Chapter 16: Silver Lords in Exile

Sakura

“So, Princess. What can you do?” Modgi, the purple robed student asked as he made our way towards the front of the line.

“Her name is Sakura. Use your words with respect.” King said in a voice that sounded more like boulders breaking then actual speech. There was a clear edge of annoyance, as a small dusting of ash left his nostrils.

“Right, uh. Sakura. I apologize. But really, what can you do? Besides having companions that are . . . utterly terrifying.”

“Ha, forgive my brother Lady Sakura. Modgi has an over inflated ego.” The black clade swordsman said. His name was Regi if I remembered right. “I’m a close in fighter. I have a few Abilities that have a moderate range, but I focus pretty exclusively on reinforcement spells, abilities, and techniques. Modgi here is our ranged spell caster blaster.”

“I’m an elementalist.” Modgi complained. “I'm decently skilled in Water, Fire, Sky, and Earth, and approaching mastery at the silver stage in Wood.” He said it as if he were proving a point.

Before his brother could tease him more, I cut in. “Oh? I’ve been interested in learning about that path.” I said, genuinely curious.

“And what affnities do you have, might I ask, Lady Sakura?” Modgi asked, this time sounding at least moderately respectful.

“I have no innate affinities myself, however I am not hindered either. So far I am decently skilled at Fire, and Wood mana manipulation. But I haven’t bound a spell into an Ability in either yet. And I have just gained access to Sky, Earth, and Venum elements thanks to Sky here.” I patted the snake on the head as he wrapped himself around my shoulders. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would be most grateful for my senior sect brother's thoughts on the matter. After the tower is challenged of course.”

“Of course. And . . . yeah, I wouldn’t be opposed to helping out. Sounds like you gained access to a lot of magic types all at once. That’s got to be a heady experience.”

I hadn’t been brave enough to touch them yet beyond what little I had done with Sky. Nor had I had the opportunity really. “Suffice it to say, I am a novice yet. Having only done the basic exercises with them as a child.” I remembered back to when Gamera had forced me to use different types of mana and imbue them into my daggers before I threw them at dummies. Dozens of types of mana, of the course of days.

Hours and hours of practice, only to stop once I was able to successfully imbue them regularly, to another type of mana. He had only wanted to make sure I had the ability to use them, not to teach me to master them. I had later learned, that was both the blessing and the curse of our line. We had no affinities, no magic would come easy to use. But, neither were any types of magic barred from us. Usually.

Gamera and my parents had been concerned that my mothers affinities in Sky and Force magic might have transferred to me. It wouldn’t have been a curse so much, as the loss of opportunity. One born into High Nobility, even Royalty had the luxury of time that those born to lower stations often didn’t enjoy. Usually. And with time, and carefully chosen companions, the Gamera family had walked merriod paths. Ever blazing their own trails up the infinite mountain passes of the Dao.

Now however, with the Exile and the deadly journey around the edges of elven lands into the western part of the continent soon to be under way, I felt that luxury was gone.

“That is understandable.” Modgi said. “It's not uncommon for members of the inner sect, even some members of the sects core, to need to begin learning a new element from scratch, once they meet a new companion. Though they usually rise in skill quickly once they have set their minds to the task. I am sure it will be the same with you, Sect Sister.”

“Thank you, but do not think of me as helpless in the way of magic. It might take me a bit of concentration, but fire and wood spells are not beyond me. And I have these.” I showed my twin daggers, pulling them from the hidden sheaths hidden in my robed sleeves. “ In addition to that, both Sky and King are formidable supports in close combat.” I looked over at the last member of our little party, she was quiet, watching the crowed, ignoring our conversation.

You have lost your slow tongue, and have found a silver one. How? Sky asked in my mind.

Sakura gets anxious around people, but once she knows them she’s good at talking. I think it's like, when you're about to fight a foe you don’t know. You get a bit wobbly in the knees. But once you know your shell can take their best shot, you’re not nearly as concerned. King interjected.

King was right of course. Now that I knew my place in this group, now that I knew they wouldn’t reject me out of hand, I was comfortable again. The Sakura side of my personality, the friendly girl from this world who knew how to navigate these situations came out. I found the conversation almost easy now.

“You know, I once used throwing daggers. But once I grew comfortable with them, I changed to these blades, upon my uncle's suggestion. I think I might need to pick up a new weapon soon though, as I am growing used to these again. Tell me Sect Sister Tedgy, how do you find the bow as a weapon?”

The quiet young woman startled slightly at being addressed as we came to the main door. I slid down off King’s shell, and placed the coin in the center of the door. As it began to move, I looked towards where Tedgy was standing. She looked uncomfortable at my gaze.

“Uh. The bow is a fine weapon.”

