Light flashed through the windows of the mud brick house with the frequency of a violent thunderstorm, but no shattering crash of thunder followed. No storm danced in the heavens. The endless stream of ships launching and landing at the nearby Al-Benu star port lit up the sky. A beautiful olive skinned woman dressed in flowing blue robes stood at the window watching the parade of ships. With a heavy sigh, Uma Nari closed the drapes and walked back into the room.

She smiled at the two boys playing with action figures in the center of the room. Her frail, brown haired nephew, Adir Radd looked up at her. She could see the world in his crystalline green eyes.

Biting her lip, she turned her attention to the boy with long silver hair, her beloved son, Tien Shaa. Ever since the Enmadra returned to their millennia abandoned cities on Adrakaya thirteen years ago, the traffic at the star port had been unbearably thick. It could not be a good thing. The Enmadra had announced that their ancient war with the Raewyn had ended. If that were true, why were they focusing on building up the Shedu military, especially here in Thebes? It did not make sense, but when had politics ever made sense.

The door flung open and a tall blond child ran into the room. Out of breath, he bent over and rested his hands on his knees.

“What is it Dov?” Uma asked, her eyes wide and lips quivering. She could see the answer in the air, but did not want to believe it.

“The...” Dov Lavan gasped for air, “The Uridimmu... they... they invaded Shana! The Shin’an are mounting a defense, but,” tears welled up in his eyes, “The Enmadra and the Republic have decided not to help them.”

“They are on their own?” Tien gasped, “But the Shin’an are our allies, we cannot abandon their home world to the Uridimmu!”

Dov balled his hands into tight fists as his face distorted with anger, “But we have! The cowards have decided to let them die!”

“Ori-aa wills it,” Adir never looked up, “Or it would not happen this way. We must have faith.”

“What good is faith when our military is full of cowards!” Dov turned on his heels and stormed out of the room.

“He has a point,” Tien looked around the room nervously. “What is the point of this military build up if we are not going to defend our allies?”

Uma turned back to the window, and watched the lights from the stream of ships, “Fate has her designs, and it is best not to hurry Nortia. She will have her way.”

Shana smoldered for two years under rage of the Uridimmu onslaught. Every battle, every massacre made news all over Al-Benu. Uma shielded the children from the worst reports from the front, but she was unable to keep all of the dark details from them. The boys matured far quicker than they should under the threat of war.

The sun cast his light through the few clouds that lazily swam through the sky over Thebes. No one noticed the small Enmadra ship among the traffic in the heavens as it purposefully made its way to the star port. The sleek lines on the ebony hawk-like shuttle shimmered in the light as the shuttle came in for a landing.

Slowly, the ramp descended from the front of the ship as the airlock opened. The Enmadra pilot exited the vessel and closed his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun. His deep bronze skin warmed to the heat of the day. His long black hair trailed down his back to his waist and blew gently in the breeze. His appearance was primitive. No shirt covered his lithe, muscular torso, and tanned leather pants and shoes clothed the rest of him. A red sun with an eye in the center of it was tattooed on the left side of his chest, signifying that Jeriah Kamil was the descendant of one of the legendary Enmadra hero Kamal.

Opening his eyes, he could sense the soul that had called him to Thebes. He entered the small village. He towered over the Shedu, standing no less than nine feet tall. The Shedu gawked and whispered as he made his way to the source of the call.

In a small courtyard between three mud brick houses, he found three children playing. They appeared not to have noticed him, or if they had they reckoned he wasn’t dangerous. Compared to him, they were tiny.

Closing his eyes, he reached out with his mind. Although three children played in the courtyard, he could feel only one entity, as if they were all part of the same being. Somehow these three had called across the galaxy for him, but now that he was here, they didn’t even notice him.

Kneeling beside them, he said, “Hello children, my name is Jeriah, what is yours?”

The tall blond child stopped running around, and answered, “I am Dov Lavan,” pointing at the brown haired boy with green eyes, “That is Adir Radd,” then pointing at the one with long silver hair, “And that’s Tien Shaa.” Nodding his head, he ran off to start playing again.

Not one of them could have been more than thirteen years old.

Jeriah watched the boy with the silver hair. While the other two boys were wrestling, he was playing in the dirt. Molding small beetles, he laid them on a ground. Slowly, he waved his hands over them. To Jeriah’s astonishment, they sprang to life, and ran after the other boys. They crawled under their shirts.

Adir and Dov fell to the ground itching and scratching, desperate to get them out.

Tien Shaa laughed.

“Very good,” Jeriah said through his laughter, “How long have you been able to do that?”

