PART 1

Sprinting at top speed, Kaladin leapt over a cliff and landed gracefully with a tight roll as he slammed into the ground. At this height, Kal could see the Xerian border walls, which they slowly went around, staying at a distance.

His F.S.A.P. suit absorbed the impact and he kept running, at speeds far greater than the animals humans rode. Breaking into an open plane, the ground became smoother and easier to traverse. Long distances of grasslands stretched far beyond the rising sun.

“Are we getting close?” Kal asked Felkuru.

The enormous Vog kept pace with him, only lagging a moment behind him.

“We have a ways to go yet. I fear we will not make it in time.” Felkuru groaned. “My daughters have seen them approaching the border. It will be a few days yet until they reach Xer. The Thrak are close behind them, however. I can only see glimpses from my human partner, he is safe for now.”

“What of the Emarine with them? Did you get a good look at them?” Kal asked his friend.

“I am afraid not. Only that there are two. One female and one male. But I have yet to see an Emarine arrive on Isulia, it must be them.” Fel sounded optimistic.

“Yvlana,” Kal whispered, his face within his helmet frowning.

“I am sorry, friend,” Fel said. “I cannot risk another forced connection with Erik. Another may very well kill him.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s alright.” Kal glanced back at the Vog. “If I may ask, what made you bond with him? Why him of all people?”

“It’s complicated. But I saw a strength in him, much like yours.” Felkuru thought back to Kaladin. “He is a king on this planet, however, my intervention has caused him great suffering, for which, I am regretful for doing so.”

“You think he and I are similar?” Kal asked, not liking the comparison. “He caused your son’s death. Why would you regret protecting your daughters?”

“I see now the kind of man he truly is,” Fel replied. “Many humans of this world are capable of good. Though they make mistakes, their ability to adapt and atone for their sins makes them unique.”

“I never thought I’d hear you say that.” Kaladin laughed inwardly. “The humans have done nothing for you.”

“On the contrary, they have.” Felkuru defended. “At least one has.”

“And who might that be?” Kal asked, his curiosity growing.

“Armin, the once king of Kligira. We had a connection like no other.” Fel explained. “Like all humans, he had his flaws, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing the truth. He only spoke of it once, but he had been chosen as well. The Dyaddan had plans for him, and he obeyed Him. He had faith that He would save this world, perhaps even the life in the stars as well.”

“A lot of good that did him,” Kaladin murmured. “It got him killed. Not even you could stop that.”

As they raced across the hilly landscape, Kal glanced to his left. Ahead of them, a group of female Vog were on an intercept course. Felkuru had ordered most of his daughters to assemble to fight the Thrak and they were showing up in increments. This was the first group to join them.

There was a long pause before Fel answered him. “I failed my friend, yes. But that doesn’t make his faith any less real.”

“What kind of man is he?” Kal asked, referring to Erik. “He is a human. How good can he be?”

“As good as you or I. Humans have surprised me in their capability to change.” Felkuru brooded. “They are not alone when anger, lust, or greed is involved. You know what I speak of. I can feel you still haven’t fully forgiven the humans for what they did. Nor what Graves did.”

Kal sneered behind his helmet. This was something he didn’t want to hear but he knew deep down, Fel was right. What was the difference between Emarine and humans if they were all controlled by the same emotions? Anger, greed, lust, and pride were a part of every living being. “They left us to die and ran away.” he thought. “Just as the humans did.”

“I get what you mean. We are all the same in the end.”

“Essentially, yes.” if Fel could smile, he did so.

“The Thrak destroy everything in their path, the humans knew this.” Fel continued. “The Emarine also knew this and we did too. The humans fought with you for many years and when earth was destroyed, they lost hope. Can you blame them? The Emarine were on the brink of destruction as well. Many of your own people fled too.”

If it were Votis that had been destroyed first, Kal wondered what he and his people would have done then. The cost had been a hefty one, with both races suffering greatly.

No matter the outcome, they all lost more than they could bear.

“Did you learn nothing in those twenty years?” Felkuru confronted. “You seemed to be at peace with your situation. That you had forgiven them. And accepted that you have been chosen.”

“I don’t know,” Kal admitted. “I was alone. I had to make peace. I want to forgive them all but…”

“I know, friend,” Fel said. “But if my son could do it. So can you. Life is precious. Not everyone is evil. And people can change.” he repeated.

Felkuru ended with that, feeling his annoyance at being lectured.

To this day, Kaladin didn’t know if his own homeworld was still fighting or not. It had been three thousand years which gave him little hope his people survived the invasions. That only added to his frustrations.

And how he had come to this very planet, his own people stranding him here, along with Lamir and Yvlana. It was something he thought of often.

Their last contact with the other colonies and homeworld was a grim one, in which the odds of survival dimmed by the day. After so many years, Kaladin felt sick at the idea, hope for his people seemed foolish.

