X.

Vekzul

There they stood in Azar'kara, amongst the bodies of the dead Hunters. The Karians, as they once were called, as opposed to the Casvians who lived aside from the three Kylinstromi strongholds.

It was Ivalié, with his topknot set carefully atop his head, who stood across from Kogar. And Kogar did not look happy.

He glared. Perhaps he had said something about Liara, again. Ivalié's hands moved—not fast enough.

Kogar did not even draw his weapon. He hadn't needed to draw it to kill the Hunters, either.

Ivalié felt his throat slit, saw the blood spray, and then—

"Haaaaah!" he gasped as he rose out of his bed. He was doused in sweat, even without his shirt, even without a blanket to cover him. His heart was beating faster than any mortal's could, closer to a vibration than a beating. He gripped his chest. He hated that.

And then a shadow moved beside the rainslick wooden window of his home. He reached quickly for his spectacles from the dark stump that made his bedside table, though he already knew who stood before him.

"Could you not think of any better way to wake me?"

It was a man in black and green, breathing through an etheric respirator, some kind of device that filtered their air into something he could breathe. Without it, he would likely die; he was a victim of an inhuman disease.

"Throkos?"

"I was curious what lay within." His voice was a hissing whisper. "You fear Kogar?"

"If you're seeing my dreams, there's someone else here."

Indeed, a black-haired woman in a dark blue skirt and heavy coat slowly meandered out from behind him. She wiped her eyes with her wrists. She was crying, as always

"Throkos and Okella. What compels you to break into my home?"

"I am surprised to find you in Duskyrr. You did not move?"

"I grew up here, why should I leave for Calamon? That place has ever been infested by its own population."

"Liara moved," said Throkos.

"Such a sad dream…" Okella hugged herself.

Ivalié scoffed, "My mind is not a place fit for congregation."

"I merely wondered what you had to hide."

"I'm not hiding anything."

"You're going to kill Kogar?"

"That's none of your damn business."

"After what he's done…" She continued to wipe her eyes, "I want to help you. I felt your pain."

"Help me?" He raised a skeptical eyebrow. The rain seemed to patter more loudly with each of her sobs.

"Kogar has become too powerful. Okella has peered within his mind."

"And?"

"She found a hollow world of death."

Okella covered her ears.

"The sky over Calamon was burning red. The moon was crimson with Vekzul's rage. He's plotting cataclysm."

"You intend to tell me that Vekzul has sided with Kogar?"

"They are withholding themselves from our order. Evra has been lost upon him."

Ivalié finally stood out of his bed and walked across the moldy dark planks of his treehome to his wardrobe. He threw on a white shirt before turning back to them.

Throkos continued, "Something is holding him back. Should we dig deeper, it may prove to be a valuable weapon."

"It's true that he could kill us all in a single breath with Zanthiel at his whim. And his disdain is for me in particular, though I continue to live on. He does not fear me."

"No." Throkos agreed.

Okella had uncupped her ears. She said, "The way he looks at Rykaedi makes me so sad…"

"Zanthiel… Azatos…" Ivalié shook his head. "That's the basis for Everlasting."

THUD.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

They all turned to the window. A dismembered hand was pressed against it, covered in rainwater. Unbleeding.

After a concerned glance between them all, Throkos unlocked the pane and slid it open.

"Ahhh, so sorry about that." called a woman's voice. From above the window, the long black hair of Rykaedi appeared beneath her face. She smiled, "This body is giving way. Nearly time to hunt a new one already…

But while I'm here, perhaps I could have a word?"

X

Vekzul was still crouched atop that window-perch. He stared down in a form almost identical to Serkukan's, with the only difference being the hole cut out for his tan face to shine through.

And the white star carved into his chest. Cedric scowled at it.

"Vekzul." Serkukan greeted him through Cedric.

The red dragon merely stood and stepped from the rooftop, falling down with a certain unexpected grace.

But just as his foot neared the ground—

They were more than two hundred paces from him. In a single breath, that distance was cut into inches.

A jagged red blade like a bat's wing slammed against Serkukan's claws—Cedric's claws, now. Their weapons sparked and scraped as their strength was contested...

And then the blade vanished. The strange figure immediately knelt down before them.

His voice came as a growl, "My many apologies, Lord Serkukan. I only wished to confirm your identity."

"Stand. There is no need for decorum here."

He complied. Vekzul's armor was just as angular and prismatic as Serkukan's, as though they were both crystals grown out of the ground and carved by nature. It was around Vekzul's face that his helmet appeared shattered and jagged, like he had once been dealt a powerful blow.

"You're working with Kogar."

"With. But not to the same ends." Vekzul's bitter gaze met Cedric's with disdain.

