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by DarKnight36 on Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:58 pm
Contrary to popular belief, Rune Solaris was not dead. Well, perhaps "popular" was too strong of a word. Rune highly doubted many people even recognized his name, let only ever thought about whether he might be dead or not. If he'd gone by the alias of Scourge, ex-leader of the Brotherhood, things might have been different, but Rune was a different person now. Or rather, he was just one person now.
Not that Rune could really remember. His memory was splotchy, full of holes and hard to recall, like trying to see the details of a painting through a thick fog. Rune believed that was because the other half of his memories lay within Oblivion's mind... or rather Oblivion's deceased mind. It didn't matter; what Rune remembered, he'd really rather forget.
What Rune did remember clearly was his last moments with Darius Lionheart. Rune fought down the urge to touch the massive scar that wrapped from his navel up around his right shoulder to the same point on his back, where his body had ripped open from the insane amount of power rushing through him. Myriad similar, but much smaller, scars crisscrossed his body. He'd nearly died. He'd thought he was dead, as he floated in the space between worlds, watching the stars gently twinkle his life blood away, his oxygen, his mind...
Then darkness had shrouded him, and he'd awakened on board a ship. Somehow, the Emperor had saved his life, nursed him back to health... Rune owed the man a great debt, and he was itching to repay it. The Emperor didn't see it that way, of course. The very reason for Rune's near-death experience was the reason he could stand before the Emperor today.
Rune had destroyed Oblivion's seal on the Empire, freeing them from a 30-year imprisonment. The Emperor had opened trade at once, seizing the chance to allow fresh air into a dying atmosphere. And it was all thanks to Rune. Or so the Emperor said. The truth of the matter was, Rune had done little. He'd laid the groundwork, but hadn't had enough power to force the seal to self-destruct. Darius had seen to that, and he had paid the price for it.
Rune's ravaged body had been a small price to pay; Darius had lost everything, the very core of his existence. The Phoenix.
Many debated what the Phoenix really was: the closest Rune had ever gotten to an explanation was a symbiotic culmination of power, the final destination in the rise of strength. As of a year ago, he'd known of four Phoenicians: himself, Wing, Vecked, and Darius. Now, Vecked was dead, something that should have been impossible due to the Phoenix's life-restoring power (but, despite the Emperor's assurances, Rune believed would have happened to himself as well), Darius had lost his powers...
Now, there were three: himself, Wing, and the Emperor. Rune hadn't been surprised. Enigma had hinted at the fact. Enigma... now there was another subject entirely...
The Emperor shifted in his chair, bringing Rune's attention back to the matter at hand. The meeting had already lasted three hours, and had gotten nowhere. There were six delegates in the room, the Emperor, and Rune, although neither Rune nor the Emperor had participated in the meeting yet. Right now, they seemed to be arguing over plantation fraud on one of the planets, something that didn't need to be discussed here at all.
Six planets, each with their own delegate, made up the Empire of Kalva, along with a few small moons that had temporary populaces on them. Kalva's technology was dumbfounding; they were 10 or 11 years ahead of everyone else, and were constantly making new breakthroughs. Kalva's military was small, at just above 2 million, but when you had a fifteen billion inhabitants spread over the six worlds that all had had military training at one point in their lives, Rune supposed the Emperor kept it that small on purpose.
Kalva seemed like a well-oiled machine... that had been shot with a nuke. Kalva was struggling to get trade, especially food, to those fifteen billion inhabitants. Kalva was not able to be self-reliant, at least not completely, and it needed trade like a fish needed water. More than that, resources were needed to deal with the more serious matter of the civil war on Crystalis.
Which was what the conversation seemed to be finally dragging down to. It's not that the delegates were ignoring the problem; they just didn't want to discuss it in front of Rune. Kalva had its pride, after all, and even though Rune had been here for the last year, they still looked on him as an outsider. That was okay with Rune; he still looked on them as whiny politicians.
One of the delegates, a man named Leon Strife, finally turned to the Emperor with a sigh. "All right, we've avoided this subject long enough. Emperor, do you have a plan?" Leon glared at Rune, who held back a smirk.
