Void Wielder 2 Legacy of Chaos (20 page)

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HEIR OF THE ELEMENTS

CHAPTER 1

The day was coming to a close as three wielders traveled the narrow path that cut through the sea of trees. Scattered rays of lights trickled through the few openings that the thick branches above provided. Droplets of water, from the rain that had now stopped, glistened as they coursed down the leaves.

“What do you think, mate?” asked Chonsey. “Is this a good place?”

Falcon pointed into the forest and sighed. He’d hoped to reach his hometown of Ladria before nightfall, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen. “Let’s move into the trees a bit. We don’t want to set up camp directly on the road.”

Faith nodded. “Good idea, Falcon. The last thing we want is to run into bandits, or worse.”

Falcon stepped out of the hard dirt path and into the mossy forest grounds. The fresh aroma of wet dirt drifted into his nostrils.

Chonsey followed closely behind him. “I wouldn’t be too worried about bandits. I mean, if it was just me, of course I would be on my toes. But not with you here, Falcon. You’re a void wielder who is only supposed to wield the basic elements, but somehow you have control of even the advanced elements.” He grinned and turned to the emerald-eyed girl who trudged behind him. She wore a pink jumpsuit with a white blouse underneath. “And you Faith, you’re the only holy wielder in ages. That’s crazy.” He took a breath. “No, I’d be more worried for the poor bandits that run into us. They won’t know what they’d be in for.”

Falcon stared down at his gray emblem. “Having this is not a solution to everything, Chonsey.”

“Besides,” Faith added. “The idea of staying off the road has nothing to do with whether we can beat bandits or not, and everything to do with the fact that they may be Suteckh scouts.”

Falcon grimaced. He still couldn’t believe the story Chonsey had told him. It sounded like a fairy tail. The capital city of Ladria was so powerful. How was it possible that the Suteckh Empire could have overtaken it in only a day? Surely his friend had exaggerated. Chonsey had a tendency to stretch the truth a bit.

Falcon stopped and threw down his bag as they reached a small clearing. There were a few lingering bushes here and there, but nothing too troublesome. “This is a good place. Let’s set up camp here.”

Chonsey unrolled the light blanket he carried on his back and tossed it on the floor. “ Good. I was getting tired, mate.”

“Earth plateau,” said Falcon, as he bent down and touched the wet ground. In an instant two long plain stubs of dirt emerged. They stretched about two feet over the forest grounds. He felt shame as he stared at Faith. “I’m sorry you have to sleep in such a hard place again. I know back home you had a nice bed, and ever since you began traveling with me you’ve been living like a peasant.”

Faith waved her hand dismissively. “You know I don’t care about those things, so don’t you worry about it.”

Despite her words, he still felt a pang of guilt eating him inside. He took a seat.

“What are you doing?” asked Faith in a shocked voice.

Falcon looked at Chonsey, then back at Faith, trying to figure out what he’d done wrong. “Errr…sitting down.”

Faith took his hand and pulled him up. “Yes, I know. But you could at least wait until I set up a shield on your bed. That way you won’t have to sleep on dirt. You don’t want to get your leather jacket and hair dirty, do you?”

“Oh, yes, sorry. I’ll just go gather some wood while you do that.”

Faith’s white emblem, that rested on the dorsal part of her glove, intensified in brightness as she waved her hand. “Malawi Lesotho.” An almost invisible blanket materialized and covered a sleeping blanket. It flapped loudly as the wind beat against it. “Now you try it.”

Falcon stopped dead in his tracks. “Try what?” He was certain he knew what Faith was talking about. She had been drilling him on it every other night, but he simply couldn’t get the handle of it. What was the use of making himself look like a fool again?

Faith took his hand and pulled him before the Earth plateau he had created. “C’mon I know you can do it. Wave your hand around like this.” She moved her hands from side to side. Then think of a strong emotion, allow it flow from within. You did it once, I’m sure you can do it again.”

He thought back to the battle against Lakirk. “That was under pressure. But when I’m in a calm environment, I can’t do it.

