Atticus & The Blade King

by M K Drake

  The trio silently catch up with Professor Morgan. Atticus takes the lead, staying closest to the Professor as he reaches Elric’s chamber.

  Professor Morgan knocks the door. After just a few seconds a voice speaks out from behind it.

  “Enter!” says Elric.

  Professor Morgan enters quickly, closing the heavy door behind him, not realising he is being followed by the three invisible youngsters behind him. “Elric! Elric! You must hear!”

  The elder Majjai beckons the Professor to sit in the chair on the opposite side of his large desk. He flicks his long grey beard to the side, before cupping his chin into his now crossed palms. “Calm, Benjamin, do not vex yourself. All problems can be resolved with solutions. Now, tell me.”

  Professor Morgan clears his throat, catches his breath and begins. “There is something in the scrolls – it talks about Atticus, his creation. At least, I think it does.”

  “Please, my friend,” replies Elric. “You are not making much sense. What did you discover?”

  “There was a scripture. I think it refers to what Kazmagus was rabbling on about when he returned. The Hybrid Child. It tells of an attempt at creation by a trinity of powers, one dark, one light, and one Eternal. This ‘Power Trinity’ of immortal forces tried over and over to create a being of such power, it could be the answer to conquer any evil, but they failed millions of times. But the scripture also said if untamed, the creation could be a catalyst of destruction. An imbalance, that if twisted, turned, or forced into a state of desperation, could disrupt the very fabric of the universe and end it.”

  “And?” asks Elric. “Were they ever successful?”

  “Yes,” replies Professor Morgan. “They were. Kazmagus was there at the inception. They used many things in their efforts, including a power they describe in the scroll as near–limitless, which they called a Remnant.”

  Elric’s face turns white, his eyes widen as he visibly shakes with concern. “Are you sure that is what it said. That word, precisely?”

  “Yes, why?”

  Elric opens the table drawer on his left and pulls out an old, heavy, iron key. “There is a vault, at the rear of the tomb. It is behind the third bookcase opposite the cell where we kept Kazmagus. If what you say is true, then I believe that is where we will find our answers.”

  Professor Morgan takes the key, almost dropping it onto the table after not expecting the weight to be so great. “And what about Atticus? If he is as potentially dangerous as suggested, perhaps we should try to contain him? But if we do, we risk him becoming this feared imbalance. What do we do?”

  Elric sits back into his chair and sighs a deep worldly sigh. “I do not know my dear friend. For now, we must keep this a secret from him, until at least we understand what he truly is. For all we know, the scriptures may be referring to a completely different entity. We need to be sure! We need to trust what our friend has told us.”

  Professor Morgan nods. “I agree. No matter how much it pains me to say it. We cannot trust the boy until…”

  Atticus grows angry as he hears these last few words. It is clear now that they do not trust him with this information out of fear. Rather than trying to work together to find a solution, they continue to divert him, and not allow him access to this knowledge. He looks towards Pali and Ju Long who stare back at him in shock as he storms off with such force that, even in his invisible state, he forces the doors to Elric’s chamber to rattle violently, startling both Elric and Professor Morgan.

  Pali and Ju Long escape more discreetly, chasing after Atticus as fast as they can.

  Chapter 11

  Titan’s Lair

  Atticus runs fast and hard, trying to get away from Elric’s chamber as quickly as he can without being detected. The walls become a blur as the different shades of the sandy coloured stonework rush by. He slowly phases back into visibility, forcing his footsteps to echo in the corridor. He doesn’t stop running, not thinking about anything else but wanting to get away from the mistrust, the deception… the hurt. He continues on until he finally bumps into Khan.

  “Atticus, slow down brother, what troubles you?”

  Atticus looks towards his friend, glad to finally see him up and about, even with tell-tale signs of fatigue apparent in his face. The poison has taken a heavy toll on Khan’s strength, this is certain. “I’ll explain properly later. What is more important is that you are finally getting better.”

