Chapter 24: Sealed Lips, Spoken words

Agggh!

The solem boy cried out in agony, it was his sorrow, his life, his everything.

It was nothing.

He clutched onto the corpse of what was, the gaping wound seeping hot blood onto his sacred garbs.

He felt an indescribable agony, was it toward the man he had slain?

Or… was it toward himself?

His foolish self.

His weak self.

He didn’t know, he couldn’t know–Only the pressure weighing him down, crushing him under the torrent of realization.

A realization that he is nothing.

His cries drawl out into the emptiness.

His echoes lost amongst the roars of fury.

The clashing of weapons dominated the small world, and he was left amidst its clash of steel,

A crucible of his own creation.

The green reflective scales would crawl up his arm faintly, claiming further dominion.

Atop his temple yellow-white protrusions, hardly enough to be noticeable claimed a small corner of either side.

Across the battlefield the skirmishes were widely ending.

Only a single one remained, the disgruntled battle of two men, Eliah, and Halit.

“HAAAH!” Halit screamed out!

His sword whistled through the air, it cried almost as fiercely as himself.

Eliah moved in, grabbing his wrist he pulled it down into his knee!

The abnormal bend now in it was impossible to ignore, the sound of his sword hitting the ground causing a shift in his opponent.

Eliah spun, throwing the taller man over his shoulder.

Halit let out a grunt, attempting to stand back up before a foot pressed heavily into his face.

Eliah stomped down repepatedly,

The blood pooling from his face told a tale in and of itself.

His eyes were crazed, and his fury was palpable.

“JUST DIE!”

He screamed, stomping and stomping.

“That won’t do.”

The voice rang out, and Eliah cursed, of all the opponents…

Samuel stalked forward, his body covered in the blood of the small force he had ripped apart.

Asketill was trailing closely, the duo looking very out of place.

“The loss of one… It is already enough.”

He said stalking forward, Eliah was slightly intimidated, but he grinned,

He grinned wildly and wickedly, “I hold out, I sit back and watch, I forgive, I forgive, I relent…”

He cut his ramble off with a cold voice,

“Go to hell.”

CRACK!

Halit nearly cried out before his head was crushed beneath the pressure, and Samuel carried no hint as to his true emotions.

His exterior calm and silent.

His eyes followed the form of Halit, and he nearly sighed.

“I’ve grown conceited.”

He acknowledged as Eliah turned, sprinting as fast as he could.

“Take this lesson to heart, Asketill. One, Never turn your back on an enemy, no matter how hopeless.”

He picked up Halits greatsword.

“Two, No matter how strong, or weak you are,” His gaze flickered with emotion, his eyes like a gem as they scowered his past,

“You can lose it all in a moment.”

SHAH!

The sword flew from his hand in a burst of air!

“GAH!”

Eliah stumbled forward, looking down at the wound where his heart once was, “Damn it… I… Adam… Live…”

He fell face first, his body falling before the tree embedded with the heavy sword.

The heavy thud of his body,

Samuel stared it down and finally said,

“It means nothing.”

Asketill watched the man he proudly called Uncle closely.

From some reason, Asketill felt him he looked just like Agi.

But somewhere that was not too far, yet not too close was his true brother.

Struggling to stand up he looked down at Adam.

His eyes swollen, red and sunken around its edges he quietly heaved Adams body on his shoulder.

His feet dragging as he walked.

Step…

Step…

It was hard,

“Was it always this hard?”

“Was taking the life of another always this painful?”

How many… How many had he wiped out, just like this…

“Why now?!” He growled his face contorting in momentary anger, before it slowly became even more somber than before.

Tears flowing again,

“Why now…”

The Visage of a man flashed in his eyes, a man with soft features, a man Agi had deeply trusted.

“Little brother.”

Agi breathed heavily, as though exhausted.

His mouth felt dry, and his throat felt cramped.

“How could you… Ramana?”

He had wanted to believe, but as the river of his life tore him beneath its rapids, he could no longer believe.

The corpse weighed heavily on his back,

The collection of initiates and warriors that were his army, slowly coallescing around him.

“Is that…”

One initiate said in shock,

“Our Lord has slain the Sixth!”

He cried out incrediously,

and there it began

“Glory to the Second!”

It began like a flood,

At first only a few, but then many.

Before long, the forest was alight with cheers of glory.

And Agi, took each step, feeling heavier as he went.

