by Liandra Jake
"Flake!" The other exclaimed. The Sereph ignored him, feeling the beat of Arend' heart with a look of wonder.
The off-white Sereph stormed over and forcefully removed Flake's hand. "You know what you've been told. I know you feel these abnormal urges around males. Get them under control or I'll have to report to the Patriarch." He whispered incredibly quietly into Flake's ear. Arend could barely catch the words on the wind.
Arend laughed to himself. "You two ought to talk to each other in your own language. Some people can hear things." Arend said.
"What?" The off-white Sereph asked.
"I have no problem with how he feels. While touching my chest without asking is a little rude, how he feels doesn't bother me." Arend replied. Flake turned away. The other Sereph didn't say anything. "Can you tell me who this Patriarch is?" Arend asked.
"He's the one who guides the sociality of the general populous." Flake replied.
"Flake!" The other hissed.
"He's going to find out anyway!" Flake replied. "You know they wouldn't stop the fortress unless it's important."
Arend sensed something was off. He began to pace back and forth. He stopped at the center. "We're flying crooked." He announced.
The two glanced at each other. "Yes, it's an error we couldn't solve." Flake replied.
"Hmm. If I knew the system, I could help." Arend replied, returning to the railing.
The platform was brought into a dock-like formation that it fitted perfectly into with a loud click. "Stay here. Visitors are a complicated matter." Flake told Arend before he and his partner stepped off.
The front of the fortress was a large round tower with an equally large gateway. The walls were a grey stone carved with runes. Tall strips of glass ran across the tower, reinforced by metal beams. The top of the tower was also glass, twisted back like the tip of an ice cream cone. It reflected a great deal of sunlight out. The pathway to the tower was made of cobble-brick with two patches of grass with a few trees.
Arend noticed similar flora past the gateway. The other towers of the fortress could be seen to the sides of the forward. With shingled tops and large, unused, mechanical devices to the front. Serephs were gathered at the windows, looking out at Arend. Arend could barely make out the figures of children in the sea of white.
Arend waved wildly with one hand, a wide grin spreading across his face. His performance was met with no reply. He noticed a pink figure just at the edge of the top of the tower. It was a pink Sereph dangling it feet off the four foot space between the edge of the tower and where the conic glass roof started. Arend whistled loudly and gave her his signature salute.
"Human! Cease the childish behavior!" A Sereph was storming towards him.
He was dressed with a similar tunic as Flake and the other Serephs, but in a different cut and had blue cloth instead of white. An orange belt was wrapped around his chest instead of being fastened tightly. As he got closer, Arend noticed he had fine silver and gold embroidery near the hems. His hair orange hair was cut short, and was much thinner than Flake's or the other Sereph. A halo hovered a few inches above the top of his head, barely more than five inches in diameter, but glowed softly.
"Why are you four here?" He demanded.
"A friend of ours was kidnapped and we need to get over these mountains to get to him." Arend replied.
"What makes you think we'll allow those two… things on here?" He asked.
Arend bent down and lifted Corenden's right hand. He held his up to Corenden's. The faded markings on their wrists were still visible. "We've come a long way and all we want is a brief respite from out travels."
The Sereph didn't reply. Flake and his partner waited some distance away.
"I don't think-" He was interrupted.
"Hold Kale! I want a word with him!" A Sereph with silver streaked red hair came running across the platform.
He had a similar orange belt that secured a coat around his chest. He also had a pair of blue pants made of the same cloth. While running, his heels would touch the ground. When he stopped by the orange haired Sereph, Arend noticed he also stood on his heels, unlike all the others. He had a halo just above his head like Kale, but it was a great deal wider and thicker. It was hazy, set tilted, crossing through hone of his ears.
"Maeil, we can't have these people wander around up here. Hurry and ask your questions." Kale said.
"Was it you who created the flare?" Maeil asked.
Arend nodded. He pulled out the Dragon Drive. "This is what did it, but all the mechanics evaporated from the powerful blast of Orenth."
Maeil took it and looked it over. "It's a pity…"
Arend pulled out his notes. "I've got a few plans for Mark II, but I need higher quality materials for the mechanisms."
"You built this!?" Maeil asked, taking Arend' notes.
He rapidly looked them over. "Yeah, but it didn't last too long. It does have more power than it might seem though; I easily took down the Black Monster with it."
Maeil stopped. Kale narrowed his eyes. 'Damn! I can't tell where this'll put me.' Arend thought.
"The Black Monster?" Kale asked ominously. "What's its real name?" Arend' eyebrows jumped.
"Ace." Arend replied.
Kale was shocked. "You actually spoke-"
"YOU HAVE A TRUE SAFEGUARD!?" Maeil shouted.
"What!?" Kale snapped.
Flake and his partner were also surprised. "Where did you find it!?" Maeil demanded.
"He created it." Corenden mumbled into the platform, his face still pressed against the ground.
Kale looked from Corenden to Arend. "He's right." Arend replied.
