Amendments (35 page)

              Noir met Kit's eyes.  Both strained for breath.  Kit shot a ball of fire in Noir's direction which he deflected with a shield of light.  Noir fired his own fire attack in Kit's direction which Kit deflected in turn.  They were at an obvious stalemate.

              They floated there for a long moment staring at each other.  They shared looks of intense hatred.  Noir felt his consciousness wavering from the lack of air but saw Kit seemed to be wavering on the edge of passing out as well.

              Noir's mind became numb.  He lost concentration and his light wings vanished, but he remained hanging in the air held by the solidified air in his lungs.  He hazily thought of his parents, his friends at school, Asiada, Ratt, Grandel, Fafnir and much more.  He felt a burn of regret that he had never found a way to get Steven, Aimee, and himself back to their own world. 

              Suddenly, Noir was able to pull in a breath of air.  He gasped hungrily several times before he realized he was plummeting toward the earth and the Tierian army beneath them.  Above him, Kit's light wings still burned brightly, but something with feathers and claws was furiously attacking his face.  Kit screamed in rage and pain.

              Noir reformed his wings of light and steadied himself in the air.  As oxygen flowed through Noir's body, consciousness returned as well.  He realized Isis, Grandel's hawk, was clawing at Kit's eyes.  Blood rushed down the man's face.  Kit grabbed at the large hawk and tried to pry it from his face, but her talons were buried deep.

              Noir solidified air around Kit's wrists and wrenched them away from Isis.  Noir drew the Einlanzer and flew toward Kit in an attempt to finally end the struggle.

              Noir suddenly found a wall of fire in his path.  He dodged to the side and felt the last of his chakra giving way.  Noir was forced to either release the solidified air around Kit's wrists or release his light wings.  With regret, Noir let the solidified air dissipate and held himself weakly in the air with his wings of light.

              Kit swatted the hawk away and Noir saw one of his eyes had been clawed completely out.  His face was a mask of blood.  Noir realized that would be a permanent wound.  Lux could heal wounded flesh and bone but not replace missing body parts entirely.

              Kit shot toward Garmak and Noir followed in a sleepy haze.

~~~

              Grandel stood on a section of the Garmak walls that was undamaged and watched the battle unfold.  Isis had refused to return to him when she saw who Noir was battling.  Isis could recognize Kit from all the times Grandel had thought about him and the evil he'd done.  Now, Isis was injured and Kit flew toward the city.

              “What did Isis see?” Adeel asked at Grandel's side.  “Who is he?”

              “It's Luxin Kit,” Grandel replied.  “He wants me.”

              “That bastard again?”  Adeel grabbed Grandel's thick arm and pulled toward the stairs.  “Let's get you hidden, then.”                Grandel did not budge.  “I'm going to give him what he wants.”

              Adeel spun around and stood in front of Grandel.  “Like hell you are!  Don't start this martyr crap again!  I thought we were past that!”

              Grandel put his hands on Adeel's shoulders under her Luxin armor.  “It's different this time, my love.  He'll kill everyone to get to me.”

              Adeel turned to face Kit who was quickly approaching and said, “Well, he'll have to get through me.”

              Grandel wrapped his large arms around Luxin Adeel's chest from behind and held her tight.  “He will get through you, too.  That man's rage is the most destructive thing I've ever seen.”

              Adeel couldn't stop her eyes from becoming blurry with tears.  “Why did I fall in love with a complete idiot?!”  She spun and returned Grandel's hug.

              Kit flew overhead and Grandel released Adeel.  Grandel bellowed in a tremendous, booming voice.  “Kit!  I am here!”

              Kit stopped in mid-air and spun to face Grandel.  He flew down to the wall and landed heavily.  His wings of light disappeared immediately and Grandel realized the man looked incredibly tired.  Kit stood before Grandel and held his eye.  Blood ran between his fingers, down his arm, and dripped onto the stone walkway on top of the city wall.

              To Grandel's shock and horror, Adeel stepped in front of Grandel.  “Luxin Adeel,” Kit said with disdain.  “You've seen what I'm capable of.  You know I'll cut you down in a heartbeat to get to Grandel.  Why do you bother defending him?”

              Adeel responded, spitting every word with deep hatred, “Because it's what you do when you care about someone.  You wouldn't understand.”

              Kit laughed, and then spat out blood that had run into his mouth.  “You're just as stupid as that brat Noir.”  Kit motioned toward the battlefield where he and Noir had just fought.

              Grandel spared a quick glance in the direction and saw Noir now stumbling on foot toward the city walls.  He looked barely conscious.  Some of the Tierian soldiers were supporting Noir with their arms around him.

              Grandel gently but firmly pushed and stepped around Adeel.  “I am here, Kit.  If I give myself to you, will you promise to leave and harm no one else?”

              Kit's mischievous smile broadened.  “You know exactly what I want, you monster.  Yes, I promise to leave, but in return I will get to hurt you, maul you, break you, and destroy you.”

              Grandel started to answer, but he found a brick of solidified air holding down his tongue.

              Kit laughed.  “Adeel, let the man talk, or are you afraid of what you know he is going to say?  Does 'caring about someone' mean not letting them have free will?”

              Adeel ignored his comments.  “I saw you battle Noir.  I see the fogginess in your eyes.  I know you are nearly out of chakra, Kit.  You are stronger than me, yes, but not when you are drained like this.”

              Kit nodded, his hand holding his eye bobbing up and down.  “You're right,” Kit said in mocking seriousness.  “My chakra is almost completely used up.  I am at your mercy, Luxin Adeel.”

