Borintas | The Silver Alps: III

Noaki wipes perspiration from his brow. Had Moritz always been this skilled? He readies his stance into a defensive position, drawing his bow, arrow aimed toward the ground. The arrows themselves were blunted for Moritz sake, but the hailstorms concealing the arena in a thick frosty cloud were real enough to damage flesh.

This was their final day in Borintas, and to celebrate, Orion and Gavin had decided to pit their pupils against each other. Noaki had a disgruntled impression they were also gambling on a winner.

Master Eiko and her assistant were on standby in case their medical aid was needed.

Noaki steadies his breathing, the initial blast of the hailstorm had knocked the wind out of him, as it does when you're facing an incoming storm. With his hunter's perception, the outlines of Moritz's body illuminates a brilliant frosty blue.

Moritz, appears to be steadily making his way toward Noaki. Noaki walks backwards, heading closer to the arena's perimeter.

In spite of the storm's power, it fades into some invisible barrier.

Aligning the arena were thick wooden pillars encasing some kind of stones that absorbed the storm in turbulent rotations, converting it into pure energy.

A spontaneous idea comes to mind and Noaki moves toward the nearest wooden pillar, Moritz not far behind.

Standing beneath the rotating shard gives him a small radius of breathable air. He calms himself and uses his perception to slow down the world. The ice particles appear to float midair. The source of the storm appears to be erupting from a sphere between Moritz's fingers.

Noaki's arms surge with violet energy. He draws his bow and a blunt violet arrow appears.

He listens to his body, it knew how far to draw the arrow back and the kind of force needed to propel it through the storm.

He aims and releases.

Moritz loses his concentration when the sphere, tightly grasped between his fingers, shatters.

The storm disperses to reveal Noaki looking sorry for not bringing his coat. His friend's movements were blinding, but Moritz had been prepared for this.

He learned that Noaki needed a few moments before he could draw another arrow, and in these precious moments Moritz slams his palms together in prayer formation. He breathes from the perimeter of the arena, and as he draws from the pool of energy in his gut, the crystalline insignia at the back of his neck illuminates a frosty blue. His nostrils flare as he exhales.

Noaki deeply regretted not bringing his coat when frost hits him with a shock. Portions of the arena's platform glaze over in a thin film of ice, and his perspiration freezes. It stings his nostrils.

The atmosphere became so unbearable he acquiesces his defeat with a shivering sign of his palm and jumps down from the platform and into the welcoming warm air.

Moritz releases his palms and the atmosphere of cold disperses, steadily reverting to the surrounding ambient temperature.

He meets up with the others where Master Eiko is fussing over Noaki.

Orion beams with a mischievous smile. "Congratulations Moritz, you've earned me crystaire."

Gavin pats Noaki on the shoulder. "Aye lad, you'll beat him next time."

Master Eiko frowns at them. "You most certainly will not. Orion, what were you thinking teaching atmospheric techniques to that youth?"

Orion scratches his head with a sheepish smile. "I did not expect him to be able to use it."

Noaki grins at Moritz. "That was amazing! I didn't know you could do that. Ouch-"

Master Eiko curtly shifts Noaki's head back in her direction. "You're fine now, but if more energy had been infused into that, the fluids inside your body would have frozen."

"I didn't think..." Moritz looks horrified. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that could happen."

Master Eiko eases Moritz's fear with a calm expression. "Don't worry too much, your friend is hardier than most." As if to emphasize her point, she thumps Noaki on the head.

"Ouch."

"You see? Fine." She turns to Gavin. "If your student is ever going to use his abilities effectively, he'll need to activate eshyulno."

Gavin nods.

"What is eshyulno?" Asks Moritz.

"It's an essence surge that can only be used by people bearing an adrenal kreddos." This time, Master Eiko's assistant, Ayumi, answers. "Eshyulno, or in Noaki's case, adaptation surge, is an essence surge. It's one of the most difficult techniques to master, however, also the most rewarding.

"So long as one's lau'khet is not entirely depleted, the adaptation surge will allow the body to physically adapt into any environment with no ill effects to the user. That is, until the user empties the reserves of their laukh'et."

