The Chaos Wars

Chapter 18: Ingenii

“Chaos?” Lux said surprised

“Yes, unfortunately so. You must have noticed the boundaries between realms weakening!?” Queen Coralia said

“Yes, but ..but...how in chaos can a sea mare become poisoned?” Lux said

“Come and see, we would appreciate your advice on how to deal with this issue” King Caspian said

“Anything we can do to help” Jamie said sheepishly. She needed to make amends after blowing a hole in the roof of their ancient hall.

They were all guided out to a carriage and Jamie could see two Sea Mares ready to pull it.

“Be careful, it is unwise to underestimate the power of Chaos” Queen Coralia said

“I will protect them both, you have my word” Lux said with a bow.

“I know you will Lux and thank you” Queen Coralia said with a grateful smile.

“Please hurry!” One of the Sea Mares mind-linked. Both the Sea Mares pawed the ground nervously.

“We are coming my Dear Friends” King Caspian said as he, Lux and Jamie got into the carriage. As soon as they sat down the Sea Mares reared and galloped. Jamie felt them being pulled along at speed, all sat on a nice soft cushion.

“I wish I could see the ocean floor, I am sure it is magical!” Jamie said wistfully.

“We are going far to fast to see anything, my child. The Sea Mares seem very worried, which normal only means one thing” King Caspian said in a worried tone.

“Which is?” Lux asked

“One of their foals is in trouble!” King Caspian said seriously. Sea Mares where rare elemental creature, foals even more so. As long time allies of the Merpeople, Sea Mares had a personal relationship with the King and Queen.

The King had guessed correctly, for when they got out of the carriage Jamie saw a herd of sea Mares glowing in her mind’s eye.

“My King, thank goodness you are here! I am happy to see you have brought the Moon Child as well!” Mare Nuibum mind linked 

“How can we help?” Jamie said instantly. She could feel the worry roll off the mare.

“It is Mare Serenitatis foal, she has been poisoned by a chaos pool that has formed” Mare Nuibum explained.

“Mare Serenitatis?” Lux said sadly. The Mare had carried him across the Azure sea, something that most Sea Mares would not do for Demon.

“Yes, please hurry now! Mare Ingenii Is fading fast!” Mare Nuibum. The Mare guided the three of them into the centre of the herd. There Jamie saw Mare Serenitatis glowing brightly laid down by a small foal. Instead of the foal growing brightly blue with their elemental magic, she was a dark blue with black threads running through her body. The black threads were twisting and changing colour constantly.

“My King! You brought the Moonchild and Lux as well!”  Mare Serenitatis said making a move to get up. Foal Ingenii weakly neighed in protest.

“Please do not get up Mare Serenitatis, just tell us what happened” King Caspian gently.

“We....we were grazing at the seaweed bed near the chasm. I turned my head for only a second and she was gone. When she was found, she was near a Chaos pool and most have been tainted somehow. Please, please help my baby! She is my first and I know the Goddess won’t give me another one after I have been so foolish!” Mare Serenitatis said panicked.

“Calm yourself my friend, you are making your child upset. Jamie and Lux, may I speak to you alone for a minute” King Caspain said gently as he turned and moved outside the herd.

“What is wrong?” Lux asked concerned. 

“This is beyond my power, the chaos taint is too strong” King Caspian said quietly.

“What?” Jamie exclaimed. Surely the King of the Seas had the power to deal with this? Jamie thought.

“This is not a elemental problem, it is a chaos one” Vanth Mindlinked .

“I am sorry to ask, but are the rumours true? Can you control chaos?” King Caspian asked hopefully.

“Me? What about Lux?” Jamie said Uncomfortable with the thought at what is happening next.

“I would, but the foal is an elemental creature. I am not sure how they would react to my pure chaos magic, in fact I might make matters worse!” Lux said

“And I won’t?” Jamie said

“Princess, I know you have lost your confidence since....since....well you know! But you have got this!” Lux said encouragingly.

“I am sure you can! You just need to collect the threads like you did with the water!” King Caspian said 

“Look what bloody happened there, I blew the roof off!” Jamie pointed out.

“If you don’t, the foal will most likely be turned into a chaos pit demon. She will have a life of torture and pain, do you want that Princess?” Lux said in a hard tone.

