by M K Drake
Elric revealed this prophecy to both King Ismail and Princess Safaya. Astonished at this revelation, King Ismail knew this could be the last time he would see his sister. He vowed to protect her, even after his death. He evolved the faction of the Imperial Guard that he formed to protect Safaya to carry this on throughout time. They would protect her identity, and her destiny. They prepared throughout the following millennia to be ready for her arrival in the future. King Ismail called them, The League of Aria.
Princess Safaya knew of the League from her brother, but when she arrived in her current timeline, she was never contacted. Only an older version of Elric greeted her, and he promptly took her to meet Olof and Khan.
The timing of the activation of the portal was vital, so before Safaya could step through, she had to be prepared and schooled on certain things before travelling.
Princess Attossa, furious at not being able to find her sister, created another group of assassins, with the sole aim to find her sister… and kill her.
A young Prince called Darius (the first cousin of Safaya, Attossa, and Ismail) found out about Princess Attossa’s plans, and followed this group as they tracked down Safaya.
Darius silently sent word to the King of Attossa’s plans. King Ismail quickly gathered his most skilled League members and met with Darius as they tracked the assassins. The King told Darius of the League he formed, and made him vow to carry it on if for any reason he himself could not.
After a day’s travel, they reached the large valley where Elric was preparing the portal for Safaya to step through. The valley was littered with flamed torches, the orange hue of which flickered against the rock and sand.
Attossa and her group of assassins were close by, and engaged Elric in battle. Attossa, who was unaware that Elric was a member of the Majjai Six, tried to run away upon her realisation that her new enemy was far more powerful than she could have ever imagined. Before she retreated to a safe distance, Attossa caught a glimpse of Safaya, and before fleeing, she decided to take matters into her own hands and threw a spear, aimed directly at Safaya’s heart.
King Ismail, fearing for Safaya’s life, flung himself into the path of the spear, which plunged deep into his chest. Safaya turned to see her beloved brother dying. Because Darius had been instructed to aid the League Of Aria soldiers in helping Elric destroy the assassins, he was too far to help the King.
The rage built up within Safaya. Using her power she commanded the flames from the torches to form a giant sword of fire, and then, without thinking, she killed her sister in one fell swoop.
She knelt next to her brother, tears streaming from her eyes, dropping onto the King’s light armour. He held her hand and told her not to worry, “Our Father would be proud of you, my sister. And know that there are things about Attossa that you were never told. You will learn these things in time.”
“Please, Ismail, do not leave me. You are all I have,” cried Safaya, as she clutched his hand as hard as she could.
In his last moments the dying King saw a light, a glimpse of the future, Safaya’s future. He smiled, looked Safaya deep into her eyes, and said, “Do not worry, you will never be alone…” Then his eyes closed as Safaya hugged him tightly, crying uncontrollably.
After Safaya had travelled through the portal, Darius took Ismail’s place as King to rule the lands of Persia. The League of Aria continued to prosper, and prepared every day in anticipation of the arrival of the Princess throughout time.
# # #
Safaya shakes herself from her reminiscence and returns her attention to the task at hand, continuing to lead Atticus and Joyce to the Majjai training room. Khan and Professor Morgan are waiting, along with someone else, someone Atticus is very happy to see.
“Mr Callan!” screams Atticus, “You’re ok now?”
Mage Callan approaches Atticus “Within these walls, you can call me Mage Callan. And yes, I’m fine, dear boy.”
Atticus grins broadly, and listens to Mage Callan.
“Khan tells me you are learning your powers well,” continues Atticus’s mentor, “I always had a feeling about you. Remember your training; when you return, I will be stepping up your lessons to a higher level. You need to be ready for whatever the Demon Realm will throw at you. Especially since they now know of your existence.”
Atticus nods.
Professor Morgan places a hand on Mage Callan’s shoulder and looks at Atticus, “Are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” replies Atticus.
“Good. We leave in five minutes,” says Professor Morgan.
