Here We Go - 10

Chapter 10: Breaking Point


The flash of light and color subsided, leaving the strange device lying on the sand where Drayco had stood only seconds before. It was many seconds more before Otto’s vision returned to normal.

Son of a... why didn’t he warn me that he was going so simulate a damn supernova.

It wasn’t that bright, actually, Father. Your eyes are just very sensitive to light.

I think I’ve noticed that myself, thank you...

Otto walked over to the device, and the lower-right actuator picked it up.

That is odd. It still is emitting the same energy signal as when the man disappeared, only slightly weaker. The vapor also contains traces of this energy.

Is it still on...? Hmmm, keep examining it, see what else you can find out about it.

Yes, Father.

The other actuators went to work, examining the device with all of their various sensors. For several minutes, loads of information began to flow into Otto’s mind. Until, a few minutes later...

...Father, the device’s energy signal just rose dramatically.

Huh?

Suddenly, the device began to glow once again, just as bright as when Drayco had first appeared here. The actuators dropped the device, and Otto backed away. The actuators tensed, waiting for something else to appear.

Is it working again? But Drayco said it was one-way, and I didn’t do anything...

Another bright flash of green light emitted from the device, this one shorter than before. Otto averted his eyes successfully this time. When he looked back, a man was standing there, crouched in a landing position. Or, at least it looked like a man.

What the hell?

The man stood up. He was wearing a long, emerald-green cloak, and the hood obscured the upper half of his face. From what was visible, he looked almost like a woman.

“And you are?”

“Hmph. What an ugly world,” said the man, looking around.

“Who are you?”

“Me? You haven’t heard of the great emerald mage, Alkanahl? Hah, I guess it can’t be expected of such a primitive world.”

“Primitive? You’re from Drayco’s world, aren’t you?”

“Hmph, Drayco... oh yes, I remember him now. I left him lying dead on the floor of my tower. And it’s most definitely not ‘his’ world. It will soon be mine, actually.”

“Dead? Wait, you must be that wizard he was talking about.”

“I am no mere wizard, and it would do you well not to address me as such. You may call me ‘Great Emerald Mage’, or perhaps just ’Great Alkanahl’. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to complete my goals here on this pitiful plane and return to my own.”

“*yawn*...Otto, what’s going on...?”
Tabra awoke from the noise of Alkanahl’s appearance. Almost simultaneously, Rodmir woke up, and was immediately alert.

“Tabra, be careful, that man is dangerous,” said Rodmir. “He is a powerful wizard, I can sense it.”

“What? Another wizard?”

“Hmmm...”
Alkanahl recited a few words while facing Tabra and Rodmir. Purple light encircled his head and his hands.
“Amazing. That must have been it.”

Otto noticed the aura around Alkanahl. The actuators rose and tensed, ready to strike.
“What are you doing.”

“Oh, isn’t that amusing. What exactly are those things coming out of your back. Ugh, nevermind. If I didn’t have better things to do, I’d be more interested in them. But now, I’ll be taking my prize and leaving.”

Alkanahl’s staff appeared in his hands. He pointed it towards towards Tabra and chanted a few words, and instantly a sphere of yellow energy appeared around Tabra and Rodmir, where it levitated with them a few feet off the ground.

“Leave her alone!”
Otto, with the actuators leading the way, charged at Alkanahl, who seemed to be concentrating on the sphere of light. The two upper actuators shot forward, aiming to strike the wizard.

Alkanahl held up his free hand, and the actuators came to a stop.

“Go away.”
With a wave of the wizard’s hand, both the actuators and the rest of Otto flew backwards against the rock.

“I don’t have time to deal with you, you old fool. Begone.”
Alkanahl gestured towards Otto while chanting a spell. The rock broke apart, and the pieces rose into the air. Another gesture and a final word, and the rocks rained down, burying Otto in a pile of rubble. Tabra screamed and pounded on her glowing prison, but no sound penetrated the sphere.

*   *   *

Rasvim tried desperately to awaken the fallen Drayco. The spell’s blow had knocked him so hard against the crystal wall it had broken, but Rasvim hid in the pack’s secret magical pouch just in time to avoid being crushed himself. Drayco’s head had also hit the wall, and was bleeding slightly.

But he wasn’t dead. Yet.

“...mmph...ow...”

“Kraaaaa!”

“Wha...?”
Drayco pushed himself over onto his back.
“Damn, I love spellfire. I eat magic like candy, woo!”

“Kraa. Sur irisv.”

