“AAAAAHHHHHH!!!”
Zorn screamed, his fingers digging into Cinco's shoulders. The horse galloped through the air at a breakneck speed, weaving around towering spires to evade them. Khor trailed close behind, a blurred streak of brilliant white light.
Cinco winced at the sheer volume of the shrieking right in his ear.
Below, the citizens of the kingdom looked up to see a comet-like streak tearing across the sunset. The magenta and ember sky was split by the radiant light, followed by the faint, trailing sound of a teenager losing his mind.
While most pointed in awe, one man did not. He appeared middle-aged with a long black beard, dressed in charcoal robes lined with crimson. A ruby pendant, chained to his waist, swayed with his hurried stride. He glared at the heavenly light, recognizing the golden trail immediately.
With a low grumble, he turned on his heel and ducked into a cold stone alleyway. He shoved open a heavy wooden door embedded in the masonry and slammed it shut behind him.
Nearby, an older woman wearing matching robes watched from the shadows. Her hood obscured her eyes, but her lips were pulled thin. She quickly turned away, her robes fluttering as she vanished into the gloom.
***
Donal walked through the kingdom gates, tightening the string on a leather pouch of gold petals. A sudden roar split the sky, followed by a gust of wind that nearly knocked him over. He shielded his eyes against the setting sun.
“Looks like they found Cinco! I wonder where they're...going?” His voice trailed off, his eyes widening in a gasp. “The White Palace?!”
Panic surged through him.
Zorn doesn't know how to master his star yet! The energy of that palace will consume him!
He sprinted down the path, the ground beneath his boots lighting up with every frantic step.
This is too soon! I was hoping they’d seek me out first! Dammit, Khor! What are you doing?!
***
“We're nearing the palace! Hang on tight!” Cinco yelled through the gale.
Zorn’s eyes were squeezed shut against the turbulent wind. A pressure was building in his chest, an unbearable, crushing weight.
“Is... approaching it supposed to hurt?!”
Khor shot a glance over his shoulder.
Constellation magic won't be enough. He needs to unleash his star!
“Zorn! Use your star! Otherwise, the barrier is going to crush you!”
Zorn winced, opening one eye as his bangs whipped across his face.
“Not this again! I can't do it on command! I have to get angry!”
Khor grunted with irritation. “Your stunted emotional world is going to be your damn downfall!”
“No fighting in the air! Especially not around my horse! You'll spook her!” Cinco added. He looked back at his passenger. “So, your name is Zorn, huh?”
“Uh, yeah, I am! Sorry for the late introduction!”
Cinco chuckled and gave a two-fingered salute with a wink. “No worries! Now that I know your name, it's no wonder you can't just flip the switch, kid.”
Zorn stared in wonder. “What do you mean?”
Cinco kept his eyes ahead, a satisfied smirk on his lips. “Your name means Wrath. You're the Boss Star, Antares, bearing a name with that kind of weight? You're the righteous anger we've been needing, kid!”
Zorn’s eyes widened. He thought of the anger he had been hoarding since the day he lost Lira. The way it gnawed at him. The merciless destruction of Sabrina, the loss of Lira's autonomy, and his own fate, forced into the discrimination of the 6th Realm.
He realized he wasn't just an observer of cruelty; he was a victim of it.
I'm not angry enough…
“I can aid you in sustaining your energy when we get to the terrace!” Cinco enthused. “Don't strain yourself. It'll come naturally when the time is right!”
***
Inside the palace, the man from the alleyway rushed through dark stone halls. He carried an oil lantern, scaling the cold stairs toward the upper levels.
This is my only chance to expose the eldest prince while that Ranger is here!
He burst through a set of doors into a world of marble and crystal. He sprinted past arched windows where the sunset spilled fractured rays across the floor.
The White Palace glowed as if carved from moonlight, every surface humming with latent power. He tightened his grip on the lantern, snuffing the light with a turn of the key. His breath was ragged.
Just a little further. Just one more turn.
The air trembled. A low, distant rumble vibrated dust loose from the walls. The man's expression contorted with urgency.
“Dammit, they've already broken through the first layer. Faster!”
He stormed up a spiral staircase, tossing the lantern aside. At the top, he shoved open a towering door of whitewood and silver. An enormous hall stretched forward, lined with crystal pillars and shimmering fabric.
At the far end: the throne room.
He paused, catching his breath as sweat beaded along his hairline. The floor tingled beneath his boots, reacting to the magic encroaching from above. “They’re almost here...”
A thundercrack split the sky.
***
The light horse screamed into a descent toward the upper terraces just as a brilliant white dome shimmered into view, the protective barrier, rippling like liquid moonstone.
The pressure was immense, an invisible gravity crushing inward.
Zorn doubled over, teeth clenched. “I... can't... breathe!”
Khor’s voice was raw with worry. “He's not going to make it unless he unleashes the star! Cinco!”
Cinco yanked the reins, his grin replaced by a lethal seriousness. “Zorn! Listen! I'm going to toss you!”
The horse skidded sideways in midair, hooves throwing sparks as Cinco grabbed the back of Zorn's jacket and hurled him toward Khor.
“Catch, blondie!”
Time seemed to freeze as Zorn was launched through the air. Khor lunged, catching him and surging forward, his white light intensifying into a ghost-fire.
Cinco reached into the collar of his black shirt and pulled out his aquamarine gem, holding it to his lips.
“Fortalece y protege!”
The stone radiated a vibrant blue. Cinco swiped the magic off the gem and threw his hand forward. Blue, sparkling dust spiraled toward Zorn and Khor, engulfing them.
“This should give your star a crutch, Zorn!”
Zorn felt a cold, sharp clarity. The hollow ache in his chest sharpened into a point. “I feel... sharp!”
“No, you feel refined! Brace yourself!” Khor gripped him tighter.
CRACK!
The Light Horse slammed into the perimeter. The sky rippled like a pond as golden sparks showered down.
“She's buckling!” Cinco yelled. “The barrier is reacting to Zorn! It knows his connection to Mars!”
The barrier fought back. A massive bolt of blue-white lightning arced from the palace's highest spire, homing in directly on Zorn's chest.
“ZORN, MOVE!” Khor screamed, shoving Zorn away to break the trajectory.
Zorn gasped, his eyes wide with shock as he tumbled through the air. The ground was a long way down.
I'm gonna fall!
Comments (0)
See all