“Well done.” Sorata spoke from afar.
Jaival looked at his palms.
“This is what I’ve become. A monster?” he asked his mentor.
“You are what you choose to be. Your power is only a tool. It’s up to you how to wield it.”
A white beam of light blinded his vision. Sorata materialized out of it.
“Now you understand why they called me the things they called me.”
Jaival nodded. “I think I do.”
Sorata took slow steps closer. “Do you think I’m a monster, Jaival?”
The moon elf took a good look at the ancient witch.
“No.” he confessed.
“Do you want to know why I chose you to succeed me as a Twilighter?”
Jaival shrugged.
“Because you are the only one capable of carrying on this arduous legacy. You have the strength to walk the fine line between the misguided notions of good and evil, and keep sight of what is truly natural, and truly right. Others may choose you for having the courageous heart of a hero. I chose you because you are pure. And pure is what our worlds need.”
It was in that moment that Jaival truly appreciated all that Sorata had been through.
“I know now why you allowed yourself to be banished.” he said.
“What makes you think I allowed it?” Sorata challenged.
“Because you were the one this land needed, but not necessarily what they thought you’d be like.”
“Hmph!” Sorata fought her cheeks from turning red. “You presume to think you know so much about me, Jaival of the Moon. And yet, you might be right.”
Jaival smirked.
“That’s enough for now, get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day.” Sorata began walking away.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Mapped
JAIVAL ROSE THE NEXT DAY to a hearty breakfast with his mentor in the ground level of Shadow Temple. The two exchanged pleasantries. They’d grown closer as time went by, forming a mutual bond of respect. After the meal, Sorata took Jaival to the resting area of the Starlight Blade, a minimal, clear-glass room where the alien sword stood waiting in a pedestal.
The ancient witch accessed the nearby stone tablet which was really an ancient computer. Holograms came to life, displaying views of Star World’s current happenings. One hologram showed Eira Citadel and its deteriorating state while others showed the sinister changes Jaival had missed during his slumber.
“By the stars,” The moon elf said under his breath. “I know you told me of what happened but I didn’t expect it to be like this.”
Monsters roamed across the lands. Dream Forest was almost completely burned to the ground. Villages were ransacked and pillaged. Night and day didn’t seem to make a difference as the sky was blacked out by ghastly clouds and thick billows of smoke and ash. Everywhere you looked, twisted Void magic ran amuck, and cries of suffering permeated the air.
“It grows worse with each passing day,” Sorata said solemnly. “You must be wary when you return to Star World, especially with the Starlight Blade in hand. Baldr is waiting for you. He knows you will return to save Arya, and he will use it against you.”
Jaival nodded.
“The other issue is his fortress. Between Void Order forces, demons, and traitors alike, Nidhogg will be guarding Eira Citadel. You will not be able to simply walk in. The dragon will incinerate you in the blink of an eye. You will need a plan. Thankfully, I’ve already done your homework.”
Sorata pressed a few buttons on the slate. The holograms shifted, showing a view of a nearby labour camp in the east sector of Eira. Among the enslaved who were shackled, chained, and beaten by demons, Jaival caught sight of someone he was certain had passed on.
“Danzul.” The moon elf whispered.
“Good eye.” she replied.
“And what’s that?” Jaival squeezed his eyes for a better view. “Is that Cyrus?”
“Good eye again. Yes, they are alive.”
“I was certain of their deaths.” The moon elf felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had been carrying the guilt of their deaths on his back for a long time, especially that of Danzul’s.
Sorata became very serious. “Don’t get too excited. They’re alive for now. Soon they’ll be turned into demons like the rest. It’s only a matter of time. Jaival, you cannot hope to fight Baldr, Nidhogg, The Void Order and their demonic forces all at once. That is madness. You will need to free your friends from the camp and rally the other captives to fight with you. It is the only way you have a chance.”
“What of Arya? Where is she?”
