Darkness embraced his body as he walked into the cave. All he could see were the torches from the group of attackers meters before him, dimming bright while they pursued the white lady. The cave was similar to a maze, connected tunnels bringing him deep inside the mountain behind the big waterfall Ryker had appreciated earlier from the meeting room. That probably meant that the huge stream of water was born right below his feet. If anybody would seek a specific place there, the most vital place for their skills to be increased would be the summoning room, right where the water sprouts from the mountain.
Maybe he wasn't spiritually gifted like others, but Ryker's intellect and deduction skills were beyond most of the commanders in the union. He kept following the steps of the group ahead of him, being careful about the noise he produced, slowly taking a thin chain from one of his pockets. A chain forged to protect them from any physical threat, to asphyxiate their enemies and make them lose consciousness. A chain everybody in the union had been trained with for missions where stealth was a must.
"We are lost", said one of the masked guys in a language not complex to understand.
Head counting was easy. There were four of them, with two torches walking away, probably splitting to try to find the correct way to their target.
"We got the kid", said another one. Ryker's body shook from the thought of these people having his son captive. Why capture my son? Were they trying to attack the Union and the healer capital's leader simultaneously? Definitely, it was a good plan, but that meant somebody betrayed them if they knew a Union commander would be there with his son.
Time was key to his success, he had to steal one of the torches if he wanted to have a chance around the area. With a slight movement, he kicked a small stone against the wall, making a light noise that caught the attention of one of the masked men.
"The next group might be coming. Let me go find them", he said, reaching for his torch and coming closer to Ryker, thinking it might have been noise from one of his companions.
Ryker hid behind a big rock and timed the perfect strike, as soon as the man crossed the stone, he used his chain and wrapped it around his neck, covering his mouth with his forearm while trying to make him lose all the air he had.
The tactic worked well, his torch fell down to the floor and the others didn't even notice it as they were still trying to find the right path.
He then hid the unconscious man behind the rock, took back his chain and used the torch to see his unconscious enemy's face. His factions were covered with dark cloths and textiles as if they were putting bandages over their faces. Only his eyes remained uncovered.
A new sound brought him back to focus, somebody was approaching the tunnel from the other side. Lucky for him, now that he had a torch, he found a small path leading downwards, easy to miss unless you were thoughtfully looking right and left along the way.
He dragged the body into it and climbed down this path with ease, it was narrow but built diagonally so people could go up and down without falling. Probably a ventilation tunnel to the main room? He thought.
It took less than 5 minutes along the path before he could see lights again, he hid the body right there and kept going down. A small jump was necessary to reach the main tunnel, now illuminated with torches on the walls. Some voices could be heard in the distance, voices he knew, it was Ms. Bianca's group.
He jumped down and headed in the direction of the voices, where a big wooden door stopped him. The embroilment of white wood, plants and bones was undeniable, this was the summoning room where the chosen one connects to the Ithar.
There was no time for admiration; the door was heavy and supposedly forbidden to any other than the top ranking among the leaders, but Ryker had no time for ceremonies and sacred rites. His son's life was on the line.
The summoning room was quiet, the centre held a big circle of stones with multiple streams of water carved through the ground as symbols from the ancient before them. It was incredible to see, the room had so much energy, bones of incredible proportions hanging around the entire place, some probably had thousands of years, and others looked even older than that.
-Mr. Ryker, is good that you are here. We are being attacked by a vicious man, but your son is alive, I can feel it. -Expressed Ms. Bianca from the centre of the room, sat on her knees with her back to the entrance.
-Wait, you can feel that?
-From this room a healer can feel almost everything alive, everything in pain, everything being born…
-We have no time, my lady. -Cut Mr. Lynneas from outside the stone and water circle.
-This is a necessary thing to do Lynneas, give me some time.
A buzz went through Ryker's head as if someone was trying to contact him through his mind. The white lady was raising her arms into a chant, one that was making the hanging bones resonate, a chant that surrounded them into some type of telepathy.
"My people, I've failed to protect you. You need to run away, the palace has been attacked and your safety is the most important for me. Please, run."
Ms Bianca put her arms down, slowly stood up and turned around to look at Ryker.
-Now we fight back -She said, holding a collar of bones in her right hand.
It was the first time a human had used telepathy to contact others, to talk through their minds. It felt like a spirit, but the voice was clearly not hers. Was this the power of the Ithar?
