LES MUSICIENS
2008, 2009, 2010
A CROSSOVER STORY
This chapter starts immediately after Ben and Rook leave Kyoto, Japan. As well as the revelation of the mysterious alien probe to Rook, but then cuts to Gwen and Kevin back in the forests to the northeast of Bellwood, and a rock quarry where Hope, aka Charmcaster was spotted with Hex.
Charmcaster/Hope is one of my favorite characters from the Ben 10 canon, where at first you would think what her characterization is. But when Dwayne McDuffie (may he rest in peace) introduced the idea of her forced from her home in Ledger Domain with her uncle Hex and her father named Spellbinder killed by the usurper Adwaita. I loved the idea and made her more of an ant-heroine than an actual villain. So for my story, and my own sanity, I will not follow what Omniverse had recently done to her.
Also, with the various hints of the said conflict between mages and mystics, this is the apex of what caused it and how it is being resolved. Hope fighting for her home while on the ground on Earth, people are dealing with uncertainty until the news comes. My first chapter ever on doing something on this scale, and I relish the challenge.
The musical voice is "Statues" from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II soundtrack. This piece greatly inspired the layout of this chapter for the battle for Ledger Domain. The second voice was perhaps more surprising, since this unique chapter does tie in with the rest of the story, the mystics on Earth. "Bourne Gets Well" from The Bourne Identity. However, another but more fitting bit of music that sums up everything here is "Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt" (Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage) by Ludwig van Beethoven.
"Wars without ceasing, will break out till that period arrives, and the continent must, in the end be conqueror; for, though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal never can expire" (Thomas Pain, American Crisis I)
BELLWOOD, TX, USA
[FRIDAY, 12:39PM]
Gwen and Kevin were driving around Bellwood, talking about their plans after her final semester of high school is finished, "Just think Kevin. Five more months and then I graduate. Able to go to Princeton or Brown University."
Kevin looked at her with a smile, "And I'll be moving in with you. Finally away from parents and able to do more 'things' with each other," he told her and she caught the subtext.
"For once, I agree," she gave him a smirk and he playfully growled at her.
She chuckled and sees a familiar figure above, heading northeast for the woodlands she and Kevin have come across during their days of combatting the Forever Knights.
"It's Hex," Gwen exclaimed and quickly speed dialed her grandpa. In a second he responded, "Max Tennyson here."
"Grandpa! Hex is in the vicinity! Kevin and I will go after him! We'll be careful," she told him in a hurry as she tried to get a good look at Hex in the air, amidst the buildings in the area and tracking his mana.
"Hold on Gwen! Ben and Rook will come there to assist you," he told her, but she shook her head.
"Sorry grandpa. But by the time they come here, it will all be over. We'll keep you in touch with whatever details come up," she told her.
"All right. Be careful and I'll see you soon," then the line was cut, ending the call.
Gwen looked at Kevin, "Step on it," she told him and he smirked, "Oh yeah. Let's go," he then shifted gears and off they went.
CHAPTER TEN
JANUARY 2010, PART TWO
UNKNOWN LOCATION IN WOODS A FEW HOURS AWAY FROM BELLWOOD
[12:42PM]
Charmcaster was levitating, with a huge book of spells, incantations, curses, protection seals, and other obscure arcana from Earth. She was reading and absorbing the new knowledge she will need for what her uncle has considered 'suicidal'. The pages turned by themselves due to the energy emanating from Charmcaster.
She then felt a breeze coming in from the open windows ahead of her that looked outside. She looked out to the woods outside and wondered one thing, 'If I die in this mission, will I see him again? I miss my father very much.'
Then she heard the doors at the front opening, and it was Hex, her uncle entering the mansion in question.
"Uncle?"
Hex looked at her, after seven years in this location he looked more mature than when he first encountered Ben, Gwen and their grandfather. Since then, he and Charmcaster have lived in secrecy since then and kept to themselves.
"We have company coming over. Gwen and a black haired boy with her," he told her as he sets down his staff.
She sighed, "Gwen…there are times I wish to forget her and the idiots she surrounds herself with."
She levitated down and closes the book while it levitates back to it's spot in the bookcase nearby, "But there are more pressing matters now to deal with…something very important to us, uncle."
"It's a suicide mission…returning home is a fool's errand," he tells her not in the least amused by her choice of words.
"Then what will you do? Stay here? Come now, you're better than your current condition, magically speaking," she commented dryly, not impressed with his lack of will in this matter.
He looked at her and stepped forward and whispered to her with weight and grave concern for his only niece, "I am not willing to react the battle of the 300 Spartans in Ledger Domain…Hope."
She looked at him with an incredulous look. It was the first time in many years since she was nine or ten that he has used her real name. With this she was momentarily silent.
Then, the two felt the presence of four magicians teleporting inside their home, dressed in clothes common in Ledger Domain. They headed outside at the front of their home and see them, "We came to answer the call."
Hex looked at his niece incredulously, "What is this all about?"
She replied stoically, "I sent a message through the mana field to any magician and mystic from Ledger Domain who would listen. I called for a request for volunteers in order to take back our home from Adwaita."
The sound of the name made the four who appeared and Hex glare and clench their fists at the sound of the name, "That cursed usurper."
"Right. But in order to do this, we need at least a couple hundred," she told them, but then the four smiled, "Not a problem there," a blonde spoke.
Hex and Charmcaster looked at the four and then walked out into the courtyard at the back that led down into an abandoned rock quarry and there were about 400 magicians and mystics. All of them dressed in the wardrobe of Ledger Domain, in honor of the fallen government.
"We have heard the call and all of us wanted someone to lead the charge. Or at least, keep us in line," the blonde guy told her.
Charmcaster looked at him, the four and then the four hundred, "You know…we might just have a shot."
MEANWHILE
Kevin was rushing down the highway road that headed for an area outside of Bellwood that was wooded. Instead of taking hours to get there, his car was featured with alien tech so they can get there in minutes, "All right Gwen. What's the plan?"
"Find out what's going on and why Hex was just flying around over Bellwood without…doing much. Doing nothing is just as peculiar as if he were stealing something to become more powerful," she explained as she tracked down the mana.
Kevin was thinking on this as he drove and then heard Gwen exclaim, "Got it! Up ahead there's a side road that leads to the forest. Take it."
He sees it and makes a hard right, "Hang on babe!"
The tires screeched, the dirt flew past the window and he floored it. After driving straight, he made a few more turns in the woods and then makes a left and goes down the final straight bit of road. He floored it with rocks and dirt flying past them as he puts the pedal to the metal.
He then sees the mansion belonging to Charmcaster and Hex, "Huh, nice place."
Gwen however felt something else, "There's a lot of mana surrounding this place. As if there's a congregation of people here or something," she commented on the levels of mana in the area.
Kevin looked at her as the two closed the car doors in unison, "Magicians perhaps? Mystics? Or her rock creatures guarding the place," he asked, ready for what is usually expected.
"Not sure…Let's go inside," she said as they now walked towards the mansion with extreme caution. Kevin pushed the door, and to their surprise it was unlocked, with Gwen sensing whatever security spells are present. To her surprise, nothing activated so the two entered the mansion in question.
The two looked at the mansion itself and noticed how the décor reflected Charmcaster's background, "So she is a die hard magician then. But still, not in your class Gwen," Kevin muttered.
"Still…wait. Listen," she called to his attention that in the darkness of the mansion, they heard voices, "It's coming from the back of the mansion. Come," she told him and the two moved through the main hall of sorts and ran for the back of the home.
They ran down the hall and pushed through the wooden doors that led to a sizeable library with varying books on spells and curses that lined the bookshelves. However, that did not get their attention, even for Gwen who would be marveling at the sight. But the sounds coming from outside did catch their attention and they quietly walked towards the glass doors. They come closer and through the glass, they see 400 magicians and mystics from the ages of 16-65 with varying levels of power emanating from them.
