Chapter Sixteen

"Every time I walk along this corridor, it feels like it is my first time seeing it."

Syani and Kerryan considered this for a moment. Syani asked, "What is this hall, anyway? Is this where the Spiritual Force is kept?"

The man thought for a while, then nodded. "That's a simple but accurate way to describe it. The situation is much more complicated, obviously, but you can think of it in that way. Have you noticed," he added, pointing to the left, "the subtle differences between the designs? One door or one pattern on the wall is never exactly the same as the other, even though they all seem the same at first glance. Ah," he said suddenly, coming to a halt. "This should be close enough."

Kerryan stopped. He didn't see anything different about the room. They had been walking for quite some time now, yet they hadn't seemed to be getting closer to the light. His confusion must have shown on his face, as the man smiled and said, "I have never reached the end of this corridor. It stretches on a long way, and the amount of Spiritual Force in the air increases with every step. Reaching the end of the hall would probably mean being consumed by the vast amount of power. I think this is close enough for you to feel it. Please close your eyes. Clear your mind. Remember how you felt when you made use of this power before, and now try to see it..."

Kerryan, his eyes closed, cleared all other thoughts away, and saw only darkness. He tried to think, but somehow couldn't concentrate... yet finally, he saw a thin white line in his mind. It seemed to outline the blackness for a while, then disappeared as another line appeared. He didn't move, waiting for more to appear, but none did. He stood still with his eyes closed for a while, but nothing happened again. He opened his eyes, and saw the man looking at him patiently. That look of his made him wonder if he should have concentrated a little while longer. He turned to his left and saw Syani with her eyes still closed. After a while she said, "You're looking at me now, aren't you Kerryan?"

The man turned. She added, "And now so are you, Mr... what's your name actually?"

Kerryan stared. "You can see all of that?"

Syani nodded, without opening her eyes. "You're sort of white, Kerryan. The old man's more silver. And the Spiritual Force is white lines."

The man laughed. "Most impressive! To be able to see this much at a first try... You are quite gifted. Have you been able to see like this before?"

"No," Syani said, in her usual matter-of-fact tone. "You only told us about it now, remember?"

Kerryan sighed. Figures she'd do it much better than me again...

The man looked at him and smiled. "It's good to see you each have your own strengths."

"I don't know about that..." said Kerryan. He had the feeling Syani was always the one with the 'strengths'.

The man smiled at him, then said to both of them, "You asked for my name, I believe. The reason I have not yet given you any is simple: I have been known by so many names, it is hard to name one as my own. For convenience's sake, you can call me Eldain. It is one of the names I prefer." He chuckled.

This last comment weighed down on Kerryan's mind. It reminded him of what the man had actually asked from them. "So, Mr. Eldain... About the... the whole Keepers thing..."

"Yes?" Eldain said calmly.

"I just..." he stopped, suddenly unsure what he'd wanted to say. He shrugged. "...I don't know."

Eldain gave him a gentle smile. "Of course not. I didn't bring you two here to make you start doing whatever needs no be done all at once. I brought you here to explain the situation. What you want to do now is entirely up to you."

Kerryan hesitated. He had the feeling Eldain had interpreted his stammering the wrong way. Syani said, "But just what exactly do you want us to do?"

"All I ask," he responded, "is that you consider helping the world. You have seen it, yes? The village you have visited. There is a shadow above Eserikto, a shadow in the hearts of the elves who live there. Were the circumstances different, no elf would even think of attacking two young children the way they did now. It just shows something is wrong here. And I would truly be honoured if you would help put it right. That's all."

Kerryan closed his eyes. He thought of everything they'd said. Then he shook his head. "I'm sorry."

Eldain looked at him questioningly. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I can't do it. I know I can't."

The man showed no sign of surprise or disappointment. "You don't have to answer me now. I simply-"

"Sorry," Kerryan cut across. "This is my answer. Please let me go back."

There was a painful silence. Then the man said simply, "I see."

Kerryan looked tentative, wondering if he was about to shout at him. But he said, very calmly, "Then that is your choice. As I said earlier, I will not force anything onto you. If this is your decision, then I will respect it." He turned to Syani. "And how do you feel?"

