Draconic Testament (28 page)

About half an hour passed, as Veronica went about her duties in silence, maid still staring at her of course. Bastion was stood still, watching the boring behaviour happen. He looked at the procedure thoroughly in hollow sight. It was easy to understand the basics, but the hard stuff like the purification of the taint in the lungs could only be taught step by step, and Veronica was speeding through it masterfully. “There...” Veronica said, stopping the spell and standing up, “It was simple after the Warlock broke her magic... but... uh...”
“Thank you, Veronica.” The emperor said. Although great stress was no doubt lifted from his body, he acted as if this was all merely a boring affair.
“Uh... It’s ok...” Veronica said. She wondered when she had actually given out her name to any of the Blue Magi, as she could not remember doing so, but she could be mistaken. The emperor stood up. “I advise you rest...” Veronica said. “There is no time. There is a lot to do. I must thank you for the lives that you have saved during your stay, and you will be rewarded, but for now I must tend to the caverns.” Dante said. Bastion found it odd how he phrased the last sentence, saying ‘stay’ as if they were staying temporarily. Of course, they were, but he didn’t know that. Did he suspect them of being spies or something? That made Bastion want to just grab his blood and hightail it out of here, but he had to remain calm. He was close to leaving. The emperor walked past Veronica, who was acting strangely, standing oddly, and walked towards the exit of the throne room. He stopped when he stood by Bastion. From here, Bastion could see that the emperor’s aura had a high concentration in the eyes and brain, which is probably due to his prowess with his eyes. “And... You were the one who avenged Enlin...” The emperor said.
“Yes... I’m sorry for your loss, milord.” Bastion said, uncomfortable.
“...Was it quick?” The emperor asked.
“It... I...” Bastion began. He didn’t know what to say.
“You will be rewarded... in time” He said. “... I do hope there is such a thing as fate.” Then he left. His tone of voice was half threatening, and half depressed. Bastion just wanted to leave. Veronica walked over the Bastion, looking drunk. “Are... you alright?” Bastion asked.
“...No...” Veronica said, then she began to lose balance. Bastion caught her.
“Whoa. What’s wrong?” Bastion asked, picking her up in his arms.
“I... I feel weak. I’ve used too much magic...” Veronica moaned.
“Ah... Forget that thing, then, I’ll get you somewhere else.” Bastion said.
“Yeah, don’t worry about that...” Veronica said.
Bastion took Veronica outside and across the bridge. Veronica said nothing as he carried her out, a little embarrassed to be seen like this. Bastion was thinking of the Emperor, and his words... He was tempted to leave, but Veronica would be dead if she was found by the Red Magi. He was mulling over what to do about the blood when he was stopped by a call from behind. He turned around, to see the made run across the bridge towards them. “Wait!” She huffed, “You f-...Forgot this! Your cloth!” The maid handed a bloodied cloth to Veronica. It was obvious that something was wrapped inside it. “Thank you.” She said, taking it. The maid ran back across the drawbridge and into the castle, out of site. Then, Veronica sighed. Bastion said nothing, piecing together what had been said between the two, and went to his tent. There, he sat Veronica down. “That was hard... Possession and healing at the same time... No wonder I’m so weak right now...” Veronica said. It took a few seconds to sink it, but when Bastion got it, he chuckled. “Ah... Clever fox, aren’t you? That’s why she was acting so weird...” Bastion said.
“Aye. Now we have Dante’s blood...” Veronica said, smiling, pulling out a Vial from inside the cloth.
“We did it!” Bastion laughed, “Ah, this is great!”. The two laughed, celebrating happily. This was the happiest Bastion had seen Veronica, and it had made him even happier to see. They lost themselves in Joy for a few minutes. They now had the key to opening the portal, and succeeding their mission. With the blood, Veronica could open the gate, and they could ask the Cazrians for some of their medical technology, and anything that could benefit earth, as well as asking them to attend the council to cleanse Veronica of her crimes. From what he understood, the Cazrian’s were a peace loving race, and Sanctum were racist as hell, so perhaps he could even tell the Cazrian’s that Sanctum has been up to all sorts of mischief... “Get your stuff and let’s go. I’ll call Yaevinn in a sec.” Bastion said. Finally, he was heading home. He sort of missed it, but he wasn’t sure if he’d stay there yet. He gathered his things. “Bastion, where’d you put the Arcana?” She asked. Bastion paused.
