The Seaside City of Naayir-Nahtahma | Svernia| VI

Noaki, Moritz, and Quentin are slumped in the library's study. The prosecution of Orion weighs heavy in their chests.

Having mulled over the situation all through the night, Noaki's mind wavers from lack of sleep, exaggerating his anxiety and uncertainty to no end. He gazes into the fireplace, inspecting the patterning of the blue flames.

Moritz paces the room in frustration. "We have to do something!"

"Maybe if we told the captain and the others?" Quentin suggests. "Aalim did say he would bring this to the chancellor's attention."

"Seems a bit preoccupied with the tournament." Noaki returns from his reverie.

"We can't afford to wait. What if Orion wakes up? We have to take action into our own hands." Moritz clenches his fist. The ambient temperature of the room drops a few degrees.

Quentin shakes his head furiously. "According to Aalim, Celestial Aysha holds more authority than the chancellor himself."

"I know!" Moritz slams his fist against the wall. The impact leaves a sheet of ice. "I just can't stand doing nothing."

"Moritz…" No words would come to Noaki. He himself was in no better state of mind. All this because of the shard. Perhaps he should've handed the stone to James when he had the chance. It did nothing but bring them trouble. "Maybe we can exchange it for Orion's freedom."

Moritz casts his eyes downward.

"If we do, we also risk losing the chance to regain our memories."

Quentin's brows furrow in confusion. "What are you going on about?"

Without a second thought of consideration, Noaki retrieves the shard from his pocket. The invigorating rush of energy dispels the sleep deprivation from his body.

Quentin jumps onto his feet. "That's a shard!"

"Yes," Noaki's grasp tightens. "It's the reason we were in a hurry to reach Atmedanyeh."

"Do you realize what that kind of artifact can do?" Quentin steps back warily. "It all makes sense now. Why we survived that voyage."

"Even if we do make that offer, there's no guarantee they'll hold up the end of their bargain." Moritz returns to his seat. "We're already in deep waters."

Quentin inspects the stone from a safe distance. "There are plenty of shards in the world, why are the celestials interested in this one?"

"Gavin said it was a particular shard from the primordial ages." He returns the shard to his pocket. "What that means is still unknown to me."

"How did you come in possession of it?" Quentin keeps a safe distance in spite of the shard's absence.

"I've always had it on me." He shrugs. "Or at least as far back as I can remember."

"We have amnesia," Moritz adds.

"I've heard stories of deifacted shards, but to witness one in person…" Quentin shakes his head in disbelief. "Avayunahm."

"What are we going to do?" Moritz looks to Noaki. "We can't just sit around waiting for Aalim to sort things out with the chancellor."

"Maybe if we told Gavin or the Captain?" Quentin's attention shifts to the fireplace. "I imagine the captain wouldn't be all too pleased with the Tern's new occupants."

"It's doubtful my uncle could do much within his authority."

The three jump at Aalim's emergence from the threshold.

"I've been informed his return to the palace is delayed until the tournament's end." Aalim shuts the door. "In a few days."

Noaki diverts his gaze to the portraiture of A'ten. The semblances to Aalim and his relatives were uncanny. "As much as I'd prefer to wait out the rest of the tournament," he begins. "We're no longer in a position to do so." He closes his eyes out of frustration, hoping all these predicaments would cease to be.

Drip.

The sound rings clear in his ears.

Drip.

It gradually registers in his mind, the dripping sound of ice melting to the floor.

Drip.

Orion. Gavin. Who were these two? Conveniently present in their hour of need. A half-Alvarrian with irrefutable skill and power, and a Dalkarian with many mysteries.

He meanders on these thoughts with an awakening clarity. All this time, while the state of his amnestic existence demanded his attention, not once did he pause to consider the perplexing nature in which these individuals came into their lives.

James. What made him an enemy? How could he be certain if the fears regarding him were properly founded? On what basis could he contrive an answer?

