~ By: Spooky Fyre
A/N: It's been what? A week since the first chapter was posted. These chapters are turning out to be a little lengthy, averaging around ten pages a chapter. Not bad if I do say so myself. Okay this might stop short of the Kwanda Rosman incident, that's where my script ends so I gotta go and replay the game. Hmmm I just finished this chapter and posted it so there's probably some typos and such but I'll eventually get around to fixing them and posting a hopefully error free chapter. Let me know if you spot any errors, it'd help me bunches. Thanks!
Disclaimer: Still don't own squat. Though I do own a large amount of money in tips, gotta love Sunday nights at the bowling alley.
Notes:
Hero's name is still Tir
Castle name is still Toran Castle
And I'm still queen of everything. (Riiiigggghhht…)
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Chapter 2:
The Seer and Destiny
The small group of Imperial Guards touched down on the small island known as Magician's Island roughly three hours after they had taken off from the capital city of Gregminster. Riding in a tiny, cramped wicker basket for three hours had made the group crabby and when they had finally landed it had come as an immense relief. The ride had been exhilarating at first; it had been the first time any of them had been up in the air flying, on a dragon's back no less. But the cramped quarters and scenery of white clouds had eroded their excitement to boredom and Ted had begun to pick fights with the young Dragon Knight. Luckily Cleo had made sure that Ted was in the back of the small basket as far away from Futch as humanly possible.
The group of men and one woman climbed out basket gratefully, their relief to be on solid ground where they could move and stretch almost tangible.
"Here we are." Futch announced from his high perch aboard Black's back. He noticed their relieved faces and smiled knowingly, "Speed make you dizzy?"
"Hardly," Ted snapped irritably, "It took us three hours to get here."
"Maybe but those clouds where flying by us Ted." Cleo cut in before the young Knight had the chance to form an angry reply. "Magician's Island it two days journey from Gregminster on foot. Futch and Black where able to get us here in three hours."
"Humph." Ted sniffed, "Why are you taking his side anyway Cleo?"
"Because you acting like a child." Gremio sighed as he stepped between the two boys, who were busy glaring at each other.
With a growl Futch tuned his eyes away from Ted and focused on Gremio, "Well, my job ends here. I'll wait here until you're done. Be careful."
"Thank you." Tir replied politely, smiling at the younger boy. Futch smiled back briefly before turning to his dragon, his nimble hands working at the heavy buckles as he began to undo the harness Black wore.
"Come Young Master, let's find this Leknaat." Gremio started toward the timberline, leaving the others to catch up.
"Hey Gremio, wait up!" Ted cried, running to catch up to the ex-bandit. "What did you mean I was acting like a child?"
Tir rolled his eyes and secured his staff firmly across his back and hurried after the two blondes, Cleo and Pahn two steps behind him.
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Damn, this is like an adventure novel gone horribly, horribly wrong, Tir thought as he swiped his staff down onto a thick branch that blocked their way. The branch broke with a wet snap, behind and to the sides of him he heard Gremio hacking at the branches with his hatchet while Pahn broke them with his bare hands. His staff was sticky and coated with sap and he knew that it was going to be difficult to clean his weapon once the liquid had dried, Tir sighed and resigned himself to future hours of cleaning and scrubbing.
"Hey I can see a building." Cleo announced as she pointed skyward. They craned their eyes toward the heavens and saw a magnificent building in the distance that arose from the thick forest, all white marble with blue inlaid into the stone to create a wonderful feast for the eyes, it was tall and made of four delicate towers that surrounded the main building that rose even higher than it's towers. "That has to be where Leknaat is."
"How unusual to have visitors on this island." A voice spoke from in front of them. Tir squinted and made out the shadowy form of a man that stood beneath a great towering tree whose branches shielded him from their view. "I must prepare an appropriate welcome."
"Who's there?" Cleo shouted sharply, her voice carrying well into the wooded area.
The voice chuckled. "Wind Rune …" The trees began to sway and the bits and pieces of organic matter that littered the forest floor were picked up in the air and tossed around. Tir threw his arms up in an attempt to shield his face from the flying debris, behind him Ted stood motionless, strangely untouched by the wind and a frown on his face.
Gremio's green cloak was tossed out behind him, smacking Pahn in the face with the cape's rough fabric. "Young Master! Be careful, something's wrong!" Gremio shouted, his voice straining to be heard over the wind.
