Chapter 028

One Shot

“Sir, I highly suggest that you leave at once!”

Raize Grisham, the sovereign of the country of Esteras, gazed out the window of his manner and at the travesty that was unfolding before him. The city his forefathers built, the heart of the nation his father died trying to protect, it was all falling to pieces. Devoured by malnourished ice brought into existence because of the lunacy of a madman. Raize frowned. With all of the combat mages from Mage Bracket 1 dispatched to Dianthion, along with the bulk of the Blue soldiers, they’d only to depend on the forces that remained in the city. Hopefully, Ryas would bless them with the strength, and luck, necessary to vanquish this unforeseen threat.

According to General Lightborn, over sixty percent of the civilian population had yet to be evacuated. Additionally, they were still unsuccessful at destroying the enchanted ice pillars. The odds certainly weren’t in their favor. Regardless, Raize had yet to lose all of his fleeting faith. If push came to shove, he still had one last option he could resort to. A means of defense should the situation truly evolve into an unstoppable calamity. And in order for their final solution to be activated, he himself must risk his very life.

“How did it come to this?” he uttered under his breath.

“Sovereign Raize!” voiced Tristan Belmont, Raize’s personal assistant and royal advisor. He was a younger man, traces of the cloud of youth and naivete having yet to abandon him. Like always, he donned a nicely dressed, black uniform and a red tie that stretched down his middle. He’d well-kempt dark hair, natural blue Esteran eyes, overly fair skin, and a round face accompanied by the series of soft innocent expressions he’d boast constantly. While the servant meant well, Raize couldn’t allow himself to follow the man’s instructions.

Tristan approached his side and ushered another warning. “General Lightborn informed me that he and his men are doing everything in their power to handle the situation. Currently, a strike team led by former Major Griffin are attempting to demolish the ice pillars as quickly as possible. Lightborn instructed the remainder of his forces to organize and oversee the evacuation efforts.”

Raize stroked his mustache. “Griffin, you say?”

“That is correct, sir. In fact, according to the general’s words, Griffin already mobilized his unit prior to the activation of the area-class ice spell. We haven’t heard word of him since though, given his peculiar reputation, it is reason to assume he is more than capable of surviving amidst this discord.

“Yes, I suspect you’re right,” Raize grinned. “Oh, Vance. What kind of problem child have you unleashed into the world?”

“Now, sir, I strongly suggest that we leave Savannis at once! A chopper has already been prepped. We’ll take you somewhere safe until this crisis has been averted.”

“And my family?”

“Safe.”

“Good, then there isn’t a need for me to worry.”

Tristan gulped. “Sir? What do you mean by that?”

Before he could respond, a bundle of energy burst through the doors and darted into the room. The joy of his life. Evangelyne Grisham had not walked Ryas’ Earth for long. Only at the bright young age of twelve, there remained much of their complicated world she had to learn. She possessed dark hair that matched his own though, unlike his, her disorganized mop of scrambling strands bobbed and bounced freely, reinforcing the kind of wild spirit Ryas had purchased for her. However, a solitary streak of white stained the left portion of her head of hair, contrasting with the rest of the blackened ocean. It was a trait catalyzed by the presence of magic. The pair of turquoise eyes, on the other hand, the girl had inherited from her mother. They beamed with vitality. Dressed in a pale-colored royal gown and black slippers, she pounced at her father, hopping into his arms akin to an excited hare.

“Dad! Dad!” she laughed over and over again.

“Yes, my angel. I can see your spirits haven’t been doused, have they?”

“A leader must always be composed, lest they be blinded by anxiety or confusion leading to the creation of unwise decisions,” she recited from memory.

“And your lessons are coming along smoothly. I’m proud,” he cheered, poking her buttoned nose.

“But what’s going on, Dad? What’s with all the ice?”

Raize frowned. “That...there’s a bad man out there, seeking to overhaul our very way of life. Don’t worry, the brave men and women in the military are handling it. They’ll stop him for us.”

“Will they?” she gleamed.

