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Delahcourt—the central hub of the Delilah’s major city, was no longer the cozy, posh place it used to be. Where once it was a place for some of the greatest minds and warriors to strive for better and use their intellect for good, it was now converted into weapons and defenses. The comfy homes were replaced with armories, and cold steel containers housing all sorts of mysterious weapons.
The citizens of Delahcourt were all brandishing weapons and outfitted in armor, looking at James and his group with disdain behind the slits in their helmets. There were beacons and strange dishes upon every rooftop. The sidewalk was now concrete. The restaurants acted more out of function than style, selling only goods and food that provided the necessary nutrients to sustain one’s self in battle. As the orange/red sky turned black, and the sun descended into the sea, lanterns were lit from the posts and doors of Delahcourt’s homes.
“Only my orders keep you safe,” Winona said to Bastion. “They are hoping that I will make an example out of you. You have turned this haven into a war zone. You have introduced fear into their hearts.”
“What was the alternative?” he asked. “Let your Yama army massacre everyone and then let me be enslaved just so you could maintain your way of life?”
“I’m not blaming your personal decision, but you must understand where their hate for you stems from. Delahcourt didn’t become this way overnight. It took time. Now, their weapons are all that keeps them sleeping soundly at night.”
“Do you have any intention of negotiating with us?” James asked, sensing her true intentions. Though she had seemed peaceful enough on the bridge, it was like her demeanor was beginning to waver now that she was in the midst of her people. The bane of their existence had arrived, and they were counting on retribution. They hoped that Bastion’s death would restore Delahcourt to its former glory.
The last thing on their minds would be peace with the enemy.
“I am justified in whatever decision I make,” she said. “You are marked after all.”
James rubbed his forehead. He had forgotten. “But you don’t work for Cimmerian.”
“That isn’t a Cimmerian mark, nor a Paragon one. But you are still marked. Your life is still hanging in the balance.”
“This stops here,” he said, halting his march in the middle of Delahcourt’s square. He heard gasps ring out from around them. He could hear the sound of chains clanging against armor as the citizens approached, cutting off all exits. They moved quickly, as if they had performed their actions in drills several times before.
“I thought we were going to talk,” Winona said calmly, putting up a hand for no one to attack.
“Doesn’t seem like it,” James scowled. “It seems like you’re taking us into a trap. And I would rather get all of this out in the open while we still have a chance at escape.”
“Say your peace,” Winona said, watching her people out of the corner of her eye.
“We’re here to negotiate a truce and alliance between the Delilah and Paragon. Nothing more. Nothing less. You may think you’re strong, but Cimmerian is large, and very resourceful. You won’t be able to withstand their attacks forever, and especially if your people are this terrified.”
“Why should we discuss anything with the likes of you?” Winona scoffed. “If you wished for a real audience with me, you wouldn’t have brought him. It’s like you’re spitting in our faces.”
“I brought him as insurance,” James said. “Because all of you know what he can do.”
“He’s gotten weaker,” she said. “I can see it in his eyes. He’s nervous.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s more than enough to take down your entire city and more.”
“So you resort to threats?”
“You brought this on yourselves,” he said. “I don’t want to fight, but I won’t be bullied either. All I want you to do is consider what I’m saying.”
“What can we gain from an alliance with Paragon? Do you have anything to offer us as a token of good faith?”
“We’re not going to give up Bastion.”
“It was worth a try,” she said, giving Bastion a curt smile.
“Allow us to leave so that we can go back to Paragon and see what they can offer. Then we’ll return, and this time, we won’t bring Bastion—to show our respect.”
“We’ll have to make it look like you escaped,” she whispered. James stifled a smile.
“I understand,” he said. “Then take us to the spot you were going to spring the trap. But don’t do anything suspicious or we really will fight our way out.”
“Respect,” she said. “Let me be honest,” she said as they continued walking. A chorus of sighs rang throughout the crowd. “I don’t want war any more than you do. And like I said before, my ancestors didn’t handle things the way they should have.”