A Majjai History, Vol 1 Chapter 10: The swords of power
It is rumoured that there are three swords of power: the Sword of Ages, the Sword of Al Amir, and a third sword whose name is still unknown. It is thought that when these three swords are combined, they will be powerful enough to defeat Razakel. It is also said that no human hand will be able to wield this combined sword, only a hand of stone.
The Sword of Ages is currently under the care of Mage Callan, he is pledged to guard it until the arrival of the chosen one. This person will take charge of the sword when his identity is known. The Sword of Ages was the known weapon of choice for Kazmagus, it is said he fashioned it with a fusion of blue and red Magic. The sword’s power has never met an equal, and it is the only sword other than the Sword of Al Amir to be known as ‘Dragon Slayer’. Both swords are cut from precious stones and magically infused as to never shatter. The Sword of Ages is made from diamond and emerald, while the sword of Al Amir is constructed from ruby, infused with dragon’s blood.
The Sword of Al Amir is said to be the only sword capable of destroying Draconus, the most powerful of dragons, and who allies with Razakel. It is not fully known what happened to the rest of the dragon kingdom, they disappeared a long time ago along with many other Magical creatures. This will be detailed further in a later chapter, The Age of Transition.
Al Amir himself was a shadow king, hidden from mortal history but well-known in Majjai and Demonic circles. The exact time of his existence is unknown, as none of the scriptures found detailing his life were ever dated; however, carbon dating techniques of modern times put the scriptures themselves at about the time of Kazmagus. Some advanced research claims to have found evidence of a family relation, some hypothesise that Al Amir and Kazmagus were brothers, some even state they may be the same being. One thing is for certain, these two swords were fashioned with the same Magic.
The third sword is said to lie close to the tomb of Kazmagus, but no one has ever found the tomb, and hence the third sword remains lost.
Chapter 15
The Beasts of the North
Safaya, Joyce, and Atticus glance at each other confusingly. They were not expecting to leave until later in the day, so this new element of urgency takes them by surprise.
“There has been another sighting; the quicker we leave, the easier it will be to track them down,” says Khan.
Professor Morgan walks towards Atticus, “You must stay close at all times, and do as I say.”
Atticus nods, he can feel the adrenaline beginning to increase throughout his body. He was excited before, but that excitement soon starts to turn to fear. The stark realisation of the dangers before him is beating against his very soul. For a moment he almost decides to skip this opportunity, but then he looks at Joyce, and wonders what she would think of him if he did so. Beads of sweat begin to form on his brow, and then a welcome interruption to his doubts distracts him.
“Before you leave, Atticus, I have a gift for you,” says Mage Callan.
“A gift?” replies Atticus.
“Yes, every generation of Majjai has a keeper, a guardian. This guardian’s job is to protect a sword − the Sword of Ages. It is made from a Magical fusion of emerald and diamond. No-one knows exactly when it was created, but it has been in our possession for thousands of years,” says Mage Callan as he walks towards a large stone chest in the corner of the room.
He op
ens the chest and pulls out a long object, wrapped in an old sack-cloth, “For this generation, it was I who was chosen to protect the sword for the chosen one, Atticus; it has been saved for you,” he hands the wrapped object to Atticus.
“This is the sword?” asks Atticus. Mage Callan nods, and Atticus begins to unwrap it.
“You have learnt much from being my student, Atticus; this sword will tap into your knowledge. Trust it − for it already trusts you,” Mage Callan looks intently towards his student with pride.
Atticus unwraps the final piece of cloth to reveal a ruby-emblazoned leather sheath, and a hilt with smooth indentations, perfectly formed for Atticus’ hand. Also on the hilt is an emblem, one that Atticus knows all too well now − it matches the Majjai insignia on his arm. As he holds the hilt, he feels his arm tingle slightly, he rolls up his sleeve to reveal his mark, glowing blue, as if this union with this sword has been a long time coming.
The inhabitants of the room stare in wonder, and the realisation that Atticus is certainly the chosen one is clearly seen within Mage Callan’s eyes.