“Sure you can. I know you can do it, simply think of someone you love. Use their memory.”

Her green eyes met his. He gulped loudly as butterflies formed in his stomach. “Ummm…yes, someone I love. I’ll just do that.” He closed his eyes. Images of his two best friends, Aya and Faith flashed before him. But instead of feeling peace, he felt turmoil. One second he’d be staring at Faith, only to be replaced by the image of Aya, her dark hair flowing behind her as she gazed at him with her almond shaped eyes. The words of Father Lucien came back to him.
The heart cannot belong to more than two. Sooner or later you must make a choice.
His eyes snapped opened, his heart beating faster with each breath.

“Are you well?” asked Faith.

“Y…yeah, I’m fine.”

She looked him over with a look of disbelief. “I’ll do the cover. You go ahead and fetch some wood if you wish”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. He immediately took into the woods. Once he was far off from the camp, he settled next to a large rock and took a seat, cursing himself. Faith was patient, but how long was he going to continue failing like this? If he couldn’t even make a cover, how was he expected to control holy barriers powerful enough to keep the chaos energy that raged within him in check? Unable to formulate the answers, he remained seated in place, staring at small patches of visible sky for what seemed an eternity.

Finally, once the heavy feeling in his stomach had dissipated, he got up, found a few scattered pieces of wood, and headed back.

“You were gone for a bit,” said Faith as Falcon marched back into the camp.

“Yes, branches were hard to find.”

“
Aha
, I’m sure they were.”

Falcon tossed the few branches he managed to find into a pile. He snapped his fingers as his gray emblem turned a deep red. Seconds later a flame had engulfed the few pieces of wood.

“It’s nice having a fire wielder,” said Faith, taking a seat next to the fire. She patted the spot next to her, signaling Falcon to join her.

The wielder gulped nervously, but then he took a seat. He turned over to invite Chonsey to join them, but his loud snores made it obvious he was already deep in sleep.

“Do you think Iris is doing well?” asked Faith in a low voice. “She was so sad when we left.”

Falcon thought back to the peasant girl they had befriended back in K’vitch. He would be lying if he said he didn’t miss her too. In the short time he’d spent with her, he grew quite fond of her. “I’m sure she’s doing fine. She has Father Lucien looking after her, after all.” His gaze dropped to the floor. “To tell you the truth, I’m more worried about Aya.”

“Aya is a strong wielder. I’m certain she’s fine.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but I’m more concerned about letting her down. I was tasked with warning Missea of the upcoming Suteckh invasion. Aya is smart. I have no doubt she succeeded in getting the city of Sugiko on our side. But me? I didn’t even get to Missea, much less warn them. And now I’m headed back to Ladria, having accomplished nothing.”

“You figured out who was kidnapping people from K’vitch
and
you put a stop to it. Do you think the people of K’vitch would say you accomplished nothing?”

Falcon grimaced. “I’m not too sure helping them was a good idea.”

Faith gave him a hard stare. “
Of course
it was a good idea. Children were being taken from their parents. Their energy was being sucked out of them. Are you saying we should have let them die?”

“No. I’m simply stating that sometimes few have to die, so that more can live.”

“How is that different from letting them die?”

Falcon ran his head through his hair, not sure how to express himself. Everything was such a jumble of confusion. “I don’t know. All I know is that thanks to our interference, Shal-Volcseck finally got a hold of the last possible chaos emblem.”

“He already had a chaos emblem,” Faith said, her voice calm.

“You know what I mean, Faith. He had
his
chaos emblem, but he couldn’t destroy that one because that would kill him. Now he has one he can destroy.”

Faith shook her head. “You’re beating yourself up. Like always. Volcseck would have gotten that emblem whether we were there or not.”

“But he got it on my watch!” said Falcon, raising his voice. “Demetrius died because of it.”

“Calm down, Falcon.”