“Of course not...it is.....it is......” Jamie said biting her bottom lip. She was scared of failing! She had misjudged the cost of using her elements and ended lost her sight. Even her mates thought she was not as strong as she once was! She was stuck trying to learn things 5 year old elemental users could do, whilst her friends and mates were fighting.

“Just try, Princess. Please! They don’t deserve this” Lux said gently. Jamie nodded and they all went back to them Mother and Foal.

“Mare Serenitatis, I am afraid the Chaos taint is to strong for my magic” King Caspian said calmly.

“No! My baby! Goddess help us!” Mare Serenitatis Mindlinked in a grief stricken voice. Jamie’s mind was suddenly reeled full of sorrowful Mare’s voices. 

“Clam my friend, we have a solution. The Moon Child is here and she will help, isn’t that right Jamie?” Lux said softly.

Jamie smiled and said gently “Yes, Mare Serenitatis. Would you mind if you give me and your child a little bit of room?” 

“Of course Moon Child” Mare Serenitatis said weakly as she gently got up and moved slightly. Jamie could tell it was hard for the Mother to leave her foal. The trust of the Mare suddenly hit Jamie. Serenitatis was trusting Jamie with her first child and Jamie suddenly felt determination well up inside her. There was no way she was going to let this foal die!

“That is better! Let’s get this chaos out!” Vanth said approvingly 

“Once you have the chaos threads, I will deal with it!” Lux said confidently as Jamie kneeled down by Ingenii.

“Hello Ingenii, I am Jamie. I am just going to get the thing that is making you sick, but it might hurt a little. Do you think you could stay as still as possible for me?” Jamie said in a soothing voice.

“Yes” Ingenii said weakly in a voice that reminded Jamie of a gentle wave breaking on a shore.

“Vanth?” Jamie mind linked 

“You need to call your elemental water to heal the holes that might occur. Then you need to call the chaos threads, they are going to fight you, it is in their nature. You need to coil them in a ball, like your Ma did with wool for knitting” Vanth Mindlinked.

“I can do this” Jamie said in her mind as she called to her water element and explained what she wanted it do.

“Of course I help this beautiful foal!” Water said as Jamie saw the water element cover Ingenii completely, ready to heal where needed.

Jamie sighed and cleared her mind, she saw all the threads forming in her mind. She could clearly see the chaos threads and began to will them to her.

“Come!” Jamie said firmly and the chaos threads started to move. They where fighting every inch and Ingenii was starting to struggle with the pain. 

“Come on you sons of bitches” Jamie muttered as she dug deeper into her power. The threads started to move slowly out of the foal’s body.

“Your doing it! just a little more!” Lux said Encouragingly.

Jamie bit down on her lip hard and tasted her blood. Her eyes went black as she dug into her chaos power. The threads were removed from the foal’s body and Water rushed in to heal the wounds. Jamie was slowly wrapping the threads into a ball. Eventually it was all done and Lux quickly took the ball of threads. It shimmered for a moment and then was absorbed by Lux. His eyes went black before returning to their normal colour.

Ingenii suddenly started to glow bright blue and got tried to get up. Mare Serenitatis trotted over and nudged Ingenii to her feet with her nose.

“Ingenii? Baby?” Mare Serenitatis Mindlinked 

“Ma! Ma look I can get up and there is no pain!” Ingenii said joyfully taking a few steps forward and then trotting around the herd. The Sea Mares all neighed joyfully as they came up to nuzzle the foal.

“Thank you so much Moon Child! You have saved my child and the herd’s future!” Mare Serenitatis Mindlinked.

“It was Lux as well” Jamie pointed out.

“Of course, how rude of me! Thank you Lux!” Mare Serenitatis Mindlinked  as she nuzzled Lux’s chest as a sign of deep appreciation. Lux realising the importance of the gesture, gently stroked the side of Mare Serenitatis’s face.

“It was the least I can do Mare Serenitatis” Lux said softly. 

“I knew you could do it child!” King Caspian said happily as he petted the foal

“Well we only have one more problem left” Lux said

“The chaos pool” Jamie replied having no idea how they would deal with that.