Shadow of the Past (Chapter XVII)

Chapter XVII: The Ultamite Sacrafice 1

Aridous looked at Kyan with burning eyes. "Even in my weak physical stae my mental abilites have sky rocketed. I will stay with Illion. I will make him the sacrifice that the world needs." 2

Aridous picked up his staff and as he was doing so the shadows of the temple swallowed the staff and turned it intot he Hell's Fire sword. 3

"While Illion is prepareing himself I will fight off the Opaguam. As Tiara tried to harness the magic of this place, I will succedd. All of you! Go now. Seperate and attack as many of the Opaqum as you can. I'll get the ones that slip through." 4

Aridous closed his eyes and started focusing on the spell to drain the magic fromt he temple. "Ready, Illion?" he asked silently. 5

Is he dying?... 6

Blood still trickling from his mouth, Rayyeter coughed again. What seemed like an eternity had only been about ten minutes. He opened his eyes, and saw through blurry vision he was being supported. He didn't have to look to know it was Donalbain. 7

"While Illion is prepareing himself I will fight off the Opaquin. Aridous said. 8

He saw his katanas on the ground, covered in his own drying and sticky blood. "Prepare himself for what?" Rayyeter rasped. He tried to move, but only rewarded himself with blinding pain. "I must help. If there are Opaquin, I must fight." He leanedf his head forward, about all the movement he could do. This isn't me. I am not this worthless, am I? 9

Angry with his own weakness, Rayyeter snarled. Despite his own pain, he stood through gritting teeth. He was wobbly at first, yet he kept his balance. Not my time to do yet. No. Not for a long time. "I need my katanas," he said, voice a little stronger. "But moreso, I need a bit of water." He said as he struggled to keep balance once more. He sat on the ground, of his own choice, and rested the little he could. 10

Teskan turned to his sister, after getting to his feet after all of that last commotion with Nollie's darker half. He was going to have some bruises later on, for sure, but the job here at the Magic Seal was still no over yet. The Opaqun army was still presising on breaking the seal for their own selfish purposes. Teskan, Adreira, Nollie, Kyan, and maybe Rayyeter seemed to be the only ones that were going to be in the front lines for this fight. Illion, Aridous, and Donalbain were staying back to proceed with the sacrifice of the Magic Seal. The army was likely to be very large and very powerful, but this was no longer the time to give and call it quits. They were at the finish line, so to speak, and if they had already fought through this much, they could fight through to the end. 11

Teskan clutched his axe firmer. He knew that this coming fight may mean that he may not come out alive... 12

...but it was a fight worth fighting for as far as he was concerned... 13

"Brother, I think it's time for Adreska to make an appearance again," Adreira said to him, holding Nollie in her arms still. "We can't win when we're seperate." 14

"No, Adreira," Teskan grinned waving his axe to his side. "You have too much to lose if Adreska is defeated. I'll go with the group, you stay here and tend to Nollie. If any soldiers make their way through, then they're all yours..." 15

Teskan started for the labryinth maze, his determination set and focused. This was it, the final fight. Everything was going to be decided in these last fights. The very nature and survival of all life on the planet was at stake... 16

"NO!" Adreira yelled, running in front of Teskan. "Don't go attacking all noble and hero-ish. You're just being arrogant again. You wont last five minutes ou there against an army that size. We need to be...together. We need to be Adreska. She's the only one capible of handling this and coming out alive." 17

Teskan looked down at his sister, a bit of anger and concern for her. She was in love with his rival, and she need to come out of this alive in order to be with him. Why now, of all times, was she trying to throw all of that away for her brother's safety... 18

'Becuase...I've been her role-model, mentor, and guardian for all her life. I'm the only one she's ever really loved dearly enough to do anything for. Even the love and bond with Nollie isn't enough for her to betray her brother...' Teskan thought with a sigh. Apparently, Teskan had overestimated how much his sister's changed. She still needs him, even now... 19

"...Fine. We'll fuse. But at the first sign of our lives about to be lost, we de-fuse and you get to safety. Alright?" he said to her, hearing the flaws in his own words at that very moment. If they got into that kind of danger, it would all over before de-fusion even had a chance. 20

"Sure," Adreira said, holding up her bracelet. They both touched the gem on each of the bracelets and the fusion occured. 21

The walls and path of the labyrinth was lit up momentarily by the light of the acting fusion, but only lasted a short time before it decreased and left the one known as Adreska standing near the exit of the maze. She was ready to brawl and fight with everything she had. 22

