The Arcturian Knight: Volume 2: Relevation

Drakius walked towards an appointment he had been waiting days for. Underneath his feet, fresh snow crunched as he crushed it. The air was frigid cold and snow bombarded Drakius from above. It fell in sheets, whiting out all around it as it lowered the visibility. Drakius could barely make out the outline of the Voltaris guards in front of him. Drakius covered his face with one arm as a particularly violent gust of frosty air blasted him. The snow sloped over the crags and raised areas of the tall mountain. Drakius couldn’t help but notice the grim looks on the faces of the other Voltaris, even those of the children. *I helped to cause this.* It pained even him to see such a sight.

In front of him, the mighty house of the Deathsinger loomed as though to intimidate him. The guards transporting Drakius stopped outside the door, gesturing for him to continue moving. *I guess this is private.* Taking in a deep breath, Drakius prepared himself for what lay ahead. Then he strode through the door and to the confrontation before him.

Ingressus was staring at the fireplace when Drakius entered. Without turning around, Ingressus addressed the visitor. “As you probably guessed, I need the information you have.” Ingressus gave a weary sigh. “I hope that this can be resolved quickly, but I will resort to other means if I must.” Drakius looked at the figure before him, his mind wrestling with itself as it had been for the last few days. “What information can I give you?” asked Drakius, deciding in the moment that he was going to help his uncle. Ingressus turned around in surprise, his eyes searching Drakius’. “You would surrender that information so willingly?” The Deathsinger raised one eyebrow. “Why?” Mustering up his courage, Drakius met his uncle’s gaze. “I am tired of this war. I am ready to work together if it means we can settle this peacefully. We have already wasted enough lives.” Ingressus studied the Ardoni before him, before nodding. “Peace is always an admirable thing.” Ingressus turned back to the fire. “But the other clans will not accept it. The war will only end in one of two ways.” His voice was bitter with regret. “With my clan killed, or the Primes in our hands. Giving me any information, or even trying to get peace, will be viewed as a collaboration with me, something that is a death sentence. They will not care what house you are from, they will kill you on sight when they know.” Ingressus turned, expecting the Kaltaris to take back his words. But Drakius fixed his Uncle with a hard look. “I care little what the other clans think of me. I hope that they will see reason. More people are killed by the day and I will no longer take it.” Drakius looked down, then pulled his head back up with a fiery determination. “You may have started this war, but I intend on finishing it.”

Ingressus narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge if his nephew was telling the truth. “You speak the truth,” he decided, “You truly mean what you say.” Ingressus nodded. “I understand, but what if they refuse this peace? Would you truly fight against them?” The Deathsinger searched Drakius’ face for some sign of reaction. “They will still continue to kill us. You have a choice, to stand with me or stand against me.” Drakius hesitated, uncertainty written on his face. The Deathsinger put his hand on Drakius’ shoulder. “I know you blame me for many things, and I cannot lay all of your worries to rest. But think about the children here, the mothers. Think of those who have no affiliation with me, but yet they have my runes. They are being killed just the same as the others, despite their purity.” Ingressus shook his dead in sorrow. “Think about those here. Not all of them asked for this war, and yet they must fight it anyhow. They have no choice. Either they fight, or their entire families die. Because of how the other clans judge us. You want peace, but do you want it to be the peace where the other four clans destroy us, or would you battle for the peace where all the clans can be reunited. Would you have my clan survive, for the sake of those who are innocent?”

Steel came into Drakius’ eyes, and he nodded. “I would sooner kill myself than see your clan die. I feel that I must make reparation for my father’s actions, but, if possible, I would bring this affair to a peaceful conclusion.” Ingressus smiled faintly. “I will not argue with you that your kin have done horrible things. I agree.” His face then turned serious. “I’m not asking you to agree with me. I can understand why you condemn me, and I cannot justify my actions in a way that would satisfy you. But for their sake, we must trudge on. So will you truly help me, or will you choose to be my enemy?” Drakius hesitated for a split second, but then nodded his affirmation. “I do not join you readily, but I will fight for you if need be.” Ingressus shook Drakius’ hand. “If you want to take on such a dangerous task like being my embassy, you must learn to defend yourself, just in case the others of your clan choose to turn on you.” Ingressus waved for Drakius to follow him, and together they walked outside. As they moved, the Deathsinger continued. “Unfortunately, I have something I must attend to, and as such I won’t be able to train you. However, I do know someone else. Someone who might be more capable of teaching you both song-wielding and fighting than me.” Drakius cast his uncle a questioning look. “Who could be stronger than you? You are the Deathsinger.” Ingressus chuckled in response. “He would be my son, Ajax. I personally trained him during the First Great War, and his experience since has led him to become an even greater Ardoni than I. He is your cousin, so I hope that the two of you will get along well. Though, he can be a bit stiff at first.”

After walking for a while, the two reached an area Drakius had never seen before. It was a massive clearing, with snow and rock piles in random intervals. All around, Voltaris clashed against each other as they practiced combat. In the center of them, a trio of Voltaris stood. One of them was watching the other two fight. He had ashen skin like the Deathsinger, while his runes looked like a skeletal ribcage on his chest. With a stoic expression, he looked on at the scene before him. The other two Ardoni were clearly friends, laughing as they battled, even chatting about seemingly random things. The first one had a medium pitched voice. “I think that she was actually impressed by your poem, Victor!” His chest was a jumbled mess of lines on his dark gray skin. Over his right eye, a scar looking rune gave him definition. The other one looked like an angry cat had clawed at his ashen gray form. Underneath his eyes, runes like crimson tears ran down his face. He laughed in response. “Nah, she wasn’t impressed by me. Didn’t you see how she couldn’t keep her eyes of you, Tysoar?”

