- Prologue -
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The battle is huge, ten times bigger than anything Kai has seen before. People and Sylesties are fighting as far as the eye can see, forming a sea of swarming bodies and clashing metal.
Then again, the Archdemon is the biggest threat anyone has seen in centuries, maybe ever.
Archdemon Tiirael, a gargantuan pillar of darkness that stands against the horizon, blotting out the very sun as if it were night. Around him, vast armies of Soul Snatched, ordinary Sylesties corrupted by dark magic. Kai turns to face the pillar, feeling his heart rise in his throat. Fighting the Archdemon..... much less winning..... seems impossible.
Kai's Aurleon, Caspian, swoops from the sky and disgorges a Soul Snatched as it leaps at the boy. "Kai, get your head back in the game! These crazies aren't gonna wait for you to finish daydreaming!"
"R-right!" Kai, shaken from his thoughts, leaps down into the fray and slices through a couple more Soul Snatched with his sword.
At first it's no sweat, but the Snatched just keep coming. He can feel the fear in the air around him, as his allies begin to realize they're fighting a losing battle. More and more warriors are falling, and the army of Snatched doesn't seem to be diminishing. To his left, he spots Arwen Alchemy and Sentinel the Nyvene fighting off an enormous horde of the beasts. Arwen- easily the bravest person Kai has ever met, and even she is beginning to falter under the pressure.
Arwen glances at Kai, urgency and fear in her stormy blue eyes. "Kairos! Kai! Look at the Archdemon!"
Kai raises his head, trying to see over the huge battle. He spots the Archdemon and inhales sharply.
"He's unprotected," Caspian confirms, looking at Kai anxiously. "If we get up close, I think we can....."
"End him," Kai says suddenly. The Sylesti and master look one another in the eyes, and at once..... they know what they must do.
Arwen snarls and takes out a couple more Soul Snatched. "I can hold 'em off a little longer, kid! Don't worry about us!" Sentinel roars and takes to the sky, thrashing the enemy with her powerful tail.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kai and Caspian take to the sky, launching themselves into the heart of the battlefield. They tear through regiments of Soul Snatched in broad swaths, and within minutes they stand directly outside the Archdemon's pillar.
Kai looks at Caspian nervously. "This may be the last time I ever see you."
"I know," Caspian says gravely. "But we have to do this. If we die.... it was great knowing you."
Kai hugs Caspian with all his strength. He takes a deep breath, knowing well it may be his last, and steps into the darkness.
---
It's cold.
Kai can't see anything. All around him, nothing but darkness. "C-Caspian?" He calls, wishing more than anything for the comforting presence of his Sylesti.
An eerie laugh fills the darkness around him. So this is the only one strong enough to brave the darkness. A child. How hilarious for me.
The sinister form of a very tall man materializes in front of Kai.
"Archdemon Tiirael!" Kai brandishes his sword, snarling at the man.
Tiirael laughs. That would be me. A..... pleasure to meet you. My only question is.... how did you enter this place without being corrupted or vanishing entirely? This tower is made entirely of dark magic. Even the strongest human mage would have been overwhelmed in an instant. Tiirael steps up to Kai, towering over the boy by several feet. He raises Kai's chin with a clawed finger, narrowing his dark red eyes as he observes him. Unless..... ah. That would make sense.
Kai jerks away, glaring at Tiirael and raising his sword again. But it's too late. His secret is out.
Well, then. The great, prophecied Son of the Starfolk. My sworn enemy. We meet at last. The Archdemon smiles coldly, revealing sharp white teeth. And a mere boy, too. Such potential for greatness. What a shame I should have to kill you now. With a crackle of energy, Tiirael sends a fiery blast of dark magic straight at Kai.
"Aah-!" Kai narrowly dodges the projectile, skidding to a halt in the darkness. "H-how did you know...?"
If you didn't want me to know, kid, you might want to consider hiding those horns of yours a little better. The Archdemon grins nastily, tapping his own horns. At your age, they're growing fast. Tiirael sends another bolt of magic at Kai. And another
Kai darts away from each one, but he knows he can't hold the attacks off forever. This guy is too good! I'm going to die here.... I'm going to let everyone down!
Suddenly, Kai trips and goes sprawling on the floor. Tiirael raises his arms for the final blow. Kai braces himself for a painful death....
---
Caspian can't breathe.
He can't move, he can't speak, he can't even THINK. He can only wait.
