“What did you put into that food today Urvein! Some new variant of mitheliq? Some flavoring agent that’s undergoing clinical trials?” Sahis wondered aloud, taking a sip of his hot coffee.
“Just your words Sahis. I have been enlightened with regards to a very important factor that goes into cooking that I hadn’t taken into account before- the consumers palate. I ruminated over our argument for all this time.”
“And what did you glean from it that resulted in this…this…I don’t know what to say. I don’t recall firing off recipes in the middle of the argument.”
“I just told you. The consumer’s palate. I had been focusing on bringing out what is considered to be the best possible flavor of the ingredient in Querqa. I never thought about how preferences would vary. Querqan food is traditionally saltier and less spicy when compared with Zeiss cuisine. I increased the spice levels, lowered the salt I used to your preferred level and used a flavored oil this time. It’s this combination of preferences that elevates the food for you. I’d never have realized it if you didn’t challenge my views on life. I’d never have realized how much I really value all of you.”
Sahis expression softened. “I took your advice to heart too Urv. I’m trying. I’m trying to be…more understanding of other people’s views. Of weighing all the possibilities before leaping to the most pessimistic scenario. It’s going to take me time though. And though I don’t know if I deserve it after my behavior, I like to request all of you to still be patient with me. I still want to be your friend. I want to change. I just …... I can’t do it alone.”
Sahis leaned forward, his head almost touching the table. Enola and Advika reached out a hand from either side of him and straightened him.
“I will Sahis. And I’d like to apologize to all of you. I always thought like an earth mover. Connected to the planet. This vast, singular existence that marches through space unaffected. And that was mistaken. I am an earth mover. By my very existence I contradict the ideas I held in my mind all this time. I myself can change the planet. It coexists with me, not in spite of me. And I’m not a planet. I’m a human being. An arbiter. Part of of a unit. You guys are my unit. I can’t exist without you. Even you guys now, Leslie, Enola, Sven.” The group greeted Urvein’s apology with raucous cheers. Sahis got out of his chair to slap his old friend’s back once more. Even Advika grinned as the ice in her heart melted. She glanced over to Rayla and Inga and began to open her mouth to speak…
Burgatt leaped out of his chair. “The Manor!” he screamed. Heads turned in the direction of the Manor as a speck appeared in the sky. In a heartbeat the garden was empty except for Leslie. She looked around, sighed, and began collecting the cups. The group raced to the Manor, reaching it in ticks. Zhang and Tenya were already in the courtyard. Zhang’s hands were flaming, each flame in the shape of a tiny crocodile. Burgatt and Urvein had released their energy, preparing to launch the earth skywards. Kyran let the void lightning course through him. Absorbent lightning seemed appropriate for the occasion. The approaching figure was not slowing down. Kyran extended his field to a distance of a hundred meters. “My turn first.” He said to Zhang, who nodded. If this was a Thau approaching there would be dire consequences for daring to attack the city. The master of the city would not permit them to leave unless they made their exit in a body bag.
Kyran extended his void field to the edge of his empathic field. In his pathways, tiny voids of his own began to form. He had been practicing every day, experimenting with the number and capacity of the voids. He had finally figured out how to connect them into a network just last night. He knew that he wouldn’t lose to most Sovereign Class Arbiters in combat now. The object came into contact with his field. A bolt of lightning sucked away it’s momentum instantly, bringing it almost to an abrupt halt. It’s descent was controlled only by gravity now. “Hold your fire!” he screamed out immediately. He knew the energy signature of the figure ahead. He also knew that by now the others could clearly see the person ahead.
The figure landed on both legs, carrying on it's head a long tray. The first layer of the tray was made entirely out of ice. The second was a layer of earth, a barrier between the cold and the bodies that were piled on the tray. With a last herculean effort, the man set the tray down on the lawn. Tenya wasted no time in rushing to their aid. Advika sent out a distress call to the healers’ barracks. A swarm of them ran for the tray. Zhang Zeiss steadied the battered figure and let him slowly sink to the ground. His injuries were terrible; he was missing a palm and his clothes were tattered, revealing burnt skin below. Rayla screamed and looked away, throwing herself into Sven’s chest.
“How…how could this …..this isn’t happening.” Zhang muttered in horror. He recognized most of the bodies that were now being spread out onto the lawn by frantic healers. Kyran sat limply on the lawn. Inga put her arms around him from behind, stroking his hair as her tears fell onto him. Enola was as lifeless as a statue, once again in denial about what she was looking at. The figure in Zhang’s arms stirred, and spoke in a parched voice.