"Come when you can, Nollie," she said, turning her head and smiling at him. "Those soldiers are going to need a proper welcoming..." 23

And at that she ran into the labyrinth with both her weapons drawn... 24

More shouts of war came from beyond the dark corridors of the maze. Illion shook his head softly at Kyan, and put his own hand on Kyan's shoulder now. "I am certain about my decision, so long as all of you can remember me... Rather, remember who I became. I shall not fear death if I may die knowing that I did still have good in my heart, and that I found that good and acted upon it." He smiled deeply and warmly. Never had his smile seemed so genuine. This decision to die was the first thing that actually made him happy in years, the first thing he ever was certain about. "I'm lucky to even have this chance." 25

For the first time he knew what he was doing, and was glad. He came to the gate itself, still smiling. He slowly reached for the handle of the gate with one hand, and then stopped as if he had remembered something crucial. He spun back around and looked at his hand. The silver ring with the engraved emerald he had taken from Darius was still on his finger. He pried it off then and tossed it through the darkness to Donalbain. Donalbain caught it and smiled back at Illion, his voice stuttering, trying to say all the things he had left unsaid, "Thank you... Despite everything, I'm glad you're here." Illion nodded with that same smile but said nothing. 26

He then sighed again and looked at the group. "I'm glad you all could be with me. You have ended my solitude. You have made me what I am. But our journey together is not over yet," he said as he heard the faint sound of marching footsteps coming closer to the chamber, "Protect this gate while I am within. Keep it shut at all costs. The last ranks of the Opaqun are coming, along side all other soldiers seeking the restoration of magic. Doma was not the final battle. It shall be here, before the Seal itself." He then opened the door and white light flooded from it, a deluge engulfing Illion, Aridous and Donalbain. They stepped into the light slowly, and then the gate closed slowly behind them, and they were lost to sight in the chamber of the Magic Seal.27

Before Illion opened the gate, Kyan quickly sheathed his sword and suddenly transformed, revealing his true form that of a dragon creature. The blue glowing light from the sword was disappated now and the only light was coming from the gate itself, but only illuminated the outline of Kyan's figure. 28

He held Tiera's unconscious body over his shoulder. 29

Kyan ran from the chamber and stopped to turn around to shout to Illion in an echoing voice, "I will come to visit the ruins in your memory, Knight of Doma. Farewell." 30

Kyan dashed through the ruins chambers and snatched up Nollie's body and he shouted back to Adreska, "I'll escape with him and bring him to safety. I will not be able to come back to help you." 31

Kyan continued to run, smashing through and shoving Opaqun soldiers with tremendous force out of his way. 32

He finally came to where the light of daylight came through a doorway and emerged outside of the ruins. 33

He set down Nollie, whom was struggling to free of Kyan's strong grip, "Let me go! I must save Adreira!" 34

When Nollie finally looked upon Kyan, a sense of a small fear and bewilderment filled his mind as he gazed upon the massive creature. 35

Kyan set down Nollie and spoke in his gentle echoing voice, "I have faith that Adreira and Teskan will come out alive. Besides, I battered some of the soldiers on my way out." 36

Kyan's face was concealed by a mask covered with strange golden designs and he bore strange elegant armor. 37

Nollie looked down at Kyan's gauntlets to see that the creature's hands were massive in size and the rest of his body was almost complete muscle. 38

Kyan set down Tiera's body onto the ground. 39

He turned to catch Nollie's stare, "It's not that everyday you see an Archon is it?" 40

Kyan stretched out his arms and spread out his giant silver dragon wings to stretch. 41

Physically, Nollie should not have been able to continue. He was sliced to the skull on damn-near the whole left side of his head, his left shoulder had a two inch deep gash that spread apart as he movedhis arms. Swords slices wept through the tears in his shirt. He'd already found his answers, he'd already fought his demons, but there was one thing that he still had to fight for; Adreira. He knew she was somewhere on the other side of the immense battlefield. 42

Back in the ruins, Nollie had semi-consciously took note on what occured. Rayyeter showed up and slayed the guardian of the seal, now Donalbain and Aridous were leading Illion to become one with the seal in order to move it to a safer location. He would be lost, but he was willing to sacrifice for the cause. 43

As was Nollie. The large, dragon-like creature that had saved him was terrifying but in the back of his mind he got the impression it was friendly. It warned him to stay down, but he could not. He had to find Adriera... 44