“For as long as I can remember,” Tien brushed his long shimmering hair out of his eyes.

“Do you know why your hair is silver?” Jeriah monitored him carefully.

The boy became gravely serious, “Ori-aa wills it,” he touched his hand reverently between his eyes as he spoke the sacred name, “Or so my mother tells me. I was born this way.”

Jeriah smiled at the boy, “Do you believe that?”

Tien scrunched his lips up to the side, “Hmmm, well, I believe that Nortia makes plans for us all, and her plans for me includes silver hair.” He smiled and returned to playing in the dirt.

“Would you like to learn how to harness your gifts,” Jeriah asked, “I can teach you to do so much more than this.

Tien looked at his friends, “May Adir and Dov come too?”

A pressure built in Jeriah’s chest. The three called out to him again, erasing all doubt from his mind.

“Sure,” Jeriah smiled, “As long as their parents consent.”

Adir Radd’s parents were pious, and quickly agreed to let him to go with Jeriah to the Holy City of Usekht Maati. Dov Lavan had lost his parents at a young age and had been adopted by Tien Shaa’s mother, Uma Nari.

Arriving at their home, Jeriah knocked on the door.

Uma opened the door with a solitary tear in her eye.

They introduced themselves. Time dropped off. This woman projected such a mighty presence that even the Enmadra fell silent in awe. A quiet stillness filled the air near her. The brightness of her eyes brought warmth to his heart. So many questions, but now was not the time. His gift assured him there would be another time.

“Madam Nari,” Jeriah’s voice quivered, “May I take your son as an apprentice, teaching him the ways of the Enmadra?”

With out hesitation, Uma looked up at the sky, “They are coming again, aren’t they?” Jeriah nodded. “How did you know?”

“Before he died, my husband told me that heavens would burn and that our boy would be called to help,” Uma looked at her son, her eyes filled with sorrow. “I always knew you would come.” She reached out and touched the sun tattoo on Jeriah’s chest, “I have seen this in my dreams.”

“Nortia whispers in your ear, my lady,” Jeriah took her hand, “Did she tell you anything else?”

She shook her head, “Nothing I can put in words.” Drawing close to Jeriah, “Adir is a seer too. He has had visions since he was very young.” Looking at Tien again, Uma sighed, “Take him. Stop them. Bring all of this to an end.”

“And may Dov come as well?” Jeriah asked.

“He must!” Adir blurted out, “We cannot leave him.”

Dov grinned at Adir, “My cousin is still afraid of the dark, he thinks I can keep the monsters away.”

“You do!” Adir said earnestly, “I will not go unless he does.”

“Of course he can go too,” Uma said, “He would be so lonely without the two of you to play with.

Adir closed his eyes tight and shivered. Twitching, he opened his eyes and forced a smile. “Are you alright?” Jeriah asked him.

“I am fine,” Adir scratched the side of his nose, “It... just sank in that I would be leaving my home for the first time.” Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes, “And I can’t help but think...” He looked at Dov, “How much I will miss it here. I have never known any other home.”

“It’ll be ok,” Dov wrapped his arm around Adir’s shoulder, “Tien and I will always be there to keep you safe.”

“Exactly,” Tien chimed in, “As long as we are together, nothing bad can happen to you. We won’t allow it.”

“I know,” Adir’s voice cracked, “And I promise I will use my... gifts to help you too, so I am not totally useless.”

“Don’t say that!” Tien said, “Without your sight, Dov and I would have had a lot of trouble that you saved us from.”

Adir closed his eyes, “Yeah, I know, but I have been a dead weight for you to carry. I swear I will not be a burden anymore, with Master Kamil’s help”

Jeriah nodded, “In time, you will all be very strong, as long as you follow the lessons well, and focus your efforts on learning the arts.”

The silent journey to Usekht Maati aboard Jeriah’s shuttle seemed to last longer than it really was. The children sat quietly in their seats. None of them had ever left home before, especially not to travel off world with a stranger to a city they had only heard of through myth and legend. Despite his attempt to start up a conversation with them, Jeriah could not get them to relax. He understood their fears, and sent word ahead to make sure no one greeted them when they landed to shield the children from to many new things.

The sun had set over Usekht Maati by the time they landed. Quickly, he showed the children to the small house they would be sharing. He waited in the living room until they had all fallen asleep, and then left for his own home.

Adir tossed and turned. Screams echoed through his mind, as fires raged in his eyes. Sweat dripped from him as the pains racked his body. His skin twisted and reddened from the phantoms assaulting him. Opening his eyes, black and haunted, empty of any white or color, he fought off the urge to scream. His lips quivered. Scratching at the sheets, he shuddered.