“What I never understand,” James said, “is that it’s not like there’s someone in the background pulling our strings like puppets and forcing us to be at odds with each other. We can choose peace. We can choose to forego the prejudices of others and live in harmony.”
“I agree,” she said, glancing over at James for a moment. “You know, if you weren’t taken, I would ask you out to dinner. We could...discuss things over our finest meats.”
“Sorry, but I’ll have to decline,” he chuckled. “But I really am flattered.”
“Disgusting,” a deep voice echoed from behind them. James, Winona and the rest spun around to see a man in an orange and red hooded robe. He clenched his bony fists tight as he glared at them all from behind the darkness under his hood.
“What is this?” Winona asked. “There’s another Sage here?”
“No, he’s not one of ours,” James said, pushing her behind him.
“That doesn’t make sense. All Sages work together.”
“That’s not true. Listen, I don’t have time to explain. Just get your people away from here.”
“No need,” Gideon replied. “I won’t be staying long.”
“What are you doing here?” James asked, but Gideon didn’t respond. He turned around and began running, disappearing into the crowd before anyone could say another word.
“Let’s go,” Bastion said to Lily as James tried to reach out to grab them.
“Wait!” he shouted, but Bastion just craned his neck back, smiled, and gave James a thumbs up. “No!” James shouted, but they were already in pursuit. He turned to Winona and was surprised to see several blades only inches away from his face. He threw up his hands in surrender.
“What is this?” he asked as she smiled with her eyes.
“You’re alone,” she said. “So now you are at our mercy.”
“I thought we were in agreement.”
“Terms have changed.”
“You know, I’ll take you up on that dinner offer now if you want.”
“Nice try.”
***
“THIS IS HIM?” LILY asked as they kept up the pace. They were well past Delahcourt now and reaching the bottom of the mountain. Gideon hit the edge of the energy bridge and it began extending out as he sprinted forward. The moonlight coming from the full moon above was the only illumination available, and if it wasn’t for the battle that would soon ensue, Bastion would have appreciated how beautiful it looked over the calm ocean.
“Second honeymoon,” Lily laughed as they hit the bridge and continued running.
“Hey, we have to take this guy seriously.”
“He doesn’t look so tough.”
“You didn’t face him earlier.”
“Anything I should know then?”
“He has a sword that can swing out like a whip. He’s pretty quick, and he can take the atmosphere around him and use to improve his defenses.”
“We’ll put that to the test,” Lily said as she pulled up on the straps of her lacy white dress. She reached down into a pocket in the skirt and then pulled out a pair of white fingerless gloves.
“What’s that, part of your costume?” Bastion laughed. She laughed with him as she put them on.
“You could say that. It means I’m getting serious.”
“I’m glad the two of you are having fun,” Gideon shouted. Bastion looked up in surprise to see that he had slowed down his running significantly, and now he was only a few yards in front of them, jogging along as if they had been allies all along.
Bastion took an unfocused swing at him and he came to a halt, parried it with his right forearm and then kicked him in the chest. Bastion went flying onto his back as Lily cocked back a fist and swung it as hard as she could toward Gideon’s face. Gideon caught the fist with the palm of his hand and then clutched it tight. He pulled her forward and then threw her over his shoulder and behind him. She was able to right herself in mid-air and landed on her feet behind Gideon as he chuckled to himself. He rubbed his hands together.
“You’re strong,” he said. “I thought my hand was going to break.”
“You seem a lot calmer now,” Bastion said, rising to his feet slowly. “What happened? All those Sages you killed put you at ease?”
“No,” he said, looking at Bastion out of the corner of his eye and turning a bit while keeping his body primarily facing toward Lily. “I take no pleasure in their deaths. They are young...like you. They are acting out of ignorance.”
“Then why did they have to die?”
“Because ignorance doesn’t make one innocent. If they used their mind, then they would know that they were on the wrong side.”
“Then what’s the right one?” Lily asked. “I wasn’t there earlier so I don’t know what you’re fighting for. All I know is that you’re targeting the Sages.”