~~~

              Noir forced himself onward while his body screamed at him to stop and fall asleep.  The Tierian soldiers helped him along silently.  Noir reached a soldier in Talik armor who was watching the scene atop the city walls with horrified interest.  “Din Mage,” Noir mumbled to him drunkenly.

              “What?” the soldier asked while putting out a hand to help support Noir.

              Noir gently pushed away the Tierian soldiers who'd been helping him walk.  Noir stood weakly on his own and mumbled, “Woman Din Mage.  Where is she?”

              The soldier frowned for a moment, and then pointed down the road.  “I saw one with brown hair down there a minute ago.”

              “Thanks,” Noir stumbled onward.  The Tierian soldiers tried to help him again, but he refused.  Noir found Aimee a moment later.  She stood next to Finn and had a determined look on her face.  “Aimee!” Noir managed to call out.

              Aimee turned toward the voice.  “Noir!”  She ran to Noir's side and put his arm over his shoulder to help him stand.

              “Aimee, you have to... drain... the last of Kit's chakra.”

              For a moment, Aimee was confused.  “How do we do that?”

              “Lock him down.  Put him on defense and drain his chakra.”

              Aimee understood.

~~~

              Adeel drew our her sword and glowered at Kit.  “What's your game, Kit?”

              Kit chortled with mirth, “Noir doesn't even know how his sword, the Einlanzer, works.  But I have a chakra well enchant also.”  Kit tapped an ornate silver bangle on his arm.  “I've been putting chakra into it for weeks!”

              Adeel saw the familiar yellow glow of Kit harnessing lux, but the source of the power was not from his core like normal.  Chakra flowed from the bangle.  Kit grinned and wings of light exploded from his back once again.  Kit spoke so all could hear.  “I am the new Lumin!  I am the one who will destroy everything!  I am all powerful and I,” Kit pointed at Grandel, “am going to kill you General Grandel.”

              Grandel drew his sword, but was instantly flung backwards.  Adeel stood in front of him with a determined look.  She had pushed him back with lux somehow.

              Kit started to rise into the air, but Adeel solidified the air around the man's legs.  Kit raised a hand and formed a spear of ice in the air.  Adeel created a light barrier to block the attack before it could hurt anyone.  Splinters of ice rained to the ground.

              Suddenly, Adeel saw a young woman climb out onto the roof of a building nearby.  The young woman was very thin and wore the ragged remnants of what looked like a Din Mage cloak.  A steady stream of flames shot from her hands and engulfed Kit.  Through the flames, Adeel could see the flow of yellow lux from Kit's bangle into a spherical light barrier.

              From behind Kit, Adeel saw Noir tiredly climb the stairs onto the city wall.  He faced Kit and started flinging repeated balls of fire.

              Adeel finally figured out their plan.  She solidified light into a sharp spear and plunged it into Kit's light barrier in a flurry of attacks.

              Grandel pulled out his bow and started emptying a quiver of arrows into Kit's flame-engulfed light barrier.  Talik, Returner, and Tierian soldiers all started doing the same.

              Ash, a Din Mage that Elrid had discovered within the ranks of The Returners stood atop another building nearby.  He repeatedly lifted large chunks of earth and hurled them at Kit.

              Soon, several of the former Din Slaves from Garmak added their din attacks into the flurry of power pummeling Kit's light barrier.  Multitudes of attacks of various types battered Kit's shield in an impressive display of collective power.  From within the barrage of attacks, everyone heard Kit's voice.  He screamed in a steadily growing cry of pure, guttural fury.

              Finally, Kit's light barrier shattered.  Kit tossed himself off of the city wall.  Light wings sprung from Kit's back and he rose above the sea of people who had just been attacking him.  However, it was obvious Kit was past the point of exhaustion.

              Kit turned and faced Noir.  He was down on one knee and looked seconds away from passing out.  “Noir, as the prophecies say, you have the power to either save this world or destroy it.  The decision you make going forward will decide the fate of this world.”  Kit turned to Grandel.  “Grandel, you will meet your demise by my hand or you will have to kill me yourself.  Do you understand?”