Falcon’s face grew warm. “It’s wasn’t enough that he killed my mom right in front of me when I was a kid, he had to wait until I grew up so he could take the emblem right in front of me, too!” He knew he should have stopped, but he couldn’t. The chaos energy that raged within him beckoned him to give in to it. “And now he has eleven of the twelve element emblems. All he needs now is…” He stopped yelling as his eyesight landed on the pristine white holy emblem on Faith’s glove. A small raindrop fell on the pearl. It trickled to the ground, darkening the dirt around it. A lump, the size of a mountain, formed in his throat when he noticed that it wasn’t rain, but tears. “F…faith. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you that that monster is coming after you.”

“No, I’m the one who is sorry,” Faith muttered in a shaky voice. “Volcseck came for me the day he killed your mother. It’s my fault she’s dead.” She stood slowly. “Excuse me. I think I’ll be going to sleep.”

Falcon’s insides tied in a knot.
First I remind her of the killer who is hunting her. Then I re-kindle those feelings of guilt she’s carried since childhood
.

“Faith,” he squeaked, staring at the shivering figure lying on the hard earth bed. “I don’t blame you for anything. You know that. Please don’t feel bad on my account.”

“I’m fine, Falcon. Don’t worry about me.”

She didn’t turn as she spoke, which only made him feel worse.

As he lay down on his makeshift bed, a sense of warmth engulfed him. He ran his hands through the near invisible cover. It was soft, much like he imagined a cloud might feel like. It also carried the scent of Faith. Peaches.

He took in the sweet aroma as he eyed the girl sobbing quietly. His fists clenched in anger. Even now, without being in his presence, Volcseck continued to make his life miserable. He urged to comfort her. To promise her that everything would be fine, but he knew that as long as Volcseck was alive, he would never be able to make such a promise. And at that moment, as he took in the sight of his longtime friend, he felt something stir inside his chest he’d never felt before. He couldn’t fully explain it, and he didn’t try to. All he knew was that he would do anything for her.

And if that involved dueling the most powerful being in existence, so be it.

CHAPTER 2

“Hey, mate. It’s time.”

Falcon awoke to the sight of his small friend staring down at him. He had a look of concern plastered across his face. He grabbed his shoulder and shook him one more time.

“I’m up,” said Falcon, wiping his groggy eyes. Why did Chonsey have to wake him up? He was having such a nice dream, for once. He had been training with his brother, Albert. Even though it was but a dream, it was the closest he he’d been to his brother in years. Not since that fateful night.

“Were you having a nightmare?” Chonsey asked, as he folded his blanket into a tight roll. He tied it together and put it on his back.

“No. Not really. Why?”

Chonsey looked as if he had suddenly lost the will to speak. “Um…no reason, mate.”

“Why? Out with it.”

“I don’t know,” said Chonsey apprehensively. “It was just that you were tossing and turning and saying ‘Albert’ over and over again. I thought you were relieving that night when he well…you know.”

“He killed the council of Ladria and disappeared.”

“Disappeared?” Chonsey fidgeted his fingers. “I know your brother was crazy powerful and all, but he went up against the entire royal wielders single handedly. And they used black fire on him, I don’t think
disappeared
is the word for it, mate.”

“He’s
not
dead, if that’s what you’re trying to say.” Falcon’s anger rose. How could his friend not be on his side? “What are you trying to say? Do you also think that my brother is a traitor? That he killed the council to take power for himself?”

Chonsey, who up until know had been normal in color, turned ghostly pale. “No, mate. I’m sure you’re brother was…”

“There you go again!
Was
. Don’t speak in the past tense about him. He’s not dead.”

“What’s going on?” asked a honeyed voice.

Falcon gazed over at Faith, who had arrived with a bushel of green leaves.

Falcon collected himself. The last thing he needed was to make Faith sad again. “Nothing. We were simply talking about something unimportant.”

She tossed the greens into a pot that rested atop an open flame. “Sure didn’t seem like nothing.” She took out a small bag and spread salt into the pot, followed by granules of pepper. With a large wooden stick, she stirred the broth in circles. “I hope you boys are hungry.”

Falcon caught a whiff of the sour smell and immediately recognized it as Gladios plants.
How many days are we going to eat the same old thing?