Sorata played with the controls. The holograms shifted again, showing the princess looking out on her balcony with a grim look. Though her beauty remained untarnished, there was a sadness to her. She seemed hollow; hopeless. It sent an unnerving feeling through Jaival. He wanted to reach out and hold her, let her know it will be okay.
“I have to get going.” he announced.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. There’s one last thing.”
Sorata walked to the Starlight Blade, gesturing Jaival to follow. The two arrived by its pedestal and stood on opposite sides, each staring at the alien blade. Both had their own histories attached to the sword and both had their own reasons why they wanted it to be used again.
“…there’s something Mikael wanted you to know,” Sorata said. “To the hero who succeeds me, may the weight of responsibility feel as feathers on your shoulders. The Twin Blades are tools – whoever wields them chooses his own destiny and the fate of the world at large.”
Jaival remained quiet, absorbing the words and their meaning.
“Sorata,” he found the courage to speak up. “What happened to Mikael? I know that he-”
“I cannot tell you.”
Jaival hushed.
“All you need to know is I’ve gotten what I wanted. The rest is up to you.” The sorceress reached for the hilt and pulled the sword from its pedestal. She studied its elegant craftsmanship carefully. Memories of her old battles came to mind. “I have fought in countless wars, lost many I’ve cared for. War never changes. It’s a cycle without end,” she held the sword with both hands, one around the hilt, the other near the tip of the blade, and offered it to her student. “Know that my plan all along was to save the one I loved from the cycle of war. If we were to fight Malstrife again, we would only prompt another return. You, Jaival, you have the power to end this.”
Jaival slowly reached for the sword. Its power began coursing through his veins.
“Don’t repeat our mistakes. Use the Star Blades to bring peace. Save the ones you love and bring this eternal war to an end.”
Jaival held the sword on high, thinking over his teacher’s wisdom. He could feel its grip drawing him in, reminding him of the time he once wielded the Twin Blades to eradicate an entire world.
The moon elf’s face dropped. “Star World has been through every layer of hell, and yet, those who seek to control it, are the same ones destroying it,” Jaival sheathed the Starlight Blade on his back. “I will save Star World, Sorata.” a sharp ferocity shimmered in his green eyes. “And I will save her, even if I don’t make it back alive.”
“Then you are ready,” Sorata smiled. “Come now, we do not have much time. Arya needs you. Go get dressed in the armor I left in your quarters. The armor is an heirloom of the Ancient Hero. It will do you well for the challenges at hand. Come back to me and I will create a portal to the other world for you.”
“Understood.” Jaival nodded and hurried away to his quarters.
Sorata gazed at him as he left, wondering if she’d done the right thing.
A powerful presence crept up behind her.
“Sending him off to almost certain death, do you think he can do it?” a familiar voice called.
“He has no choice. Nor does Arya. Eventually, whether it was this lifetime or the next, they were bound to confront their destiny. They are the only ones who can bring about true p
eace,” Sorata turned to confront the presence behind her. She reached for his face and caressed it lovingly. “We have served our time in these worlds. We have our own destiny to follow.”
Light tipped the shadow of the presence and his face became known.
“Let’s hope you’re right.” Mikael replied.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The Hero Returns
WITH THE STARLIGHT BLADE sheathed on his back, a hood and cape, encased in alien armor that resembled his former incarnation’s technological gear, Jaival said his fond farewells to Sorata and leapt into the portal. Moments later, he arrived at the outskirts of Eira, near the eastern sector between the city and the ravaged Dream Forest. Dark clouds swirled over the kingdom while whips and screams could be heard in the short distance. A feeling of dread crept up the hero’s spine. It was far worse seeing the chaos in person.
A penetrating roar howled from the skies above. Jaival looked in the direction it came from. With his mighty wings, Nidhogg swooped overhead and around the kingdom, his terrifying presence serving as a reminder to all who would dare oppose. Jaival swallowed. It was difficult not to feel some sort of hesitation for what was ahead of him. Nevertheless, if there was ever a moment in his life that demanded courage, it was now. He pushed his fears aside and sneakily made way to the eastern sector of the fallen kingdom.
