With a well-placed kick to the chains, Aadi threw the large gates open and marched in.
“Guards!” yelled Neko. He unsheathed a curved sword from his waist.
In an instant the five boys he’d encountered years before ran out of the mansion. They were accompanied by the same space-wielding mercenary he had encountered years ago as a child. No doubt he had sold his services to Neko.
“I don’t believe it,” said Salik. The skinny man looked identical to his younger self, albeit a bit taller. “It’s that boy from before.”
Malik looked at him from top to bottom, trying to figure out if Salik was indeed correct. “By the wielders. I think you’re right!”
“What? Who is he?” Neko asked, obviously lost as to what was going on.
Salik pointed at him, as if Aadi were a ghost. “He’s that boy that was sent to Kilead Keep.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly. “What is he doing here? No one escapes that hellish prison.”
“I don’t care what he’s doing here!” Neko thundered. “Get him!”
The five young men seemed a bit hesitant at first, but after a disapproving glance from their master, they pounced.
Aadi ducked under the first punch. He countered with jab to the face. The second man, he kicked under the chin. They both fell to the floor, unconscious.
The last three men attacked at once. It made no difference. Aadi simply waved his hand up and engulfed them up to the neck in earth. They remained still, unable to move an inch.
Knowing that dueling a space wielder was dangerous, he willed a layer of earth around him for defense. The sand whirled around him, hardening and encasing him from top to bottom. In awe, Aadi gazed at his reflection in the pond beside him. He now wore a majestic golden armor. A thin visor that ran horizontally provided more than enough visibility. A red cape flapped behind him. Wow. How did I do this?
A loud collection of ecstatic gasps from behind snapped him back to the present. A massive crowd had formed.
“Did you see that?” asked someone from the crowd.
“Yes,” a woman’s voice answered. “He earth wielded!”
“He’s an earth wielder!”
Neko, who up until now had looked lost for words, pushed the space wielder forward. “What am I paying you for, Dalpati? You have an advanced element and he has a basic one. Kill him!”
Those words seemed to have gotten Dalpati out of his trance. “Yes. Earth wielding is a basic element, after all.” He pulled out a steel dagger.
Aadi waved his adversary forward. “Well? What are you waiting for? Let’s have a go.”
“Insolent fool.” Dalpati dashed forward. As he did, the air around Aadi grew heavy. He shook as his body refused to move. “You’re mine!”
The attack that was meant for his neck missed as Aadi moved to the side.
“Space force doesn’t work on me,” called Aadi calmly. “You can remove all the gravity you want, but I will just reinforce my insides to compensate.”
“Reinforce this!” Dalpati brought his hands together and shot them forward. “Meteor rain!” In the sky above, a dozen meteors, the size of a man, raced down.
Without bothering to move, Aadi reached out to their energy. Once he had it, he dissolved it. The meteors turned into specks of dust that disappeared into the air.
“You should really think your attacks through,” said Aadi, feigning a yawn. “Meteors are made of rock. That is my domain.”
Dalpati face turned red and his frame shook. Aadi could tell he was getting under his skin. Which is what he wanted. Angry meant reckless.
“Die!”
The space wielder jumped at him, using his space wielding to propel him forward. Aadi picked up a stick from the ground. He parried the attack perfectly.
Dalpati staggered. Then he bore in, his weapon ready to claim victory. Aadi wielded the earth under him to his hands. He softened it. As his adversary closed in, he sent a massive tornado of golden earth forward. The attack hummed loudly as it whirled into Dalpati.
The man waved his dagger uselessly, trying to hit the attack.
Without flinching, Aadi ordered a mass of earth to rise under his adversary. It slammed into Dalpati’s forehead. The man crumpled to the ground.
No sound disturbed the battle scene. Even the crowd remained unmoving in silent admiration.
Aadi broke the silence as he turned to Neko. “You should really consider getting smarter help. Of course, that’s going to be really hard to do now that you’re going to prison.”
