The Last Light Series Omnibus One: - The Dreamer and the Deceiver - All Things Eternal - Ode to the King: A Superhero Epic Fantasy Collection (The Last Light Collection Book 1)

by Alex Villavasso

  “Enough with your lies, demon!” Emil’s head jerked back at the soldier’s cry, but his surprise was outlived by their blinding ignorance. A soldier’s war cry echoed in Emil’s ears as he ran towards Emil’s backside, his sword high in the air. Emil turned to face the assailant who challenged him, and jutted his sword deep into the soldier’s chest before the soldier could bring his blade to strike him. The soldier gasped and his eyes met Emil’s, his life leaving him as Emil’s steel groped his insides.

  The soldier struggled to speak but was unable to bring air into his lungs, all the while enacting his death thralls.

  Emil watched in silence, ignoring the pain he felt that darkened his soul.

  “You’re a fool,” Emil whispered once the man’s body fell limp.

  “Get him!” another soldier screamed, his blade fiercely pointing at Emil. The circle grew tighter around the fatigued hero as he removed his blade from their fallen friend.

  Will it ever end? Emil squeezed the hilt of his blade tighter, releasing his remorse into the cold steel that brought judgment upon his foes. “One more step from any of you and I guarantee, it will be your last,” Emil hissed. A small sliver of energy zagged across his chest before disappearing from sight. “If I am a demon like you say, then what are any of you to me? Leave this battlefield or join your friends in Hell!” A bolt of Emil’s light jumped from his chest to his left arm, and then leapt again to his right and down his blade, before running into the ground. Beneath his stone face, Emil’s stomach twisted as he expended his energy for show. A guard inched forward and Emil scowled as he gripped his blades tight. In his mind, it was better for them to be afraid than dead. Their fear would only save them. It was his wishful thinking for them to be cowards. In their hearts there was only bloodlust for their comrades that Emil had killed before their very eyes.

  The circle of guards began to shift as they paced around Emil, their swords thirsty for revenge. Emil lifted his blades to his chest as he squatted into a fighter’s stance. He continued to follow his enemy with his eyes, not letting a single movement of his foes go unnoticed. The ache in the pit of Emil’s stomach grew stronger. His blade began to wobble under his growing duress.

  “Do not hesitate!” the squad leader commanded. “Can’t you see that he is unwell? Attack him before he gathers his strength!” The remaining soldiers yelled in unison as they began to enclose Emil within their formation.

  “I won’t lose to you,” Emil grunted as he sunk lower into his stance and waited for the opportune time to strike.

  The moment never came.

  In rapid succession, his enemies collapsed to the earth as if God himself had willed their spirits away. In awe, Emil lowered his weapons and turned behind him, his heart still racing from what almost came to be. Sage...? In the distance, Emil saw Sage huffing on one knee with his hand extended in his direction, his accomplice, Grim, at his side. Emil hid his scowl as he acknowledged their presence before examining the fallen bodies that lay at his feet.

  “You’d think he’d be more grateful. I only saved his life,” Sage scoffed as his viper retracted. He placed his hand on one knee and propped himself up from the ground. “Brat.”

  “How are you feeling now?”

  “Better. Nowhere near one hundred percent but that pick-me-up definitely pushed me in the right direction.”

  Skye. The thought shot through Emil’s mind. After a moment’s rest, Emil turned to see Skye and Luna running his way, Luna firing blasts of air backwards at the spires that followed them. Emil’s senses sharpened at the sight of the rapidly approaching threat. They’re too strong. Emil squeezed the hilts of his blade as Skye approached him, but with no energy, that was all he could do. Think...think! “We’ll be stronger together, over here!” Emil grunted as he ran towards Sage and Grim, his head constantly turning over his shoulders as he led the way.

  “Omari!” Emil yelled, but Omari was already on the same page. Abandoning his battle, he warped first to Skye and Luna, grabbing them by the waist, and then to Emil.

  “Place your hand on my body, quickly!” Omari demanded as he appeared in front of Emil. Though he didn’t seem as fatigued as Emil, his body looked to be in worse condition from his fight with Vespa. With a nod, Emil complied, ignoring the bruises and cuts that marked Omari’s body. A whiff of dust and debris kicked into the air and the four of them vanished, appearing in Sage and Grim’s domain. “There isn’t much time! Touch my body!” Two hands landed on Omari’s shoulders. After confirming their persons, Omari and the others vanished from the town square before Arius and his elites could re-engage them.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Arius said as he halted his pursuit alongside the female Abnormal. He sighed and turned to witness the destruction of the town square and surrounding infrastructure. “It was such a beautiful place, too,” Arius mused.

  “Where did they go?” His female companion asked.

  “They are simply gone, Claire.” Arius’s eyes followed the trail of wind that brushed up into the mid-day sky.

  “Should we look for them?” Claire said as she tamed a streak of blonde hair, tucking it behind her ear.

