by Wolfe Locke
I locked eyes with Tokoth as the cadet he was with scurried away. The demon looked back at me and gave me a nightmarish smile.
I can’t learn from him. Not that one. Not after what it did to the Cadre. I’d sooner see the monster die by my blade than have it as an instructor.
A silent understanding seemed to pass between me and the demon. It was as if Tokoth could tell what I was thinking, and I welcomed the challenge.
The mark on my arm burned as Tokoth smiled again, and I thought I heard it pass a warning. Be careful what you wish for, little swordsman.
As soon as Tokoth turned away from me, another cadet approached the demon. They talked for but a moment, and I couldn’t hear what was said between them, but when the cadet nodded his nodded, they both retreated to the same back room.
Soon as I was alone, I broke out in goose flesh as a familiar, uncomfortable feeling went through my body. The mark on my arm continued to burn.
Someone is watching me.
I scanned the room and finally settled on the form of Vozrun. The demon was watching me intently with a look that I could not identify. Standing next to her was a cadet shrouded in a cloak. There was something familiar about him, but I could not tell who it was.
The cadet and the demon exchanged a few more low words and then the cadet walked away. No one else made a move to go toward the demon. It appeared that that one cadet had been an outlier, because I could see the fear in the eyes of the other cadets as they cast quick, furtive glances. None of them wanted Vozrun’s attention.
I will not be ruled by fear. I am a Valdanes, an extension of my blade. I will make of myself a weapon to strike down my enemies.
I turned towards Vozrun and started to walk. Soon, I closed the distance and was standing directly in front of the demon. Neither of us said a word. We just stared at each other. In that moment, the entire room seemed to hold its breath.
Finally, Vozrun broke the silence with a laugh. A deep and dark laugh before speaking. “I knew that you would come to me, Crest Bearer. You have been marked by the Hollow realm.”
I didn’t know what all of that meant, but I knew enough to know I needed to respond. “Your offer seemed logical. You’ve made your intentions clear, so allow me to do the same. I will defeat your challenges. None of your kind will leave the academy grounds, and when I have completed the challenges, your kind will go back through the portal and the blight on the world will be removed.”
Nobody thought it was possible for the Arcanium to grow silent, but it did. All of the cadets were hanging onto the conversation, trying to listen in on all of the details, just like a man desperately trying to pull himself up from a ledge.
“I will do everything in my power to strike your kind down, starting with Tokoth.” Continued Tristan, voice cold. “Even if I have to learn from you to do it.”
Vozrun’s response was a sinister smile as if my words had always been expected. “If you can strike down Tokoth. Do so. When you are strong enough, he would welcome the challenge and should you defeat him and strike him down, that too is welcomed.”
I didn’t respond, I didn’t know how or what to say. Even the words of Elder Valdanes failed me. The only thought that came to mind was something he had uttered once after his time in the capital. The fly does not realize the truth of the web until the spider is upon him.
“Come with me Crest Bearer” Said Vozrun. “I have a specific technique in mind that I would like to teach you. Let us see if you have the ability to back up your claims. Should you learn the technique, it would bode well for the survival of your people.”
Vozrun led me into a back room of the Arcanium. It was a wide, empty square room lit by three purple mage lights. This is it? I regarded it quizzically.
“We’re you expecting something more?” asked Vozrun just as quizzically. “Sometimes, you should be content with what you get and be thankful its not more.
“Sorry.” I muttered. “It’s just I was expecting some books maybe, or training equipment. Even a sparing ring. This is just an empty room.”
“You will not be needing any of that. In fact, I will provide everything that is needed in order to learn this particular technique. You should be thankful for this particular room. It hides auras and helps to absorb the effects of magic. I can instruct you more freely here without consequence to you or the others.”
Without warning, dark shadows began to creep over the hard stone ground, moving outwards from Vozrun. The shadows brought with them a feeling similar to that when the gateway had first opened, when the monsters of the Hollow realm had flooded the training field. It was a feeling of wrongness, of something that didn’t belong. I recoiled backwards and adopted a battle stance, ready to fight.
Vozrun waved my concerns aside. “Just watch.” She raised a hand to her side and slashed it through the air. Where the hand passed, the air erupted into fire. Then, that line of fire began to expand outward until it was roughly in the shape of a door. Through that door shambled a small, feral looking goblin.
I stood in amazement at what I was seeing. I shouldn’t have been so surprised though after I’d seen some of what the members of the Triumvirate could do. Vozrun had just opened a door to the realm of monsters, right here in the middle of the room. She had done it with no more effort than it would have taken to open a normal door, and I was once again reminded of the power that this being wielded and how deep the gap was between us. How do I kill something like that?
In a panic, I put my hand on the hilt of my Katana and prepared to fight.
“Stand down, Crest Bearer,” Said Vozrun. “If I wanted you killed, then I would do it myself. You cannot kill me as you are.”
I sensed that the demon was being completely honest. Not only that, but it almost sounded as if Vozrun was being patient with me. What is it that she wants?
The demon regarded me with a cold smile. “Now, on to the lesson.”
