BDS: Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hardly an inch of the forest was barren of smoke and light as the battle in Gawl Forest continued. Malik did not grant Akila a moment's rest as he repeatedly threw ever-changing attacks at her.
From their hidden position nearby, Brogan and Tarak continued to silently observe the exchange. It was clear that although Akila matched Malik in strength, she did not carry the same level of skill.
With proper battle training, you would have become one of the most skilled Mysteis of your time, Akila, stated Malik.
Akila sneered. That would have only limited what I have become today.
Malik shook his head shamefully. You certainly are your father's daughter.
"I told you not to speak of him!" Akila screamed. The gray-black hue left her skin as she ignited the Magic of Seven, and the Mark of the Mysteis appeared on her forehead. Her hair turned violet as violet-black flames spiked high around her.
"She could be Jarek's sister with that hair," said Brogan.
"Don't tell him that," replied Tarak. "He'd probably burst into flames too."
Brogan chuckled.
When Malik's movements began to slow, Tarak stood.
I've picked up her vibrational patterns, Sir Malik, said Brogan, his thorn markings glowing brightly.
Multiple spears of violet-black fire shot at Malik at the same time the flames around Akila spiked even higher and formed the head of two dragons. Akila glanced in Brogan and Tarak's direction. "Now, to take care of you two." The dragons' roar pierced the sky as they split away from the fire.
Run! said Brogan.
The two bolted in opposite directions, teleporting at different points as the dragons neared them. Much to their disappointment, the dragons appeared wherever Tarak and Brogan did, mimicking their energetic movements. Sweat fell from the warriors as they repeatedly dodged the violet and black flames.
Akila continued to advance on Malik as the fire dragons whipped through the air in pursuit of the warriors. She grinned. "I wonder who will wear out first, old wizard—you or them?"
We need a plan that works! Brogan said, his breath labored.It's hard to think with a fire dragon after you.
Run directly at me and then teleport just before they attack, Tarak replied in between breaths.
Brogan gave him a nod and teleported, reappearing on the other side of the clearing. The black flaming dragon roared and dove at him. He bolted forward as Tarak sprinted straight at him, the violet dragon at his heels. Brogan's eyes flashed once as the two neared each other. The light around him sparked and faded just as Tarak vanished. A curse fell from his lips. I'm at my limit! he shouted.
He jabbed his gladaé straight up in the air and its silver glow brightened. A flash appeared beside him and just below him. Brogan felt a firm hand grasp his forearm just as the two dragons collided with him. He looked directly into his sister's light-filled eyes as the dragons' flames swallowed them, the blade of her sword crossing with his.
In the same instant, a sheet of blue light shot up broadly around them as the surge of silver light from the twins' gladaés fanned out above them and into the flames. The two glanced down to see Gyan on the ground, swallowed in blue light, holding an ankle in each hand. The light from the twins' swords continued to expand until Akila's dragon flames were completely extinguished.
Thanks, brother. Brogan grinned.
Like old times,Gyan said as he returned Brogan's smile. A memory of Gyasi's old obstacle course when he grabbed both Valora's and Brogan's ankles to ignite a shield to protect them from the fire flashed through their minds. I would have done it from the outside, but I couldn't determine the frequency of the dragon's fire in time to penetrate it. He gave the twins a nod just before disappearing in a flash of light.
Was too late to open my Reserve, Brogan explained to Valora.
Her eyes lit as she directed some of her energy into him. Try not to waste it, she said. With Akila as your opponent, preservation is a healthy skill.
Thanks, sis. He grinned. Back to work.
She gave him a nod and teleported.
It is almost time,Malik said. Get ready.
Brogan squatted low beside a tree and placed his hand on the ground. He opened his senses to the vibrations in the ground again and evoked Relasu as his green markings returned to his face.
Sufina, Tarak said as he pulled the moonfire arrow out of his quiver.
I am ready.
Sufina stood at the end of a high tree branch in the distance, where she had a clear view of the battle beneath her. She pulled back her bowstring and aimed her arrow at Akila. Red light spilled from her eyes, and her vision sharpened. A red glow seeped from beneath the Soma marking and flickered like a flame on her forehead. She looked down at her black cloak in surprise as she saw the red glow expand the length of her body and outline into a flame around her.
