by Wolfe Locke
I looked around at the group of cadets. They were fine warriors and had come from good families. They had all wanted to serve the kingdom, and they had never wavered in the defense of the academy. These were those who had flocked to the Arcanium, eager to keep the fight alive, eager to empower themselves.
I moved to take a step forward, but I was stopped as Markus nudged me on the shoulder and whispered. “You should say something. We’re all following you here, Valdanes.”
I hadn’t even thought of it, that they might need me to say something. I looked once more at the group of cadets and saw their bravery, but underneath was a layer of fear.
“It’s ok to be afraid.” I said to the group. “All of us have been through so much more than we should have been, but you’ve risen to the challenge, and are a credit to the legacy of your clans, and to the kingdom. We go now to face an unknown danger. We will not falter, and we will not fail here. It is ok to be afraid, but we will make sure that our enemies are more so! For the fallen! For the world!”
The mantra was quickly taken up by not only Tristan’s team, but also by the cadets who were staying behind.
“For the fallen! For the world!”
“For the fallen! For the world!”
“For the fallen! For the world!”
I turned back to the fiery portal that was the demon gate. Before, I had gone through alone. I had fought alone. But not this time. Now, I had comrades and the other cadets followed behind me.
I drew my Katana and the sound of my blade sliding out of its sheath was met by the sound of fourteen other blades doing the same. It was comforting, it was familiar. Like the sound of going home. Together, all of us cadets advanced and entered the portal. There, the next challenge waited.
Chapter 19: Once More Into The Breach
* * *
Time stood still and the mark on my arm throbbed.
♄ Saturn’s Crest ♄
Within the Hollow realm you will find an opportunity that we never had. The war that never was, was a war we lost. Humanity cannot fight against them as we are currently. I do not know why they have taken this interest in you, but it is clear they have their own goals. Be wary, and whatever you do, do not tell them more of your connection with essence of this crest.
Time resumed, and the warning struck in my mind. The demons knew more about the crest than they let on, but if what my future self had said in the dream, it was created, I was unsure how to process the information. Only that it seemed to be more than I could figure out myself.
The fifteen of us cadets emerged on the other side of the gateway in the Hollow realm. In front of us was the same familiar landscape of red sand and withered trees I’d seen before. The entrance to the arena seemed closer though, and I could see where I’d fought the manticore. I was surprised to see the body of the creature was still right where I had left it after I’d managed to strike it down during the first challenge. It seemed odd to me. Either the demons had not cared to move it, or they had intentionally left it there for some reason. I’d assumed some sort of carrion beast would have taken it at least.
“Oh, my gods.” Said one of the cadets as they came into view of the dead monster. “You had to fight that, Tristan?”
I said nothing, but I did feel the phantom pain of the wounds that the manticore had inflicted.
The other cadets of course knew about my battle with the manticore, but hearing was not the same as seeing. None of them had had actually seen what I had been up against until now. Even in death, the manticore looked like a nightmare. A few of the cadets shuddered.
“It’s best to move on.” Said Mathias as he looked suspiciously at the dead beast. “No use dwelling on the past and challenges that have already been won. We face a new challenge now. Let’s not invite any other trouble. We do not know what awaits us within this place.”
That seemed to do the trick, and all of us cadets got moving once more, but I could see that they held their heads a little higher. More unnerving were the looks of awe and wonder on their faces. I wasn’t sure I’d live up to it in the future.
They look at me as if I’m some great swordsmen. Some kind of god or saint, like Elder Valdanes. But I’m just a cadet like they are. They put in the work, just like I did. I recognize most of these faces from the late night's training out on the field. If they regarded themselves as highly as they regarded me, they could accomplish anything.
True to Vozrun’s word, there was a fiery edged portal on the other side of the arena. That wasn’t there before. Did it reveal itself? Or spawn since? Within the portal, the cadets could see a set of stairs leading upwards.
“This is it, everyone. This is the last chance to back out.” I declared. “Once we go through, there're no guarantees you can come back. None of you need to face this challenge if you think you’re not up to it. If you’re struggling and panicking or having any second thoughts, turn back now. I won’t tell anyone anything if you feel like you need to.”
None of the other fourteen cadets made a move to leave. Instead, they regarded me with resolve and determination. I was proud as I looked on at the cadets that had come with me to take on this new challenge. This is not an easy time to be brave, but they are. Our experiences so far has tempered them and tempered them further by the crisis at the academy. Maybe the future has a chance.
Under normal circumstances, they might have turned out average at best, but now, I knew that if they got through this, they would be counted among the best swordsmen in the world. Much like their blades, they would be tempered and forged until they were as strong as steel. I said as I examined each of them and how easily everyone now bore a weapon.
I nodded my head at them and gave one last look to Markus and Mathias. The other two boys returned it with their own fiery determination.
“I’m proud to be fighting with you all. Keep focused. Stay sharp and expect monsters to be on us shortly.” I called out.