"It's a handy ability, and Gavin here is expert." Orion beams at Noaki. "You couldn't ask for a better instructor."

Their conversation is interrupted by a series of large explosions, followed by shouting and screaming. Master Eiko dashes for the entrance, closely followed by Ayumi and the rest.

The streets are a pandemonium of screaming and shouting. Large venomous looking serpents are undulating everywhere.

"Master Eiko?" Ayumi peers behind the safety of her master.

"The vitae will have antivenom, if anyone needs it, though it wouldn't hurt to have a few captured and replenish our stores." Master Eiko proceeds to enter the streets when she is halted by Orion.

Orion has a serious expression. "You'll need an escort." In a rare instance, Orion displays his abilities.

The dalkarian materializes a lengthy pewter staff in his outstretched hands. The ornamental rings at the end of the staff illuminates a phosphorescent white. "Gavin, you'll have to join the Veranandi and capture as many as you can."

Gavin had long departed before Orion finished, his silver eyes flaring white. The unlucky serpents lunging to attack incinerate before their fangs had a chance to meet his flesh.

Orion lowers the ornamental portion of his staff to the ground and the serpents nearby move aside. "Noaki, Moritz, you two will have to stay behind. It'll be easier for me to escort Master Eiko and Ayumi."

Orion shifts his staff and an approaching serpent is flung away. "Find higher ground." Orion leads his small party down the street before he has a chance to hear Noaki's murmur of "good luck."

Noaki closes the gates but doesn't lock it in case anyone else needs to enter.

They're both jogging back into the arena when Moritz comes to an abrupt halt and Noaki stumbles into him. "Dude!" Noaki freezes, albeit not from Moritz but from the three figures looming on the platform.

"Noaki!" James opens his arms wide in greeting, a smirk plastered on his pasty, languid face. The jet black of his hair dangles from his forehead in clumps. He's wearing a swallow tailed coat over a formal uniform. "It's a pleasure to finally see another familiar face."

. "Cut the crap James, what do you want?" Moritz interjects.

James blinks as if just noticing Moritz for the first time. "Ah... Moritz, I was under the impression you were with your relatives in the north? That was very naughty of you, shame I'd to sack that old geezer for lying."

"What did you do to Old Dallan?" Moritz growls.

James sighs impatiently. "You're even more dense than Garrett. I just told you." He clears his throat. "I'd. Sacked. That. Old. Geezer."

"What do you want?" Noaki interrupts. "To follow up that question, is now really the best time to bully us for whatever it is?"

James' eyes drift back to Noaki. "On the contrary, now is the perfect time with your body guards distracted. All I want is the gemstone from the stolen chest, you can keep the crystaires, what good it'll do you without the fragment key." His eyes scan Noaki's pockets. "That's a fair trade right? You get to possibly keep a small fortune in return for one lousy gem."

Noaki was tempted to hand over the opal but his senses were against the notion. He steps back.

"If it's so lousy, why are you going through all this trouble just to get it back?" Moritz asks, his eyes glowing frosty blue.

"Don't think your neat little parlor tricks will help you," James sneers. "We've a few wicked tricks of our own." He walks forward. "Besides, that gemstone doesn't belong to you."

"It doesn't belong to you either," Moritz challenges a step forward.

"Oh, I quite agree," James says in a faux reasonable tone. "It is the property of the Marquis Dion Al'ahn Hosleare, a gift to his daughter and heiress. Lucille will rightly be disappointed when she learns that a duo of petty thieves had stolen it."

Noaki's chest flares. "The Marquis is the real thief here."

"With that I also have to agree. However, it's a dangerous artifact, and your careless handling of it is a hazard to many innocent people."

Garrett, in liveried uniform, steps forward glaring at James. "You never mentioned any danger."

James holds up a hand for silence. "By all means Garrett, if you're that frightened of these two, you can try your luck with those serpents if you'd like," he faces Garrett coolly. "When you do leave, don't come back."

