Yamada and Hakai made their way up the mountain before the break of dawn. He had a sack of Draken meat over his shoulder. "Where are we going?" Yamada asked. "And why am I wearing a Kāṣāya? Or wearing shoes?" They reached the top of the mountain with Hakai taking seat, gesturing for Yamada to do the same. He pointed to the night sky, slowly turning to dawn, at the brightest star. "What's that star?" "Oh! Um...I know this...Kapuna told me its name so many times. Argh...why can I remember it?...Lexia! It's name is Lexia!" Yamada said proudly. "Correct. She's the brightest star in the sky. She is also always watching over the east. Do you know why?" Yamada scratched his head. "Stars can be girls?" Hakai sniggered. "This one in particular is a girl."
Yamada took a seat. "The story behind Lexia is one of love and loss." Zeke rummaged through the bag of meat. Hakai slapped the back of his head. "OW!" "Pay attention!" "I can listen and eat." He frowned. Hakai shook his head. "A long time ago, Yamata and Jux were only separated by a small calm ocean. It was connected to a land known as Absol, and the people there were known as the Drow. They had skin as white as the moon, and one of them known as Lexia, choose to live with the Islanders." "She sounds pretty." "She was beautiful, so beautiful she captivated and entranced, the Hebi." "The Serpent?" "Yes, the guardian of Yamata. When night fell Lexia would dance atop the Oeo, and the Hebi would watch her from below the water with its eight heads." "Eight heads? It had eight heads?" Yamada asked concerned. "The Hebi would make sure that no water ever splashed her as she performed. For it was his only enjoyment as the guardian." "Umm, is this story true in anyway?"
Hakai ignored him. "One day though Lexia was courted by a noble prince. He was captivated by her performance on the Oeo, and insisted that she marry him. He promised her riches, power and anything she could ever want." "And the Hebi didn't like that?" "Yes, he abandoned his post and took the form of a human. He waited till night time and for the first time in his life, he watched the love of his life splash in the water, jumping with joy. He rushed to her, drying her off, ashamed he had let the water touch her. She laughed at him and said that she had always wanted to fall into the water and meet the guardian face to face." "What happened next?" "They fell in love and courted in secret." "How is this story sad again?" "Because one day the prince found out why she had rejected his advances." "Oh...."
"He laid siege to Yamata on a night certain night. The night Lexia gave birth to their child." "Wait. The prince really wanted her for that long!? I mean know she's pretty but I don't-" "She looks like Gwyneth but better." "I understand now." "On that night the prince laid waste to everything he could touch. He left to fulfil his role as the guardian, taking his form once more, and destroying the prince's army. However the prince himself could not be found." Yamada felt his blood rising. "Returning to Lexia, he found the Prince standing over his dead child and Lexia dead in his arms. The prince bellowed that she had been defiled by him, and that he given her a mercy." "Please tell me he died." "In his rage and grief, the Guardian dragged the prince into the ocean between Jux and Yamata. Drowning him in the ocean the Guardian vowed that no one would ever harm Yamata again, and carried it across the ocean. Till this day his rage and grief still surges and churns the ocean." "You're saying he made the Maelstrom?" "Yes."
"And when he's child and Lexia died. They became that star?" "Yes..." "What was the point of that story?" Hakai took a deep breath composing himself. "The point of that story...never mind. Just know that Lexia will always watch over Yamata. Which means if you ever need to find home, walk towards the her." "I already know how to find east and west. I have trouble with north and south." Hakai rolled his eyes. "Walk towards the star and you will eventually find Artaraxus. If you miss it. You deserve to die." "Wait is that why you brought me up here? I can leave?" "Yes, you can leave. Keep with your training, and remember you are not an Islander. You are from Artaraxus and have come back from your travels at Kumo." He rustled Yamada's hair. He pushed Hakai away. "Agh! What was that for?" He held a mirror out showing Yamada's now silver regal hair.