“They will. They pledged their service to our country, and so they’ll keep on fighting the good fight until their hearts beat no more.”

“And, in the meantime, we will be taken to our private estate outside of Savannis City.” Raize glanced at the entrance to the room where his wife lingered by the door. Tristan and the other four soldiers present arched their backs and bowed their heads towards her, a sign of respect for the arrival of the queen regent. “Well, Raize, shall we be on our way?”

The sovereign hesitated. “I...can’t.”

She exhaled in disappointment. “This doesn’t surprise me.”

Sycamore Grisham was a lady who, like him, cared deeply about the country. Though, during recent years, her unconditional love seemed to be garnered less to Esteras at large and more for their daughter. Raize admired her for that. She was a woman whom he had fallen hopelessly in love with not just because of her unrivaled beauty, but because of her strong sense of character. Creamy skin, turquoise eyes, a slender physique, and hazelnut hair fixed into a well constructed bun behind her scalp. In his eyes, she was but a goddess in human form.

“If my words carry any weight, your grace, I agree with Queen Regent Sycamore’s wishes. The city isn’t a safe place to be for royals at present.”

“I’m sorry, my love. But I cannot so easily abandon my people in their time of need." His vision scanned through the window and at a frozen wasteland. “When I was crowned Sovereign, I vowed to stick with my subjects through thick and thin, no matter what the world threw at us. And I don’t intend to go back on my word.”

“But these terrorists...”

“Will be taken care of...if everything runs smoothly.”

“I’m not willing to take that chance.”

“I am.” He walked towards his wife, caressing her soft cheeks with his firm hand. He shut his eyes, resting his head onto hers. “You mustn't allow fear to win, my love. You have to stay strong, for our daughter.”

“...Yes, I understand,” she whispered back. “Stay safe, my love.”

“Dad, you aren’t coming with us?” asked Evangelyne.

“No, angel, I cannot,” he answered, handing the girl over to her mother. “The duties of the sovereign call for me to stay here. I’ll see you again once everything’s been taken care of.”

The tiny royal pouted. “Promise?”

“To Ryas herself,” Raize smiled.

Yes, his family was important to him, though the future of his country needed to be overseen by a man with the correct vision. And so he kept his smile as well as the warm disposition until the very moment his wife and daughter departed. No sooner than they shut the doors behind them did his smile vanished, and reality returned. Regarding Tristain again, this time with an unphased expression, Raize announced, “Oversee the affairs of this operation in my stead. I expect a progress report when I return.”

“As you wish, Sovereign Raize. But I must ask, where are you headed now of all times?”

“I’m off to The Hollow. I wish not to be disturbed.”

“The H...Hollow?!” Tristan stammered.

“Yes,” Raize nodded, striding for the door. “There are matters I must attend to there.”

“What kind of fool do you take me for?!” shouted Trevor, failing to properly digest the solemn declaration he’d just been given. Grinding his teeth, he pointed a finger at the major and grunted, “Do you really think I’d be stupid enough to fall for such an obvious trap?!”

James cleared his throat. “There is no trap. This is but an ordinary Esteran pistol issued to every Blue soldier in the military. Though, I must admit, I haven’t fired it in a while. I might be rusty. However, at this range, even child meet their mark.”

Trevor glared. “You’re up to something. Surely you can’t be misguided enough to think a mere pistol could stop me, a sorcerer!”

The minute smirk present on James’ face represented only a fraction of the joy rapidly filling his stomach. In this day and age defined by magic and mysticism, the most arrogant mages commonly fostered a flawed ideology. They believed that since they could manifest and manipulate magic, it automatically meant they were superior to normal humans. It was as if they had forgotten that they themselves were also, in fact, of the same species. And it would seem Trevor Thatch was an avid subscriber of this notion. James inferred from his cocky grin and arrogant posture that, in his mind, he had already won this duel. This was perfect! The longer the mage bought the illusion and feasted on a toxin called ego, the lower James’ chances of dying dropped.

