Victernus - Chapter 32
Namara sat beside Drac on the cot,
waiting for the final decision in anticipation. He was still stewing over his
speech, wondering if he had said it all or if he said something wrong. He wasn't
sure what was in store for him or even what he wanted. All he knew was that he
was now powerless to save himself.
Looking up, he saw that the sun had receded past the
waterfall. Fluffy clouds floated by them effortlessly, chasing the sun. He
rested in a shadow now, and cool air was wafting towards him from the falls. The
cold did not help Namara's anxiety, but he tried to deal with it. In an attempt
to break the silence, he asked Drac softly, "Do you think I was wrong?"
Drac sighed. Silence overcame him
for a few seconds before he answered, "Not at all. I'd have helped you if I had
seen this coming earlier."
Namara rested his face in his hand, "Well,
what happens if they don't agree with you?"
He left the cot and then walked to
the edge of the platform. "I do not know what I will do yet." He looked down at
the river and then excused himself, "But, I need to go take care of some things
now. If you don't mind, I will be back as soon as I can. You should probably go
wait by the door. Stay strong."
Namara shrugged, "Do what you need
to..."
Drac pressed the button on his ring
and then disappeared in a blur. Namara stood up and approached where he had
stood, only to find no trace of him. He sighed. Looking towards the tower, he
saw that the sun was still beating against it. The sandstone of the bridge
shined a golden-yellow color. He nodded to himself as he thought, Perhaps this won't be so bad after all.
He walked along the edge of the
platform, heading towards the bridge. Old thoughts resurfaced in his mind as he
remembered his life and all of the friends that he had left behind. Some of it
was nostalgic, and some turned out to be utterly terrifying. He wondered, Was it worth it?
Namara stepped up onto the bridge
and then walked to the middle. Two small railings stood on either side, and he stopped
at the one that faced the river. He rested his hands on it and then looked downward.
Below, the river flowed into a dense forest. Four towers rested within the
trees, connected by bridges that stretched across the river. Further ahead, he
saw a valley in the distance. It was light green, filled with grass and trees.
The river flowed through the center, carrying water off to some distant land. The
sight reminded him of a song that he had once heard. He hummed it in his head,
remembering the words while he stared towards the valley.
We found a kind
of paradise...
His arms bent and his body throbbed as bitter tears
formed in his eyes. They fell down into the river without a word. He whimpered
softly while he thought, We will never
meet again!
To his right, the doors of the tower
burst open. The voices of the Echoes emerged, "Namara, your time has come."
He stopped himself from crying and
wiped his face with his arm. While he made sure that his face would be dry, he
thought, If that is what you want, then
so be it. He paced to the tower and entered solemnly. When he passed the
doors, they slammed shut. Startled, he jumped and glanced back at them. Dust
flew out from the crack, hinting at their age.
Focusing back on the Council, he
stepped forward and asked, "What have you decided?"
The Arch Seer replied, "We have discussed
your words thoroughly. Many here agree that they were very powerful, but we
must not depart from what has already been set into law. We've decide that you
will live a life of servitude for the Volnar. Your mind will be reduced once
more, as you had experienced in New Selania."
Namara widened his eyes and growled,
"That's what you have decided?! After everything I said?"
She nodded, "No need to get snappy.
Step forward so that we may begin your punishment."
He narrowed his eyes. After taking
one last gaze around the tower, he responded, "No."
The Arch Seer responded, "Excuse me?"
Namara glared fiercely and shouted, "I
said 'no!' I am not of the Volnar, and you are not of Earth! I will not be
subject to the decision of a council that clearly has no purpose but to destroy
both me and what were my people."
Before she could respond to this,
the doors to the tower were pulled open. Drac drove his heels into the floor as
he walked in, emphasizing his emotions. When he stopped beside Namara, the Arch
Seer rebuked, "King Drac! You have no business interrupting a private session!
You know what the punishment is for this behavior."
He produced a metal canister and
then approached her. Holding it up, he spoke with malice, "I have a gift for
you."
She stuttered, "A g...gift?"
Drac unscrewed the lid. A small ball
that radiated with a green glow was contained within. He pulled out it out and
asked, "Do you know what this is?"
She shook her head and blinked, "No...
What is it?"
He raised it up with his hand and
then it continued to float upwards. Green lasers shot all over the walls in
erratic patterns as it rose to the top. Focusing back on her, he said, "Your
service to the Volnar is no longer appreciated. Your time here is over."
The Arch Seer gasped and then
shouted, "No, you can't do that to me! I am superior to you!" When she saw the
intention in his eyes, she continued, "Echoes, destroy them!"
No response came. Drac readied a gun
that was strapped to his side and then stepped back, pointing it at her. She
commanded once more, "Destroy them! Echoes?!"
He smiled and then shot an energy pulse
into each of the three Seers. They fell with gaping holes in their chests,
smoke rising out of each one. Turning back to Namara, he sheathed his gun and
asked, "Are you ready?"
Namara agreed, "Wow... Yeah. I'm as
ready as I'll ever be."
Drac walked past him and then
stepped out into the sunlight. He said, while basking his face in it, "I cannot
dictate what you do from here. I am not your king. But, I will offer you a
place in my city if it is what you want."
He walked out beside him and
shrugged, "I guess I'll see what happens when I get there."
Drac nodded and then made a fist,
holding out his ring. He offered, "All you have to do is touch it."
Namara brought his hand to it slowly.
When his claw touched it, everything dissolved. It was in that moment that he
decided to leave his past behind. He did not know what was in store for him. If
he crashed and burned again, he would get back up. Only one thing remained constant:
Koanthanatus
is calling... and I will answer.