EPISODE 158: LIGHT OF THE END 4
— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7291. SEASON: COLOR FADING.
“OOOOOH! IT SEEMS A GROUP OF FIVE HAS BANDED TOGETHER TO CHALLENGE THE STUDENTS OF IMPERIUS ACADEMY! FORTUNATELY, ZIE BREAKER AND SIMRA HAVE TAKEN THE INITIATIVE TO FACE THEIR OPPONENTS TOGETHER!”
Allura watched the chaotic battle taking place. The Challengers found themselves on a plateau, surrounded by hundreds of beasts in the forest below. The plateau was circular, ring-shaped, and fit the description of the event.
The Challenger’s Ring.
The simple actions Announcer Zuud set off caused a chaotic fight to break out. The moment the ground began to move, the Challengers tore at one another in hopes of rising to that top spot—with several being eliminated in the first few seconds. She watched the names she mentioned, and the actions they took.
Abi Kob attempted to slip into the background but was caught in an ongoing battle against other Challengers. She desperately dodged the attacks that weren’t aimed at her but involved her anyway. It was clear her frontal combat skills weren’t up to par, and the young woman served more as an assassin rather than a warrior. Allura could tell it was only a matter of time before an attack struck and critically wounded or killed the poor girl. If she was smart then…
“ABI KOB HAS DROPPED OUT OF THE FIGHT AFTER BEING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ONGOING BATTLES!”
Allura nodded, it was just as Announcer Zuud said. She was smart enough to know what battles she could and should take. She would last in the desert of Az’Dawn.
A bubble surrounded Abi the moment she injected mana into the medallion placed around her neck. Attacks struck it but to no avail and in moments, the bubble dissolved, and the girl disappeared with it.
“FOURTEEN FIGHTERS ARE NOW LEFT AFTER AN EXPLOSIVE OPENING!”
Khalid Janko was two meters in height and towered over most of the competition. His weapon was a simple two-handed club that served as conduits for both his Base Attack and Defense. He’d slain two of the twenty competitors in the first few moments and, in doing so, attracted the attention of a few wary parties. They’d managed to score a few light hits on the giant, but nothing serious—not yet.
Allura turned her attention to Zie and Simra—and kept her mind away from the earlier conversation. She still didn’t understand what Prince Lawruthian thought he understood. So for now, she decided it was a ruse to attempt to shake her mind for the negotiations later. It was a smart one, but Allura Grasci Az’Dawn was not the same irrational girl who once visited Edryan.
Now, she was an irrational woman .
There was a difference.
She continued to watch the screen, her eyebrows raising in surprise at the turn of events to play.
Prince Lawruthian shot from his seat, his aura going chaotic, and Allura’s eyes narrowed. She felt a powerful wave sweep over her, and Allura was on her feet in moments, a breath away from activating the [Sin of Wrath]. What stopped her was Aunt Chine, as the woman held a hand on her arm, although she too stood at the ready.
Allura’s eyes flickered to the screen and back to Prince Lawruthian as she recalled what caused him to lose control. She immediately could see whatever mental skill he used broke its effects due to shock. A shock that started from the events that just occurred. She smirked as she realized what happened, and before her Aunt could stop her, she spoke.
“It seems I was wrong about the youths of the magi… at least one is exactly like the youths of the yorimen—to think they would be found at Imperius Academy.”
She watched as Simra, a student of Imperius Academy, was pushed easily into the air--her body falling from the cliff’s edge by the hands of her fellow student. The screen showed a face of blank shock, before changing right as Simra landed into the pile of snarling wolves below.
Demigoddess Margret gently placed a hand on the shoulder of Prince Lawruthian—Allura hadn’t even seen her move. The wave of power emanating from the young prince was restricted by another, kept within the room, from affecting the inhabitants of the Colosseum.
“Prince Lawruthian,” Demigoddess Margret began.
Then, as if it was all a fluke, the Prince’s aura tightened up and returned to normal. He turned away from the screen he was watching, and for the first time, Allura could see his face.
His eyes were redder than usual, the gold remained only as a slim contrast—at least, Allura thought so.
