The Zodiac Wars
Chapter Two: A Knight Reborn: Part Two
Artemis broke the link between Chiyu and himself. Viewing a past life from Chiyu's perspective roused yet more forgotten memories of his own. He had been in the Queen's council chamber the last time it was summoned. He hadn't personally remember Chiyu, he was long gone before Serenity promoted him to General-Commander, sounding the evacuation in the middle of the Princess' Ball. He did, however, remember in graphic detail how General Val had died. He looked away, his brain was feeling heavy. "I need a couple of minutes."
"Of course," Chiyu nodded. He simply got up and walked away from the group and awaited to be called back.
"Well?" Sailor Moon asked.
Artemis hung his head and sighed. "He knows about the Moon Kingdom, and in great detail. If he is who he says he is, it makes sense."
"You still don't believe him?" Venus asked.
"His powers make it possible to show me what he's seen and heard, even felt. But given what we know about his powers, what's not to say he could show me anything he wants?" Artemis reasoned.
"Fabricating a memory, is that even possible?" Sailor Mercury. "Right down to the senses. What we hear, what we see, smell and even feel. It would take an extraordinary amount of control."
"We also have to take into account his memories and powers only woke up when he came into contact with Usako," Tuxedo Mask added. "That could be more significant than anything."
"It could have happened by touching anyone," Mars added defensively.
"But it didn't," Luna added quickly. "He said this crest of his was born of power from the silver crystal itself. Perhaps it was the crystal that caused this reaction."
"What did he show you anyway?" Venus came back in.
"Queen Serenity's final council," Artemis answered. "Hours before the invasion from Earth, General-Commander Val, the most senior officer of the Moon Knight Corps called an emergency meeting once the Dark Kingdom broke out on Earth. He called for an immediate military response. It turns out he was running a secret operation under direct authority of the Queen called Lunar Spear. It was a program to respond to the Dark Kingdom threat, train our knights to fight them and prevent them from establishing a foothold in the allied planets of the Silver Millennium. They had been fighting the Dark Kingdom for years."
"What!?" The senshi demanded in unison.
"I suppose that makes sense," Luna thought allowed when they had finished. "Of course the military would be aware of the threat. It would be a sore excuse for an army if they knew nothing."
"Luna, we're just finding out they knew about the Dark Kingdom and Beryl for years and didn't tell anyone!" Mars chastised.
"I'm certainly not defending them," Luna replied defensively. "What happened during the council?"
"The general and a diplomat argued and then they tried to contact Earth. Someone answered but nobody knew who it was, although Chiyu was convinced it sounded like some woman called Morganna. But there's no mistaking that voice, it was Beryl. She gave a command to awaken and then half the room turned into youma and butchered the other half," the white moon cat swallowed back the temptation to vomit. "After that, everything seemed settled. The Queen ordered the city's evacuation and seeing as General Val died there and then, she promoted Chiyu to the highest rank possible. The Dark Kingdom was coming and he was charged with marshalling defence. Meanwhile in the city, more youma were waking up in the city and slaughtering people. They crippled our forces from within. It was a massacre."
"How terrible," Sailor Moon said sullenly. There was a moment of silence between the group. "Do you think if it hadn't happened, the Silver Millennium would still be here?"
"Its no good wondering those sorts of things now, we can't change the past," Sailor Mercury reasoned. "Although it does explain how our armies were so easily overrun. Chiyu provides us with a reasonable account of what happened prior to Queen Beryl's attack. Although I'm concerned knowledge of the Dark Kingdom was with held by the military for so long."
"Lets add that to the list of questions," Venus suggested.
Chiyu was summoned back, he sat down cross-legged and resumed sharing his memories with Artemis.
Lunar City
Moon
The Silver Millennium
Now a General, Matsui Chiyu marched in the central operations room for the Lunar Palace. Captain-Major Joseph Cairns and Captain Jesse De Vries followed on either flank. A dozen officers manned their posts, relaying communications and taking in reports. As they scribbled away furiously on scrolls, Chief-Petty Officers took them away fro dissemination.
"Attention everyone!" Chiyu commanded. "As of just now we are at war with Terra. The Dark Kingdom have breached on Earth and anyone from the planet should be considered hostile. Additionally, it is my sad duty to report General-Commander Val along with Generals Stahl and Meridian were slain during the recent youma attack. Queen Serenity has given me rank of General and Commander of the Knights Corps during this crisis, I want this verified by Her Majesties office and official logs updated. Finally, Operation Lunar Spear is now in action, I want all battalions to make ready for a youma invasion and ready the city's defence. Anyone with a Spear insignia will be given command duties."
