Underground Ring: Book 1

by M. M. Reid

  The Acerbus were the solitary reason the Druids, Pagans, Boorr, and Mystics fell apart all those centuries ago. The Lion’s texts never mentioned them, but according to other books and Lokus himself, they were described as demons wearing the skins of men. They had unnatural powers and the unholy need for constant death. It was stated in some journals that the Acerbus were nearly unkillable, with one man counting 18 stab wounds to the chest and throat before the woman—or demon as the narrator called it—finally stopped moving.

  What’s fascinating was that the Acerbus seemingly appeared at out of nowhere. There was no prior history of them, nor were they a nomadic tribe moving into the territory. They simply just appeared and grew, festering like an infected wound. The war that followed lasted nearly a century and, in that time, humanity and the four civilizations were brought to the brink of extinction. It was in that moment that the people of the Druids, Pagans, Mystics, and Boorr united under one banner to form a group called the Underground Ring. This group mercilessly assaulted the demons. The Acerbus were slaughtered without pity, until there were none left, leaving books and journals as the only clues of their existence. This vicious slaughter of the Acerbus gave rise to the fear of Vitae—a fear which eventually continued into the modern times and created a world that no longer believed in energy.

  “So, what’s the difference between a Shadow and an Acerbus then?” Ben said.

  “Other than their pain tolerance and unbelievable courage, Shadows have no more power than civilians,” Lokus said, shifting in his chair. “As I told you all before, we really don’t know why they started attacking us eighteen years ago. I personally suspect they are some Vitae-fearing cult.”

  “What about that Violet-Eyed Demon, then?” I asked. “Could he be an Acerbus?”

  Lokus shifted once again and cleared his throat twice before answering. “That is one theory, yes. You should get back to your math equations. You do not want another trip to the library, do you?”

  I nodded, knowing when Lokus wanted me to drop the subject. It didn’t matter if it was an Acerbus, I was going to kill it.

  We also spent much of our time learning about our heritage. In the Mystic society, there were three different sects of individuals. The first was simply a user: someone who could use Vitae but was just scraping the surface of this mysterious life energy. The second sect was the Masters, a level that could only be attained by going through a three tests: the test of will; the test of strength; and the test of spirit. They were arduous tests and many a Mystic died attempting these to complete them. But if one were to finish, he would have much greater Vitae and a greater ability to control that Vitae. The final sect was the Vitae Lords. It was reserved for those with enough energy and strength to handle the transformation. If successful, the individual would become pure power—pure energy—but that does not come without a heavy price. This individual would be giving up a piece of their humanity, transcending to a mind set far beyond that which a normal mortal could attain. I knew that attaining this title would have to come before I made any attempt to use Shin. I also learned that the only known remaining Vitae Lord was Lokus.

  Chapter 6

  I was 18 when it was that I decided to make the largest decision of my life. I rose from bed at dawn as I had been doing for the years that I had been in Lokus’s care. Stretching lightly, I put the pads of my feet onto the cold, wooden floor and started my weekday as I normally would: by eating. I lumbered down the long staircase, wondering why it was so quiet in the large house. Usually I could hear the echoes of Lee and Ben squabbling over this and that, but today there was only silence as I entered the empty kitchen, my stomach growling. I glanced around in a confused manner, then shrugged and opened the fridge. It was empty. I was a hungry teenager and I felt emotional, wondering where the hell my food had gone. There was no response to my anger, just the faint blowing of the wind outside the window. I searched the cupboards next, then the fridge again and even under the sink. There was no food. Just when I was ready to pick up the fridge itself and demand it tell me where my precious fuel source had gone, I felt the warmth in my chest. It was Lokus, subtly telling me that he was standing outside waiting for me. Subtlety was not uncommon in our household, but at that moment, perhaps from the lack of food or perhaps from my teenage angst, I felt a slow, boiling rage in my belly. Placing warm shoes on my feet, I strode outside with a glare that would probably frighten most small children.

