Chapter 33: Clash

  Corin eyed the furtive. Nothing about him seemed suspicious. He was friendly, seemed honest, did not hesitate to help if help was needed, always had an interesting tale to tell, and was quick to smile when greeting anyone. But Corin did not trust him. He did not have a good reason why, but he did not.

  It had been bothering Corin for a long time now, and he brought up the issue. It was the two of them in the room, and Corin knew he could confide in his brother.

  “How is it that everyone trusts him so easily?” Corin asked him.

  The question caught Cyril off guard.

  “Him? Who are you speaking of?”

  “You know, the outsider.”

  “The outsider?” Cyril repeated, unsure of what Corin spoke about.

  “You know who I mean!” Corin said.

  “Simeon? What’s wrong with him?” Cyril asked, confused.

  “He’s too…friendly. The people here in Bothia trust him too easily,” Corin argued. “And we don’t even know why he’s here! How is it that a furtive came here all the way from Khorsor? And why would he want to?”

  “Hmm.” Cyril put his hand on his chin and looked out the window.

  Cyril made that expression when he wanted to let Corin know that he had said something silly. He would make faces and pretend to seriously consider whatever bothered Corin.

  Seeing that face made Corin mad.

  “You’re not even taking this seriously!” Corin said, exasperated.

  “I’m trying to understand,” Cyril said with a slight smile. “You don’t trust Simeon because he’s too friendly? And because he has not yet told us, people who have known him for only several months, why he left Khorsor?”

  “Every time I bring up an issue, you twist it like that!” Corin said as he got up, flailing his arms in frustration.

  Cyril began laughing at his younger brother’s exasperation.

  “Corin, come. I was just teasing you,” Cyril replied as he laughed.

  Corin looked at Cyril and stayed silent.

  “So you want me to tell you why exactly I trust Simeon?” Cyril asked.

  Corin was quiet.

  “Is there anything beyond this?” Cyril asked. “Any other reason why you would bring this up?”

  Corin knew he had to be honest. Cyril would keep asking him until he confessed.

  “I don’t like how much time you are spending with him!” Corin said. “It’s always been you and me, Cyril. Now this stranger comes by, and you and the rest of the town can’t help but spend all your time with him!”

  “I see.”

  Cyril walked up to his brother. “Nothing has changed Corin. It will always be you and me.

  No matter what happens, I will always be there for you, and I know you will do the same for me.”

  “But change is bound to happen. It’s not always going to be you and me. One day, I will probably get married, hopefully sooner rather than later,” Cyril laughed, “and you, despite your habitual antisocial behavior, will probably find someone else as well and make a life with them. And even with all of that, you will always be able to rely on me.”

  “And you trust him?” Corin asked.

  “I don’t see why not. He hasn’t done anything that I would find suspicious,” Cyril said.

  Corin relied on his brother on figuring out who to trust. Trying to determine whether someone was trustworthy or not confused him.

  “You say one day I will find someone to make a life. But how would I know if I found someone like that? Someone I can trust?” Corin asked.

  “Oh, well…” Cyril replied as he looked out the window. But this reaction was different. Corin knew he asked Cyril something he did not know how to answer.

  “Corin, you have to rely on your judgment to know who to trust. And I think your judgment will serve you well.” Cyril smiled.

  Cyril looked at his brother, smiling. In a split-second, Cyril went from smiling to Corin to looking out the window once more, as if the previous interaction had not occurred.

  What just happened?

  “It’s simple, Corin,” Cyril replied, he said as he looked out the window.

  “Only trust those who promise to give you what you need to succeed.” Cyril looked at his brother this time. There was a smile on his face, but no warmth came from it.

  ***

  “JACO!”

  Screaming woke Corin up.

  He was against the door. He did not even realize he had fallen asleep. He reached toward his neck and adjusted the pendant. It felt oddly tight.

  “Jaco! It’s me, Jeinna. Open the door!” Jeinna called out.

