Spring of Discovery (Celestia Chronicles Book 1/Seasons Arc: Book 1)

Chapter 28: Battle of Kred: "This is My Choice!"

As Jade, Saje, and Flint left the town Arda generated a barrier around it to prepare for battle. They made their way up the mountain but it would be quite a hike; Saje had mentioned the cave that they were looking for was halfway up. As they walked Jade could hear the battle begin in the town below. She needed her sword. She needed to help these people. She thought about all those who were currently fighting and dying all because she did not kill Xaug when she'd had the chance.

The sun had set and they were still climbing. Jade's doubt had reached new levels as they neared this cave. This whole time she hadn't wanted to be the Chosen One, but what if Flint was right? What if she wasn't the Chosen One at all? All of those people dying in the village—all for nothing.

The eastern sky had a faint, pink light as they reached the cave; dawn was mere hours away. They entered the cave and Jade spotted a pedestal with a scepter on it. The Scepter was yellow, topped with a blue orb.

"This is it," confirmed Saje. "Only the Chosen One can harness the power of the sword. If you are worthy, it will change into its true form, allowing you to remove it."

"Well we can't have that now," said Syvix, entering the cave.

"Grab it!" yelled Flint as he charged toward Syvix.

Syvix shot a spell at Flint, knocking him down. He then ran toward Saje, swept his leg, and grabbed his scepter. Purple ropes shot from the ground and wrapped around Saje. Jade grabbed the scepter and tried to pull it from its spot, but it did not budge. Syvix started laughing.

"After all of this, you weren't even the Chosen One!" he guffawed. "Oh well, at least I can take care of one potential problem while I'm here." He returned to Flint.

Syvix looked at the weakening golem on the ground; the crack on Flint's front-side had broken open again. Syvix searched around the golem's body until he seemed to find something on his back.

"A golem needs a divine word to live, right?" began Syvix. "It is essentially your heart. While an injury like that would kill you eventually, this, here on your back, is the thing that keeps you alive. It's Elven, but it doesn't translate to anything. It's essentially a bunch of gibberish. 'Cel lest cia.'" He traced the carvings with his finger and spoke even menacingly. "To think that the Earth Guardian could be brought down so easily..."

Lightning shot from his hand, slicing at the etched words. Flint writhed in pain. Jade started to charge at Syvix but a bolt of lighting at her knocked her backward.

"You failed, Flint!" he taunted. "You needed to add your strength to the Chosen One and you failed."

Flint looked up at Jade and smiled. "I did not fail," he said assuredly through gritted teeth. "Everything I have done was to help her! You think this was an accident—you torturing me? This is my choice! Not only have I relieved Jade of all her doubt—" As he continued, Jade pulled the scepter from its place and watched as it morphed into a sword. "—but she finally accepts her role as the Chosen One! My job is done. Jade, he's all yours!"

As a green energy exited the golem's body to fuse with her sword, Jade finally understood: She needed to choose! It had to be her choice because only then would she be able to do what was necessary. She felt Flint's energy surging through her, his voice ringing in her head: "Let's get him!"

Jade took the sword she had carried for months and cast it aside—no more looking back. She cut Saje free and with the combined strength of her power with Flint's, they brought the mountain down on Syvix. She bore through the rock easily, fashioning an escape tunnel. Cutting straight through the mountainside, they would reach the village in just an hour.