Child of Time (47 page)

“
Perhaps it is because of how much energy you gave
her. She is in a way using your energy to bend.”
Luke was also
noticing the peculiar sensation. “
Don't hurt her.”

Kiyan didn't reply but began focusing on Sapphire's
bending. The first strike came as he figured out what to do. She
must have been more tired than she had anticipated because the
attacks came considerably slower than before. Kiyan forced his will
onto the vine that slithered toward him forcing it to the ground.
Once on the ground he made it grow roots. He could feel Sapphires
mind tugging on it as he held it down. Giving up on that plant she
bent a couple more at him. These Kiyan also was able to hijack and
neutralize. He could see the confused look of frustration that
Sapphire wore on her face. With her own energy she would still have
been a force to be reckoned with but Kiyan held an unfair edge
right now. Sapphire made a last ditch effort and cast a dozen vines
at Kiyan.

“What do I have to do in order to pass the
challenge?” Kiyan asked as he sidestepped a flailing vine.

“Prove beyond a doubt that you are a better fighter
than I.” Sapphire looked like she was beginning to feel the strain
of intense life bending. She had lasted longer in her last fight by
drawing energy from the space around her to compensate for the
drain.

Kiyan only took a moment to decide of his next
attack. He spun on the swirling vines and left them in sheds with
his sword. Sapphire didn't have a chance to recover from the sudden
loss of energy before Kiyan had his blade to her throat.
Remembering the last time he had been in a similar position Kiyan
sent a blast of frozen flames at a plant striking from behind
leaving a frost sculpture in its wake.

“I give, you win.” Sapphire was gasping for breath
over the shock of the sudden turn of events.

“Our last fight lasted a bit longer.” Kiyan hung his
sword on his back as his helmet evaporated. Seeing the confused
look on Sapphire's face he offered to show her his memories of the
fight. While they were connected Kiyan could sense Luke's
discomfort and surprise and confusion coming from Sapphire.

“I did all that?” Sapphire asked when she had seen
enough to convince her there actually had been a massive fight.

“No, I did a lot of it also.” Both of them looked at
the ravaged landscape. The remnants of massive trees littered the
landscape pointing away from a whitened and twisted battle ground.
Sapphire looked genuinely upset over the level of devastation she
was capable of.

-------------

Stout Oak intently watched the forest floor below his
perch. His grayish hair was neatly braided and a dark ebony mask
covered most of his face. Deep green eyes peered through slits in
the mask taking in every detail below him. His tall muscled frame
was covered with supple pale smooth bark that set off his eyes and
mask. His pointed ears heard a rustle on the floor below and his
clothes shifted to the hue and texture of the tree limb and tree
trunk he was on. Sharp eyes scanned the vegetation where he had
heard the rustle. His concentration was rewarded by a few broad
leafed plants sliding aside from an invisible form. Thoughts about
the meaning of the phrase "only the luminous one can fight the
agent of darkness without corruption" passed through his head.
There was much confusion as to the interpretation of this. Some of
the elders believed that it meant it meant verbatim what it said.
Others argued that it only references a single agent of darkness
while their forests had been invaded by hundreds of malevolent
creatures. Stout Oak knew he was skirting the edges of the
interpretation with what he was doing. Most shadow walkers he only
followed but a few presented a threat to his people. This one was
acting like a scout of some kind. A few dead leaves rustled under
invisible feet. Suddenly the rustling stopped and Stout Oak's keen
ears heard what sounded like sniffing. The elf was like a statue on
his perch waiting for the next move. A few moving leaves caught his
eye on the opposite side of the clearing. This was different, there
wasn't a sound associated with the slight movements of the
vegetation.
Two invaders?
Stout Oak thought to himself.
These were both far closer to his home than he liked.

Suddenly Stout Oak heard a low growl from the first
invader and before his eyes the scaly creature appeared out of thin
air. A blade and a blaster in hand the drakken leaped forward.
Odd, the two don't seem to be on the same side.
The second
cloaked individual made his move. The figure momentary rippled into
definition as a blue flash split the distance separating the
drakken and the newcomer. A look of satisfaction crept through
Stout Oak's eyes as the drakken mortally injured by an invisible
blade slipped through the leaves into a concealed pit. The ground
collapsed around the hole revealing the impaled drakken on the
sharpened roots at the bottom of the pit. The other individual's
cloak failed as he flailed for balance teetering on the edge of the
pit. Stout Oak scanned the figure covered in clearish blue light
plate armor. A long glowing sword hummed as the man caught his
balance and stepped back. Stout Oak remained still as the newcomer
began scanning the forest surrounding him. A scowl formed on both
their faces as the newcomer focused on the area Stout Oak occupied.
The blade hummed as the newcomer took a defensive stance and stared
at the still motionless elf in the tree above. Stout Oak was about
to make a move when he felt the sharp end of a weapon pressing
against his neck.

