Burned Out [Completed]

Build-Up

The vision ended and suddenly I was back in the throne room. Unbalanced, I fell to the floor. Martin and Wynn were at my side immediately.

"Oliver, what's wrong?" Wynn demanded.

Martin brushed a tear from my cheek. I hadn't realized I'd been crying.

"Why weren't you there for him?" Heriotza's words still haunted my mind: The gods could have prevented this. So why didn't they?

"Heriotza can appear in many places at once." Sute looked as tired as Nick had in the village. "While our champions fought their war, he was engaging me and the other gods in battle. We could not come to our champions' aid. He planned everything and we were helpless to stop him."

I could understand Sute's pain. In the vision, I had been dying to interfere, but I couldn't. I was forced to watch as everything went wrong. Being helpless was not a good feeling.

"His tribe banished him to my realm," Sute continued in an emotionless voice. "He was too powerful and too broken for them to deal with. When he saw me, he tried to kill me. It was like he had forgotten all of the afternoons I spent at his side; all the good memories overridden by the one time I wasn't there. I'm not sure I blamed him, but I soon realized he wasn't the same person I had befriended."

Martin helped me to my feet. "What did you see?"

I gave him an "I'll explain later" look and turned back to Sute. "You couldn't stand to see him how he was, so you let him leave."

Sute nodded. "I realize I can be prideful at the best of times, but I acknowledge this mistake. I sincerely wish things had turned out differently, but I have made my decision and now I must stand by it. Nick is gone and Heriotza must be defeated. This task falls mainly to you, my champion. Are you ready?"

I looked back at my friends. Jin confidently returned my gaze. Assana looked a little less certain and Wynn looked completely clueless, but I could tell they were more than ready to leave Sute's palace. Mart gave me small nod.

"Send us back," I said to Sute.

She smiled sadly at me. "One more thing."

She stepped closer and leaned in until only I could hear what she whispered. Sute slipped something cold and circular into my palm.

A plan clicked into place in my mind and I nodded my understanding. "Thank you, Sute."

She straightened up, her usual air of cool detachment settling back into place. "Farewell. And do try not to die."

With a wave of her hand, we were all enveloped in a sphere of fire.

When the flames disappeared, we were in Professor Rayner's empty office. It seemed like forever since Martin and I first barged in here. I stuffed Sute's gift into my pocket and turned to the others.

"Story time." I recounted my vision. By the time I had finished, Professor Ridgely had buried his face in his hands. Assana's mother kept her face blank. Wynn and Assana looked stunned.

"I never would have guessed," Wynn said. "Nick always seemed so arrogant and stuff. Who knew he had that kind of baggage. I kind of feel sorry for making so much fun of him."

"Don't," Jin said. "You all heard Sute; Nick isn't who he used to be. We can't be feeling sympathy for the enemy."

I had a flashback to the random small park when Martin and I had fought over Jin for that same problem. And even as much as he had hurt me and Wynn and Assana, Jin was on our side. The fact that he was now saying almost the exact same thing about Nick made me all the more confident about my plan. Speaking of which...

"Okay guys," I gathered everyone in a circle. "Jin, Assana, Wynn, and I are going to confront Nick. Professors, I need you and Martin to find the Council and Professor Rho and make sure they don't make any trouble or try to escape. Track down Professor Rayner, too. We're tearing down this cult once and for all."

Professor Ridgely nodded in approval and he and Professor Saunders started towards the door.

Martin hung back for a second. He looked at me for a moment, then rushed forward and enveloped me in a hug. "Be safe, Oliver."

"You too, Martin."

Martin glared at the other elementals. "You guys better follow Sute's advice, too."

Assana patted him on the shoulder. "We'll be fine, you big baby. Get going!"

He left the room behind the adults.

"So what's our plan?" Assana asked. "I really hope you've got something better than 'confront Nick.' This guy has had literal centuries to prepare for this fight. Not to mention having the god of death on his side."

"Don't worry. All I need is an opening. You three need to pin him down so I can get close. I'll help of course, but fighting fire with fire is not the most effective plan, contrary to popular belief."

"Assana, you should be our main offense," Jin added. "Your water is definitely the best match for Nick. Wynn and I will focus on defense. I'll call my dog. Oliver, it'd be smart to summon your phoenix too."

"Got it." I said. I was secretly glad to have Jin by my side. He had been a formidable opponent, but now he was a valuable ally.

"What are you going to do when we get him pinned," Wynn asked?

Curse his inquisitive soul. I might have said I was confident in my plan earlier, but I wasn't that confident. These guys trusted me, if I told them what my plan was, they might not want to follow me into battle. "Just leave that to me."

The three of them looked uncertain, but I turned and walked out of Professor Rayner's study before they could object. I sighed inwardly with relief when I heard three pairs of footsteps following me.

"Where are we going?" Wynn looked around like he was expecting Nick to jump out from every dark corner.

"Back to that underground chamber." I said without looking back.

"What makes you think he'll be there?" Assana said, but she didn't sound like she doubted me.

"Yeah, I'm not too keen about going back there either," I admitted, "but I'm sure he'll be there."

"Assuming you're right," Jin said, "do you even know the way back?"

I stopped dead in my tracks, causing Wynn to slam into my back. How could I have been so stupid? I had no idea how to find my way back to the room! Jeez, just when everything seemed to be going so smoothly, too.

Seeing my dismay, Jin laughed. It was a strange but pleasant sound. I thought that if he laughed more, I'd have less reason to dislike him. Maybe laughing at me wasn't the best way to start though.

"What's so funny?" I demanded. My mind was racing to come up with a Plan B. We could draw Nick out another way, but there was no telling how long that might take. I would go crazy waiting for him to show up.

"You should see your face," Jin exclaimed, which wasn't giving him any popularity points. "It's no problem. The bunker is underground and if you haven't noticed, earth is my specialty. I can find it no problem."

I punched him in the arm while Assana and Wynn looked on in amusement. Yeah laugh while you can, jerks. "Why would you do that? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Jin rubbed his arm. "Totally worth it."

"Let's get going before you give me another reason to punch you."