“What magic do you use with it?” I asked, trying to engage the girl in conversation. But she seemed almost reluctant as the two large doors that had swung open closed behind us. The room ahead of us was an empty circle, save for a set of winding stairs heading far above us. I couldn’t see where the stairs ended, but I was sure the tower was taller on the inside.

“Oh, I can’t use mana.” Her voice trailed off, as King and Sky turned into light and re-entered my Vault.

“We’re triplets.” Regi the swordsman interjected as he took point. I followed close behind, with his siblings taking up the rear. “There’s a common deformity among triplets, where different siblings will take aspects of the other's spirits into themselves. I for instance, have over sized mana and chie channels. Was born with them, at peak Iron.” He gestured down to his siblings behind me. “My sister was born with an abnormally large Chie core, and no mana core. While Modgi was born with a massive mana core, and an anemic chie core.”

“So you’re the only balanced one?”

“Hardly. My body is the focus of my chie and mana. I have. . . difficulty expressing it outside of myself.” Regi explained.

“While for me, it's almost like breathing. Reinforcement spells and techniques are difficult for me to use, because the chie and mana leak from me like a broken dish. Though it's gotten better as I ascended to Silver.”

“And you Tedgy?”

“Well . . . I was born into Iron cultivation. But without a mana core I never learned magic.”

“You could have cleansed a beast core and absorbed it. Why not?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from sounding accusatory.

“I . . . well.”

“Our family head had the bones cast for us.” Regi cut in, picking up the story for his clearly uncomfortable sister. “She looked into spirit and found that even if she did take on a beast core, she wouldn’t be able to grow it. Something about how our souls work as triplets.”

“So i’m waiting until I reach the Noble realm before I ingest one.” Tedgy explained, gaining confidence as we ascended the stairs.

“That’s got to be challenging.”

“It is,” Tedgy said from behind me. “But there are other benefits that come with being triplets. For instance, I can’t cast spells myself. But, if we’re close enough, I can access Modgi’s mana core, and push it through my own meridians. Which is how I am able to use Abilities and Techniques.”

“And she can use her chie on me at range.” Regi said. “She’s remarkably good at healing.”

“Alright, I can see the upside.” I said, trying to keep the conversation positive.

“According to Sect Leader Wu Zin, eventually we’ll learn how to do more.” Regi said. “Our battle plan is relatively simple. As old as fighting really. Keep the ranged people in the back and away from danger, while us front liners distract and hurt the Silver Lord as much as possible. Where do you feel you fit into that?”

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We laid out several options for the upcoming fight. Keeping our tactics as simple as possible due to having never fought alongside one another before, we ascended towards the Silver Star Lord.

***

After what felt like a near eternity, we stepped onto the top of the tower. It sprawled like a mountain plateau, with walls that lifted into a steep vaulted ceiling. At its zenith was a bell that chimed the moment the last of us was on the plateau.

It was a deep basso, and the world shimmered with whatever magic or chie formation had been activated.

Around the bell, stars erupted in the blackness of the ceiling, and the once dark tower lite up as bright as if the moon were full on a clear night. Then as if conjured out of nothing, a pentagram glowed under our feet in silver starlight.

“Get ready, here he comes.” Reji said, and his siblings backed out of the formation. I backed up to its edges standing next to him. King and Sky were still in my vault. I’d save them for after I was able to get in close. My daggers already dripped with chie venum.

A figure began to coalesce in the center of the pentagram. His form was wrapped in a cloak of pure darkness, but draped across his shoulders and crown was a mantle of purist starlight. The figure grew, and grew in size.

I used that moment to cast Woodlands Embrace, and my body was coated in thick protective bark. It took my active concentration but once cast the spell would maintain itself. I glanced over to Regi and found he and his siblings were casting their own protective spells, or activating defensive formations within their clothes.

I had several of my own, but they were subtle and passive things. Designed to turn aside blows, and weaken what couldn’t be turned. During the climb I had already re-imbued them with both mana and chie. My combat robes were of the highest quality a cultivator of Iron could safely use. I was worried they might do little now that I was in the immortal realm.

The creature finished forming. It was nearly three times as tall as a man. What was visible of its skin was pale blue, its clothes were shrouded in darkness, and atop its head rested a star like jewel. Holding the jewel in place were two thing horns of blackest ebony, and on its face it wore a knowing, kind smile.

“Hello children. I see you come ready for a fight. I shall not disappoint you.” His smile grew into a twisted thing as he raised one hand to the sky. Four streaks of bright starlight shot down, and I rolled forward, escaping the oncoming attack.

An arrow writhed in fire and stuffed with more chie then I had ever seen such a construct take shot past me directly at the creature. As it impacted, the Lord was wrapped in consuming flame, as bright yellow light erupted from the impact site.

That would have broken through King's shell before we ascended, I thought, amazed. A bolt of pure lightning erupted from behind me and impacted on the Lord before the smoke from the fireball had finished dissipating.

