ONE FELL SWOOP
Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Action
Author's Note: Hurrah! I hear the sound of bells ringing in celebration of another chapter! I honestly didn't think I'd be able to get another chapter out in such a comparatively short time, but regardless, here it is!
I'm starting to make sense of where and how the plot should proceed but I already have a clear direction with a general destination in mind, so everything will start to piece together.
Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 3: One Fell Swoop
"I've waited so long for this moment." Commander Malekai's eyes gleamed with malice. "I've always despised you and your arrogant attitude towards anything. As if you were stronger than anyone else here."
Malekai thrusted his hand towards Kaleb, his palm aimed at the boy. The small, fiery ball of energy he had charged from his purple flames flew towards the boy, looking to hit him square in the chest. At the last second, Kaleb also thrusted out his hand, but instead of counter-attacking, he seemingly grabbed the energy sphere out of mid-air, closing his hands around it. The sphere dissipated and fizzled out. However, Malekai simply laughed without humour.
"You think just because you can stop my attacks, you're strong? You're terribly mistaken. There are plenty of us here that possess power that you can only dream of."
The commander threw another purple energy sphere and this time, Kaleb ducked, allowing the attack to sail over his head. The sphere decimated the wall behind him.
"Malekai! Do not overstep your boundaries!" warned Karma.
Malekai sneered. "Boundaries? There are no boundaries when it comes to traitors."
He threw yet another dark sphere, and Kaleb blocked this attack as to prevent any further collateral damage.
"When did I ever say I was going to betray the Order?" exclaimed Kaleb.
"Malekai you're going to destroy the building!" Karma said, more urgently.
"It's merely a building — we can rebuild it." The man replied rashly, trying to focus on hitting Kaleb with his attacks. "But we can't simply rebuild what Kaleb would destroy if he revealed the Order's secrets."
Kaleb slapped his forehead in exasperation. "Do you not listen to reason, Commander? I think I've made it clear I'm simply leaving this place temporarily. I'm not going reveal anything."
"As if I'd believe you," scowled the older man.
"If I wanted to, I would've done so already."
"No, if you wanted to, you would taunt us over it before you committed the heinous crime," said Malekai stubbornly.
The other individuals in the room, unsure of how to approach this conflict, looked to the Grandmaster helplessly. The Grandmaster simply remained seated and gave each of them a look with a very clear message.
Do not interfere. Observe.
And they obeyed, for when it was the right time, the Grandmaster would know. They retreated behind Karma, who motioned them to back off even further. Meanwhile, Malekai continued his relentless assault on Kaleb as Karma attempted to prevent as much damage to their surroundings as possible. Everytime Malekai's energy sphere's missed their mark and headed towards the walls, Karma shouted an enchantment to keep the building intact.
"Inspire!" a light green barrier absorbed the blasts of dark purple energy that flew awry. Noticing Karma's efforts, Kaleb began to dodge most of Malekai's attacks which was easier than absorbing them. This didn't make Karma the happiest individual because it meant she had to work harder to prevent the place from falling apart.
"Shift." Kaleb thought and a split second later, he felt the air move around him, as if in a vacuum. He was suddenly a few metres from his previous position, all in an instant.
"Stop running around and face me, you coward." Malekai gritted his teeth, clearly frustrated that barely any of his attacks landed on their intended target.
Kaleb smirked and replied. "Typical words for a typical man under the delusion that he's strong."
The pattern was all the same to him. All of Malekai's attacks seem to slow down as they got closer to him and all he had to do was shift around to avoid every blast. Kaleb had already analyzed Malekai's subconscious pattern of attack.
When is he going to realize that he has to change tactics, Kaleb thought to himself.
As if to answer his inquiry, Malekai immediately change his stance and threw both his hands up in the air. He grinned maliciously.
"If I can't hit your with individual bolts of my energy, I'll just have to increase the area of effect. You're not escaping this time, Kaleb.
"Gate."
Malekai spread his hands out dramatically and the atmosphere began to hum, as if charging for an attack.
This can't be good. Kaleb and Karma, though not collaborating, share the same thought. Malekai closes his fists and at the same time, two orbs of bright purple energy materialize on either side of Kaleb.
"Voco de Inane!" Malekai's lips curved into a deformed smile. "Call of the Void."
A rush of powerful energy exploded from the orbs, forming into vertical blades that followed one another in a perfectly straight line.
"Malekai, at this rate—!" Karma started to panic. The energy is of incredible density, contained within the orbs and spheres that he emits. In very many ways, their release of energy is similar to a star collapsing and imploding into a supernova. This attack—this attack will very possibly injure of even kill the people in this room who fail to call upon their defensive abilities in time.
