Rise of Centuria

by James A Harris

  The spellcasters took him away in what looked like a floating car holding the luminescent cage. They spoke of nothing and left the warriors in silence wondering what was to become of him. When all but one of the spellcasters had vanished from sight, the ground started to shake. The piles of rubble started falling over reforming buildings that once stood in Centuria. The ground beneath their feet started to rise as if the soil was filling below. Then portals opened in many areas between structures that magically rebuilt themselves. The people of Centuria appeared from the spinning vortices.

  Gathar was shocked by the appearance of the mass crowd of people that he thought had been lost after his failed search of the ruins. He was excited, scared, and sad at the same time. The moment caught up to him and he remembered someone else he had lost, Megan. He desperately searched the crowds for her hanging on to the slightest bit of hope that she was with them. He searched and searched looking from face to face trying to find her. Ptolemy, at his side, looked as well. The ground continued to shake and shift but had no effect on the structures rebuilding themselves. Gathar and Ptolemy looked hard through the crowd of people pouring in from the many portals around the city. The castle began to resurrect when they drew close to it. The talisman on Gathar’s chest grew cold again and started to vibrate. When the pinnacles of the castle were back in place, there was a huge explosion in a watchtower. A portal had opened directly over the tower and sent pieces of stone flying in every direction. Three figures fell through the portal and landed on the remainder of the tower and a fourth figure followed but was floating through the air. Megan, Drake, Simon, and Horace had appeared. Gathar dropped all his gear and ran for the castle to climb the tower they were in.

  When he reached the top of the tower he embraced his daughter, tears flowing, and his body shaking. Her voice cracked when she addressed him and she hugged him back. Drake and Simon looked at each other, nodded, and smiled. They were glad to be home with a one-of-a-kind story to tell. Horace brought himself down to the ground and gave Gathar a look he would never forget.

  Horace felt guilty for leaving the battle in the Great Plains but had foreseen the destruction that was about to happen in Centuria and chose to save the people. He took his chances on taking the people through a portal with the possibility of never returning. Horace looked up into the sky to see Reznek surrounded by his fellow dragons. They had cast powerful magic to restore the city to its physical state before the collapse. Horace, the only one that knew the dragons could do such magic, bowed his head and kneeled.

  After the city had been restored, the dragons that did not leave with the nes kaliba gathered and headed east without another word to the humans. People took their loved ones in their arms and gave thanks for the many blessings. All the clouds in the sky had moved away and a setting sun left a vibrant orange glow on the city. Usha passed a gentle breeze across the land and the people of Centuria felt at peace.

  Chapter Twenty

  Several days elapsed since the battle in Centuria and Emalf’s demise. People lined the streets waiting for the king’s escort to pass. The city was prepared for a festival to honor the sacrifices made and the return of the king. Banners hung from windows and doors, people waved Centurian flags, women and men alike dressed in their fanciest clothes, and a partially cloudy sky draped the city.

  King Katimi wore an elaborate robe of white silk with long open sleeves. His crown was plain gold but molded in a unique design of Katimi’s family crest, a lion. The hundred-year-old crown had been crafted over two months by a talented blacksmith, and was one of Katimi’s most highly prized possessions.

  Beside him stood Zacharia, who in demon form went by the name Xero, but he was back to his normal self. His curly blonde hair hung down to his shoulders and his eyes were as vibrant as ever. He was grateful that the demon curse had been lifted. He didn’t like the feeling of anger or the inability to control himself all the time. While in the swamp, he felt the demon lord overcome his body several times and felt completely helpless. It was a feeling he never wanted to have again.

  The people cheered and applauded when the king and Zacharia walked by waving. They became even louder when General Gathar, his army, and Ptolemy arrived. Ptolemy was distracted for a moment by a sign about the upcoming race. News of Gathar’s quest had passed amongst all the people of Centuria in the few days since their return from another world. They knew of Horace’s magic that helped them return, but they did not know that Nydraia had sacrificed herself to open the portals between the worlds and Horace did not want to partake in the parade. He felt that the victory belonged to the true heroes who fought and he also felt terrible for all the lives lost from fighting off the horde. He had become accustomed to the life of a hermit and decided to keep it that way.