“I finished it at last. Got the traffickers. Human traffickers. Arbiter kids. Verkains. Portalled to Walchia. Heard about the troupe. Thought I should join it. Reached too late. Destroyed. Decimated. They were too strong. We thought they were two. But he was there. Eruption. I got as many as I could. Most of them died on the way here. Dust was still conscious enough to provide cover which is why I even made it here with them.” The man paused, trying to cough out phlegm that had already been evaporated from his body. His hydration was dangerously low. Zhang Zeiss was bent over, broken in a way that none other than Tenya had ever seen. “They didn’t have the marker. It’s elsewhere. It wasn’t with them.” With these last words Bevroren Livingston lost consciousness in the arms of his Duke.
The healers had separated the dead from the living, of whom there were only four. Twenty-three dead bodies lay side by side on the lawn. Some of the healers still poured their energy into them in the vain hope of resurrection. Tenya was not of a mind to stop them. There was nothing she could do except try to save the four still living. She placed one hand on the chest of the Dust Arbiter and the other on the chest of the Displacement Arbiter. Two Judgement Class Arbiters were clinging on for dear life, depending on her to keep them alive. One of the portals in the distance sprang to life. Healers from Unmei poured out, followed by the Millennium Arbiter himself. They crowded around her, laying hands on other parts of their bodies as they frantically pumped healing energy into them.
Kyran slumped over Knovkin’s body. He was glad that he couldn’t see what had become of his mentor. A traumatized Inga shrieked and buried her face behind his back as she hurled all over his uniform. Rayla still clung to Sven, unable to approach either her father or Sengira. A Shadow following the Millennium Arbiter had taken the Sovereign from Zhang’s arms and was treating the Livingston Viscount. The Millennium Arbiter placed a hand on Zhang’s shoulder. The old man let him rise to his feet and embraced him. That was the first time anyone, again with the exception of Tenya had ever heard him weep. For around Knovkin were arrayed the bodies of his Corpsmen. Amaranth Song, Chavez, Veldin, Shirley and their vice-captains were all taken from him. Rivas was barely clinging onto life, still clutching his shield with his left hand. Remarkably he seemed intact physically, but a strange energy course through him.
Inga tried to face the body of her dead captain, who was in a better state than Knovkin. A single wound showed where she had been skewered through the chest with a glaive. Cellis blood curdling scream brought fresh tears to her eyes as the captain ran up to her and dissolved into hysterics beside his oldest friend’s corpse. The last survivor who had made it was a child. Judging by the child’s dusky complexion she was from Baran. The group had only managed to rescue the one child. Inga could only imagine what had happened to the rest. Sven and Advika had slowly escorted Rayla to Sengira’s body. Enola was weeping freely besides what had been her new friend. It was past the twelfth chime now. Sengira had returned home for her birthday. But she would not get to enjoy the day that Rayla had so lovingly planned out for her.
The group did not return home that night. Burgatt called Leslie and informed her about what had happened. Urvein summoned Vanya Livingston to the Manor. Her family needed her. Rayla and Vanya spent the night in the infirmary. In the face of her husband’s hideous injuries her money and comfort mattered not to her. Vanya Livingston sat down on the grimy floors of the infirmary in clothes that were worth more than the entire ward. She knew that the general populace thought of her as the woman who married for status, but that was not true. Her family was her greatest treasure. She had understood why Bevroren had decided to take their child away. She had been raised in an extravagant household with conservative elitist views. Those were habits that were very hard to shake. She did not want her daughter to turn out like she had and knew that Bevroren was right. Unknown to Rayla, her father had visited Vanya every alternate day. This year long mission of his had been the greatest duration of time that they had ever spent apart.
Kyran hadn’t moved all night. The encasers had come to begin their work on the corpses, and Kyran waited with them. Inga was asleep on his lap. She had expressed her grief until she had completely exhausted herself and passed out. Families of the deceased had arrived later into the night. The estate grounds had now been turned into a space for mourning. Burgatt had led Sahis, Urvein and Advika away from the area. They had spent the night contacting families of the deceased. This was a job normally reserved for a captain or vice-captain. Now that they were the victims it was up to the Successors and the comms arbiters to intimate their next of kin about their tragic demise. Zhang Zeiss had been absent for the entire night. The Millennium Arbiter was in charge now, and his shadows flitted about the Manor establishing contact with Walchia and Baran.
