RISE OF LIGHT
Chapter 4
Part 1
"What you are saying is" Daniel said slowly as he chopped at his food with his spoon, looking at Sophia "is that this person called 'Fusion Master' exists and that he can defeat the Darkmaster bringing peace to this darkened world."
"That's what the prophecy stated." Vertrex said, remembering what he and Sophia had discovered in that mysterious cave.
It's been four hours since he and Sophia had returned to the camp by the time night fell. The night animals poked their heads out, making sure that the coast was clear before they searched for their food. Vertrex knew these animals knew better than to come near him or his companions and so he felt safe when he saw the night sky where the moon was bighting their view with its light.
"Well here we are." Vertrex said simply.
Sophia stopped and looked around the camp. After a while she said scathingly "Not much of a camp you have here."
Vertrex raised his hands up in mock indignation "Come on, give use credit at least for setting up the tents and beds and all that."
Then she pointed towards where Daniel and Kayla were sleeping "and are they your friends?" she asked.
"Yes." Vertrex said simply also looking at his sleeping friends.
"Ok but tell me why they're sleeping at this time of day?" she asked him turning to face him.
"Well, they were tired from the long walk today and so they thought they could get some rest." Vertrex said, smiling.
She rolled her eyes "Such lazy friends you have." To which both of them laughed quietly.
As Vertrex started to get dinner ready, she told him "I love to look at the moon … it's so bright."
Vertrex, not looking from his work said "Yes. Now can you please get the plates out of my bad please Sophia?"
Sophia moved over to his bad and started pull plates out of his bad but she was surprised at how many plates she had brought out.
"Just how did you fit these plates in this bag Vertrex?" she asked him curiously.
"Oh" he said not looking up form his work again "That's done through the incantation 'stufitup' so I've been able to put things that normally wouldn't have fitted in the bag."
She continued to look at him, thoroughly impressed by his skill then continued to place the plates on the grassy ground gently.
After two hours or so, Kayla was the first to wake up. She yawned and stretched as she stood up however when she saw Sophia watching Vertrex at his cooking, she yelled "Vertrex, there's an enemy here!"
Vertrex and Sophia jumped in alarm as Kayla's voice echoed rand from behind me. The barrier stopped her voice from echoing into the forest, waking up slumbering birds but it did rebound, making it echo in his ears.
"What, Where?" he said as he frantically looking around him quickly just as Daniel too stood up quickly, also doing the same thing.
This time it was Daniel who shouted at him. "Beside you!" he shouted, pointing a finger at Vertrex's right side.
"What!" Vertrex said realizing what she had meant. "You mean Sophia." He said, already sitting back on the grassy ground as he got back to his cooking.
Kayla and Daniel looked puzzled as they looked at each other and then back. Then Daniel spoke.
"Sophia." he said, remembering the girl's name that Vertrex had mentioned to him on the day that he had visited the shrine where he had met Sophia. He snapped out of his thoughts when Sophia spoke to them.
"It's nice to meet you, friends of Vertrex." She said.
Daniel said nothing for a while. He was thinking quickly of what was going on and what she was doing here, so far away from home but he was pulled back to the present when Vertrex him and Kayla.
"I ran into her when I was looking for the ingredients." Then he looked up at them and continued "It was a coincidence that we met here of all places but there is something that we need to tell you so stop worrying about wheatear she is tricking me or something."
Daniel and Kayla said nothing but after a while they said "that's fine" before they joined in helping Sophia in the preparations.
Once the preparations were done Kayla asked to what this important something that Vertrex wanted to talk to them with. Vertrex and Sophia glanced at each other before Sophia telling them.
Now that Sophia had finished telling them about everything that she and Vertrex have witnessed in that mysterious cave as Vertrex placed their food onto each of their plates. Daniel and Kayla were speechless for a few seconds as they looked at each, trying to confirm what they had heard. Then they turned back as Kayla started to speak.
"No way." She said. "A person who can control Light, Darkness, Space, Time, and Nature!" she said, still struggling with her thoughts but Daniel relieved her.
"There's no way for such a person to exist." Daniel said desperately, looking from Vertrex to Sophia and back.
Vertrex said slowly "If such a being exists, then we're talking about someone whose power is in league with that of the God's own power."
Daniel opened his mouth as he desperately thought of something and anything to say that his friend was wrong but no sound came out and after a few seconds he closed his mouth in a defeated sort of way.
Vertrex continued when Daniel started to munch down his food in great quantities.
"I might be wrong but when the prophecy was stated that way, I don't see why the prophecy would point us in the wrong direction" he said looking from one to the other "but if the prophecy is right then we should search for this mysterious person from next morning." He finished as he placed his place on the grass as he finished with his food.
