My hands grip the hilt of my sword tighter as Johnathan pushes on the spikes, pinning Emelia to the wall deeper into her flesh. Emelia screams, then passes out.

“Damn you, Johnathan! Leave her be!” I shout.

Jonathan laughs maniacally. “I will not because I’m in a position where you can’t stop me without using your full power, and that would be a destructive dance, would it not?”

Then, his magic glows around his hand. Magic twists and turns until it takes on a liquid-like form, molding itself into a small spike. “Now watch as I save the world by curing it of its disease.” He rears back the spike to kill Emelia.

“No!” I scream.

Then, before he can strike, a chain wraps around his arm and tears Johnathan away from Emelia. I teleport away while he is being ripped from his spot and dragged towards Sakura.

“You will touch no one in this stadium.” Sakura growls.

Her chain slides out from under her sleeve, glowing a cool silver.

“Sakura, it’s not worth it. Let me handle him.” I ask her, and she shakes her head.

“No. I will handle this.” She says, wrapping the chain around her arms and body.

Johnathan stands up after breaking free from Sakura’s chains.

“You dare,” Johnathan says as his aura pressure rises.

People in the stadium are now beginning to feel the effects of the combined magical pressure running rampant. I point up into the stands.

“Rene, get as many medics in the stands as possible. Put out Pressure Genz to relieve aura pressure!” I shout at her.

She nods and takes off.

Sakura and Johnathan are already in a heated battle. Sakura ducks a few hundred spikes. With a whirl of her chain, she creates a glittering storm of smashed spikes, dancing around the stadium. She marches on Johnathan, shattering spike after spike. She swings the chain, and it wraps around Jonathan’s waist. With one tug of the chain, she pulls him towards her rapidly. who sucker punches him into the wall.

Sakura doesn’t let up as she bounds after him, ready to send her chain into him. He raises a dome-like diamond barrier as Sakura’s chain slams into it. It shatters, but inside, there is nothing as Jonathan appears behind her from one of the diamonds she smashed. Jonathan shouts, and his aura erupts like a bomb, sending Sakura flying. Quickly, I teleport and stop her from hitting the nearest wall.

“You okay?” I ask her.

She stands up and wipes the blood from her nose. “Yes, I can’t use my full powers to gain the advantage.”

I nod. The pressure in the stadium is already too high for a regular person." Yeah, I could help, but I could use nothing but my teleportation."

Sakura sighs." What are we to do?"

She asks me, ready to strike if Johnathan tries anything.

What scares me is that he is not attacking; he is just standing there. We’re both sitting ducks where we are; I want to know what he is planning.

“We really can’t do much because he still has those spikes at everyone’s temples.”

My mind races. I could try to teleport to each spot to move them, but doing that would not save them all.

“This does not look like a winning situation. How many can you save?”

Sakura turned to look at me, her eyes hollowed out of any empathy.

“Out of the two thousand here.” I pause.

“Eight hundred before he sets them off,” I say.

Sakura nods. “I will distract him. Save as many as you can.”

Then she runs down Jonathan, who hasn’t moved this entire time, transfixed by something in the sky. I was ready to teleport away to save the people when something circles around me. It is a golden barrier with strange symbols floating on it.

I turn to see one of the cloaked figures standing a few steps from me.

“Can’t let you get in the way, Alva.”

The figure is small and entirely covered by the cloak—they wear simple grey masks. You can see their bright magenta eyes underneath.

“This won’t hold me for long,” I say to them, swinging my fist into the barrier, causing ripples on its surface.

“I can hold you just long enough for number two to kill that traitor.” I punch the barrier harder and see the cloaked figure clench their fists.

“I will hunt all of you down if you kill any of the citizens,” I say, and punch the barrier harder.

The barrier dims but lights up again.

“We do not fear you, Alva.” The figure says.

“You should be.” I stare into the figure’s eyes. She can act tough, but I smell her fear.

I kick the barrier, and it forms a crack. The figure patches it up quickly, but it is weakening.

“You are still so powerful, even in your weakened state. Incredible.” The figure says through gritted teeth.

