FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (128 page)

     “Volcano Strike _ it is of this that was the last spell my senior, Master Elementhar Rock Dencon, had used against the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan when he was exhausted and defeated; and it was also the last spell that my master, Grand Elementhar Ridge Santlyn, had used against the assassins when he drew them away from me and the Original Vanguard Manuscript 15 years ago. Volcano Strike _ of this, it is with this spell which I shall strike down anyone who tries to stop me from speaking today
!
” exclaimed Ray, his eyes bloodshot red.

     The crowd fell silent. Even Master Calnen was shocked by Ray’s bluntness and explosive rage.

     “Attention _ you have ours of this now, Ray; so speak what you must,” said Master Calnen.

     “Announce _ I am here today to do of this that the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan has been destroyed by elements of the Fallsian Military under my command. Assassins _ of them, the majority of those who took part in the massacre of my order have been killed, including their clanmaster, Venom Collart. Immunity _ some members of the clan were granted of this for their co-operation in its destruction, but I assure you, most of them were not directly involved in the massacre of my order 15 years ago,” announced Ray.

     At first the hall was silent. Then an Elementhar clapped. Then another. Then the whole hall burst into thunderous applause. But Clover and Lance did not clap. Their expressions were still of rage, just like Ray’s.

     “Congratulations _ I wish you of this, Ray; for this is a great victory and a fantastic accomplishment; and so, would you consider rejoining the Grand Order and restart your order
?
” asked Master Calnen.

     “No
!
” was Ray’s stern answer.

     Master Calnen was taken aback. This was not the answer he had expected. More so, this was not the tone of voice he had expected
!

     “Why
?
” asked Master Calnen, clearly insulted.

     “Justice _ the Grand Order had
failed
to provide of this for my order and for me; and of this,
I shall not forgive!
” explained Ray.

     “So _ if it is of this, then why have you called us here; or is it your intention to gloat over your accomplishment
!?
” questioned Master Calnen.

     Ray shifted his gaze from Master Calnen to Master Shay. There could not possibly be more anger, hatred and disgust expressed in anybody’s eyes than that of Ray, Clover and Lance’s at this moment.

     “Him
!
Grand Elementhar Rapier Shay _ it is of him that I called for this gathering, so that I may expose to you his treachery; for he
is
Baron Chessmaster, the person who is truly responsible for the massacre of my order
!
” accused Ray, pointing his finger at Master Shay.

     Immediately the gathering hall went abuzz. There were shocked expressions everywhere. Elementhars began arguing with each other again. Master Calnen had to shout for silence yet again. This time his efforts were fruitful. Master Shay sat silently. His expression was calmed and composed.

     “Sympathy _ of this, I feel for you; for you have clearly lost your mind. Reason _ what is it of this that I would have had to massacre your order
?
” asked Master Shay with a caring and concerned look.

     “Reason _ of this, I know not
!
” admitted Ray.

     “Reason _ of this, you know not because I have none
!
” stressed Master Shay.

     “Reason _ of this, you have; but I am not as yet able to see
!
” retorted Ray.

     “Reason _ of this, you are not yet able to see because there is none; and there is nothing but your imagination
!
” Master Shay pointed out.

     There was an awkward moment of silence.

     “Accusation _ Ray, yours of this is serious
!
Dare _ how of this of you to call for an emergency gathering, come in here and then accuse our leader of such a hideous crime
?
Proof _ do you even have any of this
!?
” said Master Calnen sternly.

     “Accusation _ in support of mine of this, I offer the proof that in his last dying breath, Clanmaster Collart had said that Baron Chessmaster litters his lair with Crimsonut shells; and that I have confirmed that Master Shay is the only person in the whole of Free Falls who consumes them,” said Ray.

     The High Council started laughing. Half of the crowd did as well.

     “Crimsonut shells
!?
Accuse _ you do of this of our leader of a heinous crime and the
only
evidence you offer is red peanut shells
!?
” ridiculed Master Calnen.

     The gathering hall burst into laughter once again. Some were even beginning to get angry at the fact that they were summoned here for the sake of peanut shells
!
One by one, they began standing up and shouting for Ray’s removal.

     Master Calnen called for order yet again. The loud chaotic voices died down in the gathering hall. Ray, Clover and Lance still eyed Master Shay with extreme hostility. Master Shay himself was still calm and composed, as though nothing had happened. Master Calnen did not even know what to feel. On one hand, he was happy that the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan had been destroyed. On the other, he was disappointed that Ray would not rebuild his order in the folds of the Grand Order. And to top it all off, Master Calnen, who was once Ray’s mentor, was embarrassed that Ray accused the Grand Elementhar himself of being Baron Chessmaster with nothing more than Crimsonut shells as evidence.

     Master Calnen decided that he would tolerate Ray’s insolence no further. With a heavy heart, he summoned up the strength to do what he felt he must.

     “Leave _ Ray Iddell, you and your associates are required to do of this from this gathering hall today. Return _ you and your associates shall never do of this forever
!
” he decreed.

     Ray showed no emotional change. He had expected this reaction. But this had left him only one viable option. Actually, it
always
was this
one
viable option. There never was any other option.

     “Invoke _ I do of this of the right to duel, as stated in the Law of Elementhar Administration. Accuse _ I do of this to Grand Elementhar Rapier Shay of hiring the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan to massacre the Order of Fire Elementhars in the Year 1185 of the Known Era. Duel _ Grand Elementhar Rapier Shay, I hereby challenge you to do of this to prove your innocence
!
” said Ray.

