Echoes of a Shattered Age (19 page)

“In many societies, honor annihilated greed, and nations reestablished themselves with a higher degree of tolerance and unity that was unheard of in times past. Illnesses and diseases were overcome by old medicine, and people began to realign themselves with the natural order of the world. The ancient sages were no longer thought of as wandering, mumbling frauds, but instead were more widely sought for their wisdom and aesthetics. During these times of upheaval, the true frauds sprouted from everywhere, but were also more easily discovered by people who had been manipulated time and again, and were forced to finally listen from within themselves, to find truth.”

“For uncountable years, nature has been waiting for humanity to return to it, and with a greater return to a value for life, the majority of humanity had begun to shift in thinking and action, moving toward better lives.” Taliah turned to Sensei Akutagawa, who now continued.

“As humans became healthier once again, so too did the world around them. People found that they became sick much less because they did not sit in place to allow disease to find them as easily. That is not to say that sickness disappeared, but it is much less common than before, as people had evolved to be stronger even before the change.”

“People found that different types of edible and medically beneficial vegetation arose and become plentiful, though these plants had always been there. Technological remedies were replaced by more effective natural ones. It was as if the world itself had breathed a sigh of thanks for the release of the bondage that humankind had held upon it.”

“But as it has proven throughout the ages,” Taliah continued again, “humans would resort to other methods to achieve their conquests. There is always a flicker of evil in every society.” Kenyatta noticed a glimmer of disappointment in his sister’s eyes.

“Humans recovered long lost knowledge, including the ability to summon denizens of the dark world, as well as the use of magic for ill purposes. Because of humanity’s continued disbelief in the existence of magic, practitioners good and evil reappeared in the world virtually unnoticed, and the use of magical weapons arose unchecked. The dark realm watched with delight, knowing that humans still didn’t completely understand the different types of magic and their sources. It was only a matter of time and patience before denizens of the dark realms would roam this world in greater numbers than ever before.”

Now was her turn to look to the stars. She ran her fingers through her shimmering black hair. Sensei Akutagawa fixed them with his gaze. “Only one of you knows what you are,” he said. “And the rest of you must learn.”

***

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The camp sat in silence for a time, sipping tea and digesting the information. Sensei Akutagawa looked over the group thoughtfully, then spoke to Kenyatta’s sister. “You are the only one who understands who you are, and soon, I believe you will discover that you are capable of far more than you believe now.” He looked over the other four. Sensei could see the question in all of their faces.

“Each of you are unique. You were born faster, and stronger, and your vision and hearing reaches beyond that of others. You are more in tune with the world in nearly every way. Unfortunately, my knowledge of why this is so extends only as far as this young lady has taught me.” He smiled at Taliah, who spoke again.

“I, as well as the four of you, have been born with a special gene that was indirectly given to us by the Daunyans, the Gods. Being all-knowing and possessing all wisdom, they knew that when technology was no more, humans would resort to other methods to achieve their goals, good or ill. Technology was gone, and with it, all knowledge associated with its creation and exploitation. Human beings began to turn to nature in every form. The practice of magic reemerged, and with it, the use and creation of powerful spells and potions, some for good, some for evil.”

Taliah settled her attention on her brother. “A special gene was implanted within a number of people around the world. What that number is, I don’t know. This gene had no effect on the people who carried it. However, this person would pass the gene on to their children, whereupon it would become active. I’m sure all of you remember being the fastest kid in your village, or the highest jumper, and you learned things faster. We
all
did.”

“It is believed that the Daunyans blessed us with this gene and with it, the burden and honor of being the highest level of human protection the world has ever known.”

Taliah swept her gaze across the four warriors. “It is you who have broken apart dangerous organizations. You are the ones who protected the remaining pieces of government that were not corrupt.” That last statement brought a skeptical grumble from the group, and Sensei chuckled. A half smile crossed Taliah’s face and she continued. “Battles of the sword were waged once more for the protection or destruction of civilizations.” She swept her arm over the group, indicating three of them, minus the ninja. “You were at the front of those lines of defense, and with your courage, battles were won.”

She then looked to Akemi and smiled deeply, a smile of pride from woman to woman, sister warrior to sister warrior. “I do not make light of any of the accomplishments of the others, but it is you and others like you, who have done the greatest deeds in protecting our world. Although most people live their lives oblivious of the darker perils of the world, it has not gone unnoticed that you are the most skilled demon hunter in the history of the world.

“It is you who have hunted and destroyed some of the most elusive and powerful fiends to ever taint the ground they walk upon, an undesirable yet admirable job. Your knowledge and skill will lead this group to the Drek named Brit and his powerful ally, the Quentranzi general Kabriza.” Akemi winced at the mention of the powerful fiend. She had heard that name before and had no desire to come face to face with it.