“You didn’t have it?” Bastion asked.
“...No.” Veronica said. “Where did you last have it?”
“I...” Bastion paused. He thought back to the caverns. He used it to cut down the Warlock. “When I killed the Warlock, Yula.”
“Yula?... Yula was... Yula was at the lighthouse a couple of times... She’s Sanctum...” Veronica said, face turning white. “I know, she-“ Bastion began.
“This is bad, Bastion. There was not a single Arcana on earth until Sanctum got back, if they find the Arcana...” Veronica began, “The Blue Magi might declare war on Sanctum, or the Red Magi, since that’s where you came from! That would be...”
“...Crap... Where did they find me?” Bastion asked. “There was a hole nearby.”
“To the northeast... But I...” Veronica said.
“I’ll carry you, not to worry.” Bastion said.
“N-No! I can walk fine!” Veronica said, shooting up. “Let’s go!”
The two arrived at the woods where Bastion’s horror was ended. Just looking at this place again brought back the memories of the Grim Reaper, and all the horrible screaming. He was almost embarrassed to have been found like that, but Veronica must have gone through a lot to revive him from his nightmares. One last thing to do, and they’d be out of here, like Bastion oh so desperately wanted. “You know where it is?” Veronica asked.
“I went in a straight line...” Bastion said, then he spots something on the ground.
“What’s that?... Blood?” Veronica asked.
“My blood.” Bastion said.
“Tis astonishing that you survived this.” Veronica said. They went into the forest from where they had found the blood. They travel through, constantly finding evidence of Bastion’s madness, when Bastion notices something. Someone else is here. “Wait.” He says. “Do you sense that?” Bastion asked. Veronica froze and looked around in hollow sight.
“No, nothing. Why?” Veronica asked.
“Someone is over there.” Bastion said. He stops, and uses his amulet to enhance his view. Whoever this person is, they are hiding their Aura really well. Eventually, the silhouette is seen clearly, as they are using the remainder of their small magic pool to heal their wounds. Bastion figures out who it is. “I remember this Aura...” Bastion said, “It’s the Warlock.”
“But you killed the Warlock!” Veronica said.
“Yes... I thought I did... But, perhaps she was just wounded. If she’s still alive, she’ll likely have the Arcana, and we can ask her questions. She’s bound to know a lot.” Bastion said.
“Alright...” Veronica said. The two travelled through the forest in pursuit of the Warlock hiding away. He wondered how the warlock survived, was she merely crippled by the blow? It was all a blur, but he remembers striking her. The Warlock is startled by the presences approaching her, and as they come into her view, she whips the Arcana towards them. “You!” She shrieks.
“Wait!” Bastion says.
“You tried to kill me! Get away!” Yula screams.
“Yula, im sorry! I was unknowingly infected with Tartarus, I didn’t know what I was doing at the time!” Bastion said.
“I know you...” Yula said. But it wasn’t to Bastion, it was to Veronica. “You’re... the child of omega...”
“What did you say?” Veronica asked.
“The Child... Of Omega...” Yula said, “Of the end...”
“What do you mean?” Bastion asked, taking a step towards her.
“STAY BACK!” She screams.
“We’re not going to hurt you... We’re... We’re not even going to take you back to the Village... If we can, we’d like to help you...” Bastion said.
“After she tells us what she means, we don’t need her. More simple to kill her, she’s dangerous.” Veronica said.
“She’s helpless... We’re not going to just slaughter her...” Bastion said.
“What did you mean by ‘Child of Omega’?” Veronica said, bothered by Yula.
