The Seven Seals: Dragon Crusade
Chapter 9: Tension Rising

“So, we have to find three other people who also have the same power as us,” Travis concluded.

“Yep,” Kate replied.

“And they’re spread across Tellaria, possibly all of Teannan.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And throughout all of this we’re being guided by a tiny little crystal which practically has unknown origins except for the fact that some crazy wizard decided to make one.”

Kate paused for a moment, staring down at her hands holding the reigns of her horse. She looked to Travis and nodded. “Exactly.”

Travis blinked and grinned. “That sounds awesome!” he exclaimed. “Hah, I can’t imagine you having to explain this all over again to the rest of the Seals.”

Kirith groaned loudly and let his head droop. “Don’t even remind me!” he said irritably. “Kate, how about you explain next time.”

Kate turned slight red. “What? Why me?!”

Travis chuckled. “Oh come on, I’ll help you out!” He tapped his temple with his finger. “That is if I don’t forget.”

“Oh ha ha, real funny. How about I repeat it to you several more times and have you memorize it yourself!” Kate teased.

“Oh come on this wasn’t in the agreement!” Travis exclaimed and smiled.

The day after they had left Hillford, Kirith and Kate took the time to explain to Travis the prophecy and destiny of the Seals. That day, the three of them rode through the woods quietly.

“You know, I can’t thank you guys enough for coming into my life,” Travis said and let out a satisfied sigh.

“You’ve said that at least seventeen times since we left. I counted,” Kirith said with a blank stare ahead.

“I know but it’s true! I really am thankful! Don’t have to live on that forsaken farm anymore.”

“I would imagine it’s very boring there,” Kate said.

“Oh, don’t even get me started! If you were born in that village, you were born to work till you were in the grave. No free time to myself...which I guess wouldn’t have mattered anyways since there’s nothing to do. But I never got to see a lot of the outside world. Sure I’ve been to a market but that’s about it.”

“Well haven’t you ever, I don’t know, tried to run away?”

Travis shook his head. “No, I would feel bad and probably wouldn’t be able to survive a day out here. But this time...I know I made the right choice. I know I have to do this.”

There was a long silence amongst them, only to be replaced by the chirping of the birds and the movement of their horses. Travis glanced ahead towards Kirith. “So why did you kill your brother?” he asked.

Kirith pulled his horse ahead to a stop, causing theirs to stop also. He didn’t move, but continued to stare ahead. “So...you’re one of those people, huh?” Kirith said, his voice darker than before.

Travis went a bit pale. “Um...I guess...? I mean—”

“You guess what?” Kirith snapped, looking back at him with a glare.

Travis gulped and didn’t say anything.

Kirith kicked his horse into a trot, going farther ahead of them.

Travis blinked several times and glanced to Kate. “Was it something I said?”

Kate massaged her temples. “Travis...”

“What?”

Kate sighed and kicked her horse into a trot, along with Travis. “He didn’t do it,” she said.

“Oh— OOHHH!” Travis gawked.

They didn’t speak after that. The mood that Kirith was giving off set them all on edge. Though, it was nothing new. Most of the time they had been quiet and, occasionally, Travis would try to strike up a conversation with Kate, which would turn into small talk.

Time had passed, and the sun was already in the middle of the sky. Kate shifted on the saddle to find a more comfortable position only to have no luck. She let out a dilapidated sigh and glanced down at the necklace around her neck. The segment of light was still there pointing forward. How much farther would they have to go? Was the next Seal really in Grendalia? What would that mean for Kirith?

Kate glanced up towards Kirith. He still looked quite upset after what Travis had said, though he wasn’t showing it as much as he had before. What was going on in his mind? Kate could only imagine. Something to do with what happened that fateful night, perhaps. Those made Kate think back upon what Thogmook said. Protect Kirith from what he could become. Become what was the question. Sure, Kirith probably was still struggling with coping with his brother’s death, but could it be having such an effect on his well-being? Maybe she should take Thogmook’s word of advice.

Kate guided her horse up to Kirith’s side. “Hey, Kirith,” she said, “we both know this journey is going to be dangerous. And we’ll need to defend ourselves, right? I barely know how to use a sword...do you think we could stop to train maybe?”

Kirith glanced towards Kate, his expression softening. He nodded lightly and replied, “Sure.”

Travis pumped his fist and grinned. “Nice! Let’s get some training in!” Travis exclaimed.

