Beyond

Beyond

With sword and shield in hand, the young warrior ascended the staircase of the dimly lit manor. His eyes, like his resolve, remained unwavering in the face of the crippling demonic energy surrounding him. Clutching his sword firm in his grasp, a smile crossed the young hero’s face. As minions of the dark lord presented themselves before him. With elegant footwork and artful execution, one by one the minions fell victim to his masterful swordplay. Experience plus!

Swiping the discolored remains of blood from his blade, one last fiend showed itself ceasing his opportunity to strike the unsuspecting hero. But the hero remained motionless as the demon closed in, its sharp claws extended. Before the attack landed. A furious gust of wind blasted the demon, sending it barreling toward the landing at the top of the staircase. The minion, off balance, stumbled to his feet. As cold steel ripped through the demon with ease. Standing over the slain demon, he watched as its body fell to the ground, this time in two halves. Experience plus!

“I was wondering when you were going to catch up priestess Viyah.”

“My apologies to keep you waiting,”

She bowed politely.

“I ran into some trouble while evacuating the remaining villagers. But it looks like I was right on time if I do say so.”

With a cheeky smile, Viyah holding her staff in hand, climbed the now blood-soaked staircase. Joining the young hero at the top of the landing. The dark lord’s minions dissipating into ashes around the two.

“Sir Highreaver it is important that before we proceed any further into the manor that we invoke a blessing to protect our spirits from Lord Necro’s corrupting demonic energy.”

Highreaver closed his eyes, as Viyah, clutching her ceremonial beads began chanting verses in a language that was foreign to Highreaver’s ears. An angelic aura enveloped the two before dissipating into the atmosphere in the form of light particles. Spirit plus! with her enchantment complete, the two prepared for the lengthy battle ahead of them. Highreaver looked at Viyah and nodded. Sheathing his sword, he readied himself to bust down the main door of the manor.

“KEZONTO, VIYAH!! IT IS TIME TO GO !!”

A voice called out as the manor surrounding the two heroes started to shatter. Before they knew it, the two found themselves back in the real world. A playground in the Mangoton district of the city New Aurora to be exact. What were once Legendary weapons turned into everyday sticks and the demonic manor of Lord Necro turned into a simple jungle gym.

“Guess we will have to finish the story tomorrow, huh Kezonto?”

Viyah proclaimed with a smile and childish laugh. Kezonto smiled back, he intended to answer Viyah’s question, when numerous loud explosions rocked the surrounding area. Rippling Devastating shockwaves through the playground. Destroying everything in sight.

***

“We will have to finish the story tomorrow huh?”

Her last words echoed in the back of his mind as he sat in his solitude. Staring at the moons, bathing in their light as it seeped through the cracks in the ceiling.

“Hey Keyon, you awake yet it is almost time.”

A voice called out from beyond the door, followed by a knock.

“Yes, I just need a moment.”

He came back to reality.

“Alright, Roland wants the rest of us to gather at the usual spot. Shima is already making her way there now; I’ll meet you there. Be careful though, security is tighter than we expected. Must be due to that thing with the Organizations.”

“Thanks for the heads up, you should get a move on I’ll catch up.”

Keyon listened to Seth’s footsteps echo from beyond the door. He dwelled in the past a little longer, he did not need to get ready; he was already dressed. For hours now, he sat there, his two katanas wrapped in his cold embrace. The black denim of his jean vest faded gray with age. His white undershirt weathered and beaten. His matching jeans were rolled up at the cuff, fitting the man’s frame to perfection. Using the longer of the two katanas as leverage Keyon rose from the edge of his bed.

He left the solitude of his living space and walked out into the streets of coastal garden. The central hub of Aurora’s southern province. A large colony split up into five sections. North, south, east, west and the colony center. He was making his way through the south side, the part of the colony that was underdeveloped and the home to the colony’s poor working class and seedy underbelly. Where you would not be hard pressed to find a watering hole full of lost souls wasting away.

Lightly patrolled by New Aurora forces, it made the south side the perfect place for the rebel cell Death Watch. A group of extremists, whose sole purpose is to see the overthrow of the New Aurorian’s tyrannical control and technological supremacy over the outer colonies. But for Keyon, it was much more personal than that.

Walking past a group of homeless men fighting over a bottle of alcohol, He caught sight of two patrol men walking down the road. He turned down a shady alleyway, navigating through the piles of garbage and lounging bums. He appeared from the other side of the alley, now bathed in the neon lit streets of Shirley’s corner. The south side’s red-light district and hot bed for all types of devious dealings.

