat, she once again laid her head against Skyle¡¯s chest and sighed contentedly. He half expected her to start purring.


    Perhaps that was what all this pinching and scratching was all about.


    Kass had spent too long at a snowblade tiger farm and had inadvertently picked up a few bad habits.


    Right now, she was just marking her territory.


    For once, Skyle¡¯s smile perfectly mirrored his baby sister¡¯s.


    This wasn¡¯t so bad, after all.


    Not bad at all.


    The rain finally showed signs of letting up. Meanwhile, the little minx had actually fallen asleep in his arms. Skyle meant to gently shake her awake, but at that moment Reik grasped his shoulder.


    When Skyle looked askance, Reik had whispered, ¡°Big bro, poor Kass didn¡¯t get a single good night¡¯s sleep while you were gone. I was worried for you, but deep down I also believed that my big bro could take care of himself. Kass though, she had me worried sick. She would hardly eat a bite before pushing away her plate and she never smiled.¡±


    ¡°That bad?¡± Skyle was surprised.


    Reik nodded glumly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just you disappearing, though that was the biggest reason. This whole place is just no good. We hate it here.¡±


    Skyle stared mutely in surprise. He had no idea the idyllic life he had always envisioned was only in his own imagination.


    ¡°Kass asked me not to tell you. She always worries about you, you know? We never have any time by ourselves. Especially Kass. These spoiled brats follow her everywhere, trying to get her to tutor them on new spells, spell matrices, join research assignments, or even academy missions. They offer wealth and think they can buy anything with their influence, but no one stops to realize that she¡¯s only nine years old and she never asked for any of this.¡±


    Reik sounded bitter and frustrated, and Skyle could understand now.


    ¡°That¡¯s not even mentioning her enemies. They don¡¯t dare do anything out in the open, but it doesn¡¯t stop them from hatefully harassing her whenever they can. Lately there¡¯s even been a sick bastard who¡¯s been leaving mangled carcasses of dead cats inside of Kass¡¯ spell matrix lab.¡±


    ¡°What? Why haven¡¯t you told me about this? And what¡¯s the academy doing about it?¡±


    Instantly, Skyle was incensed. How dare they? His fists shook with impotent rage as fire flooded his veins.


    ¡°You should know that the last thing Kass wants is to add even more stress on top of you, big bro.¡± Reik let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°The academy promised a full investigation, but it¡¯s all internal politics and any student who dares to act like that has confidence in their own backing. What¡¯s worse is that the academy itself is the worst offender of all. They¡¯re putting so much pressure on Kass, sometimes it is a wonder that she doesn¡¯t shatter like a porcelain doll.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s brow twisted even further at that. ¡°What, they¡¯re not happy with her progress? She¡¯s already at the 9th level of the Initiate rank. That¡¯s gotta be some sort of record!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Reik shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re real happy about her elemental power. But they¡¯re constantly urging her to awaken her elemental spirit.¡±


    Skyle narrowed his eyes as he stole a glance back toward the towering elemental altars in the distance.


    ¡°I thought no one can control when or how they will awaken as a summoner and call upon their first elemental spirit,¡± Skyle forced out between clenched teeth.


    ¡°You¡¯re right about that, big bro.¡± Reik quickly agreed. ¡°But when a summoner of great talent is on the verge of breaking through and awakening her power, there¡¯s a strange thing that happens - I think they called it the eye of the storm.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really tough to describe.¡± Reik scratched his head in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s like this empty air that trails behind you everywhere you go, except it¡¯s not air, it¡¯s like..¡±


    Reik scrunched up his face as he grasped for the right analogy. ¡°Oh yeah, it¡¯s like those tapestries ma would have us weave. It¡¯s like there¡¯s suddenly a gaping hole in the fabric and it pulls at all the threads in the tapestry. When you look there, it¡¯s just a hole, but it causes a disturbance in the whole thing.¡±


    Skyle blinked at that. ¡°You mean to say little Kass here has a vortex of some dark sort of void that is constantly hounding her steps?¡±


    Reik nodded. ¡°Something like that, but not quite. I wish I could explain it better, but it¡¯s the best way I can put it to you. I think the only way you could really understand is if you had-¡±


    Suddenly, Reik clamped his mouth shut and a look of remorse filled his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Reik,¡± Skyle waved it off. ¡°So, shouldn¡¯t the fact that Kass is about to become a summoner be a good thing? Especially at such a young age? She¡¯s gonna be an Empress for real at this pace!¡±


    Reik hung his head down in silence and didn¡¯t meet his eyes.


    ¡°Reik?¡± Skyle frowned.


    After another moment of silence, things clicked into place as the solid bone he used for a brain finally began to work again. When he arrived at the answer he was searching for, it took his breath away.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, isn¡¯t it?¡± Skyle whispered bitterly.


    Reik looked up in panic. ¡°N-No big bro, I didn¡¯t say that!¡±


    Skyle shook his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡±


    A painful silence ensued, during which Reik¡¯s head hung down even lower and Skyle inevitably began to hate his damn stupid crippled veins again.


    ¡°Look, big bro. We both know that you¡¯re happier than anybody about our talent and you¡¯re the most supportive out of everyone.. It¡¯s just that..¡± Reik stopped then, at a loss for words.


    ¡°Kass feels guilty because everyone looks down upon me and calls me a freak and worthless cripple, doesn¡¯t she? That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t like to wield the power of the elements when I¡¯m around, right? Now she feels like she¡¯ll be hurting me even more by becoming an even greater talent.¡± Skyle shook his head sadly.


    ¡°No, big bro. You¡¯ve got it wrong,¡± Reik whispered back. ¡°It¡¯s true that Kass doesn¡¯t like using her powers in front of you, and neither do I. But we both love you and respect your strength. You¡¯re a hundred times better than any of these so-called talented guys.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang in his heart at his brother¡¯s words.


    ¡°Do I truly deserve such a place in their heart after the terrible things I have done? The innocent blood I have spilled?¡±


    Reik didn¡¯t seem to notice any of the pain in Skyle¡¯s eyes as he continued in a gravely voice.


    ¡°Big bro, you know you¡¯re one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. You¡¯re my hero! Even more so than any of the tales I¡¯ve read in all the books about knights and kings in my room. I know how hard you''ve worked to become who you are. I love you for it but.. But to Kass, you¡¯re something even more special.¡± Reik wrung his hands as he struggled for the words to express himself.


    ¡°She, she¡¯s closer to you than anyone else. Anyone!¡± Reik¡¯s downcast eyes took on a reddish tinge. ¡°Even.. even me. I¡¯ve felt connected to Kass ever since I could remember. The instant I knew there was such a thing as me, I knew there was also my other half, Kass. The bond I feel with her is something I can¡¯t put into words. So it is really hard to admit what I¡¯m about to tell you, but in my heart of hearts I know it is true. It hurts, but it is true.¡±


    Reik looked up with tears spilling from his eyes. ¡°She loves you. She loves you even more than she loves me. Do you realize what that means? I feel like we¡¯re two halves of a whole, and I know she feels the same. But she still loves you more!¡±


    For the first time ever, Skyle saw accusation in Reik¡¯s turbid brown eyes. It shocked him, but what really took his breath away was his brother¡¯s revelation about how Kass felt about him.


    Deep inside, he had a suspicion, but had dismissed such. He knew just how close the twins were. They were inseparable! At home, they often finished each others¡¯ sentences, and it was rare when one would go or do anything without the other.


    For the first time ever, Skyle didn¡¯t know what to say to his baby brother. Reik had always been the calm, cheerful one of the family. He never complained, never got into trouble, and never made anyone worry about him. If disaster were suddenly to strike and the whole world were to burn down in flames, little Reik would be the last bastion of sanity and peace remaining.


    Rubbing his hands over his eyes, Reik swiftly composed himself. ¡°I¡¯m not going to say sorry, big bro. I still love you, and I felt bad for keeping this to myself. I wanted to tell you because I think it is important that you know.. Know how much you mean to us. To both Kass and me.¡±


    Skyle could only nod numbly, feeling - not for the first time - like it was Reik who was acting like the older brother comforting a younger sibling instead of the other way around.


    ¡°That¡¯s the reason. Do you understand now?¡± Reik asked slowly.


    Skyle¡¯s brain was still rattling around with the revelations from his baby brother. Overwhelmed as he was, he could only shake his head dumbly.


    ¡°She¡¯s scared, big bro. Kass is afraid that once she awakens as a summoner, she¡¯s going to lose you forever,¡± Reik explained slowly, with more patience than any nine year old should ever have.


    ¡°No, our parents would never let that happen, no matter what the academy or even the Emperor himself says. Hell, I won¡¯t let it happen. I would never let them take Kass away.¡± Skyle growled.


    Reik shook his head again, this time sighing deeply.


    ¡°No, big bro. It¡¯s not them she¡¯s afraid of. It¡¯s you she¡¯s worried about,¡± Reik whispered.


    ¡°What? Why?¡± Skyle cried out in spite of himself, nearly jumping to his feet.


    Reik smiled wryly. ¡°We both know how badly you want to open your elemental veins. If effort was all it took, you¡¯d be the number one summoner in all of history.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with anything?¡± Skyle muttered, not bothering to deny it.


    ¡°You never say anything, and you always try to hide it and put up a cheerful front, especially when we¡¯re in here. We¡¯re young but we¡¯re not stupid, big bro. Maybe a stranger couldn¡¯t tell, but how could we not see the look of pain in your eyes every time you walked through these stupid, fancy buildings? Or the way you flinch whenever someone of your own age casts a spell in front of you? Kass didn¡¯t react like that against poor Sean Mallory just out of a temper tantrum, you know? She deliberately crushes anyone of your age who casts spells in front of you. By now, the smarter ones have already caught on and that¡¯s why hardly anyone dares to wield the elements when you¡¯re around.¡±


    Skyle let out a small ¡®O¡¯ as his eyes went wide. All this time, he had been a fool and he had never realized. He thought it was him making the sacrifices for his baby brother and sister, and now it turned out it was the other way around.


    ¡°Now that Kass is about to break through and become a summoner, she¡¯s about to become a living legend. Do you know how many children our age have successfully summoned their first spirit? It is said the summoning rite is one of primal power. It strips you of all reason and drives some summoners undergoing their awakening into terrible massacres as they satisfy their most primal instincts. Did you know that the Empire has decreed an unconditional amnesty for any summoner who¡¯s undergoing their awakening? No matter how horrible the crime, they get a free pass just because of who they are.¡±


    Reik shook his head slowly. ¡°Those are regular summoners, too. Old people who are thirty or forty, even. They could raze down an entire town like Sunny Meadow and the Imperial Army wouldn¡¯t even blink. What do you think they would be willing to do for someone like Kass?¡±


    Now Reik turned to look straight into his brother¡¯s eyes. ¡°With all that power and status, how could she not be afraid of losing you, the most precious person in her life? Already, you act differently around us ever since we started coming to this stupid school. We¡¯ve already tried to withdraw but they refused. They will let us get away with anything but that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault, big bro,¡± Reik smiled at Skyle with tears pooling in his sad, unblinking eyes. ¡°Kass is eventually going to become a summoner. It can¡¯t be stopped now. Then you¡¯re gonna break our little Kass¡¯ heart.¡±


    Skyle felt the blood drain from his face, and he wanted to say no. He wanted so badly to deny everything, but he couldn¡¯t find the breath to do so. His chest felt like there was a blistering fire in his lungs, and his heart only sputtered weakly when he beat his fist against his chest.


    ¡°Reik, I-¡± Skyle began when he could finally draw a breath, desperate to say anything he could to reassure his baby brother.


    But Reik had already stopped looking at him.


    Instead, his little brother closed his eyes, laid his head against Skyle¡¯s shoulder and smiled.


    It was only a simple smile with not a single word spoken. Yet the weight of this smile felt like a thousand fetters of implacable steel snaking around his heart with startling tenderness.


    Because it was a smile full of the blind trust a little brother had for his one and only big bro.


    Skyle¡¯s throat burned and his sight grew cloudy, but at least he had the sense to say the right words.


    ¡°I will protect her. I promise you, Reik. I will protect you both. I will never let them take you away from me. Kass, I will watch over you - always!¡±


    Reik¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all, as though everything had gone exactly as he had expected.


    It was a beautiful moment of silent understanding where siblings spoke heart to heart.


    The only misconception here was that it wasn¡¯t a conversation between two souls, but rather three.


    For neither Reik nor Skyle noticed that as soon as the latter had spoken his fervent promise, little Kass¡¯ delicate hand had trembled briefly as her index finger met her thumb.


    They would not have recognized the gesture, for no one in the Farrow family was particularly religious.


    Only a devout believer of the Holy Church would know - It was the handsign that represented a fervent plea to the Goddess watching from above.


    Thus did Kassandra whisper the prayer within her heart, and let it fly on the wings of a deep, abiding love.


    ¡°Please, let him stay by my side.. always.¡±

 Chapter 66 - Embracing the Unknown

    Chapter 66 - Embracing the Unknown


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late,¡± Skyle whispered softly, looking down at his baby sister¡¯s sleeping face.


    ¡°This is the first time in a long while that I¡¯ve seen her with such a peaceful face. Can we let her sleep a little longer?¡± Reik whispered back.


    Skyle looked down guiltily at his baby sister. The serious lines of her face had softened into an angelic visage of innocence. It set something fierce and hot loose inside Skyle¡¯s chest, and he struggled for a moment against the urge to brush back a stray lock of sunkissed hair from her pale cheeks.


    Looking back up to Reik, Skyle nodded and carefully leaned his back against the tree. For the next few minutes, both sons of the Farrow family sat shoulder by shoulder in silence, watching the gentle swaying of the tree above.


    That is, until a soft, snoring sound broke the peaceful moment.


    Both Skyle and Reik stared speechless, not daring to believe their ears. However, after a few moments, Kassandra Farrow, the little Empress of the Farrow clan, parted her plump little lips. In between her perfect pearly teeth, another soft, barely audible snore broke the silence in the garden for the second time.


    Reik covered his mouth with both hands to choke back his giggles, while Skyle¡¯s chest rumbled with barely contained laughter. Alas, such a rare spectacle did not repeat itself for a third time.


    Kass had barely begun her third snoring breath, when abruptly her eyes flew wide open and her tiny hands flew to her lips. She stared in horror at Skyle as though she didn¡¯t dare believe her ears.


    Skyle pretended like he was watching the trees above while tilting his ear to one side. Then he looked down at the little fox tangled in his arms and furrowed his brow theatrically.


    ¡°Did you hear that, Kass? I thought I heard someone snoring,¡± Skyle asked idly.


    Kass vigorously shook her head back and forth.


    ¡°What? Really? I could swear I heard the sound of someone snoring,¡± Skyle insisted, then looked sideways at his baby brother. ¡°Hey Reik, is it just me going crazy or did you hear a snoring sound?¡±


    Reik giggled while doing his best not to laugh out loud. ¡°Don¡¯t mix me up in your stuff, big bro. You¡¯re always the one that gets the worst end of the bargain in the end. I¡¯m very happy with no claw marks all over my face, thank you very much.¡±


    Skyle did his best imitation of Fatty¡¯s saintly martyr look. ¡°Well, sometimes you have to make some sacrifices to find the truth.¡±


    Turning back to his sister, Skyle¡¯s eyebrows flew up in his forehead. ¡°Kass, baby girl, did you happen to hear a snoring sound? You couldn¡¯t have missed it, it was like the roaring of a thousand bears who had been sleeping all winter long, or a whole forest being chopped down by an army of- Owww!¡±


    Rubbing at his ribs, Skyle still couldn¡¯t wipe the silly grin off his face.


    ¡°You bully, get off me, I¡¯m not talking to you ever again!¡± Kass pouted, which really didn¡¯t help her case at all, as it made her look even more lovely still. ¡°I said, get off you big brute!¡±


    In a rare act of defiance, Skyle refused to obey and clung on tighter instead. He used his fingers to tickle his baby sister¡¯s ribs instead.


    It must be said in Kass¡¯ behalf that she put up a very valiant fight. Still, this particular little kitty could never bear to truly bare her claws against this big bully. So in the end, a breathless little girl with a face as red as an apple finally called for an unconditional cease of hostilities.


    Skyle was proud of himself. Any other person would not have been able to recognize his foe¡¯s surrender for what it was. After all, amidst all the giggling and breathless pleas for him to stop already, there were a pair of crystal sapphire eyes that promised bloody revenge as soon as the tables were turned.


    Skyle trusted his baby sister though, and so with a final flurry of fiendish tickling, Skyle finally relented and let Kass back on her feet.


    She swayed woozily on her feet for a moment before finally steadying herself. Then she glared furiously at Skyle while hurriedly straightening her robes. Skyle didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her that she could forget about getting all the wrinkles and mud off her clothes now.


    Instead, he looked up and saw that they were already late and should make haste to return. He would not want his mother to worry. Worse yet, he certainly wouldn¡¯t want his father to come fetch them. Kendric Farrow would be all smiles and wouldn¡¯t utter a single scolding word. However, Skyle knew with blind certainty that his father would find a way to make him pay for it.


    He always did.


    So, after Kass was satisfied with what little could be salvaged of her usually cool and aloof appearance, they set off towards the Aegis Arch.


    As they walked down the cobbled paths of the academy, crowds inevitably began to gather around them once more. This was only made worse when they saw that Kass had a rare half-smile on her face. Why, some even claimed that they had heard her humming not long ago. Nobody believed such ridiculous claims, even though they swore upon their mothers¡¯ name and their father¡¯s honor that it was true.


    Skyle resisted an urge to hold his baby sister¡¯s hand. Skyle was used to wild forests and sweeping plains. Being in close proximity to such huge crowds always set his teeth on edge.


    He glanced nervously towards Kass and Reik, his hands twitching as though he glimpsed the shadow of a fierce predator lurking behind the simpering smile of every fresh faced student.


    While he was busy mentally fending off imagined attackers left and right, he did become separated from his siblings by the crowd. They kept pressing closer and closer towards the campus celebrities and had little regard for Skyle.


    Reik noticed first and tried to tug at Kass¡¯ sleeve. However, the little Empress¡¯ dignity had been infringed upon earlier, and it was time for a little payback. She sniffed loudly as she picked up her pace, forcing Reik to follow after her after sending a helpless shake of his head towards Skyle.


    That was fine too, Skyle smirked to himself. He had gotten his way with the little minx once, and he would do so again later. For now, he decided he would generously let her have this round.


    Such lofty sentiments were rudely interrupted when his shoulder crashed painfully against what felt like a solid boulder. The impact sent him reeling back and off his feet. He landed on his butt with a sharp cry of surprise.


    Looking up, he saw a huge shadow looming over him. It was a youth who might give Leon a run for his money in terms of sheer mass. He was a full head and a half taller than Skyle but his shoulders were easily twice as wide. Massive arms thicker around than his own thighs rippled with corded muscle as the bull-necked youth crossed his arms and sneered down at Skyle.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the black sheep of the oh-so-famous Farrow family?¡± he spat with venomous eyes.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    ¡°Not this again,¡± Skyle grumbled to himself.


    For the most part, the student body of Aegis Academy could be split into two groups. The great majority were devoted followers of his sister. A small, stubborn minority, however, swung to the polar opposite instead. Whether it was from envy, injured pride or a personal vendetta, they nursed a startingly intense hatred in their hearts for all things Farrow.


    Of course, it was impossible to strike directly at Kass. Not only was she protected by the highest levels of the academy. She was also undeniably gifted - so much so that to antagonize her now could only bring calamity upon one¡¯s head in a handful of years.


    The next best target became Skyle. He was small, young, a loner and most of all, rumored to be a cripple. Any elementalist who could call forth the most basic Spirit Sight would instantly be able to confirm the complete absence of any form of elemental channeling taking place in or around Skyle. In a world where even the lowliest of servants could at least summon some elemental essence to nourish their own bodies, Skyle was truly at the bottom of the pile.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    It was a very high stack, and the rich nobility that were also born into a natural affinity with the elements sat at the very top of it. Such as this young man in front of him. His fine clothes identified him as the scion of a wealthy house. His stance and arrogant expression told Skyle he was at the very least a minor noble. The academy emblem glittering with three silver shields upon his chest told Skyle he was a senior initiate mage, and was thus in the same class as Reik and Kass.


    He looked to be at least 13, however. This meant his talent, which would be praised as heavenly in the outside world, actually fell at the very bottom rungs amongst the elite student body of Aegis Academy.


    The academy system segregated classes by talent and talent alone. Background, gender or race held no sway at all. Skyle knew from conversations with his siblings that the senior Initiate mage class held 17 students this semester ranging from ages 11 to 13.


    Kass and Reik were the only nine year olds in the class, and by all indications, they were close to advancing to the Adept classes.


    Watching the bitter fury twisting the features of the youth standing before him, Skyle found himself surprised that he could relate, at least on some level, with his helpless frustration. After all, though Aegis Academy held plenty of arrogant, spoiled brats, there were very few lazy or incompetent ones. Strict testing policies ensured that. The few that somehow managed to filter through the cracks were swiftly weeded out.


    ¡°So, my siblings crushed your ego when they simply blew by a classroom that has likely trapped you for what, 1 or 2 years? You¡¯re likely one of the oldest students in the class and thus by far the most untalented. You can¡¯t strike at the stars of the class, so you can only take your frustrations out on me, eh?¡±


    Skyle truly could understand that feeling of trying and failing abysmally time and time again. So, though he felt contempt welling up at this bully¡¯s petty vengeance, his motivations were something he knew a little about.


    Maybe it would have only taken a less loving mother or a more inattentive father for Skyle to have ended up just like this poor bastard.


    Shaking the mud from his legs, Skyle blew a resigned breath through his lips as he stood up.


    ¡°Look, I can see where you¡¯re coming from, and I don¡¯t want any trouble. Let¡¯s just forget this whole incident, alright? I was just leaving, anyway.¡±


    The instant Skyle said the words, he knew he had made a critical mistake.


    The sneer on the bully¡¯s lips grew more feral as if he smelled blood in the air. He kicked out with his foot and Skyle simply wasn¡¯t ready for the speed of the move. The smaller boy tried to twist away from the blow, but the foot moved with unexpected swiftness. It smashed into his stomach before he could react, and sent him sprawling to the floor while his lungs convulsed for air.


    ¡°Trouble? I don¡¯t see any trouble. Do any of you see trouble?¡± The giant jeered.


    Two other boys stepped up from behind him, surrounding Skyle¡¯s sprawled body like wolves stalking wounded prey.


    ¡°What trouble, Dalian? I see only a rat that somehow snuck into our illustrious institution,¡± one of the boys said. He was only slightly smaller but likely the same age as Skyle¡¯s attacker. This meant he easily weighed twice as much as Skyle as well. ¡°How about you Boyd?¡±


    ¡°No trouble at all, Reynaud. Just needs a little clean up, is all.¡± A shorter, but stockier youth with squinting eyes and a bulbous nose showed a humorless grin.


    Skyle shook his head while he struggled to get his breath back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything you might regret later. Violence within academy grounds is not allow-¡± he wheezed past gritted teeth.


    ¡°Is not allowed among academy students,¡± Dalian interrupted, a cruel grin on his face. ¡°Do any of you see a student here, my friends?¡±


    ¡°Nothing but a rat.¡±


    ¡°Filthy street rat.¡±


    Skyle cursed under his breath as he realized he had made a second mistake. It was uncharacteristic of him to be so careless or foolish. He could easily recall his father¡¯s lessons.


    ¡°Never show a bully any weakness, son. Fear is the only emotion that will stop a bully, and they only respect strength.¡±


    Weakness is exactly what he had projected when he tried to avoid conflict by showing empathy and an intention to flee.


    ¡°Don¡¯t threaten a man when you can¡¯t carry through with it. Not only does it make you seem weak and desperate, it will only serve to increase the man¡¯s hostility toward you.¡±


    Wise words - his father was full of such. It was just unfortunate that his son was too stupid to make good use of them.


    Skyle sighed through his nose. What was a little beating here? Just a small blow to his pride. The academy would likely issue some token punishment on the youths, if only to placate Kass. After all, Dalian was right. Skyle was not a student here, and thus technically not protected by the academy¡¯s rules. His father, he knew, wouldn¡¯t raise a big fuss. He always advocated his children fighting their own battles, especially so with Skyle. If not, why would he have wasted all those years of hellish training?


    Skyle was more concerned about Kass and Reik¡¯s reaction - particularly Kass. Skyle knew just how fiercely protective his baby sister was toward him. She could rough him up all day, but the moment someone else touched so much as a hair on his head, she would unleash the wrath of the gods upon that poor, hapless soul.


    A few bruises here and there were a small price to pay. The milling crowds had long since obscured Kass¡¯ line of sight with Skyle. She might raise a fuss when he didn¡¯t immediately follow after they reached a the Aegis Arch, but by then this whole ordeal would be over.


    Still, he reflected in an instant¡¯s calculation, it was better to end this with a few bruises to his face and ego now, than to escalate the whole affair and drag his whole family into a feud against rich children of noble houses he knew nothing about. What he did know for certain was that beating up a few street bullies like Ramsey and his friends was a whole different world from what he faced now.


    Not that Skyle thought he could beat them, even if he tried. Not counting the fact that they were older and bigger, they all bore the three silver shield insignia on their chests. They were in the senior Initiate class, meant for Initiate level mages of ranks 7 through 9.


    Perhaps if he had a weapon and was willing to strike with deadly force , the surprise might overwhelm them before they could react and cast their spells. However, that was simply not an option. The penalty for a commoner who took the life of a nobleman of the Empire, even if it was unintentional, was death by hanging. An intentional slaying carried far more unpleasant consequences, which Skyle did not even need to dwell upon. Besides, Skyle''s guts twisted as he thought of having to take the life of another human being.


    "Not again, not so soon after.." Skyle shuddered with the barely repressed memories of Sanctuary.


    ¡°Fine, do as you will and be quick about it,¡± Skyle muttered, trying to think of a happy place his mind could escape to while his body paid for his mistakes.


    ¡°Hmph, are all of you Farrows such spineless wretches, or is it just you, the cripple of the bunch?¡± Dalian mocked as he cracked his knuckles in anticipation. ¡°At least beating you bloody ought to be more satisfying than watching that little bitch¡¯s cold indifference when she found the fun little gifts we left for her.¡±


    That last sentence froze his blood cold. Feeling as though his voice were speaking to him from a very far distance away, Skyle grit his teeth and slowly pushed his words out.


    ¡°Was it you? You¡¯re the sick bastards who left those cats?¡±


    Dalian shrugged indifferently. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Everyone knows that bitch loves cats so much she lives with a whole litter of them in her little farm. It could have been anyone in the whole school, right Reynaud?¡±


    ¡°Right, right,¡± Reynaud cackled evilly. ¡°Anyone at all.¡±


    Skyle had to take one long, focused breath at this moment. Otherwise, he was afraid he would end up drawn and quartered for the brutal beating and intentional slaying of a noble scum of the Empire.


    After so many drills, recalling his father¡¯s lessons was second nature to Skyle, especially during critical times such as these.


    Outnumbered? Outmatched? Retreat definitely not an option?


    There were several strategies outlined even for such desperate situations. However, Skyle only had eyes for one of them. He recalled the simple, ageless wisdom of an ancient general whose book he had been forced to read by his father.


    ¡°When trapped on deadly ground, FIGHT.¡±


    So he would, but on his own terms. He was ready to pay a heavy price, but at least he had to ensure his foe paid a heavier one still.


    ¡°So, you want to beat up on an elementless cripple? That ought to show the rest of your classmates. Oh, how brave and powerful you are, wailing on a younger boy with no elemental powers whose legs are thinner than your arms and calling your buddies to help you to boot.¡± Skyle sat up and sneered up at Dalian, who seemed to be the leader. This time, he didn''t make the mistake of standing up. He hoped a nobleman''s dumb prejudices about striking a person when he''s down would at least offer him a small buffer of vital time while his words took the desired effect.


    The expression of superiority on Dalian¡¯s face flickered as Skyle¡¯s words rubbed salt on painful wounds. ¡°You sure have got a mouth on you kid. No matter, you¡¯ll be spitting nothing but blood in a few moments.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s smile was one of mockery as he scoffed. ¡°Ha, and here I thought you nobles were supposed to be some hot shit. Horsecrap, I bet you wouldn¡¯t even dare to face me one-on-one. I can already see how you¡¯re shaking in your boots just from a little farmboy who dares to stand up to you. Only used to bullying little girls, are you?¡±


    The words had their desired effect. Boyd stepped forward while cocking his leg back for a kick when Dalian held up a hand to stop him.


    ¡°You think you can manipulate me, rat? I was born from a royal lineage dating back for hundreds of years. I am destined to lord over puny little creatures like you who will never see the summit of power in our glorious Empire. But fine, I¡¯ll play your little games. You think I¡¯m scared of you? I will crush you in my hands like the insignificant bug you are.¡±


    Skyle showed his first genuine smile at this moment.


    If Dalian truly wanted to take out his fury on Skyle right here and now, it was a near certainty that he would lose. More importantly, even if by chance he won, he would still be held accountable for his actions. Each broken bone on this despicable nobleman¡¯s body would be another loss for Skyle. It might be supremely satisfying at this moment, but it would bring countless sanctions and restrictions upon a commoner¡¯s family like Skyle¡¯s. The academy might shelter them from the worst of it, but they would only use that to reel Kass even deeper into their clutches.


    No, this was unacceptable. Victory or defeat, Skyle had to ensure only he bore the price.


    ¡°I will teach you to mess with my baby sister, you ratsack bastard piece of scum,¡± Skyle snarled in his heart, but his mind was slowly reaching out for that terrifying calmness he had discovered earlier today.


    It terrified him, this mysterious void of emotions that he felt dehumanized him somehow. He would definitely need to seek his parents¡¯ wisdom on the subject. He suspected it carried risks that were far greater than even the incredible rewards it bore.


    Here and now, however, he simply could not bring himself to care.


    ¡°You want to cut me down limb by limb? Fine, but I¡¯ll rip your damn throat out - with my teeth if I must!¡± Skyle snarled.


    The void beckoned, and Skyle answered.


    The wave of darkness rose up once more. Skyle spread out his arms and fully embraced it as it crashed down with irresistible force.


    Then Skyle was lost, and only a stranger remained upon the vast shores of a desolate land.

 Chapter 67 - The Logical Mind

    Chapter 67 - The Logical Mind


    Instantly, Skyle was struck by how simple things looked where once there had been so many confusing tangles of unnecessary worries and considerations about the past, present, and future.


    Fear was chief among those useless chains that had dragged at him so insistently. Fear that he might lose and be beaten to a pulp, or worse still, killed. Fear of the consequences for his family should he choose to fight back. Fear of how Kassandra would react when she found out, and what madness she would unleash.


    Now, as he stood examining such thoughts as indifferently as though he were browsing through a shelf of old, tattered books, these fears seemed as feeble and pathetic as so many worms trying to feast upon the rotting flesh of his emotions. Skyle was at once glad that he had decided to ruthlessly cut them off.


    He was a far better man for it.


    Fear of being beaten and killed? Skyle could tell from their smooth hands and unbalanced stances that these puny magelings had no experience in practical combat at all. They might be mighty spellcasters one day, but before Skyle they were mere puppets waiting to be dismantled piece by piece under his ruthless hands.


    Fear of the consequences to his family? The academy would never allow too heavy a retaliation against them. Kassandra and Reikard were far too valuable in their eyes, and Skyle¡¯s only regret was how uncharacteristically foolish his parents had been in not fully utilizing such value to their benefit. His parents themselves were an added layer of protection. Skyle reflected that Kendric Farrow was not nearly so simple a man as most folk thought. Too many small clues had filtered through the many layers of disguise his father had adopted over the years. Given a few incisive actions by Skyle from this day forward, he would be able to finally peel back the final layer and gaze upon the full secret of the mystery that was Kendric Farrow.


    Whether it would be to his advantage to do so or not, now that was a matter for careful consideration.


    As for fear of how Kassandra would react, Skyle would have laughed out loud had such frivolous actions not been beneath his current aloof state of mind. As it was, Kassandra Farrow needed more pressure, not less. Years of struggle under the ¡°hammer of adversity¡±, as his father had put it, had polished Skyle into a young boy who could out-think, outfight and outmaneuver any child his age that he could think of.


    There was not an ounce of overconfidence in his declaration, either. Given enough preparation and the opportunity to choose both the time and place of such confrontations, he knew he was unstoppable.


    This confidence did not excite him or inflate his ego. It was simple fact. Just another useful bit of information that the greatly expanded capabilities of his remarkable cognitive powers would archive for reference when the need arose to resolve challenging, if not completely intractable problems.


    Such as this moment, right here and now.


    Turning his regard to the problem at hand, Skyle could see various solutions to the problem. Some would bring a satisfyingly terminal resolution to this conflict, but were prone to unpredictable consequences later on. Most of those consequences, he now realized, could be dealt with efficiently enough. However, he was not unmindful of the mental and emotional stress it would inflict upon his family - especially Kassandra.


    Skyle might have divested himself of all emotions like so much useless baggage, but deep within he still knew that he must protect his family. That had not changed at all.


    After all, they were valuable assets which brought considerable benefits.


    Skyle was disappointed that thus far he had chosen not to avail himself of such, but that was not an unredeemable oversight. Particularly Kassandra¡¯s obvious infatuation with her older brother. She would soon become a summoner, one of the youngest ever. This greatly increased her value in his eyes.


    Yes, he could use her. She would come in very handy indeed.


    Thus, fatal outcomes to this quandary must be avoided if at all possible. Skyle moved down a mental list of all available options which would resolve the current situation, all the while sighing at the fact that a couple had just been wasted by his emotionally overwrought reactions just moments ago.


    No matter, the old Skyle was finally gone, and his new, better self would see to it that things ran as smoothly and efficiently as possible from this moment forward.


    All these mental processes took mere moments. By the time Skyle lifted his gaze to meet Dalian¡¯s own, there was no way the young nobleman could know that his every possible action and reaction had already been carefully scrutinized, qualified, and taken into consideration.


    ¡°I don¡¯t wish to waste my time or yours. I hereby challenge you to a duel upon the Mage Arena, with a badge of the senior Initiate class being the stake.¡±


    Skyle said the words calmly and confidently, but his opponents reeled back in shock as though they had been scalded.


    Dalian¡¯s reaction was the most severe among all three, but that was perfectly within Skyle¡¯s expectations. The young noble¡¯s chest heaved up and down while his vacant eyes stared blankly ahead at a future where he could snatch the class badge of the number one ranked student in the whole class - Kassandra Farrow.


    Licking his lips as sudden sweat beaded his face, Dalian rasped out, ¡°Y-You can¡¯t possibly-¡±


    ¡°According to the rules of the arena, I will sign a notarized agreement where my life will be forfeit should Kassandra fail to deliver her badge into your hands in the event of my loss.¡± Skyle interrupted with the same imperturbable calm.


    Dalian stared at Skyle as though he were watching a vicious monster who had suddenly torn through the skin of a puny worm. His instincts told him something was wrong here, and that he should retreat and regroup. However, the deep envy which had festered into full hatred for the young genius star of Aegis Academy pushed him inexorably onward. It simply refused to let go of this unexpected opportunity to deal a grievous blow to the object of his hatred.


    Skyle¡¯s expression was wooden. Everything was going as expected, but that was all. Though such a succession of events gave him the satisfaction of a craftsman who had excelled at his job, it failed to evoke joy, delight, or any other superfluous emotions which might impede his capacity to maintain a clear, focused mind.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Dalian¡¯s breathing became ragged, his wide-eyed stare fixed upon Skyle¡¯s figure on the ground as though he were a poisonous snake baring his fangs. Which he obviously was, and Dalian knew it. Still, he was either too confident or too desperate to simply walk away.


    To be fair, Dalian could not be fully blamed. By all outward appearances, this offer was simply too good to be true. Should Dalian defeat this scrawny child whose head didn¡¯t even reach his shoulders and could not channel a wick of elemental power, he would win Kassandra Farrow¡¯s senior Initiate class badge.


    Class badges were not mere decorations in the academy. A simple yet powerful spell matrix was engraved within. It held a record of all the academy credits the student had earned to date, minus expenditures.


    Every detail from the hefty book of Standard Academy Rules and Regulations Skyle had read a year ago when his siblings had been offered their scholarship instantly and effortlessly flooded his mind.


    Academy credits were the true currency within campus grounds. A student¡¯s whole life revolved around gaining enough credits to further their own power and progress to the next class. Spell matrices, personal tutoring from star students or faculty, rare spells, precious texts, research papers, rare medicines, essence crystals, and more, they all cost credits to acquire. Even advancing to the next class required a specific amount of minimum credits be earned first.


    No sane student would trade a single credit for gold unless they had given up on their academic ambitions. After all, Aegis Academy was an elite institution and both its faculty and student body progressed ever forward. To be left behind meant dismissal for failure to meet the institution¡¯s exacting standards.


    Every year thousands tested for entry into the academy. Last semester, less than a score had gained acceptance into the lowest tier of magical students in the academy, the freshman Initiate mage class. Statistically speaking, if lucky only one or two of those students would eventually become a graduate of the academy. As for the rest, they would either leave on their own or be flushed out of the system.


    Only such a ruthless system could push these supremely talented individuals to excel amongst the very elite of society.


    Skyle approved, and now this same system would serve his purposes well.


    Even without prior knowledge of Dalian, Skyle knew that he was on the verge of failing to meet the standards for his class. He was already 13, and if he wasn¡¯t able to gather enough credits to quickly raise his elemental power, he would be removed from the academy before the year was out. This likely factored into the reason why he felt bold enough to take the risk of harassing Kassandra.


    Now, however, Skyle had offered him a light at the end of the tunnel.


    Students were strictly forbidden from using their magic to fight each other. Should a conflict arise, they were to seek a resolution at one of three student arenas. This had the effect of providing an outlet for frustrated students, increasing their practical combat experience, and stoking the competitive spirit of these proud, talented youths.


    Expectedly, a reward system had been developed by the academy for wins. Not satisfied, however, the students had come up with their own gambling rings. These were enforced through notarized agreements where students could set the stakes of a match.


    Kassandra¡¯s Initiate class badge would be bursting at the seams with credits. Even an outside person like Skyle could easily imagine how lavish the academy¡¯s treatment of his sister would be. Credits equated to power, to an even greater extent than gold in the world outside.


    Almost no one dared to set their class badge as a stake. It was simply too precious to lose. However, Dalian was already on the verge of failing, while Kassandra was famously over-protective of her family. She would care little for a mere class badge, as the academy would never let her fail a class. At worst, they would simply issue her with a new badge full of credits under one pretext or another.


    Skyle saw the moment Dalian made his decision before the noble was aware of it himself. Gathering his legs under him, Skyle stood up and dusted himself while he waited for the inevitable. The only uncertainty of this plan had been whether Dalian was desperate enough to allow himself to think about it or not.


    Once he did, his decision had been a foregone conclusion.


    ¡°I-I accept!¡± Dalian cried out hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot as though he had been drinking heavily. ¡°When-¡±


    ¡°Right now. Lead the way, I¡¯m not very familiar with the Arena here,¡± Skyle said curtly, walking forward.


    Reynaud burst in, quivering as though he had just awoken from a dream - or a nightmare. ¡°D-Dalian, don¡¯t be rash. It¡¯s your class badge! Even if Kassandra delivers her badge to you, she will simply get another one. What happens if you lose, though?¡±


    Boyd cut in as well. ¡°More than anything, I don¡¯t trust this rat. Something- something doesn¡¯t feel right about him - about this whole damn thing. I just got shivers up my back. This is not good Dalian. Let¡¯s just beat him up and leave, like we had planned.¡±


    Boyd placed his hand on Dalian¡¯s arm, but the latter shook him off violently and glared at his friend.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to stop me! I know what I¡¯m doing!¡± Dalian growled in between clenched teeth.


    ¡°But Dalian-¡± Boyd began once more.


    ¡°Shut up! What would you know? You still have a whole year to cross the peak Initiate barrier and become an Adept. How could you possibly understand what this opportunity means for me? I only have three months. Three months!¡±


    Dalian screamed the last two words as though they were a death sentence looming over his head. A few of the students passing by eyed him with pity, but most just sneered at him in contempt.


    ¡°Still, Dalian, we will help you. We¡¯re here for you, as your friends. We¡¯ll find a solution together!¡± Reynaud cried out.


    Dalian stopped in his tracks as he looked towards his friends with wide, trembling eyes. He looked like a man who was hanging on to the edge of a vast precipice by sheer power of will alone.


    Boyd used his other hand to grasp Dalian¡¯s own and squeezed while nodding to his friend with a reassuring look. After a moment, Reynauld stepped forward and added his own hand on top.


    The trio of friends stood clasping hands like this for a long moment while their hearts spoke to each other without words.


    It was truly an inspiring testament to the power of friendship.


    This could unnecessarily complicate his plans, so Skyle chose this moment to plunge a dagger right into the glaringly obvious chink in the armor of this seemingly beautiful and majestic friendship.


    ¡°Such nobility of spirit,¡± Skyle said, and the flat tone of his voice made it obvious what he really thought of it. ¡°Here¡¯s an idea: how about each of you give your good friend Dalian half the credits in your own badges. I¡¯m sure he will gladly repay you after he becomes an Adept.¡±


    Boyd immediately released Dalian¡¯s hand as though he had been burned, and Reynaud shut his mouth with a stricken expression on his face. He looked as though he were about to become sick.


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t think so,¡± Skyle stated matter-of-factly, resuming his walk. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind. I don¡¯t have all day. Let¡¯s get this show on the road.¡±


    Dalian stood still for a long moment, looking at his two retreating friends as though he had been pole-axed. He looked like he wanted to call out to them, maybe to appeal to the friendship they had so hotly professed mere moments ago.


    Maybe it was to beg.


    It didn¡¯t matter. Both his friends refused to meet his gaze. Instead, they drew even farther away. Reynaud¡¯s hand even twitched towards his own badge as though he were afraid Dalian would snatch it away.


    ¡°You still want to do this, or should I leave?¡± Skyle called out over his shoulder after momentarily halting his steps.


    Up until the very end, when Dalian¡¯s hunched shoulders led Skyle away with shaking, unsteady steps as though he were walking to the gallows of his own execution, Boyd and Reynaud didn¡¯t even lift their gazes to meet the seeking gaze of the man whom they had so easily called their friend.


    Skyle nodded to himself. This gesture was not one of vindication or satisfaction.


    It was just a sere acknowledgement of cold, immutable fact.


    ¡°Just as expected. Friends? Family? Love?¡±


    Had Skyle not shed his emotions like a butterfly sheds its cocoon, he might have sneered just then. As it was, he simply noted this corroboration of his theory and filed it away for future reference.


    ¡°Useless. Ultimately, we are all of us alone.¡±

 Chapter 68 - A Clumsy Chunk of Metal

    Chapter 68 - A Clumsy Chunk of Metal


    The Arenas in Aegis Academy were unlike anything Skyle had expected. This did not concern him unduly, but it was still a surprise. He had been expecting a grand structure with the same sweeping arches and immaculate stone carvings decorating its surface throughout.


    Instead he found himself at a part of the academy he had never had cause to visit. In fact, most mages would rarely set foot upon this side of Aegis Academy. Dalian seemed almost as unfamiliar with the area as they crested a slight hill covered by neatly cropped green grass. Upon reaching the summit, a vast valley opened up below.


    It was filled with all manner of contraptions and equipment, many of which Skyle was unfamiliar with. A few he could identify as exercise machines, with weights, ropes and other equipment to develop their bodies. A wide track ran all around the outer ring of the valley, upon which many students could be seen jogging.


    A series of stages caught Skyle¡¯s attention. These were square platforms cordoned by ropes or chains in some cases. A few figures could be seen sparring against each other within. Many used their fists and feet, but others were using all manner of weapons to strike their partners.


    Dalian searched around for a moment, looking as though he were in a daze. Then he seemed to find what he was looking for, and led Skyle toward one of the few actual buildings that were visible.


    Skyle and his guide received many strange looks from the students they passed. It was not surprising, as all of them were students of the warrior schools. The difference between the mage school students could not have been more stark. The boys were mostly all as tall as Dalian, with some even dwarfing the giant. Even the girls¡¯ arms were lean with muscle, not a single ounce of fat visible upon their skin. Moreover, every student moved with the smooth grace and regular gait of fighters who had trained their bodies to the point where they had developed a natural sense of balance at all times.


    Skyle reflected that these students would prove a far more challenging foe than mage students such as Dalian. It was no wonder that although mages were widely acknowledged as being far more powerful with the elements, they often relied upon the protection of elemental warriors against the threat of close quarter combat. Moreover, his father had taught Skyle that in a one-on-one situation, there was a distinct line drawn within the ranks of mages. Until they reached that point, they were generally weaker than their warrior counterparts in individual combat. This line usually came at around the high Adept or early Master ranks. Most mages, his father had noted, were blinded by their own pride and thought themselves invincible at the same level. This had been the downfall of many lesser mages.


    Watching the a slender girl swinging a giant axe with an edge almost as long as her own torso and crushing a large wooden dummy in half with apparent ease, Skyle made a mental note that warriors from renowned academies were indeed different from elemental warriors in the world outside. The girl barely looked older than Skyle himself, yet he doubted he could wield such a massive weapon, let alone swing it with the speed and force she exhibited.


    Ignoring the stares they received from the warrior students they passed, they finally arrived at their destination. It was a large building with the symbol of a sword, spear and axe laid atop each other. Stepping inside, they saw a large desk with an older student behind.


    He had long, black hair tied back in a neat ponytail and looked to be at least eighteen or older. The hilt of a sword was very conspicuous protruding from behind his back. Upon his chest a three shield badge gleamed brightly under the light of an everlight lantern hanging from a nearby wall. They were slightly different, however. This older student¡¯s badge was bronze in color, not silver, with brown stars inside. They were also full shields, unlike Dalian¡¯s own which were only the hollow outlines of shields with blue stars inside. A bronze badge with brown stars indicated he was from the Earth Warrior School, and the three full shields placed him in the senior Adept class. If he was one of the lucky few, he would be graduating soon.


    Only such advanced students would be trusted to man an important station like this. Skyle recognized this desk from the descriptions he had read in the Academy Manual. Upon the desk lay a massive tome bound in dark metal with a quill by its side.


    ¡°We¡¯ve come to register for a duel,¡± Dalian said, somewhat breathlessly. It seemed like he knew this Adept student, at least by reputation if not by name.


    The senior student looked up from his desk and smirked when he saw the two youths standing before him.


    ¡°What is this, a joke?¡± he chuckled, looking Skyle up and down like he was a three legged chicken. ¡°Did Kelstrom put you kids up to this nonsense? I swear, his sense of humor gets worse and worse every semester.¡±


    ¡°Senior Roland, I don¡¯t personally know senior Kelstrom and he has nothing to do with this,¡± Dalian called out.


    Eyebrows flying up into his forehead, the young man looked at the mage student with a doubtful look.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t funny, junior,¡± he said.


    ¡°We¡¯re dead serious, Senior. Please register our duel,¡± Dalian repeated.


    Thunderclouds began to gather in the older student¡¯s brow.


    ¡°You¡¯re a senior Initiate mage and this other kid¡¯s aura is as dead as a lump of rock. Are you telling me you walked into the Hall of Combat to rudely top off a lousy rainy afternoon just so you could slaughter a talentless runt? All this, under my, Roland Hamonet¡¯s watch?¡± the senior student growled.


    Dalian¡¯s mouth worked for an answer, but couldn¡¯t find one.


    ¡°Get out of here before I lose my temper, kids. Be grateful I don¡¯t kick you back to whatever freakshow you came from. The Hall of Combat and the arena duels are no laughing matter,¡± Roland muttered, moving his gaze back onto the tome.


    Skyle stepped in, not having expected Dalian to be quite so incompetent or timid. Was this Roland famous or something?


    ¡°Adept Hamonet, I must formally request that you fulfill your duties as the Recorder of the Tome of Rituals and register our duel as prescribed under the Academy¡¯s regulations, article XVI, section four, numerals one, three and five. Our duel will take place immediately, and the stakes will be Initiate Dalian¡¯s class badge and my sister, Kassandra Farrow¡¯s class badge. She will honor the bet.¡±


    Surprise lit up Roland¡¯s eyes for a moment at the mention of his sister¡¯s name. Understanding seemed to slowly dawn in his face. Roland¡¯s gaze grew serious as he squinted at Skyle like he was looking at a strange sort of beast.


    ¡°To start with, you lack even the most basic decorum to address me properly as senior, let alone to call me by my surname,¡± Roland began.


    ¡°With all due respect, Adept Hamonet, I¡¯m not a student of Aegis Academy, and thus there is no formal senior to junior relationship to consider,¡± Skyle noted.


    ¡°Then all the less reason for me to bother with your request. You¡¯re just an outsider, boy, and I have no obligation to comply with any of your demands,¡± Roland said nonplussed, as though he had been expecting Skyle¡¯s reply. His expression was no longer hostile, however. Instead, there was curiosity in his eyes.


    ¡°According to standard academy regulations, article XVI, section-¡± Skyle began once again.


    ¡°Shove your regulations up your arse, smarty mouth,¡± Roland waved his hand, cutting in. ¡°This is the hallowed Hall of Combat, a shrine to the true warrior spirit burning under the elemental spirits¡¯ watchful eyes. As for your rules and regulations, I say once again, so what? At worst, I¡¯ll just challenge you and seek resolution by combat. What say you to that, little runt?¡±


    Skyle sensed that he was being tested, and though he did not know why, he had to go through the motions. He could tell from this senior student¡¯s attitude that a logical approach would not work best in this situation.


    Helplessly, Skyle dug deep into his chest, searching for the smoldering coals of fury which he had doused with cold logic before. With startling ease, Skyle¡¯s face twisted into a grim visage of barely repressed fury as he spat out with a clenched jaw.


    ¡°This sick son of a whore butchered defenseless cats and planted the bloody pieces inside my little sister¡¯s matrix lab, just because he couldn¡¯t stomach the idea that an innocent little girl could be more talented than he was. I mean to face him in single combat and snatch his academy badge from the crushed bones of his hand and kick this human refuse from the ranks of Aegis Academy with my own bootheel. Senior.¡±


    Roland grin was one of genuine delight as he studied Skyle for a moment. Then he switched his gaze on to Dalian.


    ¡°Is this true, Initiate?¡± He asked in even tones.


    ¡°Senior, this rat is besmirching my good name. He has no proof!¡± Dalian spurted.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask about proof. I said, is this true? You should know who I am, and how I deal with those who lie to me,¡± Roland repeated, his gaze growing colder.


    ¡°Uh, Senior. Perhaps you, um, know my older cousin. He¡¯s Adept Hawthorn, he ought to be in the same class-¡±


    ¡°I asked you a question, and I¡¯m still waiting for an answer, Initiate.¡± The tone didn¡¯t change, but a steely light entered Roland¡¯s eyes as he stared Dalian down.


    ¡°I- I- Senior, my friends - they might have played some pranks of ill taste with the younger students of my class,¡± Dalian panted, all color draining from his face as his panicked eyes moved to the sword on Roland¡¯s back.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Skyle was surprised by Dalian¡¯s attitude, and surmised that Roland must have an impressive reputation to be able to drag out the truth from the young noble¡¯s reluctant lips.


    ¡°I see. Well, it is really none of my business whether a dozen cats are sliced up and served for some silly brats¡¯ amusement, or if a talentless freak wishes to offend House Westeria from Darthmoor City for his petty revenge,¡± Roland said in an indifferent tone, but Skyle didn¡¯t miss the look the Adept threw his way.


    Though he didn¡¯t know why Roland would go out of his way to try to warn Skyle, it didn¡¯t change his mind at all.


    Roland must have read as much from his eyes, and strangely that produced a smile on the Adept¡¯s lips. He turned to Dalian next.


    ¡°Initiate, you agree to this duel and place your class badge as the stake of your own free will?¡±


    Dalian hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    Roland chuckled humorlessly as he took up his quill and recorded a new entry upon the tome under his hands.


    ¡°Sign here and here. Oh, and remember, the arena¡¯s spell matrix monitors your pulse and breathing as safeguards against life-threatening wounds. It will instantly declare a winner in case a combatant clearly calls out his surrender or is otherwise unable to continue fighting.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t miss the hidden meaning behind this revelation, and once again wondered why Roland would try to aid him. Not one to protest when offered such valuable advice, Skyle nodded imperceptibly as he revised his plan.


    After both Dalian and Skyle signed their names, Roland handed each one of them a token and flicked his head towards the large doors at his back.


    ¡°At the Initiate stage arena, only academy approved-weapons and armor are allowed. All outside equipment is forbidden. Take your time to arm yourselves. When you¡¯re ready, take this token with you into the arena outside. The matrix barrier will allow you through, though it will automatically kick you out after one hour of combat.¡±


    Dalian¡¯s expression turned ugly when he found out he couldn¡¯t use his own weapons. It seemed as though it was his first time using the arena. It didn¡¯t come as a huge surprise to Skyle. He guessed most mages looked down upon actual combat and focused entirely upon their magical studies. Such a foolish attitude would likely last until they reached the Adept stage. That was when both schools would move into the same area and the inter-school competitions against combat warriors would open. Only then would they realize just how poorly equipped they were to deal with fifteen pounds of element-infused steel crashing upon their heads.


    Such foolish arrogance would serve Skyle well today.


    Skyle ignored Dalian now that the duel had been recorded and sealed. He passed through the doorway Roland had indicated, and walked into a hall that would have been Reikard¡¯s dream come true.


    Weapons of all shapes and sizes hung upon the walls, racks and display cases. Swords ranged from two-handed bastard swords with blades as wide as Skyle¡¯s shoulders, to slender rapiers with plain, if well crafted basket hilts. Razor sharp daggers ranging from triangular blades to single-edged, serrated knives glittered cooly under the golden glow of several everlight lanterns hung throughout.


    Taking advantage of the fact that Dalian had still not entered the spacious hall, Skyle immediately moved towards a corner of the room where bows and crossbows of all kinds hung from the walls. He quickly identified a composite bow that would suit the length of his arms. Picking it up, he tugged at the bowstring and felt that he should barely be able to use about eighty five percent of its draw. That would be enough.


    He quickly placed the bow back upon its perch, then moved to the area where the two-handed swords were displayed. Skyle had just selected a saber with a curved blade nearly as long as his own height, when Dalian walked into the room with slow, tentative steps.


    Skyle pretended not to see him as he gripped the saber in a two-handed grip and swung the blade in a wide circle around himself. As expected, the single edge was completely blunted. However, the sheer speed of his slash produced an impressive whooshing sound. Skyle didn¡¯t stop after he completed the spin, instead going through the motions of one of the few sword techniques he knew.


    After all, Kendric Farrow had not taught his son much about swords at all. He only made his son repeat a few basic stances and simple moves as a warm up every day before moving on to other, far more challenging subjects. Thus, in his son¡¯s mind swords were a rather simple, clumsy chunk of metal that slapped your leg whenever you tried to run. At best, it was a last minute resort when all else fails.


    Kendric had never dissuaded his son of such a notion. If anything, he seemed to encourage it. He would drill Skyle only on a few basic stances. He would have Skyle repeat these same strokes over and over again, until his son¡¯s whole body was aching and his clothes were soaked in sweat. The whole time, Skyle would curse under his breath as to why he had to repeat these dumb, simple moves with this damn clumsy chunk of metal every single day.


    Still, they were all he knew. So, Skyle decided to use the one full stance among the few he had been taught which he thought could maneuver the unwieldy sword in his hands without a significant risk of stumbling and impaling himself. However, as he went through the familiar motions, he was deeply surprised.


    Under the singular focus that he now possessed, the same clumsy sword strokes that had been drilled into his body day after day until they became mere reflex seemed to evolve into something far greater than the sum of its parts. The enhanced sense of awareness that had come from shedding his emotions and entering this mysterious state brought unexpected gains.


    Skyle felt as though each distinct muscle of his body was a separate organ. His senses sank through his flesh and into even the most remote corner of his body. Like his hands or feet, Skyle was possessed of an uncanny awareness of each muscle and tendon¡¯s current state. He could effortlessly issue a command to each individual fiber and felt blindly certain that it would obey.


    At first, Skyle had been planning to put up a hollow, if convincing show in front of the more inexperienced Initiate mage. At this moment, however, Skyle completely ignored such plans. Aware that the mysterious state he found himself immersed in was anything but normal and was a rare opportunity that should not be missed, Skyle directed every last iota of his attention into this newfound discovery.


    As he flowed through each simple motion, he tried to envision the way his own father had moved when he displayed the move. Instantly, he found dozens of discrepancies. His toes were turned the wrong way. His fingers were using the wrong grip. His shoulders were set too far apart. His back was hunched over when it should be straight.


    The mistakes were simply too many to count. Had he been capable of the emotion, he would have been painfully ashamed of both his own incompetence, and his previous disdain for the moves he had ignorantly dismissed as simple warm up exercises.


    As Skyle continued to refine each movement of his body and each slash of the sword, he felt his own mind undergoing an inexplicable change. The closer he drew to the mental image of his father¡¯s fierce, yet elegant sword strokes, Skyle¡¯s own mind was being cut by the razor sharp edges of the blossoming sword intent. It shed all unnecessary thoughts and wasteful motion, until slowly a far more compact version of his former self emerged.


    His will now resembled the sword he held in his hands, and its fierce fighting spirit was as sharp as any sword he had ever beheld. Skyle pursued this feeling to its climax, and only heard the shocked gasp coming from behind his back after he completed his final slashing blow.


    Fat beads of sweat rolled down his face as Skyle knelt on the ground. His breating came in harsh, uneven gasps. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony, totally spent as though he had just run down an entire mountain. His arms shook as the tip of the sword in his hands wavered in the air just below his waist.


    A slow, clapping sound echoed from the walls of the hall. Droplets of sweat sprayed into the air as Skyle swiftly spun his head around.


    At the doorway stood Dalian, the blood completely drained from his face and his mouth stretched open in a terrified, disbelieving gape. Behind him stood Roland, his hands still clapping as he regarded Skyle with an intense light. The senior Adept¡¯s face was one of appreciation, but Skyle felt there was a barely disguised hunger lurking just beneath the pleasant smile.


    ¡°Impressive. Very impressive indeed. I don¡¯t recognize the sword kata, however. Very unorthodox. I can see some of Weimer and Hershell in it, but some of the variations are incredibly ingenious and elegant. It¡¯s fascinating. Which master taught you?¡± His words were unnaturally slow and measured, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm. The blazing fire in his eyes only confirmed this suspicion.


    Skyle shook his head. ¡°No master, just a few moves I picked up.¡±


    Roland¡¯s eyebrows flew up. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you casually pick up, I¡¯d really like to see what your master actually has taught you.¡±


    Skyle shrugged his shoulders, then winced as he lowered his sword and stood upright. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest.


    ¡°They were just a few harmless moves. Nothing out of this world,¡± Skyle commented, downplaying it. He did not wish for his father¡¯s identity to become an issue before he himself could find out the truth.


    Roland openly laughed at that. ¡°Tell that to the weapons rack behind you. What did the poor ironwood stand do to you? If that¡¯s what you call harmless, I pity the poor bastard you actually try to hurt.¡±


    Skyle tilted his head back in the direction of the sword stand. It seemed perfectly fine, though Skyle did recall that he had decided to test the might of his father¡¯s sword moves. In that final slash, he distinctly remembered brushing the tip of his sword against the wooden rack.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to actually cause any damage. It was made of ironwood, which was notorious for being incredibly tough and being able to chip steel when struck. Though he had hoped for at least a scratch, the surface lay completely unblemished.


    Skyle shook his head. He thought his blow had struck true, but there had been remarkably little feedback from the sword. Maybe he had been wrong and missed completely.


    Roland chuckled at Skyle¡¯s confused expression as he walked past him and pushed a finger against one side of the wooden rack. He barely seemed to apply any pressure at all, but one of the legs on the sword stand groaned loudly and folded completely upon itself. It sent the whole thing crashing to the floor with a resounding clang. Swords of all shapes clattered as they rolled on the ground.


    Skyle thought he heard a whimpering sound from behind his shoulder, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to turn around at this moment. Fascinated, he peered in closer and noticed that one of the weapon rack¡¯s legs had been completely cut through. The edges of the cut were so clean, it reminded him of Leon¡¯s sword. Although the severed leg was only around a quarter of an inch in thickness, this was ironwood! If it weren¡¯t so weak to humidity, it could easily be used as a weapon, it was so hard and sturdy.


    Roland smirked at Skyle¡¯s expression.


    ¡°You¡¯re a really interesting fellow, Skyle Farrow.¡±


    Skyle looked up with a start, then realized the Adept student must have read his signature on the duel agreement.


    He didn¡¯t bother replying. He knew he could find no easy explanation for this. He firmly decided that he needed to find out his father¡¯s true identity as soon as possible. That, and he must devote more of his time in learning sword techniques from him.


    Roland didn¡¯t seem bothered by Skyle¡¯s silence at all. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since someone has piqued my curiosity, Skyle Farrow. I expect we¡¯ll be seeing a lot more of each other in the future.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Skyle noted flatly.


    ¡°We shall see, casual blademaster-in-training,¡± Roland grinned toothily.


    Before Skyle could ask what he meant, Roland turned around and headed toward the room¡¯s exit.


    As he walked past Dalian, he paused briefly and flicked a glance at his pale, waxy complexion.


    ¡°Good luck, Initiate Dalian,¡± Roland smirked. ¡°You will most definitely need it.¡±


    Then he walked out of the room with an easy, relaxed gait, ignoring the shaky moan his words had elicited from his academy junior.


    After all, he already seemed to know the results of this duel.


    For despite all outward appearances, Roland Hamonet struck Skyle like a serious man who valued his time. He had no attention to spare on a washed out reject.


    Skyle nodded to himself and carefully sheathed the sword in his hands. Then he moved toward the corner of the room he had visited earlier. There, he casually picked up the bow he had selected beforehand with hardly a second look. He also picked up a quiver with arrows in passing. As expected, the arrowheads were all blunted.


    Perfect.


    All preparations done, he moved to stand before Dalian.


    The hulking senior Initiate mage student hadn¡¯t moved at all throughout this whole affair.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready. I¡¯ll see you at the arena,¡± Skyle stated simply, then walked out.


    He had no time to waste on washouts either, after all.

 Chapter 69 - Missed Shots

    Chapter 69 - Missed Shots


    As Skyle walked out of the building, a small crowd had gathered outside.


    ¡°Hey, you. Yes, you boy. Did you see anyone else inside?¡± asked a tall student, pointing his finger at Skyle.


    Skyle ignored him and pushed his way through the crowd.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you, you runt,¡± the same student shouted, but then he spotted the sword hanging from the scabbard at Skyle¡¯s back.


    In fact, he wasn¡¯t the only one who did. Numerous gasps rang across the crowd as they stared, speechless.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be, right? Maybe he¡¯s just delivering the sword to someone else,¡± a voice said feebly.


    ¡°That¡¯s an arena duel sword, you idiot, not a practice one. Only those who sign a duel agreement at the Hall of Combat can take one out. In fact, I also recognize the bow, and it is from the same place.¡± another voice scoffed.


    ¡°You mean to tell me that little guy is going to fight a duel? He doesn''t even have enough elemental essence to be a warrior, let alone a mage!¡± another voice asked, clearly disbelieving.


    ¡°Ah, I- I guess. How should I know?¡± the other person replied huffily.


    The discussion carried on for a moment longer, but then stopped abruptly as Dalian finally stumbled out of the Hall of Combat.


    The mage was carrying a buckler on his left hand, and a rapier on the right. That was not all. He wore a full length helmet on his head, complete with a crossguard covering his nose. He also wore a glittering shirt of chainmail that hung crookedly from his shoulders. A single greave of dark leather flapped around on his right leg, where it had been hastily and improperly secured. The other leg lay completely bare. A pair of gleaming sabatons of polished steel clanged with every step he took. His clothes looked ruffled and unkept. It was obvious he had tried different pieces of armor, but had been either unable or unwilling to take the time to properly put them on.


    Ignoring the incredulous stares of the crowd outside, Dalian blurted out a question with frantic eyes.


    ¡°Did any of you see a small boy with a large sword on his back?¡±


    Most combat students simply kept staring at the mismatched collection of hastily donned armor and weapons. One of them finally pointed in the direction Skyle had left in.


    ¡°He went that way. Hey, are you the one who signed for-¡± The helpful student began, but by then Dalian was not even listening anymore.


    Letting out a hoarse cry, Dalian jumped into the crowd, where he began to desperately shove people out of his way in order to move forward.


    ¡°Get out of my way, dammit. Out, out I said. Let me through!¡± Dalian cried hysterically.


    Shaking their heads, the warrior students decided right then and there that they were glad they had been lucky enough to enter the School of Combat.


    The School of Magic was just full of lunatics.


    It was only a mile or so further to the arena. Skyle walked at a comfortable pace as he studied the structure that rose up ahead.


    Skyle had expected a grand palace matching the descriptions of the great gladiatorial arenas of the Imperial Capital he had read about in books. Instead, the Initiate arena was a simple circle of sand that stood at the bottom of a huge bowl-shaped dip in the ground.


    Benches were layered all around the sides of the bowl. At the very center rose up a round stage with sand on its surface. It¡¯s height guaranteed that not just the spectators that would sit on the benches, but almost everyone in the entire valley would be able to spectate any fights that happened within.


    At this moment, the valley was no longer as peaceful as when Skyle had first arrived. This was due to the disturbance in the one feature of the arena that reminded Skyle of where he was.


    A translucent sphere of energy covered the entire arena. It did nothing to impair the vision of anyone looking inside, but from what Skyle had read, it would contain any attacks or spells of the Master stage or lower within. Not only that, but when it judged that a duel participant was unfit to continue fighting, it would also instantly surround the fighter within a protective barrier, therefore halting the match.


    The arena had not shown any signs of activity when Skyle had first arrived at the valley. This meant that the spell matrix had only activated after the duel had been signed. To his surprise, right at this moment large words floated upon the surface of the barrier.


    Grievance duel: Dalian Westeria against Skyle Farrow


    Conditions:  Fight until surrender or last man standing.


    Loser forfeits personal class badge into winner¡¯s possession.


    Status: Awaiting combatants.


    A great roar went up from all around the valley, and other students quickly began to rush forward. No one was willing to miss out on this spectacle. Skyle imagined a duel with class badges as the stake would be rare indeed. Moreover, the name ¡°Farrow¡± was undoubtedly one of the most famous ones in the whole academy.


    Skyle would need to hurry, or he would risk Kassandra arriving before he crush his opponent.


    It was surprisingly difficult to push his way past the rapidly gathering throng of onlookers. Things would have been different if they knew he was one of the participants in the duel, but as it was only the sword and bow strapped to his back gave any indication of that fact.


    It was a curious sight. Gasps could be heard coming from his back as soon as he passed and people saw the weapons on his back, therefore guessing his identity. In front of him, countless people milled about as they tried to get closer to the arena so that they could spot the participants of the duel. Little did they know they were blocking the way of one of them.


    ¡°Halt! Skyle Farrow, stop right now!¡± A loud, shrieking voice rang out from behind.


    Skyle had made it almost to the steps that led up into the arena itself, but he turned around when he heard his name.


    Dalian was panting harshly as he half-pushed, half-leaned on the people around him for support as he wobbled his way forward. For some mind-boggling reason, Dalian was walking barefoot, having somehow lost his boots along the way. His shoulder-length blonde hair stuck in matted clumps to his pale, sweat-soaked face. His clothes lay completely disheveled, as if he had tried to tear them off his body for some inexplicable reason. From his limp hands hung a rapier and a buckler, though they almost dragged on the ground and he didn¡¯t look as though he would be able to hang on to them for much longer.


    ¡°Skyle.. Farrow.. Wait. I must.. Something.. Tell you.¡± Dalian¡¯s face was one of abject misery as he tottered his way forward.


    Skyle waited patiently, finally understanding what had happened. The poor fool must have been happily trying on equipment when he abruptly realized that he stood no chance against Skyle once he let him enter the deadly reach of his sword.


    Since anything was fair game once a fighter set foot upon the arena, Dalian certainly wouldn¡¯t put it beyond the despicable rat to wait for him right beside the barrier, sword at the ready.


    Dalian could hardly prepare a spell before hand, as the barrier that served to isolate any attacks from within did the same with any magic from without.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Skyle could only imagine the panic of the mage when he had finally realized this, and could now understand the pathetic state Dalian was in. The young boy waited patiently, however. He didn¡¯t need to, but he still did.


    His purpose here was two-fold, after all. First was to deliver himself from the threat Dalian and his friends meant - forever. Skyle would not leave any loose ends, not anymore.


    That was simply inefficient.


    Second, Skyle meant to deal with as ruthless and brutal a fashion as he could with this first victim of his. He had quickly come to realize that his former peaceable ways had been anything but. Already, he was the object of scorn and hatred by all the elements which were too cowardly or weak to strike at Kassandra or Reikard.


    This problem, which Skyle had naively ignored, would not go away by itself and was certain to get worse. As they realized that the elder Farrow brother was weak and spineless, they would fall upon him like vultures to the feast.


    Today, Skyle meant to put any such notions to rest for good. As for any consequences from his actions, he already had contingencies in mind to deal with them.


    Thus, completely expressionless, Skyle waited as Dalian finally arrived before him.


    ¡°You.. cheap.. Bastard.. Think I don¡¯t.. Know.. what you¡¯re.. Trying..¡± Dalian wheezed, reaching out to try and grab hold of Skyle¡¯s neck.


    Skyle easily blocked his hand with his own. Although he was much smaller, Skyle had come to realize that most of Dalian¡¯s bulk was just that, useless bulk. Skyle doubted the young noble had either the discipline or inclination to hone his body and train his physical strength.


    Skyle¡¯s hands dug deeply into the fat of Dalian¡¯s arms, pulling him forward while his foot kicked out and tripped the bigger boy.


    Dalian let out a hoarse cry as he stumbled forward, desperately trying to hang on to anything to stop his fall. Skyle swayed aside and added a well-placed kick to the mage¡¯s ass cheeks as he tumbled past him.


    It was thus that Dalian made his entrance into the arena, shrieking loudly until he swallowed a mouthful of sand.


    He recovered with startling speed, and Skyle realized the mage was smarter than he had given him credit for.


    Dalian instantly sprang to his feet as if all his exhaustion was gone. He ran away from Skyle, keeping an eye over his shoulder as he watched his opponent.


    The crowds of onlookers laughed derisively at this. The much larger boy was busy scampering away, looking like he was running for his life. The contrast with the other fighter of this duel could not have been greater.


    Skyle leaned against the siderail, his hands brushing dust from his clothes as he calmly waited for Dalian to reach his desired spot. Meanwhile, he rolled his head from side to side, then unslung the giant, unwieldy sword from his shoulders. When he dropped the sword to he floor with a loud clatter of metal, another roar went up in the crowd.


    Why was the little boy throwing away his best weapon? Had he decided to surrender? Only the bow remained, but everyone knew bows were weapons that required years of arduous training to use properly. Already, Dalian had opened a distance of over one hundred feet. Striking a moving target at such a distance before he could be struck by a spell seemed nearly impossible for such a small boy.


    Skyle sighed as he finally freed himself from the burden of the sword. After all, he had never been fond of the clumsy chunks of metal, and he wasn¡¯t about to start now. He was too unfamiliar with the weapon for use in practical combat. Already, that one sword exercise earlier had drained too much of his limited strength and stamina. Perhaps after he familiarized himself more with swords in actual combat situations, he would change his mind.


    Besides, the sword was so large and unwieldy, that it did not suit his current purpose even if he could use it to secure a victory. To Skyle, winning was a foregone conclusion. It was simply a matter of arranging the aftermath that remained.


    Dalian finally stopped running and turned around to face Skyle at around one hundred and fifty feet. Skyle quirked an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. That was nearly the same range as Leon¡¯s firebolts. If Dalian truly could cast a spell at this distance, Skyle had definitely underestimated his opponent.


    Dalian busily began casting a spell, weaving his hands in complex gestures while moving his lips in arcane incantations.


    Skyle finally stepped through the barrier at this point. The instant he crossed over to the other side, the whole barrier flashed with an intense light, and the letters upon the barrier changed.


    Grievance duel: Dalian Westeria (10) against Skyle Farrow (1)


    Conditions:  Fight until surrender or last man standing.


    Loser forfeits personal class badge into winner¡¯s possession.


    Status: Fighting - Winner to be determined.


    Skyle ignored everything else as he unslung his bow. In one smooth motion, he nocked his first arrow and let fly with hardly a pause. Almost as soon as that first arrow was away, he knew he had misjudged the bow¡¯s draw and he would miss his target. This only increased his focus as he instantly nocked a second arrow and let loose once again.


    What followed was an appalling barrage of arrows. The crowd could hardly believe their eyes at the sheer speed at which each arrow was nocked on the bow and fired away. Surely, no one could hit a target at such reckless speeds?


    Dalian was still intent upon his first spell, finishing the final hand gestures which would complete the spell. Skyle knew that with his level of skill, he would be lucky if he could cast a spell within ten seconds. That held true for most Initiates. Even Leon needed a couple seconds to cast a firebolt, even though he was a summoner Adept of incredible skill.


    Dalian was so focused on his spell that he hardly noticed when Skyle finally entered the arena. Barely three seconds had passed after that when the first arrow had taken flight. A few people in the crowd tried to shout out a warning, but it was simply of no use.


    As Skyle had guessed, the first arrow was woefully off target. Instead of striking Dalian¡¯s hand and shattering every bone there as intended, the arrow simply struck a glancing blow against two of his fingers that nearly tore them off his hand.


    No matter, Skyle mused. The spell had been interrupted, and his next arrow would strike true.


    Dalian stared at the mangled fingers of his left hand for a moment, his brain unable to understand what had just happened. The spell he had been casting fizzled away as the elemental essence he had been gathering floated away along with the howl of agony that finally burst forth. Pain unlike any Dalian had previously known lit his right entire hand on fire and the scream that tore past his throat only grew louder.


    Dalian clutched at his fingers with his left hand, or at least he tried to. Right before he could grab his injured right hand, a blur streaked in from outside the corner of his eyes, and a new flare of agony exploded in his brain.


    Sudden tears blurred his vision as he stared at the gruesomely twisted fingers of his left hand. They had been smashed into a purple pulp by a vicious blow, and Dalian¡¯s mind simply couldn¡¯t comprehend what was going on.


    The crowd grew completely silent as a third arrow struck home. This one was delivered with pinpoint accuracy, just like the second one had. Only the archer himself knew how dissatisfied he was by all three previous shots.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but remember Moonshadow, and the smooth draw of her bowstring. This would not have happened if he still had the legendary masterwork weapon. Then again, he mused, a blunt arrow powered by Moonshadow would have likely torn that hand clean off. So, right now a few missed shots were a better alternative.


    His first arrow had missed almost completely, barely striking a glancing blow to two fingers. Then his next arrow, which had been intended to strike that same right hand and finish the job, had been blocked by Dalian¡¯s left hand.


    This third arrow had been aimed at Dalian¡¯s right hand once again, but missed for the third consecutive time. This time it struck Dalian on the shoulder instead, because the crying youth bent over to howl in renewed agony as he stared at both of his ruined hands.


    This third arrow struck another glancing blow, but the impact at this range was enough that it cracked bone with a wrenching sound that pierced through Dalian¡¯s brain even in the midst of his howling chaos.


    By now the whole crowd was watching in horrified fascination as the vicious little boy continued to fire arrow after arrow. Not one missed its target, striking the slobbering, pain-maddened giant on his feet, legs, then shoulders. Even when he finally collapsed to the ground, the arrows did not stop. Amazingly, not a single arrow was a killshot, as though fate were playing a cruel game with the unfortunate youth. Every time, the arrows avoided vital spots and instead targeted his limbs.


    Not a single drop of blood sprayed forth except for the self-inflicted gash on Dalian¡¯s tongue when he bit it in the midst of his endless howls of pain.


    The writing upon the barrier had quickly been changing this whole time.


    Grievance duel: Dalian Westeria (1) against Skyle Farrow (20)


    Conditions:  Fight until surrender or last man standing.


    Loser forfeits personal class badge into winner¡¯s possession.


    Status: Fighting - Winner to be determined.


    The blinking last line seemed to be making a mockery of this whole incident. Though combat students were used to brutal fights upon the arena, this kind of merciless torture inflicted upon a helpless victim was simply too much for some to take. A few girls could be heard crying in the background, while others retched and began to throw up. Most couldn''t understand why the fight wasn''t being stopped.


    Already, Dalian was trying to shout out his surrender. However, every time he tried to do so another arrow would arrive and flood his brain with more pain, leaving him a gasping, howling mess.


    Skyle didn¡¯t seem to notice, as he kept firing arrow after arrow, knowing his time would be up at any time now. Blood had not been spilled, and no injury had been inflicted to any vital spots. Still, eventually the spell matrix would realize the fight was over.


    Only after a relentless barrage of fifteen arrows had been fired, did a shimmering orb of solid light suddenly spring into life around Dalian¡¯s quivering body. Just an instant earlier, the screams of terror that had scraped the youth''s throat raw had abruptly been cut off.


    Mercifully, he had finally passed out.


    At this point, the writing upon the barrier flashed once again.


    Grievance duel: Dalian Westeria (1) against Skyle Farrow (22)


    Conditions:  Fight until surrender or last man standing.


    Loser forfeits personal class badge into winner¡¯s possession.


    Status: Winner - Skyle Farrow.


    It didn¡¯t stop Skyle from firing his arrows, however. Instead, all color fled from the faces of the audience watching the fight as arrow after arrow kept striking the barrier. They all bounced harmlessly off, but the vicious boy was like an avenging devil who didn¡¯t stop until every single arrow had been launched and his hand reached over his shoulder to grasp into an empty quiver.


    Only then did Skyle drop the bloodstained bow at his feet. He unslung the quiver and added it to the pile as well.


    He stood upon the golden sand for one long moment, his eyes scanning the crowd as though he were a fierce predator hungry for more blood. His hands were bleeding where the bowstring had bitten deeply into his own flesh.


    Skyle did not seem to notice.


    A brief glow floated from within the barrier that surrounded Dalian. It was a sparkling object which floated to Skyle. It hovered before him for a moment, and Skyle reached out and took it.


    It was Dalian''s class badge. It was his prize.


    Then Skyle turned around and exited the arena without a word.


    The crowd silently parted ahead of him.


    Skyle walked away without a single look behind at the mangled pile of flesh he had left behind in the middle of that arena.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t perfect,¡± he reflected. ¡°But it will do.¡±

 Chapter 70 - The Drowning Boy

    Chapter 70 - The Drowning Boy


    The hush that filled the valley provided an eerie contrast to the lively din of activity that had filled it just moments ago.


    The badges on the chests of many students still flickered with light as credits were added or subtracted, but most owners did not pay them any mind. Even the students manning the tables behind which stood the signs with the current odds for the duel had blank faces. Thankfully, the payouts were delivered automatically after bets were closed and the fight was resolved. It was part of an elaborate spell matrix that was subordinated to the arena¡¯s own master spell matrix.


    It was no wonder, for this had been one of the fastest reversals of fortune any of the students had ever witnessed. In the beginning, given their obvious difference in size and the fact that the smaller fighter gave off no elemental energy fluctuations at all, the odds had heavily favored the larger student.


    After the first arrow had struck, odds had been plunging down at unprecedented speeds. Then, they had been reversed. In the end, not even the attentive students in charge of adjusting the odds and taking in late bets had been able to keep up.


    Still, the biggest loser in this whole ordeal was obviously Dalian. Not only had he been beaten mercilessly, with all four of his limbs being broken in several places until he passed out from the pain; he had also lost his class badge and was no longer considered a student at Aegis Academy.


    More than a few students had difficulty swallowing past a dry throat as they could hardly imagine a worse way of leaving the academy - beaten senseless, even crippled - by a child whose height did not even reach their own shoulders.


    Skyle hardly cared. He had achieved his purpose. He could feel it in the way the crowd wordlessly parted before him without daring to meet his gaze.


    He was descending the steps that led away from the arena when the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Maybe it was the heightened sense of awareness that accompanied him still, or maybe it was a product of all the near-death experiences he had gone through in Sanctuary.


    In the end, it did not matter. Skyle did not hesitate at all as he made a split second decision and dove right back into through the arena¡¯s barrier. It was a gamble, as he was not certain whether it would allow him to re-enter after the match had already finished.


    Thankfully, he slipped through without a hitch. Just in time, too. No sooner had his feet finished crossing the barrier, than a crackling ball of fire exploded against the steps Skyle had just vacated. Though the steps did not even show scorch marks, the rumbling crash of the explosion alone was enough to tell him this was no ordinary foe.


    After getting to his feet, Skyle narrowed his eyes as he sought out his silent attacker.


    The crowd had cried out in alarm when they saw the explosion, but most stood still as though they couldn¡¯t believe what they had just seen. No one would dare violate academy regulation, and using magic against another student was strictly forbidden.


    Only Skyle knew that the same protection did not apply to him. Still, he couldn¡¯t figure out who could be trying to kill him so soon after his last fight. Could it be Dalian¡¯s friends? He quickly dismissed the idea. Not only had they abandoned his former friend without putting up any fight, the fiery explosion had been too violent and sudden. Skyle was sure it would be an Adept.


    In the end, it was not hard to spot his attacker. All Skyle had to do was follow the stares of the crowd.


    They converged at a point about one hundred feet away from Skyle. There, a tall figure dressed in black robes stalked forward with a remarkably calm expression on his young face. That is, calm for a man who had just tried to murder him in cold blood. He had to be around 18, with thin lips and cruel, uncaring eyes. Skyle could faintly make out three full shields with red stars upon his chest. He swiftly recalled Dalian''s words to Roland back at the Hall of Combat.


    ¡°Adept Hawthorn?¡± Skyle asked.


    Surprise flashed briefly across his face, but then the calm returned. ¡°You know my name? Good, then you know why you will die.¡±


    Skyle spoke calmly as he made his way to his bow. "I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t follow.¡±


    Adept Hawthorn sighed as he glanced toward his cousin¡¯s fallen figure. ¡°That pathetic excuse of a mage is my cousin. While I frankly don¡¯t care what happens to trash like him, I cannot allow you to sully the name of the family and get away unscathed. It reflects poorly upon me, you see? I¡¯ve worked very hard to establish our family¡¯s reputation within academy grounds, and I cannot let all my hard work go to waste. Already, the disgrace of killing a talentless freak like you will besmirch my reputation. At least it will be better than people running around saying a crippled boy humiliated a member of my family upon the arena. It¡¯s nothing personal, mind. Simple business. I find the whole ordeal an altogether regrettable affair.¡±


    Skyle calmly considered his options while he kept backing away. He considered fleeing into the crowds, but that was not a solution at all. It would take less than a minute for the Adept to weed him out and burn him to cinders. He couldn¡¯t even hope to make it back to the Hall of Combat. Even if the mysterious Adept there chose to help him, he would never be able to reach it before being killed.


    Skyle would have happily attempted to threaten Hawthorn with his cousin¡¯s life. However, that shimmering barrier was still protecting his body. He was not sure how his injuries would be treated. Would a staff member of the academy be sent to care for the student, or was the barrier itself providing treatment?


    If it was the former, perhaps Skyle could stay in the barrier and buy enough time for a staff member to arrive. Though he was loath to count on their goodwill to save his life, he knew his family name carried great weight within academy grounds.


    His mind made up, Skyle picked up the bow he had left on the ground. Next, he began looking for arrows. Most had been broken or bent, and were beyond useless. Only a precious few could be salvaged. Skyle did the best he could, all the while noting that his overconfidence had cost him this time around. He knew he could not have possibly predicted that Dalian¡¯s cousin would arrive at such an inopportune time, much less that he would attempt to kill Skyle without even a word. Still, in the future he would have to remember to always have a contingency plan.


    At least, today¡¯s debacle was not completely unsalvageable. So long as he stayed within the barrier, he would be safe.


    Skyle didn¡¯t bother wasting words with his would-be killer. Instead, he moved around and scanned the ground for reusable arrows.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not begging for your life. Do you think the academy will come in time to save your life?¡± Hawthorn smiled indulgently as he began to take the steps up to the arena.


    He was right, of course. Skyle was planning on waiting for the academy staff. It was then that a sudden possibility struck Skyle. Watching Hawthorn¡¯s unpleasant grin grow wider still, Skyle knew he had just run out of time.


    Doing a quick count, Skyle realized he had only managed to salvage eight arrows. The rest had been rendered unusable or he had been unable to find them.


    Eight arrows against an Adept of the 7th rank. The odds did not favor him. Skyle began to back away from the arena¡¯s entrance until his back was almost to the barrier. He held his bow in a seemingly casual stance. In truth, he was preparing to fire at any moment now.


    It was as Skyle had feared. When Hawthorn reached the final step, he kept walking forward and entered the arena¡¯s barrier with hardly a ripple. The barrier was no use in keeping people away anymore. It only served to isolate magical attacks now.


    Still, Skyle had been prepared for this worst case scenario. As soon as Hawthorn lifted his foot to enter the arena, Skyle had lifted his bow and let loose with a shot that prioritized speed over accuracy. He must absolutely take the Adept by surprise before he could summon a fire shield like Leon.


    Unfortunately, Hawthorn was much more experienced than Dalian. He launched himself into a roll as soon as he entered the arena. The move surprised Skyle, as he hadn¡¯t expected such an arrogant man to throw himself to the ground without any hesitation. This cost Skyle, as his arrow flew wide. Worse still, the surprise delayed Skyle¡¯s next shot by a precious couple seconds.


    By the time Skyle nocked a second arrow and let fly, Hawthorn had completed the complex hand gestures he had started as soon as he stepped through. It could hardly have been four seconds since he stepped inside, but the arrow explored into splinters as it collided against a bright layer of red energy. It spread out to form a flat wall in front of the fire mage roughly the same shape as he was.


    It was far smaller than the full half-sphere Leon used, but it was more than enough to protect him from any arrows Skyle could launch.


    ¡°That was a good try. Unfortunately, I saw how easily you handled poor Dalian with those deadly arrows of yours. I must say, the poor fool picked the wrong cripple to pick on. You are quite skilled.¡±


    Skyle began to nod, then burst into sudden motion as he jumped to one side and shot an arrow from a slightly different angle.


    Hawthorn¡¯s shield immediately flickered, moving to face the new threat. It was in place long before the arrow arrived. It exploded a moment later, leaving only a rising cloud of ash and fragments strewn across the sand.


    ¡°Good, you have spirit. If I were only an early Adept who had just been promoted, I likely would not have been able to shift my shield fast enough,¡± Hawthorn praised. ¡°You¡¯re resourceful for a little rat. Seems a pity you will roast in your juices and die here today.¡±


    The Adept¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all as he said those last words. Skyle realized that this man was either as dangerous as Skyle himself was, or he was simply crazy. Either way, this kind of ruthlessness boded ill for Skyle.


    ¡°Six left,¡± Skyle counted in his mind.


    Skyle immediately nocked another arrow to his bow, but did not lift it yet. Instead, he simply stared at his enemy with cool eyes.


    When he saw this, Hawthorn nodded as though to himself.


    ¡°You look even calmer than me. It doesn¡¯t even look like you¡¯re hoping one of the students outside will help. You¡¯re not so stupid as to hang your hopes on that. Just in case you¡¯re wondering though,¡± Hawthorn began to move forward while talking casually. ¡°They won¡¯t. I¡¯m rather notorious within the academy, you see. Not nearly as famous as your little sister, of course. After all, I¡¯m only well known in the arenas.¡±


    Skyle still didn¡¯t say a word, merely watching as Hawthorn drew even closer.


    ¡°You could say I¡¯ve carved quite the reputation for myself. Thirty three bouts, one draw, one loss. All my opponents were burned so badly that by the time the barrier intervened, only twenty five of them were able to make a full recovery. Of the rest, two are still convalescing and the rest left the academy on their own.¡±


    Hawthorn smiled then, and it was only in this one moment when his mask of calmness cracked for just an instant. In this one moment, Skyle was able to see the mind of a vicious beast who hunted and killed, not for hunger but rather for the thrill. If he were a snowblade tiger, Skyle¡¯s father would have put it down on the spot.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°How could I let a little freak like you ruin the paradise I¡¯ve found for myself? Here, I can wield my flames as I please, burning people alive in all kinds of delightful ways. So long as I keep winning and getting stronger, no one cares. But this only works as long as I can maintain my image of invincibility. As soon as my reputation begins to suffer, annoying rats will begin to crawl forward and submit complaints about my actions. Then the academy would be forced to act, and they would place restrictions upon me. That would be extremely disappointing. You see now why no one is willing to step forward to help you, and why you must die?¡±


    Skyle simply eyed him cooly. There was no trace of fear or contempt upon his face. To him, all these words were mere wasted air. If anything, it seemed as though his opponent was growing more and more unstable with every word. So, Skyle didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re truly exceptional. I wonder what they feed you little freaks back in that farm, to make all of you so very outstanding. A pity that I will be long gone by the time your sister¡¯s grown enough that the academy will let me challenge her.¡± His eyes seemed to grow distant for a moment, and he flicked his tongue over his lips. ¡°Now, that¡¯s one delicious morsel.¡±


    Sensing his opening, Skyle let his face twist into a visage of unbridled fury as he screamed, ¡°You bastard, don¡¯t you dare talk about-¡±


    That was all he had time for before Hawthorn lifted the hand he had been hiding behind his body this whole time and flicked it in Skyle¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Azuora!¡± Hawthorn cried, his eyes suddenly glowing with a crimson fire.


    Fire essence gathered upon his extended hand, then transformed into a jet of fire as it rumbled towards Skyle. It formed a stream of fiery gas that burned his vision as it rushed forward to blanket over him.


    Skyle had been prepared to launch his counter attack as soon as he detected an opening. Hawthorn thought he had set up a trap for Skyle, but in fact it was the other way around. Pretending to be angry had been the perfect opportunity to prompt his enemy lower his guard and attack. Skyle knew that simultaneously casting a spell while another one was active placed a great strain upon any mage. Thus, he had lifted his bow the instant he saw Hawthorn moving his hand.


    Crouching as low as he could while still able to maintain a solid grip, Skyle barely had time to sight his target before launching his arrow. He did have any time to watch his shot, as by then the blinding stream of fire had already been fully cast and was roaring on its way to burn him to ashes.


    Skyle¡¯s agonized scream tore into the air as the fire descended, sending out a great shower of sparks before it crashed against the barrier and fanned all around the spot Skyle had been occupying.


    Hawthorn¡¯s grin was one of sadistic satisfaction as he eagerly craned his head forward, as though wishing he could see through the clump of flames roaring before him.


    Suddenly, he became aware of a throbbing sting upon his ankle. Grunting with pain. Hawthorn glanced down to see a small horizontal cut on the skin just above his foot. It began oozing blood even as Hawthorn watched. He then recalled the last desperate shot the brat had attempted before being consumed by his flames.


    When he lifted his eyes to examine the ground in front of him, he had his answer. Barely a few steps ahead of him lay a broken arrowhead with a small impact crater in the sand all around it.


    Only then did Hawthorn realize the crazy brat had gone for a bounce shot off the arrowhead on the ground, aiming for the tiniest gap under his fire shield. It suddenly struck him that this uncannily calm boy was not the type of fool who would waste his effort on such a useless maneuver for no reason.


    It was to Hawthorn¡¯s credit that he thought of all this in a mere instant before bursting into immediate action. In reality, it looked as though he had barely looked down to the small cut on his leg before glancing up for a fraction of a second. Then he burst into instant motion, diving to his left while urgently shifting the position of his shield and even covering his head with his arms.


    Skyle narrowed his eyes even as he jumped back through the barrier and fired an arrow at Hawthorn. His sudden dive had taken Skyle by surprise yet again. He was sure he had not been spotted. After all, Skyle had been careful in lining his body with the incoming jet of fire before leaping backward and screaming as loudly as he could.


    His body had flown straight through the barrier, and not an instant too soon. He had barely passed through when the stream of fire crashed against the barrier, blocking his vision. Then he had run around the outside as quickly as he could manage without making a sound.


    Barely a few moments had passed before he jumped back in and fired off his shot. However, Hawthorn had either known Skyle had not been struck, or somehow guessed he was being attacked. As twisted as his personality was, his impressive match record in the arena was not without reason. His instinctive dive had undoubtedly saved his life.


    Still, the archer was Skyle, and he could not possibly miss a shot from such close quarters. The fire shield flickered into place on the wrong side. In any case, it might have come too late, as Hawthorn had no time to see where he would be attacked from. However, Skyle had not counted on Hawthorn even shielding his head with his arms as he dove aside. It was the only reason Skyle¡¯s arrow struck his arm instead of his head.


    Hawthorn let out a savage snarl as he rose to his feet. He turned upon Skyle with a fury that had been absent before, gesturing wildly while uttering an incantation. He didn¡¯t even bother looking at the arrow that had penetrated his arm clean through and cut into his cheek, opening a hideous slash that almost showed his teeth.


    Skyle sent one more arrow before jumping back toward the safety of the barrier. That was a mistake, as he had not counted on Hawthorn being able to cast his spell so quickly when aided by a spoken incantation. He must have begun casting the spell right after unleashing his previous spell.


    Skyle¡¯s arrow crashed and burned uselessly against the Adept¡¯s fire shield, but he had more urgent things to worry about at that moment.


    A bolt of fire streaked in his direction, and Skyle only had time to desperately twist his body around in mid-air, even as he crashed through the magical barrier one more time. This time, he felt the searing heat scorching his back as he rolled on the ground. The smell of singed hair and burned meat assaulted his nose. Skyle grit his teeth as he pushed himself to his feet and bit his lips against the pain.


    In truth, his wound did not concern him nearly as much as what he felt when he groped blindly over his shoulder with one hand. Or rather, it was what he could not feel.


    The quiver of arrows was gone. It had either been burned right off or had been dislodged by the fire bolt¡¯s impact. The pain from the burns on his back, he could handle. Thankfully, the barrier had still absorbed most of the impact. Skyle was still able to move, although with great pain. However, the lack of arrows was almost a death sentence.


    All this time, the crowd had not dispersed. They watched with horror at the brutal fight. Everyone had assumed the senior Adept would dispatch Skyle with his usual cruelty. No one could have imagined that the fight would stretch on for this long, or that the boy would inflict such a hideous wound on one of the top ranked battle mages in the entire academy!


    Breathing harshly, Skyle began sprinting along the outer edge of the barrier. By now Hawthorn was already casting a new spell as he began to close in on Skyle. His shield stood at the ready as fire elemental essence began to gather into his hand.


    Skyle ignored the fire Adept as he searched the ground. Unfortunately, he could see no arrow at all, even as he increased his speed. Hawthorn could only watch Skyle with a baleful stare as he chased after him at a steady rate. He knew he could not cross the barrier without losing his fire shield. Skyle¡¯s actions seemed to suggest that he was wounded and had run out of arrows, but by this point Hawthorn had grown increasingly wary of this cunning, vicious boy.


    When the fire bolt finally took shape within his hand, he cradled it in his fist as he picked up his pace. He was still not rushing, keeping his eyes on Skyle all the while keeping his fire shield in place. If the boy attempted to jump in and fire another arrow, he would be ready to roast him alive where he stood. If he tried to move away from the barrier, Hawthorn would instantly step out himself and rain doom and fire upon his foe.


    It was only after a few moments had passed that Hawthorn began to grow restless. He growled in frustration when he noticed that his prey had no intention of either stepping inside or moving away from the barrier. He seemed content to run along the perimeter, always watching Hawthorn¡¯s position but not offering any openings for attack.


    The fist that held the fire bolt shook with fury as Hawthorn realized that the boy was playing with him. He would set one foot across the barrier, only to step right out as soon as Hawthorn began to lift his hand in his direction. Cursing at the boy¡¯s shamelessness, Hawthorn wished he dared launch a fire bolt if only to vent his frustration. He knew he stood almost no chance of hitting the boy unless he fully stepped through the barrier. He picked up his pace and vowed that he would make the boy suffer before he scattered his ashes to the wind.


    Hawthorn had no way of knowing that Skyle was playing no game at all. He couldn¡¯t afford to. Lines of fire were searing agony across his whole back, and every step he took brought on another hiss of pain. Still, Skyle knew the moment he stopped moving would be the moment he died. Already, Hawthorn was almost on top of him.


    Had he been capable of emotion, he might have started to panic right about now. He still could not spot so much as a single arrow, and in truth he was not very optimistic about his chances even if he had a full quiver at his back.


    Hawthorn was simply too canny, and he wouldn¡¯t fall for the same trick twice. He was also remarkably patient, methodically closing the distance while always maintaining his fire shield at the ready and the fire bolt held within his grasp.


    What was worse still was his gaze, however. Any other exalted Adept stage mage would have been maddened with fury at this point. Hawthorn, however, was still watching Skyle carefully. He looked like nothing more than a snake stalking its prey, preparing that final deadly lunge that would end the hunt.


    Even at this point, however, the snake remained cautious. His shield flickered briefly every time the bow in Skyle¡¯s hand rose even a little, even though it was blatantly obvious that his other hand held no arrow at all.


    It was then that a flash of inspiration struck Skyle, and he decided to gamble it all on one reckless move.


    He had already considered all other options, and they all led to the same fatal ending for Skyle.


    It was truly a case of the drowning man who doesn¡¯t care if he must grab onto the tiger¡¯s tail.


    Or serpent, as in this case.


    For he was drowning, and was fully prepared to grab onto the snake¡¯s tail.


    ¡°Still, if I must drown,¡± Skyle muttered coldly in his head, ¡°Then at the very least I¡¯ll make sure to drag the snake down with me.¡±

 Chapter 71 - Pawns

    Chapter 71 - Pawns


    There was a breathless tension in the air around the arena as hundreds of eyes watched in rapt fascination at the scene playing out before their eyes.


    The small boy whom everyone had discounted as another victim to pad Adept Hawthorn¡¯s rampage across the arena rankings, was still alive and well, dashing along the border of the arena while Hawthorn could only cautiously draw closer.


    Previously, any of the students watching would have laughed out loud at such a sight. Now, no one could. It seemed only reasonable and prudent to approach this deadshot archer with the utmost caution, even when everything seemed to suggest the Adept was holding the upper hand.


    After all, in a true battle complacency came at a steep cost. One only had to look at Hawthorn¡¯s torn face to understand this. On his right cheek, a bloody flap of skin curled down and showed flashes of white teeth beneath. Only a second¡¯s hesitation had prevented such a wound from being a fatal one.


    Hawthorn cursed under his breath at the pain flaring from his cheek. He paid no further attention to it, however, other than to use it to further hone his focus on hunting down his elusive prey. He readily admitted that he had badly underestimated the brat. It infuriated him to no end that not long ago he had derided his cousin Dalian for making such a basic mistake. Now, he had repeated the same mistake, and only his finely honed battle instinct and experience had saved the day.


    Humiliation burned his face worse than the wound did. As his hand tightened upon the globe of fire it cradled, he closed the final fifty feet that separated him from the brat.


    It was time to end this.


    Skyle had begun to stumble on purpose, skidding on the sand and just barely catching himself a few times. In truth, he didn¡¯t have to try very hard. The burns on his back must be far more serious than he had feared, and the pain was getting increasingly worse. He was also not used to extended battles such as this. Just running along the perimeter had depleted most of the remaining stamina he had.


    As such, even the cautious Hawthorn would not be able to resist drawing closer. Skyle skidded and slipped as he kept running, and as he did so he began to throw more frequent looks over his shoulder at Hawthorn. He did his best to infuse as much desperation and fear as he dared into his features, careful not to overdo it.


    It was all an act. A carefully, meticulously contrived facade. It was all the more convincing because Skyle truly was in desperate straits, and if he were capable of the emotion he would surely be swamped in fear. As it was, he was doing the best he could under the circumstances.


    As much as he loathed the idea, the rest would be up to luck.


    Hawthorn no longer taunted Skyle, nor did he play with him with meaningless words. It seemed the small boy had at least gained his grudging respect. Skyle would have much rather have his opponent underestimate him again, but his foe was too smart for that.


    No matter, for even his caution could be used against him.


    Skyle skidded on the sand once again, and this time he wasn¡¯t able to recover in time. He sprawled on the ground with a painful crash, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. Shaking his head dazedly, Skyle scratched at the ground as he tried to scramble to his feet.


    Hawthorn was still holding on to his shield as he approached closer. His face had stiffened into an emotionless mask. The eagerness in his face had faded now, and his eyes narrowed into suspicion as he steadily moved closer with his fire bolt held up high. He did still not fire, as he had not failed to notice the boy still held on to his bow. It was suspicious, to say the least.


