20

“Help!”

“Help us!”

The two Gorian siblings stood in front of the gates to the Telmera clan. The guards looked over the edge of the walls at the two strange people shouting outside. The man was carrying a bundle on his back.

Seeing the guards had noticed then and were talking among themselves the Gorian brother shouted. “Quick the young master’s life is in danger!”

That woke the guards up, they scattered and the whole clan seemed to be coming alive.

Bells clanged as the guards called for the rest of the clan to wake. A moment later an elderly man stepped and stared down at them. “You have the young master with you?”

“Yes, the gods were looking over him, he luckily managed to survive. Truly the Telmera clan is blessed.”

The elderly nodded and stepped away from the wall. A moment later the gates opened and a large group of clan soldiers walked out. “Let me see him.”

Zardan, the Gorian brother shifted, showing his young master to the gathered crowed.

Seeing the horns and the feathered body the elderly exclaimed, “Truly, the heir still lives, our fates are safe once more!”

Zardan’s sister Raduk interrupted, “Quick now! Our master needs medical attention. I won’t have him die before the gates of his own home.”

The elderly was startled, “Yes, your right!” He shouted to the guards, “Everyone start moving!”

the group entered the clan castle and went to the clan clinic. “Young master, what happened to you? We all thought you’d died in the battle against those wretched Maribara dogs!”

The young man coughed, “Don’t worry, I am fine now. Thanks to my guardians.”

“Have any of the other lords survived? Ever since that battle we’ve been lost, I’ve tried to hold things together, but they elders only seem to want to tear the clan appart.”

“No, no one survived. Listen, Trom, I need to ask a favor of you. Please let the elders know of my survival. And also please stay on the lookout for any that don’t have the clan’s interest at heart.”

The elderly, Trom, nodded with a serious look on his face. “I understand young master.”

After Trom left Raduk sank to her knees next to Chris and spoke softly, “Do you think he fell for it?”

“No, how could he, I only look superficially similar to my younger brother.”

“Then why did he…?”

“Didn’t he already explain it. I’m certain lady Clara also discussed this. He’ll pretend that I’m who I say I am since he has no other choice. The Telmera clan is too dependant on my bloodline. Now, the danger isn’t through just yet, you still have to be on the look out for him trying to detain or attempting to control me. Bring out the equipment Clara gave you.”

Raduk took off her bag, then opened it and tipped it upside down. From the bag a bunch of small orbs fell. “Scatter.” Raduk whispered. The balls flashed then chimmed, a moment later they sprouted thin spiderlike legs and scampered away to all corners of the room.

When the room was clear again Raduk finally muttered, “Scary.” And her brother grunted in agreement.

“Can you hear me?” a voice suddenly asked.

“Ahhh!” Raduk jumped and looked around. Before remembering the device embedded in her ear. “Yes I can hear you.” She told Teresa.

“Good, I’m linked up with your clan’s system right now. My assistant will keep you informed if there’s something you need to know.”

Raduk sighed, “Guess we’re stuck here.”

“I wonder how our parents are doing.” Zardan muttered.

Clara looked over the rest of the room. The room was tidy but it still had that new-paint smell to it.

“Seems you’ve been redecorating Eres.”

“Yes, redecorating.” The man was pale, and was breathing heavily. He seemed to be slumping on his chair.

“So what convinced you to surrender?”

The man looked down sullenly, “You’ll never understand will you. The feeling of being beneath everyone’s feet.” He looked up and stared into her eyes. A fire blazing behind those two black orbs. “It would be better to fight for our place than accept our current lot.”

He sat back and sighed as his body relaxed, “At least that’s what I told them. They didn’t want to listen.”

“I’m glad I didn’t misread you. You really are an idiot. But for once your stupidity has actually managed to save you trouble. For once you’ve managed to make the right choice Eres, serving as my vassal will offer you the world. The other clans won’t be as fortunate.”

“I’ve heard.”

“I’ve heard what you did to the Katharis clan,”

Clara chuckled, Teresa soon followed. “That had nothing to do with me Eres, it was a disaster of their own making. You think I’m crazy enough to try and tame the corrupted?”