Paying no mind to the street walkers hustling for attention, he pressed onward toward his destination. A small restaurant called Brother Shuckers, a seafood joint run by the brothers Angelo and Anthony. Brushing aside the privacy veil, he observed the scene. It was lightly occupied, with a couple of people populating the bar and surrounding tables. All around, oil paintings decorated the walls of the establishment. Each one, different from the other, had its own flavor and feel. In the back of the bar a group of individuals gathered at a table enjoying the spirits they had in front of them. All the while another man fiddled with a jukebox as songs from a forgotten era filled the establishment. He made his way over toward the three individuals that made up the group. The two men, both of average builds threw back their shots as a face of distaste crossed their lips.

“Makes me miss the moonshine from that backwoods village.”

“You really think it is a good idea that you drink before we get started?”

The woman of the group questioned, picking at the plate in front of her.

“Helps takes the edge off, you know?”

One of the men retorted as he poured him and the other man another glass.

“Plus, it helps us blend in with the public. Nothing stranger than a group of people in a bar not drinking.”

The other added to the conversation as Keyon took his seat at the table. A glass was systematically placed in front of Keyon and filled by his comrade.

“We know you don’t drink the hard stuff but at least try to look like you’re a part of the group.”

Everyone at the table let out a light chuckle. All except Keyon whose face remained like stone, not amused by Roland’s attempt at comradery. Grabbing the glass, he toasted his comrades, as all in attendance tossed back their shots. With everyone there, Roland was able to finally start the meeting.

“Alright what information were you able to gather for the party tonight, Shima?”

He looked over toward Shima, watch as she put down the empty shell of an oyster.

“From what I was able to gather it will have light attendance numbers. Not much in the form of high-quality instruments, your typical electric guitars and percussions.”

She went on to explain the details of the operation in code weary of any intel agents of New Aurora who happened to be posted in the restaurant.

“The party favors we are looking for are on site under lock and key in the V.I.P. Lounge. We will need the invitation if we want to gain access to the lounge.”

“Seth how we make out on the invitation?”

Roland shifted the conversation toward Seth, Death Watch’s resident Tech specialist. Wanting to know if he was able to get the buildings security codes.

“It wasn’t easy, but I managed to get my hands on the invitation. We just need to print it out on site. Might have to bribe the bouncers and buy me some time. But there is something that might become a problem that you should know about.”

***

“Watch out Auttie!”

She jumped back, barely evading the giant snake that lunged at her. The sheer force from the snake’s attack cut through a tree. She rolled across the jungle floor and scrambling to her feet, she faced the mountain of a beast. Watching carefully as it slithered and coiled itself, preparing for its next attack. She stayed focused, breathing even breaths, waiting for the snake to make its move. It hissed menacingly at the young woman, raising its head and stiffening its neck.

It was Prepared to lunge for a second attempt at the young woman, when the blade of a knife penetrated its eye, distracting it.

“Now Auttie, this is your chance to tame it.”

Another woman shouted from the safety of a nearby tree, out of the beast’s line of sight. She watched as the woman she called “Auttie” took the opening provided by her and tried to make the giant snake submit to her will. Within seconds the snake eased up, lowering its guard, it quickly slithered away. The other female jumped from her spot in the treetops, landing on the ground below she walked toward her companion.

“That was a close one, guy came out of nowhere.”

Sometime later

The soothing sounds of waves crashing against sand filled the night air. The wind wrestling through palm trees and tall grass, with the moons and stars illuminating the night. A single soul stood at the shoreline as the waves cascaded over her bare feet. Her Blue eyes shimmering in the bright gaze of the moons. Her long light purple hair rested on her shoulder and draped down toward her lower back. Her skin kissed caramel by the tropical Aurorean sun, was adorned with tribal garbs that left large parts of the woman’s arms, legs and mid rift exposed to the night’s gentle ocean breeze. The faint sound of shifting feet and brittle vegetation caught the woman’s ear over the sound of cascading waves.

“ I thought we would never make it; we been traversing that jungle all day.” she explained as she collapsed toward the sand in a fake display of exhaustion.

“We still have a long way to go Atif, you are not tiring out, are you?”

“ You wish that was the case, I was just getting worried you got us lost.”

She explained brushing her brown hair from out in front of her face. Getting a clear view of the stars scattered in the sky above. Autumn chuckled at her sister, turning around she faced Atif.

“I only got turned around once Atif, give me a break. What about that giant snake? Crazy right?

“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting that at all. Almost jumped out of my skin. But you must admit that was one hell of a shot with my knife. Caught that sucker right in the eye. Created a great opening for you to tame him and sent it on its merry way. It still amazes me, that even without the blessing of Artemis that you can Tame such giant Beasts.”

“Me too Atif, I don’t know how to explain it, but I've just always had this connection to this world. I can even feel its pulse sometimes when I’m alone and everything is still.”

