Union of Fire

Chapter 5: Endless Warfare

Chapter 5: Endless Warfare

Dorian and his friends escorted people to safety as Loxx’s forces fought the fires with magical spells of rushing water. Diamos paced the base of the statue, worried for his people.

“It’s all right, sir. Julius and the others have escorted the people away from the fires and they will soon be extinguished. Loxx is resilient, she will not fall so easily.”

“Thank you, Barlamain. Well done.”

Barlamain bowed and took off toward the castle with Diamos as Dorian and the others returned. “Thank you for your help,” the king murmured as he passed. Dorian and the others gathered around the statue, each considering the ramifications of their ominous encounter.

“Well, we’ve gone and landed waist-deep in dog s**t again,” Bartas said, rubbing his hand across his face.

“Yup,” Dain agreed.

“Julius, what just happened? Who were those people and what were they talking about?” Dorian questioned.

“Everyone, inside now,” Julius ordered and took off toward the castle, his steps weighty and deliberate.

“He looks pissed,” Dain commented.

“Dain, please watch your language around Nolan,” Siena scorned.

“Yes, ma’am,”

Kara slapped Dain on the back of the head.

“Ow, Kara. You really like hurting me, don’t you?”

“Yes, it amuses me.”

“You heard Julius. Let’s go,” Lucas urged.

Maya pressed her fingers against her temples and entered her mind’s eye. “I want everyone to meet in the throne room immediately,” she informed.

The Loxx forces continued their scramble about the city, tending to fallen townspeople and extinguishing the burning fires. Kaya and Lucas walked together, observing the destruction in the distance as they entered the castle.

“What have they done to our home, Lucas?” Kaya cried.

“It’s okay, Kaya. I won’t let this stand. We will devise a battle strategy and retaliate. I’m just happy that you’re safe.”

“Agreed. Keeping you safe is our main priority,” Maya replied, quickly ascending the stairs to catch up to Kaya.

“Was that the vision you kept having, Maya?” Lucas asked.

“No. You and Kaya are still in danger, so please stay alert. I don’t want anything happening to either of you.”

“Got it, sis.”

When everyone arrived in the throne room Julius stood in the center of the floor talking with Rin, Diamos, and Barlamain.

“We are here father,” Xia announced.

“Good. Gather around. We have much to discuss.”

“Lay it on us. What are we up against?” Bartas asked.

“In my research, I could not find any information on the mysterious figures that just attacked Loxx. However, after our little encounter, I am fully aware of who we are dealing with now,” Julius revealed.

“Who are they, Julius?” Lucas questioned, stepping forward, his eyes begging for answers.

“They are remnants of my race. They were all a part of the same society that gave birth to me. The two leaders, Orthenius and Verutia, were children when my race fell. They were, however, the children of Zathandalous. He always hated humans and strongly disagreed with our union with them. He was always suspected of killing the primary leader of the humans and sparking the conflict that led to the fall of my people. He was the one who poisoned Beldazon’s mind with hatred and distrust for the humans,” Julius explained.

“What was all that energy swirling around Orthenius’ body,” Dain asked.

“It was an electrical charge. As I recall, Orthenius was quite adept at energy manipulation at a very young age. I once saw him expel an electrical force from his hands in a training session. His sister Verutia, however, is on an entirely different level. Her mental capabilities were so powerful even at a young age that she could manipulate and even control people simply by thinking it at the age of one hundred,” Julius replied.

“One hundred years old! Julius, that’s pretty old,” Dain remarked.

“Oh, I’m sorry, human years then. She was ten,”

Maya’s thoughts dwelled on her encounter with Verutia. She was sure she had felt it. It was dread. The thought of how powerful Verutia’s influence was on her mind frightened her.

“What about the others, Julius? Who were they?” Siena asked.

“The man standing on the back of the dragon statue was Xeadulous. He was ten years older than me during the fall of my race. He was one of the four elemental Droragorian.”

“The four what?” Kaya asked.

“I remember my mother telling me the stories about them when I was young.” Xia began. “The four elemental Droragorian were a group of four warriors whose sole purpose was to protect our race. During the time of the fall, they were away on a mission. My mother believed they were lured away in a plot of deception by the humans to create a better opportunity to strike our people. The four warriors were Alistair, the dragon of wind. Xeadulous, the dragon of earth. Kiros, the dragon of water, and Jerudya, the dragon of fire,” she explained.

“Then logic would suggest that two of the remaining cloaked figures were Kiros and Jerudya,” Rin suggested.

“I suspect that is the case,” Julius replied.

“That may be true but that still leaves two unaccounted for, minus the guy who is completely out of his mind,” Lucas added.

“Yes, Tarin was always a troubled man. He was once one of my mentors. He was the one who helped Larenia master her abilities. He was very adept at the mystical arts. He always carried his book of incantations with him. When he was a child he witnessed the murder of his sister at the hands of radical humans and never shook the horrible memory. He believed that her death was his fault. His mind couldn’t handle the stress so it created an alternate persona. Now when Tarin is under duress Zaros emerges,” Julius explained.

“So, he is older than you yet he looks younger because of a spell?” Rin asked.

“Yes. He said he called it rejuvenation. He looks as he did when he was much younger.”

“Very interesting. I must look into this!” Rin exclaimed, his curious mind churning with ideas and possibilities.

Lucas clenched his teeth as if he had remembered something that infuriated him.

“Are you all right?” Kaya asked, gently grabbing his hand.

“How did Verutia know my mother? Julius? Father?” Lucas asked, turning toward both of them.

“I’m sorry, Lucas, that is one thing that I do not know,” Julius sincerely replied.