  People danced in the streets after the parade had passed. Nathan had traveled from Salidon to take part in the festivities and invited Rebecca to come along. She accepted his invitation and they danced in the street together. Music was playing on every corner. The marketplace was bustling with vendors. Everyone was joyous and there was at last laughter filling the air. Silence spread through the city when King Katimi, Prince Zacharia, and General Gathar arrived in the courtyard at the entrance to the castle. King Katimi shared a few short words but wanted Gathar to speak to the people.

  “We stand here united as a city, as a whole! We have been through the darkest of times that Centuria has ever seen and suffered a fate that we hopefully will never have to struggle through again. Yet, we had risen victorious and survived. We have overcome tremendous odds and rid our lands of the evil curse our enemy had laid upon us. Be proud of yourselves, your comrades, and those that fought valiantly to protect us. Look at your family and remind them that you love them for there may be a day when that is no longer possible. Stand together! Stand as one! Centuria Forever!”

  Epilogue

  Maximus was lying in bed staring up at the ceiling of the hut when a bright green light lit up his room. A spirit entered through the walls and slowly floated toward him. His eyes grew wide for the apparition was him in human form. The lagarto caring for him told him, “Be still.” He followed the command although the spirit was nearly scaring him to death. The spirit reached out with both hands as it approached him. As soon as it touched him, he felt a warm sensation through his entire body. The apparition moved into Maximus’ body as if there was no physical barrier between the two.

  Maximus felt the transformation of his claws to hands, his eyes to their normal state, his senses diminishing in acuity, his hair growing back rapidly and even his skin changed back to its original human state, including the freckles on his face. The lagarto was jumping up and down in excitement. Maximus was no longer a demon. Maximus was soon to be united with an unknown human.

  Pepper was thrown overboard by the remnants on his airship. The betnoirs who had turned human were tossed too. The alamours grabbed anyone who resisted and jumped overboard with them and turned into boulders, burning from within as they fell. The remnants, through careful observation, had learned how to sail the airships. They headed east for the floating city over Serpent’s Current once inhabited by dragons and occupied by swarms of flying spiders now. The spiders did not bother them when they flew over the city and started to disembark. The remnants moved throughout the city and took to the homes as if they were their own.

  Daimonio and Mal’ak had been freed from the magical sphere of the fairies and stood atop the damaged roof of the temple with Shedim watching the remnants occupy the city. Horrible schemes filled their minds. Thoughts of destruction, death, and tyranny consumed their thoughts.

  Pepper was found in the woods by lagartos and taken to the same hut as Maximus. They stared at each other for an uncomfortable period of time before making introductions. The lagartos stood by thinking they were about to attack each other. Neither recognized the other, and were hesitant to speak or react first.

  “I’m Pepper of Centuria.”

  “I’m Max.” They
shook hands but gripped hard and stared each other down more. Max’s instincts made him feel uneasy around Pepper. He knew to be wary and when they let go Max noticed Pepper walked to his cot with a limp.

  The lagarto that was caring for Max tended to Pepper’s wounded leg. She pulled up his pant leg and the bone in his shin was broken and pierced through the skin. Max stared as the lagarto made Pepper comfortable before setting the bone and casting his leg. Pepper did not say a word through the whole process. He had trained himself through many years of fighting not to verbalize his pain. Night came on fast and when Pepper fell asleep in the hut, Max found himself wide awake worried about the newcomer.

  * * *

  Ptolemy stared at the sign about the upcoming race he was about to compete in twirling the artifact, a silver coin, he took from the human form of Emalf before he was taken away. Sarella stood next to him and they were contemplating on how they could win. A few hunters passed by on their way to a secret hideout followed by a covered cart making the sound of sloshing water as it moved and said to them, “Forget about it now sweet stuff. We hunters will win.” Ptolemy thought otherwise.