The proving grounds were occupied by assorted groups. They had segregated themselves off to various wedges. The Norians gathered, the Zodiac sitting and enjoying the last of breakfast, and finally the Niess family were at the far end both of their dragons flanking them sitting. Alison was true to her word returning her brother and Morrigan to their home and then recovering with Vincent.
Ryza stood at the center, Snow and Stephanie at her side. Ryza looked at each of them slowly and then glanced down at the pocket watch at her waist. The sky was blue above her head, only a few sparse clouds hanging around. If the situation weren’t so dire, it would have been a nice day.
Taking a deep breath, “There’s a lot more of you than either Solaris or I anticipated. I guess that’s a good thing. But we’re all here for the same reason. Daze.” There was a grumble of agreement amongst them all and the necromancer nodded. “Solaris and I went to confront Daze. And in the process, we learned just how wide the gap between our power and his was. But beyond that, there’s a danger coming our way.
“Daze has merged himself with an ancient demon named Obsidon. And in less than twenty four hours he’s going to return here with an army. Three different armies led by demons larger than anything that the calamity could have spawned. All three of them with the sole purpose of destroying Arkoria.”
“One for each of the major cities,” Badou said closing his eyes.
“Where’s professor Sehren? Does he have some sort of plan?” Sefirin asked.
Ryza looked at him and sighed, “He stayed behind. He stayed and sent me back. The reason we have a day of extra time is because he’s holding Daze back right now.”
“What?” Silva repeated staring at her. “We have to go there. We have to help him!”
Ryza closed her eyes slowly, “Going back there now we could risk everything. Noria. The Sanctum. The Free City. Everything. And I don’t think any of us wants that.”
“No, we don’t,” Alison said folding her arms. “So what do we do to stop this?”
“We defend them,” Badou said like it was obvious. “We defend our homes.”
“If only it were that simple,” Vincent rolled his eyes.
“In our mind, it is that simple,” Badou said and his eye glowed. The presence that came over him was felt by each of them. The Zodiac looked at him like he was one of them. “We know our siblings are powerful. And the rest of us can do what we need to. We can defend our homes if we work together.”
Ryza looked at him and smirked, “Thanks for the display Great Leader. And you’re not wrong. If we work together and we can save our homes. But it’s not that simple. At least not entirely. None of us have seen anything like this. His armies are beyond imagination.”
“So what do you suggest?” Capricorn asked spreading his arms.
“We’re not alone out here,” Ryza told him. “Solaris reminded me we have friends. Allies. We can convince them to lend their aid. We have the Great Leader of the Norian people. The Zodiac are the siblings of the Father of the Sanctum. Cerise. Luthagen.”
She stopped for a second and she felt Snow stand behind her, felt Stephanie take one of her hands in both of hers. She looked at the two of them for long moments each and then looked at the assorted. Flattening her ears she said, “The point remains. Daze has hunted all of us. He’s harmed each of us. He’s hurt us in ways that only we can understand. Daze is making his stand and if we fall then we lose everything. We need to stand together today or we won’t have a tomorrow.”
The necromancer looked at the assorted and her eyes were narrowed. She didn’t want to hear descent. She didn’t care what people thought directly. These were the facts of their situations. She’d seen the rise and fall of countries in her years and only those that stood together lasted. But that was history she witnessed. Now she was making it.
The first one forward was Leo. She stood in front of her family and stared at Ryza. “I don’t know you. Not really. But you’re right. Daze has taken something from us. Taken something precious that can’t be replaced.” She growled and her own power woke up. Stars surrounded her like decorations in her hair. “We aren’t going back home until he’s dead.”
“Well said,” Badou said glancing at her. There was tension there but they buried it for the now.
Nero looked at Dawn and Lily both, then down at his children. More than that he looked at his oldest daughter. Silva, who had suffered the most because of Daze, met his gaze with blue eyes that were entirely his own and he had his answer. “You can count on us.”
“Thank you,” Ryza nodded quickly. “We need portals. We’re not nearly close enough to all the countries to get there on foot. The Zodiac to the Sanctum. The Norians to their home. And those that remain can set up the defenses here at the Free City.”
“Let’s not waste any more time,” Alison said stepping forward. “Silva. Dawn. Can you help us?”
“Of course,” Dawn said and glanced at her daughter who was already walking forward.
“Allow me to help as well,” Frost said joining them.
The gathered groups backed away to give the mage and spellcasters some space. Alison showed the basics of the spell to Dawn and she caught on just as quickly as her daughter had when she showed her. Frost showed a slightly different method since his magic was like her own. The first portal they created was the one for the Norians.
“This will put you right inside the capital,” Alison said as she backed away and looked at Badou. “We assume you know your home better than us.”
