The Final Destination
Avesh An Ishi had walked the wild edges of the world for more than fifteen days before he finally reached the waterfall, the place where fate would either grant him vengeance or claim his life.
Along that lone march, a thousand bodies had fallen behind him. Humanoids, spirits, animals, many died, a few were created, and more than a hundred shadow creatures had risen from the stains of his journey.
"We have arrived," whispered the inner voice, Kosr, echoing through his soul.
"Tell me, do you have a plan?"
"I have no plan,"Avesh replied, his voice a restrained storm. "I will wait for the opportunity."
"Patience?"Kosr laughed. "That is unlike you."
"This task demands precision born of obsession. I doubt I will be granted a second attempt."
"So it truly is your do-or-die. And you have merely three years left."
"I don't expect to return alive,"Avesh said quietly. "I will kill the boy. I will kill the Princess. I will carry the Sage's wrath upon my own head."
"Why? Once the boy dies, you could flee."
"Do you believe the Sage wouldn't know I killed the boy? He will descend upon Dawnfire with all his divine fury."
"Let him. You can watch from the side when the Sage and Suvar clash, the pure-blooded Sage against the wealth-guard deity. Father versus Son. A duel worthy of legends. I would enjoy that spectacle."
"Enough!"Avesh roared, shadows trembling around him.
"I would never create anything that could harm Suvar," he said, almost in a whisper.
"You astonish me,"Kosr murmured. "How does a demon serve a god with such loyal devotion?"
"He may be a god,"Avesh answered, "but he freed me from Sumal. He gave me a choice, to leave the human world or to die like a warrior."
"And how did the entire Demon Petal end up serving a god?"
"That story waits for another time. For now, we must find a shelter and prepare."
__________
The Preparation Days
Avesh searched the forest until he discovered a cavern beneath the river. Volcanic stone shaped its bones, while the eternal river above had polished its skin to a glossy darkness. Crystals embedded in the cave catch sunlight from above and carry the glow down into the underworld chamber.
He claimed the place.
Two miles from the waterfall.
Five miles from the Sage's village.
A vantage point carved by nature itself.
The pine trees in this region towered like ancient guardians. From their heights, he used the Blood Vision tool to glimpse the waterfall and slivers of the village, though the Sage's monastery remained veiled by sacred boundaries.
"You should rest before your surveillance,"Kosr advised.
"I cannot afford rest."
"You face no quick assassination. You face destiny. Rest sharpens the blade, Avesh."
He summoned a shadow creature.
"My Lord," it bowed.
Go to the village. Bring me a view of the monastery."
"As you command."
Avesh erected two miniature tree houses for observation.
The shadow creature struck the village barrier, and the barrier struck back.
A spiritual blast consumed it, turning it to dust scattered across the wind.
"Fool", Avesh hissed with fury.
He retreated into the cave.
"Tomorrow, we plan again,"Kosr soothed. "Let the darkness close for now."
__________
The Three Months
For three long months, Avesh watched the Sage move with sacred routine, walking to the waterfall, offering his rituals, guiding the Princess through her disciplined life.
Avesh carved every detail into memory.
Every breath. Every habit. Every weakness.
"We proceed,"Kosr finally said. "Three months of planning have led to today."
"You truly think this will work?"Avesh asked.
"Yes. More than you think."
"We have but one chance."
"And Shadow Commanders?"
"They are unreliable,"Avesh growled. "I question the entire structure you forced on them."
"You can talk to them anywhere within three miles. Their hierarchy grants information we otherwise lack,"Kosr argued.
"Still, it won't be enough."
"It must be enough. Today we steal the boy. We have three to five hours, no more."
"The Sage will begin his meditation. The Princess will be busy with her prayer. This is the day we prepared for. Nothing must falter."
"Lord," Shadow Commander Ico whispered, "Oun and Ros are in position."
"Lord," added Sro, "Tev and Pez are in position."
"Inform me the instant the Sage sits for meditation. And watch for the boy."
"If the boy leaves, you must take the Golden White Lotus,"Kosr reminded him.
__________
Unexpected Luck
Hours later.
"The Sage has entered the Meditation Cave," reported Oun.
"This is Tev," another voice echoed. "The Princess is inside the temple. The doors are sealed."
"Do you see the boy?"Avesh demanded.
"No, My Lord. He has not stepped outside."
"Hold your positions. Inform me the moment he moves."
"We should head toward the village,"Kosr murmured. "Avoid sight. The lotus hides your spirit, magic, demon essence, but not your flesh & bloodlust. And you lack the gift of invisibility."
"Anyone who sees me today will die,"Avesh declared.
"Let us pray no one does."
Two hours passed.
