Chapter 19

The return to homeland

While the dark knight sent Ivan through a portal Ivan had been unconscious, his energy absorbed and he was filled with darkness. He fell from sky in front of Remuka, Leofin and Amnophia. Remuka being a sorceress was careful enough to use a levitation charm so that Ivan may not fall with much damage.

Leofin ran over to Ivan who was descending slowly. The portal which had appeared in the middle of the sky closed. Ivan was on the ground and Leofin was beside him. Amnophia took a liquid from her collection and made Ivan drink from it.

The few drops flew into the body of Ivan, but he spit the liquid suddenly as if he was allergic to it. Remuka signaled Amnophia with a gesture of holding the right hand in a superior way not to do anything more.

The sun was scorching high. Leofin took his sword and remembered something from the past. The heart and sacrifice was shown by Ivan but never by him. HE tried to speak to the sword but nothing happened.

Remuka caught Leofin from falling due to exhaustion and held him back. But something else happened. Blood started rushing back to Ivan’s face, his cheeks reddened and he started gasping for air.

He rose from the ground where he laid to a sitting position, where he was, was the sand but he seemed unaffected by its scorching heat. Leofin hugged Ivan, Ivan slightly rose from the ground.

“There are things I heard about darkness.”

“Forget it. You came back, that’s enough.” said Amnophia.

“No listen. With proper practice we can do things against them.”

Suddenly the Dark Knight fell to the ground. He stood up but looked battered. The dark knight paused for a few seconds before addressing Ivan with his glance. Ivan bowed so did the dark knight in return to it.

Ivan said, “I learned about darkness inside.”

But the knight said. “Darkness has its own particle as light does, it is not just the absence of light. Ivan, learn to use darkness, darkness is not bad and there are bad people among followers of light just like in darkness.”

Remuka approached the knight saying, “What has happened? Why were you late?”

But suddenly a portal opened to the left side of the Knight. He identified it and gazed through the portal.

He said, “The reason the King didn’t like me much was that I was from a different realm. I am just an ambassador and was brought here to ensure connectivity between the worlds. My power was of my origin but I learnt a lot here but now I must return to my world.”

“Would you not return to the fort honored knight.” asked Remuka.

“I will, but first I should make my connection with my world. I lost touch with my world, I forgot who I was hence I was defeated by the lady now. She could’ve killed me but she let me escape for to suffer in disgrace.”

Ivan understood the pain of the Knight, after all he was also a soldier.

The dark knight spoke a word of command, his knight shields all turned to a small ball in the hands of the knight and gave it to Remuka.

“Give this to the King. I brought it from another world but I will come here back for it.”

The face of the dark knight was very beautiful. His hair was as red as the crimson dress he now had on, his face a slight shade of brown.

He took his sword and gave it to Ivan saying, “This was extracted by me and my friends after my visit to the world of Reverona. Keep this for now. Take this to the priest Caddernod and tell him that I am a defeated soldier now and I will return.”

Ivan wanted to day something but didn’t know what to do. The dress of the dark knight changed into ordinary clothes matching the colour of his face. The dark knight took a one last look at the realm he was supposed to be in. All the life he thought he was eligible, he had been. He had worked every day but he left something in his realm, his birthplace and he needed to get it back.

He stepped into the portal and the portal closed behind him. He seemed to be inside a big house but he didn’t recognize it. None of his relatives or friends was alive as he had waited for and lived with till their last breathe till he went in search of power.

He never ages so did many, but not a single one was his friend. He looked around, he. He took some time to identify it as an academy.

Someone ran towards him, hugging him from behind. “Ragel, I knew you would be back. I waited three centuries for you to return.”

Remuka and the others stared at the place where the portal was, the sphere and sword vanished at the spot from their hands. The four of them couldn’t explain what had happened, but they got that they were on their own.

“Now what do we do? Where do we go.” asked Amnophia. “My only hope was Mayoko and now since that’s lost tell me Leofin where do I find Relumatsan.”

“I don’t know. At that time my sword answered for me, but now I am blank.”

“Blank now. We cannot return to the King because of what you did.”

“What do you think? Should we intervene?” asked the Dimensioner to the Charmlettros.

