Chapter 4

  Dark Smoke

  Summer experienced fewer stormy days than the rest of the year. In the heartland of Myrrh, insulated from the seas to the north and ocean to the west by the Great Sky Mountain, rain was not a typical occurrence. When the skies darkened, it was not because of rain.

  Smoke rose into the air above Liniva. There was a fire.

  Yan and Sebastian heard screaming and went towards the pillars of smoke. “What happened?!” Yan cried out, but the streets had emptied. No one was around to answer her. They rushed forth.

  “I have spells for small fires.” Sebastian said. “But if it’s a big one...”

  Overturned carts and busted stalls clogged the streets ahead as they rounded a corner. “There’s too much debris. What is going on? Where is Michael?” Yan looked around, then scaled a building without another word. She moved like a cat up the building, then hopped the short distances over compact alleys. She moved forth with haste, ready to help and still wondering where Michael was.

  The buildings on the north side of the central plaza were ablaze, an inferno consuming dozens of them. Yan stopped in her tracks. It was an uncontrollable blaze; it was too much.

  The chaos within the plaza was even worse. A large tree had fallen over, there were cracks in the cobblestone, and hundreds of people crowded in fear and fury. Many people were attempting to flee or crowded behind barricades, but most of the plaza was an angry mob. At the center of it all, swinging out waves of dark energy, was Michael.

  He did not look like himself. Michael looked terrifying. His hair was standing on end, his skin had turned grey, and he was snarling with every swing of his jet black sword. His visage was nightmarish, and his roars sounded with both rage and anxiety. The mob surged towards him in groups, only to be pushed back by black energy released from the sword into the ground. Others broke off to flee, but every exit to the plaza was blocked.

  Sebastian arrived next to Yan and gazed upon the scene with horror. “What’s going on?!”

  “Do you think... He got taken? By that Revenant?”

  Sebastian frowned. “This is bad. We need to stop this.”

  In the plaza, Michael struck the ground with his sword, causing lines of energy to crawl forth along the ground in a random erratic cone ahead of him. The lines darkened, then thin walls of energy exploded up out of them, launching everything and everyone below the lines into the air with incredible force. Several recovered using spells or surges, but a few fell without getting back up. Michael continued to lash out as people neared him, and the mob seemed incensed with zealous fury.

  “I... he’s stronger than me.” Yan said. “You have any spells to subdue him?”

  “I can try.” Sebastian sounded unsure.

  Someone hopped onto the roof behind them. “Let me help.” A man with brown hair in a ponytail, a tight white outfit, and a large red coat bunched up around his shoulders. “I am a swordsman. Give me a battle plan.”

  “You!” Yan said, recognizing the man’s description.

  “I am Hyato. You are fast, he is smart, I am skilled. Allow me to help.” He pointed at Yan, then Sebastian. “Give me a battle plan.” Sebastian and Yan shared a glance, but there was no time to waste.

  “Get in front of him, take his attention, and disarm him.” Sebastian said. Hyato nodded and jumped off the building to rush towards the plaza. Sebastian looked at Yan. “Clear the roadblocks so people can get out of the plaza.” Yan looked dazed, eyes darting between Hyato, Michael and Sebastian. “Yan! Now!” Yan snapped out of it and went to work.

  This jet black sword swung well. It was sharp, well balanced, it was a good blade. Another foe appeared, but fell back before the finishing blow was dealt. Weaklings. How long had it been since that time? Too long, he needed to fight.

  Arriving in a flurry of blows that pushed through the smoke was a man in red and white. He deflected a blow from the black sword, stopping the energy wave in the same stroke. A challenger at last. He shouted a name, and the warrior with the black sword shouted back.

  The very concept of the name stung his cheeks, just like the air stung his darkened grey skin. The others may have seen the weakling Michael before, but now this body belonged to the warrior. Nothing more than a dark warrior and a red swordsman, the beautiful dance of bloodshed would soon commence.

  The red swordsman swung his sword from ten feet away, sending a sharp surge forth. It was easy to block, but the red swordsman moved under his guard and slashed at his left arm! “How. Dare!” The warrior roared, striking back with impunity. The man dodged it. Fool! The warrior touched the sword tip to the ground again, letting out the waves of hatred. “Dark Blade.” Waves of energy launched the enemy and everything around him into the air.

  As he soared through the air the swordsman slashed several ranged surges before landing, as if that was his plan. This one was skilled. The warrior lunged forth, not backing down.

  Two blades clashed. The black crystalline sword was more durable, but the swordsman’s beige katana carried a bizarre weight, and the warrior was forced back several steps. With another snarl the warrior sent a surge of energy through the blade.

  The red coated swordsman dodged again, his sword becoming lighter as he channeled energy through it. He ducked the warrior’s attack and began to slash with unnerving precision.