    The little boy lay just inside of the arena. A sudden dive would send him straight through the barrier and waste Hawthorn¡¯s fire bolt. The few seconds he would need to summon another one would take precious focus away from what the boy was doing, and he could ill afford the distraction. Not anymore. He would not underestimate the boy again.


    He did not want a repeat of what had happened before. This time, he would make sure he finished his enemy off.


    45 feet. 40 feet. 35 feet. Just a little closer, and he would be close enough that his fire bolt would reach its target before he could move away.


    The boy finally regained his footing. He sent one final look toward Hawthorn, and the expression of naked fear and despair finally snapped something in Hawthorn¡¯s predatory instincts. His patience had finally run out. It may not be close enough, but it would have to do.


    Hawthorn flung his arm up, and the firebolt turned into a streak of light as it sped towards the boy.


    As though a signal light had been fired, the brat instantly burst into motion. He did not rush toward the barrier, however. Instead, he dove away from it.


    Hawthorn realized his mistake. He had aimed at a point between his enemy and the barrier, assuming the boy would try a desperate lunge towards safety. His prey¡¯s move in the opposite direction was a courageous one, and it sent his firebolt splashing harmlessly against the barrier.


    Immediately, Hawthorn began casting another spell. He realized the shortcomings of the firebolt. It had longer range, but it was too narrow and focused. He needed another Flameburst spell, like the one he had used before. Though it had a much shorter range, its area of effect damage would make it impossible to dodge at close quarters.


    As all this flashed past his thoughts, he did not neglect the positioning of his Fire Shield. He carefully positioned it between himself and the boy, all the while advancing closer and continuing to prepare the Flameburst spell that would finally end this fight.


    All signs of lethargy had fled from the boy. When he dove, it was a perfectly executed evasive maneuver. It ended in a roll that smoothly led to the boy regaining his feet. He didn¡¯t stop there either.


    His elusive prey immediately launched himself into a desperate dash, and while he did so he lifted his bow up and tugged on the bowstring - with no arrow in hand. The move badly shocked Hawthorn, as he couldn¡¯t comprehend what the boy was doing. Only at the last moment, did he catch the glint of a silvery object pinched between the archer¡¯s fingers.


    ¡°Dalian¡¯s badge?¡± The thought flashed incredulously in Hawthorn¡¯s head.


    He immediately shifted his fire shield to meet the new threat. His opponent¡¯s bow twanged loudly and Hawthorn could barely catch a streak of silver before his shield popped and crackled with a jittery release of power.


    ¡°It¡¯s the magic in the badge!¡± Hawthorne cursed inwardly. ¡°It¡¯s causing fluctuations in my shield¡¯s structure!¡±


    The thought flashed in his head as he considered the implications, but he was committed now. It was only a minor disturbance, mostly impeding his sight directly in front. His Flameburst was almost ready, and that would be the end. The fact that the brat had been forced to use the badge as a projectile meant he truly had run out of arrows.


    Tracing the last few elemental runes for the Flameburst spell in the air before him, Hawthorn peered through the confusing fluctuations of power in his fire shield. He didn¡¯t even consider lowering the shield, even now. If his prey was this outstanding with a bow, he could just as easily have been trained in hand-to-hand combat, and Hawthorn himself had none. He had his magic and nothing else. Fortunately, the fire shield should easily repel any frontal physical assault.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    BOOM!


    The sudden explosion rocked Hawthorn back in his steps. It was not the force of the blow, for his shield had done its job and absorbed the impact. It was the surprise he felt at the unexpected attack.


    "He still has arrows? But I didn''t see any in his hands or back! What is going on here?" Hawthorn snarled in his head, still unable to understand what had happened.


    Sparks and burning pieces flew into the air as his shield still rippled from an impact point directly in front of Hawthorn''s forehead.


    "If I didn''t have my shield up right in front of me.." Cold sweat rolled down Hawthorn''s back.


    Still, he was a veteran of the arenas and had maintained his composure. Even the shock of the unexpected attack had not interrupted his spellcasting. For a brief instant he considered backing away while his fire shield recovered and he regained vision. However, he was loath to allow his cunning prey the opportunity to flee back across the barrier. His Flameburst spell was almost ready. He just needed to stay alert for any more surprises.


    Suddenly, he caught a blur of motion moving to the side of his fire shield, back towards the entrance to the arena. Before he even turned his head, he automatically shifted his shield¡¯s position. He had expected something like this, but would not be caught off-guard.


    It was why he watched in stupefied confusion when he saw a bow clatter to the ground.


    ¡°It was a decoy!¡±


    The cold thought flashed in his head. Immediately, he tried to shift his fire shield back to its original position, but it was already too late.


    By the time Hawthorn turned his attention back in front of him, the boy was already soaring through the air in his direction. His fire shield was still adjusting from his last shift, and Hawthorn''s panic only made it more difficult to retain the focus to move the shield in time.


    As it was, the fire shield was still flickering unstably when the boy was right on top of him. Hawthorn desperately tried to finish the last elemental rune, but was interrupted by the booted feet that struck his chest. The sudden blow was the result of a flying dropkick that delivered all the mass and momentum of the brat''s body and focused it into one narrow point.


    All breath violently exploded from Hawthorn¡¯s lungs as he was launched off his feet by the impact. Hawthorn¡¯s face was twisted with shock and pain. He had been wary the brat might have combat training, but this kick had been delivered with impeccable timing and overwhelming force. Was this still a kid?


    Truly panicked for the very first time, Hawthorn tried to roll with the impact like he had seen the boy do earlier when he avoided the firebolt. Reality brought a rude awakening, as Hawthorn¡¯s limbs lay twisted in a tangle and refused to obey his commands.


    Then he felt a sudden weight upon his chest. He thought of pushing it away, but then he saw a shadow rapidly expanding in his vision. Though he wanted to shield his head, his arms simply would not obey his commands. His vision exploded with stars as he felt a vicious blow that crushed his nose. It jarred his brain and scrambled his thoughts. He couldn¡¯t even tell which direction was up or down as he twisted feebly to get away from the pain.


    It was no use. Blows continued to rain upon him nonstop. He heard disturbing crunching noises with nearly every flash of pain. He couldn¡¯t feel his arms or legs. He tried to squirm and roll away on the ground while struggling to draw a single breath into his quivering lungs so he could at least scream in pain, but the weight on top of his chest would not relent.


    Then a blinding light descended upon him, and blessedly, the pain was no more.


    A deathly stillness permeated the entire valley. Hundreds of spectators were each asking themselves if what they had just witnessed had truly happened or was simple a mere delusion.


    Skyle gritted his teeth as he felt the barrier¡¯s protective shield firmly push him off from where he had straddled Hawthorn¡¯s chest. His knuckles were torn and bleeding but he did not seem to notice. This had been an act of calculated brutality on his part, as each blow from his fists had targetted specific parts of his opponent¡¯s face.


    It was a simple list that he ran down. He began with the most sensitive and easily destructible nose. A single blow had been enough to crack the cartilage and cause incapacitating pain. Then he moved on to every accessible part of Hawthorn¡¯s face with chilling, methodical deliverance enforced by brutal strength. If one blow was not enough to break bone or sever tendons, another would follow, then another, and another. It was well that Skyle had two fists, for a single one would not have been able to endure the rigors of his retaliation.


    That¡¯s what it all came down to, in Skyle¡¯s mind. This was not about vengeance. He had no room in his mind for such petty, inefficient considerations.


    This was retaliation. It was about delivering the maximum amount of damage possible in as efficient a manner he could manage in his current circumstances. This would ensure that his target would be disabled for as long as possible, while at the same time serving as a further warning to anyone watching from outside and even thinking about emulating Hawthorn¡¯s behavior.


    Basically, he was slaughtering the alpha in order to warn off the rest of the pack.


    Mess with me at your own peril.


    Skyle was still dissatisfied with the amount of damage he had inflicted. Skyle had considered gouging out Hawthorn¡¯s eyes with his thumbs or crushing his throat, but had promptly decided against such methods as he still was not sure what exactly would trigger the barrier¡¯s protection.


    What he was certain of was that he did not share the same kind of protection the students did. This had been obvious to him for two reasons. First, Hawthorn had seemed blindly certain he could kill him, whereas he had only gravely injured his other victims. Second, the injury to his back could easily have been fatal if he had been a fraction of a second slower in rushing through the barrier, yet no protective barrier of any sort had defended him. With his level of elemental defense, or lack thereof, if the barrier wanted to protect him it would have activated the moment the spell began to burn his unprotected skin.


    He had gotten lucky. This much, Skyle knew. He had only thrown the badge in hopes that the object would provide some temporary distraction. His earlier fall inside the arena had been in order to reach the one place where he was certain there would be an intact arrow waiting for him - the first arrow that had missed when Hawthorn first entered the barrier.


    Skyle had been planning on distracting Hawthorn with the badge, convincing the Adept that he truly had run out of arrows. Then he would produce that final arrow and try to circumvent his shield. If all else failed, he had planned to make a final stand by the fallen sword lying right by the entrance of the arena.


    However, he had been lucky. He certainly had not expected the small badge to produce so great an effect upon the Adept''s fire shield. Thinking fast on his feet, he had capitalized on the opening and had been able to use his strength against his opponent''s weakness.


    Breathing harshly, Skyle slowly stood up while commanding his legs not to shake. The fire burning in his veins was slowly subsiding, and with it a crashing wave of exhaustion hit Skyle. He needed to leave this place before he could be waylaid again. Walking toward the exit of the arena, Skyle realized that he had underestimated just how dangerous the academy could be to a talentless cripple like him.


    As he thought of this, a deep suspicion began to well up within his chest. This certainly could not be normal, even accounting for the academy¡¯s policy of nonintervention in student affairs. His petty personal grudge against Dalian might have been beneath the authorities¡¯ dignity to interfere with, but Skyle was under no illusion that every action within campus grounds would be strictly monitored. If so, why had they allowed this second fight? By now, nearly every soul in campus had to know what was happening, and yet not a single staff member was present.


    Skyle shuddered as he rephrased his last thought. No member of the academy staff might be visible, but were they truly not present? With his currently abilities, it would be difficult or near impossible for Skyle to spot a Master level elementalist who did not wish to be seen.


    If they were here, then why had they not interfered?


    Skyle¡¯s blood ran cold as it slowly dawned upon him that they already had.


    Having just barely reached the barrier, Skyle froze in his steps. Already, he could see the looks of shock and hear the cries of surprise coming from the crowd below.


    Skyle slowly turned around, all the while hoping he was wrong.


    The fluctuations of fire energy he spotted told him he was not, even as he turned his bitter, disappointed gaze upon their source.


    Hawthorn stood on his feet as he met Skyle¡¯s gaze. His face was marked with bruises yet no signs of crushed bones and little blood could be seen. His nose was once again straight and most telling of all, the bleeding wound on his cheek from Skyle¡¯s earlier arrow was also gone, and only a slightly puckered scar remained.


    Skyle truly was bitter and disappointed. Not at the academy, who obviously would do anything in order to further their own goals. To Skyle, this was only rational, and if he was to be the sacrifice needed for this to happen, then it was only Skyle¡¯s own fault for not being to see it coming earlier.


    No, what truly disappointed Skyle was that he had not seen it coming before. Like a foolish lamb, he had walked into the slaughterhouse. Now, he would be the fresh meat used in the feast Aegis Academy had been starving for this whole past year.


    None of the events that had just transpired surprised Skyle anymore. If anything, it all made perfect sense now.


    The only surprise at this moment was the look in Hawthorn¡¯s eyes. Without the fire shield sapping his concentration, his spellcasting had been far faster than before. His hands had already finished preparing his spell, and only waited for the fire Adept to unleash the deadly elemental force upon Skyle¡¯s defenseless flesh.


    Yet, at this moment Hawthorn hesitated, and the look in his eyes surprised Skyle. Not because he saw compassion for his young victim or shame at having cheated to achieve victory over a talentless cripple of a boy.


    No, Hawthorn was torn at this moment because within his eyes the burning embers of a fierce pride struggled against the shackles of a greater power. He knew he must submit, and this knowledge only galled his spirit all the more.


    He only just now had realized, just as Skyle had, that they were both mere pawns caught up in a far greater game.


    Skyle saw the bitterness within his opponent¡¯s eyes that reflected what he himself felt.


    ¡°What fools we have been,¡± Skyle noted with the most emotion he had allowed himself in all this time. ¡°Mere bugs playing at being kings.¡±


    As he slowly backed away from the roiling power of Hawthorn''s spell, Skyle could feel the hard shell of the barrier spell push forcefully against his back.


    "As expected,"


    Skyle¡¯s lips curled into a crude, mocking sneer. "So this is what it means to be a pawn."


    As though that had been a signal, Hawthorn finally released his spell with a great, enraged cry. The fire Adept didn¡¯t even bother watching the results, for he knew there could be no change in this script.


    The tide of fire swallowed Skyle whole, for this was a pawn¡¯s fate.


    To be used, then disposed when its purpose had been fulfilled.


    ¡°NOOOO!¡± came the shrill cry of a familiar voice.


    It was the last thing Skyle heard before darkness took it all away.

 Chapter 72 - Awakening

    Chapter 72 - Awakening


    Hawthorn looked away in disgust as he watched his Fireblast wash over his foe. His mouth was twisted as though this latest victory had left a sour aftertaste in his mouth.


    In all the arena matches he had participated in, he had never seen an intervention such as today¡¯s occur. The arena matches were supposed to be inviolate. The barrier spell would only intervene when it judged that a fighter was completely unable to defend himself or critical, life-threatening damage would be sustained.


    He had certainly never witnessed an advanced regrowth healing spell cast upon the losing party. Such miraculous effects surpassed what he knew even the complex spell matrix of the arena was capable of. This meant the academy¡¯s hand was at work here, and they clearly wanted Hawthorn to win this match.


    This much was apparent when he saw his body had been restored to near full functionality in mere moments. Then it was only further reinforced when he sensed the fluctuations of the arena¡¯s barrier. Before any visible cues could be distinguished, Hawthorn had known the little brat would no longer be able to step out of this arena.


    As helpless and bitter as he felt at being handed the victory in such a manner, he would still reap the boy¡¯s life. He decided to ignore the academy¡¯s meddling intervention for now, and end the fight as swiftly as he could. He would worry about details later, as he felt his reputation had already suffered far too much in this incident. Hawthorn would have rather never crossed paths with this little devil of a boy, but it was now too late for such regrets.


    ¡°NOOOO!¡±


    The shrill cry that pierced the air immediately after his spell struck home brought a strange chill to his back. It was a female voice who sounded both young and desperate, even verging on the edge of hysteria.


    Hawthorn scowled as he walked toward the arena¡¯s exit. He was done with this farce.


    As his steps reached the spot where the boy had fallen, Hawthorn frowned in surprise. He distinctly recalled the barrier not activating, yet his spell seemed to have inflicted almost no damage upon the boy at all.


    His eyes were closed, apparently knocked unconscious by the spell. The clothes on his body were still smoldering, tendrils of black smoke swirling into the air. Incredibly, other than some minor burns, burnt hair and redness across his skin, he appeared otherwise unharmed by the effects of his Fireblast.


    Hawthorn frowned deeply at this. He knew the power of this spell. If it struck a soldier wearing full plate armor, it would roast the man alive before beginning to melt the armor itself. Had the academy used its hand from the shadows once more? What was their game?


    Gritting his teeth, Hawthorn¡¯s eyes turned cold as he raised his hand and began drawing new elemental runes in the air. There was a strange feeling he got when he looked at this boy. It was as though he were staring into the depths of a dark abyss. His instinct told him that he needed to take down this potential threat right here, right now while he still could.


    ¡°Get away from him!¡±


    Hawthorn barely had time to turn his head when a wave of raw elemental essence so concentrated it resembled a physical object struck his body from the side and flung him high into the air. His shock at the sudden attack was still visible on his face when he hit the ground. His body tumbled uncontrollably across the sand, skidding and shedding several layers of skin in the process.


    Shock was quickly replaced by anger in his heart. Never had he suffered so much humiliation during a single day! Desperately trying to bleed feeling back into his limbs, Hawthorn managed to rise to his knees and threw a look to see who this new threat was.


    A little girl who could barely be 10 years of age was kneeling beside the fallen boy. She cradled his head in her arms with surprising gentleness, as though afraid her touch might hurt him. As she ran a trembling hand across his forehead, tears began to slide unnoticed down her pale cheeks.


    Another boy of similar age knelt by her side. On his grim face worry struggled with anger as he swiftly began casting what Hawthorn could recognize as a healing spell.


    Coughing out a mouthful of dust, Hawthorn was finally able to draw a breath. He recognized this pair - who wouldn¡¯t? The boy was Reikard Farrow, an outstanding mage whose talent was only overshadowed by that of his sister. She was the newest star student of Aegis Academy, after all: Kassandra Farrow. Not only had she risen to the peak of the Initiate stage within the one year she had been attending the academy, it was rumored she was close to awakening as a..


    The rest of this thought was cut off short as panic flooded his veins with ice. Shivering in true terror, Hawthorn struggled to draw a shuddering breath as the strange succession of events that had led to this moment finally all made sense.


    Even the last look of bitter disappointment that had flashed in the boy¡¯s eyes and his puzzling last words, Hawthorn could finally understand them all. They had both been pawns, and just as the boy had been sacrificed, it was now his turn.


    His heart was thumping heavily in his chest as his thoughts fell into chaos. He did not dare move a muscle for fear of what might come next. He felt as though the arena that had always been his playground had now turned into a cage. He was trapped with a ferocious beast, and for the first time he wanted nothing more than to scramble away.


    Already, thick streams of elemental essence were swirling into a noticeable vortex that was centered around the little girl. The sheer amount of essence terrified Hawthorn. He had heard only legends of summoners and the mighty displays of raw elemental power that would be unleashed during their awakening. He had always wished he could witness such a sight.


    Never in his wildest nightmares had he thought he would see one from this close up, let alone feel its violent energies slowly begin to turn their focus upon him.


    In spite of wild fluctuations of power so intense that they were plainly visible to the naked eye, an island of calm surrounded the figures of the little girl and the boy who lay cradled in her arms. It was like the eye of a mighty storm, where an eerie calm belied the terrifying power gathering momentum just outside of arms reach.


    ¡°Kass, my spells won¡¯t work on him,¡± Reikard cried in distress as his spell sank into his brother¡¯s body, but then fizzled uselessly before dissipating.


    ¡°I know. I can¡¯t reach him with my powers either. His breathing seems stable though. You must take him to father,¡± Kass said in the soft, vulnerable voice of a little girl who was struggling with a some deep, unspeakable emotion. ¡°Take care of big brother for me, Reik.¡±


    Reikard looked like he wanted to say something, but he took one look at his sister and clamped his mouth shut. A steely look of determination entered his eyes as he nodded, then carefully slung his unconscious brother across his own back with surprising strength. He stood there for a moment, watching the gathering storm around him gaining momentum.


    By now, the elemental power had gathered into rumbling clouds of glowing mist. It swirled increasingly faster as the vortex of energy grew in both size and momentum. Wind began to howl in Hawthorn¡¯s ears, and shocking thunderclaps could be heard from within this mist.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    As Reikard stepped toward the edge of the howling maelstrom of power, it seemed to pause for a brief moment. Glowing motes of light floated in the air, frozen like snowflakes which were borne by an invisible wind.


    ¡°Be careful, Kass,¡± Reikard whispered over his shoulder, pausing briefly before stepping past the sudden calm in the storm. He didn''t look back as he stepped outside the arena''s barrier.


    Kassandra did not respond. Instead, she closed her eyes and drew a deep, shuddering breath. The mists surrounding her seemed drawn by this minute gesture. They rushed into a wild torrent and streamed into the little girl¡¯s body. At first they entered through her nose, then her mouth, her eyes and ears. Finally, it was simply not fast enough and her entire body began to float in the air as massive currents of elemental essence flowed into her skin from all directions.


    Kassandra¡¯s body glowed with a deep azure light as every inch of skin began to greedily suck in the light. Rumbling sounds filled the area, and even the barrier began to shake as the edges of the great vortex continued to expand instead of shrinking.


    Hawthorn began to truly panic now. His breathing grew ragged as he staggered back on trembling legs. He knew Kassandra ought to be a mere Initiate mage, but the raw amount of power she was gathering into herself simply beggared his wildest fears.


    Abruptly, her eyes flashed open and the seething clouds stopped dead. Still floating in the air, Kassandra lifted a hand in front of her, and the mists coalesced under this gesture and formed the vague outline of a woman. Though at first incorporeal and blurry, more of the mist was drawn into the mysterious woman''s body as her skin took on a pale blue sheen.


    Slim, shapely legs were clothed in pure clouds that stretched up to her slender neck. Slender arms of the same blue hue took shape in a matter of seconds. The delicate lines of her face were slowly filled in next. There was an eagerness to them that transcended the vast power which flashed behind her pupil-less eyes. More churning clouds crowned her head, expanding upward into a constantly erupting geyser of elemental power.


    It was the first elemental spirit Hawthorn had ever beheld. She was about six feet tall, looking nearly human except for the blue tinge of her skin and the currents of elemental power swirling above her head.


    The elemental spirit drew closer to the little girl who had called her forth. As she did so, she raised her hand and their palms came into contact with each other. A blinding light surged from the simple touch, accompanied by a shockwave of power that nearly knocked Hawthorn off his feet. By the time Hawthorn¡¯s vision had recovered, Kassandra Farrow was alone once more.


    Her eyes were closed and her head bowed down as she slowly descended to the ground. The newly arisen summoner let out a slow breath, sending visible eddies of elemental power swirling out of her mouth. The clouds above her were still churning, the petals of a flower which had yet to fully bloom.


    When she opened her eyes, the world shuddered to a halt and held its breath. The air was charged with the thrill of reaching a new peak, the birth of a new star. Though they were not even directly gazing at Hawthorn, her eyes were shards of crystal ice that burned with a cold fire as they exerted crushing pressure upon the trembling mage Adept who stood at the opposite side of the arena.


    The shaking of Hawthorn¡¯s hands would not stop, nearly spoiling the desperate fire shield he began to cobble together as soon as some semblance of wits had returned. It was not that Hawthorn had never tasted defeat, for he had. He had been overmatched upon the arena before. Such was not the problem now. A difference in skill or talent was just that, a discrepancy between two opposing parties which could be compensated for with other resources at his disposal such as cunning, deceit or ruthlessness.


    What truly gnawed at the edges of sanity in Hawthorn¡¯s mind was the sheer vastness of the elemental powers aligning themselves against him. The very air lay so charged in potential power that a single spark would set the entire stage ablaze and blow the whole arena into kingdom come - let alone his own miserably inadequate fire shield.


    The egg-shell membrane was a sickly maroon that couldn¡¯t even protect him from the glare of the arc lightning dancing among the boiling clouds coiled above Kassandra¡¯s head. They hung at the ready, snakes of glittering cobalt ready to strike at their mistress¡¯ command.


    When her eyes finally regained focus, there was a chilling glow of barely contained fury in her gaze that blew away any dwindling hopes Hawthorn nestled within his chest of finding a non-violent resolution to the current conflict. It crumpled his tin can heart and left him drowning in the sopping, regurgitated remains of his former bravado.


    His confidence shattered like so much glass, cheap and fragile like the trinkets of a foolish child. He now knew what it was like to be one of his victims - reduced to a cringing, witless fistful of flesh weeping blood and courage until only a gutless, headless carcass remained.


    Hawthorn would die here, he now knew. He could not possibly stand against such a titanic foe. The beguiling shape of the little girl in front of him concealed a true monster the likes of which reduced the former terror of the academy arenas into a ragdoll puppet with broken strings.


    ¡°Shatter,¡± were the first words that took shape upon the summoner¡¯s frost-kissed lips. It was a soundless command, for Hawthorn heard no sound other than the berserk howling of the gale that answered her call.


    The snaking dragons of cobalt lightning uncoiled with impossible speed, opening wide their maws with a blinding flash. They tore through his shields like so much paper, almost contemptuously flinging him off his feet and sending him careening along the floor as though he were a discarded toy. This initial collision alone set off a series of disturbing cracks all along the bones in his chest, ribs snapping like brittle sticks left baking under the sun for too long.


    Hawthorn spit out a mouthful of blood. It joined the crimson trail that liberally painted the golden sand of the arena floor. It was a good 20 feet in length, and patches of torn skin and clothes only added more color to the mix.


    Hawthorn was a broken doll that lay curled around his ruined torso like a caterpillar shaking under the regard of a spider queen. His muscles twitched spastically as they convulsed around limbs that lay twisted at unnatural angles.


    It was still a while longer before Hawthorn heard the sounds of approaching footsteps. It was a countdown that bore down upon the dusk of his life. It was only now that Hawthorn began to regret the many cruelties he had inflicted upon others, for never had he known the pitch black depths of despair with such chilling familiarity as now.


    The strong feed upon the weak. This was a basic axiom by which Hawthorn had lived his entire life.


    Now, he would spill his life''s blood upon the altar of this same principle - only this time, he was the weak, helpless prey.


    Above him towered the strong, and just the killing intent radiating in waves from her presence squeezed the breath out of him.


    For he was weak, oh so weak.


    And she was strong - terrifyingly so.

 Chapter 73 - Kassandra Farrow Aegissur

    Chapter 73 - Kassandra Farrow Aegis''sur


    A silhouette loomed tall over Hawthorn, casting an ominous shadow over his wretched figure. His wait had been excruciatingly slow, yet at the same time painfully brief. He closed his eyes and held his breath, gritting his teeth against the inevitable blow. It seemed ironic that this was to be how his end found him: cringing in fear, not even able to summon enough courage to beg for his own life.


    ¡°You will not die this day, worm.¡±


    The voice was the chilling whisper clawing its way from beyond the confines of an icy tomb. That it came from a little girl only made it all the more horrifying, not less.


    ¡°Though I would gladly bathe in your blood and grind your every last bone to dust, there are two reasons I will spare your pathetic life.¡±


    Hawthorn¡¯s chest exploded with renewed agony as a crushing weight pressed down upon his prone figure. There was no physical contact though, so Hawthorn knew this could only be raw elemental power so dense that it had manifested into a physically tangible mass that was pressing his shattered ribs and squeezing the breath out of his punctured lungs. Hawthorn coughed out blood and moaned feebly.


    ¡°First, I will not give those old fools pulling the strings from behind the scenes the pleasure. They think they have won, but they don¡¯t realize how empty their victory is. I intend to teach them of this grim truth, and you are only the first lesson among many more to come.¡±


    The words were clipped but unhurried, the tone grave and emotionless. The sense of purpose and strength of will infused into each word would have been enough to crush any normal person under their weight, yet incongruously the voice was still that of a little girl. Hawthorn couldn¡¯t help but crack his eyes open, gingerly peering up at the shadow looming over him.


    Only a vague silhouette was distinguishable from the wild halo of incandescent light that burned a circle of painful fire in his eyes. He knew this to be the afterglow of a colossal storm of elemental power barely held back by the grip of an iron will. Hawthorn couldn¡¯t imagine being able to withstand such intense power, let alone forcefully suppress it.


    What kind of monster had he awakened?


    ¡°Second, and most important of all, my brother will return and demand his pound of flesh. The old fools, they¡¯re as blind as you are. You think I¡¯m a monster? You will learn - just as they will - who the true freak of the Farrow family is. You will live only to regret this day. Until then, hide if you will and run if you can. Better yet, live well and enjoy your last days.¡±


    Abruptly, the pressure was lifted from him. It left him shaking uncontrollably in its wake, his fingers digging bloody furrows on the palms of his hands. His ragged breaths fueled only a weak sputtering in his heart, as though a gaping hole had been left in the bellows of his lungs.


    All the while, his unblinking eyes stared at the shrinking figure of the little girl who walked away from him with slow, deliberate steps that left her final words hanging in the air like giant icicles looming ominously over his fate.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have many remaining.¡±


    Kassandra had barely set foot outside the barrier, when she was met by two magisters of the academy. They inclined their heads to her in a respectful greeting.


    ¡°Hail, Summoner Kassandra Farrow Aegis¡¯sur. May the elements illuminate your path and forever guide your steps,¡± the shorter mage called out in a quietly exultant tone. His robes of office were the verdant green of the wind element. The slightly pudgy mage with frazzled brown hair was an exalted Mortal stage mage who presided over the Wind Faction of the academy.


    ¡°Hail, Summoner Kassandra Farrow Aegis¡¯sur. May the elements nurture you in their wisdom and enfold you within their embrace,¡± a tall, broad-shouldered man with a heavy beard flecked with copper said while smiling approvingly at Kassandra. His crimson robes indicated that he belonged to the fire faction, where he also held the chair as the head instructor.


    Kassandra¡¯s steps did not pause at all yet her eyes grew colder still, not even acknowledging their greeting. It seemed as though she intended to brush past them without a word, but at the last moment she stopped right as she was brushing past the Mortal stage mages.


    ¡°You did all this.¡± Kassandra¡¯s cold, clipped words were not an accusation, but rather a mere statement of fact.


    ¡°Of course we did. Though you may be upset at the manner of our conduct, at times small sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The academy will, of course, deal with any unpleasant consequences from this incident on your behalf. I don¡¯t expect there will be much protest even from the Westeria family, however. Old noble families understand better than most the reason one should not offend a summoner, especially one blessed with your talent. As for your brother¡¯s unfortunate injuries, we tried our best to protect him and he should recover shortly.¡± Karlo, the fire mage instructor, smiled dotingly upon the new summoner.


    ¡°Indeed, I expect the whole incident should be long over by the time the boy recovers.¡± Wind mage Alderweiss chimed in with a bright smile. ¡°Truly unfortunate, these circumstances. We are, of course, more than willing to provide full healing services for you and your family. Let us not fuss over the past and instead focus on the brilliant future that lies ahead of you, Kassandra Farrow Aegis¡¯sur. You are now an exalted Aegis''sur, and thus part of our Institute''s legacy. Let bygones be bygones, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Oh, this is not over,¡± Kassandra whispered in slow, even tones. She did not even turn her head, her gaze staring into the distance in the direction Reikard had left in. ¡°Not by far. I don¡¯t care why you did it and what you hope to gain from this. You hurt him, and I will make you pay for it a hundred times over. This, I promise you.¡±


    The smiles upon the elder mages¡¯ eyes did not so much as flicker, and if anything they seemed to grow deeper still as they turned their heads and nodded indulgently to the little girl bristling with imperious fury right next to them.


    ¡°As you say, Kassandra. We understand you¡¯re upset at the moment. Just take some time to digest the recent events. Do take all the time you need. We will be right here waiting for you when you are ready,¡± Karlo said in a placating tone, with Alderweiss nodding along.


    Kassandra didn¡¯t seem to hear any of this, however. Instead, her fierce gaze was directed straight ahead, piercing through empty air as though at a hateful target only her eyes could see while her brow formed a stormcloud upon her forehead.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, and I don¡¯t care. Just know this: Touch my brother again, and I will kill you,¡± Kassandra spat, her face a mask of ice that suddenly cracked with a tinkling sound. Through the fissures could be glimpsed the depths of an implacable fury that burned in hellish flames.


    Without waiting for a response, she walked away through the wide path that the crowd had wordlessly opened for her, leaving only the stunned stares of every student upon the valley.


    ¡°Is she truly only nine years old?¡± Karlo wondered out loud after Kassandra had walked off into the distance.


    ¡°Indeed, such a remarkable prodigy. She must absolutely be nurtured by our Aegis Institution,¡± Alderweiss quickly agreed.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± a third voice said. It was soft and throaty, with the charming sing-song lilt characteristic of an Islander woman. ¡°Truly impressive.¡±


    ¡°I hope we did not disappoint your expectations, exalted magister.¡± Karlo said obsequiously.


    ¡°Not at all. I still can¡¯t quite believe she was able to detect my presence. Her water element affinity is simply incredible. I never imagined there would be an Initiate or even an Adept able to pierce my Mist of Illusion with such ease. And she¡¯s still so young!¡±


    Shimmering waves of light flickered in the air next to Alderweiss. They quickly dissolved into azure mists that drifted airily into the wind, revealing the figure of a woman. She bore astoundingly youthful looks for the flowing blue robes that marked her as an exalted Sage level elementalist. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties at most, though her eyes shone with wisdom that far surpassed her years. Shimmering cascades of jet black hair fell to the middle of her back, where they flowed around a slim, shapely waist that contrasted sharply with the generous curves of her hips and breasts.


    ¡°Truly, she¡¯s the blessing of our Aegis Academy. Today marks the birth of another Aegis¡¯sur! I believe you were the last summoner to awaken within the ranks of our Aegis, Magister Syrene? Ah, a new summoner, a new Aegis¡¯sur! Our names will be marked down for posterity, and only heaven knows what other heights we will reach in time.¡± Alderweiss rubbed his hands together with an eager, expectant smile upon his lips.


    ¡°Is something the matter, Magister Syrene?¡± Karlo asked with a lift of his heavy, bushy eyebrows.


    ¡°That boy. I tried to use my healing spell on him, yet a disturbance in the elemental resonance prevented me from being able to reach him,¡± the water mage furrowed her brow in thought.


    ¡°With all due respect, it must have been the Eye of the Storm caused by young Kassandra¡¯s imminent breakthrough,¡± Alderweiss commented absently, his eyes still distant with visions of glory and fame.


    ¡°Perhaps so,¡± was the reply Syrene gave, though the thoughtful look in her eyes still lingered. ¡°Such an interesting family, the Farrows. You¡¯re sure there is no further information on Kendric and Adrienne Farrow?¡±


    Karlo shrugged helplessly. ¡°We pulled their records from the Bureau of Civil Registry at Glory Peak, and everything seemed to check out. A few files had been restricted under a Department of the Military seal, but that¡¯s not that unusual among even low tier officers retired from the army.¡±


    ¡°I heard Kendric Farrow was a young father. Is he old enough to be a retired veteran from the Army?¡± Syrene asked.


    ¡°The Shadow War of fifteen years ago left many disillusioned soldiers in its wake. Many injured young officers were granted the opportunity to take early retirement as part of a settlement package, and most took up a plow in exchange for the sword as a result. Not that unusual at all,¡± Alderweiss offered.


    ¡°A veteran of the Shadow War? I see,¡± Syrene said thoughtfully, cupping her chin in thought. ¡°A gifted young officer might explain some of the talent running through the veins of those twins. What of the elder son, however?¡±


    ¡°A cripple. The gods are fair, after all. All the talent must have been sucked right out of that poor lad and funneled into his younger siblings.¡± Karlo shook his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s a cripple who took down one high level Initiate mage and another high level Adept while armed with nothing but a bow, a few arrows, and cold courage.¡± Syrene raised an eloquent eyebrow.


    ¡°Indeed, I was so surprised I was nearly too late in summoning the barrier spell around student Hawthorn. A few moments longer and he might have been even beyond the regrowth spell¡¯s remarkable abilities. That could have disrupted our whole plan. Truly, a vicious little creature,¡± Karlo muttered under his breath.


    ¡°Yes, one wonders how fearsome a spellcaster he might have become, if only he weren¡¯t a cripple,¡± Alderweiss mused.


    ¡°The boy hardly looked like he needed any elemental talent at all,¡± Syrene smiled humorlessly. ¡°The girl¡¯s parting words to Adept Hawthorn were rather interesting, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    ¡°Magister Syrene, surely you jest. A freak surpassing the monstrous talent of Kassandra Farrow? Clearly, she was merely distraught by the rampant aftereffects of her first summoning ritual,¡± the stocky Karlo chuckled.


    ¡°And such a grand first summoning! She was clearly a class three spirit at the very least. Clearly humanoid and even with a spark of sentient thought! She might grow into a class six or even seven spirit!¡± Alderweiss cried out, his voice shaking with excitement.


    ¡°Yes, such a powerful first summoning - it was clearly fueled by potent talent along with an incredible will and profound emotions. After all, though the power unleashed during the awakening ritual is indicative of the summoner¡¯s latent talent, the degree of sentience possessed by the summoned spirit is dependent solely upon the strength of will of the summoner herself. It is this point, more than anything, that truly impressed me,¡± Karlo tugged at his beard with barely contained enthusiasm.


    "But she didn''t give in to her baser instincts! The girl was obviously overwrought by her own emotions and she was teetering on the verge of slaughtering that Hawthorn boy on the spot - helpless like a lamb before a dragon. Yet, she stopped herself and mastered her own emotions. Why, the fluctuations of pent up elemental essence were terrifying. Such incredible focus and will!" Alderweiss praised, his eyes glowing.


    ¡°And yet, such a strong-willed girl defers blindly to her older brother, who in his own talentless way is just as impressive, if not more,¡± Syrene pondered absently.


    Karlo and Alderweiss exchanged strange looks with one another, but did not dare to contradict the younger magister. After all, they were both far past their prime and had stagnated at the peak of the Mortal Stage. On the other hand, the gorgeous magister who looked to be half their age was already an exalted Sage level summoner!


    Syrene Le Sueur was practically a living legend, and one of the highest regarded young magisters of the entire Aegis Academy. Only the imminent awakening of a budding talent such as Kassandra Farrow could bring such an exalted personage to a mere branch location.


    ¡°Skyle Farrow,¡± Syrene whispered, her eyes growing distant. She simply could not shake off the image of the bitter smile on the small boy¡¯s lips as he faced the wave of fire about to completely engulf him.


    It had been Karlo¡¯s job to manipulate the arena¡¯s barrier spell while it was Syrene¡¯s to ensure that no disaster would befall. As such, she had watched in fascination as Karlo¡¯s barrier spell somehow failed to latch onto the small, talentless¡¯ boy not once, but twice. The first time had been right before he jumped through the barrier, and only Syrene¡¯s quick intervention had prevented a terrible injury on the boy¡¯s back as he escaped through the arena''s barrier.


    Karlo was growing old and his talent was obviously withering, as he either failed to notice or otherwise did not seem overly concerned over the fact that his spells had failed to protect the boy from Adept Hawthorn¡¯s fire. After all, in his eyes the boy was just a worthless cripple, only useful to facilitate the awakening of his sister¡¯s powers.


    The second time Karlo''s barrier was needed, Syrene had been ready. She had seamlessly taken over his duties and wove an invisible barrier around the boy when the Adept student had fired his final spell.


    "No, not around the boy," Syrene noted wryly in her own head. "My barrier spell slid right off like water from a smooth rock, and with just as much effect. It was a good thing I was prepared and managed to anchor the barrier spell on the air in front of the boy."


    One of Syrene¡¯s talents included a high sensitivity to elemental energy, which is why she still puzzled over the barrier spell¡¯s apparent inability to lock onto the little boy. This could be explained by many factors, such as Karlo¡¯s own carelessness or Kassandra¡¯s imminent awakening.


    Still, a quiet whisper told Syrene that there was more than met the eye with this young boy.


    Syrene had learned to listen to such whispers, for her keen instinct had often been her most valuable asset.


    It was curious that such a whisper would call out a young boy¡¯s name this time.


    Perhaps, the exalted water element summoner mused to herself, it was time to pay the Farrow farm a personal visit.


    "Skyle," Syrene Le Sueur Aegis''sur mouthed, as her lips stretched into a mysterious smile.

 Chapter 74 - A Half-Remembered Promise

    Chapter 74 - A Half-Remembered Promise


    ¡°Sky?¡±


    An impatient tug upon his hand made Skyle look down. His fingers were clasping a small, delicate hand of ivory skin. Each finger held under his gaze was perfect in proportion, exuding grace and beauty even though they were obviously a child¡¯s.


    ¡°Sky? What is it? Why are you staring at my hand like a moonsick fool?¡± Soft laughter rushed at him like a fresh spring breeze. It trickled into his ears like the waters of a burbling brook and filled his heart to bursting. The unfamiliar sensation tugged at his heartstrings until his pulse was echoing loudly in his own ears.


    Skyle slowly looked up to find a familiar face smiling trustingly into his eyes.


    ¡°Ria?¡± Skyle blurted out.


    The mysterious girl whom Skyle had desperately yearned for seemed to pause at this moment. Slowly, she tilted her head to one side as a hesitant look entered her gaze.


    ¡°Skyle? Is that you?¡±


    The shift in the tone of her voice was so minute it was almost imperceptible. However, to Skyle it was the difference between night and day. Whereas before there had been a simple, trusting joy dancing in her eyes, they now seemed veiled by a mysterious emotion that was as complex as it was inscrutable.


    His hand unconsciously tightened its grip, suddenly afraid that Ria would be taken away from him again, or worse still, that she might be afraid of the stranger that now stood before her.


    ¡°Ow, Skyle, you¡¯re hurting me,¡± Ria¡¯s kind smile took the sting from her words, but already the light that had been twinkling within her eyes had fled.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Skyle mumbled unhappily, his head slumping down as he immediately let go of her hand.


    He was surprised to find that while he had released his grip, Ria had not. Instead, she began to cling on to his hand even more fiercely than he had before. When he looked up at her face, there was a brave, tremulous smile stretched across her lips.


    ¡°That¡¯s alright, I don¡¯t mind so long as it is you,¡± Ria nodded firmly, and there seemed to be an unspoken resolution within her words.


    There were a myriad questions whirling through his mind, but in the end there was only one thing he needed to know right now.


    ¡°Ria, is this real? This hand, is it truly yours? Are we here together? We, are we-¡± Skyle¡¯s words trailed off as he found his courage sorely wanting for the task ahead.


    Ria sent an encouraging squeeze through his hand. ¡°This place, you and me, everything about us - it is more real than anything in the whole world. If anything, you must remember that, Skyle.¡±


    There was a hint of desperation and sorrow trailing toward the end of her last sentence that Skyle could not possibly miss.


    ¡°Ria? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Ria shook her head, and though she still had that brave little smile on her face, there was also a hint of anxiety swirling within the depths of her glittering silver eyes.


    ¡°Skyle, you don¡¯t belong here. At least, not yet. I wish it were not so, but that was the agreement. Go back now, but please, please you must remember that I am with you - always.¡±


    ¡°Ria, I don¡¯t-¡± Skyle began, as confused and lost as he was elated by her words and the surprising depth of her feelings for him. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What agreement? Why must I go back? Where are we? And how could I ever forget about you?¡±


    ¡°You already have, Skyle,¡± Ria began, and her voice shook like the leaves of a verdant tree enduring the harsh breath of winter. ¡°Countless times, night after night. It is here and now that we must walk our own separate paths once more. But I will be here when you return, waiting for you to come back into my arms.¡±


    ¡°What? But I don¡¯t want to leave here. I don¡¯t want to leave you!¡± Skyle cried out.


    Ria shook her head, sending the tiny silver bells tied in her silky black hair chiming softly in the silence that followed.


    ¡°How long will it be until I see you again?¡± Skyle asked when he could endure the silence no longer.


    ¡°As long as it needs to be,¡± came the calm reply.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I just stay here?¡± Skyle protested.


    ¡°Because you don¡¯t belong here, Skyle. You should not be here, and neither should I. Yet, here we are, and no matter how long it takes, I will still be right here, waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you come with me?¡± It was a last shot in the dark, and Skyle knew how desperate he sounded, but he didn¡¯t care.


    Surprisingly, his own desperation was mirrored almost perfectly in Ria¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Not yet. You have not fully awakened yet, but the darkness stirs. Soon, I will be by your side, but I¡¯m afraid of what that might mean for you and those you hold dear.¡±


    The words shocked Skyle, as he was suddenly caught between his fervent wish to stay with Ria and looking out for the safety of his family.


    ¡°Ria-¡± Skyle began.


    ¡°Skyle, don¡¯t ever let go. Promise me, don¡¯t you ever let go, alright?¡±


    Before Skyle could begin to ask what she meant, he wanted to instantly and unconditionally agree. From within the depths of his own soul, whenever he stood in Ria¡¯s presence he felt a fierce fire burning within that he had never felt before. He wanted to protect her as he did with Kass; to guide her as he would with Reik; laugh carelessly about everything as he did with his father; and to become lost within the warmth of her embrace as he did with his mother.


    How to express the thousand emotions filling his heart to bursting? It was unused to such strain, and he felt as though every beat might be its last. If so, he knew this would be as good an ending as anyone could hope for, as he would die in the arms of the girl he loved beyond all doubt or reason.


    He only knew her name, and that her sparkling silver eyes bewitched him in a way that consumed his soul and left him breathless for more. He wanted to draw her close, to run his hand down the familiar contours of her achingly beautiful face, but he was afraid any movement on his part might shatter this moment.


    His name was Skyle, and she was Ria, and it was all he needed to know. He was about to say this, to explain that he would remember, and that he would find her again no matter how long it took, but at this moment the floor abruptly opened its hungry maw and swallowed him whole.


    ¡°.. don¡¯t let go..¡± He heard as he was lost within inky darkness.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Skyle cried out in his heart. ¡°Wait for me, Ria.¡±


    ¡°.. Not letting go!¡± Skyle cried out as he bolted upright.


    Strong hands pushed him back down, and he realized with a start that he was lying on his own bed.


    ¡°Good, now let go of my hand before you break this poor old farmer¡¯s bones, you scoundrel,¡± his father chuckled, and relief slowly eased away the worried lines twisting his face.


    Skyle looked around in a daze, seeing all the familiar faces of the people he loved the most.


    There was Reik, holding on to the narrow wooden frame of the bed, his eyes full of concern and relief. Kass was clutching at Skyle¡¯s left hand, her expression one of both joy and fury as she ignored the tears sliding down her cheeks.


    His mother, Adrienne, was sitting by his bedside, one hand constantly stroking his hair while she ran a damp cloth over his forehead. Strangely, her expression seemed cold and distant, and for the first time in his life, Skyle felt that there was an unknowable distance, a terrifying gulf between himself and his mother.


    Just as Skyle¡¯s brow began to twist with the startling realization, his mother¡¯s eyes shimmered at once and the harsher lines of her face instantly melted into the soft, mellow curves of unconditional kindness and relentless love Skyle had grown so familiar with. The transformation was so sudden and thorough that Skyle instantly realized he had not been imagining things.


    Any other time, Skyle might have pursued this mystery with dogged determination. That his father might have a past he was not fully comfortable sharing with his children, Skyle could somehow accept. However, this hidden side to his mother felt like a betrayal of everything Skyle had believed in, and the pain of this broken faith was as raw and intense as any of the painful injuries screaming for his attention at the moment.


    However, at this moment Skyle caught a shadow of movement at the corner of his vision. Turning his head, Skyle caught a familiar figure slowly limping out the door of his bedroom. That¡¯s right, limping.


    Ash might be lazy and temperamental, but his pride would never let him limp unless he was hurt - badly hurt.


    Skyle cried out in surprise as he stared at the empty doorway through which Ash had gone.


    ¡°Ash!¡± Skyle cried out, suddenly forgetting about his own pain as he struggled to get up. ¡°What happen-¡±


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    ¡°Calm down son, Ash is fine,¡± Kendric laid a firm hand upon his son¡¯s shoulder, pushing him back down. ¡°Darned fool of a cat went and picked himself a fight against old Razor, that¡¯s all. Let him lick his wounds, he deserves it for being so damn stubborn.¡±


    Skyle shook his head, stupefied. ¡°Why would Ash pick a fight against one of the meanest, oldest alphas in the streak?¡±


    Realization struck him even as Kendric raised an eyebrow in his direction. That was all the response he got, but it was enough. Kendric Farrow had a habit of never wasting time answering foolish questions.


    Skyle felt his heart lurch within his chest. It was his fault once again. Damn it all, he couldn¡¯t seem to get anything right ever since he had returned from Sanctuary. He was finally home but he was making a bloody mess of everything.


    The fight against Ramsey and the brutal beating he had inflicted upon children who just didn¡¯t know any better. The life-and-death fights which he had engaged in at the academy, bringing down disaster upon his family without a care for any of the consequences for his recklessness. Now Ash, who was practically his adopted brother, had clearly gone to pick an impossible fight and gotten badly mauled because of him.


    It was as clear a message as only snowblade tigers could even think of in the first place. You want to rush off into unknown dangers and risk your neck without caring about the people - and cats - who love you? Fine, then Ash could do something just as stupid just to show that he could, and so Skyle would know how it feels to watch an idiot of a brother brain himself against a wall - not just once, but several times.


    ¡°Fine, I get the message. I¡¯m sorry Ash,¡± Skyle sighed.


    ¡°How are you feeling, sweetie?¡± Adrienne asked, interrupting his wallowing in self-pity and guilt.


    ¡°It hurts, but I think I¡¯ll be fine. What happened?¡± Skyle murmured, wincing as he tried to stretch his back.


    A strong herbal smell assaulted his nostrils, and he could feel an uncomfortable wetness on his back. Still, there was surprisingly little pain. Maybe he had overreacted and his injuries hadn¡¯t been as bad as he thought.


    ¡°Reik brought you over from the academy. We treated you as well as we could. You¡¯ll be alright, honey,¡± Adrienne explained as she laid a hand on his forehead to check his temperature. ¡°Fever¡¯s down and you should be up and about by tomorrow.¡±


    His father guffawed at that. ¡°Good, you still owe me quite a few latrine ditches. Seems like you¡¯re bursting with energy, picking fights against mage students at that fancy academy of theirs.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he looked down at the tiny hand that had been insistently squeezing for a while now. Kass had not said a single word but the silent tears streaking her face had been more than enough.


    His mother harrumphed loudly, and Kendric instantly stood up straighter. ¡°Your son has been bullied mercilessly at the hands of much older students who ought to know better, and that¡¯s all you¡¯ve got to say? Kendric Farrow, you had better make this right or I promise you, I will.¡±


    Kendric¡¯s laughter got stuck in his throat as blood rapidly drained from his face. ¡°Dear, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. Of course I will head over to the academy and talk to the authorities. Don¡¯t you worry none, darling. I will make them rue hurting our little boy.¡±


    Adrienne only sniffed loudly at this, which caused Kendric to start sweating as he continued issuing empty threats against that ¡°darned butcher¡¯s den¡± and those ¡°blood-thirsty, evil devil worshipers¡± until he ran out of breath. Adrienne did not look impressed, but she secretly sent a wink to Skyle when his father wasn¡¯t looking.


    It brought a smile to Skyle¡¯s face, and as he drew his baby sister closer so that he could envelop her in his embrace, he thought that dealing with both those crooks at the academy and enraged old nobility could wait.


    This here, it was his family, and Skyle swore that he would do anything he could to protect them.


    In the end, Adrienne Farrow was still unconvinced by her husband¡¯s promises. Kendric could only swear even more fervently against the evil academy and its denizens, and when his mother judged that the language was shifting into an area unsuited to the children¡¯s ears, she led them both out of the room with a final encouraging smile towards Skyle.


    Reik nodded briefly in Skyle¡¯s direction before stepping out as well. That left little Kass alone with her brother. Slowly at first, but then with increasing urgency, Kass slowly told him everything that had happened after Skyle lost consciousness.


    ¡°I guess congratulations are in order, baby girl,¡± Skyle grinned, and he didn¡¯t bother to conceal the deep pride he felt in his heart.


    Kassandra shook her head and burrowed herself deeper into Skyle¡¯s chest, snuggling herself closer to his body. It was a narrow bed, but by now they had done this so many times, that it was almost second nature to lie side by side while speaking softly.


    ¡°Shut up, you made me so worried. It was all your fault.¡± Kass raised a tiny fist as though to strike it against his shoulder, but in the end her upraised hand trembled for a moment before falling powerlessly at her side.


    Skyle¡¯s heart ached when he saw that. After hearing of what had happened at the academy, he knew he had broken something in Kass today, and that his baby sister would likely never be the same.


    His bigger hand easily wrapped around Kass¡¯ tiny fist as he pulled it close to his chest. He held it right over his heart and he let her feel the steady beat of his heart.


    ¡°You saved me, Kass. You stood up for me and you did what you had to in order to protect me. It doesn¡¯t change who you are or what you mean to me. You will always be my little Kass, you hear?¡±


    Skyle ran his fingers down her tear-streaked cheeks and cupped her chin, lifting her gaze to meet his eyes.


    ¡°You got that through your thick little skull, miss frowny face?¡±


    Kass finally relented at that, giggling softly as she nodded. ¡°You promise?¡±


    ¡°Of course! No matter how terrifying a summoner you become, I¡¯ll always ride in to unleash my ultimate tickling attack and instantly render you a helpless little kitten once more,¡± Skyle promised with a totally straight face.


    ¡°No tickling!¡± Kass immediately protested.


    Skyle shrugged helplessly, indicating that the subject matter was clearly out of his hands.


    ¡°Afraid that can¡¯t be helped. Tickling is a mystical power inherent to the position of bestest older brother in the whole wide world. Can¡¯t have one without the other, so you pick.¡±


    Kass seemed to consider this with a serious frown on her face, but in the end she relented.


    ¡°Fine, a little tickling. From time to time. Judiciously applied, you hear? No rampant-¡± Kass began in a grave voice, but the rest dissolved into helpless fits of giggling as Skyle launched a brutal surprise assault.


    A long moment later, after they had both regained their breath, Kass looked up from where she had laid her head on Skyle¡¯s shoulder. Her eyes were liquid pools of endless skies and cloudless summer days.


    ¡°You promise you will always be there, no matter what I become?¡± Kass asked in a painfully vulnerable voice.


    ¡°I promise, Kass. I will be there for you, always.¡±


    Skyle began to smile, but the expression froze on his lips as he recalled another voice who had made that same promise to him from what seemed like ages ago.


    ¡°You must remember that I am with you - always.¡±


    ¡°Ria..¡± Skyle whispered without realizing he had spoken.


    His fingers tightened over Kass¡¯ hands, as though afraid that he might let go of something incomparably precious.


    ¡°Brother?¡± Kass looked in askance. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Skyle shook his head.


    ¡°Huh? What?¡± He peered inquisitively at his baby sister.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, all of a sudden you got this really sad look on your face and you said something. A name, I think.¡±


    ¡°Did I?¡± Skyle frowned at that.


    Kass nodded seriously.


    ¡°You must be hearing things,¡± Skyle smiled as he gently pushed his sister¡¯s head back down on his shoulder. ¡°Exalted summoner lady, you might be one day. Doesn¡¯t mean you have to start going crazy now.¡±


    His teasing laughter was cut off short by the vicious pain that shot up from his ribs.


    ¡°Hey, that hurt!¡± Skyle protested.


    ¡°Good!¡± came the satisfied reply.


    ¡°I¡¯m injured here, you know? Defending your honor and all.¡±


    ¡°Hmmph, more like needed your little sister to drag your sorry behind out of the fire, dear older brother.¡±


    ¡°Ouch, that hurt even more,¡± Skyle said quietly.


    ¡°Oh.I- I didn¡¯t mean-¡± Kass hesitated, her voice full of remorse.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. Time for another tickling assault - go go GO!¡±


    Amidst the squealing giggling and warm laughter that filled the room, Skyle was still unable to shake the feeling that he had forgotten something very important.


    What it was, he did not understand. What he did know, however, was that for some reason he refused to let go of his baby sister¡¯s hands. At least, not tonight.


    He would not let go.

 Chapter 75 - The Vast and Endless Sky

    Chapter 75 - The Vast and Endless Sky


    ¡°Kass, are you drooling on my arm again?¡±


    A flurry of movement immediately followed this casual question. Spots of pink quickly bloomed in Kassandra¡¯s high cheekbones as she sprang to her feet.


    ¡°Liar! How dare you?¡± Kass cried out, frantically wiping away at Skyle¡¯s sleeve. ¡°You big, blind bully, there¡¯s nothing there!¡±


    ¡°Oh, my mistake then,¡± Skyle smiled fondly at his sister, which only made her stamp her feet in frustration.


    She turned around with a huff, heading toward the door.


    ¡°Kass, could you tell da and ma I need to speak to them? Tell them it¡¯s.. Important,¡± he finished lamely.


    Kass paused briefly with her back to him, half-turning her head around. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°I hope so,¡± Skyle whispered. ¡°I really do.¡±


    Kass frowned for a moment, but caught the earnest tone her brother seldom used. It told her it was important, and so she nodded without further words and quickly left the room.


    Once Kass shut the door behind herself, Skyle was finally left to simmer in his own thoughts. He had tried to put up a careless, joyful front, but there was just too much going on in his life right now. It was almost too much for any one person to bear by himself, let alone a child as young as Skyle was.


    Not for the first time, he wondered why he was so different, so special. He might have dreamed of such back in his more naive and innocent days, but no longer. Special was bad, he had learned. Special got you and the people around you killed.


    Now, he yearned for that normal childhood most kids his own age had, quietly raising their farm animals and playing silly games with other children. Instead of learning how to dislocate a man¡¯s shoulder, they learned how to build a pretend fort. Rather than practicing the best angle to drive an arrow past reinforced armor, they splashed about the local swimming hole and competed on who could hold their breath the longest. They played with wooden swords and pretended to slay a dragon, while Skyle had to pit his life against an army of giant spiders with the help of an ancient crystal phoenix. Children simply tapped their friends to bring them back to life after their mock battles were done, while Skyle had spilled innocent blood just so that his own might be spared.


    It nearly broke his heart right then and there, to think back on Fierro Latimus¡¯ last words to him, selflessly guiding the boy so that he might return home while the old warrior spilled the last of his blood on that foreign world so far from his own.


    The look on Leena¡¯s eyes after she saw the hail of stone and doom wailing for her death still awoke him with hot tears flooding in his eyes in the middle of the night. No words had been needed to learn of her pain and anguish. To see such a noble spirit embrace death as though it were a release, an undeserved mercy granted by a benevolent god, it truly shook Skyle to his core. Leena had been a good person, no matter what Leon said. This, Skyle had come to understand beyond all doubt in that one split second when he had looked into Leena¡¯s eyes and seen not only the silent apology, but the gratitude that she would not have to bear Skyle¡¯s death upon her soul.


    ¡°Skyle? Son, are you.. We should speak, but-¡± Kendric paused at the door, a rare look of indecision gnawing at his face.


    ¡°No, it is time. We can delay no further, Kennar. We must talk,¡± Adrienne said solemnly, and walked past her husband to enter the room.


    Skyle felt tears rolling down his cheeks, but he did not care. This Adrienne Farrow, it was the new person he had glimpsed only briefly before. Now, she was here in truth and in full force. There was no longer any pretense, only raw, naked truth.


    This woman, whom Skyle had mistaken for his mother, was a whole different creature altogether. She was cold and fearless, her stride purposeful and determined. Each step told of the countless enemies which had paved her way, until a bloody trail stretched far in the stranger¡¯s wake.


    Her shoulders were set high and wide, filled with a solemn pride that was so deeply rooted in power that it was no longer a vice, but rather became a virtue. The coldness in her eyes told Skyle of her life, and the desolate landscape which adorned it. She was the queen of everything, yet nothing at all.


    Skyle shook his head, and bit his lips until he tasted coppery blood in his throat. The pain was a hateful reminder that this was no nightmare, but an inescapable reality become hell.


    It was at this moment that a flash of pain cracked the surface of this icy mask. It was only then that Skyle realized his mother was still there, only buried deep inside. Now he had to wonder, just who was the true Adrienne Farrow? Or had there ever been an Adrienne at all?


    His mother caught his look, but she did not avoid his gaze. She bowed her head in quiet acceptance, as though this were a price she had already been prepared to pay. Skyle could see from the tight lines of her face and the way her hands gripped the edges of her skirt that it was far from easy, but there was no hesitation in the way she stepped forward and refused to avoid her son¡¯s searching gaze.


    ¡°Ma? What¡¯s going on?¡± Skyle murmured, feeling both confused and lost. There was a more painful knife stabbing his heart, but he simply could not afford to turn his attention to that deeper wound just now. There was enough chaos in his mind without adding foul betrayal to the twisting maelstrom of his soul.


    ¡°Son, listen first. You must not-¡± Kendric began with an uncharacteristic tremor in his voice.


    ¡°No, he must hear it from me, Kennar.¡± Adrienne held up her hand, but was still unable drop the iron veil covering her eyes. She must know that each second she refused to drop this hideous mask to truly look at her son was another dagger driven into his heart, but still she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. Only a stranger dwelled within those cold depths, and the unfamiliarity was squeezing the breath from Skyle.


    ¡° Just what is she hiding from me?¡±


    ¡°Ma? Mother?¡± Skyle called out, and for once he did not mind how lost and small he sounded.


    ¡°Sky, my little Sky,¡± Adrienne began, her cornflower blue eyes slowly leaking tears that trailed down her cheeks. Each drop seemed to take with it another layer from that stranger¡¯s mask. With every sentence, another tear would fall and another mask collapse. ¡°True love is as vast and endless as the skies above. It is where your name comes from, you know? Love that cannot be contained. Love that knows no bounds, no limits. It is ever-present, all-conquering, and everlasting. This love, it is what defines you, my dear son. It was my hope that such love would never be lost or forgotten, and so I named you Skyle - my little piece of love that is as vast and endless as the sky.¡±


    Skyle had never known this. His mother¡¯s words produced a loud thump within his chest as hope was rekindled. This was his mother, and she was no stranger at all.


    ¡°I know, ma. I know how deep your love is, how enduring your kindness has been, how you will always love each one of us-¡± Skyle began, feeling ashamed of having doubted his own mother, even if for a single instant.


    Adrienne suddenly let out a soft cry, like a wounded songbird who gifts one final note to the uncaring sky before taking a plunge from which there is no return. She threw her arms around Skyle and hugged him with all the desperation of a drowning woman barely keeping herself afloat. Her breath came in sobbing gasps as hot tears splashed his cheeks from above. Through his mother¡¯s chest, Skyle could feel the unfettered stampeding of her heart madly escaping from a tenebrous past, toward the dark precipice of an unbearable future.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my little Sky. My baby, I am so sorry,¡± his mother kept repeating, and he could hear years of pent up guilt and tears in each hitch of her voice and gasp in her breath.


    ¡°Ma, it¡¯s alright. It¡¯s okay, I know you love me,¡± Skyle murmured, too confused by his mother¡¯s unexpected breakdown to say anything else. If his father could be said to be the mountain he strove to climb each and every day, Skyle¡¯s mother had been the air he breathed, the light that banished the dark, and the warmth that kept him going in the cold of night. ¡°You have shown me what love really means. I get it, and I will remember it.¡±


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Oh, my little Sky. You don¡¯t understand. It is not my love which I wished to remind you of.¡± Skyle¡¯s mother cupped his face between her trembling hands and gently drew his gaze up to meet her reddened, tear-streaked eyes. They flared into life even as her eyebrows trembled in the face of an unshakable truth.


    ¡°It is your love, my dear son, which I wished to remind myself of every morning. It was your warmth which I sought to imitate and reflect with each passing day. The love which you had so unselfishly shared with me, teaching me the true meaning of forgiveness and the value of redemption, where I had once believed myself hopelessly lost.¡±


    Like a precious flower which blooms only under the dying trail of a falling star, the naked truth in his mother¡¯s eyes unfolded in full bloom and drew a breathless gasp from Skyle¡¯s pale lips.


    ¡°If I have loved you, my little Sky, it is only because you taught me how, and loved me first,¡± Adrienne whispered.


    Skyle tried to shake his head, still unable to understand his mother¡¯s words. His body was unable to hear his commands, frozen stiff except for the hot tears which spilled from his eyes and rolled down his face. His mind was asking why, yet his heart was saying that it was time.


    At long last, it was time.


    Skyle looked up into his mother¡¯s eyes one last time. She nodded imperceptibly, but it was enough. There, past her tears, beyond the guilt and the fear, and cradled within the enduring fire of her love and faith for him, he found the answer he needed. There, he found the courage to face his past, the strength to open its doors, and the hope to arm himself against whatever lay beyond.


    ¡°Go. Fly far, far away, my little Sky, but always remember to come back home,¡± Adrienne whispered, taking out a small object from within the folds of her clothes.


    She gently opened Skyle¡¯s fingers, and laid it on the palm of his hand.


    Skyle looked down, though he already knew what he would find.


    It was the silver disk he had found in Sanctuary, shining brightly under the candle¡¯s flickering light. On the corner, he caught the small shadow of a familiar shape. When he focused his full attention upon it, it unfolded like the gaze of the sun, bursting with starlight and flooding the entire room.


    There, within its bosom, Skyle discovered the rune of the Goddess, blinding in its glory and bewitching in its charm.


    Memory flooded back in a glorious flash. He cried out with joy as color, song and the kiss of a rose sundered the gates within his mind apart.


    " Ria!"


    Skyle''s chest ached as he clutched the drop of liquid starlight with both hands to his heart. Blue-white lightning escaped from the cracks between his fingers, bathing the entire room in an ethereal light.


    ¡° Go,¡± His mother mouthed to him, and Skyle found himself nodding.


    It was time.


    ¡° Ria, I¡¯m coming,¡± Skyle whispered, then he was lost within the storm of starlight which enfolded him in its embrace.


    ¡°Kennar, my little baby is gone,¡± Adrienne sobbed disconsolately from where she lay nestled within her husband¡¯s embrace.


    Knowing full well that no words could comfort her in this black moment which they had known would one day come, Kendric could only hug his wife tighter and speak with his heart the words his mouth could not find.


    ¡°Why, Kennar? Why did it have to be my baby? Why so soon? How could fate be so cruel to so gentle a soul?¡± Adrienne cried out, her voice breaking just as her heart had.


    ¡°We knew this day would come, Arianne. We knew, so why ask now?¡± Kendric said bitterly, his own voice cracking under the weight of years of pent up guilt towards loved ones, and fury at unkind fate.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Arianne. Why does the flower bloom when it knows winter will come? Because only from its withered petals can a new seedling grow. Why does the sun shine brightest right before night arrives? Because in its final farewell, it wants to burn its warmth deep in our hearts before we must face the cold of night.¡±


    ¡°Skyle, he¡¯s hope. He blazes bright and hot in this one moment, so that a whole world of children may one day remember him for his sacrifice,¡± Kendric finished, speaking the words yet unable to bring himself to truly believe in them.


    Remember his sacrifice? He would spill the blood of continents if it would sate fate¡¯s cruel thirst. Other children? He would burn the world to save his own.


    Adrienne could only shake her head, not trusting herself to speak without condemning the black fate which had befallen her most beloved child. In her grief, Adrienne began to drown in the pitch black depths of despair.


    Grasping for anything that might keep her afloat, she turned first to faith. It was shallow and flawed, and therefore could not support her weight. Instead, it weighed her down and she sank faster still.


    Her hand found hope, yet it too lay deeply wounded. Scarlet blood flowed from terrible wounds, and as her eyes found its gaze, it too breathed its last and surrendered to the dark tide.


    Adrienne sank deeper.


    Finally, she dug down deep within her own soul, and found a dazzling brilliance emanating from her boundless love for her family. Upon these firm foundations, had she built the fortress of her life. Now, when she most needed its strength, she found a sucking void where her deepest, most cherished love should always abide.


    It finally broke her, and in her dark despair, she sank and did not float back up.


    Adrienne died then, and she was brought back to life.


    Kendric suddenly felt his wife grow still as a grave and cold as the moon. He shuddered then, for he knew this woman, and she was not his wife.


    Kendric had once been a soldier, proud and strong. The very best of the best, undaunted by any danger, fearless in the face of any foe - that is, until he met her.


    This woman, she had broken him as thoroughly as any man could be broken. First, she had torn down his strength. After that, she had shattered his confidence. Only then, had she finally broken his spirit.


    It was in this dark abyss of despair that Kennar had first known the meaning of the word defeat. This was not loss in the face of battle, nor the burnt flag after a failed war.


    Defeat was the void left by the true absence of hope. It was the death of purpose, and the burying of the present after the senseless murder of the future.


    Now, she was back, and the world would tremble, then breathe its last.


    ¡°Baby, don¡¯t,¡± Kendric whispered, his face ashen and his grief flaring anew.


    ¡°I will kill them,¡± she said with the cold finality which spoke, not of a threat, but a future fact.


    ¡°No, you must not,¡± Kendric begged, afraid and unashamed of it.


    ¡°They must pay,¡± she said, and it did not matter that the whole world was them, and only four people were not.


    ¡°Listen to me, please. Skyle-¡± Kendric began, but a wave of frost exploded within his arms and froze the words in his mouth.


    ¡°Sky, my little Sky ,¡± she cried, and only then did Kendric realize that even she had come to learn of love.


    ¡°Yes, Skyle will come back to us. He will come home,¡± Kendric whispered, more of a prayer than a promise.


    ¡°Sky, you must come home, my little Sky,¡± she whispered, then finally, mercifully, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.


    Kendric breathed a sigh, though in truth he did not know whether it was one of relief, or disappointment.


    For moments ago, back when the fate of the world had hung in the balance, just for one moment, he too had wished to wash the world in fiery lightning and watch as it rained down around him in ashes.


    Just for a moment, for he too was a different man.


    After all, he too had come to learn of love.

 Chapter 76 - The Promise Left Behind

    Chapter 76 - The Promise Left Behind


    Flurries of white petals fluttered in the wind as far as Skyle could see.


    ¡°You are finally here.¡±


    Skyle turned around, joy radiating from his face as he opened his arms wide.


    ¡°Ria, I¡¯m here. I finally remember!¡±


    There was a great candelabrum with seven candles in the middle of the room, their wicks still smoking but their flames gone.


    Why was it so dark here?


    Ria shook her head, sorrow dragging at the perfect curves of her mouth.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t. But you will, soon enough.¡±


    Skyle felt the weariness in her voice, and a loneliness that edged on despair.


    ¡°Ria? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She ignored his question. ¡°I have dreamed of this moment, you know? A thousand times. A thousand times a thousand. And yet, I find I¡¯m still not ready. It still breaks my heart.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I have loved you for longer than the sun chases after the moon. The stars bear witness to the tears I have spilled in my silent vigil. All for you, my beloved, my Sky.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here, Ria. I¡¯m finally here!¡±


    ¡°Yes, you are. So too is my heart sundered, and hope slowly leaks from its cracks. For the world lives on while my love dies. Where will I find hope when all its memory is finally washed away?¡±


    ¡°Why are you speaking like this?¡±


    ¡°Because I love, and thus I despair. Joy to the world, yet black rain in mine.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Love binds us, Skyle. It creates gossamer chains that we ourselves fight to preserve, even until our last breath is gone.¡±


    ¡°What chains are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°You are finally awakening. It seems like only yesterday when we first met. Your heart called to mine, awakening me from my long slumber. The years have passed so swiftly, here in our little sanctuary, though they¡¯re too many for mortal kin to count. All along, I sought only to protect you, you know? I used my body to shelter you from the rain, my tears to slake your thirst, and my love to nurture your soul. I still wonder if it was enough.¡±


    A slow trail of blood slid out the side of her mouth.


    ¡°Ria!¡± Skyle cried out in alarm.


    ¡°I love you, Skyle. Now and forever, I will always love you. No matter where you go, no matter who you are, I will always be there with you - forever.¡±


    Ria gently squeezed his hands. Skyle felt a strange wetness from her touch. Frowning, he looked down to find his hands wrapped around the hilt of a pitch black sword. He followed its blade up to the point where it pierced straight into Ria¡¯s chest, and through her heart. Arterial blood was pumping from the wound, rushing down the length of the sword until it covered Skyle¡¯s hands.


    In breathless horror, Skyle tried to drop the sword but his fingers tightened around the hilt and only pushed the blade in deeper. He screamed for them to stop, but the midnight black blade slid smoothly into Ria¡¯s flesh until stopped by the sword¡¯s guard.


    Ria¡¯s fingers tightened convulsively over Skyle¡¯s hands.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Skyle,¡± Ria whispered, as flying motes of light consumed her. She held onto his hands as the rest of her body dissolved into the storm of white petals swirling in the skies. ¡°Just promise me that you will never let go.¡±


    ¡°Ria!¡± The scream torn from his throat was raw and guttural, as though he were the one with the sword driven through the heart.


    ¡°Promise..¡±


    Ria voice became lost in the howl of the wind as memory crashed upon him like the waves of a dreadful, implacable sea.


    He remembered now. He remembered everything.


    May God save him, for his memories surely damned him.


    ¡° Ria..¡±


    ¡°I still don¡¯t get it. Why can¡¯t we just light another candle?¡±


    ¡°Sky, you sweet fool,¡± Ria laughed easily from where she lay on the grass next to Skyle. ¡°You know the answer already. Just as darkness cannot exist without light, so too light cannot exist without darkness. We¡¯ve been over this.¡±


    Skyle frowned at the shadows that permanently hung around the corners of their little sanctuary. The center was light and airy, illuminated by a great candelabrum where seven candles burned with golden flames. Their contrast with the gloomy shadows was stark and unsettling, driving a wedge under his skin that sent shivers down his spine every time he looked into the darkness.


    It seemed to be alive, somehow. Skyle felt eyes watching him from the darkness, though he knew it was ridiculous. Like a predator waiting for its prey to finally let down its guard, the darkness hung at the outer edges of the circle of light. The candles burned brightly, but from time to time a stray gust of wind would send their flames flickering unstably.


    ¡°I know, but it doesn¡¯t mean I have to like it,¡± He grumbled under his breath.


    Warm fingers traced the lines of his face, coming to rest upon his lips.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡±


    Turning his gaze around, Skyle saw Ria watching him with that sad look that sometimes came over her.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t bring it up again,¡± Skyle said guiltily.


    Ria shook her head. ¡°No, it is the nature of great men to pursue absolute victory rather than an uneasy compromise. I only wish you were not quite so great a man, Sky.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m supposed to take that as a compliment or an insult.¡±


    ¡°Neither am I,¡± Ria replied in a serious tone.


    Skyle had been about to ask what she meant by that, when a vicious wind blew across their sanctuary. It brought with it the fetid stench of sweat and blood, twisting Skyle¡¯s stomach and making him retch involuntarily. By the time he recovered, he noticed the radiant glow of Ria¡¯s skin seemed just a little dimmer.


    Lifting his gaze toward the candelabrum, Skyle¡¯s heart thumped loudly as he realized that only six lights burned upon the candles now.


    The wick of the seventh candle was trailing a long wisp of smoke, and Skyle somehow knew that its flame was now forever lost.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Sky,¡± came Ria¡¯s gentle voice next to his ear. ¡°Where there is light, darkness also dwells.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t have the heart to ask Ria why her own voice sounded so sad, or whether there was also light where darkness ruled.


    He had a feeling that he would not like the answer to either question.


    ¡°Ria, you¡¯ve been acting strange of late,¡± Skyle commented casually, running his fingers through her raven locks of hair.


    ¡°Have I? Pray tell, Lord Sky,¡± she murmured sleepily from she lay on the grass, her head propped up on top of Skyle¡¯s legs. ¡°Illuminate me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s hard to explain. It¡¯s like you keep watching me out of the corner of your eye, as if you were afraid I¡¯d be gone the moment you turn away. Lately, I feel like your smile is one of relief when you turn to me, like you¡¯re grateful I¡¯m still here.¡±


    Skyle chuckled self-consciously, his hands tracing idle patterns upon the snow white skin on the nape of her neck.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s silly. Maybe I¡¯m just being over-sensitive, but you- Ah, Ria?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s hands froze when he felt the tension that had just stiffened the back of Ria¡¯s neck. Through his legs, Skyle could feel a shiver run through Ria¡¯s body as she closed her eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ria?¡± Skyle stretched out a hand and laid it upon Ria¡¯s shoulder as she abruptly sat back up, turning her back to him.


    Avoiding him with her gaze, Ria held him at bay by laying a hand upon his chest. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m fine. I just.. I wish we had more time.¡±


    ¡°We have all the time in the world, Ria,¡± Skyle looked at her in askance.


    ¡°Even the world runs only on borrowed time, Sky,¡± Ria said sadly.


    ¡°Even ours?¡±


    ¡°Especially ours.¡±


    The light flickered, and Skyle did not have to look to know another candle had just gone out.


    ¡°Sky?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Skyle looked around in a daze. Where was he?


    ¡°Sky, it¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°R- Ria?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Here, take my hand.¡±


    Warm fingers enfolded his hand in a gentle grip.


    ¡°I had an awful dream,¡± Skyle murmured, his voice shaking. ¡°I was running from bad people, trying to stay alive. They wanted to kill me and my friend. I- I didn¡¯t want to hurt them, but I was so afraid. I just wanted to come back home, you know?¡±


    ¡°I know, Sky. I know,¡± Ria murmured comfortingly, drawing his head down to her chest, where she enveloped him in her embrace.


    ¡°I saw a person there, an old man. I thought he was another soldier, one of the evil people. I- I had to kill him. I stabbed him in the heart, but he wasn¡¯t a bad man, Ria. He was a good person, and he only wanted the killing to stop. He looked so tired, so pitiful, and he would have never hurt me. But I killed him with my own two hands. His blood was all over me.¡±


    The rest dissolved into fitful sobs as Skyle trembled in Ria¡¯s arms. She stroked the hair from his face and spoke comfortingly to him. Her soothing voice slowly guided him through the darkness, and Skyle eventually felt the madness fade behind.


    ¡°Ria?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sky?¡±


    ¡°I heard the voice again. It told me things, a lot of things. Things I knew were true, so I couldn¡¯t say anything back. But I didn¡¯t listen. Like you told me, I stayed far away from it. Eventually, it left me alone.¡± Skyle shivered at the memory.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°You did good, Sky.¡±


    ¡°But, you know what the worst part of the dream was?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I finally know where it comes from. The voice, that is. It told me, and like everything it says, I knew it was true.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Sky..¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my own voice, Ria. I¡¯m the one who is speaking, and the words come from inside my heart.¡±


    Skyle looked at the candelabrum, where only four tongues of flame shone now.


    ¡°Sky?¡± Ria called out from where she lay upon the grass, her eyes closed.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°Mmm. About how unfair it is for anyone to be as impossibly beautiful as you are,¡± Skyle said truthfully, turning his gaze to once again drink in the sight of her.


    ¡°Oh, stop,¡± Ria giggled, rolling on her back to avoid his eyes as twin spots of red bloomed on her cheeks.


    ¡°It¡¯s true, I swear. How could life have concentrated so much sheer beauty on a single person? What about all the people who would be blinded by such brilliance? The voices struck mute and speechless by their fascination? The minds driven senseless by the- Oww.¡±


    ¡°Stop it, you. You shouldn¡¯t tease me so, Sky,¡± Ria smiled sweetly from where she was sitting up, all the while patting the reddened skin of his arm where she had just pinched him. ¡°Ah, Sky? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Skyle frowned for a moment. ¡°I.. nothing, there¡¯s just something in the back of my mind. Something I¡¯m forgetting, about the warmth that floods my heart when you pinch me and huff away in pretend fury.¡±


    Ria¡¯s hand paused in the act of stroking his skin, and her smile froze for just a moment. It was then that Skyle realized Ria was smiling, and was not pretending to be angry at all. In fact, she never did.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Skyle murmured, confused.


    ¡°I¡¯m losing you,¡± Ria sighed almost inaudibly.


    ¡°Hmm? What was that?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, you silly goose.¡± Ria rested her head upon Skyle¡¯s shoulder and closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about how unfair it is for anyone to be as impossibly dense as you are.¡±


    ¡°Hey now!¡± Skyle chuckled in mock protest.


    ¡°It¡¯s true, I swear. How could life have concentrated so much sheer-¡± Ria continued.


    ¡°Come here you! I¡¯ll show you how us dense people deal with this kind of situation!¡± Skyle cried as he lunged for her.


    Ria laughed as dodged back, the silver bells in her hair tinkling merrily.


    ¡°Only two are left,¡± Skyle whispered, watching the feeble flickering of the remaining candlelight.


    Ria nodded with uncharacteristic solemnity.


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to learn about your gift?¡± Ria asked yet again.


    Skyle firmly shook his head. ¡°The price is far too steep.¡±


    Ria reached out for his hand, twining her fingers between Skyle¡¯s.


    ¡°You might come to regret your decision, you know?¡±


    Skyle shook his head firmly. ¡°Never.¡±


    ¡°Never is a very long time, Sky - far beyond your ken,¡± Ria said in that unfathomably mysterious tone she sometimes had.


    ¡°Will you regret the time we¡¯ve spent together, then?¡± Skyle asked in turn.


    ¡°No, but then again, I knew exactly what I was doing from the very beginning, all those years ago,¡± Ria nodded.


    ¡°Then how dare you ask me if I would regret the single most precious thing in my life,¡± Skyle asked, his voice breaking.


    Ria looked down, but her fingers squeezed harder than ever. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just that the time draws near, and I don¡¯t know if I will be strong enough for what must come.¡±


    ¡°I will be strong enough for the both of us, Ria,¡± Skyle said firmly, an iron will flashing in his eyes.


    ¡°If anything, that¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of, Sky,¡± Ria said cryptically.


    Skyle was silent then, for he knew the remaining time was far too precious to waste on silly questions.


    ¡°So, tell me again about the snow lily you planted last year,¡± Skyle said instead.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told you that silly tale a dozen times this past week alone,¡± Ria smiled helplessly.


    ¡°I know. Some things are just worth that extra time, you know?¡± Skyle smiled in turn.


    Ria tilted her head to one side, her eyes glimmering with emotion.


    ¡°Yes, they are, my beloved Sky.¡± Ria said, before sinking into silence.


    ¡°The lily?¡± Skyle prompted after a moment.


    ¡°Yes, the lily. Well, there was this one seed at the edge of the valley which-¡±


    As Ria began her tale anew, Skyle closed his eyes and tried to etch each word onto his heart.


    Skyle did not fear death, nor even oblivion. What he did fear, however, was forgetting. For love was the trail of two sets of footsteps upon the dusky beach of remembrance, and the waves of time would soon crash upon these sun-swept shores. Upon their retreat, those cruel waters would wash away all the precious footsteps upon his heart, until only a desolate stretch of sand remained.


    ¡°Sky, are you listening?¡±


    Skyle smiled, but his heart was bleeding as sharp knives dug deep channels upon his flesh, carving this very moment into scar-etched memory.


    He did not care, because only one thing was important.


    He must remember.


    ¡°Will I remember you?¡± Skyle asked quietly.


    ¡°I pray that you do not,¡± Ria said, tears pooling in her eyes.


    ¡°I must remember, or what have all these years been for?¡± Skyle said with uncharacteristic bitterness.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t even a single moment of love worth it on its own right?¡± Ria said gently, taking Skyle¡¯s hand in her own and laying it against her cheek. There, she breathed deeply as though to remember the scent of his skin.


    This sight brought new tears to his eyes.


    ¡°All I want is to be with you,¡± Skyle murmured. ¡°To know you and to hold you, to close my arms around you and feel your warmth slowly melt with mine until we are one. It is all I wish for, my one prayer to god or whatever higher power watches over us.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be selfish, Sky. We¡¯ve been here for hundreds of years. That is already far longer than most mortals can dream of, let alone share together. Must you also demand that the memory of their passing be forever left in your heart? How can you still be so childish and naive?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯ve taught me everything, Ria. How to breathe, how to think and how to simply be. You have taught me everything, except how to live without you by my side.¡±


    A muffled cry of anguish died before reaching his throat. Skyle bit his lips and felt his fingers digging painfully into Ria¡¯s palms.


    That was alright. Her fingers were drawing blood from his skin in their own heedless obsession.


    It was just how desperate hearts spoke when words inevitably failed them.


    ¡°Will I see you again?¡± Skyle finally broke the silence.


    ¡°So long as you hold even the smallest sliver of my memory within your heart, you will..¡± Ria said softly, her words trailing off into a desolate silence.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe I will remember, do you?¡± Skyle said accusingly.


    ¡°Oh, Sky. You must not be so hard on yourself,¡± Ria cried softly, already knowing it was himself Skyle was blaming, and not her. Never her. ¡°This seed of darkness, it feeds upon your soul and discards everything it has no use for. Family, friends, love - they cannot hope to stand against the tide of darkness that will swallow them all, and turn the strength of those bonds of love into the cold steel it will use to hone its own claws.¡±


    ¡°I will defeat it. For your sake, for ours, I will fight against it and I will prevail. I won¡¯t let it take you away from me,¡± Skyle cried, pulling Ria into his arms and squeezing the breath from her with his embrace.


    ¡°Sky, my dear, foolish Sky.. You still don¡¯t understand, do you? It is the strength of your soul, the ferocity of your desire, the indomitable steel of your will, that will become the darkness¡¯ strongest weapons. Were you not so courageous and strong, hope would still remain, however brittle and gossamer.¡±


    Ria slowly pulled away just enough to look up into Skyle¡¯s despairing gaze.


    ¡°Your bravery dooms our love, and your passion will be the slayer of hope.¡±


    ¡°So, you have given up on us already?¡±


    ¡°Never, Sky. You may not remember me - remember us. But you will always be my Sky. This, I believe with all my heart. Though stars may fall and worlds shatter, I believe you will find your way home to me. To us.¡±


    ¡°Ria..¡±


    ¡°Sky, no matter how long the road, how dark the night, how lonely the hearth, hold on to my hands and don¡¯t ever let go. One day, you will return. You will come back to me, and I will be there waiting for you. This is our promise, from now until the end of time.¡±


    ¡°I promise, Ria. I won¡¯t let go. I will return.¡±


    ¡°And I promise, Sky. I will be waiting.¡±


    The final candle died, and the darkness arose, for it knew its time had finally come. The shadows, they had always been there, if only in Skyle¡¯s eyes. For the light of sanctuary allows no darkness, except for that within the human heart.


    The shadows, they had always been those cast by the dark flames simmering in the depths of Skyle''s own heart.


    Now, they rose at long last, and from their pitch black depths, a sword of midnight was born.


    Cold, unfeeling hands gripped the hilt of this sword, and its blade cried out in feral joy, for long years had it starved, and the time of feasting was at long last at hand.


    ¡°You are finally here,¡± Ria said, and the light died within her eyes.


    Love lay dying, Hope was vanquished.


    Only a promise remained.

 Chapter 77 - Fading Notes of a Farewell Song

    Chapter 77 - Fading Notes of a Farewell Song


    Skyle howled until his throat was scraped raw. It was only a dim echo of the deafening scream tearing his soul apart.


    Deep inside, Skyle knew something precious had broken.


    No, he had torn it apart with his own hands.


    The pain was simply too raw and too strong to hide from. It did not grow numb as every other pain did, and instead grew more insistent in its agonizing embrace. The lines of fire scorching his insides burned everything they touched into a charred mess. The smoking remains of his flesh and soul moaned feebly, but never grew numb or died. They only hurt with ever more pressing insistence.


    The sword of night had melted away as soon as Ria was gone, almost as though it had never existed at all. Only the silver disk shining amidst the puddle of scarlet blood with an ethereal light lay as a silent witness to the tragedy that had unfolded.


    ¡°Ria..¡± Skyle whispered, broken and hollow as he stretched his hand towards the disk.


    As soon as his skin brushed against the metal surface, he heard a soft, humming song coming from it. It was a simple, joyful tune that tore at him in his misery with all the lamenting sorrow of an autumn rain. Each note told a story, and sparked within his memory scenes of days filled with the careless, reckless love only foolish, innocent youth could find.


    From within each of these moments, words slowly came into being. It began as a whisper, but they swiftly coalesced into the words of a letter, her final farewell.


    <blockquote>My Sky, if you¡¯re hearing this final song, it means our time has finally come.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>How to convey the full measure of my sorrow and longing for you, dear Sky? I may be gone from your life, but know that until the final moment, I treasured each and every second we spent together in our little sanctuary. If I were given the choice, I would do it all over again, not changing a single thing. If anything, I would only wish that we had one more day, a minute, a second, to share and to love each other the way only we could. </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Don¡¯t cry for me, Sky. I knew this moment would come from the moment I heard you call out to me, back when we first met. I hesitated then, only because I knew the dreadful price our love would demand from you. Myself, I¡¯m only a mere wisp of the goddess¡¯ will left behind. My purpose fulfilled, I return to the source, and bear with me the precious warmth of our time together.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Sky, you must not let go. Remember who you are, and why I loved you so. Within your veins dwells a power that runs both deep and dark. Any other soul, and it would be hopelessly swept away in its dark tide. Any other soul, but yours. </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Sky, you hold the key within you to unlock this power, and seal away its dark taint. May you fulfill your destiny, and walk down this lonely road with all the warmth my memory can give you. </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Remember, you are never alone. Wherever you are, I am there with you - always.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>So long as you don¡¯t let go of my hand, I will always answer your call.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Just close your eyes, think of me, and call my name in your heart.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>There, tucked in the silence between one moment and the next, I will answer.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Listen closely, and you will hear the laughter in my voice, the longing of my heart, and all the love I leave for you in all the wonders, great and small, where I lie asleep and dream of us, and the day when we shall one day meet again.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Until then, know that I love you, now and always.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Your Ria</blockquote>


    Skyle wept then. He wept like a child, desolate and alone upon a strange land. He wept like the sky that has lost its moon and stars, like the ocean without its waves. He lay still and broken, crying his heart out until he could not remember the day or the season, or even who he was.


    He only knew that he had lost her, and no amount of tears would bring her back.


    ¡°So, you have finally done it,¡± said a cold voice from nearby.


    Skyle slowly raised his tear-filled eyes and met the naked hatred filling the eyes of the Guardian of Sanctuary. Feeling as though it reflected only a mere fraction of the self-loathing Skyle himself bore, he shook his head mutely.


    ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? That you would come to regret your decision. Are you satisfied now, mortal? You have slain the hope of Sanctuary, the light of the world,¡± The Guardian cried bitterly.


    He did. Skyle had never known regret the way he now did. He lay drowning in the darkest pits of regret. If only.. If only..


    ¡°Ria, you must know a way to save her,¡± Skyle murmured, sudden, desperate hope flaring in his chest.


    His plea was only met with a cold mix of pity and disgust. ¡°You speak with all the ignorance only mortals could have. Do you even realize what you have done? The doom you have wrought upon us all? Sanctuary itself trembles, for the darkness is nigh.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about your damn Sanctuary. I only want Ria back,¡± Skyle snarled, fury engulfing his heart in flames so hot their heat startled him out of his grief, if only for a brief instant.


    ¡°Ah, now the beast bares its fangs. Yes, I can see what you will soon become. This is only the beginning, and the end is still a long ways off.¡±


    ¡°Take your riddles and be gone, wretched immortal. Where was your wisdom and your power when Ria needed you most?¡± Skyle spat.


    Grief flooded the Guardian¡¯s eyes at this. She opened her mouth, but was unable to utter a word. She let out a slow, heavy sigh as the fury slowly drained out of her expression.


    ¡°Even Gods must pay a price for interfering with the decrees of fate. In her blood is this price finally met, and I¡¯m here to fulfill my part. Take your wretched inheritance, and begone from these lands.¡±


    The Guardian pointed towards the silver disk, and light flared from it as the song faded away, then was gone. Instead, the vague silhouette of a bow and a book could be glimpsed upon the surface of the disk.


    Skyle scrambled back as though he had been burned.


    ¡°No! I refuse, I will not-¡± He cried.


    ¡°Your choice has long been made for you, mortal. Regardless of our respective wishes, these are the dark trophies of your legacy. Take them, and leave me in my grief.¡±


    ¡°Ria, I refuse to forget her. I will not take your accursed gifts. I¡¯d rather burn in my pain for all of eternity. I will not fail her again,¡± Skyle sobbed, his hands clawing at the soil beneath him. ¡°Not again. I will never let go of her.¡±


    ¡°Heed me mortal. Whether you take these final gifts left for you or not, in mere moments you will return whence you came, your memory gradually scoured clean by your own cursed gift. Dark is the road ahead of you, and cold is the shadow lingering in your wake. I know not what she saw in you for all these years, but I do understand her final promise to you - far better than you yourself do. I hold you in nothing but the utmost contempt, but for her sake I once again urge you, take her gifts and be gone, that one day you may perhaps fulfill your promise and see her again.¡±


    Skyle stopped at this, desperate hope flaring in his eyes at her words. He did not trust her, but at this moment he did not care. He would have believed the devil himself - anything at all to fill the void in his heart.


    ¡°Ria, I can see her again?¡± Skyle¡¯s voice was faint and tremulous, just like the hope that slowly dared to raise its head within the depths of his heart.


    The Guardian dipped her head for just a fraction, but it was enough.


    ¡°Then I accept. I will show you the miracles mortals can achieve through their foolish courage and their undying hope,¡± Skyle said as he stood upon shaking feet, roughly wiping away the tears on his cheeks with the back of his bloody hands.


    ¡°Even gods must pay a price to defy the decrees of fate. What can a puny mortal do except submit to the woes of destiny and crawl ignominiously, then die upon their wretched lot in life?¡± The Guardian sneered in contempt.


    ¡°No, I am different. I will arise. I will embrace my cursed blood and embrace its foul taint, that I may wield the power to see my promise fulfilled!¡±


    ¡°May you live long enough to do so, Skyle Arrow. May you prove me wrong, and may you fulfill my mistress¡¯ dying will. Now, begone, you foul wretch!¡±


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    The Guardian lifted her hand up then, pointing it toward Skyle. A radiance blossomed within her grasp, then flew toward Skyle in order to banish him from Sanctuary once more.


    It bounced. The power of the Guardian reached within arm¡¯s length of Skyle, but then hit a barrier of thick shadow and promptly crumpled into shimmering dust.


    The Guardian gaped for a long time, a look of absolute disbelief plastered on her face as she stared at the thick curtains of shadow bellowing out from Skyle.


    ¡°I am done being your puppet, immortal,¡± Skyle said quietly, looking down at the fists he held clenched tightly at his sides.


    Slowly lifting his gaze to meet the Guardian¡¯s astonished eyes, Skyle¡¯s expression was one of cold determination as he gave voice to the snarling beast he had awakened within his heart.


    ¡°I am your plaything no more. Never again, will I yield to the whims of fate. From this moment forward, I am my own man. May the world howl and the heavens weep, for I shall not care. I will find Ria, one way or another. One day, we will be together again.¡±


    The Guardian lifted both hands this time, summoning her power in a great globe of light. She flung it toward Skyle with a mighty cry, and the air warped as the orb of power sizzled its way forward.


    Skyle did not even lift his hands, for the shadows had become a sea of darkness shrouding his figure within its depths. The shimmering ball made from the Guardian¡¯s condensed will struck the shadows with terrifying momentum, yet the results were shockingly mundane. There was no explosion of energy or blinding flash of light. No energies were released, nor any power visible to the eye. Instead, the shadows opened their maw and swallowed the Guardian¡¯s power whole. One moment, it was a great orb of divine power corruscading with godly will; the next, it was a mere shadow swiftly being consumed by a growing tempest of darkness, its edges growing thick tendrils of inky black tentacles which seemed possessed of a primordial instinct to devour all in its path.


    ¡°This.. cannot be..¡± The Guardian staggered back, her face growing pale and her lips trembling as she stared with wide, terrified eyes.


    This emotion - fear - which Skyle had not believed the immortal would be capable of, it set off something inside his chest which exploded into a dark lust wholly unfamiliar to the little boy. He wanted to use his newly awakened power to shove back against this arrogant immortal. He wanted to press upon her with all the uncontainable might he could feel coursing through his every last vein and muscle. He wanted to break her under his power, and to sneer coldly at the shattered remains of her divine pride.


    What color would the blood of a goddess be as he tore the still-beating heart from her body, he wondered with an unfamiliar, yet near irresistible hunger in his eyes.


    The Guardian raised one hand to the skies with a loud cry, and a shimmering sphere of light condensed from the air around her. Its surface was glowing brightly with innumerable runes of power. They were each exceedingly complex, hopelessly beyond any mortal¡¯s capacity to comprehend, let alone wield. Alone, they would have brought any practitioner of the magical arts to his knees. Woven together like tiny scales forming a glowing layer of living, breathing skin, they would have driven most mortal minds mad with their sheer complexity and splendor.


    Skyle did not care. He hardly spared the magical barrier a look before lifting his open hand toward the Guardian.


    Only one tendril of darkness shot out at first, a mighty dragon which roared as it smashed itself into the immortal¡¯s protective ward. The barrier flared brightly with its protective might, and the dark dragon was instantly banished by the golden light.


    Skyle¡¯s expression did not shift at all, however, while the Goddess¡¯ face paled even further, and sweat began to bead her forehead.


    ¡°Mortal, wait,¡± She called out hoarsely.


    Skyle sneered in response. He was done listening to others. He was done waiting. From now on, he would take. Strength was the only true redeemer, the one constant in life.


    He was strong now, and he would only grow stronger still.


    Skyle clenched the fingers of his upheld hand into a fist with a furious roar. It was instantly answered by dozens of shadow dragons as they burst out from the surface of the sea of darkness churning all around Skyle. They were each as thick around as an adult bear, and struck with all the fierceness of an enraged tiger as they exploded into the Guardian¡¯s magical barrier.


    One after another, they crashed and burned into thick clouds of smoke while the barrier flickered with increasing dullness, groaning under the relentless assault. Step by step, the Guardian was driven back, until the final dragon tore through the flickering remains of the magical ward with a triumphant, malevolent howl.


    The Guardian lifted her hands up before her to shield her face as doom soared through the air to devour her whole.


    ¡°Mistress, save me!¡± The Guardian cried, naked fear tearing down the last remaining shreds of divine dignity left.


    A shimmering glow erupted around the final dragon. It was almost shaped like the fingers of a hand as they took hold of the snake of darkness and with an almost fond tap, send it scurrying back towards Skyle¡¯s side.


    Skyle rocked back in his steps as he stared at the hand. He could have recognized those fingers anywhere.


    ¡°Ria? Is that you?¡± Skyle cried out hoarsely, hope sparking to painful life within the crumbled, smoking ruins of his life.


    ¡°Ria is no more, Skyle. She gave her life as a sacrifice in order to protect your soul when your powers awakened, and though her essence has once more returned to the source, she is no longer as you once knew her,¡± came a serene, though sad ethereal voice.


    ¡°Then she always knew she would die for me?¡± Skyle asked, the jagged pieces of his heart cutting fresh wounds in his flesh.


    ¡°Yes. Do not grieve for her, for it was her own choice - as much for her love for you, as it was for the sake of the world she was born to protect.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about the world. I just want Ria back,¡± Skyle snarled.


    ¡°Such sentiment is unworthy of you, and of Ria¡¯s memory. Is abusing the power which Ria has granted you within this domain the extent of your love and devotion towards she who sacrificed her all for you? For hundreds of years, she watched over your soul and nurtured it, that you may one day live up to her hopes for you. She gave her everything for your sake. It is now in your hands to fulfill your promise to her.¡±


    Skyle bowed his head as he remembered his promise. How easy it had seemed to promise the world to Ria when he had her in his arms. Now that he was left alone and lost in a bleak, colorless world, he wished nothing but to burn everything to cinders if only to warm the desolate husk of his ruined soul.


    Yet, that was not what he had promised.


    ¡°Love binds us, Skyle. It creates gossamer chains that we ourselves fight to preserve, even until our last breath is gone.¡±


    He had not understood her words back then, but now that these chains fashioned from his own enduring love for Ria had taken shape around him, he understood her meaning all too well. His love demanded that he swallow his madness, that he curb his hunger, and rein in his wrath.


    He must strive to never let go of that simple boy whom Ria had loved so deeply, and sacrificed everything for. Only then, would he be able to close his eyes and listen for her voice, hidden within the timeless eternity between one breath and the next.


    ¡°There is hope yet, Skyle. Don¡¯t give in to despair. Ria lies dormant, her life poured out before you and her essence spent. However, you carry within you the shard of memory which comprises her core. You should understand what this means.¡±


    Skyle blinked the tears from his eyes as his breathing sped up. He was only now beginning to understand Ria¡¯s words to him.


    ¡°No matter where you go, no matter who you are, I will always be there with you - forever.¡±


    These were no mere empty words. It had been a promise - her promise.


    ¡°Will I see you again?¡± Skyle had asked.


    ¡°So long as you hold even the smallest sliver of my memory within your heart, you will..¡±


    Her memory lived on inside of him. She was still alive!


    ¡°Sky, no matter how long the road, how dark the night, how lonely the hearth, hold on to my hands and don¡¯t ever let go. One day, you will return. You will come back to me, and I will be there waiting for you. This is our promise, from now until the end of time.¡±


    Ria..


    Skyle would call, and she would answer. He would hold his arms open, and she would return to his embrace.


    They would be together once again.


    Within the obscure depths of the ocean of darkness that was Skyle¡¯s soul, a single dazzling flame came to life.


    It was hope, and so long as that fire burned, his love would never die.


    ¡°Wait for me, Ria.¡±


    Darkness howled and flung itself at this tiny spark of flame, trying to smother it under its cloying weight. Still, the flame burned, brilliant and pure within a sea of corruption and despair.


