“You’ve caused me quite a ruckus you know!” Lady Urastini blows a puff of smoke from her pipe, pausing at the door of the barracks. “I had to leave quite an important meeting to help you!” The benefactor twirl’s the pipe between her middle and index finger. Taurise sighs and holds the door for the aristocratic woman. “Not to mention you look like a mess!” She teases as they step out into the dim city streets. The sun fell during the hours Taurise spent fighting and being interrogated. Now, the streets are illuminated by the full moon, lights coming from the windows above them, and the dim street lamps.
“…I can’t help that I was attacked,” Taurise argues, carrying an unconscious Amira on his back. The warrior’s arm is no longer covered in blood, but he is still covered with scrapes, and his shirt is torn on the right shoulder. “Luckily, I could keep the damage to a minimum,” He points out. “And I kept Serian contained so he couldn’t hurt any civilians.”
“Yes, but I still have to fill out the paperwork! There’s so much work to do when a mess like this crops up!” Lady Urastini chuckles, standing outside the while her driver, a short and bald man dressed in a suit, opens the door for her. She steps into the backseat, settling down on the right side. “Anyways, you and the girl will both need a place to rest after that!” She gestures for Taurise to enter the car with her. “Set the girl down in the middle.”
Taurise gently places Amira in the middle seat, her head hanging to the right. He takes a seat on the left, closing the door. “Thanks for helping me again,” Taurise thanks his benefactor sheepishly, running his hand through his hair as the car begins moving, bumping on the underdeveloped roads of the city, the only lights coming from the dim lamps and the headlights of the car. “But why did you help me?”
“Taurise Aniren, Fist of Justice,” Urastini recites, the same name Serian spoke in the sewers.
“That was my master’s title,” Taurise corrects her. “I never took it.”
“Yes, but your master was a great hero.” The radio crackles, and an upbeat swing song begins playing on the radio. “And you have shown potential that rivals his. Having you in my debt means I can be at ease about the security of the city, should I need to call on you,” The noblewoman explains as the car turns the corner. The streets are dimmer then before, and the only light comes from the headlights of the car and a few lanterns outside the small houses. “Having allies is key if I’m ever going to protect revitalize this city,” She states her intentions bluntly, watching old rundown buildings full of holes pass by as the boxlike car slowly goes through city.
“Astera is pretty stingy when it comes to territories they’ve conquered,” Taurise grumbles bitterly. “It’s inhumane for people to live like this!” He declares, looking at the Urastini thought the reflection in the window.
“You would be correct,” Urastini sighs. “But that isn’t something I can fix right now, especially with Astera pulling all its resources to defend against the Cursed,” She admits, her eyes downcast. A few awkward moments of silence pass, and she turns her head back to Taurise. “Is your injury acting up?”
Taurise rolls his right shoulder. “A bit. I got hit in the shoulder a few times by the Cursed down there,” A sharp pain shoots from his upper arm to his neck. “Agh!” He winces. “I’ll call in the physician to see you tonight,” Urastini tells him. “But the girl that you were with… I’m quite curious. You’ve always kept to yourself when out and about the city,” The noblewoman straightens up in her seat, peering down at the ragged looking girl passed out next to her.
“It’s kinda complicated,” Taurise starts, leaning forward, pressing his chin into his hands. “But I don’t feel comfortable sharing the details yet. I’m not even sure what her deal is yet,” He explains, glancing at the brown-haired pickpocket from the corners of his eyes. I haven’t even figured out how someone using powers without being initiated or cursed is even possible, let alone having such a powerful soul as well, Taurise racks his head, thinking back to the books he read. The connection between the human body, the soul, and the spectral void is something that few can use. Even then, the connection needs to be opened by a powerful third party like a god, He recall. No god would have left her with a power like that either. And I’m sure the Stone of Indar certainly wasn’t used on her…
“Aghhhh I give up!” Taurise shoots up in his seat, rubbing his hands violently through his hair. He calms down a moment later, letting out a sigh. “I’m going to keep an eye on her for the time being. For all I know, she could’ve been Serian’s target.”
“Quite possible,” Urastini notes. “Though I’d advise against bringing such a young girl on your journey. If I might recall, you were on deaths door when we met” She advices, her tone deathly serious. “She’s still a child, regardless of whether or not she’s exceptional in some way.”