Trevor was unaware of the true mechanisms of the plot. Unbeknownst to him, as soon as James joined him atop a roof of a shaking building and permitted him to puppeteer his better judgment, the odds of victory teetered in his favor. Much like the unfortunate housefly, Trevor had managed to get himself tangled in a web of James’ design. However, he couldn’t afford to be too hasty. He still hadn’t seen the signal. Until the beacon was brandished, he continue his role as a suicidal altruist.

“You seem bothered, Thatch. What’s the matter, are you frightened that, in your weakened state, you might actually be bested by a member of the inert, creatures you hold in such low regard?” James took a step closer to the mage infected by hesitation. “Or maybe, just maybe, you’re worried about your plan falling to shambles, and right when you’re so close. Why, I can’t even imagine just how humiliated you’d feel knowing that even after all of this, you still failed to best us cursed Esterans.”

James felt the temperature drop as Trevor’s amplifying glare darkened. “You really must have a death wish, huh? I might not be at my fullest power, but even a novice sorcerer could kill a weakling like you!”

“I’ve had more than my fair share of death for today. To take another life, well, to be frank, I don’t think my conscience can bear it.” James got closer. The pistol in his gloved hands never faltered nor shook. It remained forever glued towards his enemy’s forehead. “So why don’t we do this the more...admirable way, yes? Deactivate your spell, relinquish your tome, and turn yourself in. Do these three things, and there won’t be a need to spill any more blood.”

Thatch snickered. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“Final warning,” James grunted. “So, what’s it gonna be?”

“You said it yourself, I can’t afford to lose this day. Neither my pride as a soldier nor my honor for my family would allow for such an outcome. This is only going to finish one way, with one of us laying on the concrete swimming in a pool of our own blood.” Thatch’s snicker grew. “But wait, I think we’re forgetting something very important. You spineless Esteran soldiers are forbidden from killing, aren’t you? Even when that fire mage attacked my base in Star Bell, I was informed not a single one of my men actually died. He was holding back so as to not burn them to death. And even as you stand there pointing a pistol at the man responsible for the destruction of your capital, something tells me you won’t have the nerve to follow through.”

James lowered his gaze. “Soldiers of the military, may they be Blues or Blacks, aren’t allowed to take a life, unless they’re participating in a large-scale conflict like the 7 Year War or were given a special order from either the general or the sovereign. So yes, technically you’re correct. I don’t have the authority to kill you." James tightened his grip on the pistol’s handle. “However, I think, given the circumstances, my superiors will be willing to make an exception.”

“You’re bluffing!”

“Maybe,” James grinned. “I’m curious, do you think my bullet will be able to reach you before you can activate a spell? Or will your magically enhanced reflexes serve as a means of protection? But if you do that, you’ll lose control over the Day of Zero, and the entire spell would deactivate as a result. Such an odd dilemma, don’t you think? My money’s on the former possibility. If you’re committed to duking this out, let us see if I’m correct.”

“You wouldn’t dare! Your government...”

“My government? Don’t be naive. More than their honor and codes, they lust after results, and care very little about the well-being of their enemies. To them, you’re just a filthy, deranged, lunatic Gyrakian, deluded into thinking you can actually make a dent in our grand empire. You won’t be missed. You won’t even be remembered. It would be like you never actually existed. If I fire my pistol, you’d be erased from reality.” The mage scowled. On his exposed skin, James felt the temperature rise. Along with the terrorist’s boiling temper, their environment would go on to mirror his amplified rage by transforming its atmosphere into a sizzling furnace. “I’m sure even you won’t be content meeting such a pathetic end. So whatever it is you’re planning on doing, I urge you to think it through carefully.”

“You know something?” Trevor muttered, cutting the latter portion of James’ sentence off. “I’ve noticed you’re one fancy talker. But regardless of how much you run that mouth of yours, it won’t change a damn thing. I’m a sorcerer, and you an inert. I will survive, and you will fall!” A grin sprouted onto his face. Trevor pointed an arm at James. The palm of his hand scorched red with heat. “If you truly are a man of your word then go ahead, pull the trigger! Show me your resolve, James Griffin!”

