Ichimonji

The last thing I wrote while in the military. I wrote it in 3 days. I know the end needs work. I burnt out. It needs edits and a rewrite, so consider it a finished Rough Draft.

There I sat in the Lone Horse Inn, it was a small inn in a quiet town, though the towns people had one thing on their lips at the moment, murder. It seemed that an assassin of sorts came into town and slew a woman, wife to some man named Kaito. Kaito was said to be a powerful man, though an older one, and, recently in the habit of making powerful enemies. The village knew that this had to be someone powerful, someone Kaito had angered. They continued to mutter, about the blood splattered on every surface of the house, the limbs hanging from the ceiling, and the fact that the head was laid on the dresser, bloodless and horrified stare pointed toward the entry door, underneath it was a note, which read, “We have him”

Kaito was going to his home right now. The people were talking of this too. I sipped my drink with a small smirk, my brown cloak pulled over my head to conceal my features for the moment. Some tried to stop him but he was more bullheaded with this when they didn’t give him a reason. He pushed through the crowds, I glimpsed him wandering toward his house on the edge of town. Stout for an old guy, He kept in shape, and for age forty-two, he didn’t look bad. His blue eyes holding something akin to pain, hatred, anger, and an edge of the killing lust that comes onto people who’ve had a long life of the act.

He darted out of my view and his stoic companion stayed his ground. Dressed ever the servant and looking to be about twenty with black hair oiled back, but much, much older. He wore a gun at his hip and he seemed to accept what happened much sooner then his friend or master. He walked into the inn’s common room and had a seat at a vacant table not far from me. He ordered a bottle of the strongest liquor in the place when I heard a grotesque scream of the most heart-wrenching agony ever to be heard. The yell of a man who has lost all happiness he’s ever likely to have in life. The sound of a man, forced to his furthest point, it was at this I turned around.

The servant looking man poured a double and set the bottle aside. Moments later the man named Kaito walked in, and found his man at the table, He forced himself into a chair and took the bottle, taking it straight in large chugs, wasting not a drop. “They told you not to go.” The serving man said.

“When I need you to tell me what I need to see is when I have outlived my usefulness.” Kaito snapped and took another great swill from the bottle.

“So how bad was it?”

“Fictus, just... Just sit down. I can’t think about it right now.” Kaito replied and all was quiet for a time. The serving man, Fictus, took his seat. They drank for a time and Kaito finally broke his silence. “Butchered like a farm animal, and they have my boy,” was all he said, and Fictus just stared at the double he poured, deciding to hand it to Kaito. “Then shall we go after them? I know that they had to have left some clue as to who sent them.” Kaito just looked at Fictus, “They left a calling card, it was a magic symbol. The one used by that Sorcerer that we just took down. We... We let his son go, and he did this to me.” Kaito said and finished the bottle. “Let’s make this fucker pay.”

At this I stood and walked over to the two of them. I held my hands out to hold my cloak open, this is the moment I was waiting for. “I couldn’t help but overhear you’re about to embark on a perilous quest for revenge.” They looked up at me, my hood was still drawn and my head was down. It was Fictus who spoke, “Who are you stranger, identify yourself or lose your ability to stand.”

“Where are my manners?” I said with a chuckle, and removed my hood, my short black hair and piercing blue eyes, along with the smile on my face unnerved Fictus slightly by the way he tensed, and stood, I held my hands in a non threatening way, and looked to Kaito, he had a hand on one of his pistols. “My name is Ilam, ilam Drangor, I overheard what happened to your family, the people of the town have a loose tongue when scared. I was a humble theif until this brooding mage tried to kill me a couple nights back. He said something about revenge, then I get here and hear the news. I assume you could always use someone handy with a blade by your side.”

