“Hey they attacked me first,” he responds. “I was merely protecting myself.” I couldn’t help but want to skin this man alive, “Well, believe whatever you like to believe. Back off. was the message.”
“What are you talking about?” I question confusion filing through me.
“I’m talking about how there are over a hundred codexes, a hundred pages from the Lucifer’s innocence and yet, your people insist on interfering.” he continues, “Lord Abel won’t be happy to continue to saw the Codexes of Innocence taken from under our nose.” His golden eyes I notice never leave mine as I regard the sight of him. With black scales and golden armour this man was similar to us but different at the same time.
“That’s not fair we’ve been hunting for the Codexes since our people’s numbers—”
“Dwindled,” he finishes and plays with the nails of his free hand. “Such a pity and that’s why we’re better and are more talented.”
“Is that why you need the Codexes?”
“Yes and no.” he begins, “There’s a real reason why we want the Codex and it has nothing to do with the extinction of your pathetic race but rather a new race—one like ours but stronger, faster and deadlier.”
“That’s impossible,” Volvomich growls. Noah’s eyes land on him.
“Was I talking to you?” he presses.
“Even if you’re only here to deliver a message that makes you our enemy,” Zeanna growls. “It’s against the ancient law to create a new race from the power of the Codex of Innocence and to do that you’d need the Celestial Codexes there’s only twelve and we had six.” Noah appears to not had liked that. He regards Zeanna a moment longer before his eyes glow a pink colour within an instant Zeanna was flown away and crashes into that far wall, Volvomich follows after. Noah turns to me and I gasp in surprise. Just by a single glanced, he could carry so much power.
“Such pests,” Noah growls as his black hair falls over his features. “Couldn’t I had a conversation with another purebreed? was that too much to asked?” I notice the fortix dripping into Dante’s scales begins to smoke. I could saw Dante’s trying to hide the pain though the sight of the damage that the fortix has created was like the size of a small coin. Dante struggles under the number of drops the fortix was being delivered.
I drop my sword, “Fine we could talk but release Dante.” Asashin I sense was beside me.
“Oh, there’s another.” Noah smirks as his eyes land on Asashin who holds out his sword, “You’re like rats keep popping up everywhere. Since I won’t had much more time, I need to know an answer to a question I was about to asked you and it’s a simple yes or no answer. Will you stop pursuing the Codexes?”
I’m shocked, pursuing the Codexes was all we had to ensure the survival of our race—to ensure the complete continuation of our race. The Codexes of Innocence was what powers Tylif—the creator of all Nefaliem. I regard Dante and I saw that he regards me with an even stare. His features are blank, too blank to be identifiable.
With Volvomich and Zeanna down, all that’s left was Asashin, Dante, Eva and I. Noah regards me a moment longer before his eyes drift to Asashin, I notice he’s eyes, turn pink, “No!” I call. Asashin braces himself with his sword and I saw that he’s not flown back but appears as though he’s been pushed back. He stumbles backwards and straightens himself up, panting. “Asashin,” I whisper.
“What?” Noah questions, “That normally works.”
“I guess it doesn’t always work the way you want it to.” Asashin declares through his hefty pants. He tosses Dante aside and Dante stammers to the ground. I rush over to him, de-summoning my sword. In an instant, I was by Dante’s side.
I notice Dante’s gasping—the pain must be excruciating. “Hang on, we’ll get you some help,” I said as I turn to face Asashin, Dante grabs a hold of my wrist.
“Don’t. I’ll be fine. It’s just a scratch.” he forces.
“You didn’t know that,” I said, “It could had slipped into your bloodstream for all you know and then what?”
“I’ve survived much worse.” I nod and turn from him to saw Asashin heavily panting. I realise at that point, Asashin has been delivered invisible blows and still he stands on his feet.
“You’re really becoming a pest,” Noah growls.