"And who is this person we should be looking for?" Kayla asked him sarcastically.
Vertrex said nothing but Sophia said "There are many ways to find out but right now finding him is not the important thing. Don't you guys have plans to fix those rebellion fools who are spoiling this precious land?"
"That' th pln." Daniel said with his mouth full of food which made Vertrex smile at his hungry friend.
Sophia also smiled at him before continuing "Then let's concentrate on that and while we're at it, we'll see if we notice anyone with unusual powers ok?"
Now with no food in his mouth Daniel said firmly "Yup. Sounds like a good plan to me." Then he looked at Kayla and asked her "Does it sound cool to you Kayla?"
Kayla grinned at him as she placed her hands in his.
"It sounds fun to me." She said happily.
Vertrex watched this exchange with a smile on this face, now said firmly "That's decided then. We'll leave tomorrow morning and head for the town. Then lets find us some rebellions ok." He finished as he looked at Sophia who smiled at him.
"Right then, its getting late too so let's go to sleep now guys so we'll be refreshed tomorrow morning rather than have sleepers in the morning."
"Ok then good night you two." Daniel and Kayla said before they headed towards their tent, leaving their plates on the grass.
"Don't they know at least to put the plates away?" Sophia grumbled when Vertrex suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her to face him.
"Let them be. They are lovers and I don't want them to be doing these kinds of things." Vertrex said smiling at her under the moonlight.
Sophia looked at him for a second before going to collect the plates. Once all the plates were washed and were back in Vertrex's pack, Vertrex told her to sleep in his tent while he finds a good place to sleep outside.
"No way" she said at the suggestion "this is your tent and I'm the intruder here" but Vertrex cut her off as he halted her with his hand.
"You are not an intruder but my companion. Anyway I won't feel good if I let a girl sleep on the grass." He said grinning.
She smiled back at him, then turning to look at the tent she asked him again in an uncertain voice.
"Are you sure?" but Vertrex started to push her towards the tent's opening.
"It's fine. Now get some good sleep ok. I'm sure you are tired by now. It's been a long and tiring day for you."
Sophia smiled at him tiredly "Yes I am. Good night then Vertrex."
"Sleep tight" he said softly, smiling at her as she stepped into the tent and closed the covers.
Vertrex cleaned up the camp, making sure there was nothing on the ground that might suggest that they have camped here. Then he lay down on the grassy earth, feeling the soft touch of the grass on his neck. Then he wondered about whom this 'Fusion Master' might be or where he might be. He wondered whether Daniel was right and that this person doesn't actually exist but he know without trying, he won't know and might not for a very long time in the future. So Vertrex closed his eyes and thought one last thing before he too quickly fell into a deep sleep.
"After all without light and darkness balancing with each other, the world will always be in pearl."
Chapter 4
Part 2
"Aw! It's too early to wake up bro." Daniel grumbled as he turned over to go back to his sleep.
It was early in the morning as the sun started to rise, lightning the night sky. Vertrex woke up first before everyone and as he thought he woke up a little early, he started to pack his bag. He was just closing his bag when Sophia came out of her tent, all dishevelled hair and all. She went off to wash her face and clean her teeth with her back to him. After a while when the sun started to rise, lighting the night sky, he thought it was time to wake up Daniel and Kayla.
"Can't we sleep a little longer Vertrex?" Kayla said drowsily, looking at him blearily.
Vertrex looked at the both of them exasperatedly. It never stops to amaze him just how lazy his friends really are. Maybe Sophia had a point he thought as he continued to persuade them to wake up. Finally after what it seems like ages but must've been only a few minutes, Daniel and Kayla started to get to their feet.
"Wash your faces before you think about going back to sleep." Vertrex said.
They went off to freshen up and by the time they returned, the breakfast was set up for everyone.
"Let's have some breakfast." Daniel said happily and Kayla and Sophia nodded.
"Let's eat." Vertrex said shortly.
Once they finished their breakfast, they packed up their tents and left after they made sure that there were no signs that they had camped there. They only travelled a few meters when Sophia asked Vertrex a question.
"How long do you think it'll take use to reach the city?"
Vertrex didn't answer immediately as he observed the sky for a moment before replying.
"We'll get there just in time for lunch." He said smiling at her.
Sophia nodded as they finally came out of the cover of the trees. They had chosen to get outside the forest a little further away from the tiny village that they had seen before. Now they set off across the long stretching road towards the town of Marcromas.
There was little wind and the clouds kept the sun from view for most of the morning but as the morning progressed the sun came out of the cover of the clouds as it baked everything in its view.
Vertrex and his companions started talking about the good times they had at school. Sophia didn't say anything most of the time but listened to what the others are saying. She had told them earlier that she never played sports when she was at school. Daniel said he was a great runner while Vertrex was the slow runner which just made Vertrex burst out laughing.
