Destiny: Book of Light (12 page)

"Something approaches."
Sean had forgotten about Sol, the voice in his head.
"What is it?"
"Light does not touch it so I am not sure. It feels human but there seems to be more to it than that. I suggest to be on guard."
"Lads look lively there's someone coming. Get ready on the bell, Pascal."

Everyone jumped up, guns and swords being drawn. Only Sean stayed his weapon. They looked out to the darkness searching frantically with torches through the haze of a South Polar snow storm. After about ten minutes they started to relax, looking at Sean as if he was losing the plot, but he stared on.

"There!" Pascal roared.

He was younger and didn't know to keep his tongue. But he was right. A figure was beginning to appear in the distance. It did not look human, more ghostly as it didn't seem to walk, and had an aspect of translucence to it. It's clothing was that of an Eastern tribe that delved deep in the ancient secrets of martial arts. The Monfuri. They're legend preceded them and as soon as Pascal saw thats what he was, he went to ring the bell, but Sean settled him by placing his hand on his shoulder.

"No need for alarm Pascal."

He jumped down from the ship and all on board were amazed at how he easy he dealt with the landing. Most men would have broken both their legs if they survived at all, but Sean didn't even change facial expression. He moved with hood up and one hand on his sword hilt, but not near his guns. The Monfuri stopped on seeing Sean in front of him and bowed, his translucency left him and then he proceeded onward. They both stopped about 20 strides apart. The Monfuri placed his hand on his sword hilt and began to speak in a tongue that Sean did not understand.

"I only speak English," Sean said. "Do you speak English?" He emphasized the words as if he was speaking to a child.
"Little." He paused, gathered himself and spoke again. "I am Shionlee. I am Monfuri, tribe of Monturo mountains. I am.....friend. I am sent here speak to you for Monfuri. I am Sean?" He indicated to Sean.
"Yes I am Sean."
Shionlee again spoke "I am Sean," again indicating to Sean.
"Yes I am Sean."
"Ah yes, Sean. I am gift for you from Monfuri. I am sword of Monfuri Old."
He presented the sword to Sean. It was unlike any sword that Sean had ever seen, but then he had never been to the East of the world. Their swords were a lot different from the rest of the world, being much lighter and arched instead of straight.

Sol spoke. "This is no ordinary sword Sean. This is an ancient masterpiece. I have seen it before many years ago. This is Nembatil. It was forged by an elder and was blessed by the elder monks of Monfuri, high in the mountain lakes. It was forged using ancient magic from an elders soul so there is no telling exactly what kind of power it holds. It's power is different for everyone and largely depends on it's wielders, minds power. It has not seen the light of day for hundreds of years. This is a very precious gift.
"Thank you Shionlee." He bowed to the Monfuri, and Shionlee bowed back.
"How did you get here Shionlee?"
"Ah yes, I am travelling many days. My people see your people through eye with many power. They sent me Shionlee, I am travel with you as guard for you to make sure you meet with Monfuri. Monfuri know of you and much happy that you are here."
"But you're all the way out here in the ice?"
"Ah yes, ice. Many dangerous. But I am Monfuri. I am master of much and I am much skills."
"Ok Shionlee, well I welcome you. Come with me back to our ship, we have food and drink, and bunks if you want to sleep."
"Ah yes, Shionlee have Monfuri food and drink and no sleep. I am sleep.....four days ago. I am good, but I come to ship to travel with Sean."

They walked back to the ship and Sean introduced him to those on duty and gave him a quick tour of the ship. He seemed to always be smiling and he bowed as he was introduced to everyone. After that he pretty much hovered around Sean, not to his liking at all. But he wasn't concerned by it. He was much more appreciative of the sword which he felt an awe inspiring power towards. He took it to the bow of the ship and began swinging it in a wild fury getting the feel for it's light curved weight. It seemed to glide through the air as if guided. He felt his arms almost feel stronger with each swing and his mind seemed to be running by itself producing a string of complex movements mixed into a hazy blur, and all of a sudden the sword lit up in blue and shot off what appeared to be a blue flame into the distance. It dissapeared through the snow. Sean stood back staring at the sword as the the blue light faded.