  “Where? Our information was inaccurate. The Saint has the ability to warp between large spaces of land rather than become invisible like the intel suggested. It would be useless to pursue somebody with that ability. Though we are stronger, we are outnumbered. One of their members failed to use his abilities. If he saved his strength, even given the circumstances, it is likely that he is formidable. Plus, I can tell from your movements that fatigue has begun to weigh against your body. The light manipulator would have killed you if he wasn’t so careless with his energy.” Claire sharply inhaled as her mouth slightly opened. She turned to face Arius but his eyes were still focused in front of him.

  “Did you see what he did to Virgil? If he wanted to, he could have easily killed him...even with the unique metal that coats his body. It was also him who killed Hugo. Silvia as well.” Arius lowered his eyes to the earth.

  “I see.” Claire’s head sank as she turned away. A set of footsteps approached Arius and Claire, crunching the fragmented rocks as his heavy boots pressed against the earth.

  “Maybe if we’re lucky, the secondary team will catch up with them. They were to move a couple of hours behind us in case reinforcements were needed. Their scouts have been ordered to patrol the surrounding area’s forestry. We’ll rendezvous with a few from their faction to strengthen our numbers on the way back and leave the rest to do their job. Vespa,” Arius began, “I see that you brought Virgil with you.”

  “Yes.” The Abnormal once coated in steel hung over Vespa’s shoulders, seemingly unresponsive.

  “How is his condition?” Arius said as he leered at the hanging body.

  “He’ll live. The one he squared off against injured him, but it was the attack from the Abnormal whose energy I stole that almost killed him. He’s doing better now, but he’s in no condition to fight.”

  “I see.” Arius paused. “That one is another that troubles me. His abilities seem to have a unique capacity. It was a serpent he sent to attack us...” he trailed off but picked up with a more relevant field of speech. “How are you?”

  “Fine. The Saint was a worthy adversary, but in the end, he ran.”

  “A good warrior knows when he is defeated.” Arius lifted his eyes from the ground and surveyed the battlefield, his eyes combing over the destruction and bodies that littered the square grounds. “Most of the soldiers we brought here are dead or dying.” Arius sighed. In the distance, Arius saw his father’s sword erect in the chest of a fallen soldier. A slight smile began to run across his face.

  “What should we do about them?” Vespa asked.

  “By the time we send for a medical team and return for the wounded, they will have already died. We also lack the transportation to bring them back safely and in swift fashion on our own. Let Everrmore take care of them...though I doubt they’ll survive long enough to receive pr
oper care from the looks of their injuries. The light wielder’s energy isn’t to be compared to a sword stab or wound from an arrow. The same goes for the silver haired man. You’ve experienced both, haven’t you, Vespa?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you are aware that conventional medical procedures will do little to aid in their recovery depending on the intensity of the attacker’s intent. Few will be able to make a moderate recovery, if living is even an option. Although I applaud their efforts, they are worthless to me now.”

  “It’s hard to believe sometimes that such abilities even exist,” Vespa said.

  “Vespa.” Arius paused. “In my younger years I once heard a story of a boy who called lightning from the skies. At one point in my life, I would have never thought it’d be possible, but then I saw Hugo cause fire to fall from the heavens.”

  “It was that boy we fought today, wasn’t it?”

  “Ah, you are quite astute, Vespa.” Arius smirked. “Yes, but the story was not entirely true. Rather than from the skies, the energy they spoke of came from his heart. However, some Abnormals with affinities to certain elements do exist...who knows?” Arius shrugged. “Maybe there is more truth to the story. Maybe another chapter is yet to unfold. As a people, we Abnormals bend the very confines of what makes our world a reality. I can control the will of others, Claire can move the earth, Virgil can encase his body in a unique steel, and you have the power to steal from the very essence that makes us all unique. The world is changing. We are evolving. The world twenty years from now will be vastly different from the one we live in today.” Arius’s cape whipped in the wind as he turned his back towards the stage and began to walk. “Perhaps by that time the people of this world will come to understand us, but my views on the matter I hold reserved for another day. One thing is for certain, though. This day will be forever remembered in history. Legion has been made known. Our secret is no longer ours to keep.” Arius exhaled after a brief silence. “Come, it’s time we leave this place. Much is to be done.”

  “Do you think they’ll be back?” Claire asked as she walked alongside Arius towards their carriage.

  “The Saint and the others? Perhaps. They are strong. Hopefully in the future they will be on our side, even if the chance of that is unlikely. My offer to The Saint and his friends still stands...I’m sure they know. The people of this earth can be so cruel—I wonder what it would take for them to realize that we were only working in their best interest. I pray that their awakening isn’t as brutal as mine.”