“You stare death in the face with a smile,” Kaito said with a shake of his head, “Fictus sit down, if he wanted to make an attempt on our lives, he would have made a move by now.” Fictus remained standing and staring at me, he wasn’t about to let me harm Kaito. “Tell me, thief, what’s your real quarrel with this mage who tried to kill you”

“What do you mean? I was walking along the road and he bumped into me, accused me of stealing, readied a blast of what appeared to be pure darkness with the reek of rotting corpses when he finally just stalked off. He was about to use Entropy on me, thus I want to return the favor. He wanted to see me dead, so I will see him dead.” I said in an earnest voice. Kaito looked at me with a smirk then a chuckle

“You want him dead because he was about to kill you with a death magic? You’re a brave man.” He said then took the glass sat down by Fictus, “Either that or you’re a fool.” Before he could take a sip the glass was shattered in his hand and Fictus had a rapier to his throat. “And that was with my weak hand, imagine what I have with my strong one.” I said with a motion to the wall where a knife sat embedded. I offered my help to you, and a monster that could do that to a woman deserves a fate similar.

Fictus tried to move and take my blade but I cut his cheek lightly each time he did, which was twice. “I’m fast, I’m good with a blade, and I’m willing to help you get revenge, do we have a deal?” Kaito looked at me in disbelief, and laughed hard. Fictus, as the opposite reaction threw me to the ground and had his gun to my head. “Brave young fool.” Kaito said and stood, producing one of his own pistols. “A bit more competent then a common thief as well. Tell us the real story, friend.” I looked at what would be certain death and Fictus’ look of complete disgust, I had to tell them. “He killed my Mother. I was trained as a royal guard, but I didn’t like my status, so I used the training for petty theft. I excelled in my combat studies and I am a common thief now that my heritage lies dead with my mother.” There was a look of pure hatred and loathing in my eyes, and the two men holding guns at my head looked at each other.

“You said Drangor. I heard about a case a while back where a woman was found, well, parts of her were found, others looked as if they were...devoured, she went by that surname. You’re her son?” Kaito asked, still with death in his eyes. I solidified my stare to his, and I’m sure he saw that I was indeed who I claimed. He holstered his weapon, and Fictus did the same. “Get your knife and then we can talk.”

I wandered over and grabbed my knife out of the wall, then sat with them at the table. “So you want to help us to get back at this wizard. I take it you’re still tracking him, as you were here when we arrived.” Kaito said and then Fictus spoke up, “He’s days off the trail if he is tracking the signs of his passing would be long gone.” I shook my head with a smirk. “So you don’t believe he would leave a trail you could follow? He took, ‘Him’ whatever that means, he wants you to follow him, so he’s going to leave a sold trail for you to follow. I want his head, so, joining up with a powerful swords man, and his... What is Fictus to you anyhow? A Man servant? A Friend? A...” I look around before continuing, “Lover?” Kaito slapped me and I was punched by Fictus. The man had a fist of steel, and, I barely kept my seat in both effects. “That man saved my life, and I owe him everything. I am not his lover, but his comrade.” Fictus said with a scowl”

“All right, All right. I was curious is all, anyhow, You two and I against the man who took our hope? A deal?” I offered my hand and Kaito took it. “We start out at first light. That’s when the trails are most visible for powerful magics.” He said and walked out, Fictus behind him, turning before he stepped through the door to shoot me one last glare. I went up stairs and watched him leave for his house once again. “He left his swords there, then. He wants to have the night to mourn.” I said and walked to a maid informing her I wanted to be waked an hour before dawn then went to my room and slept.

I woke the next morning and made my way to the square. I’ve been traveling light recently and pilfering all I need, such as new clothes and the like, so I didn’t have much to bring but a sack of gold and a small pack with food, and a few essentials, lock picks, rope, and torches. I sat with my pack beside me and my cloak’s hood up, though the night was far from cold. I didn’t want anyone seeing the death that my eyes held. It wasn’t long before Kaito showed up. He wore leather armor and soft shoes, the latter I found unusual, as well as wearing two swords crossed on his back, and a gun on each side of his hip.

His partner, Fictus, wore his normal more formal attire and carried a much larger pack then I had, he had stout shoes on and a gun at his hip. I noticed for the first time a small iron clip on his left ear. the clip was banged up pretty bad and almost rusted in places. He was once a slave, and the clip was very old, we no longer used that type of marking, now we used a brand, which makes me think of mages. “How old is this man?” I asked myself before rising to greet the pair.