“Attack!” Regji ordered, as he dashed forward with inhuman speed his sword lifted high in an overhead attack. His blade was met by a metal staff made of pale blue metal, and a basso laugh filled the space.

“Bold children, aren’t you?” The staff came back in a backhanded attack so quickly Regi couldn’t perry in time. It impacted him square in the chest and sent him flying back behind me.

I was already on my feet charging straight at the Silver Lord, daggers drawn and dripping. The floor sizzled at my passing. Another arrow, this one far weaker than the first impacted on the lord's chest, distracting him as I got within striking distance.

The floor was cold and slick, as I threw myself down onto my knees and slid between his legs. My daggers lashed out at both shins, but only one drew blood. The other bounced off, as if I had struck a steel wall reinforced with powerful formations.

“Gah!” The Silver Lord staggered back, almost crushing me, but I rolled out of the way just in time. “Venum? Little snake. Clever little sky thief.” He lifted his leg and kicked out to his side, sending me sprawling several feet away. My vision swam for a moment, but I blinked it away.

Suddenly a silver figure loomed over me, draped in darkness. “Arrogance! Snakes should not fly.” His once beatific face was filled with disgust as he lifted his foot and brought it down.

A green and red glow erupted out of me and after less than an eye blink King stood over me, his shell burning hot as lava. Foot met shell, and King's knees nearly buckled. I rolled out from under him just in time, as the giant lord pushed down harder and forced the turtle to the ground. Suddenly the smell of cooked flesh filled the air, and King let out a torrent of burning hot ash directly up into the Silver Lord's face.

Another stream of raw lightning lept out from somewhere behind us and impacted the star lord directly in the chest. He took both the fire, and the lightning with little more than a grunt, before shoving Kings head down to the ground, and sending a beam of pure searing starlight back in retaliation for the lightning.

“Modgi, Dodge!” I heard Tedgy yell, but I had no time to look in their direction. I rolled to my feet, and darted back towards my target. This time for his uninjured leg. I bared both fangs directly at his shin. Before I could land either blow however, something metal and heavy brushed me away as if I were nothing more than a dust mite.

Again I went sprawling to the ground. Only this time, I wasn’t sure I was going to be getting up. My spine sang with pain as I tried to right myself.

Stay still, Sakura. Your body is damaged. Sky said into my mind. Something is wrong.

I forced myself onto my back, and watched as arrow after arrow, each weaker than the last impacted uselessly on the Star Lord as he approached me. I felt his Aura wash over mine, and . . . in that aura I felt a tinge of something that deeply confused me. Compassion.

“Bold little sky thief. Your Gamera has been defeated.” He gestured back to where King was wrapped in thick purple stasis fields. “And you suffer worse than he, before the end. Why are you not . . .” He grew closer, within only a few arm's lengths of me. He bent down on one knee as if to examine something, and his face grew even closer. The once look of disgust was replaced with genuine concern.

“Now . . . sky” I barely got the words out, my lungs burned with the pain and I coughed up blood. It was all I could do to breath and speak, my mind was nearly consumed with the pain in my ribs, back, and left leg which was clearly broken. Laying at an unnatural angle.

A white-blue aura shot itself out from me, and Sky materialized wrapped around the Silver Lords neck. Sky’s fangs extended, and before the Lord could react he had bit deep into the man's neck. Clear venum poured into the titans veins, burning and consuming flesh and corrupting his blood as it did. The damage visibly spread in seconds, but then the Lord's body reacted. The burning veins turned purple, then blue, and then reverted to a healthy expression all in a matter of moments.

The venum was fast acting, but the Silver Lord's body was far more robust.

“Little thief!” The Silver Lord returned to his feet, rage wracked his beautiful face as he reached up with one hand, wrapped his blue-silver fingers around Skys head, and crushed it.

Tears streaked from my face, whether from seeing my friends mutilated, or from the pain I wasn’t sure. I blinked quickly, trying to clear my vision. I had been overwhelmed and defeated by superior foes before. The worst was almost certainly the beating I had taken from Taitha and her little gang of misbegotten noble brats.

But this, this was like trying to climb a mountain, only to have a rockslide kill you before you even conquered the first leg of the journey. I had been arrogant to even think I would succeed. Let alone survive.

Purple aura wrapped around Sky, keeping him alive despite the damage. “That was why? You are a stubborn child.” The rage on his face had lessened, but his determination to win had not. The Lord lifted his foot about to crush me.

I prepared my daggers. The Technique I had activated had weakened considerably. But it was still active on the blades. If he would step on me, then I'd at least prick his pride.

A black blur interposed himself between me and the Lord. His blade sang as it met metal staff, three times they clashed and the sound only grew louder. Sweat poured from Regi’s face, and soaked his clothes as he tried desperately to keep up with the swiftness of the Lord.

