by Luke DeSalvo
“There are seven that are destined to bring the star child back to the recesses of space,” Zeno continued as Suzette recovered.
Dazed and confused, Suzette retreated left from the striking zone and came back to action with a scream. She was provoked now, furiously climbing in her attacks. Out of all his failed pupils, the master Zeno had never sensed such rage from any being before and it was his turn to be upon his heels.
The young warrior often was calm, happy-go-lucky, and elegant, but when angered she was the deadliest fighter one could find, earning her title Queen of the South from the ongoing war residing in the accursed Gomugaltha. With her on offense now, she performed quickening slash to the chest of her master. They were easily dodged but when the head strikes took place Zeno found himself edging ever backwards.
She implemented her own kicks in the fray and found one land into the old man's chest slamming him to the ground where he recovered quickly, hand grasping the floor momentarily for support. With even more furry her speedy attacks where winning and gaining viable ground, steel smashing steel.
Finally, Zeno caught her blade with his bare hand, right before it would slice into his chest. Blood soaked the sword and it dripped freely onto the ground. The old man’s breaths came into gasps.
“You are one of the chosen seven!” Zeno stated.
Too stunned to reply, Suzette aimed to recollect her sword, but her master’s grip was firm.
“I’ve chosen the right successor,” He said, then he took the blade and stabbed himself deeply into his heart. Breastplate shattering on impact.
Blood squirted into Suzette's eyes as a fountain of death. Another stunned sensation commenced. Scared and frightened she quickly wiped the fluid away with haste and opened her eyes in surprise to find a dead body of her master lying on the ground. The young Guardian did not even how to react. Her master was alive, winning the battle just moments ago, yet there he lay, still twitching, a body without a soul.
The realization was not completely in place, for the act of suicide that had been recently committed. Her main role model in life was no longer alive. When Suzette's gaze was steadied at the horrific bloodied sight, shock took hold of her.
What have I done? She thought trembling.
“No,” She whispered silently, whether to the death or to the destiny she did not know.
Pain anguished tears began streaming down her face. She closed her eyes rather than facing the sight and put her head down in denial before screaming at the top of her lungs.
“No!” She cried again, “No! No! No!” She repeated with yells and banged on the ground with all her might with her plated fist, the only stunt that could bring forth any comfort in such a dire tragedy.
She then stood still on her knees, crying evermore.
“Your efforts are wasted!” Guardian Mallerd called upstairs, with a melancholy low baritone voice. He began his descent quickly, in a gentle manner filled with grace and dignity while his contorted hawked face resumed normality.
“You are the victor that has reached the final glory,” he said when reaching the sobbing knight. The general placed one hand on her shoulder in sympathy before helping her back upon her feet.
“Do not cry at this!” his dark voice booming, echoing among the arena. Her tears stopped.
“I promise that you do not want to cry on this holy night,” He said, this time softer. “Zeno chose his retirement well. He lived a long life and was full of pride from you. Don’t waste his death with your tears of denial.”
Suzette choked down a sob, not wanting to disobey her commanding office.
“Funeral pyres will be brought to life in the morning, a celebration for such service from a great soldier. Your ceremony, however, your celebration will be even greater than his. Nothing but an honor has been fulfilled on this day.”
Her eyes met up to the captain of the guardians that were soaked in tears and indifference.
“I didn't want it to happen like this though,” she choked, weeping starting up again.
“It was a necessity,” He calmed her and backed away to inspect the dead man's body.
“Analysis reading complete,” Dr. Shenadale called from the mic. There was a brief pause as he scanned the data. “A one hundred percent match for the operation. It's never been seen before!” He read the monitor thoroughly, even laughing in excitement.
“Outstanding!” His voice came to a shrill.
There was a pause as Suzette straightened herself further, but this time in triumph and resolve. She was used to death and commanding herself to look serious even with the tragedy of her master’s death lingering on her shoulders.