Her Aubrey-colored eyes remained focused on Prince Lawruthian. Although he’d recovered his state, his state of mind was still clearly affected.
“I apologize… that was…,” Prince Lawruthian paused, searching for a word. “…unbecoming of me.”
Allura nodded to show her acceptance of the apology, but the smile she kept internally only grew wider. Prince Lawruthian hadn’t met her eyes. No matter what, he’d always kept eye contact in their conversations, and if not, he was usually moving or doing something. This time, however, his gaze was kept away and focused on the screen while Allura’s eyes were focused on him.
“Ahem,” Aunt Chine cleared her throat. Allura glanced away.
There was only one question on her mind, and the time was ticking as the opportunity slipped away.
How could she exploit this?
Her thoughts drifted to her mission, the [Caravan of Death], and the battles she’d undergone to get here. A place where those in Ma’vel, her siblings, father, and anyone outside of her clan, would not care if she died. All she was, was a convenient tool. Whether it was to her sister, as she used her hands to slay her brother, marking her as a [Kin Slayer]. Or if it was for her father, a toss-away item sent on a mission that many deemed would fail. She saw the face of her mother, the same face that accompanied her daily—almost haunting her to seek revenge. Her mother and her sister were twins and sometimes, Allura found it difficult to look at her Aunt and not see her mother.
It all… angered her…
The powerlessness.
When could Allura Grasci Az’Dawn say she possessed the power to dictate her future? When could Princess Allura be the one to decide the fate of others on a whim? When could she stand up to her half-brothers and sisters and use them as pawns in the chess game for the throne? When could she possess the power to slay her… [Heavenly Father]?
Prince Lawruthian had it good . She looked over Edryan—green Edryan, and how even during the upcoming winter months the grass still held green to it. The forest, the country, still held life in it. He was surrounded by powerful Prestiges and Demigoddesses with a loving, caring mother. A mother whose love transcended her into becoming the Demigoddess of Love. His every whim was easily taken care of and answered. His wealth easily put Allura to shame. They both held the statue of ‘ royal ’ but their treatment by their people was worlds apart. Even now, only Aunt Chine remained as an advisor by her side. She had Tian, but he held responsibilities to his territory. Az’Dawn was a broken desert, a cobblestone of people shattered by Az’s actions centuries ago. Shattered as was Allura when she watched, powerless to prevent the death of her mother.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
She wanted power—and, she was willing to sacrifice plenty of things to get her hands on it.
“Prince Lawruthian,” she spoke suddenly, measured, to call his attention. An action that drew the attention of the demigoddesses and Prestige classes in the room.
All eyes were on her, but for a moment, before they returned to the screen to commentate to the audience of the Colosseum. Prince Lawruthian forced his eyes to drag away from the screen as he met the gaze of Princess Allura.
“The Az’Dawn capital is in a precarious situation, its ruler is under a trial only specific items of value can help them with—this leaves the throne in a very…,” she paused, searching for an appropriate term. Her Aunt turned to her, unsure of what Allura was doing. This was, in no shape or form, part of the plans they discussed.
Allura ignored her gaze and continued—upholding eye contact with the visibly distracted Prince. “…precarious state. My half-brothers and sisters are all vying for an eventuality they believe will come after the events of my visit here are confirmed. Help me prove them wrong—and in doing so, secure a partnership against the future.”
Demigoddess Margret turned away from the conversation and opened her mouth to interject. The demigods and Prestige were the only worry Allura held. She did not know how her words may have them act—and if she knew demigods… and, she knew one very well, then their power freed them from certain restrictions.
“And what is it you would be looking for,” Prince Lawruthian asked, preventing Margret from interjecting.
Allura let out a mental sigh of relief and focused completely on the Prince. In the background, Announcer Zuud continued to discuss the ongoing battle with the two Prestiges.
“A hundred and fifty bottles of [Edryani Honey], of course, I am willing to pay for it at whatever price you set. However, what I am interested in is the magi-tech you once spoke of.”
