Draconic Testament (29 page)

Dante took this moment to jump on top of the structure and channel fire down into the abyss that Bastion was trapped in. Bastion erected a shield, though it didn’t touch the walls. It was hard, but if the shield had touched any of the walls, it was come apart and he would cook, which almost made him panic, but he kept a cool head. During the fire, Bastion took his right hand off the shield, and grabbed his belt to his jeans, undoing it. When the fire stopped, Dante looked down to see if he had been successful in his work. Unfortunately for him, Bastion was not dead, and up from the dark tunnel, threads and broken down material shot up at him. Bastion had broken down the belt into threads, extended them, and reinforced them with Magic. It took up a lot of his magic but he had an idea. The threads shot up towards Dante and it wrapped around his arms, legs, and body. Before Dante could cut free, which he could, the grids around Bastion came down, and he went down with them. Bastion’s grid also raised, though he had used his feet for all the grids to move, so he had used up a lot of his Magic to the point of being weak. However, there was one more injury to add to this plan, and that was that the grid behind him was down the quickest, so he hopped back and yanked Dante down into the middle grid, which was shooting up. Dante slammed into the upcoming grid, and nearly bounced off the grid into the ground below, which would have been great for Bastion, but he didn’t realise that he could have done this. The threads in his hand were still fastened onto Dante, and the force of the blow had snapped them, saving Dante from the fall. The spectacle left a lot of Magi angry, some even wanted to smash down the barriers and come to the aid of their Emperors. Even the guards were tempted, but they knew the consequences of this. Dante was impressed by the move, but he knew that if he didn’t move soon, he really would be annihilated by Bastion. Dante got up, and looked for Bastion. He couldn’t find him. He predicted Bastion would be waiting for another chance to strike, or trying to think of another trickster strategy. But no, from behind, Bastion raised a grid and attacked Dante with the rest of his Magic infused into his hand, a high frequency lightning fist, ready to punch through Dante’s back... But Dante decided to quit playing around and fight at his best, so he spun around, and placed the side of his fist against his mouth, so he could blow through it. Inside, he infused his hand with magic that intensified whatever magic would through it, and inside his throat, he began to convert a spell. For Bastion, the results were disastrous. As Dante blew, fire erupted from his throat. As it went through his fist, the fire erupted into the makeshift firestorm, and engulfed Bastion in flame. He flew backwards, smashing into the Barrier on the other side of the room, and fell onto the floor below. His body was broken, and bruised, and he had no Magic to heal himself with. The fight was over, he had failed. The crowd cheered with relief as the victor looked down on his opponent. His expression was a mix between pity and disappointment. He had expected, no, more like hoped, for more. But Bastion was content expected this outcome. How could he possibly beat a strategist and a skilled fighter that had 2000 years of experience more than him? He had been a Magi, for what, a month? His feats so far had been impressive... Though, at least, his mission was successful. “Well... I came here to save Veronica, and her uncle will likely take care of her now. He doesn’t seem completely heartless... no... I'm sure Veronica will be fine, but... It sucks that I lost. I... don’t want to die... I wish perhaps... Damnit...” Bastion thought inside his head, as the voices of the crowd faded... Faded into nothing.
No, not nothing. Waves. It was the ocean area again. Did this mean he had slipped into unconsciousness? Was this where he would die, on an ocean, overlooking his life? Perhaps it wasn’t a complete loss, there were far worse ways. He sat on the water, looking at his reflection. “I'm young...” He says, smiling, “I'm alright looking. I have a way with words... smart... have a great mother... great friends. And here I am, dying. Already...” Bastion mumbled, out loud. Dying had a really large affect on him. His perspective changed, wondering if the path he went down was right... or was it wrong? If he had done something differently? Was he to blame? Or was it his body, his lust for magic, that led him to this? In the end, he figured there was no point blaming and being angry, as he had come here on his own free will. It was him who failed to beat Dante, not Veronica, not his mother, not Vander. This was his problem. What was his most admirable quality? It was something he never talked about, but changing the world for the better was something that he’d love to do. Nobody being judged by the actions of a few, respect for all, freedom for all... Bastion looked over toward the statue in the distance. He could tell that Illuminos was waiting to talk to him. “It’s often that in the final moments of your life, you realise who you are.” Illuminos said.
