Sword of Stars

Chapter Thirty Five. Sentience.

Cecil’s spirits soared as he entered the Lord Caster’s room. Dott had managed to make him feel ten years younger with her massages over the last few days. He had also slept there every night.

The Lord Caster looked up from whatever he was writing at his desk and gave Cecil a grim look, his eyebrows furrowed and mouth downturned.

“What’s wrong?”

The Lord Caster sighed and put his pen down. “I’ve had to send the Preceptors out to help defend against the Shadowed Ones. It’s only you and I left.”

Cecil frowned. “Didn’t you say that we needed them to complete the spell?”

“Yes.” The Lord Caster stood. “But that may no longer be true. You are so close Cecil, I can feel it. It won’t be long until you can stop the threat once and for all.”

“Wait, you sent Dott out there?” Cecil said.

“Of course, she may just be the most important one. She and the other healers will be a valuable asset on the battle field.”

“Why would you do that?” Cecil sneered. “You know her hair is white.”

The Lord Caster stepped down from the dais and put a hand on Cecil’s shoulder. “That’s exactly it Cecil. What is the point in her staying here to die when she could be out there, saving lives?”

“I…” Cecil flushed and lowered his eyes.

“It’s okay to be selfish sometimes, my friend.” The Lord Caster smiled, exuding warmth.

“We’ll both be dead soon either way. Let’s just get to it.” Cecil sniffed.

They made their way in the Essense chamber and Cecil sat down in the centre, scroll spread out before him. The Lord Caster stood opposite and put his hands together and his eyes ignited. He nodded at Cecil.

Cecil closed his eyes and conducted his Essense, letting the heterochromic power wash over him.  He placed his hands on the scroll and opened his eyes. The words came into his vision but he needed more. He breathed deep and felt the Essense from the room flow from the Lord Caster, filtering through him and into a more concentrated form. Cecil gasped. The Lord Caster had never done it like this before.

The words on the scroll began to transmutate. They changed shape into symbols and meanings. Understanding exploded in his mind, threatening to destroy his mind from the overload. Pain wracked his entire body and he screamed in agony. His eyes flew open and he saw the universe.

The pain was gone and he simply floated there in the nothingness surrounded by stars. Cecil began moving, stars flashing by, until one expanded before him, rushing him with reckless abandon. It halted with a jerk. The surface was a mass of molten light and fire, tails of flame lashing out into space.

Cecil flinched back from the intense heat. Is this what a star looks like up close? He thought with awe.

The star pulsed, sending a deep feeling into Cecil. It ran through him like a shockwave, vibrating every bone under his skin. He gritted his teeth as the feeling pulsated though his entire being. Then he felt an explosion in his mind. An understanding. The power to defeat the Greater Evil was… Chaos itself. That was it. The final heterochromic power. Cecil knew it and it flowed through his soul as if it always had.

He put his hand out towards the star and a gout of fire jumped from the surface and formed a swirling ball just above his palm. The power of the stars. Starfire.  At that moment he knew that he could destroy the Greater Evil and all of the Beings of Chaos. There was just one more piece he needed. The sword.

Right, he thought, now I just need to wake up back in the tower. But how? He wasn’t sure of his location or the location of Tearith. He tried to will himself back to no avail. He didn’t know why he couldn’t awaken, then he thought: Perhaps I cannot wake because my body is gone…

Panic lanced through him. He didn’t know where he was or how to get back. Which direction was Tearith? He found he could move and he speed off through the stars in search of his home.

#

The Lord Caster sighed as he looked down at Cecil’s body. He knelt and put a finger to his neck to check for a pulse. Nothing. He picked his lifeless body up and cradled him like new born. The scroll had burst into flame and ash scattered in a ring around the Casters.

“I hope you did it, old friend,” Melzinar droned as he closed Cecil’s burnt out eyes with his fingers. “For the sake of everything.”