The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1

by Tim McFarlane

  I punched the Masquade under the chin again and aimed both my palms at its chest. The ice melted away from my hands and twin Lightning Bolts shot into the guardian’s chest. It howled in pain and jumped off me. I kept my hands directed to its face and it jumped to the side to dodge the bolts.

  I chased it with my hands, sending bolt after bolt as it dodged them with ease. It drew closer and Cathy covered my hands in ice. As the Masquade lunged, I swung at its head, only this time it was aiming for my hand and bit down on my right forearm.

  The Ice protected my arm from the Masquade’s teeth and I connected with a couple of punches with my other hand. The Masquade wouldn’t let go as it tried to chomp its way up my arm. I tried to pull my arm away but stopped when an idea hit me.

  Give me some fire. It’s time we attacked it from within.

  Cathy laughed. I love it when you talk dirty.

  I pulled the Masquade forward and wrapped my free arm around its head. I held on as tightly as I could and opened my hand. The heat erupted from my hand and the Masquade squealed. I gripped tighter and held my hand steady. The fire was ripping through the inside of the guardian as it thrashed around in pain.

  Its sounds of pain grew quieter and I ripped my hand from its mouth and released it. Ice reformed around my hand and I slammed it into the skull of the guardian driving it into the ground. The Masquade collapsed to the ground whimpering before glowing brightly and reverting back to its black blob state.

  The ice disappeared around my hands and I pointed my palms at the blob. Fire erupted from my hand engulfing the blob completely. It hissed and sizzled as smoke rose off of it. The fire stopped and what had been the blob had become a pool of goo, unmoving on the ground.

  We make a good team.

  It helps that I can read your thoughts as you think them, Cathy replied.

  Don’t ruin the moment.

  I was grabbed from behind around the neck and I struggled to break free.

  “I don’t know what you are, but it will be a pleasure to kill you,” the disgusting voice of the Mage I had forgotten about said.

  Scales quickly covered my body as he placed his hand on my back.

  “Oh, you’re a cleaver one,” he replied.

  I lurched forward and threw him over my shoulder onto the ground. He sent a Pulse out as his back hit the ground and I was thrown back. He rose off the ground and hovered in the air.

  “You are going to need more then that,” he smirked.

  I sent a Lightning Bolt his way and he dodged it in a blink of an eye. A wave of fire erupted from him and I quickly covered my face with my hands. As the wave passed, two hands gripped my throat and I was lifted off the ground.

  “I thought you would fall for that,” he said as he squeezed harder.

  The scales helped a little bit but it was getting harder and harder to breathe. I tried to rip his hands off my throat but it was no use. He had a death grip on me and I thrashed around like a rag doll.

  Grab his hands, Andy, and don’t let go, Cathy said. I didn’t want to do this but it’s the only way.

  “Who do you have in there, I wonder?” the Mage said amused. “What Demon would willingly submit to serving as a slave in a mortal mind? Look into my eyes and let me see.”

  His eyes changed to black and I felt myself being pulled towards them.

  Grab his hands and open your mouth! Cathy exclaimed.

  I seized the Mage’s hands and opened my mouth. A high pitch sound grew louder the more my mouth opened. The Mage released my throat and tried to pull his hands away but I held them in place. His face twisted in agony the more the sound escaped my mouth. The ground underneath us started to shake and the Mage cried out as blood started to run down his nose, eyes, mouth and ears. The cries stopped and the Mage grew still as the sound slowly disappeared.

  I closed my mouth and felt completely drained as I released the dead Mage. He dropped to the ground, still staring ahead in a silent scream.

  What was that?

  Sonic... scream, Cathy said quietly. Must...can’t...I’m sorry...

  The weight of the world hit me as I dropped to my knees. The glowing blue veins disappeared and my vision was going black.

  Cathy?

  I became light headed as I searched around for her.

  CATHY?!

