Monday, October 7, 2013
Page #35
“Alright ladies and
gentlemen looks like the challenger made quick work of team spirit. The first
round of the bloodbath goes to team Kota who earned a rest until tomorrow. We
will have a short intermission while a crew cleans up the bodies until then we
ask that you all head to the main dining room on the fifth floor for a feast.
The next battle will begin after the meal.” Kota glared at the girl with
batwings as he passed her something seemed overly familiar about her. Victor
and Azelf followed Kota out of the arena and up to his room. Atlas was waiting
on them leaning against Kota’s doors. “You three did much better than I
anticipated. Kota you are a born leader my boy I was so impressed I had some of
my other slaves redo your room.” Atlas reached behind him and opened the doors.
Inside almost all of the candles had been removed and the one moldy bed had
been replaced with three newer twin beds that all had sheets and pillows. A
fire was lit and glowed warmly in the hearth and a small table had fresh fruit and
bread stacked in the middle. “Well boys welcome to your new room. The three of
you will stay together until the tournament is over or until Kota fails. Also
in the trunk over next to the wash room door I have provided new armor for all
three of you.” Atlas stated as he twirled around pointing at the new touches
Kota sighed and walked over to one of the beds began to strip till he was just
in his underwear and went to the washroom. Before he entered he turned to Atlas
and said, “Master I’m taking my leave of you. You can give me all these gifts
and challenges but I will just ignore your affection and overcome your
warriors. I do your will only as self-preservation not to entertain you.” Victor
and Azelf struggled to keep straight faces as Atlas’ fury rose to the surface
he opened his mouth to say something then closed and walked out saying “You
will regret that boy.” After he exited Victor and Azelf erupted into laughter
and collapsed into a giggling mess. Kota could not hold back hearing their
chortles and snickers he began to laugh heartily.
Page #34
With the phantom distracted
and Azelf about to lock into battle with the reanimated corpse Kota ran right
up the middle avoiding flying stones as the golem hurled them at the phantom.
His hatchet an extension of his arm Kota wielded it to deflect a projectile
being launched at him from across the field. The shaman had cast brimstone
storm a spell that hurls sharp stones at a foe in rapid succession. Kota did
his best to dodge the flying stones and the ones that came close to him he
deflected with his hatchet all while running straight at the shaman gaining
ground quickly. Off to Kota’s left Azelf’s blade was cutting through the corpse
like butter and to the right Victor’s golem was locked in battle with the
phantom knocking the phantom around like a ragdoll. This battle was close to
over. Kota pointed his hatchet’s rifle at the shaman. The shaman shocked he
instinctively reached out for his phantom with is mind and telepathically
pulled the phantom across the field from the golem’s grasp and as Kota shot the
phantom’s physical body absorbed the gun fire. Kota struck the knight through
the breast plate a stream of blood shot from the other side him as he fell to
the ground. That’s when the shaman made his move his eyes rolling into the back
of his head he began to chant another spell. Kota felt the familiar pull of
magic behind him so he simply stepped to the right and watched as a beam of
light struck the shaman in the chest and shot through the other side. Victor
had shot a lightening pulse spell from the other side of the stadium and struck
the shaman dead center. Kota turned and began to walk away as the crowd roared
in their victory then the crowd let out a collective gasp as Kota felt
something wet hit his neck. Turning he saw Azelf with the phantoms blade
slicing into his arm and his sword removing the phantom’s head. “Stupid human
you never turn your back on an undead opponent.” Kota pulled the trigger inside
his gauntlet and aimed the palm at the phantom. “Gehennam.” <Hellfire>
Black flames erupted from the palm of Kota’s gauntlet and struck the phantom
knight in the chest sending his body flying into the air landing in the arena’s
seating just below Atlas’ private booth. Atlas looked down with a sick smile;
he was obviously pleased by how easily Kota’s team took out team spirit. Kota
looked at the wound Azelf was clutching. “Are you okay?” Kota asked standing
over Azelf. “I’ll be fine I just need some blood. I haven’t drunk fresh blood
in weeks.” Kota offered him his hand and said. “Thank you Azelf come on I’ll give
you some fresh blood.” Azelf ignored the hand and stood on his own, puffing on
his pipe he blew smoke out of the side of his mouth then said “Thanks but I’m
not sure you want me to drink from you, I might not want to stop.” Azelf
emphasized this by flashing his fangs at Kota in a smile. As Kota and Azelf
walked up to Victor walked up and touched his stone golem and in a flash of
light the golem disappeared.
Page #33
A lone man walked out of an
iron gate on the opposite end of the arena. The man was of short stature and
seemed to be dragging a much larger man behind him. “Hey atlas one man against
the three of us this really is going to be a bloodbath!” Kota yelled the crowd
went into an uproar of laughter. But behind him Victor had a worried look on
his face. “Introducing, John Stone leader of team spirit!” The girl with bat
wings announced. “The first fight of the Demon Atlas’ Bloodbath begins in
three, two, one Fight!!” The demon girl flew off and Kota put on his goggles.
Behind John there was a swirling mass of cloudy energy and Kota’s heart began
to pump furiously as he realized what John Stone was. “Azelf, Victor watch out
he’s a Shaman he has a phantom behind him.”
The little man on the other side of the arena began to giggle as he shot
a tendril of magic toward the swirling energy and the phantom took corporeal
form. The mass of energy slowly gained legs and arms as it passed through the
veil cut open by the shaman. Soon after a phantom knight suit of armor, shield
and sword was standing next to John; but there was still more energy flowing
through the veil and into the man that John had dragged onto the field. Kota
gripped his hatchet in one hand and his fingers wrapped around the trigger
inside of his gauntlet as the man began to stand. Kota suddenly realized in
horror that is was a reanimated corpse wielding two oversized cleavers. “Okay
that’s better.” Kota said as a smile spread across his face. “Azelf, you take
the corpse dismantle that thing. Victor I want you to summon something to keep
that phantom occupied. I’m going after the shaman we have to close that veil
before he summons more spirits.” Swifter than the wind Azelf sprinted across
the field with his hand on his sword and his pipe hanging from his mouth. As
Azelf rushed the field the phantom charged as well but he was not able to
intercept Azelf before the ground began to quake beneath the arena shook as a
stone golem burst from underneath the ground. With a bead of sweat dripping
down Victors face he finished a chant commanding the golem to attack the
phantom knight. Azelf ran up beside the golem using it as a distraction as he
made his closer to the reanimated corpse that was slowly making its way into
the field. Kota looked at Victor who had exhausted most of his energy summoning
that golem. “Rest for a moment let your creature do the work as soon as you
catch your breath I want you to aim your most powerful elemental spell at the
shaman.” Kota said as he ran off to join the fray. Leaping over the field Kota
ran almost as fast as the phantom had.
Page #32
“I
need to know something about the two men I am aligned with.” Kota said as he
knelt down in front of Atlas his master looked up with a bit of intrigue. “What
have you stolen from them? You have my soul but what did you take from them to
force them to obey your every command.” Kota looked Atlas dead in his bloody
red eyes. “That is none of your business Kota and I wouldn’t tell you simply for
asking. If they want you to know they will tell you but I wouldn’t suggest you
ask them either. If you all survive they may tell you on their own.” Atlas’
eyes and smile narrowed he was enjoying watching Kota’s curiosity and
frustration grow. “Thank you for your time Master… One more thing master may I
ask you to charge a mage stone for me.” Kota removed one of his pieces of
quartz from his gauntlet and handed it to Atlas. The demon looked at the stone
for a moment then squeezed it between his claws. A dark light surrounded his
claws as the quartz absorbed the energy. “I’ve never done this before so I have
no clue what will happen if you decide to use this.” Atlas said handing the
stone back to Kota the once clear quartz had turned black. “I have a hypothesis.”
Kota said as he exited.
…
With the arena full of Atlas’ guests Kota walked
out on the field followed by Azelf and Victor. Kota looked into the crowd many
were grotesque monsters he assumed were other demons and some were vampires but
toward the V.I.P. section next to Atlas Kota could make out a few humans. “Get
your head in the game human any moment now three men are going to charge the
field trying to kill us.” Kota turned and saw Azelf take off his mask and put
in his pipe. Kota felt the pressure from the demon stone in his pocket, his
hatchet at his hip and his arm in his gauntlet. Kota looked at Victor he had a
book out and was going over his spells his staff at the ready. At that very moment a young woman flew down
from Atlas’ booth on a pair of bat wings. “Good evening ladies and gentle
monsters. Welcome to the four hundredth annual Atlas Cain Bloodbath. This
year’s challenger is a plucky human boy named Kota. He has chosen from last
year’s top contenders and chose Victor the Labyrinth Mage and Duke Azelf of the
Vampires as his comrades for this year battle. Anyone who witnessed last year’s
Bloodbath knows how strong these guys are. With seven days of battle ahead I
wonder how long these three hope to last. Without further ado let’s bring out our first
team of challengers Team Spirit."