There was another silence. Syani looked from Kerryan to Eldain. Kerryan felt nervous. He wanted Syani to go back with him, but at the same time, he was worried about Eldain's reaction if both of them refused.

Syani was now looking at some space in between them. She didn't respond. Finally, she turned her back on Eldain, took Kerryan's hand, and said, "Let's go."

Kerryan hesitated, but she pulled Kerryan with her, and they walked away from the man, away from the light. Kerryan wondered about his reaction, but was afraid to look back. He wished he could sense movements as well as Syani had.

Chapter Seventeen

He opened his eyes. Looking up, he saw Syani slumped against the tree opposite him with her eyes closed, apparently sleeping peacefully. He stood up, stretching. It felt like waking up from a dream, but he knew better. Even though it had been such an impossible offer, he knew it had been real. He sighed. Shouldering the whole world... He couldn't imagine being capable of that. He saw it was well past noon. The sun was still shining brightly. He walked towards Syani, wondering if he should wake her. Just then, a cough made him jump. Turning sideways, he saw her. Sitting on a fallen tree's trunk, her red hair shining in the sunlight, dressed in a simple red elven tunic, was Eydilne Fass.

Her arms were folded. She said calmly, "So you've woken."

Kerryan gasped. He stepped backward, then saw Syani. He gripped her shoulder, then shook her thoroughly. She woke up quite quickly, then looked up directly at Eydilne. She just looked at her, without reacting. Eydilne looked back for a while, then finally stood up. Kerryan swallowed, but looked her in the eye and said firmly, "You have no reason to fight us."

The elven woman didn't respond. Syani started, "We-"

"No, I don't," she responded suddenly.

Kerryan stared. He noticed now that her sword wasn't on her belt like last time. "So then..."

She sighed deeply. "I think it's time we put an end to this foolishness."

"What?"

"I want to apologise for my earlier actions," she continued. "Although it may sound strange now, after what happened. I hope I can somehow make it up to you one day. But for now, I can only say I'm sorry."

Kerryan didn't know what to say. Syani moved forward to her, folding her arms. "Well, why were you attacking us in the first place then?"

Eydilne nodded. "I see. So Artea didn't tell you as much."

"You knew?" Kerryan blurted out.

She shrugged. "Of course. That boy was naïve if he thought he could hide his energy so easily. It would be a matter of time before we found you. But more importantly, I suppose it's about time you heard the truth. It's a difficult story... a painful memory to many of the elves that live today. If our paths had crossed in happier times, this all would never have happened."

Syani nodded. "Well, go ahead and start explaining."

"All right."

She sighed. "Where to start... Well, I'll start with the current situation. Do you remember the day those giant birds appeared near the village? That day you protected Karyn." She looked at the two, and made a small bow. "I realise I still haven't given you my heartfelt thanks for saving my daughter."

Kerryan felt himself blushing. Syani merely said, impatiently, "Go on."

"Birds like that... haven't been seen here for years. They were the biggest of the monsters that have suddenly been sighted recently."

Kerryan frowned. "Monsters..."

"Monsters have roamed these lands for as long as elvenkind can remember. Yet they disappeared many years ago. There were certain periods of time where they were present, and those periods were always at the same time as the appearances of one or more humans."

The two gasped. Kerryan suddenly realised where this was going. "You mean, you think it's because of us that..."

Eydilne held up her hand. "Please be patient. You see, the situation is much more complicated. That brings me to the memory I mentioned. This all started at a disaster in the past. In order to explain that..." She pointed to a hill in the distance. "Would you two come with me for a moment? There is a memorial over there which could help clarify the problem we elves face."

Kerryan and Syani looked at each other. Syani said, "All right." Kerryan nodded. Eydilne was clearly an honest woman, and though he wasn't entirely comfortable around her, he felt she was sincere about her intentions. They followed her.

"What kind of disaster?" Kerryan asked, as they walked.

"We are unsure," Eydilne responded. "But it was perhaps the greatest disaster this earth has ever seen. At that time..."

She stopped suddenly, and held out her arm to make them do the same. Her eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" Syani said.