Drakius stared at Tysoar in shock. *So this is where he’s been. He looks like father’s descriptions of mother.* Ingressus smiled at the chatter of the two Voltaris. “Well, I see you’re focused on the right thing today.” Looking embarrassed, both Tysoar and Victor chuckled at the Deathsinger’s sarcasm. *They seem as comfortable around him as a child with his father.* Drakius reached out towards his other uncle and was about to say something, but Ingressus spoke first. “Well, I hope you can excuse us, gentlemen. I need to talk with my son for a moment.” Tysoar nodded, while Victor shrugged. Still bantering, the pair walked off, leaving the third Voltaris left standing there.

Ingressus swept his arm towards the skeleton runed Ardoni. “This is Ajax Arcturus Voltaris, my son. Ajax, this is your cousin Drakius. He has decided to help us in our quest.” Ajax studied Drakius with such intensity that Drakius shifted uncomfortably. Ingressus nodded to both of them. “I’m afraid I can’t be here for the training, but Ajax is more than capable of teaching. I must be leaving.” Before Drakius could protest, the Deathsinger turned and left.

Both Ardoni stared at each other. Drakius looked at the long horns on his cousin’s head. His voice filled with nervousness, Drakius made an attempt to start up a conversation. “So were cousins I guess. I thought I had no living relatives left.” Ajax, however, just continued to stare at him. After a while of awkward silence, the Voltaris began to speak. “I see I’m supposed to train you, so I suppose we should get on with it.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked a little further away. Turning around, Ajax assumed a casual stance, though his face was a grim mask of concentration. Drakius could tell he wouldn’t get any more words out of his mentor, so he decided to get into the training. He smirked at his unarmed opponent. *No weapon? The arrogant fool.* With an expert flourish, Drakius spun his staff around before assuming his fighting stance.

Ajax didn’t so much as blink, remaining relaxed and unconcerned. This drained some of Drakius’ confidence. *He seems not to want to engage.* Drakius waited, expecting Ajax to spring at him. When that didn’t happen, Drakius decided to take the initiative. *Well somebody has to start this. I should be able to finish this easily.* Spinning his staff with blinding speed, he struck at Ajax again and again. Ajax didn’t break a sweat as he dodged the attacks effortlessly. *Not bad!* Drakius tired quickly, while Ajax remained unwinded. Amazement overcame Drakius as he studied his opponent. In one last desperate attempt, Drakius swung the bottom part of the staff upwards, planning on catching his cousin on the chin.

Quicker than a thought, Ajax dropped low and grabbed the bottom of the staff mid-swing. Before Drakius could comprehend what had happened, Ajax thrust the staff upwards, sending Drakius up in the air. Then, brutally, Ajax swung Drakius in an ark before slamming him into the ground. When Drakius had recovered enough to stand, Ajax handed him his staff back. Weakly, Drakius nodded his thanks. For a brief moment, Ajax gave the faintest smile. “Didn’t expect me to be that good, did you?” Drakius merely shook his head, too winded to speak.

Ajax waited for Drakius to catch his breath. Once he had, Drakius attempted to start a conversation again. “So your Arcturus? I wouldn’t have thought that anyone would want to keep that name.” Ajax considered the question before responding. “I chose to keep the name Arcturus because of my mother. She was the one who championed me the greatest, it was her who told me what no one else would.” Pain clouded his eyes. “She made the ultimate sacrifice, fought for the true vision.” He sighed. “Now she’s gone.” Drakius smiled sadly at Ajax. “I’m sorry. What was she like?” Ajax nodded. “She was a woman like no other. I hope she would be proud of me now. It’s up to me to keep my father from losing his way, the same way she used to. She died to save this clan, and so will I if I must.”

Drakius nodded his understanding. “Your father blames himself for what happened to her.” Ajax’s face became cold at that. “Do not blame my father’s actions for what happened. The other clans gave us no choice but to take the power for ourselves.” Sensing danger, Drakius held up his hand in a gesture of peace. “I’m sorry. I meant no offense.” Ajax calmed, but stayed on guard. Drakius continued, relieved that Ajax was at least talking to him. “I can tell you're not much of a talker. Why’s that?” Ajax shook his head. “I don’t need to explain myself to you. Your father is the one who led the band who we battled that night, the battle that led to my mother’s death.” His voice was bitter. He stared at his cousin, rage smoldering in his eyes. “And I was the one who ended him.”

Shock flowed through Drakius at the massive revelation. *HE killed him?* Anger took its place. Drakius hissed at Ajax. “YOU killed him? I ought to strike you down here and now.” Ajax growled in response, his face a mask of fury. “Your father was a murdering coward. My father thought that he killed my mother, but he didn’t. She was still alive, even with her wound. It was your father who truly ended her. When she was defenseless, weak, good as dead. Still he killed her in cold blood!”

Before Drakius could respond, Ajax scowled and waved at him. “I am finished with this. We can continue sometime later. However, I will show you your new room. Then, tomorrow, we will travel to see if we can secure peace with those murderers.” Numbly, Drakius followed Ajax, his mind horrified by the recent discoveries. *He killed his own sister.* As the dusk became night, Drakius looked up at the stars. *Why? Why did you do this things? Did you know it would bring shame upon me?* With the moon shining overhead, Drakius shook his head, sick to his stomach. *I can’t take this anymore.* But as he looked at the massive sky, determination steeled his nerves. One thing was clear to him. He had to end this. For the sake of all of those like Ajax who were suffering in ways they shouldn’t have  too. *This war must come to an end. Even if it means I have to lose my own life, it must end before there are any more pointless murders.*