The sun was almost at it’s peak when the Millennium Arbiter’s presence moved towards Kyran and Inga. The Baron gently shook Inga awake. She didn’t rise to greet him, neither did Kyran. Just rolled over to face him, head still on Kyran’s lap. The Millennium Arbiter was a man who commanded respect unlike any other. Though he was old and had lost most of his greying hair, his medium built figure had the muscular integrity and graceful movements similar to Zhang Zeiss. He wore the enhancer uniform, and even that seemed elevated by the sheer magnitude of his presence. Being able to resist the charm of Advorel’s oldest and most powerful Arbiter was a testament to both their strength of will and the depth of their grief. He understood. He had seen the war between the Gods with his own eyes. He had seen carnage beyond their wildest dreams. And it pained him to see two promising Arbiters down in the mud, numb and bereft of hope.
He put an arm on Kyran’s shoulder. “I am beyond sorry for the loss of both your brothers Baron Tempest. And for the loss of your new mentor as well, Captain Lim. But you’ve been out here for almost twelve hours, unmoving. Seeking out Knovkin’s presence and finding only……a void. Come inside. Have brunch with us. A brunch that also doubles as an emergency meeting. There will be no recording. I have things to share.” He eased Kyran to his feet slowly. Kyran clasped Inga’s hand with one of his and pulled her to her feet too. They walked back hand in hand alongside the mightiest of their order, their Supreme Commander, as if he was no greater than Magnus or Sahis.
Cellis had reserved two seats for the couple between him and Rayla. Martin sat on his other side. Zhang Zeiss did not chair today’s meeting. He sat on the Millennium Arbiter’s right, while a badly beaten Dust Arbiter sat on his left. On the opposite end of the table sat the Displacement Arbiter, his state even worse than his comrades. Rivas sat on his left. The heroic figure from outside the Wall was no more. A bent, torpid figure that resembled him was all that was left. Captain Martin sat on his right, fuming that he didn’t get to do down fighting like the rest. For a time, the group munched in silence. Enola and Sven sat between Burgatt and Urvein, terrified at being in the presence of four Judgement Class Arbiters. After everyone was done eating what their meagre appetites allowed them to, the Millennium Arbiter cleared his throat. Meckler had appeared in a corner of the dining room with his notepad.
“Yesterday night a cataclysm of unexpected proportions took place. Captain Class Arbiters of three cities most threatened by the Thau were taken out during the mission. Rivas shall enlighten us about the proceedings as he was able to bear the most witness to yesterday’s events.” As expected, the old man got straight to the point. Beating around the bush was not something he believed in.
Rivas tried his best to straighten himself. Kyran felt the Head of the Zeiss direct his gaze at him. He was more alarmed about the current state of Knovkin’s friend than any others present. He was the only empath there, and though he could not see the physical deterioration, the degradation of Rivas mental state was clearer to him than it was to the Millennium Arbiter. This was a man caught between numbing grief and burning hatred for the Eruption Arbiter. A man just like him.
“After forming up at Walchian border we sent two enhancers with age manipulation capabilities to the drop off point that the Baran guard beat out of the abductors they captured. They were picked up by Talersians. We followed. We tracked them to a base bordering the Desert. We formed up and went in. The Displacement Arbiter located the two Thau and he and the Dust Arbiter engaged them in combat. Things were proceeding smoothly. We located the children and were on our way out. The Judgement Class Arbiters had overwhelmed the Thau. They were on the ropes. And then he arrived. Eruption.” Rivas’ voice began to crack.
“He was here too. In a different base. The marker wasn’t with the Thau. It’s with him, at his base. We would never have got our hands on it simply because it wasn’t where we were. Location unknown. They called for him. He came. He entered through an entrance we hadn’t mapped out and went for the Displacement Arbiter, blasting him away and knocking him out. Shirley and some of the Walchian Captains leapt into the fray to assist the Dust Arbiter. The Eruption Arbiter didn’t let that happen. He injected his energy into her dust and damn near blew up the whole base. Most of the Walchian captains died in the explosion. Shirley got the injured Dust Arbiter and tried to escape, but Glaive ran her through. The Baran captains stepped in to beat him back. He hadn’t fully recovered from Zhang’s beating and the Dust Arbiter had dealt heavy damage. He slunk away and let the Vacuum Arbiter pulverise them instead.”