“But you’re too late.” The figure nods their head towards the battle and my anger peaks.

Jonathan has Sakura pinned under his boot. Saving the scenario is she has her chain wrapped around his throat.

“Sakura, let’s play a game.” I hear Jonathan say almost joyfully.

“Let’s see if you can rip my head off before I kill everyone in the stadium.” He grins maddeningly.

“No!” I shout and punch the barrier harder and harder.

*Slam*

My hands bleed as I feel the barrier weaken.

*Slam*

But it’s too late as citizens in the stand drop one by one. Blood sprays everywhere, and the screaming begins as more and more die.

*Slam*

Finally, the barrier shatters.

But before I could do anything, all the remaining spikes shatter as small rocks slam into them. When I look for the source, I sigh in relief.

My father, Lamden Star, stands on top of the stadium wall. He jumps down and lands softly in front of Jonathan. Father stands at his full two hundred and eight-centimeter height against Jonathan’s one hundred seventy-seven frame.

“Father, I’m glad you’re back, “I say, standing beside him.

“Seems I arrived in time. Now stand back; I’ll clean this up.” His deep voice rumbles the ground.

With Jonathan distracted, I teleport and grab Sakura who had freed herself. Fathers’ features have mostly stayed the same. He is still as tall as he was, with big, broad shoulders, way too muscular for an ordinary man. He has long brown hair and hazel-green eyes and seems to have grown a beard.

“Now tell me, what the hell is happening?” He asks, his hands now glowing with magic.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“The Embers have attacked Master Star,” Sakura says.

“They’ve finally made their move, then.” He takes a breath.

“I see.” He turns and looks at Emelia.

“Somebody get her down and have Rene heal her.” Lamden walks away.

Sakura and I rush over to remove Emelia from the wall. Looking at the hole in the wall where Johnathan flew through. Johnathan frees himself from the hole he was thrown through. He smiles at Lamden and laughs hysterically.

“Oh dear, Lamden, how are you?” Johnathan says through fits of laughter.

Lamden stops a few steps from Johnathan.

“I would say it’s a pleasure to see you somehow still alive, but you just killed hundreds,” Lamden says, his voice a low, menacing growl. There’s an upswing in his magic, and I can tell his nerves are being grated like a block of cheese.

“That is okay. You see, my resurrection was not for a family reunion.” Jonathan brushed off his armor and stretches.

“Resurrected by whom? All the Necromancers died in the civil war, and none of them escaped. I made sure of that.” Lamden says.

Jonathan scoffs distastefully. “Disgusting to assume one of those corpse fuckers can bring about the Embers. No, my master brought all of us back to do his bidding!” He shouts gleefully.

Lamden shakes his head. “Since when have you ever listened to the decrees of others, dear prince?” Lamden says, crooking an eyebrow.

Again, Jonathan laughs. “The Master has cleared me of childish thoughts and made things clear. The clouds have subsided from my mind, and the flames of life burn through me!” He says, eyes to the sky, hands spread wide.

“Who is your master?” Lamden flares his aura, and the pressure from his magic is as heavy as a mountain troll sitting on your shoulders.

Johnathan is quiet and then speaks. “Phoenix, the never-ending God of fire and rebirth.”

Lamden’s power level rises to immense levels. He activates his aura, causing the ground to shake and rumble. The earth below rises towards Lamden’s hand. You can feel and see the air rapidly twisting and turning, becoming a violent gale as the mzynes in the air react to Lamden’s powerful aura. Then the rocks at his hand form into a fist, and my eyes grow wide from the realization.

“Father, don’t! You’ll kill everyone in a hundred-mile radius!” I shout over the wind.

As his magic continues to rise higher and higher, my words become lost. The pressure is trying to force me to my knees. Then it stops as all the wind and his aura dissipate. At Lamden’s hand, which is now a giant fist made of pure stone, sits a small concentration of magic.

Jonathan cackles with laughter. “Whoa, I am terrified, teacher. You recognize that name, yes?”

