“Thank you, Reighild,” Jael replied.
Next came Helena, and she said, “My Prince, I vow to follow you anywhere. The Queen has ordered me to do so. My sword is at your expense.”
“Thank you, Helena,” Jael replied, and he winked at her. “Yiiiieeeee!” Alexa and Cassandra said in unison.
“Stop it, you two!” Helena snapped. Then, she winked at Jael, and the two girls almost fainted with delight.
“My lord, I swear to defend you with my life. Your enemies are my enemies–only say the word, and I shall cut them down before your eyes,” Kielvine said.
“Thank you, Kielvine. But first you need to cool down. All life is precious–stow your blade for when it is most needed only,” Jael answered.
“Yes, my lord,” Kielvine replied, and he bowed down.
“My lord, I am forever grateful to fight in your stead. My swordsman skills will endlessly serve you.” Diurus spoke the words gravely, but the dark expression on his face showed he also had thoughts about this relationship between Jael and Helena. This was not lost on anyone around him.
“Thank you, Diurus,” Jael replied stiffly.
“My king, The Apocalypse and my shadow magick is at your command,” Ace said.
“No, no, no… I am not the king, Ace!”
“But you will be when the time comes,” Ace said.
“Not yet. I am not ready. But one day, yes–you are right,” Jael replied, and he was flattered.
That night in Krimmirr, everyone danced and partied the night long in a state of euphoria. The moment of fun was a relief after huge losses for Jael, and he did his best to enjoy himself throughout. The celebration went on until midnight and all departed for bed.
Meanwhile in Excauhalt, Korhil paced before the Dark Mage, agitated and annoyed. “Master, it seems that fire mage turned out to be the Queen’s son. Soon he will be crowned as Prince of Bristal. Do you have any plans for this?”
“That young man is no threat to us. We stick to our original plan, attack Fulbor,” Dio replied.
“When do we attack?! We shall avenge Zaac!” Adriel declared.
“Two days hence,” Dio replied.
“My lord, attacking Fulbor only means one thing!” Korhil shrieked. He skipped a pace or two in sheer delight.
“Yes, Korhil. Give them everything you’ve got! This will be the final stretch of our mission. This is the moment we have been waiting for. Bristal shall bow down to the mighty Malevolentiam!” Dio laughed crazily.
Beside him, Aezil remained cool and collected, even rolling her eyes a little at his display of immature villainy. But she could not help but respect his actions, the mighty successes. They were nearing the end of this campaign. “The puzzle pieces are now in place. There is but one piece left. Very well done, Dio,” she murmured as Dio’s evil laugh echoed throughout all of Excauhalt.
Two days passed, and Queen Jeannah went to Vanadis to seek the Archbishop of Bristal, Leandre Orzione. Vanadis was the city capital for the church in the whole kingdom. Although being a capital, Vanadis was a small city. Its entire land area was the same as that of the castle, Krimmirr. It was the most peaceful city, heavily guarded by the church’s own army, but not only that. Vanadis had the largest amount of Elementium on hand, an element which nullified magick, thus making it an eminent, powerful city. The church vowed to be neutral at all costs. When a war broke out, they were never to aid in battle, only healing. They only accepted people who came in peace.
Queen Jeannah was accompanied by the Second Regiment along with Helena, but the queen was the only person allowed to enter the city. She went to the Archbishop and spoke to him. “My queen, what is it that made you come here in Vanadis?” Leandre asked.
“Archbishop Leandre, I am assuming you have already heard about my son, Jael,” Queen Jeannah said.
“Yes, your Highness,” he replied.
“I would like to advance through with the ceremony for my son to be crowned Prince of Bristal,” Queen Jeannah said.
“Certainly, my queen. We shall prepare for this grand occasion,” Leandre replied.
“Thank you, Archbishop. So how have you been? It’s been a while since I last visited Vanadis,” Queen Jeannah asked, and they chatted, sharing a pot of delicate green tea.
After the meeting, the queen and the Second Regiment returned to Krimmirr to announce the ceremony. “The ceremony will take place two weeks from now. It will be held in Erradia, the Archbishop himself shall host the ceremony,” the queen announced and everyone in Krimmirr rejoiced.
