“Cassandra!” Alexa shouted; Cassandra howled in pain.
When the Tremor spell ended, black smoke suddenly emitted from the golem containing Zaac. The golem began to act rather unusual, jerking and moving about in an agitated, erratic fashion. “What is happening?” Alexa said, confusion staggering her movements. It began to melt away, the dirt and stone oozing and decaying rapidly.
“How did this happen?” Zaac asked, also in confusion.
A few moments passed, and the black smoke dissipated. Draken emerged from it, waving away the smoke with his undamaged hands, and said in a sinister tone, “My turn.” No earthly means had brought him out of that death trap, and the bleak and harrowing stare that dominated his face was no comforting one. Even Alexa moved away in dread, hurrying to Cassandra’s side and trying not to imagine the worst.
“You’re a tough one,” Zaac said.
“Let’s do this one more time,” Draken uttered, and he cast Pestilence, a spell which summoned swarms of insects that covered the whole area. They clouded Zaac’s sight, attacking him over and over again. Zaac called out another spell through the loud buzz, covering himself in large masses of land. “That won’t work!” he shouted, and mashed his palms to the masses and shouted, “Touch of Decay!” The land mass melted and decayed instantly, the same spell he used against the golem.
Alexa called back Asterion and finished making it across the torn and tumbled field to Cassandra. Her eyes shimmered with dark violet streaks, her hair had turned white and the veins on her skin were emphasised, deep violet rivulets seared into her skin. She lay still on the field, not moving, not breathing. Alexa grasped the handle of Schatnil, grit her teeth and ripped it out. She pressed her hands to the wound to stop the blood but thick purple blood seeped like rancid pudding. She embraced Cassandra, heaving her over her shoulder, then carried her, staggering towards the valkyrie. Alexa couldn’t handle the tears. “If only I were strong enough!” Alexa sobbed. In a matter of time the Pestilence spell stopped.
“From the depths of the abyss, rises the mighty behemoth, Semenelin!” Draken summoned and a large hole tore open on the ground. An enormous shadowy monster in the form of an eagle appeared. With powerful wings creating massive gusts of wind, talons so sharp it could pierce through steel, its eyes burned with hatred.
“What? He summons such an enormous monster!” Alexa stuttered at the sight of the mighty being.
“In that case, Draconia magick! Hamalfam, Dragon of the earth, come and pour your wrath!” Zaac uttered.
Hamalfam, a dragon made up of rocks and sand emerged from the ground. Dragons once flourished in Messogard. They had been all but wiped out in wars against their kind centuries ago. Some had been saved by mages wishing to preserve their species, transported to another dimension. It was from here a select few could still summon them. Hamalfam was slightly larger than Semenelin, which made it a very tough opponent for the abysmal creature. Hamalfam’s attacks were based from the same spells as the caster, in this case Earth.
“A dragon?!” Draken reeled back in shock.
“Hahahaha! Terrified, Draken? Hamalfam, destroy them!” Zaac shouted and the dragon of the earth roared and raged toward the abysmal monster, Semenelin. At the clash of the two superpowers all the Terra mages and the regiments’ knights were blown away. All mortal men swept to their feet by the surge of energy that poured out. This was not a fight for mere men at arms.
Hamalfam and Semenelin exchanged magickal attacks, abruptly and violently. Hamalfam continued to charge; Semenelin flew high in the sky and dove toward the dragon. Suddenly, Semenelin’s power waned.
“Pestilence!” Draken shouted.
“Hmmmm. You can cast your Pestilence while your monster is still out? What a display of power. I guess I underestimated you, Draken of Eirinea,” Zaac stated.
The Pestilence spell empowered Semenelin and quickly recovered. Gaining the upper hand, Semenelin slashed and threw massive shadowy gusts of wind against Hamalfam. However, because of the defence created by the earth, Hamalfam remained unscathed.
But by the valkyrie, Cassandra’s appearance began to warp. “Cassandra, what is happening to you?” Alexa said in surprise. Her veins bulged throughout her body while both her finger and toe nails grew sharp. Her hair greened and her skin blanched to a lifeless grey. Her very head began to throb, thick blood moving within her veins. “Cassandra!” she shouted.
Cassandra opened her eyes, gasping for breath. “What… happened…?” she asked, monotonously.