“So, we’re ready?” I asked, Kaito just nodded and turned to leave the town. I moved to keep up and asked in a gentler tone, “Did you find any clue to where he is?” He just shook his head and continued walking. It wasn’t long before we happened on the corpse of an animal. It had been killed in a bloodless manner, as we saw by the advanced stages of decay, but the blood on the ground seemed fresh, the entrails of the large beast were arranged in the form of a word. “Hov”

“I think we just found our clue.” I said and we stared at the corpse. “The ancient fortress of Hov?” Fictus said and looked up. “I have been there once, If he’s got any sense, which I believe he does, this won’t be easy for us.” Kaito continued to look then started moving. “It make the job more fun.” I heard him say, the voice was slightly off though, I couldn’t quite place how, but we started following him regardless. We made good time on the first day, no encounters, and we all but ran toward Hov, avoiding major population centers. The second day was fairly similar, though we were slowed down looking for water to fill out water skins. The third day however we ran into a snag. Someone was following us.

We stopped once we heard him. He was about as subtle as an elephant, and unusual in the fact that we were staying way from civilization and trying to keep our trail limited, he had a good sense for what he was doing. Without thinking we found a clearing, stopped, and moved into formation to cover each other. The man burst into the clearing and he was dressed in a simple manner. A vest dyed blue, hair died a similar shade, and black trousers and boots. He looked around a bit and a spot on his hand glowed, he was a mage, and it seemed to me that he was being surrounded by wind, and he was cursing himself. “I know this spell is supposed to last longer. Dammit! I shouldn’t have dropped out of that school...” Cautiously, and quietly I creeped to his blind side, I glanced and saw other shadows starting to mirror my movements, and it didn’t seem as though the man in the center saw or heard anything. Soon all the shadows stopped. He was surrounded by the three of us.

“I know you’re there, come out!” The man shouted. He took out a large sword, one that looked slightly shorter then the ones Kaito now carried and he also pulled out what appeared to be a parry knife, though a foot longer. “If you don’t come out now, we’re going to have a problem.” He shouted, and this time I spotted the glow on his hand, though dissipated was still there. “Shit! He’s from the nature school. “ I thought and hoped that Kaito and Fictus had noticed the mark and minor distortion that was caused by his agility spell.

He turned toward me and a large chunk of rock flew at my head. I quickly ducked, and it passed over me, though there was another on it’s way and I took time to notice that there were others flying toward where Kaito and Fictus were. I moved and I used a bit of my own magic to shroud my weight. I climbed a tree and watched to see where the stones flew but they didn’t. I saw the man look my way befuddled then I witnessed two figures charge in and tackle the man. Hitting him three times in total, once in the face, once to the kidneys, and once in the stomach. He was doubled over in absolute agony. I released my spell and walked up to the scene.

“Thanks for the distraction.” Kaito said and looked at the man on the ground. “What is your name stranger?” The man glared at us, then spat, “Why do you want to know? Why not just kill me? I attacked you.” Fictus looked at Kaito, then answered, “I for one just want to know who was clever enough to track us and how.” I spoke up,”He’s a nature mage. He felt our passing through his earth spell. He tracked out foot fall and he sensed our ambush.” He looked at me and I just stared back. “How do you know that?” He asked, then added, “And how did you change weight so drastically?”

Kaito and Fictus looked at me. I climbed a tree and the weight dissipated in the branches enough to make me seem lighter. You lie on the branch and hug it he can’t sense you.” I said, “As for the knowledge, I noticed your glyph glowing. That brand gave you away and I know how to counter such a thing.” They all seemed to accept my answer, “Now, I’ll answer your question if you’ll answer mine. I’ve been sitting in these woods for days and I...am ashamed to say, have been lost. You seem to be moving with a purpose, you must know the way out.” The man said and we all started laughing. “You attacked us because you wanted directions?” Kaito asked disbelieving. “Yes, I wasn’t trying to kill you, I just wanted to defend myself and knock you out if necessary.” “That explains the reason you didn’t use fire.” Fictus said.

