Elpis

by Aaron McGowan

The sound of movement came from the far end of the school building. Terico glanced back and found a third Brotherhood member, this one wielding a long, jagged-edged sword in one hand, and a fiery red Nexi stone in the other. This had to be the man who burned down the building—and perhaps slaughtered everyone within it.

  The man ran toward Terico, raising his bloody, jagged sword forward. The enemy readied his swing, and Terico leaped forward, thrusting his Nexi stone toward the man’s face. While keeping his eyes on the man’s sword, Terico activated both his dark blue stone and the white one, simultaneously releasing a wave of water while blasting a sheet of blinding white light. At the same time, the enemy swung his sword and released a burst of fire from his Nexi stone.

  Terico shut his eyes, but knew precisely where the man’s sword was. As Terico’s water devoured the enemy’s fire, Terico turned in place and ducked, letting the man’s attack pass over him. Terico immediately rose back up and jabbed his elbow into the man’s stomach. As the brief flash of light faded away, Terico wrenched the jagged sword from the man’s grasp, spun in place, and stabbed him in the back with his own blade.

  The sound that emanated from the man’s throat—something of shock and horror, crying from the suddenness of the pain, filling with blood—it was an utterly terrifying sound, lasting at least a full five seconds. Terico shoved the man to the ground with a loud, jaw-cracking thump, then pulled the sword from the corpse’s back. It was the first time Terico had ever killed someone—but there was no time to dwell on it now. Not when the entire village was in danger.

  He turned back to Turan, who continued to fight against the same Brotherhood swordsman—a tall, imposing figure, though nameless behind the mask of the Shire organization.

  Terico dropped his Nexi stones, no longer able to keep a grip on them. He had exhausted himself with the fight against the plant monster that morning, and then drained himself even more when trying to put out the fire at the school. Gasping for air, Terico fell to his knees once again, his entire body weak and trembling.

  He watched as Turan slipped out a brown Nexi stone from his sleeve and aimed it for the enemy’s feet. A dark, swamplike substance flew from the stone, but the enemy had leaped back the moment Turan took out the rock. Turan swung for the man, who dodged and pulled an orange Nexi stone out from a small belt pouch and clipped it to a slot in his sword’s hilt.

  The man ran around the large, sticky marsh trap and charged for Turan, who lifted his Nexi stone and aimed again. The man’s sword glowed a bright orange—even if Turan blocked the enemy’s swing, the blade would cleave Turan’s sword in two.

  Turan released more swamp material at the last moment, shooting the sticky substance all over the enemy’s sword. It didn’t stop the man from swinging, however. Turan turned and raised his sword to defend the man’s still-glowing blade. The man sliced Turan’s blade clean in half—but was unable to continue the swing on to Turan’s head.

  The swamp material connected the enemy’s blade to the top of what was left of Turan’s blade, and Turan held strong against the momentum of the man’s swing. With the Brotherhood swordsman taken aback, Turan pulled his severed sword away, taking his enemy’s sword with him. Turan immediately slipped out his red Nexi stone with his left hand and shot fire into the enemy’s face. The man leaped back screaming, and jumped straight onto the marsh trap Turan created earlier. Holding his sword with his right hand, Turan spun it so the enemy’s sword at the end of Turan’s blade pointed back to the enemy. Turan swung like a lumberjack, and slammed the glowing blade straight through the enemy’s body, slicing him down from his right shoulder to his left hip.

  With the man finally dead, Turan set the weapon and stones down, and took slow, deep breaths. He recovered after just a few breaths, just as a man with long black hair approached him. Terico tried to get up to help Turan in case this man was with the Brotherhood, but it was too difficult to stand. The use of his Nexi stones had curiously increased the pain of his wounds from the plant monster, and he fell into another terrible coughing fit, as if he were still deep in the school full of smoke.

  The man walking toward Turan wore a small black vest, leaving his muscular arms and torso exposed. He wore a bandana and the kind of pants and leg guards found in the Shire Kingdom. But most startling were the bright green Nexi stones implanted up and down his arms, plus the light blue stone embedded in his right hand. There looked to be at least a dozen stones in total, and all of them glowed, ready to be utilized at a moment’s notice.