“Zaac pierced your own sword through your heart… and… you died! How can this be?” Alexa asked, as she cast her Aegith back and showed Cassandra her reflection. Cassandra stared at it, seemingly unaffected by the horrible sight. Even her eye whites were grey, the pallor of the dead.
“So, this has happened,” Cassandra said.
“What do you mean by this happened?” But Cassandra dashed toward Zaac. “Cassandra?! What are you thinking? You are in no shape to fight!” Alexa burst out in frustration.
“Hmph. Still alive, eh?” Zaac said.
“It is true that my beauty will fade. But you have made me stronger,” Cassandra replied. “The Schatnil is no ordinary blade. It is ethereal. It cannot kill me when it is pierced through my body. It gives my body the venom it emits. Thus, the power of the Schatnil conjoins with my body. I am one with it!”
With a swift attack, Cassandra slashed Zaac using her fiercely sharp nails. “Ugh. You got lucky.” He fell to his knees as the quick acting venom consumed his stamina.
“Alexa, summon your Asterion and let it use your Aegith shield. I figure that with your indestructible shield, we can create an extraordinarily powerful missile that can defeat this Hamalfam. Quickly, while Zaac is still occupied with Cassandra!” Draken asked.
“Asterion, lend me your power once more!” Alexa shouted. Asterion, with the Aegith braced upon his body, stood atop the head of Semenelin.
“Semenelin! Do it now! Hell’s Dive!” Draken shouted and Semenelin hastily flew, beating its wings high into the dark sky. It passed through the atmosphere. From a distant spot above, it streaked toward Hamalfam.
“I hope this works,” Alexa said.
With blazing speed and acceleration, a massive explosion erupted when Semenelin and Asterion crashed towards Hamalfam. All of them screamed. Draken and Alexa were thrown away along with Zaac and Cassandra. Hamalfam disappeared as well as Semenelin and Asterion. Zaac, angry and injured, stood back to his feet and stormed out from the thick hazy smoke. “You have angered me, Krimmirr soldiers,” Zaac said with an eerie voice and he emerged.
“What a tough guy,” Alexa said.
“I guess he wasn’t called a Titan for nothing,” Cassandra added.
“Be alert. There was a high chance he will unleash his most powerful spell,” Draken said.
“You dare defy Malevolentiam? You dare defy the Titans? You dare defy Terra? You dare defy Zaac Allivest? The mighty earth Titan!” Zaac shouted in confidence.
“We defy everything that seeks to destroy the kingdom!” Alexa shouted.
“Well, in that case,” Zaac said. “Quake Zero!”
The whole city of Zebu crumbled to the ground. Quake Zero was Zaac’s most powerful spell, as Draken had predicted. It affected the gravity in a large radius and instantly crushed all was within, except himself. It rattled and spread outwards.
“Master! Please! Stop! We will die if you continue this!” one of the Terra mages shouted in fear.
“Your lives will not go to waste. I shall destroy my enemies,” Zaac uttered. Still the ground rattled and the gravitational quake spread. “It is just a matter of time until all your bones break!”
“Cassandra, be strong! We can survive this,” Alexa said. “Yes, Alexa. I wish Helena was here to help us,” Cassandra replied.
By this time, Helena had finished her own battle, and made her way towards them. It was perfect timing, really. “Thunder Blitz!” Helena shouted from afar and struck Zaac, momenta
rily stunning him.
Now is my chance, Draken thought, and he dashed toward Zaac while he was still stunned. He forced his legs across the trembling earth still calming from the quake, seizing the Titan and laying hands upon him, his fingers digging into the man’s skull.
He whispered, “Tormentium…”
Zaac’s eyes flew open then turned pitch black, he fell to his knees and screamed his heart out.
Helena flew towards Alexa and Cassandra, landed and hurried to Draken. “What did you do to him?”
“These screeches come only from his own dark past. My Tormentium is an illusion magick. It displays all your painful experiences and animates it to reality. Only Zaac can see, hear and feel it. I have trapped him under his own past,” Draken explained.
“How will it end?” Helena asked.
“Only light and dispel magick can stop my Tormentium spell. Other than that, there is nothing he can do,” Draken answered. He did not see Helena’s sober glower directed towards him, outright callus and cold. She didn’t hold with torturing. But he quickly moved to his own worry. “Please. Help Vaan and Jael. I fear they’re in danger.”