Training kicked in. Despite the news that their commanders had died, the sudden surge in humans turning into demons and slaughtering all in their path took all the shock out of them. They began sending and receiving communiques again.
"I want a report on the youma attacks," Chiyu barked. "Casualties, military and civilian. Our Intelligence will have identified several landing locations the Dark Kingdom, I want scouts deployed to determine which are being used to mount the invasion, and I want to know enemy numbers."
"Sir! We have reports Prince Endymion has been sighted on the Palace grounds!" Someone shouted out.
Chiyu was silent a moment. He looked at Carins and De Vries. Neither had anything to say or offer. He looked back to the officer. "I want him detained." Chiyu ordered.
Two hours later….
Chiyu, Joseph and Jesse stood in the Commander's office, an off-shoot of the operations room. Two more senior lieutenants with spear insignias joined them. "Lets get the bad news over with," Chiyu said sitting in the Commander's chair. A feeling he did not enjoy. "Casualties?"
"Severe," one lieutenant replied. "The number of rogue demons in our ranks were inconceivable. We estimate nearly a third of our forces died, including those that turned."
Chiyu looked at Joseph. "How could there be so many?" The Captain-Major shrugged. "Re-deploy as many Home security as you need to the forward guard. Our phalanxes can't fail."
"If we do that, there'll be no one left to oversee civilian evacuations," Jesse remarked.
"The police can handle the civilians," Chiyu remarked. "All knights must be focused on the battle. How about the enemy? What do we know about them?"
"They outnumber us four to one," the other lieutenant advised. "We think. Large pockets of demonic aura cloud their numbers. From what our seers have been able to scry, they have youma in great numbers but their main force is made of humans."
That was a shock. "Humans? Men and women are fighting for the Dark Kingdom?"
"We can't tell if they are being controlled or fighting willingly, but definitely human."
Chiyu breathed deeply mulling over the facts. "Probable landing sites?"
"Sites Alpha, Charlie and Kappa have been identified, defensive positions and sniper points have been set up. Captain De Vries' oversight would be appreciated."
Chiyu nodded at Jesse. "Go."
Jesse left with the two lieutenants leaving Joseph and Chiyu alone. "Lunar Spear was set up to fight demons not men," the Captain-Major said in warning. "They'll be in for a big shock."
"All knights were trained to defend their kingdom, they'll fulfil their vows," Chiyu dismissed.
"And the Queen won't much like the personal guard being removed from Princess Serenity."
"She has the Senshi for that," the General answered. "Youma will be used to break our barricades. We'll be needed at the main gates."
Not long after the briefing, dozens of solar powered shuttles from Terra arrived at the landing points identified. Small skirmishes broke out between Moon Knight sniper and scout units and Terrans. The Terrans contained demon-summoners who created portals with their dying breath and through the portals came legions of the Terran invaders. The Lunar Knights Corps withdrew to the walls of Lunar, the capital city of the Moon Kingdom.
Chiyu and Joseph stood on the parapet of Lunar's main gates, watching a dark army advance. It rumbled towards them like a storm, dark energy cackled around it heralding its arrival. Amongst the din of the earth shattering rumble, another sound could be made out. It became more distinct as they drew closer, the war cry of the host. It was a much higher pitched, almost chitterring of fanatics as they closed in. How anyone or anything had the lungs to scream for blood that far away unsettled Chiyu. Clearly it unsettled his forces.
"A dozen silver says they run out of breath before they make it to the walls," Chiyu said loudly and looked about his men. "Any takers?"
A few dry smiles, appreciative of his attempt to alleviate the mood. "Jesse reports they're within range," Joseph interrupted.
"Our archers can fire that far?" Chiyu looked at the impending invasion force, still seemingly over a mile away.
"No," Joseph replied. "They're within his range."
"Have him target youma converging on our gates, they'll be used to breach our perimeter," Chiyu ordered. Joseph relayed the message and both of them watched the nearby watch tower. Moments later there was a faint, red glow, followed by a blink of white light that raced towards the enemy. Followed by another and another. Jesse De Vries fired magical bolt after bolt into the advancing horde. No one else in the Knights Corps had the means and the raw talent to snipe from such a distance. It was impossible to tell if each bolt found a mark but Jesse didn't miss. Each one would have felled a soldier.
