Disclaimer: I don’t own Beyblade.

I’m using the original-version names:

Yuri = Tala             Giancarlo = Enrique  

Takao = Tyson       Mao = Mariah

Sergey = Spencer   Ivan = Ian

Boris = Bryan        Rai = Lee

***

 

For All Who Gave Their Lives

***

 

Chapter 15:  High Hopes

***

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young

In our world of magnets and miracles

Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary

The ring of the division bell had begin

                                                      (Pink Floyd ‘High Hopes’)

 

***

 

 Finally Kai gingerly lifted the head half-expecting that it was a trap. Nothing happened – the body part was cold and looked like any freshly cut-off head. It didn’t explode, it didn’t transform into anything – it was.

-         Are you going to stare at that bloody thing whole day? – the redhead growled, having stood up. – And as for you, you annoying woodland pixie…

-         I am not a pixie. – the small boyish creature growled. – Do you want me to call you ‘girly’?

-         Who are you? – Rai asked with a dangerous edge in his voice.

-         That’s the guardian spirit of the forest nearby. – a feminine voice chimed in. They all turned around to face a brown-clad white-haired lady lean over the wall with her arms crossed over her chest.

-         Mother! – Gerda cried, shocked.

-         Good Day, my child. – the woman calmly answered. – Do you need any further proof that Helga has been killed?

-         Mistress Ingrid? – Rei looked at the elder woman quizzically. – You don’t have to hold up that spell anymore?

-         No. As I said before Helga is dead. – the white-haired mage adjusted the hair which was combed back into a basket-like hairdo made of braids on the back of her neck.

-         That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you! – Ivan piped up outraged. – Is it so hard to believe me?!

-         I’d still like to know who the rest is. – Kai said frowning darkly.

-         Yuri son of Louhi. – the half-elf replied.

-         Kinomiya Takao, pleased to meet you.

-         Giancarlo Donatore and this is my cousin Lucrezia. – the minstrel introduced both himself and the black-haired woman.

-         Sergey and this be Boris.

-         A Northern half-elf? Here? – the young lord eyed the red-head suspiciously, who sneered at the dual-haired man.

-         Got a problem with that?  - Yuri growled taking a step towards the garnet-eyed man.

-         Will you all calm down?! – Gerda’s mother said quite silently and calmly, but in rather intimidating fashion. – Now, if you allow M’Lord, I’ll ask the questions.

-         Whatever.

-         Thank you, M’Lord. What brings you here Ivan? – the woman ignored the adventurers and started talking with the puck.

-         That. – the woodland spirit pointed at Helga’s head. – Since she’s dead I thought I’d say hello.

-         That’s nice, but would you care to explain why did you take those children with you?

-         Hey! -  LLucrezia wanted to protest, but Ivan swiftly broke in.

-         They killed Helga and had some business here. – the puck shrugged. – You might be nice to them and help them, since they already did Helga in.

-         I’m supposed to pay them?! – Kai cried, quite annoyed.

-         No. We are looking for information. – Giancarlo said.

-         Blödmann. – mumbled Boris.

-         Information? – the young lord arched his eyebrow. – What sort of information?

-         We’re looking for a lich named Balkov and he is somehow related to your family. – the red-haired warrior answered briskly. – We need information about him.

-         Balkov?.. – Ingrid gave the half-elf an unreadable look. – We do not posses information about person named like this. You said he was a lich?..

-         He is one.

-         And why do you seek him?

-         To kill him!

-         You’re either very brave or very stupid then. – chimed in Gerda. – Killing a mage like Helga is one thing, but a lich?!. That’s much more difficult, not to mention dangerous!

-         And you’re going to stop me? – the redhead hissed.

-         You wish to kill the lich? – Ingrid raised her eyebrows. – Calm down Gerda – it’s his problem, not ours…

-         There was a necromancer a good while ago, alright. – mused Rai.

-         If it’s only information you seek, we may help. – decided Kai.

***

 

-         Miriam? – Varlanreva’s low voice made the blue-haired woman’s bones vibrate. – Get your three Saint Shields here. I need you to prepare something for this little half-elf.

 The green-eyed beauty frowned regarding her ruler.

-         I know, it would be more convenient if he finds out more about Balkov, but why employ Ozuma?

 

The Silverball spell is the most effective method of destroying undead. It has been proved that it is effective not only against regular zombies and animated skeletons, but also high undead like vampires or liches. It can be only preformed by powerful magi specializing in light magic. The inventor was the great sorceress Danau. (…)

 (‘Encyclopaedia Magica’ Myrddin ap Taliesin)

Every mage must choose a specialisation. The most common ones are the elements: Fire, Earth, Wind and Water. There are seven schools of Light – one in the ancient Elven city of Blue Star, one in Venezza, two in Var (…). The rarest specialisations are: Heart, Necromancy and Darkness.

(‘Encyclopaedia Magica’ Myrddin ap Taliesin)

***

 

 Ingrid silently regarded the adventurers, estimating them. They seemed a rather rag-tag group – not really close to each other. They couldn’t have known each other for long – and yet such groups had the same chance of killing a powerful enemy like those of old friends. I cannot help you much. The mage banned from this house was one of red aura and his specialization should have been fire. – she started. – Do you wish to learn about liches?

-         If you know something which might help. – Yuri shrugged.

-         A lich is undead, so you can kill him like any other undead: using a silver weapon or by a Silverball spell.  In your case I’d rather buy a silver dagger and look for good ways of piercing magical shields.

-         He can protect himself from the Silverball. – the half-elf said. – Has some kind of magical cloak. Look you don’t have to tell me anymore. I know how to fight liches, but I don’t know where to find him.

-         I don’t know where to find him as well. – the woman gave the young warrior a closer look. – However, I have heard of a magical scroll which enables you to find any person or object you wish. It is said it is in the possession of the Varan Emperor – the dragon Varlanreva.

-         Oh, by the way ma’am, you can’t kill an undead, you can destroy it. – Takao pointed out, smiling helpfully. Gerda’s mother raised her eyebrows.

-         In my age you can afford to make such mistakes, child.

-         Yeah, you don’t have much time left, anyway. – snorted Boris.

***

 

 A young brown-haired woman in Nipponian armor stopped and took out some food. She munched the bread angrily, her chocolate-coloured eyes focused angrily on a nearby tree. A naginata was strapped to her back.

 - You’re not getting away from me, Kinomiya. – she growled. – You can hide, but you won’t get rid of me. And I will not allow you to humiliate me!

***

 

Translations:

 Blödman (German) – idiot

***

 

A/N:

 I’ve felt like making the magic using system more complicated – hence the whole specialization thing. Add the auras and it’s probably rather complicated.  

 I think I forgot to mention that earlier and since it’s the last time Kai and the rest will appear – Gerda’s name was taken from the story of the Snow Queen. The main male hero was boy named Kai and the female one was Gerda.

 Next chapter expect some more action.

***

 

Go to chapter 16

Back to chapter 14