ã€ŠElementi Saga - Royal Flamesã€‹


 CH 1 Glimpse of a God

    I will never be able to unsee the atrocities of greed. Entire lives of suffering endured in order to stockpile the unneeded luxuries of gluttonous societal parasites. Despite the objections of the other two members of my ship, I will carry on with my mission. Even if I must infiltrate every corner of Plaquar aristocracy. I will reform that abominable nation, and I will start with Superior Vishka Vorinthia.

    <ul>

    <li>Audio log of Princess Marilyn Voltus</li>

    </ul>

    Jundilor

    Impenetrable. This was the word her Chief of Operations had used when describing the fortress to her. A state-of-the-art facility with every defense her unlimited supply of Plaquar credit could acquire.

    Anti-starcraft laserbolt cannons, organic-seeking automated plasma railguns, sound and pressure sensitive magma landmines, and a couple hundred mercenaries armed to the teeth with every weapon their generous salaries could afford. All of these were more than what was necessary to make a fortress impenetrable. At least, that is what Superior Vishka Vorinthia had been told.

    Vishka grimaced down at the scene below her from her balcony atop the thirty-story tower. The three separate sets of walls that surrounded the tower were well beyond what one would consider breached.

    In no time at all the plasma railguns were obliterated. Up in smoke. The magma landmines had gone off but were far too slow to hit the target that had sped over them. The anti-starcraft cannons were rendered completely useless as there was no starship for them to lock on to.

    All Vishka¡¯s hopes now rested on her expensive arsenal of mercenaries. Most were the usual cast of brutish thugs that came from the worlds within the Plaquar nation. However, mixed within the rubbish were some formidable warriors.

    Lanzira Blackmane and her pride of Lionnaires from the unconquerable world of Leoveus. Lanzira had a shiny coat of silver fur under her obsidian armor. The men of her pride consisted of six beastly warriors. Each of their furs was a varying shade of gray accompanied by large black manes that surrounded their lion-like heads.

    The Skull Bashers. A group of Minotaurs from the devastated world of Taurinos. Even the largest of the Lionnaires only came up to the shoulder of the smallest Skull Basher. They each carried heavy war hammers and roared loud battle cries at the intruder.

    Useless. Every last one of them. All stopped by a single woman. A pretty young thing with curly bleach blonde hair. Vishka¡¯s cyber enhanced vision allowed her to see the light brown skin tone that seemed to contrast with her electric blue eyes.

    Vishka remembered a time when she was considered a young beauty. Luring influential people into her lair. Climbing the ladder of Plaquar politics. How long had it been since she had last wooed someone with her seductive prowess? 300 years?

    Those days were long gone now. Her long purple hair was now brittle and dull. Her once glistening green skin was now marred with wrinkles, blue warts, and black skin tags. So, it was a good thing she had climbed as far as there was to climb.

    She looked over to her Chief of Operations in disgust. A pale and plump little bald man with long green eyebrows.

    ¡°Jump,¡± Vishka told him.

    ¡°I beg your pardon?!¡± he asked. He looked over the railing and his face started to turn as green as his eyebrows.

    Vishka gave the man a shove, but he resisted. Luckily, her bodyguard was quick to assist her. Hatamiko lifted the man by his jacket and tossed him over. The former Chief of Operations screamed in horror until his body met the hard stone floor far below.

    ¡°Thank you, Hatamiko,¡± said Vishka. ¡°I hope you feel up to a challenge tonight.¡± The Skull Bashers were already strewn about incapacitated, and the Lionnaires were currently throwing their hands up in surrender after taking a pummeling.

    ¡°I have defeated Elementi before, superior,¡± said Hatamiko. His voice was low and confident.

    Not like this. Vishka thought. The poor fool had no idea who it was scaling up the side of her tower. She wasn¡¯t certain either, but she had a damn good guess.

    She shuffled inside her lavishly furnished penthouse suite. Hatamiko followed her to her large wooden desk as they awaited the arrival of their guest.

    The intruder pounced over the balcony railing with blue electricity trailing behind her. Vishka had six guards other than Hatamiko who all ran in to try and tackle her before she made it across the room.

    The young woman created an electric shockwave that sent them all back. Three of them went plummeting to their deaths over the balcony. Another two were thrown back into the walls on the other side of the room hard enough to hear bones snapping. The final guard had been unfortunate enough to pounce on the woman just before she unleashed her attack. He had been sent straight up where he was then impaled by one of the many decorative spikes that adorned the ceiling. He hung from it, motionless.

    Vishka remained seated at her desk. Her bodyguard, Hatamiko, stood firm behind her with arms crossed. His dark gray skin glistened in the dimly lit room. He wore a red and black tank top that was tucked into loose black pants. From his forehead protruded a small black horn.

    The intruder stopped seven paces away from Vishka¡¯s desk. Her purple pants belled at the bottom and her blue shirt covered only her upper torso. All her clothing, including her sleek black boots, had golden embroidery that formed symmetric patterns. She stopped a few paces away and put her hands on her hips as she adjusted her weight to one side. ¡°I take it you know why I¡¯m here?¡±

    Vishka¡¯s big yellow slitted eyes narrowed on the woman. She spoke with a raspy voice. ¡°A lone Imperian with the audacity to attack a Plaquar superior. Let me guess. Did one of the other superiors put you up to this and hire some distant Farako assassin to cover up their tracks? Or perhaps you don¡¯t appreciate the way we handle our business here in Plaquar. You wouldn¡¯t be the first.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not for sale,¡± the woman replied. ¡°And I¡¯ve seen what your business entails. The evils you burden your people with.¡± She took a step forward and electricity circled around her hands.

    Hatamiko suddenly dashed over the desk with great speed. The woman barely had time to bring her arm up to block a kick that might have broken her neck had it connected. She jumped back and shook the pain from her arm.

    ¡°This is Hatamiko,¡± said Vishka with a calm and collected smirk. ¡°As you have already seen, he is extraordinarily fast, and his strength is nearly as impressive as his reflexes. He has been trained by the finest warriors since he was a small boy.¡±

    Hatamiko got into a fighting stance. His once green eyes were now entirely black. ¡°You are actually my fourth Elementi. I hope you will not fall to your own arrogance like the others.¡±

    The young woman gave a small scoff through a slight smile.

    ¡°Attacking a Plaquar superior is no laughing matter!¡± shouted Hatamiko as he leapt to make his attack. He came down with a kick, but the woman had gracefully stepped aside with a look of amusement still on her face.

    Hatamiko¡¯s lifetime of training prepared his body to respond to failure with an immediate response. As soon as he felt his kick had missed, he was already swinging a punch. Once that missed, he swung another kick. This went on and on as he applied every lesson that he had been given to help him emerge victorious. Just as he had done countless times in numerous battles over the years.

    Like all great masters, his movements were decided by instinct. There was little time to strategize at the speed he was capable of fighting at. His mind and spirit were silent as his body spoke on their behalf.

    That silence came to a halt when his perfectly timed kick was caught in mid-air by his opponent. It would not have been even a slight distraction were it not for the fact that his leg wouldn¡¯t budge. The grip she had on his ankle was far too great. In the briefest of moments his once quiet mind became a hub of questions. Did she stop my swinging kick with one hand? Is she stronger than me? Is she faster than me? Who trained her? Am I about to lose? Am I about to die? Is this really the end?

    Of all the burning questions Hatamiko had, he knew of only one that stood out above the others. A question that he could not go to the grave unanswered.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked with the voice of someone who had come to terms with their fate.

    The woman cleared her throat before answering. ¡°Hatamiko, for the crime of killing three of my fellow Elementi, not to mention all the heinous deeds you¡¯ve no doubt committed for Superior Vishka, I, Marilyn Voltus, daughter of the Godking Darex Voltus, hereby sentence you to death.¡±

    Hatamiko put his hands together and bowed his head. ¡°To die by your hand is an honor, princess. I apologize I was not more of a match for you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said before she blasted him out the window with a large blue bolt of lightning.

    Vishka leaned back in her chair. Her warty lips pursed tightly together as she tried to think. ¡°I understand you had to kill Hatamiko. He killed your fellow Elementi, so you made an example of him. I can assure you, child, killing a Plaquar Superior will reap similar results. The other superiors will hunt you down to the ends of the galaxy. Even if it means going into a full out war with your father.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Relax,¡± said Marilyn. She walked over and sat down on the corner of Vishka¡¯s desk. ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill you. What good would that do me?¡±

    ¡°So, what then?¡± asked Vishka. ¡°Is this some kind of a shakedown?¡±

    ¡°You can call it whatever you want. Personally, I¡¯d call it asking for a favor.¡±

    ¡°Favors can be refused without fear of repercussion.¡±

    Marilyn threw her arms up in the air. ¡°Fine! Call it a damn terrorist threat for all I care! Just stop sending your slaver ships into the neutral zone.¡±

    Vishka frowned. ¡°It would seem the king did little to educate his daughter on what exactly a neutral zone is. The worlds who have remained resistant to conquest are not charter protected by any of the great nations and are therefore ¡®free pickings¡¯ as we from the nation of Plaquar are like to call it.¡±

    Electricity danced up Marilyn¡¯s arm and the static it sent through the air caused Vishka to flinch. ¡°Enlighten me. Since I am so ignorant in the ways of the galaxy. Who is it that replaces a superior after they¡¯ve finally croaked?¡±

    Vishka groaned in annoyance, but answered, nonetheless. ¡°Each superior has several subordinates who will choose a champion to represent them in a battle royale. The last one standing gets promoted to superior.¡±

    ¡°And Hatamiko, he was the champion who earned you the title of superior?¡± asked Marilyn.

    ¡°No. Hatamiko defeated the man who championed me in the battle royale, and you ended him with little effort on your part. So, what¡¯s your point?¡±

    A small clicking sound could be heard from under Vishka¡¯s desk where she had hit a concealed button. The doors to the elevator on the far side of the room opened with several guards holding fully charged laser rifles. Marilyn struck them with a beam of blue lightning before anyone was able to pull the trigger. The ones who didn¡¯t get scorched to death found themselves screaming in terror as the elevator brought them crashing down to the tower¡¯s floor.

    ¡°My point, Vishka, is that your warriors don¡¯t scare us. War with my father would be the end of this puny nation, and the sooner that happens the better off the galaxy will be. So, if I ever catch your slaver ships lurking about anywhere other than within the safety of your borders, I will blast them into scrap metal.¡±

    Superior Vishka said nothing. Marilyn leaned over and spoke in a condescending tone. ¡°Do we have an understanding?¡±

    Vishka let out a long breath through her nostrils which made a low whistle. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°And who¡¯s not going to send their slaver ships into the neutral zone?¡± Marilyn asked with the same condescending tone.

    This time veins came to the surface and twitched all over Vishka¡¯s face. ¡°Me,¡± she finally let out.

    ¡°Now, there¡¯s a good superior.¡± Marilyn walked over to the edge of the balcony. ¡°Vishka,¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t make me come back here.¡± Then she hopped over the railing.

    Vishka waited until she felt like Marilyn was gone and then flipped over her desk with a furious scream.

    Marilyn escaped the walls of the fortress just as easily as she had breached them. Outside the walls was a dense forest that the guards were begrudgingly forced to enter in pursuit of the trespassing princess. None of them ever came close to keeping up with her. Each one that entered the forest met their untimely demise due to quicksand, giant insects, or the plethora of carnivorous vegetation.

    The forest that had caused a Chief of Operations to believe the fortress he constructed for his superior was impenetrable, was now responsible for aiding in the escape of the one and only person to ever breach it.

    Once Marilyn was clear of the forest she hailed her pilot, Kembro, to retrieve her. He and her best friend, Ryllah Bolt, had kept her starship in orbit after dropping her off above the forest far from Vishka¡¯s tower. Though the ship was equipped with stealth technology, Marilyn wasn¡¯t entirely sure of the lengths of its efficacy.

    ¡°Worried sick!¡± Ryllah shouted while throwing a sofa cushion. Like the princess, she had bright blue eyes. Though, her hair was a much darker blonde and she often wore it up in a messy bun atop her head. When standing next to the princess Ryllah barely came up to her shoulder.

    The cushion hit Marilyn¡¯s face and she retaliated with a cushion of her own. ¡°I told you I¡¯d be fine!¡±

    Ryllah giggled as she covered her face from the soft projectile.

    ¡°When your father gave you this ship, I don¡¯t think using its stealth tech to sail to distant worlds and threaten intergalactic leaders was what he had in mind,¡± said Kembro. The large canine humanoid was covered in thick black fur aside from his neck and chest, which had snow white. He wore a dark green vest and had a red bandana around his neck.

    ¡°Hey, if the ¡®Champion of the Undying Light¡¯ doesn¡¯t like his daughter going out and actually making a difference in the galaxy then he shouldn¡¯t have given her the means to do it,¡± Marilyn replied.

    ¡°Pretty sure he did it to keep you from getting detected by the emboldened pirates roaming around in the neutral zones,¡± mumbled Kembro. ¡°But what do I know? I¡¯m just the pilot.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of the Undying Light,¡± said Ryllah. ¡°Isn¡¯t that big demonstration coming up soon?¡±

    Marilyn groaned. ¡°Yes. Kembro, how far is it to get back to Farako?¡±

    ¡°Farako is a little under five days from here, princess,¡± he replied. Normally, he would have had to consult the ship¡¯s navigation system to see how long a journey would take, but Kembro always made sure to keep track of how far they were from the princess¡¯s home planet.

    ¡°Right,¡± she replied. As little interest as she had in attending her father¡¯s demonstration, she was even less interested in getting scolded by him for her absence. ¡°We¡¯d best set sail then.¡±

    Farako Capitol

    The time it took Marilyn¡¯s ship to hyper-hop home was filled with increased gravity training, several card games, binging highlights of old tournament battles, dancing to their favorite playlists, and a multitude of after meal naps.

    When the planet of Farako finally came into view, Kembro called the girls into the control room to see the extraordinary sight for themselves.

    All around Farako were millions of starships floating in its orbit, and more ships were constantly joining in from all directions.

    ¡°All these people came to see your father¡¯s demonstration?¡± asked Ryllah. ¡°I had no idea the Undying Light¡¯s influence was so large!¡±

    ¡°It seems to grow with every passing day,¡± said Marilyn.

    The descent into the atmosphere above Darex¡¯s palace was an even more spectacular sight than what they had witnessed in orbit. Multitudes of beings were camped out around the palace as far as the eye could see in every direction. Masses of people all crowded together in an ocean of faces. Each one scrambling to get a better view of what most of them had hyper-hopped so far to see. A glimpse of a god.

    Marilyn arrived at her father¡¯s palace without a moment to spare. On the way to the conference chamber from her private hangar, she ran into Starvast Guardian Kasey Storm.

    ¡°Princess!¡± the Starvast Guardian yelled from down the empty corridor. Her snow-white hair was made into a long braid that fell over her shoulder and down to her waist. She had a tattoo of a black bolt that went over her eye and down her left cheek.

    ¡°Kasey!¡± Marilyn yelled back. They met in the middle and clasped hands with a firm grip.

    Kasey and her twin brother, Lucius, were three years older than Marilyn. They were born with unique bril that made one sibling produce black lightning whereas the other produced white. Earning them the nicknames; Kasey Darkbolt and Lucius Purebolt. Both were considered prodigies until Marilyn surpassed them at the age of twelve. Not only had she surpassed them, but she had also suggested they spar against her as a team. They begrudgingly agreed and lost.

    ¡°Find a worthy a foe?¡± asked Kasey.

    ¡°Found Hatamiko,¡± Marilyn told her.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the one who got Brint Jolt? I heard he was deep in the Plaquar territory.¡±

    ¡°He also got Kartri and Florence Thunder,¡± Marilyn added.

    ¡°Well, you don¡¯t look too banged up. How was he?¡±

    Marilyn looked down and shook her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t seem like anything special to me. Perhaps our warriors could use a little more training.¡±

    ¡°You are blessed with power, princess. You are the godking¡¯s daughter,¡± Kasey said with a smile. A smile that had once been one of friendship and admiration. Ever since the Undying Light had ordained Marilyn¡¯s father to be a god, that smile had been replaced by one of worship and blind devotion.

    Marilyn rolled her eyes. ¡°Please, don¡¯t indulge him too much.¡±

    Kasey stood firm and her once inviting face turned to one of fanatic offense. ¡°The Ascended Ones of the Undying Light have decreed it! He¡¯s fulfilled nearly every prophecy that was given to them over a thousand years ago!¡± Then she lowered her voice. ¡°Why must you choose to remain in the darkness, princess?¡±

    Marilyn¡¯s stomach churned. So many people that she admired were becoming engrossed with this old religion. She briefly forgot how delicate a subject her father¡¯s ¡°godhood¡± was. No matter how much she trusted a member of her father¡¯s Starvast, she could never bring up her doubts about his divinity in their presence. Which made her cherish her best friend, Ryllah, all the more. She seemed like the only other person in Farako who wasn¡¯t obsessed with the idea that her father would bring about peace to the galaxy.

    ¡°Sorry, Kasey, I had a long hyper-hop. I¡¯m just lagging a bit.¡± Marilyn told her.

    Kasey¡¯s creepy smile returned. ¡°All is well, princess. This demonstration is supposed to fulfil the final prophecy! It¡¯s going to be incredible!¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more,¡± Marilyn said with a poor attempt to provide much enthusiasm.

    As they approached the conference chamber, they saw that the Starvast were all standing outside the room. A dozen Imperian warriors divided equally into generals and guardians. Kasey spotted her brother, Lucius, amongst them. Like her, he held the title of Starvast Guardian.

    ¡°Princess,¡± he said with a teasing bow. He knew how much Marilyn disliked being cordial. His shaggy black hair fell to his shoulders. There was a white lightning bolt tattooed on the right side of his face. Letting any who saw him know that he was the infamous Lucius the Purebolt. ¡°I so rarely see you anymore.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep it that way,¡± Marilyn said with a fake smile. ¡°Why¡¯s dad got everyone flocked together outside?¡±

    ¡°The why is still beyond me,¡± said Lucius. ¡°High Priestess Lys has devised an interesting little test of faith before commencing with this particular demonstration, however.¡±

    Marilyn¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Was there some kind of way to scan if she was a believer or not? The very thought made her ill.

    ¡°She has required that all members of this pre-demonstration meeting take two pebbles into the conference room. One blue and one black. One at a time each person is to place a pebble into the hole atop a box in the conference chamber. Blue if you believe that Godking Darex is the Champion of the Undying Light. A deity reincarnated into mortal form to guide the galaxy into the light.¡± Then Lucius met eyes with Marilyn, but quickly looked away. ¡°Black if you do not believe.¡±

    ¡°What a foolish ploy!¡± said Kasey. ¡°What does Lys hope to accomplish with this?¡±

    Lucius only shrugged and gestured them over to the High Priestess and her box of pebbles.

    The priestess was short compared to the Elementi. Only coming up to Marilyn¡¯s chest. She had long purple hair tipped with black that flowed down to her knees. Her eyes were completely white. Making her appear blind, though she was not. Most interesting of all were the small freckles of light that slowly roamed across her pitch-black flesh. Marilyn often thought it looked as though Lys had the night sky cast upon her skin.

    Lys pointed at the box as the girls approached. Kasey tried to take only a blue pebble. Lys insisted she take a black one as well and discard it in the box that had been left by the door inside. Kasey did as she was told. When she came out of the room she nodded to Marilyn with confidence. As if to encourage the princess to have faith. Faith to believe that her father was actually a god.

    But what were the qualifications of godhood? Did gods lose their temper? Would a god let their wife leave them? Do gods tell their daughters they¡¯re better off not having a mother?

    Marilyn stared at the two pebbles in her hands. Blue in her left and black in her right. She took a deep breath as she closed her fists around them and entered the conference chamber.

 CH 2 If You Want Blood

    The game grows more perilous by the second. There are Jhori spies lurking in every shadow, and more players cast their lot in every day. I will need to move my pieces in just such a manner if I want to spare my family from the threat that looms on the horizon. Even if it means I must sacrifice every pawn to ensure that we come out victorious.

    <ul>

    <li>Journal of Versa Pyre</li>

    </ul>

    Pyra

    The king was slumped back on his golden throne outlined with gems of ruby and sapphire, but the ice in his glass continued to stir with nervous anticipation. He took another deep drink as he awaited the arrival of his guests.

    ¡°Put that down,¡± Versa Pyre insisted. She kept her voice low so only the king could hear her. ¡°Ten warships were more than what was needed. A hundred would have made a damn strong statement. Bringing a thousand? This is completely unprecedented.¡±

    Versa reached for the glass, but King Jrax Ferno quickly brought it up to his lips and finished what was left. He wiped his unkempt beard with his arm after giving a satisfying sigh. The liquid warmed his body as it made its way down. A small wave of euphoria followed shortly after.

    He looked at the glass that now only contained crushed ice. His reflection stretched across its side. Could that really be him? He pulled at one of his long dreadlocks. His hair hadn¡¯t been cared for in years. And his face. He had always been thin, but his cheeks and eyes were now sunken in. Giving him the gaunt look of someone on death¡¯s door.

    In his mind¡¯s eye he still saw the warrior prince he had been in his youth. The only child of King Drojax born with black hair. Which suited him since he had always lived in the shadow of his older brother.

    ¡°Do you suppose they know?¡± Jrax asked his sister in a gruff voice.

    ¡°If they ¡®knew¡¯, we would already be dead,¡± replied Versa. ¡°I would not hazard to guess what, but I suspect this visitation is in regard to something other than our treasonous endeavors.¡±

    The throne sat twenty paces from the large double door entrance to the room. Red marble pillars lined both sides of the path to the throne. To the right the wall was covered with stained glass murals of epic battles that had transpired in the past. To the left the wall could retract into the ceiling as it was today. Outside was a large balcony that was made into the king¡¯s hangar. His royal starship was parked in its usual spot but landing next to it was the unfamiliar ship that transported the New Jhori Councilors.

    The red skies of Pyra were filled with puffy white clouds dotted by enormous warships that circled around its capital city like hungry vultures who could smell death oncoming. The streets of the city were filled with anxious Pyrans. Several of whom were using whatever device or tool they could find to get a better view of what was happening at the king¡¯s palace.

    The door to the starship opened and three sharply dressed people escorted by New Jhori agents, personal guards, and high-ranking members of the militia made their way to the throne.

    As they got closer, Jrax noticed that every single agent escorting the councilors was a Pyran warrior. If a thousand warships that he was completely powerless to defend against were not humiliating enough, forcing his own people to aid in the intrusion of their homeworld certainly was.

    ¡°King Jrax Ferno,¡± said Councilor Laski as she came within a few paces of the throne, ¡°thank you for receiving us on such short notice.¡±

    ¡°The pleasure is all ours I can assure you,¡± said Versa.

    Laski grinned. The two horns that protruded from her forehead were brown, ridged, and came to sharp tips. Short orange hair protruded from her sleeves and collar, but her face was pale and bare aside from the intricately colored eyeshadow she wore. ¡°And might I add that your hair looks ravishing today, Lady Versa,¡± she said.

    Versa gave the faintest of smirks. Her luscious red hair was usually out on display as she roamed the palace or received guests in the throne room. When word had come that a thousand warships were fast approaching, she had her servants put her hair up into elaborate braids. ¡°You are too kind,¡± she replied with a slight bow.

    ¡°I have always adored the vibrant hair colors of the Elementi in contrast to their darker complexions. You also wore it in this fashion at the Battle of Skulge, did you not?¡±

    Versa raised a brow. ¡°The councilors are well informed.¡±

    ¡°I prefer the term educated,¡± Laski corrected. ¡°I wasn¡¯t hand-picked by the Empress Elect to be a member of the New Jhori Council by relying on the intelligence of others. Well informed makes it sound as if I have my own council of advisors to which I could depend upon.¡±

    The other two councilors who seemed content on letting Laski do all the talking nodded their heads in affirmation. They looked like they could be twins. Old men with long white beards and thick wrinkles.

    ¡°I can imagine the sight of our escorts arriving in your skies was a fearsome spectacle, but I assure you, Lady Versa, that your esteemed skills in combat will not be required. You see, however daunting a thousand warships may be, it has been deemed a necessary precaution when numerous councilors are sailing through the stars. Even within the boundaries of our own nation.¡±

    ¡°It is a dangerous galaxy,¡± said Versa. ¡°Your fears are more than warranted.¡±

    Laski¡¯s grin faded. ¡°A dangerous galaxy indeed. Which brings us to the reason of our visit. On behalf of the Empress Elect, we were hoping to see how far along your son was coming in his training.¡±

    ¡°Then you came to the wrong place,¡± said Jrax. ¡°Prince Dravon is still completing his final year at the academy.¡±

    ¡°It was not Dravon we were interested in seeing,¡± said Laski.

    Jrax¡¯s eyes narrowed on the councilor. His eldest son, Dravon, who was named after Jrax¡¯s older brother upon the insistence of Queen Drelaine, was in line to inherit the crown. Therefore, he was off limits to Jhori agencies or any militia. His other child, Jraken, was not in line for such a title. Which made him completely applicable to be recruited by such entities.

    All the royal families of the Elementi were forced to send their children to the Jhori academy from age 15 to 20. The first five years of adulthood for an Elementi were to be spent learning the history and ideologies of New Jhori. A history Jrax was certain had been tampered with, and an ideology that they taught but did not follow.

    ¡°Prince Jraken is only 13,¡± said Versa. ¡°He still has two more years before he is to be tested at the academy.¡±

    ¡°I am aware of how the Elementi academy is run,¡± said Laski. ¡°Is there some reason why Jraken would be unable to show us his progress right now?¡±

    Jrax took another sip from his glass. All he tasted was the ice that had melted. He needed another drink. Why the sudden interest in Jraken? What hidden motives could be behind the councilors requesting to see the development of his younger child?

    ¡°It¡¯s a fairly easy question,¡± said Laski. ¡°Is he or is he not well enough to put on a display for us?¡±

    ¡°He is well enough,¡± said Jrax. It was clear there was no way around this. They didn¡¯t bring this many warships to take no for an answer. ¡°What kind of display did you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°A sparring match,¡± said Laski. ¡°One of these Pyran agents against the prince.¡±

    ¡°Prince Jraken is still on the cusp of manhood,¡± argued Versa. ¡°He¡¯ll be no match for a seasoned agent.¡±

    Laski grinned with squinted eyes. ¡°Humor me.¡±

    Prince Jraken sat on a bench in the locker room as servants loosened up his muscles and helped him put on his battle garments. His charcoal hair curled down to his shoulders. Rather than the bright red eyes of his father or the orange eyes of his mother, Jraken had inherited violet eyes. Something that had caused rumors around Pyra of him being illegitimate. Nothing with much weight behind it, but it was more than enough to instill a sense of needing to prove himself.

    To say he was excited would be an understatement. His heels bounced against the ground in rapid succession as he anticipated the fight to come. He only ever sparred against his grandfather, Locke Heater. The man responsible for the prince¡¯s training. And he had only ever lost.

    Jraken would have expected his grandfather to share in his excitement in this opportunity to exhibit the work they had accomplished together. All those long days of training were now about to pay off.

    As Locke entered the room and dismissed the servants, he knew that was not at all the case. His grandfather kept his hands behind his back and his head down. He seemed as if he struggled for the right words.

    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± asked Jraken.

    Locke looked up and met his gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is the time to reveal your abilities.¡±

    Jraken¡¯s heart skipped a beat. This was all he had ever wanted. ¡°What do you mean? Most of Pyra is out in that coliseum. This is my chance to show my father what I¡¯m made of. Besides, it¡¯s not like we can turn down a request from the Empress Elect.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Locke agreed. ¡°We certainly cannot do that. However, there is no reason for you to show the extent of what you are capable of.¡±

    ¡°So, what then?¡± Jraken wasn¡¯t sure he could believe what he was hearing. ¡°Throw the match?!¡±

    Locke put a finger to his lips to remind Jraken to keep his voice down. ¡°I know what I am asking of you. However, I fear what the Jhori would do with you if they found out how gifted you really are.¡±

    ¡°How gifted am I?¡± asked Jraken. ¡°Could I be as good as Uncle Dravon? Or my mother?¡±

    Jraken watched his grandfather wince at the thought of Queen Drelaine before he spoke. This was what his grandfather did anytime he brought up his mother.

    ¡°I was appointed by your royal grandfather, King Drojax, to train his three children. You have only known a life of peace. In times of war, training to become a warrior is a paramount part of longevity. The responsibility of ensuring the children of the king would be adequately proficient on the battlefield was entrusted to me. I trained them all to be warriors of renowned abilities. Feared by even the Starvast of Farako.¡±

    ¡°And you think I could be like them?¡± asked Jraken. His eyes were full of wonder.

    ¡°This is what I am trying to tell you.¡± Locke paused and shook his head. He lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. ¡°You have progressed through your training like nothing I have ever seen before.¡± There was almost a hint of regret in his words.

    ¡°So, I have even more bril than they did?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Bril is not something that can easily be measured. Yes, it is the invisible force that give Elementi the ability to manipulate and manifest the elements, but don¡¯t think of it in terms of simple measurements. One would not compare a heavy lifter to a long-distance sprinter. There are those who can exert large amounts of bril at once, while others are better suited at maintaining a steady flow. There are Onyxians and Lunanites gifted with bringing their bril to life in the form of stone and ice golems. The Aerosi can use their bril to manipulate the wind into giving them flight. How does one measure all of these abilities on a scale of better or worse?¡±

    Jraken could only shrug.

    ¡°That being said,¡± Locke continued. ¡°It would be all too easy for even naive eyes to see that the mastery you have over your bril is far ahead of schedule.¡±

    ¡°Why would I want to hide that? Why not go out there and make our people proud?¡± Jraken asked as he gestured towards the arena through the wall behind them.

    ¡°You saw all the warships circling around us on the way here, did you not?¡±

    ¡°I was told that the councilors always travel with that many warships,¡± said Jraken.

    ¡°Not even in times of war has Pyra ever been visited by an armada of this magnitude. Three of the seven councilors that oversee the entire vast nation of New Jhori under the direction of the Empress Elect have brought those ships with them here just to see you spar. For me, this is beyond cause for suspicion. I am not overstating things when I say the fate of Pyra may rest in your hands today. If the Jhori thought they had a new powerful weapon, they could very well use it against Farako. The war would be reignited.¡±

    Jraken made a deep gulp. His arms fell to his sides, and he leaned forward as he hung on to his grandfather¡¯s every word. ¡°But we are at peace. Why would they want to restart the war?¡±

    ¡°Because with you,¡± replied Locke. ¡°They just might be able to win.¡±

    Locke had fought for the Jhori nation for most of his life. His loyalty had been put to the test along with every other Elementi when the Empress Elect ordered all of them to be quarantined to their homeworld, Elementa, and her five moons.

    ¡°Do you recall learning of the Siege of Grevenor?¡± asked Locke.

    ¡°Of course,¡± said Jraken. ¡°My mother and Uncle Dravon led the assault, and they retook Grevenor in a single night.¡±

    ¡°Historians speculate the numbers and I know that the estimates have been interfered with to keep our potential hidden from not only us but our adversaries across the galaxy. We are led to believe that two great Pyran warriors defeated nearly 500 soldiers when storming the gates of Grevenor on that evening.¡±

    ¡°How many do you think they actually defeated?¡± asked Jraken.

    ¡°I know for a fact that the number is closer to 5,000.¡±

    Jraken¡¯s chin dropped. ¡°5,000? That¡¯s incredible!¡±

    ¡°And at the rate you are progressing. I have reason to believe you will surpass even them.¡± Locke had never expected that this would be such troubling news, but as he looked down at his grandson, he felt remorse for the path he had put his family down. He had only wanted to sire the most powerful warrior the galaxy had ever known. He once thought it was his purpose in his life. It had been such a noble cause. He never stopped to consider the fact that he was simply creating more tools of war.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Me?¡± Jraken tried to imagine himself taking on an army of 5,000 with only one other Pyran at his side. It didn¡¯t seem possible.

