Chapter 8- When I'm Gone

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"You too Cahir" announced Aestos as he watched Koa stare at the spot where one of his closest friends had been swallowed by the ground itself, sent to the bowels of the world. The marble-clad floor gave no insights, much to Cahir's dismay it would not willingly reveal its secrets.

Koa heard the muffled voice in the background, someone had said something to him but he didn't know what, didn't care. This damned mission had taken Zaria from him and worst of all, it had taken her from Duke. The intensity of Duke's rage was something Koa would not forget. A quick glance towards the exit showed the struggle that happened only moments before.

He had watched helplessly as some sort of collar was clamped around his friend's neck. His hands began to shake; Duke had not made it easy for these "Keepers" to restrain him and take him away, the blood on the door was a reminder of the broken nose he had given one of them. Koa couldn't stop thinking of his eyes, those golden brown eyes once full of warmth and life. Those eyes were gone, replaced with the eyes of the Viper, ruthlessness lurked beneath as rage soared to the surface. The roar of an earthquake was the last thing Duke had shown before being dragged away.

Koa blinked once. Twice. Slowly bringing himself back to the present, he was on a set of islands surrounded by enemies; now was not the time. He would find out what happened to Zaria and he would rescue Duke from wherever they took him. He just needed time.

"Must I repeat myself?" Mocked Aestos as he strode over to the kneeling boy.

"I would appreciate it, my mind was elsewhere," said Koa as he got to his feet and looked the director in his emerald eyes.

Aestos tapped his cane against the ground, scrapping it over where Zaria once stood. "You surprise me Cahir, one would think a member of Kelra would be more discreet," A slam of the cane followed his voice.

Koa laughed, almost doubling over in the humor of it. "Please, I'm from Kelra but I'm not a part of the Sovereigns army," His face tensed and his eyes narrowed. "I'm just a man who happens to have a conscience,"

"Hm, we shall see how long that conscience of yours will stay clean," Stated Aestos as he walked towards the arched doorway. "Oh and Cahir, next time one of your pathetic friends loses, try to enjoy yourself. After all, their failure is your gain," Aestos smiled at Koa as he stood under the arch. With a snap of his fingers, Aestos and his unnerving smile vanished into the air.

Koa held his tongue, he would not fall for the director's taunts. Yes, his friends losing would propel him higher but his number of allies would fall, besides he didn't wish to see his friends suffer. As he got up, he thought back to his first memory of Zaria, at the Nervaxon Academy.

She was a second-year back then, she would go out of her way to interact with the kids who sat alone. Whether it was out of kindness or pity, Koa didn't know nor did he want to. He had been one of those kids who sat alone at mess, making friends had never been his strong suit. When she had walked towards him, his only thought was that this must be a daughter of Niren, the goddess of beauty and fertility.

Zaria had been stunning, his eyes had been drawn to her from the moment he saw her. She had a slim figure with a protruding bust. Her hair, although not very long, matched the color of the night, a blur of darkness and amethyst adorned her head. Brown eyes, just like Duke. Koa smiled at the memory, it was no wonder those two ended up together.

But that was then, and this is now. It would do him no good to dwell on the past. For him to achieve his spot on the court, he would have to push past his emotions. Although his emotions controlled him more than he controlled them, he swore that this time, it would be different.

As he got up, he wiped his eyes and started down the path he saw the other competitors go down. His eyes darted around the area surrounding him as he walked, suddenly it made sense why this place had its horror tales. It was like an entirely different realm after night had fell.

The moon's light was all but nonexistent as it rested right behind the peak of the mountains, bathing the land below in darkness. No stars penetrated the shadow; the only light that remained was the lanterns strung up along the path.

Approaching the entrance to the competitor's quarters, an outline of a person rested right within the threshold. Koa instinctively went for his sword only to stop as he walked into the light and saw the woman standing in front of him.

Time seemed to slow for Koa, it was as if his mind was in a haze. His eyes were drawn to her immediately upon seeing her perfect silvery hair with dashes of lavender thrown about. Her violet eyes met his and he couldn't help but exhale as he took in the rest of her.

Koa hadn't been around a lot of beautiful women, sure there was the occasional pretty girl he'd seen, but they were nothing to her. Even Zaria would have had a hard time comparing to her; if she had been a daughter of Niren, then this woman must have been Niren herself.

Koa tried to choke out the words "hi there" but by the time he got them out, the violet-eyed woman was gone.

One of the keepers approached him and led him to his room while strongly demanding that he not leave his room until the first bell was rung. Koa had no problem with this, it had been an incredibly stressful day. He thanked the keeper and shut the door behind him. A sigh escaped his lips as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

What was Kelra thinking? Sending all of these operatives on one Ocurisoun was overkill or so he had thought at the beginning but with Zaria being taken out of the equation, things were bound to change.

Walking into the adjacent washroom, he pulled off his shirt letting the wound below breathe. His eyes looked around and found a bottle of rum left on the counter with a card attached to it. Koa thought about it for a moment and then took the bottle, drank some, then poured the rest on his cut. Whoever sent the bottle or left it, Koa was thankful to them. With a groan, he tore his shirt into a few pieces and slowly began to bandage himself.

The hit Zehpyr had gotten in on him earlier didn't hit anything major but he hadn't known the speeder was hiding a knife. With another groan, he tied the bandage off and unfurled the card.

From Director Aestos

Congratulations on making it to the second round, this should help with that slash. Enjoy your welcoming gift.

Koa cursed himself for his foolishness, he should have known that the Director sent it. The devil had offered a hand and he shook it without regard for the consequence. This director was cunning and knew more than he should. How had he known he had been slashed, there had been no one around except for him and Zehpyr? No there had been another, the hard light user, Alyatis Mericore.

Mericore had been waiting for Koa to grab a staff, as before Zehpyr intercepted him, Mericore did. Koa thought about how the Director could have seen his slash as he wasn't there when he fought Mericore either. Wait. Mericore played dirty with his illusions, Koa wouldn't put it past him to be in league with the director.

Still, that illusion Mericore had used on him should have been impossible. No one except for himself was there when Lucius died, so how was this man able to conjure up his former best friend's burning face?

No. No, he could not get sentimental again, the most likely scenario is that Kelras recon was wrong. It wouldn't have been the first time that was the case. Mericore must have some type of thought projection or fear manipulation inkanota. These powers were both a blessing and a curse. Koa's inkanota is one that greatly enhances all his physical attributes, although that is powerful, it doesn't hold a candle to someone who could shut your heart off with a thought.

With a sigh, Koa stopped pacing and layed down on the bed he was provided with. He wondered if Zaria was with Lucuis now, were they watching him? Were they at peace now? Do they know how he would have given anything to trade places with them? Being alive without them felt wrong, why should he still exist, when the brightest lights have already gone out.

Sleep didn't come easy that night.

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