The Willbreaker (Book 1) (36 page)

             
Girl? What girl? And the old man… Who is the old man? What am I doing? I feel so lost.

              “I will give you this much. You are on your way to see Aurora because you are the only one who can stop her. Fate has set that in stone.”

              “Fate nothing! I choose what I do!”

              “Yes, that is the uniqueness of mankind, choice. You do have choice, Willbreaker. However, your choices are lined up before you, on the track of destiny.  What sets you apart is that your choices do not just affect you, they affect everyone. Your decisions have the power to change the whole world.”

              Brandon’s head pounded. It seemed too much for him to take in. Could he really be a part of something that he had no control over? As much as he did not want to believe it, everything made sense to him. He never felt like everyone else. He always felt a bit different. He dreamt of doing glorious things. He had aspirations of greatness, and he could not explain how he managed to get himself out of the most perilous situations. It had been that way his entire life, as if the Gods did not want him to die. He always assumed it as dumb luck, but could it be something else?

              “Ok. Ok. What if I am The Willbreaker? What does that mean for me?”

              “Your first challenge is to accept that you are The Willbreaker. Once you have done this truly, more than just saying the words, you will gain the power to pull back your will and your body will thrive once again. Once you have the acceptance, your power will be much easier to access in the mortal world. It will take little effort; you will feel the power sitting in your mind, hiding in the shadows, waiting to be released.”

“The power will be thick and full. You know you have the ability to heal and you are now aware of your ability to alter Will, but that is not the limits of your power, Willbreaker. Destiny has gifted you complete power of Spirit: Vision, Life, Death, and Will. You have Unity of Spirit, the capacity to access all four sides of the magic, in dimensions of power not seen in this land. This is not power that was recently given to you, you have had it your whole life; you were born with it. These abilities will seem clear and precise once you simply accepted who you are. You will know them, you will own them, and you will become them.”

Brandon strained as he felt the coolness within him. As he reached for it, listening to One, it waned, shifting away from his reach. He pulled and pulled, bringing it closer.

Brandon closed his eyes as he reached and strained for the power within him. As he reached for it, the edge of the power touched him, soaking into him like water on the edge of a cloth. It grew and expanded, the wind of a thousand tornados blowing through the vastness of his mind. Coolness and clarity washed over everything, bringing back his memories in a flood: Edward, Jasmine, and Donald. He remembered the battle and Ivy Arclight. He remembered all of it.

Healing power ran through him and next to that power waited more power; the power of Life, Death, Vision, and the ability to understand the connections of someone’s Will. His life, from his first memory until now, flashed before him. Every instance of uncertainty and unexplained happenings could be tagged to one of these powers. The visions of his death at Darrow’s Hold,
Vision
; the two Bauth’Dok that fell to their death within the Caves of Ril’Kaloth,
Death
; his skill in healing magic,
Life
; and the sudden change of heart by the Kella’Dune Guardian,
Will
. He had done all of those things. He had that power. He was The Willbreaker, and he now knew it.

              Brandon stood up, arms outstretched in clenched fists and eyes open wide. Power flowed through him freely, a magnetic lightning field of energy. It pulsed through his veins, fueling his muscles and opening his mind. He felt like a hole within him finally filled up. He felt complete, and ready.
I am The Willbreaker.
He looked at One, who had a satisfied smile upon his face.

              “Yes, Willbreaker, destiny has visited us once again. You shall fulfill your role in the weave of time. You will bring the plan of the Gods to fruition. You will walk along the steps of Orlimay and you will meet with Aurora. If you choose to side with her, the world will bathe in blood, and all will cower at your feet. If you choose to defeat her, then the Light will shine upon this earth like a blanket and a new era of peace and growth will be born.”

              Brandon turned his head towards One. “I would never choose to side with her. That is not a choice I can make.”

              “There is something else that I need to tell you, Willbreaker.” He said. One nodded fearfully. “It is a
choice
, and it can only be made when it is offered. You cannot make it now. For you see, when the time comes and you stare at Aurora, you will know. You will know you have a decision to make, and you will know that Aurora Arclight is your birth mother.”

              Edward’s brow furrowed as he sniffed, trying to hold back the tears. Earlier, One placed his hands on Brandon’s head as he chanted and hummed. Brandon’s body shook and rumbled violently underneath his grasp. As the intensity of the chant increased, so did Brandon’s violent tremors. To Edward, it felt like the world shook. He feared for Brandon’s life but when he reached to pull One away from Brandon, Brandon’s body went limp and still and One went quiet. Edward looked at One, his head limply hanging downward, as if he fainted. One’s arms still extended around Brandon’s head. Eyes closed, he did not move or respond to Edward’s questions and comments.

              The tension in the air became as thick as butter. Jasmine had both of her hands held tight around her mouth as she chewed on her fingernails. The Kella’Dune looked like it had no idea of what to do with itself while Brandon lay in his arms, and Edward pranced around fidgeting with anything he could get his hands on.

