«Try to concentrate, Patrik» he replied from above.
He gripped the siel again with his hand, closing his eyes and trying to stay a little calmer.
No way.
He turned and saw that his opponent was getting up. The time was over.
The Kentauro began to run towards him.
Patrik saw the siel trying to become something but he couldn’t do it. It was as if the batteries were flat.
He was unarmed.
The monster's powerful arm tried to hit him, but he managed to avoid it by throwing himself to the ground. He took a stone and threw it at the creature’s face with all the strength he had.
The Kentauro blocked the blow and even angrier, he launched a backhand, this time hitting Patrik full on.
Patrik flew at least three meters and the siel shot out of his hand.
A bit stunned he got up immediately and ran to get it back.
Still nothing. The damned thing didn’t respond.
He was starting to get angry.
The Kentauro attacked again, but Patrik managed to block it by dropping it with the force of thought, the same force with which he blocked the book inside Olympia.
Ok, he could do it, but he didn’t understand how.
At that point the monster used his wings and launched himself at him making him fall to the ground, this time injured.
He took a hit this time. He could not get up.
The Kentauro came up to kill him, but before he could strike the final blow a dagger stuck in his arm.
Alannah had managed to get behind the long gate and had thrown her weapon from there.
One of the Kentauros seated near the princess took flight and hurled itself on her.
«Patriiiik!» she shouted before the monster took her by the neck and lifted her off the ground.
Patrik saw the scene.
He was beside himself with anger.
With all the rage in his body he moved his right arm in the direction of his opponent and a shock wave erupted, throwing the monster into the gate, a power so great it bent the bars and the monster moaned in pain.
Then he turned to the Kentauro that held Alannah by the neck, not letting her breathe.
He looked at him with all the hatred he had inside him, lifting his left arm toward him.
The monster let go.
The princess fell to the ground and backed away.
Smoke came out of the body of the Kentauro, which was writhing in pain, until it didn’t move again.
Patrik was exhausted.
He still had that damned siel in his hand, which had been useless.
With the last strength within him, he gripped it angrily and hurled it in the direction of the old Kentauro, who had witnessed all this impassively.
At that point an unexpected thing happened.
The siel divided into a thousand pieces going to form an image with many light dots that rotated together, like a 3D projection.
At the sight of this, Poligon Dhaal stood up and dropped his siel to the ground.
«What does it mean, master?» Noliah asked curiously.
«I think it's a constellation» he replied almost hypnotized.
«What constellation?»
The elderly Guardian was as excited as a child and with a mocking smile on his face he replied, «I have not the faintest idea!»
17
The image rotated slowly for about fifteen seconds before dissolving and returning to be a siel motionless on the lawn.
Patrik was on his knees, exhausted and out of breath.
He saw that Kalberham had reached Alannah and hugged her, while she cried looking up at him.
The monster at her feet was definitely dead.
He turned his gaze and saw his opponent on the ground trying to get up after the bad blow.
Let it get up again, Patrik thought. At this point it didn’t matter anymore.
The siel assigned to him didn’t answer, and evidently his destiny was to succumb.
He thought of his mother and cried.
He thought of Marco, who from up there would be forced to see him die.
He thought of his father, imprisoned on Vortix, whom he would never know.
His opponent managed to get up. He limped visibly and had a wounded shoulder, but he was standing and now he was walking toward him with a menacing look.
Suddenly he changed direction and took the siel left there on the ground.
Then he stopped and stared at Patrik.
All the Kentauros got up and walked towards Patrik until they surrounded him. They all stopped there, staring at him.
Patrik didn’t understand, but stood up. If they decided to kill him, he would not die on his knees. The eldest approached closer, right in front of him. He raised the medallion he had hung around his neck and, taking the siel that was embedded in it, handed it to him.
All the galaxy beings within the Spindorf were stunned to see that scene.
Armintala's siel, the first Guardian in history, was being handed over to an Earthman. The most sacred and ancient find of the Flower of Eta Carinae in the hands of a boy with no experience and, inter alia, without a tunic of belonging.
Patrik took the weapon, squeezed it with his hand and it came to life, like a mad snake around his forearm, then returning a solid cylinder.
This time the contact was total, he felt it.
He closed his eyes for a moment and felt himself safe, as if an armor protected him. A strange strength grew inside him, the awareness of something was beginning to take shape.
He saw the shape of the galaxy and millions of worlds up to the confines of darkness.
The elderly Kentauro still clapped his spear on the ground and he opened his eyes as if he had been awakened from a dream.
The two looked at each other.
Kalberham and General Greymar’s eyes met for a moment to see if one of them had any idea of what was happening, but the wonder of what they had seen overwhelmed them like everyone present.
On the platform of Velado, blue leather humanoids surrounded a labrador that Patrik knew well, who stood there watching the whole scene.
King Karmora, not far away, after the danger his youngest daughter had escaped, had calmed down a little, but didn’t understand why Kalberham was so late in bringing her back up. The presence of that Earthman was still obscure in nature, and he knew that, like all Arkassians both inside and outside the Spindorf.
