Splashing raindrops woke Brekan up. He felt them trickle onto his face and arm. He didn’t yet open his eyes but only his mouth to catch them. The rain intensified. He laid there until he gulped several gulps of water. A tremble of cold shook his body.
He opened his eyes and found Vikona sitting on his side. She looked with gentleness and softness in her eyes.
“Did-”, Brekan had to clear his throat, “did you succeed?”
“No”, she answered. “The phoenix rejected me.”
Brekan rose up and rubbed his arms and hands for warmth. “Are there more Trials left?” he asked.
Vikona nodded. “Only one.”
Brekan looked at his right hand. He opened and closed it. None of his Witch Power appeared. “I’m not sure you can count on me with this one”, he said. “My Power might be gone.”
Vikona took his hand and held it between her own. “I’m sure it will come back.”
Brekan stood up and pulled Vikona with him. His legs shook and vertigo made him take a step back. “I feel old and tired”, he said.
“Then let me walk you old man”, she said with a big smile.
“My sword”, he said, pointing at the weapon sticking out the grass. In slow steps he walked there, held by Vikonas hand. He pulled it out of the ground and looked back over the mesa. The ground was still churned up but otherwise there was no trace left of his fights. The animal statues stood there in silence. “Towards the last Trial”, he said.
The rain was pouring when Vikona led Brekan down the mountain. The path threaded through white rocks down into the forest. The wind died down but the heavenly water pattered loudly onto the crown of the trees. The black leafs above were so thick that they kept most of it at bay.
On a flat rock Brekan needed a break.
Brekan inspected the strange forest closer. While reaching high, the tree trunks were bent and misshapen. Some parts of them getting thicker and then thinner again. They had bumps, bulges and lumps. Glowing, purple resin dripped out of open outbursts.
The trees itself stood far apart from each other, which made Brekan feel like the forest was quite empty. The bushes and undergrowth that grew sparsely were thorny. Colorful flowers stretched out of them. Brekan didn’t want to get near them. They looked unnatural bright and in colors that unsettled him deeply. The whole island did.
“Nothing here looks natural”, he said to Vikona.
The Witch said: “This realm is far away from any land ‘you’ know. It existed for a long time, and it is said it even existed before the Witch Queen.”
“So she just made her home here, thinking no one would find it?” Brekan asked.
“That’s my guess”, Vikona answered.
Brekan noticed the light of day getting weaker. “Maybe we should-” he was interrupted by steps. He turned around and saw a big Quiven-like animal. But its fur lacked the illustrious and opalescent white coat. Instead the fur was dark gray and inky black veins pulsed with sinister energy. It also lacked the sparkling eyes of a Quiven. They were hollow and crimson. A single twisted horn spiraled out of its forehead pointing directly at Brekan. Ichor dropped from its tip and created a sizzling puddle on the ground, corroding the plants around it.
Its mane and tail were flickering wisps of shadow trailing behind it like eerie phantoms. Instead of hooves of grace and delicacy, this beast had claws digging into the ground. From its muzzle white foam drizzled.
“You have to be kidding me”, Brekan said and stood up. He pulled out his sword and said: “Stay behind a tree, Vikona.” He moved a few steps away from her, hoping the beast would focus on him.
With an unsettling, almost taunting snort, the creature charged, its maulers clawing the ground with an unnatural force. Brekan could feel the forest temple with each crashing step.
With a swift and graceful motion, the dark Quiven swung its horn like a deadly blade, aiming to cleave the Brekan in two. He responded with equal skill, parrying the strike with his sword, the clash of metal against horn resonating through the trees.
The duel unfolded with a dance of swordplay. Brekan weaved his strikes, attempting to breach the unicorn's defenses. Yet, the corrupted creature was swift and elusive, sidestepping and countering the Brekans attacks with deadly precision.
As the duel intensified, the unicorn's horn dripped with the acidic ichor, and the Brekan had to remain vigilant, avoiding any contact with the substance. Especially because he was lacking Witch Power which could protect him. The tainted energy seeped into the ground, causing the forest floor to seethe.
Brekan grit his teeth, channeling his physical energy into a powerful thrust, aiming to break the unicorn's guard. Sensing an opportunity, he lunged forward, forcing the creature to retreat. The corrupted beast let out a blood-curdling cry, its mournful voice echoing through the forest.