She didn't respond. Then she raised her hands in front of her and separated them, tracing a line. At the same moment, two arrows came flying straight at Syani and Kerryan. As they touched the invisible line Eydilne had traced, they seemed to bounce off of it, and fell at her feet.

Kerryan looked up at the source of the arrows. In a particularly large tree in front of them, an elf was crouching. He leaned forward, and they could see his face. It was Keryan Arek.

He shook his head. "Sheesh, you're all having such a good time. How come I wasn't invited to the party?" Then his eyes narrowed. "What do you think you're doing, Eydilne?"

Alarmed, Kerryan looked at Eydilne. She closed her eyes for a moment, then said, calmly, "What does it look like?"

Arek looked at her, then at the two children on each side of her. "Forget it."

He pointed a finger forward. Two balls of flame appeared from it, which moved in opposite directions, circled around Eydilne, and headed for Kerryan and Syani. Kerryan tried to bring out the shield, but nothing happened. He was about to panic, when Eydilne extended her arms, and seemed to pluck the two fireballs away from them. She then pulled what looked like a red thread out of them, on which a transparent liquid began to leak out from the fireballs on to her hands. Gradually, each started to form a sword. At the last drop of liquid, the fireballs had vanished, and there were two ordinary steel swords in her hands.

Syani and Kerryan stared, perplexed. "What was..."

"Aderium," Eydilne said softly. "Changing magic into a solid object."

This didn't clarify a lot for Kerryan, but a whistle from Arek made him stop wondering about it. "Sweet."

"Run," Eydilne said to them. "Now."

"But..." Kerryan started.

"Get away from here!" she said, and threw the sword in her right hand at Arek, who jumped out of the tree to avoid it. She flicked her hand, and the sword turned back into a fireball, which hurled at Arek.

Syani pulled Kerryan's hand, and they ran through the forest, away from the two elves and the village.

Keryan sighed. "You're not being very nice today, you know?"

Eydilne switched the other sword to her right hand. "We have to put an end to all of this, Keryan. This way of thinking is-"

Keryan suddenly stopped her, his eyes narrow. "No. I can't do that." He stepped backwards. "I'm sorry, Eydilne."

White light revolved around him. Eydilne shot forward. Her left fist gleamed a light green colour. She made a punching movement through the light of his warp magic, and the spell stopped. Keryan fell backwards to the ground. He slowly got to his feet, his expression grim. "So that's how it's going to be."

Eydilne slowly raised the sword.

Keryan sighed. "...Pity."

Chapter Eighteen

Artea bent slightly more forward. His eyes were narrow as he watched from the tree, as his father took his stance. Against his long-time friend. And although he'd seen the two spar many times, this was clearly different. He couldn't understand. Even over a matter like this, why had they started fighting so soon? Neither of them were the type to start using force rather than words. And yet...

Keryan shot three arrows at Eydilne, and as she dodged it, she met a rain of icicles flying at her. She knocked them down with two quick swipes of her sword. Artea frowned. He realised what was bothering him. His father had reversed the order of his attack: normally, he would use magic first, then hit the fleeing target with an arrow. As his skills with the bow were much better than his magic abilities, this was a much more effective strategy. So he's holding back after all. The thought was slightly relieving, but puzzling. Then how far would they go?

Eydilne looked at her sword, noticing its energy was weakening. Keryan saw this too. "Should have brought your own sword, huh?"

Eydilne shrugged. She swung the sword downwards, then reached out the palm of her left hand. A jet-black, oversized arrow appeared in front of it. Keryan stiffened at the sight. Artea was surprised, too. Black Thorn, the most perfectly balanced Aderium arrow, which can pass through any solid object, such as armour. It's used for killing. Is she...

Neither of the two moved. Both were waiting in anticipation, trying to read each other's movements. Then, Eydilne shifted her fingers slightly. The arrow shot off on its own. Keryan jumped aside instantly, but the arrow was faster. It sped at his face, then flashed a bright white as it passed through the wood of his bow. Then suddenly, it changed back to black and halted right in front of his chin. He didn't move. After an icy silence, the wood snapped, and the arrow fell down to the ground. He blinked; the arrow had cut through the string and then destroyed the wood. He dropped it softly.