Atif rose up from laying in the sand, brushing the particles of sand out of her hair and looked at Autumn. Her smile, brilliant in the moonlight. Atif the younger of the two sisters couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with the good-natured and happy-going presence of her older sister.

“Maybe with Artemis’ blessing and a little more practice you too Atif could tame giant beasts.”

“ Yeah right, even father would have had a hard time dealing with that thing.”

Autumn moved closer to Atif blocking out the moons and casting her in shadows. She moved alongside Atif, sitting on the sand next to her engulfing her in moonlight once again.

“Atif, you got to stop downing yourself, you are the future chief of Taima village. The daughter of the great warrior chief Barto the master beast tamer.”

Atif couldn’t help but smile a bit when Autumn started to flex her muscles and make grunting noises.

“On top of that you’re unmatched with any type of weapon and an expert in the Taima tribe combat art. If that doesn’t scream great warrior, I don’t know what does.”

“It takes a lot more than combat prowess to be considered a great leader like our father. To be the leader of men and make decisions that can affect the lives of not only our village but the beasts we swore to protect as well.”

Autumn smiled at Atif as she bathed herself in negativity.

“All in good time Sis, just focus on what is within your control and live in the moment. Just go with the flow and everything else will fall into place. Let us not forget why we are here miles away from home in the first place.

Autumn pointed out over the waves in front of the two.

“Just over the waves within the ruins of the fallen city we will become one with Nature with the aid of Artemis’ blessing. After that we can become full fledge beast tamers and help the others protect our lands.”
Autumn’s attempts to cheer her sister up seemed to have failed, as a disheartening look crossed Atif’s face.

“Autumn... have you ever wondered what was beyond our lands? What is out there in the great beyond?”

She was silent pondering the question, her ever-present smile still visible as she looked upward into the night sky.

“Of course, I do but, I also know I have a duty to you and the village for saving me. Giving me a life to replace the one I had forgotten.”

She explained, caressing the scars that ran over her left eye.

“I guess everyone has something that they live for I guess.”

Atif mumbled, as she rose to her feet. The once sadden expression replaced with one of content.

“It will be best if we set up camp here for the rest of the night and continue when day breaks. I’ll gather some firewood and kindle, why don’t you start prepping dinner for the both of us Autumn.”

The younger sister suggested.

“You are not the chief yet Atif, don’t go bossing me around.”

Autumn Laughed, looking up at Atif taking her attention away from the moons. Atif sucked her teeth and playfully shoved Autumn and simply walked off back toward the tree line of the jungle. She smiled in silence as Atif walked off. But Autumn had her part to do and that is what she planned to do. She had gathered a handful of nuts and an assortment of berries for Atif and herself earlier in the day. Now all that was left was to do some midnight fishing for something a little more filling. This part of the task was child’s play for her. Standing up and walking back down toward the water’s edge, Autumn interlocked her fingers together and closed her eyes. Drawing on her essence, the life energy found within all living beings. The driving force that allows the Taima tribe to tame the world’s many beasts. By flowing her essence through the natural currents that connect all living beings to one another Autumn can lure beasts towards her. Once in sight she, as well as other Beast tamers like her, can tether their essence with that of the beast’s. Creating a bond that allows the tamer to use the beast for aid. Or in this case used to beach a couple of small fish for Atif and herself to consume for nourishment.

Though they protected wildlife it was not unheard of for tamers to hunt and eat beasts. But when they did, they made sure to give thanks to the beast for its nourishment and essence. Something Autumn didn’t forget to do as she gathered up the few small fish that washed up on shore.

“Back to Aurora from which you came my good friends, may your journey be a safe one.”

With a smile she walked up from the shoreline, her haul in hand. By the time Atif made her return with the firewood Autumn had the fish scaled and gutted. The berries and nuts were portioned out to equal amounts for both.

“You didn’t run into anymore giant snakes, did you?”

Autumn teased as her sister tossed down the bundle of wood in the hole Autumn was nice enough to set up for them.

“No, no I'm happy to say I did not. “

She joked along, not wanting to be a wet blanket on an otherwise beautiful night.

“Managed to get a good haul I see.”

“Yeah, it is not really a challenge when you are a tamer you know. It is too easy if you ask me.”

“Hey, whatever works, right just make sure you give me an extra serving I’m starving.”

she demanded while setting up the wood and tinder for the fire.

With the fire roaring and the fish cooking the two siblings engaged in idol conversation. The two Rotated the fish and shifted around the nuts and berries as they cooked near the open flame. Conversations continued while they ate and gazed up at the stars above them. falling asleep by the fire and journeying on to the dream world. Gathering their strength for the rest of the pilgrimage to the ruins beyond the waves.