"What do you mean by 'the truth'? She died trying to stop you during the dragon-human war." I growled as Quiksilva shielded me.
"Is that what you believe? You've been lied to, Light Booster. The one who killed her was the Shadow Booster." Armeggaddon told me and I blinked beneath my helmet. "I am not lying to you."
"How do I know you're telling the truth? You did try to destroy me and my friends." I replied eyes narrowing and he chuckled. "My injuries were no joke."
"I'm sorry if I made a mistake but I came here to...fix that. I had seen your ablities and from what I have seen they are servelly lacking." Armeggaddon explained and I growled at him, feeling very insulted. "I mean you no disrespect. With my guidance you could be more powerful as the original boosters...even more powerful than the Shadow and Dragon Booster of this time."
Rayne, I don't trust him, Quiksilva growled as he continued to protect me. When I suddenly took a step towards the ancient warrior he blinked. Rayne?
"I know its a lot to ask, Quiksilva but I think that maybe we can trust him. Besides he is right. I seriously need more training to be the Light Booster." I replied and he stared at me, his amber eyes unreadable. "Please I know you don't want to but we need to stop Word from starting another war. I couldn't bear to lose you." I added, my bottom lip quivering and after a few seconds he sighed, giving me a nod.
I still don't belive he's telling the truth but I'm your friend and I'll stick by you no matter what. Quiksilva explained and I moved over giving his neck a hug. Okay, okay. He growled as he pretended to be annoyed though I saw his tail swing from side to side.
"I'm not really sure if I can trust you but if you can train me...then I guess I accept your help." I said as I stepped towards Armeggaddon who gave me the slightest nod, lifting his metal gauntlet. I reached across and gave him a handshake, not knowing if I was doing something smart or stupid.
I guess I'll find out one way or another, I thought as Armeggaddon turned beckoning me and Quiksilva to follow him. After magging me onto his back we followed the ancient warrior as he led us even further away from the compound and my friends. We walked for hours and at one point I dozed off, almost slipping off my dragon's back.
"Rayne, wake up!" Quiksilva shouted into my head and I yelped, instinctively gripping his neck.
"Huh? Oh sorry, 'silva." I yawned and he rolled his eyes as he kept pace with Armeggaddon. From his back I looked around at our surroundings and I cringed as I realized that we had ended up in the wastelands of Lorm. "I hope we don't run into the Muhorta again. I don't think I want to see that vampiric dragon again." I whispered and in front of us Armeggaddon let out a laugh.
"We have no business with that dragon. We are here." Armeggaddon said and Quiksilva came to a halt, gently maging me to the ground. "This will be your training ground."
"Okay. So what technique will you teach me first?" I asked, giving him a grin and he chuckled, impressed by my eagerness to learn.
"Patience, Light Booster. First I want to see just how advanced your mag techniques are." He told me and I nodded as Quiksilva moved to one side. Giving him a nod I focused my mag energy and as he watched, arms crossed, I aimed for a broken wall. With a grin I used a mag-blast on the wall and I giggled as it struck the wall, only to stare as the wall remained standing. "Hmm...not very strong are you?"
"Give me another chance." I begged as Quiksilva let out a laugh and I frowned at him.
"Hmm. I will on the condition that you train my way with no arguments." Armeggaddon answered and Quiksilva looked at me, his big amber eyes giving me a long look.
I don't trust him, Rayne. He's dangerous even more so than Word Paynn, he told meusing our mental link.
I know Quiksilva but I have no choice. If he can train me than I have to trust him. At least for now anyway, I thought back.
"Okay if you're willing to train me then I'll trust you." I said as I stepped towards him and he ehld out his gloved hand to me. Wordlessly I shook it still not sure if I was making a big mistake. I guess I'll find out one way or the other.
