Tegus: and the Shards of Solaster

Chapter 8: The Beginning of the End

Vakaroth followed Tegus around the party. He now hovered above the pair in the moon’s shadow behind another tower, completely hidden. Listening intently, he waited for a glimpse of the tower’s secrets that plagued him with a yearning. He knew something was in the tower. Something to make him equal, if not more powerful than Tegus. He was drawn to it.

These last few years he had lived behind Tegus, always watching and waited for some information on the secrets the Master held and now his chance might be here. He watched on as the Grand Master parted from Tegus and made for his tower. Maybe this would be it, his chance to get in by following the Grand Master.

Vakaroth moved within the draping darkness of the tower high over the ground. He grasped the main tower and waited for Ilfirimain to arrive at the door. As the Grand Master entered, the dark veil that was Vakaroth dropped down and crept in, just as the door shut. Vakaroth stayed in the archways darkness as the Grand Master went to chatter with the Fryzalick at the front desk. Hastily Vakaroth silently made his way up the stairs.

His cloaked figure moved with grace until he appeared within the doorway at the top and the two braziers turned to black flames and gave off little light. Vakaroth strode in with a wicked sense of accomplishment being cast over the room.

“What secret is it? Where would he keep it”?

He quickly and lightly moved through the mounds of books and furniture, looking and searching as he went. Then he looked up and saw the University on the globe above. Vakaroth inanely created a wicked grin. The kind that would make the strongest of men shiver. He knew this would be the Grand Masters weakness, he loved the University. He leaped towards the globe, cape streaming behind, and almost reached it when Ilfirimain burst in.

“Frezune” he spoke after an instant.

Vakaroth was held in place above the ground. His finger was merely millimetres from the shard.

“Vakaroth you had been great. You had the potential to be a Grand Master. Even so, your lust to be better than any other is your undoing! You will be expelled from this University and forbidden to use magic! You are a disgrace to spell users everywhere!” Ilfirimain spoke sternly to an unwilling student who had no choice but to listen.

At that, Vakaroth managed to move closer to the shard! His magical will allowed him to start melting the spell and move an inconsiderable bit forward.

Tegus felt a tingling, and his pocket started glowing! He put his hand in his pocket and the white pebble Ilfirimain had given him was showing a silhouette of two figures in the Grand Master’s chamber. He knew no one was meant to be there. He grabbed the gem tightly and was suddenly transported to the room. As he materialized in the room, he saw in that second Vakaroth unfreeze and launch a counter spell at the Grand Master.

“Skar Tavil Rah!” Vakaroth spoke with no ounce of decency.

“NO!” Tegus cried as the Grand Master was turned to stone!

Vakaroth’s attention was then turned to the loud interruption from Tegus. Still holding the shard, he magically pushed objects away with his mind as he followed Tegus, who was ducking and weaving from bookcase to bookcase.

There were books, paper and spells everywhere. Tegus knew with that shard, he was no match for Vakaroth.

He managed to lose the insane wizard for a moment and stayed quiet trying to think. Looking around for something, anything, he saw a scroll rolled up that on top just said “Tegus”.

He grabbed it and unrolled it. It said.

“Tegus don’t forget you have natural talent. This spell will amplify your talents similar to the shard. It can only be used once, so use it wisely - Ilfirimain”

Well, Tegus thought there was no time like the present.

Vakaroth started throwing exploding fireballs around trying to kill or draw out Tegus. Below at the party, people saw the explosions and fire coming from the tower. Kalthion and Norsewind looked at each, and both started running towards the tower.

Tegus managed to peer to see where Vakaroth was. Vakaroth had now changed; his figure was bigger, and he still had the dark robes and hair over his face.

His eyes however, were now solid black and his skin white and corrupted. His skin now cracked, and he hovered over the ground. Vakaroth started whispering an incantation and magically made a colossal axe appear. He swung it around sending bookcases soaring and breaking through the clutter in his way as parts were ablaze. He swung the axe with ease despite not been built like a barbarian. Tegus knew he was using a lot of magic energy, more than he himself had faced. He knew this was serious.