“Will we be having any meat with that,” asked Chonsey, a second before Falcon could word that same question.

“Meat?” asked Faith, as if the concept of meat was alien to her.

“Yes,” added Falcon. “We know you’re a vegetarian and all, but me and Chonsey much rather have meat with our soup. A nice squirrel, or a lit, perhaps.”

“Hmmm…” Chonsey licked his lips. “Lit legs are the best, especially with some larys syrup.”

Falcon’s stomach growled viciously at the thought of it.

Faith’s face, on the other hand, was one of absolute repulsion. “There is no need for that. Plants have much more nutrition than any slab of meat can ever have. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt much more energized this past month.

He had indeed felt much more alert than usual, but he didn’t care. He wanted meat. Nonetheless, he remained quiet.

Chonsey, apparently, had chosen to follow in Falcon’s example. He sat down and grudgingly forced down the thick liquid. When he finished his bowl, Chonsey smiled to himself, as if he had just won a great duel. His smile turned into a frown when Faith poured more soup into his bowl and insisted that he eat to keep his energy up.

“Well, I say we leave now,” said Falcon as he finished his second bowl. He stood before Faith could offer another serving.

“Yes, that sounds like a plan, mate.” Chonsey also stood.

Faith dumped the leftover liquid on the ground and handed Chonsey the pot. He tied it to his waist and continued on their trek. The closer they got to Ladria, the quieter the surroundings became. The distant bird chirpings and soft squirrel footsteps gave way to an eerie silence.

“Why is it so quiet?” asked Faith.

“It always gets that way close to Ladria,” Chonsey said. A lot of the hunters hunt close to the city walls. Most animals have learned to stay clear. Those who don’t, well…” He stopped and took a long sniff. “Were here. C’mon.” He snuck under a long tree branch and besides a thick bush. He moved the dusty leaves to the side. “There.”

Falcon’s heart dropped to his stomach as he made out the charred corpses. They hung from above the city walls. Someone had nailed them to a log and erected them for the world to see. “So that’s what that smell was.”

“Oh. That’s horrible. Why would they do such a thing?” Faith looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

“To send a message,” said Falcon, speaking in a hushed whisper. “The Suteckh want the world to know what happens when they are opposed.”

Chonsey pointed into the city gates. “That’s not even the worst of it.”

Faith whimpered softly. This time tears poured to the ground as she mumbled something to herself.

His rage intensified as his eyes settled on the dozens of children who were tied on the ground with thick chains. All of them wore no shirt, exposing their bony ribs. It was one thing to attack adults. But children? This was a new level of evil.

“No, mate,” cried Chonsey, holding Falcon back. “Stay back. You’re going to give away our position.”

“I don’t care,” fumed Falcon, his insides blazing. “I’m going to free those kids. They’re on the brink of death.”

“Don’t you think people already tried that? For every rescue attempt they’ve tried, the Suteckh kill five children. And no rescue has even come close to being successful, not with
him
here.”

“
Him?
Who are you talking about?”

“The dual wielder, of course. The right hand of the Blood Empress—Draknorr.”

Falcon settled back down.
Draknorr. That is bad news.
He recalled his previous encounter with the powerful wielder. Even in chaos state, Falcon had proved no match for him.

“How could this happen?” whimpered Faith. “I thought Grandmaster Zoen lived here in Ladria. My father always spoke of his ability. Surely he could put a stop to it.”

“Zoen wasn’t here at the time of the attack, and neither were most of the professors from Rohad and the royal academy. They were clear across the other side of Va’siel in the annual academies council.”

“Do it!” thundered a voice from afar.

From behind the bush, Falcon recognized the large man who now stood at the foot of a child.

“Dad,” muttered Chonsey, surprised. “I think he’s doing it, he’s going to save the—” Commander Meloth kicked a small girl, sending her rolling through the floor. The dangling chain echoed loudly as the girl clutched her stomach. Chonsey looked on with a slackened mouth. “D-dad? What is he doing?”

Falcon was just as shocked as Chonsey. Commander Meloth had always been a tough man, but he never knew him to be a traitor to his own city.