Suddenly, he realized he was not alone.

A tall warrior with luminous blue skin knelt beside his bed, muttering prayers. The light from his skin danced in the swirling gold inlay in his onyx helmet and chest plate.

“Do not worry,” he said in a comforting tone, “The terrors will subside. Ori-aa has plans for you.”

Struggling to catch his breath, Adir pulled the covers around his neck, “Who are you?” His voice shook with his shivers.

“My name is Typhon,” he said calmly, “I could feel your pain as I passed on my patrol. I came in to make sure you were alright.”

Adir’s eyes narrowed, “You are a Raewyn.”

Typhon smiled, “Yes, I am. I was sent here by the Empyrean to help the Enmadra maintain the peace treaty. I am an observer.”

Adir sat up in the bed, his breathing still heavy and labored.

“I will leave you now,” Typhon stood up, “If you need me, just call. Sweet dreams, young oracle.”

Adir watched him leave the room. He listened to the steady breathing of Tien and Dov. Their dreams were calm. Haunted by the images of death that still filled his eyes, he just sat there, and prayed quietly.

Early the next morning, Jeriah arrived at the house with several others with a fully prepared breakfast. After they had eaten, Jeriah took the boys out into the courtyard and began to teach them the opening movement of the Shade Walker form. The kicks, the punches, and the leaps, came easy to the boys.

Jeriah watched the waves of Heka move over the boys at their own command. Never had he seen anyone with such a natural connection to the energy in the air. Each of these three, moved, and controlled the energy as if they had practiced the arts all their life.

Smirking, he pulled a worn leather glove from his pocket and slipped it onto his right hand. He rubbed his thumb against the opal embedded in the palm of the glove until it connected with a shock to the implant in his hand.

He rose at his hand and focused on the stone until holographic doves flew from his hands. The boys laughed. Jumping around they tried to catch the doves.

“This is a periapt,” Jeriah chuckled, “One of our strongest weapons. As your training continues, I will make you each one. I wanted you to see what you were working towards.” The boys nodded.

Dov hurried back to practice the Shade Walker form he had just learned. Tien followed, and struggled to keep up with Dov’s finesse.

Adir lingered behind, watching every move Jeriah made.

“Come here Adir,” Jeriah motioned with his hand.

He took a deep breath, and walked slowly toward Jeriah with his head hung low. “Yes, master,” he said without looking up.

“You don’t have to call me master,” Jeriah knelt beside him, “Typhon told me about your... dreams last night.”

Adir sighed, “Just nightmares, master, nothing to worry about.”

Jeriah put his hand under Adir’s chin, and gently tilted his head to look him in the eyes, “You dreamed about the war, didn’t you. The war on Shana and the war to come.”

“Master...” Adir’s lips quivered, “Their wings were on fire... So many people were dying for nothing. Then I heard them scream my name.” A tear rolled down his cheek.

Wiping away the tear with his thumb, Jeriah forced a half smile, “I know your pain. I can foresee events too. It is a terrible burden, and a great honor. I can help you control it. You can become a mighty Presager.”

Adir stood silently. He blinked his eyes, and looked off into the distance.

“Come back to me son,” Jeriah shook him lightly, “If you do not learn to control these visions, they will destroy you.”

Closing his eyes, Adir said coldly, “Nothing can stop that.”

Throughout the rest of the spring and the fall Jeriah continued to instruct the boys in the martial arts and the use of Heka to aid their forms.

Adir read everything he was given on the ways of the Presager. His dreams grew worse and darker. His body ached from the tremors, but he told no one.

The ruins of the old temple lay scattered about, columns bent across each other near stones which had melted under the heat of some forgotten battle. Despite all the work to rebuild Usekht Maati over the last year, much of the city was still little more than rubble.

Dressed in the gray robes of an acolyte, Adir rushed through the rubble to answer Jeriah’s summons. In the midst of the ruins stood a solitary altar, its face was aged and wore, but somehow seemed untouched by the battle that had destroyed the rest of the temple.

“I’ll kill you!” a voice tore through Adir’s mind.

He spun around quickly to find the attacker.

A phantasmal winged figure leapt toward a sickly blue shadow. Adir’s breath quickened.

Swirling waves of energy blasted from the blue shadow striking the winged figure that retreated back into the air.

Adir closed his eyes and shook his head, but the vision persisted.

Wrapping its wings around itself, the black shadow roared in pain. The shade’s skin blistered and flaked away. Only a sore red haze remained. The wind carried the ashes away.

