...Kain and Rubicant have spent
the past week traveling south. Once they have reached the
Volcano, Rubicant has
promised to grant Kain "unimaginable power". That is,
IF they reach the volcano...
Thirteen black forms streaked
down from the sky, bellowing like banshees. Their curved blades
and metallic scales glistened in
the midday sun. Rubicant and Kain ran towards the trees in
opposite directions. "All of you, kill the elemental. I will
take care
of the human!" Machakal roared to his draconian soldiers. In
unison, the troops banked to the left and followed Rubicant into
the woods.
Machakal landed and stepped through the underbrush, his scales
clicking in anticipation. Once he pried the information out of
the human and delivered it to his master, he would be granted
riches beyond his wildest dreams. Or so he hoped. Maybe his
master would even give him back his human form. "Come out,
little man. You can't hide from me forever. I can smell your
blood." Machakal taunted as he stabbed through the bushes.
The smell of blood was growing stronger.
Rubicant let loose another spell, torching a third
draconian."With the way this insane bunch is skittering
about, I'll run out of
magic before I kill them all!" Rubicant muttered as he
prepared another shot. Suddenly, one of the draconians charged
him,
waving his sword around like a maniac. Rubicant dodged to the
side, but not before the draconian scored a hit across his left
shoulder. Grey blood spilled from the deep gash. Rubicant
stumbled backwards over a charred body, striking his head on a
tree branch as he fell. The whole world erupted into a thousand
shiny stars. Rubicant marveled as he watched the show, but it
soon disappeared and was replaced by a splitting headache. The
nine surviving draconians surrounded the fallen elemental.
The one who had sliced into Rubicant's shoulder raised his blade
high over his head. "He's mine" he croaked. The large
grey
lizard sent his sword crashing down, but it lost it's momentum as
it landed, glancing off of Rubicant's chest as if the draconian
had dropped it. It had.
The large draconian fell forward, his eyes blank. A steel arrow
protruded from his back. The surviving draconians looked
around nervously, trying to see the hidden bowman. Two more
arrows flew from the shadowy woods, one striking a draconian
in the face, the second striking another's chest. The six
survivors dropped to the ground. "Just kill the damn mage
and let's get
out of here!" one growled.
Kain crashed through a thorny bush, causing millions of painful
slashes. Machakal grinned at his own strength. He had been
tossing Kain around for the past few minutes. He figured it would
eventually loosen his tongue. "Now come on. This hurting me
faaaar more than it is hurting you" Machakal crowed in mock
sympathy. The draconian lifted the limp man by his dented
breastplate. "The sooner you tell me where that caravan was
going, the sooner I'll let you go."
Kain spat a rather vulgar curse telling Machakal where he could
stick the caravan. Machakal jerked back in feigned surprised.
"My! You kiss your mother with that mouth? Shame on
you!" Machakal grinned as he bashed Kain into a nearby tree.
"Enough games, human. Where the hell is that damn
caravan?"
"I'm not telling you anything you mother fu..." CRACK!
Kain's back was smashed into another branch, sending shooting
pain
into his legs and spine.
"Such heroic nonsense." Machakal drew his sword.
"I'll just have a necromancer make your corpse talk" He
jabbed his blade
forward, intending to disembowel the man, but the arrow that was
suddenly sticking through his arm, pinning it to a tree
stopped his attack. "Well isn't this nice?" he growled
as he wrenched his bloody arm from the tree. He looked around the
woods. "Come out, coward! Face me!!"
"Gladly" chimed an almost song-like voice. Machakal
spun around and faced an Elf-maid. Her bowstring was drawn back,
an
arrow pointed straight between his eyes.
"Uh..." Machakal knew when to fight and when not to
fight. He dropped his sword and spread his arm out wide.
"You win..."
"You lose." the elf spoke, letting the arrow fly. The
draconian's head shattered as the steel arrow smashed into his
skull. The
dead creature collapsed. Elistriel knelt down next to Kain.
"Are you okay."
"No..." Kain groaned truthfully. "Where's
Rubicant?"
"Come." Elistriel lifted Kain gently and carried him
out of the woods. He was in too much pain to marvel at her
unusual
strength. Laying in the middle of the road was the unmoving body
of Rubicant. A pool of grey blood beneath him.
"Kain..." he
whispered.
"I'm here. How bad is it?" Kain asked as he knelt over
his comrade.
"Bad enough." Rubicant choked. "I am dying."
Kain stared in shock, partly from the news and part from the pain
he was
feeling. He actually cared about this fire-fiend. He was his
friend.
"No. You'll be okay. We can get you to the volcano. It's
only a few minutes away..." Kain started to protest.
"No. It's to late for that. But thank you anyway"
Rubicant reached into his robes and pulled out a pendant.
"Kain, I want you
to have my power. All of it."
"No...I'm not worthy." Kain began, but was cut short.
"Neither was I. One day, a warrior shall come who will use
each of the elemental magics to forge the worlds into one. The
gateway already exists, and the key to it is that orb being
carried by the caravan." Rubicant grimaced in pain, but
continued.
"Don't let Garland acquire the orb. If he does, he will have
access to all of the worlds. He is a destroyer, not a creator. He
is
Chaos incarnate. I believe in you Kain. I know you can use my
power with honor."
"I will." Kain said, tears running down his face. Never
had anybody entrusted him with a gift this strong. "Your
legacy will live
on with honor."
"I know it will" Rubicant tilted his head to regard
Elistriel. "Tell him...the truth..." he choked the last
word, and fell silent.
Rubicant's once blazing body slowly grew cold. He felt his soul
being enveloped by the universe.
I am free.