  Chapter 6: His Grace

  5 years ago

  The world seemed to unveil itself slowly to him, at first a blur, and then the images, almost at once, became whole. He was in a bed with ragged sheets surrounded by four walls that had seen better days. As Arius came to his senses, the lantern beside his bed awakened the pounding waves of pain that resonated in his temples. Arius slowly sat up from his lain position. His body responded better than he expected but it was still evident that he was weak. An untroubled rest had done his body well, but still, much work was to be done if he were to return to his full strength.

  Ugh... Arius placed his palm over his eye as he rested his elbow on the base of his thigh. It was then that he realized that he should be thankful for being alive. That’s right...I was...ambushed. A rush of adrenaline coursed through Arius’s veins as he shook the grogginess that plagued him and scanned the room. His possessions were at his bedside, stacked and folded neatly, and it appeared as though he was unharmed. What do they want from me? Why am I still alive? Was I rescued? No...I couldn’t have been. Not with that many of them.

  “So you’re up now, it seems. Thought I heard you.” A boy around the same age of Arius entered the room. “I brought you some food. It’s not the best, but it’ll bring you up to speed.” His motions were unsteady and his voice was noticeably shaken. The boy drew closer to Arius’s bed but Arius showed hesitation to his advances. The light from the lamp in the room brought more detail to the unknown boy’s features, stirring Arius’s memory of what happened before he lost consciousness.

  “You tried to kill me and now you try to feed me?” Arius squinted as the light poured against his face. “I don’t want your food. Why did you spare me?”

  “It was an accident...I just wanted to show that—”

  “You were tough to the other members of your petty gang? I can tell that you have no idea what true strength means.” Arius paused as he studied Roen’s face. “It’s not an act, but something that becomes who you are. Experiences shape that. Experiences, I can tell, that have not been a part of your upbringing.” The boy said nothing as they exchanged glances. “Why are you caring for me?” Arius hissed.

  “Hugo thought it would be appropriate to show you that we meant you no harm,” the boy said meekly. “I’m to care for you until you make a full recovery.”

  “I remember what I said back then...you’re still a coward. You only apologized because you got caught, and then defended your course of action. If toughness is what you truly desire, learn to stand by your convictions. Even now you sound like a timid boy.” Roen’s eyes began to gloss over, moist with tears. "When I last saw you, at least then, your act was somewhat believable. My advice to you is to find something beyond all of this. At the end of the day, you’re still a bunch of petty thieves. What kind of life is that? You should be fortunate that you were blessed to live a life free of the ailments that plague the world we live in, both those we understand and those we do not.” The boy placed the tray of food on the wooden crate near Arius’s bed, moved by Arius’s statement but hesitant to respond. “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Roen. And we’re not thieves. We’re a family.” Roen stepped away from Arius’s bed as he peered into his eyes. The flame from the lamp cast an orange hue that bared light to his features. For a moment, Arius was able to capture a glimpse of passion behind the timid boy’s exterior. The tears he held glistened but refused to fall.

  “I see,” Arius said as he hid his smile beneath his sullen face. The beaten tray by his bedside caught his attention and he analyzed the broth and the liquid that sat in its cup. His insides murmured at the sight of food, but Arius suppressed his urges to enjoy the hospitality he was offered by his assailants.

  “Like I said, what I did was a mistake. I’m here to make amends for that. I was taken in, just like how you were. I was an orphan and they gave me a place to stay, food, and other commodities. If you’d like, we can offer the same to you.”

  “In exchange for what?”

  “Nothing more than your loyalty.”

  As Arius pondered the thought, another set of footsteps entered the room. They were heavier and slower. As they grew near, Arius questioned if his spinning head was the source of perceived quaking or if in fact what was approaching was indeed a giant.

  “So, he’s finally up, huh? And you even got him a meal. Well, look at you.” The haughty man laughed after slapping Roen on the back. “And how’s our new friend doing, eh?”

  “I’m fine,” Arius coldly interjected. “Are you the leader of this place? I remember your face from before. What do you want from me?”

  “Nothing. Consider it an apology. You can leave whenever you see fit,” Hugo said nonchalantly after placing his hand on his hip.

  “A band of thieves ambush me and then take me in. What do you take me for?” Arius growled.

  “If we wanted you dead, you would have already been by now. In fact, it was me who saved your ass to begin with, so show some respect, kid. There doesn’t have to be some divine providence behind what happened. I called those punks off and wanted to make it up to you. You’d be stupid to decline our services.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

  “You talk as if you’re certain you would have made it much further on your own,” Hugo mused. “When I first saw you, I could tell that you were at the end of your rope. It’s obvious that you’re all you got. How long did you plan on wandering around without
a plan?” Arius snarled but failed to respond with an answer worth his while. “Look kid, call it what you want, but from the looks of it, you didn’t have enough money for more than a night’s stay at some sleazy Inn. A good night’s sleep wouldn’t have been enough to get you back to full health. You can thank Roen over here for being as lively as you are...although that’s not saying much.”