"Why hasn't the boy appeared?!"Avesh thundered.
"Normally, he comes out thirty minutes after the Sage leaves", Tev answered. "He plays around or sometimes leaves the village."
"Lord,"Eho whispered, "I see one of the boy's guardian spirits in the sky, southeast."
"From where?"
"Another guardian is half a mile from the first. One flies toward the village. The other toward the waterfall."
"Stop the one approaching the waterfall,"Avesh commanded. "I will handle the other. Met tracks their origin. If the boy is with them, do not engage."
He changed course mid-air, slicing through the guardian spirit without harming its core. He summoned a shadow creature.
"Aei, restrain it. Don't let it consume spirit energy."
Avesh leapt toward the other direction.
The Most Awaited Meeting
"My Lord,"Nro's voice trembled, "the boy and three others are at the river, three miles from your cave."
"How close are you?"
"A quarter mile, My Lord."
"Reverse Summon: Hollow Transfer."
Reality folded. Avesh and Nro switched places.
Twenty-five steps forward, and he saw the boy.
Rage erupted.
His killing intent crashed through the world like a silent storm.
The boy froze.
The spirits froze.
The forest itself seemed to stop breathing.
__________
The Fun
Avesh seized control of the Sage's spirits and forced them to carry the unconscious boy back to the cave.
When Rav awoke, his body was bound to the stone wall. Arms and legs shackled, neck pinned beneath a metal bar.
Testa stood motionless a few meters away.
"Testa, please, help, I think my neck is hurt", Rav whimpered.
Testa did not move.
"Testa? Please, I can't move"
Silence.
"Testa!"
"He hears you,"Avesh said, stepping into view like a nightmare clothed in flesh. "But he obeys only me."
"Who-Who are you?"Rav stuttered.
"Me? I am irrelevant. I am a man who seeks vengeance."
"Why, why kidnap me?"
"Revenge, boy. Did you know your grandfather and my grandfather were once friends?"
Tears rolled down Rav's face.
"Oh, don't cry yet. You must save your tears,"Avesh whispered.
"I need your screams later."
He took a hunting knife and drove it into Rav's right shoulder.
"AHHH!" the boy shrieked.
"Testa! Please!"
"Wonderful,"Avesh laughed softly. "Cry louder."
He stabbed the left shoulder.
Rav wailed.
"Come now, we have much work. I will cut you limb by limb in the next two hours. They will search for you after that."
"Please, don't kill me."Rav sobbed.
"Oh no. Not soon. You will live as long as your father meditates. I will kill you when he rises."
"My shadows watch everything. Every change. Every heartbeat."
Rav trembled.
"Testa, please."
__________
The More Fun
"Boy,"Avesh said, grinning, "he cannot save you. Let us begin."
He looked at Testa.
"Cut his right hand."
Testa obeyed.
The blade fell.
The hand dropped.
Blood gushed like a small river.
"No, no,"Avesh murmured. "You must not bleed out."
He summoned shadows.
"Stem the flow. Keep him alive."
He lifted the severed hand, stared at it, then threw it into the fire.
"I heard you made a blood pact with Sumal. Was it this hand?"
The flames swallowed the flesh.
"Well, how fascinating. The hand you used is gone. I wonder, does the pact still live?"
Avesh pressed his sword to the boy's throat.
"How shall we test this, hm?"
Rav sobbed uncontrollably.
"Answer me or die."
"I-I don't know what a blood pact is!" he cried.
"Oh? Your parents never told you?"Avesh asked, amused.
"That makes this far more enjoyable."
He severed the elbow.
Rav screamed, "Mom, Dad," and fainted.
Shadows sealed the blood. Others began healing.
A bucket of cold water splashed across his face.
He awoke to Avesh's voice.
"You still have more than twelve joints left. Do not faint so easily."
____________
The Meeting & The Intern Sage
A gentle yet ancient voice spoke inside the boy's mind.
"I have watched over you through the blood pact."
Two bloodlines, one cursed by gods, one hated by demons, intertwined in the child.
"I am a blessing born from a godly curse and the pact with the Fallen One."
"I, I can hear you,"Rav whispered in his mind, "but I can't see you."
"I am the memory of the Fallen One, the knowledge of the god seed. I do not know what I fully am, but I know I am a Sage of the Demi God realm."
"I cannot wield my power yet. Something binds me. My consciousness tells me that I must first be named. And I am bound to you by pact, I must serve you."
"So, can I name you? What do you want to be called?"
"Though my essence is Demi God, my senses tell me I stand as an Intern Sage, equal to the upper Awakened."
"Then I will name you, Sagin."
"Sagin", the voice smiled.
"A worthy name, kid."