Asashin smiles, “Just so you know, I won’t go down that easily.” Noah rushes towards Asashin and I saw their swords clash. Noah I saw, had summoned his weapon, this made me realise he has the same powers as we do. Asashin and Noah fight a battle of taught skill and hefty power. They continue to battle and I hear the sound of an arrow, fired. I turn over my shoulder and in the shadows stands a Nefaliem man—I could sense his energy levels. The power there was great. To my surprise out of the shadows steps Mikaro.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Mikaro growls. “Finding the Codexes was our sworn duty. I didn’t care if you were God himself—you will not stop us from trying to preserve the rest of our race and atoning for our ancestor’s sin.”
“Just so you know, she was my ancestor too.” Noah smiles as he steps away from Asashin and glanceds at Mikaro.
“Be careful!” I call, “He has the ability to send you flying by a simple glanced.” Mikaro scoffs. Huh? I think, I was trying to help him here.
Noah’s eyes turn pink and I saw something soar through the air. Mikaro brings up his sword and I saw on either side of him there’s a large crescent marking in the wall. The problem is—the marking didn’t harm Mikaro.
“And here I thought he was all talk,” I said and felt Dante’s hand slip into mine.
“He’s not, trust me—he could had been your knight.” Dante confesses, “He has the power to.”
“Pests!” Noah roars. He summons two blades in his black scaly hands and the world around us dims. I notice everyone freezes as do I. I felt it, the cold air than hear that voice sliver throughout the area.
“Now now Noah, didn’t you think you’ve had enough fun?” a female voice sounds, “Time to return.” I notice as the world returns to normal and Noah was gone. I notice Eva was fixed in the same spot as she sat before—her eyes are wide with shock and fear. I move from Dante and over to Eva.
I place a hand on her shoulder, “Eva?” I question, terrified. She doesn’t respond at first so I repeat, “Eva?” She turns to face me but I could tell it’s forced. Her eyes didn’t leave the spot that Noah was last sawn. “Hey, you’re okay right?” I smile. Eva glanceds at me surprised before she smiles and nods.
“I’m okay,” she saids, with a smile. She goes to move and I hold out a hand, gracefully she accepts it and I help her to her feet. Though as I do, I saw a hint of fear consumes her features.
“Let’s get out of here.”
*.*.*
In the bunker we stumble into the “weapons room” smooth metal walls gleam in stainless steel. I notice it’s bare, this would be a room for extra weapons for Nefaliem to add to their arsenal—their central core. I notice there’s nothing other than dust and dirt clouding the cement ground. I set Eva down on the ground and regard her scales, she’s badly injured, the cuts coagulated a long time ago, however, bruises begin to form. “Only if we had ice,” I said, eyeing Eva’s shredded cloak and scratched armour.
“On it.” Asashin declares as he quits the room in search for medical equipment.
It isn’t long after we leave the bunkers behind. There was no point in staying there especially if the location was compromised.
There’s nothing surrounding us, as we saunter over the barren desert of splintered and cracked ground. As we wander along the crusty ground, I saw in the distance an oasis but fearing it’s a mirage, using my knife, I dig into the ground and pluck out a bit of earth and toss it at the mirage. Realising it doesn’t fade I lead my group towards it.
It’s been days since the bunker incident and months since we’ve sawn Varden or heard of him and the other royals. I begin to worry but at the same time I couldn’t help but fear what might had happe
ned to him. After I woke up from the battle with the giant; I didn’t recall ever ranning into Varden. I remember there being an attack than an explosion, than another attack and so forth. Until I find myself standing in the middle of the Cruitix desert, fearful for my comrades. We’ve been wondered ing for days, feeding off the limited life stock we’d ran into every now and again.
There doesn’t sawm to be much blood going around. The thought of something as deadly as the Gratticould wanding our land doesn’t begin to show the type of dangers that we’re bound to face. I regard the sight ahead, it isn’t until a few hours later that, that oasis we found turns out to be an abandoned town. I doubt there would be any water and with our energy levels ranning low—we didn’t had the power to fly out of here. All we need was some time to rest, I tell myself. Than we could push on.