“We do,” Badou said and nodded. “We’ll make sure Noria is ready.”
Silva stepped forward and frowned hard as she saw Cancer approaching slowly. Badou looked at the pair of them his eyebrows raised. Silva looked at Cancer for a moment and he nodded toward her. “We’re coming with you,” she said simply.
“What?” Roxanne looked at them. “You both have your families here. You’ll be safer with them.”
“Of course we would,” Silva said. “But there’s only five of you. And you may be strong but we can’t risk Noria falling.”
“And of all of us, we’ve fought with you before. We’re the only ones who can really watch your backs.” Cancer said then added. “Plus, if you don’t survive you can’t fulfil your end of the deal.”
Badou snorted while Julie laughed, “These kids are cheeky. They fit in with our gang your majesty.”
“When we started it was just the three of us,” Frost said looking toward Badou and Roxanne. “Then these two joined. And now we’ve got two more. Seven is a good number.”
Miles looked at the two of them and they were determined as well. So he smiled, “We agree with Frost.”
“Seems everyone’s in agreement,” Roxanne said looking at Badou. “But it’s not exactly a democracy.”
“If you want to come you can,” Badou said. “But follow our lead and be careful.”
“We’ll do just that,” Silva told him.
“Cancer.”
He turned and looked at his mother as she came closer. She had relinquished the rush of power she’d called earlier but even then he wasn’t sure what to expect from her. It helped at least that his brother was there with her.
“I know we talked last night mom. But I’m doing this.”
She nodded, “I’m not here to change your mind.”
He let out a slow breath and nodded, “I was afraid that you’d have second thoughts. That you’d force me to stay.”
She reached around her neck slowly and pulled off one of the necklaces and wrapped it around his neck. Looking at his father’s pendent, his eyes were huge looking back to her. But she brushed her fingers through his hair gently and smiled.
“You’re smart Cancer. Smart, clever, and resourceful. If you think this path is the right one for you, then follow it. But be careful. Pay attention. And come back home.” Cancer nodded quickly meeting her eyes and then hugging her tightly. She hugged him back just as tightly. “I love you son.”
“Love you too mom.”
When he separated, he looked at his twin and Gemini’s face was a mix of emotions. Happy and scared for his brother but also for himself. As the twins looked at each other they each recognized a chance in the other.
Cancer met his brother’s heterochromatic eyes and laughed. “You too?”
“Yeah. It was weird.”
“This twin thing goes deep.”
Gemini nodded quickly and wiped at his face for a moment before hugging him. Cancer hugged him back tighter. “This is the most we’ve been apart, isn’t it?”
“Yeah it is.”
“Be careful Cancer.”
“You too Gem.”
Silva watched them but then turned to look toward her family. Sofie was the first one to come toward her. She hugged her and Silva was starting to really enjoy this newfound closeness. “I just got you back and you’re leaving again.”
“We know Sofia. But this is right for us at this moment. We know that.” She looked at her sister. “But when we come back. We want to talk again. We didn’t get a chance to do so properly this time.”
Sefirin hugged her tightly as she hugged him back, “You always know what’s right for you Silva. You always have since you could talk.”
She rolled her eyes, “That’s not true Seffy.”
“It is,” Lily said coming to her children. “You’ve always known exactly who you are and what you want Silva. Even when we didn’t.” She put her hands on both of her shoulders and smiled. “Despite the bad habits you get from your father, be careful.”
She blushed looking down but smiled, “I will mother.”
Dawn’s eyes were a rainbow of colors as she settled on pink and brushed her hands through Silva’s hair. “I couldn’t be more proud of the woman and faerie you’ve become lela.”
Silva stared at her and simply hugged her tightly her eyes shut. She was sure that they’d be a fluctuation of color if it was possible. But she took a step back and looked at her father.
Nero looked at her and she looked up at him confidently. “Not much more to say now that we didn’t already talk about.”
“Not really,” she agreed.
He just smiled and hugged her tightly as the rest of her family did. When they pulled away she walked back toward the Norians and Badou looked at the pair of them. But he looked past them to Leo and the Niess family.
“We’ll make sure they make it back home. Even if we don’t,” he said.
Turning around he walked through the portal and the others followed him. Cancer was the last one to go through and the portal closed behind him.
Alison looked away from the empty space and then looked at Leo and the Zodiac. “Let’s get you to the Sanctum.”
Alison and Dawn handled this portal just as quickly as they did the others. And when the oval of power opened they went through ti as one unit.
Leo lowered her hand and looked around at what she could only assume was a cathedral. From the high ceilings, to the stained glass windows and paintings, to the altar in front of her. Though calling it an altar was probably not right. In reality, it was a massive statue to a bearded man that towered over them and gave up more light than any other source in the room.
