A New Fate

by Ethan A. Blanca

  “So, you’re going to teach me how to control this?” I ask.

  “Yes. Now, let’s begin,” Tink states. “First of all, since I sense the shadow nature from your scar, I assume you were very emotional when you received it?” Tink asks.

  “How did you know?” I mutter.

  “The demons used emotion against me, so the shadow nature in your scar is probably not there due to pure coincidence,” Tink explains.

  “Makes sense with that explanation, so what do I do to control it?” I ask.

  “First, to awaken the power you must remember your emotions when you received those scars. However, you must accept that past, and move on. Luckily for you, I will assist your mental state with my power.”

  As soon as Tink says this, that day floods into my mind. I start crying--I can’t help it. I feel as though I’m reliving that fateful day. The experience feels so real, I feel like I can change the past, but Tink warns me that doing so will allow the darkness to take control. I must fight the temptation, for what I’m experiencing isn’t real. After I overcome the temptation, I snap out of the reality. “It is really this hard to use Exdrift?” I ask Tink as I come out of my trance. My entire body is covered in sweat. My body is still shaking from the trauma, but after a little while I calm down.

  “No, actually you and I are the only people I know that had to use this method, since every being of this world already has it at birth. We have to do this extra step to unlock it.”

  After that wave of emotion, I suddenly feel, somehow, lighter? I find that it’s easier to move. It’s as if I’ve become as light as a shadow.

  “I think I got it...” I start to say.

  “Very good, Ron; unfortunately, you will have to learn the remaining steps from your friends,” Tink reveals.

  “What? What do you mean? We just started.”

  At this Tink bursts into laughter.

  “What’s so funny?” I ask, annoyed.

  “Its just that it’s morning already,” Tink exclaims, wiping away tears of laughter.

  “Are you serious?!” I shout, turning to the direction of the cave entrance. “I got to get back to the others. Why don’t you come with us, Tink?” I ask as I turn back to Tink, only to find that he is no longer there. “What?! Tink?!” I shout, looking around, though there is no sign of him. “It’s like he just vanished,” I mumble to myself.

  “Ron? Where are you? We should move on!” Rose calls out. I start to leave, but look back to where Tink was.

  “Haha, you were a strange one. Thank you, though--this power will definitely help me save David. Thank you, friend,” I express to the empty room, before walking back to Rose and Joshua.

  “Shadow Release!” a figure shouts, suddenly appearing in a dark room. The figure erupts into a coughing fit, a few drops of blood scattering on the floor. “Oh jeez! I haven’t had to teleport that far in a while!”

  “You need to be more careful,” a mysterious voice states.

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” the figure remarks.

  “In any case, is he the one?” the mysterious voice asks.

  “Oh, you’d best believe it! He’s part of this never ending prophecy all right,” the figure answers back.

  “Good,” two other voices remark.

  “You must continue watching him...Tink,” a fifth, deep, voice commands.

  “As you wish, Wise Ones,” Tink replies with a big smile spread across his face.

  Chapter Six

  David’s New Fate

  “Where the hell am I?” David mumbles, waking up. Shifting around, he discovers that he is in some sort of bag. “I hope Ron’s all right,” David thinks. “It seems that weird green thing helped him.” Suddenly, David is thrown into a large, dim room.

  “Mmm, they got another one, huh?” a voice murmurs.

  “Who said that?!” David yells, backing into a corner.

  “Hey, don’t worry, we won’t hurt you,” a deep voice says.

  “Yet,” another voice remarks. At this the room bursts into laughter.

  “You wanna go?” David taunts.

  “Aye, Aye, take it easy, they were joking,” a figure says as he comes into David’s view.

  “And what do you want?” David remarks, readying his fists. At this the figure laughs.

  “Mmm, you got a fighter’s spirit! No wonder they kept you alive. Interesting--” the figure continues, “you really don’t see that in humans these days.”