***
As the moon elf sneaked past demon and Void Order guard en route to the slave camp, one thing was for certain – Jaival had to rely on his cunning. He stayed low and avoided conflict, using the power of his new armor and Twilight energy to conceal his presence to the naked eye for brief periods. On his way to the camp, he felt a gripping presence that deterred him from his initial destination. It called to him so much, so deep, that he had no choice but to go investigate. The path led him to one of the noble courtyards which had become desecrated. Like much of the kingdom, the courtyard had become a cesspool of violence and hedonism.
“By the stars.” Jaival whispered once his eyes caught sight of the disturbance.
In the distance, escorted by elite Void Order guards and two monstrous demons, Baldr walked with Arya into the courtyard. The new King dismissed the unworthy underlings he didn’t want around. When they were gone, Baldr turned to his sister.
“Do you remember this place?” he asked.
“Why wouldn’t I? It was not I who left our kingdom. Why have you brought me here?” Arya snarled.
“Do you recall the days when we were young? You always asked me why I came here. Why I meditated in this courtyard?”
Arya waited for him to continue.
Baldr turned away from her and unsheathed the Void-Star Blade, then held it with outstretched arm. “Today you will find out why.” he held the blade upside down with both hands and stabbed it into the ground.
Streams of Void energy raced in all directions, staggering the King’s bodyguards and Arya alike. Jaival felt the heat of the surge run past him. The Starlight blade on his back glowed with power, reacting to its twin’s proximity. The structure of the courtyard rapidly started changing. The walls were reshaped from the desecrated, stained stones to a new form – ancient and technological.
Arya looked around in awe.
A huge sealed door now stood before them, covered in glowing hieroglyphics and archaic depictions, showing armies of mechanical beasts bowing to the Ancient Goddess and the Ancient Titan.
“Eira Citadel was built on secrets,” Baldr rose to his feet and moved to the door. He trailed his fingers on its rim observantly. “During the time of the Goddess and the Titan, long after they sealed away Malstrife, they created mechanized armies for the protection of elvenkind, should dark forces return. Knowledge of their existence was kept secret – given only to the worthy. As time went on, these supposed worthy, in their arrogance, thought it best to hide any mention of The Armies of the Mechanicum. They kept the power to themselves.”
Baldr scoffed and faced his sister. “Little did you know, dear sister, our royal family, are descendants of the worthy. It was our line that kept this secret from all of elvenkind.”
Arya grew appalled. It all started making sense once she remembered her father’s last words.
Right where we have gone wrong.
“But why? There have been other cycles where Malstrife has returned. Why would they not have used these armies?” she probed.
“Who knows? Power, control,” Baldr faced the door again. “Should the world be looking at its end, the royal family would always be safe. They would always have a card up their sleeves, even if it meant the rest of the world burning.”
“Madness!” Arya shook her head. “Madness and blasphemy!”
“Still you deny the truth, but how could you know when all you’ve studied is what they’ve allowed you to? Our family has not been so innocent, dear sister. We’ve always been infiltrated by The Dark Lord and his influences to feed his endless cycle.”
Baldr retrieved the Void-Star Blade and pointed it toward the door.
“But fear not. We will open these doors and unleash what has rightfully been gifted to us from birth,” he faced his sister once more. “We will claim our inheritance. Together we will overthrow Malstrife and rule the world, no, the galaxy – as King and Queen.”
Arya paid close attention to her brother’s words, particularly the last bits. It added to her confusion. She wanted to believe there was good in Baldr but the way he spoke made her feel uneasy.
“These doors can only be opened by Twilight energies. As you know, I have given up my call to the light. My powers are now of Void. But you, Arya, you still bear the light. Together we can open these doors. We can defeat The Dark Lord once and for all!”
