Resurrection Chapter 1
By Icy Brian
"We are low on time. We must kill them now before they get a chance to kill us!"
"You should worry more about Sir Kovac. He would like very much to see us dead, especially after what you did when last we met, Pahn."
"What? The fool got what he deserved." Pahn laughed. "Actually, he deserved more. An insult towards you should have garnered more than some bruised bones and a bruised ego. Why'd you stop me, Cleo?"
"His knights were approaching. We wouldn't have stood much of a chance against them. They are some of the best fighters in the kingdom. You seem to forget that. Next time, we may not be quite as lucky."
"I'm not worried about Kovac. That weakling hides in the background while his men do all the work. I would think it wiser to be wary of Vara. She's wrought havoc and terror everywhere she goes since she arrived here. Now that she's joined forces with Yuber, their power is gargantuous!" Pahn continued walking, his mind seemingly elsewhere.
"Her magic may be great, as is Yuber's, but Kovac has influence. He could be gathering his men to kill you as we speak. I suggest that you keep an eye on your surroundings, unless you want to end up dead.
"Don't worry about me, Cleo. If Kovac has a problem with me, tell him to step forth. It will be his own demise, not mine." Pahn paused for a second and looked behind him. "Besides, rumor has it that he was selling weapons to a group of terrorists known as the Fire Corps. If I don't get him first, the government will."
"They don't have any proof. Without that, he can't be arrested." She stopped for a moment to think. "I was talking to someone in Antei the other day about those terrorists. Apparently their leader is man named Arek. He used to be a royal knight, but was sentenced to death for killing his commanding officer. He escaped from prison, but before leaving the grounds he lit several barrels of oil on fire, incinerating the prison to the ground. Along with another former knight he formed the Fire Corps. About a month later he killed the other knight and took over the regiment. Still, he can manipulate fire better than any Rune, and should be avoided. Last I heard, they number around seventy-five."
"Does it really matter?" Pahn asked. "I see no reason why we should have any quarrel with them. Vara is the real threat. If the information I received from Kage is correct, she's worse than that witch, Windy. Her magic alone is greater than that of the Soul Eater. Not only can she control the elements, but also the magic of the shadows."
"So I've heard. Teamed with Yuber, that power is doubled. I am not clear of their intentions, but the villages they have destroyed is a bad sign. Warrior's Village was almost demolished. Hix and Tengaar are doing what they can to rebuild it. Rockland is barely standing. I believe Alen, Grenseal, and Valeria are attempting to salvage it." Cleo picked up a rock and hurled it at a tree. A chunk of wood fell off and a golden glow came out of the hole. Pahn took a step back and peered over at the tree.
"What the hell is that?"
* * *
A man cloaked in black kneeled in front of the entrance to a cave. He turned to see if there was anyone behind him, and then drew his sword. The man stood and entered the cave, following an old tunnel which seemed to have been there since the beginning of time. As the cave began to darken, he raised a hand and chanted a series of words. Flames began to dance from his fingertips, and he waved his hand above his head, lighting the series of torches which lined the dark passage.
He moved forward, deeper into the cave. The walls were covered in poisonous niter, but the mask over his face protected him from the fumes. As he turned a corner further into the cave, he could overhear somebody talking. Another voice could be heard as he moved towards them. He stepped into an open area where three figures stood over an unconscious body on the floor. Before they could see him, he slid behind a stone which jutted up from the floor. Peering out, he looked once more at the three people who stood only yards ahead of him. He recognized one of them as the ninja known as Kage. The two others had their backs to him, but he recognized the cloak which one wore by the gruesome beast inscribed on the back. They spoke softly, so he moved behind a stone closer to them in order to listen in.
"You have my payment, correct?" Kage asked, though it was more of a demand than a request. One of the figures reached inside their cloak and pulled out a bag.
"Ten-thousand gold bits, just like you said." It was the voice of a female. She reached down to pick up the lifeless head of the man on the ground. It was Eikei. "Very good. I doubt that he'll give us any more trouble." She handed the bag to Kage, who quickly inspected it before putting it in his pouch. He turned to leave when a man's voice stopped him.
"Wait." The other person stepped over to Kage. "There is one more person I would like for you to... dispose of."
