There were only so few left. Baltazar sat with his back towards the many children who had huddled up behind him for shelter. The world was ablaze, everything they once knew in pieces; all there was left were burning ruins of what was once their home. In the distance was the fearsome construct that went by the name Orgonax, scorching the plains with his lasers while battling the dragons and Eliatropes who were trying to defend their people.
Some Eliatropes were running down the streets of what was once a glorious city build around the Zinit, fleeing, screaming and searching. There was disorder everywhere, the panic too great, but there were a few who tried to gather everyone together. News started to spread that their king had decreed all children should be rounded up in the shadow of the Zinit and prepare to be transported to Emrub, a dimension beyond time and space.
Struck with grief, one of the Eliatropes that hurried through the city was Alys. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, panting while holding a child against her chest, her other hand clasped around the small wrist of another as she pulled the poor child along with her. There were two others following behind her, slightly older than the two she held but still so very young.
"Alys! Alys!"
She could hardly stop in her running as adrenaline pumped through her veins, yet she managed to stop herself further than she expected while searching for whomever had called out her name with a desperation which sent chills down her spine. She found a child running towards her, crying, dirtied and missing her headwear. "Sharla?" she asked after she recognized the child from her lessons and ran over while the earth under their feet quaked, asking after the other children obediently followed her," Sharla, where is your father?" Her father was one of the parents who came out to the fields to find her and the children; he was supposed to bring Sharla to the Zinit. What happened to find the girl alone?
Sharla kept on crying and pointed over to the wreck that was her family's house, every attempt to speak drowned by her own tears and runny nose. The girl was devastated, unable to form any words but her answer was clear enough as she continued to point with a shaking finger.
Looking towards the damaged house, Alys was already fearing the worst. "Stay here," she said sternly while handing the toddler she held over to one of the older children, looking each of them over before she hurried towards the house where Sharla presumably came from.
A fire was burning within. The rafters had collapsed while the walls of the side of the house had crumbled along with a part of the roof. There was no hesitation when Alys made a portal into the belly of what was left of the house, leaping through and landing on the cracked wooden floor before she spun around and took in the surroundings. "Jesper!" she shouted at the top of her lungs after her portal dispersed behind her, twirling on the spot to find a sign of Sharla's father," Jesper, answer me!" She coughed, the smoke of the fire stinging her eyes and burning her lungs but she could hear it faintly; someone was responding to her shouting but it was very weak. It came from the back.
"I am coming, Jesper!" Alys called out while she made another portal to jump through, landing next to what was once the ceiling of the small kitchen. A blood covered hand was reaching out for her but it was all she could see sticking out from the debris which was once the ceiling. "Jesper!" she called out mortified and knelt down to grab the hand, holding it against her chest," I am here, it is going to be all right."
"Ssh-Shah..." a voice from under the rubble gurgled, the bloodied hand in Alys' grasp clenching and twitching.
It was worse than she thought. "Don't worry, Sharla is safe," she said, trying to sound as calm and reassuring as possible though her voice faltered. She flinched when a wooden beam hit the floor somewhere behind her, causing some of the flames to whip up while the gurgling sound coming from Jesper was the only response she was getting. Jesper's hand tensed up violently, fingers trying to intertwine with hers until the hand fell limp and an eerie silence followed. "Jesper...?" she asked with a tremble in her voice, tears welling up in her eyes as she knew the male Eliatrope was gone. Another death... how many more would there be? "Why…?" she sobbed as she hugged the hand which belonged to someone she considered a friend, rocking back and forth while trying to not succumb to the grief which was weighing down upon her.
She tried to act strong. She promised not to hold a grudge, but her resolve was crumbling with all the losses that kept raking up during the Mechasms' attack. "Baudouin," she whimpered through her tears," if only you were here..." Her brother would have known what to do. He would have given her courage; he always knew what to say or do to motivate her. Her motivation now was the children, the children she cared for, watched over and taught. They were as scared as she was and had gone through their own losses as well; they needed her. She had to get them to the Zinit if they were to survive.
She laid down Jesper's hand with a mournful tenderness before she left the burning house through another portal, reappearing before the children she left behind in a failed attempt to save a life. "We have to go… we can not linger," she said while she sniffed and brushed her dirtied sleeve across a cheek, trying to be strong once more. For the children; there was nothing else left to be strong for.