The portal closed, and with it, the shadows that had sprouted from Vozrun disappeared. The room turned to normal.
“You have a fighting spirit, young Valdanes. The heart of a survivor, though it is not yet as polished as it need be. This must be why the Crest was granted to you. It seems you will do whatever it takes to win. With this technique, we shall test that resolve. It is called the Hollow Blade. It is a technique of darkness and as such, the price to use it is costly on the user.”
“I will not dabble in dark Swordcraft.” I responded, though I didn’t sound convinced.
“Yes, you will.” Replied Vozrun. “You will because you will take any advantage that you can, and once you see the power of this technique, you will see it as the advantage that it is. Isn’t that what you want? The power to protect?”
Vozrun summoned her power again, bringing that horrible feeling with it. She thrust her hand through the air and into the world beyond. Then, slowly, the demon pulled out a blade.
I had expected the weapon wielded by Vozrun to be some type of heavy sword or even an ornate staff. But as I watched, the demon withdrew the sleek, curved form of a Katana from within the cut in the fabric of the world.
“You seem surprised.” Said Vozrun as the wound in reality closed once more. “Tell me, Crest Bearer, are you disappointed to see the blade that you have dedicated your life to in the hands of a monster? Or are you disappointed that you’re not alone in its use?”
“I just expected something bigger.” I admitted, though the implied issue in what the demon said lingered in my thoughts.
Vozrun turned the blade and spoke as the demon inspected the edge. “I was not always a monster, as you see. The Katana has long been my weapon of choice. It is a fine weapon, especially in the hands of a master.”
As Vozrun spoke, she waved the blade through the air. Although the room had grown dark as the torches burned low in her presence, the blade itself seemed to glow with fire.
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��“Watch.” Abruptly, Vozrun spun on around on the heels of her clawed feet and thrust the sharped point of the blade straight through the chest of the goblin who just stood there in a daze. The movement was too fast for me to keep good track of. The demon moved like lightning.
“Watch the blade.” Said Vozrun.
I did as Vozrun commanded, as much as I hated to admit it, I was drawn to the power that Vozrun wielded. I watched as dark veins began to appear on the steel of the blade. The veins turned crimson and appeared to pulse. The goblin began to twitch and the shade of its skin grew grey as its eyes sank back into its skull.
The blade was drinking the monster’s life force. The Katana had adopted a vampiric nature.
“How?” asked I with shock, horror, and curiosity.
“This.” Replied Vozrun. “Is the cost of the Hollow Blade. Those struck by it have their essence fed to the magic.”
“The Hollow Blade is dark magic indeed.” Vozrun admitted. “You will find it beneficial within the Hollow ream to drain the life force of another to sustain your own. When this happens, the blade itself becomes enhanced. Allow me to demonstrate.”
Vozrun hefted the blade and swung it through the air. As it did, an after image of the blade traveled behind it, though the after image seemed to fly out on its own as if it too could attack and kept traveling behind the arc of the blade. The after image sped toward the far wall and connected with a loud smash as it cut into the wall, filling the room with dust. Once it cleared, I was able to see the power of the Hollow Blade.
It hadn’t just cut into the wall. It had slashed entirely through the wall. Beyond, I saw the light of outside.
“The blade is sharper than any in the world, even with the techniques used by your Valdanes Clan It’s cutting power is unrivaled, and as you can see, it has the ability to throw arcs of dark energy. It is a formidable skill to know, and it is extremely easy to learn.” Vozrun explained.
“If it’s so powerful and simple, then why isn’t it more widely used?” I asked, wondering if Elder Valdanes knew the skill.
“Because of the cost.” Replied the demon. “Unlike most Swordcraft techniques, this one does not draw power from the user. It draws exclusively from the life force of the living, and how long it can be used depends on the size of the being that is siphoned. Even now it begins to fade, as you can see. The life of the goblin could not long sustain it. ”
Indeed, the blade was beginning to return to its normal, fiery color.
“Creatures like goblins or imps will feed the blade for a few moments. Learn to siphon many of them at a time, and it will keep going. But larger victims. people, for example. Will cause it to last longer. So, the question of morality comes in. Is it worth it to siphon the life force of a living thing, even a monster, just to gain more power? The power of the blade is addicting. Remember that. No ordinary man can employ it for long before succumbing to its seductions.”
“I am no ordinary man. I am a Valdanes.” I replied, thinking about how I could put the technique to use.
“That is what they all believe.” Said Vozrun. “But the Hollow Blade usually has the final say. I will teach you this technique. What you do with it is up to you.”
It turned out that Vozrun was right. Learning the technique was remarkably simple. All you had to do was mean it. All you had to do was be sure that you wanted to commit the act needed to fuel the blade. I did not know if the blade was a match for the demons themselves, or if it could damage them, but its power was too great to turn down.
Like all who had used the technique before me, I vowed to use it sparingly, and with great care. Time would tell if I was able to keep that vow.
“They’re counting on you, you know.” Said Vozrun when the lesson was over. “They saw what you did on the first challenge and now they look to you. They believe that you will guide them to victory and survival. I wonder what their faces will look like when you fail.”
