by Za1d3
Without waiting for him to change his mind, the woman scooped up the green fer off the counter, and led him upstairs to a nice room. This was only his second time at an inn, but this room was a lot nicer than the one they had stayed in at the Crystal Wayfarer Inn back when they first arrived in Ferrent.
“Would you like something to eat before you retire for the night?” She inquired politely as he strolled into the room.
“I would. Bring me your finest.” A simple reply.
“Yes, my lord.” she gave him a curt bow before heading off to bring him his meal.
“Masssssterrrr.” The cloak hissed.
“I noticed. Wait and see if they do anything. If not, we’ll deal with them tomorrow.” He replied back to Zion.
After pulling out his money, many of the uncaring eyes around the room had turned towards him. Possible bandits masquerading as travelers, thieves scouting their prey, or kidnappers.
Sitting in silence for a few while, his food arrived.
——————————–
The night passed, and Kaidus woke up around midmorning. Nothing had occurred during the night.
“Good morning my lord. Did you sleep well?” A man spoke to him as he got downstairs. “Elle told me about you and your arrival late last night. How was your rest?”
“Fair. No complaints here.” He spoke indifferently, trying not to sound too out of character.
“Glad to hear it. Is there anything else we may help you with?”
“For starters, what’s for breakfast? I assume my payment is enough to cover breakfast?”
“Of course. Please sit yourself at a table and I’ll have one of the lads bring it out to you.” The man replied humbly before making a quick series of shouts into the kitchen.
Soon a breakfast of baked mulse bread with a modest bowl of soup and three slices of roasted dronnon meat was before him.
Finished with breakfast, Kaidus went about the small village, purchasing anything he may need for the road ahead: a water skin, and a small knife. After some quick shopping and 17erns less in his money bag, he made his way out of the village and northward along the road.
Kaidus walked along the main road, making sure he was a good distance away from the village before stopping. There were people stalking him, and he had felt their presences ever since he was still in the village.
His pursuers had also stopped.
“Come out!” He yelled.
“Brave lil one aren’t ya? How’d you know?” a rough looking man popped out of the forest and asked. Four others also came out of hiding and walked into the main road. He remembered glimpsing their faces last night.
“How I know is none of your concern. Is this all of you?” He replied to the man’s words.
“Hmn?” the man looked at him quizzically.
“There were at least eleven of you in the inn last night watching Me. How come there are only five of you here?” He replied with a calm voice. Kaidus certainly wanted to be on his way, but this was an exception.
“Hahaha! You all hear that?” another man laughed. “The boy doesn’t have any idea what’s about to happen to him!”
Kaidus turned to look the man in the eyes. “I know full well what’s happening. You mongrels are the ones who have been attacking and killing travelers.” He replied without a hint of fear in him.
Shopping was not the only thing he was doing earlier. With the uneasy feeling last night, he had asked about the road. It turns out, a group of unknown assailants have been targeting and murdering travelers who traveled in small numbers.
“So that’s what you were doing. It sure was odd to see a lordling doing his own shopping.” the bandit grinned.
“Just hearing about us means nothing. Don’t worry, we won’t kill ya.” Another added.
The man who first spoke as they came out of the forest stepped forth. “You have no one guarding you nor do you have any idea of what is about to happen. Just give us everything you have, and you can be on your way. Otherwise, I don’t know what my friends may do to you.”
Without flinching, Kaidus stared back at the man who seem to be speaking for the group. “Is that the offer you all give your victims?”
“What’s wrong with you kid?! Do you want to die?! Give us your money!” another man shouted angrily.
“How about I keep my money, and I grind you all into dust and sprinkle your ashes into the wind? Parasites like you all do not deserve to live.”
“Well, forget my offer. You’ve got a fine tongue in yer mouth and I’ll enjoy cutting it off. We weren’t planning on lettin’ ya go anyways.” The leading man smiled. “I wonder how much money a tongue-less highborn bastard like you’ll bring in.” He added, signaling for two of his friends to grab Kaidus.
“Zion. Leave none alive.” Kaidus spoke. His voice was emotionless.
“YESSS MASSSTERRR!” A voice hissed happily.
The red cloak fluttered, and a razor wind blew forth—slicing both men who were approaching him in halves.
“He’s a mage from the Myst-!” One of the bandits managed, before Zion severed his head.
“Y-you…!” the leader stared at him in confusion.
“…”
Kaidus watched solemnly as Zion tore the two remaining bandits apart.
Within seconds, his command had been fulfilled. Five dead cut throats laid on the road.
A bloody tempest flew at Kaidus and was quickly absorbed by the cloak, giving it an even bloodier color.
With a thought, all the body parts burst into flame. As the intense flame died down, nothing but ashes remained of the five men.
Kaidus shot forth into the sky, blowing their ashes into the wind.
Having recovered from the blood loss that he gave to Zion, he altered his flight pattern after the 2nd night. The signature had stopped following any road or pathway, and took him over the forests, veering into unknown territories.
Away from populated areas, he hunted and scavenged for his own food, using what he had learned from Adalina. With magic, he easily caught small games, and scavenged for edible plants to supplement his meal—fire and water were not an issue for him. Kaidus rested where he could during the day, and soared through the skies at night, moving in the dark, hidden from prying eyes.
