by Luke DeSalvo
“You can come here whenever you want now,” Lulali said quietly. She hovered above them before sitting down in the sand with a sharp laughter.
“Lulali!” Codiac exclaimed, sitting up straight as well. “You did it!”
Suzette smiled, not knowing what was going on, but could tell that the pair had a long past together. That their bond would last forever. She felt at home here, the sun was shining before them, making her feel blanketed by warmth.
“My parents have just conceived me,” Lulali stated. “They’re so cold in the mountains, I just cannot believe it’s finally happening.”
“What does that mean?” Codiac asked.
“I have to get going.” She said floating towards the sun. “Just remember that I am the seventh season and I have chosen you two lead the way for me. Your memory will be feint, but I shall guide your heart once more.”
“How do I know where to turn?” Suzette asked.
“By following closely to him,” she pointed at Codiac.
“Now, continue your trial, Guardian!”
Lulali disappeared in the sun’s rays and the world began spinning in circles for a few sudden rotations until finally a blinding light consumed them.
Chapter 7
“And I dreamt disaster and deceit, envisioning possibilities none can bare without going insane. I believe that that was the darkest day. A nightmare, but they do come in handy.”
Suzette Monroe
Guardian of Thyne
Codiac ran his fingers through his matted scalp as he skimmed through Diz's report from the study chamber of the headquarters of Golden Hearts. The room was big full of chairs and desks with research information, archives from lost lore to recent news. There was an espresso bar surrounded by a tiny kitchenette and bookshelves blocking off entrance, making subtle rooms for studying purposes.
He had been looking through the charts and graphs of the guild structure, including the nature of these new agents and found the task tiresome and boring. His mind was simply struck at the dream invasion he had the week prior.
An actual Guardian! He mused.
He received a special report from his spirit guide Lulali to venture forth in the astral realms. It was exciting news to know that she would be born soon, and the young man felt kind of empty without her. He had not gone through the dream world since, for he knew Amethyst Divine suspected, and he did not wish to go to court for spying on one of the Emperor’s own men. Rather, female. She was gorgeous and led to the task of guiding his own soul to his god self. A tiring task he began since childhood. The process had increased his reflexes and mind to the point of addiction.
Somehow, he must meet this woman. Their destinies were intertwined, so deep down he knew he would see her again.
A passionate night.
There was something amess though, the dream included a portal and the wretched Xyl’thos that was still on the prowl. The thought haunted him. What was the interpretation of symbology on that one? He did not know. Lulali was key for bringing for the seventh season and she looked a lot like these two candidates.
Codiac’s eyes returned to the many pages, after the day dreaming, to analyze a full desk, a laptop uncharged, papers scattered among even the floor, his hat lay along with it.
The highest tower of the guild hall was Codiac's domain and now he felt cooped up and complacent. Cabin fever was an understatement.
Instead of complaining and dwelling on his dream expertise, the acting guild leader continued his search among the pages. He had to admit, the house cat, Diz, put her all on these findings, leaving him only to scratch the back of his head on the full results of her research.
“Ildarachi and Aurora,” Codiac mused, gently leaving his seat, he paced towards his shelf on a book of summoning.
Summoners could summon zodiacs into being. There were seven total representing water, earth, air, fire, spirit, holy, and unholy. The report was thorough claiming that Aurora knew all the elemental summons, but supposedly, Ildarachi knew all seven had forsaken a pact with one of the unholy summon known as Malifer. It was a lunar eclipse where Ildarachi and his crew were sent to disperse with a dragon awakener, a wyvern that ultimately had already risen Xyl’thos back into being. Breaking the covenant, Malifer took control of Ildarachi’s body that night, where he destroyed his companions, all save for Aurora. A powerful summon that was not meant to take lightly, and Ildarachi did, bringing a foul curse onto his being.
Extremely powerful new members.
These two elite summoners could mock his very own treasures if that was the case, he considered carefully, before realizing his own newly fashioned weapon from deep within, Alexandra. The young man thought of unleashing the sword now, only to find hesitance and went back to his seat, returning to the character summaries.
Ildarachi was a strange one. Forsaking nobility in the kingdom of Layeth for a prouder magic response. He became a summoner at an unorthodox age of fifteen, remarkable mastery at so young, he was immediately admitted to Silver Aura, training ferociously. His missions were an outstanding rate of success that made even Codiac blush, but it seemed as if he fell in love too soon with the other candidate, Miss Aurora. The log stated that he would simply vanish with her at lengthened times, even if so love making, it would appear he was working on her training.
Aurora was the problem maker. Shortly joining Silver Aura later years after Jason, she would often boast her abilities and become carried away with showing off and taking on too difficult tasks. Taking on the hardest of missions and succeeding. Without Ildarachi's aid on half of them, she would been found guilty of delinquency, a genius with no ground to stand, a kite with no tail. The photographs proved the mayhem perfectly, presenting a woman so attractive and seductive that it simply spelled out one word.
Trouble.
