Chapter 5:

His footsteps thundered through the cave as wild echoes, like a tidal wave upon an empty beach. Each step hit the ground with such force that it left an imprint in the solid rock and with each echo the cave seemed to tremble, causing little rocks and dust to fall from the ceiling. He realized he was releasing too much energy and going too fast for his surroundings. He just couldn´t help himself though, he was just feeling optimistic for a change.

As he shot out of the mouth of the cave, like a bullet being propelled from a gun, a genuine smile was playing at the edges of his mouth.

Dailon´s first instinct told him to be weary of the Magister, though it was more a general warning. After quickly considering the situation as the lantern went out he believed there was no danger here. Denoples was far too powerful to need the ruse of the light going out to do anything and besides it would not make any sense for him to do anything now. He did not know how long he had been out, but there would have been plenty of time back then to do anything.

Still he could not help his body from reacting as Denoples touched his hand. Dailon could feel how his hand wanted to pull itself back, away from the sweaty touch of the teacher.

It was not needed though, as at the first twitch he could feel Denoples hand retreat quickly. “I am very sorry Dailon.” He said with a somewhat disturbed voice as he took a step back. “Please forgive me for startling you, it was never my intention.” He said still bleakly as if he realized how it must have looked to Dailon.

For a second Dailon just stood still as he fought with several emotions, before regaining his calm and sorting his thoughts. “Please don´t apologize Denoples.” He said softly, yet still not addressing him with his rightful title. “So how does this thing work?” He asked curiously as he tapped on the glass with his nails, trying to divert the attention away from the moment and reduce the tension.

“Ah y-yes!” Denoples responded a bit startled, before he quickly regained his composure as well. “What you are holding in your hand is an artifact of the lost era!” He said as his voice grew in power and even started to sound a bit proud. “It was given to me by the last Magister and it is the only one of its kind! It works by using the energy of your own body as a fuel, rather than oil or gas.” He finished proudly, obviously showing of his precious item.

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`An item from the lost era?!?´ Dailon thought as he kept staring at the unexpected treasure in his hands. Even in the Institute rumors about these rare items were going around. They were supposed to be items from a lost era in which technology rose to a godly level. If one would believe the stories, humans back then were able to use machines for almost anything. One story was even more ridiculous than the other. At one point their history teacher had even tried to make them believe humanity was able to make a 200 ton metal object fly on its own power. An `earoplane´, or something like that, he had called it.

Of course back then, the entire class had laughed about it and Dailon had just laughed along with them. The notion of such things was just a joke. If the humans had been so powerful, how come they were completely wiped out and their technology gone.

In the Institute it was widely believed that it was just a myth and yet… Dailon could sense something was special about this lantern.

It was lighter then it should have been and the glass was not really made out of glass. Even the metal felt different from every substance he knew about. Even if this was not artifact, there was no doubt about it was a very rare object.

“However I wonder why it isn´t working.” Denoples said with a confused tone as he seemed to scratch his beard. “Are you sure you can´t feel it trying to absorb the energy from your body Dailon?” he moved forward again.

The question surprised him as till now he had not even felt anything coming from the lantern. For a moment he focused his attention on his hand, trying to sense anything unusual. After a while he just shook his head though. “I am afraid that aside from a small itch in my hand, I don´t feel anything strange.”

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“That is odd.” Denoples mumbled surprised as he closed the space between them rapidly and put his hand on the device, once more touching Dailon. This time he did not flinch though, as he had expected it time. Within seconds the lantern gave off a pulse and Dailon could feel the warmth spreading through it as it began emitting the gentle warm light.

He could see the symbols shimmer and he could sense how the device was absorbing the energy Denoples was emitting naturally.

“Perhaps I am not strong enough that it can absorb enough energy from my natural form.” He said carefully as he kept staring, wondering what would happen if he forcefully tried to release some energy from his hands for the lantern to absorb.

Even after the training Dailon still found this extremely difficult and often even beyond his reach. Closing his eyes he searched for his center, calming his breathing as he searched for the base of his strength. With training he had learned to visualize it as a little seed. He extended his mind, wrapping it carefully around the seed.

He could feel the seeds pulse, warm and serene as it was protected within its hard shell. Yet it also felt distant, like it was locked away in a place far from there. Dailon was certain though it was his power, even if it felt like it was in a place far away.