Step,

“Glory to the Second!”

Agi winced, “Stop…” He thought.

Step,

“Glory to the Second!”

He was heaving, it was like torture.

A cruel ritual designed to tear him down.

It was punishment.

Yes, this was undoubtedly punishment.

Agi could no longer take another step.

His body impeded by the wall he had built with his own hands, brick by brick.

The cries of glory were deafening.

They were the hammer of judgment that nailed him within his coffin.

Thud.

The boy collapsed.

The heavy body crushing him beneath its lifeless pressure.

“Lord Second!”

Samuel shouted, rushing over.

He looked down, Agi had no visible wounds… and yet…

He gritted his teeth, “Prepare for extraction!” He shouted.

“We must hastily leave before The Emperor arrives. You mustn’t leave a single clue we were here!”

“Go!”

The initiates disperse, rushing to collect their tents, and their weapons.

But four people stand Around the boy.

Rowen has a deep frown,

Ananda seems to be unconcerned.

Soma has a bandage wrapped tightly over one eye, her gaze slightly crazed.

“Wheres Malachi?”

She asks Samuel, who was currently pulling Agi from the forest floor.

“Dead.”

He proclaimed coldly, his focus lost on the boy.

Soma clenches her fist by her side, then Suhail speaks,

“Halit?”

Samuel once more responds coldly, “Dead.”

Suhail sighs, taking off his newly made glasses, he pulled a wrag wiping them off, an odd habit for someone who didn’t truly need glasses.

Soma wasn’t so accepting, “How?”

Samuel heaved the boy onto his back, “He died slaying his foe. He fought until his last moment.”

He stepped slowly toward the exit of the forest,

“He died a champion.”

Soma looked up into the sky, it was strange, having only a single eye.

Things she once took for granted were difficult, she could hardly gauge the distance between herself and others.

She looked down at her hand,

“I won’t put the life you saved to waste…”

She muttered under her breath.

Ananda stared at her for a moment, there was some sort of history behind her words, but Ananda looked away, her expression too, was filled with sorrow.

Rowen stared at his broken comrades,

His recalled his father.

“The price of survival, is your life. Never forget that, wicked thing.”

Rowen too, turned to his camp, he had much to prepare.

There was silence as they walked.

Asketill trailed behind, he had witnessed a lot, and it had made him feel somewhat subdued.

He felt it was cruel, but he also watched people he had interacted with cease to breath.

He would never speak to them again.

To the Asketill who had little life he had experienced, the connections he made were a stable pillar to pull from.

And yet they are dead.

His brother is in the arms of his bloodied uncle, and more people than he had met in his entire life, lay dead on an unknown forest, in the middle of the Second Fold.

Asketill did not know a pitiful life, but if one existed, it was surely this.

But even as he mulled over the experience, the grim light of the end covering his hazy young mind,

He couldn’t hold back his exhilaration, It was truly exciting.

It was so exciting he almost wanted to join in.

But his trembling hands held him back.

He stared at Agi,

He wanted to stand before a foe, and conifidently proclaim they weren’t enough.

He wanted to stand amongst an army of elites, and boldly be the best.

Asketill wanted to settle atop the peak.

That peak that stood so far away, that peak that Agi arrogantly perched atop.

He would reach it.

And deep within, he had already begun to ponder how.

Samuel would take Agi to Vistar, leaving him in the hands of the trusted knight, before solemnly bringing Asketill back to Siv.

As he entered the estate she stared down at his bloody form.

She let out a scoff, “You enter my estate like this?”

Samuel perhaps would have been ashamed previously, but now he had little left to care.

“I’ve come to return the Eleventh Lord.”

He said with a bow.

She folded her arms, “Where is Agi?”

Samuel furrowed his brow, afraid she would sell him out to the Emperor.

“In a safe location.”

He grunted.

She scoffed, “Where is more safe than with his mother?”

Samuel straightened his back, staring her down,

“Ah… I can’t do it anymore… A woman like this isn’t worth my respect.”

His expression became a slight glare,

“I will not allow the likes of you near my Lord. I’ve completed my duty.”

With that he turned to leave, only to hear Siv’s snickering.

“Do you think he’s safe?”

He turned around, his hands clenched, “Don’t act like you care.”

She frowned slightly, “What a rude child. No matter, you’ll both be killed viciously now that you’ve gone and slain the favorite.”

Samuel trembled, “What… do you mean?”