Codiac placed down the many pages, a mimic chart was placed to test their class abilities with the other Golden Hearts troop. The crew's most recommended candidates for the squad was Toston's, of course, but Codiac was not sure if he wanted the bragging rights to himself, even if it would be costly to moral. The thought of having a couple of summoners on his side was quite a soothing thought. Whatever the cost though, he decided, the two must not be separated from each other. Not now, at least.
However, he was getting a head of himself, the curse was a whole other issue entirely.
There must be another remedy, he thought to himself.
Dalamoris was meant for royal bloodline and was illegal to give out to the commonplace. Golden Hearts could get fined, killed, or worse, abandoned for relinquishing such a gift. News could get around fast in Entos, there were no doubt spies in his own home. Although, it seemed as if there was no choice in the matter. He wondered if the trade was made too hastily, what was the deal with Phiamon anyway? Golden Hearts should not have that close of an allegiance to an act that could destroy the entire guild. It was no secret that other factions despised Golden Hearts, what if this was a mutiny?
There were researchers working around the clock looking for the remedies to Ildarachi's mystery.
We still have time, he reminded himself.
With a pause, and a grumble of stomach, hunger settled in. Codiac reached onto his dark black desk for a water bottle and chugged the remainder of liquid inside leaving the empty container on his desk.
“First, I eat!” Codiac exclaimed loudly, his mind shifted focus to the brandy and whatever was left of the company in the mess hall. Too many had left for the quest of the dragon Xyl'thos, and only a handful members of the guild remained. Brittaney Lockett, being one of the few, maybe she could provide some answers, besides, she was gorgeous and needed the attention only Codiac could provide.
He missed her, he decided. They had talked about taking things into the next level. Of her retiring from the assassination life and living a semi normal life with the young man. Now with the Guardian in play, Codiac was uncertain, but he still wanted to see her. Plus, technically, he still was single.
Red lights flashed all throughout the building.
“No,” he whispered in distraught.
Codiac angled himself against the stained-glass window, going into battle instincts basics.
His sight was blurred from the emerald portrait along the wall, but he could see through it. Barely.
A band of soldiers of some type. One hundred, he counted in his head roughly. The one in lead...he paused temporarily not able to believe his eyes. A red headed woman wearing black midnight armor was launching the assault. Two Golden Hearts members were sliced into two, with that unmistakable katana, Destroyer. With four feet in length, no one had the agility and cunning to use it as her.
“Danielle Avilya,” Codiac murmured, his heart sunk at the lives already lost to the battle field and rage began to ensue.
“Dammit!” Codiac cursed as he made his steps quickly back to his closet. He hastily placed on his gear, it was never too far, thoughts of betrayal crossed paths in his mind. Amethyst Divine had done the unthinkable.
What about father and the others? The young knight shrugged off the last thought almost immediate as it began. There were more pressing matters at hand, with the chain of command falling on him, among thirty soldiers to his lead, matters were already looking grim already.
“Damn!” he spat as he put on his last gauntlet.
There was no time to waste, every second was a necessity.
Without delay, Codiac opened the door to the corridors and hastily sped up his magical footwear, igniting the hover launch system that propelled him even in further strides.
He heard a thud as the building ruptured, sending him off balance.
The gates must have been breached, was his only conclusion as his mind raced with anticipation. Within moments he finally reached the balcony that loomed over the mess hall and stood transfixed in horror.
His comrades, his teammates were being slaughtered. From the far away kitchen, Codiac could hear torturous screams only to be reckoned with silence. Below, gun shots were being fired along with steel clashing, as table tops were being flung over for protection. Spells shot like fireworks throughout the hall, claiming lives, but Amethyst Divine was prepared and the Golden were not.
Avilya lead the way up the spiral stair case, coming closer, but the young man's eyes were fixed upon a more gruesome matter.
The elf in red, the familiarity struck him from his first arrival back home, and the same menacing look he saw at the train terminal was giving him chills. Faelynx, battled on with Codiac's childhood sweetheart, Brittaney Lockett who was cornered by two other Amethyst Divine’s agents. She took quick notice on the captain's arrival, parrying a purple flamed sword assault with the elf with a mere enchanted dagger. Brittaney than rolled to the side and stabbed one elf’s heart out and dug her dagger deep into the next incomer. She was holding her own but forced on the retreat by Faelynx.
“Captain get out of here!” She cried as she blocked one more blow to the torso.
It was too late. The next blow came swift and with the young maiden distracted, it found its way, piercing between her rib cage, killing her on impact.
Blood splattered all over the ground.
“Brittaney!” Codiac's scream echoed in the hallways.
With a lust for blood and deadly hatred, the young man dove off the balcony to meet the red knight head on from the air.
The elf in red, surprised him sudden as he too launched to the skies and met him impossibly high into the suspended airborne.
With a clash of swords, Codiac's energy blade created an impact so powerful, the young man went flying out the window, sending sparks of glass crashing outside.
The cool air of the outdoors was Codiac's first awakening, he shifted his conscious on the magic of his precious attire and willed himself to stand on the wall instead of spiraling downwards.
The secretive Amethyst Divine agent met him on the side of the building, shifting perspective.