“Really? And who am I?” Bastion asked.
“It is not about names or titles. It’s about deeds, ideals, views. Your moral fibre.” Illuminos said.
“Does it actually matter?” Bastion said, “I couldn’t do what I needed to.”
“You did what you viewed as right. That is all that should matter, and if it does not... Then what was the point in dying for the woman?” Illuminos asked.
“Right...” Bastion said.
“Not all people have this chance to look back at their lives before leaving. Not even many Magi.” Illuminos said. Bastion did not respond. Over a couple of minutes, Bastion thought only of the good things. His mother, and how she scolded him out of love and worry as he came home after sleeping on the park. Vander, and his little move, the ‘Vance’. How he would make Bastion laugh, be a loyal friend, and back him up whenever he need him. Talia, and how her love for him was comforting, and how it felt to have a bond like that with somebody. Yaevinn, extremely kind. He was practically the same as Bastion, only Bastion was more blunt and sarcastic when it came to the serious stuff. He was a great friend to him, and the whole village of Korreal. And, of course, Veronica. Veronica was someone he didn’t like at first, someone he was wary of. Eventually, he warmed to her, began to feel sorry for her, like her a little. Then It became deeper after the secret was let out. It became a close friendship. In another life, perhaps she would have been a perfect sister for Bastion... perhaps something deeper. A thought Talia would not approve of, and that Vander would pull out a Vance at, but nobody was perfect. Not that Bastion would dare venture that far. As for Bastion’s deeds, he was a loyal friend. He tried to stop the murders, which he ended up doing with Veronica’s help. He put his life on the line in the tunnels, and stuck his neck out for Veronica’s life. As well as all the things he did during his childhood. “Oh, yee of extraordinary blood. Wielder of lightning and guardian of life. Art thou happy with the life you have led? Was the journey worth it? Would you do it again? Did you grow stronger with each step?” Illuminos asked.
“...Yes. I would not say my life was a waste. I don’t know how the world works, or why I was chosen to play the role of Sebastian Slater, but it was worth it. However this universe works, I thank whatever gods involved, whether it be of religion or nature, for giving me this chance to live. I would do it again, gladly, for even the hard times in life mean something.” Bastion said. Illuminos paused. Bastion thought that was it. He thought his life would simply end, and he’d die on a happy note, going to wherever souls go at the end of life. He considered praying to whatever god for mercy in the afterlife, but he decided against it. He thought that if he, who he considered to be good, was brought before a god, and that god was just, his judgement would be fair. So he closed his eyes... and waited for the end.
“You’re much like your father.” Illuminos said. Bastion’s eyes opened. “He also held life dear. So dear that he’d end up dying for the woman he loved, much like you intend to.”
“What?” Bastion asked, looking at the statue.
“You are no ordinary boy, Bastion. You know this. Through you, I shalt not be sentenced to this life of entrapment, and life will prosper. Through you... Life itself will be saved. Saved from Calamity.” Illuminos said. “What are you talking about?” Bastion asked. All of a sudden, from in front of where he was sitting, a figure rose from the water. A woman... She was not moving, but slowly floating up from the water, motionless, eyes dead. Bastion got up, looking at the woman. Her black hair was in her face, but as the water dried out and it came apart, he could recognise who it was. “Yula?” Bastion asked.
“You have the potential to be ever so powerful. I bestow onto you, my strength. Thy body be healed, and rise. Rise and unleash this power I grant you.” Illuminos said. The figure slammed her hand into her fist, and presented a ball of fiery sludge in the palm of her hand. He recognised this. It was the attack she was trying to use on Bastion. “Who are you? What is this!?” Bastion asked. Images flashed into his head, about Yula. She was with a Cazrian with a golden insignia above his left eye, welded into his skin, it seemed, but the skin seems undamaged. The Cazrian has a sanctum symbol on his right cheek, like Torrig. Flashes of her practicing the technique, how it’s formed, how it’s used. It was so hard to do. The technique took forever to perfect. It was so high level that Yula doubted herself many times, becoming depressed and crying when she was alone, but in the end, she never gave up. Bastion had stolen these memories from her. The flashes of memory were painful, and left his mind blank for a few moments. “Stop! What are you doing?” Bastion asked.