"What's your name?" Kale asked.
"Arend." Arend replied.
"No, your full name." Kale said.
"Arend Myshcell." Arend said.
Maeil dropped the Dragon Drive. Arend picked it up. "The Myshcells stopped with Teneo. Our sources say he and his family were killed by three Pendragons in Sareville." Kale said.
"Three? There were only two; King, who only wanted to take me away, and Ace, who had more sinister plans." Arend said.
"There were three. Myshcells are closely monitored by us. Their family is odd, but they are brilliant. What you've shown us isn't proof enough." Kale said.
Arend sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. 'God these people are a pain.' "What more do you need? How valid is your source's info?" Arend asked.
"I was that source." Maeil said. "Three Pendragons were detected by long range Orenth sensors. Three Pendragons were detected when one of the three humans turned into something else. I doubt you probably know this, but Myshcells are highly susceptible to Possession, and when they are, it's messy. The third Pendragon was somehow able to take down the Possessed girl even though it was gravely injured."
"I was this third Pendragon. I mentioned to Flake that my Orenth Spectrum isn't fully human. From great distances, my more subtle human nuances could have vanished. Could there be a chance you mistook it?" Arend asked.
"Not unless you had enough Orenth as a child to block out an entire city, I doubt it was you." Maeil replied.
"Enough of this!" Kale shouted, grabbing Arend' papers from Maeil and shoving Arend back with them.
"Flake, Iris, take them back down." Kale said as he turned.
"God fucking damn it!" Arend cursed, shoving everything into his bag.
He jumped over the railing of the shuttle-platform and onto the platform of the fortress. Flake and Iris moved to intercept, but Arend had leapt up through the air in a blast of red Orenth flames. Cloaking his feet in white flames, Arend waited for them to follow as he stood stiff and proper, sliding backwards without resistance.
The Serephs had to march to keep pace. "You're part Pendragon!" Flake exclaimed when they reached him.
"Yes, though I didn't want to have to shove it in your face. You would think intelligent people like yourselves would be able to connect the dots." Arend replied.
Maeil and Kale stopped.
"That means he really is Teneo's son!" Kale exclaimed. Flake stopped a few feet away from them. Iris still pursued Arend.
"But why couldn't we track him?" Maeil said.
"Grey Heart." Flake whispered.
"What?" Kale asked.
"He said he had an artificial heart. It must be made of Grey Adamtinium." Flake said, watching Iris struggle to catch Arend, who began to skate backwards like he was on ice.
"Axis…" Maeil growled.
"Arend!" Michael called from the shuttle-platform. Arend glanced over, sliding towards him. "Their fever is back! It's worse this time!"
Arend stopped. Iris bumped into his back. Arend dashed over to Michael and the two Pog. The Serephs came soon after. Arend bent down. Corenden's face felt like it was on fire. He frowned worriedly. "That's one hell of a fever."
"No, that's more than a fever." Maeil said as he bent down to the two. "It's Orenth poisoning. Treatable, but time is not on your side. We need to get them to a medical room."
Flake glanced over at Kale. "…Very well. You four may stay here until we pass over the mountains. Feel free to go wherever you please. First attend to your… friends. Flake, Iris, guard the humans. Others will deal with the remainder." Kale did a complete 180.
"I call the Myshcell!" Flake exclaimed excitedly.
"This is serious." Maeil said. "We need to get them moving NOW."
Arend lifted Iode onto his back without a grunt. Michael secured Corenden on top. "Let's go." Arend dashed for the tower.
Flake had to fly to keep up. Michael was left to deal with the luggage. He was not strong enough to carry all what was there. "Think you could help? Arend' is the duffle, it's mostly clothes, but it's the bulkiest."
"We're not-" Iris stopped as Maeil picked up Arend' duffle and a bag of supplies.
"You certainly don't travel light." Maeil said as he adjusted the bags on his back. Michael piled the rest on his now crooked back. Face straining, he confidently marched forward. "Are you alright?" Maeil asked.
"It doesn't matter. It seems like you aren't as close minded as he is." Michael grumbled.
"I can hear you. I don't appre-" Iris started.
"You're not carrying three hundred pounds of crap! What you would 'appreciate' doesn't really matter does it? I'd appreciate a bit more help over you walking arrogantly behind me!" Michael snapped.
"He's got a point." Maeil said before Iris could retort. A crowd of Serephs were gathered at the gateway. Arend was unable to push through.
Arend was getting irritated. "Get out of the way!"
The wall of Serephs refused to budge. Flake was swarmed by a different group. "We don't want them in here! Leave with your Pog scum!" Someone shoved Iode's shoulder.
He mumbled something in his language. Arend finally snapped. Feet and hands blazing in red flames, Arend held Corenden close to his chest and hooked an arm around Iode. He began to push through the crowd with all his might. Dozens of hands tried to push him back, but Arend didn't lose an inch. Kale was nowhere to be found.