              Grandel started to respond, but Din Mage Aimee hurled a massive spear of ice directly at Kit's chest.  Kit dodged the attack and sped off on his wings of light to the west.

Epilogue

              The Returners insisted on carrying the unconscious body of the one they called The Diviner.  They carried his body to a nearby house and laid him to rest in a large, soft bed.

              Noir awoke groggily and rubbed his eyes.  “It's been two days,” he heard Adeel say.  Noir forced open his eyes and sat up.  He found Adeel across the room.  She was leaning back in a chair and was sharpening her sword with leather strop.  Also, a man in a white and purple robe that Noir did not recognize was kneeling in the corner.

              “Kit... left, right?”

              Adeel took a rag and wiped her sword along its length.  “Yes.  He's gone.”

              Noir flopped back into his bed and sighed.  “Good.”

              “Diviner,” the man in the room spoke in a dignified tone, “I am Menoh, leader of The Returners.  I ask you—”

              Noir interrupted him, “Oh, great.  You guys again.  I don't want to answer any questions about the Lumin.”

              Noir looked up as Menoh stood and bowed slightly.  “We understand that now.  We merely wish to follow you and learn from you.”

              “How's that any better?”  Noir sighed.

              A knock at the door made Noir sit up again.  Adeel turned and opened the door.  Ratt walked in and joked, “Bird boy is awake!”

              Noir smiled.  “It's good to see you, Ratt.”

              “You too, sleepy head.”  Ratt stepped into the room and turned back toward the door.  “Another friend of yours wanted to see you too.”

              Noir watched the doorway in horror as Ruith entered.  Noir immediately grasped lux and put a barrier of light between him and Ruith.  Horrible memories of the man forcing him to stand in the acidic shower of Nidhoggr's blood rushed Noir's mind.

              “No!” Noir cried out as he stood on the bed and frantically pushed himself into the corner of the room.

              Everyone in the room was startled by Noir's reaction.  Adeel held her sword out, but wasn't sure who to attack.  Menoh backed away from everyone, and Ratt held out cautionary hands toward Noir.

              “Woah, Noir.  I thought this guy was your friend.”

              Noir spat hatred as he cried, “That man is
not
my friend!  He forced me to get din and these scars!”  Noir held up his hand for emphasis but was startled to see the scars on his hand were significantly less obvious.  Noir wondered if Adeel had been morphing his features with lux to hide the scars.

              Ratt and Adeel rounded on Ruith.  Ratt demanded, “Is this true, Ruith?!”

              Ruith held both of his hands up in a sign of surrender.  “It is true,” he conceded.  “I did force him to stand in Nidhoggr's blood and gain din.  I had good reason, though.”

              Adeel slashed with her sword in the air right in front of Ruith's face.  “We don't want to hear it, you bastard!  Get out or—”

              “No!” Noir called out.  “I want to hear why!  I... need to hear why.”

              Ruith continued to hold his hands up in a defenseless gesture.  Finally, Adeel lowered her sword and Ratt backed away.  Noir barked, “Speak, Ruith!  Why did you do this to me?”

              Ruith looked at the floor as if readying himself, and then finally said, “I'm you, Noir.”

              Noir shook his head.  “What the hell are you talking about?”

              “I'm you.  I'm Noir.  I come from the future where there are schools and television and cars.”

              Noir's mind reeled.  “That's impossible.  What—”

              Ruith interrupted and talked quickly as if he'd been wanting to say what he was about to say for a very long time.  “Your world is in the future.  This world is in the past.  The orb I... you touched in the Lumin shrine is an enchant that manipulates all three vigors at the same time to control time.  To our best guess, it sent you back in time about forty-five thousand years to before the last major ice age.”  Ruith held out his hand toward Noir.  “Noir, you wrote the Lumin Prophecies to guide yourself in the future.  You are the key to saving this world and getting Aimee, Steven, and yourself home.”

