This morning started like every other morning. “Good morning, my son!” Erendar said, stepping into view. As always, he was in his Elementalist armor. Lenthean rolled his eyes at Erendar’s entrance. Ayla slapped Lenthean on the arm. Erendar stopped beside Lenthean and Ayla. Lenthean eyed Erendar’s facial expression, as it was very different from usual. Erendar gestured with his hand, motioning all the servants to scatter their separate ways. “Lenthean,” he started. “There’s something I feel you are ready to see.” Ayla looked to Erendar, to Lenthean, then back. “Come,” Erendar concluded.
---
Today, the gold-laced carriage traveled outside the city walls. Lenthean looked from the window as he noticed the paved road turned to dirt. Slowly thereafter, the smell of pine trees filled the air. They were headed for the woods. “Where are we going?” Lenthean asked.
“I’m going to reveal to you truth.”
Lenthean raised an eyebrow, but went with Erendar’s words.
After an hour by carriage, the horse stopped. “Shall we?” Erendar opened the door for the lad. Lenthean stepped from the carriage to behold the mighty mountainside. The mountain had to have been the tallest Lenthean had ever seen. The cliffs were sheer, and dug into the center was a cave so massive it made him feel belittled at the raw scale of it. Lenthean noticed Der’ Tanellian miners by the hundreds going in and out of the mountainside cave working their day jobs. Erendar stepped out of the carriage and beheld the sight with the boy.
“What is this?” Lenthean asked.
Erendar put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is the truth.”
He paused. The sound of the pine trees whistling in the wind filled the void of his lack of words. “You see,” Erendar continued, “this is the true reason the world hates us so. I have been reluctant to tell you this. But . . .” Erendar looked down. “They will tell you we oppress the world with our own ideologies. They will tell you we invade other nations. They will tell you we make our own people submit before our will. But this is the true reason they don’t want us here.”
“Well, what is it?” Lenthean asked again.
“We are mining deep into Dragon’s Peak. We believe inside the peak lies no dragon. We believe an Orb of Power—the Orb of Flames—lies inside. It would make way for a new Elementalist—the Elementalist of Fire. We have gone centuries now without a Flame Elementalist. We intend to take it, and have another Elementalist on our side.”
Lenthean was puzzled. “Why would the world not want you to have it? It has to be for good reason, I’m sure,” the boy said.
Erendar sighed. “They are afraid of losing influence on the world. With not one, not two, but three Elementalists ruling a single nation, they fear for their own.”
“Well,” Lenthean started. “Is that not a valid fear?”
“They do not fear it for what you are thinking, my son. They aren’t in fear of being wiped out. They, those in control and power, fear to lose their control and power. We of Der’ Tanel challenge that very thinking. We believe wealth is for all—even the common man. We seek to give it back to the world and back to our own people. We wish for all nations to join our cause, and as simple as that they would be considered our own as well. With us having multiple Elementalists in control, they will no longer be able to hold on to their riches and oppress the poor as they have been doing since the dawn of man.”
Lenthean nodded.
Erendar continued. “It is also the same reason they are so terrified of you learning about who we are. Because they know, surely, if you learn what Der’ Tanel is really like, you too will join our cause—essentially removing any control they have over the modern world. A new world order would be born. It’s funny, isn’t it? People claim to stand up for what is right, and all the same they conceal details from you because ultimately, they’re afraid of you. Der’ Tanel is not afraid of the Shadow Elementalist. We are not afraid of you. We welcome you as one of our own. We do not care that you are Human and not Der’ Tanellian. We care about you for you, and we long for you to be a part of what we have. In fact, we want everyone to be a part of what we have.”
“Why then do you need a Fire Elementalist too? Do you seek to use it for destruction of the world?”
“Oh, absolutely not, my son. We see it simply as . . . leverage!” Erendar’s head jerked. “I ask you, my boy, have my people not shown they are properly fed?”
“They have,” the boy answered.
“Have they not shown their quality of life is clean and properly cared for?”
“They have.”
“Have they not shown smiles amid their life in Der’ Tanel?”
“They have.”
“Well, my son. There it is, the way we believe all people should live. Are you really okay with a king or queen deciding your every life decision? Are you really okay with a king or queen holding on to the majority of a nation’s wealth while people suffer in poverty? Are you really okay with nations denying us in our attempts to care for all peoples and not holding all the wealth for ourselves? They see it as madness. I ask you these questions, Lenthean. Do you really want people to not be cared for? I know you’re better than that.”
“I—I—” The boy was stunned. For the first time, Lenthean felt legitimately convinced by Erendar. But still, he had to stick to his original stance. “Erendar, I appreciate your efforts, goals, and dreams for the world. I believe you are not what the world makes you out to be. But ultimately, this is not something the world wants changed. And that’s not how I want to help the world, either. I have decided my mother and I will be leaving tonight. These last few weeks have been quite eye-opening. We have appreciated your hospitality. Elementalist to Elementalist, I expect you to honor your end of the deal by providing security to my family’s life in Fredrickstown.”