“Well, I can’t use fire, or water...” The man said ashamed. I looked confused for a second then remembered what he said. “A drop out... You theoretically shouldn’t be allowed to use any magic, but you’re perfectly fluid in Earth and air. The agile spell is a very high level spell.” Kaito looked toward me questioningly. “You know an awful lot on magic my friend.” I glared back. “I hunt a mage and was trained as a royal guard. I think I can spot magic when it’s being used.” I snapped. “I’m Raymond, but please call me Elrom.” We heard from the ground, and heard him getting to his feet. “We’re out of time for quibbling. We’ve got company.”

With that we were back to back with our new compatriot. He drew his swords, I drew my Rapier and knife combo, Kaito reached for the sword to his left and fell into an older form of a blade stance, and Fictus fell into a foreign fighting style, that I had never seen before. It was either ancient or just outlandish. Either way I was the first to see our new visitor. A young woman, darker of skin, but not ebony, she had black hair and was reasonably well built. She was charging our line and from behind I heard a haunting melody. “A flute?” It wasn’t too much longer before the young woman was between us and a rain of blows came from her. “Too many and too fast.” I thought and looked around to see where the flute music was coming from, I knew what was happening, and the others would have their hands full.

I ran off and found her, the one I was looking for. “Diem, I thought it was you. Where’d you pick up your pet?” The young woman, cream skinned and lighter hair, an impressive figure in white, Long white gloves, a tight white dress, and white winged boots. She looked at me and giggled. “I didn’t know you were with them. I suppose I can stop.” “NO!” I shouted, a bit louder then I intended. “You have to stay on my trail. You need to fight me. Now!” I said and charged her. She raised her flute and played a quicker tune and a beautiful melody. The force of the bolt sent me flying back, and I could still hear the three having a bit of trouble with the strong young woman who engaged us.

“Maji is special is she not? I saved her from a life of crime.” I made another move toward her, and this time the tune was slower and my clothes seemed to stop me. She kept playing though I could see her sweat. She was pushing herself to her limit. “Now.” I thought and pushed forward, the sounds of the fight dying down behind me. I heard the young woman retreating and I made my way to Diem. I held her and she slumped in my arms. “You’re doing well. Keep it up, next time, give more. Stay on our trail, next time, leave your dog by your side and let us all see what you can do.” She smiled and fainted from exertion. I lay her down softly and moved quickly back to my friends, avoiding a conflict with Maji.

“Where’d you run off to?” Elrom asked out of breath and a bit bruised. “Did you hear that tune? Someone was using it to enhance the young woman who came in here. I was trying to stop the tune, though unfortunately I was unable to do more then strain her mentally. I heard the wild young lady who charged us coming and I fled. She lasted that long with the three of you, all armed, I wasn’t about to jump in her way.” Kaito looked worse for wear though he didn’t seem too badly hurt, his eyes were no longer blue though, and he wasn’t really breathing heavily. “Forget about that gnat. Let’s continue toward Hov.” He said, the slight alteration in his voice was back. He was Kaito still, but he seemed slightly more blood hungry, and the sword that was bare was the opposite of the one I saw him use early in the fight. Fictus just looked as if he had been thrown in the dirt for all the damage to his clothes. “This one is going to be trouble.”

Days passed and we saw no other living beings. Kaito had made a stunning recovery from our encounter. Elrom was grating, but, still black and blue. His constant wise cracks and rambunctious youth seemed to be taxing fictus, but Kaito just played along, perhaps seeing in Raymond his son. We made camp next to a river, and were about three days from the fortress. We were cooking the fish we’d caught when I heard a shuffling in the woods behind us. I looked around, and Fictus picked it up as well. We turned and saw nothing, but Kaito joined us. Elrom was looking at us but decided food was more important, not sensing any danger. The three of us shared a look and fanned out to search our surroundings.

