The Myth - The Fading Eden

Chapter 6

The crack of the breaking sky rang above their heads. A flash briefly illuminated the defensive walls of the Academy and the battle-ready Guardians. Emir squinted and moved his head, trying to loosen the stiff material of his collar. The leather insert sewn into it covered the pulsating spots of Power on his neck and was a new, though still underdeveloped, tactic for surprising the enemy, being tested only on the Guardians. He was sure that someone from the Silk District had to have worked hard to convince Master Kadis of their idea. Of course, for a handsome reward.

For the hundredth time, he checked the laser telescope and the long-range sight. He adjusted his grip on the slender, matte black bow, keeping his gaze fixed on the damaged Shield. Even from the lowest Academy of Guardians in the entire Kingdom, he could see several black fissures where the protective barrier had torn. The spots slowly grew before his eyes, amid the flashes of distant explosions. Up there, the first skirmish of the Inquisitors was already taking place. The strongest and most experienced were on the front line. Blue fumes from exploding projectiles burned the lungs of the attacking demons. The Venomwalkers pressed against the Kingdom like a clenched fist. Thousands of wings scattered, neutralizing the destructive Power gas, inevitably approaching the first buildings.

"Keep your cool!" Lord Vikory shouted in a strong voice. "The drills are no different from what you're facing today. You've been through this before. Even your own deaths." He continued, stopping just below the balcony where Emir stood. "You know what it looks like. You know what to expect. But you also know who you're sacrificing for. The Queen is counting on you. She granted you the gift, trusting that in moments like this, you would use your training time, skills, and knowledge to defend her!"

Emir stood with slightly bent legs. He rested his chin comfortably on the support and looked through the scope. He could see them much more clearly now. Winged demons with gaping maws swirled in a black mass, thirsting for bloodshed. Among them, golden orbs of formless beasts fell swiftly, trailing fiery tails.

"Look who we have here," Emir murmured to himself. "The Venomwalker and Devilkin. It's not that bad."

He turned the shield with his left hand, aligning the sight with the nearest targets. In his mind, he counted his available weapons. Twenty explosive arrows and two full quivers behind him, against the wall. Seven serrated blades charged with pure Power on each forearm, four on his thighs, and two above his shoulder blades. At his belt, two pistols with explosive rounds. Nevertheless, the lack of the heavy sword strapped to him filled him with frustration. He had a strange feeling that someone was very keen on keeping him in one place. With the Inquisitors' deployment just days away, he still didn't appear on the list of the deserving. In open combat, he had the chance to prove himself, but standing like a log on one of the balconies, not so much.

He wanted to show what he was capable of. To prove that he could do it. He took a deep breath of the Power flowing from the Source of Being. The turbulent current stirred in his veins, sharpening his senses and dulling his sense of fear.

Pisazza exere, Pisazza berelle.

Sequrro kar ma otor, kaso ma sak opolle.

(Ready to fight, ready to defend. Awaken your strength, your time is coming.)

The held Power sang in his soul. He longed to purge the black souls of demons with blue flames. To destroy these imperfect remnants of the Universe, bringing order and clarity. Victory was near and within reach.

"Archers at the ready!" Lord Vikory shouted, raising his sword to the sky.

Sinita io siwillas mukkos, huneth sosa zhet.