TBC: Chapter Forty-Seven

Shamira, alert and watchful, gazed down the forest path from where she crouched low on the branch of a large tree.

Malik's voice entered her mind. I have returned to the ship. Have you cleared the path for the others?

Shamira sheathed her gladaé and looked at the dozen fallen Vaznaun below her that were previously hiding along the forest path. It's clear.

Good, replied Malik. I am coming your way.

The glow from the Lumfáinne came into view as the group appeared nearby. I am above you, Shamira told them. She jumped down from her position in the trees. Malik will be here with the ship any moment.

On cue, the Tritum-Xappeared and hovered above the forest canopy. The compartment ramp lowered, and long retracting cables dropped before the warriors. Each strapped the end clasp of a cable to their belt.

Where's Aderes?Hoshi asked as she observed a loose cable flapping in the wind.

A short distance away, Aderes stood with his back to the others, the tail of his cloak billowing in the breeze. He gazed in silence at the palace grounds, which were now alight and alive with activity.

Aderes, Gyan said. We have to go.

Leave me.

She is not there, Master Aderes. Jabari's voice reached all the warriors. There is no kin energy in the palace. Malik checked when we were inside.

What if Akila's power is masking Lesiana's energy? Aderes replied.

Our spies reported earlier that Mordán has taken her away from Androsa and is keeping her in the country somewhere. They are currently tracking where and will report within two days. He would not expose her to the direct effects of war.

Hasn't he already?Aderes responded in a quiet voice.

You know what I mean,replied Jabari.

Aderes stared at the castle for several more moments before he reluctantly joined the others and attached a cable to his belt. The cables retracted, and the lower ramp closed beneath the group as they entered the ship.

Jabari took over piloting the ship for Malik and radioed the other pilots to inform them of the team's accomplishment. "After we clear Gawl Forest, linger behind to make sure we are not followed."

"Will do, Master," replied Sade. "We will see you at headquarters."

The newly reunited team quickly expressed their joy at seeing Valora again before strapping into a seat in the center compartment.

Gyan looked around the room for Jalena but could not find her. He started toward the medical unit when Shamira's voice entered his mind. She is resting, Master Gyan. No matter how strong you are, opening your Reserve leaves you weary afterward.

Gyan turned to Shamira. Is that what happened when the light of her gladaé surrounded her in defense of Akila's attack?

Yes. You will learn how to do it soon, she replied.

Gyan took his seat as Malik entered the center compartment.

"Master Valora, I wish to express my apology," he said as the chatter among the warriors died down. "I did not anticipate Akila being so bold as to attack the warriors directly rather than just seek me out or we would have prepared better."

Valora stared at Malik with a soft expression. "Sir Malik, I think it is unfair for us to place such a responsibility on you. It is not within me to blame you, nor would I even try."

Malik nodded. "Very well, then. Welcome back." He turned to the rest of the group. "I will leave it to each of you to update Master Valora on events that have transpired since her capture. However, I wish to answer any questions you may have about Akila before we reach headquarters." He took a seat near the front of the compartment. "I, or rather Mersán, attempted to carve an opportunity for you to learn of her personality and of her fighting style. This was why he did not use full force to attack her."

"What was happening when Akila changed into a—?" Jarek stopped abruptly, seemingly unable to find the right word for Akila's drastic change in appearance during combat with Mersán.

"Yes," Lorcan added. "When her eyes turned black and her veins popped out. What was that?"

"Disgusting." Jarek shook his head as if trying to remove the image from his mind. "She turned green or something."

"I'm afraid that Akila has dove into the power of the dark spells of the Mysteis…" Malik said. He turned to Gyan and Jarek, "…which confirms our speculations about Nemerus finding a way to get The Silent Scripts beyond the Mystic Woodlands. I searched for the scripts in the castle, but none of my detection spells could trace it. However, she must have it because it is the only way she would know how to access the poison of Sarlak's Pool."

"Where is that?" Gyan asked.

"It is in the Kroslian Mountains—in Alpherian territory," Malik answered.

"On Tridaun?" Brogan asked in confusion.

Malik nodded; his brow furrowed in thought.

"How would Akila know about anything concerning magic on the planet of Tridaun, Sir?" Shamira asked.

Malik held up his finger for momentary silence and stood to pace the floor.

Valora turned to the others. "What I'm wondering is how she learned to unleash those enormous violet dragons from her staff," she whispered.

Malik stopped pacing and looked sharply at Valora.

Valora cleared her throat. "Sorry, Sir. I was just—

Malik placed a hand on his chin. "Violet dragons…" he mumbled to himself. He continued to pace and speak under his breath, "…access to the Magic of Seven…Tridaun…" After several more moments, he sighed and sank back into his chair.

"What is the Magic of Seven?" Gyan asked.

"It is the combined power of seven of the Mysteis ancestors. This power is taught to a Mysteis only after reaching a certain level in training. Learning the levels of a Mysteis's power is overwhelming when you are younger, so lessons in magic are taught in tiers much like how the warriors learn, for too many points of focus without clear understanding can often—"

"—lead to no point of focus," every warrior in the compartment chimed together.

Malik smiled. "I am happy to know that you have been listening in class." He scratched his beard. "In the same way as the warriors, a Mysteis must master how to balance internal energy before personal power grows enough to manipulate its use externally."

"Like how we learn meditation before learning Lumanthrú," Hoshi said.

"Exactly," Malik replied. "My point in saying this is that Akila had no Mysteis to apprentice her in the levels of magic. The only other survivor besides her is me and she was a child when my race was destroyed."

"Could there be another star wizard?" Gyan asked. "Akila hid her existence…Maybe there are others?"

"I do not believe so," Malik stated. "I have traveled to all the planets in our star system in search of any escaped survivors, but Tridaun and Suál have strict policies about others living on their lands. I found no other. However, given Akila's knowledge about Sarlak's Pool, I have to conclude that she remained in Tridaun somehow for longer than I originally suspected."

"Meaning, she wasn't there just to steal the Alpherian blueprints of the Vestian?" Brogan asked.

"Yes."

"So how does that relate to her learning of her power as a star witch?" Valora asked.

"It means that although I do not believe it was another Mysteis, Akila has found someone to apprentice her on Tridaun who knew the secrets of the star wizards, and to understand more of her agenda, I must journey there to find out who."

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