He looked at Nehushine and saw that the old Effeelion was still mourning the deaths of his loved ones. Rey did not want to bother but he did not know of anyone else better to ask, “Where is everyone?”
“Still out there on their mission,” Nehushine said without taking his eyes off the horizon. “I haven’t heard from them. It has been four days now.”
“Three more down to go, I guess,” Rey added.
“Don’t remind me,” Nehushine replied in a sad tone.
The old Effeelion looked as though he wanted to be left alone but Rey Ling insisted on cheering him up. He dropped the bag filled with weapons right next to Nehushine, raising dust from the debris.
“I did it. I have forged four omnithium swords,” Rey said proudly. “It was extremely difficult. Harder than any steel I have ever worked with, but it was worth it.”
Nehushine’s eyes widened and he dug through the bag with his short arms. He pulled out a long sword that he could barely hold. It was four feet long, the size of most Effeelions. He drew a foot of steel from the scabbard and marveled at it. He wanted to touch the blade but was afraid since he knew very well what it was capable of. As if in terror he sheathed the sword and gripped the handle with shaking hands.
“What is wrong?” Rey asked. “Is it no good?”
“Incredible work you have done,” Nehushine whispered. “Have you tested it?”
“Plenty of times,” Rey answered. “I made sure that they were able to stand a chance against the Specters. Omnithium against omnithium. It should give us an edge in battle.”
“My grandfather so long ago had said that when weapons forged of omnithium collide, they break open windows into limbo,” Nehushine said. “With these swords you can tear open realms…you must be careful.”
“If you have any better ideas, old man, let me know,” Rey remarked. “If the cosmo jewels can be controlled with omnithium staffs, imagine how we can defend ourselves with these swords. We must use these regardless of the risks. Sometimes you have to dive in and take a hit first before you can kill the enemy.”
“I must ask you to do me a favor,” Nehushine said and set his hands behind his back. “Until the time comes for us to attack the Specters once more, do not give Auron one of these omnithium swords.”
Rey Ling was shocked to hear Nehushine say such a thing. He was not sure how to reply and feared he might say something far too rude and insulting.
“Do you lack trust in our friend?” Rey asked solemnly.
“Forgive me but I feel a shift in Auron’s maju,” Nehushine said. “Something is not right with him.”
“Like what?” Rey asked, leaning in.
“About three days ago, the three of them left to Maer Weeyar. Auron said he had visited his home in Amaranth Island,” Nehushine explained. “He said he left his Valiarmos for repair with his tribe.”
“Interesting,” Rey replied, rubbing his chin. “I thought his Valiarmos only needed the energy of the sun to restore itself.”
“That is why I believe he is lying,” the old Effeelion concluded.
“Then again, he understands the Golden Sun better than any of us,” Rey analyzed. “Don’t be so paranoid. I see how serious Auron is. Perhaps he just wanted the armor to be ready for the last battle.”
“I hope that what I sense is wrong,” Nehushine replied.
Akielas
He woke to the blazing sun in his eyes. His head pulsed with pain, as well as his body. Akielas found himself in the cave, alone with a fire crackling to his left and a cold breeze on his head. There was a pot hanging over the fire and he guessed that Zarviack was cooking something for him. He struggled to get up as his whole body ached. As he stood up he felt something different within him. A tingling sensation throughout his body and he felt something within the walls of the cave. He looked down at the fire and sensed something within it, something lively and it felt like spiders crawling over his skin. Akielas looked at his shaking hands. Not a nervous shudder but a reaction to something he was trying to recall.
“This feeling,” he whispered as he gazed at his hands. “I can feel everything that is around me. I can feel… my own maju… at last.”
He thrust a hand downward at the fire and the flames enlarged, engulfing the pot.
“You are ruining your tea,” Zarviack’s voice echoed inside the cave.
Akielas was startled by her voice. Zarviack stood by the entrance of the cave. She paced towards Akielas then sat down by the fire. She used a wooden spoon to taste the tea she was making.
“It smells good,” she said and took a sip.
“What is it?” Akielas asked and sat with her by the fire.
“Ginger tea, it is good for headaches and muscle pain,” she answered, gave him a wooden cup and filled it up.
Akielas drank, burned his tongue and spat some of it out.
“Drink slowly,” she said and giggled.
Akielas sipped his tea and breathed easily withstanding his headache.
“What happened to me? I thought that we were, you know, practicing deevinacy,” he asked.
“We were, but then you fainted,” Zarviack replied. “You were able to reconnect with your own maju. You released so much at once that your body had to shut down.”
“Ah, yes, now I remember,” Akielas recalled.
“Your gates were tightly blocked so when you opened the fourth gate the maju burst through uncontrollably and caused you to faint,” Zarviack explained. “I am amazed that you are still alive. The previous mages that had come to see me had not gone further than the fourth gate. One died after she opened the fourth gate and the others usually quit or committed suicide because they could not handle what they found inside. They were unable to live with themselves.”
“What really drove them to suicide?” Akielas asked, feeling as though there was something else that she was not explaining.