  Then something changed in his eyes. His step faltered, and he dropped his attack. In that moment of confusion, the warrior struck. A downward slash cut into the Red Man’s chest and knocked him to the ground.

  The warrior looked around, but there were no other threats. Many people had wounds. Some were fleeing. They needed to be finished off. He looked down at the man in red. His strange white clothes had absorbed most of the blow, but he was winded and confused. Him first, then.

  A sudden tangle of twisting cords struck the warrior and began wrapping and constricting him. “What?!”

  “He’s still standing,” the woman said, arriving with her knife drawn.

  “Be careful, Yan,” the older man warned. The warrior gnashed his teeth and struggled at the bindings. “You won’t get out that easily!” The magical bindings grew tighter. The warrior did not agree, thrashing with wild abandon.

  “Sebastian, get Hyato!” Yan snapped. Sebastian didn’t hesitate, pulling the red coated Hyato away as the warrior thrashed and slashed his way free of the binding spell.

  “You seemed like a nice guy, Michael.” Yan brandished her knife with grim purpose.

  The warrior spat, “You’ll welcome oblivion soon enough!”

  Yan’s mouth twitched, and she let loose an erratic wave of energy, which the warrior swung at. He intercepted it, but it did nothing to stop the attack. Yan followed up by leaping forth. The grey skinned berserker pushed past the first attack to swing with brutal force, and still missed!

  At the very moment they would have crashed together, Yan’s body shifted into energy, allowing her to pass right through the man! She landed and delivered a stab into the warrior’s back, eliciting a gurgle of pain.

  “How?!” he complained, turning and allowing the blade to cut him to try to strike the woman. It didn’t work, and the berserker roared in frustration as Yan hopped back and away from him.

  She would have found his actions comical, but felt feral malice from the man. He looked at her with eyes of hatred burning with fury. Yan shivered, but steeled herself. There was no reason to be fearful now.

  The warrior lunged. Yan dodged. She struck with a surge, but it was deflected by the malevolent purple energy he’d condensed around his sword.

  Yan tried to think of a new plan, but the berserker began to swing and launch heavy purple surges, forcing her to keep on her toes. One struck her shoulder, making her yelp. Another hit her belly, and she was sent to the ground with a heavy thud. She lay there, too winded to move, as the enraged warrior strode over and loomed above her. His eyes burned with hate, but his lips bore a tilted smirk.

  “Huh,” Yan said, looking to the sky above, “Is it night already?” A sudden booming noise filled her ears, crashing down from everywhere, and all was black.

  Sturdy stone fortifications remained unbreached and standing around Liniva. From the crenellations of the wall rose a smooth spherical sheet of power, a black sphere that enclosed the town from the land. No sound or smoke, nor survivors from within the walls could be seen or heard through the umbral barrier.

  The black sphere that surrounded Liniva wavered as two people stepped through it. The tall thin man looked at his taller companion, who wore full plate armor. “Get to work. This spell doesn’t last long.” The armored figure nodded and moved out, going about a macabre duty. The thin man adjusted his robes and placed a simple mask over his face, eyes gleaming with dark purpose.

  Silence permeated Liniva. The chatter of people, the noise of crowds, the flow of nature, all suffocated in stillness. Bare streets clean of people and creatures, not even the lowliest insects were moving about. The inferno in the central plaza had died out. All was stopped, save for the machinations of one being.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  A tall thin man sat in an unusual perch, waiting. Patience was of the utmost importance, and he had plenty of it. He sat and waited for the four chosen people below to stir, and he had been waiting for hours. Everything hinged on what happened next.

  Michael noticed the headache before he opened his eyes. Everything was blurry, but he sat up.

  “Good. Finally awake.” The hollow voice made Michael flinch and look everywhere. His skin crawled on his arms and the back of his neck, he felt cold.

  “Who are you?!” Michael asked before spotting the tall thin form reclining atop a mound. The air was thick with haze and shadows.

  “Allow me to introduce myself, little Michael. I am Vero.” Each word Vero spoke sounded hollow and breathy. Michael shivered. “I have been dying to meet you.”

  “Why?!”

  Vero let out a shrill laugh. “Why not? You are an interesting person. And just look... at what you’ve done.” Vero spread his arms and the haze of the area was pushed away. Michael took in the true nature of his surroundings.

  The acrid smell of dried blood permeated the air, and the plaza was stained red. In the center of the plaza was a tall mound. Of corpses. Vero sat atop them without care or revulsion. The few others spared that fate were Yan, Sebastian, and that man Michael was suspicious of earlier. Michael staggered back, turned and vomited.

  “Such a beautiful disaster. So much carnage. You must have enjoyed yourself.”

  Michael coughed a few times. “I... didn’t do this!”

  “Oh but you did. Or don’t you remember? You were enraged. Unstoppable. Merciless.”

