The Legacy

The woods sounded too quiet for Kain’s comfort. The usual birdsong and animal chatter silenced into nothing. Did they too feel the evil looming around? Or was there someone out there waiting to ambush her? Kain stood still for a moment. Her ears perked and her eyes searching. She stayed on high alert as she headed towards the hidden building. She heard the voices before she saw the two hunters, patrolling around the building. Kain hunched down behind one tree, looking around to see if there were more hunters milling around the building. Of course, Abbadon would send his minions to guard the one place she considered a sanctuary once. Kain sighed. She only counted three sentries. Two in the front and one down the hill. With quiet movements, Kain drew Alocius’s bow and aimed for the first hunter. She was about to shoot but changed her mind and aimed for the farthest one instead.

She breathed in deeply then held her breath. The arrow whistled past her ear and struck her target straight in the chest. “What was that?” the closest hunter asked with a hurried whisper as she looked in Kain’s direction. The arrows direction. The second hunter stalked carefully towards the fallen hunter. Kain was grateful that the darkness concealed her enough to draw a second arrow without being noticed. “Podrick is dead!” the second hunter shouted the first. Kain took her chance and let go of the second arrow which hit the second hunter in the throat. The closest hunter turned to run back towards the Academy but Kain was faster than she was. Kain drew the third arrow and shot the last hunter through her back. Kain smiled with the satisfaction that came along with the semi-victory.

She waited a moment, listening to any sound that might betray the presence of a fourth hunter but all she heard was silence. Kain moved out of hiding and headed into the building. She found it strange to be back there again. The place that had once been a sanctuary now seemed to be nothing but a haunted place. She found her black cloak laying on the ground. It must have fallen from the table where she last left it. Picking it up and dusting it off, Kain pulled it over her shoulders. The one side of the cloak felt strangely heavy against her thigh. With a frown, Kain put her hand inside the inner pocket, fingers closing around something cold and smooth. She pulled it out and to her surprise she realized that it was the golden ring she had taken from Abbadon’s office. Kain was sure that Abbadon had taken it back. She stared at the ground where the cloak had previously been then wondered if they had noticed it laying there at all. There were signs of a raid in the cabin, but it almost looked lazy. It didn’t look like anything was missing, just moved around. The raiders must have had little to no interest in her things. Kain smiled, they were fools. There are a few things in this little cabin that could kill instantly. That is one of the reasons she had left the others back at the camp. That is one of the reasons she was doing what she set out to do and that is one of the reasons she was here first.

Feeling around in the pocket some more she found the three black marbles and the letter written by her mother as well. Smiling lightly, Kain placed the things inside the rucksack before grabbing her herb kit as well. After all, what she was looking for was in there. She searched around for something else she might want to take back with her since she has no intentions of ever coming back here again. Kain caught sight of a small garden shovel she used for her potted herbs and thought of the white orchid just outside of the cabin. She didn’t want to leave Breezes here when the others were buried back at camp. Grabbing the shovel and a glass jar, Kain headed back outside. She walked towards the single white orchid which had been Breezes’s body.

Kain dug the orchid out from the ground gently and slowly placed it in the jar. Making sure it was secure, Kain placed the jar gently inside the rucksack, making sure that the flower wasn’t in the way of possibly getting hurt. When she was positive that there wasn’t anything else, Kain made her way towards the Academy. She pulled her three arrows from their dead bodies along the way.

Kain stood just on the edge of the woods, looking at the academy and the yard. There weren’t many scouts outside as usual, but Kain knew she still had to be careful. Knowing Abbadon, she knew he would have ordered the scouts to keep a sharp eye. She didn’t know if he would expect her to be coming back here but she knew that he might as well have considered it. Since they want her so badly, he’d take any and every chance he got to take her back into custody. She looked up at the open window that belonged to Abbadon’s office. That is where she needed to go.

Kain stalked around the building to the darkest point of the academy grounds and moved towards the wall of the closest tower. She will climb to the roof. It would be the best and safest way to get to Abbadon’s office without being detected. Adjusting the rucksack behind her, Kain began to climb up the tower wall. Her ears focused on everything around her, listening to every sound. Anything that would tell her that she had been detected. By the time she reached the roof, she felt her arms aching, but she knew she still had to keep moving. She hunched down on the roof, looking around for any sign of detection.

