Chapter 19

I stand before a Massive Arched Door.. Glowing symbols radiate from it. Quite an intimidating door to be honest. "Now before we go in a few words of advice, the Emperor must be respected at all times, so just accept what he has to say, don't make eye contact and definitely don't talk back. Common sense really but you go it yeah?" The commander asks.

I slightly nod my head as I glance around… Jack stands faithfully behind me. My heart eases knowing I have my most trusted disciple by my side. The commander steps forward and with a heave the door is slowly pushed open.

Burning torches light up my path as an endless hall stretches out before me. Silver-armored guards stand solemnly. I slowly walk through the hall as I glance over at the nearby wall. Engraved images can be seen… monstrous sized creatures fight against warriors… seemingly depicting an ancient war.

"A fight long ago.. it seems.." I mutter. As I continue to walk new images appear. The civilization fighting these beasts seem to be in dire circumstances… different scenes are depicted… while these images are of stone, a mysterious aura can be felt. Taking a closer look I seem to feel the desperation of these warriors… the bloodthirstiness of the beasts… and the self-sacrifice of these ancient warriors… a certain charm can be felt.

One stone image shows a battle against terrifying beasts within a jungle like terrain.. some of these ancient warriors are crushed to death by titanic snakes… while others are swarmed by venomous insects… slowly these warriors are picked off one by one.

Another scene shows an Ancient warrior standing upon a mountain peak… he wields a massive longbow.. wave upon waves of beasts attempt to swarm him… his hand blurs as multiple arrows are shot off in rapid succession… arrows are embedded into the nearby mountains… and then a monstrous sized ape creature emerges, it clashes with the ancient warrior… their figures flicker about as their battle shatters their surroundings.

Other battles are similarly depicted, seemingly spanning across the continent. Shockwaves from these clashes change the very landscape itself. I glance over at another scene… a few Ancient warriors standing upon an ocean… a storm rages on… lightning flashes through the sky… a sea creature slowly rises from the water below as it's eyes ruthlessly gaze at the figures. Sharp hooked tentacles burst out from underneath the ocean as the ancient warriors hurriedly dodge… the warriors pierce through the tidal like waves and engage the creature. While these ancient warriors seem to show no fear I can feel that this battle is a desperate one.

As I continue to walk through the hall I notice one stone image in particular… a Bastion fortress stands… warriors line up upon the wall defending against an endless tide of beasts… The fortress seems to depict the civilization's last stand… a piercing light glimmers in the distance before a golden figure flashes across the sky crashing into the beast tide.

With a swing of his sword, thousands of beasts are decimated. The mighty warrior flickers about the battlefield… his blade creating a storm of blood. His sword skills take on a bizarre form as multiple resplendent light beams form, the beams pierce forward… sword scars appear all across the plains and mountain side. Despite this mighty display of power, a bloodthirsty glow can still be seen within the beasts eyes… they continue to charge forward recklessly.

It seems the most dire of circumstances and yet.. this figure seems to have sparked a hope in the defending warriors. Archers line up across the wall as their arrow pierces thousands of miles protecting golden-cloaked warrior. Some arrows stray crashing into the nearby mountainside as the rocky walls are shattered apart. The defending warriors gather under the banner of this mighty figure pushing back the beasts. A fire burns in the defending warrior's eyes..

Just as the tide starts to turn… the ground starts to tremble… Nine terrifying beasts slowly emerge… they each stand thousands of meters tall… My eyes glow with a mysterious light before some noise breaks my concentration. I blink as I attempt to gather my thoughts.. I slowly recall where I am before then gazing over at the disturbance. I notice a few figures wearing an assortment of vibrant colours, they are scattered about the hall seemingly in a heated discussion and fail to recognise your presence.

I gesture to the trooper beside me.. His eyes show unwillingness but I give him the thumbs up. He raises his voice "Attention! Prisoner 43 has arrived, reporting to the Emperor!" he begrudgingly declares appearing slightly embarrassed. I nod in a relieved manner. The commander looks over stupefied.