The masculine redhead stares daggers. "Whatever," he grumbles. He looks down where Noaki and Moritz stand, as if a pair of unused punching bags just appeared. "Why are you dragging this out anyway? Can't we just beat them up and spare us the trouble of this bogus negotiation."

Noaki tightens his grip on his bow. "If the shard really is a hazard, you're the last person I'd give it to"

James twirls on his feet, his eyes are a burning portal of contempt. "Shut up!" This sudden outburst startles everyone. "Get off your high horse. You know nothing of the forces you contend with. That shard is far more dangerous with you, to you, and all those around you."

Noaki holds back the urge to knock him a good.

"I'm doing you a favor by asking for it nicely, the people who will come after you won't hesitate to eradicate your precious life, and believe me, they will come after you." James arcs his arms over his head, palms facing skyward. His right eye glows bright blue, his left bright white. A complex illuminating diagram blooms outward from his palms.

Garrett and the billowing hooded figure jump off the platform taking cover from a safe distance.

Noaki and Moritz are in petrified awe at the sheer intensity of James' spiritual pressure. The emek shards aligning the arena are rotating with fervent intensity.

Noaki starts to wonder how the barrier will hold when his eyes catch the serpent with obsidian scales emerging from James' collar. The outline of its body illuminates white.

Noaki was about to warn James when the serpent drapes itself around James' neck and shoulders then vanishes, leaving a white imprint on his pasty flesh.

An enormous serpent, larger than the arena, emerges from the illuminating diagram. The serpent also possesses obsidian like scales, and to Noaki and Moritz’s horror, levitates. It splays fangs bigger than Noaki.

James collapses onto his knees, then onto his face. The fierce eyes of the serpent eyes them with an eerie intelligence, and with a flick of its tail thrusts James off the platform. The hooded figure deftly catches his body.

Although James' hooded companion's facial were unreadable, Noaki understood in the briefest moment that something had gone horribly wrong.

The hooded figure shouts "IDYOTS! RUN!"

The barrier doesn't hold. The emek shards shatter into blinding pillars of white light. Moritz shoves Noaki towards the exit and the two scramble away as fast as their feet would allow, not sparing a moment to glance back, even when the debris of the arena plummets from the sky.

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In no clear direction they run for their lives, ignoring the horrified onlookers in the streets, pointing toward something in the sky.

Adrenaline pumps through Noaki's veins, his perception activates. "Moritz look out!" Noaki shoves his friend aside, and tosses a hissing serpent away with the end of his bow. He quickly catches up to his friend who looks ready to collapse.

Noaki nudges him down a street least infested with serpents where they also encounter a band of hunters bagging serpents, and piercing their writhing bodies with darts, crossbows, and arrows.

The pair stop to catch their breaths and ask one of the smiling hunters if anyone with Gavin's description passed bye. She nods and points toward the lake.

They dash in that direction when Noaki narrowly misses being crushed from debris.

The levitating serpent had taken to the sky, its gaze penetrating the town. At that moment, Noaki and Moritz are forced onto their knees. An incredible force of spiritual pressure weighs everything down. A few people faint, many of the serpents slither away out of fear. Noaki was tempted to succumb to the pressure when it suddenly lifts.

Moritz climbs onto his feet and assists Noaki off the ground that was now slightly frozen in a thin sheet of ice.

They see Gavin, carrying a sack with writhing shapes. He didn't look pleased when the two caught up to him.

"You lads should have stayed in the arena."

"Nowhere's safe with that thing around," Moritz points toward the levitating serpent, lightning flashing around its elegance.

Gavin's eyes widen. "Aye, that'll do it."

"Do you know what it is?" Noaki pants.

Gavin waved over a grinning hunter and hands him the sack. "You'll be wanting these?"

"Oh?" The hunter smiles. "Gavin Whitehawk retiring from the guild?"

"I'll outlive all of you," Gavin chuckles. "I've got my eyes set on bigger game."

The hunter follows Gavin's gaze and whistles. "How much you reckon that Nagari venom will fetch ya? That's hundred-fifty gold crystaires at least."