    ¡°This is why the Councilors are so interested in your abilities. They will use you until the last of your flames have been extinguished. Don¡¯t let them turn you into a weapon,¡± Locke put a hand on his grandson¡¯s shoulder. He hated how foolish he had been in his younger days. He had been too blind to see that it was his ambition for power that had killed his daughter. He looked down at Jraken. It was evident from the boy¡¯s face that he was quickly becoming overwhelmed. ¡°Throw the fight, Jraken. Let the galaxy rest easy in believing they have no further reason to fear the Elementi.¡±

    Jraken looked up into Locke¡¯s orange eyes. In them he saw more fear and desperation than he ever knew existed in his grandfather. It was enough for the young prince to nod in agreement. ¡°Okay. I will throw the fight.¡±

    Locke made his way to the royal box to watch the fight as soon as he had finished speaking with Jraken. He wished he had the courage to tell him the truth. To tell him the whole story behind what happened to his mother. To tell him about the secrets behind why he was so gifted. But every time Locke tried to speak of his daughter, no words would come.

    It had been twelve years since the death of his only child. He could still see her beaming smile as if no time had passed at all. When he reminisced of his daughter it was always the same moment. The day King Drojax announced her betrothal to his eldest son, Prince Dravon(I). He was so proud that the daughter of a commoner like him would become a queen. If he had known what fate awaited her, he would have gladly rejected the marriage no matter the consequences.

    The New Jhori Councilors sat in the royal box with King Jrax, his sister, Versa, and her husband, Baster Pyre. It was raised high above and protruded out several paces further than the other seats in the coliseum.

    ¡°This is our royal combat instructor, Locke Heater,¡± said Versa upon his arrival.

    Locke would never have chosen to sit in the royal box. As the father-in-law of the king, he was certainly permitted. He remembered a time when he and Drelaine had first been invited to watch a tourney in the royal box. They had been ecstatic upon receiving the request.

    Back then, Princess Versa had been but a child who followed Drelaine around admiring her every step. Being of the same age, Prince Jrax and she became rivals that grew into close friends. Prince Dravon(I) was already off making history in the war against Farako. Those days had died along with his daughter.

    Unfortunately, his presence had been specifically requested by Councilor Laski.

    ¡°The royal combat instructor,¡± echoed Laski as she looked him up and down. ¡°Do you train all the royal children then?¡±

    Locke stumbled for words. He didn¡¯t want to make Jraken sound like he was getting treated any different than his brother or cousins, but the truth was that he had chosen to devote all his time solely to him.

    ¡°An easy question,¡± said Laski when he failed to respond in a timely manner.

    With a thousand warships hovering above his head, the last thing Locke wanted to do right now was get caught lying to a councilor. ¡°I have little of the time or the energy to take on more than one apprentice these days,¡± he told her.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± asked Laski. ¡°Well, I¡¯m curious to see the fruits of your labor.¡±

    ¡°Jraken is coming along very well,¡± said Versa. ¡°What he is lacking in some areas he can make up for with other strengths.¡±

    Locke knew his old student, Versa, was just as gifted with her words as she was with her flames. The two were often at odds ever since Locke had refused to train her two children, but he was relieved to see that he would have her assistance when it came to concealing Jraken¡¯s potential. A potential that he assumed she had only a veiled suspicion of until now.

    The audience started to cheer as an announcer introduced the two combatants.

    ¡°Graduating from the academy only four years ago, this young man has already made quite the name for himself at the Coimen agency! Pyra, welcome back your blazing son, Captain Klaster Pyre!¡±

    The audience roared as Klaster walked out to the center of the arena. He had short curly blonde hair that came to a red tip. Paired with it was a bushy blonde moustache that also became redder near the lips. He was wearing his blue agency uniform which was already adorned with a few badges boasting of his achievements.

    ¡°Your nephew has made quite the name for himself,¡± Laski said to Baster. ¡°I have considered acquiring him for my own personnel on several occasions.¡±

    Baster had to clear his throat before speaking. He hadn¡¯t expected Laski to acknowledge him. Let alone strike up conversation. He looked to his wife, and she gave him a nod of permission. In terms of size, he was the largest person in the royal box, but you would hardly know it from how soft spoken and meek he behaved.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°Klaster has made the Pyre family very proud.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure your son, Allabar, will benefit greatly from his achievements. I¡¯ve no doubt that several agencies will jump at the chance to acquire a Pyre of their own,¡± said Laski.

    Versa expertly kept her emotions in check. On the surface, no one would assume that anything was amiss. Though, as she heard her son¡¯s name come from Laski¡¯s mouth, it made her stomach churn and her blood boil.

    ¡°Thank you, councilor,¡± Baster said, gleaming with pride. ¡°Versa and I certainly have high hopes for him.¡±

    This time Baster did receive a glance from his wife, and he immediately regretted having spoken on her behalf.

    Once the crowd had settled, the announcer continued. ¡°His opponent, making his Pyra coliseum debut! At only age 13 this young man more than has his work cut out for him, but as the son of our very own King Jrax and the late Great Queen Drelaine, he isn¡¯t lacking when it comes to having tremendous genes! Citizens of Pyra, I give you your scorching prince, Jraken Ferno!¡±

    Jraken covered his eyes as the contrast of the bright sun compared to the dark hallway that he had just walked through caught him off guard. His eyes adjusted and his heart raced as he looked at the multitude of people who had come to see his fight.

    ¡°I¡¯ll apologize in advance, Prince Jraken!¡± yelled Klaster from across the arena floor, ¡°but I was instructed not to go easy on you!¡± The cocky grin he held as he spoke did not make the apology feel very sincere.

    Jraken couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the irony. Little did Klaster know that the prince had been instructed to go easy on his opponent.

    Whether he had meant to or not, Jraken¡¯s chuckle struck a nerve with the captain. Klaster got into a fighting stance. The air around him started to bend from the heat that was being generated by his bril.

    ¡°Combatants ready?¡±

    Jraken took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves and then got into his stance to signal that he was ready for the exhibition match to begin.

    ¡°FIGHT!¡±

    The battle started with a large plume of fire that was being emitted from Klaster¡¯s outstretched hands. Jraken avoided the plume with consecutive back handsprings until Klaster extinguished his flames and lunged toward the prince.

    Jraken was amazed how slow the captain was compared to what he was accustomed to when sparring with his grandfather. Each attack was dodged with ease as Klaster desperately chased his opponent around the arena.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty quick, little prince,¡± Klaster confessed after another of his attacks was evaded.

    As the royal family sitting in the box watched the fight go on, they each expressed very different emotions toward what they were seeing. Versa watched the match closely from the edge of her seat with intrigued eyes. Locke¡¯s back was pressed against his chair with his fingers grasped on the arms so tight his knuckles were white. Baster observed the fight with ignorant excitement. And King Jrax remained in an uninterested slump as he took sips from a bottle that had replaced the glass from earlier.

    Jraken had just dodged another attack when he glanced up at the royal box. All he saw was his father as apathetic as he ever was. His temper got the better of him and he threw a fireball at Klaster so fast that the captain had little time to react to it.

    Klaster crossed his arms in front of his face, but the force of the blast on contact still sent the warrior sliding back three paces. When he stopped, he shook the smoke off his arms and some of the pain along with it.

    ¡°So, you do have a little firepower in you,¡± he said.

    After watching his opponent lose ground to his attack, Jraken came back to his senses. He knew he had to throw this fight. From what his grandfather had said, lives could very well depend on it. He would be lying if he said he understood it all completely, but he trusted his grandfather.

    Klaster charged at Jraken with a flame hovering above each palm. He threw the first one and Jraken knocked it into the ground with the back of his hand. When Klaster threw the second one from point-blank Jraken did nothing to avoid it.

    Rather than detonate upon impact like Jraken¡¯s fireball had done, Klaster¡¯s flame carried Jraken across the arena until it slammed him into the middle of the tall stone wall below the coliseum seats. He fell to the ground under a small pile of rubble that had broken off due to the force of the impact.

    ¡°What a shot!¡± yelled the announcer. Consecutive buzzers slowly went off while Jraken was laying on the ground. ¡°But will we reach a seven count?¡±

    Jraken acted like he was trying to get up, but on the sixth buzzer he slid his hand on some debris to fall back down. The seventh buzzer sounded off and the crowd erupted with cheers.

    ¡°I hope you found his performance adequate,¡± Versa said to the councilors.

    Laski fidgeted around in her seat. ¡°It seemed to raise more questions than it answered,¡± she said. ¡°The prince appeared to have the upper-hand through the majority of the fight.¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, exerting oneself too soon is a very common mistake amongst inexperienced fighters,¡± explained Locke. He couldn¡¯t have been prouder of Jraken. Taking a hit like that was not an easy thing to ask of anyone. Let alone your own grandson, but he had performed admirably.

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± said Laski as she eyed the drunken king sitting to her left. ¡°Or perhaps he just needs the right motivation. When was the last time you sparred in an exhibition, Jrax?¡±

    Versa was quick to reply. ¡°The king is not permitted to partake in public spars.¡±

    ¡°Says who?¡± asked Laski. ¡°That was a suggestion for times of war. No one ever officially decreed it.¡±

    Locke could see the shipwreck that was approaching. If Jraken was presented with an opportunity to spar with his father, there was little hope the boy would be able to hold back. This councilor was a crafty creature.

    ¡°Councilor Laski,¡± said Locke. ¡°The boy wasn¡¯t strong enough to defeat Captain Klaster. I do not wish to speak ill of a fellow Pyran warrior, but Klaster does not hold a candle to King Jrax. It would be a very short and albeit humiliating defeat for the child. Hasn¡¯t he suffered enough embarrassment for one day?¡±

    Laski¡¯s grin faded into a look of utter annoyance. ¡°Humor me.¡±

    King Jrax buzzed with euphoria. He could sense that his family was doing everything they could to convince the councilor that it was not a good idea for him to spar with his son in front of an audience. And he could not have cared less.

    If they thought the brat was some kind of prodigy, then who better than him to prove he wasn¡¯t? Jrax could feel his blood pumping in anticipation.

    I¡¯ll take him down so fast the Jhori will second guess even sending him to the academy! He thought to himself as he jumped down from the royal box. He landed near the center of the arena with bottle still in hand. Klaster bowed to his king and promptly exited through the hallway he had entered from.

    It was all Jraken could do to keep from looking too excited. Ever since he had thrown his first fireball he had wanted to spar with his father, and now he was standing adjacent to him in the Pyran coliseum. The feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu was uncanny. He had woken up from this exact scenario in numerable dreams over the years.

    ¡°What¡¯s this? I¡¯m not sure I believe what I¡¯m seeing.¡± -The announcer cleared his throat. ¡°It looks like King Jrax is challenging the young prince!¡±

    Jrax finished his bottle. Eight gulps followed by a large belch. When he saw the look of disapproval on his son¡¯s face, he threw the bottle at him. The prince barely avoided it as it whizzed past him to be smashed into thousands of tiny glass shards upon hitting the wall behind him.

    ¡°This is it, you little shit!¡± he shouted over to Jraken. Total silence fell on the coliseum as everyone in attendance leaned in to hear what their king was saying to his son. ¡°The eldest prince didn¡¯t turn any heads, but for some ridiculous reason they want to see what you are capable of!¡± Jrax stumbled backwards and then steadied himself. ¡°So, let¡¯s see if old man Locke is still training warriors like he used to!¡±

    Jraken felt his temper rise at the sight of his drunk and disorderly father. His bril started bending the air around him as he released it from his body. Ready to be transformed into fire at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°The first time you acknowledge me in years, and you do it by throwing a glass bottle at my face and calling me a little shit?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t flex your bril at me unless you want a fight, boy,¡± Jrax warned.

    ¡°You¡¯re an embarrassment to Pyra,¡± Jraken replied. ¡°To all the Elementi people.¡±

    ¡°You want to be king?¡± Jrax pulled off his slim golden crown and dangled it out in front of himself. ¡°You think it¡¯s so easy? Go on. Take it. It¡¯s all yours.¡±

    Jraken took a couple steps toward his father, and his father did nothing in response.

    ¡°We¡¯re all waiting,¡± Jrax teased. ¡°Come on. Put me in my place.¡±

    Jraken had heard enough. His father was standing wide open to attack, and he was so drunk he could barely even do that. Jraken took note of the distance and was certain he could dash forward before his father would have time to respond. His calculations could not have been more wrong.

    Before Jraken could even reach his hand out to swipe the crown, Jrax had swung it up and clocked him across the face with it. Jraken started to fall back in a daze but was hit in the chest by a swinging kick that sent him flying back and into a roll.

    Jraken adjusted and came out of the roll back on his feet fifteen paces from where his father had kicked him.

    ¡°That¡¯s a grain of sand in the vast desert of pain this crown brings to those who are forced to wear it,¡± said Jrax. ¡°Since your brother will be the one to have to inherit this burden, I thought it would only be fair that I share some of its pain with you today!¡±

    Jraken spit out a mouthful of blood. His rage overwhelmed him, and he let it out with an angry battle cry. He shot fire down into the ground that propelled him toward his father. He met him with a fiery punch that was stopped short by a firm forearm. Jraken continued to send a volley of kicks, punches, knees, and elbows as soon as his initial attack had been blocked. Anything he could do that would inflict damage. Every single one of his attacks came to a brief end and eventually Jraken sent a kick that Jrax was able to anticipate and counter.

    To Jrax¡¯s surprise, his son recovered quickly and the two exchanged blows for a moment without either one being able to break the other¡¯s guard.

    At first the audience believed their king was just toying with the young prince, but as the fight ensued, more and more people were beginning to wonder if Jrax was starting to have to actually exert himself against the young warrior.

    The onslaught of attacks went on until Jrax finally got a good punch in that sent his son across the arena.

    Jrax pursued him directly after the punch to inflict more damage while he was still flailing through the air. He was again surprised to find his son had quickly recovered and was already instigating the next round of attacks before he could even reach him.

    This continued for a few more rounds. Jraken found it harder and harder to recover after each hit that he unwillingly allowed his father to get past his defenses. His face was so bloody he could barely see. His body trembled from the pain but still he fought on.

    ¡°Just stay down. You¡¯ve made your point, boy,¡± said Jrax. ¡°Your brother never and may never make it to this level.¡±

    ¡°He has nothing to do with this!¡± Jraken shouted. ¡°This is between you and me!¡±

    Jrax laughed. ¡°What then? What is it you possibly hope to achieve here?¡±

    Jraken struggled to get back to his feet. His hopes of defeating his father had been wiped away. Though, there was still one thing that he had to do. One thing he had to prove to himself that he could do. ¡°One drop,¡± he muttered. ¡°One drop of blood. I¡¯m not staying down until I get at least one drop of blood from you!¡±

    ¡°You might well be the star of your generation, but I was raised in the flames of war,¡± said the king. Then he got into his fighting stance for the first time since the battle had started. ¡°If you want blood, then come and get it.¡±

    Jraken dashed toward his father and as he did, he tapped into a reserve of bril that he never knew he had. He surged forward faster than either father or son expected and Jraken wound up tackling his father to the ground. He got one quick punch to his father¡¯s face before Jrax¡¯s body suddenly became engulfed in flame.

    The heat was more than Jraken could handle, and he was forced to jump off. His father, whose entire body remained covered in flames, got up and lunged.

    With King Jrax¡¯s brill completely ignited, he was able to move much quicker than Jraken was ready to react to. He connected a powerful uppercut to the chin of his son which was rapidly followed by a spinning kick to the side of the head.

    Jrax extinguished the flames around his body and stood over his son¡¯s now unconscious body. He was breathing hard. He hadn¡¯t meant to use the All-Flame technique. It had just been so long since he had participated in a fight like that. Now he knew. There was no longer any denying that there was something special about this boy.

    At a certain point in the match, the crowd of Pyrans had consecutively rose to their feet. A conjoined unconscious decision brought on by fascination and admiration. They stayed silent for some time. Even the operator in charge of starting the countdown was too stunned to press the button. It was someone in the nosebleeds who first came out of their stupor and started a slow clap. Pretty soon the crowd was giving raucous applause.

    Laski stood up from her chair. ¡°You will send Jraken to the academy as soon as he has recovered from his injuries. Failure to do so will result in quarter-rations not just for Pyra, but all Elementi for an entire year.¡± Her voice was stern and filled with animosity.

    ¡°Understood, Councilor Laski,¡± Versa said obediently. Her gaze was still fixated on her brother. Bewildered that he had just revealed his ability to use the All-Flame technique. Something that was supposed to be their ace in the hole should war break out again.

    Laski stopped as she walked past Locke. She bent down and whispered in his ear. ¡°You¡¯ve really outdone yourself, Locke, but we¡¯ll take it from here.¡±

    Jrax walked away from his incapacitated son into one of the hallways that ran under the coliseum seats. It had been several years since he had taken a punch like the one his son had just given him. He rotated his jaw around and felt a small pop. When he was in no doubt that he was alone, he pressed down on the tooth that was causing him the most discomfort with his pointer finger. He pulled his finger out and found that it was still void of any blood.

    ¡°Not this time, my son.¡± A rare grin forced itself onto his face. ¡°Not this time.¡±

 CH 3 Not the Dying Type

    ¡°Put him back where you found him. That¡¯s what I think. Not that you could without getting your entrails ripped out and eaten right in front of you. And of course, I would be the one that Superior Pujo enlists to try and keep him in line. Yeah, right.¡±

    <ul>

    <li>Voice message of Klasp Smasher to his wife</li>

    </ul>

    Nijirono

    ¡°You¡¯ve got horrendous aim with that thing,¡± said Shalika. Her feline nose wrinkled in repugnance, making her whiskers twitch. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± said Horbel. ¡°You defile your corpses your way and I¡¯ll defile my corpses my way.¡± His voice was deep and sinister. His black scales glistened upon tone muscles under the bright green moon and the large temple that was engulfed in flames. He pulled the front of his black trousers back up as soon as he had finished urinating on his most recent victim. isHisfbjisbvreblieb

    ¡°Because

    ripping out and eating her heart in front of her students wasn¡¯t enough?¡± Shalika asked with folded arms of dark blue fur. A lighter shade of blue made stripes that could be seen anywhere not covered by her green and black uniform. She had three long pointed ears on adjacent sides of her head that were each adorned with silver tassels as earrings.

    ¡°What can I say?¡± Horbel said with a chuckle. Blood still dripped from his chin and covered his chest. ¡°I¡¯ve a flair for the dramatics.¡±

    ¡°How dare you defile our master!¡± one of the students shouted. All forty of which had gone to their knees to watch their master make an example of this boisterous and violent trespasser. After watching Horbel brutally put an end to their master¡¯s life without exerting much effort, not a single one from among them had worked up the courage to rise to their feet. Doing so would be taken as a challenge, and no one dared to challenge Horbel.

    The student who had spoken up was choking on blood as soon as he finished speaking. Horbel¡¯s arm extended out to unnatural lengths past the first row and straight through his chest. The other students screamed and scattered in terror.

    ¡°Hold it!¡± Horbel commanded. He retracted his arm back from the young man¡¯s chest and blood spurted all around.

    Most of the group obediently stood in place. Preferring to take their chances with not upsetting the intruder. The few who kept running were quickly cut down by Shalika¡¯s long razor-sharp claws. She pounced on each one faster than any of them could react. She sliced most of them across their throats and gleefully watched as other students tried to keep their friends¡¯ blood from gushing out.

    ¡°Now, you all know that religion is outlawed in Plaquar,¡± Horbel said. He started pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. ¡°And this planet has been under Plaquar sovereignty for quite some time. Superior Pujo¡¯s law is very clear on what is to be done with any temples, prophets, or relics.¡±

    Several students started to cry. It made Horbel sick. He despised weakness. Most who knew him would say he was completely lacking in sympathy. That couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. He sympathized alright. He could imagine what it must be like to be a pitiful mortal who had to beg for their next breath. All he desired was to give them peace. A peace that no one seemed to be able to bestow upon himself.

    ¡°However,¡± Horbel continued. A glimmer of hope shown in numerous eyes across the terrace. ¡°I personally have no qualms with you believing whatever fool¡¯s story you want to believe. So long as you can point me in the direction of the Elementi who are rumored to be hiding out on this planet.¡±

    The students all looked at each other dumbfounded. Each one hoping that one from among them might have the answer he was looking for.

    Horbel threw his hands up to the sky. ¡°Well? Where are they?!¡± He shouted. Ash started to fall from the sky as the temple continued to burn behind him.

    Everyone flinched upon being yelled at by Horbel. They each now knew just how quickly he could kill any one of them.

    ¡°W-warring factions of Elementi c-came here long ago,¡± stuttered one of the older students. ¡°Our g-goddess, Nivir, spoke to their hearts and they left our world.¡±

    Shalika laughed as she kicked one of the students still standing near her down to their knees. ¡°That¡¯s a ship of shit! Elementi are supposed to be ruthless killers. They don¡¯t just leave cause the locals are having a rough go of it. They¡¯ve pulverized hundreds of worlds!¡±

    ¡°Not to mention the fact that no one¡¯s ever seen this Nivir character,¡± said Horbel. ¡°If you want a god,¡± he gestured toward himself, ¡°then look no further.¡± He walked up to the nearest student. He towered over the warrior in training. To his surprise she stood firm as he approached.

    Horbel leaned over and put his face down into hers. ¡°Bow to me.¡±

    A tear fell from her eye, but she stared straight ahead. When she spoke, her voice sounded as though it fought with all its might to stay in her throat. ¡°I do not bow to monsters or men.¡±

    Horbel looked her up and down.

    Then she locked eyes and spoke with much more conviction. ¡°Only Nivir.¡±

    Horbel grinned. ¡°How pitiful is it to have courage with no strength to back it up? Let me relieve you of such a sorrowful existence.¡± Horbel swung his fist through her skull in one fluid motion. He did it so fast and with so much force that it completely obliterated her head. Horbel watched her body slap against the floor with envious eyes. The girl would now know peace.

    The rest of the students fell to their hands and knees and started bowing as quickly as they could. Bobbing their heads up and down and saying, ¡°Lord Horbel! Lord Horbel!¡±

    Horbel and Shalika laughed and pointed out which one from among them they thought looked the most pitiful.

    ¡°That will be enough of that!¡± an old man yelled from below the burning temple. He spoke loudly but held no hostility in his voice. His large bushy white eyebrows protruded from a wrinkled and worn-down face. They consisted of the only hair that seemed to still grow on the old man¡¯s body. He wore a tattered white robe and supported his weight on a wooden stick he used for a cane. His bald head revealed a spiraling tattoo of green and yellow.

    A couple of the students gasped upon seeing the old man. Horbel overheard one of the younger ask another if the man was Voon¡¯ki. This was confirmed by one of the students quietly telling everyone that he was in fact, Voon¡¯ki, the mountain hermit.

    ¡°Where in the abyss did you come from?¡± asked Horbel. He looked over at Shalika. Her heightened sense of smell was supposed to keep them from getting snuck up on. However, she looked just as confused as he was.

    ¡°Nothing comes from the abyss,¡± said Voon¡¯ki. ¡°Not even a god could escape its almighty pull.¡±

    ¡°Listen, geezer, I¡¯m far older than you can imagine. So, don¡¯t talk down to me like I don¡¯t know how the galaxy works,¡± said Horbel. ¡°I¡¯ve been slaying mortals since long before you suckled at your mother¡¯s breast.¡±

    ¡°And in all that time you¡¯ve failed to learn the serenity of benevolence.¡± Voon¡¯ki shook his head. ¡°Such a shame.¡±

    ¡°Benevolence,¡± Horbel spit out the word with utter disgust. ¡°The master of this temple also spoke of benevolence before I took a bite out of her still beating heart.¡±

    Voon¡¯ki glanced over at her remains. ¡°Master Fioria was a very wise woman. You would have benefited greatly from heeding her advice.¡±

    Horbel laughed and pointed at her remains. ¡°Take advice?¡± he mocked. ¡°From a heartless corpse covered in piss?!¡±

    Voon¡¯ki slowly walked down the thirteen steps that led up to the temple. He stopped over what was left of Fioria¡¯s body and made spiral motions in the air above her with his right hand. The left remained on his makeshift cane. ¡°May Nivir guide you home,¡± he whispered.

    ¡°Alright,¡± said Horbel. ¡°I¡¯ve grown tired of you.¡± He extended his arm out to grab Voon¡¯ki but the old man leaned back just in time to evade his grasp. Horbel retracted his arm back. ¡°Curious,¡± he said with a smirk.

    Voon¡¯ki raised his cane and swung it down at the ground. Dust flew into the air and a shockwave shook the terrace. The blast forced Shalika to take a couple steps back.

    Horbel crossed his scaly arms and watched with growing interest. Whoever this Voon¡¯ki character was, he was certainly in a different league than the woman he had just fought. Horbel felt a tinge of excitement go down his spine. From what he¡¯d heard, this was the kind of power he was to expect from an elite Elementi.

    Voon¡¯ki lifted Fioria¡¯s body and placed her in the small crater that had formed when he struck the ground. He started taking handfuls of dirt and throwing it over her remains while humming.

    ¡°Well?¡± asked Shalika, ¡°Are we really going to stand here and watch his little funeral service or are we going to kill him?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯d like to take a shot at him, be my guest,¡± said Horbel. Throughout his tenure working for Plaquar Superior Pujo, Shalika had managed to outlast all the warriors he had been teamed up with. She had a knack for surviving. Her heightened senses also proved useful from time to time. Though, she was still weak by his standards. Most were.

    Shalika hesitated. She didn¡¯t like the tone of his voice. Then she looked the old man over. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look that tough to me.¡±

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the hold up?¡± asked Horbel.

    Shalika hissed and pulled her ears back. Then she dashed toward Voon¡¯ki and right before she was about to sink her claws into his flesh, he turned around and connected an uppercut to her chin. He followed it with a swift kick to the chest that sent the feline warrior flying back thirty paces.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Voon¡¯ki then went back to pushing dirt over the crater. This time with his back turned to Horbel.

    Horbel gave an obnoxious laugh as he watched Shalika struggle to get up. He turned his attention back to Voon¡¯ki.

    ¡°You¡¯ve only yourself to blame for what¡¯s happened here,¡± said Horbel. ¡°The reason I came out to this dump of a planet was because I heard a rumor that it was harboring some powerful warriors.¡±

    Voon¡¯ki ignored him and continued the burial.

    ¡°So, you better make this worth my while,¡± Horbel said with a growl. He leapt forward and swung a punch down at the little old man. Voon¡¯ki had dodged and returned a punch to Horbel¡¯s abdomen before the muscular warrior could react.

    Horbel took a couple steps back and puked up purple blood. ¡°Damn,¡± he said before wiping his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re a quick one.¡±

    Voon¡¯ki did not reply. Instead, he stared down Horbel with a stoic gaze.

    ¡°What? No more wise words?¡± asked Horbel.

    ¡°Words mean nothing to men like you,¡± said Voon¡¯ki. ¡°I fear that no matter how hard I try to dissuade you, your path to the abyss is all but certain.¡±

    ¡°If I understand the old teachings correctly, one will have to die in order to find themselves in the abyss,¡± said Horbel. ¡°Well, believe you me, I¡¯m not the dying type.¡±

    ¡°Yet, somehow I sense that you are not truly alive either,¡± replied Voon¡¯ki.

    Horbel snarled and dashed at his opponent once again. This time he was able to exchange attacks with Voon¡¯ki for a few rounds before he lost the advantage and was sent tumbling away by a hard punch to the face.

    Horbel roared in anger as he got back to his feet. Every time he was knocked down, he got back up and continued fighting as if nothing had happened.

    The students sat in wonder. They had heard their master speak of Voon¡¯ki before. Fioria had said he was a very gifted fighter back in his younger days. Had even fought off some of the Elementi who tried to bring their war to the planet Nijira, their ancestral home. Now that they were watching him battle, they realized just how little their imaginations prepared them for what he was truly capable of.

    The two fighters leapt to great heights and moved at incredible speeds. Each time a punch or kick landed it made a loud boom that echoed through the jungle mountains behind the still burning temple.

    This went on for half the night. No matter how many times Voon¡¯ki knocked back his foe, he kept returning to the fight seemingly unharmed.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you use your Elementi abilities?¡± asked Horbel. ¡°How dare you hold back on me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not Elementi,¡± said Voon¡¯ki. ¡°Though, it would seem we must be distant cousins.¡±

    ¡°You could have been employed by a superior with these skills,¡± said Horbel. ¡°What a waste of talent.¡±

    ¡°And promote more chaos and destruction in the galaxy?¡± responded Voon¡¯Ki. ¡°My family brought me here when we fled from the devasted worlds. I had my fill of death long ago.¡±

    ¡°From the devastated worlds,¡± scoffed Horbel. ¡°What a load of piss. Nothing has lived in that region of space for over a half a millennium.¡±

    ¡°I was just a boy when I watched a Devastator lay waste to my home,¡± said Voon¡¯Ki.

    ¡°Now we¡¯re saying we actually witnessed a Devastator?¡± asked Horbel. ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough of your fairytales, old man.¡± He dashed at Voon¡¯Ki once more and the two continued their battle.

    Shalika had been watching the fight from where she landed. She was the first to spot a starship approaching from above them. ¡°Horbel!¡± she shouted and pointed up at it.

    ¡°Damn it,¡± he said. ¡°What now?¡±

    The ship flew down and landed right next to them. Several students had to run out of the way to keep from getting crushed. The doors opened and a large minotaur with a protruding gut stepped out. His fur was dark gray covering most of his body aside from his large stomach where it was spread thin. On his forehead were black speckles that reached both of his shiny black horns.

    ¡°Superior Pujo has requested our presence,¡± the minotaur said with a deep and menacing voice.

    ¡°Abyss take it, Klasp. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m in the middle of something?¡± asked Horbel.

    ¡°Pujo can and will check the history logs of the ship,¡± Klasp warned him. ¡°He¡¯ll know just how long you spent piddling around out here.¡±

    Shalika started limping toward the ship holding her bruised chest.

    Klasp chuckled at the sight of her. ¡°Look what the cat dragged in,¡± he teased.

    Shalika hissed in response. This time she added a bit of growl at the end.

    Horbel met eyes with Voon¡¯ki. ¡°I can tell you are starting to slow down, old man. A few more rounds and I would have you. Elementi or not, it¡¯s a shame how time weakens you mortals. You just might have been able to finish me back in your prime.¡±

    Voon¡¯ki smiled. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against me in my prime. If we¡¯re being honest, I could have finished you tonight at any moment. Consider yourself fortunate that Nivir still has plans for you.¡±

    Horbel¡¯s eyes widened with fury. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, geezer. And I will make you eat those words.¡±

    Voon¡¯ki folded his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting. Now, go run along and do your master¡¯s bidding.¡±

    Horbel took a step toward Voon¡¯ki.

    ¡°Horbel!¡± Klasp shouted. ¡°Superior Pujo is not known for his patience. I don¡¯t want to end up like Moog Kessinger.¡±

    ¡°What happened to Moog Kessinger?¡± asked Shalika as she boarded their ship.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say he has received his final foot massage,¡± said Klasp.

    This piqued Horbel¡¯s interest enough to distract him from Voon¡¯ki. ¡°Superior Pujo cut off Moog Kessinger¡¯s feet?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± said Klasp. ¡°But I assume that any foot masseuse you send down to him would disintegrate in the same solar atmosphere that he did.¡±

    With fists and teeth clenched, Horbel reluctantly turned around and boarded their ship. No matter how godlike he claimed to be, he never had any desire to test his resilience by trying to walk upon the surface of a star. Not due to a fear of death. He welcomed that. It was more his fear of being stranded on or inside of a star for the rest of eternity. Forever burning with no hope of escape. No, he would leave star-surfing to the mythological gods of old.

    Voon¡¯ki and the students watched the ship fly up and out of sight. As soon as it did, Voon¡¯ki collapsed to the floor.

    ¡°No!¡± several students shouted as they rushed to assist him.

    They sat him up and brought him water to drink.

    ¡°Are you alright, Voon¡¯ki?¡± one of them asked.

    The old man shook his head. ¡°Tonight, was my last battle. Let us just thank Nivir that he was called away. You must find a new planet to call home now. Somewhere further into the neutral zone.¡±

    ¡°He never even landed a blow!¡± someone protested. ¡°Why can¡¯t we stay? Why can¡¯t you fight?¡±

    ¡°I had to greatly expend myself to keep from being struck. Even one misstep would have resulted in my demise. When next I fall asleep. I don¡¯t expect I¡¯ll be waking up.¡± Voon¡¯ki explained.

    ¡°Then what was the point?¡± asked a student with teary eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re still going to die then why did you even bother?¡±

    Voon¡¯ki laughed. ¡°How ridiculous the reasonings of the young are these days. I did it for you, you fools. I did it so you all could live and share the light and love of Nivir to the galaxy.¡±

    All the students wept as they kneeled in a circle around Voon¡¯ki. Until this night they had all thought the man to be a senile hermit who wanted nothing to do with anyone. They saw now just how wrong they all had been.