  “You have talent,” the man said, his voice quiet and monotone. “You will make a useful subject.”

  Turan picked up his red Nexi stone and aimed it for this new enemy. Vines rushed out from all of the man’s green Nexi stones simultaneously. Faster than Terico could blink, the man held Turan in the air by ten vines wrapped haphazardly all around Turan’s body. Turan’s red Nexi stone and sword was in the grasp of another of the man’s vines, a safe distance away from Turan’s grasp. Turan struggled against the vines for only a moment—the vines reacted instantly to his effort, binding him even tighter.

  The vines pressed so hard against Turan’s skin, Terico could see his friend visibly in agony—and even bleeding at places.

  “You have some skill with Nexi stones,” the man went on, calm and placid. He almost sounded disinterested, even. Before Turan could yell a retort, the man caused vines to wrap around Turan’s head, forcing a gag to form across his mouth.

  Terico wanted to run down to Turan. To pick up a sword and free him from those vines. But Terico could hardly move, let alone fight a man who could wield a dozen Nexi stones at once. He tried to yell Turan’s name, but couldn’t even manage that. His dry throat kept him from projecting his voice above the cracking and roaring of the village fires.

  A couple masked Brotherhood members ran up to the man with the arms decked in Nexi stones.

  “There are more town guards than expected at the central square, Commander Augurc,” one of them said.

  The name was familiar to Terico. Augurc Shire was one of the two brothers who led the Shire Kingdom. A heartless man who conducted all manner of inhuman experiments. There were many stories of his conquests and subsequent Nexi testing on his helpless victims. And if even a fraction of them were to be believed, Augurc was a man deserving of the utmost dread and fear..

  “We’re finished here,” Augurc said. “If my brother’s men need help, we will assist them.”

  Terico watched as the two masked men ran off into the fields, followed by Augurc, who simply walked at a brisk, steady pace. Strangely he seemed to be keeping up with the masked Brotherhood members just fine, however. Turan floated along behind him and to the side, held in the air by Augurc’s strong, sturdy vines.

  No, not Turan, Terico thought. I can’t let you take Turan. I can’t let you take him away for your sadistic experiments! He got himself to stand up, but felt the whole world start spinning beneath his feet. Terico had never been so afflicted by the Nexi, though he recognized this was the most he had ever used the stones in such a brief period of time. His vision turned blurry for a few seconds, and he had to blink a few times before he could figure out which way he was facing.

  Terico found the fields he had walked through to get to the school—but Augurc and Turan were nowhere in sight anymore.

  But even if he did find Turan, there were at least three Brotherhood fighters to deal with. Even if Terico had energy to fight with, he’d be no match for three well-trained warriors. But he couldn’t just do nothing, either. Turan needed him. How could Terico call himself Turan’s friend if he just let Turan be taken away? Terico gathered his Nexi stones and picked up the jagged sword he had won.

  He looked back at the school, still burning bright and miserable.

  I’m sorry, Suran. I wasn’t able to protect you.

  He trudged toward the fields, agony pulsating through his body every step of the way.

  Turan, don’t worry. I’ll find you. And if you’re still out
there, I’ll keep you safe too, Suran. And I’ll help you as well, Mother and Father. The village will be all right.

  I will do everything I can. I will make everything right.

  Terico’s home was already burning by the time he came in sight of it, most of the wooden structure now a black, smoldering heap. There were no bodies lying outside the house, and Terico knew his parents wouldn’t be inside. He continued his way to the central square—his father would surely be at the cathedral, the site he and the town guards always planned to use for a base of resistance in the event of a full-scale attack. Mother was likely with him, perhaps directing villagers to safety.

  How many members of the Brotherhood came? Terico wondered. As he trudged down the dirt road to the central square, he found nothing but bloodied corpses, scattered wares, and burning shops and homes. Fortunately the cathedral had not caught on fire, giving Terico some hope that the Brotherhood were being fended off.