With that said, I did the best thing I could for the situation. I went forward. I practically ran forward and plunged into the portal, and to the next challenge.
I immediately noticed the red hue was gone. Now that I was on the other side, the color had become muted. I looked up to see an endless gray sky without a single star in it. Moments later, Markus was beside me, taking in the scene as well, and he was quickly joined by Mathias.
“How is it that we’re outside now?” I asked. “That sky is… unfamiliar.”
“It’s the demon world.” Said Mathias, stepping up to Tristan’s left side. “Much like its inhabitants, it’s probably chaotic and unpredictable. Or we’ve managed to get to a different part of it.”
The staircase in front of us rose only a few steps before leading into a wide-open courtyard. A lush and green courtyard that was wildly different than the deadened landscape we’d come across when we first entered the Hollow realm. Beyond that was a large castle made from jet-black stone. The huge wooden gateway of the castle lay open, and beyond it all of us cadets could see a receiving room.
“So, what’s the challenge?” asked one of the cadets, shifting nervously.
“We probably have to go into the castle.” Replied Markus. “But that’s too easy. I would not expect a friendly reception.”
“Let’s not read too much into it. We’ve still got too much ahead of us to get distracted.” said Mathias, and then the two of them stepped forward onto the courtyard.
“Wait!” I yelled, feeling like something was off, as the mark on my arm began to throb with pain. “We don’t know- “
My voice trailed off as the ground beneath us cadets began to shake and the stone flooring juttered upwards with jagged cracks. Instantly, we were all on guard with our various weapons and blades raised up before us in a defensive posture.
We all carefully took steps backwards, waiting to see what would happen.
The dirt of the courtyard began to ch
urn upwards in dark piles as skeletal hands burst upward out of the ground. Slowly, they pulled themselves up and out of the dirt. Most of skeletons had gone completely to bone, but some wore old and tattered clothing or had loose bits of skin and flesh still attached. Each of the monsters carried in their hands ancient looking blades.
“There have to be over two dozen of them.” Said one of the cadets with a tremble in her voice. “We are outnumbered. How are we going to defeat them?”
She was right. I had counted the undead as they rose. But even more were coming. I could see from the holes in their skulls a demonic light shone with the color of green fire. Then they began to advance on us cadets. But I had an advantage the other cadets didn’t. My boosted strength from the crest.
Risen Undead. The textbooks say they’re insanely strong, but they do have a weakness that we can exploit. Good thing that we study about these kinds of things at the academy.
“Stay in teams of two!” I shouted out, not wanting anyone to freeze up and get hurt “Never lose sight of your partner or allow your back to be exposed. These are risen undead. Their stronger than the other subtypes, but still weak at the joints. Remember your training.”
With that, Markus and I moved forward and engaged in battle. Unlike the rest of the cadets, we’d done this before. Fighting together as a duo.
I hoped that the cadets had similar training, but I highly doubted it. I doubted even further that they had the same kind of synergy as me and Markus. They’ll have to learn and adapt on the go. Another trial by fire.
I should have made better sure of their training before dragging them here. That kind of oversight costs lives. I’ll have to keep that in mind for future challenges. We had a week, mock battles and team fights should have been on the training rotation.
The thought was pushed out of my mind as soon as Markus and I met the first group of undead in battle. It appeared that the undead had also divided themselves. Unfortunately, even divided, each of our teams was outnumbered.
The two crashed into the undead like a whirlwind. I sought out the joints of the skeletons with quick slashes from my Katana, while Markus, on the other hand, crashed into and through them entirely with his massive Claymore.
The two worked in perfect harmony. We capitalized on each other’s strengths and helped shore up each other’s weakness. As had been the long-standing tradition between our two clans. Whenever there was a lull in the fighting after destroying one of the undead, I would look at the other cadets to see how they were doing against the hordes of undead.
There were no casualties or severe injuries, as far as I could tell, everyone had just managed a few scrapes and bruises here and there. Some of what I saw made me proud and hopeful. I saw a small and lithe looking cadet vaulted off her partners much bigger frame and brought her blade down like a spear on a newly spawned monster. It reminded me of the way that Markus and I worked together.
As for our third, Mathias had partnered up with Lana, the stubborn former Bronze rank cadet that had insisted on being part of the team. I suspected that it was so he could keep a protective eye on her, but she didn’t seem like she needed it. She fought like a whirling devil, swinging her Short Sword in precise and calculated blows.
“Tristan, we have a problem.” Said Markus with a tone that let me know I wasn’t going to like it.
I whirled around, expecting to see a large number of foes facing down the big cadet. However, there was only one shambling skeleton brandishing a sword heading our way. I was confused.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, not really seeing the point of stop. asked Tristan.
“I’ve taken down this one before.” Markus replied, an edge of irritation setting into his voice.
I doubt it. With all of these undead and more spawning? It’s easy to lose track of just one. “What do you mean? How can you be sure? They all look the same.”
