AN: Ahh, I've finally worked out how many chapters this novel will be. Chapter 23 will be the last for this saga. A little longer than expected, which shouldn't be a surprising coming from me :'D Anyway, hope you enjoy reading~!
Chapter 20:
Drayce summoned his Decoy Shields in a pattern that would turn Tokala away from the large pool of water to the west of the clearing. Where Caelem headed on his own. He said that he could see something that the others could not. And Drayce trusted that he did.
All he could do now was ensure that Caelem reached the pool of water in relative safety.
Caelem soon reached the water's edge. He hesitated, no doubt debating how he was going to reach the light he could see. Dive in? Swim?
Before he could make a decision, something akin to an explosion burst forth from the pool of water, sending white crested waves as high as the trees above. Caelem instinctively took a step back and raised his arms in front of him in a crossed and protective position. He made no attempt to run, however. And despite Drayce's own body tensing as the water rained down around them, Caelem boldly turned toward the pool once more. And gazed out expectantly.
There, floating quietly, majestically over the still rippling and bubbling water was a blade in a blue stone encrusted sheath. Blue stones could be seen glinting from the hilt. Long, thin, slightly curved at the tip. Like that of a katana that masuraos wielded.
It shone with a light brighter than the half-moon above, though was a gentle light blue in colour.
No, a turquoise blue in colour.
It was the Shining Lotus.
And the Cursed Blade knew it, too. Ignoring the wraiths and Decoy Shields, Tokala whirled around. And narrowed in on Caelem.
"Call it to your side!" Drayce shouted to him.
Caelem nodded his head sharply. Again, there was no hesitation from him. "Shining Lotus, come to me!"
The Shining Lotus pulsated a bright turquoise blue before it turned in mid-air. To point the handle of the blade forward. And it shot toward Caelem like a bullet.
But Caelem stood strong. He didn't flinch. Even as the Shining Lotus abruptly stilled directly in front of him. The hilt toward him. Waiting.
Slowly, he raised his hands and wrapped them around the leather-bound handle. His arms lowered a fraction, indicating that he was now holding the full weight of the blade.
He pulled the blade toward him and removed his left hand from the hilt. He rotated the mystical weapon and rested it within the palm of his hand. Then, he wrapped his hands around the golden and jewel encrusted sheath and slowly, he drew the sheath aside. To reveal the long silver blade.
"This…" Caelem breathed as he stared at the Shining Lotus in awe. That soon dissipated, however, as an expression of determination appeared on his face and he spun around. "Tokala!"
Tokala began to pace toward him with purpose filled strides. "N-no…"
Caelem slipped the sheath into the loop of his belt, to keep it pressed against his side. "It'll be alright."
Tokala shook his head as he tightened his own grip on the Cursed Blade. "Don't come near me!"
There was no backing out now. There was going to be a battle between the two blades. And all anyone could do was to stay back. And leave it all to Caelem.
"Caelem, getting the blade away from Tokala is up to you!"
Again, Caelem nodded his head sharply. "Understood!"
Caelem tightened his grip, as did Tokala. Both in striking stances. Bodies tense, the same with the atmosphere around them. Nothing moved. It didn't dare. The wraiths that Zohar had summoned had also wisely slipped away. They lingered by his command, but they, too, seemed to become interested in the sight before them.
Then, the two lunged at each other.
Drayce couldn't prevent a wince at the sound of the blades clashing. He honestly felt the impact in his chest.
Caelem was a masurao, born and raised in a village of masuraos…but he couldn't possibly face the Cursed Blade alone. Even with the Shining Lotus.
Could he?
Blayke was never the type to stay back and let someone put their lives in danger. His protective urge propelled him forward. Out of sheer instinct. But Drayce threw out an arm, lightly striking it across Blayke's chest.
"Stay back," he told him. "Trust him. He'll win this."
It took Blayke a second to battle against his own protectiveness. But he did take a step back. "…Right."
They would only get in the way, honestly. And they had to have trust in Caelem.
Their attacks…were so fast. All Drayce could see was a flash of light that lasted no more than half a second. Précised swings of the blade. Slashing, slicing. The sharp, high-pitched clatter of metal against metal was the only indication that the two blades were indeed locked in battle.
It was…amazing. Mesmerising in a way.
Caelem was incredible. He had no idea he was so skilled.
But…how long would he be able to battle against the Cursed Blade? How much longer could Tokala?