    It burned brightly; it burned warmly; it burned fiercely until the darkness could only recoil, for this fire, it was too strong.


    ¡°I will never let go, Ria.¡±


    ¡°One day, when I am strong enough, I will return for Ria,¡± Skyle said softly.


    ¡°We will be waiting for that day.¡±


    Skyle found the words surprising, but he did not speak further. Instead, he clutched the silver disk within his grasp and whispered the words he felt in his heart.


    ¡°Take me home, Ria. I will be back soon.¡±


    The words of his previous promise inevitably echoed within his mind.


    ¡°I promise, Ria. I won¡¯t let go. I will return.¡±


    The fading notes of a faraway song whispered the words of Ria¡¯s reply right next to his heart as Sanctuary faded from his eyes.


    ¡°And I promise, Sky. I will be waiting.¡±

 Chapter 78 - Master and Student

    Chapter 78 - Master and Student


    Syrene Le Sueur glided through the air upon her Streamline spell. The spell would be hideously complex to cast manually, likely requiring a spell matrix be prepared beforehand for many of the more onerous spells which must be laid out for the actual transportation spell to be cast successfully. Most mages would rather use a far simpler and more practical Misty Conveyance spell.


    Fortunately, Syrene was very much unlike most other mages. She was a water summoner who had awakened at the early age of 16. Her talent had been richly nourished by the Empire and the Aegis Academy until her summoned spirit, Caessa, had advanced to the peak 4th level.


    This meant that it merely took her a moment to focus her will, and Caessa had obediently fashioned the intricate spell for her from the vast magical arsenal that had been carefully imbued into her essence core.


    Most summoners would balk at using up the precious and limited capacity of a summoned spirit¡¯s essence core for an extravagant luxury such as Sarl¡¯s Aqueous Streamline. It provided only marginally higher speed than lesser spells. Its only true advantages were the height it could reach, and the smoothness of its gliding movement. While more commonly used spells such as the Misty Conveyance could only rise up to a paltry thirty feet off the ground before losing integrity and stability, the Streamline spell could soar hundreds of feet into the air.


    Not only that, but its main advantage was the comfort it provided. The Streamline spell provided a full enclosure of water which glided along smoothly upon near invisible rails of water elemental energy suspended upon the air. This ensured that there would be hardly a hitch felt even in the face of the strongest gusts of wind, as the surface of the spell would bend and absorb most impacts. The elaborate braids and curls her hair had been worked into resembled the petals of a flower opening toward the sky. She had spent nearly two hours at the local hairdressers¡¯ shop in order to properly prepare for the important events that would take place tomorrow.


    These were the reasons why Syrene considered the essence space required for the spell in Caessa¡¯s core very much worth the investment. It was an intoxicating feeling to soar high above the heads of the many ordinary townsfolk passing by beneath her feet. Likely, at this height they would mistake her soaring figure for that of a particularly swift bird of prey. Little did they imagine that a woman barely into her late thirties had reached the saint level as a summoner and was flying through the skies above far more swiftly than any bird ever could.


    ¡° And far more comfortably, as well,¡± Syrene noted in her mind as she brushed a lock of her exquisitely curled black hair back from her face, idly tapping her foot upon the semi-solid surface of the water bubble which surrounded her on all sides.


    The Farrow farm should be coming up ahead in a few minutes. Syrene would pay an official visit to the little farmstead in the morning, but first she wanted to see what information could be gleaned from this mysterious family which had attracted her curiosity.


    First and foremost, she needed to understand the gifted genius she was to take under her wing. Apprenticeships were a very serious matter, particularly so when summoners were involved. Her own master had been a pivotal influence in her own rise to power as a summoner. She had been an unruly, arrogant daughter of a noble family, born with a silver spoon in her mouth and soaring even higher after her potential to become a summoner had been discovered.


    If not for the patient care and strict discipline of her master, Syrene would have never reached her current heights in fame and power. As this was to be her very first apprentice, she wanted to do it right and leave no stone unturned.


    Kassandra Farrow was an intriguing girl. She was a diamond in the rough, her untapped potential far greater than even the shining reports had stated before she came under the orders of the Academy. Leaving aside the fact that she had awakened her first spirit at nine years of age - which had to be some kind of record - Syrene still recalled her surprise when she saw that it was a humanoid spirit instead of the primal beast-like spirits which were most summoners¡¯ first spirit. After all, summoning a spirit which took on human qualities and even had a glimmer of self-awareness was a feat only those with the strongest willpower could achieve.


    However, for now she was nearly as interested in her entire family. Skyle Farrow had beaten two older mage students using nothing but a bow and his wits. Reikard Farrow had hardly blinked an eye as he faced his sister¡¯s imminent awakening, as though it was only normal and to be expected. Even when his healing spells failed to help his unconscious brother, he had been cool as a cucumber.


    Syrene was truly intrigued by the parents who had given birth to, and raised such remarkable children. One or two might be fate or happy circumstance. All three, however, spoke of something far beyond mere luck.


    Usually, Syrene was a curious woman but her busy schedule would not accommodate such a whimsical investigation. However, now that it directly affected her future apprentice-to-be, Syrene had both the motivation and justification to indulge her curiosity.


    Perhaps it was due to the many thoughts flittering busily through her mind, that she did not see the razor-sharp edge of the windblade before it sliced through the top half of her Streamline sphere and blew it clean off.


    One moment, Syrene was idly playing with a curl of dark hair between her fingers, the next she was blasted full in the face by the howling gales of wind which had been kept at bay by her Streamline spell. At the speed at which she was moving, it threw her hair into complete disarray and nearly knocked her flying out of the sphere altogether.


    Surprise quickly gave way to rage as Syrene entered the Spirit Sight and followed the trail of elemental essence left by that wretched windblade. Rapidly narrowing down upon its point of origin, she altered the direction of her Streamline spell with a mere thought while commanding Caessa to weave a barrier spell around herself.


    Furious, she might be, but a mage who had managed to not only strike, but to cleanly sever into her Streamline spell while it was moving through the darkness of the night, would be a foe that demanded her full attention and caution. He must be a skilled Mortal level elementalist at the very least!


    Her Streamline globe hovered twenty feet off the ground as she stared at the silhouette of a startingly young man who stood with a straight back in the middle of a clearing in the forest below. His cool eyes stared back at her with careless indifference, ignoring the fury that filled Syrene¡¯s expression.


    ¡°How dare you attack an Aegis¡¯sur unprovoked? Explain yourself before I tear you to shreds for your impudence!¡± Syrene growled.


    The young man looked to be barely over thirty, which was incredibly young for a Mortal level master. He had dark hair and a clean-shaven face, but the rest of his features were obscured  by the cowl of a heavy cloak. What made the hair in Syrene¡¯s arms stand on end was the fact that she was having difficulty reading his elemental signature. This meant that either he had mastered a technique for disguising his magical aura, or it was beyond even Syrene¡¯s ability to read.


    Neither boded well for her.


    ¡°Syrene Le Sueur, this area is strictly off-limits for all practitioners of the elements. I¡¯m surprised Aegis has done such an ill-job of informing its staff of the local rules.¡±


    The man¡¯s voice was low and husky, possessing neither the overbearing arrogance his power would justify, nor the animosity his previous attack upon her would suggest.


    ¡°First of all, on what grounds do you dare to designate an area as off-limits to an Aegis¡¯sur. No, before that, it would still not be justification for an unprovoked attack upon any elementalist. I demand to know who you are right now!¡±


    The man eyed her cooly for one long moment, before slowly raising his hand and parting the folds of his cloak for one brief instant. This single glimpse upon the distinctive scarlet and black pattern of the man¡¯s armor was enough for Syrene¡¯s blood to run cold and her tongue to cleave to the roof of her mouth.


    ¡°Ah, Lord Inq-¡± Syrene began, but was instantly silenced by the slightest of contractions upon the man¡¯s expression. He was deliberately concealing the armor of his office, which meant he did not wish to be identified. ¡°I meant no offense, sir. I will remove myself from the premises immediately, and no word of what has transpired this evening shall ever pass through my lips.¡±


    The man nodded calmly and turned around, then walked away without a word, as though he had expected her reaction. Which did not surprise Syrene at all.


    Even an exalted Aegis¡¯sur would quake in her boots before the presence of a Lord Inquisitor of the Holy Church.


    Her former curiosity completely forgotten, Syrene quickly commanded Caessa to cast another Streamline spell. This time, she leapt into the air without a care for her frazzled looks. She wanted to be as far away from this place as she possibly could.


    Inquisitors were never good news, particularly one as young and powerful as the one before her.


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    Kendric Farrow puffed out a thick cloud of smoke from where stood, leaning against the front porch of his house as he watched the night sky above. It was a cloudy evening, and neither the moon nor the stars could be seen through the blanketing mist.


    His face was an unreadable mask as he removed the pipe from his lips and tapped it against the wooden railing behind his back. Black ash fell to the ground in small clumps while Kendric pursed his lips thoughtfully. He raised the pipe to eye-level before blowing into the opening, clearing any remaining ash.


    He let out a quiet groan as he pushed himself off the railing just briefly enough that he was able to reach into his back pocket and take out a handful of herbs. He stuffed the dry mix into his pipe before reaching into his front pocket with his other hand.


    A single tongue of flickering green flame sparked into life right in front of Kendric¡¯s face. The farmer¡¯s face didn¡¯t show any expression at all as he dropped the hand he had been rummaging in his pocket with, and instead leaned his head forward to light his pipe with the green flame.


    Kendric inhaled and his pipe soon lit up with a crimson glow as smoke began to swirl into the air. He exhaled, letting a thin cloud of grey smoke drift into the air for a long moment before pushing his pipe to one side of his mouth. He held the stem of the pipe between his teeth before he finally spoke.


    ¡°How many we be of service to you in this humble farm, Lord Inquisitor?¡±


    A shadow moved away from the wall behind Kendric. It resolved itself into the hooded figure of a man wearing a dark cloak. Underneath its folds, an elaborate metal armor of red and black could be seen reflecting the dim glow of Kendric¡¯s pipe.


    ¡°I¡¯m wearing my cloak, sir. Couldn¡¯t you at least pretend you remember some of the training you put me through?¡±


    ¡°Oh, must be all the years digging up turnips,¡± Kendric said flatly. ¡°What do you want, sir Talon?¡±


    ¡°Sir, the organization has received numerous reports of rift activity from this area,¡± Talon began quietly, shifting his weight.


    ¡°Stop fidgeting, you¡¯re making me restless. One would think I¡¯d slapped that habit out of your head with so many whacks,¡± Kendric muttered.


    Talon smiled humorlessly, spreading his hands to his sides. ¡°I haven¡¯t fidgeted in almost five years, sir - which happens to coincide with my last visit to your beautiful farm.¡±


    ¡°I thought I made it clear the last time that your presence was unwelcome,¡± Kendric said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he puffed out another long cloud of smoke.


    Talon¡¯s smile withered as his hands reflexively twitched toward the weapons strapped to his back. After a moment, he let out a sigh as he dropped his hands and shook his head.


    ¡°After all this time, you still can¡¯t resist making me twitch just for the pleasure of seeing your pupil jump. I swear, sometimes you¡¯re worse than a little kid. Sir.¡±


    ¡°Former pupil. And well, we don¡¯t often get to see the exalted Right Hand of Shadow jump like a startled cat around these parts,¡± Kendric shrugged, unapologetic.


    ¡°I¡¯ll always be your student, no matter what anyone says. And that would be Right Eye now, sir.¡± Talon whispered.


    That finally got a reaction from Kendric. He shook his head as he drew deeply from the pipe on his lips, all the while squinting at Talon with a measuring look in his eyes.


    ¡°Huh,¡± Kendric finally grunted, belching out a thin ring of smoke. ¡°The Right Eye of Shadow himself. My, what an honor. They must be saying that the student walks in the footsteps of the master, back at the capital. How very rich.¡±


    Talon lowered his head for a moment before he caught himself.


    ¡°You know there will only ever be one rightful Right Eye of Shadow, sir - and damn what those rotten bureaucrats have to say about that,¡± Talon said with a fierce expression on his face.


    ¡°I thought you were supposed to always keep your cool, Talon. Your teacher would be disappointed if he saw you lose control like that, especially during an assignment.¡± Kendric pointed out in a casual tone.


    Talon didn¡¯t bother to deny it, as they both knew it would be useless to deny that he was here for work. ¡°I took over the case myself, sir. Sealed the reports to the flame and slip-streamed here as quickly as I was able to.¡±


    Kendric sighed then, taking the pipe from his lips and throwing another measuring glance toward his former student.


    ¡°I really thought I taught you better, boy. You¡¯re still too soft. It¡¯ll get you killed, in this line of work,¡± Kendric said.


    All the response he got was a near imperceptible twitch of Talon¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Talon, the storm comes. Ari- ah, my wife almost lost control this evening,¡± Kendric said softly, almost as though to himself.


    Talon¡¯s eyes bulged as he took a quick step back to steady himself, his chest heaving as though he had just run a race. Thin beads of sweat rolled down his face.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he urged.


    ¡°It¡¯s my son, Skyle,¡± Kendric answered simply.


    Talon¡¯s gaze grew fierce. ¡°What happened to him? How badly wounded is he? Will he live? I swear, I¡¯ll find those-¡±


    Kendric took the pipe from his lips and waved it back and forth in front of his student¡¯s face.


    ¡°No, nothing like that. He will awaken soon, with a minor burn or two,¡± Kendric said.


    ¡°Then..?¡± Talon prompted, the question obvious on his face.


    ¡°He was hurt,¡± Kendric said simply, then raised an eyebrow at Talon¡¯s disbelieving gape.


    ¡°Twelve long years, and you Imperial types still don¡¯t understand the first thing about my wife,¡± Kendric sighed through his nose, then looked straight into Talon¡¯s eyes with all the gravity he could muster. ¡°I thought I told you before, boy. If anything ever happens to Skyle, if he should ever have so much as a carpet rash from you Imperial types, my wife will summon the furies of the primordial elements and tear down your Empire by its roots in one single, world-ending day.¡±


    Talon¡¯s face was drained of all color as he swallowed dryly. ¡°I- I believe you, sir. However, five years is a long time by Imperial standards, let alone twelve. The Shadow War is more of a myth than legend now, and the politicians must once again be reminded of the bitter cost of snatching victory from the jaws of oblivion. And may I remind you, it was once your Empire as well?¡±


    Kendric shook his head. ¡°No, not anymore. Not for the past decade. I fulfilled all my oaths to the Empire when I was thrown to the wolves and left to die in a world not my own. I broke all ties with the Emperor when he sent assassins after my wife and children for his political ambitions.¡±


    Talon quickly shook his head. ¡°Sir, you know the Emperor himself ordered the beasts responsible for those orders executed and their houses wiped out to the last.¡±


    Kendric sneered then. ¡°You and I both know those were only more sacrifices, pawns the Emperor uses when it suits his needs - Just like me and my family.¡±


    Talon tried to protest, but Kendric held up a finger, and long years of training kicked in, forcing the Right Eye of Shadow himself to clamp his mouth shut like an obedient schoolboy.


    ¡°Only, not even the Emperor imagined this particular pawn would actually have a far sharper sword than he had ever imagined. Nor that his wife could single-handedly tear down half of his empire at her whim, though the attempt would immediately come at the price of her life.¡±


    Talon could only shake his head in regret.


    ¡°Talon, you tell that petty old man that our agreement is still in place. Leave us alone, and we shall not intervene in his contemptible power games. Touch a single finger on my family¡¯s hair, however, and not only will I use all my years of training and my sharpest blades to rip out the heart of the Empire, but my wife will tear down the seals she has placed upon her own power - even at the cost of her life - and leave only a shattered husk where Solaria once proudly stood.¡±


    ¡°But sir, the situation is changing. The rifts are awakening once again,¡± Talon said, spreading his hands.


    ¡°So?¡± Kendric raised an indifferent eyebrow.


    ¡°The enemy you vanquished at such high cost to yourself, to our friends, our comrades - they might return!¡±


    Kendric snorted at that, truly amused.


    ¡°So what?¡± He repeated.


    ¡°What do you mean? Our whole world might lie at deadly peril!¡± Talon finally cried out in frustration.


    Kendric took one final drag from his pipe, before taking it from his mouth and tapping it against the wooden railing to empty the ashes. Only then did he turn with deliberate gravity towards his former student.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Talon. My boy is sick, and you talk to me about the world? I would wash the world in flames and watch it crumble into ashes if it would give my Skyle one hair of reprieve from his trials.¡±


    Talon rocked back in his steps, staring at his teacher as though he were seeing him for the first time.


    ¡°Hell, I¡¯m of half a mind to do that right fucking now. So don¡¯t even bother hoping I¡¯ll stick my ass out for that whole drivel about the world. My family IS my world, and I¡¯ll do anything I damn please and can do in order to protect them. Especially that boy. I owe him, Talon. I owe him far more than you can imagine, and by god I swear I will see my debt repaid in full before I finally bite the dust. You got that through your thick skull?¡±


    Talon could only nod slowly.


    ¡°Then pass me that tobacco you got hidden in your right hand pocket and help me light up another pipe. It¡¯s going to be a long night,¡± Kendric Farrow sighed, throwing a glance over his shoulder toward the house at his back.


    So, Talon Hawkeye, the Right Eye of Shadow, finally closed his mouth and did as he was told.


    It would be a long night.

 Chapter 79 - The Newly Forged Blade

    Chapter 79 - The Newly Forged Blade


    Shockwaves of power rippled through the entire room, shaking floorboards loose and sending splinters flying through the air. However, they bounced back from a rich layer of green elemental power. It formed a perfect circle around Skyle as he crashed against it, cushioning his fall in a surprisingly gentle fashion.


    Skyle looked around himself in a daze, still unfamiliar with the experience. Last time he had returned from Sanctuary, he had been unconscious. This time, he had felt every ripple of power passing through his body as he was transported back home through a tear in the fabric of reality.


    He didn¡¯t have time to even take stock of his situation before he felt arms rushing him into a familiar embrace. Skyle looked up just in time to see his mother¡¯s relieved smile. The lines of her face were wan and waxy, and her puffy, red-rimmed eyes told Skyle of the anguish she had been through.


    ¡°Sky, my little Sky, you came back to me,¡± Adrienne cried softly as she squeezed her son to her chest. ¡°Are you alright? Let me have a look at you.¡±


    Adrienne ignored Skyle¡¯s protests as she looked him up and down, constantly patting his face as though to reassure herself that he was here in truth, and she wasn¡¯t simply dreaming.


    ¡°Ma, I¡¯m alright,¡± Skyle lied, and though it was painfully obvious that he was anything but, for the moment both mother and son pretended this fiction was truth.


    For a long time, they shared a moment of silence as they hugged each other breathless, both afraid that their world would irrevocably change once words were exchanged.


    In the end, it was Skyle who broke off the hug first. He didn¡¯t do so intentionally. Instead, he accidentally tapped into the True Sight. He had grown accustomed to not having this ability, so he was genuinely surprised when it came back to him as though it had never been missing in the first place.


    What truly shocked him, however, were the massive energy fluctuations that surrounded his mother. Terrifyingly vast maelstroms of elemental essence spun in place within her core, easily dwarfing the auras of any mortal he had ever beheld. Almost, he could believe his mother was a deity, if he hadn¡¯t had first hand experience in seeing an actual goddess¡¯ aura. In terms of sheer elemental power, Adrienne Farrow was a true powerhouse that could likely tear mountains asunder with a single imperious flick of her hand.


    The revelation that his gentle mother was in truth a wielder of the elements that would beggar the imagination of even the legendary heroes he had read about in his stories startled him so badly that he screamed in surprise at the sheer presence of her aura and he shrank back in spite of himself.


    ¡°Sky?¡± Adrienne murmured as Skyle drew away from her embrace, a hurt look upon her face.


    ¡°S-Sorry ma,¡± Skyle managed, his eyes still wide at the spectacle laid out before his True Sight. ¡°I, ah, I¡¯m not scared or anything, it¡¯s just that..¡±


    Skyle gestured vaguely in the direction of his mother¡¯s aura, which encompassed the whole room and beyond. He could hardly understand how he could have missed it before, True Sight or not.


    ¡°You can see?¡± Adrienne whispered, her eyes going wide.


    Skyle nodded numbly.


    ¡°Oh. I suppose that makes things easier. Here, hold on a second sweetheart,¡± Adrienne said cryptically. Just a moment later, Skyle stared yet again as that titanic aura slowly began to shrink back upon itself. It was no longer as imposing and eye-catching as before, but the compressed nature of the aura was like the folding of multiple sheets of paper upon itself. Eventually, the glow grew so dazzling that Skyle was forced to turn off his True Sight, lest he become stunned by the sheer complexity of the aura¡¯s weaves.


    Having shed himself of the True Sight, Skyle noted that the immense pressure he had felt before was now completely gone. Instead, only his mother stood at arm¡¯s length, gazing at her son with a worried, hesitant look upon her face.


    ¡°Ma, it¡¯s alright, I understand,¡± Skyle slowly stepped toward his mother, throwing his arms around her shoulders. ¡°I just need to know, just what is Sanctuary, and what happened between me and Ria in the first place?¡±


    Adrienne¡¯s eyes grew turbid as her gaze grew distant for a moment, but then she quickly shook her head and nodded to Skyle.


    ¡°You deserve to know the truth now. How much do you know about Sanctuary?¡±


    ¡°Only that a Guardian dwells within, and some Goddess apparently rules over the entire place. Other than that, I only know that it is connected both to our world, and another world far beyond.¡±


    Adrienne nodded slowly. ¡°I see. Then I should start from the beginning. I will tell you as much as I dare to now, Skyle. This is because some secrets have power unto themselves, and you are not yet strong enough to bear such a burden. But it is only right that you should understand who you are, and why you are so special.¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly.


    ¡°You know me as Adrienne Farrow, but in truth, before I was wed to your father, I was known as Arienne Lyrianis. I was the daughter of a powerful family in my old world. It is this world which lies at the other end of Sanctuary. This world is known by its people as Lyria, and is ruled by a single Empress who sits upon the Crystal Throne.¡±


    ¡°When I wed your father and conceived you, I ran afoul of the Crystal Throne. For you see, Lyria is ruled by the power of the bloodlines, and of the three major Houses, mine is the most ancient and exalted of all. For thousands of years, the power of our bloodline let our House prosper beyond all others, but such dominance came at a steep price. No male heirs were ever permitted to be born from our House. Upon birth, any males would immediately be put to the death, while girls would be trained since they could walk in order to learn to control the gift within our blood. For such is the power of our bloodline, that males would eventually be driven mad by its call.¡±


    ¡°I was given a choice, my little Sky. I could either allow them to reap your life, or drink the Aktaris and become a Gestahl - a barren one. Aktaris is a mystical plant which holds miraculous healing properties when processed properly. However, when drunk in its purest form, it is the most feared poison in all of Lyria, as well as its most incurable one. Aktaris sears the talent from the veins of any person who consumes it, rendering them unable to wield a wick of elemental talent. Beyond that, it also shortens a person¡¯s lifespan by half, aging them before their time. There is no cure, and the process is irreversible once it takes root.¡±


    ¡°As you can guess, I drank the Aktaris, and was immediately banished from my own House. I found it strange then that we were allowed, even encouraged to find our way to Sanctuary, where we thought we would find a way back to your father¡¯s world. Our enemies did not pursue us, and thus I thought our hour of greatest peril had passed. Only later would I realize it was all part of our enemies¡¯ plot.¡±


    ¡°Upon our arrival in Sanctuary, I realized that my life had irrevocably changed. I was surrounded by danger, yet I could not rely upon the powers I had once taken for granted. Only your father¡¯s ceaseless efforts saw me overcome those long days of suffering. However, in the end the siren call of the elements proved too strong. Night after night, I would cry softly to myself when your father left to hunt and care for our needs. It was only then that I would give voice to my grief over my inability to reach out to the elements. In the end, I resolved within my heart to take the coward¡¯s way out. I decided that I would take my own life as soon as you were born, for a life without the elements seemed too bleak and harsh a world to my immature, privileged self.¡±


    ¡°It was only after the first month in Sanctuary that I began to feel a remarkable change upon my own body. I began to feel my talent returning, slowly but surely. Both your father and I foolishly thought it was some innate property of Sanctuary - perhaps the crystals we used to fuel our magic - acting to counteract the effects of the Aktaris. During the months that followed, my talent returned to me, even stronger than before I had taken the poison. It was an unprecedented miracle, but my joy quickly turned to despair when you were finally born.¡±


    A hitch in Adrienne¡¯s voice forced her to pause in her tale, but after a moment to compose herself, she continued.


    ¡°You were born whole, but broken, my little baby. Your skin was wrinkled before its time, dark veins spread all across your body from the Aktiris¡¯ taint. It was only then that your father and I realized what had happened.¡±


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    ¡°Little Sky, it is said that babies from our bloodline are gifted with cognitive powers from the very moment of conception, so strong is the power in our blood. You must have heard my bitter cries and suffering, and somehow began to draw all the poison in my body into yourself. Even before you were born, you decided to sacrifice your own life so that your mother could have her selfish wish to have her gift back.¡±


    ¡°Such terrible poison, how could a mere babe survive its wrath? Not only was the talent completely burned from your veins, you were born with the wrinkled, spotted skin of an old man. Your eyes were blind, and your voice cracked with the first cries you let out.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the regret that burned my heart then, and the love that humbled my heart when I saw what you had done, and the pride I felt at the kind of soul my son had. I was so proud, and yet so broken. I wished then that I could give all my talent and life to nurture you back to health, but it was impossible. I watched as you began to die right in front of my eyes.¡±


    ¡°It was then that a child arrived. She spoke little, and only because of the gentle love I could see in her eyes did I allow her to approach you. She took you in her arms, and miraculously you began to heal, your skin restored to a healthy pink glow. She explained then that she was a wisp of the goddess¡¯ will left in Sanctuary. She said that it was her duty to defend Sanctuary from the taint of the Aktaris, and its seed of darkness. This seed of darkness is the deadliest tool the Daemon Horde uses to enslave the worlds they seek to conquer. To our dismay, the child explained that a daemon taint had awakened in your blood. It was made worse after absorbing the corruption of the Aktaris, and its power grew from the divine power used to heal you.¡±


    ¡°She said then that the Aktaris used upon you was of a special breed. Aktaris was the key ingredient used by the Daemons to corrupt the hearts of men into their willing puppets. However, this seed of darkness used upon you had been especially forged with their foulest rituals knowing the potency of your blood, and that your father and I would try to take you back to Aeria with us. In one swift blow, they took me down, one of the most powerful young elementalists of Lyria, and at the same time sent a deadly gift to Aeria through your blood. They had assumed that you would be born with the dark taint of this special breed of Aktaris. This seed of darkness would feed upon your bloodline, and thus give birth to a daemon puppet of unprecedented power. They would create a dark emperor as the heir to their wicked legacy, and construct a new dreadgate for the Daemon Horde to invade Aeria once more.¡±


    ¡°The child goddess explained that she must stop this seed of darkness at all costs, else not only Aeria, but all of Sanctuary, and by extension even Lyria might fall under the Daemons¡¯ ploy. Still, she admitted that she had sensed your spirit the moment we crossed over into Sanctuary from Lyria. She watched you grow, and saw the selfless, brave soul that you were. She did not wish to take your life, and proposed to sacrifice hers instead.¡±


    ¡°It would not be a true death, she explained. This is how she explained the process. She said that as a wisp of the Goddess¡¯ will, it was within her powers to create a separate realm within Sanctuary. There, she would seal away the part of you that was tainted by the darkness. Only a thin connection would remain between your mortal body and this incorporeal self. So long as your mortal body did not stray too far from the rifts connecting Sanctuary to Aeria, this bond could be maintained. She would watch over you in that separate dimension, fortifying your will and nurturing your soul while stretching time for years far beyond our measure. Meanwhile, she tasked us to nurture your mind and body, that you may one day grow into a brave, capable man who would fight against the darkness within your own blood, and the threat of the Daemon horde besieging Sanctuary.¡±


    ¡°In the end, she said, you would one day awaken. It was our hope to delay that day as long as possible, so that you would enjoy as much of a normal childhood as we could give you, before you had to take up this long, exhausting fight against your own blood and the enemies who would seek to destroy you or control you. From the look in your eyes, I can see the child goddess has fulfilled her word.¡±


    Skyle nodded then, and though his mind was still processing all these revelations, in his heart he could only think of the selfless sacrifice Ria had subjected herself to all these years.


    ¡°She told me once to give you a message, should you awaken and return with that hollow, desolate look upon your eyes. She said she would wait for you, and that she would always believe in you. She said you would understand.¡±


    Skyle nodded at this. He did understand. He was now past tears, past grief and onto a new path he would forge for himself out of the blood of his enemies and the love of those closest to him.


    Skyle was no longer a child, for he had sacrificed more than most adults ever had to, and seen horrors that would drive lesser men insane.


    The time for games was done. He was now a warrior of this world. He would defend Aeria and Sanctuary from the Daemon threat, and would never relent until his foes lay vanquished at his feet. Most of all, he would once again be reunited with his love.


    ¡° Ria, I will never let go.¡±


    He would now become a newly forged blade, red hot from the heat of the crucible. He had been hammered, he had been tempered, and now his true grit would be tested by the blows and vicissitudes of fate.


    He had the Desolate Star Technique in his mind, he had Moonshadow by his side, but most of all, he had Ria forever dwelling within the innermost sanctuary of his heart.


    He was Skyle Arrow, and he would let the world know of his legend.


    Fierce fighting intent blossomed from his heart, and a thick sea of shadows eddied in the air around Skyle as his eyes promised bloody vengeance upon any who would stand in his way.


    ¡°Sir, the storm approaches,¡± Talon said as he finished smoking his last cigar. He threw it down and crushed it beneath his heel.


    ¡°That it does. It will be the mother of all storms, mark my words,¡± Kendric said, his gaze scanning the distant horizon.


    Talon could only nod his agreement. ¡°This time, it is not only Shadow that has been mobilized. The Free Duchies are planning to flood these woods with their men of war, using the Draxas boy as an excuse. The Church has already assigned two other inquisitors to investigate and oversee the situation, along with their Papal Corps. The Conclave Arcana has sent word to the Imperial Court that a full team of grand magisters will be conducting their research in the area. The Linden Republic has mobilized their National Security Bureau, no doubt looking to squeeze whatever profit they can from the chaos that will ensue. Even the barbarian tribes of the North Wastes are sending their war parties - those hounds of war, they smell the blood in the air and are already baying for the hunt to begin.¡±


    Talon shook his head as he turned his grim regard upon his master.


    ¡°Sir- No, Master Kennar, this time, not even the Empire, much less I, may be able to shield you and your family from the winds of conflict and war. Would you not consider moving, even if only for the next few years? The whole area will become a bloodbath sooner rather than later, even if our worst fears prove unfounded and there is no otherworldly invasion on the way.¡±


    Kendric exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, rolling his pipe in between his teeth.


    ¡°So, it is all to become one massive clusterfuck, and the whole world is out to get us. So, what else is new?¡± He chuckled darkly.


    Almost as if to answer his words, a thick killing intent could be felt from within the house. Being veterans, both Kendric and Talon could feel it radiating an aura almost like the hot smell of freshly forged steel and the heat of the fiery crucible that had birthed it.


    Immediately afterward, a sense of unease filled their hearts as a shadow briefly passed over their heads, as though the grim reaper itself had just hovered with its life-reaping scythe on top of their fates.


    The feeling was gone almost as soon as it came, but the unmistakable feeling of deadly peril had Talon reaching for his weapon once more.


    ¡°Sir, what was that?¡± Talon asked.


    Kendric threw a glance over his shoulder toward his house.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just my son. Looks like he¡¯ll pull through alright, after all. Lucky me, right?¡±


    The grin Kendric displayed then was all teeth, and once again Talon reflected that his master never did anything by halfway measures.

 Chapter 80 - The War Within

    Chapter 80 - The War Within


    ¡°Are you sure, sweetheart?¡± Adrienne asked apprehensively from the doorway to his room.


    Skyle tried his best to smile reassuringly, but could feel how painfully hollow the gesture was. Instead, he settled for showing her the edge of razor sharp focus he felt his soul gliding along at this moment.


    ¡°I am. Don¡¯t worry, your son has taken a beating but he just needs a moment to stand back up.¡±


    Adrienne¡¯s eyes were filled with the sorrow and pride of watching her child slowly growing beyond the confines of her protection. Skyle could tell she was afraid of what he would find, but could offer no reassurances. He himself did not know what the long road ahead entailed. He only knew that within his chest burned a fierce determination to face whatever may come.


    This resolute strength of will seemed enough to just barely satisfy Adrienne, as she nodded slowly before flashing a tremulous smile.


    "Little Sky, just remember something. Losing someone precious is one of the hardest trials you will face.  Spill your tears and sorrow, be angry at fate and destiny, cherish her memories and honor them - but don''t let it change you for the worse. Don''t let the darkness win out. Ria loved you for who you are now, and so does your family. Grieve for her and remember her, but sometimes, just sometimes it is ok to laugh when you want to cry and love when you want to hate.  Remember we will be here for you, alright?"


    Then, she closed the door and Skyle was alone.


    "You''re right ma. I can''t let this darkness consume me. I won''t let it. But you''re wrong about one thing. Ria is still with me, waiting - and I will find her again."


    Skyle knew good advice when he heard it, and he had to remind himself that no matter how hollow and useless it felt, he should at least try to follow his old habits until he could get his bearings straight.


    "Laugh when I want to cry and love when I want to hate?"


    Easier said than done, but at the very least, it would be a good start.


    Skyle breathed deeply as he turned to a retrospective look at his life, starting with his room. It was full of the marks of his earlier years, filled with the sweet innocence of a naive child and the exuberant dreams of a youth. His Infinite Eye could easily pick up each fold and crack upon the weathered cover of his copy of ¡°The Elemental Master: Awaken the Power Within.¡± He had spent long nights studying its pages, hoping to draw some inspiration to awaken his powers. Every failure had only inspired him to strive harder, and his indomitable spirit had never given up.


    Now that he had finally found the reason for his ailment, it only added more strength to his determination, not less. In fact, his will could not be compared to before. His drive to absolutely succeed and his stubborn refusal to fail were now driven by a completely different beast altogether.


    Whereas before he had only youthful dreams of magical powers and his own need to reach for excellence to blame for his stubborn refusal to quit, now he had discarded such foolish notions and fully embraced a true purpose: to protect his loved ones, and to find Ria once again.


    This past week had been a rude awakening for Skyle. Only now had he come to learn of his past, and how close his whole world had been from the brink of desolation. Only his parents¡¯ strength and Ria¡¯s sacrifice had made it possible for Skyle to enjoy the life he now had.


    Strength tempered by love, Skyle decided, was the ultimate ideal he would strive for in his life. As of now, he was sorely lacking in both. Finally, Skyle could understand why his father had subjected him to such arduous training. If anything, it had not been nearly enough.


    That would have to change, starting now.


    His mother¡¯s loving care and example were also part of what had honed his own spirit, guided by principles which were rooted upon the values of family and home. In retrospect, Skyle could see how carefully his parents had guided his growth, so that Skyle would become a man of not only strength, but also heart and spirit.


    These values were the bedrock foundation that would guide him when the dark taint within his blood began its insidious campaign against him.


    ¡°No,¡± he corrected himself. ¡°The siege has already begun.¡±


    He could only shiver as he recalled the sea of darkness that had engulfed him twice already within the past day. It had seemed so easy to allow the tide to take him, and draw all his worries and fears away. When he was floating within that mass of bleak shadows, he felt himself invincible, all-knowing, disdaining the feeble mortal concerns which had previously only served to shackle his potential.


    The worst part of it was that Skyle could find no rational argument against any of the shadow¡¯s whispers. It made tall boasts and claims, yet they were one and all deeply substantiated by fact and logic. If anything, the more ephemeral concepts of honor, sacrifice and love seemed like thin veils which lesser men would use to deceive themselves and others into masquerading their weakness as strength.


    Absolute strength, after all, needs no moral justifications, no higher code of conduct. Strength is a purpose and a reason all on its own. It demands nothing from others, for it simply takes what it wants. Strength lacks nothing but an all-consuming worship upon the altar of its pursuit.


    Even now, Skyle could hear the siren whispers of his darker self. How to argue against such cold reason which disdained the most basic foundations of the world Skyle had been raised to uphold?


    The answers eluded Skyle. In truth, he was confused. He lacked answers he desperately needed, for he was still young and easily lost. There was no fear, however, even within the deepest shadows encroaching upon his soul. For within his heart, the fierce fire of Ria¡¯s memory burned with an amber light. It dispelled the pitch black darkness, and cast upon the shores of memory a warm, comforting glow.


    This was his bulwark, Skyle knew. It was his refuge against the storm. He would draw comfort and nourishment from the light of Ria¡¯s memory, as well as the love of his family. They would guide the way for him, and eventually, he would learn the answers he needed to vanquish the darkness.


    On that day, he would reclaim Ria¡¯s memory, and be reunited with his love.


    Though not yet thirteen, Skyle had vague recollections of the centuries that had passed within Sanctuary. As foretold, the sandy shores of memory lay awash in the bleak waters of time. Skyle could only stare at the scars imprinted upon his heart by his own resolute will to not forget. He would remember, and he would not let go - neither of his beloved Ria, nor the boy she had so foolishly, recklessly loved.


    Though not yet thirteen, and besieged by dark circumstance and evil fate, Skyle knew he was truly fortunate. Most men wander through their entire lives without finding that special person who completes them. The one who unlocks from their innermost vaults their full potential, and engenders a deep desire to make it bloom. A luminous presence who simply by their mere existence justifies all the illogical, nonsensical acts which true love demands.


    This was to be his answer, for he had found her. He had known her to be his other half from the first moment he knew her. Even at his most tender age, he had known he would walk hand in hand with her until oblivion or eternity embraced them. It would not matter which, so long as they were together.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes moved to the bow hanging from the wall. It was his prized Asarian bow, into which he had poured all his frustration and talent. It had soaked in the many bitter tears Skyle had shed during his darkest days, when only the sound of the arrow striking its target dead center had provided solace from his self-hate.


    Skyle looked down now, finding the silver disk still clutched tightly in his hand. He whispered in his mind a wordless request, and the magic of Sanctuary answered his call. It was an instinctive action, fueled by vague memories that even now dispersed into thin air.


    The silver disk gave off a brief glow. It was echoed within his mind, where he saw the silhouette of a familiar black bow and a tattered book. Skyle did not wonder at this, for he understood exactly what was happening. Instead, he extended his other hand forward and willed Moonshadow forth.


    One moment, his hand lay expectant. The next, the silky smooth finish of the deadly masterwork bow lay cradled comfortably within his grasp. His fingers stroked the ebony finish, noting that even the impacts of Leena¡¯s windblades had failed to leave even a single notch upon its surface.


    As his fingers lingered over some of the obscure glyphs carved upon its exterior, they seemed to respond to his touch in a way they had not before. Instinctively activating his True Sight, Skyle could see tendrils of dark essence coiling within each glyph. They stretched toward his fingers, where they found a similar layer of shadows waiting. The instant they met, they began to intertwine, melding together like the branches of a vine.


    A barely perceptible tremor ran through Moonshadow then. The dark essence weaved through many more glyphs which suddenly surfaced upon previously blank portions of pitch black metal. Skyle could feel a resonance within the weapon in his hand, as though it were experiencing an awakening not unlike his own. However, at this moment the dark essence from his body seemed to run dry, and the glyphs once again sank beneath the surface of the bow.


    Skyle tried to study the glyphs more closely, but the few that were still visible had once again gone inert. It was only after a moment that he realized that most of the runes had not disappeared, and instead moved to another part of the bow. These new additions now blazed with incandescent light.


    Whereas before Moonshadow had been a rather straight-forward bow with winged tips, there were now two additional blades flaring out from its limbs. They protruded nearly four full inches beyond the main body of the bow, framing its center. They resembled the feathers of a bird, bearing line after line of intricately carved runes. Skyle could tell the edges of each feather were razor sharp, and imbued with a powerful aura. He felt in his guts that Moonshadow had just become an even more dangerous weapon, both to himself and his foes.


    As Skyle studied the glowing runes more closely with his True Sight, a mysterious voice began reading words in a language he could not recognize. Strangely, he could still understand their meaning. It was then that he finally understood the purpose of Moonshadow''s new feathers. They would power a new form of attack that was perfectly suited to him.


    Skyle''s fingers trembled with excitement as he gazed down at Moonshadow in deep reverence. He lowered his head in a silent salute to the master who had crafted such an exquisite masterwork weapon.


    Even the string seemed to have undergone some changes in order to enable Moonshadow''s new abilities. Skyle put the silver disk away and raised Moonshadow, drawing upon the bowstring with all his strength. He could barely draw it halfway, whereas before he had been able to draw it at least to two thirds of the way.


    ¡°It is evolving. Perhaps it draws upon this dark essence to either drive or recognize its growth?¡±


    From what Skyle was able to gather now, Fierro Latimus had been one of the most powerful men upon Lyria, and Moonshadow had been his legacy. It did not surprise him that the weapon could strengthen itself. What did puzzle him was its reaction to the dark essence.  What was this mysterious new energy, and why would Moonshadow react to it?


    In the end, Skyle had to brush aside this question. He needed power desperately, after all.


    "Ash, I will not fail you. I will reclaim your honor before the streak."


    Brushing his hand along the smooth curve of Moonshadow, Skyle nodded in grim satisfaction. This new ability was a heaven-sent gift to Skyle, for he would soon have need of it.


    Shaking his head, Skyle willed it, and Moonshadow obediently returned to the silver disk. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Skyle did not fully understand how the mysterious silver device worked, but he knew it could serve as a storage device. Furthermore, Ria had attuned to his energy such that no other person would be able to detect anything special about it, just as Skyle had been unable to activate it when he had first encountered it. Even under his True Sight it lay inert and plain as any normal metal disk.


    Next, Skyle took out the journal. Fierro¡¯s diary was in the same state of disrepair, its pages tattered and many blotches of blood obscuring its words. However, under the True Sight such blemishes quickly faded away, and pristine pages of golden text jumped into stark relief.


    Only now did Skyle begin to understand that the words in his diary, all the treatises on war and weapon schematics, they were a mere front. They were a decoy set in place in order to hide the true treasure hidden within: the Desolate Star Technique.


    Skyle had to wonder just what his gift of True Sight was. He wished Fierro had explained it, as he obviously was also gifted in it. For now, Skyle could only hungrily read the next pages of the Desolate Star Technique. After all, while explanations would be nice, what he needed most desperately at the moment was strength.


    Upon examining the golden text, Skyle came to realize that he had already reached the peak of the third level of the Infinite Eye.


    The first level, ¡°Gaze far as though near,¡± allowed him to see at incredible ranges as though he were right next to the object in question. It had also granted him vision in the dark.


    The second level, ¡°Gaze near as though far,¡± had two effects. The first allowed him to spread out his True Sight into a more narrow or wide angle as required, allowing him to extend its range or spread its effect as needed. The second effect was to widen the angle of his own vision, allowing him an almost out-of-body experience where even things in his peripheral vision could be inspected with ease.


    The third level, ¡°Gaze without as though within,¡± further reinforced the second level by creating a sphere of vision which spread in a 360 degree angle all around him. It went beyond mere sight, however, and became more akin to a preternatural awareness of everything in his proximity. It almost felt as though the realms outside his eyes were as easy to sense as his own body. This level also unlocked the Farsight, which was able to predict the movement of objects around him based on the supernatural awareness of each and every detail within the ability¡¯s range. It came at a great cost to his mental reserves, but the ability was incredibly powerful when used wisely.


    The fourth level was ¡°Gaze within as though without.¡± At this level, Skyle would be able to extend his Infinite Eye within his own body. He would gain full awareness of each blood vessel, muscle and bone within. This level would allow Skyle unprecedented awareness over each part of his body, and unlock the requisites for developing the other four movements of the first layer of the Desolate Star Technique.


    Skyle had to pause at this. During the brief moments when he had allowed himself to be lost in the power of his bloodline, Skyle had possessed a similar sensation. Though it had not been sight per se, back at the alley Skyle had been startled by the ease with which he could control his body when he fought against Ramsey. Later on at the Hall of Combat, this feeling had only grown as he had been sharply aware of each muscle and bone of his body when going through the sword moves his father had taught him.


    This natural evolution of the Desolate Star Technique startled him, and he began to wonder if just as Moonshadow had seemed to resonate with his power, so was this technique tailored to members of his bloodline. Had Fierro been a member of his family clan?


    It would certainly explain many things, such as the reason why Fierro had been so willing to sacrifice his own life for Skyle. It also explained how easily he had been able to master Moonshadow and the Desolate Star Technique.


    The fourth level of the Infinite Eye was the gateway which unlocked access to the remaining four movements of the first layer of the Desolate Star Technique. While the first movement dealt with the sense of sight, the other movements would enhance his senses of hearing, taste, smell and touch. If only the first movement was this powerful, Skyle could only imagine how his power would multiply when he mastered the other movements.


    First things first though. Skyle threw all other thoughts aside as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The meditation technique quickly sank his consciousness within that empty space where he had first mastered the Infinite Eye.


    Just as his abilities had evolved, so to had the space within his consciousness changed. Where before it had been a vast void where only a few flickering lights floated in the air, Skyle was now afforded a much wider view of a vast array of lights, each spinning in their own orderly orbits. It slowly dawned upon him that these were not unlike stars, shimmering brightly as they soared through the vast void at incredible speeds.


    Skyle must now seek out the core of this entire space and merge it with his own consciousness. Lost within this shimmering sea of stars, however, Skyle had no idea which light he was supposed to pursue.


    It was then that a throbbing sound, much like a heartbeat, could just barely be heard echoing through the void. Skyle shut out the lights around him, and spread his awareness far out into the darkness beyond. Still, the source of the sound eluded him, until he realized it came from within his own body.


    Realization struck him, and he entered the third level of the Infinite Eye. Armed with this new third-person perspective outside of his own body, he saw an incandescent orb of light which he instinctively knew represented himself.


    Skyle immediately sought to use his consciousness to dive within this light, but the exercise proved futile. There was resistance as he attempted to do this, a force which instinctively pushed back against his will. Pain laced his mind as he crashed repeatedly against this incorporeal barrier, but the light only expanded briefly before concentrating upon his point of attack and easily repelled him every time.


    His sight began to grow hazy as his strength rapidly left him, his assault growing more feeble every time. Coincidentally, he noticed that the weaker his attack, the more yielding and feeble the force that resisted him became. It was only then that Skyle realized that it made sense. It was akin to striking a fist against himself, and using his strength against himself was a losing proposition.


    Instead, Skyle opened up his Infinite Eye as wide as he could, seeking to take in the light that represented him within this realm. The light flickered brightly, nearly blinding at first. Skyle quickly activated each level of his Infinite Eye, going through each layer and finally arriving at the Farsight. As he activated this ability, he saw multiple shadows before him, each showing the light and its various reactions to his probing moves.


    With deliberate care, Skyle slowly approached the light, taking care to always shift his perspective in the avenue of least resistance. Slowly at first, but with growing fluidity, Skyle was able to navigate past a dizzyingly complex maze of energies, until finally, Skyle found himself in the center of a vast network of light. Lines spread out from within this nexus in thousands of different branching directions, each pulsing with energy.


    Skyle reached out toward this core of light with his consciousness. Immediately, he felt himself merging with this light, feeling as though he was being spread out and reaching far into each of the different branches extending outside.


    Awareness was born then, of a vision unlike any he had known before. Knowing he had finally succeeded, Skyle exited the trance and opened his eyes. He looked down at his hand in wonder, as two different views were spread out before his eyes. One was his physical sight, which showed him a detailed view of the skin on his hands, down to each individual hair and crack upon its surface.


    His other sight was that of the flesh beneath his skin. He did not even need to close his eyes for this, as this was somehow separate from the vision his eyes afforded him. He could see within his mind each drop of blood as it was sucked out of his bone marrow. Fascinated, he followed one particular drop as it coursed through his veins until it reached his lungs, then passed through his heart. He saw the energy through which it nourished each muscle it passed through, how it delivered the nutrients needed to repair the small tears left by the strained muscles in his left arm.


    The process was repeated thousands of times all over his body. It was a wondrous microcosm, a whole sea of stars that flowed with life and energy, repairing and nourishing his body in hundreds of different ways with every passing second.


    The sheer wonder of it left Skyle speechless, and his heart throbbed with deep emotion. Part of it was gratitude, for he had never acknowledged all his body had done for him thus far. He had always blamed his own body for holding him back, but now he could see how hard it was working, day and night, without a complaint for his mistreatment and disdain.


    Part of it was pure amazement at the intricacy of it all. The systems in place within his small body were far too complex and elaborate to describe, even now that he could see it all under his eye. If anything, the transparency of every process under the fourth layer of the Infinite Eye threatened to overwhelm him with so much sensory information, that Skyle staggered at the scale of it all.


    As he watched minute tears in his muscles being feverishly repaired by countless tiny drops life essence, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but shake his head at how blind anyone without the Infinite Eye would be to the true effects of their every action and decision. While other warriors could only fumble in their exercises, rituals and techniques to strengthen their bodies, Skyle would be able to see the full effects each and every decision he made, and better use such information to hone his body into a living, breathing weapon.


    The Desolate Star Technique¡¯s premise that it would allow a warrior to fully control his body in order to turn it into the ultimate living weapon was no empty boast, Skyle finally realized. Just the peak of the first movement granted such startling benefits, Skyle could not wait to see how it would affect his future training.


    Skyle was genuinely glad, for he needed strength more than anything in the days ahead.


    Not wanting to waste a single moment, Skyle immediately began to examine his entire body. He winced at some of the wounds upon his back, feeling sorry for his earlier carelessness. He could see how much work was involved in gathering enough nutrients to undo his mistakes. Moreover, he could see how the tender new tissue was far weaker than the older muscle surrounding it. He would have to devote extra time in order to rehabilitate those parts of his body back to their former strength.


    The worst of it, however, came when Skyle saw his elemental veins. Finally, he was able to see up close the reason why he had never been able to awaken his elemental talent. Surprisingly deep channels of elemental essence ran in a vast network throughout his body. Some of these veins were filled with a dazzling light that shimmered brightly in his vision. Most of them, however, were pitch black wells that held only a disconcerting shadow within. This darkness was not the absence of light, but rather a thick mist that throbbed and squirmed as it slowly encroached upon the last few remaining spots of light within his elemental veins.


    It was his first encounter with the taint.


    The Aktaris, for he now knew the name of his enemy, had already spread through his entire body. It lay most deeply entrenched around his extremities, while only the core regions near his organs still resisted its taint. There, a brilliant blue essence flared from time to time, struggling valiantly against the endless tides of darkness that slowly leached away its light.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but snarl at the sight, and a deep fury burned in him as he saw how insidious the poison in his body was. It had infiltrated nearly every corner of his veins to one extent or the other, and it was now using his body¡¯s own reserves to launch its hateful assault.


    Time and time again Skyle attempted to marshal what little light remained within his elemental veins, but it was no use. They lay too scattered, and each further attempt only resulted in spreading even more of the deadly mist around his veins.


    Time. He needed some reprieve so that he could find a solution to this problem.


    He was now aware that cleansing the taint from his veins had been beyond even Ria¡¯s considerable power to achieve. As for the Guardian of Sanctuary and her offer to cleanse the taint? Skyle was no longer a naive child. Given the animosity the Guardian of Sanctuary had displayed toward him, he surmised now that her earlier offer had been a lie. He did not fully understand what she sought to gain from such, but he would have to be careful of her in the future.


    There was hope to deal with his taint, however. Ria seemed possessed of a firm belief that not only was it curable, but that Skyle would be able to find the answer on his own. Otherwise, she would have forced the answer upon him when he had rejected her repeated offers to inform him about his dark gift.


    All Skyle needed for now was time. He needed to grow into his powers, to learn the mysteries of his bloodline, and to gather the weapons to fight his war.


    The night trickled by slowly as Skyle directed all of his attention upon the wonders hidden within his own body, and the terrifying darkness that laid siege upon it all.


    The battle had finally begun in earnest, and at long last Skyle had begun to fight back.

 Chapter 81 - Not Alone After All

    Chapter 81 - Not Alone After All


    As Skyle immersed himself into a deeper contemplation of the taint corrupting his body, he saw a disturbing similarity between the shades of the seed of darkness and the aura of the latent power of his bloodline.


    There was a subtle layer of vast power lurking just beneath the surface of his blood. He could feel it in the energy coursing through each drop of blood. It was unlike that of the life energy which nourished his organs, muscles and tissue. This darker energy was like a deep shadow that lay dormant still, but at times it would stir and cause an observable disturbance within the aura of his body.


    If he had not tapped into this power to contend against the Guardian of Sanctuary just moments ago, he might not have recognized it. However, in that one moment when his blind fury had unleashed all of his untapped potential, he had come to know the power of this bloodline on a much more intimate basis.


    If the seed of darkness was the power of corruption, his blood sung with the power of the void. It was hard to describe except as a deep shadow which absorbed all light around it. Its sole instinct was to devour all in its path, and Skyle could instinctively feel that nothing was beyond its power to consume.


    Such a terrifying hunger was disturbing on its own right. When it interacted with the Aktaris already staining his veins, Skyle had no idea what the consequences would be. What he did realize was that for now he must keep his bloodline power sealed as tightly as he possibly could. The more he unleashed its ravenous hunger, the faster the Aktaris would spread its foul taint.


    He would consult with his parents tomorrow, but for tonight he wanted a few moments to survey the extent of his current powers, and decide the path that he would embark on from this moment on. While he was thankful for the sacrifices of his parents, and the guidance they would still provide in the future, Skyle was determined to follow his own path and blaze a trail of defiance against whatever powers on Aeria, Sanctuary or Lyria would oppose him.


    He was weak now, but to him it was largely a matter of his young age and mental immaturity. He must stop relying upon the protection of others, and spread his wings far from the safety of his home.


    Just as Skyle reached this solemn determination, he felt a familiar warmth curled up by his side. He glanced to his right and saw Ash lying on the ground, his head perched upon Skyle¡¯s knee. His fur was matted with dried blood, and angry gashes could be seen all over his body.


    Snowblade tigers were fiercely loyal to their own, but at the same time their hierarchy was strict and defiance harshly punished. There were three alphas within the streak at the moment, and among them Old Razor was the fiercest of them all. He never pulled his blows, even against the younger cubs, and his presence inspired fear among the streak.


    ¡°Oh, you stupid cat, why would you go and get hurt on my account?¡± Skyle cried out helplessly, stroking Ash¡¯s head.


    Ash opened his eyes and flicked a concerned glance toward Skyle, his former anger already forgotten in the face of this new crisis - for seldom, if ever, had the tiger cub seen his owner look this lonely and desolate.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright now,¡± Skyle lied once more, as he had with his mother, but the growl coming from deep within Ash¡¯s throat stopped his next words.


    Sighing to himself, Skyle shook his head. Snowblade tigers did not understand the concept of lying within the streak. They were family, and though they might have conflicts and even openly fight one another, they would never hide the truth, or worse yet, deceive their streak.


    Lying was just one of those abominations only humans would think of.


    ¡°I¡¯m not fine, Ash. I feel hollow and torn inside. A fire scorches my soul away until I burn with a blind desire to set the whole world in flames. I want it all to burn until I can lie down and cry myself to sleep in its ashes.¡±


    Skyle let himself pour out the tears he had been holding back, all the while collapsing on top of Ash and hugging the tiger¡¯s head to his chest.


    Ash let out a whimpering cry, an uncharacteristically feeble mewl as it began to lick the tears away from Skyle¡¯s cheeks.


    Skyle gazed at the bloodstains on Ash¡¯s fur, lost in his grief yet still comforted by this brother of his who spared no thought to his own pain in order to console Skyle¡¯s own.


    After a long moment, when the tears had finally begun to subside, Skyle heard a deep, rumbling growl from Ash¡¯s chest. Skyle looked down to see the tiger cub scratching at the wooden floorboards with his incomparably sharp claws. He scored deep gauges in the wood, and his eyes were lit from within by a fierce fire.


    Skyle nodded. This gesture, he could understand as well.


    ¡°Yes, Ash. I will not lie weak and helpless. I will arise. I will become strong. So strong that no one will ever be able to threaten my family, or take away my loved ones from me ever again.¡±


    Ash nodded then, as though full-heartedly agreeing with his streak brother, and added another low growl for good measure.


    ¡°We will become strong, my brother,¡± he seemed to be saying.


    Then the young snowblade tiger cub tilted his head to one side, watching Skyle with the curiosity which had always marked him since young.


    ¡°Her name is Ria. One day I will tell you all about her. Just.. just not tonight, my friend,¡± Skyle whispered, and enough of the pain in his heart must have surfaced back onto his eyes that even Ash and his insatiable curiosity swiftly retreated.


    Hissing his displeasure at the pain he had caused to his streak brother, Ash closed his eyes and leaned his giant head upon Skyle¡¯s thigh once more.


    Skyle looked down at Ash for a moment, grateful beyond measure for the quiet, steadfast warmth this young tiger cub provided him with just his wordless presence.


    Then Skyle closed his eyes and once again dove deep within the wondrous mysteries locked within his own body.


    By the time the first glimmers of dawn were visible beyond the rugged peaks of the Blackstone Mountains, Skyle had already set himself firm goals to establish his foundation in accordance to what he had discovered through his night-long study of his own body.


    First and foremost, he would continue to master the 4th level of the Infinite Eye. He had a feeling that just like the Farsight, which had been unlocked at the 3rd level, there lay a deeper mystery hidden within that he would soon be able to unleash.


    Beyond that, he must master the Desolate Star Technique¡¯s five movements as soon as possible. Mastery of the Infinite Eye had unlocked the remaining four movements: the Absolute Symphony, the Maw of the Void, the Breath of the World, and the Divine Touch.


    He had decided to prioritize the Divine Touch, as its mastery would allow Skyle to freely manipulate each part of his body down to even its smallest component parts, drastically increasing the benefits of any training while also multiplying his effective power many times over. It would complement the 4th level of the Infinite Eye perfectly, as he would be able to command his body even on the most minute level, and better bring forth its full potential.


    Sadly, in order to progress in the Divine Hand, Skyle first needed to reach the second level of the 3rd movement, the Maw of the Void. This would be a headache for Skyle.


    It wasn¡¯t that the 3rd movement was a particularly demanding technique. If anything, someone like Fatty would be ecstatic at the prospect. The Maw of the Void, after all, had to do with the sense of taste. The first level was simply called Consume. Its concept was that of breaking down everything to its core elements and thoroughly digesting them, thereby consuming that energy to its fullest.


    This was not a skill that could be acquired through simple insight or conceptualization. It had to be learned in the flesh, by the simple and most expedient way of stuffing himself with as much food as he could possibly swallow and focusing his Inner Sight on each of the elements broken down from this process.


    Skyle was not much of a gourmand. In fact, except for a few rare treats which he truly enjoyed, eating was more of a necessary chore through which he could nourish his body¡¯s reserves for the hard day of work ahead. In order to develop the Maw of the Void, Skyle had begun to realize that he would have to completely change his habits.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    That is why the whole Farrow family stood with their mouths agape as they stared at the endless array of breads, fruits and meats spread out upon the breakfast table, a pale-faced Skyle swaying on his feet as he forcibly stuffed a massive sausage as thick around as his wrist down his mouth.


    ¡°Holy crap,¡± Reikard blurted out in a rare and uncharacteristic display of utter shock.


    ¡°Brother?¡± Kassandra whispered, her eyes going wide while her face took on a greenish tinge of disgust.


    ¡°S-Son?¡± Kendric stammered, moving forward.


    He was cut off by his wife, who was already upon Skyle before anyone else could react. She laid her hand across his forehead with a concerned expression on her face.


    ¡°Sweetheart, are you alright? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Unable to speak at the moment, Skyle tried his best for a reassuring smile, but the half-chewed remnants of the sausage he was still trying to swallow took this opportunity to escape the voracious maw of this fearsome, and apparently famished, beast.


    Predictably, a soggy gruel of mashed sausage combined with colorful bits and pieces of a nameless assortment of fruits and vegetables promptly poured out through the gaps between his teeth and cheeks, dribbling out the sides of his mouth and hitting the surface of the table with a wet plop.


    ¡°Oooh..¡± Kassandra moaned, swaying on her feet and covering her mouth as she retched reflexively.


    ¡°Woa, big bro, that ain¡¯t good,¡± Reikard mumbled, jumping back with a sickened look on his face.


    Even Ash, who had been lying by Skyle¡¯s feet the whole time, had the grace to cover his face under his paws and whine as if to say, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, I tried to stop him but he just went crazy all by himself.. gross human customs..¡±


    ¡°Honey, I know you¡¯re going through a really difficult time right now, but this isn¡¯t the answer,¡± Adrienne murmured, tears pooling in her eyes at the miserable wretch her son had become. It was as though she were blaming herself all over again.


    Kendric took this moment to decisively step forward and show his support for this son. He owed him this much, even if he couldn¡¯t for the life of him understand what was going on inside his crazy son¡¯s head.


    ¡°Calm down everyone. Every man has a right to choose his own path. Just because Skyle has decided to join Gordon in competing for the title of the fattest arse in all of Sunny Meadow, it doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t still love him, right? It is in times like these that our family must unite and support his decision,¡± Kendric said in a righteous tone.


    Every member of the Farrow family bobbed their heads up and down at this. A determined look entered Adrienne¡¯s eyes, matched instantly by a look of fervor in Reikard¡¯s gaze. Even Kassandra narrowed her eyes as she stepped forward with a resolute air. She covered her whimpering mouth with one hand while the trembling fingers of her other hand picked up a half-chewed piece of bread from the table and extended it towards Skyle with a sickly smile.


    Only Ash was exempt from this madness, as the snowblade tiger cub groaned out loud and swiftly retreated to one corner of the dining room, as though fearing this human madness might be contagious.


    Skyle was close to tears himself as he quickly swallowed the rest of the food in his mouth, then explained as best as he could that he was training in a secret art that required he consume immense amounts of food for at least the next few weeks.


    Reikard and Kassandra looked confused at this revelation, but instant relief flooded his parents¡¯ faces. They had been expecting many things this morning, and in fact they had hardly been able to sleep at all, worrying about their son¡¯s reaction and what the future would bring.


    Skyle still looked mentally and emotionally exhausted, his complexion wan and the lines of his face burdened by deep sorrow. His eyes, however, were burning with a determination fiercer than any they had ever seen from him. This brought them hope, and so they decided to quietly support him in any way they could.


    Wiping away a few crumbs from his mouth, Skyle quirked an eyebrow in his parents¡¯ direction.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Leon?¡± He asked.


    Kendric shrugged his shoulders, and Skyle nodded in response. There was no way the lumbering giant could have slept through all the commotion last night. This meant he was still busy tip-toeing around his many burdens and considerations, weighing them against what his friendship demanded from him.


    Well, misery loves company. Skyle decided that he might as well drag Leon into his bleak new world and share all the worries that came with it.


    After all, that¡¯s what friends were for. Apparently, it was about time Skyle taught Leon this simple, yet most salient fact about friendship.


    ¡°So smart,¡± Skyle sighed through his nose, walking towards Leon¡¯s room. ¡°Yet so stupid around friendships.¡±


    Shaking his head as he kicked the door to Leon¡¯s room open, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes as Leon once again pretended to be asleep.


    ¡°Poor dumb giant, he has no idea what he¡¯s in for,¡± Skyle lamented in mocking tones within his head.


    ¡°Leon, stop pretending to be asleep, you dumb ox. Not even your noble ass could sleep through last night¡¯s storm,¡± Skyle sighed.


    To his credit, Leon sat up right away, at least having the grace to look embarrassed. ¡°I, ah, I didn¡¯t know what to say. Seemed like a family kind of matter.¡±


    Skyle smiled then, one of the rare genuine smiles he had shown since last night. Walking forward, he slapped his hand against his awkward friend¡¯s massive shoulders.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I understand.¡± Skyle said, and he realized that he truly did. He could see the shades of emotion within Leon¡¯s aura, reading the big fool¡¯s thoughts as though he were an open book.


    Yellow of embarrassment and green of fear fluttered around him, but the most dominant colors were the blue of loyalty and red of frustration. Leon wanted so desperately to help his friend, but he simply did not know what to do. Skyle realized that someone like Leon had likely seldom, if ever, had any true friends he had regarded as equals. He must have placed himself in Skyle¡¯s shoes and been desperately trying to decide if he would rather have his friend barge in on his hour of need or would prefer to hold on to his pride and deal with his problems by himself.


    Skyle could truly sympathize with such a dilemma, as he himself had more than once felt the same thing. He now realized how foolish and awkward such considerations were in the face of true tragedy and the precious warmth a true friend could bring.


    At least, Skyle could bask in the intense and unmistakable purity of Leon¡¯s loyalty and concern.


    He was a good friend, this one. A true brother.


    It was different from the expected love and support offered by family. After all, Skyle had come to expect such from them. It was only normal to him, as he himself would do the same without hesitation. They all knew this, and so their show of unfaltering love was precious, but not unexpected.


    Leon, however, was a stranger. He had barely been in Skyle¡¯s life for a week. He was also the noble heir of a Grand Duchy, a rich and powerful scion of a famous and storied House. That such a man would display such unswerving loyalty and depth of concern for him, it truly inspired Skyle and kindled a hearty fire in his chest.


    ¡°Leon, I owe you an explanation. We should talk, but first, you have a promise to keep,¡± Skyle nodded to his friend.


    ¡°Huh? I do?¡± Leon looked lost and confused, no doubt still struggling over how to best be Skyle¡¯s friend at this moment.


    ¡°Oh yeah, don¡¯t you remember? Ditches to dig, fences to fix, manure to haul, etcetera etcetera. Oh, I can tell we¡¯re just gonna have a jolly good time, my friend.¡±


    Leon looked doubtfully at his friend, a deep glimmer of suspicion entering his eyes.


    It was a good thing, Skyle reflected to himself, that Leon did not have the True Sight. If he did, he would not know whether to get down on his knees and cry for the desolation burning within Skyle¡¯s soul right now, or stare in wonder at the deep, abiding warmth his honest, awkward friendship had kindled within Skyle¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Or maybe,¡± Skyle noted somewhat ruefully. ¡°He would haul ass as fast as he could. With the kind of day he¡¯s got ahead of him, I know I would.¡±


    Truly, it was good to have friends.


    He was not alone, and it was good to be reminded of this.


    Especially now.


    ¡°Ria, are you there? I think.. I think I¡¯ll be alright, after all. Just wait for me a little longer - I¡¯m coming.¡±

 Chapter 82 - Just Another Day at the Farm (Part 1)

    Chapter 82 - Just Another Day at the Farm


    Skyle¡¯s family couldn¡¯t help but stare at him when he picked up a loaf of bread and forced himself to start eating again.


    Leon¡¯s look was one of confusion. He obviously couldn¡¯t understand what was so special about eating breakfast. He felt awkward as he broke off a piece of bread and self-consciously chewed upon it while the entire Farrow family sat as though they had been stunned speechless, gawking at Skyle.


    Figuring it must have something to do with the look of naked disgust as Skyle plainly forced himself to swallow another mouthful of food, Leon decided that he must thoroughly research into these strange commoner table customs before he further made a fool of himself. He would assign his seneschal to look into the matter and prepare a report for his perusal as soon as he got back.


    Was he supposed to pretend to hate his food as well? Was this some sort of reverse psychology applied to common food staples, or an ancient ritual that went contrary to the usual tradition of thanking the All-father for the daily bread? Truthfully, though the fare was plain, it tasted hearty and good. Having already tasted Adrienne Farrow¡¯s cooking these past couple days, Leon had to admit it was excellent in its own simple and charming way.


    It took repeated nods of encouragement from Skyle for Leon to finally understand that it was alright for him to keep eating. The damn turnip farmer even had the audacity to laugh at him when Leon began to imitate Skyle¡¯s expression, crumpling up his brow and squeezing his lips together while stuffing as much food as he could possibly hold in both cheeks before swallowing painfully. Let it never be said that Leon would offend the table of his hosts, so he also took care to liberally spill mouthfuls of food in his immediate vicinity, half-choking, half-swallowing his food as though it were the most awful torture inflicted upon mortal man.


    It was a long, long breakfast for Leon Draxas, and it was to his credit that he did not utter a single word of complaint as Adrienne wordlessly stood and brought back yet another huge helping of food, setting it down before Leon with a decidedly uneasy smile.


    Leon attacked the food even more voraciously this time, reflecting that his best attempt to blend in with the local customs must have been woefully inadequate.


    Flicking another glance in Skyle¡¯s way, he paled as he thought that no human should ever have to be forced to eat breakfast in such manner. Still, Leon was the descendant of an age old lineage of warriors, and he would not allow himself to surrender without putting up a valiant fight.


    Picking up another loaf of bread, Leon tried his best to control the shaking of his hands as he glared at the offending morsel of food as though it were a deadly viper baring its fangs.


    Skyle, like the black-hearted, backstabbing peasant that he was, did not offer a single bit of advice, and instead only laughed harder.


    Little did Leon know that had Skyle forced himself to laugh the first time because he did not want to wallow in the pits of his own despair. He had far too much to accomplish ahead of him to mop around, and no matter what his heart wanted, his head was firmly in command - at least for now. The second laugh came easier, and he convinced himself that it was not so hard after all.


    At least, it was not impossible, so that would do.


    After breakfast was finished, during which the rest of the Farrow family seemed strangely lacking of their usual appetite, Skyle gestured to Leon as he stepped outside.


    The brisk wind of the morning soared down from the nearby mountains, hitting Skyle¡¯s lungs in a blast of cold air. It refreshed him, fully waking him up for the welcome return to his every day routine.


    As he walked inside the barn and fetched a couple practice swords, he found his father already waiting by the small training yard they had cordoned off behind the stocky building.


    Leon gazed in askance at the swords, looking confused in his rolled up sleeves. Obviously, the big lummox had been expecting Skyle to bring out a pitchfork or a shovel, not the slick rattan practice swords held within the smaller boy¡¯s arms.


    Skyle quickly tossed the larger sword to Leon, who effortlessly caught it from the air. Then he motioned the bigger boy to follow him with a flick of his head.


    They moved behind Kendric, who was already sitting in a lotus position with his eyes closed and his sword laid across his knees. Skyle wordlessly imitated his father, easily slipping into the familiar pose.


    Leon did not fare as well. The position proved challenging for his more inflexible frame, having to forcefully pull upon the tips of his toes with his hands in order to finally reach the sitting lotus position, legs folded underneath his weight.


    Of course, this quickly presented another problem in and of itself, as Leon began to squirm this way and that, his legs apparently having fallen asleep. To his credit, the young noble did not give up, veins jumping in his forehead as a deep flush covered his face.


    After what must have felt like an eternity or two for the young giant, Kendric let out a deep breath and opened his eyes. At this same instant, Skyle did the same. Both father and son gracefully rose to their feet, holding their practice swords extended before them at shoulder-level in a practiced two-handed grip.


    There, they paused briefly as they waited for Leon.


    The fire summoner tried in vain to reach his feet, finding to his dismay that his left leg for certain, and most likely his right leg as well, had fallen asleep from lack of circulation and would not answer his commands at all. Barely suppressing a yelp, Leon managed to turn it into a deep, manly growl at the last second instead, as his entire leg cramped up when he forcefully pushed himself to his feet.


    Muttering a dozen different curses in five languages and three northern tribal dialects, Leon¡¯s face was pale but his eyes bloodshot as he finally beat some feeling back into his legs and assumed the same position as Kendric and Skyle had.


    Kendric did not seem to notice anything was out of place as he wordlessly began to dance. Skyle still couldn¡¯t find any better way to describe the easy grace with which his father flowed from one stance to the next, his sword a mere extension of his body. Man and blade complemented each other in perfect harmony as Kendric began and ended his sword kata in the same exact position.


    Skyle went next, his eyes intent and his breathing calm as his small body followed a near perfect replica of his father¡¯s movements. If it displayed a little more power rather than grace, and a bit more speed instead of elegance, it certainly was nothing that unfamiliar eyes such as Leon¡¯s would be able to really distinguish.


    Leon¡¯s eyes bulged as he stared, completely at a loss for words. Skyle¡¯s movements compensated with speed where he lacked skill, as he still could not manage the easy, flowing grace of his father¡¯s movements. However, Skyle found that his Infinite Eye¡¯s 360 degree view helped him appreciate his father¡¯s technique at a deeper level than before. Even more surprising had been the benefits from using the True Sight, which he had simultaneously employed to study his father¡¯s movements.


    The rush of colors and the powerful surging of the elemental auras inspired a deep sense of reverence within Skyle that he had never experienced before. He felt that he now understood an aspect of his father¡¯s technique that he had never even touched upon before. Slashing with the sword was not a mere act of swinging a length of steel. It was the act of committing to a course of action, and following through with all of one¡¯s finely honed will.


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    ¡°You cut not with your sword, but with your heart,¡± Skyle slowly repeated the words of his father¡¯s teachings, his eyes wide as epiphany struck him right after he finished delivering his final blow.


    Kendric stood with crossed arms, his gaze charged with meaning as he looked upon Skyle with quiet approval and pride.


    Leon stared bug-eyed at his young friend, as though he were wondering if the ghost of some past sword saint had suddenly possessed his body.


    Biting back a smart-ass comment about farmboys who spent their days whacking away at scarecrows instead of planting their crops like any proper, self-respecting farmer, Leon took a deep breath as he allowed himself to absorb the quiet serenity and unexpected dignity of the moment.


    Skyle slowly straightened his back and whirled his rattan sword through the air once before tucking it to his side in one smooth, practiced motion. Then he bowed respectfully to his father, earning a grudging nod of respect in return.


    Then they both turned to look upon Leon, and the poor fire summoner began to sweat in earnest as he coughed uncomfortably and cleared his throat.


    He opened his mouth as though to say something, but at the last moment seemed to sense that it would not be appropriate to speak on such an occasion. So, instead he took hold of his sword in a firm two-handed grip and let out one final, deep breath before visualizing the graceful, gliding motions he had beheld mere seconds ago.


    Then, he jumped into motion, and as expected, disaster struck.


    The first slash was simple enough, but his numb leg was unable to fully support his weight for the next spinning thrust. Leon recovered just in time, throwing his foot back in an awkward last minute save to avoid falling. When he tried the smooth flick of the wrist to parry an imagined blow that came next, however, the sword slipped out of his sweat-slickened hand and somehow looped around his own shoulder to smack the back of his own head.


    Flushing furiously with embarrassment and pain, Leon noted the grave expressions on both Skyle and his father¡¯s gaze as they watched on. Leon could only grit his teeth against the pain and fumble for the sword. He managed to catch it with his element-enhanced reflexes, then promptly moved on to the next leaping strike.


    He landed on a crooked angle, letting out a hoarse cry as his ankle folded under his weight. Only his element-strengthened physique saved him then, as he ignored the pain and resolutely contorted his body into the next impossible move. It was a light, airy spin on one foot, where the sword should flicker out like the ghostly petal of a rose.


    Leon barely managed to make a half-spin, before his throbbing ankle suddenly gave way, causing his sword to slip out of his hand yet again and fly high into the air.


    The young Lord Draxas flailed wildly with his arms before collapsing in a boneless heap, his limbs twisted painfully in an awkward sprawl all around his contorted body. The finishing touch was the sword, which just so happened to land at this moment, its blade striking a stinging blow against Leon¡¯s upturned asscheeks.


    The burning sting to his pride was far more painful than the reddened welt that was sure to rise up on his rump.


    Still, there was only an almost eerie silence in the training yard, where only the sounds of the waking forest could be heard mixing in with the labored breathing from Leon.


    Groaning in his heart, and more furious at himself than he could recall in a very long time, Leon quickly shoved aside the crumpled remains of his savaged pride, and hastily pushed himself to his feet with as much remaining grace as he could manage with one limping foot, a bump on the back of his head and a painful welt on his ass.


    Still, Leon picked up his rattan sword and finished the ritual by bowing low before Skyle and his father with the same somber expression he had seen on their faces, hoping he had not ruined this beautiful ritual.


    ¡°Puhahahaha!¡±


    ¡°AHAHAHAHA!¡±


    It was only as he raised his head back up that he stood there gaping at the two figures, father and son, who were now rolling across the ground holding on to their stomachs with tears flowing freely from their eyes.


    In between uncontrollable fits of hysterical laughter, Skyle said, ¡°I.. I told you Da.. Haha, I said.. Hahaha, I said he would try.. Without even breaking a smile.. Hahaha..¡±


    Kendric¡¯s former image of a formidable warrior was completely gone, replaced by the mocking mask of a baboon who could hardly draw enough gasping breaths in between his choking laughter to reply to his accomplice and son.


    ¡°Haha.. You win.. Haha, you win.. He even picked up the sword.. Hahaha.. He picked up the sword.. Haha.. Picked up the sword and..¡±


    At this moment, both father and son looked up from the ground and exchanged glances, before saying at the exact same time:


    ¡°And he bowed! HAHAHAH!¡±


    Leon nearly cracked a tooth as he clenched his jaw and stared bloody murder at this evil, evil pair of father and son.


    Feeling like an innocent virgin who had been deflowered by means most foul, Leon¡¯s heart could only desperately flail and clutch at the violated remains of his dignity, while realizing in the pitch darkness of a deep abyss of despair, that he had signed himself over to this evil pair for the whole remainder of the day.


    God help him, for his best friend certainly would not bother at all.


    ¡°Seriously, Leon, you did real good for your first time. C¡¯mon man, don¡¯t be like that.¡±


    Not dignifying that with a reply, Leon huffed and lifted his chin up, ignoring his friend¡¯s entreaty.


    That it almost made him trip on an exposed root and brain himself against the rocky ground did not dissuade him at all.


    ¡°Damn turnip farmer, I¡¯ll show you..¡± Leon muttered venomously within his blackened heart.


    ¡°Aw, you have to admit it was kind of funny, right?¡± Skyle insisted, his words coming in easy and smooth in spite of the rough mountain path they were running through.


    ¡°Funny my ass. If only you didn¡¯t look like a half-drowned puppy forcing yourself to smile, I¡¯d grab you flailing and screaming, and toss you overhead from the highest peak I could find.¡±


    Leon found that he did not truly mind that his friend had played the prank on him. If anything, seeing him laughing, however briefly, had offered a tiny grain of reassurance to Leon¡¯s uneasy heart.


    After all, Leon had no idea exactly what had happened last night, but the look in his friend¡¯s eyes was that of a dead man walking, waiting only for an enemy to grab hold of, before finally jumping into the blessed arms of the deep abyss waiting below.


    Leon couldn¡¯t decide if he was angry that his friend would try to bear such a heavy burden by himself, or relieved that Skyle still had enough strength of will to persevere in spite of the gruesome blow he had obviously been dealt.


    In the end, Leon had decided that he would play along. He would wait, because for all its uncomfortable, awkward moments, this new friendship was something truly precious that he wanted to protect.


    He trusted Skyle like he had hardly ever trusted another person in his life. Not his brothers, not his mother. Certainly not that cold despot that was his father.


    Leon Draxas had lived his life alone, and had used many years to make his peace with that fact. Now that he had found a kindred soul, someone his own age he could trust and respect, he found that he was more than willing to suffer a few pranks of truly ill-taste - damn stupid peasants and their twice be damned pretend sword rituals - and the quiet, agonizing wait while he floated in ignorance as to who had torn such a gaping hole in his friend¡¯s heart, and what he could do to help.


    In truth, this wait was not so unpleasant, especially when compared to the alternative.


    Misery loves company, after all.

 Chapter 83 - Just Another Day at the Farm (Part 2)

    Chapter 83 - Just Another Day at the Farm (Part 2)


    Leon was genuinely glad for his elemental essence-enhanced strength and stamina. Else, he was afraid he would have collapsed off his feet barely halfway into the run, instead of doing so near the end.


    After all, it was the first time he had run ten miles across rugged mountain passes and mossy forest trails. That Skyle had managed to do so in under an hour while not even breathing hard was still mind-boggling to him. More than once, he wondered if the smaller boy was cheating by using a windwalking spell or some other similar enchantment.


    While Leon had served in the army for a few years, he was used to riding upon horseback like any good, self-respecting nobleman should. After all, what kind of officer would scamper across the hillside like a god damned monkey with his tail lit on fire? That would certainly set a terrible precedent for the army legions to follow.


    No, Leon decided. These Empire peasants were simply mad. Absolutely, stark, raving mad.


    Still, his pride would not let him quit even when his lungs had been set on fire and his vision had blurred into a bi-dimensional view of the scant few inches that lay ahead of his next step, and the quietly condescending, unbearably mocking grin of his best friend.


    Even while fully aware of what the little monkey was trying to do, Leon did not give a rat¡¯s ass and wished he could smack the smug sonofadonkey¡¯s face with a soggy pair of camel ballsacks - and screw his friend¡¯s well-meaning little competitive motivation.


    As if he needed the grief.


    They finally arrived back at the barn, Skyle holding up a bucket full of water in his hand while Leon dragged himself with as much dignity as he could muster across the invisible finish line.


    ¡°Well done, Lord Slowpoke. Perhaps when next year¡¯s fastest great-grandpa race opens up in the town square, you can register and win, eh, I¡¯d say third place, at best?¡±


    Leon did not deign that with a reply, instead wordlessly dunking his whole head into the bucket and inhaling water as quickly as he humanly could.


    Skyle poked his ribs from the side.


    ¡°You know better than to drink so fast. It¡¯ll be bad for you for our next run.¡±


    Leon immediately threw his head back up and stared at his friend, his eyes plainly stating that he expected the punchline to this latest joke to come anytime now.


    Skyle shook his head with a rueful smile. ¡°Afraid we¡¯ll have to run if we have any hope of keeping up with the day¡¯s schedule. We¡¯re already running late because of how slow that morning jog was.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not laughing, farmboy,¡± Leon muttered.


    ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m not joking, grandpa. Now get up and pick up your shovel. Them ditches won¡¯t dig themselves, you know?¡±


    As Skyle lightly ran over the uneven ground of the mountain trail, Leon stumbled constantly as he struggled to keep up.


    ¡°This.. Looks.. Familiar..¡± Leon wheezed, gasping for breath.


    ¡°That¡¯s because we just ran this way during our light morning jog.¡±


    Instead of asking what part of a 10-mile exodus across nearly untraversable terrain was a light morning jog, Leon couldn¡¯t help but blurt out the question burning a hole in his mind, even in the midst of his exhaustion.


    ¡°Wait.. Why.. We.. Not.. Bring.. Shovel.. Earlier..¡± Leon moaned.


    Skyle rolled his eyes, the disgraceful little imp even daring to run backwards while grinning innocently at Leon.


    ¡°Because who the heck brings shovels for a morning jog, Leon? Besides, the added exercise will do us good. Just breathe in this crisp, pure mountain air. Doesn¡¯t it make you feel like a new man?¡±


    Skyle inhaled a great, big mouthful of air and winked at Leon.


    Leon could hardly even breathe, let alone curse at his best friend, as his noodle-limp legs unstably tottered their way forward.


    ¡° Oh, I¡¯ll make you need a new set of legs, alright. As soon as I can catch up with you and smash those damn things with my fists. What are they filled with, anyway? Air?¡±


    Leon was certain at least his head had most definitely been filled with air the moment he agreed to this whole ordeal.


    Still, the rest of it couldn¡¯t possibly be any worse, could it?


    ¡°What?¡± Skyle quirked an inquisitive eyebrow.


    ¡°Where are my gloves?¡± Leon muttered, for lack of any better way to articulate his protest without sounding like a pampered, spoiled little noble brat.


    Which of course, was exactly what he was. Not that he would ever admit it, but he was slowly realizing that this whole farming thing had a little more going for it than the light daytime outing he had been thinking of.


    This time, it was Skyle¡¯s turn not to dignify a stupid question with an answer.


    Instead, he continued digging. It was much to Leon¡¯s chagrin to find that the little mite of a boy had already dug a considerably deeper ditch than he himself had.


    It wasn¡¯t that Skyle was stronger than Leon. His essence-enhanced muscles allowed him to easily lift four or five times as much weight as the smaller boy could. The problem lay elsewhere.


    Digging ditches was an essential part of a soldier¡¯s life. Whenever they stopped to make camp, it was army regulation to dig a five feet trench around the camp perimeter, along with erecting a wall of either essence-strengthened dirt or simple wooden logs.


    In fact, Leon had watched countless times while his soldiers dug a myriad ditches under his command. The operational word being, watched. After all, who would expect the exalted Marquise Leon Draxas to get off his noble mount, shed his lordly cloak, and squat down next to common soldiers to dig up dirt like a damn badger?


    He could recall the practiced ease with which each of his soldiers, veterans one and all, would displace huge amounts of soil with each effortless stroke of their shovels. It had seemed a fairly straightforward affair, and he clearly remembered wondering what took those lazy bastards so long to dig a simple hole in the ground.


    Thus, Leon was simply confounded by the quandary he was stuck in at the moment. He could not understand what he was doing wrong.


    First of all, the soil was filled with rocks, which prevented the tip of his shovel from biting deep enough. It was often deflected by the rocks, which invariably sent painful shocks up his hands.


    Then there was the matter of actually scooping up soil. Every time he lifted his shovel, no matter how careful he was, at least half of it would slide out before he could throw it outside the ditch. This resulted in half the soil he painfully dug up being deposited right back into the hole, with a good portion of it falling on top of his head.


    This was another problem. Leon had not realized just how messy the whole affair would be. His own soldiers would hardly have any specks of dirt on them at all as they efficiently dug huge ditches all around the camp. Leon himself had hardly dug three feet into the ground when already dust was flying into his eyes, down his collar, got tangled in his damp scalp, and even somehow managed to squeeze inside his boots. This latter problem caused him to constantly have to remove his boots to shake tiny pebbles which felt like wickedly sharp spurs under his sensitive feet.


    All the while, he could feel the sun mercilessly beating down upon his reddened scalp. He regretted scoffing at the scarf Skyle had offered earlier. The younger boy had tied it around his own head, keeping both the sun and the dirt out of his hair. Worse yet, a wide-rimmed hat would have provided an extra layer of protection which Leon had promptly discarded.


    Surely, he could not be blamed for that. The hat was hideous. It looked almost exactly the same as the abominations wrinkled old matrons at court had taken to wearing during the Mondrigan Renaissance. If any of his courtiers ever caught him wearing such a ridiculous looking hat, he would never be able to live it down!


    Now that he lay panting and constantly spitting out mouthfuls of dust under the merciless glare of the sun, Leon could only look longingly towards the hat that he had so contemptuously discarded earlier. His dignity would not allow him to pick it up, but by the gods a little shade would feel oh so very good.


    ¡°You alright, Leon?¡± Skyle asked from the side. ¡°You really should wear the scarf and the hat, you know?¡±


    Leon scoffed loudly at this. ¡°Hah, I¡¯d rather be dead than caught wearing that hideous abomination. You look like one of the court matrons during the Mondrigan Renaissance!¡±


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    Leon cackled madly at his own brilliant wit, until he choked on another mouthful of dust and began coughing instead.


    ¡°Sure, whatever you say, buddy,¡± Skyle murmured, and Leon thought he caught something about ¡°damn crazy nobles¡± or something like that.


    Yeah, if he was forced to keep digging for much longer, he might very well end up dead or sun-addled crazy, with or without the Mondrigan Renaissance hat.


    ¡°Run, you damn fool. RUN!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying, you damn monkey. Can¡¯t you see that?¡±


    ¡°Then try harder!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try-¡±


    The rest of it was rudely cut off by the mouthful of mud that was forced into his mouth as Leon slipped on yet another patch of unnameable waste and fell face-first into the filthy mud.


    Spitting furiously, Leon jumped back to his feet with a horrified expression on his face. The violence of the motion caused him to overcompensate, and he flailed his arms uselessly for a moment before flipping over, this time sprawling on his back.


    A pair of frantic pigs stomped all over his face for good measure as they squealed and ran every which way in the chaos.


    ¡°Look Leon, it¡¯s not all that hard. It¡¯s not just about speed, it¡¯s about reading their movements and cutting off their paths of retreat. Not everything can be solved by sheer brute force, you idiot!¡± Skyle scowled from where he watched outside of the hogs¡¯ pen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡®you-idiot¡¯ me, you upstart peasant. Just because I¡¯m no hog-whisperer like you, it doesn¡¯t mean you get to talk down to me like that. Give me one second and I¡¯ll figure it out.¡± Leon growled, spitting out more mud and suppressing a shudder as he adamantly refused to think about the vile things that had been rolling and stomping all over the mud which he had just swallowed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Leon, a common misconception is that pigs are dirty. They¡¯re actually one of the cleanest animals in the farm. They¡¯re only muddy because they can¡¯t sweat, you see-¡± Skyle began.


    The rest of it was quickly drowned out by Leon as he moaned in his head, trying to determine what exactly he had done to deserve this. He couldn¡¯t quite decide which was worse, swallowing the same patch of mud where he had distinctly seen a particularly fat bastard of a hog squatting and defecating earlier, or having to listen to the sanctimonious lecturing of his former best friend, and soon to be murder victim, as he apparently saw fit and necessary to lecture a Marquise of the Great Free Duchies on the behavior and physiology of the common brown hog.


    ¡°Oh Leeeeeon, we¡¯re running laaaaate~¡± Skyle said in that mock-cheerful singsong voice that Leon had come to deeply, whole-heartedly despise with all the vengeful hatred usually reserved for slayers of kin or defilers of home and country.


    Hell hath no fury like a farmer scorned.


    ¡°Oh, oooh my back, wait, my back,¡± Leon moaned, wincing.


    ¡°Oh, relax you big baby,¡± Skyle chuckled, slapping Leon on that exact spot where he could feel daggers digging into his spine. In fact, if it weren''t because his friend had lost his True Sight, Leon might have suspected Skyle did just exactly that on purpose, shooting up renewed agony up his spine.


    ¡°You can¡¯t seriously tell me this is how crops are harvested,¡± Leon balked, trying and failing to find a different squatting posture that would bring some badly needed reprieve for his back.


    ¡°Yep, none other. You¡¯re actually doing real good this time. I think we might actually get to finish on schedule this once,¡± Skyle said with that same cheerfulness Leon had come to deeply despise, all the while the smug farmboy leisurely walked to settle back down at his original spot.


    ¡°Wait, why do you get to lie down under the shade while sipping chilled pear juice upon your sister¡¯s lap while your brother stands beside you fanning you with cool air, while I have to break my back digging up these damn turnips under the roasting sun?¡±


    ¡°Oh, those are parsnips Leon, but I can understand why you¡¯d mix them up. The previous field were turnips, after all. Though their names may sound very similar, you can easily tell the difference between their genera by-¡±


    ¡°NO MORE LECTURES DAMMIT!¡± Leon screamed at the top of his lungs.


    What almost sent him into fits of apoplectic rage were the amused giggles from the otherwise adorable Farrow twins, obviously at his expense.


    ¡°Of course, Lord Draxas. Suit yourself, I¡¯ll just content myself with my juice and shade.¡±


    ¡°I asked you a question, monkey boy,¡± Leon growled, then moaned as the last turnip he tore up from the ground - oh, parsnip, whatever, dammit! - nearly pulled a hernia from his ailing back.


    ¡°Because I already finished my portion of the field. I do clearly recall offering to assist you with your half of the field, my good friend,¡± Skyle said with noble generosity. ¡°In fact, I would love nothing more than to help you in your hour of need, seeing as how you¡¯re suffering so badly under the ministrations of our evil parsnip field.¡±


    Another round of giggling from the twins ensued.


    ¡°Forget it! You can lounge on your arse all day for all I care, I will finish my own side and drink my damn pear juice if its the last thing I do in this damn farm!¡±


    ¡°Oops,¡± came the delicate voice of the little girl, Kassandra. ¡°Was that big brother Leon¡¯s?¡±


    Leon nearly wept at the naive, pristine innocence of the little girl¡¯s words.


    Devils. Each and all of them. They were devils in the flesh!


    ¡°Oh big brother Leeeeeon, you¡¯re running laaaaaaaate~¡± came the little boy, Reikard¡¯s call.


    Finally, Leon could take no more, and collapsed in a purple-faced, twitching heap.


    ¡°Big bro, you told me that would cheer him up,¡± Reikard said accusingly.


    ¡°Oh, it did. That¡¯s just how the young Dukes recover their strength.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Reikard said, his voice just slightly doubtful. ¡°I guess, if big bro says so..¡±


    ¡° No, he¡¯s the devil, get away from him, don¡¯t trust him,¡± Leon cried in his mind, all the while cursing the day he had decided to trust that devil himself.


    ¡°Oh yeah, definitely. Just watch. Oh Leeeeeeeon, we¡¯re running laaaaaaaate~¡±


    ¡°You fecking bastard of a misbegotten spawn of a mangy-¡±


    The rest of it was cut off by the choking sounds that ensued from his throat as he jumped up the ground and began to charge in Skyle¡¯s direction.


    ¡°See?¡± Skyle said in a perfectly calm tone.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s true. Big bro, you¡¯re so wise.¡±


    Leon fell over again, and this time he did not get back up.


    ¡°Well done m¡¯lord, you¡¯ve done it!¡± Skyle cried out joyfully.


    ¡°I did. I did. It¡¯s over!¡± Leon exulted, relief evident in his voice as he gloried in each of the wounds of this gruesome battle he had waged against the wrath of mother nature and the very elements themselves.


    ¡°And you thought I wouldn¡¯t make it to the end of the day,¡± Leon sneered, his expression only slightly guilty as he realized that he had truly made it only by the skin of his teeth.


    Skyle nodded somberly as he saluted Leon. ¡°I do acknowledge that I had underestimated the strength of your resolve and the grit of your determination. I hereby salute you as a true-blooded fellow farmer.¡±


    Leon nodded happily, surprised at the sudden stinging in his eyes. By the gods, he had finally done it. It was over. Thank the gods, it was finally over.


    He threw down the hateful shovel and harvesting fork with a sonorous clang, vowing in his heart of hearts that once he ascended to power his first order of business would be to ensure that the devilish tools would be swiftly collected from all around his Duchy, thrown into one nice giant pile, and then burned to ashes under his elemental flames.


    ¡°Oh, what are you doing, Leon?¡± Skyle asked.


    ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m getting rid of these damn things. I don¡¯t ever want to see them again,¡± Leon responded huffily.


    ¡°Then what are you gonna use when we head back into the field after lunch?¡± Skyle asked, clearly puzzled.


    ¡°...¡±


    Leon could only gape in response, all his former will and bravado fled from his face.


    ¡°Go.. back?¡± Leon managed between trembling lips.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re only heading in for lunch. I thought I¡¯d start us off real easy for the morning, and saved all the real work for the afternoon. After all, ain¡¯t nothing worse than leaving a job half-done because of lunch. This way, we can work all through the night if necessary. Ain¡¯t that great, Leon? Leon? You there buddy?¡±


    Leon¡¯s soul departed his tortured mortal shell, floating away like a wisp of smoke, all the while lamenting the day he had decided to entrust his fate to one Skyle Farrow, demon of Sunny Meadow.

 Chapter 84 - Enter the Tiger

    Chapter 84 - Enter the Tiger


    A grand feast spread out before Skyle¡¯s eyes, full of all his favorite dishes. His mother had truly gone all out today, and it was to his chagrin that he really could not find the appetite to enjoy any of it just at this moment.


    Still, Skyle forced himself to smile and nod his gratitude, all the while trying to lower his gaze and hide the profound sorrow that he felt pressing upon him like the shadow of a great, inescapable mountain.


    A jovial slap to his back interrupted his thoughts, nearly making him fumble the bowl of mashed potatoes he held in his hands.


    ¡°Now, this is what I¡¯m talking about, farm-¡± Leon¡¯s face twitched momentarily as he realized that he was in fact surrounded by nothing but farmers at the moment, and his nobility made him stick out like a boil on a sow¡¯s arse.


    ¡°-Farrow.¡± He finished lamely, all the while snatching the bowl of potatoes from Skyle''s hand. ¡°At long last, the proper reward for all of our hard work. I¡¯m so famished I could eat an entire horse!¡±


    His grin seemed to freeze for just a moment at that last word.


    ¡°Oh, that reminds me,¡± Skyle turned to Leon. ¡°I spoke to a friend of mine. He said they recovered your horse. Tannos has been treated by the healers, and is apparently in better shape than I am.¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t speak a word then, instead simply offering a nod to Skyle. It was then that the youth realized just how much the horse truly meant to his noble friend.


    After all, he had seldom seen Leon moved beyond words like he was right now.


    The rest of the meal passed as usual, full of cheerful banter and good, hearty food. Kassandra ate her tiny morsels of precisely portioned food with her usual care, while Reikard the made a mess out of himself and his shirt. The only difference was Skyle, who was still trying to familiarize himself with the Maw of the Void.


    It was an altogether wondrous feeling as he could follow each mouthful of food travelling down his throat and into his stomach. There, he couldn¡¯t decide if he was fascinated or disgusted by the roiling sea of acids that attacked the amorphous mass of nutrients, until only a melted pool of goo remained.


    There were definite drawbacks to this fourth layer of the Infinite Eye, Skyle decided, as his face turned green and he suppressed a shudder.


    Thankfully, he had already told his family about his current purpose, so this time they managed not to gape as he inhaled food in an even greater mess than Reik usually did. Leon, competitive and ignorant fool that he was, apparently mistook this as some sort of strange commoner¡¯s custom, or a subtle challenge from Skyle.


    In the end, it did not matter. All it meant was that there were now three hogs sitting at the table, each more messy and noisy than the last. They devoured every last scrap of food presented before them, until even the generous feast prepared by Adrienne had vanished inside their bottomless maws.


    Kendric joked that they would soon put the farm out of business - or at least Skyle thought it was a joke. Reikard contented himself with a long, satisfied burp, and met Kassandra¡¯s chilly gaze with an impish grin of his own. Leon practically melted against the back of his chair, his body a boneless bag of aching muscles and all his energy sapped by the unhealthy amount of food he had just gulped down.


    Only Adrienne seemed strangely out of place as she hovered around Skyle. There was nothing wrong with her expression, as she wore the familiar smile of kindly grace every member of the Farrow family had long grown accustomed to. There was just an air of restless anxiety to her as she constantly danced around the edges of Skyle¡¯s personal space, not quite intruding upon it yet always keeping a mindful eye.


    Though he might have once found such attention smothering, at the moment Skyle was deeply grateful for his mother¡¯s insistent love. It pressed upon him forcefully, and its weight drove back the darkness lingering ever so close to his troubled soul.


    Skyle could only hope that time would slowly ease some of the pain, but right now it was all he could do not to drown in his grief. He didn¡¯t know how to come to terms with such a grievous wound, and he feared that it might leave a scar that would never truly heal until he had Ria back in his arms - and perhaps not even then.


    So, he smiled and tried his best to act like the old Skyle would. It wasn¡¯t that he was living a lie, but rather he was barely clinging on to a semblance of sanity. At least his sense of purpose gave him a direction, and if he could only blindly flounder through this vast stretch of emptiness in his heart, and towards the beckoning light beyond, then he would splash and splutter his way past this all-consuming void by sheer stubbornness alone if he must.


    It was this helpless feeling of drowning within a sea of emptiness which unexpectedly unlocked one of the first mysteries of the Maw of the Void. Within his body, Skyle was startled to sense a change in the process through which he was assimilating his food.


    Before, he had been paying close attention but failed to identify how he could apply the first level of the Maw of the Void: the concept of Consume. Consumption was what his body naturally did, so he could not understand what more he could do in this natural process.


    Only by drawing closer to that feeling of emptiness was he able to realize that within even the smallest bit of matter there seemed to be a latent energy, a power which was contained by thin, restricting bindings. These gave way under the potent acids breaking down the food, but only the surface matter was drawn into his body while the energy itself was lost.


    Skyle quickly realized that without recognizing the void within himself, he would have never been able to feel the contrasting force pulsating from even the tiniest scrap of matter. It was a shocking realization to sense such vibrant energy stir just outside of his reach. All his life, Skyle came to realize, he had been eating without truly digesting the true essence hidden within each precious morsel. They seemed like a treasure to him now, and a breathless excitement lit up his heart as he reached out to this newfound resource.


    This glowing essence pulsed with a life of its own as the last layers trapping it to its material shell dissolved within his body. Skyle saw how quickly it was dissipating once freed, flaring brightly but vanishing like a shooting star. He did not understand where this energy was going, but it certainly was not nourishing his own body, and he meant to put a stop to such waste.


