Rupture: Rise of the Demon King (3 page)

Why did he go in that portal?

3: Hero

22 Agen, 112 AV: Day 1

On the first day at dusk, the hundred-man company set up camp in a copse parallel to the road. The group consumed a light meal of bread, cheese, and fruit. Kazuma started a campfire and ordered several soldiers to take up guard positions around the camp. Seeko was situated in the center for the most protection.

When Kazuma finished prepping the camp, Seeko pointed to the heavens. “What is that?”

Kazuma looked at the boy. “What? The Wall?”

“Wall? No, the ring in the sky! Why is that there?” Sure enough, there was a thick band of light curving across the night sky, looping around the horizon from east to west.

“That is the remnants of Ava, the creator. She sacrificed herself to create this planet, Kismetia, and Avaroda, the Wall, is how she shields us from her evil twin Yedra, even in death.”

Seeko stared in wonder as dusk fell across the land. The ring grew in brightness as the evening faded. The ribbon of light soon shone brighter than any star in the sky.

“Why do you call it a wall? It’s a ring around … what did you call it? … Kismetia.”

Kazuma smiled. “You’ll see if you’re up later tonight. Avaroda is born every dusk, dies in the dead of night, and is born again at dawn. It remains faint throughout the day, but always protects us. It shows that we are at our most vulnerable in the night, and that is why the second shift has twice the number of soldiers.”

What could happen to the ring in the middle of the night? How could it die and be reborn? Seeko changed the subject: “Does Kismetia have a moon?”

Kazuma cocked his head to one side. “What’s a moon?”

“Never mind.”

Kazuma fiddled with his pack and eventually handed Seeko a blanket. “Here ya go, kid. Get some sleep. We have a long way to go.”

Seeko nodded and looked around for a place to sleep. “Uh, where?”

Kazuma laughed. “Pick a spot and put the blanket down. Anyway, I’m part of the first shift. Think ya can get along without me?”

Seeko didn’t want to separate from Kazuma, but also didn’t want to admit it to him. So he watched Kazuma leave, feeling the shaking return. Around the edges of the fire, Seeko could see shadows dancing. Were there demons out there, just out of reach, waiting for him to fall asleep? Yet, part of him wished for the darkness to come, to reach out, grab him, and funnel him back to Earth.

He found it difficult to sleep. His eyes closed, but his mind wandered. In fact, Seeko was still awake when Kazuma’s shift was over. The shadow of the planet cast a black void on the east side of the ring by the time Kazuma returned.

“You’re still awake, aren’t ya?”

Seeko sat up. “I can’t sleep.”

“What’s on your mind?”

Seeko didn’t know where to begin. The reality of his decision was being made brutally apparent in everything he saw. He had come here searching for answers to his strange vision.

When it became clear that Seeko wasn’t going to say anything, Kazuma smiled and spoke: “Ya know, ya remind me of Prophet Mithuna, daughter of the destructive Yedra. It was Yedra who banished Mithuna to Endetia after she disobeyed him. She was scared at first, but eventually she grew into a hero and united Endetia peacefully into the Halcyon Empire. That was over a thousand years ago.” He looked at Seeko. “I think you’ll unite us too.”

A cool gust of wind rushed by and Seeko drew his knees close. “I doubt it. I just want to go home.”

“If you’re the hero everyone says ya are, then ya
are
home. So quit moping and start fresh from where you’re at right now.”

Seeko closed his eyes and tears came to them. It hurt to hear someone else tell him he was stranded here. His heart fluttered and he slumped back to the ground. “I’m going to try to get some sleep.”

Kazuma nodded and set his blanket down. Soon his snores joined the other soldiers and helped with Seeko’s insomnia. Eventually, exhaustion overtook fear and sent him to the land of dreams, but not before one final, fleeting thought:
What if this is home?

/ / / / /

The company continued walking northeast, eventually reaching Fort Zan. Once there, Seeko received new clothes. He received an Irenic tunic of white and blue—so that he blended in, they told him. They also gave him gray breeches and brown boots.