Mentally, he was ready. And that's what carried him. He leaned on his blade, struggling to get to his feet. Across the valley he saw Opaqun soldiers being massacred and decided that Teskan must be that way, so Adreira wouldn't be far behind. Withouth another word, he took off and suddenly found it easy to regain the magic power that had helped defeat his curse. He made the earth tremble beaneath the army, knocking many off balance, before rushing headlong into them, blasting fire, ice, lightning, wind, and other magic in all directions. Nothing could would stop him from reaching her... 45

Adreska tore her sword through one soldiers skull, while bring her axe down on another's arm. She had already lost count on how many unfortunate dumbasses she had killed, and she had only been just fighting for like five minutes. The coming army was massive, so it was likely that if she got out of this alive, it wasn't going to be in good condition... 46

The only good thing since she had begun fighting was that Kyan, in a new form, had picked up Nollie on his way out. It was good to know that he would at least be safe and out of harms way. Adreira will be glad to know that her lover would be waiting for her. 47

'Unless that dumbass comes back to fight for Adreira,' she thought, much along the lines of Teskan. The combined knowledge of Teskan and Adreira had its pros and cons, and the knowledge that his tough and noble spirit didn't exactly warrent him staying on the sidelines while the girl he cared about was still fighting for her life...in one form or another. 48

"Die you abomination!" yelled a soldier, running with a large duel-bladed weapon resembling a pair of scissors. Adreska sighed and spilled his guts with a fine cut with her sword. His body fell to the ground, lifeless. 49

"Didn't your mother teach you not to run with scissors?" she smirked. "It can spill someones guts...namely, yours." 50

Two more soldiers converged on Adreska, armed with spears. The first one went to stba her with the blade, but she dodged it with ease. She spun around to attack when the second spearman jabbed the blade into her right side. It was deep, but causes her to give a small scream of pain. When the first one came around for another stab, she grabbed the spear of the second attacker and drove it into the first attack. The blade cut into and through the soldiers ribcage, aming him look like something to put on a BBQ. When she spun around again, she decapitated the second attack with her axe. 51

"That's what you get, you s," she hissed as blood spilled from their wounds, dead. 52

Illion, Donalbain and Aridous stood still a moment, lost in the light of the Seal's chamber. Then the light began to recede and the legendary chamber of the Seal became visible. Each wall shined like stunning gold. The magic in the room seemed almost tangible. Torches with white flames hung loosely in the air as if floating with magic's grace. At the room's center there was a great white tree with blue and white flames swirling about it like clouds in the dawn. "What is it?" Donalbain asked as if mystified. 53

"It is the Seal," said Illion cooly as he walked toward it. "When magic is sealed, the world is in balance, and thus the world can live. Hence the tree." Then shouts of marching soldiers could be heard outside the chamber. Illion knelt down and saw a leaf of the tree on the ground, brown and crumpled. "But it is dying with the chaos surrounding it. This Seal will not last another eternity. This must be done now." 54

Donalbain swallowed and told Illion, "Go then." He then turned to Aridous who shared his sullen expression. They both knew what would come next. Killing Illion. Donalbain wondered if he could do it. 55

Illion stepped up to the platform. He let out a deep breath and then rubbed his hands together. "Ok." He said as if to reassure his confidence, "You know what to do next..." Donalbain nodded but still had trouble believing it. Illion then put both his hands upon the trunk of the gleaming white tree and his eyes closed softly. The white and blue flames about the tree stopped swirling and began to channel into Illion. His body began to tremple and the chamber began to shake. The floating torches began to flicker. The magic in the room began to fade into Illion. Time seemed endless. 56

Suddenly the sound of thunder could be heard against the gate to the chamber. Donalbain spun around with fear and worry. The same sound came again, and he saw force press against the Sealed Gate. Soldiers outside were trying to ram down the Sealed Gate. Donalbain wondered where the others were and how the soldiers had gotten so far. They had reached the gate, and that meant that perhaps his friends had failed. Maybe they were were already dead. Maybe he too would soon be dead...57

"Aridous walked up to the gate where the soilders where ramming and watched. "That is very rude. . . ." he said he raised his left hand through the gate and blasted dark energy toward the soilders. All that where in the area turned to stone and crumbled. 58

Aridous walked through the gate and told Donalbian to watch Illion and to make sure his sacrifice is completed. More soilders marched into the room and stoped and laughed as they spotted Aridous crouching on the floor. They charged all aorund him and they all flew backwards as she shot back up. "Ast morruk ist tue/ is tue ary'ond" the archaic words wispered in Aridous' voice all around the temple. Aridous hands burst into a purple flame. He turned his head and watched most of the soilders stand themselves up. He thrusted large purple fire balls toward the enemy as they rushed him. 59