    Sadly, his power proved too feeble for his ambition. The strands of energy vanished into nothingness even as he watched, helpless as he pressed his body into action but it only continued the same useless actions as before. The walls of his stomach rippled with a decidedly uncomfortable feeling, but everything else remained the same except for an unpleasant queasiness.


    Undaunted, Skyle redoubled his efforts, and his very guts seemed to groan in protest as if they could not understand just what his tyrannical brain was asking of them.


    ¡° More, I need to press just a little harder. The energy, the essence is right there, just beyond reach..¡± Skyle snarled within his head.


    The booming fart that tore its way out of Skyle¡¯s tortured insides instantly stopped all other noises in the house as every pair of shocked eyes turned to regard the sweating, shaking boy squatting on his seat with clenched fists and veins bulging from his forehead.


    ¡°Uh, big bro, you alright?¡± Reik mumbled helplessly.


    ¡°Big brother!¡± Kassandra cried out shrilly, both in horror and concern.


    ¡°Honey? Oh, I knew I should not have let you eat so much so quickly,¡± Adrienne lamented.


    Ash scooted away from Skyle while scratching at his nose as though he would tear it off if only he could.


    Only two people had no hint of concern in their eyes at all. Instead, bits of half-chewed pork and vegetable medley sprayed into the air as Kendric and Leon both burst out in raucous laughter.


    ¡°Serves you right, boy. Damnation, that ungodly smell could make a goat faint,¡± Kendric cackled, slapping Skyle¡¯s back.


    ¡°Make that a whole herd of goats drop dead on the spot, sir, and their balls would shrivel up and fall off, too!¡± Leon crowed, pounding his fist against the table while he used his other hand to cover his nose.


    Skyle felt his face heating up even as another great, booming fart ripped its way out of his entrails.


    ¡° Oh god, there was no mention of this kind of side-effect at all,¡± He moaned inwardly.


    Kassandra immediately jumped back from the table, but at that moment she hesitated as if unsure what to do next. Part of her seemed to want to draw closer to tend to her brother, but the green tinge of her skin told Skyle that her squeamish side might not quite be up to the challenge.


    Reikard, helpful as always, firmly placed his hand upon his sister¡¯s shoulder and drew her back with a gentle shake of his head.


    Only Adrienne wore an earnest look upon her face as she held Skyle¡¯s face between her hands. Her smothering care only made the moment even more mortifying, particularly when he saw that even his mother¡¯s lips were twitching upward as Kendric and Leon¡¯s laughter only rumbled louder still.


    Skyle managed to throw a dark look in Leon¡¯s direction, no longer feeling even the slightest bit guilty about the morning¡¯s ordeals. If anything, his withering gaze promised swift and terrible retribution.


    If only his body would cooperate, that is.


    ¡° Oh no,¡± Skyle moaned in his head.


    His stomach rumbled yet again, and not for the first time, Skyle felt just how terrifying the Desolate Star Technique could be.


    It was a gut-wrenching, nose-busting, mind-numbing terror that hung around the room like a thick miasma that mercifully cut off all sense of smell and appetite, drawing the family lunch to a close.


    ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to take a brief hike into the bushes, farmboy?¡± Leon called out from behind Skyle¡¯s shoulder.


    Rolling his eyes, Skyle shook his head. ¡°For the last time, no, I don¡¯t need to relieve myself.¡±


    ¡°Hell, I¡¯m not worried about you. I just don¡¯t think my nose could take another of those blasts - like the breath of Ashen¡¯s bride, I¡¯d say, all rotten flesh and festering boil-¡±


    Skyle shut the rest of it out as he decided he must be more careful on where and how he practiced the Maw of the Void in the future.


    ¡°Just take one of these and follow me,¡± Skyle muttered grumpily, picking up a wheelbarrow with a shovel in it.


    It was Leon¡¯s turn to groan then. ¡°Another ditch? Gods below, is this a mole farm, that you need to dig so many damn ditches?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not for digging, but for scooping,¡± Skyle said, and Leon couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the ominous tone.


    ¡°I thought you were joking when you mentioned carting manure,¡± Leon whimpered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet you were,¡± Skyle smirked, chuckling darkly.


    Leon did notice the other boy was wearing a quiver of arrows, and frowned in puzzled confusion at the sight. Why would he need arrows for shoveling manure? And where was the bow? Surely, not even his friend''s twisted mind would think of forcing him to load the manure using arrowheads?This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Shaking his head, Leon tried to ignore the little voice inside his head that told him anything was possible with these crazy farmers.


    They quickly arrived before a massive gate made of solid metal bars as thick around as Skyle¡¯s wrists. It was part of an impressive fence of the same metal bars, so thick and tall it resembled a wall. Huge signs were hung all over, warning with thick, bold print that trespassers would forfeit their lives. The top of the fence was equipped with sharpened barbs which oddly enough pointed outward instead of the other way around.


    Skyle followed Leon¡¯s gaze and nodded, explaining. ¡°It¡¯s not built for our cats. A flimsy fence like this wouldn¡¯t be able to block even the oldest, sickest snowblade tiger. It¡¯s to keep idiots out, either curious ones with a deathwish or them filthy snowblade hunters.¡±


    Leon¡¯s face abruptly lost all color as he stared at Skyle.


    ¡°We- we¡¯re going in there? Wi- with them?¡± He stammered.


    Leon finally seemed to understand why even Ash was accompanying them.


    Skyle allowed himself a small grin. ¡°Relax, you big baby. They¡¯re gonna love you..¡±


    Leon seemed to take at least a little reassurance from this, and Ash drew closer to the big noble with a decidedly friendly look on his face.


    ¡°.. They prefer more meat on the bone, you see, and all the better if its rich in elemental essence,¡± Skyle finished darkly.


    Leon jumped back as though Ash himself were eyeing him like a meal, crossing his arms in front of his chest.


    The young snowblade tiger cub showed him a wide grin that was all teeth, and Leon couldn¡¯t decide if he should let the cat know that the gesture didn¡¯t make him feel even a tiny bit more reassured.


    Then again, Leon thought while measuring the harrowing length of those wickedly sharp fangs, maybe it wasn¡¯t supposed to.


    ¡°Ah, how about I go dig some more of those lovely little ditches while you take care of your beas- ah, I mean, cats,¡± Leon said with a greasy, ingratiating smile. ¡°Could use the workout, you know? Very good for your upper back, biceps and triceps.¡±


    Ash¡¯s grin seemed to grow wider at the mention of muscles growing bigger, or was that just Leon¡¯s imagination?


    Skyle ignored him as he unlocked the chains with a key that dangled from a string hanging from his neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Leon. I¡¯ll be right there with you. Ash will be coming along as well. He¡¯ll keep an eye on you, won¡¯t you boy?¡±


    Ash let out a slow, throaty purr that might be interpreted as a pleasant nod - or an evil smirk.


    The subtleties of snowblade tiger body language escaped Leon just now.


    All the noble wanted to do at the moment was to beat a hasty retreat, but he reminded himself that he was Leon Draxas di Adrausier, fire summoner Adept and heir of the Free Duchy of Draxas and Adrausier. He had scorched his way through the bloody fields of battle when he was barely ten. He had faced down an alien army of cultists and blown away a horde of monstrous spiders. He could handle a few fat, pampered, and overgrown kitties.


    ¡°Lead the way,¡± Leon nodded with smoldering eyes filled with fighting intent.


    If he could not avoid danger, it was his policy to smash through it as ruthlessly and efficiently as possible.


    He was Leon Draxas, and he pitied the snow kitty that so much as looked at him the wrong way.


    It was just a handful of pussy cats, while he was the Lion of Draxas.


    Hah. He would show them what for.


    ¡°Holy fuck,¡± Leon gasped, his legs shaking so badly his knees began knocking against each other. ¡°What in Ashen¡¯s dark abyss..¡±


    Blades. Wickedly sharp, shimmering blades as far as the eye could see. They hung from the trees, shone amidst the greenery, and a veritable sea of them swirled around him, some not even five inches from his supple, tender skin.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Skyle called out over his shoulder, as he continued to push his cart ahead of Leon. ¡°What was that, Leon? Mauler, I¡¯ve told you countless times not to chew at the wheels!¡±


    ¡°The fuck is this,¡± Leon breathed, not daring to move so much as a muscle.


    ¡°What? Say that again, Leon. Oh, hold on. Darn it, Cutter. I told you to trim your claws if you want to play tag with me. And you, Thrasher! Stop it right there! Don¡¯t think I¡¯m not watching you, mister. Don¡¯t you dare pounce on Leon, you hear me? He¡¯s a friend, not a new chew toy. And no, I don¡¯t care how yummy he looks. Down, you bad kitty. Down!¡±


    This last was reinforced by an ungentle kick straight to the rump of one of the biggest cats pressing up against Leon¡¯s side. Leon could feel its rumbling growl on his own skin as it lightly jumped away, all the while watching him with wide, gleaming eyes of glittering silver.


    As Thrasher was kicked away by Skyle, Leon felt tension tugging at his clothes for just a moment. The motion drew his eyes down. He almost wished he hadn¡¯t. Running along his ribs was a neat tear in his shirt, the edges looking as though they had been cut by a razor sharp blade - which of course, was exactly what had happened.


    Such deadly blades, damn cats were full of them.


    Even now, Leon did not dare to move a single muscle as he beheld dozens, hundreds of sparkling blades dancing around him in a bewitching sea of silvery light. They constantly rose and sank in sinuous waves all along the length of each tiger¡¯s silhouette. One moment, there would be nothing but silky white-and-black fur, the next a gleaming blade of snow-white bone so dense it resembled metal instead, would ripple from underneath its skin and rise several feet in the air with a deadly flourish.


    The motion was so fast and natural, it was incomparably more elegant than the sword draw of a master swordsman. More deadly, as well. Now that he beheld these formidable beasts with his own eyes for the first time, Leon could finally understand the dread they commanded in every tale he had heard.


    They resembled a regular tiger, though their fur was mostly white with black stripes. However, they were at least twice as big as any tiger Leon had ever heard of, each of their massive paws as big as his own chest. Their eyes glittered with a silver hue, possessed of an uncanny intelligence as they watched his every movement with an almost human-like curiosity.


    The blades that they were aptly named after did not look stiff at all. Instead, they weaved and bobbed with the same languid, easy grace that flowed naturally from their every move. It was easy to tell that these were born predators, power and speed rippling along the corded muscles plainly noticeable even under their thick, shining coats of fur.


    This fur was well known for its warmth and resiliency. It was highly prized as a component for armor, especially amongst the northern barbarian tribes. Only their leaders could afford such princely and luxurious protection, but its natural resistance against elemental essence and blades made it worth its sky-high price.


    Even this fur, however, paled in comparison to the true prize that lay in a snowblade tiger¡¯s body - their namesake blades. The snowblades, as they had come to be known, were nearly indestructible so long as there was even a strand of elemental essence being channeled through them. Even without it, they were sharper than most steel blades. However, when infused with essence, its edge could cut past metal like butter, making it as highly sought after as the most exotic magical ores.


    Their only true disadvantages came from the fact that only rarely could a snowblade be actually harvested from a tiger¡¯s remains. No one knew why, but most snowblades would shatter the instant the tiger was slain. Even the few that were salvaged were nearly impossible to reforge or adapt into any size or shape other than its original one.


    For all these reasons, true snowblades were hideously expensive relics that commanded ridiculous prices and became deadly weapons in the hands of a master.


    Right now, Leon was surrounded by dozens of such innate masters, each wielding countless snowblades. They circled around the profusely sweating fire summoner while eyeing him as they would a scrumptious meal.


    Skyle himself was hard-pressed dealing with his own crowd of tigers. These, however, only acted like over-enthusiastic cats who had sorely missed their owner. They skipped and tumbled all over themselves as they approached the little farmboy, their silvery eyes glittering with unconcealed glee. The object of such affection was busy haranguing tigers left and right as he tried to make his way toward Leon.


    ¡°Ripper! Bad cat, no crossing blades with strangers, I¡¯ve told you so many times. Especially not humans. They don¡¯t have blades, you dummy. You''ll slice clean through skin, tendon and bone!¡± Skyle scolded, and Leon couldn¡¯t quite supress the shudder he felt running down his spine. Was it just him being oversensitive, or had that been just a tiny hint of fear he had detected in the farmboy¡¯s voice? Surely not, right?


    ¡°Leon, ah, don¡¯t even think about gathering your elemental essence. They¡¯re very sensitive to essence energy. Seeing as how they¡¯re so skittish and shy, like any other kitty, you might scare them into doing something, ah, unpleasant and eh, very regrettable, if summon your powers,¡± Skyle said with what was a decidedly uneasy chuckle, accompanied by an even more sickly smile.


    ¡°Trust me, you don¡¯t want to spook these kitties,¡± Skyle finished feelingly.


    Leon didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or to cry as he considered the very real prospect that he had survived a whole realm filled with nightmarish beasts only to be cut to ribbons by the careless swipes of a playful teenage tiger cub and his enthusiastic friends.


    It certainly didn¡¯t help that Skyle and his parents apparently had the most bizarre, disturbing naming sense imaginable. Mauler? Thresher? Cutter? Ripper?


    ¡° What the feck, that sounds like the starring cast of the latest gladiatorial arena deathmatch. All that¡¯s left is-¡± Leon moaned in his head.


    ¡°Eviscerator, stop! No eviscerating today, you hear me? No eviscerating or no fresh entrails for you for a whole month!¡±


    Leon heard a distinctly predatorial growl come from right behind his ear, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as thick beads of sweat trickled down his skin.


    Slowly, oh so slowly, Leon swiveled his head around and risked a glance backwards. He almost wished he hadn''t.


    Crouching just behind his back and in such close proximity that he could feel its hot breath on his face, was one of the biggest, most ferocious looking snowblade tigers out of the entire bunch. Its large, foot long fangs glistened wetly under the afternoon sun. Fittingly, its front paws were pitch black, as though it were wearing deadly gauntlets from which a full set of five razor sharp claws extended hungrily like wickedly curved daggers thirsting for his blood.


    At this moment, he nearly said to hell with all of this and summoned Draco, his fire elemental spirit, if only so he could take as many of the man-eating beasts into the afterlife with him as he could.


    He probably would have, but at the moment only a single thought dominated the entirety of his mind.


    ¡°Why, oh why didn¡¯t I go back to those beautiful, lovely little ditches?¡±


    What he wouldn¡¯t give to be buried neck-deep in blissful dirt right about now.

 Chapter 85 - Streak Brawl

    Chapter 85 - Streak Brawl


    ¡°Just forgive poor Mittens already, Leon. How could you possibly be mad at such a cute little kitten?¡± Skyle said coaxingly.


    Mittens, formerly introduced with the unflattering name of ¡°Eviscerator¡±, crouched low on the ground in front of Leon with his namesake ink-dipped paws covering his face as he let out a low, mournful whine.


    ¡°Aww, see? He¡¯s really sorry. He didn¡¯t imagine you¡¯d take our little practical joke quite so seriously,¡± Skyle chimed in helpfully.


    Gritting his teeth, Leon flexed his neck from side to side as his fingers unconsciously dipped toward his waist, where he usually would have carried his focus-sword. Not that he would be as callous as to kill or maim the poor beast. After all, he hadn¡¯t actually done anything to Leon. All Mittens had done was crouch low in front of Leon¡¯s face and indulge in a friendly display of his fangs.


    ¡° Burning all the fur from his skin until he looks like an overcooked rooster shouldn¡¯t really count as maiming it, should it?¡±


    Alas, his 60,000 gold focus-sword was hopelessly lost, much the same as any remaining scraps of his lordly dignity.


    ¡° Damn it all, I nearly pissed myself back there,¡± Leon growled in the back of his throat.


    Poor Mittens seemed to take this sound as a further sign of displeasure from Leon, so he crawled even lower on the ground while looking up at the fire summoner with huge, puppy-dog eyes.


    The sight nearly made Leon faint dead away. Not only was this whole scenario completely incongruous with the deadly image of the apex predator that a snowblade tiger should project, but Mittens wasn¡¯t even a dog, for god¡¯s sake! What business did a deadly hunting cat have misappropriating that glum, guilt-ridden, sick puppy face?


    It didn¡¯t even cross Leon¡¯s mind that perhaps Mittens was simply resorting to his more closely related drowned kitten face. Already, the fires of his indignation had scorched away any and all mentions of cats and kittens from his brain. From today onwards, he had decided the whole species were a spawn of the devil, much the same way their human masters were.


    This held particular sway in the case of the master devil¡¯s case. He had cleverly hidden his true form behind a naive farmboy¡¯s visage. Too late had Leon come to realize this was merely a wicked ploy, and underneath this boy¡¯s smiling countenance, the heart of darkness dwelled.


    A rude slap on his shoulder interrupted his scowling condemnation of this den of evil. Not only was this an overt breach of courtly etiquette that would be punishable by hanging, should he choose to pursue the issue to the fullest extent of the law; it also sent him stumbling forward, and into the eagerly awaiting clutches of the penitent cat.


    ¡°Unhand me, you evil beast. Release me from your ungodly embrace before I unleash the furies of-¡± Leon managed, before the rest of it was drowned in snowblade tiger saliva.


    It took a minute or two for Leon to finally get the Mittens off him. It turned out that Mittens had been cursed with a ferocious exterior that was the polar opposite of his putty-soft heart. Skyle had promptly gone on to remark that Mittens was by far the cuddliest snowblade tiger in the entire streak. All the scars and scratches on his fur had been sustained long ago, when the other dominant males had challenged him constantly due to the imposing figure he cut.


    Scraping away a handful of tiger drool off his face, Leon had to admit that Mittens¡¯ name was truly a misnomer if ever he had come across one. Eviscerator clearly fit the fierce looking tiger to a tee. Unfortunately, it was only his outward appearance, and poor Mittens had suffered greatly under the claws of much more dominant snowblade tigers. According to Skyle, the scarred tiger had lost every single duel, not that he had ever wished to participate in such in the first place. Only after many injuries and crushing defeats, had the rest of the streak finally understood his true nature and simply let him be.


    Now, the whole streak seemed to treat the poor, misunderstood Mittens as a sort of unofficial mascot and baby kitten of the group. That he stood nearly as tall as a horse and easily outmassed one by several times did not seem to matter at all.


    ¡° Why should it? They¡¯re all a bunch of monsters that defy the very definition of what ought to be normal.¡± Leon muttered to himself.


    ¡°Oh, get off me already, you overgrown cat,¡± Leon grumbled, but only half-heartedly shoved Mittens¡¯ eager tongue.


    Sensing an opening, Mittens once again crouched low before Leon and lowered its giant head. The oversized fangs had long been retracted, so that Mittens truly resembled nothing but a friendly, cuddly little kitten - if one could ignore all the battle-scars that riddled its ferocious visage and the fact that it could likely swallow Leon in two, maybe three mouthfuls at most.


    ¡° No, I must not fall prey to the devious beast¡¯s wicked ploys!¡± Leon cried in his mind, while his hand was already busy scratching the silky smooth fur behind Mittens¡¯ ears. They twitched excitedly as its massive tail enthusiastically shook back and forth.


    ¡° Hah! And you thought you could deceive my finely-honed battle senses and trick me with your silly parlour tricks,¡± Leon thought smugly, seemingly not realizing his other hand had already reached down and began tickling the snowblade tiger¡¯s chin.


    Mittens half-closed his eyes as he let out a low, purring sound that rumbled deeply within his chest.


    ¡° I suppose there¡¯s no harm in blending in with the local customs, just for a little bit. I¡¯ll just consider it a necessary step in lulling the enemy¡¯s defenses.¡±


    All the while, Leon never stopped scratching and petting away, oblivious to the huge grin that had long come to fill the entirety of his drool-encrusted face.


    ¡°Ah, I thought we were going to cart some manure,¡± Leon blurted out as he followed Skyle into the wooded area deep within the snowblade tigers¡¯ den.


    ¡°We were going to, but I felt kind of bad about the whole killer beast incident, so we¡¯ll skip that for the day and go straight to playtime,¡± Skyle shrugged sheepishly.


    Leon barely managed to hold back a contemptuous scoff. If that was the best attempt at an apology the farmboy could manage, he had another thing coming when Leon finally unleashed his vengeance upon him. Already, he could visualize the hundreds of court attendants that he would unleash upon the unsuspecting boy, scraping and bowing, simpering and flattering nonstop, trimming his nails and curling his hair - all the while ignoring the panicked farmboy¡¯s hoarse cries of protest.


    A grin of unfettered evil almost escaped Leon¡¯s lips, but not quite. Such vengeance was far too sweet to ruin by giving up the element of surprise. Better that he strike from the shadows, when the farmboy would least expect it.


    Skyle seemed to interpret his friend¡¯s silence as a quiet, grudging sort of forgiveness, so his step grew lighter as he led them past thick foliage and many majestic trees. Surprisingly, Ash stepped up at this moment, growling deep within his chest as he grabbed hold of Skyle¡¯s sleeve between his jaws.


    Skyle seemed to have expected this.


    ¡°Ash, let go. I must do this,¡± Skyle said flatly, and Leon would be a fool if he didn¡¯t recognize the fighting words for what they were.


    Ash growled louder as he shook his head, scrabbling with his paws on the ground as he tried to forcibly drag Skyle back.


    Ash was as big as a full adult hound, and only slightly smaller than a young pony. He easily outweighed the small farmboy, and this match of physical strength was one Skyle was bound to lose.


    ¡°Ash, stop it - now,¡± Skyle said in the same, even tones, but a hint of steel had entered his voice. ¡°This needs to happen sooner or later, and it is better we get it out of the way now.¡±


    Ash hissed as it gave one last, forceful tug upon Skyle¡¯s sleeve, but finally relented under the steely glare of his master¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ash,¡± Skyle said comfortingly as he reached down to stroke the young cub¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ve grown a lot stronger than I look.¡±


    If a snowblade cat could ever roll its eyes and slap its own forehead in complete and utter hopelessness, then surely it would not have been any better than Ash¡¯s scornful flick of his grimacing snout.


    ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence, you little traitor,¡± Skyle muttered, smacking his pet tiger¡¯s head in mock fury.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on farmboy? Who are you fighting?¡± Leon asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, Leon. Just follow me and whatever happens, do not interfere.¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say. You¡¯re probably all that¡¯s keeping a dozen man-eating beasts from tearing me apart limb by limb,¡± Leon rolled his eyes. ¡°Besides, how can I get your back if you won¡¯t explain what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just snowblade streak politics. You wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Skyle sighed while moving forward, a reluctant Ash following behind.


    ¡°Try me,¡± Leon growled.


    ¡°Ash got into a fight with an older tiger and got mauled. As his older brother and guardian, it falls to me to redeem his honor or surrender all claims and power over Ash.¡± Skyle scratched his head, grunting in frustration. ¡°It sounds a lot more childish than it actually is. It makes a lot more sense from a tiger¡¯s point of view.¡±


    ¡°It looks and sounds like a street brawl between two kids over who¡¯s got the bigger pair of balls,¡± Leon muttered.


    Skyle could only shrug. ¡°Yeah, you pretty much nailed it dead on.¡±


    Leon only gave a non-commital grunt.


    ¡°Hey, you could even call it a streak brawl,¡± Skyle added brightly.


    ¡°Ugh, kill me, please,¡± Leon moaned at the terrible pun.


    ¡°Anyhow, it¡¯s just business as usual at the pack, the human equivalent of a street brawl - nothing for you to worry about.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the other way around, Skyle. Those can be the deadliest, most pointlessly vicious fights of all,¡± Leon said quietly. ¡°At least with wars, there are rules and conventions to be adhered to. In a petty street brawl, there are no rules except for those your own strength can enforce.¡±


    Skyle paused for a moment, looking at Leon with an approving gaze.


    ¡°You know what Leon, you might make a pretty decent snowblade tiger yourself,¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯m the Lion of Draxas, you punk. I¡¯ve been brawling with other ¡®kids¡¯ from all over the Great Duchies ever since I could walk,¡± Leon said with a tired air.


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    Skyle didn¡¯t say anything else as they walked deeper into the forest. Only upon finally reaching a wide clearing did he finally stop, grinning at Leon¡¯s gape as his worries over Skyle¡¯s upcoming match were driven clear out of his mind by the breathless awe that overwhelmed his senses.


    Before them stood an ancient mountain that had been previously hidden by the thick cover of trees. Huge boulders and crags formed numerous pillars that had weathered the passage of countless years. Upon the nearest rockface lay the openings of countless caves, each with several snowblade tigers casually lying nearby. Most seemed to be sleeping, but Leon did not fail to notice several more vigilant tigers slowly prowling near the perimeter.


    ¡°What is this place?¡± Leon breathed, his eyes taking in at least twenty different caves and as many as two dozen mature tigers, with many younger cubs by their side.


    ¡°The Den. It¡¯s their home, their seat of power where they breed and raise their youngest,¡± Skyle whispered, the lines of his face not relaxing in the least.


    Several streams of water fell from high above the rocks, splitting up into many achingly beautiful waterfalls that formed shallow pools where younger tigers happily splashed about. The whole scene seemed taken from a poet¡¯s utopian dream of what an idyllic retreat should be. That it was filled to the brim with deadly snowblade tigers did not seem to concern Skyle at all.


    Leon was filled with much more confidence after dealing with Mittens. The rest of the tigers - Mauler, Thresher, Cutter and Ripper, among others - had turned out to have much more mellow, even homey names. Only then had Leon come to learn that snowblade tigers were much like Ash, choosing to keep their snowblades tucked inside and only revealing them when fighting other snowblade tigers or while on the hunt. Their playful expressions had almost instantly disarmed Leon, revealing that it had all been one massive joke played upon the unsuspecting outsider. That the cats had played their roles so zealously did not surprise him too much once he came to understand just how smart and playful these young cats were.


    ¡° They probably don¡¯t get many outsiders to play their nasty little pranks on, do they?¡± Leon had scoffed ruefully.


    ¡° No outsiders are allowed here at all, Leon. You¡¯re the first in nearly five years,¡± Skyle had replied with somber tones. ¡° If you were not accompanying me, bearing our family¡¯s scent, and they hadn¡¯t heard about you from Ash, you¡¯d be fighting for your life right now.¡±


    That had taken Leon aback, forcing him to reassess his petty vengeance against these tigers. Well, give up altogether was closer to the truth. Getting even with their human handler would have to suffice.


    ¡°Anything you want to, uh, tell me ahead of time, farmboy?¡± Leon mumbled under his breath.


    Skyle grinned at that. ¡°Nope, just enjoy yourself but don¡¯t touch anything you¡¯re not supposed to and don¡¯t look an alpha in the eyes. They will take it as a personal challenge and they will feel compelled to answer with deadly force.¡±


    ¡°Uh, which ones are the alphas?¡± Leon said dubiously, quickly scanning the many tigers in the area.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know it when you spot one. There are three in the streak at the moment, and you really can¡¯t mistake them for anything but the old monsters they are. They seldom bother with the rest of the pack unless their dignity is challenged, so you shouldn¡¯t need to worry too much.¡±


    Leon had barely begun to nod at that when he heard a deep, rumbling growl that shook the leaves of the nearby trees. The fire summoner barely resisted the temptation to summon Draco, as he held his breath and searched across the clearing for the source of the sound.


    All of the younger cubs leaping playfully about had suddenly come to a stop, turning as one to stare in the boys¡¯ direction. Even the sleeping adult tigers quickly roused themselves, until every single snowblade tiger in the entire den stood gazing at the newcomers with quiet intensity.


    Leon shifted nervously as he considered his chances, should he summon Draco and decide to go all out.


    A firm hand took hold of his arm, stopping him.


    ¡°Relax. It¡¯s all part of the plan,¡± Skyle whispered softly, his eyes fixed upon one of the thickest pillars of rock at the very center of the den. ¡°Just remember, no matter what happens, don¡¯t do anything stupid. Don¡¯t even think about interfering. That goes for you as well, Ash.¡±


    Ash growled in his chest, the fur on his coat standing on end and several snowblades rearing up from his body.


    ¡°Ash, stand down. I mean it,¡± Skyle growled, and the snowblade tiger cub reluctantly complied.


    ¡° What the feck is going on here,¡± Leon complained to no one in particular in his mind.


    He had already resolved in his heart that should things go south in this brawl, he would instantly call upon Draco and summon a fiery hell on earth, and the consequences be damned.


    Already, he had failed his young friend once.


    ¡° Never again¡±, vowed Leon grimly in his heart.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, Razor. You hurt my streak brother, and for that, you must answer to me. I stand before the Den and challenge you before the entire streak.¡± Skyle took one final deep breath before raising his gaze toward the very top of the rock spiral that rose well over a hundred feet into the air. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    The answering roar seemed to shake the very air around them, leaving his ears ringing with a sharp whining whistle as Leon recoiled from the powerful sound.


    For a moment, Leon was unsure where this great roar had originated from, but as soon as he followed the solemn gaze of Skyle, Ash and every other snowblade tiger upon the clearing he had his answer.


    Now, he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted to find out.


    Perched upon the very peak of the pillar of rock stood a majestic snowblade tiger so large and imposing that not even his wildest nightmares could have possibly conjured it forth. Its head was riddled with old battle scars, and one eye was missing where a particularly vicious scar crisscrossed the puckered eye-socket. Its head was easily over six feet across, and from snout to tail Leon reached a mind-boggling figure of nearly sixty feet in length!


    Even as Leon watched, monstrous fangs slowly emerged from its jaws, extending inch by inch until they protruded a full five feet from its mouth. Not a single snowblade was visible yet, but even from this distance the giant tiger still managed to exude such a ferocious air of menace that it set Leon¡¯s teeth on edge and had his heart thundering in his ears.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s an Alpha,¡± Leon managed between clenched teeth.


    There was no answer forthcoming, but then again, none was needed.


    Suddenly, a sick feeling twisted his guts. ¡°Please, farmboy, don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s Razor.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Razor, one of the oldest and most vicious alphas of the streak,¡± Skyle whispered back, his calm eyes meeting the grim gaze of the battle-scarred tiger straight on.


    ¡°Fuck me, Skyle. You don¡¯t do things by half-way measures, do you?¡± Leon cursed under his breath.


    Instead of answering, Skyle set his feet apart and inhaled a great mouthful of air.


    ¡°I challenge you Razor! Meet me in battle, or forever lie under my claw,¡± Skyle shouted at the top of his lungs, and finally there was an answering stir from within the watching tigers below.


    ¡° Shit, shit, shit,¡± Leon snarled in his mind, scrambling to find a way to rescue his friend from the inevitably quick and dirty demise that was sure to follow. ¡° I knew he was depressed, but hell if I ever imagined he¡¯d bring me this far only to commit suicide by pissed off cat.¡±


    At long last, Razor showed a reaction to Skyle¡¯s words. The old snowblade tiger slowly parted its lips to display a deadly array of wickedly sharp teeth. Then it dipped its head to Skyle with an almost human-like intelligence within its eyes, almost if acknowledging the challenge.


    Immediately after, it gathered itself and jumped high into the air, its soaring shadow cutting a striking figure of primal power as it sped through the air.


    ¡° The hell, is it going to brain itself against the floor and spare us the trouble?¡± Leon half-prayed to himself. ¡° Surely, not even such a great beast can land inpunely from such heights.¡±


    As if to answer Leon¡¯s doubts, a single snowblade flicked out from underneath each claw. In total, four blades stabbed deeply into the rocky face of a nearby pillar. There was nearly no resistance as the blades smoothly sank in, and as the full weight of the tiger dragged the blades down the length of the stone, they left four deep gouges in their wake. They scored the granite surface as easily as a hot knife slicing through butter.


    Nearly thirty feet from the ground, the tiger alpha gracefully leapt off the rockface, soaring across the air and landing smoothly not fifty feet away from Skyle. Unbelievably, there was nearly no disturbance at all upon its landing except for a great cloud of dust. The expected rumble in the earth and loud explosion did not happen at all, and this silence only sent lances of ice stabbing into Leon¡¯s guts.


    ¡° Just what kind of monster has this stupid arsing farmboy provoked this time?¡± Leon cursed heatedly in his head.


    They stood quietly like this for a long moment, during which none of the other tigers dared emit a single sound. The wind howled across the clearing and stirred the folds of Skyle¡¯s clothes, sending his hair flying wildly in the air. His eyes were still unflinching as they met the great alpha¡¯s gaze, matching it stare for deadly stare.


    The moment seemed to stretch for an eternity of silence, the tension so heavy it could have been cut with a knife.


    Then, as sudden as its arrival, the stillness was finally shattered as Skyle shouted loudly and sprang into motion at the exact same instant Razor pounced forward, deadly intent overflowing from its deafening howl.


    It was the uneven clash of boy against beast, and all odds seemed to cast doom upon his friend. However, at this moment Leon caught a dazzling light burning brightly within Skyle¡¯s eyes.


    Leon could clearly remember this light. He had witnessed its power, and it kindled within his heart a precious spark of hope.


    Skyle¡¯s gift was back!


    Leon well knew that even all the horrors of Sanctuary combined had proved unworthy of being his brother¡¯s match - let alone a mere overgrown cat. This thought sent a fierce roaring crashing against the walls of his chest, until he could hold it no longer and it burst out in a great, rumbling cry.


    ¡°Kick it''s ass, Skyle!¡± Leon shouted with all the force he could muster from his lungs.


    Immediately, the entire clearing was drowned by a collective roar as countless voices howled in breathless, frenzied anticipation.


    This was a streak brawl, and it was time to throw down.

 Chapter 86 - A Glorious Defeat

    Chapter 86 - A Glorious Defeat


    Skyle barely caught a blur streaking past his vision before the claws were upon him. His breath caught in his throat at the alpha¡¯s unbelievable speed. There was simply no way Skyle¡¯s body could react fast enough to dodge the attack - not even his eyes were able to keep up with such movement!


    Fortunately, it was only a shadow that struck out, summoned from the depths of his Farsight.


    Skyle¡¯s initial movement forward had barely been a shifting of his feet, a technique his father had disparagingly called the Rabbit Step. It lacked the grace of his father¡¯s Ghost Step, but it worked and that was enough. It allowed Skyle to balance his weight on the tips of his toes, ready to spring into instant movement in any direction.


    The Rabbit Step, along with his Farsight was the only reason Skyle was able to dive under the alpha¡¯s pouncing figure. As expected, the alpha wouldn¡¯t go for a kill. Skyle didn¡¯t truly understand the exact nature of his father¡¯s relationship with the snowblade tiger streak. Still, Skyle was considered an important member of the streak, and not even Razor would lightly take his life.


    This did not mean Razor would mind adding a notch or two in the upstart pup¡¯s hide. It was the way snowblade tigers disciplined their young, and in his eyes Skyle would be lucky to get away without any crippling injuries for his daring. It would teach the young pup to know his own limits, and to respect the ways of the streak. It was a good lesson, paid only with a few pounds of flesh and pain.


    It was only tragic that in Skyle¡¯s case, what amounted to a few scratches for a snowblade tiger would likely keep him bed-ridden for a couple weeks, at least.


    ¡° Moonshadow!¡± Skyle shouted in his mind, stretching a hand forth as he rolled on the floor after just barely sliding under Razor¡¯s outstretched claws.


    Soundlessly, smooth metal answered Skyle¡¯s summons as it landed in his grasp. He swung it in a horizontal slash even as his body tumbled past the alpha¡¯s rush.


    A spray of blood rose into the air. Razor turned around and licked blood from a shallow cut along the inside of his hind leg.


    The silence was deafening.


    Skyle did not dare stop as he pumped his legs for all he was worth, placing as much distance as he could from his opponent. To others, the small boy seemed panicked as he ran heedlessly without throwing so much as a glance behind. Only Skyle knew that his Infinite Eye let him see everything around him without needing to crane his head back. The panic in his body language was real, but there was a cold, calculating mind pulling the strings.


    Hardly breaking his stride at all, Skyle suddenly leapt to one side. There was no warning sound at all, but Skyle had expected that. Only the shadow he saw in the Farsight allowed him to fling himself aside in time to avoid the alpha¡¯s next attack.


    Skyle felt something tugging at his clothes, but his mind was fully focused upon Moonshadow. It drew a half-moon even as his body spun crazily to one side. Only after landing in a crazy tumble did he look down and see a tear in his tunic. There was a thin line of blood, and Skyle hissed with an in-drawn breath.


    ¡° He¡¯s too fast. I can¡¯t completely dodge his attacks even when I know exactly where he will be!¡±


    Not being one to waste his time in regrets while there was still a battle to be fought - and won - Skyle did not run this time. Instead, he drew an arrow and fired it while using the True Sight to focus upon a singular point.


    Razor paused after his second dash, feeling a pinprick at his hind leg. Looking down, he found a moderate gash that had an arrow driven deep into it, squeezing past two flaps of snowy white hide. The wound began to weep tears of blood even as Razor lowered his head to lick at the blood.


    This was the same wound that Skyle had inflicted earlier, only a second slash had struck in the exact same place and direction. A strange look entered the intelligent beast¡¯s eyes as it tilted its head, gazing at Skyle.


    The small boy was running as fast as he could after having loosed his shot. He didn¡¯t think Razor would attempt the same straight-forward rush - he was far too canny for that.


    Whatever came next, Skyle could only try his best. If he gained enough distance, he would at least attempt a few shots to slow or distract his enemy. Holding an arrow nocked and ready, he retreated as quickly as he could.


    Razor didn¡¯t even pull the arrow out. In truth, the three feet long arrow was a puny needle when compared to the sheer mass of the beast. The wound wouldn¡¯t even inconvenience him much, let alone slow him down.


    ¡° What will he do next? I have to-¡±


    Skyle had been keeping watch upon the beast using his Infinite Eye, and it was only because of this that he was able to react in time. The brief moment Razor took to lick at his wound had simply been an excuse to gather its limbs under his weight. Now, the alpha launched himself into the air, not even wasting time gathering momentum by running first.


    Clouds of dust erupted into the air as Razor¡¯s silhouette became a blur. The alpha was too experienced to leap high and offer his opponent free shots. Instead, it stayed low as it launched its mass in a flat arc.


    Skyle barely had time to activate his Farsight in time. Without it, all he would have seen was the empty space the alpha had once occupied, then darkness as its mass pounced upon him in the blink of an eye. As it was, he barely had time to begin a Rabbit Step. Skyle clamped down on his panic as he fired off a shot first. Only then, did Skyle search for a way out. As Skyle¡¯s intent shifted in every which direction, he could see in real time the shifting shadows of Razor¡¯s reaction as he reached out with his claw. This time, there was no escaping his clutches!


    In the midst of his desperate search for an opening in his opponent''s assault, Skyle finally saw an inch of daylight. He gave up on slashing with Moonshadow, instead using it to shield his body as he leapt at the last possible second. Razor paused for just one moment when he saw the ebony streak left by Moonshadow¡¯s arc, and that hesitation was barely enough to let Skyle sneak under his claw for the third time.


    Razor saw through Skyle¡¯s feint at the last instant, and he belatedly stretched forth his claw. Skyle had been prepared for the blow, but it still struck him with all the force of a rampaging bull. It nearly knocked Moonshadow from his numb fingers, flinging the small boy off his feet and sending his body skidding several dozen feet along the ground.


    ¡°Skyle!¡± Leon cried out, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. Elemental essence began to swirl around him but Ash growled low in his throat and tugged at the fire summoner¡¯s hand with his teeth. It was a warning that Leon reluctantly heeded, even as he turned his attention back on the fight.


    Skyle had miraculously reached a kneeling position, and was even now fumbling for an arrow. It appeared as though he was unwilling or unable to run any longer. Arrows were strewn on the floor all around, having spilled from his quiver.


    Razor let out a sound for the first time since the beginning of the fight. It was a low, rumbling growl as he looked down and saw a second arrow driven deep into his flesh, barely one inch next to the first arrow. It was just another needle, nothing more than a nuisance. Still, when the alpha raised its single eye, there was no longer any hint of condescendence in its silver depths.


    As Skyle raised his bow in Razor¡¯s direction, he counted the arrows left in his quiver for what seemed the hundredth time. He licked his lips as he drew a deep breath, all the while holding the alpha¡¯s unnerving gaze.


    ¡° Four arrows left - perfect. Still, this will be close. Too close.¡±


    Doubt rose from his heart, and fear loomed in its shadow. Skyle crushed both in a ruthless fist of steely will. He would not fail, not after coming this far.


    Blowing out the breath held in his lungs, his heartbeat slowed down to a crawl as he took aim, then released.


    ¡° Three.¡±


    The arrow streaked forward, only to be easily swatted down by Razor¡¯s claw. The snowblade tiger began to pad forward at a measured pace, closing the 40 feet or so that separated him from his prey.


    Skyle didn¡¯t pause after releasing his arrow, instantly reaching for another one. He barely seemed to take aim before releasing another humming streak into the air.


    ¡° Two.¡±


    Razor flicked this arrow away with the same nonchalant ease of the previous attack, not even slowing down.


    Only thirty feet separated them now, and Razor¡¯s massive shadow loomed high over Skyle¡¯s diminutive figure. Heedless, Skyle released his next arrow.


    ¡° One.¡±


    This time, Razor seemed to sway aside. As the arrow struck his shoulder, there was a flicker of silver, and the arrow whined with the screech of metal before shattering into splinters.


    ¡° Zero.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s final arrow was shot at twenty five feet away. As the arrow left the string, Razor¡¯s lips pulled back to reveal gigantic fangs. The alpha¡¯s head seemed to blur for a moment, and somehow the arrow disappeared from the air. It was now firmly caught in between Razor¡¯s teeth. He spat the arrow out with a casual flick of his head.


    ¡°Skyle, move!¡± Leon shouted, helpless frustration and worry in his voice. It was echoed by all the snowblade tigers watching this unequal duel.


    Only Ash sat quietly, its silver gaze one of quiet intensity as he carefully watched his master.


    Twenty feet. Fifteen.


    Skyle imagined he could feel hot breath on his skin as the snowblade tiger alpha towered over him.


    ¡° Now!¡±


    Skyle frantically drew upon that shadowy essence that now welled deep within his veins. It answered his call, flooding even the Farsight with a murky darkness. This alarmed him, but the surprise only lasted for a split second before his fingers plucked the shimmering feather flaring out from Moonshadow.


    The feather detached itself from the main body of the bow, but a tendril of darkness still connected it to Moonshadow. Skyle didn¡¯t have time to study it in detail, as his Farsight was busy gazing into the future.


    There, he saw a multitude of scenarios. In a few, he inflicted another shallow wound upon the alpha. In most, his attack was thwarted with ease. Out of dozens of glances stolen from the future, only one suited his purposes. It was a single ray of daylight, but it was enough.


    Razor seemed to realize at the last second that the mysterious weapon wielded by Skyle was no simple bow. Even as Skyle lay the metallic feather against the bowstring and pulled back, Razor seemed strangely confused and hesitated, but in the end his muscles began to bunch up in preparation for one final rush.


    That moment¡¯s hesitation cost the snowblade tiger dearly. It could not be blamed, however. After all, only Skyle could see the shaft of midnight shadow extending forth from the feather¡¯s rear. Its surface felt firm and smooth under his fingers as the bowstring reached his cheek, the feather now becoming the tip of an arrow of inky darkness.


    Skyle released the arrow just as Razor began his dash. The experienced hunter saw Skyle aiming low, so he slashed with his paw to deflect the shot. The razor-sharp claws struck nothing but air. There was no arrow, and confusion bloomed in Razor¡¯s eyes, immediately followed by pain.


    The entire clearing was filled by one collective gasp as Razor showed weakness for the first time in the entire fight. He stumbled as his hind leg gave way, and he felt a damp wetness spreading down his fur.


    A great gush of blood fountained into the air from a gaping hole in the snowblade tiger¡¯s flesh. The previous arrows Skyle had shot were gone, replaced by a two-inch hole that bit deeply into Razor¡¯s leg. The alpha growled in fury this time, and streaked toward Skyle in a deadly rush of claws.


    The boy¡¯s skin was pale as he reached out and plucked the second and last feather from Moonshadow. He laid it upon the bowstring and pulled back, seemingly uncaring of the massive mountain of claws and fangs that bore down upon him.


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    For the first time, Razor¡¯s attack failed to stay silent. Instead, it produced a booming explosion as it sent great clouds of dust and shattered rock into the air. They obscured everything from sight except for the vague silhouette of the alpha¡¯s mass. Only his tail rose above the dust clouds, almost as if to announce his victory.


    ¡°Skyle!¡± Leon cried out shrilly, his face pale. However, his eyes were glued to the scene before his eyes, not daring to take another breath.


    As the dust cloud began to settle, a loud, exultant roar suddenly burst out. It filled the entire clearing with its victorious echo.


    Startled, Leon glanced sideways at Ash as the snowblade tiger raised its head even higher and kept roaring.


    Turning his gaze back to the cloud, Leon couldn¡¯t help but stare in mute astonishment.


    Razor lay completely still as he gazed upon Skyle, his claws burrowed deep into the rocky soil. Their impact as he halted the momentum of his rush had been the cause for the dust clouds. Sundered rock lay about everywhere, but that was all. Neither the alpha nor the boy that knelt before him showed any further wounds.


    Skyle¡¯s eyes held no fear as he met the alpha¡¯s stony gaze. Only his arms shook with the strain as he held the bowstring as far as he could pull it back. A single feather made of glistening metal hovered in midair at the center of his bow, ready to be launched. Its deadly tip floated not three feet from Razor¡¯s sole remaining eye.


    It was checkmate, though who exactly was the victor remained unclear.


    Perhaps it was because of this that Razor finally relented, snorting a great cloud of dust before turning around. It flicked its tail a couple times before slowly padding away, leaving a trail of blood that led all the way into the depths of the caverns below.


    All the snowblade tigers moved aside, watching with lowered heads as the alpha passed them by.


    Only Ash continued to roar, the joy and pride that filled his chest too great to be contained.


    Skyle¡¯s arms shook violently as he eased the bowstring back into place with meticulous care. Only then did he grasp the obsidian feather between his fingers. He slid it along Moonshadow¡¯s length until he felt an inaudible click. When he removed his hand, the feather lay securely fastened onto the bow¡¯s frame. Skyle didn¡¯t even look surprised when he saw that the other feather, which had previously been buried deep within Razor¡¯s flesh, had somehow found its way back and was already in its original position. Not a single blemish could be seen upon its gleaming surface.


    Skyle gazed in quiet reverence at the masterwork weapon in his hands, but the moment was ruined by the hearty slap he received upon his back.


    Screaming in agony, Skyle fell face first upon the ground.


    Leon stood over his best friend, gaping like a goggle-eyed fish.


    ¡°F-Farmboy, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Skyle could only manage a hiss as he reflexively used his Infinite Eye to check the damage in his body. He saw muscles that had been badly strained during the fight, demanding nourishment in order to repair the damage. His heart burned with exasperation as he saw the feeble lines of energy that flowed along his body. It was simply not enough! It would take his body far too long to repair the damage at such a snail¡¯s pace.


    Frustration and need combined in his heart, fusing into his will and adding their strength to the call he issued forth with almost unconscious, natural ease. It felt as though from within the core of his being, where a small void resided, a tendril of darkness reached out. This shadow drew near to the reserves of food he still held within his guts.


    These remnants were still being broken down, the mysterious energy he had previously seen still floating away into thin air after being released from its material shell. When the thin stream of shadow neared the energy, a great change took place. The energy trembled faintly, before being drawn toward the shadow.


    Slowly at first, but with increasing speed, more streams of energy were sucked into the shadow. This only made the shadow grow denser and more opaque, and both the range and the speed at which it drew upon the shimmering strands of energy grew exponentially.


    Soon, streams of light were flickering across Skyle¡¯s body, swiftly carried along his elemental veins. Even though they were damaged beyond repair, the light felt soothing as it coursed through elemental essence and the dark taint with equal ease.


    Eventually, it reached the muscles of his body that required nourishment. They took on a fascinating glow as they fed upon the mysterious energy, and Skyle almost shouted in joy as he saw his muscles repairing themselves at an unprecedented rate.


    Skyle was still exulting over this new breakthrough when he was rudely jolted awake from his trance by rough hands that grasped down upon his shoulders and pulled him to his feet.


    ¡°Farmboy? Skyle, are you alright?¡±


    A stinging slap flung Skyle¡¯s face to his right just as he was about to allay his friend¡¯s concern.


    ¡°Leo-¡±


    Another slap followed.


    ¡°Skyle, wake up. What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Just as Leon lifted his hand for a third slap, Skyle lifted his knee and paused just before inflicting a crippling blow upon the bigger boy''s tender family jewels.


    Leon¡¯s hand immediately halted, suspended in mid-air. The taller boy glanced down toward Skyle¡¯s knee before grinning sheepishly at his friend.


    ¡°Eh, I guess I got a little carried away.¡±


    That was his best attempt at an apology, but Skyle figured he deserved that much at least after all he had put the poor, spoiled noble brat through.


    Shifting his jaw and feeling around his mouth with his tongue, Skyle winced.


    ¡°Almost knocked my tooth loose, you happy brute.¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t even bother to deny the charge as he swept the air with an expansive gesture.


    ¡°Well, no matter now. That was one hell of a battle, farmboy!¡±


    ¡°Why, thank you, princess.¡±


    Leon scowled momentarily, but took the higher road this time as he had truly been impressed.


    ¡°Never have I witnessed a single more glaringly suicidal act of stupidity for a pointless bit of street cred - cred that is good only among a bunch of overgrown household cats, at that.¡±


    At least he had the good sense to lower his voice at that last. He was, after all, still surrounded on all sides by thousand-pound household cats, as he put it. It still earned him a sharp swipe from Ash¡¯s claws that made him howl.


    When he recovered enough dignity that he remembered to gloat, Skyle had already reached his feet and was gingerly testing his footing. Incredibly, his muscles seemed to have recovered to an amazing extent. He even felt as though they had grown noticeably stronger!


    ¡°Stop looking so pleased with yourself.¡±


    Leon¡¯s jab at his ribs didn¡¯t even faze Skyle. He was proud, so what? He had challenged an alpha of the streak - mean Old Razor at that - and limped away with an honorable defeat. That counted as a massive win in his book!


    Skyle had no illusions as to the winner of this duel. Sure, he might have inflicted a grievous wound upon the alpha¡¯s eye, likely blinding him completely. That wouldn¡¯t do him much good when he was smashed into bloody paste under the stampeding mass of the alpha''s attack. The alpha had obviously been handicapped, as it could not inflict mortal or even grievous injuries upon the small boy.


    After all, Skyle had the feeling his father would have a thing or two to say about that.


    He did feel a little ashamed he had relied upon this handicap. Still, Old Razor had obviously underestimated Skyle. It hadn¡¯t even bothered using its main weapons. The deadly snowblades for which they were known had only flashed briefly while it climbed down from its rocky perch. Skyle had no doubt in his mind that he had no hope of avoiding a single attack from those deadly blades. As it was, Razor was obviously ill-used to employing only its claws. It had still been enough to nearly overwhelm Skyle¡¯s reflexes, even armed with the Farsight.


    Skyle fiercely vowed to himself that he would train his body relentlessly until it no longer held him back. Now that he could make use of this mysterious new energy, he felt he had begun to unlock the secrets of the Maw of the Void. Skyle was overjoyed that he had chosen to challenge the alpha. Though he would have never succeeded without Moonshadow¡¯s new feathers of darkness, as he had taken to calling them, it was still part of his arsenal now. It had been his victory, and he now felt like kissing Old Razor for helping him delve further into the mysteries of the Maw of the Void.


    ¡°Stop it.¡± Leon cringed away from Skyle. ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to pounce upon that poor, old tiger¡¯s back and begin dry-humping his leg.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s only response was a smirk. The sentiment was loudly echoed by Ash¡¯s proud purr as the snowblade tiger cub rubbed its head against Skyle¡¯s side.


    Skyle patted the tiger¡¯s head, knowing that Leon could not understand the importance of what had just transpired today. Until today, Skyle had been tolerated by the alphas as Kendric¡¯s cub. Only the old alphas¡¯ indulgence had granted Ash barely enough freedom to leave the Den¡¯s territory and roam about on the outside. Now, Skyle¡¯s status in the streak was completely different, and so was Ash¡¯s. Skyle could be considered a full adult tiger now, and one of the scarce few that had even challenged one of the alphas - and survived to tell the tale.


    His chest swelled in pride at this accomplishment, and unsurprisingly, Ash echoed it.


    ¡°Well, since you seem to have recovered enough that you can crack a joke at the expense of one of the snowtiger patriarchs, I guess we should put such energies to good use.¡±


    Skyle only grinned at the panicked groan his words elicited. He had never felt more like his father¡¯s son.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, princess. It¡¯s time to cart some manure.¡±


    Skyle beckoned to his friend as he made Moonshadow vanish with a theatric flick of his hand.


    Leon stared for a moment, speechless, before he recovered.


    ¡°H-How? Where did it go? Wait, where did Moonshadow come from in the first place? And how did you get your talent back? You owe me a great deal of explanations, farmboy.¡±


    Skyle ignored both the ominous glint in the noble youth¡¯s eyes and the insistent tapping of his foot.


    Shrugging the questions aside, he wagged a finger under his friend¡¯s nose. ¡°Nah-uh. Good try, princess. Cart the dung first, then we talk. Priorities. I¡¯m shocked one who aspires to one day become a ruler can¡¯t even manage such a simple principle.¡±


    Leon¡¯s scowl melted as color flushed his cheeks. ¡°Well, it was worth a try. And you really do owe me an explanation. Several, actually..¡±


    As his voice trailed off, Skyle pressed his lips together and nodded. ¡°You are right, my friend. All in due time. I do owe you a lot, not just for today, but also just for being you.¡±


    Leon¡¯s smile was a clumsy one in its artless fluster, like a dragon trying to wear a rabbit¡¯s skin. ¡°It is what friends are for, right?¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly at that. ¡°Exactly. For that, and for carting dung together. Now, let¡¯s get to it, princess.¡±


    Leon rolled his eyes. ¡°Where¡¯d you get this new princess thing, anyway?¡±


    The bigger boy flexed his impressive muscles, stretching the fabric of his clothes over taut flesh as if to accentuate his point.


    Skyle¡¯s expression didn¡¯t so much as flicker as he parted his lips and let out a shrill, girly cry. ¡° Skyle!¡±


    Leon slapped his own forehead with a resounding thud. ¡°Ugh, I sounded nothing like that.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t twitch a muscle as he repeated his earlier cry, just a little louder this time. ¡° Skyle!¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    A toothy grin was the only acknowledgement that request got. When Skyle parted his lips for the third time, Leon sprang forward, stretching his hands forward.


    ¡° Sky-¡±


    The rest was cut off by hands roughly covering Skyle¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Fine! You win, you countryside buffoon. You could make a living at court doing that act, you know?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s shoulders twitched in a light shrug. ¡°So, finally ready, princess? Heaps of dung be waitin¡¯ just o¡¯er yond¡¯r.¡±


    Leon began to groan, but stopped with a sullen glare at Skyle.


    ¡°Lead the way, farmboy.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I don''t dare. Please, after you, my lady.¡±

 Chapter 87 - The Kids Playground

    Chapter 87 - The Kids'' Playground


    ¡°So tell me again, why didn¡¯t we bring these damn carts with us in the first place?¡±


    Skyle had to chuckle at that.


    ¡°How could you appreciate these beautiful forests while lugging these heavy things around? The first time was for you to enjoy the scenery. Now, we can get to work.¡±


    A derisive snort was the only reply that got.


    ¡°Besides, carting heavy loads across rough terrain will exercise most of your major muscle groups while also training your balance.¡±


    Leon cursed as his cart struck another exposed root and nearly tipped over. ¡°I¡¯ve had just about as much exercise as I¡¯m willing to take for the next five years combined. They don¡¯t torture fresh army recruits half this much in the army, you know?¡±


    ¡°Relax, you big baby. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re gonna enjoy the next part.¡±


    ¡°Shovel a bunch of manure to a cart while half of it gets in my hair? Such bliss! By the Goddess, how had I never thought of that before?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean the snowblade playground,¡± Skyle said.


    ¡°Snowblade what? You better not be taking me to some god-forsaken torture chamber where your fiendish beasts toy with their food by poking them full of holes with their snowblades - while the victims are still alive.¡±


    Skyle rolled his eyes, though deep inside he could think of quite a few snowblade tigers he knew who would really enjoy that. It wasn¡¯t that they were cruel, they just had a peculiar sense of humor sometimes. Glancing sideways at Ash and how his eyes brightened at Leon¡¯s words, Skyle decided to put such notions to rest before the over-eager cub could return to his streak-mates and spread the word of a new idea for their next wishlist.


    ¡°Ahem, not at all. It was started by me and Ash, actually. We often would wrestle and fool around, and Ma finally got tired of us breaking everything around the house. So, she forced da to build us a playground for us to wrestle in. When the rest of the streak found out, all the younger tigers decided to join in the fun.¡±


    Leon¡¯s pretty noble face scrunched up. ¡°Somehow, I doubt it¡¯s as simple as that. With you Farrows, it never is.¡±


    Skyle shrugged, knowing words would be useless. It really was just a little playground for him to fool around with a few of the more playful tigers.


    They had been skirting around the side of the mountain where the Den was, and arrived at a wooden gate with a big sign that read, ¡°Adults May Not Trespass! Kids only!¡±.


    Leon let out a breath he probably didn¡¯t know he had been holding. It was as though only now he began to believe Skyle¡¯s earlier words. In fact, from beyond the gate the sounds of laughter could be heard.


    ¡°Reik, catch!¡±


    ¡°Kass, not so high! I almost miss- Woa, back at ya!¡±


    Kass cried out in surprise, then began giggling uncontrollably. Reik¡¯s voice soon joined in.


    ¡°Of course, the playground grows a little more complicated with each passing season - which is good, since it makes it all the more challenging and fun to conquer!¡±


    Skyle could barely hold back the excitement in his voice as he undid the latch on the gate. He really had missed the playground, and couldn¡¯t wait to get back into the swing of things. Leon¡¯s face was one of skeptical aloofness, as though his noble self couldn¡¯t be bothered with little children¡¯s silly games.


    ¡°Oh, relax, you big lump. It¡¯ll be fun, I promise!¡±


    Leon snorted and had been about to push the gate open, but Skyle placed his hand on the bigger boy¡¯s arm. When his friend turned to look at him questioningly, Skyle simply shook his head with a smile and winked, putting a finger to his lips.


    Leaving the carts behind, Skyle led Leon through the gate with careful steps, crouching low in order to avoid being spotted. They walked over a dirt path that had hundreds of tracks meandering through and high rock walls on either side. When they finally emerged from the exit of the corridor, Leon would have cursed out loud if Skyle had been a second later in clamping a hand over his mouth.


    Skyle frowned as he glanced at Leon¡¯s wide-eyed stare, then turned around to look at the playground. Just what had surprised his friend so much?


    The playground lay much as he remembered it since the last time he had visited it a few days ago. It was a wide clearing at least three hundred feet wide with natural walls rising high all around it. The floor was made of the same soft soil that lay at the entrance, which was great because it could cushion one¡¯s fall and at the same time be used to put out the fires that occurred from time to time.


    ¡°Oh, I get it now.¡± Skyle almost rolled his eyes. ¡°Of course, he must have gotten surprised by the flaming rings. So much for being a lord fire summoner Adept.¡±


    Skyle threw Leon a meaningful look before slowly taking his hand away. It was just a few rings of fire which a few snowblade tigers were taking turns in leaping through. What was the big deal?


    ¡°This is madness!¡± Leon mouthed to Skyle, his eyes still riveted on the scene playing out below.


    Skyle scratched his head as he followed Leon¡¯s stare. The bigger boy''s goggle-eyed stare was following Reik¡¯s figure as the little rascal dashed along a corded rope stretched taut between two poles. Skyle¡¯s brother was doing admirably well, his eyes focused as he spread out his hands to either side in order to keep his balance while his feet lithely dashed along the thin rope.


    ¡°Relax, Leon,¡± Skyle whispered. ¡°Last time anyone fell off during the ropewalk was two years ago.¡±


    Skyle waved a hand at Leon to put him at ease. Apparently, he was worried Reik would fall and hurt himself. His concern was endearing, really. Little did he know, the last time any of the Farrow children had slipped during the ropewalk was when Skyle had taken his father¡¯s bait and tried to do it blindfolded.


    Of course, that had been two years ago and the rope had only been 15 feet high back then, instead of the 30 feet it now hovered at. It was inevitable that the rope would continue to climb higher with the years, as the relentless tigers kept getting bigger and continued to jump higher with every season.


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the crazy rope. What the hell are those murderous sons of bitches doing now?¡± Leon cried out, forgetting to whisper.


    Skyle made hasty shushing noises. ¡°Relax, I told you it¡¯s the playground. Young tigers always hang around to play amongst themselves or with us.¡±


    Leon turned to look at Skyle as though he were afraid the smaller boy had hit his head a few times too many during his fight against Old Razor. Then he turned back to stare at the sight of Reikard Farrow running along a rope that hung at least three stories high, and the five horse-sized snowblade tigers who leaped and clawed at the little boy from the ground below.


    The expressions on each and every tiger was one of predatory hunger as they all gathered their limbs under their massive bodies, then leapt as high as they could while stretching their deadly claws in an attempt to drag Reikard down. The red-faced boy laughed in delight as he hopped lightly to avoid one particularly enterprising snowblade tiger who had used one of his fallen comrades to provide him a boost, only barely missing his mark.


    ¡°Oh, here Reik. I¡¯m here!¡± came the enthusiastic voice of Kassandra Farrow. Leon turned to see the little girl waving at her brother from the top of a nearby wooden wall that seemed to have been purposely designed after a castle¡¯s inner wall, complete with crenelations and buttresses. It towered high above the ground, and below her another three tigers were clawing their way up by using their snowblades as improvised climbing hooks.


    Reikard was nearly to the other end of the rope, but at this moment a huge tiger stabbed its blades clean through the pole on the far side. It used his hold to leverage its body on top of the pole, perching there in a precarious state of balance as it glared fiercely at the little boy.


    Reikard whooped in delight as he skidded to a stop, then with a helpless shrug and a manic grin, stomped down against the rope as hard as he could. It bent from the impact and promptly bounced the hollering Farrow boy up high into the air. Reikard used this momentum to throw a small bundle he had been carrying under his arm to the waiting arms of his sister. Then he stretched out his hand and caught hold of a nearby ledge, scampering up in the blink of an eye and disappearing beyond their line of sight.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°You¡¯re up, Kass!¡±


    ¡°Got it! See you at the other side!¡±


    The little girl snatched the bundle from the air with hardly a look, then immediately jumped off the ledge. Just moments after she vacated the platform, the first of the tigers climbing up from below finally made the top. It could only roar its frustration as Kassandra stretched out her tiny hand and caught hold of a rope hanging from a nearby pole. She let out a whoop of joy as she soared through the air, with a few tigers jumping at her and missing by just a hair.


    Suddenly, a tiger loomed large in front of her, finally having judged the angle of her swing correctly. Kassandra didn¡¯t panic, instead throwing the bundle straight toward the incoming tiger. It flailed its claws as it twisted in mid-air to try to catch it. It just barely missed, and its desperate movement allowed Kassandra to let go of her rope and sweep past it at dizzying speeds.


    Just when she seemed to reach the apex of her trajectory, she stretched out her hand and caught the bundle in her outstretched hand. She wore a triumphant grin as she then reached out with her other hand and grabbed hold of another rope. The tiger could only stare as it fell back to the ground, while Kassandra soared toward another wall.


    If Leon could feel his jaw hitting the ground, he gave no sign. Instead, he turned to Skyle while gesturing wildly toward the furious chase taking place in front of their eyes, as if to say, ¡°See?!¡±.


    Skyle quirked an eyebrow at Leon. ¡°Relax, Leon. They know what they¡¯re doing. That tiger wouldn¡¯t get hurt just by falling from such a height.¡±


    Leon nearly spat out blood as he stared at his friend in frustration, as if trying to decide whether this was all part of yet another bloody unfunny prank.


    ¡°B-But they¡¯re just ki-¡± Leon began, but was promptly shushed by Skyle as the smaller boy pointed in excitement.


    ¡°There, Kass is at Cliff Mountain. She¡¯ll be taking Adventure Slide soon!¡±


    Heedless of Leon¡¯s state of shock, Skyle hurriedly dragged his friend to the side, pushing him up against a nearby ledge from which they could gain a better vantage point.


    ¡°Abandoned gods, just what¡¯s going on here?¡± Leon moaned feebly as he followed by sheer inertia rather than any will of his own.


    ¡°They¡¯re nearly there. They just need to make it past Cliff Mountain and down Adventure Slide, and they¡¯ll be home free!¡±


    ¡°You mean from the horde of murderous, blood-thirsty tigers trying to butcher them?¡±


    Skyle chuckled good-naturedly at that. Leon nearly spat out blood again.


    ¡°Hush now.¡± Skyle held up his hand. ¡°Just watch. Kass usually gets overconfident when they¡¯re this far ahead. It will probably come down to whether Reik can pull through and go the extra mile.¡±


    Leon stared at Skyle as though to ask what part of this bloody affair was supposed to let him know Kassandra was far ahead, when the entire bloody place was spilling out berserking tigers left and right?


    Skyle¡¯s words proved right on the mark. Kassandra was climbing an artificial wall with the bundle strapped to her back. It towered a good hundred feet off the ground, but there were many footholds purposefully build there ahead of time. The little empress of the Farrow clan resembled nothing more than a monkey as she lightly scampered up the wall with astonishing speed. Only a handful seconds later, the wave of crazed tigers fell upon the wall like a giant wave of white crashing upon a cliff. They scrabbled at the wall and tried jumping as high as they could, but Kassandra was already far beyond their reach.


    Kassandra kept glancing down as she climbed higher and higher. A confident smile lit up her doll-like face as she finally crested the hill. She even took the time to turn around and wave at the tigers madly scrabbling up the cliff. They snarled at her as they used their snowblades to dig into the wall and slowly climbed their way up.


    Skyle shook his head. ¡°Silly girl, she¡¯s fallen into their trap.¡±


    Leon blinked at Skyle for a moment, clearly unable to understand.


    ¡°See there?¡± Skyle pointed at the other side of the wall. From this angle they could see a number of sleds and a long slope winding its way back down to level ground.


    ¡°Looks to me like she¡¯s won.¡±


    Skyle shook his head impatiently. ¡°No, not there. Look there.¡±


    Following Skyle¡¯s finger more closely, Leon finally seemed to understand.


    There, just around the corner from where Kassandra was waving down to the tigers below, a patch of white was conspicuous amongst the dreary brown of the slope. Leon could see the glint of silver which told him the fierce hunter was getting ready to strike.


    ¡°We have to warn-¡± Leon began.


    Skyle poked the bigger boy¡¯s ribs. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! Kass¡¯ pride makes for a very exploitable blindspot, and maybe this time she¡¯ll learn her lesson. Oh, never mind.¡±


    Skyle shook his head as though disappointed.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Leon blinked again.


    ¡°Good old Reik, pulling through just in time to save the day again.¡±


    Skyle chuckled helplessly as he saw his little brother sneaking up behind the snowblade tiger lurking in ambush.


    ¡°What is he trying to do?¡± Leon furrowed his brows in confusion.


    ¡°Cheat,¡± Skyle sighed. ¡°Then again, I suppose it is not really cheating since technically he got the jump on poor little Ruffles. The unlucky cat will be taking a lot of crap from his streak-mates for this.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Shh, watch.¡±


    Reikard slunk forward at a steady pace, each step careful and deliberate even though Kassandra was now drawing closer and closer, almost within reach of Ruffles¡¯ ambush.


    ¡°Now,¡± Skyle whispered, tightening his fist.


    Almost as though Reikard had heard his older brother¡¯s prompt, the little boy chose that exact moment to jump on top of the crouching snowblade tiger. As he did so, Reikard took advantage of the momentary shock to slip a length of rope over Ruffle¡¯s head and around his neck. Drawing the ends back tightly, the little boy shouted at the top of his lungs.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got him. Run Kass, RUN!¡±


    Kass didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She immediately realized she had almost fallen prey to an ambush. To her credit, she didn¡¯t even pause as she picked up her feet and dashed past the struggling figure of Ruffles. The poor snowblade tiger was bucking and hopping all around, trying desperately to dislodge his unwelcome rider while Reikard hollered and whooped as though he were riding a wild stallion.


    Ruffles finally managed to work one of his snowblades close enough to the rope to cut himself loose, sending Reikard tumbling from his back and leaving him sprawled on the floor. Ruffles didn¡¯t even glance at Reikard, instead dashing in Kassandra¡¯s direction.


    It was too late, however. Kassandra didn¡¯t even pause as she kicked one of the waiting sleds into motion, and jumped right in as it began to tumble down the slope. Ruffles soared through the air as he pounced after her, but once on the slope Kassandra began to pick up speed far faster than the snowblade tiger could.


    Ruffles still didn¡¯t give up, instead raising his head and letting out a loud cry. Answering calls echoed from across the slope, and soon the figures of several snowblade tigers could be seen crawling up the sides of the slope, sliding down to block Kassandra¡¯s path.


    Kassandra seemed to take all of this in stride. She did not make her earlier mistake of over-confidence again. Instead, as she came upon the first snowblade tiger sliding her way on a collision course, she deftly kicked out with her left foot and bucked her hips. This brought the right side of her sled off the ground while the left side carved deeply into the soft soil underneath. The pouncing snowblade tiger only got a mouthful of gravel for its trouble as Kassandra¡¯s sled swept a graceful circle around it.


    The same story repeated itself as tiger after relentless tiger rushed in to intercept the little girl and her sled. Time and time again, Kassandra seemed to know the exact angle at which she should swerve her sled to send her sliding smoothly past the ravenous claws of her would-be captors.


    As she finally drew closer to the bottom of the slope, she showed no signs of slowing down at all, five snowblade tigers having been left biting nothing but dust in her wake. Kass waved a hand over her shoulder as she glanced back at her defeated foes.


    ¡°Kass! Watch out!¡±


    Hearing her twin brother¡¯s panicked shout, Kass swept her eyes back in front of her only to find a huge snowblade tiger baring its fangs right in her path. It was so close that it was too late to try to swerve aside. She¡¯d never made the turn in time to avoid the tiger¡¯s claws.


    ¡°Catch!¡± Kass cried out, once again flinging the bundle in her arms just above the snowblade tiger¡¯s head.


    Skyle slapped his own forehead as he let out a groan. "Wiggles, you big dummy!"


    The surprised tiger reacted just as its predecessor had. It immediately leapt high into the air and stretched its neck forward to catch the bundle between its jaws. Kassandra let out a wicked little grin as she abruptly pulled hard on a string she held in her hands. The bundle immediately sank back down toward the little girl, and she caught it just in time as the sled sped past the airborne tiger¡¯s paws.


    ¡°Maybe next time, Wiggles!¡±


    Wiggles twisted in midair, stretching out its claws to paw desperately, but he caught only empty air. It let out a mournful cry as it watched the sled rush past below with disconsolate eyes.


    Finally, Kassandra Farrow reached a wide platform at the very bottom of the slope. The sled crashed against a huge mountain of hay which had obviously been put there for just such a purpose. Only instants later, the little empress finally emerged. She puffed her chest forward and held her head high, nevermind all the bits and pieces of stray that lay hopelessly tangled all over her clothes and hair.


    A victorious smile glowed upon her face, her eyes glittering like the stars. She at long last unfolded the small bundle she carried in her arms. It was a single doll of patchwork rags, roughly shaped like a little lamb. Upon its face was a squiggly line that was meant to stand for a sheepish smile.


    Kassandra was all self-assured confidence as she stepped forward and placed the doll upon the shelf of a wooden stand that stood tall against the far wall. It contained three levels, each holding a different number of similar dolls. Upon the first level there was only one doll. Upon the second level there were well over two dozen, while on the third level there were only five.


    It was upon this third level that Kassandra placed her doll with deliberate care. As she did so, she took up a piece of chalk and looked up to where a giant sandglass lay suspended high above, just below the ceiling. She nodded judiciously to herself as she scribbled some numbers there, then stepped back with a satisfied grin.


    ¡°All that.. For just a doll?¡±


    Skyle tried his best not to roll his eyes. These silly nobles, they really didn¡¯t understand the first thing about what was really important.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s about more than just that, you silly arse.¡±


    ¡°Still, they risked their-¡±


    Skyle held up his hand before his friend¡¯s face, forestalling any further protests.


    ¡°Not just a doll, Leon. They faced off against twenty two snowblade tigers, two children barely over nine years old - and they won. They beat them all without using an ounce of magical power. Can you claim to be able to do the same?¡±


    Leon swallowed loudly, then shook his head.


    ¡°Thought so. Well, then how about a little respect, huh?¡±


    Slowly but surely, Leon nodded. There was newfound respect in his eyes now.


    Skyle nodded, pleased with himself and proud of his little siblings.


    ¡°Hell, how did ma¡¯am Farrow manage to stay sane in this absolutely crazy-fucking-bughouse-nuts family, I¡¯ll never know..¡±


    Leon¡¯s words slowly trailed off as he shook his head in wonder, and with deep, abiding respect.

 Chapter 88 - Enter the Lion

    Chapter 88 - Enter the Lion


    ¡°You sure about this, big bro?¡±


    ¡°Uh, I think so. He should be fine.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. He looks awful shaky, you know?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s just how he gets himself pumped up.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I see, I see. Big bro, you¡¯re so wise.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You¡¯ll be even smarter than I am when you¡¯re my age.¡±


    ¡°Never! You¡¯re my idol, Big bro - and for good reason! You¡¯ve completed the playground 26 times, all by yourself! Kass and I have barely completed six rounds while working together.¡±


    Skyle had the grace to flush at this as he lowered his head and coughed uncomfortably.


    ¡°I was just lucky. Besides, I¡¯m a lot more used to dealing with things without using magic, unlike you two. I¡¯m also a lot older.¡±


    ¡°Uh, big bro Leon looks even older than you, Big bro. And his face looks greener than a spinach. If you hadn¡¯t explained it to me, I would have thought that his knees were shaking in fright and he was just about to throw up.¡±


    Leon nearly stumbled at that, barely holding back a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°God damn little twerp, and to think I thought you were the nicer one of the bunch. You¡¯re all a bunch of little devils. Devils!¡±


    For what seemed like the hundredth time in the past couple minutes or so, Leon glanced around at the twenty-odd snowblade tigers padding in a slow circle around him, and the Marquese of Draxas wondered just how the hell he had ended up in this situation in the first place.


    Kassandra sniffed loudly from where she was busily scratching a snowblade tiger¡¯s ears - Velvet, if Leon did not badly misrecall.


    ¡°Pfft, he¡¯s obviously just about ready to soil his silken trousers, you dummies.¡±


    Leon bit back an oath as he sent a furious glare toward the little she-devil.


    Kassandra affected not to notice as she held both of the tiger¡¯s massive cheeks in each of her hands and tickled affectionately. ¡°You¡¯re going to show that big, fat, good-for-nothing noble oaf who¡¯s the boss around here, aren¡¯t you Velvet? Aren¡¯t you, girl?¡±


    Velvet¡¯s foot-long fangs began to protrude from between her lips as a hideous grin lit up the enthusiastic tiger¡¯s face.


    ¡°Great, just what I needed - more incentives for the murderous beasts to come after me.¡± Leon did his best not to let his dismay show.


    ¡°Relax, Leon. Velvet wouldn¡¯t really hurt you. None of them will. They just want to snatch the little lamb. They know whichever team gets to tag it gets free brushdowns and extra portions of entrails at lunch.¡±


    Leon bit back his curse at the last minute, the lamb-shaped ragdoll trembling in his hand. ¡°Just what kind of self-respecting magical beast hollers and capers around for a stupid brush and some bits of offal? Hell, I''ll buy you a whole boatload of Lindenese Caviar if you''ll just keep your bloody fangs to yourselves!¡±


    Trying not to dwell upon things he knew he would never understand, nor had any interest to, Leon instead raised his eyes to watch the forlorn rope that stretched a good three stories off the ground. The notion that he was supposed to run - not walk, mind you, but run at a dead sprint - across the seemingly endless length of rope while being accosted by countless berserking snowblade tigers from all sides did nothing to improve his mood.


    ¡°Uh, Leon. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to use your summoned spirit? I mean, I completely understand. It¡¯s your first run, after all, and-¡±


    Leon indignantly held up a hand. ¡°Say no more, you upstart peasant. You farmboys think you can look down your smudgy little noses at a scion of the Adrausier lineage? We¡¯re the lions of the sun-scorched steppes, the conquerors of- Yikes!¡±


    Leon barely had time to snatch back his hand as one of the vicious, dastardly tigers actually tried to chomp down on his arm as though it were a drumstick served up for lunch!


    ¡°Snowball, no crippling of limbs before the race starts!¡± An uneasy smile shakily circled its way around Skyle¡¯s face as he turned back to his friend. ¡°Eh, no crippling at all for that matter. Don¡¯t mind them, Leon. They¡¯re just pumped that they get to race with a new player. I think they¡¯re expecting great things from you.¡±


    This last was interrupted by several loud yawning sounds coming from the tigers at Skyle¡¯s back. The damn fleabags had the audacity to lift one massive paw to their mouth in a disturbingly human-like gesture.


    Suspicion flared in Leon¡¯s eyes as he spun around on his heel. He turned just in time to catch Kassandra, the little minx, red-handed in the act of letting out a huge, exaggerated yawn while pointing with her hand toward Leon¡¯s back.


    Flustered, Kassandra did not even attempt to give any excuses, instead merely sniffing up her nose at Leon and turning her head away from the indignant noble.


    ¡°Kass, stop antagonizing Leon. He¡¯s my friend, and you should be nice to him.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s plea fell on deaf ears. Her tiny, button lips moved in response, and Leon thought he caught the words ¡°Fat¡± and ¡°Ox¡± somewhere in between.


    Glancing down in spite of himself, Leon scowled as he saw nothing but firm muscles and not an ounce of extra fat. He was happy with his physical prowess, thank you very much, and the ladies back at the Draxas Duchy had been even happier.


    ¡°Stumpy little brat.¡±


    Leon couldn¡¯t help but wince at the growl that came from Velvet¡¯s throat at his words. Damn cats had ears like no one¡¯s business. Big claws, too. Not even mentioning their fangs, snowblades..


    The list only made his shaky resolve waver even more, so Leon firmly stamped down on his courage and lifted his head high. It was not death or injury that scared him, he told himself. Only the spectre of an ignoble defeat haunted him as he sent a wandering gaze through the whole circuit he was to follow.


    First, there was there a series of wooden walls that rose ten feet high with ropes attached to them. On the other side of each wall, another rope awaited, as well as a ditch filled with water he was supposed to clear by pushing his weight off the wall and jumping. Beyond the last wall lay the second obstacle course, which was a pond filled with brackish water. There were multiple small disks that were four foot in diameter floating across its surface. He was supposed to clear each of them agilely enough that he did not topple over and fall into the water. After that, awaited the rope dash. It consisted of climbing up a log that was roughly three stories high, then running across a rope that was hardly an inch around in thickness. This rope stretched for an interminable 50 feet or so. At the other end of the rope stood another pole. He was supposed to slide down to the ground and reach the castle that awaited beyond.


    This wooden mini-castle was a competent replica of a modern day fortification. He was to dash through the single gate, rush up the stairs, and run across its battlements before finding purchase on one of multiple swinging ropes located at the other end of the wall. After swinging from rope to rope several times, during which time he would be disqualified if his foot so much as graced the ground, he would finally arrive at the final obstacle.


    Cliff Mountain was a hundred feet wall with many handholds intentionally carved along its surface. A competent climber would be able to make the top without any difficulty, whereupon he would reach the final stage - Adventure Slide. This dirt hill was intentionally designed to allow for the runner to take one of several sleds and rush down its length at what were patently very unsafe speeds.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The whole run stank of a blatant disregard for the safety of your fellow man, and that was not even counting the two dozen or so bloody snowblade tigers eager to sink their fangs - no matter what Skyle said, for what could a dumb little nitwit of a farmboy know? - into his tender, blue-blooded flesh.


    ¡°Remember, buddy. If at any point in time you want to call it quits, you just have to toss the lamb in your hands to the nearest tiger. That¡¯s all they want from all this, and they will happily leave you alone. You¡¯re gonna be alright, big fella - trust me.¡±


    Leon couldn¡¯t decide which annoyed him most,  the condescending worry in his friend¡¯s voice, or the uneasy grin that stretched shakily across his bloodless lips.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even look like you trust your own words, you flaming turnip-for-brains buffoon. Would it really cost you so much to take some acting lessons, at the very least?¡±


    Some of his misgivings must have shone through his gaze, as Skyle coughed uncomfortably before patting him on the back.


    ¡°Really, you¡¯ll be just fine. I don¡¯t know why you insisted on doing the run just because you heard I¡¯m the unbeaten champion here, but I suppose it does look really fun.¡±


    Leon did his best not to gawk.


    ¡°You flaming idiot, you think I¡¯m doing this for fun?¡±


    ¡°I really wish it was me doing the run, but I¡¯ll let you go first. Just remember you owe me.¡±


    ¡°Owe you my ass. If I get out of this in one piece, I¡¯ll pay you back plenty  - oh, don¡¯t you worry about that.¡±


    ¡°Just one quick run and it¡¯ll be all over. Oh, and whatever you do, don¡¯t touch their tails. It¡¯s the greatest insult that you can give a snowblade cat, and they¡¯ll probably be pissed. Really pissed. You really don¡¯t want a pissed off three-thousand pound cat juggling your ballsack with its pointy claws.¡±


    Before Leon could open his mouth and ask what the hell that was supposed to mean, Skyle slapped him on the shoulder and shoved him forward.


    ¡°Ready? Set-¡±


    ¡°W-wait, just like that?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d you expect, a freaking inaugural address ceremony?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean, they¡¯re really flaming close, farmboy. Shouldn¡¯t I get a little bit of a headstart?¡± Leon flailed his arms while shuddering at the predatory gazes that surrounded him from all sides.


    ¡°Hmm. You do have a point. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve explained this well enough. Listen, here¡¯s three very important points that you want to keep in mind if you want to come out of this with your hide in-¡±


    ¡°Go go go!¡± Kassandra¡¯s voice called out with disturbing enthusiasm.


    Leon gaped in astonished horror at the hateful little minx, looking for a moment like a whale that had been beached. Then he had no time for anything else as growls rose from all around him, and his feet began to scrabble against the dirt before he even realized he was moving.


    Leon felt more than heard the approach of a snowblade tiger on his left and he twitched away while flicking the twice-be-damned lamb ragdoll to his other hand. Feeling something looming uncomfortably close to his side, he instinctively lowered his shoulder and summoned his fire-reinforced strength to bash the approaching shadow aside.


    A loud, rumbling impact shook his entire body and he nearly toppled to the other side. As it was, he tottered unsteadily for a while before picking up momentum and continued his desperate dash toward the walls in front of him. In his panic, Leon didn¡¯t even register the surprised yelp as his shoulder charge knocked Wiggles¡¯ questing jaws aside and sent the young snowblade tiger sprawling to the ground in a messy jumble of fur and limbs.


    ¡°The hell was that? Fuck me, I thought they weren¡¯t supposed to attack me, only the doll!¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t even stop for a moment to realize that it had been him smashing into the poor, hapless snowblade tiger, and not the other way around. As it was, he could vaguely hear Skyle shouting out in a loud whoop as he cheered his friend on.


    ¡°You go Leon! Show these little pussy cats who the Lion of Draxas is!¡±


    A chorus of ferocious growls instantly answered that statement, and Leon didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or to cry.


    ¡°Would it really cost you to keep your damn tongue still for once and not make it even worse than it already is?¡±


    At the very least, Wiggles¡¯ unexpected crash had gained him some precious breathing room as the other tigers reflexively dodged and fell back.


    The first of the walls loomed high before him as he approached at a dead sprint. Risking a quick glance over his shoulder, Leon saw too many shadows to count loping along the ground and eating up the distance that separated them far, far too fast for comfort.


    ¡°Uh-oh, big bro Leon¡¯s not gonna have enough time to pull himself up the rope before they¡¯re on him. He¡¯s gonna get intercepted before he can even crest the first wall.¡±


    ¡°Pffft, you mean the dumb ox is going to get his butt torn off by the first tiger that leaps off the base of the wall. That¡¯s what he gets for being so fat and clumsy.¡±


    ¡°Shhh, enough, you two. You underestimate my friend. Even though he didn¡¯t get the usual headstart, I have full confidence in him or I would call Toothy back.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right! It¡¯s Toothy!¡±


    Kassandra giggled just then, and that was enough to drive a spear of ice into his guts. Surely, that couldn¡¯t be good news. What kind of name was Toothy for a tiger, anyway?


    ¡°Toothy, Big bro? I thought he was banned from the playground after the last time he used them huge fangs to tear-¡±


    ¡°Shush now, you¡¯re going to distract him. Watch how an expert warrior handles this type of desperate, life-or-death situation.¡±


    ¡°Uh, wait a second. Life-or-death? I thought this was supposed to be a game, you damn brain-dead turnip farmer!¡±


    The ice that had stabbed into his guts now swiftly coursed through his veins, clutching at his heart with wintry fingers. His breathing grew even more ragged than it already was, and his vision began to glow red.


    ¡°Fine, you want to see the Lion of Draxas? I¡¯ll show you!¡±


    ¡°Pffft, expert my butt. He¡¯s going to brain himself against the wall at that pace.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Big bro. He¡¯s gotta slow down. He¡¯s going too fast!¡±


    ¡°Shh. Leon knows what he¡¯s doing.. I think.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence, you little traitor. Well, here goes nothing.¡±


    BOOM!


    Far from slowing down, Leon pumped his legs for all they were worth in one final, insane burst of speed as he ducked his head and smashed his shoulder against the wooden wall with all the force he could muster.


    The rickety wall exploded into splinters as Leon burst through a human-sized hole at its base. The entire wall shuddered as it tottered unstably for a moment. Leon immediately splashed straight into the water-filled ditch beyond. It only came up to his waist, and so Leon spat out water as he eyed the oncoming tigers with a grim look on his face.


    ¡°Oh crap,¡± Skyle murmured.


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong, Big bro?¡±


    No explanations were needed, as Leon immediately bashed the rear of the wall with his shoulder once more. The entire wall let out a groan as it toppled back in the direction of the rushing tigers. Toothy¡¯s malicious little grin vanished as its big, round eyes caught sight of the 10-foot wall coming down on top of him. The snowblade tiger hissed in panic as he scrabbled against the dirt and back-pedaled as fast as he could.


    The entire wall fell down with a thundering crash, sending splinters flying everywhere and covering everything under a great cloud of dust.


    ¡°Holy hell, Leon. Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Uh, Big bro, is big bro Leon going to be alright?¡±


    ¡°From the cats, maybe. I¡¯m going to skin that dumb brute with my own two hands, though.¡±


    Kass¡¯ tinkling laughter rang out in the air. ¡°I told you he was just a dumb ox.¡±


    ¡°Where is big bro Leon? I can¡¯t see him through the dust.¡±


    ¡°Neither can the cats. I think that¡¯s the whole point, Reik.¡±


    ¡°Then how is he going to find the next rope to climb, Big bro?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m afraid of. He¡¯s not climbing.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    BOOM!


    Another thunderous crash rang out from the distance, and shrieks of splintered wood filled the air, promptly followed by the sound of splashing water.


    Even Kassandra looked completely dumb-founded at this. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s really going to..¡±


    Skyle¡¯s smile wilted off his face as his skin grew waxier by the second.


    ¡°Yeah, I think when he said he was going to smash my peasant records, he meant it in the most literal way.¡±


    ¡°B-but Big bro, that¡¯s six walls of sturdy pinewood planks. Surely, he can¡¯t mean to-¡±


    BOOM!


    Reik stood there gaping with his mouth wide open, and Skyle could only shake his head.


    ¡°Uh, isn¡¯t that cheating, Big bro?¡±


    ¡°Not technically. He¡¯s not using any spells, after all - only his fire-strengthened body. Our tigers and even you guys do the same thing. It¡¯s just that he¡¯s a far more extreme case.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I hadn¡¯t thought of that.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you call it, you have to stop your dumb ox of a friend, you dummy! He¡¯s gonna wreck the whole playground!¡±


    Skyle held his hands up toward Kassandra, shrugging as though to say it was clearly out of his hands now.


    ¡°I really..¡±


    BOOM!


    ¡°.. don¡¯t think that there¡¯s any..¡±


    BOOM!


    ¡°.. stopping him now..¡±


    BOOM!


    As though the Lion of Draxas had finally found his rhythm, the final three explosions came in quick succession, one after the other. A thin, ringing sound buzzed in Skyle¡¯s ears, but his eyes couldn¡¯t make out much of anything from the area where the walls stood.


    ¡°Hey, are you alright in there?¡± Skyle cried out worriedly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the big ox knew what he was doing?¡±


    Skyle coughed out a mouthful of dust. ¡°It¡¯s not Leon I¡¯m worried about. He¡¯ll be just fine. I¡¯m more worried about Toothy. Poor thing, he looked so excited to be back at the playground.¡±


    ¡°Woa. Even Big bro¡¯s friends are so godly- Oww! What was that for, Kass?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t encourage him. He¡¯s just a big, dumb ox. Lion of Draxas, my butt. More like Ox of Draxas.¡±


    That last was met with a hearty laugh.


    ¡°You hear that, Leon? You¡¯re hereby known as the Ox of Draxas!¡±


    An inarticulate howl of rage was all the response Skyle got.


    Still, that was fine. It should be just enough to motivate his friend into conquering this new challenge with all his heart.


    That¡¯s all Skyle wanted, to give his friend small, encouraging pat on the back.


    Or a swift kick in the ass, whichever worked out in the big, lumpy idiot¡¯s best interests.


    A proud smile secretly stretched across his lips then, hidden from Reik and Kass¡¯ eyes.


    ¡°Go give them hell, Lion of Draxas. Roar, and show them why you are the King.¡±

 Chapter 89 - The Ass of Draxas

    Chapter 89 - The Ass of Draxas


    Leon coughed out another mouthful of water, cursing at whichever idiot had the bright idea to make the last trench twice as long as the other ones. He had smashed through all the other walls just fine - if the fierce, throbbing pain in his shoulder could be considered such - but after busting through the final wall he had been treated to a face-full of water, nose first.


    Clawing his way out of the pool, Leon snarled at the ragdoll lamb he carried in his hand. The squiggly line it carried for a smile seemed distinctly mocking now, as if even the stupid doll were laughing at Leon¡¯s misfortunes.


    They were legion, these misfortunes. Even now, he could hear a couple dozen of them closing on him from behind. They didn¡¯t even bother to mask the noise of their approach. Instead, they sounded rather pissed off, which Leon could not for the life of him understand why. The falling wall hadn¡¯t even hit them, and besides, it wasn¡¯t as if Leon were the one chasing after them with a full arsenal of deadly magical swords tucked into every nook and cranny of his body.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, as long as I can get this damn water out of my boots, I can tak-¡±


    The thought withered and died right then and there, as Leon arrived at the next obstacle: a whole goddamn pool of water, which apparently he was supposed to traverse with fairy-like dainty little footsteps upon the dozen or so floating platforms spread about.


    Each platform was only around four feet in diameter, and there was simply no way it would bear his massive weight. The roaring drew closer, and Leon knew he was out of time.


    As Leon snarled even more curses at the fiendish idiot who had designed this whole obstacle course with only midgets in mind, he tried to gather as much momentum as he could and leapt off the edge of the pool. Soaring through the air, Leon tried to imagine himself an airy wind spirit, drifting through the breeze and just barely brushing against the surface of the nearest circular platform before pushing himself off toward the next platform.


    ¡°Hey, this is working! Maybe this is what the power of the mind can achie-¡±


    The rest of this whimsical thought was drowned out by the murky water which opened up its maw to swallow him whole when the platform under his feet decided that no, it definitely could not take the massive weight of Leon¡¯s body upon its dainty little surface. It upended Leon and sent him sprawling face-first into the pool¡¯s brackish depths.


    For a few seconds, Leon allowed himself to indulge in a very rich and colorful display of the foulest language known to man within the confines of the Free Duchies. Sadly, it was all drowned out by the foul water rushing down his gullet.


    Sputtering and coughing, Leon finally surfaced and began to make for the far end of the pool with a strong breaststroke. He had learned to swim early on, and it now served him well as he swiftly made progress, all the while trying to ignore the sticky water that clung to his skin as insistently as fleas flocking to a beggar.


    ¡°At the very least, all this water should keep them damn cats off my back.¡±


    Leon figured that at least it was a small victory, and he would take what he could get. Such optimistic thoughts were rudely cut off by several splashes coming from behind his back. A shiver ran down his spine as he glanced over his shoulder.


    The goat-fucking bastard cats did not even pause before leaping high into the air and diving straight into the water. They broke through the surface with hardly a ripple compared to their girth, and they resurfaced even faster than Leon had. They met his gaze with a vicious hunter¡¯s stare, almost making Leon shout out that this was not supposed to be personal, but rather a simple friendly game.


    What made Leon almost faint was when they began to weave their way through the water like they were water serpents instead of flaming cats.


    ¡°Cats are supposed to be afraid of water, you idiots!¡±


    Heedless, nearly ten snowblade tigers had already jumped into the water, with more following right behind. After seeing their swimming speed, Leon knew he was badly outmatched. Raising his eyes towards the far end of the pool, Leon knew he would never make it in time at this pace.


    As if they had reached the same conclusion, a few of the tigers following Leon began to let out high-pitched growls, which sounded distinctly celebratory to his ears.


    ¡°Hell no, you don¡¯t. Not while I have anything to say about it!¡±


    Leon reached out and grasped one of the platforms with his arm. Using the other arm to brace himself in the water, Leon cried out as veins bulged out of his neck. The entire platform came clear out of the water, the whole four feet disk made of sturdy wood. Leon hefted it in his hand for a single moment, before letting out a roar and flinging it as he would a skipping stone along the surface of the water towards his would-be captors.


    The first unfortunate victim of his throw was a cat Leon recognized. It was Thrasher, though he had later come to know his real name was Tipsy. The poor snowblade tiger barely had time to let out a strangled shriek before hastily diving underneath the water. The wooden platform still hit its rump with a solid thump, before bouncing off and continuing to skip along the water. Several other tigers were barely in time to dodge out of the way or dive into the water, avoiding Tipsy¡¯s fate.


    Tipsy himself surfaced mere moments later, but his face was contorted with pain as he howled and feebly began to swim away from Leon. All the other snowblade tigers paused for one long moment while they took all of this in, before resuming their chase at a far less eager pace than before.


    Leon thought that this was a happy trend he should definitely encourage, and so he kept swimming from platform to platform. Each time, he took the time to pick up each disk and threw it with all his might, sending howling tigers scampering away and giving himself even more breathing room.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Run, you rat-sack bastards. Run before I shove four feet of moldy wood up your arse!¡±


    Almost as if they could read his mind - or perhaps it was the crazy look on his face - the snowblade tigers gave Leon a wide berth as the fire summoner leisurely climbed up the other end of the pool. Though his boots squished with his every step and his sense of smell had shorted out a long time ago, he still couldn¡¯t resist raising the ragdoll lamb high over his head.


    ¡°Come at me, you bitches!¡±


    A massive collective roar answered him, sending him reeling back as all the snowblade tigers converged upon his position like a vast tide of white. Cursing under his breath and admitting that taunting his enemy when he was outnumbered twenty-to-one might not be the brightest idea he ever had, Leon hurriedly turned around and began the long crawl up Muddy Slope.


    This was a slanted hill with mud running all over its surface. There were no footholds and nothing to grip, as Leon immediately found out when he slid and fell flat on his back as soon as he took his first steps on the slope. He unceremoniously slid right back to the bottom of the incline. Craning his head back from where he lay, he could see the first of the tigers nearing the end of the pool.


    ¡°Just how the hell do those Farrow monkeys make it up this damn mudslide?¡±


    Leon squinted for a moment, then growled as he summoned his elemental power to the surface of his skin. Such concentrated fire essence immediately produced a red-hot glow that radiated from his hands. Leon then paced back a few steps before running forward and jumping as far up the slope as he could. When he was about to land, Leon clenched his fire-charged fingers into fists and pounded upon the slope with a furious roar.


    Mud flew all around him with a thunderous crack, and what little remained hardened instantly into clay. Leon nodded in grim satisfaction as he placed his foot upon the jagged scar his fists had left. As soon as he found stable footing, he roared once more and pounded away at the slope. Inch by inch, Leon began to make his way up the slope, sending sizzling mud and splinters of clay raining down all around himself.


    ¡°Hah, let¡¯s see you element-less freaks try to imitate this.¡±


    Leon had only made it up halfway up the long slope, when he finally heard the first of the tigers approaching from behind. When he glanced back, Leon saw that the tigers didn¡¯t even look as if they would slow down. Getting a really bad feeling, Leon crouched low where he was and picked up a handful of mud. It instantly began to steam and boil from the fire essence in his hands.


    Leon managed not to gape as the first of the snowblade tigers launched itself high into the air, climbing nearly forty feet up the slope in one single leap. Just below each of its claws, Leon saw the glimmer of a single snowblade peeking out. When the tiger landed upon the muddy hill, it barely slid forward a few inches, obviously secured by the snowblades it had stabbed down into the slope.


    It lifted its gaze to meet Leon¡¯s with an almost human-like smugness to its expression. It was only too tragic that Leon had no time for silly games - not anymore. When the snowblade tiger looked up, it was met with a faceful of boiling hot mud that splashed against its mouth and scalded its sensitive nose.


    Howling in more surprise than pain, the startled cat clutched at its face with its paws. It immediately lost grip on the slope and began to slide down the hill. The cat itself was past caring, however, as it frenziedly scrubbed away at the drying clay on its face, all the while letting out miserable yowls.


    The rest of the snowblade tigers let out a collective hiss as they skidded to a stop right at the foot of the hill. They looked up at Leon, who had stopped climbing altogether, and instead lounged back on his heels while holding a steaming pile of bubbling mud in each of his hands. The grin that split his face was perhaps the first genuinely happy expression he had shown during this entire awful ordeal.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, you bastards. Whoever wants a handful of melt-your-face-shit, step right on up.¡± Leon graced the pile of mud he had already collected by his side with an almost fond pat. ¡°Plenty more where that came from.¡±


    The snowblade tigers hissed and growled at Leon, but he didn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass what they thought. They dare presume they could toy around with the Lion of Draxas like he was their little plaything? They had another thing coming to them!


    ¡°Um, Big bro, I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s really allowed..¡±


    ¡°The fat ox is cheating!¡±


    ¡°Ah, technically, technically he still hasn¡¯t used any spells, right? Ha. Ha.¡±


    Leon affected not to hear. In fact, he was gratified to see that the tigers began to advance once again, only very slowly, and even more cautiously. Grinning to himself, Leon turned around and began climbing once more, not forgetting to throw the occasional clump of boiling mud behind - just in case.


    By the time he reached the top of the slope, he was far ahead of the tigers. Glancing back over his shoulder with a self-satisfied smirk, Leon squared his shoulders as he faced the rope he must walk on. He would face whatever he must courageously and with his head held high. It was time to show these upstart household cats the mettle of the House of Draxas.


    Unfortunately, by the time he took three steps, he had already slipped off the damn rope and was barely clinging on to it with shaking arms. Leon decided that a little leeway could be negotiated as far as what holding your head high could mean. After all, he remarked judiciously to himself as he gazed down at the ground three stories below his dangling toes, his whole body was suspended pretty damn high right now.


    ¡°Hang on, Leon. You can do this! Just, ah, crawl forward if you must. But hurry!¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say. This is freaking high and all those extra servings of mashed potato are not seating really well in my stomach right now.¡±


    Leon grunted with the effort as he endeavored to lift his feet up so he could hook up his ankles together above the rope. Once he was done, he breathed deeply and began to slowly crawl his way forward.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Good job Leon. Well done, but you gotta listen to me, buddy. You need start moving NOW!¡±


    Leon shook his head in vexation. What did the dumb turnip farmer mean by..?


    RIP!


    There was barely a fleeting sense of an object lightly brushing against his butt. Then Leon felt fresh and free like he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time now. A cool breeze fluttered through his skin and he began to wonder idly why he was trying so damn hard.


    ¡°Eww! Gross!¡±


    ¡°Holy crap..¡±


    ¡°Kass, cover your eyes! Ah, you too Reik. And you, Leon. Get your hairy, naked ass moving!¡±


    The idle smile on Leon¡¯s face froze, then melted away as he hooked his elbow around the rope and sent his other hand questing down towards his butt. His eyes suddenly bulged as he felt a substantial tear through the fabric of his breeches. Cold air blew directly against his exposed butt-cheeks, and Leon nearly let go of his other hand right there and then.