  “NO!” Michael roared, but a sick feeling crept over him. His sword was in his grip, and the black blade was stained red. Did he really do all this? The townsfolk had been angry, attacking as a mob... But...

  “And here I thought that spirit would be the real catch. But it turns out, it was you.” Vero said.

  The spirit... the Revenant. “You are after the Revenant?” Michael asked, latching onto questions to push away the emotions rising in him.

  “Revenant... how fitting. And yes.” Vero said, a flash of light from the eyes beneath his hood, “I will capture it, and fulfill its purpose.”

  “You can’t!” Vero just chuckled in response. “It possesses people, it destroys them. I’ve seen it. That lust for power, it must be stopped!”

  Vero shook his head, “Oh, no no no. You saw only yourself. Look around you. It’s your power that destroys.” Vero laughed again, his shrill cackle carrying through the emptiness of the town.

  Liniva was in ruins. Buildings burnt down, smoke searing the skies. Michael saw the damage, the destruction, and the blood on his hands. He had done this, brought death to this whole town.

  All because of a stupid superstition.

  Michael dropped to the ground, his knees slamming into the flagstones. He didn’t care about the pain. He didn’t care that the Revenant had started this. He did this.

  He screamed.

  Anguish and pain the only things Michael felt. His heart throbbed, his stomach ached, his skin crawled. He screamed even as his throat began to hurt.

  The scream woke the others, who shot up with a start. Yan moved to her feet, weapon already drawn, while Sebastian and Hyato got up bleary eyed and confused. They all saw the carnage, the anguished Michael, and the stranger atop the pile of corpses.

  Yan threw her dagger at Vero, striking his arm as he flinched away. The hooded tormentor reeled back and began to flee, but Yan chased him. She moved around the pile of corpses as Vero clambered down the other side, throwing a Surge-powered knife at the man.

  A crackle of magic from Vero’s hand created a shower of sparks and a cloud of smoke unfolded to obscure him. Yan held her breath and dashed through, but did not see the man on the other side.

  When Yan returned to the others, after being unable to pursue the hooded Vero, she saw Hyato and Sebastian looking solemn.

  Michael had screamed until his lungs gave out and he collapsed in a fit of coughing. “You need to rest.” Sebastian said, offering the younger man a consoling pat.

  “Grieve later. Move. Now.” Yan’s words were clipped in annoyance. “We can’t linger. They’ll think we did this.”

  “Who will think that?” Hyato asked, looking around.

  “The Myrrhmidons, the elite soldiers from Myrrh’s capital.” Yan said, helping Michael to his feet.

  Hyato supported Michael’s other side and patted his back. “Come on Michael, let’s go with Yan and Sebastian.”

  Michael looked over at the man, who smiled as if everything was okay. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Hyato. Nice to meet you.” Hyato chirped as he grinned. Michael started to respond but Yan pushed and forced him to get moving. The four strangers made their way out of the ruin that was Liniva, each touched with a different worry.

  The tallest mountain in the entire world stood out from Iagorothi, piercing the heavens and stretching so high above the clouds its pinnacle was never visible from the ground. Taller than any tower, than any building, the Great Sky Mountain was a wonder. Its base stretched out for miles, holding a host of different ecosystems all on its own. Four great rivers rush forth from the sides of the indomitable cliffs. The silhouette of the peak could be seen all throughout Myrrh, the land in which it resided, and farther.

  “That’s where the capital is.” Sebastian said, pointing towards the Great Sky Mountain. “Sheltered in the eastern crags, surrounded by an enchanted forest, the Mystic Grove.”

  “Right.” Hyato said, nodding his head.

  “Perhaps I shouldn’t get in the habit of randomly explaining things.”

  “Suit yourself.” Hyato turned around to assess his surroundings as Sebastian walked back over to his seat at the campsite.

  The four had made it quite a distance, before exhaustion took hold. They camped in the untamed foothills between the woodlands of the Eterna Forest and the Drakmor Mountains on the eastern horizon. Yan busied herself setting up wires around the perimeter while Michael attempted to cook. Hyato looked at the three people he was traveling with and wondered where he was. The others did not notice the Swordsman’s confusion.

  “I think this will do.” Michael said, stirring the soup again. Sebastian peered over and nodded. Dinner was served.

  Everyone ate in silence for a while, before Hyato cleared his throat. "We need to talk about Liniva."

  "I'd really rather not." Michael protested, shifting in his seat.

  "Too bad. What did that man tell you?" Hyato asked, his eyes now stern and focused. Michael paused, and was silent. He fidgeted under the steady gaze of Hyato. Yan began to move, but stopped as Hyato glanced at her. The stoic swordsman could be intimidating when he wanted to be.

  "The man, Vero." Michael said, "He told me what I'd done, all the carnage."

  Hyato was silent for a moment, making Michael shiver. "Was there anything else?" Hyato asked. "Anything about the Revenant you've been after?"