“
Kabriza
,” she breathed. “If ever there was a day that I wish would never come, that would be the day.”

Kenjiro’s face was a mask of calm, but a flicker of shock lit in his eyes. Never had Akemi hesitated or avoided a fight, human or demon. “You know of this thing?” he asked.

“Yes,” she murmured. “It is one of the most powerful demons among the most powerful race of demons of the dark realm.”

She looked at her brother with the closest thing to fear in her eyes that he had ever seen. “That thing is capable of more than you can imagine.”

“And so are you,” Taliah answered. “All of you. You still have not discovered your true power and you still have not reached your physical potential.”

Kenyatta’s eyes glazed over as he looked into a place far from where they all sat. “There are others like us,” he said. Taliah raised an eyebrow at him.

“That’s what I said. Are you thinking of someone in particular, brother?”

Kenyatta cut her a sharp look, not answering the question. He knew that one of his sister’s many abilities was to see things, no matter his distance from her. She was obviously referring to someone that he felt close to, someone he had recently met. Judging from the smirk on his best friend’s face, Kita shared her suspicion.

“You will find that your friend is unique in more ways than you think,” came Taliah’s cryptic reply.

Kenyatta made a rolling motion with his hand, bobbing his head impatiently. Kita choked back laughter.

Seeing that her brother wished to be removed from the spotlight, Taliah continued. “There is a tower made of light energy, and its creation is beyond the scope of your imaginations, though few humans know of its existence. Every animal in the world is intuitively linked to it, however. Since the majority of humans have not evolved enough to fully appreciate the tower without attempting to exploit it, they remain oblivious to its presence. Animals, on the other hand, are innocent in the ways of conquest and corruption. They do what they must to survive and nothing more than that. It is this simplicity and innocence of life that allows them to retain their intuition given them at birth, the same intuition that humans lose after a short number of years, and must re-learn later in life.”

Taking control of her surfacing disappointment at that last fact, she continued. “The tower is the strongest structure on this world and was created by humans infused with the knowledge of the Daunyans to build it.”

Akemi straightened. “I know this place. I had a dream of a tower that pulsated bright, colorful light energy. I thought it nothing more than a dream, but the vision of that place gave me a sense of peace that I’d never thought possible. I had the dream more than once and every time, I felt refreshed and more alive once I awoke.”

Taliah passed a knowing smile on her. “That is because of your profession, demon hunter. No one can fight demons as you do without it taking a toll. Your dreams were anything but. While you slept, your non-physical essence, your true self, separated from your body and visited the tower to replenish and purify. You were allowed by the Daunyans to visit the tower because of the necessity of your work and the effects it has on you.

“The tower was created to balance the positive and negative energies of the world,” Taliah continued. “Good and evil are kept in balance opposite each other, and humans continue to grow and evolve as a species. In our current stage of development, we still learn our best lessons through negative experiences. It is the physical experience of life on this world that humans learn their greatest lessons.”

The group sat in silence, digesting the information. Kenyatta was stunned at his younger sister’s wisdom. He decided to talk to her at length about it later, but for now he listened.

“The Drek and his Quentranzi ally seek to destroy Tower of Balance, and thus the barrier between the abyss and this world. By his very nature, the Drek siphons energy from the land around him. While Takashaniel exists, he cannot drain enough energy from the earth to become powerful enough deal with humanity at large. If he tried, his power would be nullified once he reached a certain pinnacle of strength.”

Her features darkened and she gazed into the campfire, looking into a very dark place. “Ka …” she hesitated, not wanting to speak the demon general’s name. “The Quentranzi wishes to destroy the tower so that more of its kind can roam this world freely. Brit has found an ally of like mind. At least for now.”

Kenyatta ran his hands across his face. “So where do we go from here? Do we go to this tower and wait, or do we try to find the Drek and stop him first?”

Taliah bit her bottom lip. “Even now they march. Somehow, they have found a way to weaken the tower’s defense just enough for them to bring in more of their kind. The Drek is powerful and has been able to manipulate the tower’s own defensive power to his advantage. How he has done this I am unsure, but I suspect that instead of attempting to nullify the energies of Takashaniel, he bent the energies for a very short time and then pulled a score of fiends here, to this world. He would have to have done it quickly.”

She took a sip of tea. “I suspect even Iel was unable to stop it by himself.”

“Iel?” Kita asked.

“The guardian,” Sensei answered. “He is of a peaceful race called Ilanyans, who remain apart from others of this world, and this kind being has served the tower at the behest of the Gods.”

Taliah cradled her mug in her hands. “The Drek is smart and has planned carefully.”