"Have the rest of the archers begin fire as soon as they are in range, prioritise demon type targets," Chiyu ordered. A seer behind him murmured a prayer into a small crystal and relayed orders.
Less than an hour later, Chiyu was situated behind the main gate, covered in a blue aura. He poured every ounce of concentration into putting up a barrier the other side of the main gate. Up ahead, knights were throwing hell down onto the enemy at the gates, archers sat in the towers raining down on all they could see. Jesse, the greatest sniper in the Silver Millennium continued to pick out seemingly impossible targets.
"There's so many of them," Chiyu grimaced, sweat beads forming on his temples. Finally he was on his knees and forced to relinquish his barrier. The pressure of a hundred clubs and spears pushing forward was too much to hold off for long, especially is he was to fight later on. The banging of weapons started on the gate immediately, knights readied their weapons to counter attack the breach.
The banging began to subside and everyone eased off from the gate with uneasy tension. There was a loud bang that rattled the solid doors, making everyone jump. The doors held. Another thunderous boom, the hinges rattled. With a third bang, the doors exploded off their hinges, making way for the Terran-Youma army. The solid wooden doors tumbled away, taking nearby knights with them. In the middle of the gateway, a single man stood with his hand outstretched. He wore a fine, silver dressage and cape. A golden scabbard at his side. His hair was long and silver, long flowing and his beautiful face carried a visage of burning hatred.
"Is that Lord Kunzite?" Chiyu questioned.
"Don't know, don't care," Joseph replied as he extended a green aura around him. With a low growl, growing louder, he grabbed his halberd and prepared an overhead swing into the ground in front of the surging army. The impact shattered the ground around, cracks instantly splintered towards the main gate and lumps of earth shot upwards, soldiers and demons alike swallowed up in the holes in the earth.
"Charge!" Chiyu cried. He rallied the Knights around him to lead a counter charge, two armies collided with Chiyu and Joseph leading the Moon Knights. Kunzite still stood at the gate now baring a cold smile. He allowed his possessed and demonic army to sweep past him and crash into the Moon's defending forces.
His preferred staff fixed to a holster on his back, Chiyu brought a shield up and allowed a spear to push into it, deflecting it to one side. He pushed a sword up into its wielder, feeling the blade push into the ribs of the soldier attacking. He heard a gurgle of pain before resistance subsided and the slain soldier slumped to the ground, grasping the new wound in his chest. Chiyu had no time to think about it as another soldier behind immediately pushed into him, another spear trying to push past his shield and gut him. Fortunately his troops and set their phalanxes up quickly and established a wall. Two sides began pushing against each other. "Push!" Chiyu ordered as he summoned his power, his blue aura surrounding him.
With his mind, he sought pushing his foes back and his mind created the force necessary. Against the tide of enemies, he pushed them back out of the gate. Kunzite had disappeared in the din. "Bring the barricades!" Joseph called in a deep booming voice. "Chiyu, are you ready?"
"Yeah!" Chiyu replied, he stepped away and allowed another knight to take his place. He built up a well of power in him. He looked at the spot a few feet beyond the phalanx and released a surge of energy. A torrent of unseen force exploded beyond them and several men screamed in pain as they were pushed in any direction possible, as if a small explosion had gone off in their midst. During the brief interruption, knights in the secondary ranks brought make shift barriers forth and plugged up the hole left by the main gate.
Chiyu retreated to get his breath back. Using his powers drained him and he was pushing himself to soon. The battle wasn't even fifteen minutes old. Joseph came up beside him, his halberd as tall as he was already sporting fresh blood. "If this is all they have, we'll win no problem."
"We both know they have more," Chiyu commented. "They're holding back. Almost toying with us."
Amongst the screams of fighting, they could suddenly hear Kunzite laughing manically high above the battle. The two commander knights looked up, he was hovering above them cackling with energy. It built up in purple and black lightning until he thrust towards the make shift barricades. An explosion destroyed the barriers and all he stood behind them, Moon and Terran forces alike. Chiyu and Joseph were knocked off their feet and blown several feet back.
