The Severaine

Chapter Fourteen The Summoner-4

* * *

“No!” As the cry left Daniel's lips, he was already awake, standing with his weapon drawn. His eyes scanned the area for signs of their pursuer. Shadows flitted through the trees, moving quickly, almost as if not to be seen, but he had seen them. He had thought one creature was bad enough, but there must be easily ten now circling them. He reached backwards expecting to find her hand but grasped only air.

Acha and Eiji joined him, their weapons also at the ready, but as their vision panned across the terrain they allowed themselves to relax.

“Daniel, what's wrong, what is it?” Eiji, still keeping his eyes on the surroundings, bent slowly to sheathe his weapon.

“Zo's in trouble.” He looked to them desperately, and hearing his words, Acha relaxed her fighting stance. Unlike Daniel and Eiji she didn't carry a weapon. She had been training in hand-to-hand combat. Given her unique skill, she needed to be as close to an enemy as possible, especially now she had gained some control. Daniel saw their expressions, he turned to them desperately. “I'm serious, we were being chased by something.” His voice pleaded for them to listen, and although there was concern in both of their eyes, it seemed directed towards him, his sanity.

“Daniel, you were dreaming.” Acha gave a stretch, allowing herself to fully relax. Casting her vision skyward she realised it was almost dawn. It was difficult to believe they had slept for so long. She approached him slowly, placing her hand comfortingly on his shoulder. With a sigh he finally lowered his weapon.

“I could have sworn…” He gave another glance around, his weapon now hanging limply at his side. “It seemed so real,” he stated with honesty. He knew there was little point hiding anything from them now given what had forced him into slumber. “You must think I'm crazy.” He raised his hand to massage his temples, using his thumb and middle finger, an action which allowed him to cover his eyes at the same time.

As he and Acha continued to speak, Eiji began to pack up the camp. Yesterday, after Acha had subdued Daniel, they had spent the remainder of the day talking, and not only about him. They spoke about Acha's training.

Since they first left Crowley and started researching at the college, Acha had spent the nights in the company of an old fighting ring in Collateral. She had approached them asking to be trained in basic defence. She had never held a weapon, nor really needed to fight. Her protection, since waking here, had always come in the form of her touch, but she knew she needed to rely on more than this alone. Every night, for months, she visited them, and her skills were certainly improving.

The rings were run by an elderly gentleman named Brent. It disturbed her to no end that he seemed to have been expecting her. He had designed a rigorous training program which focused on her getting close to a target and surviving long enough to touch them. It was a fighting style unlike any she had ever seen. It focused mainly on defence, with punches only being thrown as a means to manipulate the opponent's movements.

Eiji lifted the dragon's egg into the sling he had fashioned from blankets to make carrying it easier. He felt movement from within as he adjusted it slightly.

“Daniel, it's okay to feel confused. We're here for you no matter what, please just talk to us, okay?” Daniel nodded slowly as Acha stroked his arm tenderly. Noticing Eiji had now come to stand with them, he found the perfect opportunity to change the subject.

“Come on, let's pay a visit to the dragons.” It wasn't that he didn't appreciate talking with Acha, after touching him she understood better than anyone how he felt. But no amount of empathy would convince him what he saw wasn't real. He would rather she didn't try. She may have experienced his memories through his eyes, but she hadn't actually seen through them. She didn't understand the truth.

* * *

A flash of lightning brightened Zo's darkened vision, for a moment, it illuminated everything around her. She sheltered her eyes against the piercing light, using this distraction to try to force herself to move, to crawl to the edge of the small ledge. At this point she cared little about surviving the fall, it was about getting away from the Epiale. As she reached the edge, no matter her intention, she couldn't pull herself over. It was like she was paralysed, as if an unknown force held her back. She glanced behind her, expecting to see some form of tether between herself and the creature, but instead she realised she hadn't moved, she was still slumped against the cliff.