The Guardian Mallerd exchange a strong look with her, studying the new Guardian completely and thoroughly.
“Outstanding,” the Guardian repeated with an even deeper amazed vibration.
Chapter 3
“I’ve heard tales of the feats of Golden Hearts. A band of mercenaries for the highest bidder. One cannot trust in them and their lust for power. Greed is their name. Not Golden.”
Aurora Bendix
Summoner of Silver Aura
Codiac Dalin left his steam train terminal that was filled with its lush fragrance through the wooden hallway that lead the station’s many gates. He quickly made his way through the station and ignoring the crowd giving him many stares. When Codiac stepped outside of the confines he was immediately embraced by the harsh chill wind of the cold spring. He had arrived at his homeland, Entos. The city beyond his premises glittered with lights amongst the darkness. A shimmering gem throughout all nations. Not a star was in sight, the skyscrapers guarded them in a booming fashion of his tremendously powerful and blustering city. Steam engines moved through heavy trafficked streets, full of busy crowds coming and going.
Codiac released a sigh as he entered the eventful and packed atmosphere. The young warrior stood a little stand offish at first, with his appearance so dramatic and considered an eye sore. He was dressed unusual, his breastplate and leggings of enchanted gleamed cobalt, however, that is where the matching ended. He wore elvish made bright green gloves, that hastened the user's reflexes, a black cloak with magical resistance capabilities, on top of his head was a purple wide brimmed hat with sharpened intuitive properties, while his feet he wore orange plated boots that were installed with the extremely rare unit of hovering capabilities. His Golden Heart pendant embroidered unto his black cloak still shown with magnitude silencing the crowd with awe from what seemingly appeared as a fashion disaster.
Scurried glances were appeased most as he walked on the stone embedded path away from the train terminal, with his cape ever flapping behind, however a strange sight was glowering upon him from the distance next to a regal shopping area, past the standing crowd next to the escalators, camouflaged among a group of talking elders, stood an elf, dressed in red plated armor, staring, in what Codiac thought as menace.
An evil sight, and Codiac considered it none too lightly. Elves were rare among the nation, including the guilds, only fourteen members of Golden Hearts being among them, and this did not seem to be a guild mate, no matter how well equipped this being appeared.
The elves preferred the woodland homeland to the north, Kasal and Nosta, where they kept to themselves. This one however, was strangely here and appeared none too excited to see the knight captain, displaying his hate stained eyes which stared and met his own. The young Codiac thought of striking down the intruder then and there, he had done worse with minor insults, then the young man second guessed the notion and decided to approach, calmly.
“Hail, elf,” Codiac said with a smirk.
“Greeting human,” The elf returned.
“I heard of your feats from the South, boy,” The elf in red continued. “Need I remind you that your faith is broken in your crumbling guild. There’s nothing left for you there. You must come north to join us. The nether calls.”
The knight captain’s face flushed in anguish. How dare he mock his pride in his guild, he was
one of the Golden Hearts, but he bit his tongue and instead fixed his hair hanging below his wide brimmed hat.
“How did you hear of my explorations in the dreaded Gomugaltha?” Codiac asked sternly.
There was a brief paused when the elf’s face went red too, almost as red as his armor. Then he calmed and smoothed how his rich long dark hair.
“Pardon me,” He said, feigning embarrassment. “It’s just that, well,” He stammered. “With the seventh season coming and all we could use someone with your… capabilities” The elf said licking his lips. “I know you found something,” He added rudely. “I know you know all about it. Making you elect, dream mage.”
But how did he know? Codiac thought to himself. It was dangerous to be a dream magician. A forbidden art to pry in those of dreams. That duty was specifically left to the Scion, Sleet, her adepts, nobles, and the outcasts chosen, as far as he could tell, he had never been caught by Sleet and her crew, nor any elves, so why was he pestering him?
“Who announces me?” Codiac returned with a bluff, changing the subject to his advantage.
