Chapter 2 Back

And here they are...

Three years ago a great battle was fought in this very same underground chamber. It used to have meaning... it used to have purpose... but not now.

The once beautiful and detailed statues were levelled by a very powerful spell that Arrowny cast during his last battle. The floor is covered in a thick layer of dust, and the only distinguishing factor of the entire place is the katana sticking out of the ground near the center of the chamber.

It is Sky Render... Arrowny's sword.

Brad placed it there as a sign of respect for his fallen comrade... not knowing just how important that action would be to his current plan... one of the requirements of the spell is that it needs to be cast in the same location where the original event took place.

The three Warriors form a triangle around the sword. Brad pulls Sky Render from the ground and sets it off to the side. Each of the Warriors knows their own job... while Saphir casts the actual spells to open a portal, create a new body, rip Arrowny's spirit from his old body, and force the spirit into the new one, Justin will keep the dimensional vortex stable using some of his home-made gadgets. Brad's job is to perform the actual ritualistic aspects of the spells... placing components in the right way, lighting candles and such, so that Saphir can concentrate on the spells.

Saphir touches one of his cards to the blade of the Glaive. He speaks the language passed down through the Warriors of his family. In the center of the triangle a bright blue swirl appears in the air. Justin switches on the dimensional flux device, and after a few moments of work, the blue swirl turns to a jet black tear in the fabric of reality...

... everything's fine. The first part of the plan is to make a new body for Arrowny.

Saphir starts a new chant... some ancient language. He is deep in concentration as Brad places a photograph of Arrowny on the ground. The spell requires that blood be traded for bone and flesh. Brad pulls a small blessed dagger, and pulls the blade down across his hand. A few drops fall on the photograph, and as Saphir continues chanting, the image of Arrowny in the picture glows red through the thin layer of blood upon it.

The dust on the ground around them swirls, blown by an unfelt wind. As Saphir continues to chant, the dust takes on a human shape. It starts to condense, becoming more and more solid as the spell continues. The shape is familiar to them... Arrowny's height and basic body structure. After a few minutes, the dust has completely taken shape, and with a flash of light... he's standing before them.

It's Arrowny... dressed in his usual jeans, t-shirt, denim jacket, and sunglasses. He's aged three years... one of the special effects that Saphir worked into his chant. If they manage to get him back, they want him to fit into the group easily.

It does look odd though... Arrowny standing there, totally expressionless. There is nothing in the body... it's heart is beating... it is breathing... but there is no essence... no personality.

The next part of the plan is to send magic through the portal, and tear Arrowny's spirit from his cursed body. This is the most difficult part, for a few reasons. Firstly, although it takes very little effort on Brad's part, the other two Warriors have a great deal of work ahead of them. This will be a very draining spell on Saphir, and with all the magics flowing through the dimensional opening, Justin will have a hard time keeping the dimensional flux constant. There is a risk that the portal could colapse... or, it could expand, and suck them all into the void... or it could just rip the universe apart one atom at a time... they're not sure.

Beads of sweat form on Saphir's forehead as he chants. Justin's hands start to shake... Brad fears that they're going to fail.

But they don't... Justin keeps the portal stable... and when Saphir ends the spell, he has a small smile on his face. He thinks it worked.

Now the final part of the ritual. Arrowny's spirit must be drawn through the void, and through the portal, and into the new body.

This is, potentially, the easiest part. There is no necessary magic... just blood, again. Arrowny's blood will draw his essence.

Brad lifts Sky Render. It seems fitting that this sword be the one to draw its owners blood. Brad takes Arrowny's left arm in his hand, and slowly draws the sword across the wrist. He must cut deep... but not too deep. Saphir explained the reason that the blood had to come from the wrist, but Brad didn't pay attention... he just knew it had to... and that's all that matters.

The reaction is nearly immediate.

The essence of Arrowny... his spirit... his soul... whatever... rushes through the blue portal, making the chamber glow with red light. It strikes the empty body, and forces itself within, right through the skin.

Arrowny takes a deep breath, gasping for air. His arms wave around in a panic, splashing thin lines of blood all over the four of them.

In his panic, he looks all around him... sees his friends. As quickly as his panic had come... it is gone.

And then the explosion happens.

Arrowny's body erupts in flames. The force of the heat alone knocks the other three Warriors to the ground.

