by Kimbro West
“That’s not how the room works in Tirguard. Anything that was written in one room seems to replicate into the hidden room,” argued Availia.
“Oh … well then. Yes, because half of the building was destroyed in the war, disrupting the flow of alchemical properties that make the library work as expected.”
“Alchemy?” asked Ethan.
“Yes, in fact — Wegnel helped us build this new library several hundred years ago, that is, before he was bound to the Oroborus. The goal is that you can not only learn by reading, but also by writing things down.”
“Why did you have Wegnel help? Isn’t there a more normal alchemist in Losalfar?” prodded Auren.
Loka chuckled. “Because Mitans cannot control alchemy like you — one of the many fascinating things about humans.”
Auren grabbed some parchment at a nearby desk and started writing, then displayed his work to Ethan and Availia.
‘“Auren Faryndon is the strongest boy alive,’” read Ethan aloud. “That is really funny.”
“But a good test,” added Loka as the ink started to fade away.
As the ink resurfaced, Ethan noticed the message had changed. Auren frantically tried to grab the parchment back from Ethan, but was unable to.
“What does it say?” asked Auren nervously.
‘“Auren Faryndon is the strongest twelve-year-old human on this planet,’” read Ethan in disbelief.
“Yeah!” exclaimed Auren as he smiled from ear to ear.
“I could spend all day in here,” smiled Availia.
“Me too,” agreed Auren.
Ethan, on the other hand, immediately started writing on a new piece of parchment. He watched the words ‘Isaac Wright is located nearby’ disappear from the page. New words did not appear in their place.
Loka placed his hand on Ethan’s shoulder.
“I am sorry, Ethan, it doesn’t work that way — and for that matter, it doesn’t always work at all.”
Ethan frantically started writing again, ‘Isaac Wright is still alive.’ The ink once again disappeared from the page, and did not return.
“There are rules here that alchemy cannot defy. You cannot tell the future, only past events. You cannot see past events that are purposefully disguised in alchemy. And you cannot defy the will of the Oroborus — if the Oroborus does not wish you to see something, you will not be able to. I am truly sorry, Ethan.”
Ethan was devastated. He laid the parchment on the desk and readjusted the pack on his shoulder.
“Well then … what do you have on the Stonewolf?” asked Ethan.
Loka smiled and grabbed a book from the shelf, handing it to Ethan.
‘“The Seven Legendary Creatures, Their Historical Significance and Their Known Attributes,’” read Ethan out loud. “Can we borrow it?”
Loka nodded.
Ethan noticed Auren looking desperate and handed him the book. Auren immediately opened it and started reading.
Loka noticed Auren’s enthusiasm and chuckled. “You can keep it. I will have my historians make me another copy.”
Just then a Mitan wearing full armor walked into the library. He carried an interesting sword, which he handed to Loka. “Sir, here is what you requested. Also, we have spotted the enemy … it’s time.”
“That is, if there is still a library by this time tomorrow,” added Loka as he smiled at the four. “It is time for you to leave now, Ethan Wright, Auren Faryndon, Availia Tanbe and Stanley VonHaven — it was my honor to meet you all. You are welcome back at any time. But before you leave, Auren … we have a gift for you.”
Chapter 24
A Change of Plan
“Can you believe this thing?” exclaimed Auren as he showed off his new sword. “Real Losalfarian steel!” he bragged as he struggled to lift the weight of the blade.
Ventu led them to the top of a great hill where they had a good view of Losalfar. The grass and thistle-wheat covered the slope of the hill as far as the eye could see.
Ventu showed Auren five discs that could be removed from the blade to lessen the weight of the sword. “You see — this way, as you get stronger, you can add weight to the sword and it will grow with you,” instructed Ventu as he attached the five steel circles to Auren’s sheath.
“We will rest here for a moment,” interrupted Ethan.
“No,” argued Ventu. “We cannot risk running into the Tirguard army, or any scouts from the Aegis army. I promised I would keep you safe — we need to keep moving.”