  Khan nods appreciatively. “No doubt thanks to your endeavours, and that of the other Majjai. Have you seen the Princess?”

  “She is on a mission!” pants Ju Long as he and Pali finally catch up with Atticus

  “What mission? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” asks Khan.

  Ju Long catches his breath quickly. “Well, she volunteered for this one. You were still too ill to talk to. Anyway, we are under strict instructions from Hel not to help. No other Majjai are allowed to assist, based on Hel’s orders.”

  Atticus frowns. “I’m not comfortable with this. We should not be taking our orders from her. I do not trust her.”

  Khan groans in pain as he struggles to stand, he clasps his midriff, propping himself up against the wall. Noticing the concerned glances darting his way, he speaks. “Do not worry. The poison was powerful, but this is minor. It will not take much longer for me to fully recover.” He stands again, affirming what Atticus is sure is only a façade of wellness before he continues. “Anyway, I agree. We must interact with someone of Hel’s nature with concern and a degree of awareness.”

  Ju Long brings a chair from an adjacent room for Khan and plonks it on the floor for the Arabian Majjai to sit on. “Normally, I’d agree,” he says. “But… she has offered information on how we can defeat Razakel in return for help. So we need to do this her way, at least for now.”

  Atticus says nothing as Khan lowers his head in silence. He well understands how his friend must be feeling helpless, his hands tied and unable to aid either his friends or the girl he loves who is on a mission that will be incredibly dangerous, while he is stuck here, in this mansion.

  “Chin up lads!”

  Atticus smiles as he recognises the voice that sounds out behind them. He turns to see General Crawford arrive, bounding in with his technicians, Colin and Pavel, and a handful of the other Knights of Valhalla, the name given to them by Elric after they aided them against the Horseman earlier in the year.

  Atticus chuckles as he watches Colin and Pavel berate each other as they try to wheel in their equipment. “Hi, so, uhm, what are you guys doing here?” he asks, a little confused.

  General Crawford smiles, his large frame bearing down on the Majjai, his deep, authoritative voice booming. “Mage Callan and Olof contacted me. Needed some help to take on a sea monster. Thought I’d borrow Spitfire for this one.”

  Atticus thinks this quite clever; calling on General Crawford, with the technology that he now has to hand and the knowledge shared with him and Spitfire—who is more machine than Majjai—is a wise move. “Glad you’re here to help General. I was a little worried, but I know you will bring them all home safely.”

  General Crawford smirks. “I’ll do my best young man. But take heed: Whatever you hear on the grapevine while we deal with this, you cannot interfere. There is a larger playing field, and you need to learn to pick when and where to act. No matter how much you want to get involved, stay away until we come home.”

  Atticus nods appreciatively, the General earned his trust with him and the other Majjai with aplomb. In a way, he is almost glad he has some time. He still needs to investigate more, and is eager to do so. Until, that is, General Crawford makes another request.

  “Now, can you three please show Colin and Pavel where to set up? I have to see Elric before we leave.”

  Atticus lowers his head, sighs deeply, not out of any disappointment in being asked to help, but knowing that Elric will certainly speak freely to General Crawford, but not to him.

  The General notices this, places
an arm on Atticus’s shoulder and walks him away from the group. “Sometimes in war, soldiers go into battle not knowing why. They act on orders, on the trust they have in their generals, in their leaders. Now, leaders, they aren’t always right, but the good ones… the ones that care, they all believe deep down that what they do, what they are asking those under them to do, is always for the greater good.”

  Atticus shakes his head. “But, what if I feel that these leaders… that it is me they don’t trust?”

  General Crawford chuckles. “Ha! If you were not trusted, believe me, you would not be here. I would not be here.” He glances behind him to ensure the others are still not in earshot. “Just keep your wits about you lad. Minds can be confused when they learn things they do not yet understand. Like a new enemy. You were an enemy once, until we understood you. Follow your heart, and trust in what it tells you. Fight the fight with those two rules, and no matter what, you will win… whatever the outcome.”