We tried to escape, taking the Dust Arbiter and as many bodies as we could, but Eruption cornered us. Chavez and Veldin didn’t even get a chance to react. We had two Judgement Class Arbiters with us, one badly injured and the other barely conscious. It was then that Bevroren arrived and caught Eruption by surprise. The few seconds of delay that he managed to buy for us let us save one single kid. Just one. Eruption recovered and annihilated the rest. I was helpless. He blew up my energy and almost blew me up with my shield when Knovkin and Sengira stepped in.
Knovkin looked at my prone form with the eyes of a man who could see the future and saw nothing but his own death. Sengira sacrificed herself to let him get in one good blow, just one, for Kaden. I watched my best friend die in front of me knowing his brother was waiting for him at home. All my other friends too. The Dust Arbiter stirred for a moment then, and let Bevroren retrieve their bodies and a few that were nearby. He charged away with Eruption chasing, tanking a couple of hits on the way here. I passed out in sight of the city. The Dust Arbiter slipped into unconsciousness just before I did. I woke up today looking up at the infirmary roof.”
Rivas almost keeled over as he finished his report. The strange energy emanating from him became stronger. Burgatt leaned sideways and held him straight. “There is no shame in you surviving Rivas. The city still needs you.” Rivas looked at Burgatt with watery eyes and tried to acknowledge that statement, but failed to even move his head a tiny bit. The Millennium Arbiter gave them a moment of silence. No one wept. They had exhausted their store of tears the previous day. The atmosphere was grimmer than they had thought possible. The Millennium Arbiter resumed his announcements.
“There is nothing more to discuss. Our enemies are close to achieving their goal. We have been driven back. We don’t know when they will strike, or where. For now, all I can do is inform you that Knovkin and Sengira left behind wills. Their unlocked phones contain recorded voice messages. They also confirmed that Rayla Livingston and Kyran Tempest are now of a caliber worthy of being their successors and that they had nothing left to teach you. From this day forth, you two are Sovereign Class Arbiters. This concludes today’s brunch. Go, and grieve as you wish.” The Supreme Commander passed on two phones to Rayla and Kyran. Zhang Zeiss did not look up at them. He had not looked up at all. Neither had Tenya. Without any more words the group from Tempest House got up to leave. They walked out of the Manor, hurrying towards home, a safe space. Rayla went with them, not wanting to break down in view of her parents. They walked silently through the streets. Even the tantalizing aromas of Mavro’s bakery fell flat in the face of their disinterest. Leslie had taken the kids to a theme park for the day. They didn’t need to see the dark cloud approaching the House.
The group spread out. Inga, Burgatt, Sven and Kyran went straight to the bedroom. The rest of them took over the living room to play Rayla’s message. With trembling hands, Inga switched on Knovkin’s phone. She opened his voice recorder and saw the file named ‘Last message' right at the top. She glanced over at Burgatt, seeking reassurance from her older friend. Burgatt’s expression was firm and determined. So was Kyran’s. Inga glanced over at Sven, took a deep breath, and tapped on play.
“Sengira thinks it’s a good idea for us to leave these voice messages behind for you. I don’t really know about that. It’s awkward making this, entering the mindset of a ghost trying to imagine what I’d want to say to you from the afterlife. And to be truthful I can’t think of anything. Because I’ve said everything there is to say. You’re like my brother Kyran. I love you and I loved Kaden. I’m proud of the men you became. I guess I would regret not being at your wedding. Not seeing you two finally tying the knot with twenty-seven kids watching. Not watching you become a Judgement Class Arbiter. I believe you can do it. Your powers were too strong for you as a child. If you could have withstood that energy back then I think you would have already reached that level. So don’t think of your achievements as something unearned. Just something long overdue. Hopefully by the time I get back I’ll have proved my worth to the city too. I’ll see you when I see you Kyran.”
“I have decided to leave this voice message in the event of an untimely death on my part. Rayla Livingston, Enola Chau, it has been my greatest pleasure to get the opportunity to know you two. Enola, I have not had the chance to spend much time with you, but I truly believe that you are a wonderful young woman whose progress I would have loved to track. And Rayla. I’m so, so proud of you. I am not prone to verbose showers of affection as you know. And you deserved a lot more of those from me. I believe that you have already surpassed me. It is the great joy of a master to witness their student overcome them and blaze their own path forward. I only wish I could have seen it. Lots of love. Sengira Tundra.”
