EPISODE 296; THE MIGRATION TO OLYMPUS PART V; DEFENDING THE OASIS PART II; THE DREAM KING'S SUCCESSOR; THE POWER OF AN ELEMENTALIST
EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTER ZANFAR'S DEFEAT…IN THE CASTLE OF DREAMS…
My Dad, Mom and Keiran stood before the Dream King.
"You heeded my summons. That makes me glad" the Dream King said.
"Why have you summoned us Gramps?" my Dad asked.
"I've heard that young Keiran here has finally managed to summon the Nightbane, the Royal Heirloom of the Houses Of Both Dreams and Nightmares and his powers appear to be developing along the Path Of the Elementalist. I suppose it's about time I started grooming Keiran for his future role as my Successor" the Dream King said.
"H-Hey Gramps…isn't it a little too early to be deciding things like that?!" my Dad argued.
"It appears my Son-in-Law the Nightmare King has his sights on young San so it is about time I started grooming Keiran. His summoning of the Nightbane is proof that the time is right and I don't want this issue to turn into a Family Feud like the one your Birth as Dreamweaver caused all those years ago Zan" the Dream King said. "Due to Zanfar's schemes, you had to grow up isolated from your real Family and the Nightmare King and I were at bitter odds with each other" the Dream King said.
"I see where you are coming from" my Dad said.
A FEW DAYS LATER…
Keiran and the Dream King stood in the Castle Of Dreams' Courtyard.
"Starting from this moment Keiran, I will teach you everything I know. You will develop your 'Nightbane Prowess', the ability to combat evil Nightmares as the Dreamweaver as well as your abilities as an Elementalist" the Dream King said.
"What's an Elementalist Great Gramps?" Keiran asked.
"It is a person who is one with the Elements. I will teach you how to channel each element by evoking upon yourself the Emotions and Virtues that align with each element. Your power as an Elementalist has great potential and when the massive range of your Elementalist Powers are combined with the Powers Of The Nightbane…you become a particularly formidable threat to the Weaver Of Calamity's Army. Eventually, I will also teach you to become a Nova-Wraith at will and summon the fearful Jumen Orkan Race to aid you in battle" the Dream King explained.
PRESENT DAY…ON SERAPHIM KRAKEN ANDROMEDA…
Keiran recalled his training sessions with the Dream King.
"Concordia, utilizing the pessimistic estimate to calculate the supplies we needed to make it to Olympus, we actually gathered more supplies than we currently need. We should be able to make it to Olympus in a single go but if we don't clear out the Nightmares assigned to this region, the Tribes that remain will be at risk. The Weaver Of Calamity is after us…not them. They are just collateral damage in his ploy to capture us" Keiran explained.
"But how do you suggest we get rid of all the Nightmares at once.
"I'll utilize my Dreamweaver Powers and fuse the Nightbane with my Powers as an Elementalist. Follow my cue" Keiran said as his armour began to glow brightly and his body began to emit a strong light.
He shut his eyes. His psyche fused with the Elements in the Desert Region, both the Aerial and Ground Elements. He saw the Army Of Omnicron and Giga Wraiths assigned to the Oasis and the Flying Wraiths and Crowbats.
"Concordia, I'll equip you with the Pyrostellis Luminares so that you can fuse psyches with me" Keiran said as Concordia shut her eyes.
"I hear ya Keiran" she said.
Brilliant images of the Elemental Composition Of The Desert materialized within her mind. Concordia was shocked at how vast Keiran's senses were.
"Your senses, they extend through everything in this Region…the air…the ground….even the Lifeforms!" Concordia exclaimed in shock.
"What do you think an Elementalist is Concordia?" Keiran asked.
"One who controls the Elements?" Concordia asked.
EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTER ZANFAR'S DEFEAT…THE CASTLE OF DREAMS…
Keiran panted wearily after one of his training sessions with the Dream King. The Dream King's breath on the other hand was steady.
"Tell me what you did wrong" the Dream King asked.
"My Elemental Control is not as precise as yours and my range is smaller" Keiran admitted.