Pascal walked up behind him with a gobsmacked expression on his face.

"What is it boss?"
"It is Nembatil Pascal, a sword forged from the soul of an elder."
"Is it magic boss?"
"Well Pascal, it's not exactly magic but it definitely has powers. I don't fully understand it myself.
"Was that like a fireball boss?"
"I'm not sure Pascal, your guess is as good as mine, I don't even know how I did that."

They both gazed at the sword mesmerised by it as the last of the blue light shot quickly up and down the sword and disappeared leaving the silver dead again in the darkness.

Sol spoke. "It would seem that the sword reacts with your emotions. Try funneling some anger through it just by focusing your hatred down the length of the sword."

Sean did so and it fired again.
"Class!" shouted Pascal.
Sean spoke to Sol."Is there any power in it?"
"Yes Sean, I can see in the distance. It is extremely powerful. The last one has blown a hole deep into a rock face."
"Nice."

The smile widened on Sean’s face. He began swinging the sword in array of moves that mimicked the Eastern martial arts styles. It seemed to flow naturally through him. As he did, he began to mix combinations of the fireballs. Slightly different shades of blue fired from the sword as Sean explored through his emotions, sending each down the sword and getting different feelings for each one as he felt he was getting more experienced with the power. He could also feel the power from each one increase as he mixed through the martial arts moves. He began to add a lot of jumping to the moves and his jumping increased more and more. He was beginning to be consumed by the different powers growing inside him. He could even feel Sol increase in what just felt like light in the back of his mind.

"Come on Pascal lets head back."

The night moved onward with the crew huddled around the fire drinking coffee. Fatigue was always an issue on the night watch but even more so here, when tension was in the air and possible danger all around. Only Sean didn't feel tired. The night began to take a swing in weather conditions. The snow stayed full on, but as if his anger was growing, thunder and lighting consumed the sky. Seans senses heightened more with each flash of lightning he noticed his vision becoming like that of an eagle. Zooming in to ever greater distances and deciphering between the snowflakes and picking up the smallest of movements. Such as a bird or even a fly. He was now almost scared by how advanced his whole person had become seeing insects of all forms at distances of nearly a mile, but at the same time was addicted to the increases, inviting them as a drug fueling his power. He trained his senses. Sight, hearing, touch, taste smell and something else. A kind of general sense of what was happening around him. He could pick up scents from miles away travelling through the air and determined their source, forming a general map of his surroundings.

Shionlee had been joking around with the sailors. His general manner and lack of English had been a great source of amusement to them. They made jokes, but it in a friendly manner and he took it well playing up to the stereotype, but he always remained close to Sean and always kept sharp. Sean had been crouching and in the midst of another increase in power he stood up stretching his body and looking up to the sky, he closed his eyes. His physique seemed to expand as if dormant muscles were been stretched into activity and he even grew taller. Only Shionlee noticed this and as his stretch finished he bowed his head back down to the ground and opened his eyes. Shionlee jumped back with an unusual mix of a scream and a gasp, startling the rest of the crew. Forgetting himself he began speaking in his native tongue, but was quickly reminded as the crew began to draw guns and swords. "No no no. Sean. You have mark of dragon. Eyes of dragon."

Sure enough the crew looked in amazement at Seans eyes. They had turned into that of a lizard of some sort or as Shionlee put it, a dragon.

"What's goin on with you lately Sean?" The captain emerged from the shadows.

Sean looked at his hands, turning them as if it was the first time he had ever seen them.

"I don't know, but I know it is powerful. I am powerful." The captain just looked at him searching for an answer. "For example a mosquito is just about to land on Pascal."

Sure enough Pascal flicked his neck as the mosquito landed.

"And exactly 1 mile and 23 meters from here, in a North, North East direction, a bear is just after breaking through the ice and catching a seal." Vision for human eyes was about 2metres from the Boat at this stage. The captain spoke. "I don't fully understand how you have obtained these powers Sean, but there are many forces in the world that I am finding I don't fully understand. Like the Rionians below. I suppose at least it's perfect timing that you have changed to this, now that we're on the brink of war." "Yes captain, I feel this is why I'm changing."
The morning came and Sean had ordered the crew on watch to sleep a couple of hours previously. Only Sionlee and the captain were still awake. The snow storm had cleared and as the sun emerged in the distance. Sean realised the true strength of his eyesight. He could actually see around the curve of the Earth and watched the sunrise 26 minutes before the others. He had a complete understanding of all that was occurring for miles in every direction around him down to the smallest details of nature. He could not see the forces they would be facing yet but he could feel them. In the distance over the Tamshir mountains.