“Running into the Tirguard army is exactly what we want to happen,” challenged Ethan.
“Yeah, Ventu,” added Auren. “We are here to stop a war — we’re not going to let anything happen to you or your people.”
Just then, loud bangs, flashes and rumbles came from the city of Losalfar. The Aegis army was placing the city of Losalfar under siege.
“I don’t think you can prevent a war today,” shrugged Ventu.
More rumbling could be heard, but Ethan could not tell where it was coming from. He turned and saw the massive and widespread Tirguard army heading right for them. Ethan watched as thousands strong marched toward them, carrying large royal blue and yellow banners.
Ventu, Availia, Auren and Stanley were now standing behind Ethan staring at the massive army.
“There sure is an awful lot of them,” said Auren as he sheathed his sword.
“Ngggu nggggu ngggu … yeah,” agreed Stanley.
The army was approaching fast and Ethan could hear the footsteps marching in unison and the clanking of armor.
“I can’t let you do this,” pleaded Ventu.
The five of them paused, looked at the black-armored Aegis army attacking Losalfar, and back to the Tirguard army.
“Let me talk to them,” asserted Ethan.
“You see, Ventu, what you need to know about humans is they are stubborn, and sometimes do stupid things,” said Auren impertinently.
“If we can talk to them, maybe we can explain the truth,” added Availia.
“Then you, my friends, would succeed in something that no man has done in over a hundred years,” replied Ventu.
Ethan stood up straight and touched the hilt of his sword. “If they don’t listen, then they can fight through me.”
“Well in that case, I vote we go back to the city,” said Auren in a smart voice.
Ventu paused for a moment, then looked Ethan in the eye. “Ok, Ethan … I am with you.”
They walked toward the massive Tirguard army. Auren hesitated, and then with a reluctant shrug of his shoulders, followed the others. As they drew closer, a smaller group of men extracted themselves from the front line to greet them. The boys slowed their pace as they realized one of those men was none other than Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa.
“I see you have already found the time to become traitors, eh? Could not obey the laws I handed you, could not finish the classes — and now here … I … have caught you with this … Mitan,” spat Heinrich. “Take him.” Heinrich pointed to the Mitan, and two of the soldiers grabbed Ventu from behind and held his arms in place while a third took his weapons.
“Wait!” yelled Ethan. “You don’t understand what you’re doing!”
“I … Captain of the Tirguard armies do not under…” Heinrich was cut off by another man.
“I am General Vacheal Lodbrok. I am in command of this army. Speak your side quickly, for I do not warrant a lack of haste at this time.”
“General, the Mitan are a peaceful race. They had a civil war and are now plagued by a rogue group of Mitan that call themselves the Aegis. They are the ones attacking the people of Tirguard,” disputed Ethan.
“You claim to know much for just arriving,” stated the General.
“Yes, but it’s the truth, I swear,” exclaimed Ethan. “I also have this,” added Ethan as he pulled a sheet of parchment from his pack and handed it to General Lodbrok.
The General looked it over and handed it to Heinrich.
“An
order to cease our attack?” spat Heinrich. “From Edison Rupert?”
“He’s a Captain of Tirguard,” argued Ethan. “And no Tirguard army …”
“Will go into battle unless all Captains on the field agree to such a battle,” interrupted General Lodbrok. “But Edison Rupert isn’t on the battlefield, is he?”
“No sir, he sent us in his place.”
Heinrich sneered.
“Is that it then?” asked the General.
“Well….” Ethan gulped.
The General paused and then looked over to Heinrich. “Get the men ready to move. Now.”
“Wait!” exclaimed Ethan. “Sir, if you attack this city you will have to get past me,” added Ethan as he stood ready.
“You’ll have to get past us,” added Availia, drawing her sword.
Auren nodded and drew his sword as well, as did Stanley.
The General held up a hand to halt the thousands of men that stood behind him. He looked Ethan in the eye, and then looked at the others who stood behind him.