“You’re not a Sage,” Gideon replied. “You can run now and live.”
“But you want to kill my husband,” she replied. “And he is one. So what now?”
“He is a murderer and deserving of death. He’s just like the rest of them.”
“Like the rest of who? Why are you doing this?”
“You haven’t figured it out by now?”
“He’s just a thug,” Bastion snapped. “Killing because he enjoys it.”
“I may kill the body,” he whispered. “But you and your Sages kill the mind and soul...what is worse?”
“We help people.”
“You help yourselves. You destroy nations. You use those that align themselves with you. You must be judged. Somehow you skipped over it in your passing. That must be rectified.”
“Did any of the Sorcerers send you?”
“I know nothing about them.”
“Then what’s the deal?” Lily asked. “I want to know.”
“I will tell you a tale,” he said. “And then the labor will begin. It is up to you what the child will be.”
“I so love riddles,” Bastion said, rolling his eyes.
“There was once a young man,” Gideon said. “He wasn’t well known. He blended in with the crowd and did what was right in the eyes of others. He did his homework. He went to school and obeyed his teachers as if they were his parents. He was a kind and gentle soul. Nothing special. He didn’t want much in life. He only wanted to live in peace, without being afraid of death and the boogeymen that his fellow villagers talked about.
“One day...the unthinkable happened. He...along with many others...released his eidolon. He became a Sage that day, and suddenly, he knew that his destiny had finally begun, and the peace he had longed for would arrive. At the very least, he could fight for it, for he had the abilities now. He looked to James, and Talia, and Zhou, and so many others for guidance. But they ignored his advances. They denied his requests for training. Whenever he asked to get stronger, or to train with them, he was told to wait for the new Sage Academy to be built.”
“You were in Allay?” Bastion asked, frowning, searching his face and trying to remember him.
“He waited,” Gideon continued, ignoring Bastion’s question. “He waited for its construction while he sat in the dirt and twiddled his thumbs. He would spar with the other young Sages, but they didn’t know what they were doing any more than he did. And when the Sage Academy finally opened, it still provided no answers. James and the other Sages were barely seen. They rarely taught a class. All they focused on was a prodigy named Bastion. My fellow classmate.”
“You were in James’ class,” Bastion whispered. His face fell as his eyes wavered. “The...the ones that needed the most help.”
“But we received little of it,” he said. “Again, James had his own personal matters to attend to. Though he was called a ‘Master Sage,’ and it was his obligation to train and guide us, all he cared about was himself.”
“You don’t know what James was going through. Catherine was gone. He had to kill—”
“Yes. My best friend,” Gideon said, silencing Bastion completely. “and my sparring partner at that. But that’s not why I do what I do. No, my mission is a lot more noble than revenge. It is far important. See, even after my friend’s murder, I moved forward. I was sad, but we all knew what we signed up for when we became Sages. At the time I didn’t think it could be at the hands of one of our teachers, but I digress.”
He turned to face Lily completely, putting his back to Bastion.
“Our class flourished in James’ absence. We taught each other techniques through trial and error, and a part of me thought that this was for the best. Perhaps, the Sages were teaching us independence and it was all a test. Of course, I was wrong about this as well. It was simply neglect. And this neglect only got worse once Lakrymos took over, as again, all they cared about was the child prodigy. I didn’t care though. I had friends that I cared about and loved.
“That was taken away from me when Seeker carried out his massacre of most of the student body. I wasn’t there at the time. I had gone off into the woods with my girlfriend to take a little break from it all. When we came back, we hardly walked through the gates when we sensed the blood through our eidolons. We could literally identify the blood of our friends. But no, even then, I didn’t hate the Sages. I was confused. I was distraught. I questioned why James and the others weren’t there to prevent this, or why they didn’t try to save us. I asked why they would leave us in the hands of a tyrant, but that wasn’t the moment of my rebirth.
