Apprentice

by Nicholas Hale

  How had she even entered the locked cell? She looked different from how he remembered her. Not just her clothes. Her build and her eyes.

  "I had no intention of giving him anything about Atticus," said Darius defensively. And truthfully. He valued his freedom, but his loyalty for Atticus was something this girl standing in front of him could never understand.

  He quickly analyzed the situation. This was good. Olivia was the best he could have hoped for. She wasn't as strong as Byron. And if he could kill her, and the guards saw that there were assassins after him, the idiots might understand that he was someone valuable, and he could get to meet Fabian.

  "Then why did you want to meet him? Discuss the weather, perhaps?" she asked mockingly.

  Her bow was on her back, and one hand was on the dagger hilt. If Darius could block her dagger hand...

  Darius suddenly lunged, aiming for her dagger hand. His feet barely left the ground before he felt a thin line of pain drawn across his stomach. Darius crashed into the wall of the cell, having seemingly passed through Olivia. He coughed blood as he realized that his stomach had been sliced open.

  "I don't recall you being that slow, Darius," said Olivia standing above him. Her dagger was dripping with his blood.

  That makes two of us, thought Darius. He didn't remember Olivia being that fast, either. He had all but sealed his fate when he called out to meet Fabian. There was little point in begging for his life anymore. Atticus's people were taught to despise weakness above all.

  "Too much time playing merchant in that little guild of yours, I suppose," she said.

  Darius tried holding his stomach together. He tried to reply, to curse her, but no words came out—his mouth was filling up with blood. Not being able to say anything, all he could do was think.

  Gone was all the respect he had for Atticus, gone were all his ambitions, and gone was hope. In his last moments before his death, he thought about the Twilight Circle. About how they planned to destroy the Aegean Empire.

  He smiled as he felt a sharp pain on the side of his head and the world went dark.

  Epilogue

  Lorian was dreaming again. The feeling was reminiscent of the time Mog'rath had been released and he was a prisoner inside his own body.

  Except this time, the creature he was trapped inside seemed to be...human. Or humanoid, at least. It was a lithe, middle-aged woman who was kneeling on the ground and looking intently at it. There seemed to be a faint glow emanating from her body.

  She raised her head to look at the starlit sky. Lorian didn't recognize any of the star formations he was seeing. His surroundings, however, seemed like the Deckan plains of Ryga.

  Lorian tried looking around through the corners of her eyes and counted at least six people standing around the woman. Six warriors from the looks of it. They didn't glow like she did, but the light from the woman bounced off their metal armor, causing the entire party to take on the aura of the woman.

  The woman did seem an oddity. At least one of the other warriors standing around them was a woman, but they were all heavily armored. The woman, however, was only dressed in a thin white robe.

  All of them seemed to be glancing at the stars as if waiting for something.

  "Erina," came a voice from behind her, and she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  She turned around and looked up to see a gruff, unshaven man standing behind her. Lorian felt a warm feeling wash over the woman. He could feel her face light up as she tried to smile.

  This woman was in love with him. That much Lorian was sure about.

  "Zephyr," said the woman.

  She stood up and turned around to face the man. If the man meant to reassure her, then the worried expression on his face seemed to betray how he really felt at this moment. Afraid. Perhaps more sad than afraid.

  "You look tired," she said, running her hand along the man's cheek.

  She was right. Looking at the man's eyes, Lorian could tell that he hadn't slept for days.

  Lorian felt the woman's hand shine gently. A spell of some sort. White light washed over the man calling himself Zephyr. In that single moment, the man had been transformed beyond recognition. He seemed revitalized. The man felt it too, as he raised his hands to look at them.

  This was strange, thought Lorian. He had seen healing spells before. They could knit broken bones and mend all kinds of wounds, but there was no known spell in existence that could replace natural sleep.

  "You shouldn't have done that," he said worriedly. "Your power. I can feel it waning by the second."

  "It has already left me," she said with a smile. "The plane of life is lost to me. It was lost the moment I decided to stay here."