He sighted innerly as he felt the warmth and drew forth the power residing within the seed. The seed cracked open and a bright light exploded from it. He felt how it instantly spread through his chest, into his limbs and then into his fingers and feet. At first the feeling was gentle and warm, though as always it started to grow warm and before long it would be so incredibly hot that it felt like he would be boiled from the inside.

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Frustrated he growled to himself as he threw the full presence of his mind on the seed he visualized. It was something that happened every single time he tried to summon the energy from his body. Instead of being able to control it like a gentle flow it sprung forward like a geyser, flooding his body till it could no longer take it and it exploded in a burning flash of light.

Afterward he always felt exhausted and it felt like he had no energy left at all inside his body.

Despite all his training, all the extra sessions he followed under so-called energy experts and the help of Gaikor, he just could not get the hang of it. For Dailon it was such a frustrating thing. He was supposed to be a prodigy in the Institute, but how could he be a prodigy if he could not even control his own energy?

As far as he knew he was the only one who had the problem, which only made it worse. He had asked his fellow students and his teachers, but no one could even remember to have ever heard of someone who could not control his energy. Even his history teacher could not remember that such a case had ever occurred since the great annihilation.

For Dailon it was a source of everlasting annoyance, especially since it was such a natural thing. Everyone had described it too him as it being a completely natural ability, like moving your muscles while walking or expanding your lungs while breathing.

Despite everyones assurances it made Dailon often feel like he was broken inside. Like there was a part of him missing, as if someone had pulled him out of the womb of his mother before he was done. He even had dreams and nightmares about such a thing. He would dream how he was just floating around in a blue ball of light as a baby.

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In there he felt safe. Safer than he has ever felt since. It was beautiful and warm. Like his personal own heaven and he felt like he should stay in there for a long time. He could feel his body grow stronger everyday, as if it was absorbing the light around him. It was just perfect and although he could not tell how log he had stayed in there it felt like a very long time.

That feeling of safety was suddenly broken as a crack suddenly appeared in the blue shell. His instincts warned him immediately that something was wrong. The light around him turned blood red and no longer warm or protective. Instead it felt suffocating and it grabbed him, pressing on his chest as if someone had dropped a block on concrete on it.

Scared he tried to scream but suddenly he noticed his lungs did not expand. He tried to cry but he no tears would form, as if his tear ducts had not been fully formed yet.

It was at that moment the two hands appeared. Hands of pure horror that still haunted him to this very day. They had the form of hands, but they were misformed as if they had been dipped into acid. He could see how pieces of flesh were hanging from them, blood dripping from the tips. He could see the blood evaporate, mixing with the red light now swirling hectically around him.

Even the bones seemed to start to decay as they moved towards him and for a moment he thought they might evaporate before they could reach him. It was a false hope though as suddenly a golden glow pulsed from the bones that clashed with the red light and the decay seemed to stop instantly. In fact it even looked like the flesh was recovering.

It was the last thing he remembered though as the next moment the bony finger tips clasped around his shoulders. Till this very day he remembered the pain that was more intense than anything he can remember in his entire life, except for the pain that followed as the hands started pulling him outside the light.

He knew it was just a dream, but the feeling that something happened to him always stayed with him. The feeling that somehow a part of him was missing.

His annoyance grew even further as the vision faded from his mind and he regained sight of the seed from which power was now flowing in an unstoppable flow. Every single time he tried this that same vision emerged from the back of his mind, disabling him from doing anything till it was too late. He was not even sure whether the vision occurred because he was unable to do something or whether he was unable to do something because of it.

Though this time it was slightly different. It was as if he could see the vague outlines of a person, standing outside the sphere of light. This had never happened before and it added to his confusion, delaying his attempts to control the energy even more.

He had always figured those hands belonged to a human. That would only have made sense after all, though he had to admit that in most dreams nothing makes sense. However what confused him was the feeling of recognition as he saw that very vague outlining. It was almost as if he knew that person very well. Off course it could have been his uncle, but his instincts told him different.

There was no more time though to contemplate it as he heard someone shouting his name. It took him a few seconds before he realized what and where he was, but as he laid his eyes upon the seed he cursed loudly.