Meanwhile Consul Viktor Alatov, the chief engineer of Fulbor contacted Krimmirr asking for reinforcements of the regiments. “My queen, our magistreck sensed malevolent magick around Fulbor, we would like to ask for immediate assistance from the regiments,” Viktor said, using a magistreck transmitter to broadcast his voice to the queen.
“Very well, I shall send you the four regiments to aid you in battle,” Queen Jeannah replied.
Shortly, the Queen summoned the regiments and ordered to defend the City of Mecha, “Master Knights. With the magistreck of Fulbor, they verified malevolent magick is upon them. The readings are so potent it appears the remaining Titans are present, including the Dark Mage. We cannot commit the same absurdity that happened in Zebu; we must not lose this opportunity to take out the Dark Mage. Four regiments must arrive there all at the same time. As usual, I would have the First Regiment to stand by my side in case an attack is executed here in Krimmirr,” Queen Jeannah said.
“Mother, I want to help them defend the city!” Jael said. “My son, I cannot afford to lose you once more,” the queen replied.
“But I am strong enough. I already fought many battles alongside with the regiments,” Jael insisted.
“My queen, the prince has a point. He might be the key to winning the battle,” Reighild said.
“Very well,” the queen said, and called out Helena. “Helena, please look after Jael,” she asked, and it was less of an order and more of a request from a worried mother.
But Helena responded with all due professionalism and abrupt and shielded formality. “I shall lay my life for him, your Highness,” she replied.
“Mother, I am not a child anymore!” Jael said.
“But you are my child,” Queen Jeannah answered, and Jael became quiet. “Now go! Malevolentiam might attack any moment,” the queen ordered, and the troops left for Fulbor.
The Dark Mage stood on the battlefield before the city of Fulbor, rubbing his hands together in utmost delight. “This is absolutely perfect… the plan quickly shapes up!” Dio laughed maliciously. “Go and sabotage the four regiments, Aezil, Korhil and Adriel! I have important business to attend to.”
“Yes my liege,” Aezil, Korhil and Adriel replied in unison, kneeling down in reverence.
“For the future king of Bristal!” Aezil cried.
“For King Dio!” Adriel and Korhil yelled along with her.
Then the Dark Mage Dio returned to Excauhalt, leaving the dirty work to his minions. “Soon… very soon… I shall reign supreme… HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Dio murmured and his wicked laughter echoed throughout the fortress.
“Consul! Fulbor is surrounded!” a city guard reported, hurrying up to the Consul Viktor of Fulbor, who was relieved to see valkyries on the horizon. It was as he said. The city was surrounded by the forces of Malevolentiam, and the thundering blows of their attacks could be heard from within the valkyries containing the four dispatched Regiments of Krimmirr as they descended. He opened the force field surrounding the city to let them in, and the moment their ships were through the magickal barrier, he closed it once more. The queen’s troops had arrived.
“Worry not. The regiments arrived right on time,” Consul Viktor replied.
“Looks like we came at the right time, Consul,” Helena said, hurrying off-board.
“Yes, thank you for your presence. We fear all ranks of Malevolentiam are present. We detected three mages with an immense amount of magick,” Consul
Viktor replied. “However, it will take time before they can breach my magistreck walls. If magick is targeted against it, it will retaliate. Basically, it acts as a reflector of destructive magick.”
“That’s great. What if they do not attack it and instead climb it?” Helena asked.
“Well, the only way in and out to the city is the city gate. A large invisible force field covers the entirety of the city,” Consul Viktor replied. “Now please, station at the city gate, the only possible entry point of the enemy!”
It seemed this bottleneck would make the conflict simple– long, but not challenging at all. Jael, along with all the regiments rushed to the main gate of Fulbor. They had only arrived when a sudden explosion rocked the entire city, a large flare of flaming bright light from the opposite side of the city. Screams and tumbling rock could be heard, and then the guard’s transmitters crackled with horrific information. “The wall was breached?! It can’t be!”
“Diurus and Ace, go at once. Bring your regiments with you!” Helena said.
“All right! At long last!” Ace rejoiced.
