Draconic Testament (30 page)

Bastion ran towards the northern door of the middle room, where the tunnel was, to find It was completely destroyed. “Damnit...” Bastion moaned. “Seems they don’t want us to leave this way in case we escaped.”
“What’s going on out there?” Veronica asked.
“I don’t have a damned clue.” Bastion lied.
“But...” Veronica began.
“Get a guard uniform on. Put the helmet on too. We need to get out of here.” Bastion said. They put the uniform over their clothes, making them stuffy and hot as hell, but probably saving their lives from half of the danger out there. The Blue Magi would recognise the prince-slayers right away, especially since one wears a steam punkish outfit and the other was just seen being beaten up moments ago. They left and went out into the arena. It was worse than they had left it. Most of the fighting had left into the main caverns, though some of the carnage had erupted onto the Arena. He saw mad, rabid men smashing the skulls of themselves, and their enemies together, laughing manically. They had gone insane. Bastion was determined to help, but Veronica regained herself from her emotional breakdown back in the cells, and knew what had to be done. “We can’t help them. Let’s go.” Veronica said.
“I...” Bastion said. Veronica grabbed him, and dragged him past all the fighting in the coliseum area, and left through the door. Veronica knocked a few infected aside with Aero blasts, but Bastion had memories of the infected being friendly to the caster. “Don't bother attacking them.” Bastion said.
“What? Why?” Veronica asked.
“They’re no threat to us... I did this...” Bastion said.
“What?” Veronica asked. As she asked this, Bastion jumped into action. It seemed a Blue Magi noticed the two, and attacked. Bastion erected a shield, though it was weak. The rock dented the shield, and it came apart, and Bastion fell backwards from the force. “Bastion!” Veronica yelled. The Blue Magi were preparing another attack, when two infected ran from behind Veronica and towards the magi. The attacks were redirected on them, but they were swarmed from the infected closest to them, screaming as they brutishly smashed the Magi’s head in. “My god...” Veronica said. What she had seen had validated Bastion’s words. They protected them. Bastion got up and dragged Veronica towards the elevator. After a while, they reached a barrier, where they were let through. “Are you okay!? Any survivors!?” A highly equipped guard asked. He looked like one of the emperor’s guards. “There are some in the Arena!” Veronica said, learning from Bastion. The guard grabbed some men and headed out into the Caverns. Bastion and Veronica got on the elevator and ascended to the surface. Thankful to have escaped the madness.
Veronica was shocked by what she saw. What happened? Why did those monsters attack those men? “Bastion... What happened?” Veronica asked. Bastion was a little bothered to talk about it. He didn’t know who, or what, Illuminos was. He had been there for as long as he could remember, but only bothered talking to him during his time at the Red Magi settlement, Korreal. He thought he was harmless, only there to help, but if he was the magic, then how did he impart that knowledge onto him? He started to doubt what he had initially thought. “I... Remembered things... Visions from another person...” Bastion said.
“What do you mean? How?” Veronica asked.
“I was in my Magic Pool... Unconscious. I felt life slipping from me. She appeared. I saw her practice that horrible magic.” Bastion said. “I remembered her practice, remembered how it was formed...”
“And... You used it?” Veronica asked.
“Are you disgusted with me?” Bastion asked. “I am.” After all that talk with Illuminos about morals and being proud of the life he has led, he ended up spreading some sick form of Tartarus. That bothered him. “You’re forgetting I’m a Warlock.” Veronica said.
“Right... Right, but you were forced into it...” Bastion said.
“I don’t know how this happened, but it sounds like you were too. I’ve never heard of this happening before... but...” Veronica trailed off in thought.
“But what?” Bastion asked.
“I do know that it’s possible to steal memories. It usually messes up somebody’s mind, though, and they have to be very weak. It usually kills them.” Veronica said. “It’s another form of Necromancy. Domini who have evolved their affinity with mind reading could sometimes steal memories from people. I’ve heard of one Cazrian who even was able to steal memories from the dead, although that was in very ancient Cazrian history.” Veronica said. “Perhaps your distant relative was a Cazrian, or a Domini, though it’s not likely.”
“...Or is it?” Bastion asked. He remembered his human life. He used to wonder why his teeth was so sharp. He used to mess up his toothbrush... or why his skin was so smooth. Could this be affects of mixed breeding? His heart pounded. How long did this go back? Then again, Sanctum are here, aren’t they? They must have a portal somewhere. Was his father or mother among Sanctum? Simply thinking about it made him sick. But, he was reaching the top. There’s no time to be sick. He had to leave the Village.