He had completely forgotten about it for a second and now the seed was pulsing, releasing blinding waves of pure energy that were so hot it felt as if they were boiling him from the inside. Cursing again he threw his full attention on the seed, but he knew it was already too late. The energy in his body would soon reach a critical point and `explode´. Dailon called it exploding, but of course he knew that was not technically true.

He just did not know a different word for it for what happened or how to describe it. His energy would flood from his body, like a river treading outside its natural barriers during a heavy autumn rain, damaging everything it touched.


So far everything had been going like planned. He got the students out of the Institute and soon Denoples would have them convinced to stay. If there was one thing that the man was good at, besides drinking, it was manipulation. It was also the only reason he ever got the job as a headmaster. Though he knew that would soon be over too.

The decision had already been made. After the staged attack on the school, there would be a new headmaster. This time specifically selected for the task at hand. Something a traitor like Denoples could never be trusted with.

Even though he had already known for a very long time all of this would happen, he was still happy to see everything going so well. Even if he had to humiliate himself by pretending to be a teacher or a mercenary, it was all worth it.

Driven by his happiness his speed seemed to increase even more, as if someone released all the inhibitions from his body. At this rate he knew he would reach the Institute within less than a day and the fighting would still be going on. He knew though that she needed a bit more time like that though. Even though she assured him with her honey sweet voice the fighting could be done in less then half a day, he knew that she would need longer to consolidate her power.

Tempering his speed he pulled out one of his black cigarettes and waved a small magic sign in mid air with his right index finger. As the spell took effect the wind in his face vanished and still smiling he lit his cigarette. `I still think that is the most useful spell I ever invented.´ He thought ironically to himself as he inhaled deeply, while continuing to run.

Even with his reduced speed he reached the gates well before darkness fell, although the position of the sun indicated it was not too far away either.

To his surprise the woman was already waiting, dressed in a new spectacular outfit that she apparently thought would be fitting as the new Magister of the Institute. Even to him it seemed a bit wrong to wear such a beautiful dress while standing among the hundreds of bodies lying around. Belonging to either those dead or those busy dying at the very moment.

“Hello Kaithleia.” He said with a smile as he walked to her, casually waving with his hands. “Please don´t mind me asking, but isn´t that a bit silly wearing such an outfit on the battlefield?” He said with a voice that spoke of a genuine inquiry, as if he truly tried to understand it.

For a moment Kaithleia raised her eyebrows as she looked around the battlefield as if she just saw it for the first time.

“Ah, well I guess you are right as always master Diris.” She said with a sly smile, that quickly turned into a full fledged grin. “Of course one could see it only fitting for me to wear it among the dead, as you already killed me today, master Diris!” She said with a wink as she knelt before him, careful not to touch the blood soaked ground with her knee.

“How many times do I have to ask you Kaith, not to call me master Diris.” He sighted as he pulled her up in a rather uncaring way. “For you I am just Cana. Save all that hypocritical crap for the people above us.” He said casually as he released her shoulder, leaving a deep red imprint in the flesh.

Kaithleia never even stopped smiling, even though her eyes betrayed the fact that he actually had hurt her. `Such a well trained puppet.´ He thought as he looked upon her, for a second feeling something, akin to pity. Before her second birthday he had already ripped her from her home and trained her personally for the task that was upon her. Feelings like pity, mercy and thoughts like self initiative he had removed out of her completely. All that stood in front of him was a puppet of flesh he molded very carefully.

Though even he had to admit that after all those years she could still surprise him. He believed it to be a true testimony to the human spirit. No matter what you tried, a human would always keep its own personality.

If only he could stop her from calling him master. It annoyed him to no end and it only drew attention.

“Oh that reminds me Kaithleia!” He said as casually as he looked into her face and smiled. “Your illusion was far from perfect.” He lectured her calmly as if she was a mere student and not the future headmaster of the Institute. “Had I not constrained his senses, Gaikor might have noticed you were still alive and everything might have been lost!” He continued talking casually as if the subject was the weather.

“Anyway as I wanted to ask.” He quickly continued as he saw the disappointed look on her face and the last thing he wanted was to make a scene here. “Magister Kaithleia, what is your report on the situation?”

For a moment the girl said nothing as she struggled to control her emotions. He knew she was absolutely devoted to him and this was the first time he had pointed out she did something wrong. For a moment he even felt bad for his words. She was something to him that most people might refer to as a daughter, though he had never loved her in any form.