  Jaco walked up to the door. Corin moved out of the way but held his blade in his hand. He looked around the room. Daum, Simeon, and Livia were armed. Zhi and Nanaua were now awake, not yet fully recovered but prepared to move if need be. Kadus waited nervously.

  Jaco opened the door, and a frantic Jeinna burst into the room. She barged into the room muttering something. Corin could not make out what she was saying.

  “The, the, the sky,” she said.

  “Jeinna what is ha-happening?” Jaco felt the anxiety of his sister and mirrored it.

  “The skies, Jaco! From clear to a storm,” she yelled.

  “A dragon is coming!”

  “Really?” Daum said, a hint of anger in his voice. “After keeping us in the city for days with threats of a titan, you think we are going to believe that now?”

  “No, no, no, you don’t understand. I’m not lying. It’s true!” Jeinna said. “I saw it with my own eyes. I thought it was a lie too. But I saw it!”

  “I thought we could trust you!” Daum said. “What ploy are you playing at?”

  Corin felt the floor beneath him slightly tremble.

  “Did you feel that?” He asked.

  “Feel what?” Daum replied, frustrated. He still glared at Jeinna.

  “I felt it too,”

  Kadus knelt down and put his wings on the floor.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Another slight shake.

  “What is that?” Kadus asked.

  Corin remembered the last time he felt the ground shake. In the forest when he was running from Baltro.

  “What are you two going on about?” Daum asked.

  The ground shook once more, this time stronger. Daum almost fell down.

  Daum said, “What was that?”

  “We need to leave now!” Corin shouted.

  The ground stopped shaking. A quick pause. Soon their entire surroundings tilted violently from side to side. Their surroundings would soon crash on them at any moment.

  “Wha-what is that?” Jaco shouted.

  “A giant!” Corin shouted.

  “A giant in Yranto? That’s not possible!” Jeinna said, frozen in place.

  The shaking continued. The group struggled to move as they escaped. As Corin headed outside, he grabbed Jeinna by the arm.

  “I know it is hard to believe, but I am telling you that is a giant! If you want to survive, you need to come with us!” Corin said to Jeinna.

  Jeinna listened and moved. Daum led the group as they escaped from the underground passages. All of the furtives around them scrambled as well. Their surroundings shook. Cracks spread along the walls, all the way to the ceiling. The tunnel they were in neared collapse.

  Zhi moved her arms, and a large column of earth erupted from the ground, buttressing the collapsing ceiling.

  “Are you okay?” Livia asked Zhi. It was not too long ago that Zhi was left almost incapacitated by her use of magic.

  “Never felt better,” she replied.

  The group continued moving.

  “Here!” Daum led them to a dimly lit hallway.

  “Where are you taking us?” Simeon asked.

  “There’s an exit here!” Daum asked. “It’s rarely used!”

  Zhi held her hand up and lit a small flame. The darkness retreated.

  “There!” Daum said as he pointed at a door that was almost imperceptible.

  “That’s how I managed to escape from the agents earlier!” he said as he ran up to open the door.

  Another strong shock reverberated through the underground passages. They all struggled to stay upright.

  “How close is this giant to the city?” Simeon shouted.

  “He must be right next to the city!” Nanaua stated.

  Daum opened the door and ran up the stairs. They all hurried one by one. Corin was the last to go up.

  As he did so, he noticed how dark it was outside. It was only shortly after midday, yet storm clouds overhead blotted out the sun.

  Corin was reminded of when Telletioh attacked Bothia. Even then the sky did not look so dark.

  “What being possesses such power?” Simeon asked as he stared straight above.

  Three of them knew and answered simultaneously.

  “Tonatiuh,” Zhi, Nanaua and Daum replied.

  “AAARGH!”

  The ground shook once more. The primal scream came from outside the city. Beyond the walls, Corin looked. The large mountain that surrounded Yranto was gone. In its place, a massive creature stood, one that reminded Corin of Baltro.

  “Gi-giant,” Jaco said.

  Bolts of lightning rained from the sky, striking the giant. It screamed in agony as the various tendrils burnt its gargantuan body.