  And why did they come here? There’s nothing for them here... Most of the villagers had never worried too much about the Shire Kingdom’s threats on the Fiefs Kingdom, considering how insignificant Edellerston was in the grand scheme of things. This town was within the boundaries of the Fiefs Kingdom, but that technicality had very little impact on everyone’s day-to-day lives.

  Terico returned his thoughts to the matter at hand. It didn’t matter why the Brotherhood had come. They just had to be dealt with.

  Nearing the cathedral, Terico found a number of town guards fighting off a few masked members of the Brotherhood. The enemies were strong and had access to powerful Nexi stones, negating any advantage the guards may have had in terms of numbers. One by one, they were being killed off by the Brotherhood’s superior tactics and better training. The guards needed help, but Terico was too weakened to do much more. He needed to find his parents—and Turan—and Suran.

  Terico quickened his pace, using all his will-power to fight against the stinging agony of his injuries. The pain seemed to be getting worse with every step, to the point where he began to feel dizzy again. He shut his eyes and forced himself up the white stone stairway to the open cathedral entrance. The sound of shattering windows echoed from within, followed by cries of panic. Terico could hear a booming voice amongst the screams, but couldn’t make out the words. He pushed himself up the steps faster.

  Once at the entry, Terico found dozens of villagers scattering about the building. Terico turned toward a stream of light pouring into the tall, dark cathedral, shining through the shattered hole that had housed the grand, circular stained-glass window. The light obscured the figure of a tall, imposing man wearing dark armor, a cape, and a hood. Standing atop the holy altar, the man raised a sword nearly as tall as he was, and pointed it down toward the aisle between the cathedral pews.

  “So that’s your decision?” the man asked, his voice loud and booming.

  Terico looked down and saw his father standing a few meters in front of the man. Father raised his sword and caused it to glow with orange Nexi energy.

  “I know how you would use its power, Delkol,” Father said. “I am not so spineless as to just hand it over to you, and let the blood of thousands rest on my hands in the process.”

  Delkol... Delkol Shire? Terico thought. It was incredulous that Augurc had come here—but Delkol too? Why would both leaders of Shire Kingdom come to Edellerston? And what was Father talking about? Terico turned and found Mother standing a couple meters behind Father, gripping a couple Nexi stones in her hands.

  What are they doing?

  “Blood will rest on your hands regardless,” Delkol yelled. “You know what you have chosen? You have chosen to have every single person in this village die!” Delkol leaped off the altar, his sword in one hand, a glowing silver Nexi stone in the other.

  “Now!” Father yelled. Mother raised her Nexi stones toward Father, a clear one in her left hand, and then two stones in her right—a yellow one and a white one. The clear one would enable her to transfer the powers of the other stones to Father and his sword. Terico lifted the sword he had stolen and hurried down the long, echoing hall, refusing to just stand still while his parents were in danger.

  Father’s sword glowed bright from the orange stone in his hilt, then charged the blade with white, blinding sparks of light. With his blade strengthened and with the power of Mother’s white Nexi stone, Father could wield the power of lightning.

  He swung his sword toward Delkol, striking a deafening snap of lightning at the hooded figure. Delkol already had his Nexi stone raised, however, and a floating barrier of metallic silver feathers blocked the attack. The lightning and shield both lasted only an instant, and Delkol was quick to reach Father a moment later.

  They clashed swords, and a blinding burst of light enveloped the entire cathedral. Terico stumbled to the ground, his whole body numb from the wave of energy. The light cleared, but Terico found it difficult to stand back up. His wounds seared with sheer torment, and his head pounded with a sudden migraine. He looked up at Father and Delkol, struggling against one another with their blades. Delkol’s blade glowed silver, covered in etchings of feathers that shifted constantly.

  “I will admit your strength,” Delkol said. “You and that woman truly grasp the power of Nexi.”

  A spray of white sparked against Delkol’s sword, as Father exerted himself to push against the silver blade. Father’s body glowed a light yellow as Mother transferred a protective barrier of energy over his body.