"Wow...I look..." "It has been...interesting to meet you Yamada. However it is time you left for your friends, and for I to visit the Citadel." "Yeah, I guess it's been interesting." "Before we part, remember three things Yamada." "What's that?" "True strength comes in forgiveness, and that I've always wanted to do this since I met you." "Wh-" Hakai embraced Yamada. He awkwardly stood there. "What was the third thing?" Yamada asked trying to get out of this situation. "To tuck and roll when you land." "Huh?" Hakai took Yamada by the nape and entered into his Draken state. "HEY! What are you-" He pegged Yamada like a ball across the mountain creating a sonic boom. "I HAT-" Hakai smirked hearing his voice fade into the distance. He returned to normal letting out a relieved sigh. He embraced the silence and peace with pure bliss. "Finally...Peace and-" A giant water ball flew into his face, splattering everywhere. "Osore, I know he's our family, but I swear I'm going to murder him."
Yamada transformed stopping his fall and looking back with a smug smile. "Alright head east. Can't miss Artaraxus. I cannot fail this." He ventured onwards towards the rising sun wearing a new found smile. "Let's see how fast I can get there." He said transforming and taking to the skies. Ul'lanna and Jacara entered Artaraxus and immediately ventured for the castle walls. Posing as the hundredth Elven princess and bodyguard, the Artraxians heeded them no mind. The two overlooked the mesmerizing city with bulging eyes, a mixture of awe, shock and dread. "I don't think you know who could actually destroy this place." Ul'lanna said through the corner of her mouth. "Are you nuts? Of course he couldn't! This place is almost triple the size of the Citadel, maybe even the Silver City. Why is Artaraxus so damn big!?" Jacara exclaimed. A guard scoffed. The two glared at him. "Something to share?" Ul'lanna said with a stern voice.
"This is the smallest section of Artaraxus." "You say what now?" Jacara said struggling to comprehend him. "This is the smallest one. There's three more." "Come again?" Ul'lanna said. "I thought you Elves were meant to have amazing hearing." "We heard you, we want an explanation!" They snapped. "Go take a walk to the north side, and find out yourself." He said walking away with a smug smile. The two shared a concerned look, sprinting off. Stopping at the north west section being handed a spyglass. Their jaws dropped seeing another kingdom in the distance. Ul'lanna looked to the guard. "Wh-what is that?" "That's Vexgar." "The Grand Knight?" "The prince was named after his great ancestors kingdom." "Then you mean...there are two more?" Jacara asked concerned. The guard gave him a puzzled nod. The two sprinted off. "Shit!" Ul'lanna shouted. "Fuck!"Jacara cursed. The two traded profanity running to the north side.
Peering through the spy glass they found an even larger kingdom in front of them. "How big is it?" Ul'lanna asked. "Tiny." "Really?" "No! It's fucking gigantic! It makes this....um...." "South point." A guard added. "South point look like a fucking pebble!" The two three their hands into the air, stomping away blurting out different profanities. They sat in a quiet spot ensuring they could not be spied on. "What now?" Jacara pouted. "I don't know...Yamada might be strong to destroy one of these quadrants after absorbing the Fork, but not all of them." "Even if he did, we would be surrounded by three other ones. DAMN IT!" Jacara shouted. "What the fuck are we meant to do now? We came all this way, and our plan is derailed because some assholes don't know how to draw maps properly?" "We'll have to think of something else."
"Like what? We don't even know if Yamada is following us. For all we know his grand dad is more crazy than he is, and killed him." "Don't talk like that!" "Lanna, we have nothing. You and I aren't even remotely strong enough to take a portion of this quadrant out. If we keep acting like this princess, we're gonna get caught and get those following us killed. We can't just sit here and wait." "I know that, but maybe we don't have to just wait." "What are you thinking?" She drew a map of Artaraxus, the four quadrants shaped in a diamond. Hendrik to the far north. Axilas to the right, Vexgar to the left and Alexandra to the south. "Yamada will eventually come here. To the Vexgar quadrant, until he gets there. We will scout our exit path and weaknesses of the Axilas to the west." "Weaken the structure before trying to break it. That's fucking brilliant! There's the reason I fell in love with you." "Please, I have an amazing body. You fell in love with that first." "Smart and beautiful isn't that what everyone man wants?" "Go scout Axilas quadrant." Jacara kissed her cheek. "Maybe later?" "Later." She said kissing him back.