“Not my brightest moment,” Taurise grimaces, recalling the fight that led to such injuries. “I wasn’t strong enough then,” He admits sheepishly. “But… I must stop the gods. No matter what it costs!” He smiles, his eye’s narrowed to a glare.
“Can you even achieve your ambitions?” The noblewoman wonders aloud. “The gods and their Cursed are no simple foe, even for a fighter of your stature,” Urastini explains, lighting up her pipe. “And even then, would avenging your master even satisfy you?”
Taurise whips his head towards Urastini, his fists clenched. “What would you know about how I feel?! “
“Your anger, your hatred towards the gods, and your desire to avenge your late master. It’s written all over your face,” Urastini states, observing the smoke slowly floating upwards from her pipe. “Though, I quite understand the feeling. I’ve done things to get ahead that I’m still ashamed for,” The politician admits, tipping her head to the side.
Taurise looks away, staring out the window. The slums have slowly morphed into a green countryside, with farms covering the landscape, with fields of crops bathed in the summer moon’s pale light. In the distance, sits a large estate, almost like a small castle, on the top of a hill.
Urastini’s estate.
----------------------------------------
Three figures are gathered at a large stone table in a dark room, with ancient stone walls only held together by a miracle. Along the walls, dim green flames barely illuminate the room enough to see outlines, with a larger green flame illuminated the figures at the table. The first figure, a young man, is hunched over the table, looking over a large map of Aestera, with multiple notes scribbled in an ancient language. The second figure is a short, almost childlike figure, sitting atop the table, facing towards the wall. They rock their legs back and forth, eyes closed. The final figure is a woman seated in a half-finished stone throne, resting her head on her right hand, left leg thrown over the side of the throne.
“Serian is dead…” The child speaks, opening their eyes. They are a boy with ghostly pale white skin, short black hair brushed to the side, and pure, pitch black eyes like Serian.
“Hmmmm….” The woman sits up lazily in her throne, resting her head on her shoulder. “The hunter, correct? You sent him one to find that Aniren boy, right?” She asks, speaking slowly. “Hauuughh…” The woman yawns, closing her eyes for a few seconds.
“Shouldn’t Serian’s Shadowform have made Aniren’s Overdriver useless?” The man looks up from the map. He narrows his hazel eyes, which blends with his almond skin and short black hair. “There’s no way he could have-“
“Well, it happened!” The child whips around, standing up on the table, his pitch-black eyes looking down on the darker skinned man. “And… his last memories…” The boy closes his eyes. “A girl showed up to help him… then there was a bright light….” He winces. The boy then bits his lip suppressing a whimper. “So, so bright…”
“What happened next!” The man slams his hands on the table with a loud THUD. Grey energy crackles in his hands.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” The child screeches. Dark hands stretch out from the walls, piercing the man right in the chest.
“Ugrh!” He grunts, the dark tendrils lifting the man. He grabs at the darkness, the grey energy spreading, turning them to dust. He falls to the ground, clutching his chest, panting. He sits there, resting on his right knee for a few moments, before standing back up. Where a gaping chest wound once was, is unscathed skin, perfectly healed. The only sign anything had occurred is the hole in his now blood-stained black shirt. “I liked this shirt,” He growls.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Serian… after the light faded, there was a big hole in his chest… just like you, Aridam, God of the Devouring Hand…” The child smiles widely, his eye’s narrowed maliciously, much like Serian. “He felt pain… then he died…”
“You tiny fucker…” Aridam clenches his fists, resting them on the table. “Don’t make me-“
“Stop interrupting my nap…” The woman opens her eyes, glaring at the two bickering at the table.
“You always nap, Briana,” Aridam points out. “But you mentioned a girl before, Cassius,” He brings the subject back to its original subject. “Who was she?”
“I don’t know… They appeared… and suddenly lights… terrible, burning lights!” The child, Cassius, starts crying. “He died… defiled…” He sobs.
“No members of the Order should be operating in Sylvani based on our intelligence reports…” Aridam presses his index finger to his temple. “And Taurise Aniren has cut all ties with his past allies as well.”