     Once again the gathering hall went abuzz. Immediately there were Elementhars who stood up and shouted that the challenge was illegitimate since Ray was no longer part of the Grand Order. There were, however, a few who stood up in support of Ray, saying that guilt and innocence should not be decided upon by membership issues. The chaos was getting out of control again. Master Calnen was about to call for order yet again when suddenly…

     “Accept _ I do of this of your challenge, Ray Iddell
!
” announced Master Shay above the chaos of the crowd.

     The gathering hall immediately went silent. It became as quiet as a graveyard. For the first time, the crowd did not know how to react. Master Calnen stood with his mouth wide open in shock.

     “Field _ shall we proceed to the open of it
!?
” invited Ray.

     “Field _ you may lead the way to the open of it,” replied Master Shay calmly.

     Everyone rose and followed Ray and Master Shay outside the gathering hall. Behind the main building and beyond the vegetable patch lay an open field, just like how it was at Monune Ruby. Ray and Master Shay stood in the middle of the field, surrounded at a distance by their brother and sister Elementhars. Master Calnen stood between the two duellers.

     “Sure _ are the both of you of this
!?
” he asked.

     Ray nodded his head with a stern look. Master Shay nodded his head casually.

     “Stadium _ Earth Elementhars, build of this now
!
” commanded Master Calnen.

     The Earth Elementhars begin closing their eyes and drawing in their breaths. As they, Master Calnen included, reach the meditative state, they kneel down and press their palms onto the ground. The ground begins to rumble. It feels like an earthquake. Clover, Lance and the others begin to look around in panic. Slowly, they begin to rise. The earth beneath them slowly elevates them. The elevated ground begins expanding upwards and outwards as it rises, separating the Elementhars into three distinct rings; namely an inner ring, a middle ring and an outer ring. Ray and Master Shay ignore their surroundings. They stand firm and focused in the middle of the field, where the ground had not risen.

     Slowly, seats begin to form in the three rings, out of the earth itself. The inner ring stops rising to form the lower terrace. It stands at the height of one storey above the original ground level. The middle ring stops rising about two paces higher than the inner one, thus forming the middle terrace. Then, the outer ring stops rising two paces higher than the middle one, forming the higher terrace. The Elementhars look around in amazement to find themselves standing on the terraces of an earthen stadium. And down below, in the arena, stands Master Elementhar Ray Iddell facing Grand Elementhar Rapier Shay, with High Elementhar Calnen standing between them.

     Master Calnen shakes his head in disbelief. He feels that this entire affair is just ridiculous. But both parties involved insist on it, so who is he to deny them
?

     “Rules _ of these of the duel, what shall they be
?
” he asks, acting in the capacity of a referee.

     “Death _ to this shall we fight
!
” answers Ray, causing the crowd to go wild with shock and disbelief.

     High Elementhar Calnen closes his eyes in disappointment upon hearing Ray’s answer, although he is not surprised.

     “Death _ to this shall it end,” responds Master Shay calmly, causing most of the crowd to break into applause; for they feel that Ray is being too rude or possibly he has lost his mind and should be put down.

     “Pledge _ of this, I shall make; that is I shall use only the fire element to avenge my order
!
” adds Ray.

     “Pledge _ of this, I make none except to put your rudeness to an end as swiftly as possible
!
” declares Master Shay, causing the crowd to break into a thunderous applause again.

     Ray and Master Shay bow to each other, thus sealing their fates. Stepping back towards the nearest terrace, Master Calnen kneels down and touches the ground with his finger. Immediately the ground beneath his feet rises and carries him up to the lower terrace. Stepping backwards onto the lower terrace, he takes his seat next to Master Waycress on one side and Clover on the other.

     “Begin
!
” he declares with a heavy heart.

     Yelling at the top of his lungs, Ray shoots off a Heat Burst the size of a coconut at Master Shay. At the speed of lightning, Master Shay draws out his rapier and slices at the Heat Burst, absorbing its energy. The resultant impact knocks him backwards three steps. Although visibly shaken, he affords a smile; and this infuriates Ray. Ray charges in with his silver staff and does a Vertical Downwards Strike ending with his right leg in front. Master Shay pulls out a dagger with his left hand and together with the rapier in his right, cross-steps in and blocks the strike. He then follows up with a left Front Alligator Kick to Ray’s right knee, which sends Ray toppling to the ground. Thrusting out his left hand and stretching out his four fingers while his thumb holds on to the dagger, Grand Elementhar Shay executes a Horizontal Tornado Spell. A conical jet of swirling wind shoots out of his fingers. Ray rolls out of the way, just barely, before the Horizontal Tornado hits the spot where he had fallen and explodes, creating a small crater and creating a small cloud of dirt and loose soil. Ray gets to his feet. Master Shay recovers his poise.

     Clearly Master Shay is not as feeble as he seems to Ray. And clearly Ray is not as bull-headed as he seems to Master Shay. Both opponents realise that this will be a drawn-out fight.

     Suddenly, Ray sends a series of Heat Spears at Master Shay while charging-in. Master Shay absorbs the attacks with his sorcerised rapier and dagger, but becomes distracted by them. Using his silver staff, Ray executes a Right Horizontal Strike at the rib level, but Master Shay slides back just in time to avoid it. Following through with the momentum of the strike, Ray executes a Left Diagonal Downwards Strike, to which Master Shay manages to slide back yet again. Ray follows up with a straight-in thrust. Grand Elementhar Shay steps diagonally forward to his right, simultaneously parries off Ray’s staff with his dagger and cuts Ray’s left ‘back of the wrist’ with his rapier. Ray’s left hand lets go of the staff from the surprise and the pain; and he drops it for good when Master Shay follows through with a quick upward stroke to cut his right wrist.