Page #31
Kota
thought about it for moment then said. “How many unseen barriers can you cast
at once and how long do the incantation last?”
Victor looked at his hands and balled them into fist. “I can cast up to
five unseen barriers at a time but if they are physical barriers like a stone
or iron wall I can cast up to twenty at a time. I was once recognized by the
name the labyrinth mage and my unseen barriers can only last an hour, but my
physical barriers can last up to 4 hours.” Victor was fired up for a fight you
could see it in the way he spoke. “Okay very impressive Victor we can defiantly
work with that. How about you Azelf other than a vampire’s speed and strength
what else are you capable of?” Kota was excited to hear what the vampire was
able to do. Azelf removed his mask and revealed his mouth he immediately stuck
a pipe in his mouth and lit it. “I can heal myself and others with the life
force I drain from my victims. I can also cast a smoke screen with this pipe
that only vampires and certain equipment can see through. That along with my
speed and strength is the reason Victor told you to choose me. What can you do
human?” Azelf said with a sneer. “I can use fire magic and I’m able to summon fire
creatures as well. But the reason that Atlas hates me so enthusiastically is
that I can see through glamors and illusions.” Kota said as he removed the pair
of goggles from his pocket. The opals were cracked and the mage’s charge of
magical energy had long since dissipated. “All I need is a small charge to
these babies, Victor would you mind giving them a bit of magic?” Kota said as
he handed them to Victor. “Yep not a problem these will come in handy.” “Now as
far as the battle goes here is what I’m thinking.” Kota went into detail over
the next few minutes going over strategies and maneuvers. “Okay you two now
that we are clear on the battle plan gather any remaining supplies you need and
meet me back here.” Kota ran off and called out to master Atlas. “Master Atlas
may I see you?” Deep within Kota’s void
he heard Atlas’ voice whisper ‘come to my room’. Kota ran up the spiral stair
case to the top floor than around the walk ways until he reached a large stone
archway. ‘Turn inside here’ the void whispered. Soon Kota was knocking at the
door of the demon.
“Yes human come inside.” Kota heard from the
other side of the doorway. Kota entered to find a huge room filled with the
scent of honey and smoke. The walls were painted a bright yellow and the floor
was covered with one giant red silk pillow. Ten golden chandeliers hung from
the ceiling each filled with pink glowing lanterns. Atlas sat in the very
center of the room in thin bath robe reading a large leather book. “What do you
want human? I’m reading now and my guests will soon arrive so I must be dressed
shortly.” Atlas said as he flipped a page in the leather tome.
Page #30
Kota stood and looked out
over the field as iron doors began to open along the interior wall. Out of each
door warriors of all shapes and sizes began to pour out and fill the
battlefield. “You may choose two comrades from these men they will obey you as
if you were me. If they don’t I will destroy something precious to them. Be
cautious though human the men you do not choose will try to kill you.” Kota
watched as the men lined up quickly and organized. “I need all of the humans to
go stand against the walls No offense but I won’t have any use for you in a
battle.” About six men left the ranks of the brawlers. “Now if you are a mage I
need you to take a step forward everyone else take a step backward.” Kota
watched as all the mages came forward. There were about twenty or so all
together far too many to ask about their strengths. “Okay then when I first saw our master I
threw a magical lightening grenade at him and caused over half of his body to
be burned and chunks of his torso arm and leg to be missing. Now who wants to
battle beside me instead of against me?” Atlas came up and smacked Kota across
the face with the back of his claw. Kota just smiled as one of the mages in the
front row raised his staff. “Okay then mage get over here the rest of you can
line up against the walls.” Kota smirked
at the mage as he stood next to him and the mage had to stifle a giggle. “Okay
the rest of you come closer I want to see you up close.” Kota and the mage
began walking through the ranks looking over each warrior. Then without Kota
asking the mage tapped Kota on the shoulder and pointed to a man wearing a
mask. Kota stopped for a moment to look him over his muscles were well defined
and his eyes were sharp. “Okay mage I’ll take your word for it. Come on masked
man.” Kota and his two comrades walked
towards Atlas as the other men began marching into the open gates and back into
the dungeons. “Okay human meet Victor the mage he is a pain in my side but he
works off his debt competently. And then we have Azelf the most effective
killer in my entire battalion, a pure bred vampire has some of the fastest
strikes I’ve ever seen.” Atlas introduced him to these two men and they bowed
out of respect and master Atlas’ claws on their backs. “You three have one hour
to prepare for battle and develop a strategy. Report back here within that time
so we can begin the tournament. If you survive this week Kota I will give you a
chance to earn your soul back.” Atlas said as he walked away. As soon as Atlas
was out of view Kota turned to the mage and the vampire. “Okay Victor was it I
need to know what type of magic you specialize in.” Victor looked at Kota with fire burning in
his eyes. “I work with barriers and summoning. I am proficient at casting
elemental spells but I mainly work with barriers.”
Page #29
Kota looked around they
were in the middle of a lush forest but just on the edge of the horizon Kota
saw a huge stone structure. “Master Atlas where are we?” Kota asked as he stood
wiping chunks of mud off of his pants and pack. “We are currently located about
four miles away from my home and your prison. Now hurry the hell up I want to
be home before dark and that is the closest body of water big enough to
transport two adults.” Kota did as he was told and kept his mouth shut the
whole walk; it was another two hours before they made it to the stone
structure. Kota couldn’t believe that just one man stayed in such a huge
building. When they finally arrived Kota noticed the building was over one
hundred stories tall. “Master Atlas does anyone else live here or is it just
you?” Kota spoke as they entered through a twenty foot doorway. “I have many
guests who stay with me in my coliseum but most of the residents here are
slaves just like you.” Atlas remarked as he lead Kota up a tall spiral staircase.
When they reached the top of the stair case Atlas lead Kota to a room filled
with a large bed and thousands of candles. There were spiders crawling all over
the ceiling and the bed only had a thin sheet on it. “This will be your room
until I decide on a permanent place for you. I will let you know the more
pleased I am with you as a slave the nicer your accommodations will become. If
you displease me however I’m sure the dungeons have a few loose chains. You may
sleep here though until I call you, but you may only have one candle lit.” With
that Atlas excused himself and closed the Iron door behind him. (Like I would
ever take a single thing that demon offered.) Kota thought as he dropped his
pack and fell onto the bed he was asleep much faster than he could have
imagined. As he slept Kota’s mind didn’t dream but instead was left in a void
of sight, smell, sound, sensation and taste until the void was interrupted by
that familiar whisper. “Wake up human.” The whisper woke Kota and he stood
upright quickly scanning the room for anyone. “Come to me I await you in the
coliseum’s battle field.” Kota still half asleep soon found himself running to
get to the bottom of the spiral staircase Atlas had guided him up yesterday.
Then instead of taking a left out the large stone entryway Kota took a right
and followed a narrow pathway into the battle field. As Kota took his first
step onto the field he heard a loud slam behind him an iron gate had just been
slammed shut. Kota knelt down before he said, “Mater Atlas how may I serve
you?” Atlas looked surprised to see his
new slave being so obedient. Inside Kota’s mind he was visualizing chopping
through Atlas’ jugular vein with his hatchet. Kota slightly grinned at the
thought. “Human I have called you here for one reason and one reason only. You
shall compete for your place in my coliseum. The more battles you win the more
I will reward you. Lose and continue to lose and I will feed your rotting
corpse to my pets.”
Page #28
“That is a warning human
try to disobey to ask questions ever again and it will be much worse.” Kota
stood up and grabbed his gauntlet and ripped his hatchet out of the wooden
pillar in the wall then he ran upstairs and gathered everything else that
belonged to him. Soon he was waiting outside for the demon. After an hour had
passed Kota needed to stretch his legs so he walked around back to the airship
and climbed inside looking around he found twelve gold coins and picked them
up. Then Kota heard a whisper that sounded like it came from his void that said
“Come to me human and be quick about it.”
Kota ran back inside where the demon had cleaned the entire house and
his mother, his father and his brother had all been restored to life. Kota was
overwhelmed at the beauty of seeing them alive but some part of him was unable
to enjoy this moment. The demon stood beside his father and his mother while
they discussed the farm and Scotty played on the floor with a few wooden toys
his father had sculpted. “Mom dad it’s me!” Kota suddenly burst out. His
parents didn’t even look up. “Hello guys it’s me Kota.” Once again there was no
response from either of them or Scotty. “They can’t see you or hear you human
and if you were to touch them all they would feel is a breeze. I just wanted
you to see that I have indeed fulfilled my contractual obligation. Now you are
coming with me.” Kota looked once more at his family as he walked past them and
out into the village square with his master picking up his pack as he walked a
few paces behind the demon. “Um what am I supposed to call you?” Kota asked as
politely as possible. “My name is master as far as you’re concerned and your
name is human as far as I am concerned, but if anyone asks you who your master
is you will reply I humbly serve my master Cain Atlas. Is that understood
human?” The demon turned and looked him in the eyes. “Of course Master Atlas.”