Rayla leaned back into the sofa corner, too drained to even express herself. Enola paced up and down the room trying to dissipate her nervous energy. Kyran and the rest came downstairs and silently took their seats. The pall of gloom refused to pass. At some point of time Advika had turned on the TV. The news channels were digging out information related to the pasts of the fallen Arbiters, forming summarized biographies portraying them as Martyrs who gave up their lives for the alliance. The people in the room didn’t care. Posthumously awarding one the status of national hero wasn’t going to revive the dead. That was a feat that only the Necromancer God would be capable of. Yet even if they used the missing marker to call him down, there would still be no point. Gods were not allowed to interfere in the lives of mortals.
The day passed and night came. None of the arbiters in the room ate anything. Leslie had left them all water bottles that they had now drained. The kids would return home soon. They would be ushered into Kaden’s Shelter with the excuse that the adults had work. Leslie had agreed with Urvein’s judgement that the children shouldn’t yet be told about the demise of the friendly older Arbiters who visited them every weekend. Their savings had been left in the name of Tempest House, where they could contribute to the good that Kyran intended to do for society. Compensation would be paid to Knovkin’s sister Shellia and Sengira’s cousins in Paloria. At the moment Kyran didn’t feel like doing anything good for the world. Right now, all he wanted to do was burn it to the ground. And his empathy told him that everyone here would join him.
In the city of Unmei, great metropolis of Advorel, capital of the alliance, home of the Millenium Arbiter, was located the building known as the Warp Zone. This building was a large domed structure that housed all the computers and technicians required for the maintenance of Warp Gates around Relondir. This was the central point of that vast network linking all of the great cities to each other. And at it’s center stood a figure in a white cloak that disguised white armor streaked with brown and red; traces of last night’s fight. The technicians in the building were already done for. Two space ripper Talersians and a Gorex stood beside him. They had sneakily entered the heart of the city that was now devoid of it’s greatest protector. There was still a sizeable contingent of arbiters here, greater than those of any other city, which was the only reason why the Eruption Arbiter hadn’t cleansed it outright. They had made short work of this buildings occupants, taking out the best operators in the alliance within the span of a peal. They were peak efficiency, he thought to himself. His father’s race were betrayers, undeserving of the lease on life their gods had won for them. His father was an exception, a man from a village in Querqa who fell in love with a Thau woman. And when they were found by the Rockfist Arbiter, they were executed. The Rockfist Arbiter would have thought that he was too young to understand. To remember. But he forgot that he was half Thau. The Thau did not forget.
He reached forward for the central console and injected his energy into it. The space rippers tore open a hole in the fabric of reality behind them. The Gorex leapt into it. One of the Talersians was next. The second waited to his leader; he would have to be last in so that he could reseal the space between them and the blast. For a long tick he watched his master inject his energy into the surroundings. Then the white cloaked figure turned around. “Let’s go.” The Talersian felt the first wave of heat rush towards them as he sealed the space behind him. He could only imagine the havoc it had caused in the capital just now. The havoc that the loss of the portals would cause all around the continent. The time had come for the God-Beast to go wild.
A knock at the door stirred the household out of its grief induced coma. Burgatt lifted himself out of the armchair and dragged his feet over to the door. To his surprise there were three people standing outside that none of them had expected to see. “May we come in?” Captain Cellis asked. There was a gleam in the captain’s eyes, similar to that of a gambler with one last plan to win it all back . Behind him stood the Displacement Arbiter Uraya Dayav, hero of Walchia, newest Judgement Class Arbiter. The third person at the door was none other than Meckler, Zhang’s favored historian. The expressions on their faces were hopeful, seeming almost like a mockery or denial of all the grief they had collectively faced. Burgatt stepped aside and motioned for them to enter. Heads turned slowly to face the newcomers. Kyran’s mind went to war with itself as the optimism and determination radiating from Uraya clashed with his own internal numbness.