  "You can still leave," he whispered, perhaps to prevent the other warriors from listening.

  "I wouldn't dream of it," said Erina indignantly. "I belong here. With you."

  Zephyr shook his head as if to disagree. He was about to say something before he hesitated. After a moment's thought, he spat to the side.

  "Curse the gods."

  Erina laughed.

  "They can be...difficult," she said, "but these are hard times and they have their reasons. You've commanded before. You of all people are no stranger to wartime decisions."

  "To leave you defenseless like this. Heartless bastards..." said Zephyr, shaking with anger.

  "Easy, Zephyr," said Erina. "I disobeyed an order. It's the price one pays for rebellion."

  The remaining warriors came in to join them as well. All except one, who had his eyes fixed on the sky.

  "We can still win," said the tallest of them.

  "Triton is right," said another. "We stand unified like never before. The armies of all the five lands have put aside their differences for this one moment. The sorcerers of the Elfen Glade stand with us."

  Five lands? Lorian was confused. Was he even in the right plane? He knew of only three continents. And sorcerers of the Elfen Glade? Who the hell were they?

  "Not to mention the eight paragons standing together," said Triton, looking around at the warriors. "Since the time of the first paragons, we have not known a single instance of defeat."

  "This is my fault," said Zephyr, trembling. "I could have stopped all of this. I should have destroyed the cabal when I had the chance. I should—"

  "Steel yourself, Zephyr!" boomed Triton's voice. It sounded harsh and inhuman—very different from how it was moments earlier.

  Lorian could still hear echoes as he continued speaking. This time with a softer voice.

  "Clear your mind of all regret and self-doubt. We cannot afford such weaknesses with the enemies we face."

  "True," said Erina. "Negative emotions are amplified hundredfold."

  "We still have the Nearin circle," said a third warrior. "Strengthened by Erina herself. The sorcerers have assured us that it is unbreakable."

  All of them nodded assent. Whatever this Nearin circle was, it seemed to give all of them confidence. Including the one called Zephyr.

  "I see it," came the calm voice of the lone warrior who had his eyes to the sky.

  All of them raised their heads at the same time towards the sky. Lorian strained his eyes through Erina's, but he wasn't sure what they were looking for.

  In about five seconds Lorian saw it. A shooting star.

  A bright-red shooting star leaving a fiery trail as it blazed across the night sky.

  The warriors drew their weapons. Erina for her part just seemed to continue looking at the sky. Lorian felt a flicker of hesitation run through her mind as she bit her lip. Was this the right choice?

  The star grew larger and larger until Lorian could see that it was a burning red meteor hurtling towards the ground. Instinctively, Lorian tried to move back, but the body he was trapped in didn't budge. Neither did any of the paragons.

  Idiots. Did they want to get crushed by the meteorite? It drew closer, but didn't get any larger.

  In an instant, it crashed into the ground in front of them
, sending a massive shockwave in all directions.

  Damn the woman for not moving, thought Lorian as he was blinded by the red blaze. She hadn't even winced, let alone closed her eyes. Lorian felt the need to raise his hands and rub his eyes, but he realized how futile that was. He wasn't in control of this body. All he could do was wait. And watch.

  The blinding subsided and Lorian could see the enemy they were all waiting for.

  Mog'rath.

  Bubbling magma tore the ground and seeped through where the arch-demon had landed. The cracks continued to widen and spread out it all directions from the point of impact as if the very land heaved under the weight of the arch-demon.

  This Mog'rath was very different from the one he had seen take over his body. This one was several feet taller. Redder. Parts of the skin were tearing and exuding plumes of red smoke, as if the demon's body couldn't contain its burning insides. Other parts glowed where burning runes were etched in. Perhaps this was a different Azhurai? If it was a species, it made sense that there were others like Mog'rath.

  "Mog'rath..." said Erina in a whisper, confirming the demon's identity for Lorian.

  The arch-demon turned around to face the group. The physical appearance might have been different, but the voice was unmistakable.