The world went white and then black. The sound of battle cut out to be replaced by a high-pitched whine. Everything started to come into focus after a few seconds. The blast had almost knocked Chiyu out. He was aware of someone shouting his name but it was dulled to his ears. He looked back up at Kunzite who was laughing again. A white beam crashed into him but it fizzled against an invisible bubble around him. Seemingly annoyed he put his hand out towards the watch tower and it exploded in an instant. Jesse De Vries was up there, he must have tried shooting at Kunzite to no effect.
"Chiyu! Get up!" Joseph grabbed him under the arm and hoisted him to his feet. "We need to fall back, sound the retreat!"
Suddenly all his senses were back. There was screaming all around him. The forward guard had been decimated and the supporting ranks were being overrun by the Terrans pushing through the gate. "Fall back to secondary positions!" Chiyu shouted as loud as he could.
Lieutenants in the yard sounded the retreat and the knights began stepping back to the secondary walls as men, women and twisted incarnations thereof flooded the city through the breach. Whistles blew in neighbouring areas signalling the main gate was breached and an all round retreat was in effect.
Chiyu and Joseph made it through the next checkpoint early and kept watch on the doors. In ones and twos retreating knights made it through the checkpoint. Minutes passed by as knights ran or limped through. The Terrans made their way through the outer-sector of the city quickly, mercilessly despatching any wounded enemies they came across. Chiyu looked away from the sight of slaughter. "Close the doors," he solemnly ordered.
Knights sealed off the checkpoint. There was likely survivors still out there, but they couldn't let the enemy through the checkpoint. They were on their own now. Metal bars were placed on the doors shortly before the Terrans began trying to barge the door down. Chiyu turned to the checkpoint commander. "Hold out as long as you can and evacuate before they breach, burn down the checkpoint as discussed and get back to the palace. We make our stand there," the commander saluted and Chiyu made his exit with Joseph.
And so it was, the Terran forces pushed into the inner sections of the city, and the knights burned it as they did. Many soldiers and demons were caught in the flames, evening the odds for the Moon Kingdom as they went. Chiyu marshalled his troops from the courtyard of the palace. Every minute, more knights poured in as various checkpoints were abandoned and burnt down. A great fire razed the city, made possible by its own protectors. But it did its job, the demon army burned with the city and the buildings fell, giving the survivors less cover from the ever present archers.
Events quickly shifted to a battle in the main courtyard of the palace. The Terrans surged and almost overwhelmed them but Chiyu and Joseph led an effective counter attack. Just when the battle was turning, the entire courtyard was blanketed in black lightning. It struck Terran, demon and Lunarian alike and in an instant, every combatant was blown off their feet or to the floor.
Somewhere amongst the ringing in his ears, he could hear a baritone laugh. Somewhere above him, behind his head. He was laying on his chest. There was a grumble next to him and a familiar curse. Joseph was still with him. Chiyu waited several seconds for his senses to return before he even thought about moving.
"Is this the best resistance the Moon Kingdom can offer?" The unmistakable voice of Kunzite taunted.
"We've got more to come," Chiyu coughed as he pushed himself up. Joseph joined him and the Terran commander gave them a chilling glare.
"General Val's secretary, wasn't it?" the silver haired soldier teased.
"General Matsui Chiyu, Lunar Knights Corps," Chiyu introduced himself.
"General, you've shown some interesting powers during the battle but you're no match for me. Join the Negaverse and the Silver Millennium will bow to us all."
"Can't do that," Chiyu answered. "Can't let you win."
"General, you will be squashed under my heel," Kunzite lowered himself onto the ground below. Jaedite, Nephrite and Zoicite joined him. "And its four versus two, you stand no chance." The four of them grinned maliciously.
"You ready for this?" Chiyu asked Joseph quietly. Joseph readied his halberd in response. In reply to their defiance, Jaedite took a menacing step towards them. With no fore-warning a yellow streak ran across the four Terran commanders like a lightning bolt. When it was gone, there were just three of them. Jaedite was gone. The five soldiers were dumb-struck. Chiyu was the first to recover. "Guess its two versus three."
"Make that three on three," a voice announced. All eyes moved to the source. A figure wearing a long, red cloak had a long bow fixed on the three Terran soldiers. Jesse De Vries removed his hood and pulled back the drawstring of his bow, it glowed red and a magical arrow formed. Kunzite narrows his eyes and snarled.