Kota said through gritted teeth. When they reached the village well Atlas
grabbed Kota by the neck of his jacket and through him in jumping in just after
Kota. Kota screamed on the way down then the demon caught up to him as they hit
the water. But instead of being surrounded by water Kota found himself flailing
around in a puddle. Somehow the demon had transported him from the village well
to somewhere where the air was cold the sun was bright and the air tasted of
blood. “Stand up human you are embarrassing yourself.”
Page #27
The demon’s tail wrapped
around Kota’s other hand rendering him defenseless. “Now shut up and pay
attention worm you have two very simple options here. You can die like the rest
of these people.” The demon’s said gesturing to the corpses of his family. “Or”
the demon ended. “Or what?” Kota asked. “Or I can give them their souls back in
exchange for you selling your soul to me. It’s your choice son you can sell
your soul and get your family back or I will rip it out of you and you can die
like the rest of them.” The demon smiled an evil sickening grin. The choice was
clear Kota would have to consent. “What do I have to do?” Kota practically spat
the words at him. “So glad you can see reason.” The demon removed his claw and
tail from Kota’s arms and from his jacket pocket produced a quill and a long
piece of parchment. With lighting fast speed the demon pricked his finger tip
with the quill and began to write on the parchment. In about 5 seconds he had
filled the entire page with miniscule script to tiny for mice to read. “Just
sign and date here and I will return your family and as an added bonus I will
even fix any damage I caused while I was ripping out their souls.” Kota looked
at the contract for a moment then at the bodies of his mother and father. Kota
reached for the quill and the demon struck out and stabbed Kota’s fingertip
with it. “It must be signed in blood.” He said as he handed the quill to Kota.
Kota put the pen to the parchment and before he could sign he watched the blood
run of the tip and form his signature. Then the parchment began to float into
the air and began to glow. The light was so intense that Kota had to shield his
eyes when he looked back a simple glass jar floated where the contract had
been. The demon reached out and snatched the jar then he placed a claw on
Kota’s mouth prying it open he reached inside his throat and stuck his entire
arm down his throat. When the demon began to remove his arm Kota could feel
something fighting to stay inside it felt as if the demon was ripping his heart
out. Strands of pain like chains to his body were being snapped as the demon
removed his hand. In his hand was Kota’s soul, a red smoky ball of energy that
the demon shoved into the jar immediately. Kota felt sick his mind and body
were fine he was still alive but something was deeply wrong there was this void
in him a place he had always known as himself. “You now belong to me my every
desire is your desire my every thought is your command if you try to disobey
you will know a cruel pain no human has witnessed in over six thousand years.
You are my property as such you have no rights no privileges you have nothing
in this world. Your friends your family they will not recognize you. The good
news is you are alive and will stay that way as long as your soul belongs to
me. Now stand up and gather your belongings anything you own when you are
finished wait outside until I tell you otherwise.” Kota started to protest but
as soon as he opened his mouth a sharp pain like one thousand needles jabbing
at his insides sent him writhing in pain.
Page #26
It
stood up and roared a deep bellowing roar then ran out of the doorway. Kota
hurried over to Scotty and picked up his motionless body. Tears streamed from
Kota’s face as he closed Scotty’s eyes. After placing Scotty on his bed Kota
located his pack and pulled on his power gauntlet. Following the black blood
the monster had left a trail throughout his house Kota had his hand on the
trigger inside. It was in the kitchen where he found the creature along with
the headless body of his father. Kota’s mother was swinging a clever at the
monster as it deflected her attacks with one claw it dropped orb of energy into
its mouth with its other claw. Kota pulled the trigger then chanted a spell so
quickly the monster had no chance to evade. “Flammis deglutait exitum hostibus
meis!” < Flames of destruction swallow my enemy!>
A
red hot flame shot from the palm of the power gauntlet and was heading straight
for the monster’s back. Then at the second of contact the monster stepped to
the side and Kota watched helplessly as his spell hit his own mother. Kota’s
mother let out a blood curdling scream that echoed throughout the house as the
flames from his spell consumed her body. With Kota’s mother distracted the
monster stepped behind her and thrust his deadly claw through her back and
ripped up into her chest cavity. Kota screamed in protest as he watched the
monster remove her soul and devour it just as he had done with his brother and
father. As he swallowed the demon’s body became fully healed, then with a
simple gesture the demon was suddenly dressed. With his hair once again tied
back in a ponytail not a hair out of place. Kota was shocked and amazed at the
level of power this creature seemed to have it would take a miracle to kill
this thing.
“Well
now that they’re out of the way let’s talk.” The demon said as he picked up a cup
of tea from the kitchen table and began to sip from it. Kota let out a roar and
charged at the demon removing his hatchet gun from his coat he fired a shot at
the demon and as expected the demon avoided the blast, but Kota swung his
hatchet and barely missed the demon’s head and connected with a wooden pillar.
“Now really son you might want to hear me out.”
The demon teased as his tail wrapped around Kota’s wrist and snatched off his
power gauntlet. Kota tried to pull the axe from out of the pillar but he had
swung with all of his strength and his axe was embedded deep in the wood. “Why
would I waste my breath I’ll kill you, you fucking monster!” Kota screamed as
he threw his fist at the demon’s face with all the strength he could. The demon
caught his hand before he could land a punch.
Page #25
Kota couldn’t seem to
breathe as the creature started to walk towards him. Kota freaked out then
ripping the goggles off his face and threw them in the direction of the
creature. While in midair the goggle connected with something and the hovered
there for a moment before pink lighting began shooting from the lenses. Thunder
cracked as the lighting began to grow more frequent building and building a
high pitch tone seemed to scream as the energy seemed to reach its apex. Then
an eerie silence filled the room as the opal lenses began to glow pure white.
Then with a violent blast the goggles exploded sending Kota flying into a wall,
knocking him out. When Kota came to his eyes couldn’t seem to focus and his
ears were still ringing from the explosion. As the room came into focus Kota
could see the explosion had caused everything in the room to crash into the
walls and most of it was on fire smoke billowing out of the window. But
standing in the middle of the room was the creature Kota had seen except his
suit was gone and chunks of his torso, left arm and right leg were missing.
Large patches of his pale skin were burned and black blood dripped from his
wounds. “What the hell are you?” Kota whispered underneath his breath. The
creature then slowly turned his head to Kota one of his eyeballs hanging from
its skull. “Souls …I want your souls, muhahaha!” The creature cackled until it
coughed up blood. Rushing towards Kota with its gold claws gleaming in the fire
light, Kota stood up and braced himself. “Kota what’s going on?” Scotty said
from the door way coughing a bit from the smoke. Kota looked away for just a
moment to glance at Scotty and the creature ripped into his left arm with one
its gold claw. “Kota! Mom Dad help something is attacking Kota!” Scotty
screamed down the stairs as he grabbed a piece of a broken chair. The pain from
the gash in Kota’s arm was excruciating but Kota didn’t focus on that instead
he kicked the creature in the gut and sent it crashing to floor in front of
Scotty. As the creature landed Scotty struck at it with the broken chair, but
it launched itself up and before Scotty could land his hit the creature dug its
golden claw into Scotty’s chest. Scotty’s face twisted in agony as the creature
ripped its claw upward and cut through his torso. Kota watched in horror as the
monster pulled out his claw removing an orb of smoke and energy from his brother’s
chest. The monster held it in his claw dripping with blood for a moment then
swallowed it whole. Kota could only watch in horror as the creature’s burns
began to heal. “Yesss.” The creature hissed as it licked it claws clean.
Page #24
“What
do you mean by that?” Kota said chasing after Morten, but Morten just kept
walking placing his glass at the bar and walking out of the tavern. Kota
followed suit setting his glass down as well then chasing Morten out into the
street. “What do you mean by making it through typhoon season? My family has
always had plenty to live off of during the wet season.” Kota screamed after
Morten. Morten turned a scowl on his face then walked back to Kota. “Yes until
you left for your fancy school didn’t you know? I mean you must have realized
your father and mother sold half of their farms earnings to that Professor your
studying with. That’s the reason he came all the way from Mirage City. Not
because you scored above average on some apprentice exam.” Morten said matter
of factly. Kota doubled over he felt like someone had sucker punched him in the
chest he could barely catch his breath as he thought of all the letters from
home, some of which had been addressed to Professor Faulk. Kota stood up and
lunged forward throwing his fist into Morten’s jaw. He connected hard like
striking a stone with your bare hand. Morten fell over and lay completely
still. “Morten … Morten are you okay?” Kota leaned down and put his ear to
Morten’s chest. As he listened he heard the big lug breathing, so he picked up
his friend and half dragged and half carried him back to his forge.