The rich commander glanced around nervously. “You can’t do that.”
“Actually I can. You see, I’m a witness to your dealings with Doctor Narciss. Many people who know of your crimes have remained quiet out of fear. But now, I will personally protect anyone who testifies against you. As you just witnessed, that will prove no problem for me.” He turned to the crowd, who all had their mouths open. “Where are the guards? I need them here at once.”
Instantly, a pair of guards ran out of the crowd. They both looked as giddy as children with a new toy.
“Mister earth wielder, sir,” said the first guard. “We will arrest this man at once.”
Sir? Aadi was sure that if it wasn’t for his earth wielding, these men wouldn’t even bother to look his way.
“Get over here, you criminal,” said the first guard. The second grabbed the commander and tied his hands behind his back. “Shall we put him to the sword, sir?”
“No!” Aadi couldn’t believe the man had even suggested that. “Take him to prison while he awaits judgment for his crimes. Do the same for the rest of his men.”
“Of course, sir.”
The guards pushed and shoved a rowdy Neko out of view.
The armor dissolved into dust, returning to the earth from where it had come. Aadi glanced at the crowd and a sense of pride washed over him. Men with fine silk robes showed no prejudice as they stood next to ragged tunic peasants. Women who wore expensive jewelry around their necks and on their ears now held hands with skinny, dirt-caked beggar women. Many of them cried. Others simply stared at Aadi, starry-eyed.
That’s when it hit him. He himself had done this. Here, on the brink of Va’siel’s end, he had brought them hope. Hope that perhaps life did not have to end.
He cleared his throat. “People of Missea. I’m Aadi! As you’ve seen, I have the gift of earth. As such, I promise that I will do my absolute best to end the scorch. I will strive to bring back the farmlands that were once the staple of your fine city.” He raised his clenched fist. “No more hunger deaths!”
The crowd burst into a chorus of screams and cheers. They moved through the gates and toward him, hoping to get a closer view of him.
“I’m sorry,” Aadi called. He really did feel bad leaving them like this. But there were too many of them, and there was simply no way he could talk to all of them. “I have no time to talk right now.”
“How about for someone who loves you?”
Aadi’s world froze. Slowly, he turned to the sweet voice he had missed for so long. The confidence and bravado he had had during the fight dissolved as his eyes settled on her.
She wore a short green skirt and blouse. Her dark hair ended a little under her neck.
“Hello, Aadi.” A slow tear moved down her tanned soft cheek.
The crowd seemed to realize that this was a private affair. They moved back, giving them ample space.
He took a step forward, then another until he was standing before her. His heart thumped as he tentatively reached out to her. His shaky hands caressed her lower back as he pulled her in.
“I missed you so much, my love,” breathed Ishani in his ear. Her body trembled as she ran her hands through his hair. “Where were you all this time? Am I dreaming?”
“It’s no dream.” Aadi took in her jasmine flower scent. Everything seemed so surreal. “Where I was doesn’t matter. I’m back. And I’m never going to leave you again.”
She suddenly fla
red into sobs as she held him close.
With his fingers he wiped away her tears. He moved his hand around the back of her head and leaned her in. The crowd cheered as their lips met, sharing a long, slow kiss that seemed to slow down time.
CHAPTER 16
Aadi found himself sitting in the palace dining hall. The entire situation seemed surreal. A few days ago he had been a prisoner in one of the most deadly prisons in Va’siel. Now he was the guest of honor at an official Missea council meeting.
“So what happened after that?” asked Empress Latiha as Aadi continued to tell his story. She sat one end of the table. Aadi sat at the other end. In between them sat a dozen nobles and council members. Most of them were elderly folk, but there were a few middle-aged people as well. “Is that when you unlocked earth wielding?”
The entire table had grown quiet, hanging on Aadi’s every word. Ishani, who sat in the chair to his right, took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. That cleared his mind a bit.