    Pujopria

    Horbel, Klasp, and Shalika¡¯s hyper-hop took them a day and a half to reach Pujo¡¯s base planet, Pujopria from the outskirt world of Nijirono. The tower he lived in had no hangars. So, the group was forced to park their ship on the ground and use the elevator located outside of the building.

    Once inside, Shalika hit the button for the top floor. Superior Pujo¡¯s penthouse suite. It was around floor 24 that a terrible odor filled the cramped quarters of the elevator.

    ¡°For abyss sake!¡± shouted Shalika as she covered her super sensitive nose. ¡°Which one of you savages did that?¡±

    Horbel turned around to face Klasp. He barely came up to the minotaur¡¯s chin, but still got into his face. ¡°If you weren¡¯t related to a superior, I would smear your entrails all over this slow as shit glass box.¡±

    ¡°And how would that make it smell any better?¡± asked Klasp.

    Horbel¡¯s anger caused him to take a deep breath which then made him gag.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± said Klasp. ¡°Wife¡¯s got me on this new seagrass diet. My body hasn¡¯t quite adjusted to it yet.¡±

    ¡°If you ever release something like that from your body in my presence again it will have to adjust to being dead!¡± Shalika shouted. Her voice altered by the plugging of her nose. ¡°My fucking eyes are burning, Klasp!¡±

    ¡°Then just close ¡®em!¡± Klasp shouted back. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±

    When the doors finally opened Shalika jumped out choking and gasping for air. Horbel did his best to remain unphased after gagging, but his eyes had also begun to water, and he too found himself gasping at the fresh air.

    ¡°What in blue blazes is wrong with you two?¡± demanded Pujo. He was an immensely obese man who sat in a large bubbling tub of yellow ooze. He was joined by several young ladies of diverse species. All of them were wearing slave collars and passing around a tray of blue powder that they were snorting lines of.

    The room was filled with a pink smoke that carried a strong lustful aroma. The walls were all made of a dense transparent metal that made it easy to see the city below. The capitol city on Pujopria shined with all kinds of neon lights and holograms that stretched off far into the horizon.

    ¡°That¡¯s the last time I get in an elevator with a damn minotaur!¡± said Horbel.

    Pujo frowned. ¡°I know the ways of Plaquar seem forever foreign to you, Horbel. This is a nation structured around business. Around professionalism. So, the next time you animals get called in to see your superior, you had better act like professionals!¡±

    Horbel grit his teeth but knew better than to refute a superior.

    ¡°Now, I would offer you all a girl and some indigo dust, but I know this squad prefers to skip with the formalities. So, I¡¯ll cut right to it then.¡± Said Pujo. ¡°I have recently received a very profitable offer from Superior Vishka. She is heading an operation to retrieve a large amount of Liplees that escaped their homeworld when we invaded it over eighty years ago. Reports claim that they now reside on a planet called Wulfo. Since this planet is within the borders of Farako, we decided it would be best to send you. We have strong reason to believe that the planet will have a group of Elementi to defend it.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re attacking a Farako planet?¡± asked Shalika nervously. ¡°Is this a covert mission then?¡±

    Pujo smiled. ¡°Not at all. It would seem a certain little Princess Marilyn Voltus has overstretched her authority. So, we are going to show her and her fanatical father that the Plaquar are not to be trifled with. Though, I do expect you to be back with my new batch of Liplees long before Farako sends reinforcements to Wulfo.¡±

    Horbel couldn¡¯t help but reveal a wicked grin. He had wanted to fight an Elementi as soon as he had heard of their existence. Rumored to be among the most powerful races in the galaxy.  Perhaps a warrior from among them could give him the challenge he desired. Perhaps one could even defeat him.

    It had been a long time since he had been pushed to his limits. Not since his days with the people who made him. Horbel could barely even recall the face of his creator anymore. Though he did remember the name. Diahet the Alchemist. Thoughts of vengeance burned within him upon thinking of it.

    ¡°Well,¡± Klasp chimed in, ¡°I hope this job pays well enough! Everyone who¡¯s someone knows the Elementi are no joke.¡±

    Pujo smiled showing crooked yellow teeth. ¡°Enough for you all to take a very long vacation.¡±

    Horbel snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve no need for vacations. You promised me you¡¯d find my creator! Where is Diahet?!¡±

    Klasp took a loud gulp and Shalika stepped away. Raising one¡¯s voice to a superior could easily grant you a death penalty. Though, Horbel had no need to fear such a punishment.

    Pujo rolled his eyes. ¡°No one has ever heard of this Diahet the Alchemist. Nor has anyone dug up any information on the race of people you claim to have come from. For all you know the Zaki could be long gone by now.¡±

    Horbel stomped his foot into the ground, and it shook the whole room. Several of the slave girls screamed in terror as they huddled together in the yellow ooze pool.

    ¡°Then why am I still doing your bidding?! I¡¯ve no need of your girls, your drugs, or your money!¡±

    Pujo¡¯s face turned stoic. His new favorite toy was getting more rebellious with each passing day. He had known he would have to come up with something sooner or later to maintain his loyalty.

    ¡°I was wanting to wait before I showed you this, but I suppose you are need of a little incentive.¡± He grabbed a remote that was nearby and pressed a button that lowered a large screen.

    Horbel lifted his foot from the dented floor beneath him and eyed the screen warily.

    It came on and revealed what appeared to be a woman floating in a vat of pink fluid. The more Horbel inspected the image the more his heart started to race.

    The woman was covered in black scales, just like his. She had white horns that protruded from her jaw, just like his. Even in slumber she had the fierce look of a warrior on her face.

    She was the most beautiful thing Horbel had ever seen.

    ¡°Seems like a perfect match, eh?¡± said Pujo. ¡°I named her Ahfel. She is my gift to you for continuing to abide within the confines of the thousand-year contract that you agreed to.¡±

    Horbel could hardly speak. He was too captivated by the image on the screen. Her name echoed through his mind in adulation.

    Ahfel.

    The screen went blank and Horbel snapped back to his senses.

    ¡°Where is she?¡± he asked.

    ¡°She is yours upon your successful return.¡± Pujo then snorted a fat blue line from one of the trays a girl held up to him. His eyes rolled back into his head, and he let out a high pitch squeal. Then his eyes shot wide open and straight back at Horbel. ¡°Enslave every Liplee you find. Kill any who resist.¡±

 CH 4 The Final Prophecy

    Blessed are the very surfaces he touches. To be in his presence fills me with holy joy. To be in his service is more than I could have ever dreamed. The gods of the Undying Light have bestowed upon us our savior. The godking will usher in an age of Farako domination, and I will be at the helm of his righteous army. The wicked will fall and the just will flourish. Praise be, the godking Darex Voltus.

    <ul>

    <li>Journal of Starvast Guardian Kasey Storm the Darkbolt</li>

    </ul>

    Farako Capitol

    Godking Darex Voltus sat at the end of a long table with his advisor, High Priestess Lys, standing to his right. Even sitting he was of great stature. His face was stern and regal. He kept his blonde hair slicked back over his scalp. His bushy eyebrows rested above piercing blue eyes.

    The seats of the table were filled with the twelve members of his Starvast and his daughter, Princess Marilyn.

    Darex twisted at one of his large blonde sideburns as he inspected the box before him. He picked it up and spilled its contents. A large handful of blue pebbles spread out over the table and scattered among them were three black pebbles. Each one representing an anonymous vote against the belief that Darex was a divine being.

    The room hung in silence as the accusing eyes of the Starvast looked every which direction.

    Kasey Storm was first to break the silence. ¡°Well?! Do the cowards care to reveal themselves?¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, Darkbolt,¡± said Darex. ¡°My hope is that after today¡¯s demonstration, the entirety of my Starvast will be true believers.¡±

    ¡°Anyone lacking in faith up to this point doesn¡¯t deserve to serve you, my king,¡± Kasey retorted.

    ¡°Until every prophecy is fulfilled, the godking will have his naysayers,¡± said Lys. ¡°As you all know, Darex has already completed three of the four prophecies written by the ancient seers. It was ordained that the champion would come from a banished royal line. As the direct descendant of King Farak himself, Darex more than fulfills the first prophecy. It was also ordained that the champion would end a civil war. Which Darex had done when he ended the misguided centuries long war between you and your distant cousins still enslaved by New Jhori. Thirdly, it was ordained that the champion would experience great loss through the death of their only son. As you all know, Darex has lost his one and only son, Prince Marlo Voltus. Snatched from his royal crib under the cover of darkness and slain nearly twelve years ago.¡±

    ¡°And this fourth prophecy?¡± Starvast General Tamos Thunder inquired. He was one of the Starvast¡¯s most senior members. His once bright blue hair was now taking on a gray hue. Which could be seen in both the short hair on his head and in his well-trimmed beard. It was difficult to tell if his question came from a place of doubt or intrigue.

    ¡°The champion will be able to wield the weapon of a god,¡± recited Lucius Storm. ¡°Whatever that is.¡±

    ¡°This is what we¡¯ve been waiting for,¡± said Kasey. Her dark green eyes widened with gleeful anticipation as she waited to hear what Lys was going to say next.

    ¡°Because the Ascended Ones of the Undying Light have ordained him to be our champion, I was able to procure from our vaults an ancient relic that will put to rest any qualms about Darex¡¯s divinity,¡± said Lys. ¡°The artifact has been equipped onto the king¡¯s warship. Its origin is unknown, but we are certain it predates even the Old Jhori. From a time when the seven celestials still roamed freely across the cosmos. It responds only to bril. Making the Elementi one of the few races who could potentially power the weapon.¡±

    Darex stood up. ¡°So, if you would all follow me to my ship, I shall put any doubt to rest.¡±

    Marilyn stayed close to Kasey and Lucius as the Starvast were escorted to the royal hangar. Even if they had suspected that she had turned in one of the black pebbles, they wouldn¡¯t try to scorn her or call her out. She hoped.

    ¡°Did you?¡± whispered Lucius once everyone had boarded and found different tables to sit at. Darex¡¯s starship was more than spacious enough to bring everyone up to his warship in one trip.

    Marilyn shook her head.

    ¡°No, you won¡¯t answer or no you didn¡¯t put in a black pebble?¡± Lucius inquired.

    ¡°Leave her alone,¡± Kasey snapped. Still keeping her voice down. ¡°Of course, she put in a blue pebble.¡±

    Lucius slumped back in his chair unsatisfied. Little else was said along the way. The energy of the room was thick with nervous anticipation.

    The devotees of the Undying Light who surrounded the planet made way so the godking could easily traverse the space above the planet known to them as Farako Capitol. Once on the warship, the group was led to a large chamber that hosted the weapon of the gods.

    The ancient relic appeared to be made of thousands, if not millions, of small black rings that glistened under the lights hanging from the ceiling. It was shaped like a large arrowhead that was lying flat. The sharp end of the relic pointed out a window made of a forcefield that would allow solid matter and energy to traverse through it but kept the vacuum of space outside. The wide end of the relic had two handles that protruded from it.

    ¡°This weapon cannot be powered by any mere mortal,¡± said Lys. ¡°Only a divine being can operate the Godbolt. The Champion of the Undying Light is such a being. Godking Darex Voltus, step forward and claim your godhood!¡±

    Darex nodded, but just as he had taken his first step he was interrupted.

    ¡°Hold on just a minute!¡± yelled Tamos Thunder. ¡°I can trace my lineage back to King Farak just as well as Darex!¡± The older general pointed at his chest with his thumb as he spoke. ¡°My grandmother was Princess Veronica Voltus before she married a Thunder! And I more than did my part during that bloody civil war. A war that took my only son. A son I saw buried with my own eyes I might add!¡±

    Tamos¡¯s nephew, Starvast Guardian Faran Thunder, spoke out against him. ¡°Uncle! Stop this blasphemy at once!¡±

    Darex folded his large muscular arms. ¡°How would you like to settle this, Tamos?¡± Blue electricity started to dance around him.

    Tamos looked around at his fellow Starvast for some support. He found none. He knew he could never take on Darex in a fight. No one could. He scoffed and spit at the ground. ¡°Sounds like all I have to do is power up this device myself,¡± he said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have just as much claim as you, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± shouted Kasey. Black electricity started to circle around her body. ¡°You are nothing compared to the godking!¡±

    Lys held up a hand to silence the room and keep tempers in check. ¡°If the mortal wants to try and wield the Godbolt,¡± she said. ¡°I see no harm in it. If he can wield it, it would certainly be worth knowing. If he cannot, then we will be even more certain of Darex¡¯s divinity when the true godking is able to.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± whispered Lucius to Marilyn. ¡°That¡¯s one black pebble accounted for.¡±

    Darex unfolded his arms to gesture for Tamos to approach the ancient relic. The Starvast General did so and started raising his bril as he did. Every now and then a small bolt of yellow electricity jumped from one part of his body to another. He rubbed his hands together and bright light jolted from them in several different directions.

    Starvast General Jaren Shockey had to dodge one bolt that came directly for his face. Another devoted diehard of her father. Marilyn was certain that he wasn¡¯t a black pebble suspect. The look of disgust on his face toward Tamos said it all.

    Tamos pulled his hands apart and grasped the handles of the Godbolt. The rings closest to him started to glow and spin. As they spun, they floated away from each other. Electricity came from all around his body and shot directly into the handles. More and more rings started to glow and spin, but once they reached a quarter of the way, Tamos started to struggle.

    At first, he growled. As if he was trying to lift some immense object. Then his growls turned to shouts of pain.

    ¡°I can¡¯t let go!¡± he yelled out between what was turning into screams of terror. ¡°What in the abyss is this? Shut it off! Shut the damn thing off!¡±

    ¡°Uncle!¡± shouted Faran. ¡°What¡¯s it doing to him!?¡±

    Tamos fell to his knees and his blueish gray hair turned white and withered. His skin grew wrinkles. As he turned to face the Starvast everyone could see that his eyes had sunken in and turned a milky white. He was aging rapidly before their very eyes. Being drained of all bril.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Tamos croaked with the voice of an old man on his death bed. ¡°Please,¡± he begged Lys.

    Lys ignored him and turned to the congregation. ¡°This is what happens to mortals who claim a false divinity. Take heed and do not meddle with things far above your station.¡±

    Tamos let out a final tortured scream before the Godbolt finally released him and he fell to the floor. All the rings returned to their original position. The light slowly faded away until the Godbolt was again all black.

    Darex walked up to him and stood over his former general. Tamos could do nothing but breathe, and even that was an immense struggle for him.

    ¡°Tamos Thunder, it saddens me to see you like this,¡± said Darex with scarce sincerity.

    Tamos tried to speak but found himself only gasping for more air in the middle of any word he tried to choke out.

    Darex rolled the frail little man onto his back with a light kick. ¡°What is it, my old friend?¡± He kneeled down next to him to try and better hear his struggling whispers.

    With his ear up to Tamos¡¯s mouth he was barely able to make out what it was the shriveled husk of a man was trying to say.

    ¡°K-kill¡­ me.¡±

    Darex shook his head and spoke up so everyone could hear him. ¡°And what warrior would want to kill such a frail and defenseless creature? No, Tamos, a warrior¡¯s death is reserved for just that. You are no longer a warrior, you are no longer a member of the Starvast, and you certainly were never a god. Now, you are without a doubt the weakest Elementi in existence. An infant could finish you off by simply laying across your face.¡±

    Marilyn was beginning to feel ill. She knew her father felt betrayed, but Tamos had more than paid the price for that betrayal. She wished her father would just give him a noble death and be done with it. Instead, Tamos was carried out by a guard and taken down to the med-bay. The doctors there would be instructed to do everything in their power to extend his life for as long as possible. To extend his punishment for as long as possible.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Faran had started to follow after his uncle. He was stopped by the Godking just as he got to the door.

    ¡°Choose your allegiances wisely, Starvast Guardian,¡± Darex told the young man.

    Faran turned around and rejoined the group to watch the demonstration. ¡°My apologies, Godking Darex.¡±

    ¡°You are forgiven,¡± Darex told him.

    ¡°Would the other two Starvast that put in black pebbles care to try the Godbolt?¡± Kasey asked. ¡°Or can we continue?¡±

    The remaining Starvast looked around nervously.

    ¡°There are no other two,¡± announced Lys.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Kasey. ¡°There were three black pebbles in total. I saw them. We all saw them.¡±

    ¡°All three of which were already in the box before any Starvast was allowed into the room,¡± said Lys. ¡°Everyone put in a blue pebble just as I had suspected they would. Even Tamos put in a blue pebble.¡±

    Lucius raised his eyebrows at Marilyn. She wasn¡¯t sure why he would doubt her. It wasn¡¯t as if she wanted to make a scene with her lack of faith. She knew how upset her father would be if he found out she put in a black pebble. It was always going to be the blue pebble for her.

    ¡°You switched out the three blue pebbles before we all entered,¡± said Starvast Guardian Jasper Flash. ¡°So, that 13 pebbles would remain in the box.¡±

    ¡°A clever tactic,¡± said Lucius. ¡°By putting three false pebbles into the box, you were able to give anyone who was lacking in belief the courage to reveal themselves. Tamos assumed there were at least three other Starvast who would come to his aid if he betrayed the faith.¡±

    ¡°Precisely,¡± said Lys. ¡°So, there is no need to hunt down any infidel, Guardian Kasey. Everyone here is of the faith.¡±

    ¡°Seems like a dirty rotten trick to me,¡± said Marilyn. ¡°And a waste of a decent fighter.¡±

    The room hung in an uncomfortable silence for a moment before Darex tried to ease the tension. ¡°As heartwarming as sticking to a morale code is, it unfortunately has little place when trying to successfully run a nation. Especially a nation on the brink of conflict. Any traitors must be sought out and purged at all costs. Farako knows too well what damage a traitor can accomplish in times of war.¡±

    Marilyn wanted to argue, but she knew how to read a room. Any slight against her father would be foolish if not borderline dangerous in front of this crowd. Some of the Starvast might be devoted enough to take her out of the picture if they thought it would benefit the Undying Light, or the future of the Farako nation.

    Darex stepped up to the Godbolt and Marilyn again wanted to protest her father¡¯s actions. What if she was right? What if her father really wasn¡¯t a god? He would end up looking ancient and half-starved. Governing Farako would then fall on her shoulders. A day that she dreaded and hoped would never come.

    She said nothing as she watched her father raise his bril.

    Unlike Tamos, Darex had several bolts of electricity dancing all around his body. The lights started to flicker in response to his bril charging up. Everyone¡¯s hair stood on end as the room became filled with static.

    Darex clasped the handles and half of the rings on the Godbolt jumped to life. They glowed, spun, and levitated up. This time the rings started to float up and form the shape of a large X. Each point of the X extended out and connected down to a singular center point.

    Darex started to groan as more and more electricity shot from his body into the large relic.

    Marilyn must have been wearing her worry on her face because she felt Kasey grab her hand as they watched. She had thought Kasey¡¯s blind faith in the Undying Light to be both ignorant and annoying, but at this moment she found that optimism to be quite comforting.

    Darex let out a final battle cry as every ring on the Godbolt came to life and fell into place. Out of the end came an enormous beam of light that forced everyone in the room, aside from Lys, to shield their eyes.

    When the light was gone, Marilyn quickly unshielded her eyes to see what condition her father was in. Smoke was rising all around him, and he was breathing very heavy. Otherwise, he seemed to be alright.

    ¡°Stars above,¡± said Lucius. He had unconsciously put his hand over his mouth in response to his bewilderment.

    ¡°Let there be no more doubt!¡± announced Lys to the room.

    Marilyn looked around to see everyone in a state of bafflement. She glanced out into the distance, and she too saw what everyone was so astonished by.

    Out on the edge of their solar system where the uninhabited green gas planet of Tatus once orbited, now appeared to be a bright green star. The green sphere ignited, and everyone was again forced to cover their eyes from the intense brightness. Soon after, the ship was hit by a shockwave that briefly shut off the power.

    Marilyn felt herself drift up in the darkness. Tatus was now gone. An entire planet. Absent. Wiped from existence. This was truly the weapon of a god. But was her father really the one intended to wield it?

    The power came back on, and the artificial gravity along with it. Everyone landed on their feet. Marilyn found herself scanning the faces in the room. Her father was beaming with pride as she would have expected. He had just ensured his place in the hall of legends. Lys looked more pleased than Marilyn had ever known her to be. She also couldn¡¯t help but notice a hint of relief on the priestess¡¯s face. It seemed not everyone was without doubt. It angered her to think that the priestess would risk her father¡¯s life without knowing for certain what the repercussions would be. The members of the Starvast held faces of awe and wonder. Especially Kasey. She held the largest smile of all.

    It was only when her eyes fell upon Lucius that she felt she saw something other than admiration. Though, the admiration was certainly present, she recognized the same innate terror she was also trying to hide.

    ¡°All hail Darex Voltus, the Godking!¡± shouted Lys as she fell to one knee.

    Everyone in the room, excluding Marilyn, followed suit. Echoing the high priestess.

    ¡°All hail Darex Voltus, the Godking!¡±

    Another meeting was held the day after Darex¡¯s demonstration. The room was silent as the Starvast awaited the arrival of their deity king. As soon as he entered, everyone stood and cheered. Some more enthusiastically than others.

    ¡°Please,¡± Darex said with a smile as he gestured for them all to take their seats. He remained standing at the foot of the table with Lys by his side. ¡°This meeting is to discuss our strategy of unifying the Elementi.¡±

    Marilyn could see the uneasiness in the room. With Tamos Thunder¡¯s seat now vacant, there were only two remaining Starvast who had fought against the Jhori Elementi in the centuries long war. Starvast Generals Samoso Powers and Lesandra Jolt. The remaining Starvast aside from Kasey and Lucius Storm were at least old enough to remember childhoods full of funerals. Joining forces with their former enemies wasn¡¯t something they had ever intended to do.

    ¡°I know this new path we blaze will be hard for some to come to terms with, but this is the path of the Undying Light! I am its champion and if you have faith in me then you must also have faith in this. The Jhori Elementi are not our enemies. They never were our enemy. It is the Empress Elect and her crooked councilors who deceive them. Who deceive us all!¡±

    Several Starvast nodded in approval as they listened to Darex¡¯s speech.

    ¡°I mean to offer all Elementi refuge. No matter what crimes they committed against us in the past. I hereby absolve all Elementi, no matter their loyalties, of any crime committed during the long war of deception!¡±

    The room gave a forced cheer.

    ¡°My warship is being prepped for a voyage to Elementa as we speak,¡± said Darex. ¡°Lys and I will coordinate with the kings and queens of the Jhori Elementi for a safe and expediate evacuation of their people.¡±

    ¡°I beg the godking¡¯s pardon,¡± said Kasey. ¡°But how can we be certain that this isn¡¯t a trap?¡±

    ¡°I have been in contact with King Jrax Ferno of Pyra,¡± said Darex.

    Marilyn couldn¡¯t help but notice Lesandra clench her fists at the mention of that name. Her wife, Starvast General Debara Jolt, was quick to put a hand of comfort on her back. Marilyn could only wonder as to what history would cause such a reaction.

    ¡°Though he may be lacking in sobriety,¡± Darex continued. ¡°I do not doubt that he makes up for it with honor. If he wanted to kill me, he would tell me so. He has no love for the institution that has his people imprisoned on their moon. He also does not know that I will be present. I only told him I¡¯d be sending my envoy, Lys.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me,¡± said Kasey. ¡°I should have assumed that extra measures were being taken for your safety.¡±

    ¡°It is alright, Guardian Kasey,¡± said Darex. ¡°Your loyalty would never be misinterpreted as an insult. As for the Jhori Elementi, I am certain that when we reveal to them the true intentions the Jhori have for their future, they will have no choice but to join us.¡±

    Lys stepped up to the table. ¡°Our spies have unveiled several documents proving that they mean to keep control of their Elementi population by any means necessary. This includes introducing bril reducing poisons into their rations. Along with chemicals designed to decrease fertility.¡±

    ¡°What fools,¡± said Kasey. ¡°Weakening their own warriors.¡±

    Darex nodded in agreement. ¡°That is why it is my duty, our duty, to offer them refuge. They may be our vastly distant cousins, but in a galaxy that is so large and full of danger, family, no matter their differences, need to stick together.¡±

    ¡°This meeting is also to inform you that the Godking Darex Voltus, Champion of the Undying Light, has a challenger,¡± said Lys.

    The Starvast looked around wondering which one from among them could possibly still be foolish enough to challenge Darex.

    ¡°It is no one from within this room,¡± Lys assured them. ¡°There is a group of heretics who have abandoned the faith and started a cult. They too claim to be followers of the Undying Light, yet they refuse to accept Darex as the true champion.¡±

    ¡°Even after the final demonstration?¡± asked Starvast General Jaren Shocky. His feathery blonde hair parted in the middle. Of the four eligible Starvast males who made moves on her, Marilyn loathed his advances the most.

    ¡°They claim that their priestesses have been given prophetic dreams,¡± said Lys. ¡°That the Champion of the Undying Light will not wield lightning, but wild violet flames.¡±

    ¡°Violet flames?¡± asked Lucius. ¡°Has anyone ever heard of a Pyran who could wield violet flame?¡±

    ¡°There is an old legend in the archives that mentions one who could long ago,¡± explained Lys. ¡°But it is by no means a credible source.¡±

    ¡°So, then who do they claim as their champion?¡± asked Marilyn. It wasn¡¯t so much that she was concerned, as she was curious. Whoever it was had to be a powerful warrior.

    ¡°Out of fear for their champion¡¯s safety they have gone to great lengths to keep his identity a secret. However, our spies within their sect have discovered who it is they have put so much faith in. It is the 13-year-old son of King Jrax, Prince Jraken Ferno.¡±

    ¡°A child?¡± asked Kasey. ¡°Their champion is a child? Darex would crush him with a simple flex of his divine bril!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so certain,¡± said Lys. Much to everyone¡¯s astonishment. ¡°We have received peculiar reports on the boy since discovering he was chosen by the heretics. He was able to keep up with his father in a public spar for some time before finally being defeated. The Jhori have also decided to send him to their brainwashing academy two years early. We fear that this is to ensure his loyalty to their nation.¡±

    ¡°That explains why they insist on secrecy though,¡± said Lucius. ¡°Religion is outlawed in Jhori. If word got out that people thought Jraken was a god, he and his followers would be put to death.¡±

    ¡°Precisely,¡± said Lys. ¡°I believe it would be in our best interest to convert Jraken to our cause as quickly as possible. Then there would be no denying that Darex is the true champion.¡±

    ¡°And if he refuses, we have the Godbolt,¡± said Kasey. ¡°I still don¡¯t see why we don¡¯t just use it and lay claim to the entire nations of Jhori and Plaquar. We are unstoppable now!¡±

    ¡°Our goal is to convert the nonbelievers to the path of the Undying Light,¡± said Lys. ¡°The Godbolt is an absolute last resort. Our hope is that its mere existence will stop wars before they start.¡±

    ¡°You expect the Jhori to just watch their best warriors sail away without reacting?¡± asked Marilyn. ¡°They don¡¯t even know we have a world killing weapon.¡±

    ¡°That was the whole purpose of the demonstration,¡± said Lys. ¡°Billions of beings travelled from hundreds of worlds to witness Darex wield the Godbolt. Now, these devotees are known as the Beacon Seers. Their new mission is to spread word across the galaxy of what they witnessed. To tell everyone that the true Champion of the Undying Light has already been chosen.¡±

    Marilyn slammed her fist on the table. ¡°You what?!¡±

    Everyone was stunned by her sudden outburst. They were used to her passive aggressiveness, but this was something they knew the godking would not abide.

    ¡°Watch yourself, princess,¡± Darex warned.

    ¡°We just went over how religion is outlawed in Plaquar and Jhori!¡± said Marilyn. ¡°You¡¯re sending all these people to their deaths!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect you to understand,¡± said Lys. ¡°Only the most faithful can comprehend what true duty and sacrifice means to one¡¯s cause. No one is forcing anyone to do anything. They go of their own volition.¡±

    ¡°Because their god asked them too!¡± Marilyn was now standing up and had raised her voice even more than before. ¡°No wonder religion is outlawed in the other great nations!¡±

    Darex stared at his daughter with eyes of disappointment. ¡°You are excused.¡±

    ¡°Dad, please,¡± Marilyn said, ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Call them back.¡±

    ¡°You are excused,¡± he repeated. This time with a more commanding tone.

    Marilyn left the room and slammed the door behind her. Ever since Lys showed up spouting off her savior nonsense, her father had grown more and more distant. Now that he had wielded the Godbolt, she feared his god complex would become even more troubling. He truly believed he was a god, and so did billions of others. How could that not all go to a person¡¯s head?

    It felt like everyone was losing their minds but her. She arrived back at her starship and, as always, found comfort in the company of her companions.

    ¡°I mean if you¡¯re the daughter of a god,¡± slurred Ryllah. They had been drinking alcoholic fizzy drinks at Marilyn¡¯s request. They didn¡¯t often drink alcohol, but the combination of being kicked out of a Starvast meeting and coping with the fact her father was not far from committing mass genocide had made tonight a special occasion. ¡°Would that not make you a goddess princess?¡±

    ¡°Goddess warrior princess,¡± Marilyn corrected.

    ¡°Makes sense to me,¡± said Kembro. Then he hiccupped and leaned back into the couch.

    They were all sitting in the lounging quarters of her ship which consisted of three large couches surrounding a coffee table.

    ¡°I¡¯m kidding!¡± said Marilyn as she finished her fizzy drink. ¡°I have no desire to be a goddess. Being a princess already brings in enough unwanted attention.¡±

    ¡°So, are we off on another adventure or are we sticking around here?¡± asked Ryllah.

    A mischievous smile crept across Marilyn¡¯s face. ¡°Kembro, I want you to sneak us onto my father¡¯s warship. He¡¯s taking a little trip to our ancient homeworld of Elementa, and we¡¯re going to join him.¡±

    ¡°I take it we were not invited to said trip then?¡± asked Ryllah.

    ¡°No,¡± said Marilyn. ¡°But I just found out some very interesting things about a certain Pyran prince who I am now dying to meet.¡±

 CH 5 The Weight

    On whose breast shall I rest this weary head?

    In whose eyes will I size up my soul again?

    It¡¯s getting near dark and I can¡¯t find one single friend,

    Who can help me take away these pains I just can¡¯t forget,

    <ul>

    <li>Songs of Jessa Hardu</li>

    </ul>

    Elementa

    She laid her head back with her arms over her head in post-coital bliss. But was it really bliss? There was a time when she would never have second guessed it. Now, as her lover started to fall asleep facing away from her, her mind and body began feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.

    She felt a bead of sweat tickle her breast and suddenly she felt naked. Not the good kind of naked. Jessa Hardu generally enjoyed being naked. Right now, her nakedness only made her feel vulnerable. This angered her. Why should she feel vulnerable?

    It upset her enough to make her pry more than she usually attempted to pry after having sex.

    ¡°Kaizo,¡± Jessa said as she gave him a nudge.

    ¡°Yeah?¡± he replied.

    ¡°When are you going to let me join your team?¡± she asked.

    Kaizo let out a long sigh and rolled over to face her. His eyes wandered and admired her body. As soon as she noticed his gaze, she covered herself up with the sheets.

    ¡°To be honest, I thought that was just playful banter. I had no idea you were so serious about joining the Rexians.¡±

    ¡°How else am I supposed to gain a ranking?¡± she asked.

    Kaizo had no answer for her. At least none that he knew would satisfy her, so he simply shrugged.

    Jessa¡¯s eyes became wide with fury. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s something a pampered brat like you would know nothing about! Your parents have groomed you for this since the day you were born!¡±

    ¡°Jessa,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I thought of our time together as more than some kind of transaction.¡±

    Jessa scoffed. ¡°You mean you want to make this public? I¡¯m sure your parents would be real thrilled. Kaizo Blaze dating an unranked, unknown, second-year Onyxian girl.¡±

    ¡°Well, er, not public exactly,¡± said Kaizo.

    Jessa didn¡¯t reply with words, but the look on her face made Kaizo¡¯s heart leap to his throat. It was enough to make him sit up to plead his point.

    ¡°You¡¯re the only girl I have eyes for! I can¡¯t picture being with anyone else. I want you all to myself.¡±

    ¡°Ha! People in the abyss want jetpacks.¡± Jessa remarked as she hopped out of bed and started putting her clothes on.