* * * * * *

“What the HELL!”

Brad shouts as he scrambles to his feet. Saphir and Justin are already up, franticly trying to get close to Arrowny... to put the flame out. But Brad notices something odd...

... Ryan's not burning... he's shivering.

“Guys... something's not right.”

He reaches in, carefully... places his hand in the fire... and feels no pain. He moves to help Arrowny up, but as soon as he touches his shoulder, Brad jumps back, wincing, and holding his hand.

“It's hot?” Saphir asks, not really sure of what else to do.

Brad shakes his head.

“No... cold...”

Electricity arcs over Arrowny's body, and Justin nods his head.

“I get it. His powers are a little screwed up right now... being shoved into a new body and all. It'll probably take some time to get them under control. In the meantime, I should be able to help.”

Justin blinks slightly, and the flames on Arrowny's body die down. He stops shaking, and the electricity vanishes.

Brad and Saphir help Arrowny to his feet, but have to support him. He's dazed... his eyes are unfocused... his breathing is unsteady.

Saphir starts out toward the exit.

“Let's get out of here.”

A good idea, in theory.

They leave all the spell components in the chamber, and take only their weapons as they wind their way through the tunnels that lead them to the surface.

They only get about half way when they're stopped by a nasty looking group of people.

Knights...

... full body armour...

...medievil weapons...

... Brad wants to be their friend...

... they don't want to be his.

The leader, a large man in black armour, with a flowing red cape, and a large helmet, steps foward.

“You are the Dragoon Warriors. You are guilty of crimes against humanity. Come with us to face your punishment.”

The twenty or so knights behind him raise thier respective weapons.

Brad and Saphir set Ryan on the ground, as they and Justin draw their weapons. Brad steps foward...

“Who the hell are you and what are we being punished for.”

“We are the Knights of Human Purity. You have been found guilty of using magic, and thus poluting the human race with unnatural energies.”

Saphir looks confused...

“You're going to punish us for using magic?”

“Only the ones called 'Saphir', 'Justin', and 'Arrowny'.”

Brad nods.

“Cool. I don't get punished.”

“On the contrary.” The lead Knight points his broadsword at Brad. “You will be punished just as the rest... for you have allied yourself willingly with those whom would dare to use magics.”

The leader gives a signal, and the knights charge. Just as the two groups are about to colide, a quiet voice sounds from the ground.

“Wait...”

Everybody turns to look at Arrowny, who is slowly getting to his feet, holding his hand out before him. He steadies himself against the wall of the tunnle, and faces the Knight leader.

“You... know who I am?”

“You... are the one called Arrowny.”

“You know what I can do?”

“I do...”

Arrowny nods...

“Okay. Then... here's the deal. You let us go... or I flash, freeze and fry every single one of you.”

The knights turn to their leader for a signal. He holds up his hands and takes a step back.

“We will have many oppertunities to punish you four in the near future. There is no reason to risk my men today.”

They step aside, allowing the Warriors to pass. Brad still has to help Arrowny, but he is walking a little better on his own.

As soon as they are away from the chamber's magic protection fields, Saphir uses his Warp spell to take them back to the Dragoon Warriors house.

* * * * * *

Sharod steps into the chamber. The faint blue glow of the still open portal casts an errie light on the dust, and he can just make out the footprints of the Warriors. He smiles... they forgot to close the portal.

He waits for a moment... no longer... and something falls through. Sharod waves a hand, and the portal is gone from this place. He walks over to the thing... the body.

Had he ever seen Ryan Arrowny before, Sharod would have been very surprised at the striking physical resemblance this body has to the former Protector. It has this resemblance, simply because it is, in fact, Ryan Arronwy's body.

Or... it used to be.

The thing which inhabbits it now is something quite different from human. It stands, looking around the room. The skin on its body has become something different... like scales... and there is a line of short spines running down each side of the nose. The eyes are black, with bright yellow pupels. It sniffs the air, and turns to Sharod, who bows.

“My Lord. You have been in the void for one hundred thousand years. I, Sharod, a humble servent of the Four, have brought you back. There is a temple waiting... your servents have keept hope alive that you would return. They are prepared. Word will sound throughout the demon world... for if you are back, the remaining of the Four will soon follow... and the many races of demon will be egar to join their army. We will find a way to release them... my Lord Minion.”

The demon smiles... and they vanish from the spot.