As the fierce battled progressed, a green miasma like mist slowly began to engulf Tokala. It deepened into a sickly dark green as the Cursed Blade forced his body into a drawing stance. It was almost as if it was readying for one last final attack…
"J-just stop it!" Tokala screamed in warning. "Get away from me!"
There was just…so much pain in his voice. Throughout everything, he had been conscious. And unable to fight back.
A soft…humming noise suddenly resounded through the air. It was gentle, almost inaudible. Yet, it was there. It was comforting, in a way. But where did it come from?
Caelem pulled himself into an offensive stance. The Shining Lotus held before him, grasping is with one hand while his other hand kept a firm grip upon the jewel incrusted sheathe. As he raised the smooth, flawless blade into an overhead stance, the humming sound grew in pitch. Still gentle, yet caused a strange sense of expectation and tension.
It was the Shining Lotus. The sound was resonating from the blade itself.
"Just…just like the Turquoise Lotus Father did with his own brother, with his own kin, I will not turn my back on you either," Caelem stated. He sounded so reassured. No hesitancy. No nervousness. No fear.
In fact, his expression was a mix of compassion and determination. He, along with the Shining Lotus, were readying themselves for one final attack as well.
"Now, cut through the darkness that is trying to overshadow the light, Shining Lotus!"
A bright, blinding light suddenly filled the area. So bright that Drayce had to turn away and cover his eyes. He could only assume that the light originated from the Shining Lotus.
When the light faded and Drayce could see again, Tokala was lying on the ground, curled up on his side with his back toward them. And the Cursed Blade was on the ground several feet away.
Whatever attack Caelem used, it caused Tokala to practically crumble to the forest floor where he stood, while the Cursed Blade was flung through to air and clattered to the ground where it now laid.
"Tokala!" Salim immediately called out in alarm as he rushed to Tokala's side. He hastily skidded onto the grass next to him and fell to his knees. Concern was clearly seen on his face as his hands hovered above Tokala, afraid to touch him in case he hurt him further. But desperately wanting nothing more than to scoop him into his arms.
"Don't move him," Fiorello ordered as he followed at the pugilist's heels. "Let me take a look at him."
Tokala wasn't moving, though. Even as Fiorello began to inspect him. He…should be fine with Fiorello there, though, right?
Caelem had managed to free Tokala from the hold of the Cursed Blade. But the blade itself was still a source of concern. It was literally trembling and rattling, still moving, as it laid on the ground. It wanted to get back to Tokala.
They needed to think of something to subdue it – fast!
"Caelem, use the Shining Lotus' sheath!" Blayke suddenly yelled. "It might be able to contain the Cursed Blade until we find a way to seal it again!"
"Right!"
Yes, that could work. The blue turquoise stones should be enough to contain the blade until they found a way to seal it once again. Either with the same technique the Turquoise Lotus Father had used centuries ago; or their own version.
Making his way over to the Cursed Blade, Caelem used the Shining Lotus to stab the handle of the blade to pin it to the ground. The Cursed Blade jolted at the impact and continued to rattle and shake, as if it was alive. Caelem wasn't deterred, however. He carefully slid the turquoise coated sheath along the long, dark metal blade.
But even as the sheathed reached the hilt, the terrible blade continued to rattle. It was almost like a death rattle, to be completely honest.
"Caelem!" Kamali suddenly appeared and called out calmly to the masurao. "Do you have the Scarlet Lotus?"
"Y-yes!"
"Tie it to the Cursed Blade," Kamali promptly instructed, once again sounding calm despite circumstances. "It might be enough to keep it sealed within the Shining Lotus' sheath."
Though reluctant to release his hold on the temporarily contained Cursed Blade, Caelem had no other choice. He quickly reached into the pant's pocket and hastily dug around for a second or two. Finally, he pulled out the red lotus crystal.
He hastily tied it around the hilt of the Cursed Blade, ensuring that he didn't touched the accursed weapon. The rattling and trembling suddenly ceased and it fell silence.
The Cursed Blade had finally stopped moving.
For now, at least.
"I think it worked," Caelem said around a sigh of relief.
That prompted everyone else to utter a few sighs of their own. From Drayce especially. He knew how dangerous that blade truly was. And how destructive it truly could have been. It defeated a FOE so easily. And was willing to attack anything in front of it. Imagine the carnage it could have caused if it made it inside the city.
Drayce turned to the purple-haired warlock, relieved to see that he was unharmed. "Kamali?"