Father punches him in the face with his regular fists in one fell swoop, knocking Johnathan to the ground. Father towers above him, boot to his throat. The Golem King’s hand pointed down at Johnathan. The magic in the fist casts a sickly green color over the prince.

“You’d never do it! If you use that attack, you’ll kill me, and over half the city will die!” Johnathan says his confidence never wavers even under certain death.

Father speaks, with eyes cold and wide and with a murderous intent. “If you work for that creature, I cannot allow you to live. I will change her fate!”

Lamden raises the Golem’s hand as high as it can go. He then brings it down on Johnathan. Father’s normally calm eyes now burn with magic.

“Father, no!” My voice cracks. I want to teleport, but I’d die in the attack.

Then the sky goes dark, storm clouds form above the stadium, and a massive pillar of light drops from the sky, shrouding Lamden and Johnathan in its light. A woman now stands between the two men. She has her hand on Lamden’s Golem fist.

I stand stunned at the woman who radiates nothing but raw magic, just like fathers. She wears a tight blue robe, with bandages wrapped around her entire body. All you can see of the woman under the bandages are her bright yellow eyes.

All the hooded figures of the Embers drop to a knee at the woman’s presence.

“That will be the end of this.” The woman snaps her fingers. Then, in a quick flash of light, the woman now stands a few steps away from Lamden with a knocked-out Johnathan at her feet.

“Who are you?” I ask.

“Irrelevant. Hear this, soldiers of the Cardinal Kingdom. It is not your kingdom we quarrel with. Give us Emelia, and we shall leave and allow you to join the Master in his new world.” The woman bends down and flips the massive body of Jonathan over her slender shoulder.

“Never,” Lamden says, his giant’s hand now vanished.

“Then you leave us no choice as of this instant. The Phoenix Embers declare war upon the world. Pray to your gods, for this world will soon be reborn to a new lord.” The woman turns to walk away, then stops.

She turns her head to the side, one eye looking over her shoulder.

“Alva, you wish to escape your horrid fate?” My heart drops at the words.

“How do you know about that? No one should know about that.” The woman cuts my words off as my anger peaks.

“Dear child, the Fabric of the Universe holds your Fate,” she pauses.

“For those who know how to look for it.” She turns her head away from me.

“If you wish to escape it. Then kill Emelia. She has robbed the world of its true potential.” Then, the woman disappears in a beam of light, and the fight is over.

At least four hours pass as the clean-up happens in the stadium. Soldiers rounded up the people who survived and are now traumatized by the situation in the stadium. Our Dreamers gave them treatment to help heal their minds, so nightmares do not plague them.

Now, I sit outside my father’s office, wanting to talk with him.

Just talk to him. Sure, you last saw him three years ago, but that does not mean he’s changed. Stop this doubting you’re above that. Just ask him what he has discovered. You are not a child any longer.

Once I convince myself to enter the door, a hand goes onto my shoulder. I turn to it and see Sakura standing behind me.

“Lady Alva, glad to see you doing better. Trying to talk to your father?” Her silver eyes are still as intense as the first time we met.

“Sakura, hello,” I say.

Her eyes are as calm as they always are, but something in them makes me ask.

“How are you doing?” I ask her.

She drops her hand from my shoulder and leans back against the wall." Jonathan had me dead to rights. He had me fucking pinned." She says her old vocabulary is coming out.

They had me as well. They completely surprised us. When there were liabilities around, they launched an attack.

“That’s true, but it still angers me. I would have had that man on his knees back in the day.” Now it’s my turn to place my hands on her shoulders.

“Sakura, relax. You are one of the strongest people in this damn country. At full strength, no holds barred. You could destroy anyone.”

She looks up at me, a playful challenge in her eyes. “I lost to you. She says, with a smile creeping onto her lips.

I push her playfully into the wall. “Yeah, well, that’s different.”

She laughs louder than usual. “You said any opponent.”

“Well, I am a little different from any regular opponent,” trying to skip around where the conversation is going.

Sakura stares at me for a long second. “Anyway, Lady Alva, go in and talk to your father. It’s been three years,” she says.

I sigh. “I know, but it’s been so long. What do I say?”

