Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Traitor (I)

"Do we now have to play gardener?" the barbarian protested.

"Stop grunting and throw the seeds," his mother censured him. "It's amazing how they grow!"

"Ha, ha. We can even breathe again. They expel out that hateful miasma! Since there're so many foreign warriors gathered, perhaps we could organize a tournament," his father suggested.

"That's a good idea! Who're you and what have you done with my husband?" his wife mocked.

"Ha, ha, ha. Even I, Collarbreaker, can have some good ideas," he laughed, without caring about the mockery.

They were throwing seeds on the channels through which the power of the dryads circulated. The connection had been established with the help of the half-dryads, and it linked the elven forest with the first Origin in the corrupted territory.

Through the roots, the combined power that came from the entire continent circulated. It expanded the connection continuously, and increased its capacity.

From the Origin, it was led to other Origins, to other Sources. It reinforced the connections between them, and linked the excited dryads. In addition to their power, their voices, their emotions, their joy at finding their sisters again, their grief for those they had lost were channeled.

Finally, the power had ended up reaching the Origin that Maldoa now controlled, who had brought them up to date on the situation.

Goldmi's presence hadn't been difficult to locate and, through her, the place where the miasma was accumulating.

It must be said that this accumulation had been a great surprise for dryads and allies. Throughout the Lost Forest, the density of miasma was decreasing, which made their work easier. In addition, the condensation in one place gave them a clear target.

The barbarians weren't the only ones throwing seeds. The allied army had entered enemy territory, by following the trail of the power of the dryads. As for the seeds, the half-dryads had brought them, just in case. They knew their mission, and they had prepared for it.

It was certainly a sight to see the vegetation growing so quickly as it was defying the corruption. That corruption was being weakened by the call of the miasma and the intrusion of life. There was hope.

What very few had realized was that something else was crossing the Lost Forest by following those connections.

"There he is!" one of the Northern Guardians pointed out.

They had barely left the city, and they were solemnly contemplating what lay before them. There were some who were using strange artifacts to explore the surroundings, to discover the intricacies of the battlefield. One of them had located Cahldor.

The truth is that the traitor of his people had always been near the gate, behind his army, monitoring its progress. When the gate opened and the army appeared, he hadn't been able to react.

He did, though, when a small group advanced towards him. They were using wind magic to move above the losts via a Wind Path. It's a spell similar to Goldmi's Wind Staircase, but much wider, more stable and longer lasting. Of course, that also means higher mana consumption.

Its requirements make it impossible for a single individual, but not for an army prepared for it. A squadron was holding it, while Cahildya's group traveled on it in the direction of what had been her brother. She no longer considered him as such. To her, he was a disgrace to her family, and the greatest traitor in the history of her people.

"Attack them! Attack the wind path! Move the troops against them!" he exclaimed.

The shadow then looked in the direction of the newcomers. There were many living, many to kill and corrupt. Without hesitation, it sent almost all its troops in that direction. It was more moved by the greed to take their lives than by Cahldor's orders.

As for the Wind Path, the corrupted spirit didn't care, although some losts were shooting at the living who were running on it. For it, the most important thing was to kill or corrupt as many living as it could.

However, something claimed its attention, which even surpassed its obsession with the living. Suddenly, the miasma had begun to act strangely, and had even escaped from its control. Something was calling for the miasma, and its density was noticeably lowering.

"Father?" the shadow asked itself.

Attracted by the phenomenon, it went in that direction, and ignored everything else.

"You! Shadow! Where're you going!? Come here right now!" Cahldor demanded. However, the shadow paid no attention to him.

He felt angry and frustrated. He had an army of corrupted beings, but couldn't control them. To make matters worse, his enemies were approaching.

"I have to get out of here," he told himself.

However, when trying to turn around, he realized that there was no way out. The corrupted beings that he himself had called for were returning to the gate, to face the Guardians of the North. He wasn't their enemy, so they weren't going to attack him. However, they weren't going to move aside to let him pass either.

Just a few moments before, he could have escaped with the help of the shadow, but it was no longer possible. By himself, he couldn't control the corrupted beings.

He had no choice but to wait for them to reach him in his watchtower. To the left and right, hordes of losts were heading towards battle. In front, his enemies were arriving, Cahildya among them. He also recognized the others, they were very skilled warriors.

"Sister, long time no see!" he greeted her with familiarity, while trying to hide his insecurity.

Cahldor had gained power, and he thought he was more powerful than any of them, although there are always variables that are difficult to control. Nonetheless, they weren't alone. They had come in a group, and weren't going to attack him one by one. It wasn't a duel but an execution.

"I've not had a brother for a long time. You're just an abomination, a traitor who must disappear from this world. Surrender, and it'll be quick," she offered, without taking her eyes off him.

"Sister, don't be so cold. And you, Cohjiyo, were we not classmates at the academy? Do you remember that time we went from bar to bar all night?" he continued trying to buy time.

"Are you giving up or not?" was the only response from Cohjiyo, who was looking at him coldly while wielding his huge axe.

"You're all so cold... Die!!" he exclaimed, as he launched the powerful spell he had been preparing behind his back.

It wasn't easy to face such a powerful attack suddenly, and at that distance. However, his adversaries had also been preparing their spells.

A huge explosion arose between them. It threw Cahldor back, and destroyed the spell that kept his enemies in the air. The fight had begun.