"Very well. Then we'll start with basic mag-blasts. Watch me and concentrate on how I channel the mag energy." Armeggaddon told me and I gave him a blank stare. He chuckled then and as I watched eight pure black draconium dragons appeared and I took a step back towards Quiksilva. "Do not fear them, they are my allies. If you can live up to my expectations maybe yours as well." He explained and I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
As I watched Armeggaddon held up his arms, fingers outstretched and one of the dragons sent its mag energy towards his body. Without even flinching he levitated and both mine and Quiksilva's jaw dropped as he hovered a few feet off the ground. Without speaking his hands glowed and taking aim he sent a massive blast of mag energy at the wall I'd used only moments ago for target practice. To my shock the wall instantly shattered sending dust and debris in every direction and I shielded my face with an arm, not even noticing when Armeggaddon used the same technique on the next nearest wall, sending it crashing.
"Very drac. How did you do that? I didn't know you could channel the draconium energy from your dragon through a human body." I said as he gently landed and when he shook his head at me I frowned.
"When you've been trained in the ancient ways you can. But you are still unskilled and that technique would only do you more harm than good." Armeggaddon told me, giving me a cold smile when I growled. A few minutes later he stood back as I focused my mag energy at the nearest target which just happened to be a stone pillar. At first my attacks missed completely, hitting the ground some distance away and I grumbled to myself, trying to ignore Quiksilva who laughed at each of my failed attempts.
Even the black draconium dragons grinned at me when I tripped after trying to focus more energy then I should through my hands. With a yelp I fell backwards and the mag energy shot towards Armeggaddon, who easily deflected it at the stone pillar. Dusting myself off I grimaced as my trainer glared at me, his eyes glowing.
"I'm sorry." I muttered as he walked over and before I could react he grabbed the collar of my armor. I let out a yelp, shocked and Quiksilva rushed towards me only to have three of the dragons block his path.
"You are reckless and irresponsible." He growled and I flinched wanting to turn away as his eyes glared into mine. "But you have some promise. Again and this time concentrate." He added, releasing his grip and I hit the dirt with a cry. Knowing I had messed up badly I climbed awkwardly to my feet and ignoring the pain in my legs I took a deep breath more to calm myself than to help me with my techniques. With everyone watching I paused, looking towards the stone pillar again and as I clenched my hands they started to glow, my mag energy glowing and with a cry I unleashed it.
By some miracle my mag-blast was on right on target and as the energy stuck the pillar it began to shake, swaying back and forth. Then with a massive crack it shattered and the top half of the pillar slammed into the ground, crumbling to dust as I looked on in disbelief.
"I did it. I did it!" I shouted and Quiksilva let out a roar, impressed only to see the cold stare that Armeggaddon gave us both. The thrill fading almost instantly I watched as he shook his head at me.
"You celebrate much too soon. Again." Armeggaddon ordered and I resisted the urge to groan, knowing that at best I would be shouted at. Clenching and unclenching my fists I concentrated again...and again as he watched, as silent as the ruins surrounding us.
Hours passed and when Armeggaddon finally raised his hand, calling a halt to our training I just about collapsed. I would have fallen to the dusty ground had Quiksilva not rushed forward and I wrapped my arm around his neck, unable to control my trembling.
"That is all for now. You may rest for the next hour then we will work on your mag skills again." Armeggaddon said as he headed towards the nearby ruins, his dragons following behind him and I bit back a sigh as I carefully sat.
"I don't...know how much more...I can take." I panted and Quiksilva gently nudged my head, lying beside me and I leant against him. "Maybe I'm just not...cut out to be the Light Booster."
You were chosen for a reason. It will take more than what he can dish out to stop you. Quiksilva told me and I gave him a tired smile. Rest for a while and I'll keep watch.
"Thanks. At least you'll stick...by me." I whispered as I leant back, resting my head against his side and closing my eyes. As I began to doze he stared off into the distance his amber eyes slightly narrowed as he wondered why no one had come looking for us.
Not even that Paynn boy she likes so much came looking for us, Quiksilva thought as he lowered his head against the ground. I don't believe that that ancient warrior is telling her the truth. For all we know he could be feeding her a pack of lies.
What we didn't know was that Moordryd and Cain were searching Down City for us but so far not a trace could be found.
"Moordryd, its hopeless. We don't even know which way Rayne and her dragon went." Cain complained, waiting for Moordryd's usual angry retort. When he remained eerily silent Cain blinked. "Uh, Moordryd?"