Artea felt sweat on his forehead. For an instant, he had thought his father dead.

Finally, Keryan spoke. "Geez. That bow was expensive, you know." He sighed, reaching for his quiver. He reached inside it, and jumped forward as Eydilne raised her sword to meet the blade he had drawn from it: a broad, short, rather crooked sword. Their swords clashed, and Eydilne's sword snapped in half. She jumped back as it transformed back into a fireball, which hit the ground harmlessly. "I guess we're even now," Keryan said. "Should've brought your own sword, shouldn't you?"

There was a silence, then Eydilne smirked. "Don't worry about me."

She mouthed an incantation, then said a single word. "Fry."

Instantly, the image appeared on the ground around Keryan. But this spell appeared much faster than Artea's had, and the circle covered a much larger area, the two fighters both standing in it. Once again, light gathered at the centre. Eydilne stepped forward to the middle, stretching her left hand forward as a small thread-like line extended from the bundle of energy. Keryan, seeing what she was trying to do, ran at her. He was about to swing his sword at her extended hand, when a shockwave of energy knocked him out of the circle. He fell on his back, temporarily stunned. Artea noticed, however, that its power had been rather weak. He knew why; she'd only released part of the energy to prevent Keryan from interrupting her, and now used the remainder of the magic for its original purpose. He saw he was right: the spell disappeared, and a sword with a black hilt and a pearly white blade rested in Eydilne's hand.

Keryan stood up. Eydilne took her stance, then ran at him. Keryan raised his sword and blocked her attack. He shoved her away and counter-attacked, but she dodged. The battle continued, each of them showing fine skill with their blade. Artea noticed that Keryan was physically stronger, but Eydilne was faster. And, he thought, it was only natural that Eydilne's skill with the sword was better. After all, that was her speciality. Each of the current Three Guardians represented the three weapons the elves used: magic, the bow and the sword. And although each of them were experts with all three weapons, their skill with their own speciality was clearly superior. One could say Eydilne was in a better situation at the moment.

He suddenly looked up, as a different energy spark appeared in the distance. Monsters! He closed his eyes, trying to trace their location. They're heading for the village. Damn, talk about bad timing...

He looked down, and saw Keryan and Eydilne had stopped moving, their blades locked. He wondered if they'd stop the battle. To endanger the villagers would be selfish beyond reason...

Keryan and Eydilne were still standing as if frozen, their eyes narrow. Finally, Eydilne said calmly, "This is getting nowhere. We both know each other's moves to perfection. At a level like this... it'll never finish."

Keryan didn't respond. Then, as if they'd agreed on it, they both jumped backwards, tossed their sword aside and raised their left hand in front of their face, all exactly simultaneously. Each started chanting for a different spell. "Beast of light, strike down from the heavens and dance upon the sky..."

"Scorching flames, arise from the ashes..."

Artea's eyes narrowed as he felt another energy spark. The monsters would soon reach the village. Most of the villagers were inexperienced in battle, and with the Guardians gone, he'd have to help take care of it. Yet he couldn't take his eyes off the two battling. There was a threatening feel to the situation. For elves, chants in the form of words were only necessary for extremely advanced spells. And although he was sure by now that neither was prepared to kill the other, he needed to see what was happening.

"...Scatter thy rage across the land and cleave the sky in twain!" Keryan chanted.

"Ride the wind on thy wings and burn ever forth!" Eydilne finished.

They each made a different movement with their left hand, and shouted the final incantation.

"STORM!"

"FIREBIRD!"

There was a large rumbling, and Artea had to hold on firmly to the branches to prevent himself from falling out of the tree. As the quake subsided, a blinding flash occurred. He squinted with his eyes, and saw two large white wisps of energy, each as big as the elf standing behind it. In a quick movement, both started to change form. The one in front of Eydilne sprouted wings and turned to a dark red colour. Suddenly, flames erupted as it took the shape of a large bird.

Meanwhile, Keryan's spell turned silver, and took the form of a wolf-like beast surrounded in white smoke crackling like thunder. They remained motionless for a split second, then charged forward and collided. The rumbling returned as the spells clashed, huge energies spreading out.

