A.N after long pause I managed to finally get some time to write another chapter. Thanks everyone who reviewed it and I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 7 .Sins of the past.
I listened to captain's footsteps as he was leaving when I turned my sight away from the balcony that revealed burning city.
"Captain" I called him back, he froze still and turned around to face me.
"Yes my lord?" he asked.
"Cap … Marcus." I hesitated and called him by his human name instead of the rank. He was close comrade to me but I always referred to him as Captain.
"Yes Ion?" he answered similarly familiar to me without referring to my human title of nobility
"Return alive after you finish job. Ok?" I asked him and placed my hand on his shoulder. He lowered his head and reluctantly answered:" You know as well as I do that our lives don't have any value now. We diminished them, moment we accepted the covenant. At least I won't allow them to have this their way. As for you, flee this place and I will hold them back as long as I can. You still can be useful to our cause to fight another day along with Lady Catherina. I have only our cause to die for, but you have her to live for"
I took of my hand from his shoulder and said my farewells to him. I knew I couldn't convince him to leave this place. His hatred towards our foes was too personal. Perhaps that clouded his judgment and made him to choose irrational decisions. As for me I knew I had to leave fast. Even now I felt mystical energies coursing through the air. Barrier that was created around this place already prevented any form of teleportation, and I could only hope that my body can survive crossing the border of that barrier. I placed sword around my waist and walked to the edge of balcony and jumped over the edge. My nature that surpassed that of a regular human allowed me to land easily on the ground without hurting myself even for a bit.
I could feel earthquakes and heat from surrounding flames as I ran through the city. I knew we just lost card we gamble so much on, but I knew that this war is not over even if we loses this battle, as long as he is alive we still have a chance.
When I approached edge of the town and place where the barrier reached the ground I stopped. I slowly tried to place my hand through it. It was so thick that magical energy that it consisted of, was visible even by human eye. Moment my hand touched it, I felt sharp pain and burns caused by it, ached with searing pain. I tried to channel my power through it to close these wounds, but it was of no use. I connected my fingers, forming triangle with my palms, and tried to release as much energy as possible. Red aura started to surround me as I slowly felt weaker from exhaustion. When I finally couldn't concentrate anymore I took deep breath, and stepped through border that separated this city and place where I would be safe.
I hardly remember how I passed, but when my senses returned to me I was already far from the city sitting against the tree watching back on the burning city. Even the shield I summoned barely protected me from being consumed by that force. Would it happen that any of my weaker brethren would try the same, he would surely perish in it. That was how they worked, this case, this barrier was effective tool to imprison us and then eliminate one by one or simply purge every single living being by making barrier unstable and causing to collapse on itself, releasing huge amount of energy, burning almost every thing that was left behind. Watching back I knew that city that was my home and fortress would ceases to exist in a matter of minutes.
Still I hoped that Marcus would come to his sense and would suppress his hatred, he was even stronger than me, and leaving barrier would be much of a problem, for him. I knelt down and waved my hand over the sand, it instantly burned and melted into mirror like glass surface. I touched it with my hand and it revealed burning houses and ravaged streets. I moved my hand to find my comrades. After few moments I managed to find Marcus walking along with two human soldiers on the "main street" towards town's central square. If our enemies were creating ritual spell of such magnitude that is they would most likely be, and Marcus seemed to be adamant on his decision to face them. I knew he had only once chance out of thousand to defeat them, but I couldn't help him, all I could do is only watch.
I noticed that he finally reached Central Square and unsheathed his weapons. I noticed that amidst of chaos and flames on the rooftops looking down on center of town stood five hooded figures in grey robes. Each of them holding hands in praying position. Even from here I could feel tremendous energy coming from them. It was first time I had chance to gaze upon "them" with my own eyes.
Town square was ravaged by earthquakes and flames, littered by human corpses. Marcus unsheathed his sword. One of figures ceased her concentration and took of her hood revealing young women's face with beautiful blond hair. Her left eye glowed with bright red color for a second and she smiled.
"Sisters!" she shouted with almost cheerful voice. Rest four ceased their concentration and took of their hoods revealing that they are all young women, with beautifully perfect looks. Just as they stopped to pray, earthquakes ceased.
"Yes sister Sophia?" women that stood closest to her with long black hair asked.
"They have revealed finally revealed themselves. Seem they are desperate enough to reveal themselves. "Blond woman said.
"You're sure they are one of them?" Women with short brown hair who were standing on the opposite rooftop asked.
