Chapter 6: Power of Fate

Ben’s thoughts swirled and swirled, the voices of the guards came into his mind. The silence and the wet solid ground entered his ideas, Asada and the children standing around him slowly appeared with their presence. Ben slowly opened his eyes, his hands were grasped by Asada. Her hands were soft, and warm…

Ben looked up at her. Only to find her closing her eyes, her demeanor showed nothing. Only peace found him, as he looked around. The children were eating, however Asada and him remained sitting still…

(.... I’m really back here…)

Ben grabbed a potato and broke it in half, he squinted his eyes and saw the dark orbs swirling within it.

“So… it really was the food.” Ben muttered. He looked at the childrens once again. The dark orbs were slowly floating back up, however as Ben looked at the orbs for a little longer he noticed something within them. A small orb of various colors, blue, green, light, red, and brown.

(Absorption?.... so we were already dead…)

(What do these orbs represent? The green orb is Asada’s ability to enhance herself and control plants…yet...I’ll think about this later)

Ben looked towards the guards and noticed their physiques were slowly getting lazier and lazier as they drank some wine and ate a mouthful of mutton sloppily.

(So the guards were also included in the sacrifice... )

Ben looked back at Asada once again… she wasn’t eating and simply closed her eyes as if she was resting. He looked back up at the door where Lucious would enter. He whispered to Asada.

“Trust me… follow me away from here.” There was no reply.

Ben closed his eyes and imagined his pocket knife once more.

(If Asada can create a sword from thin air… can I create a longer blade out of my aura?)

Ben placed his hands outwards towards the plate of potatoes. His mind focused on building the blade of a sword. The orbs floating from the children slowly changed their direction towards his hand.

The sheath was created from his hand, the blade was dark. Yet the blade still shined with a bright glint, a silver lining was within the dark blade. Asada looked up from her seat and stared at Ben’s sword.

“I did it!” He exclaimed.

All the children continued to eat, giving no emotion or thoughts to Ben. The guards were still dazed as they continued to drink their wine sloppily. Ben looked at Asada.

“Follow me!”

Ben grabbed Asada’s hand and made a rush for the door. Kicking it open between the dazed guards who made no efforts to their escape. The doorway opened up to a red carpeted hallway stretching from their left and right. The lights were lighted up by the wall decoration, with little to no furniture for a fair distance. Ben immediately relied on his eyes once more.

(Show me the pathway!)

The air was still, there were no sights of orbs in use. It was simply a normal hallway. Ben looked from the door pondering what to do. From behind, Asada walked beside Ben and looked around the hallway. She seemed confident when she stood in place as she chanted her magic.

Asada: “May the wind guide our path. ” As soon as Asada finished her chant, the wind sprouted from her body and pushed through the hallways. Ben looked at the green orbs flowing from her body, then back into the hallway. Asada immediately rushed towards the smaller mass of green orbs. Ben followed her once more.

The hallway suddenly changed as the walls began to have windows that led to the outside. Ben looked through the windows to find the town under the dark sky, with a moon overshadowing the bright bustling town with it's soft glow. Even with it's gentle gaze the people are ignorant of it's nature, as they have their own lives to tend to.

(Where are we… there’s no way this is the castle…)

Ben walked up towards the windows and knocked on it. The night sky simply illuminated through the windows. Asada came back and dragged Ben to follow her.

Ben looked at Asada as they left the window. The door ahead of them was grand and large enough for a truck to pass through and two guards stood beside it. The guards were dressed in simple plate armor armed with a sword and shield. They continued to watch as Ben and Asada ran up in front of the door.

Guard A:“You kids… shouldn't be back here. Get back to your rooms.”

Guard B: “Hey! No weapons, drop them on the ground and get back to your rooms.”

Ben grabbed his sword and held it. The coldness of it seemed to tell him something. The guards responded by taking out their own swords and grabbed the shields next to them. They readied themselves in a combat stance. Asada drew her hand up and chanted lightly.

Asada: “May the strength of my allies and friends be granted through my words.”

Ben rushed forward and took on the two guards, his speed and strength grew. The wind aided him as he rushed forward. The sword within his hand grew lighter, it’s color changing partial to green. The guards lifted their shields and stabbed towards Ben.

He dashed forward and swung his sword. Knocking the guard A’s sword out of it’s path. The guard A was caught off guard as his eyes followed his sword, exposing his shoulder to Ben. Ben with the aid of Asada’s magic swung back towards the exposed guard A’s shoulder. Cutting the metal coat and into his skin, bright red blood flowed out of the guard’s shoulder. "Agh!" The guard fell down grasping his bleeding shoulders.