“The previous mages that came to visit me came for the same reason you did,” she said. “They lost their magic and were referred to me by the fairy king. Once they went through the fourth gate they could not handle it. They could not overcome their own lies and see the truth. They had found comfort in their lies. One must be able to see the truth in order to move one to the fifth gate. That is why I am proud of you, Akielas.”
“What is the fifth gate?” he asked.
Zarviack stood up and paced to the entrance of the cave.
“When you are finished come with me to the cave above and I will show you,” she replied. She used her magic to summon a pillar of ice and ascended to the second cave above.
Akielas drank his tea as fast as he could and followed Zarviack. The ice pillar came down, he jumped on it and rose to the cave above. He almost slipped before he reached the second cave but he quickly jumped off then followed Zarviack inside.
“This way,” her voice echoed.
He followed the tunnel and his steps echoed inside the darkness. The smell of sea salt filled his nostrils and he could feel a serene maju emanating from the cave. Just as he thought of using pyromancy to light the way, the tunnel became illuminated with blue gemstones embedded in the walls. The gemstones made a very low and soft humming sound. He followed the light and saw Zarviack up ahead.
“Over here,” she said and her voice echoed.
Akielas strode quickly and when he reached the end of the tunnel his eyes swelled and his mouth gaped. He could not believe what he saw. It had to be the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life. The colors, the shape, the way it danced over the pond and the lights, it was like a sanctuary. It was the perfect hideaway from the world to live in solace for eternity. It was so serene and he paced towards it mesmerized as if seduced by its beauty, by its maju, like a sailor to a siren.
The Sapphire Cosmo Jewel.
It floated over a shining pond, water elevating, forming swirling shapes around it. The jewel, shaped like a dragon egg, carved with scales. It shone painting the cave in hues of blue. Zarviack danced at the bank of t
he pond swaying her arms like ocean waves and moved her hips left and right. She sang a song so healing that he felt his headache vanishing and his pain reducing. It was like a lullaby and the sound waves moved through his body and put him at ease.
“What is this place?” he asked gazing at the jewel. “Is that the…Sapphire Cosmo Jewel? Why is it here?”
“This is my sanctum, I am the bearer of the jewel,” she said as she danced.
The water danced with her, spiraling around her and glowing in the form of bubbles. Zarviacks’ tattoos glowed as well. She was like an aquatic goddess chosen by Oceamus himself.
“You are the crystal bearer?” Akielas questioned. “But I thought the Laguans were the bearers of the jewel.”
“The jewel has chosen me. I decided to live in isolation with the jewel so that I can become enlightened,” she replied. “I want to be an ascendant master like the fairy king.”
“An ascendant master?” he repeated, unsure of what she meant.
“Yes, I want to ascend just like the fairy king did. From human to a spiritual being,” she explained. “Come, let us finish what we started.” She ceased her dancing and the water coiled back into the pond.
They sat by the bank of the pond in the lotus position. Akielas faced away from the light of the sapphire jewel since it was too distracting. The light of the jewel reflected on Zarviack’s face painting it blue.
“It is time to open the fifth gate. It deals with desire and it is blocked by hate. Akielas, tell me, what do you hate the most?” she asked.
“Myself,” Akielas answered. “I have come to hate myself because everything that is happening today is because of me.”
“It is time to forgive yourself once more and focus on your desires,” Zarviack counseled. “This gate is governed by the element of darkness. It will reveal your deepest darkest desires. Under the moonlight we sleep and our dreams show us what is truly in our minds. Your dreams are a reflection of what you truly believe in. Having hate towards yourself and others will prevent you from fulfilling your desires. You must let go. Dive deep within yourself. Think about your desire. The more you hate yourself the less likely you are to fulfill that desire.”
Akielas’ only desire was to be with his wife and son. All that was left now was his son, Ajira. He had to protect the boy with his life. Sure, I have made many mistakes but I have done many great things as well. I see now. My self hate has caused me to become weak. I forgive myself and all that I have done.
His maju rose and he felt his body shaking. He began to feel the same power he had before Ember stripped him of his magic.
“Good. I felt the gate open,” Zarviack said. “Now, the sixth gate. It deals with love and it is blocked by grief. Akielas, what is your grief?”
“My wife, she was killed by my own student,” he answered. “She was everything to me. I had no one until she came into my life.”
“Akielas, love will return to you,” Zarviack stated. “Love never leaves you. It simply returns to you in a new form. Thank her for everything she has given you. Think about the love you currently have.”
Akielas closed his eyes and thought of the people he had in his life. His most memorable moment of love was when he confessed that the Specters were all his fault and his friends were still willing to help him. He felt the love and support from his friends. He thought that he would be all alone like in his youth but they decided to stay by his side. I love all of you. Auron, Eckxio, Caim, Willow and Rey Ling, he thought. What would I do without all of you?
His body shook and he felt another pulse of maju rising within.
“Good, you have opened the sixth gate,” Zarviack said. “You have released your grief and allowed love to flow.”
“I don’t know if I can continue,” he said and groaned. “Are we done yet? My body is aching.”
“We are almost done. Don’t worry. Let’s continue,” Zarviack answered. “The seventh gate deals with insight and union. It is blocked by illusion. The greatest illusion in this world is the illusion of separation. Think about the separation that you see in this world.”