  A red dragon the size of which Corin had never seen flew down on it, digging its talons upon the giant’s body.

  The giant grabbed Tonatiuh and from the ground beneath it streams of lava erupted, burning the dragon.

  Tonatiuh flew away attempting to escape the jets of molten rock, but the giant would not let go. As Tonatiuh grabbed the giant and flew, the giant assimilated the ground into its body, enlarging itself.

  “Leavy my domain Tonatiuh!” A voice reverberated through the entire city. It was deep and angry. Corin had never heard anything like it.

  “You have something of mine Burundi!” Tonatiuh’s voice replied as more lightning bolts rained down.

  Corin had never heard two titans speak to each other. His heart beat so hard he thought it would burst from his chest.

  “It’s me,” Zhi said. “They are fighting over my power.”

  She observed the ensuing clash, horrified.

  As Burundi and Tonatiuh flew, Burundi bashed Tonatiuh with its reinforced arms. Every impact sent large boulders flying everywhere.

  They rained down on the city, destroying large swaths of buildings, crushing furtives underneath.

  “This is my fault,” Zhi said as she stared at the carnage around her.

  “You are not to blame for the actions of others!” Daum yelled, “but you have a choice now! Will you submit to the titans for the carnage they wreak upon furtives, or will you continue fighting and ensure that all the sacrifices that have been made are not in vain?”

  Zhi wiped her face and rubbed her temples.

  “Damn it. I, I can’t do this!”

  “You’re not in this alone,” Livia said as she put her hand on her shoulder.

  “My love, I will help you bear any burden you have to bear,” Nanaua said.

  “Stopping now will only embolden them,” Kadus told her.

  Zhi looked at them.

  “You’re right, I can’t stop.”

  “Good. Now we must find a way for you out of the city,” Daum said as he looked around.

  More debris fell. Entire rows of buildings were destroyed. Furtives screamed in horror, unable to comprehend what occurred.

  “We need to help get them out,” Zhi said.

  “Now?” Daum replied. “The longer you stay here, the more at risk you’ll be!”

  “You said I am not to blame for the actions of others, but I do have the choice to help others now, and that is what I’ll do!” Zhi replied.

  “How do you plan on doing that?” he asked. “We are walled in! The only route of the city leads through a clash between Titans!”

  “I’ll make my own way!” Zhi said.

  She turned away from the clashing titans.

  “Over there, beyond the walls, a river lies between the city and a forest. Is that correct?” Zhi asked.

  “Ye-yes,” Jaco replied.

  “We’ll go that way,” Zhi said. “I will need protection while I focus on the city walls and the river.”

  “Of course my love,” Nanaua said as she held her pike.

  “But how do we inform other furtives of the escape route?” Corin asked.

  “I’ll take to the skies and let them know,” Kadus replied.

  More boulders rained down around them, smashing homes, and thunder boomed around them.

  “You can fly in these conditions?” Corin asked.

  “Now is not the time for those questions!” Kadus replied, turning to Zhi.

  “Can you help an old bird rise?”

  “Be safe,” Zhi said. She conjured a blooming mass of air underneath Kadus that sent him flying above.

  “All furtives, head south! An escape is being opened!” Kadus yelled as soon as he was airborne.

  The group hurried down the busy streets of Yranto. Masses of furtives swarmed the streets, observing the unfolding clash. They knew they could not escape the ensuing destruction and could only observe as they waited for their inevitable demise.

  Daum stayed behind.

  “What are you doing?” Corin asked him.

  “Keep going! I will fall behind you and warn furtives of the escape route!”

  Corin understood. He turned around and continued.

  Zhi and the rest continued running through the mass of furtives. Despite their numbers, navigating through them proved to be less challenging than expected. They were so enthralled by the clash above them that they did not react to the others running. They did not even react when a large boulder crashed into a building nearby, smashing it into pieces.

  Corin could not help but remember that day in Bothia.