The Emperor smiled slightly, and leaned forward in his chair. "Yes. I've taken the liberty of drawing up a contract with a small band of mercenaries to deal with the problems on Crystalis. I propose we finalize the contract, and recall all troops from Crystalis to bolster defenses on Osidia."
Shock was visible on all the delegates' faces.
"M-mercenaries?" Leon choked. "Why not just slap us in the face and get it over with?"
"I understand how you feel," the Emperor said, the smile going from his face. He looked tired. "I know you'd like nothing better than to send our own people in there to fight. But that's just it, isn't it? It's our own people. We can't afford our own people to kill our own people. Rebels or not, corrupt or not, they are still Kalva. Fighting fire with fire is not always the best option."
Resignation fell across a few of the delegate's faces; most of the others just looked exhausted, like they'd been running for miles.
The Emperor leaned back. "Any more protests?"
Leon rubbed his eyes for a moment, then spoke. "We trust you. We always have, and always will."
"That means more to me than you know," the Emperor said quietly. Turning to Rune, he said, louder. "Rune, contact the Brotherhood. Tell them their contract has been validated. I want them there by the end of this week."
Rune nodded. "I'll be leaving today as well."
The Emperor smiled humorlessly. "Good luck to you all."
...You're going to need it. Rune added in his mind, bowed slightly, and then turned and left the room.
* * *
Contrary to popular belief, Enigma had a family. Or rather, heâd once had a family. It had been nearly 35 years since heâd last seen them. His father had been the Celestial Mage of Fire under the Emperor of Kalva, charged with preserving the balance of fire in the land and supporting the Kalvan army with his near godlike abilities. Enigma didnât really remember much of his father, other than a stern presence but a proud and faithful one. Tephobian had often been on assignment, succeeding in places even the other Celestial Mages failed. Enigma had always been proud of his father, even if heâd rarely seen him. Heâd understood the importance of duty.
His mother, on the other hand, rarely left his side. Her hair had been raven black, eyes green like emeralds, and she had been the most beautiful figure in his world for as long as heâd known her. Sheâd taught him everything heâd known, from birth to that fateful naming day on his ninth birthday. Heâd never heard her raise her voice, even when his antics brought exasperated sighs and frowns from the household staff. Sheâd never needed to.
In the Emperor of Kalva, it was customary for a childhood name to be given at birth, and then an adult name given on the ninth birthday. Whereas the childhood name was like a pet name, like Tod or Red, the adult name was the significant definition of the person you were and who you would become. Enigma had looked forward to it his entire life.
It was the motherâs duty to sever the childhood name from the new adult, and so it was that Enigma found himself accompanying his mother to the ceremony. He remembered vividly the events that followed.
His father had stepped up and exchanged quiet words. Enigma hadnât caught much other than that his father had to go fight somebody very strong, and might not make it back for a while. Enigma remembered feeling at the time impatience and annoyance, but heâd quickly squashed it under the pride he felt for his fatherâs strength. Tephobian had looked Enigma in the eyes, smiled, and then walked away.
Enigma had pieced together what happened next from eye witnesses and the official report in the Kalva databanks, which heâd sliced into a few days before. Oblivion, the Celestial Mage of Darkness, had disobeyed direct orders from the Emperor, and had even gone so far as to kidnap Selorian, the Celestial Mage of Wind. Rumors had suggested that Oblivion was experimenting with the most destructive force in the universe: the Phoenix. With the power of Selorian and himself, Oblivion might be able to replicate the Phoenix, putting this mission at the highest priority.
Tephobian had arrived at Oblivionâs mansion to find Oblivion controlling a corpse-like Selorian with his power. Tephobian was forced to fight both Mages, destroying Selorian. At the moment of victory, however, two beings intervened. This was the part that Enigma had paid close attention to. Heâd known of his fatherâs death that very night, but heâd never understood how Oblivion had won. Now he knew.
Rune Solaris, and another swordsman of similar strength and caliber, had engaged Tephobian. Tephobian had been caught off guard, but quickly gained the upper hand., killing the second swordsman easily. However, from what Enigma could gather, Tephobian had hesitated afterwards, and Rune had struck a fatal blow. Still, Tephobian could have destroyed them all, yet again he hesitated.
