Chapter 23

  Fury and Fatigue

  Battle erupted along with several dozen war cries. A dozen surges from different weapons were launched at Michael and Wolf, followed by a dozen more vibes and arrows. Michael dodged back to avoid the attacks, while Wolf rolled forth. “AHHHH!” Michael screamed, unable to form words in his haste to avoid simultaneous attacks.

  Bandits with swords and spears rushed forth from all sides. Michael swung out a few surges, and then used Dark Blade to send one group flying. The ones he launched up were able to recover and land, except for one person. These must have been on the receiving end a few times in the corridors below. Michael parried a few more attacks, looking for a way out.

  “Okay, I’ve got a plan.” Wolf said, slamming his axes into some weapons to avoid getting hit. “Michael, launch me up with that tech of yours.”

  “But-”

  “Just launch me!” Wolf said, surrounding his body in an erratic energy. Michael struck the ground and unleashed Dark Blade again, targeting Wolf. The energy crawled along the ground then threw Wolf and a few bandits nearby skyward.

  “Now!” Wolf roared, as fire burned to life around his right arm, “I’ll show you.” Lightning erupted from his left shoulder and arced around his left arm, “Why I’m the best!” Wolf crashed to the ground, swinging his axes to hit the courtyard. Amber lightning shot out in all directions from the impact, arcing into the bandits in a huge swathe, followed by bright amber flames that rolled over the ground like waves. The only area free of the blast was where Michael stood gawking.

  “GAH HA HA HAAA!” Wolf laughed, standing up as his attack ended. Dozens of Bandits had fallen, and those that could move began to flee. There were still dozens left, but their advance had been halted. “You wanna mess with me?! I’m a CHAMPION, baby!”

  Michael recovered from his stunned silence and ran to join Wolf. “Well that was intense.” He said.

  Wolf stood with a cocky grin as he looked over the assembled bandits. “I can’t do that again. I haven't fully recovered yet.” He said, without dropping his powerful stance. “The Bandit King is probably past that Mage, go on ahead, I’ll hold back the rabble.”

  “Okay.” Michael said, and started to charge straight ahead.

  A few bandits took defensive stances, but Wolf let out that crazed laugh and pointed his axes at them. “You want a taste?” He asked, causing those amber flames and lightning to spark around his weapons. The bandits cowed, and stepped aside as Michael charged through the courtyard.

  Crossing the courtyard was simple after Wolf's intimidation, but Michael only got halfway. The echoing voice of Vy expanded forth. “Peons, attack! The Phanokai Champion is bluffing, he is already spent. Use Meteor Shields to block his attacks. Goose formations.” The bandits near Wolf changed their formation without hesitation, and those that were lying on the ground stood up, unharmed. Wolf gulped, and Michael’s heart started racing. “Destroy the white haired one. He is clearly not the bounty target.” The bandits near Michael surrounded him.

  Michael slid to a stop, sword raised, as he was encircled. The bandits all around him bore shields facing Michael. Simultaneous surges rushed at Michael through gaps in the shield wall. He swept a flexed sword to deflect some, but got hit by most of them.

  As Michael was assaulted, Wolf swung a swathe of flames one way and a torrent of lightning the other. A few bandits were hit, but many others escaped unscathed. They were standing in groups of five, with one taking point while the other four assembled back in a ‘V’ pattern. When Wolf’s attacks neared, one of the back members would thrust their bare hands forth and create a Meteor Shield. “Who would have thought of using that in battle?” Wolf said. The Meteor Shield was something every person of every age in the world could summon, it was the one and only Spell gifted to all people by Iagorothi itself. You stood still, empty handed, and summoned a shield capable of deflecting meteors. Rather useful, since meteors falling was common. Wolf had to relearn all that a few years ago, after all. He was an amnesiac.

  A bandit slammed into Wolf while he was reminiscing. Wolf snapped to attention and slammed his axes into the female bandit, knocking her aside. She tumbled as Wolf panted, but she rose and withdrew a small tub of salve. Wolf’s amber eyes gleamed as he saw the salve stop the bleeding. That was it!

  Wolf unleashed a surge in a wide arc around him, knocking several bandits back, and then jumped over the bandit woman with the salve. He snatched it out of her hand and applied a glob to his right arm.

  Nothing happened.

  The bandit woman snorted in laughter, “Idiot.” She said, taking up arms again.

  “Oh, fuck.” Wolf said.

  Aeroth dropped the can of salve onto Sebastian’s palm. “This is it.” He said. “I saw a bandit recover from one of my kunai with this, but look.” Aeroth showed a cut on his left thumb, bleeding through an application of the white cream. “It doesn’t work on me.”

  “Interesting.” Sebastian said. He glanced over at the courtyard, where the bandits were waiting for something. “So it works on the bandits, but not us.” He said. “I can think of a few reasons why that might be.”