Tegus read the scroll:

“Vas Par Karlak Novamo Shikarl”

The scroll turned to ash and disappeared.

Tegus felt nothing and Vakaroth was getting closer shouting.

“Tegus I know you’re here! I will show you true power. I will rip your flesh from bone and absorb your natural ability.” he mocked at the end.

Tegus knew he was close and rather than cower, he stood up.

Vakaroth smiled and said, “This is for all the years you made me seem weak!”

He spat the words and lunged at him with the conjured axe. Tegus just stayed still…the axe came bowling down and in that instant Tegus transformed. His eyes went completely white from top to bottom and left to right. His hair went colourless. His robes also shone an immaculate brilliance, and he caught the axe between his palms.

The spell scroll had worked; his will allowed his power to be set free with the scroll. He held the axe calmly as Vakaroth tried to return it to its momentum.

“I have done nothing Vakaroth besides want to be your friend, and for the past eight years you have hidden away from me.” Tegus corrected him. “You must give back the Shard and pay for what you have done to Grand Master Ilfirimain”

“Never!” cried out Vakaroth as he made the axe vanish, and swung forward with two smaller scimitar blades he had made appear.

Tegus just felt himself surge with the power within him and thrust his hands outwards towards Vakaroth with a huge roar of emotion.

A blast of white energy burst towards Vakaroth and he was sent backwards, and pinned onto the outer wall around the room. He was wounded but looked at Tegus with more rage and anger than ever. He found his footing and made the blades reappear. He spat as he bellowed and began his pursuit again.

Tegus hit him with another tempest of the white energy, which blasted Vakaroth back, and he slammed against the wall once again, but this time the wall gave way and Vakaroth was pushed through.

Vakaroth felt himself falling from the tower. He felt the force of wind as the floor got closer.

Tegus had come over to the end of the ledge where Vakaroth had been blasted from and looked down with his solid white eyes.

The wind caught his breath, and his hair blew across his face.

Vakaroth hit the ground and did not move.

Tegus had to know what Vakaroth’s fate was.

Kalthion and Norsewind reached the room as they saw Tegus leap out.

“Wait on lad,” Norsewind puffed.

Kalthion ran to his brother, while Norsewind found the energy to run to the ledge and look out.

There was Tegus flying with wings of pure white feathers, leaving a trail of them as he went. He could have been the right hand of any of the Golden Gods of the Dwarven Kingdoms, or at least, this is how Norsewind would go on to describe it.

Tegus flew out and around, loving the feeling. He felt so alive, swooping and doing barrel rolls as the wings wrapped around him as he turned in the rolls. He suddenly swooped up past Norsewind.

“Hey lad, watch it, go see what’s going on down there!” Norsewind had an idea that Vakaroth had caused all of this to happen.

Tegus’ mind switched back to the Grand Master and what Vakaroth had done. He became stern and serious and in that moment a sword that glistened white appeared within his hand. He flew down and landed next to the black heap on the floor.

His wings arched around his shoulders and rested lightly upon the floor before disappearing. He held the sword firmly and pointed it towards the unmoving Vakaroth.

He lifted the cloak, with the tip of the blade, which had fallen over the body to see what lay there. The entire celebrations had stopped and now gathered around after they heard the full thing.

Everyone was silent.

The unveiling revealed a crumbled body, looking very lifeless.

Tegus managed to lift the Shard away with the sword and turned around. There was Norsewind floating down with his floating wind spell, looking a little scared.

“Tegus you insane son of a troll, you have done well lad. However, in spite of that, what of Vakaroth?” Norsewind asked just as he hit the ground.

Tegus turned back to the heap on the floor. He was gone, just a floating black orb remained.

The sword now faded from Tegus and he touched the orb.

“Wait on lad!” Norsewind said, but it was too late.

Tegus heard a voice inside his head.

“Tegus you are a fool. I know there are more powers in this world and when I regain my strength, I will return. Even so, for now, I am going to take away what you love, to show you what it’s like to have nothing.”

Tegus fell toward the ground clinging to his head!