Back and forth they battled, neither giving retreating, Brekans strength clashing with the corrupted energy emanating from the unicorn.
With a final, desperate surge of power, Brekan managed to breach the unicorn's defenses. The creature staggered.
In that moment of vulnerability, the Brekan pressed his advantage, aiming directly for the source of the unicorn's life. The blade found its mark, piercing the heart of the creature.
It fell to its front knees and then to the side. The light in its eyes died.
“No more… battles”, Brekan said breathing loud and desperate. Not only did he use all of his Witch Power, now even his physical power has left him.
Vikona approached him and held his back so he would not fall.
Brekan said: “We should find a place to rest before it gets dark. I can barely stand.”
"Of course. Let's find a safe spot to rest," Vikona said.
They walked a few minutes until they found a gurgling brook. The brook's gentle babbling created a soothing melody, a stark contrast to the unnatural silence of the surrounding woods.
Moss-covered rocks line its banks, softening the edges and invited Brekan to rest and find solace in this tranquil oasis.
At a particular bend in the brook, they discovered a little rock overhang jutting out, forming a cozy alcove. This natural shelter built a refuge from the creeping darkness of night that already lingered in the shadows.
They stepped into the alcove and sat down beside the gurgling water.
The sound washed over Brekan like a comforting embrace, rinsing away the tension and weariness that the corrupted beast’s battle left behind.
He dipped his fingers into the brook, the water cool and refreshing against his skin. The gentle ripples echo the ebb and flow of his thoughts, providing a moment of clarity.
“What if you don't pass any of the Trials?”, Brekan asked. He felt how Vikona leaned against his shoulder and rested her head onto his shoulder.
“In that case, I would be killed”, she answered in a dry tone.
“What”, Brekan spluttered.
Vikona looked up to him, her lips close to his. She said: “A witch without power is not a witch. If it wasn’t for you, I would have already died. You are my savior.”
“It's harsh, isn't it, your life worthless if you don’t have anything to contribute?”
“Even in death we may be of use”, the witch said.
“Sacrificing for the greater good?” The concept sounded familiar to Brekan.
Vikona nodded, grabbed his hand and interlocked her fingers with his. “Aren’t you doing the same”, she asked.
Brekan froze. Did she find out?
She continued: “If you fight with us against the Sun Kingdom you might get killed, and yet you are willing to give your own life for the cause. To get your freedom.”
The Inquisitor relaxed. So that’s what she meant. “If you say it like that, then you are right.”
He let himself down onto the gravel and moss. He closed his eyes, relieved to finally be able to just do nothing but lay down.
From behind his eyes he saw a shadow move in front of his face. As he opened his lids, he felt Vikonas lips on his own. For a very split second he felt the temptation to just let it happen. To just reach out to the Witch and embrace her. But Brekan wouldn’t. He carefully pushed her aside. “Don’t”, he said and saw the bite of disappointment in her eyes.
“You are my protector”, she said. “You saved my life so many times.”
“And I will keep doing it,” he whispered, “but not THIS.”
“It’s the girl from the pool of reflection, isn’t it?” Vikona asked, light disappointment in her voice.
“Yes,” Brekan answered.
Vikona reclined back and then pressed her torso against his. She wrapped her arm around his chest and sighed. “Who is she?”the Witch asked.
Brekan was hesitant to tell her. But he felt guilty for just hurting her feelings not a moment ago.
“She's... the love of my life,” he said. “Every action I take here is for her. She proposed to me, but I turned her down. I needed to ensure her safety, protect her from the dangers in the Sun Kingdom.”
Vikona put her hand on his heart. She asked: “Are you willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary for your noble goal?”
With determination he said: “I do.”
“Good”, she said and pressed her head against his upper arm. Looking at the rock ceiling like him.
He asked: “Isn’t this the same with you?”
“Oh yes”, she answered, “I’m willing to sacrifice anything to destroy this oppressive system. To set everyone free from suffering. See, we’re both willing to pay the price. Even if it means our own life.”
Brekan didn’t reply. We may have the same conviction, he thought, but you are on the wrong side.
The Inquisitor still felt Vikona’s hand in his. What a pity, he thought. There will come a time, when I have to kill you.
He closed his eyes.
