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Chapter 6
Tejina crossed his arms as Neko packed some things, some food, her Katana, and some other objects that he didn’t recognize, Kishi walked up behind him and spoke.
“How much longer are you going to be?” He asked yawning slightly. Neko growled at him in response. Kishi just left well enough alone, after all Neko did try to kill him earlier, in fact he didn’t know why he was helping her. Tejina could sense the knight’s anger and spoke to him.
“I know you must dislike Neko after what she tried to do, but you must try to remain calm Kishi, in order to defeat Mizu we must all stick together.” He said, saying the name of their foe through clenched teeth. Neko finally stood up and walked towards them, a small pack over one shoulder.
“Ok, all ready.” She said. Tejina nodded and looked out the door to Sennyo who was keeping watch.
“Sennyo. We’re ready.” He said as the elf entered the hut and placed a hand on his shoulder, the others did the same. Once they were all ready Tejina spoke to Kishi and Neko, Sennyo had already transported with him.
“Hold on tight and Neko close your eyes.” He said before closing his own and focusing on the base of the mountains. With a breath Tejina yelled out his teleporting spell.
“Urtho Zac!” In a flash of flames, the four warriors vanished from the hut and reappeared at the base of the mountains and near the entrance of the forest.
“Ok. Now what?!” Neko yelled as she opened her eyes and released Tejina’s shoulder, Kishi and Sennyo also released their grip on the mage as Tejina suddenly remembered what he had read in the golden temple.
‘The others who wield the other weapons will be found in the centre of the forest,
History is repeating itself,
The war has begun.’ Tejina spoke the words softly, and the others looked at him.
“What does that mean?” Kishi asked, Sennyo’s eyes sparkled with understanding.
“It means that we were all meant to meet in the center of the forest, and not meet the way we did.” She said. Neko just scoffed.
“And what’s in the center part of the forest?! For all we know it could be another trap set by Mizu!” She hollered. Kishi shook his head.
“I don’t think so.” He said. Sennyo looked at the mage as he snapped his fingers.
“I’ve got it. In the middle of the forest lies the ruins of the Tri Order, maybe there is something there that we need to obtain in order to beat Mizu.” He said. Kishi smiled.
“Yeah! Maybe you’re right.” He said. Neko just laughed.
“Whatever. Let’s just get going so I can beat this Mizu person.” She said walking into the forest, leaving Sennyo, Kishi, and Tejina to look at one another in awe of what the strange girl had said. Shrugging their shoulders they ran after Neko hoping to catch up.
Meanwhile in his castle, Mizu ripped the arrow that Sennyo had shot at him out of his shoulder when suddenly a figure stepped out of the shadows in front of him.
“It would appear that you still have not gained your full power back master.” The voice said and it sounded almost like a growl that a dragon would make. Mizu looked up and a evil smile played on his face as he noticed a figure with golden-red eyes, two horns producing from his head, much like Mizu had, and black hair with dark blue streaks in it that went down to his waist. His face was man shaped but he had two slits for a nose, much like a snake, and his mouth was full of razor shape teeth. His chest was covered in a tight black shirt the showed off his muscles, his shoulders were covered by two iron pads that were covered in spikes, his arms were bare and muscular, his hands were covered up by black gloves that let his fingers show, he wore black pants that had spikes running down the sides of the legs, and he wore boots like what a knight would wear. He also wore two belts on his waist that connected together at the back where they became two huge buckles that held the blade of a foot wide sword that was nearly as tall as its owner who stood at a shocking 6 and half feet. When the creature bowed to him, Mizu spoke.
“I am glad to see that the seal that held you has also broken, now arise Kujo, I have a problem I need you to take care of.” He said, Kujo rose slowly and looked at his master arms crossed.
“What is it?” He asked, his eyes focused on his master. Mizu smiled evilly again.
“Do you remember the war that happened eons ago?” He asked, Kujo growled as he nodded.
“Yes, we were beaten badly.” He said. Mizu nodded.
“Well it would appear that the four gods that sealed us in our underwater tombs, knew that their seals would not last forever, so they decided to reincarnate themselves, and now the war begins again.” He said, Kujo snarled at the thought. Mizu continued.
“So I want you to head to the ruins of the Tri-Order and destroy the incarnations of the gods there.” He said. Kujo nodded.
“And you?” He asked. Mizu growled remembering his wounded shoulder.
“I can sense that your power has fully returned, mine however has like you said not completely returned to me, if I am to create an army like the one I created eons ago I need to have my power back at full strength, and the recent battle I had against them has weakened me even further I need you to do anything to try and weaken them.” Mizu said. Kujo nodded and drew his sword.
“As you wish my master.” Then he let the shadows engulf him and then he vanished.
Meanwhile Neko and the others finally reached the ruins of the ancient temple of the Tri Order.
“We’ve finally made it come on guys.” Tejina said, but he felt uneasy and signaled that the others should draw their weapons as he drew his. As the neared the entrance to the ruins Tejina heard the running of footsteps, then a 5 foot blade rushing at his head, he felt Neko grab him and jump back as the blade sliced the earth. Then as the blade came out of the earth Kujo walked out of the shadows.
“Very impressive kitty.” He mocked; Tejina touched Neko’s shoulder and shook his head to keep her from doing what she did to Mizu. Then the mage stepped forward.
“Who are you?!” He demanded. Kujo smirked.
“I am the Master of all things Shadow, the Shadow Rider Kujo! And in the name of Mizu, I will destroy you!” He yelled before roaring and running at Tejina who raised his staff as Neko rose her sword and together the two heroes blocked the massive blade. Neko looked at him.