Another chanting started emanating from her, this time, the water passing below began to move at a faster pace, it was almost as if it wanted to levitate. Her arms were pointing at the door behind Ryker, and as the whole attention was moving towards him, he felt the need to move away.
"They are here!" A voice screamed in the distant tunnel.
Everybody in the room could feel the vibration, dozens of feet running towards them, the chanting from the white lady getting louder and more profound.
"Tayata Om…" Her body started to move with the rhythm as if she was summoning a more significant power. Few people were able to see an Itharblend using their powers or feel the energy emanating from them. The tension in the air cutting through, the water palpitating, the rocks shaking, and to Ryker's surprise, the dry wood and the living vines on the door growing, complicating and embellishing each other into a substantial formation blocking others from entering.
The hanging bones were tilting towards the door, and the mammoth head above her was looking right at it as if each of those bones was still alive and ready to storm through the tunnel. Sir Jonas grabbed Ryker by the arm and whispered to his ear, "We need to go", but he was too astonished by the display of power. It was an event never seen before, the symbol below her was glowing, and the ritual moves she gracefully danced were captivating his eyes in a way he never imagined.
Multiple slams on the door brought him back to reality, Rufius's men were already there, trying to destroy the door at any cost.
"Bring the gunpowder", said one of them. Instantly Sir Jonas interrupted the ritual and took Ms. Bianca upon his shoulder, since she looked lost and dizzy, almost in a trance of some sort.
A back path was upon them, and even though they were rushing through, one last gaze back confirmed Ryker's suspicion; the bones were still aimed at the door and the water was still palpitating. The ritual was interrupted, but not cancelled until when the host would go back from the trance.
A loud explosion made the cave tremble louder than ever, deafening the group almost entirely. They were trying to blow the door into pieces. Who would dare destroy a summoning room with such history?
-This room is sacred. They shall not pass. -Said Ms. Bianca, head raised with her eyes showing a bright green light coming from them.
"Deanare", thought the group the moment they heard her. Calmly, Sir Jonas put her back on her feet, helping her stand properly, but it was no longer her. The shadow of the cave was illuminated by her eyes, green and bright as jewels, smoking powder and majestic presence, walking back to the summoning room.
"But", said Lynneas from behind, just to be silenced by Sir Jonas' arm, telling him to stay quiet.
They followed her across the dark, the fire torches were all almost gone, having just a flickering light coming from those that fell down due to the explosion on the door.
The summoning room was quiet for a moment, soldiers on the other side of the big door, still standing even after their gunpowder failed to tear it down. Anybody coming through that door would have to deal with the two guards and with Ryker while the Ithar, reignited with life inside the white lady, progressed slowly towards the centre of the room, seeking to stand in the circle once again.
The air of anticipation could be cut with a knife, everybody looking at the door, hoping the magical protections made of animal bones and symbols would keep them outside.
Sir Jonas, her best knight, was more than ready to die for her. This could be the end, but for some reason, it felt like they tapped into the power of a god and a new will convinced them to fight, to stop running, to protect the room at all costs.
A second explosion pushed the door to its limit, showing already some cracks. Ms Bianca raised her right arm and pointed at the wall on her right while looking at the main door, and then, with a simple movement of her hand closing, she broke a whole wall near them, where a strong flow of water was passing by. There was an underwater tunnel there, and it could be their way to escape.
Strangely, the water wasn't leaking into the room as if some type of energy kept the river flowing. Ryker knew it could sink them, but it was as if Deanare's powers kept the water at bay against the wall. This room was sacred.
Two men fell out of the now-open tunnel of water. The one in black clothes was coughing heavily while the boy wasn't even breathing. "My son", thought Ryker, heading to his aid. He rushed upon him and started pressing his chest quickly, trying to get the water out of his lungs.
The other man, confused and lost by their appearance, raised his head and changed his expression to pure fear.
There was no longer a woman in white clothes looking beautiful and graceful. Her form was different; her face was impossible to see, and only the green shape of those elemental aggressive eyes was visible. None dared to try to light Deanare's face by bringing a torch closer. None would question the events unfolding before their very own eyes.
"A life for a life", said the Ithar, moving his arm towards the kid and his captor.
