The Enchanters

Prologue   It was getting harder to breathe. The hot pain seared through his body, and Charles knew he was entering his final moments of life.  It had been a long 600 years on this planet, but somehow it wasn't long enough. Laying on his back, under a palm tree on the warm sand, the sky didn't look like anything had happened. In fact, had it been any other day, this would have been a perfect day. He watched the clouds float by. He had to think of his training before he transitioned.  Charles knew that soon, the Enchanters would know he had failed his mission. But now wasn't for thinking about his failures, now was the time to focus on his training. Charles was sent on a mission. There had been a catastrophic earthquake in Thailand, and the Enchantians knew it was not a natural disaster, it was the work of the Synd.  Charles, one of the top Guardians, was sent to investigate the scene, to find some evidence of the Synd. As Charles reflected on his walk through the dilapidated buildings, those humans that were left in despair, he recalled seeing a child, alone and crying. Her hair matted, her body dirty and some minor injuries. Charles’ heart clenched. He wanted to help her, heal her.  Suddenly, Charles felt a tight grasp around his heart, his time was coming to an end. He was filled with sadness. Guardians have no family, no love, and somehow, he now wished he had more time. Time, he was running out. His training taught him that he needed to recall the events so they could know.  Charles closed his eyes, remembering the little girl, and then it caught his eye. Something moved behind her, and his instincts kicked in. The movement was too fast for humans to register and began to move towards it. He began to search for the source of the energy. One of their most powerful gifts, like a sonar but without sending a signal, Enchantians can feel energy from all things. Charles knew he saw the movement but felt nothing. Usually with a Synd, you feel darkness, hopeless, empty.  As he moved deeper into the jungle, Charles searched harder for the being. When he got to a clearing, he stopped, and focused.  A rustle of the leaves, and he opened his eyes wide. Charles knew it was a Synd.  “Show yourself,” Charles yelled out. He was not afraid. He knew whatever faced him, he would be more than capable of handling any Synd. He was one of the top Guards, he has trained for six centuries. He was a master of not just searching for energy, but using it as well. He felt the heat warm in his palms, ready for anything.  “Simple Enchanter,” a low, sinister voice flowed through the hot tropical air. Suddenly, a man appeared before him. He was shorter than Charles, and bald. But there was something off about the man. His skin was almost translucent, with faint blue lines, like scars, or veins covering his body.  “It was you,” Charles accused. The anger was beginning to bubble inside him as he remembered the little girl. “Maybe,” the Synd said without a care “mabe not." He laughed and suddenly disappeared.  As soon as the Synd vanished, Charles heard a twig snap behind him, and felt the energy coming at him. Just as he was about to be hit with the glowing ball of energy coming his way, he ducked to the left, but not quickly enough.  The beam energy grazed the side of his head. Pain exploded as he quickly reached up. Charles was now missing his right ear. The warmth of the blood flowed down but he didn't have time to think about that.  Charles shot energy from his palms in the direction of the Synd but there was no one there. Another twig snapped and this time Charles did not wait. He spun quickly and shot the energy again. He watched as it collided with the Synd’s energy and deflected to an unfortunate tree that was obliterated. The Synd vanished again. As Charles remembered the events, he felt his breathing slow down. He knew these were his final moments. It was too important to remember everything, for when he died, his body would transition into a precious gemstone. That gem would be given to the Seer, Ahma, who could read the gem and see the final moments of the Enchanter.  He focused on the final moments with the Synd. How did he do it? Vanishing and reappearing wasn't a gift. It wasn't possible.  Another movement in his periphery, and he wasn't waiting for the Synd to strike first. He shot the beam of energy in that direction, again missing the intended target.  Three more failed attempts and Charles was growing angry. Burning trees cut in two, mounds of rubble from rocks that became collateral, Charles lost his patience.  “Face me,” Charles yelled out, “so I can end you” and this time he put all of his energy and power into his palms. Two magnificent spheres formed, and he was ready.  Suddenly, the Synd revealed himself. As Charles sent all the energy his way, the Synd laughed and disappeared again. Just as he disappeared, Charles felt it. He looked down at himself, a hole blowing through his abdomen. Quickly, Charles moved his hands to the wound. He refocused his energy on healing and began trying to heal himself. As he did, the pain grew worse, bringing him to his knees. As soon as he began to heal, the wound would open again. “You'll never heal,” he heard the sinister voice echo through the jungle, “you're not leaving here alive.” and the Synd laughed.  It was all around him. Without thought, Charles mustered all of his energy, that raw power he held inside him. He knew he wasn't going to make it. The wound was not healing, so he might as well go out with a bang.  Charles took a deep breath and pushed all of his energy out and around him. The force field so strong, all trees and shrubbery bowed down and cleared the area. He saw the figure of the Synd fly through the air and land 100 yards away. This was it. Charles felt life slipping from his body. He needed to get away. He attempted to get up, but his body was heavy. His limbs screamed as the wound on his abdomen kept opening.  He needed to get away, to hide while he died. Once the transition happened, who knows what would happen to his gem? A human could find it, the Synd could steal it, and no one would know how any of this went down. Charles needed to get away. He pushed his body. The pain seared hot through his body. As he worked to move forward, away from the Synd that may have survived, away from everything.  He held his hands on his wound, continuously healing as it was trying to open again. Just get away. Charles knew it was time to send the signal. He took his pointer finger, placed it behind his right earlobe and pressed the side of his head. They would know what happened.  Charles was barely breathing now. His chest felt restricted. He couldn't lift his arms or even his hand to heal his abdomen to give himself a little more time.  This was it. He closed his eyes, knowing his last couple of breaths were approaching.  The Synd. It was all he could think of now. That would be his last image.   —— Ava gasped, sitting straight up in her bed. The full moon shines brightly through her French balcony doors. The white comforter appears to be lavender from the shadows. Ava couldn’t breathe. Clutching her chest, she grabbed her phone to check the time.  3:14 am Something was not right. Just as the thought crossed her mind, her bedroom door flew open.  Stephanie’s face popped in, “good you’re up.” She took a step in. Stephanie's dark hair was pulled up in a top knot and she was in her typical training attire, a black racer back tank and black leggings with black sneakers. “Daniel is on his way. We need to meet downstairs. You have 15 minutes.”