Age of Darkness

Chapter 42: The Chosen One

When I open my eyes again, I see not blinding white light, but darkness. My ears are met by the sound of rain and thunder. I open my eyes sightly, and I see what I least wanted to. Zirkon has Elizabeth pinned to the wall, his hands around her throat.

''You honestly think I'll leave you alive?'' Zirkon yells at her face. ''You're just the same as the boy. Foolish, stubborn, and weak!''

Tears are streaming down her face. I notice I no longer feel in pain. I feel my chest. No, it's still broken, but I feel reborn, like I could run up walls, or jump over tall buildings. I stand up, and with all my built up anger, and rejuvinated power, I throw the most powerful blast of magic at Zirkon. He doesn't even have time to notice, as he is blasted away from Elizabeth. He slams against the wall, and it actually cracks. Elizabeth collapses to the floor.

The smoke clears, and Zirkon gets up. His eyes lock on me, and they fill with rage.

''NO!''

He throws fire at me, I run out of the way. He continues, again and again, overtaken with anger. His screams are not only of rage, but of fear. Finally, he stops, and he looks at me, a glare that coulostd cut through ice.

''How?! You're dead! It's impossible! I watched you die! I killed you!!!''

''Nothing's impossible, Michael,'' I reply calmly. ''You overcame death, no?''

He looks at me, speechless. His eyes... I don't know what that expression is. A mixture of emotions. He runs at me, and swings. I block it, and punch him in the stomach. He's helpless, as I release a fury of swings. He tries to kick me legs out, but I jump up, grab him, and throw him into the wall.

He wipes his lip, and sees the blood. He quickly jumps up, and throws a beam of black magic at me. I return it with my own, white Divine magic. They clash, and the force pushes both of us backward. The shockwave is like a torrent of wind, with the force of a tornado. Mine pushes forward, tearing through his own. He yells, and the power grows, the blowing force with it. But I inch closer, and it finally hits him, with a noise so loud, I think I go deaf in one ear. He goes flying back in the air, and I grab him with an invisible force, and crash him down to the ground.

He lies still for a moment, then slowly gets up.

''You can't possibly expect to win...'' He spits with hate. Is he trying to convince me, or himself?

''There is no winner in war. Everyone loses.''

He draws his sword. I know I have to get it.

''You know, perhaps I wa wrong about you. Then again, maybe not...''

I draw my sword, and we run at each other. Our swords clash, sparks fly, and I hear thunder rumble outside.

''Don't you see, boy? This is destiny. We aren't that different, you and I. Our destinies our intertwined, but we turn away from fate. We both have a thirst for power, and a need to use it.''

I push him back, he swings at me, and I block it.

''We are nothing close to similar. Each of us have power for different uses. Me, to protect, and you, to destroy.''

''Join me, Nicholas, and I will make you the most well known face in Zaria. You call off your army, I call off mine. We end any needless bloodshed. I know you don't want these people to die.''

He swings at me, but I parry, and manage to hit his side. He stumbles back.

''I also know how true you keep to your promises. You said you'd leave Elizabeth alone, but...''

I swing at him, and he blocks it.

''Ha! Then you will all die.''

The battle erupts into a ight of swings, blocks, and parries. Our swords clash with such force, sparks fly with every swing. I lash out, swinging at him wildly. He goes on the defensive, until finally, I swing with such power, his sword flies out of his hand, and clatters to the the ground on the other side of the room.

I see it now. My grandfather's words. Trap the king, and the game is over...

Before he can run to grab his sword, I hit him with a blast, and he skids across the ground. I run to it, and grab his sword. Facing him, I point the sword at him. I understand it now. I've overcome death, I can overcome the Bringer of Death... Am I truly the Chosen One?

Now, there is no more anger in Zirkon's eyes. No surprise. No confusion. Just fear, fear plagues his face.

''Look, Nicholas!'' He reasons. ''We can figure this out. We can sort out our differences, no? Can we?''

I don't even consider it, I remember everythint he's done. Killing my grandfather, James, whom I know is dead, ruining this city, killing its people. No mercy from him, why should he get any?

''What's that you told me, Zirkon? About showing no mercy?''

''But...''

''Checkmate...''

''No!'' He erupts into flames, and the wisps of burning heat engulf the room. I dive toward Elizabeth, and create a barrier, protecting us. I hold her, as the flames begin to subside, and her eyes flutter open.

''Wha- Nicholas?... What happened? I... I thought you had died...'' Tears form in the corners of her eyes.

''I'm okay, Elizabeth. I'll explain everything later. Are you okay?''

She nods.

''We have some things to worry about,'' she motion to the approaching Zirkon, flames in his eyes.

I help her up, and face Zirkon.

''It's over.''

I run at him, he jumps back, and attempts to swing at me, but I roll out of the way, and swing at his back. He stumbles forward, and I jump up, and impale him on his own sword. He crumples to the ground, ad I jump back.

He lies on the ground, motionless, and I walk to Elizabeth, and take her arm.

''Let's get out of here...'' I whisper. Time to finish off the army outside. She nods, and we walk towards the exit.

''Not so fast...'' I turn back to Zirkon. He's standing. He's holding his unhealing wound in one hand, clutching his bloody sword in the other. The guy won't stay down, will he?

''Perhaps I was wrong about you, boy. Pehaps you are the One... But, if I cannot kill you, I will settle for second best...''

Before I can realize what he's doing, he pulls a blade from his cloak. A smooth, small, golden-hilted blade, with a curved end. He throws it through the air, and it hits Elizabeth, sinking itself into her stomach. Her face turns pale, and she falls to the floor.

My brain goes numb, and I go into automatic mode. I charge at Zirkon, and with all my might, swing at him wildly, Divine Magic enchanting my sword. Light envelopes him. I give one last slash, and Zirkon flies across the ground. I run towards him, ready to continue if he does.

But he doesn't. Instead, he looks at me. I look in his eyes again, hoping to see some humanity. Remorse, perhaps. But all I see is sorrow. He looks at me, broken, a fallen king, and then he disappears, like so many times, in a whirl of black smoke...