Part 1 Chapter 6 - Final

Chapter 6

            Calvin ran forward and slammed down his sword. The resulting swing knocked the weapon out of the recruit’s hands. “For the love of Rohda! Can you dogs even hold the weapon properly?” The boy struggled to his feet. Calvin punted the boy back a few feet. “You don’t get second chances on the battle field, so you won’t get one here.” He rolled over on the ground holding his ribs. “Calvin.” Ivan stood a short distance away. “What do you –“ Ivan shot him a glare. “To what do I owe the honor, Commander?” Calvin asked with an exaggerated bow. Ivan shook his head slowly. “You are done for today Calvin. Go get some sleep.”

            “It’s not even sunset.” Calvin argued. “Take a hint, Calvin.” Ivan said. Calvin took a sharp breath. “Yes sir.” He said after an unsteady moment. Ivan extended a hand to the fallen recruit. Tyrell appeared moments later. “Sir, I shall continue the training. You should also get some rest.” Ivan shook his head. Tyrell leaned in. “You need sleep.”

            “I can’t, Tyrell. You know that.” Tyrell sighed in response to Ivan’s answer. Ivan gave out the drill orders and Tyrell trained the soldiers individually between drills. Then it came time for the runs. Tyrell and Ivan joined the first wave. Alec was in the group. He ran next to his father. “Father…I found a sword…you might want to…see.” He said. “Already out of breath, are you?” Ivan asked with a smile. Tyrell kept in front of all the recruits. He ran backwards to watch them. “Alright, back line: You’re next.” The group behind Alec separated and sprinted to the front of the line. “That’s it boys!” Tyrell clapped his hands and turned around to run normally. “Well…I…will be free after…this drill.” Ivan finally said. “And you…said I was out of breath…old man.” Alec teased. Ivan took his hand and slapped him lovingly on his head. “Call me old again…and I’ll have to…” His sentence was cut off by a cough.

            “Alrighty then, back line: sprint!” Alec’s line split off and sprinted to the front.

*****

            Alec and his father walked by the training field. The sun was just about set in the distance. “Here, father.” Ivan looked down at the sword that Alec handed him. As he examined every inch of it, he ran his fingers across the engraving. “A Yumara war katana…I haven’t seen one since the last war.” He held the blade aloft and looked at its glistening blade with a nostalgic smirk. “May I test it?” Alec nodded. Ivan put on his glasses and approached a training dummy. He took a single breath and paused for a long time. Ivan expelled a powerful “Hya!” The sword clove the dummy in two. He looked at the blade. Unscratched. “Amazing craftsmanship. As expected from a Yumara.”

            “Ryan said it was a magical weapon, as well.” Ivan sheathed the sword and handed it to Alec. “You should do the honors.” Alec took the weapon and looked at a fresh dummy. He took a deep breath like his father had and closed his eyes. He held the weapon close to his waist and leaned towards the target. Magic slowly filled his body through his focus. A white light seeped out of his left arm and slowly consumed Alec’s body in a faint white light. An eerie silence consumed his thoughts as the air he captured longed to escape. Alec pushed the hilt up with his thumb and opened his eyes. He drove the hilt forward, unsheathing the weapon. The tip of the blade caught the dummy its right armpit and through the neck and out the other side.

            Alec curved the blade and followed through with and uppercut from the left armpit. To finish his flourish, he drove the blade straight down to cut it in two. Alec snapped the sword to his side and replaced it in the sheath. Once it clicked, he exhaled the trapped breath. And nothing happened. Ivan laughed. “You missed, Alec!” Alec sighed. “I’m sorry, father. Let me try again.” He said. Ivan came over and put his hand on his shoulder. “No, save your magic. You never know when it may be needed.” Alec did. They turned and left towards the mess hall.

            “Father, where do you want me to put your sword?” Ivan looked at him confused. “My sword?” He asked. “But that sword is yours. I already have a magic weapon. Remember Pompeii?” His father was talking about his gladius-style sword. It was a magic weapon from North Ken that erupts into white-hot flames at the users orders. It also won’t hurt the user, an added bonus to the enchantment. “Well…”

            “It will need a name if it is to be yours, Alec.” Alec nodded and thought for a moment. “How about Requiem?” Ivan offered. “No, I want it to be something…”

            “Hmm?” Alec stopped. “I…wanted something…” He kept trailing off. Ivan understood and gazed at the sun. Tears began to well up as thoughts of his wife filled his mind. His wife had died shortly after Alec turned nine. It was traumatic for Alec, but it had almost killed Ivan. The sun glistened off of Ivan’s armor. “Manah.” Ivan turned to his son. “Manah. The heroine from mother’s favorite story.”

            “Manah…the betrayed one who made a sword from her husband’s bones.”