  “What do you mean--what are you?” David asks, annoyed.

  “What do you think I am? I’m obviously an elf,” the figure says with a puzzled expression.

  “Oh, ok, that really helps! Except for the fact that I don’t know what the hell an elf is,” David shouts sarcastically.

  “What? How do you not know what an elf is?” another voice says. “Elves are the most common thing you see in this sane world of Sarrus.”

  “Sarrus, now what the hell is Sarrus?” David asks, getting more and more annoyed.

  “No way,” the elf says. “Were you not born in Sarrus, human?”

  “No, as a matter of fact, I was born in Amaria. Eastern Amaria to be exact,” David answers.

  “Amaria? What world is that?” the elf asks, confused.

  “I guess it doesn’t really matter now,” David sighs.

  “Wow, the human actually said something right!” the other voice remarks.

  “Hey now, don’t give up hope already! King Terashi will surely come save us!” the elf exclaims.

  “Haha! We’d be lucky if he even survived that battle, Hamon!” the other elf declares.

  “Hamon--is that your name?” David asks the elf.

  “Yes, it is,” the elf states. “Well, what’s yours?”

  “David--David’s the name,” David answers.

  “Well, David, sorry about the rude atmosphere. Adoa and I recently got here too, after we were captured in a bloody battle,” Hamon explains.

  “A battle, huh? so you were fighting the same bastards who captured me?” David asks.

  “Well, we were fighting shadow demons, but a demon stalker, no,” Hamon points out.

  “Hey, I told you to stop giving people my name without my consent!” the first voice cuts in.

  “Sorry about that, Adoa—it’s not like everyone in this room doesn’t already know it,” Hamon argues.

  “You always run off on your own, Hamon! We need to stay together,” Adoa asserts.

  “Yessir,” Hamon groans with a mocking salute.

  “Demon stalker? Is that the think that took me?” David asks.

  “Probably--I’ve heard that those demon stalkers are responsible for other human captures as well,” Hamon explains.

  “Damn, captured again. Just like the war,” David mutters to himself. With a sudden movement Adoa immediately puts himself between David and Hamon.

  “Adoa, don’t worry! David’s not a danger to me, or you,” Hamon assures.

  “How can you be sure?” Adoa asks Hamon.

  “I dunno, I just got a feeling,” Hamon mumbles, staring at David.

  “War? You were in a war?” Adoa asks, turning to David with a look of irritation.

  “So?” David remarks. “Why do you care?” Before Adoa can answer, the only door in the room is shoved open; its slight echo travels across the room.

  “Oh boy,” a small figure at the doors entrance exclaims with a deadly melody. “Who’s going to die today?”

  “David, get behind Adoa and me,” Hamon suggests. Before David can question him, the small figure continues.

  “So, since I know that most of you aren’t absolutely oblivious, I assume you noticed the bodies that we took out of this room when you were brought here.”

  “Damn, I didn’t expect it to happen so soon,” an unknown voice says.
r />   “Get away from me!” another voice shouts.

  “Silence! For those who don’t know...” The figure stops mid-sentence. “YOU LOT ARE GONNA KILL EACH OTHER!!!” the figure shouts with such evil intent the room seems to grow darker. “Those that remain after this glorious spectacle shall perhaps have the honor of living a little longer!”

  “Damn, already back to fighting, huh,” Adoa declares, fists clenched.

  “David, I know that everyone present in this room is here because they are strong, but if you truly are not of this world, I highly recommend that you don’t fight. Not yet at least,” Hamon states.

  “I guess a human isn’t the worse thing to have at my back right now,” Adoa comments as he and Hamon ready their fists.

  “Anyways, since you’re all prisoners, no weapons or Exdrift are allowed!” the figure at the door continues.

  “How many people are in this room?” David asks.

  “What? Well, including the three of us, roughly thirty,” Adoa answers.

  “And out of these thirty, has anyone ever come close to beating a demon stalker in a fight?” David asks.