She lowered the bow and placed a hand on her chest. "Oh no…" she whispered as she noted two ravens flying overhead, "…not now."
Below in the clearing, Akila turned to face Malik again. The top of Akila's staff burst into a bright red and blue flame. Light spilled from her grasp and wound down around her staff, transforming it into a spear. Its sharp tip gleamed with a red tint in the surrounding light.
She has infused her staff with moonfire, Malik told the others. Do not let it touch you.
Lorcan suddenly appeared at Brogan's back and spun to kick an Avehkal warrior attempting to attack Brogan from behind.
Brogan whipped around and lowered his stance.
I got him, Brogan, said Lorcan. Keep your focus.
Behind Brogan, the Avehkal fell to the ground.
Lorcan shielded his eyes as he looked beyond Brogan to Malik. Wow.
Brogan turned back to Akila and Malik. His mouth dropped open as silver and white fire erupted in an enormous spiked blaze around Malik. Malik's hair and beard turned completely silver as the Mark of the Mysteis appeared on his forehead. He moved calmly forward, the silver-blue of his eyes brightening even more.
Akila tightened her grip on her spear and sprinted forward, her own fire spiking high around her. She disappeared.
Tarak pulled back the string of his bow and aimed. Ready, Sufina! His eyes darted at the area around Malik. Where, Brogan?
Brogan's eyes narrowed as he shared what he saw with Tarak. To Malik's right, sixteen feet and moving in—five…four…
Tarak…I am…Sufina responded with difficulty. She shook her head as her eyes started to close and red flames heightened around her.
Release it now, Sufina! Tarak shouted again as he moved quickly and knelt into position.
Three…two…
Akila smirked as she reappeared near Malik's right in a flash.
Sufina quickly straightened as the transforming flames of the raven swallowed her. She released her arrow just before her eyes closed. She fell from the tree straight to the ground.
Sufina! Tarak yelled in alarm.
Tarak! Brogan shouted.
Tarak flinched and released his arrow directly at the location Akila reappeared.
It's too late!Brogan said.
Akila spun low, easily dodging Tarak's arrow as it flew over her head.
Sufina! Tarak yelled again. He sprinted forward and extended one arm in an attempt to slow Sufina's fall with his charisma. I'm too far!
Keep your focus here, Master Tarak, Malik said quickly before Tarak could teleport to Sufina. She is okay.
Failing to see the thin line of a blue shield on the ground below Sufina, Tarak narrowed his gaze in frustration as he returned his focus to his sailing moonfire arrow. He swept his right arm across his body to manipulate the arrow's course. Just as the moonfire arrow moved up and turned back to him, a loud caw resounded through the air. Tarak looked up to see a large black raven with a wingspan of twelve feet dive through the air and catch his arrow in one claw. Sufina's bow hung from its other claw.
Sufina? Brogan's confused stare followed the bird.
Akila teleported and reappeared again a short distance behind Malik. She smiled wickedly as the violet-red of her eyes brightened. She released her spear and it bulleted through the air with a burst of light. "Goodbye, grandfather."
Malik spun as Akila disappeared again. The silver and white flames fanned around him, immediately stopping the spear in midair several feet in front of him. A split second later, Malik's eyes widened as the head of the spear dislodged from the shaft and bulleted toward Malik.
Lorcan appeared in a flash, knocking Malik to one side.
A loud gasp escaped him as the head of the spear pierced Lorcan's chest and sailed directly out his back, a large splash of blood following its path.
"Lorcan!" roared Malik. He turned with great speed and grabbed Lorcan's wrist as Lorcan fell. His gaze turned fierce as he cursed out loud, his voice booming across the grounds. "You do not risk your life for me!"
Lorcan's skin took on an orange-red hue as the moonfire poison spread through him. Malik yanked him forward as Lorcan's body began to shake. He grasped the back of Lorcan's neck to hold him as he jammed two glowing fingers directly into his wound. The light of Malik's eyes brightened along with the blue glow of his tribal markings.
Silver-white light ran through and around Lorcan until his skin glowed as brightly as Malik's. Lorcan's eyes flew open widely as he stared directly into Malik's.