“THE CHALLENGERS CONTINUE TO DIMINISH IN NUMBERS—WHO WILL REMAIN TO CLAIM THE FIRST VICTORY OF MANY TO COME?”
One by one, the Challengers were eliminated either by submission and injecting mana into their medallions to be taken from the battlegrounds or by death. There was no in-between and no other option for them to take. It was voluntary to enter the Challenger’s Ring, and should you die, then there was no one to blame but themselves.
“WITH ONLY FIVE CHALLENGERS REMAINING, WHO WILL BE THE FIRST WINNER OF OUR COPPER DIVISION,” Announcer Zuud announced.
“Will it be Khalid Janko, our towering giant with an impressive performance? Perhaps it will be Zie Breaker, our unexpected… egotistical mage who’s managed to secure himself among the top contestants. He’s managed to dismiss a number of his competitors through trickery and skill. Coro Ante seems to have become the crowd favorite. He has allowed most of his opponents the time to properly activate their medallion and escape!”
“You do not possess the qualifications,” Prince Lawruthian said, shaking his head.
Her anger… Wrath… increased.
“ BUT… I can help you rise to that stage.”
Allura felt a weight on her body she hadn’t known about slowly disperse. A chance, this was a chance to fix everything about her current situation in Az’Dawn. Before she could speak, the Prince of Edryan continued. His words made the warm blood in Allura’s veins chill.
“If I am understanding correctly—the [Heavenly Father] or someone of great importance to him, needs [Edryani Honey] for its illusory effects to level up—no matter, what they expect will not pass. It will not work, not in the manner they believe, should they be a Prestige or Demigod. The effect, although works on both, is much less drastic on them than say you or me. And, if you believe it can help you break that threshold all who wish to rise above mortality face… then you are sorely mistaken.”
Prince Lawruthian stood from his seat and walked toward the windows of the floating room, as he showed himself, the cheers of the crowd grew only louder. He turned to Allura, a smile on his face, and beckoned her over.
Slowly, she stood, leaving her Aunt and everyone seated to watch the finalists face against one another. There was a lot on her mind, but ultimately, she was just confused. However, it was best to be close to the Prince should she need to activate the [Sin of Wrath]. Once she took a spot near him, he gestured to the people below as a simple sound isolation barrier surrounded them.
“We are… not the same. They would die for me… most without hesitation. I do not believe many in Az’Dawn would reciprocate the same for you . To them, I Am Her. Perhaps in a different format, but My Words Are Her Words. We are not… the same,” he repeated before continuing. “Edryan will wage a war against the continent not out of a desire to conquer it, but to save it. ”
Allura listened. His words sounded partly mad—Underneath Below who was she kidding, his words sounded completely mad, but she would not underestimate what a [Chosen] of a Goddess represented. As they stood there for several moments, the cheering hadn’t once stopped nor lowered in volume.
“Our Realm, Genesis, is shattered and slowly falling apart. Have you never wondered if there are other continents on the vast seas? What lies at the ends of the oceans? I have , but now I believe I will not see an answer I like.”
He turned to her and waited until her eyes were locked with his before speaking again. “We are not the… same. I do not say this to belittle you or play for a position of power in our conversation. I have no need to, I only do so for entertainment. You lack wealth, followers, resources, and opportunities all but one. Right here, right now, is the only opportunity you have to change whatever situation you are in Allura Grasci Az’Dawn—and I, Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani, am the only one who can help you .”
Allura’s blood felt ice-cold as she held his gaze. They weren’t close, close enough for rumors to spread, at least. But, the way they locked gazes may have given the impression of intimacy from a distance.
“So I will.”
Allura blinked, once… twice… thrice… unsure if she properly heard Prince Lawruthian. Her mind was still attempting to process everything he said. Her own mental skills slow in response. She had to say something… ANYTHING!
“Then hel-,” she began, words cut off as Lawruthian sharply turned.
She too, turned to see what caught his attention, and her breath caught at the sight she saw. There were tens of large screens throughout the Colosseum each displaying a single moment in the [Green Forest] artificial dungeon.
Light.