“I am called Faelynx,” The elf grinned. Codiac understood the elf nicknames were based on past events of an elf coming of maturity, it was a special name, and the young knight captain was none too fond of this one. The creatures known as the Faelynx were mightily deadly. It caught the young man’s attention and he became very aware of his opponent.
“I come from the north, an elite of the treasured Amethyst Divine,” The elf in red continued.
Amethyst Divine!?
They were the top guild in Systralas, the oldest as well. What were they doing down here? Surely it was not meant for just a recruitment. Besides, elves did not allow for humans to join their guilds. Why this?
Sensing Codiac’s desperation, the elf smiled and turned to part. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts, Codiac.” He said, beginning to walk away. “Besides, we’ll be together very soon,” he called, disappearing in the alleyway.
When no one was around, Codiac shook off his chill nervous sweat and breathed.
“Faelynx.”
Not wanting to dwell on the cryptic messenger, Codiac left the area quickly. He was home after all and with another mission completed underneath his belt. Now was not time to dwell on the uncertain, but to celebrate and at the guild's own headquarters to boot. A warm supper and golden ale or mead was the only task on his menu, not worrying about being recruited, or worse imprisoned from his dark art. He would have to lay low for a while, but that did not seem to matter to him, he had to remind himself that it was a mission accomplished. The young man stepped further out of the plaza to the outdoors from the busy landing and small forest beyond.
He entered the Park of Dreams, just outside from the central complex gate still shimmering with lights and towering behind him. A fitting name for the recent encounter, and there even seemed to be a fair in its wake, they were ever so popular in Entos, considered a mandatory quarterly event. In its forest’s lush grasps there were elaborate built rides, roller coasters, surrounded with venues that included kettle corn stands, hot dogs, pizza, fried food including everything from lizard to Popsicle. Arcade systems flashed with their prizes, even art galleries displayed with their own dazzle containing everything from elaborate paintings, finely tuned wood works cut in fashions of sacred beasts, even one jewelry stand was in reach, a foreign sight not regular for any fair.
The children were dancing about Codiac now, his appearance standing out in the crowd. They surrounded him with their cotton candies and with vibrating laughter pointed at the warrior.
“You're a member of Golden Hearts!?” They'd cry, entranced by his adornment on cloak.
“Knight captain of Golden Hearts!” Codiac exclaimed.
“Wow!” One of them said. “You must be terribly strong!”
“Are you the strongest ever!” Another exclaimed.
“Worse than some,” Codiac said smiling. “Better than most,” He added.
“Do you know magic!?” The leader of the pack shrilled.
Codiac smiled greedily and pat the head of the nearest child, then squatted to give them all the appropriate attention. He stunted a theater's magic trick with a pink flower transforming to a spare fifty genie bill and handed it to the leader of the pack. Enough to have them play around happily for the rest of the night.
“Thank you!” They chimed in unison and ran off to play further into the fair.
“You’re welcome!” He called amused.
Codiac left alone now, following the canal's bank of the park deeper into the glimmering city.
Well, at least children are still simple, Codiac thought to himself, still unsure of the shady elf, not liking the feeling in his stomach, he turned his attention to the city. Twice tonight about him and his doings in magic it must be an omen as he since the thrill of satori as he continued his walk.
Shifting his attention to his surroundings he found that he admired the tall skyscrapers that were still brightly lit, even in this cold dark hour, the most. Homecoming finally struck, leaving him staring at the starless sky, barely able to make out the wine glass shaped moon.
With a sigh, he returned his sight to the ground and hurried his pace to the Golden Hearts headquarters, located not far from the central plaza.
His quick trek was not only for the mead and merriment, but to return to the guild master, Cidher Dalin, his very own father. These were harsh times in Systralas, chaos still ran inside and outside these walls, with a rumored dragon on the rise, and his last task did not end in failure, a surprise to be certain, but in perhaps his most rewarding success in his career.