"What is going on," Kevin asked, "I don't know…but I don't like it," Gwen replied back, both were in whispers.
Then they see Charmcaster standing in front of the 400, "All of you are here for one thing: To take back our home! We know the risks involved! We've lost family, friends, our culture decimated by the usurper!"
Gwen and Kevin heard and she looked at the gathering in question. Knowing full well that whatever Charmcaster plans are, no doubt would put innocent lives in peril just for the fun of it. But now, by looking at the faces of the 400 and Charmcaster herself…this was different. Way different.
"…We might die in our attempt…but if we are going to perish or succeed, let's do it so we send shivers all over that big obnoxious shell of his!"
The four hundred cheered and clapped, "Not much of a motivation speech I know," she told them and they laughed and chuckled, "Now…are we ready?"
"Show us the door," they all shouted in unison.
Charmcaster pointed at the particular spot behind the four hundred facing her and uttered the words, "Yawahtacsip!"
The word summoned the mythical Door to Anywhere, the gate that led to Ledger Domain, the realm where according to legend was the home to the true magicians and magicians. Not bound the limitations and extreme moral dichotomies on Earth.
Before she can give the okay to go ahead, she sensed a mana spike behind her and puts up a shield to block the blast. She turned around and sees Gwen and Kevin, "Normally I would taunt you and then fight. But today…"
Charmcaster just said a few words before she pointed her right index finger at the two. As they charged, she fired two bolts of energy, that turned into restraints and it propelled them to the wall above the windows.
Charmcaster looked up and then turned around again to face the four hundred, "Now…Let's go!"
The four hundred began to march inside the door and Charmcaster, along with her uncle Hex looked on at the sight, "Hope, you know that the four hundred is not enough to overwhelm Adwaita."
"But that doesn't mean we cannot stall for time. Please uncle, find more volunteers on this end and send them to Ledger Domain in whatever way possible," she nearly pleaded with him in a tone that had strength, but showed vulnerability.
He nodded, "In the meantime, I will do something in order to protect your small force," he held out his staff and pointed it at the stone floor below him and incanted, "Piertotum locomotor!"
On the stone floor were engravings of soldiers and knights that surround their home. One by one the engravings rose to their feet, with full armor of stone and halberds at the ready. When the spell was complete, they then heard the footsteps of soldiers marching, indicating that the other engravings around the home came to life and now, stood one hundred stone soldiers awaiting their orders.
"Do your duty! Protect my niece Hope and her 400! Guard them while they trek through Ledger Domain," Hex ordered and they raised their halberds in salute, turned around and headed for the gate.
Hope in turn hugged her uncle, "I'll see you. Goodbye."
He returned the hug only briefly and let her go. He looked up to see Gwen and Kevin still struggling to get free from their restraints. He sighed and waved his hand, having the mana restraints disappear and the two landed, in part with Gwen levitating and she slowing down Kevin's descent.
Hex turned to Gwen and before she asked a mountain of question, he beat her to the punch, "At this moment, we put our pasts aside. I will no longer bother you or anyone in particular. This…is far more important."
"And what is this," Kevin asked and Hex responded without pause, "To take back the home Charmcaster and I once called home. But…I cannot be there for her right now. But…you two can," he looked at her.
"What? Are you insane? She might turn on us as soon as we enter that doorway," Gwen asked Hex; now having less faith on whatever is going on than before.
"Believe what you will. All I ask is for you two to aid my niece in her campaign until I return with more reinforcements. Now go," he told them in a way that almost sounded like an order.
Kevin looked at Gwen, "Oh no. I know that look in your eye. Don't," he told her and she looked at him in return, "With everything that is going on right now…we have to see what's what. Come on!"
She ran for the gateway that led to another dimension and Kevin hesitated for a second until he quickly followed suit. Gwen ran and entered the Door and just as it was about to close, Kevin entered as well. As the Door closed, it remained there, silent and still and only the birds in the surrounding woods were heard.
Hex sighed and looked up, raised his staff and uttered under his breath an incantation that for his people, it's the closest thing to a prayer and a call to arms all at once. At the end of his staff a ball of energy was forming and it was 5 meters across, it levitated upward until it was about 1500 feet in the air. He levitated upward to the ball's height. He then pointed his staff at it, as well as his left hand. He then let his mana emanate and have the ball of energy reverberate outward in all directions.
'Now. Each wave of energy will expand and will be visible to mystics and magicians alike, both native and Ledger Domain refugees, in all latitudes and longitudes, as well as seeing the hidden message within it to report to this location at doorways in their locations. This…better work.'
Hours later, at certain points of the world the intended people witnessed the phenomena. As well as certain people…
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA
[GREENWICH VILLAGE, 4:53PM]
Wilfredo looked upward and sees the wave in question as he stood on the roof of an apartment building, right above the intersection of Bleeker and Christopher. It was snowing and the sky grey, like his father's greying hair, but he can still the wave. Below, he noticed and sees a group looking upward and cheering. He heard their cheers:
"HUZZAH! HUZZAH! Ledger Domain is at hand!"
He just was stumped, but then it was starting to fit together, "The people who want to go back to Ledger Domain, the tension between them and us, as well as murmurs of a usurper…it's adding up," he muttered to himself.
He puts his camera away, after taking a few shots of the neighborhood covered in snow and trying to take footage of snow falling for a certain project he wanted to propose, "Looks like that's going to be delayed for a while."
He adjusts his scarf and coat and climbed down the fire escape, 'I wonder if the energy waves I just saw…where ever they are coming from is going to get a lot of attention. And definitely from my friends wherever they are. But…first, I'm gonna learn a bit more about this situation first hand.'
After climbing down six floors, he was now on street level and as he stepped on the snow, the crunching noise under his feet got the attention of the group he just observed a few moments earlier.
"Have you been listening to us? And don't lie! We can sense the mystical aura around you," one guy with a sharp face yelled to him from across the street.
Wilfredo walked across the street with the snow now being blown by the wind. He reached the group and approached them, "Who are you guys?"
Unknown to him, Cecilia in Brazil asked the same question.
SALVADOR, BRAZIL
[PELORINHO, 6:56PM]
"We are people from Ledger Domain. And we are excited to know that there is someone out there is attempting to take back our home from the usurper Adwaita," the girl, who was Cecilia's age replied to her question.
To Cecilia's surprise, they spoke to her in English. Albeit, slightly accented that resembled the British or even the Northern English accent, but somehow different. But now, she has to press on in finding out answers for what's been going on for the past few months.
"They why was there this conflict between you guys? It seemed that there was this conflict between the mystics and the magicians in your fold. Why?"
Then a mystic who stood half a foot over her in height with silver hair, dark blue eyes and looking at least five years older than her, "Before, we were still trying to find out which one of our groups was responsible for this whole mess. However, judging by the waves above," he looked up as did she and the others.
He then continued, "It seems we can now put that behind us," and this prompted Cecilia ask a question, "That easily? Usually when two groups of differing ideologies on how the world can be worked out, tensions remain despite a reprieve."
The magician in question smiled a bit and chuckled, "It's not quite that simple. Most of our tensions revolved around our collective uncertainty about who takes the blame so we can move on and figure out what to do about it."
Cecilia then said, "So…this is mainly, who ever did that," she pointed upward, "Will apparently puts things at an end."
"Until the main problem is resolved…or all of us follow that sign and we ultimately have to choose to join the fight or lead volunteers to the designated location to head for our home and reclaim it and rebuild our way of life."
Cecilia looked at the group in question and can definitely know for sure that her friends are possibly dealing with this as well. She then looked around, near the old church and the area where slaves were auctioned off back in the early days of the country and then returned her attention to the mages and mystics from this place called Ledger Domain.
"Then…there's one question I would like to ask," she told them and one girl mage looked at her and replied, "Sure go ahead."
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
[SATURDAY, 12:02AM]
BEYOGLU NEIGHBORHOOD
"How can I help," Fatma asked the group sitting beside her as they rode the streetcar to get away from the snow for a bit.
