Alone
Kel Vega walked the long road away from his home. He'd traveled the length and breadth of Amorlia many times, even walked this very road all the way to what was once the Land of Zill. But it had never seemed so long or desolate, for he had never been unable to turn back. He was well past the city, even leaving the urban sprawl of Foothill far behind him. He walked past rolling farmlands, the town of Baern a faint smudge on the horizon. A farmer passed him going the other way, his hovercart brimming with produce for Vega City's markets. The farmer looked at him in passing, then recognition dawned and he looked away, throttling the cart to greater speed. "Wonderful," Kel muttered. "Sometimes I loathe the broadnets. Instant communication across all of Amorlia does not seem like so great a thing at the moment." Word of his exile had spread even faster than he could leave the palace, and he hadn't even bothered to pack any of his things. The throng of journalists outside the gates had been tough to get through, but it was the walk through Foothill that was nearly unbearable. Offers of food, lodging and companionship were plentiful, but they came with looks of such pity that he could not bring himself to accept. The farther he went from the city, the more hostile the reactions. Most in the outlying areas suspected he had committed some offense against the High Queen to be cast out by his own mother. Artemis Vega was a living legend, particularly in rural areas, and his renown had never matched hers there. He sighed and walked on. He did not even know where he was going, or what he would do when he got there. He was immortal, possessed of incredible strength and stamina, so he did not need rest or nourishment. He'd grown used to eating, drinking and sleeping, but his father had explained to him once that he would need such things less as he grew, and would eventually no longer need them at all. He always wondered if there was a limit to his endurance. "Perhaps that will be my goal," he said to himself, "to see how long and far I can walk before I tire." He sighed again. One thing he tired of was the sound of his own voice. He was not fond of being alone. It occurred to him then that he should have stopped to say goodbye to Conte and Mahnde. They were his dearest friends, aside from Kai, and he felt bad for leaving them without word. But as hard as pity was to take from strangers, it would have been unbearable from them. His last meeting with Kai had been hard enough. "You're leaving?" She was shocked when he told her. She followed him through the palace to the gate. Since leaving his mother's quarters, he had not broken stride once. "Why are you leaving?" "My mother has made it plain I am not welcome," he'd answered, his voice hollow. "I will not remain where I am not wanted." "But I want you," she'd said, "Leave the palace, but stay with me." He'd looked at her then, and it was the last time he'd smiled. "Nothing would make me happier," he told her, "but I love you too much to do such harm to your career." "To the Broken Hells with my career!" she'd shouted. She was so beautiful when she was angry. "You're more important than my--" "Shhhh." He'd reached out to hold her hand for the rest of their walk to the gate. When they reached the gate, they stopped. He turned to her, holding her face in his hands. "I love you, Kai," he said. "You make me happier than I ever thought possible, especially after..." he turned and continued on. “Goodbye, darling.” He didn't see her tears and pretended not to hear the small hitch in her voice as she called out her farewells to him. He wiped his own tears as he thought of Kai. They had been together for 15 years, and he loved her as much now as he had the day they'd met. He would miss her more than he missed anything else. The sun was begining to set, and the half-dark of twilight muted his surroundings. He was among the plains now, not even farmers moved along the road. It was the mixture of solitude, the visual tricks of twilight and the distraction of his memories that perhaps caused him to miss the approach of his attackers. As it was, he barely avoided being gored when the first of them set upon him. It was naught but a dark blur, and he leaped aside by instinct. He crouched low to the ground, the shadows deepening as twilight turned toward night. His eyes could see as clearly in darkness as in light, but even he could see nothing of his foes. He heard them, though, and felt them moving around. They whispered and chittered softly and he swore he heard laughter. "Little champion," broken voices whispered from the darkness. "We were too merciful, it seems, when we stopped with your wings. This time, we will leave you with nothing." His blood ran cold with fear at the words, then hot with fury as he realized these were the same creatures that had murdered his father. "Show yourselves, monsters!" he shouted. "Face me, so I might have vengeance!" An unnatural laughter slithered through his ears, "It misses its daddy," they taunted. "Do not cry, little champion. You will be with him soon." And then they were upon him, a great writhing black mass of razors and shadow. He could not fight them. He didn't even have time to scream.