  Atticus smiles, he knows some of what General Crawford is true, but he doesn’t know the full story of what he has witnessed and overheard. He also knows he can’t reveal that, as it could quite easily be seen as a betrayal of trust, justifying all of the secrecy. He starts to feel guilty, but still has the thirst to find out more. And he knows just how to do it. But first, he needs to go with the others to help Colin and Pavel. “Thank you General,” he says, thinking he needs to end this conversation and that the best way is to acknowledge the General’s advice, and move quickly to allow him on his way.

  The General says nothing more, but turns with a sigh to head towards Elric’s chamber. Atticus watches for only a moment, then re-joins the others to guide the Knights, Colin, and Pavel to the room where they can set up.

  # # #

  Mage Callan rests in his room. He looks around, quietly impressed that Hel provided such an opulent residence for them all to prepare for this next mission. He flexes his aging, but still well-defined, muscles, forcing some of his bones to crack as he stretches and loosens his limbs. The timber in the fire floats its musky wooden scent around the room as it chars, the flames filling the room with its warmth. The flickering light reflects and bounces off the marble walls, contrasting against the buzzing cathode ray fluorescent tube light’s odd, blueish-white hue.

  “I’m late,” he whispers under his breath, as he pulls out a communications crystal and rests it on a wooden table to the side of his large king-sized bed, which is laden with colourful throws and blankets. He taps the crystal lightly before sitting down patiently. The crystal hums, vibrates softly, before generating a cone of light above it. It remains empty for a moment until a friendly female face appears.

  “Hello Serenity, dear. I’m sorry I’m a little late. Preparation for this mission was quite detailed. We do not have much to go on and…”

  “Shush silly,” Serenity says, interrupting Mage Callan. “I’m just glad we have a bit of time to talk.”

  Mage Callan exhales softly, surprising himself at how nervous he was at being late, even if it was just a few minutes. The discipline he imposes upon himself sometimes takes its toll without him realising. Smiling, he looks back towards the image of Serenity projected in front of him. “Me, too. I miss you.”

  “Me or my cooking?”

  “Ha! Both!” Mage Callan replies jovially. “I will ensure we spend much more time together once this is over.”

  “I’ll believe that when you are here. What is it this time? Dragons? Werewolves? Not those pesky Imps again?”

  “No, something slightly larger.”

  “Larger than dragons? Do tell,” Serenity replies lovingly, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

  “The Kraken.”

  Serenity no longer smiles as the look of concern penetrates the light of her virtual image, she stares sternly towards Mage Callan. “You do too much sometimes. Are Atticus and the others with you?”

  “Atticus… is elsewhere, but there are enough of us. And General Crawford should be here any moment now with Spitfire.”

  “So, you’re going up against one of the most powerful creatures to have walked the Earth, a Titan? Without Atticus? What about Kazmagus? Surely he could help here?”

  Mage Callan shakes his head. “Hel has banned us from using Atticus in this. And Kazmagus, with his arrogance and instability, would be more dangerous fighting alongside us. We have enough. Professor Sprocking is returning to the Manor to aid Elric with something, but we have Joyce, Safaya, Olof, General Crawford, and Spitfire.”

  Serenity calms down ever so slightly. “Well, okay,” she says. “Just make me the promise you will come back safely.”

  Mage Callan laughs, knowing she is hiding her concern, and hoping to calm her fears. “Do I ever do otherwise my dear? You’ve given me a motivation to do so ever more readily.”

  Before Serenity can reply, they are both disturbed by a loud engine noise from outside the cabin.

  Mage Callan recognises it immediately peering to the side to listen more attentively, just to be certain; he turns back to Serenity. “They’re here, General Crawford and Spitfire. I have to go, see you soon?”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  # # #

  Spitfire hovers over a cliff face in his jet mode, carrying General Crawford and the Majjai. The trip to Lindos, Rhodes had not taken as long as expected.