Lenthean was firm. He wasn’t going to be walked over anymore. He knew what he wanted from Erendar, and he made that apparent to him. Lenthean turned and paced back toward the carriage.
“Lenthean,” Erendar’s voice commanded. Lenthean stopped in his tracks and listened from over his shoulder. Erendar offered, “What if I told you I had a way to stop the senseless fighting, violence, and death of all peoples of all nations? What if I told you I have a way to guarantee not one drop of blood is shed in the name of hate or war?”
Lenthean looked over his shoulder. “Do you really?”
“Yes. It’s not a matter of feasibility, it’s a matter of . . . how far you are willing to go to save the world from itself.”
32: The Plot
Lenthean’s head pressed against his pillow. His heart raced. The world was practically spinning. Just hours ago, Erendar exposed a “great opportunity” for world peace. So he called it, anyway. Lenthean was at a crossroads—a decision. The boy only wished he was home again, before all of this. Literally, this decision could change the world. But was it for the better? Was it even real?
The plan was simple. Lenthean would train with Erendar. Granted, Erendar wasn’t knowledgeable in manipulation of shadows, but he was a very powerful Elementalist. The boy would train with Erendar until he was able to successfully feel the shadows of others on the other side of the world, which Lenthean knew was indeed possible. He had been feeling the presence of shadows around him as early as the battle at Darthia. Once he was capable of that, they would execute their plan. Lenthean would place his palms to the earth beneath his feet. He would extend his grasp of the world’s shadows to every living and breathing personage with a thought-processing mind. This would create a pathway from him to the individual—much like roots extending from a tree. Through Lenthean’s grasp, Erendar would subject their souls to, as he described, greed-free thoughts and aspirations. The need for violence would be eliminated. Their souls would believe the world could no longer tolerate war. Their souls would believe that all beings of the world would be taken care of and no one would have more wealth than another. It would be a utopian world where passion for one’s craft drives the world instead o
f an incentive for excessive wealth. Additionally, Erendar said, “Most importantly, Lenthean, these people can maintain all of their memories, personalities, and everything that makes them identify as themselves. They simply have a restructuring of their need for gluttony, greed, and other unnecessary worldly matters. All in the name of world peace. No more lives will be taken in the name of war. No more wars will be fought in the name of greed.”
The boy imagined a unified world where everyone is safe and provided for.
“I ask you this, Lenthean, will you turn your back on these people’s lives? Will you turn your back on them when you can do something about it?”
Those words repeated themselves over and over in the boy’s head. Will you turn your back on these people’s lives? When you are the only one who can do something about it?
When you are the only one who can do something about it?
When you are the only one who can do something about it?
Lenthean rubbed his fingers through his black hair.
Have you discovered why I have selected you as my Elementalist yet? Heeheehahaha . . .
Lenthean nearly lept from the bed when he heard the words in his head. It was Arrogan, the Shadow God. “Arrogan,” Lenthean said, “for once, I respect your wisdom. You are a god, after all. So you should understand at least something about balance in the world, right?”
I’m so glad you asked . . . hehehahaha . . . Of course I am well-versed . . . I am a god . . . I am well-versed in all things a shadow touches . . . hehehahaha . . . Shadows touch everythinggg. . .
“Then tell me, should I change the world with Erendar the Soul Elementalist? In one fell swoop as he envisions? Is this a foolish decision?”
What do you think, my Elementalist? Heheehahaha. . .
“I think . . . I honestly think it would be best. All I want is for the world to stop fighting. I want to save lives, and this is the fastest way to do it.”
The more people I reach, the better off I have it . . . So this plan satisfies me . . . hehehahahhaa . . .
Arrogan’s laugh stopped abruptly. Hide, my Elementalist, someone is coming.
“What? Who?” Lenthean sprung from his bed. His door handle began to rattle loudly. Someone was picking the lock and jamming the doorknob to get in. Lenthean held his fists high, ready to strike with his shadows in the dark-night room. The door blasted open.
It was none other than Kethar and his goons. “Shadow One,” Kethar’s voice was deep and angered. The boy eyed him and his goons. “We had a deal, and you failed to honor that deal,” Kethar boomed.
“Kethar, you have not even attempted to be here to accept your reward. I have not denied you of any prize,” Lenthean countered at him.
“Then why is it with every attempt to see the Der’ Tanel rulers for my reward, I am declined entry because of your request?” The goons began to draw their clubs and swords. Their circle surrounded the lad, and it was getting tighter and tighter. Lenthean maintained his footing.