“Helena, where is Orevlatef? Is that Korhil guy defeated?” Alexa asked.
“He sacrificed himself for our sake. It is impossible to defeat Korhil now. But for the meantime, we need to save Jael and Vaan,” Helena said, still grim. “Draken, let’s go. We will use the valkyrie to find Jael and Vaan.”
“Let me stay here. I will find my way back to the castle. I need to ensure this guy is defeated.”
“Very well. Please take care,” Helena said, and they took off, leaving Draken behind.
“At last, I will avenge my family!” Draken shouted, and he moved to strike off Zaac’s head while in the Tormentium spell. At the same moment, Korhil arrived from where he had defeated Orevlatef, in time to save Zaac from Draken’s hands.
“Vadeja!” Korhil shouted from behind Draken and landed a fierce blow.
Draken crashed away, skittering down the hill until he came to a stop on the outside the city.
“I shall deal with you later. But I must first take care of Zaac. Hmph,” Korhil said, and he took Zaac up into his arms. “I heard you scream. That is why I rushed here. Why did you let your guard down? I told you, you should not underestimate your enemies. I need to bring you back to Excauhalt and let Aezil take a look at you. I am sure she has a solution to dispel this.” Korhil gently stroked Zaac’s face, now white and sheeny with sweat, the effect of Tormentium merciless in its internal assault.
When they reached the floating fortress, Adriel was waiting for them. “What happened to Zaac?” Adriel asked. Korhil responded with a furious swift punch, throwing Adriel crashing to the ground. “How could you leave without telling us?”
“I had faith in both of you! It is not my fault that Zaac has fallen victim to the enemy!” Adriel shouted.
“Enough!” the shadowy woman blurted from across the hall. Korhil laid Zaac out on the floor. “Let me take a good look at him…”
Helena and the others finally found Jael and Vaan, both lying on the ground, unconscious. Jael was in comparatively great shape. They were shocked at the sight of Vaan. “What has happened?! Did the fire Titan do this?” Alexa said, stunned.
“I do not know. We must hurry and bring them to Krimmirr!” Cassandra said.
“Agreed. Quickly! Back to the valkyrie!” Helena shouted, and they carefully carried Jael and Vaan on board.
Vaan’s body could not be recognised as that of a man. His body was severely burned so much that his skin began to fall off, exposing red flesh beneath. He was recognised only from the burnt clothes scattered around him, his face, hands and feet were charred beyond recognition. When they arrived to Krimmirr, both Jael and Vaan were rushed to the infirmary and treated at once. Cassandra was also brought there to examine her toxins inside her bloodstream.
And so, the battle of Zebu ended.
Back in Excauhalt, Zaac thrashed and moaned, unconscious in the suffering grips of the Tormentium spell. Korhil explained what had happened to the mysterious lady who wore the fortress darkness like body paint. “Aezil, this is a spell called Tormentium. It recalls painful memories, turns them into reality…”
“Very well. All of you, begone. I shall free him from his demise,” she replied and the two remaining Titans left the room.
Adriel paced anxiously. “Are you certain Lady Aezil can cure Zaac?”
“I am not certain of how, but I am certain she may be able to stop the Tormentium. With Zaac’s twisted past, he will likely be dreaming for a week,” Korhil replied.
“Forgive me for leaving Zebu… see that Jael guy fell before me pretty quickly. I fried his friend to a crisp. I thought it would be that easy for us all,” Adriel sobbed.
“If you had gone to Zaac instead of coming back here to sit on your lazy ass, he might not be suffering right now,” Korhil scolded Adriel, who looked chagrined.
The Dark Mage stormed into the prison, unlocking the cell holding Rohan and Marvel. He threw Falakh’s Tablet into Rohan’s fumbling hands, and seized the girl at once, thrusting her up against the wall by her throat. “Release her immediately!” Rohan shouted with fury.
“Now, sage, show me how to release Falakh, and I shall release her.”
“Don’t do it master! You do not owe me anything! Bristal does not owe me anything!” Marvel screamed.
Rohan sagged in defeat, his ancient fingers shaking around the grey tablet. “I cannot let you die, child,” he replied. “Give her to me and I will use my magick.”