When I went into the wooded area I cloaked in shadow. My steps making next to no sound, deadened by the shade. I walked along and saw nothing. Spying Fictus and Kaito walking back out I found myself decloaking and remembering that Elrom would have sensed anything moving, though ... I heard a sound behind me, a broken twig, I turned and struck with my rapier, meeting a full mass of man, and it was falling on my blade. They used Illusion, as I did. “Assassins! They use Illusion Gather in the Light!” I shouted and stayed in the trees. The others didn’t know my magic, and never would if I could help it. The fact that I shouted meant the men deshrouded and were walking at normal weight. Elrom leaped up cursing and readied his weapons. Kaito readied his guns, and Fictus fell into his peculiar stance. I shrouded myself much as they had, and the body on the ground now was assumed to be me, so Elrom wouldn’t suspect much.

The Assassins closed around the group, rather the ones who didn’t know better did, as Kaito took those down with a hail of fire from his pistols. Not very precise shooting, though with the amount of ammo spent, almost fifteen bullets a piece, he didn’t have to be. The early ones fell with that. Elrom charged the next few, taking three to himself, with earth coating his person and wind assisting his speed he was like a storm and the three had to fight at the top of their abilities. “They’re disgraceful” I thought and continued to make my way toward the center of the group. Kaito was engaging hand to hand with one of the thugs, they weren’t true assassins, and was forced to draw a sword when a second joined the fray. Fictus was holding off four and making quick work of any who let their skill slip, even for a moment.

I saw my mark, a man sitting in a tree and laughing to himself. I drew a knife, and threw, taking the man in the neck, causing him to fall to the ground with a heavy thud. I took my knife back and made my way back to the body on the ground. I gave myself a deep wound in the shoulder and laid down my weight slowly settling in as well as the shadow around me lowering. I heard the last man drop, it was Kaito’s second. Elrom had used his wind to isolate targets and Fictus had made brutally short work of all that came for him. They came over to me and saw my wound. I feigned a faint and they smiled at me.

“You wuss. I’ve almost lost an arm and didn’t faint.” Elrom said with a laugh. Kaito shook his head as he saw the assassin’s corpse. “You did well to recognize them. Once the need for secrecy was over you knew they’d drop their veils. You did good Ilam.” Fictus gave a grudging nod, no doubt he suspected something, but he treated my wound and we were on the way again after a good night’s sleep.

We reached the fortress of Hov and were granted by a familiar. “Nice to see you guys, last time was fun.” The voice was fitting for such an attractive body. She wore finer clothes, but you could see that they were built for fighting. “Maji, I presume.” I said stepping toward the lead. “Where’s your lady?” I asked, and, as if in answer to my call, Diem all in white came from the door. “Hello there, are we ready to play?”

I smiled, more because she knew to keep our past from this meeting. She raised the flute to her lips and began to play. Softly at first but it was a slow, beautiful melody. I turned to the others and noticed them looking frustrated. “What is this?” Elrom shouted, and cast a wind spell on himself. Able to move again he started toward Diem. Kaito and Fictus were a bit baffled, but I quickly said, “They’re opposing schools. Arcane, of the body, and Nature, of the land. This is his fight, though without water and fire, the destruction side, Raymond is handicapped severely. He has to rely on his swordsmanship, and he’s flawed in that too. If Maji joins this fight it’s no contest.” Kaito’s eyes changed from blue to orange once again and he started to slowly move. “Then I have to even the odds.” He said, in that off way he gets when his eyes change, and continued on, I reached out and stopped him. “if Maji joins in on the match I’ll let you handle it, but until then it’s his fight.”

With that we watched as Diem and Elrom were locked in combat, Elrom moving faster now, and Diem playing an furious pace on melody and the flute keeping a subtly harmony as well, blasting Elrom with mind blast after mind blast. Both were beginning to show signs of mental fatigue and so it was that Elrom landed a blow cracking the flute. With a desperation blast the flute disintegrated and both fell to the ground, Elrom from the blast and Diem from exertion. Elrom was the only one who looked worse for ware, though I knew Diem made a huge breakthrough. I like the rest rushed to Elrom, he was breathing, and he was conscious. He wasn’t too badly injured, thanks to his earthen armor, though he was out of juice as far as his ability to draw magic for the day. You could always tell when a caster barely had anything but basic walking, talking, fist fighting left in him, the eyes were duller and the wits were slower.