"What about papa...?" Sharla asked, still sobbing as she held onto the hand of the boy named Dionte, the eldest of the small group of children Alys managed to gather. The adult Eliatrope had to battle back her tears as it was heart wrenching to tell the poor child that her father would not join them, not certain what to say. The silence only caused the unease the children felt to grow, their large teary eyes cast upwards to the Eliatrope who was obviously struggling; they relied so much on her, she was the only one they could turn to at the moment.
"Papa... Papa has gone to help your mother, Sharla..." was all Alys could muster before she closed her eyes as she could hear Sharla cry loudly after a moment of bewildered silence, first not understanding what Alys meant to then be completely torn by grief. Sharla's mother already passed away; she was one of the first victims to fall this day.
She lifted Sharla up in silence to hug her, soon cradled by the other children who clutched for her robes to hold her, some sobbing quietly while others weren't able to fight the tears and let their cries go up towards the red colored sky; they all lost their parents during this invasion. She quivered while she fought back the anger she felt welling within, biting on her lower lip to the point of almost drawing blood. What had these children ever done to deserve this? Why were they being punished? "We have to go on," she said in a broken voice towards the crying children after a moment of fighting an internal struggle," Baltazar... he is waiting for us. Dionte, can you please carry Orva for me?"
The boy nodded while he wiped his tears away, his lips pressed together in a tight line as he puffed up his chest; he would be brave. He picked up the toddler Alys left in his care and began to run ahead, soon followed by Alys and the other children as they headed for the Zinit which stood like a giant white crystal against a blood red backdrop.
The gathering was large when the small group made their way around Zinit. Adults, elders, but mostly children had all come together behind the mountain to prepare for what the King decided upon. While so many had fallen, many were still alive; one couldn't count the exact number but it was a safe guess that at least over a thousand children were present... with or without their parents. Alys guided the children through the crowd to the one dragon overlooking the situation, one which held the answers to many questions she had. Many rumors were going around; it was difficult to tell which ones were true.
"Come children, hurry," the old pale scaled dragon said while he kept his hazy eyed gaze upon the far distance, there where the battle continued on. The dark lumbering silhouette of Orgonax was easy to spot against the blazing horizon. He did not wish to witness the battle and see another dragon sibling fall, but he couldn't bear watching the parents say their goodbye to their children while everyone prepared themselves for making the portal to Emrub. He had a few orphans in between his legs as he sat with his stumpy tail curled around himself, at times raising a massive claw to pat a few children on the head while hushing softly in an attempt to soothe them.
"Baltazar!"
The hearing of his name had the old dragon turn his neck to bring his head down and find the one who called out for him, seeing Alys coming his way with a few children in her tow. He knew her well; he and his Eliatrope brother Glip were teachers like she was, watching over the juvenile Eliatropes and dragons to teach them about Wakfu, how to master and understand it. Their teaching methods were different but they had the very same passion for sharing knowledge towards the younger Eliatropes.
"Is it true?" Alys asked after she reached him, sounding out of breath while holding Sharla against her chest with the girl's small arms wrapped around her neck," a portal to Emrub?"
"It is..." the dragon said with his raspy voice while slowly nodding. He sounded uncharacteristically somber but who could blame him? He too suffered a loss… Glip was no longer among them, having returned to their Dofus after slayed by one of the Lu-Fu. Baltazar's large jaw with its stumpy large teeth hardly moved as he spoke but his voice was loud and clear, "The King decided it was best for our people's future. It wasn't an easy decision to make; he and those left of the Council know of the risk... and so do all these people."
Alys looked out over the gathered crowd. To make such a large portal into another dimension was going to take its toll on many; it was going to be a great sacrifice of massive scale and they already lost so much. They needed the Eliacube to be able to do this without suffering anymore losses. "What about the wounded?" she asked, seeing the dragon's expression turn dark as shame showed in his cyan glowing eyes while his head lowered to put more weight on that dreadful feeling which overtook him.