Sophia's eye gloved again:" Without a doubt Isabel, but only one of them is possessed, rest two are just his human servants, yet this one is strongest of his kind I have seen."
Isabel's hand ignited in flames and she pointed it downwards, but Sophia lifted her hand and commanded to stop:" I will take care of him myself, I grow tired by these humans they send against us, and I need some fun. Isabel, make it so no one can leave this place."
Isabel bowed her head down and placed her hand back in praying position after what walls of flame rose in each of the street that were leading out of square cutting off any way of retreating.
"Alma" Sophia turned towards closest of her comrades and commanded:"take care of those two. Rest of you continue to maintain barrier."
Rest of the five figures bowed their heads down as before and started to concentrate. One of the guard that was standing behind Marcus suddenly unsheathed his sword and stabbed it into his comrade and instantly tried to stab Marcus in the back, but before he could Captain dodged it and grabbed guard by his neck with one arm and lifted him above the ground. His eyes glowed red as face of the guard turned pale and his life energy left his body. As his body turned limp, Marcus threw him against the wall leaving brick wall noticeably damaged.
"Excellent work Alma" Sophia laughed and applauded as large, blue spectral wing appeared behind her back and she jumped of the roof. Yard from the ground she opened her wings and she softly landed on her feet and wing disappeared.
"So demon, you finally got courage to come forth yourself, or is it simply you attack us out of desperation?" She mocked her adversary.
"Demon? At least I am not someone's lapdog." Marcus angered by name she referred him by." Do you think you can just destroy anyone who stands in your and your master's way?"
"Divine will is absolute" She answered calmly.
"Divine, God? Don't make me laugh. He's just a pathetic human, just like you and rest of your pathetic race." Marcus answered in disgust:" Just like ones you kill now to get to us, stop deluding yourself that you are higher breed just because you are gifted with power." He said and sword that he was holding started to glow red.
"This is pointless demon, lets get this over with, I haven't gotten decent opponent in a long while. You can at least amuse me" Sophia said as she summoned several wisp like creatures that started to float around her and created lightning like streams around her arms.
"Your power has made you arrogant" Captain said and summoned blue flame on his left hand and tossed it towards Sophia. But she easily dodged it. Several more balls of blue flame flew towards her, but only one that would hit her was instantly consumed by wisps that guarded her.
"This is fun" she shouted as she dodged last ball.
Sophia opened her arms and shouted:"Quintessence"
Lightning like streams extended from her opened arms enveloping area, enveloping several swords and spears that were discarded nearby. They became agitated and started gathering in her open arms, pointing at her foe.
I could only watch as my brother in arms was fighting such powerful foe. Those weapons, charged with such energy, even one hit in vital spot of our shells meant doom for us. Without a doubt Marcus knew it as well.
Sophia focused her eyes on Marcrus, while he stepped few feet back and stepped over guard that was accompanying him minutes ago. She concentrated and closed her arms, sending nearly dozen of blades flying towards captain, but before they could reach their target, their path was stopped by hitting corpse of the guard. Grin appeared on Sophia's faces as she saw how her enemy countered such attack. Corpse was standing between Sophia and Marcus, while Marcus was holding his left hand outstretched, channelling his power to animate his former servant.
She clapped her hands:"Excellent, such fun, most of your kind would be dead by now."
Marcus opened his left hand letting impaled guard fall to the ground, and threw his glowing weapon towards blond haired woman. She easily dodged it, but moment it flew near her Marcus made small gesture with his right hand and energy that was coursing through blade was released, enveloping Sophia with the same red glow. Moments later he made several more gestures with his hand and chanted several words:" belaros amir faralos". Energy glow that was enveloping Sophia gathered on her neck region and she fell on one of her knees gasping for air.
"You see, power that you posses has made you arrogant, you think you can just kill everyone who opposes you." Marcus said with cold tone:" And now it will be first step for your downfall."
Sophia gasped for air and reached hand against her foe, but she couldn't summon her power, energy that was coursing around her prevented it. Spectral wings appeared on her back, but she couldn't open them. Two blue flames appeared on Marcus's palms and he prepared to throw them against his enemy, but before he did, he noticed glowing runes appearing on both of her hands and forehead. Moment later huge amount of energy blasted from her body, leaving all three runes, burned scars in their stead and consuming energy that was enveloping her and flames that Marcus was holding on his palms. She stood up and spread her wings, while Marcus summoned another pair of flames on his hands.
