Digimon Empire

Chapter 8

FlaWizarmon led the pair into a small alcove coming off of the main chamber they were in, the small room was dimly lit from the glowing crystals. Michael felt slightly disturbed as they entered and saw the space. It wasn't a large room but there were two beds made of wooden frames and fluffed mattresses. Sheets made from some kind of wool and pillows made from the same material and likely stuffed with what the mattresses were filled with laid on top. Next to each of the beds was a small wooden table to be used as a nightstand. Each carefully carved with the same ornate glyphs that FlaWizarmon used when he cast spells. A small cup with water was seen on each of these nightstands. In the corner opposite the beds was a small table, carved with more of the glyphs, and two chairs which were more crudely carved with glyphs of the same style. On this table lay several books, blank paper, ink, pieces of charcoal, and small sharpened sticks. FlaWizarmon conjured a small spell on his hand and then passed his hand over the entryway and a heavy curtain materialized as a stone rod grew out of the rock and connected overhead.

"It may not be the best accommodations but it is a slight sight better than where you slept before." FlaWizarmon flashed a quick grin. "Rest now and when you awaken we'll eat, talk, and discuss where we go from here." Before departing FlaWizarmon materialized the sphere containing the Digivice, reaching into it he retrieved the legendary tool and handed it to Michael. Then without a word FlaWizarmon departed. Michael felt his stomach rumble sadly and he heard Cairomon's stomach but as he turned to face him the Digimon was already climbing into the bed closest the door. As Michael reached his own bed his head hardly touched the pillow before he'd fallen off to sleep.

Michael woke up and felt completely disoriented. He looked and saw Cairomon still deeply asleep and rolled back over himself. He was dreaming but his dreams were disturbed, anxious, and his mind was still echoing from the presence of Zeparmon. Even though the Djinn wasn't even in this Digital World he could still feel the overwhelming presence, the overwhelming power, the way the air felt heavy and the way the light drained from the glowing crystals that illuminated the cave. Michael realized he was laying awake now thinking about the encounter. He hadn't even realized he'd awoken yet he was and a small shiver ran through him. The presence of Zeparmon in the cave lingered, he could almost still feel the thickness in the air where the Djinn once was. The Djinn. A creation of Digimon by Digimon, the Divine, The Pantheon, the challenge that was yet to come. Before Michael realized it he was on his feet and walking out of the alcove, he looked around and didn't see FlaWizarmon. He walked directly to where the Djinn had been, he felt compelled to touch the ground where the glyphs had been that summoned the Djinn to this world.

"Zeparmon has that effect," FlaWizarmon's voice made Michael jump. He turned to see the flaming wizard moving toward him from some unknown location further in the chamber, "I feel the draw of his presence too. I can't explain it but it makes me want to follow him." Michael shook his head slowly as though shaking off a distasteful thought from his mind.

"How did he leave such a presence when he wasn't even in this world?' FlaWizarmon flashed a wicked grin from Michael's question.

"That is how powerful you made the Divine class Digimon. He is one of the weaker ones, even among all the Djinn. The Divine and Supreme far exceed his power." FlaWizarmon moved closer and Michael observed he had a small book with the same glyphs written on every inch of the cover. "I've been close to one before. Pharaohmon. It dwells in the desert to the south-west called the Ghoul Desert, There is another, much larger desert to the north of there called the Horak Desert. I could teach you about them if you'd like." FlaWizarmon flashed another wicked grin at Michael. Michael couldn't help but sense that FlaWizarmon had ulterior motives, he didn't trust the wizard.

"Why would you be willing to teach me anything? Why are you personally vested in helping me at all?"

"I am personally vested in helping you because I was captured by one of the Divine when I was just a Wizardmon. She delved into the darker aspects of magic used me as her spell caster to test the most heinous of spells on. In the end she killed me." Michael looked at FlaWizarmon skeptically. "I found my mind on the Isle of Darkness. I was able to eventually fight my way to the gate using the very spells she'd used against me. When I passed through what I feel was my 'trial by fire' I emerged as a FlaWizarmon. I am against the corruption of The Pantheon and how they feel they are above the laws they enforce on us. Furthering the work she performed on me I was able to establish a connection with several of the Djinn, finally I found one that would stand by me and we began formulating plans on how to remove the Divine."