"Help? You," one magician wanted to be sure he heard right.
She nodded, "Do I have to repeat myself? I don't wish to. I get that from my boyfriend already when he wants to get me cross on purpose," she gave a light smirk, indicating she gets her way most of the time.
The group of five looked at her, then at each other, and then at her again and a guy spoke, "Well…this is a surprise. Normally we would hide our presence from natives like you whenever on Earth. But since this is a special case, I suppose we can have this as a special case."
Fatma looked at them and nodded in understanding, "It is. Especially with those energy waves in the sky, but that does raise an interesting question. Where are you supposed to go in order to get to your location?"
A female mystic with dark brown hair and gold eyes looked at her and responded, "At the Hagia Sofia on the Asian side of the city. That means we have to cross the bridge."
Fatma nodded, "No problem. I can get us a modest transit van to get us there. I live near there actually. I just came here for the drinking," she told them.
She then continued, "However, there is a small problem. For me anyway, how the hell am I supposed to know what to look for when we get to the old church?"
The leader of the group with his arms crossed looked at her, "There will be a series of runes present over the location that only mystics and magicians can read. So make sure you look out for them. Distinct from Arabic and Turkish," he told her.
She observed the man who appeared to be 23 or so and sees his silver hair cut in a military style, balanced by his dark blue eyes, "Very well. And there is one thing that is clear…"
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
[OLD TOWN/OLD JAFFA, 12:04AM]
In front of an old clock tower, Delilah stood before a group of magicians and mystics also from Ledger Domain, "We will not come across obstacles when finding these portals of which you claim right? Like some sort of protection spell or a series of protection spells?"
A female mystic waved her hands in defense, "Absolutely not. Like we mentioned before, mages and mystics can only see the doors alike. For regular people, they will either see signs that forbid entry or just a solid wall."
Delilah thought on it, on whether to really aide them, but for the foreseeable moment, she detects no deceit, "Right. So shall we go?"
"First. Give your work that during the next few days, you are to not disclose this to your friends here. This is a very dangerous situation and we do not know if Adwaita has spies on Earth tracking our movements on whenever we choose to return."
"Your people as a whole, not just you lot here in my city," Delilah wanted that clarified, "Correct," a male mage responded.
She looked at them and then Abner who stood next to her spoke to her mentally in both Hebrew, 'מה אתה חושב? האם עלינו לסייע להם? או שאנחנו צריכים לעמוד על המשמר שלנו למעלה רק במקרה? (What do you think? Should we assist them? Or should we keep our guard up just in case?)'
'אנו נשמור את השומר שלנו עד למקרה. הם נראים אמיתיים בכוונה, אבל כפי שלמדתי ממך, תמיד לשמור על עין חדה החוצה לכל דבר שבולט. (We will keep our guard up just in case. They do seem genuine in intention, but as I have learned from you, always keep a keen eye out for anything that sticks out.)'
The female mystic looked at her and the spirit next to her. Abner noticed her gaze and turned his head. She smiled but decided against not mentioning she listened in on their conversation.
"Shall we go," the leader of the group, a female magician, or rather sorceress asked Delilah.
She, along with Cecilia, Fatma, and Wilfredo at their locations answered the same question asked by the same people with the resounding, "Yes."
MEANWHILE, FOUR DAYS LATER IN LEDGER DOMAIN
[5:12PM]
Four days have passed since Gwen and Kevin have arrived in Ledger Domain. In the beginning, they realized that their electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, laptops, even their Plumber's badges) have essentially ceased to function. Charmcaster, who revealed to them her real name is Hope, told them that the nature of mana (life force that is the fuel of magic and mystical energies) interfere with electronic devices. And since there are no radio towers or anything that helps transmits signals between dimensions, make their devices useless.
At the same time, they encountered foot soldiers when all of them entered the portal. They were quickly dispatched with extreme prejudice on their end, with their drive to reclaim their home. Once the foot soldiers were killed, they got their supplies for the trek. But, much to Gwen and Kevin's surprise, Charmcaster had the dead buried properly. This was a side of the once villain to Gwen that she has never seen before, even when Hope was there during the catharsis Ernesto enacted for Jordi. Overall, being in this dimension that literally increased her mana to the point that it hurt her teeth really made her on edge for nearly…her entire journey so far.
"Hope…how long have we been here again? It's been days," Gwen asked as she walked along side her carrying her pack over her shoulder and now sported a robe to protect her from the cold.
"Four days local time. But, it's been only four hours back on Earth," she told her simply as she held a map to find their way.
"What?"
All of them trekked through the moor-like landscape after two days of walking and fighting in the desolate remains of once thriving forests and a scorched landscape. The dirt lined with a layer of ash from what was a raging inferno years ago during the usurpation.
"What is it about this place," Gwen heard Kevin looking around and spoke out loud, "It was black as death and now…the moors of Northern England," he wondered as they now walked in a landscape that has a lot of wind, trees that are windswept and the grass blowing.
Kevin like everyone else was carrying his supplies nicked from their defeated foes. Then a young man his age, though with short black hair and blue eyes responded, "We are probably near the Pelnorian Plains. Which means the woods are near by."
Then an older man, probably near Max Tennyson's age with his white hair in a pony tail and in his robes that once told of his status in Ledger Domain; a professor of sorcery for one of the academies. Which by now is destroyed, "And that means that perhaps the Master of the Wood and Voskeram the Great still reside there."
The followers began to whisper and murmur about the old legends and Gwen asked Hope, "What is he implying by that?"
Hope looked at her and the returned her focus on the map, "According to legend, the Master of the Wood lives atop Mt. Renstarik that overlooks the forest below. He entrances all who enter with his music and at one time, people used to celebrate the seasonal solstices at the edges of the woods. But that is not the whole story Gwen. In the mountain lurks a creature that serves the master, a great dragon that when disturbed will burn its enemies into dust."
"Miss," another older man got her attention and looked through his spyglass, "I suspect we will be arriving at the forest in a few hours. Should we camp there for the night?"
Hope looked at him and nodded, "We shall. And once we arrive there, we should look around for something to eat. Unless the woods are as desolate as the rest of the region."
"I doubt it," a female sorceress about thirty years old, "In times of turmoil, there would be a barrier around the woods to keep intruders out. But for the natives of this dimension, we can enter the woods by uttering the word 'sanctuary' in one of our older languages."
"Older languages," Gwen asked and Hope folded her map, "That's what the runes in your spell book are, the old language of this dimension. The book you acquired from me," she stressed it.
Gwen chuckled, "Well…it's water under the bridge," she asked and Hope chuckled in a slight dark tone, "Let's survive our time here, then we'll talk."
Kevin heard the details about the legends, as well as Hope and Gwen talking to each other that didn't involve anger, "This is where I would make a snarky remark, but with everything I've seen in life, I'll believe anything," he told an older man next to him and he nodded with a laugh. He got the point.
About three hours later, they arrived at the Pelnorian Forest, where the trees were spruce, pine, maple, and oak. All of them decided to camp at the edge of the woods, not daring to venture too deeply inside, for fear of the predatory creatures that lurked within. So they put up markers to never go more than half a mile inside, as a precaution.
Three hours were three minutes on Earth and on Earth, things started to go the way of the refugees.
FOUR HOURS LATER…
ROCKEFELLER STATE PARK PRESERVE, SLEEPY HALLOW, NY
[FRIDAY, 9:05PM]
This was Wilfredo's third trip to head along the river to the desired location. Along the eastern foothills of the Hudson River they were in Sleepy Hallow in Westchester County. Wilfredo decided to not directly take them to the spot they needed to, not that the refugees would have allowed him in the first place anyway. To get there quickly, he used the NY State Route 117 and once at the entrance of the park he dropped them off and off he went for home. They told him with the light of things, they might need his services to pass undetected for the next few weeks. He assured them it was no problem and off he went for Brooklyn.