Codiac cursed in anger.
“Where is Lulali hiding!?” Faelynx called, swinging his blade in a threatening stance against the wall.
With rage, Codiac regained control of his green saber and rushed him on the vertical platform. They met with lightning speed attacks, dancing further upwards on the building, the red knight mimicking the young man's movements swiftly.
It was a race to the top as the two clashed on and Codiac reached the landing first, out distancing himself from the deadly intruder.
“Why are you doing this!?” Codiac choked, winded from the escape.
“You are one of the seven, boy!” Faelynx retorted, “It should’ve been me, but only you chosen have the ability to bring forth the seventh season. Your spirit can cross the portal once you explore. Join us and we shall rid Systralas of all her vermin and bring paradise to her lands.”
“How dare you taunt me!” Codiac growled in defiance as he began his charge once more but stopped abruptly when lightning struck before the two opponents.
The blast sent the stone bursting off the edge of the building and the two were left shielding their eyes.
When they opened once again, Kaeltrys Zalonga was at place.
He wore his blue battle robe and beckoned Codiac to come closer.
“Captain!” The Arch Mage replied, “Grab a hold of me!”
Codiac complied with haste, lurching unto his shoulder as the two were teleported in a bright light with ethereal energy to another dimension.
With no more opponents left, Faelynx sheathed his weapon quickly.
“Danielle…” He frowned, placing his hands across his chest. “Is not going to like this. Both Dream mages have escaped us.”
Chapter 8
“And the mighty guild fell, and they despaired. Although through the tears of the lost, hope remained. If they could only find the Star Born a destiny would reveal itself.”
Clairvona Aya, Sleet
Scion of Systralas
Codiac and Kaeltrys flowed through a rainbow whirlwind, seething through the light. Their stomachs squelched as if riding a rollercoaster of blinding arrays of color, twirling faster and faster into circles.
When it stopped, a bright light flashed before them, revealing a new reality far different from any other.
The sky was dark yet glittering with immense radiance from a neighboring planet with a large glowing asteroid belt. Multiple moons, Codiac counted seven, all differing from glistening white, to orbits glowing red and blue. The light commanded the surface world of plains to gleam yellow green with fertile grass under a purple royal haze.
At their level, there were no trees save for the only they were standing under and under it lay a single wooden table with two stools that were barren among miles and miles of plains, with no sign of habitation.
“A dimension within my own subconscious,” Kaeltrys stated with a staggered breath, before grasping the stool gracefully. “We're safe here,” he said as he ached to sit down.
“For now,” He added.
Codiac stood frozen, gazing at the night sky before him, so different, yet so similar, marking the resemblance in his friend and mentor, the archmagician.
So much had happened today, so much bloodshed, the loss of his guildmates, including Brittaney, was so unbearable to Codiac that he found sadness gripping his heart to tears. Did the red knight truly mean Golden Hearts was at its demise? Answers were needed Codiac decided, so he brushed off his tears momentarily before nodding, joining Kaeltrys at the table, sitting adjacent to him.
When he saw the mage so helplessly defenseless, a sudden panic attack took the captain's chest, stealing all the air out of him, sorrow turned into anger which turned into a roar.
“You could have stopped them!” Codiac cried with rage, pounding his fists on the desk.
Kaeltrys simple stared, weakened, until he looked down and simply cried. Codiac was never used to seein
g any sorrow, depression or sadness, and Codiac’s anger went to a halt and he found himself joining the mage, crying a little while before Kaeltrys regained some composure.
“I could not,” He breathed, brushing the hair from his scalp.
“What happened out there?” Codiac asked sternly.
“I denied my destiny..” Kaeltrys replied with a croak, before returning to his sobs. “It was not yet my time. I went to Xyl’thos to fulfill a prophecy that Lulali once gave me. They tried to capture me, everything went wrong. Golden Hearts is done for,” He cried.
“Amethyst Divine?” Codiac asked.
The arch magician nodded heavily, then breathed out a gust of wind in response.
Codiac stood up, standing quietly gazing at the many moons and blossoming purple lit nebulas. He wondered if he had seen this place before, and if he would see it again, the thought choked down his tears.
“They still have us to take in consideration,” Codiac said, not quite leaving his gaze at one moon, this a faded pale orange. “Lulali, shall be born.”
The archmagician’s eyes widened. “Why haven’t I sensed this!?”
“Because you were too busy fighting dragons, while I was fulfilling prophecies.”
“The guardian then?”
“She’s coming with us, something is foul at play with Systralas, and now this?” Codiac returned his stare back at the pale orange moon. “We're Golden Hearts now,” He said.
Kaeltrys simply stared back towards Codiac with hardened resolve.
“Danielle Avilya,” Codiac murmured. “Your death will bring us great glory.”
“Then may the seventh season finally arise,” Kaeltrys called behind him.
Chapter 9
“I feel them! All their energies call to me in a dance of despair. They’re all so weary, making me tired, but all I ever do is sleep and see them all the same. Their hardened resolve is what shapes the planet now. The stage has been set. So be it.”