He had always just seen her as a tool, yet her face filled with emotion stirred something in him. Raising his eyebrow in bewilderment he looked at her as he tried to figure out his own sentiment.

“The report!” He said in a suddenly harsher, demanding tone as he saw tears well up in her face. If it had not been for her personal guard to watch both of them completely he might have reacted differently. Now was not the time to show weakness though.

His demanding tone seemed to have the right effect though and Kaithleia seemed to snap out of it almost immediately. “Ah yes of course master!” She said as she raised her head, while forcing herself to smile again.

“We have suffered almost three hundred deaths and two thousand wounded.” She said as she bit her lip a bit. “However we have full control over the school and the students. There was some very intense fighting in the main building, yet we removed all resistance.” She said as she turned around and started walking to the main grounds.

For a moment he stood there with a slight surprise as she seemed to have taken the initiative. Then he followed her though with a smile on his face. She walked with such flair and strength that he could not help but be proud. He had trained her well.

“We have gathered the remaining guards and defiant students here.” She said as she pointed at a huge group sitting and standing in the main grounds. “What do we do with them, master Diris?” She asked as she looked at him. “Maybe we can use them for our cause. Or should we just let them-” Her voice was cut off and her eyes widened as he interrupted her with an order.

“Kill them all.” He said casually, yet with a firm undertone in his voice that did not allow any strife, as he slowly drew his own blue sword.

As expected she did not mutter a word, but as she drew her own sword and gave the guards the signal, he could see the torment in her eyes. This was not the kind of order she expected and he knew Kaithleia always found it difficult to kill an unarmed man, let alone kill those who had been her fellow students just a few hours ago. He had to smother this now or it would later endanger everything.

“Kaithleia,!” He said softly as he hesitantly put his hand on her shoulder. He had always hated to touch other people in such a sickening personal way. “Those are traitors, servants of their masters. What do you think will happen if we let them walk away?” He asked in his normal casual tone, but softer and almost directly into her ears.

For a few moments she said nothing, but the small involuntary twitch told him his approach was working.

“You know what is at stake my dear Kaithleia.” He said, almost making himself sick in the process, as he gently squeezed her shoulder. “We need this to be clean and complete. Otherwise there will be a real army at the gates within a year and everything you have worked for will have been for naught. All the dead we have already suffered will have been for nothing.” He continued as he gave her a small kiss on her cheek. “Make me proud, my daughter!” He finished warmly as he gave her the final nudge.

Without saying a word the girl raised her sword and gave the order.

As they tore through the helpless mass with their swords, he noticed she was crying though. He had always pretended to be her own father, though he had never called her in such a way directly. He had always reserved that for a special occasion, such as this had been. He had not foreseen that it would actually have this effect though. He wondered whether she was crying because he had called her his daughter or because she was mercilessly killing her own friends.

Once it was done and the last of the captives stopped twitching and screaming, he simply sheathed his sword and walked towards Kaithleia. Blood still dripped from her fingers and sword as she stood there silently, staring at a young girl.

“She was my friend during the second year.” She said without emotion as she pulled the sword out from the chest. “She used to talk everyday that she would become a hero of the Gremi kingdom after her training and was already arranged for marriage to a the captain of the city watch.” She continued blankly while sheathing her sword.

As she stood there drenched in blood Cana could not help but think she was an exceptional woman.

“So what is your point?” He asked casually, as he wiped of his hand to reach for a cigarette. For a moment he wondered if she was going to be emotional, but her response surprised him.

“From the moment we met I knew that once day I might have to kill her myself.” She said as she raised her head and looked him straight in the eyes. “Because if we had let her go she would have reported this incident and the Gremi would send their army to gain control of the Institute.” She said as a single tear dropped from her right eye. “The same goes for all of them. Their loyalty belonged only to their village, House or kingdom.”

For a moment Cana did not know what to say so instead he only nodded.

“You told me how important it is for your superiors that we gain complete control here, as it is the only chance we will ever get.” She said as she tried to force herself to smile. “So I keep telling myself she and all the others are just another casualty of that war.” She exclaimed, though he could tell her voice trembled slightly.

“Tell me though, master.” She said as she turned away, probably to hide her tears that started flowing despite her desperate struggle against them. “Can we really consider ourselves any better than them if we mercilessly kill the innocent and the unarmed along with the guilty? Doesn´t that make us just as bad as them?” She asked with a wavering voice and finally Cana understood.