The day was bright but the mountains always remained in clouds. The only ones to be seen in the sky as they hugged the mountainsides. Sean could see Drechnoil Beach. It was a very strange sight in this area. The ice broke away to the crashing of the waves and a steep bank raised up the side of a mountain. It was a complete contrast of scenery with the ice, the sea, green rising in the hill and even patches of sand where the beach would be in the summer months. All 34 ships were anchored just offshore and 321 landing boats lined the banks of the beach. Temporary shelters both big and small in their thousands huddled mainly where the ice wasn't, but some had no choice but to pitch on the ice or snow. It was a magnificent sight and seeing it through his new eyesight made it somewhat magical.

"All hands to the deck!" He shouted below. The captain asked "Why?". "They're all waiting for us captain. They have all come. The ice is thin the remainder of the distance."

The captain addressed the crew as they poured ondeck, yawning and pulling on cloths. "Right lads, we must hasten, we are the last to arrive and they're all waiting. We have level 3 ice the whole way according to Sean and his newly found amazing abilities. So no more picking is required."

Suddenly the prospect of war didn't seem too bad as the crew cheered. "But we have a good wind there lads, so I want to use the sails to get there quicker so up ye go!"

They began climbing the masts and spreading out to unsheath the sails. After being released and tied fast, the sails picked up the wind which was impressive after the storm the night before. The captain had used the engines to give them a bit of momentum, and with the sails filled they were making good time. It wasn't long before they joined the ships at the spectacle of the gathered forces.

After unloading the crew and the Rionians onto landing boats the second last boat was being filled. Sean saw Vulita, caught her by the arm and pulled her aside.

"You know you can still change your mind, you don't have to do this?" "Yes I do Sean." She gave a forced smile. "I have as much riding on this as you." Sean pointed at the scene of the beach. "You see all the men that line that beach, very few of them will return if any at all. It is quite likely that we all will perish to his power, if we even get near him because his army infest the mountains."

"I know this." She kept her eyes to the ground, with a fear that he would see straight through her.

She knew he had changed. With his index finger, he gently raised her chin to look in his eyes. She went weak.

"Why are you doing this Vulita?" She turned away and began to walk away, muttering "For Sarah.."

Sean grabbed her by the arms with a little more force this time and turned her to look at him again. This time she couldn't help but do it. "She is most likely not alive Vulita. I am very powerful now and I sense nothing but evil over those mountains. Nothing pure. As she was."

"You are powerful Sean, I have watched you. And you have great senses, but you are still blind." She turned and ran to the side of the ship readying herself to get on the landing boat. Sean had stopped for a moment in confusion but as she got onboard she gave him a look, and with the look, a tear. Single and alone amidst all the tension surrounding them. Sean went to go after her, but the captain stopped him.

"Let her go lad, give her a little time." "Time? We don't have time captain." "There is much to be prepared Sean, much to be organised before we go up those hills. By my reckoning we won't be going anywhere for a couple of days. In my years on this Earth the one thing I have learned is when a woman runs away from you, you never go after her. At least not straight away. We'll get the last boat." Sean nodded in agreement, trusting the captains judgement.

Most of what needed to be organised was done by the time "Angel," had arrived. The other ships had been there for over a week at that stage. Scouts had been sent through the mountains to a certain point gathering information on locations of small regiments of Barocks, Sultrons armies. Also terrains were mapped to decide the best route to travel and locations to stay at night that would provide most cover. Nobody knew how far in Sultron was, but the scouts had done three days travelling before it became too dangerous to continue on alone. None had been captured in the gathering of the information. Although it was relatively early in the morning still, it had been decided to start moving the next day to give the crew of the Angel a chance to recuperate after their journey.