“No, I'm fine. It didn't actually hurt me, the force of the spell just knocked the wind out of me."
Drayco felt the back of his head. His hand came away with blood on it.
"Er... mostly fine"

Drayco took a potion from his belt pouch, and drank it. He felt a brief shudder of vitality flow through him.
"My last one... hope I won't need any more."

Drayco sat up, slowly, and looked around.
“I wonder where that ego-maniac went...”

“Kraaa!”
Rasvim pointed towards the gate.
“Krey. Arcaniss.”

“What?! Oh no. That means... crap. He must’ve activated the gate on this end at the same time as I did on Otto’s world. Then the gates are still connected. I have to do something!”

Come on, Drayco. Think of Otto and Tabra. Wait... Tabra... Oh boy...

Drayco got to his feet and dusted himself off. He stepped back, got a running start, and jumped through the gate.

Not a second later, Alkanahl, as well as the sphere carrying Tabra and Rodmir, emerged from the portal.

*   *   *

Drayco landed on the sand in a manner far from what would call “graceful.” After the initial impact wore off, he managed to get up and look around.

Where’d he go?

“Otto! Tabra! Where are--”
Then he saw the actuator, struggling under the pile of rubble where the rocky outcropping had once stood.

“Crap! Otto, are you alive?”
Drayco ran over to the pile and started to move some of the boulders. After freeing the actuator, it assisted in the effort. Before long, he reached Otto, with the other three actuators struggling to hold up the rest of the rock pile.

“Hang on, I’ll get you out of there!”

“Move faster. The actuators can’t hold this up much longer.”

“Okay then. Looks like we’re going to have to do this my way then.”
Drayco drew his sword, and flexed his wings.

At least these still work.

“I’m going to blow up the big rock on top of you.”

“What?!”

“On three, push the rock up as hard as you can.”

“You’re crazy! You’re going to get me killed!”

“1...”

“Goddammit, you hothead!”

“...2...”

“Argh!”

“...3!”

The actuators forced the rock up with all their might. At the same time, Drayco flew up and struck his sword against the rock, and an explosion burst forth from the blade. The rock shattered, sending pieces in every direction. Luckily, most flew away from Drayco and Otto. The actuators, as well as Otto himself, collapsed from the sudden change in weight. Drayco landed roughly, and ran to help Otto.

“Are you okay, Otto?” said Drayco, helping Otto to his feet.

“I... hate... you...”

“Good. You’re welcome. Now where’s Tabra?”

“Tabra! Oh, god. That wizard took her!...”

“Alkanahl? Damn, I’m too late.”

“So, can’t you just magic yourself back to your world and save her?”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure if I have that much energy left. Not that I have much of a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, remember how I said that Sorcerors channel magic from a source within themselves? I already used up all of that source until I have a chance to rest. I might be able to activate the device using a different kind of power, called Spellfire. It's basically just raw magical energy that I can store in my body and use to blast people with. Luckily, I can increase it by absorbing spells, and the spell that the wizard hit me with gave me enough to equal a fifth-level spell.”

“...I have... no idea what the hell you're talking about.”

“I don't care. Right now, I need to go back to my world. For Tabra’s sake and mine. Gods know what he can do with her power.”

“What do you mean ‘her power’?”

“Remember when I told you I could see magic auras? Well, Tabra’s aura was so powerful, it... well, it’s really powerful. More powerful than anything I’ve ever seen before.”

“So then why can’t she just blow him up or something.”

“I don’t think she knows how to use all of her power yet. In any case, I’m leaving now.”

Drayco walked over to the device and picked it up. He held it out and closed his eyes, focusing the last of his spellfire energy. Soon, the device began to glow again.

“Wait,” said Otto. “I’m coming too.”

“What? Forget it.”

“Please. For Tabra’s sake. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I lost her.”
Otto suddenly looked much older, much more weary.
“I’ve lost too many people I care for. Not again. Not like...”

Drayco sighed.
“Dammit, Otto! Why’d you have to get all emotional on me? Fine, but you have to do one thing for me first.”

“What?”

Drayco’s mouth curled into a  wry grin.
“You have to admit that you were wrong, and that magic does exist. You have to admit you’re a stubborn human, and you have to admit that sometimes, other people know more than you.”

“What? I will do no such thing!”

“Say it.”

“No!”

“Say it.”

“Not a chance!”

Drayco smiled, then imitated the expression that Otto had a moment before.
“Please. For Tabra’s sake?”

“...I am going to kill you when this is over.”

“Say it!”

“Alright! I’ll say it!”