  “Ah, Augrais, a pleasure to finally see you wake.” Lokus’s eyes twinkled as he grinned.

  “Good morning,” I responded, not returning the smile. “If I knew my breakfast would be forfeited, I would have eaten more for dinner.”

  “Ah, yes.” Lokus looked at the ground, barely containing a chuckle. He was most proud of himself over his little ruse. “This starvation is your constant for the next few days, Augrais. You may drink water, nothing more.”

  I nodded, but my rage boiled over slightly. “I see. I’m almost tempted to not ask. But why?”

  “It is time for your ascension to Master.”

  I was stunned for a moment. What did he just say? “Sorry…what?”

  “In three days time, when you pass the tests, you will attain the second level of our Mystic society: Master. You will become living energy, no longer dependent on your primal human emotions and needs. You will be one step closer reach that potential”—he tapped the centre of my chest—“that destiny that you have worked so hard to attain.”

  I stared into Lokus’s cold eyes. A part of me, a small part, was imploring me to run away and just live life as a normal human; to forget this war that was not mine to fight. But that voice was just a whisper now. I smirked as I used to do when I was young, before I was fully transformed.

  “It’s about time.” I let my energy rise to rinse away all the pangs of hunger. “Proceed with these tests, Lord, so that I may claim my title.”

  Lokus smiled as a father to his child and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m glad you are excited to get started but”—he pulled me closer so I kept my gaze with his—“do not treat this lightly. You could be destroyed from starvation or the elements, or even by me. In the face of death, a human can truly find him or herself. But even the ones with the most potential or strength can still fail if their will is not as firm as steel.”

  I grabbed his arm to show my courage. “I’m not afraid. Nothing you say will dissuade me. The faster you give me the tests, the faster I can complete them.” I veiled my true feelings, for an inkling of fear and doubt was creeping into my heart. I would have to master my humanity in order to face the Lord.

  Lokus led me at a swift walk to the end of his large estate.

  “That,” he said, pointing in the general direction of north, “is your first test of the day. The test of will.”

  At first, I was confused. I looked about wondering if I had to wrestle a bear or fight some sort of demon. There was nothing other than…

  “The mountain,” I stated sternly. “I have to scale the mountain.”

  He smiled. “Not only scale, Augrais, but overcome the mountain and thus overcome your doubt as an individual. You have until dawn of the next day to get to the top and, more importantly, shed any self-doubt—for you will not survive if you continue to have it.”

  I felt the doubt coming in full force. I knew that mountain. I had scaled it once before when I first came to Lokus’s estate. It took me two full days. No, I told myself, I will not give in to this weakness. I must overcome. I have come too far in order to fail before some large piece of rock.

  “The first test is the test of your will. I will see you at dawn tomorrow.” Lokus looked at me hard. Then, with a speed I hadn’t seen since the battle with the Violet-Eyed Demon, he rushed into the forest towards the mountain.

  I smirked slowly. He was climbing the mountain as well? Then, I would just have to beat him there!

  I never did catch up to Lokus, or even see him, during my ascent of the mountain. I will note, howev
er, that it is hard for humans to see their own growth over years of time. Two years ago, it took me three times as long to arrive at the base of the mountain. When I arrived at the base, I stood looking straight up, the size making me slightly dizzy. I felt the doubt deep within my gut, as if I had just eaten a large dinner of blades. Shaking my head, I jumped as hard as my legs could muster and landed on the ledge right above me. My right hand was true as it found my first handhold. Pulling myself up with one arm, I breathed in the scent of the rock. It made me remember my climbing training with Father. Fond memories of my father emboldened me. It was time to show how much I had grown. My energy flourishing, I propelled myself upward, barely using any hold for more than a second. Indeed, it felt for a few moments as if I was crawling very quickly across the vertical rock face. I’ll be there before nightfall, I thought. My famous smirk came to my lips.

