Shadow of the Past (Chapter XV)

Chapter XV: So Close and yet So Far 1

Kyan handed the Garservisus sword to Donalbain, which glowed intensly bright and lighted most of the dark hall way. "This sword is pure magic, it may be able to guide you through these ruins. The brighter it glows, the closer you are to the magic seal... I'm sorry that I can't not help you through the rest of the way. The magic in this place is too great for my own magical powers to withstand. Any magic that I attempt to use, it will only be negated. I must help my half-brother." 2

Kyan disappeared into the darkness and ran through the blinding dark and eventually found Aridous laying on the floor. 3

Kyan stopped and knelt down to lift Aridous into his arms, "Aridous.. my half-brother, forgive me if we have not become closer as brothers. I will not allow you to die." 4

Kyan closed his eyes and chanted a mysterious and ancient tongue. An aura of pure refreshing energy revealed itself from around the young man. The light seemed to crawl along the walls and beyond the darkness. 5

Kyan helped Aridous to his feet, "I couldn't hold out my aura any longer.. but it will give you energy and strength as you continue to stay in my presence. It's something beneficial that I have gained while on the mortal's world." Kyan smiled kindly. 6

Kyan lowered his head and his smile faded, "I fear Trazina may be right.. Illion will soon reach the seal and I cannot rely on my powers to teleport us to his exact location. The magic generating from the seal is just too strong for my mortal form's magic to handle against." 7

Aridous sighed deeply as he forced himself to stand up straight. He looked at Kyan and placed a hand that was caked with dried blood on Kyan's shoulder. "Thank you for your concern, little brother but you need to watch over the others that don't come with me. You understand, right?" 8

Kyan closed his eyes and nodded his head. Aridous looked down at Adreira and smiled warmely. "You look just like her; Serenity." Aridous took Adreira by her arm and they walked toward the temple. "It's just down there by the way. I'll need you to help me pick myself up if I fall." 9

Adreira said that she would help in any way. All he had to do is just ask. As the two walked Aridous wispered a prayer, "Help me dear, sister. This test is bigger then any I had to face. . . . Help me to stay strong. Help me to keep the darkness at bay. . . ." 10

She had never considered that, yet the resemblence was striking. Her hair, her eyes... even at times, her personality. Everything was similar to that of Serenity. 11

Adreira walked with Aridous, never once thinking about the other people. Never once thinking about what she was doing. It was an odd feeling, really. A trance-like state, some would describe it, but Adreira was completely conscious about what she was doing. 12

Aridous stumbled a bit, but sure enough, he was caught. Adreira wouldn't let him get injured. No, that wasn't how things were going to work. Whatever Aridous wanted was what he got; he wouldn't even need to ask more than once. 13

"Lord Aridous, I never found out... Did you ever hurt Drakkien for what he did to your sister?" 14

Aridous looked up at Adreira and tried not to laugh. "No one in a long time has called me that." Aridous closed his eyes and tried to remember what happend. What happend that thousand years ago. 15

"I should have done something to him; I would have done something to him but . . . I don't think I did anything. I was too much in my own grief to care about anything else." 16

Aridous turned around to see if anyone was following them. It seemed that everyone just watched them. "I lost touch with him. I'm sure he's haveing a good afterlife." 17

Aridous and Adreira walked around the corner and walked for what seemd like hours talking.18

When Rayyeter saw Serenity, he stopped dead in his tracks, nearly choking with his gasping. What is she doing here? Why must I be reminded of the things I've lost all the time.? He wanted to run up to her, asking if she knew what happened to his other friends of old, but she dissappeared before he could even try. 19

And then Aridous and Adreira walked away, taking a different route to the seal. ...Now what are we to do? 20

Rayyeter regarded Kyan, still somewhat sheaken by seeing Serenity. "I told him to go defend the seal, as he was fighting with the Doma soldiers. What his true intentions are, none can tell." 21

This time my friends won't be taken from me, you evil bastards that call yourselves gods. 22

Kyan glanced at Rayyeter and sensed his emotions of both anger and surprise. 23

He walked away, disappearing into the darkness to find the location of Illion and the sealed gateway of magic. 24

Tiera ordered her squad of soldiers to go in large groups and tied very long ropes to one of the boulders outside, just so none of the bafoons would remain trapped in the ruins. 25

Tiera went inside first, holding one of the ropes and was followed by the group of soldiers she assigned to go with her. 26

Teskan followed after Serenity, feeling the still dominate need to protect his little sister, even in her womanhood. She was new to all this drama, and even though she was likely making good descisions, he had to be at her side to be there in case anything should happen to her. He just wouldn't be able to live with himself if she died on his watch. 27