“You’ll never know.” I replied, as I went to leave. “I won’t fail.” Vozrun simply regarded me with a simple smile.
Once I emerged from the room, all eyes turned to me like I was a beacon. But I spared a glace for no one. I walked out of the Arcanium and did not look back.
Chapter 18: Those Who Were Lost
* * *
True to her word, Vozrun announced the next day that a doorway had opened within the portal and it would lead to the next challenge. This time, she also decreed that the challenge would be taken on by a group of multiple cadets. The demon clarified that multiple groups were a requirement though the total number within each group, and the makeup of the group was up to us.
At the same time that the announcement was made, more monsters began to come forth from the open demon portal on to the academy grounds. The parade of monsters was met with an immediate resistance that was quickly dispersed with a threat when the Triumvirate assured us they would not attack. They were skeletons with old, weathered swords who walked alongside cursed suits of animated armor.
These newest monsters patrolled the halls of the academy like sentinels, keeping a keen eye out for any trouble from us cadets. It appeared that now that the Arcanium had been opened, the Triumvirate felt that an extra layer of security was needed, and I couldn’t help but wonder why. Who are they protecting? Us? From who? Them?
The thought troubled me, but if that was the case, the Triumvirate wasn’t wrong to take steps. There had been more than a few talks of the cadets trying to use what they had learned to launch a surprise attack on the demons and their monster minions. Something that would only result in a massacre.
However, like before, Markus, Mathias, and I had been there to advise the rest against the plan. We knew it was suicide to attempt. Thankfully, the other cadets listened, even if they did so begrudgingly. It appeared as if me and my two friends had become the de facto leaders of the cadets. No one else had bothered to step up and try.
It didn’t help that there was not a single member of the Cadre left to take charge and the natural power gap hadn’t been filled as it should have been by the chain. If any Cadre were still living on the campus, then they were either hiding or they had been taken captive by the Triumvirate and their minions. If the latter, I held no hope they survived..
In place of talking about a possible coup, we had done what we could to guide the rest of the cadets into talking about who would go to the next floor and attempt the challenge.
Of course it almost went without saying that the three of us were immediately volunteered by everyone else, and truth be told, we didn’t mind. The rest of the cadets looked up to us, and even if we didn’t feel that pressure to go through the portal, we still would have gone. Thankfully, that truth came with a few perks, one of which was allowing us to pick the parties to accompany us through.
“We have to think about this carefully.” Said Mathias. “Do we bring a small group, or a large one?”
“Why not just bring everyone?” asked Markus. “Strength in numbers, right? We can take on whatever awaits us on the other side by working together.”
“We have no idea what’s going to be on the other side.” I replied, thinking of the manticore and how much damage it could have done to some of the other cadets. “It’s entirely possible that taking too many cadets with us could be more of a detriment than a benefit. Plus, we have to consider that not everyone is on the same skill level as what we need.”
“He’s right.” Said Mathias. “If we go in there with a bunch of former Bronze rank cadets, they probably won’t come back out, and I don’t want that on my head.”
“We should probably stick to mostly Silver or Gold rankers then.” I replied.
“I doubt we can depend on them much. They’ve been pretty content on letting us do all the work up to this point.” Replied Markus. “If they want to fight. They’ll need to prove themselves.”
“We’ll explain that we nee
d them to stay back in the event that we don’t make it. They’ll have to step up, eventually.” Markus explained. “We’ll leave a few skilled Iron and Silver rankers. Just in case, but for all intents and purposes, they will be the last chance of the world if we fail.”
Mathias whistled. “No pressure or anything.”
“All of us are feeling the pressure.” I replied. “It doesn’t matter how skilled or unskilled they are. Eventually, all of us are going to be put to the test. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is. We have to get through this with the hand we’ve been given.”
“It’s settled then.” Said Markus. “We choose those that have proven themselves before or who we know are skilled. Even more so, lets try for those who fought on the academy field and didn’t fall to pieces after. The rest stay behind, for better or worse.”
Matthias and I nodded our head in agreement. Markus had a good head for these kinds of things. Then the three of us went off to pick the teams.
There were just under fifty cadets left on campus who had been ranked Iron or higher. It was decided that twelve of those fifty would accompany me, Markus, and Mathias into the portal to take on the next challenge. A total group of fifteen cadets, against whatever waited for us, and our group of 15 would be further divided down into 3 squads of 5.
Most of those on the team were former Silver and Gold rankers, but there were only two exceptions. A former Iron that had shown great promise, and a former Bronze that would not take being left behind for an answer. I didn’t want to take him along, but something about his erratic behavior let me know he’d be a problem if he was left behind.
The team of cadets approached the portal to the Hollow realm just as the sun was highest in the sky. This is it. I hope we’ve prepared enough.
“You know the stakes.” Said Vozrun as they lined up before it. “Once you have passed through, make your way to the other side of the arena. There, you will find a doorway, a portal in fact, to take you to the next challenge. Succeed, and you live to fight another day. Fail, and your world is that much closer to annihilation. Fate is in your hands.”