  “Are you sure the co-ordinates are correct?” asks the General, looking from the cockpit towards Mage Callan.

  “This is where Hel said. But I see nothing here. No cave, no entrance.”

  Olof strokes his wide ponytailed beard as he looks downwards towards the sea. “This Titan, it is one of the sea. Its lair will be beneath the water.”

  General Crawford nods in agreement. Returning his attention to the controls, he decides to ask Spitfire a question. “Spitfire old chum…”

  “Yes?” replies the metallic Majjai in his deep, resonating voice.

  The General smiles cheekily. “Can you swim?”

  Spitfire, almost insulted with the question, does not answer with words, but rather with the action of morphing into a large underwater vessel, and diving quickly below the waves.

  As the Majjai disappear, a lone figure standing close to the edge of the cliff, watches with a sinister chuckle that quickly turns into a maniacal laugh. “This is getting too easy,” Loki mutters, before turning and teleporting away.

  The Majjai Journals:

  Well, I finally did it, I bought the ring. She is very difficult to hide things from, her ability to see things is so accurate, or maybe it is just me. Now I just have to find the right moment to propose.

  Serenity has brought so much to me; I never thought I would find someone to love like this. Joshua is a wonderful boy, and I do hope he will look up to me as a dad. I may not be his blood, but I will see him as nothing less than my son, and I hope I can guide him as such.

  I hope I can guide him as well as I have done with Atticus so far. He is another I would be proud to call my son. I’ve watched him grow ever since he started at Wysardian Manor—he has become an honourable young man, despite the thoughts others have. They fear him still, even with everything he has sacrificed. We should trust in our guidance, we should trust our abilities to convey what is right, and what is wrong.

  I trust Atticus, and know he will prove me right. But I also sense his confusion. He is young, but has already been through more than many adults.

  I hate not being able to tell him everything that is going on, all I know is that it is imperative, according to Elric that I be on this ‘mission’. I do not know why, but Elric has assured me it is vital for everything we are working towards.

  Anyway, I really must pick a nice place to propose. I’m not very good at these things. I may ask General Crawford what one must do, he must have a suggestion. He’ll probably tell me to ‘just be me,’ but I want to make this special for her.

  I do hope, for one day soon, to be able to stop all of this fighting. I miss m
y days of playing music, the piano, the cello, my guitar… wow, I almost forgot about my guitar. I need to find it. It must be at home somewhere. It has been too long.

  I finally have a reason to play again.

  Mage Callan

  Chapter 12

  The History of the Kraken

  The cabin space inside Spitfire goes dark, as his engines convert into those suitable for underwater travel. Light soon returns in the form of dimly-lit bulbs; enough to give vision to his passengers, but not enough to pollute the water outside. Everything is eerily quiet, save for a soft hum as the propellers spin up, driving the crew downwards.

  “I thought the Kraken died?” asks Joyce, breaking the silence.

  “You are thinking of Cetus,,” replies Olof. “This beast was felled by Perseus, using the head of Medusa. The Kraken is a different monster, however, it is puzzling as to how he is still alive… I suspect the accord between the Greek and Norse gods has something to do with it. A guardian for a guardian. A Kraken for a Minotaur.”

  “But what advantage would this bring? Having a Titan that wants only for destruction,” Mage Callan says, as he adjusts his attire to accommodate his swords more comfortably.

  Olof looks around to all, he pauses a moment, trying to get his own analysis of why in order. “I suspect mostly ego. The gods are keen on one-upmanship more than any thirst for power. The Kraken is a threat to either side. And both like to claim the beast as their own.”

  “What do you mean?” asks Joyce. “I thought the Kraken was a Greek Titan?”

  Safaya, eager to answer, interjects before Olof can reply. “Actually, the Kraken first originated in tales from Norse mythology. The Greeks stole him for their own purposes, Poseidon especially. His command of the sea also gave him command of all its creatures, of which the Kraken is one.”