    ¡°You fecking rotten monkey loving goat raping rat sack bastard cats!¡±


    Leon¡¯s vision turned red and only through a supreme effort of will did he just barely keep himself from summoning Draco right then and there so he could rain a fiery Armageddon and scour the world free of the damnable cats once and for all.


    ¡°Shit, here comes another one!¡±


    Leon barely managed to get both hands on the rope and hugged it as tightly as he could. He could feel the wind from the snowblade tiger¡¯s claws as they passed not two inches from his exposed ass before his attacker fell back down.


    ¡°Leon, more cats are on the way. Hurry!¡±


    ¡°Shit shit shit!¡±


    Leon cursed all three generations of cats and their patron gods, all the while crawling along the rope as quickly as he could. He resembled a caterpillar industriously inching its way forward, all the while a group of ten snowblade cats gleefully took turns to leap and swipe their paws at his hairy butt.


    Each time Leon would barely repress a howl and hitch his butt up as high as he could while clinging to the rope with both arms. By the time he finally reached the halfway point, two or three tigers were leaping at the same time, all the while the rest of the tigers howled in what sounded suspiciously like laughter in Leon¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Fuck this, this should be close enough. I¡¯m done with this farce!¡±


    Leon growled as he summoned his fire essence into one hand and grasped the rope behind his feet. In mere moments the rope began smoking, then finally snapped. Gritting his teeth, Leon clung to the rope as he rapidly sank down through and past the disbelieving stares of all the snowblade tigers. The rope swung his weight in a wide pendulum, bearing him along in a blur of motion. He had to lift his feet up high in order to avoid touching the ground, and he could only choke back the bitter tears that came to his eyes as he felt the cold wind slapping against his bare buttcheeks.


    When he was finally past the wooden pole that marked the end of the rope dash, Leon immediately let go and landed with a quick roll off his feet. The first order of business as soon as he stood back up was to summon more fire essence to his hand and draw the tips of his fingers around the edges of the tear - fuck me, tears - in his breeches, melting the rips closed.


    ¡°Damn perverted cats, just how many cuts did they make?¡±


    The useless, hateful little lamb doll still lay snuggly secured against his chest, and Leon had to struggle for a brief moment against the near-irresistible urge to slam it to the ground and stomp it to oblivion.


    ¡°Run Leon!¡±


    ¡°Shut up, it¡¯s all your damn fau-¡±


    Leon stopped with a start as he glanced over his shoulder and saw the great avalanche of white fur converging on his position. Then he shut up and began running as fast as his legs could take him. Thank god, there was no more breeze snuggling up against his butt.


    He had made it to the castle, at long last. Leon rushed forward only to find the entrance tightly guarded by a pair of snowblade tigers. Shrugging, Leon slammed into the wall right in front of him. The massive impact shook the whole structure, sending the startled tigers scurrying for cover. Leon smashed right through the wooden wall as if it were mere kindling, his fire-reinforced shoulder charge leading the way.


    The startled cats tried to give chase, but Leon simply pulled down and brought the cracked remains of the wooden support pillars down on top of the stairs. The two tigers barely had time to scramble out of the building in time.


    Meanwhile, Leon had already made it to the top of the battlements, and he was rushing forward at full speed. From both sides, Leon could hear scrabbling noises of razor-sharp claws climbing the wooden wall. Leon rushed to one of the crenelated walls and kicked firmly when he saw a paw reaching the top of the wall. That portion of the wall broke off with a sharp crack, and the cat could only let out a startled howl as it lost its grip and fell back down. Then he picked up a broken piece of timber and swung it against another cat¡¯s paw that had also nearly reached the top. His strike landed with a muffled crack, producing a howl of pain as the tiger jumped back and fell to the ground.


    Leon repeated the same process as he continued to dash along the wall, causing a growing echo of startled hisses and furious howls to rise in the wake of his passing. Like a terrifying demon, Leon defended this stretch of wall like his depended on it, and if the feverish grin on his face was growing more evil by the second, he was past caring at this point.


    ¡°Big bro, I can¡¯t watch anymore. Big bro Leon is too scary.¡±


    ¡°Hateful brute, he¡¯s just tearing everything down like a wild beast.¡±


    ¡°Ahem. No, kids. Your big brother Leon is just showing you how to defend yourself in case you¡¯re besieged by an army of-¡±


    ¡°Cute little cats?¡±


    ¡°Defenseless household pets?¡±


    ¡°Ahem, an army of deadly enemies intent on your eradication. Soon, your wise big brother Leon will realize just how pissed off the twenty six three-thousand pound snowblade tigers are, and wisely decide that it is time to make a break for it before he¡¯s got snowblades crawling up his arse.¡±


    That last remark wilted the silly grin right off Leon¡¯s face. He took off running while a rising chorus of furious roars echoed from all around his ears. Jumping off the edge of the wall, he caught hold of a rope and swung himself as far away as he could, all the while praying that the tigers would dismantle the wall first before they came to dismantle him.


    ¡°Maybe I got just a little too carried away.¡±


    Loud crashing sounds and angry cries rang out at his back, and his face paled even further as he began to realize just how pissed off the cats were. Fortunately, they seemed to busy for now, tearing down the entire wall as they looked for the object of their hate. It seems Leon had been defending the wall so zealously that the cats couldn¡¯t imagine that he would have left so easily now.


    Reaching the base of the climbing wall, Leon began to rush up without any hesitation. His long arms and strong grip let him make quick progress. He had nearly reached the top of the wall by the time he heard outraged howls rising from the base of the wall. A chorus of similar calls immediately answered, and Leon¡¯s face blanched as he saw murder in the eyes of twenty six snowblade tigers with their bone-blades flickering out in a deadly dance as they closed upon the wall.


    ¡°Holy shit, they mean business now.¡±


    Leon immediately completed the climb and rushed off to the nearest sled. Each sled was a simple wooden disk about five feet long by three feet wide. He was about to jump right on top of it and take off when he saw the snowblade tigers already rushing up the sides of the slope, their snowblades glistening menacingly under the sun as they took up position to cut him off.


    Cursing under his breath, Leon gathered all five sleds present at the top of the slope. Stacking four of them in his arms, Leon gingerly hopped on top of the last one. It slowly slid forward, but then picked up momentum incredibly fast. The first snowblade tiger was almost on top of him by that time, but Leon simply threw one of the sleds in his arms at it. It struck the pouncing tiger straight in the jaw, knocking it aside with stars in its eyes.


    Another tiger leapt from the right, but Leon once again flung a sled expertly against its head. It smashed the sled apart with its claws, but the movement twisted its body off target and Leon slid past without further problems. The next tiger was more careful, sliding toward Leon in a predatory crouch, ready to block the sled with its shoulders.


    Leon shrugged, lifting a sled and pretending to throw it. At the last moment, however, he dug into the slope with the sleds in his hands. This immediately swerved him wide of the flummoxed tiger, who could only watch as Leon circled around it with effortless ease. The next few tigers were knocked off his path with more expert throws, or by feinting a throw, then avoiding the confrontation altogether.


    By the time Leon was out of sleds, he was nearly at the goal line. Only one final tiger stood in his way, near the end of the slope. It seemed to gloat at Leon¡¯s empty hands as it awaited him with drawn snowblades.


    Leon sighed as he rolled over, his back sliding against the slope while his hands lifted up the sled he had been sitting on. The startled tiger barely had time to widen its eyes before the spinning disk of wood shattered against its paws, sending it crashing to the side.


    Leon slid by without a hitch, finally reaching the final platform with a feral grin upon his face.


    He stood up and clutched the torn and soiled ragdoll lamb in his hand, lifting it high overhead and turning toward the waiting figures of the Farrow siblings. Mere inches separated him from the finish line. A couple steps, and victory would be his.


    ¡°Hell yeah! And that¡¯s how it¡¯s done!¡±


    Leon laughed at the embarrassed expressions on all three faces, as they couldn¡¯t even meet his eyes at the moment.


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s what you get for not believing in me. I told you I could do it. It was easy. Like taking a candy from a baby. No sweat at all!¡±


    ¡°Uh, Leon..¡±


    ¡°Wait, let me finish. I thought you¡¯d actually have a challenge for me. Hah! This is a playground for kids. Next time, try to have a more worthy challenge ready, will you?¡±


    ¡°Ah, Leon..¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re sorry? You regret ever doubting me? You wish to learn from my incredible audacity and courage?¡±


    ¡°Ah, Leon..¡±


    ¡°What? Spit it out already!¡±


    ¡°Um, Leon..¡±


    ¡°Ugh, just tell him he¡¯s standing with his hairy buttcheeks flying all over the wind already!¡±


    Leon turned to gape at Kassandra, who was completely red-faced and resolutely avoided his gaze. Then he turned to Reikard, who was digging into the ground with his foot, also refusing to look up.


    Only Skyle walked up to him and clasped a hand over his shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Leon. We¡¯ve seen all manner of asses in this farm. All the time. Hogs, horses, goats, snowblade tigers..¡±


    The lamb ragdoll fell from nerveless hands as Leon clutched at the rear of his breeches and felt only naked skin. Only then did he realize that the last stretch when he had slid past the final tiger must have ripped the tears in his breeches open again.


    Skyle gave his friend an encouraging pat on the back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Leon. We¡¯re all family here. No one ever has to know.¡±


    ¡°But they will,¡± Kassandra giggled. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure of it, Lord Ass of Draxas.¡±


    Reikard burst out laughing at that. ¡°Big bro Leon, that¡¯s what family is for.¡±


    Even the corners of Skyle¡¯s lips began twitching at that, but his voice was gravely as he stared into Leon¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Those are some very robust ass-cheeks you¡¯ve got there, princess. Be a shame not to share such fame with the world. At least it is funnier than Ox of Draxas, right?¡±


    Leon¡¯s knees gave out under him, and the world began turning pitch black. It was only then that he heard scrabbling noises near him.


    Turning his head with the very last of his strength, Leon saw Ash casually walking up to his side, then pick up the discarded ragdoll lamb in his mouth. Then he moved forward to sit on his haunches right next to Leon, looking down with an insufferably smug expression on his face.


    ¡°Shit..¡±

 Chapter 90 - Friend

    Chapter 90 - Friend


    At the end of a long day, one of the longest in Leon¡¯s memory, both boys sat side by side upon the top of Cliff Mountain. They gazed down at the world below their dangling feet as the sun set at their backs.


    They were all alone now. The snowblade tigers had grudgingly agreed that according to the rules, Ash had won since he had been the one to claim the ragdoll lamb. Skyle had then smilingly offered to give Ash his brush downs in Leon¡¯s stead, and after a few fierce looks, the snowblade tigers had all been chased away under Reikard and Kassandra¡¯s watchful eyes.


    Now that they both stood shoulder to shoulder and looking down at the world, there was a comfortable silence between the two friends as neither felt the need to speak until they were ready.


    ¡°Skyle, there¡¯s something I have to confess.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Leon peered down into his hands as though he could read the future between the lines of his palms.


    ¡°I know why Leena tried to kill you. And you were right, she wasn¡¯t a bad person.¡±


    Skyle nodded slowly, looking into the distance. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    ¡°You.. Ah, I don¡¯t know how to say it. I¡¯ve been trying to find a way to explain this to you these past two days, but hell if I know. So I¡¯ll just say it outright. You¡¯re sick, Skyle. You¡¯ve been poisoned, and there¡¯s an evil taint burning in your blood.¡±


    Leon¡¯s fists trembled as his nails dug heedlessly into his own flesh.


    Skyle didn¡¯t even turn back. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Leon looked completely dumbfounded.


    ¡°I said, I know. Not about Leena. I don¡¯t know how she knew, but I found out about the taint just yesterday. I didn¡¯t know you knew as well.¡±


    ¡°Wait, so you know about the Shadowblight?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No, what Shadowblight? My mother was forced to drink some poison back in her own-¡±


    Skyle stopped, then blew out a breath as he ran a finger through his hair.


    ¡°Look, Leon. I know there¡¯s a taint in my blood, and I will die in a few years unless I can find a way to cleanse it.¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you cleanse it when you had the chance, you damn fool?¡±


    Leon finally burst out, unable to hold back anymore, screaming at Skyle with rage twisting his features.


    In spite of the sudden outburst, Skyle gazed back at Leon with a strange calm to his face.


    ¡°So, that''s what has been eating you this whole time? Were you awake back then, at Sanctuary?¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t move, but the pain in his eyes told Skyle everything he needed to know.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, then turned back to gaze into the distance.


    ¡°What do you mean, I see. You damn idiot, you could have chosen to heal yourself. You could have lived. So what if my talent was burned to ashes because of my own damn uselessness? You have to watch out for yourself in this world, you stupid bastard. No one else will. You don¡¯t just sacrifice everything, all you have for a total freaking stranger and hand over your life just so they can have some stupid magical gift back.¡±


    Leon panted raggedly as he clutched at Skyle¡¯s shoulders with both hands, desperately shaking him back and forth as spittle flew from his lips.


    Skyle slowly turned his head to gaze back at his friend.


    ¡°Is that what you would have done, Leon?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± came the immediate, furious reply.


    Skyle smiled then. It was a slow curling of his lips, and it reached all the way to light up his eyes with an inner warmth.


    ¡°Liar.¡±


    It was Leon¡¯s turn to look away then. He bit his lips while his chest heaved up and down. His fingers were still digging painfully into Skyle¡¯s shoulders, but neither boy seemed to notice.


    ¡°I.. I don¡¯t know how to.. be like this, Skyle. I haven¡¯t let myself care so much about anybody other than myself. Not after..¡±


    Leon¡¯s voice slowly trailed off as his hand unconsciously wandered down over his chest. There, Skyle knew, lay the old scar that ran all the way from his friend¡¯s chest to his hip. Leon had once called it the price of trusting too much, and that he could never afford to pay such again.


    ¡°She was most likely lying about the cure, you know?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t fucking matter,¡± Leon growled, his response immediate and final.


    After thinking about it for a while, Skyle realized that Leon was right, and it really didn¡¯t matter. So he let out a slow breath and tried again, this time digging deep into his own heart and dredging up the rawest truths that he could find.


    ¡°I won¡¯t say cheap stuff like it was my own choice or that you¡¯re worth the price or anything silly like that. Instead, I want you to understand that if I had chosen my own life over yours back on that day, I would have never been able to respect myself again.¡±


    Leon suddenly winced, as though he had been struck by a physical blow.


    A warm hand covered Leon¡¯s. The bigger boy looked down, unable to speak.


    ¡°I don¡¯t ask that you win over my respect, Leon. You have already done that many times over, no matter what you yourself think. All that I wish for you, my friend, is that you can one day respect yourself.¡±


    Leon¡¯s massive shoulders hunched over as his head sank down further. Both his hands were shaking as they clutched at Skyle¡¯s shirt as though clinging from the edge of a cliff.


    ¡°You have no idea about the things I have done, Skyle. The evil deeds that are the lifeblood of civilized society; the bread and butter of the aristocracy.¡±


    Skyle tilted his head as he watched his friend, but said nothing, waiting.


    ¡°You have your family and your tigers. You live in your farm and have everything you need. You know nothing about the world and its evil. Sanctuary, it was just about the monsters that try to kill you. You die, it¡¯s over, it¡¯s quick - easy. Even worse is our world, and the monsters that slowly turn you into one of their own, until you wake up one morning and look into the mirror, and realize that you have no idea who it is that is watching you through your own eyes.¡±


    A convulsive shudder ran through Leon¡¯s body then, like the last struggles of an asphyxiating fish flopping out of the water.


    Skyle¡¯s soft, almost inaudible words pulled Leon back from the edge of a harrowing abyss just then.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to live in that world, you know?¡±


    A contemptuous sneer escaped his lips before Leon could snatch it back. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    Leon lifted his gaze then, and his eyes were filled with vitriol and fire. ¡°You don¡¯t get to talk to me about leaving my world behind when you¡¯ve lived in your sheltered little corner of paradise your entire life, you naive, spoiled bastard.¡±


    Skyle opened his mouth, but after a moment closed it again without a sound. Then, he moved his hand to Leon¡¯s shoulder, and with a sad little smile, shoved Leon off the ledge as hard as he could.


    Leon outweighed the smaller boy by at least 80 pounds. It took all of Skyle¡¯s strength to just barely manage to push Leon off the edge and send him plummeting before so much as a cry of protest could escape his frozen lips.


    A stunned expression of utter disbelief flashed past Leon¡¯s face, but the shock only lasted for an instant before he instantly burst into motion.


    ¡°Draco!¡±


    Even before the words had fully left his lips, a shimmering aurora of burning scarlet flames burst out all around Leon¡¯s figure. The fire summoner flung out his hand and a shimmering lance of fire stabbed out toward the wall. This lance of fire plunged deeply into the wooden structure, sizzling hotly as it sheared its way down its surface. It was attached to Leon¡¯s wrist by a glowing chain of scarlet energy. The chain immediately arrested Leon¡¯s downward momentum, after which Leon thrust out his other hand behind his back.


    From this hand, a brilliant flare of golden fire burst into the night. The howling explosion pushed Leon upward with sudden, irresistible force. His feet easily cleared the top of the wall, landing back upon the ledge with barely a flutter of wind. The chain at his wrist and the aura of burning flames both vanished the instant his feet touched the wall.


    All throughout, Skyle sat at the same spot he had occupied before, seemingly not having moved at all. He didn¡¯t even turn to look at his friend as Leon walked forward, then after a moment of silence, sat back down next to him.


    A stiff breeze carried with it the smell of charred wood and ash. Both boys sat there for a long moment while they each sank into a comfortable silence once again.


    ¡°Fine, you¡¯ve made your point. You¡¯re right.¡±


    Skyle finally broke into a smile at this. ¡°See? You¡¯re not so stubborn after all. You just need to be pushed sometimes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right that it is my choice. But it is, Skyle. It is my choice. I see that now. I guess I¡¯ve always known. It is what I was born to, what I am destined for. How can I just turn my back to all of that?¡±


    ¡°So long as you always remember that it is a choice.¡±


    Leon threw his head back and gazed up into the sky then.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡±


    Skyle turned to smile at his friend once more. ¡°Then you realize that you can also choose who you become?¡±


    Leon chewed his lips while he gave this some further thought.


    ¡°Yeah, I can see that,¡± he nodded. Then after a while, he too smiled. ¡°I know now who I want to become.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah? Who¡¯s that? Grand Duke of Draxas?¡±


    Leon shook his head.


    ¡°Lord Fire Summoner Saint?¡±


    Another shake of the head.


    Skyle¡¯s brow furrowed then.


    ¡°What then? Emperor of Solaria?¡±


    Leon had to chuckle at that. ¡°No, Skyle. Someone much better, much grander than any of those.¡±


    Skyle screwed up his face in deep thought, and Leon laughed out loud while he gave his friend a playful nudge on the head.


    ¡°Nevermind that. It is an ambition that is far too lofty for your lowly, peasant mind to comprehend. Let¡¯s talk instead about you and what our plans are moving forward.¡±


    Skyle looked like he was drawing a blank. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°What exactly happened to you these past couple days, what were those terrifying surges of energy that almost ripped the roof off your house, who the hell your parents are, when or how you went back to Sanctuary.. You know, that kind of stuff?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Leon poked his friend in the ribs. ¡°Hey, no holding back on me now.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I suppose not.¡±


    So, Skyle told Leon what he knew about his parents¡¯ past. He shared with him what had happened at Sanctuary, and about the darkness invading his soul. He spoke hesitatingly about the taint of his blood and the curse of the Aktaris.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Wait, so the Shadowblight really originates from the Aktaris in your mother¡¯s homeworld?¡±


    Skyle shrugged. ¡°I guess so? From what you told me, the symptoms sound very similar to what ma described.¡±


    ¡°But that means that the Daemons have either allied, conquered or infiltrated the world of Lyria already.¡±


    Skyle frowned for a moment, then stretched out his hand. With a mental summons, Fierro¡¯s journal appeared in his grasp.


    Leon blinked at that. ¡°Hah, you¡¯ve learned some new tricks.¡±


    Skyle flashed a smile, but immediately started to riffle through the pages until he finally found a specific entry.


    ¡°Here, look.¡±


    ¡°Uh, I can¡¯t translate that gibberish, alienboy.¡±


    Skyle tried not to roll his eyes as he read out loud.


    ¡°The daemon horde continues its relentless onslaught, and leaves nothing but despair in its wake.


    Sixty years, and what do I have left? My wife left this world before me, and all my children have spilled their blood fighting the daemon juggernaut.


    I despair of this world. What hope can there possibly be before the inexorable tides of the daemon legions?


    These days, I find myself thinking back on those days, back when it was all better. When the world was bright and that word, hope, it lit a fire in everybody¡¯s eyes.


    Back when I had a sense of purpose, when I was proud to look in the mirror and see a Knight Protector to the Lady.


    I should have died on that day, spilled my blood and given my life on those steps, even knowing it was in vain.


    Would it have eased the pain of bitter betrayal in the Lady¡¯s heart? I know it would have done so in mine.


    It is a regret that I shall carry to my dying day.


    My lady, forgive me. Your servant has failed you. May you allow this unworthy one to swear fealty to you, should I be fortunate enough to encounter you in the next life.


    Now, there¡¯s only death before me.¡±


    Skyle looked up from the entry, and found Leon as fascinated as he himself felt.


    ¡°I remembered this entry back when I first opened the journal in Sanctuary because of how sad it sounded. Now it begins to make sense. The Daemon Horde must have been waging war against ma¡¯s world for all this time.¡±


    ¡°You think they¡¯ve fallen yet?¡±


    Skyle frowned for a moment, then shook his head. ¡°If they had, ma would have said something about it. It leads me to think that some sort of breakthrough or truce was reached.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask your mother about it?¡±


    Skyle shook his head, gnawing on his lip. ¡°No, she said she wished to tell me more, but could not for the time being.¡±


    Leon muttered something under his breath that Skyle didn¡¯t quite catch.


    ¡°Huh? What?¡±


    ¡°I said, sounds like the typical bullshit story where the piece of crap author tries to seem all mysterious and shit, instead of just giving us the straight answers we need.¡±


    Skyle smiled wryly at that. ¡°If only this were just another story.¡±


    Leon¡¯s smile withered. ¡°You¡¯re right. This is dead freaking serious, farmboy. Forget all that shit about Daemons and other worlds. We have to find you a cure right flaming now.¡±


    ¡°Do you.. Do you think there¡¯s a cure?¡±


    The last of that sentence seemed to drift away with the wind, along with part of Skyle¡¯s own soul.


    A smartly delivered slap to the back of Skyle¡¯s head almost made him fall off the ledge this time.


    ¡°Oww!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you start getting all weak and self-pitying on me now, you selfish prick. You chose to save my life at the cost of yours, so you better damn well find a way to cure yourself or I¡¯m going to kill you.¡±


    ¡°You realize what you said doesn¡¯t make any sense, right?¡±


    Leon raised another threatening hand and Skyle surrendered with a chuckle.


    ¡°Fine, fine.¡±


    Skyle drew a deep breath then, turning to look at the orange glow of the setting sun reflecting from the mountain below.


    ¡°You know, it¡¯s not the taint or my blood that really hurts. I mean, it is sad and worrying, but I could grit my teeth and fight through it all.¡±


    ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Ria.¡±


    ¡°Oh god, the dream girl again?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s was not just a dream, Leon.¡±


    The hushed tones instantly shattered the bigger boy¡¯s derisive sneer. After a moment of watching his friend in somber silence, Leon finally spoke.


    ¡°What do you mean, was?¡±


    Skyle began to cry then. Tears began to slide slide down his cheeks in a relentless torrent, and he knew he should be past this but he just wasn¡¯t. He knew he should feel better about it, but he did not. He had a feeling weighing down his soul deep, very deep down, that told him he would never feel better.


    Leon opened his mouth as if to say something, but the words failed him. His look was one of sorrow and frustration at his inability to help his friend. In the end, he had to settle for laying a comforting arm around his friend¡¯s shoulders as they were wracked by heart-rending sobs.


    ¡°She died for me, Leon. She watched over my soul for hundreds of years, teaching me about life  and what makes it worth living. She spent every day by my side, crying away my tears and laughing with my smallest joys. Now she¡¯s gone. But you know the worst part? The worst part is that I can¡¯t even remember her face anymore. I don¡¯t know what her voice sounds like. I don¡¯t even remember the color of her eyes or the feeling of her skin. She¡¯s gone because she¡¯s been torn from my memory and I can¡¯t find her again no matter what I do.¡±


    Leon sat quietly throughout this outburst, then sat quieter still as Skyle slowly, and in painful detail, explained all he knew of Ria. It was a heart-breaking tale, more so because of the obvious love that burned deeply in Skyle¡¯s heart as he spoke of Ria.


    Secretly, this shocked Leon because he had never heard of, let alone seen with his own eyes of love like this. It had clearly unmade his friend, and such power terrified him. Even more so because Skyle truly couldn¡¯t even remember what Ria looked like anymore, let alone even the sound of her voice.


    The girl Skyle loved now was a simple ghost, a shadow that would forever dwell within his heart and make its presence known only by the all-encompassing weight of its absence.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Skyle said a long time later, wiping the last of his tears away from his cheeks.


    ¡°For?¡±


    ¡°For not telling you earlier.¡±


    Leon waved that thought away.


    ¡°Ria, she knew about my curse, but I don¡¯t recall her telling me anything about how to cleanse it.¡±


    ¡°You said you hardly remember anything about her at all.¡±


    ¡°No, I do remember some things. I remember many of her words. I remember her selfless spirit, her gentle wisdom, her incredible courage.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like you remember all the most important things, Skyle.¡±


    Skyle drew a deep breath, then nodded. ¡°I guess I do.¡±


    ¡°This taint, it¡¯s important too. At least, to her it would be. She would not mind fading away from my memory because she probably knew how much pain it would cause me. This taint though, she would have found a way to tell me how to cleanse it.¡±


    ¡°So did she?¡±


    Skyle shook his head.


    ¡°Seems like she either knew but didn¡¯t tell you for some reason, or she didn¡¯t know at all.¡±


    ¡°She knew.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so sure? Did she say that?¡±


    Skyle shook his head, then smiled at Leon.


    ¡°She knew, because I could feel the hope in her eyes when she looked at me. It was like the sun rising after a long winter. She believed in me, Leon. I will not let her down.¡±


    Leon tilted his head thoughtfully, then pursed his lips and nodded.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not too sure about this whole love thing. To be honest, I¡¯ve never really believed in such myself. But if that¡¯s what it takes to get your ass moving, I¡¯m not gonna complain. Love all you want, farmboy.¡±


    Skyle nodded. ¡°I will. I will find her again.¡±


    ¡°And I will help. Even if I think it¡¯s a fool¡¯s errand. Because I¡¯m your friend.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, friend.¡±


    Leon chuckled awkwardly at that.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡±


    ¡°I plan to continue delving deeper into the Desolate Star Technique. Not only is it making me stronger by the day, but I feel like the secret to defeating my curse lies there as well. I will seek power by any measure I can, so that I can one day find Ria again. I will never give up, never surrender. How about you?¡±


    Leon avoided Skyle¡¯s eyes, staring down at his fist as he slowly opened, then closed it again.


    Skyle waited, because he knew such decisions could not be lightly made.


    ¡°I will return to my own world, Skyle. I will snatch the reins of power from my treacherous siblings and the cold-hearted bastard that is my father. I will rise to the top of this world, and grasp power no mortal has ever known. When I do so, I will find a cure for your taint. I will banish your curse if it is the last thing I ever do. This, I do solemnly swear.¡±


    Skyle looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end he closed his mouth with a wry smile.


    ¡°I will not take such a choice from you, Leon. I won¡¯t thank you either. I don¡¯t think things like that are needed between true friends.¡±


    Leon nodded at that, a fierce smile upon his face.


    ¡°I won¡¯t thank you either, Skyle. Let this be the unspoken understanding between us.¡±


    Skyle nodded, more than happy with that.


    ¡°I will conquer the known world, Skyle. I will become Duke, then King, and finally Emperor and God. I will scour the ends of the world and burn it under the searing heat of my will until it yields and I finally find your cure, Skyle.¡±


    ¡°And I will rise within the shadows. I will become the Dark King whom no one knows and everyone fears. I will master the legacy of my blood and the powers of the Desolate Star. I will transcend my own limits, and meet you at the very top. We will one day become gods, you and I. Then I will flick your precious cure back at your face.¡±


    Leon chuckled at that.


    ¡°Do you think we will be like that?¡±


    ¡°Like how?¡±


    Leon narrowed his eyes as a rare, wistful smile rested upon his lips.


    ¡°Gods, each of us sovereigns of our own realms, fighting side by side and conquering worlds.¡±


    ¡°We will.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°I just do.¡± Skyle shrugged, then smiled, remembering a similar conversation in a far away land.


    ¡°Yeah, me too.¡± Leon smiled as well.


    Deep within his heart, Leon once again made his silent vow.


    ¡°Above all, beyond Kingship or even Godhood, I swear I will become a man who is truly worthy of your respect, my friend.¡±

 Chapter 91 - Birth of Legends

    Chapter 91 - Birth of Legends


    ¡°Sorry lad, tavern¡¯s closed until further notice. ¡®Tis too late in the evening to go for a drink, in any case. Go on now, run home.¡±


    The soldier placed a hand on Leon¡¯s shoulder with a friendly smile, but he didn¡¯t miss the subtle shift of the man¡¯s stance as his other hand came to rest over the hilt the sword by his side. He was a good soldier, not letting down his guard even when facing just another unwashed, malodorous peasant. Such vigilance was not unexpected though.


    That¡¯s what he paid them for.


    Leon looked down at the hand on his shoulder. ¡°Armsman, remove your hand before your friends are forced to break it and whip you bloody for your insolence.¡±


    The words were soft and low, inaudible except for the ears of the soldier before him. Still, the man jumped back as though he had seen a ghost. Finally, a flicker of recognition entered his eyes.


    ¡°Lord Leon? I- Is that you?¡± The man stared for a moment, his gaze moving down from Leon¡¯s face to the rags he wore at the moment. Immediately, the man realized his mistake and knelt down, thumping the ground with his fist. ¡°Beg your pardon, my lord. I- I didn¡¯t recognize.. Ah, please, allow me to-¡±


    Leon held up a tired hand. ¡°That¡¯s fine, just lead me to Tannos and tell Ambrose and Randolph where to find me.¡±


    ¡°My lord, the champion is still out with the searching parties. Please, follow me. The Captain and Sir Geraldus will be delighted.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be. Lead the way, soldier.¡±


    Leon followed the frazzled soldier until they arrived at the back courtyard of the Inn. Almost as soon as he set foot there, a loud thumping could be heard from one of the stalls. By the time they drew closer, the door to the stall flew open with a sound of splintered wood.


    Tannos burst out of the stall and began to whinny loudly, lowering his head and nuzzling Leon¡¯s chest. Leon patted the horse¡¯s head and ran his hand along his neck.


    ¡°Hey there, old pal. Looks like they¡¯ve taken decent care of you. Why are you still here though?¡±


    ¡°The cantankerous beast wouldn¡¯t have it any other way, my lord,¡± came the hoarse, breathless voice of an old man from behind his back. ¡°We tried to move it to the estate, but it kept breaking all the doors down and coming back to this place.¡±


    Rapid shuffling steps followed up, and before Leon could even turn around, a cloak had been draped over his shoulders.


    ¡°My lord, it is this humble servant¡¯s most heinous failure to see the exalted lineage of House Draxas reduced to wearing rags and traversing on foot through the dirt-ridden shanties of this village. Please, punish this useless old man as you see fit, but do allow me to at least see to your-¡±


    Leon sighed through his nose, getting a headache already. The cloak was made of fine wool, but it was bulky enough that it interfered with his peripheral vision. Only when he finished turning around, did he see his seneschal, Geraldus du Fountaine.


    As usual, the wiry old man was impeccably dressed, not even his wig out of place. Though it was well into the evening, his mustache and goatee looked freshly groomed and oiled, and the only element out of place was the flush on his pale, wrinkled cheeks as he began to fuss over his lord like a mother hen grooming her chick.


    ¡°.. Simply dreadful. My lord is even wearing riding boots within an establishment. Such breach of etiquette shall not stand. I shall send for my lord¡¯s lounging boots at once, as well as the appropriate accouterments. Shall I draw the bath first, my lord? Or should I call the maids to see to your hair? Oh, and those nails, they would make the old masters, may the Goddess bless their memory, rise from their consecrated resting grounds and weep! Rose and myrrh, lavender and thyme perhaps-¡±


    ¡°Gerald.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord. May the lord impart his instructions to this humble servant, that I may-¡±


    ¡°No baths, just collect everything. We¡¯re going to the estate.¡±


    ¡°Oh, such a course of action shows the breadth of your wisdom and the unparalleled magnanimity of your character, my lord. I shall tell the servants to pack with all due haste. We shall leave these vermin-infested shacks at once! May this servant perhaps suggest that..¡±


    Leon suppressed a chuckle. He was surprised to find that he had actually missed the windy old bag. Perhaps having him constantly hovering around his personal space ever since he could remember was part of that. As he glanced sideways at his faithful head of staff, Leon couldn¡¯t help but notice the impeccable positioning and distance his servant maintained as he turned around. Never presuming to stand in front of his lord nor invading his personal space, the good man nonetheless made certain to stand close enough that he could, in the event of an assassination attempt, leap forward and act as a human shield for his charge.


    Leon paused his steps, one hand on Tannos¡¯ neck, as he turned his gaze to really take a good look at the old man. Suddenly, other details began to leap at him. The heavy bags beneath the eyes, where a heavier than usual layer of powder hid them - no doubt from many a sleepless night. The extra paleness to his complexion, and additional pounds of shed weight that such a wiry old man could ill-afford to lose. Even the additional fussing over him was evidence of an excitement and liveliness seldom seen in the old coot.


    ¡°.. and we should most definitely hire the additional servant girls in order to accomodate for the extra massages the lord shall be requi-¡±


    ¡°Gerald.¡±


    ¡°My lord?¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    A rare moment of silence ensued, after which tears began to slide down the old man¡¯s cheeks in earnest.


    ¡°Oh, by the Goddess, it is even worse than I¡¯d feared. Please, my lord, you must hang on to your sanity and will. Do not succumb to the fevers which afflict you. I shall call upon the healers at once. You are obviously delirious and on the verge of a complete and catastrophic breakdown. The full extent of my disgrace, how shall I atone for such crimes? My lord, this old servant shall..¡±


    Thankfully, it was at this time that a full squad of soldiers approached from within the Inn. Leading them was a squarish, broad-shouldered man with a rich beard of gold covering several scars crisscrossing his face. He wore a full complement of armor and weapons, which included a chainmail hauberk, metal breastplate, pauldrons, greaves, gauntlets, and sword. He bore them all as easily as he would a second skin, and indeed, Captain Randolph Strachan would look out of place without his customary armor.


    ¡°My lord, Marquess Draxas! We¡¯ve been scouring the woods for you for days, my lord!¡±


    Leon raised an eyebrow at that. ¡°And yet I see you have not seen fit to join such efforts yourself, captain.¡±


    The hidden accusation did not break Strachan¡¯s stride at all. He knelt heavily upon the ground. ¡°Much as I wished to do so, my lord, I was compelled to command the search and rescue efforts from these field headquarters for the sake of finding you sooner. I stand ready to answer for such crass dereliction of my duties, my lord!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, captain. I¡¯m confident we will see a full accounting in due time. For now, recall all your men and form an escort to the estate. I¡¯ve been here for all of five minutes and I¡¯m sick and tired of this place already.¡±


    ¡°As my lord commands.¡±


    As the captain quickly issued commands, Leon drowned out the nonstop chatter from his seneschal and instead glanced toward the distant horizon, back in the direction he had come from. For one final time, he wondered if he had made the right decision. He had left the good company of a friend and the warm acceptance of his family. It would be easy to be lulled into complacency in such a place.


    Would it be such a bad thing to live a simpler life, without the games of power and courtly intrigues of House Draxas? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he needed the power to help Skyle find a cure for the Shadowblight, he might have been truly tempted to stay. He might have even made a damn good turnip farmer and tamer of those filthy, overgrown cats.


    Skyle needed him, however. Not only did he need to find a cure, he would also need all the help he could get from friends in high places in order to hide his Shadowblight until he was free of it.


    Besides, Leon had the feeling that if he did not absolutely push his limits, he would be left far behind by his friend. He had grown complacent in these past few years. After being named the official heir, he had become lax and over-confident. It was no wonder an assassin had slipped through all his guards and managed to threaten his life. He might have even succeeded, had it not been for the timely intervention of Ambrose, his champion.


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    No, Leon decided as he led Tannos forward. He needed to be right here, where the fire was the fiercest and the blows the strongest. Only then would he be able to rise from the ashes and unleash his full potential.


    He was reborn, not as Leon Draxas, fire summoner or heir of House Draxas. He was Leon, future God-Emperor of Solaria, ruler of the human realm, and most important of all, childhood friend to one Skyle Farrow, turnip farmer and cat tamer.


    Now, that was a title worth fighting for.


    ¡°I see your friend decided to leave, after all.¡±


    Skyle nodded from where he stood, tucked under the shadows of the low-hanging trees at the outskirts of town. Ash¡¯s ears perked up at the unexpected voice, but then lay flat once more as he continued to nap at Skyle¡¯s feet.


    ¡°So, how long are you going to stand there like a jilted lover for?¡±


    ¡°I was really hoping he would stay, da,¡± Skyle murmured.


    ¡°I know you did, son.¡±


    Kendric Farrow walked forward right from the middle of the shadows lying behind Skyle with that insufferable nonchalance of his. Skyle had stopped wondering how his father did it when he had been certain that moments earlier the shadow had been completely empty. Not because he wasn¡¯t curious, but simply because he couldn¡¯t bear the smug grin on his father¡¯s face every time he tried to find out and inevitably failed.


    A rough, calloused hand landed upon Skyle¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Son, this life ain¡¯t for everybody. Especially not for the likes of him.¡±


    A querulous fire flashed in Skyle¡¯s eyes. ¡°He ain¡¯t like other pampered nobles, da!¡±


    A soft laugh and a swift knuckle to the head wiped the outrage from Skyle¡¯s face.


    ¡°Not what I meant, son. Most men, they must be pushed from behind, flogged and punished until failure is not an option. The rest must be baited from the front, dangling the treasure of their eyes right in front of their noses until they don¡¯t rightly remember who or where they are anymore.¡±


    ¡°Which group does Leon fall into?¡± A slight crease wrinkled up his forehead again.


    ¡°Neither. He¡¯s the rare breed that doesn¡¯t respond to either punishment or reward.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you drive such men forward, da?¡±


    A deep breath that stank faintly of old tobacco and herbs assaulted Skyle¡¯s nose, making him scrunch up his face.


    ¡°Such men can¡¯t be moved by external factors, son. They can be neither threatened or coaxed into action. The only thing you can do is light up a fire inside them. That¡¯s how you move them. Such men can only be challenged or inspired, and such are the humble births of a legend.¡±


    ¡°So why can¡¯t he find those things with us?¡±


    Another knuckle to the head had Skyle scowling darkly as he rubbed at his skull.


    ¡°Stop whining like a little brat and start thinking.¡±


    After a short pause, the glow of understanding slowly dawned upon Skyle''s eyes.


    ¡°Because the fire¡¯s already been lit.¡±


    Kendric nodded, giving his son a proud pat on the back.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Your friend, he¡¯s already been challenged and inspired, and there will be no stopping him now.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You mean because of Sanctuary?¡±


    At least this time Skyle had the presence of mind to duck his head and dodge the incoming knuckle.


    ¡°Wait, wait. Let me think. You¡¯re gonna knuckle all the good ideas out of my head, da. I¡¯m telling ma, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t.¡±


    Kendric smirked then, muttering something about not being to ruin something that was never there in the first place.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Skyle said, his mouth gaping open as his eyes widened in realization. ¡°Surely not?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a lesson for you, son. Easiest thing to miss sometimes is what is lying right in front of your nose.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s challenging himself to find a cure for my taint?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s part of it, and I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what he thinks too, at least on the surface.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡±


    Kendric shrugged, laying his hands behind his head and leaning back against the trunk of a nearby tree.


    ¡°Da!¡±


    An exaggerated snore was the only reply Skyle got.


    Grumbling under his breath, Skyle thought furiously but could only arrive at the same ridiculous answer that he had already discarded before. There was nothing else.


    ¡°Easiest thing to miss is what is lying in front of my nose?¡±


    Skyle gasped as realization struck him, but understanding still eluded him.


    ¡°But he¡¯s a summoner of incredible power, stronger and faster than me by far, and he¡¯s the heir of one of the largest Free Duchies!¡±


    When Skyle blurted out what he thought was the least likely answer, Kendric quirked an eloquent eyebrow in his son¡¯s direction.


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So why would he feel challenged or inspired by a talentless freak of a farmboy who doesn¡¯t have two coppers to rub together?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re my talentless freak, and you will one day shake out the heavens and rock the world-¡±


    Skyle stared at his father, his jaw hanging open as his eyes flared out as wide as they could go. He was so stunned by this unexpected revelation from his father, that he made a perfect target for the knuckle that struck him up the side of his head.  Skyle bent over with a yelp, kneeling while cursing and frantically rubbing at his burning skull.


    ¡°- is what you thought I¡¯d say, didn¡¯t you? Wake up and smell the flowers. It¡¯s all thanks to the dedicated training your old man has put you through, and the hearty meals your mother has slaved in making to nourish those stumpy little limbs of yours.¡±


    Skyle suddenly looked up, staring at his father.


    ¡°You mean to say I¡¯m right? Leon felt challenged and inspired by me?¡±


    Kendric rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to your head, boy. I could train Ash to read out the alphabet in less time than it took you, and he¡¯d do it with a better accent, too.¡±


    Ash let out a plaintive whine as he placed both paws over his ears. He clearly wanted no part in this argument.


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t he stay?¡±


    Skyle knew how whiny he sounded, and he hated it, but he truly couldn¡¯t understand and he still wasn¡¯t able to get over his disappointment.


    ¡°Because this here is your home turf, you dolt. Your boy Leon, he knows himself far better than most boys his age, or even most grown men, for that matter. He¡¯s watched you and realized that he would never be able to keep up, not here. For that, he¡¯s willing to dive head-on back into the world of knives and assassins, and right into the middle of the games of kings and pawns.¡±


    Skyle squinted at his father, lost in thought for a moment.


    ¡°You sound awful familiar with all that stuff, da. More so than the last batch of prunes you let go bad because you forgot to harvest them on season.¡±


    ¡°Reckon¡¯ you¡¯re right, son. I ain¡¯t proud of it, though.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Kendric craned his head toward his son.


    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna ask about my past?¡±


    ¡°Not tonight, da. I¡¯m busy.¡±


    For once, it was Kendric¡¯s turn to look stricken and off-balance.


    ¡°Instead, we need to talk about what we¡¯re gonna do about this fire.¡±


    ¡°What fire?¡± Kendric repeated, still looking deflated over the fact that his own son could have so little interest in his father¡¯s mysterious past.


    ¡°The one burning right here,¡± Skyle said, tapping a finger to his chest. ¡°Can you keep up, old man?¡±


    Kendric grunted at that.


    "Matter of fact, boy, there''s something your mother and I have been meaning to talk to you about."


    Skyle couldn''t help but groan.


    "Another huge secret? Could we at least pace them out somewhat? How about one every two weeks, at the very least?"


    "Don''t cut yourself with your own tongue, boy." Kendric lifted his knuckle and Skyle recoiled in mock-horror, but after a moment Kendric lowered his hand and let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping forward.


    "Uh, da?"


    "Reckon, it''s about time we stopped resisting the times."


    "Huh?"


    "Reckon, it''s time your mother and I brush some of the rust off and set some matters straight."


    "You''re starting to scare me, da."


    Kendric grinned at this, and Skyle thought that he had never realized just how much his father resembled his own snowblade tigers. Right now, he looked like nothing more than a born predator, thirsting for blood and closing in for the kill.


    "You? Hah, wait till the world finds out. Be quaking in their boots and pissin'' their pants."

 Chapter 92 - Leaving Home Again

    Chapter 92 - Leaving Home Again


    Skyle grumbled under his breath as he followed his father back to the farm. It wasn¡¯t so much the fact that he refused to say anything else about the cryptic words he¡¯d spouted off back at Sunny Meadow. It was more about the uneasy sense he got in the pit of his stomach that his comfortable little world was about to get torn to pieces without his having any say about it.


    Sounds of laughter coming from inside the house startled Skyle and brought him out of his morose mood. It was the sound of Reik and Kass laughing with a man, and though it had been a long time, Skyle thought he could recognize the voice.


    Rushing past his father, Skyle shoved the door open and jumped inside. His eyes lit up with delight as a grin filled his entire face.


    ¡°Uncle Talon!¡±


    Sitting there by the table with his back turned to Skyle, was a well-built man wearing a plain cotton tunic and non-descript leather breeches. When he turned around, he saw that he held Kassandra in his arms. The little minx was using a charcoal stick to draw a circle around the man¡¯s left eye. Already, there was a crooked mustache drawn with the same stick.


    ¡°Skyle! You¡¯ve grown so tall. Look at you!¡±


    Talon broke into a wide grin, displaying his newly scribbled mustache to full view. A new round of laughter broke out among the children, and Skyle joined right in. He whooped in delight as he rushed forward to give Talon a hug.


    ¡°Later, brother. I¡¯m still busy putting the last finishing touches,¡± Kassandra complained, pushing Skyle away with her tiny hands.


    ¡°Enough of that, you little fox,¡± Kendric said, picking up Kassandra by the arms and drawing her away.


    ¡°But Uncle Talon said it¡¯s ok!¡± Kassandra cried out in protest.


    ¡°Just because your uncle Talon says it¡¯s ok, doesn¡¯t mean that it is actually ok. Now, stop being a nuisance and go help your mother.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m almost done, Kendric. Let the children amuse themselves a little longer.¡±


    Meanwhile, Skyle sat at Talon¡¯s feet like he used to when he was little and got settled to listen to the wild tales of bandits and princes his uncle would regale the children with whenever he visited.


    Talon looked down at Skyle with a fond look in his eyes, momentarily lost in old memories. Then he shook his head with a rueful smile and rubbed the child¡¯s head affectionately.


    ¡°Not this time, Skyle. They tell me you¡¯re the one who¡¯s been having quite the wanderlust, of late.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s cheeks grew hot as he glanced toward Kassandra and Reikard. Both his siblings looked on with big, round eyes, expectant.


    ¡°I just got lost in the forest, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Talon chuckled good-naturedly and nudged him in the ribs. ¡°That¡¯s how all proper adventures start, Skyle. Or haven¡¯t you been reading the letters I¡¯ve sent?¡±


    Kassandra pouted as she looked up at Talon with accusing eyes. ¡°We would have preferred having you tell us in person, Uncle Talon.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. Believe me, I¡¯ve missed you all and I wish I could have been here to watch you all grow. But all that is about to change!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± All three children looked at each other in confusion.


    Kendric cleared his throat. ¡°Yeah, children. Settle down, your mother and I have something to tell you.¡±


    Adrienne came back to the table and sat down, drawing Skyle into her arms. He looked up at her from under furrowed brows, puzzled by the sudden change in the mood of the room.


    Kendric stepped up next to his wife and placed an arm around her waist. She glanced sideways at her husband and just barely dipped her head in assent.


    ¡°Kids, your mother and I will be leaving on a trip.¡±


    Chaos broke loose. All the kids started talking at once, each looking both agitated and excited at the prospect of finally leaving the confines of the farm.


    ¡°Ah, just your mother and I. We¡¯ve got enough baggage already without taking you brats along.¡±


    A sudden silence fell upon the room, Reikard looking stricken while Kassandra¡¯s brows drew together in the precursor of a fiery storm. Skyle, for his own part, at least had some time to get ready for the blow so he did a little better. He simply gawked.


    ¡°Quiet down, everyone. Let me explain. After a little someone awakened a talent that apparently is only seen once every few decades, Aegis Academy has pointed out that living the quiet, secluded lives we used to will no longer be an option.¡±


    Kassandra opened her mouth, her lips compressing into an angry line, but Kendric forestalled her with an upraised finger.


    ¡°Tut! Wait, hear me out first, my little empress. I know you don¡¯t like the Academy, especially after what they did to your brother. However, for the time being, your mother and I have agreed that it might be the best option, all things considered.¡±


    It was Adrienne¡¯s turn to speak, and she did so by laying a hand on top of Kassandra¡¯s forehead with a gentle smile.


    ¡°Oh, you sweetling. It¡¯s not your fault. The last thing we want to do now is leave your side, but your brother is sick. Sky has been ill for some time now. It¡¯s part of why he can¡¯t use his elemental veins. We¡¯ve been meaning to go searching for a cure, but first we wanted to make sure you were well taken care of.¡±


    Kassandra and Reikard both turned to look at Skyle in shock, moving forward to clasp his hands as though scared he might become a ghost right then and there.


    Skyle tried to smile reassuringly, but that only made tears well up in both their eyes.


    ¡°Oh, you silly heads. Your brother is fine for now. He just needs to be treated, and for that your father and I will have to leave for a while.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t we go with you?¡± Reikard asked in a small voice.


    Adrienne reached out to pinch little Reikard¡¯s cheek fondly.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Reik. You have your own role to play, after all.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Reikard looked up in askance.


    Kendric chuckled as he nudged Skyle in the ribs.


    ¡°Your brother can¡¯t just be left by himself at the farm, after all. As of this afternoon, your brother will be joining the both of you at Aegis Academy as a student in the School of Combat.¡±


    This simple statement left both twins rooted to their spots, thunderstruck.


    ¡°B-but Big bro can¡¯t channel any essence!¡± Reikard burst out, then winced and looked sideways at Skyle with a guilty flush on his cheeks.


    Skyle smiled back and rubbed his brother¡¯s head affectionately.


    ¡°We believe that studying in the academy¡¯s environment will help treat or at least control his condition,¡± Kendric said.


    ¡°But those stuck up bastards-¡± Reik began, but coughed when his mother threw him a look.


    ¡°I mean, all of them nobles will never leave him be,¡± Reikard finished lamely.


    ¡°Which is where you come in, dear.¡± Adrienne smile encompassed both twins, who glanced at each other in surprise that quickly turned into steely resolve.


    ¡°We will protect Big bro!¡± Reikard said, puffing out his chest.


    ¡°And I pity the fool who dares to touch him,¡± Kassandra said, narrowing her eyes.


    Even Skyle looked surprised at the vehemence in their voices.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Kendric clapped his hands in delight. ¡°So, that settles this matter.¡±


    ¡°Woa, hold a second. Don¡¯t I get a say in this?¡±


    All four members of the Farrow family shook their heads at Skyle in unison.


    ¡°It¡¯s for your own good, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Gotta leave the nest sometime, boy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Big bro. We¡¯ve got your back!¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t make a nuisance of yourself, will you?¡±


    Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as Skyle found himself accosted from all sides. Throwing a desperate, last minute appeal to Uncle Talon did not help either, as the man suddenly became engrossed in the contents of his cup.


    A hiss from beside his foot drew his eye, and Skyle was elated as he clutched onto a final hope like a man hanging from the edge of a precipice.


    ¡°What about Ash? I can¡¯t leave him all by himself. What of the whole streak? Who¡¯s going to look after them?¡±


    Kendric got that smug glint in his eye again, and Skyle knew he had been out-maneuvered even before his father opened his mouth while holding up a thin band of silver metal.


    ¡°Old man Arthos and his sons have agreed to move in for the time being and look after the farm - not that it needs much minding. I reckon¡¯ they¡¯ll look after themselves just fine. As for Ash, he¡¯s already been registered as a magical beast companion, and will be allowed to accompany you within academy grounds so long as he wears a beast obedience collar.¡±


    Ash hissed at that, all his fur standing on end as snowblades began to poke out from his fur in all directions. Before he even knew it, Skyle found himself on his feet as well, his chest heaving with fire as he opened his mouth in choleric disbelief.


    ¡°Wait, wait.¡± Kendric held up a pacifying hand. ¡°They¡¯ve agreed that Ash can wear a dummy collar, just for appearance¡¯s sake. It will hold no power over Ash at all, nor will it limit his free will or cognitive functions.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still the principle of it, da. You know how every member of the streak feels about those abominations!¡±


    Skyle worked his mouth like he had just tasted something vile, and couldn¡¯t quite spit it out.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll just have to ask how Ash himself feels about it then, won¡¯t you? Would he rather have you running around by yourself, getting into who knows what kinds of trouble and getting beaten up to within an inch of your life, or finally have the freedom to actually stay by your side to watch over you and protect you like any good streak-brother should, all for the price of one measly little dummy beast collar.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s mouth was dry as he already knew that he didn¡¯t even need to turn around and check. Eventually, he was forced to do so, and as expected, the little sell-out was already purring loudly, his eyes squeezed into mere slits while enthusiastically bobbing his head up and down.


    ¡°Traitor.¡±


    Ash didn¡¯t seem to hear or even care as he stretched out his neck so that Kendric would fit the collar on.


    ¡°Wait, da. What about the tests? I¡¯ll never pass them. I can¡¯t summon a wick of elemental essence, remember?¡±


    ¡°Who gives a hoot about the tests? I told them that if they wanted a Farrow in their academy, they¡¯d have to take you as a package deal. Take it or leave it. Even a defective unit should have its use, after all.¡±


    ¡°Gee, thanks da.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t know what was worse, the fact that his father was making so light of such an important decision, or that he was actually getting excited about this new prospect. Why was he fighting the idea so hard, anyhow? He knew he needed to grow stronger, and in order to do so, he would have to challenge his own limits - constantly. That meant leaving the safety of his parents¡¯ arms and experiencing the world for himself. What better way to start than by bashing in the collective, upturned noses of a bunch of haughty nobles born with a silver spoon in their mouths?


    Besides, that¡¯s where Leon would be. Just the thought of seeing his friend on a day-to-day basis cheered him up already.


    ¡°Big bro, we¡¯ll be going to the academy together!¡±


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    Reikard sounded almost as excited as he himself did. Kassandra didn¡¯t say anything, but the faint smile on her lips and the hint of rose on her cheeks already told him exactly how she felt about it.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s not the worst thing in the world.¡±


    Kendric slapped him in the back with a hearty laugh, which earned him a disapproving look from his wife. Adrienne gathered her son¡¯s face between her hands and gazed deeply into his eyes.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright with this, little Sky?¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly, his mind finally made up.


    Adrienne nodded then, with moisture pooling within her eyes. ¡°My little baby, all grown up. I¡¯m so proud of you.¡±


    Skyle felt a lump in his throat, and could only nod wordlessly.


    ¡°So where will you two be going, and when will we see you again?¡± Kassandra broke in, her tone dry.


    ¡°Well, who knows where the road will take us. We haven¡¯t been free-¡±


    Kendric coughed as his wife sent another warning look at him.


    ¡°-I mean, free to consider all the options quite in detail yet. We should be back within the year, however. Two, at the most.¡±


    ¡°What? A year or two? Why such a long time? Where are you going?¡± Reikard¡¯s voice burst out in the silence that followed that last statement.


    Skyle looked up into his mother¡¯s eyes with guilt and dread in his heart. He thought he had an idea where they were going, and it filled his veins with ice.


    ¡° Don¡¯t worry about us,¡± his mother mouthed to him, a gentle smile on her face. In the depths of her eyes, however, Skyle saw glimpses of that unshakable confidence he had seen not long ago.


    ¡°Wait, is that why Uncle Talon is back?¡± Kassandra asked suddenly.


    Talon smiled wryly at that, and Kendric instantly arrived to slap his shoulder.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Your Uncle Talon will be your guardian while we¡¯re gone. Now, remember what your Uncle Talon does for a living?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a super secret spy!¡± Reikard cried out, his eyes lighting up.


    ¡°No, you dummy! Uncle Talon is an elite covert imperial operative!¡±


    Kassandra sniffed, looking down her nose at her twin.


    ¡°Same difference, Kass.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong, they¡¯re two completely different things.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Because one¡¯s taken straight from one of your little adventure books, and the other is straight up life and death stuff. Duh!¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyebrows shot up at Kassandra¡¯s words, feeling like they had hit right on the mark. Glancing at Talon, he did not fail to catch the barely suppressed surprise the words had caused.


    ¡°Will that be alright for Uncle Talon¡¯s job?¡± Skyle asked.


    Talon opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but was instantly overruled by Kendric.


    ¡°That¡¯s why your clever Uncle Talon will be in disguise!¡±


    Talon¡¯s expression turned sickly as he once again tried to interject, but was promptly elbowed into silence by Kendric, who continued speaking as though nothing had happened.


    ¡°From now on, your Uncle Talon will be his Holy Grace, Lord Inquisitor Thaelus Bismarck of the Holy Church.¡±


    Reikard and Kassandra whooped and cheered at this as though it were all one great adventure that just kept getting better and better. Only Skyle knew the full weight the title carried with it, and he looked at ¡°Uncle Talon¡± with wide, bewildered eyes.


    Talon didn¡¯t miss Skyle¡¯s look, and even while being man-handled by Kendric, managed to send a conspiratorial wink his way.


    ¡° Wait, then what does that make da, who¡¯s rolling all over a Lord Inquisitor of the Holy Church like he were a sack of stale potatoes?¡±


    Feeling a drop of cold sweat rolling down his back, Skyle was suddenly made very aware of the hands that were warmly clasping his face right now.


    ¡° And what does that make ma, who can obviously scare the shit out of da with nothing more than a simple look?¡±


    Slowly looking up into his mother¡¯s deep, crystalline blue eyes, Skyle suddenly felt as though he were staring into the depths of a fathomless abyss.


    Adrienne did not miss the look on her son¡¯s face. Her eyebrows arched upward just a hair as a slow smile spread across her lips. Then, she winked.


    For the first time in his young life, Skyle came to realize that women could be scarier than any spymaster, inquisitor, or nagging father could ever be.


    ¡°Now that the twins are in bed, there¡¯s something else we need to discuss, Skyle. Come on out to the porch.¡± Kendric motioned to Skyle and ambled through the door, with Talon following after.


    Adrienne reluctantly let go of her son, but still nodded encouragingly to him.


    When Skyle stepped outside, the brisk night breeze hit him in the face and drew an involuntary gasp from his lips.


    Kendric chuckled darkly as he stuffed his pipe. When he finished, he held it up to his lips expectantly. Soon, a green tongue of flame flickered into life in front of his father¡¯s face. He leaned into the flame and drew deeply from his pipe.


    Skyle blinked in confusion, before glancing to the side and noticing the helpless half-smile on Talon¡¯s face.


    ¡°Look, son. We need to have a talk, man-to-man..to-man.¡± His father added that last after sending a strange look towards Talon, including him at the last moment.


    ¡°The answer¡¯s yes, da. I will learn the way of shadows.¡±


    Kendric coughed as he choked on the smoke he had suddenly inhaled, nearly dropped the pipe from his lips.


    Talon began to chuckle, but a dark warning look was enough to reduce it to a twitching grin instead.


    ¡°Do you understand what you¡¯re agreeing to?¡±


    Skyle pursed his lips for a moment, and shook his head slowly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know exactly what is involved. But I''ve heard the stories about the Shadows of the Empire, and along the years I''ve drawn my own conclusions. I don''t know the details, and I don¡¯t care, as long as it makes me stronger.¡±


    Skyle looked his father straight in the eyes, willing him to see the raw determination and naked truth of his statement.


    Kendric looked on for a moment, and seemed satisfied with what he found - barely. Then again, not much seemed good enough for Kendric Farrow, so Skyle would take what little victories he could snatch from his father''s stingy eyes.


    ¡°Talon, why don¡¯t you tell this rascal of mine what he will be taking on before he¡¯s in too deep?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Talon turned to Skyle and the small boy shrank back at the cold menace lurking in the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Skyle Arrow, you have been selected to learn the Way of Shadows. You will walk with the shadows, your steps silent and traceless. You will fight from the shadows, your blade dark and shapeless. You will kill from the shadows, your strike unerring and ruthless. You will live among the shadows, your mind sharp and peerless. You will die within the shadows, your end hollow and meaningless. Thus, you arise with the shadow and die within the shadow. Such is the shadow''s creed.¡±


    Kendric¡¯s brow twitched at Talon¡¯s words, and his fists slowly clenched and unclenched. In the end, however, he still didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°Are we talking about an assassination technique?¡± Skyle¡¯s face crumpled up as he looked to his father.


    ¡°The Way of Shadows is ultimately about taking lives, son. In truth, I don¡¯t like this any more than you do. If possible, I would have preferred that you never learn it. Better yet, I had hoped that you would never have need of it. That is why I never taught you more than the bare basics. Still, I won¡¯t deny that the only reason I¡¯m still alive, the only reason I¡¯ve been able to protect my family - protect you - is because I mastered the Way of Shadows and used it against my enemies.¡±


    Kendric tightened his jaw as he turned to regard his son with a grim look in his eyes.


    ¡°It is as much of a legacy as this broken down old man can give you, son. My advice is, take it. Use it as you would any weapon. Let the shadow become a part of you, but never let it take your heart away. Use the shadows as your cloak and your blade, but always remember that your heart is made of sterner stuff, no matter what the world would have you believe.¡±


    ¡°Will I have to kill innocent people?¡± Skyle asked from Talon this time, his voice trembling slightly as he recalled the lives he had reaped within Sanctuary.


    Talon spread his hands. ¡°That will be entirely up to you, Skyle.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Who determines innocence or guilt? In the end, who decides who dies so that others may live? Not the blade, Skyle, but the rather the hand that wields it.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like an excuse to commit any number of horrible things!¡±


    Talon shook his head sadly. ¡°That¡¯s just the world we live in. I can promise you one thing: I will never ask you to take a life. If and when you do, it will be your own decision, on your own terms. I will only hand you the tools. It will be your hand plunging the blade.¡±


    Skyle turned to look at his father.


    Kendric nodded slowly, looking old and haggard as he never had before. ¡°Just remember, son. Life has a way of forcing your hand, until all that is left are shitty choices. It will then fall to you to choose the lesser of two evils. Whatever choice you make then, it will change you forever.¡±


    Skyle was silent for a long moment before speaking again.


    ¡°What¡¯s the other option then? What if I don¡¯t want to learn, and life hands me the same choices?¡±


    ¡°Then at least you¡¯ll have your ignorance to keep you company in the cold grave.¡± His father provided wryly.


    ¡°So, in the end there¡¯s no choice at all - only the illusion of choice.¡±


    Skyle smiled bitterly, remembering his earlier conversation with Leon.


    ¡°There¡¯s always a choice, Skyle. It doesn¡¯t always make a difference, but it is a choice nonetheless.¡±


    Skyle nodded solemnly at that.


    ¡°Then I choose to learn. Because a crabby old man once told me that mothers hold that love and hope always triumph in the end, and it is up to their children and the strength of their fists to prove that they¡¯re right.¡±


    A faint smile brushed by Kendric¡¯s face, and he nodded to his son.


    ¡°Least you learned something. Guess I ought to be happy at least something managed to stick in that solid bone you call a brain.¡±


    ¡°Like father, like son, da.¡± Skyle couldn¡¯t resist pointing out, before his expression turned somber once more. ¡°Was that what you were, da? An assassin?¡±


    Kendric expression became distant, visiting the shores of a different life, in a different era.


    ¡°I was many things, son: assassin, spy, soldier, general, ambassador, judge and executioner. One thing I most definitely wasn¡¯t, however, was a nice man. You can ask your Uncle Talon about that.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, he was the worst-¡± Suddenly, Talon caught himself and coughed violently. ¡°His own worst critic, is what I meant to say.¡±


    Kendric raised an amused eyebrow towards the other man, but then his gaze became dead serious.


    ¡°Talon, take care of my son.¡±


    Talon nodded gravely. ¡°I will, sir.¡±


    ¡°Da,¡± Skyle said, walking up to his father and laying his head against his back.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Just so you know, you¡¯re not such a bad man, and not the most terrible father, either,¡± Skyle whispered, squeezing his eyes shut as a quiet tear slipped past and rolled down his cheek.


    There was no answer to that, only a warm hand that rested, still and wordless, upon his head.

 Chapter 93 - The Master Meets the Apprentice

    Chapter 93 - The Master Meets the Apprentice


    Their farewells were bittersweet and brief. The children were struggling with a mix of excitement over the prospect of independence, and fear at facing the unknown without their parents¡¯ protection for the first time in their young lives. The parents, on the other hand, tried to look as confident as they could in their decision, but Skyle could recognize the cracks in their carefully constructed facade when he thought back of the recent times when he had also wanted to reassure his younger siblings with a confidence he did not truly feel.


    After their parents left, only the children and Talon were left waiting with all their meager possessions packed away into bags and neatly stacked on top of a luxurious carriage drawn by four majestic steeds. They didn¡¯t even have to load the bags themselves. The carriage had come with its own complement of a driver and two page boys who had yes¡¯sir and pleasure¡¯sir¡¯d their way through their things before any of the children could even react to give them a hand. The only one who hadn¡¯t looked out of place was Kassandra, who acted like this was the treatment she justly deserved, at long last.


    As for Uncle Talon, he had somehow managed to find himself a black vest of finely woven wool, along with a tunic and breeches of a similar material. The dye job was beautiful, and the many silver chains decorating its surface spoke of detailed craftsmanship a common person could ill afford. In fact, his entire persona had changed completely, from the way he stood with his back arched straight and head held high, to the delicate way in which he gripped the silver-tipped walking cane he held on one hand.


    A single gold monocle hung by his face, held up by a thin frame of the same expensive material. He wore a mustache, not the one scribbled on yesterday by Kassandra, but a real one with dark, richly oiled curls so authentic, Skyle could barely resist the temptation to reach out and give it a tug, just to make sure it was really fake.


    ¡°Remember, children. You have been commended into the care of the Lord Inquisitor Bismarck, who happens to be one of the most honorable patrons and clients of the law firm I belong to. I¡¯m not privy to the arrangements your family has made with his holy grace, but on the behalf of the Law Offices of Locke, Wellsworth and Associates, I will take care of your every need to the best of my abilities.¡±


    All three children nodded solemnly at this. Though they had joked and laughed yesterday, each one of them knew just how important secrecy and discretion was, especially when it came to Uncle Talon¡¯s job. They each vowed they would take such secrets to their graves, even under threat of torture or worse!


    Skyle glanced briefly toward his siblings and couldn¡¯t help but let out a wry smile. The little tykes would take to their new roles with great enthusiasm, he knew. Perhaps too much. Still, if it would keep their naughty little minds busy, then so much the better.


    As for himself, he had more important things to worry about - such as not getting slaughtered in his first day at the academy as the only ungifted student in a renowned tier 2 institution where all the very top of the elite elemental warriors, mages and summoners would gather.


    In all honesty, Skyle did not feel inferior to any of his peers, elemental gift or no. Still, entering the academy which had been his dream for so many years now loomed so large before him that it honestly took his breath away. He did not know what to expect, and the anticipation was both gripping and terrifying.


    His thoughts were interrupted by the humming buzz that cut through the air above his head. When he lifted his head, he saw twin bars of solid blue light pirouetting through the air and coming to a stop right in front of the twins.


    Before Skyle had time to even open his mouth, a large sphere of water soared through the air, following tightly along the blue lines of water element at hair-raising speeds. It came to a smooth halt right before it struck the ground. The entire thing resembled a gigantic bubble of water, and though a vague humanoid shape could be distinguished within, Skyle squinted in vain to try to discover the person¡¯s identity.


    Then he didn¡¯t have to guess anymore. A ripple ran through the surface of the water bubble, then it vanished into thin air, evaporating into bubbles that flew into the wind even though there was no steam or heat. Skyle had no idea what wonder of magic this was, but he could tell it was a deceptively powerful spell. Then he had no more attention to spare, as he was riveted by the passenger of the water sphere.


    An attractive woman with sun tanned skin and huge emerald eyes stepped forward with a dazzling smile on her face. She had elaborately curled black hair that fell to the middle of her back, with countless jeweled chains and rings hung throughout its length. There were two silver rings piercing her left eyebrow, and a single diamond stud glittered brightly on her right nostril. Several more rings - Skyle could not count exactly how many, but it was a lot - could be seen dangling from her delicate ears. He was only surprised there were not any piercings on her lips.


    All three children were completely taken by surprise by the woman¡¯s countenance. Even her clothes were completely outlandish and shocking. She wore the Aegis colors of silver and blue, but instead of the voluminous robes they had grown used to seeing magisters wearing, a scandalously close-cut vest was the only garment that covered her generous breasts. They seemed to threaten to explode from the confines of the puny vest, jiggling back and forth with her every movement. Even more outrageous, Skyle could see a dark line of tattoos reaching all the way from her neck down into her plunging bosom, and circling around to her back. Just what kind of degenerate had imprinted tattoos on such indiscrete portions of a lady¡¯s body?


    The vest was short enough that it bared all of her mid-section, putting the sparkling blue teardrop-shaped jewel hanging from the silver chain that pierced her navel to prominent display. Skyle could only swallow with a loud gulp as he saw that not one ounce of fat was visible on the woman¡¯s abdomen. Her slender waist stood in stark contrast to her generous breasts and the shapely curves of her hips.


    All in all, Skyle would have expected such a voluptuous woman to be an exotic dancer at one of those shows rumoured to be favored by rowdy sailors and other nasty old men. That she wore the Aegis colors and obviously held tremendous abilities in the elements only made Skyle even more shocked.


    Thankfully, Talon seemed perfectly at ease as he smoothly stepped in front of the children and bowed with impeccable grace.


    ¡°Madam Syrene Le Sueur Aegis¡¯sur, I presume? I¡¯m Thurblin Vespermond, Attorney at Law at the Law Offices of Locke, Wellsworth and Associates. Allow me to express what an honor it is for this humble servitor of the law to have the honor to greet an esteemed Aegis¡¯sur as vibrant and full of grace as your noble self.¡±


    Skyle tried his best not to goggle at the mouthful that Uncle Talon had spewed forth without so much as a twitch of his eye.


    ¡°No wonder he¡¯s with Shadow. Even I have the urge to kick his oily, slick, boot-licking arse away from me, and he¡¯s my uncle!¡±


    ¡°A pleasure, I¡¯m sure, Mr. Vespermond.¡±


    Syrene nodded indifferently, her gaze already moving on to the children standing behind the man. Just at that instant, however, the Aegis summoner seemed to pause for a moment, tilting her head sideways and looking back toward Uncle Talon with a flicker of a frown.


    Talon, for his part, did not so much as twitch. Instead, his lips spread in a slow, appreciative smile as his gaze wandered just a little lower than a proper gentleman should allow. He immediately stopped himself with a nervous cough, but not before Syrene caught his stolen glance. This expertly played card had the desired effect, and Syrene Aegis¡¯sur dismissed this lecherous man from her mind with a contemptuous flick of her head.


    ¡°Incredible, how he manipulates other people¡¯s prejudices to his own advantage with such ease. How does this summoner know Uncle Talon, though? Has she met him before?¡±


    Skyle slowly shook his head, and he barely caught the brief look Talon threw his way. It was full of meaning, and Skyle realized that the lessons had already begun.


    ¡°Hello, children. I¡¯m Syrene Le Sueur Aegis¡¯sur. I¡¯m here on behalf of Aegis Academy to ease you into your new lives within the academy complex. I¡¯m told this will be your first time taking full-time residence within the student dormitories. I¡¯m sure you have many questions, but they will all be addressed in due time.¡±


    Her words seemed to be addressing all of them, but unsurprisingly, she only had eyes for Kassandra. For her part, Kassandra looked at the Aegis¡¯sur with a dismayingly transparent mixture of instant dislike and disdain.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make things difficult, Kass.¡±


    As though hearing Skyle¡¯s whispered plea, Kass glanced briefly over at Skyle, and with a visible effort of will, put on a neutral expression on her face. At least, it was an improvement.


    Interestingly, Kass¡¯ brief look in her brother¡¯s direction did not seem to go unnoticed by Syrene, whose lips twitched briefly. However, her next words were addressed to Talon.


    ¡°Mr. Vespermond, I trust you have the proper address for the new student dormitories?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we do, Madam Aegis¡¯sur.¡± Talon wiped errant drops of sweat from his brow.


    ¡°Then I will ask that you ensure their belongings are properly conveyed to their destinations. I will be taking the children with me in order to expedite their enrollment process.¡±


    Syrene began to turn away toward the children while lifting her hand, but an uncomfortable cough from behind interrupted her.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Vespermond?¡± Syrene glanced back over her shoulder, but her voice dipped in temperature until it was noticeably colder..


    ¡°Beg your pardon, Madam Aegis¡¯sur, but it was my understanding that all enrollment procedures had been completed through direct negotiation between the children¡¯s parents and the Academy Board of Directors.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°You have been informed correctly, Mr. Vespermond. Still, proper testing should be conducted upon all newly inducted students so as to properly measure their current capabilities as well as latent potential. I¡¯m especially interested in the results in this particular case.¡±


    ¡°But, Madam Aegis¡¯sur, and forgive my pointing out so, both Kassandra and Reikard Farrow have already been thoroughly tested and their records should be available back at the academy.¡±


    ¡°Once again, you¡¯re correct. However, it is not the twins¡¯ results that most intrigue me. I must confess I am rather extremely interested in this one,¡± Syrene said, coming to a stop before Skyle.


    She reached out and ran her hand down his cheek, richly lacquered nails catching and reflecting the sunlight into Skyle¡¯s eyes. Her shapely, crimson lips glistened wetly as they curled into a slow, teasing smile.


    ¡°I look forward to getting to know you better, Skyle.¡±


    ¡°Uh, p- pleasure is all mine, I assure you, ma¡¯am. I mean, Madam, ah, Madam Aegis¡¯sur.¡±


    A rich, husky laugh teased Skyle¡¯s ears as Syrene threw her head back and enjoyed his poor first stab at proper summoner greeting etiquette. He could feel her touch upon his cheeks as intensely as though her skin were burning, and his own face began to flush with heat. As the Aegis¡¯sur laughed, her vest struggled to contain the massive mounds of her chest, threatening to spill out at any moment. Skyle¡¯s eyes were drawn by the movement, mesmerized by the spectacle of it.


    It only lasted for a second before the boy tore his gaze away, but the damage had been done and an even more incriminating flush overwhelmed his entire face. Syrene did not fail to catch this, and let out a gasp of girly delight that was shockingly uncharacteristic of the dignity of the office of an Aegis¡¯sur, pulling Skyle forward and burying his face within the seemingly endless expanse of her bosom.


    Skyle could only recall having been this close to one other woman¡¯s breasts, and those were his mother¡¯s, which didn¡¯t really count as such because well, they were his mother¡¯s. Kassandra, the only other female he had such close acquaintance with, was still flat as a board. As for Ria, any such details had already been scoured clean in the labyrinth of his mind.


    A heady, unfamiliar yet not unpleasant scent of flowers and rain entered his nostrils, making his head dizzy. Suffocating in the soft, plunging depths of the charismatic, if exotic beauty¡¯s breasts, Skyle flailed his arms around uselessly, completely at a loss as to how he ought to deal with the current situation. He couldn¡¯t very well push her away, as it felt as though the yielding softness of her chest encompassed the whole area in front of Skyle. His face lay buried in the valley between her two mounds, and her embracing arms pinned his own so that the only area they could reasonably reach out to were those same scandalously expansive breasts.


    In the end, he was rescued by his little sister, though suddenly he wasn¡¯t sure he had wanted to be rescued at all.


    ¡°Hey, let go of my brother, you ugly cow!¡±


    Skyle gasped, or tried to, and only ended up burying himself even deeper into the summoner¡¯s embrace. Then suddenly, he was free. He looked up in a daze and found an amused grin stretching those rich, scarlet lips.


    ¡°Looks like you have a valiant knight protecting your honor, little Skyle.¡±


    Skyle blushed furiously as he looked down, unable to think past the embarrassment that flooded his brain. It pushed out all reason or thought dribbling out his ears for the time being.


    ¡°Much as I appreciate the loyal love you hold toward your brother, ugly cow is hardly the way you should be addressing your master, little Kassie.¡±


    Skyle heard the outraged spluttering behind his back and turned around just in time to see Kassandra raising a shaky finger toward Syrene.


    ¡°Y- you! What did you just call me?¡±


    ¡°Aw, little Kassie, I¡¯m not a bad person at all. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get along famously once we get to know each other.¡±


    ¡°My name is Kassandra Farrow! Not K- Kassie. Certainly not your little anything, either!¡±


    A mysterious smile spread across Syrene¡¯s lips as she gazed dotingly upon the red-faced, furious Kassandra.


    ¡°Ah, but that¡¯s where you are wrong, Kassie dear. I¡¯ve been assigned as your master, and as such it is up to me to register your newly arisen name as a summoner of the Empire and an Aegis¡¯sur. This means that if I should decide your name is Kassibertha Lanky-legs Gertrude, then that¡¯s how posterity and all later generations shall remember you as. So, what shall it be, Little Kassie.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but give a grudging nod of respect, impressed in spite of himself. This woman had certainly done her homework. First, he had struck into the weakest chink in the armor of the Farrow siblings, which was the more vulnerable eldest brother. He might be a fierce fighter and precocious child, but he only now realized just how poorly equipped he had been to deal with the double-breast attack.


    It had certainly done a number on poor Kassandra, who had forgotten all about her aloofness and cold indifference, and shown her true nature which she seldom, if ever revealed before strangers. Then the Aegis¡¯sur had struck home while Kassandra still lay reeling, targeting the enormous vanity which likely comprised the single largest character flaw in Skyle¡¯s little sister.


    Glancing down at the lithe, chocolate-toned arms that still curled possessively around his neck, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but wince because through his back he could distinctly feel the summoner¡¯s jiggling breasts rising and falling with each of her breaths.


    ¡°Fine. Call me whatever you want. However, let go of my brother, you hag,¡± Kassandra said, seething.


    ¡°Or what?¡±


    ¡°Or I will fulfill my promise of that day at the arena.¡±


    The words were said without any of the heat her face seemed to suggest, and were only made all the grimer for it.


    ¡°Tall boasts for such a little girl. I wonder if you have what it takes to carry through on it, though.¡±


    Kassandra¡¯s eyes burned with sudden liquid fire that glowed an actinic blue. Her blond hair flew wildly in all directions as currents of elemental essence began to gather between her cupped hands. Reikard tried to step forward, but surprisingly, Talon took hold of his arm and pulled him back with a slow shake of his head.


    ¡°Kass!¡± Skyle cried out in alarm, trying to disengage the arms around him. The strength of the woman surprised him, however, and he was held fast.


    ¡°Shush now. I could hardly bear to hurt my little apprentice upon our first meeting.¡±


    Skyle only had eyes for his little sister, so he nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt lips upon his cheek. It was hardly more than a fond kiss, meant for coddling a cute child. Skyle knew it would not make a difference, for the effect upon Kassandra would be the same.


    A sudden flare of blue radiance burst out from Kassandra¡¯s hands, converging into three shimmering coils of water that danced with ethereal light. They wrapped themselves around the young summoner¡¯s hands, like liquid serpents that waved sinuously as they rose to loom over her head.


    ¡°Last warning,¡± Kassandra said. ¡°Let. Go. Of. My. Brother.¡±


    Skyle felt Syrene¡¯s answering laughter vibrating through his back. Before he could open his mouth to protest, Kassandra threw her hands up high and the three snakes became streaks of blue that pierced high into the sky. They howled in the wind as they drew an arc through the air, then descended towards Syrene¡¯s head with blinding speed.


    ¡°Kass, don¡¯t-!¡± Skyle began, but then felt a crushing power coursing through the air around him. In the True Sight, he saw countless streams of azure essence spring into life around him. Each was shaped like a small hook, almost like the ones his father used for fishing. There were hundreds at a glance, and they all orderly began to link together and snap into place as though they were soldiers in an army.


    In a mere instant, a circular shield of interlocking water essence was formed in the air before Skyle. Syrene reached out with a beckoning motion, and the shield obediently flew into her grasp, all the while adding more and more of those small hooks. By the time Syrene raised the shield, it had already formed three layers of essence that each spun in different directions, their hooks seamlessly integrated together.


    ¡°Come, then, apprentice. Show your master what you can do!¡±


    There was a challenge in her voice, along with thinly veiled excitement. A deafening explosion was the only answer she received.


    The first stream of water essence crashed down upon the shield and burst apart into a blinding cloud of mist. Droplets splattered all around them with a crackling hiss, kicking up a cloud of dust and small debris. The shield, however, held fast and only the first layer seemed to have briefly slowed its spinning motion.


    ¡°Try harder!¡±


    Skyle winced at the summoner¡¯s cry, and recoiled instinctively at the humming whine as the second stream of water seemed to accelerate even more.


    It exploded against Syrene¡¯s shield, submerging Skyle''s world into a blue haze for an instant as light flared brightly above his head. Though his physical sight was blinded by the sudden brilliance, his True Sight saw with incredible detail how the hooks on the first layer stopped spinning under the crushing impact of the second blow. A series of sharp cracks hissed next to his ear as first one, then more and more hooks disintegrated under the impact, until finally the first layer of the shield was obliterated.


    The fearsome torrent of water assaulted the second layer of the shield then, but could only fizzle uselessly against it, most of its strength already spent.


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got, Kassandra Farrow?¡±


    This woman really could not keep her mouth shut. Skyle could only rear back reflexively as Kassandra let out a high-pitched cry in response.


    He didn¡¯t need to raise his physical eyes to see the final incoming strike, but for just a moment he couldn¡¯t quite believe what his True Sight was telling him, and so he lifted his head in stunned fascination.


    There, piercing through the white clouds above, and streaking in a blur of motion that left only an azure shadow in its wake, the third and final attack unleashed by Kassandra began to draw more water essence from the very air it passed through. This added essence did not increase its mass. Instead, it acted like a spring, further accelerating its momentum, and even adding a spinning rotation to its mass.


    Even without any experience with spells and elemental essence attacks, Skyle could tell this final strike was on a whole different level from the previous ones. He opened his mouth to cry out a warning, but could only stare as countless streams of water essence coalesced from the air around them and were rapidly drawn into the shield above, thickening its two remaining layers and intensifying their glow manyfold.


    An earth-shattering explosion rattled Skyle¡¯s bones as he felt the violent impact of Kassandra¡¯s strike even through the intervening layers of shields. A howling whine filled his ears as the bolt of water essence drilled through the smallest of gaps between each of the hooks, twisting them away, then blowing them apart altogether. In a mere instant, the second layer was shattered completely, and the water lance struck down upon the third and final shield.


    The world exploded into a shower of water essence that filled the entire area with blinding flashes of raw, ruptured elemental power shearing off from the torrent of water. The third layer of the shield began to twist and bend under the relentless force of the attack, crackling noises coming from its surface. However, the shield drew constant nourishment from the essence in the air around them, glowing brighter and brighter until it stopped giving way, then began to push back.


    A thundering explosion rang out, and the water lance burst into myriads of water droplets that shot out like stinging arrows that riddled the ground with countless tiny holes. Fortunately, Talon stood in front of Reik and shielded him with his cloak. It barely rippled, and left behind only drops of water upon its surface. Kassandra herself fell back a couple steps, swaying unsteadily as the water drops struck an invisible shield in the air in front of her. Skyle¡¯s True Sight revealed a shimmering lattice of water essence that drew all the water essence into it, though its ripples seemed to weaken Kassandra¡¯s own aura with each strike.


    ¡°Not bad, piercing through two layers of a Minor Vortex Shield. Maybe you¡¯ll earn a right to your name yet, Kassandra.¡±


    Only now did Skyle realize that he was finally free, and rushed forward to support Kassandra as she tottered backwards on her feet. He just barely managed to catch her at the same time Reikard did. Both brothers exchanged a grim glance, before turning to look at Syrene.


    ¡°My little tigers, I can tell the next year will be very interesting.¡±


    Skyle allowed himself a small, knowing smile, and a flicker of surprise flashed across the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s expression.


    She surreptitiously drew her right hand behind her back, but Skyle did not need his physical eyes to see the small cut that ran down the middle of her palm, or the welling blood that began drip from the shallow wound. There, blue essence lay clustered in a chaotic clump of energy that continued to churn and twist, much in the same motion Kassandra¡¯s water spear had before.


    What surprised Skyle the most, however, wasn¡¯t the whole confrontation that had been instigated by the Aegis¡¯sur, nor its results. Instead, what shocked Skyle and gave him a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, was the radiant, almost manic grin of excitement that flared clear and bright behind Syrene Le Sueur¡¯s eyes.

 Chapter 94 - Cumulus, Gravitas, Regis

    Chapter 94 - Cumulus, Gravitas, Regis


    ¡°Kass, how do you feel?¡±


    His little sister¡¯s skin had lost some color, but her aura was still surging with ripples of elemental essence flaring chaotically across her body. He could only breathe a sigh of relief when he noticed it was not outside essence causing the disturbance. Rather, it was Kassandra¡¯s own body reacting to the violent overdrafting of elemental power that had caused her to waver momentarily. Even as he watched on, her veins began to glow brightly and surged with power once again. Her eyes told Skyle that the stubborn little empress was getting ready to get up and fight again.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Stand aside, brother.¡±


    Kassandra tried to push him aside, but Skyle stood firm.


    ¡°Be still, Kass. Let me take a good look at you. Are you hurt anywhere?¡±


    Laying a hand on Kassandra¡¯s forehead, he tried his best to look as worried for her as he could. It wasn¡¯t very hard. Though he knew the older Aegis¡¯sur would not truly harm Kassandra, and indeed she was still hale and ready to continue this fight, Skyle was deeply concerned for his little sister. With the amount of elemental essence Kassandra was drawing, he was more concerned about her hurting herself even worse after wielding power that she was still not used to. Only now did Skyle begin to better understand the wisdom of their parents. Perhaps some outside discipline and training would help Kassandra bring both her character and surging elemental powers under control.


    These powers were far stronger than even Skyle had imagined. Perhaps on the outside, it might look as if Syrene had warded off the assault with ease. With his True Sight, Skyle knew the truth of the matter. He had witnessed not only the power infused into that third strike, but also its finesse. In other words, it wasn¡¯t just a larger attack, it was also a far more skillful one. Its might had truly surprised Syrene, and only her frantic, last-minute efforts to reinforce the shield had prevented an even more serious injury from occurring.


    Even now, Skyle could detect the odd swirling of the essence on Syrene¡¯s palm. Though it was slowing down, the fact that Kassandra¡¯s water spear had left such lasting effects on the much more experienced and powerful summoner was a sobering reminder of just how gifted and dangerous Kassandra was.


    At least, Syrene seemed to have backed off, no longer taunting Kassandra with childish names. He could detect no ill will in her actions, as Skyle was familiar with such methods through his own experience with his father.


    ¡° Some can only be inspired or challenged, right da?¡±


    Skyle began to understand many of the subtleties of his father¡¯s training methods, and how effective they had been at pushing him beyond his limits time and time again. Though he felt reluctant to allow Syrene to bully his baby sister in such a manner, he was also aware that Kassandra would need to learn some harsh lessons if she was to come into her powers and deal with the world beyond the confines of their home.


    ¡°Big bro, I won¡¯t stand for this,¡± Reikard said next to him.


    Skyle turned to look at his younger brother in surprise. The heat in his voice was even more surprising than Kassandra¡¯s outburst, as Reikard rarely let anything perturb his calm demeanor.


    ¡°Reik, just breathe and calm down.¡±


    Reikard threw a fierce look in Syrene¡¯s direction, but stood his ground. His aura, however, was erupting with barely suppressed power. The summoner, if she detected any of this, did not seem overly concerned and met it with the same spirited smile. This provoked yet another outburst from Kassandra.


    ¡°Brother, I said I¡¯m fine. Now move aside while I deal with that old cow.¡±


    Skyle cupped her chin in his hand and turned it to face him instead. ¡°Kass, look at me.¡±


    Kassandra¡¯s chest heaved but she slowly did as asked. When she met Skyle¡¯s gaze, the ice in her eyes slowly thawed. He smiled at this, letting his appreciation and concern for her shine through. When he saw that he was finally reaching past her anger, he shook his head.


    ¡°This is not you, Kass. Don¡¯t lose to her, baby girl. Not like this.¡±


    Kassandra¡¯s lips froze for a moment as she let the meaning of his words filter past her wounded pride. Once she could think clearly, it didn¡¯t take her long, as she wasn¡¯t called the genius of the family for nothing. Then her cheeks colored slightly as she looked up at Skyle from under lowered eyebrows.


    ¡°I will grow faster for you, brother.¡±


    ¡°Do I look like I need your protection so badly?¡±


    A guilty flush spread across her face. ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant!¡±


    Skyle flicked her nose with the back of his finger. ¡°Oh, then what did you mean, exactly?.¡±


    An even deeper shade of crimson turned her entire face beet red.


    ¡°I will.. You know, grow bigger.. There,¡± Kassandra said with difficulty, casting her eyes down. Then she rushed through the rest of the sentence. ¡°I just need a little more time, then you¡¯ll see!¡±


    It was now time for both Skyle and Reikard to look dumbfounded as they followed Kassandra¡¯s gaze down to her flat chest.


    ¡°Stop looking!¡± Kassandra cried out, pushing them away with her dainty little hands.


    Skyle and Reikard exchanged a glance, then began to laugh out loud. This left Kassandra stamping her feet down, glaring at her would-be protectors for a moment before switching her gaze toward Syrene once again.


    ¡°You win, Madam Aegis¡¯sur - this time. I will not be so easily bested next time, however. I hope you do not disappoint me.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but flash a grin at this. It looked as though not even Kassandra understood just how far from disappointed the Aegis summoner had been. If anything, Skyle was impressed that Syrene could hold up that same lighthearted smile while her aura was practically boiling over with excitement.


    ¡°Are we ready to depart then, children?¡± Even her voice sounded casual and carefree.


    Kassandra opened her mouth, but Skyle forestalled her before things could escalate again.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather hoped we could take the carriage this time, Madam Aegis¡¯sur. Fear of heights, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Skyle lied smoothly.


    Syrene did not skip a beat as she clapped her hands. ¡°Well then, nothing like a brisk morning ride through the countryside to lighten up the day. I will be imposing on your hospitality, Mister Vespermond.¡±


    That last was accompanied by a nod to Talon, who swiftly returned it with a deep bow.


    ¡°It would be my utmost pleasure to escort the Madam Aegis¡¯sur to the academy grounds.¡±


    Talon hastily motioned one of the pages aside, holding the door open himself.


    ¡°After you, Madam Aegis¡¯sur.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mister Vespermond. Here, why don¡¯t you sit with me, Skyle?¡±


    Syrene grinned cheekily at Skyle while tapping the seat next to hers.


    ¡°Ah, Madam Aegis¡¯sur, I¡¯m-¡±


    ¡°Please Skyle, Madam Aegis¡¯sur sounds so trite and boring. Just call me by my name, Syrene.¡±


    Skyle did his best not to choke, and he hastened to respond before he even felt Kassandra¡¯s threatening fingers coiling by his ribs, ready to pass down heavenly punishment, should he misspeak.


    ¡°Uh, Madam Aegis¡¯sur, I don¡¯t think that would be proper.¡±


    Shaking his head until he felt dizzy, Skyle was relieved to feel the looming fingers relaxing.


    Syrene pursed her lips in thought, then nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. After we¡¯ve been so intimately acquainted, I believe you should call me Syree, like all my close friends do. Now, do be a dear and come sit next to me to keep me company, dear Skyle.¡±


    To his credit, the sickly grin pasted on Skyle¡¯s face didn¡¯t so much as waver as he felt Kassandra pinching him with a bloody vengeance.


    By the time they finally arrived at the academy, Skyle bounced out of the carriage with more than a few new welts on his skin. All of his protests had been soundly overruled and he had been forced to sit next to Syrene by the enthusiastic summoner¡¯s demands. Of course, that meant Kassandra had immediately moved to sit on his other side.


    Both Talon and Reikard could only watch on with commiserating looks on their faces as they witnessed Syrene take advantage of every minute bump and turn of the carriage to lean closer to Skyle. Each time, it was matched by a similar effort from Kassandra¡¯s side, until Skyle looked like nothing more than a vaguely human-shaped paste crammed in between two towering boulders.


    Skyle bent over with his hands on his knees as he panted, sweat rolling down his face. He felt a chill from his back, however. It was the only warning he got, as a mere instant later, he felt warm fingers cradling his face.


    ¡°Look at you, Skyle. Don¡¯t be nervous. The tests are all fairly standard, and the results will be kept strictly confidential. Master Vespermond, you may leave the children in my custody from here on.¡±


    ¡°As you say, Madam Aegis¡¯sur. I shall see to their accommodations then.¡±


    Syrene waved her hand in his general direction, and Talon departed with the carriage.


    Skyle looked up, and was surprised to see a large building that resembled nothing similar to the student dormitories in his memories. An imposing gate lay open, over which hung the three words that were the academy¡¯s motto: Veritas, Fortitudo et Constantia.


    ¡° Oh Goddess, grant me courage and perseverance, so the truth will come to light - I want nothing to do with this devilish woman!¡±


    Recoiling from Syrene and craning his head to the side, he saw Kassandra hovering by his shoulder with a frosty look of indifference.


    Skyle threw his sister a look that bespoke of his innocence, but this moment of distraction was enough for Syrene to link her arm around his and drag him stumbling forward. He heard a loud huff behind his back, but was led through the building¡¯s entrance before he could explain himself.


    ¡°Now, how familiar are you with elemental talent testing, dear Skyle?¡±


    Skyle barely held back the wince he felt at her tone, and could only shake his head. ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with the process, Ma-¡±


    Syrene paused then, arching an eyebrow in a smooth gesture that flashed the glittering rings of silver decorating it.


    ¡°Ah, L-Lady S-Syrene. I would appreciate an explanation, please.¡±


    Another displeased sniff could be heard loudly from behind, but Syrene affected not to notice.


    ¡°You silly head, I asked you to just call me Syrene. Regardless, since you asked so nicely, how could I do otherwise?¡± Syrene flashed a brilliant smile as she continued to lead them down a long hallway.


    ¡°The standardized elemental talent test is divided into three portions, each revealing a specific aspect of an individual¡¯s elemental powers. The first is elemental cumulus, which has to do with the total volume of elemental essence a person may wield. Think of it as the number of times a man may lift a specific weight. Elemental essence is similar, in that each individual may only wield a finite amount of essence before injury or death follows.¡±


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    Skyle nodded as he recalled Leon¡¯s overdrafting, when the young fire summoner had greatly exceeded his elemetal capacity - or cumulus, as he finally learned its formal term.


    ¡°The second is elemental gravitas, which equates to the density of elemental essence a person may harness. Returning to my earlier example, this time consider the heaviest weight that a person may lift under optimal conditions. Gravitas is the final measure of applied elemental might a person can bring to bear at their utmost limit.¡±


    Skyle confused frown eased away at this comparison, and he nodded his understanding.


    ¡°Finally, the third aspect is elemental regia. It qualifies the elemental affinity and proficiency of the wielder. For you see, Skyle, the elements favor each person in different ways and measures. For instance, your sister has high regia with both water and wind. This means that her ability to attune her senses and wield the power of water or wind comes naturally to her, and in turn, her efforts are rewarded far more richly than for other people.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyes flashed at this revelation.


    ¡°You mentioned both affinity and proficiency. Are they considered separate fields?¡±


    Syrene nodded appreciatively to the young boy.


    ¡°Indeed, they are. Affinity is a talent you are born with, and is extremely difficult to increase through artificial means. Proficiency, on the other hand, is much as its name implies. It is a craft which you are not born with, but rather nurtured through painstaking effort and hard work. Though affinity helps in such endeavors, ultimately skill is largely up to the individual¡¯s tenacity and perseverance.¡±


    The Aegis¡¯sur did not miss the fire that lit up Skyle¡¯s gaze at her words, and she continued with a smile.


    ¡°In fact, this is the reason the academies were created in the first place. Elemental regis is the cornerstone that will allow a person to achieve higher levels in their cumulus or gravitas. As such, regis is the focus of most of the academy¡¯s efforts in educating its students. Also remember, affinity is only part of the all-important regis. Skill is the greatest asset which will see a person wallow in the depths of mediocrity, or rise to the peaks of greatness.¡±


    Skyle clenched his fists as he nodded, his pulse beating fast as he realized that even with his crippled veins, with enough skill he might be able to bridge the gap between himself and gifted elementalists. After all, didn¡¯t the Desolate Star Technique already provide him incredible advantages that even summoners like Leon could only envy?


    A fierce competitive spirit burned in his chest as he regarded the halls before him. The results of the tests in his case might be disappointing to others, but he was a different person now. He knew the path that he would walk, and this regis would just be one more cornerstone of his foundations.


    ¡°We¡¯re here. Come along, now. And remember, testing is only about numbers and figures. Only you can decide where they will take you. Whether it is to the bottom of a pit of despair, or the summit of excellence, it is all in your own hands, Skyle.¡±


    Skyle smiled at this, and nodded firmly to Syrene. The summoner seemed greatly pleased at his reaction. She returned his nod with a brilliant smile of her own and led him through the archway beyond.


    They walked into a wide hall nearly two hundred feet wide. Huge everlight globes hung from tall, domed ceilings which reflected their intense glow. In the middle of the room stood a great crystal that was as tall as a man. It lay perched upon a pedestal that was inscribed with magical sigils. They flickered with intense light as a young boy, perhaps Skyle¡¯s age, lay his hands upon a handle that protruded from the mounting structure.


    Gradually, the crystal began to vibrate as essence rippled through its surface. Its color began to shift from crystal clear to a light green hue. This change in color began from its core and slowly spread outward until it finally encompassed the whole crystal. At this point, a low, buzzing hum could be heard reverberating from the walls of the room.


    A dozen children could be seen standing at a distance, watching with rapt fascination. Three older men dressed in the robes of academy teachers stood by the crystal, keeping a watchful eye over the entire process.


    The young man infusing elemental essence into the crystal began to shake as copious beads of sweat rolled down his face. His eyes did not even blink as they stared at the crystal with red-eyed vehemence. As veins began to bulge out of his neck and his lips let a forceful grunt escape past them, the center of the crystal began to shift from a pale green to a deeper shade.


    The student opened his lips in a snarl as he forcefully leaned upon the bars he was hanging onto with all his weight. His entire body was trembling under the strain, but he only had eyes for the glowing crystal, where a stronger green hue steadily crept closer to its edges. Finally, the entire crystal took on a deep green color, and the crystal hummed once again.


    The sound rippled through the entire room as the young man finally collapsed. and excited gasps could be heard.


    ¡°Orwen made it to the peak of the 2nd green spectrum!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s progressed so quickly. Last semester he could barely reach the middle of the 2nd green spectrum.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only to be expected. Orwen has always been hard-working, and I heard his elemental affinity is in the mid-60s.¡±


    One of the teachers suddenly seemed to notice the new arrivals in the room. Turning his head, his eyes flew wide as he immediately stepped forward to offer a deep bow.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, you honor us with your presence. I am Master Thaddeus, of the fire school of magic.¡±


    The words took the entire room by storm, as every set of eyes turned in their direction as one. The other two masters hurriedly stepped forward to offer their own greetings.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, we are humbled by such an unexpected pleasure. I¡¯m Master Kolhus, from the earth school of magic.¡±


    ¡°Magister Syrene, I¡¯m Master Reifus of the fire school of magic. It is truly a delightful surprise to meet you here.¡±


    Syrene nodded with an impatient air as the students all began to crowd behind their masters, craning their heads to look at the famous Aegis¡¯sur. Most females looked nearly as surprised as Skyle had been at the summoner¡¯s exotic appearance. The males, in the other hand, gazed in rapt fascination, looking as though their souls had already been lost between each sinuous wave of Syrene¡¯s bountiful breasts.


    ¡°A pleasure, I¡¯m sure,¡± Syrene said, just barely dipping her head in return. The academy masters did not seem to take any offense at this. If anything, the smiles on their faces grew even more enthusiastic.


    These quickly stiffened, then withered away at Syrene¡¯s next words and the slight crease upon her forehead which accompanied them.


    ¡°I believe I had reserved use of this cumulus testing crystal for this morning. Perhaps I have made a mistake, academy masters?¡±


    Color swiftly fled from the men¡¯s faces. One of them stepped forward and offered an even more obsequious bow.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, this is rather awkward. Please, allow me to explain, as I hope that you will-¡±


    ¡°Do explain,¡± Syrene said, tilting her head sideways while her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.