"Kill them!" He barked the order. Jesse reacted first, releasing his arrow. Zoisite released an energy beam from her palm that met Jesse's arrow head on, they cancelled each other out. Kunzite prepared another barrage of black lightning into his fist, pulled it back and threw it towards Chiyu and Joseph. Chiyu was prepared, summoned his powers and threw up another barrier, deflecting the attack. Nephrite charged down the General but Joseph headed him off. The two clashed like titans, hand to hand and the ground shook beneath them. They back off a step, Joseph drew his halberd and Nephrite his sturdy spear. They circled each other.
"You're mine, General!" Kunzite declared and dived head first for Chiyu. He drew his sword back. Chiyu responded by throwing up a force field, meeting the monstrous swing. He exercised every ounce of mental strength keeping his barrier up. Kunzite jumped back and prepared another over arm slash, Chiyu responded sooner. He reached out with his telekinesis and grabbed swords from fallen soldiers around them. He "threw" them at Kunzite like arrows forcing the Terran to go on the defensive, he batted aside the missiles with his own sword. Chiyu didn't let up, as one sword was deflected he pulled it back in, attacking Kunzite from all around.
The silver-haired commando was a formidable swordsman, his technique absolute. Aware of his surroundings, he parried missiles from behind without even looking. Chiyu kept up with more swords, keeping up the attack. Kunzite began to lose his temper and with a furious roar, exploded in a torrent of dark energy. It blew all of Chiyu's weapons away and knocked the Lunar General off his feet. Training kicked in and Chiyu had his staff held out in front of him as he landed. Kunzite pounced and brought his sword down on top. Chiyu blocked it with his staff and the two were locked in a stalemate.
"After I run you through, I'll drink in your bitch-queen's blood," Kunzite snarled.
"Go to hell," Chiyu growled back.
"Already here," Kunzite retorted. He lifted his sword again. Chiyu thrust upwards with both hands, powers still active, a psychic blow knocked Kunzite back. Chiyu scrambled up and brought his staff up in a defensive stance again. Kunzite's sword clashed against it and the two men stood toe to toe. Kunzite thrust under Chiyu's guard, the Lunar knight pushed his staff down, forcing the sword wide of his hip. Chiyu span, moving to the side of Kunzite and rolling his sword away. Kunzite stepped through, Chiyu swung his staff low behind him and felt the satisfying thud of catching Kunzite's ankle.
He turned round completely and regained his fighting stance, Kunzite was still recovering. Chiyu took advantage and thrust his staff into Kunzite's shoulder. The Terran dodged and spun, faking his stumble. Kunzite was now under Chiyu's guard and the Lunar was completely unguarded as Kunzite swung for his flank. Desperation kicked in, Chiyu activated his powers and tried to push against the sword. It skittered through a barrier barely put together and bit into his ribs. Chiyu cried out in pain and fell to the floor as the metal tore away leaving a deep gash. He stumbled to one knee, his left hand trailed across his midsection and pressed down on the wound, a thousand needles felt like they had just dug into his side. It was burning hot and wet. His vision blurred at the edges.
Over his shoulder, Chiyu heard Kunzite chuckle and his shadow loomed behind him.
"Don't worry about your precious kingdom. I'll be sure to take care of it when you're gone." The Terran taunted and drew his sword back, ready for a killing thrust. Chiyu closed his eyes, exhaled and concentrated.
Time felt like it had slowed for Chiyu. He felt Kunzite thrust. On his knees, he leaned to the side, felt the sword pass under his arm, span and raised to one knee and in one motion, grabbed Kunzite in a bear hug. His side exploded in reaction the sudden movement but he held on with every ounce of strength he had left.
"What is this?" Kunzite demanded. Chiyu didn't answer but summoned his power one last time. A dozen swords scattered from the battlefield were pulled towards him in an instant. At least half hit the target, Kunzite's unprotected back. He gasped and coughed blood, shuddered and went limp. Chiyu let him go and fell backwards himself. He was deathly cold. That wasn't a good sign. If a medic didn't find him soon, the Queen would need another General.
Some twenty metres away he saw Joseph Cairns and Nephrite. They were kneeling down, propped up against each other in the most peculiar fashion. Joseph's halberd was running up through Nephrite's torso. Nephrite's spear was driven down into Joseph, from the base of his neck and out his lower back. The two men had slain each other in the same attack and slumped together making the most morbid monolith to war.
Chiyu's vision began to dim. His last visions were of a dark sky over the Moon Kingdom and a piercing silver light rising up to meet it. Queen Serenity has called upon the Ginzinshou. He prayed. And died.