  “What do you mean, David? Demon stalkers are extremely fast. Nobody can even see one before being captured, let alone fight one,” Hamon claims with a confused expression.

  “Anyways, I won’t keep you waiting any longer. Give us a good show,” the figure taunts, closing the door. As the door slowly closes and the light of the other room fades, the prisoners look around themselves with panic.

  David lets out a little scoff.

  “In what way was what I said funny?” Hamon questions with a confused tone.

  “I don’t think you guys need to protect me then,” David remarks.

  “What nonsense are you spouting now, human?” Adoa asks.

  “Well, if that’s the case these guys will be a piece of cake compared to that demon stalker I tackled in the forest,” David announces.

  “Wait... you what?!” Adoa and Hamon both ask in shock as the door closes.

  The moment the door closes, a brutal fight ensues. Screams of races known and unknown to David create an eerie echo throughout the room. David suddenly pushes Adoa and Hamon aside, standing in front. “Woah, human, what are you doing?” Adoa asks. Before anymore words can be said, a prisoner bolts for David.

  “This human will be an easy target!” A reptilian-like humanoid exclaims as he lunges for David. Before Hamon and Adoa can even react, David blocks the blow easily, instantly throwing his own blow at the creature’s chest with his elbow.

  The creature jumps back. “You surprise me! You’re the first human I’ve met that can manage to fight back!” the creature taunts.

  “Well, then, you’ve probably never met an Amarian then, not that you ever will again,” David answers back.

  The creature makes a confused face, before suddenly falling over, coughing up blood.

  “What did you do to me?!” the creature yells up at David, who is standing above him.

  “Unluckily, the first Amarian you meet also happens to be considered the best martial artist in Ron Amar’s unit!” David remarks as the creature stops breathing.

  “What the hell did you do to him?!” Adoa asks with a scared look on his face.

  “Well that creature’s size was so small, I just simply broke his chest,” David casually explains with a shrug. “Oh don’t worry, I’m not gonna fight you; hopefully I don’t need to,” he continues. “I’m sure that figure at the door mentioned that multiple people could survive.”

  “See, Adoa? Sometimes being nice to a person helps out,” Hamon teases with a smile.

  “Haha! You and your ideals. Though I do admit you are strong human,” Adoa admits, reaching out his hand.

  “The name’s David, and thank you for that,” David smiles, shaking Adoa’s hand.

  “Anyways, it’s a good thing you went into a corner David, otherwise we would be stuck in the middle of this blood-bath,” Hamon points out.

  “Well, let’s focus on defending ourselves for the time being. At least until there are less of them,” David expresses with a look of disgust.

  The fighting continues for some time, most of the prisoners not daring to try and fight three people at once, despite the fact that they witnessed a human easily kill a reption. Soon there were only seven left: David, Adoa, Hamon, and four cat-like people.

  “I guess we have no choice but to fight those remaining four,” David mutters.

  Without warning, three of the four cat-like figures charge toward them. David, Adoa, and Hamon also charge. Blood flies into the air as Adoa lands the first hit on his attacker. It steps back, before continuing to fight. The second attacker is no match for David, falling to the ground after a few quick strikes. Hamon, on the other hand, is wrestling his attacker on the ground. The blood of others starts to cover them.

  “Here you go, Adoa!” Hamon suddenly yells, pushing his opponent off of himself right into Adoa’s opponent, who had been trading hard punches with the large elf. Both opponents lose their balance, falling to the floor. After that it doesn’t take long for Adoa and Hamon to finish them off. “Wow, those guys put up a heck of a fight,” Hamon pants.

  “That’s nothing--I could fight that guy again,” Adoa says, also panting.

  “I wonder why that fourth one didn’t join them...” David remarks, pointing at the fourth figure.

  “Why don’t you come out and fight?” Adoa taunts.

  “No need--the fight’s over, for now,” the fourth cat like creature answers.