“Your father’s plan... I don’t know what exactly it is... But Sanctum... Sanctum has plans for you, and for earth.” Yula said. “What else do you know?” Veronica asked. No answer. “Tell me, or I’ll hurt you terribly!”
“Veronica! Stop!” Bastion yelled. “That’s enough for now. Yula, it’s alright. We’ll help you. Veronica, heal her, then we’ll take her somewhere safe.” Bastion said.
“You’ll do that? But... I’m your enemy. Why?” Yula asked.
“You’re still a person. Atone for the crime’s you’ve committed... do what you can. Death is too easy a punishment, when more value can come from acts of redemption in life” Bastion said. Yula paused, then let out an innocent giggle, and smiled.
Bastion smiled back, and as he was going to turn and tell Veronica to start healing her, there was a deafening noise behind them. A loud bang, and then liquid sprayed onto Bastion. Bastion didn’t know what it was, at first, he thought that the Warlock had struck, that he had been deceived. As he span back round to the Warlock, he saw that was not the case. Her head and basically came apart. She had been shot, in the face. “Bull’s-eye. Looks like I’m not so rusty after all.” A voice said, a familiar voice. Bastion and Veronica turn around, readying themselves for a fight, but it was obvious that there would be no fight at all. Because they were completely outnumbered. It was stark, and the Blue Magi. “You’re under arrest, children.” Stark said, “By order of the Emperor, I’m taking you in for the crimes of regicide and murder of a high class citizen, Bastion, and Veronica as an accomplice”
“Wait, Veronica had nothing to do with it!” Bastion said, “I was under the affects of Tartarus, how was I to know?”
“If you had followed instructions, it wouldn’t have happened.” Stark said, “He was killed by an Arcana, and since they’re not all that common, I’m guessing it was that one of the body of the traitorous Warlock. Y’know, the one you were just all buddy, buddy with a few moments ago.”
“Yes, it was me, but not Veronica!” Bastion shouted.
“Emperor’s will.” Stark said, aiming his gun, “Surrender, or die.” Bastion readied himself. He planned to grab his Arcana and take them down, even though it was likely suicide. He was about to get to work, when Veronica said, “Alright... Don’t shoot.”
“Veronica, no.” Bastion said.
“We’ve lost, Bastion... Thank you... For everything.” She said, and then she surrenders to the Blue Magi. Reluctantly, not wanting to run away while the woman he sacrificed everything for walk to the gallows alone, he followed her lead.
 

Chapter Twelve – Fate
Sebastian Slater
They had found Bastion out. There he was, tied to a chair in the torture room, frightened for the pain that was bound to come his way, though he was more frightened for what they may do to Veronica. She was being held in the cells where the animals used to be, and she had been there for a few hours. Not a peep has came from that room ever since she was put in there, so Bastion was at least thankful for that. Was this a worse fate for Veronica and him than what Sanctum was likely to do? He pondered that. What would Sanctum do? They are practically a mystery to him, at the moment. The Magi win the war against them, and then all of a sudden they show up, not even looking for revenge. Then, Bastion finds a woman whom Veronica knew from the times of her captivity, and she refers to Veronica as the ‘Child of Omega’. Bastion knew what Omega meant, it’s a word used in passage from the bible. ‘Revelation 22:13, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last’. Was she being referred to as the child of the end, or perhaps the last child? His time alone, in captivity, gave him a lot of time to think about things. Illuminos, him being a special human, Sanctum, the Magi, plots... Perhaps he should tell Dante about who Veronica really is. Would that spare her life? Dante is related to her, he’s her uncle, and surely he would not throw away her life so easy... He wondered. The only thing he hears from here is people outside, and there certainly are a lot of them. What could they be doing?
He hears someone entering the room outside. “Emperor McAllister, sir!” He hears a guard say. Then, the Torture room door opens, revealing the white haired, blindfolded Emperor in the dark doorway. He shuts the door behind him, and turns toward Bastion. Bastion looks Dante in the eye, and time passes for a while. Eventually, Dante speaks. “Was it quick?” Dante asks. Bastion knows what he’s referring to.
