Draconic Testament (47 page)

Talia Killjoy’s house. There was nothing left to do, so he decided he’d pay a visit. He knocked on the door, hoping that Talia had not yet left, so he could say a proper goodbye before setting off to find Veronica. He never really wanted to part without actually saying anything. Nobody answered. He knocked again, yet, nobody answered. Again, same result. He looked through the curtained windows of the living room. That’s odd. He figured it looked like it was Afternoon, as the sky gave off an Afternoon feel to the day. Through the curtains, he saw a small square array of flashing lights. The TV was on. Why was the TV on in the living room, but nobody was coming to the door? “Perhaps you should avert your attention elsewhere.” A voice behind him said. He turned around. A figure in black robes appeared, but they were transparent. The voice was feminine, but it was hard to make out any features. He knew he had never heard this voice before. “I'm sick of people just sneaking up on me.” Zaxxarius said.
“There are worse fates.” The transparent woman said. “I could have been the shadow of death, come to loom over your soul with my fangs bared, but, I'm not here to harm you, young one.”
“Then what are you here to do?” Zaxxarius asked. He looked hard at what he could see of her chin. It was recognisably human skin. “You’re a Magi...”
“Yes.” The transparent woman said. “I am a Magi, though I had never actually entered the ranks of either of the two factions. I dwelled on the Rhenium Council.”
“More Council members.” He said.
“You talk of your own council?” The woman asked. “Yes. I was in a council much like that, squabbling over petty plans for the Magi to push forward, trying to preserve a peace that was inevitable to fail. But it was not the Magi that concerned me at that point and time.”
“What was it then?” Zaxxarius asked.
“It was the will of my master.” She said. “The will of the Equilibrium.” Zaxxarius’ eyes widened.
“You’re part of the Equilibrium?” Zaxxarius asked. “Who are you? I’ve nothing to say to you.”
“No.” The transparent woman said. “But I have something to say to you. I once worked with the Equilibrium, but no longer, not after they took advantage of me and sold me off like cattle. Of course, I grew to think up of a counter-plan, which I'm working on now. Though, those are my own personal reasons, not ones of revenge... No, I’ve decided to be selfish, like you are now, and I am protecting me and my own from the grasp of the Equilibrium. However, I’ve come to you with a proposition.”
“What is it?” Zaxxarius asked.
“I want your help. I want you to head to Germany.” The transparent woman said.
“Germany?” Zaxxarius asked, bewildered. “What for?”
“I need you to enter the Sanctum base situated in Germany, and break down the portal that Sancterus raised in defence of your life. I want you to seal that portal, then flee back to Cazria, but only close your own. That way, Equilibrium’s plans will fail... for a time.” The woman said.
“Why?” Zaxxarius asked. “Why do you want that?”
“I’ve told you already.” The transparent woman said. “To protect myself, and those the equilibrium would seek out, and believe it or not... you and your friends. I'm sure you have people of your own to protect.” Zaxxarius nodded. In truth, he wanted to find Sanctum anyway, so the portal is something he’d come across in his travels anyway. It was the only logical thing to do to accept, otherwise, he’d have no idea where it was. “Alright.” Zaxxarius said. “Where’s the base?”
“Go to Germany.” The transparent woman said. “I will contact you when you’re there. Remember, you can use Dragontongue on earth too. You’ll be able to understand German, and speak German using it.”
“I know, thanks.” He said.
“Watch over yourself, Elric.” The woman said, fading. “And your friends. Especially your friends.” When the woman had faded, he decided not to question anything she had said. He didn’t know who she was, or how she knew his name, but he figured that he should trust her. She just didn’t seem malevolent. Before departing, he looked upon the house one last time. There was nothing to be gained here, so he left.