Akielas thought of all the separation he had seen in the world. All the countries that were at war. The rich and the poor. Masters and slaves. How El Nido separated themselves from the world and believed that the six islands are the world’s only utopia. The separation between Necrovania and the realm of light. The four natural elements, and as well as darkness and light.
“And yet somehow it is all connected. It is all one,” Akielas whispered as he meditated.
“Good. Now bring it all together,” Zarviack instructed. “See through the illusions and separations of the world. It is all one. The four elemental dragon gods descended from the twilight dragon and the twilight dragon descended from darkness and light. Separated and yet we are all just one big part of the puzzle. Muster all the maju from the six gates that you have opened. Let the maju flow up your spine. Combine the gates.”
He felt it rising. The maju pulsed in his spine and up to his head. It hurt but he withstood the pain and gritted his teeth. He could not keep his eyes shut and they glowed as well as his mouth. The mandarak tattoo on the back of his hand began to shine. Akielas stood up groaning from the pain.
“I can feel it,” he said vehemently. “I can feel the maju all around me. I can…I can…I”
And a blast of fire shot from his mouth. The water from the pond coiled towards him. The cave shook and rocks fell from above.
“Yes, this is it! This is my true power!” Akielas yelled.
“Control yourself or you will destroy the sanctum of the sapphire jewel,” Zarviack shouted.
Akielas balled his hands into fists and with all his might he contracted his maju. His body felt stiff after days of not using his magic and his maju felt like a force trying to pull him apart. However, he managed to pull it all back. As he contracted his maju he gained control over it. The movement of his maju changed from wildly swirling around to a smooth slow flow inside his body. Then the cave ceased to shake, the water from the pond fell and his fire breath ended. He remembered the last time this happened. When he first mastered the four magical elements he had lost control when his maju overflowed. He felt as though he was reliving that moment, but this time he was a whole new person. He was back to normal. Akielas felt the magic again, was eager to use it and take his revenge on the Specters.
“We are not finished,” Zarviack said.
“What?” Akielas snarled. “There is more? But I am back to normal. I can use magic again. I am complete.”
“Yes, you are,” she replied. “If you want to defend yourself against your enemy you will need cosmo. You need to open the eighth and final gate. The cosmo gate. Do this and you will be able to enter the omnith state.”
“The omnith state?” Akielas repeated. He remembered the fairy king mentioning it but he was not sure of what it was. The fairy king said that if he can master deevinacy then he will be able to enter the omnith state. “What is the omnith state?” he asked.
“The release of your cosmic energy,” Zarviack answered. “The state in which cosmic energy bursts through all eight gates and increases your magic tenfold. Let’s finish and you will be able to defeat the Specters with this power.”
Akielas sat back down by the bank of the pond with Zarviack. He was willing to do and learn anything that would put an end to the Specters. He felt privileged to be one of the few mages to have ever learned this.
“So you can enter the omnith state?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “Living here with the sapphire jewel has helped me unlock it as well. Now it is your turn.”
“Let’s finish,” he said enthusiastically.
“The eighth gate deals with pure cosmic and spiritual energy. It is blocked by earthly attachments,” Zarviack explained. “Think about what attaches you to this world.”
Akielas did not have to think about it. It was already his biggest motivation. His son, Ajira. The only family he ha
d left. His blood and legacy. He smiled just thinking about the boy. It filled him with joy imagining his return home and finally being able to raise his son on his own like he always wanted once this was all over.
“Now, let go of your attachments. Let it be washed away by the river, forgotten,” Zarviack instructed.
“What!” Akielas snarled. “Why would I want to let go of my son? He needs me. Without me he will be in danger and I won’t forgive myself if anything happens to him.”
“Letting go does not mean that they disappear,” Zarviack said. “Simply detach yourself. Let it go. Embrace uncertainty. Enter the unknown.”
“I will try,” Akielas said reluctantly.
And so he closed his eyes and meditated. He felt the love he had for his son burning in his chest. The guilt he felt for not being there with him for so many years. The life he wished he had with his family. He watched his son vanishing in his third eye. The image of the young boy disappeared like wind blowing away the petals of a flower. It was hard to watch and tears left his eyes. The boy was gone and although Akielas could not see him he was no longer sad. He was solemn and present in a void of detachment. Then he felt the maju rise again, this time it penetrated through his head. His body began to shake as the power began to swell within. He opened his eyes and they glowed purple. He released a purple light from his eyes and mouth. His body elevated off the ground with an unknown force and he was sure it was not aeromancy.
The Sapphire Cosmo Jewel reacted to his energy and changed from blue to purple. Akielas felt a surging of power he was not familiar with. It was not maju but cosmic energy from his body.
“Akielas, you have done it. You have entered the omnith state,” Zarviack congratulated.
“How do I stop it?” he asked in fear. “What do I do?”
“You only have a few minutes to use it,” Zarviack said. “You must withdraw for now. I will show you how to control it.”
“I can’t control it,” he rasped. “It is too strong. My body can’t handle it.”
Blood of Mages (Rift of Chaos Book 3) Page 19