Arya remained silent, thinking over everything.
“No.” she finally said.
“No?” Baldr snapped. “What do you mean, no?!”
“You’re too blind to see it. Power has gone to your head. What difference would it make if the old Dark Lord is gone when we’d have a new one?”
A sting pierced Baldr’s heart. He felt betrayed.
“How dare you,” he hissed and raised his sword at her. “How dare you!”
“Go on. Do it!” Arya challenged. “I’d rather die than be responsible for this twisted new world order.”
The King scoffed. He lowered his weapon and nodded to his servants. One of the Void Order guards snapped their fingers and opened a portal. An innocent, enslaved civilian fell through it. Dazed and confused, the poor woman tried running, only to be subdued by Baldr’s underlings. The King moved to her and drew his sword at her neck.
“What are you doing?” Arya shook.
“If you will not abide to save our world, then I will do what is necessary to make you.” he said.
“Baldr, don’t!”
“There are thousands of these mongrels. I will kill every single one if you make me.”
“Please, help me!” The woman screamed.
Faced with two paths that would lead to moral depravity, Arya turned to ice. She had no idea what to do. Baldr pressed the sword on the victim’s neck. Blood oozed out. An instinctive, protective urge kicked in Jaival. He reached for his Star Blade and poised to strike.
‘Stop!’ Sorata’s voice entered his mind. ‘I know what this means to you but you must not intervene. Not yet.’
“Damnit he’s going to kill her!” Jaival hissed.
“Your choice, sister. The blood of this woman and many others will be on your hands.” Baldr threatened.
Arya clenched her mouth shut. Part of her wondered if she should’ve kept her silence about her brother’s true intent.
“Fine!” she walked forward defiantly. “I’ll do it! Just let her go!”
Baldr tilted his head unimpressed, still holding his blade on the woman’s neck.
“Let her go Baldr!” Arya raised her voice.
The King sheathed his blade, turned to the woman and with a blazing fist, knocked her out cold.
“
You monster!” Arya wailed.
“I am what you push me to become,” Baldr remarked. “Do you wish to test me further?”
Arya squeezed her fists. It took an unnatural form of discipline to hold herself back from pouncing on her brother. Yet she knew better. Brute-forcing her way would help no one. She walked past Baldr and his guards and held her palm toward the sealed door. Pure energies coursed around her and a beam of light shot from her hand. Baldr moved to her side and unsheathed the Void-Star Blade, pointed it toward the door, and fired its Shadow power as well.
‘Jaival, you need to go. You’re wasting time here.’ Sorata telepathically spoke to the moon elf.
He sheathed his sword, trying to ease the adrenaline.
“I’ll come back for you.” he whispered while looking at Arya, then sneaked away.
Baldr and his sister continued. It would take a while before the door would be unsealed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The Death Camp
JAIVAL FOLLOWED THE TRAIL leading to the death camp, drawing upon his Twilight power to create another perception filter, rendering him invisible to the naked eye. He had the opportunity to witness the camp’s horror firsthand. Scores of beaten, malnourished hostages ranging in the thousands were pushed into various chambers by towering, spear-wielding demons. Some hostages were captured to be used as slave labour, others were slated for mutation and some, execution. Giant furnaces around the factory spewed magma and unnatural alien chemicals; mixtures for the mutation processes. If any captive resisted, they were whipped, beaten or in some cases, outright killed.
Jaival studied the place thoroughly, taking note of the demons, their behavior, and their patrolling paths. There was something odd about these demons. They didn’t seem natural in their skin. As the moon elf’s eyes wandered, he caught sight of a hostage, screaming, and begging for mercy as they were pushed by demons into a furnace chamber. A flood of alien gas and vile chemical concoctions overcame the hostage, choking the helpless elf. Seconds later, the resisting elf had become the very thing he protested – a demonic abomination; another mindless foot soldier for the Void Order. The other demons gave the newly converted a spear and sent him on his way to finalize his transformation.
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