  The ground rushed to my face as I fell forward. The grass felt cool against my skin and in the distance I could make out shapes running towards me. My eye lids grew too heavy to hold open so I closed them.

  Chapter 39

  I opened my eyes slowly. A sliver of sunlight shone in through the window and I rolled away from it with a groan. The room was small and sparsely furnished. The bed was the only major piece of furniture and it wasn’t even a real bed. Looking closely at it, I was really just lying on top of a bunch of animal skins.

  At least it is more comfortable then straw, Cathy said softly.

  You’re okay!

  She chuckled softly. Sorry to freak you out. The Sonic Scream is a big drain of energy. I had to make sure I broke the connection between our magic before it destroyed me. I guess I passed out afterwards.

  I did the same. I thought I had lost you.

  It will take more then that, she said sweetly.

  “Good morning,” Sister Carlia said at the doorway. “I hope the skins are comfortable. Our knowledge of humans is low. Nao just plant into the ground when it is time to rest. I’ve never seen anything be horizontal to rest before.”

  I chuckled as I sat up. “It is called lying down and it’s very comfortable.”

  “I will take your word for it,” she replied. “You have done well, Kairu. The Nao are in awe at your strength and courage. This is something that rarely happens.”

  “Were you able to perform the ritual?” I asked as I stood up on wobbly legs.

  “Yes,” she started, “Mistress Velias arrived shortly after you defeated the Masquade. Very impressive fight by the way. It would seem that you have a strong working relationship with the Demon inside.”

  “If Cathy saving my life all the time is a ‘working relationship’ then yes,” I replied.

  “Cathy?” Sister Carlia asked confused. “You named the Demon?”

  “She named herself,” I answered.

  “Interesting,” Sister Carlia said thoughtfully. “Anyways, you will find your equipment by the Life Spring. Join me there when you can. I have been given permission to not only give you what you came here for but also a parting gift on behalf of the Nao.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “Where was my Staff? It didn’t get destroyed in the battle did it?”

  “Your Staff was found intact,” she answered. “It is made from magic weaved minerals and will not break easily. The crystal was destroyed though with no way of repairing it.”

  “That’s fine,” I replied. “The Staff was more important. I didn’t want to have to go back and ask for another. What about my hat? That thing always seems to get into trouble.”

  “Apprentice Fawna found it and will not part ways with it,” Sister Carlia said. “Your display of magic, both seeing through her Illusion and your fighting seems to have impressed her. She claims that holding onto a relic of the Great Kairu will make her strong like you.”

  Cathy laughed. Your hat a relic?! I guess there’s a first for everything.

  I smiled. “Is she close by? I would like to talk to her.”

  “Of course, you will find her in the scroll room by the Life Spring,” she answered.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  Sister Carlia left the room and I stretched my joints. My chest and stomach were still sore and I looked down to see the scars from the Masquade. I was covered in bruises as well and I was more then certain there were a few cracked ribs.

  People often left with much worse after a fight like that, Cathy said.

  Oh, I wasn’t complaining. Chicks dig scars.

  Oh Void, where did you hear that nonsense? Cathy asked.

  I chuckled
and walked out of the room, hissing and holding onto my side as I walked. The Life Spring was right in front of me with Sister Carlia and Mistress Veilas talking to each other off to the side. I hobbled across the building and found Apprentice Fawna in the scroll room. She saw me and put the scroll she was reading next to my hat on the small table.

  “Are you well, Kairu?” she asked.

  “I will be, just need some time,” I answered. “Reading anything good?”

  “Just the history of the forest guardian,” she replied. “I wanted to know if another guardian had been corrupted in the past. It seemed odd for it to turn against us so easily.”

  “I don’t think the Demon that corrupted it was your average Demon,” I said. “I think we were dealing with something very powerful.”

  “Well, you have our thanks for removing it from our forest,” she smiled.

  I wobbled a little and leaned against the door frame hissing in pain. Fawna took a couple of steps towards me but stopped when I waved her away. “It will be fine,” I said.