“Why?!” Regi shouted as his arms finally gave out and his sword clashed for a fourth and final time with the staff, only to be shattered into dozens of pieces. “This isn’t a challenge! It's a massacre!”

The titan responded by bringing his staff down in an overhead attack. Before he connected Regi was wrapped in protective purple magic, and the staff bounced off the swordsman as if he were made of rubber.

“What?!” The Silver Lord shouted in rage. “Who?!”

A beam of silver light shot down from the bell high in the tower, and another figure equally as tall and intimidating appeared next to him. This one was female, and her expression was as stern as stone.

“The boy was right. This is no trial. Calm yourself, my love.”

The Star Lord took several deep, bracing breaths, and the rage in his eyes subsided. “She brought a usurper here.”

“I see the snake.” The woman said. “And I see children, here to learn at your feet. And instead of teaching them, you beat them into submission.”

“I . . .” The lord's face fell. The rage was replaced with shame and solemnness. “I let my emotions run away with me.”

“The usperber being here was merely the straw that broke the Gamera’s back. You have dealt harshly with almost all of our students of late. What troubles you?” She wrapped her arms around her lover in a gentle embrace.

I tried to focus on their words, but it was all I could do to force myself to keep breathing despite the pain every breath caused.

He sighed deeply. “It's this exile. Are we not lords of the sky and peaks? Are we not nobility of the celestial realm? And our Golden Kin its rulers? Why must we flee at the behest of dragons? Pretenders to the celestial realm?”

“Shhh, my love. You took your displeasure at our choice to follow our students into exile, out on the very ones we seek to serve. That is not our way.”

After a moment, he nodded. “You are correct, my love. Now what?”

“We repair what you have broken.” She stretched out an arm towards me, and in a moment I felt star mana infuse every piece of my being, knitting bones, healing flesh, and replacing blood. In a matter of seconds I was whole once more.

I gasped deeply, finally able to fill my lunges to their capacity without wracking pain. “Breath child. My love has a wrong to right. And you are the first he is to speak to.”

She leaned over to her lover and whispered something just loud enough for me to hear. “Be kind. She is of Gamra blood.” With those words she disappeared in a beam of moonlight, back towards the bell at the top of the tower.

Then with a wave of his hand, the entire scene was coated in thick starlight, and the world turned white around me.

***

I found myself at the top of the stairs to the tower, walking down them as my mind cleared. Something rattling around in my pocket with each step. The other members of my part were hale and whole, walking next to me. Their eyes slowly filled with life, as my own head cleared of whatever fog had just filled it.

“What happened?” I tried to ask, but Regi shook his head.

“Keep moving. I get the feeling we’re already overstaying our welcome.”

The pressure around me didn’t feel malevolent, but it surely didn’t feel welcoming either. Nodding in agreement, I continued walking along in silence. Inside my soul vault King and Sky were both still dormant, but I could tell they were also fully healed. Stronger than they had been, perhaps, though that was difficult to determine with the sustained pressure from the tower all around me.

It felt like a much shorter climb down then up, and we reached the double doors at the bottom of the tower in moments. As the doors opened, and I began walking out I felt a presence directly behind me.

Hot breath brushed directly against my neck, and after a moment's hesitation as the others passed, I heard words whispered by a feminine voice directly into my ear.

“With my compliments. Be welcome in my tower any time. Little snake.”

I walked into the sunlight, and looked up at the clock. The tower bell rang clear as we exited. The sand clock read that only half an hour had passed. “What?”

“Time dilation. It's normal. Powerful spirits in their domains can do all kinds of interesting things.” Modgi said.

“What's this?” Todgy asked as she pulled out a solid gold coin. On one face was the bell tower, on the other shining stars. “A victory coin? But . . . didn’t we lose?”

Each of us pulled out a similar coin, and I rolled mine around in my hand. Wondering just what it meant.

“We should tell Wu Zin.” Regi said. He locked eyes with me. “The Star Lord was . . . he was not acting as a teacher should.”

I nodded. “It's true. But, after you were defeated, well. I think the issue has been resolved.” I didn’t know why I kept the two spirits' conversation a secret. But it had felt oddly intimate, private. Not something to share lightly. “Perhaps he wanted to test how we faired against an overwhelming opponent? If we would give up?”

Regi and the others continued discussing it, and eventually they did take it to Wu Zin and his clerks. But in the end, my explanation was what was accepted as the official explanation. Though I saw Wu Zin clearly didn’t buy it.

I had a feeling there would be a conversation between the Star Lords and our venerable Sect Leader sooner rather than later.

After we ate together to celebrate our victory, I returned home. It was shortly past noon, and I hoped I might catch my brother before his attempt on the Gold Lords challenge.