Chapter 2

Merle eyed the dark-haired boy warily. He had a baneful presence that silenced her instantly. He leaned against a large stone pillar languorously, his eyes downcast and his arms crossed over his chest. His frame suggested his age to be around 19, but his countenance indicated decades of a warrior's life.

He slowly tilted his head up. Merle met his frosty and emotionless glare. She was transfixed by the amber flame flickering inside the dark brown iris, so filled with gall. She shuddered, recoiling behind the bulk of Allen. The two men inspected each other warily. A moment of tense unease stretched between them.

"I am here to lead your army to attack Zaibach," the boy finally stated.

A look of surprise registered on Allen's face before he recomposed his expression. When the boy didn't elaborate Allen held up his hands in bewilderment. "To lead my army," he echoed. "Well, do tell me what great general presents himself so arrogantly before me," he demanded derisively.

The boy straightened his stance and enunciated each word forcibly, "I am Van Fanel, from the kingdom Fanelia. I returned from a ritual dragon hunt to find my kingdom in a heap of charred ashes. They left no survivors. Zaibach took something that belongs to me. I want it back."

"What is this 'thing' that you desire so greatly?" Allen queried.

"It does not matter."

Allen chuckled, "It does not matter? You want me to place Gaea's most powerful army in a youngster's control so you can regain some lost 'toy'? How can I justify the lives in jeopardy in return of some childish possession that you are too embarrassed to even tell me what it is?"

Van glared back adamantly, "If you don't attack Zaibach, they will attack you. Advance when you still have the element of surprise, before they perfect their strategy and leave you amidst bloodshed and death."

"What do you know about Zaibach?"

"Flying fortress."

"Invisible."

Van hesitated before affirming with a nod.

"How are you planning to find it?" Allen challenged.

"There are ways," uncertainty betrayed Van's disposition.

Allen detected his doubt and frowned with visible scorn. "Leave," he ordered, turning to affirm his dismissal.

Allen ushered a reluctant Merle ahead. Two colossal stone doors opened into a dark hallway winding through the fortress.A pair ofwinged dragons snaked their way across the giant canvas, as if warding off intruders.

Without warning, the heavy doors swung shut, the dragons' thick tongues entwined, securing the doors shut.

"Ow!" Merle exclaimed. A patch of fur on her forehead was clasped between the massive doors. She braced her forearms against the cool stone and tugged, resulting only in sharp pain. "Allen, help me, I'm stuck!"

Allen spun around quickly, "Telekinesis," he muttered, his eyes fixed on Van.

"Do not refuse me!" Van warned, tightening his fists. With that, the floor began to vibrate. A stone pillar was severed from the ceiling and tilted unsteadily. With a wave of Van's hand it flew swiftly at Allen. Allen was not disconcerted. He held up his right arm and braced against the attack with his own wave of telekinetic power.

The stone pillar stopped abruptly in its path, vibrating precariously in mid-air.

"You can use telekinesis?" Van questioned with bewilderment.

"You are one of the dragon clan… and I thought I was the last descendant," Allen pondered out loud.

"What's going on?" Merle squealed, trying to wriggle free. "I can't see! I can't see!" she screamed frantically.

Allen's heels dug into the concrete floor, he lifted his other arm in order to counter Van's attack. Van advanced slowly, beads of sweat forming on his sun-tanned forehead. The muscles on his arms tensed, his hard eyes fixated upon Allen. "I don't want to hurt anyone," Van cautioned, "I just want your compliance." Allen sensed desperation in his voice. Allen knew to take advantage of the slight disarray in Van's psyche. Allen's brow furrowed as he exerted a fresh wave of telekinetic blast. The pillar reversed towards Van, chunks of concrete crumbling apart in all directions.

Amidst the tense commotion, the heavy stone doors were inching apart. "AHHHHHH!" Merle tumbled backwards as the doors suddenly swung open. Her head wedged awkwardly between her legs, she spied a white-gowned figure glide into the hall. Merle gasped in horror as she glimpsed pieces of stone soaring fiercely towards the girl's frail frame.

At the same moment, Van raised his head to inspect the disturbance. His eyes settled upon Hitome's angelic but dazed façade. Instinctively, he focused his telekinetic field upon Hitome, preventing the jagged fragments from piercing her body. Van inhaled deeply, he was spellbound by what he thought was an angel arriving to retrieve his soul. He fell to his knees, trembling slightly, still maintaining a protective shield over her. Allen grasped his chance and heaved the stone pillar towards the awestruck Van. The pillar collapsed into Van's chest, knocking him backwards with tremendous force. Buried under its colossal weight, Van groaned softly and succumbed to unconsciousness.

Allen glanced at Hitome, her eyes wide with fright at the unfolding events. The stones hovered in mid air indecisively before dropping to a heap at her feet. Allen smiled wearily, "I should take you out to my battles," he joked dryly, "You seem to be quite the effective distraction."