“Nah, this one is the ugliest.” Replied Markus. “I remembered it for that reason.”
I turned and surveyed the battlefield. It was littered with the scattered bones of the undead we had been fighting. But sure enough, as I watched, those bones began to pull themselves back together.
“They’re reforming.” I muttered. “How did we not realize before? Warn everyone, Markus. How did we not realize this before?”
“I don’t know.” Replied Markus. “There were always a lot of them, but it never seemed like we were making a dent. Now we know why. They didn’t stay down. They keep reassembling themselves. There has to be some way to beat them!”
"Valdanes! Hold them off. I need to warn the others." Markus ran off in a dead sprint and starting shouting at the others. "Careful! Careful, they revive." None of us knew how to destroy them. It hadn't been in any of our studies or the books back at the academy.
It took only a moment, and then Markus was back besides me, breathing hard from the run as I slashed out against the nearest of the undead with my Katana and shifted positions to take another of them head on. Even as I did, we both saw the bones of the one I had just taken out reassemble.
“How are we supposed to win if they keep coming back?” asked Markus in a surge of anger as the giant cadet swung out his Claymore in furious wide attacks, taking out many of the skeletons at a time.
“I don’t know.” I replied, trying to figure it out. “But there has to be a way to pass the challenge. It wouldn't make sense others.”
“Yeah, well, we better figure it out fast. We can’t last forever. I doubt the others will be able to keep up with the undead." Markus responded.
I nodded in grim agreement. Markus is right. If the undead just keep reforming whenever one of us cadets manages to strike them down, eventually fatigue would get the best of them, long before one of the rusted blades of the undead.
Think, Tristan. There has to be a way. The Triumvirate are demons, sure, but they haven’t lied so far. They wouldn’t give us a challenge without also giving us a way to pass it. But what's the secret?
I desperately looked around the area for a clue of some kind. The courtyard where we were fighting held no clues, and I didn't see any kind of weapon I could grab that might completely destroy the undead. A thought hit me. The castle!
“Mathias!” I yelled out across the battlegrounds to the former Gold ranker whom was engaged in a 3-on-1 battle against a group of undead. I wasn't worried about him. Unlike the rest, Mathias had proven himself. He can handle it.
The cadet slashed the legs out from under the nearest skeleton, and kicked one of the other skeletons into the third, which gave him a bit of breathing room to look over and find out what I wanted.
“Markus and I are heading up into the castle. Hold the line here. If we don’t come back, get everybody out, however you can." I shouted, hoping that there would be ok in our absence. It's not like we have a choice.
Mathias nodded his head, but his focus was already back on the battle in front of him as he brought his blade up quickly to parry the rusted blade of one of the skeletons.
“Let’s go, we can't waste time." Markus told me as he tugged on the top of my uniform to get me moving.
Gradually, the two of us made our way toward the castle door. As we went, we fought off any and all undead that got in our way. But as we got closer, something changed. It was as if some hidden and secret signal went out, because every single skeleton in the area turned away from our comrades, and focused on us. With a uniformed howl, the undead came at us, animated in a way that hadn't been before.
"This seems like the right spot." Markus muttered beneath his breath. I didn't disagree, but I also knew we couldn't hold out against that many.
Mathias yelled, his voice loud, booming, and straining. "Cadets, guard that door! We need to protect them while they finish the challenge."
All the other thirteen cadets sprinted, and though the undead were fast, the cadets were all faster. They were
able to head the undead off at the entrance to the caste. With a thankful nod, we headed inside, while the rest of them held steady against the wave of undead that had come against them. Markus and I were able to make it inside and in, we survived the interior of the castle. I shot Markus a worried look as the sounds of fighting drifted heavy on the air. Fighting that completed eclipsed that from before. Not all of us are making it out.
The castle, much like the courtyard, was a wide open space. The only thing inside was an ornate black throne that seemed to be carved from a massive hunk of obsidian and a crimson rug that led from the entry way straight to the throne. On the walls torches burned, and scattered around the thrones were piles and piles of bones.
As the two of us cadets watched, those bones began to writhe and move toward each other like magnets. In short order, the bones formed into full skeletons that wielded ancient swords of their own. The throne itself seemed to pulse with power.
“The others are too busy blocking the rest of the undead. This one is up to us. Hope you’re ready Valdanes!" Markus shouted out with a grin, but I could tell he didn't feel as excited for the fight as he had once been.
“Well, no one said it was going to be easy.” I replied as I looked at the throne. "That must be the source. Maybe if we seize it or smash it, the challenge will be over."
"Worth a shot." Markus admitted as his body tensed, getting ready for the fight.
With nothing more to be said, the two of us launched ourselves into the tide of undead. Every attacked scattered bones in every direction. This was not the time to keep power in reserve. But just as before, no matter how much power we brought to bear, the bones began to reform into skeletons to join the fight again. scattering bones this way and that. Moments later, the bones began to reform and join the fight once more.