They stopped at a spacious clearing in the woods and dismounted. Kirith and Kate walked out to the middle of the clearing and stood apart from one another. Travis stood at the edge of the clearing and pulled out his axe. He gave them a sideways glance before twirling the weapon in his hand. “I’ll wait for you guys to finish up, then I’m going up against Kirith,” Travis said and winked.

Kirith rolled his eyes and looked to Kate. “Okay, before we actually start using a sword, you need a good stance.”

He went through with showing Kate some stances for making attacks, different sidesteps, pursuing and backing away. Shortly after that, they practiced with using their swords in sparing. Kirith had done it slowly at first to help Kate guide her swings, but as it went on, he moved faster.

Kirith swung his sword down to Kate’s abdomen. Kate strained and blocked the attack, shoving Kirith back. A small smile emerged on Kirith’s lips. “You’re catching on,” he said.

“It’s easier said than done, that’s for sure!” Kate replied and wiped sweat from her brow. She lunged forward and pierced her sword towards Kirith’s shoulder.

Kirith sidestepped and held the blade up to Kate’s neck. “Remember, don’t thrust all your strength in one attack,” he said.

Kate sighed and lowered her sword. “Probably should’ve seen that one coming.”

“Hah! My turn!” Travis said and walked towards them.

Kate stepped away as the two of them face one another. “This is going to be interesting,” she mumbled, sheathing her sword.

Travis cocked his head to the side and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry about what I said earlier. Honestly, I don’t know better,” he said and held out his hand. “No hard feelings?”

Kirith stared down at his hand and relaxed his shoulders. He took Travis’ hand and shook it. “Sure, no hard feelings,” Kirith replied in a somewhat mellow tone.

Travis grinned and let go. He picked up his axe and held it up with both hands in a ready stance. Kirith did the same and nodded at Travis. “Ready?”

“RAAAAAAHHHH!” came the sound of an echoing guttural roar.

All three of them froze. Nothing made a sound. Not even the wind through the trees nor the mate calling of the birds. Everything had frozen in shock from such a disturbance.

Kate stood completely still, like any sudden movement would disturb the unknown beast. What was that? Where had it come from? It didn’t sound like anything earthly at all.

The roar resonated again throughout the forest.

“What...was that?” Travis asked.

Kirith shook his head slowly. “I’m...I’m not sure...”

“It doesn’t sound like any animal, that’s for sure,” Kate said quietly.

Suddenly, there were loud quakes that shook the earth. It shook every one-second, almost like running. And it was getting closer. The sound of trees snapping and falling became louder. The horses reared and whinnied in fear. They quickly took off within a moments notice.

Kate’s mouth dropped open. “The horses!” she exclaimed.

“There goes all our stuff...” Travis sighed. Whatever was coming their way was only seconds from being in the clearing.

“Get out of the way!” Kirith said and literally dragged Travis and Kate to the side of the tree line.

Crashing through the forest, a rampaging beast burst forth without mercy. Though this was nothing like any of them had ever seen as it was standing almost two stories high. A grotesque being it was, but made of a wispy darkness. It had the head of a bull and piercing red eyes. In its hand it held a large gnarled club. Breathing in raspy twisted breaths, the creature turned its attention to them. It let out an ear splitting roar.

Kate clamped her hands over her ears. “What is that thing?!?”

“Taurus demon?!?” Kirith stammered. “Where in the Abyss did it come from?!?”

“I...I think it wants us dead!” Travis said.

Kate felt her heart rapidly beat in her chest. Would they have to fight this thing? Did any of them know how to defeat it? They were going to have to at least try. Kate grabbed the hilt of her sword with a shaky hand and pulled it out.

Kirith looked to her and furrowed his brow. “You’re ill prepared!” he exclaimed.

“We all are, Kirith! We all have to put our effort into this!” Kate snapped.

Kirith shook his head and looked around at them. “We go for the legs first!” he ordered. Kirith chased forward towards the beast, along with Travis with their weapons drawn.

Kate stepped forward but felt herself freeze in place. Thoughts in her head told her she couldn’t fight, that she wouldn’t withstand this. Now she suddenly felt the weakest in the group. Her friends running off to battle and all she could do was watch, stricken in fear.

The Taurus demon saw their quick approach and took its chance, slamming its club down towards them. The two of them lunged out of the way but easily recovered. Kirith dashed around to the demon’s side and readied his blade to pierce the demon’s leg. But the Taurus was swift to react and swept its club down towards him. Travis vaulted to his aid and blocked the attack with his axe. It was an amazing sight; a fifty or however-many-ton creature trying to crush an impenetrable teen.

