Souls of the Fallen

Sacrifice

Well, friend...it's been a long talk. I don't want to be the one to complain but I need to rest. Even us here in The Flow get tired. Before I give you up for a bit I want to show you a part of my story... I didn't think about it until recently that I've been rude. You only know my name and where I'm from. Perhaps a little of how my story ends but other than that... I've been fairly opaque about my own history. This is going to be hard on me, not emotionally but because it's tiring to dig into your own past.

Our deities may find a use for us again. They don't recommend us looking into our own windows because they feel it would taint our decisions in the future. This is more for you... so you can understand who you're talking to. Are you ready for me?

Over ten years back is when this will take place. Before the world went to war. Before Damien became a ruler. Before the boys we've been watching had to experience life without parents. In the kingdom of Jinesis. The home of the young Magi girl trapped in the Underworld. The Magi race is still secluded during this time but not blocked off. It is surrounded by water and has treacherous mountains on its northern coast. The terrain is sandy and desolate for the most part until you reach the main city. An oasis where it's people learned to maintain the land's fruitfulness by giving energy back after reaping their harvest.

Our people are always in tune with the world and tapped into The Flow. This allows our farmers to circulate the energy in our region. The leader of the time, Shoda, was well respected and loved. The same could not be said about his wife, Sabrina, though. Since she was unable to bear a son, many of our citizens didn't approve of her. They didn't share that distaste with their only child, Shina. She was active at a young age and kept the entire city busy with her curiosity and antics.

I was Shoda's best friend and advisor. We ran the kingdom well, with Sabrina's intuition included of course. I'll stop the details of the time period and get on with the story I promised. Let's start here...

Shoda and I are spending our afternoon roaming the streets of the city. We acknowledge the citizens we pass as we cross stores and homes. "I didn't expect to have two girls at this point, Kilik..." he says to me. He rests his head in his hands as he lays them behind his long black dreadlocks. They drape down his royal wear of shawls and robes. Silvers and blues are patterned about his fabric. Sabrina felt gold was tacky looking and I agree. "It's like you have one, then poof, there's another one!"

"Well, she did appear out of nowhere," I answer. He's referencing the curly haired girl that wandered into the royal courtyard crying her head off. "It's kind of you to have taken her in. Other leaders would have her raised by the priestesses at one of the temples."

"It was Sabrina! She said she wasn't letting them 'brainwash' her." I should've taken offense to that seeing how my daughter spent a lot of time at the temples with the priestesses. My wife passed giving birth to her, so while I was out working, they cared for her. Her name is Kilika. As close to a junior I was going to get. My little one... I miss her.

I laugh away the jab of the previous comment. "She has her hands full now. Especially with Shina. That girl is ahead of her time."

"It's from her mom!" he says. "She's always having adult conversations with the child. Don't get me started with Josh! That numbskull lets her run around the entire city and even takes her out with him when he's patrolling the city borders." The leader shakes his head slowly. "She's seen more combat than some of the soldiers in our army. The kid is hardened and battle-ready."

"That may not be a bad thing," I say as we reach our destination. I open the door of the jail to allow my friend inside. He enters and the two receptionists bow to him. I walk in after but receive nothing similar in respect. One of them takes notes on our visit. "We're here to speak with the outsider."

The other speaks up. "This way, my king." Her eyes are locked on Shoda as she smiles. I can sense the intent and lust but she's barking up the wrong tree. Shoda is the most faithful man I've ever met. Think about it. Sticking through with a marriage that a large number of your population disapproves of... That's love. The woman steps in front of me and behind Shoda. She places a hand on his back and guides him down the walkway to our left. Shoda is also the most oblivious man too. That's why he has... had me. Sorry getting caught up in the moment.

The lady makes small talk with her king as we walk down the dark corridor. The clay floors are fairly silent under our cloth shoes. I run my hand across the gritty texture of the bricks our people have made. On the other wall is the occasional window that shows our prisoners in the open yard that we allow them to move freely in. We reach the door to the yard shortly and we are escorted outside. I pick up my pace so that I am beside my friend and the lady that is crushing on him.

She calls out to a soldier deep in the field to retrieve the prisoner that our border guards have brought in. Two plated soldiers walk a young demon up to us in shackles. He seems to be in a decent mood despite his situation. The hold him as he stands before us. One soldier kicks him behind his knee to force him to show respect. "That's not necessary..." I mumble.

"What are you doing here, demon?" Shoda asks. He folds his arms and his posture tilts. His face reflects a similar demeanor. A slight scowl with an eyebrow that's slightly skewed.

During these times, demons weren't common on the surface. Shoda was right to have him captured and held until we had this meeting. He looks up to Shoda. "I'm a traveler, is all... I fumbled across your border just doing my normal traversing. Beautiful kingdom you have here sir. Am I right to assume you're the king?"

"Yes, you are right," Shoda says. "Answer my question. I'm not here for you to boost my ego."

The demon smiles and nods. "Indeed, King Shoda." I assume he's heard the name over the small talk from the other prisoners. "But I have already answered your question. I have no intentions. I'm only here because my feet brought me here. I ask that you bare with me until I can leave this place on my own strength."

