Curseborn Saga - Fade to Black (20 page)

Glossary

CHARACTERS BY ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Caim
(kime) – Brother of Storm and Grandson of Ronin

Storm
– Brother of Caim and Grandson of Ronin

Ronin
(Row-nin) – Grandfather of Caim and Storm

Baelie
(Bay-lee) – Adopted daughter of the Empress; the middle of the three sisters

Remi
(Reh-mee) – Adopted daughter of the Empress; oldest of the three sisters

Maile
(My-lee) – Adopted daughter of the Empress; youngest of the three sisters

Lady Theresa
(Teh-ree-sah) – The Rank 5 of the Force

Rakaella
(Ruh-kay-la) – Guard of Force Tower

Lithael
(Lih-thale) – Guard of Force Tower

Beliosr
(Bell-ee-oh-sur) – A Kushala Flare caught and imprisoned by Lady Arya

Mr. Waddles
(Wah-duls) – A strange looking bird creature imprisoned by the Force Corps for reasons unknown

Lady Arya
(Ar-ee-uh) – The Rank 4 of the Force Corps.

Lady Zeila
(Zay-luh) – The Rank 8 of the Force Corps.

Lady Aquas
(Ah-kwus) – The Rank 6 of the Force Corps.

Lady Enies
(N-E-S) – Vice-Captain, or Rank 2, of the Force Corps.

Lady Sakura
(Saw-ku-ruh) – Rank 9 of the Force Corps.

Galfanon
(Gal-fa-non) – A majestic creature known as a Chameleoth

Kreitos
(Kray-ee-tos) – A Kushala Flare, and Kin to the Master of the Forest

Fang
– Princess of the Flares

Lady Vale
(Veil) – The Goddess of Life

Sora
(Sor-uh) – Unknown

THE REALM OF SORIA

Soria
(Sor-ee-uh) – The two lands floating in the sky where the Sorians live

Falia
(Fall-ee-uh) – The Eastern Wing of Soria

Risia
(Riz-ee-uh) – The Western Wing of Soria

Neverend Forest
(Neh-ver-end) – A magical forest gifted upon Falia by the Goddess of Life

Cataclysm’s Touch
(Ka-tah-klism) – A great cleft left in Falia by the God of Earth’s axe

Aurora’s Light
– The white castle of the Empress, Aurora Ne’Fair

Force Tower
– The tower of the Force Corps

The Valyti
(Va-lee-tee) – The secret training grounds of the Force Corps

Senyria Lake
(Sen-ee-ree-uh) – A magical lake gifted upon Falia by the Goddess of Life; holds healing properties

The Nocturnis Aqua
(Nok-turn-iss) – The great tree of Falia, and keeper of the fallen spirits

Vale’s Garden
– Home to the Goddess of Life

UNIQUE TERMINOLOGY

Shade
– Equivalent to one hour

Ring
– Equivalent to one year

Cycle
– Equivalent to one century

Aethir Ring
(A-thur Ring) – The first solar system. Home of the Sorians and Seven Gods.

Aura
– The energy within a Sorian; can be seen in the form of different colored energy flames

Hollow
– A bone-type exoskeleton armor that grows on the skin of Sorian’s bodies

Fallblade
– A greatsword of the past with two different forms

Inner Depths
– The world within one’s mind that is made up of their past, and emotions

Limit Seal
– A unique, hidden ability that each Sorian is born with; only the strong-hearted can learn them

Starless Night
– The final attack of Caim’s Fallblade in its second form. A great wave of energy that is fired from the blade

Lunar Rising
– A sword technique of Storm’s

Blood Aura
– Storm’s Limit Seal

The Soldier Games
– The World Tournament of Soria; held once every 10 cycles

Eiendrahk
(A-in-drawk) – The dark and never-ending war between Death and Life

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XXVII – Lady Scylla the Valiant

S
inging towards the land of Risia, the chiming of the last bell rang and sped; past the great bridge that connected the two floating worlds, up and over the colossal arena shaped as a King’s crown; past a sea of forests; until it rose, higher and higher, curving and twisting around the four towers of the White Castle. At last, the sound came upon one lone woman standing at the very peak of the second highest tower, with hair of silver starlight and with armor of shimmering silver and a great black cape. She heard the ringing of the bell and grinned as a shivering breeze swept past. The rune etched in black over her left sightless eye was that of the number 1.

The stone flooring of the tower’s plateau glowed like sapphires forged from the purest sky. Floating above the central area nearly fifteen feet behind the woman was a large black orb. The soldier closed her eyes as the clamor of the golden bell brought forth a rush of flowing visions into her mind, and she reminisced of a time long past, a time when the number 1 had not been etched over her eye, a time when her team had struggled and overcome the might of the Soldier Games. An image of a haled swordsman wielding an ancient blade in each hand brought a dark foreboding air to her thoughts, and many emotions shone from her emerald eye; the other, pale and moonlike, had lost its sight long ago.