I looked over and sighted Diem being comforted by Maji. Maji was crying and kissing Diem’s forehead, Diem was telling Maji it was alright, that she felt better then she had in a long while, though, with a pounding headache. “She’ll always have the headaches, but from now on, she’ll no longer be limited by that wall I put there, maybe I could help Elrom gain control of his magic too.” I thought then scolded myself. “You’re a killer, this is only to gauge their strength. Inadvertently allowing it to grow as well, but you’re almost there.” Once Elrom was up, we entered the fortress. All weapons drawn we walked through the halls. It was eerily empty. We made it all the way to the grand chamber and that’s where we saw him.

“Sorcerer! You have my son. Tell me where he is or I’ll kill you where you stand.” Kaito shouted. He had a dangerous edge to his voice, though it appeared that this was true Kaito. The sorcerer turned to face us, fairly befuddled, then seeing Kaito gave a look of shock and terror. “You killed my Father.” That’s all he said and Kaito again delivered his demand. “I do not know where your son is.” The young sorcerer said, terror ringing through his voice, but Kaito did not hear, the longer of the two swords was free and his eyes were orange once again. “Then Die!” He shouted leaping toward the young man before us. It was then I placed the off tone in Kaito’s voice. It was a second voice along with his, and there was my true clue. The Priest had told me the timber and veracity of the sword. “Ichimonji” I whispered and left.

Kaito had no recollection of doing what he did, though the evidence was everywhere. The scene was one of blood, gore and small parts of what used to be a man. Kaito himself was covered in crimson. The last thing left was a head, the terrified stare held agape at him. He wanted to be sick, but he knew that justice was done. He turned to his compatriots. “We search the fortress.” then took in that one was missing. “Where’s Ilam?” The others seemed not to even have noticed the man was gone. The fortress well and truly searched they headed out, only to see the two women, the dark haired Maji, and the one who fought so well against Raymond, or Elrom. He hated Raymond, though that was a much better name in Kaito’s opinion.

“You there, have you seen Ilam?” Kaito asked. The lighter haired one replied, “Ilam? That’s what he told you his name was. Not even a clever pseudonym. Liam came to us and asked me to tell you this, ‘That man was innocent. A creation mage trying to set his father’s sins right. I have your son and I’ll not be far. Seek out the dark and you’ll find us.’ My name is Diem, by the way. He told me that I was free of any of his teachings and allegiance, and to join you if I willed.” She looked at Elrom, “You, broken mage, are to be my new project.”

Kaito was still reeling from this revelation. An innocent man, by my hand, and the man I trusted has my child. “Seek the dark and you’ll find me. I’m not far.” He thought and turned to Fictus. “Shadow, Is there anything near here with a name like shadow or dark.” Fictus was quiet and seemed to be searching his distant memories. “Yes, Shadow Lake. It’s about an hour’s ride by horse, it’s to the North.” He said, and, Raymond, Elrom, spoke up, “Then we need to get there and fast. I can get us there just as fast as a horse.” Diem laughed and slapped the back of his head. “You couldn’t cast enough to swat a fly.”

So with that they rested, the next day they started out for Shadow Lake. It was about three days before they found the spot, but there was a small lodge and the cellar door was open. Kaito was the last to enter, after he did however the doors shut, encasing the entire room in darkness. Elrom was the first to speak up, “We’re surrounded.” Diem created a small glowing orb and that was just enough for the entire room to light up revealing stone figures cut to look like each one of them, including Diem and Maji. They each stared at their double stunned. The statues started to move, Kaito’s double had glowing orange eyes as it reached for the sword where Ichimonji would be and Kaito drew the same, with similar effect. “Let’s go then.”

Elrom’s double held the same swords and moved with the same lithe action and assurance as when he has boosts, also the sword work was perfect, no flaw for an opponent to counter. “Dammit!” Elrom growled and charged in heedlessly.

Fictus stood opposite his double, they circled each other. They moved in a perfect mirror of each other. They made the same testing feint and then stepped back into the solid fighting stance that was long ingrained into him. “If you are as good a copy as you seem you should have no problem in killing me.”