Travis grinned weakly as he struggled to keep steady as his muscles bulged. “Surprised by what you see, huh?!” he taunted the beast. “Kirith— now’s your chance!”

Kirith was already on it. He charged for one of its legs and sliced it.

The attack had done little damage and made the Taurus demon even more infuriated. It let out an angered roar and pulled its club back. The demon raised its club up over its head. Tendrils of darkness began to curl up and swirl around the club.

Kate’s eyes widened. This didn’t at all look good. “Kirith, Travis! Get out of there!” she cried.

It was too late.

The Taurus slammed the club down into the earth. The earth twined like an ocean wave from the impact as wind kicked up all around.

Before she knew it, Kate flew back from the impact and smacked into the ground. She yelped as the air was nearly knocked right from her lungs. Scratches marred her underside from head to toe. Kate coughed and lifted herself up before looking towards the utter destruction the smash had created.

From the looks of it, the clearing had gotten wider. Trees had snapped and fallen, some even uprooted and burnt. Kirith was struggling to rise from across the clearing. Travis lay sprawled not too far away from Kirith. The Taurus demon began to approach them ever so slowly, staring daggers down at them with its penetrating red eyes.

Kate scrambled up onto her feet as her heart beat rapidly in her chest. That thing is going to kill them! she thought. Kate’s gaze landed on her sword. Maybe she could fight it. But that would be impossible. Her chance of survival would be low, considering that the demon nearly took out both Kirith and Travis in one blow. But if she didn’t act now, the two of them would die. Kate gritted her teeth. Quit thinking about it and start fighting! She dashed for her sword and snatched it up. Kate dashed out into the clearing and stopped behind the demon. “HEY, YOU BIG UGLY COW—” she yelled. “OVER HERE!”

The Taurus stopped its advance and turned its head slowly towards her. It let out a low growl and walked towards her.

“Aargh… Kate, no!” Kirith cried.

Kate bent her knees and readied herself. Now she was regretting having aggroed the demon. It felt as if her legs were going to buckle beneath her from the overbearing burden of her freight. How was she going to fight this thing? Go for the legs?

The demon raised its club and slung down towards Kate. Kate scrambled out of the way and ran head on towards its right leg. But before she knew it, a large hand swept down and grabbed Kate around the waist. The sword fell from her grip as she was lifted from the ground. Kate screamed and tried desperately to wriggle out of the Taurus’ grasp.

The Taurus demon brought her up to eye level. It looked at her with its luminescent red eyes. The grotesque figure began to open its maw, revealing a set of bone crushing teeth.

Kate felt her eyes begin to water as she stared into its gaping mouth. She was going to die there. The demon would eat her, tearing away her flesh from bone and limb from body. She would be their lost cause and the satisfaction of the beast.

Before, there was a chance of survival, but now there seemed to be no possibilities of escape. And all of this for just wanting to protect her friends. Why couldn’t she defend herself? I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die! she thought.

The beast began bringing her towards its mouth, going slow like it was taunting her.

“No NO NO! PLEASE!!” Kate screamed.

Out of nowhere, there was a flash of light that zipped between her and the beast.

The Taurus demon reared back and roared in pain. Kate felt herself and the hand fall. Being cushioned by the fall, the hand smacked into the ground and opened up, causing Kate to roll out. Kate hastily got up and looked around. Kirith stood not too far away, holding his sword up with a dark look upon his face. Lightning zipped and danced across the blade’s surface. Had Kirith done that? Was that his seal power?

“So— where do I begin to thank you exactly?” Kate asked exasperatedly, still shaking from head to toe.

“Don’t,” Kirith replied.

Travis weakly jogged towards them, keeping his gaze trained on the demon. “Kirith, that was awesome!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, well, we aren’t finished yet,” Kirith said.

The Taurus demon groaned and held its nub of an arm close. It looked back at them with a sinister glare and let out another quaking roar. It drove one of his hooves into the earth and pushed back.

“I think it’s going to charge at us again,” Kate said, picking her sword back up. Then, an idea popped into her head. “Travis! When it comes charging, charge back and cut one its legs with your axe! There’s a chance it’ll fall forward. And if it does, Kirith, you go in for the kill!”

Travis nodded and readied himself. “It’s worth a shot,” he said.

“How do you know this will work?” Kirith asked skeptically.

“Just trust me!”