"Some won't make it even if we did take them, child. This is about the children and our future... if this goes wrong in any way, we do not get another chance." Baltazar's voice betrayed that he was conflicted with what had to be done and he rose his gaze towards the battle once more, mumbling," it would have been easier if the Eliacube was in our possession, but..."
"So it is true?" Alys hesitantly asked after the dragon's voice trailed off," the Eliacube is gone?"
The rumors that someone of the Council had betrayed the Eliatrope people and took the Eliacube for themselves during such a time of need had spread like wildfire but it was difficult to believe. She didn't know the details, many of the gathered people didn't, but they all understood the severity of the situation if it were true. Judging by the silence which followed and Baltazar not denying it, the rumor was indeed fact. Without the aid of the Eliacube the choices were limited...
"It is time," Baltazar said somber but serious before he rose to a standing and made his way to higher ground, overlooking the crowd. His heart sank as he saw how few adults were present among the many children. He hoped the small number would suffice; they would need all the available Wakfu they could get without the Eliacube there to enhance the power required. "You all know what is expected of you," he said with a raised voice once he stood over all the Eliatrope present," it is true... Orgonax remains undefeated and the death toll is rising. Without the Eliacube, we have no choice. This is something you know must be done... Dear children of Goddess Eliatrope, now is the time."
The crowd had grown silent as it gazed up towards the dragon that spoke to them, the sounds of the distant battle reaching them with a threatening echo. It was now or never. There was a heavy reluctance at first, many uncertain about what was asked of them until the first small slivers of Wakfu began to shape and form in the held up hands of a few of the elders who took it upon themselves to start and lead the way. A murmur went through the crowd as the elders held aloft their own life force like small flames of cyan, the reality of the situation beginning to kick in. Others joined in and soon the gathered crowd lit up with a light blue glow as all remaining adults participated in the offering of their Wakfu to create the portal needed and bring their children, their people's future, to safety.
The children watched on in awe as their parents and other relatives began to sacrifice themselves, though there were a few who managed to push past any fear or doubt and mimicked what the adults were doing to try and aid the cause. The boy Dionte was focusing on his hands as he tried to collect his own Wakfu, not really managing as he had yet to learn how to control it, but his efforts did not go by unnoticed.
"No, Dionte," Alys said as she quickly reached out for the boy's hands to stop him from joining the adults in offering his Wakfu to make the needed portal, interrupting her own attempt to give her Wakfu to the cause. The collection of Wakfu she managed to gather faded and returned to her as she looked at the child, a faint smile on her lips. She wasn't stern with him as she understood what Dionte was trying to do, and while she admired the boy's want to help the adults, it wasn't the right way.
The other children who were following Dionte's example stopped after they heard their teacher, looking either torn or frustrated by being told 'no'. As she saw the confused look upon Dionte's face, she bent through her knees and laid her hands upon his shoulders to make certain everyone would listen to her. "Save your Wakfu, all of you," she said as she looked at the small group gathered around her and were looking to her for guidance," you may need it later."
"But the grown ups-"
"-are doing this for all of you," Alys interrupted and said as she reached out to cup the side of Dionte's face," I know it is difficult... I know most of you don't understand. Even I don't understand why this is happening to us, but it is very important that you all stay safe. Let the adults protect you..."
She rose her gaze as the offered Wakfu began to swirl upwards to clump together, the red sky hardly visible as long glowing tendrils of turquoise and cyan curled and twisted overhead of the gathering. The crackling of thunder could be heard as the Wakfu merged and began to tear open a massive rift, guided by the collective mind of those who gave up their own Wakfu to save the children. The wind picked up as the life force of everything within the Krosmoz materialized into a gaping portal which was unbelievably large in size, a blinding white gate which was an even brighter beacon than the Zinit ever was.
It was a frightening sight to behold it; the portal towered over the crowd, a crowd which had steadily sunken onto the ground as every held up ember of Wakfu had vanished and those which offered their life force had nothing left to stand on. Children called out for the parents who had grown sickeningly pale and had slumped down, worried for their well-being and wishing to help them but it was Baltazar's booming voice which was the loudest of all and caused most of the children to freeze on the spot.
"Go through, children!" he shouted as he stood before the massive zaap," you don't have much time!"