“This time we all fight together.” She said in a surprisingly sweet purr like tone, in place of her bitter and almost angry purr she normally spoke with. Tejina nodded then with Neko’s help pushed Kujo backwards and watched as the Shadow Rider regained his footing fast enough to dodge Kishi’s mace and Sennyo’s arrow which dug itself into a tree. The Shadow Rider landed and smiled.
“Ah, this is going to be fun!” He yelled as he attacked again. The Shadow Rider Kujo was back and he, like Mizu, wanted revenge. And again he jumped skyward higher then any mere man or Felinoid for that matter could and with a savage cry he slashed with such speed and precision that he landed like a blur, however in that matter of time, Tejina had grabbed Neko and saved both of them paying off his debt that he owed her after she saved his life when Kujo had first appeared. The force of Kujo’s landing brought dust from the earth up in a sort of sandstorm, as the dust cleared Kujo was nowhere to be seen. Anger welled up inside Tejina and his grip tightened on his bladed staff, Sennyo stood with an arrow notched on her bow, Kishi stood no more then three feet away from the elf his mace in his hand ready to strike, and Neko stood five feet away from Tejina and seven feet away from Kishi her sword in both hands in front of her chest. Suddenly a glint of metal from behind Sennyo caught his eyes, in pure rage the mage formed two fire balls in his hands as the metal blade streaked forward raised to the sky slightly, Neko saw the glint of metal as well for just as Kujo appeared from the shadows his sword already descending on Sennyo’s head the Felinoid lunged and gripped the elf by the arm and just barely pulled her out of the way of Kujo’s sword. This sudden movement had caught the Shadow Rider off guard and he faltered in confusion standing in the same spot Sennyo was just in, the spilt second was all Tejina needed to throw both balls of fire that he still held in his hands at Kujo, each hitting the Shadow Rider in the chest and knocking back into the forest. Sennyo looked at Neko thanks in her eyes, the Felinoid just smiled and nodded, then she saw Kujo run out of the forest straight at Tejina, quickly she rose her sword and ran into battle as did Kishi, but as they neared Kujo the Shadow Rider muttered a word and two shots of shadow grabbed both Neko and Kishi around the waist and threw them at a tree knocking them out, Sennyo rushed to help them but she too met the same fate. Tejina’s eyes looked at his fallen friends for a second and when he looked back at Kujo his eyes showed as much hate towards the Shadow Rider as Tejina had towards Mizu. Kujo smiled slightly and with a grunt pulled his blade from the interlocked position that he was just in with Tejina’s blade. As the mage ran forward the Shadow Rider was in a world of thought but he still blocked the mage’s blows and delivered his own.
‘ I can sense a great shadow in him, yes his anger gives him power, and yet he still does not know of his full strength, I wonder… could he be the one to help us win this war’ As the Shadow Rider continued to think he managed to grab hold of the mage with his free hand and send him flying into the ruins, Tejina gasped for breath since the impact of the ruins had knocked the wind out of him, in a shock he fell to his knees and placed his hands on the ground trying to gain back his air, Kujo smirked evilly and with a small incantation made a mark appear on the young mages neck. Tejina hollered in pain as the mark burned into his skin. The Shadow Rider laughed and kneeled in front of the boy, before whispering into Tejina’s ear.
“I will let you live for now, mage. But know this, the more you use your magic the stronger that mark will become, the more you use you magic the more stronger will the pain be and it will also become longer in time, until finally you drive yourself mad, and then when you are in your weakened state I will reach out and gain control of you and then you will serve Mizu as I do. Until that day comes my young friend I bid you farewell.” And with that the Shadow Rider gave out a small laugh, and vanished into the shadows. Then Tejina’s vision became blurry and the world went black.
Back in Mizu’s castle the water god sighed as he sensed Kujo’s presence.
“Well?” The god asked as Kujo kneeled behind him. The Shadow Rider looked at his master.
“I have marked the mage with your mark, milord, he has a great shadow deep within him, and his power is fueled by his anger, and I thought he would be a good ally to have.” He said, Mizu smiled and turned.
“You have done well, now all we need to do is continue to fight him until the pain of the mark drives him mad. Then we will crush the other three.” He said, and together both god and Shadow Rider laughed.
“Is he alright?” The voice rung in Tejina’s ears, it was a male who had asked the question, and a female who answered.
“He will live… wait he’s coming to.” The female said, opening his eyes he saw Kishi and Sennyo sitting beside him and Neko trying to make a fire, the mage laughed and sat up.
“Here.” He said, and with a flick of his wrist and a muttered word, he lit the wood pile on fire, but suddenly he felt a burning pain in his neck and his hand went back feeling around for the source. He gasped as his finger ran over a small mark on his neck. Then Kujo’s last words echoed in his head
‘“The more you use your magic the stronger that mark will become, the more you use you magic the more stronger will the pain be and it will also become longer in time.” ’ Tejina’s eyes watered as he soon realized the cold hard truth, he was now a lost cause, with this curse mark making him unable to use magic he would be no use in this war. Sennyo’s hand touched his shoulder.
“Hey are you alright?” She asked Tejina nodded.
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” He lied, but under his hand that lay on his neck, he could feel the mark pulsate as the pain vanished, he knew Sennyo could sense that he was lying, but she also knew that he no longer had any desire to talk about. And so the elf said no more on the subject just continued to talk with Kishi while healing the knight’s wounds. Sighing Tejina looked skyward as he lay back down. The battle at the ruins had been won, but he had lost, lost the ability to use his magic to aid his friends, the last thought Tejina had before sleep took hold again was ‘What am I going to do now?’.
!~Perfectly~Nobody~! · Thu Aug 17, 2006 @ 04:35am · 0 Comments |
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