Within this timeframe the other guard started to rush Ben with his shield up.

Guard B: “Sand of the dunes aid me in my fight!” The guard’s movement bursted outward and he used his shield to bash on Ben.

Ben took the hit and was knocked off his stance, taking a couple steps backwards. Guard B prepared his second attack by dashing forward with his sword. Asada ran towards Ben’s side and chanted a spell.

Asada: “Wind oh wind, blast my worries away!”

The guard’s movement was halted as he struggled against the wind. Asada began another chant.

Asada: “Wings of the wind lend me your strength and slice my foe apart!”

The wind formed blades within the air, slicing upon the guard’s shield.

Guard B: “What is this… when did these kids get magic lessons!”

Ben stood back up shaking his head and lifted his sword once more. He dashed from the side and ran alongside the wind blades. Ben swung his sword onto the guard’s side, knocking down the guard as the wind from Ben's blade penetrated through the light plate armor and into his body.

Guard B: “.... eh… don’t leave…*cough*"

Asada and Ben looked at the guard with questions.

Guard A: “If you leave…. we guards will pay...:” The guard were lying on the ground with his hands up, trying to persuade the escapees to show pity.

Asada: “You were doomed from the start…. helping these people succeed in their goal…only made you more vulnerable.” Ben and Asada started to walk off, opening the door.

The door led to the grand entrance where eight other guards were standing. As they walked in the grand door opened suddenly. Lucious Manac walked through, his clothes were white with red shoulder blades. His smirk remained happy, as he looked at his guards with glee.

Lucious: “How’s the situation?” he asked.

Guard Captain: “Nothing out of the ordinary…” one of the guards who seems like the captain knelt down and stated.

Lucious:“Good… you all have been good to me. You’ve all followed me with great endeavor and unquestionable loyalty. I have one final request.”

Red flames seared from Lucious’ hands as they crafted a symbol upon the back of his hand. A scythe of flame appeared within the flames.

The guards immediately turned towards him with their weapons drawn out. Sounds of agitation and despair echoed through the hallway.

Guard Captain: “This isn’t what we promised!”

Lucious:“This is my final request, become the fodder that you are for our god!”

The flames from Lucious’ hands arose and formed a gauntlet on his right hand. He reached out to one of the guards, and vine like flames latched upon the guard’s shield and armor. Burning through the armor and shield and into the guard’s skin. A muffled scream was emitted throughout this. The captain seeing this scene muttered to himself.

Guard Captain: “..... we can’t run… we can’t hide… yet we can’t change sides… we’ve done so many evil deeds.. yet we have fallen to this. Guards! Fight! We won’t go down that easily!”

The guard captain immediately raised his sword and chanted.

Guard Captain: “May our chivalry and Might appease the god of war to aid us in our final fight.”

All of the guard’s armor glowed red, their swords burst into flames. The entire atmosphere changed into a heated desperate battle.

Guard Captain: “Set up defensive formation, flank from all sides! Keep up the defensive barriers!”

Two guards from behind formed wind and water barriers in front of all the flanking guards.

The captain of the guard alongside two others rushed forward, while the other two flanked from both sides.

Lucious:“Futile resistance…. loyalty should be unquestionable! Be grateful to die for our god!"

Lucious drew out his sword from the flames of the gauntlet. It was imbued with fire and was made of dark steel.

Lucious: “I don’t need any fancy magic to deal with all of you.” Lucious started to walk forward as the two guards from the sides ran forward. Lucious simply sliced at their direction, cutting the barriers like butter and a gash sliced onto the guard’s armor. Cries could be heard as the flames burned their flesh from within the armor.

The guard captain ran forward with his two other guards. The two other guards simply nodded to each other and ran in front of the guard captain with their shields up. Yet, Lucious suddenly dashed, appearing in front of the two guards. His left hand stabbed into a guard’s chest through the shield as if it was nothing. While his sword impaled the other guard. Their eyes were left wide, the speed and strength of Lucious went beyond their imagination and was reminded how futile it was to resist against him.

The barriers on the guard captain and the two other guards disappeared.

The guard captain felt rage as he watched Lucious dispatch his subordinates with ease. His grip tighten, his teeths grinded against each other as he felt the frustration of his lost, of his stupidity, and his helplessness. His eyes teared up as he charged, he let out his final roar of defiance against this monstrous man, Lucious. Who only smiled with joy as he watched the guard captain's final resistance.