~~~

              Aimee allowed herself to sink into Finn’s arms.  She had never before felt as happy or protected as she felt in this strange man's arms.  It was strange that someone who she wasn't sure was real and she'd met so recently could be so important to her.

              Aimee thought Finn was asleep, but he surprised her by saying, “Aimee, I've been wondering something.”

              Aimee squirmed and tried to press herself deeper into Finn's arms.  “Yes, Finn?”

              “When we first met... you were trying to starve yourself to death.  Also, you seemed to hate everyone.  I understand that you're from the future... but your hatred toward this world doesn't make any sense.”

              Aimee felt a cold sweat wash over her.  It was the most painful thing she'd ever encountered and the last thing she wanted to do was disclose this secret with anyone, let alone Finn.  She shuddered in pain and tremendous sadness, but decided to tell Finn her deepest secret.

              “Finn, when Noir, Dad, and I were sucked into this world... I was pregnant.  When I arrived... I could feel that the baby was gone.”

              Finn didn't move a muscle, which surprised Aimee.  After a moment, she pushed away from him in anger.  “Doesn't that shock you?!  Don't you care?!”

              Aimee was surprised to see Finn's eyes welling with tears.  After a moment, Finn said, “Aimee... I didn't know.  I'm so sorry.”

              Aimee stared for a long moment at the first person she'd ever told her secret, then forced herself into his arms again and cried for her lost child. 

              After a long time of finally allowing herself to cry, Aimee sniffed and whispered, “Do you now see why I need to get home so badly?  Do you understand why I hate this world so much and why I try so hard to convince myself that it isn't real?”

              Finn tenderly ran his fingers through Aimee's hair.  “Yes, I understand.  We'll get you home somehow.  I swear it.”

~~~

              “Ratt figured out we've been manipulating him through the armor,” Jotunar broadcast through the sye connection.

              “It doesn't matter anymore,” one of the Syeters in the sye circle communicated.  “He did what we wanted.”

              “We can now proceed with our plan to take over all of Chiron and Tier.”

              Jotunar raised his head in a rare moment of exerting physical effort.  He mused out loud, “We may be able to finally reach this other world we've heard so much about.”