"It's magic!" Ted cried, "He's summoning something!" In an instant his bow was drawn and an arrow notched and pulled taunt, it was pointed at the center of the wind and the blocky shape that was forming inside the vortex.
The ground rumbled as the wind faded away, leaving the woods cloaked in an unnatural silence. "What the hell is that thing?" Pahn gasped, "I've never seen anything like it."
Brown and blocky looking, bits of moss covering the hard looking skin, it's eyes nothing more then twin hollow indentions that glowed with a yellow light. It looks like a— "Golem!" Ted cried, "It a creature usually made of the earth but this one looks to be made of wind magic. Only extremely sharp objects can harm it, that's Cleo, Gremio, and I. Tir, Pahn, you two stun it!"
"You got it! One stunned Golem coming right up!" Pahn hooted and he launched himself at the enormous, hulking creature. His fists moved rapidly as they slammed into the monster that towered above them. Tir leapt after him, his staff blurring as he executed complicated moves but the Golem didn't even so much as stagger.
One heavy fist swung out, impossibly fast for something so bulky. Pahn barely saw it in time and he lunged sideways and rolled the momentum bringing him to his feet.
Tir watched from the corner of his eyes and he continued his assault, his movements became faster and adrenaline flooded his muscles with strength. When the enemy seems to have no weakness try the eyes, the voice of his old weapons mentor rang in his head. Without breaking pattern Tir slashed upward and stabbed for the thing's eye.
The Golem roared with pain and Tir brought his staff up just before the Golem's arm smashed into his staff with a clang of metal striking rock. The staff bowed inward from the force of the blow and the young Guard flew back, rolling along the forest floor before coming to a stop a few feet away.
"Young Master!" The enraged voice of Gremio sliced through the air like a knife and he too launched himself at the creature, his hatchet slashing a line across the sensitive eyes. He ducked away just as six knives thrown in quick succession by Cleo and an arrow loosed by Ted whizzed by his head, embedding themselves in the Golem's already damaged eyes.
Tir used his staff to climb gingerly to his feet, checking the heavy weapon for any damage; there was none, the staff remained unbroken. He then checked himself for injures and found only soreness and the promise of some ugly bruises in the morning from the hard connection of body, ground, and stones. He watched silently, along with Pahn who had come up next to him, as the Golem gave one last pain filled roar before falling to his knees causing the earth to shudder before dissolving into nothing.
"Wow, you guys are really something, beating my magic like that." The voice from the shadows congratulated.
Tir watched as the figure stepped out of the shadows. It's a boy, how did a little kid harness that kind of magic?
The green and white clad boy smiled at them slightly, "I'm impressed, Imperial Guards."
Pahn clenched his fists and took to steps forward before Gremio blocked him with his arm, the green cloaked man's face was serious, not to mention angry. "Hey! Have you got something against us or what?" Pahn growled.
"Take it easy." The boy held up his arms in surrender in an attempt to mollify Pahn. "I know who you guys are. You've come to see Lady Leknaat right?" At Tir's careful nod he continued, "I just wanted to test you. I guess you're the real thing." He said ruefully, shaking his head "Come this way, honored guests." He waved his hand and disappeared into the forest.
"H-hey! Wait a minute!" Ted called out, quickly running after the boy; the others quickly trotted after them.
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Cleo ran her hand across the white marble wall, her fingers moving over the blue pattern that was scattered throughout the wall and found that it was perfectly smooth. I guess it's natural, she thought, but I've never seen marble with blue veins unless it was a vein of precious gems.
Pahn stretched and yawned, completely ignoring his surroundings. I'm hungry. Where can a guy get some food around here? His thoughts wandered, imagining Gremio's stews or the varied food of the inn just down the street from Master Teo's home.
Ted stared at his surroundings, attempting to identify the duel feelings of power he was sensing. One was coming from the boy, of that he was certain but the other one . . . Maybe the Lady Leknaat?
Gremio's eyes darted about him; he was still wound up from the battle. His hand was under his cloak, gripping the handle of his battle hatchet and he made certain he stayed close to his young charge, lest any harm befall him.
