SWNOVELS Chapter Ninth Chant
At Fall of the Horizon
“Sir! Mission accomplished!”
“Any survivors?”
“No sir, not a single soul left alive.”
“Just as planned. Fall the fleet back to next system.”
“And the Mother?”
“Stay here to finish them. We’ll join you shortly captain.”
“Understood sir. Good luck sir.”
“I need no luck. I have ‘time’.”
“Of course sir. See you later then.”
“Yea, yea, don’t go nice on me now. To the stars…”
“…and behind them, sir.”
Every commanding officer left the bridge leaving Commander alone with his crew. In few minutes whole fleet, ship after ship, entered worm-tunnels and left the HaScor System. Huge battle ship half as big as the planet which it flew around was all that’s left.
Commander stood up from his chair and walked to the flahric cannon controls.
Important not, flahric cannon is an advanced weaponry specially developed to use external elements as its own long range massive projectiles.
“Is the fleet out of range?”
“Yes’sir, captain Lelaki confirmed it just now.”
“Get ready for the Slowed Mode.”
Few officers in external commandment division rushed to graviton room.
“Ready to enter the SM, sir.”
“We have one shot. Don’t miss it.” Commander put his hands inside the holes of flahric cannon control panel. “Entering SM, fire boys!”
Dark green light covered the battleship and small blue spherical object slowly got closer to the gray, lifeless planet. The moment the blue sphere hit the atmosphere, the ball enlarged thousand times, covering the planet, and continued to grow.
“Sir, what now? Retreat?”
“FULL SPEED! Enter the worm-tunnel! The Slowed Mode won’t last much longer!”
“Engaging the dematerialization sequences. Entering worm tunnel in Slowed Mode in 3, 2... Worm tunnel open.”
“Fall Back! I’ll try to slow time more. We mustn’t be caught in the flahric blast at all costs!”
As the huge blue blast was closing in, the Mother ship was sucked inside the tunnel. After few seconds they passed the hyper-time zone and left the passage to join in the rest of the fleet.
When they stopped Commander ordered to turn the ship around and whole crew watched bright blue light eating planets from neighbor system.
The light disappeared, the space became empty with red toned dust spreading in the wide nothingness.
“Sir! This was the last one!”
“I know… And there’s still no sign of Raida or her ship.”
“Sir, captain Lelaki want to speak with you. He says it’s urgent.”
“Bring him to my quarter.”
“Yes sir!”
Callyps took down his hood and mussed up his long past shoulders hair.
“Destination Therra. I don’t want to see that filthy blue globe by tomorrow so no need to hurry.”
“Ye’sir!”
And Callyps left the bridge and betook to his chamber. He sat on the bed and took of his mask.
“Where are you?” he started muttering to himself and leant his back against the wall…
Knocking on the metal doors woke him up from the nap few minutes later.
“Sir. It’s captain Lelaki. Please allow me to enter.” slightly muted male voice came from behind the double layered metal covered crimson doors.
“Permission granted, Buaya. Come on in.” without moving a muscle Callyps lied still.
Tall young looking man, not older than Callyps himself, entered dark chamber with no lights. Without a word sat on the chair next to black wooden desk full of papers piled in chaotic order. He took off his hood and sighted unnoticeably.
“So, my friend, what do you have for me today that you had to see me face to face?”
“It’s bad. Really bad. Looks like we found the technomian ship nearby solar system.”
“Crew?”
“None.”
“Monitoring working?”
“Yes, and...” Lelaki paused for a moment. “And this is where the problems starts.”
“What do you mean?” Callyps opened his eyes and looked at shadowed figure looking through the papers.
“Apparently there are no records of what happened with the ship or the crew. But there is single record, unfortunately without sound, which you should see.” Lelaki took out small holoplayer from his inner coat pocket and turned it on.
“This is…”
“I know… Ellementall scum…”
“It happened not three years ago.”
“So just before we came to this Galaxy.”
“Correct, and one more thing.” Lelaki fast forwarded the record “They came with 4 men, left with 5.”
“Is there any way to find out anything more?”
“No, only this camera was able to record, other worked but couldn’t save anything.”
“Let’s just hope those four Ellementall scum and that Technomian brat they took with them are still alive.”