“Father?” Sapphire's voice stopped Stout Oak's
counter attack.

“Whose side are you on?” Stout Oak stood carefully
avoiding the sharp branch that had been pressed to his neck.

“I don't hear the whispers anymore.” Sapphire stepped
around the tree onto a branch opposite Stout Oak.

“Who is that?” Stout Oak tipped his head towards the
man below.

“I think he is the one the prophecy spoke about.”
Sapphire self-consciously slipped a strand of hair behind an
ear.

“You fight him?” Stout Oak passed a critical eye over
the still wary individual below.

“He beat me twice.” Sapphire sounded embarrassed by
the admission. “He is really strong.”

“He hides himself like them.” There was a hint of an
accusation in Stout Oak's tone.

“His abilities are.... Unique.” Sapphire evaded
further questions by swinging down the tree to the ground.

Stout Oak dropped to the ground and approached Kiyan.
“Might I examine your blade?” Kiyan gave a quick glance towards
Sapphire before extending the handle towards Stout Oak.

“Fine edge, excellent balance, light yet strong.”
Stout Oak furrowed his brow and snatched back his hand when he ran
his fingers along the flat of the blade. “Cold.” The word was
mumbled under his breath. “Constructed from ice? Yet still strong.
Passive energy draw imbued into the blade.” Stout Oak looked up
before addressing Kiyan and noticed that his armor was made from
the same material as the blade. “You are an ice bender.” Stout Oak
gave the blade a couple swings listening to the song it made. His
eyes widened as he saw the cold blue flames that followed the blade
in its arc. “Unique indeed.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Kiyan had overheard
the conversation in the tree and was a little apprehensive of
Sapphire's father. Possible due to Luke's feelings spilling
over.

“It would be my honor if you really are the luminous
one. There is only one way to be sure. Come.” Stout Oak made a leap
that landed him twenty feet in a tree. Kiyan glanced at Sapphire
who returned the glance and followed her father. The realization
that this was probably a test spurred him to action. A burst of air
bending landed Kiyan up in the tree and soon he was jumping through
the trees in pursuit of the agile elf. A couple times only his
enhanced reflexes saved him from plummeting to the ground far below
as a limb suddenly shifted position or a vine snapped tight in his
path. A slice of the sword or another shift in the density of the
air was sometimes all that kept him in the race. Kiyan realized
that he was only maintaining his position and that Stout Oak was
trying to knock him out of the trees. On this realization he began
climbing higher and finally burst through the green leaves into the
sun. Using a hybrid of firebending and airbending Kiyan soon caught
up with Stout Oak. Once he had caught up he found his progress
stymied by the fact he didn't know where the destination was. He
maintained a position over the leading elf while he tried to figure
out the dilemma.

The answer presented itself when Kiyan saw trees in
the next valley that towered above the giants that made up the
forest. Kiyan shot forward and rapidly closed the distance
separating him from the trees. When he arrived he saw that a grove
of the giants had been grown from normal trees into a village of
sorts. Vines grew together and formed bridges and walks between the
tree houses connecting them on a number of levels. Using his life
bending enhanced vision Kiyan found one that glowed the same color
as Stout Oak. He was pretty sure that this one had been grown by
Sapphire's father. Setting down on a crotch where the top of the
building grew together he waited for the arrival of the other two
elves. He didn't have long to wait as he soon heard them coming
through the forest below.

“How can he claim to be the luminous one capable of
defeating the other two heroes if he can't even move through the
woods at a reasonable speed.” Kiyan heard Stout Oak complaining as
he effortlessly sped up the tree.

“You were laying traps.” Sapphire exclaimed over what
Kiyan suspected.

“The fact that I could take the time to lay traps
randomly and still outdistance him with ease speaks volumes of his
abilities.” Stout Oak swung over an edge and landed on a platform
overlooking the forest just below Kiyan. Sapphire followed him a
half second later.

“At least give him a chance, he did defeat me and I
represent the forest elves.” There was a hint of frustration in
Sapphire's voice.

“I prefer "different" modes of transportation over
being land bound.” Both the elves jumped as Kiyan dropped to the
platform behind them.

Kiyan could see Stout Oak's eyes narrow behind his
mask. “Perhaps I was wrong about you. You have yet to defeat the
other tribe’s representatives. Do this and then I will believe it
is you spoken of in the prophecy.”