Companion
They were everywhere. The dark creatures slashed and bit at him, their strength every bit as great as his own, perhaps greater. He bled freely from a thousand wounds and his arms had gone numb from swinging punches. Those punches rarely connected, and even when they did, he felt no lessening of the attack. He was certain he was going to die. He was going to die on this desolate stretch of road, alone and unloved, killed by the very things that murdered his father. And they wouldn't stop laughing. Shrill, chittering, unnatural laughter, it sliced through his soul as easily as their claws sliced through his flesh. In fact, it was becoming a race to see whether he would die before he went mad. He had stopped swinging at them, giving in to their assault and lying back to await the end. The laughter increased its intensity, and he felt them pause in the moment before the final onslaught. That proved to be their mistake. For at that moment, a loud explosion was heard, followed by a brilliant flash of light. Energy crackled around Kel, driving the creatures mad with pain. Oddly enough, that same energy felt comforting to Kel. He drew strength from it, realizing at last that it was pure focused Spark, the very source of his powers. The laughter of the creatures died, and he heard their screams fade as they fled. Though he was revived by the blast of Spark, Kel still felt too weak to move. He heard people walking toward him, the rough gravel crunching beneath heavy boots, and could feel them as they knelt at his side. "Kel?" one of them spoke, and he recognized the voice. "K-Kai?" he whispered, his own voice hoarse. "I told you," his voice cracked, "told you to stay behind." "And I ignored you, beloved," she said, teasing yet obviously worried, "as I usually do." He coughed, though it was supposed to be a laugh, smiling weakly at her. The moon was full, and it made her red hair gleam as it brushed her shoulders and rendered her olive complexion radiant. It also reflected off the tears that welled in her eyes. He tried to lift his hand to wipe them away but still could not move. He saw her look over at someone else. "Is it ready yet?" "Just about," came the reply. "Muh-Mandhe?" With great effort, he turned his head. His young friend knelt on the other side of him, long brown curls obscuring the dark skin of her face as she worked on some device or other that he couldn't see. She didn't answer him, instead placing small metal disks against his chest under his tunic. Thin wires connected the disks to the device. She looked down at him and smiled. "This might hurt at first," she warned him, "but you'll be good as new once I'm done." For a moment, it was as though Kel had been struck by lightning. Current arced through him and he screamed. Then, as before, he recognized the current as pure Spark. Mandhe was forcing it into him, to accelerate his already impressive healing abilities. Within moments, he was able to sit up. A few minutes after that, and he could stand. "You were right," he said, stretching, "I do feel good as new." He glanced from Kai to Mandhe as the latter slung her bag over her shoulder and the former did the same with an elaborate-looking rifle. "Why did you follow me?" The two women looked at him, then at each other and laughed. "You honestly have to ask?" Kai said. Kel grinned sheepishly. "Well, that was... I mean, those things were..." He looked up, confused, "Do you know what those things were?" Mandhe nodded, "In a way," she said. "Since your last fight with them, I'd often wondered what sort of creature could possibly be strong enough to do what they did to you and your father
. I eventually realized that it isn't that those creatures are stronger, it's that they can make you weaker." "Say again?" Mandhe pointed at Kel, then at herself and finally at Kai, who had come to stand next to her man and hook her arm through his. "All three of us have special abilities powered by the Spark," the young inventor explained, "You're strong, fast and damn near invincible, with enhanced senses. I'm an Engineer and Kai is nearly as strong and as fast as you are. What those things do," she pointed in the direction the creatures had fled, "is hinder the flow of Spark in their immediate vicinity. Therefore, the closer you are to them, the weaker your powers. I eventually theorized that it was a natural ability of whatever species they are, and that it was distinctly possible the Spark itself was somehow harmful to them." "Hence this giant pulse blaster," Kai chimed in. "Mandhe built it in less than an hour." "And if your theory had been wrong," Kel asked, "and they weren't harmed at all by the Spark?" Mandhe shrugged, "Then it's likely we'd all be dead now, and those things would be eating us, or something even more terrible. But it wasn't, we aren't and they're not, so who cares?" Kel chuckled. That was one of