Part nine- Friend or Thief?

The next morning Davis and Takeru got up and exercised. They settled down to breakfast.

¡°We have to part, soon,¡± Takeru said solemnly.

Davis choked on an apple. ¡°What?!¡±

Takeru¡¯s eyes were calm. ¡°Eventually we have to part ways. It¡¯s not possible for two warriors to travel together on their initiating journeys. My path is different from yours. Check your map.¡± Davis unrolled the parchment. The map was very detailed, with his road marked clearly upon it.

¡°I have to head here,¡± Takeru said, pointing to a spot. His blue eyes were sad. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you. Friends to the end?¡±

¡°Of course,¡± Davis responded, clasping his friend¡¯s hand. The two men hugged quickly and set down their camp. They traveled on until the road ended with a fork.

¡°Well, this is our parting,¡± Takeru said. ¡°I have to the take to left, you take the right.¡±

The two friends clasped each other¡¯s hands together one last time and parted ways. Davis traveled alone for several days before arriving at the outskirts of a city. According to the map, it was Donar, a trading city particularly known for fine cloth and dyes. As he grimly looked onto the towering walls, he pulled up the hood of his black cloak and walked in. Thousands of sights and smells beguiled his senses. His stomach growled as the scent of roasting meat and baking bread filled his nostrils. Cloth colored in all colors of the rainbow filled the shop fronts.

As he walked through the streets, taking in everything, his fingers almost started to itch to steal, like his younger days. To stop it, he clenched his fists. Noting the fine weaponry of the guards and citizens, Davis made a mental note to stop by an armory or a blacksmith¡¯s shop.

His mind tensed. Something was inching deeper into his pocket where he kept some assorted trinkets and coins. An ordinary person would have missed the feather light touch, but it was clear to Davis, who¡¯s senses were sharp from his training as a warrior and experience as a thief. He waited and grabbed a wrist as he drew out his dagger.

¡°Going somewhere?¡± he hissed. The thief was a striking boy who was around Davis¡¯s age or older. Blue back hair framed an angled, pale face. Indigo eyes glared into Davis¡¯s own brown ones.

¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± the boy said maliciously and threw down a small pellet.

Thick, choking smoke surrounded Davis as the wrist was wrenched out. Davis caught a trace of blue among the smoke and followed it out of the thick cloud. The boy ran down a maze of streets, Davis discreetly following. Finally they ended up in a seemingly dead end. The thief pushed a stone on the end, revealing a hidden door. He slipped through and Davis followed. Davis found two knives in the dark pointing at his throat after he slipped after the thief.

¡°Give me one good reason not to stick these cold friends of mine into your throat,¡± a voice growled in the darkness. Davis didn¡¯t answer and swallowed carefully. ¡°I¡¯d better get a look at you.¡±

Light filled the room. Davis quickly made the thieves¡¯ sign, a special motion to identify thieves of the guilds scattered throughout the country. The boy let out a low chuckle and the knives disappeared into two sheaths on his fore arms. Davis looked around the room. It was rather elegantly furnished, with solid wood furniture and hangings on the walls. The cloth though, had aged with time and faded softly. It was a rather comfortable room though. A stone fireplace was tucked into the wall for heat. The thief wore fine clothes of wool and cotton colored dramatic black, with a black cloak. Davis then noticed that he had a tiny amethyst eardrop in his left ear that dangled on a bit of silver wire.

¡°So, what brings you to this town?¡± the boy drawled lazily, sitting in a chair. ¡°Have a seat.¡±

Davis¡¯s instincts flared as he politely declined. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not much of a thief.¡±

The older boy raised a thin eyebrow. ¡°What kind, burglar, pickpocket, petty?¡±

¡°To clarify the term,¡± Davis answered levelly. ¡°I used to be one.¡±

¡°That explains it,¡± the other boy yawned. ¡°Care to introduce yourself?¡±

¡°Daisuke Motomiya, or Davis for short, Griffin,¡± Davis said, adding on the last part after some thought.

The other boy¡¯s eyes gleamed as he answered, ¡°Ken Ichijouji, Quetzalcoatl. Prove that you¡¯re a warrior Griffin.¡±

He was replied with a puzzled look from Davis. With a sigh he got up and headed over to the younger boy. Davis eyed him warily as the thief demanded to see his right arm. Ken rolled it up and Davis noticed a black tattoo on the wrist, gleaming as though it was branded there. It was distinctly in the shape of a griffin. The older boy gave a nod of satisfaction and rolled up his own sleeve. On this on however, the tattoo was of a winged serpent with a feather crest.