“Maybe we should be doing so.” said the Charmlettros. “Leave this to me.”

A hurl of sand rose near to where Amnophia was standing, a new portal opened there and stepped forth an elf. He was as beautiful and white as the winter mountain.

He directly addressed Amnophia, “I have been observing you since long. I am the so told Relumatsan you wanted to meet.”

The elf showed his hand towards the portal and Amnophia entered through it and later the Relumatsan.

“Well, at least one problem is solved. I am going back to the forest, should I drop you somewhere.” asked Remuka.

“Nay, I can do it on my own.” said Ivan.

Remuka was gone in a flash of light and Leofin stood there alone. The belt of Ivan started shining.

“Seems like the King is calling me.” said Ivan.

“You should not be going. He didn’t even allowed me to come to save you and I had to fight him for coming to save you.”

“Don’t worry. He had to carry out his own duty and I my own. He will forgive you. Let me go.”

Ivan advanced his hand towards Leofin which Leofin accepted. Ivan and other guard chiefs had magical items which could make them apparate in front of the King anytime.

Ivan touched his belt and they got absorbed into thin air.

The King was walking from here because no one had answered him, no individual mercenary neither a Baron nor any being or anything. His people had been always ready to answer him but this was the first time none answered. All of his guards who had been captured had been reinstated in the place and had taken their positions. The others who were against the King who was with Krokon had been put in prison under special magical protection.

It was at this time that Ivan and Leofin appeared out of thin air in front of the King.

Ivan bowed by dropping to one of his knees saying, “Greetings King of all territories, maintainer of the realm forgive Leofin for what he had done.” This was done as Leofin was still under the apprenticeship of Ivan.

“I forgave him at that moment itself, but I need to talk to him.”

The King looked towards Mystcot and Mystcot walked towards Leofin and took Leofin’s sword and gave it to the King.

The King said, “This is not the sword that Raddak bore.”

“Yes my King, but he is the son of Raddak. I know that personally.” said Caddernod.

“Well if that’s it, it is now time for the ceremony.”

The King said looking at Colson, “Do you think he is fit?”

“His body radiates energy.” said Colson.

Mayoko came forwards asking, “Where is Amnophia?”

“Amnophia! She was with you.” intervened Colson.

“She is with Relumatsan.” said Leofin.

But the King ended the discussion saying, “Now is the time we need a new warren Warrymn to rise. Caddernod get ready for the ceremony, we have to get to Raddak’s grave.”

The individual graveyard was only meant for the line of royals. But since Raddak had been the first warren Warrymn, it was desired by the King that he be buried in the Royal Graveyard. It had been a secret to the outside that the first warren Warrymn and his sword had been in the graveyard.

The King approached one of the graves, just as usual as others saying, “Here lies Raddak, the first and former warren Warrymn.”

Caddernod approached the grave with a light steps, bowed and asked Leofin to step forth which he did. He asked Colson to do the same, who was gemnet of the realm.

“Do you Colson, the main Elfian gemnet of the realm for the realm than the territory of elves identify warrior Leofin as potent of being the warren Warrymn?”

“Yes, I do with full right and might think he being worthy of it.”

“Do you Leofin accept Colson as your partner in protecting this realm to overcome all the differences?”

Leofin answered, “Yes, I do.”

“O great King, the ruler of the realm, do you advance your vote against it.”

“No. I don’t find any fault.” said the King.

“Well then, O Leofin, bow down before the fallen warren Warrymn. Offer your sword and Let him rise through you.”

Leofin bowed to his knees in front of the grave offering his sword on it. Caddernod began a spell of calling the spirit. Marmok began directing realms, helping Caddernod.

Caddernod said, “If you are willed to be the warren Warrymn, he will come.”

And Caddernod began a charm, Marmok put a crystal piece on the grave just besides the sword. Some time passed but nothing happened, then that crystal piece just broke to pieces, scattering all around.

“What is it?” asked Mystcot.

“You are not hailed by the previous warren Warrymn to be worthy of being the warren Warrymn, or he has not heard us.” said Marmok.

Ivan sighed with resignation saying, “Maybe we should prepare for war.”