“Can do,” James nodded, his eyes reflecting a light flickering in the distance.

That was the signal. Now was the time to act!

Before Trevor could launch a spell, in the blink of a second, James shot the arm holding the pistol over his head. He pulled the trigger, sending out the clapping sound of firing lead as the bullet propelled into the blueish realm above all of their heads. Just like he’d predicted, this bizarre action had completely caught the mage off guard. Trevor, falling victim to confusion, stared at him blankly, more than likely wondering why he’d chosen to shoot at the sky rather than himself. Regardless of James' foul words, if there was an alternative option where death could be avoided, he would almost always take it. For he didn’t fancy the idea of becoming a soulless killer in spite of what he did for a living.

And so, the bullet abandoned them on earth, and the curtains closed on phase two of his quickly stitched together plan. Obscured by distance, James saw another flash of light, only this one was black in saturation. First the light was smaller, then, like an inflating balloon, it grew to the point where it consumed an entire building.

Trevor spun around in its direction. He must have sensed the overflowing magical energy. Their portal of chance was rapidly closing. Luckily for James, however, the spell had already been completed. Launching from the sword of the horizon flung a bolt of black electricity. It soared across the town in seconds, flying over buildings and people alike. In front of him, he watched as Trevor nearly stumbled, the mage releasing a series of Gyrakian curses. “Damn Esterans!” he swore. Placing both hands towards the fastly approaching black bolt of lightning, James felt the temperature drop into the chilling negatives.

Trevor cried into the sky the name of his spell, “Scutum Argenti!”, summoning a massive and dense wall of ice. The glistening silver barrier of frost materialized from thin air, constructing its shape out of solid bricks until a perfect diamond-shaped blockade separated the mage from the electrified attack. And in the face of the magnificent display of ice elemental magic, James could only find it within him to offer up an ordinary laugh. He had already foreseen this outcome. It would take more than that to stop the devastating spell. Once the lightning bolt collided with the ice barrier, James blanketed his eyes as an intense flash of black and red swallowed the rooftop. A sharp clap of ice meeting lightning relayed across the skies and assaulted the vicinity with its deafening noise.

Meeting little to no resistance at all, the fortification of frost shattered into thousands of jagged daggers, flung into the air and off the sides of the roof. A shockwave lashed out at both the soldier and the Gyrakian, forcing James to one knee. Through a squint, he barely identified the sight of Trevor Thatch getting struck by the blackened bolt. The red and white tome he possessed shut its covers and his screams exploded as he was cooked alive. Portions of his clothing disintegrated. His dark-colored hair erected from enchanted static. The spell picked him off of his feet and hurdled him backward. His spine met concrete. Trevor slid across the ground, stopping mere inches from the tips of James’ boots. The major looked down at the defeated mage with a satisfied grin.

“I warned you,” James told him, folding his arms.

This was false magic, the type of magic the combat mage known as Sabine Zenobio specialized in. It granted the user the power to manipulate and manifest spells belonging to other kinds of magic and condensed them into their purest forms. What resulted was an unnatural evolution. The spells’ newly enhanced dexterity and configuration shattered their previous limitations. As such, they were far stronger than their original incarnations. Utilizing this powerful yet dangerous magic, Sabine became a standout soldier in the military relatively quickly. And it was this mage, in particular, James was glad to have as his partner.

Behind him, the door opened again. This time, a squad of soldiers led by Striker flooded the rooftop. “Take this maggot out of here!” Striker ordered, whipping his hand.

A pair of soldiers helped the felled mage to his feet as James flipped his pistol before strapping it to his side. “You bastard...” grunted Trevor, pathetically trying to free himself from the soldiers’ grasp. A direct blast of lighting would kill a normal human. Fortunately for Trevor, mages were sturdy bunch. “You lied to me...you said...you came alone!”

“I did, didn’t I?” James replied with a sigh. “I guess, when you get right down to it, I’m quite the coward.”

“You filthy Esterans! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you all, you hear me?! I won’t rest until every last one of your cretins get what you deserve! Gyrak shall have its revenge!”