“I stabbed him through the heart with an Arcana. There wasn’t enough time for him to even express his pain.” Bastion said, “So let Veronica go.”
“You seem to care a lot for the young McAllister.” Dante says. Bastion’s face goes blank.
“What?” Bastion asked, “But... You’re blind! How did you know?”
“I know a lot. Perhaps too much.” Dante said. Then he pauses. “I sent my child... my son, my only son... to his death”
“You couldn’t have known...” Bastion said. Dante says nothing. “You certainly don’t talk to me like the man who killed your son...”
“You’re a boy. A powerful boy, who doesn’t know his own strength or what awaits him.” Dante says.
“Awaits me?” Bastion asks, “So... You’re going to torture me...”
“Perhaps.” Dante says, “Time will tell... But tell me, what did you originally come here for?” Bastion holds his tongue, thinking of a lie to make. “Speak. It’s important.” Dante said.
“We came... I came... To spy” Bastion said. Dante paused, then sighed. It almost sounded like a sigh of relief. “Then perhaps... Perhaps the path you walk is as I suspect...” Dante says.
“What do you mean?” Bastion asked.
“You’ll find out. Perhaps in the not too distant future...” Dante says.
“What happened to your eyes?” Bastion asked, “I wondered that ever since seeing you. I might as well ask now” Bastion says. Dante paused.
“My eyes... Magic with my eyes has always been my affinity. It served me well in the DomiCazrian wars, against Sanctum, that which hounds us today.” Dante says, “However, over time, I’ve been working on my Magic further. Perhaps too far. I... Evolved my affinity, at the cost of my eyes.”
“Evolved your affinity?” Bastion asked, “What is that?”
“Magic is like another soul within you.” Dante says, “It chooses what Magic it’s comfortable with to adapt to, whether it be from it’s own will, from your ancestors proficiency with it, or from your surroundings growing up... It can be forced also, like with Veronica. Your proficiency is with Lightning, mostly due to your technology that you were surrounded with. You can evolve any magic, even if your Magic Pool does not bode well with it. However, surprisingly, the hardest and mostly beneficial to evolve is your affinity.”
“And when you evolved yours... You lost your sight... Correct?” Bastion asked, “Worth it, I hope.”
“I can still see through hollow sight... even though, I saw things. Enough to make me change...” Dante said, “As I told you... I sent my son to his death. I sent Trigoma... I sent him to his death, also... I’ve killed my family. For...”
“I don’t get you...” Bastion said, confused.
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” Dante said, “No matter. You’re expected to be dragged out to the Arena, and slaughtered.” Dante says, “But...”
“What?” Bastion asks, trying to keep himself together. Beneath the tough exterior he was trying to put out, he was scared. Terrified.  “I would rather test your skill. In full combat. A death match, between me and you.” Dante says.
“Why?” Bastion asks. Dante doesn’t answer. He opens the door behind him. “Wait!”
“What?” Dante asks, “What is it?”
“If you kill me out there, I want you to promise me... Let Veronica go.” Bastion pleads.
“In the long run, it won’t matter if her life ends here or not... Not if I kill you. But fine.” Dante says, then walks outside. “Take the boy to the cells,” Dante said, “Do not hurt him, or the girl, or you’ll pay with your lives.” As the guards entered the room to take Bastion to the cells, Bastion sighed with relief, and a smile appeared on his face.
Bastion was dragged into the room with the cells, where he saw Veronica in a cell at the back of the room. She looked up, shocked and worried at what may have happened in the torture room. Dante can be heard outside, giving a speech, but through the walls it was impossible to hear the exact words he was saying. Bastion is shoved into the cell next to her, and the guards leave. The two say nothing for a while, then Bastion says, “Im glad you’re okay...” Veronica looks back at the ground.
“You seem to be the only person still alive who is...” Veronica said.