¡°How did you get that?¡± Davis sputtered.

¡°My brother trained me, also known as the Centaur,¡± Ken answered levelly, rolling down his sleeve. ¡°Before he died, that is.¡±

The older boy¡¯s eyes softened as he turned his gaze to a portrait. It was of two boys. The older one had wild dark purple hair and the other had a simple mop of blue hair. The younger was smiling infectiously, while the other looked more reserved. Davis nodded sympathetically.

¡°So, who¡¯s the leader of the thieves¡¯ guild?¡± Davis said awkwardly, trying to change the subject.

Ken grinned at him. ¡°You¡¯re looking at him.¡±

Davis stared. ¡°But you¡¯re only around my age!¡±

Ken¡¯s eyes were glinting harshly. ¡°I challenged the leaders and won, fair and square. Even a thief needs honor. There¡¯s hardly any guild now anyway, only a few pickpockets and amateurs that wish to overthrow me. But they sing a different song once the Blade King goes through with them.¡± He smirked coldly.

Davis snorted. ¡°At least where I came from, we looked out for each other. You¡¯re a heartless excuse for a thief.¡±

Almost instantly, Ken rushed up and grabbed Davis by the front of his shirt. His eyes were blazing with cold fury.

¡°You can call me any profanity or name you want,¡± the boy growled. ¡°Street rat, scum, anything and I wouldn¡¯t give a damn. But never ever call me heartless, understand? Good.¡±

Ken threw Davis to the ground, looking stonily out into space while stroking something around his neck and under his shirt. Davis glared up at him, gasping for breath. Ken looked icily back, then tensed. A silver blade whipped out. Grasping it by the handle, he threw it at a wooden beam. A small cry was heard as the blade made contact and imbedded into the dark wood. Silvery liquid started to drip down the wood.

¡°What was that for?¡± Davis demanded.

Ken didn¡¯t say anything and walked over to the blade. He blew something onto the wood and something appeared. Trapped under the knife was a strange creature. It looked a tiny person covered by a ragged sheet. A gaping mouth filled with fangs formed a silent snarl. Black eyes glared at them malevolently. Davis stared. The creature let out one last cry and disappeared into oblivion.

¡°What was that?¡± he said quietly as Ken jerked the knife out of the wood.

¡°Bakemon,¡± Ken said grimly, examining his knife for blood, but nothing was left of the creature. ¡°Nasty little creatures, but are good spies.¡± He wiped off the blade one last time and sheathed it.

¡°Stay here for the night,¡± the thief said finally. ¡°If someone¡¯s after you, then it¡¯s not safe to be in the open often.¡± Davis¡¯s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

¡°Why so concerned now?¡± the younger boy demanded. ¡°So you can slit my throat in the dark of the night?¡± Ken glared at him icily.

¡°Perhaps you¡¯d rather that I should leave you outside, where there are assassins far worse than me?¡± the boy growled softly. ¡°Or would you like to have a soft bed, full stomach, and some company? I did save your life.¡±

Davis sighed in defeat and sat down. Ken smiled mysteriously and disappeared through a hidden passage. He came back, holding a basket full of food. When Davis demanded to know where it had come from, he merely glared coldly. Davis¡¯s questions vanished however when the feast was spread before him. Fresh baked bread, fruit, vegetables, roasted chicken and beef, fish, and all sorts of dishes filled the simple table. His mouth watered and he threw himself onto the food. Ken was more decorous with his etiquette as he ate. Finally, they settled in front of the fire, comparing stories. It was rather cozy, just sitting in comfortable chairs, chatting. The tiny gem on Ken¡¯s ear glinted and gleamed in the flickering firelight. Davis whittled a piece of pinewood absently while Ken sipped a glass of wine. The older boy had offered a drink to Davis, but the younger had declined politely.

¡°Well, I lived with my brother Osamu for most of my life,¡± Ken said, putting down his glass goblet. ¡°He was a mage and a high member of society. Our family was particularly famous in a long line of warriors and mages. He was naturally trained, being the oldest of course but I was included with a lot of insistence and trained in magic and combat. Nearly all of our family had at least some magic in their blood. I was sort of the black sheep of the family, though. Of course I had potential but I didn¡¯t always obey the rules. But he initiated me anyway to pass on the family¡¯s honor. He needed an heir just in case anyway for the family line and powers to pass on, so he didn¡¯t have much of a choice.¡± He smiled, recalling memories.