Eye witnesses, members of the army poised to backup Tephobian, described Tephobianâs expression has dumbfounded, tinged with fear, then suddenly turned to determination. At that point, Tephobian had flung out his arm and raw power had flooded from Tephobian into Rune. Enigma had considered this carefully, and finally come to the conclusion, after reading of Oblivionâs furious reactions and overheard words of âpowerâ and âhow dare heâŠâ, that Tephobian had transferred all of his power into Rune Solaris.
Then Tephobian had died.
At almost the same instant, Enigmaâs childhood name, Felix, was being stripped away. The fatherâs duty was to transcribe the new name, so hesitantly the rest of the family moved to dinner. They never ate. Oblivionâs soldiers struck, killing Enigmaâs mother before his eyes, his grandparents, the servants⊠In one instant, Enigma was orphaned and cut off from everything heâd ever known. Heâd only escaped the same fate by happenstance, tripping slightly as he walked down the hallway, the arrow that should have killed him chipping stone instead.
Oblivionâs soldiers had closed in finish the job. Not one of them had survived the incident.
Enigma had learned through one of the soldiers that his father was dead. Alone and scared, Enigma had fled his house, hiding from more of the soldiers until morning. Around noon, Oblivionâs pet project, the magic sealing wall, had snapped into place. One instant, Enigma had been running down a road, the next he was in stasis, unable to move, trapped inside the wall itself, not unlike the world Vecked had tried so hard to save.
Thanks to Runeâs sabotage, the wall degraded enough to the point that Enigma was able to extricate himself, only to find himself in unfamiliar territory, still quite alone.
Now, Enigma, 24 years of age, sat on a bed, and thought. Tephobian had been killed by Rune, when it shouldnât have been possible. Then heâd given Rune all of his power. Rune had then sabotaged Oblivionâs spell, and became a Phoenix along with Darius. Why had this happened? And what did it mean?
Enigmaâs theory was hesitant. He needed more information. If he was ever to obtain his dream, he needed toâŠ
A sound downstairs broke his train of thought. Frowning, Enigma stepped from the bed and walked silently to the head of the stairs.
âYo, get down here Enigma,â Azull called. âI know youâre still awake.â
Relaxing, Enigma moved down the stairs. âYou should knock before entering. Itâs only polite.â
Azull was seated at Enigmaâs circular table in his kitchen, an apple in one hand, a large bite already taken from it. He grinned at Enigma.
âNice pajamas,â Azull chuckled. âDid Sage make those for you?â
Enigma nodded. âAnd howâs your wife?â
âSick,â Azull said, grimacing. âSame as my kid. Thereâs a virus going around. Itâs nothing too serious but the implications are.â
âLet me guess,â Enigma said, seating himself at the table as Azull snapped other bite from the apple. âYouâre fairly sure the disease is being spread from food. Food from the Empire of Kalva.â
âYouâre right,â Azull nodded, his expression serious. âIt worries me. We donât have any idea what the Empireâs plans are, because Runeâs not talking, if he even knows. All theyâve asked for is to be able to trade food and goods. And people are getting sick from the food?â
âIt could be just coincidence,â Enigma said after a moment. âThe Empire hasnât been in contact with the rest of the worlds in just over 35 years. Thatâs plenty of time for a new disease to crop up that the rest of the worlds wonât have defenses against.â
Azull sighed. âYeah, I considered that. I also considered the fact that the Empire could be counting on that fact to wage biological warfare against the rest of the worlds. Itâs not like they really need motive, if they are who you say they are.â
Enigma didnât answer. It wasnât really something you could say something to.
Azull shrugged after a moment. âIâve brought a sample of the disease for you to look at. If you can, come up with something to counteract it.â
Enigma took the vial Azull handed to him and walked over to his fridge. âCome back in a couple of days, Iâll have it ready.â
Azull nodded. âWill do.â Standing, he sighed. âWell, lookie there, I actually had to come here.â
Enigma smiled slightly. âDoes anyone know you can do that?â
âWhat, switch between my illusions?â Azull asked, his nose crinkling slightly. âNo, I think youâre the only one who knows. Unless thereâs someone else who can tell the difference between the illusion and the real thing.â
âI donât think Iâm the only one,â Enigma said, considering. âBut I might be the only one whoâs actually met you.â
Azull rolled his eyes, waved, then disappeared.