This matter worried him.
«Your sister seems very attached to that boy» he said, turning to Princess Myah doubtfully.
«Yes, father. I noticed it too. She is attached to him as she was to his father» she answered.
«I would not know, my daughter. You know, your sister is no longer a child».
«Dad?! Do you really think there's an interest in Alannah for the Terrestrial?» she asked in a low voice.
«I don’t think anything. I simply limit myself to observing» he replied, pointing to his daughter, still embracing Kalberham, while with tears in her eyes she watched Patrik surrounded by those beasts.
Chancellor Greymar, grim in the face, was focused on looking at the center of Spindorf trying to interpret any signal that could make him understand what was happening.
The Kentauros surrounded the Earthman while the oldest snarled and hissed. The strange thing was that Patrik had the expression of one who understood what he was being told.
Greymar noticed that the boy shouted and shook his head “no”.
Suddenly all the Kentauros stepped further back, leaving Patrik alone with the elder one, who knelt in front of him.
Spindorf's noise ceased and a strange silence crossed the whole arena.
Patrik, still with tears in his eyes, took a step toward the elder.
«All right» he said softly and, as he said this, tightened the siel. It turned into a blade of light that cut off the head of the Kentauro in front of him.
Shouts of horror and amazement crossed the air.
<
br /> «That stupid boy condemned himself to death» Darnar assured with certainty from the platform of Orena 3, where he communicated with the arkassian general. «Now they'll cut him to pieces».
«I don’t think so, my friend» Greymar replied promptly from Arkass's post. «Every siel requires a blood tribute. The Kentauro knew it. Now the siel of Armintala belongs to the young Terrestrial».
Patrik bent and laid his hand on the still body of the creature he had just killed. He said something in a low voice that nobody understood.
Marco was terrified and didn’t know what to think. He wanted to ask someone for an explanation, but he was alone.
After a few moments Patrik got up and started running towards Kalberham and Alannah.
«I have to go with them. Think of Marco. Leave the Spindorf, but don’t leave the planet» he said to the solaryan Guardian.
«Patrik ... why do you have to go with them? To do what? And for how long?» he asked.
«Kalberham, I don’t know. I promised him» Patrik replied, looking at the body of the old dead Kentauro. «It's important. He sacrificed his life for this. It was his destiny. I cannot break a promise».
Kalberham smiled and nodded his head. «You're a Guardian now, young Jones. The Code always knows where to go».
«Yeah ...» he smiled too.
«The siel assigned to you is not just any weapon. Armintala's spirit lives inside it».
Patrik looked at it and squeezed his hand.
«The first one that was given to me didn’t answer, I felt it was opposed to me. This is different, it is as if it entered me, even if it speaks a language that is not yet completely comprehensible».
«You need time, boy. Time will help you».
Patrik looked up and walked to Alannah. She had stopped crying, but some damp hair still stuck to her face, showing the pain she had for him.
«So Miss? Do you think you'll be able to not get into trouble while I'm away?» he asked, smiling.
Alannah was so happy that he was safe and sound, but the pride of the Princess of Solyar was still there and it was never to be underestimated. She took two steps toward him, curled her tail and raised her ears as she bared her canines.
«I don’t know where you were, Patrik Jones, but if I remember correctly I'm the one who saved your skin this time» she said firmly.
Patrik scratched his head a little embarrassed.
«Yes, I think you're right» he replied smiling.
Alannah was beautiful and when she got angry she was even more so.
The closeness of that girl confused him. That was very strange and he knew it.
In short, how could he like an alien?
Her tail.
Cat pupils and pointed ears.
What would have happened if only he tried to kiss her? Maybe she would scratch or even bite him.
He had no time to concentrate on the million reasons why this would be wrong.
He had to go.
«Well, it will mean I'll have to invite you to dinner» he said to her before winking, turning and walking away.
She remained petrified, looking at that boy who could only confuse her.
In short, how could she like an alien?
Small eyes and that strange nose.
Not to mention how funny the total absence of a tail was.
However he was leaving.
Yet.
This caused her a weight in her stomach.
«What does it mean to invite me to dinner?» she asked Kalberham, who was amused by the scene.
«I would not know exactly, princess. Ask Selidar. He lived with humans for a long time. I still believe you like him» he replied, trying to stifle a pleased expression.
«Kalberham! Don’t talk nonsense» she said, blushing and lowering her head.
*
All beings within the arena were speechless when they saw the Terrestrial walk towards the Arkassians in the direction of General Greymar. The Arkassians themselves wondered what an Earthly man, openly deployed with the solaryan alliance, wanted from them.
Greymar gripped his siel and took a step forward to show the boy that he was not afraid of him.
Arriving near the platform, Patrik looked up.
«Greetings General Greymar» he said, lowering his head respectfully.
