Conquest.
Written by NXT3.
CHApTER FOUR:
THE SUN burned brightly in the sky above. Using a hand to block the rays of bright light Atlas looked just ahead of himself, where he saw the figure of his familiar sniffing the earth beneath him, using his front paws occasionally to move this or that.
Zeph sighed just behind him, pulling the sleeve of his blue jumper further down his darker skinned arm "Atlas, when are we gonna get there?" he asked. They had been travelling for four days. They were attending one of the last magic academy's that existed in the Achipelego that they lived in. They had heard of the war that had been happening in the neighbouring lands but were told on numerous occasions that no harm could ever come to the island of Belgarve. But six days ago, the island had been attacked, wizards, werewolves, giants all stormed towns and villages.
Belgarve Academy of the Magically Attuned was the only place where magic was taught in all of the surrounding islands, thus it was a place where magic conveined. And was a target for the Order of the Sin.
In recent years the Quibbler had been the only reliable source of information, giving all that would read it updates on the war front. Of invaded towns, countries, cities, anywhere that had been struck. Of heroes, and of the departed. Originally designed to be a magazine, the numerous wars had given it room to transform itself into a news outlet that many used after the disuse and disbandment of the Daily Prophet.
Atlas and his friends had enjoyed smuggling a Quibbler through the raven post, and reading updates on the war. Although they would be taught about it in DUEL class, they knew they couldn't believe the word of a teacher who was obligated to say the words of whoever was in charge. They knew they were being kept in the dark.
When the Sin's attacked, Atlas and his friends tried to defend their school, an old castle that had stood for years, and had seen many generations of magic pass through its halls. Unable to fend off the soldiers, they retreated, agreeing to see eachother once again at one of the place the Quibbler had said was a safe place.
Zeph tugged on his blue jumper so that it now covered his hands "At, how much further do you think we've got to get to this place?" He called out. Atlas, who was a few feet ahead turned his head to see his friend that was shivering and sighed.
"Sorry Zeph, but all I know is that it's in this direction, it could be hours, days or even weeks to get there."
"Well if it could take that long, then can we make camp for the night, build a fire. y'know, normal people survival stuff?" He asked, the annoyance in his voice
"Zeph. Please, we've only been walking a few hours." Atlas replied.
"Yeah, but we spent the last day and a half on a bloody boat, waiting for it to dock in where you hope is the right place for one of those bloody safe houses!" he snapped back
Atlas took a deep breath in "Look Zeph, I know it might be a little hard to imagine it, but we barely escaped Belgarve. We could be dead if we didn't get out in time. We're now somewhere that we don't know. I'm not sure if the Order or the Great Army have been here. I'm not sure if our money is usable here. I don't know if someone is tracking us down. We've got to keep moving, and we've got to stay safe Zeph." he spoke, not missing a step.
Zeph huffed and walked past Atlas, leaving a trail of frosted blades of grass behind him. He huffed past Hawk, Atlas' familiar. a small yelp coming from his mouth. Zeph murdered an apology to the wolf looking creature before walking further along the path.
Atlas decided that he was going to give his friend some time to breath and calm down. He knew from their time together at Belgarve that Zeph can have hi spells of anger, but knew that his overpowering calming personality will eventually win.
An hour had passed, Hawk had returned to Atlas' side. The familliar was only a pup, as it had only bonded to Atlas in the school year just gone. It was known as an Arylu, a wolf with predominate black and white fur (in Hawk's case black) with a range of coloured fur that are located around the ears, tail and neck. Their eyes usually following this colour scheme. Hawk's is a very dark purple, his eyes being an exception by being a light pink.
Hawk's ears pricked up, and the young cub became alert. A snarl forming on his face, his pink eyes becoming slightly brighter, a fact that only Atlas ever seemed to notice. "What's wrong bud?" Atlas asked his companion, but the wolf stopped in its tracks as footsteps could be heard.
Atlas looked in the direction of the footsteps to see Zeph walking back to them, a smile on his face "Hey Atlas. How are things?" he asked.
Atlas moved to a defensive position, his magic surging through his body "Hey Zephyr, how are things with you?" he asked back.
Zeph's steps came to a halt. Standing their smiling at Atlas. "Tell me Atlas. What makes you angry?" The question had thrown Atlas off his guard, and Zeph saw this as an opening, the darker boy bounded towards the auburn haired boy, his hand outstretched, the moisture in the air turning to ice around his uncovered skin, just as his hand was about to reach Atlas' neck, the green eyed boy bent his body back, as if playing a game of limbo, reached for the blue jumper that Zeph had been tugging on just an hour before and flung him to the ground.
Atlas felt his magic surge through him but couldn't focus on a spell to use on his friend. Hawk continued to growl into the forest. "Zeph, what's wrong with you?" an unnatural giggle came from Zeph's mouth.
"The thrilling chase of the rage in my blood. The boiling anger that knows no pain. The wrath that hugs me close like a mother does a suckling babe." the words leaving Zeph's mouth were not those of his own. From the wood emerged the form of a young girl. Atlas turned to look to see where Hawk had been growling. It was a young girl wearing what looked like a school uniform, except it was a dark orange blouse, a red tie, and black blazer and skirt. An entire that Atlas had only seen in cartoons.
"W-Who are you? A girl like you shouldn't be out here in the cold." Atlas told the girl. She just smiled, her eyes glowing a dark orange.