  “How do you know?” Hamon asks.

  “Well, they always tend to wait until there are four left,” the cat-like person replies. “I’ve been here longer than the three of you. I know how this place works, and let’s just say that it won’t be as easy as beating a bunch of unskilled idiots.”

  “So, I assume you are also a warrior?” David asks.

  “Well, I guess I was, but that was a long time ago,” the feline replies.

  “So why did you just let your fellow warriors die?” Adoa asks.

  “Let’s get two things straight! First of all, those three weren’t warriors, and second, I didn’t even know them! We just worked together in that fight because we all happened to be felions,” the feline responds. “Well, let’s just say that we four should get to know each other, if we want to survive in this place.”

  “Well, my name is Hamon. And this is Adoa!” Hamon states.

  “For the sake of the Holy Light, Hamon, what did I tell you about giving my name away!?” Adoa shouts. An innocent smile forms on Hamon’s face.

  “Sorry... hehe.”

  “The name’s David, what’s yours?” David asks the felion.

  “Nikud is my name,” the felion responds.

  Suddenly the door flies open, followed by a slow clap. “Very, very good,” the figure says. “I didn’t think that the human would survive, until he gloriously killed that reption.”

  “There was nothing glorious about it,” David snaps back with a look of anger.

  “Hey, now, don’t waste your emotions here! Save them for later,” the figure sings, with that same demented smile. “Trust me, you’ll need them.”

  David, along with Hamon, Adoa, and Nikud, are taken to a new room. The room is small, with only two beds. “Make yourselves comfortable, or don’t--doesn’t really matter to me,” a guard mumbles as he locks the door. A sigh escapes Adoa’s mouth.

  “Well, like Nikud said, we need to get to know each other,” Hamon states, breaking the silence. “For starters, Adoa is my older brother!”

  “Hamon, are you kidding me?! Why you...” Adoa groans, another sigh escaping his mouth.

  “Well, again, my name is David, and I have no idea what the hell is going on,” David remarks with annoyance.

  “Well, how about you, Nikud?�
� Hamon asks, “you were the one that suggested we get to know each other?”

  “Well, let’s see, this bed is mine,” Nikud blurts out, pointing at one of the beds. A good variety of confused faces form on David, Hamon, and Adoa.

  “Um, there are only two beds. Are you saying that you want that one for yourself?” Adoa asks with an irritated look.

  “Well, yes,” Nikud argues, “Oh, did you guys not realize, I’m a girl.”

  An awkward silence floods into the room. “What!?” Adoa shouts.

  “I thought it was obvious,” Hamon adds, scratching his head.

  “Oh, I get it. In my world the females in a pack of wild cats do the hunting, while the males stay behind.”

  At this Nikud laughs.

  “This human, who isn’t even from this world, knows more than you, elf,” Nikud remarks, pointing at Adoa.

  “Wait, how did you know that I’m not of this world?” David asks.

  “Well, I do have very good hearing, because I did hear you say that before the bloodbath,” Nikud explains, “but even if you didn’t say anything, I would have known.”

  “What do you mean?” David asks.

  “Well, my clan has come across humans like you in the past,” Nikud reveals, “all of them claiming to be from a different world. Of course, they didn’t last long, with or without our help. But you--you are different,” Nikud states, pointing at David. “You are a warrior; a strong one, at that.”

  “Speaking of which, David, you mentioned a name back at the room. Ron Amar--who is that?” Hamon asks.

  A smile spreads across David’s face.

  “He was my leader in the Four Corners War,” David says in an almost bragging fashion. “If you thing I’m strong, you should see him.”

  “Well, anyways... what are we going to do about the bed situation? We can’t have three people on one bed!” Adoa cuts in.

  “Fine! I’m not really fond of elves though, so I guess the human will share my bed,” Nikud offers with an embarrassed look on her face. “Don’t try anything funny, human,” Nikud threatens, claws in David’s face.