"Cedric, go for a walk."

Cedric spat, "I'm not your dog to command."

Rithi placed a hand on Cedric's shoulder and pulled him back. He said, "Shall we chat more?"

There was a momentary glare shared between the duo before Cedric finally scoffed and walked away with Rithi at his side.

Once alone, Vekzul asked, "Your pawn?"

Serkukan nodded. "Not as useless as he seems."

"Pawns complicate things. Rykaedi blessed us at least with the ability to be ourselves, but to blend in."

"Being sworn to flesh is more of a burden."

"Flesh has no will of its own."

"But—you're sworn, then, to Rykaedi? Or Kogar?"

"Neither. I'm not so weak. Kogar has a mortal ego and Rykaedi only takes pleasure in prodding that to its limit. She controls Auctdos Munor, his vied possession."

"Then she yet controls Evra. And Dyosius?"

"Not seen nor heard."

"I have no memory of that conflict with her. An azar was left dead—"

"Akvum. And your bloodtrail has included Liara and Vladius as well. It's no matter to any of them, The Twelve have lacked care since the first year of the Third Era. The only one to beware is Kogar, and perhaps the two who heed his call."

Serkukan tilted his head. "Tartys of The Cataclysm, and Hemah of The Palm."

"Kill Tartys first. Should Kogar blend with him, all things will end."

"That's three. Then Jirtu and Rykaedi, leaving only three names."

"Ivalié, of Flesh. Throkos, of Venom. Okella, of Tears. They will be no great challenge. Strike with preparedness and speed, you should have no issue."

"Then what of you? I assume you have no intent to directly aid us."

"You assume correctly. I have given you all of the information pertaining to The Twelve as they currently stand. As you whittle them down further, I only wonder if they will find it more prosperous to work together once again. Should I become your enemy, kill me without mercy."

Serkukan gave a deep sigh. He shifted slightly. "Inform me of any news about Dyosius. We need it before Rykaedi can get her hands on it."

"Yes, Lord Serkukan." Vekzul bowed.

"And one last thing:"

He shot his fist out with all of his strength and struck Vekzul devastatingly in his bowed face. The impact crushed bone and sent him flying back, smashing loudly into the ground. The cobbles scattered and burst outward as a deep imprint was left in his wake.

"My gift to you, for leaving our fortress during the final hours of our home plane. Bastard."

Serkukan stormed off. Vekzul was quickly back in a low crouch, but did not pursue the Great Red One. The one he proclaimed as his Lord…

Cedric and Rithi took a seat on the step of a shambling building, one of many that looked like the stone walls would give way and collapse at any minute. The door had already been kicked in, a small show of the banditry rampant in the city.

Rithi pulled out one of his potion vials and shook it, then held it up to the sun's light. He offered it over to Cedric. "Wine?"

"It's the middle of the day."

"Never a bad time with good company. It's Ezrathi."

Cedric shook his head.

"You're wondering how I'm so carefree?" he asked, and took a swig.

"Not really."

"I can read you, remember? My power?"

Cedric rolled his eyes. But when Rithi handed the vial out to him again, he took it and drank of it. The wine was sweeter than any he'd had before, more similar to sugary fruit juice than alcohol.

"When I was a kid, back in Oakhurst, my village… something happened. It was very similar to what you went through. It was the real reason for the disruption to my complexion."

"You mean to say that your Swinesour Basilisk was a lie, then."

He shrugged. "Yeah. I lied. We all lie at times, to protect ourselves. The same way you lie about your identity."

"My identity is no lie. Who I was in the past is not who I am today—"

Rithi held up a hand to silence him, and took the vial back to finish off the last of the wine. He said, "That's what I mean, Cedric. You're not bound by those past mistakes of Lorik. Hells, you're not even bound by Cedric's old mistakes. We all mess up, and we can all lean on those around us to make it right. It was possible for me, at least, with Yvesmalia to lean on. And Faunia knows your plight best. You get it?"

Cedric sighed.

Rithi took out another vial and shook it in his face. Cedric took it without protest, prompting a chuckle from his unmasked ally.

"It's always easier said than done…" Cedric muttered after finishing the vial.

A shadow caught their eyes as Serkukan marched back down the alleyway to them. They both stood.

"Any news of Dyosius?" asked Cedric.

"We're drawing too much attention to ourselves. If Vekzul and Liara have found us this easily, it's only a matter of time before we're visited by company we won't be fond of."

"You mean Kogar?"

"I don't know Kogar. But the two at his beck and call have been with The Twelve since time innumerable. They will be a challenge. If Kogar is truly above them in power…"

"We're fucked."