“Saving your life...” Illuminos said. “And the lives of many others.” Then sounds of cheering began to reappear. “Wait. Wait!” Bastion called, but the pain of his body began to re-emerge. He groans in pain, and all of a sudden, he’s laying on the ground, cheek against the gridded floor. The floors are coming down, and it looks like everyone thinks the match is over. Bastion feels magic flow into him... it feels foreign, but it’s definitely needed. He begins gets to his knees and heals himself, while Dante was speaking motivationally. By the time he was done healing, Dante had spotted him. The guards had taken the shields down and the cheering had stopped, but gasps of shock erupted as they began to notice Bastion again. Bastion looked around, in a wounded condition. He wasn’t full of life and ready to go, but he was hardly going to limp. He was sore, and running around was something that he didn’t have in him. So... the fact that Illuminos had lent him this power was useless in his opinion. But no. Out of nowhere, he stood up. Or rather, his body did. He had no control. “Wha!?” Bastion shrieked. Bastion began to created the fiery sludge, and upon seeing it through hollow sight, Dante shouted, “No!” But too late, Bastion had finished the spell, and launched it at the crowd, using up all his magic energy again. The sludge exploded and covered about a dozen people. They screamed, fled, and panicked. “Kill them!” Dante shouted. “Hurry!” The guards hesitated, and when they actually began to move into action, the infected lashed out. They were crazy, and they were spreading the infection all over the place. What was this spell? Tartarus? It certainly looked like it, but it seemed a lot more volatile. Perhaps a more violent form of it? Magi fell under the weight of the infection, and the magi had no choice but to fight back. It was chaos. Some ran, of course, but many were caught and surrounded, forcing them to attack their friends and family. Bastion was sick to his stomach at the spectacle, at what he had done... but then it hit him. He’s alive. Veronica’s alive. They can run, get the hell out of here! After having such a close call with death, he decided to let his human, not magical, instincts take him, and use the chance he has to get the hell out of there.
Dante’s chants and speeches echoed throughout the small room that Veronica had been situated in. It was after the fight. She had been watching with hollow sight... watching as Bastion’s Aura slowly faded after he was slammed against the barrier by Dante. Tears had streamed down her face, for the first time in years. She had been up against the wall, curled up into a ball, thinking of how this was exactly like the time that her mother was taken away to be killed. She had lost another person that was important to her. Another person that understood and was there for her. Dragged off to be violently killed by a family member. Humans had always said that history had a funny way of repeating itself... Now, Veronica had learned that first-hand. She was frozen. She wondered what to do. She didn’t really care for her life anymore, no matter how much Bastion would say to her how important it was. How important it was to her mother and him both. Important enough that they both died for her sake. Then, she thought... If history had a way of repeating itself, then perhaps she should continue the cycle, exactly like last time. Wait for a chance to get this magic resistant leash off her neck, then possess the guards. Make them cut down their emperor. Be done with her family line, and wander off to be the hateful, cynical girl she was before she met Bastion. She was confused. What awaited her? Then, she jumped in fright. Screams of the dying and the bloodthirsty filled the room. She looked in hollowsight, and her whole body jolted as she saw a familiar Aura smashing through the doors of the coliseum. Bastion barges through the door, forgetting that he was still all banged up, despite being healed, and locked eyes with Veronica. “Bastion!!” Veronica screamed. Bastion ran up to the door, forgetting that he didn’t have the keys, and used even more of his mana to smash the lock off with his hands, cutting his hand in the process due to his messed up magic. “Ow, Damnit!” Bastion yelled. “Hey, Veronica, you alright?”. He was trying to remain calm, but it was impossible with Veronica being unusually in the opposite. She grabbed him and hugged him tight. “I was scared...” She whimpers. “I saw you die...”
“I'm sorry...” Bastion said. She stays like this, ignoring the cries of pain in the background. She shut herself off from the world. She was at peace. Bastion was too, and he forgot all about the terror he had unleashed until a loud explosion Then he snaps out of it. He grabs Veronica by her arms. “We need to go. Now. Come on, get your shit together.” Bastion says, and drags her to the door.