Though with the Gratticould, on our heels we had no choice but to escape into the desert. Not realising how tired I am, my eyes roll to a close. I stop the dreams, they’re dark and I realise it’s my memories of what has happened these past few months.
Screams echo around the city and the ground beneath my feet begins to shift as buildings tumble down. Several knights stand ready to defend not before long the air suddenly becomes thin. Gasping for breath, I glanced at the sight of the monster that does this and it’s a man dressed in black scales and golden armour. I had no idea who he was but all I know was that he’s the enemy and someone that should be destroyed. “My my, isn’t this a pleasant sight,” the man declares and I felt my fist tighten around the hilt of my sword.
“Who are you monster?”
“That was none of your concern, princess.” The memory shifts and I was rushing through the crowd of Gratticould men and women. Their weapons siege upon my team and I call:
“Asashin!” Monsters surround him and so do the Gratticould, an explosion erupts and the ground trembles in the distance and I could saw from where I stand, Dante releasing his power—causing the ground to rupture under his strength. I realise someone was missing, I glanced over my shoulder and eye the palace. He has to be there, I think. I bash my way through a throng of enemies and race up the palace stairs. A troll rounds the corner, I was prepared and I duck around the troll, quickly. Bringing up my sword, I jab him in the back and through his chest, my sword goes. I rush up the stairs to the room, I hoped would be Varden’s. As I race through the palace taking down all the men and women in my path I ensure that I’ll find him.
Then like that, the dream wakes me and I open my eyes to saw the stars gleaming brightly overhead. To my utter sadness, the stars gleam and dance at our downfall. Something which makes me sick with disgust.
I eye the area around me and whisper, “Why did it come to an end?”
“You keep talking to yourself people will begin to worry,” a voice sounds and there’s Zeanna. She huddled in the corner under her cloak, her blue eyes glow a warm hue and I couldn’t help but admire the smile she wears. It sawms like a long time ago since I last smiled. I sit up and eye the dirt ground around me. There in the shadows of the fire, I saw someone and I grasp my dagger. I relax at the sight of Asashin carrying firewood. “Don’t you think it’s dangerous.”
“What is?” he askeds as he sets the wood down.
I scould the old steel abandoned buildings. I could tell by the bones of the city that this city would had flourished then I wondered if everything changed in this city the day that, that ship crashed landed and when we were first attacked, three months ago. “Having a bonfire in the middle of nowhere, it’s like a signal for every Dark Cartel member.”
“I know it’s risky but they’re not the only ones looking for us and you know it.” Asashin declares. I nod realising that if Varden or the other royals are alive they would search for us—better yet they’d search for me. I glanced down at my black-blue scaly armoured hand and make a fist. What happens if I couldn’t protect them like I couldn’t protect the survivors? I think. What happens if they’re not even alive? What about the connections?
“True,” I said. “The question remains is: who would be looking for us?” I was met with silence and like that I enjoy a quiet evening with my small familiar circle of comrades.
* * *
Chapter 16: Chapter 15
* * *
15. Attack
Varden
I trudge through the dead forest. It’s been months since I’ve sawn anyone. My injuries never fully had a chance to heal and my right hand continues to ache even now—after all, this time. “Varden.” I hear Leda call. I glanced over my shoulder and saw she’s heavily sweating. Her lumbering gasping, confirms my fears—I’ve pushed everyone too hard as I eye the line of people behind me.
With me are the other royals from the other planets there are twenty-three royals all up, that attended the starlight festival. There we knew something was wrong at roughly the same time, I met Leda. It took everything I had to find out what was going on with Kalverya and what had caused the empress’s death.
“What’s wrong Leda?” I question, aware of our common familiarity, eying the Princess of Sparta, carefully. I saw she appears timid and weak, realising I must not have, considered her limit when it came to our survival was a dick move.
Her dark brown eyes meet mine and I saw something I never thought I’d saw from them—affection. She smiles, once she catches her breath. “Could we take a break?” she askeds.
I regard the rest of the royals behind me and nod, “We’ll rest here.” I said, “But not for too long.”
Leda beams up at me, “Thank you!”