He looked at his old Earth clothes. His worn jeans, his baggy sweater, his broken headphones … His old life was gone now. He would never see his parents, or Winona, or anyone again. He would never drive a car, use a phone, or use anything even remotely similar to electricity again—at least from what he’d seen thus far on this planet.

No. Kazuma was right. His mopey attitude was going to kill him far faster than any monster would. He had to make the best of this new world. This was his life now. He rubbed the scratchy Irenic tunic. This backward, war-torn world was all he had now.

This was what he had wanted when he came though that portal. He was a hero-in-training to Kazuma, and maybe that was why he was here.

Kazuma entered the changing room with a short-sword to hang on Seeko’s hip. Seeko was still looking at his old clothes when he entered.

“I bet your family misses ya,” Kazuma said.

Seeko hung his head. “They’re probably dead by now,” he said, a tear coming to his eye.

“Don’t think that. They’re fine, I’m sure.”

“When I left, Earth—my planet—was being destroyed by demons. That was almost two weeks ago. At least you have magic here.”

Kazuma closed his eyes and began a prayer. “Ava will protect them,” he said once he was done.

“They weren’t even my real family,” Seeko said. “I was adopted.”

“Even so, they raised ya. They’re spending every day looking for ya and—”

“But they’ll never find me! I’ll never see them again, Kazuma!” Seeko kicked at the desk holding his old clothing.

Kazuma said nothing.

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I know I’m stuck here now. And … I’m going to be … a hero.” He hoped Kazuma didn’t notice his voice crack when he said that.

Kazuma smiled. “That’s the spirit!” He handed him the sword.

“I don’t know how to use a sword.”

“It’s more for looks. If ya look like one of us, the company will be less likely to be attacked by stray demons. It’s our job to protect you anyway. Ya shouldn’t even have to draw the weapon.”

“I hope not. I wouldn’t even know which side to grab.”

Kazuma smiled. “You’re hopeless. I hope we can shape ya into something because if we can’t … Arani protect us.” Kazuma slapped his head to emphasize.

“You’re sort of a jerk, you know?”

Laughter was Kazuma’s response.

/ / / / /

It took Seeko awhile to notice the town drawing nearer to the company. He had already been through so many other towns and had figured this was just another quick stop. Kazuma had a slight smile on his face, letting Seeko know they had finally reached their destination: Asilis.

The city was built on the side of a hill, allowing Seeko to view the rows of buildings leading up to a large castle enclosed with walls. If Kazuma’s smile hadn’t given it away, that would have. Seeko exhaled in relief as he scraped his boots forward.

My feet are on fire,
Seeko thought.
There is nothing left of them but ash and dust.
He had never walked so much in his life before.

“We have reached Asilis, capital of the Irenic Empire,” Kazuma said. It had taken twenty days, but Seeko had made it. He rejoiced, promising to treat his feet the first chance he got.

Citizens stared at the company as they ascended through the town, passing row upon row of red stone buildings. The road was well paved and led to a gate atop the hill. Seeko looked at the faces following the group. The people were sad and scared, looking at Seeko with hope or despair.

It wasn’t long before Seeko found himself inside a courtyard. Looming ahead was a huge castle made out of the same crimson stone as the buildings below. The intimidating structure made Seeko nervous, until he compared it to the skyscrapers back home.

He brought his attention back to ground level and saw the soldiers split to either side, leaving Kazuma and Seeko standing alone on the path. Kazuma got down on one knee, bowing. Seeko quickly brought his attention forward as a man in ridiculous robes walked toward him, flanked by two guards on each side.

“Uh …” Seeko just stood there, not knowing how to respond to this.

“Get down!” Kazuma whispered.

Seeko then noticed the crown on the man’s head and quickly knelt. So … this was Emperor Physis?

The man raised a hand, speaking in a smooth baritone. “Rise, Captain Kazuma. What news does Grama Company bring on this fine day?”