He rounded a corner and jogged up to the side of his sister. She was still holding Aridous' body along side of Kyan. Aridous, although healed partially by the pressence of Serenity, was still in terrible shape. 28

'Serenity...that name seems so familiar from when Adreira was studying ancient past,' Teskan thought to himself, much to Adreria's analytic stare. 29

"So, sis," Teskan said. "What's all this history about with Aridous and Serenity? And why does Rayyeter seem to fit into this showhow too?"30

"Donalbain, your call. Follow him or not?" 31

Donalbain stood still in disgust while everyone walked away to help Aridous through the darkness of the maze. Donalbain thought about all the death Aridous had caused, all he had destroyed, and all the evil still running through his veins. No, he could not follow him, he was a risk to the cause. He would never be completely good, and it was not worth trying to trust a heart that was corrupt. "No, I will not follow him," he said with determination though few were there to listen to him. 32

He started to turn to the opposite direction of the maze, when suddenly he saw a flash before his eyes. It seemed the magic of this area had created an image, an image Donalbain's heart yearned to see and ask for guidance from. Darius stood before him in his glorious armor, his long cape flying behind him. Donalbain took a step in his direction and then stopped. Darius was shaking his head with solemn disappointment, and just as soon as he had appeared, he vanished and the light was hidden in the darkness. Donalbain stood still a moment and sighed heavily, understanding his brother's message. I had always wanted to be like you, but could never be so forgiving. He turned around, facing the path that Aridous had taken. But this time, I will be... He started running after the others, no longer fearing the empty shadows. 33

Kyan wondered around aimlessly through the darkness and guessing where he should be going. Since the magic in the ruins were so great, it blocked his ability to sense anyone close by or use any such forms of magic. 34

Tiera held the rope firmly in her hands as she guided it through the temple. Groups of soldiers had gone other ways, also carrying a rope since the bafoons intelligence were almost the same as a rock. 35

She wondered through the darkness, not being able to use her Detect Good natural ability to find any source of the other people who had entered the ruins before. 36

Tiera dropped her the rope and her soldiers barely being able to see her from the illuminating torch light shouted, "Captain? What are you doing? You can't let go of the rope or else you'll be lost!" 37

Tiera snatched a torch away from one of the soldiers, "I'm going on my own from here. You all head back outside. I cannot risk putting you all into danger." 38

"Captain!" The soldiers cried. 39

Tiera spun aruond to glare at them and from her glare, the soldiers immediately cowered and ran outside without saying another word. 40

Tiera turned back around and walked into the deep darkness. 41

"I will find the seal myself and break it. No more will stop me!" 42

Donalbain stumbled through the darkness of the labyrinth, searching hopelessly for the others. Donalbain had never felt so lost in the depths of this maze. Nevertheless, he sprinted onward, his hope and determination never fading. Suddenly, he paused as he realized that the air felt freer, no longer pressed between the walls of the maze. He looked around carefully, but his vision could not pierce the everlasting darkness. He had never felt so alone. His fear began to choke him. His heart was pounding like the drumbs of war. He could hear only silence. He stood still, frozen in this dark chamber, his hand trembling, the cold wrapping itself about him. 43

But suddenly, he realized how to overcome the darkness. He drew Kyan's mighty blue sword, the Garservisus, and it began to glow, lighting up the great area. He looked up at the far wall and saw a glorious sight. A golden gate, with silver torches stood mightily before him. It was the gate to the Seal. Donalbain smiled as he realized he had finally reached the Seal itself. 44

But then he looked around and saw scattered bones lying on the floor, and remnants of death. He heard a sudden movement behind him. He heard a slow, heavy breathing. He was not alone... He spun around, but a great force knocked Donalbain to the ground, and sent the Garservisus loose from his hand. His anxious breathing quickened, his fear heightened as a great black dragon emerged from the shadows, hovering over him, with sweeping black wings and fiery red eyes. It almost seemed to be smirking at Donalbain as it raised its great claw. This creature was the defender of the Seal, the last fiend of magic. Just as the claw began to fall upon Donalbain, a blade came from the darkness and struck at it. And then, Donalbain could see a mysterious dark figure before him, holding the dragon back fiercely. Donalbain saw blood dripping from his black shirt. The man held two katanas. "Illion...?" 45

Illion shook his head fiercely as he swung his blade at the dragon, and shouted back at Donalbain, his voice echoing through the darkness. "Run... This is up to me..."46