Kain looked around, analysing the patrol patterns before she moved towards the other side of the tower’s roof. She jumped down and landed silently on the edge of the wall just a small distance from the roof. With quick motions, Kain made her way to the bigger building, climbing back up the wall and pulling herself onto the roof once more. Again, she looked around for any signs of detection before she moved across the roof with silent strides. She crouch-walked until Abbadon’s window was just below her. She listened patiently for any sign of movement inside the office but couldn’t hear anything.

You can still get out of here, Hekatai said from beside Kain. Kain rolled her eyes, “are you going to keep standing in my way or are you going to at least lend me a hand?” Kain whispered impatiently.

She heard Hekatai sigh, what is it you want me to do? she asked miserably. Kain turned to look at Hekatai with a sly smile. “You can lend me a pair of eyes and ears. Keep an eye on my back,” Kain offered quietly before swinging herself of off the roof and grabbing the wall. She slowly made her way down the wall and peaked through the open window. Abbadon was laying awkwardly over his chair, an empty bottle of burben laying on the table. He was drunk and passed out. Kain’s smile stretched to the side of her cheek. She thought a lot of things of her headmaster but reckless wasn’t one of them. He didn’t strike her as someone who would douse his senses like that when enemies could come knocking at his doorstep in any time. In this case his window. Perhaps he was so positive about his hunters that he felt no need for extra protection. Perhaps he believed that everyone was so scared of him that they wouldn’t risk crossing him. He clearly forgot what she was capable of. Kain wasn’t considered one of the best for no reason.

Against Hekatai’s nervous protests, Kain slid through the open window and landed soundlessly inside the room. She stared around the room for any other passed out bodies, but it was only Abbadon. She found her weapons propped up against the corner on the other side of the room. No doubt it was for ‘safe keeping’. Perhaps Abbadon did expect her to come knocking at his door. Only maybe he didn’t think it would be so soon. Kain shook her head in a silent chuckle, what a fool, she thought.

She shifted her gaze towards Abbadon then back towards her weapons. She bit her lip with determination as she stalked towards her weapons. If she could get to her weapons before Abbadon wakes up, then she can end him right there and then. She wasn’t that reckless. She could see that Abbadon was passed out but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t take caution. There was no telling how long he was out or how long he would remain out. With a shiver, Kain hastened her movements. She didn’t want Abbadon to wake up when she was this close to getting her weapons back. If she could have her weapons on hand, she would make him pay for everything he had done to her. Not by arrow but by one-on-one combat. Kain would end his life like he ended the lives of her friends.

Kain tried to silently pick her weapons up but she accidentally made a soft noise when her two daggers clanked together. Hunching her shoulders with the sound echoing in her ears, Kain turned her head towards Abbadon. He stirred with a groan but did not wake. Kain waited a moment, watching him fall back to a deep sleep. She let go of her breath then rolled her eyes, he wasn’t much of a headmaster if he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings…even if he was drunk! Looking at him now, Kain wondered why she had feared him before. But she wasn’t a fool. She knew well what Abbadon was capable of. He killed for the thrill of it. There was no emotion in his heart, no regrets. That’s what made him a horrifying man.

Strapping one of her daggers to her belt, Kain drew the other one tightly into her fist as she stalked towards Abbadon lightly. Careful not to make any sudden movements that would wake him. She came up behind him, lifting her dagger high and about to plunge it into Abbadon’s back when Hekatai suddenly grabbed her wrist. Kain looked at Hekatai with wide, questioning eyes, shrugging her shoulders in a ‘what?’ motion. This is not right. You are better than this! Hekatai said sadly. “He destroyed my life! Killed my friends! You want me to just let him live after all he has done!” Kain whispered angrily.

It is not up to you to decide who lives and dies Kainun! Hekatai warned, letting go of Kain’s wrist as she kept her warning eyes on Kain. Kain shook her head. “Fine,” she whispered and sheaved her weapon but didn’t move away from Abbadon.