The Taurus demon charged at them, holding its club over its head. Travis ran straight ahead towards it. Flames began to grow and etch across his axe. Just before the demon could swing down, he quickly jumped to the side and swiped his axe at the demon’s leg. The beast came crashing forward, up-heaving earth in the process.

Kate dashed out of the way, but Kirith stayed put. As the demon was coming to a stop in its practical landslide, he leaped onto its arm and traced up to its back. Kirith raised his sword as it began to flash with lightning. He ran down the demon’s back within the blink of an eye as he dug his sword past its skin. Lunging down, Kirith rolled to absorb the fall.

The long cut along the demon’s back began to open up and burst forth with light. The Taurus demon wailed in pail and dissipated into particles of light. The last remains of the demon whisked away into the wind, never to be seen again.

Kate watched in astonishment. She didn’t think the plan would actually work, or at least she didn’t think it would come out the way it had. Kirith was beginning to understand the power of his seal, along with Travis. Kate felt her excitement begin to diminish and fade into dismay as the thought suddenly came to her. She was the only one who had yet to understand, let alone manipulate her powers. Maybe she needed some more time, but how come both Kirith and Travis were getting it? Was it because they both were able to fight? I can’t fight, Kate thought. I barely know anything...

Travis grinned and walked towards Kirith. “That thing just got scotched!” he exclaimed and slammed a hand on Kirith’s back.

Kirith stood up but almost fell back down with Travis’ powerful pat. “Hah, yeah,” he chuckled. Kirith met Kate’s gaze and his smile slowly faded.

Kate forced a smile and walked towards them. “You guys did amazing,” she said.

“We wouldn’t have been if it wasn’t for your plan,” Kirith replied.

Travis nodded. “Kirith’s right.”

Kate’s gaze faltered to the ground. “It was nothing you guys,” she said, looking back up at them.

Kirith stared at Kate for a moment. There was a certain look, a certain glint in his eyes that told he knew something wasn’t right.

But as their conversation was coming to a close, the wind came to a standstill. The shadows of the trees, of the bushes, and of themselves began to grow and contort. The area grew eerily dark, as the skies became a twilight color.

Kate looked around at changing atmosphere. “What now...?” she asked in a concerned voice.

“I’m starting to get the feeling that killing that thing wasn’t such a good idea,” Travis stated grimly.

Low chanting began to echo from behind Kate. Kate swirled around as the color drained from her face. Two of the same cloaked figures she had seen before strode towards them from across the clearing. Ribbons of darkness rapped around their hands as they continued to chant in unison.

“Run,” Kate said.

“Who—” Kirith began.

“JUST RUN!”

The three of them were off without any further questions— stopping was out of the question. Kate ran as fast as her legs could take her. She heard them close in from behind as the memories of her trying to escape them once before came rushing back to her. Kate could feel the deathly cold darkness just grazing her skin. Her legs and lungs burned as she tried distraughtly to get away.

The shadows were closing in them from all sides, like rampant wolves. The “cloaked-ones” were getting closer and closer, ready to seize them. A black whip lashed out from behind and wrapped around Kirith’s neck. Kirith was yanked back into the ground as he gasped for air. Travis and Kate skidded to a stop several feet away.

“Kirith!” Kate exclaimed.

One of the cloaked figures stood over Kirith, holding the tendril to which was wrapped around Kirith’s neck. He withdrew an Althrist stone and held it over him.

Kate looked to Travis. “W-we have to do something! They’re going to take away his Seal!” she exclaimed.

Travis tried to form words but nothing escaped his lips. They knew fully well that trying to get anymore involved would be risking their own lives. Pulling his axe out, Travis raised the massive weapon as flames began to wrap around its surface. Swinging forward, a thick line of fire shot out and darted at one of the figures.

One of them quickly stepped forward and intercepted the fire with his hand. The fire quickly absorbed into his palm and morphed into darkness. With one swift move, the figure shot it back at Travis.

“What the—?” Travis almost fell in the process of trying to dodge the attack. Their moves seemed to have no power against them whatsoever.

From out of the darkness came a bright light. The light was like that of the sun only colorless and lacking in the warmth. The shadows all around receded and hid.

The cloaked figures shielded their faces with their arms but it was no use. They wailed in pain as one of them fell to their knees.

Though the light was unbearably bright, Kate could just make out the form of a person in the midst of the light.

Kirith was just beginning to get up as he kept his arm over his eyes. He in the direction of Kate and Travis and yelled, “Run! Let’s get out of here!”

Kate and Travis didn’t hesitate to follow after Kirith. Whatever was going on back there happened for a reason, and it was that they succeeded in escaping.