"Stop this foolishness!" Maeil barked.
"The Patriarch approved their passage!"
"We don't care!"
A metal rod came swinging from the crowd. Arend stopped it with his forehead. It clattered to the floor. A line of blood dripped down his face and onto the floor. "ENOUGH!" Arend shouted. His voice shook the windows. The crowd grew silent. "You're behaving like a pack of animals. The greatest species in invention and knowledge are nothing more than a bunch of gutless cowardly beasts. The next attempt on me or my friends will be met with lethal force on the grounds of self defense. Anyone who objects will get a swift kick in the head."
"You call us animals but you're barking like a dog!"
"I bark for a cause! You bark for nothing more than prejudice. I have the power to take you all on. I may be an animal, but I do it for them. They may be scum to you, but they will give their lives for their beliefs, even if they stand alone. Can any one of you stand from the crowd and tell me to my face how you feel!?" Arend replied.
A quiet, child-like voice called out. "My name is Lucky, seven year old Sereph, daughter of Mars and Moss. I stand for the hope of you safe passage!"
A white-haired Sereph barely as tall as Arend' waist hovered over the crowd. She flew high enough to match eyes with Arend. Her shocked parents watched as she flew over to him and wiped the blood from his face.
"It's not hard to stick to the past. But new discoveries can only be made by those who change for the future. How you feel may matter, but it's how you act that determines who you are. For your own sakes, let me past." Arend continued, his voice now quiet.
The crowd muttered to itself. Michael and the others had finally arrived at the gateway. Iode trembled. "Set me down." He said quietly in Arend' ear.
Arend bent down till Iode's feet touched the floor. Still unsteady, Iode leaned against Arend slightly. "How you judge me does not bother me, but don't ever judge this man. No man I knew would dive into a blazing foundry to save monster he's never met. Not even knowing their names, He, Michael back there, the Pog this man is currently holding, and our stolen friend; they all did this. Why? I could never tell you until I realized just how open they are. A love of life and its kindred can only come from someone who takes the world in its good and bad, and shapes it for the ease of others.
"They would never lie or cheat you, save it otherwise wrongly condemn. But this is also true; they fear neither dogma nor mob. However, even men as high a caliber as this have a weakness. Michael is terrified of flying, so much so he can focus on nothing else. But we flew a thousand miles in a day to try and rescue our friend. Arend has a problem knowing just how powerful a person is, taking everyone as just another life on this rock spinning in space.
"Our friend has the worst kind of weakness, though I don't know what is, I know it's there, lurking in the darkness of his heart. I don't need your pity or soft words or false kindness. This chapter of my life, this story of a man's steady rise to greatness, it's the happiest I've ever been. Loveless as I am, I know even my brief travels with Arend can only lead to a happier world.
"A threatening truth still exists however. As strong as he is, Arend stands only on his own two feet. He can only fight as far as he can run. He may be surrounded by friends in allies, in the end; he has to face his destiny alone. Arend Myshcell, Master Kruxsetter and lover of all life. His fall only means a foe exists that can destroy this world. My job is to fight in the final battle with that foe. The place I will die is where the Grey Dragon falls." Iode's words echoed across the silent tower.
Arend snickered, breaking the melancholic mood. "Iode, I'm just a man. A man with hopes and dreams like any other. Don't pledge your life to me. Live your own. Like you said, I stand alone on my own two feet, but my enemies are those who threaten others. An army stands alone, but fights together. Difficult things will be in the future, but no God exists in this world of Men. In my eyes, anyone standing alone is greater than any God."
The crowd divided. Kale came walking up. "Return to your business, it is not your job to stop visitors. Let them past."
The Serephs glanced down from Kale's gaze. Arend helped Iode along. Flake led them to where they could be treated.
The other Serephs scattered, giving Michael nothing more than a passing glance. "I need sleep. I don't care where."
Michael and Arend were assigned a room beside where Corenden and Iode were resting for Maeil's simple treatment. They were treated periodically as they slept. Maeil took the chance to look over Arend' body while he slept. 'He definitely was that third Pendragon. His encounter with the Black Monster must have awoken the Pendragon Orenth inside him.'
Michael and Arend woke up around the same time. Arend had rolled off the bunk bed and onto the floor, creating a loud thud that woke Michael up. Arend sat up, dressed only in a pair of black boxers.
"I can't tell you how much I needed that." Michael said as he slid out of bed. He wore a pair of shorts to bed.
"Ever wonder how different out traveling would be if we had a women with us?" Arend asked as he got dressed.
Michael switched from his shorts to his black pants. Flake's head popped around the reinforced door. His faced flushed slightly.
"What? You've never slept in your underwear before?" Michael asked as he pulled on the shirt from when Arend had first met him.
"I didn't expect to find you both half naked in the same room." Flake replied.
"Our swim in the jungle would have driven you wild." Arend said with a wink.
"Maeil wants to talk to you Arend." Flake said, hiding his red face behind the door.