Atticus pulls out the sword, to reveal an inscription on the side of the blade.
‘K^ZM^GVS’
“What does this mean?” he asks.
“It is the first time we have seen it. Let me have a look,” says Mage Callan as he takes a closer examination, “Kazmagus… it can’t be!”
“Kazmagus?” says Safaya, “I have heard that name before − my father spoke of him. He was the first Majjai. Nicknamed ‘The Dark Hero’ and banished to the Void by followers of Asmodei.”
“Void? Asmodei?” says Atticus, as the now all-too-familiar look of confusion washes over his face again. He feels that whenever he is beginning to understand this new world, something else comes along to add more to it.
Professor Morgan places his hand on Atticus’s shoulder, “Didn’t you read that book I gave you? Anyway, that’s too much to worry about for now Atticus, no-one really knows much about Kazmagus, or what happened to him, or if he even actually existed,” he says, as he looks to the group in front of Atticus, “Mage Callan, contact Elric regarding this inscription. He may have some answers for us,” Mage Callan nods as the Professor turns to Atticus and continues, “We need to leave now, gather round.”
Mage Callan steps towards Atticus, “When you return, I will teach you how to use this sword properly.”
Atticus, Khan, Joyce, and Safaya gather around Professor Morgan. He closes his eyes, and raises his arms, and as he says the words, “Enteghaal be maghsad,” he brings the palms of his hands together. As soon as the two palms touch, a bright flash of light forces the group to close their eyes, then a snapping sound cracks around the room. In a moment, the five find themselves on the outskirts of a large forest, just in front of the tree line. Behind them lies grassland as far as the eye can see.
“Ennerdale Forest,” says Professor Morgan, answering the question before it is asked.
They enter the forest in a line, their feet stepping in unison. The rustle of leaves on the ground resonates through the trees with each step. The rest of the forest is eerily silent, the movement of its five new inhabitants the only sign of active life.
“Quieter,” whispers the Professor. The other four immediately attempt to walk more softly, avoiding the dry, fallen leaves. They continue onward for about fifteen minutes.
Each of them takes turn to lead the line, with Atticus taking the rear as he clasps his new sword for dear life. The fear-fuelled adrenaline continues to pump through his veins, as the Professor suddenly stops, and motions everyone to be still.
“There, in the clearing, do you see it?” asks the Professor very quietly, “Khan, any ideas?”
“Not yet. I’ll go in for a closer look, wait here,” Khan moves swiftly but silently towards the clearing, leaving the others to wait anxiously.
Atticus tries to peer into the distance, but all he can see is foliage and trees, and he is unable to make out anything that looks remotely threatening. Another fifteen minutes pass by before Khan returns.
“What did you see?” asks the Professor.
“It is strange,” replies Khan, “There is something there, but it appears to go on for miles, I tried to go around, but it seems that there is no ending to it. A wall of some kind.”
“Any demons on the way there?” asks Safaya.
Khan shakes his head, “No demons − stranger still, there appears to be no life at all.”
The Professor puts his hand on Atticus’ shoulder, “Stay close now, use your sword if you have to, but be careful if you do. Control and restraint will be important for you. Even we do not know the extent of your abilities yet.”
Atticus clasps the sheath of his sword even tighter and follows the Professor as they all head towards the clearing.
“Another thing,” says Khan, “It is night there.”
“Night?” asks Safaya.
“Yes, the sky turned into night the closer I got to the clearing. It was strange. I fear we are dealing with more than just lower-level demon beasts here. The facade is strong Magic; I’ve not seen anything like it before,” Khan replies ominously.
They finally reach the clearing to find themselves faced with what can only be described as a giant bubble, its southern hemisphere bounded by the forest floor. It stands so high that they are barely able to glimpse even the tallest trees over it. The mirrored surface ripples as the breeze swoops through the air around it. The five adventurers are dwarfed by the size of this strange object. The Professor approaches it first.
