Episode I — The Great Awakening Test

Chapter 2: The Fae (Part 2) 

“Here’s our chance, while the fools are distracted. Activate the super-invisible bracelet and proceed immediately!” Eris commands. “A single mistake and you’ll be doomed to years of cleaning the Beast’s cell and the cursed room.”

Rickiemer looks at Rigel anxiously, but the dragon remains silent, fixated on Gebmar with palpable disdain.

“You’d better not let your hatred for Gebmar screw this up, or else . . .” Rickiemer begins, but he is abruptly cut off by the dragon.

“Or else what, dirt-digger?!” Rigel retorts, giving Rickiemer a dead stare that silences him. “Let’s get this over with, dwarf. Can’t stand being in the same room as mud-face.”

Each of them slips on an odd-looking bracelet of their own and presses the stone top, which renders them invisible.

Rigel tries to lift Rickiemer with his tiny, chubby arms, but struggles under the weight of the equipment hanging from the dwarf’s belt and baldrick.

“Do you really have to lug around all this gear and shit? You’re heavier than a pregnant cow!” the dragon grumbles in a low voice as he hauls Rickiemer in his arms and glides down from the mezzanine. Despite the strain, they manage a controlled descent toward Gebmar’s dagger.

Below, Michael finally tosses the cloak aside and hastily rebuttons his shirt, hiding the strange mark.

“Man, getting rid of that thing was way harder than I expected!” the mage exclaims. Michael turns around just as Gebmar’s eyes widen in shock. The deva’s face is as pale as if he’s seen a ghost.

“Is everything alright?” Michael inquires.

“Oh, nothing . . . just remembered something,” Gebmar responds nervously, swiftly shifting his tone back to one of enthusiasm. “So, are we ready?”

Michael nods hesitantly and slowly as he approaches the pyramid.

Rigel, still invisible, carefully edges closer to the deva’s belt, prompting Rickiemer to extend his long, bony arm to retrieve the dagger from the holster. Rickiemer skillfully snatches the dagger without drawing attention. As Michael kneels before the pyramid, however, a thunderous fart escapes Rigel, echoing loudly in the ballroom. Rickiemer freezes in horror and Michael halts abruptly, stopped by the unexpected disturbance.

“Right on cue, Mike!” Gebmar remarks mockingly, causing the mage to blush.

“That wasn’t me, it was her,” Michael says, pointing at his sister.

Ember rolls her eyes. “Classic, blaming the little sister for the fart!”

At that moment, the stench hits Rickiemer’s particularly sensitive dwarf nose. He drops the dagger at once and instinctively scrambles to cover his face. Eris, watching from the mezzanine, covers her face with her hand in dismay as she realizes their plan has been utterly ruined.

Gebmar slowly turns around, suspicious, spotting the lone dagger on the ground. Rickiemer and Rigel freeze, knowing they have been busted. Gebmar’s eyes light up with a vibrant blue glow as he conjures a powerful jet of water out of thin air. With a forceful surge, the jet slams Rickiemer and Rigel against the wall, breaking their bracelets and leaving them exposed.

Gebmar begins to radiate a luminous glow as he transitions back into his elemental state. His four hands clench into fists, preparing for battle. Michael and Ember watch in fascination, captivated by the fight about to unfold.

“Long time no see, Red Cap, Rigel!” Gebmar’s flame-like hair ignites with excitement as he snatches the dagger from the floor with his ice hand. The dwarf and the dragon collapse to the ground, coughing up water.

“Damn you, Gebmar!” howls Rickiemer.

Rigel springs to his feet with a burst of aggressive energy, showing no signs of being injured. He spreads his wings wide, giving Gebmar a challenging glare.

“MUD-FACE!” the dragon roars, ready to take him on, his intense hatred directed towards Gebmar.

“Hey there, angry gecko!” Gebmar taunts with a smirk, provoking Rigel further.

Rickiemer swiftly retrieves a pipe from his belt. It transforms into a formidable scythe, and Rickiemer assumes a defensive stance. The entire room falls silent as Gebmar, Rickiemer, and Rigel engage in a tense face-off.

“Who are these creatures?” asks Michael.

“They’re the Fae, the traitors who sparked the Great War of the Ancients,” Gebmar responds, his gaze fixed on his opponents.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Red Cap Rickiemer, King of the Ground Dwarfs!” the dwarf declares proudly.

“I’m Rigel, the Transcendental Deva, and Dragon God,” the small dragon announces, attempting to strike a majestic pose, though his rounded features and doll-like appearance make it difficult to take him seriously.

“Used to be, you mean. Now you’re just a crazy, tiny-ass gecko with anger issues!” Gebmar retorts, unfazed by Rigel’s swagger.

“Shut up, mud-face!” the dragon shouts.

Michael approaches Rigel and kneels before him. Rigel stares back, tilting his head in confusion.

“Mike, what are you doing? Stay away!” Gebmar cautions.

“You . . . you look so familiar, for some reason,” Michael says as he carefully observes the dragon.

“What the hell are you talking about, you crazy dude? I’ve never seen you before,” Rigel retorts, incredulous.

Michael is about to respond when he feels a sharp pain at the site of his birthmark. He instinctively grabs his chest, his expression filled with surprise. What’s this pain? I’ve never felt anything like this before, he thinks.

Ember approaches to assist him while Gebmar steps between Mike and Rigel, trying to protect him.

“Mike! What did you do, you stupid lizard!?” the deva shouts.

“I didn’t do a thing; he’s just fucking crazy!” replies the dragon.

“What’s gotten into you, Mike? Stay away from that thing,” Ember insists, pulling her brother away. “Let Gebmar take care of the tiny-ass ‘dragon god’!”

Rigel explodes, “I wasn’t always like this, you stupid girl! Before my banishment, I was so powerful that even Gebmar would struggle in a fight with me!”

“Really? Because last time we fought, I beat the crap out of you!” Gebmar retorts, taunting him, his words only fueling Rigel’s anger further.

“The only reason you defeated me is because that bitch Nyx came to save your sorry ass,” the dragon snaps, soaring high up towards the ballroom ceiling. “All right, ‘Mud Lord,’ let’s get this over with. Give us the damn dagger, or your new friends shall pay the price!”

Rickiemer launches himself over Gebmar, swinging his scythe, but the deva stops it with his sharp, fiery teeth. Gebmar effortlessly shatters the steel blade and begins to consume it, while Rickiemer watches in horror.

“Mmm . . . pure steel, can I have some more?” Gebmar savors the very last piece of the scythe.

“Bloody bastard, it took me all morning to sharpen it—” Rickiemer’s sentence is cut short as Gebmar punches him with his rock fist, sending the dwarf flying into the wall.

Thank you for reading Chaos’s Key.

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