"You do notrisk your life for me," Malik repeated fiercely as several tears leaked from his glowing chrome eyes.
Seizing her chance, Akila reappeared. A thick violet flame sailed at Malik and Lorcan just as a dense, glowing blue slab of swirling light surrounded them. Akila's flames ricocheted back to her as her attacks bounced off Gyan's shield.
Nice, Gyan. Tarak said as Gyan showed himself nearby. Gyan's eyes narrowed in concentration as he watched Akila closely.
"Sir Malik," Lorcan breathed as Malik removed his hand. The wound closed completely, and Lorcan's skin returned to normal. "Sorry, I just can't stand the thought of her—" he swallowed, "—hurting anyone else. Thank you, for the glowing—the starlight healing stuff," he added in a whisper as tears slid down his face.
Malik gave Lorcan a small nod and smiled. "And thank you for your bravery, but you are far more valuable to this team than I. Besides, I promise you I'm not leaving just yet. Now go."
Lorcan gave the star wizard a small smile, and wiped his eyes, before disappearing in a flash.
Malik gave Gyan a nod of gratitude. The shield released as Gyan teleported. Malik turned a furious gaze upon Akila, who held her reformed staff in her grasp once more.
She smirked and pursed her lips. Hmmm, that was a close one. She glanced at Tarak, who was retrieving Sufina's moonfire arrow from the ground with his charisma. Let's try another. She moved forward but stopped as a loud boom resounded throughout the clearing. Akila shielded her eyes as she turned to face Malik again.
Malik was suddenly swallowed in a blinding silver light that spread across and brightened the entire clearing. As the light dimmed, Akila's expression turned to utter astonishment.
The pattern on Malik's forehead had shifted to include a glowing silver tribal sigil blended with the Mysteis marking.
That was only the beginning of the change in his overall appearance, however, as stretched out on either side of him were two enormous black dragon wings outlined in silver light.
Brogan and Tarak stood frozen, their mouths agape.
"The black dragon spirit," Akila whispered. "How…?"
"One thing that neither you nor Nemerus bothered to learn, Akila, is that the black dragon eagerly bestows his energy to those who free it. When stolen, the dragon will never tire from seeking a way to escape its captor, and yet, will gift those who restore his freedom with the blessings of the entire dragon race."
Akila's expression turned to a sneer. The white of her eyes darkened completely as her black and violet blaze spiked high around her.
Malik held his staff before him. The wings supporting him flapped and lifted him into the air. He gazed around calmly. Silver light spread across the scales of his dragon wings as the jewel-horned tip of each wing lit up brightly. Rays of silver light expanded from the tips of his wings and spread into the clearing. An array of colorful dragons, of all shapes and sizes appeared where the light spread, flapping their wings lazily, their eyes focused solely on Akila.
She will be able to recreate her own light dragons to fight off some of the ones I have summoned, Malik told Brogan and Tarak, but it will take more of her focus to do so. I cannot carry dragon energy for very long because it takes a large amount of my power and concentration to keep its energy synced with mine. It is essential that you remain focused.
Malik's dragons dove at Akila as her dragons rose once more within the flames behind her. The larger dragons met Akila's in a forceful clash while the smaller dragons attacked Akila head-on. Her teleporting slowed as she appeared and reappeared at different points to throw them off her trail. A yellow dragon disintegrated completely into a violet dragon's fire. At the same instant, a hot blaze bulleting from deep in a red dragon's throat slammed into Akila.
Akila arched her back as the force of fire hit her. Her eyes shone silver once more as the starlight within her lit up in protection just before she vanished.
She had to use her star power to heal from the injury she just received, so she is weaker now, Malik said as the dragons continued to fight. I will cast the sheen of the dragons on the area and then you will be able to see her energy through Relasu just before she reappears. The elemental connection of the dragons will assist you also, Master Brogan.
The stone of Malik's staff lit, lighting the area with an iridescent turquoise and yellow glow. His voice deepened as the flames around him surged high and transformed into seven giant, glowing Mysteis, their swords held out before them. "Akila, you have abused the power the stars gifted to you and have chosen an end that will imprison your soul until the lives you have unrightfully stolen have been atoned for." The light wizards spread out in an arc formation on either side of Malik.