As the ten Zodiac walked around the cathedral, they saw they weren’t alone. The most pressing one was the man who had been kneeling in front of the statue. At their sudden and flamboyant appearance, he stood picking up a simple staff. He looked at them each with startled eyes as the doors behind them burst open.
A routine of armed guards came inside pointing at each of them with their spears. “Lord Speaker! Mages! Seize them! Protect the Speaker!”
They spread out amongst the cathedral until the Zodiac were surrounded. Though they tensed unsure of what was about to happen Leo didn’t pay them mind. Instead, she looked at the man they were protecting. “Virgo is that him?”
She looked at the speaker and narrowed her eyes in concentration. But she nodded quickly, “Yes Leo. That’s the man.”
“Good,” Leo’s amber eyes glowed bright white as the stars manifested around her. She leaned forward and roared, the sound physically knocking down the guards and putting the speaker even more on guard than he had before. But the sensation that he felt was startlingly familiar.
Tapping the staff against the floor, he walked forward setting his face into a determined stare. He approached Leo first but glanced past her to Virgo, “I thought as much. Gemini. Scorpio. Virgo. It’s been quite some time since we met last. I had looked forward to meeting you all again, though the method of your appearance is unorthodox to say the least.”
“We’re sorry for this,” Virgo said quickly. “But things aren’t the way we wished they would be upon us meeting again. Leo do you want to do the honors?”
“Sure why not,” she said the low rumble in her voice dying away as stared at the speaker. “My name is Leo. Unofficial leader and speaker for the Zodiac. My sons and younger members have told me about you. How you are the mouthpiece for the Father of the Sanctum.”
“That is correct,” the speaker confirmed. He recognized now that he was speaking to someone used to speaking with authority. The weight of her gaze made it hard to look anywhere else.
“The god you speak for is a rough relative of ours. An older brother in a way. We share the same mother.”
The speaker paused looking at her but gave a slight nod, “He told me that you all were something akin to siblings when I was recovering from the Ouroboros’ attack. But that doesn’t answer the question as to why you are here now.”
“Does the name Daze mean anything to you?” Leo asked. “Or perhaps a man named Luna.”
That took him aback and he narrowed his eyes at her. “How do you know that name?”
“We know that name because his revenge against the Sanctum has caused him to torment and attack us and dozen’s of others. We came here to warn you. Daze has an army and he’s going to bring it to your doorstep by this time tomorrow. And not just the Sanctum but all of Arkoria.”
The Speaker stared at her, eyes widened slightly, and walked back toward the statue. He stared up at it for a long moment then turned to look at her, “This is a grave claim that you bring to me. Normally I would be apprehensive but something tells me that you are trustworthy, which makes this all the more unsettling.”
“That’s why we’ve come here,” Virgo said moving to stand near Leo. “We want to help as many people as we can. Daze wants revenge. And he’ll destroy all of the cities of Arkoria to achieve it.”
“Mobilizing the defenses of this city, let alone all of them, is something that can’t be done in merely a day.”
“If you want to survive the coming fight you’re going to have to do what you can,” Leo told him.
The Speaker stared at her again, but eventually he nodded. “Captain! Gather all of your men and have them ready to defend the city. Find as many volunteers who can fight and begin evacuations of those who can’t. Find captain Teress. If there’s any way that we survive this it will be with his wisdom. And may the Father watch over us.”
The guard captain looked confused, his suspicious gaze on the Zodiac. But as he looked back at the speaker, he bowed his head. “Yes Speaker.”
The guards left the cathedral hall but the Speaker faced Leo and the others. “We have much to discuss and a very short amount of time to discuss it.”
The throne room Noria was a long affair. Tall windows meant to let the sun in but harsh grey clouds blocked the sun’s light. An old carpet led from the door to the throne. Shadow soldiers lined the throne room with large tower shields and long swords.
They were all together protecting one man. He wore black robes, ornately designed in silver. His skin was a faded brown, face covered in a graying beard and short hair. But his brown eyes were like tiny pinpricks as he stared at the door in front of him.
“Is the door barricaded?!” he barked to a shadow soldier near him.
“Yes, my lord. Heavily. By steel and by magic. And there are soldiers on the other side of the door! Nothing, and no one, can break into this throne room!”
“That better be true,” he gripped the edges of the throne tightly in a grip that made his knuckles go white.
Before the soldier could say something there was a shout. Orders being barked that bled into screams. Metal hit and clanked against metal. Shouts, glass shattering, echoed by more screams followed. A woosh of something like fire and more screams were engulfed by roars. Both sounds that no one in the throne room had ever heard in their lives before. And then silence.
The silence dragged on and on and on.
