Terminus Part I: The Journey There (Draft)

Chapter 38: Recovery

 James was confused. He heard the distorted voice of Martin once again, this time taunting him.

"I'm surprised that the blast didn't just kill you. Right now, what you're struggling to stay on is the Tightrope of Life and Death."

James wondered if he was going to get any explanation, but his thought was soon put to rest.

"Any particularly strong-willed individual that is defeated by magic usually ends up here. Make it to the end of the tightrope, and you wake up. Fall off, and you die."

"This is not how I thought today would turn out."

"There's something we can both agree on. Were it up to me, you would be dead. You and everyone else who helped you. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to settle for Warbird and his four generals. It seems Halberd and your crew survived. The castle was blown apart by the force, but the rebuilding process was easy. Wait, is this thing still on? Anyway, gotta go."

Martin lifted his hands away from a crystal ball and looked toward his performers, calling for Oscar Oldscars.

"Before I stepped in, how were the battles going?"

"We were all losing sir."

"Of course you were. But, I did not take over a fighting circus, so it is of little consequence. The reason I took over this circus was the backing by Indigo International. That organisation is shrouded in mystery, but at the very least, everyone knows that with their backing, a person can achieve anything."

"Do you think you will get their approval, sir?" asked Holden.

"Considering that they never acted when I took over the circus, I had assumed that they approved of my actions; though one can never tell what their reasoning is."

Frederich led Jack and Phileas straight to the castle, which was in a state of repairing itself.

"A powerful enchantment was used to rebuild this castle. I suspect that an ancient and powerful magic has been unearthed, and channeled by a great sorcerer," said Jack.

"Yes, well, are you going to do something about him?" asked Frederich.

"Sometimes, the simplest solution is often the best," said Jack Door. "I will be right back."

He teleported off of the brachiosaur's back and right into the castle's main hall. Martin's eyes widened in surprise.

"What the hell are you doing here, old man?" asked Martin.

"That is no way to address your teacher, Martinigold."

"Please never call me that again, Mister Door."

Jack wasted no more time with formalities, casually ripping open a hole in space-time right next to Martin. The latter realised that he was about to be banished to another dimension, and asked where he was being sent.

"Limbo," said Jack Door.

Martin's eyes widened, and he pleaded not to be sent there. Meanwhile, Jack began the incantation that would separate Orange's magic from Martin. Within a few minutes the job was done, and then Jack realised that someone was balancing on the tightrope because of Martin. He found the nearest crystal ball and gazed into the abyss.

"Is that you, James Baron?" he asked.

James was surprised that all this time, he had kept his balance, and was wondering why he had not moved yet.

"How do you know my name?" he asked the new voice.

"I peered into the tightrope's schedule. You're the only one on it at the moment. In any case, it seems that you're being prevented from making any movements... and also that great obstacles have been placed in your way. It seems Martin Magick spared no expense in making your journey back to life as difficult as possible."