She spoke softly to herself. “Remember the past, live in the present, and fear not the future … for it hasn’t happened yet, and never will. You never did fear the future … did you?” The sun above shone brightly, though with the wind came an icy chill. From afar it looked as if a goddess of glittering gold stood atop the precipice of the great White Castle.

A sudden visceral feeling alerted her to the presence of another.

“Lady Scylla … you requested my presence.”

The voice was that of Lady Sakura, calm and tranquil and full of love. She kneeled and bowed deeply. Lady Scylla remained still, her gaze now focusing on the monument towering over the center of the great bridge, the Arena of Kings. Magnificent it was, the coliseum for the Soldier Games: full of blood, death and near-forgotten memories.

She spoke but did not turn. “Sakura, do you know why I have summoned you?”

Sakura stood and cast the Sorian salute, holding a tight fist before her chest with her elbow pointed to the side. “I would only assume, Lady Scylla, that you have summoned me for two purposes. You must have already realized the outcome between myself and Lady Enies, as I stand before you now.” She paused for a moment. “In regards to the second purpose, I imagine it may have something to do with this cycle’s Soldier Games.”

“You always have been keen, Sakura.” Her voice was full of command but any who heard her would instantly understand the love and respect she held for her Soldiers. “As you may have heard, as I know rumors have a tendency of finding light, this cycle’s Soldier Games is not like any of the others. No … this Soldier Games marks the beginning of a new era.”

“I have not heard any such rumors, my Captain.”

Lady Scylla took a deep breath. “You have never been one to listen to the whisperings of others, that you have not.” Sakura bowed her eyes. “Well, all will soon learn come the opening speech of the Empress Aurora Ne’Fair. But I will tell you now, since your coming into the Rank of Two has bestowed upon you an important role in the forging of this new era.”

“What is it you speak of, my Captain?”

“It begins with a story of old. Nearly 36 Cycles ago, just after the last time
Eiendrahk
struck our world with its cruel black blade, a Council was summoned. This Council, known as the
Sun’s Moon
, came together to discuss the future of our world, and with it, the future of those born of Falia—the Curseborn.”

Lady Scylla placed her leather-bound hands on the stone guard of the tower. “As you know it has been the Nobles, the Purebloods if you will, who have defended our world for eons past. Those of Falia have yet to birth a warrior worthy of our Ranks—at least one who has not tried to destroy us all or betray us, and because of this, the Council came together to discuss Falia’s new-coming role. I believe that the Curseborn have a weakened spirit and no longer have the strength to aid us on the battlefield, but others deemed it unfair to cast such a judgment upon them. It was decided that if those of Falia were unable to crown a champion of the Soldier Games by the 250th Tournament, they would forever lose all rights to compete. It seems their skills are not of combat, but of craftsmanship, innovation and engineering.”

Sakura’s eyes grew wide. “That … that would cause an uproar, would it not, my Captain? For the only rule of the Soldier Games is the one that states,
Any Sorian, be it man or woman who has come of age, will forever have the right to the Soldier Games, and upon succeeding, the right to claim entrance into the Ranks of Legend
. Was that not written by the Empress herself?”

Lady Scylla was quiet for a moment. “Yes, and it is by her hand that it will come to an end. And indeed it may cause uproar, had the Old Lord Galileo—who fell victim to the curse himself—not agreed in the painting of his blood, that this was the path by which we should walk into the new era.”

“
The
Great Galileo?” Lady Sakura said. “The creator of Alchemy, and the most fabled Philosopher of our kind? Did he not disappear from our world, nearly …” Sakura’s eyes widened. “Was it not 36 Cycles ago that Lord Galileo vanished?”

Lady Scylla’s hand tightened on the guard. “Yes, it was shortly after the summoning of the Council that Lord Galileo took leave of our world. It was always his dream to bring a cure to the Curseborn, and even now I suspect he is still searching, somewhere far and unknown by any of our kind, even in all the ages of Soria. He is bound by the chains of his undying ambition… .”

“I see,” said Sakura. “Had it not been for Galileo, the Empress would most likely have never agreed to such a proposal. It would seem that the Curseborn no longer have the strength to help us in times of war, and the focus of finding our land’s saviors must be placed in the hands of the truly able.”

Lady Scylla nodded. “It would seem so. Yet I do not doubt that many Curseborn will only see this as a trickery brought upon them by Nobility … as Galileo is no longer here to speak on behalf of Falia. The one rule of the Games will become the root of defiance, as their kind have long felt connected to us of Pureblood by this one historic event. I fear that this change will take something away from them far beyond what we can see, something that they have held on to for many cycles, and I fear that they who have not come into the wisdom of their elders may very well revolt – Risia and Falia will no longer be one.”