“So what now?” Kiyan was beginning to realize he
wasn't going to get anywhere unless he fulfilled all the
requirements of the prophecy.

“You have already proven some skill life bending.
Probably an accident defeating my daughter but never the less you
must also prove that you can defeat the representative of the
mountain tribe and the water tribe. Do this and you will have
earned the hand of my daughter in spite of your poorly developed
ears.” Stout Oak watched the suddenly reddening of faces of both
Kiyan and Sapphire.

“I, uh, it’s not me that likes her, its Luke. I mean
I like her but not that way.” Kiyan stammered out an objection. He
could sense several confusing sensations from Luke at the
announcement. Apparently the point where Kiyan stopped and Luke
began was rather blurred to some observers.

“Who is Luke? Do you deny having feelings for my
daughter? I have seen how you look at her.” Stout Oak's eyes were
mere slits now.

“Luke is a shape shifter that lives with Kiyan.”
Kiyan wasn't sure if the blush was from Sapphire’s father
embarrassing her or from the partial lie. The strange sensation of
nanites seeping through pores in Kiyan's skin and then when Luke
constructed a physical form together with his telepathic
projection. The result gave Luke the ability to interact with his
environment while maintaining any appearance he wanted. Kiyan
suppressed a laugh when he saw Luke's pointed ears.

The silence could have been broken by a pin dropping.
“So what about finding the other two challenges?” Kiyan tried to
defuse the situation by changing the topic.

“A linked life form.” There was a short pause as
Stout Oak appraised the new apparition that's stood before him.
Kiyan saw Sapphire flinch as her father reached out and grabbed
Luke by the shoulder. “For a moment I thought you were a telepathic
construct but no construct could ever simulate the sensation of
touch adequately.” Both Kiyan and Sapphire were a little surprised
at the announcement that showed Stout Oak’s suspicions. “Sapphire
will be your guide and take you to the other challengers.” With
that Stout Oak glanced at his daughter and turned toward his house.
With a wave of his fingers a seam opened up allowing him entrance
and closed after him.

“Luke! How did you do that?” Sapphire experimentally
touched Luke to see for herself.

“I used some of Kiyan's nanites to construct a thin
layer at the projection boundaries and used a honeycomb like
structure inside to give it strength while using as few nanites as
possible.” Luke was about to continue but Sapphire interrupted
him.

“You have nanites in your body? We only use them to
construct things we can't grow.” Sapphire reminded them that the
elven race had been a space race some time ago.

“Well anyhow, what should we do now?” Kiyan was at a
loss.

“If you aren't tired we could find the water tribe
champion and continue the quest right now.” Sapphire adjusted her
pack and looked at Kiyan and Luke expectantly.

“I'm not tired.” Kiyan had hardly finished talking
before Sapphire stepped backwards off the platform and made a
backwards swan dive. Kiyan rushed to the edge in time to see thin
vines snaking out of her pack and swinging through the trees.

“
I will modulate your force fields.”
Luke and
Kiyan weren't about to let a girl out do them. Kiyan followed
Sapphire off the ledge and free fell for a few seconds. Kiyan threw
out his arms and his force fields rippled out beyond his fingers. A
strong gust of wind bent into his wings sent him through the trees
at a terrifying pace. Kiyan found that augmenting his airbending
with wings made flight a lot more maneuverable. Sapphire was also
keeping up a furious pace herself. Kiyan dodged and swooped between
the trees as he slowly caught up. Kiyan bent up a strong tailwind
and sailed through a narrow corridor making up a good distance
between himself and Sapphire. When he exited the corridor and
swooped in behind Sapphire, they were now only separated by a
hundred feet. Sapphire glanced over her shoulder and gaped at the
sight of Kiyan gliding through the air. She only looked where she
was going just in time to miss a tree in her path. Kiyan deftly
flew around the tree but was surprised when a number of vines shot
out into his path. Unable to avoid the net he tore through it and
lost control of his wings. Stunned Kiyan slammed into another tree
and fell tumbling through the air. Kiyan tried to regain control
but only managed to send himself tumbling in another direction.
When he finally gained some control he slammed into another tree.
This time he tore a handful of bark off with icy fingers as he
began to shift. This gave him an idea and when he hit another tree
Kiyan was better prepared. The impact drove his claws deep into the
hard wood securing him still a few dozen feet above the ground. The
sound of splintering wood filled the air as Kiyan yanked his claws
out of the tree and clambered up to a limb. He looked at his hands
before shifting back and saw that he had reached a partial draconic
transformation and had claws on hands and feet. He had just managed
to return to normal when Sapphire dropped down to the limb next to
Kiyan.