The darkness..... it is everywhere. It is everything. And he can do nothing as it takes over.
He failed.
No.
He can't fail.
Kai is still in there. Kai, his friend. Kai, his master. He can't just sit there helplessly and let himself be corrupted when Kai's life is on the line.
Caspian. You won't let them win. A voice speaks in Caspian's head, startlingly like Kai's, but older, stronger. More powerful.
"No. I..... won't let them win." Caspian wheezes, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Good. Louder now.
"I..... won't let them win!" Caspian gets to his feet, spreading his wings for balance and shakily pushing through the darkness.
You are mightier than you think, Caspian, and I believe in you!
"I'm coming, Kai! I.... won't.... let.... them.... WIN!"
With one final bound, the Aurleon bursts through the wall of the tower, diving at Archdemon Tiirael with talons outstretched. "Kai, I'm here! We can bring him down together!"
---
"Caspian?!" Kai yells, rolling out of the way as the Archdemon sends random blasts of magic in all directions. "Caspian!"
"No time for sappy reunions, kid! Get over here and stab the guy or SOMETHING before he murders us both!" Caspian takes another pass over the Archdemon's head.
A Sylesti....? How the STARS did a Sylesti get in here? Tiirael growls. No matter. Forget I asked. Both of you will DIE none the less! And this time, little Starfolk, I'll make sure you don't come back!
"What is that even supposed to mean, ya creep?" Caspian snarks as he slashes at the Archdemon's face.
Tiirael grits his teeth and sends another blast of magic at the Aurleon. And this, friends, is why I corrupt as many Sylesties as I do. Sometimes I forget how irritating they are otherwise!
Kai takes a deep breath. Somehow he thinks his sword won't be of much use against Tiirael. To fight a mage, he needs magic.... but how? He doesn't know a single spell..... he can't.....
"Kai, hurry UP already! I can't keep dodging him much longer- ah!" Caspian falls from the sky, struck by the Archdemon's magic.
"Caspian!!!"
Archdemon Tiirael sighs and rubs his temples. One down, one to go. That was surpassingly annoying. He turns his crimson eyes on Kai, sending chills up the boy's spine.
"You- you killed him!" Kai is furious, beginning to tremble with grief and anger.
Yes, yes I did. How observant of you. Tiirael is beginning to grow impatient. Really. This was entertaining at first, but now it's beginning to grow quite tedious. I think I'll just finish you off- The Archdemon looks at Kai and stops dead in his tracks. The boy's eyes and hands have begun to glow. That can't be good.
Ah. So you are beginning to discover the powers that your species possesses. Tiirael does his best to keep his voice sounding confident and cocky, but at this point he's turned slightly pale.
Kai says nothing. He can't even think. The only thing in his mind is avenging Caspian's death.
He launches himself at the Archdemon, fists crackling with pale blue magic. Tiirael blocks Kai's attack with a barrier of darkness, but he's blown backwards against the shadowy walls of the tower. Who..... ARE you, kid? This power..... at- how old even are you? Twelve? Thirteen? Tiirael stands up, head ringing from the blow. I refuse.... to submit to some blasted prophecy! I won't let you.... take me down like this!
Kai, still silent, walks up to the fallen Archdemon. He's glowing so brightly, he seems to be made of pure light. He looks..... terrifying.
Tiirael glares at the boy. What, can't even answer a simple question before you kill me? Very well.
Kai raises his fists, ready to finish off the Archdemon once and for all.
But back in the corner of the dark room, the seemingly-lifeless body of Caspian begins to stir.
"Caspian?" Kai falters for half a second, eyes flickering from blazing to normal.
Tiirael smirks, getting to his feet. Wrong choice, boy.
Kai cries out as Tiirael sends a volley of corrupted magic in all directions. It's impossible for him to dodge, and whatever magic had come upon him earlier seemed to have vanished. The pain is unbearable as several bolts of shadow hit him on his right side, burning his skin like fire. He tries to scream, but he's in so much agony he can't even get the sound out.
The Archdemon smiles cruelly as Kai falls to his knees, his breathing fast and shallow. Tiirael approaches the boy, clicking his tongue scornfully. Kai, panting for air, raises his head, eyes defiant and alight with magic. For a second, it's just the two of them, eye to eye, blood red against silver. Kai raises a feeble hand, and Tiirael summons one last bolt of magic.
A bang.
And a crash.
Then everything is black once more. |