“Hey... I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t talk like that anymore...” Bastion said.
“I... I didn’t mean it like that...” Veronica says, “I'm... Trying to say thanks.”
“For what?” Bastion says, “I’ve gotten us both killed...”
“Now who’s talking all depressed?” Veronica said, plainly. Bastion chuckled.
“Finally learnt what humour is, have you?” Bastion asked.
“You certainly don’t seem very bothered by what’s about to happen...” Veronica said.
“And what do you think is about to happen?” Bastion asked. He could see that Veronica was trying to hide her fear. Her hands were trembling. “We’re going to be executed. That’s why everyone is outside, right? They’re out there, ready to cheer like barbarians when our throats are slit like cattle...”
“Jeez, Veronica,” Bastion chuckles, “Were you always this grim?”
“How is this funny!?” Veronica barks.
“Retract those claws, honey. You’re going to be fine.” Bastion said, “Dante knows who you are. He’s agreed to let you go.”
“What?” Veronica asked. She momentarily looked relieved, but then concerned. “Hold on, what about you?”
“I'm gonna be stripping to my underwear and go back to the gladiator days with Dante.” Bastion said, smiling. He didn’t seem all that bothered, he was of course, but he didn’t want Veronica to see. He wanted to be cool, if he was going to die. The nerdy side of Bastion always wanted to go out in a bang, giving a cool speech before jumping into the jaws of death. But it wasn’t cool to Veronica. “What? You’re going to fight him?” She whimpered, “But... NO! You can’t! He’s going to kill you, Bastion! You don’t understand!”
“Cool off, girl. I-“ Bastion began.
“Bastion, shut up! Stop your stupid jokes!” Veronica shrieked, slamming the bars with his bare hands. Then she fell silent. “Why? Why did you bother with me? You’re going to die... because of me...”
“Veronica...” Bastion said.
“I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... This whole time, I’ve been hard on you, taking out my own personal anger on you, pushing you around... Now you’re going to die for me... I'm not worth it... I'm not worth anything...” Veronica said, “This is all my fault...” She says, placing her head in her hands, crying uncontrollably.
“Veronica. You are worth something. You’re a good person, something your mother salvaged from your broken soul, something that I fought for... Even if I didn’t save you in the way I had hoped to, you’re still going to be okay. Your Uncle hates Sanctum, he’ll not turn you over to them... He’s not what you think he is. I saw the way you stopped in front of him, angry at the sight of his face, his resemblance to Trigoma. While he may not be a perfect person... I think...” Bastion didn’t know what else to say, “Stay here, Veronica. In the village. The people respect you already, Dante will exonerate you of your crimes... and his son will still be avenged. I'm happy I was able to save you, Veronica... Really.” Veronica looked at Bastion, tears crushed against her face. “Bastion...” Veronica sobbed, crawling over to the cells bars that connected the two. She reaches her arm through, and outstretches her hand towards Bastion, who was out of reach. “Come here...” Veronica pleads, smiling slightly. “Come...” The doors open, and the two guards enter, grumbling about something. “You don’t fucking deserve to fight for your life, especially against our Emperor,” One of the guards snarl, “But it’s his will. Get out here.”
“Bastion!” Veronica said, arm still outstretched. Bastion ignored her plea. He wished he could at least send his mother a kiss in text form, Talia a heart, and Vander... well, a thumbs up would suffice for him. But, it was all too late. The guards drag Bastion out of the cell, leaving behind a screaming, wailing Veronica.