  Michael raised his head. "Oh, yeah. He was seeking it too. But he wants to use it to destroy. Like I destroyed..."

  "About that.” Sebastian chimed in, “What do you know about the Revenant, Hyato?”

  “Only what I heard back there.” Hyato took a seat and drew his sword and a cloth from the pack hidden beneath his mantle. He began cleaning the long single edged sword.

  Michael looked over at his sword in its sheath, then grabbed it and drew it as well. He grabbed a cloth to clean, but stopped. The black crystalline blade was unmarred. Pristine. Michael pressed his thumb to the sharp blade, bleeding over it. "Whoa, what are you doing?" Yan asked.

  "Checking." Michael said. The blood stained the crystal, and now it needed to be cleaned.

  "Well?" Yan asked, leaning over Michael's shoulder to peer at the sword.

  "It's stained." Michael confirms. “But it was stained when I woke before, unless my other self cleaned it.”

  "I don't think you stopped to clean anything." Hyato commented. Michael grunted and continued to clean off the blood he’d spilled, withdrawing into himself a bit.

  The four of them ate in silence, having all run out of things to say at once. Michael felt awkward and guilty. Even if he wasn't conscious, even if that was some other entity. It was still Michael... Right? He burned those buildings. Killed people. Sweat dizzied him at the thought. I hate this. I don't want that to be me.

  "You alright?" Yan asked, sitting next to Michael.

  "Yeah. Well. I want to stay me. I don't want to be him. I'm afraid I'll become him at any time."

  Yan rested her hand on Michael's shoulder. "Hang in there. I believe in you."

  "Thanks." Michael smiled and Yan shared the look for a few moments, before blushing and retracting her hand.

  The crackling fire danced between them as the twilit sky deepened. It would soon be time to sleep, but Michael could not stop thinking. He had to do something, or else what was the point? "The Revenant. We need to go after it." Michael clenched his fist and stood up. "It's still the biggest problem." A determination returned to his empty eyes, a serious sense.

  Sebastian’s arms were folded as he frowned, looking towards his feet. Hyato remained still and stoic, one hand on his sword handle. Yan was silent too, until Michael looked her way. “We only just met, Michael. Most adventurers team up just to get to the next city you know.”

  “Although.” Sebastian said, “It is not unusual for a group of like minded fellows to form a party and work together.”

  “We’re strangers. I don’t know anything about you guys,” Yan folded her arms around her chest, “And you don’t know the first thing about me.”

  “I know I like you.” Michael said. Yan gave him a sharp look. “You’re nice. You’re strong, and smart. Sebastian, you too. I saw today what you meant by superstition. All those people attacked me just because of my eyes. And right when I found the Revenant.” He shook his head, eyes still determined. “I am going to find the Revenant and put a stop to it, and I won’t let Vero have it either.” He thrust his fist over the campfire, feeling the heat of the flames sting his hand. “Come with me, help me put a stop to this.”

  Yan exhaled and stood up. “It’s hard to say no when you straight up ask like that.” She stepped up to Michael by the fire as the other two rose from their seats. “You win Michael, I’m with you.” She bumped her fist against his.

  “You know, my travels have always been in the pursuit of knowledge.” Sebastian explained, “Despite my years of experience I haven’t had the pleasure of dealing with a major threat. It won’t be easy.” Sebastian pressed his fist into the huddle above the fire. “My skills are at your disposal, Michael.”

  Hyato’s fist joined the groups. “Allow me to help as well.”

  “You sure? This thing we’re up against is no joke.” Yan arched her eyebrow as she studied the swordsman, “We don’t even know you.”

  “I will do anything...” Hyato’s eyes flickered for a moment, “I will help get rid of the threat. Everyone is in danger because of it, I must not be idle.”

  “Well, we could use all the help we can get.” Sebastian said, glancing towards Michael for the final decision.

  “Welcome to the party, Hyato.” Michael said, “And thank you, everyone.”

  Yan snapped her hand back, shaking it to cool it off. "Okay. In that case we need to find the Revenant again. We should go to the next town and look for information."

  "Yeah. And we'll be more careful." Michael withdrew his hand and shared a nod with Yan. The others withdrew from the fire as well, and started packing down the camp.

  As the new party prepared for the oncoming night, Michael stepped over to an open space in their campsite and started swinging his sword. I need to control my anger.... And get stronger.

  "Training to tire yourself?” Hyato asked, taking a space across from Michael.

  "I may as well."

  "Here, I'll show you a few things."

  The sky was seared scarlet with the setting suns, casting the world ever closer to darkness. Two of the moons had already come out to greet Iagorothi, viewing the world from above as the dark of night inched near. Michael and Hyato trained. It would be a few days' travel to the next closest town, Nita, and the threat of the Revenant weighed upon their minds.