A flow of green energy connected them, a vibrant shiny thread of energy ropes between them, the first one, standing on his knees, frozen by fear and another, breathless on his back, without life in his body. The energetic exchange was a unique talent many considered impossible.
"It is time for you to come back, my sister." Deanare rotated her wrist once more, finishing the transfusion of life between them. Breathless, the captor fell back, drained of his life essence. Eleu coughed what felt like a gallon of water over his dad's face. His body was feeling numb from all the time underwater and the strong hit falling from the waterfall.
Something felt different, he felt revitalised; his veins were carrying a warm green energy filled with intensity and power and his dad, now wet and disgusted by his son's saliva mixed with water, started laughing like a person who just won the Heimisch lottery.
A third explosion took them by surprise, splitting the door in two and cracking half of the bones in the room.
This one felt more assertive, more destructive and devastating. The mountain shook as never before, and from the smoke, in the distance of the tunnel, the enemy's shadow was visible as they approached slowly, fully armed and ready to walk in.
They were worried, but not afraid, Deanare was by their side, more potent than ever before, and the three of them had been trained in combat. Ryker would protect his son at all costs.
A masked man on the other side, raised his leg to walk over the destroyed door, his men behind waiting for his signal. The white lady's green eyes were fading, and she could only look at the kid, but a second person took his attention. They knew each other. It felt as if time froze as he walked in, careless and not afraid knowing what just happened inside the room. A few seconds later, she passed out of exhaustion, but not without saying one last word, "Sira".
Ryker's attention shifted sharply to look at the individual walking in, in front of dozens of soldiers dressed as the one who took his son. Sira was the chosen one of the Medium capital. He met with him a year before to discuss the geographical situation and the whereabouts of Rufius. Why would Sira attack his fellow companions? Why would he go against the pact the Ithar's Union created?
Sira's looks were impossible to miss. A dark-skinned man, dressed in elegant and luxurious purple and black clothes, a long tunic wrapped in many belts as people always represented their Ithar, with a black Heimisch hat over his head.
-It's a shame you have to see this -Said Sira, looking at Ryker while grabbing what looked like a revolver gun from the back of his belt. Sir Jonas jumped quickly in front of Ms. Bianca, now leaning on the floor watching the moment unfold in front of her, but powerless since all her energy was gone.
Sir Jonas rushed to attack him with his sword, only to be shot in the neck by the first gun ever shot in the realm of the spirits. The sound of the gun was not even as loud as the explosions, so the deafening feeling was almost comfortable for everybody in the room already.
He fell near the white lady, trying to stop the bleeding from his neck with his hand, horrified by what was happening.
-You'll pay for this.- Said Ryker, standing up to cover his son.
-Sure, but first… -Sira shot four times at Ms Bianca, only to realise that it was useless. Every shot was deflected by a shield of green energy.
-Deanare... always gone until it is too late. -He laughed in an evil tone. -Then, I guess I can't leave witnesses. His gun pointed at Ryker's head, two bullets remained inside the revolver, Sira knew he won the battle; he caught his enemy by surprise, and couldn't leave a commander from the union alive after witnessing the attack.
-That is enough -A deep voice came from behind Ryker. -You are breaking the laws of this realm. -The depth of the voice was terrifying, Ryker turned around to see his son, standing up with his face covered in darkness, but emanating a mix of colours from his eyes as Deanare was showing with her green energy.
For the first time, panic showed in Sira's eyes, the Itharblend of the Mediums, the one everybody talked about in songs, whose stories depict him as the most talented of the generation, with complete control of his Ithar's powers.
-That is impossible - He said, taking a few steps back. His hand holding the revolver started shaking.
Ryker and Lynneas were both in shock, Ms. Bianca and Sir Jonas had already fainted on the ground, and Sira's soldiers, petrified by the scene, were useless against whatever this was.
-I'll let you choose a path. Choose wisely -Said the deep voice coming from within Eleu.
Sira was afraid, but his ego expanded beyond his intelligence, so he shot the last two bullets against each eye.
"Wrong", said the voice. Both his eyes returned the bullets to Sira, hitting the side of his throat and one of his cheeks.
With a slight movement of Eleu's fingers, Sira and his men were thrown to the back of the tunnel, while the five of them were thrown into the water stream inside the broken wall.
It all happened faster than expected for Ryker and Lynneas to process the information, and the power in the room made them faint once they hit the water.