'Things are about to change…I can feel it. Like when I noticed those ripples of energy across the sky five years ago. There's one thing I do want to know though.'
As if by fate or coincidence, Cecilia was thinking the exact same thing…
SALVADOR, BRAZIL
[PITUAÇU PARK, 10:07PM]
'How do I fit in this picture? I mean…I'm not from their dimension of magic and mysticism. However, there's something deeply familiar about them yet at the same time, foreign.'
In the preserved portion of the Atlantic forest near the park, she led another group to the designated location. Going through the trees and foliage, a woman mystic uttered the word 'Yana (sanctuary)' in their native older tongue and immediately a gate formed out of the earth, trees and mana. The group walked through it and bid a farewell to her. She waved back and headed out of there. She'll do one more run that night before returning home. She already called some friends who are also mystics and magicians to aid her for the rest of the night and for the foreseeable future.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
[SATURDAY, 4:09AM]
HAGIA SOPHIA
The sun was going to appear over the horizon in a few hours so she was moving fast. And since it was the weekend she didn't have to worry about heading to class exhausted. She planned on staying at home for the rest of the morning sleeping and replenishing her energy for the next round of helping the mages and mystics from Ledger Domain.
Instead of what her friends are doing in New York and in Brazil, she was told that the Imperial Gate would be ideal for their purposes. And thankfully when tourists come during the day, no regular human would sense it or be affected by the mana flowing around the edifice. They uttered their word for sanctuary and then a gate of mana began to form in the Imperial Gate and an image of Hex's mansion and the Door was shown. They can now walk through and bid Fatma a farewell and to go home to get some sleep. She agreed and bid them a goodbye.
TEL AVIV
[OLD TOWN/OLD JAFFA, 4:11AM]
At the clock tower in Clock Square, Delilah was observing what was going on. She observed that the group was touching the wall where the clock was facing her and uttered a word she didn't catch and suddenly there was a door forming from the stone. The stones parted and it revealed a door of mana that the image of the Door to Anywhere was at the other side. She walked up to them but was stopped by a wave of invisible energy.
One of the Ledger Domain magicians turned around and gave her a smile, "Don't worry miss! We will reveal what is really going on in time! Take care," she called out and the group she belonged to walked through the mana door one by one.
After all of them entered the mana door, it disappeared the stones of the clock tower started to reassemble back in order. She sighed and looked around. It was dark and the sun hasn't risen yet. She then began to walk back home alone, knowing she's going to have to do the same thing later tonight.
FOUR DAYS LATER IN LEDGER DOMAIN
PELNORIAN FOREST [6:34PM]
It's been four days and the light of day was already gone. The encampment was now on edge, considering news they've been receiving from Hope's scouts involving Adwaita catching wind of their activities days ago and now towns along the way are swarming with his spies and soldiers. Any thought of an easy victory was out the window now. So now they are staying up in the outskirts of the Pelnorian Forest until further notice. And added to their misery for the past two days it's been snowing so everyone wore their warm clothing. From thick robes to coats and jackets they had from Earth. Kevin and Gwen who were unprepared for this were given robes to help ward off the cold. At this moment the wind died down but it was still snowing, albeit only slightly now.
"This just blows," Kevin remarked yet again as he took a stick and poked the fire in a bored fashion. Then he threw it to the side and stood up, clearly frustrated.
"Argh! Why don't we just ram right through those sons of bitches," he spoke loudly and then felt a light smack at the back of the head.
He turned around and it was Hope with Gwen as they laid down the firewood on the ground, "It's because we barely have any resources as it is Levin. We need more people to join our cause. Now if you're so bored, why don't you go and help scour the forest for food along with the others who have left in groups."
He looked at her and sees the clearly frustrated and annoyed look on her face and he sighed, "Okay, fine," he then grabbed a spear, "But I'm finding a boar for us to eat. I'm tired of eating squirrel," he told the girls and left for the woods.
"I'll go with him," Gwen told Hope, "Just in case he gets chased by wolves or something," and walked ahead to join her boyfriend, leaving Hope in camp.
She looked around and sees about twenty in her line of sight walking around camp. She sees a couple under an evergreen tree cuddling and looking up at the stars, while at the same time she hears someone playing a tune on a flute by the fire (similar to A Window into the Past from HP: Prisoner of Azkaban) and smiled, "I guess I'll find a bit more firewood, eat dinner then head to bed."
Hope once again headed for the woods to look for wood. She went a little further in the woods than before, but then, she finds a gravel path that went deeper into the woods. She decides to check the path; perhaps it would lead her and the others around the mountain and surprise Adwaita's forces. She walked for half an hour until she came upon steps that led up the mountain's face and illuminated by the pale moonlight.
Before she takes her first step, she heard growling behind her, "Who's there," she turned and called out, but sees no one.
Then she heard it again, "Show yourself! Now!"
She then saw them, the glowing eyes in the darkness. The great beasts came in formation to encircle her to block all routes of exit, numbering about thirty. She jumped and now levitated above them, her hands glowed in silver light and she shouted, "Sectumsempra!"
Hope launched her attack at the creatures, but to her surprise it didn't wound them. All it did was grazed their thick hides and then was knocked to the ground by one of them. She blasted it off of her just and bolted for the path up the mountain. The creatures were fast taking leaps of steps as they chased her while a few decided to run along the face of the cliff. So she picked up the pace. The further she climbed up; the image of the ruins above began to fade. She now sees the ruins becoming an impressive palace made out of the very rock of the mountain. She sees a glowing green fire coming from the astrology tower.
She kept running and using her magic to increase her speed to get away from the creatures. She sees the doors approaching, crosses the drawbridge and pushed the doors open and immediately closed them once she sees them still coming. She panted and leaned against the door. Once she caught her breath, she turned around and sees the décor of the main hall.
"Well, even if I disturb anyone here, I might as well seek shelter until the coast is clear and find a path to get back to the others," she muttered as she looked around the impressive interior of the place.
The main hall showcased on what she'll encounter later on. It was made of yellow white marble that included statues from Ledger Domain's past imperial life. As well as a sign overhead that said, "Heroes of the First Resistance," which shows the heroes of those who fought and died when Adwaita usurped the throne. Forty feet in height the doors were and the statues as well.
She walked through and sees the men and women who have died, or have gone into hiding still initiating revolts throughout the kingdom or on Earth trying to start up a movement to come back again. Then she came across a statue that looked strikingly familiar. It was her father Spellbinder and at the base of the statue was a plaque:
Spellbinder: Marquis: Died in Earth year 1997: Led many refugees out of Ledger Domain to Earth: Killed in Battle
Hope was silent as she read this, "One day I'll visit where you've been buried…if it's even standing at all," he whispered and continued to walk among the statues of the dead.
She then found herself opening another great door that led to a room that left her awestruck. It held imperial banners, statues, paintings, and inscriptions. She then walked for another door that led to one of four dining halls, which in total can hold up to 4,000 guests. The ceiling was made of glass that showed the moon and starts above.
"Breathtaking…is this truly the home of the legendary Master of the Wood," she wondered as she let her hand touched the grain of the aged long wooden table, "I was expecting more of a nature motif throughout but…this seems more…Gothic in style."
She continued her stroll throughout the palace/castle. She wanted to head into the kitchens or find a bedroom to rest for a bit, but there was a spiral staircase that she seemed drawn to. She walked up and found herself on up on the second floor. She kept walking until she found two black double doors opened slightly. So she peeked inside and found what looked like a study.
She first sees the seal of the Master of the Wood, with a great tree surrounded by a great dragon and a beast that looked like the ones who chased her inside, "Carogers. That's what those were," she suddenly remembered bits of stories she was raised on as a little girl, "Those fuckers are fast. Reaching a top speed of 35mph and their hides can withstand direct magical attacks. Even with the Sectusempra spell," she added.