“This is interesting. I have read about these, but never seen one,” says the Professor.
“What is it?” asks Joyce.
“A demon cage. But why it is here, I have no idea,” replies the Professor.
“How do we get in?” asks Safaya.
“Ahhh, that’s the thing you see,” replies the Professor, “Getting in isn’t the problem; getting out is where we may have trouble. For all intents and purposes, these things are designed to keep things inside, and not to let them out. Demon cages are used as training in the demon world − last demon standing, wins. The only way to unlock it is to either destroy the demons inside or destroy the key. This one looks quite fresh, it’s only recently been created.”
The Professor looks at the Majjai Six members with him, and slowly puts his right arm inside the bubble, “Arrrrrghhhh!” the Professor screams out.
Safaya and Joyce run to grab him, then stop as he quickly pulls his arm out, chuckling.
“Not funny!” says Safaya, sporting an unimpressed pout.
“Just trying to lighten the mood,” Professor Morgan says quickly, “Looks like you are only locked in when your whole body has stepped through. On three, then?”
They all shrug their shoulders and follow the Professor through once he finishes his count down. Atticus looks around as they all walk through. He feels odd, as if he can feel the bubble’s wall push them further in as they walk through the thick surface edge of the cage. Sounds are muffled and uneven, almost as if all the life in the forest is muted through this thick, mucus-like membrane. After only a few steps they are through.
The inside of this bubble is nearly as strange. It feels both dead and alive at the same time, the air so still and at first the smell is so stagnant that Atticus finds it difficult to breathe; but then, after a few more steps the air freshens, the floral scents of forest life sweetens it, and everything feels normal again.
There are active signs of battle, evidenced by charred and broken trees, large craters and shattered pieces of rock. Above them the large dome like ceiling is opaque, the strange, night-coated sky is just about visible, but misshaped, with ripples flowing around the uppermost parts.
Atticus keeps up as the group step forward with caution, waiting for any sign of movement. The area is still quiet, almost deafeningly so. They venture deeper and deeper into this strange bubble.
“How did you know that this is a fresh demon cage Professor?�
�� asks Joyce.
“The size of it, my dear,” replies the Professor, “It’s large. As a demon cage ages, it shrinks. The older it gets, the faster it shrinks. If there is no winner in the trial, the owner of the key is able to collapse the cage, crushing all within it. Or, if the time runs out, again, anyone or anything surviving within it is crushed.”
“So, it was not very safe coming in here then?” says Atticus.
The Professor smiles, “Perhaps not, but we don’t have much choice. Our prey is somewhere in here. And we need to find it, or them. We are expecting four of them. The only way to collapse the cage safely is to destroy the key.”
“Shhhhh!” says Khan, “I sense something.”
Everyone immediately stands still, waiting for a sign from Khan. Atticus holds his breath; his heart is beating so hard it feels as if it is about to pump out of his chest.
“We are being followed, watched,” Khan whispers, “Everyone, close to me, now.”
In an instant, the group huddles close to Khan. Joyce creates a shield around them, “Just one of my little tricks,” she says, winking at Atticus.
The ground begins to shake violently. A rumbling noise begins to reverberate around them, shaking the ground harder and faster. The Majjai steadfastly hold their ground.
“You arrive to your doom Majjai,” says a deep, growling voice, “We have been waiting for you!”
“Show yourself demon!” shouts the Professor.
The ground shakes more vigorously and the Majjai try to find some stable footing.
Three Screamers and an Orc jump out of from behind the trees. Atticus winces slightly at the sight of them, it is the first time he has seen a demon outside of his dreams. The Screamers are large, salivating beasts with dog-like faces and broken skin looking every bit as unworldly as can be. The Orc is dull green in colour, with pocked skin and tattered clothing; it wields a large club, which is riddled with dents and bumps from previous encounters.
“Ahhhh, I see you bring us a gift,” the lead Screamer says as he looks at Atticus, “The chosen one. Master will be pleased.”