  After a few hours, that smirk was nowhere to be found. Like most young men, I only thought of things in terms of brute force maneuvers. Would this win the fight? Could I lift this? The idea of having to do something for longer than a few hours had never even crossed my mind, but now I was beginning to feel it. My muscles ached and my breath was ragged. With each pull of my arm or push of my legs, I felt that my joints would snap in two. The vast well of energy I had been using to assault the mountain was still intact but was sustaining heavy losses. I was tired. I wanted to rest but with each passing moment the height of the mountain seemed to grow and grow. That will, that smirk, that arrogance I was using as a crutch had all but evaporated. Reality made me realize that even I had my limitations and that I should remember them well.

  My body panicked as the leg holds crumbled beneath me and I was left hanging precariously with one hand. It took all my effort to keep from letting go. The ledge—my refuge—was above me by about two metres. But its nearness would make no difference if I couldn’t somehow find another hold. Seconds went by as I swung there, feeling desperate. My grip was loosening. I could feel the fatigue from lack of food beginning to set in. This must be it. This must be my death. I was convinced there was no hope for me, no chance of my survival. I would fall dozens of metres and Lokus would never find the remains of my broken body. As I imagined this, my grip began to slip, my vision blurred and my eyes stung from the sweat running into them. Something happened then, something I hadn’t had to feel in a long time. It was the fear of death, the weakness, the little voice in the back of ones mind that tells you to just give up. That’s when it awakened: my will. I had to show myself that the voice was wrong. I was strong. I had the power; I just needed to use it. My remaining energy rushed to my limbs but, in my panic, I nearly forgot all my training. Grunting, I reestablished my grip and, with one blast of energy, flew upwards until I was gasping on solid ground. It felt like my muscle had just ripped apart. Ignoring the pain, I stood slowly, feeling the burn and shake of my exhausted muscles. I cursed myself for pushing so hard earlier. I should have conserved my strength. But the mountain top was one bout of climbing closer and I was that much closer to my goal. As long as I set my own pace and didn’t let my abilities cloud my judgment, I knew I would make it.

  Nightfall soon placed its blanket upon the land and darkness was now my new enemy. Unlike our home that was well lit most of the time, except during some training exercises, this place was pitch black. I simply could not see. In our training we were taught to try and visualize where we were, while using our other senses to help us navigate. I knew I was facing north east. I shifted back and forth on my holds, searching with my hands and my other foot for something to bear my weight. Once I found a hold, I would gingerly test it once or twice to make sure it could hold me. As I slowly ascended, I felt the air. It was colder and the moss growing here smelt wet. I understood how this could make some fall into a frenzy of fear, or perhaps make them give up. In normal circumstances, I would have waited until dawn so I could reattempt my climb. But I didn’t have that option. I had until dawn, no later.

  I found myself wondering if Lokus meant that dawn was as soon as he could see the tip of the sunrise over the horizon or if he meant when the full sun had risen. At that moment, I stopped my climb, set myself in a rest position, and just breathed. If I continued this line of thought and followed that path, I would become stricken with terror. I would lose myself in the fear of getting lost. I needed to stop overanalyzing, understand my problem, and execute the solution with no trace of human emotion. That was my weakness: human emotion. I steeled myself by raising my energy. I needed to drown my fear and exhaustion in this power. And I did just that as I slowly began to climb again. The burn, the pain, the fatigue were still there, just masked behind my Vitae and will. Even if I did not complete the test and reach the top of the mountain by dawn, I would have passed the meaning of the test. This was to prepare me for the power I was to receive and the responsibility that came with that power. This was to prepare me for the war between Mystics and Shadows and, more importantly, for my vendetta against the demon with violet eyes.

  The faint light of the sun was just coming over the horizon of the trees below as my hand felt the top of the mountain. At first I did not believe I had actually made it when I hoisted my exhausted body over the top. It was no longer my muscles, but my mind and the lack of food and sleep that were hitting me hard. If I had not heard the sound of crunching gravel, I probably would have fallen asleep right then and there.

  “Congratulations, Augrais,” Lokus said as I slowly got to my knees. “By completing the task within the time limit, you have proven that you are not swayed by your fear and human weakness. Rather, you can overcome them.”