the reasons he liked Mandhe so much. She never gave a thought to what could be or might have been. She was only ever concerned with what was. "So, what next?" he asked. "I must return home," Kai said. "Something is very wrong in Vega City, perhaps in all of Amorlia. There are others in the Pacifica who feel as I do, and we are investigating as well we can without being noticed. It was only after you left that it occurred to me where you should go next." She looked up at him. "The Valley of Mystery, Kel. The Three As One know things no one else does. I believe they can help us, so I went to the shop to ask Mandhe to find you and tell you. When I arrived and explained things to her, she said that one of her machines was tracking those creatures along the road you were traveling." She patted her gun. "I decided to come along to be sure you were okay." Kel stared at Mandhe. "You have a machine that tracks those things?" Mandhe sighed, rolling her eyes at her friend. "Kel," she said, "I have a machine for everything. Once I figured out what they were, I figured out the best way to track them and built something to do just that." "Why?" "Because anything that can do what they did to you and Kael is something I don't want surprising me. If they ever came back, I wanted to know when and from where," Mandhe said. "So, wait," Kel said, looking between the two women again. "If Kai is returning to Vega City, where are you going?" he asked Mandhe. She laughed. "Sometimes I wonder if you have any brains at all, Kel. Isn't it obvious?" She stood in front of him, fists on her hips. "I'm going with you."
Men of Faith
It was near dawn two days later by the time they finally reached the outskirts of Baern. Several outlying villages had grown together while the town itself developed into a small city, rendering acres of farmland into blocs of residential housing. Most who worked in the city lived here, and the road would soon be filled with hovercars. "Remind me again," Mahnde complained, sitting down to rest before they continued on, "why we walked all this way? While we may not have had our own vehicle, the trains are quite viable forms of transportation." Kel crossed his arms and chuckled, "Well, to be fair, I chose to walk. You're just tagging along." "Funny," Mandhe smirked at him. "I'll remember that the next time you need an emergency infusion of Spark." "Blasphemy!" Kel turned toward the voice as Mandhe rose slowly to her feet. Kel placed his large frame between her and the approaching group of blue-robed men. They each had an identical white lightning bolt stitched onto their robes, and they were all carrying clubs. "One does not 'infuse' another with the holy Spark," their leader spoke angrily, as to a defiant child, "The Spark chooses a vessel to receive Its sacred light. The chosen is then guided by the will of the Spark." "Unlike you people." Another man pushed forward from the crowd, pointing an accusing finger at Kel and Mahnde. "Those who would work their will upon the holy Spark are blasphemers and infidels. Let none who use the old powers be tolerated. Death to the defilers of the Spark!" The mob began to surge forward, clubs raised and muttering angrily. Mandhe glanced up at Kel and raised an eyebrow. Kel shook his head. "Don't ask me," he said with a shrug. "I have no idea who these people are." "We are followers of Professor Jat Loren," the leader cried, "anointed Prophet of the holy Spark! We follow his edicts, as they have been handed down to him through the Spark's divine radiance!" "Jat Loren," Kel muttered to himself. "Where have I heard that... right!" He snapped his fingers. "He's one of the ones running against my mother in the election." "Amorlia shall belong to Professor Jat!" the leader called out. "All shall belong to Professor Jat! All shall belong to the Spark!" While the rest of them took up the chant, he raised his arms to the sky. "Divine Spark! Deliver your blessings unto us, so that we may smite those who dishonor you!" "Are they actually superhuman?" Kel murmured to Mandhe. After surreptitiously scanning the mob with a small device from her pack, Mandhe shook her head. "Not a single one of them," she whispered. "You could likely take them all out without even breaking a--" "Ho there, travelers!" a new voice shouted from behind them. Before Kel and Mandhe could turn, the speaker and several others vaulted over them, landing in fighting crouches between them and the mob. There were two men and four women in the group. All wore tight- fitting garments designed for fighting. They brandished wooden swords and prepared to engage the attackers. One of the women looked back, smiling. "Fear not friends," she said, "you are under our protection now!" When she turned back to face the mob of fanatics, Kel rolled his eyes and shook his bowed head, sighing. "Oh no," he groaned, "not them. Anyone but them!"