“My girlfriend and I ran away from it all, with only the little food we managed to scavenge, and the training manuals in our knapsacks. I had never read them thoroughly as I wasn’t a big fan of reading, and I never saw the value of reading about history. I found it boring, and so for the most part, I ignored the text, but now it was all we had for entertainment. And that...that was when I saw it. It all became abundantly clear. The Sages...they were the true threat to peace.
“The Siege of 88. Thorn. Lakrymos. The Delilah and the Yama. The fall of the Kingdoms. All of that death and destruction was caused by the Sages in some manner, whether direct or otherwise. As long as they existed, there was turmoil and suffering. I poured through that text religiously, and I read between the lines. I memorized the speeches. I saw through the lies the Sages tried to perpetrate. It was always personal. It was always about them.”
“We’re not perfect,” Bastion said, but Gideon ignored him.
“The Sages could have prevented so much, but they believed they were right in all that they did. Isn’t it funny that the only Kingdom still standing out of the original five is Allay? Isn’t it something that conflict only occurs when the Sages are directly involved? Those that were young and new...they were only following the lead of James and the other master Sages. And for that, all they got was confusion and an early death. Even Bastion has bought into their doctrine, but that’s only because he was chosen and groomed by them. If he hadn’t received so much attention, even he would have seen the light.
“But I must continue on,” he said, turning to face Bastion completely. “After my girlfriend and I saw the truth, we tried to figure out what we should do next. But before we could come up with a concrete plan, the Yama attacked. She was murdered before my very eyes, and I followed not long behind her, asking myself where I had gone wrong. Why my life had mattered so little.
“I woke up in Paradise, but due to Bastion’s actions, that didn’t last long. And then, I found myself facing a very interesting problem. Battle was once again on the horizon. The Sages of old were in Paragon, but they were as blinded by their own crusades. I realized then...that everyone, all of my friends, all of my loved ones...we were all back in the same predicament. The Sage Academy was becoming a reality again. The Sages were once again championing themselves as Paragon’s protectors. But we—those not in the Sages’ inner circle...the untrained and the young...we saw through the Sages’ foolishness, and realized that we were now given a second chance to make things right.
“I went off to train while keeping my connections secured. And I watched. To see if the Sages had given up their ways now that they had reached Paradise. But...they had learned nothing in death, and history it seemed, was poised to repeat itself. And I won’t have it. James, Kyran, Arimus, Bastion, Chloe, Zhou, Achan, even Catherine and those that remain here on Terra...they will be made an example. They will suffer. Their doctrine will be extinguished. And then the true Sages will rise. They will protect Paragon. They will defeat Cimmerian. They will annihilate the old way and usher in the new.”
“So there’s more of you,” Bastion said through grit teeth.
“They won’t move without my say,” Gideon said. “So do not worry. Kill me, and there will be no uprising. They are not so proud that they would fight a losing battle just to prove that they are right. You can win the battle while losing the argument.”
“And what is your doctrine then?” Lily asked. “What makes you different than the Sages of Yesterday?”
“We don’t interfere in the lives of others,” he declared proudly. “We fight only when necessary, and only when it affects the balance at large. Enemies like Thorn are necessary to fight against, but they are few and far between. We don’t seek battle.”
“I get that,” she said. “But killing them isn’t the way. Surely you can try to persuade them.”
“They won’t listen,” Gideon decided. “Their own history says so. They’ve seen horrible things. Things that would scar a normal man. But they continue on, wiping the blood from their blades as if it was just mere juice from berries.”
“You can’t kill them.”
“You’ll see,” Gideon said.
“But aren’t you trying to force your way on us? Isn’t that contrary to your beliefs?”
“I’m not trying to force or convince anyone. I’m going to kill you. That’s completely different.”
“Who are you to decide whether we should die?”
“No one. No one but a lost soul with a heavy burden to bear...do you know that my original Sage robes were light blue in color? But through my will, I changed them to an orange/red hue. Do you know why?”
“No,” Lily whispered.
“It’s because it reflects the sky. You see, the weather is changing. The storms are over, and there will be only peace in the morning. Now come. Let me show you what I mean.”