            “Her blade was said to cleave through steel and stone. Maybe, this name will give it those properties.” Alec gave a hopeful smile. Ivan wiped a tear from his eyes and smiled as well. “I like that name. May it stay sharp on your journeys!” Alec drew the blade and held it towards the sky. Ivan called out in his best impersonation of the Emperor. “In my powerful name, Ivan: Commander of the Aeon Mercenaries, may thy name forever be called Manah, blade of honor and loyalty.” Alec smiled and put the sword away. With Manah at his side, Alec felt that he could cleave through any obstacle in his way. A strong breeze blew across the training field. The winds carried with it a faint white light. These wisps surrounded the training dummy and enveloped it. The dummy that Alec had ‘missed’ collapsed into six separate pieces from Alec’s swings as the breeze passed.

*****

            Alec looked down at his sword as he waited for the dinner bell. The markings on the base of the blade had changed. He cocked his head and examined them. Tyrell entered. “And what greaves you today, Alec?”

            “Sub-Commander Tyrell!” Alec stood and saluted. “Easy now. Just call me Tyrell when I’m not on duty. Everyone else does.” Alec nodded. “Now, what’s up Alec?” Alec held the blade out to him. “The markings on this blade said ‘Yumara’ before. Even father said that. But now they don’t.” Tyrell looked at it. “Hm…It seems to have changed indeed. I can’t believe you cannot read.” Alec shrugged. “I’ve been fighting all my life. I’ve never had time to learn. You know that, Tyrell.” Tyrell nodded again and looked at the marking again. “These markings look Argondosean. I cannot read these. Easily.” Tyrell pulled out the black book he liked to read so much. He muttered something and flipped some pages. “Aha!” He pointed to similar characters with their Iltazian equivalents. Alec couldn’t make out much in the book. “Those characters take the name ‘Manah’. It says here that she was the main heroine of some tale.”

            Alec nodded. “Yup. It was mother’s favorite story.” Tyrell frowned a bit. “That tale is a tragedy. Alec…the heroine, Manah, used her husband’s bones in order to avenge his death at the hands of the one who betray him. However, it was later found that she had caused his death.”

            “What?”

            “They had an argument before he left on his journey, and she said that he were better off dead. Those words killed him inside, unknown to her. To make a long story short, in order to kill the one who betray him, Manah had to kill herself.” Alec was silent. “Your mother probably liked the story so much because of the lessons that Manah learns throughout her vengeance.” Alec nodded and held up the sword. “The blade was probably enchanted to change names when the user names it.” Alec nodded again and put the blade away. He looked up at Tyrell. “How can you read Argondosean? I thought you were Iltazian.” Tyrell shook his head. “We all have dark parts of our past, Alec. That is one of those things I’d like to keep outside of the light.” Alec wanted to dig further but let it go.

            A soldier sprinted down the hallway. Soon, an entire stampede of mercenaries ran through the hall. One stopped in and called to Alec and Tyrell. “Oi, get over to field three right now: Ivan and Calvin are having a duel!” Tyrell jolted up and activated his wind magic. He took off at high speeds. Alec was following close behind. Tyrell stood at the front of the pack and Alec had to shove his way through.

            Ivan and Calvin stood a few paces apart with wooden swords. Ivan’s shirt was off, exposing a bright red quartz crystal on the center of his chest. He was a fire mage, and opted to put his focus on his chest. Very few mages did that for risk of injury. Calvin stood in his full armor. He hadn’t taken it off since Atlantis, even to sleep. Ivan’s focus began to glow as he filled his body with fire magic. This kind of inoculation would allow him to radiate intense heat. His hope was to keep Calvin at bay using this strategy. “Are you ready, Calvin?”

            “Whenever you are, Ivan.” Ivan bowed and rose his sword. Calvin marched forward. Ivan ducked under his first swing and rolled to the left. He used his momentum to drive the sword up into Calvin’s side. He roared from the impact and swung backhanded. Ivan trapped the blade between and let out a burst of hot air. Calvin retreated from the heat. Ivan tossed the wooden sword back to Calvin. “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the ring.” Calvin let out an angry growl and ran forward again. The two exchanged blows for a time before Ivan landed an uppercut to his chin. The wood cut opened a wide gash, which immediately began to bleed.

            “That’s it, Calvin. I’ve drawn blood.” Ivan said as he turned away. “I’m not done yet!” Calvin leapt up and aimed at Ivan. The commander sidestepped the blow and thrust his blade into Calvin’s chest. The man let out a gasp as all the air in his lungs was suddenly expelled. He fell to his knees. “That is quite enough, Calvin.” He said nothing as he rose to a stand. “Did you not hear what I said, Calvin?” Ivan asked. He shook his head as Calvin struggled to his feet. Calvin staggered forward and began to swipe wildly. Ivan was fed up with this pointless struggle. He took a step back. “Calvin: stop now or face the consequences.” Calvin kept walking and swinging.