Page #23
“Was
it that bad?” Morten asked as he held up his pint to drink. Kota snatched the
pint right out of his friend’s hand and downed that one in two gulps. “I guess
so!” Morten began to chuckle and Kota held up a silver piece. “Here buy us
another three rounds and I’ll tell you all about it.” Morten grabbed the coin
and immediately grabbed the bar tenders attention. Kota walked off and found an
empty table next to a group of travelers. From the looks of then they came from
the southern coastal country of Rowanur. Kota felt inside his jacket for his
hatchet, it was there and that reassured him a bit. Morten walked up shortly
after and placed the next round of drinks onto the table. Within an hour Kota
had forgotten about his mother’s concern and he and Morten were recounting
tales from their youth. All the while the travelers from Rowanur were quietly
playing a game of cards. “Do you remember the time you, Quesha and I broke into
old Quincy’s stables?” Morten asked Kota a dirty smile covering his face. Kota
responded, “Which time? The time we took the black stallion out for a ride in
the middle of the night and Mrs. Malcolm swore up and down she saw children
flying on a shadow the next day? Or the time we got drunk off that bottle of
honey wine you stole from old hog face?” Kota asked as he gestured with his
ale. “The time we drank three whole bottles of that honey wine. You and Quesha
had just found out that your apprenticeships were going to take you both out of
the village and my apprenticeship forced me to stay here in the village.”
Morten swirled his ale around in his glass before he gulped down the remainder.
“Aye that day was hard on all three of us Quesha was to go deep into the jungle
to study with the medicine woman. I had to travel to Mirage city to study with
Professor Faulk and you had to stay here with old Hoggart. We drank ourselves
completely silly that night. If my memory serves me right Quesha passed out and
fell asleep in Snow fire’s stable and me and you finished the wine on top of
the stable while we watched the stars.” Kota recalled the night very clearly he
had often thought of that last night in the village with fondness. “Yes my
friend that is indeed how the evening played out… It’s good to have you back
Kota. When Quesha returned it was as if my life had started again, but now that
you’re back as well it can be just like the old days.” Morten looked at Kota
then through an arm around his shoulder and gave him a slight squeeze. “Well
almost Morten I still have things left undone in Mirage City. I must finish my
studies and receive my certification.” Kota said as he removed Morten’s arm from
around him. “Ahh that’s not what you need Kota you’re plenty smart already.
What you need to do is open a mechanic’s shop here with your mother so she
won’t have to race to make it through the typhoon season and so I don’t have to
go without seeing my friend.” Morten
swung his body away from the table and walked toward the bar.
Page #21 & Page #22
When
Kota arrived at home he couldn’t believe his eyes the old airship he and his
mother had designed seven years ago was not only running but had a large golden
trophy sitting next to the steering column. Inside the house Kota could hear
his mother and father screaming. He ran inside with a smile spreading over his
face. Scotty was the first person to welcome Kota home as he walked through the
door, Scotty suddenly hugged Kota. “She won! Mom one first place in the
Bladesville Annual Airship Race! She actually won, Kota can you believe it?”
Scotty’s face was lit up like a candle. Further inside Drugen had lifted Kota’s
mother off of the ground and was spinning her around and around.
It wasn’t long before the family had lost all of
their energy celebrating and they sat down to listen to Ash-Lynn telling the story
of her victory. “So I had just unloaded the crops and hides at the market I
ended up selling most to that trader Joseph that came through here a few years
ago. With all that money I had got from Joseph I went to the mage guild in
Bladesville, threw it all on the counter and said ‘I need the most powerful
mage stone in the city.’ Well you would have thought I had asked for the head
of the mage king. Because they all erupted into a furious debate about where or
how they could procure it, I then said ‘I don’t give two fuzzy rats asses how
you do it I need that mage stone in hour.’ Then I walked out of the door and
went to take a nap on the airship. When I woke up there were four mages loading
a mage stone the size of a dog into the power uplink. They thanked me for the
money and I thanked them for the stone. I had already signed up for the race
earlier that day and it was about to start in less than three minutes so I had
to fly like an arrow to get to the starting line on time. When I finally got
there the starting flare had just been shot. I was in dead last but I quickly
gained a strong hold in the middle of the pack. There were over twenty
different airships racing every one of them was sponsored by a local business
but my lone flyer was much smaller and smaller means less defenses and more
speed. My evasiveness helped in many ways I had one ship try to launch a chain
cannon at my steam pump. Without hesitation I threw my anchor down which ended
up hitting a ship that was trying to pass me from underneath they ended up pulling
me out of the line of fire. But with my anchor hitting their steam reserve they
began to lose altitude so I had to dislodge the anchor chain. Without my anchor
weighing me down my acceleration and my altitude increased drastically. Soon I
was in third place and I couldn’t believe my luck both the airships in second
and third were locked in a battle of cannon fire I saw my chance to pass beside
the first place vessel and took it. Accelerating as much as possible I began to
pull alongside the first place airship but the vessel in second place saw me
coming and launched a volley of flares at my ship. I managed to slip by without
the flares doing any major damage to the ship but they hit my steam reserve and
I began to lose momentum. I only had one option if I expected to overtake them
both and pull out in first place. I had to activate my flare boosters but being
so close to the enemy ship I was hesitant. I saw the finish line only about a
hundred yards ahead. So with my heart in my throat and my hand on the lever I
threw my weight down activating the flares. I was hurdled backward almost
falling out of my post when they kicked on behind me I saw the crimson flames
licking at the side of the enemy ship. But I flew ahead of both of the enemy
vessels and rocketed past the finish line! The best part was landing in the
winner’s circle and hearing the hundreds of people cheering and applauding. I
would trade anything to feel like that again, well anything besides the five
hundred gold pieces and that huge trophy sitting in the airship.” Ash-Lynn and
the rest of the family giggled for a moment. Then she noticed the bandages
wrapped around Kota’s arm. “Drugen dear why don’t you and Scotty go and unload
the ship before it gets too dark. And if you have time check on how much a new
anchor and chain is going to cost us.” Drugen and Scotty looked at Kota then
back to Ash-Lynn then decided to get out of the house and do as she said.
Before they finished closing the door Ash-Lynn erupted, “What the hell
happened?!” Kota spent the next few hours explaining how the shifter had
attacked him and how Quesha had healed him. After he had told Ash-Lynn
everything she proceeded to lecture him for another hour on how he could have
and should have been more careful. By the time Scotty and Drugen had returned
she had fallen asleep sitting in her chair. It was dark outside so Kota had lit
a single candle which painted the room in warm light. As soon as Drugen walked through
the door Kota stepped out of the back and ran off to the tavern. At night the
street was mostly empty aside for the traffic in and out of the tavern. Before
Kota stepped inside he made sure the bandages were tight on his arm. Walking in
the tavern Morten was waiting at the bar holding two frothy pints of beer. Kota
walked up to his old friend, snatched a pint out of his hand and downed it in
three gulps.
Page #20
“May
I ask you a personal question sir?” Kota asked as the old mage turned to leave.
“If the question is not to personal.” Said the mage. “The shifter that attacked
you did you manage to kill it or did you let it escape?” Kota gave the old mage
a moment to answer. “When the beast attacked me I did not hold back I destroyed
it. Though some times when I think about it I wish I had not taken his life.”
The old mages eyes showed a twinge of regret and for a moment Kota felt the same
of his own attacker. “How about you, did you kill your assailant as well or did
you let it escape with its life?” The old mage asked brining Kota back to the
moment when he had crushed that shifter’s skull. “I killed it but, my only
regret is that I didn’t do it cleaner and faster to ease her suffering.” And with that Kota turned and left. Kota
walked around the village for a few hours thinking of how he had taken away
that assassin’s life. It had been easier than he thought stopping her was his
only goal and he was willing to do anything to accomplish this. But the life he
had stolen from her was just as important as his. Kota had been wandering
through town absently and only then did he realize where he was standing. Kota
stood in front of the parish, the church had arrived only a year or so before
Kota had left for mirage city. Kota walked in and took a seat on one of the
benches before the alter and silently he said a prayer for the soul of his
attacker. Then he exited quickly before he had a chance to see the priest. Kota
practically ran to Morten’s forge to see if he was finished with the settings
for his lenses. As Kota had expected Morten had finished the settings and sat
outside smoking his pipe. “Finally my friend I was begging to worry about you.”
Morten said as he tossed the bronze setting to Kota. The settings were just as
Kota had specified down to the gear shape that would surround the lenses. Kota
removed the potion from his pocket along with the opals he poured the potion on
the lenses and then inserted them into the settings making sure the lenses
would not shift in any way. Kota then removed a few leather thongs and tied
them to either end of the goggles. “Go ahead Kota try them on I wish to see how
they fit you.” Morten said as he stood up snatched the Goggles from Kota and
began fastening them to his head. Through the goggles Kota saw everything
clearer than clear. He saw how the water flowed through the trees how the wind
blew through the sky how the blood pumped through Morten’s body. “Oh Morten they work even better than I could
have imagined I see the flow of everything. Now I only need to test them on a
glamor and my theory will be proven. With these no assassin will be able to get
within a mile of the mage king or any other king. I am going to be a very rich
man.” Kota said as he removed the goggles. “Well I don’t care much for all that
assassin nonsense but the very rich man sounds promising. Especially cause the
first round is on you tonight.” Morten said as he poked Kota in the shoulder.