Light flashed from the phantom’s right hand and silver worms crawled from the light. They wriggled and writhed around its body covering the red fleshless area, replacing the lost skin.

Throwing his wings open, he shocked the air. The gust tossed the blue shadow to the ground.

The beast screeched, his voice like metal scraping on metal.

No flesh remained on his body. The horrid mass of writhing silver worms with an eerie shimmering gold light scintillating between them replaced the creature’s skin. A black stone fell from his hand.

The beast loomed over the blue shadow, then shook his head and flew away. The blue shadow stood up, and picked up the black stone.

“Ara’lu!” he called out.

The beast stopped in midair.

“Ara’lu!” the blue shadow yelled venomously, “Get back here!”

Ara’lu landed, and walked over. Falling to his knees, he kneeled before the blue shadow. Sighing, he said, “Yes, master, what would you have me do?”

The blue shadow turned to look at Adir. Sickening black eyes slit open, “Not yet, my friend we are not alone.” Adir turned to run.

Slamming into Jeriah, he fell down.

“Sorry I am late,” Jeriah offered him a hand to help him up.

Adir glanced around, the shadows were gone. They were alone. “It... it is ok.” He took Jeriah’s hand and stood up, “I... just thought I might have gone to the wrong temple.”

Jeriah smiled crookedly at him and sighed. “Alright, but it is hard to believe you would make such a mistake.”

Adir’s heart calmed down and he noticed Dov had followed Jeriah to the temple. He nodded at his friend.

Dov smirked and walked over to Adir to brush the dirt off of him. “You must be more careful,” he chuckled, “I swear you are becoming clumsier every day.”

“No,” Adir forced a smile, “I just have too much on my mind.”

“That is what I came to talk to you about,” Jeriah cleared his throat, “The Vi’jhaan council has met, and we have decided to offer you a position as an Oracle with us. Your powers are phenomenal, and with our help, you could rival, if not exceed, the greatest of us.”

Adir watched Dov walk off toward the altar, “How can I turn down an offer like that?” He forced a smile and bowed to Jeriah, “Thank you for talking them into this.”

Jeriah shook his head, “If the peace is to hold, we will need all the oracles we can get. I must go and tell the others.”

Adir walked over to Dov and waited till Jeriah’s footsteps were distant. “What is the matter, Dov?”

“I am worried about you. Typhon says that your nightmares are getting worse.”

“They are, he has been watching me again...” Adir sighed, “I am learning control.”

“No,” Dov balled up his fists, “You are learning focus. You are making your visions stronger... This is something I cannot protect you from. I do not want to see you get hurt.”

“I am not frail! I can handle myself, maybe you should worry more about your own training.”

“I am,” Dov’s voice fell flat, “I just miss our friendship. All you do anymore is meditate and practice your forms. You have cut Tien and I out of your life.”

“This is a time to learn. I don’t complain about all the time you spend training with Typhon.”

Dov smirked and turned around, “Yeah, he taught me the electric fog trap the other day. I have almost mastered it. But you are changing the subject.” He wrapped an arm around Adir, “You and Tien are the closest things I will ever have to brothers. We have to stick together. I can hear the whispers. Something is coming, and we need to be strong if we are going to make it through.”

Adir laughed and elbowed Dov in the ribs. “Maybe a quick game before I return to my training. Let’s go find Tien.”

After Adir was consecrated as an oracle, Jeriah retreated to his sanctum to meditate. Soon his students would have to learn the ways of war.

As the days went on, he was pleased by the renewed sense of play the boys brought to their training. With each season, they grew more and more powerful.

In his sanctum, he lit the candles daily and sought guidance for the next stage in their training.

Early in the next year, as he sat in his sanctum, the light from the candles burned white, opening the shadows like a curtain for Jeriah to see behind.

He saw Tien, Adir, and Dov standing in a thick fog on the parapet of Usekht Maati. Each held in his arms one of Adrakaya’s three moons in their arms close to their chest.

Adir Radd stood somberly. A tear ran down his face. He mouthed the words, “Unlawful... wailing.” He cradled the red moon Ari-leen in his arms like a baby. Placing his finger to his lips, he said, “Shhh!”

Jeriah’s heart fell in his chest.

Standing next to him, Dov Lavan held the obsidian moon Ual-leen in the palm of his hand. Smiling, he said, “Till the cat prowls, and the hunter seizes.”

The words confused Jeriah, and sent a cold chill through his body.

Tien Shaa walked out from behind his cousin Adir Radd. “Such a waste,” he muttered, “But she will know what to do.” He held the lush and verdant moon Bahn-leen in his hands.