She also sees a great desk with papers neatly stacked, a quill in it's ink well, a map spread out and she checked closer, her position with her troops on it. This surprised, but almost nearly as much as the sword on the plaque. It bore an inscription: "Raksha the Demon: Adwaita's Bane and Spirit of Vengeance". She sat down in the dark wood chair and sees a compartment in the desk slightly open. She pulls it open and sees something she never would have thought to see again.
"No way. A palantir? But…I thought they were none left or well hidden so Adwaita took over," she looked around the study, "…Who actually lives here?"
She walked out into the hallway again and continued her walk, "Is anyone here," she called out, but there was no sound.
But there was a slight banging of metal coming from somewhere in the castle, but at the end of the hall there was a door. She walked towards it and on the door was a seal of the great legendary dragon Voskeram, "Huh. If the dragon is really down there then I really have seen everything."
So perhaps against her better judgment she opened it and headed down the stairs, only lit by candles along the walls. The further she went down the danker it became and how the level of energy pressure changed. Then the noise of roaring water caught her attention and then came to a great door of iron and gold with inscriptions of all sort written all over it. She pushed it open and it was a lot of effort, even with magic assisting her. Once the door was open with enough space for her to squeeze through, she came to a platform which overlooked a beautiful cave full of crystals and assorted jewels and the pool of water below her appeared red due to the rubies on the pool's bed of sediment.
But then, she saw it, the great creature from her childhood stories. Great as it was with its scales, claws and the black horns on its head like a demonic ram, "V-Voskeram," she said in an excited but hushed tone, "He's magnificent! He's even better than the stories portrayed him," she continued to keep her voice at a minimum.
Then his eyes shot open, large and gold. He shook himself awake and stood up, towering over her, "Adwaita dares send a spy into my home huh," his voice was deep and powerful that literally shook her, "What is your name spy?"
"W-What," Hope gasped her voice slightly trembling, "I-I'm no spy! I came as part of the r-resistance. I came here because I was chased by those Carogers in the forest, for safety sakes."
The dragon looked at her closely and leaned closer to look at her, with his breath exhaled through its nose, "I don't recall your kind to ever coming into my lair before. What is your name?"
"On Earth I go by Charmcaster, but my real name is Hope," she said just loud enough for the dragon, "D-Daughter of Spellbinder," but she still was slightly shaking.
The dragon looked at her closely until it leaned back and sat again on its platform, "I knew of Spellbinder. He was my master's friend in the council and one of the leaders of the old resistance. He is missed still by the people."
Hope nodded silently, "…I think I should go. I'm sorry for intruding in your lair," she was about to leave, but Voskeram used his own mana to seal the door and seal shut, "No please, stay for a bit. Let's talk."
She turned around slowly to face him and was surprised that the dragon can use sorcery so easily without much effort, "You're…not going to hurt me right?"
The dragon smiled and its teeth glistened, "I can't make any promises," and Hope sighed, "Well that makes me feel so much better…do you really serve the Master of the Wood?"
"Yes I do," he responded, "Since 1720."
This surprised her, "What, for that length of time? What sort of man is he," she asked and the dragon made a deep booming laugh, "You mortals are sometimes truly gullible. Master was the same way but time has changed him. He like those of his caliber are greater than mere sorcerers; men and woman who can seal me away forever in stone and can make Adwaita dance like a fool with incredible ease."
She looked at him and can tell he was not joking in the slightest. Then he changed mood for a bit, "And the story of Gulliver's Travels by the Earth writer Jonathan Swift, master came to him as a mysterious stranger and instilled in him his diaries of what occurred on those islands. He then disappeared so Swift wrote down the story that he thought came from his imagination."
Hope didn't know whether to believe that statement or not, but for now decided to just nod and be polite, "Okay. But how about Ledger Domain's past that is above? I thought nearly of it was either lost or destroyed."
He responded, "All literature, memorabilia of the kingdom's past were taken under cover of night to these woods by carts and master brought them here. Protected from Adwaita's regime and hope that one day might be read and used again."
She looked at him, "Literature as well? And books of spells and other magical arcana rescued," she asked and the dragon nodded in response. This was good news, meaning the way of life she was raised up in could be resurrected again.
"I want to take Adwaita down," she spoke loudly this time, "But I only came with 400 people and my scouts told me that Adwaita is watching all the roads leading to his palace. Is there any way to talk to your master?"
The dragon looked at her for a moment before responding; "Go to the East Tower at the end of the hallway you came from. More than likely he's already plotted your position on the map and the soldiers Adwaita set up on the main road. Go."
She looked at him and felt a compulsion to bow, "Okay, thank you," and she left the cavern and headed back to the door, which was now open.
After walking up the stairs from the cavern below, she was now back in the same hallway and sees the other end of the hallway where the stairs led up towards the East Tower, also known as the astrology tower. She walked until she sees the stairs, "This is it…don't be scared," she told herself and started to walk up.
After climbing the stairs she came to see two doors made of dark wood and had carvings of beasts, constellations, and mythical creatures. She then gently pressed the doors and entered. She came to a room on which star charts and planetary alignments were placed all over the walls. She then sees a man walking towards his seat in what looked like military robes colored black with emerald accents. He sat down in the middle of the room on a swivel stool and looked through the various telescopes surrounding him.
She then sees him writing in a journal of sorts, but she stayed where she was, not sure how to proceed, "Hello?"
The man closed his journal and went to a map that showed the area of Ledger Domain Hope wanted to liberate and made a few marks here and there, "A little caution," the man spoke, "Very few have faced Voskeram in conversation and lived to come out completely unscathed. That is indeed a rare gift."
She moved slowly from the door and walked inside, "Oh…I guess you knew along about that. May I come in," she asked, not sure how to ask since this was out of her experience.
He snapped his fingers and a chair appeared with a velvet cushion and it gently landed on the floor across from him, "Come. We have much to discuss you and I."
"Right," she walked to the chair and now sat across from him, his face though was obscured by the darkness of the room, "I suppose you know who I am at this point. Considering I came here to seek shelter from those creatures in the forest. But I want to know…who are you really?"
The man looked at her closely before responding, "I am the Master of the Wood and you are Hope. I know your plight and do not fear the carogors, they are my transport and loyal tigers of sorts; ready to serve their master's needs whenever needed."
The news of the carogors as his 'pets' surprised her, but she composed herself and asked him this, "Is there any way of defeating Adwaita? What I mean is, has his strength increased over the nine years or has it decreased and he's just keeping up the illusion of strength. I came here with 400 volunteers and for the past four days in the forest, we have been stuck due to the reports of Adwaita's forces patrolling the main roads to the old imperial city."
The man listened and folded his hands together on his lap, "First, let me show you my face," he lit five more candles and his face was lit, a clean shaven face that showed the chiseled but weathered face of his mysterious past, hinting he's hiding more than what he's letting on. He appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, "Second, I will send you on one of my carogor to lead you back to your camp and fetch your forces. Understand?"
She nodded and looked at him as he grasped her right shoulder reassuringly, "Funny…I imagined you as an elderly man," she commented and he chuckled, "Come young lady. I'll escort you to the front gate."
Meanwhile at camp, Kevin and Gwen were in their tent. They ate whatever dinner they gathered from the woods and Kevin was lying down on the straw bed with his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. Gwen was rinsing her face in the bowl of water at the other end of the tent.
"She's been gone for a while. I hope she's all right," Gwen said as she dried her face while Kevin sleepily responded, "She'll be fine. She can practically destroy anything with what she demonstrated eight days ago in the badlands. And besides," he yawned and stretched on the straw bed, "This cold majorly sucks."
Gwen smiled slightly and turned to him. She sets down the towel on the chair and lied down next to him, "It sure does," she replied and his left arm wrapped around her.
The two dozed off for about twenty minutes until they heard the roar of the carogor. The two got up immediately, put on their warm robes and headed outside and see others who have gone up and see the terrifying creature with their leader on top of it, "Hey! What the hell is this," Kevin yelled out to her.
Hope surprisingly smiled and looked at him and everyone, "Want some food and a nice place to sleep," she called out and they nodded in silence, "Then follow me!"