            Ivan pulled out a needle made out of quartz. Tyrell began to yell to Calvin. “Stop this now. He’s being serious, Calvin.” Ivan dodged the swing and knocked Calvin’s sword clean away. Tyrell shook his head in disbelief. Then Ivan thrust the needle into a chink in Calvin’s knee plate. Calvin struggled to pull it out with his armored hands. A bright red light began to glow in Ivan’s hands. “Goodnight, Calvin.” Tyrell turned. “Anyone who is a mage needs to leave right now!” Most of the mages ran as Ivan unleashed the fire elements miasma. The resulting burst would incapacitate anyone within twenty meters, but badly singe anyone within ten meters. Not much survived within five meters.

            The heat knocked Calvin off his feet and flat on his back. Tyrell fell to a knee, Alec passed out, and most of the other recruits let out a yelp as the heat effected even the non-mages. To everyone’s shock, Calvin tried to stand up again. Ivan walked over and planted a boot on his chest. “It’s over. You lost, Calvin.” Calvin grunted and lay there as Ivan walked away. There was the sound of shifting armor as Calvin rose. “Daylanian Challenge. Now.” Ivan shook his head and kept walking. “You are in no condition for a challenge. If you want to kill yourself, do it on your own time.” Calvin repeated his challenge. Ivan stopped and turned, a literal fire burning in his eyes. “Very well.” He motioned for his sword and a mercenary ran off to grab it. Calvin picked up a broad sword.

            When Ivan’s sword arrived, Calvin was shaking with anger. Ivan drew Pompeii and leveled it at Calvin. “Ignite.” A brilliant blue flame sprouted across the length of the steel at Ivan’s command. Calvin ran forward. Their blades clashed, causing small wisps of flame to go spreading in all directions. Ivan kept on the defense as Calvin struck wildly. Soon, it became clear that Calvin was winning. Ivan couldn’t find an opportunity to counter and was soon stumbling backwards. Then Pompeii went skidding out of his hands after a powerful blow. Calvin pushed Ivan over and stepped on his left arm.

            He let out a cry of pain. “Fie! Fie, I yield!” Calvin eased the pressure. “You win, Calvin. You win.” There was a pause. Tyrell perked up all of a sudden. A worried look crossed his face, then evolved into total panic. “Not yet.” Calvin drove his sword down into Ivan’s chest, directly through the focus. Nearly as soon as the sword was poised, the Aeon Mercenaries rushed at Calvin. But he turned and fought them off. Alec and Tyrell pushed through the crowd towards the armory. “Grab a weapon!” Alec was pale. “Is my dad…?”

            “No time, Alec. Get a weapon and let us go and save him.” Tyrell grabbed his scythe and Alec went to retrieve Manah. The two met just outside the training field. Calvin had made short work of the unarmed mercenaries, and the armed ones didn’t stand much a chance against him. A few dozen Aeons hung around with Tyrell and Alec. “Kill them all…” The voice whispered to Calvin. He turned and approached the Aeons. “Stop him!” The Aeons split up and surrounded Calvin. “Prepare to die, traitor.” The left group ran at Calvin with their shields raised. As they did, the right group thrust forward with their weapons, trying to get at his back. All the while, a few men from the bottom and top groups began running in circles around him. Calvin was having trouble keeping up with the left and right groups and he lost track of a few of the men.

            “Now.” Tyrell shouted and jumped back. The left and right groups split and one of the men that was running in circles leapt at Calvin. He blocked the strike and checked the man aside. Another jumped from behind him. He dodged it, but barely. As the third one ran at him, Calvin swung. The man fell dead. A thick black cloud surrounded Calvin. He let out a massive roar and a wave of magic shot out of him. When the smog cleared, only Alec and Tyrell remained standing. Alec drew his katana. “I…I’ll kill you!” Alec ran up to Calvin with his magic glowing at full power. “DIE!” Alec yelled as he approached Calvin. Tyrell yelled to try and stop him, but to no avail.

            Alec swung and Calvin dodged. With each swing of Alec’s blade, a streak of white light followed the tip of the blade. Finally, Calvin made a mistake. Alec got in close, close enough not to miss. Alec brought the sword across the center of Calvin’s chest. Calvin dropped the sword down to block. Manah drew a pale white line across Calvin’s chest and the sword, but that was it. Calvin laughed and tossed Alec. Calvin went to thrust forward. I missed again Alec thought. His focus emptied and his magic failed. As soon as his magic ran out, the white streak that crossed Calvin’s sword returned. Only this time, the blade snapped at the line. Calvin’s eyes went wide as a wound split open across his chest. Calvin still pushed on with the broken weapon until Tyrell intervened. He swung his scythe upward and knocked the broken sword out of his hand.

            Calvin held the wound and began to seethe in anger. He reached for a weapon lying on the ground. “Is that really a good idea?” Calvin looked around at all the dead bodies. Little orbs of magic surrounded the bodies and Tyrell. His eyes were glowing with magic. “To you want to try your luck against the Necromancer?” Tyrell said. Calvin growled through his teeth. If Tyrell were to reanimate the dead around him, then Calvin would surely fall here. With this wound, it would be best to retreat. “Sirens, to me!” He called. A group of sirens appeared before Calvin and surrounded him. The Sirens disappeared and took Calvin with them.