"Am I really THAT slow?" Vertrex said mockingly, stressing the work 'that' as he did.
Daniel turned away from him, not wanting to catch his eye as he continued.
"Well you aren't that slow but you need to do more exercise that I and Kayla do most of the time."
"I will agree with that but still I'm busy to do much of an exercise and anyway, I get a lot of exercise in our training sessions." Vertrex said.
Daniel and Vertrex looked at each other before grinning at each other. Sophia looked at them, happy that they seem very happy in each others comfort. Then Kayla spoke about the topic that Daniel had brought up.
"Well, exercising is good for you as it not only help you be fit but also be quick on your feet if you are in danger or anything." She said, smiling as she did.
This time Sophia spoke up, he face puzzled.
"I agree but I also agree with what Vertrex said earlier. Even in training we do gain a lot of exercise and we don't just gain physical exercise" she said as she looked around at them. She noticed Vertrex smiling at her and she returned the smile "but your brain also gets exercise." to which Daniel nodded.
"Sophia's right. When James was training me and Vertrex, I've been learning attacks, spells and incantations which was no easy task. The first day was terrible, hardly remembered anything that he taught use." He said as he smiled at Vertrex,
"That would be because the words were so difficult to remember." Vertrex said as he sympathised with the difficulty his friend had faced back when they were training under James.
"Oh well, all those lessons payed off as I know many different things now." Daniel said proudly as he and Vertrex exchanged 'hi-five'.
"What kinds of things that you both know now?" Sophia asked them curiously.
Daniel looked Vertrex for confirmation that they should speak about their powers in from of her but seeing Vertrex nod he didn't think there was any problem in not telling her.
"I'm a Lightning and Fire user and occasionally I use Dragon attacks." Daniel said to Sophia, who was listening to him intently and so was Kayla.
"Dragon attacks?" Sophia asked, a little confused "What do you mean by that?"
"Like for instance 'Dragon Fire Cosmo'" he said as he made an imitation of beam coming out of his fist.
Understanding dawned upon Sophia's face as she realised what he meant. She did sense dragon power emitting from him a while ago but this is the first time her assumption was proved to be true. Then she turned to Vertrex and questioned him.
"What about you Vertrex?"
Vertrex hesitated, unsure whether she will understand what kind of user he is but Daniel was a step ahead of his friend. He knew that his friend will have difficulty explaining things to her just as it was when he was explaining to him.
"He is a light user currently" Daniel told her. "At the moment although he sometimes uses attacks that are from other attributes except dark ones." at which he turned and smiled at Vertrex.
"So" Sophia began slowly as she processed what Daniel had just told her "what you're saying that Vertrex can control all other attributes?" she finished.
"Pretty much" Daniel said shortly.
"Vertrex is unique to the rest of us." Kayla said.
"I doubt I'm unique if I remember correctly just how many times I got dropped by that dark user a few days ago back at out village." Vertrex said, trying not to be modest.
Daniel burst out laughing as he too remembered how many times his friend got blasted off his feet and laded on his back.
"It would've been pretty funny if only the situation was that funny." Daniel said as he grinned at his friend who returned the grin.
Kayla and Sophia suddenly became curious about this mysterious dark user.
"What are you two talking about?" Kayla asked them curiously and Sophia nodded.
Daniel and Vertrex looked at them, a little taken aback by their interest in this unpleasant encounter that they had. They looked back at each other and finally made up a decision to tell them about it as they've got plenty of time to pass it by retelling the story.
"Well something really bad happened back at home." Daniel said and from there he went on about retelling the story, about how he found Vertrex in trouble as he was being attacked by a dark user and about how he saved him. The retelling the story took almost two hours which kept them the girls interested.
While Daniel was busily retelling the story, Vertrex continued to use his powers to sense anything odd or mysterious that might be present. He had been sensing something in the present apart from him and his group. Half-an-hour later they were in the shades of the trees as they continued to walk. The sun rays baked the land causing the temperature to rise. Vertrex had been sensing that one unknown presence all this time when suddenly it vanished. For a second Vertrex thought that the presence was outside his sensing zone but he remembered what had happened when he thought of the exact same thing. Back at home, the dark user was able to materialise right behind him without him behind able to sense his presence. He now turned to look back through the trees but saw no moment but that didn't stop him from continuing to look back over his shoulder every now and then as they continued to head the opposite way.
While Vertrex was looking back over his shoulder, Daniel finally finished his story and for a few seconds the girls were speechless. They were quite impressed with the way they had handled the situation.
"Wish I was there." Kayla said wistfully and Sophia nodded.