But you don’t deserve it, Brekan thought. He wasn’t sure he could actually do it. Vikona might be misled and misguided, but she was sincere with good intentions. She cared about the people of the Sun Kingdom too. She just wanted other outcomes…
For the first time Brekan didn’t want to kill a traitor. And a moment of despair gripped his mind. But as Vikona hugged him tighter, it flew away.
With the brook's serenade as his lullaby, Brekan found a moment of respite, a chance to gather his strength before continuing. The little rock overhang became his haven of tranquility.
----------------------------------------
Brekan slowly awakened, feeling the discomfort of gravel beneath him, Vikona sleeping peacefully beside him. Despite his stiff muscles and damp clothes, he silently celebrated his victory against the corrupted unicorn, proud of his skill even without Witch Power.
Brekan ventured outside their rocky shelter, the rain-soaked world still cloaked in an eerie silence. A quick visit behind a bush provided him a much-needed moment of privacy, and as he returned, he found Vikona by the clear, unspoiled stream, scooping water to drink.
She came to his side and said: “Today I am going to help ‘you’ instead.”
“Explain”, he said. Wondering what she could mean.
“I’m going to give you your Witch Power back”, she said.
Brekan was indecisive. Did he even want it back? But judging by every encounter with their forces so far it would be better to have it back.
“How can I do that?” he asked. “How can ‘you’ do that?” He was skeptical if she really possessed this ability, considering she hadn’t even unlocked her own Witch Powers.
“When I woke up this night to…,” she paused, “Do you know what, I saw a strange being in the distance. And I think I can use it to help you.”
“Strange being?” Brekan was not delighted to hear about that. Judging by every other ‘being’ he had the pleasure to meet thus far it would probably have to end in a fight.
“Follow me,” she said and took his hand. She pulled him up the slope again and oriented herself. After it looked like she found the direction she dragged him forward.
After a few minutes they reached a the rim of a small gorge.
Before Brekan lay the ruins of an ancient civilization, now worn down and overgrown by the passage of time.
The ruins exuded an aura of somber beauty, their weathered stones adorned with vines and moss, blending seamlessly with the surrounding wilderness. The soft glow of twighlight filtered through the canopy above, casting a haunting illumination upon the scene.
“What is this place?” Brekan asked.
Vikona shrugged and said: “I don’t know. Looks like something very old to me. But old stones is not what we are here for. Come!”
She led Brekan along the edge to a staged descent and right into the ruins.
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As he stepped cautiously into the heart of the ruins, he felt a strange presence in the air - a feeling that he was not alone. Excluding Vikona of course. Among the broken walls and crumbling pillars, ethereal forms wandered silently. White spirits drift like ghostly apparitions, their humanoid figures larger than life, yet bearing an otherworldly grace.
Each spirit possessed a third eye on its forehead, a shimmering portal that seemed to gaze into the very depths of Brekans soul. The eyes emanated a faint, soft light, casting an otherworldly glow upon the ancient structures. Though these spirits looked upon Brekan, they showed no aggression, only a sense of melancholic detachment.
Brekan's heart raced, and a shiver ran down his spine. They appeared to be lost in their own realm, eternally wandering through the ruins, seeking solace or resolution.
“Are these the ones?”, Brekan asked.
“Yes!” Vikona said and walked straight up to one.
“Be careful,” Brekan said.
With no hesitation Vikona held her hand up to one and within seconds she sucked up the spirit into a drifting energy cloud over her hand. She walked up to Brekan and pushed the energy into his chest. A strong tingling and prickling inside of him and made him gasp for air. He felt it rush up his spine and bristled the hair in his neck. A mix of primal sadness and happiness that was not his own overcame Brekan.
“What was that?” he asked.
“They are long dead,” Vikona said, “So I gave their last lingering energy to you. They don’t need it anymore.”
“You can do that?” he asked. “I thought you didn’t have your Witch Power yet?”
Vikona looked sad when she said: “It isn’t a Witch Power. It's something else. The members of my fathers family all had it.”
Brekan took a deep breath. “Well, I can assure you I feel a little bit better now, but…” He tried to conjure up his Witch Power. “It looks like it’s still not enough.”
“I assumed so,” Vikona said. “But there are more spirits here.”
As they explored the ruins further, Brekan began to perceive a faint echo of their past, a distant murmur of long-forgotten stories and memories. These spirits were once part of a thriving civilization, but time has taken its toll, leaving them trapped in a limbo between the world and the afterlife.