“So it wasn’t you? What were those bastards doing?”

“It shouldn’t be a surprise really, the Katharis clan would never be satisfied with their current power. They were rampant, only seeking power while paying no mind to the dangers of their actions. Fortunately my soldiers were there to clean it up, otherwise we would be having very difficult problem on our hands.”

Eres sighed then asked, “What are you planning to do about the Maribara sect?”

Clara hummed, “No need for you to worry about that, since I’ll be the one dealing with them. For now you only have to follow my instructions. Teresa…”

Teresa took out a map and set it down on to the table then spoke, “We are aware of most of your forces, and we also have some info on the spies you’ve planted within the other clans. There’s one spy in particular we want you to hand over to us.”

“Who is it?”

“The one working in the Telmera, he’s managed to worm all the way up to becoming an advisor.” Teresa said.

“You know?”

“Teresa chuckled, of course we do. But you already know why we want him don’t you?”

“You’re taking control of the Telmera clan as well?”

“Exactly, in fact our piece is already set in place.”

“So the boy was your’s?”

Teresa smirked. “Took you long enough.”

Within the Harcourt clan, the Telmera clan and the Rakai clan the rest of the day passed peacefully. There was no mention on the transfer of power going on behind closed doors.

The Telmera clan was celebrating. The heir has returned. He left the clan halls a boy and was bathed in battle, and then he returned a man.

Although Chris was still bandaged up he was drinking along with all of his clan members. The Gorian guardians stayed back, not wanting to interfere in the clan’s reaquaintance.

“Strange.” Zardan said.

“What is?” Raduk asked her brother.

“That they haven’t noticed that master is someone else.”

“Well it is to be expected. Most of the common member’s have never seen their leader up close. And most of those who have are dead now…”

“True…” Zardan muttered, then took a gulp of drink.

“You’re drinking?”

“What? I don’t see anything wrong with it…”

“You know what’s wrong with it. You shouldn’t drink while on duty.”

“And what, when will I ever get off do you think?”

“You…”

“I’m not inlove with him you know.”

“What are you saying?”

“I can’t follow him as blindly as you do. I don’t care enough about him. For me he’s just a burden that’s been placed on my shoulders ever since I was born.”

“…” She frowned at her brother. “What are you saying? Are forgetting your duty?”

“Duty means nothing to me Raduk,” He sighed. “The only reason I stayed was to make sure your safe.”

“All those years.”

“You never really understood me, I’m not like the rest of the clan. I don’t like listening to the matriarchs…” He took another gulp of his drink, his eyes flashed as he was lost in thought. “I’ve been meaning to tell you this. But I’ve asked Teresa to take me in as an apprentice.”

“You’re leaving?” she almost shrieked in shock.

“You’ve been getting closer to Chris, you should be fine… I on the other hand… Do you know what it feels like, doing something you hate?”

“So what, you’d prefer to guard that girl, Clara? You’d chose her over your family?”

“Yes. The Telmera clan is finished, it was from the moment it dared try to get involved in this spat between giants. Luckily we survived, but the clan will never be the same again.”

Raduk growled, then yanked the bottle out of Zardan’s hand. Without wasting even a single moment she downed the rest of the drink. After she was done she said, “Pah. It seems you’ve made up your mind.”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t stop you. But I’m telling you now, you’re making a mistake.”

“That’s it? I thought you were going to argue more.”

“No use, beside the clan has changed. Maybe you’ll earn the our family some glory while serving as the Harcourt’s pet.”

“That sounds awful.”

“Awful? You’re the one abandoning me.”

“Sis.”

“Don’t bother. I know how you feel, but like you said, I love that idiot. I’d never let him go.” She sighed, “This was never supposed to happen.”

Now without the bottle Zardan sat back and kept a watchful eye over Chris, until he left it would still be his duty to ensure the young master’s safety.

The Maribara clan however was not as comfortable.

“Seriously, they call you Chief?”

This comment caused the whole group to frown at him disapprovingly.