«Young Terrestrial. I congratulate you. Although very unusual, you have passed the test. I wonder what happened to your solaryan tunic?!» he replied sarcastically.
«This is not my war. I'm only here for my father. As you well know, he is a prisoner on Vortix and I need Armintala's armor to enter».
«Is not your war?» When the truce ends, we Arkassians will reestablish the balance and the planet Earth will be one of the first to pay. Up until today we kept you out of the conflict because of the galactic pact which established that we would not attack you and the planet Melina, because they were too primitive, but now what’s happened?! An Earthman becomes a Guardian and even takes the sacred siel. And what's more, he orders me to give him Armintala's armor!»
All the Arkassians laughed heartily.
Patrik knew he was facing a great commander, who cared about his reputation. Asking for the armor was a mistake.
He had to fix it.
Having that heirloom meant freeing his father and he would do anything to get it.
The amazement was complete as soon as everyone present saw Patrik kneeling in front of Greymar just below the arkassian platform.
«I beg you. I will do all that is necessary, but I beseech you to hand over the armor» he said with his head bowed.
«Ahahahaha... but what do I see? Armintala would be proud to see his own siel in the hands of a primitive on his knees»
The Arkassians laughed again.
«Listen, boy, I suggest you wear the tunic that was given to you by Kalberham. From what I have seen on your planet, the red terrestrial blood binds well with the solaryan white».
The thing that made Patrik angry was not the laughter of the friends of that beast, but learning that some people had been killed because of him.
Kalberham was nervous and his siel kept running around his arm like crazy. «Come on, get up, boy. Don’t give satisfaction to that worm» he whispered in a low voice as he watched the scene.
Patrik stood up and looked into the eyes of the arkassian general.
Then he laughed.
«You see, Mr. Greymar, I am not asking you the armor, but to your boss, the gohtarma himself. I would never dream of asking someone for something from his guard dog!»
A cold silence fell for a moment.
«Pay attention! Patrik 1, Greymar 0. Nice move, Jones» Marco shrieked with an amused expression. Then he saw that some strange beings were looking at him from the next platform and winked, turning to them, «That's my friend».
Kalberham's siel stopped spinning.
Everyone looked in the direction of General Greymar.
He was furious.
«You will pay with your life for your insolence, microbe. Later you will taste my siel» said the Arkassian so that everyone could hear.
Patrik didn’t even hear him. He took his weapon and pointed it at him.
«No one will break the truce and you will wait for me to return. Tell your lord that I will introduce myself to him and he will have to listen to what I have to say».
Patrik pronounced this last sentence as an imperative order.
This infuriated the general even more.
«I don’t follow your orders...» but before Greymar could finish the sentence, Patrik silenced him.
«Your lord will want to meet me. Tell him that the exile of Akelio is over».
With that, Patrik began to walk in the direction of the opening that had led the Kentauros inside the arena.
The monsters followed him and the large stone door closed.
Everyone looked at each other without understanding, but in two very precise points of the galaxy, Poligon Dhaal and the gohtarma shuddered at the sound of t
hat name.
18
Poligon Dhaal saw Patrik disappear behind the big stone door. Almost as if raped by the screen, he stood there thinking for over a minute, then lowered his gaze and leaned on Magellan, who had remained beside him.
All the Guardians hung on a word from the old master's lips, but he said nothing and began to walk towards the exit.
Milostali turned to him.
«I think you owe us an explanation, Poligon. In short ... the siel of Armintala to an Earthman, two Kentauros dead in the strangest circumstances and, as if that were not enough, the boy who disappears behind that door after having threatened the Arkassians. It's all very strange. Where did he go now? And then who is this Akelio?!»
«Yes, master. Let us understand too». The voices were unanimous.
Poligon Dhaal turned to them and smiling, pointing to the screen.
«Gentlemen, in short! I saw what you saw. The terrestrial boy has been chosen by the Kentauros to carry the sacred siel with him, and of what is happening to him now, I know nothing. The boy is powerful, I know this and they know it too, but if we think that he serves one of the two parties to fight this war... well, we're all wrong».
«A Guardian has a duty to take sides. It's the rule!» Noliah said, looking for the group's approval, pretending not to have heard what the old Guardian had told him a few minutes before.
«A Guardian has duties only towards the Code, young man. The Markan Wall is clear. The chosen one, assuming that he is this, will restore the balance. How this will happen is something that I believe we will soon discover».
That said, Poligon Dhaal lowered his eyes with a worried, grim expression.
Everyone looked at each other in amazement.
Seeing the old Guardian so troubled was not common.
«And then, if what Patrik said is true, there is no war to make. We are all in serious danger».
Nobody said anything.
«I'll need to talk to you in private, dear Poligon» said Milostali, who didn’t like being kept in the dark about events.
«Not now my friend. I'm about to receive a call, I demand that it be private and that it is put through to my quarters» Poligon Dhaal replied at length.
«And may I know who will call you, or is this covered by state secrets?»
Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe Page 14