The telepathic link broke suddenly and everyone gasped for air at the same time. Adrenaline ran high in all the senshi. Chiyu seemed calm however, it was a little unnerving. It was Venus who spoke first. "You died fighting Kunzite."
"Yes, and even then I was lucky, he was formidable and powerful," Chiyu answered blankly. "I had worked with him once before. He never seemed to trust the friendship the Moon Kingdom and Terra had. When we next met, it was obvious he was in league with the Dark Kingdom, I had no choice but to protect our kingdom from his wrath."
There was a sterile silence. Everyone was absorbing a lot of information. Chiyu sat patiently waiting for them. "Tell us about your powers," Sailor Mercury finally ordered. "About your crest."
Chiyu held it in his hand and looked at it before up to his audience. "This crest is one of four and imbued with the power of the Ginzuishou. With it I am able to activate telekinetic powers. I can levitate objects, push or pull them in any direction with all the strength I could muster if I was to physically do those things. I also am able to employ limited telepathic abilities including mental projection, empathic reading and during my past life, I recently mastered being able to employ several disciplines on my own mind. Perfect memory recall and being able to control the substances my brain released including adrenaline and dopamine. Although that took nearly a decade of training."
"What about the crest, and the other three?" Mercury continued.
"Once, they were all one large crest that was mounted at the gates of the Moon Knight Academy. Each bore an insignia that each knight would swear upon in service. Courage, Compassion, Truth and Sincerity. We all swore to uphold these virtues in the name of the Moon," Chiyu recited. "On the day the academy opened, Her majesty blessed the gates. A prayer for all those who entered to be guided by the ginzuishou. Unexpectedly, the crest reacted with the blessing and was imbued with its power, breaking into four parts. Nobody knew what it meant until one day, some years later, a cadet by the name of Joseph Carins picked up one of the crests and through it gained inhuman strength."
"And you gained power over the mind," Sailor Venus finished for him. Chiyu nodded.
"There were two others, Jesse De Vries, ranger of Mars. He was granted powers of accuracy, the greatest sniper in the Silver Millennium. His powers extended him the greatest of sensory talent. He was also a great craftsman, his hands could make almost anything. Lastly there was Darren Jennings, his power was the most amazing speed. His movement was impossible to follow."
"I suppose they were reborn with the rest of us," Tuxedo Mask concluded. "The real question is, what do you intend to do now? What will you do with your powers?"
"I server the kingdom," Chiyu answered simply.
"The kingdom doesn't exist any more Chiyu," Mask answered. "There's nothing left to serve."
Chiyu was silent for a moment as he weighed those words up. The realm he served to protect was gone because he failed in his ultimate charge. "Well, I still serve the princess."
"I think we have things covered," Tuxedo Mask told him sternly.
Chiyu looked about the group of heroines. "You'll not have me?" He questioned. "I can't remove these memories I have. If there is a cause to serve, to protect the princess. To protect people. I'll fight."
The senshi looked amongst each other, finally Sailor Moon looked at him. "We'll call you."
Mr Black stepped in front of the glass font and placed a round stone tablet with a large red jewel in the centre on top. It was the only thing illuminated in the room from a single overhead lamp. In the shadows, the laboured breathing of his employer as it was assisted by machines fixed to the mobility chair he was bound to. His hunched silhouette was barely visible in the dark.
"You did well to bring it back so quickly," his voice sounded half-mechanical.
"I had good help getting around," Mr Black answered simply. "Research teams say it will take weeks to fully decipher the tablet and longer to work out all of its mysteries."
Suddenly the tablet began to glow a feint red. The stone hummed and vibrated with power, pulsating brightly and dim every few seconds to some mystic heartbeat. Mr Black took a step back instinctively into a defensive stance. His bosses' breathing became even more laboured, the pumps cycling oxygen around his body picking up pace, his own body began emanating power. As if from a distance, the warped screaming of some creature unknown pierced the veil of the room. Magiks not summoned in a millennia swam around the chamber, it popped and cackled in places. They were invisible at first and made hairs stand on end but swirls started to warp into sight like portals to realms invisible to the human eye.
Over the tablet, a ball of liquid formed and started to pull in different directions, determined to form itself a new shape. Mr Black swore he could see a screaming face or two in there.
"I think," the boss said with strain edging into his usually monotonous dialogue. "We know enough to control the Sunstone."
