Destiny: Book of Light Page 9

  "The Elishmer are forces that define the stars and that beyond it. They have the ability to allow life or take it away. Create worlds or destroy Universes. There are those of them that are good and those that are bad and they are constantly at war. We do not know much more about them, but what we do know is that the one trapped in this world is one of the most powerful of the evil Elishmer and if he is free he will alert all of his presence. That would not work out well for this Universe and most likely even further beyond this, would be destroyed. I myself can not imagine the destruction that would occur. I have felt the presence of an evil Elishmer but only in singular form and in passing, and that was horrific. I can not comprehend what would happen should they unite and attack." "So it must stopped, what do I need to do?" "For now get started on reading the book. It will give you an understanding on the power you're going to have and need." He began.

  Morning broke through the port hole of his room. He jumped out of his bunk and his head seemed blurry from the night before. He knew he was supposed to have read the book last night but he guessed that he had fallen asleep. His mind was silent now. The book lay on the table gleaming in the sunlight. It was now gold again. He got dressed and packed what he needed into his gear bag. He took apart his guns, cleaned them and reassembled them again. Then he made his way to the chow room where breakfast was already being served. The ship was well over it's capacity of men so he had to stand while he ate. The men were in deep debates about where they were going and why the cargo bays were off limits. Some of the more popular arguments were that they were carrying one of the few remaining nukes but who they were targeting nobody could say. Vulita was chatting to a sailor at the table.

  The captain entered the room and all fell silent. Sean couldn't help but grin at the respect they all had for him even though some of them had just met him. "Clear the table lads." It was done with efficiency. He laid charts out on the table.

  "Right lads, I'm sorry about the circumstances of secrecy, but there are many who are probing the workings of this mission and we could not allow any security breach. There is no turning back from here boys, we're after hitting the south polar current. No small boat would last out here, any big ships that actually risk this path would more than likely be pirates and good luck trying to swim home. Sorry about that, but that's why yer being paid so much. What are we doin here you ask? Well we have a fight ahead of us boys. It doesn't matter whether it's in a year or a day, the fight is coming. You all know what's been brewing in the Tamshir Valleys. There is no hiding from him. We are now officially the worlds last chance at survival."

  After the faces went pale one of the older, more experienced crew members said, "Your fucking kidding me right?" "No Grellick I wish I was." "But we're not an army, we don't stand a chance." "Actually we stand the best chance. We have with us a weapon produced from the worst times of our planet and hidden and denied ever since." "What? Rumbled through the crowd. "Sean if you will."

  Sean went to the back and opened the door. A very large man stood there. His face hidden in the shadows of the massive black hooded cloak he wore. "Who's this, superman?" joked Grellick. "Not exactly," the captain added with a grin on his face. "Zenith if you would be so kind as to demonstrate."

  The hooded figure raised his arm out in front of him. As he did the claw like appearance of his actual hand emerged from the cloak. His fingers, long, grey and bony twitched for a second and then the cup Grellick was taking a sip from, heated in his hand causing him to drop it. It smashed on the table and as the tea begin to spill out from it, it all froze. The liquid did not continue to spill, instead the whole process of the cup being smashed began to move in reverse. The sailors watched in absolute silent awe, their faces dropping with shock or white with fear. All except the captain and Sean who shared the same grin. Vulita looked to Sean.

  The cup fully restored itself and began to rise into the air centered among everyone's gaze. Zeniths hand twitched again and the cup fell into dust and then appeared hovering centered in his hand, where it caught fire in a blue flame and dissolved into what appeared to look like a black hole on a small scale in the palm of Zeniths hand. After it was all gone he slowly lowered his hand. Silence echoed. Nobody moved, said anything and barely breathed as they stared at the figure searching for an answer, confused as to what actually just happened.

  The captain spoke. "This is Zenith. Leader of the Rionions." Zenith entered the room followed closely by two more hooded figures which were previously unseen. Many thought of the hatred held for the Rionions and the previous hell they had put the rest of the world through.

  The captain spoke again. "I know what yer all thinking lads, but these lads here had nothing to do with what happened in the dark days. It was the corporation. Most of these were down and outs or gang members who were mutated by the radiation of the Dissect bomb. And besides we have no choice. We know what it's like sending military after him, we all were affected by the conscription, whether you went or not you knew someone who did." A muttered "Here, here," went through the crowd as the acknowledgement of the dead was commonly agreed to.

  The captain spoke again. "Now we have no choice left, nothing we have tried works and he is constantly gaining power. These lads however, some of them picked up amazing abilities, and insights into the world and it's hidden untouched power that none of us will ever understand. "So what captain, they are just goin to fight for us? We'll have to do nothing?" "No lads sorry, yer here to fight too. They can't do everything by themselves, they are not invincible. There will be others there to help us, there will be 34 ships assembling on the Drechnoil Beach. All of the worlds most skilled warriors have been assembled in secret. Our mission was to contact the Rionions through Sean here, but we ran into some trouble along the way. Listen, at the end of the day we're goin to have to fight this battle. It is inevitable. It's just a matter of do you want to fight it on your front doorstep with all that we know and love at risk, or do you want to be part of the last chance our home has. All the most skilled the Earth has to offer on a final stand giving our homes one last chance?"

  "Aye," started through the crowd and raised to cheering as the final stand spirit was born. As the Rionions left the room again, Zenith stopped and looked Sean up and down. "You have changed Sean," he spoke in a hoarse whisper. "I acknowledge you."

  He bowed and walked on. The captain watched with a silent curiosity as did Vulita who was very quiet but very observant since she got onboard.

  Even with the earlier cheers for revolution, the journey went on in a sombre light. All had one thing on their mind and that was him. They were deep in his gaze now, they knew it, and he had a lot of influence in his domain. To start the weather was devastating with massive waves and high speed winds. Already a death occurred on board as an older man was washed overboard and lost to the sea, but the real trouble was about to begin. The Ice caps were the first obstacle. Miles of ice. Broken in a enigma of pieces and rejoined through freezing again and again. This left towers of different icebergs soaring into the sky and then coming crashing down as the bottoms broke apart again.

  The ship was well built for these abnormal ice conditions but progress was slow, often requiring the crew to dig in front of the ship to help it along. Six days in and things were getting mundane. 2 more crew members had perished because of falling ice towers, but other than that the repetitiveness of pick axing the ice was soul destroying for all on board. They were putting in 20 hour days, of which 18 hours may have been picking ice. Muscles were tired and frostbite had become an issue among the natural humans on board. And all we're at least weak from the cold, but the Rionions did not take part in the work to the disdain of the crew.

  That night they were building a fire on board, in their make do fireplace on deck. The sound of cracking ice was all to be heard on the crisp night, but "Picking," had stopped for now as they had come to soft ice, or as the captain liked to call it, level three ice. Thinner than level 2 ice that required picking and much thinner
than the level 1 ice of the glaciers themselves. There were seven people on deck including Sean, and the captain as always was at the bridge.

  "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.