`Even after all this time the girl is still naive! He thought to himself as he mustered her face. He knew that in a way it was his own fault as he explained from a very young age that they were merely pawns in a fight for the good cause. However, in a way he would have thought she would have learned more by now.

“There is no real difference between good and evil in the way you expect Kaithleia.” He finally said truthfully as he blew a thick cloud of smoke from his lungs. “Not in the way you expect it at least.” He said as he grabbed her shoulder and forcefully turned her around so she would look directly in his eyes. “There is no such thing as good actions or bad actions. Even the ultimate hero will still kill his opponent on the battlefield. Whether it is an innocent farmer pressed into the army of evil or perhaps when he is fighting an Orcling.” He lectured casually, but for him there was an undertone of seriousness that he almost never displayed.

“That also goes the other way around. Even the forces of evil will try to save their own when in danger.” He said as he drew another heave breath from his cigarette, feeling how the contents of it was calming him down immediately. “What I am trying to say Kaithleia is that evil or good cannot be judged on their actions. Whether we kill or save, those are just things that need to be done. That does not make us evil or good.” He said, carefully studying her face.

Though he knew it was already clear she understood the concept. She had always been fast upon the uptake.

“So what you are saying is that not our actions, but our intentions make us good or evil master Cana?” She asked carefully as she contemplated the implications of his words.

`Such an incredible woman.´ Cana thought to himself as he was barely able to constrain from laughing out loud. Instead he decided it was better to let her come to the conclusion on her own, so he just watched her silently.

“Then if our cause is the right one and our actions are essentially good, then why do I still feel bad about killing the unarmed and innocent?” She asked carefully as she looked at Cana for an answer.

This was one question he knew he could never answer from his own experience, as he never felt any remorse when fighting or killing. So instead he answered it with a lesson an old friend had thought him.

“Because life is sacred, Kaithleia, and it should never be taken without feelings. It is because you are a such a good person at heart that you actually feel anything while killing.” He said with a warm smile as he touched her shoulder, before walking past her. “If I were you I would treasure that feeling carefully Kaithleia. For if you lose that feeling, you are losing that which makes you good.” He continued as he made his way to the gates to the Institute, leaving her standing were she was, contemplating his words.

While walking to the gate he looked at himself, judging the blood all over his clothing and body. He wondered if it would be enough to convince Denoples and the others that he tried to save the Institute but failed. The blood was real enough he thought, but otherwise he was too clean. Once he would be half way through he should probably see to that, he thought to himself as the fingers on his right hand played with a tiny obsidian dagger he had strapped to his right leg.

Before he could leave though Kaithleia suddenly ran past him and stopped straight in front of him. Her face was a mixture of sadness and hopes as she looked at him. Still with tears in her eyes she asked him if he couldn´t stay a while longer to help her set things up at the Institute.

Even if he would have had the tiniest urge to stay he knew he could not afford to waste time here. Besides he knew he would hurt her if he were to stay.

“Kaithleia you know I can´t stay.” He replied casually as he smiled at her. “If I were to stay I would only undermine your authority as the Magister. You know what to do my dear. Besides you know you can always contact me.” He spoke softly as he tapped with his left index finger in the space between her wonderful breasts. “I have taught you everything I could, and now it is time for me to put my trust in you Kaithleia.” He finished as he gave her a final kiss on the cheek, before waving a magical spell in mid air.

Before she could even react his body became transparent, before slowly fading away completely. “I just know you will not dissapoint me.” He said just before he was gone completely. “Otherwise I would not know what to tell your beloved Gaikor.” He said in his casual tone and then the last traces of him vanished, leaving everyone but Kaithleia, who had seen the magic often enough, astonished.

For a moment she did not know how to react. Whether to smile at his trust or be sad that her father left, knowing that he would not return for a very long time.
What bothered her the most though and caused shivers to run down her spine, was that she was not sure whether his last remark was meant as an encouragement or a threat.

For a moment she just stood there frozen to the ground till she noticed all the guards, soldiers and remaining students were looking at her.

From above the roof of the Institute, Cana could not hear what she said, but after she shook of her bewilderment, she seemed to fire of orders and, within minutes the entire area was empty. `First one down…´ He thought to himself as he smiled, before vanishing completely from the Institute.

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