In his holding bag, entwined with Abyss magic on his back, held his reward, a magic ancient scroll from the beginning of ages, his only treasure from the south that must be sent to the head mage, and his tutor, Kaeltrys Zalonga, for further identification and a hopeful casting. Codiac secretly hoped that this item was indeed the legendary weapon of renown, Alexandra, but was uncertain, he was told, however, that no genie could amount to the open the scroll the user would gain if the spell was cast upon them.
He grinned a greedy grin, even as the tiny felt rain drops came slowly down, motivating him even more to go faster. Challenges always had their rewards, he eagerly reminded himself.
The city of Entos was darkening during the long walk, lights slowly dimming out as he went by. He should have warned the guild to provide transportation for when he arrived, then dismissed the thought as he further beheld the bejeweled city. He was in the concrete street when bicycles passed by without a gesture, in a hurry to escape the elements, no doubt. It was then when the scent of roses came across, not ordinary roses he mused as the taste of bitterness came upon him.
On a bench, not far off in the distance behind shrub and evergreen alike sat a young couple with their smoking device to inhale the dark drug that was in fact nicknamed “Roses”. However, Codiac was not bothered by the illegal act, he simply shrugged and continued in brisk walk away from the spectacle, knowing all too well that the genie reward for reporting the two, with their ecstatic screams of laughter, was simply unworthy of his time. Besides, he was ever nearing his destination.
He took the next right at the path's intersection and made his way to the heart of the city to his very own hall. The days of old structures arose, that were made of granite and stone stood as giants before him. Painted murals of windows depicted angels ascending to heaven before him spoke castle orderly property with the grace of nobility. Supporting pale columns of the decorated builds were all around each construct, with the embrace of the new parking lot system in place where few vehicles in the premises. Beyond the black steeled gate, lay gardens with irises and dandelion, sprouting with water fountains spraying upwards to the sky. Dormitories of old estate were nesting out the outside of the main hall, with profession rooms guiding it, meant for forging, herbalism, armor enchantment and magic blessing. There was the gym, ever in use, an infirmary, a glowing game room and ju
st after that the antechamber itself encased with gold fillings.
Codiac was proud of this home much more than anywhere else he had traveled, he respected this place more than all the rest of Systralas. Not once had he thought of joining Amethyst Divine in his brief travels. This was his home where every commodity one needed would easily have. Even the golden structure was a mockery to the common and resembled some of the notorious greed the guild's name reputation brought to them. It was tough being listed at the top five guilds in Systralas, but he could make do with this knowledge with a depth of pride to follow as he went to his guild’s gates.
When the young knight captain reached the ancient iron gated premises that guarded the guild hall, he quickly revealed a magic key to turn, open and close swiftly the passageway, rushing then to the great wooden doors that held the central office.
He pressed the doors open with both hands and entered loud and sweet percussion music into his ears from the guild's musician's stage to the side of the entry way. The hall began as a dining area where the smell of booze, sizzling meats ranging of all sorts from duck to pork. The barbecued flesh entered his nostrils with tantalizing effect. There were thirty tables that were long, rectangular and vast adding extremely familiar faces to the already famous member.
In an instant Codiac spotted Jyles, Dia and his very own squad mate Cringe studying in the corner with their wine glasses. Part of the Magus three circle, all were extremely powerful and stood apart from no one save the archmagician himself, Kaeltrys.
Cringe noticed Codiac enter the room with vigor immediately lifting his glass in a toasting fashion before continuing his studies. Being one of the few elves in his beloved friend still respected his reading materials.
Always the silent one, Codiac mused continuing unnoticed among the already continuously celebrating guild members.
Adjacent to Cringe, sat the rest his platoon all cheering and slurring their words. The array consisted of Frosty, the wood elf druid recruit, Gilthus, the respectable knight and Vyia, another beautiful elf that was extremely attached to the necromancer, Cringe. They were always within seeing distance.