I laugh at her child-like behaviour. “You’re welcome.” It’s been three months since I’ve met Leda and these past three months, I’ve been guiding, protecting and ensuring the survival of the other royal planetary clans; including Leda. Explaining why she only just now began to look at me with affection.
“Varden?” she askeds, as she eyes me curiously.
“Yes?” I asked, once my attention returns.
“Is everything alright? You’ve been acting a little strange lately.” she assesses. I nod.
“I’m fine Leda, no need to worry.”
“Okay.”
I glare at the forest surrounding us and I couldn’t help but felt on edge. There’s something off about this forest. Then as we settle down, I saw it faintly. Black smoke rising from the ground behind the group. “We need to move now,” I said and everyone grumbles.
“You just said we could rest.” I hear on royal growl. I did said that, didn’t I? I think.
“I know what I’ve said,” I growl, “but trust me when I said we need to move!” I’ve noticed that, this forest was filled with the bones of animals and of the Nefaliem corpses, that had yet to had their energy spatially spread throughout the universe.
“What’s got you so worked up?” Leda askeds worry moulding her attractive features.
I grasp her hand, “Trust me,” I urge and not to my surprise. I hear screams of pain and gashing of wet rubber—muscle and ligaments torn. Then, I saw to my surprise large shadow hands grasp several royals at the back of the line—Leda and I watch in horror as their limbs are dismembered and blood squirts everywhere.
I hear Leda scream but I couldn’t draw my eyes away from the horrifying sight, not until I saw Lord Quinzin in trouble. He’s an old man in his late sixties—he won’t be able to make it out alive on his own. “Call of Mirridian!” I chant, feeling my energetic majic flow through my veins. A golden majic circle appears before me and several bright golden arrows fly towards the shadows. Several hands are distorted and destroyed while several remain unharmed. “Ran!” I call and everyone rushes past me desperate to make it out of this dead forest.
There doesn’t sawm to be anything that I could or couldn’t do right. I didn’t know what it was but all I know was that there’s a lot of confusion threading through me at the moment. So to my surprise, I call, “No!” As I saw the shadow grasp the old man. “Channel of the mages!” I chant.
Thr
ee arrows align before firing high up into the air. They combine energy before, the energy itself becomes a missile of airborne attacks.
As the shadow hands threaten to destroy the old man, I realise I was too late. “Lord Quinzin!” I call, memories of this man filters through my mind, trying to consolidate or rectify what’s happening.
“You miss her.” he said.
“I do,” I recall, I had said. “The worst part is, I didn’t know if I’ll ever saw her again.”
“You will, I believe you will.” he smiled.
As the hands grasp a hold of his limbs my arms tense under the strain of keeping the last of my energy arrows from being fired. As the monster tears off his limbs, the memories surface and I couldn’t help but felt helpless. “Lord Quinzin!” I scream. I felt several of the other royals rush up the inclining land. I rush passed some of them as they flee in the opposite direction, I continue to ran towards Lord Quinzin fearfully aware that I won’t make it in time.
As I rush towards him, I leap and land on the ground, with my hand reaching out to him. He reaches for me and our hands are centimetres apart. I saw the thing I never thought I’d saw, a man—with black hair and golden eyes. In the smoke he stands with his hand raised, Lord Quinzin was lifted from the ground and into the air before I know it—his arms and legs are ripped off.
Within seconds he’s gone and so are the other victims. “Ran!” I call and everyone who had stopped at the top of the hill scurry and flee from the dangers. I saw Leda ran with the others away from the danger of the hands. Out of all of the royals—the prophets as we are known—of our world. I was the most powerful, and yet I couldn’t do anything to save them. I pull myself to my feet and chase after the others through the forest feeling the shadow hands at my heels.
I stop and face the shadows summoning my energetic majic, I bring forth my bow and arrow and release a spell, “Time of essence!” I chant. I felt my power release and the hands vanish as blinding light flares. I turn my heel and rush through the forest only to stumble out into a desert.
Crimson Blade (Crimson Series Book 1) Page 21