Aveyond: Rhen's Quest

Chapter 29: The Suspicions

"So, they're in the Dreamland huh," mused Ahriman. "I bet Agas will welcome them whole-heartedly."

He walked to the pedestral located in front of his throne. With a command, the crystal ball came into life and started floating in mid-air, then showing the image of Agas, having friendly chat to his visitors.

"This is going to be fun," said Ahriman to himself.

~~~

 "You!" Dameon pointed at him. "You're the one who's responsible for my mother's injuries!"

"Ohh? Well well," Agas looked at him surprisingly. "I recognize you, sun priest. Whose side are you in?"

Dameon was speechless. All eyes set on him. They were expecting him to say something but the demon broke the silence, "I always suspected your intentions. Prepare to be destroyed."

He pulled his sword and charged towards Rhen.

~~~

It all happened too fast. One second the demon pulled out his sword, and he was inches in front of Rhen the second after. The demon swung his sword but it hit Lars' staff. Swiftly, Lars pushed the demon few steps backward with his Wind Barrier spell.

"He's fast," said Lars, looking at his opponent, who poised in the battle stance, ready to deliver another blow. Without speaking Agas leaped and floated in midair.

This can't be good, Dameon thought, "Fyre Shield Extora!"

In the nick of time fireballs showered down and hit the barrier, which reflected them like light and set the temple on fire.

"We have to put out the fire!" gasped Rhen.

"I'll do it," offered Elini. She ordered her summoned wyverns who obeyed her orders and flapped their huge wings. No sooner than the fire were extinguished.

"How dare you?!" spat Dameon. "How dare you trespassing my mother's shrine?!"

"What you're going to do to me, sun priest? Bless me?" taunted Agas with a snicker, Dameon went angrier.

"You have ruined her temple and YOU will pay for it!" an unusual massive amount of mana surged within his body. With the help of his wand he channeled his power and a holy magic pentagram formed. His body radiated, then he was holding a radiant-looking bow with an arrow attached at the bowstring, which is being pulled by Dameon.

"Angel's Ray!" he let go of his hand. The arrow darted towards Agas in the speed of light and barely hit his torso. The demon winced and fell down.

"Healeo!" In a blink of an eye, his wound was healed and he was up to his feet. "Is that what you've got?"

He dashed forward, ready to stab the priest on his heart, but his sword met Rhen's Sword of Might. She gave a kick onto his abdomen, jumped backward and countered him with Trinity Fury. Agas reacted fast, "Time Storm!"

The holy crosses dissipated as they near to Agas, who protected himself with a magical barrier that absorbed the attack.

Rhen cursed. Dameon and Te'ijal did not hesitate, They pulled their bowstrings and released the arrow in synchronize. An explosion occurred upon the impact. Before Agas could recollect himself Rhen appeared in front of him, sending a big blow with the hilt of her sword onto his helmet, which left a sign of crack on it. Holding her whip, Elini grabbed the demon's foot and pulled him down. The daeva attempted to break free but then realized he was sinking in a quicksand. Lars managed to trap him in order to ready for them to deliver their final blow.

Dameon patted his shoulder, "No, let me do it."

He walked toward Agas, who struggled frantically to free himself. 'You pathetic!" he spat. "Don't forget what's your job!"

"For the Dreamer!" the druid silenced him by touching his forehead. "Begone, spirits of the Underworld! Go back to where you came from!"

They watched as the demon started melting and dissolved into the pile of sand, then disappeared along with it. Rhen walked toward the spot where the demon disintegrated. Holding her weapon, she rested her sword onto Dameon's neck, which made him jumped in surprise.

"Did you know the demon?" Rhen questioned, daggered at him. "He talked to you as if he did."

Dameon hesitated. He looked around at his companions, who were all looking at him, for seconds and replied instantly. "I encountered him once before," Rhen threw him a questioning glare, as if she wanted to speak in detail. "You must trust me. I'm against him. Them."

"Trust you?" Lars snorted. Dameon looked at him, then the others, and set his eyes upon Rhen's.

Did he, she thought, should I give him a second chance? Questions came in all at once. Perhaps... I should pay more attention on him. Watch him closer. She lowered her sword, sheathed, and smiled at him, "I trust you will do what is right."

"Thank you Rhen," he replied him with a smile. "I want all of you to come with me." He led them to a door at the basement. Fishing out a key from his pocket, he unlocked the door and led them in. There was nothing special about the room, just a few statues here and there, pedestals showing some unique and rare artifacts that can only be found in Dreamland. They continued walking, following Dameon to a chest. With a heft, he opened the dusty chest and took out what was being kept beneath.

"My mother has been keeping this for a long while," said the priest as he revealed a sheathed sword. "She believed that a sword singer will come here while he or she was in the middle of a quest.

"And apparently, she's right. She had it coming. She knows something like this will happen," he handed the sword to Rhen carefully. "Feel free to play with it."

She pulled the sword out of its sheath, revealing an amethyst sword that gleamed under the light. A melodious tune echoed the room when Rhen touched the sword. Out of nowhere, flocks of birds came out and the temple has been restored miraculously in no time.

"Look at those lovely-dovey aves," said Te'ijal. "They are Dreambirds."

"Legend says that these magical birds were cease to exist for centuries," said Dameon.

"Speaking of legend, there's another sword that is totally the opposite to the Sword of Dreams," piped Lars. Everyone looked at him surprisingly. "What? I learned this when I was still an apprentice at Shadwood Academy."

Everyone laughed. "The Sword of Shadow," Elini answered. "When these two swords meet, they will be combined to become a powerful, legendary sword."

"The Elder Sword," said Rhen. She remembered this very well when she was having lessons with Lorad during her apprentice year. Dameon nodded. He rummaged the chest and took out a tiny gem with a shape of water droplet. "You'll need this to gain access to the Time Temple."

"Dreamer's Tear," gasped Rhen. "That's great! Thanks Dameon!"

"It was nothing. Thank you for trusting me," he gave her another charming smile. Rhen turned away, hiding her blush. Lars rolled his eyes, "Alright, we still have one more druid to save. Anyone knows where will be the demon hides?"

"Something tells me that we should go to the Wasted Land," piped Rhen. "It's the only place where we have yet to explore."

"Lars," said Dameon. "This is for you."

"Eh?" he opened his hands as a sparkling emerald orb rested on his palms. "What's this?"

"It's the Dream Orb. It makes your wish come true," teased Dameon in a well-duh-obviously tone. Lars scowled.

"Boys," muttered Te'ijal.