CHAPTER 22 – DEFENDING THE WAY

"There are innumerable living beings in the universe.

I vow to help them all to Awaken.

My imperfections are inexhaustible.

I vow to overcome them all.

The Dharma is unknowable.

I vow to know it.

The way of awakening is unattainable.

I vow to attain it."

– The Bodhisattva's Vow

At first, Airo didn't even comprehend what Magus had said. Everyone else in the hall was similarly shocked into silence, trying to understand the extreme gravity of the situation after being utterly jubilant only seconds ago.

And then, Airo witnessed something he had never heard since he came to the Radiant Knights' hidden base.

Alarms began blaring across Ilsorin's halls, their urgent wail echoing across the entire stronghold.

"General alert! General alert! Code Blue is in effect! Code Blue is in effect! All active personnel report for duty! All active personnel report for duty!"

"Cloud, what the bloody stars is going on?" Airo asked his power armor's interface, while the alarm message continued to repeat. The crowd of refugees stirred fearfully and if it wasn't for the Radiant Knights who prevented people from panicking, the situation would've turned ugly.

"Commander, what Stellar Dei said is true," came the SAI's oddly subdued reply. "The city of Arcolant was attacked and completely overwhelmed. They managed to send only one message for help before we lost contact altogether."

"Great Cosmos," Airo breathed. "Darkovitz," he snapped, turning to Lylana. "Call Glawlrhain, and call Stamat– call everyone and tell them to come to the command room. We must take immediate action."

He climbed down the platform's stairway and headed toward the hall's exit. Veralla made her way through the crowd to join him. Most of the Knights soon followed.

The reason why Ilsorin's command room was so vast finally became apparent. The stronghold had been made to house ninety thousand Knights during its prime, which meant there had to be a place where hundreds of commanders could meet at any given time, especially when some of them very likely had been dragons. With all remaining Radiant Knights present, the command room still did not quite manage to look packed, yet the atmosphere was very different from when there were only a handful of people present.

Airo stood before the command table with Veralla next to him, and Magus, Lylana, Glawlrhain, Stamat, Kiana, Nightsong, and Zuckeroff ninety degrees to the side, while the rest of the Radiant Knights were in a circle a few meters back. They all listened to Yeoman Cloud's situation report.

"Number of casualties: unknown. Number of survivors: unknown. All communications to the city are severed, including Æther-based and quantum entanglement ones. Attempts to re-establish communication or conduct short-range reconnaissance have failed. Long-range reconnaissance reveals severe amounts of large-scale structural damage and high quantity of exotic emissions.

"Logical conclusion dictates there are no survivors.

"By latest reports, Arcolant housed one-point-nineteen million civilians, twenty-five Union brigades, numbering a total of one-hundred and two thousand soldiers, and ten H'raal dreadnought-class sphereships, with a total crew of three-point-zero-one million.

"Surveillance feeds show a great number of Revenant united into a single front, led by an extremely-powerful aethereal. Profile matches ninety-nine-point-eight percent with that of Tungust Ferrtau, former member of the Order of the Radiant Knights."

Airo looked over the gathered host. Everyone was here, grim and somber in the face of the grave news. Even Mentoria had come to the emergency meeting. In a single stroke, the stars had turned yet again, and Ferrtau had at last revealed the extent of his terrible power.

"The whole city..." Stamat whispered. "All those people... W-where... where are they going next?"

"Kryoon, no doubt," Airo said darkly. "Cloud?"

"I concur, Commander. Intelligence data suggests the Revenant's next target is Kryoon City. However, satellite telemetry is extremely unreliable due to the constant presence of continent-wide warpstorms, so the estimated time of arrival is unknown."

"One thing I can't fathom is why now?" Kiana asked out loud. "Why the Lightbringer didn't demonstrate his full might before? Why he counterattacks when we had nearly defeated the Revenant?"

"Hmm," Magus Dei mused, and put a hand to his bearded chin. "Perhaps there had been previously something which had inhibited Ferrtau from making a proactive move." The old Knight glanced at Airo. "Perhaps it is has been the same factor – or factors – that prevent him from leaving Terra Para to accomplish his plan on some other world."

"The question is, where does this put us?" Glawlrhain asked, clicking his claw against the floor.

"Ferrtau wants to draw us out. That is his goal," Airo said with certainty. "He knows how we will act, and relies on that."

"Make us show up? Uh, but to what purpose?" Zuckeroff wondered. "Like, why..." The astrior's stare fell upon Veralla. "Oh..."

Everyone around the command table followed his gaze. Veralla's eyes widened slightly and she hrrr–ed quietly.

"Ferrtau wants me to show up?" she asked anxiously.

"Quite possible," Magus said. "Now when you have developed your draconic traits and proved capable of shaping the Æther, I am even more convinced than before you are a Primordial dragon, young one."

"Hmph," Mentoria suddenly snorted, and looked at Veralla in a way Airo didn't like.