"I told you once already, Yuber, I do not kill, only capture. Who is it that you want?" The man behind the rock stirred. He looked closer at the man who had spoken, and could now recognize him as the Black Knight. He was now sure that the woman was Vara.
"I believe that you know a man named Pesmerga, correct? He has held great animosity towards me for some time now. I wish for you to bring him to me so that we may settle some things once and for all. He is the one person who stands in my... our way."
"Very well, but I want double the payment this time. Half now, half later."
"Save your money, Yuber." The man behind the rock stepped forward. "I see no reason why you should put it to waste, when you needn't look far to find me."
"Ah, Pesmerga. I see that you still follow my trail. Why you haven't given up yet is beyond me. We both know that you can't defeat me." Yuber drew his sword, a trail of flames following it out of its sheathe. He started to move forward, when Vara placed her hand on his shoulder. He put his sword away as she stepped between them.
"Pesmerga, we will give you one more chance. You are the only one who knows the location of the third staff. We know that it is in this cave, yet we don't know the exact location. Tell us where it is, or we will destroy the cave to get it." Pesmerga looked over at Kage, and then down at Eikei, who was starting to stir.
"What good is the staff without the other two? Are you not aware that all three are needed to unleash their true power?" Pesmerga could see that Yuber knew this, though it didn't seem to bother him in the slightest. "Besides, you are fools to want the staffs in the first place! Their power is not meant to be handled by mere mortals. You can't understand what it is that you are meddling with!"
"What I understand is that I am destined to rule this world, and that is all that matters!" Yuber howled. He pulled his sword back out and slammed Pesmerga into the side of the cave. Yuber's eyes were full of hatred as he put the sword to Pesmerga's throat. "I already have one staff hidden away, and I know where the second is kept. Tell me where the third is or I'll kill you and destroy this cavern to find it!" Yuber pressed the edge of the blade against Pesmerga's jugular. The sound of a small stone falling caused him to snap his head to the side, and Pesmerga took the opportunity to shove Yuber backwards. As he was recovering, Pesmerga hit him in the side of the head with the flat of his sword. Pesmerga pointed the tip of the sword at Yuber's throat.
"I'd sooner die at your hand than give you the staff. I will never allow you to use the power which my father died to banish." Pesmerga prepared to drive the blade through Yuber's neck, but was stopped by a force slamming into him from the side. He was dazed as he picked himself up off the ground, but could see that Vara had knocked him over.
"Well, Pesmerga." She said wickedly as Yuber coolly rose to his feet. "It would seem as though we have you outmatched. Surrender the staff now and we'll see to it that your death is quick and painless." Pesmerga backed up, only to find himself against a wall.
"Kill me if you must." He said, looking over at Eikei, who was on his feet behind Yuber and Vara. "Because you know as well as I do that you'll never succeed as long as I'm alive." Pesmerga charged at Yuber, their swords crashing together. As the two fought, Eikei ran forward to attack Vara. Before he could reach her, she had shot a beam of light from her hands. It hit him in the chest, and he was forced into the wall of the cave. Stones fell from the ceiling, trapping him beneath.
Pesmerga's sword flew from his grasp as Yuber knocked it away. He was knocked to his knees by Vara, who had snuck behind him and smashed her boot into the back of his knee. Yuber stood above Pesmerga, his sword resting on his adversary's shoulder. Yuber laughed viciously.
"I've had enough of your meddling in our affairs. " Yuber glanced over at Vara. "After I kill him, be prepared to destroy the cave. We'll just have to find the staff ourselves." He raised the sword, ready to lop off Pesmerga's head. As he began to bring it down, he was hit in the back by a large stone. Yuber lurched forward, and both he and Vara toppled over. Pesmerga looked up to see Clive standing at the entrance to the room in which he was.
"Come! We must leave at once!" Clive yelled at him. Pesmerga got to his feet and ran to Eikei. He rolled the stone off of him, and Clive helped him to his feet. Pesmerga looked back at Yuber and Vara, who were starting to stand. He slammed the hilt of his sword into an old wall. It crumbled away, revealing a golden staff which Pesmerga snatched away.
"Until we meet again!" He shouted back as he and Clive ran out of the cave, carrying Eikei with them. Yuber began to chase after them, but he was stopped by Vara.
"Let them go. We can take care of them once we have received the second staff from Kovac." Vara pulled back the cloak to reveal her face. "After that, they will all die."