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, Ethan brother of Isaac — you are indeed brave or incredibly stupid, but I am under direct order from the Castellan himself, civil war or not. I do not want to hurt such a noble young man as yourself,” replied the General.
“Then sweep down and take out the Aegis first — the ones with black armor. At that point, if you still don’t believe my words …then take the city,” replied Ethan as he pointed to just east of the city, where the war was escalating. Catapults were raining down on the city and the Losalfarians were firing arrows at the oncoming Aegis.
The General scratched his chin and took a moment to think. He studied the two Mitan armies fighting below and then looked back at Ethan.
“Sir, if you sweep the center of the battlefield it will open our flanks to attack!” argued Heinrich frantically. “C’mon, he’s just a stupid boy!” he snarled.
“And if both armies turn on us, what then, Heinrich?” snapped General Lodbrok. “Edison’s students have a point that I cannot afford to ignore.”
The General walked up to Ventu and got right in his face.
“If this is a trap, I will turn on the city immediately. Now then, give this Mitan his weapons back. You will fight right alongside me, so your city knows we are here together.”
Ventu nodded.
“I hope you don’t have any problems taking orders from a human.”
“None, General,” replied Ventu. “It’s an honor to fight at your side.”
“You bet it is,” replied the General confidently.
He looked back over to Ethan. “Also, I won’t have you or your friends getting involved in this battle, nor will I be responsible for your safety. The four of you go back to Tirguard — follow the trail we made, it should be clear,” ordered the General.
“But, sir …” said Heinrich.
“Heinrich, move the men double-time, sweep the center of the black-armored soldiers,” ordered the General.
Tirguard’s army moved out, and the four companions stayed motionless as the river of men separated to move past them. Soldier after soldier passed Ethan, some purposefully bumping shoulders with him as they passed. The four stood and watched the massive army head down the hill and sweep around the walls.
“Well …” said Ethan. “Should we start heading back then?”
“Yeah,” answered Auren.
Stanley nodded.
“You did a good job, Ethan,” said Availia, smiling.
“I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”
“Did you see my spin move?” bragged Auren as he sheathed his new Losalfarian sword.
Ethan laughed, as did Availia. Even Stanley smirked a little as they started walking back to Tirguard. They followed the tracks of the massive army, which was not difficult at all.
Just then, Ethan heard a small thump at his feet. He looked down and saw that a black stone had come to rest just in front of him. He leaned down to pick up the stone and as he did, wisps of black smoke formed a dome around him. He dropped the stone and tried to jump backward, but could not move. Fog swirled and puffed all around him, slowly drawing into the wall so he could not see outside the sphere.
Ethan tried to look around, but his eyes wouldn’t move. He was frozen, looking straight ahead at grey and black billows of smoke. And just as in Ethan’s dreams, the smoke formed into a face that was screaming — but no sound came. The screaming mouth opened wider and wider, until Ethan could see to the outside of the dome. It opened so wide that it made a doorway that a man could walk through.
And out of that doorway, a tunnel of smoke formed. At the end of the tunnel stood a sinister figure dressed in pitch black.
Ethan, held in place by some unknown force, stood there helpless and terror-stricken. He felt as if his hand should go for his sword, but instead it was frozen in time. He tried to move, but could not. He willed every last ounce of strength he could gather to move even a finger, but failed. He tried to scream, but was unable to do so.
Ethan’s heart began to race — he was terrified of the figure in black. His heart beat faster and faster until the figure took a step toward him. Ethan’s heart stopped when the figure’s foot hit the ground. He began to panic. His nerves twitched and tingled. He wondered if this meant he was dead. All these years he had taken his heartbeat for granted, as he had never paid much attention to it — until it stopped.
A million thoughts raced through his head. The presence took another step toward him. He told himself he was only having another dream — he wanted to rationalize the cipher in front of him.