Enigma frowned. âHe could have at least said goodbye.â
Sighing, Enigma walked back up the stairs to his bedroom, laid down on his bed, and stared at the ceiling. It had been about six years now. Six years since heâd really smiled, laughedâŠ
Six years since he remembered living, and counting.
Expressionless, Enigma closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
* * *
Darius Lionheart yawned. Really loudly. Which, of course, made Tyre yawn, his jaws creaking. Darius stretched, then went to yawn again. Tyre felt his own mouth stretching, and clapped a hand over it. Darius grinned, then started to yawn again.
This one turned into an exhalation of air as Tyre punched him in the stomach. "Stop that!" Tyre snapped. "Try acting your age."
Darius chuckled. "Let a little humor in your life, Tyre."
"Humor, huh?" Tyre asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm the comedic relief, remember?"
"Right, right," Darius said, smiling. "I forgot."
After a moment, Tyre muttered. "These mashed potatoes are crunchy."
"That's because they have bugs in them," Darius said, shoving a mouthful of said potatoes in his mouth.
Tyre's face turned pale. "Really?"
"No, it's broccoli. Shut up and eat it," Darius said around his food. Tyre gave him a dirty look, but kept eating.
After all, Darius thought, this is the best-rated inn in Ritrys. There better not be bugs...anywhere.
It had only been two days since Darius and Tyre had received their assignment from Azull; they were to travel to the world of Crystalis, and land in Ritrys, a small port kingdom that sprawled over a few hundred miles of land. Apparently, something had been going on with the King lately... like how he'd just made his daughter disappear. Their job was simple: find out what was going on, and fix it.
Their meeting with the King hadn't gone well. The King had been convinced they were government spies, which in a way was true, and had ordered them to stay out of his castle. Like that was going to stop them. But Darius hadn't told the King that. Instead, they'd retired to the nearby self-titled capital city, looked around at all the wonderful tourist attractions (a few old fountains and an opera, which Darius had fallen asleep in), and then found the inn as it got later. Rooms weren't a problem. Ritrys would never be a tourist hot-spot.
Darius swallowed a mouthful of hot bread, and turned to Tyre, speaking quietly. "You know, we're going to have to get into that castle somehow."
Tyre nodded. "I'll do it tonight. I'm less noticeable."
Darius shrugged, not taking offense. He was used to getting stares, considering he was tall, lithe, and just happened to be carrying three swords on his back. Tyre, in comparison, tended to get lost in the crowd, with his dingy clothing, his rusty sword handle, and nondescript features, except for his eyes. It was really a good thing; they needed someone to draw eyes.
"Just be careful; that captain of the guard fella was giving us some hard looks," Darius muttered.
"You mean, that Irgo guy? Yeah, he might be a problem if we have to fight him," Tyre said, shrugging. "But I'm not going to get found."
Darius waved a hand. "So what do I do while you're gone?"
"Stay in the vicinity, maybe frequent the gambling pub a few houses down," Tyre suggested. "Get yourself noticed, but not arrested, maybe?"
"Huh," Darius grunted. "Fine by me. But you know I can't gamble worth shriveled beans."
Tyre smiled. "There's a whorehouse around the block. You could always go..."
"Gambling's fine," Darius snapped. "And don't ever joke about that."
Tyre laughed softly. "Right, right. I'll see you later, big guy."
"Creep," Darius said as he stood. "Don't get lost, blueberry."
Tyre laughed again, and then walked out the door, leaving Darius alone with the food. After a few moments of waiting, Darius got up, and walked to the bartender.
"Anywhere I can go for fun around here?" Darius asked casually.
"There's a whorehouse around the block that you can go..." the bartender began, before Darius grabbed the man's head and slammed it into the bar.
"Yeah, never mind," Darius growled, leaving the man unconscious on the ground. "I'll find something myself, thanks."
Until I get a signature image, this is all I have.
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