"We'll just have to keep looking then, won't we?" Moordryd growled and Cain rolled his eyes, his dragon Coershun doing the same until Decepshun growled at him.
"But Moordryd.." Cain whined earning himself a glare from his best friend.
"Look you can go back to the compound if you want but I'm staying out here until I find Rayne." Moordryd replied as he urged Decepshun forward and Cain sighed before he followed. While they searched all of Down City they didn't know that I was far below them, still resting against my dragons's side.
But the nap was ruined, pretty rudely I thought when Armeggaddon shouted and the startled me awake.
"Huh? What?" I yelped as my eyes shot open only to see Armeggaddon watching me from two feet away and I groaned as I climbed to my feet, brushing the dust off my armor.
"An enemy would have already destroyed you. Next time keep your wits about you or you will live to regret it." Armeggaddon muttered as he walked towards me and I lowered my head, suddenly ashamed at being caught sleeping. I wasn't sure why but for some reason I wanted his approval and just for a moment I knew how Moordryd felt, constantly seeking approval from his father.
"I'll try to do better." I told him, holding my head up and he let out a cold laugh. "What mag technique should I practice next?" I asked and after stroking his chin he spoke and I froze, his request sending chills down my spine. "Mag...rip?"
"Is there a problem, Light Booster?" Armeggaddon asked now towering over me and I swallowed, grateful that my helmet concealed the fear in my eyes.
" problem." I stammered as I took a deep breath, feeling Quiksilva nuzzle my legs in an effort to calm me. "But I've never used it and I have no target." I said and Armeggaddon gave me a slight nod as he turned around.
"I will be your target." He told me as he moved back a few feet then turned to face me. "This is how you perform it." As I watched one of his dragons sent a stream of mag energy through him and he gave me a cold smile as his hands begna to glow, a black glowing orb appearing between his fingers. "Watch closely." He chuckled as he aimed and before I was ready it struck me. I screamed then feeling the mag energy being forced from my body towards him, like the black energy drain whip Moordryd uses on dragons and sometimes rival riders.
"Aggghhh!" I screamed as my mag energy was stolen and before I could stop myself I feel to my knees, gasping. "Stop...it!" But he didn't only laughing cruelly as Quiksilva raced to my aid.
"You need to know what it feels like before you can even hope to perform it." Armeggaddon growled as I fell forward, my helmet smacking into the dustly ground.
Rayne, get up! Quiksilva shouted into my head but I couldn't hear him as my vision faded.
Sometime later...
"Get up!" Armeggaddon roared into my face and I groaned, eyes flickering open to find myself face to face with my teacher. "Pathetic. You faint from one Mag Rip." He muttered as he dropped me and I gasped, hitting the ground hard.
"I...I.." I mumbled as Quiksilva nuzzled me, giving me a snort before he growled at Armeggaddon. With a shake of his head Armeggaddon walked away as I climbed to my feet, my legs unsteady and my head spinning. "I fainted?"
Yes you just fell, Quiksilva answered as he comforted me. He is a monster.
"He's the only one who can train me in the ancient ways. I need to be stronger to beat Word Paynn and Drakkus." I answered as I shook my head, feeling ashamed at being weak.
I know but this training seems more like torture. At least with Moordryd and Artha, not to mention Connor, they treated you like an equal, Quiksilva sighed.
"But I need this! Besides Moordryd had his chance to train me and he blew it. I just need a few minutes and I'll be fine." I shot back and Quiksilva narrowed his eyes at me, staring at my face for a few seconds. "Please say you'll stay here and train beside me?" I begged and my dragon sighed before he gently nuzzled my legs.
Of course but if he makes a wrong move or hurts you again I'm getting you out of here, Quiksilva growled and I let a tired laugh.
I didn't want to admit it but I was exhausted, both in mind and body, and I'd only just started training. How I was going to survive this I didn't know though I knew I had to be tough. I just wished I hadn't walked away from Moordryd even if the guy was being such a stubborn jerk.