  “The time limit really made no difference did it Lord?” I asked softly. “You just wanted to create the doubt in my heart.”

  I could feel his smile. “No, it did not,” Lokus admitted.

  “So get on with the next test, old man.” My arrogance had come back, but it was met by an unexpected answer. A strong kick to the head sent me reeling over the side of the cliff. Grabbing blindly, my body sank suddenly and I was just barely able to hold onto the edge. My brain was going haywire. I had never been hit by Lokus and the burning of energy in my cheek meant that he was using his Vitae against me!

  “The second test is the test of strength,” Lokus said, striding towards me. My hot breath blew the top layer of soil into dust. “You must fight me, Augrais, until dawn of tomorrow morning.”

  I felt my stomach drop as I slowly crawled back onto solid ground. “I can barely stand. How do you…”

  “Be warned, Augrais,” he cut me off. “If you do not fight, I will kill you.”

  I sensed the tone of his voice. He was not lying.

  I closed my eyes for a moment, much as I did during my night climb. Gathering my thoughts and my power I readied myself, allowing the bottoms of my feet to become saturated with Vitae. My body was tired. It was nearing its natural limit—that much I was sure of. If I even let my energy down for a moment, I would either pass out from the exhaustion or be ripped in two by Lokus’s enormous power. I could not allow myself to go into an all or nothing approach here. Even at full strength, I doubted I would remotely stand a chance. The objective here was to survive and apply not only what I had learned in the past two years but also what I had learned from myself in the climb. The order of these tests now made sense.

  Suddenly my face exploded into a mist of blood as Lokus’s fist struck me right in the nose. Damn it, I thought, I need to stop meditating or I’m going to get myself killed!

  My eyes teared up but I thanked the stars that I could use the momentum behind the blow to roll a safe distance away and recollect myself. If my energy had not been raised, I would have died from such a concentrated blow.

  “As I said before, Augrais,” Lokus stated calmly, as if we were having a chat over lunch, “if you let your guard down at any moment I will not hesitate and you will die.”

  I got to my feet once more, focusing on the bottom half of my body and allowing the energy to swe
ll around me again.

  “I know, Lokus,” I muttered as I spat out some blood. “It won’t happen again.”

  “I hope for your sake it doesn’t,” he said as he walked towards me slowly, as if he had all the time in the world.

  He was almost upon me and I could barely retreat back as there was little space in this battle zone of rock and moss. Lunging forward, Lokus attempted to strike me at the crown of the chin. His blow, if it had connected, would have most certainly knocked me unconscious even with all the energy protecting me. I had been planning for an attack like this and was hoping that he would try to take advantage of my hands being down. With all the energy I had stored in my legs, I quickly sidestepped and drove my knee brutally upwards towards his chest. It was as if he already knew what I was going to do before I even did it. Both of his arms caught me the under the joint of my knee and, with a display of amazing agility, he spun me around his body. I landed hard, rock and gravel grinding under my shoes which were, at that point, in very poor condition. My Vitae, healing and supporting me, was in good shape compared to the rest of me.

  Using the rest of the energy I had to give me a burst of speed, I came at him and moved quickly into a boxing combination. But he slipped around each punch easily, much like before. He had much more experience and maneuvered around my attacks then landed a strike of his own right into my stomach. The breath was knocked out of me as my body fell to the ground. I was unable to inhale. He hit me again with a vicious right hook and I saw stars for a moment. But even when my vision blurred, my thoughts never halted. How could he evade everything? I was too close for him to just be able to dodge like that. Not even he was that fast. Maybe it was his experience? No. It was almost as if he saw what I was going to do before I could do it. It was like…the Earth gift! I literally felt this answer as my Air gift was activated. I hadn’t used it in such a long time that I nearly forgot the instinct. The smell of the mountain, the feeling of it under me: he was using his Earth gift to see just a moment ahead of my strikes via my thoughts.