James disregarded Trevor’s empty threats, shaking his head as the terrorist was escorted elsewhere by a squadron of armed Blues. “This isn’t good, sir.” James joined Striker at the ledge of the roof. “The pillars aren’t deactivating, and the ice hasn’t stopped.”

His assessment was correct. The ice pillars were radiating magic. Savannis hadn't been saved just yet. “We’ve subdued the caster but the enchantment is still functioning. Looks like we’ll have to continue destroying the ice pillars one by one.”

Striker nodded. “Agreed.”

“Hopefully, now they’ll prove to be easier to expunge than before. Order all the combat mages to concentrate their efforts on the ice pillars!”

“Right away, sir!”

Sabine exhaled.

Her black covered tome charged with her own essence floated to the holster strapped to her waist. Unlike most magic, her false magic was rather unique in that, even when it came to using simple spells, she was forced to sacrifice a large quantity of her available supply of essence. Additionally, her concentration needed to be refined and permanent. Even the briefest of distractions could potentially sever her connection with a spell and cause her to suffer a magic rejection. And so, she had to use her magic sparingly. In this instance, her role was relatively minute.

She peered into the distance, some three hundred feet away at the building where her spell had struck. The barrier of ice vaporized without leaving a single trace of its existence. The soldiers scuttling about on the rooftop shouted orders and spoke on their handheld radios. She expected to receive her next orders from the major any second. When it came to James Griffin, her work was never finished. And when he approached her with some of the most nonsensical and careless strategies she ever had the misfortune of hearing, she would then have no other option than to reserve her endless list of criticisms, and merely go with the flow. But to his credit, he did have a special knack for improvising.

“I’ll be the person to confront him, alone and armed with only my pistol. With his focus on me, he won't notice anything else. That’s where you come in, Zen,” he’d told her before they had parted ways. “While he’s distracted, I want you to strike him with one of your spells. It should be enough to finish him off for good.”

She remembered her response. “Another high risk plan?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just be sure to give me a signal when you’re ready, yeah? I might constantly do the tango with death, though this doesn’t mean I’ve got plans on meeting Ryas any time soon.”

“Alright, and how will I know when you want me to...intervene?”

“Trust me, you’ll know,” he had guaranteed, turning his back to her. “When I fire my pistol into the air, I expect you to be ready to seal the deal.”

Grimdark shook her head. Looking back at it now, his orders really were riddled with haste and unforeseen possibilities. One wrong move could have spelled the end for James’ mortal career. Sure he’d gotten lucky this time, but how much longer must he limbo on the border line between this world and the next before he starts valuing his own life? Selflessness was indeed a dangerous quality to foster.

Behind her, she heard the tapping of footsteps. Joining her on the roof, the dark haired major general took a puff of the cigarette jammed halfway into his lips. “Glad to see you haven’t let up with your training. Your essence is growing at a nice pace. We’ll need your powers soon enough, Sabine.”

“What are you doing here, Major General Ashborn?” Grimdark asked, ignoring his smoky compliments.

“The capital is being pillaged by terrorists, it’d be suspicious if I didn’t show. Word of what’s happening finally reached me in the west. In fact, every military branch worth their salt should be on their way here as we speak. Even Mage Bracket 13 is joining in on the fun,” he smirked, his nostrils expelling plumes of smoke. “But, from the looks of things, the situation seems to be more or less under control. Can’t imagine the lieutenant general is going to be overly pleased once he learns that his expedition was relatively worthless.”

“Yes, well, we have my major to thank for that. It was because of his impressive leadership skills and quick thinking that Savannis is still standing.”

“Major James Griffin, aye? He succeeded at peaking my interest since he was but an inexperienced captain. Like his old man, the loyalty he has for the military might serve to bite us in the arse when we least expect it to,” Isaac pondered out loud. “What say you, Sabine? You’ve been around him longer than I have. Can he be trusted to know our little secret, to have the truth revealed to him? Tell me, just what kind of a man is he?”

Sabine’s smile flourished. “A man who can save this country.”