Tir noticed that they stood in a foyer, a large foyer that would be deemed a 'formal foyer' and the room and the rooms beyond that Tir could see from the arched doorway were bare of furniture, the white marble was unmarred by pieces of shaped wood and the blue veins that ran through the floor and walls drew the eye away from the bareness of the room.
"Lady Leknaat awaits you at the top of the tower. Just take those stairs all the way up." Luc gestured vaguely to the huge winding staircase just behind them.
"Yes. Thank you…?" Gremio let the sentence hang uncertainly; he didn't know the boy's name.
A smile flitted across the young mage's face briefly, "Luc."
"Thank you Luc." Gremio repeated as the party began the long climb up the stairs.
The group climbed for what seemed hours, though it reality it was only fifteen minutes or so. The main building was very tall maybe nine or ten stories tall although Tir wasn't so sure anymore, he had stopped counting the floors after the sixth one. All he cared about now was reaching the top; his legs were starting to kill him.
"How many more floors are there?" Ted whined, "I legs are killing me." He groaned dramatically as he climbed another flight of stairs. "Last time I checked stair climbing wasn't mandatory in the Imperial Guard." He grumbled sourly.
"Technically Tir is the only one in the Imperial Guard Ted. We're only in the Guard by extension." Cleo replied as she grabbed the handrail and hauled herself further along, she too was becoming fatigued, although she would never admit it audibly.
"Finally. The top." Pahn wheezed, he had thought himself to be physically fit but climbing that multitude of stairs put some serious strain on his poor legs and lower back, not to mention how much his heart rate had gone up.
"I was expecting you, messengers from the Empire." A soft voice said kindly.
Tir's head snapped up, for a second that voice had sounded like Windy, the Court Magician but the woman who stood at the top landing of the stairs was obliviously not Windy. A genuine smile graced this woman's lips and her face had a soft, benevolent look to it; her eyes were closed and a small diamond shaped gem was fixed firmly to her forehead. "Oh my, what a cute messenger we have this year."
"She says you're cute Tir," Ted elbowed him in the ribs playfully. "How do you feel about that?"
Tir frowned, Her eyes are closed how does she even know what I look like, much less whether or not I'm cute if she can't even see me? The others didn't seem to notice that Leknaat's eyes were shut or if they did they didn't say anything. Perhaps they merely held their peace out of politeness.
"I'm sorry." Leknaat apologized and bowed her head slightly causing dark hair to spill from her drawn hood like a river. "You're a soldier of the Empire. I shouldn't call you 'cute'. I have prepared the Astral Conclusions." She turned and began walking into the next room. Tir noted that her eyes were still closed. "Follow me."
Gremio gave his charge a gentle shove when he didn't immediately move to follow the eerie woman. "She won't bite Young Master. You must follow Lady Leknaat."
"Yeah, yeah. I know." His charge muttered as he reluctantly trailed the Seer. In the adjoining room Leknaat stood on a low dais, a scroll held carefully in her hands.
"Imperial messenger, here are the Astral Conclusions." Slender arms extended out from her pale robe to offer the sealed scroll to Tir. "Please take them."
Tir McDohl came forward and reached for the scroll that was apparently important to the Empire but pulled back when Leknaat jerked back with a gasp, pulling the astrological results along with her.
Slender dark eyebrows furrowed although her eyes remained shut and her expression took on a stunned expression. "What's you name?"
The dark haired teen blinked, "Tir. Tir McDohl."
The Seer's lips quirked in a smile, "I see. Tir . . .Such a friendly name." She straightened and her arms fell to her sides, the Astral Conclusions held loosely in one hand. "I am an astrological magician. My job is to see that future in the stars. But the future is not unchangeable, all I can see is the overall flow of things." Leknaat stepped down from the dais, leaning down to set the scroll on the platform's base then straightening to grab Tir's hands in her slender ones. Tenkai Star, the Chief Star of Heaven, one of thirty-six Stars of Heaven, the information flowed into Leknaat's mind and she knew that this young man, this boy was important. "Tir, you are bearing a huge burden in the flow of destiny. You will have to make painful choices and experiences a great deal of pain and sorrow and I know not what the outcome will be." She held up her hand to forestall the question that was forming on Tir's lips, as if she could see his mouth open even though her own eyes were still closed. "But always remember that your destiny is in your own hands. Never forget that. You must decide what is right." Her grip tightened almost painfully on Tir's gloved hands. "Do you understand?"