"Perhaps she really is of exceptional legacy, after all," Glawlrhain admitted tentatively. "Then again, whether Ferrtau is after Veralla or the starblade, we must not let him get ahold of either."

"That is besides the point," Airo said. "What we face now is the fate of this entire war. Cloud, what is the progress status on the evacuation of Kryoon?"

"Twenty transport shuttles are completed," the SAI reported, appearing as a swirl of lights above the command table. "If we add the rest of the high-volume aerial units from our available forces, this will give us a total of seventy vehicles. Depending on coordination efficiency with the H'raal, the population of Kryoon City can be evacuated between eighty to ninety hours."

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"Begin evacuation then," Airo ordered. "Contact Te'ylna Shy and tell her to position the H'raal sphereships in the atmosphere. Then contact Captain Riley and tell him to recall all forces in the field, and gather everything we have at the city. We shall make our stand there."

"Stand?" Lylana burst out. "What stand?! We can't fight the Lightbringer head on, Commander! You see what he's capable of!"

"What I see, Elder Darkovitz, is a sudden, brutal, and decisive strike from our enemy," Airo said, his tone hardening. "Yet that by no means denies our ability to fight back. We still have the Consortium at our side. We still have the H'raal. We have seen what the enemy can do, and we can prepare against it. If our forces stand united and fight, we can still defeat the Revenant."

"And," he continued, turning to address all of the Radiant Knights, "we still have a whole city of people who depend on us to protect them. If we fight, we can give those people enough time to escape."

Lylana banged the command table with her giant fist. "And what about the Lightbringer?" she challenged. "How could we possibly stop him?"

"I shall take on Ferrtau personally," Airo said with a cold, adamant voice. He sensed the old smoldering hatred inside him ignite once more. "I have fought him before. And I will fight him again. Until only one of us remains."

His words echoed over the gathered Knights who watched him in silence.

Lylana shook her head. "You will only perish," she said with a sad expression.

"Not if he wields the starblade," Magus Dei said very quietly.

Glawlrhain perked up. "Magus, this is unwise," the dragon said, his amber eyes full of concern. "We can't risk Ferrtau capturing the starblade. Your suggestion imperils everything!"

"Perhaps it is destiny," the old Knight continued softly, steepling his fingers. "Perhaps Ferrtau must end the universe. Perhaps not. Whatever way events are fated to go, I ask you all: How else would Airo fight Ferrtau without the aid of such an artifact? How would any of you fight him?"

The Radiant Knights lowered their heads; and then lifted them again, all turning to Airo to see his reaction.

"We can either win or lose," he said, seizing the moment. "No matter the outcome, there are more than a million people out there who depend on us. If we do not fight, they will all die. Yet if we fight, we can save them, and even have a chance to end the war then and there. I ask you this: what do your hearts say?"

There was a prolonged silence.

"So, we go?" one of the Radiant Knights asked.

Lylana took a deep breath, and sighed. "We go," she said.

As one, the Radiant Knights let out a shout of approval, raising their fists and wings.

Suddenly, Veralla jumped, squeezing Airo in a tight hug.

"No! Airo, do not go!" she cried. "I do not want you to go!"

He patted her soothingly on the head, reaching out to stroke her twin crests. "I cannot stay," he said, closing his eyes. "I am a leader. My duty is to lead. I must go."

"But I do not want you to die!"

"I do not want to die anymore, too," he said with a sad smile. "Yet we are in a war. And people die in war. This is how things are."

She sniffled, pressing her snout in his shoulder. "Then I will come too! I will be with you, even in war!"

"No, you cannot," he said gently, but firmly. "You must stay here."

"But I want to come! Please, let me come with you!" she pleaded, pulling her head away.

"No, Veralla," Airo said. He opened his eyes, and met her amethyst gaze full of tears. He shook his head. "Ferrtau is looking for you. If you come, he will take you and... I do not know what he will do to you. So you must stay."

"B-but I..."

"You must stay, Veralla! Do you understand?"

She nodded wordlessly, sobbing. "Promise me, Airo," she hrrr–ed plaintively. "Promise me you will not die."

"Veralla..."

"P-please..."

He watched her, struggling to control his own storm of emotions. "I promise you my Way will not end there. I will return, Veralla."

She nodded again and wrapped her wings around him. He felt a familiar tingle in his mind, and returned her hug.

Magus Dei stirred and said, "Do not worry, young one. I shall watch over Airo and protect him with my life."

"You are coming along?" Airo asked, surprised.

"I am," Magus said. "The coming battle is too important for me to hold back my waning powers. It is time to take a direct part in the efforts to shape a favorable outcome in this war."

"I'm coming too, Boss!" Zuckeroff declared boisterously, lifting a finger and winking. "Imma gonna spec your six and fight the bad guys, and show 'em who 'r' the pros!"