She took a step closer, looking into his uncertain gaze, “That man had a special soft spot for Adam. Alas, he will be furious when he finds out–”

“And trust me. He will find out.”

“Damn it…” Samuel cursed “Then what am I supposed to do?! Agi isn’t even injured… and yet he…”

He stared at the floor, Agi’s state taking its toll on him.

She shook her head, “You only have one choice.”

Samuel looked up, “What?”

She leaned on the wall, “He must go to the tenth fold for at least two years, then complete the trial.”

Samuel was in shock, “What?!”

She shook her head, “Theres a tradition, only told to a small few, particularly the clergy often uses it to get their way.”

She clarifies before continuing, “But Others can use it. It’s a rule the Emperor will follow, he is a man who rarely breaks his own rules.”

She ponders for a moment, “In fact, The only time should be when he killed that pitiful woman.”

She laughed with mirth even while Samuel furrowed his brow in confusion,

“Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked. So long as the trial of the Tenth Fold is completed, all crimes will be absolved.”

Samuel nodded slowly, “Sure… but why should I trust you?”

She shrugged, “It’s your choice, but if you don’t take him down there, I will.”

She frowned, he really had no choice.

“If we don’t go to the tenth fold, then what?”

She gave him an idiginant look, “What else? He and all his followers will end up in the Ninth Fold, that dreadful place.”

It was becoming complicated,

“The Ninth Fold… The aptly named, Prison Fold.”

He sighed, “Which floor?”

She scoffed, “Where do you think? The Sixth.”

Samuel retorted, “There is only five floors, you’re full of it.”

She didn’t like his attitude but only gave him a flick on his head, sending him stumbling back, “Why would the likes of you know the sixth floor? Know your place.”

He steadied himself, “The fifth and the sixth, whats the difference?”

She walked over, picking up Asketill and inspecting him like a puppy.

“You can’t escape to the tenth, from the sixth. Thats the major difference at least. Amongst all kinds of other horrors.”

Samuel finally sighed, if that was true, then they had to escape to the tenth as soon as possible.

“I’ll be back.”

He promised, leaving the estate.

Agi stirs, sitting up in his bland world.

It was all so… Dull.

Agi had felt this way before, after meeting his mother.

It was similar, but something this time it was…

“Oh…”

He clutched his chest, keening over with a rough hollow laugh,

“I get it!”

He called laughing loudly at himself.

Vistar rushed into the room, “Agi?”

He said running over,

But Agi did not stop laughing even as tears flowed again.

“It’s because it doesn’t matter! Strong! Weak! It means nothing!”

Vistar watched with shaking eyes, he raised Agi, he knew him better than anyone.

He knew even more so, that the world Agi had built in his mind to cope, was reliant on his view on strength.

His desire for overwhelming power.

He watched it all crumble before him.

“None of it matters! Because at the end of it all… The one who dies is the one who trusted!”

Vistar sighed, so thats how it was.

Agi has lost trust.

Trust in Ramana,

Trust in the words hes told,

And trust in himself.

“She’s right… She’s right…” He mumbled his hand grasping at his face as he muttered incescantly.

Vistar didn’t know who he was talking about, but it deeply hurt to watch.

“Agi… The world is certainly a place where trust is rare.” He began slowly as the boy looked over.

His eyes were slit and vertical, the scales were much more obvious than they were before.

“The one thing you must never lose,” He pressed his finger to Agi’s heart, “Is your heart.”

Agi may have taken that literally at one point, but now the words felt different.

He let out a shaky breath, that’s right…

He must follow his path…

His path…

What path?

What heart…

He stood up, seemingly gaining some form of calm.

“Thanks… Vistar…”

Vistar reached out to grab Agi’s shoulder,

But the boy spun, his eyes narrowing as he lept back slightly,

Vistar frowned, “You’re not ready to walk around. Stay and rest for a bit.”

Agi’s breath was coming in rapid huffs, the room felt suffocating, “I can’t.”

He said pushing the door, trying to escape.

“You’re only six! Why should you be running on your own?!”

Vistar had grown furious, he had failed!

He couldn’t allow this boy,

The boy he named, this child who was like his own son, to suffer anymore.

Vistar looked at Agi,

He was family.

The only family he had in centuries.

“I won’t let you go out and kill yourself any longer. I don’t know what did this, but I will send a request to the Emperor tonight. We are leaving tomorrow.”