“I’m sorry, son. I am unaware as well,” Diamos said, breaking eye contact with Lucas.

“So…we are dealing with four angry elemental dragons, an insane sorcerer, the children of Zathandalous and two more unknown enemies that we know nothing about. Is that correct?” Dain recounted.

“Yes, Dain. I believe that is correct,” Julius confirmed.

Dain buried his face into his right hand, huffing.

“Wait! Orthenius and Xeadulous mentioned Zathandalous. They spoke of him as if he were still alive,” Diamos said, his eyes filled with worry.

“Yes, you’re right. They did. He can’t be back, though. I sealed him away. He couldn’t have returned,” Julius replied.

Maya suddenly gasped and began to tremble. Her head felt as if it were being split open. She clutched her forehead, screaming, and a voice invaded her unprepared mind.

“I have to admit you are quite powerful. The only person who could ever challenge me mentally was your father. I’m going to enjoy toying with your mind, Maya. Until next we meet,” Verutia’s voice echoed. Maya fell to the ground, still clutching her head.

“Sis, what’s wrong?” Kaya questioned, running to her sister’s side.

“V–Verutia. She’s in my head.”

Verutia’s evil chuckle echoed in her mind until her influence abruptly subsided. Kaya helped Maya to her feet, examining her. “Are you okay, sis?”

“Y…yeah, I’m okay. I think it’s over now.” Maya’s thoughts began to churn and she considered her original vision. “Oh no…”

“Is she trying to enter your mind again?” Dorian asked.

“No. I just remembered my vision from three years ago.”

“Your what?” Dain asked.

“Maya had a vision at Kaya’s wedding three years ago. She decided not to tell anyone because she feared it would worry us,” Julius replied.

“How do you know that?” Maya asked.

“My abilities, remember? And your father would have similar bouts of emotional uncertainty with his visions. I am quite familiar with your conflict, young lady.”

“What did you see, Maya?” Bartas asked.

“I saw a group of nine cloaked figures standing around a large mirror. They started to chant and a bright light engulfed the mirror. The mirror began to ripple and I saw a hand protrude from the center. I heard a muffled voice say welcome back, father. The rest of the vision was blurry and I couldn’t make it out very well.”

“That sounds like the mirror I sealed him in years ago. Then it is true. He has returned,” Julius said.

“That can’t be. If he had returned three years ago he would have attacked before now,” Diamos challenged.

“I agree. However, Orthenius did say that he wanted us to see more pain before he killed us. I assume that Zathandalous has a grand plan for destroying the humans. He was always very fond of spectacle,” Julius replied.

Barlamain lost his patience and charged toward Maya, ready for a fight. “Why would you keep this information from us, Maya?” He yelled.

Kaya stood in front of her sister, blocking Barlamain’s aggressive advance. “Don’t scream at my sister, Barlamain,” she defended.

“If she had told us this three years ago we could have sought them out and destroyed them before they got the chance to attack us! Look at the city, Kaya! The front gates and the entire east district is in ruins!” Barlamain screamed.

“Barlamain, please calm down,” Diamos urged.

“No! I will not calm down! She should have told us the truth!”

Lucas stepped forward pressing Barlamain against the wall as he spoke. “Barlamain, listen to me. I know you’re scared but please calm down. We aren’t going to get anywhere by yelling and pointing fingers.”

Barlamain paused for a moment, realizing how furious he was. The room of concerned eyes was his indication that he had crossed a line. He sighed, ashamed by his primitive explosion, and dropped his head. Kaya stepped toward Barlamain resting her hand on his shoulder.

“Barlamain, my sister kept it to herself because she didn’t want to alarm us. She wanted us to enjoy that day and not worry about another attack. After Beldazon we all deserved a little peace. Besides, my sister had no way of knowing how dangerous her vision would become or what it even meant, so please don’t yell at her. I know you’re scared. I am too, but please calm down,” Kaya pleaded.

“I…I’m sorry for my rash behavior your highness. I spoke out of turn. I’m sorry, Maya. My conduct was unbecoming of a gentleman. Forgive me,” Barlamain pleaded.

“Apology accepted.”

“Excuse me,” Barlamain bowed and left the room to compose himself.

“What now?” Dorian asked.

“We need to devise a battle strategy,” Bartas suggested.

“Agreed. We need to find them and stop them before they can do any more damage,” Xia added.

Siena’s face turned pale white. “What’s wrong, Siena?” Bartas questioned.

“You’re going to have to fight again, aren’t you?”

Bartas gazed into Siena’s teary eyes. He knew how much fear the thought of him leaving carried for her. He hugged her, gently rubbing her back to calm her fearful mind.

“Yeah. I promise I will come back. I have a son to take care of now. I’ll come back.”

“I’m going with you, Bartas,” she said, pulling away.

“No, you need to go back to the Hollow and take care of Nolan. I will not have you two in danger. Please, Siena. Do it for me,” Bartas pleaded.

Siena looked away planting her hands on her hips. “Damn you, Bartas,” she whispered.

“Please be careful, father,” Nolan whimpered.

Bartas kneeled smiling. “I will son. You are the big man in the Hollow now, so please take care of your mother for me. Use the sword I gave you.”

“I will.”

Bartas ruffled his son’s hair knowing full well that his joyous giggle would ease his anxiety. Nolan laughed as Bartas rose to his feet smiling at Siena. She avoided eye contact with him, livid that her husband was once again coaxed into risking his life without her.

“We leave tomorrow morning. Prepare yourselves and gather your things for an early departure,” Julius informed.

The warriors dispersed to prepare for their impending journey. Each of them felt the peace they had struggled for slipping away and contemplated the dark future that would soon befall them.