"I felt a sudden rush of Mana and knew right away that it was the Shining Lotus," Kamali immediately explained. "I also found the place to which I believed once housed the Cursed Blade."
So, he had pointed him in the right direction.
"Is there anything there?"
Kamali nodded. "An altar of sealing."
An altar of sealing, huh. But the Cursed Blade revealed itself so easily. Was it because of Tokala? Or had the seal weakened over time?
Before Drayce could allow himself to muse, he promptly remembered that he and his guild weren't alone in the labyrinth. He wasn't sure what alerted him to that fact. He just felt…eyes on him. Not fully malicious, but certainly not benign in any way, shape, or form.
He spun around just in time to witness Keane stalk out of the shadows, his cannon resting on his shoulder, and Keita a step behind him.
"It's been sealed, huh?" Keane muttered as he bounced the cannon on his shoulder. "Now then-"
Before he could take a step forward, however, Blayke barred his path. His rapier at the ready. Along with Zohar and his wraiths, and Nashoba. Blayke's posture was that of anger. The protective kind that Drayce had seen from him several times before. Nashoba, too, was protective; growling lowly with his heckles raised. And Zohar stood tall behind Blayke, his face stoic, but the fiery skull wraiths seemingly…jittering and sneering beside him.
"You're not getting a step closer, asshole," Blayke practically snarled.
Yeah, he wasn't going to get a step closer. Drayce was going to make sure of that, too. Though his head hurt from having to summon numerous Decoy Shields before, he could muster up a few more if necessary.
There was also something that he wanted Keane to know.
"Listen closely, Bandit; do NOT come after any of my guildmates ever again. And yes, that includes Runihura, Palash, Tokala, and Salim."
"Oh?" Keane mockingly cooed at him. "Did you just adopt them all just now?"
"You better believe I did!" Drayce stated firmly. "You're used to getting your way through the use of violence. That won't do you any good here."
If it weren't for Kamali, who had a hold of Blayke's arm, the blue-haired fencer probably would have launched himself at Keane. Out of protectiveness and sheer hatred for the guy. "I'm more than willing to use violence myself."
Keita looked around nervously as he kept close to Keane, who of which remain expressionless. Passive, almost. "Boss, we're outnumbered."
"And they have the Shining Lotus and the Cursed Blade…" Keane muttered as he, too, cast a cautious glance toward everyone. Finally, an expression of agitation appeared on his face and he clicked his tongue. "Tch. Let's go. See ya later, Pretty Boy."
Unfortunately, that seemed likely.
As Keane turned to leave, his glanced over in Runihura's direction. From where he stood, Drayce couldn't see what kind of expression he had, but he risked a guess that he had a fierce glare. If Runihura wincing and Palash attempting to hide his face against the harbinger's chest was any indication.
"And, you," Keane spat. "Don't think you've gotten away from me."
That was no threat. That was a warning.
Drayce would need to keep a close eye on Runihura in the future.
Keita lingered for a moment as he gazed in Runihura's direction. His expression was unreadable, stoic even. He seemed to…hesitate before promptly turning on his heel and following Keane into the shadows of the labyrinth.
He…may have felt something toward Runihura after all.
Unfortunately, there were other things that Drayce needed to concentrate on.
"Tokala?" Drayce questioned in concern as he looked over in the direction where Fiorello and Salim were crouched around the still unmoving therian.
Fiorello looked up at him and offered him a small smile. "He's going to be all right. The Cursed Blade forced him to use muscles in such ways he hadn't used them before. He's exhausted. He's going to be sore and tired for a while."
That was such a relief.
"He fought hard against the Cursed Blade," Zohar added.
Yeah, he did. He was conscious throughout it all. Pleading with everyone to keep away. The blade had taken control of his body, but not of his mind.
Drayce then turned his attention to the red-haired masurao, whom of which stood vigilantly over the Cursed Blade, the Shining Lotus in his right hand. Poised to strike if necessary. "Caelem, are you all right?"
Caelem looked over at him and nodded his head. "Yes, I'm fine."
"You saved Tokala, Cal!" Faelen cheerfully reminded him, which prompted Caelem to look genuinely surprised.
He turned to glance over in Tokala's direction. "I…hope so."