“Could he have made a new friend?” Cassius tips his head back and forth, tapping his index finger on his chin.
“That would be unlikely,” Aridam denies, shaking his head. “Taurise Aniren has been working alone over the past three years.”
“Either way, we can take our time dealing with him…” Briana yawns. “He is no threat to our general plans as he is. We should turn our attention to the barrier,” She lectures the two. “As long as the Stone of Indar is in the hands of the Order, we will never truly destroy them…” The woman’s throne begins moving shrinking into the ground. “For now… I shall watch over my domain.” The throne, and the woman sitting upon it, are consumed by the earth.
----------------------------------------
“So, you used nearly the full extent of your abilities today?” a short bald man asks Taurise. He’s wearing a tan vest and black and white striped dress shirt. Taurise and the bald man are in a brightly lit, lavish room, sitting on leather chairs adorned with exquisite woodwork on the legs.
Taurise shakes his head. “Not even close. It was only about ten percent of my safe limit” He answers, pressing his hand to his right shoulder. “I was also hit by arrows created from spectral energy,” He adds, pointing to a small stab wound on his left wrist. It's shallow, but wide. “Other than that I didn’t sustain any other injuries.”
“Hmmmm,” The doctor flips through some papers. “Your arm was nearly fully recovered when we last met a week ago,” He notes, nibbling on the end of his pen. “two weeks recovery time is what I’m prescribing. No heavy training, which includes using your powers!”
“Thanks, Doctor Marinkus,” Taurise bows his head. “Though I was looking forward to finally getting back to training…” He sighs. “It’s been nearly six months. I’m starting to get out of shape!” He inspects his muscles, using his hand like a ruler. “I could hold form 4 for a while before…” He pouts, his arms dropping dejectedly.
“Well having to come out to check on you ever week has been quite a bother Mr.Aniren,” Dr.Marinkus scribbles on a small pad of paper. He rips the sheet off the pad and holds it out towards Taurise. “This is a prescription for some medication incase you start feeling serious pain from your shoulder. I’d advise against using it unless the pain is unbearable.”
“Thanks Doc!” Taurise takes the slip, stuffing it in his pocket. “I’ll make sure to limit myself to only 200 kilos then!” He chuckles, getting up from the bench.
Dr.Marinkus sighs. “There’s no stopping you…” He chuckles, shaking his head as Taurise leaves the room. “Wait!” He calls out, causing the warrior to freeze, and turn to face the doctor. “I may only have training in physical wounds but…” Dr.Marinkus trails off, searching for the words. “But I’ve healed many soldiers on the frontlines. I’ve seen how fighting can affect a person.” His eyes are lasered onto Taurise’s, the doctor’s expression deadly serious. “Be careful.”
“I’ll keep in mind,” Taurise answers, breaking eye contact with the doctor. As he leaves, his expression sours, his teeth clenched, and eyebrows narrowed. He tightens his fists, his knuckles turning white. People don’t understand! Taurise bites his lip. They don’t understand why I fight! They know nothing! Taurise lowers his eyes to the ground. “Friggin doctor thinking he knows everything!” he curses under his breath, stuffing his hands into his sweatpants pockets.
“Is that you Taurise?” A younger, higher pitched voice calls out.
“Ah!” Taurise flinches, nearly jumping through the ceiling. He calms down and turns around to meet the voice. Standing in the middle of the hallway wearing a faded pink nightgown is Amira. She’s rubbing her eyes, still full of sleep. Her hair a ragged mess, despite the rest of her having been cleaned.
“Oh, hey!” Taurise puts on a smile. “You sure took a nice long a nap,” He jokes, walking over towards the tired girl.
“What happened to the bad guy?! Where am I?” She wonders, looking around frantically, before calming back down. “It’s so… fancy” Amira gazes at the well decorated hallway. The walls are a mahogany color accented with white, a similar colored cabinet being the only furniture in the room.
“You were brought to Lady Urastini’s estate,” Taurise explains. “You’ve been out for a couple hours. It’s almost midnight… I think,” Taurise scans the room for a clock, but doesn’t find one. A loud, rumbling sound comes from Amira’s direction.
“Hey, is there any food?” Amira wonders coyly, her eye’s flickering in every direction, her lips pursed.