In this moment of crisis, Karma whipped her head around towards her father, expecting him to lend a helping hand. To her utter shock and frustration, he simply smiled and shrugged dumbly.
My father can be such an asshole.
I have no choice but to use it here.
"Mantra!"
. . .
Ekko lay in his bed, tinkering with a new device in his hand. He always felt a connection to technology, fiddling with spare parts, saving up money to buy new, more expensive ones, and inventing new creations.
He would miss this place. For certain. It was, after all, his first home. A small unit hidden in the darkest corners of Zaun. Sometimes though, the darkest corners were also the most untouched corners. A safe haven, in a sense, Ekko thought. He sat up, from his bed, looking around his room, observing each and every tiny detail. Branding it into his memory.
It was going to be a while before I would return to this place.
Ekko was actually surprised. As he finished scanning his small bedroom, he noticed that it was the cleanest, most organized it had ever been since he first found it and claimed the unit for himself. Tools were no longer scattered all over the place, screws and wires and cables were cleanly tucked away in his drawers, his equipment was neatly packed in a bundle next to the bed. He sighed.
I just want to curl up and sleep in this comfy bed, waking up to a bright sunny morning, and stretching to a pleasant breeze that would enter through the window.
Ekko laughed to himself. Those days were long over. Zaun was no longer the prosperous city it once was, instead, submitting to the corruption and oppression of the corporate giants who manipulated the city's operation at a whim.
"I wish I lived in Piltover," he said aloud, then paused to think. But then, who would protect the people here? And it's not like Piltover is any better. It's Zaun with a prettier face. The boy slammed a hand on the concrete wall to his right. But at least they have a proper form of law enforcement. I've heard stories about the legendary duo, Caitlyn and Vi, and Jayce the prodigious inventor. There have even been whispers of a new vigilante who swept corruption with what citizens reported as 'hextech-blade-legs'.
He stood from the bed, walking out of his room and into his workshop. This was where he worked on most of his inventive projects. Glancing casually at the clock that had just struck noon, he did a double take.
"Shit." Ekko swore quietly, as if someone would reprimand him for misuse language. "I'm supposed to meet him at 13:30, so that gives me—"
He glanced at his watch on one hand, and then at the Zero-Drive in hiso other hand.
"Gives me just enough time." Ekko grinned.
. . .
"Gate. Voco de Inane." Malekai spread his hands out, channelling energy into the two orbs he had created on either side of Kaleb.
"Mantra!" Karma chanted, and her eyes glowed bright turquoise. "Serve to protect. Defiance!"
At once, the bright green barriers she had previously used erected around everyone behind her, forming multiple shields. Simultaneously, the blades of purple energy from the Malekai's orbs began to close in on Kaleb from both sides — true to their name — as if a gate was closing on itself.
Kaleb. I have to help him too.
Instinctively, Karma focused on the only unprotected individual in the room. Mantra dictated an important principle: that its user was to protect those who could not protect themselves. And as of the moment, it was impossible for Kaleb to dodge the attack within such a tight space.
And knowing Kaleb, he would never use THAT 'technique' to nullify Malekai's 'Gate'. It was too risky for those around. Deep down, he is a kind hearted boy, sometimes selfish, as all boys his age are, but nevertheless, a boy too wise to smile, too strong to flinch, and too young to die.
Karma made her decision all in this split second.
"Mantra!" she chanted again, her eyes glowing brighter with each breath. "Fervent Binding!"
Green tendrils of energy shot forth from her fingers, ensnaring Malekai in an instant. Two more tendrils shot from her palm, each wrapping around a 'Gate' orb and smothering them.
"Focused Resolve!" With this command, Karma began rapidly draining energy from both Malekai and his orbs, the energy seen returning to her through the tendrils, their aura starting to shift from green to purple. Malekai cried out in agony.
"What are you doing Karma—AAGH!"
Right before the purple blades found their target, they fizzled out and dissolved into thin air. Both Kaleb and Malekai stood, shocked. One shocked that he was still untouched, and the other, shocked—no—furious that his attack had been nullified.
Malekai whipped around to face Karma, his countenance contorted with anger.
"You! Why?!"
"He's one of us!" Karma tried to explain calmly but she let too much passion slip into her voice.
"No he's not!" Malekai clenched his fists.
"Malekai—" Karma shook her head. "You are blinded by your anger and jealousy."
"Jealousy? Jealousy?! HA! What have I got to be jealous of him for? He is a disgraced traitor."
"And you have anger-management issues," Kaleb whispered a little too loudly.
Malekai's eyes instantly turned to a dark violet shade.
"You insolent scum—"
"That's enough, Commander, know your place," Karma ordered.