Gavin ignores him. "I'll be going to the vitae, are you lot good here?"

"You were helping?" The hunter laughs, "I hadn't noticed."

Gavin chuckles. "Alright lads?" He nods to Noaki and Moritz. "You'll want to be running ahead of me, don't stop for anything, I'll take care of the serpents that come in your path."

Noaki alongside Moritz nod in unison and pace up the street, toward the vitae guild. The streets were being cleared out by uniformed guards, bands of hunters, and the local populace. A considerable number of the Vitae were pacing the streets, calmly distributing antivenom.

The subterranean plaza with the waterfall seemed to have been spared the serpent attack, but was crowded with people on stretchers and attendants of the Vitae.

They encounter Orion, his staff illuminating the area in a comforting light.

A flushed Master Eiko was examining a patient when she notices them approaching. "Good you two survived," she glances back at a huffing Gavin. "Any casualties in the Veranandi?"

Gavin shakes his head. "No casualties from what I know, most of them serpents were passive until the Nagari was summoned."

Orion's warming smile fades. "A Nagari? What of the summoner?"

Noaki shares a glance with Moritz, wishing now he'd just handed the shard over. He summarizes their encounter with James and the others.

“All this fuss for a shard?" Master Eiko crosses her arms.

Gavin clears his throat and lowers his voice. "Deifacted from the primordial age."

"At the very least we know the summoner did not intend to harm anyone." Orion pierces his staff into the ground, a few people are startled by this. "It appears my services are needed Master Eiko. Will you be fine here?"

"You mock me Orion," Master Eiko holds a glance with the dalkarian. "Exercise caution, primordial artifacts are known to be unpredictable."

Orion bends over Master Eiko and kisses the place between her brow. "Whenever have you ever known me to not to be, Erethrendai?"

Master Eiko channels and intense violet energy into a moaning patient. "Ayumi?" She calls out.

"Yes Master?" Ayumi appears with a large medicine box, looking exhausted but determined. "Is the antidote ready?"

Ayumi nods. "Fortunately the chemists had enough in stock."

"There's no need to sulk my pupils." Orion squeezes Noaki and Moritz's shoulders. "There are many ways to help, even if all you can do is lend ears." He smiles with his eyes closed.

The gesture comforts Noaki and he hands the dalkarian the leather pouch. "Please, take it. It will be safer with you."

Orion's patterns take on a hue of luminous pink pearls. "I will not accept this No'aki, but with your permission I will ask to borrow it."

"You don't intend to use it?" Gavin frowns.

Orion smiles. "Ah, but I do." He gestures for them to follow. "Come."

The dalkarian leads them onto the Vitae plateau, the sky rumbles after the flashings of lightning. The spiritual pressure sends Noaki and Moritz onto their knees.

Gavin sets them onto their feet. "Selinoff, this had better not be a gamble."

Orion laugha warmly. "Erethrendai, just enjoy the show." The dalkarian paces further down the path towards the base of the looming mountains. The reflection of the lake ripples from the rumbling sky.

Orion arcs his palm skyward in a similar fashion to James. A black pewter staff materializes in his outstretched palm.

Enhancing his perception, Noaki can sse Orion from a magnified perspective.

The dalkarian drops the shard onto his palm and at that moment an incredible force of spiritual pressure weighs down on existence. The ripples in the water come to a standstill, mirroring the sky perfectly.

Orion places the opal in the ornamental centerpiece of his staff. A calm pulsing of energy expands from the opal. The dalkarian dances.

"What's he doing?" Moritz asks.

"Deavic summoning."

The three watch in silence.

The grace of Orion's movements are entrancing. He weaves his staff in flowing gestures. The luminous shard trails with his maneuver.

When the perspectives of time comes to a standstill, the dalkarian holds his staff upside down. He lowers the ornamental centerpiece and it meets the ground.

A diagram blooms to the furthest perimeter of the plateau, its beautiful patterns illuminating a pearly hue and reflecting in the lake.

Directly overhead, the Nagari emerges from the overcast.