She caught sight of the papers splayed on Abbadon’s desk. Kain picked up one of the papers, careful not to accidentally touch Abbadon or make a rustle with the paper. She watched him for a moment then started going through the contents on the paper. It was information regarding Zorzia and her ceremony where she was supposed to sacrifice Kain in order to have the ultimate power. Frowning, Kain picked up the second paper and scanned it. The rebellion wasn’t going to be enough to stop Abbadon. The second page contained numbers, army formation and attack strategies. The last paper contained notes, which Abbadon wasn’t supposed to have. Notes that was discussed by the meetings Kain was part of back at camp. Her frown deepened.

A mole. The rebellion had a mole. Kain stared down at Abbadon, how can she leave him alive when she has the perfect opportunity to stop him? Kain turned slightly, looking over her shoulder at Hekatai who still had her back towards Kain. She was looking at the books on Abbadon’s bookshelf. Kain knows that Hekatai was right. She isn’t a cold-blooded killer like Abbadon was. She can’t spill the blood of the ones she once loved. But somehow Abbadon has to pay for his actions.

Kain stared down at Abbadon’s desk again. She caught sight of Abbadon’s half empty glass of golden liquid. Who said she needed to spill blood? Kain folded the papers gently and shoved them into her rucksack and replaced them with a vial of dark purple powder from her kit. With a quick glance towards Hekatai, Kain poured the contents into Abbadon’s glass. She stirred it quickly with the tip of Abbadon’s quill before Hekatai caught her in action. She had just shoved the empty vial back into her rucksack when Hekatai turned around. Her face grew worried, we should go! Hekatai urged.

Kain nodded and headed towards the window. She heard Abbadon groan just as she rested on the windowsill. Abbadon stirred and rubbed a hand over his face. Kain watched as he lazily picked up the burben glass and drank the rest of the contents, not noticing Kain at all. Kain smiled as the last of the golden fluid slipped down his throat like a practiced play. Abbadon turned towards the window, his eyes stretching wide when he noticed Kain. “How was the burben?” she asked slyly. Abbadon frowned down at the glass then realization kicked in. His head whipped up towards Kain. “You!” he shouted then called for the guards.

Kain smiled wolfishly at him before jumping down from the window and landing hard on the ground below. She straightened herself just as the first sentries noticed her and came running in her direction. She began climbing the outer wall of the Academy and jumped over it, immediately running towards the woods. She could still hear Abbadon shouting in the background, calling the guards and ordering her death. Kain laughed with exhilaration, her heart beating fast with the excitement and her stomach swarming with butterflies. She ran through the woods. The hunter’s footsteps stampeding behind her yet still a distance away.

Kain bended down, hands on her knees as she drew a breath. She stared over her shoulder, her ears straining to determine the distance of her pursuers. What have you done! Hekatai scolded beside her. Kain straightened, giving Hekatai a smug smile. “Nothing,” she said before turning away from the deity.

What did you put in his drink? Hekatai demanded, rushing to stand in front of Kain. Kain’s smile faltered then grew sour, “he poisoned my whole life!” she said. Kain watched Hekatai for a moment then shrugged, “so I returned the favour,” she added as she moved past the deity. Kain picked up speed again. She didn’t’ know if you could outrun the gods but she sure as well was going to try.

She turned her head back over her shoulder once more and almost bumped into Wison who suddenly stood right in front of her, with his arms folded over his chest. His mouth was set in a thin line of disappointment and he was shaking his head angrily. “What?” Kain asked out of breath when she regained her balance. Pretending to be oblivious to his anger. Wison just shook his head, taking a deep breath and looking behind Kain. He gave one nod, signalling to someone Kain couldn’t yet see. There was a green flash and a thick wall of thorny bushes grew between them and the nearing hunters. Wison grabbed Kain’s arm and pulled her along as they headed back to camp.

There was movement in the darkness of the forest before a woman moved out from the shadows and came towards them. She almost looked like a tree herself, with her body existing out of bark and a thick mossy mass hanging in a wide arc from her head and smaller patches covering her arms, and the bottom half of her legs. Her eyes were horizontal ovals with sharp corners instead of rounded and completely black. Kain noticed that her fingers where long and sharp and her feet short and stump-like. The creature looked towards Kain once then moved past them. “Who’s that?” Kain asked completely forgetting that he was angry with her. “That is Natalia. You can be glad she came with me tonight. Dryads aren’t very keen on being near humans,” Wison explained coldly.