Shoda's and my weakness shows at this moment. We have a soft place in our hearts for seeing the potential good in people's hearts. You see... The demon on his knees before us is Damien Zalitz, the future Demon Lord that is causing all of the issues in the present time. "Let him up..." Shoda says. The king looks at me.

I nod with approval, thinking 'what could go wrong...'

"Such generosity and hospitality! Thank you, sir!" Damien says with an ever-growing smile. "I came with a few things that were confiscated."

"They will be returned to you once they have been inspected. You will be staying at my castle. I want you nearby in case I need to snuff you out." Shoda had zero fear in his heart and he would face anyone in a scuffle without hesitation. He'd win too. Only way he'd lose is if he's greatly outnumbered. His confidence was justified by his power.

Damien's grin never fades, even after being threatened. "That's a plus because I won't be an issue for you. Perhaps I can find a way to be useful while you are blessing me with your grace."

Shoda motions to the guards to remove his bonds. They comply and step back from the demon. "What could you do to help us?"

"I'm a scientist by trade, King Shoda. It is part of the reason I travel. I guess I withheld a little of my intent. I want to gather some ingredients and components from your region," he admits with a bow. "Maybe I can assist your doctors with gaining better control of sicknesses and other ailments of this land."

"I think I'll leave that to the other scientists... That's not my area of expertise." Shoda wasn't the brightest. That's where I usually came into play.

They agreed upon, Damien's sleeping conditions and his time to be spent with the scientist of the kingdom. Days passed. Damien behaved himself, even worked overtime some nights. He became a welcomed visitor in the castle. Everyone enjoyed his playful attitude and his work ethic. Well... almost everyone.

Sabrina never took to him and neither did Joshua. Neither of them allowed Shina or their adopted child to be alone with the demon. They weren't obviously nervous or uncomfortable around him but I caught on to their distrust. I only wish I had their intuition at the time. Dr. Greir, our lead scientist, became really close to the demon. They would spend hours beyond the usual work times with each other. It came to a point where they would work together, eat together, and wander the kingdom together sharing ideas and stories.

A month passes. Nothing goes wrong. Damien walks up to Shoda at his throne. He's tossing six-year-old Shina into the air and tickling the happy child. Shoda's attention is drawn to his guest. Damien kneels at the steps the lead to the throne. I am leaning against the door seal that leads to the kitchen, chatting up our chef. Upon hearing Damien's voice in the room behind me, I turn around to see what is going on.

"King Shoda, I have come to wish you nothing but prosperity and growth." The demon's head is lowered to the fancy blue fabric on the floor. "My time here is spent and I feel that I must move on to my next destination."

"Stand up, my boy," Shoda says while putting Shina down gently. Damien does as he's told. "I am glad you were so productive while you were here. It was a pleasure to have you."

"The pleasure is all mine, My King," he says. Sabrina walks out from a room at the back of the throne room. Her white robe gently taps the floor as it hovers just low enough to touch it. Her white hair, yellow eyes, and green markings are odd for our race but she's pure-blooded. She joins her family at the throne. "I am happy to say I am getting out of your hair, Queen Sabrina."

She nods. "Safe travels, Damien."

"No!" Shina yells. "You can't go!"She dashes down the stairs and stumbles at the last few steps. Damien catches her and spins her using her fall as momentum. He lifts her into the air then lowers her onto his hip. I spot the uneasy look on Sabrina's face but she holds her composure.

"I'll come back just to visit you, okay?" he tells the child. "You're my favorite here anyway."

The demon lets her down after she smiles at him. She walks towards her dad but snaps to the right and runs out another door screaming. "AKIRA! Damien is leaving! Come say goodbye!" The adults get a laugh at her abrupt outburst. And yes, my friend, she's referring to the same Akira from Harrington. The friend Shina was separated from while escaping is the same girl that Regina and Kendrick rescued. Small world... if you don't consider both sides of it.

"I should actually get going... I'm not that great at goodbyes." Damien bows one last time. He turns around and exits the room.

That's the last I say of Damien. You expected more, didn't you? The demon wasn't directly responsible for my passing. Keep listening, friend.

Days pass and things continue to run as normal. Josh entertains the kids - and my daughter...  Sabrina does some garden work during her free time. Shoda and I roam the city as usual. Something is slightly off this time. I sense it. Something has been tampered with. As I said before, our people are in tune with the energies used in our region. This day, there was an emptiness in the city.

I stop Shoda with a hand to his chest. He looks at me confused. "Do you feel that?"

He frowns but focuses. "Where is the motion of the people's energy."

"Exactly!" I run to the nearest building and kick open the door. What I find is disturbing. The poor soul is gasping for air and clinging to the cloth on her table. She yanks it down and her figure is traced by a tremor. It causes her skin to tighten until it rips. Blood solidifies where it should've spilled, forming growths resembling horns and scales. She was turning from a Magi woman into a demon. I fall back from the horrid sight. The door closes and I scoot on the ground back to Shoda's side.

"What did you see?" he asks.