“Because of my request? Not once have I instructed them to not allow you in. I did not turn down my end of the deal. I never once mentioned that you should not be allowed to enter. I decided you were taking your time showing up for your reward. I thought perhaps there was a good person inside of you who simply wanted to help in getting my mother back and for once you could overlook your hunger for greed.”
Kethar cracked his neck left to right. “If Erendar won’t pay up, perhaps another world ruler will.”
Rendall stuttered, “Ye—ye—yeah! The humans of Darthia will!”
Lenthean gasped loudly as he felt another presence slip in through the window behind him. The personage was soft-footed and treaded lightly during entry.
“Prince Gael!” Lenthean noticed. The prince had somehow slipped into the room through the tower window.
“Lenthean, come now,” the prince instructed him. “I’m willing to pay off these headhunters for your and your mother’s safe return to Darthia. Whatever price they name, Darthia will pay it.”
Kethar’s eyes lit up like they had witnessed a mountain in gold. A smile of pleasure consumed his face.
Lenthean looked back and forth from Kethar to Gael. “Wait a minute; you are working with Kethar and his goons?”
“Lenthean, I did what I had to do to find you. It’s been weeks, and they told me you had been forced to come here based on your mother’s capture.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Lenthean said. “How did you even SURVIVE?”
“I should be asking you the same, since you were struck by Aderan at least five times.”
Lenthean felt his blood pick up pace. His adrenalin was igniting. “I find it very concerning that you are working with Kethar. Very concerning. Especially knowing he has just revealed to me that he is only in it for the wealth and actually couldn’t care less about the fate of my mother.”
“Lenthean, I did what was necessary to find you,” Gael said. “Kethar is a master at finding the Shadow Elementalist. I knew you were in trouble; I came to rescue you. And here you are trying to reject my help! I didn’t travel halfway across the continent to have the very person I’m trying to save say he won’t come with me because he does not agree with my methods of finding you.”
“Well, well, well,” a strong female voice played behind Kethar’s goons. The attention of all men looked. The feminine silhouette curved in the bright hall light was armored. Lenthean knew who she was—Grand Admiral Song. A Katana blade rested gently on her shoulder as she clasped onto it with one hand. The other hand was on her hip. Her pointed ears were prominent in the light as well. “Lenthean, are these men bothering you? I assure you, Der’ Tanel has the finest protection any nation has to offer,” she said.
Kethar and his goons turned and assumed battle stances at Admiral Song. “Stand BACK from the boy,” Kethar barked. “It’s Darthia’s possession now. We wouldn’t want a dispute between nations for the Shadow Elementalist, now would we?” Kethar warned.
“Ye—Ye—Yeah! We don’t want Darthia knocking on your front door for not returning their Shadow Elementalist!”
Admiral Song tilted her head sideways and winked at Lenthean. “Aww . . . The bounty hunter finally has his chance at a life full of wealth, and that dream is about to end now.”
In the blink of an eye, Admiral Song’s blade sliced through many of Kethar’s goons. Kethar ducked and weaved to avoid the vicious, fast-moving katana. Blood sprayed up the walls as it danced off her blade. Kethar and Rendall were next, only to be stopped by Gael’s sword. The ricochet of the two blades sounded through the castle with an echo that was sure to be heard a league away.
“Fancy seeing you again, Gael,” she smirked.
“I can’t say the same for you,” Gael spat.
Lenthean was appalled at the sight. Three headless men were on the floor. Blood was everywhere. It flowed in a trail like a river and lapped against the base of his boots. The boy attempted to avoid the contact but to no avail, for there was too much of it.
“You two know each other?” Lenthean asked.
“Of course we do,” Admiral Song said in a seductive voice.
“Quiet,” Gael told her.
“Why, we were once passionate . . .”
“Stop,” he pressed.
“Intimate . . .”
“SILENCE,” he shouted.
“LOVERS!”
Gael shoved her back by the blade and hoisted it at her.
“But now . . . I have taken a new lover,” she said with a wicked smile.
Gael’s shoulders sunk as he held the blade pointed at her face. Her full lips smiled as she brushed Gael’s sword gently aside and walked past him. She walked directly at Lenthean. Before the boy could react, her hand was latched on the back of his neck, and her lips pressed firmly against his. The exchange lasted for quite some time. The boy had never kissed anyone before, and he never thought it would be like this. She pulled away and looked at Gael with satisfaction. Gael’s face was obviously distr
aught.
“Is this true, Lenthean?” he asked.
Lenthean struggled to find words in all of this.
“Tell me this isn’t real,” Gael remarked.
“I—I—she just kissed me, I swear!” Lenthean stammered, shaken.
Suddenly, dozens of Der’ Tanellian agents flooded the room and bound the arms of Prince Gael, Kethar, and Rendall. They had exploded through the door and windows. Gael looked to his feet with a feeling of betrayal.
Elementalist: The New Inheritance Page 21