The Order
For all their superior numbers, the followers of Jat Loren were abysmal fighters. They were solidly trounced by Kel and his ostensible rescuers, barely escaping with their injured comrades. When the last of them had fled, the leader of the new arrivals turned to Kel again. "Greetings Champion," she bowed, "you honor us by joining our struggle, and we rejoice in the knowledge that your Journey has begun." She stood, thumping her fist against her chest in salute. "How may the Order of the Moon aid you?" Kel closed his eyes and checked a sigh, trying to remain calm. Beside him, Mandhe looked on the assembled Order and smiled. "Awww," she said, "they're so--" "Disturbing?" Kel muttered. "I was going to say 'cute'." "I suppose," Kel grunted, "if you're being charitable." "Oh, be nice," Mandhe chided him. Turning to the woman, she said, "Hello there! My name is Mandhe Pacha, and--" The woman bowed again. "We know who you are," she said reverently. "You are the Companion to the Champion. You are the one chosen to aid him in his Journey. You honor us also." Mandhe smiled wider and preened just a bit, happy for the attention. The battle was short, and not terribly impressive. "Well, aren't you sweet," she said, "but what is this Journey you keep talking about? And what's your name, incidentally? Also, if you don't mind, what exactly is the 'Order of the Moon'?" The woman bowed again. "My name is Fanna Otaku, and the Order isdedicated to the life and adventures of the legendary hero, Artemis Vega. We have memorized all the stories of her many exploits, and seek to honor her with our homage. The Journey we speak of," she gestured to Kel, who rolled his eyes, "is the Hero's Journey. All great heroes undergo such a Journey, usually with a dedicated Companion beside them, where they set aside their old role and assume their destiny. Kel must put away the trappings of a single city's Champion and walk the Path of the Hero." "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Kel muttered. "But think of it, Kel," Mandhe said, barely suppressing a laugh, "you thought you'd been thrown out of your mother's house, when you were really just being sent out on a noble quest." She grinned. "Isn't that so much nicer?" He scowled at her. "You are enjoying this entirely too much," he said. Fanna let out a small gasp, bouncing excitedly and clapping her hands. "Brethren, attend!" she called to the others, who gathered around. "We are witness to Banter! Please," she gestured at Kel and Mandhe, "continue." The Order looked on, expectantly. Kel and Mandhe looked at each other, then at the members of the Order, then back at each other. "Well," Mandhe said slowly, "that was..." "Cute?" Kel offered, innocently. "No," Mandhe shook her head, "I'm going to go with 'dis
turbing' now." "Told you," Kel looked smug. "I've met these people before. Not this lot in particular, but others of their 'Order'. They're very flattering," he admitted, "until they get strange." He addressed the members of the Order, trying to keep a straight face, "Well," he said, "thank you all for... um... whatever it was you did. But my, uh, Companion and I must be on our way. Destiny calls us, and all that." Mandhe cried out and he looked over at her, just in time to see her pull a small dart from her neck. She looked at it, puzzled, then up at him, her eyes already turning glassy. She smiled dreamily as her eyes began to close, murmuring, "Oooo, pretty..." before passing out. "What?" Kel looked around, trying to find the source of the attack. He was therefore taken completely by surprise when Fanna leaped forward to cover his nose and mouth with a rag. He smelled something sweet and acidic, then his surroundings began to swim in his vision as a euphoric lethargy overtook him. The last thing he heard before consciousness left him was Fanna. Her voice echoed in his head as the world went black. "No no, Champion," she said, "I'm afraid we have other plans for you. You see, every Journey needs its challenges..."
Amorlia: Age of Wonder Page 2