Slowly, Artea got to his feet and warped back to the village. He knew who had won.

Chapter Nineteen

The rumbling continued, and Eydilne concentrated her magical energy to overpower the opposing spell. She clenched her extended left hand to fist, trying to increase the force to maximum. At last, with a blinding fury, the image of the bird charged forward, cleaving the wolf in two. A great amount of smoke appeared. Eydilne coughed, trying to see. As it faded, the surroundings became visible again. The ground opposite her had been scorched considerably by her fire spell, and a few trees were damaged, though not on fire. But Keryan was nowhere to be seen. Eydilne narrowed her eyes; had he fled? Had he been hit? Or could it be that...

There was a voice behind her. "You were the one who taught me how to use Aderium, remember?"

She turned in horror, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her back. She felt on her back with her hand, and felt an arrow which had squarely hit her.

"I know," Keryan said calmly. "Ironic, huh. You were too busy controlling that huge power to notice a little needle in your back."

And before Eydilne could even attempt to pull the arrow out, it dissolved. She hardly felt the electric shock that hit her. She hardly felt anything as she fell to the ground. Her sight was hazy. She couldn't move. She could only vaguely hear his voice.

Keryan looked down at Eydilne, who lay at his feet. He sighed. "Sorry, Eydilne. That's that."

He turned around, and made to leave. After taking a few steps, he sighed. "I'm sorry. I know they saved your kid. And I know neither of them ever meant any harm to us. But still... I can't let them get away. Not again."

The day was reaching its end. He looked at the sun that was slowly sinking towards the far West. "Last time... I lost my parents, my sister and my wife all at once. I'm scared, Eydilne. I don't know what will happen. If anything were to happen to Arty, I... I don't think I'd be able to go on. I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself for letting anything happen to him. I was broken when my family was taken away from me. And I can't even begin to express my gratitude towards you, for helping me. But I never want anything like that to happen again. So that's why... that's why I hate fighting, and at the same time, it's the reason I fight."

He closed his eyes, and shook his head. "That's all. And so... I'm going. I'm sorry, Eydilne. I just hope..." His reduced his voice to a whisper. "I just hope you'll be able to forgive me..." He turned around, and disappeared.

"Come on," Syani said. Kerryan hesitated. Was there much point in running any further?

He couldn't say how long they'd been running. This was the first break they were taking, and he saw the trees were denser here, making it seem much darker. It wasn't very comforting. Syani looked at him, reading his mind. "Just a bit further. Just until..." She hesitated.

"Until what?" Kerryan said in a tired voice. "Either he catches us, or we'll get away. But I can't keep this up forever, you know. Let's just wait and see."

Syani hesitated. Then she turned at a sound behind them.

The elf reappeared further in the forest, searching for their energies. His face was calm, but his thoughts were full of concern and worry. Eydilne... To think it had to come to this. Even Senna agreed to this, and yet...

He sighed. I can see it though. It's not just that they saved Karyn. They're just so similar to...

He stopped running, sensing their presence in the far distance. He straightened up. Here we go. "Warp."

"So you came after all," Syani said calmly, looking Arek straight in the eye.

The elf's head was bowed forward. He didn't answer.

Kerryan stood up, trying to remain as calm as Syani, who took a step towards Arek and said, "Leave us alone. There's no reason for us to fight you."

"That's right," said Arek.

"What?"

"You don't need to fight," Arek said. He raised his head slowly, facing Syani. "I didn't come here to fight you, either." He brought his middle fingers, index fingers and thumbs together, forming a triangle. "I came here to end it."

He separated both his hands and stretched his arms sideways, closing his eyes. "Final Est."

All went dark. The sound of the forest animals vanished. Then there was a soft sound of a breeze, though they felt no wind. Kerryan and Syani looked at each other, knowing something was coming.

Chapter Twenty

Kerryan tensed, waiting for whatever was coming. He could only see Syani next to him, everything else around him was pitch-black. The silence was painfully threatening. Then the sound of the wind swelled, and a white light appeared a few metres away from them. It grew and separated into tiny parts, sparkling, giving the impression of bright snowflakes, or perhaps tiny stars forming together. The light grew further, and the little parts of light formed a massive glittering silver sword, with an enormous guard. It revolved in mid-air for a few moments, then fell into the ground with a large thud. Kerryan narrowed his eyes, waiting for it to move.