The hall descends into a moment of silence before the Nobles then look over at me mockingly. I ignore them of course as my attention is focused upon the figure seated on the throne. The man sits garbed in a magnificent golden-scaled robe, his steel-like muscles ripple underneath… black medium-length hair… but his eyes… are closed. "Is he asleep?" I say in a slightly too loud voice. The Emperor's eyes lazily open… he gazes in my direction… his eyes seem ancient. A powerful aura spreads outwards encompassing the hall before then slowly receding backwards.

A squire awkwardly approaches the Emperor and hands him a scroll. The squire quietly whispers something to him before the Emperor waves him off… he proceeds to read through the parchment in his hand... "Ahh I see…" he mumbles to himself. He gazes at me for a moment before casually continuing to read the scroll. He pauses once again and looks back at me.. the gaze in his eyes deepens. I look on speechlessly… whatever is written on that scroll can't be good for my reputation.. I'm an upstanding citizen after all.

"You seem to be known by many names these days.. Prisoner 43" the Emperor notes. Other names such as "a not-so suspicious individual, and apple stealer-"Hey wait how did you know about that!?" I pause… "I mean I'm no apple stealer!" The emperor looks over gloomily.. "…Please do not interrupt me… as I was saying Mr. Apple stealer, your also known as the Forest fire culprit?" at this point I can't help but interject "Now hang on I may be an Apple stealer but I did not start any forest fire!" An even darker look appears on the Emperor's face. "Jack is your disciple is he not?" "Well yes" I reply. "So as his Master you will take responsibility for his criminal activities… Now.. Sir.. Please do not interrupt me again." Jack's face pales as he seems terrified when I gaze over at him.

The Emperor takes a deep breath…"Huuu… So as I was saying.." he glances down at the list again.. "Sigh.. such a long list" he mutters under his breath. "Ohh..?" Something catches the Emperor's eye. He glances back up at me.. "I am intrigued by one of your most recent names… what was it again… ahh Mr… Kyle?" He gazes deeply in my direction.

A non-existent breeze blows by as I ruffle and pat down my robes. I then gaze silently back at him. The commander seems to be making weird gestures toward me in a panic. I assume it is his poor attempt in relaying to me that I should stop making such fierce eye contact towards the Emperor. I ignore him of course.

"Audacious!.. I Lord Orzan, Archmage of the South… request the Emperor to let me strike down this criminal!" An interested look appears in the Emperor's eyes as he gazes back at me. I sagely nod seemingly in agreement with Orzan's words. "I agree, criminals must be struck down!" I cry heroically. I casually gesture to Jack behind me. An excited and perhaps slightly wicked expression appears on his face as he steps forward.

"You send a boy to fight me!? What a joke…" Orzan scoffs.. "Listen here.. you may be a mystic.. boy but I have lived for over a thousand years! It's a wall that cannot be overcome with just talent alone." I take a moment to consider what this magician just said… I pause.. I then glance over at Jack, "Did he just say he was a thousand years old?" "Affirmative Master." I gaze back at the Magician dubiously. "How old are you this year Jack?" "I just turned eighteen this year." I look at Jack for a moment before giving him a pat on the back. "Good luck! I know you can do it."

I make a hand gesture before Jack then valiantly steps forward. Both figures face each other at about 200 meters apart. The rest slowly recede backwards giving room for the battle. The Emperor raises his hand before clenching his fist signaling the start of the match. "Heh heh.." Orzan's chuckles… "Are you ready boy?" his staff starts to tremble as glowing lines begin to light up upon it… "Whuuu hurrr…" standing off to the side I feel a slight breeze starting to appear.. My gaze sharpens on the mage as the wind seems to bend and form around him. In only a few breaths of time, ferocious gales form around the mage… the wind seems to lift him off the ground. His form slowly becomes shrouded by the raging winds. His vague figure hovers there as his eyes glow from within the hurricane seemingly waiting for Jack to make the first move.

As for Jack.. I glance over.. nothing noticeably has changed on his side. "Sigh…" Steeling my heart as I realise I might need to find a new disciple after this. Jack gazes silently at the mage before raising his left fist while with his right hand holds his staff behind his back.

