The Duelist 10 by Vall Eric

Author:Vall, Eric
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Thankfully, this time, when Zoie, Horus, and I stepped into the cave, the ground didn’t tremble, and no earth guardians sprang up from the soil. Instead, three glimmering dots appeared just inside the mouth of the cave and at our feet.

I watched for several seconds before I realized they were the swords our three earth guardian opponents had wielded. In the dim shadow of the cave, they glowed even more brightly. I let go of Shay and Zoie’s hands and bent down to pick up the one that was at my feet.

“Alex,” Zoie said suddenly, and I felt her hand on my shoulder as I reached out to touch the blade. “Be careful.”

I nodded but didn’t look away from the shimmering weapons. They’d emerged from the ground literally at our feet, there was no way it was a coincidence. The Island of Hearts had to be telling us to use these weapons to protect Shay, since we’d proven ourselves worthy by defeating the earth guardians.

When my hand closed around the sword’s hilt, I felt a zing of power thrill up my arm, like a small electric shock, only more tingly and not unpleasant. My senses all suddenly felt a little more acute, my vision a bit sharper, my hearing a bit keener, and I felt the urge to swing the sword at an oncoming opponent. Something this powerful, something borne from the soil of the most sacred place in Aventoll, a place where most people couldn’t even get to, was sure to pack one hell of a punch.

What would it do to a demon?

“One for each of us,” I said, and Horus and Zoie each crouched down to pick up their own swords. I noticed then there were patterns on the blades that looked similar to the runes engraved along Horus’ Alchemist’s dagger, and I wondered if Aventoll’s Alchemy originally evolved from the power here, but its origins, much like the existence of this Island, had been forgotten.

“To protect the Incarnate,” the falcon-man said as he rose from his crouch and looked at his sister. “You okay?”

Shay shrugged and looked more than a little desolate. Her green eyes tracked my every movement as I stood up and slid the sword into my belt.

“What is it?” I prompted gently.

“You could’ve gotten killed,” she said. “Those earth guardians would have killed you. Who knows what other things we’ll encounter deeper inside the cave. I should continue alone.”

“Those guardians were defeated by Alex and Horus using their Asher abilities,” Zoie told the phoenix-woman. “Ashers are blessed by Mercedes, and if these swords appearing to us doesn’t prove we now have permission to enter the cave with you, what will?”

“I know,” Shay sighed, and she tucked a lock of scarlet hair behind her ear nervously. “I just don’t want any of you to get hurt. I’m meant to be here, but all of you… what if that permission is rescinded?”

“We’ll be sure not to accidentally desecrate any sacred sites inside the cave,” I told Shay with a smile.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.