"You're wrong. You still have the wrong idea regarding what an Elementalist is. Trying to control the Elements and bend them to your will is no different from being an Elemental Tyrant" the Dream King said.
Keiran's eyes widened in surprise.
"What do you mean Gramps?" Keiran asked.
"From where do you think a King derives his power? It is from the love and not the fear of his citizens. For a King and any leader for that matter the fear of his subordinates…will become his undoing. It is the same with the Elements, they are Virtues and Emotions personified. A True Elementalist does not seek to bend them to his will as if caging them or coercing them but rather…to flow with them. The tendency for control projects your own fears unto the elements and like any Wild Horse that senses weakness in its Rider, they will rebel against you if they sense that fear. The Tendency for Control is based on the fear of that which lies beyond one's control. Do not project your fears unto the elements" the Dream King said.
"Then how do I fight with the Elements against evil Nightmares and the Weaver Of Calamity's Forces" Keiran asked.
"A True King's Allies will fight for him if they sense any threat to him…even before an order is given. The Elements are Virtue and Emotion embodied and they themselves will willingly rise up against anything that rebels against the Virtues they embody" the Dream King said.
PRESENT DAY…ON SERAPHIM KRAKEN ANDROMEDA…
Keiran's memories flowed into Concordia's mind. As if triggered by Keiran's memories, the Desert Sand began to lose its firmness and swept over the Weaver Of Calamity's Omnicron Forces in Waves swallowing up all the Omnicron that were spread over the Desert.
"Wh-What is happening?! Are we under attack?!" a Giga-Wraith screamed in horror.
A few Nomads were travelling in search of Water when they noticed this.
"The Desert…is fighting back" one of them said.
"We'll find the enemy!" a Crowbat and Wraith said as the Weaver Of Calamity's Aerial Forces began to spread wide and Scout the Desert from the air but right before them…an ominous huge dark cloud began to materialize and rumble threateningly. A great storm began to buffet the Weaver Of Calamity's Aerial Forces. The Storm blew up the Sand causing a great Sandstorm that blinded the Weaver Of Calamity's forces.
"Concordia! Your turn!" Keiran called.
"KRAKEN ANDROMEDA! FORMATION DREAM REALM BORDER WALL DEFENSE VER. LIGHTNING FIELD!" Concordia called as great pulses of Lightning Energy flowed through both the Sandstorm and the Clouds vanquishing the Weaver Of Calamity's Aerial Forces just as the Sand on the Ground swallowed up the last of his Ground Forces.
The Desert itself had risen up against the Weaver Of Calamity's forces and had swallowed them all up.
Concordia was utterly shocked. Though she had participated in the Battle, she was shocked at how swiftly the Weaver Of Calamity's forces had been devoured by the Desert.
"Was that you Keiran?" Concordia asked.
"No…that was the Desert" Keiran said with a wink.
A FEW DAYS LATER…
Seraphim Kraken Andromeda arrived at the Coast. It descended upon the Sea and headed straight into the Mountain Of Olympus amidst the Victory Chants Of its inhabitants.
SOME DAYS LATER…
The Nomads who had witnessed the Destruction Of The Weaver Of Calamity's Army returned to their Village reporting what they had seen. Originally, the Villagers were skeptical but after scouting the Desert for themselves they came to the realization that the Weaver Of Calamity's Army was nowhere to be found.
"They probably left" the Villagers were still skeptical.
"Puh-lease, you're telling me you actually believe an Army that strong just ups and disappears without a trace when we are not even a threat to them?" one Villager asked.
"I'm telling you the Desert rose up against that Army" a Villager said.
"One thing bothers me however…Aera's group has completely disappeared as well" a Villager noted.
"Most of the other tribes refused to associate with Aera's Group since they appeared to be the targets of this Siege. Some even blamed them and suspected they were in cahoots with the Monsters. Whatever the case, I hope they are in a better place now" the Chief Of one Village said.
A Priest in the Village who had noticed a lone Cloud take flight a few days earlier smiled to himself.
"I'm sure they are" he said.