  “What are your ideas?” Aeroth asked. He and Sebastian were the only two left on the wall. The others had moved to the east courtyard where Hyato was fighting earlier. After Hyato vanished, all the bandits went to the main courtyard instead. The group were resting there, where they might not be spotted.

  “Well, for one.” Sebastian said. “This healing cream is not a product of Synthesis. It must be from a ritual, blood magic, I imagine.”

  “That sounds... dark.” Aeroth said. “Blood Magic? Isn’t that, like, evil?”

  “Well, Blood Magic isn’t actually one of the Nine Evil Powers.” Sebastian said.

  “What are the Nine Evil Powers?!” Aeroth said, eyes widening.

  “But, it has been considered generally evil, based on all the traditional uses of it.” Sebastian said. “It doesn’t matter how, just that the enemy has it and we can’t use it ourselves.”

  “So a Blood Mage could create a universal healing salve? That’s... really overpowered.”

  “There are probably conditions. It might only work at night, or in this fortress, or each one only works for the person it was made for. And they probably have someone from one of the major Blood Magic clans on their side. Yashura, Markanos, Ostiem, Telmarnth.” Sebastian said. “Those four clans have all been known as Blood Mages in the past.”

  “Never heard of em.” Aeroth said.

  “That’s to be expected.” Sebastian said, looking over the courtyard again.

  Aeroth’s gaze shot to the south along the wall, and Sebastian followed his gaze there. Yan and Nayo arrived, stopping before Sebastian, “Where’s the distraction?”

  “It wasn’t working. Where’s Michael?” Sebastian said.

  “He escaped on his own before I got to the dungeon. I didn’t find him.” Yan said, looking over the bandits assembled in the courtyard. “Are they just ignoring their own wagons burning?”

  “Looks like it.” Sebastian said. “Let’s go join the others and make a new plan.” He said, heading north along the wall. They went down into the East courtyard, where the others of their ragtag group all waited in differing forms of rest. Mien pushed off the pillar he was leaning against with just his shoulders as the group arrived. “Okay.” Sebastian said. “We need a new plan. Michael seems to have escaped on his own.”

  Hyato chuckled, and Kris nodded to herself and clenched a fist. “So what’s the new plan?” Mien asked.

  “Well,” Sebastian said, “For starters-”

  “Found them! Attack!” a man roared. The moment warning allowed Yan, Aeroth, and Nayo to deflect the incoming arrows. Mien rolled past them and charged the sudden arrival of bandits as the others only just started to react.

  The bandits scattered at Mien’s approach, slipping into doors and bolting them shut. Mien bashed into one, but there must have been a bar, it didn’t budge.

  More arrows spun through the air, deflected by the Ninja siblings as the others moved into action. Hyato drew his sword into a Flash Blade and cut down one of the archers.

  “Plan 6!” Sebastian said. Nayo tossed a smoke bomb at each group of bandits, and everyone ran north through the courtyard. The smokescreen seemed to have worked, as there was a lack of pursuit when everyone arrived.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Sebastian, Kris, Mien, Nayo, Aeroth, Yan, Hyato, Me.” Pierre said. “All here, except for Michael.”

  “Don’t remind me.” Yan said, lifting a foot to slip her shoe off. She pulled a pebble out and flicked it away. “You were saying, Sebastian?”

  “Right.” Sebastian said. “First off, Aeroth discovered this.” He showed the can of salve. “It heals the bandits, but doesn’t work on us. Doesn’t matter how, we need to be careful.”

  “Okay.” Mien said. “And where do you think Michael went?”

  “I believe Michael is wise enough to know when to flee. He is probably looking for a way out of the fortress, or has already found one. I think...” Sebastian stopped speaking as a bright light shone from the south, a heavy yellow lightning bolt shot up into the air from the main courtyard. “Nevermind.” Sebastian said. “The bandits assembled because they lured Michael there. Let’s go!” Sebastian took off at a run before even Yan and Mien could react. The others followed after him moments later.

  An arrow sailed through the air towards Michael, but flew skyward instead as Dark Blade went off. Michael saw the arrow change course, and let out a small sigh, before rolling past a wide fiery vibe. A bandit struck his face with a shield, but Michael just glared, unmoved. He swatted the bandit aside with his right hand, sending him tumbling along the ground. This was getting rather annoying.

  Witnessing Michael take surges, vibes, arrows, swords, spears, and axes all to the chest, then stand up and keep fighting was making a nervous tension roll through the bandits near him. Vy watched the peons backing away from Michael, then looked at the other man, Wolf, as he struggled to keep on his feet. Maybe this white haired fellow was the bounty after all?

  “Michael.” Vy said, her red eye glowing brighter, “Still trying to find yourself are you?” Michael’s attention snapped up to Vy as she spoke, “Trying not to let your anger show? Because you’re afraid. You’re afraid of what happens when you let him loose.”