              Time seemed to stop as they waited for some type of response from Brandon or One. Suddenly, Brandon’s eyes opened up and he gasped for air as One released his hold on him. Edward’s eyes fixed on Brandon, holding his arms across his face, shielding his eyes as if he stared into the sun. He took two small steps backward, but stumbled, and ended up on his rear.

              The Guardian set Brandon down on his feet slowly, keeping his hands up as Brandon stood on wobbly legs. Brandon closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Jasmine scooted quickly over to Edward.

              “Are you okay? What is going on?” She pleaded.

              Edward took hold of his gift during the tense moments of Brandon’s unconsciousness. As Brandon came too, a brilliant white light filled Edward’s vision. The light, so pure and white, nearly blinded Edward as he looked into it.

              “The light!” Edward yelled. “Something’s wrong!”

              Jasmine stuttered, “Edward, what light?”

              Edward calmed down, realizing  he pulled from his pool of power. With a small breath, he released it. As his power faded, so did the blazing light. He looked up at Brandon in pure awe.

              “It’s the aura…” his words trailed off into a whisper.

              Brandon opened up his eyes and stepped forward, offering Edward a hand. Edward slowly reached out, never taking his eyes off Brandon as he stood to his feet. Brandon placed his other hand securely on Edward’s shoulder and smiled. The smile said a thousand words, but to Edward, he simply saw how happy Brandon appeared to see him. His smile conveyed thanks, along with gratitude, and appreciation.

              Edward could see a difference in Brandon though. Something in his eyes caught Edward’s attention. The color had not changed, smooth and ice blue as before, but something showed in them that he had not seen; grace and wisdom. He looked at Edward as if he had fought a thousand battles, conquered countless foes, and seen things most people only talk about as myths or fairytales. The confidence and sureness in his eyes displayed experience and knowledge that Edward only saw in aged Kings or Generals, perhaps not even then. The softness and unknowing previously there completely vanished.

              His voice gained a smooth and solid quality as well. “Edward, are you alright?”

              Edward nodded awkwardly, “Yes, yes, I’m alright.” Jasmine still held on to his arm, beaming with delight as she stared at Brandon. She sprang to her tiptoes a few times in her excitement.

              “Jasmine, are you okay as well?” She giggled, nodding her head rapidly. Brandon turned to look around. As he caught eyes with the Guardian, the beast dropped to a knee and lowered its head towards the ground.

              Brandon released the breath that he did not know he held. Seeing the Kella’Dune saddened him. His eyes dropped as he reached out, placing his open hand upon the Guardian’s head.  With his newborn abilities and comprehension of them, Brandon now understood what happened with the beast. The Kella’Dune had planned on killing Edward and instinctually, Brandon grabbed hold of his power. In doing so, he reached out and wiped the mind of the Guardian, clearing out all traces of its ties and alliances. He not only bent and rearranged it, but he completely altered its will. The beast now viewed the world, its people, and life exactly as Brandon did. Brandon’s thoughts, his enemies and friends, and his morals duplicated in the Kella’Dune’s mind. The Guardian felt as if it grew up in the same house, with the same set of rules, affected by the same experiences, and fought for the same side, viewing everything identically. The Guardian no longer felt the connections with its previous companions. Brandon and his company were friends to the Guardian now. It did not know otherwise, or care to.

              Brandon’s heart wept because of the understanding of the transformation. He knew that the Guardian befriended him because he had changed its will. He had
broken
its will. 

The Willbreaker, that is not a title to be proud of, it is a name to be feared.

The Kella’Dune never had the opportunity to explore other choices and it never had the chance to decide about its allies. It could not make its own decisions or experience anything for itself. The layers of experiences, opinions, and morals wired through its mind like weed roots were implanted, and the power of choice that it once had now faded away.

              Brandon destroyed the creature, in his eyes. He snuffed out the life granted to the Kella’Dune by the Gods, a task he felt he should not have the power to do. Brandon respected the Gods, he respected life, and although it was unintentional, his heart broke over the incident. He felt the regret deep, and the burden of his actions weighed on him heavily.

              With the understanding of it, he also knew that if he would not have altered the Guardian, that he or his friends may have been killed, but that would have been ordained by the Gods. He believed everything happened for a reason, and now, by doing the unthinkable, he altered that path, and he feared that this new path lead into darkness.

              “I’m sorry, friend, I’m so sorry. I will never do this to another again.” He whispered. A small tear left his eye and rolled down his cheek. Brandon sniffed, and wiped the tear away before anyone could see it.

              He lifted his head, patted the beast on the shoulder and took another step forward. Ahead of him, in a crushed suit of armor, Donald Granitefist lay face down in the blood soaked dirt. Brandon dropped to a knee, his body shaking too much to take another step. Edward and Jasmine rushed past him towards the body.

             
One more dead in the shadow of The Willbreaker. It seems to be a reoccurring scene. Where I walk, there is death. I am sorry Guardian. I am sorry Donald. This is my fault, but I cannot stop. I have come too far, and too much blood has been spilled to turn back now.