She felt herself being pulled back, she opened her eyes drawing in a sharp breath seeing more darkened forms approach. She tried again to crawl, to evade the hands which sought to grab her. She struggled, lashing out as the grip around her waist hoisted her into the air. Her weakened strikes causing little more than a dull sound of her hand on cloth. The sound brought with it a clarity, and through the flashes of light the familiar features of Seiken's father became clear. Her heart pounded as she sought to locate Seiken, knowing he would be amongst them. He was defending her, causing a distraction to facilitate her rescue. The cat was with him, weaving its way under the Epiale's legs to reach them.

With her resistance ceased Seiken's father scooped her in his arms, swinging her with ease to sit upon his back. Taking his cloak, he folded it length-wise, throwing it around them and using it to secure her in place. All this he did whilst making their escape.

Zo allowed herself to rest against his broad back. The first time she had caught sight of him she had known who he was. She thought to herself what a strange recollection that was. Since arriving here, she was certain she had never set eyes on him. But she remembered him so clearly. She remembered standing before him in awe, thinking how, in some ways, Seiken looked like his father.

He was a leader worthy of following, she knew this from the moment she laid eyes upon him. He was everything the King of the Oneirois should be, strong, brave, and warm. He had the physique of a warrior, tempered as if he had seen battle from the front lines. He was a king who would not only protect his people but fight alongside them.

“Take her home. I'll be right behind you.”

Seiken continued his assault on the creature as his father began his descent. He knew he needed to buy time for them to reach the mountain's base. The portal to their realm was not far from there. His father carried Zo with ease, but his pace was slowed and the three of them would make a far more appealing target. Already he could see the Epiale's subtle retreat, he had to change its mind, he had to commandeer its attention completely, something his current attack was failing to do. The creature's form instinctively reacted to his magic, shrinking from the light's path, only small wisps of diminishing shadow signifying he was having any effect on it at all.

Seiken crouched, placing his hand upon the ground. Particles of energy whipped into a frenzy around him to manipulate the ledge, colliding and adapting to forge an overhang to shield those below. It would not be allowed to pursue. The mountain's crest lowered, the heights transforming into unstable boulders, tumbling from above to bombard and shatter upon the ledge. They spilt over the platform assaulting the Epiale with the very start of an avalanche, when the rocks passed over the ledge they seemed to implode, dissipating into invisible energy, all which was drawn toward Seiken. Seiken dismissed the shimmering barrier that had shielded him from the rocks. It had been a long time since he had used magic. He had only recently had it restored, but he instinctively remembered how to wield it.

The tiny particles changed, setting his aura aglow as he released a blinding stream of energy. The Epiale howled, its form visibly shrinking as billows of black smoke rose from it. It turned in circles and rolled as if trying to extinguish an unseen flame. Seiken pulled himself up onto what remained of the ledge above and focused himself, preparing for another attack, and within seconds the dark disfigured shape followed. He cast a glance below, seeing the three figures still upon the mountain, they needed more time.

The Epiale howled once more, the force tearing through reality causing fractures in the energy surrounding them. The sky above darkened, granting it shade and strength. Seiken beheld it with foreboding, he had never seen such blanketed darkness summoned on their domain. The Epiale drank in the power hungrily, almost instantly restoring to its true size, and still its form expanded. Seiken reacted instantly, dismissing the power he had managed to collect and forcing it towards the clouds. He knew they would not dissipate, but he could create an addition to the Epiale's magic. Lightning joined the darkness, and heavy drops of water poured down, each heavy bead magnifying and reflecting the flash from the light above.

The Epiale turned its focus to Seiken, mirroring his smaller frame, reducing its surface area to lessen the damage caused by the sky's relentless assault. It growled again, flexing its new limbs as it returned to a form long forgotten. Seiken felt himself retreat, rain running from him in rivulets, mingling with his sweat as he focused all his concentration on the rapid collection of energy. The composition of the woodlands below began to tremble, releasing the power within, breaking apart by his demand as the invisible atoms hurtled towards him at speed, but it was not quick enough. The Epiale pounced, its black feral teeth snapping in its distorted humanoid form. It was quick, quicker than he expected. Seiken felt himself topple as his hands instinctively grabbed the wrists of the mid-air figure barely in time. It was heavier than it appeared, its weight bearing down on him as it snarled and slashed.

