Chapter 6 : Sky Vengers.
Neil , Orion and the eye patch guy stood looking into the expanse. Neil's eyes were glossy, wavering with every second he looked at the scenery in front of him. This was the first time he had seen dead bodies and what a sight it was. The other two looked forth with indifference. The bodies didn't
seem to bother by them.
After a few seconds Orion let out a heavy sigh.
" What a mess … He's not going to take this well, is he?" he said in a disappointment heavy in his tone.
The eye patch guy shook his head then proceeded to cover his mouth with the scarf on his neck.
" I'll go , you stay here. " Orion said as he pulled his hands out of his pockets. Eye patch nodded then turned back to the town.
" Am … " Neil spoke out. " Am coming too." His fingers twitched near his pockets trying to form a fist to muster courage. Orion and eye patch had not noticed him until now.
Orion shifted his gaze to the slightly trembling boy at his side. He seemed conflicted like he was in a fight between his heart and instinct, one wanting to go the other screamed to turn and run. But yet his
feet remained planted to the ground trying their best no to waver nor fall.
" Turn back kid." A firm and commanding voice pulled Neil back to reality.
" You have nothing to prove putting your life at risk like this. The threat from here on out cannot be overcame with heart alone. Hurry
back to your parents." Orion said starting to make his way to Salur.
Neil's face turned pallid ,he clenched fists as he moved his shaky lips. He faced down his vision blurry from the tears that had pooled in his eyes.
" Your right ..." He stopped momentarily taking a short breath then continued. " I have nothing to prove but I … I have something to lose … "
Orion halted mid step then interupted.
" Yes exactly, your life ! Go back." He then signaled the eye patch guy to take Neil back.
" Yes there's that , but my mother is somewhere out there. "
"And am going to help her." He said lifting his head looking into Orion's eyes.
Orion looked back into his eyes. The boy was clearly shaken but he stood tall and firm. His eyes breamed with expectation and hope , something that was hard to muster in their current situation. He then walked
towards him and placed his right hand on Neil's hair.
" You've done enough kid. Even one step out of the walls is good enough. Don't worry I'll find her and bring her back." He said in a reassuring tone.
Neil had not noticed that he was currently out of the town walls and the protection of the Lishanar shields. He had been busy trying battling his anxiety and fear of what was out across the walls that he had subconsciously took his first steps into the unknown.
When miasma events occurred it had more than the two effects that were taught to the public. The area around the occurrence was drained of it's Arcane energy. It acted like a black hole but only sucked in Arcane out of
everything. The intensity of the drain
increased in levels as an individual approached the center. These levels were called Decay rings and generally for the Miasma events that had happened in the past they had only three rings. Anyone's arcane energy in the zones of the decay rings, was gradually being siphoned out to completion. These could cause death or damage of ones Arc gates. These information was hardly known by the public nor taught in schools.
Currently Laptove town was at the border of the second and the third Decay rings. To Orion's surprise Neil didn't seem to be deterred by the Arcane drain. Rather he seemed not to notice it.
The three were still standing at the gates with Orion's arm still on Neil's head when they hear somebody shout.
" Vice master Orion. We're here to help out anyway we can. Please … make use of our abilities."
It was the man with the great sword from the guild. He had managed to rally up the guild members, with mocking insults , to come and help in the mission. Many of them were still scared as they stood behind him.
He looked back at them with disapproving look and proceeded towards the gate.
" What a bunch of wimps. " he said placing his great sword on his back.
Neil looked back to see what the commotion was about. He saw a giant figure make his way to the gates on his back a big bronze sword on his back. The eye patch guy tried to stop him but he arrogantly shook his hand of his shoulder. His steps were heavy filled with raw power enough to crush a normal human bone.
Suddenly a thud. His left leg had stepped out of the gates, and was now exposed to the decay zone, the rest of his body followed as he fell to the ground.
" What's happening? Why can't I move my body? " The man thought as he lost conscious.
Neil watched as the giant man get scooped of the ground by the eye patch guy, who was half his body size. Orion face hadn't changed. He had expected this. He turned to Neil then asked.
" Tell me kid, what's your name?"
" Am Neil and I am fourteen. "
" Ok Neil , whose fourteen, " he said sarcastically "you're coming with me, … " then turned to the cowering guild members. " … as for you all stay here and help take care of the injured. Also get him to a medic bay before he dies. He said pointing at the fainted guy.
Orion and Neil turned their backs to the town gates and made
their way towards Salur.
" Listen up kid." Orion said as he threw a small dagger towards Neil. " try as much to conserve your Arcane energy or else it will be siphoned out just like the other guy back there. Also, no using your element or
abilities , use that dagger to kill any rampaging animal that may attack your
but if it seems too much run. Run as fast as you can."
Neil nodded clenching tight to the dagger he had been given.
" Now then, pick up
the pace we don't have much time. " Orion said as he increased his speed into
the path to Salur. Neil followed , his dagger strapped around his waist with
flaring determination in his eyes.
" Am coming, mom."
The fields had became a burial site. The skies were covered by dark clouds raining gloom to all that was beneath. Horco ravens had eaten to their fill and left the remains for the bereaved to salvage. The smell of blood
was thick as pools gathered around bodies. Neil clutched his stomach eyeing the
horco ravens on the tree just waiting for their dessert.
His eyes rushed through the faces of the bodies trying to make out who they were and if they were the one he was looking for. None match as he let a sigh of relief mixed with worry. In front of him Orion didn't spare
a glance to the deceased as he charged onwards.
" She's not here?"
"No." Neil answered his voice deprived of cheer.
Suddenly Orion stopped.
" Okay kid, this is your stop. " he said taking a stick to trace a line on the ground.
" Wait what?!. But I thought … "
" Listen to me , it's impressive enough that you made this far but beyond these line only death awaits you. Don't push your luck any farther." Orion interrupted. His voice was serious.
Neil understood from the look on Orion's face that beyond that line there was no way he would survive.
" Look here …" Orion said as the stick he was holding glowed with shimmering runes, it became rejuvenated as small leaves sprouted from the sides. He then walked past the line and suddenly the runes vanished. A pale shimmer leaked of
his skin like mist as the stick on his hand withered and dried out.
" One more step and the same thing will happen to your body."
" Don't worry , I'll bring her back." He said as he dashed towards Salur.
Neil dropped to one knee , blinking rapidly as the world spun, his limbs trembling from his own weight. His fingers twitched, clutching his chest as though trying to hold something that was already slipping
out. Neil understood the situation too
clearly. He had seen how the great sword guy fell the moment he stepped out of
the gates and now the way the stick had withered out.
" There's no way she's …." He said not daring to finish as he dropped on both knees. Clouds of despair had started to gather around Neil when he heard a cry.
" Help … help … " came the cry , thready and fading, from the small forest that the path was going through.
Neil looked it's way and made his way into the forest. His heartbeat raced as his hope renewed.
" There are people here." he said with a smile.
Neil rushed through the forest not minding the scratching branches. He ignored that the sound was a scream. He ignored that it was a cry for help and that there might have been danger ahead. All he cared for was the
potential that among the people was his mother.
Clang!!
A cage shut. Inside a nightmare Smite lavishly devouring a body.The body resisted but to no avail , it was already on the menu.
Neil stopped abruptly his gaze met by a giant glowing cage. Inside the nightmare Smite. Eyes hollow and swirled in violet.
On the forest clearing was a ship engraved in runes all over it's body. Around it men and women laughed and drank as some lifted cages loading them onto the ship.
Apart from smiles they all had one other thing in common. At the back of their matching clothes were written two words.
" Sky Vengers."