Deep down, a hazy memory surfaces. A feeling more or less. Celestials, leviathans, magic - all in the realms of fantastical fiction.

Time ceases.

There has never been or ever will be, because all that is or ever was, is here and now.

These were no thoughts of his own. Formless. That is how he appears to feel, though he can't be sure without a body to feel. Then why could he rationalize with such clairvoyance?

My time here is spent toiling away the hours. From daybreak's glistening dew, into pleasant afternoons.

Whose thoughts were these? Why were they vaguely recognizable?

A year is passed since Nikolai's departure. I've still not gathered the courage to venture beyond familiar boundaries. Though I can see this temptation storming in Marko's eyes.

I've selfish fears of loneliness. Although it pains me to watch the last remnants of my recognizable past drift apart, I feel we will meet again one day. The three of us in each other's companionable presence, strolling through blooming groves.

Noaki attempts to prod these thoughts when a flash of violet light illumines the dark emptiness. Just as it lights, it vanishes.

For the briefest moment some recognition entered my mind. Though I've my doubts, there is a chance it could have been a memory. Perhaps in due time, we will remember.

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Noaki.

Noaki.

Noaki.

Noaki's eyelids flutter open. He gives himself a few seconds to register his bearings. There's a cozy silence about the room, bolstered by Moritz's snoozing from the sofa.

Refreshed and alert, Noaki emerges from thick furred blankets. A white flask sits on his nightstand beside a note card. Ignoring the latter, he takes the concoction in one go. The room blurs, though this bitter medicine does not send him spiraling outside his body.

Before the weight of his recent experience distracts him. He sets about his ablutions, slipping into clean garments and draping his coat over his shoulders. Moritz is still fast asleep when he's finished.

"Moritz?" Noaki prods his cheek. "Moritz."

His friend's eyelids droop open and close. "Good morning," he mumbles.

"Sorry to wake you, you look comfortable. But there are things we need to discuss." He prods him in the side. "Moritz."

Moritz rolls onto the floor looking dazed and bewildered. "What's going on?!" He clambers onto his feet, finally noticing Noaki. "You're feeling better? Almost gave us a scare there." He stretches his arms and neck, releasing the tension in his limbs with a snap. "What happened?"

"It's a bit strange of an explanation, but first tell me, how long have I been out? Has anything happened since?" Noaki sits on the sofa.

"Well, after we couldn't wake you. Aalim sent for a physician, she chalked it up as your body demanding rest." Moritz shrugs. "Didn't really know what to do, so Quentin and I carried you back here on a stretcher. You're heavy, you know.

"After we managed to get you here. We decided it better to let Gavin and the captain in on Orion." Moritz settles on the lounge opposite to Noaki. "Veynir, Moir, Gavin, and the captain stormed off before we could finish."

Noaki shakes his head. "If anyone can do something about it, it'll be those guys. What about Quentin?"

"Rita, Reyna, Quentin, and I stayed behind to gather supplies and finish packing. Rita and Reyna thought it better to wait until you woke." Moritz gets onto his feet. "I better let them know."

"How long have I been out?" Meandering thoughts scatter Noaki's mind.

"Fortunately, less than a day." Moritz heads for the door.

"It was not exhaustion that put me to sleep." Noaki recalls the experience still fresh in his mind. "They're out there."

Moritz returns to the lounge. "You mean the others? How do you know?"

"I don't know how I know, only that I do. I was not aware I'd fallen asleep, I didn't feel like I'd been sleeping this entire time." Noaki recounts the details of his dream or memory. "It's as if I could hear his or her thoughts. It has to be one of them, they mention Nikolai and Marko."

At the mention of their names Moritz nods with understanding. "By chance did they say where they were?"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Unfortunately, no. I think there was something… about a monastery. Though that could be anywhere." Noaki pats his coat. He freezes. "The shard!"

Moritz retrieves it from his pocket. "Sorry, I forgot I had it. I didn't want it disappearing while you were out."

