Legend: Light after Darkness -Book II

Part XIII - Teacher and Protégé

Previously...

After returning Lili to Gump and her father, Oona's repentance, and Lili's forgiveness of her, convinces Gump to reverse Darkness' curse over Oona and reinstates her as fairy.

Meanwhe, as Lili and Jack reunite and come to terms with the notion of becoming parents to the unborn Empress of Fantasia, Elder-Jack, Vallon, turns an unforgiving eye onto Lili, fearful that she will again turn to Darkness as she did in his dimension.

Will Vallon find the strength to forgive her, or will his fears be realised..?

Part XIII

"Let go, boy, before I hurt you..." Vallon commands Jack, despite the dagger held to his throat.

"You are in no position to make demands..." Jack replies.

Before he can utter another word, Vallon vanishes, forcing Jack to trip forward. In a blink of an eye, Vallon reappears behind him, gently tapping Jack on the shoulder.

"I've been a sprite longer than you ever were... don't challenge me again." Vallon remarks, scolding him like an unruly child.

Jack steadies himself and turns back to face Vallon, blade still gripped in his hand, "You threaten her again, I will find a way to best you."

Vallon nods, eyes bright with a condescending smirk, "Sure, you will."

Jack attempts to again lunge for him, only for Lili to pull him away.

" Jack, don't... if we fight amongst ourselves it will only give Darkness an advantage in tearing us apart." Lili advises, wrapping her arms around him and pacifying his fury with gentle kisses upon his cheek.

" For once, we are at agreement, Princess." Vallon concurs,
" I apologise for my behaviour. Seeing you now is not... it's not easy for me." Vallon adds as Lili offers him a slight nod of acceptance.

Vallon then turns to Gump,
" Do you need me to mark any more points to triangulate the protection spell..?"

"No, it's ready. I ..." before Gump can finish his thought, a large clap of thunder breaks across the sky as dawn rises.

Beyond the horizon of the Valtorian forest, a black mass of smoke swirls up into the clouds above, slowly churning them into a menacing vortex...

Together, Gump, Vallon, Oona ,Jack and Lili stand upon the terrace, eyes wide and fearful as the great torrent of chaos turns day into night.

Gump turns to Vallon, "Vallon, stand guard...Darkness approaches."

With that, Gump claps his hands together creating a white glowing shock wave to sprawl in all directions, from the castle where he stands and throughout the land that surrounds it.

The glowing wave meets each one of Vallon's arrows, pierced upon the perimeter, from the Fydelean village to the kingdom grounds, stretching out to
The boundaries of the Valtorian forest and the dark lands surrounding the Great Tree.

"It will hold for now, but it will only be a matter of time before Darkness and his impending horde break through the shield. We must be ready by then." Gump warns.

"How long do we have?" Jack asks, holding Lili close to him, protectively.

"Days, weeks, months? I cannot be sure." Gump answers with no comfort, "I must locate the Southern Oracle before our defenses weaken. "

Gump redirects, taking Oona's hand into his, "Oona, Morla is said to inhabit the swamps of sadness, will you take me there..?"

"I fear my betrayal may give motivation for the swamp to drag you into despair. I will take you, but I should leave swiftly when we find Morla." Oona replies, cautious of the task.