In a fit of rage, Malekai winded up his arm and thrusted it towards her. Without warning, a jagged purple spear flew in her direction before she had time to react. It was aimed, dead centre, at her heart. Her life flashed before her eyes.
Then the unthinkable happened.
One moment, Kaleb was behind Malekai, and the next moment, he was at her feet, with the purple spear piercing through his chest, collapsing with a dreadful thud. The boy made a gagging noise, coughing out blood. The thin, plain-grey, Ionian shirt he wore was already soaked, bleeding uncontrollably.
"NO!" Karma screamed. From her palm, came forth a violent energy she did not know existed within her.
"Mantra! Soulflare!" she chanted without thinking. A beam of green light with lavender tendrils spiraling around it fired at Malakai, hitting him in the side, the force throwing him backwards at an incredible speed. He crashed through the wall—which was already weakened by the attacks—and dropped from the top floor all the way to front steps of the courtyard. Malekai lay still.
Back in the Main Hall, Karma fell on her knees, her hands pressing against Kaleb's chest. They glowed with a soft, warm aura, slowly dissolving the purple spear that stuck out from the boy's chest. Kaleb painfully lifted a hand and placed it on her arms, stopping her process.
"Karma, don't bother," he said weakly. "We both know very well that healing is not your forté."
"Then we'll call a proper healer," she replied determinedly. Looking up at the Executives and Commanders, she shook them from their fazed expressions. "Well, come on! You're not all high-ranked in the Order for nothing. Someone call a healer!"
Her hands, despite being surrounded by a layer of magic, were stained with Kaleb's blood.
"It all ends so quickly. I never—never thought it would be so qu—quick. Death, in one fell swoop." Kaleb tried to chuckle but he could only manage a subtle smirk before he squeezed his eyes shut from the overwhelming damage he had taken.
"Karma." A strong voice called for her attention at the back of the room. It was the Grandmaster—her father. "Think clearly, Commander-in-Chief, think clearly. You can't just call any healer. For this predicament, you need a celestial healer.
"Soraka," Karma said under her breath, her father nodding in agreement.
"I will contact her for you. The rest of you—" He gestured to the remaining individuals who had not taken their leave from the Main Hall yet, "—will collect Malekai from where he has fallen and place him under binding magic of the highest grade. I sense there is something beyond his anger that drives him."
Kaleb's grip tightened on Karma's wrists, as if trying to convey a message. He could barely speak now, gasping with every breath.
"Th—there is a hi—a high chance…" he trailed off, trying to find words that would comply with his pain. "A very—high chance—that I will not su—survive this or—this ordeal."
"Kaleb, you're going to live," Karma said firmly.
"L—listen to me, Ka—ha—arma," the boy whispered urgently. "Please. Please, you—you have to tell her. Tell her I'm sor— …" He choked on his blood, which leaked out of his mouth now, pooling around his cheek. Tears streamed from his eyes, a desperate, lost look about him.
"Tell her I'm sorry," Kaleb managed to get out, his eyes starting to lose focus. He was trying his hardest to stay conscious.
"Who?" Karma asked, pushing him to respond, attempting to keep him awake. "Who?" she repeated, when he was silent.
"Rayven. I'm sorry—so sorry, we couldn't…our dreams…we…my promise…" Kaleb was muttering now.
"Please, Kaleb, I don't understand." Karma began to panic. She looked to the Grandmaster, who—strangely—remained seated from his spot, watching her intently. "Help me, father! Help me save him!"
"My dear daughter," he said, kindly, unlike his hard, lecturing tone in front of the Council. "Even with my great extent of knowledge and power, I do not possess one that gives me the ability to save a life that has already been lost. Soraka—she—our celestial friend may not be able to make it in time."
"Hey," Kaleb's grip on her wrist shifted to hold her hand gently. With his fingers laced around her's, his voice was surprisingly clear, as if his resolve had been restored. "Karma, you were an amazing Big Sis. I'm really glad."
"We were more than that," Karma said softly, a singly tear escaping her, trickling down her cheek.
Kaleb smiled in acknowledgement and managed to lift one arm up, touching Karma's cheek gently, like a ghost. He blinked the tears out of his eyes.
"I've never looked up at you like this before. If you just hold me in your arms like this, I think I can . . . I can . . . just fall asleep . . .
Then the life left his eyes and he died in her arms.
AND THAT'S THE END!
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Pshh I'm just joking (terrible joke, Nightrous .)— there's definitely going to be A LOT more chapters coming so I hope you look forward to them! The next chapter's going to have a huge reveal so don't wait! Just go read it! As usual, if you're liking the story so far, Follow! And if you LOVE it, then Favorite it!
Peace!
~Nightrous