No. "Yes…maybe." Tir pulled his hands free and rubbed at his forehead. I don't understand…what destiny? I don't see how I'd be important…"
The blind Seer cocked her head to the side, "You are the Tenkai Star, the Chief Star of Heaven. Your Star alone insures that you will have a great destiny, Leader of the 108 Stars of Destiny."
"What--" Tir's mouth dropped open in dumb shock.
Leknaat raised one hand to stop the young man's question, "I cannot tell you any more." She held out the Astral Conclusions for Tir to take, "Here are the Astral Conclusions."
This time when Tir reached for the scroll Leknaat did not jerk or flinch and he took the scroll and slid it into a bag that he wore at his side.
"My job is now done. But we will meet again." She paused thoughtfully and smiled at Tir, her gem winking in the sunlight. "Not that I see our reunion in the stars. It's just my wish."
He nodded, completely speechless and turned away from Windy's sister and simply walked away, his mind struggling to accept whatever it was that Leknaat was trying to tell him. Destiny? Tenkai Star…? Whatever. Maybe insanity runs in Windy and Leknaat's family. He frowned, but she seemed so sincere, she doesn't seem the type to lie. He came in sight of his party and sighed, shaking his head as if to rid him of his whirling thoughts. She has to be wrong; it's nothing but a big mistake. I'll live my life in the Imperial Guard, have some adventures and that'll be all. Nothing more.
Ted saw him first and waved a hand in greeting, "You're back at last. You sure took your time. What were you up to in there, eh?"
"What are you talking about Ted?" Tir questioned his friend crossly. He watched as color flooded Ted's cheeks.
"Uh--"
Pahn tapped his foot impatiently, "If we don't hurry Futch will get impatient and leave us behind. Let's get going."
Cleo turned on Pahn and poked him in the chest, "Don't be so rude to Lady Leknaat. Are you hungry or something?"
"Shut up," Pahn snapped, scowling.
Delicate footsteps alerted them to Leknaat's arrival and Tir turned and watched as the Seer made her way to them confidently. How can she walk and not bump into anything if her eyes are always closed? Is she blind? Tir wondered as she watched her.
"You must all must be bored. I'll have Luc take you to the shore." She turned her head, her hood and cloak rustling with her movement. "Luc?"
A green nimbus formed slowly and out of that softly glowing aura of light a voice spoke, "I'm here Lady Leknaat." A boy's silhouette formed and slowly solidified until Luc was standing to the side and slightly before the Seer. He turned his head inquisitively to glance at his mentor, his gold circlet shimmering in the omnipresent light of the room.
"Take Tir and his companions to the shore. And none of your tricks now, do you hear?" She waved her finger at Luc warningly although there was amusement underlying her voice.
The blonde mage smiled, "Of course not Ma'am. I would never trick anyone."
Cleo cleared her throat, "If you'll excuse us Lady Leknaat, we'll be on our way."
The Seer's head swung and stared at Cleo's startled face, "You…" Tenman Star, the Star of Abundance, another of he thirty-six stars of heaven.
Cleo watched Leknaat wearily as the older woman walked slowly over to her, "Yes?"
Leknaat stood before the younger woman, her head tilted slightly to the side, "Your job is to protect Tir. Take this." Her hand came out of the sleeve of her robe and Cleo could see that she held a small red gem. "It should come in handy sometime."
Cleo held out her hand and the Seer deposited the small Fire Crystal into the Star's hand and then turned away to face Tir again.
"Tir…remember what I told you." She told the young man softly. Her head moved, as if her eyes were glancing at each of them in turn but her eyes were still closed. Tir wondered absently what color her eyes were. Tentai Star, Retreating Star and Tenei Star, the Heroic Star; both one of the thirty-six Stars of Heaven. He already had three of the 108 Stars of Destiny and he hasn't even begun his journey yet.
"Ready everyone?" Luc asked, raising an eyebrow in inquiry.
"Yes. If you would please Sir Luc." Gremio nodded to the shorter man.
Luc cracked his knuckles as the Rune on his right hand began to glow, "Then close your eyes." When the group complied he raised is hand, "Wind Rune, show your power."
That now distinct green halo of light surrounded the mage, Tir, and his party and they slowly faded from view, leaving the Seer of Magician Island standing in the huge room alone. Leknaat smiled sadly, "Good luck Tir McDohl."
