The Wielder of Death Magic

At the castle, the greyscale mist halted time, Igna walked freely, waves of mana flowed to and fro, they moved akin to fish in the sea. ‘-The power of Kronos,’ he stared his open palm, ‘-the sandglass of Aclk,’ the palm closed, ‘-something must have happened in the Shadow Realm.’ He reached and grabbed the Queen and Lessie then vaulted out the same windows and landed on the remains of a flowerbed. ‘-He did hold back,’ he looked at the skies, countless helicopters circled, ‘-something’s happened to Dyu.’

Inside, two identical creations were placed in the line of fire. Lessie had a stray bullet-headed at her visage, and for Xen, the tale of the martial-art ought to end. A landmine spell, soon as time flowed, would explode and charr Ela’s body.

Those he tried to protect died, and in the rush to the parking area up front, Igna arrived at the familiar supercar Mandl rented, the passenger door was open with a hand hanging down to the ground, a peep inside showed the noble rushing to push her out, a bullet crossed the driver’s window and headed for her head. ‘-I don’t have much time left,’ he opened the backdoor, threw Lessie and Ela inside, clambered into the driver’s seat, picked the bullet from midair and threw it at the gunman.’ The three ladies were pushed in the back and still held a place for more, ‘-good thing they care for their bodies,’ he grinned, had the gear in reverse, and drove, the car leaped into the fray, hit the tarmac of the outside road and blasted forth. No care for speed, the car reached top-speed no shorter than a few seconds later, the speedometer lit bright-blue, ‘-good car,’ smiled and drove. The sandglass trickled; the remaining grain fell till a bell chimed. The flow resorted, bullets hit Xen, Lessie’s skull exploded with contact against the experimental ammunition, *BOOM,* a loud explosion rattled half of the room, Ela’s charred body dropped headfirst, Juvey barely escape the massacre, he gasped and held his arms, ‘-Xen, why did you have to,’ he shook his head, ‘-if only you’d come to me about the noble’s death, I’d have resolved the matter and explained the ladies aren’t real. You died for nothing, so much potential wasted for a noble cause. You honored the knight’s code of conduct, I weep, a friend who risked much to safeguard what was important,’ on paying respect to the fallen Xen, the vision fell onto Lessie, ‘-no,’ the heart sank, ‘-not you too,’ he ran to her side and saw naught but a saddened expression, ‘-DAMN IT!’ he smashed the walls.

“Majesty, the targets have been neutralized, what should we do?”

“Have the forces clean up bodies,” a puffy exhale refocused priority, “-use the remains of the stable to create a bonfire. We’re burning the bodies. No news of this is to get out, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, majesty.”

.....

“Order a communication blackout – no access to the palace until further notice.”

Wheels screeched shy of Dyu fully shutting the eyes, “-better not die on me,” a distant door slam followed into footsteps crushing twigs and the vegetation.

‘Ouch,’ he watched, ‘-a metal rod, should be easy to heal,’ *Partial-Realm Expansion – Mantia,* an orb wrapped the lawyer’s body, *Mantia – Book of Restoration, Honzela, fifth passage, broken art be fixed, fixed art be broken, eternal cycle; creation and destruction, the levy for reality changes prospective, watcher watches, creator creates, destroyer destroys, and restorer restores, Hicht,* the open wound closed, *Realm Expansion: Release,* a tap reignited Dyu’s consciousness.

*GASP,* sat upright, “-I’m alive?” he blinked and subconsciously touched where the wound laid, ‘-I am alive.’

“No time for reunion,” said Igna with crimson and white hair parted down the middle. The vampiric features were prominent and charming, a scarlet halo circled around his head. Dyu followed and opened the front door, he threw Mandle at the back of which was an easy squeeze considering the passengers were unconscious, the engine roared into action. The rearview mirror kindly showed the passenger, “-seems we have two unknown guests?”

“Twould be Mandl and Nadhi. I sort of rescued them without their knowledge”

“Lessie and Ela,” attention turned to the road where scenery flung pass without care, “-what’s the probability of escape?”

“I don’t know,” he firmed the steering wheel, “-the maids turned out to be homunculi, Juvey had the know-how to add emotions and free will to their mind. Impressive in retrospect.”

“-and scary. What will happen now, they know you’re Igna?”

“No, I made sure we’re dead,” he smiled, “-far as the crown is concerned, Lessie, Ela, and I have perished. Identical clones are very much a perk when utilizing ancient arts. I appreciate you answering my selfish requests. Enough chitchat, contact éclair – ask about the escape plan.” The drive followed into the street-racers land; other cars rumbled across the streets – most waited patiently for a sign of some sort.

“Don’t mind them,” said Dyu, “-I had my old friend stationed by in case of the police coming after us. They’d block the roads and allow easy access along the mountain pass.”