“Harder!” thundered the same voice from before. “If you don’t follow directions, I kill her,
slowly
.” An armored clad figure emerged from the side of the commander. He had two long claws protruding from his right hand. His entire face was hidden behind a dark helmet. Only two red eyes glistened from under the visor.

“Yes, of course.” Chonsey’s father trudged over to the girl. He leaned down and picked her by the neck. He pulled his fist back and slammed it across the girl’s face. With a loud whimper, the girl fell hard to the stone ground. Blood poured out of her mouth.

Draknorr faced the commander. “Remember this next time you come begging for food for your people. Now be gone with you.”

Commander Meloth bowed his head. “Yes, sir.”

Falcon rolled fists turned a pale white. “Draknorr. I’ll make him pay. I swear it. I’ll make him pay.”

“But how?” asked Faith, wiping away her tears.

“We need to free those kids, but we also need to find the emperor. Chonsey said he escaped. I’m sure wherever he is, he’ll be glad to take in the kids.”

“But the emperor is gone, mate. No one knows where he is.”

Falcon thought for a moment. Someone had to know something. How could the emperor simply disappear without anyone knowing his whereabouts? The longer he puzzled over the question, the more apparent it became that he was going to have to turn to
him
. His stomach cringed at the realization that he had no other option. He swallowed his pride as he made up his mind.

He tapped his friend’s shoulder. “Hey.”

“What? What?” Chonsey’s breathing was still shallow, no doubt at what he had witnessed his father do.

“You mentioned you snuck out of the city to find me. I need you to take me to the hidden entrance you used.”

Chonsey’s eyes stared off into the distance.

Falcon took a hold oh him at turned him so that they were face to face. “Chonsey!”

His pupils returned to normal. “Em…yes, mate. The entrance. Y…yes. Follow me.” He led them around the stone gate, which took most of the morning since the city was so large. It was midday when they arrived at the small cracked opening. Chonsey took a seat by a tree stump. “I’ll wait here. I can’t go in there after what I saw.” He reached into his small bag and tossed two dirt-caked cloaks to Falcon. “You may need them.”

Falcon patted his friend’s back. He was actually glad Chonsey had volunteered to stay back. This mission might easily develop into a fight, and that was something that Chonsey, unfortunately, was useless in. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

Both wielders put on the brown cloaks and forced themselves through the small opening. The offensive smell of feces made his nose cringe. Now he knew why no one had found this passage. It was in the sewage system.

Faith brought her hand over her nose. “Now what?”

Falcon took in the dark slushy water that travelled slowly down, deeper into the darkness. Moldy walls arched over them. A narrow slimy path was the only way out of this cursed place. “Now we go pay an old friend of mine a visit.”

“
Friend?”

He sighed. The memory was not one he liked to recount. “Yes. He was my friend years ago, back when my brother was still famous and loved by everyone. I was twelve back then. We would always go down to the river to play. During the winters we would spend our days on the alleys of Ladria, pretending to be the Golden Wielder.”

“What happened?”

“When my brother killed the council, everyone turned on me, even him.”

“Oh.”

“It didn’t stop there. One night, when I was living with K’ran, I snuck out to the city to see him. I thought he’d be glad to see me, but instead he and his gang of friends ambushed me. I couldn’t walk straight for a month after the beating they gave me.”

Faith’s face twisted in confusion. “So why are we going to go see him now?”

“Because he took over his father’s pub. You’d be surprised how much information drunk people will reveal.” He smirked. “If there’s something you need to know, you can wager that he’ll know something about it.” Falcon cracked his knuckles” We’ll find him, and force him to tell us what he knows.”

“Or we could just ask nicely.”

“No. Trust me, Faith. Violence is all this guy knows. A good beat down should get me the information I need. That’s the plan, at least.” He took a tentative step forward, careful not to lose control on the slimy surface. “Well, that and not falling in the river of gunk.”

Faith cringed. “Yes, I would say that not falling is a sound plan.”

Heir Of The Elements will be available for pre-order on January 2015!!