A plane to Germany. He was close to landing there, in a foreign land he had never been to before or knew practically nothing of use about. He read a lot of history about the place, but nothing on modern affairs. He was going to be considered a tourist in Germany, perhaps he should refer to himself as ‘Zaxxarius Von Elric’ as Vander called him. He had forged a passport in magic, and a whole bunch of cash also. He sat in luxury of the 1st class cabins, ordering all sorts of expensive things on his way there. They weren’t worth the money paid, but it killed the boredom immensely pretending to be royalty. They landed the plane in Hamburg, simply because he liked the name. The transparent woman had said nothing about where to specifically land, he had asked her where the base was, but she just repeated to go to Germany, so he did. He figured it didn’t matter how he got there, or where he got off, just as long as he got there. The plane landed, and he shuffled his way through the airport to get outside. His first time in an airport, since his mother was not all that much rich and had never gone on holidays, so he had no idea what to do there. He hated them, and hoped he didn’t have to ever look at an airport again after his ordeal of rushing from place to place, trying to figure out where he was, and where he was suppose to go, knowing that his flight would be leaving soon. He had made it, but he was angry. He also went white in fear as his bag passed through the metal detector, but sighed with relief when they didn’t detect the Arcana. He stepped out of the airport through the crowds, whose words translated as English with a rather stereotypical German accent, into the streets of Hamburg. He liked what he saw. It looked very industrial to him, with docks, trains etc. He walked through the streets, walking past looking at the docks, and ship building sites. He practically lost himself in the moment, walking by slowly, watching this, simply because he had nothing else to do. He tried hailing a taxi, but when it stopped two cars away from him, he stopped, and realised that he had only English money. He thought he could then turn the money into German money, but there were two problems. The first was that he had to do so while looking at the paper, and he was out in the broad daylight, and the second was... he didn’t even know what currency Germans used! He turned and ran, in embarrassment, leaving the Taxi driver in confusion. He felt lost, but he had magic, so he didn’t panic. If he didn’t have Magic, there was no way he’d throw himself into this embarrassing, and clueless situation. He wandered around, looking at the sights and watching for some sort of sign from the transparent woman. There was none he could see. He looked in Hollow sight. He saw the odd aura here and there, and one cluster, but he had no idea what state the Magi were in. They could all be Red Magi, Blue Magi, or something different. What would he tell them? That he’s an English Magi wanting to join them? He didn’t even want to join them, or find anything among them, but he figured he’d try to talk to them if nothing went his way later on. He was wary of random Magi Settlements, as he had to be careful that what happened to him at Split would not happen to him here. He was hiding his aura, as he always did automatically, a result of automatic self-defence from staying in an area rich with Mana. He wondered if that was a mistake, if the transparent woman may be losing his Aura from him trying to hide it. Again, he’d try to give it a bit of time. He hoped that Veronica also had time. After about 3 hours, Zaxxarius decided it was useless. He had enjoyed his time touring the unexpected, but welcome sights in Hamburg, but it had grown dark, and he hardly figured that he would spot a sign out on the once sparkling waters of the large river. So, with that, he went to the nearest hotel. He discovered that Germans used Euros, so, thinking himself stupid, he converted his cash into Euros. It was hard, and it wasn’t perfect, but it was passable. He checked into the hotel, and went to his room. He washed, looked at himself in the mirror, inspecting his skin and his teeth for the last time, then he went to bed, exhausted.
He dreamt of Veronica, of that time in the forest, where he lay with his head on her lap, and she kissed him lightly on the forehead. He had felt lips on his forehead before, from Talia and his mother, both out of reach, but Veronica’s lips felt different. He didn’t know why. His feelings were something that was hard to admit to himself, but they were there nonetheless. He couldn’t deny them. He didn’t have to hide anything from Veronica. She was like him, only far more damaged. He needed her, and she needed him. Then, Veronica got up to her feet, and Zaxxarius couldn’t move. He was stuck, lying on his back, staring up at Veronica. He spoke to her, asking her what was wrong, what she was doing. She didn’t answer, instead, she just turned, and began to walk away. Zaxxarius mustered strength to turn over, and watch as she walked away. He got up, and ran after her, calling out to her, but the forest stretched. He screamed so loud, but it came out as a quiet whisper, and eventually, the branches of the forest covered his sight of her, and she was gone. He began to tear his way through the branches of the forest, trying to get at Veronica, when he heard a