  “What?” Michael said. “What do you know!”

  “You don’t need to play dumb, boy, my eye sees all!” Vy said. “Your fear of your anger, and your worry that you lost your friend. Your confusion at the world around you, and your relentless pursuit of a dangerous being. I can see your world written in your heart.”

  Michael rushed towards Vy, but was intercepted by a wave of shields. He was forced to focus on the bandits around him. Vy turned her gaze. “Wolf.” She said, “Champion, warrior, adventurer. Do these meaningless titles fill the void in your mind? The vast emptiness that clouds your thoughts. I can see it, the uncertainty you try to hide.” Wolf swung his axes harder as the bandit woman spoke, but the bandits around him seemed invigorated. Her words stung, but made the enemy grow bold. Wolf slammed his axes into the ground and launched a wave of fire, only for his attacks to be blocked and dodged. The bandits were closing in around them.

  A smile on her face, Vy spoke again. “All alone, Michael. Captured in the wild, and abandoned. Your friends are gone, you are lost. No one is here for you, in your time of need.”

  “Don’t listen to her!” Wolf shouted. Michael staggered, and glanced at Wolf for a moment. His heart skipped a beat.

  Michael swung his sword at any that approached him, parried and countered at every turn. Vy spoke again, but Michael heard only a fuzzy static, as the world around him swayed. He lashed out again, hoping to take down just a few more bandits. The enemy encircled him, Not attacking. They didn’t need to, there were too many of them.

  “I’m... alone.” Michael said, quiet pain in his voice.

  A gust of wind struck the bandits and knocked several over next to Michael. A blurred form sped past in a line, drawing a cut across several more. A shifting form moved from bandit to bandit, kicking from each one to arrive at Michael’s side. “You’re not alone.” Hyato said, sheathing his sword at Michael’s left.

  “We would never leave you like that, Michael.” Sebastian said, emerging from the bandits to Michael’s right.

  A warm hand squeezed Michael’s right shoulder. “Don’t worry.” Yan said. She stood with Michael as Hyato and Sebastian launched into the crowds of bandits. Beyond them there were more fights breaking out in the courtyard. Others were here too?

  The sense of despair that Vy’s words had created only lasted for a brief moment. Michael felt his mind clear, he felt his stamina returning. “Sorry to be a bother.”

  “You don’t need to be sorry.” Yan said. “It’s okay.”

  “I have to fight the Bandit King. He has been possessed by the Revenant.” His words were stern, his eyes focused.

  Yan took a steadying breath, and then sighed. “Okay. When it's time to go, follow Sebastian, and be stealthy.”

  “Why?” Michael asked.

  “No time to explain.” Yan stepped in front of Michael and clasped her hands together. A second Yan appeared, one of muted green energy. “I’ll clear a path.” Yan said. She and her double rushed forth.

  Yan struck the bewildered bandits with her daggers, while her new Energy Double flew towards them. She swapped places to get hits in, as the double had almost no power of its own. It was harder to use than she thought, but then Sebastian had only just given her this power an hour or two ago. Yan struck down the bandits, not worried for their health. They could flee and heal all they wanted, they just needed to be out of Michael’s way.

  Michael took advantage of the moment of respite to gather his stamina back, staring at Vy on the plaza above. She was looking over the entire courtyard, taking in the new developments of the battle with careful thoughts. Just past her, the large central building loomed. That must be where the Bandit King resided, how could it be any other place?

  The path Yan cleared for Michael opened up to the stairs leading to the plaza, and Michael took off at a sprint. He bounded past stragglers and slipped past the few bandits that tried to attack him as he dashed through the remaining courtyard area and up the stairs. When he reached the top he slid into a stance and swung his black crystal sword with all his might, launching a sharpened surge slash at Vy.

  The bandit mage woman shifted to the side, still floating above the ground, dodging the slash. “You cannot hit me.” She said, “I can see the truth, the intentions of your attacks.”

  “Then I just need to use an attack you can't dodge!” Michael used Dark Blade, sending the energy along the ground. Vy shifted again, avoiding the rising lines of energy with a lazy movement. Michael launched a vibe, then a surge, and closed the distance to slash her.

  Vy stopped the vibe with one of her own, dodging past the surge and maintaining a distance from Michael. Michael kept up the pursuit, his running was faster than her shifting. He closed the distance and slashed!

  She vanished, appearing a few feet to the side. “Tch!” Michael grunted, and sheathed his sword. “Disappear.” Michael unleashed Flash Blade, crossing the gap and more in an instant as he drew his sword. The thin undodgeable slash crossed Vy at her core.