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Waves lapped gently at pale sand and the distant cry of seagulls created a tranquil melody that soothed any who stopped to listen. The shore was deserted and empty except for two figures, one a gigantic dragon and the other a slim boy, a dragon and Dragon Knight.
Futch ignored the peaceful lull of the waves and focused instead on his irritation. "Boy are they late… Hey Black, think we should leave?" The boy questioned as he ran his hand over his dragon's sleek scales. "The Imperial Guard should be able to fend for themselves."
Black snorted and twisted his horned head to butt his master gently on the shoulder as if to say no but then reared back as a green pinpoint of light appeared a few feet away from them. The pinprick of light expanded rapidly until it became a sphere roughly ten feet wide, suddenly it disappeared leaving group of five standing where the nimbus of light had been moments before.
Pahn whipped around, his eyes wide and panicked as he stared at his surroundings, at the beach, "What the—? Whoa, what's going on here?" His deep voice was pitched unusually high in fear or unease. "We're back here already, I've never seen such magic!"
Gremio turned to Luc and smiled, "You are a worthy apprentice to Lady Leknaat."
Cleo frowned, her eyes darting about the beach, "That's all fine but…where's Ted?"
Tir watched wide-eyed as Ted appeared above Futch and hug there for a moment before plummeting down, directing onto the young Dragon Knight. The two went down in a tangle of limbs and arms.
With an offended cry Ted rolled away from Futch and climbed to his feet, "Ouch! Watch it you punk!"
Black grabbed his master with his teeth and gently hauled him up by the back of his tunic, Futch glared at the other boy with murder in his eyes, "Better watch you mouth!"
Gremio grabbed Ted's wrist as he made a leap for Futch. "Enough is enough! I'm sick of all this fighting." The scarred man shook Ted, "Knock it off Ted and leave Futch alone, he was nice enough to bring us here." The look he leveled at Ted shut the younger man up and Ted glared at the ground and nodded minutely.
"It's about time." Futch sighed as he vaulted onto Black and into the dragon's basket. "Hurry up and hop on or we'll leave you behind."
They all sighed and resignedly climbed into the small cramped basket, Ted once again kept placed in the back. Pahn rolled his shoulders, jarring Cleo and Tir, "Damn it's crowded in here…"
"Stop moving you big idiot and it won't seem so crowded," Cleo snapped as she edged away from Pahn and turned sideways, looking out over Black's right wingspan. She gripped the basket tightly as she felt Black gather his energy and bunch his muscles then they were off and in the air.
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Three hours later Black landed in the commons of the Imperial Palace in Gregminster and an exhausted small group of Imperial Guards practically fell off the dragon's back. Futch hopped easily off Black, the long trip not bothering the Dragon Knight Apprentice in the least.
"That's the end of my job." Futch announced cheerfully. "You all have to deliver that Astral Conclusions to the commander." He turned and quickly unbuckled the basket harnesses, letting the contraption fall to the ground. "While I'm in the capital, I might as well take a look around." He mused thoughtfully. "How would you like to go to the theater, Black?"
Tir shook his head and walked away, the rest of his group following behind. "Do you think he knows that dragons aren't allowed in the theater?" He wondered aloud.
"Who knows?" Ted shrugged and stretched languidly, "More importantly, who cares?"
Pahn winced as he stomach growled, "When do we get to eat?"
"All you ever think about is your stomach!" Cleo exclaimed exasperatedly.
"We'll eat after we finish our mission." Tir told the bigger man absently, his thoughts were still stuck on the whole destiny spiel that Leknaat had thrown at him. "Come on the sooner this is done the sooner we can go home." He glanced at Pahn and grinned, "And eat. We'll go the Inn and see if Maria can cook us up something."
"Alright!" Pahn cried, "Let's go see that creep Kraze!"
"Pahn…" Gremio said warningly.
"Sorry." The fist fighter replied sheepishly as they followed Tir into the lower level of the palace. "But he is a creep you know."
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A/N: Okay there's chapter two. Next up is Chapter 3: Bandits and Bribes. I'd give you a preview but I haven't written it yet. Now be kind readers and become reviewers by clicking the little button and reviewing. Thanks bunches! Love and kisses and all that mushy crap. ^^ ;