Seed Of Speed

"Remember, you should refrain from using any type of magic while you are at sea, even meditating can in draw unwanted dangers when you reach the open waters," Fanflame said for the fourth time since they had landed.

"I understand, I only plan to rest and adapt to my lack of strength. So, you never did explain why you were way out in the this stretch of the desert. We are a long way from home," Diego said as they walked down the dock.

Fanflame had already paid enough gold to buy all ten of the village's fishing boats to arrange for a ship to take him across to the Kopec Kingdom, but there were still a lot of things they had to get ready. It was near sundown when they were finally able to set sail.

"It may not be the level of Daemora, but I have my own beast chasing me. I killed a pest who had plaguing me for some time, and while it may have been in self-defense, his backer is one of the branch leaders of the Trader's Guild. The sect will protect my village from dangers, but the only way to ensure their trade is not effected by my actions, I had to leave," she replied with a shrug.

"But you're not heading to the Grassland Nations?"

"That's like jumping into the beast's lair, Trader's Guild has an outpost in nearly every city. No, I'm heading to the Badlands to the south where the Trader's Guild won't venture. My strength means I can live a peaceful enough life as long as I keep a low profile," she said.

"Well, I wish you luck. I would be dead without your help."

She chuckled, "You certainly would be. Don't let this second chance go to waste."

"I won't," Diego replied with a nod.

She smiled and gave him a wave as she turned and walked away. Diego made his way across the plank and onto the ship while the three fishermen untied the ship from the dock. He headed for the stern of the boat and sat on the railing, so he could watch the shoreline. He dipped his mind into his storage space and pulled out the half-moon ki'ta that Rainshower had gifted him long ago.

"She's going out to forget they were together,

All that time he was taking her for granted,

She wants to see if there's more,

Than he gave,

She's looking for,

"He calls her up; he's trippin' on the phone now,

He doesn't want her out there and alone now,

He knows she's movin' it,

Know she's using it,

Now he's losing it,

She don't care,

"Everybody, put up your hands,

Say, I don't wanna be in love,

I don't wanna be in love,

Back it up now, you've got a reason to live,

Say, I don't wanna be in love,

I don't wanna be in love,

Feelin' good now, don't be afraid to get down,

Say, I don't wanna be in love

I don't wanna be in love..."

"He was always givin' her attention,

Working hard to find the things she mentioned,

He was dedicated, by most suckers hated,

That girl was fine, but she didn't appreciate him,

"She calls him up; she's trippin' on the phone now,

He had to get out and he ain't coming home now,

He's tryin' to forget her; that's how he got with her,

When he first met her, when they first got together,

"Everybody, put up your hands,

Say, I don't wanna be in love,

I don't wanna be in love,

Feel the beat now, if you've got nothing left,

Say, I don't wanna be in love,

I don't wanna be in love,

Back it up now, you've got a reason to live,

Say, I don't wanna be in love,

I don't wanna be in love,

Feelin' good now, don't be afraid to get down,

Say, I don't wanna be in love,

I don't wanna be in love…"

(Good Charlotte - I Don't Wanna Be In Love)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deep in the heart of the desert, a lone tower was the home of the true ruler of the Anozila Empire. Despite people passing near it often as they traveled to Rensa, only a handful of people knew where it was because of the powerful wards used to conceal it, but there are methods to bypass such methods, just as Echo had done.

The Nyra'teni Avatar sat across from the Benuko Avatar, who controlled the desert, on the roof patio of the tower while two servants tended to their needs. The Benuko Avatar looked much like Echo, but unlike his crimson runes, the other Avatar's were golden, representing that Benuko controlled his Avatar's Body directly, unlike Nyra'teni who kept Echo's mind intact.

"To what do I owe the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of your arrival, Avatar of Nyra'teni?" the Benuko Avatar asked.

"I was handling a contract for my master, and the clan decided to forfeit their side, so I slaughtered them. The problem is, there are two boys whose blood is bound to the contract who were not present because they were at the Konto Sect. One in particular has a touchy identity as a Core Disciple according to my new pet," Echo explained with half-truths.

"I do not own the Konto Sect, and that exiled prince is not something you can handle. I would recommend giving up on the endeavor," the Benuko Avatar replied.

"But isn't that a shame though? The Red Sands are completely under your control except this one sect. Why is that?"

"The Konto Sect and I have an arrangement. They train the mortals to fill my army's ranks and act as a shield against the Grassland Nations across the sea," the Benuko Avatar replied, undisturbed.

"The Great Benuko Daemora would not be so foolish to depend solely of the armies created by another. What truly keeps you from acting against them?"

"Terrick Roshen, the exiled prince of Kon Kingdom and a master of formations. Nearly two millennia ago, he appeared in my developing capital and bought an eighth of the city then locked it down under so many wards, even I can't peek through them."

"What if someone cracked the shell for you? Would you have the strength to take the sect?" Echo asked.

The Benuko Avatar paused to take drink from his goblet as he weighed his options then replied, "It can be arranged, but what is it that you are asking for your services?"

"My master only asks for the two boys who are bound to the contract while I simply wish for some hospitality until you are ready for me to act, but of course, we would need to form a pact to ensure there are no complications," Echo said as a beast skin contract appeared in his hands.

The Benuko Avatar looked at the skin with annoyance and snapped his fingers, turning it into fine paper, then took it from Echo. He scanned over the contents and turned his attention back to Echo as he asked, "What makes these boys so valuable that you would offer such a fair contract?"

"Does it truly matter? You could take over the sect and remove this blemish from your empire."

The Benuko Avatar considered it for a few more moments but could not see how two mortals could amount to the entire sect, and even if there was something special about them, he could simply kill the other Avatar after their contract was complete. A fine red quill appeared in his hand and he signed the contract then passed it back to Echo, who signed as well.

"Ha, ha, good!" Echo laughed. "You there! Tend to my pet and get her cleaned up. While you are at it, try and heal her arm… it'd be a shame to just remove it!"

The servant Echo had pointed to looked to her master, who gave her a nod. She walked over to the young girl who had accompanied the Nyra'teni Avatar and showed her the way out of the room.

Rainshower's expression was blank as she followed the servant. A gold collar had been fitted around her neck and her right arm, from the elbow down, was blackened and nearly useless. Despite the robotic-like attitude she displayed, the Nyra'teni Avatar made sure to keep her mind intact while she relived the sins she had committed, just like what had happened to him.