Noaki relieves a sigh. "You can hold onto it for now. I suspect that is partially to blame for the dream, or memory, I'm still not sure what it is-"

They're interrupted by a flustered wild-eyed Quentin, quickly followed by Aalim. "You two have to leave!"

Before either Noaki or Moritz can react, a tremor rattles the room. Noaki instinctively activates his perception. The violet outlines beyond the cavernous walls reveals a buzz of activity centered at the base of the Grand Hall. A crowd of guards encroach a luminous figure.

"Whats going on?" Noaki searches the room when he recalls having left his bow onboard the Tern. "Shit!"

Quentin pokes his head out the room. "It doesn't sound good."

"I didn't bring my bow." Noaki pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. "And can either of you please tell me what's going on."

"Invaders, three of them and a-" Aalim manages before a clamor fills the palace. "That must be the Nagari."

Moritz groans. "How did they find us?"

"You know these people?" Aalim pulls Quentin into the room. "You three, explain yourselves."

Quentin raises his palms defensively. "I'm as much in the dark as you are."

"This is hardly the time for an interrogation," Noaki folds his arms impatiently, "Moritz just show him."

Moritz nods and drops the shard onto his free palm. The room immediately drops in temperature when his eyes ignite a frosty blue. A flurry of ice crystals surround him, vanishing and manifesting at random. "They're after this."

Aalim's eyes narrow. "Why did you hide this?"

"We were told to," Noaki responds defensively. "I especially didn't want to reveal it here surrounded by celestials."

Aalim gives Quentin a questioning look.

"I'm aware of the shard," Quentin shrugs, "that's all."

"Why keep it from the celestials?" Aalim glances toward the entrance when another tremor rattles the room. "Suppose this will have to wait.

"Yeah, no shit." Noaki turns to Moritz, "we should leave, maybe they'll follow."

Moritz nods and returns the shard to his pocket.

"You two are not going anywhere with that artifact." Aalim peers out the door, flooding the room with dust.

They roam onto the plaza where the dust quickly settles. A cacophony of sound fills the air. Noaki activates his perception and spots the Nagari flying in and out of the Grand Hall from cragged holes. Near the entrance a luminous violet figure flickers in and out of sight, taking out multiple guards in a few breaths.

"We've gotta help," Moritz leans over the railing.

"Not much I can do without my bow." Noaki extends his perception. The halls were filled with violet figures scurrying back and forth like ants. "But we can end this by giving them what they want."

The serpent crashes through the wall, knocking the foundation supporting the plaza.

Noaki's stomach drops as they free fall to the next level. However, rather than hitting the oncoming floor with a fatal collision, a breeze lifts him up and he flops onto the floor backside.

A fierce gyrating gale ensconcing Quentin dispels the dust and debris. He lands next to them, palms raised to ward the looming serpent swirling around them.

Noaki meets the serpent's intelligent eyes. Unlike the one they encountered in Borintass, a metal ring with glowing runes rotates around its body. He shivers.

Beside him Moritz rises onto his feet, grasping the shard with intensity. From the back of his neck, the hexagonal insignia is molten white.

Noaki and the others expel condensation. In a few moments their lungs burn and they scurry from Moritz.

Moritz glares straight into the levitating serpent's eyes and aims his free palm. He inhales, pauses, then exhales.

A layer of ice encroaches the serpent's body, freezing it in place midair. The ring continues to rotate.

It happens in the blink of an eye. One moment Moritz has the upper hand and the next he's sent through the air and into the wall.

James appears before them, his body irradiating steam. He approaches Noaki and meets him with luminous eyes, one sapphire and the other pearl white. He smiles. "Fancy meeting you here."

Noaki punches air.

"Missed," James' voice comes from behind.

Noaki whirls around with another punch, but his fists meet more air.

James reappears a few feet away. "Missed again." He vanishes and reappears a few inches from his face.

Noaki staggers backward. Before he regains his bearing, he's sent flying into Moritz who just recovered from his previous impact.