The camp light began to glimmer into sight and Natalia moved way ahead until she slowed down near a tree and merged into it. Kain’s mouth gaped open as she watched Natalia completely disappearing into the tree. “She lives in a tree! As in inside of it?” Kain gasped with wonder, but Wison didn’t answer her. He frowned at her, indicating that he wasn’t going to forgive her just like that. Kain felt all the excitement die away. She ripped her wrist from Wison’s grip and stopped walking.

Wison turned around to face her, his face without expression. “Why did you come after me?” Kain asked furiously. Wison folded his arms over his chest. “You didn’t give me much choice Kainun! If Natalia hadn’t seen you sneaking off, I wouldn’t have noticed you were gone until later. What were you thinking sneaking of like that? You could have been caught! Or worse, you could have been killed!” Wison asked furiously.

Kain felt her anger build up like it had done never before. Why was everyone trying to stop her from hurting Abbadon just as much as he had hurt her? He was the bad guy and yet she was the one being handled!

“Abbadon killed my friends. He killed Breezes! Who by the way was your friend too! He stole my life and manipulated me into believing who I am is who I’m supposed to be!” Kain said loudly, her heart beating faster with fury. She regretted that she didn’t take the chance she had to end Abbadon. She should never have listened to Hekatai. At least the poison would do its job, slow as it might be, but not without pain.

Kain breathed hard, her whole body was shaking. Neither of them noticed the wind picking up around them, or the thunder clouds building up above them. “We had a plan Kain! We were going to do this together, as a team! But you had to break our thrust and go on alone!” Wison accused, shouting above the wheezing wind. Kain trust her thumb into her own chest, her face reddening, “this is my fight Wison! Am I just supposed to let you die for me?” she shouted, her cheeks burning hot and her fists clenching together. Her hair whipped angrily in the strong wind.

“And what if you died? You were outnumbered Kain! Have you thought about that?” Wison shouted, glaring a Kain. “One to who knows how many!” he added, his hands rubbing his face. Kain threw her hands up in the air with exasperation. “I can handle myself!” she screamed, clenching her teeth furiously. The thunder clapped loudly above them. The wind moaning with dangerous force and lightning lighted up the darkening sky.

Wison looked up as the rain began to pour down in icy needles and found the clouds above them turning in a menacing circle. He stared quickly back at Kain, realizing what was happening. His face pale and his expression nervous. “Kain!” he shouted but his voice sounded barely like a whisper. Kain felt her heartbeat beating faster, her tears melting against the rain. She understood what was going on as well.

“I don’t know how to stop it!” she shouted with a desperate cry. Wison walked up towards her with a great struggle against the wind. “You just need to relax!” he shouted. “Try and calm down!” he added, placing his hands onto her shoulders.

“How?” she asked, panicking. She began breathing faster and her eyes moving around frantically. Kain saw Natalia and a few other dryads emerge from the trees and stare at the storm with fear. Wison thought for a moment, he knew that Kain was on the brink of a panic attack and he knew of only one immediate way to calm her down. With quick movements, Wison grabbed Kain behind her head. He pulled her face towards his and sealed their lips together. At first Kain fought against his restraint but slowly started to melt into him as his kiss kept her from breathing. The storm around them began to slow down and subside until it was a quiet, starry night once more. The only signs that proved that there was a storm at all was the grass, covered with green leaves which was pulled from the trees.

Wison pulled away slowly, feeling his own breath catch as he stared at Kain’s closed eyes. “Why did you do that?” she asked with a steady whisper, slowly opening her eyes and staring into his. Wison breathed deeply, “I had to distract you some way or a another,” he admitted, his breath brushing against her wet cheeks.

Kain stared at him flatly for a moment. “I had to do what I had to do,” she said quietly then stepped away from him before turning to walk back to her tent, ignoring the staring dryads. She wasn’t going to forgive him just like that either.