“Hmph. I would not want to leave your side, Helena. But I will do it because you sought it. Don’t get yourself killed,” Diurus said, and they dashed toward the explosion.
As they came in close to the site, the reason for the explosion became quickly clear. There stood the Fire Titan, Adriel, glowing in the hollow of the breached wall. “Hah! I shall burn you with the flames of Efreet… Akhos Pyrezio!” Adriel said and cast his spell.
“If you can hit us!” Ace said.
“We’ll see…” Adriel shouted “Fallafir!” A fiery python appeared, summoned from the burning depths of his hate.
The army of Efreet charged the Fourth and Fifth Regiments. Their magick clashed and the shockwave spread, crumbling nearby houses like they were made from straw. Splintering wood and metal crunched, sturdy housing rocking and rippling. The armies met in a mighty clash. The city of Fulbor became a war zone.
Ace grabbed a hilt from his pocket and he uttered the words, “From the deep void of all darkness, I summon thee, Apocalypse!” Immediately, two blades appeared from the both ends of the hilt, covered with a deathly aura.
“A double sided blade, eh?” Adriel stated, unimpressed.
“Let me tell you a story,” Ace said. “Once there was a blacksmith. His name was Volundar. He was a good friend of Maggus, the grandfather of magick. When Maggus mastered magick in its entirety, he taught Volundar some basic and advanced spells. Volundar was so amazed with magick that he crafted six weapons. He called it ‘the six Blades of Mageia’. Each weapon has its own element. The weapon he forged using dark magick is called the Apocalypse,” Ace narrated, and gave his sword a little wink- wink lift nudge.
“So, you’re telling me your weapon is legendary, huh?” Adriel said.
“You shall die by my blade,” Ace replied.
“Hey, hey, hey… you can’t do that, Ace. With my swiftness and my blade, I will decapitate this scum myself!” With an empty hand, Diurus held his hands together, closed his eyes and uttered, “May the east wind endow me with swiftness, the west wind with strength, the south wind with courage, and the north wind with peace of mind.” At once he drew his sword, Kazedachi. The Kazedachi was classified, technically, as an enormous Odachi—a katana stretching out long with a slight curve to the blade. It gleamed sharply.
“I see. So you are the one who possesses the magick of the four Winds. I guess the both of you are worthy opponents for me. Sadly, I can take the both of you at the same time,” Adriel mocked
“Hmph. Let’s see if you can keep up with me,” Diurus uttered, and he dashed toward Adriel with intense speed. Upon reaching Adriel, he slashed him using Kazedachi. In a blink of an eye, the body of Adriel turned into flame and his blade swept through heated air.
“What?!” Diurus said in shock.
“Don’t you worry, I didn’t turn into fire. I was quick enough to dodge your attack as I left a flaming double of myself to create an illusion,” Adriel explained from behind, dancing back into place.
While Adriel wasted his precious time explaining, Ace snuck in directly behind Adriel and used Apocalypse to slash Adriel. Unfortunately, Adriel dodged Ace as well, amused at the attempt. The Titan was not unaccustomed to backstabbing. “Tsk tsk… you can’t beat me with your physical strength. Use your magick! Master Knights, hah.” He taunted Ace and Diurus.
Meanwhile the invisible barrier protecting Fulbor was about to be destroyed. magickal attacks from Korhil’s army of sylphids rained upon it with relentless stamina, and its hold was weakening. Where the assault battered it most, it now flickered and smoked, weak and white. Not too long, the barrier was destroyed by the intense speed of the sylphids attacking the invisible barrier. “It’s Korhil!” Helena uttered.
“Let me face him. I would like to try to dissipate his wind attacks with my Fragarach,” Kielvine said.
“I want to join Kielvine, that Korhil guy was the one who stopped me from defeating Zaac. I want to know where Zaac is,” Draken said.
“Very well, be careful, you two,” Helena said, because she knew there was no dissuading Draken. At once Kielvine and Draken went towards Korhil’s location. This left her and Jael together, standing at the closed city gates of Fulbor. The initial bottleneck plan seemed foolish now, but she knew the Dark Mage was the flashy type. “Jael, be prepared. I believe the Dark Mage will be the one to enter in the city gate.”