    ¡°I can¡¯t switch up my team after just having won the last tourney!¡± He argued. ¡°Kortro is my best friend, I could never do that to him.¡±

    ¡°Then switch out Bonnette or Tyke for me!¡± she shouted. Now that Kaizo had raised his voice at her, all the dampeners were off. She couldn¡¯t help but let out all the frustration that had been building up over the last several dozen-days.

    Kaizo chuckled. ¡°Come on, Jessa. You know that no championship team has ever had two Onyxians on it. Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous?¡± Jessa echoed. She finished putting on her black shorts, gray tank top, and was about to put on the tall red boots that Kaizo had gifted her when this night had begun. She decided to leave them instead. Wouldn¡¯t want people saying that this relationship was based on transaction. Nor did she want anything to remind her of Kaizo.

    ¡°When you brought up being a Rexian,¡± he explained. ¡°I played along because I¡¯d do anything to get you alone. I¡¯m crazy about you. I¡¯m in love with you, damn it.¡±

    Jessa raised her bril and focused it into the marble floor at her feet. She sent it into the metal door and once she felt she had a good grasp on it, she flung it off its hinges into Kaizo¡¯s dorm room. He was forced to duck as the heavy piece of metal went careening over his bed. It dug into the wall on the other side of the room.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Kaizo shouted. ¡°That¡¯s a bit uncalled for!¡±

    I¡¯ll show you uncalled for! Jessa thought to herself. She wanted to end this in a grand fashion. She had to be certain that there was no way she could be seduced by him in the future. This relationship had to be damaged in a way that could never be mended. It was something that Jessa was all too good at. Demolishing bridges.

    Most of the students who shared a dorm with Kaizo were asleep. Luckily, out in the hallway were a few fellow students. It wasn¡¯t the audience she had hoped for, but it was the audience she got. Besides, word always travelled fast on campus.

    ¡°Kaizo Blaze!¡± she shouted. ¡°You are the worst lover I have ever had! Everyone knows that without help you would never have defeated Prince Dravon and the royals in the last tourney! Your number 1 rank is a complete and total farce!¡±

    Jessa grabbed her blue and green jacket that was hanging by the doorway before striding off with grace. She held her head high as her bare feet slapped against the marble floor. Some of the students applauded her boisterous exit while others just laughed and went about their business.

    Kaizo¡¯s teammate and long-time friend, Kortro Boldur, had been one of the students in the vicinity to witness the outburst. He poked his head in the broken doorway. ¡°You were bumpin¡¯ Jessa Hardu?!¡±

    Kaizo remained seated in his bed and rubbed his temples. ¡°Can you please fix the door?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Sure thing, bud,¡± Kortro said with a chuckle.

    ¡°And then leave,¡± Kaizo added.

    ¡°You bet,¡± Kortro replied as he focused his bril into the door. No longer chuckling but still keeping an amused smile.

    Jessa marched down the halls of the dormitory and pulled her hood over her curly brown afro as she walked out into the heavy rain. The glow that illuminated from the campus lights bounced off the rain as it fell near. She felt a drop go down her cheek and wondered if it could have been a tear.

    No. She would never shed a tear for that jerk. He didn¡¯t love her. He was just using her. Like everyone did. She lifted her face up into the sky and let the rain wash away any alleged tears she might have. As she shut her eyes, she saw his face. Heard his voice.

    I¡¯m in love with you, damn it.

    The heavy weight of loneliness fell on her shoulders. An overwhelming sense of dread squeezed her chest and shortened her breath. She had felt this weight before. She knew what was coming. She needed to talk to someone. Anyone who would listen. She could feel the weight increasing. The grasp on her chest getting tighter.

    Jessa raced to the campus¡¯s communication station. At this late of night with the heavy rain, it was completely empty. She sat in a chair at one of the middle monitors. Her hand froze above the buttons as she contemplated if this was truly the right decision.

    Why was she like this? She didn¡¯t even care about Kaizo. He was a conceded jerk who had no intention of helping her achieve her goals. Yet, her body ached from what she had done. The weight of loneliness kept on growing. She could feel it most in her heart and stomach. Like they were turning to stone and trying to drag her to the floor.

    She had only one person she could call. She hadn¡¯t spoken with her mother since returning to the academy to attend her second year. She felt bad for not trying to reach out, but the fact that her mother made no attempt to reach out to her made her feel much worse.

    As the monitor continued to buzz with no one answering, it dawned on Jessa as to why. It was out of fear. Fear that when she tried to reach out, there would be nobody home.

    The screen came to life and for the briefest moment Jessa¡¯s heart was filled with relief. But it wasn¡¯t her mother who had answered. She had no idea who this woman was.

    ¡°Hello?¡± the woman said.

    ¡°Hi, um, is Neera Hardu there?¡± Jessa asked.

    ¡°No, dear,¡± the woman said. ¡°The Jhori issued this apartment to me when the previous tenants moved out.¡±

    Jessa¡¯s heart sank lower than it had ever sunk before. Moved out? Had she connected to the wrong terminal? Was this really her home? She looked past the woman and saw all the familiar walls and windows that she remembered. That didn¡¯t mean much. Every apartment built by the Jhori looked nearly identical unless you were an agent or in the military.

    Then she saw it. The hole in the wall from one of their fights. It was filled in now, but you could still make out the off-color spot it left. Her grip on reality shattered.

    ¡°S-sorry,¡± Jessa stammered to say. She was about to end the transmission, but the woman stopped her.

    ¡°Wait,¡± she said. ¡°Are you Jessa Hardu?¡±

    How could this woman possibly know that? Her mother must have left a message for her. Probably the contact info for her new address. Jessa wasn¡¯t sure she even wanted it. If her mother didn¡¯t bother to even tell her she had moved, then why should she bother to seek her out? Still, she was used to being the bigger person in their relationship. ¡°Yes, I am,¡± she said with veiled reluctance.

    ¡°I recognize you from the box of stuff that was left here,¡± the woman explained. ¡°My husband wanted to throw it all out, but I kept it in case you came looking for it. Where would you like me to send it, dear?¡±

    Jessa could hear the words coming from the screen, but they were like a distant echo. Overpowered by the beat of her heart and the screams in her head.

    ¡°Looks like you are calling from the academy. I won¡¯t be able to send it down to Elementa though. Do you have another place I could send it?¡± The woman asked.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Jessa choked on the words. Her mind broke from the concept. She had no place. There was nowhere for her to send her belongings for she, herself, belonged nowhere. ¡°I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Are you alright, dear?¡±

    Jessa felt her face wince uncontrollably and hid it with her left arm. With her right hand she slammed the button that ended the transmission.

    ¡°No,¡± she answered aloud to no one.

    As the screen again became blank, Jessa could now clearly see her reflection. Her make-up was running down her cheeks and her eyes were irritated and red. Like the eyes of someone who had been crying.

    She fell to the floor and wept. The crushing weight of dread and loneliness was now more than she could bear. She grasped at her overburdened heart and shuddered in pain as it felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

    She laid there sobbing uncontrollably and gasping for air to the sound of the pouring rain. She did this for some time. Until finally her body freed her.

    Her mind again went back to Kaizo. Joining the Rexians had been her golden ticket. They were currently the top team at the academy. All its members were sure to be scouted by agencies. Every year the Jhori only allowed the recruitment of so many Elementi warriors. Leaving the students who go unnoticed to be coerced into guard duty. Often to just stand watch over some rich Jhori politician.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    If one didn¡¯t get picked up for guard duty, then they would be forced into the Elementi army. Jessa feared this most of all. It would doom her to a life on Onyxia. A place that had far too many bad memories to ever feel comfortable in. She wanted to traverse the stars. To sail the celestial seas of the galaxy. She had to break free, and she would do whatever it took to do it.

    Her body eventually allowed her to take deeper and deeper breaths. She did her best to let them out slowly as she continued to convulse. It had been a long time since she had an episode as crippling as this one.

    Jessa looked out a window and saw that the rain was clearing up. Off on the horizon there was enough break in the clouds to spot the immense number of stars hidden behind them.

    Someday. Jessa thought. I¡¯ll be out there. The idea began to calm her. She could feel the weight being lifted. I¡¯ll be far away from this place. Her breathing returned to normal, and she sat up as she cradled her folded legs against her chest. She rocked herself back and forth on the floor for a while before saying aloud.

    ¡°And I¡¯ll never come back.¡±

    The next morning, Jessa was awoken not by her alarm, which had been going off for some time, but by her cousin, Kolzer Diamond.

    ¡°Hey! You alive in there?¡± he shouted as he pounded on the door.

    Jessa came to her senses slowly. Mornings were not when she was at her best. ¡°I live. I live.¡± She assured him as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

    ¡°There¡¯s been some rumors going around involving you and Kaizo Blaze,¡± he said as he opened the door and quickly shut it behind him. He was very large for a first-year student and his silver beard also helped to make him look much older than he truly was. He rubbed a hand over his bald head and lowered his voice, ¡°Rumors being of a sexual nature.¡±

    ¡°All true,¡± Jessa confessed. She would have preferred to have her younger cousin not know of her bedroom exploits, but it was too late for that now. ¡°We were bumping.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he a student instructor for your advanced combat class?¡±

    Jessa groaned. ¡°And his uncle is the instructor. Abyss take me now.¡± It hadn¡¯t crossed her mind until just then.

    Kolzer sucked at his teeth. ¡°Ooh. That sounds about as much fun as a skinny dip in space.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer the latter,¡± said Jessa as she shooed her cousin out of her room so she could get ready for the day.

    ¡°Well, good luck, cuz!¡± he shouted just as she closed the door behind him.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Jessa said softly. ¡°I¡¯ll need it.¡±

    The first few classes she attended were uneventful. She spent most of them loathing what was to come, and when it came, she loathed it even more.

    The class was held outside so long as the weather allowed it. Today was as fine a day as any other on Elementa. The hot sun had dried up all the rain from the night before. So, it was held in its usual spot in the large courtyard at the center of the campus.

    Jessa made sure she was not too late or too early. She wanted to sneak in with the crowd that neither over nor under achieved. She figured it was this crowd that drew the least amount of attention. In all, the class consisted of 40 students, 4 student teachers, and 2 instructors.

    Regardless of her strategy she still felt the gaze of many curious eyes. She breathed deeply. Could feel it coming. She couldn¡¯t have an episode here. If anyone was to ever witness one, it was liable to get her expelled. A school that produced some of the greatest warriors New Jhori had to offer didn¡¯t turn a blind eye to weakness of any kind.

    ¡°If I could have everyone¡¯s attention, please,¡± Instructor Hiazo Blaze said after clearing his throat. His dark red hair was pulled back into a ponytail. A black eye patch covered his left eye. Luckily, his right eye carried enough judgmental contempt for the both of them. ¡°For reasons beyond my understanding it would seem we have found ourselves in a most unusual predicament.¡±

    Jessa felt a lump slide down her throat. He wouldn¡¯t call her out in front of the class, would he? Had Kaizo put him up to this? To clear his own name and run hers through the mud?

    ¡°We have a new student who will be arriving shortly. He was not required to apply. Instead, he is attending on an honorable mention from New Jhori Councilor Laski herself.¡± Hiazo spoke with clear disdain in his voice. ¡°I should also mention he is but 13 years old.¡±

    Students started to mutter to each other in disbelief. Elementi were not allowed to apply to the academy until age 15. Why bend that rule now?

    Just then, a starship could be seen entering the atmosphere high above them.

    ¡°The Jhori are punctual, I¡¯ll give them that,¡± said Instructor Lloyd Rivers as he watched the ship approach. His short sea green hair matched his eyes. He was the youngest of the instructors at the academy. His career as a Jhori Agent stopped short when he lost most of his left arm trying to capture an Elementi fugitive.

    The ship swooped down and landed in the courtyard. A large door on the side slid open and standing behind it was a boy that every Pyran student immediately recognized.

    ¡°It¡¯s Prince Dravon¡¯s brother,¡± one of them whispered loud enough for Jessa to hear.

    ¡°Prince Jraken,¡± whispered another.

    Jraken pulled his black hair back into a bun and hopped out of the starship. He jogged over and gave the group an awkward wave. ¡°Hello,¡± he said cheerily.

    He wasn¡¯t even fully matured yet. Those two years before adulthood made a big difference in capability. As far as height, the Pyran prince was barely eye to eye with Jessa. How was he possibly going to keep up with the rest of the students?

    The ship that dropped him off left just as promptly as it had arrived and disappeared into the sky.

    Jessa felt immense relief. In just half a day, Kaizo and her were old news. Prince Jraken Ferno had stolen the spotlight. Who could possibly care about little love quarrels between students when a mysterious boy prince was attending a school for training elite warriors two years early? She herself was so intrigued that she was feeling less and less anxious about having attended the class.

    ¡°As many of you have already guessed,¡± said Hiazo. ¡°Our new student is in fact Prince Jraken Ferno, second son of King Jrax.¡± He said the king¡¯s name with disdain.

    This was nothing new. There were few who still had love for the Pyran king. King Jrax¡¯s drunken outbursts through the years had not done him any favors with his people.

    ¡°Originally,¡± said Lloyd. ¡°We had this day scheduled for combat drills. After hearing of our newest addition, we decided to change things up a bit.¡±

    Hiazo swiped through the screens on his wristband until he selected something. Pretty soon the sound of drones could be heard coming near.

    Several students cheered as they could guess what was to come.

    ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be playing baseknock,¡± said Hiazo. ¡°Are you familiar?¡± he asked Jraken.

    Jraken grinned innocently and shook his head. ¡°Afraid not,¡± he said.

    Jessa had only really seen Prince Dravon from a distance at tournaments and on campus. All she knew about him was that he was Kaizo¡¯s rival, and a loner who never attended any social functions. The guy didn¡¯t really seem to have or want any friends at all. This was often attributed to his father¡¯s similar characteristics. But Jraken seemed completely different. His persona was so welcoming and innocent.

    Hiazo rolled his eyes at Jraken¡¯s reply. ¡°It is rather simple. Each drone will fly to adjacent corners of the courtyard and project a large circle beneath it. At least one member of your team must always remain within the circle. The first team to knock all the opposing team¡¯s players out of the circle wins.¡±

    ¡°That is pretty simple,¡± Jraken agreed.

    ¡°Right,¡± said Instructor Hiazo. ¡°First up let¡¯s have the current champion, Kaizo Blaze, along with,¡± he pulled up a projection from his wristband and checked for the most recent rankings. ¡°Number 12 Alikina Hydros, and Number 13 Puyon Gallius. They will be going up against the Lunanite Princess, Mysti Tidal, who is currently ranked number 2, and on her team, we¡¯ll put Prince Jraken Ferno, and¡ª¡± his eyes scanned over the students. Then a smirk grew as his eyes met with Jessa¡¯s. ¡°And Jessa Hardu.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Mysti protested. She marched forward a couple steps in the direction of the instructors while pointing at her new teammates. ¡°Neither of them is even ranked!¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect a princess with your prestige to turn down a challenge,¡± Instructor Lloyd teased.

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Mysti retorted. ¡°Follow me, kid,¡± she told Jraken.

    Jessa was already jogging to the starting point. She couldn¡¯t help but consider the possibility that her outburst the previous night had just landed her the opportunity of a lifetime. There was no doubt in her mind that Instructor Hiazo had selected her to give Kaizo a chance to exact his revenge on her, and she was going to make sure that their little uncle and nephew scheme backfired. Drastically.

    ¡°How did I find myself on the unranked drama squad?¡± asked Mysti once they had assembled under their drone. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I love what you did to Kaizo. And you¡¯re absolutely right, Kortro was just as valuable to their victory as he was. The rankings are way whack right now, but your little squabble with your latest fling has nothing to do with me. So, now that you¡¯ve managed to finally get yourself a battle with the big kids you better pull your weight.¡±

    Jessa stomped her foot into the ground and sent her bril down along with it. She raised up her arms and closed her fists. As she did this, the stones beneath her climbed up and all over her body. They quickly morphed into intricate pieces of armor that covered her legs, arms, chest, and head in ornate glistening stone.

    ¡°Wow,¡± said Jraken. Though, he seemed to be marveling at more than just Jessa¡¯s armor.

    Has this kid ever even fought anything besides Pyrans? Jessa wondered. Nearly every Onyxian warrior could don stone armor. Hers may have been more artistic in nature than most, but that shouldn¡¯t merit such a response from the prince.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± said Mysti. ¡°Your armor is pretty, but it seems a little light.¡±

    ¡°I have moves, princess,¡± Jessa assured her. ¡°I perform better in light armor.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d be our base tank,¡± said Mysti.

    ¡°That¡¯s what they¡¯d expect,¡± said Jessa. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m fast for an Onyxian. You would be far better at defending the base.¡±

    Mysti rubbed her chin as she considered Jessa¡¯s strategy.

    ¡°Fighter¡¯s ready?!¡± Instructor Hiazo yelled from the edge of the courtyard.

    ¡°We¡¯re still planning!¡± Mysti shouted back. ¡°Give us a frickin¡¯ moment¡¯s peace for abyss sake!¡± Only a royal would ever be allowed to talk to an instructor in that manner and no one abused this opportunity more than Princess Mysti Tidal.

    Hiazo folded his arms and took a step back. His face almost seemed to turn red from anger, but he didn¡¯t bother reprimanding the princess.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Mysti said to Jessa. ¡°I¡¯m sure as shit not letting the little princeling guard the base.¡±

    Jessa locked eyes with Jraken for the first time. She had never seen violet eyes like his before and she couldn¡¯t help but briefly admire their beauty. Jraken did the same as he had never seen someone with bright green eyes, and Jessa¡¯s eyes gleamed like two emeralds.

    ¡°You¡¯re with me,¡± she told him. ¡°Stick close, wait for an opening.¡±

    Jraken nodded. ¡°Got it.¡±

    Jessa looked back at Mysti. The lack of faith she had in them was written all over her face. Her black hair consisted of dreads that were intricately braided. The braids stopped just above her broad shoulders.

    ¡°Avoid Kaizo at all costs. Leave him to me.¡± Mysti warned.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± said Jessa. ¡°Fighters ready!¡± she shouted over to Hiazo.

    The instructor pressed down on his wristband and the drones projected their circles onto the ground. A buzzer sounded and the match began.

    Jessa and Jraken approached the center of the courtyard and noticed that Kaizo had chosen to remain behind to defend the enemy base. Puyon Gallius used his bril to manipulate a powerful gust of wind to pick up Alikina and himself and launch them over the courtyard.

    As Alikina was being hurtled through the air she sent down a volley of ice arrows at Jessa and Jraken. Jessa hunkered down to cover areas that weren¡¯t covered by armor. Jraken threw a wave of fire above him that evaporated the arrows on impact.

    Alikina and Puyon landed just outside the base Mysti was guarding. Once Jessa saw that no more ice arrows were going to come their way, she sprinted toward Kaizo. They had already lost time due to how quickly Puyon and Alikina were able to approach their base.

    On the way to Kaizo, Jessa and Jraken had to evade numerous fireballs. Jessa knew Kaizo could produce flame quickly. She had yet to test herself against it. One of the flames she dodged had another tailing right behind it. It connected right into her chest. Knocking her onto her back.

    Even with the armor on, the wind had been knocked out of her. After four failed attempts to take in air her lungs finally cooperated. She gasped deeply.

    ¡°You good?¡± Jraken asked as he backhanded one of Kaizo¡¯s flames away.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she assured him as she hopped to her feet. She looked back and saw Mysti taking on both her opponents. She had long watery tentacles that stretched out from her arms, and she used them to both whip at her foes and block their attacks. All while barley needing to move from her central location in the circle.

    Jessa was relieved she had such a dependable teammate, and she refused to let her down. She slapped her hand onto the ground, sending bril down along with it. She pulled her hand up, and with it she manifested a long black staff made of stone.

    Another fireball came their way and Jessa used the staff to hoist herself over it. The next few fireballs were smaller than the first but came at her in rapid succession. She used her staff to block the fires that might have hit her and dodged the rest.

    She made it to the edge of Kaizo¡¯s circle and stopped. Kaizo was breathing heavy from all the bril he had already used up. She removed her helmet and tossed it to the ground. It broke apart as soon as her bril left it. She wanted Kaizo to see her face. Wanted him to know how much she hated him for having used her like he did.

    Kaizo got into his fighting stance. ¡°You know you don¡¯t stand a chance, right?¡±

    Fury overcame her. She jammed the staff into the ground in front of her and used it to spring herself forward. She may have been fast for an Onyxian, but Kaizo was more than ready for her. They exchanged attacks in the center of his base. Punches and kicks were parried and countered as Jessa tried to gain the upper hand.

    As they exchanged blows, Kaizo started to get more and more hits past her defenses. If it hadn¡¯t been for her armor, several of the attacks would have done her in. Finally, Kaizo connected a punch to her abdomen, and it brought Jessa to one knee gasping for air again.

    Jraken rushed in to assist her, but Kaizo knocked the young prince back with a swinging kick to the chest.

    Jessa jumped back to her feet and threw a punch while Kaizo was distracted. The number 1 ranked student was too fast and caught her punch just before it reached him.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± said Kaizo. ¡°You¡¯re just not Rexian material.¡± He created a large fireball with his free hand and held it over his head. The flames grew fast and large. The heat it put off was excruciating.

    Jessa closed her eyes and fell to one knee as she braced herself for the pain. If he really hit her with this attack, it would put her in the infirmary for days. It could even potentially render her unable to compete in the next tourney. Fear and dread consumed her. She couldn¡¯t think. She couldn¡¯t move.

    She heard a loud pop followed by an even louder boom. She felt Kaizo release her fist and when she opened her eyes, she saw not Kaizo, but Prince Jraken standing beside her.

    ¡°Found that opening you told me to look for,¡± Jraken said with a smile. He held his hand out toward her to help her back up.

    Jessa searched her surroundings for clues as to what had just transpired. About fifteen paces away she saw Kaizo Blaze lying unconscious with a small crater next to him. She quickly ascertained that Jraken must have knocked Kaizo along with his fireball out of the base. She just wasn¡¯t sure how he did it so fast.

    Kaizo had kicked the prince hard enough to send him flying. Yet somehow Jraken managed to not only recover but return a powerful kick of his own in no time at all.

    The entire class was silent. Unlike Jessa, they had witnessed the blazing speed that Jraken had just displayed.

    Instructor Hiazo grunted. ¡°Winner is Team Mysti,¡± he said begrudgingly.

    The class applauded, but there was confused apprehension in their celebration. As if they still weren¡¯t sure they believed what they had just witnessed.

    Jessa looked into Jraken¡¯s violet eyes once again. Could this be her ticket out? Jraken had only just arrived at the academy. She was the first person he had fought alongside of, and he had yet to join any team. It was a longshot for a royal to not team up with other royals, but Jraken seemed different. He seemed, kind. All of her dread and loneliness drifted away and was replaced by a surge of something that she hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Something she needed now more than ever.

    Hope.

 CH 6 Unwelcome Guests

    There were so many cute guys on Planet Farako! I wish my family got to pay tribute to the godking more than once a year. There is one guy who is a member of the godking¡¯s Starvast. His name is Lucius Storm, the Purebolt. I know, right? MARRY ME!

    <ul>

    <li>Journal of Karena Zephyr</li>

    </ul>

    Wulfo

    Seems like a perfect match, eh?

    The words of Pujo echoed through Horbel¡¯s mind. And each time they did, they filled his heart with wonder. He¡¯d been alone for so long. Had Pujo¡¯s alchemists really succeeded in making him a suitable partner? Someone who could put an end to the eons of solitude? A wife?

    Horbel sat in the darkness of his room. It was where he had been sitting since their three-day hyper-hop had begun. Captain Tyrus¡¯s slaver ship was enormous, and he didn¡¯t put it past himself to get lost. For whatever reason, getting lost on spaceships really pissed him off. And seeing as how he had been told multiple times by both Superior Pujo and Superior Vishka that the crew members aboard this ship were nonexpendable, he decided not to risk losing his temper.

    Instead, he sat in the dark and thought of the fight to come. He hoped they would be even more of a match than Voon¡¯ki. Maybe then he would have the worthy foe he so desired.

    A voice came over the intercom of the ship announcing their arrival to Wulfo, and a wicked smile crept over Horbel¡¯s face.

    At long last, it was time to kill some Elementi.

    Laluli had never seen anything like it. A ship so large it blotted out the sun as it made its way to Wulfo¡¯s surface. At first, she wondered how many mechanics it would take to run a ship of that size. After she saw the worry on the face of her friend, Karena Zephyr, her mind quickly went to other places. Dark places.

    ¡°Is that a Farako ship?¡± Laluli asked her.

    Karena ignored her little friend as she ran to the railing of the balcony where the two young girls had been swimming. Her blonde hair along with her blue and yellow garments flowed in the gentle wind that came over the railing. The balcony was large and filled with white furniture and a circular pool. The estate it was a part of hung on the side of a mountain that overlooked a large valley of yellow-leafed trees. The valley was surrounded by a ring of snow-capped mountains. In the middle of the valley was the capitol city of Fwahala. The city¡¯s large metallic pyramids reflected an obscured image of the enormous ship as it landed just outside its borders.

    It landed with great force, sending out a shockwave of destruction. Incinerating numerous crops, pastures, and homes. The shockwave even knocked down several of the buildings that were on the edge of Fwahala. Leaving only their foundations. The sound from the sonic boom reached the Zephyr Estate soon after.

    Karena¡¯s father, Telmont Zephyr, leaned over the railing of the adjacent balcony that was a level above the one they were on. He was one of the few Aerosi to ever earn a warrior¡¯s title in Farako. He had long straight black hair and a round face.

    ¡°I think you girls should get inside,¡± he said with a calm but stern voice. ¡°Find your mother.¡±

    ¡°Dad,¡± Karena replied as she pointed at the large ship. A small triangular craft had launched from its side and was now heading in their direction.

    ¡°Go! Now!¡± Telmont shouted down to his daughter.

    Karena let out a huff of defiance but did as she was told. She took Laluli by the hand as she led them inside. It still felt strange to her. The small Liplee hand of her friend had been equal in size to hers only a few short years ago. Now, her little pink best friend barely came up to her waist, and being that she was Liplee, she wasn¡¯t going to get much taller.

    An overwhelming sense of responsibility surged through Karena Zephyr. Her family was stationed here with the Liplee people to ensure they remained under the Godking Darex¡¯s protection.

    She grew up hearing all the war stories of her parents and their comrades. Was this a New Jhori attack? Could the quarter-century of peace be coming to an end? She never imagined anyone would actually be foolish enough to attack a Farako planet. Now that they had, she started to mentally prepare herself for what her duties would require of her should her parents become¡­ overwhelmed.

    The balcony that Telmont Zephyr was on had three landing pads. One had the Zephyr family starship on it leaving the other two vacant. He approached one of the vacant pads with his arms behind his back and waited to receive his guests.

    He knew that it was not a Farako ship. What he found most disturbing was why whoever it was felt the need to land such an immense craft right next to a heavily populated area. This wasn¡¯t a military installment. As far as resources went, Wulfo was nothing more than a farm planet. The Liplees grew enough food to keep all of their citizens well fed and pay for Farako protection.

    Could New Jhori really be that ruthless? There was no doubt that several Liplee casualties had occurred as it scorched the surface of the planet while coming down.

    Telmont considered the notion that pirates from the neutral zone were the most likely culprit. He and his wife, Karavine, had dealt with them before. But since when did common pirates pilot such tremendous ships?

    A thought suddenly struck him with fear.

    Plaquar.

    Farako and Plaquar had only a few skirmishes before agreeing on boundaries and specifying areas of neutrality. Had something changed that he was unaware of?

    Telmont had little time to speculate as the mystery craft touched down on the landing pad in front of him. He gathered his bril into his palms which he kept behind his back. With it he could use the wind to knock the ship clean off the pad should he need to.

    And he had a feeling he was going to need to.

    The door slid open on the side of the craft and three menacing looking beings stood waiting behind it.

    The largest of the three stepped out first and the suspension of the craft eased up greatly as his weight left it. He had gray fur, black hairy legs that ended with hooves for feet, and two large black horns that curved up from his bull-like head.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think this one has ever seen a minotaur before,¡± the bull-man said with a deep growl of a voice.

    ¡°My name is Telmont Zephyr. Planet Wulfo is under Farako protection by decree of the Godking Darex Voltus.¡± Telmont¡¯s green and silver embroidered clothes shook as heavy winds started to swirl around him. ¡°As are the Liplees who inhabit it. You are gravely mistaken if you think this open act of war will go unpunished.¡±

    A large scaly man with two horns protruding down from each jaw was next to hop out. His black scales glistened in the sunlight. ¡°Godking,¡± he said with amusement. ¡°I like the sound of that. Think I¡¯ll start using it myself. Hey, Klasp, from now on refer to me as Godking Horbel.¡±

    The minotaur rolled his eyes. ¡°A name like that would get you killed in Plaquar,¡± he said. Then he turned his attention back to Telmont. ¡°We were sent here to return the Liplees we lost. Plaquar conquered their world and all its inhabitants several years ago. These Liplees belong to us.¡±

    ¡°And I already told you they are under my protection.¡± He decided he had heard and seen enough at this point. Telmont used the bril he had been collecting to throw a heavy wind at Klasp, Horbel, and the craft behind them. The small ship lifted off the ground, but Klasp grabbed it with one hand and kept it from being blown away. Meanwhile, the one who called himself Horbel stood with arms crossed completely unaffected by the hurricane like wind.

    Telmont threw all the wind he could gather, but it was no use. The large beastly man remained immovable. As did his dark scaly companion. He relaxed his bril and the strong winds calmed. After the gust subsided, the small ship landed back on the pad and the last of three intruders hopped out.

    ¡°What are we working with, Shalika?¡± asked Horbel.

    Shalika¡¯s six feline ears and nose twitched as she tried to sense how many people were still in the house.

    ¡°So, who gets to fight first?¡± asked Klasp. He started popping his knuckles in anticipation. ¡°This one looks like he¡¯ll do for a warm-up.¡±

    Shalika yawned and rubbed her whiskers in between her fingers. ¡°I smell several Liplees and three more Elementi inside. One adult, one child, and one that¡¯s somewhere in between.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re called teenagers,¡± said Klasp. ¡°Bane of my existence.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t start,¡± warned Horbel.

    ¡°I gave her everything I could!¡± started the minotaur. ¡°Took on the most dangerous contracts to spoil her rotten! And what does she do? Takes off in her brand-new starship without so much as a ¡®smell ya later¡¯. A starship that I bought her I might add!¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Save it for the shrink for shit¡¯s sake,¡± said Shalika.

    ¡°Klasp, you can have this one if you swear not to bring up your insufferable daughter ever again,¡± said Horbel. ¡°Worst case scenario, the galaxy has one less farting minotaur in it.¡±

    Klasp laughed and took a couple of booming steps towards Telmont. ¡°That settles it little wind man! I¡¯m going to break your bones!¡±

    Telmont used his bril to create cyclones of wind under his feet that lifted him into the air. This put him eye level with Klasp who stood about seven paces away. ¡°You appear to be quite strong. However, it is safe to assume you have never faced an Elementi warrior.¡±

    Klasp raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what makes you say that?¡±

    Telmont smirked at the minotaur, ¡°Because you¡¯re still breathing.¡±

    Karena and Laluli rushed through the house as fast as Laluli¡¯s tiny gate allowed them. Karena was tempted to just carry her, but they soon found Karena¡¯s mother, Karavine, in the basement. She had gathered all the Liplees who worked as servants for the Zephyr family along with Karena¡¯s younger brother, Phuro. When she spotted Karena and Laluli she held her hand over her heart in relief and motioned them over to her.

    ¡°Take the mountain path to the cave,¡± she told them without wasting a second. ¡°The trees should provide enough cover to keep you out of sight until you arrive. Stay there until we come and get you.¡±

    ¡°I can fight!¡± said Phuro. He was just a boy of ten years. Unlike his sister, he had inherited their father¡¯s Aerosi abilities. His hair was the more common and natural white of Aerosi as well. Unlike his blonde mother and dark-haired father.

    ¡°I know brave boy,¡± Karavine said as she caressed her son¡¯s face. ¡°But let your father and I handle this one today.¡±

    ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Karena started, but her mother interrupted her. Now was not the time for doubts.

    ¡°I¡¯m putting you in charge,¡± she told her. ¡°Keep your brother and everyone else safe. I¡¯m counting on you.¡±

    Karena wanted to argue. She wanted to tell her mother that she had to come with her. She couldn¡¯t protect anyone by herself. She didn¡¯t have a warrior¡¯s spirit. Not like the rest of her family. Even little Phuro was ready to go and fight the intruders. But not her. She only gulped and nodded at her mother¡¯s instructions. She could feel the tickle of tears trying to swell in her eyes, but she fought them back. Now was not the time for doubts.