Alexandra was slung on the back of the wagon with Bi'ranna and Zi'lara dragging it along. She was splayed out drenched in sweat her muscles twitching and spasming. "Put....it...haaaaaaaaa....d-OW...n..." Alexandra wheezed. "We got it you weird muscle woman." Zi'lara slapped Bi'ranna's arm. "Ow! What was that for?" "Don't call her that." He frowned. "She has muscle and is weird. Am I wrong?" "She...is...right." "You still shouldn't call her that." The two carried on with laboured breathing, building a sweat with their arms going numb. "How much...further?" Zi'lara asked trying to keep a steady breath. "A few...more..nghhh...days..." Bi'ranna grunted dragging the wagon over a rock. "We'll stop at the Vexgar quadrant. Mum and Dad will be so happy to see me back, and they'll shower us in food and baths." Bi'ranna pulled with a new sense of invigoration. "Zi'lara! Move your ass soldier! We're getting there by tomorrow!"
Valsko and Urkse entered into the Hendrik quadrant. The two were dressed as wealthy merchants from Kal'Nar. "Where's this damn sword?" Urkse asked. "In there." Valsko pointed to the giant bronze coliseum in the centre. Cheers erupted from within, and the ground shook. Urkse braced himself. "Earthquake?" "No, excitement." Valsko said with a smirk. The two paid their fee entering into the coliseum with over a hundred thousand cheering fans. "Do you people all just watch others fight for sport?" "Sometimes they watch them fight for their lives." Valsko walking closer. In the very centre of the arena a black staff jutted out from the ground. He scoffed smiling at it. "Still there. That stupid thing was the key to destroying this place the whole time." "Let's grab and it go. We're strong enough to handle them." Urkse said. "Why don't you wait for him to take a try?" "Who?" Valsko pointed to Begron standing in the arena. "Begron. What's he doing here?" "Calm your tits. Looks like he's here for a demonstration."
An orchestra of trumpets blared silencing the crowd. "Here comes the most annoying man to exist." Valsko said. Urkse gave a dirty look. A man clad in golden robes holding a golden cudgel bedazzled with every gem possible emerged. "MY CITIZENS! WE ARE HONOURED TO HAVE A GUEST!" He bellowed. Urkse rubbed his ears. "His voice is grating." He said. "Wait for it." A woman stood beside the man dressed the same with regal and perfect hair to her knees. "PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER-" Urkse grit his teeth hearing the woman's shrill voice. "Eugh! Who are those two?" "You don't recognize king and queen Xenarith?" Urkse lurched forward squinting at them. "They...they look terrible. What happened to them?" "Lose two children emotionally and one physically, does things to you apparently. " "FOR THE GREATEST WARRIOR TO EVER LIVE!" She continued. Begron stood awkwardly in the centre of the silent arena.
Luci and Aurelia sat in a private seating area near the front. The two covered their ears. "Mummy! Can you make her stop talking? She hurts my hears." She pouted. "Wish I could." She said covering Luci's ears. "BEGRON ARGUL!" The king roared. The crowd erupted into cheers. "FOR HIS FIRST CHALLENGE! THE TEST OF STRENGTH!" Begron winced at her shrill voice, pretending to scrunch his nose for an itch. "THE SWORD OF AXLUN!" The crowd cheered before going quiet, watching excitedly as Begron approached the hilt. He wrapped his hand around the thick smooth hand. Giving a small testing tug, the arena did a small gasp. Taking it with both hands Begron begun to pull it up. His muscles tensed filling with Arcane Energy. It was locked in place. Focusing himself the crowd watched his calm expression begin to strain. "What's wrong? Why can't daddy carry it?" "It's a very heavy sword." He gnashed his teeth together, planting his boots into the dirt and let out a roar. The weapon twitched exciting everyone.
The hilt became white hot filling with Begron's Arcane Energy as it lifted from the ground. He trembled gritting his teeth, with a final scream and blinding explosion. Axlun's dagger was pulled a few centimetres from the ground, before it fell straight back down. Begron keeled over panting, covered in sweat, with the skin on his palms ripped off. 'That stupid thing is so fucking heavy!' "Che...Even Begron can't lift the damn thing." Valsko said. A groan rung out from the disappointed arena. "I'm sorry everyone! Looks like I'm not as strong as the Forsaken Knights." He chuckled, covering his bleeding hands. "GIVE A HAND TO BEGRON ARGUL!" He looked up to the queen, with a glare. Her voice grated on his ears. "What now? Even the greatest warrior can't move that damn thing." Urkse said. "We'll break it at a later time. For now, let's find those pillars." Valsko said.