After five long days, he reached his destination.
A large fort, hidden within the midst of a dense forest. He could almost feel the owner of the mana that was trapped in the ring.
In the darkness, Kaidus lowered himself to camp for the night.
————————–
Zavon got out of his bed at the break of dawn as he had done every day. The crescendo of birds chirping in the morning had only just begun.
Putting on a robe, he looked back to the bed. At the sleeping woman whom he had indulged in last night. She was not his wife, nor was she his lover. They were nothing more than two adults seeking the warmth and pleasure of another.
Prying his eyes away from her naked body, Zavon stepped out of the room to go wash himself.
“How many of Alek’s group returned last night?” He asked his adjutant during breakfast.
“Nine, Master. Seven of those in his team were lost in an ambush by a collaboration of the mercenary guilds. Alek reported to have taken down a good portion of the enemy as they made their escape.”
“Did they accomplish what they were sent to do?”
“Yes, master. Two of the 10 heads have been cut off. The guilds will be in disarray for a while as they appoint new leaders.”
“And what of Ladur’s group?”
“They arrived earlier. Doesn’t look like they took any casualties.”
“And their mission?”
“Successful.”
“…” Zavon ate silently as he thought about their current state and made future plans.
“Master. If you don’t mind me asking, how much longer must we fortify this fortress?” His adjutant inquired.
“Only until I am sure t
hat Ferrent has yet to catch wind of us.” Zavon replied, bringing another spoonful of hot food to his mouth.
He had already called back three units of his agents. Along with the return of Alek and Ladurs’ groups, they numbered around seventy strong within headquarters. His scouts around Ferrent have reported nothing about any movements that may signify the Mystiks guild’s knowledge of their operations.
Yet, his little army was not for the Mystiks guild. It was preparations against the unknown voice that had threatened him.
‘This is foolish…’ He thought to himself. It was unlike him to take such precautions against an unknown enemy. He neither knew who was behind the voice, nor when the attack was coming.
“Tell Ladur and his team to rest up. I’ll be sending them out again tomorrow.” he directed his assistant.
“Yes master.”
Within his study, Zavon was drawing out new plans. New ways that would help the organization prosper and redeem himself in the eyes of the old master. As he wrote down ideas, he started hearing movements along the corridors. Listening carefully, there were shouting and yelling.
*BANG BANG!* within moments, someone was banging on his door. “Master! An attack!” the voice shouted.
Zavon got up and rushed out of his study.
Following the throngs of agents moving towards the front of the fort, upon his arrival, all he could see was a field of blood.
The bodies of his underlings were strewn about in pieces, and amongst the blood and gore, a figure in a bloody cloak floated forward.
‘Flying magic…’ he thought to himself. Amazed at what he was seeing in front of him. Looking closer, two glowing eyes peered at Zavon from inside the hood.
“Who are you?!” He questioned, stepping forward carefully. None of his underlings made a move.
“I have been looking for you.” A familiar voice boomed through. The figure pulled back his hood, revealing the face of a child with dark black hair.
Zavon stopped in his track. The voice was of the man he spoke to before, but in front of him was a child. “Kaidus…” His mouth gave life to the name that echoed in his mind.
“Pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” The boy replied. This time, in a childish voice.
‘Voice manipulation!’ Zavon’s mind screamed out in distress. His men had been caught while acting on their plans, and the perpetrator who caught them was undoubtedly none other than their target. This young boy.
“Exactly who are you? How did you find me?” Zavon questioned the boy. Ferrent was at least 20 days of hard riding away from their hideout; the one time he spoke to the boy was at least 13 days ago. Even if the boy had come right after their conversation, the timeframe did not add up. Not to mention finding their hideout hidden within the forest.
A metal ring flew at Zavon, and he caught it. Looking at it, the ring was one of his. One of the rings he gave out to his lieutenants to contact him. ‘Impossible.’ He thought to himself. ‘The connection had been destroyed. There’s no way…’ he looked up at the child to see a grin on the boy’s face.
“Thank you.” the boy mocked.
“No… it can’t be… KILL HIM!” Zavon quickly ordered. A feeling of apprehension overtaking him.
Within seconds, magic of all designs flew at the boy. Lightning cages, fire eruptions, ice fields, water jets, earth traps, spikes, metal blades. Projectiles of all orders of magic flew at the boy, and collided against his position. An explosion of magic that would have shredded any normal boy.
As the cloud of gas and smoke subsided, a large circular rock stood where all the magic had made their impact. The rock slowly cracked and dissolved, revealing the boy inside without a single scratch.
“Asiran. ve….” Zavon began mumbling a silent incantation under his breath. Yet as soon as he began, the cloak the child had been wearing dispersed, and a horizontal line of red shot forth at him and those around him. A razor wind.
Zavon quickly modified his incantation, and barely defended himself as short screams of pain burst out from those around him. A fine line of thick red liquid slashed across his mana barrier, slowly trickling down onto the ground.