“He definitely knows of our existence,” Kenjiro stated. “We believe it was he who sent minor demons after us on a few occasions.”

“You call that last fiery thing we fought minor?” Kita asked.

Taliah nodded and looked at Akemi. “It is good that you destroyed the Bachattta before you made any other move. Although it served as his eyes, Brit could also hear your talks and plans through the creature.”

Kenyatta finished his tea and addressed his sister. “What do we do now, and what part do you play in all this?”

“I have a rather indirect role,” she answered solemnly. “It is you who will stop them. If I were to interfere, then you would not gain the experience necessary to prepare you for what lies ahead. That is why I had not charged your weapons, or did you forget? Your speedy trip through the forest was partly my help, for I aided your horses’ steps with speed and endurance. It took some time for the Ren and the Kalistyi to find you and when they did, you were already at the edge of the forest.” Kita could see the pain in her eyes. She opened her mouth several times, but managed no words. Sensei Akutagawa moved closer and wrapped an arm around her.

“I do not make light of your mission, my students, but the hardest task is to watch over a loved one,” he looked down at the young woman, her head down as she wiped tears from her cheeks. “Or in this case, to watch two people that you care deeply about, and not help in any way, regardless of how grim or impossible the situation may seem.”

Akutagawa’s smile was filled with love. “She could not interfere because you needed to make it on your own. If you had died on your trek, it would have been a more desirable death than one at the hands of Brit or the Quentranzi.” He patted her on the shoulder and offered her a sip of tea, which she brought to trembling lips. Kenyatta could see the misplaced guilt in her downcast eyes.

“There is no amount of training I could have given you to prepare you for this,” Sensei continued. “The only way was by coming here on your own without any help, and you did a magnificent job. I could not be prouder. Now,” he gave Taliah’s shoulder one last squeeze and stood. “Come with me. I have something for each of you, now that you’re ready.”

Everyone stood and followed Sensei away from the campsite. Kita bent and gave Taliah a hug, then continued on. Kenyatta stopped and knelt beside her. “You getting all mushy on me, ya?” he whispered. She looked up at him and hiccoughed a laugh, shoulders bouncing. Kenyatta’s lips wrinkled at the sound, and they both broke into quiet laughter and hugged each other, rocking side to side. “How come you always know everyting? You always make me proud, Taliah.”

She looked at him and for a moment, and he saw a glimmer of that baby sister who had depended on him for so long when they were kids, before she left home.

She shoved him away. “It’s because girls are smarter. Get over there, you fallin’ behind, as usual.”

Kenyatta smiled and jumped to his feet, racing off to catch up to the others. Sensei had already started Kenjiro and Akemi on a new technique for each of them, and was now walking toward his best friend. Kenyatta had just trotted up beside Kita when the master reached them.

“You two must know how difficult this was for Taliah. I had expected her to come to me before your arrival, but she came much earlier.” He looked at Kenyatta with sympathetic eyes. “She needed me to keep her strong enough to not help you. When the two of you were ambushed in that forest on the coast of Korea, it looked very bad. We were unsure that you would survive.” He stared at Kenyatta and shook his head slowly. “When you fell back into the forest alone, she nearly intervened to save you and I had to stop her.

“It was because of that incident that you both discovered more of your abilities. She wept even after you made it out safely, constantly questioning the wisdom of her stance in all of this.” He looked at the woman, staring into the campfire. “She began to question herself as a good sister and a good friend, and I had to stop her from that, too. We need all the strength we can hold for each other. Come, I need to teach you a few techniques now.”

Bathed within the light of the campfire, they practiced the new techniques that Sensei taught them well into the night before having a bit more tea and then retiring. Kita was the last to settle down, but as soon as he laid his head on his travel pack, he was fast asleep. It seemed only seconds after he was asleep that he was awake again.

He opened his eyes to see that he was no longer at the campsite. He stood in the middle of the most vividly colored garden he had ever seen. Fish swam in the streams that snaked along the sides and underneath the path he walked, which seemed like polished marble beneath his feet. Trees of every kind towered over him, many with bright colored leaves and berries shining in iridescent colors like nothing he had ever seen. Kita felt a sense of ease he’d never before experienced, and wished he would never have to leave this place.

With some effort, he wrenched his gaze from the sights around him and looked down the path. In the distance, he saw a magnificent tower that looked to be made of pure light. It glowed in clear iridescent colors, brighter even than its surroundings. The magnificent tower stood high over the trees, pulsating light and energy.

In the presence of the structure, Kita felt lighter and more connected to everything around him. A waterfall came into sight at the right of the path. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back to enjoy the mist that beaded on his face. The environment had a life-giving feel that surpassed anything he could have imagined. He looked further down the path and saw Taliah waving for him to join her.