Kazuma rose and cleared his throat. “M’lord, Irris remains ours. In addition, we have the prophesied one.” He gestured to Seeko.

Emperor Physis smiled. “So you do, so you do. This is fine news for the Irenic Empire. We have many things to discuss, and then we need to get Grama Company back to Irris.”

Kazuma shifted uncomfortably. “M’lord? May I have a word with the boy?”

“You will have time for that, Captain. For now, you are dismissed. Head to the barracks; I’ll call for you later.”

Kazuma saluted and whistled to his soldiers, and soon the courtyard was empty save for Physis, Seeko, and his four-man guard.

“Rise, boy,” Physis said.

Seeko obeyed, fidgeting as he did so. He avoided the gaze of the emperor, instead watching his feet.

“Come with me,” the emperor said. “We have things to discuss in private.”

Seeko finally raised his eyes and looked into the emperor’s. He recognized those brown eyes. Suddenly, another vision besieged him …

I am sitting on a small cushion, crying. A man walks into the room and approaches. I look up, into his eyes. Brown eyes! This man is special. He reaches for me and picks me up. I stop crying and calm down as he sings a song to me …

“Boy! Are you listening? Get up!”

Trying to ground himself back in reality, Seeko found himself in the arms of a guardswoman. The emperor was nearby, yelling at him.

“What is wrong with you?”

Seeko looked into Physis’s eyes. Could he really be his father? Brown hair streaked with gray, large nose, strong jaw. Seeko
had
never met his real father …

“I’m sorry,” was all Seeko could say.

“Hmph. Let’s go. Follow me if you can walk; otherwise, have Tenumi help you.” The emperor walked into the castle.

Seeko shrugged off the offer of help and followed the emperor inside. As they walked, Seeko tried to read the man, but found it impossible. Did Physis actually care for Seeko, hiding it behind a carefully constructed mask? Did he know more than he let on?

He led Seeko through the halls and soon they found themselves looking into a small room. Bookshelves lined the walls and a messy desk sat in the center of the room. The emperor and Seeko entered the room and the guards stationed themselves outside the door as the emperor closed it.

The emperor sat behind the desk and motioned for Seeko to sit opposite him. Seeko obliged.

After a moment, the emperor spoke: “So, what exactly was that little panic attack down there?”

This man intimidated Seeko. Was it because he did not want to be chastised by his “father”? “I don’t know exactly. It’s only happened to me once before.”

“You cannot do that in front of me in public. It is dishonorable …” The emperor paused. When he spoke again, his tone was fairer: “But we are not here for that. I assume you have questions? Ask away.”

“How did I get here exactly? Where is here? There’s so much I don’t understand and …”

Physis nodded. “I believe you came here, to Kismetia, through a portal created by Arani.”

“What are you talking about? Arani?”

“The gods are very hard to understand sometimes, but they sent you to save us from the demons. Life Goddess Arani has a plan for you, hero. It was foretold several years ago that you would descend to us from above Irris and save us from the demons. You landed near Irris, correct?”

He knew for a fact he hadn’t been sent here by some god. “Yes, but—”

“Then you must be the hero.” He eyed Seeko up and down. “You don’t look like much of one. Do you know any way to take out the demons? Are you a sorcerer, perhaps, or do you have an anti-demon weapon?”

“Sorcerer? What?”

“You know how to call on magic, correct?”

“Magic? Uh … no?”

The emperor sighed. “You have no magic? Well, can you at least fight? For your life, if need be?”

“I have no idea how to fight.”

“Arani save us. You are no hero!” The emperor shook his head. “Well, we will just have to make you one. You’re all we have, after all.”

So, Kazuma was right: he was to be a hero. “Is that why I’m here? To save the Irenic from the demons and the Halcyon?”

“Why else would you be here?”

Seeko didn’t know. He wanted answers to his questions. He wanted answers to the memories that were just returning. “I have questions … about you,” Seeko said after a while. “Do I know you? Have we met before?”