It was now or never. Alys scrambled back up to her feet after Baltazar spoke, looking the frightened children over before she grabbed for Dionte's and Sharla's hands and rose her voice to be heard over the settling commotion the giant portal had stirred up," hurry! Run for the portal! Run as fast as you can and don't look back!" She waited for all the children around her to start moving before she began to ran and pulled Dionte and Sharla with her, closing the disorganized line of fleeing children.
The run towards the portal felt excruciating long. Some children tripped along the way while others slowed down as they were too scared to carry on or worried for their parents as most of the adults were laying motionless on the ground. Alys would try to help up every child she could reach along the way, but there was only so much she could do in the little time which was left. There were too many children and not enough capable adults to help them. She was one of the few left standing and while it was fortunate for the children as she could aid them, it didn't feel right.
Screams erupted as the earth suddenly split open with a heavy rumble, the air rippling with an unbearable heat as a blinding flash of red cut towards the portal and tore the ground apart in its wake. Many of the adults perished in that one single blow, unable to move aside or react to the attack that was unleashed onto the portal from the far distance.
Panic began to flare up as cold hearted reality of the danger kicked in. The large collection of Wakfu near the Zinit had drawn Orgonax's attention; time had run out. He was homing in on the portal, the dragons and Eliatrope who were fighting the metal giant trying to distract him long enough after it became apparent the Mechasm was distracted, but it seemed in vain to any onlookers. The portal started to shrink in size from the shot Orgonax had released and the sight of it struck fear in almost everyone's heart.
Baltazar rose himself up after the dust settled, looking underneath his round belly to see if the children he shielded from the strong blast were unharmed before he nudged them with the side of his head to urge them towards the portal that was rippling from the attack. There was absolutely no time to lose if this plan was to work. The children had to enter the portal before Orgonax would shoot again.
Alys helped the children who were with her after the tearing of the ground threw them off their feet, telling each and every one of them to hurry as she pushed them forward. The portal was so close but it had shrunk to less than half its size; she was afraid they weren't going to make it. She ran behind the small group to herd them, grabbing Orva around her little waist to lift her up into her arms, the toddler too young to make it on her own.
Another red flash cut through the air, higher this time and going overhead as it shot off into the far distance. The shot missed the portal but only just; another close hit would have disrupted the portal completely. A few of the children ran without stopping into the white void of the portal once they reached it, not looking back or hesitating as fear was licking their heels.
Alys came to a slow stop once she stood before the enormous Zaap, out of breath but still alive. Orva had buried herself away against her teacher's chest, shivering in fear while her small arms were clamped around Alys' neck. It pained Alys to know she had to pry the child off her so she could join the other children beyond the portal, knowing she wouldn't follow as it wasn't her place.
Baltazar stood waiting at the edge of the portal, urging the remaining children to run through and not linger for anything or anyone. He caught sight of the female Eliatrope standing a little further away as a few children disappeared into the Zaap, watching for a moment before he forced himself up onto his feet. "Alys, don't linger," he said as he stepped up next to her, seeing her raise her chin to look up to him, a hand resting on the top of Orva's head as the girl was refusing to let go. The dragon took note of the anguished look upon Alys' face, causing him to huff through his nose and puff out some smoke while the gaze in his eyes grew soft and gentle," go through, child."
He saw her hesitate in surprise before she nodded in defeat and stepped forth to enter what was left of the portal, carrying Orva with her. It would be just her and Baltazar watching over the many children for who knew how long. Only other Eliatropes could resummon a portal strong enough to reach Emrub and as long as the Eliacube was in the wrong hands, no one would be capable of doing such. They would be trapped in a place where time did not exist. It was a cruel fate… but hope remained as long as someone of the Council would survive against Orgonax.
Once Alys was gone from his sight and hopefully safe with the children, Baltazar looked to where the other dragons fought the Mechasm, knowing he would not join them in the fight; he was to go with the children as their caretaker and teacher. It was a task the King had laid upon him. He waited long enough for every child to have gone through, the corpses and fatigued bodies an eerie last sight of the world they tried to make their new home. He slowly backed up, casting one last glance out towards the battle raging in the distance before he made his way through the portal and have it seal behind him for a hundred centuries to come.
To be continued