As the words hit Agi the echoes of a ghost rumbled in his mind,

“Please Agi, Come with me, let’s leave this place behind.”

Agi held his head, “I–No! Stop!”

He shouted shoving through the door and running with his full force.

Vistar was shocked at his speed, Agi had never been so fast before!

The world connected with the boy, and his presence vanished entirely.

Vistar clenched his fists, “You foolish child!” He muttered in a hushed voice, “Why can’t you let me just protect you?!”

He grits his teeth, “How much more will be taken from me before you’re satisfied?” He cursed the world.

The empty halls did little to assist Agi as he wandered aimlessly.

The restless noise in his head leading him down twists and turns.

It had been some time since he wandered the halls, feeling truly alone.

The last time would have been just before the trial, while he was traversing the fifth fold.

Samuel stumbled back, something… ran into him?

He looked around his eyes narrowed slightly, looking for a threat.

But he settled quick, there weren’t many capable of walking right in front of him and being unnoticable.

“Agi…?”

In his slightly emotional state he had forgotten to refer to him as Lord.

He asked into the empty hall.

“We… I messed up… Samuel.”

Agi said in shame, refusing to show himself.

Samuel stared into the void, “We messed up?” He asked with a furrowed brow.

Agi’s steps allowed him to somewhat follow his movement.

“We were fooled…”

He says his hand pressing onto the nearby wall, cracking some of the stone in his palm.

Samuel stared at that palm, “What do you mean?”

Agi spoke with an even tone, “Adam wasn’t lying.” He let out a scoff, “He didn’t even know we were planning anything.”

Samuel’s mouth hung open, “Wha… you’re serious? He… really didn’t know…”

He had felt many aspects of their interactions felt strange, but he believed it was Adam being masterful at his craft.

How ironic, that it was simply his truth.

Samuel stared at the wall, so that’s why…

Inwardly he cursed the initiates who had cheered.

“Then…”

Agi continued in his even voice, “We were played for fools Samuel. I wouldn’t be surprised in my father came knocking any day now.”

Samuel sighed, “We can only escape to the tenth fold then.”

Agi nodded slowly, “It’s that… or the sixth floor.”

Samuel was slightly startled, then remembered Agi’s origins. It was only obvious he would know information at this level.

“Seems it was true…”

He refocuses, as Agi slowly comes out from his hiding.

His sunken eyes, the scales forming on his skin, it made Samuel feel deeply pained.

“The initiates and warriors?”

Agi thought for a moment, “We…” He hesitated, should he leave them behind?

There was a high chance they’d be ignored… but what if…

“We’ll leave them.” He finally concluded, “Only the eight of us will go.”

Samuel winced, “Lord Second… Halit and Malachi are dead.”

Agi held a hand to his head, his eyes closing tightly, “Then… the six of us…”

Samuel finally nodded, “Yes, let’s return then.”

A month would pass surprisingly quietly.

Within Agi’s living hall celebrations were still taking place.

But the four leaders felt estranged.

They each were carrying sizable bags over their shoulders.

A piece of advice from Rowen.

They carried their weapons, and this time, Agi carried a spear in his own hand.

Samuel wore a longsword on his side, after being convinced by Rowen.

Agi stood near the exit, the signs of his transformation were worsening.

The others hardly believed he was a human, and Samuel became faintly suspicious.

He began to wonder if Agi was an inheritor, but he knew Agi’s strenght well, he was nowhere near strong enough.

It just didn’t make any sense.

They took a step out through the willow, tensions were high, and as Agi stepped out his eyes widened.

“Agi.”

The gruff voice sent a wave of terror over the six of them.

The Emperor looked down on them with a faint hint of hatred, a rare feat to earn the ire of the Emperor.

Though he looked at Agi with something else… a hint of pity?

“I’m shocked, you’re far more capable than I had given you credit for.”

He observed Agi, “Though, I’m more shocked that dragon bastard Pekko was partially right.”

He let out a mocking laugh, “But if anything, you’re far from his envisioned goal, no, you’re a much more pitiful thing, a born arch-human.”

He looked on at Agi with feigned amusement, but hidden deep somewhere beneath it was a hint of worry.

“Brat, you are really good. I’m really impressed. But you broke the rule, didn’t you?”

He leaned down to the Agi who was rapidly considering what to do.

“It’s the one rule you never break. Do you get it? Rules are in place for a reason. It’s to keep people like us in line. That’s why they have to be followed.”