Moritz grunts under Noaki's weight.

Noaki rolls onto the floor, the air knocked from his lungs and his torso aching from James' kick.

"Do you remember him being this strong?" Moritz brings the shard to Noaki's neck.

A surge of energy abates all of his discomfort and he's able to get on his feet. James is nowhere to be seen. Quentin and Aalim run toward them.

"Thanks for the help," Moritz pockets the shard.

"Don't mention it." Quentin points toward the railing. "He went that way and disappeared."

Aalim meets their eyes with skepticism. "Are you sure they're after that shard?"

"Yes," Noaki rolls his shoulders, wishing he'd brought his bow. "Where are all the titans?"

Aalim gives him a blank stare. "The what?"

"You know, the powerhouses, head honchos, celestials." Noaki searches for James. "Isn't this place supposed to be well guarded?"

"The royal guard is with my uncle, and this place is fortified. They flew in." Aalim brings out a lengthy curved dagger attached to a chain, the blade shimmers a jade hue. "I'm still here."

"You?" Moritz sums up Aalim. "What can you do?"

"I might not enjoy my duties, that does not imply I'm terrible at them." Aalim takes off toward the railing and leaps over.

The three scatter to the railing to watch Aalim jumping from one level to the next, grappling the direction of his fall using the chained dagger.

Noaki feels a palm on his back. He turns in unison with Moritz to see Quentin giving them a mischievous grin. "We'll take the stair-" he lets out a blood curdling scream as all three plummet to the base floor.

They lie onto their backs, their landing cushioned with a fierce gust of wind. Quentin helps them onto their feet.

Legs still wobbly, Noaki leans against a pillar for support. The pandemonium of altercations surrounding them is hard to watch. Bodies slump to the ground, hopefully just unconscious.

Moritz recovers easily, his face flushed with adrenalin. He slaps Quentin on the back. "That was fun!"

Their exultation is cut short when Garrett appears wearing silver gauntlets shimmering crimson. He spits on the ground. "What the hell are you two doing here?"

Noaki looks puzzled. "Aren't you here for the shard?"

Garrett ignores his question and stampedes towards him, launching a powerful punch.

Noaki dodges. Behind him he hears the integrity of the pillar crumble. He runs to Moritz and urges him forward. "We're out of these guys' league!" A brief glance backwards shows Quentin dexterously engaging the ginger.

A hooded figure masked beneath a neck gaiter, halts them with a luminous ringed staff.

Noaki groans. "I really wish I'd brought my bow."

Just as they're about to engage, Aalim lands backside between them, his dagger lands next to Moritz' feet.

James flickers next to the hooded figure. "It's that bright object in the dome. Can you reach it?"

The hooded figure nods and sprints towards the nearest pillar.

Noaki stares in disbelief as the figure runs upwards.

Aalim struggles onto his feet. "They're after… the Solarya."

"The what?" Moritz looks hesitantly at James.

James flickers away to fend off a fresh troop of guards. "Up… there… the light." Aalim slumps onto his hands and knees.

"Get away from the light, ignore it." Moritz kneels beside Aalim.

"No… up… there." With a trembling finger, Aalim points upwards.

Noaki pats Moritz' shoulder. "Moritz? I think he meant up as in the ceiling. That's why the other was running upwards."

Moritz gets back onto his feet. "Right…" he shades his eyes from the brilliant light at the center of the dome. He brings out the shard and raises his palms upward.

Noaki drags Aalim away and watches as a sheet of ice sends the hooded figure slipping into the wall. However, this only delays the ascent.

Aalim rolls onto his back, chest heaving. He struggles onto his elbows when he finally caves into defeat.

Moritz hurries over and brings the shard to Aalim's temple.

An invisible force brings Noaki and Moritz to their knees.

Noaki diverts his attention toward James who appears just as bewildered by this sudden force as they do. The Grand Hall falls silent. Then, Noaki makes the connection, he nudges the shard from Aalim's temple and the force lifts.