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Ben and Asada went back to the hallways they left and entered a small room on the side. Adorned on the walls were various swords and paintings. A desk was placed in the center of the room with the bookshelf behind it. A plain carpet was laid across the door to the desk, while the potted plants grew quietly on the side of the doorway. On the desk there was a paper and a pen, nothing else.

Ben walked up to the bookshelves and opened it. WIthin the book, was merely symbols almost the equivalent of hieroglyphics but in a more simpler terms.

Ben: “... I can’t read this…so in this world I’m an illiterate peasant?... I can’t read… “

Ben’s eyes started to tear up as his knees slowly buckled down onto the carpet. His fist slammed into the carpet floors, as he closed his eyes.

Asada walked up to him and picked up the book next to him.

Asada: “Ancient magic…ok.” She quickly threw the book away and picked up another book.

Asada: “How about trying this book for simple agriculture?” Ben looked up and saw the words clearly on the book cover. “Agriculture Basics and Foundation”

Ben: “I’m… not an illiterate fool in this world! I can read!”

Asada scoffed at Ben’s new findings and simply said,

Asada: “We don’t have time to read, save it for when we get out of here.”

From outside of the hallway they were in, Lucious' voice bursted.

Lucious: “What? You let the kids get away? Especially the dark magic user? He was considered a delicacy! Who else escaped? A girl? Wind magic? What have you guards been doing with your life? How could you let them escape! Perish for your sins!”

(GAHHH!!)

Lucious:“I will find you kids regardless…. Messengers of mine, from the birds of words tell everyone within these walls to go on high alert. We have two fugitives running around these areas. They have killed 10 of our guards in the front lobby. Posthaste!”

Ben and Asada stood within the room breathlessly, they held their breath until a moment had passed. Ben walked over to the door and placed his head over it. There were no sounds outside in the hallway. Ben made the decision to leave. He gestured to Asada and they left the door. The front entrance was still filled with pieces of the guard’s armor. Ben bent over one of the guard’s chest pieces and found the four holes that Lucious entered through to grab. The armor was a plated steel, heavy armor type.

Ben looked over at Asada as she opened the door slightly. Beyond the bridge and the stairways that led from the bottom of the hill, was the lively town. Townsmen with bells called for midnight, the people remaining on the streets slowly returned home or to an inn to rest. A grand tall wall surrounded this town, torches lit alongside the walls. The sky was clear, with no stars and had two moons on each other’s side, complementing with their two colors of bright blue and dark blue.

Asada lifted her hands, “May the night skies cover our lives, may the wind bless our steps on our journey” A sprinkle of green and dark orbs fell from her hands, surrounding Ben and Asada.

They left quietly down the road towards the town.

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Lucious: “.... I guess this will have to do…”

Lucious sat at his desk, the books were thrown on the ground. One listed as Agriculture’s basics and Foundation, the other Ancient magic. He noticed these two people and slowly put them back into his organized shelves.

Lucious: “Out of the summoned children that we’ve had throughout this day…. we.. no … you all managed to lose them!”

Lucious smashed his hands on the desk, creating a loud sound and a ear tearing echo within the guard's ears. The three guard captains in front of the desk were kneeling with their heads down. Not daring to move or reply.

Lucious: “TALK!”

“..... we have no words to correct our wrongs!” yelled a guard captain

Lucious: “BEGONE!” Lucious raised his hands and the flame gauntlet appeared once more, vines surged out onto the guard captain who spoke. The flames and his body disintergrated from within, leaving only his armor on the ground. The two guards simply left quietly, mentioning nothing.

Lucious sat upon his desk, his fist was still on it. His face faced down...

Lucious: “I’m almost done…. I can’t let this news come out….the people must not know about this. The Kingdom of Lanners, are already within our grasps… it’s just the matter of eating it whole.”

“Why not summon some more?” another voice asked from the curtains.

Lucious: “Summon…. Those were the last few crystals that we had. The lives that we have taken have already been cleansed of the guilty and the homeless. The few traveling individuals that have disappeared within the town are already suspicious enough. I don’t want the adventure guild to be on this. That monster… I’m sure they’ll find out if too many problems arise.”

(Voice) “What now then…you promised our lord… who gave you this life… to give his.”

Lucious: “.... I will find a way..."

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