At that very second a loud whirling sound began to invade the air growing
louder as an airship flew overhead. As
it passed over Kota and Morten looked at each other. “I will see you at the
tavern later.” They said practically in unison as they shook hands. Then
without warning Kota took off running like a mad man towards the fields behind
his house.
Page #19
Walking into the mage guild
Kota could feel eyes on him though he saw no-one. He ventured further inside as he did a single
man began to descend from a stairway to his left. “Well hello sir I was
beginning to wonder if the guild had closed.” Kota began as he offered his hand
to the man. The man’s eyes were cold even for a mage he was older than most men
in the village and his hand reached out for Kota’s. When they shook hands Kota
noticed a single black vein twisting around the man’s wrist and up his arm
hidden beneath the man’s robes. “So sorry young one at my age I nap a bit too
often.” The old mage said with a bit of chuckle. “What can I help you with
today a love potion, a cure for your wound perhaps, or did you just need a
simple spell done?” As the old mage asked his question he moved behind a counter
and onto a stool. “Actually sir I have a rather strange request I need you to
charge to theses opal crystals as you would a mage stone then I need a dispel
potion.” Kota said as he reached into
his pockets to pull out the opal lenses. The old mage removed a pair of
spectacles from his pocket and began to examine the lenses. “It will take about
ten minutes for me to brew your potion and to charge these two thin stones it
will cost you oh a silver piece. Do you agree to that price young one?” The old
mage stuck out a hand for them to seal the deal. Kota reached out and shook his
hand, when he did the old mage held it and set down the stones. Soon the old
mage lifted the edge of Kota’s bandage. “You survived an arachnid shifter
assassin as well.” As the old mage said this he lifted his sleeve to reveal the
blackened veins Kota had imagined to see. “It was only a few years ago that I
stopped receiving challenges from young mages passing through here. Take this
as a warning young one never leave home without your arm covered, unless you
are looking for bloodshed.” Kota just nodded his head and the old mage let go
of his arm, leaving to prepare his potion. Kota watched as the old mage climbed
up and down a ladder removing ingredients from high shelves behind the counter
stopping occasionally to add something to a cauldron filled with boiling water.
After he had finished gathering the items he needed for the potion he spoke a
chant over the cauldron, and with a puff of smoke erupting out of the pot, he
began to spoon the potion into a large glass bottle. As soon as he finished
with the potion the mage placed the two lenses in a spell circle then began the
process of transferring a portion of his magical energy into the stones. Kota
could not look away as he watched the flow of energy coat the stones in power.
After the mage finished the opal lenses glowed and pulsed with light. “Here you
are young one, now for my payment.” Kota
handed the old mage a silver piece in exchange for the potion and the lenses.
Page #18
When
daylight finally broke through the storm the next morning Kota could no longer
stay in his bed. Looking through the pack, Professor Faulk had sent through the
warp gate with him, Kota found his Opal lenses packed away carefully. Scotty
and Drugen were both working in the fields behind the property clearing away
fallen limbs and trees. Kota decided to walk around the village and see what
all had changed since the last time he was home. The village had grown
considerably not only in size but also in number. When Kota’s ancestors had
settled this area sixty years ago there was only a wooden wall separating their
homes from the lush jungle surrounding them from three sides. Now the stone
walls of the village had almost reached from the mountain at their backs to the
valley many miles away. Before Kota had left many of this had been similar but
now the walls were fortified and a sentry was posted every few feet. As Kota
walked down the paths he heard the familiar clank of a hammer meeting hot
metal. Kota quickened his pace to catch his friend Morten a blacksmith’s
apprentice. “Morten you bandit what are you still doing here? I thought your
last letter said if old Hoggart ever smarted off about you work ethic you were
going to join me in Mirage city.” Kota
teased as Morten suddenly stopped hammering and threw the red hot rod into a
barrel of water. “You dog I can’t believe you survived that bite everyone in
the village was sure you were gonna meet the divine.” Morten said running up to
his old friend covered in sweat he wrapped his arms around Kota and pulled him
close. “It is good to see you well old friend.” Kota said as he hugged him
back. “I need your help Morten I need the help of the best metal smith in the
village.” Kota looked at Morten seriously. “Name it my friend if it is in my
power I shall provide you with it.” Morten said stepping back from Kota and
towards his forge. Kota removed his journal and gave Morten a page. “I need a
bronze setting for lenses made to these specifications if you follow the
instructions on this sheet to the word I will reward you with two silver pieces.”
Morten’s eyes lit up as he began to look over the pages Kota handed him. “I can
have them ready in four hours is that okay?” Morten asked as he headed over to
his forge to begin. “Do it in three and the first round of drinks is on me
tonight.” Kota said as he turned to leave. “You’re on Kota, see you in three
hours.” Kota left and knew with
confidence Morten would have the settings ready when he returned. With only two
errands left he hurried to the mages guild Earth Movers. The earth mover’s
guild was a home for mages on the road it was a place for them to take jobs in
town and to lodge during travels. The mage guilds also served as a shop where
humans could buy potions and get their mage stone’s charged. As Kota was
walking a pain shot through his arm that made him stagger and almost trip. Kota
clutched his arm as he sat for a moment. He was more than half-way to the mage
guild so he decided to continue. Before long they pain began to ebb away and
the stiffness soon dissipated as well.
Page #17
Finally
Quesha had the bandages undone and everyone looked over to Kota who had gasped
a bit as he saw his arm. The veins around his wounds had turned black and he
saw where the shifter poison had traveled through his veins it had almost made
it to his shoulder. The blackened veins stretched from his wrist to his to his
bicep. “How long will it be until the color begins to fade?” Scotty asked. Kota
whispered the answer barely escaping his mouth, “Never.” Quesha picked up Scotty and signaled for
Drugen to rise. “Kota needs to rest and I need to rewrap this wound you two go
get some sleep as well.” Kota’s family passed through the doorway without a
fight. As she turned Quesha looked longingly at her friend lying in bed with
such a severe wound and for the first time she let the gravity of the situation
hit her with full force. “Do you know how close this was Kota? We almost lost
you dammit! An hour later you would have been dead as soon as the poison
reached your heart it would have ate through your flesh and you would have been
a sack of skin filled with blood! I swear by all that is holy and right if you
ever do anything this stupid I will help your father etch that gravestone.”
Quesha
composed herself as she reached over and began rewrapping Kota’s wound. “I
swear Quesha I never meant to scare you. I’ll be more careful I promise.” Kota
looked at her for a moment the thunder seemed to stop as she looked at him.
“Damn right you promise to be more careful, what you think is going to happen
if I’m not there to stitch you up.”
Quesha emphasized her point buy tightening Kota’s bandage.
Page #16
Kota squeezed his brother
tightly holding him while tears streamed down Scotty’s face. Drugen bounded up
the stairs taking them two or three at time while Quesha followed in a slightly
hurried pace. As Drugen entered the room his eyes teamed with tears daring to
flow down his cheeks. He approached the bed cautiously at first then threw a
fist straight into the top of Kota’s skull. Drugen’s knuckles collided cleanly
with the top of Kota’s head. “Daddy what the heck is wrong with you? Kota are
you ok?” Scotty went on worriedly. Kota was fine he looked up at his father the
look on his face sent shivers down his spine. “If you ever get into another
fight with an overworlder I promise you Kota I will etch your gravestone
myself.” Drugen said with a smile on his face. “Yes sir, it will never happen
again.” Kota knew when his father was being serious. Quesha entered the room
her light frame was so opposite to the chubby little girl he had grown
alongside in his early years. “Well hello there Quesha I believe I owe my life
to you, I will never be able to repay your bravery or compassion. I am truly
humbled by your actions.” Kota said as he crossed his good arm over his chest
and bowed his head. He held that position until Quesha walked over and placed a
hand on his shoulder. “What else would you expect of me old friend.” She bent
down and gave Kota a nice firm squeeze. “Here let me look at that arm now.”
Quesha said as she took a seat next to Kota and Scotty on the bed. Drugen took
a seat from Kota’s old desk as he did this he ran a finger through the dust on
the desk then placed the chair next to the bed. “Okay so where is mom now?”
Kota asked as Quesha undid the wraps on his arm. “Your mother is in the annual
airship race in Bladesville. I had sent her there to trade some crops and hides
for more weapons and mage stones. But you know how your mother is any chance
for a race and she’s there.” Drugen answered as he pulled out a simple pipe and
began to pack in some tobacco. Kota looked at his father with a knowing smirk.
His mother had always hated Drugen’s smoking and he had always hated her racing
yet they loved each other more and more each day. “Do you think she’ll place
this year? I remember her letter from last year saying it was a close run.”