Dio released Marvel, dropping her back to the ground. She ran towards Rohan, clinging to his side and crying while Rohan cast his unique magick spell called Ancient Eyes. It recreates the past of anything or anyone within his mind’s eye, and, after several minutes, Rohan was trembling. “It is… impossible to release Falakh,” Rohan said finally, and he lifted his head from the slumped position he’d assumed.
“Do not lie to me or else I will torture your little apprentice,” Dio replied, seizing her hair.
“I’m telling the truth. The key to unlocking Falakh was destroyed by Excalla himself,” he blurted.
“It is as I have suspected,” Dio answered. “I want you to tell me the spell that was cast on this tablet.”
“It is called Holy Crestine,” Rohan said wearily. “In order to successfully seal a malicious monster, Excalla’s holy magick can only seal it. That is all I know, I promise you.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, dear sage. One cannot say I am not a man of my word. I shall let you go, along with your apprentice,” Dio replied. He held the prison door open, a wide smile on his face. Rohan scrambled to his feet, holding tightly to Marvel.
“What are you planning to do? It is now impossible to destroy this seal. And what if you do successfully release Falakh? It will trample over you!” Rohan exclaimed.
“You just wait, Rohan Selegnia,” the Dark Mage replied. Rohan was shocked by what he had heard. Selegnia was not a name many knew–he could count them on one hand.
“Throw them out of Excauhalt,” the Dark Mage ordered, gesturing for assistance. Korhil was nearby, and he came and seized the two Krimmirr mages.
Rohan stared down at Dio, confusion all across his old face. He cried, “Dio! Only a few people know me by that name! Who are you?” But Dio only laughed as Rohan and Marvel were dragged away by Korhil and cast out of the floating fortress.
Meanwhile in Krimmirr, the city grieved the death of Orevlatef. “It is unfortunate we lost the Master Knight of the Second Regiment. We may mourn but we cannot take our eyes off of Malevolentiam. They defeated one of our Master Knights, but we have defeated two of their Titans. I only hope that Draken successfully returns to Krimmirr. If he does not, we will have no time to investigate. His aim is done, Zaac is defeated.” The Queen wore black in honour of the life of the Master Knight deceased. But there was a regiment now to be filled, business to attend. Grief could wait.
/> “My queen, we are terribly sorry we arrived behind time. Had we reached Zebu faster, perhaps Orevlatef could’ve been spared,” Diurus despondently said.
“We blame none but Malevolentiam,” Queen Jeannah said, and she rose and gestured across the hall. “I shall appoint a new Master Knight to lead the Third Regiment.” She pointed out one of the Royal Knights and beckoned him forward. “Come forth, Kielvine Soach,” Queen Jeannah said. A burst of murmurings and whispers was heard throughout the hall.
“Third Regiment? What of Helena? Why him? Is he fit to be a Master Knight? Has the queen lost her mind?”
“Silence!” Reighild exclaimed.
Kielvine Soach was a powerful royal knight with an outrageous reputation. He was once a mercenary, a sellsword known across Bristal. He was feared by many, people and mages alike. He was the bearer of the infamous Fragarach, a mighty sword imbued with wind magick. It was the sword originally created to slay the sky dragon, Seiryu. Kielvine had been captured by the Master Knight Reighild during an attempt to assassinate one of Bristal’s high priestess, Iara Duneris. Kielvine was sentenced to serve a lifetime sentence in the Krimmirr Dungeon but he was given another chance by Queen Jeannah to serve among the ranks of the royal knights of Krimmirr. Since then, Kielvine had caused no more trouble.
“Kielvine Soach, I appoint you as the commander of the Third Regiment. You are now a fully-pledged Master Knight. I believe you are ready,” Queen Jeannah stated.
“My queen, I shall do my best in serving you in any way I can,” Kielvine replied.
“Krimmirr, I give to you the Master Knight, Kielvine Soach!” Queen Jeannah introduced him to all the royal knights, who sat aghast and in horror, the rumours flitting around the table even here, in the presence of the queen. At least now they kept quieter, under the watchful eye of Reighild.
“Third Regiment?” Helena murmured. “Helena, come forth,” the queen said. “I see…” Diurus murmured.
“So Helena gets promoted to Second Regiment commander.
Teliko Mageia: Curse of the Frozen Flame Page 26