There was a commotion in the village. He didn’t know what it was, perhaps the commotion down below, but there was a massive uproar here. Guards were trying to shush the villagers. Bastion and Veronica hid, behind some houses, out of sight, even if they were in their guard uniforms... because Dante McAllister was at the centre of the commotion. Along with another man. They moved in closer to see what was going on. What they found... shocked them to the core. There were two groups of people bunched together. One in the village near the tents, and the others near the gate and wall. One group near the tents were the Blue Magi, who looked as if they were dismayed from what had happened, and didn’t want these visitors here. On the other side were people who were not human. Or Magi. They had white skin, long tentacles that replaced their hair, big eyes, all different colours, sharp teeth, and tails. They had hoods and masks that had been taken off. Round their waists were Arcanas. “What the fuck are those things?” Bastion asked, disturbed by what he was seeing.
“Those... are Domini...” Veronica said, eyes wide. “I’ve seen them before in pictures... My mother showed me them...”
“Domini!?” Bastion gasped. “What are they doing here? They haven’t come to invade earth, have they??”
“No, I highly doubt it. They couldn’t with this many Domini, and if there were a lot more where they came from, Cazria would... surely realise it... This is most unexpected. Just what ARE they doing here? Sanctum surely wouldn’t let them through their portal, wherever it’s situated.” Veronica said. The two cut out the chatter when the crowd’s noise begins to die down, and Dante and a man close to him can be heard clearly. With all the frantic movement gone, Bastion can see the other man clearly. He has half a metal, theatre-like mask covering his jaw. On the metal mask was a illustration of a smiley face, with two vampire-like teeth jutting out of the mouth. The rest of his face did not match his smile. His eyes were dull, and he looked like the simple emotion of looking happy was something he had no knowledge of. His hair was black, and long. He had horns on his metopic ridge, and of course, point elven-like ears. He wore what looked like a lab coat that was padded and modified for combat. Perhaps it was simply the style difference from... wherever he came from. “I’ve heard many stories about you... Dante the Dire Eagle.” The man says. His voice was that of a dead man. Like he was putting a bare minimum effort into what he was saying. The mask that covered his mouth had a voice-changing effect. It sounded like he was talking through a gas mask. A very high-tech, clear gas mask.
“It seems those stories must be exaggerated. You’re far less impressive than I had thought you’d be.” The man said.  “Why are you here, Ivorian?” Dante said.
“So you know me. I'm impressed. Perhaps your intelligence is better than I had anticipated.” Ivorian said. “Better than your listening skills.” Dante retorted. Ivorian paused.
“Bastion and Veronica. I came for their heads... But from what I understand, you neglected to kill them. Why?” Ivorian said, “Can you not follow instructions?”
“I’ve told Draynar that I want nothing to do with him or his ilk.” Dante said.
“It does not matter that you are defiant.” Ivorian said, “You were given an order by your superior, even if you do not count yourself among his army, he is superior.”
“I am a free leader of a free faction. The Blue Magi are family, and we stand alone.” Dante said. The Magi behind him murmur in agreement, wanting to cheer for their Emperor’s statement, but did not want to disturb the conversation. “I will not be lectured on superiority by a fool who is only looking to have his head patted by the Equilibrium before Sheol’s faction.” Ivorian’s eyes widened for a split second, then reverted back to it’s normal look. “You surprise me. How do you know of them?” Ivorian said. He notices that most of the Blue Magi are confused. This is something Dante alone knows about. Bastion finds it hard to follow. What is the equilibrium? And Sheol was brought up again, the leader of Sanctum. Does that mean that Ivorian is not part of Sanctum? If not, who is he? “I have seen a long path. A path that is not set in stone, but is a possibility. I know there are better paths, but there certainly are worse.” Dante says. “I would stake my life on making the path I see a reality.” Ivorian paused.
“A path. And you know of Sheol’s faction and the Equilibrium. Trigoma did not even know of the equilibrium. Which means...?” Ivorian said, folding his left arm and tapping his mask with his index finger of his right hand. “I see. That’s how you know. Impressive indeed. I apologise for my insults. You’re far more powerful that I had estimated.”
“I suppose they don’t call you the Philosophic Scientist for nothing.” Dante said. “So you understand?”