    Master Thaddeus mopped at the sudden sweat beading his forehead as he flashed his teeth in an uncomfortable smile. ¡°Thank you, Magister Syrene. You see, we have been waiting for an opportunity to assess the progress of these students of ours for the past month. We managed to schedule a time slot with much difficulty, but then found that it had been indefinitely postponed by a clear oversight-¡±


    ¡°No oversight, I assure you. It was I who ordered the morning¡¯s previous schedule to be cleared for my own personal use. Unless you believe otherwise, Master..?¡±


    ¡°Thaddeus, Magister.¡±


    ¡°Master Thaddeus. Rest assured, I shall remember the name.¡±


    The slightest twist of her lips, though barely discernible, set Master Thaddeus¡¯ hands shaking so badly that he had to clutch at his academy robes in order to get them to stop.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, please allow me correct myself. I believe I misspoke earlier. We had inadvertently-¡±


    Another slight hitch of the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s eyebrows was enough to stop the master¡¯s speech on its tracks. He licked his lips and tried again.


    ¡°I mean, we foolishly and presumptuously decided to avail ourselves of these facilities without knowing that it was you, Magister Syrene, who had rightfully reserved the day¡¯s slot.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The indifferent noise was all the acknowledgement the poor man received for his efforts. It did not cease to fascinate Skyle that this strange woman could so easily bring a master level elementalist down to his knees in such a fashion.


    Master Thaddeus seemed at a loss for words, and it was up to Master Kolhus to step forward this time. His hands were also clutching at his own robes, however.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, please accept our humblest apologies for the intrusion. We will, of course, vacate the premises immediately.¡±


    Skyle finally could not take this pathetic groveling any longer, and stepped forward in spite of himself.


    ¡°Madam Aegis¡¯sur, I don¡¯t believe it will take long to test one person, and I feel it unfair that so many others should have to suffer because of it.¡±


    For the first time, every eye in the room seemed to notice the children accompanying Syrene. They gazed upon Skyle with uncomprehending stares. Skyle could almost read the expressions on each of their faces. Who was this uncouth boy dressed like a farmboy speaking to the exalted summoner with such brazen audacity?


    A full-fledged frown finally creased the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s forehead as she stared disapprovingly at Skyle. An ominous silence filled the room as every soul hung upon Syrene¡¯s next words. However, only Skyle knew with bone deep certainty, that the summoner herself was waiting on his next words.


    Glancing helplessly toward his back, where he could feel Kassandra¡¯s hostile aura as she hovered menacingly just outside of his vision, Skyle suppressed an inward groan and a roll of his eyes as he forced himself to speak the next words.


    ¡°Syrene, everyone can share, right?¡±


    Shocked gasps shattered the silence like thunder, leaving every person in the room gazing speechlessly at Skyle.


    Only the Aegis¡¯sur was all smiles as she nodded to Skyle and pulled him closer, squeezing his cheeks between her hands.


    ¡°How could I resist when you ask me so nicely, dear Skyle?¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t decide which was worse: the fact that he had just called the dreadful woman by her name, the horrified gazes of every student and master in the room, or the ominous death aura emanating from his baby sister at his back.

 ?Chapter 95 - The Malfunctioning Cumulus Crystal

    Chapter 95 - The Malfunctioning Cumulus Crystal


    The growing gasps and murmurs in the room were instantly silenced when the Aegis¡¯sur lifted her eyes and sent her gaze roving around the room. Even the masters took a step back, let alone their cowed students.


    ¡°Very well, then. You may stay and use the facilities after we are finished.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Magister Syrene. Your peerless grace will not be forgotten.¡±


    Master Kolhus bowed deeply, and the rest of his group quickly followed his example.


    Ignoring the crowd, Syrene nudged Skyle forward until he stood before the cumulus crystal. It towered over him by a few feet, a massive tear-drop shaped gem that glittered under the everlight lamps¡¯ glow. He edged back a half step but bumped into Syrene¡¯s breasts. Recoiling, he swallowed a few muttered imprecations. Did those abominations really have to get in the way of everything?


    Shaken by the embarrassment, Skyle blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. ¡°I don¡¯t recall undergoing such a test when I was tested for elemental talent to apply to the academy.¡±


    Syrene¡¯s voice was dry but carried a hint of playful amusement. ¡°Standard talent testing only measures regis. Cumulus and gravitas are usually not developed enough among young children to provide a good metric.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still a child.¡±


    Rich laughter was the only answer Skyle received to that comment, and he didn¡¯t know if it was mocking him or praising him. It was probably both.


    ¡°How does this work?¡± Skyle eyed the pedestal that rose before him as though it might bite him.


    ¡°You just have to place your hands on the bars before you. They will channel your essence energy and feed it into the crystal. This will form a resonance which will flow back into your elemental veins, forming a continuous loop which will grow richer depending on the maximum capacity of elemental essence you can hold. This will be your cumulus level, manifested through various hues. They are called spectrums. A moderate crystal such as the one before you should manifest a pale green spectrum for most early initiates, deep turquoise for advanced initiates, and a rich emerald for peak initiates. Yellow spectrums should characterize adepts, orange spectrums for masters, and brown spectrums for mortal level experts. Well, go on now.¡±


    At Syrene¡¯s prodding encouragement, Skyle gingerly placed his hands on the bar. He managed not to jump as he felt a jolt running through his skin and deep into his body. The metal felt cool and smooth under his touch, but there was a subtle vibration slowly seeping in through his hands. He was startled to find a deep rumbling answer from within his own veins.


    He immediately ignited the 4th layer of the Infinite Eye, and tried to suppress the panic galloping through his heart when he saw what was happening. A surge of energy was coursing through his elemental veins, lighting them up from within and stirring both the pitiful remains of his innate essence, and the taint that had laid siege to it all.


    ¡°What if this crystal finds the taint and they believe me to be Shadowblighted? What if this stimulus is all the taint needs to spread the corruption of my veins? What if I really am Shadowblighted and just don¡¯t know it yet?¡±


    Each thought was scarier than the last, and Skyle¡¯s blood froze as his heart stuttered to a stop. His expression grew ashen while he began panting with ragged breaths.


    Immersed as he was in the Infinite Sight, he became highly sensitive to all motion around him. It is why he flinched involuntarily as soon as he felt the bare hint of movement at his back.


    ¡°Skyle? You must relax. The crystal only sends a current of essence through your veins in order to measure your cumulus. It is perfectly safe. Just slowly let the crystal¡¯s scanning echo run through your elemental veins. Don¡¯t fight it, just let it flow.¡±


    Syrene¡¯s voice was soothing, but her words sparked even more fear in his mind. Within his veins, Skyle could see the wave of energy the crystal was sending. It resembled a ripple on the surface of a pond that continued to spread farther and farther through his veins, leaving behind a trail of chaotic struggle between the taint and his innate essence.


    Drops of sweat began to drip down his forehead as Skyle struggled to contain the situation. The taint seemed to latch on to the energy from the crystal, riding its ripples to spread even further along his body. Gritting his teeth, Skyle marshalled the piddling remains of his innate essence to resist, but the feeble strands of blue energy were simply no match for the awakened taint.


    Gasps suddenly began to echo around the room, but Skyle didn¡¯t have the presence of mind to pay them any attention at the moment. He knew from Leon¡¯s description that if he was identified as Shadowblighted, if he was even suspected of being such, he would be executed on the spot. If he hadn¡¯t been so distracted by this damnable woman and her oversized breasts, as well as his own foolish dreams of future glory, he would have come up with any excuse to avoid this test. As Skyle continued to do his best to suppress the taint as best as he could, voices began to filter through his ears.


    ¡°By the Goddess, I¡¯ve never seen such an extreme reaction from the cumulus crystal!¡±


    ¡°So what? It¡¯s just the turquoise spectrum. It means he¡¯s just an intermediate initiate.¡±


    ¡°You fool! That¡¯s just the beginning. It¡¯s already close to reaching the peak of the green spectrum!¡±


    ¡°I- I don¡¯t understand. How can the crystal be reaching a spectrum so quickly? Usually, it takes several minutes for the first spectrum to form. This time, it has barely been ten seconds!¡±


    The room was filled with the din of shock and confusion as students and masters alike began to hurriedly discuss what was happening before their disbelieving eyes. Only Skyle knew of the agony he was going through as he tried to squeeze his elemental veins as tightly as he could to avoid further ripples from spreading through them. Time slowed down to a trickle as Skyle clenched the fists of his will around his veins and demanded that they stop the berserking surges of energy rushing through his body.


    ¡°Emerald! It¡¯s the emerald spectrum. He¡¯s already at the peak initiate level!¡±


    ¡°He must be an adept!¡±


    A burst of light filled the room and a deep thrumming rumbled in the air as the cumulus crystal shook in its pedestal.


    ¡°Yellow! He¡¯s reached the early adept stage. How long has it been?¡±


    ¡°.. 45 seconds, maybe less..¡±


    A simultaneous gasp was emitted from the crowd as every set of eyes in the room stared at the cumulus crystal that was still throbbing with power.


    ¡°A-At this pace, could he maybe reach the high adept stage?¡±


    ¡°Impossible! Look at him! He doesn¡¯t even look like he can be 13!¡±


    ¡°But, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone smash past three different spectrums so quickly!¡±


    Skyle heard the words but they failed to register in his brain. He was too busy fighting for his life. As it was, he had barely managed a shaky grip upon the massive storm that had been ignited in his elemental veins. He felt as though his veins were on the verge of being torn apart as each consecutive pulse of energy streamed into his body from the cumulus crystal.


    ¡°I can¡¯t even let go of this damn thing.¡±


    His fingers were frozen into stony claws that were twisted around the metal bars of the pedestal. He could barely divert enough of his attention into drawing gulping breaths to sustain his fight against the taint, let alone command his convulsing muscles to relax and let go. If anything, his grinding teeth and white-knuckled grip were the only things still keeping him in the contest at all.


    ¡°Can¡¯t hold much longer..¡±


    Already, consciousness had begun to flutter unstably. The edges of the Infinite Sight began to blur into a haze, and he began to lose track of the taint as it continued to assault the feeble barriers he had erected along his elemental veins. The moment his resistance crumbled, the taint would reach the crystal and reveal its presence to the whole world.


    ¡°Must resist.. But it is relentless.. So strong..¡±


    Skyle¡¯s attention began to wander, his thoughts skittering across his consciousness like pebbles across a rocky slope. Desperately, he bit the tip of his tongue and used the sharp stab of pain to snap back into focus. The coppery taste of blood in his mouth mixed with the acrid bite of bile in the back of his throat.


    ¡°Strength.. I need strength!¡±


    Desperate, Skyle threw all caution to the wind as he called out to the legacy of his blood. The shadow dwelling in every corner of his veins flared with power as it answered his call. This insubstantial mist immediately condensed into strands of inky darkness that coursed through his elemental veins, leaving a trail of smoke lingering behind. This smoke seemed to insulate the inner wall of his essence channels, isolating them from the taint. It shook under the assaults of the Aktaris, but stood firm against its relentless fury.


    Gasping with relief, Skyle let a defiant roar escape past his parched lips. With a mighty effort of will, Skyle directed this thick stream of shadow toward his hands, where the taint had almost overwhelmed the pathetic barrier he had erected to prevent it from reaching the crystal.


    There, the battle was engaged in earnest as the darkness of the taint clashed against the shadow of his bloodline power with a deafening roar. The impact sent waves of agony rippling through his mind, blanketing everything under a blood red mist of pain.


    CRACK!


    Feeling as though every bone in his hands had shattered into dust, Skyle felt his hands come free and was sent reeling back from the pedestal. He would have collapsed against the ground, but felt hands arresting his fall from behind.


    ¡°Skyle? Skyle!¡±


    Skyle groaned and squeezed his eyes open to look up into the distressed gaze of a little girl with wide green eyes and raven hair tied in a ponytail. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cradled a broken sailing boat in her hands. The heartbreak in her eyes shook him, even through the haze of pain he was submerged in.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, little girl. I¡¯ll fix your boat.¡±


    Shock flooded the little girl¡¯s eyes at first, but then the green depths of her eyes were suddenly overflowing with naked hostility.


    Skyle gasped at the sudden change, blinking repeatedly until the image of the little girl was gone, and only Syrene Le Sueur Aegis¡¯sur remained behind, coiled in her majestic power and cloaked under a cold, burning fury.


    ¡°Syrene?¡±


    Skyle blurted her name out while blinking up in a daze. The look upon his face must have communicated his confusion, as Syrene shook her head and frowned for a moment before the fury in her eyes was gone as swiftly as it had arrived.


    ¡°What did I just see?¡±


    Then Skyle recalled what had just happened, and he was far more worried about what Syrene herself might have seen. Had his taint been revealed?


    ¡°How do you feel, Skyle?¡± Syrene whispered, her words calm and soothing though her still lips shook ever so slightly.


    ¡°I- I don¡¯t understand. I¡¯m fine, but what happened?¡±


    Skyle made to rise to his feet, but Syrene gently pushed him back down. Her eyes gleamed with an azure sheen, and her hand emitted rays of blue essence as it swept down the length of his body. Skyle could only feel a slight tingling on his skin, but thankfully the chaos in his veins seemed to have subsided.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Well, at least I can see no injuries upon your body. There¡¯s still this strange..¡±


    Syrene¡¯s words trailed off as she caught Skyle¡¯s guilty gaze and narrowed her eyes.


    ¡°Never mind. Are you sure you feel alright? Can you stand up?¡±


    Skyle nodded and quickly rose to his feet, eager to distance himself from the summoner. Who knew what kind of wild magics she could cast on him? The abrupt movement set his head spinning and he wavered for a moment before quickly recovering his balance.


    ¡°Good as new,¡± Skyle said, embarrassedly dusting himself off to avoid her searching gaze. ¡°So, how did I do?¡±


    Skyle swept his gaze toward the crystal, which lay inert and transparent, completely devoid of any color.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s not good?¡±


    Syrene did not so much as glance toward the crystal, instead studying Skyle while her hands flexed slowly as though she couldn¡¯t wait to get her hands on him again and was only preventing herself from doing so through a supreme effort of will.


    Swallowing loudly and taking another step back, Skyle suddenly noticed the absolute silence that had come over the room.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did I- er, did something happen?¡±


    Skyle cleared his throat mid-sentence, his skin flushing scarlet while his gaze sought out his siblings for support.


    Kassandra and Reikard stood out in stark contrast from the crowd. While every face around them was pale and their pupils were wide with barely suppressed shock, the Farrow twins wore identical, knowing grins which were mirrored in the smug glint of their eyes. It was as though they were both loudly announcing to the world that they had known such a thing would happen, and it had been only a matter of time.


    ¡°Just what did they see?¡±


    ¡°Uh, Madam-¡±


    ¡°Syrene,¡± the Aegis¡¯sur said firmly, right next him.


    ¡°S-Syrene,¡± Skyle conceded. ¡°What happened? Did I pass?¡±


    ¡°Pass?¡± Syrene looked at Skyle as though she didn¡¯t know whether she was being toyed with or not.


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t get to see the color-¡±


    ¡°Spectrum,¡± Syrene corrected absently.


    ¡°Yes, spectrum. I didn¡¯t see it. Hopefully, I didn¡¯t do too badly?¡±


    Syrene stood there for a long moment, gazing at him along with every other pair of eyes in the room in mute contemplation. It was only then that Syrene finally seemed to realize that Skyle was asking in earnest. A rueful smile stretched her lips as she laid her hands upon his shoulders and gently turned him around.


    The crystal lay quiet and inert upon its pedestal. It¡¯s transparent surface, lacking any colors, seemed a grim reminder that Skyle remained a cripple. He began to wonder if he had only imagined the voices around him speaking of shocking new spectrums while he struggled against the taint for those long, agonizing minutes.


    All in all, Skyle was satisfied with these results. At least, a transparent crystal was far better than a black crystal filled with the taint. He could only shudder as he imagined what his fate would have been if he had not managed to contain the taint with that last burst of his bloodline¡¯s power. Dangerous or not, it seemed as though this shadow energy had at least a measure of power over the taint while his innate elemental essence could not muster any resistance against it.


    ¡°I still have a feeling this power is closely tied to the Desolate Star Technique. I must unlock the 4th movement, the Divine Hand, as soon as possible!¡±


    Glancing toward the crystal clear surface of the crystal, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but grin wryly. At least the shadow power responded to his call, while his elemental powers remained buried underneath the tyrannical oppression of the taint.


    ¡°Well, being a cripple beats being executed for being Shadowblighted.¡±


    Skyle had hardly let a relieved sigh escape his lips, when he heard the sharp cracking sound that split the silence in the room.


    His eyes grew as round as saucers as he followed the source of the sound and witnessed the hairline fracture that suddenly split the very top of the cumulus crystal. His mouth gaped in horror as he watched the rift inch its way down the entire length of the enormous crystal. Each snaking line was accompanied by a crisp crack that echoed in the hollow silence of the hall. In mere moments, the huge fissure ran down the middle of the crystal from top to bottom.


    Skyle stretched out a hand toward the crystal in panic, not even daring to approach or even utter a sound in terror of what might happen next.


    ¡°Oh bugger.¡±


    The dry, tired sigh that accompanied Syrene¡¯s words were like the final death sentence. As soon as the words rang out, the whole crystal flashed brightly, then split open with a loud pop. The two pieces landed unceremoniously on the ground, inches apart. A brief halo of elemental radiance flared brightly for one last time, leaving the pieces twitching for a moment before they lay dead on the ground with a final sigh.


    ¡°My god, the cumulus crystal is shattered!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of something like this. I didn¡¯t even know it was possible!¡±


    ¡°Just what kind of a monster is he?¡±


    ¡°Shhh, I recognize him now. He¡¯s Skyle Farrow, you know, from that Farrow family.¡±


    ¡°You mean Kassandra and Reikard Farrow¡¯s..?


    ¡°Yeah, those siblings, they¡¯re all just such freaks. I always knew the rumors of him being a cripple were nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Phew, good thing I wasn¡¯t one of those who spread such rumors. I imagine those who did must.. Ah, Timothy, you alright?¡±


    ¡°F-Fine, I¡¯m fine. Just, just give me some space..¡±


    ¡°That was definitely a gold spectrum in the crystal, right?¡±


    ¡°You know, I saw a hint of orange in the very center right before he let go of the crystal.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Orange is the master level spectrum. The crystal must have malfunctioned.¡±


    ¡°Have you heard of a cumulus crystal malfunctioning, ever? Besides, I know what I saw.¡±


    ¡°I think I saw it too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re both blind.¡±


    The voices degenerated into a lively argument before Skyle drowned them out and shook his head to clear his thoughts. He must be imagining things again. Gold spectrum? Orange? Ludicrous!


    Skyle blinked his eyes and turned sideways to stare in shock at Syrene, who was gazing at him from under furrowed eyebrows. She stood so close to him that he could smell the sweet scent of her breath upon his face.


    ¡°They¡¯re right, you know?¡±


    Skyle was rooted on the spot under the intensity of her gaze.


    ¡°Gold? Orange?¡± Skyle let out a couple hollow, booming laughs before turning a sickly smile upon Syrene while wringing his hands. ¡°Surely, there must be an error somewhere.¡±


    ¡°Precisely. The cumulus crystal has obviously malfunctioned. It not only compromised the readings, it also placed the life of a valuable member of the student body at grave peril.¡±


    Syrene turned to the masters, who suddenly jumped upright as they found themselves the targets of the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s glare.


    ¡°I will expect a full report and an accounting of the events which led to the abuse and misuse of the cumulus crystal at your hands, academy masters.¡±


    ¡°B-But Magister Syrene, the crystal was functioning at full capacity before-¡± Master Thaddeus said.


    All his wide-eyed protests withered under the intense pressure of Syrene¡¯s indifferent regard.


    ¡°The cumulus crystal was indeed functioning at full capacity before a third-party unscrupulously barged into my duly registered appointment at the testing chamber. I am sorely tempted to pursue a full accounting for the physical, mental and emotional stress subjected upon my protege.¡±


    The three masters¡¯ complexions lost color with each of Syrene¡¯s words. By the time she reached the part about Skyle¡¯s supposed stress, it was all they could do to lean upon each other in order to keep their trembling legs from collapsing under them.


    The students¡¯ gazes did not register any of this, however. Instead, their eyes were all riveted upon Skyle with a fierce mix of surprise and envy.


    ¡°He¡¯s the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s protege?¡±


    ¡°Syrene Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s personal disciple?


    ¡°Skyle Farrow, he¡¯s destined to be the new genius of Aegis.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I heard some incredible rumors from the combat arenas yesterday. I never thought they were actually true..¡±


    ¡°What? Quick, tell me, what did you hear?¡±


    Skyle winced at this, and glanced helplessly towards his siblings.


    The twins, for their part, were veritably glowing with their smug grins, looking as though what they had expected to happen all along had at long last come to pass. Kassandra lifted her tiny nose even higher in the air, her nostrils flaring wide as though only then could she vent the pride bursting from her chest. Reikard, on the other hand, contented himself with a wide grin that was melting at the seams with golden joy as he sent a vigorous thumbs up to his older brother.


    Skyle was still trying to dig himself out of the pits of his own confusion when he felt a warm hand land upon his shoulders. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he lifted his eyes and met the glowing stare of Syrene.


    ¡°M-Madam-¡±


    Syrene quirked her eyebrow at him, a not-so-subtle threat naked in her gaze.


    ¡°S-Syrene, I mean.¡±


    Syrene smiled in response. It was a slow, natural curling of her lips that displayed dazzlingly white teeth gleaming beneath. Beautiful though the summoner¡¯s features might be, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but shiver at the undisguised hunger in her eyes.


    ¡°Well done, Skyle.¡±


    ¡°T-Thank you?¡±


    Why was she purring? She was a human, not a cat. Certainly, she had no right to remind Skyle of an image of his snowblade tigers right as they were about to pounce upon a particularly delicious morsel. Her fingers dug into his shoulders with a distinctively possessive air as she nudged him forward.


    ¡°Well? We¡¯re done here. Time to move on.¡±


    ¡°Uh, where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Why, to the next room, of course.¡±


    Skyle shuddered, remembering there were two more tests awaiting him.


    ¡°Uh, I suddenly feel sick, Madam- er, Syrene.¡±


    Syrene¡¯s throaty laugh filled the room then, before she leaned in close and whispered right next to his ear.


    ¡°Little wonder, dear Skyle. You did, after all, break an ancient cumulus crystal worth roughly 100,000 golds with your orange spectrum.¡±


    Skyle jerked his head to the side, meeting her dancing green eyes with his own horrified stare.


    ¡°WHA-? I-I didn¡¯t mean, I mean-¡±


    ¡°Shhh. It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t worry about it. In fact, the more things you break, the more intrigued I become. Do you even realize how boring life was before you and your siblings waltzed into my life?¡±


    The burning embers in her eyes scorched a trail of despair down Skyle¡¯s throat, leaving his heart a smoking mess. He desperately tried to clear his thoughts, but Syrene¡¯s shimmering green eyes held his gaze in a spell, leaving him tongue-tied and fumbling for words.


    The exalted Aegis¡¯sur beamed at Skyle as she pulled him in close once again, squeezing him for all she was worth and smothering him under the yielding softness of her breasts. He spluttered in protest, but it was smothered by the giggle the summoner let out in response.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see what you break next, little Skyle.¡±


    Skyle moaned, and the damn woman laughed.


    She laughed, and Skyle cried in helpless horror in his heart.

 Chapter 96 - Gravitas Golem

    Chapter 96 - Gravitas Golem


    Skyle was herded into the next room along with everyone else. The masters dragged their steps in front of their excited students, watching the looming doorway as though it were the gateway to hell.


    The Gravitas testing room was similar in appearance to the cumulus room, except for its centerpiece. A sparsely furnished room, the bright glow of several everlight lanterns illuminated the pale walls. In the middle of the room stood a ring about thirty feet in diameter. It was similar in design to the Arena¡¯s perimeter, though clearly much smaller in scale. In the middle of this circle stood a towering puppet. It was made of a grey material, too rough and unreflective to be metal. It was roughly man-shaped, though its massive seven feet height meant such a person would be a giant. Many arcane symbols covered its surface, wrapping it in an air of mystery and danger.


    Skyle did his best not to stare, unlike most of the other students. Clearly, they were far more appreciative of the many symbols and finer points of the strange construct¡¯s craftsmanship. He tilted his head to the side as he employed his True Sight to read the flows of energy within the construct.


    The results disappointed him. Even his untrained eye could see at least half a dozen different streams of elemental essence meandering through the puppet. Though at first glance they might appear elaborate, Skyle had grown accustomed to the smooth flow of the essence contained within natural bodies. To his True Sight, even objects as mundane as the leafy plants decorating the corners of the room were more graceful and certainly far more complex.


    Shaking his head, Skyle reflected that even among man-crafted objects, masterwork weapons such as Moonshadow was leagues above such crude constructs as the one before him. Maybe it was unfair for him to compare the ultimate accomplishment of a master such as Fierro Latimus to a measuring dummy in a tier 2 academy branch. Still, the difference was so startlingly obvious that it was disappointing.


    ¡°Well, someone seems impressed by the gravitas golem,¡± Syrene said.


    Skyle gave a start and glanced sideways to see Syrene watching him under arched eyebrows. He could only smile sheepishly as he shrugged his shoulders. He didn¡¯t miss the irony in her tone, though others did.


    ¡°Ah, yes, Magister Syrene. It is the pride of our branch, I assure you. I have it on good authority that this gravitas golem was crafted by the Grand Sages of the Council Arcana themselves. We went to great lengths to acquire this latest model just last year. It can guarantee accuracy to within single digits, while its measurement range can reach as high as two thousand grav units. It also provides the input value of grav units gathered, as well as the output value of grav units exerted.¡±


    Syrene privately rolled her eyes, leaning in closer as she whispered in Skyle¡¯s ear. ¡°It¡¯s pretty straightforward. Simply strike the grav puppet as hard as you can. Fists, weapons, or spells, your choice. Gravitas is measured in grav units, or gu. Initiates will range anywhere from 1 to 70 gu. Adepts tend to hover in the 150 to 240 range. As for masters, they measure anywhere from 500 to 725 gu. It is common among the more brutish elementalists to measure the size of their cocks by flaunting their gu rating in front of others. Men.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets at the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s last comment. The woman¡¯s mouth was filthy! His mother would never stand for that kind of language in their home. It was only then that he narrowed his eyes in suspicion. It only lasted for a fraction of a second before he quickly composed his expression. Still, the damage was done. Syrene¡¯s rich chuckle rang out next to his ear and he knew he had fallen victim to her ploys again.


    Knowing nothing he could say would change a thing, Skyle went back to studying the gravitas golem. If the damn woman was determined to test his limits and toy around with him until she was satisfied of his full measure, Skyle knew nothing he might say would deter her. He was quickly reminded of his father. The only way to get Kendric Farrow to stop poking fun at your latest mishap was to ignore his mocking laughter as though the incident which produced it had never happened in the first place.


    If she wanted to watch him squirm or whine, he would not give her that pleasure.


    Syrene watched him for a moment longer while the master behind them continued explaining the revolutionary safety features of the new and improved gravitas golem. Skyle thought he caught the hint of an appreciative nod from Syrene out of the corner of his eye, but he forced himself to pretend he hadn¡¯t noticed. Instead, he maintained as stony a face as he could while he suppressed the vile rising up the back of his throat.


    ¡°Not another damn test. I feel like I¡¯ve already aged a whole year just with that last one. If my throat wasn¡¯t so parched, I might have wet my pants.¡±


    Syrene smiled knowingly into his eyes, and Skyle resisted the urge to swallow dryly.


    ¡°.. by standardizing the anchoring matrix bindings and simultaneously balancing the axial nodes connecting-¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. That will do, Master Reifus. I¡¯m sure we have a renewed appreciation for the value of the gravitas golem before us. Now, if you would proceed with your student¡¯s testing? I¡¯m afraid we cannot tarry here for too long.¡±


    Syrene finally turned her regard away from Skyle, and the young boy barely managed to keep himself from sagging into a mushy lump of nerves. He didn¡¯t know if he could take another test like the last one, and that was without taking into consideration this whole speech from Master Reifus. It was clearly directed to Skyle, as a cumulus crystal worth 100,000 golds was not something even an Aegis Master could so easily dismiss - let alone the fact that his student had been unjustly accused of breaking it.


    Master Reifus made choking sounds before he was able to clear his throat.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, I¡¯m not sure I understand your meaning.¡±


    The poor man glanced nervously toward the other magisters, who immediately threw a meaningful look toward the gathered students. They obediently kept their silence. Skyle couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for the poor, deluded masters. Even he had been able to catch those looks, let alone this fiendish woman.


    ¡°Oh?¡± An eloquent eyebrow was all that was needed to convey the full meaning of her next words. ¡°Surely, you were explaining the costly features of the grav puppet for the benefit of your students? Else, less gracious souls might begin to suspect you were attempting to lecture their newest protege right under their noses.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that is.. You see, Magister Syr-¡± Master Reifus swiped a clammy hand across his forehead, short of breath all of a sudden.


    ¡°Yes, Master Reifus?¡±


    Skyle scrunched up his forehead as he shook his head. How could this woman exert so much pressure upon a master of the academy? His aura was wavering visibly under the True Sight, filled with such chaotic waves of doubt and anxiety that Skyle feared any moment the poor man might start foaming at the mouth. The little boy was once again disappointed to see the masters he had once idealized be so susceptible to the mischievous woman¡¯s guile.


    After all, that was all he could see in her aura. Though her face appeared cold and ruthless, when taken in as a whole with the pinkish glow of amusement and yellow of barely contained laughter, Skyle could not take her seriously at all. It was painfully obvious that all this was simply another of the little games she was playing, but it suddenly struck Skyle that he seemed to be the only one aware of this fact.


    Coming to think about it, Skyle¡¯s frown grew even deeper as he thought back on Kassandra and Reik¡¯s reactions back at the farm. Kassandra was too proud for her own good, but such pride also made it very hard to manipulate her as easily as the Aegis¡¯sur had done. Even the level-headed Reikard had been on the brink of starting a physical confrontation that he must have known he could only lose.


    Suspicion began to rear its ugly head in Skyle¡¯s mind as he examined the expressions of the crowd. Their gazes were all riveted upon the Aegis¡¯sur, following her every move, eagerly waiting upon her next words. No matter how impressive an Aegis¡¯sur might be, such loss of decorum from three masters and their students seemed too far-fetched.


    Skyle focused on the image presented by his True Sight. He delved deeper into Master Reifus¡¯ aura, diving past the surging waves of emotions. There, he found a far subtler undertone which he had missed previously. Now that he was looking for it, he quickly realized how out of place it seemed when taken in with the whole of the academy master¡¯s aura. As the master¡¯s essence roiled like turbulent seas, this faint yet distinct layer swirled beneath it all. It did not touch the rest of the auras, but it seemed to exert an invisible force which imperceptibly twisted them into shifting in the same direction.


    Skyle followed the faint traces of this insidious aura, and unsurprisingly, found that it was connected to the Aegis¡¯sur. Now familiar with its hue, Skyle was startled to find that this layer of essence had already blanketed the entire room. He quickly used the third layer of the Infinite Eye and examined himself. He was relieved to find that though Syrene¡¯s aura was curled tightly around him, it was being held off. A faint layer of dark essence flared briefly every time the foreign aura struck.


    ¡°Is this the power of an Aegis¡¯sur? Can they simply manipulate others¡¯ thoughts and actions like this? Wait, is my resistance the reason why she seems so fixated on me?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s heart began to beat faster as he followed the implications. If she had realized that her power was not working on him, that meant that these tests may have a deeper meaning behind them.


    ¡°Does she suspect that I may be Shadowblighted?¡±


    Though the thought was chilling, Skyle did his best to control his breathing. Uncle Talon had left him here. Surely, he would have known about the building¡¯s purpose, and he would have warned Skyle if there was any danger in these tests. That made him think of all the times he had undergone the annual ritual administered by the Church without any problems. Had Uncle Talon been involved in each of those tests?If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    This brought his attention back to the testing in this chamber. Inevitably, by now the masters had called forward the student that would undergo the gravitas test. It was the same youth who had gone before Skyle in the cumulus chamber, Orwen.


    The tall boy licked his lips as he stumbled forward, looking as though an invisible hand were incessantly prodding him forward against his will.


    ¡°Orwen, proceed to the gravitas testing arena.¡± Master Reifus¡¯ eyes twitched briefly in Syrene¡¯s direction. ¡°Be mindful of the disaster which befell the cumulus crystal, and handle yourself appropriately.¡±


    Orwen flinched at the master¡¯s words, his eyes going wide as all color fled from his face. His beseeching gaze flickered around the room, but everyone was busily looking elsewhere.


    Another chilling thought struck Skyle as he watched the subdued mood in the room and how easily the Aegis¡¯sur dominated the actions of every person present.


    ¡°And it may be that I¡¯m the only one who is resisting this effect. Uncle Talon must know about the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s powers, right? But what if it is my newly awakened powers that allow me to resist her influence? Did my parents tell Uncle Talon about them? Do my parents even realize just how far my blood has awakened?¡±


    No matter what, Skyle realized that the last thing he wanted was for the Aegis¡¯sur to pay even more attention than she already was. He scowled at the gravitas golem, feeling sick in his stomach. How did the test work in the first place? Would it draw out his power like the cumulus crystal had done, or was it possible to deliberately sabotage the test by closing off his talent completely? Skyle looked toward Syrene with a grateful eye. Thanks to the woman¡¯s insistence, he would at least have a chance to see another student undergo the test first. This time, he would prepare himself by watching the student carefully.


    He suddenly shivered as a possibility appeared in his mind.


    ¡°Does she suspect already? Is there a deeper reason why she covered for me at the cumulus chamber? Why is she insisting another student go before me now?¡±


    The more Skyle came to learn about Syrene Le Flueur, the more questions began battering their fists against his mind.


    After Orwen stood frozen for a few moments, Master Reifus had to cough several times, each louder than the last, before the poor youth hung his head and began to trudge forward with heavy steps.


    ¡°Look at him now, he can¡¯t even lift his eyes. That¡¯s what he gets for trying to steal brother¡¯s thunder.¡±


    Skyle nearly jumped at Kassandra¡¯s sudden words. Swiveling his head to the left, he saw Kassandra grace him with a radiant smile. He felt tiny hands clasping his hand, and he squeezed back affectionately.


    ¡°Try to relax. No need to be so nervous.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Skyle lied.


    ¡°Tell that to your slobbering hands, brother.¡±


    Skyle felt his lips twist in a wry smile, and was grateful for the concern and above all, the stalwart faith he saw in his baby sister¡¯s aura. It bordered on fanaticism, and only barely did Skyle resist the overwhelming urge to ruffle her hair. Instead, he turned his attention back to the sacrificial lamb.


    As soon Orwen stepped inside the ring, light sprang forth from the circle. A shimmering barrier flickered into place, sealing off the area. The arcane runes on the gravitas golem began to flicker with light as the youth finally came to a stop six feet away from it.


    Skyle watched in fascination as Orwen began to cast his spell, weaving his hands nervously in front of him. He traced several symbols in the air, the essence from his hands leaving glowing trails that flickered with a deep earthen aura. He was also chanting words Skyle couldn¡¯t recognize. He was entranced to see that for every word, a minute reaction could be seen in the air around him. The chanting came faster as long hours of practice took over, and swirling currents of essence took shape around the youth. It was almost as though he were speaking to the elements, and they were answering.


    Sadly, the streams of essence were thin and wispy, taking too long to gather. They were also as shaky as the chanting itself had been at the beginning, many of their lines losing consistency and blurring into the next. Skyle could barely repress the urge to reach out and fix the twisted streams of essence. In fact, his hand had begun to rise of its own accord when Kassandra urgently pulled it back down and looked at him in askance.


    Skyle could only shake his head and continue to watch. After several more gestures and chants, the thin lines of elemental essence finally converged together to form a simple pattern that was hard to distinguish because of how vague it was. The completed spell pattern sank into the ground, producing a loud rumble and shaking the arena where the caster stood.


    Immediately, cries of surprise and praise rang out in the room.


    ¡°Orwen did it. I recognize the spell. It¡¯s a Stone Spear!¡±


    ¡°Stone Spear? Isn¡¯t that an adept level spell?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been trying to master it for the past three months but have yet to succeed.¡±


    ¡°Of course you¡¯d fail. The combination of runes and chanting required becomes too complex when you begin to weave them together.¡±


    Even as they continued speaking, the ground beneath Orwen¡¯s feet seemed to ripple, gathering into a sharp spear of grey rock that rose four feet into the air. The youth threw his hand forward, his hair flying behind him. The spear blurred into a shadow as it streaked forward with a sharp crack. Orwen¡¯s face lit up with a fierce smile as he watched his spell plow its way toward the gravitas golem.


    The spear struck the gravitas golem full on the chest with a resounding crash. The tip of the spear shattered instantly, followed by the shaft. Skyle was able to see just how unstable the whole spell structure was, so he was not surprised by how easily it collapsed. Rock fragments pelted the magical barrier of the arena while awed murmurs rose from the crowd.


    ¡°As expected of an adept level spell. So much power!¡±


    ¡°No kidding! My ears are still ringing and just look at all those stone shards fly!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think it even rocked the golem back.¡±


    ¡°You fool, that¡¯s impossible. Those things are virtually invulnerable.¡±


    ¡°I wonder when we will be able to cast adept spells.¡±


    ¡°Even then, don¡¯t even dream of having a spell as stable as Orwen¡¯s stone spear.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the spell structure was so solid. No wonder it was so powerful.¡±


    Skyle did his best not to gape. Stable? Solid? Powerful? Were these kids even watching the same spell? If anything, he had been surprised that the spell had struck its target with any force at all. In fact, he had half-expected it to collapse entirely before it even reached its target. Skyle figured the only reason why there were so many stone fragments was because of how poorly the entire spell had been layered together. Moreover, so much of the essence that had been gathered for the spell had been wasted as a result of the clumsy weaves employed in the spell, that Skyle was certain not even half of the spell¡¯s potential had been reached.


    Had his standards for spellcasters been affected by witnessing Leon¡¯s skill with the elements? The big lump could fling firebolts left and right almost as easily as snapping his fingers while Orwen had taken at least fifteen full seconds to cast that puny stone lance. They looked to be of an age, so did regia truly account for such a huge difference?


    Glancing down at Kassandra, he reflected with not a small amount of pride that even his 9-year old baby sister could pound the snot out of this older boy without breaking a sweat. Skyle could see the veiled contempt in Kassandra¡¯s eyes, which was also mirrored by Syrene. Then why were all the students and even the masters looking so pleased and surprised?


    Orwen himself now wore a huge grin on his face, gazing at the bright numbers floating upon the magical barrier of the arena.


    <blockquote>Gravitas Test Successful.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Input Value:    105 gu.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Output Value:    50 gu.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Gravitas Ratio Efficiency:  47.6%</blockquote>


    ¡°Look at that insane grav ratio!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost 50%!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s almost reached a 1:2 ratio!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still struggling with a 35% grav efficiency rating.¡±


    ¡°Shut up, mine¡¯s at 31%.¡±


    Skyle did his best not to stare. Was this truly the famed tier 2 academy he had been dreaming of joining all his life? The naked disappointment in his eyes must have shone through his desolate gaze, as Syrene threw an arm around his neck and jerked him close until he could feel her breath on his ear.


    ¡°Not impressed, right? Don¡¯t worry, Skyle. I expect much more from you.¡±


    Skyle gazed back at the Aegis¡¯sur with abject horror, wondering just how much she knew about him. Yes, he had a powerful bloodline which sung of untold power in his ears. Indeed, it contained such might he was part of an elaborate Daemon plot to create a terrifying Dark King and bring doom into the world.


    ¡°But I still can¡¯t channel a lick of elemental essence!¡±


    Syrene seemed to hear his silent wail. She flashed that infuriating grin of hers that displayed her pearly teeth in all their splendor and nodded knowingly at him, as though they were partners in crime.


    Skyle shook his head mutely, feeling completely helpless yet unable to explain his situation in fear of what might or might not bring doom upon his head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so worried, Skyle. I have endless faith in you.¡±


    That was just another nail in the coffin. Skyle began to despair, but felt an insistent tug on his left hand.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I still have Kass. At least she¡¯s got my back.¡±


    He craned his head down, and was almost blinded by the radiant glow of absolute faith that emanated from his baby sister¡¯s aura. He did his best not to cringe.


    ¡°I believe in you, brother!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, big bro. Go show¡¯em what you¡¯ve got!¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s exactly it!¡± Skyle moaned in his head. ¡°It is the last thing I want to show them!¡±


    Heedless of his desperation, Syrene nudged him forward once more while leaning in close and whispering conspiratorially in his ear.


    ¡°Oh, and just so you know, that grav puppet is only worth 125,000 gold or so. So go crazy. I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡±

 Chapter 97 - Fixing the Golem

    Chapter 97 - Fixing the Golem


    Immediately upon stepping inside the arena, Skyle was relieved to find that nothing had changed. It truly was a simple barrier just like that of the dueling arenas. This meant that he was free to fail this test and avoid revealing his secrets.


    Skyle thought about it and decided to go with a kick. It was better than a punch, as the gravitas golem looked to be fashioned from stone and he didn¡¯t fancy breaking his fist on his first day at the academy. Plenty of time for that when he was crushed by the muscle-bound brutes at the Warrior School. As for weapons, he bore none other than Moonshadow, and he could hardly reveal his trump card before everyone here. After seeing the disappointing quality of the golem, who knew what kind of waves would arise if a true masterwork like Moonshadow were unveiled.


    Just as Skyle was beginning to shift his weight to prepare for a simple charging kick, Syrene¡¯s odious voice rang out from behind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Skyle. The grav puppet is designed to soften or harden depending on the severity of the attack it faces. Besides, I will gladly nurse you back to health if needed.¡±


    Thinking back to the uncomfortable moments when he had been drowning under the massive weight of her breasts, Skyle suppressed a shudder and decided that a kick was definitely the way to go.


    Since it should at least look like he was trying his best, Skyle ran at full sprint toward the gravitas golem. He leapt into the air and launched a drop kick with all the momentum of his dash, landing a solid strike against the puppet¡¯s chest.


    Skyle was dumbfounded to find his feet sinking a full inch into the puppet¡¯s chest, then bouncing off with a slightly pop. He landed on his back like a sack of potatoes, so surprised he even forgot to arrest his fall with his hands. Skyle found the stinging pain in his butt far easier to bear than the scattered laughter that came from the crowd of students. Skyle gaped at the golem for a sullen moment before raising his eyes up toward the barrier in glum expectation.


    <blockquote>Gravitas Test Incomplete. </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Reason: Insufficient power for calibration.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Please try again.</blockquote>


    Skyle¡¯s face burned with humiliation as the entire crowd burst out in laughter.


    ¡°Insufficient power? Just how weak was that attack?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never seen that error before.¡±


    ¡°Did you see him charging in with that flying drop kick? That guy is so funny.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I was expecting some sort of incredible elemental attack. Sure made us look like fools.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you have to admit it was hilarious, though.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, fancy that. A genius with a sense of humor!¡±


    Swiveling his head around, Skyle could see the enthusiastic grins of all the students as they nodded to him. They all seemed to regard his previous attack as some sort of joke to lighten the mood. Only Kassandra and Reikard were studiously avoiding his gaze as they suddenly found themselves fascinated in the study of their own shoes.


    Skyle¡¯s misery was only compounded further when he heard a throat clearing sound from Syrene. The room immediately fell silent, and Skyle couldn¡¯t help but get to his feet and return to his original spot with the slow, despairing steps of a man heading to the gallows.


    At least the surface of the golem was a lot softer than it looked. Thinking back on how Orwen¡¯s Stone Spear had shattered, Skyle was able to confirm Syrene¡¯s words. The golem must be enchanted so it adjusted its surface to match the strength of the attack it faced. This meant that his own kick must have been even more pathetic than he had feared.


    Skyle threw one last reluctant glance toward Syrene, trying to see if there might be any way of weaseling his way out of this test. The Aegis¡¯sur seemed unfazed by Skyle¡¯s failure. Instead, she nodded expectantly to him with a brilliant smile.


    Grumbling under his breath, Skyle turned his attention back to the puppet. Helpless, he let out a loud cry as he charged towards the puppet with all the speed he could muster. This time, he made it look even more theatrical as he flew into the air and spun in a full circle while whipping his leg around for a backheel kick.


    Though his father had dutifully trained his son in many barehanded techniques, Skyle had never been fond of striking in melee range. First, he could never get as much speed or impact as his father could. Second, in his mind, if the enemy was close enough that Skyle was forced to use his puny fists to defend himself, he would most likely be dead in any case. It was why he prefered using a bow and fighting from a distance. Not only did he excel at it, but it also compensated for his smaller size and lack of power. Though he launched an over-ambitious kick, it was painfully obvious that he would not achieve any better results than last time. After all, this golem could withstand blows from Master level spells, while Skyle couldn¡¯t even muster enough elemental power to swat down a mosquito.


    His blow struck the puppet with a satisfying crack, and the feedback from his leg told him that he had connected solidly. However, he didn¡¯t have to look up to know the words that would be floating in the air above the barrier.


    <blockquote>Gravitas Test Incomplete. </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Reason: Insufficient power for calibration.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Please try again.</blockquote>


    This time, the silence was deafening as every set of eyes stared back and forth between the barrier¡¯s error message, and Skyle¡¯s slumped shoulders. No laughter was forthcoming this time. In fact, only a few dry coughs could be heard hanging in the uncomfortable silence that cast a pall over what had just recently been an animated crowd.


    Skyle let out a deep sigh as he turned around and headed toward the arena¡¯s exit. He had resigned himself for the results, and at least he had put up a decent act of trying his best. After all, Syrene should know he was a cripple, so he really could not be blamed for this failure.


    His foot was about to step outside the arena, his gaze cast down toward the floor as he dragged himself out, when his face crashed against those sickeningly familiar twin mounds of flesh.


    Jerking himself back, Skyle stared in horror at Syrene. The Aegis¡¯sur was standing right outside the barrier with her hands upon her hips. Her face was expressionless as she gazed at Skyle and did not say a word.


    Skyle shuffled his feet uncomfortably, trying not to squirm under the weight of the summoner¡¯s stare. He knew she was using silence as a weapon, and he could only curse himself for a fool because it was still working. After a few seconds, Skyle couldn¡¯t bear her wordless gaze any longer.


    ¡°I tried my best.¡±


    ¡°Did you?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s glare turned belligerent, but the slight arc of her eyebrow was enough to make him throttle down on his temper.


    ¡°I¡¯m an elemental cripple.¡±


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    Clenching his jaw so hard that it hurt, Skyle scowled darkly.


    ¡°You know I am!¡±


    ¡°Do I?¡±


    Skyle almost spat out a mouthful of blood. What kind of game was this wily fox of a woman playing?


    Realizing that his excuses were getting him nowhere, Skyle resorted to the sullen silence that was a child¡¯s last refuge against the cold light of reason.


    Syrene¡¯s lips quirked into a half-smile as her eyes narrowed into crescent slits.


    ¡°So, even you can be a silly little brat sometimes. That is reassuring to know.¡±


    Skyle pressed his lips together into a petulant pout before he realized it and reluctantly went back to glaring at the insufferable woman.


    ¡°Just tell me something, Skyle. Who told you that you¡¯re a cripple?¡±


    Skyle opened his mouth, then paused for a moment as he frowned in thought. Had his parents ever said that to him? His siblings? His friends? It was only after a long moment of soul searching that he was finally able to come up with a truthful answer.


    ¡°I did,¡± Skyle admitted.


    Syrene¡¯s lips slowly spread into a sunny smile that would have taken his breath away in its radiant beauty, if he could only get over his instinctive distrust for her.


    ¡°Now tell me, was that your best?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s brow rode even lower on his forehead.


    ¡°In my current circumstances-¡±


    Syrene laid her finger across his lips. ¡°No excuses. I want a straight answer to a simple question.¡±


    Skyle wanted nothing more than to bite the odious woman¡¯s finger and chew until he could wipe that smug grin from her face. Then again, he reflected, he¡¯d probably break off every single one of his teeth before he could put a dent in the steely woman¡¯s flesh. Instead, he found the answer to her question but couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it out loud.


    In any case, it wasn¡¯t necessary. Syrene must have seen the answer on his face, as she sent him a coquettish wink. Then she wordlessly spun him around, and sent him stumbling forward with a playful slap upon his butt.


    Skyle barely bit back a startled cry as he was left squaring off against the gravitas puppet once more.


    This time, Skyle squinted as he fully opened the True Sight and examined the puppet. Just because he didn¡¯t want to use the shadowy power coiling in his veins, it didn¡¯t mean he was powerless. Far from it. He had wanted to keep a low profile, but now that things had come to this point, he might as well show at least some results so the woman would leave him alone.


    As he studied the golem, the familiar sight of countless threads of elemental essence filled his vision. They crisscrossed each other in a dizzying array of colors and patterns. The many runes etched upon its surface pulsed with power as they drew energy from glowing nodes within the golem¡¯s core.


    Squinting, Skyle unconsciously began to draw closer in order to take a closer look at the weave of the essence strands. Though they were far simpler than the inhumanly complex arrays in the statue of the Guardian in Sanctuary, now that Skyle paid more attention, he began to notice a clear pattern. He could follow the essence energy as it was drawn from four glowing cores in the middle of the golem¡¯s chest. They were arrayed in a cross pattern, and each flared with a different element¡¯s aura. The strongest was earth, encompassing a vast network that branched out all over the golem. It powered most of its structural integrity, he could now see. It pulsed with power that lay dormant just beneath the surface of its skin.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Without even realizing it, Skyle laid a hand against the golem¡¯s surface. It felt surprisingly soft and cool to his touch, but a distinct tingling was transmitted to his skin. When he pushed his hand forward, a corresponding amount of energy was drawn from the earth core to reinforce the golem¡¯s skin. The harder he pushed, the stronger the resistance became.


    Skyle tapped on the golem¡¯s chest and stared in fascination as he saw the ripples of even this small impact draw upon the earth core in several staggered chain reactions. A newfound appreciation for the ingenuity of this artifact began to grow in his chest as the began to test the reaction of the puppet in different spots on its body.


    ¡°Magister Syrene, I¡¯m not sure what your honored disciple is-¡±


    The voice was cut off abruptly, but Skyle didn¡¯t even notice, he was so absorbed into this fascinating new world of power cores and reaction matrixes. He quickly identified several standard arrays of essence strands which were in turn connected to each of the cores. He could guess at the purpose of some, but most remained a mystery. This only fed his curiosity, as he was now striking, pulling and even pinching several different places on the Golem at once. Each time, he would study the patterns of force spreading across the golem and feed back into its systems. He didn¡¯t even realize that he was panting and grinning like a madman while shamelessly groping the golem.


    Suddenly, Skyle came to a stop as he frowned toward a specific section on the golem¡¯s shoulder. The specific purpose of the essence streams in this particular section were beyond his understanding, but he knew there was something wrong there. Essence streams were coiled at this particular spot in far denser concentrations than anywhere else, save for the four glowing cores. Also, each time ripples from his strikes passed through this point from two or more opposite directions, they would clash in this particular array and produce a disturbance in the flow. Such a momentary flux in the essence stream lasted for no longer than the blink of an eye, but the ripples left behind were more than enough to alert Skyle to its presence.


    Frowning at this obvious flaw in the golem, Skyle began tapping repeatedly at the golem¡¯s neck, arms and chest. Each time, he would narrow down on the specific places that produced the greatest reaction from the flaw he had found. In the end, he identified four points that produced a cascade reaction where the flow of essence would increase the stress upon the flaw with each additional blow.


    Having completely forgotten about the purpose of the test in the first place, Skyle gingerly infused some of his shadow essence into the golem at these four points. That¡¯s what he had come to call the mysterious mist filling his veins and resisting the taint. His former resolve not to use his bloodline power lay entirely forgotten.


    Instead, a huge grin spread across his lips. The results of infusing his shadow essence were nothing short of extraordinary. The moment his fingers left each point, a tiny, bean-sized speck of shadow essence fell into place as naturally as though it had always been meant to be there.


    In his fascination, Skyle did not even notice that each time he infused a drop of shadow essence, the golem¡¯s entire figure pulsed with a muted glow. This light grew brighter every time, until it flared into blinding brilliance after the fourth point was filled with essence by Skyle.


    Loud gasps filled the room, and as though awakening from a dream, only then did Skyle realize what he was doing. His eyes flew wide open as he stared in growing horror at the pulsing glow emanating from the four points where he had infused his essence. He could see that the vulnerable spot at the shoulder area was now strengthened and the essence flow through those channels was much smoother than before. In fact, now that the flaw had been patched and the coiled essence streams smoothed out, the entire golem was overflowing with the energy that had been freed.


    The barrier surrounding the arena began to flash intermittently, and Skyle began to truly panic now. He knew this flickering meant the golem was processing the results of the test. Only, what would it say about his shadow essence? What if due to the sudden energy he had freed up from the coiled essence at that shoulder area produced some bizarrely high numbers? He was supposed to keep a low profile!


    His heart hammering in his chest, Skyle did the only thing he could think of to interrupt the process. He struck out with his fist at the four points with shadow essence in quick succession. With each blow, the shadow essence obediently popped and disintegrated into nothingness.


    To Skyle¡¯s horror, this only produced a massive backlash in the golem¡¯s energy stream. A chain reaction was started, with power from all four cores being diverted to fill the vacuum left by his shadow essence. Individually, the amount of essence that filled each point was alarming enough. However, Skyle could only watch with a plummeting heart as all four waves of elemental essence began to flow toward the tangled mess at the shoulder area.


    ¡°Crap, that¡¯s a lot of essence. This thing is gonna blow!¡±


    Skyle¡¯s breath was stuck in his throat as he watched four essence streams converging upon the flaw. His mind was drawing a blank, unaware of how he could resolve the situation. Panicked, he gritted his teeth and gathered a fistful of shadow essence to his hand. He didn¡¯t even know how he did it, but all that mattered was that it worked and he struck out as hard as he could against the coiled essence streams at the puppet¡¯s shoulder.


    His desperate strike landed with a loud booming sound. The surface of the golem rippled around the impact area as crackling bolts of energy flickered over his fist and around the puppet. To his great relief, much of the coiled essence energy at the golem¡¯s shoulder was expelled by his vicious blow. The resulting clash had even eliminated most traces of his shadow essence. By the time the energy from the four points arrived, they wiped away the last remnants of his essence and left only chaotic ripples from the golem¡¯s own power cores.


    Panting heavily and soaked in sweat as though he had just been put through a wringer, Skyle¡¯s knees shook unsteadily as he slumped his head in relief. That had been too close for comfort. He had never realized just how much trouble his True Sight could get him into. Though he should be feeling excited over the fact that he could pick apart and even improve upon flaws in high end magical artifacts from the Conclave Arcana, the only sentiment flooding his heart at the moment was utter exhaustion.


    After studying the golem with a heavy-lidded gaze for one last time to ensure that no hint of his shadow essence was left, Skyle turned around and walked back to the barrier.


    A pounding headache made him sway upon wobbly legs as he exited the testing arena. Only then did he realize that no one was watching him. Instead, their gazes were fixed upon the barrier. Wincing, Skyle turned around to read his test results.


    <blockquote>Gravitas Test Incomplete. </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Reason: Excessive power for calibration.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Please try again.</blockquote>


    Skyle stared in horror at the words blinking before his eyes. What excessive power? What did the damn thing want from him? This feeling was only compounded further when he heard a buzzing pop from beyond the barrier. His face twisted into a rictus of pain as he reluctantly turned to look at the gravitas golem.


    Flickering arcs of essence began surging through the entirety of the golem¡¯s surface, gathering at the four points where Skyle had released his shadow essence. It was almost as though each of these points were hungrily sucking essence away from every other essence channel in the golem. These were not enough, and even the power from the four glowing cores was diverted to these points.


    In mere moments, four glowing fires of pure essence were pulsing upon the golem¡¯s body. From these four points, endless streams of essence began to stream down toward the flaw in its shoulder.


    At first, the clash of these four different essence streams only produced more arcs of bright energy strands. They quickly turned more violent, however. After the first few impacts, an audible booming sound could be heard every couple seconds, accompanied by a blinding flash of multi-colored light.


    Skyle opened his mouth to protest that it wasn¡¯t his fault, that the stupid puppet had been defective in the first place and that it was obviously out to get him. Before he could utter a sound, however, the whole golem suddenly flared with blinding brilliance, then exploded into a thousand fragments with a roar that shook the entire room.


    Thankfully, the barrier held and no one was hurt. Still, Skyle¡¯s ashen expression looked as though his soul had been blown away along with the golem. His lips formed the phrase ¡°125,000 golds¡± over and over, his back deflating even more with every iteration.


    Suddenly, a hand settled around Skyle¡¯s neck with a growing familiarity that he had come to detest.


    ¡°My, oh my. You never cease to impress, dear Skyle. You do realize I was merely jesting when I said you could break the grav puppet?¡±


    Skyle could only nod numbly, his vacant gaze staring at the shattered pile of debris that was all that was left of the magical artifact.


    ¡°Cheer up! At least we have your test results.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Skyle stared uncomprehendingly at Syrene.


    The Aegis¡¯sur let out that rich, oily chuckle of hers and nodded toward the air above the testing arena.


    Skyle followed the gesture and nearly fainted at the words flickering weakly upon the crackling barrier.


    <blockquote>Gravitas Test Successful</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Input Value:    62 gu.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Output Value:    1559 gu.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Gravitas Ratio Efficiency:  2514.5%</blockquote>


    No sooner had Skyle finished registering the words than the whole barrier gave a final, dying hiss and faded away altogether. By this point, the entire crowd had long fallen completely silent. Only three voices could be heard, each more enthusiastic than the last.


    ¡°Woa, you¡¯re so awesome, big bro!¡±


    ¡°I knew you could do it, brother!¡±


    ¡°So very interesting, little Skyle. Tantalizing, even. And to think we still have one more test to go. I simply can¡¯t wait.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s survival instincts kicked in right then, and he tried to run. Sadly, it was to no avail. The fox woman flashed her dazzling grin as she hauled the semi-catatonic boy to the next room like a calf to the slaughter.

 Chapter 98 - Four Element Disaster

    Chapter 98 - Four Element Disaster


    ¡°D-Did I just see what I think I saw?¡±


    ¡°Uh, I think so. Holy crap, over 2,500% efficiency rating?¡±


    ¡°That obviously can¡¯t be accurate, the readings must have gone crazy before the golem exploded.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just prove how insane his power is? He shattered the cumulus crystal, and now he blew up the gravitas golem!¡±


    Syrene cleared her throat then, even as she continued to drag Skyle past the double doors that led into the chambers for the final test. The boy who was the source of all the commotion appeared listless and weary, his arms hanging down limply at his sides.


    The three masters affected not to notice as they turned around and sent fierce warning scowls at their students. This produced the desired effect and the excited chatter died down. Every set of eyes was filled with trepidation and even a hint of awe as they gazed upon the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s surprising new apprentice.


    Skyle, for his part, looked like a fish that had been slapped out of the water, his eyes vacant and his mouth hanging open. His brain was still struggling to come to terms with having destroyed 225,000 golds¡¯ worth of magical equipment. It did not escape his notice that the price of each precious artifact kept climbing up. That was not to even mention how every time he shed light upon his own accomplishments, he was marking himself as a target for every curious magister or church official. He had no doubt in his mind that they would unceremoniously put his head on the chopping block as soon as they found even a hint of the taint in his elemental veins, no matter how loud they sung the praises of his talent before.


    Even such grave considerations paled when he eyed the massive chamber that awaited them beyond the deceptively simple double doors.


    A round chamber at least four hundred feet across spread out before his eyes. Several chandeliers holding dozens of everlight globes each cast their golden light upon grand scenes depicting the power of the elements along the walls. Each carving was shaped in painstaking detail, and the colors were so vivid they seemed ready to jump out of the walls and come to life.


    Doubtless, what truly drew the eye was the magic circle carved in the middle of the chamber. It was a circular platform about fifty feet in diameter upon which countless runes were inscribed. The glittering magical script also formed part of the circle¡¯s border, bathing the chamber in a shower of sparkling lights as they reflected from the domed ceiling. Spaced out evenly along the circle¡¯s perimeter were four smaller circles. Each of them bore the unmistakable greater runes of each major element: Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. Sparkling lines of runic script connected these elements in angular lines which wove around the center the circle. There, an equally complex circle stood though no greater rune was drawn upon its surface. This was the altar where an individual would summon the power of the elements, and await their answer.


    It was upon a similar magic circle, though much lesser in scale and grandeur, where Skyle had watched his dreams of elemental dominance come crashing down. On that ruinous day, he had first taken the elemental attunement test to apply for an academy. He could still remember the mocking laughter of the crowd that had filled his ears to bursting. Even clearer still was the dismissive sneer of the academy official who had shoved him off the platform to make way for the next applicant.


    Skyle felt a small hand squeeze his at this moment. He looked down to see Kassandra smiling encouragingly up at him. Only his family knew the depth of the scars he bore from that day. It had been the first major failure and setback of his young life, and only recently had he finally begun to truly come to terms with it. It was ironic that it was Sanctuary where he understood that his lack of magical talent didn¡¯t mean the end of the world, but also where he had awakened his own bloodline talent.


    Now, another crowd stood watching with rapt gazes as he approached the glittering magical circle. It hummed with power as he strode across its surface, leaving a startled Syrene tiptoeing at the outer edge of the runic border.


    ¡°Try not to break this one. It dates back to the foundation of the school itself and is linked to each of the elemental altars spread across the academy!¡±


    Syrene¡¯s tone was teasing, but Skyle caught the first edge of concern in her voice. Watching the arcs of elemental power surging under his feet, he could understand why. A magic circle of this scale was an authentic treasure that made up the foundation of the academy. It was not something that could simply be bought with mountains of gold, as it involved the elemental spirits dwelling in each of the altars.


    Still, while his eyes saw grandeur and majestic grace, all he could hear were the sounds of an endless shower of golden coins clinking together. He knew that if he screwed this one up, there would be hell to pay. As Skyle came to a halt within the central circle in the regis testing array, he blew out a breath and composed himself.


    ¡°Now, how do I blow this test without actually blowing it up?¡±


    The crowd stood watching with breathless anticipation, likely hoping they¡¯d witness another legend in the making.


    ¡°Not if I have anything to say about it!¡±


    Skyle quickly focused his mind, entering the True Sight. He was immediately blasted with the blinding glare of hundreds of elemental streams surging across the magic circle. Each rune empowered a specific strand of essence. Each strand, in turn, formed part of a larger structure. They were all connected to each of the four major circles representing each element. These channels glowed with potential power, but at the moment lay devoid of essence. The runic circle was like an empty vessel, waiting for power to be channeled into the summoning of each elemental spirit.


    Skyle quickly found that the elegant simplicity of the concept was drowned out by the complexity of the endeavor itself. His questing gaze found many conduits which seemed unnecessary and clunky, while others were just a burden upon the smooth flow of the elements.


    ¡°Why are so many redundant systems added to burden this beautiful spell structure?¡±


    As Skyle chewed upon his lip, realization suddenly dawned upon him. His eyes went round as a vivid light flashed behind his eyes. He finally came to understand some of the principles behind such baffling decisions.


    ¡°The difference is the True Sight!¡±


    It was only now that Skyle truly began to understand the difference between his True Sight and the Spirit Sight employed by every other person. Skyle could see every strand of elemental essence in incredible detail. As far as he could tell, nothing could remain hidden from his eyes. In the other hand, it began to dawn upon him that many of those supposedly unnecessary arrays functioned as a vital guiding system for an individual who could only see weaves of their own element, and nothing else.


    From the descriptions he had read, Spirit Sight allowed its wielder to distinguish essence patterns of their own element, and by inference detect the presence of the other elements. After all, there was seldom such a thing as a stream of one single pure element. In nature and in spells, the elements freely mingled together and often interacted in order to produce their most powerful effects. It was often due to such mutual dependency that a skilled user could even accurately deduce the specific pattern of other elements through their draw upon the universal essence pool. With such limitations in mind, Skyle came to realize that many of the useless patterns he saw were actually ingenious ways to adapt spell formations so wielders of any element could use them.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t need to worry about any of that. I can see each strand of elemental essence, no matter which element it is!¡±


    Skyle¡¯s heart jumped with joy at this realization. Though the essence in his own veins lay crippled by the taint, there was still one type of essence that he could draw upon. It was the smoky mist that lay buried deep in his veins: the shadow essence. Its nature mystified Skyle, but he still remembered the brutal, overwhelming power summoned forth when he had wielded it against the Guardian of Sanctuary.


    ¡°The power to defy a fallen goddess, buried right here in my veins!¡±


    If he could somehow tap into the swirling strands of elemental essence he could see dancing about everywhere around him, would that mean that he could wield all four elements?


    Blood sang in his ears as Skyle¡¯s heart began to thump loudly enough to startle him from his fantasies. He quickly grounded himself and squared his feet, resolving that until his taint could be dealt with, he needed to keep a low profile.


    It was a tempting proposition to reach out to the siren calls of the elements coming from each of the major runes inscribed on every side of the magic circle he stood on. Skyle had to shut his eyes for a moment as his hands shakily began to reach out towards the streams of power he could see swirling around his body. They almost brushed across his skin and left a tingling feeling along with a trail of goosebumps.


    ¡°Wait, this is the perfect opportunity to test whether my shadow essence can help me draw other elements.¡±


    The magic circle seemed specifically designed to assist the student in using their innate elemental affinity to call out to each element. If he exercised caution, Skyle might be able to achieve an incredible breakthrough. He would finally be able to wield the power of the elements, just like Leon and Kass did!


    Indecision chewed on his heart until his brain began to wring itself dry of reason and finally threw caution to the wind.


    ¡°Can¡¯t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs - nevermind that they''ve cost 225,000 golds so far.¡±


    Skyle blew out a deep breath as he opened his eyes and began to look for the water elemental lines in the circle. He was resolute that he would not allow himself to reach a high affinity number. So long as he did not exceed the average scores for a student, there was no reason why he should not avail himself of this precious opportunity. After all, who knew when Skyle would have a chance to have such a mighty magic circle all to himself?


    Tentatively at first, Skyle drew upon a strand of his shadow essence. The smoky mist obediently swirled forth from his hand. He flicked a nervous glance toward his back, but Syrene¡¯s aura projected a feeling of amusement, excitement and just the smallest hint of concern. That last sentiment was laced with a warmth that startled Skyle. Maybe he had misjudged the Aegis¡¯sur, and she wasn¡¯t here just to make his life miserable after all.


    ¡°At least she seems unaware of my shadow essence. Now, I just need to complete my experiment and get the most boring scores I can manage.¡±


    Returning his attention to the flows of essence around him, he tried matching the hue in his own veins with that of the essence outside. He immediately identified several prospects, and singled out a single strand of vibrant blue that lay only a couple feet away. It fluttered in the air as Skyle willed his shadow essence to extend forth. He could barely push down the excitement in his chest as he watched the smoky line stretch until it landed upon the blue essence.


    Upon contact, both strands of essence pushed each other lightly. Skyle furrowed his brow as he willed his shadow essence to thin itself out and wrap around the blue essence. A slow smile grew on his lips as the malleable mist parted like the petals of a flower, then closed upon the blue essence.


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    ¡°Yes! It works! Now, how do I take this power for myself?¡±


    As soon as the thought flashed in his head, his bloodline power seemed to understand his intent. It began to draw upon the blue essence, sucking the light from it and infusing it directly into his own body. Skyle¡¯s eyes bulged out as he watched the azure light begin to flow naturally into his elemental veins.


    ¡°I can feel it. I¡¯m recovering my essence!¡±


    The surge of joy that lit up his eyes was short-lived, however. Skyle did not neglect to keep a careful watch upon his veins. It was why he was immediately aware the moment the taint stirred. He had momentarily contained it using the shadow essence, but now that there was a new flow of elemental essence entering his veins, it began to struggle against its bindings.


    Alarmed, Skyle immediately cut off the connection between himself and the water essence. The small amount of essence he had drawn was insignificant when it was circulated around his veins, and so the taint reluctantly returned to its fitful slumber.


    Brushing away the clammy sweat that beaded his forehead, Skyle finally let himself breathe again. He sucked in ragged mouthfuls of air as he contemplated his next move.


    ¡°Alright, so no drawing of essence into my own body, at least not until I can deal with the taint. Still, I¡¯m able to manipulate elemental essence using strands of shadow. How about redirecting it into the spell formations without directly absorbing them?¡±


    Skyle knew nothing about spells, but his True Sight granted him insight into the minute workings of relatively simple spell formations. Simple, that is, when compared to the impossible complexity of beings like the Guardian of Sanctuary. Though he did not dare fiddle around with most of the complex spell arrays that surrounded him, through simple experimentation while reading the flow of essence he was confident in his ability to produce some results.


    ¡°At least enough that I can barely scrape by without being labeled as a cripple.¡±


    After all, the moment he had shattered the cumulus crystal, he knew he would raise questions which he must provide an answer for. The destruction of the gravitas golem only made it worse. Unless he fancied being dissected at some secret imperial lab, he needed to display at least some middling talent. Otherwise, an enterprising imperial agent or mad academy researcher might decide that the answer to some mysteries were worth sacrificing a farmboy or two upon the altar of knowledge.


    Nodding grimly to himself, Skyle once again called upon his shadow essence. This time, he stretched two strands of opaque smoke and found that he was still able to manipulate both without any difficulty. Though they did not feel like additional appendages, he felt they were more akin to obedient pets which seemed eager to follow his commands to the best of their abilities.


    He willed them to surround a nearby strand of water essence. Instead of absorbing it into his own body, however, he directly infused the energy into one of the main channels which connected his magic circle to the greater water rune.


    The ground immediately shook under his feet with an alarming rumble. Skyle spread both arms to his sides while casting startled looks around the entire magic array. Eventually, his arms came back down to his sides and he blew out a shaky breath he didn¡¯t know he had been holding. His quick scan with the True Sight told him the integrity of the magic circle was still fine, but the entire strand of water essence had been channeled directly into the greater water rune. The spell structure had obviously not been designed to deal with the infusion of such pure essence all at once.


    ¡°Wait a second, Syrene mentioned Regis is the combination of innate elemental affinity and proficiency in wielding it.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s mouth hung open as realization struck him like a bucket of cold water. A mere Initiate or Adept level student would have neither the affinity nor the skill to isolate pure elemental essence strands and channel them directly into each corresponding greater rune. They would likely fumble around with handfuls of mixed elemental strands and clumsily grind them together into this central magic circle, all the while praying that enough of their particular essence would filter through and find its way to the correct rune.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how they test for both affinity and skill.¡±


    Skyle smiled in the first confident moment he had during this whole ordeal. Now that he finally understood the test, he knew exactly how he would play his cards. This time, there would be no unexpected surprises, and definitely no breaking of any priceless magical artifacts.


    Wincing as he wondered just how heavy 225,000 gold coins would be, he shuddered and shook the errant thought from his head. Instead, he began to channel nearby strands into the magical circle at his feet. He did not seek out specific strands of one particular element nor did he care about their purity. Instead, he allowed the appendages of his shadow essence to sweep the immediate area of any elemental energy. Instead of carefully channeling each individual strand of elemental essence into the correct conduits which would feed into their corresponding greater runes, Skyle simply fed figurative handfuls of bunched up essence into the circle where he stood with careless abandon.


    The only thing he devoted his entire focus on was maintaining a careful watch on the level of the water rune. He was determined not to allow any accidents to happen. The moment the rune reached 60% capacity, he would immediately stop. While he was tempted to go for a higher number, safe was always better than sorry.


    ¡°Well, maybe 70ish wouldn¡¯t be so bad, either.¡±


    Wiping a toothy grin off his face, Skyle quickly composed his features and cleared his throat. It was a good thing his back was facing the crowd, else the big, idiotic grin which kept surfacing back on his face would blow the whole charade.


    The water rune steadily grew brighter as he kept feeding more elemental essence into his magic circle. After a minute or so, he began to see hints of a silhouette shining through the glow of the greater rune. His face twisted into a scowl as he narrowed his eyes and paid even more attention upon the water rune.


    He had not been imagining things. Gradually, the hazy outline of a snake began to take shape above the rune. As more essence was fed into the magic circle, its outline gained contrast. After two more minutes, he was able to tell it would be about five feet long and as thick around as his own legs.


    ¡°What is that thing? Is the degree to which I can complete that image how they measure regis? Then this is going faster than I¡¯d thought. Maybe I should slow down a little.¡±


    Skyle figured about 5 minutes had passed. He distinctly recalled the other applicants back when he had first been tested had taken about 10 minutes to complete their tests. However, they had only lit up the rune and had been tested on how fully the rune was filled with power.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just the fancy academy version. Well, then let¡¯s shoot for 11 or 12 minutes. After all, 70% is higher than average and should take a little longer than usual.¡±


    The limbs of shadow essence quickly complied, slowing down as they swept across the essence energy gathered around Skyle. It might be his imagination, but he felt as though the movement of his innate essence was growing more agile. With every passing minute, he needed to focus less attention on their movements yet they still carried out his instructions without a hitch.


    What pleased Skyle above all was the fact that he didn¡¯t need any of the contrived incantations and gestures mages used to cast their spells. He wondered if this was how summoners manipulated their essence, only he had not even summoned any elemental spirits at all.


    ¡°Such power! No wonder the Lyrianis family ruled supreme for thousands of years.¡±


    As he saw the features of the water snake grow clearer and more defined, he threw out a wild guess and estimated that it had reached around 30% capacity or so. Strangely, for the past 5% or so, the speed at which the snake was solidifying had noticeably slowed down. Upon closer examination with the True Sight, Skyle was startled to find additional conduits growing out of the snake and attaching themselves to the greater water rune.


    Skyle grumbled under his breath as he realized that the greedy little snake would need to consume more and more essence as it continued to materialize. Grudgingly, he had to admit it made sense. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t high 90th percentile scores like the twins¡¯ be as easy to pick up as turnips from his farm? The road to the peak was always a perilous journey that only grew tougher the higher one climbed.


    ¡°Well, hell if I¡¯ll let a tiny little snake get the better of me. Go shadow essence, go!¡±


    The twin strands of shadow essence leapt at his command, displaying speed and agility that surprised Skyle. They were moving almost twice as fast as before! Even with the increased speed, they were still accurately scooping up more strands of elemental essence and feeding them into the channels. They were even sorting a few of the strands into different channels, almost as though they were aware that such actions would increase their efficiency.


    ¡°Damn, just how smart is my blood?¡±


    Skyle snickered to himself as he kept his eyes fixed upon the growing water snake. By now, individual scales began to make their appearance, sparkling with a deep blue luster that gleamed under the intense glow of elemental energy. They sprouted from its tail first, then began to make their way up toward its head.


    Around 50% or so, the water snake¡¯s facial features were finally revealed. It possessed deep eyes that gleamed with like polished sapphires. Sharp nostrils could be distinguished over long whiskers that curled back from its head.


    ¡°Wait, whiskers? Is it some sort of eel instead? Bah, no matter. Only 20% more to go, then I can finally end this whole charade. At least the people in the crowd are keeping their words to themselves this time around.¡±


    Come to think of it, there had been an eerie silence dominating the room for quite a while now. Curious, Skyle was finally able to relax enough that he dared to use his Infinite Eye to cast a searching glance behind his back.


    His blood ran cold when he saw the shocked gazes of every soul standing beyond the magic circle. Most students were clutching at each other with pale hands while their teeth chattered nonstop. Others held trembling fingers to their bloodless lips, heedless of the deep flush coloring their cheeks. Even the masters wobbled unsteadily on their feet. The one constant was that they were all staring at the space above Skyle¡¯s head with eyes that burned with a feverish light.


    ¡°What the.. What is it now?¡±


    His heart convulsing in his chest, Skyle tried to push down the panic he felt. It was only when he spanned his sight around and read the glowing letters floating across the magic circle¡¯s barrier that he truly felt the icy claws of despair dig in.


    Elemental Regis Test Active


    Subject: Warrior Student Skyle Farrow, Class Undetermined.


    Elemental Affinity Score:


    Water   53% (Rising)


    Earth    46% (Rising)


    Wind    44% (Rising)


    Fire      41% (Rising)


    Elemental Proficiency Rating: To be determined.


    Elemental Regis Score: To be determined.


    ¡°What? Four elements at once? Impossible!¡±

 Chapter 99 - Crushing the Regis

    Chapter 99 - Crushing the Regis


    ¡°Just what is going on here?¡±


    Skyle stood in a daze as he saw four different images taking shape in the magic circles all around him. Only then did he realize that he had been paying so much attention to the water rune that he had not spared even a glance to the other runes, which would automatically be fed from the same magic circle Skyle was using. The panicked boy frantically waved his arms around, then belatedly realized the sheer idiocy of his actions. Such gestures were useless because his physical arms couldn¡¯t even touch elemental essence, let alone stop the test. Only his shadow essence could..


    Skyle was dumbfounded as he stared at the thin layer of shadow essence that had instantly spread itself over his arms. It was like a second skin which bent and moved with his fingers as he flexed them in awe. There was no sensory feedback from the shadow essence itself, but at the same time a warm, comfortable feeling spread itself through his hands and up his arms. Power unlike any he had experienced before surged through his muscles. He felt as though he could slap that silly grav puppet to oblivion.


    ¡°My god, the runes are glowing brighter and brighter.¡±


    The breathless whisper coming from his back snapped him out of his reverie. He immediately burst into action, praying he was not too late to avoid disaster.


    He used his arms to push away the elemental essence strands collected upon his circle. However, he was startled to find that far from dispersing as he had hoped, they were only pushed away for a couple feet before inexorably being drawn back into his magic circle.


    Howling in his indignation, Skyle swept the circle with his True Sight and gawked at the thick streams of elemental essence feeding directly into the main channels leading to each of the greater runes. Following one of these lines, he found himself gazing straight into the open eyes of the water elemental spirit¡¯s image. The gleam within its eyes was so life-like at this point, that he couldn¡¯t help but stare in sick fascination.


    Then the eye winked at him.


    ¡°Ack!¡±


    Skyle stumbled back from the image as though he had been stung. His vision immediately retracted itself, and the little boy found himself clutching at his chest while gulping big mouthfuls of air.


    ¡° Wait a moment. That voice just now spoke of the runes but said nothing about the spirit. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s face crumpled up until it looked like a dried up raisin, the lines of his face sagging in misery. These damn spirits that were only visible to his True Sight must be intentionally sucking all the essence dry!


    ¡°Stop! Stop that right now. Don¡¯t you dare suck up any more essence!¡±


    Finally, the elemental spirits dropped the act. They all began to move animatedly, each of their life-like movements scorching Skyle¡¯s sooty heart black. Especially the water snake, it flicked its long tongue at him with an almost human sneer that stretched its lips taut.


    ¡°Stop that, you damn overgrown eel!¡±


    Deaf to his demands, the water snake leisurely swam around the increasingly dense streams of water essence. To make things worse, Skyle was clearly outnumbered. On top of the fire rune, a flaming tiger with bright scarlet fur opened its maw in a soundless roar which nonetheless made Skyle wobble on his feet and shrink back. From the wind rune, a delicate bird of vibrant green plumage swept its wings in Skyle¡¯s direction, and he imagined he could feel a refreshing breeze brush past his face. Finally, the biggest bear Skyle had ever beheld squatted placidly on all four legs upon the earth rune. It didn¡¯t even bother raising its head, only occasionally shifting a massive paw to scratch at its black fur.


    Not one to admit defeat quietly or gracefully, Skyle immediately sprang into action.


    He drew deeply upon his shadow essence, at first trying to clog up the channels of elemental essence leading into the runes. That seemed to work for a moment, but the four elemental spirits only eyed Skyle with an amused look before the absorption rate more than doubled. The thin membrane of shadow essence was ripped to pieces, and even more essence began to frantically stream toward the hungry runes.


    Skyle even considered directly attacking the runes, but quickly discarded the idea. He was desperate, not crazy! Thus, in the end he could only settle for containing the damage as much as he could.


    If the crowd behind him had been staring before, their collective jaws now hit the floor as they gaped at Skyle. The new genius of Aegis Academy, who had given birth to a new four-element legend today before their very eyes, was now frantically jumping up and down while waving his arms in the empty air like a raving lunatic.


    ¡°Get off, damn you. Go away, go away. Leave me alone!¡±


    The incomprehensible babble that spouted off his lips was as confounding as his actions. Spittle flying about everywhere, a panting, red-faced Skyle swayed unsteadily after running himself ragged - all the while staying rooted within the same tiny magic circle.


    ¡°Ah, brother?¡±


    ¡°Not now, Kass!¡±


    Skyle spun around in dizzying circles, all the while continuing to wave his arms around.


    ¡°I-Is that some new essence channeling method?¡±


    ¡°If it is, then it is as unorthodox as it is effective. Just look at that affinity rating climb!¡±


    ¡°How is he gathering essence into all four runes so quickly?.¡±


    ¡°I thought the regis test was supposed to take at least 20 minutes. He¡¯s hardly been in there for 10!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s almost like he¡¯s treating this like one of those lesser affinity test circles. He¡¯s just charging up the greater runes as if they were lesser ones.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s blood froze at those last two comments. There were different types of affinity tests? These were greater runes while the ones from his memory were lesser ones? Why hadn¡¯t anyone told him about this? If he had known, he would have slowed down his test instead of trying so hard. Now, he was even faced with the nightmare of being hailed as an unprecedented four element genius.


    ¡° As if I need the extra attention. Low key, low key.¡±


    The greater runes seemed to mock his thoughts, flaring up right at that moment and draining even more essence from Skyle¡¯s circle. It was like a great vortex that kept drawing more essence in spite of Skyle¡¯s frantic efforts otherwise.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, that¡¯s enough already. Please, just go away.¡±


    On the verge of tears, Skyle finally collapsed to the floor. His exhaustion lent a nasty edge to his fear as it gnawed upon his resolve. He felt wronged by this entire ordeal, and though he had tried his best, at every step misfortune had struck.


    Suddenly, a flicker of a familiar presence seemed to brush past his consciousness. Skyle raised his eyes up and looked around in a daze but could not identify this feeling. What he did see, however, were the retreating figures of the elemental spirits. For some strange reason, they had finally stopped feeding upon the essence.


    The blue snake sent him one final wink before its scales flaked off and they scattered to an invisible breeze.


    ¡°Is it over?¡± Skyle said, his heart thumping in his chest.


    ¡°Is what over, brother?¡±


    Skyle made a shushing motion with his hand toward Kassandra while he stared up at the glowing letters suspended above his head. If it were anyone else, a casual spectator might have mistaken the rapid twitching of his lips for prayers. Nevermind that such a notion was ridiculous. After all, why would such a genius need a prayer with such incredible test results?


    Finally, the script upon the barrier flickered, then displayed the final results of the test.


    <blockquote>Elemental Regis Test Completed</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Subject: Warrior Student Skyle Farrow, Class Undetermined.</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Elemental Affinity Score:</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Water   83% </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Earth    78% </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Wind    75% </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Fire      72% </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Elemental Proficiency Rating: </blockquote>


    <blockquote>Water: A</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Earth: A</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Wind: A</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Fire: A</blockquote>


    <blockquote>Elemental Regis Score: 393</blockquote>


    A deafening silence descended upon the room. All noise died away until even the sound of a single pindrop falling to the floor could have been easily heard. The moment lasted for only a moment. Then sound rushed back in a tumultuous wave that crashed in an explosion of feverish discussion amidst cries of shock.


    ¡°Holy shit, a 393 regis!¡±


    ¡°What the hell is that score? Is that even possible? Wait, isn¡¯t this his first regis test? It says his class was undetermined.¡±


    "Damn, I guess Kassandra Farrow''s entry score no longer holds the record as the highest at our academy. What was her regis?"


    "I heard everyone was shocked she broke through the 200 point barrier, but her brother has almost double that! Talk about smashing a record. He obliterated it.¡±


    ¡°He must have cheated. How can a person rate high affinity with four elements?¡±


    Skyle had the decency to feel a pang at that. His shadow essence and the True Sight were like massive cheats in a test like this. His powers were so different from the essence gathering system of the academy that the magic circle simply could not account for the difference.


    Skyle slowly picked himself up, all the while studiously avoiding everyone¡¯s eyes. He did spare a few baleful glares toward the glowing elemental runes. He had a theory as to why the elemental spirits that had been bullying him had stopped, but now was not the time to dwell on it. Instead, he needed to come up with a plausible explanation for the disaster he had unleashed upon himself. The animated chatter filling the room was only the calm before the real storm struck.


    ¡°I agree, he must have cheated the system somehow. These results are just impossible! The most I¡¯ve heard of are dual element geniuses, and even those are rare!¡±


    "Look at the proficiency rating. It''s a bloody A - across all four elements!"


    "Damn, I''m still stuck with a D+ rating."


    "But I thought even Masters can only obtain a B rating."


    "Yeah, that''s right. I''ve only heard of Mortal level experts obtaining A ratings."


    "Then what does that make him?"


    "Uh.. a freak?"


    ¡°Well, at least he didn¡¯t break anything this time,¡± said a bored voice. Skyle could have recognized it anywhere.


    ¡°Kass!¡± Reik said.


    Kassandra sniffed loudly and ignored her twin¡¯s outburst. In truth, they were both preening like peacocks displaying their new tail feathers. They basked in the warm afterglow of the vindication of years of faith when the entire world had looked down upon their unshakable belief in one salient fact.


    ¡°Big bro, you sure kicked some major ass!¡±


    ¡°Hmmph, took your sweet time, brother.¡±


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    Skyle could only shake his head in dismay, keeping his head down as he dragged his feet over to the circle¡¯s boundary. He did not dare to raise his eyes. Already, he could feel the burning gaze of Syrene Le Flueur Aegis¡¯sur following him the whole time. Deep inside, there was still the smallest flicker of hope against all odds that the fiendish woman would let him off easy, just this once.


    Only an instant later, hope lay crushed and bleeding at his feet. Skyle groaned loudly when the heady scent of rose and lilac assaulted his nostrils. He tried to move away but it was already too late. Long, supple arms wrapped themselves around his neck as they irresistibly drew him closer, just like a spider reels in its prey.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t break nothing!¡± Try as he might, Skyle still couldn¡¯t keep the plaintive whine out of his voice.


    ¡°Right, at least you didn¡¯t break the regis circle,¡± Syrene said, flicking Skyle¡¯s nose with the back of her finger. Then she leaned in closer until he felt the now-familiar weight of her bountiful bosom crushed against his chest.


    He resisted at first, but his limbs froze and he stopped squirming the instant he felt her hot breath upon his ear.


    ¡°You just crushed all the academy records from, oh I don¡¯t know, ever?¡±


    Then she laughed in that soft, husky tone that sent involuntary shivers down his spine.


    The students were quickly dispersed, and the masters reluctantly followed. They had a myriad questions they wished to ask, but Syrene¡¯s intense gaze cowed them into swallowing them back and reluctantly taking their leave. Skyle decided that if he only learned one thing from the Aegis¡¯sur, it would have to be the strange power she exerted over others¡¯ auras.


    In the end, only the Farrow siblings remained behind along with that devious woman.


    Her aura was practically bursting at the seams with barely contained excitement and curiosity, almost as though Skyle were an exotic beast sighted for the very first time. Only the subtle undertone of genuine concern that lurked beneath her other emotions stopped Skyle from snapping at his tormentor. For make no mistake, she was a plague upon his placid life. Skyle would have never had to subject himself to all these gruesome tests if not for her unwelcome insistence. Then again, who knows how long it would have been before Skyle could figure out the new uses for his shadow essence without the ordeals he had been through?


    ¡°Adversity is the hammer while courage is the anvil, right da? Now I know how a chunk of iron feels when being battered into shape.¡±


    Skyle grumbled to himself from where he currently lay, hopelessly lost amidst the confounding depths of Syrene Le Flueur¡¯s expansive breasts. If the damn woman would at least have the decency to cover them like any civilized, modest woman should, at the very least he wouldn¡¯t have to rest his cheeks against the impossibly smooth and creamy texture of her skin. The close-cut vest exposed nearly half of her milky globes. So perilous was their perch that with every breath they threatened to spring free and burst out from the confines of her clothes.


    ¡°Why are a woman¡¯s breasts so soft and yet bouncy at the same time, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Because they reflect a lady¡¯s heart, dear Skyle. Tender and delicate beyond measure, yet resilient in the face of the greatest of adversities.¡±


    Her sudden words made Skyle want to curl up like an earthworm lying exposed under the scorching sun. How had the woman known what he was thinking? A guilty blush burned his cheeks as he lowered his gaze. That was not such a good idea, considering it brought his eyes diving deep between the plunging valley of Syrene¡¯s imposing peaks.


    Kassandra sniffed loudly, eloquently expressing what she thought of Syrene¡¯s words.


    ¡°Oh, you just don¡¯t understand, my dear. Not yet, anyway. Maybe in the future you will, once you grow.. you know, there. Still quite a ways to go, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    Above him, Skyle felt Syrene turn her head. He didn¡¯t need to look to know exactly where she must have directed her pointed gaze.


    ¡°Why, you overstuffed so-¡±


    The rest of it sounded muffled as Reikard cut in.


    ¡°Kass, you¡¯re letting her get to you again.¡±


    ¡°Get off me. She¡¯s got her odious paws all over brother!¡±


    ¡°Big bro can handle himself. Uh, I think.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the vote of confidence, Reik.¡±


    Brushing away his annoyance, Skyle squirmed in Syrene¡¯s embrace until he was finally able to free up his mouth so that he could speak without brushing his lips all over the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s sun-kissed skin.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d spoken out loud,¡± Skyle said.


    ¡°That¡¯s because I can hear your thoughts when we¡¯re close like this, heart to heart. Why else would I be holding you? Do I look like a perverted child molester to you, dear Skyle?¡±


    She was obviously a pervert, but that couldn''t be all. Skyle tried to find an answer and had to admit he was stumped. Why was she fixated on tormenting him? At a loss for answers, Skyle instead asked another question that had been rolling around in his mind for a while now.


    ¡°Can you really hear my thoughts?¡±


    Syrene finally let him pull away far enough that she could smirk down into his big, round eyes.


    ¡°Of course I can. Would I lie to you?¡±


    "You just did, you shameless pervert!¡± he thought. Skyle was reading her aura, and the pink of mischief had flared brightly while she said that. ¡°Think this is all funny, do you? Can¡¯t trick my eyes, lady.¡±


    Syrene paused right at that moment, and a considering look entered her eyes as she squinted down at the boy lying in her arms.


    ¡°Interesting. Very interesting. The more I get to know you, the more intriguing you become,¡± she said quietly, her eyes suddenly growing distant.


    Skyle¡¯s own eyes narrowed slightly as he squinted up at Syrene. Could she have a similar ability to his True Sight? If so, she must have read him like an open book. She must have already spotted his shadow essence as well. The implications cascaded down into an impossible tangle that Skyle was forced to cut short until he could confirm his suspicions. Otherwise, he would drive himself crazy.


    Tentatively, Skyle willed a single strand of shadow essence to extend from his hand. He waved it back and forth under Syrene¡¯s nose. To his great relief, he did not detect a single change in her aura.


    He meant to let out a sigh, but instead Skyle found himself choking as Syrene drew him close once again. Her embrace pushed his face straight into her bosom with dismaying enthusiasm.


    ¡°You naughty boy. Don¡¯t play games with your big sister Syrene.¡±


    ¡°B-Big sister?¡± Skyle was able to push himself off far enough to gawk at her.


    ¡°Over my dead body!¡± Kass cried out.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, might be nice- Oww!¡±


    ¡°Stop that right now, Reikard Farrow!¡±


    ¡°But Kass..¡±


    The rest of it was lost to Skyle as he gazed up at the summoner who held him tightly in her arms. There, hidden deep within the bright, flickering colors of her aura, lay a tremulous strand of muted blue that struck a chord in him. He felt himself drawn toward this unexpected discovery, and through her eyes he fell deeper into her aura until he could see the faintest outline of a little girl clutching a broken sailing boat to her chest while her sad green eyes shed tear after tear. He didn¡¯t understand why, but the image brought a sudden sting to his eyes.


    ¡°Syrene..¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I think I might like that, one day.¡± His words were a barely audible whisper.


    Syrene smiled at that. It was a new smile, one he hadn¡¯t seen before. It was less flashy and more subdued than her usual cheeky grin, but that only made it all the more precious. Like an unexpected gift, it spontaneously brought a mirroring smile to Skyle¡¯s own lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re really not going to ask any questions?¡±


    Skyle eyed the Aegis¡¯sur doubtfully.


    ¡°Why should I bother? I can read your mind like an open book.¡± She flicked his nose with her finger, sending him a knowing wink.


    ¡°Hah, liar. Your aura¡¯s churning with so much curiosity, it is a wonder you can hold that carefree smile at all.¡±


    After that rare moment of vulnerability, Syrene had returned to that same teasing, saucy grin without a hitch. Still, the brief moment of intimacy had inexorably drawn them closer. Now Skyle felt the beginnings of a trust that had not been there before. Given the Aegis¡¯sur¡¯s strange ability to influence other people¡¯s auras, he wasn¡¯t ready to test the depths of such a newborn feeling. Even so, it was a great improvement from before. Just the fact that she was still holding back the barrage of questions that were boiling beneath her carefree exterior was enough to earn Skyle¡¯s gratitude.


    His head hurt enough already without having to invent lies to explain away the results of his tests. Already, rumours would be spreading like a wildfire. He would have to consult with Uncle Talon in order to find a way to explain away the disastrous events of the day.


    ¡°Go on now, it is time for you to get settled in your new villa.¡±


    ¡°We get a villa?¡± Reikard chimed up, his eyes glittering.


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my apprentices. How could I let you stay in those pigpens they keep the rest of those wretched students in?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I think the dormitories are quite- Oww, Kass.¡±


    ¡°I suppose we can accept your offer,¡± Kassandra said, stabbing toward the sky with her nose. ¡°It is the least you could do after putting my brother through such an ordeal.¡±


    Syrene didn¡¯t say a word, just brushing back a lock of hair from Skyle¡¯s forehead.


    Kassandra puffed up her flushing cheeks and stomped her feet, but kept her peace.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not coming with us?¡± Skyle asked, surprised to find that for some reason, he was somewhat reluctant to part with her company.


    Syrene smiled down at him. ¡°I¡¯m afraid someone has to tell the academy staff about the new 225,000 gold expenditure that must be added to the budget this year. Unless you¡¯d prefer to do so yourself?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all! I think we¡¯ll get going then, Syrene.¡± Skyle wrung his hands and shifted his weight for a moment, struggling with the next words. ¡°Uh, thanks.¡±


    ¡°Well, actions speak louder than words.¡± Syrene bent down and presented her cheek to Skyle. ¡°How about a kiss?¡±


    For just a moment, Skyle was tempted to agree. Then he caught the rippling tendrils of mischief in her aura at the last minute. Good thing he had checked with his True Sight. He didn¡¯t know exactly what she had been planning, but it certainly wasn¡¯t anything nice!


    Again, Syrene seemed to have read his thoughts. Her perfect eyebrows arched up ever so slightly as her eyes danced with a dark promise.


    ¡°No? Well, next time, then.¡±


    ¡°Not if I can help it.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡±


    Syrene laughed at the surprise in his expression. It was a rich, throaty sound like a tigress who was toying with her prey.


    ¡°I told you I can read you like an open book. Run along now. I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s enough fun for one day.¡±


    ¡°Just what part of today was fun, you demoness!¡±


    A parting wink was all the answer Skyle got.

 Chapter 100 - The New Young Master

    Chapter 100 - The New Young Master


    The villa provided by the academy was more of a palace by Skyle¡¯s humble standards. Three entire floors were filled with every ludicrous luxury a pampered aristocratic brat might desire while away from the familiar comforts of daddy¡¯s two hundred room castle.


    The front courtyard alone occupied ten times the space of Skyle¡¯s home. It was filled with carefully trimmed bushes and exotic flowers. Burbling fountains were spread throughout, along with discretely placed benches and nooks that would easily accommodate ten times the number of people who would be occupying the villa.


    It even came with its own staff of a pretty young maid, a scrawny kid dressed in the academy livery, a rotund woman grinning from behind a white apron, and a balding man with a neatly trimmed beard. They were all lined up by the front gate, stiff as a board. Who knew how long they had been waiting for?


    Skyle glanced down at the address in his hand a few times with a disbelieving squint. In fact, he would have headed back to the administrative offices in order to straighten out the obvious mistake in the address, had the wispy-haired old man not rushed forward to intercept him as soon as they had rounded the corner.


    ¡°Young Master Skyle Farrow, if I¡¯m not mistaken? It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.¡±


    Skyle blinked a few times at the gracious bow offered by the old man before returning it with his own clumsy imitation of a greeting. The man exuded an air of professional deference, from his immaculate jacket and breeches of neat black cotton, to the spotless white shirt that shone brightly under the noon sun. A similar glare was reflected from his impeccably polished black leather shoes.


    ¡°M-Master Skyle? I¡¯m Skyle, but I¡¯m no young master. And I¡¯m pleased to meet you as well.¡±


    ¡°Young Master Skyle, your demeanor is as gracious as your words. As for the appellation, it is merely the proper address for all the servants who have the honor to attend to the needs of the noble geniuses of Aegis Academy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m no genius, mister..¡± Skyle trailed off.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been woefully remiss in my introductions. I¡¯m Cyrus Jameson, head of the service staff for the Belleview Villa. Please, do me the honor to address me as Jameson. I will strive to make your stay at Aegis as pleasant as possible.¡±


    ¡°Uh, we don¡¯t really require much-¡± Skyle began, but was promptly shoved aside from behind.


    ¡°Jameson, pleased to make your acquaintance. I¡¯m Kassandra Farrow and this is my brother, Reikard. Your services will be very appreciated in the future. Kindly introduce your capable staff to us.¡±


    Kassandra pointedly ignored Skyle¡¯s gaping stare as she nodded graciously at Jameson¡¯s acknowledging bow.


    ¡°Of course. It is an honor, Young Mistress Kassandra, Young Master Reikard. Please, allow me to introduce the serving staff of Belleview Villa.¡±


    Jameson spread his hand toward the pretty green-eyed girl dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit. Fiery, shoulder-length curls of red framed full cheeks and a bright smile. She could not have been a day over sixteen, if that old. Still, she towered a full head over Skyle. Her snug outfit accentuated her slim, hourglass figure in interesting ways.


    ¡°This is Nessa Lindhurst, the serving maid. She will be responsible for catering for your needs at all times, whatever they may be.¡±


    ¡°It is a pleasure to serve you, young masters, young mistress.¡± Nessa dipped in a deep curtsy, flashing a bashful smile at her new masters.


    Perhaps because of the fresh trauma involving Syrene¡¯s harassment, Skyle caught his gaze drifting down the flowing fabric of the outfit the young girl was wearing. While nowhere as scandalous as Syrene¡¯s outfit, it still followed the common fashion trend of Imperial aristocracy and favored the plunging neckline that displayed Nessa¡¯s generous cleavage to great effect.


    Skyle caught himself with a start and immediately averted his gaze, but the sudden movement and the inevitable heat that colored his cheeks gave him away. Nessa¡¯s own pale cheeks turned crimson as she blushed and hurriedly looked down, biting her rosy lips.


    Kassandra nodded gracefully, though she did send a warning glance toward Skyle.


    If Jameson noticed, he didn¡¯t show it. Instead, he moved down the line and waved his hand toward a young, ginger-haired boy who bore a striking resemblance to Nessa. They were likely siblings, though he looked to be of an age with Reikard.


    ¡°This is Timmy Lindhurst, the pageboy. He¡¯s in charge of running messages and errands at your pleasure.¡±


    ¡°Masters, Mistress,¡± Timmy said, pressing a round cap to his chest and bowing deeply.


    Skyle could only nod numbly, still flustered. Kassandra and Reikard did much better, obviously much more used to the contrivances of noble society after being exposed to the culture at the academy for this past year.


    ¡°Finally, this is Helga Spanswick, the cook. She will be in charge of preparing your meals, should you decide to dine in instead of availing yourself of the academy¡¯s fare.¡±


    The chubby middle-aged woman smiled broadly as she curtsied, spreading her apron with her pudgy fingers.


    ¡°Be a honor to serve the young masters and the young mistress.¡±


    Kassandra nodded with a gracious smile that encompassed all the servants. Before she could say a word, however, Skyle nudged her aside and jumped in.