Begron returned to Aurelia and Luci getting his hands healed. "Daddy! Why couldn't you move that sword?" "It was very heavy." "Like mummy's chest?" Begron spat trying his best to hold in his laugh. Aurelia glared at him. "Luci, go to your room." "Oh but it's boring in there! I want to go see the other Q...quay? Daddy how do you say the word?" "Quadrant." "That! I want to see the other ones." "Later. I have to discuss with your father." "Mmm, that means you're sleepy." The two looked at her. "When you call him father, and not daddy. It means you're sleepy." "Why do you think that?" Aurelia asked. "Mykel told me, when you call him daddy like me, it means you've slept well. Then he did this with his eye." Luci did a wink. Begron turned away covering his mouth. Aurelia took a deep breath through her nose. "Luci, go to your room. I have to speak with daddy okay?" "Okay." She sulked away. Waiting for the door to her private room to close. She turned her icy glare to Begron. "You can't be mad at me. Mykel told her that." "Well I am angry at you. Your daughter is miserable and the only excitement we have, is you playing with a heavy stick, and listening to a woman who should be a mute."
"I'll find people I can trust with your safety. I swear. Please just give me a bit more time." "You get three days Begron. Or I'm taking all the soldiers we can muster and having them parade us through the quadrants." "Thank you. I will find them in that time. Now, you look sleepy." He said with a sly smile. "Don't." He sniggered kissing her on the cheek. "Thank you my love. I promise this will be all over soon." He said walking out. "You better hope so. Because I hope you realize that the men here are quite exquisite." He stopped turning around. "That bronze skin is something to marvel at, I do wonder how they taste." "Exousia. Don't joke like that." "I'm not joking. You have three days, or I'm going to indulge in bronze." "You're lying." She smiled and caressed his face. "You're right. I would be caked in so much bronze and white, Luci will never want an Elf." Begron sprinted out. Aurelia wore a grin hearing his boots squeak on the marble.
As night arrived, Urkse and Valsko prowled into the coliseum sneaking past the guards. Valsko incapacitated them with a snap of his fingers. They gasped and clawed at their throats before passing out with a pained groan. "We're trying not to raise attention." Urkse whispered. "They're not dead. Relax." Urkse looked to the guard with his eyes glazed over and face pale white. "Well he is, but the others aren't. I swear." Urkse shook his head grabbing the guards body and throwing it onto the ceiling. He lacquered the guard with ink till he blended in seamlessly. "Wow, that's useful." "Don't make a habit of that." The two stood over the hilt sticking out of the ground. "This can't be a dagger. Axlun couldn't be that big." Urkse said. "Annorak hasn't ever been wrong about the Draken Guard." "Whatever help me move this thing." "You're not gonna even try to move that thing?" "If Begron can barely move it, I'm not going to. Now help me." "By doing what?" "Grab the fucking thing and pull, I'll move the earth away." Valsko rolled his eyes. "What?" "You think you're the first mage to ever try and move the dirt around this thing?" "I'm going to loosen it." Valsko took a bow and a step back. "Be my guest."
Urkse emptied his flask on the ground turning it blue. "Are you trying to soften the ground?" "Yes." Urkse said annoyed. Pulling the blue ink back the ground remained the same." He looked up to Valsko pulling his lips back to a line. "Great job." "I'm not done." Urkse remarked. He splattered the ground in red ink this time, engulfing the area in magma. Smoke and steam rose from the ground with the hilt glowing red. Urkse pulled the ink away looking at the ground completely intact. "Sooooo-" "I'm not finished!" Urkse snapped. "Alright take your time, but remember we are trying to be discrete here." Urkse grit his teeth throwing his ink into the air creating giant spears. They flew into the ground shattering apart. "What the fuck!? What is this?" "Great job. Now if you're done wasting time. Do this right way." "Which is?" Valsko gestured to the handle. "You can't be serious. There has to be a way around pulling this thing out." "There isn't. Now grab the shaft firmly with me and lift with your knees." "Fine." Urkse growled.