Looking around, a few of his subordinates had been cleanly cut in half by the bloody gale. Others barely managed to avoid or defend it with magic.
Zavon watched in horror as a tempest began in the midst of the dead bodies. Blood gushed forth into the air, and was sucked into the storm. The tempest slowly tore up the lifeless bodies, throwing them up into the air as its rotation and power increased. As if alive, the storm shredded the bodies of those unable to withstand it, and whirled them around into the air.
Within moments, the hurricane had expanded and accumulated enough strength to cut his fort in half. Screams of agony could be heard as the razor winds took more victims within the fort.
By the time the storm stopped expanding, it was as if night had descended upon them. Red with blood and flesh, the hurricane blotted out the sun, trapping a handful of survivors within.
Zavon looked around, and saw the decimation of the group under his care. He counted fourteen survivors.
In front of him, the boy stood without batting his glowing eyes. The only thing that changed, is that his black hair was now shining with a silver glow.
Zavon finally understood a part of the riddle. ‘I am the black winds of carnage.’ The single phrase reverberated in his mind as he stared into the face of death.
Chapter 39 – Storm of Blood
There was no pity in his eyes as he surveyed the damages.
At least 40 people were before him moments ago, but now a measly dozen stood in their place. He had allowed Zion to test these members of Tal’hrus, and he was woefully disappointed.
He did not know how many people were still in the fort, but that did not matter to him anymore. They would be dealt with accordingly.
Countless body parts were flying about in the storm that is Zion—circulating around their position. Here and there, blood drizzled upon him and those of Tal’hrus who were still alive.
“Is this the proclaimed might of the mighty Tal’hrus? Blown to bits by a little storm?” Kaidus glared at Zavon as he taunted the man. “Well?”
Zavon quietly stared back at him. Kaidus could see the glint of fear in the man’s eyes, yet he knew the man was already planning something. Kaidus stepped forward. “You already know who I am. This time, I am not hiding. Let us see if I am destined to fail as you claimed I would.” He spoke using Zavon’s own words against him. A sudden tinge of agitation appeared on the man’s face.
A silent mutter could be heard coming from Zavon.
“Masssterrr.” Zion’s breeze whispered in his ears.
“You need not concern yourself with this. Eliminate any stragglers still in the fort and anyone who attempts to flee.” He ordered the tempest. Without another word, the breeze happily flew off to join its main body.
As soon as he finished, a ball of ice formed a few paces in front of him and exploded. Kaidus took two quick steps back and with a thought, shielded himself with a mana barrier. As soon as the ice shards stopped, he could see that the survivors were fanning out and surrounding him. A bolt of lightning shot at him from his left. With a timely sidestep, he avoided the magic. As soon as he evaded, the ground beneath his feet engulfed him: holding him in place and pulling him down into the ground. Three more magic spells came roaring at him.
Kaidus relaxed himself and pushed his body into the earth along with the pull of the other mage’s magic. Easily breaking the earth binding spell, he shot into the earth as Headmaster Nylen would have, dodging the three attacks.
He willed his mana to burst outward, and the earth gave in to his command. The ground rippled, and in quick successions the ripples erupted into spikes, impaling anyone who were unprepared.
With earth magic, he elevated himself back up above ground.
2 of the agents who were in his proximity had been penetrated by the earth spikes while the others retrea
ted back a considerable distance.
“Formation 13! Use long range spells and wear him down!” He heard Zavon’s voice shout an order.
An ice chain whipped towards him as two more bolts of frayed lightning homed in on his position. With a thought, another mana barrier deflected the two bolts. With his right hand, a fiery dagger manifested, and he quickly severed the icy whip.
‘Third form, Hing.’ In a blur—faster than the eyes can see—he vanished from his position and appeared alongside a woman. He was now holding onto two daggers. The woman held onto her stomach as a large cross burst into flame where she was touching. Amidst cries of agony, her guts fell out as the woman fell forward towards the ground, engulfed by the flames.
Without waiting, Kaidus threw one of the daggers at another man.
Seeing the sudden death of his companion, the man finished his spell he had been invoking. A wall of flame shot along a path straight at Kaidus. As the dagger and the fire spell passed through each other, the flaming dagger absorbed the man’s spell, burning even brighter as it pierced the man’s chest. The dagger burst into flames upon impact.
‘Sixth form, Sonis.’ Without looking to see if the first dagger landed, he threw the remaining dagger as a barrage of magic came towards his position. In a flash, he emerges as the dagger was about to insert itself into the subtle flesh of another member of Tal’hrus.
Catching the dagger in a backhanded grip with his right hand, he jabbed the dagger down into the man’s left leg. As flames burst forth from the attack, the man bent forward in an attempt to pull out the weapon and to grab him. Turning with the backhanded jab, Kaidus steeled himself and his left fist flew forth and squared the man’s side in an uppercut. A solid strike filled with mana; he blew the man off his feet as the force exited the man’s back. In the man’s side was a large hole penetrating from his lower right side all the way to an exit on the left-side of his back.
With a grunt and the sound of countless bones exploding, the man fell down and died. Blood began oozing out of the wound.
Kaidus stood his ground and turned to glare at Zavon. Waiting.