¡°I had a tendency to sneak off to taverns and to meet friends in the streets. They taught me how to survive in this rough town anyway, from knife fighting to pick pocketing. That¡¯s where I learned how to steal anyway, it turned out to be a useful trick anyway later.¡± Then the thief sobered and sighed.

¡°When I was around fifteen, my brother was killed. That¡¯s when I found out that he was part of a gang that was infamous for assassins and thieves. That¡¯s where most of our wealth had come from. I had nowhere to go. There were no living family members and my family was in disgrace, so I just paid off a few debts, gathered as much as I could, and survived on the streets. It was hard, not knowing if you would live to see another day alive or at least getting food on the table. The money eventually dwindled and so I resorted to stealing. Now I have much more honor than you think. I only rob from those-¡° Ken then paused, thinking. ¡°Whom can afford to lose a copper or two. For the first few weeks it was hard. In these streets, it¡¯s ¡®kill or be killed.¡¯ So it¡¯s often hard to keep your humanity alive in you when nearly every day you witness a murder or death. I guess your heart hardens in a way.¡± Ken shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s about it anyway.¡± He fingered something under his shirt again.

¡°What¡¯s under there?¡± Davis asked curiously.

Ken gave him a meaningful look, looking him over as if to see if he was worthy, and then sighed softly. He pulled something out of his shirt. It was an oval locket on a thin gold chain. The pendent was obviously expensive, for it was fine gold set with tiny black opals and diamonds on the edges. He opened it carefully and showed what was inside to Davis. It was a miniature portrait of a young girl with lavender hair and hazel eyes. She also had a pair of spectacles. On a clip on the other side, was a tiny lock of lavender hair.

¡°This was Miyako,¡± Ken sighed deeply. ¡°We knew each other since childhood. She wasn¡¯t particularly of high status because she was a witch and an orphan, but we were good friends. She was the one who taught me how to survive on the streets, but she disappeared a few years ago. I don¡¯t know what happened to her since.¡± He looked wistfully at the portrait.

¡°She also gave me this,¡± he said, tugging gently on the crystal in his ear. ¡°My parents and Osamu had a fit when they saw it though.¡± He grinned thinly and almost chuckled.

¡°Did you love her?¡± Davis said casually, examining his work on whittling so far.

Ken almost choked on a sip of wine, making him look undignified and unlike his usual cool composure. ¡°What?!¡±

¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± Davis said, grinning knowingly. Ken glared, and shrugged.

¡°I always felt affectionate for her, I suppose,¡± the older boy said, staring at his boots. ¡°But more of a brother-sister type,¡± he added hastily.

¡°Sure,¡± Davis said sardonically, a wicked smile on his face.

Ken glared, then yawned. ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m going to bed.¡± He got up and added, ¡°My bedroom is off of this room. I¡¯ll set up a mattress and some blankets. Good night.¡±

He disappeared into the shadows and opened a door, slipping through. Davis merely stared into the fire for several moments, turning the bit of wood he was whittling in his fingers. He gazed at it and almost laughed. With some work, the tiny carving almost looked like a serpent coiled around a rock and with a pair of wings folded on its back. A crest was carved on its head as it bared a jaw sporting miniscule fangs. He grinned and slipped it into his belt pouch. As he got up stretching, he winced as he heard his spine crack. He walked over to the door and went in. It was a comfortable bedroom and contained a bed tucked into a corner. A bureau and a mirror were on the sides, along with a washstand. The promised makeshift bed was on the ground. Ken was merely reading something while lying in bed.

¡°So now you came?¡± he remarked without turning around.

Davis just grunted. He took off his shirt and tunic and slipped under the covers. It felt good to have a soft mattress and warm blankets on top of him. He soon drifted off to sleep.

~*~*~*~

¡°Sleep well, brother,¡± a voice cackled as a shadowy figure looked in a silvery orb. ¡°Soon we will meet again.¡± It stared into the crystalline depths of the orb carefully for a few more moments and snapped its fingers.

¡°Novice!¡± the voice snapped. A hooded shadow glided over to the figure¡¯s chair.

¡°Yes, mistress?¡± the new figure¡¯s voice murmured dully, bowing slightly. It seemed to melt into the dark shadows of the chamber and the only thing that truly distinguished it from the darkness and cold was a trimming of dull red at the bottom of its black cloak and robe and the gentle sound of breathing emanating from under the hood.

¡°Bring me the Book of Darkness and the crystal chalice,¡± the figure in the chair ordered harshly.

¡°As you wish,¡± the shadow responded without emotion and ghosted out of the room. It returned with a large chalice and a large book.