Meckler regarded them solemnly before he began. “You have, all of you, been faced with overwhelming sorrow. I can see the lifelessness in your gazes, the sluggishness with which you move. The portal system is down. The Millennium Arbiter has returned to Unmei. In another half a chime or so the news will report about the explosion of the Warp Zone. Rebuilding circuitry that complex will take weeks of expert attention. This was done for a reason. A deliberate reason. To cut us off, to ensure the isolation of each city. Only Judgement Class Arbiters, lightning and light arbiters would be able to react in the event of a disaster. The advent of the God-Beast will happen tomorrow. There is no doubt about that. The target will be Baran. The Glaive Thau will lose all semblance of control once he morphs into the God-Beast. The closest target from their base is the city of Baran. There is no time to evacuate the city. No time to get people out. The Judgment Class Arbiters will go to their deaths tomorrow.”
An enraged Rayla leaped to her feet. “ Stop it, just please stop. Why are you telling us that the world is going to end on a day where it feels like it already has! Can’t you even let us process our grief for one damn day before you haul us off to meetings and tell us that we’re promoted because our predecessors are dead! Just leave us alone please. If the world is ending then let us be with each other on its last day.” Rayla slumped back into her seat. Advika let her friend lean on her shoulder.
Meckler stopped in his tracks, unsure of how to continue. All the faces in the room, even Kyran’s looked at him as if imploring them to leave this house and let them die in peace. All but one. “No, Rayla. We’re Arbiters. We never get as much time as we need to process things. In our line of work people keep dying. And they will keep on dying till we ourselves meet that fate. But we have to push on. Everyone who died did so to save other people from meeting the same fate. So did Sengira. So did Knovkin, Shirley, Chavez , Veldin and the others. It’s us who have been entrusted with completing that mission. That’s what Sengira has taught me. I’m sure that’s what she taught you too. And if a Judgement Class Arbiter is here, radiating optimism despite being battered down, it means there’s hope. And it means that they need us to translate that hope of survival into reality. I want to hear them out.” Enola’s sudden speech surprised all of them immensely. Out of all those present here, she and Advika were the least combat oriented.
Meckler seized the opportunity to resume his talk. “There is still one thing that can save us. The marker. The conduit that allows man to summon a God. And they have it. They’ll use it to try and kill the Goddess of Providence. We can’t let that happen. We need to retrieve the marker. The problem is that we had no idea of its whereabouts.” “Until now.” Uraya had begun speaking. His green uniform had been mended overnight, and it coupled with his optimistic tone and charm to inject a little bit of life into the listless group. “Today morning I received a text message from a random number. It read ‘Marker. Mount Drygent. Western face. Two hundred meters. Eruption Arbiter’s base. Heavily guarded. Talersians plan to retreat at the fifth chime, morning. Attack at the sixth. Skeleton crew. Steal the marker. Make it out of there. Signed. KaKy.’ I know for a fact that this message is trustworthy. I received a similar message giving me information about the abductors in Baran that helped the Dust Arbiter catch them. And I know that sign. It stands for Kaden and Kyran. This is a message from your mother Kyran.”
Kyran bolted upright, prompting everyone else in the room to stand up. “Why…after all these years, after leaving us behind, besmirching our names…why would she do this?”
“To avenge her son is my guess.”
“How do we know that she’s not trying to kill another?”
“We don’t. But we’re all going to die tomorrow regardless. If there’s a chance, we should take it. We can’t ignore something like this. You can’t ignore something like this Baron Tempest. It’s not in your nature.”
“My nature right now is telling me that I need to hit something, and hit it really hard. Pulverise it.”
“And isn’t the man who killed both your brothers the perfect target? This is a suicide mission I’m asking you to go on. It’s the Eruption Arbiter who’s defending that marker personally. It’s his face you’ll have to punch to get it.”
Kyran’s anger began to fade away. Rayla felt hers seep away too.This was what Knovkin and Sengira had given their lives for. This mission. Enola was right. It was up to their successors to end it. “Kyran. I think we should do this. I don’t think we have any other choice. And I think Enola spoke true. It’s our duty.”