They immediatly burst into flame and turned to ash. Teira finaloly made it into the chamber and saw Aridous standing proudly. She walked toward him weakly with her weapon drawn. The flames slowly died as he walked toward her with out stretched arms. "My love. . . ." he begane. 60

Donalbain watched Aridous walk up to her in shock. "No! I new it! That damn bastard!" The two held eachother tightly. Tiera moaned as she felt Aridous' awesome strength even in his weakend state. "Aridous," she wispered as she looked into his deep blue eyes. "We can break the Seal now! We can have the magic for ourselves!" 61

Aridous smiled at her sweetly. "Yes," He looked past Tiera and saw a siloute shadow of a female centaure slowly walk by at the end of the hall and stoped to see what was going on. "yes, we can have the magic." Aridous bent his head foward and wispered sweetly in her ear. In Hell. . . . 62

Aridous forced in hands on Teira's cheeks and forced a deep kiss on her lips. Her eyes widdend in fear as tears oof pain rolled down her cheeks. Her lips felt like they were on fire! 63

Aridous forced his tongue into her mouth and she screamed louder. Ardious steped back and let go of her. He finished he kiss. HE wiped Tiera's blood from his mouth and grinned evily. 64

Tiera's mouth and lips where chared black, cracked, and bleeding. She feel to her knees and with a shacking hand touched her mouth as she cried. 65

"How's Illion!?" Aridous demanded. 66

Rayyeter saw the rush of oncoming Opaquin, and knew he must fight, despite his weakened state. Fleeing now would be foolish. Not after coming this far. He bent and picked up his two katanas, still caked in his own blood. And this time, I won't need any spells. 67

Two Opaquin had noticed him feebly trying to get up, and closed in on him. "That was the last mistake you two will ever make" Rayyeter said as he suddenly jumped to his feet, grinning. The two soldiers' eyes quickly grew wide with fear, having seem him summon the yolchol earlier, and seen there comrades get slaughtered by the twin katanas. 68

Before they could even turn around to flee, Rayyeter swiped both swords out, crossing them in front of his face. The two soldiers fell donw, heads rolling swiftly away from their feet. 69

He jogged over to The door to the seal, where most of the fighting was taking place, and entered the fray... 70

The corpses of the dead seemed to line the chamber. Donalbain sighed as he turned to look at Illion, still by the Seal. There would be one more body among the dead... 71

Suddenly the gleaming white torches in the Sealed Chamber flickered and then went out. The white tree at the room's center began to shrivel up, and its leaves began to fall. The overwhelming sense of magic in the Sealed Chamber now seemed faded. Illion had picked up the glow of the sealed power. He weakly began to turn around, almost shining with the power inside him. He stumbled forward and down the steps from the chamber. He slowly approached Donalbain, smiling warmly and courageously the whole time. All that could be heard was the soft sound of Illion's feet upon the hard earth. Donalbain could almost taste the nerves in his gut. There was fear everywhere in the room, except in Illion. A beautiful sense of glory, purpose, and courage seemed to illuminate from him. 72

He suddenly came to a halt, eye to eye with Donalbain. He was still smiling but his body was trembling convulsively. His voice seemed weak as if he were struggling with each word, "The power inside me is already taking me. You must do this." Donalbain could not move. He felt his heart pounding like the beat to a melancholy song. He shook his head softly, unable to bring himself to kill Illion. Illion raised his hand and put it on Donalbain's shoulder. "I've chosen this path. It is the first good thing that has happened to me. I will die knowing there was good in my heart, and that is not common." He paused a moment as he heard the sound of Opaqun soldiers running down the hall. "Now, avenge your brother's death and kill me with his sword." 73

Donalbain finally felt courage and smiled at the thought of Darius, "No." He knelt down and picked up Illion's own katana, the same blade that had killed Darius, "You are no longer his enemy, but an ally to his cause. And as so, you shall die by the same blade that killed him..." Illion nodded and smiled softly, truly touched by Donalbain's kindness. He took up Illion's katana weakly. Tears were flowing down his cheek. Though it hurt, he knew this was right. "Thank you..." Donalbain said a final time. 74

Illion laughed with that same smile, "No. Thank you all... For giving my life meaning..." Donalbain smiled back at Illion one last time. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he plunged the katana into Illion's gut. Illion crumpled over the sword and fell stiffly to the ground. His body lay still on the ground, lifeless and cold. Nevertheless, Illion's expression was still warm and determined even in death. He had died smiling.75