The figure raised its cowled head and wisps of smoke filled the doorway. It stepped through the fog. Again, Ethan tried desperately to move, but was unable to do so. The figure reminded Ethan of what death would look like — of what death would feel like. Fear took over every fiber of his being.
“I have so long waited for this moment,” said the figure in a raspy whisper. Pale hands extended upward from the black robe and slowly drew back the long hood. Wisps of smoke rolled down the sleeves and coalesced into the sphere that imprisoned Ethan Wright. As the cowl drew back, a deep purple glow emerged. Piercing grey eyes, set in a pale face, revealed pleasure at having set such a successful trap.
The unnerving Mitan seemed well aware that his prey was unable to move. He stepped gracefully to Ethan’s side, leaned into Ethan’s ear, and whispered, “I am Xivon….”
Ethan’s nerves felt as if they were on fire. He wished he could jump from his body and run. He wondered if his friends were trying to help him escape. And if they were, Ethan wished they would run instead — from what MacArthur considered the most dangerous Mitan alive.
“I wonder what one would have to say if this were his last moment,” pondered Xivon as he walked behind his prey and peered down at Ethan’s sword.
“Since you may not get the chance for last words, allow me to fill in the blanks.” Xivon got right in Ethan’s face. “Your brother is dead,” said Xivon bluntly. “…I killed him,” he added, looking deep into Ethan’s eyes to see if he could find a reaction.
“I would bet that you want to grab that sword of yours and smite me with fire. But you cannot control it, you cannot wield it — it will not answer you, as … it is not yours,” smirked Xivon as he tapped the top of the hilt with his fingers.
“So what is next?” he asked as he paced back in forth in front of Ethan. “Next … I am going to kill your friends outside as they stand motionless in time. And then … I am going to kill you.” He turned his back to Ethan and drew a sword from his robe. It was long and thin like Ethan’s, but the core was hollow except for a dim green glowing rod that ran almost the entire length of the blade.
“That is, of course, unless I can kill you now.”
He turned and lunged the sword into Ethan’s chest, but it halted before piercing the first layer of skin. A jolt of green light flashed outward, hitting the edges of the sphere and sending wisps
of black smoke about. It pushed Xivon backwards several steps. For just a second Ethan thought he could see Auren through the smoke, as if frozen in time.
Xivon quickly sheathed his sword. He struggled for a moment, as if a price had to be paid for using the sword in that way, much like Ethan had experienced when his sword had burned him.
“You can’t blame me for trying, it is, after all … part of the game — us being the most important pieces on the board,” boasted Xivon with his raspy voice. “I’ve worked on this trap ever since you were born. It stops time for everyone outside the sphere — everything inside the sphere experiences time, but obviously, I am the only one able to move. If I had just a few more years … you’d be dead — just as well, I’ll have to do it the old fashioned way. So then … Ethan Wright….” Xivon placed both his hands on Ethan’s shoulders and stared him in the face. “Oh, your brother would be so proud of you right now — well then, are you ready to die?” He waited as if to get an answer from Ethan, but none came. “Let’s not delay this Oroborus chess game any longer than needed.”
Xivon pulled two more black stones from his robe and tossed them through the sphere on opposite sides of Auren, Availia and Stanley. He drew his sword with one hand and spit in the other. He picked up the black stone in front of Ethan and held it to his own mouth.
“Release,” he whispered.
The black and grey fog swirled and gathered above Ethan’s head. Suddenly, the smoke shot up into the sky with a loud hiss. The clouds overhead turned black and it started to rain. Xivon put the stone back in his pocket.
“Hey you!” yelled Auren as he drew his sword.
But it was already too late. A new trap was waiting behind Auren, Availia and Stanley. A gaping portal had formed between the two stones. It shimmered and rippled anytime a raindrop came into contact with it.
Xivon, out of Auren’s reach, brought his sword far above his head. With the flat side of the blade, he slammed it to the ground with all his might. The blade curved until the tip slapped the ground, directing a shockwave at the three unsuspecting targets.