    ¡°Please, we won¡¯t stand for formalities,¡± he began with a rueful smile, spreading his hands to his sides. ¡°We¡¯re just farmers, used to tilling the land, harvesting crops, and raising farm stock.¡±


    Kassandra spluttered, her eyes flying wide with outrage. She stepped forward, but Skyle poked her in the ribs and kept on going, ignoring his baby sister¡¯s protests.


    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare take your livelihoods from you, but our parents raised us with the firm mentality that any Farrow ought to be able to take care of themselves. I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t want any of their children to be spoiled rotten in the lap of luxury,¡± Skyle said, with a pointed glance toward Kassandra.


    Reikard barely stifled a snicker as he hung on to his sister¡¯s hands in order to hold her back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure we will work out a compromise in the future, but please rest easy in the knowledge that we¡¯re simple folk, likely of much humbler origins than any of you. Please, look after us in the future.¡±


    Skyle bowed before the startled eyes of the staff. They quickly shook themselves and bowed even more deeply, murmuring platitudes.


    Ignoring Kassandra¡¯s baleful glare, Skyle followed Jameson as he led them on a quick tour of the villa. It was a complex labyrinth of over 20 rooms, two inner courtyards, and three gathering halls. That was not to mention numerous spaces which in Skyle¡¯s opinion served no real purpose at all.


    A sitting room? What was the purpose of that? Surely, even in the unlikely event that any of the dozens of ornate chairs strewn all around the mansion were unavailable, any of the gleaming tiles which had been polished to a sheen were equally adequate for the task of sitting on your bum?


    The solar? Even if it was well illuminated by a mind-boggling wealth of everlight lanterns, why would anyone want to squirm around in the cavernous hall when you could be sitting in the great outdoors and basking under the comforting warmth of the actual sun?


    An anteroom? Why would any sane man waste so much space just to make a guest sit there and wait? Then what was the purpose of the sitting room, the guest room, the vestibule, the parlor, or any number of similar rooms?


    All in all, it was a baffling display of wasted space and excessive luxury. Skyle grimly vowed that he would not let his siblings be corrupted by these silly aristocratic notions.


    In the end, Jameson insisted until Skyle couldn¡¯t help but chose the largest personal chamber in the complex for himself. It was separated into an anteroom, a great chamber, and a private study. There was also a small side door that led to a narrow servant¡¯s room, though at the moment it was unoccupied. Jameson had informed him that noble students would always bring a personal servant who would stay by their side at all times. Maybe Ash would like to have his own room?


    The main chamber was fully furnished with rich tapestries hanging from the walls and thick rugs covering nearly every inch of the floor. A bed almost as wide around as his entire room back at the farm beckoned with pristine sheets and nearly a dozen pillows of different shapes and sizes. A large fireplace dominated one side of the room, upon which hung a couple ornamental swords. On the opposite wall there was a balcony that faced the main inner courtyard.


    He rushed Jameson and his siblings outside and shut the door behind them. The old servant left with obvious reluctance. Only upon Skyle¡¯s solemn promise that should he want for anything, he would summon the staff at once using the servants¡¯ bell, did the stiff old man finally take his leave. The bell in question was an elaborate affair of filigreed gold, from which a rich, velvet cord lay suspended. Skyle did his best not to roll his eyes at the extravagance of it all.


    Finally finding some peace and quiet, Skyle collapsed upon the bed and stared up at the ceiling while struggling against the despair he felt at his awful performance in the morning¡¯s tests.


    Skyle liked to think of himself as a courageous boy, steadier by far than most others his age. After all, Ria had spent centuries nurturing his soul, not to mention the careful training he had received from his parents. The many perils he had faced in Sanctuary had only served to further strengthen his will.


    No, this wasn¡¯t about being a coward. It was a very rational fear of the fatal consequences should anyone discover the taint in his blood. Already, he had several questions as to how he had managed to foil the Church¡¯s yearly tests for the Shadowblight. Was he Shadowblighted, or was his taint different somehow? Had his parents and Talon used their influence to safely guide him through the tests? Would his newly awakened talent mark him for death upon discovery?


    All these important questions had been neglected by the rush of his parents¡¯ departure. Kendric had only shrugged off Skyle¡¯s insistent questions. This was usually his father¡¯s attitude to lazy thinking, as he despised indolent minds. The answers were important, but Kendric Farrow had never been one to spoon feed his children.


    After furiously debating his options back and forth in his mind, Skyle reached a decision. Since his parents had taken the initiative to enroll him into the academy, and had even mentioned that he would benefit from the experience, Skyle decided to embrace this new identity as the new genius of Aegis Academy. It would mean threading a fine balance between availing himself of every opportunity to further boost his talent, while at the same time suppressing his taint and hiding it from the world.


    The devil was in the details, but Skyle was sure Uncle Talon would help him with his vast experience. Surely, his uncle¡¯s identity as an inquisitor of the Holy Church couldn¡¯t hurt his cause. As he thought of this, Skyle glanced toward the balcony and toward bright sunlight streaming in the window.


    He had an important appointment to keep with his uncle tonight, but that was hours from now, after darkness fell. At the moment, his exhausted mind demanded some rest. Perhaps the exertions of his talent had drained him more than he had thought. Under the scrutiny of the 4th layer of the Infinite Eye, his elemental veins were still as tragic a sight as ever. Only scattered remnants of his innate blue essence could be glimpsed in a few core areas around his chest, head, and limbs. The rest of his veins were blanketed under the smothering darkness of the taint.


    Upon further examination, Skyle¡¯s brow furrowed as he noticed a difference. It was almost imperceptible, but the shadow essence in his veins seemed a bit more sluggish, its layers thinner than usual. It still swirled in thick eddies around the taint, but he could almost feel the exhaustion coloring its presence.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°All my monkeying around with the tests must have expended its energy. I can¡¯t keep bumbling around with the shadow essence. I have to learn more about it. Ria implied this gift was the key to defeating the taint. How can I wield it most effectively? How do I nurture it? Hell, I don¡¯t even know where it comes from.¡±


    Skyle frowned deeply at this. His True Sight revealed infinite strands of essence swirling all around him. Even his own skin and flesh pulsed with impossibly complex layers of elemental essence woven so intricately that he could only marvel at the majestic sight. Even the weaves of the Regis testing magical circle seemed mundane by comparison.


    His sight did reveal one aspect of the world in startling detail, however. Each strand of essence had its own characteristic hue. This color was more than random chance or a mere cosmetic difference. Each element glowed with its own spectrum of color, and it was here that Skyle found an intriguing question.


    In all the weaves of essence around him, Skyle could see every color imaginable, split into gradients far too varied to measure. There were two shades that were glaringly obvious for their absence, however. One was the darkness of the taint, and the other was the shadow of his blood gift.


    This matter was significant, though he couldn¡¯t put his finger on why. Skyle knew from experience that disease and infection had its own sickly colors under the True Sight. Even death had its distinctive aura that lingered behind. The taint, however, was unique in its palette. Was it simply because it originated from another world?


    Skyle shook his head. Even in Sanctuary, he remembered the auras of the army of cultists who had imprisoned him. They had all worn the familiar colors of the elements. His own mother was from the world of Lyria, yet her aura contained the same shades of elemental essence as everyone else. Then what made the taint¡¯s color so unique?


    How about the shadow essence? Why did it possess such a starkly distinct color as well? Was it just rare, and Skyle had yet to witness its presence, or was it truly unique, one of a kind? Did this mean that it was disconnected from energy sources in this world? If so, how was the shadow essence fueled? Where did it draw its power from? Was it some mysterious power within his blood?


    Skyle grew nervous at this notion. He refused to believe that energy could simply spring forth from thin air. For instance, his Infinite Eye had revealed the process through which human bodies consumed food and converted it into flesh, blood and energy. Elemental powers drew upon the reservoirs of the world essence and the elemental spirits, channeling essence through an individual¡¯s spirit veins. Even the taint seemed to sustain itself by consuming the elemental essence in his spirit veins.


    Then what about the shadow essence? What did it eat?


    ¡°Wait, the Maw of the Void!¡±


    Suddenly, Skyle recalled the first time he had awakened the Maw of the Void. He remembered the mysterious energy contained within each morsel of food. He could only watch it dissipating in vain, unable to draw from it. How had he finally been able to tap into this new type of energy? With his shadow essence! He could still recall how the shadow had hungrily sucked all the energy and absorbed it into his body.


    At that moment, he had only watched in fascination as the energy greatly boosted the recovery of his strained muscles and injured flesh. Could there be an even deeper layer where the shadow essence actually fed itself upon this mysterious energy? If so, could shadow essence sustain itself from food? But he had only recently unlocked the Maw of the Void. Where had his original shadow essence come from?


    Skyle immediately delved into his own body with the Infinite Sight, eager to find the answers to his questions. He was disappointed to find that his stomach was almost completely empty of food. Only then did he remember that he had barely had a few bites for breakfast, and it was now well past the time for lunch.


    Springing to his feet, Skyle opened the door to his chambers and scurried toward the kitchen. The building was not so huge that he lost his way, but only barely so. In fact, there were an annoying number of rooms and corridors between his personal chambers and the dining room. Whoever had thought of such impractical room placement?


    Upon finally reaching the kitchen¡¯s swinging door, Skyle hesitated for just a moment before rapping his knuckles against the wooden surface. A loud voice replied from beyond the doorway.


    ¡°Is that you, Timmy? Hurry up with that flour, Mr. Jameson wants that pastry for the new masters ready within the hour.¡±


    Skyle grinned sheepishly as he shuffled in, waving an awkward hand in the cook¡¯s direction. She stood before a tall wooden counter, busily kneading a small clump of dough while singing a lively ditty to herself. The sight really warmed him, reminding Skyle of his mother as she baked his favorite buttermilk biscuits.


    ¡°Hello, Helga.¡± Skyle said.


    Helga let out a strangled cry as she reeled back, her horrified eyes bulging out. The ball of dough flew up into the air and struck the ceiling with a wet splat. Helga herself kept backing away on nerveless legs until they finally gave way and the plump cook fell to the floor with a loud crash.


    ¡°Y-Young Master Skyle?¡± Helga croaked between trembling lips.


    ¡°Helga, are you alright?¡±


    Skyle sprang forward and stretched out his hand, but Helga stared at it as though it were a viper, scurrying away from him until her back hit the opposite wall.


    ¡°P-Please, Young Master Skyle. I beg your forgiveness.¡± Helga gingerly picked herself off the floor and offered a deep curtsy.


    Waving away the profuse apologies of the poor woman, Skyle did his best to set her at ease. He had barely begun when he heard a sharp hiss from behind his back.


    Turning around, Skyle saw a pale-faced Jameson clutching at his chest as he bowed low before the boy. Behind him, an equally shaken Nessa curtsied deeply.


    ¡°Young Master Skyle, please accept our humblest apologies.¡±


    ¡°Eh? For what?¡±


    ¡°For neglecting our duties, of course. Whatever Helga has done to earn your displeasure, rest assured that it shall be corrected immediately.¡±


    Skyle blinked a few times as he processed that.


    ¡°Wait, what? No, I¡¯m not displeased at all. Why would you think that?¡±


    Jameson finally lifted his gaze, confusion written across his face.


    ¡°The Young Master has deigned to grace the staff with his presence upon this lowly kitchen. Surely, something must have earned the Young Master¡¯s displeasure?¡±


    Skyle scratched his head with an apologetic smile. ¡°I was just hungry and wondered if I might pilfer a few morsels of food, Mr. Jameson.¡±


    Jameson immediately bowed his head low again. Poor old man, all this bowing must be working horrors on his aging back.


    ¡°Please, Young Master Skyle, it is not seemly to address this servant with a title. Also, I shall see to it that the summoning bell in your chambers is repaired at once. My deepest apologies for not spotting such a problem beforehand. I assure you, the bell was functioning correctly earlier this morning, when I personally tested it.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s cheeks flushed with color as he coughed in discomfort. ¡°I¡¯m sure the bell¡¯s working just fine, Mr- ah, I mean, Jameson.¡±


    Jameson straightened up from his bow with a woeful expression on his aged features. ¡°Then this old servant must be growing senile, for I did not hear the Young Master¡¯s bell. My humblest ap-¡±


    Skyle promptly stepped forward and held Jameson by the shoulders, stopping the servant¡¯s bowing motion.


    ¡°About that, I didn¡¯t pull on the bell at all.¡±


    Relief was quickly followed by bewilderment in Jameson¡¯s face. Only an instant later, understanding eased away the many wrinkles in the old servant¡¯s face.


    ¡°I see. The Young Master wished to inspect the household¡¯s affairs. How industrious of the Young Master.¡±


    Holding back the groan he could feel rising from the back of his throat, Skyle quickly shook his head.


    ¡°No, Jameson. I trust you and your staff to carry out your duties implicitly. I just wanted to come down here for some food.¡±


    Jameson once again looked confounded by Skyle¡¯s words.


    ¡°And the Young Master did not employ the bell for such a task?¡±


    ¡°Nope, I did not.¡±


    Jameson shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed in deep turmoil. ¡°Perhaps we have yet to earn the Young Master¡¯s trust that we may serve his needs?


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it! I¡¯m sure you all will do a wonderful job, and I¡¯m grateful for it.¡± Skyle waved his hand vaguely in the air before him. ¡°I just didn¡¯t see a reason to call upon you.¡±


    The old servant seemed to ponder on Skyle¡¯s words as he followed the boy¡¯s vigorous gestures. Finally, the light of realization dawned upon Jameson¡¯s face. Only then did Skyle realize his hand was pointing straight at Nessa, who shuffled nervously on her feet and offered a bashful smile.


    ¡°I understand,¡± The old servant said. ¡°Nessa must not be pleasing to the Young Master¡¯s eyes. I shall have her replaced at once. Perhaps if the Young Master might offer some insight on his preferences?¡±


    Nessa¡¯s tremulous smile instantly crumpled, and a stricken expression flitted across her face before she composed herself.


    Skyle¡¯s heart lurched at the sight. ¡°No, no! There¡¯s nothing wrong with Nessa!¡±


    ¡°Please, Young Master, there¡¯s no need to be so considerate of her feelings. Perhaps you find her bosom too small and sagging?¡±


    ¡°No, her breasts are bountiful and perky.¡±


    ¡°Then Nessa¡¯s lips are too thin?¡±


    ¡°No, her lips are luscious and plump.¡±


    ¡°Surely, Nessa¡¯s hips are too wide?¡±


    ¡°Her hips are very graceful.¡±


    ¡°The Young Master finds her legs too spindly?¡±


    ¡°Her legs are lithe and very shapely.¡±


    ¡°Then it must be that her derriere is too round and protrudes-¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s bouncy and- Gah, I mean, enough!¡± Skyle cried out, cringing at where the conversation had led.


    ¡°As the Young Master commands,¡± Jameson murmured, though his eyes continued to rove about Nessa¡¯s body, obviously continuing to look for the element that had produced such stark dislike from the Young Master.


    ¡°Really, Nessa¡¯s a beautiful girl and I find every inch of her very pleasing to the eye and as attractive as it could be,¡± Skyle said, blowing out a breath and shaking his head. Only then did he realize what he was saying.


    By now, poor Nessa¡¯s cheeks had turned completely red. She seemed to wish nothing more than to crawl under a hole and die rather than continue to have her perky breasts, luscious lips, graceful hips, shapely legs and bouncy ass being ogled at by her perverted new Young Master.


    ¡°Oh. Then perhaps the Young Master wishes Nessa to serve to his personal needs in the bedchamber?¡±


    At these sudden words, Nessa directed a trembling smile toward Skyle that must have taken every last reserve of courage in her body.


    ¡°I-If it pleases the Young Master,¡± she said, breathless and nearly inaudible.


    ¡°No no no no!¡± Skyle cried out, waving his hands frantically. ¡°It does not please the Young.. Er, me. Please, don¡¯t misunderstand.¡±


    Jameson nodded sagely, as though his suspicions had been vindicated. ¡°The Young Master does not find Nessa pleasing at all.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it at all!¡± Skyle cried out, then turned on his heel and stabbed a finger in Helga¡¯s direction. ¡°I was looking for her!¡±


    Silence suddenly descended upon the room as shocked gazes followed Skyle¡¯s gesture. Only after a moment did he realize his actions had once again been woefully misinterpreted.


    Nessa¡¯s face was a strange mixture of relief, disbelief, and disappointment as she first looked at Helga, then glanced down at her own lithe silhouette.


    Helga herself was a picture of breathless horror as she swallowed dryly and reeled back from Skyle, hugging her apron to her chest as though to keep it as a barrier between Skyle and herself.


    As for Jameson, the old servant was the very image of professional servility as he bobbed his head up and down.


    ¡°As the Young Master wishes.¡±


    After all, the Young Master had expressed his preferences, and now his duties were finally clear.

 Chapter 101 - Shadow

    Chapter 101 - Shadow


    By the time everything was explained and Skyle¡¯s name was cleared of all wrongdoing, food was one of the last things on his mind. He didn¡¯t miss the knowing looks old Jameson sent this way, however. There was also a nervous quality to Nessa¡¯s smile as she curtsied, and her steps seemed a little more hurried than before as she scurried away from the young master¡¯s presence.


    Skyle tried to set them all at ease, but came to realize that the harder he tried, the more uncomfortable everyone was getting. In the end, he surrendered and obediently headed back to his room. Only moments later, a red-faced Nessa came to leave a tray of different breads, cold meats, and cheeses.


    He spotted Nessa standing by the door, her head lowered as she shuffled her feet.


    ¡°Thank you Nessa. That will be all.¡±


    Nessa looked up in surprise, and seemed to hesitate for a moment.


    Skyle smiled encouragingly at her, and nodded toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to ring the bell next time I need something. It will take some getting used to, so you¡¯ll have to put up with me.¡±


    The young girl instantly bobbed her head while lifting her skirts in acknowledgement. ¡°Please, we are here for anything you need, young master.¡±


    Skyle nodded again, and Nessa finally fled out the door.


    ¡°Are all these academy nobles such perverts? I¡¯m not even 13 yet!¡±


    Shaking his head, Skyle tried to wash off the sour taste from his mouth with some of the spiced wine Helga had sent up with the food. Impatient as he was, he gorged himself on the food and quickly used the Infinite Eye to use the Maw of the Void.


    To his pleasant surprise, as soon as he stimulated the technique, thin tendrils of shadow wrapped themselves around the mysterious energy within the food with effortless ease. This energy was slowly spreading through his body using the layer of shadow in his elemental veins. He gazed in awe as this mist grew denser, and a comfortable feeling spread around his limbs.


    Using the 4th layer of the Infinite Eye, Skyle also carried out an exploration of his own body. He could feel that the tests had not strained him physically, and this relieved him. He knew he had an appointment with Uncle Talon tonight, and he had better be in the best shape of his life.


    Opening his eyes, Skyle gazed out the window and gasped with a start. He didn¡¯t realize the time had passed so swiftly. Already, the sun was sinking under the horizon and bathing everything under the dying light of day. He must have spent hours absorbing the energy and guiding it through his veins and throughout his body. Muscles rippled with energy, and he felt more alive than at the start of the day.


    ¡°Good, I have a feeling I¡¯ll need every ounce of energy I can scrounge.¡±


    Swiftly rifling through his belongings, Skyle took out a cloak of dark wool and draped it around his shoulders. He hesitated for a moment, before also strapping a small dagger to his belt. Then he crouched over the balcony and cast his True Sight to ensure no one was watching.


    Satisfied, he vaulted over the ledge and landed upon the empty courtyard. He landed with hardly a sound and smoothly rolled to his feet, skidding over to take refuge under the shadows of a nearby wall.


    Using the True Sight truly felt like cheating. Uncle Talon had given him a secret mission to sneak out of the Academy through a specific blind spot in its defenses. Skyle did not question him, as he doubted even a tier 2 academy¡¯s defenses could foil an agent of Shadow. The test was whether Skyle could avoid detection while making his way to the outer wall.


    Ordinarily, that would have been quite a challenge, even for an apt student of Kendric Farrow who used snowblade tigers for training partners. However, not only did Skyle possess superb tracking skills, he now had the True Sight as well.


    He could easily make out the blazing auras of the powerful mages and students around him like bonfires in the growing gloom of dusk. He had used a much less developed version of it to sneak out of the Lyrian Army camp in Sanctuary. In comparison, the plush interiors of Aegis Academy felt like a stroll in the park.


    In truth, Skyle could have easily made his way to the wall just by using his student badge. He doubted anyone would recognize him, as he was still relatively unknown. Still, this was to be a test and Skyle was determined to pass it with flying colors. This meant using every resource at his fingertips to its limits.


    Mindful that it was not truly dark yet, Skyle was very careful to avoid open spaces and was able to use the True Sight to avoid people. It would have been far more challenging without it, but he was still confident he could have done it. Still, Skyle was done leaving anything to chance.


    Life had dealt him some pretty heavy cards of late, and he was determined not to let it take him by surprise again. Especially not now that he was to take his first steps into a whole new world. Skyle suppressed a sour grimace as he recalled wanting to pull Leon out of his world of death and intrigue. Now, it would be Skyle himself who would be plunging into it headfirst.


    Skyle was to begin his training as a Shadow this very night. While he felt conflicted about the fact that killing seemed an inevitable part of the role, he was also keenly interested in learning more about the mysterious organization.


    After all, Shadow was only mentioned in hushed whispers with fearful glances over many a shoulder. It was said that while the Imperial Legions were the sword and shield that defended the realm, Shadow was the eyes and ears of the Emperor himself. No one knew who they were, or what they looked like under the ebony masks they wore while undertaking their missions. They only knew that every agent of Shadow was chosen for their razor sharp intellect and deadly skills. Shadow answered only to the Emperor himself, and could operate as both judge and executioner.


    Such reputation had been the stuff of nightmares for young children like Skyle. After all, such grim tales were told by parents to intimidate their children into obedience. Of course, the fact that the Farrow children had known that Uncle Talon was a member of shadow took away that veil of fear. However, their interactions with the quiet man had only built an even thicker air of mystery around Shadow.


    Uncle Talon was much like their parents, though not in personality. He wasn¡¯t loud and boisterous like Skyle¡¯s father, nor was he gentle like his mother. He was an intense man of few words, meaningful smiles, and glittering eyes. They all shared that palpable aura of mystery that hung over them so thickly that Skyle was often tempted to stretch out a hand and try lifting it in his burning curiosity.


    ¡°I wonder what Uncle Talon was like when he was young,¡± Skyle pondered as he clung to the ledge of a wall by his fingertips, his feet dangling over a forty feet drop as three students walked past below him. ¡°Why did he decide to join Shadow, and did he ever regret such a choice?¡±


    After waiting until the group was out of sight, he bunched up his knees below him and pushed off against the wall. He sailed through the air and caught himself against the branch of a nearby tree. Swinging his feet, he pulled himself up and scanned his surroundings. Nodding to himself, Skyle hopped from branch to branch until he was back down at ground level, then sped off through the shrubs without a pause. Only an instant later, another couple students rounded a nearby corner, chatting animatedly.


    It was only five more minutes before Skyle finally reached the outer wall. He knew the exact spot because Uncle Talon had thoughtfully left him a guide who was waiting on the other side. Even without that, Skyle could see an odd ebb in the flow of the magic streaming across the academy¡¯s wall. He didn¡¯t have time to examine it in detail, but he could tell it had left a narrow opening in the magic of the academy¡¯s defenses.


    Skyle climbed through that narrow strip, his fingers finding minute cracks that were nearly invisible to the naked eye. Only a moment later, he had already crested the twenty foot wall and was descending on the other side.


    As soon as he landed, Skyle was tackled to the ground.


    ¡°Ash, get off me, you dummy. We¡¯re supposed to be sneaking our way out.¡±


    The snowblade tiger pointedly added a few additional licks to Skyle¡¯s face, before tossing his head around and scoffing.


    ¡°I know you think this is easy as pie, but don¡¯t get careless.¡± Skyle eyed Ash¡¯s snow-grey coat for a moment with a critical eye. ¡°Maybe we should think about painting you black.¡±


    Skyle could only chuckle helplessly as he was wrestled to the ground once again. He knew there was no one in the vicinity, and he was genuinely glad to see Ash. After all, he hadn¡¯t yet introduced Ash as a magic beast companion, and that meant the guard would be alerted if he was spotted by anyone. Skyle¡¯s own dark cloak wouldn¡¯t put anyone at ease, either.


    Skyle scratched Ash behind his ears with a grin. ¡°Alright, enough play for now. You know where Uncle Talon¡¯s waiting, right?¡±


    Ash bobbed his head up and down, then padded off with a backward glance toward Skyle.


    They moved through the deepening shadows of the town¡¯s narrow streets with surprising ease. Most folks would abandon the streets after dark, and Sunny Meadow wasn¡¯t rich enough to warrant a lot of lighting in public areas. In fact, as they entered the shanty district in the southern part of town where the poor gathered, only a few scattered fires glowed within a vast sea of darkness.


    They easily avoided the town watch, as well as the more unsavory types that would come out at this hour to ply their trade. Ash was silent as a ghost as he flashed from shadow to shadow, and Skyle was surprised at how well his snow-grey coat served him to disguise himself in the dark. Thinking of how easy it would be for the snowblade tiger to sneak up on anyone under the guise of night, he was once again appreciative of the incredible night vision the Infinite Eye provided him. Without it or the True Sight, how would he be able to fight against such a foe? Would Skyle himself learn to become a warrior of the night as well?


    Such musings were interrupted as they arrived at a dilapidated warehouse. It was a massive structure that rose up several stories off the ground. All the windows were tightly boarded up, obviously long abandoned by its former tenants.


    Skyle scrunched up his nose as the thick scent of open sewage assaulted his nostrils as he neared the building. Ash¡¯s steps didn¡¯t falter as he found a cleverly hidden crack in the wall and squeezed through.


    After crossing through to the other side, Skyle immediately threw himself forward. It was completely dark, but he could still make out the layout of the room with his night vision. Even without it, he had already seen Uncle Talon¡¯s aura from the other side of the wall.


    After rolling on the ground, Skyle came to his feet with his hands up in a guard position, looking straight at Talon.


    ¡°Huh,¡± came the man''s grunt after only a moment of silence. ¡°How is it that you can see?¡±


    Skyle spread his lips in his best imitation of his father¡¯s cheeky grin. ¡°Little something I picked up at Sanctuary. It comes in very handy.¡±


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    ¡°Good, that will save us some time,¡± Talon said, then disappeared from Skyle¡¯s sight.


    The young boy felt his jaw drop as he began to swivel his head left and right, backing away. Skyle¡¯s surprise only lasted for a moment. Switching to the True Sight, he immediately spotted a complex set of weaves in the air before him. Behind them, he saw the glimmering aura of Uncle Talon as he bore down upon him.


    Before Skyle could react, he felt the wind knocked out of his lungs as he was pushed off his feet and slammed against the ground.


    Stars swam in his vision, but he was still using the True Sight and it showed him that the attack wasn¡¯t over. Even without any breath left in his body, Skyle still managed to roll to his left just in time to avoid a heavy blow that landed on the ground to his left.


    Skyle swept his leg out to try to trip his opponent, but he hit only air before he felt fingers clamp over his foot. His whole leg was twisted sideways in a swift motion.


    A strangled cry finally escaped his lips, but it was only a moment later that he realized it had been more out of fright than pain.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever get cocky like that again, Skyle.¡±


    The hand holding his foot twitched in a warning gesture, making Skyle hiss out a breath before nodding vigorously.


    ¡°That initial roll was pretty good, but what happened after that? You rely so much on whatever vision you have that a simple trick to hide my figure was your undoing. Also, what was with that kick from the ground? You need to learn not to let panic govern your actions. Don¡¯t just randomly lash out and hope for the best.¡±


    Skyle could feel his cheeks growing hot. Talon had struck the nail dead on. He had been growing complacent with the advantage provided by his Infinite Eye and True Sight. How dare he become so arrogant, especially in front of a true expert like Talon. In retrospect, Skyle realized that Talon had immediately identified Skyle¡¯s arrogance as a weak spot and struck out to stunning effect.


    ¡°How long are you going to lie in the dust for?¡±


    Skyle scrambled to his feet and put his hands up again. In the gloom, he could see Talon¡¯s approving smile.


    ¡°Good, at least you¡¯re not letting your guard down.¡±


    The words had barely reached Skyle¡¯s ears when essence began to gather in the air in front of Skyle. This time, he was ready and he squeezed his eyes shut, all the while leaping back.


    Only an instant later, a brilliant green flame burst into blinding radiance in front of Skyle. He stumbled backward but belatedly realized that Talon had not moved. He was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and a knowing smile on his lips.


    Talon was wearing a black leather vest from which several hilts protruded at odd angles. Soft boots were strapped tightly over dark trousers. From a thin leather belt hung a couple daggers, their angles slanted ever so slightly. All in all, he looked like a walking armory, bristling with blades on every side.


    The same held true for the building around him. The walls were filled with every conceivable type of weapon Skyle could imagine, from delicate rapiers to halberds nearly twice as tall as the little boy. Several training dummies stood against the far wall, and there was even an arena and what looked like a complex obstacle course.


    ¡°Surprised?¡±


    Skyle could only nod numbly, but he still kept his hands up as he eyed Talon warily. His uncle waved a dismissive hand in his direction though.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to sneak another attack in and beat you senseless. At least, not yet.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t miss how Talon¡¯s eyebrows quirked upward at that last phrase, but his mind focused upon hearing his uncle¡¯s next words.


    ¡°I needed to see what you were made of. I can see your father¡¯s hand at work here, especially with how twitchy you are. Trust me, I know all too well about his training methods.¡±


    A commiserating smile flashed briefly over Talon¡¯s lips, but then his eyes grew somber.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to torture you for the sheer fun of it, but I will use every tool at my disposal to teach you the painful lessons you must learn so that you won¡¯t have to pay an even dearer price later on. Do you understand what I mean?¡±


    Skyle nodded firmly, which made Talon smile again.


    ¡°Excellent. I have high hopes for you Skyle, and I¡¯m glad you¡¯re living up to them. Now, stop blushing like a milking maid and listen carefully. From this moment forward, you will be training here six nights a week, from one hour after sundown until midnight. You will receive lessons on stealth, combat, tactics, acrobatics, subterfuge, alchemy, and assassination.¡±


    ¡°Wait, alchemy? Assassination?¡±


    Talon shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t get to cherry-pick whatever you like, Skyle. Trust me, these skills will all come in handy one day - maybe even sooner than you think. I will keep that promise I made though. You¡¯re the one who decides how to use what you learn. Most forget that, so make sure you remember.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Skyle tried not to wince as he remembered how easily he had broken this promise the last time he made it.


    Talon didn¡¯t seem to notice as he gestured Skyle forward, leading the boy in a tour around the warehouse.


    ¡°This is my private safehouse. It is unaffiliated with Shadow, so we should be safe here. Still, remember to always make sure no one sees you enter or exit. I¡¯m sure you will manage just fine.¡±


    Skyle nodded. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard.


    ¡°This is the combat practice area. Just so you know, the walls have been sound-proofed and spell-warded. Now, I know you favor the bow and arrow, but you will become proficient with every weapon upon these walls. Only then can you learn their weaknesses and strengths, whether you fight with them or against them.¡±


    Gazing at row upon row of cold steel gleaming under the pale light, Skyle clenched his fists and nodded. Though he had always despised close quarters combat, his recent discovery of the Desolate Technique¡¯s effectiveness in imitating his father¡¯s sword moves had sparked a newfound passion within his heart. Fierro Latimus had been one of the greatest warriors of his land. What kind of peaks would Skyle reach?


    Talon pointed toward an area filled with ropes, walls, and many other hurdles.


    ¡°That¡¯s the obstacle course. I know about the playground back at your place, so we will be focusing more on stealth rather than agility. I can tell you¡¯re as limber as a monkey already.¡±


    Skyle exchanged a happy grin with Ash at the praise.


    Talon chuckled as he paused briefly before a bound door. He lit up a small everlight lantern before banishing the green flame with a flicker of his hand. Then he placed a hand upon the door before turning a grave gaze upon Skyle.


    ¡°This is the alchemy laboratory. Remember, you are never to enter this room without my direct instructions. Also, do not ever bring a naked flame into this lab. Some materials stored here are highly flammable, even explosive. The tiniest spark could set off the invisible fumes of the Lokari crystal and blow up this entire building up in smokes. Some of the poisons stored here are even deadlier. A spoonful of pollen from the Black Widow Lotus could kill half the people in this town if applied correctly.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s face blanched as he tottered back a couple steps. ¡°You mean when they¡¯re used in elemental spells?¡±


    Talon¡¯s lips quirked sideways, pushing the door open. Mountains of flasks and vials stacked upon neatly labeled rows sparkled under the everlight¡¯s glow.


    ¡°Some of them do, but most don¡¯t require even a pinch of elemental essence. It is why they are so effective and hard to guard against. You will learn to distinguish them by sight, touch, smell, and taste. Their handling, dosage, and effects will become second nature to you.¡±


    Catching Skyle¡¯s expression of horror, Talon fixed him with a steady gaze. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t ever use them, and I pray that you never have need to, others will not be so scrupulous, Skyle. Poisons are an especially favored weapon in the game of the Great Houses.¡±


    ¡°Leon!¡± Skyle immediately cried out in his mind.


    It made sense. Why send ten men against an army when a few drops could achieve the same effect? He resolved himself to learn as much about this deadly art as he could.


    Talon closed the door and led him toward another door. Once inside, Skyle¡¯s face lit up with a delighted grin.


    The golden glow of the Everlight lantern danced upon the spines of rows upon rows of books, each neatly stacked upon countless bookcases. Skyle could spy titles of famous works on elemental power he had always wished to read, like ¡°Musings of an Ascended Elemental Saint¡± and ¡°Litanies of the Council of the Exalted Arcane¡±. There were also works by famous scholars or generals. Even several unknown languages jumped at him.


    A gentle hand landed upon his shoulders. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten your love of the written word, Skyle. It is one that I will happily indulge and even encourage, though some reading is far more onerous than others.¡±


    Skyle scoffed, wondering how anyone could find a book uninteresting. It simply made no sense. Why would someone bother to write such a thing in the first place?


    Talon smiled knowingly, but said nothing as he nearly dragged a reluctant Skyle out.


    The next room held a complex spell circle drawn upon the floor. It flickered with strands of elemental essence in the True Sight that felt oddly familiar, though Skyle was certain he had never seen them before.


    ¡°This is my private spell matrix laboratory. Unlike the ones in the academy, this one is mainly focused around combat spellcasting. In particular, you will learn how to identify, dissect, and disrupt an opponent¡¯s elemental casting or spell matrix.¡±


    Skyle stared at Talon in surprise. ¡°I thought the academies were the best place to learn about the elements.¡±


    Talon just chuckled, but Skyle didn¡¯t miss the underlying hint of derision.


    ¡°That¡¯s what the academies would like you to believe, and once upon a time, they may have been right. However, like any power structure wielding unmatched power for too long, the unwieldy abominations they have become are pale shadows of their former glory.¡±


    A frown flashed past Skyle¡¯s brow. It was gone in an instant, but Talon still caught it.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to take my word for it. You¡¯ll understand what I mean when you attend the school yourself. For now, make sure you stay in the Warrior School.¡±


    Skyle opened his mouth, but he could tell from Talon¡¯s expression that the man wouldn¡¯t elaborate on the reason why, so he simply nodded.


    They finally arrived back at the combat area. There, Talon nodded toward a neat row of bows hanging upon the wall.


    ¡°Now that the tour is done, help yourself.¡±


    Skyle eyed the bows for a moment before glancing back toward Talon. The man smiled encouragingly at him. ¡°Go on. Before I set your schedule for you, I need you to understand a simple point.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for me to know, and you to find out. Now do hurry, will you? We don¡¯t have all night, Skyle.¡±


    Skyle squinted up at his uncle.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna beat me up, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Talon smiled while gesturing at his chest. ¡°Me? I said I wouldn¡¯t beat you senseless for no good reason.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± It was the only answer Skyle offered as he grinned at Talon, then headed toward the bow.


    Whatever lesson Talon wanted to drive in, maybe the small boy wouldn¡¯t be the only one learning it.

 Chapter 102 - The First Lesson

    Chapter 102 - The First Lesson


    ¡°So, are you ready?¡±


    Skyle looked up from the bow he held in his hands. It was a finely crafted bow that he could not possibly afford, yet inside this abandoned warehouse it was merely one among dozens of similar weapons. It had simply hung there like a wall ornament until Skyle had picked it out. Talon had promptly strung it for Skyle and unceremoniously tossed it.


    Skyle had fumbled with it in fear of dropping it and scratching it, but Talon seemed unconcerned. He waited placidly with his hands behind his back.


    ¡°Any rules?¡±


    Talon shook his head. ¡°There are no rules in a real fight. I¡¯m not here to teach you about dueling or any such nonsense. Treat each fight as though your life depended on it. Now, just tell me when you¡¯re ready to begin.¡±


    Skyle nodded, shifting his shoulders until he felt the new quiver of arrows slide into a more comfortable position.


    ¡°Alright, then I suppose I¡¯m ready-¡±


    Skyle had been ready for Talon¡¯s attack because he had been able to read the surge of red gathering in the man¡¯s aura directed at him. No matter how prepared he thought he was, by the time Skyle reached over his shoulder and drew the first arrow from its quiver, Talon had already crossed the fifteen foot distance and held the cold steel of his dagger to Skyle¡¯s throat.


    ¡°I-¡± Skyle tried to speak, but the kiss of steel on his skin grew more insistent, instantly silencing him.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead, and corpses don¡¯t speak,¡± Talon said, staring him down.


    Skyle suppressed the disgruntlement he felt in his chest, or at least he thought so. The dagger nudged him just a little harder and he heard his uncle¡¯s flat words in his ear.


    ¡°You think that was unfair? You don¡¯t have to say it, I can see it in your eyes. Just the fact that you feel that way only serves to further reinforce my point. You still don¡¯t get it, do you? Fine, let¡¯s try this again.¡±


    Talon sheathed his dagger in a motion so quick that his hands were barely a flicker of motion. Skyle was finally able to take a deep breath as he twisted his head and rubbed at his throat.


    Talon ignored him and walked back to his original position, still fifteen feet away from Skyle. This time, he was even facing the opposite direction, giving his back to the little boy.


    ¡°At your leisure, Mr. Skyle. Make sure you¡¯re ready this time.¡± Talon held his hands behind his back and called out behind his shoulder.


    Skyle reached over his shoulders his right hand while his left hand tightened its grip on his bow. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself before calling out to Talon.


    ¡°Now!¡±


    As soon as he spoke, Skyle plucked an arrow from the quiver on his back. He got as far as placing it against the bow this time.


    Talon had burst into motion as soon as the word left Skyle¡¯s mouth. His right hand blurred as he spun around to face Skyle. The boy had barely begun to pull back on his bowstring when he felt a painful impact against his shoulder. The arrow flew out of his nerveless hand, and Skyle was forced to take a couple steps back as he let out a grunt.


    Looking down, Skyle saw a four inch long leaf throwing blade lying on the floor. He felt around his shoulder, knowing there would be a dark bruise beginning to form under his clothes. It was fortunate that the knife had struck him butt end first, or he would be lying on the floor with cold steel biting deeply into his flesh.


    His eyes narrowing into a thin line, Skyle looked up at Talon with a dissatisfied glower.


    Talon brushed it with a calm smile. ¡°What? Speak up, Skyle. I¡¯m not a mind reader.¡±


    ¡°This.. It wasn¡¯t.. I mean, it¡¯s not-¡±


    Skyle¡¯s brow scrunched up as he realized how stupid the words he had been about to say were. Not fair? Not what he was thinking of? Talon was too fast and too strong? Not only would Skyle sound like a whiny kid, Talon himself had told him to treat this as a real fight.


    ¡°There are no rules in a real fight.¡±


    ¡°I can see from the look in your eyes that you are finally beginning to understand. Still, it¡¯s not enough. So, come at me again.¡±


    Talon had already turned around once more, his hands still at his back. He even began to whistle a tune while waiting.


    Skyle knew he was purposefully taunting him, but burn him if it wasn¡¯t working. He scowled heavily as he massaged his sore shoulder. This time, Skyle silently padded away until he stood at least forty feet from his opponent. After all, there really were no rules.


    As if to further reinforce the point, this time Skyle didn¡¯t even speak until he already had his arrow nocked and ready to fire.


    ¡°Go!¡±


    The arrow left his bow as soon as Skyle said the word. It flew true, and it was a testament to the fine craftsmanship of the bow that the arrow drew a flat line instead of an arc as it reached Talon in the blink of an eye.


    It still wasn¡¯t enough, of course. By then, Talon had already turned around and needed only to sway his shoulders slightly to the left to let the arrow fly past him in a blur.


    Skyle had expected that it could not be so simple to win the fight, but the ease with which Talon dodged his arrow infuriated him. His hands had already been reaching over his shoulder by the time Talon swayed aside. To Skyle¡¯s surprise, Talon didn¡¯t burst into a sprint as he had earlier. Instead, he strolled toward the archer as though it were the most normal thing in the world.


    Skyle gritted his teeth and launched his next arrow. It targeted Talon¡¯s hips so that he would not be able to lean his shoulder out of the way.


    Talon didn¡¯t dodge this arrow. Instead, he plucked one of his daggers from his belt and casually slapped the arrow aside with a loud clang.


    The man hadn¡¯t even had the grace to so much as look at the arrow. The whole time, his eyes were watching Skyle¡¯s with a relaxed smile on his face that didn¡¯t waver a hair.


    The little boy even activated the Far Sight. It was still completely useless. Talon was not moving particularly fast. He was methodically advancing step by step while swatting away each of Skyle¡¯s arrows as if they were annoying flies


    Skyle kept backing away while firing arrow after arrow. Talon didn¡¯t even blink as he continued to saunter forward, all the while deflecting every single arrow with an ease that bled away all of Skyle¡¯s confidence just like the blood that had been drained away from his face.


    Only his bloodshot eyes still held a stubborn light as he continued to fire arrows from every angle he could think of. By the time Skyle reached over his shoulder and found the quiver empty, his fingers were numb and his forearm was bleeding from the bowstring repeatedly slapping against his skin.


    Talon stopped when he was twenty feet away from Skyle. He pointedly glanced at the empty quiver over Skyle¡¯s shoulder, then raised his eyebrows as he sheathed his dagger. Then he held up his hands in front of Skyle, as though to display his palms. The turned them this way and that, his expression changing to one of mock surprise at the fact that they were empty.


    Then he snapped his fingers in Skyle¡¯s direction. By that time, however, Skyle had already spotted the gathering of elemental essence in Talon¡¯s hands and the boy had thrown himself to the side. Only instants later, a deafening explosion rattled Skyle¡¯s bones and left a whistling noise ringing in his ears.


    Skyle¡¯s last minute dive did not have the expected effect. Instead of taking him out of the way of the blast, Talon had read his movement and he had directed the blast straight at Skyle¡¯s chest. The impact drove him backward as he crumpled into a ball and slid across the floor.


    Talon¡¯s face loomed large in his vision as Skyle blinked up blearily. The dazzling grin on his face was nearly blinding in the boy¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Do you get it now?¡±


    Skyle coughed weakly, clutching at his chest. Briefly using the Infinite Eye, he saw surprisingly little damage. The impact point must have been spread all across his chest instead of focusing in a single point. That would explain the reason why he was lifted off his feet, yet in the end there wasn¡¯t nearly as much pain as he had expected.


    Still, Skyle didn¡¯t appreciate being tossed about like a sack of potatoes. Glancing up at Talon¡¯s expectant face, the boy began to sweat in earnest as he realized that he was supposed to learn something from all this. If not, he didn¡¯t doubt that this particular lesson would continue, and things would only get uglier from here on out.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re finally thinking with your head. Welcome back to the class, Skyle.¡±


    Skyle wanted to grumble back, but wisely held back as he began to think furiously. What could possibly be the lesson? This was to be his first one, and so it must hold particular importance.


    Did Talon intend to drive in just how weak the bow was in a melee fight? Skyle was well aware of this already. In fact, wasn¡¯t he prepared to take his father¡¯s sword lessons seriously now?


    Was he supposed to realize how weak he was? Well, he was only 12 and an elemental cripple, too! He had been doing just fine so far, thank you very much. He had survived fights against cultists, magical beasts, and murderous mage students. He knew of no other boy his age who could have done better, not even Leon himself, who was an exalted genius summoner.


    Glancing down at the bow he still held clenched tightly in his fist, Skyle was a little proud at these small victories. It was then that a thought struck him, gnawing upon his momentary sense of satisfaction.


    ¡°Small victories? This is the real world, and there¡¯s only dead or alive. Which is it for me, right now?¡±


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    He had died three times in this short time. Of course, Talon¡¯s skills were far beyond the little boy¡¯s. The Shadow agent had shown that he could defeat Skyle without even breaking out a sweat. Why was there still so much bitter disappointment? Was Skyle supposed to give up then?


    No, Talon had stated that Skyle must learn an important lesson here. What was it? Only when Skyle began to review his recent thought process, did he catch the glimmer of a clue.


    Yes, a bow was weak in melee range. Everybody knew this. Talon was also a master of his deadly trade, while Skyle was only a young boy who could not even wield any elemental power. Skyle had still decided to fight against Talon when range, weapons, and other conditions were obviously against him. Why? Because it was training? Had he given up before the fight even started? Had he expected his uncle to go easy on him?


    Maybe those were part of the reason, but deep within, Skyle also felt an unreasonable anger at how laughable his puny efforts had been. It was almost as though he had expected to pull off a miracle out of nowhere. He had not truly expected to win, but he still held a strange sense of expectation in his heart.


    Where had this silly pride come from? It was useless. Worse, it was a crippling flaw. It was deadweight that was holding him down when he should be absorbing everything he could like a sponge.


    What about his father¡¯s sword lessons? Why had he never taken them seriously? Because he had never expected to truly have need of them. Even now, when the situation had changed completely, such an attitude still bled into his thoughts and actions. It was a spoiled brat¡¯s perspective, stubbornly clinging to his pride and his favorite toys.


    For the first time, Skyle looked down at the bow he held in his hands with a conflicted emotion. Should he seal away his bow for the time being, to further drive the point home? Against a true expert like Talon, Skyle was completely helpless. He knew learning sword techniques wouldn¡¯t help him at all. That wasn¡¯t the point of this lesson at all.


    This wasn''t just about how weak or strong Skyle was. He slowly came to realize it was about his attitude and work ethic as he approached these lessons. What would it take for him to become truly strong? Just dabbling into lessons here and some fights there? No, he needed to reinvent himself. He must find a viciousness, a raw determination that would remain unbent even under the harshest of duress.


    If this meant abandoning his bow and forcing himself to become weaker so that he would become stronger later on, then so be it. He needed to learn anything he could right now if he wanted to become strong. His previous lackadaisical attitude towards training would be his greatest bane.


    Only now did Skyle realize how childish his perspective had been. His newfound strength was nothing in the face of a true challenge. Beating up spoiled mages and barely scraping by in Sactuary was meaningless. He needed to reassess himself and be willing to learn whatever he must to achieve true strength. Even his favorite bow could become a liability if he became overly reliant on it.


    It seemed ironic that what he had always taken the most pride in had been merely a crutch. If Skyle was not as skilled with the bow, would he have dismissed his father¡¯s other lessons as easily? How much stronger could he be if he had devoted himself whole-heartedly to honing his skills with different weapons and strategies, instead of always relying on firing arrows from range?


    How much weaker had Skyle allowed himself to become by his own stubborn refusal to adapt and grow? This inner conflict must have shown in his expression as he regarded the bow in his hand.


    A hand came to rest upon his shoulder. When Skyle looked up, he saw Talon smiling at him.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t the bow¡¯s fault. Really, it isn¡¯t anybody¡¯s fault, Skyle. You¡¯re just a victim of circumstance. Still, that¡¯s exactly what you are right now - a victim. If you want to take matters into your own hands, you need strength. You can¡¯t pick and choose. You can¡¯t afford to. You should be like a miser, desperately hoarding even the tiniest scraps that may sustain and uplift you. Knowing and developing your strengths is a good thing, but you can¡¯t neglect other things. I will teach you about more things than you know what to do with in the following months. How much you learn and how they change you, that¡¯s entirely up to you.¡±


    Talon took the bow away from Skyle¡¯s hands and twirled it in his hands under the boy¡¯s intense scrutiny.


    ¡°Your archery skills are an excellent tool, but they should not encompass the entirety of your arsenal. How about an indoors situation where you¡¯re forced to deal with many close-quarter combat situations? What if you face someone who can deflect all your arrows, or worse, is immune to them?¡±


    Skyle nodded without a word, looking down as shame dragged at his features. He could clearly recall how disadvantaged he had been while facing off against Leena and her Stormshield.


    Talon¡¯s encouraging words broke through his gloom.  ¡°No need to feel down, Skyle. I saw what you can do at the mage arena. You¡¯re strong, kid. You¡¯re so strong it frankly scares the hell out of me. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been through these past few years, but it can¡¯t have been easy. But there¡¯s a storm coming, and if you want to stop being a mere victim of the times, then you have to throw away that silly pride and start over. If you don¡¯t..¡±


    Talon channeled a surge of elemental power into his hands. The bow shattered with a sharp crack, and Talon tossed the broken pieces aside like so much kindling. Then he deliberately stomped on one of the pieces as he reached down to Skyle.


    The young boy clasped the offered hand and rose to his feet.


    ¡°I think I understand,¡± he said slowly.


    Talon smiled and ruffled his hair, just like his father had often done. ¡°Good. I knew you had it in you.¡±


    Skyle smiled back, and nodded in gratitude. It had been a painful, if necessary lesson. Still, deep within Talon¡¯s eyes, the perceptive boy caught the glimmers of regret.


    Frowning slightly, he used the True Sight. The results almost had him laughing out loud.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Uncle Talon.¡±


    ¡°I said it¡¯s not your fault, Skyle. Just remember what you have learned today.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t mean about that.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡±


    Skyle coughed uncomfortably. ¡°I really love bows, and I couldn¡¯t help but admire the bestest, prettiest out of the whole lot.¡±


    A long moment of silence followed. Skyle cleared his throat uncomfortably before he continued, glancing up at Talon out of the corner of his eye.


    ¡°That was a genuine Attawan legacy tribal bow, wasn¡¯t it?¡± He asked in a small voice, then glanced around the room and the weapons displayed upon the walls. ¡°This isn¡¯t just some random safehouse. You brought your own private collection, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Talon laughed hollowly. ¡°You just had to pick the best bow out of them all, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one that broke it just to make a point.¡±


    ¡°Why, you little rascal. I think you still have too much energy left. This should be enough of a warm-up. Let¡¯s move up to the main course.¡±


    Matching words to actions, Talon took down a massive two-handed axe from the wall and tossed it in Skyle¡¯s direction.


    The little boy almost reached out to catch it, but then realized how stupid that would be and jumped away with a strangled yelp. The axe blade struck the floor with a loud thunk while the hilt swayed violently. The whole thing must have weighed at least 10 pounds.


    Skyle stared at the massive abomination for a stupefied moment before bringing his disbelieving eyes to meet Talon¡¯s placid gaze.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Seems like we still haven¡¯t learned our lesson?¡±


    ¡°No, no!¡± Skyle waved his hands frantically. ¡°I get it, I get it. But an axe? A two-handed axe? What kind of mindless brute uses this kind of stuff?¡±


    ¡°For the next hour or so, that would be you.¡±


    Talon¡¯s calm words only made Skyle¡¯s eyes widen further as he backed away from the axe.


    ¡°How about you, Uncle Talon?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry about me. I¡¯ve got just the thing,¡± Talon murmured, his back still to Skyle as he perused the endless array of weapons displayed upon the walls.


    ¡°There we go!¡±


    Skyle could only stare on consternation at the slender rapier held in Talon¡¯s hand. He waved it in an intricate pattern through the air, leaving behind only a flash of steel. Then Skyle looked back down at the monstrosity he was supposed to wield.


    ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t get things wrong? As in, they should go the other way around?¡±


    ¡°Too many words, Skyle, not enough fighting. Now, pick up your weapon!¡±


    Skyle let out a croak as he stumbled away from the tip of Talon¡¯s questing blade. He scampered over to the axe and spat on his hands. Setting his feet firmly, Skyle grasped the hilt in both hands and pulled as hard as he could. With agonizing slowness, the blade gradually began to slide free. When it finally came off the ground, Skyle nearly fell on his back with a hoarse cry.


    By the time he was finally able to bring up the axe to a guard position, his face was already red with the exertion. His hands were sweating and his legs were shaking. All the while, Talon continued to advance while lithely twisting his blade this way and that.


    ¡°W-Wait, Uncle Talon. This isn¡¯t, isn¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Fair?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! It definitely isn¡¯t fair!¡±


    Talon paused for a moment, taking a moment to deliberate on the matter while he looked up in thought.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, of course.¡± Talon said at length, but then the small glimmers of hope that had begun to spring up in Skyle''s heart were completely crushed by the words that followed. ¡°That¡¯s the whole point of this, after all. Now, en garde!¡±


    The rapier became a streak of light as it sped forward. Skyle could see the blow coming from a mile away, but he instantly knew it would be impossible to shift the useless chunk of steel in his hands to deflect the blow.


    He could only howl as he tried to twist his hips out of the way of the incoming rapier. It was useless, and a streak of fire was left on his butt that lifted him up on his toes.


    Skyle swiftly backed away and leaned the useless axe against the ground while he used a hand to frantically rub at his burning behind.


    ¡°At least teach me something about this thing first!¡±


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing? That was called, not parrying a blow. Now, we move on to how not to drop your guard to clutch at your butt when the enemy is about to unleash hell upon you.¡±


    Skyle howled once more, even more loudly this time. He had a feeling this would be a long, long night.

 Chapter 103 - A Method to the Madness

    Chapter 103 - A Method to the Madness


    ¡°Last round, Skyle. Give it your all!¡±


    Skyle tightened his grip on the axe he held while shifting his feet sideways. Talon had already caught him several times while he was trying to balance his stance, so this time Skyle took care not to lower his guard as he repositioned himself.


    Talon¡¯s feet were a blur as they danced around Skyle, probing for openings. Skyle found sweat streaming down his face as he struggled to keep up with his opponent¡¯s movement. Had he been wielding a more agile weapon, he might not need to pay such close attention to spacing. However, during the past hour, Skyle had come to learn that due to the sheer weight of his weapon and the momentum of his swings, he needed to be a miser in regards to any attacking or defending motions.


    Talon, in the other hand, could afford to splurge. He constantly sent out probing stabs and feinted with lightning quick slashes. Each attack set Skyle¡¯s teeth on edge, even though the True Sight could accurately read which attacks were feints or real assaults. The reason was that Talon had insane reflexes, and would instantly convert a feint into a real attack the moment he perceived a flaw in Skyle¡¯s defense.


    Thus, Skyle spent most of the match constantly backing away. He used the superior mass of the weapon as a shield, shifting his own body more often than the weapon itself to hide behind its bulk. Cautiously, he tried to mix in a few answering counter-attacks of his own.


    He had quickly come to realize that if he only focused on defense, Talon would rain a storm of blows that would inevitably overwhelm him. Thus, Skyle constantly circled around the arena, backing away and sending a few warning blows to keep Talon as far from him as he could. This bought him precious time, which Skyle used to draw a precious few breaths through the wheezing bellows of his chest.


    Then Talon closed the distance again, sending lightning fast stabs that each seemed to exploit a particular weakness in Skyle¡¯s stance. Only after a series of frantic, if well-calculated defensive moves, was Skyle able to retreat once more.


    He could even afford to flash a tremulous smile. In this last exchange, and for the first time, he hadn¡¯t even been struck once! Instead, he forced Talon to pause his stream of attacks with a well-timed counter.


    Such a delicate balance was all thanks to his father¡¯s lessons. Surprisingly, Skyle had found that many of the basic principles for the sword katas were just as useful across different weapons. He couldn¡¯t follow the exact same sword patterns with the axe, but balance, positioning, weapon reach, and other similar key concepts were universal.


    He even found that footwork was exceptionally useful at keeping his hide free of additional welts. Already, he sported a fair share of stinging marks on his skin, the consequence of mistakes which Skyle had to admit had been entirely avoidable.


    Talon was a superbly gifted instructor. He would exploit any glaring weaknesses yet also allow Skyle just enough space that he could, in turn, strike out and test out the waters himself. Of course, he never came close to scoring a hit, but that wasn¡¯t the point.


    Skyle found himself slowly immersed into a complex dance with a very simple set of rules. His main priority was to maintain an optimal distance from his attacker. Too close, and he would succumb to the superior agility and speed of Talon¡¯s rapier. Too far, and Skyle would find himself outmaneuvered, unable to keep his opponent in front of him because he could not exert enough pressure to box him in.


    This was a delicate balance that began to fan a delightful fire in Skyle¡¯s chest, setting aside the many stinging welts on his skin. It was a deadly game of cat and mouse, where Skyle lived only for the precious few moments when he could, through a particularly brilliant read of his opponent¡¯s attack or an ingenious set of moves, reverse the roles. Such moments only lasted for a few heartbeats, after which Skyle would find himself driven back once again.


    However, when he did manage such moments of rare brilliance, even Talon¡¯s eyes shone with surprise and quiet praise.


    Much of this was thanks to his True Sight and the Maw of the Void. Scanning Talon¡¯s aura allowed him to read concentrations of red essence and the direction they followed. This was incredibly useful in reading Talon¡¯s attacks. It only bought Skyle a precious moment or two, but even a fraction of a second was incredibly precious.


    As for the Maw of the Void, Skyle was only able to sustain such a grueling pace thanks to the additional energy he was able to harvest with this technique. Otherwise, he was certain that he would have collapsed within the first fifteen minutes. Indeed, the greatest surge of surprise in Talon¡¯s aura had been at Skyle¡¯s sheer stamina.


    Skyle shifted his axe over his left shoulder, all the while lowering his hips and advancing forward. A dull clang echoed from his weapon as he blocked Talon¡¯s latest blow. Using the superior momentum of his weapon, he boldly turned his deflection into a charge as he trapped Talon¡¯s weapon against his.


    His opponent shifted sideways and retracted the rapier, aiming to deliver a slash at Skyle¡¯s hips as he moved past the boy. The edge had been dulled with Talon¡¯s elemental essence, but such a blow would still sting like hell.


    Eyes flaring wide as he grasped this opening he had been waiting for, Skyle lowered the hilt of his axe just enough that the edge of the rapier struck its pommel. Meanwhile, Skyle¡¯s hand streaked forward to aim a punch against Talon¡¯s side.


    Talon¡¯s aura flashed with a flare of yellow, even as his expression turned to one of pleasant surprise. Skyle instantly regretted catching the look, however, because he would have been better off watching his opponent¡¯s feet.


    Just as he was about to land his punch, Skyle¡¯s feet were swept from under him by Talon¡¯s kick. It was barely more than a nudge, but it still sent the boy stumbling forward to eat a mouthful of dust. He swallowed his regret and reacted immediately, rolling sideways.


    It was not nearly fast enough. Talon delivered a sound blow to the boy¡¯s ass even as Skyle desperately tried to evade the blow. The desperate move had him jump backward as soon as he reached his feet, not daring to use a hand to massage the pain away from his butt.


    He had learned better.


    ¡°That¡¯ll do for tonight. Good job, Skyle.¡±


    Skyle lay wheezing in a jumbled mess of sweat and red welts. The hour of sparring had been excruciating. Talon was skilled and experienced enough to push Skyle just far enough that he always felt as though the blow could have been avoided, but he was never able to quite manage it.


    Eyeing the massive two-handed axe lying by his feet with a baleful glare, Skyle still had to admit that the match hadn¡¯t been an entirely unjust one. Though his spindly arms could not maneuver the unfamiliar weapon with enough dexterity to parry Talon¡¯s blows, each time it left another welt on his skin, Skyle was stung even more by the nagging feeling that had he been just a hair stronger or a fraction of a second faster, he could have avoided the blow.


    In the end, it was as Talon had said. He was simply not strong, fast, or skilled enough. Still, Skyle was elated by the progress he had made just within this past hour alone. Merging the Infinite Eye¡¯s superb observational capabilities with the True Sight¡¯s monitoring of Talon¡¯s aura and Skyle¡¯s own body, turned each moment of fighting into a rich learning experience.


    ¡°You can wash yourself in the back. I expect you back here in ten minutes for your next lesson.¡±


    Suppressing a groan, Skyle forced himself to his feet and limped away to do as instructed. After washing up with a couple buckets of water, Skyle was amazed to find that his energy was swiftly recovering. Even all the strained muscles in his body were repairing themselves at a pace which beggared his imagination. Though he had been wheezing and shaking all over toward the end of the sparring session, after only ten minutes¡¯ break, he felt as though he had recovered at least 20% of his fighting capabilities.


    ¡°Does that mean that as long as I have enough food, I can recover completely in less than an hour?¡±


    Skyle was astounded by this discovery. The Maw of the Void was simply too powerful. Even more incredible was the fact that Skyle could feel that each muscle he had worked during this sparring session was stronger and more resilient than before. Though their size didn¡¯t visibly increase, the concentration of energy they could hold was noticeably thicker.


    There were still many inefficiencies in how the energy was distributed and absorbed. For instance, some muscle groups received more energy than they could absorb, leaving the leftover energy to dissipate. Other muscles received too little, making them lag behind other parts of his body.


    It was frustrating that he could only watch instead of controlling the process himself. He seemed to recall that the second level of the Maw of the Void, Assimilate, would create a cycle of renewal and consumption within his own body. Was that when he would be able to control the rate and manner in which his body distributed the energy?


    Skyle was still thinking about this when he returned to Talon.


    ¡°You did very well for your first combat session. Did you learn anything from using the axe?¡±


    Skyle scratched his head as he thought about all the things he had learned. ¡°It was very hard in the beginning, but somewhere along the way I began to realize that many of the principles of sword fighting or even unarmed combat could be applied to axes.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Talon nodded. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s where your strengths lie, Skyle. Though you¡¯re not familiar with specific fighting techniques for most weapons, the most important principles of combat have already been carved into your body. In particular, your natural sense of balance, reading your opponent¡¯s intent, and ability to measure or even manipulate reach and distance, are superb.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s face flushed at the undeserved praise, particularly where the True Sight was involved.


    ¡°I know you have inherited several gifts from your bloodline. It is a powerful one, though I¡¯m not familiar with the details. Still, you must understand that there is no shame in relying on such. In fact, you should develop those powers and hone them into deadly weapons in your arsenal.¡±


    Looking up with start, Skyle stared at Talon. ¡°You know about my bloodline?¡±


    Talon waved his hand. ¡°Like I said, I only know your mother belongs to a very powerful family. Though I don¡¯t know exactly what powers you have inherited, I know such a legacy runs deep. I¡¯d be glad to help you analyze and develop such powers as best I can, but if you want to keep them to yourself, I¡¯ll understand.¡±


    Skyle didn¡¯t hesitate at all. His parents had left him in Talon¡¯s care. Beyond that, he trusted his Uncle Talon. Though Skyle knew they weren¡¯t blood relatives, Talon had always been treated as part of the family.


    It took a good while to explain everything he could to Talon about the Desolate Star Technique and the True Sight. His uncle listened carefully and asked insightful questions from time to time. They even helped Skyle explore aspects of his power that he hadn¡¯t considered.


    ¡°I can¡¯t make out anything from this,¡± Talon said at length, returning Fierro¡¯s journal to Skyle. ¡°I¡¯d say it is either keyed to your bloodline, or a talent that you were either born with or acquired with time. In any case, you have gained an incredible asset to your arsenal. From now on, I want you to make this technique your top priority.¡±


    Skyle looked slightly doubtful. ¡°It¡¯s very powerful, but we don¡¯t know much about it, Uncle Talon.¡±


    Talon smiled at that. ¡°We know enough. One of your greatest weaknesses is your inability to channel elemental essence. Even leaving aside elemental spells, it means your body is not as fast, strong, or resilient as others¡¯. That automatically places you at a disadvantage. You have been able to compensate incredibly well thus far, but now you have this mysterious shadow essence.¡±


    Talon shook his head as he squinted toward Skyle. ¡°I still can¡¯t detect anything, and I have honed my senses to read even the slightest fluctuations of elemental essence. I can tell there¡¯s a peculiar flux in the essence around you, but there¡¯s not even a hint of the shadow essence you mention. This means it can be an incredible weapon in the future!¡±


    ¡°You mean for sneak attacks?¡±


    Talon chuckled and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re doing your gifts a disservice. I can finally understand what happened at the test results earlier today.¡±


    Skyle jumped up when he heard his uncle¡¯s words. ¡°You know about that?¡±


    Talon smiled wryly at his nephew, ruffling his head. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you know your Uncle Talon¡¯s a super secret Imperial spy? Don¡¯t look down on Shadow, Skyle.¡±


    Quickly shaking his head, Skyle felt his cheeks growing hot. ¡°Were you there the whole time? Was that you that helped me with the elements running rampant?¡±


    Talon nodded, waving off the stunned expression on Skyle¡¯s face. ¡°I was aware that your bloodline might have unexpected results with the test, so I was ready to interfere. In the end, I only had to encourage those spirits to play nice.¡±


    ¡°So you could see those shameless spirits too?¡± Even now, Skyle felt indignant when he thought about the dreadful ordeal those spirits had put him through at the Regis test. ¡°Was there a reason no one else could?¡±


    ¡°I suspect the summoner present was also able to see the spirits. Though she¡¯s only an early stage sage summoner, she seems fairly gifted.¡±


    ¡°Only an early stage sage?¡± Skyle stared at Talon, goggle-eyed. ¡°What level are you at, Uncle Talon?¡±


    Talon grinned, winking at Skyle. ¡°That¡¯s for me to know, and you to find out. Back to what¡¯s important though, you were able to disrupt magical artifacts in front of three academy masters and even one sage level summoner. Do you realize what that means?¡±


    Skyle thought about it, scratching at his head. ¡°That I can break things without others seeing?¡±


    Talon rolled his eyes. ¡°Think harder, Skyle. You can disrupt spell matrices that have been stabilized in artifact form. I suggest you take your spell matrix foundations class at the academy seriously. For now though, you have the potential to counter every mage practitioner without them being able to realize it, much less prevent it from happening.¡±


    Skyle stared as he registered those words. ¡°Counter mages?¡±


    Talon nodded, elaborating. ¡°You must understand, Skyle, that spells require a complex set of magical sigils, gestures and incantations. It is how mortals like us are able to channel the power of the elements to produce the desired effects. How do you imagine a fight between mages would take place? In a bard¡¯s tales, they would square off against each other and hurl one spell after another until one side eventually overwhelms the other, right?¡±


    Skyle nodded numbly, recalling many such tales.


    ¡°In practice, combat between mages is much more subtle and technical than that. While there are still many instances in which one side simply overwhelms the other with power, such brute force methods only work to a certain extent. As you progress into higher realms of power, combat becomes much more technical, and each mage focuses more on countering the spells of the opponent. Think of it in terms of using skill to circumvent an enemy¡¯s shield, rather than breaking it through sheer force. Which do you think is more effective?¡±


    ¡°Technique, of course.¡±


    ¡°Right. In fact, my own spell matrix lab focuses on counter-spelling, and that¡¯s what I will be teaching you. Your shadow essence would only make it even more effective. You can read the opponent¡¯s flows with your True Sight, then use invisible strands of shadow essence that your opponent will be helpless against. You tell me, is that powerful or not?¡±


    Skyle enthusiastically bobbed his head up and down.


    ¡°There are countless other applications. Have you thought of a way to absorb elemental essence into your body using your shadow essence?¡±


    Skyle frowned, shaking his head. ¡°Uncle Talon, I already told you what happened when I tried to do that at the test. The taint in my veins stirs and begins to gobble the elemental essence.¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean merging it into your veins. I won¡¯t waste time with the details, since you¡¯ll learn the particulars at the Warrior School. They focus on absorbing elemental essence into their bones and muscles in order to strengthen them. This is an entirely different process from drawing elemental essence into your veins. The former strengthens the body, while the latter accumulates essence in your veins to increase your elemental power. That¡¯s not even considering the fact of whether you can strengthen your flesh using the shadow essence itself. Have you tried?¡±


    Skyle shook his head. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be dangerous?¡±


    ¡°It could be, but anything worth trying carries a certain element of danger. We can try little by little, and measure the results as we go. What do you think?¡±


    Beaming at his uncle, Skyle nodded firmly.


    ¡°Also, I want you to train using your True Sight as often as possible. Does it interfere at all with your regular vision?¡±


    Skyle shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s almost like a seperate sense, different from physical sight. I can hold both images in my head at the same time.¡±


    ¡°Good. How long can you maintain the True Sight for?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t tried measuring that. I usually activate it only when necessary. I¡¯d say maybe a half hour of continuous use? I¡¯d have to try to know for sure.¡±


    ¡°Then you do that. By tomorrow night, I want you to tell me exactly how long you can maintain the True Sight for. From what you¡¯ve told me, the Infinite Eye, the Far Sight, and the True Sight improve the more you use them. If so, I want you to use them as often as you can without hurting yourself. So long as they¡¯re renewable resources, there¡¯s no sense in not developing them as much as possible. In fact, you should have been doing so already.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Uncle Talon. I¡¯ll do that right away.¡±


    ¡°Remember to write down exactly how long you can maintain each vision, and to what extent. Record ranges, intensity, and any other measurable statistic. Also pay attention to the strengths and weaknesses of each sense so we can set out a schedule to work on each of them.¡±


    Skyle nodded again, hanging his head in shame that he hadn¡¯t been doing so already. While he wanted to develop his talents as much as possible, he had never been nearly as systematic in his approach as what Talon was now suggesting.


    Suddenly, he felt strong hands gripping his shoulders. Looking up, he saw Talon gazing at him with an intensity that was contagious.


    ¡°Cheer up, Skyle. I need you to be driven and determined. Forget whatever mistakes you feel you¡¯ve made in the past. Focus on the moment, and what you will set out to do in the future. That is what truly matters.¡±


    ¡°I will, Uncle Talon. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    ¡°I know you won¡¯t. I¡¯m counting on it. Else, all the stacks of paperwork piling up on my desk due to my neglect would be for nothing.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but grin at that, but there was a tremor of uncertainty toward the end.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s alright for you to move here and stay with us for so long? What about your job?¡±


    Talon¡¯s expression grew more serious. ¡°This is exactly where I need to be, for the time being. I told you the storm¡¯s coming.¡±


    His uncle held up a finger to forestall Skyle¡¯s next question. ¡°Ah, no more about that. At least, not for the time being. You should focus entirely on your training for now. I promise, when you grow stronger, things will become clearer to you. I might even need you to help your Uncle Talon from time to time. Think you can manage that?¡±


    Skyle quickly bobbed his head up and down, his lights glittering like stars. ¡°Oh yes, please!¡±


    Talon chuckled dryly. ¡°It¡¯s not as glamorous as you think, and a lot more dangerous than you imagine. Still, you need to get your feet wet, and the sooner, the better. For now, you need to focus on your training. You¡¯re still so weak I still need to babysit you. The moment I can set my mind at ease about you, that¡¯ll be helping me already.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Uncle Talon. I¡¯ll do my best!¡±


    ¡°Good, then take a look at that.¡± Talon pointed to a large slate hanging upon the wall, where a long list had been written with chalk.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Skyle mumbled, reading its contents.


    ¡°Your schedule for the time being. Make sure you follow it to the letter, especially when I¡¯m not here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Skyle tried not to let the dismay he felt show, and failed miserably.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sit around looking over your shoulder the whole time, Skyle. You¡¯re almost all grown up, so most of your training here will be self-guided. I know you¡¯ll do your best even if I¡¯m not here, but I want you to do better.¡±


    Skyle nodded as he read list to himself.


    <ul>


    <li>Stealth course warm up - 15 minutes.</li>


    <li>Combat - 1 hour.


    <ul>


    <li>1st day: Two-handed axe.</li>


    <li>2nd day: Short-sword and Shield.</li>


    <li>3rd day: Steel Whip.</li>


    <li>4th day: Morning Star.</li>


    <li>5th day: Bound staff.</li>


    <li>6th day: One-handed sword.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>Stealth course warm down - 15 minutes.</li>


    <li>Alchemy - 45 minutes.


    <ul>


    <li>1st day: Foundations of Alchemy, chapter 1.</li>


    <li>2nd day: Foundations of Alchemy, chapter 2.</li>


    <li>3rd day: Alchemy lab exercise.</li>


    <li>4th day: The Essence of Poison, chapter 1</li>


    <li>5th day: All That Glitters is Not Gold, chapter 1.</li>


    <li>6th day: Practice.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>Counter-spelling - 45 minutes.


    <ul>


    <li>1st day: Introduction to Spellcraft and the Art of Counter-spelling, chapter 1.</li>


    <li>2nd day: Introduction to Spellcraft and the Art of Counter-spelling, chapter 2.</li>


    <li>3rd day: Counter-spelling lab.</li>


    <li>4th day: Spell Matrix Compendium, part 1.</li>


    <li>5th day: Spell matrix lab.</li>


    <li>6th day: Projects</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>Espionage and assassination - 45 minutes.


    <ul>


    <li>1st day: The War of Nations, chapter 1.</li>


    <li>2nd day: The War of Nations, chapter 2.</li>


    <li>3rd day: Practice.</li>


    <li>4th day: Secrets of the Human Anatomy, chapter 1.</li>


    <li>5th day: Biology lab.</li>


    <li>6th day: Practice.</li>


    </ul>


    </li>


    <li>Meditation - 30 minutes.</li>


    </ul>


    Looking at the bewildering list of subjects and books, Skyle felt overwhelmed. Looking up at Talon, he found no sympathy in his uncle¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°No time to waste, Skyle. Follow me, I¡¯ll show you the stealth course. It may be a little rough on you for the first few weeks, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll grow on you.¡±

 ?Chapter 104 - Little Shadow

    Chapter 104 - Little Shadow


    ¡°What is this thing?¡±


    Skyle stared at the melon-sized clump of darkness in fascination. It stared right back at him with two globes of red fire for eyes.


    Scrambling back with a muffled curse, Skyle nearly fell over.


    ¡°That¡¯s Little Shadow. He¡¯ll be your instructor from now on. Give it all your best!¡±


    The worried glance Skyle sent over his shoulder toward his uncle wasn¡¯t without good reason. That tone had sounded a lot like the one used by his father whenever he had planned some devilry for his children to suffer through.


    Tilting his head to the side, Skyle squinted as he tried to read the flows of essence in Little Shadow. It was simply a ball of murky darkness that drifted a couple feet off the ground. It had no distinguishing features other than those glowing red eyes. Still, they were very expressive just by themselves. Right now, they were huge and round as they stared back at Skyle with obvious interest.


    ¡°Is it alive?¡± Skyle felt tempted to reach out and poke it, but couldn¡¯t quite bring himself to do so. The peculiar meld of weaves in Little Shadow was a complex affair that involved every element. There was no dominant element present. Instead, all four elements were so thickly stacked on top of one another that he could barely make out the individual patterns contained within. It was as though he were gazing upon a single patch of darkness that created a hole in the fabric of elemental essence.


    No True Sight was needed to read the discontent in Little Shadow¡¯s eyes as it glared at Skyle in indignation because of his question.


    ¡°Now now, remember your manners. Little Shadow¡¯s been with us for far longer than you¡¯d think. I don¡¯t know about your father, but he¡¯s actually the one who taught me how to skulk about- er,¡± Talon paused at the dangerously narrow line of Little Shadow¡¯s eyes that had been directed at him because of his last words.


    ¡°I mean, dance with the shadows,¡± Talon quickly amended himself.


    Little Shadow¡¯s eyes immediately turned into twin crescent moons as they nodded in satisfaction. It¡¯s plump shape seemed to swell just a little as well.


    ¡°Really? But it just looks so weird,¡± Skyle said, turning his head this way and that while watching with rapt attention.


    The red-eyed glare was back in full force, and the black ball that was Little Shadow shook as it scowled at Skyle.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean that, Little Shadow.¡±


    Skyle scratched his ear before dipping his head in Little Shadow¡¯s direction in the way of an apology.


    Little Shadow¡¯s red eyes slowly curved inward as though it were deliberating for a moment. Then it nodded once in acknowledgement.


    Staring in amazement at the intelligence of the spell construct, spirit, magical beast, or whatever it was, Skyle glanced sideways at Talon.


    ¡°What is it, exactly?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no way to address your teacher. So be respectful and bow.¡±


    Skyle turned to stare at Talon, but the man didn¡¯t seem to be joking.


    Helpless, Skyle bowed to Little Shadow. ¡°Hello, Little Shadow. I look forward to your teachings.¡±


    Little Shadow¡¯s eyes narrowed into contented arches once more, bobbing its head in Skyle¡¯s direction. A thin line of smoky grey suddenly sprouted under its eyes. It took the boy a while to realize it was supposed to be a wispy beard. Wasn¡¯t this thing trying a little too hard now?


    ¡°Great, seems like you¡¯re off to a good start. Now, this is the stealth course. You will begin every night with a fifteen minute run through it.¡±


    As he spoke, Talon spread his hand with a flourish, indicating the maze-like structure that lay ahead. It was a series of slopes, walls, and other obstacles. Skyle could spot doors, windows, ropes, ladders and stairs spread all throughout. It was a compact affair that couldn¡¯t have been more than a hundred fifty feet across. Still, the sheer complexity of the three story labyrinth gave the boy a headache just from looking at it.


    ¡°Where do I even start? And what am I supposed to do?¡±


    Talon caught Skyle¡¯s dubious look, and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, from now on you¡¯ll have your new teacher with you! Right, Little Shadow?


    Little Shadow immediately gave its best sagely nod, puffing up even more. Its eyes burned with stoic determination as its dark silhouette grew indistinct. Mere moments later, it was gone.


    Skyle turned this way and that, looking for the strange little teacher he had picked up. It was only when he felt a cold weight upon his shoulder that he glanced down and realized that Little Shadow had materialized right on top of his arm.


    Shouting in surprise, Skyle began to wave his arm frantically back and forth.


    ¡°Get it off, get it off!¡±


    The only response he received was Talon¡¯s amused chuckle. Only after a while did Skyle slow down, feeling as though his guts were churning and his head was spinning. Lifting his right arm gingerly, Skyle glared at Little Shadow.


    The twin balls of red that represented its eyes were still rolling haphazardly around its body, as though it couldn¡¯t get its bearings yet. Skyle himself was overcome by a deep queasiness, and an urge to throw up nearly overwhelmed him. He had to stretch out a shaky arm toward Talon in order to stay on his feet.


    ¡°It¡¯s you! What are you doing to me?¡±


    For a moment, Skyle stared in horror at Little Shadow, but then he began to feel resentful and rather annoyed at this whole situation. Why, this must be the rudest student that he had ever graced with his teachings.


    Frozen in his tracks, Skyle gazed open-mouthed at Little Shadow before turning his desperate eyes upon Talon.


    ¡°Uh, Uncle Talon, what the hell is going on?¡±


    Moaning with his hands held around his head, Skyle¡¯s eyes sought out Talon, demanding an answer.


    ¡°That¡¯s one of Little Shadow¡¯s gifts. It can create a symbiotic relationship with its host, directly sharing what he feels and thinks at any given moment. It¡¯s what makes it one of the most effective teachers you will ever have.¡±


    Feeling woozy, Skyle still couldn¡¯t manage an answer. Silently vowing never to make Little Shadow dizzy again, Skyle tried to swallow back the bile rising up his throat.


    After a moment of intense struggle, he finally managed to open his eyes again and glare at Little Shadow. It had the audacity to glare right back, and the feeling of indignation grew even stronger.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you jumped on me without any warning!¡±


    Skyle could almost hear the scoff inside his head as Little Shadow¡¯s eyes pointedly looked away. A deep feeling of scorn washed across him, until he felt like a sniveling little brat who could do nothing but complain when a heavenly gift had been presented to him.


    ¡°Stop putting thoughts inside my head, you bastard!¡±


    Immediately, a feeling of remorse hit him like a sack of bricks. It smashed his ego down until he was nearly reduced to tears. How could he be so ungrateful when his noble teacher was granting him the chance of a lifetime?


    It was only when the first tears began to slide down his cheeks that Skyle realized just how scary Little Shadow was. A profound sense of awe arose within his chest at the sheer majesty of this incredible being. Just thinking about being able to learn at its feet, shivers of anticipation began to run down his back.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    These turned to shudders of abject horror as Skyle realized there was no controlling this thing. Mustering what little sanity he still had left, Skyle frantically studied Little Shadow under the True Sight.


    Shockingly, he saw tendrils of murky black essence extending from Little Shadow and trickling down into his shoulder. It was the very first time he had seen this type of essence! It was not identical to his own shadow essence, but he could feel they shared some similarities. What surprised him even more was that these tendrils did not belong to any of the four elements. Was it a new element?


    He instinctively reached out toward his shadow essence. It answered by sending forth a thin layer of shadow that blanketed over him. When Little Shadow¡¯s tendrils met this layer, they began to push against each other, as though locked in a struggle. After a moment of going back and forth, his layer of shadow essence pushed off Little Shadow¡¯s tendrils.


    Immediately, relief washed over Skyle. Unburdened by the alien feelings, Skyle flashed a smug grin at Little Shadow. What he did not expect was for its twin red eyes to start burning furiously after that. It glared up at Skyle as though he had received a deadly insult. Even its entire body began to shake uncontrollably.


    Skyle began to grow nervous when he saw Little Shadow¡¯s little tentacles begin to darken. Under the True Sight, its entire body began to flare with elemental essence. As it burned all four elements, the tendrils it stretched forth thickened until their shade changed to closely resemble the shadow essence.


    Finally, the tendrils of darkness seemed to reach a point where even Skyle couldn¡¯t tell them apart from his own essence. At this point, Little Shadow¡¯s tentacles brushed aside his shadow essence and drove deep into Skyle¡¯s body in domineering fashion. Almost immediately, Skyle had to struggle with his shame at having tried to upstage a true master and having failed miserably. He should never try to engage in such disgraceful actions again.


    ¡°Get out of my head!¡± Skyle moaned in his mind.


    Another scoff could be heard in his head, along with an oily thick feeling that could only be described as a mile-deep layer of smug satisfaction.


    ¡°Why you..¡±


    Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted when he detected activity within his veins. A shudder ran through his body as he felt the taint stirring once again, reaching its hateful claws towards the newfound energy. Skyle didn¡¯t know whether to gloat if Little Shadow panicked and fled from the taint, or to panic in case it was swallowed by the taint and became yet another seed for the Shadowblight.


    In the blink of an eye, Skyle felt the light, bantering atmosphere vanish. In its wake, a confusing tangle of emotions flowed through the bond. Foremost was surprise. Alertness and disgust quickly followed. In the end, however, the emotion that drowned out all else was a startlingly intense flare of red hot rage.


    Skyle was stunned by the vehemence of it. He could feel Little Shadow glaring at the taint within his veins as though at its nemesis. Little Shadow¡¯s entire body began to flare with even more shocking fluctuations of elemental power as it condensed more dark essence, which it then promptly channeled into Skyle¡¯s body.


    Even Talon seemed taken aback by Little Shadow¡¯s reaction. Though he stretched out a hand toward Skyle, he clenched his jaw and lowered his hand with a confused, albeit relatively calm expression.


    Skyle could see Little Shadow drawing incredible amounts of elemental essence from the air around it. Its core was like a scorching forge that melted all the essence and spat out black essence. This new essence was injected into Skyle¡¯s body in wave after wave of energy.


    The infusion of essence was like the torrent of a mighty river as it washed over Skyle¡¯s veins with unstoppable power. It shattered the thin layer of shadow essence Skyle had carefully constructed to contain the taint as though brushing away mere kindling. Suddenly free of its constraints, the taint arose like a malevolent tide, ready to devour everything in its path.


    Just as the taint reached its peak, the tide of dark essence washed over it like the waves of an unstoppable storm. They crashed in quick succession, brutal in their power and unrelenting in their vengeance. The first wave brought the advance of the taint to a shuddering halt. The next wave followed in the blink of an eye, hammering the taint until it began to crumble. Each successive hit made the taint tremble and shrink back, as though it had finally met its bane.


    Skyle would have stared in open-mouthed astonishment, but it was all he could do to grit his teeth and clench his fists. Pain tore at his body like hot knives lancing his flesh. He tasted blood on his lips and could feel bile scorching the back of his throat. It was a wonder that he could maintain the True Sight at all, but even under the relentless wave of agony that nearly drowned out every other thought, desperate hope alighted.


    ¡°Can Little Shadow truly banish the taint?¡±


    In the end, it seemed too good to be true, and it was. The little clump of darkness that was Little Shadow could not sustain the mind-boggling amounts of elemental power needed to sustain its assault against the taint. Eventually, the waves of black essence flooding his veins began to falter, then died down altogether.


    By the time the fog of pain muddling his mind was finally lifted, Skyle could see that Little Shadow¡¯s tendrils had receded back toward his shoulder, and away from his chest. Even so, he was overjoyed to find that the taint had also drawn back. Though it still lurked in the corners of his elemental veins, its presence was more diluted. He could tell it had been visibly weakened by Little Shadow¡¯s assault.


    As for Little Shadow, it lay flat upon Skyle¡¯s shoulder, trembling softly as though a single nudge would be all that was needed for it to slide clean off and fall to the floor. The fire in its red eyes had died down until it was a mere shade of its former intensity. Still, Skyle was relieved to realize that though weakened, it seemed otherwise fine. Gratitude also sprang within his heart, and Skyle knew this emotion was solely his.


    A familiar smugness filled his mind, along with a pretentious snort.


    Skyle¡¯s eyebrows climb on his forehead as he shook his head in Little Shadow¡¯s direction. Fine, he would let it show off this time. In truth, the amount of power Little Shadow had just displayed had been shocking. There was also the fact that it could produce such thick shadow essence. Did it know what it was?


    Skyle was filled with a hundred questions, but he could only feel a deep weariness from Little Shadow.


    ¡°Skyle, are you alright?¡±


    He looked up to find Talon gazing at him with naked concern. Even Ash had approached from the corner where he had been napping, scratching at Skyle¡¯s leg to draw his attention.


    Skyle managed a wan smile as he nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Better than fine. Little Shadow just drove a portion of the taint away from my veins. It was incredible. It was almost as though it could produce the same shadow essence I have at will by combining different elements and firing them up.¡±


    Skyle trailed off, at a loss of words to describe the exact process.


    Talon nodded slowly, his eyes deep in thought. He did not look too surprised, however, which Skyle hadn¡¯t expected. Just what was Little Shadow?


    Talon must have seen the question in Skyle¡¯s eyes. He shook his head and spread his hands as he spoke.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Skyle. I¡¯m not sure anyone knows. Little Shadow comes and goes, more of a legend than anything else. He¡¯s not a part of Shadow or the Empire, but he seems to have at least some kind of understanding with your father. It trained me when I first began studying under your father, then vanished for a long time after that. It must have been over fifteen years. It was only yesterday that I saw the little fellow once again.¡±


    Skyle cringed as he felt deeply insulted by Talon¡¯s words. Again, Talon must have read such emotion upon his face.


    ¡°My apologies. I meant to say, the venerable teacher.¡±


    Deep satisfaction instantly flooded Skyle¡¯s heart, even as he felt himself blushing at how easy it was to humor the little fellow.


    Outrage flared, quickly followed by impatience.


    ¡°Sorry, Little Shadow,¡± Skyle mumbled, feeling helpless. Then again, he really did owe the little.. Ah, the great teacher.


    Feeling sick with the cloying weight of the immense satisfaction burning in his chest, Skyle couldn¡¯t help but poke his new teacher with his finger - gently.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep it down a little, um, please?¡±


    Little Shadow seemed to consider his request, then deigned to nod its acquiescence.


    Talon caught the whole exchange, and a commiserating look could be seen on his face. Old memories, some of them not very pleasant, could be seen flitting past his mind in that expression.


    With a quick shake of his head, Talon returned to the matter at hand. ¡°Little Shadow, can you cleanse the taint in Skyle?¡±


    Little Shadow¡¯s eyes seemed to sag just a little, and it glumly shook from side to side.


    Skyle couldn¡¯t suppress a sigh at what he felt from Little Shadow.


    ¡°Uncle Talon, I think it can help me suppress the taint, but it cannot eliminate it completely. Just what it did tonight in driving it back took a tremendous amount of effort from it.¡±


    Talon nodded slowly, and though his expression didn¡¯t change, Skyle thought he could see the same disappointment he felt reflected in his uncle¡¯s eyes. Fierce determination quickly replaced it as Talon¡¯s hand tightened over the boy¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°That''s great, Skyle. We¡¯ve found another way to repress the taint. We¡¯re already making progress!¡±


    Skyle nodded at that, and though he could see that Talon¡¯s aura was still sad, his expression was already brimming with energy. The little boy decided to humor him, and flashed his bravest grin.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Talon praised, then added in a darker tone, ¡°You¡¯ll need it for what¡¯s coming next.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Skyle turned to face the stealth course.


    ¡°15 minutes, just follow Little Shadow¡¯s instructions. Now go!¡±


    Skyle stared at Talon¡¯s expectant grin, dumbfounded. That was until he felt an overwhelming urge to approach a ramp that rose up to his left. He had a feeling it would be the proper way to start. He also knew that he only had 14 minutes, 55 seconds left.


    ¡°Huh, I guess that works, too.¡±


    Just when he had intended to run forward, he felt scorching indignation flaring up within his chest. Wincing, Skyle carefully lifted one foot, then swayed unsteadily for a moment while he tried to narrow down exactly where to place it. Each time Skyle thought about taking that first step, a deep sense of disapproval flared brightly in his head. When he finally found the proper spot, and brought his foot down with elaborate care, the whole process had taken 16 seconds.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to take me forever at this pace!¡±


    Seemingly deaf to Skyle¡¯s complaints, Little Shadow patiently began to guide his next step.


    ¡°I know how to sneak around, you know?¡±


    Disdain dripped heavily in Skyle¡¯s mind in response. Sweat rolled down Skyle¡¯s forehead as he finally took his second step. It wasn¡¯t only the placement, but each movement of his body had be to coordinated with impeccable finesse and timing. Little Shadow would instantly flare with unbearable vehemence if Skyle so much as shifted a single muscle at the incorrect time.


    Feeling like a puppet trapped in his own head, Skyle¡¯s entire body had already begun to drip with sweat and ache from the strain of it all. He simply couldn¡¯t imagine what he was supposed to learn from all this, let alone what the strange little.. Er, what the great teacher wanted from him.


    Little Shadow ignored his new pupil¡¯s constant complaints, and instead patiently continued to guide him, step by step.

 Chapter 105 - What Can be Taught and What Must be Learned

    Chapter 105 - What Can be Taught and What Must be Learned


    Skyle was only able to make it as far as the top of the ramp before the time was up. Swamped by a vast feeling of incompetency such as he had never felt before, he resolved to outdo himself the next time.


    The maddening thing was that Skyle couldn¡¯t for the life of him figure out how much of his current feelings were his, and what was courtesy of the little guest he had picked up. Apparently, Little Shadow was able to read his thoughts in a somewhat rudimentary way. The prickling feeling in the back of his head was enough to let him know it was true. Little Shadow also took exception to a lot of things that were said or thought about him, and he wasn¡¯t shy about sharing such feelings.


    The whole exercise had felt like a macabre dance where he was forced to dance like a puppet under Little Shadow¡¯s strings. It felt counter-intuitive and painfully slow, forcing him to pause after each step and carefully consider his next move. In short, the whole stealth course had been incredibly disappointing.


    Little Shadow didn¡¯t seem to mind, as though such results were to be expected. Neither did Talon say anything as Skyle returned with his shoulders slumped and his clothes soaked with almost as much sweat as after the hour-long combat training.


    ¡°Little Shadow knows what it¡¯s doing, Skyle. The sooner you realize that and focus on what it¡¯s trying to teach you, the better.¡±


    Talon smiled kindly but didn¡¯t offer any other advice. Frustrated, Skyle could only nod while following his uncle to the next item on the schedule, alchemy.


    Surprisingly, Talon didn¡¯t pause at the iron-bound door that led to the alchemy lab. Instead, he led Skyle straight to the library. There, he motioned Skyle to a comfortable chair. On the table before him were stacked several books, each at least four times thicker than any volume he had ever seen.


    ¡°For these first two days, you will spend the rest of your time self-studying under Little Shadow¡¯s guidance. Focus your attention on each subject at hand. You will find yourself surprised at how quickly you¡¯re able to organize and memorize the information with Little Shadow¡¯s help. Also, don¡¯t be afraid to ask any questions from your teacher.¡±


    Talon nodded in Skyle¡¯s direction. The boy began to nod back when he realized that the gesture had been meant for Little Shadow, who was still perched upon his shoulder. His new teacher bobbed its blobby mass up and down in a rather solemn gesture that reminded Skyle of a stoic soldier taking up an onerous, yet necessary duty.


    In truth, he didn¡¯t mind this portion of his training at all. He had always loved books, and he could not imagine a better way to relax after the hectic training menu he had been forced to follow thus far. Books were a balm to soothe his soul, and a window to exciting new horizons to explore.


    Ten minutes later, Skyle stared at the terrifying words squiggling before his eyes like they were monsters stretching forth abominable claws to clutch at his throat and suck his brains out. Never in his entire life had he come across such dry writing on so many obtuse topics. He felt he could have thrown ¡°Foundations of Alchemy¡± straight into the pond behind his house, and he would not have been surprised to return the next morning to find it devoid of even a single drop of water.


    Bizarre and unfamiliar words were sprinkled liberally into the confounding text. Skyle had always been proud for his extensive vocabulary, but these terms were simply mind-bogglingly obscure. Pharmaceutics? Esoteric systems? Harmony of the microcosm? Spagyric? Iatrochemistry?


    Who in the world had come up with things like that?


    Of course, even the most uncultured oaf ought to know that iatrochemistry is a branch of chemistry and medicine that seeks to provide solutions to diseases and medical ailments.


    Skyle¡¯s jaw dropped as he stared at Little Shadow¡¯s distinctly smug, beady little eyes. Why should he be so surprised to find that his teacher knew the subject he was supposed to educate him on? Truly, the most unworthy, untalented pupil ever to have been blessed by-


    ¡°I get it, please stop doing that, teacher.¡±


    Having long given up on rebelling against Little Shadow, Skyle could only appeal to his new teacher¡¯s rather gullible sense of pride. He decidedly ignored the outrage that sparked flames within his chest at this last comment and began to think very hard about what pharmaceutics meant.


    Almost immediately, he could feel the blood rushing to his face as he wondered how he could not know that Pharmaceutics were a modern discipline that dealt with the process of turning a chemical compound into medication to be used for the treatment of medical conditions.


    Then he was further able to understand the difference between Iatochemistry and Pharmeceutics. The information bloomed within his mind as though by magic, which in a way it was. Still, he reminded himself that he must focus on absorbing the information instead of letting his mind wander idly at the complex dynamics involved in infusing genius into a brainspan filled with solid fecal matter.


    ¡°Hey! That was uncalled for!¡±


    Fine, he could grant that perhaps it was filled with rocky sediment instead. Just another stubborn child to bring forth from the darkness and into enlightenment. What sins could he have possibly committed in his past life to deserve such tribulations?


    ¡°You¡¯re distracting me, Little Shadow. We only have 33 minutes left for this class and we¡¯ve hardly gotten a couple pages into chapter 1.¡±


    With one final sigh, Skyle was able to immerse himself into his reading once more. Only this time, he began to rely more and more on Little Shadow¡¯s incredible academic prowess. There seemed to be no subject that could stump his teacher. Answers instantly appeared in his mind as soon as he was able to formulate the relevant query. Of course, that was only if Little Shadow approved of the question. Most of his curiosity was justifiably directed at Little Shadow¡¯s own nature, though a few others did tend to trail off into largely unrelated matters.


    It was simply too tempting and an altogether wondrous experience to study with Little Shadow. It was like having the keys to a vast vault of knowledge, where all Skyle had to do was ask a question and wait for the answer to fall into his lap.


    Seemingly limitless knowledge was not the sole extent of Little Shadow¡¯s powers, either. Skyle found that his own concentration and enthusiasm were increased exponentially. Topics that he had found dry and uninspiring only seconds earlier became treasure troves of wisdom which he rapidly absorbed with almost rapturous joy.


    In the beginning, Skyle felt uncomfortable at how effortlessly his emotions were being manipulated. As the session wore on, however, he was surprised to find that most of the joy of discovery and learning was genuinely his. It had only taken that first push from Little Shadow and its assistance in unlocking the information.


    By the time he finally reached the end of chapter 1 of ¡°Foundations of Alchemy¡±, it had coincided exactly with the deadline of 45 minutes. Skyle knew better than to think of it as mere coincidence. Little Shadow even exuded a feeling of calm and relaxation through their bond. It allowed Skyle to close his eyes for a moment as he rapidly began to review the information in his head.


    Only a few minutes later, he opened his eyes and found to his delight that he had learned about the ether, or the primordial fabric of all matter. He had also learned about its different states, which determined the hardness, softness, solidity, and liquidity of ether. He also learned about the Scientific Approach, the Quintessence, the Archaeus, and many other basic concepts of alchemy.


    Having just read the first chapter of ¡°Foundations of Alchemy¡±, Skyle could already understand many of the questions which had plagued his inquisitive mind for years without his knowledge. For instance, just the introductory example in the first chapter had opened Skyle¡¯s eyes wide with wonder. It had dealt with ether in one of its most common shapes: water. Where did rain come from? Why did water turn into steam? How did it become ice in the winter?


    He had begun to grasp the theory of the ether and its many states. Such theories only deepened his appreciation for the elements, as they were theorized to be representations of the ether. Skyle had never imagined that alchemy could be so powerful in the insights it provided, or the implications it ushered in.


    ¡°Thank you, Little Shadow.¡±


    This time, his gratitude was profound and reverent. He knew he could have never deciphered the obtuse tome of knowledge without his new teacher¡¯s guidance. The title of the book may have included the word ¡°Foundations¡±, but just the first paragraph alone had contained over a dozen words Skyle had never seen or heard before.


    Even had he known the meaning of the words, the concepts introduced were so alien to his way of thinking, that without Little Shadow¡¯s steady supply of additional explanations and examples, Skyle would have been hopelessly lost and drowned under baffling concepts such as the One Universal Life and the Space-Time Continuum.


    Little Shadow, vain thing that it was, preened under Skyle¡¯s adulation for a solid minute before shaking itself awake and grimly pointing to the next solid, brick-sized tome of knowledge.


    ¡°Introduction to Spellcraft and the Art of Counter-spelling¡± was the book that Skyle had been looking forward to the most. Just after the first couple paragraphs, however, Skyle was swamped by the now-familiar feeling of being completely out of his depth. Only now did it begin to dawn upon Skyle that these tomes which had benign words like ¡°Foundations¡± or ¡°Introduction¡± were obviously meant for scholars who might have spent their entire lives in the pursuit of knowledge. Such books had definitely not been meant for a glorified turnip farmer who had never attended a classroom in his entire life.


    No time was wasted, however, and Skyle immediately sought out Little Shadow¡¯s help. Under its steady guidance, concepts like Runic Imbalance and Elemental Saturation were snatched up and devoured by his starved brain like the dainty little morsels at one of Kassandra¡¯s tea parties.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    The two most intriguing concepts Skyle learned in these short 45 minutes were spellcasting and the spell matrix. Skyle could finally understand that magic spells were a systematic approach to channel elemental power through a magical focus to achieve a desired effect. Most of the time, the focus would be the spellcaster.


    Humans were not able to grasp the power of the elements with their physical bodies. Instead, a medium was required to draw elemental power from the world essence. This focus were their spirit veins. Only thusly could elemental essence be wielded. After all, raw essence was energy in its purest form.


    In order to channel such power into fulfilling a useful function, it must be separated from its raw form and into its distinct component elements. For instance, the fire element possessed countless component attributes such as combustion, consumption, energy exchange, decomposition, conflagration, and illumination, among others. Each of these could be extracted or combined with others to produce a specific desired effect. In this complex process, merely channeling essence through the caster¡¯s elemental veins had too low of a probability of success.


    For this reason, spells had been created. Spells were merely the compilation, passed down from generation to generation, of what each identified component attribute could be used for, and how to extract and manipulate it into fulfilling such a function.


    Spells relied upon arcane symbols, gestures, and incantations, all of which fulfilled the simple yet necessary task of channelling raw elemental power into its desired component attributes and then releasing the results in a predetermined format. Each of these 3 elements fulfilled different purposes.