    Karavine hugged her children tight before running up the stairs to join her husband in the fight. A little too tight. Karena felt something in the embrace. It felt like a potential good-bye. Only feeding into her fears all the more.

    Laluli was surprised to find that her nerves were not even slightly rattled. Maybe it was an overabundance of faith in her protectors. She just could not envision an Elementi ever losing in a fight. She had watched Karena spar with her parents on several occasions. Every time she did, she had been blown away by what they were capable of. She was certain that Lord Telmont and Lady Karavine, would be able to handle the intruders without any issue.

    Karena led her little brother, Phuro, and the Liplee servants out the backdoor that made way to the mountain path. She could not help but feel as though she was surrounded by children. Even if most of the Liplees were much older than she was. Though they were small, their bright neon colored skin still made them easy to spot. She was grateful for the cover that the trees and shrubbery provided along the path.

    ¡°Our parents have fought worse than whatever is back there, right?¡± Phuro asked as they quietly walked up the mountain path. They stayed as close to the trees as they could while they crept along.

    ¡°Of course. These idiots have no idea what they¡¯re getting into.¡± Karena responded. ¡°Probably some dumb pirates that got their coordinates jumbled.¡±

    She sounded confident enough, but Laluli knew better. There was a slight quiver in Karena¡¯s voice that only a best friend could pick up on.  The Zephyr family had been stationed on Wulfo ever since her and Karena were small girls. They became quick friends and remained friends despite Elementi maturing much faster than Liplees. Karena was on the cusp of womanhood whereas Laluli was still in her species longer adolescent state.

    ¡°Then why are we leaving? I want to watch!¡± Phuro whined.

    A large bolt of lightning shot into the air on the other side of the Zephyr estate. A loud thunderous boom echoed up the mountain path soon after.

    Several of the Liplees awed at the spectacular sight. Laluli assumed they shared the same mutual feeling of safety as she had. Only the elders remembered the days of Liplees being dragged off and sold into slavery by Plaquar slavers. They had known nothing but peace since they had settled on Wulfo and joined the Farako nation.

    Loloru, Laluli¡¯s father, was one of the older Liplees who had evacuated with them. He was appointed the job of flying the royal ship and keeping up on all its maintenance. He had known peace his entire life, but he too seemed to have doubts about Telmont and Karavine¡¯s chances of success.

    ¡°How long can we hold up in this cave?¡± he asked Karena.

    ¡°Relax, pilot!¡± Phuro said. ¡°I doubt we even make it to the cave before they¡¯re calling us back for dinner.¡±

    A loud blood curdling scream came from the other side of the Zephyr estate that stopped everyone in their tracks. They all knew it was Lady Karavine, but no one had ever heard her make such a desperate sound before. A scream of sheer horror and despair.

    Laluli¡¯s sense of security shattered. Something terrible had just happened. Everyone froze in uncertainty and gazed at the estate below them. The only sound now was the wind funneling up the path. That, and the sounds of their hearts pounding in their chests.

    The backdoor of the estate suddenly burst open, and a blue humanoid cat pounced outside of it. It started sniffing at the air and soon looked up in their direction.

    Karena didn¡¯t know if it was because leadership had suddenly been thrust upon her or if it was a newfound need for vengeance, but the fear that had had a grip on her was starting to fade.  ¡°Forget the cave. Just get off the mountain.¡± She said as she started walking back down the path.

    ¡°Karena, no! Come with us!¡± Laluli pleaded.

    ¡°Sorry to say this Lady Karena, but if your parents couldn¡¯t defeat them then you don¡¯t stand a chance,¡± said Loloru. ¡°This is no time to be reckless.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know our parents are defeated!¡± Phuro shouted. Tears began to swell in his silver eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no way. My parents are warrior class Elementi!¡±

    ¡°That one looks to be a tracker. She¡¯s probably not very strong. I can hold her off and buy you all time to get off the mountain.¡± Karena insisted. She tried to sound brave, but what little fear she had left still managed to creep into her voice and make it crack. She cleared her throat and spoke with more conviction. ¡°Make for the valley forest. Stay off the paths.¡±

    Laluli¡¯s eyes began to water. ¡°No way! Just come with us. We need you.¡± She wiped away the tears that had now overflowed onto her cheeks. She truly could not imagine life without her best friend. ¡°I need you!¡±

    Karena embraced her little friend tightly. The memory of her own mother¡¯s embrace engulfed her mind.

    Is this another potentially final hug? I that why I can¡¯t bring myself to let go?

    Finally, Karena pulled herself away. As she did, all the warmth and safety of companionship exhumed from her body. From here on she would have to face this terror alone.

    ¡°If that one can track us then there¡¯s no point in running. Once I put her out of commission, I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± Karena assured her. It was all rehearsed. It was easy. She had read and watched reenactments of true heroes many times over. She knew what needed to be said. But was she a hero? Could she really save their lives?

    Karena clenched her fists as she looked around at the group of scared faces that she saw gathered around her. Yes. She would be a hero. She would save them. She would buy them the time they needed to escape.

    She jumped high into the air and quickly made her way back down the path by propelling herself off the cliff faces that lined the mountain path.

    Karena focused her bril into her hands. Yellow bolts of electricity spiraled around them as she prepared herself for the upcoming battle.

    Shalika watched the young Elementi girl race down the path. ¡°Guess it¡¯s my turn,¡± she said as she retracted her claws.

    Karena made one last leap high into the air and shot the electricity down at her opponent, but Shalika was too quick. The feline warrior raced to the spot where Karena was about to land so she could slice up her foe. The young Farako warrior somersaulted in the air and came down with a kick that Shalika was forced to block.

    The two then quickly unleashed their combination of attacks without either one gaining much ground. Shalika was fast, but Karena was faster. Her training with her father had prepared her for combat at these speeds. She could keep up with the feline so long as she kept her distance from those razor-sharp claws.

    After a few rounds, Karena found an opening and tried to sweep Shalika¡¯s legs out from under her. Shalika fell but was quick to recover and pounce back to safety. She licked a drop of blood off one of her claws.

    Karena felt a sting on her cheek and wiped it with her hand. Sure enough, her hand was stained red from blood.

    I didn¡¯t even feel it! She thought. She looked down at her body and almost threw up. She was covered in large cuts that were staining her clothes red.

    Her claws. They must be so sharp I can¡¯t feel when I¡¯m being sliced open!

    ¡°Any closer and you¡¯d be missing half your face,¡± Shalika teased.

    Karena gathered her wits and got back into her fighting stance. She couldn¡¯t let her enemy get into her head. She had to focus. Her friends and family were depending on her. All she had to do was buy them time. It didn¡¯t matter what injuries she had sustained. She would not fail them.

    Horbel held the head of Telmont Zephyr up for Karavine to see. Klasp had her submitted in place from behind with a firm grip on each arm.

    ¡°And here I thought you Elementi were supposed to be great warriors!¡± Horbel teased. ¡°This guy was pitiful!¡± He tossed the head and it rolled to Karavine¡¯s feet.

    She closed her eyes and turned her head to avoid having to see the gruesome sight. This got a laugh from both Klasp and Horbel.

    Karavine focused on gathering as much bril as she possibly could. The more bril she gathered the more pressure she felt being exerted on her body. Gathering more bril than her body could handle could cause fatal injuries, but she was well past considering her own mortality. She had to keep these monsters from reaching her children.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s up to something,¡± Klasp said as he observed more and more electricity streaking around the warrior he was holding.

    The pressure Karavine was now feeling caused her to let out a pained cry. When she finally felt like her body absolutely could not last a moment longer, she unleashed it all. An explosion of electricity jolted from her body in all directions.

    Horbel was barely able to jump back in time to avoid being struck. Klasp was convulsing violently with his eyes rolled back in his head. His hands remained attached to the steady current of high voltage.

    ¡°I thought her electricity didn¡¯t bother you,¡± said Horbel casually.

    Smoke started rising from all around Klasp and he made a deep growl.

    Karavine continued to scream as she let out all the bril she possibly could.

    ¡°Just let go, you dumb ox!¡± Horbel shouted at Klasp.

    Klasp slowly turned his head and shouted back through clenched teeth. ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t!¡±

    Karavine kept the stream of electricity going. If she could take down even one of the intruders, it would greatly enhance the chances of survival of her children.

    Klasp¡¯s growl grew louder and louder. Smoke started pouring from the beast¡¯s mouth. Then the minotaur unclenched his teeth and let out a battle cry of his own. He pulled himself away from Karavine, with her arms still in his hands.

    She let out a terrible scream of agony and fell to the ground. Blood gushed from where her arms had been ripped from her shoulders.

    Horbel stared over at Klasp with arms folded and an unimpressed gaze on his face.

    Klasp dropped Karavine¡¯s arms and held up his own hands in surrender. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to! I couldn¡¯t let go of her!¡± he replied while coughing up black smoke.

    Horbel shook his head. ¡°I wanted to play with her. She seemed a bit more competent than the male.¡±

    ¡°I think she¡¯s still alive,¡± Klasp said as he gave Karavine a nudge with his large black hoof.

    ¡°Leave it,¡± said Horbel in disgust. ¡°She won¡¯t live long.¡± This whole experience had been so underwhelming. These warriors wouldn¡¯t have even stood a chance against Voon¡¯ki. He made a mental note to go kill him after this job was done. No warrior of that skill should die of old age. Though, not all was lost. There were still two Elementi left. ¡°Hopefully, her offspring will still make for some decent entertainment.¡±

 CH 7 Fire in the Courtyard

    In whose heart can I start to make my home again?

    On whose time can I find the love I had way back when?

    Everybody needs somebody, and this nobody needs someone too,

    Is there anybody out there who needs somebody like I do?

    <ul>

    <li>Songs of Jessa Hardu</li>

    </ul>

    Elementa

    Prince Dravon Ferno woke up drenched in sweat. It was that dream again. The same dream that replayed nearly every single night. No matter what medication or diet was recommended, the dreams remained an ever-consistent part of his life.

    In each one he was always looking for his mother, Queen Drelaine. Often, he was completely lucid when he was in the dreams. Totally aware that none of it was real. It still never stopped him from wanting to do what he had failed to do in life. It never stopped him from trying to save her. But just like the event that had transpired in life, his dreams too were complete nightmares.

    She would die. In his dreams this would transpire in several different ways. Sometimes she would open the airlock and eject herself into space as he desperately pushed buttons to keep the doors from opening. Other times she would simply burst into flames and run away while he searched for anything that could put them out. One that he especially hated and feared was when she tied herself to an anchor and jumped into the sea. Dravon would swim as hard and fast as he could, but always just had to watch her fade away into the depths.

    He threw the sheets off himself and reached for a towel on his bedside table. This was nothing new to him. He grabbed his spare sheets that had been washed and laid out to dry from the night before and exchanged them with the ones he had just perspired on.

    A knock came from his window. Chren Twisters. The feathery blonde Aerosi who refused to believe his presence was ever unwanted. Dravon opened the window and Chren manipulated the wind to drift himself into the room.

    Chren observed the pile of wet sheets on the floor. ¡°Which was it this time?¡±

    ¡°Stabbed herself,¡± said Dravon. ¡°Multiple times.¡± He stared down at the floor. Pieces of the dream were now growing foggy. ¡°She stared at me while she did it. Like it was my fault. Like she had to do it, because of me.¡±

    ¡°A weight you¡¯ll have to bear for the rest of your life,¡± said Chren.

    ¡°Right,¡± Dravon said nonchalantly. He had accepted it long ago. If not for him, his mother would still be alive. The only thing left to do now was keep her dying wish.

    ¡°And for punishment you have to protect the brat,¡± said Chren. ¡°There should be a clause for the dying wishes of people who have gone cra¡ª¡± He stopped himself by quickly covering his own mouth.

    Dravon¡¯s eyes widened with fury. He felt his bril instinctively rise in response to his emotions. He calmed himself with a deep breath. ¡°The pregnancy was playing tricks on her mind.¡± He explained to Chren. It was the same thing his father had told him when Dravon had asked him why his mother was acting so strangely.

    ¡°She made you break quarantine and sail a starship out to the middle of nowhere,¡± said Chren. ¡°All while she was having a baby! I mean if we want to get technical, Prince Jraken is just as guilty for her death as you are.¡±

    Dravon had heard enough. His sheets were changed, and he was ready to give sleep another go. ¡°Goodnight, Chren,¡± he said. But by the time he looked up, Chren had flown back out the window.

    Dravon¡¯s mind was already made up. He had failed to protect his mother. There was no way he would fail in protecting his little brother too. It was his sworn duty to keep the little brat safe.

    Jessa Hardu couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. She was certain that her outburst two nights prior had been the end of Kaizo¡¯s self-proclaimed love for her. Yet, here he was, begging for her to take him back just one day after Jraken, Mysti, and her had humiliated him in front of his uncle and numerous fellow students.

    ¡°That star is well passed supernova,¡± she told him.

    ¡°Listen, I can¡¯t get you on the Rexians this year, but next year¡ª¡±

    ¡°Next year all that will remain of the Rexians is Bonnette Howl!¡± Jessa interrupted, ¡°And she¡¯s average at best!¡±

    ¡°The team will still have a reputation,¡± Kaizo argued.

    Jessa scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m already working on making my own team. It will have two Onyxians on it by the way, and a far more talented Pyran.¡±

    She knew that one stung. She watched Kaizo angrily scour the courtyard. He knew exactly who it was that she was referring to. As soon as Kaizo spotted him, he looked back at her with a menacing smile. ¡°A more talented Pyran? Let¡¯s just see about that.¡±

    Prince Jraken Ferno stood unwavering as he heard his name being called out by Kaizo Blaze. A growing suspicion had led him to believe that this day would inevitably arrive. Being a prince had its perks, but he now realized that attending the Jhori academy without drawing attention was a laughable endeavor.

    ¡°Prince Jraken!¡± Kaizo yelled across the courtyard.

    The few students that had been near Jraken quickly vacated upon hearing Kaizo¡¯s voice. Several others followed suit once they were aware of the situation.

    Most of the advanced combat class gathered around the edge of the courtyard, staying behind the thin red trees with blue leaves that lined the perimeter. The cloudless purple sky was approaching maximum brightness as the academy was soon to arrive at high noon.

    Instructor Hiazo stepped out into the courtyard. His presence let the boys know that a spar between them was officially warranted. All students were allowed to spar at any time, but a first-year like Jraken was supposed to spar under an instructor¡¯s supervision.

    Kaizo started stretching his muscles in anticipation of the fight.

    ¡°I hear tell that you¡¯re supposed to be some kind of prodigy!¡± he shouted. ¡°Yesterday was a fluke. You¡¯re not going to sneak shot me like that today.¡±

    Kaizo ran a hand through his short red hair. The face he made did nothing to hide his arrogance. He wore a black tank top and red trousers that were tucked into slim yellow boots. He was quite a bit larger than Jraken, who had only just started his growth spurt. If an outsider were to make a bet on the outcome, they would undoubtedly choose Kaizo based on physique alone, but the students who attended the Jhori academy for Elementi knew better than to base a warrior¡¯s merit on only their size. ¡°Why else would you be starting at the academy at such a young age on recommendation?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I am a prince,¡± Jraken replied. ¡°Maybe I was an embarrassment and sent here for extra training.¡± He held a smirk that only someone with a secret would don. His wavy black hair fell to his shoulders, and his violet eyes remained unblinking. He had decided to wear a nice white button up and black trousers. He looked well composed as he kept his arms crossed and his stance wide. He displayed no fear despite being harassed by the current top student at the academy.

    ¡°Considering your brother is only the third ranked student, I can see why King Jrax would be getting worried!¡± Kaizo said, trying to strike a nerve. ¡°We all know the only reason he¡¯s still even number three is because he¡¯s a royal!¡±

    ¡°Ouch. That burn probably hurts worse than the burns you got in your last fight with him,¡± said Chren to Dravon. They stood on a roof above the large crowd of students that had gathered to watch Kaizo and Jraken fight. Dravon had skipped his own class when he heard what Jraken had done to Kaizo the previous day. It seemed as though his suspicion that Kaizo was going to pick a fight because of it was dead on.

    ¡°You don¡¯t really think your brother could beat him, do you?¡± asked Chren.

    Dravon grunted and shook his head. His black hair was pulled back into a neat bun and shaved short on the sides. He wore a black scale leather vest over a loose white v-neck shirt, and his baggy gray pants were tucked into his black boots. His face was wearing the usual scowl that had made a home there at a young age. Unlike Jraken, who had a much more inviting personality, and a smile that seemed to be contagious to those around him. Contagious for everyone, but Dravon.

    ¡°Cause if he does beat him. It is not going to look good for you! Nope! Not at all!¡± Chren teased. ¡°I can see it now, ¡®Hey! You hear about Jraken?¡¯ ¡®No! What about Jraken?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s the best! We thought Dravon was the best. Then we thought Kaizo was the best, but no. Turns out Jraken was the best all along!¡¯¡± He said back in forth while using a variety of voices.

    Truth be told, Dravon had no idea how powerful Jraken had become in recent years. Being a last-year student, he never expected to see his 13-year-old brother at the academy before he graduated.

    He was not quite as interested as everyone else was when it came to whether or not the rumors of his brother were true. It went without saying that people expected him to grow into a powerful warrior. Until recently, Dravon was considered the best fighter in the school. Their parents had been well renowned for their prowess by both sides during the war. Though, it seemed impossible to him that Jraken could possibly possess the ability to take on Kaizo, who was nearly on par with himself.

    Aside from keeping the dying wish of his mother, this would be the best opportunity he would have in a long time to defeat Kaizo in front of an audience. That would be the only way he could earn back the title of number one.

    Dravon then noticed two girls that he didn¡¯t recognize watching from the roof on the other side of the courtyard. It seemed he wasn¡¯t the only one who had skipped their class to come spy on this one. Except Dravon intended to do more than just watch.

    He hopped down from the roof and pushed other students aside as he made his way towards his old nemesis. He walked out into the courtyard until he was sure he was in Kaizo¡¯s line of sight. They were the same height, but Dravon was a bit thinner. Both, though, had inherited the red eyes of their Pyran ancestors.

    Instructor Hiazo gave his nephew a curious look. As if to ask, ¡®Should I intervene?¡¯ but Kaizo shrugged him off.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Well, who would have guessed?¡± Kaizo shouted out to his classmates. ¡°Older brother to the rescue! Already back for another humiliating defeat!¡±

    Being of few words, Dravon wasted no time. He focused his bril above his palms. When he felt he had gathered enough, he ignited it. Small tongues of fire formed in each hand. He breathed deep and dashed towards his adversary.

    Kaizo stretched his arms back and several small fires started to grow in the air above him. Just before Dravon approached, Kaizo threw his arms forward and the small fires went whizzing toward him.

    Dravon avoided as many as he could but chose to let several of the fires make contact so he could get in close. He hurled his fist sized fires at Kaizo only for him to deflect them with the back of his hands. What Kaizo could not deflect was a hard kick to the chest that sent him flying seven paces back. When he hit the ground, he rolled a couple more paces before finally coming to a stop. The crowd of students cheered in response.

    Dravon could hear Chren yell, ¡°That¡¯s showing him!¡±

    ¡°Nice one, bro!¡± shouted Jraken.

    Dravon did not acknowledge any cheering. He stayed fixated on his opponent. Kaizo had surprised him before with how resilient he was to taking hits. They had fought countless times in various tournaments and sparring exhibitions over the years. Dravon had always won. However, the last tournament had been team based. It was tradition that royal families always compete together, and more often than not, they won. Though, that was not the case in the last tourney.

    He had no way of proving it, but he was convinced there was a conspiracy to single out his teammates and eliminate them one by one. He wound up having to fight the last two matches alone. He eliminated two competent fighters in the semi-finals and was then left with fighting a well-rested Kaizo in the championship match.

    ¡°Not bad, Drav,¡± Kaizo said as he wiped some grass off his clothing. ¡°You are pretty nifty when it comes to hand-to-hand.¡±

    After he got up, he slapped his palms together and suddenly both of his hands ignited into flames that quickly grew to the lengths of his forearms. Staying engulfed in fire as he got back into his fighting stance.

    This is exactly what Dravon had been anticipating. Kaizo had surprised everyone at the tournament when he revealed that he not only mastered but had actually improved the Dravon¡¯s Fire-Fist technique.

    A technique that Dravon had learned from his father, King Jrax. By controlling the flames that surrounded one¡¯s fists, they could increase their speed and strength.

    Being able to extend the flames to his elbows gave Kaizo even more control and drastically increased the speed of his punches. Dravon¡¯s long reign over him had come to a short end.

    This time would be different. This was what he had trained for. He slapped his own palms together and they immediately burst into flames that were a bit larger than Kaizo¡¯s. Dravon then fused the flames and sent the hurling mass of fire at his rival.

    Knowing he had to act fast, Kaizo did the same. The flames met, and a small explosion shook the courtyard. A mushroom cloud instantly formed between the two combatants.

    Spectators were left unknowing as dust from the explosion made it difficult to see. All they could do was listen as the two young men exchange attacks.

    As the dust cleared, streaks of fire could be seen bouncing off each other. Before long, enough dust had settled to see that Dravon¡¯s entire arms were engulfed in flames.

    Dravon knew that Kaizo and himself were close to matched on their ranged attacks, so he decided he would try to keep the fight to physical combat instead. A strategy that seemed to pay off. Proving to everyone that he had once again surpassed his rival.

    He had trained harder than ever since tasting defeat in the last tournament, and it showed. He was overpowering Kaizo like he never had before. Pushing him back with every punch. Eventually he found his opening. An opening that resulted in an uppercut to the chin of Kaizo.

    Kaizo spit out a mouthful of blood and jumped several paces back. With a voice full of wrath, he shouted, ¡°That does it!¡±

    He threw his hands to the sky and a large fire started manifesting above him. Several students fled to safety as the fire grew larger and larger.

    Some Aerosi students used their ability to manipulate wind and helped fellow students up on to the roofs that surrounded the large courtyard. While Lunanite students used their ability to manipulate water and made walls of ice to absorb the potential shockwave of the blast.

    Instructor Hiazo called out to his nephew demanding he stop what he was doing immediately. His demands fell on deaf ears.

    Kaizo looked like a man possessed. His eyes were wild, and his mouth was twisted into a maniacal blood covered grin.

    Dravon was not sure what to do. He had not anticipated that Kaizo would take things this far. He was not by any means well acquainted with him, but he knew him well enough to see that this behavior was out of character. With the rate the flames were growing, he was endangering not only Dravon, but any number of students who might not be able to get out of the way in time.

    All Dravon could guess was that the pressure of being number one had really gotten to him. He knew that burden as well as anyone. Holding on to that title was a constant battle. There was always some fresh blood looking to dethrone you. Paranoia came hand in hand with the claim of being number one.

    The only options he could quickly come up with were to flee like everyone else or try to throw a fireball with enough force to ignite Kaizo¡¯s flames before it reached him. Unfortunately, he decided he could not risk either option. If the two flames met, there was no way to truly predict what direction the blast might take. It could end up being directed at bystanders and cause serious harm. He also could not flee, due to not wanting to put any of the other students in danger.  He would just have to stay in the center of the courtyard and endure the blast as best he could.

    Kaizo¡¯s flames grew ever larger and brighter above his head. ¡°Here, Prince Dravon! Catch!¡± He shouted with heinous laughter.

    He threw his arms forward to send the fire at Dravon. Instead of going where he sent it, the huge ball of flame went twirling into the sky and exploded high up out of harm¡¯s way.

    ¡°What the?¡± Kaizo asked, staring up at the remnants of the explosion. Suddenly, Jraken was right in front of him. Kaizo panicked and tried to punch him. Jraken was quicker and gave Kaizo a quick jab in the stomach. Causing the top ranked student to immediately fall to his hands and knees gasping for air.

    ¡°Did Jraken just save us?¡± asked a student from one of the roofs.

    ¡°No! Kaizo was just teasing. He threw the fire into the sky himself!¡± said another.

    ¡°I saw the whole thing! Jraken kicked that fire into the sky! It was like nothing I¡¯ve ever seen before!¡±

    ¡°I saw the same thing!¡±

    A consensus soon formed amongst the student body. Jraken had saved the day. He had saved the courtyard from having a huge crater, several students who could have been injured, and much to Dravon¡¯s displeasure, he had saved his brother from potential death.

    Instructor Hiazo apprehended his nephew as Instructors Lloyd Rivers and Instructor Skyla Reeves made their way through the crowd to speak with them. Skyla had heard the commotion and stopped by just in time to see Kaizo¡¯s stunt.

    ¡°Sorry, uncle,¡± Kaizo said, too ashamed to look his uncle in the eye.

    Hiazo replied in a low voice to keep the other instructors from hearing. ¡°No, Kaizo. It is my fault. I push you too hard. It also seems I¡¯ve given you my disdain for the royals. Now, stay down and let me do all the talking.¡±

    Kaizo gave an understanding nod.

    ¡°Well, that got a little out of hand!¡± Lloyd said followed by a nervous laugh.  He wanted to ease the situation as best as he could.

    As the other two instructors knew she would be, Instructor Skyla was bewildered. ¡°Little out of hand?! No. This behavior will not be tolerated in New Jhori. Nor will it go unpunished.¡±

    Her matter-of-fact tone is what made Hiazo and Lloyd cringe most. Skyla was not Elementi, and she was the only Non-Elementi on Elementa and its five habitable moons.

    ¡°Kaizo has been in my classes. Passed them barely, but passed them, nonetheless. He is familiar with Jhori philosophy. We do not endanger bystanders!¡± Then she spoke directly to Kaizo. ¡°Especially not for personal gain!¡±

    Hiazo ran his hand over his head in an involuntary act of frustration. An act not missed by Skyla.

    ¡°They¡¯ve been rivals for five years. Rivalries can sometimes cause one to forget how to hold back.¡± Hiazo explained.

    ¡°Believe it or not, Hiazo here was actually rivals with a Pyran prince himself back in his academy days,¡± Lloyd said with a smile. ¡°And I¡¯m willing to bet they had some pretty intense fights!¡±

    ¡°Those were times of war. A civil war I might add! This is exactly why I¡¯ve been sent here to teach the next generation how to sustain a life of peace.¡± Skyla bobbed her head as she spoke. Something else that made Hiazo and Lloyd cringe.

    Skyla made it sound like the Elementi¡¯s long lasting inner turmoil was self-induced. Hiazo and Lloyd knew that the story was a bit more complicated than that. A story that seemed to be taught differently than when they were in the academy. A story that put all the blame of the war against Farako on the Elementi.

    ¡°Just what kind of punishment do you have in my mind?¡± Hiazo dared to ask.

    ¡°Expulsion,¡± was her short response.

    Kaizo looked up from the ground for the first time since the conversation of his near future began. ¡°That¡¯s absurd!¡±

    Hiazo quickly silenced his nephew with a strong squeeze of the shoulder.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think the Jhori agencies that have been scouting him will be all too happy to hear that,¡± Hiazo tried to reason.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what they won¡¯t be all too happy to hear. That the young man they¡¯ve been scouting has a temper that could put them in enormous legal trouble!¡±

    ¡°Please, Skyla. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Hiazo pleaded.

    Skyla crossed her arms and thought a moment. ¡°Very well. It will be a temporary expulsion.¡±

    A look of relief spread across the faces of Kaizo, Hiazo, and Lloyd.

    ¡°He will not attend the next tourney and therefore not qualify for the Jhori Championship.¡±

    The look of relief left and Kaizo rose in defiance.  Hiazo quickly shoved him back down on his knees.

    ¡°Still pretty harsh, but the kid can at least join an agency in the final exams.¡± Lloyd said, trying to calm the uncle and nephew.

    ¡°Fair is fair,¡± Hiazo said, hiding as much of his anger as he could manage. He lifted Kaizo up by the back of his shirt and escorted him off the courtyard.

    Instructor Skyla turned around to speak to the congregation of students still looming around.

    ¡°It would be easy to judge Kaizo this afternoon. Easy to condemn him. I ask that we not criticize him too harshly. Anger is a symptom and pride the disease. You are already the most powerful species in New Jhori. From what I see on a daily basis, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you were the strongest in the galaxy!¡±

    Several students chuckled and some cheered.

    ¡°My point is you have nothing to prove. You are all incredible. This silly and ancient ranking system does nothing but incite hate and disconnect!¡±

    She brushed her bright pink hair full of volume behind her ear. She was a little taller than most of the Elementi, and where Elementi skin was limited to light olive to dark brown tones, her skin was a fluorescent green. Most of the male students, and a few of the females, found her to be an exotic beauty. She always adorned small dresses that seemed to exaggerate her already attention demanding features.

    ¡°I know that non-Elementi instructors sent from the capital to teach New Jhori philosophies are never very popular at this academy. I am also well aware that you are a race of proud warriors. Your ancestors were hired to fight wars for thousands of years. They helped lay the foundation for this great democracy!¡±

    Several students cheered and Skyla nodded and clapped while she walked over to Jraken, who had been welcomed and thanked by some older students for knocking Kaizo¡¯s large flame into the sky.

    ¡°Some of you will one day join an agency. No matter which one you should join you will find that they all were created to promote peace!¡± She put her hands on Jraken¡¯s shoulders as she mentioned the word agency. ¡°Alone we can do only so little, but together we can accomplish anything!¡±

    A bell rang across campus that ended the class. Everyone started shuffling around upon hearing it.

    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you are on the way to my class,¡± Skyla said to Jraken.

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s my last class for the day.¡±

    ¡°Mine too! Will you walk with me?¡± she asked as she locked arms with the prince.

    Jraken blushed. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°I know it is still early, but have you given much thought about which agency you might want to join? I have several connections. Though, it would depend on which one you have your eye on.¡±

    Jraken truly had not put much thought into it. The one thing he had ever seen his family agree on was how suspicious it was that he would be joining the academy early. ¡°I¡¯m not sure my father would want me joining any agencies,¡± he replied truthfully.

    ¡°Your brother Dravon is who will inherit the crown. Your people require only one king, Jraken. You are your own man. I believe you were born to do amazing and wonderful things for the galaxy!¡±

    His heart raced as this beautiful woman told him how amazing she thought he was. He wanted to say something, but no words would come. Did Locke have any idea how difficult it would be to suppress his abilities? Aside from that, was the secret not already out?

    ¡°Just give it some thought,¡± said Skyla. ¡°A talent like yours should not be hidden. Nor should someone so powerful not be taught to use his powers wisely. It wasn¡¯t just Kaizo¡¯s pride that made him act rashly. His power is an insatiable temptation for anyone. If you can so easily get your way, then what is stopping you?¡±

    Jraken shrugged. All he knew was that he could not stand seeing people get hurt.

    ¡°Wisdom,¡± said Skyla. ¡°Wisdom to understand the importance of patience, empathy, kindness, and love. I believe you were born with this wisdom already within you. You just need someone to show you why you are the way you are.¡±

    Jraken had never felt so inspired. His future had never looked so full of possibility. Everything Skyla said made perfect sense to him. If he had been blessed with extraordinary abilities, then why shouldn¡¯t he use them?

    ¡°I want to help people,¡± he admitted. ¡°And I would love to explore the galaxy.¡±

    ¡°I promise to do everything in my power to see that that happens, young Prince Jraken,¡± Skyla said with a warm smile. ¡°I believe you may be a legend in the making.¡±

 CH 8 Tragedies of the Past

    How do I even start to explain the emptiness I feel? I am certain that I am no lover of war, or the misery it brings. However, I will admit here in the privacy of my own thoughts, that the warrior in me feels a deep longing to be needed again.

    <ul>

    <li>Journal of Princess Lissie Monsoon </li>

    </ul>

    Imperia

    The heavy storms of Imperia raged all around her starship. Green streaks of light flashed through thick gray clouds as water droplets raced across the windows that surrounded her seat. She had sailed past Imperia on several occasions when visiting the other moons of Elementa, but never actually broke through its ever-raging storm clouds to see the surface for herself. The Jhori had marked the world off-limits, and as a princess of Aerosi, Lissie Monsoon was expected to adhere to that law. Though, she had a strong sense that her current act of trespassing would soon be the least of her transgressions.

    Which is why instead of her royal starcruiser, she was piloting a small two-person ship. Alone. She couldn¡¯t allow anyone back on Aeros to know she was ever here.