Sharp turns rocked the unconscious bodies, first to wake was Lessie, “-XEN!” she shouted and caught Dyu by surprise, “-calm it, lady,” he held his heart, “-I nearly died, again.”

“Where am I, where’s Xen, what happened?”

“Xen’s dead,” returned Igna, “-everything will be explained later. What happens next is yours to decide,” her mind fell onto the passing landscape, “-fine,” she settled, “-appears I’m not the only one being kidnapped.” Little close to a few hours later, at a time where night grew ominous and unyieldingly savage – the escapees pulled into the airfield and turned towards a rusty-looking hangar. A dormant black private jet laid in wait, the car stopped, the doors unlocked to the open air, “-we made it,” cheered Dyu.

“Majesty,” echoed in the distance, “-we’re ready to fly out,” they said with air hostesses guarding the foot of the staircase. Ladies in heels, bearing gorgeous smiles and deadlier weapons. Igna held Nadhi and Ela at the hip and slowly clambered along the stairs. Lessie and Dyu were content to carry Mandl by the shoulders. Inside laid a decadent interior of expensive wood, couches, and unnecessary luxuries. Seatbelts clicked, the jet roared and soon took off and made for the north – a planned route of which avoided the anti-air defenses known to be an Iqeavian marvel.

Head against the seat, Igna sat alone before a table, the others were seated at the back where laid a television, ‘-over,’ he lit a cigar, poured a glass of whiskey and relaxed, the jet crossed into the ocean, the escape was a success, *huff, puff,* ‘-so much for the intricate plan, éclair. He’s going to be mad,’ a slight chuckle escaped, ‘-oh well, what’s done is done.’

Slowly but surely, the others regained consciousness, “-where am I?” blinked Mandl, “-NADHI!” he grabbed her in a warm embrace, “-I thought we were going to die.”

“Me too,” she returned his hug, “-Mandl, we’re in a plane, right?”

“I think so, a very expensive one,” he looked at the interior and the features, “-very expensive one, my family can’t even afford one of these.”

“-Huh?” she blinked, “-I thought you were rich?”

“We are, not this lavishly.”

Dyu and Ela were seated farther away, the queen’s forced addiction and sanity were quite liable to harsh changes. In events of a fit, Dyu knew how to calm her erratic personality – she spoke no words save grunts and scowls, a queen turned animal.

“Excuse us, lady Lessie, you seem rather unfazed.”

“If you want answers, go speak with the man responsible,” she nodded to a smoke cloud in the distance.

“No need,” he walked and stood before the television, “-I apologize in advance for the confusion. This happened for a reason,” he sipped and smiled, “-let’s start with an introduction, my name’s Igna Haggard, King of Hidros, also known as the Devil of Glenda. Before questions, here’s the truth – Xen and I are the same. I infiltrated Elendor on a whim, an agent of ours asked a favor, the rescue to Queen Ela. On investigation, I realized the betrayal of Elendor was planned and orchestrated by the Empire. Therefore, to honor my uncle’s friendship with the queen, we staged an abduction. The matter grew worse at the party, a noble murdered one of the maids who helped me quite a bunch, her friend’s last request was to get vengeance. Rest is history, people died and those in attendance are now on a trip to Hidros. Whether tis salvation or imprisonment, the choice is yours. Mandl and Nadhi, I’ve repaid my debt – an assassin was out to kill. Lessie, before getting shot by the ambush, I saw your tenacity in wanting to save me, for that, I’m appreciative,” glass empty. The hair and eye colors changed to white ending in red, the same as recognized by the populous. “-My assistant has taken the liberty of confiscating smartphones and such. Until the background has been fully vetted, you’ll be staying at a resort in Plaustan, one owned and run by Phantom.”

“Xen... sorry, Majesty,” called Lessie, “-are we still friends or not?”

“Nothing’s changed, I’m the same guy.”

“King Haggard,” blinked Mandl, “-never expected this... I’m a fan, a huge fan of the Haggard dynasty. It would be an honor to be considered a friend.”

“Hey, stop the formal talk,” he sat beside and relaxed, “-Nadhi, we’ve reached out to your manager. She’ll beat at Rosespire, don’t fret.”

“Thanks,” drinks arrived courtesy of the hostess, “-we have a long journey ahead,” she said, “-please, if you wish to sleep, there are rooms at the back. If there is any trouble, don’t be shy,” she winked at Mandl and Nadhi, “-the rooms have protection. Please,” she gestured to the back, “-why not test the bedding arrangements.”

Nadhi was quick to touch Mandl’s thighs, “-if thee insists,” they hurried and bore the same excitement as children.

“Didn’t expect you to be king,” commented Lessie.

“Didn’t expect the head torturer to risk her life for a stranger.”

“Stop it,” she drank, “-we’re past that, I’m a friend,” a smile lit her burnt skin.”

“To a new friendship,” he rose a toast.”

“To a fresh start,” said a relieved grin.