Kota said with a bit of a laugh. Drugen lit his pie as Scotty and Quesha both
let out a giggle. This time Quesha spoke up, “Your mother was no closer to
placing than I was, she came in second to last.” Kota let out and uproar of laughter
soon even Drugen was snickering. “Well then when is she coming home?” Scotty
answered this one, “She is supposed to be back tomorrow afternoon but knowing
her it will be more like midnight, especially if this storm keeps up tonight.
You know how dangerous airship travel is, personally I prefer a horse.” As
Scotty said this he stared out into the storm.
Page #15
With his breath labored and
his nerve endings burning he looked around the room. “I’m home … Oh thank God.”
Kota reached down and stroked the hair off of his little brother’s face. Scotty
was sleeping peacefully even through the rain and thunder. With his brother
asleep at the foot of his bed, Kota slipped out of bed and placed the blankets
around Scotty. Downstairs he heard two hushed voices whispering though Kota
couldn’t make out their words over the clattering rain, so he decided to slip
part way down the stairs to hear better. Hidden partially behind the stairwell
Kota could see the dim light of a single candle burning in study. “I believe
Kota will make a full recovery but a shifter’s venom will stain his skin for
the rest of his life. Those discolored veins will always be blackened. Others
may see it as a sign of weakness but warriors will see it as a sign of his
strength. Did you happen to notice the change in his physique?” Quesha’s voice
was a welcome comfort Kota had grown up alongside her in the village. “No I
haven’t noticed …” Drugen began, “Actually now that you mention it when Kota
arrived through the warp gate I thought he looked undernourished and he seemed
to have less muscle mass before.” Kota began looking at his arms and legs but
didn’t notice any difference from before. “A shifter’s venom works by breaking
down the proteins in muscles and in fat. Since the cure for a shifters bite
reverses this process the cure cannot tell the difference from muscle and fat
so it reconstructs the proteins as all muscle. This will continue throughout
the next few months. Very soon Kota will be much stronger than ever before. But
forever marked with the venom’s mark, fighter’s may wish to test his strength
if they know of this it may make him a target.” Quesha spoke softly but her
words carried much weight. Kota began to turn pale fighting had never been his
strong point and he had barely survived his fight with this shifter. “We will
deal with that bridge when we come to it Kota has many other strengths besides
brute force.” Drugen had more pride in his son than Kota had realized. Kota
smiled at that and began walking back upstairs, as he crawled back into his bed
young Scotty stirred and began to look around sleepily rubbing sleep from his
eyes, when his gaze finally rested on Kota his eyes lit up and a smile flashed
across his face. “Kota you’re awake! Daddy, Quesha Kota’s awake!” Scotty
screamed as he flung himself into Kota’s arms.
Page #14
She
waited for him at the well with her bow and quiver on her back and a spear in
her hands. She dressed in a tight tunic which hugged her body and a bit of
leather armor covered her vital points. Scotty was dressed in a pair a britches
and a loose shirt. But his bow and quiver were all he needed. He had ventured
into Orielas many times without his Father’s consent. “Okay you volunteered for
this I won’t slow down either you keep up or go home. If I tell you to stop
moving, stop moving one whispered word could mean death for both of us in
there. You must move quickly and quietly the sun is our ally many of the more
dangerous creatures hunt at night, but that does not mean we won’t run into
danger. If we run into an enemy use your bow and cover my back. I will face
anything head on that we run into but the creatures that hunt in the day, hunt
in packs. So we must stay together. Do you understand?” Scotty just nodded then without warning
Quesha turned to the jungle to and began run with Scotty close on her heels.
Drugen watched from his doorway as his son run off into almost certain danger
to save his other son.
…
It was over 5 hours before Quesha and Scotty
emerged from the jungle with the medicine for Kota’s wound. In that time Kota
had taken a rather nasty turn his wound had closed off and became swollen with
puss. The veins around the wound had begun to turn black. “We must hurry Scott
run to my house and get the bandages of my examine table. Drugen I need you to
boil some water while I open the wound and drain most of the venom.” Both
Scotty and Drugen followed her directions and after about thirty minutes of
hard work. Quesha and Kota’s family watched as the venom drained from his
wound. Soon after Kota’s wound was bandaged the whole lot of them had fallen
asleep Scotty fell asleep next to Kota’s bedside while Quesha and Drugen both
lie still as stone in the study. Around midnight a summer storm began to brew heavy
droplets of water struck the roof sending a symphony of clatters and bangs as
the thunder roared outside. As his family slept Kota was battling for his life
and in his mind his dreams were more disturbing than the present. (His heart
racing Kota still felt the fiery burning of the shifter’s fangs planted in his
arm pumping his body full of her deadly venom. The only way he thinks to stop
her is to tear her head off of his arm but when he reaches for the shifters
skull he finds his little brother Scotty there sucking out the venom. Before
Kota can say anything Scotty turns his head and spits out the venom. As it hits
the floors it suddenly turns into hundreds of gold coins clanging along the
floor. As Kota is watching this a miniature version of professor Faulk appears
in a mouse hole with big $$ for eyes running out into the chaos of bouncing
coins. With inhuman speed the little Faulk collects every coin returning to his
mouse hole. Out of curiosity Kota leans down into the professor’s hole. Inside
the hole the mini professor is mixing chemicals at a blinding pace barley
paying attention. The result is of course a giant and violent explosion that
burst forth with such force that it Kota was when flying until he crashed into
the sky which fell away like broken glass.) Kota awakened with a silent scream
that barely escaped his lips as he shot forward out of bed.
Page #13
“Wake up you lazy boy
you’ll sleep your life away if stay in bed any longer.” Drugen shook his son,
Scotty, awake. Scotty burst out of bed half-dressed and dripping with sweat.
“Was it another nightmare Scotty?” Drugen asked his son, concern chiseled into
the lines of his face. Scotty nodded and then ran off without a word straight
into the middle of the village, where the well lies and to his brother Kota.
Upon seeing Kota lying by the well Scotty screamed, “Someone help! Fetch my
father and the healer!!! Kota wake up…Kota come on Kota wake up, please wake
up.” Scotty eyes began to water as he tried shaking Kota awake. Drugen and the
rest of the village all rushed to Scotty and Kota’s side. So many people
gathered that the village’s healer had to push his way through the crowd. “Make
way you buffoons how am I to treat the injured if all of you are in my way?
Move!!!” The Healer Quesha was a beautiful woman strong and proud who demand
respect. “Scotty hand me the scrap of paper sticking from your brother’s jacket.”
After Quesha read the note from Professor Faulk she announced, “Kota has been
poisoned by a shapeshifter we don’t have much time I need men to help me gather
herbs for his cure. We will have to voyage into Orielas to gather these herbs I
need volunteers.” At first no man spoke and the crowd began to thin. “Stop
right there are you so heartless as to turn your back on a fellow villager and
let him die!” “I said I need volunteers now who will go with me?” Once again
the crowd moved away without any man speaking up. “I will go with you.” Scotty
spoke. “Father stay here you must comfort Kota if at all possible.” Quesha
looked Scotty over for a ten year old he was tall but in the jungle of Orielas
he would be little help. “Fine run home, grab your bow and meet me back here in
ten minutes. Drugen take your son home and get him in bed. Try not to worry we
will rush back as soon as we find the herb.” Scotty helped his father carry
Kota home and place him in bed. After that though he picked up his bow and quiver
but Drugen stopped him before he left. “Your mother will be back in two days if
Kota is not better by tomorrow she will blame herself hurry but keep yourself
safe as well. Watch Quesha’s back she risks much by help us.” Drugen hugged his
son then sent him on his way. “Pray for Kota father I will return with his
medicine swiftly.” Scotty ran off to meet with Quesha.
Page #12
“Antiqua virtus inest, ut puer hic frater tuus transibit hic lapis in
Madaemar.”
<Ancient power that resides here switch this boy with your brother stone in
Madaemar.> As Madam Dianna recites the spell each of the rune stones of the
warp gate begin to light up until all five of them glow like stars, with a
final burst of light Madam Dianna and Professor Faulk turn away averting their
eyes from the blinding flash. When they look back Kota’s body and is gone and
lying in his place is a simple stone with a glowering rune sizzling in the
earth.
Inside
the warp Kota’s body flies through a cylindrical worm hole with countless
curves and bends then suddenly at the end of the tunnel Kota sees the ground
rush up to meet him. With a resounding thud Kota lands in the middle of his
village just beside the well. Unable to sustain consciousness Kota’s mind fell
into a void where he could only feel the heat and pain of the venom pulsing
through him.