              Edward turned over Donald’s body, holding him in his arms. His facial structure, crushed and covered in dirt and blood, appeared gruesome and mangled. His once shining chest plate bent and twisted from the Guardian’s abuse. His right arm lay across the ground, broken. Jasmine wept and Edward turned his head away, sickness overtaking him. Brandon shut his eyes.

              One came up behind Brandon, slowly, and set his hand on Brandon’s shoulder.

              “Your journey has been long, Willbreaker, and very tough. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. My journey is now over, and I shall return to my home to live out the rest of my life.”             

              Brandon rotated his head to look at One. “Be careful, One. Thank you for your insight. Thank you for helping me come back. Will I ever see you again?”

              One smiled. “Perhaps. Only time will tell.” He bowed respectfully to Brandon. Brandon bowed his head back as One turned and walked away.

              Darkness spread over the sky, turning the shades of blue to blackness. The stars sparkled clearly and the moon peered a crescent eye over the world.  A small fire crackled in a shallow pit. Edward and Jasmine shared a seat on a fallen log, both staring blankly into the fire. Brandon leaned against a small aspen as he too watched the fire dance within the pit. Behind him, about twenty paces, the Guardian stood tall, looking around the woods on alert. The Guardian never seemed to relax; always at battle ready attention.

              Earlier, Brandon dug a grave underneath a shaded birch tree, where they buried Donald. He lay within, his hand across his chest, holding his mace. Brandon filled in the grave with dirt and then stuck the cross, two thick branch ends tied together, into the ground. They all stood, hands together, looking down at the mound where their friend rested. Edward said a small prayer, giving praise to the fallen warrior, and asked the Gods to favor his valiant deeds and to aid him in his next journey into the afterlife.

              They made camp at the edge of the trees on the Paraline. Brandon caught a small fish from the river using a long branch and some thin cord, but hunger evaded them all. They nibbled on the cooked pieces of fish mindlessly, minds filled with the day’s events.

              As they sat around the fire, Edward looked up to Brandon. They hadn’t spoken much, their thoughts occupied with the loss of their friend.

              “Brandon, are you okay?”             

              Brandon moved his eyes casually over to Edward and smiled softly. Exhaustion showed on his face like a stamp.

              “Yes, friend, I am okay. Tired, but okay. It’s been a hell of a day.”

              “There is so much I want to talk to you about, about what happened, about the Guardian… I don’t know where to begin.”

              “Just pick a question, and we’ll start there.”

              “What happened today?” The question appeared simple, but it implied a lot things.

              Brandon did not know how to answer that question. He opened his mouth a few times trying to find the words, but nothing came to him. The difficulty of the question became obvious to Edward.

              “Okay,” Edward said, “Answer this. Why did that monk keep calling you The Willbreaker?”

              “It’s a title given to the person who has the power to alter someone’s will, using their gift.”

              Edward’s look of confusion molded into fear and excitement as he said, “So why are
you
called…” He jumped to his feet, now talking and moving with enthusiastic energy.

              “You? Are you serious?”

              Brandon nodded his head, “Yes.”

              Edward’s eyes darted back and forth, his mind racing with new questions. He took in a deep breath, eyes getting wider with each passing second, as he reached the peak of his emotion. He spoke slowly, each word enunciated and clear.

              “Do you realize what this means? If this is true, we can end this war in one motion. We travel down to Orlimay, and all you have to do is alter Aurora’s will.”

              Brandon shook his head with resolve. “No.”

              Edward looked surprised.

              “I won’t do it again. Changing another’s will is against every fiber of my being. It goes against everything I stand for: choice, freedom, and free will. We are trying to take down Aurora because she withholds those freedoms from her people. She is an enslaver. It is no different from what I would be doing. In fact, my ability is worse than what she does, because her people still have a choice to follow or not.”

              Edward had no words. Brandon had a very good point but the thought of being around someone who had such ability staggered him. Never did Edward think he would live in a time where a person could control that much power, and now he stood next to one.

              “So is that what happened with the Guardian?”

              Brandon sighed. “Yes, but I didn’t understand what I was doing, or what was happening. I didn’t mean to do that.”

              “You saved my life by doing that.”

              “I should have tried to save your life some other way.”

              “You used what you were gifted, whether you meant to or not. It’s okay, Brandon.”

              “No, it’s not okay. I should not have done that. I took away everything that creature was.” He pointed into the woods towards the Guardian. “I stole his entire mind away from him. I wiped his mind clear, and put in my own thoughts and feelings. Our enemies do less forceful things than that and we want to overthrow them. It is not okay now, and it will never be okay. We will have to find another way, because I won’t do that again.”

              Edward studied Brandon a long time. Finally, he tipped his head up and down slightly; an understanding that came hard felt. Knowing that Brandon could solve all of the world’s problems so easily, yet burdening him with weight of breaking every morale he believed in was hard to swallow. Edward could not imagine what the weight of that power, or burden, felt like.

              “Ok, Brandon. I support your decision all the way. We got this far, we can make it to the end as long as we do it together.”