  "Well, well. The paragons I expected. But you? I'm surprised to see you haven't slunk back into the higher planes with the rest of your...brethren."

  "Not something I would expect a demon to understand," said Erina.

  Mog'rath continued observing the woman for a few moments, completely disregarding the paragons. Some of the paragons had already begun to move around to encircle their opponent.

  "Ah. That one!" said Mog'rath, raising a clawed finger to point at Zephyr. "You stayed behind for that one."

  Lorian felt a lump rising in Erina's throat as Mog'rath continued speaking.

  "I knew losing your godhood would make you mortal. But this?"

  "Enough talk," said Triton, his voice booming loud.

  "Quiet, whelp!" said Mog'rath, drowning out Triton's voice. "Do not interrupt when your betters are speaking."

  Though abnormally loud, Triton's voice paled in comparison to that of the demon.

  "There is nothing to talk about. You die today, Mog'rath," said Erina, raising her hand.

  "Oh but there is," said Mog'rath, seeming unconcerned that the opponents had begun preparing.

  "A proposal. One that I have rarely accorded lesser creatures," said Mog'rath.

  "One perhaps that may save your lives," he added, emphasizing the last three words.

  A couple of the paragons shifted. Erina too seemed to hesitate a little. Only Triton remained unmoved.

  "More trickery and deceit?" he spat.

  "Trickery. Deceit," said Mog'rath. "How your kind hates those words. Regardless, know that they are a means to an end. Powerful means as you have seen for yourself."

  "The cabal?" asked Triton. "They are all dead. Every last one of the betrayers."

  "Is that supposed to make me feel bad?" mocked Mog'rath, now turning to address the entire group. "They served their purpose. The three seals of your plane are shattered! The gods have forsaken your plane! And with that ends my use for those miserable fools you call the cabal."

  "Which brings us to now," said Mog'rath. "You can put aside your fears of trickery and deceit. I have little use for them at this point."

  "Speak quickly," said Erina.

  "Quite simple. Your lives for your services. You, the paragons, pledge your services to me and your lives will be spared."

  "And why would we do that?" asked Zephyr.

  "I would think your lives are reason enough. But there's a sweeter reward," said Mog'rath in a playful tone. "Revenge. Against the miserable creatures that left you to this fate. Your so-called gods. Live long enough under me and you shall see their heads fall. You shall see the heavens crumble!"

  "Your covenant?" shouted Erina. "Fools! For all your capacity for cunning and deceit, you are naught but fools if you think your pitiful covenant can stand against the might of the gods."

  "The covenant has accomplished more in the last thousand years than any of the arch-demons have since the beginning of time. We control six hundred planes now. As the number grows, so shall our strength. If the gods are not afraid, they should be!"

  "Afraid?" mocked Erina. "Of eight backstabbing demons allied together for a lost cause? Three of your number have fallen already."

  "Two," corrected Mog'rath. "It would take far more to kill Naxannor than most gods are capable of. This isn't the first time he has died. I have killed him twice myself before we formed the covenant," he continued, chuckling.

  "You'll turn on each other for your own selfish reasons. As demons have done for eons! And even if your alliance lasts long enough, the gods—"

  "The gods are weaker now for the loss of this plane. Three seals for three gods. Two have weakened and retreated, while you stand here a fallen goddess— a mortal for all intents."

  "This is but one plane among thousands that the gods control!" cried Erina.

  "And the will of the covenant shall break them all!" roared Mog'rath, more cracks appearing in its hide as the demon's power surged with its rage.

  They stood in silence for a few moments. Lorian could feel Erina's breath quicken.

  "This is your last chance, mortals. Serve the covenant. Serve me! Live and see vengeance delivered!"

  "What of our plane? Everything that lives in it? Will they be spared?" asked one of the paragons who hadn't spoken before.

  Mog'rath laughed.

  "Your lives for your services. Only the paragons live. The rest of your plane, however... Weaklings. Food," replied the arch-demon.