“I suppose you're right,” Kal admitted. “Not everything is black and white. The Thrak are to blame. Not the humans. Nor my own people. I just hope I get to see Yvlana again and that I can take her home. Wherever that is.”

“Do not lose hope.” Felkuru encouraged. “We are not beaten yet.”

“I know.” Kal clenched his fist. “And I will fight with every breath in my body to take back what we have lost. I will protect this world. I’ll keep my promise.”

“Votis is where you were trained, yes?” Fel changed the subject again.

“Yes. It’s where I grew up as well. All three of us were trained to be soldiers.” Kal explained. “We were bred for it. We were young but eager to defend the outer colonies. I still remember the day we were deployed. We were so scared but determined.”

“You must miss them dearly,” Fel stated.

“Wouldn’t you?” Kal asked back. “Don’t you miss Tepra?”

“I do,” Fel replied. “For us Vog it is simply home, but ours. When the Thrak invaded, many died. I miss my friend most of all.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“How long ago was that?” Kal asked. “When you left I mean.”

Felkuru hesitated long enough to make Kal wonder if he would ever respond, “I was warped before you that day.” Fel said. “I have been on Isulia since then.”

“Right,” Kal said disbelievingly. “You were sent here by a magical being.” his suspicion rose. Fel was obviously hiding something.

“Why is it so hard to believe?” Fel asked innocently. “I do not lie. You saw me appear before you. That should be sufficient evidence.”

“Why don’t you show me the memories?” Kal asked. “I’d believe you then.”

“You do not believe in a higher power other than what you can see.” Fel shook his head. “Just like the humans. You do not believe what you cannot see.”

Kaladin winced, again being compared to a human.

“If Hashem was real, as you say, then why isn’t he here now? Helping us to survive?” Kal asked. “If he is Hashem then why did he create the Thrak in the first place?”

“I have lived for more than ten thousand years, yet I do not hold the answers you seek,” Fel replied calmly. “I know that he sent me to you. To save you. And he provided my race the means to start over on this planet. We are alive now. He has helped us, you just don’t see it.”

“I know.” Kal sighed. “I am sorry your planet is dead. It must have been hard for you to leave them behind. But that doesn’t prove that Hashem sent you here. You are hiding something from me.”

“Then how did I appear before you?” Fel asked again. “In your time of need. To save this planet?”

“Well I didn’t save the planet, now did I?” Kal growled. “The Thrak survived and have been breeding like rodents for thousands of years. I accomplished nothing. I sacrificed for nothing.”

“You asked me why I wouldn’t show you my memories of the Dyaddan.” Fel started. “It is because he asked me not to. Only that you were chosen for something. And when that day came, you would have a choice. There would be many who relied on you. And one who has a gift for you.”

“Chosen for what exactly?” Kal asked skeptically. “Gift?” he scoffed. “I’ve already lost my life once. The day it all happened. I risked everything. What more do you expect?”

“He did not reveal that to me,” Fel said. “But I know Hashem intends to help all those who oppose him.”

“I-I still… I’m not sure I actually believe in this demon you keep speaking of.” Kal admitted. “I’ve seen the evidence but…”

“You will see,” Fel said softly. “Erik suspects this and is attempting to do something about it. As did Armin and he was killed for it. Armin and his wife were on the verge of revealing to the world that he truly existed in the shadows.”

“Really?” Kal looked back at his friend. “If there is some great being working in the shadows, why hasn’t Hashem done something about it. Why are you so adamant that I protect them? And what is Erik doing to help us?”

“He will reveal the truth to the humans. I do not know how. But he will expose Mulguran.” Felkuru said confidently. “He will show you too, my friend. As for the reason, I was to urge you to make a choice. You may choose whether to believe it or not.”

“Well, I’m all for being told the truth.” Kal chuckled. “All I know now is that the Thrak are a curse upon us all and will stop at nothing until we are all extinct. There’s not much choice in that.”

“The Thrak are not what they seem,” Fel said, in a low voice. “Do not be so quick to judge. Especially when you do not hold the whole picture.”

“And you do?” Kal asked.

“I have never pretended that I do.” Felkuru shot him a glare. “You must trust me Kaladin Valhorn. Who I speak of is real. Mulguran is real.”

“Can’t argue with that.” Kaladin shrugged. “But my hatred for the Thrak will not be abated.”

“You’d be surprised by how much people can change,” Fel warned. “I eagerly await the day you are shown the whole picture. When you step into your true role.”

Kaladin wanted to say something but stopped as Fel continued.

“I know how hard it is to see the good in people. My own son had to die to show me this.” emotions wafted over Kaladin as Fel’s memories resurfaced. “Not all humans are bad and not all Thrak are evil. You’d best not forget that, my friend.”

“I seriously doubt that,” Kal mumbled. “Though I do not wish to downplay your son’s death. He had more strength than I to forgive them, even before he was born. For that I am sorry. I wish I had gotten to know him before he died.”