Verdant steam irradiates from Aalim's body. The Grand Hall fills with a sweltering humidity that invigorates the violet outlines of the surrounding vegetation.

Aalim haunches into a crouch, his eyes reveal luminous jade ringed in vibrant gold. His ferocious gaze locks on the hooded figure regaining his composure and proceeding with the ascent.

James flickers into view, sending Aalim backwards. "I won't have you interfering."

Moritz dashes off and returns with Aalim's chained dagger, its shimmer dormant in his possession. He tosses it to Aalim who grabs hold of the chain, reactivating its shimmer, and pummels the blade against James' side.

James studies the top of his hands frowning. "Abdhalhim? So it's true what they say."

The mist from Aalim hisses. He snatches the dagger and swipes the air, releasing a fierce gale that sends all of them, Quentin and Garrett included, onto their backside.

Aalim grapples the railing from the next level and launches himself towards the hooded figure who was now nothing more than a blurry dot in the presence of the light.

James is the first to recover, flickering from one level to the next, reaching Aalim just in time to kick him downward.

Quentin reacts in time to cushion his landing.

An incredible force sends everyone crumbling to their hands and knees. Noaki forces himself to look upward.

James levitates before the serpent, nearby the hooded figure is crouching on a broken standing pillar.

Noaki crawls to Moritz. "The… shard."

Moritz nods with understanding and reaches for the stone just an arms reach away. His fingers brush against its surface when Garrett grabs it.

A crimson misty aura irradiates from his flesh, he looks down on Noaki and Moritz.

Noaki meets the ginger's contemptuous gaze. "Shit-" is all Noaki manages before he and Moritz are sent flying away. His heart pumps with pain and his mouth fills with blood.

Noaki watches Garrett rampage throughout the hall, striking down anything and everyone. The hooded figure attempts to placate him, however, is met with a virulent barrage of punches.

The combined forces of Quentin, Aalim, James, the hooded figure, and guards fail to subdue Garrett whose strength increases. The atmosphere surrounding Garrett boils and swirls with luminous crimson dusty mist.

Noaki is helpless when Quentin is knocked unconscious, his arm bent in an awkward angle. Next to fall is Aalim who looks in even worse shape with a face barely recognizable.

"Stall him!" James shouts, flickering from the scene.

Noaki shuts his eyes, following James with his perception.

James levitates before the nagari, amber sphere in hand. A luminous gold diagram blooms over the serpent's form. The runes along the rotating ring illumines into a ring as its rotation accelerates into a blur.

With an expression of intense concentration, James places the amber sphere atop the serpent's frozen head.

A second ring manifests around the first followed by an explosion of light, sound, and energy. The settling debris and dust reveals a levitating undulating obsidian serpent with white gold tipped feathers. Plumes of mist hang around the serpent like clouds in the sky.

Noaki opens his eyes gasping for the air he'd been depriving himself of.

Garrett's rampage grew in intensity, his punches leaving behind traces of crimson light and smoking scorch marks.

Finally with a blow of the hooded figures' staff, Garrett is sent into the wall. The crimson aura dissipates, however, perspiration steams from his flesh.

The hooded figure hoists Garrett over his shoulders, accidentally removing his hood in the process.

Amber eyes meet Noaki's.

"Lor…aunt?" Noaki's fingers twitch.

Loraunt nods, tosses the shard towards Noaki, and ascends the levels toward James and the new nagari.

Noaki retrieves the shard with immense difficulty. When he finally has a firm grasp, a rush of energy restores sensation to his numb limbs and he's able to sit up supported by a piece of rubble. He pockets the shard and shifts his head upward, directing his gaze away from the limp bodies a few feet away.

The intruders were long gone when Gavin assisted Noaki onto his feet.

"Are you alright lad?"

Noaki meets his mentor's eyes for the first time in a long time. "I'm tired." He looks around, grateful the violet outlines of Moritz, Quentin, and Aalim were still present, though faint.