Sword of Stars

Chapter Forty Four. A Long Journey.

Garek fell to his knees and wept. Khaos was dead. But at what cost? Most of his friends had died in this struggle and he couldn't decide whether it was worth it. Ahallan. Ryn. Dyn. Aeryn... No, it wasn't worth it. He looked over at Jon's body. He didn't know how to check if a cyborg was still alive or if he could be revived. His reserve of hope dwindled.

Dezolzen's body lay lifeless on the ground, a sentiment to the evil man's final sacrifice. A sacrifice for good and possibly the only good deed the man had ever done, and it had cost him his life.

The rain began to fall, slipping through the holes in the ceiling and spitting against Garek's face. A rush of sadness and loneliness burst into his chest and he grimaced with pain. Suddenly Garek had a strange feeling as if someone was looking at him.

"Garek."

He looked up to see Cecil standing before him. He body was pale and partly see through.

"Cecil? Wha...." He couldn't finish his sentence in his shock. "Are you dead too?"

Cecil chuckled sadly. "Not yet my friend, but soon. I need something from you first."

"No. I've already lost too many friends and I won't lose you of all people." Garek couldn't help the tears from rolling down his dirty cheeks.  "I won't!" His voice cracked.

"Garek," Cecil looked to the sky. "I never told you this but when a Caster's hair turns white it means he is about to die. Whether it's in a few minutes or a few days nobody knows for sure but it still signifies that it's near. It gives us time to accept and reflect on our lives before the end. I have accepted my fate Garek and so should you."

"Bastard..." Garek breathed.

"I would apologise but now I realise that with my death I can destroy the Greater Evil once and for all. I'd gladly pay that price or any price that was required."

"I wouldn't..." Silent tears still streamed down Garek's face.

Cecil crouched down to Garek's level. "You would make the right decision Garek, I know you." His warm smile caught on and Garek couldn't help but smile back.

Garek sniffed a sob back. "Cess, I..."

"I know, my boy."

"Shut up and let me say it." Garek wiped away his tears on his arm. "I love you."

"I love you too Garek. Like the son I never had." Garek felt the old man's ethereal fingers squeeze his shoulders. His tears made his vision watery once more and he felt his lip tremble. He swallowed and held back a sob.

"It has been a long and bloody struggle and soon it will be over. Then you can rest." Cecil whispered.

Garek nodded and sniffed, eyes on the floor in front of him. "Aeryn, she-" his voice became shaky so he stopped.

"I should have listened to you Garek. You knew something was wrong with her but I refused to listen." Cecil shook his head and his eyes brimmed with tears.

"Stars, I loved her Cess. And that whole time she was dead!" Garek pounded a fist on the hard floor, splashing in a puddle of rainwater. "I wish I could bring Khaos back so that I could slay her again, and again, and again..."

The silence stretched and Cecil didn't say a word. He only looked at Garek with a heavy look of empathy.

"There's not much time left." Cecil stood and turned his back. "The sword is the key Garek. It's the final piece of the forbidden spell."

"Why the sword?" Garek asked.

"The old Casters created a failsafe for the spell just in case. It can only be used in conjunction with the Sword of Stars otherwise the spell would simple fizzle and die. The sword will unlock the final Heterochromatic power and allow me to destroy the Greater Evil forever."

"He's right you know."

Garek spun to see another ghostly image standing next to the sword. It was the old hero, Rilik.

"How..." Garek started.

"I died here and somehow it has allowed me to appear like this, instead of just in your dreams," Rilik said as he glanced around at the dark walls.

"Hmm, the spirit of the sword certainly wasn't anticipated." Cecil frowned, bushy eyebrows bunching.

Rilik grinned. "It'll make things easier for you, old man. Though I warn you, both our souls will be lost in the chaos of what needs to be done. Something that should have been done during my time..."

"It is nothing. In terms of the universe, time has passed barely a second. I wish you could see it Garek, planets and people spread out among the stars, some just like us and some changed by harsh environments and culture and some only just finding their feet in life." Cecil said as he looked to the stars.

"Yeah..." All Garek wanted to see was Aeryn's smiling face. It was burned into his memory and would never leave him. "Can't you stay a little longer Cess?"

"We don't have much time and it'll take a while to cross the cosmos to the centre of the galaxy." Cecil spun with his arms to the skies. "It will be many years yet before the Greater Evil is dead. You will see it when it happens Garek."

"Wont the Greater Evil break free in that time?" Garek asked.

"The last remaining seal should be enough to hold him for a little longer," Rilik said. "As long as nothing happens to it of course. With Khaos gone and the Shadowed Ones defeated, it should be safe from all harm."

Garek nodded solemnly. Was the sacrifice worth it?

"It's time." Cecil picked up the Sword of Stars in his faded hands. He rubbed at the blade lovingly, looking upon it like a lover. "I can feel it... the power..."

"Glorious, is it not?" Rilik smiled as he approached the old man. "You know what to do?"

Cecil nodded. "Stand in front of me."

Rilik obeyed and stood facing him.

"Now raise your arms to the sword." Cecil let go of the blade and it floated in the air between the two men, spinning slowly. A pulsating light radiated from its core, enveloping the two men, growing larger with each pulse.

A soft hum filled the throne room, making Garek's brain rattle lightly in his skull. It tickled a little.

Cecil turned to Garek, a sad but accepting look on his weathered face. Garek had never seen him look this aged. "Garek..." He hesitated. "I won't say anything romanticised like we'll meet again so... Goodbye my friend."

"Cecil..." Garek croaked. Before he could finish the light expanded and the two faint figures were gone along with the sword. The ball radiated then slowly lifted upwards and out of the large hole in the castle ceiling.

Garek gazed up as the ball made its way into the sky and disappeared behind thick and dark rain clouds. Rain pelted his face but he stood non-caring. "See you, old man..."