And so they did.
They followed her with all of their belongings and like Hope did earlier, they headed up the stairs along the mountainside. The people looked up at the mountain and marveled that the sight of the ruins turning into the castle/palace. Gwen was happy and turned to Kevin, "See! I told you I saw it here!"
"Yeah…here's the five bucks," he took out a crumpled five-dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it to her.
After a while all of them approached the drawbridge and sees a man in battle armor with his court robes on as well, "Welcome all of you. I am the Master of the Woods. Come in, eat, drink, avail yourselves to my hospitality and rest. Your leader Hope has told me of your plight and campaign and I will offer you my assistance for the road ahead."
The four hundred cheered and all of them cross the drawbridge to enter the castle. The carogor walked towards the Master in question and he whispered an old language to the creature and it made noises similar to how a kitten is shown affection, "What did you say to it," Hope asked as she dismounted.
He smiled at her, "I told him thank you for assisting you tonight. Now please come in and have a proper dinner with your comrades," he motioned her inside and the carogor headed back down the mountain for the forest.
MEANWHILE,
BACK ON EARTH
Since Friday, or more rather for the past five days, Delilah, Fatma, Cecilia and Wilfredo have helped more than 1200 refugees from Ledger Domain to head wherever they needed to go. Of course they had questions for themselves to answer later: Why are they helping out strangers? What is Ledger Domain actually? How would this affect them down the line if at all? When would this problem for the strangers be over?
They did in fact get answers to some of these questions. They learned that Ledger Domain was in fact a whole dimension where magic and mystical energies are in greater concentrations than on Earth; often described as life before the Industrial Revolution took off. Where mana and nature were in balance and where their kind is not persecuted by institutionalized hatred. However, the strangers introduced themselves as people from one of the five kingdoms of the dimension that they were forced to flee due to a usurper named Adwaita and he stole the Alpha Rune to increase his power and authority for nine years. Now they were itching to return for a fight to reclaim their home, the reason for transporting themselves to another place via magical doorways.
Another bit of information they have also learned over the course of five days was that someone was already in Ledger Domain leading a charge to reclaim their land and take down the usurper. With this entire thing going on, the four were tempted to leave and see this dimension for themselves, but knew they couldn't. Their lives were too busy to allow them to play hero or anything along those lines. They were offered the chance as well by a few of the refugees, but again the four declined.
Then came a Thursday for one of the mystics:
JANUARY 2010, WEEK THREE
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
[HAGIA SOFIA, THURSDAY, 10:45PM]
(Fatma's portion was slightly inspired by "First Time Outside" from The Secret Garden soundtrack)
Fatma was escorting another group of mages and mystics to the Imperial Door in the former church and mosque. Every time she went here she felt a surge of residual power the building once had for worshippers and the like. However, the cold night air from one of the coldest winters on record, her escorting strangers whom she now has empathy for was sucking the joy from the overall experience.
"So you lot are the last of the refugees in the immediate area," she asked them just to clarify the first time, since she didn't pay attention.
"Correct miss. Others around select places of the world who are in your position are also moving the last refugees to the designated location."
Fatma looked at the man in question, an attractive 22-year-old magician standing at six feet, a solid form, and a clean-shaven face. Eye candy for her, but she focused on her impromptu volunteering service for the week. The man noticed her gaze and smiled a bit but the situation at hand left little room for pursuing her or any woman for now.
The group arrived at the Imperial Door and as the magicians and mystics entered it, the magician in question stopped and turned around, "What it is," Fatma asked.
The man stepped closer, "Why don't you come with us? Learn more about our culture and our cause for fighting," he offered her and she looked at him bewildered.
"I…I don't know what to say. I mean, besides helping all of you out and forming empathy, I just don't know much about you really at all. I'm sorry but I…and knowing my friends who are also helping out with this whole thing, have to know more about you lot somehow on my terms."
The man in question nodded and smiled politely, "Very well. And that is the more logical step for you people here on Earth. Who knows, once the mess is cleared up, both our dimension can open channels of communication again. Take care miss," he waved and walked through the door.
The mana disappeared and that was it, the final group of refugees she and her friends will help out. More questions than answers came to her head, but all in all it could have been weirder or more dangerous. The former involving magical creatures she's only read in stories and the latter for perhaps enemies of the refugees coming after her and the others. And on that end, it was her imagination that was acting up and not the reality.
BACK IN LEDGER DOMAIN
While the week has passed on Earth, a month has passed in Ledger Domain where Hope and her forces, along with the help of the Master of the Woods have made substantial progress. With the knowledge of Adwaita's forces dispersing, they have accelerated this effort by initiating revolts in key towns, villages and cities in the province of Ledger Domain. They all learned that the other rulers due to safety have closed all main roads to the other four provinces of the dimension and to prevent Adwaita from making any further land grabs. Due to the revolts Hope has capitalized on it and had many join her cause. Also, over the past month, many from Earth due to the many native mages and mystics helping them to find doors to head for the Door to Anywhere. Her forces now have increased from a sparse 400 to around 3,000 strong; below Adwaita's forces, but they have the enemy on the run.
However, Hope also saw the results of the campaign she and others have initiated. She has seen the effects of uprisings with several mayors and governors who have loyal ties to the usurper forced out of towns or beheaded by the mobs. A few were even tarred and feathered and even for her, the sight of the collective rage against Adwaita was nearly too much to bear. But whatever negative feelings she may harbor, she had to put them aside and continue her campaign.
Now in the Master's study back in his castle, she and he were discussing another bit of information, "I've heard reports that at the core of his stronghold in the former capital city the Alpha Rune is there. That is the reason why the temporal fluctuations are as wild as they are between Earth and here. As well as the reason why the land is not as productive as it used to be," she told him.
"Indeed. But that is not the most difficult part of our final push for the capital city. It is surrounded by seven watch towers that would be difficult to take out from the outset, but if we would use the tunnels underneath the city's walls then the march into the city would be assured," he told her.
Hope nodded, "Very well…if only my father and mother would be here to see this," she spoke this softly but returned to the plans at hand, "When will we move out," she asked him.
The man heard her mumble about her mother and father, but decided to answer her question, "In a few days. We are prepared for the task at hand. So," he looked at the grandfather clock, "Get some sleep. It's nearing midnight."
She yawned and looked at the clock and nodded, "All right. Good night sir," she told him and left his study.
A few moments later, Voskeram entered now in his human form with dark brown hair, a sturdy build and in a white flowing shirt with black trousers and boots, "Have you told her about the surprise you have?"
The man looked up at him, "Tomorrow morning after breakfast. I want to her to have a good night's sleep first," he replied and puts his papers together, "I might need sleep as well to tell you the truth," he rubbed the temples of his forehead.
Voskeram looked at him, "Well…as powerful as you are, you still have human limits sir," he told him and the man gave a knowing look at his long time friend and gave a tired chuckle.
THE NEXT DAY
[7:45AM]
Hope finished breakfast and was heading back upstairs to her room. As she was climbing the stairs she comes across the Master of the Wood, "Morning. I was heading to my room to get some papers to discuss with you on the coming week."
He smiled lightly, "That can wait. I have to head downstairs to Voskeram's lair to discuss his portion of the operation. Head to your room to meditate and I will see you shortly."
She nodded and just as she was about to go ahead she heard him say this, "I left a surprise in your room. Hope you like it," he told her with a polite smile and headed downstairs.
She blinked and headed upstairs, not knowing what he meant. As she got to her floor she opens the door and what she sees on her bed nearly had her faint. On the bed was a woman, a fair woman at that with black hair, ocean blue eyes but the same ivory skin as her daughter; it was her mother, "M-Mom?"
The woman stood up, "My darling Hope," her arms opened and Hope rushed to her arms, "Oh God! I missed you," she buried her face in the nape of her mother's neck.