“Yeah, I’ll show you the kitchen!” Taurise smirks, gesturing with his head in the direction of the kitchen. “We’ll get you something to deal with the rumbling monster!” The scruffy fighter teases, chuckling while he walks towards the kitchen.
“H-hey!” Amira protests, unable to hide her embarrassment. She jogs over, catching up to Taurise, who breaks out into full-on laugher. “Hey, don’t make fun of me!” The young woman complains loudly.
“Your power helped me back there,” Taurise praises, walking through the doorway, leading from the lounge into the foyer. “But you used a ton of energy in that attack. Do you feel okay?” He asks, his expression softened.
“I… I feel a bit better actually,” Amira answers, closing her eyes for a second.
Taurise does a double take. “What do you mean?” He asks calmly, regaining his composure. She did seem to have a ton of unused energy, almost like a blocked dam. Taurise closes his eyes. I should check with spectral vision when I get the chance…
“Whenever I used my power before, it felt like… all of it was going through one tiny opening, and that there was a ton of energy just… sitting there, fighting itself to escape,” Amira taps her chin with her index finger, searching for the right words to explain. “Now it feels like the energy is flowing through my body, even though I’m not using it. Like whatever was in the way was removed…” She crosses her arms, her eyes looking up towards the ceiling as she thinks.
“Well, that’s certainly unusual…” Taurise wonders aloud, going down the main hall from the foyer. “I’ve heard of people whose souls have high spectral capacity but low output having issues with having energy bottled up…”
“I don’t exactly understand, but does that mean I can’t use much energy?” Amira asks, tilting her head towards Taurise.
“I can’t say for sure” Taurise answers. “But you don’t seem to have a low output. If anything, your energy output seems above average.”
“So, I’m strong?” Amira wonders, trying to figure out what Taurise is saying. “Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
“Ah!” Taurise chuckles. “I suppose I was using a ton of technical terms!” He thinks for a second. “So… think of it this way. Our souls are like a car, and the Spectral Void, where we draw energy from, is the gasoline,” He starts, motioning with his hands. “The gasoline powers the engine. Some cars can output more power or hold more gasoline. Some fill up faster while others fill up slower. Finally, some cars steer better than others, giving better control over their powers,” Taurise explains. “Is this making sense?”
“I think…?” Amira answers indecisively. “I’m starting to get the picture,” The two arrive in the kitchen, and Taurise turns the lights on. The floor and walls are made up of an old red brick, but the counters are shiny clean.
“Based on factors like this, each soul with potential is better suited to some powers then others,” Taurise continues, grabbing some pots and pans from the ceiling where they were hanging. “Mine for example has extremely high capacity, output, and refill.”
“You must be super powerful!” Amira interjects.
“Kinda. I have abysmal control. Which means the only power I can use is the Overdriver, which takes a ton of power to use,” Taurise adds, grabbing some meat and spices from the cabinets.
“Oh”
“Exactly,” Taurise nods. “Most who use the Overdriver end up below average fighters due to its limitations,” He admits, grabbing a small powder bag. “Though I’m a little bit of an exception,” He adds as he mixes spices together while throwing some vegetables in a pan with some oil. He adds some broth and puts a top on the pan.
“Smells good!” Amira comments a few moments later, her stomach growling again.
“I’ve learned a bit about cooking in my time!” Taurise boasts, smiling triumphantly. “Cooking is a useful skill to have!”
“I’ve… not been able to cook for a while…” Amira admits bashfully, looking away.
“Well, for now you can eat well,” Taurise stirs the dish, a spicy aroma drifting from it. “Lady Urastini has offered both of us a room for the time being.”
“She sounds familiar…” Amira crosses her arms, pursing her lips.
“She’s a noblewoman,” Taurise explains quickly. “I’ve helped her in the past. But going on,” He changes the subject. “I was wondering. Do you wanted to learn more about how to use your power?”
“Wait, like training?!” Amira shoots up from her seat, her eyes shining.
“Y-yeah kinda,” Taurise nods.
“Totally!” She jumps up and down, like a child receiving a toy. “I can’t wait, Master Aniren!”
Taurise chuckles. “If that’s the case, we start tomorrow!”