“Hahaha, you’re Teresa’s friend right? You can call me Galen. Chief’s just something my friends call me so they can tease me.”

“What? You think we’re teasing you?” The girl with wings behind her back spoke up.

“Yes. Weren’t you? I’m a pacifist you know. I don’t like violent things you know.”

“Could have fooled us.” The rest of the group said almost as one. Followed by a cough as all of them looked away in embarrassment.

“So should I call you Galen?”

Chief shrugged, “Sure, what ever you want.”

“Okay, Galen, since you’re in charge. Where should I go?”

“You’ll be with the metal guy. And… Serena, you’re going to go with them. Can you guess why?” He looked at the horned green skinned girl.

“Ummm…Be…because…” The girl stuttered for a moment before looking at the masked man standing beside her.

“Let me go too.” The purple skinned man spoke from behind the mask.

“You sure Kunjaga? Aren’t you getting tired of baby sitting her?”

“She’s not ready yet.”

“I was hoping that a bit of independence would help her. But you’re really throwing me off my game here.”

“She’s not ready yet.”

“Hmmm.” The man seemed to consider for a moment. “…You sure?”

“Yes.” The masked man nodded, then gripped his spear.

“Very well.” He turned to Argus. “You’ll take Kunjaga, the metal man, and Serena with you and go infiltrate the headquarters. There’s the siege squad and the main assault squad standing as backup.

“Your task is to go sniff out any stray mages they’ve still got under their control. If one of them was to summon a demon in the middle of battle I’m sure you understand how devastating that could be…”

Argus knew all too well, having set such a beast loose on the clan soldiers just a day before. “What about our mages?”

“Hmm, about those, you think they’ll be of use?”

“Of course, they’ve got way more firepower than the rest of us.”

“But they don’t have their bodyguards anymore. I don’t see them lasting long.”

Argus knew the proper strategy to follow with mage combat. “Use some of them to make barriers. And have the summoners lead the assault. That should negate any casualties you’re worried about.”

“You seem to be good at leading this kind of battle, why are you in the frontlines again?”

Argus looked away, “Well… Let’s just say I’ve still got more to learn before they put me in charge of anyone.”

“…I won’t ask anymore. Regardless, I’ll use your strategy. I’ve read your file. Do you have any idea of our chances against them?”

“It’ll be a tought fight but we should be able to win.”

“You’re not certain? I thought you’d be more confident in your answer, either we can win or we pack up and leave.”

“Well, here’s the thing. According to what I know we should be able to defeat them. But there are so many different factions within the Maribara sect, and all of them are powerful. So if you ask whether we could defeat the faction I was a part of? Definitely. But there are some factions who will be more difficult.”

Galen hummed, “Then it’s going to be complicated. We’re under contract so we don’t really have a choice. But this is going to be a tough battle.” He turned to the group behind him, “You guys ready?”

“Yes!”

Galen nodded, “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

T5 was waiting.

A man came to stand in front of T5. “T5?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been told you’re going to be part of my team.”

“Yes.”

“Not really talkative are you?”

“…Yes.”

“I’ll stop now.”

“…”

A moment later a frowning woman and a tall man approached them. The tall masked man spoke to T5’s companion. “We should leave now.”

“Alright. Let’s introduce ourselves before we go. Nothing like dying nameless to spoil the mood in a perfectly good conflict.”

The group grumbled but introduced themselves. Then it was T5’s turn. “My creator called me T5.”

“Okay now that that’s over with we can leave.” The man who called himself Argus said. “Kunjaga, if you would do the honors.”

Kunjaga run ahead, Serena and Argus followed, T5 following after them.

They rushed passed the forested area and ran over a clearing. Their movement was many times faster than a car would have been able to move. The Maribara sect’s compound was in the distance. A beam shot towards them from the wall. Kunjaga lifted his spear and seemed to slice the beam in two, the severed parts slammed into the ground besides the group but left them unharmed. “Hmmm. These things are annoying.” Kunjaga murmured.

He continued running and the beams kept on shooting at them. After a time Kunjaga didn’t even bother to slow down anymore and only swung his spear at the beams heading in their direction.