The chalice was beautiful, and appeared to have been carved from a single, large dark purple crystal, but it gleamed with a strange, dark luster. Symbols could be seen carved on the rim and stem of the chalice and colored in with black crystal. To any user of magic, no matter how small, an aura of darkness and a void extending from within the cup could be seen. The book was covered with a strange black leather and reinforced with silver that gleamed coldly. Mysterious writing wrote in a red liquid that looked suspiciously like blood, decorated the cover. A clasp carved out of dark stone and silver locked the book as ancient runes could be seen. Dark gems glittered coldly on the clasp in magical patterns. Even for those without magic, a darkness and evilness just echoed out of the book.

The figure in the chair gestured lazily and the chalice floated toward it and settled on a slab of black stone carefully. It gestured again, and a silvery liquid started to fill it. The hooded figure stepped up to the one in the chair with the book in its hands. It kneeled, holding the book forward. The one in the chair pressed a large crystal in the center of the clasp and it glowed red briefly as the book opened. Turning the aged pages of the volume, the figure in the chair muttered until it found a particular page. Conjuring a knife from thin air, the figure carefully made a small incision on its wrist. The chalice rose up and caught the droplets of blood that dripped down. As the chalice gathered the blood, the silvery liquid inside of the vessel then started to turn a deep green. With a spark of red fire, the wound healed instantly and without a trace of what had been there before. The chalice flew back and settled itself onto the slab.

The figure then started to hiss words rapidly. ¡°Esir pu ym retsam, emoc ot em morf eht shtped fo eht ssenkrad dlrow! Rouy elbmuh evals slevorg ot ruoy rewop! Emoc ym retsam!¡±

All throughout the chant, the liquid in the chalice started to bubble and change colors. Finally it became a gleaming black and a large bubble formed. A face could be seen within. It was a man¡¯s face, with bluish gray skin and blond hair. A crimson mask with bat wing edges covered the top half of his face as crimson color was on his lips. His eyes were of an ice cold blue and gleaming with shrewdness and malevolence. He smiled coldly and shining fangs flashed.

¡°Greetings my faithful servant,¡± he said softly, yet his words could be heard clearly.

The hooded figure beside the chair bowed deeply, murmuring, ¡°It is an honor to meet you finally, my lord.¡± The one in the chair frowned and struck the other harshly on the cheek.

¡°You are not to speak unless spoken to!¡± the figure snapped. The one who was struck did not react but took the punishment readily and without any sound.

¡°Come now,¡± the man within the orb said. ¡°There was no harm in showing respect to superiors. In fact, my servant, I believe you haven¡¯t introduced us.¡±

The figure in the chair said, ¡°This is merely one of my apprentices, my master.¡± As it was mentioned, the shadow bowed deeply.

The man chuckled softly. ¡°You have a good choice in servants, my dear.¡±

¡°You are only too kind, my liege,¡± the figure responded politely, though there was a hint of smugness.

¡°I have found my brother, sir,¡± the figure then offered tentatively. ¡°With him on the Dark Side, we may be able to control the Master sword, Dragon¡¯s eye. It may not be too difficult my liege.¡±

The man raised a thin eyebrow, but looked interested. ¡°Good, but do not waste anymore troops. I have not been able to feed lately, so my powers are not as strong as they should be. Also, I do not dare leave this world without having a stable body also. Remember, one of the top priorities is to have me given enough power to leave this wretched dimension for more than a number of mere seconds and without me being drained of magical energy for some time. The ancient powers that sealed me away from my era of darkness were much more powerful than I thought. They stripped me of my other form and my strength. I am still a match for many, but at a risk, for it takes much power for me to even create a gate into this world, so it must be done at the hand of another. I do try to maintain this form and my powers, but at times it is weary for me to do so and I must be reduced to a lower form that uses less energy. The powers could not kill me, for I balanced them. They restricted my powers and presence to a bare minimum. Do not forget my servant, that I must feed still and you shall have your just reward when I am returned to full power.¡±

¡°Of course, sir,¡± the figure in the chair said hastily. ¡°We still have plenty of raw magic and captives for you to feed on.¡±

The man smiled his fanged smile and laughed. ¡°Good. Now if that is all, you are dismissed.¡±

¡°Yes, my master.¡± The image in the chalice shattered as the liquid disappeared, but the man¡¯s eerie laugh still echoed throughout the dismal chamber. Both figures looked upon it with indifference, but the hooded one¡¯s hands trembled ever so slightly with fear as they were crossed across the shadow¡¯s chest.