The claws extended rapidly, cracking the ground beside Seiken's head as he barely moved in time. The unclaimed particles formed new greenery around the struggling figures before Seiken once more called to them. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the creature forced two new clawed limbs from its sides. His muscles burned against the exertion, and his arms trembled. He kicked out with his legs, unable to connect a blow. He felt the energy being manipulated around him; it was going to strike again. Its new limbs bore down, the claws extending like branches as they split and grew, plunging towards his sides where he lay pinned.

With a focusing cry, Seiken released the energy he had managed to gather, forming a barrier above his flesh. It hardened to encase him, immobilising him. He closed his eyes, focusing on reinforcing it as the claws struck. He felt the chrysalis begin to yield, a cracking sound as the tips of the claws extended more pressure in pinpoint locations. Seiken pulled his arms free, hugging them close to his encased body as the Epiale's immobilised wrists and hands thinned to slip with ease from his solid barrier. Its claws now chipping away his protection little by little. It moved positioning itself to sit upon him, one set of claws slashing whilst the other manipulated the sharper points to spread the forming cracks. Seiken swallowed, taking a slow deep breath. The ground beneath him trembled, the energy from the stone rising to greet him, reinforcing the barrier, resealing the breaks until the vibrations of his effort shook all. He closed his eyes, feeling the support below him vanish, and his breath caught as he attempted to slow his descent.

Above him the crystal shell shattered, and the Epiale threw itself into the vertical shaft in pursuit. Seiken extended his hands forming a small ledge beneath him with what little energy remained, he landed almost gracefully, relieved to hear the Epiale's howls as it sailed past, the impact almost lost in the depth of the mountain. He waited, panting, long enough to gather his breath. Sweat mingled with rain poured from him marking the pale stone beneath his hands as he leaned forwards drawing long deep breaths. He could still make out the sound of its claws on the stone, echoing up from the depths of the opening. He could not remember the last time he had faced such danger. This Epiale had an unexpected strength. They had never cast darkness into their realm, never. With another deep breath he peered down once more. He took the energy from the water and began a slow ascent, sealing the land below him whenever his reserves would allow.

* * *

Zo was barely aware of anything which happened now, the pain had become so intense she could barely breathe. She felt the warmth of a protectional barrier surround them, unable to see the silver sphere which enveloped them.

When they reached the bottom of the cliffs, she could no longer feel Seiken's presence, but his father, and the small cat continued walking. The resistance of a portal tugged at her gently as they passed through, and at once she recognised the scents from the garden, they were near the walls of Crystenia. Seiken's father placed her down carefully.

“I warned you what would happen.” Seiken appeared through the portal, his skin glistened with rain and sweat as he passed his hands over his unruly hair, trying to smooth it as he approached breathlessly. Despite the lack of energy behind his words it was clear by his tone how furious he was. He had already warned her of the dangers, and still she had ignored him. She had exposed herself, and in doing so had nearly been lost to them, to him. He sank to his knees beside her, earning a concerned glance from his father. He acknowledged his look with a nod but remained silent.

“I didn't… choose,” she gasped weakly. Seiken silenced her words by placing a small fleshy seed within her mouth before taking one for himself.

“You could have been seriously hurt, or worse.” He gave a frustrated sigh, his breathing now calm. The only reason she was still amongst them was because her essence was still so weak. When the other Oneiroi had woken Daniel its presence had, for a short time, masked her own. “Don't you ever—”

“Master Seiken,” the small cat interrupted. “She did not leave of her own free will. She simply vanished when the boy entered REM.”

“Is that even possible?” He looked from her to the cat. “Can a dreamer summon an Oneiroi?”

“She is not an Oneiroi, not yet anyway. They seem to be connected somehow, perhaps by magic. When he sleeps he calls to her.” Rowmeow paused. “I think it is important to increase defensive training. If things like this keep happening, we may not be able to get there in time and who knows what could happen.”