It did not. Instead, another light appeared, and formed a second sword. It hit the ground next to the first sword. In this fashion, getting faster each time, more swords appeared, gradually forming a circle around the two. "Get out of there!" Kerryan shouted to Syani. Whatever it was, they had to get away from it. They made for the space between two swords, but stopped at a light tremor that emerged as the last sword fell, completing the circle of about twenty swords. It was silent again. They stared at the ghastly scene, then turned away and continued running. Yet before they could approach the edge, the weapons shuddered. They floated up as if lifted by invisible hands, then flowed back into tiny parts of light. It floated up, then disappeared. Syani took a step back. "What's going on?"

Kerryan looked around in the darkness, searching for a trace of Arek, then suddenly gasped as he felt something coming. He raised his hand and a shield appeared in his hand – just in time as a white line of light came soaring at him like a bullet. He raised the shield higher and the light hit it squarely. The incredible force shattered the shield to bits, and he fell backwards on the ground. Syani turned in alarm, and pulled him up. "What happened?!"

"I'm all right," he mouthed. The force had knocked him off balance, but the shield had taken the damage. But he could feel it – more was coming.

And sure enough, a moment later, he had to pull up a second shield to block the next incoming strike. This time, the shield withstood the attack, though it looked like it could break at any time. He looked at Syani. We've got to do this together... "Help me!"

A look of alarm appeared on Syani's face. "But..."

Kerryan knocked her aside, just before a third beam of light could smash into her. It hit the ground with great force. The attacks were actually more similar to incoming arrows.

They both scrambled up. Kerryan grabbed her shoulder. "Syani!" It wasn't like her to be so off guard.

She stared back. "I can't..."

"What?"

"I can't see them!"

Kerryan gaped at her. "But..." How can that be? He stared around. Was he... sensing the attacks? But Syani was better at that than he was...

But there was no time for questions. He stood up. If he could just see them coming a little quicker, they could work together. But...

Another attack came. He jumped aside to avoid it. He was blinded as the light passed right by his face. Yet as he jumped, it hit his clothes right at the shoulder area. Miraculously, he himself hadn't been hit. But the attacks were getting more accurate, and they couldn't keep up like this.

He drew up a new shield. They had to try something. "Syani, follow my movements!"

Syani nodded, and a larger shield appeared in her hand. They moved closer together, covering their front. Kerryan tensed, knowing where the next strike would likely be. As he felt it coming, he turned around. Syani must have realised the same thing, as she did so too to stop the attack aimed at their backs. Three arrows hit the shields, one after the other. The attacks were getting faster – but so were they. Kerryan readied himself for the next set of arrows, and realised he was no longer holding a shield: he grasping at air, and instead, there was a force field around the two of them. It had a soft translucent cyan glow. He and Syani exchanged looks, then focussed on the force field, knowing they were the ones keeping it up.

The next flurry of arrows came, striking the field. Every time an arrow hit, Kerryan felt like something bumped into him. He closed his eyes, concentrating on resisting the attacks. A few more hits came, then finally it stopped.

They waited, wondering what would happen next. Then Kerryan saw a green light in the distance, in an odd tall shape. He squinted at it, trying to make out what it was. At that moment, a new sword hit the ground before a second joined it, in the same fashion as before. The whole process was apparently starting all over again. Then an idea formed in his mind.

"Put down the barrier for a second," he muttered to Syani. She looked at him uncertainly, then nodded. The force field vanished, and he concentrated on the form again. It was as if he could see more clearly now: the light had a much clearer form... the form of a tall man. He looked to his left, and saw a similar smaller form, composed of white light. He blinked, and it was gone, and he saw Syani instead. "What is it?"

"I can sense it."

At that moment, the circle was completed and the swords vanished again. Syani swore. "It's starting all over again!"

Their barrier reappeared. Kerryan knew there would be no end to it like this. But... there might be a way out of this.