    Because moments from then on that very moon there was to be a gathering of Elementi royalty. A gathering hidden from the watchful eye of the Jhori. A gathering that her parents had decided to turn a blind eye to.

    They were old fools. She loved them of course, but they were fools, nonetheless.

    Lissie couldn¡¯t decide if it was cruel or just plain odd that life would revert one¡¯s mind back to that of a child when approaching the end. Or perhaps they had always been this way. Perhaps it was just that she was now savvy enough to realize how inept her parents truly were.

    The king and queen of Aeros had received an invitation to the confidential meeting the night before. The only information given, other than the whereabouts, was that it pertained to the future of the Jhori Elementi.

    Lissie would not have even known had she not overheard her parents talking about it when they forgot to hang up their communicators the night before. She knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but they just made it so damn easy breezy. And as the successor to the crown, she was more than concerned with what kind of mess her parents would be leaving for her to inherit. Her mother, Queen Keega, had already done a number on their relations with the elite houses of Aeros over the years.

    Once Lissie¡¯s ship broke through the clouds, she found that the heavy rains made it difficult to make out anything on the surface of the moon. Her navigation system had her heading in the direction of several blinking red lights that she safely assumed indicated the location of a parking balcony.

    Once she had parked, a flash of green lightning illuminated the grand palace of Imperia. Through the rain she saw a glimpse of numerous waterfalls cascading down the corners of its many towers. Each one proudly displayed large statues perched atop their roofs. Lissie couldn¡¯t imagine the statues were still possibly identifiable from the years of heavy erosion.

    When the darkness had returned, Lissie noticed one of the rooms in the tower nearest her was dimly lit. She pulled her hood up and marched head down toward the tower. The heavy rain beat down on her back.

    How could anyone actually live here? No wonder the Imperians took off to form the Farako nation.

    The inside of the palace was dark and damp. The sound of water leaking through the ceiling echoed all throughout its stone hallways.

    ¡°What a dump,¡± Lissie said to herself. She went up a spiral staircase. Having to keep her hand on the wall to guide her. Every now and then more green lightning would shine through a window and give her a brief view of where she was going.

    Finally, she spotted light coming from under a door down a hallway. Ideally, she wanted to find a place to eavesdrop on the meeting. However, the person behind putting this gathering together had done so wisely. It was impossible to spy on them from outside. Despite the fact that she could manipulate the winds to give herself flight. The heavy rains would drown out their voices entirely.

    This particular room also had no rooms on either side of it. It jutted out from the side of the tower like a thick vein. She was going to have to attend the meeting and hope that the attendees would hold true to its confidentiality.

    Lissie opened the door and was met with royal eyes holding varying degrees of disappointment. She pulled back her hood to reveal her pixie styled silver hair. She had tight black shorts on with long white tassels down the sides. Her jacket was also black and had the same long white tassels down the sleeves.

    King Jrax Ferno was the first to speak out upon her arrival. ¡°The hell you think you¡¯re doing here?¡± he slurred.

    ¡°I am attending this meeting on behalf of Aeros,¡± she replied. ¡°My parents had pressing matters this evening.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect any Aerosi to show up if I¡¯m being honest,¡± said King Davus Tidal. He was a large man with a thick black beard and wild eyebrows. His long black hair was pulled back into a tight braid that fell over his shoulder and reached his belt. He wore bright blue garments that showed off an impressive physique.

    Next to him was his beautiful wife, Queen Marcella. Her bright blue hair gleamed over her shoulders. Lissie envied her for several of her eye-catching qualities. Ultimately, it was her high cheek bones that she coveted most. They gave the queen of Luna a very regal and intelligent appearance. Even though Marcella was born of a citizen-class Lunanite, Lissie felt she looked far more like royalty than herself.

    ¡°Nor did I,¡± said Jrax. ¡°But she needs to piss off. She isn¡¯t one of the two Aerosi who were invited.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in line for the throne,¡± Lissie protested. She had expected resistance, and she was getting it from exactly the person she expected she would. ¡°My people deserve representation to this meeting. Despite what my parents believe.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s absolutely correct,¡± said the Onyxian king, Harley Stone. He spoke with a croaky voice. Both his wife Queen Fria and he showed no resemblance to their youthful selves now that they were well past 70. Once revered as elite warriors, many wondered just how much of their former prowess they still possessed. Lissie was more concerned with how much of their minds was left. Though, they seemed far more coherent than her parents. Who were themselves pushing 90.

    ¡°All Elementi should be represented in this meeting,¡± said Fria. She pulled out the chair next to her and gestured for Lissie to have a seat.

    Jrax only grunted and pulled out his flask for a swig.

    Lissie knew that was the closest thing to an invitation she would ever get from him. Jrax had always been a quiet and reserved man when Lissie reflected on their brief times of working together during the war. It was after the death of his wife Drelaine that he had become such an alcoholic asshole.

    Lissie took the vacant seat offered to her from Queen Fria Stone. ¡°Thanks,¡± she told her as she sat down.

    ¡°Of course, princess,¡± she replied. Her white hair was pulled back into three tails that met and twisted into one. ¡°How is your mother? She never responds to my messages.¡±

    Lissie knew that her mother loathed Queen Fria. She never had any reason other than she found Fria¡¯s friendliness to be overbearing. So, now what? Lie to a queen? What could she possibly say? Sorry, my mother¡¯s been busy for the last dozen years.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t come here to gossip,¡± snapped Jrax. ¡°Keep your squabbling outside of this room.¡±

    Never had Lissie ever imagined a scenario where she would be rescued by Jrax being an asshole, but there it was. She almost wanted to whisper thank you to him. She was so relieved she didn¡¯t have to answer that question.

    The door of the room opened and a shorter woman with all white eyes entered the room. Her pitch-black skin was covered in bright white dots that drifted across her skin. She had long purple hair with black tips that reached the back of her knees. As for clothing, she wore very little.

    ¡°Greetings kings and queens of Elementa,¡± she said. ¡°I am Lys, High Priestess of the Undying Light.¡±

    A priestess? She felt her heart pick up tempo. Is that what this meeting was about? Joining some illegal cult that would get them all killed?

    ¡°I serve the Godking Darex Voltus on his quest to free his people, your people, from the Jhori¡¯s grip.¡± Said Lys.

    ¡°Godking?¡± said Queen Marcella. ¡°Is that what he calls himself these days?¡± her voice came off as amused more than offended. She flicked her luscious blue hair over her shoulder and gave her kingly husband a peculiar smirk.

    ¡°As the reincarnation of a celestial, it is only right to do so,¡± replied Lys.

    Lissie couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. Freeing us from the Jhori¡¯s grip. Celestial reincarnations. High Priestesses. Godking?! This was treason of the highest degree, and she would have no part in it.

    ¡°Well, I can already tell that I don¡¯t like where this is going at all,¡± said Lissie as she rose from her chair. Her parents had been right not to attend this meeting. Maybe they had been right about a lot more than Lissie gave them credit for. She turned to leave, but Jrax slammed his fist on the table.

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°You may not yet be a queen, but you will act like one today,¡± he told her. ¡°You¡¯re the one that showed up uninvited. Now sit your ass down until the rest of the royals have adjourned this meeting.¡±

    How dare he make her look weak in front of the other royals! She clenched her fists and collected bril around them. No. He¡¯s the one making a fool of himself.

    Lissie calmed herself and sat back down. Just being in this room was enough to have her sent to a Jhori prison for the rest of her life. How could the other royals all be so cavalier about what was transpiring right before them?

    The High Priestess continued her little spiel as if nothing had happened. ¡°We have spies within the Jhori capital. What some of you have feared has come to fruition. The Jhori intend to brainwash your children against you. They teach a doctrine that spits on the old ways. The ways of your people. Nothing is sacred to them, and if you oppose, if you decide to claim your independence, they will banish you and turn your own kind against you. On behalf of the Undying Light, Godking Darex Voltus has sent me to offer you and your people refuge and freedom. He wants to unite the Elementi once again. Unite your races and claim independence from Jhori oppression. You must do this before they send you into another civil war against each other.¡± She spoke with sincerity in her voice.

    Who does she think she¡¯s fooling? Lissie wondered. It was the Farako Elementi who had started the war after all.

    ¡°Darex¡¯s ancestors have tried time and time again to take down New Jhori and have failed every time,¡± said Harley. ¡°What makes you think this time will be any different?¡±

    ¡°Because every other time they tried they had our ancestors there to stop them!¡± shouted Jrax. ¡°We could have all been free over 300 years ago had our ancestors had the courage to join forces with them. It¡¯s time we undo the wrongs of the past!¡±

    King Harley cleared his throat loudly. ¡°Jrax, I know our people have lost certain liberties. We were and still are a ruthless and devastatingly powerful warrior race. They have good reason to keep a close eye on us.¡± Fria put her hand over the hand of her husband to lend her support.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you feel that way,¡± said Jrax. ¡°But this meeting will be the last chance your people have at freedom. There¡¯s no guarantee that any Jhori loyalists who choose to remain behind will not be considered an enemy from here on out.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid that once this meeting is adjourned, that is what we will be,¡± Harley replied.

    ¡°It would appear so,¡± said Jrax. He raised his hand and a small bright flame appeared at the tip of his finger.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?!¡± asked Fria. The old queen wore a similar dark green robe to her husband. Her eyes were wild as she gave Jrax a fierce glare.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright, Fria,¡± Harley said, never looking away from the Pyran king. ¡°Jrax, you called this meeting together in an effort to promote peace amongst us. Yet, how long did it take for you to start dealing out threats?¡± He rubbed at his long white beard. His dark skin was wrinkled and bore many scars and sunspots.

    Jrax lowered his hand and extinguished the flame. ¡°A close eye you say. Is that all that¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. Then he looked over to the priestess, ¡°Well are you going to tell them, or should I?¡±

    Lys nodded. ¡°What Jrax speaks of is the execution of Jhori initiative ¡®Bril Restraint¡¯. It involves several plans to eradicate the Elementi. The Empress Elect and her croons don¡¯t ever want more of you than they can control. Since Darex ended the war when he succeeded his father, the Elementi have stopped killing each other off. It¡¯s because of this that the Jhori are now concerned with lowering your populations.¡±

    Priestess Lys then threw several small cubes onto the table that displayed holographic documents. Each one mentioned several ways in which the Elementi¡¯s numbers could be diminished.

    Lissie watched the other royals start to read through the holograms. They did not seem to like what they saw.

    Initially, Lissie was going to avoid looking at the propaganda. That¡¯s what her parents would have done. Though, that thought didn¡¯t sit well with her, and she was already attending a treasonous meeting. Not to mention everyone else was doing it, so¡­

    Before her on the holograms hovered detailed accounts of how to slowly introduce weakening poisons into their food and water supply. Some pages listed weapons that would be best suited against each type of Elementi. She was stunned to see how many atrocities the Jhori were allegedly committing against them already.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to be sick,¡± Marcella said as she saw images of Elementi prisoners being subjected to different experiments.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any since,¡± said Lissie. ¡°How can we be certain that these documents haven¡¯t been fabricated to turn us against New Jhori?¡±

    ¡°You really think the Jhori have our best interests at heart?¡± Marcella asked her. ¡°Have you seen the conditions our people live in? Our worlds have been altered in such a way that they can¡¯t produce their own food. We survive entirely on the rations provided by New Jhori. This doesn¡¯t raise any concerns to you?¡±

    ¡°The Jhori issue enough rations for everyone to go to bed with a full belly,¡± said Lissie. ¡°We have everything we could possibly need given to us by them. What more do you want?¡±

    ¡°Freedom,¡± said Jrax. He stood up and pointed out the window. ¡°Freedom to travel the galaxy as I please.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s clear to me now that Darex¡¯s predecessors have always been in the right,¡± said Davus. He then turned to face Jrax. ¡°The Lunanites will stand beside you. I believe this is what is best for the future of our people.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, Davus. I never doubted the bravery of the Lunanites. However, I think we know where the Aerosi stand.¡± Jrax said while giving Lissie a dirty look.

    Was that it then? Had she just sealed the fate of all her people? This seemed like a lot to dump on someone right before making a decision of this magnitude. Was this how all leaders were forced to handle choices? On brief whims with only a handful of intel?

    ¡°What about you, King Harley?¡± asked Jrax. ¡°Are you going to be able to sleep at night knowing that your people are being poisoned just because the Jhori fear what we are capable of? Or are you still going to hold on to your misplaced loyalty?¡±

    Harley took a long deep breath. Fria stood up beside him and spoke on his behalf. ¡°My husband and I have seen the horrors of war firsthand,¡± she paused and looked deep into everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°Darex¡¯s father sought revenge for his people¡¯s banishment on a near yearly basis. We grew up in constant fear. We eventually lost all six of our children to that bloody war. All of them were deemed heroes and now rest in our hall of legends.¡± She choked on the last word. Even after all these years it was still hard for her to talk about. The queen¡¯s eyes began to water as she forced herself to finish. ¡°I¡¯d give anything for them to have been cowards! I wish they had been born with no skill whatsoever! There is no replacing what war takes away!¡±

    Lissie recalled having been teamed up with two of her children during fierce battles. They were both known as renowned fighters who gave their lives in service of New Jhori. How could everyone be so quick to turn their backs on that loyalty?

    The room fell silent as tears fell down Fria¡¯s wrinkled cheeks. ¡°I pray that none of you have to carry the burden of losing even one child. However, it will be inevitable if you go to war with New Jhori. If you go to war with anyone.¡± She then looked directly at Jrax. ¡°You may as well kill them yourself.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s already inevitable!¡± Jrax snapped back. ¡°The proof is on display right before your very eyes!¡±

    ¡°There is always an alternative to war. There must be,¡± said Harley. ¡°It seems clear to me that the Jhori are prepared for it. If not anticipating it. How do we know we aren¡¯t playing right into their hands? This woman is wise in the ways of espionage. How do we know she isn¡¯t a spy for the Jhori?¡± Harley waited for a response, but no one spoke up. ¡°The Onyxians will not go to war with New Jhori,¡± he announced loudly. ¡°And I hope with all my heart, that we are not forced into war against each other.¡±

    Suddenly, the door came crashing open and a large man stood in the opening. He wore a black sleeveless shirt that showed off bulging veiny muscles. He had short bright blonde hair with large blonde bushy sideburns. His face was stern, and his eyes were bright blue. Lissie recognized him all too well.

    ¡°My kings and queens, I present to you, the Godking Darex Voltus!¡± Lys announced to the room.

    It had been 25 years since Lissie had last seen him. Though, she had never been this close to the man. He had an intimidating presence. Even in a room full of the most intimidating people she knew of.

    ¡°You have a lot of nerve showing up here,¡± said Fria.

    Darex looked at her with his cold blue eyes and slowly walked over to her.

    ¡°War is upon us,¡± he said to everyone. His voice was deep, dark, and calm. Then he spoke down to Fria. ¡°It will come, and no amount of hoping is ever going to change that.¡±

    ¡°So, you came here to declare war then?¡± asked Lissie. Where the other royals had somewhat relaxed, she stayed poised and ready to attack. She was 18 when Darex had become King and the war had ended. 25 years was not enough for her to let the winds of time erode the suffering. This bastard had put far too many of her comrades in the dirt. ¡®Prince of Pain¡¯ had been a common nickname for him amongst her peers.

    She was on planet Horshguise during ¡®The Final Siege¡¯ when Darex and Jrax had both been called away from battle to inherit the crowns of their fallen fathers. Before that, her childhood had been filled with funeral attendances for the warriors lost in the war.

    ¡°No,¡± Darex responded. ¡°My envoy is fully capable of delivering this message. That I have declared war on New Jhori, and any who choose to follow them.¡± Then he turned to Harley and Fria. ¡°The only reason that I stand before you today, is to do something I could never send an envoy to do.¡±

    Harley clenched his fist and manipulated the special stone marbles he kept on a bracelet. The marbles quickly assembled into the shape of a large shield that he held up to protect his wife and himself.

    Darex took a knee and bowed his head before them. ¡°I came to apologize for the death of your sons,¡± he told them.

    Harley released the stone shield, and it turned back into marbles that all fell to the floor.

    Lissie was stunned. From all the tales she had heard, asking for forgiveness was never included in any of them. Seeing such a large man put himself into such a humbling position was certainly a sight none would soon forget.

    ¡°I came to apologize for my father, who was responsible for the death of all your children. I would never expect a mother to forgive her son¡¯s killer. All I ask is that you think about the future of our people. Your grandchildren deserve the chance to explore the galaxy as they please. Not to be imprisoned here until their dying day. Only to be sent out on contracts for the betterment of the Jhori. The very people who keep you imprisoned on your homeworlds.¡± He rose and bowed once more. ¡°War is upon us. And I am certain that with our strength combined we could finally obtain a lasting peace.¡± With that said, he turned around and left the room. Lys bowed and followed behind him.

    Everyone sat in awkward silence until King Harley Stone slowly stood up and spoke. ¡°We have peace. War does not produce any true victories. It only ever grants a side who has lost less.¡±

    Fria huffed and said, ¡°Only a man like Darex could fail to see the irony of apologizing to someone and threatening them all in the same breath.¡±

    ¡°New Jhori wants us dead. Farako wants us to live. I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so hard about this.¡± Jrax tried to reason. ¡°We could live in a nation where the Elementi are admired rather than feared and hated.¡±

    ¡°I would try to offer my aged wisdom, but I can see it will only fall on deaf ears,¡± Harley said with sadness in his voice. ¡°Apparently, it only takes a single generation of peace to sweep up the tragedies of the past.¡±

    ¡°Then I believe this meeting is adjourned,¡± Jrax said sharply as he took another swig from his flask.

    Lissie half expected everyone to start battling it out right then and there. Given the people in the room, the palace would be leveled before morning. She was relieved to find that in the end even Jrax had chosen to adhere to the agreement of a peaceful meeting. Barely.

    She filed out of the room with the rest of the royals in silent caution. The ultimate debate rattled around in her mind. What if the Lunanites and Pyrans were right to join Farako? Regardless of what was right or wrong, she wanted to pick the option that was best for her people. She needed to figure out which side would be victorious in the war to come.

    Of all the doubts that now loomed in her mind, there was one thing she could almost be certain of. She didn¡¯t know when, she didn¡¯t know where, but she knew that someday soon she would most likely be forced to kill someone from that very room, or vice versa.

 CH 9 Challenge From Afar

    Year 543: King Farak Voltus the Traitor deceives his people and forces them to flee their homeworld of Imperia. They conquer a paradise world far from the Nivir Leyline and rename it Farako. Which becomes the capitol planet of their new nation.

    Year 569: King Farak passes away and is succeeded by his son, Leznar. King Leznar orchestrates the first attack on New Jhori targeting worlds heavily guarded by Elementi. The Jhori Elementi kings and queens demand swift retribution and are given special permission to oversee a counterattack by the emperor-elect. Thus, the Elementi Civil War was started.

    Year 899: The final siege on Horshguise results in the deaths of the Lunanite king and queen, the Pyran king and queen, along with the Farakan king and queen. Darex Voltus returns to Farako Capitol to claim his kingship and puts a pause on the war to bolster his military.

    Year 924(Modern Time): New Jhori stays ever vigilant in their protecting the borders. New technologies and more Jhori agencies help to keep our citizens safe. However, it is only a matter of time until the ever-growing nation of Farako returns to exact its misguided vengeance on the Elementi who remain loyal to New Jhori.

    <ul>

    <li>Histories of New Jhori, Elementi Chapter</li>

    </ul>

    Elementa

    Marilyn Voltus was shaking with anticipation. Prince Jraken¡¯s performance in the courtyard was exactly why she had snuck into the Jhori academy in the first place. Only the best and brightest of the Jhori Elementi were invited to this school, and she was dying to see how strong they truly were. Especially Jraken.

    When her people were forced to flee their home world, very few of the other Elementi came along. Since her father was having a secret meeting with the Jhori royals, she decided she would sneak off his warship and have a secret meeting of her own. Luckily, no one aboard her father¡¯s warship had noticed her departure, or if they had they kept to themselves. As princess, anyone other than Darex would be out of line to question her actions.

    ¡°Well, that was nothing short of amazing,¡± said Ryllah, who was still in a daze from witnessing Jraken deflect Kaizo¡¯s large fiery attack into the sky. Marilyn and she both wore tight purple and blue shirts that were cut above their abs. Their blue pants belled at the bottom which was a style that got them some strange looks from several students.

    ¡°I have to fight him,¡± said Marilyn. Sounding almost as though she were in a trance.

    ¡°Have mercy on my wicked soul!¡± yelled an older student with blue spiky hair. ¡°Have we just not had any classes together? I¡¯d remember someone as beautiful as you!¡± He was tall and thin, and walked with a cocky strut as he approached Marilyn.

    ¡°She dyed her hair,¡± Ryllah said thinking fast. ¡°We both did. Not enough blondes in this school! You know?¡± Then she grabbed Marilyn¡¯s arm and started walking away. They had both noticed earlier that blonde hair must only be common among Imperians because they found very few other blondes in the academy. Marilyn allowed her voluptuous long blonde hair to flow freely whereas Ryllah had all her dirty blonde hair pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head.

    ¡°Name¡¯s Tyke Wave. I¡¯m the Lunanite member of the Rexians.¡± He said this as if it was supposed to impress them. ¡°And you are?¡±

    Marilyn lost sight of Jraken thanks to Tyke and was getting frustrated with her newest admirer.  ¡°Listen, Tyke, I¡¯m sure getting to know you would be absolutely exhilarating, but unfortunately we have prior engagements.¡± She said hoping he would take the hint.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a last-year student? We should be done for the day.¡± Then he held up his hand and created a flower made of ice. ¡°Let me walk you to lunch,¡± he said as he offered the ice rose to Marilyn.

    ¡°Aw! That¡¯s kind of sweet,¡± said Ryllah.

    Marilyn, however, was not quite as impressed. ¡°What in the abyss am I supposed to do with that?¡± she asked with her arms folded and one eyebrow raised.

    Tyke chucked the flower behind him where it shattered upon hitting the ground. Then he put his arm around her. ¡°Can I at least get that name?¡±

    Marilyn put two fingers to his side and sent several discreet volts of electricity into him. He seized up and passed out. Ryllah quickly opened a door to a room that had no one in it and Marilyn threw him in.

    ¡°Poor sap,¡± Ryllah said while closing the door behind her.

    A couple students had witnessed what had happened. Marilyn just smiled and waved, hoping for the best. The students laughed, shook their heads, and went about their business.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m starting to regret having not gone to school. This place is fun.¡± Marilyn told her friend.

    ¡°Yeah. Well, this venture is starting to lean over the ever so slim line that separates fun from danger. This place is not that large. Someone will eventually get suspicious of us.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve lost the little prince,¡± said Marilyn. Her mind was fixated on fighting with Jraken. She could not get her father or any of the Starvast to spar with her. Ryllah was a fine sparring partner, but she did not present any real challenge for her. Marilyn was desperate to put her abilities to the test.

    ¡°Perhaps we could ask a local,¡± said Ryllah. ¡°Preferably a younger and less male one?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps that one?¡± Marilyn pointed at a younger girl who had a dark complexion. Her even darker hair curled out into an afro.

    ¡°Wow, she is lovely,¡± Ryllah said when she noticed who Marilyn had pointed out. ¡°She must be royalty with looks like that.¡±

    ¡°Hey! You with the fro!¡± Marilyn yelled out to get her attention.

    The girl turned around and raised an eyebrow at them.

    ¡°I think she knows we¡¯re not from here,¡± Ryllah said under her breath to Marilyn as she made her way over to them.

    ¡°Hi! We were hoping you might know what class Prince Jraken Ferno is in?¡± Marilyn asked the girl.

    ¡°He¡¯s in my class,¡± she said coolly. She squinted her eyes and rested her hands on her hips. ¡°Are you two going to try and recruit him for a tournament team? Because if so, I got to tell you, I¡¯ve got dibs.¡±

    Ryllah and Marilyn thought for sure she was about to call them out for not being students and were relieved to find that was not the case.

    ¡°No, no, I just wanted to thank him for saving us!¡± said Marilyn. ¡°We were certain that fireball was going to come down on us. Would it be alright if we walked with you to your class?¡±

    The girl looked them up and down suspiciously. ¡°Uh, sure.¡±

    Marilyn and Ryllah gave each other sly smiles.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± inquired Ryllah.

    ¡°Hardu,¡± then she coughed and said, ¡°Jessa Hardu.¡±

    ¡°Jessa! What a pretty name for a pretty girl! I¡¯m not too familiar with all the Elementi names. Is Hardu an elite family?¡± asked Marilyn.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Jessa answered. ¡°I¡¯m only a second-generation student. My mother told me she was being looked at by a Jhori agency when she attended, but then she had me.¡±

    Ryllah could sense the unwarranted guilt in Jessa¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m sure your mother wouldn¡¯t take it back for a second! My mother certainly never thought I¡¯d befriend a princess!¡±

    Marilyn gave Ryllah a pinch and a stern look for mentioning the word princess. Luckily, Jessa just assumed Ryllah was talking about one of the two Lunanite princesses that actually attended the Jhori academy. She did not at all find befriending a princess to be outside the realm of possibilities.

    ¡°This is it,¡± Jessa said as they approached a door that read New Jhori Philosophy.

    Marilyn stopped as soon as she read the door and made a sour face.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming in?¡± Jessa asked.

    ¡°You know what? On second thought, I¡¯ll just wait and thank him after this one,¡± she replied.

    Jessa shrugged and went inside to attend her class.

    Marilyn and Ryllah found a nearby room that was empty and decided to stay there to wait for Jraken to finish.

    There was a brief silence as they sat cross legged on the floor in the dimly lit empty room. The room was partially below ground. Four small windows let in sunlight through blue shrubbery. Which gave the room a soft blue hue.

    Ryllah, never being a fan of silence, was the first to break it. ¡°Your dad is going to be livid. He might take your starship this time.¡±

    ¡°How long are these ridiculous classes?¡± asked Marilyn. ¡°He¡¯d never find out if we could just get on with it!¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s your plan exactly? Challenge him out in the courtyard in front of everyone like that Pyran kid did?¡±

    ¡°Guess I¡¯d better not,¡± Marylin replied. ¡°I¡¯m hoping to get him alone somehow.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you bit old for him?¡±

    Marilyn could not help but chuckle at the implication. ¡°Shut it. You know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°That Prince Dravon is more your age though. Not too hard on the eyes either.¡± Ryllah admitted.

    Marilyn knew that her friend did not share her independent nature. She often brought up the topic of boys.  ¡°You¡¯ve always liked the strong silent type, haven¡¯t you? You¡¯d prefer they didn¡¯t talk at all.¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°All that need be said, can be said, with a well-shaped ass,¡± Ryllah said with a giggle.

    Marilyn¡¯s attempt at hiding her smile turned into a mischievous looking smirk as she rolled her bright blue eyes.

    Eventually, a loud horn came over the intercom and the girls could hear students shuffling out of the classrooms.

    Marilyn clapped her hands and started to greedily rub her palms together. ¡°Showtime!¡±

    ¡°You are way too excited for this,¡± Ryllah said shaking her head.

    As luck would have it, the girls were able to follow Jraken off campus. He walked into the nearby forest, and for whatever reason, he did so alone.

    ¡°How do things always work out for you?¡± Ryllah whispered as they followed Jraken deeper into the woods.

    ¡°Not sure. You won¡¯t see me complaining though.¡± Marilyn said looking back at her with a big grin. Before she turned back around, she ran into something and was knocked down.

    ¡°Hey!¡± she yelled out. Looking up from the ground she quickly realized what it was that had blocked her path, and her adrenaline started to spike.

    ¡°Prince Dravon,¡± Ryllah blurted out. ¡°We were just¡ª"

    ¡°You two don¡¯t go to this school,¡± Dravon said in a gruff voice. He too was following Jraken, and for a similar reason. Being upstaged in the courtyard in front of an audience did not sit well with him. On the other hand, seeing two strangely dressed girls sneaking up behind his brother did not sit well either. He eyed the girls up and down. ¡°So, I¡¯m going to need to know why you are following my little brother.¡±

    Marilyn started popping her knuckles and taking small hops. ¡°I wanted to challenge him, but it looks like you¡¯ll have to do for now.¡±

    Dravon stood unamused with his arms crossed. He had only been around this girl for a moment and already he felt a growing disdain for her. It was her smirk. A cocky smirk that seemed to say, ¡®I am an enigma that you will never comprehend¡¯.

    Marilyn knew Dravon had no idea who she truly was, but she still found it offensive that he did not bother to get into a fighting stance when she challenged him. A mistake she would ensure he would never make again. She jumped into the air and after a well-timed spin, she threw a hard kick at the fire prince¡¯s head.

    Dravon was able to block but was still knocked into a tree a couple paces back from the force of the kick. He recognized instantly that he was dealing with an exceptional fighter. His forearm that had absorbed the blow was numb, and his hand felt like it had been dumped in ice cold water.

    Marilyn wasted little time and dashed towards him sending several fast attacks. He parried every attack well, until an elbow finally found his mid-section. In the small amount of time that Dravon¡¯s body was reacting to the pain, she was able to get in several more hits.

    He gathered his bril into his hands and ignited a large flame between them, forcing Marilyn to hop back. Dravon jumped up onto a thick branch to catch his breath and gather his composure.

    ¡°Did I just scare off the big bad fire prince?¡± Marilyn taunted. ¡°Now, leave me alone! I want to see if your brother will actually present a real challenge!¡±

    ¡°Yikes! How could something so beautiful say something so ugly?¡± asked Chren. He was on a higher branch than Dravon, just out of sight and earshot from Marilyn and Ryllah.

    ¡°Did you follow me all the way out here?¡± Dravon asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any life of your own? Or do you just have to come and commentate on mine?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll always be here for you, buddy!¡± Chren replied.

    ¡°Then are you going to help me fight them?¡±

    ¡°Since when did Prince Dravon Ferno ever ask for help?¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°By the way, those girls are totally leaving.¡± He pointed his index finger out at their fading silhouettes.

    Dravon let out a long and frustrated growl. His feet and hands became engulfed in flames as he started jumping from branch to branch.

    ¡°He¡¯s coming in hot!¡± Ryllah yelled up to Marilyn. Both were in a dead sprint to catch up with Jraken. They were soon stopped when Dravon suddenly dropped down in front of them.

    ¡°You¡¯re a quick one,¡± Marilyn said as she got back into a stance. She observed the fires that surrounded his hands and feet. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that hurt?¡±

    ¡°You get used to it,¡± he replied. With his increased speed he dashed toward his foe and forced Marilyn onto the defensive.

    She had intended to avoid using her bril. With the lack of Imperians left among the Jhori, she was certain her electricity would bring too much unwanted attention. That was before Dravon had started using his flames. He was just about to land a punch when she unleashed a bolt of lightning. The bolt barley missed his face and instead blew a tree into smithereens behind him.

    Dravon¡¯s hair stood on end from the static that hung in the air. His left ear rang from the thunderous boom that followed the hot blue lightning.

    ¡°An Imperian?¡± he asked. He did not know of any Imperians that could fight like that. At least, none that were still in New Jhori. ¡°There¡¯s only one Imperian that made it into the academy, and you¡¯re definitely not him.¡±

    Marilyn could see the gears turning in his mind. At any second now, he would arrive at a startling conclusion. She watched his eyes grow wide as the realization swept over him.

    ¡°You¡¯re from Farako,¡± Dravon quickly got back into his fighting stance. This was serious. ¡°A descendant of the banished ones.¡±

    ¡°We are of the Free Elementi. Unshackled by Jhori rule. My ancestors were the ones brave enough to stand up to an evil empire.¡± Marilyn gathered a wobbly ball of electricity in her hands. She felt rage. Not because of his ignorance. It was not his fault he was falsely indoctrinated. It was just him. It was the stupid scowl. She wanted nothing more than to blast it off his stupid face.

    Dravon had fought against an Imperian before. This was nothing like that. He could tell this warrior was much more gifted than the Imperians he had sparred with. He had no idea what to expect from what he now assumed was a Farako assassin. He encased himself in a hollow sphere of flame. It was the best defense he could come up with for whatever attack this renegade Elementi was about to unleash.

    Marilyn¡¯s smirk grew more mischievous as she watched Dravon conceal himself in his ball of flame. She had never thrown electricity into bril enriched flames, but she was more than confident his flames would not hold up. She threw the electricity she had gathered at him. It flashed through the air with another loud boom that shook the forest as lightning met fire.