window open and shut. That stopped him in his tracks, listening for what happened... then, he realised, and he was awake. Something had woke him up... He sits up, alone in his bed, looking around the dark room. He closes his eyes, and peers around in Hollow vision. He sees nothing, but he definitely heard it. Was a burglar in his room? He definitely heard a window open and close. He looked at his window in his room. It was far too small for anyone to fit through... so was it the en-suite bathroom? The bathroom’s door was ajar, and he could see nothing but the darkness within, pitch black. He was a little creeped out, but his power as a sorcerer quelled his fear. He got out of bed, then got out his Arcana, and approached the bathroom. He heard nothing as he approached. He stopped, to listen for any movement. Nothing. He opened the door, Arcana igniting, and illuminating the bathroom, and suddenly... nothing. “Stupid.” Zaxxarius sighed. Then he turns his Arcana off. As he does this, a furious blow hits his sword arm from behind, and he drops the Arcana. Then, he feels a gun at the back of his head, barrel pushing against his blonde swept back hair. A click, as the gun is readied. “Ready for death, Overlord?” A voice says. He freezes. A gun would most easily blow his brains out all over the wall, and be the end of him. It didn’t matter, it’s a machine that kills, and Overlords were not immune to a bullet being ejected right against his skin. He couldn’t erect a shield, he can only erect shields in front of him, and the gun was pressed against his head. Could he harden his skin? He hardened it, but all the same, it was still a rather big risk. “Bang.” He says, and as he says that, Zaxxarius’ heart leaps, and so does he, into action. He swings around, batting the gun away, and kicking his assailant backwards. Then, he conjures lightning to destroy his foe, but his medallion was off. The assailant rebalances himself, but Zaxxarius charges into him, slamming the large man against the wall and punching him hard in the gut. “Whoa Whoa!” The man said, but Zaxxarius attacked again, and tripped the man up. Then, he got on top of him and pummelled him, hitting his twice in the jaw. Then, he realised who it was. “Stark?” He asked, keeping stark grounded. He thought he knocked him out at first, but Stark was far tougher than that. “Yes, it’s bloody me!” He roared, spitting blood on Zaxxarius’ arm. It runs down, dripping onto his hand as Zaxxarius questions Stark. “The hell are you doing here?” Zaxxarius asked.
“Dante sent me!” Stark said. “He sent me here to help you close that portal.”
“The portal?” Zaxxarius asked. He pondered what he meant. “How does he know about the portal?”
“The hell are you talking about boy?” He asked. Zaxxarius loosened his grip, thinking, when Stark hit him with a furious blow in the jaw, then turned the tables on him, pinning him to the ground, trapping his arms under his legs. Stark grabs for his gun, and brings it towards his forehead, but Zaxxarius frees his arm, and grabs at the hand with the gun. Stark puts his left hand, the hand without the gun, in Zaxxarius’ face, blocking his vision. This angers Zaxxarius, and he overpowers Stark with his left hand using Magic in his left arm, which he could do without Mana. He smashes the barrel of the gun into Stark’s face, dazing him for a moment, then he frees his right arm and rolls over, flooring stark. This time, he brings the gun to Stark’s forehead. “The hell are you doing?” Zaxxarius asked.
“Whoa... Alright.” Stark said, blinking stupidly. “I’ve never fought against you before, but it seems like you’ve gotten a lot stronger since last time I saw ya.”
“Surviving the 800th attempt on your life and becoming Overlord will do that.” Zaxxarius growled.
“Oh come on.” Stark said, noticing Zaxxarius’ angry glare. “It was a bit of fun, is all! Male bonding!”
“Hitting each other in the face?” Zaxxarius asked. “I don’t think so.” He gets up, dropping the gun on Stark and grabbing his Arcana.
Zaxxarius sits on his bed, and Stark sits up on his floor. “You were saying something about the portal.” Zaxxarius says. “Dante knows about it.” Stark says. “He knows about everything. It’s not surprising, honestly.”
“That’s not what I meant when I asked how he knew.” Zaxxarius said. “A woman came to me, sort of all hologram-like, and said I was to destroy the portal here.”
“Why did you accept?” Stark asked. “You got whores and wine galore back in Cazria.”
“I left my friend here.” Zaxxarius said. “I came back for her.”
“Ah.” Stark said. “How noble. Although, you could have brought someone with ya. Well, the woman sounds a lot like the woman that appeared with Dante.”
“A woman with Dante?” Zaxxarius asked. “Another Warlock, I take it?”
“Yes.” Stark said. “No, really. Another Warlock. But, a Warlock concubine is hardly a trying matter after the Domini attacked. All of the settlements in the peak district were destroyed by the Domini but Split. Split stood tall, with a few Magi left. The humans are really scratching their heads over the massacre, but there was a lot of corpse burning, so none of the Domini were identified. Ah well.” Zaxxarius paused at that. He remembered Ivorian, and how he wanted Zaxxarius and Veronica dead, but Dante refused him and turned him away. For that, Ivorian attacked. All that death was partly his fault.  “And when did the woman show up?” Zaxxarius asked.