“Yes. It was after my time in the mines that I uncovered the secrets of earth wielding. I think it was always with me. I just needed a good push to awaken it.”
“That’s great,” said an elderly man. The saggy skin of his cheeks dangled from side to side as he spoke. “This means that we will soon be able to enjoy fruits and vegetables like we did in the past. Our city will once again be the lead exporter in crops now that we have an earth wielder on our side.”
Aadi grimaced. There was something about the old man’s tone he didn’t like. Perhaps it had something to do with his obvious fondness for wealth.
“And more importantly, Mr. Kucchal,” said Latiha, “the people of Missea will no longer go hungry.”
Mr. Kucchal nodded. Though Aadi could tell it was forced. “Yes, of course. The people of Missea will also get their food.” He stood. “I believe that is all for this meeting. I shall retire to my home. I must go over proper farmlands to cultivate.”
“Perhaps that’s a matter you should discuss with Aadi. He is the earth wielder, after all.” Latiha smiled. “That is, if he wants to even speak to you. I don’t think he’ll be happy to hear that you haven’t signed my request to have Ishani sit in at the council meetings.”
“Well….” The councilman gazed at the young empress. “I’ll admit that she has a capable grasp of economics, geography, history, tactics, and literature. Unfortunately, she simply isn’t high born. She comes from a slave family, am I correct?” He smirked to himself. “Besides, I don’t see why Missea’s hero would care what happens to a servant girl.”
Ishani’s jaw clenched. Aadi could tell that it was taking all her willpower to remain quiet. An outburst would only further solidify his assumptions that she was a wild peasant girl.
Even though Aadi was angry, he didn’t show it. He slowly stood. “Actually, I do care if Ishani is being mistreated because of her roots.”
Councilman Kucchal face went pale when he noticed Aadi and Ishani holding hands. “O-oh. I…I was unaware that the hero of Missea was courting Lady Ishani. I…I…I.” He pulled the collar free from his neck. “Please, Empress, have the scroll sent to my estate. I shall approve your request at once.” He held his head down and quickly marched out of the chambers. The rest of the councilmen followed suit.
“Pompous fool,” said Latiha, sitting back down in her cushioned chair.
“You’re the empress now,” Aadi said. “Why do you need his permission to bring Ishani into the council meetings?”
“It’s not really about permission. I was going to bring Ishani into the meetings whether he liked it or not. But this goes beyond that.” She pointed at a picture of her father, Emperor Tanul, which hung on the wall. “After my father died, Councilman Kucchal thought that he would be able to manipulate me. But I quickly showed him that I’m no one’s puppet. Now he’s been trying other ways to discredit me. He’s fully aware that Ishani is more than capable to be my council. But his refusal to sign the scroll was just a way to torment me. But now, thanks to you, I have asserted my control over this council.” She smiled. “I have a feeling he won’t be trying to find any more ways to undermine me now.”
“Good to hear,” said Aadi.
“But enough about me.” Latiha faced Aadi. She was so young that he still had a hard time believing she was empress. “Be truthful. Can you restore our lands?”
“To a certain extent, yes.”
“What do you mean?”
“My new power has given me the ability to sense peoples’ and beings’ energies.” The empress listened with great interest. “The earth energy is being blocked. I would be able to return some of the fertility to the land, but not all of it. I must find the creature that is suppressing it and kill it.”
The empress did not look entirely convinced. “A creature that can suppress all the energy from the planet is bound to be powerful.”
“Yes,” Aadi said quietly. “But I have to try.”
“How will you find it?” asked Ishani.
“My good friend, Zoen, is currently doing some research on that particular subject. He’ll figure something out soon.”
“I have no doubt he will,” the empress replied. She looked over at Ishani. “I thought she was going to be alone for the rest of her life. Since your disappearance, she refused to court anyone.” She tapped Aadi’s shoulder. “I’ve never seen her more happy. I say you marry her as soon as possible.”
“Latiha!” cried Ishani, her face growing red. She looked like she had just swallowed a dozen peppers.