Without warning a barrage of wind blades flicker out following unpredictable trajectories. I barely even notice the attack before it is upon Jack.. but with a whirl of his battlestaff he deflects it with relative ease. "Huu… good one Jack… that's my apprentice" I silently mutter. Jack's eyes take on a dreamy purple look and with a flash of light he appears in the air above the hurricane, his feet springing off the cavern roof he crashes downwards with unparalleled might… Boom!

Wind blades flicker about within the hurricane as the two figures interlock. With each exchange of their staves a shockwave can be heard. "Whooosh" with a swing of Jack's staff the wind around him quells giving us vision of the fight for a moment before Jack then dashes forward. Orzan appears to be chanting… the temperature drops… ice extends rapidly across the ground. "Hmph" Jack sweeps his hand in front of him as a fire wall roars to life. The fire and ice clash as the air becomes hazy.

Jack leaps as he charges at the mage, Orzan slams his hand into the ground erecting an earth wall before him. Smash! Jack charges through as the wall crumbles... Orzan stumbles back… a panicked look can be seen on the magician's face. As Jack is just about to reach the mage the earth beneath him cracks and a massive outburst of vines erupt outwards.. Jack somersaults backwards barely managing to escape as the vines viciously pursue. A crackle of lightning appears on the top of Jack's staff before… "Vsssttt" a discharge of lightning emanates outwards and the vines are reduced to charcoal…

The magician clicks his tongue… no panic can be seen upon his face… "a bait..?" I muse. The magican gazes gloomily at Jack…

With no real advantage thus far Jack starts to chant… a monstrous-sized white wolf slowly emerges. Orzan not to be out done makes a hand gesture and two large earth golems arise from the ground … a spear and shield form in their hands as they charge forward pincer attacking the wolf… a chaotic battle ensues.

Both Jack and Orzan flinging off spells one after the other in an attempt to gain an advantage… "Whoosh! Phhshh!" Both figures blur as flickering shockwaves can be seen all over the place. While they wear magician attire their close combat skills are no joke.

Both figures flicker back… some silence passes.. "I say.. I think it's about time we got serious, yes?" the magician remarks. "Indeed." Jack casually replies.

***

The Emperor silently sits watching the battle unfold below… "Sigh" little interest can be seen on his face. He glances around before locking his gaze on you… a playful smile appears on his face. He rises from his throne as a golden aura starts to form around him… I gaze over noticing his movement.

The Emperor's arm starts to glow as a golden spear materializes in the Emperor's right hand. "What he can do that..?" The Emperor's stance shifts… "Huh..!?" the direction he is facing… I glance off to the side.. there Sara awkwardly stands... The Emperor's figure blurs as a golden light pierces towards her. My eyes widen… a trooper happens to glance over as the ground explodes from where you were just standing… a figure materializes before Sara.

Two mighty figures clash. Whoosh! Boom! Barely managing to deflect the Emperor's thrust, the spear brushes past my body while the air pressure is redirected off to the side… a massive cavern is now evidence of the power behind that strike… a lightning fast kick follows as I attempt to block… Boom! The Emperor stands gazing into the rubble. "Hmph… you must have at least enough honour in you to still protect the girl."

The Emperor ponders for a moment… "That's enough, you're all free to go." The battle between Jack and Orzan rages on… they seem to have no intention of stopping… ice spells ricket off the wall as bolts of thunder crackle within the dust cloud.. A tinge of annoyance appears on the Emperor's face… "I SAID… THAT'S… ENOUGH!" The Emperor's figure blurs appearing between the two of them.. as he slams his spear into the ground. Both figures are sent flying by the shockwave. "Now then.. you may all leave…"

Stumbling my way out of the destroyed wall… "Phew.. Good thing I'm used to taking beatings from my Dad as a kid.." I glance around. "Jack my boy, where are you..? I say.. it's about time we should be heading off too." Multiple silver armored guards surround you.. I take a moment to consider the situation… "sigh…"

To be continued