“Dark Mage or whoever that is. I will not let anyone destroy my kingdom!” Jael replied.
Slowly the city gate opened by itself. “Hey! What’s happening?!” Helena said.
“My lady, the gate controllers are being manipulated!” one of the guard stated and they panicked, grabbing at their heads and skulls in the fear their own minds had been invaded. Helena looked closer at the controllers, and their eyes. They’d gone pure purple, deep violet. A sure sign of Manipulation magick. It was powerful, and while not strictly taboo, it was not the sort of magick a good mage used. But when the city gate opened, Helena was shocked to see a woman with teal hair and a long black dress. This wasn’t the Dark Mage.
“Who are you?!” Helena demanded.
“I am Aezil, the Deva of Malevolentiam!”
“Are you the one who manipulated the guards?” Helena asked, anger growing.
“Yes,” Aezil said.
“Where is Dio?” Jael asked.
“How dare you refer to the master with such irreverence?” Aezil furiously answered.
“Hmph. I don’t care who he is. He’s an enemy of Bristal. He must be stopped from destroying the kingdom!”
“Our aim is straight and true! We want to reform this kingdom. We want to save the people from the corruption of the high ones!” Aezil replied.
“How can you say that?!” Helena replied.
“Hmph. You can’t change the fact that this kingdom is led by an incompetent leader!” Aezil replied.
“How dare you!” Helena stated. She conjured her Retribution sword while Jael cast Blazia.
“You don’t talk like that about my mother!”
“Oh, so you are the son of the Queen, the Prince to be. I am sorry, young man, but you are not fit to be the king of Bristal! You are nothing more than a common mage. Only the master Dio is fit of such a title!” Aezil said.
“Huh. Enough talk! We shall defeat you in the name of the future of Bristal!” Helena sprinted towards Aezil in attack.
“Let’s see what you can do then,” Aezil replied with a grin on her face.
Meanwhile, Draken and Kielvine caught up with Korhil. “So, if it isn’t the sky dragon destroyer, Kielvine,” Korhil said.
“Hmph. Korhil, the wind prodigy, we meet again,” Kielvine replied. They glowered at each other with a familiarity that surprised Draken. He was no stranger to grudges, but he didn’t know the two had history.
“You know this guy?” Draken asked Kielvine.
“We were friends, once–but as you can
see, our paths diverged long ago,” Kielvine explained, bitterly.
“Kielvine, my friend, it is never too late to join us. With your skills, you may easily replace both Zaac and Chollo as a Titan,” Korhil said.
“What makes you think I would join you and your insane cause?” Kielvine replied.
“Because we were comrades once. You know for yourself, I am very powerful. I believe you haven’t forgotten I possess the Fate magick of Wind,” Korhil replied. “It would be foolish to not join me.”
“Very well, if you make my face touch the ground, I will join you,” Kielvine decided, and he readied himself.
“Kielvine! What is wrong with you? The Queen entrusted you the title of Master Knight!” Draken exclaimed.
“Do not involve yourself with your betters, you who cast Tormentium upon Zaac!” Korhil snapped, bearing down on Draken with a sudden wrath.
“What happened to Zaac?” Draken asked.
“Aezil finished him off after your spell tainted his mind. Do not worry, I will avenge Zaac. I will kill you…” Korhil uttered and an intense malevolent aura swathed him in evil.
“Hmph. I was hoping to be the one to take Zaac’s life. Nonetheless, I shall kill you first,” Draken replied.
“I shall deal with you later. Spirits of Huruoan, bind that man!” Korhil uttered and at once the ten spirits at his command latched onto Draken and stopped him from moving even an inch of his body, bracing him from head to foot. “I won’t need my sylphids to defeat you, old friend,” Korhil said.
“Try me,” Kielvine replied with an easy smile.
Meanwhile, Queen Jeannah was sitting and reading in her personal quarters when Reighild knocked. She set her book down on the side table. He entered and bowed. “What is it, Reighild?” Queen Jeannah asked.
Teliko Mageia: Curse of the Frozen Flame Page 30