Zorn looked at the Halo Pistol from every angle.
"I remember Cinco chanting something in another language, but... I don't know how to speak it."
"Light can speak any language. It shouldn't matter," Mossiah responded.
Zorn nodded.
"Okay, bet. Cinco’s mare! I need you! It's serious!" he said sternly, speaking directly to the Halo Pistol.
Khor and Mossiah sighed, exhausted and frustrated.
"I'm gonna laugh if that actually works," Donal said casually with folded arms and a grin.
Wind brushed through the group in an awkward silence.
"Damn," Zorn whispered, clutching the gun.
"You expect to save Lira like this?" Khor’s voice was a sharp jab.
Zorn's brows knitted as he glared up at Khor from behind the weapon. Khor placed his hands on his waist.
"I’m actually getting sick of this. You're wasting your time and potentially hers at this rate. Hell, even ours. You sure she didn't summon that eye herself just to leave your stupid ass?"
"Shut up, Plush," Zorn growled.
Ángel and Abad raised their eyebrows and exchanged a quick glance.
"What are you gonna do? Cry your way out? Yell? I can use my star just fine and shoot you with that Halo Pistol in seconds," Khor responded with visible disgust.
A red light pulsed from the Scorpio glyph underneath his glove. The Halo Pistol quickly picked up on the energy and lit up, accepting the surge from his glyph.
Donal’s brows raised.
I think I’m catching on now.
He watched how Zorn glared at Khor while refusing to act out on his growing frustration.
The internal energy was activating and igniting the Halo Pistol. Donal tilted his head, holding his chin.
It seems to activate when he’s angered... that’s for sure. But it strengthens when he isn't revealing it right away.
Donal placed his hands on his hips.
I'll keep this in mind for the person I want to train him when this is all over.
"Niiiice! You got Halo to respond to you!" Donal clapped.
Zorn snapped out of his trance and glanced at the white gun. It was shimmering and pulsating with accents of his own red energy. It was beautiful.
"Oh! I see what you were trying to do, Plush! Clever," Zorn chuckled.
"No, I meant what I said," Khor replied with a dry, curt tone.
Zorn stiffened, maintaining a smile to hide his rage. Khor’s face remained deadpan.
"Let’s summon that horse!" Donal cheered.
"Right," Zorn replied, looking back at the glowing gun.
He stared at the weapon, continuing the flux of energy until it synergized with the pistol's mystic glow.
Red and white sparkles of light streamed around him in wispy trails, gently blowing through his hair and clothes.
Ángel’s eyes widened. "Ooooh... pretty," he whispered in awe.
Khor and Donal looked genuinely impressed.
"Now, just think of what you want," Mossiah instructed.
Zorn closed his eyes, thinking of the Light Horse. He pictured it deep in his mind, remembering how majestic the mare’s light had been when he last saw it.
Abad looked up at the clear blue sky. "This isn't going to further damage my lunar barrier, is it?"
Abad didn't even get to finish his sentence.
A sharp, crystalline crack echoed through the courtyard as the sky itself seemed to fracture.
High above, the lunar barrier buckled inward, spider-webbing with white-hot fissures before finally giving way.
The mare passed through. Her weight shattering the etheric dome into a thousand shimmering shards that rained down like falling stars.
Her mane was a river of molten glass, surging with a heat that chased away the palace’s morning chill.
With every rhythmic, heavy clip-clop against the air, her hooves ignited trails of prismatic light, leaving a burning path in the wake of her descent.
She let out a long, loud whinny that pierced through the air and echoed against the palace walls.
Abad lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Never mind."
"You can always get it fixed by the Headmages," Ángel reassured him softly.
"No, I think I will have it fully removed for your brother's sake. It's a hindrance."
Zorn looked up at the descending horse with a sparkle of pure joy in his eyes.
I... I did it!
He threw his hands up in the air, the Halo Pistol still gripped in his left hand, as he watched the horse gallop toward him through the air.
"I DID IT!"
Mossiah looked on with awe at the horse’s divine luster.
"Incredible," he murmured. "Never in my life did I think I would ever witness a real Light Horse."
He watched Zorn pet the Light Horse, baby-talking to her with hugs. "Who’s a good girl!?"
Mossiah’s eyes became fixed on the scene as he fell deeper into thought.
And... it treats him as a familiar?
If that was the case, he could only imagine how a Dark Horse would act around the boy. Mossiah pictured the Eternal Flame Court in ruins, the high officials cowering and screaming as everything went up in flames.
He would become their worst nightmare.
Mossiah clenched his fist with a new resolve.
Before I can restore the Fifth Element, I must have a word with this Star Ranger the kid is talking about. It’s my only opportunity.
Zorn called out to everyone with a wide smile. "Okay, I gave her the rundown! She’ll guide us to Cinco!"
"And the trial?" Ángel asked.
"Well, since we can't interfere, it puts your brother at a huge risk. We are unfortunately going to have to watch from the sidelines."
Ángel sighed in defeat.
"You can shout words of encouragement to him," Donal said, patting Ángel’s shoulder.
"Oh yeah, how helpful of me," Ángel rolled his eyes.
"There's too many of you. Take a carriage and let the Light Horse pull it," Abad suggested.
Zorn turned to the king with a bow.
"That’s a great idea. Thank you, Your Magis—"
"No need for thanks. You're helping my son, after all. You’re fixing my mistakes," Abad said quietly, shifting his head down.
Zorn looked at Abad with a saddened expression.
He’s really beating himself up over this.
With that, Zorn and the rest of the group headed off in an open carriage pulled by Cinco's mare.
The horse pulled forward as the wheels rattled against the stone path.
Zorn leaned back against the cushioned seats, watching the palace walls roll by. He looked down at the Halo Pistol.
We're coming.
The Light Horse let out a loud whinny and began to speed up. The light around her glowed brilliantly.
"Hold on, guys!" Donal shouted as he gripped the reins. His cloak began to flutter along with everyone else’s clothes.
The horse began to ascend, leaving the ground behind.
Golden light streaked beneath the carriage wheels and the horse’s hooves.
"SO COOL!" Zorn laughed.
Donal and Zorn had wide smiles on their faces, cheering as if they were on a joy ride.
Mossiah and Ángel gripped the sides of the carriage, screaming. Khor sat by Donal, silent, but clearly enjoying the atmosphere.
As the kingdom retreated behind them, Abad watched from the ground as the flying carriage grew smaller.
He lowered his head, folded his arms, and sighed.
"May the Moon Goddess grant them protection," he prayed. "They are going to need it more than ever."
Comments (0)
See all