The shadow soldier at the steward’s side nodded, “See my lord. Nothing at all to worry abou-“
The door banged and cracked open. It was just enough for something to slip through. A pair of clawed hands, gripping the edges of the door. The arms moved, pulling the door open accompanied by a loud growl. Metal screeched and magic crackled as it was broken.
Roxanne stepped forward as she forced the door open, her ears flat and mouth in a savage grin. “Knock. Knock. Victor.”
The steward stood up quickly and pointed “Kill her!”
The shadow soldiers moved quickly, the ones furthest behind raising their hands and thrusting them forward. Flames jumped from their palms, flooding them with flames. But when the flames subsided, Julie lowered her shield and rotated her sword slowly. “That’s a rude way to treat your honored guests, Victor.”
She darted forward swinging at the shadow soldiers, her shield like a solid wall and her sword a lance. Before the soldiers could move to surround her, Cancer flipped over her, his katars coated in water.
The mage soldiers that stood around Victor raised their shields and black energy surrounded their hands. They whipped their arms forward, the ropes flying to wrap around them. Before they could even fly, they were scattered into the ether. Silva walked into the room holding her hands up and face smug.
“Frost you’re up.”
The mage walked past her the stars dancing across his body, “People like these have no place in the throne room of a proper king.”
Frost spread his arms then clapped them together. His magic rippled over the ground and Silva flinched. This close to him she recognized its true power. Where he was the epicenter and everything around him was being pushed away. Like a heavenly body in the sky.
The soldiers in the room went to attack him but were shoved into the wall, bodies forced still and crushed by an invisible force. Frost lowered his arms taking a deep breath slowly. “Now that the riff raff is gone. Let’s do this properly. Introducing his majesty, the true ruler of Noria, King Badou.”
Badou stepped through the open doorway with Miles behind him. Badou slowed for a moment to take Roxanne’s hand, as well as Frost’s. The three of them continued forward until they stood in front of the throne. Roxanne gave Badou a long look, then took Frost’s hand as Badou approached it properly.
“Miss me Victor?” Badou asked.
Victor stared at Badou, his eyes huge before narrowing into a glare. “How? How are you alive here? How are you here!”
“Well after Daze decided he was done with us, we got a little bit of freedom of choice. And that means we’re taking back our throne.”
Victor pointed at him, his eyes glowing red. “You demon. A monster like you doesn’t deserve to sit on the throne. Noria is mine!”
He thrust his hand forward and black light enveloped the would be king of Noria. But the dark light of it was dispersed away almost as fast as it was conjured. Badou stood, unphased by everything that had happened, his eyes glowing a bright white. “You think something like that would work on us? We can’t tell if you’re just stupid or that arrogant.”
“What? What are you?”
Badou walked forward and tilted his head to the side, “That’s a weird question to ask to the man you sold into slavery.” But when Badou looked into his eyes, his own eyes widened. “You don’t know what you did do you? You just blindly trusted a madman who promised you power.”
Victor swung and a black blade of magic flew at Badou. But he didn’t bother to dodge it. It hit him and dissipated on contact. Narrowing his eyes he smirked again, “You’re one of his demons aren’t you. Daze sent you here to eliminate me just like he did in Isal!”
“Bow down before me you ungrateful mortal” Badou shouted and his voice not only boomed in the room, it consumed it.
His guardians bent their heads to him because the power all but demanded they do it. The power commanded something that was integral in their being that they gave up. And that mandate radiated to the soldiers who were allowed to bend their heads.
But Victor bowed as well. He scrambled and pressed his forehead against the ground. “You know who we are now we take it?”
“You are the founder of this country. The one who ensures our future. The beginning and the end of us all. The Great Leader of Noria,” he trembled. “Please your majesty. Please forgive me. Have mercy.”
Badou walked to him and motioned with his hand, “Stand up. Stand up!” He got up slowly at Badou’s command and kept his head down. Badou looked him up and down slowly, “You sold us. And our guardians. And dozens and dozens of others into slavery. To be experimented on by a madman and his cult. To perfect his ability to use demons. To have his own army.”
Putting his hand on the steward’s head, he tapped his cheek lightly. He even cracked a grin as he shoved his hand through Victor’s chest in one smooth motion. Blood exploded outside his back, as Badou held his still beating heart in his hand. “We have no mercy for you. Die and be out of our sight forever.”
Badou tossed Victor’s body across the ground and turned to face the others. They looked up at him and Frost stood first, “Hail his majesty! Hail king Badou!”
“Hail his majesty!” Badou’s other guardians shouted, as did the shadow soldiers with their bowed heads.
The light in his eyes faded and he made a grim face. “Alright everyone. No more enjoying and celebrating. The real fight hasn’t started yet. Get these shadow soldiers in gear. We’ve got a country to defend. And Daze isn’t going to give us a lot of time. Let’s get to work.”
The Harlequin Library 