  The group arrived at the southern wall of the city. Here they were farthest from the chaos. In front of the wall, a lone furtive stood. An older female gesherin.

  “Madame Jin?” Jeinna asked.

  The gesherin ignored Jeinna. She focused solely on Zhi.

  “This destruction is because of you!”

  Above the city walls, a group of robed furtives came out.

  “I don’t have time for your petty squabbles!” Zhi replied. “If you don’t get out of the way, I will have no choice but to make you move!”

  “Madame, you have to step aside. The Onsiel is only trying to help! She means to build an escape for the citizens!” Jeinna said.

  “Silence!” Madame Jin yelled at Jeinna.

  Her tone frightened Jeinna, who reacted as if she had been hit.

  “For centuries, we have kept the peace with Burundi, ensuring that any Onsiel we receive in Yranto is given to him. Under his watchful eye, we have built the greatest city any furtive could ever dream of!” the madame spoke. “You will not be the first to break that sacred peace we have fought so hard to maintain!”

  Jeinna sobbed, “No, this can’t be true. Madame, please tell me this is not true.”

  “Child, I told you to be silent!” the madame shot back. “We Oixias have done everything in our power to keep this city safe. And we will continue to do so. It would do you well to know this child!”

  “No!” Jeinna said. “This is wrong! I refuse it!”

  “Such a disappointment. Guards!”

  The robed furtives pulled out bows.

  “So that is why you prevented our escape?” Zhi replied. “You were going to sacrifice me to your giant?”

  “You will be sacrificed!” the madame replied.

  The robed furtives raised their weapons and armed them. Zhi acted quickly. With a wave of her hand, the tall wall in front of them was destroyed as the bricks exploded outward. All the robed furtives were sent flying with the bricks. The way ahead of them was clear.

  Zhi walked to the opening she had created.

  The madame was left shaking on the ground. The power she had witnessed was incomprehensible.

  As Zhi walked by her, she screamed,

  “You have caused the destruction of Yranto! Because of you, centuries of peace will be undone.”

  “You call this peace?” Zhi replied. “Sacrificing Onsiels to a giant? While you have furtives living a lie? This is not peace! This is cowardice! Humiliation! The peace I build will not rely on such duplicitous schemes!”

  Nanaua stepped in front of Zhi.

  “My love, do you want me to dispose of this vile creature?”

  “Do not bother with her,” Zhi said. “Let her live the rest of her days a failure.”

  A crowd of furtives had amassed behind them.

  “The walls have been torn down!” one yelled.

  Zhi hurried ahead. “The river,” she said as she continued on.

  Ahead of them a rushing expanse of water separated Yranto from a large forest.

  Furtives watched as Zhi stood on the edge.

  Zhi closed her eyes and focused. In front of her, the rushing water began to slow down as it solidified.

  The gathered furtives could not believe their eyes. The water turned to ice. To them, it seemed as if one of their own kind, a furtive, wielded magic the same way a titan could.

  The crowd that surrounded them pushed ever closer to Zhi.

  “Wait!” Nanaua shouted as she held her pike up. “We must wait until she is done!”

  As the crowd began move about, a single furtive erupted from it. The dragoor that Corin had seen earlier, the one who had attacked Nanaua when she was speared through. Once again, she sprung out and slashed at Nanaua.

  This time, Nanaua was better prepared. She parried the slash from the sword and smacked her opponent in the face with the butt of her pike.

  “Argh!” the dragoor yelled in frustration and pain.

  “You should be dead!”

  “Nerua!” Nanaua shouted. “There is still time for you to come with us! Please!”

  “I already told you I will not abandon my honor again!” Nerua shouted. “I will do whatever I must to atone for my past sins!”

  Nerua slashed at Nanaua, who sidestepped the attack. Corin grabbed his pistol and aimed at Nerua. He saw Livia do the same with her rifle.

  “Do not interfere!” Nanaua shouted without missing a beat. “Keep Zhi safe!”