    His flame shield had cushioned the initial force of the blast, but the continuous flow of electricity was making it weaker. It took all his focus to send the flames that he was holding around him up into the electricity that was trying to push through. If the flames were to diminish there would be nothing between him and an enormous bolt of blue lightning.  Just as with Kaizo earlier, he pondered the possibility of death being right around the corner.

    His every muscle shook from exhaustion. With all his might he tried to push the lightning away using his flames. However, the force behind the electricity was too great. He could make neither flame nor lightning budge. He gritted his teeth as his arms slowly started to give under the great force.

    Suddenly, he felt the immense weight and unstableness of the lightning disappear. He fell to his hands and knees gasping for air. His whole body ached and spasmed. He looked up only to see that Jraken had swooped in and swept his troubles away like it was nothing. The brat had now protected him twice over in the same day.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Jraken asked. ¡°That was some pretty intense bril! Do students always spar this hard at the academy?¡±

    The mixture of lightning and fire had exploded behind Dravon. It was a much larger and louder explosion than the one Jraken had deflected from Kaizo earlier that day.

    Marilyn and Ryllah were stunned all over again. Jraken made these incredible counter attacks look like child¡¯s play.

    ¡°Did he just kick lightning?¡± Ryllah asked with her mouth left agape.

    What is the depth of his power? Marilyn wondered. She trembled with excitement. ¡°Prince Jraken Ferno, I am Princess Marilyn Voltus. Just like you, I have no one to truly test my abilities against. Let us battle so that one or both of us can know what it feels like to be challenged!¡±

    Jraken did not know what to make of this overly excited woman. ¡°Princess Voltus?¡± It was a name that he knew all too well. The Ferno and Voltus families had been mortal enemies for ages.

    Overcome with anticipation, Marilyn made the first move. She started low and tried to sweep his legs out from under him. He hopped over her attack and into a back flip. Landing gracefully with a smile on his face.

    ¡°Nice one,¡± he said.

    Marilyn was about to make another charge at him when she noticed a flame heading in her direction out of the corner of her eye. She was forced to jump back to avoid being struck.

    ¡°Our fight isn¡¯t over!¡± Dravon shouted. He was still breathing heavily and drenched with sweat from trying to block Marilyn¡¯s attack. The forest behind him was billowing black smoke where Jraken had kicked the mixture of flame and lightning.

    ¡°Come on, now! It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got a lot of time here!¡± Marilyn yelled. There was no way the explosion had not drawn attention from the academy. Even if it hadn¡¯t, someone would soon spot the smoke. Frustration consumed her. Her heavily anticipated fight with Jraken had now been tainted by Dravon. ¡°By all rights you would be properly defeated had your brother not come to your rescue!¡±

    Dravon gave her a loud and angry battle cry. As soon as he finished, his arms and legs ignited into large and wild flames.

    ¡°I told you I don¡¯t have time for this!¡± Marilyn shouted as she sent another large bolt of lightning at Dravon. This time he deflected the hit with his left arm. The flames absorbed the lightning, and his fiery arm was filled with bright blue bolts of electricity. When he extended his arm out, the mixture of flame and lighting shot out deep into the forest, where it made yet another large explosion. The force of the blast shook the hair and clothing of the young warriors violently as their eyes stayed locked on to one another.

    Dravon certainly had her attention now. Small bits of electricity could be seen moving all around her. Every now and then a bolt would jump off her and hit one of the branches above her. Flames started to grow all around them as the forest took in more heat from the ongoing battle.

    This time it was Dravon who made the first move. With an even louder battle cry he reignited his left arm to match the rest of his appendages and dashed at her. As soon as he reached her, he started an aggressive ensemble of physical attacks.

    Marilyn was again forced into being on the defensive. She jumped from tree to tree as she continued to evade his fiery onslaught. Each one of his attacks got closer and closer to landing. Several trees that Dravon had hit with his flames were falling over and catching more trees on fire.

    Marilyn gathered her bril to her arms and created a shield of electricity. She soon realized that even with her electric bril shielding her body, blocking was almost pointless. The heat he was creating was excruciating. Her arms could not take much more. She could feel her advantage slowly slipping away. Fearing what might happen if more Jhori Elementi showed up, she decided she was left with only one alternative. Ever so slightly, Marilyn let one of Dravon¡¯s punches get through unblocked. Allowing him to barely graze her left breast. She howled in agony, ¡°My tit!!¡±

    Dravon¡¯s flames disappeared instantly as he was paralyzed from shame. He could hear Chren laughing and cheering high above him. He took a gulp as he waited to see what the consequences of his actions would be. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean t¡ª"

    Before he could finish, Marilyn sent a roundhouse kick that connected to the side of his head. Knocking him out cold.

    ¡°Hey! Double standard!¡± Jraken yelled out.

    ¡°Relax, little prince,¡± Marilyn responded. ¡°I did what I did because I had a feeling that he wasn¡¯t going to let us leave.¡±

    ¡°Probably not,¡± Jraken agreed. He considered that it might be his duty to prevent them from leaving as well, but he didn¡¯t know the first thing about apprehending someone. Let alone girls as beautiful as these two.

    The forest fire started to grow exponentially. Trees were crashing into the forest floor where Dravon had sent his explosive attack.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to dip out now,¡± said Ryllah through a bright smile. ¡°It was nice meeting you! You should get your brother some place safe.¡±

    ¡°What exactly are you two doing here anyway?¡± he asked as he hoisted Dravon over his shoulder.

    ¡°Just came to see you,¡± said Marilyn with a wink. She noticed the young fire prince blush. ¡°And let¡¯s keep this little visit between us. We wouldn¡¯t want to go starting any wars now, would we?¡±

    ¡°Not particularly,¡± replied Jraken.

    Marilyn chuckled. ¡°Noncommittal. I love it. I hope are stars align again soon, Prince Jraken.¡±

    Marilyn and Ryllah ran back to their ship as fast as they could. They had parked a good distance from the academy for fear of being spotted. Even with stealth tech, they wanted to make extra certain their ship remained unseen. Their presence alone could be enough to cause a war. Upon leaving the forest they could see several students and faculty running in to put out the flames.

    ¡°You think they¡¯ll tell anyone?¡± asked Ryllah.

    ¡°Between Jraken¡¯s meekness and Dravon¡¯s pride I don¡¯t think we have too much to worry about,¡± said Marilyn as they boarded their ship. ¡°I¡¯m more concerned with how much grief ol¡¯ Kembro is going to send our way.¡±

    ¡°Lots of grief!¡± Kembro yelled from the other side of the loading bay.

    Ryllah ran up and hugged him as she always did when returning to the ship.

    ¡°But I¡¯m very glad you made it back safe,¡± he said while wagging his tail.

    ¡°Best head back to father¡¯s warship, Kembro,¡± Marilyn said as she took a seat on the couch in the lounging quarters.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get us back as fast as I can,¡± Kembro replied loyally. Then he looked out a nearby window. ¡°I can see the flames in that forest from here. If Godking Darex finds out that you girls started another Elementi civil war he¡¯s going to come unhinged.¡±

    ¡°I seriously doubt that,¡± said Marilyn. She knew better. Regardless of what she had told Jraken about trying to prevent a war, war was coming. And the only man who could prevent it was her father, the Godking Darex Voltus.

 CH 10 Four Flames, Four Fools

    Darex and his ridiculous cult. Claiming himself the godking. And he has an entire nation of simpletons who actually believe it. What will happen to that belief when I defeat him in combat? Will that make me a god? Are we not all of us gods when compared to the non-warrior races?

    <ul>

    <li>Audio Log of King Jrax Ferno</li>

    </ul>

    Imperia

    The room on Imperia that had held the secret meeting was now empty aside from the Pyran king. It had not gone well, but it went better than Jrax had anticipated. Darex Voltus had been in contact with him for nearly a half-year. The fool had seemed so certain that he would unite all the Elementi under his cause.

    Jrax could not care less if the other Elementi remained or stayed. He simply saw Darex as his way out. Out of New Jhori and out of a kingship that was never supposed to be his to begin with.

    He took another deep drink from his flask. Feeling the liquid warm his insides and dull his guilt. He wondered what Darex would think now that he had officially been turned down by the Onyxian and Aerosi royals. The self-imagined savior of their people. The one to mend the divide that the Jhori had created.

    Jrax thought the man a fool. 25 years of peace had softened the Jhori Elementi. They would not be leaving their cushy little castles just because someone asked nicely. He was surprised they had even won over the Lunanites. Did King Davus and Queen Marcella really know what they had signed up for? Though, it seemed that regardless of who you gave your loyalty to in this galaxy, blood would always find its way onto your hands.

    Just as when Jrax had entered the room a quarter-day earlier, the planetwide storm was still raging on. The balcony was high enough and the rain thick enough that Jrax could not make out what was beneath him. He could barely make out the outline of his starship. It was the last one left and rested on the farthest landing pad from the tower.

    As he got closer, green lightning struck in the distance, and he noticed several figures standing in between him and his ship. He moved forward cautiously. The next time lightning struck he could see that there were four of them, and they were all wearing different colored masks. The masks looked as if they were made up to resemble angry dragons.

    Jrax stopped seven paces away from them. ¡°What in the abyss are you supposed to be?¡±

    The masked figures on the far left and far right began to circle around him. Making clear their malicious intent.

    ¡°Really?¡± Jrax laughed. He focused his bril to the tips of his fingers on his left hand. Small dense fires crowned each one excluding his thumb. He held them up for his attackers to see. ¡°Four flames for four fools.¡±

    Violet mask was the closest. Jrax swung his arm around and threw the flame on his pinky finger straight through their heart. They promptly hit the ground void of life.

    ¡°One down,¡± he taunted.

    Yellow mask was a bit bigger than the rest. They hit a button on their wristband, and it turned into a large dark metal shield.

    Jrax threw the flame that hovered above his ring finger. It shot through the shield and yellow mask¡¯s throat. They dropped dead with a loud thud that could still be heard over the heavy rain.

    ¡°I was hoping one of you could at least make this fun.¡± He held up the other two flames. One for green mask and one for orange.

    He threw the flame on his pointer finger at orange mask, and they were quick to dodge it by performing a back handspring. It was mildly impressive, but it made little difference. He simply manipulated the dense flame into turning around and coming back at them. They were able to evade it a couple more times, but eventually the flame pierced their abdomen causing them to double over in agony.

    Jrax held his middle finger up towards the final assailant. The last flame glowing above it. ¡°And then there was one.¡±

    He threw the flame aiming for the center of the green mask. They swatted it away with the back of their hand. It shot into the darkness below the hangar and vanished from sight. Now things were getting interesting. This one showed promise.

    Green mask held their hand up into the air palm up. Lightning crashed down onto it and the electricity surrounded the fighter. They gave out an aggressive battle cry as it did. The electricity around them gave Jrax enough light to make out the curves of a woman. She had long white brittle hair, and a sword in its hilt at her waist.

    He barely had time to put up a wall of flame to protect himself from the blitz of lightning strikes she started sending his way. As the lightning bolted from her right hand, her left hand was storing bril to send her next attack and so on. This gave Jrax little time to prepare a counterattack.

    Still yet, he managed to focus his own bril over the entirety of his body. Once he was in sync with it, he ignited it into brilliant red flames. The legendary All-Flame technique. With it he was virtually indestructible. The rain sizzled and evaporated before ever reaching him. Now he would show this Imperian why it was that his royal family was so hated among their people.

    He pounced over his flame wall and with his increased agility, he evaded the lightning that came his way. Even in mid-air he was too quick to be struck. The ability to shoot flames from anywhere on his body allowed him to change positions and dodge at incredible speeds.

    Just as he got within one pace of her, she unleashed another battle cry. This time all the electricity surrounding her shot off in a wave of energy that Jrax could not avoid.

    The repercussion from the blast sent him sailing up and back through the wall of the tower. He landed on the octagon table that had hosted the previous meeting. He quickly melted through it, and he was soon laying on the floor in the rubble. His flames had absorbed nearly all the force of the blast, but his bril was draining fast. He needed to end this soon.

    He sat up and saw the Imperian making their way across the balcony. She lifted her hand up and more green lightning shot down and surrounded her.

    Just as Jrax was about to get to his feet the woman jumped back to avoid being struck by an immense bolt of bright blue lightning. The booming thunder made Jrax¡¯s heart skip a beat. This happened two more times before Jrax saw Darex drop down from his starship. He shot lightning beneath him to ease his landing.

    Jrax jumped down from the room he¡¯d been knocked into and got into a fighting stance beside him. ¡°Friend of yours?¡±

    Darex shot another large blue bolt at the green masked woman that she narrowly avoided. ¡°I was going to ask you the same thing.¡±

    The woman was now at the edge of the hangar as she continued to hop away from Darex¡¯s attacks. Taking on both the king of Pyra and the self-proclaimed godking of Farako was apparently more than she had bargained for.

    The warrior kings closed in on her, but she did a black flip over the low railing, stopping them in their tracks. Soon after, a starship rose with her hanging on the side of it. It started to dash off and Darex unleashed the largest bolt he had created thus far up at it.

    The Imperian woman jumped off the ship and shot an equally large amount of green lightning down in response. When the two bolts met, it shot enormous streaks of electricity both into the sky and the ocean below. The force was enough to send the green masked Imperian back onto her ship. It sped off into the horizon and was swiftly concealed by the thick rain.

    Jrax extinguished the flames that enveloped his body. ¡°That woman was not from New Jhori. We don¡¯t have Imperians of that caliber.¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to imply something?¡± Darex asked.

    Jrax took another pull from his flask. Beads of sweat mixed with rain raced down his cheeks as he tilted his head back. It had been a long time since someone had tried to kill him. He forgot how much he liked the feeling of turning hunters into the hunted. ¡°It¡¯s suspicious,¡± he said.

    ¡°I will get my people on it. Keep in mind, the free Elementi of Farako are not all accounted for. They come and go as they please. The surname Ferno is not very popular in my corner of the galaxy.¡±

    ¡°I suppose we did kill a lot of your lot.¡±

    ¡°Likewise,¡± Darex added in his deep voice. ¡°I cannot blame you for your ill-mannered accusation. I still hope to see the day that the blood-feud between all Elementi has come to an end.¡±

    ¡°Wishful thinking,¡± said Jrax. He took another pull from his flask.

    ¡°Our forefathers created this storm,¡± said Darex. ¡°Jhori records suggest that it was an error in the terraforming. That it is possible the error may have been intentional. This is a Jhori lie. The terraforming was a complete success just like the other four moons. My forefathers invited the elite of all the other Elementi to help them create the storm. The Onyxians erected large high plateaus that still stand today. These plateaus were where the other Elementi fused their bril to anger the skies forever.¡±

    ¡°Does this have a point?¡± asked Jrax. ¡°I¡¯m not a big fan of the rain.¡±

    Darex extended his arms out and lifted his face into the sky. ¡°This is my home, Jrax. Though, I¡¯ve never stepped foot on it until now. I feel Imperia right down to my bones. In my very soul. I¡¯m sure you feel the same of Pyra.¡±

    ¡°Eh,¡± Jrax mumbled. He had become king at the same time as Darex. Since Darex had stopped sending warriors to New Jhori, Jrax was no longer allowed to leave Pyra to go and fight them off. Being king meant he could not become an agent either. Immediate royalty always stayed near Elementa and her moons in case they were needed. After nearly 25 years, Jrax had grown quite restless, being confined to his homeworld.

    ¡°With the combined efforts of all the Elementi, our ancestors manifested a permanent storm that nearly engulfs an entire celestial body!¡± Darex said with a booming voice. ¡°Imagine the things we could do for the galaxy if we could undo what the Jhori have done to us.¡±

    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve always wondered,¡± Jrax said with a mischievous smirk. ¡°Who would have won had we actually been able to have our fight all those years ago?¡±

    Darex was annoyed at the narrow mindedness of his supposed ally but laughed regardless, ¡°I cannot lie! It has plagued my mind as well!¡± Lightning struck near the hangar giving everything a brief green shade.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Jrax made the slightest movement to get into a fighting stance and he noticed Darex do the same. He had never stopped training. He always sought to become more powerful. Lightning lit the area once again and as soon as it left, everything fell into a brief darkness. His eyes took time to adjust. For a while, only the red lights that hugged the edge of the hanger were visible.

    Another streak of lightning shot across the sky and Darex was gone.

    Jrax quickly scanned his surroundings but saw no sign of the large man. Lightning struck again and he felt a hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°I believe that together we can do great and terrible things,¡± Darex said as he gave a light squeeze. ¡°Like bring oppressive galactic empires to their knees.¡±

    Jrax jumped away from Darex in case he decided to tighten the grip he had on his shoulder any further. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to ask what you plan on replacing it with Godking Darex.¡±

    ¡°I merely want to free our people. Let them taste true unadulterated freedom.¡± Darex replied. ¡°You have two sons, yes?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Though, I don¡¯t see what concern that is of yours.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take me for a fool, Jrax. I know about Jraken.¡± His voice grew cold and bitter. Like a man who felt he had been cheated in a game of cards.

    Jrax was not too surprised to hear his youngest son was brought up. It seemed he had been gaining a lot of attention as of late. ¡°You must be very well connected,¡± he admitted. ¡°Even the Jhori were ignorant to his abilities until a few days ago.¡±

    ¡°Nothing remains hidden from my priestess, Lys,¡± said Darex. ¡°Jraken¡¯s abilities are on track to be comparable to that of our ancient legends. It won¡¯t be long before he surpasses the majority of our warriors.¡±

    ¡°Speak for yourself! The little brat isn¡¯t surpassing me anytime soon.¡±

    Darex chuckled, but soon his face again became serious. ¡°I know you are forced to send your children off to be brainwashed by the Jhori academy. If Jraken were to oppose our cause, then I¡¯m told our chances of victory will be greatly reduced.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! I will grant you the boy is gifted, but he is nowhere near being a deciding factor in any war.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say it would be today. All I¡¯m saying is that a time may come when he will force our hand.¡±

    ¡°And what are you suggesting?¡± asked Jrax.

    ¡°That it may be in our best interest to make our move before your son gets too powerful. Should he oppose us¡­¡± Darex watched Jrax¡¯s face carefully. ¡°We will need to take care of him while we still can.¡±

    ¡°You would ask a father to kill his own son?¡± Jrax knew what he had heard. He just wanted Darex to call it what it was.

    ¡°I hope it never comes to that. If we wait too long and let his mind become warped by the Jhori, then it might very well be one of us that would have to get the job done.¡±

    ¡°This job you are referring to is the murder of a child!¡± Jrax snapped. ¡°And he is not some Jhori loyalist fool! He is my son! He will do as his father tells him when the time comes.¡± He turned and started walking towards his ship.

    ¡°I trust you¡¯ll do the right thing should you have to!¡± was the last thing Jrax heard Darex say before boarding his starship.

    After Jrax broke through the storm clouds that surrounded Imperia, he decided to cruise. The stars above combined with the cloudy light show below him made for grand scenery. He took another long pull from his flask.

    Jrax felt the crippling shadow of guilt start to creep over him again. How did things get so messed up? It had been 13 years since Drelaine died giving birth to Jraken. She was convinced that the Jhori would take him. Steal him away and say that he died from complications.

    He should have known she was prone to hysteria. She never once believed that her first child had died. No matter how many Jhori doctors came and told her there was nothing they could have done. She always believed her daughter was still out there somewhere. Being raised up and turned into a weapon for a New Jhori political leader.

    It was Dravon¡¯s birth that had lowered his guard. She had no issue giving birth in a Jhori hospital when it came to Dravon. She had been of a sound mind through the whole experience. Far more stable than Jrax had been. He had been a nervous wreck through the whole pregnancy. Having watched her struggle through one miscarriage had been hard enough. He couldn¡¯t bear to see her lose a second child.

    It was a day before Drelaine was due to give birth to Jraken that Jrax had been called away to settle a dispute between two elite families. He had told Dravon to keep an eye on his mother. To not let her leave the palace. But what could a 6-year-old boy do but obediently follow his mother¡¯s instructions?

    It took several days for his guards to track down the whereabouts of the royal starship Dravon and Drelaine had escaped in. When they had caught up to it, Drelaine had already passed on. A large pool of blood stained the floor beneath her.

    Dravon was swaying back and forth with Jraken screaming in his arms. He was so traumatized it took weeks for the boy to start speaking again. Jrax did his best not to blame him. To be a good father and train the boy. As the years went on, his bitterness only grew. Towards himself and towards Dravon. Eventually the two stopped talking to each other. By the time Dravon was to be sent off to the academy, they had gone four years without being alone in the same room.

    Darex¡¯s starship shot up out of the storm and engaged its warp immediately. Jrax watched as the clouds slowly started to reform after being ripped apart by the repercussion of its engines.

    He took another deep drink and threw the flask on the floor. He put his hands on the controls and thrust his own ship up out of the atmosphere.

    Pyra

    The Pyran palace where Jrax and several other royal family members lived was an enormous structure that sat in the middle of a large city. Ever since the Imperians left in a large convoy nearly 300 years ago, starships became extremely limited for Elementi. And the ones they were issued had either outdated or no hyper-hop drives at all.

    Jrax saw very few other ships as he flew above the city. His throne room was the highest room in the palace and right next to the balcony that he kept his ship on.

    His sister, Versa Pyre, had been eagerly waiting for his arrival and greeted him at the entrance of his ship. Her long red hair was down, and she wore a slim black dress that stopped just above the knees.

    ¡°You look like shit,¡± she said. ¡°Of course, that doesn¡¯t really give me anything to work with because you always look like shit.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Jrax slurred.

    ¡°Well?¡± she asked with a soft voice.

    He walked past her and headed for his throne. He felt she respected him a little more when he sat in it. Though, it was most likely all in his head.

    ¡°The Lunanites will join us,¡± he said. ¡°The Onyxians and the Aerosi can stay here and burn.¡±

    Versa grabbed his jacket and pulled him around. ¡°Straighten up,¡± she whispered. ¡°And keep your voice down. I know you¡¯re a hopeless drunk, but why did this occasion warrant extra lubrication?¡±

    ¡°Someone sent a hit squad after me,¡± he replied. Though, they both knew that was not the reason for extra drinking.

    ¡°Been awhile,¡± said Versa. "Jhori agents?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I killed three of them, but the last one. She was Imperian. An elite one too.¡±

    ¡°So, Darex sent them then?¡± she asked.

    Jrax shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. He tried to shoot down her ship as she got away.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps it was a rogue Imperian? One that still has a vendetta against our family. You know we¡¯re not too popular over there.¡±

    ¡°So, I¡¯ve heard,¡± Jrax said as he sat down on a bench beside the entrance of the throne room. ¡°Doesn¡¯t give off the impression we will be very welcome in our new residence.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to put out that fire when we get to it. Right now, you need to sober up for your next meeting.¡± Versa handed him some pills.

    ¡°Another one?¡± he asked. ¡°I don¡¯t remember you saying anything about a second meeting.¡± He took the pills and started chewing on them. He knew it was her chemical concoction for sobering him up to perform kingly duties.

    ¡°Councilor Laski has sent her lackey up from the academy for an audience,¡± Versa told him.

    ¡°Abyss take me,¡± he said while rubbing his temples. ¡°When?¡±

    Versa gestured him toward his throne. ¡°Now.¡±

    Jrax swallowed down what was left of the pills. He wanted to be sharp if he was going to have to deal with any Jhori bureaucracy. He knew his every word would be scrutinized and reported to the Jhori Council.

    He felt his heart start to race. Then he felt the contents of his stomach start to churn. He quickly ran over to a large vase and violently puked up what he had been drinking all day.

    ¡°Not feeling well?¡± asked a tall woman with fluorescent green skin.

    Jrax wiped his mouth on his sleeve. ¡°Just some bad bird,¡± he said rubbing his stomach. ¡°I take it you must be from the academy?¡±

    ¡°My name is Skyla. I am an instructor at the New Jhori academy where I teach philosophies.¡± She told him.

    ¡°Is this about one of my sons then?¡± asked Jrax.

    ¡°Neither,¡± Skyla said sharply. ¡°Though, they are responsible for a couple large explosions that lead to a forest fire earlier today. The reason I have been informed to seek an audience with you is because we received reports of several ships leaving Imperia. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time a Farakan Elementi went on a pilgrimage to see their forsaken homeworld.¡±

    ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± asked Jrax.

    ¡°We were curious if you had heard anything about this tradition from Farakans you have fought against in the past.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do a whole lot of talking during the war,¡± said Jrax. ¡°At least not with the enemy.¡±

    ¡°So, you are saying you weren¡¯t on Imperia today looking for a fight?¡±

    ¡°Well, clearly, I¡¯ve been here,¡± he said pointing back at the vase of vomit.

    ¡°Clearly,¡± she replied. She rubbed her necklace, and it threw up a projection of his ship being sloppily landed on the balcony only moments ago.

    Jrax did his best to act surprised. ¡°When I find out who¡¯s been out joy riding in my ship, I¡¯ll see to it they are properly disciplined!¡±

    ¡°King Jrax,¡± she spoke in a very condescending tone. ¡°It would be a shame if your people went hungry because you were uncompliant with a Jhori ambassador.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t leave the system or anything. I just went for a little cruise around the moons. Had I spotted an enemy ship I would have most certainly engaged.¡± Jrax had made the mistake of losing his temper in front of a Jhori ambassador before and his people had paid the price. Rations were severely reduced and the Pyrans had to double the number of troops they sent to guard the Jhori Capitol before their rations were restored. Forever ruining his chances at gaining the love of his people.

    ¡°If you say so.¡± Her long sleeves concealed her hands as she put her arms behind her back. ¡°I never witnessed any battles from the Elementi Civil War, but I hear it was quite devastating. Some planets are still rebuilding from all the destruction it caused. Utterly amazing what your race is capable of.¡±

    ¡°Glad we have a fan. Don¡¯t imagine you all will lift the travel ban any time soon.¡±

    ¡°You know we can¡¯t allow that. Darex Voltus is a perfect example of why not.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Do tell.¡± Jrax wanted to sound as na?ve as possible when it came to Darex. If the Jhori suspected he had been in communication with him then he and his family would be imprisoned, or worse.

    ¡°He¡¯s conquered nine more star systems in his time as ruler. Two of which are pivotal places for Farako to launch their next assault on New Jhori. His cult has also grown exponentially and we¡¯re already receiving word of him sending millions of envoys to convert citizens from the other great nations. Darex¡¯s cult combined with the planets his predecessors had already conquered gives him access to an uncomfortable number of resources and manpower. It is looking more and more everyday like we will have to face the renegades again. Their little empire left unchecked will soon become a great hinderance to our progress.¡±

    Jrax frowned. ¡°What progress? I see no benefit from taking on such a force. I¡¯m sure someone reaps in a fine profit, but it certainly isn¡¯t us.¡± He could feel his anger getting the best of him. The image of setting her ablaze dominated his mind.

    ¡°New Jhori provides everything for you. Your people no longer worry about whether or not their king had the farmers grow enough food, or if there will be enough clean water. Have your people experienced any plagues? No. So long as you can keep from falling back into your unfortunate habit of insubordination, then your people have not a care in the world.¡± Skyla explained.

    ¡°Do you enjoy travelling to distant planets?¡± Jrax took in several deep breaths. He had to stay calm. There was too much at stake for him to lose his temper right now. Not this close to the evacuation.

    Skyla took a few steps towards the throne. ¡°When your people can prove that they won¡¯t take advantage of the weak, then you will be free to travel the stars as you please, King Jrax. We also have more than one opportunity provided to let Elementi break curfew.¡±

    ¡°To use as tools for your profit,¡± he replied bitterly.

    ¡°All our Jhori agents are handsomely rewarded. Jrax, it is not my fault that you were never allowed to become an agent. Your people created the law that kings, queens, and firstborn never leave Elementa. If you don¡¯t want to be king, then perhaps you should step down.¡± She said in finality.

    Jrax leaned back into his throne and took another deep breath to better control his temper. ¡°So, have you obtained all you had come for?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. The Jhori Council believe it is in all our best interest to bolster our military. We are asking all the systems in Jhori for additional aide.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you are,¡± he said unenthusiastically. ¡°However, if there is threat of war then I need my troops here.¡±

    ¡°If our resource planets get taken then can you guess who will be first on the list to not receive rations? The other Elementi royals have already pledged to provide us with the troops we have requested. I would hate to see what would become of your people if you did not comply.¡±

    Jrax rubbed his temples. The thought of killing her right where she stood still crossed his mind more than anything else that he could come up with.

    ¡°It¡¯s a fairly easy decision, Jrax. There¡¯s no sense in having this much power all in one place. We must ensure that our farm worlds remain unscathed in the event of war. Just the mere presence of Elementi troops will deter any potential for attack.¡±

    He could see no way out. The only thing that kept him in check was knowing that someday soon this would all be behind him. ¡°So be it,¡± he spat as he waved her away.

    Skyla bowed. ¡°The Jhori nation thanks you for your wise decision,¡± she replied.

 CH 11 Add it to the List

    It¡¯s at least worth a shot. Jraken shows promise and I would love to finally be rid of Dravon. I think we all would. With one simple switch of the Pyran princes the royal team would return to its former glory.

    Just as it was before Lior graduated. I will make both him and my father proud when the day of the tourney finally arrives.

    They will see the royal team dominate, and they will see me at its helm when they do.

    <ul>

    <li>Journal of Princess Mysti Tidal</li>

    </ul>

    Elementa

    It wasn¡¯t her fault. She knew it wasn¡¯t her fault. Not entirely anyway. Yet, the unchanging theme of misfortune seemed to follow her as closely as her own shadow.

    Jessa Hardu had never intended for Kaizo Blaze to take things so far in the courtyard. Just what the hell had gotten into that idiot?

    I¡¯m in love with you, damn it.

    What a joke. No. Not a joke. Jokes are supposed to be funny. There was nothing funny about throwing those words around. Not to her.

    Still, she felt immense guilt over the whole ordeal. As a last-year student this would be the last tourney Kaizo would be able to compete in before the New Jhori Junior Championships(NJJC). Now that Kaizo was disqualified from taking part, his chances of being selected to compete at the championships were drastically lessened.

    Sure, she may have just ruined his life and kept him from being selected by a top-tier agency. That was one way of looking at it. But still, it wasn¡¯t her fault.

    All she wanted was to see a little spar between Kaizo and Prince Jraken Ferno. And thanks to the prince¡¯s brother, Dravon, she didn¡¯t really even get that. Though, kicking Kaizo¡¯s fiery attack into the sky was enough for anyone to see that Jraken would make a worthwhile teammate.

    A knock came from Jessa¡¯s dorm room door. She hopped out of her blue egg chair and unlocked it for her cousin, Kolzer Diamond.

    He came in and welcomed her with a big hug. As always, she instinctively flinched upon unexpected contact. She hated that her body did this. Probably why moms should hug their kids. She did manage to finish strong though, with a friendly pat on the back.

    Jessa hopped back into the cushions of her blue egg chair. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±

    Kolzer looked around and noticed there wasn¡¯t another chair. He considered sitting on her bed. The blankets were all wadded up in a ball and shoved into a corner. The rest of it was covered in a pile of clothes. So, he sat cross legged on the floor.

    ¡°I want to start a team,¡± said Jessa. ¡°For real this time. And I want you to be on it with me.¡±

    Kolzer had heard this kind of talk all year, but nothing had come of it so far. Still, this was the first time she had brought up starting a team with him. He was flattered, so he played along like the good cousin he was. ¡°A team with two Onyxians?¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± she replied. ¡°I¡¯m sick of hearing a decent team can¡¯t have two.¡±

    Kolzer rubbed his beard. ¡°That¡¯s all well and fine, but who do you have in mind for the other half of the team?¡±

    A smile crept over Jessa¡¯s face. This was the question she had been waiting for all along. ¡°I share a class with a certain Pyran prince.¡±

    ¡°The new kid?¡± asked Kolzer. He tilted his bald head like a confused puppy. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some good things, but he¡¯s a little green, don¡¯t you think? I mean does he have any experience with fighting non-Pyran Elementi?¡±

    ¡°Who cares?¡± said Jessa. ¡°Even if he just handled the Pyrans for us he¡¯d be pulling his weight. He¡¯s certainly been able to handle Kaizo on more than one occasion.¡± The guilt still turned her stomach to stone. Saying it out loud only made it worse. There goes my appetite for the day.

    ¡°So, he really did knock him out with one kick?¡± asked Kolzer.