"Boys like you shouldn't be wandering the forest this time of year. You never know what you might encounter." a wicked smile spread across her face.
"A-and what h-have we enc-countered?" Atlas asked, an unnatural fear over coming him.
It was brief, but Atlas could feel his connection to Hawk waver for a moment. It was common knowledge in Algarve that a familiar uses its masters magic to sustain its existence in the mortal realm, when it is not needed or not called upon, they spend their time in the Ether. A spiritual realm in which certain creature's can enter. No wizard or attuned may enter.
And the feeling that Atlas felt? It was as though Hawk was being commanded to enter the Ether and leave Atlas on his own. Hawk is one stubborn bastard, and would never leave his master, especially if he thought that he was in trouble.
The little girl stepped forward, away from the trees "Zephyr, my little pet. Is this the one that made you angry?"
"Yes, Lady Wrath."
She smiled "I see." she looked to Atlas, examined his appearance for a moment. "Atlas Vault. A Sun and Metal Attuned? Interesting combination. I hear that the Attuned are far superior magic wielders than that of the wizards of the world. Pride once said that it was because of their ability to command the elements from their cores, rather than through the aid of wands. I will concede, that there is some positive points to be made about being an Attuned. I for one see only one."
"And what would that be?" Atlas asked, trying to bide his time to calculate how to escape the situation.
The girl giggled and moved towards Atlas once more, pulling out a stick "with wizards, they rely on something as ridiculous as a stick.. or.. wands, to perform their magic, something that leaves much to the desire. Attuned on the other hand, as long as they have the magical reserve for it, they can fight endlessly, and without the fault of not being able to fight once their wand's are no longer in their own hands." The girl stated
"I for one am a supporter of Attuned across the globe, although they only seem to be found in hordes here in the archipelago." she crossed her arms "when I sent my men to collect all of the Attuned they could find from that school, I was very upset to hear that some had gotten away. I was even more upset to hear that after I had hunted down your friends, that you two were the only one's left." she walked closer to Atlas "I must thank you. Hunting you down has been both fun, and so undeniably frustrating that my anger has reached its peak with you." she flung her right arm out, and Atlas' body flung with it. Hitting the trunk of tree, the wind being knocked right out of him.
Zeph's body rose from the ground, standing just in front of the little girl. Hawk's growl became the only sound as the arylu pup pounced at the young girl, Zeph moved between the two, just as his jaws were about to connect with the raised arm of Zeph, Hawk POP'd out of existence as he entered the Ether, not wishing to accidentally harm a friend of his master.
"Poor Atlas, no one left to help him." the girl pushed Zeph to the side and kneeled down to Atlas, who was facing back to the ground. She kneeled down and held his head in her lap. "Tell me what's your name?" she asked, but she got no response, Atlas continued to gasp for breath. "oop! Silly me! Here, maybe this'll help!" She swished her hand in the air, a circle appeared in the air with the crest of the air element, and small and short gust of wind passed by and into Atlas' mouth, filling his lungs up with air.
He spat at the air, turning over. "What the hell?!" He cried out.
The Lady Wrath frowned "He does not feel an uncontrollable desire to serve me? different tactics it is." she brushed her skirt "Tell me, Atlas." he looks up at her, their eyes now locked together "What makes you angry? What makes your bloo boil? Is there someone or something in the world that makes you think unthinkable things in times of emotional disstress?" her voice was hypnotic. As though in a dream, Atlas' glazed over, his body becoming heavy.
"Yes. Lady Wrath. I thought we all had those." came a voice from beyond the trees. The little girl turned behind her to see the form of someone she hoped to never see. The seven foot tall, mountain form of Captain Black's right hand man. "Ah. Bulkian, what an unpleasant surprise." She rose to her feet, and squared her eyes at the man. He was tall and held together with muscles as hard a stone, brown hair that was wrapped neatly in a bun atop his hardened and scarred face, his body was wrapped in a dark leathary material that was known to be the attire of the Captain's close guard.
Atlas' body swayed. His mind battling with the hypnotic power of Lady Wrath. Zeph moved to stand next to his new Lady.
"For fucks sake Wrath. They're just kids." Bulkian had a soft voice, but it was a commanding voice and was loud enough that anyone in the nearby vicinity could hear.
"What does the Captain care about with this place? The Order does what it pleases. Your Captain wouldn't typically send his right hand to deal with little old me." Lady Wrath responded.
"The Captain would do anything to stop you. No matter the cost. I'm here because a contract. This place is under the protection of the Great Army, led by its Lord Commander Captain Henry Black. Now drop the control you have over the boys now, and I'll try not to harm you too much before I arrest you."
There was a pause.
"You want to arrest me mr Bulkian?" Her features did a full 180 as she took on a cute exterior "Would you really hurt little old me, mister?" She asked, pulling on the hem of her skirt, a blush on her face. Bulkian's facial feature maintained a stoic exterior.
"Fuck you, Wrath." with the blink of an eye, the two began a dance of power. Bulkian summoning his magic to present him with a new weapon with every motion towards Lady Wrath, hoping to destroy her body, the Lady Wrath summoning the air around her to obliterate any weapon that Bulkian can form. The two moved from one space to another, dodge trees and the others attack. If an Unattuned or Muggle were to see what was happening, all they would be able to see were gusts of powerful winds,
Zeph stood motionless in the middle of the field, awaiting a command from his Lady.
Atlas continued a battle for his mind.