  Delkol’s hood flipped back from the slight gust of wind that emanated from the yellow glow. The man had short, light brown hair, eyes the color of gleaming blue ice, and some beard stubble—but what stood out most blatantly was the thick black scar across his right eye, in the shape of an inverted cross. He cast a long, amused smile. “That won’t be enough. My sword is already against yours.”

  A Nexi stone on Delkol’s hilt glowed a bright, violent red. His sword burst into flames, blasting fire across Father’s arms. Father yelled and stumbled back as the fire instantly covered the rest of his body.

  “No!” Mother screamed. All the energies of Father’s and Mother’s Nexi stones faded away.

  Delkol chuckled, then lifted his sword and swung, taking a few steps forward in the process.

  Terico’s father and mother both dropped to the ground. In one long swoop of his fiery silver blade, Delkol beheaded them.

  In one simple motion, Father and Mother were dead.

  They were dead.

  And Terico did nothing.

  He stared. Wide-eyed. Motionless. His mind went blank. What his eyes were seeing—it didn’t make sense. What he saw didn’t happen. It couldn’t have.

  It couldn’t have.

  Delkol chuckled again as he turned to a group of villagers standing in shock a few meters away. “Is this the best this town offers? Or will the fun of the slaughter turn into the drudgery of the massacre?”

  A number of villagers ran for Delkol, armed with only makeshift weapons—whatever knives they happened to have on them, or in some instances a farming tool. The silver feathers and crackling fire of Delkol’s blade faded away. He pocketed his silver Nexi stone and took out a dark purple one, which he slid down the length of the blade. The sword began to vibrate violently with glowing purple energy, but Delkol held it so tight that the weapon had no effect on his body.

  Three men charged for Delkol from different directions. Delkol swung his sword against the nearest man, slamming the flat side of the blade against the man’s chest. The villager flew backward from the impact, careening backward several meters. At the same time, Delkol caused his purple Nexi stone to power his kick against the next man’s stomach. This man also went flying backward, arcing several meters into the air. Then in one brief instant, Delkol turned his blade to point for the third man—an elderly man with a fishing knife. The villager ran straight into Delkol’s blade. Delkol laughed as he caused his sword to vibrate faster, tearing the old man apart from the inside.

  A g
roup of villagers swarmed for Delkol, screaming with sheer rage. Delkol simply swung away with the broad side of his sword, letting the power of his Nexi stone fling everyone through the air. He knocked a young boy against an altar, then turned and slammed his blade against a woman’s head, snapping her neck. In long, swift movements, he beat his blade against a green-haired boy Terico’s age, then against a man with one leg trying to slip away, then against a girl perhaps four or five years old. Everyone within Delkol’s range died a swift, bloody death, screaming and crying.

  Terico saw it all happen, but it somehow didn’t mean anything. These were just things that were happening. Delkol killed everyone, and noboy could even lay a finger on him.

  In fact, this was just a game to him. A very easy game. One that he always won, and always enjoyed winning.

  Masked Brotherhood members rushed into the cathedral, easily taking down any villagers who tried to escape. The church echoed with a cacophony of grisly horror.

  And Terico did nothing. He lay there—unthinking, unmoving. Bodies and body parts were strewn all across the floor, or draped over the pews. A couple corpses and a severed arm landed around Terico over the course of the slaughter, and once it was all over Delkol apparently didn’t notice Terico lying there, still alive.

  “Your brother is waiting outside,” a Brotherhood member told Delkol.

  “Begin a thorough search of the entire village,” Delkol said. “Sift through the ashes of every single hovel. If the Elpis is here, I intend to find it.”

  Terico listened to the footsteps of Delkol and his men marching down the stairway. Terico remained where he lay.

  Motionless.

  Silent.

  Hours passed, and still Terico lay on the cold stone floor of the cathedral, hardly able to breathe amidst the stench of the dead. He shut his eyes and gripped his hands into fists. Though he lay soundless, Terico cursed himself. He cursed Delkol, and he cursed himself.

  He killed my parents. He murdered them. He laughed. He killed them, and he loved killing them.