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"Zeparmon." Michael said aloud, connecting the dots of FlaWizarmon's story. "Who was the Divine who killed your first body?" FlaWizarmon shifted uncomfortably and his eyes looked uneasily around the chamber.

"Her name is Bazzlemon. She is a 'Holy Sorceress' Divine class Digimon but her path is corrupt." FlaWizarmon sighed exasperated, "The reason I am willing and wanting to help you is because Zeparmon and I feel you are the best chance we have at returning the balance of creator to Digimon back to our worlds. We want you to put the Divine and Supreme class Digimon in their place." Michael didn't like the idea that they were simply using him as a tool to suit their own drive.

"What happens after that? When you guys are done with me?"

"Done with you?!" FlaWizarmon visibly jumped back completely shocked and his mouth hung slack. "We're willing to serve you. You misunderstand us completely. We want you to restore human control over the Digital Realms. We want to serve you." Michael let the wizards words pass through him but felt unchanged. It still didn't change that he felt the wizard had ulterior motives nor did he trust him. Trust comes in time is something that Michael reminded himself.

"Okay. Where do we start with teaching me what I'll need to know?"

"We start with geography and politics, then we'll see if you are capable of learning magic. If you can than that will certainly greatly expand the magnitude of your abilities and make you much more of a threat to the Divine." Pulling his book out FlaWizarmon turned it until the pages were blank. Then he cast a quick spell onto the blank page and the page grew into a large map. The map was familiar to Michael it was the main continent. Two deserts to the west separated by a forest, a mountain range running north to south across the large continent, a river running on the eastern side. The eastern side of the continent was forest, plains, hills, plateaus, and to the extreme south a large jungle. "Now lets start with where we are and what we call the different geographic areas. I'll also highlight the cities and district lines you're unfamiliar with." The two spent several hours simply reviewing where everything was and where the district lines lay for various regions. They discussed the politics of the land while doing this. They also discussed where FlaWizarmon felt they stood the best chances of locating some of the remaining Reality Orb Fragments that had yet to be recovered. The wizard explained that the presence of the fragments augmented the world around them, meaning unusual events would occur around them.

Cairomon awoke and absently wandered around the chamber while listening in on the talk of past wars and Digimon of interest from various places. It was shortly after Cairomon had woken up that Coronamon arrived at the crystal cave chamber. At first completely shocked at their presence it soon calmed down after FlaWizarmon explained their presence. Coronamon decided to show Cairomon some of the more interesting things about the large cave that it had found. After they left the wizard and Michael resumed their discussions this time with a focus on the Digimon that hold the power within this world. Michael learned that the entire continent was ruled by a governing body of Digimon called the Empire. The Empire harshly taxed the regents for the various districts which resulted in the Digimon residing in the regions being taxed into starvation and death. The Empire sought to maintain strict control through force and by keeping the Digimon too weak to fight back against their rule. The Digimon that comprised the ruling body of the Empire were mainly Mega level being led by a Djinn class Digimon called Astarothmon, a powerful fire affinity Digimon. FlaWizarmon said that he'd never seen the Djinn himself but that he heard tales that he scorched the ground he walked on and his wrath was as strong as a volcano when provoked. As the hours passed Michael grew more and more hungry and finally he had to stop FlaWizarmon in favor of eating and rest. Cairomon and Coronamon had just returned from deeper in the cavern and also agreed to be hungry. FlaWizarmon dismissed himself to go gather food for them and Coronamon volunteered to go with him to help. FlaWizarmon cast a quick teleportation spell and the pair vanished from the chamber with a flash.

"So what do you think Cairomon?" Michael asked as the dragon Digimon sat down next to him on a rock raised from the floor of the chamber.

"I think we will find gaining control of this world will prove to be more of a task than either Zeparmon or FlaWizarmon care to acknowledge. Personally I don't care about the politics of it but I will stand by you and if this is the path we need to take I will walk it with you." Michael smiled, he felt a strong sense of camaraderie with Cairomon and he knew that when the whole world turn against him they would stand together until the end.