“I don’t care about duty anymore. I have been suppressing my grief, my anger, for over nine months. I have been doing my duty. This time it’s not duty that calls. This time, it’s revenge. And I will have it.” The vehemence in the kind Baron’s voice made all except Uraya and Inga take a step back. The man in front of them was no longer one trying to make the world a better place for their people. No, this was that man’s dark side. This was the part of him that needed closure and would only find it over the Eruption Arbiter’s grave. Inga had known of this side of Kyran, and she felt the same. She wasn’t nearly as close to Shirley as Rayla and Kyran had been to their mentors, but she had suffered too. And she knew who would pay. Burgatt Wedge had seen most of his comrades fall in the attack on Colony 29-G. Now, he would avenge them. Sahis Bredd and Urvein Wedge had watched their friends go through so much trauma. Today they would help them find peace. Advika had lost many of her friends in the attack on the Colony. She had seen suffering in the refugee camp. She had seen the toll it had taken on everyone involved, on her friends. She would not let that happen again. Sven had always been on the outside of things. And then Magnus found him and he lost Magnus. And Delilah. And his family. Today he had seen his captain’s corpse. He had seen grief from figures he had never expected to meet in his entire life. He would make sure that they didn’t have to mourn tomorrow.
Kyran felt all of their emotions. He let them swirl through him. “What’s our play here Uraya? We’re in.”
Uraya Dayav beamed at the grim personages ahead of him. He had found the only people he could trust with this mission. And they had risen somehow out of their sorrow. Vengeance and necessity drove them. “Cellis here will accompany you on the mission. His abilities will be mildly useful in combat since he hasn’t recovered completely. The portals are down so you can warp to New Xareis and travel the rest of the way there. But I’ve got something better. There’s a village near New Xareis. Just a little farther away than the city itself. I’ve left a “marker” of my own there. It’s actually pretty tiny.The size of a cobweb. It’s enough enough for me to displace your lot and deposit you there in its stead though. It’s actually enough for me to transport Zeiss itself there. Book rooms at the local inn. Use my card. Lie low there till the fifth chime and then head for Drygent. We don’t know when the Glaive will strike, but it won’t be much later. It’s up to you to get hold of that marker before they can use it to summon the Goddess. Summon Eon Slayer instead. The God of Blood and Slaughter. He’s done this before. He’ll know what to do. He’s our only hope.”
“I’d like to meet this God in person.” Kyran replied. “To have so fearsome a reputation, I wonder what he’s like. We’ll do it. Any complaints you lot?” Kyran felt uncertainty rise in Advika’s mind. “I don’t think you’ll want to take me along. Enola can do what I do. She and Sahis will work fine. I tend to cause trouble for you. I’m not sure if I’d be a hindrance more than a helper”
“Nonsense Advika!” Inga replied. “Sure, Enola can do what you do, but that isn’t why we need you with us. You’re one of us. You’re our leader. Cellis isn’t in any position to command right now. You and Urvein are our core and our logic. But Urvein can’t command us during a fight, he’s too busy trying not to die. No Advika, we need you.” Inga had always been the master of offering olive branches; this was her best attempt yet. Advika’s self-esteem shot up in that moment. Kyran was pleased to see this development. Their group was mending. They were heading into what might be the last day of their lives. It was good that they were doing it together.
“One last thing. The marker, it’s a cylinder. Painted red. It should be about ten inches long. The illustrations I uncovered showed that it has a clip that allows it to be attached at the waist. It will probably be hanging from his belt.” Meckler gave the group one last message before Uraya teleported them away. They were standing in the open grassland outside the wall. The night breeze tugged on Kyran’s messy hair, brushing against all of their faces as if bidding them goodbye. “I would come with you to take that cursed man out myself, if I was not scheduled for a checkup with Tenya. There are Shadows here. If they blow the alarm that either I or Zhang, the two Arbiters supposed to sit out tomorrow’s battle, have gone missing….that would over complicate things. Godspeed my arrows of fate. When I next see you I hope that it is in triumph and not despair.”
Zhang Zeiss watched from the Wall as the Tempest Group were displaced by a large rock. Beside him, Tenya and Rivas were lost in thought. Tomorrow would come. It was already half past the eight chime. In less than twelve hours the fate of the alliance would be decided. They did not intend to sit this one out. “How battle ready do you think I’ll be by the time the attack commences tomorrow Tenya?”. He asked. “You? 75% capacity. Uraya, maybe 60%. His injuries were much more serious than the Dust Arbiter’s. She was already at 80% when she left with the old man.” “It’ll have to be enough then.” Zhang Zeiss turned to face the direction of Baran. “This mission better succeed.”
YOU ARE READING
Tempest: Legacy
FantasyTwenty one year old Kyran is used to living his life on the edge of society, his powers too insubstantial to be deemed valuable. When his dying brother frees up his true potential Kyran must decide how to utilize his newfound powers and inheritance...