“What now? Therra?”
Callyps smiled and tied his hair behind his head.
“Full speed. I’m going to head on first. I hope you’re better at controlling your time now?”
“Hey! Don’t make fun of me just because you trained with awesome master…”
“My father wasn’t awesome. He was weak and easily corruptible.” Callyps stood up and put on his mask. “And the only proof of his so called power is hidden behind that mask now.”
Callyps left the room leaving Lelaki alone in the darkness.
After few minutes of sitting in complete silence, Buaya took piece of plain paper from the desk and a pen from inside of his coat.
“Foolish Apo, if only he’d knew what is going to happen to him. To us.” he scrubbed something on the paper and hid it in his pants pocket. “Well, probably he would still do the same foolish things, so what’s the point in telling him the truth anyway?”
He looked around and closed the crimson doors which Callyps left wide open. In total darkness Lelaki reached out front his hand with palm turned into fist.
“White Lady Darkness, lend me your hideout for unseen collision. Let light fade before us and shadow cover us until the destined meeting ends. Shadow element. Chant #2. Informant of Chaos.”
And surrounding darkness consumed him completely, transferring him to void dimension.
With nothing around him Lelaki knew he wasn’t on Callyps’ ship anymore. He took few steps forward and small green fire lit his way to the place where 4 other figures awaited him.
“Master Lelaki, welcome back.”
“We’ve been expecting you.”
“Is everything going according to the unspoken prophecy?”
“Are Callyps’ moves predictable?”
Each of four shadows asked without waiting for others to stop, making chaotic impossible to understand logorrhea.
“Please, not at once. It’s nice to be back, too bad that in this body though…
Anyway, Callyps acts according to the prophecy, no need to worry in this matter. How are things with our little Akhi?”
He risen his hand before him and from the shadow came out a chair. Lelaki sat on it and looked around. Sighted, a little disappointed.
“Akh! Akh! Where are you?! Where did that big kid took of this time?” Meg searched whole house for him but he was nowhere to be found.
“So where is he?”
“I have absolutely no idea Rokki.”
“You should know how to make him return fast anyway…”
“Well, there is one chant he told me to use in emergency situations…”
“This IS emergency… Just do it!”
“Fine.” she sighted and opened the window. “Forgotten element, fate. Chant #2. Soul derivation.”
White lightning struck down from clear sky a second after Meg named the chant. Glowing figure showed up in the window.
“What is it Meg? You know that this is dangerous chant for you right now. And supposed to be used in REAL emergency situations… No offence Rokki.”
“Not taken bro, but it is crucial for you to return to the Chronostary. The Council ask for your immediate attendance.”
“I think I told them that unless Callyps returns, I’m not going to put everyone in danger.”
“I know, I know. But Ken figured something out about those numbers. And he wants to talk directly to you.”
“Then let him come. I know that as non-Ellementall he have to be guarded 24/7 but nothing’s wrong to let him leave the city once in a while.”
“He’s just 13, and he’s not like you.”
“Still, I refuse to return. I haven’t mastered the chant to defeat Callyps yet. And I can feel him getting close.”
“Fine, but it might be too late when Callyps come.”
“When the Time comes, I’ll be ready. Until then…” white glowing materialization of Akh instantaneously stood before Rokki. “…Do. Not. Interfere. I’m not coming back yet, and if Ken’s discovery is a real breakthrough then let him come to me. Otherwise, leave us alone.”
“When are you planning to return… physically?” Meg asked and sat on the nearby chair. Lately she was losing all her strength very often.
“Before sundown. But try not to overdo it again.”
And without a word with single pale glance at his best friend his spirit flew out of the window with lightning speed.
“That settles it, Rokki, he’s not coming back till sunset and I think he won’t be happy to see you here when he does.”
“Ok, just don’t let him freak out like last time okay?”
“You know more than anyone that it’s not his fault.”
“Yet, to use 12 elements at once to create ultimate chant? It’s insane, you shouldn’t let him do it alone.”
“Oh, silly. He’s not doing it alone. He is never alone.” she opened the doors
“So you don’t have to worry about his safety. If someone can do it, then it’s only him.”
“It’s just…” he started the moment he left the house. “I don’t want his kid to live without parents like he was forced to.”
