The Sundering
Chapter 3 - Ryoku-Ashi
While Ryoku-Ashi was busy creating the runes that would focus the spell, the other three mages were bringing all the humans they could to the chosen area. It had been decided that all of the land south of Ryoku-Ashi’s tower to the edge of the world of spirit would be the focus of their spell. The mages portaled to the largest human settlements and then portaled all the inhabitants to their new home. At the same time, in the chosen land, four Great Dragons were busy forcing demons out – the demons were not happy but they did not have the power to go against a Great Dragon, or even worse, one of the First. For three days, a steady stream of humans went into the land while another stream of demons exited out of it.
At the end of the third day, the four mages gathered at Ryoku-Ashi’s tower. Iomeloth took a deep breath, gathered his power, and then began the incantation. The others joined him; but this incantation was different. It was a Spell of Protection. Every living thing, be it human, demon, animal or plant would be protected as well as the mountains, lakes and other topographical landmarks. There would be no mistakes this time.
Then the chant changed and the sky darkened as the Spell of Sundering began. Lightning forked through the sky and ripped the very night apart. The earth cracked and split and separated. After long hours of chanting, the human world was disconnected from the rest, and each mage crumbled to the floor senseless.
Small servants gathered Ryoku-Ashi’s body and carried it to his bed-chamber. Three dragons took their masters in gentle jaws, spread huge wings, and carried them safely home.
This time, the mages slept for a year and a day.
Ryoku-Ashi stood on his parapet looking at the new world. It seemed like it was right in front of his tower – if he reached out far enough, he would be able to touch it. But it was not really there – it was on a plane, a dimension of its own now.
“Now they are out of reach.”
Ryoku-Ashi turned to Dai. “You underestimate me. Just like they did.”
“They?”
“The other mages. They are such arrogant fools. They think that no one would dare go against them! The mighty First! Well, I am one of the First also!” Ryoku-Ashi proclaimed, a strange glint in his eye.
Dai knew the glint very well. And she knew the truth of it. Ryoku-Ashi was a sociopath, caring for nothing but himself. He kept it hidden very well – the other mages had never seen it – but in front of Dai, he took off the mask of normalcy and allowed his true self to show. His was a sick and diseased soul hiding in a beautiful body.
Dai had sensed what he truly was and because of that, she has chosen him as master. They were very much alike.
“What did you mean when you said they underestimated you?” Dai asked.
“I added a few runes of my own – well hidden on the other side of the parapet – but just enough to allow me to open portals whenever I want. You can feed there and so can any demon – just as long as they bow before me.” Ryoku-Ashi displayed a cold smile. “I will rule it all, Dai. Everything.”
“What do you want it for?” Dai looked at the desolate lands around the tower. Unlike the other mages, Ryoku-Ashi had not beautified anything. His tower reflected his soul.
“Ah, Dai! We have a front row seat.” Ryoku-Ashi gestured at the lands below. “We will watch a never-ending tabloid of death. It will be beautiful!!”
Dai said nothing. Her master was growing worse with each passing day. Soon he would not be able to hide his insanity and the other mages would destroy him. And it was very likely that she would be destroyed with him. She said nothing, just nodded in agreement, but her mind was racing. What where her chances if she stayed with him?
And even more important, what were her chances if she betrayed him?
Three days later she made up her mind. Telling Ryoku-Ashi that she was going to search for food, she flew directly to Iomeloth’s tower. There she told the white mage exactly what Ryoku-Ashi had done and what he was planning. And she asked for asylum.
Iomeloth was appalled and shocked. He called Tarquin Xi and Jayetha to his tower and relayed Dai’s tale to them. Jayetha admitted, looking back at things that had happened or that Ryoku-Ashi had said, that Dai was probably telling the truth. She had either ignored her lover or thought that he was kidding. His off-hand comments about ruling the world, about bathing in blood – she suddenly shivered. He had been serious all along!!
“We must stop him!” Jayetha cried. “Oh, by the gods above, we have to stop him!!!”
“Even if we undo him, he will just recreate himself.” Tarquin Xi lamented. “And then he will open a hundred portals to our new world. He will destroy it all!”
“Why didn’t I see this?” Iomeloth groaned.
“He was not always like this. Or at least he was able to keep it hidden better.” Jayetha told him.
Iomeloth stared silently at the floor, his mind moving through a plethora of ideas, discarding them one after another. Suddenly his head snapped up, “I might have it! We can undo his body – turn him into his true spirit form.”
“And he will recreate his body in moments.”
“Not if we send him to Spirit World. Ryoku-Ashi will be under Yama Qu’s power. He will not be able to remake himself – not unless Yama Qu allows it.”
“That just might work!” Tarquin Xi exclaimed.
“Now, we need to contact Yama Qu and then we need to capture Ryoku-Ashi.” Iomeloth said.
“It will not be easy.”
“We will need to draw him away from his seat of power – his tower. I will request a meeting of the First along with their Dragons. Dai can bring him to my tower where our trap will be waiting for him.”
Dai nodded her agreement and then took the air, returning to her master’s tower.
“Can we trust her?” Tarquin Xi asked. “That Dragon is very much like her master.”
“I know.” Iomeloth admitted. “But she is afraid for her own life. Dai cares more for herself than she does for Ryoku-Ashi.”
“And so we now destroy one of our own.” Jayetha said sadly. “I wonder if he will ever forgive us.”
Iomeloth looked at her and shook his head. “I doubt it. His hatred will be eternal.”
“As will his punishment.” And a tear found its way down her cheek.
Two days later everything was ready. Yama Qu was ready with a containment area; all Iomeloth had to do was create a portal to it.
Ryoku-Ashi never saw it coming. He dismounted from his Dragon and Dai moved away, as if she were going to talk to other Dragons. He saw Jayetha and walked towards her smiling, and then stopped dead in his tracks, unable to move. He looked down and saw the circle of runes and sigils beneath his feet. He had walked right into their trap.
Iomeloth and Tarquin Xi moved out from the shadows and began to chant, and Jayetha’s soft voice joined theirs.
“What are you doing?” Ryoku-Ashi asked, trying desperately to move out of the circle.
There was no answer for the three mages did not dare stop their chant.
“Stop this!!” the young mage screamed. Then he felt a pulling sensation – they were tearing his soul out of his body! “NOOOOooooo!!!”
He crumbled to his knees, desperately trying to keep himself together. His fingers clawed at the runes but they were no longer substantial enough to cause damage to the painted runes.
Suddenly he looked up directly at Iomeloth. “You will pay for this!! You and your precious humans!!” And then Ryoku-Ashi did the last thing they ever expected. He unmade himself. His power went screaming forth like a wave all around them.
Iomeloth hesitated and then stopped the chant. Ryoku-Ashi’s soul was still trapped in the circle, but his power had been freed.
“What did he do?” Tarquin Xi asked.
“I fear we will find out all too soon.” Iomeloth said sadly. Then he opened a portal right on top of the circle and Ryoku-Ashi was whisked to Spirit World and the containment area that Yama Qu had prepared for him.
"Look!!” Jayetha cried, pointing to the Dragons.
Zen, Rhu, Michi and Byre were standing there staring in amazement at Dai.
“What has he done?!?” Iomeloth moaned.
Dai turned around and smiled. A beautiful smile – a cold smile. A human smile.
For she was no longer a Dragon, but a human.