Maji looked bewildered at the stone copy of herself, it hadn’t gained a life yet. She wasn’t sure what was happening with it, then it suddenly spring in attack, which she easily countered, though it learned very quickly and began to mimic Maji’s moves on both offense and defense. “You’ll be no problem to take down. You’re no where near my level.”

Diem stood opposite her figure. It had a flute and was playing it. “This isn’t like you Liam...” Diem said and looked at the statue, it seemed a cruel mockery of her prowess as a fighter. She knew him to be cold, but not down right cruel. She walked up and touched it, it felt like real stone, and the tune was unlike anything she’d ever played. She touched the flute, it seemed to glow golden under her touch and she noticed that the statue was not actually moving, but it was magic playing the tune. The flute was golden, it was real, it was a replica of her flute, or maybe more precise, hers was a replica of this one. She removed her glove and touched the flute. Her brand glowed when she did, it was more powerful then her old flute, and thus she took it.

The music continued and the phantom flute was still there, but she now saw that her old mentor had not been as cruel as she thought, and she played. He wanted her to find this, he wanted her at her peak so that the other could be at theirs. “Thank you Liam.” she thought with a tear in her eye.

Kaito noticed his speed increase first he used it to dodge an excellent blow in a berserker fashion, thus countering with a solid thrust and shattering the illusion. “He would use magic against us? He would attempt to kill us with ourselves? He knows nothing of us and yet he tries to kill. GIVE US OUR SON!” He shouted and started off into a lower recess of the room.

Fictus was now on an even field with his opponent, and even though the copy was magnificent, it held two flaws, the first seemed less like a flaw then it was, but the copy seemed like it had never known the true style, thus he had an edge. The second was that it had always been boosted, so thus it thought fictus was as well. Those two would end this fight quickly. He waited for to counter strike, and when he did the double countered his counter and with the new enhanced speed and strength, he shattered it, it was as Kaito had said, though it was more complex, it used rock in the illusion and was solid in part, just hollow. “A supreme craftsman.” He admired and went after Kaito.

Elrom had his hands full and was pushed to perfection of his own style. “Damn, he’s good at reading my movements.” Then he heard the tune, he would have felt the rush of energy that the others had if he wasn’t using his own magics. “Shit, looks like I have no choice.”

Maji had made short work of her statue before Diem had even started to play and was focused on Elrom. She wouldn’t interfere with his match, it wasn’t her place. She walked to Diem and once all but Elrom had left she whispered softly to Diem, “We’ve no more purpose in this room. The statues cannot cast and Elrom is just stupid enough to do something dangerous. Let us follow Kaito.” Diem nodded and the two made after Kaito and Fictus.

Elrom heard the music stop and saw the light leave. “Perfect. A better scenario I couldn’t have planned. He knows my moves, but hasn’t casted. He can’t cast my style. So I have an edge. Though he’ll counter wind and earth, I have one choice...” he thought and pulled inside him for one of those wild torrents of nature. The ones that required more finesse to harness effectively, but that wasn’t going to be a problem, he didn’t want precision, he wanted power.

Fictus heard what is probably an explosion, he also felt a raw magic, “What in the...” He was soon joined by Diem and Maji. “Where’s Elrom?” They shook their heads, “We left, there was nothing we could do for him, then Fire.” “He couldn’t be that stupid. Wait, I take that back. Go on, Kaito’s going to need you.” Fictus said and looked back toward the room where Elrom was. Maji and Diem were going to object but saw the look in his eye and decided he was right. They moved on and Fictus returned to the room to find it smoldering and smoking.

Kaito rushed into the room, it held four braziers, and a throne of what looked like human bone. The figure on top of it was one that was very familiar. “Ilam...” Kaito growled. The figure was dressed in richer clothing, Black slacks and shirt that seemed to shimmer and a blood red cape that was trimmed in what looked like fur. He stood and laughed the blue eyes held a glint of true danger. The hair that looked so unassuming now framed his face in a frightening way. “Liam is the real name, and your son, is long since dead. That’s what you get when you hire a bunch of cut throats to kidnap a child. I killed your wife personally.” Kaito snarled and growled like a wild beast. “I’ll rip your head off, just so you can watch as I gut you slowly.”