Bastion is shoved out into the Arena. It’s brighter out here, and the crystals that were once dim were now bright, momentarily blinding him as if they were Stadium lights. He wishes. He wishes he was at a Stadium now, going to play football, a sport he despises of course, but it’s better than almost certain death. The Blue Magi in the stands cheer for Dante, and despise the one that killed Enlin and the father of his Bride-to-be. All sorts of insults flew at Bastion, even a few projectiles. This is nothing like what would have happened at the Red Magi settlement. The people here ARE rather brutish... Veronica was right. Would he save them, if he knew that this sort of sick thing would have happened? It was a question, however, that he did not have time to answer, as Dante McAllister stepped forward. “This...Child. This child entered our territory, no, entered our HOME, and took the lives of Crix and my beloved son.” Dante said, and the crowd exploded with angry insults. “This man sought my life, sought our honour, and tarnished our home. Now, he will pay the price. There will be no execution... but a slow death. A warrior’s death is too good for this man, I agree, but alas. A quick death is, also.” Dante steps forward. Magi at the front of the stands, dressed in guard uniform, creates a large shield that was easy to see through around the audience, so there are no casualties. “You first.”
Bastion summons a bolt of lightning to his fist, and fires it forward, missing Dante, he fires again, and again, and eventually charges at Dante. He reinforces his fist with lightning, and attacks as if he was in a boxing match. Dante was incredible, he places his left hand behind his back, and he raises the palm of his right hand in unison with Bastion’s strikes, and Bastion’s strikes don’t even reach him. They stop, a wall of solid air blocking his punches several millimetres away from his hand. Bastion becomes frustrated, and jumps back, summoning fire within his hand, and he fires it. Dante vanishes, then reappears in front of him, to Bastion’s shock and panic. He dematerialised his body to evade the attack, a very hard move from what Varnis had told him. Luckily, it doesn’t last forever, only about a second, but it was enough to bring Bastion off guard. Dante kicks Bastion in the stomach, winding and wounding him, knocking him across the arena. Laughs and cheers erupt from the stands as Bastion hits the ground, wincing. He feels the ground begin to move, and the square grid he was laying on begins to rise slowly. As he looked around, he saw that some other grids were also raising, all to different heights, most only a few feet off the ground, but a couple towered over others. They went up to the stands, which were rather high, so it did not block the viewers’ view. Bastion was now above Dante, and he got to his feet, taking this opportunity to lay siege upon him from above, firing off bolts of lightning like he was Zeus destroying the titans from Mount Olympus. The bolts were strong, though Dante made Bastion look weak by blocking the bolts of lightning with one hand, smiling malevolently. Eventually, Dante stamps his left foot, and a grid of the floor raised. Using your feet to move the earth below you was not a common trick to using earth, unless you were bare footed, because some magic is wasted through the leather on your shoes. Bastion’s lightning bolt was still in mid air, going towards Dante at the time, and the lightning simply disintegrated as it hits the stone. Bastion realised that this stone floor was the same stone that the castle was built with, which is smart, because the combatants can’t even see each other in hollow sight through the stone. This arena was a lot more tactical than it actually appeared, and Bastion figured that he wasn’t going to beat Dante was simple strength. It had to be through wit. Dante lowers the grid, and fires off a ball of air enveloped in flame, but there’s nobody there. Dante looks around, but sees nobody, then he detects a hint of Aura from his left, and Bastion comes around the corner, shooting fire in the direction of Dante. Dante jumps back, not having time to erect a shield, and barely gets out of the way of the fire. Then, Dante shoots a thin bolt of his own lightning, which Bastion dodges, but is again attacked by melee attacks by Dante as he rushes forward, dematerializing his body for extra speed. Bastion blocks, and through mere luck, after dodging the second blow, he connects with a thunderous left hook to the jaw. Reinforcing his right hand with electricity, he hits Dante with all his might into his stomach, though Dante’s skin was hardened, it was still a devastating hit. If he didn’t harden his skin, the fist would have burst through him. Dante was knocked back, and the second he hit the floor, he got onto his knees and he slammed his fist into his palm then slammed his fist into the floor. The grids surrounding Bastion rose at an astonishing speed, and Bastion could tell that he had converted and executed that spell professionally. Unfortunately for Bastion, one foot was on the grid in front of him, so that foot and his body was brought up, but he lost his balance and fell backwards onto the hard ground. From there, he could see that the grids around him had closed off the area around him, and he was trapped.