by Dan O'Brien
“At one time, I would have thought showing compassion would have been enough. But you are far beyond mere words now, so another road must be taken.”
Karian brandished her blade, the shadow steel glowing like fire. When she moved it through the air, it seemed to grow and recede like a true flame. She swung her blade at Xeno’s head and he dodged easily. His blade remained in its sheath, but this mattered not to Karian as she struck again. This time at his chest and as he parried with movement, she swung vertically. Xeno flailed for a moment, losing his balance.
“Why do you not draw your sword, brother? Do you still harbor some misguided belief that I will turn from my path?” mocked Karian as she swung the blade again, this time glancing the stone.
Sparks lit up the dismal chamber.
“I wait only for the opportune time, and it has come.” Xeno rolled to his feet and drew a bluish orb from his side satchel. Brandishing it in his gloved hand, the swirling masses of colors washed over one another like waves upon the shoreline. Karian stepped away from her brother’s outstretched hand.
Her eyes became wide, mouth curling into a sneer. “What manner of trickery is this?” she roared. Her face was flushed, blade falling from her hand and diminishing into the stone that surrounded her. She fell to her knees, a brilliant glow emerging around her and engulfing the room in its surreal light.
Xeno moved closer, the orb beginning to bleed its colors. The orb destroyed itself, becoming vapor and fog. A figure built itself from the magicks. The form vibrated and convulsed, and soon became solid. The features were identical to Karian, except born of a brilliant sheen of light and innocence––the blonde hair was white and the sour features were soft and pleasant.
“This is who you once were, your former self,” yelled Xeno as the orb disappeared from his hand. Only the figure remained, standing over Karian, smiling.
“No,” Karian whispered hoarsely as she looked upon her reflection cast in ethereal form.
“It is time for you to disperse. I reclaim my body, my soul,” spoke Ariana, her words like song.
Karian rose, her chest heaving and shoulders sagging. Tears streamed down her face. She moved her lips as if to speak, but no words came. As the apparition placed her clear hands through Karian’s body, the vile eyes of the servant of the darkness disappeared and the gentle glow of the Song Maiden Ariana returned. She faltered for a moment and then regained her balance, her eyes filled with emotion.
“Brother,” she called as she placed her slender hand on Xeno’s cheek.
Xeno closed his eyes and placed his hand over his sister’s. “Sister.”
Uthen regained consciousness with a start, and with him came Maian. Both of them looked on in shock at the moment between brother and sister, Xeno and Ariana. The dark robes of Karian had disappeared and been replaced with a stark white dress and cloak. A thin, crafted blade was hidden within a sheath along her back.
“Xeno?” queried Uthen as he rubbed his head and rose from the cold stone beneath him.
Maian stood as well.
She was suspicious of the Song Maiden. “Is this your sister?” queried Maian, looking on in disbelief.
“This is the Song Maiden Ariana, princess of Devonshire, and my sister,” replied Xeno.
“How?” came the simultaneous question from both Uthen and Maian.
Xeno looked at Ariana.
“Love.”
“What becomes of us now? What of the lands burdened by this evil plague?” asked Maian as she looked out upon the cold cliffs and mountaintops beneath them.
Ariana stepped forward beside the young girl. “There is a darkness that has spread across Prima Terra. The winds speak the name of the Dark One. I was taken by this darkness, and now I shall battle that darkness. My brother and I will return to our home, reclaim it from the shadow,” spoke Ariana.
Maian did not turn as Uthen placed a hand on her shoulder. “And what of us?” asked the soldier.
Xeno looked to his sister, his eyes softer than they had been upon their journey. “You may return to you homes,” he replied.
The young girl shrugged her shoulders, hands digging against the cold stone of the window. “And what if we have no home, what then?”
Uthen looked down at the girl sadly. “What if we no longer think service to a king is enough? What if we wish to fight the darkness that threatens to consume us?” spoke Uthen.
Xeno smiled.
Ariana looked back at her brother, her angelic features glowing. “Then we forge ahead together, stronger in numbers and friendship,” spoke Ariana, her voice like a song.
“Do not forget that the road we travel will be dangerous. People will die, lives taken before their time. We do not mean to quietly fade into the night. We wish to seek out those who battle the Light and teach them fear,” spoke Xeno, touching the hilt of his blade.
Maian nodded––Uthen as well, though his somber face knew the dangers. Together, they looked out upon the world as the cold brought it to its knees.
Their journey had just begun.