After a mild succession of running, they had slowed down, agreeing that the danger was far behind. Though horseless, they discovered one of the sacks from the horses that contained a cloak, one pot, but barely enough food for more than half of a week.

The sun was beginning its descent below the horizon and the land was covered in shadows yet again. But this night was different from the rest. The day’s warmth did not settle and was replaced by a strong evening chill. Travis had suggested making a fire to stay warm, but Kirith opposed the idea since it might attract unwanted attention.

“We should just get some rest...” Kirith said quietly. “We’re going to need our strength later on.”

“And how are we supposed to sleep in this weather?” Kate asked, rubbing her arms.

“There’s always—” Kirith kneeled down to the bag and pulled out the cloak, “this.”

Travis suppressed a grin. “We could always share,” he suggested.

“Aha, not happening, buddy,” Kate replied humorously.

Kirith stared at the cloak before holding it out to Kate. “You can use it.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Kate shook her head. “Kirith, you don’t have to.”

“I insist,” he said and met her gaze.

Kate opened her mouth but she couldn’t find the right words. She reached out and took the cloak. “Thanks,” Kate said, smiling a little.

Travis chuckled. “Well I was going to suggest that you two conserve each other’s body heat while I use the cloak but I guess not,” he teased.

Kirith shook his head. “Travis you’re so weird.”

“What? It was only a suggestion!”

After cutting their conversation short, the three of them settled down in, using the underbrush as a makeshift mattress. Kate curled up against a large oak tree, holding the cloak tight around her. She closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them again they wouldn’t be forced to run from some other dark entity.

Several hours passed into the night. Kate stirred uncomfortably, fading in and out of consciousness. The past events plagued her mind, as if the darkness and silence was a catalyst to her anxiety. Kate turned on her side and opened her eyes. Kirith and Travis slept soundlessly, like they were used to something like this.

I’m nothing like them, Kate thought. And I’m probably not gonna get any sleep anytime soon. Careful not to make so much noise, she got up from her resting spot while keeping the cloak on. Kate looked up at the tree that she had rested up against. It was low, but thick enough to be climbed. Setting her foot in a cleft, she quietly maneuvered up into the branches. Kate made herself comfortable against a long branch and kept her feet pushed against a lower branch that sprung out on the opposite side. From her vantage point, she had a clear view just above the treetops. Three moons sat up in the sky, or what Kate supposed to be moons. One was larger then the rest that almost took up the night sky with an almost fiery surface to it. Another close to its size sat just in front of it. And the last sat far off from the two that was much smaller in comparison.

Kate sighed and laid her head back.

“Can’t get any sleep either?”

Kate whipped her head in the direction of which the voice came from. Kirith stood in the cleft of two branches, holding onto a branch.

Kate relaxed a bit and nodded. “Yeah,” she said, gazing back at the sky. “I guess it’s just another one of those rough nights.”

“I could say the same,” Kirith said and climbed up to a higher spot. He looked off into the sky. Minutes passed with the both of them silently taking in the awe and vastness of the heavens. “Is there something bothering you, Kate..?” Kirith asked finally. “And don’t say there isn’t, because I know there is.”

Kate met Kirith’s cold stare and swallowed. Would she have to tell him? She didn’t want him to worry; she didn’t want anyone to worry about her. There were much more important things to be thinking about.

“I...I feel lost,” Kate said. “I left my family on such a bad note. I didn’t mean to get sent here so suddenly. I never got to tell them goodbye or say I loved them. Maybe...maybe now they think I just ran away and was sick of them. They’re probably blaming themselves for this.” Kate pulled the cloak closer to her face. “And now I’m here...but I feel so alien. I don’t belong here.”

There was silence between them that seemed to make her words sound more and more meaningful. Kirith let out a soft sigh. “Kate...I’m your friend, Travis too,” he said. “And you belong here just as much as we do. We’re here for you, don’t forget that.” Kirith paused to let his words sink in. “And your family...no matter what they think, you were put here for a reason. All that matters is that they’re out of harms way.”

Kate looked towards Kirith. His expression was full of sorrow yet strength and an undying determination. He was so brave, so daring, it made Kate question was thing that Thogmook mentioned that he could become. She nodded slightly. “I just— I hope this will all be worth while in the end. Stopping this evil for good.”

“It will, I promise you,” Kirith replied. “And maybe we’ll think of a way to get you home.”

Kate averted her gaze to the skies. “Yeah...maybe,” she murmured. “Maybe we will.”

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