  Corin wanted to ignore Nanaua’s request but relented. He and Livia stood by Zhi and along with Simeon formed a wall that protected her while she continued solidifying the rushing water.

  “Nerua, you were my closest friend! I know you!” Nanaua howled. “Join us!”

  Nerua ignored Nanaua and kept attacking. She thrust at Nanaua, who avoided the blade. Nerua stepped closer to Nanaua and rotated her body, swinging the massive sword from one side to the other. Nanaua could only block the swipe with the head of her pike. The force behind the swipe knocked Nanaua back, sending her tumbling.

  Nerua lunged at Nanaua, who saw the incoming swipe and swept the ground with her pike, knocking Nerua off her feet. Nanaua pointed the pike right at Nerua’s face.

  “Nerua! Relent!” Nanaua shouted. “I don’t want to kill you!”

  “If you do not want to kill me, then prepare to die!” Nerua shouted.

  Nerua smacked Nanaua’s pike out of her face with her blade. She got up and swung once, Nanaua swiftly avoiding it, but Nerua anticipated it and caught Nanaua with an elbow to the face. The blow sent her reeling, and Nerua once again thrust her blade at Nanaua. The blade sliced Nanaua’s upper arm, and she growled in pain. Nerua saw this opportunity and prepared for another swing to end it.

  But as Nanaua reeled, she spun with her pike and smacked Nerua with the butt of the weapon on her throat. Gasping for air, Nanaua pierced Nerua straight through with her pike. Nerua gasped in surprise as she dropped her weapon.

  Nanaua pulled her pike out, and Nerua collapsed.

  Nanaua softly spoke, “Why? Why would you not come with me?”

  Nerua stared at Nanaua. She knew this was the end. She tried to speak but coughed blood.

  “Nanaua, there was no escape for me. My fate was sealed years ago.”

  Nerua gasped once again for air.

  “I have been a fool. I thought if I helped Throk that he would come to love me, but I lost everything. Once I lost my place as a Lord’s Protectorate, I lost my honor.”

  “You were so much more than a Lord’s Protectorate. You were my friend,” Nanaua said.

  “I’m sorry, but the shame I carried was too much to bear,” Nerua breathed heavily. “Having my death at your hands, dying a warrior’s death, brings me comfort.”

  “Nerua,” Nanaua said as the dragoor took her last breath.

  “The bridge…it’s complete,” Zhi said as she collapsed. Corin grabbed her as she fell.

  The furtives of Yranto rushed past Nanaua and Nerua, with only their survival on their minds.

  Nanaua leaned in her head to Nerua’s.

  “You fought valiantly, sister,” Nanaua said.

  Nerua’s lifeless eyes stared up into the sky. Nanaua did not let go of her companion’s lifeless body.

  Thunder continued exploding in the background. The city of Yranto continued suffering the effects of a titan clash. Without pause, the citizens of Yranto continued their escape.

  “Nanaua, we need to go!” Corin shouted.

  Nanaua stood up, carrying her friend’s lifeless body. She walked past Corin and crossed the bridge. As they walked away, Corin looked back at the ruins of Yranto.

  In the distance within the city walls, Corin saw the dragoor Throk. As they crossed the bridge, he only stared.

  At the end of the bridge, a familiar voice filed the air.

  “Ahead of you!” Kadus called out and landed. He stared at the mass of furtives escaping from Yranto.

  “They’re all safe, thanks to you,” Corin told him.

  “Thanks to all of us,” Kadus replied.

  The carnage over Yranto continued. Corin looked back. He could no longer see Throk in the distance. But the face he did see was Daum’s. He hurried along as more furtives continued escaping.

  Corin and the rest caught his attention. He saw Zhi in Corin’s arms. As he approached them, a thunderous explosion sounded off in the distance. The giant had crashed back onto the ground, and Tonatiuh continued his assault.

  “She is not safe yet!” Daum said. “We need to keep going!”

  Corin and the rest obliged. Once more, he had to escape another city that was under the destruction of titans.

  “Nevermore,” Corin muttered to himself in promise.