“You’d be lucky to find me. I’m one of the most powerful assassins there is. I am not only expertly trained with a sword but in my magic style. Illusion. I know how to be anywhere and do anything. I might not even be in this room with you for all you know.” Liam said and laughed. There was an explosion that rocked the room knocking some dust out of the rafters. “It seems like Raymond discovered my flaw. I was hoping he would join us, but I suppose that’s just too much to ask.”

“What do you mean?” Kaito yelled, and Liam answered in time. He walked forward first, getting closer, though not in immediate strike distance. “I mean he knew I’d block wind and earth, so the only option left to him would be destruction. He would have to tap into his fear to win. He chose the wilder of the two, fire. Good choice, and no doubt he’s still alive, the earth and wind would have protected him, but he’s smoldering, just like the room.”

Diem and Maji made their way into the room. “Ah, my sweet pupil, you’ve learned much, and if I’d known more of your... pet, I’d have made things harder for her. Instead she was a wild card. She beat my puppet handily and left Elrom to his fate, both of you did, Thank you for such a great show. I’m glad you found my present. You can pay me back by staying out of this and holding off his friend Fictus.” Liam said and appeared behind Kaito, the guns at his side being thrown as well as his other sword. Then he was back in front of Kaito.

“Let us make this more fun shall we?” Liam said, to which Kaito asked, “I know of the Drangor family, and I know that the mother was brutally killed, Are you son to that family? Why would you deceive me?” “Ilam was a sweet boy, and his mother was a good woman. A shame you didn’t know much about them. You’d have paid more attention to my hand.” He said and held up his right hand. “No mark, The Drangor were great royal guards, and all royal guard are Detection mages. Don’t want pesky illusionists like me hanging around. Bad for the king, you see. Very detrimental to his health. Suddenly the hand changed and a solid glow was from it in a glyph pattern. “There are six different glyphs, but even with illusions I can’t alter mine. If I tried my entire system of magic would unravel and I’d never be able to touch the source again, though concealment is quite easy.”

“You would have looked for that glyph, and you would have known what it meant. You wouldn’t have been caught off guard by the man hired to kill you and break your sword.” Liam said and heard a flute being played. “Beautiful Diem, she’s quite the girl, and loyal.” “What doe she have to do with you?” Kaito roared, he took a step forward. He wanted the story before he ripped out this man’s throat.

“A long while back a young woman asked my tutelage in the art of controlling higher magics. I being very capable in the subject, I taught her the way I was taught, it was harsh and until just three days ago, she was blocked by her own mental capabilities, and that was because I made her take herself to that limit and she never drew more. She was cautious, and didn’t know that with time, your reservoir expands so to speak. So I had to fix that.” Liam said and started to walk around the room.

Kaito lunged and fell through the illusion dissipating it for a second before it reformed his sword leaving his person, with that a laugh came from right beside Kaito. He held the sword in his hand. “Ichimonji. It’s good to finally see you, and I’m sorry to say, but your owner is going to perish.” A shout came from the the side, it was Maji and Diem they were blown out of the way, a great wave of fire, and Liam took advantage of the confusion and stabbed Kaito in the throat.

Elrom stepped through the fire and Liam smiled widely. “Another student of my school and happy coincidence that you are more powerful because of it.” There was no words from Elrom just a rush and suddenly Liam was on the ground. Ichimonji landed directly in his hand, and his eyes changed to orange. His voice changed and there was a great roar. Then it was a there was a smile. “I’ve lived under that pissy killer with no magic. This body is perfect.” There was a laugh and then a blinding light. and the glyph changed to a detection glyph.

“That’s not possible” Liam was shocked and he tried to attack but was cut down. “Before I kill you, what is your surname?” Liam, losing a lot of blood smiled, “Alexander.” and with a laugh he lost his head. With that Elrom and the rest left the dungeon, most were mourning Kaito and Liam. Elrom, or Ichimonji, left that day, to find the man, Alexander who they knew from way back, in a time when he barely remembered.