"Time to finish this" she said and concentrated her sight on Marcus, while he threw another ball of flames towards her, but before they could reach her, she disappeared in a flash of light and appeared right in front of Marcus. She grabbed him by his neck and threw him to the ground.
For a moment I hoped that he could win but as I watched what she did I couldn't believe my eyes. Dispelling such amount of energy with just three sigils, but most of all it surprised that she managed to teleport herself even under the barrier. It is supposed to be impossible; borders between planes that are used to teleport are so thick under the barrier that it would require simply enormous amount of energy. That was something else, not a simple teleportation. Then it hit me, she simply managed to "awaken" her body to her power and became one with it, thus simply moving by lighting like speed. As much as I knew about it, they couldn't retain free will while under it, but it seemed that she only awakened herself for split second. Her control over her element was simply remarkable.
Sophia was pinning Marcus to the ground by keeping her right arm on his neck. He tried to lift his arm but before he could she enveloped him with her wings and lighting like streams appeared between them dispelling any energy he tried to muster, and pinning his hand to the ground in convulsions.
"Its over demon, you have lost and your kind will cease to exist in this world in just a few moments"
"Go to hell, Jailor" Marcus spat angrily,:" your nothing more than a tool, and reign of your master will fall even if it takes us thousand of years."
"Hell?" She laughed: "It is you who is going back to the pit you crawled from, demon"
She placed other hand on his chest and released huge amount of energy in a huge flash of light. When blinding light ceased there wasn't even traces of his body. Sophia stood up and her sisters in arms ceased her concentration and one of them asked:" Are you okay sister?"
"I am fine Theresa." She answered and scars that were on her forehead and arms closed as thought they were never there: "Though this one gave me quit a challenge"
She summoned her wings and flew up on the roof. She lifted her head up as thought she sensed something. She was looking right at me and I could perfectly see her eyes, although I knew that she can't see me. She reached hand against me and released lighting bolts at me. Glass mirror that I was looking through shattered and I felt backlash from energy I used for scrying.
Will opened her eyes and awakened from her dream.
"Another dream" She wiped her forehead from sweat. She knew it was more than just that. One she had before was more chaotic and, but one she had now - there was no mistake, It was more than dream, it was memories of the creature she was carrying. She slid back on the chair she was sitting on, watching the ceiling of the cave, rethinking dream she just had. Group of warriors she saw, they were like guardians, but only different. She had to know more but she didn't have any means to do so. As much as she didn't want to talk with Hallinor, she knew she was right when Hallinor said that she is only one who can help her and now she needed former fire guardian to know more about what she saw. Will closed her eyes to wait when Halinor will contact her.
Soon she heard voice in her head:"Will?"
"Yes Hallinor"
"How are you feeling today?"
"Better" Will answerd, in fact it was first time in few days she awakened without that sense of void inside her, craving for more power. Did her body started to adapt or was it Irmas power that substituted her own. She wasn't sure.
"Good, seems your body starts to adapt to the severing from the auramere"
"Hallinor" Will interrupted her. Although she would rather not speak with her, she tried to be polite and not hold grudge for what happened before.
"Yes Will?"
"I had another dream, I saw group of female warriors there, do you ever heard name Sophia"
"Sophia? Like guardian Sophia?"
"I don't know possibly"
"Maybe .For past few days I went through Kandrakar archives and "mages" old recordings. Name Sophia appears several times. Although I didn't paid much attention to it at that time In Nerissas notes that name appears several times, although she gathered notes on many generations of guardians that came before us, but that name appeared more than others. Basically she was heart bearer around thousand years ago; around at year 1032 A.D she became leader of group of five guardians. As for herself she had many titles, amongst them Sophia the saint, Sophia of the divine wrath, Sophia the redeemer and many others. She led group of four other guardians that each had been named after the saint. She died at age thirty from unspecified reasons, but it's noted that she died as a guardian, most likely in battle"
"I don't understand, what I saw, they didn't act as guardians. They ruthlessly exterminated city."
"I just told what I know, but there is much we don't know, also what you saw might not be true. Weapon of our enemies is deception, and then perhaps they want you to start to doubt I your cause. But as I said before, I have studied history of the Kandrakar for half of my life, and there is no single mention of creatures you spoke of. I have no idea what's going on myself"
TBC
A.N Although initially it was suposed to be short part of larger chapter, I decided that this dream part should be explored more than just in a few words, so apologies if I someone expected expanding of current story line, but it will be coming (hopefully) soon.