    Arcane script was used as an aid to gather and summon forth elemental essence. Each rune, sigil, or symbol held a mysterious power to draw specific aspects of each element. They could be combined or even modified to produce even stronger or uncanny effects. Loremasters were known to hoard the most powerful arcane symbols like a dragon guarding its mound of gold.


    Arcane gestures were not used for mere dramatic flair. Each motion was carefully calculated to modify the flow of elemental power coursing through the spell¡¯s structure. For instance, certain hand patterns were known to produce a variety of different effects such as reducing, augmenting, stretching, or concentrating strands of elemental essence. Archmages were known to customize their spells on the fly with many of their own secret arcane gestures, producing spectacular results.


    Arcane incantations were the most common trope spellcasters were known for. Surprisingly, Skyle read that such chants were regarded as crutches, and universally despised even by the very mages who made use of them. The Arcane Voice, which Skyle had once envied mages for, was the last resort of mages who needed the added assistance to focus their minds and enter a spellcasting trance. Far from calling forth the power of the elements, most arcane incantations were merely an ungifted mage¡¯s desperate last resort in order to enter the necessary state of focus they needed to properly visualize the elements and cast a spell. Thus, the lengthier a spellcaster¡¯s incantation was, the deeper the scorn exuded from knowledgeable peers.


    In the end, much of it was about talent. The more gifted the spellcaster was with an element, the less they were forced to rely upon spells. After all, spellcasting was merely a necessary evil, a crutch in order to purify elemental essence and mold it toward a desired purpose.


    This was what marked the difference between mages and summoners. The latter had the necessary regis to wield the elements without the need of spells, relying only upon their innate bond with the elemental spirits.


    Even among mages and summoners, there were stark differences in accordance to their regis. A high regis mage could dispense of most requirements for spells when casting due to their attunement with the elements. On the other hand, a low regis summoner would still need to rely on spells to wield particularly difficult aspects of an element¡¯s power.


    It was because of the nearly universal need for spells that a revolutionary discovery had been made many centuries ago. A material had been found that could hold specific spellcasting patterns in stasis within its mass with very little decay in their structure. It had been named ¡°Aetherium¡±, and it had ushered in a whole new era in elemental spellcasting.


    Whereas before, mages would need to manually cast each spell by going through the necessary gestures and incantations, after the advent of aetherium, spellcasting patterns could be imbedded into the aetherium crystals. These spellcasting patterns came to be known as Spell Matrices.


    When raw elemental essence was channeled into such a spell matrix, it would be purified and modified until it met the desired attributes for the spell in question. Sometimes, the entire spell could be cast without a single sigil or incancation, needing only a high density aetherium crystal imbedded with a high tier spell matrix.


    Matrix Masters had become a highly reputed profession, and it had been one of the driving forces behind the surge in influence from the magely ranks. After all, a wide array of spells could now be imbedded into matrix crystals, allowing mages to hurl spells with much shorter casting times, or even allow high regis warriors to cast spells they could otherwise never dream to.


    This introduction to spellcasting, aetherium, and spell matrices, had Skyle¡¯s head spinning round and round like a top. Only the calming influence of Little Shadow allowed the little boy to finish the first chapter with a semblance of composure. In truth, Skyle felt like the secret vaults of magely wisdom had been opened wide before his avaricious eyes, and he couldn¡¯t wait to read chapter 2 or begin his spell matrix classes at the academy, for that matter.


    The theory behind spell matrices allowed Skyle to realize what all those patterns in the different testing chambers at the academy had been. No wonder they had felt so unnatural and different when compared to the delicate yet powerful weaves of all natural matter under the True Sight. He wondered what kind of mysteries he would be able to unlock when he finally delved deep into the study of spell matrices.


    A chilling pressure from his shoulder produced an uncontrollable shudder in Skyle. He smiled sheepishly and nodded an apology to Little Shadow. He knew he was supposed to be closing his eyes and reviewing the treasure trove of information he had just received. Instead, he had been dreaming of becoming a renowned matrix master whose name would echo throughout the known world.


    At the very least, he should learn to whip up a lick of elemental flame before such lofty ambitions. Children were so helplessly naive these days. Really, nothing like the good old days when humans would simply squat on their naked rears and bay at the moon. Now, those had been some proper students.


    Skyle sprang up from his seat and stared at Little Shadow. Just how old was his teacher? Humans baying at the moon? Surely, it must be jesting. Such a sense of humor..


    Ashamed that he would have the audacity to doubt the peerlessly grand teacher Little Shadow, Skyle swallowed back a groan and sat back down. He only had one more book to go before he could be rid of this.. great teacher, he amended his thought swiftly.


    The oily slick smugness he felt in his chest suddenly made Skyle¡¯s heart skip a beat. Surely, he couldn¡¯t go back to the academy and attend class there with this clump of shadow clinging to his shoulder?


    ¡°I mean, the revered teacher must have so many other important tasks. Surely, you won¡¯t waste your time plaguing, er, instructing a simple farm boy.¡±


    An intense thought that he ought to stop wasting time himself and move to the next subject latched onto his mind. Helpless, Skyle opened the pages of the last book he was to read for the night, ¡°The War of Nations.¡±


    This book was much easier to understand, its language both simpler and more direct. The subject matter, however, was the most distasteful to Skyle. It began its introduction with a brief paragraph about war never changing. Conflict was the innate condition of man¡¯s existence. The resolution of such conflict was immaterial in the grand scheme of things. Only the perpetuation of war allowed man¡¯s spirit to arise from its ashes. War cannot be avoided, only postponed to the advantage of others. Thus, it fell upon the wise leader to place his trust, not on the fickle hope of avoiding war, but rather on his readiness to engage upon it.


    A true king trusts, not on the chance of his enemy not attacking, but rather on the fact that his position is unassailable.


    Thus began the most depressing, harrowing hour of reading Skyle had ever engaged upon. The fact that he found the concepts introduced in the text as abominable as they were irrefutable, sparked an anger that he could not vent in his chest. Curiously, Little Shadow did not interfere in this process, instead allowing Skyle to continue absorbing the material.


    Many times, Skyle wished he could close the book and stop reading. The words were simple, but their implications profound. They drew a panorama that terrified Skyle, with the strokes of a bleak landscape filled with the methodic repression and elimination of every sovereign entity outside of the self. Only from the depths of the real human condition, the author stated, could a true compromise be reached. For that is the best that could be hoped for, driving the hardest of bargains - a compromise.


    There was no absolute victory, only absolute defeat.


    Skyle reached the final words of the first chapter and woodenly drew the cover of the book closed. He sat there for a long moment in stunned silence, his eyes staring blankly ahead of him. Was the world described in the book really the same one where Skyle had been born and raised? Only now could Skyle begin to understand where Leon had been coming from. He had little doubt that the young Lord of Draxas had already read this entire volume from cover to cover.


    He likely knew its contents by heart.


    Am I so ill-equipped to deal with the realities of the world? He began to regret leaving the farm and the safe confines of his home. For just a moment, he wished he could go back to his quiet life of harvesting turnips and looking after unruly snowblade tiger cubs.


    Would that be such a bad thing?


    The whole time, Little Shadow did not say a single thing. It just sat quietly and watched from where it lay perched upon the little boy¡¯s shoulder. It only listened, and it was there that it finally showed the true depth of its wisdom.


    Skyle wondered about his friend Leon, whether it be his scarred past or his uncertain future. Dealing with assassins, how could he not take lives himself? Confronted with poisonous snakes on all sides, should he wait while they coiled and prepared to strike? He had mentioned an assassination attempt, which had brought him to that fateful encounter with Skyle. Had he found the assassin? Would it matter, when there were sure to be many more to follow? Would Skyle simply watch as a bystander, or would he help? If he did, would he be able to kill in order to save his friend? How many lives would be needed to keep Leon alive and well upon the throne of Draxas? How many of those would be innocents, simple collateral damage?


    He also thought about Uncle Talon and his own father, and their history with Shadow and the Empire. Was that why his father would get that unreadable expression on his face, from time to time? As though he were being smothered under a mountain of sins which he could never truly escape. Was Talon doomed to share the same fate? What about Skyle himself? Would he embrace the art of poisons and assassination, even if in the beginning he had only meant to protect those dear to him?


    No, he realized with a cold shiver. Already, his purpose had irrevocably shifted. Like the book had said, he had ceased to be a passive defender, hoping to avoid conflict. He would rely upon his own strength and readiness to meet any threat, rather than harbor such naive and foolish hopes.


    It took Skyle¡¯s breath away, to realize just how much he had changed in only the space of a couple weeks.


    Was conflict truly the only constant in human nature? Are we destined to fight one another, over and over, never able to achieve a final victory, but instead doomed to merely postpone an inevitable defeat?


    How about his main reason in seeking strength? Deep inside, he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that cleansing the taint was just a secondary goal. Right now, he was still desperately clinging onto the last vestiges of Ria¡¯s presence in his life. These shattered remnants, they trickled through the gaps between his fingers like fine sand. Their memories together continued to fade with each passing breath. Already, Skyle could not recall the shape of her face, nor the sound of her voice. Only the essence of her words, and the vague scent left by their time together remained.


    What price would Skyle be willing to pay to be reunited with Ria? What would he not sacrifice for her sake? Where did right and wrong lay when conflict was inevitable, and peace was only the postponement of war?


    By the time Talon arrived to gently tap his shoulder, Skyle had sat there for the whole thirty minutes he was supposed to meditate. He had spent the entire time drowning in his own thoughts, floundering through a vast sea of murky waters and darker skies.


    Talon must have seen the questions in Skyle¡¯s eyes, but like Little Shadow, he didn¡¯t offer any words. He knew that sometimes answers were more important because of the seeking itself rather than the results. There was a clear distinction between what can be taught and what must be learned.


    Thus, as Skyle stepped out into the moonlit sky, his eyes were clouded with darkness and shrouded in doubt.

 Chapter 106 - The Perverted Young Master

    Chapter 106 - The Perverted Young Master


    Skyle woke up with bloodshot eyes. It was small wonder, since he had barely gotten any sleep at all.


    It wasn¡¯t because there had been any issues while returning home. Even under the bright light of the full moon, Skyle had no trouble slipping from shadow to shadow on his way home. The 20 foot climb of the academy¡¯s outer wall might have been a stiff challenge for most children his age, but to Skyle it had been almost as effortless as climbing a ladder. Years of competing against a streak of snowblade tigers in the playground had many added benefits, after all.


    No, he had arrived home just fine, with no one the wiser. But upon stripping down and climbing into the unfamiliar bed, Skyle had spent the entire night rolling back and forth, unable to find any peace. His mind was still grappling with the knowledge he had gained, and even more importantly, its implications.


    ¡°Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.¡±


    This quote from ¡°The War of Nations¡± still lingered in his mind. He gnawed upon the words as though it were a scrap of food stuck between his teeth. He worried at it all night, on and off, unable to remove it or forget about it entirely. He worried about his friend Leon, but also about himself.


    Already, he could see how much he had changed from the innocent boy from only two weeks prior. Would he even be able to recognize himself after he graduated from the academy and Talon¡¯s Shadow training?


    ¡°Yes, and your training as well, Little Shadow.¡±


    Skyle almost rolled his eyes, but knew he¡¯d never hear the end of it from his new teacher, and so he refrained. To his chagrin, Talon had only shrugged his shoulders when Skyle had walked up to him and asked him where he should drop off Little Shadow. Only then had he found out that Little Shadow was there to stay. When he had pointed at the disturbing ball of darkness that protruded from his shoulder, Little Shadow had obligingly melted into a black paste that seeped through his skin until he was invisible to the naked eye.


    Skyle shuddered, as the memory still creeped the hell out of him.


    Of course, right now Skyle felt an overwhelming surge of gratitude that the great teacher had deigned to dwell by his side in order to further direct his footsteps.


    Skyle had to roll his eyes at that. To think that there would be a day when he missed having his head all to himself. Surprisingly, Little Shadow let that errant thought pass.


    Skyle sat up and stretched his back, letting out a huge yawn. Scratching his ear, he tossed back the silken sheets with care. He had a vague idea of how hideously expensive such luxuries must be, and the last thing he wanted was to damage any more of the academy¡¯s property.


    ¡°Then again, with 225,000 golds on my tab, how much worse could it possibly get?¡±


    Shaking his head, he chided himself because he really didn¡¯t need any more depressing news today. That hideous book last night had brought more than enough of that. Instead, he walked onto the balcony to gaze out at the first glimmers of dawn streaking through the distant horizon.


    Below him, the vast beast of smooth brick and polished stone that was Aegis Academy began to stir into fitful life, with a few scattered lights already glowing brightly under the pre-dawn gloom. Skyle breathed in the cold morning air, but sadly that delightful mountain air that smelled of wet earth and blosoming wildflowers was missing. Instead, the smells of food were intermixed with that peculiar scent he scrunched his nose at whenever he visited Sunny Meadow.


    It wasn¡¯t dirty, like sewage, or the smell of sweat and unwashed armpits. Instead, it was that distinct scent of civilization, of brick and mortar and perfumed crowds. It was difficult to lay his finger on, but Skyle found himself starkly reminded of just how much he was already missing home.


    ¡°I wonder if da and ma are alright? Are they thinking of us, wherever they are right now?¡±


    Skyle indulged in a wistful grin, somehow blindly certain that they were. Already, he missed his mother¡¯s biscuits and her gentle smile. He even began to look back fondly upon the sword lessons he had once avoided like the plague.


    ¡°Enough. Time to make myself useful.¡±


    It was only then that Skyle realized he didn¡¯t really have anything to do, just at the moment. There were no ditches to dig, no animals to feed, or to crops to tend to. He found himself at a complete loss. He couldn¡¯t even wander into the kitchen to see if he could help with the cooking. He could still recall in vivid detail the harrowing ordeal where he had been mistaken for a perverted maid molester.


    His stomach chose this exact moment to growl, reminding him that he was starving. He had gone through all of his reserves last night, and was feeling completely depleted. Only his depressed mood had prevented him from wandering down to the kitchen for a late night snack.


    After a long moment of indecision, Skyle twisted his lips in distaste and reached out to pull upon the velvet rope hanging next to his bed. The ornate bell sounded nothing like what the boy had expected, ringing with a mellow and relaxing chiming sound.


    Only a few breaths later, Skyle was startled by the knocking upon his door. The sound itself was very gentle, but he began to suspect whether the poor serving staff had been posted at his door since before dawn. Surely not, right?


    ¡°Just a moment.¡±


    Unable to find any of his clothes for some reason, Skyle was reduced to snatching a robe hanging by the bedside and draping it over his shoulders. He had barely tied it with a loose knot when he noticed the smell coming from it. Was that perfume?


    ¡°Uh, please come on in.¡±


    The doors parted and Nessa walked in, dressed in an immaculate black-and-white maid outfit. She had tied her hair back into a neat ponytail that accented the beautiful shape of her face.


    ¡°Young Master, you called?¡± Nessa held her skirts with both hands as she bent her knees in greeting.


    ¡°Good morning, Nessa. How are you this morning?¡±


    Skyle put on his friendliest smile, hoping to leave the unsavory events of yesterday far behind. At first, Nessa seemed at ease from Skyle¡¯s warm greeting. But then her smile faltered visibly as she arose from her curtsy and looked at Skyle. Her cheeks began to flush with color as she averted her gaze, lowering her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling very well, Young Master. I- I stand ready to serve you however you wish.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s brow furrowed as his smile wilted. What was going on? Had he said something wrong again? Looking down in confusion, Skyle spotted the problem almost immediately. Through the thin layers of the silken robe he was wearing, Little Skyle was standing in stiff attention, announcing his presence to the entire world.


    Blushing furiously, Skyle spun on his heel and quickly covered himself up with an extra layer of blankets. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Nessa shuffling her feet uncomfortably while her gaze was still fixated upon the floor at her feet.


    ¡°Uh, Nessa, please bring me some food. Thank you. You can leave now. Please.¡±


    Babbling in his embarrassment, Skyle couldn¡¯t even turn around as he waddled sideways toward his wardrobe. Nessa seemed caught by an inner struggle as she wrung her hands but did not leave the room. Instead, she took a deep breath and approached Skyle with dainty steps.


    ¡°Y-Young Master,  your breakfast is being prepared. Please allow me to assist you with your garments.¡±


    Skyle nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Nessa¡¯s hands upon his shoulders, nervously drawing back upon its folds.


    ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± He cried out, snatching the robe out of her hands and jumping away. At least, he tried to.


    Instead, his abrupt motion made him step over the oversized robe he was wearing. The smooth fabric slid from under his foot and upended him head over heels. He heard a startled cry beside his shoulder, and turned just in time to see Nessa reaching toward him.


    The momentum of his fall took them both off their feet. He instinctively wrapped his arms around Nessa, doing his best to cushion her fall with his body. Then it was all a blur of motion as they tumbled to the ground.


    He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain flaring from his back. The next thing he knew, he felt a warm breath brushing against his lips. His nostrils flared involuntarily as he smelled the clean scent of herbal soap.


    Skyle''s eyes popped open and met Nessa''s breathless gaze. Limpid eyes of emerald green glittered like those of a startled doe. Her entire body shook like the leaf of a tree, her hands tightening ever so slightly where they clutched at Skyle''s chest.


    A tide of fire completely unfamiliar to Skyle hit him in the chest like an anvil. His whole body shook as his arms gathered the girl in his arms closer. She closed her eyes, long eyelashes fluttering weakly as her pink lips parted slightly. As she drew closer, a single tear leaked out of a corner of her eyes.


    "Little Shadow, enough is enough!"


    Skyle bit his tongue and the sharp sting instantly brought him back to his senses. He set Nessa down beside him and immediately rolled to his feet. He backed away into a corner of the room, all the while feeling wretched at what he had put the poor girl through.


    Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the stricken look in Nessa''s face and groaned inside. Now he was truly a pervert, through and through.


    ¡°Are you alright, Nessa?"


    Nessa nodded mutely, smoothing down her dress with shaking hands. A deep flush covered her entire face, however. No matter that she was several years older than him, there was an artless innocence to her that was captivating.


    "Nessa, I''m sorry. Please believe me when I say that was an accident."


    "Of course, Young Master. I''m deeply sorry for my clumsiness."


    "No, it''s not your fault. I don¡¯t need your help for now. I¡¯m used to dressing by myself. Please, could you just bring the food?¡±


    Nessa curtsied again. ¡°As the Young Master commands.¡±


    She backed away from the room with unsteady steps, and Skyle didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or to cry.


    "Little Shadow!" Skyle cried out, outraged. He had no idea his new teacher was such a pervert! Even now, he could feel unfamiliar desires flaring within his chest. Such fire trailed down toward his groin, where there was even more excitement.


    Human females were such delightful creatures, he reflected. Perhaps this entire ordeal wouldn''t be such a big waste of his time, after all. Now, if he could just sidle up a little closer to those delightful twin peaks next time..


    "No! I''m in enough trouble as it is, with the whole staff thinking I''m a lecherous pervert!"


    Was it hypocrisy or idiocy? He really couldn''t decide which would be worse. In any case, as a sage teacher, it was part of his duty to initiate the young into the wonders of the procreative process.


    Gagging, Skyle flung his wardrobe open and tried on his new academy uniform. They were glittering, loose-fitting robes in the Aegis colors of azure and white. They were quite the eyesore, but then again, they were also likely the most expensive clothes Skyle had ever put on. They fit perfectly, and he wondered how they had gotten his measurements. The silky smooth texture of the fabric was unfamiliar to Skyle, but it made him feel uncomfortable, almost as though by wearing another skin he was slowly changing into a whole different creature. That was without even considering Little Shadow besieging his mind with inappropriate thoughts.


    By then, there was a light rapping at the door.


    ¡°Come in, please. Oh, it¡¯s you, Jameson. Good morning!¡±


    Jameson bowed low in the same impeccable butler¡¯s outfit he had been wearing yesterday. They were uniformly black along with his crisply pressed white shirt. Behind him came Nessa bearing a gleaming silver platter that was covered with a fancy metallic dome. She didn¡¯t seem to feel any strain even though the platter was almost four feet wide. Such strength must come from elemental strengthening. Were even the servants at the academy gifted with the elements?


    ¡°Good tidings to you, Young Master. I must apologize for neglecting your breakfast. I had not expected you to be such an early riser. It bodes well for brilliance to be accompanied by industriousness.¡±


    Skyle waved off the compliment. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m just a farmboy and I¡¯m used to waking up early for chores. As a matter of fact, from now on I would like make breakfast..¡±


    He trailed off when he caught Jameson¡¯s uncomfortable look, and quickly amended his words.


    ¡°I mean, I¡¯d like breakfast to be ready for me when I return from my morning run. It should be around this time.¡±


    Jameson¡¯s thin eyebrows sagged down in relief. ¡°It shall be as you command, Young Master. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.¡±


    Nessa carefully set down the platter at a table and lifted the cover. Just at a glance, Skyle counted three different breads, all of them whiter and finer than the next; five different cold meats, including three he didn¡¯t recognize; three sausages, each of different size and color; four types of cheese, each neatly sliced into an elaborate circle; fruits such as grapes, berries, nectarines, plums, pears, and apples; and a mug of wine, a cup of milk, and a glass of fruit juice.


    Staring goggle-eyed at the feast spread out before his eyes, Skyle gulped loudly as his stomach once again growled like a hungry beast. Nessa blushed as she bobbed her head and retreated behind Jameson. The old servant¡¯s face didn¡¯t so much as twitch as he bowed before Skyle.


    ¡°I can see that the Young Master has quite the appetite. Once again, please allow me to apologize for the wait. It shall not happen again.¡±


    Shaking his head, Skyle finally closed his gaping mouth. At least he didn¡¯t need to wipe the drool off his chin.


    ¡°No, Jameson. This is more than enough. I didn¡¯t mean for the breakfast for the whole household to be held in my room.¡±


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Young Master, that¡¯s just your individual portion. Perhaps this current assortment is far too heavy and formal for your tastes? Then I shall ensure that there is a larger variety available for your enjoyment tomorrow in the morning, Young Master.¡±


    Skyle opened his mouth to deny it, but then gave up altogether. Every time he tried to remedy the situation, it only got worse. Nodding gratefully to Jameson, Skyle kept a neutral smile on his face while the servants left the room and closed the door behind.


    After gorging himself with the food and activating the Maw of the Void, Skyle was instantly struck by the wave of pleasurable warmth that spread out from his core. It rejuvenated his limbs and sent a comfortable tingling down his skin. In the Infinite Eye, he could see his muscles greedily absorbing as much of the green energy as they could. Even Skyle was shocked at the amount of food he had consumed by the time he was done. Perhaps it was a good thing Jameson had offered to bring more food tomorrow - he might need it.


    Wrapping up breakfast, Skyle glanced toward the doorway, but then he smirked to himself and vaulted over the balcony instead. He landed from the two-story drop with cat-like grace. His strengthened muscles were already showing results, as they absorbed the shock without needing Skyle to roll in order to mitigate the impact.


    Scanning the courtyard, Skyle didn¡¯t see anybody. Nodding in satisfaction, he dashed toward a nearby wall and with a quick series of leaps, reached the top of the twelve foot wall. Using his momentum, he crested the wall and used one arm to hold himself upside down while glancing back toward the house. Then he pushed himself off and landed on the other side, where a deserted walkway lay.


    He took off at a near-sprint, maintaining his speed along a route he had already mapped out yesterday while sneaking out of the academy. By avoiding the main throughways, he found a good combination of rough terrain and numerous stairs, or at least the best he could find within the fancy academy campus.


    The sun was not fully out yet, and most of the academy lay silent in its slumber. It suited Skyle just fine, as he enjoyed the crisp morning air and he imagined himself back in his morning routine at the farm. The smells and sights were different, but the addictive feeling of pushing himself to his limits was the same. He set a punishing pace for himself, almost twice as fast as the one he¡¯d used with Leon. Before long, he was breathing harshly, beads of sweat trickling down his face. His uniform was soaked, and Skyle felt a stab of regret at soiling the fancy clothes.


    By the time he returned, Skyle estimated he had run 5 miles in well under half an hour. It wasn¡¯t his best, but when accounting for his unfamiliarity with the course and the lack of proper rest, it was passable.


    When he opened the doors of the villa using the magical key he had been provided, Nessa nearly dropped the pitcher she held in her hand in surprise.


    ¡°Y-Young Master? When did you-?¡±


    She looked over her shoulder at the stairs leading up to the second floor, then back toward Skyle as though she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes.


    Skyle coughed embarrassedly. ¡°I¡¯m used to sneaking out quietly. I didn¡¯t want to disturb any of you. Are my brother and sister awake yet?¡±


    Nessa quickly schooled her expression back into a semblance of calm.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯re still within their chambers, Young Master. Should I send for them?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± came a familiar voice over his shoulder.


    Skyle spun on his heel and instantly regretted it. Arms coiled around his head as he was drawn forward with a strangled croak. The same pair of breasts that had tormented him yesterday yielded under the pressure as his face was smushed into them by the enthusiastic embrace.


    ¡°Dear Skyle, you¡¯re such a hard worker! Already up and about when it is only your first day. You¡¯re sure to set a new standard for all geniuses at the academy.¡±


    Syrene Le Sueur grinned down at Skyle as she squeezed fondly. The motion brought his face to even more alarming proximity to the bare skin of her generous breasts. She wore an outfit that was as scandalous as yesterday¡¯s. A fur-lined, strapless dress of scarlet and black accentuated her slim waist while displaying the magnificent curves of her breasts in their full splendor.


    ¡°Madam Summoner, please let me-¡±


    Skyle could barely manage a few babbling words past the wild lust roaring into life within his chest, courtesy of Little Shadow. Why, the little pervert would be the death of him! This was a summoner we were talking about. A sage stage summoner!


    A warning shake made his brain rattle, as if he weren¡¯t flustered enough already.


    ¡°Just one day and you¡¯re already regressing. Now, try again or I¡¯m never letting go.¡±


    Skyle looked up imploringly but was met with a cold sniff. Helpless, he was forced to concede.


    ¡°S-Syrene, please let go of me first.¡±


    Syrene¡¯s gorgeous features sagged down as she had the audacity to pout at Skyle. The boy nearly fainted on the spot. An exalted summoner of the sage stage, and she stood there glowering at Skyle with the sullen look of an affronted schoolgirl.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even look happy to see me. And here I interrupted my beauty sleep in order to come see you first thing, worried sick about you.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s lips slowly parted into the best apologetic smile he could manage under the circumstances. Squashed against her bosom as he was, it was not nearly as easy as it should have been.


    ¡°Syrene, thanks for coming to see me.¡±


    If his voice sounded strained and the words were a tad mechanical, he couldn¡¯t be blamed. He felt as though he were being smothered under the seemingly boundless expanse of her breasts. That heady scent of rose and lilac once again assaulted his nostrils in full force, making his head spin.


    ¡°Liar, you¡¯re just saying that.¡±


    Suppressing a groan, Skyle gave it another shot. Anything to be released from this torture. Already, his brain was a spongy mess, stirred into chaos by Syrene''s teasing and Little Shadow''s over-enthusiastic response.


    ¡°Syrene, I¡¯m so glad to see you! I¡¯m moved beyond words that you¡¯d take the time to visit me at such an early hour. You¡¯re the bestest ever!¡±


    ¡°You mean it?¡±


    Smiling as earnestly as he could at her dubious gaze, Skyle nodded, or at least he tried. His head was still trapped in between her breasts, which made any motion particularly dangerous.


    ¡°Aw, that¡¯s so nice of you to say.¡±


    Syrene finally let go with a happy sigh. Skyle quickly backed away while clutching at his neck, his breath labored as though he were still in the middle of his morning run.


    ¡°Syrene, what brings you here?¡± The look in her face was enough of a warning that he quickly backed up a couple more steps while holding his hands up before him in a placating manner. It was the best he could do. If it were up to him, he¡¯d already be halfway back to the farm, running as hard as he could. ¡°I mean, to what do I owe the unsurpassing pleasure of your company so early?¡±


    Syrene grinned at her newest disciple as though she could read exactly what was running through his mind.


    ¡°I came to set your mind at ease. The academy¡¯s board has decided that we will place the malfunctioning equipment under deferred investigation, pending a probationary period during which your activities will be closely monitored.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Skyle stared blankly at her.


    ¡°It means if you play nice and show just a tiny dash of that brilliance I know you have deep within, the academy will be happy to ignore the 450,000 gold fee for replacing the broken artifacts.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s heart plummeted to his feet and his blood ran cold.


    ¡°I thought it was 225,000 golds,¡± he squeaked, then coughed to clear his voice.


    ¡°Oh, after a closer investigation, they found that they had to replace several spell matrices in the regis testing circle. It seems a few of the essence conduits were stressed beyond their capacity and were on the verge of collapse.¡±


    ¡°B-But it wasn¡¯t my fault.¡±


    Skyle tried his best to ignore the eloquent arch of Syrene¡¯s eyebrow. He figured his best chance to come out of this in one piece was to plead ignorance.


    Syrene nodded to him with a coy smile curving her full, teasing lips.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, it was nothing but an accident. Which is why you¡¯re only being placed under probation. So long as no other priceless magical artifact is damaged in your presence, everything should go back to normal in the next few months.¡±


    A profound sense of unease skittered across his back as he slowly parted his lips.


    ¡°What if, and I¡¯m just saying if, there¡¯s another unfortunate accident?¡±


    ¡°450,000 golds,¡± Syrene said flatly, her words descending upon Skyle¡¯s head like a guillotine.


    ¡°I-I see.¡±


    Gulping loudly, Skyle¡¯s trembling lips stretched into an effigy of a smile.


    ¡°Cheer up, Skyle. At least you weren¡¯t the one who had to sit before those old farts and argue with them for an entire afternoon.¡±


    Rolling her eyes, Syrene drew Skyle closer and placed a metal object in his hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the reason why I came over today. Contrary to what you may believe, my time is actually a very scarce commodity.¡±


    Skyle stared dumbly at the bronze badge in his hand. A single shield glittered brightly under the morning sun, though no stars were carved within. His hand tightened convulsively over this small metallic object that was the sublimation of the most fervent desires of his naive childhood.


    He had done it. He was finally an official student of Aegis Academy. It was only now that he felt the hard edges of the badge in his hand digging into the flesh of his palm that the full weight of reality finally set it.


    Syrene smiled indulgently at the boy without speaking. She seemed to understand that this was somehow special, and allowed him to bask in the moment.


    ¡°Thank you, Syrene,¡± Skyle said quietly after a while, his eyes still riveted upon the plain bronze badge.


    ¡°No need, Skyle. I suspect before long, it will be the Academy thanking you instead.¡±


    Skyle looked up in askance at that, but Syrene merely flashed that enigmatic smile of hers and shook off his query.


    ¡°Your parents insisted on enrolling you into the Warrior School. It seems like a waste of potential, but perhaps it will help you better acclimate yourself to the academy life.  Report to the Warrior School today, the earlier the better. I suspect they will want to test you in their own barbaric ways. They better not hurt you, or they¡¯ll get it from me.¡±


    Syrene shook her fist in a menacing fashion, but to him it only made her look silly. Though he knew she was a summoner of vast powers, he was having trouble taking the woman seriously. Who could blame him?


    ¡°After that, you may select your courses at your own leisure. Just make sure to read up on the rules. You need to earn 10 academy credits for your freshman class. Don¡¯t worry too much about it though, you¡¯re with me and I pity the fool who dares to mess with you.¡±


    Skyle grinned at that, remembering how cowed the masters had been at yesterday¡¯s tests.


    ¡°I¡¯d take you myself, but I will be leaving shortly.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be spending the next few days at a board meeting held at the main branch of Aegis at Glory Peak. All the senior staff has been summoned.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Syrene waved her hand. ¡°Probably just a false alarm from nervous fools. Nothing you need to worry about. I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can. If you need to contact me for any reason, use this.¡±


    Skyle felt a stab of unease at her words, but Syrene didn¡¯t seem to notice as she plopped down another item in his hand. It was a glistening orb barely the size of a grape. It was smooth to the touch and completely transparent, made of a material much like clear glass. Skyle could see a complex set of spell matrices tightly curled within. He held it up as he stared into it with curious eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an echo orb. It can be used for communication over long distances. That one will allow you to send messages to me in case of an emergency.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s pupils widened as he stared at the magical artifact in his hand.


    ¡°But I can¡¯t use elemental essence.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve already charged it up for you. You only need to squeeze it tightly while thinking of me. It will light up, allowing you to start talking. Only use it for emergencies though. It¡¯s such a chore to charge up an echo orb, even for me.¡±


    Skyle studied the flows of essence within the orb. Looking up at Syrene, he could detect a similar tone of essence had been largely depleted from her aura. It must take a great deal of power if even a sage summoner needed to exhaust herself in order to charge up the echo orb.


    Touched deeply in spite of himself, Skyle nodded to Syrene.


    ¡°Thank you for everything, Syrene.¡±


    ¡°Words are cheap, dear Skyle. If you really want to thank me, how about a little farewell kiss before I leave?¡±


    Syrene¡¯s glistening lips drew closer as she bent over him. Skyle let out a startled shriek as he quickly backpedaled, holding his arms up as though to ward off a ferocious beast¡¯s assault. Little Shadow veritably howled in frustration, but the boy could care less.


    ¡°No? Well, perhaps next time, then.¡±


    Winking at Skyle with that mischievous spark in her eye, Syrene turned around and waved over her shoulder as she left the villa.


    Skyle stared after the summoner for a long moment before he heard a resigned sigh at his back. Turning around, he detected a distinct slump to Nessa¡¯s shoulders as she looked down at her bosom. Her breasts were full and round, though not nearly as big as Syrene¡¯s.


    Nessa happened to look up and meet Skyle¡¯s stare just as he was thinking that. Caught red-handed, Skyle quickly averted his gaze, but not before the damage was done.


    This time, he didn¡¯t bother with excuses. Maybe he should just resign himself to being consigned as the boobies pervert of Belleview villa.


    Recalling that heady scent of roses and lilac, Skyle did not seem to notice as his gaze grew distant and a wistful smile took over his expression.

 Chapter 107 - The Legendary Genius

    Chapter 107 - The Legendary Genius


    After washing up and putting on a new uniform, Skyle hesitated for a moment before passing over Kassandra¡¯s room. After yesterday¡¯s ordeal, he wouldn¡¯t begrudge her the extra sleep. He asked Jameson to look after his siblings and headed toward the Warrior School with a purposeful stride.


    Thankfully, he remembered where the arena was, so he didn¡¯t need to ask for directions. By the time he arrived at the grassy slopes of the Warrior training grounds, a surprising number of students had gathered in the area. Given that he hadn¡¯t spotted all that many early risers on his way over, it was impressive. Maybe warrior students were more disciplined than their mage counterparts.


    Only then did Skyle realize that most of the students he saw did not belong to the Warrior School. The silver badges gleaming upon their chests loudly proclaimed their identity as mage students. What were so many of them doing here?


    Skyle siddled over to a young boy about his same age. Though he was slightly taller than Skyle, he was currently standing on tiptoes, craning his head up to gaze over the shoulders of a small crowd that had congregated in front of one particular building.


    ¡°Hi there,¡± Skyle said.


    The other boy didn¡¯t even turn his head around, shooing him away. ¡°Forget it, this is my spot. I¡¯ve been guarding it for an hour already.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Glancing at the student badge on the boy¡¯s chest, Skyle saw that he was a freshman at the Mage School. In fact, most of the students gathered here seemed to belong to either the freshman or sophomore mage class.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to take your spot. Just trying to be a little friendly, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Yeah right, that¡¯s what the last guy said before taking my friend¡¯s spot. Well, I ain¡¯t budging from here. Get lost.¡±


    Skyle spread his hands as he quirked an eyebrow in the boy¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Can you at least tell me what all the commotion is about.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± The boy snorted through his nose as he sneered. ¡°What are you doing here then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a new student at the Warrior School. It¡¯s my first day, and I¡¯m supposed to be enrolling right now.¡±


    The boy threw him a pitying look. Spotting Skyle¡¯s confused expression, he jerked his head toward the tight press of bodies gathered before them.


    ¡°You sure know how to pick the day, huh?  That building over there is where new warrior students enroll. Good luck getting through all the people, though. Be as likely to tear you to pieces as give in a single inch. There¡¯s plenty of people who have been camping it out since before dawn.¡±


    Scratching his head, Skyle frowned as he wondered if he should just return later. Just what was going on?


    ¡°Is it normal for the building to be this busy?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, you idiot. Haven¡¯t you heard what¡¯s happened here at the Warrior School over the past couple days?¡±


    Skyle¡¯s expression was completely blank. The boy sighed through his nose, muttering something about clueless newbies. It was almost as though he weren¡¯t a freshman himself.


    ¡°Well, I suppose your luck is not all bad. You entered the academy at the perfect time to witness history in the making.¡± The boy straightened his back and crossed his arms over his chest as his voice took on a condescending tone. ¡°You know about the Farrow twins, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh crap, don¡¯t tell me..¡±


    If he noticed Skyle flinching, the other boy didn¡¯t seem to care. He pressed on with his explanation, his voice growing more excited and high-pitched with every word.


    ¡°Well, it seems like the real talent in the family¡¯s always been the eldest brother, Skyle Farrow. He¡¯s been training in seclusion all this time, but a couple days ago he finally unleashed his true power. He smashed a team of champions of the arena in a two-on-one fight. His opponents were cousins, but they were both injured so badly that they¡¯re still convalescing from their injuries. Amazing, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Yeah, sure.¡±


    The boy seemed to take Skyle¡¯s half-frozen rictus as astonishment. His gaze grew heated as he clenched his fists.


    ¡°That¡¯s not all. One of them was in the Senior Adept class. That¡¯s the graduating class! There must be at least 4 years of difference between them, maybe even more! Skyle Farrow still smashed him to pieces! I heard the whole arena was soaked in blood and they had to close down the circle for an entire day because it had been wrecked so badly by the release of his powers.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Skyle said, his face growing hot.


    That was not how he recalled events. He had barely managed to scrape a win against that murderous mage student by gambling with his life. Thinking back on it, Skyle felt so ashamed he couldn¡¯t even hold his head up. It had all been luck that had seen him pull through in one piece. His clever strategies could have all come crashing down upon his head with one tiny mistake.


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s old news. Didn¡¯t you hear about what happened at the testing chambers yesterday?¡±


    The new voice barged into the conversation with just as much enthusiasm, leaving Skyle at a loss for words.


    ¡°Oh no, anything but that.¡±


    Skyle was treading across thin ice as it was. He might have gotten away lightly with a probation, but he was already dealing with the taint and trying to hide it from the world. Adding a 450,000 gold debt hanging over his head like the proverbial sword was almost more than his ragged nerves could take.


    ¡°Yeah, I heard a friend talking about it,¡± the boy replied.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re lucky because I was blessed to be among the crowd that witnessed it all.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s amazing! I heard Skyle Farrow set all-time high records across the board.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an understatement if I ever heard one. He shattered the cumulus crystal, but not before it reached the orange spectrum.¡±


    ¡°Orange? No way, that¡¯s the master level spectrum. Are you saying he¡¯s a master? That¡¯s impossible!¡±


    ¡°I know what I saw, alright? But wait, that¡¯s not even half of it. He also smashed the gravitas golem apart with one blow!¡±


    ¡°What? I thought those things were supposed to be indestructible!¡±


    ¡°If only they really were unbreakable,¡± Skyle lamented in his head, ¡°more brittle than glass, them puppets.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, only a true genius like Skyle Farrow could achieve such a feat. It¡¯s practically unheard of. But stop interrupting me. The best part were the results of the regis test.¡±


    ¡°I heard he set several new records, right?¡±


    Somewhere along the way, the boy whom Skyle had initially addressed had become so excited that he was gripping Skyle¡¯s hand in a feverish grip. Skyle tugged at it a couple times, but he was held fast.


    ¡°He absolutely shattered all the records. Kassandra Farrow held the top spot with a Regis score of 220. Can you guess what Skyle Farrow¡¯s score was?¡±


    ¡°What was it? Don¡¯t string me out like this!¡±


    ¡°Please do. Just shut up and leave me be.¡± Skyle wished he could just curl up and go die in a corner. Dim as they were, Skyle had still held a glimmer of hope that he might be able to lead a quiet, low-key life at the academy. Now that the news were spreading across the entire student body like a wildfire, his hopes were dashed to pieces.


    ¡°393 Regis!¡±


    ¡°What? Impossible!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not all, either.¡± The speaker¡¯s voice positively dripped with puffed-up vanity, as though he were bragging about his own scores.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°He achieved a high elemental affinity with all four elements. His proficiency rating was A+!¡±


    ¡°F-Four elements? That¡¯s impossible! I¡¯ve only ever heard of dual element geniuses!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why everyone¡¯s here, hoping to see the genius who will rise to become a legend with their own eyes. Mark my words, one day we¡¯ll be able to tell our grandchildren that we saw Skyle Farrow with our very own eyes on the day he first enrolled into the academy¡¯s Warrior School.¡±


    ¡°Wait, why is he enrolling at the Warrior School? Isn¡¯t it such a waste of his elemental talent?¡±


    ¡°I heard others talking about it. It is the widely held opinion that Skyle Farrow wishes to smash all the records at the Warrior School first, before ascending to the Mage School. Then he can finish things off at the Summoner School!¡±


    The boy who held Skyle¡¯s hand had a dazed look upon his face as he turned his glassy-eyed stare toward the Warrior School. As for Skyle, he didn¡¯t know whether he should be laughing or crying. When had he become a school smasher?


    ¡°True geniuses sure are different. I¡¯d give my left arm just to hold a single record under my name.¡±


    Scoffs could be heard from all around them.


    ¡°Yeah right. Dream on.¡±


    ¡°Idiot, keep talking like that and you might find Skyle Farrow himself paying you a little visit.¡±


    ¡°Really? I think it¡¯d be worth it to get my ass kicked, if I could stand upon the same arena as a legendary genius.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crushing the hand of that same genius right now,¡± Skyle moaned to himself.


    ¡°See? That¡¯s why I said you¡¯re lucky to be here today,¡± the boy said, finally turning his attention back to Skyle. ¡°Who knows, one day you might even get to witness Skyle Farrow smashing all the warrior records.¡±


    ¡°Wait, is that why all the warrior students look so pissed off?¡± Skyle said, suddenly aware of the stormy brows and fierce scowls of all the biggest, meanest looking students spread around the crowd.


    ¡°Yep. After all, we all know Skyle Farrow won¡¯t waste much time at a trashy place like the Warrior School. He¡¯ll transfer to the Mage School as soon as he¡¯s done shattering all their records and embarrassing all those brain-dead gorillas.¡±


    ¡°Who did you call a brain-dead gorilla? I dare you to say that to my face, you midget.¡±


    A tall shadow loomed over the mage student. The first thing Skyle saw when he turned around was the warrior badge resting almost eye-level to him. Tilting his head back, Skyle¡¯s mouth hung open as he saw one of the biggest, meanest looking youths he had ever faced. The behemoth easily stood out even among the intimidating crowd that was the Warrior School.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The warrior student stood at least two feet taller than Skyle, a true behemoth around seven feet tall. Bulging muscles that looked more like boulders rested upon shoulders set so wide that not even two Skyles would have been able to put their arms around them. His lips were set in a grim line as a craggy fist reached out to snatch the mage student off the ground. The giant didn¡¯t even look as though he felt the strain.


    ¡°H-Hey, what are you doing? V-Violence is not allowed within academy grounds!¡± If the mage student¡¯s voice was squeaky thin, no one could blame him.


    ¡°Those are the rules for you wimps at ladies¡¯ school. This here is where the lions among men gather, and you look like prey. Now, I dare you to call me a gorilla just one more time.¡±


    All the blood drained from the poor mage student¡¯s face. He was trying to babble a response, but only incoherent sounds escaped past his trembling lips.


    ¡°Here now, I don¡¯t think he meant any harm. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be willing to apologize for any slight you might have felt.¡±


    Skyle placed a placating hand over the brawny student¡¯s arm, trying his best to appear as non-confrontational as he dared. Just as a precaution though, he used the Far Sight. After all, he was so badly outmassed that the giant would barely need to sneeze to knock him flying away.


    ¡°Mind your own business,¡± the warrior student growled, casually flicking him away without turning to look.


    Having seen the move coming, Skyle leaned back and let the ponderous arm sweep by barely an inch away from his face. The giant had not expected that his hand would fail to connect, and nearly lost his balance. For the first time, he swiveled his head to take a good look at Skyle. The instant that he did, his features froze and his pupils flew wide.


    ¡°I-It¡¯s you! You really came!¡±


    Skyle frantically shook his head, waving his hands back and forth in denial.


    It was no use. The giant gingerly set down the terrified mage student and took a careful step back, not taking his eyes off Skyle for even a single moment, as though he were expecting to be attacked at any moment.


    ¡°Skyle Farrow, I spectated your fight upon the arena. I¡¯d recognize your blood-thirsty face anywhere! Can¡¯t you be content to have broken the all-time records at the academy testing grounds? Must you also come to tear down the pride of the Warrior School?¡±


    Gasps rang out all across the crowd as every set of eyes turned to stare at Skyle. The ensuing silence seemed to stretch endlessly as every breathless spectator watched the confrontation unfold between the legendary genius and the stalwart defender of the Warrior School¡¯s honor.


    The mage student lay sprawled upon the ground, staring at Skyle with blood-shot eyes. The shame in his face at failing to recognize Skyle warred with the hero-worshipping elation spilling over from his sparkling gaze.


    Skyle was struck speechless by the sudden turn of events. Ignoring the mage student for now, he began to fumble inside his pockets for the acceptance letter he had received from Syrene. It was still not too late to explain the true reason he was here. Surely, the honorable warrior student would listen to reason. Hell, they would soon be classmates, of a sort.


    The warrior student instantly backed away a couple steps while his hand reached down to rest nervously upon the hilt of a massive mace he held strapped by his waist.


    ¡°So, straight to business, is it? Well, I¡¯m always ready to throw down! You¡¯ll sully the honor of our school over my dead body, Skyle Farrow!¡±


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not what I-¡± Skyle began, when a young girl walked up behind the giant and unceremoniously slapped him in the back of the head with a solic whack.


    The giant hardly seemed to have felt the blow, not having budged an inch. When he turned around to confront his attacker, however, all the belligerence fled from his face.


    ¡°Elena? What are you doing here?¡±


    Skyle tried not to stare, and failed miserably. The fierce giant who had been ready to lay his life on the line in order to defend his honor now pressed his lips together as he sulked and shifted his feet uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the newly arrived girl.


    ¡°What do you think, Durnik, you big fool. I¡¯m doing my job and saving your hide while at it.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±


    Elena flicked her head in Skyle¡¯s direction. ¡°This one''s my responsibility. Get back to your training before you hurt yourself, alright? Unless you want to explain to Master Fallon why his orders weren¡¯t carried out.¡±


    All the reluctance swiftly fled from his expression the moment the name was mentioned. Durnik didn¡¯t even bother saying anything else. He just turned around and left with hardly a care, all the while mopping at the dampness on his forehead.


    Next, Elena turned her attention on Skyle. ¡°As for you, you must be Skyle, right?¡±


    Drawing his gaping jaw closed, Skyle nodded stiffly.


    ¡°Good, then follow me. I¡¯ll get you settled.¡±


    Skyle finally breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe sanity still prevailed in some parts of the world, after all.


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯d been meaning to..¡±


    Skyle trailed off when he found himself speaking to the girl¡¯s retreating back as she made her way through the crowd. The gathered students opened a path before her without a word, and Skyle quickly followed.


    As he did so, he could hear the murmurs of the crowd around him.


    ¡°That¡¯s him? He doesn¡¯t look as blood-thirsty as I¡¯d heard.¡±


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the mark of a true killer. They shake your hand with the right hand while their left stabs you straight in the gut.¡±


    ¡°Shh, he may hear you.¡±


    ¡°I heard there wasn¡¯t a single unbroken bone in any of poor Dalian¡¯s limbs.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what he gets for offending a genius.¡±


    Skyle did his best to drown it all out, hurrying to catch up with the girl. She led them away from the crowd, inside another building with a wide gate. Thankfully, the other students were held up by the attendants standing by the entrance.


    Peering around at the brightly lit hallways, Skyle frowned at the how devoid of people they were.


    ¡°Is this the way to the enrollment office?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s all been taken care of by the admin staff.¡±


    ¡°Then where are you taking me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in charge of your preliminary assessment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with the process. What¡¯s the assessment about?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re at the Warrior School of Aegis Academy. Take a wild guess.¡±


    Skyle frowned at the girl¡¯s impatient tone, but decided to let it pass. At least they had finally gotten away from the crowds.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how the system works, but I had nothing to do with those silly rumors. I just want a quiet seat at a class where I can mind my own business and study.¡±


    The girl finally paused at his words. She turned around and Skyle had a good look at her for the first time.


    She was the same height as him, and likely of a similar age. The calm expression on her face drew a sharp contrast with her fiery red hair and bright hazel eyes. She wore a short-sleeve top that revealed the fair skin of her arms and the many recent scratches and bruises that marred it. Her tight-fitting leggings hugged the slim curves of her legs, where Skyle could easily see the outlines of well-trained muscles.


    ¡°Is that what you told Dalian and Calvin Hawthorn before you beat them unconscious?¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help the frown that emerged on his face at her words. He opened his mouth to explain himself, but as he thought back at the ghastly wounds he had inflicted upon his opponents on that day, he found that he couldn¡¯t find anything to say.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t enjoy what happened on the arena anymore than they did.¡±


    ¡°Easy words to say when you¡¯re the one walking away.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I was blown away by the older Hawthorn¡¯s fire spell. They had to carry me home unconscious.¡±


    ¡°I know, I was among the spectators. Yet here you are, glory piled high upon your lap while your enemies lie vanquished and exiled.¡±


    Skyle blinked at her words. ¡°Is that what happened to them?¡±


    ¡°At least Dalian is, since you took his badge. As for Senior Calvin, he hasn¡¯t been seen since the incident. You didn¡¯t know?¡±


    Shaking his head, Skyle let out a sigh. ¡°Maybe it is for the best. I really don¡¯t want any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed. You¡¯re burning far too bright already. They say the brighter the light, the thicker the shadow. Already, there are plenty of fools looking to challenge you and make a name for themselves. Instant fame and glory make for a very tempting combination.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re welcome to it, for all I care.¡±


    The girl seemed surprised at his reaction. ¡°Are you really Skyle Farrow?¡±


    The question finally snapped Skyle out of his reverie. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re different from how I imagined.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    She tilted her head sideways, gazing at Skyle with a thoughtful look to her face.


    ¡°You sound tired and afraid.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I am,¡± Skyle confessed with a heavy sigh.


    She shook her head from side to side, never taking her eyes off him.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. Master Fallon says that courage, true courage, is forged in the crucible of fear. Without such fear, there is no true valor. For only those who have smelled their fear, tasted it upon their lips, can rise against it and overcome it.¡±


    Skyle calmly met her gaze. Shadows of the harrowing struggles he had overcome flashed by just under the surface of his eyes. He wasn¡¯t sure if she saw it, but after a moment the girl nodded to him.


    ¡°Maybe this won¡¯t be a waste of my time, after all.¡± A tight smile spread across her face. ¡°Well met, Skyle Farrow. I¡¯m Elena Windgate, and I will be carrying out your placement evaluation.¡±


    ¡°What kind of evaluation?¡±


    Elena¡¯s smile grew wider as she pushed open the doors behind her back. She opened her hand in a beckoning motion.


    ¡°Trial by combat, of course. What else? We are a bunch of brainless gorillas, after all.¡± Her words reached Skyle¡¯s ears just as the boy took in the spacious hall spread out before him.


    Eyeing the numerous racks upon racks of weapons of every type that lay within, Skyle suddenly found that the smile on Elena¡¯s face was rather contagious.

 Chapter 108 - Come Little Elly

    Chapter 108 - Come Little Elly


    Skyle hefted the one-handed short sword he had picked up. It was a serviceable blade, double-edged with a firm guard and finely balanced around the hilt of the sword. It was both light enough that he would be able to wield it without a problem, but with enough heft to it that it would help him compensate for his lack of strength when the time came to deliver blows.


    Elena watched patiently while Skyle picked his weapon. Once he was done, she picked up a double-headed axe and twirled it deftly around her hand. The weapon was a monstrosity that must weigh over eight pounds, but she handled it as if it were a toy. It made Skyle feel as though he were holding a tiny needle in his hand instead of a proper sword.


    The axe-wielding girl caught the look on his face and raised her eyebrows in askance.


    ¡°Would you like to pick out something else?¡±


    Skyle shook his head and gestured toward the door. Elena shrugged, then headed outside, the humongous axe propped up against her shoulder.


    When they stepped back into the hallway, Skyle¡¯s steps halted the moment he saw the direction they were headed in.


    ¡°Is the fight going to happen outside of the building?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll be using one of the training arenas. Why? What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d prefer to avoid the crowds if possible.¡±


    Elena pursed her lips as she considered his request, but then a grin broke out on her face.


    ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t see why not. There will be a lot of disappointed fans, though.¡±


    Skyle held back a groan, instead nodding in wordless gratitude.


    Elena led them further into the building. They exited through a pair of double doors and stepped into an expansive inner courtyard that held a beautiful garden. Water burbled from a fountain, feeding into a brook that circled a small island. There, a beautiful gazebo had been erected. Ornate wooden carvings decorated it from top to bottom. Around it, colorful trees and flowers that had been meticulously trimmed and cared for completed the picture. Four small bridges crossed over to the island, and Elena led Skyle through one of them.


    Skyle looked around in confusion.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the arena where we will be sparring?¡±


    ¡°This is it.¡±


    Skyle glanced toward the gazebo and the beautiful plants all around them with a hesitant expression.


    ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re allowed to spar here?¡±


    Elena grinned toothily. ¡°Relax, it will just be a quick bout to see what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Skyle studied the girl before him with a skeptical eye. She was about his same height, and her build was even slimmer than his. She must weight all of 90 pounds soaking wet. Though he could not see an ounce of fat on her arms and legs, neither did she strike him as a particularly vicious opponent.


    Elena endured his examining gaze with grace, smiling as she propped her axe on the ground and leaned her elbow upon its handle.


    ¡°Done sizing me up?¡±


    Skyle scratched his head, embarrassed that his actions had been read so easily. It was then that he realized how foolish he was. Wasn''t it blatantly obvious that if she could handle such a monster of an axe with ease, she must be incredibly talented with the elements?


    "Fine, I get the message, Little Shadow."


    Activating his True Sight, Skyle gaped for a moment while he inadvertently took a couple steps back.


    Elena still wore a casual smile, but her aura told an entirely different story. It was burning up with a fierce scarlet hue that spilled over into every adjacent color. It was obvious that her element was fire, just like Leon. However, even a summoner as gifted as Leon had a regular aura with the fire element only being more predominant around his core.


    The fire element in Elena¡¯s aura was not as bright, but every inch of her body was bathed with it. Even as Skyle watched, she was absorbing more fire essence from from the air around them, where it dissolved into a stream that fed into her entire body. That¡¯s where the layer of scarlet came from.


    Skyle rubbed at his eyes, blinking dazedly. Was this what Talon had meant about elemental warriors absorbing the power of the elements into their bodies in order to strengthen them?


    ¡°If you keep staring at me like that, I might begin to think you¡¯re into me or something.¡±


    For once, Skyle didn¡¯t blush. He couldn¡¯t afford to take this opponent lightly at all. Judging from the intensity of the elemental power surging through her body, Skyle suddenly had no trouble understanding how she could wield such a huge weapon with ease. This last thought finally sparked a memory in him.


    ¡°Wait a moment, I saw you a couple days ago! You were the girl smashing the wooden target dummy in half!¡±


    ¡°Oh? There¡¯s a lot of girls who train with target dummies.¡±


    ¡°You split it in half with a single blow.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of strong female warriors at the academy.


    ¡°While also wielding a double-bladed axe that was almost taller than herself?¡±


    Elena shrugged as she looked at the axe she held in her hands with regret.


    ¡°Well, you got me. Yeah, I don¡¯t like these tiny things at all. They¡¯ve got no heft to them, no real weight. You swing and swing but never quite get that crunch that comes from delivering a real gut-busting blow to the opponent.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s eyebrows climbed halfway up his forehead, his eyes pointedly staring at the axe she held in her hands. In what world could such a colossal weapon be considered tiny?


    Elena seemed to mistake the meaning of his gaze. She sighed as she shook her head in disappointment.


    ¡°You probably saw Reaper. That¡¯s my axe, she¡¯s been handed down the family from generation to generation. Sadly, this was all sort of last minute and I can¡¯t cast the spell to blunt its edges myself. So, I was left with no choice other than to pick up this tiny puppy from the armory.¡±


    Skyle glanced at the edge of her axe, which did indeed look to be blunted. What was the point, though? With the sheer mass of that thing, if it even brushed his side, he¡¯d be sent flying to the next world without so much as a prayer.


    ¡°So, are you ready to begin?¡± Elena smiled with her eyes, a fierce fire beginning to light up their depths.


    ¡°Wait, why are you so fired up about this? You said we would just be sparring.¡±


    Elena opened her mouth as though to speak, but a voice from behind Skyle cut her off.


    ¡°That would be my fault.¡±


    Skyle whirled around and blinked at the newcomer. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark hair that fell to his shoulders. His scruffy chin sported a grin that looked decidedly sheepish as he nodded to Skyle in greeting.


    That disarmingly friendly smile had not been forgotten by Skyle, nor had his mysterious words from that day.


    ¡°Roland Hamonet?¡± Skyle blurted out in disbelief, recalling the Senior Adept who had processed his request to duel Dalian, the wanna-be bully.


    ¡°Yo Skyle. While I¡¯m gratified to find that the newest genius of our Aegis Academy deigns to remember little old me, I¡¯m now most definitely your senior. You should address me as such.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Senior Adept Hamonet.¡±


    Roland waved off Skyle¡¯s apology with an infectiously crooked grin.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. To be honest, I don¡¯t care for all those stiff-necked conventions. A lot of other students and the academy staff take them quite seriously, however, and things could get annoying if they overhear you. Still, Senior Adept Hamonet is such a mouthful. Besides, it sounds so serious, especially given the fact that we know each other. Just for the appearance¡¯s sake, you may as well call me senior brother or Senior Roland, whatever floats your fancy.¡±


    Skyle found the young man¡¯s aura brimming with honesty as he said those things, and so he felt at ease as he nodded back.


    ¡°Got it. Thank you for the pointers, senior brother.¡±


    The words had barely left his tongue when he felt an intense wave of hostility from his back. Startled, Skyle spun around and stared at the surging tide of scarlet exploding forth from Elena. Her previous air of feigned indifference was gone, having vanished into thin air. Instead, her red-tinged eyes were staring daggers at Roland.


    ¡°E-Elena? What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind Little Elly, she just takes this kind of stuff way too seriously for her own good.¡±


    Skyle was tempted to point out that she had been taking it just fine before Roland had shown up. Point in fact, his last sentence only seemed to make things worse.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Little Elly!¡± Her face was tinged with a furious shade of red, the veins in her neck bulging out.


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    ¡°Calm down, little sister. Geez, you¡¯re like a firecracker. As soon as someone lights up the fuse, you just go off on them, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Skyle swiveled his head back to stare at Roland. ¡°Little sister?¡±


    Roland quickly waved his hands. ¡°No, no, she¡¯s not my real sister. We¡¯re just cousins.¡±


    ¡°Twice removed,¡± Elena pushed out between gritted teeth.


    ¡°Very true, that. Still, her parents have commended her care into my very capable hands. As such, I slave away in order to find opponents that can nurture her skills until she¡¯s all grown up.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve had me fighting nothing but wooden dummies for the past three weeks!¡±


    Skyle flinched at the vehemence in her words. Elena¡¯s face twisted into a ferocious snarl as she glared at Roland with venom-filled eyes, as though she would bore a hole straight through him if only she could.


    His new senior brother just shrugged his shoulders, having the gall to look aggrieved.


    ¡°I told you that if you don¡¯t like my training menu, all you have to do is force me to unsheathe my weapon once.¡±


    A haunted look flashed past her expression as she glanced at the slender blade hanging on Roland¡¯s back. It was apparent to Skyle that her inability to take Roland up on his challenge was not for the lack of trying.


    Then something strange happened. Her aura began to converge around her core until her hostility became a razor-sharp blade of killing intent. When it completely coalesced into a murderous aura that had his hairs standing on end, its target, for some unfathomable reason, had become Skyle instead of Roland.


    Skyle pointed a finger at his chest while staring at Elene with wide-eyed innocence. He definitely felt wronged in this situation.


    ¡°Hey, slow down. I have nothing to do with this whole mess.¡±


    By this point, Roland had walked up to Skyle¡¯s side. He laid a hand upon the younger boy¡¯s shoulder, shaking his head while clearing his throat with an uncomfortable expression on his face.


    ¡°Ahem. Actually, Skyle, it has quite a bit to do with you.¡± Roland patted Skyle¡¯s shoulder with an apologetic smile. ¡°You see, Little Elly-¡±


    ¡°Stop calling me that!¡±


    ¡°-looked so sad, almost on the verge of tears, as she recognized the strength of my blade, the ethereal fleetness of my steps, and the unsurpassed sharpness of my wit-¡±


    ¡°I was shedding tears of rage while I cursed you as a bully, a coward and a cheat!¡±


    ¡°-that I offered her an alternative, as I¡¯d heard her complaining about her newest assignment in welcoming a new student. It just so happened that I remembered you clearly, since you left such a vivid impression upon my mind. So, I inspired her with my most dazzling combat technique and took hold of the moment to teach her that a true warrior never looks down on his opponent and that defeat is only a razor¡¯s edge away from victory. Thus, she should make full use of this great opportunity-¡±


    ¡°You kicked my butt into the ground while laughing and spat out something along the lines of throwing a pearl at the swine¡¯s feet!¡±


    ¡°-to compete against the new genius of Aegis Academy, who had already bested one of the champions of the arena with nothing but the strength of his arms and the sharpness of his wit. To provide further encouragement, I told her that should she claim victory in this supreme test of skills-¡±


    ¡°You called it a whack-a-thon to see who¡¯s left standing last!¡±


    ¡°-I would allow her to pick and choose her own training menu for the next three months.¡±


    Skyle stared at this maniac who had pretty much signed his death warrant with a few careless words. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that the amount of pent up frustration bubbling up in Elena¡¯s aura had reached a fever pitch. She was breathing heavily as she stared bloody murder, not at Roland who was her tormentor, but rather at Skyle who was to be her hapless victim.


    ¡°Um, I think I¡¯ll just waive the combat assessment. I¡¯m more of a bookworm, in any case. Love books, abhor swords and all that stuff. Blood terrifies me. I might faint dead away.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that Skyle was scared, for he had squared off against bigger and much badder foes than the girl standing in front of him. This was simply a matter of common sense. He could immediately feel the bad blood in the air between these two - who wouldn¡¯t? He¡¯d be a fool to get involved in all this.


    The way he saw things, there was no winning in this scenario. Either he got beaten to a pulp with all the furious violence a maddened killing machine could wield with that obscenely huge axe, or he defeated Elena and would thereafter have to deal with her constant string of challenges. He could see it clear as day that she would never stop challenging him until she won, and the school evaluation be damned.


    Roland must have read the dilemma Skyle found himself in from his expression. He patted the boy on the back and offered another apologetic smile.


    ¡°Sorry for the inconvenience. She¡¯s just so headstrong, I¡¯m frankly out of my wits trying to beat some sense into the swollen muscle she calls a brain. Thanks in advance for the help. I¡¯ll treat you to some puffed candied corn when we¡¯re done with all this. Have you ever tried it? Delicious stuff, I don¡¯t know what genius came up with the idea.¡±


    Faced with the one-sided speech, Skyle finally began to sympathize with his opponent, just a little.


    ¡°Prepare yourself, Skyle Farrow. I won¡¯t go easy just because you¡¯re innocent. I will not lose. I refuse! I¡¯ve been spitting blood and guts every hour for the past three weeks while crushing four hundred seventy nine puppets. I have vowed that I will do anything it takes to be released from that puppet hell.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t hold back the cringe he felt when he heard how many puppets the poor girl had gone through. Risking a glance toward Roland, he reflected that appearances were deceiving and his senior brother might well be an evil genius of a man.


    After all, he had seldom seem a more motivated fighter on any arena. Even desperate people fighting for their lives couldn¡¯t match the zeal and grim determination that lit up Elena¡¯s eyes from the inside.


    A shadow of empathy flicked past her expression as she watched Skyle attentively, and the hard lines of her face softened just a hair as she glanced down at the elaborate robes he was wearing..


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you a deal, Skyle Farrow: surrender. Give up the fight and I¡¯ll request the academy to send another examiner. After all, it is not fair for an untrained boy to fight an expert like me. I don¡¯t care what kind of success you¡¯ve found on the arena while squaring off against those mages. This is a real combat duel. It''s a whole different realm from the world of you pampered mages that you¡¯re about to see, and you might not like what you find.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s expression hardened as he heard her words. In truth, he had been on the verge of proposing just such a deal. It would adequately deal with both their problems at the same time. Skyle would be freed from the obsessive clutches of this girl and her murderous axe, while she could finally devote her time to slaying fearsome magical beasts or gutting hapless students upon the arena¡¯s sand -whatever tickled her fancy wasn¡¯t his problem.


    That was until she spoke. Her words, and the underlying attitude, just rubbed Skyle the wrong way. He did not usually care overmuch what strangers thought of him, and no one would call him belligerent. Maybe it was all the frustrations he had to endure so far, both with Syrene and the stupid talent tests, the constant misunderstandings back at the villa, or just how soundly Talon had beaten him down last night.


    Whatever it was, Skyle was beyond caring. Talon might have the credentials, the knowledge and the skill to look down on him and tell him that his training was just not good enough. As for this scrawny little girl with her confident glare and impatient line to her lips, that was a whole different matter altogether.


    ¡°No deal.¡± Skyle said, shrugging off Roland¡¯s arm from around his neck and rolling his shoulders. Then he unsheathed his shortsword and flicked the scabbard away. He gave it a deft flourish, the blade trailing a glittering afterimage of gold dust under the dawn sun. When he finally stopped, he held the blade at a practiced guard position, his weight perfectly balanced on the balls of his feet. Then he flicked his fingers at her.


    ¡°Ready when you are. Come at me, Little Elly.¡±


    Elena¡¯s eyes went wide when she heard his words. Only a moment later, they were veritably spitting fire as she let out a furious roar and leapt high into the air while lifting her monstrous axe overhead. At the apex of her jump, when she was at least ten feet high in the air, her enraged words finally registered in Skyle¡¯s brain.


    ¡°Don''t call me that!¡±


    A fierce grin lit up Skyle¡¯s face as he stepped forward to meet his opponent, and the battle began in earnest.

 Chapter 109 - Blazing Star Elena

    Chapter 109 - Blazing Star Elena


    Stunned by the incredible feat of strength that was required to leap ten feet into the air while brandishing that monster of an axe, Skyle nearly lost the fight right then and there. The problem was only compounded further when the axe suddenly burst into flames. Only at the last second, when the shadow cast by his opponent landed upon his face, did he finally come back to his senses and spring into motion.


    Not panicking, Skyle hopped back a couple feet as he swayed his torso away from the axe¡¯s trajectory. As he did so, he wound up his arm and prepared a counter-blow. Surprised as he was by her reckless move, Skyle meant to make her pay for leaving herself open with such an exaggerated blow. It may look imposing on the surface, but in truth it left her wide open to his counter-attack, so long as he could avoid the initial strike.


    An uneasy suspicion blossomed in his mind, and Skyle instantly activated the Far Sight. When he did so, the blood instantly drained from his face as shock froze his expression. The next moment, he desperately jerked his numb limbs into motion and flung himself as far away as he could. All the while, the Infinite Eye¡¯s 360 degree field of vision afforded him a crystal clear view of Elena¡¯s so-called reckless move. What he saw matched almost completely with what he had seen in the Far Sight, and that only made his blood run even colder.


    The massive double-bladed axe descended upon the ground in a phantom blur that left a brilliant streak of fire flickering in its trail. As soon it struck home, a deafening explosion shattered the ground and sent flaming pieces of debris soaring through the air. The impact¡¯s blast struck Skyle while he was diving away, sending him sprawling to the floor in a pathetic jumble of flailing limbs.


    A thick cloud of dust immediately obscured the entire area. Skyle rolled to his feet as best he could, coughing out mouthfuls of dirt as he squeezed his eyes shut against the dust. When he cautiously pried his eyes open, the first sight that met his tear-streaked gaze were the eager tongues of flame lapping away at his robes.


    Muffling a strangled shout, Skyle frantically slapped at the flames until they died with his one free hand. He did not dare lower his sword, as he knew that apocalyptic blow had only been the opening move. Skyle could feel cold sweat rolling down his back as he considered the tragedy that would have befallen him if he had insisted on merely swaying aside from the blow. He doubted there would be enough pieces left of him to pick up.


    ¡°Are you crazy, girl? You almost killed me!¡±


    Skyle¡¯s shout hovered near the edge of hysteria. He nervously paced back and forth in a tight semi-circle, panting heavily while squinting against the thick cloud of dust. The sword in his hand, however, was held in a secure grip, his hand steady and his body always perfectly balanced.


    This was all an act, of course. With his True Sight, Skyle could easily see Elena rising to her feet from the center of the small crater she had created with her strike. While it had been an impressive blow, it was impossible to recover from it in short order. Skyle had contemplated rushing forward, but by the time he finally recovered from his surprise at the fierceness of the attack and finished putting out the flames from his body, Elena had almost finished recovering.


    Her one weakness that Skyle could immediately see was her disdain for him as a mere mage student. She couldn¡¯t be blamed for her mistaken assumption, since Skyle¡¯s body had never been nurtured by the elements as any elemental warrior would do. The panic and noise Skyle was creating was in the hopes that Elena would become overconfident just one more time.


    Glancing down at his short sword, Skyle knew that would be enough to put a quick end to this fight, mighty fire warrior or not.


    Rushing steps echoed from up ahead, and Skyle couldn¡¯t hold back the feral grin that lit up his face. He knew an opponent like Talon would have never fallen so easily for such a ploy. Even as Skyle gathered his senses and prepared himself, Elena¡¯s figure in the True Sight flared with fiery essence one more time.


    Calm and composed, Skyle kept track of her movement as the fire essence traveled down to her legs and expanded explosively, propelling her upward in a powerful leap. It was the same move she had used earlier. She meant to display her dominance and end the match in a single strikes. He could read from the mix of surprise and annoyance in her aura that she wanted to finish it in a single, overwhelming show of force.


    ¡°Too bad I¡¯m your opponent. Better luck next time, girl.¡±


    Skyle used the Rabbit Step to propel himself forward, straight toward Elena. Any other person might have thought this was a suicidal charge, but Skyle¡¯s hand upon the hilt of his sword was rock steady as he drew it back over his shoulder.


    ¡°If you want to play rough, don¡¯t blame me for indulging!¡±


    His burst of speed reached its peak when Skyle leapt into the air, still silent as a ghost. At the same time, he brought his sword down in a wild hacking motion, fueled by every last inch of strength he could muster.


    Only a flicker of a shadow passed over him, but a triumphant smile stretched his lips taut as he felt his sword connect, striking a vicious blow. It was followed by a muffled grunt, and Skyle knew his blow had struck home. The feedback had been good. It had almost ripped the sword from his grasp.


    Skyle touched upon the ground and skidded to a halt. Behind him, a thunderous crash reached his ears, then everything was silent once more. After checking with the True Sight, Skyle was nearly struck speechless when he saw that the girl was only flattened on the ground, slightly dazed, but without any serious injuries.


    Not wasting any time, Skyle immediately spun on his heel and dashed forward. He dove through the curtains of dust and homed in on his target with dogged determination.


    By the time Elena was finally able to shake the stars away from her vision, she could only stare at the tip of the sword hovering two inches over her throat. She couldn¡¯t detect even the slightest of tremors upon the blade. She followed the sword to the slim hands that held it in a firm grip, then finally met the calm grey eyes of the boy who had beaten her in as dramatic a fashion as she had hoped to do herself.


    Skyle could read in her expression the moment realization dawned upon her. It had all been a ruse. The panic in his voice, the constant noise of shuffling steps, they had all been meant to manipulate her overconfidence and goad her into reaching for that satisfying one-hit victory.


    They stared at each other for a long moment while the dust finally settled down. Elena¡¯s chest was working like bellows, her breath coming in harsh gasps as her face flushed with emotion. Her eyes made dozens of heated arguments and appeals, based on her opinion of the short-lived bout¡¯s results.


    Skyle, on the other hand, simply stood over her with his sword extended. He did not say a single word, and let the steady point of his sword nearly kissing the skin of her neck do all the talking.


    Moments later, Elena finally seemed to calm down. The storm of emotions flitting through her aura relaxed a little, and a wry smile came unbidden to her lips.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    ¡°Well played, Skyle Farrow. Very well played indeed.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Immediately after his opponent acknowledged her loss, Skyle withdrew his sword. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he reached down, offering his hand.


    Elena¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at his hand, but after a brief internal struggle, she clasped it firmly with her own. Skyle pulled her up with a grunt, secretly shocked at how heavy she was. Belatedly, he realized it was because essence strengthened muscles and bones would invariably weigh several times more after being infused with the elements. Why, even a shameless cheat of a farmboy ought to at least know that much.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat. I employed sound tactics to provide myself with an overwhelming advantage.¡±


    Even as he mentally replied to Little Shadow¡¯s unwelcome commentary, he could feel the skin of his face flushing.


    Elena, whose hand was still clasped tightly in his, noticed this change and suddenly averted her gaze, her skin also taking on a lovely shade of pink. She quickly withdrew her hand and turned around, explaining over her shoulder in low, hushed tones.


    ¡°I should look for my axe. Not that it¡¯s mine, but I¡¯ll never hear the end of it if I get it nicked and dented. Master Beoulf treats each and every single one of these slags of metal as though they were his little babies, the silly old coot.¡±


    Skyle stared at the unexpected side of this strange girl who had nearly gotten him killed with her reckless blows. Judging from the extent of her injuries, or rather, the lack thereof, Skyle gathered that she assumed her opponent would have at least some measure of defensive capabilities. What she didn¡¯t know was that her first blow alone would have instantly killed Skyle if he hadn¡¯t avoided the blow.


    A loud clapping sound echoed from behind him. It was a familiar sound, and Skyle wondered if all Roland did was clap at others¡¯ fights, not caring about the fact that he had almost gotten one of them killed. In fact, as Skyle turned a baleful eye upon the cause for his near encounter with death, it was obvious to him that Roland was delighted that his younger cousin had lost the match. In fact, the manner of her defeat seemed to please him even further.


    ¡°Ah, Little Elly, I told you that recklessness of yours would cost you dearly one day. Let this be a lesson for you.¡±


    For once, Elena did not instantly roar back at her cousin. Instead, she gazed down at the axe in her hands with a solemn expression.


    Skyle might have felt a tinge of sympathy for the girl, if only she hadn¡¯t just tried to murder him in cold blood.


    ¡°One more time.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Skyle felt his heart lurch within his chest as he tilted his head to the side and cupped a hand to his ear, hoping he had misheard.


    ¡°Just one more time.¡±


    ¡°Listen, I¡¯m only here for my evaluation. You don¡¯t even have to tell them I won. Just tell them whatever you want and mix in some passing remarks about how dull and ordinary I am. In fact, the more boring you can make it sound, the better.¡±


    Elena suddenly whirled around to stab at him with furious eyes.


    ¡°Is that all our fight meant to you?¡±


    ¡°Eh? What else is it supposed to mean?¡±


    Skyle was rocked back on his heels by the intensity of her gaze and the vehemence of her words.


    ¡°I have never lost to any other person my age. I have devoted myself to the arts of war and combat ever since I could walk. Many a night, I have lied shedding tears of blood and moaning at the burning pain of the fire scorching my veins. I did so gladly, because it is the path of the strong. I have spent my entire life chasing after this lofty peak. This is my devotion to my chosen path. It¡¯s my purpose and meaning in life. Does that answer your question?¡±


    Struck by an intense pang of shame at his callousness, Skyle couldn¡¯t quite find the words to respond. He was held by the measuring weight of her gaze, and suddenly, he found the possibility of being found wanting unbearable to contemplate. He was reminded of the countless times he had attempted to ignite his own elemental talent. He could clearly recall stubbornly shrugging off his countless failures. He only had eyes for that one guttering hope that just once,  just this one time he might succeed.


    He never did, but that never stopped him.


    As he gazed deeply into her eyes, Skyle could see the depths of her stubborn determination. He could almost taste the wild hunger barely held at bay within her spirit. The drive to conquer the summit shoved every other consideration aside until her eyes saw nothing but that lonely peak, rising high above an ordinary person¡¯s petty concerns.


    It stirred a deep emotion into life within his chest, this moving sight of a young girl¡¯s dogged spirit to conquer any obstacles and triumph in spite of all opposition. Wasn¡¯t this what Talon had been trying to inspire within his heart in that first lesson?


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡±


    Elena shook off his apology and fixed him with a stubborn glare.


    ¡°Fight me one more time. I apologize for not taking our fight seriously. This time, I will bring forth every ounce of skill and courage I possess to bring you down.¡±


    Maybe he had been spending too much time around muscle-bound fools like Leon, but damn if her words did not ignite his own fighting spirit. All of a sudden, he was burning with the desire to match himself against this worthy opponent and finally gain a measure of his own might.


    ¡°Fight me, please.¡±


    The earnest entreaty sounded hoarse coming from Elena, and he realized she wasn¡¯t used to asking anyone for anything.


    Skyle nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s fight.¡±


    Elena¡¯s face lit up with instant delight at his words. Skyle could only stare, struck speechless by the sudden change that came over her features. It suddenly reminded him that this wasn¡¯t some scarred old veteran. She was just a child, just like him. The innocent joy that lit up her face at Skyle¡¯s simple words was like a breath of fresh air that swept in like a cool spring breeze.


    Elena caught him staring at her, making Skyle blush once again. In turn, this prompted Elena to lower her gaze, suddenly busying herself in a minucius examination of the edge of her axe.


    ¡°L-Let me check my axe first. Gotta make sure there aren¡¯t any dents or scratches. Master Beoulf, you see.¡±


    Skyle couldn¡¯t help but grin at her reaction. So, behind all that consummate skill and ridiculous strength, she was still just a girl, after all. It brought an unexpected surge of warmth to his chest. He indulged in the feeling only for an instant before he quashed it under the ruthless fist of his rational mind.


    ¡°Little Shadow, stop that!¡±


    A strange look flickered past Skyle¡¯s expression as he felt a wave of outraged protest flare in his mind. Really, just how shameless could even a clueless child be, blaming a respectable teacher for his own silly daydreaming.


    Skyle didn¡¯t get a chance to consider this further, as Elena finally straightened up and gazed at him with the calm confidence that had characterized her earlier.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯re ready,¡± Skyle said.


    ¡°Almost. First, let¡¯s make it a little more interesting.¡± Elena smiled at Skyle as she held up a finger before his face. ¡°If you win, I will help you contoct whatever story you want before the masters. I don¡¯t fully understand why you¡¯re so desperate to stay low-key, but then again, I know from experience how annoying a little fame can be.¡±


    ¡°Of course she knows. Blazing Star Elena is one of the most popular rising celebrities in the Warrior School. It¡¯s why she always keeps Reaper by her side - so she can swat away all the fanboys who buzz around her like flies.¡±


    Blazing Star Elena? Recalling the ridiculously powerful opening move she had employed at the beginning of their fight, he had to admit that if that was her signature move, then Blazing Star Elena was aptly named indeed.


    ¡°Shut up, you cheap bastard!¡± Elena coughed uncomfortably for a moment before she continued with a flustered sweep of her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. Anyway, if I win, I want you to continue sparring with me. I really feel that we can be good for each other.¡±


    Skyle blinked at her, the flush on his skin growing deeper at her last words.


    Elena¡¯s lips froze for a moment as she heard the words she had just spoken. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, staring wide-eyed at Skyle.


    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I mean, not that I was thinking about anything weird just now.¡±


    Elena¡¯s expression quickly wilted under Skyle¡¯s bewildered gaze. She took a deep breath and started again, trying to stay calm.


    ¡°Look, just in that short fight, I¡¯ve learned a valuable lesson. We could really learn from and encourage each other, as partners - sparring partners!¡±


    Even the tip of her nose glowed brightly as she quickly corrected herself with a hesitant smile. She looked up at Skyle from under trembling eyelashes.


    Glad that for once, it wasn¡¯t him feeling completely helpless and tongue-tied, Skye nodded before breaking out into a grin of his own.


    ¡°Sounds like a win win proposition to me. Deal!¡±


    ¡°Great, then it¡¯s a deal!¡±


    Elena nearly hopped into the air in her excitement. She settled for raising her axe instead. She whirled it in a deviously complex series of circles, warming up her arms with a beaming smile upon her face. The honest joy shining in her eyes was contagious, making it impossible for Skyle not to grin back as he twirled his sword in a few pirouettes that sent its tip whistling through the air..


    ¡°Ready for round two? I¡¯m not gonna take it easy on you any more!¡±


    ¡°Born ready,¡± Skyle said, and couldn¡¯t resist adding a little extra spice with a cheeky grin. ¡°Just try to make it interesting and don¡¯t lose in one hit like last time!¡±


    Laughter rang out across the garden as they shared a mutual grin of delight over their weapons.


    Win or lose, this was going to be great!

 Chapter 110 - Winning the Battle, Losing the War

    Chapter 110 - Winning the Battle, Losing the War


    ¡°Watch out for this one. Hyaa!¡±


    ¡°Woa! Close one!¡±


    Skyle whistled softly as he recovered after ducking under that last chop. His feet slid over soft grass as he lunged forward, but his opponent had already closed up her guard. His probing attack was only met with a solid answering clang as she easily blocked the blow.


    True to her word, Elena took this fight seriously. Skyle could see the results of years of arduous training in the way she smoothly shifted stances even while wielding that giant axe of hers. She made it look effortless, but Skyle knew just how difficult it was.


    He had come to bear a grudging sort of respect toward axes after his training bout with Talon last night. Whereas before, he would have easily dismissed the lumbering weapon as a useless block of coarse steel and wasted wood, Skyle had now gained a much better understanding of the weaknesses and strengths of the two-handed axe.


    Having spent one whole hour desperately attempting to fend off Talon¡¯s devious attacks, which descended upon him like the father of all storms, Skyle had become intimately acquainted with many of the subtler points of axe-fighting. On the surface, a sword and an axe seemed like similar weapons, but nothing could be farther from the truth.


    An appreciate smile blossomed on Elena¡¯s lips as she shifted her feet, turning to keep Skyle in front of her at all times. It was the same thing Skyle had learned to do after being accosted by Talon¡¯s attacks from his blind side time and time again. That was one big difference. Both the mass and size of a double-headed axe created much bigger blindspots for axemen than it did for swordsmen.


    This had nothing to do with strength, as he had already found, much to his dismay, that Elena had no problem twirling her axe as though it were a toothpick. Instead, it had to do with the momentum based attacks of an axe. The center of balance for an axe was placed near its head, just below where its blades lay. This created a completely different mechanic from a sword, where the point of balance would be placed near the hilt of the sword.


    This meant that an axeman could send much more powerful attacks, but they came at the cost of maneuverability and speed. Once launched, it was very difficult to stop or even modify the course of an attack. Too much power and speed had already been invested into the blow, meaning each one had to count.


    The swordsman was a much more versatile fighter, as Skyle aptly demonstrated as he lithely circled around his opponent. His footwork had always been superb. After all, mobility had always been his forte. His sword flashed under the morning sun as he sent out a steady stream of probing attacks. He was mindful to always ensure they remained just that, probing. He never committed to any one attack. He had no need to. That was not his game today.


    It was Elena who must gamble big on every decision she made. The burden was on her to upend the table and change the rules of the game if she wanted to win. The only thing was, Skyle knew she was more than capable of doing so.


    The calm his opponent exhibited under his constant harassment was impressive. She carefully regulated her stamina, never using a wide sweep when a simpler thrust would do. She bid her time patiently, refusing to bite the bait Skyle dangled before her eyes. It was as though she knew most of his sword strokes were only feints.


    As the fight progressed, Skyle was able to evade her broad, sweeping blows using his footwork and flexibility. He knew part of the reason was also because she was still feeling him out. She wanted to know how fast and skilled he was with the sword.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s see how patient you are after you see this!¡±


    Skyle sent out a quick series of three attacks, each striking the same left side of her body. The quick succession of blows numbed Skyle¡¯s fingers from the feedback that ran up the hilt of his sword. There was no denying that brute forcing this would only work to his detriment. The axe was simply too massive for him batter it down under his blows. However, such strikes still served his current purpose just fine.


    The axe had been shifting just a little lower with every attack, and after he finished his third strike, Skyle jumped at the tiniest of openings in his opponent¡¯s guard. He dashed forward while extending his arm in a lightning quick thrust to Elena¡¯s unguarded right side.


    Surprise lit up her eyes as Elena saw the move, but it only lasted for the blink of an eye before she reacted. She didn¡¯t make Skyle¡¯s mistake from last night of trying to shift the axe to a guard position on his right side. Momentum simply doesn¡¯t work that way, no matter how strong you are. Instead, she did what Skyle only learned after suffering countless stinging blows, using the weight of her axe to anchor her weight and thus assist her in shifting her own body away from the incoming blow.


    The technique was executed beautifully, far better than Skyle ever could have. The sword missed her by a narrow margin, and Elena let out an animated cry as she continued her motion, turning it into a horizontal sweep of her axe. Given Skyle¡¯s forward momentum, such a blow would bring the fight to an abrupt end. Her delight at the sudden opening and her skillful manipulation of it was obvious.


    What she didn¡¯t know, however, was that Skyle had expected as much from her, given how skilled his opponent was. On the other hand, she would not be expecting what was coming next.


    Immediately upon seeing his opponent finally commit to an attack, Skyle also reacted, though instead of turning away or raising his sword, he accelerated while lowering its tip. His entire body dropped to the ground as he turned his dash into a sliding kick. Elena saw the move and tried to adjust the course of her attack, but it was too late and the edge of her axe swept by a few inches above his face.


    Then his kick connected solidly with its target, Elena¡¯s right foot. It had been her pivot foot as she shifted her body away from Skyle¡¯s thrust. Though her strength greatly exceeded Skyle¡¯s, there was nothing she could do against gravity. Her foot was swept cleanly away by Skyle, and she was brought to the ground with an alarmed cry.


    It was not over yet! Skyle dug into the grass with his free hand, using it to stop his slide and pull himself up to his feet. Not even a heartbeat later, his sword was already descending toward Elena. He had been meaning to aim for her chest and end this fight with a sound blow that could be considered fatal with an edged weapon. However, his True Sight showed him that he had been too naive in underestimating his opponent.


    Elena lay sprawled upon the ground, apparently stunned by the fall and with her axe-bearing arm stretched out over her head. Her aura, however, gave her away immediately. A fierce tide of red was lurking there, like a blood-thirsty predator waiting to pounce upon her prey.


    Skyle immediately switched tactics, shifting his aim toward one of her legs instead. It struck soundly, but Skyle didn¡¯t have time to care for that. He was too busy running for his life. Right after his blow struck home, he had flung himself sideways, and not a moment too soon, either.


    Only an instant later, Elena¡¯s axe swept through the space that had just been vacated by Skyle¡¯s figure. Chills ran up his spine as he rolled to his feet, aware that had he not spotted her intentions with the True Sight and switched his target, he would have been too close to her to avoid the formidable blow.


    Wiping away the perspiration from his face, Skyle panted harshly as he squared up against Elena. She had used the momentum of her swing to help her in rolling backwards and was already back on her feet, facing Skyle.


    ¡°Nice move, that was a close call. Too close for comfort,¡± Skyle said.


    ¡°Eh, not close enough for my tastes.¡±


    ¡°That blow would have shattered every bone in my body and sent me flying all the way back to my farm.¡±


    ¡°Meh, woulda shoulda coulda.¡± Elena shrugged noncommittally, then winced as she placed her weight on her right leg. ¡°On the other hand, you nailed me good with that last hit.¡±


    ¡°Apparently, it wasn¡¯t good enough,¡± Skyle said, shaking his head with a rueful grin as he watched her advancing toward him. ¡°No wonder you left yourself open and were willing to let me land that hit.¡±


    ¡°No, you really got me back there. I thought I had you when you finally overextended after that  3-stroke combo. A thing of beauty, that was. Shifted my guard just low enough to create an opening for the thrust that followed.¡±


    ¡°You still read it like an open book,¡± Skyle said with a smile, circling around her and watching for openings.


    ¡°You mean I fell for your feint. Swallowed your bait - hook, line, and sinker.¡± Elena chuckled to herself with a wry twist to her lips. Her eyes were crystal clear, however, all of her attention keenly focused around Skyle¡¯s movements. ¡°How could I not fall for it? It was such a pretty little maneuver, I thought for sure it was the real thing.¡±


    ¡°Live and learn, I guess. You seem to have weathered it just fine.¡±


    ¡°Tell that to my right leg. It¡¯s still aching like all hell¡¯s bells, near the bone.¡±


    Skyle sent a probing thrust toward that very leg, which was easily deflected by Elena. He used the time she needed to recover to reposition himself, but she tracked his movement around with ease.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°Liar, you¡¯re still moving it just fine!¡±


    ¡°I said it hurts, not that I¡¯m a cripple. At least, not quite yet,¡± Elena said gruffly, then chuckled good-naturedly as she shifted the grip on her axe. ¡°Tell me something. Why did you go for the leg? How did you know I was preparing a counter-attack?¡±


    It was Skyle¡¯s turn to bite back a curse. ¡°Uh, gut instinct?¡±


    Elena must have caught his hesitation, because she didn¡¯t hesitate at all in launching her attack the moment Skyle was too busy trying to come up with a plausible explanation in his head. After all, that had been the main purpose behind all this seemingly casual banter. Obviously, Skyle had come away as the loser in this match of wits, and he cursed himself as a fool for it.


    The moment he was distracted, even for an instant, she seized upon it and charged forward with a great roar, leading the way with the tip of her axe. Her legs carried her forward with unstoppable momentum, and by the time he had enough time to try to decide whether to thrust his sword forward in a counter-attack or block her attack with his blade, she was already right on top of him.


    Caught completely flat-footed, Skyle had no choice but invoke his cheat card.


    The Far Sight gave the impression of dilated time as it showed his battered body flying in one direction while his sword bounced the other way. He sailed six feet through the air before crashing face-first against the ground with a wet splat. That definitely counted out option B, blocking that monstrous axe with his toothpick of a sword.


    Blue shadows flickered around him as he changed his intent. This time, he saw his sword almost make it to Elena¡¯s ribs, before its forward movement was interrupted with a violent jerk. On the other end of the sword, nerveless fingers released the hilt. Instead, they reached convulsively towards the hideous wound where half a foot of steel dug into his chest. It was the inevitable consequence of forgetting a tiny, yet somewhat important detail called difference in weapons¡¯ reach. That was a huge freaking axe, after all.


    Shadows flickered across his eyes as the prophetic vision of a series of decisions and their respective outcomes blazed a trail within his mind. Beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers, and so Skyle had to settle for the most effective, yet also the most desperate maneuver he was able to salvage from it all.


    Astonishment flared in Elena¡¯s eyes as she stared at the flashing blade flipping end over end as it hurtled straight for her head. The unconventional move of a swordsman throwing away his only weapon was so shocking that it nearly froze her in her tracks. As it was, it delayed her reaction for a precious fraction of a second, forcing her to tilt her head sideways while she shifted her axe in order to deflect the blade away.


    It wasn¡¯t easy to react to a deadly threat, especially when one was caught completely by surprise. Skyle knew the feeling all too well. To her credit, Elena¡¯s reaction after she recovered from her shock was near perfect. The edge of Skyle¡¯s sword struck her axe and bounced away while she also kept her vulnerable face a safe distance away from the twirling blade.


    Unfortunately for her, it also created a small blindspot, right where the great twin blades of the axe blocked her vision. So far, she had been meticulous in her stance, always attempting to maintain her opponent in her sights, and away from the blindspot her axe might create as she wielded it to strike out or block an attack.


    It was only the tiniest of chinks in her iron-clad defense, but under the unforgiving scrutiny of the Infinite Sight and the Far Sight, it was one too many.


    Twisting his upper body to maximize the amount of time he could stay inside the blindspot, he launched himself toward her left side. With one hand, Skyle drew the dagger his father had given him from where it lay sheathed by his belt, while the other reached blindly far to his right, fingers wide open.


    All the while, his eyes stared ahead. As he drew closer, the axe was gradually lowered into its former thrusting position. That left the field of view clear for Skyle to stare right into Elena¡¯s thunderstruck eyes. Her mouth gaped open for an instant before she saw the flash of steel from the dagger in his fist. She frantically reversed the movement of her axe, trying to modify the thrusting maneuver into a sweeping slash that would both deflect the dagger and sending her opponent flying along with it.


    It was at this moment that victory was decided, not through superior strength or peerless skill. Instead, it all came to rest upon the simple concept of momentum. The same mass and speed that would render the thrust impervious to Skyle¡¯s attempts to block it, also made it near impossible for Elena to redirect its course. At least, not in time to block her opponent¡¯s surprise attack.


    Elena gritted her teeth, refusing to lose. The moment she realized her axe would be unable to stop the incoming attack, she did not hesitate at all and released the handle. Instead, her lips let out a sharp cry as she lowered her head and raised her shoulder in front of it, concentrating as much of the fire essence in her body into that one arm as she could.


    ¡°Elena, no!¡± Roland cried out in the background.


    Heedless, she dove toward Skyle¡¯s incoming dagger instead of attempting to avoid it. Skyle took it all in stride, striking out without hesitation. The dagger skidded along the skin of her arm as though it were weapons-grade steel. If either party was shocked at these results, there was no time for them to react.


    Elena¡¯s shoulder charge drove past the useless dagger and struck Skyle like a bull rush, expelling all the breath from his lungs. She drove them both forward in a blind rush until Skyle¡¯s back collided against the gazebo¡¯s side. The ornately carved wall collapsed into splinters, driving both fighters into the ground in a flurry of limbs and shattered wood. Skyle crashed on his back and heard the distinct crack of broken bone as Elena¡¯s shoulder slammed against his chest, blasting away a ring of dust and splinters upon impact.


    ¡°Stop, both of you!¡±


    Panting harshly, Elena stopped when she heard the tone of Roland¡¯s words. Like Skyle, she probably heard the raw urgency in his voice. It was only then that she realized she had her hand curled around Skyle¡¯s neck. She released the pressure with a start.


    ¡°Thank goodness she stopped. I thought she was going to kill me!¡±


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Oh, now she asks me if I¡¯m alright, after breaking all my ribs and nearly crushing my throat.¡±


    Wondering why the hell he had thought this was a good idea in the first place, Skyle finally got back enough air in his lungs to let out a miserable groan. Looking up at Elena¡¯s eyes, he was surprised to find that the first emotion he saw there was concern.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be better as soon as you let go of my throat, thank you very much,¡± he managed hoarsely.


    Only when she confirmed that he seemed shaken, but otherwise fine, did she flash a victorious smile. Relaxing her fingers from where they were curled around his neck, she patted his cheek.


    ¡°Looks like I win this one, Skyle.¡±


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± Skyle said in a neutral tone, secretly focusing his attention on his right hand.


    Her delighted grin faltered, then crumpled altogether when she heard Roland¡¯s next words.


    ¡°Too late to let go of the sword now, Skyle. You¡¯ve won, fair and square. Own up to it. You certainly won¡¯t be doing her any favors by letting her win.¡±


    Elena frowned as she looked questioningly at Skyle. A guilty flush was the only answer he could manage, as he didn¡¯t know what to say. Once again, it was Roland who stuck his nose in.


    ¡°Look at his right hand, you dummy.¡±


    Elena finally pushed herself up, straddling his hips between her legs as she sat up and turned her head to look at his right hand. It was empty at the moment, but that didn¡¯t stop her from furrowing her brow in suspicion. She peeled away a flat panel of wood that had fallen next to his arm at an odd angle. Lying underneath it, she found the short sword Skyle had been trying to hide.


    It lay lone and forlorn on the ground, and Elena¡¯s face echoed the emotion as she stared at it for a long moment, before slowly swiveling her gaze back toward Skyle. Her eyes asked a question of him, but watching the flux of emotions swirling in her aura, Skyle couldn¡¯t find the words to answer.


    ¡°Right until the very end, he tricked you. I don¡¯t know how he managed it, but he read you like an open book. The moment you lowered your head and charged at him like a stubborn bull, he snatched his sword right out of the air and had it poised to stick you in the back of the neck like a side of beef.¡±


    Shock widened Elena¡¯s eyes, her chest heaving up and down as she stared the boy who had beaten her again. For a strange reason he didn¡¯t understand, far from giving him a sense of satisfaction, he felt an unreasonable urge to comfort and soothe away the pain in girl before him. It was a ridiculous notion, since she had gotten away with barely a scratch while his ribs were busted and his back bleeding.


    He had to work his lips more than once before he could speak properly. ¡°I, ah, I kind of cheated. I panicked and brought out my dagger witho-¡±


    No sooner had he spoken, than a loud snort cut him off from Roland¡¯s direction.


    ¡°You wore it openly on your waist, so it can¡¯t be considered a hidden weapon. Also, you did not use the edge against her, which is what is forbidden by the rules. And don¡¯t bother to deny it, Skyle. You think I¡¯m as blind as that poor, deluded girl is? You only needed the distraction provided by the dagger, so that she would think your attack was over, lowering her guard. I saw it clearly the moment you turned the edge away and struck her with the back of the knife. Fat chance she could turn away sharpened steel with her level of training. Next time she tries it, it could get her killed. Do you realize what her parents would do to me? I don¡¯t need that kind of grief.¡±


    Skyle closed his mouth, the protest dying before it could even reach his lips. He looked up at Elena with an apologetic smile, feeling increasingly bad about the situation. Elene¡¯s neutral eyes as she watched him in eerie silence only made it worse.


    ¡°It was a close victory. You don¡¯t have to-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying to comfort her. The more try, the worse you make her feel. It shows that you don¡¯t respect her as a warrior, which is the one thing she truly craves at the moment. Well, other than a victory, that is.¡±


    Skyle¡¯s heart thumped in his chest, a guilty flush rising to his cheeks. He didn¡¯t know what to say to make things better. He should have realized all the things Roland was telling him, but for some reason his brain felt like mush and his tongue leaden.


    ¡°H-How about a rematch? Um, let¡¯s fight again.. tomorrow?¡±


    The moment he said the words, Skyle nearly wanted to slap himself. After all that he had gone through to barely snatch a victory from this vicious little warrior and her demonic axe, here he had gone and voluntarily walked right back into the maws of hell. Worse still, tomorrow his ribs would be swollen twice their size and he¡¯d be lucky if he could walk without a limp.


    But then, he noticed the corner of Elena¡¯s lips twitching, if only for a moment. Still, just that hint of a smile was like a balm that made him feel all warm and fuzzy in his chest, busted ribs or not. His own lips began to ease their nervous line into the gentle curve of a smile. Almost as though by magic, Elena¡¯s own answering smile slowly blossomed across her lips.


    ¡°If you two lovebirds are going to grin like a pair of idiots while gazing into each other¡¯s eyes all day, you should at least get a room. On the other hand, if you¡¯re ready to plant both feet on the ground, I think there are bigger things to worry about than a second date.¡±


    Both Elena and Skyle¡¯s eyes broke off contact at that, blushing furiously. It was only then that Skyle realized what kind of situation he was in.


    ¡°Neck deep? No, let¡¯s make that eyeball deep in shit.¡±


    As Elena skittered away from him, Skyle rose unsteadily to his feet, wincing as he did so. It wasn¡¯t the pain from his strained leg or cracked ribs that pained him, however.


    No, that would be too easy.


    Instead, he took one good look around himself and sunk into the darkest pits of despair.


    His eyes took in the two giant craters on the once seamless carpet of verdant grass, where ruptured earth and crushed flower petals were all that remained of an artfully constructed garden. Then he shifted his attention to the collapsed wall of the gazebo they had crashed their way through. At his feet lay the shattered pieces of what had once been an ornately carved scene of fantastical creatures and breathtaking vistas.


    All the while, a single figure kept blinking in his head with sadistic insistence.


    ¡°Skyle, are you alright? Why do you keep repeating that?¡± Elena asked, her eyebrows bunching up in confusion. ¡°What about 450,000 golds?¡±