“I can assure you, it’s not going to happen.”
“Then say hi to Ehvi from me…” he looked around with consternated face
“Speaking of little devil, where is she?”
“Probably spying on her father.”
“Yes, like father like daughter…”
He turned around, hooded up and flew away back to Chronostary City.
(end of part 1)
part 2
Buaya stood up from his chair and smiled.
“Gentlemen, lady, Callyps will reach Therra in less than a day, should I slow his actions more?”
“No. Akh seems ready to face the destiny you brought on him…” said one of the shadows.
“Good. I’m tired of surpassing whole fleet this much. Be happy I managed to make them think only 3 years passed, not the real 15.” Lelaki bowed slightly and snapped his fingers “This is farewell my friends. You know what will happen now. Take care of yourself and our people.”
“Farewell, General.” shadows answered jointly.
Lelaki covered in darkness disappeared from their sight and appeared inside Callyps’ room like he never left.
He took out the piece of paper he hid before leaving, crossed something out and hid the note back.
Meg was in the kitchen waiting for water to boil. She couldn’t use elements for 2 more months anyway. She grew tired of waiting and went outside to breath in some fresh air. Positive aspect of living in the mountains.
“Ehvi! Lunch time!” but there was no answer. “Ehvi!”
“Up here mom!” young girl jumped off the roof behind her mother causing her to jump from surprise.
“D-… Don’t do that! I told you to stop scaring me like that. Where’s Akh?”
“He flew off saying he felt some kind of disturbance on the other side of the planet. Should I fly for him?” with sparks in her eyes young Ehvi clasped her hands. “Pleeease!”
This instant water boiled and kettle whistled. However before Meg or Ehvi could react, the whistling stopped.
Someone was in the kitchen.
“Mom.”
“I know, go look inside, but don’t fight. You promised to your dad.”
“All right.”
Ehvi slowly approached the window to the kitchen. Huddled up to the wall, she looked inside. But the kitchen was empty.
“What are you doing?” male voice startled her from behind. “And why were you both outside anyway, I thought it was a lunch time.”
Ehvi slowly turned around wondering who it might be. Friend, foe? How to take him down easily? And why couldn’t she sense him at all? But she was more surprised than covered with fear when she found out who the man was.
“Dad!” it was no one other than me, Akh Dhamm. “Don’t do that!”
“Huh? Don’t do what exactly? It’s you who act strange.” and I sipped from huge cup of tea. “Is it this teenage rebellious age already? I thought 13 years aren’t that much yet.”
“Akh, what happened, where were you?” Meg asked while going in to the house. “One minute you were here, the next Ehvi say you flew away on the other side of the planet.”
“Oh, it’s nothing really.” I answered still sipping tea and standing above my little girl. “And I still want answer what were you up to here.”
“D-dad… It was… Eee…” she slowly moved towards the front doors. “You see… Mom! Tell him!”
“We just heard the some rumor in the kitchen and it turns out it was just you. Hahaha.”
“Okay, hahaha, I believe you for now.”
We all entered the house. I looked up in the sky, sipped some more tea and closed them behind me.
So you are ready to return, Callyps? But why were you so slow anyway? With your mastery of time element you should be done in no more than 3-4 years. Why then?
As I was teaching Ehvi new wind control trick I sensed something. Or more correctly someone. A person, very powerful. Not as much as I am now, but definitely on the level of other Generals. Who could it be? It’s not evil presence.
“You keep pushing the leaves like that, Ehvi. I’ll be right back.”
I went to the bathroom. Good thing that Meg can’t use elements now that she’s pregnant. She’d scold me for dividing my soul in the bathroom.
I closed the door, opened the window and whispered.
“Soul element. Chant #3. Tama Bunshin. (Doubled Soul)”
From inside of my chest small light blue ball flew out of the window and turned into other me.
“Go check that source of energy. It’s near Chronostary, you must not be seen.”
“I get it. Shadow element. Chant #5. Hidden Monk.” and the clone disappeared in his own shadow.
“Hurry back.”
I left the window open, flushed the toilet just in case, washed my hands and returned back to the room. Ehvi was cheerfully having fun with leaves floating above her head.