"We will also join you," rumbled a deep voice. The Radiant Knights turned toward Alomar, who had spoken. He made a stride forward, his gang – Rebel, Scorn, Discord, and Hater – emerging on either side of him. "We went on missions before," the blue-white dragon continued, "but we never... behaved, or listened. We now want to do our part in truth and help properly. Like... Knights are supposed to do." The other four dragons hrrr–ed their consent.

"And I will come, too," Kiana said, moving closer. The russet-skinned Conduit smirked. "Since I'm now, y'know, a Radiant Knight."

"No," Airo said, motioning toward her. "You must stay."

Kiana flung her arms. "Yo, Fearless Leader, the first time I volunteer for something, and you shaft me! What for? You know I can pull my weight!"

"Because," Airo said, pointing, "you have other responsibilities now." Kiana followed his gesture to see Nightsong.

"Oh," she said.

"It's okay," the dragonet said in a very small voice. "If you promise like Airo did to Veralla... I can wait for you."

"Oh," Kiana repeated. "Oh, whippersnapper, I can't just leave you."

"Then I can come! Ferrtau isn't looking for me!"

"No, no, no, whippersnapper. You... I... We... we are soulkin. And you're still... so small. It will be wrong to ask of you to take part in something like this. Not now. Not when..." Kiana glanced toward Veralla. "Not when others have already lived through such horrors." Her shoulders sagged slightly. "We should stay. It's better that way."

"Oh... okay," Nightsong said, seeming relieved. She turned to Veralla. "Don't worry. I'm sure Airo will return to you too."

"I know," Veralla said and tried to smile. "I believe so. I pray for it." She hrrr–ed, trying to stifle another sob.

Airo again patted her on the head, nodding encouragingly when he saw her bright eyes full of silent plea. He then put a hand on Kiana's shoulder.

"You did your part in this," he said to her. "Nobody questions your bravery."

"I know, Commander," she sighed. "I just... Just go and kick the Lightbringer's ass, 'kay?"

"With pleasure." He turned to Magus. "Let us not delay any longer. This starblade you spoke of, where is it?"

Magus cast a discerning look at Mentoria.

"You know you have to relinquish your hold," he told her.

Mentoria frowned and folded her arms, for once not putting her shapely body on display. "Follow me," she snapped, and started walking toward the nearest exit. The Knights parted to make way for her.

Airo and Magus followed Mentoria, and the three left the command room.

***

She led them down to the lowest levels of the stronghold. They were barely a floor above the dragon cave which Veralla had told him about, by Airo's estimate. There were no gravshafts and elevators here, only a long series of plain stone stairways and corridors, dimly illuminated by raw crystals embedded in the walls. The purpose and function of this archaic complex was unclear. The path ended at a single, moderately-sized chamber.

Inside the chamber was a simple basin-shaped shrine. At its center stood a miniature sun. Though it was as intense as any real star, the sun's glare did not hurt Airo's eyes or even irritate them.

He stopped at the chamber's threshold, watching in wonder. Beside him Magus made several steps toward the shrine and turned, looking at Mentoria, his brows creased in an enigmatic inquiry.

She folded her arms again, contempt written on her beautiful face. "I never disputed your ownership," she said, a trace of hurt noticeable ever-so-slightly in her silken voice. "I used it to defend your own charges and nothing more."

"I see," Magus murmured, deep guilt twisting his features for an instant. The old Knight gestured for Airo to move closer. "Come."

He moved forward, his attention divided between the artifact and the hidden interaction the two aethereals had exchanged.

"This is my greatest creation," Magus said, indicating the glowing sun. His tone sounded reverential. "Using all power and knowledge I had gathered during my long life, I managed to harness the potential of an entire star. I called my creation a starblade, even though this hand-wrought miracle can perform feats far grander and more noble than mere combat. And yet the raw, cosmic might of a sun is by far easiest to apply in its destructive aspects. Thus I wielded it most often in that manner."

"And now," Magus continued, "the Fire Eternal wills it that I pass this starblade onto another, so existence itself can prevail. Thus I release my bond willingly." The old Knight extended his arm. The miniature sun flowed like liquid and transformed into an elegant, radiant blade. Magus gestured for Airo to take the blade.

He hesitated, watching the great artifact. It looked like the swords of light Awakened Radiant Knights were able to summon, yet somehow it was... more than that. Wholesome. Overwhelming. Absolute.

Certainly something mythical, even in this wondrous age.

"Go on," Magus said. "Remove your gauntlets, and take it."

Airo took off the power armor's gauntlets and the grid-caster beneath. Then he slowly tucked his hands under the starblade and lifted it. It felt light, almost weightless, and gave off a gentle, pleasant warmth.

It was almost as if it was alive.

"I will show you how to attune to it," Magus said. "The most important part is to learn how to channel your latent timeshifting gift through the blade, in order to command it at will. Everything else shall rest on your own abilities. Remember – fighting with the Æther is like fighting with any other weapon. Speed, balanced action, and awareness of oneself and one's surroundings are the key to success. Mastery is merely a refinement upon those founding elements."