10 August 2012
I slowed my approach as I neared the clearing surrounding the gateway, keeping my senses tightly around me, so that I wouldn't alert the Drell sentry I knew would be waiting. Absently, I noticed a forager scurry away from me and I slowed to a quiet walk towards a stout, tall tree. I climbed the tree as quietly as I could and I saw both of them, sitting down playing a game of chance. Now was my chance, so I launched myself at the Drell closest to the tree. With talons protruding I ripped open his throat as I fell and sprang upon his brethren, who had now unsheathed his blade. He made a clumsy strike at me but I was already upon him and in my rage I fed on him.
The exhilarating energy in his blood gave me a dark pleasure and when I realised what I was doing, I pulled myself from his corpse. I stood and looked at my handiwork with distaste, hating what I had become, no different from my enemy... Then I heard rustling in the distance and it was fast approaching. I am no Drell, I am Magi and I kill because I have no other choice, I thought to myself. I stepped unto the gateway's platform, absently wondering how these curious devices came to exist. Luckily, my Father had taught me how to use them but I only knew the sigils for one address. I focused my thoughts inwards and collected my Logos, my internal energy, which felt much stronger after feeding on the Drell. I released the energy as a field of force around me and began the series of hand movements, which represented arcane sigils. With the destination address set I brought my attention back to my surroundings, waiting for the gateway to activate. Damn old thing, I hope it still works, I thought. Suddenly the clearing began to fill up as soldiers from the Drell regiment appeared, then I heard a long shriek and they all stopped; a Drell general blurred onto the clearing. I started the hand movements for the gateway again, willing it to start with everything in me.
"Ezra, Ezra." The General said as he walked calmly towards me. "Where are you going and why, why did you kill my Drell?" He asked even as he walked to me, I could feel the overwhelming power of his Logos and it made me despair.
"You don't have the power to use that device Ezra." He continued, while removing his helmet and revealing his white hair and red eyes. "You are mine, my property, my slave." He added coming to a complete stop. I had woven the sigils yet again but still nothing happened, I was frustrated and angry.
"There is nowhere to run. Now, come to me!" He said as he sprang swiftly at me. "No!!!" I screamed, instinctively releasing everything I had into the field around me and the gateway groaned to life, stopping the General midair with its own force field and he fell to the ground.
He shrieked in rage even as he lashed at the invisible shield and I wove the sigils again. This time a ring opened around me, the platform I stood on was raised and four mechanical arms extended from fours sides of the circular platform. The shrieks of the Drell became a distant buzz and even the bolts of energy that they threw at me didn't penetrate the field. Three other rings floated out from underneath and I was contained within these spinning rings, the metal arms discharged and I felt Logos leaving me and entering the gateway, my earlier exertion had leave me spent but I tried to persevere and then all went dark. (tbc...)
© 2012 by Pthasse Amadeus
Rise Of A Champion Pt. 4 • Opuss № I