"As did I. My daughter, my beautiful daughter," she embraced her, long thought to be dead. She then looked at the face of her now grown up daughter, "You've become so beautiful my darling."
"Mom…how…when," so many questions kept popping up in her head so Hope and her mother sat down on the edge of the bed and started to catch up.
Meanwhile, the Master of the Wood headed down for the cavern below and there meets up with Voskeram, "I take it you have told her about the surprise this morning," the dragon asked him, now back in its reptilian form.
"Well I alluded her to it. I now know she is with her mother and catching up. I'm glad for her, now Hope has more incentive to take down Adwaita than ever. This week I believe will be the most intense for her and her troops," the Master told Voskeram.
Voskeram blew a bit of fire out of his nostrils, "Indeed. And I am hoping we will see action ourselves. The mages and mystics upstairs have done good so far. But the two of us will really put the fear of God upon the pathetic usurper."
The Master looked at the dragon in question and smirked, "Once the battle starts, we will exhibit that legends are indeed true."
The dragon roared to tell him his happiness and those above in the castle heard and knew that Master must be with Voskeram at the moment. At first the roars terrified many of them, but over the month they found it exhilarating to hear the legend himself nearby.
Meanwhile back in Hope's bedchamber, she and her mother Morgan were catching up. Morgan was also revealing what had happened to her. The Master rescued her during the worst of the usurpation, but she and others had to serve as indentured servants in protected territories in the dimension in other provinces. She's now the age of 45.
"You're a servant mom? For how long," Hope asked her, "For nine years but it will only end once Adwaita is overthrown and the government restored," Morgan explained.
"What is your current position," she asked and Morgan responded with, "A healer."
Hope then paused and then asked her final question, "Now that we are together again what next? Will you join us or will you have to go back to wherever you are not stationed?"
Morgan smiled softly and took her daughter's hand in her own, "I'm back for good. With only one week left of your campaign it's…no words can describe the joy I'm feeling. I'm so proud of you."
Hope sniffled a bit and hugged her mother, "Thanks mom," Morgan hugged in return and the two looked at each other, "If only dad is here to see this."
"Same here Hope, same here."
For the remaining few days, the new army of 15,000 that have been gathered from towns with able bodied men to join from the refugees coming in from the Door to Anywhere, as well as the Master's own forces, things were ready as ever to take back the province and restore the government. With word of mouth, Adwaita's hold is now slipping fast and the majority of the people are ready to behead the now weakened ruler.
[FRIDAY, 4:34AM]
The morning was still in the Pelnorian Forest as insects made noises and there was a gentle breeze in the air. However, in the early morning darkness in the distance the sound of footsteps on the snow can be heard. Along the path were the men and women who have volunteered to risk their lives in overthrowing Adwaita and take back their home. They numbered in at about 7,500 strong. The other half was dispersed in order to make sure that no one could attack them on route to the capital. Along the way, Kevin was talking to Gwen, "This is going to be one of the weirder experiences of our lives so far."
"Yeah…a month here and your car covered in leaves back home after a week. You told me 100 times already," she retorted but he chuckled, "That's not what I meant."
"Then what was," she asked and he looked at her, "Well…you still here, helping Charmcaster out, sorry, Hope. But, you know what I mean."
She nodded, "Yeah I know. It's strange all right…how do we tell the others about this when we get back," she asked him and he smiled, "Well…what they don't know won't hurt them. Like you and me in the bedroom," he moved his eyebrows suggestively.
She gave him a mirth grin, "Well when we're done, you better be ready for tonight," she warned him and he responded with a playful growl.
At the front, Hope was there with the Master of the Wood and Voskeram in his human form, "Are you sure it was wise to have my mother come along," she asked the Master; her mother was with them but as part of the medical crew.
"Yes. Do not worry about her. She is talented as both a mage and a healer," Voskeram spoke up and patted her back.
"When the sun rises and by midday, this province will return to life and a new age will begin," the Master told her and she smiled and she then sees him offering her his smile.
They continued to march, marching out of the woods for the final time for the main road. They will return for the spring solstice, but for now, it is to launch one more attack, one more siege on Adwaita. All of them were armed with swords, elegant looking armor that was fashioned off of European knights and transforming it just slightly to show the cultural identity of the people of magic and mysticism. The sounds of their metal boots or for the majority leather boots were heard and for the liberated villages along the way were cheering them as they passed by, women and children waving them off.
Kevin sees this and smiled slightly but he was still with heaviness, like when he's about to start a drag race on the streets. The moment of waiting for the light to change from red to green and how he's going to shift gears, and put the pedal to the metal, but for him this was worse. A month of waiting for the light to turn green and for that time he felt like he was moving in the yellow light. But now, he was relieved and anxious to finally get going.
They continued their march, passing landscapes that were once farming land and streams which all have been disrupted. Everyone had a stake for this and all united by this one cause.
Sunrise came two hours later and the army was within site of the capital, with a grotesque structure built over the former parliament building. It was a cross between a giant prison and an overly dimensional castle built for one man. Across the valley they see Adwaita's troops ready for an onslaught and Voskeram was standing next to the Master, "When shall we start things sir?"
The Master smirked, "When the first light of day is shown over the trees behind us," he told the dragon turned human and Voskeram growled, "I'm not good with patience when there shall be bloodshed."
"Then perhaps you cannot wait for only a few minutes…it should be 6:36 in the morning, judging by the light of the sky above," the Master spoke.
Minutes passed and the Master spoke, "Now…let's rain fire and hell upon the damned," he declared under his breath and Voskeram smiled, showing his sharp teeth. He growled and a ring of fire surrounded him, his human form disappeared and in it's place the impressive dragon form many in the army have only heard but only few have seen in the darkness of night. Many shook with fear, but are relieved that this impressive dragon was on their side with the Master of the Woods as well.
"Charge," the Master of the Woods declared and the army began to charge down the hillside while he and Voskeram flew down fast and charged for Adwaita's forces.
The Master flew up and took out his rapier, infusing it with his own mana that glowed magenta with hues of indigo. He landed in the middle of Adwaita's forces and started to take out many of the men with ease, even with the opposing army was trying their hardest to hit him with the best they've got. This was his area of expertise, land combat with his trusty rapier he's had for a long time. And with Voskeram circling around in the air didn't help matters for the enemy, just taunting them and just enjoying the mayhem his master is inflicting.
But he got bored and decided to rain fire upon them. Great fire spouted from his mouth, setting the enemy on fire, listening and seeing the terror all around below. But his master was stomping on his boot to get the fire off, "Watch it," he yelled up at him and Voskeram laughed deeply and continued on his end.
Everyone else was fighting with their swords, maces, shields that doubled as a defensive and offensive weapon, but the majority fought with spells, curses, and hexes to the best of their knowledge. Hope led that front with Gwen and Kevin helping her, "With Voskeram above and the Master just ahead, we should be able to break through," Gwen called out to Hope who was a few meters away.
"Yeah! And I can see the enemy just scrambling! They are…ugh," she was interrupted by dodging a curse, but conjured a seal and deflected the curse back at the conjurer, "Sorry, they are barely able to defend themselves," she continued.
"So when do we get to storm the capital," Kevin asked as he pounded a dozen into submission since the metal he absorbed a while ago back in the Master's castle.
"In about a few seconds when the dragon up there attacks the city's walls," Hope told him as she used her staff to bash the heads of the enemy.
Voskeram circled around and around in the air, just enjoying what is going on and seeing his Master below with a relaxed expression on his face as he fought; neither taking enjoyment nor abhorring it, just doing what needed to be done. The dragon then looked at the walls surrounding the city, "Pitiful."
The dragon mouthed and launched a powerful ball of fire from its mouth straight for the city's walls with enough force that when it destroyed the wall, everyone on the ground felt the vibrations from the explosion. The enemy looked back in awe while the army took this chance and uttered, "Crucio!"