He sighed, “Confess and I will only send you down to the sixth floor. If you don’t I’ll kill you right here.”

His tone was cold.

The oppressive atmosphere felt chilling and behind the Emperor was the visage of a giant made of blood.

Its hand capable of covering the ocean.

Samuel shivered, he couldn’t move, but his mind was calming rapidly.

Agi opened his mouth, “I…”

Samuel quickly spoke for him, “He did not break any law!”

The Emperor shot Samuel a look, “How impudent. Did I give you permission to speak?”

He stood back up, and Samuel quickly dropped down, prostrating.

“Forgive me.”

He said in a hushed voice.

The other three were too shocked to move.

Agi caught on, “I have done no wrong.”

He shivered.

The Emperor huffed, “I wanted to make this easy for you. You poked a hole in that unfilial first sons perfect veil, so I’m a bit grateful. But don’t get it twisted boy. How long do you think you have?”

He patted Agi’s shoulder, “If you break the rules, accept punishment.”

Agi nodded, “I understand. If I break any rules, I’ll accept my punishment.”

The Emperor began walking away, “Good. Don’t forget your words.”

They breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging a few glances once he left they immediately began to sprint,

it was terrifying, their lives could have ended any moment.

the Tenth fold… The reverse city… they had to reach it.

“Rowen, take them to the Tenth Fold, I have to go somewhere first.”

Rowen nods, leading the four.

Meanwhile, Agi diverges, arriving at his mothers estate.

He enters confidently, moving to Asketills room fast.

Asketill is sitting in a trance as Agi enters, only snapping out when he stands right in front of him.

“Little brother…” Agi begins slowly, “I… will be going. I’ll be gone for two years.”

He begun, “If I don’t return after two years, I’m dead.”

Asketill took a step back in shock, “What- What’s going on?!”

Agi shook his head, “I’m going somewhere dangerous… Just, know that you don’t have to compete in the Temple. It’s better to go unnnoticed.”

Asketill furrowed his brow, something felt off about Agi, “But-“

Agi cut him off, “If you want to fight, then don’t forget, strength is meaningless.”

He poked Asketills heart.

Stepping back to leave, but Asketill stopped him.

“Wait!”

He grabbed a sword, “I’ve been working on something! It.. maybe it will help you.”

Agi stopped and watched curiously.

“It’s not done yet… so theres no name, but Mother said Principle of Compression, works best.”

He takes up a thrusting stance, then–

Fwah—

Agi tilted his head,

It looked… weird.

The scene replayed in his mind…

The Principle of Compression… It was a game changer.

“How did you do that?”

Slowly he asked incredulously, Asketill had managed to reduce the excess force.

A feet that has never been accomplished.

“Is it just that stance?”

Asketill shook his head, “It applies to any stance.”

Agi grabbed his spear, “Teach me.”

He had to know.

Asketill took up a stance thrusting, “Like this.” He looked over at Agi with bright eyes.

Agi furrowed his brow, “I can’t do that.”

Asketill titled his head, “Why not?”

He shook his head, “You have to explain it, I can’t just learn from seeing.”

Asketill sighed, “Alright.”

For a long time, Asketill attempted to explain it, and Agi would grow frustrated many times.

But the days wittled away, finally—

Fwah!

It was perfect. Almost.

Agi had suceeded in compressing all his force within his spear, loosely pinning it at the spear head.

But it was not perfect. Despite this—

It was a monstrous force.

Asketill seemed to recall something, “Oh, Brother,” He suddenly said, his eyes wide, “You have the wrong steps.”

Agi tilted an eyebrow, “Brat, don’t try to lecture me on something you don’t know about.” He shook his head, how could his steps be wrong?

Asketill frowned, “Well… It just seems wrong…”

Agi sighed, “Then how should I be moving?”

Asketill did a weird couple of motions, he staggered and fell repeatedly, “Like that!”

Agi gave him a dull look, “I’ll keep it in mind…”

Asketill clenched his shirt in frustration, “I’m not lying.”

Agi nodded, “I know…”

Agi looked down at his spear, setting it back against the wall, “Thank you… Asketill.”

Asketill nodded, “Hurry back, Brother.”

Agi ruffled his hair hesitantly, something that Adam had often done.

“I’ll try.”

Agi took a step, connectig to the world he vanished, until finally, before him stood the trial that would determine his life.

The reverse city.