Noaki fears for Orion who holds his ground with eyes closed and gleaming a peaceful smile.

The serpent lunges towards the dalkarian.

Orion arches his staff skyward, raising the diagram. Not once did the dalkarian show signs fear, on the contrary he laughed delightedly when the diagram and serpent collided into an explosion that showered the plateau in petalled pearls.

When rays of sunlight parted the overcast, Noaki and Moritz race to meet Orion seated on the ground crossed legged and panting heavily with a beaming smile.

----------------------------------------

Noaki runs his fingers over the geometric print of his suitcase containing his belongings. He hoists it off the bed and carries it into the common room, standing it vertically alongside the other matching pair belonging to Moritz.

Master Eiko, Moritz, Gavin, and Orion are all arranged around the glass coffee table.

Moritz is sipping a glass of wine with a far off look.

Gavin and Orion are discussing something when they notice Noaki seating himself on the lounge opposite Orion.

"Any news about James?" Noaki asks concernedly.

Gavin shakes his head. "The Veranandi searched the rubble of the Arena, there were no bodies."

"So he's not dead? Shame," Moritz mutters. Seeing Noaki's expression he adds, "joking, but you can't blame me after what they did."

"I don't think his intention was for anyone to be hurt." Noaki pours himself a glass from a carafe. "What happened to him anyway?"

"Master Eiko and I have discussed the most probable cause is the overexertion of spiritual energy." Orion answers.

"I'm not convinced," Gavin adds.

"Why do you say that?" Moritz asks.

"It's the Nagari," Orion shares a glance with Gavin. "We were just discussing this, and I agree with Gavin. To summon those many serpents alone is no small feat, however, to influence their passivity," Orion shakes his head. "That requires a certain degree of mastery."

Noaki mulls this over when a thought comes to mind. "So with the skill level required, he wouldn't have collapsed from overexertion of spiritual pressure?"

Orion laughs and claps once. "This youth is perceptive."

"Where does the Nagari fit in all this?" Moritz asks, looking toward Noaki as if he might have the answer.

Noaki shrugs.

"Your friend just answered that," Gavin pours himself a glass from the carafe. "A summoner would not be able to summon a Nagari if one could overexert themself."

"Are you implying they staged the whole thing?" Moritz looks doubtful. "The serpent tossed him aside like a rucksack."

"Around the same time the serpents became hostile," Noaki adds. "One almost got to Moritz."

"Not necessarily," Orion responds. "The summoner could have released his hold and influence over the serpents, leaving them to their natural state. The serpent that attacked Moritz may have been the result of an accident." Orion smiles. "At any rate, unless we directly inspect this summoner, it is all speculation."

Gavin empties his glass. "With all that's happened, where will we be to then?"

"I thought we were going to Port Min-Khashiib," says Moritz.

"I'm afraid there's been an alteration to those plans." Orion smiles sadly. "The primordial shard in your possession is concerning."

Noaki's attention drifts to the bulge in his coat pocket. "If it is so concerning, why don't you take it?"

"I would have no use for it," Orion nods. "Master Eiko and I suspect it is partially responsible for your predicament."

"You mean the amnesia?" Moritz pours himself another glass, his face noticeably flushed. "So if there's ever a chance to regain our memories, we'll need the shard?"

Gavin nods. "Yes, however, if there is a chance, we'll need to learn how to use it."

"Which is why we must make alterations to our original plans." Orion continues. "There are only a handful of people in all of Eldaeoryai who are expert in primordial artifacts."

"Do you know any of these experts?" Noaki empties his glass.

"A few, though the journey would be long, not taking into account the voyage overseas." Orion says thoughtfully. "However, Gavin has brought to my attention that we should first have the shard analyzed by Gran Master Kurolos in Atmedanyeh."

"Is he an expert?" Moritz asks Gavin.

"No," Gavin admits. "But Gran Master Kurolos' wisdom is respected by the Okari."

Noaki thinks back to their time in Irithelle. "If this shard is related to the Okari like Old Dallan mentioned, then he might know something about it."