Not long after that my double returned. I went upstairs cuz Meg already closed the window in the bathroom.
“So? Who is it?”
“No one. The person disappeared shortly after I got close to it. But that person was definitely in the
New Generals Building. And it felt like…”
“I know how it felt. Okay.” I reached hand to second me he did the same.
“Chant #6. Modoshi. (Soul Return)”
Few hours later, after Ehvi finally fell asleep, I approached Meg to talk to her about the day she hoped will never come.
“I want you both to stay here no matter what. He will approach above Chronostary. No need for you to worry about him coming here.”
“It’s not what I’m worrying about.”
“I know. But I managed to finish the chant few years ago now, and thanks to our little devil, I have couple other chants in my arsenal.”
I smiled and hugged her like never before. I could feel her tears dropping from her still young face on the spring green grass.
She seemed safer when I was close to her, and I felt calm when we were together. That’s more than enough for me.
I looked at stars and almost full moon. I took a deep breath.
“Don’t worry… I will defeat him for sure this time. I won’t let General’s death be in vein. Your father will be avenged. I just wish there was more time.”
“Why? You just said you were ready to…”
“Not for me to get stronger, I should be as strong or even stronger than Callyps as I am now.”
“So what do you mean?” she asked still huddling to my chest, listening to my calmly beating heart.
“I mean that if there were more time I could find a way to revive your father.”
“I thought bringing the dead back to life was impossible even for the best Ellementalls.”
“It was. But with the 13th element I could do it. Give part of my soul to bring him to life once again.”
“No. Soul exchange is too dangerous, you know it.”
“That’s why I said I wish there was more time…”
We stood silent in the dark, watching at rising moon. I was thinking about the next day. The fated day. The day the Taimu will disappear from our Galaxy and
I will probably die.
“Sir.” Callyps risen his head approvingly. “We reached the destination. Planet Therra is at our feet.”
“So, do we eliminate it from here again, or kill all the inhabitants first like with the last one?”
“Take me down to those scum. And be sure the fleet is outside the atmosphere. Those low-lives can control many elements, but their reach is limited.”
“Yes sir. The teleportation beam is ready. Are you going alone, sir?”
“No, I will take all four my riders with me…”
“They are in their chambers, sir. Should I call for them?”
“Yes, immediately. We leave in 5 minutes. And we won’t teleport, we will fly there old-fashion way.”
“Ye’sir.”
“GENERALS!! THE TA-IMU HAS COME!!”
“Where is Great General Dhamm?”
“He notified us not to interfere without his permission. He’s already on the meeting point.”
“Good. Send the special unit immediately. Someone have to be eye witness to the events driven by the wheel of fate.”
“Yes ma’am! They’re already on their way!”
“Where will the fight take place?”
“Central-North Sector 12. 500km from here.”
“Will the city be affected?”
“Probably not. Do we raise the safe-wall developed by Young mister Kenul Oial.”
“Not yet. Let’s just hope Akh will win quickly.”
I landed on the cliff near the northern sea. I saw whole armada of Callyps, it grew even bigger in those years.
Five ships flew above me and landed few kilometers away from me. I moved there with lightning speed in a single jump. I flew up few kilometers above the space ships. One was twice bigger than the other four. It must be Callyps. But why isn’t he alone? Did he managed to get some allies from his Galaxy?
I looked far west. Meg and Ehvi are safe there, no matter what kind of attacks I had to encounter here, those two were safe many miles away.
I looked down, the four smaller ships opened their hatches and few people with capes, hoods and masks arrived on the surface of Therra.
“Hey, are you sure we can kill whoever we want however we want here?”
“Yes Ferus, and remember they aren’t weaklings like all the previous ones.”
“Good, I need some decent exercise after so much time.”
“Me too. I’m starting to feel dull in this Galaxy.”
“Quiet. All three of you. There’s someone above us.”
All four looked up at me. I flew down to them slowly and stopped few meters away from them still midair.
“Welcome to Therra. Who are you?”
“We are those who will kill all scum on this pathetic little planet.”
“Oh really?” I landed on the ground. “You have to go through me first.”
“Very well!”
Tall buffed guy with left side of his face hidden behind the mask rushed in my direction.
So the war has resumed at last.