    ¡°I saw it first-hand, well, I was there anyway. It all happened really fast.¡± Jessa admitted.

    ¡°If you think a royal like him would ever join a team with two unranked Onyxians you¡¯re even crazier than I thought,¡± Kolzer said with an amused chuckle.

    In theory, he was right. It was a long shot. Princes and princesses only teamed up with each other. They would team up with the children of elite houses only when they had to. So, to insinuate that Prince Jraken would join their rag tag little group was understandably a tough sell.

    But she had seen it in his eyes. That same thing she saw in all the eyes of her admirers. That little twinkle of longing. Her instincts had taught her to recognize it. Her ambitions had taught her to capitalize on it. The guilt migrated from her stomach to her heart. She felt it grow heavy beneath her breast. Beating faster to compensate for the added weight.

    But she had to take advantage of it. It was a talent to be utilized like any other ability she possessed. She remembered her mother telling her as much. It was one of the last things they talked about before Jessa came back for her second year at the academy.

    ¡°I used to be like you.¡± Her mother had told her after admiring the make-up she had applied. ¡°I used to be beautiful. Make sure that you get more out of it than I did.¡±

    Jessa, of course, replied by telling her mother that she was still very beautiful.

    ¡°No, not anymore. Not like you.¡± Her mother had retorted. ¡°Yet another thing you took from me. Add it to the list.¡±

    The guilt was now starting to give Jessa the quivers. She was going to have to cut this little conversation short. ¡°I¡¯ll handle Jraken,¡± she said as she shot up and opened the door for Kolzer. ¡°You just keep up with your training. I¡¯ll take care of everything else.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± Kolzer said with a shrug.

    Jessa closed the door behind him and clutched at her heart. It hurt. She shouldn¡¯t have dwelled on those memories of her mother. Ruining Kaizo¡¯s life was also still fresh in her mind. Worst of all were the plans she had for Jraken.

    Would she really go through with it all over again? Use someone else¡¯s feelings for her own personal gain? At least I¡¯m giving them what they want. She told herself. Even if it is only temporary.

    She looked up into the bright purple skies of Elementa out her open window. Onyxia loomed up above beyond puffy white clouds. The ugly little rust-stained ball was on course to eclipse a portion of the sun. That seemed to be all her homeworld was good for. Eclipsing any and all light from her life.

    The only other moon that was visible from her dorm room window that afternoon was Luna. Its bright blue seas were still visible from the surface of Elementa. A tiny yellow dot reflected the sun off its waters in its southern hemisphere. It had crossed her mind to use her feminine wiles on some poor unsuspecting Lunanite with a decent cottage on some Eversummer island. The truth was that any moon that orbited Elementa would still be too close to Onyxia for her comfort. It would still be hanging above her. Reminding her of all the ghosts of the past that she so desperately wanted to forget.

    Her destiny was in the stars. It had to be. Beyond Elementa and her moons were worlds upon worlds. Millions of places filled with trillions of people. And Onyxia wouldn¡¯t be visible to the naked eye from a single one of them.

    The more she thought about her future in the stars the more her sense of dread went away. Her heart and stomach lightened. Her breathing smoothed itself out. If she could just get away from Elementa. Then she could put all the pains of the past behind her. She could find a real home.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if it was the continuous invitations to join tourney teams, the girls who giggled at his every word, or the instructors who had suddenly been giving him nods of approval, but something told Prince Jraken Ferno that he was doing a terrible job at laying low.

    The cafeteria table that had been vacant upon his arrival was now full of students from elite houses. More specifically, it was filled with elite students who were still filling out the rosters for their tournament teams.

    Plenty of them made tempting offers, but he couldn¡¯t seem to get his mind off the first girl he had been teamed up with during the game of baseknock. Jessa Hardu. The sound of her name was enough to send a wave of euphoria through him. That Onyxian goddess had put a spell on him.

    Developing a crush was nothing new to Jraken. He had crushes on girls back on Pyra. But this was different. It was so fierce. His mind ran in a constant loop of what little time they had spent together. Of those emerald eyes. Her big curly hair. Her impossibly lustrous dimensions. Even now he was tempted to get up, march straight to her dorm room, and¡­ and what?

    Oddly enough, he was then approached by the other girl who he had been teamed up with on his first day. Princess Mystie Tidal. At her side were the members of the royal team. Except for his brother, Dravon, who was still recovering in the infirmary after being knocked out by Princess Marilyn. Out of respect for his reputation, Jraken had denied knowing what had happened in the woods. Simply stating that he found his brother after following the sounds of the explosions.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Impressive performance with Kaizo Blaze earlier,¡± said Mystie. She wore loose blue and green garments and kept her long black hair in a similar braid to that of her father, King Davus.

    Jraken was familiar with all the royal families. King Davus and Queen Marcella had four children. The oldest was their son, Prince Lior. Mysti was the middle sister of their three daughters. Nella had received sponsorship and become a Jhori agent the year before upon her graduation. The youngest sister, Luna, attended the academy as well and had a team of her own with their two cousins. All three sisters were considered top-tier Lunanite warriors, but Mystie was arguably to be the strongest of the three. She had inherited King Davus¡¯s prowess and physique, along with his black hair.

    ¡°And then you bring Dravon back unconscious from a huge forest fire,¡± said Prince Grolo Stone. ¡°Wish I could have seen you put that arrogant jerk in his place! Did you know he blamed us for his loss to Kaizo?¡±

    Grolo wore a brown jacket and tight black shorts. His dark green hair was greased and slicked over to the right. He was only an average build for a male Onyxian, but his ranking was always in the single digits. As of the last tourney, he was now ranked number 6.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t¡ª" Jraken replied, but his response was completely ignored and interrupted by Mystie who was eyeing the other students at the table.

    ¡°Beat it,¡± she told them.

    The students all gathered their food and scattered as fast as they could. Not only was she a last-year student, but she was also royalty. It didn¡¯t matter how elite their family houses were. It was wise not to cross her.

    Mystie, Grolo, and their less talkative teammate Prince Keegan Monsoon all sat down beside Jraken as soon as the other students had vacated.

    Keegan wore mostly white clothes with a long green and black scarf wrapped around his neck. He kept his silver hair short like his sister, Princess Lissie. She was 19 years older than him and heir to the throne. His older brother Prince Kortimo was his senior by 9 years and proudly served as a captain in a prestigious agency. Being only a second-year student made Keegan the youngest member of the royal team. He was currently ranked right behind Grolo at number 7.

    ¡°Hear me out. I¡¯m sure you saw your brother get his ass handed to him by Kaizo at the last tourney,¡± Mystie said as her bright blue eyes pierced right through him. ¡°You on the other hand, didn¡¯t appear to have any trouble with him this morning.¡±

    ¡°Neither did my brother. He could have hurled fire to ignite Kaizo¡¯s attack right on top of him. He just chose not to because he didn¡¯t want the blast to injure any bystanders.¡± Jraken tried to explain.

    ¡°Right,¡± Grolo said slowly. ¡°You know, just because the Jhori preach about being humble, doesn¡¯t mean we actually have to practice it. The top two teams from the next tourney get to travel to the capital and compete in the championships. It¡¯s the only chance a firstborn royal like me is ever going to have at leaving Elementa.¡±

    King Harley and Queen Fria Stone¡¯s children are all deceased now. But their daughter, Princess Leyfra, begot one son before she too perished in the Elementi Civil War. Her son, Kios Stone was Grolo¡¯s father. Even though he was second in line to inherit the throne, Grolo was still a firstborn heir. Which meant he would not be allowed to join the military or an agency after graduation.

    ¡°And the best chance for those of us not in line for a crown to get sponsors and become agents,¡± Mystie chimed in. Her brother, Lior, was next in line for the throne. Allowing her and her sisters to become agents. ¡°As much as I hate to admit it, some of these other teams are looking like they could be rather good.¡±

    ¡°Join us, Jraken,¡± Grolo finally spit out. ¡°We can¡¯t have us royals being defeated by the common folk.¡±

    Jraken thought about how upset Dravon would be if he replaced him on the royal team. He felt like he was already losing a lot of ground on trying to befriend his older brother as it was.

    There was also his grandfather to consider. He hadn¡¯t had a chance to talk to him before he was whisked away to the academy. But given their most recent conversation, he was certain that joining any team would be frowned upon. Competition would lead to temptation.

    His mind then looped back to the Onyxian. Jessa Hardu. There was something about her. His heart raced at just the thought of her. What if she proposed membership to a team? Could he possibly turn her down?

    He wasn¡¯t sure. Turning down the royals, however, would be all too easy.

    ¡°I must respectfully decline,¡± he said to Mystie while bowing his head.

    ¡°You what?!¡± Mystie yelled as she slammed her hands on the table. Jraken¡¯s lunch tray bounced, and his glass of water nearly tipped over. ¡°Listen you little brat! No one says no to the royal team! We will represent the Elementi in the NJJC, and you will regret that you didn¡¯t take us up on this offer!¡± As she got up to leave, she manipulated Jraken¡¯s water into freezing so cold it cracked the glass that contained it.

    Grolo and Keegan simply shook their heads and followed the angry ice princess out of the cafeteria.

    Jraken hoped that turning down the royal team in the busy cafeteria would ward off any other invites. No one got up to rejoin his table after Mystie¡¯s outburst, which he took to be a good sign.

    ¡°That was kind of you.¡±

    That voice. Thought Jraken. Enough to make an angel jealous.

    He turned around to see the one and only Jessa Hardu.

    ¡°Most people would jump at an opportunity like that,¡± she said as she took a seat beside him. ¡°Joining the royal team would put you on the fast track to a single digit ranking.¡±

    Jraken¡¯s mouth opened, but nothing came out. He was still shell shocked that she was sitting right beside him. And rather close too. Had he ever been this close to a girl? Not one like this. He would have remembered feeling like this.

    Say something. Anything!

    ¡°I¡¯m not competing this year,¡± he told her. But why did he say it? Self-sabotage. That stupid part of himself that pounced on the opportunity of being righteous. Best to just get the disappointment out of the way. It wasn¡¯t like he would ever have a shot in the abyss with a girl of her caliber anyway.

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± said Jessa. She gave him her best pouty face. ¡°I thought it¡¯d be fun to team up with you again.¡±

    Jraken¡¯s mind erupted with a symphony of adulation and triumph. It was deafening. It was so deafening in fact that the righteous part of himself that had tried to take control of the situation earlier was completely drowned out.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Jraken barely even heard himself say it aloud over the chorus of celebration in his head.

    ¡°Really?!¡± asked Jessa.

    Her smile was so bright. She looked so happy. Even if the voice of reason was to make its much-needed return, he would never have the strength to let her down. To deny the world her smile would be to deny music its very own rhythm. This new realm of bliss that he now found himself in would cease to exist without it.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he replied with more enthusiasm. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±

    He was eight years old again. On his mother¡¯s royal starship. Prince Dravon Ferno was hiding in the same cargo hold as he had all those years ago.

    ¡°DRAVON!!¡±

    His mother¡¯s scream came from the med bay toward the back of the ship.

    ¡°PLEASE!!¡±

    But he was frozen. His body refused to respond even a little. Panic set in.

    It is just a dream. He thought to himself. He repeated it in his mind over and over again. It is just a dream. It didn¡¯t matter. He remained paralyzed just as he had before.

    Through his childhood these nightmares had terrified him to his core. The piss-stained evidence would have reached his bedroom ceiling had he not burned all his sheets to ash the morning after every one of his ¡°incidents¡± had occurred.

    Now, however, there was no fear at all. His tolerance of horrible and despairing scenes had grown over the countless years. Some nights he would have nightmares up to seven times. Making the sleep cycles feel like entire dozen-days had passed before it was time for waking.

    It gave Dravon an odd sense that he was far older than his peers. While they went soundly to sleep every night, he was spending what seemed to him entire days in search of his doomed mother.

    Which is why at this point he felt only frustration at not being able to get up and help her. It was downright infuriating.

    ¡°DRAVON!!¡± she shouted. Followed by screams of anguish. She needed him. She would die if he didn¡¯t move. But his body still denied his will.

    He focused on his pointer finger. Start small. If he could just get a little wiggle out of it, then maybe¡­

    There was a twitch. The finger made the tiniest of motions. Up and back down. It was almost as if he was encased in invisible sand. The more he moved his finger up and down, the more the sand gave way. Pretty soon he could move two fingers. A crescendo effect transpired from there. Two fingers turned to four. His hand came to life and his arm quickly followed. At that point his paralysis surrendered, and his body was free once again.

    He just might make it this time. He could still hear her screaming. She was still alive.

    Dravon ran down the halls of the ship as fast as his young legs would take him. But when he got to the med bay, he discovered that the ship had tricked him. His mind had tricked him. In place of the med bay was now an airlock.

    ¡°No!¡± Dravon cried out. ¡°No! No! No!¡±

    He ran up to the window. Inside the airlock were both his mother and Jraken. Except his brother wasn¡¯t the wailing infant he was supposed to be. He was the Jraken from now. Halfway through his growth spurt and awkwardly lanky. He was pressing buttons on a screen beside the door that opened out into space.

    ¡°Stop it!¡± Dravon shouted at him. ¡°What are you doing!?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t save us,¡± said Drelaine. She was standing beside the window.

    Suddenly, Dravon noticed that he was no longer standing in the hallway outside of the airlock. He was now in an airlock himself. He reached for something to grab ahold of in anticipation of being launched out into space. He was too late. A door behind him slid open and he was jerked through it with a violent tug.

    He woke up in the infirmary with his body covered in a layer of sweat. Dravon threw the sheets off himself in both annoyance and disgust. A draft came in through the open window. It made him shiver as it hit his wet skin.

    ¡°I was wondering if you¡¯d still wake up around this time,¡± said Chren. He was sitting on the windowsill with his legs dangling inside the room. ¡°She must have knocked you in the ol¡¯ noggin pretty good.¡±

    Dravon felt the side of his head. There was still a lump sensitive to the touch, but he had dealt with far worse. ¡°That was a cheap trick,¡± he mumbled. ¡°What happened after I was out?¡±

    ¡°They took off,¡± said Chren. He ran a hand through his hair and produced a smile so filled with arrogance it was tough to tell if he was serious or not. ¡°Probably spotted yours truly getting ready to jump into the fray.¡±

    Highly unlikely. Dravon never recalled Chren volunteering to take action in anything involving combat. Not all children of elite houses wanted to become warriors. Some were forced into it. ¡°Right,¡± Dravon conceded. ¡°Were you the one who brought me to the infirmary then?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± said Chren. ¡°After I scared off the Farako warriors I saw that Jraken already had you taken care of, so I flew out.¡±

    Dravon made a loud smack as he punched his palm. He was not at all surprised. Chren never seemed to intervene in any of Dravon¡¯s affairs. Only ever observe and comment on them. ¡°What are people saying?¡± he asked.

    The reputation he had worked so hard to build was crumbling around him. It had already taken one big hit from having to be saved from Kaizo. The last thing he needed was rumors spreading around that Jraken saved him not once, but twice on the same day.

    ¡°Jraken never saw me, and I haven¡¯t heard what he reported. Generally, in a case like this, I would assume that the overall assumption of the student body would be that you two sparred and the one carrying the one who was knocked out would have been the victor.¡± Chren said with his hands up. Indicating he was not to blame. ¡°Or he told them the truth about you getting your ass handed to you by some Farako spies. Either way, it¡¯s not looking great for your public relations.¡±

    Dravon started putting on his clothes. He didn¡¯t care that it was in the middle of the night. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

    ¡°Where are you running off to? They¡¯re going to want to check you out.¡± Chren tried to reason.

    Dravon started lacing up his boots. It wasn¡¯t just what his brother had reported to the instructors that he needed to find out. It was the brief display of his power. His speed. Just how good was the brat? How much of a difference did being trained by their grandfather, Locke, really make?

    ¡°I need to settle some things,¡± he told Chren as he quietly opened the door of the infirmary. ¡°And I want to settle them tonight.¡±

 CH 12 One Last Hope

    One more year. Then I will finally be old enough to set out on my own. My plan, as it is, is to take up residence in the capitol. There will be plenty of contracts and opportunities to catch the eye of a certain Starvast Guardian.

    I will also be bringing Laluli with me as my pilot. I¡¯m sure her father will allow it. He knows I would never let anything happen to her. She is more than just a friend to me. She is my sister.

    -Journal of Karena Zephyr

    Wulfo

    ¡°Let go!¡± shouted Phuro Zephyr. Tears had been continuously flowing down his face since his sister, Karena, had gone back to slow down their pursuers. ¡°Let me fight alongside my family!¡±

    Laluli held the boy¡¯s wrist with both hands and pulled as hard as she could. He was only a little bigger than her, but his Elementi strength was vastly superior to that of even the strongest of Liplees. ¡°No, Phuro,¡± she strained to say as she struggled to keep him from walking away.

    ¡°Let go, Laluli,¡± Phuro repeated. This time his voice was stern. It made him sound much older than Laluli ever imagined him sounding and it took her by surprise. She loosened her grip and Phuro was quick to pull away.

    ¡°Phuro!¡± she shouted out as she watched him race down the path towards his sister.

    Karena Zephyr got into her fighting stance for an eighth time. She had acquired numerous cuts throughout the course of the battle, but she was also obtaining more information on her opponent. With some impromptu strategizing she had come out victorious in their last couple bouts.

    Shalika was breathing heavily. ¡°Little Farako bitch,¡± she said as she wiped some blood from her busted lip. ¡°Horbel¡¯s never going to let me live this down.¡±

    ¡°Live what down?¡± Horbel asked from the balcony that stretched out from the second floor on the back of the estate. He was looking down on them with an amused smile. ¡°Having a little trouble, are we?¡±

    Shalika stomped the ground in a fit. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to help you track down Liplees! Not fight the damn Elementi!¡±

    Klasp then appeared over the railing beside Horbel. ¡°That one¡¯s barely even full grown! How tough could she be?¡±

    Shalika hissed in response. Her minotaur companion chuckled and hopped over the railing. He landed with an enormous boom that raised up a dirt cloud quickly blown away by the high mountain winds. He had to put his hands on his large belly to keep it from jiggling.

    ¡°You know you used to be a lot more intimidating before you let yourself go,¡± Shalika remarked as she observed his bouncing belly.

    ¡°Hey!¡± he yelled back. ¡°I told you the wife¡¯s got me on a diet!¡±

    Karena fought back the fear. She had to remain poised. She was having a hard enough time keeping up with just Shalika. She couldn¡¯t let any doubts slip into her mind now.

    ¡°Alright, little one,¡± Klasp yelled over to her. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I have a soft spot for kids. I¡¯m going to give you a free shot.¡± He pointed at his bare-naked chest. ¡°Right here. Everything you¡¯ve got.¡±

    Karena looked at the other two fighters. They both held smirks that made her feel uneasy. The beastly man most likely had a hide that was incredibly tough. Had her parents even had the opportunity to strike him? If only she had stayed behind to help them, but how could she have possibly known these invaders would be so strong?

    Still, she didn¡¯t see herself getting another opportunity such as this one. If she concentrated and sent a dense enough jolt, then perhaps she could pierce his flesh. Instead of hitting him with a consistent stream of lightning she would strike him with a solid spear of electricity. She doubted any of them were aware Imperians even possessed such an ability.

    She gathered her bril into a wobbly ball of electricity in her hands. She focused on making it as dense as possible.

    Klasp pounded on his chest with his fist in anticipation of her attack. ¡°Gather all the lightning you want, kid.¡±

    At the last moment, Karena manipulated the electricity into a spear and threw it with all her might.

    Shalika noticed there was something strange about Karena¡¯s attack. ¡°Move, imbecile!¡± she shouted to Klasp, but it was too late.

    The spear pierced the minotaur¡¯s flesh, and he bellowed in pain.

    Karena was breathing heavily and was so exhausted that she fell to one knee. She had put nearly everything she had into that attack. Which is why she watched in horror as Klasp pulled the electric spear out of his shoulder. It dissipated as soon as he pulled it loose. Black blood driveled down the side of his chest from the small hole it had left. She missed. She had never thrown so much bril so hard in all her life and miscalculated its trajectory. She had been aiming for his heart. Her one chance had resulted in failure and the fear was starting to find its home in her mind.

    ¡°Not too shabby,¡± said Klasp as he rotated his left arm. He was having a hard time lifting it over his head and winced in pain every time he tried. Then he looked over at Karena with bloodthirsty eyes. ¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn.¡±

    The large brute dashed at Karena much faster than she anticipated. She barely had time to jump back as Klasp hammered down on the spot she was just at with his right fist. A loud boom echoed up the mountain path and a small crater formed from the impact.

    Karena fell back and the muscles in her legs spasmed. She quickly rubbed them with her hands. She had overexerted herself. Her over usage of bril was slowing down blood flow. She looked at the hole in the ground left by Klasp. Had she not evaded, she would have been splattered all over the lawn. If she couldn¡¯t stop the muscle spasms soon it would mean certain death.

    Klasp noticed the young Farako warrior struggling to get up and walked over until he stood directly above her. He lifted his large hoof over her head with a maniacal grin. ¡°Nighty night, little lightning girl.¡±

    He brought his hoof down but to his surprise he hit nothing but the ground. A strong gust of wind had come up and rolled Karena out from underneath him.

    Everyone looked over and saw Phuro standing confidently in a fighting stance at the foot of the mountain path. ¡°Leave my sister alone!¡± he shouted.

    Klasp made an enormous gasp. ¡°Look at him! He¡¯s so cute! Wow, if only the wife were here to see this! She would get a real kick out of you!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the last one,¡± Shalika announced to her squad. ¡°Him and the eight or nine Liplees further up the path. So, my job here is done.¡±

    ¡°Horbel!¡± Klasp shouted up. ¡°Please, let¡¯s not rip this one up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not letting you keep it if that¡¯s what you have in my mind,¡± said Horbel. He stood perfectly balanced on the thin metal railing of the balcony. ¡°That thing won¡¯t be so cute when it grows up.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± said Klasp. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to have him stuffed. He¡¯ll make a great gift for the wife.¡±

    Gift for the wife? Thought Horbel. Perhaps he could learn a thing or two from the blundering oaf. He should acquire a gift of his own for his wife-to-be. A grand gift that would impress someone who would no doubt hold him to the highest of standards.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Karena listened in disgust as she attempted to get back up. The spasms had subsided, but her body was still too weak to fully cooperate. ¡°Run! You idiot!¡± she shouted at her little brother. ¡°Get out of here!¡±

    Phuro ignored her and stood firm. His green and black clothes started shaking in the wind that he was summoning around him.

    The first few steps Klasp took were slow, but as he got closer, he started to pick up momentum.

    Phuro used the wind to launch himself toward the minotaur. He landed a knee directly to the face of his opponent and kicked off Klasp¡¯s shoulder to retreat.

    Klasp was unphased by the attack and snatched Phuro out of the air with a tight grip on his ankle. He held the boy upside down and laughed. ¡°Got him!¡± he said with excitement. ¡°Now, how to kill you without ruining your adorable little frame. I know! I¡¯ll squeeze the life out of you. I¡¯ll have to be sure to hold back though. Wouldn¡¯t want to make you pop!¡±

    Phuro started punching the air and using his bril to make the wind dense enough to feel like physical punches. Still, Klasp remained unphased by his attacks. He put a hand around Phuro¡¯s throat to stop his breathing.

    Karena managed to get to her feet and tried to collect any bril she could. She knew she didn¡¯t have enough. She could barely shoot a weak bolt at this point, let alone find enough energy to stop Klasp. She slowly started to put one foot in front of the other as her brother¡¯s face began to turn blue.

    No! She thought. What is he doing here? This has all been for nothing!

    ¡°Almost there,¡± said Klasp reassuringly to his victim. ¡°Just let the darkness take you.¡±

    Phuro leg¡¯s squirmed and kicked as he pulled at the minotaur¡¯s large hand. Spit bubbled from his lips and Klasp¡¯s smile grew.

    Then a large red laser came down from above them, blasting Klasp in the back and forcing him to drop Phuro.

    Phuro gasped for air and coughed violently as he crawled away from the minotaur.

    Everyone looked up and saw the Zephyr starship hovering above the estate. Laluli¡¯s voice came over the ship¡¯s loudspeakers. ¡°Hands up, or I¡¯ll blast the lot of you into the abyss where you belong!¡±

    Shalika¡¯s hands shot up in immediate surrender. Klasp was a little slower and heavy with reluctance. He raised his hands and growled in frustration. Smoke continued to rise from his back where he had been struck.

    ¡°You too, scales!¡± ordered Laluli as she pointed the ship¡¯s laser cannons at Horbel.

    Horbel still remained perfectly balanced on the railing. He grinned and kept his arms folded. ¡°I would never surrender to a member of a mortal race. Let alone a slave one.¡±

    Laluli didn¡¯t appreciate the Liplees being referred to as a slave race. She was now hovering directly on top of Karena to ensure that she didn¡¯t accidentally hit her. So, with that worry free from her mind, she opened fire. The first laser struck true and blasted Horbel straight in the chest. It sent him flying back into the house. He came running out of the house and several more lasers rained down on him.

    This time Laluli did not hold back. She completely destroyed the balcony Horbel had been perched on. She had no idea how much it would take to kill the fearsome intruder, so she kept firing. She didn¡¯t let up. Even when the screens started to flash caution of overheating. She didn¡¯t let up. She was not going to take any chances.

    It was the ship that finally overrode her controls to keep from damaging itself. When the lasers had stopped, the entire estate was in shambles. And there was no sign of the dark scaled invader.

    She turned the guns back onto Klasp and Shalika. The duo, in return, raised their hands even higher into the sky.

    ¡°Easy now, little missy,¡± said Klasp. ¡°We¡¯ve learned our lesson! We¡¯ll be good!¡±

    ¡°Just a job!¡± shouted Shalika. ¡°Nothing personal!¡±

    ¡°Now,¡± said Laluli. ¡°You two are going to get back into your ship, take off, and never ever return!¡±

    ¡°You got it!¡± said Shalika.

    ¡°Works for me!¡± Klasp yelled up. ¡°We¡¯ll mosey on out of here! Just like you said now!¡±

    Karena was beaming with pride for her friend. Laluli¡¯s quick thinking had saved the day. With their combined efforts they had stopped the invaders. She held out hope that her parents were still alive, but she knew it was folly. These monsters were far too ruthless to understand a concept such as mercy. She needed to accept it now. Her parents were dead.

    Then Karena noticed the guns of the ship suddenly disengage. What was Laluli doing? This wasn¡¯t over until they were gone. Did she really believe they would just leave without them keeping their guns on them? No. She was much smarter than that. Klasp and Shalika both laughed, and Karena knew that something had gone terribly wrong.

    Laluli felt a hot breath on her neck, and something brush up against her cheek. She tried to turn around, but her body wouldn¡¯t respond. She was frozen stiff. In the reflection of one of the screens in front of her she made out a thin forked tongue leaving her face.

    ¡°Actually,¡± said Horbel from right behind her. ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±

    He grabbed her by the throat. She wanted to struggle, but it was no use. Her body refused to respond.

    ¡°The venom should wear off soon,¡± he told her. ¡°When it does, you¡¯re going to land this ship. If you follow my instructions and be a good little slave, then you and the Elementi brats down there just might have a chance to survive this ordeal.¡±

    Laluli was soon able to move her body again but saw no other option than to do what she was told. She was completely powerless to someone like Horbel. She landed the ship and joined Phuro and Karena as their prisoners.

    They had given it everything they had. Karena could barely stand. She was covered in cuts that she had received in her fight with Shalika. Some of them were rather deep, and she was having trouble deciding which ones she needed to apply pressure to.

    Phuro had been embarrassingly outmatched. His throat was bruised, but the worst of his wounds were not on his body. He had once believed his people were invincible. Now, he knew different. Even the sons of Farako warriors should fear what monsters were lurking out in the dark recesses of the galaxy.

    Laluli was the only one unharmed among them, but she was just a Liplee. The Zephyr starship had been her one last hope.  She doubted she even had the strength to strangle one of these invaders in their sleep. Not that she would ever be presented with the opportunity.

    ¡°I need one of you to deliver a message for me,¡± said Horbel.

    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa,¡± said Klasp. ¡°We were told to enslave Liplees and kill Elementi. Not send any messages.¡±

    Horbel gave him a menacing glare. Klasp shut his mouth and looked down to the ground. Little did the minotaur know this was his own doing. His plans for presenting a gift to his wife had inspired Horbel.

    He turned his attention back to his three prisoners. ¡°Obviously, I can¡¯t speak for everyone present, but I found today¡¯s battle to be extremely underwhelming. So, to provide me with the fight I was promised, I will be sending one of you to go and fetch the princess that attacked Superior Vishka for me.¡±

    For what grander prize could his wife-to-be want than the head of an Elementi warrior princess? A one-of-a-kind trophy! The most dangerous game in the galaxy. Aside from himself, of course.

    Laluli¡¯s mind raced. How could she get everyone out of this? How could she convince Horbel she needed both the Zephyrs?

    ¡°Laluli is the only one among us who can pilot the ship,¡± Karena said before Laluli had a chance to think.

    ¡°But I don¡¯t know the way! I¡¯ll need guides!¡± Laluli shouted. Fearing that Horbel would just start killing the remaining Zephyrs upon hearing they couldn¡¯t properly pilot their own starship.

    ¡°What kind of pilot doesn¡¯t know how to navigate the stars?¡± asked Shalika. ¡°I smell deception in the air.¡±

    ¡°Is that true?¡± asked Horbel. ¡°Did you just lie? To me?¡±

    Tears found their way down Laluli¡¯s bright pink cheek as she trembled in fear. She was messing this all up. Why hadn¡¯t she just kept her mouth shut?

    Horbel wiped away her tear with a black scaly finger. Laluli flinched as he brushed against her cheek. ¡°What a fragile little race you are,¡± he said. ¡°You should know that I do not appreciate being lied to.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not lying,¡± said Karena. ¡°She can find planet Farako on her own just fine. But she doesn¡¯t know where the palace is. Not to mention the royal family members won¡¯t give audience to just any random citizen. That¡¯s where you¡¯ll need a Farako Elementi. Send Phuro and Laluli. I¡¯ll remain here as collateral.¡±

    Horbel rubbed at one of the horns protruding from his jaw. ¡°Admirable of you. Offering yourself up to be the hostage so your brother and the little slave girl can escape.¡±

    It had been Karena¡¯s plan as soon as she had come back down the mountain path. To ensure the safety of what remained of her family no matter the cost. ¡°It¡¯s just the most logical approach for all parties.¡±

    A wicked grimace spread across Horbel¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the boy.¡±

    Karena was about to protest, but she felt a small hand grab her own.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Laluli pleaded quietly.

    ¡°A hostage is a hostage,¡± Karena argued. ¡°Any Farako Elementi being held prisoner is a top priority for the godking.¡±

    Horbel¡¯s hand then extended out in the blink of an eye and into the chest of Karena.

    Fear overwhelmed her. Icy cold and blazing hot waves wrapped around her. She tried to take a breath, but no air would enter what was left of her lungs. She looked at Laluli with a look of desperation. She had so much she wanted to say. So many things that she still wanted to do. But she would never get the chance. This was the end. The end of everything.

    Horbel pulled his hand free, and Karena coughed up blood all over Laluli before falling to the ground.

    Laluli screamed in anguish and fell to her knees. She put her hands over the gaping hole in Karena¡¯s chest and her friend gave her wrists one final squeeze before the life faded from her eyes.

    ¡°No!¡± Laluli screamed. She howled in grief at the loss of her friend.

    ¡°You bastard!¡± shouted Phuro. He was about to retaliate but Klasp grabbed him from behind and kept him in place. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡± he yelled with tears streaming down his face. ¡°The godking will rip you apart for this!¡±

    Horbel held up his hand to reveal Karena¡¯s heart. He took a bite from it and more of her blood splattered onto Laluli. ¡°Now,¡± he said while chewing. ¡°Get in that ship of yours and tell Princess Marilyn Voltus every little thing that happened here. Tell her that this little brat,¡± he said as he pointed at Phuro. ¡°Is going to be our guest until she comes to pick him up. If my ship¡¯s sensors pick up more than one Farako vessel approaching, the kid gets stuffed for Klasp¡¯s wife. If Princess Marilyn fails to make an appearance, the kid gets stuffed for Klasp¡¯s wife. And if she fails to produce a challenge for me then it should go without saying¡­¡± he squatted down next to Laluli and swallowed the bite he had taken.

    ¡°The kid gets stuffed for Klasp¡¯s wife.¡±