“As do I.” Felkuru nodded his appreciation. “Forgiveness can be a powerful thing,” Fel said. “But enough of that.” he sensed Kaladin’s eagerness to drop the subject. “More of my daughters are joining us. We must hurry if we are to reach them in time.”

Kaladin’s heart leapt at the thought of seeing Yvlana again but Felkuru’s words stuck with him. “Forgiveness can be a powerful thing” that phrase repeated in his mind.

Shaking his head, Kal remembered his last moments with Yvlana and he winced from the thought. Their last encounter was complicated at best. Perhaps she would not forgive him for what he had done but Kaladin didn’t regret it as it saved her life. He mentally prepared himself, however, for her anger and resentment that would surely come to bear.

He wouldn’t blame her for being upset. All he wished now, was to see her again.

“You won’t tell me his name?” Kal asked randomly.

Fel seemed surprised by the question, “He said he went by many names but the one he gave me I was not to reveal. Why do you ask?”

“Because… if he is real and he is helping us. I sure hope he shows up for the fight to come.” Kal admitted. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

PART 2

Reaching the border to Tykin, Kaladin and Felkuru, along with a thousand Vog behind them, raced through the foreign country. Bypassing their strongholds and any city or town, they made good time. Alarming the humans was of little concern to them at the moment as they rushed toward Unari.

Time was running out though.

However, to get there they had to round the corner of the massive walls of Xer and into the kingdom of Tykin. Crossing over hostile territory wasn’t ideal but they did so without hesitation. Keeping to themselves, the Vog army kept a rapid pace, nearly pressing against the walls at times to avoid Tykin soldiers or citizens.

Oftentimes, they would see Xerian soldiers gawk at them from far above as they rushed past them. It was a sight to behold, Kal had to admit, especially for those who had never seen Emarine or Vog before.

After a day of intense speed, they reached Kligira and swept through the border without incident. The Kligirian’s, like the others, gawk at the army from their castles and cities, unsure what to do or say. Shouting often came from behind the walls but they were long gone before they could react to their presence.

The journey was an exhausting one but Kaladin’s F.S.A.P suit kept him going as it boosted his strength and endurance, regenerating his cells and giving him a small respite from the running. The suit allowed him to stay in a stasis mode which pushed him forward with little effort, even allowing him to dose off in small intervals before an alarm would wake him.

The suit would warn him it needed his conscious brain to perform certain feats, such as jumping, climbing or swimming. Running, however, was on autopilot, which allowed him to sleep.

In the distance, they could see it. An army of Thrak. Crawling up the walls. The battle was already underway.

Suddenly, Felkuru skidded to a halt behind Kal, his large body spraying up dust. “What is it?” Kal whipped his head around, sliding to a halt a second later.

The thousand female Vog, however, kept going, rushing past them toward the battle. A massive cloud of dust overtook them and Kal had to wait for the dust to settle before he could see what Felkuru was looking at.

“Look,” Fel said simply.

Kaladin glanced around in the direction he was staring, scanning the edges of the dusty landscape. Finally, after a moment of not seeing anything, Kal activated his helmet’s features, allowing him to zoom in at further distances.

“On the walls,” Fel commented.

Immediately, the scene came into focus and Kal breathed in deeply. “Well, we did expect a fight.” he joked.

Thrak were crawling over the walls in pyramids, climbing over each other like ladders. Using their own bodies to pile against the walls giving them access to the top where humans were fighting. Below, large female Thrak peppered the humans with their projectiles, which Kaladin immediately noticed. Those were not the normal Thrak he was used to fighting.

They didn’t have their silver-coated skin of armor, but rather spiked backs full of bones spitting out like porcupines. Their skin was leathery black and looked frail compared to the ones he’d fought before.

But all that wasn’t what he was looking for. Scanning the tops of the wall, Kaladin saw her, and his heart leapt in his chest.

It was Yvlana, flowing like an angel in a deadly dance, cutting through dozens of Thrak as they reached the top. Her movements were precise and graceful and a strange feeling of both dread and joy washed over him. Each time the females released a volley she would pull her shield out and even protect the humans too, which surprised him. To his left the sun had almost set, leaving the surrounding area in dim light, governed by shadows which gave them an advantage. The element of surprise.

“I see your female,” Felkuru announced. “She is fighting well, but there are too many of them.”

“I don’t see Lamir.” Kaladin started to panic.

“He is there,” Fel replied, sending an image to his mind. “Come. We must hurry before it is too late.”

A wave of relief washed over him as he saw Lamir was alive and well but he too was being overwhelmed by the Thrak.

Kaladin burst forward with all his strength ahead of the Vog, eager to get into the fight and save them. Leaving the Vog behind, Kal headed straight for the females who constantly fired up at the humans. At Yvlana.

Pulling out his sword and a grenade, Kaladin plunged headfirst into the fray.