  “You should go to The Mistress and heal,” she said.

  “I will,” I started. “First, I wanted to apologise for scaring you when we first met.”

  Fawna smiled. “That will not be necessary. You baited me into a trap and capitalised on it. You taught me a valuable lesson when it comes to hunting.”

  “I’m shocked to see a Nao training to be a hunter. Sister Carlia told me that knowledge is transferable through lives,” I said.

  “It is,” she explained. “In past lives I was a Gardeneer. I watched over the young Nao as they grew and matured. This life I wanted to try something different so I became a hunter.”

  “And your first time out you got me?” I asked.

  She smiled. “I’m told it is easier than that.”

  I looked at my hat and smiled. “Take care of the hat. It’s been through a lot.”

  She looked at it and picked it up, offering it to me with a sad look on her face. “You can have it back if you want.”

  “Nah,” I said shaking my head. “Keep it as a reminder that you are yet to beat me with an Illusion.”

  She looked back at me then smiled slowly. “Thank you, Kairu. I wish I knew the human way to show my appreciation.”

  “What is the Nao way then?” I asked.

  She held out her hand palm up and a bright white orb rose from it.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said.

  She closed her hand and the orb disappeared. “May the Tree God watch over you.”

  “You too,” I nodded and pushed off the door frame.

  I hobbled back to the Life Spring were Mistress Veilas and Sister Carlia waited. My equipment lay on the ground close to them and I walked towards it.

  “Leave your equipment there, Kairu,” Mistress Veilas said. “Sister Carlia has a ritual to perform first.”

  “Yes,” Sister Carlia nodded and held her hand out. A small vial of water rested in her palm. “We present you with a vial of water from our Life Spring. It seems fitting to pay you back with a portion of our life after you went to such great lengths to ensure our safety.”

  “I am honoured,” I said.

  “We also want to perform the Bonding of Eternity, a sacred bond granted to friends of the Nao,” Sister Carlia continued. “Simply submerge yourself into the Life Spring. The imprint of your soul will be shared amongst the spirit of the Nao so future generations will know your name. They will be able to sense you, and you will be able to sense them. You will always be welcome here and no Nao will raise a weapon against you.”

  “I will also teach you the sacred spell that will let you enter our village,” Mistress Velias added.

  “Submerge yourself, you will find that the waters will heal your wounds too,” Sister Carlia said.

  “Should I remove my pants?” I asked.

  “Only if you want to,” she answered.

  I looked down at the Life Spring and saw the glow of the spirits crowding around where I was. It didn’t help the self conscious feeling that overcame me as I started to pull down my pants.

  They are asexual tree spirits, Cathy explained. They don’t care about your ding dong.

  I sighed and pulled my pants down quickly and removed my shoes. The pain in my ribs made the whole experience that much more awkward. Mistress Veilas and Sister Carlia just stood there watching me, no doubt unsure why I was delaying. I walked to edge of the Life Spring and stepped into it.

  The water was warm and relaxing, and the glowing spirits parted to welcome me. The Life Spring wasn’t very deep, only reaching my waist as I reached the middle, and I took a deep breath before dropping all the way into the water.

  The water grew warmer and I could feel the spirits dancing around my body. My whole body began to tingle as the pain in my chest disappeared. I stood back up and wiped the water out of my eyes. Looking at my chest, I was surprised to see the bruising gone, only a couple of scars remained. I walked to the edge and climbed out of the Life Spring.

  “It is done, congratulations Kairu,” Sister Carlia said as I picked up my pants and robe.

  “Thank you, Sister Carlia,” I said bowing awkwardly before trying to get dressed.

  I picked up my equipment and Sister Carlia handed me the vial. I placed it with the Demon’s Bane and Tail Feather and shouldered the pack. I slid the Staff into its spot between the pack and my back and turned to Mistress Veilas. Her eyes turned white and my whole body shook as it felt like a bolt of lightning coursed through me.