Blayke approached him, along with Faelen. Though, he kept a cautious eye on the Cursed Blade, and placed himself between it and Faelen to ensure his safety. As he reached Caelem, he turned to give him a concerned frown. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Again, Caelem nodded his head in affirmation. "Yes, I am. The Shining Lotus…Wouldn't let anything hurt me." He carefully rested the steel blade in the palm of his left hand. A tender smile made its way onto his lips as he closed his eyes. "It feels…so warm."
That warmth was likely the same that Drayce had felt when he encountered the Radiant Moon. It was a warmth that was hard to describe. Comforting, reassuring, almost familial in a way.
He was glad that, despite the danger, Caelem was protected.
There was one more person that Drayce needed to check in on before he could remotely begin to relax. "Runihura, stay where you are, ok?" he instructed in a soft tone. "Don't try sneaking off on me."
Thankfully, while also worryingly, Runihura didn't have the energy to escape. He simply rested fully against the tree and nodded as Palash continued to fuss over him with medicine and herbs. "Ok," he replied softly. Tiredly.
"He'll be on rest for the next couple of days, too," Fiorello piped up to inform him.
Honestly, that wasn't much of a surprise. He didn't know what Keane did to him, and he probably didn't want to know. But now that Runihura was part of his guild, he was going to make sure it didn't happen again.
"Be sure to protect them, Nashoba."
The white wolf lifted his head in response, but did little else. Seemingly content to stay where he was, next to Runihura. And though he appeared relaxed, his ears were up and he constantly searched the shadows around them.
Only when he realised that everyone was safe, did Drayce feel his own fatigue set in.
"It's over…" he muttered under his breath as he clutched his forehead with his right hand. His head was aching. And he suddenly felt incredibly tired. Almost to the point where he just wanted to crumble to the ground to just sit for a moment.
However, before he could, a strong arm wound its way around his shoulders and he was pulled toward a taut chest. The arm and presence were comforting, however. And familiar. Enough so, Drayce subconsciously sunk back into the arm that held him upright.
"Are you all right?" Zohar asked him softly.
Drayce tilted his head back to see Zohar own concerned gaze looking back at him. His eyes were soft, almost tender in a way. "Yeah, don't worry," he replied with a tired, but hopefully comforting smile. "I'm just…relieved it didn't turn out the way I had feared."
Zohar unexpectedly reached forward and gently took one of Drayce's hands into his. A frown tugged at his lips when he lifted his hand and gently rubbed his thumb over his knuckles. "Your wrists."
Oh, right. He had forgotten about that.
"Just a little bit sore," Drayce offered in reply.
Zohar's arm tightened around his shoulders. "We were greatly worried," he said softly, a subtle sense of pain in his voice.
Drayce immediately felt a sense of guilt. "…Sorry. I didn't think any of this would happen." He sighed once more, fatigue setting in once again. "Honestly, I don't even know why he dragged me along. I didn't…he didn't need me."
Likely a show of force. Or to make him realise that he could do anything he wanted. And take anyone he wanted.
"What should we do with the Cursed Blade?" Blayke suddenly asked, promptly reminding Drayce and everyone else that their situation wasn't entirely over just yet. "We obviously can't leave it here."
Pushing aside his fatigue and headache that was gradually increasing in strength, Drayce straightened himself up and stepped out of Zohar's hold. Though, he did feel a sudden sense of cold as he did so. And he couldn't help but note that Zohar himself didn't seem all to pleased.
"We'll have to hand it over to the council," Drayce replied. "Have it sealed away in their vault."
At least for now. Until they can find better arrangements.
Kamali made a slight humming noise, that of thoughtful contemplation. Honestly, the sound he made was similar to the one that Shashi made when he was deep in researcher mode. "Hm. I think that would be more suited than attempting to seal it back within the altar. Too many know of its existence, now."
"That's true," Drayce couldn't help but wince before he turned to glance in the direction to the north of them. "Where is it exactly?"
Kamali turned to take the lead, motioning him to follow with the wave of his hand. "This way."
Drayce nodded before he turned to regard the others of his guild. "You ok with the Cursed Blade, Cal?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Caelem immediately replied. "The Shining Lotus and I will ensure that the Cursed Blade won't become active again."
"And I'll stay to ensure those bandits don't try anything stupid," Blayke quickly added. "But shout if you need anything."
That would be for the best, actually. Not to mention, the alter might hold a boobytrap or two of its own. The less that was exposed to it, the better. But he would need both Kamali's and Zohar's help with this.
"Ok, Kamali, Zohar, and I will inspect the alter. Everyone else, stay here."