A sense of humility filled Brekan as he recognizes the magnitude of the history and the lives that once thrived within these ruins. He couldn’t help but feel a connection to these spirits. And this feeling of connection grew with every new spirit energy he devoured. With every single one of them the alien feelings became his own. He didn’t know what they meant, what they related to. But the best way to describe them was: bittersweet.
Brekan found himself compelled to move with reverence, as if intruding upon their sacred space.
“Is it still not enough?” Vikona asked.
Brekan shook his head. He felt the energy. It was refreshing him in mind and body, but it was still so little, compared to the power he felt when he unlocked the Witch Power.
“Then follow me,” she said, “There is a special cave.”
“How do you know?” Brekan asked. “You know a surprising amount about this Witch World, and the Witches.”
She turned around and said: “That’s why I wanted to become one. All the knowledge about it convinced me, that this was my way.” She looked through the now spiritless ruins. “But the knowledge about the cave is from the spirits. When I take their life force I can see their past. Everything that happened. And some of them knew of a cave. A cavern FILLED with power. Now follow me. You want your power back, do you not?”
Brekan grumbled and followed her. She led him to a place they have passed before. There once had been a building here but now only the foundations were left. In the middle of it, they found a square opening. Stone stairs led down in a spiral on the edges of the walls. If there ever had been a railing or handrail, it was no longer there.
Pressed onto the wall and with caution in every step, Brekan made his way down. His arm was hooked with Vikona’s, so they could stabilize each other if one of them slipped. Slipping was not unlikely considering the ongoing rain and glowing moss on the walls and at their feet.
As it got darker Brekan activated his Light Crystal.
It was a long way down but they reached the bottom safely. It was filled with ankle deep water.
“This way!” Vikona said, pointing at one of the many tunnels that split from this main chamber. Her voice echoed through the stony underworld.
The tunnel they followed ended in a spiral that looked more like a natural cave than man-made shafts. At the end of that spiral they arrived at a lit cave. The moment Brekan entered, a surge of energy enveloped him, tingling on his skin like the static charge of a gathering thunderstorm. Crystals, orange and humming with power, protruded from the walls and ground, casting a glow that bathed the cave in a warm light.
“Wow,” Brekan said. But astonishment stopped any other word coming out of his mouth.
He observed the ruins scattered within the cave. Strange, unknown machinery hinted at a sophisticated system, possibly used for mining the crystals or channeling their power in ways that are now lost to time.
Vikona passed by Brekan into the cave and said: “Well, let's begin.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I feel like this is something sacred we shouldn’t do.”
“Why not?” she asked. “Isn’t the Sun Kingdom doing the same?”
She was not wrong. The Augotech was practically based on the Animana energy of the Crystals. Yet, he was surprised to find them here. And a civilization that had harnessed them before.
“Do it then”, he said.
“For this I need you to hold my hand,” she said. “These are levels of energy not so easily controllable.”
Brekan grabbed her hand and followed her to the first crystal. She looked him in the eyes and asked with a serious face: “Are you ready?”
Brekan only answered: “Yes.”
Vikona laid her hands on one crystal and a surge of power rushed through him, enveloping his entire being. It felt like standing at the heart of a raging thunderstorm, feeling the raw energy crackling in the air, yet there was no fear or danger. Instead, a sense of empowerment washed over him, igniting a force within his soul. And this time it was pure. Not infused with feelings from beings of a long gone past.
In that moment, he became one with the crystal, his life force harmonizing with its potent energy. The power that surged through him was not overwhelming or chaotic, but instead, it felt harmonious and balanced. It amplified his senses, enhanced his perception and attunement to the world around him.
As he basked in the radiant energy, Brekan's heart swelled with gratitude and awe. He realized that he was not merely absorbing the crystal's power but communing with a force greater than himself. It was a sensation of unity, of being part of a vast tapestry of life and energy.
And above all things he felt his connection with Sari. The same feeling he had when she used her muse power on him.
The connection dwindled and then stopped. Brekan let go of Vikona’s hand and watched her as she removed hers from the crystal.
She smiled and said: “This is only the beginning.”
Brekan called upon the Witch Power and it came. It even felt stronger than ever.