"Yes, Sounds like you guys have enjoyed your selves." Sophia said as she smiled at Daniel.
We just didn't have the time to enjoy our victory as people started to pur down the alleyway so we had to get out of there as quick as we could but the fog did help hiding out escape thought." he said as he smiled at how the fog acted as a cover up.
Kayla lay her head on his arm as she realised the he could've been killed if it weren't for Vertrex's perfect timing attack that game Daniel the chance to knock the dark user backwards.
Sophia was amazed by all this as she thought he was a lazy man and Vertrex was the only active person in their group but now she realised that if time calls for it, Daniel can be more powerful for anyone to handle.
"It's still pure good fortune and well executed team work that ended with seeing you victorious." Sophia praised him then noticing that Vertrex wasn't paying attention to this conversation spoke to him.
"Are you jealous that we're only praising Daniel, Vertrex?" she asked him.
Vertrex said nothing but continued to look over his shoulder.
Sophia was a little puzzled now as Vertrex continued to look over his shoulder quietly. She thought he must've been really hurt to not wanting to speak to her.
"Hey" she began "Sorry if we ignored you but we didn't-" was all she could get out of her mouth before he swivelled around to face them as he shouted while at the same time he spread his arms wide.
"LIGHT SHIELD!"
A barrier covered them like a dome when suddenly four dark beams swept through the trees and strike the barrier. The power behind those dark beams was quite immense as Sophia, Kayla, Daniel felt the 'Light Shield' struggling to hold off the attacking beams. After a few seconds of intense struggle, the beams finally vanished but the sudden attack shocked Sophia, Kayla and Daniel while Vertrex was gritting his teeth in anger.
Vertrex had been trying to figure out what had happened to the presence when suddenly he sensed multiple presences around him and his group. By the number of presences, he realised that they were surrounded with no escape. Then he suddenly sensed their attacks coming rather than hearing them shout them so he quickly turned around and as he lifted his arms he shouted the one defence spell that came to his mind at that time.
"What was that?" Kayla said in a shocked voice.
Daniel was quicker than her in thinking as he turned to face Vertrex.
"Whom are we dealing with Vertrex?" He said quickly.
"Five dark users" Vertrex said in an instant as he looked around the place for a hide out but the land was bade and the trees were the only things that would give them cover from the incoming attacks.
Daniel cursed under his breath as Sophia spoke to Vertrex.
"What are they doing here?" she asked him quickly.
Vertrex didn't reply immediately as he was trying to figure out the same question when suddenly realized hit him.
"They were on the lookout for any of the rebellious groups working here." Vertrex said angrily.
Kayla gripped Daniel's hand as he pulled her onto his chest. "We've got to get out of here!" Kayla said to which Daniel nodded as he too wondered how to get out of this situation.
"It's too late for any escape plan." Vertrex said and they all looked at him, shocked by what he said. "We're surrounded.
No one spoke for a few seconds when suddenly another 4 beams slammed into the barrier. Kayla clutched Daniel's arm tightly as the vibrations affected her. When the beams finally faded away they realised that the barrier wasn't going to last long.
Now it was Sophia who said it that made Vertrex smile.
"I guess our only choice is to thrash these dark users if we want to continue." She said firmly with no traces of fear in her face or eyes.
Daniel nodded and after a few seconds, Kayla too nodded. She realised that this might be her greatest challenge yet as she never really used her powers outside training.
Seeing all of them in agreement with Sophia, Vertrex spoke.
"Ok then. Once the 'Light Shield' is broken, they will wait for a few seconds which is enough time for us to strike a few beams of our own at them." He said as he looked from one to the other. "There are five of them and they are strong so be careful when you are trying to outmatch them."
"Alright then let's do this!" Daniel said excitedly which even brought a smile on Kayla's face.
Vertrex smiled at both Daniel and Kayla and as he turned to face Sophia, she held onto his hand which startled him. He never thought she was very nervous even though she spoke very strongly just then.
"These dark users are going to get the shock of their lives." She said.
Vertrex couldn't help himself but smile as did Daniel and Kayla. Then they all faced different directions, ready to attack once the 'Light Shield is broken.
This time only two beams came swooping through the trees. Vertrex thought about his uncle and what his uncle might say if he sees what he and his friends were about to do and he realised that this is much harder than he thought as the two beams collided with the barrier. Barrier held for a few seconds before finally vanishing from sight, leaving them wide open. As the dark beams disappeared Vertrex created an opening for his friends to split up using his favourite attack.
"Light Barrage!"
He spined on the spot as beams went flying from both of his hands. Once his friends were out of view, he thought quietly as he dashed in the opposite direction of his friends.
"This will be one hell of a battle to remember."
END OF CHAPTER 4