…
Upon waking Kota is aware of voices
calling to him but his mouth feels as though it is locked tightly be some
invisible chain of pain, for every time he attempts to open his jaw a vicious
pain hinders his speech. As Kota opens his eyes the evening light of a single
candle burns his eyes as though he was gazing into the sun itself. Eventually
his eyes adjust to the room it feels as if years have passed since he was last
awake. Kota managed to sit up inside his bed and look around. (Of all the
angels in heaven…I’m home…How did I?) His eyes flew to his arm covered with far
too many bandages. They smelled of death and Kota eyed them warily wondering when
the last time his bandage shad been changed properly. Kota took a closer look
at the room he was occupying though it was most certainly his old room many
things were different. For starters his room had been painted yellow, there
were now two beds occupying his space and his once proud trophy case had been
removed and a mural painted in its place. Although all of this had changed his
desk from before he left had every paper right where he left it, a film of dust
covered his half of the room. His desk seemed to be undisturbed by time. And at
the foot of his bed a young blonde boy with a long green ponytail sleeps
quietly. Kota has to double check but the little brat snoozing at the end of
his bed is indeed his little brother Scotty. It had been over 4 years since he
had last laid eyes on his little brother. When Kota had left Scotty was a
scrawny brat who had little to no promise of ever developing a worthwhile skill.
Now it seemed Scotty had a chance of being a decent care giver.
Page #11
“Well
tell me woman he needs the cure and quickly only the gods know how long he
has.” Professor Faulk said this with anger and impatience. He was far too
anxious the unknown poison coursing through Kota’s veins was obviously putting
Kota in a great amount of pain.
“The
cure lies in the jungles of Orielas just outside the village of Madaemar in the
country of Holiiand, but in the jungle lies creatures whose entire diet is made
of human flesh the venial plants eat humans but in their roots lay the cure for
a shifters poison.” As Madam Dianna spoke she used a somber tone. “Be warned
Faulk there are many dangers in Orielas.”
Professor Faulk was almost joyous though at
least there was a chance of saving his apprentice. “Why are you smiling Faulk?
Your ward may very well end up dead before you reach Holiiand.” Professor Faulk stifled a laugh “Because
Madam Kota hails from Madaemar that is where he became my apprentice since then
I have always left a warp stone in Kota’s village just in case he ever needed
to rush home, but the warp stone is only good for one person… We will have to
hope that Kota’s fellow villagers are able to read.”
…
Outside
the university Madam Dianna and Professor Faulk place Kota inside the warp
gate. The warp gate is a group of stones arranged in a pentacle; each stone was
etched with ancient runes imbued with power from long ago. After setting him
down Professor Faulk attached a note to Kota’s chest. <This is Kota son of
Drugen and Maya; he has been poisoned by an arachnid shifter. The cure for
which is the venial plant’s root ground into a paste. The venial plant grows in
the jungle of Orielas near flowing water. If you manage to cure him please send
him back to Mirage City to complete his training. If not please realize we did
everything in our power to save this young man. P.S. If he does die he owes me
twenty gold pieces which I will expect by your earliest convenience.>
“Okay
Madam the rest is up to you and his fellow villagers I only pray that he found
in time for them to administer the cure.” Professor Faulk steps outside of the
warp gate and Madam Dianna waved her hands over the poisoned youth. You would never
know by looking at her but the dean of Mirage University is one of the most
powerful mages in all of Etherya.
Page #10
The shifter’s body
fell to the ground with a hard thump. Even though the shifter had been defeated
its venom filled fang was still protruding from Kota’s arm. Kota felt light headed and his head began to
spin like a top. Unable
to keep his balance Kota feel hard to ground. Barely able to keep his thoughts
collected Kota removed the fang from his arm. Acari jumped from the netting as
he did this the flames surrounding him subsided. Acari reached down and grabbed
Kota’s collar between his jaw and began to drag Kota out onto the streets.
It
was an hour before Acari was able to drag Kota back to the university in doing
so he expended much energy. By the time
he reached the doorway to the university Kota’s extremities were numb but his
body felt as though acid poured through his veins. Acari accomplishing his
mission let an extremely loud howl echo through Mirage city then his body
rested turning him into a stone statue. At that moment Professor Faulk came to
the glass door of the university practically stumbling over his apprentice. “What
in the…Kota? Kota oh my, what has happened Kota…Kota speak to me. Kota!”
Professor Faulk picked up his apprentice and carried him into the glass
structure. Professor Faulk looked back for only a moment then whispered under
his breath, “Good dog.”
Inside the university Professor Faulk stands
over Kota while the Madam Dianna waves burning incents over his body. The smoke
forms the shape of the shifter woman latched onto Kota’s arm. “An arachnid
shifter this is bad Faulk very bad, I only know of one cure for shifter venom
and it is far beyond our borders.” Madam Dianna shakes her head in frustration.
Page #9
As Kota stood he saw what
had become of the guards. Above him strung up by the shifter’s silk laid the
lifeless bodies of all twelve guards shriveled and dried like raisins in the
sun. Fear rushed into Kota’s mind and heart. At that moment when Kota was
stricken with terror the shifter leaped into the air hissing. Kota looked even
more frightened for a split second as the shifter leaped right in between his
cross hairs. A wonderful smirk replaced his frightened expression as he
squeezed the trigger a bullet shot from his hatchet and hit the shifter in the
shoulder. With a deafening cry “Aaaaggghhh!” the shifter fell to the ground and
began to convulse, writhing in the agony. While the shifter was distracted by its
pain Kota spoke these ancient words, “Ego summoneas te, veni foras acari flammiferum cane
non” <I summon thee, come
forth acari the flaming hound.>A flame flew from Kota’s gauntlet and etched
circle the size of a coffee table into the earth. A tower of flames shot from
the earth and high into the air what was left inside the circle was a pile of
molten stone that was cast in the shape of a large dog. “Sick it Acari.” Kota
commanded, the molten stone dog suddenly burst into flames as it sprinted
towards the wounded shifter. The shifter
sprang to its feet and began to run up the wall of the jeweler’s store and into
its webbing. This made little difference to Acari his stone claws dug into the
iron side of the building and chased after the deadly creature. “What are you
after shifter?” Kota screamed at the shifter as it fled from his hell hound. Undeterred
the shifter spoke casually as it evaded the hound, “Idiot I only want your
blood!” In that second the shifter used another attack launching multiple
poisoned barbs at both Kota and Acari. Kota easily dodged most of the barbs but
one of them hit its mark and protruded from Kota’s arm. Acari however managed
to avoid all of the barbs by launching his body from the rooftop and landing in
the webbing his flaming body burning through most of the web as he landed. “Now
Acari, use your molten breath!” from deep within the stone dog a sudden burst
of magma shot from its mouth and landed on the shifter’s torso. With a horrible
ear shattering scream the shifter fell from the webbing and landed with a
thunderous crash to the ground. “Now tell me the truth you retch what do you
really want with me?” Kota began to walk over to the shifter to see if it was
still alive. “The journal I want the journal now give it to me!” With what little strength
she had left the shifter lunged forward and hooked one venomous fang into
Kato’s unprotected arm. The pain was
unbelievable like acid running throughout his veins with Kota’s arm caught on
the shifter’s fang Kota placed the gauntlet’s hand over the shifters head,
“Don’t make me do this!” but the shifter did not budge, then he squeezed with
all the power he had left crushing the shifters skull like a piece of fruit.
Page #8
Outside
the jewelers iron shop the air was still. The light of the moon shone from high
above Kota as he exited, he noticed the quiet the uneasy calm that had settled
into the night. Kota looked in all directions as the solid thud and clang of
the iron doors fell behind him. The guards were not at their post all twelve of
the brawlers and swordsmen were nowhere in sight. Kota inhaled deeply to detect
the smell of midnight mist wafting from the many oases surrounding mirage city
but there was another scent infused with evil and violence the smell of blood
wafted through the streets. Kota began to turn when he heard a voice smoother
than spider’s silk behind him. “Where are you going young one?” There behind Kota stood a shifter.
<Shifters or Shapeshifters were notorious assassins they never looked
entirely human though they usually favored their animal forms over their
humanoid appearance, often because they could never maintain this shape for too
long.>
The
shifter was a very attractive young woman her body was covered in the thinnest
thread Kota had ever seen. Her hair was blacker than the night beyond the stars
and her eyes stood out from her heart shaped face a very cerulean blue. Her
skin was pale as sand and her clothing were more or less under garments. The
only way Kota knew for a fact she was a shifter was the not so subtle hint of
the six arms she had folded across her front.
“Me? Miss…I’m going home but a woman of your
beauty should not be out in this cold with so little on. Would you care to come
home with me?” Kota teased as he
prepared his power gauntlet. He did not turn it on but merely hand his hand on
the trigger inside the mechanism.
The
Shifter woman laughed and clutched her sides. “No thank you I don’t play with
my food.” As she finished speaking she threw her hands up and tossed a sticky
net over Kota, knocking him down and pinning his power gauntlet to the ground. Kota
struggled for a moment then reached into his cloak and removed a hatchet his
only other weapon. With a great amount of effort he swung the hatchet and began
to free himself from the webbing pinning his gauntlet to the ground. After only
one swing he pulled the trigger inside and the gears of the gauntlet began to
spin tearing through the rest of the shifters net.