  The paragons shifted. Erina took a deep breath as well.

  That was it, thought Lorian. He could sense the determination flowing from them. These seemed to be an order of warriors very similar to the Paladins of Myria. They weren't going to sacrifice the rest of their plane just to live.

  "Never," said Triton, raising his sword. He seemed to have spoken for everyone standing there.

  "How unfortunate," said Mog'rath, raising two clawed hands.

  The earth began to shake violently for a moment, and it seemed Mog'rath was casting a spell. But Mog'rath stopped suddenly.

  "A Nearin circle. So, it's true. The gods' gift to the adherents. Amusing," he said as the earth stopped shaking. Looked like Mog'rath's spell had failed.

  "You can't summon your fiends now demon! You die today! Alone!" shouted Triton.

  Three of the paragons cheered. Lorian felt Erina's relief as well.

  "The strongest Nearin circle. The last remnants of my godhood went into creating it. It will not be undone. Not by you," said Erina triumphantly.

  "True. But what do you really know about the Sitri?" asked Mog'rath.

  The earth began to shake once again. Several vertical slits appeared in the space around Mog'rath.

  "Impossible..." said Erina. Some of the paragons began to back away from the demon.

  "No trickery or deceit. You have my word," said Mog'rath as he started moving toward Erina. "Your Nearin circle is perfect. And impossibly strong."

  The slits began to widen as creatures started stepping out of them. Several of them humanoid in appearance, wearing different kinds of armor and carrying an assortment of weapons. No two of them looked alike.

  "The Sitri. Two hundred of the greatest warriors of the lower planes handpicked by me. Warriors. Not just demons."

  Erina began sweating and trembling.

  "My kind are known to detest mortals. But not me. Strength is everything in the Sitri. I found it unbelievable at first but there are half-breeds and mortals strong enough to earn their place within the ranks of the Sitri. Your Nearin circle doesn't do much to stop them. It only stops pure-blooded demons."

  Some of the summoned humanoids already began engaging the Paragons in combat. Both Triton and Zephyr stepped in front of Erina as Mog'r
ath began walking towards her.

  "And of course there's this magnificent creature. Not one of the Sitri. Not mortal or demon. I honestly don't know what it is. I would say your kind are more familiar with it. Seeing as one of yours created it…"

  A massive jagged tear appeared next to Mog'rath and out came a creature unlike any that Lorian had seen before. It had four limbs and stood upright, but was as far apart from any of the creatures around it as possible. Thick, gnarled hide with a brownish-black hue. It was covered with razor-sharp spines of different sizes. If anything, it looked like a leafless tree.

  "I don't really need its help right now. But I just thought I would show you how much your kind underestimates the covenant's strength."

  "That's not—!" shouted Erina. "How did you enslave it?"

  Lorian could feel a torrent of emotions inside Erina. Disbelief. Anger. Terror. But most of all—hopelessness.

  "This one serves the covenant now," said Mog'rath calmly.

  "Retreat!" shouted Erina as the Paragons looked on in confusion. She seemed to know something that the paragons didn't.

  Triton's head disappeared in a fountain of blood. Erina spun around.

  "Zephyr!" she shouted. The man was nowhere to be seen

  Lorian felt a breeze from behind as Mog'rath disappeared. He let out an instinctive scream as he saw Mog'rath reappear and lunge towards Erina, teeth and claws bared.

  *

  Lorian woke up covered in sweat. He pushed off the covers and looked around. He was still inside a cabin on the Queen of Sorrow. He looked around and saw Orcus sleeping on the chair. He crashed back into the bed after his body relaxed. For a moment, he had completely forgotten that it was a dream.

  This was far too vivid for a dream. It was more like a vision.

  The point of view of the dream confused him. Her name was Erina. A fallen goddess.

  Why? Was she sending him a warning about Mog'rath? Unless...

  It suddenly became clear to him. His dream was merely the final memory of one of the essences that Mog'rath had consumed.

  ***---***---***