Together they went from crystal to crystal and with each one Brekan felt more powerful. What he learned about the process was that after the crystal lost all its power, it turned black and cracked. Soon the light of the crystals vanished and only a few small ones were left for light.
However, among the few vibrant orange crystals left, Brekan's eyes caught something different - a smaller, white crystal protruding from one of the walls. It was easily missed amidst the brilliance of the others, but something about this crystal drew him closer.
As he reaches out to touch it, he sensed a distinct and enigmatic energy emanating from the white crystal. It was not like the vibrant energy of its orange counterparts; instead, it felt ancient, wise, and elusive.
“What about this one?” he asked and pointed at it.
Vikona came closer and inspected it. “I have never seen one like that,” she said, “does the Sun Kingdom use some like that?”
Brekan looked at it for a while. “I think the Templar use them in their armor. But I’m not sure.”
“Let’s try it,” she said.
As before, he grabbed her hand and she touched the crystal. But nothing happened.
“I guess this one is different,” she said.
“It’s more than enough anyway,” Brekan said, feeling more powerful than ever. Orange energy enveloping him. He drew it all in and now looked normal.
A low rumble echoed through the cave.
Brekan's heart quickened, as he turned to the source of the disturbance. Not far from him stood an ancient machine warrior, its stone-like body covered with luminescent white energy lines that pulsated with power.
The guardian took the form of a man, towering in stature. Its body was carved from a unique stone-like material, and the energy lines ran like veins, connecting throughout its being.
The machine warrior's head resembled a helmet, with three piercing eyes.
In one hand, the guardian held a majestic white crystal sword, its blade radiating with a pure, intense light. The other arm was carrying a grand tower shield, displaying a symbol of three circles within another circle.
“Of course”, Brekan lamented.
He channeled his Witch Power, creating a shimmering energy shield to protect himself from the guardian's first slice. With each clash of its weapon, Brekan realized that the guardian's crystal sword possessed a unique ability - it could disrupt and shatter his energy constructs, rendering his defense vulnerable. As the battle intensified, Brekan drew upon his new, seemingly endless energy, crafting a variety of weapons to attack the guardian. However, each attempt was thwarted as the guardian skillfully used its tower shield to block and parry Brekan's attacks.
Seeing the challenge before him, Brekan realized that he could not overcome the guardian solely through brute force or direct confrontation. Instead, he had to outwit and find a weakness in the guardian's formidable defense.
Brekan had won many duels at the Inquisitor Academy. Only ever losing to Joven and Lieutenant Hanu.
As the guardian delivered a powerful downward strike with its crystal sword, Brekan anticipated the attack and leaped backward, evading the blow. In that instant, he notices a pattern in the guardian's movements - a brief moment of vulnerability as it shifted its weight to prepare for the next attack.
Brekan seized the opportunity, a daring plan forming in his mind. He manipulated his energy to create a duplicate of himself, mirroring his movements exactly. The energy construct of Brekan stood boldly before the guardian, drawing its attention. A human opponent obviously would see that this was only a copy.
As the guardian launched another strike at the energy construct, Brekan capitalized on the moment of distraction, silently circling around the guardian's flank. His energy-infused blade materialized in his hand, and with all his strength, he delivered a swift, precise strike directly at the center of the guardian's tower shield from behind. It broke out of the guardian's hand leaving the machine momentarily stunned. Brekan quickly changed his focus, using his Witch Power to summon an immense, swirling vortex of energy around the guardian, entrapping it in a whirlwind of power. Using the advantage, Brekan forged his Witch Power into an energy blade, infusing it with a potent surge of power, greater than he had ever done before. With a single, decisive sweep, he directed the blade towards the guardian's crystal sword, shattering it into fragments.
Slowly, the white energy in its body stopped flowing and the energy canals transporting it turned black.
Just as Brekan thought: the white crystal was its power source.
The guardian stood defenseless, its ancient weapon broken. Brekan approached with a sense of reverence, recognizing the guardian's duty and purpose throughout the ages.
“You did it!” Vikona shouted and ran up to him. “Again.”
“I think I’m getting better at this,” he said, letting his energy form a little flickering flame in his hand before he let it disappear again. “Let’s leave,” he said. “And thank you. You really did help me.”
A smile of relief spread on her face.
“The last trial awaits”, Vikona said.