I still don't see her,Tarak said as he rapidly scanned the area.
Malik's left—ten feet! Brogan suddenly shouted.
Tarak narrowed his gaze. He exhaled as he spotted Akila's energy-gathering point and immediately released the arrow.
The raven above them dove to the ground. Red flames erupted around the bird as it shifted form, transforming back into Sufina. Her black feathers formed a dark cloth around her as she sprinted across the clearing while loading the moonfire, never breaking stride. Her sharp gaze followed the path of Tarak's arrow. She slid to a stop and aimed, her Soma marking flaring with a fiery glow.
"Now, get off our planet," she whispered. She exhaled and released the string.
Akila's concentrated expression transformed to shock the instant she reappeared on Malik's left. The silver-white giant Mysteis closed in around her just as both arrows sailed past them. She inhaled a sharp breath as Tarak's arrow slammed between her shoulder blades. Sufina's arrow followed, piercing the back of her skull.
The star witch's skin darkened as the moonfire poison swirled through her. Her eyes swam with blue and orange light seconds before her chrome gaze deadened, and she dropped forward.
Chains protruding from the Mysteis' blades caught Akila's body before it hit the ground. Her skin took on a gray hue as the wizards lifted their swords and placed them across their shoulders so that Akila's body dangled in the chains between them. She slowly faded from view along with each of the wizards.
Tarak ran to Sufina and hugged her tight to him as Brogan joined the two.
Sorry," she said as she pulled back. "I didn't know what was happening until it was too late. The elders told me that I would transform at some point. That was the first time I shifted. I tried but couldn't delay it."
Brogan grabbed the two to him. "Doesn't matter," he said with a smile. "It worked." He looked further west where the other warriors were fully engaged with the Avehkal. "One star witch is down, at least. Now, we just have a Javen to kill."
The three faced Malik as his dragon wings faded and his appearance returned to normal.
"Sir Malik—the dragons!" exclaimed Brogan, his voice cracking with excitement. "That was the most amazing thing I have ever…!"
Malik smiled as he approached the three slowly, "Thank you, Master Brogan, and well done, you three," he praised. He wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled a ragged breath.
"Your wrist, Sir Malik," Brogan said as a short burst of violet-blue light shone from the edge of Malik's sleeve.
Malik took a deep breath. "It is just a mark of Akila's blood forming on my inner wrist."
"Sir Malik, are you okay?" asked Sufina with sudden concern. "Are you injured?"
Malik shook his head. "I just need to catch my breath. The Magic of Seven along with housing the energy of the black dragon takes considerable focus. Thanks to your help, it went much better than I anticipated." He looked at the group of Avehkal. "I wish I could say that the fight is over, but it looks as if our assistance is needed—" His breath suddenly caught, and his eyes rolled back into his head.
Tarak extended his arm to catch Malik's limp body. Master Jabari, we need someone to retrieve Sir Malik.
On my way. Jabari replied. How bad is he?
He is uninjured but is now unconscious. I think he has used too much energy.
Asia appeared in a burst of light next to the group. I will stay with him, she said as she scanned Malik's form with alight eyes. Go help your team.
The three nodded. Sufina's red flames spiked high around her as she shape-shifted into a raven and took flight again. Brogan disappeared in a burst of light. Tarak gently laid Malik on the ground and then teleported back into battle.
Here is some additional protection until Master Jabari arrives, Master Asia, Gyan said as he appeared nearby. A dome of blue light formed around Asia and Malik before Gyan teleported again.
Jabari dipped the Xita-8below a gap within the canopy of the trees and maneuvered it as close to Asia and Malik as possible.
Garsaun suddenly swooped up from the trees, blasting an Avehkal ship that was targeting the Xita-8from above.
"Thank you, King Garsaun," Jabari radioed.
"You are most welcome, Master. Flying this machine has certainly been an exciting adventure."
"Haven't you flown it before?" Jabari asked in alarm as he lowered the ramp to the ship.
"A king is too busy to attend flight training, Master Jabari." Garsaun chuckled. "But, these ships are not that difficult to learn. They fly like the hoverbirds around the castle, which I have studied for years." He laughed loudly as his ship dipped again and then soared away.