Aadi too felt his face turn hot. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. She might have said it as a joke, but Latiha was right. He had already wasted enough time in prison. Why not make the best of what he had now?
“We’ll see,” said Aadi.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of joy. Aadi wiped away all thoughts of the creature as he and Ishani toured the city. First, they stopped by a small stand that sold mana ramen. Apparently, the owner had found a way to heat the mana in a form that it would solidify in long strands.
“Isn’t it neat?” asked Ishani happily as she held up a strand.
Aadi, who has now stuffing a spoonful of broth into his mouth, looked up at her. “Yes.”
The owner of the stand, a burly man, set a variety of different colored powdered bottles in front of Aadi. “Try some of my fine spices to add some flavor to the soup.” He pointed at a red glass bottle. “Some pepper, perhaps?”
“What is this one?” asked Ishani, holding up a yellow bottle.
“Oh that is Methi. It’s very bitter, but delicious, if I may say.”
Ishani powdered her soup with a pinch of every spice.
“How about you, sir?” asked the man.
“Oh. No. I like the earthy taste of mana.” He took another mouthful, hoping the man would leave them alone for a bit. But on the contrary, to Aadi’s dismay, the man spoke to them through the entire meal.
Once they left, a crowd of people followed them down the streets. Kids accompanied them, wanting to walk by their side. Noble and peasant ladies handed them flowers as they passed. Men cheered his name as he passed. Every vendor who saw them wanted to give them something for free. Ishani and Aadi insisted that there was no need. But the people were relentless, refusing to take no for an answer.
“Are you okay?” asked Ishani, no doubt noticing his discomfort.
Aadi set down the pile of things he’d received, which included two baskets full of flowers, dried meats, small porcelain dolls, and countless other small trinkets. “All this sudden fame is a bit…overwhelming. I mean, people are calling me sir. That has to be the strangest thing ever.”
“You should get used to it. You deserve the respect you’re getting.” She put her arms around him. “Now c’mon. You need to rest.”
She led him down the corridor and through two white double doors. The room they had walked into was medium-sized, but very elegant. There was a drawer at the end of the room w
ith a large mirror in front of it. Perfume bottles, combs, and fine jewelry rested atop the drawer. At the right side of the room was a large, cushioned bed. The entire frame consisted of fine oak.
Ishani lay on the brown sheets and motioned for him to join her, which caught him a bit by surprise. He had expected to sleep on the floor. In fact, he wasn’t sure he even could sleep in a bed anymore. It was hard to simply do away with years of habit.
She tapped the spot on the bed beside her. “You don’t want to join me?”
He forgot all about his doubts and climbed in.
Ishani reached out and blew out the candle.
The room was enveloped in darkness as he ran his hands down Ishani’s soft waist. Breathing heavily, his lips found hers. She lay down as he continued to kiss her.
His heart beat loudly as he let her warmth consume him.
CHAPTER 17
Aadi woke up with a scream. He’d had a dream of a dark creature swallowing all of Va’siel, including Ishani, Zoen, and Latiha.
“It was just a dream,” said Ishani softly. She leaned in, resting her head on his chest. “Everything is fine.”
“Yes, of course.” His pulse went down a notch as he caressed her jasmine-scented hair.
A sudden loud knock put him back to attention.
“Yes?” Ishani called.
“Miss?” came a voice from the other side of the door. “The empress would like to know if you and Mr. Aadi can accompany her in the garden for breakfast.”
Aadi frowned at the use of “mister.”
“Yes. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
They got ready and went out to the back garden, which was much larger than he had expected. The grass was green with few patches of yellow. There were a few bushes scattered about, but not many. Aadi suspected it had something to do with the water shortage.
“How did you sleep?” asked the empress. She winked at Ishani, who simply smiled. “Well, I would gather.”
Legacy Of The Golden Wielder: A Novella Prequel to the Void Wielder Trilogy Page 10