  “Watusa Donari Kabu,” I whispered.

  I shook my head and her eyes returned to normal. “You now have the knowledge to enter our village, Tanoba,” she said.

  “Thank you,” I said grabbing my head. “But next time, please give me a heads up before you do that.”

  “Patience is for the young,” she replied.

  “I will escort you to the edge of the forest,” Sister Carlia said. “Where are you heading next?”

  “The Tower of the Watchful Eye,” I answered. “It is time I went home.”

  ***

  At the edge of the forest I said my goodbye to Sister Carlia. I had invited her to walk further so I could learn more about the Nao but she explained that her people are forbidden from leaving the forest. If she were to take one step outside of the boundaries her spirit would leave her body and never be able to return to the Life Spring. I wished her well and set off towards the Tower.

  The sun was approaching the highest point in the sky and it would be sunset before I made it to the front doors. I was travelling the Archanion Field alone again. Just like at the beginning of my journey.

  The Reed farm seems so long ago now, Cathy said softly.

  “How are you holding up?” I asked. “You’ve been really quiet today.”

  Just trying to recover, she answered. Combining powers takes a lot out of me.

  “It must have been pretty bad,” I said.

  If I had joined completely with your magic we wouldn’t have been able to go back to normal, Cathy explained. You would have become completely possessed. You would control the movements and I would control the magic.

  “So even if I had said yes to you taking control, it wouldn’t have worked,” I stated.

  Yes, she answered.

  “How about we don’t combine powers like that again then,” I suggested. “It sounds too risky.”

  Agreed, she replied. Let’s just stay away from fighting forest guardians.

  I chuckled. “I am quite okay with that. Tell me more about this Sonic Scream though. I have never heard of it.”

  With good reason, it isn’t something that a lot of Mages can do, Cathy answered.

  “If it sapped the energy out of both of us, I can’t imagine if I tried it alone,” I said.

  We were both pretty drained from the fight to begin with, Cathy replied. And you would never use it for as long as we did. It is for temporarily stunning people. Long term exposure...well...you saw. It gets quite messy in t
he brain area.

  I grimaced. “Could I learn to use it in short bursts then?”

  Of course, Cathy said. I recommend practice though so you don’t drain yourself too much.

  We walked the rest of the way discussing more spells and rituals we could explore once we get back to the archives. The feeling of coming home was comforting, even if it was the Tower. Whatever I have to do next won’t matter because I’ll have the chance to get a hot meal and a soft bed. The food in my pack didn’t last very long.

  That’s an understatement, Cathy said. Next animal we find, you should kill it and eat it raw.

  How did that end up sounding delicious?!

  The Tower was within range and loomed over the land with an eerie aura about it. Was it always like this or has being outside the Tower and seeing its true evil affected my perspective? Either way, the happiness of coming home was replaced with dread.

  Something bad was going to happen.

  “Are we ready for this?” I asked.

  We better be, Cathy said. There’s no turning back.

  I put my foot forward and started towards the Tower.

  Chapter 40

  Our fears were confirmed as soon as we entered the Tower. Bodies lay in the hallway unmoving; some still burning, none of them older then fourteen cycles. As I approached them I heard more screams coming from upstairs. I needed to get to the Keeper fast and figure out what was happening.

  I bolted towards the stairs and climbed two at a time to the second floor. The stairs to the third floor were barricaded with a powerful magical barrier so I was going to have to go through the Apprentice Quarters. As soon as I left the stairs, I was greeted by a group of Apprentices led by my old bully, Greg.

  He smirked as he recognized me and his group circled around me. I first instinct was to try and run away from them but after everything I had been through and the importance of my mission, I was fed up with his attitude.

  “Well, well, well. Look who returns,” Greg sneered as he stood in front of me to block my path. “How are you doing, Lizard?”

  “Get lost, Greg, I need to get to the top,” I said trying to push past him.