"Demons! The people are turning into demons!"

"What?" His head swings as he tries to find the source of the issue. "Focus, Kilik! We need to find where the Flow is being pulled." I nervously nod, still frightened from the transforming woman. He yanks me to my feet. After closing his eyes for a moment, they shoot back open. "My Family!" The king erupts with energy. His dark purple eyes turn gold, his black locks of hair turn white, and his markings spread across his body. Shoda reached a level that not many Magi reach, and to protect his loved ones, he released that power. He nearly vanishes from my sight. I'm able to keep up with his speed as he rushes to the castle. I trigger my abilities as well.

We are slightly different. I am a Magi that has ascended in a more tactical method. Shoda's powers enhance his physical traits but I can alter my surroundings similarly to an Eon. I have no limitation though. I bring my hand to my chest and my body glows. We reach the castle doors at the same time. My teleportation matches his speed. He doesn't pause for conversation. The frantic king breaks through the door and looks to his throne. Sabrina holds the girls closely. Shina's left sleeve and collar are bloody but she seems to be okay.

Dr. Grier stands over the three females that Shoda holds dear. He no longer looks as he did moments ago. White hair with red horns tattered wings and red, scaly forearms. They're distorted claws dripping with blood. In one of them, he holds an orb that we can tell is the source of the pull of the flow.

"GRIER!" Shoda yells. "Step away from them, NOW!" It's getting hard to stand next to my friend as his energy levels rise even more. Sabrina's levels are high as well. She'd been fending off tainted knights. Shoda vaults towards Grier as he turns to look at us. My king tackles him through the wall and into the courtyard behind the castle. The girls scream and buckle from the debris flying around them. Sabrina is able to deflect anything that falls their way.

I hear a crash next to me. I turn to my right to see a demon knight crash into the large dining room table. Shortly after, Josh walks out. His markings slowly recede from his face as he catches his breath. "What the fuck is going on?" The guard captain is not pleased with killing his own men. That's understandable.

"Grier is draining The Flow from the people. He has some magical device," I tell him. "Sabrina has the girls. I need you to do me a favor. Find Kilika... Take care of her for me." I notice worry rise in his eyes as I say her name. He nods and runs out of the castle. I walk through the large throne room as the clash behind it can easily be heard.

"I have to stay here to keep them stable," Sabrina says as I climb the stairs. "I'm keeping their levels from dropping too low." Shina breathes heavily in her mother's arms and Akira hugs the queen's back tightly. To be able to fuel three lives is no simple feat.

"Your family will be fine, Sabrina," I assure her.

Climbing through the hole Shoda created in his castle walls, I see my friend holding the doctor by the throat. "You die today, Grier!" Shoda won't worry about asking why. His girls were threatened and that's a death sentence to the idiot dumb enough to make that mistake. As he draws his fist back to end the evil doctor, an appendage grows from Grier's gut and slashes Shoda's right eye.

The king drops the mutated being. Grier fumbles with the orb that is the issue. He snaps to me and smiles. Fangs full of blood greet me. I look away from the disturbing sight. "There's no stopping this! Just accept the girl of demonic heritage! We can be even greater. Allow your soul to separate from the flow!"

I continue to walk to him slowly. Shoda recovers but holds his eye. He looks to me and I motion to him to let me handle this. He reverts to his previous form to focus on not being transformed. "You got that from Damien... didn't you?"

"Yes and no... We created this together."

"You would willingly betray your entire race for power of a demon?"

He slurps the blood oozing past his lips. "Yesss... You will soon see the power we can behold."

I shake my head. "No, Grier... I'm destroying you and that despicable orb. Sorry to be so blunt, friend."

The tainted doctor laughs at me. "We planned for that. If I die the crystal will explode, causing an amplified effect to trigger. It will make us all mindless demons that can only serve... If you let me do as I plan, we will own this world!"

"Then I guess I'm gonna have to make sure you're nowhere near our people when I kill you!" I dash up to him and plant my palm on his chest. Panic is the face that speaks to me as the demon tries his best to stop my plan. He impales me with his bloody claw. This does not deter me. My will is stronger than most. I turn to my friend standing in his wife's flower garden. I wink and smile as I use my free hand to salute.

We glow and dissipate. Our destination, the wasteland for out from the kingdom... We appear on the sands. Not a soul to be affected by this nonsense but yours truly and the demon that has already given in. He twists his claw to try to finish me off. The sharp of the claw is near my heart. "This sacrifice is to counter the mistake you made by forsaking your race." I transfer all of my energy into my adversary. His body is unable to withstand the flow of power and he burns from the inside out. As he said, the moment his life was snuffed, the orb detonated. I used the returning energy to encase me and the growing explosion. It continued to grow while tearing through my body but I held on long enough to see it pass...

That was painful. Haha... but worth every bit of the misery I saved my people from. That's my story friend. I felt responsible for not speaking against allowing a demon into our kingdom and putting my friend's family and my kingdom at risk. This is my payment. Now, can you please give me a moment to rest? I promise that these stories will continue. It's entertainment for both us , friend.