Sakura’s eyes took to the ground. “What a tragic blow this must be to their kind … yet, it is true that our races have been separated for many cycles, and it almost seems as if we are not one of the same kind, but a kind fated to split.”

Lady Scylla turned and faced Sakura, and her black cloak flowed softly in the wind as she stood before her like a venerable queen of benevolence and wisdom. Her face was kind and gentle, and Sakura knew from the moment she gazed into her eyes that the situation brought pain upon her heart.

“Yes, Sakura … but this is the real reason you have been summoned here. Whispers of a force hidden amongst the Curseborn have reached my ears. I fear they have come to hate and despise Risia and may soon rise against us.”

“Is that really possible?” asked Sakura in disbelief. She clenched her fist at the thought of Falia revolting against those who’d kept them safe. Could they really be so ungrateful?

“We do not know anything for sure, but we cannot take any chances. That is why, Sakura, the Vice Captains of both the Force and the Shield will be competing in the final stage of the 250th Soldier Games. We can save the bloodshed of many by playing our cards now. I do not believe those of Falia have ever seen the true might of the Force or the Shield, and upon seeing a display of our power in the Soldier Games, we hope that any rebellious ambitions will vanquish, along with their hopes.”

“I understand, Lady Scylla.” Sakura gave the Sorian salute and kneeled upon one knee. “I will display my power in such a way that none would even dare to think that civil war is a possibility.”

Lady Scylla smiled. “I thank you, Sakura, you have always been my most faithful Soldier, ever since that fateful day in the dark rain long ago.” She turned her back and spoke grimly. “But I must ask, now that you are my Vice Captain, how do you feel about what is to come?”

Sakura stared resolutely at her Captain. “I will play my part, as you have given my part to play. I have no feelings towards acting or not acting in the Soldier Games.”

Lady Scylla gazed out over the two great lands of Soria. “Sakura, you have always had a kind heart, and you do not seek power, but trust those above you completely. You must be careful with this philosophy, and always keep a wary eye about the hidden doings of others, or it may lead to your own downfall. Never lose the ability to think for yourself.” She turned to look at Sakura. “You must think it is strange to have two of our Vice Captains fighting in the final stage? For what if the Curseborn pass the tryouts this cycle, impossible as it may seem? We would surely crush them without the slightest difficulty, and secure the judgment of the Council with absolute exactness. But is it not strange how things have come to pass? As if our choices right now have been predetermined, and we have been left with only inevitability….”

Sakura was quiet. She had already pondered this possibility, and even though she heeded Lady Scylla’s words, she knew it was not her place to judge her superiors. Furthermore the Curseborn had never even passed the tryouts, so the probability of a Curseborn champion was infinitesimal.

“To feel uneasy about your decision would be to admit my own doubt,” she said. “To admit doubt would be to falter with my loyalty, and to falter with my loyalty would be an act of perfidy against the Royal Kingdom of the Empress. It is not my place to feel doubt, only to place trust in your choices.”

“I am forever indebted to your loyalty, Lady Sakura.” With that, she lowered herself to Sakura, who was still kneeling, and stretched forth her leather-gloved fingers and took her softly by the chin. The glow of her emerald eye was beyond the beauty of even the brightest star, and Sakura was lost in the sudden closeness of her Captain.

“My lady …” she whispered.

Lady Scylla merely smiled in return. “I take it the three young ones have been given their role?”

Sakura bowed her head. “Yes, my lady.”

Lady Scylla pulled Sakura’s chin closer to her own and spoke through chilling whispers. “It is up to us to protect the world of Soria. Come tomorrow, show them the true power of the Force Corps. This is the only path without bloodshed.” With that, the strongest in all of Soria stood and took her leave from the peak of the great white tower.

The words of her Captain echoed through Sakura’s mind.
Show them the true power of the Force Corps.
She suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine, like the words had some hidden ice to their meaning, as if for one brief moment of time, the words were not spoken with kindness, but with deep, hidden resentment. She shook the thought from her mind and took a deep breath. Forcing a laugh, she wondered why her mind played such tricks on her—a test of her loyalty most likely, as they mostly came when one least expected. She turned and stood along the stone guard, gazing out over the sky. Night was coming.

Far below and moving over the bright grass of the fields below, a great figure, massive, although quite small from her bird’s eye view, moved swiftly towards the rising of trees. Shining gold armor glinted from the silhouette, but most striking of all was the colossal shield that sat upon the man’s back, and she knew right then who it was.

Lord Falkor, Captain of the Shield Corps, she thought. Probably going to give Vice Captain Vasuki the same speech. A look of disgust came over her face. I should have realized sooner that I’d have to do this alongside him.