With a venomous hiss the shifter began to change
her shape her pale skin turned black, her hair changed to a milky white; her
arms erupted into powerful claws and her hearts shape faced twisted into a maw
of gnashing pincers. “I wonder how your blood will taste.”
Page #7
The
jeweler began to weep slightly then he sank on the very spot he stood and
crumpled to the floor. “Every man who has touched this book has died within ten
days. Some tell me there was a curse laid upon the wicked thing. A curse cast
by a mage of the Merfolk.” (I was unaware the merfolk had mages hmm… Who is
teaching the merfolk magic?) “How long has it been since this supposed cursed
item came into your possession?” Kota asked while he searched through his bag.
“Two months but I have never laid my hands upon it fearing the curse. But many
people have asked much like you and demanded I let them examine it. From what
I’ve heard from the guards the curse has taken its toll each and every time.”
Kota finally produced a gauntlet twice the size of his own arm and proceeded to
put his arm inside and attach it to his coat with a set of straps. “Do you have
any mage stones lying around? A piece of quartz should do just fine.” The jeweler was taken aback for a moment then
left and swiftly returned with three quartz mage stones. “If you don’t mind me
asking what in Etherya do you plan to do?” Kota responded simply, “I’m going to
lift the curse.” Kota placed the three
pieces of quartz inside a slot on the gauntlet and closed the slot. A second
latter the gears along the device were moving rapidly and sparks of energy were
jumping in between the gauntlet’s finger tips. “Levabo ad depellendam
tempus et claustra venenatis ligula.”
< I lift the barriers of time and space to dispel the magic here.> Green
fire erupted from the gauntlet’s fingers and slammed through the iron and glass
making contact with an invisible barrier surrounding the journal. As the flames
encircled the journal the magic seeped into the journal. A moment later the
glass exploded as the curse tried to escape in the form of purple smoke, the
green fire rose out of the journal and engulfed the smoke until there was
nothing left. The jeweler was astonished his mouth hanging open like a fish out
of water he tried to form words but none seemed to express what he wished to
say. “Here take these four gold pieces I’m taking the journal with me if the
mage returns looking for it tell him he was outbid.” Kota reached inside the case and removed the
journal. Inside the first page he found the ancient scrawl of magic runes
written in lapis lazuli. The crystal ink had been burnt until it was almost
unrecognizable but Kota could decipher the markings later. He stuffed the
journal inside his large canvas bag then exited the Jewelers wearing his now
fully charged power gauntlet even if he ran into that vampire he would be
unafraid.
Page #6
Kota quickly ran through
the events of the day and explained he needed two opal lenses. “The Opals you
require are quite expensive so we keep them in the back give me just a few minutes.”
The shop keeper shuffled away leaving Kota waiting inside the reception area. After ten minutes the shop keeper had still
not returned so Kota picked up a candle and began to wander the store. With no
windows and the only door being the one Kota had just entered that only left
the adjacent rooms to look through. Kota slowly made his way around to the room
opposite the waiting room. Guiding his candle along the walls he noticed glass
encasing fine jewelry and elegant clothes. He stopped only for a moment when he
found a worn leather journal encased inside a glass box with iron bars
surrounding it. (Strange… with all these valuables, why is this worn book
incased in iron while these jewels are left only in glass?) Kota pondered for a
moment as the store keepers lantern came into view. “Well, Sir were you able to find anything
useful?” Kota says partially covering his eyes this time. In the shop keepers
hands rested a serving tray, atop the tray laid 4 sets of opal lenses and the
Jewelers lantern. The first sets of lenses were outlandishly wide in diameter
and far too thin like sheets of paper. The second sets were the right diameter
but once again far too thin only about a blades width. But the third sets were
right on the money a beautiful fire green opal pair perfect diameter like a
ripe orange and the perfect width like a window pane. Anything excess Kato
could have a mage perfect. “I’ll need the third set sir how much?” The Jeweler
thought it over for a moment then said, “One gold coin each young master.” Kota
removed two of the gold coins he had and handed them to the Jeweler. “Fine here
now that this business is over what can you tell me of this journal?” The jeweler barely contained a gasp as his
hands began to shake set the opals on the tray to clatter. “I’m so sorry young
master but that tome is already spoken for a young mage came in and made and
offer of three gold coins for it a week ago. I’m sad to say he has yet to
retrieve it or pay me more than the reservation fee.” Undeterred Kota pursued again. “I did not ask
to purchase it sir. I asked what you can tell me of it. Where does it come from
what are its origins? Surely you know that much?” Kota eyed the jeweler again
this time he was setting his tray down his nerves unable to steady his hands. “All
I know young master is that it supposedly came from an engineer somewhere off
the Gilldaland coastline.” The jeweler
was sweating profusely and his fear was pungent in the air. “What else do you
know sir? Your body betrays you; you cannot hide your fear when it fills this
whole room.”
Page #5
Kota’s
heart raced the vampire was inching closer the smell of blood was wafting
through the air. During peace talks all creatures and nations gathered to discuss
the continent’s affairs but Vampires were undoubtedly the most hated and feared
even over the werewolves. The thirst is not something all Vampires can control
but most do not feed more than once a month. Apparently this vampire is not in
control and a vampire mid blood lust versus a lanky human is like the insect
versus the spider. Thinking quickly Kota dug his hands into the sandstone wall
beside him and began ascending toward the rooftop. Mere seconds feels like
hours as he struggles to reach the edge of the roof, once on top he peers over
the side to ascertain the location of the vampire. He is still steadily
dragging the corpse into the graveyard licking his fingers of any remaining
blood. Kota seizes his chance and takes a running start as he leaps from one
rooftop to the next only stopping when he can go no further thanks to the iron
wall of the jewelers. The slick iron walls were too high to jump over so Kota
is forced to climb down the front of the building he was currently on top of.
As Kota began his decent he sees the guards walking over to him. Twelve heavily
armored men stare at Kota with questioning eyes. “Ay what the hell do you think
you’re doing?” A guard walks up standing almost seven feet tall with massive
arms like tree trunks he catches Kota by his collar lifts him off of the wall
and dangles him over the street. While Kota explains his unusual behavior one
of the guards writes the statement down practically word for word. “Well you
better get inside boy, if he shows his face around here we’ll tear his pretty
little fangs out his skull.” The guard emphasized his point by picking at his
own teeth with a dagger. Thankful for the protection Kota runs inside the
jewelers and slams the heavy iron door behind him. Inside the jewelers the room
seems cold and quiet. The store is very dimly lit as Kota enters he sees two
white candles and a bell sitting on the
front desk both candles are lit yet they burn slow and the light cast
from them is too dim to make out much else in the room. He walks over
cautiously and rings the tiny bell. “Ding-a-ling” echoes throughout the store.
Within a few moments a flurry of stomping sounds over Kota’s head, someone
upstairs is stirring about, a waterfall of steps come crashing down stairs somewhere
else in the shop and a rather infuriated old man with a hook nose comes
bursting into the room with a lantern. The light from the lantern is far
brighter than the two candles and blinds Kota for a second as his eyes adjust.
The store keeper looked Kota over for a moment then asked, “What do you need
boy? I was on my way to bed.”
Page #4
“No
problem at all, Princess the very first pair shall be yours.” Kota said as he
bowed and walked out of the room. With the coins in hand Kota sprinted towards
the market place to track down two opals that he would be able to use for his
goggles. The market place a usually uproarious place of laughter and screaming
was almost disserted only a few food peddlers remained. “Dammit now I’ll be
forced to go to the jewelers.” Kota cursed his bad luck but he could not wait while
he had this ambition, this drive… the best time to act was now. Kota ran
through the streets leading just outside the City. A glass building is no place
to keep expensive jewels so about fifty years ago the mage king commissioned a
building to be made entirely of iron with no windows, and only one door. This
building is guarded at all times by some of the largest brawlers and swordsmen all
of Reyanall has to offer. Unfortunately getting to the building proves to be
trying since it is located outside of Mirage City. The out skirts of the city
are not the safest place to travel alone. Kota took his time slinking along the
walls of the stone building surrounding the city. Every time he heard a sound
other than his own feet he stopped and waited till he heard it moving away.
Kota peered around every corner and checked every alley as he stalked his way
to the jewelers. With the entire city’s wealthy and powerful celebrating the
peace talks the workers, dregs and the poor aren’t enjoying these affairs. Kota
was nearly there when he saw the graveyard three young women gathered around
one of the grave stones. The fastest route to the jewelers was to cut through
the graveyard. Uncertain Kota dashed from his hiding place among the stone
buildings and shot straight past the three young women, and out the other side
of the graveyard. As he exited the holy ground the jewelers building came into
view. Without hesitation Kota dashed along the street stopping short and diving
into an alley when he noticed a Vampire strolling down the pathway his face and
neck covered in blood dragging a dead man along as went.
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