This was uttered as a shield type of wave of energy aimed directly at the enemy. The staffs and hands of the conjurers glowed burgundy and as they charged for the wall to enter the city, they passed by the enemy soldiers screaming in agony due to the curse. Hope ran along side Gwen and Kevin until she flew up and into the city; Gwen did the same thing by enveloping herself and Kevin in a ball of mana and levitated up and into the city. Kevin looked below where he sees the violence between the enemy and those he and Gwen have volunteered to help out, "The violence here is more real than back home."
Gwen noticed it as well; "I guess they don't use firearms in this province. So it's just swords and magic," she commented, "Dungeons and Dragons in action," she told him.
He looked at her, "I was thinking Harry Potter if they showed blood in the movies but whatever," he commented and she flew over the battle below.
Hope meanwhile was flying for the castle but she sees three flying for her and began to fire the Sectumsempra curse at her. She then flew down and began to evade them in the alleyways of the city and repelled the attacks using the Salvio Hexia spell for protection. After a few minutes she got rid of them all and hid behind bell tower. The city like many of the towns and villages she helped liberate was constructed in the German gothic style. She looked around and sees Gwen in the distance, "Hey! Over here!"
Gwen sees Hope and flies over to her, "What's going on?"
"The Master and I have come to the conclusion that Adwaita has the Alpha Rune deep in the confines of the castle in order to maintain his rule over this province of Ledger Domain. I want you and Kevin to find it while I search him and out and take care of business," she gripped her staff to emphasize her point.
"What about the other two? Are they coming with you," Kevin asked and soon enough the Master and Voskeram appeared above her on the roof, "We shall! Now go you two," the Master spoke.
Gwen nodded and she along with Kevin headed off for the castle and will remain hidden until the final hour. Hope then looked up at the Master and Voskeram who is now in his human form, "Let's pay our old friend a visit shall we?"
"Not yet. Until we know where the Alpha Rune is located. At that point, Gwen should be able to notify us and that would be our sign to move in," the Master told her and Voskeram nodded in agreement.
She looked at them both and then peeked around the wall to the castle itself, "So close…so close," she muttered.
Gwen and Kevin for the castle and went through the fortifications. They were immediately surrounded and she let loose a torrent of energy that launched them back a ways. She shook her head and breathed out to concentrate, "The rune is not below as we thought. But straight ahead down the main corridor and then upstairs about seven floors. Come on Kevin."
They headed down the dark corridor lit by torches until they found the stairs. They ran up, "This rune better be damn impressive! That's all I have to say," Kevin remarked.
"Don't worry! We're almost there! But I can feel a seal around it," she told him, "Can you break it," Kevin asked and she answered, "Who do you think you're talking to Kevin? Of course I can."
The run up seven floors was hard in the tight passage way but eventually they made it. The place it was held in was a huge room that went up three stories as well and inside there were guards as well, "This is as far as you will go," they pointed their staffs at them.
"Gwen…sweep them off their feet," Kevin smirked and she did as well, "With pleasure," she turned into her anodite form and with one pulse launched them up to the roof of the room hard enough to crack them.
She then looked at the seal around it, "It seems to be a protection seal to ward off sorcerers and the like," she told Kevin, "Then go to town Gwen!"
She puts out her hands and made a ball of energy that was extremely concentrated to break the seal without shattering the rune, "Okay…this seal can take a lot of punches. But not one from me," Gwen mouthed it and launched it.
Outside, Hope as well as the Master and Voskeram heard the powerful blast and sees the cracks forming along the castle, "She's done it. Let's go," Hope said and the three headed for it.
The three flew up, "Once the seal is crack and the rune moved from its place the fortifications will begin to fall apart," Hope told the two, "As far as I know."
"Indeed it is! Now let's take care of the final piece of the puzzle," Voskeram told her and they reached the final floor of the castle. The flew straight for the window and see Adwaita there launching a constricting curse on Hope and she was ensnared, "Bastard!"
"Back I say! All of you," he told them, but unlike his usually arrogant tone, he was genuinely terrified. His brow was riddled with sweat bullets and his hand that held his staff was shaking.
Voskeram now in his human form had his wings out, "It's over. The two have found the Alpha Rune and are now leaving this place. If you have any dignity left, surrender as you are. Unless you are stupid enough to have a final stand."
Adwaita has aged greatly over the past nine years, even though he was an old man to begin with who wanted to leave something behind, no matter the cost, "I don't need your pity! Nor your mercy," he shouted with as much force and launched one more attack, this time at the Master.
The Master however puts forth a ball of energy that spread out to form a seal that blocked the attack. He then outstretched his hand and he made Adwaita's staff shatter. With this the constraints around Hope disappeared and she got up, but all of them felt the whole place to really crumble all around them, "This is place is going to go," she told the Master and Voskeram and she made her own seal that formed in front of her and it went forward to encircle Adwaita and it negated his powers.
Voskeram grabbed him while the Master grabbed her and they all flew out of the window. The whole castle began to fall apart. Hope sees Gwen flying out with Kevin in tow and they flew out of the way and see it go in a cloud of dust and debris. They were high enough to get away from it and watched it settle. Adwaita was now prisoner and his powers gone.
All around there was silence and the cloud of dust settled, there was a genuine surprise. The roof of the old parliamentary palace was still standing, although the windows are gone and some of the stones on the north face of it were gone with evidence of destruction, there it was, still standing. Hope sees this and at the other side of town, her mother Morgan sees it as well, "The old palace! It's still standing!"
One of the men sees it, "It can't be!"
But then another spoke, "It is! It really is!"
A woman then cheered, "All hair the Master, Voskeram and Hope for their leadership!"
Everyone started cheering and really ran into the city with the enemy soldiers running for their lives into the wilderness of the province. Everyone was happy and the man citizens coming out also cheered their liberators for coming in.
Hope sees this and tears came out, "God…I told myself I wouldn't cry," she told herself as she wiped her eyes and the Master rubbed her back, "Tears are not always a sign of weakness miss. Now rejoice! We've won!"
She smiled and yelled towards the sky above. Adwaita was now captured and will be imprisoned and those who have escaped will be rounded up and tried in the months ahead. The war, the liberation was over, they all have a home now. The Alpha Rune will be put back in its place so time between Ledger Domain and Earth will be synchronized again and life will return, towns will be rebuilt, academies, guilds and the rule of law will return, but above all else their way of life will be restored.
BACK ON EARTH
HAMBURG, GERMANY
[EIMSBÜTTEL BOROUGH, FRIDAY, 8:23AM]
Die Nebel zerreißen,
Der Himmel ist helle,
Und Äolus löset
Das ängstliche Band.
Asuka was dancing around to the music by the greatest of German composers in her mind, Beethoven.
Es säuseln die Winde,
Es rührt sich der Schiffer.
Geschwinde! Geschwinde!
Es teilt sich die Welle,
Es naht sich die Ferne;
Schon seh ich das Land!
When it ended she rewound the music on her iTunes account and danced to the final 2:50 of the piece, "This is great. A nice way to start the day and get shit done," she spoke out loud.
After it ended once again, she paused the music and cracked her neck, "Now…what's on the agenda for next month?"
TO BE CONTINUED
Okay, two and a half months of delays, and a severe case of writer's block along with working out new ideas for this chapter, this is finally DONE! I mean goddamn! I never knew this was a lot harder to incorporate fantasy elements while paying homages to Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter without ripping them off. But I wanted to try something different and with the help of A.W. LeMonte I managed to pull it off. A labor of work and dedication to this story and I couldn't be happier with the results, however, now that I have graduated and not going to school for now I will be updating more regularly; as far as I can see anyway.
The final piece played when Asuka's bit came up was performed by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich conducted by Yefim Bronfman. Read, review, critique, and I'll see you all in the next chapter, which is already in the works. Later.
Author's note: 9/2/2014-The Tonhalle Orchetra of Zurich was not conducted by Yefim Bronfman. He's the pianist that was performing in the recording that contained the choral work by Beethoven. The actual conductor's name is David Zinman. Sorry about that.