“Yes. I would rather keep you alive, on second thought. But the boy and the Omega child must die.” Ivorian said. “They’re both great hindrances to our plans. Do not resist, Dante. It could get bloody. You know how Domini are.” The Domini behind them chuckle lowly. Their mere laughter sends chills down Bastion’s spine.
“I'm sorry.” Dante said. “I cannot let you win. Neither the Godslayer’s legion, or Sheol’s faction.”
“Very well.” Ivorian said. “Your brain would be most useful, I suppose...” The Magi begin to get defensive, readying for a battle. The Domini grab the hilts of their Arcana.
Ivorian’s eyes scan the crowd, and then, they reach Bastion’s. They’re at a sizable distance, but Bastion was close enough to see that Ivorian was gazing deep into Bastion’s eyes. It was a cold, unsettling glare, and although he was not human, he felt a lot more bothered by Ivorian than he was with the Domini. “Yes...” He said. “Indeed you are a threat. It’s so frustrating... So close, but so far away.” He was talking to Bastion, but nobody but Bastion and Dante knew it. For some reason, as soon as Ivorian’s eyes locked onto Bastion, Ivorian’s voice became clear as day. “The plans I have in store for you. Simple death will not suffice... Oh no. I want to see you cry. I want to see you explode with emotions, rage, sorrow, anger. And I have all the catalysts for that delicious remedy, dear Zaxxarius. You’ll see. Very soon, it will be the beginning... of your end.” He looks back at Dante. His voice left Bastion’s head. “If my predictions are correct, you have no doubt prepared for this encounter. This will be a battle indeed. But not now. Not yet. We’ll see who is superior. My 25 Domini, or the National Peak District.” Dante took off his Blindfold. Bastion could not see his eyes from where he was watching, but the Domini gasped at the sight. Ivorian simply glared, and Bastion could feel Dante’s returning glare back at him. The two held the glare for an age, until Ivorian broke it. “Move out.” He hisses, and Domini began to march out. Ivorian left with them. Even Ivorian’s walk was unsettling, as he never moved his arms. The Domini left, and headed off into the distance, preparing for the battle to come. Dante put his blindfold back on, and turned, barking orders. “Prepare yourselves! A battle approaches, but fear not! We will be victorious! We have trained for this day, have we not!?” Dante yelled. The Magi cheered, and went off to prepare for battle. Everybody, except children, prepared for battle. It was amazing. Bastion felt bad for killing so many off in the caverns, but the caverns held around a thousand Magi. There were still many here, and even the women were fighting too. For if there was one thing he had learned from his time among Magi, it’s that women can kick some ass.
“Come. Nobodies watching the gate. They’re preparing. We can just walk right out.” Bastion said.
“We should wait. Dante’s watching the gate.” Veronica said.
“We needn’t worry about Dante. Trust me.” Bastion said. Veronica frowned slightly, but submitted and followed Bastion’s lead. They left from their hiding spot and walked a distance from Dante, avoiding him. Everybody was busy, so nobody bothered or notice them, but a voice rung in their ears that made them stop in their tracks. “Hold.” Dante said. The two turned toward Dante, and Bastion approached him. Veronica followed, hesitantly. They stop in front of Dante. “Head to the northeast, through the woods, and continue.” Dante said, handing them a compass. “You’ll find a train station eventually. It will be a long walk, but Ivorian is not stupid, nor does he joke. He will be looking for you, and if he finds you, he’ll kill you. You must not let that happen.” Dante said. “There’s no need to run, but leave immediately. Your bags are outside the gate.”
“What?” Veronica asked, more confused than she had ever been in her life. Not even Bastion understood fully, but he had no intention to. “Thank you, Dante...” Bastion said. He didn’t understand Dante, but he knew for sure that he that Dante was a heck of a lot smarter than him, and he was not a monster, although he was described to be. “You know... I have questions.” Bastion said .
“This will not be our last meeting.” Dante said. “At least, I hope it will not be. On the day we meet again, perhaps I will tell you more. But not now. You must leave. Now.” Bastion nodded. Veronica was confused, but managed a “Thanks you...uncle.” Which Dante did not see coming, as Bastion did not either. A slight blush shot across Veronica’s face. “...Come on.” Bastion said. The two left, collecting their bags and heading to the forest. When they were engulfed with leaves, banter continued. “Know anything about that Ivory guy?” Bastion asked.