Sakura walks over to the door and knocks loudly.

“Not here.” Father’s voice says from the other side of the door.

“Master Lamden Alva is here to speak with you. “ She turns, smirks at me, and walks away.

“Oh, great.” A pause.

“Come in, Alva, let’s talk.”

I give Sakura a rude gesture.

Then, taking a deep breath, I enter my father’s office. Inside, he sits at his desk doing some paperwork. Father looks up at me and smiles.

“Alva, glad you stopped by,” Father says.

I nod. “Hello,” I say.

Looking around at his office, it is still the same. Behind him, there is a small bookshelf of documents and books. The sizeable wooden desk has a darker shade of stain. Papers are all over his desk, some stacked but primarily messy. An enchanted light hangs above his head.

“How was your trip?” His smile fades.

His green eyes go still. I still feel like a child under those eyes.

He sighs. “Straight to it then.” He sets his quill down and sits up straight, arms on the table.

“I thought I had a breakthrough. I followed up on it last year. But it turned out to be another dead end.” Father says sullenly.

“Then you found nothing?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

He nods his eyes not meeting mine. “Yes.”

“That does not mean there isn’t a way.” He says, cutting me off quickly.

His eyes are still so determined, even after searching for so many years.

A twinge of guilt forces me to speak.

“Father, it is the best course of action to stop looking.” This topic is always sensitive.

“It is futile.” I cringe as he pushes back his chair, stands up, and slams his hands on his desk, sending paperwork fluttering around the room. The attack splinters the table and craters the floor beneath it.

“How can you ask me that!” Father shouts as the walls rumble, sending cracks through the thick mountain walls. He takes in a deep breath.

“I will spend my entire life finding a way to change your future. You do not deserve such a burden on your shoulders.” He says, a hitch caught in his throat. He sits back down and covers his face with both hands.

“Father, I’m sorry,” I say, holding back the emotions.

He wipes at the single tear that has fallen down his cheek.

“Father, you have spent twenty years searching. I’m twenty-eight now. I’ve come to terms with my Fate. You’ve been looking for a way to break my curse since you found me that day.” I say.

He shakes his head. “I’m your father. If I must tear the world apart to ensure, you can live your entire life, I will.” He says, his eyes full of the same rebellious look he had in his eyes the first day he pulled me from that crypt.

He would rip the world in two if he had to, and no one could stop him. That’s just who Father is.

He waves a hand in the air. “Enough about this. Tell me, how is your sister doing?”

Again, I’m sorry about all this, Father. I truly am.

“Rene is fine. She is always busy dealing with all the clinics and keeping all the doctors in line around the kingdom.” I say.

Father nods." Good, hopefully, she lost that mean streak of hers."

I chuckle. “She still teases everyone. I doubt she will ever change that.” I feel a smile pull at my lip.

“Sweet mother, she’s twenty-one now. I’d hope she would stop the teasing.” We both laugh.

“Has she had any breakdowns recently?” Father asks as our laughter ceases.

I shake my head. “No, she has been fine. She has had no breakdowns for a year now.”

Father sighs in relief. “Good. I’ll visit her office later. Maybe bring those chocolate donut rings from Anna’s Bakery she likes.” He says, scribbling something down on a piece of paper he picked up off the floor.

“That would be a fine idea. After that forty-eight-hour procedure, she just pulled to save Emelia. She might want the company.” He nods, and I sigh.

“I need to go, Father; it’s about time to get ready for the debriefing soon.” He nods.

“Very well. I have one as well.” Father stands up, setting his quill back into the well.,

“Hmm, I’ll head to it after I visit your sister.” With a bow, I leave the room behind.

The door closes behind me, and I let out an exasperated sigh, leaning against the door.

Oh, Father, when will you realize it is impossible to save me from my fate? The future is determined by fate. I want you to just enjoy your life. Is that so much to ask? A deep breath helps me to let go of the emotions clawing their dirty hands into my mind again. With a second deep breath, I lock them away.

“You, of all people, should understand that.”

After one final deep breath, I head off to do my reports before the meeting.