From his swing came a blast of energy that flew towards the beams. The energy slice remained firm until it naturally dissipated a few tens of meters away. Although they were shortlived they were still able to keep the plasma beams from affecting them.

When they came to the compound walls Kunjaga stepped to the side. “Serena,”

“Ooooo!”

And the green girl blazed with flames. She shouted then pushed the fire around her body towards the compound walls. The flames burst and the walls cracked.

The cracks grew and a moment later they started burning. Serena stumbled, “Why is this so difficult.”

“You are suppressing something much greater than you. You thought it would be easy?” Kunjaga said and held her shoulder, keeping her from falling over.

She chuckled, then stepped away, “Thanks.”

“Hmm.”

“Okay, so its my turn now right?” Argus said a moment before rushing at the wall.

He jumped then kicked the burning walls and broke through them. The wall stared crumbling as Argus was thrust into battle. People started screaming as Argus slashed out, killing one guard after another.

“Argus!” A deep voice came from the further inside the compound. “Oh no. Let’s go!” Argus shouted, not wasting time to wait for them and ran to towards another side of the clan.

“Come on, let’s go.”

They chased after the rushing Argus, attacking anyone that dared stand in their way. T5 was experiment with his force field. It seemed that accompanying an attack from his force field with a physical action on his part made it much more effective.

But despite his greater efficiency the clan soldiers they were fighting against weren’t really putting up much of a fight.

They came to a large gate which Argus was waiting in front of. “This is were the real fight begins, those outside are just the outer sect, the ones past this gate are the inner sect. Much more troublesome to deal with… As much as I hate to say this we’re going to have to work together if we want to complete the job without dying.”

Argus turned to them, the blood was already painted over his face. “Do you understand me?”

Serena and Kunjaga nodded, T5 nodded too.

“Good. Let’s take it easy from here.” Argus took out a device and handed it over to T5, “T5, can you handle this for me. You’re much better at using tech than the rest of us.”

T5 held up the fat disk, on its surface was a group of blinking lights. “What is this?”

“That my friend is our target.”

“There’s more than one,”

“Then we kill more than once.”

T5 tried connecting to the device. He felt the connection form, almost like a mental link between him and the device. “I’ve connected it.” He then placed the fat disk against his chest.

Argus nodded, “Okay, T5, you’re the guide, tell us where to go.”

T5 was frightened.

He ran forward and stabbed his blade through the shoulder of one enemy then turned and blocked the next. Argus slashed a wind blade next to his back and killed another enemy which was trying to take his life.

Before this he would never have considered himself as something living.

“Watch out” T5 yelled then used a significant portion of his energy to block an attack from piercing Kunjaga’s heart. Serena screamed as an enemy pierced her through the shoulder with a blade. She blazed and her attacker burned up then crumbled into ash.

Serena coughed, and blood started flowing from the wound. Her flames turned into purple, green, orange, red, then she screamed again.

The flames around her body expanded and covered the enemies around her.

“Get back!” Kunjaga shouted.

T5 Slashed out cutting through the neck of one enemy and into the chest of the next. They were wearing black clothing. T5’s vision started going red. He used his impetus drive to grab hold of the enemy attacking from behind and used his power to crush him.

Blood scattered.

T5 swung wildly, killing with each swing. But there were too many of them. And there was something else…

Something was wrong with Serena.

The flaming girl screamed again and the flames grew.

Then T5 saw it.

A monster rose from the flames.

“Crap!” Kunjaga shouted, “Run!”

Argus yanked T5 from his stupor and they started running away.

Kunjaga wasn’t following along. T5 kept running but turned his head to see where the man had went.

Kunjaga was running towards the monster.

“Keep running, don’t worry about him! He’ll make it through this.”

T5 turned away and kept on running. Soon the pressure he felt increased, and he was almost certain that Kunjaga would never make it out of this.

The flaming monster roared, black blood started streaming from its shoulder.

Once again T5 felt that uncomfortable sensation. The feeling coming from that flaming monster was so familiar. Yet it was something he’d never seen before.