Moritz's lips curl into a fond smile. "I'd forgotten about that."

The others look at them questioningly, so Noaki recounts their conversation with the groundskeeper.

"That is quite unlike the Marquis," Gavin refills his glass, "and troublesome."

"More troublesome than James?" Moritz mutters.

"If the Marquis is involved with this shard, then it also implies that the world government is involved." Orion clarifies, then adds, "the world government is not a force you want to contend with."

You know nothing of the forces you contend with. James' words echoe in Noaki's mind. "Should I have given it back?"

"If it's in your interest to spare yourself trouble, yes. If you meant it in the interest of the world, of that I'm uncertain." Orion's gaze drifts to the terrace. "Regardless of all that, if we want to leave Borintas before nightfall, we better decide soon." He pours himself the final dregs of wine. "It's a shame this region lacks leviahtran infrastructure."

Gavin raises his glass and downs the contents in a few gulps. "Shall we be off then?"

Noaki and Moritz share a look and nod.

“Oh?” A deep voice reverberates from the walls. “A peculiar traveling party.” The atmosphere weighs with a heavy silence. “Gavin Whitehawk and Selinoff Orion?”

In a blinding flash, Gavin composes himself into a wide stance, his bow drawn and aimed toward the terrace.

Noaki activates his perception, the world slows, yet something in the atmosphere moves outside his perceptive ability, even outside of Gavin’s. It possesses a power he could not understand.

“Ah. Master Eiko, what a pleasure.” A lithe figure appears, draped in milky garb with silver embroidery threaded in swirls. A silver sash secures into place his eerie billowing garb, glistening with luminous crystalline gems.

A white Kafiya adorning his head, conceals much of his face, but Noaki glimpsed the stubble along his jawline. The man lowers his face to kiss Master Eiko’s temple.

No one could react. The atmosphere fastens each of them into place. The space within the area seems to occupy a different time.

“Gran Celestial Orelle.” Orion stands and bows, his movements unhindered by the man's presence. “Welcome. May I offer you a beverage? We’ve emptied the carafe I’m afraid, however, I’m certain a footman would be obliged to bring one down.”

As Orelle skulks the room, his lithe movements appear submersed in some ethereal ocean. He glances briefly toward Noaki and Moritz with a curious expression. “No, no. I shouldn’t expect to remain very long.” He faces Gavin. “You can rest that instrument of yours my friend, I come on peaceful terms.”

“A Gran Celestial." Gavin seats himself, his bow firmly in hand. "For what do we owe this great honor?”

Orelle shakes his head. “Quite the contrary, it is an honor for myself to be in the presence of legend itself.” Orelle sails toward the terrace. “I was on errand when I happened to notice an uproarious commotion in Borintas. Unfortunate I did not arrive in time to settle matters myself.” He shifts his attention to Orion. “Quite the abilities you've cultivated vyeha.”

Though Noaki can barely see it, he feels a sudden unease fermenting in Orion.

“I am most honored for that compliment Gran Celestial. The event was merely the conjuration of an unpracticed summoner.” Orion smiles warily. “Or so we speculate.”

“I would be hard pressed to look into this matter.” Orelle sighs. “Though, my services are requested in the Holy Lands at the moment.”

“We wouldn’t want to delay you,” Master Eiko comments.

Orelle smiles. “I suppose not.” He steps onto the terrace. “Farrahn Erethrendai.” The atmosphere lifts. With that Orelle falls into the the endless sky until the last spec of his form vanishes.

Moritz gasps. “Who was that?”

With a grim expression, Gavin answers. “The Gran Celestial Orelle of Svernia's Holy Lands.”

“A Celestial of the highest ranking order.” Master Eiko adds.

“And one of the forces that is in our best interest not to contend with.” Orion comments gravely. “A celestial…” he shakes his head in disbelief. “It is fortunate he did not sense the presence of the shard.”

“Aye, though we should be wary from now on.” Gavin rises onto his feet, an uncertain look on his face.

Noaki and Moritz exchange inquisitive expressions but refrain from pressing the situation further.