  Michael looked back, and saw Vy holding a bubble of mana before her, the slash of flash blade had been trapped inside. She blocked it. Vy turned to look at Michael, and her red eye glowed from beneath the netting on her hood. It looked the same as Rhellis. “I am Vy, wielder of God’s Eye.” She said, “So long as Rhellis can see you, I can know every detail about you. Your height, weight, emotions. Your intentions and actions are easy to read, for me.” The bandit turned to face Michael fully.

  Rhellis was above, the only moon not covered by clouds. Michael looked at Vy after checking the sky, and noticed that her other eye had the appearance of a moon as well. Though dimmed, she had Islandar in one eye. “So that’s your spell, God’s Eye?”

  “I use not spells, but Calls. I am a Caller. I bring forth the most powerful magics from the world and beyond. Modern Mages, Elemancers, Blood Mages, and even Malefactes; no other caster can claim to be stronger than a Caller.” Vy said, growing passion in her voice.

  Michael threw a surge slash at Vy, but it was dodged with a lazy shift. “Your sword will not reach. I have already summoned the winds to hold back the storm, and Rhellis will not fade from the sky.” She said. Michael looked upwards again. The clouds seemed to be rolling in on themselves. Only a few were truly moving, so a Caller could even control the weather? It looked like Islandar would come out from behind the clouds soon.

  “If Rhellis gives you the power to see people.” Michael said, “What does Islandar do?”

  A smile crossed Vy’s face. “With the power of Islandar, I can know the truth of any Object. So long as Islandar can see it, I can find anything I have lost. Or learn the truth of any mysterious item.” Her eyes focused on Michael’s crystal sword for a moment.

  “Doesn’t seem very useful in battle.” Michael said, taking a stance. “Though it does make me wonder about something. A way to hit you.”

  “Do tell.” Vy said, “It wont work.”

  Michael thrust his sword into the ground, but did not trigger Dark Blade. “You can read my intentions, right? What am I doing?”

  The red eye of Rhellis glowed brighter. “You intend to break out the ground. Attacking me with scattered rocks won't work, little amnesiac.”

  “I feel like trying.” Michael’s elemancy cut into the ground, and he used Dark Blade to lift a large plate upwards. The stone of the plaza was sturdy, and did not shatter. Michael rushed towards Vy, beneath the shadow of the lifted plate. He had escaped the sight of Rhellis! The Caller’s hands shot up in defense, summoning a barrier before her. Michael swung his sword forth, sending a surge slash forth. Vy focused and captured the surge, then shrieked as she was sent tumbling into the air. Michael pulled his sword out of the ground, having swung the surge and used Dark Blade as it reached the ground, then he rushed to the side to avoid getting squashed by the huge stone plate. As it hit the ground it cracked in half.

  A moment after the plate landed, Vy came back down, hitting the ground. She tumbled, her cloak sent flying off in one direction as she rolled to her feet. She was bleeding in a few places, and bruised from the fall. Michael realized she was wearing only tight cloth underwear around her waist, and blushed. He tried not to stare at her.

  A wave of Vy’s hand called a small container to her, and she dabbed some white salve onto her wounds with practiced motions. The bleeding stopped and the bruises vanished as the salve faded into her skin. “You cannot defeat me.” Vy said.

  Slipping into an aggressive stance, Michael pointed his sword at Vy. “I won’t stop until you stand aside. I’m here to face the Bandit King.”

  “That won't happen.” Vy said. Her Islandar eye glowed to life. “As long as I am standing, I won't let you disturb King.”

  A thought came to Michael, and he grinned. His first experience with this sword was a traumatic one, maybe he could create an opening. “The secret of my sword will carry me to victory.” Michael said.

  “We’ll see about that.” Vy’s eyes glowed bright, and she examined Michael’s sword. The blade was made of crystal instead of metal, a bold choice. Crystal can be strong, but is hard, if not impossible, to reshape. Yet this blade was almost straight, only minor imperfections along the edge. The sword was a broadsword, an edge on both sides, with a sharp point at the end. The many faceted surfaces of the blade each caught the light, reflecting a near flawless shine. An abnormal crossguard was selected, a tsuba. A rectangular guard often found on single edged swords. Even the hilt seemed more ordinary than the choice of guard, cloth wrapped wood. The pommel was a dusty gold, to match the guard.

  Vy looked closer, her eyes focused in. Michael stood holding the sword towards her, waiting for some reaction. Vy looked at the sword, and her eyes widened. “No. NO!” Vy leapt back and shrieked, “GET AWAY FROM ME!” She screamed, backpedaling with great haste and no awareness. Michael took a step towards her, taken aback, but was too late. She backed over the side of the plaza, tumbled to the courtyard, and struck her head. She bounced once from the ground, and lay still.

  The winds above ceased howling, as the Caller effect faded. Michael blinked in total confusion. He looked down at Vy’s motionless body. “What...”

  A long creaking dominated the sound of the night, and Michael turned to face it. The doors of the large building swung open, and the Bandit King strode out.