Looking down in his own hand, he saw three small stones, a jade, a ruby, and an obsidian one. He understood.

The vision troubled Jeriah, but he shared it with no one. He spent his free time constructing periapts for his three students. He dyed the leather glove for each of them, and constructed the jewel that would be set in the palm. The circuitry was intricate. The work kept him up late into the night on more than one occasion. As a finishing touch, he added color to the gems. The Enmadra usually wore plain opalescent periapts, but for his students that would not do. So he finished the three periapts: a red one for Adir, black for Dov, and a jade green one for Tien.

The periapts required implants to connect the machinery to the nervous system. The surgery was simple, and the boys agreed quickly. Their eagerness to learn the ways of war troubled Jeriah. They did not understand the gravity of war.

Tien spent most of his time in the temple, refining his concentration and absorption in the fields of Heka that surrounded the city.

Dov sparred with the Vi’jhaan Masters. His prowess and skills as a fighter were quickly developing. A formidable warrior, the masters were hard pressed to defeat him.

Jeriah worried about Adir, who spent most of his time isolated and meditating on the visions his mind forced upon him. Jeriah understood the dangers of dwelling on the future. The gift of foresight could consume the mind and destroy the soul.

Calling Adir into his workshop, Jeriah asked him to sit, and grabbed a red pyramid off a shelf.

“Adir,” he asked, “Do you know what this is?”

Adir shook his head.

“This is an Eidolon,” Jeriah ran his finger over a crystal embedded on the side of the pyramid.

An orb of light dripped from the crystal, sprouting wings and a tail, the dove formed from it and flew into the air and began circling the room. Adir smiled.

“These are fun to make, and fun to have around,” Jeriah grinned, “You can make about anything.”

“I doubt I could make anything like that,” Adir sighed.

“You have the gift of prescience, that makes it easier,” Jeriah reached out his arm and the dove landed in his hand. “You will be able to see your mistakes before you make them. I can teach you how to make them if you want.”

Adir smiled, “Please show me.”

Dust and debris still filled the streets of Usekht Maati that led up the hill to the Temple of Ori-aa, but the rich cream color of the little cleaned and polished marble glistened showing the boys what the city must have looked like at its height.

As they did everyday, Tien, his cousin Adir, and Dov raced through those streets to receive their daily lesson from Jeriah.

He stood outside the temple with three leather gloves in his hand. He gave each to the boy it was made for and smiled at them.

The boys were ecstatic. Dov snatched his out of Jeriah’s hand, and put it on immediately, wincing at the sharp pain as the periapt pinched at the flesh of his palm searching for the missing port. “So how does it work?” Dov asked.

Jeriah calmed his breathing and took a step forward, “Relaxation is the first step,” he raised his hand, “Mastery over the machine is necessary,” light flashed as the jewel in the palm of his hand flared to life. Liquid steal flowed from a small opening at its center, molding itself to the image he had formed in his mind. A nine-foot halberd landed in his hand.

Spinning the blade around, Jeriah presented himself ready to start the monkey dance. “In time it is easy,” the halberd dissolved back into the periapt. Slipping his periapt off his hand, he revealed a deep metal port sunk into the flesh of his palm.

“That looks painful,” Adir rubbed his thumb against the palm of his own hand.

“It is a necessary pain,” Jeriah pulled a small, leather pouch out of his pocket, “Sometimes, we must endure pain for a season if the reward is worth it.” As he opened the pouch three metallic spiders crawled out. “The choice is yours.”

Dov snatched one of the arachnids out of the pouch.

Adir and Tien were more cautious. After Adir took his, Tien looked deep into Jeriah’s eyes.

“It is safe, my child,” Jeriah smiled, “I would never allow any harm to come to you.”

Tien nodded, and took the last spider into his hand. He watched it carefully as Jeriah raised his hand. The spider flashed as it burned into his skin. Shocking pains jolted through his arm as the arachnid attached itself to his nervous system.

“These came into use after the plagues of Mors Caelestium, right?” Dov asked.

“Yes,” Adir spoke up, “They were created to prevent that darkness from returning.”

“So they limit our powers...” Dov grimaced.

“No, they aid our actions so we do not become reliant on the Heka,” Adir stared at the sore wound in his hand.

“Actually,” Jeriah straightened up, “You are both right. Our enemies that have always been powerful, but as we took on power to face them, we struggled with the lust for control that it brought upon us.”

“Power is a tool,” Dov snapped.

“It is a poison,” Adir’s voice was remote, “A sip can heal, even make us stronger, but too much will destroy.”

“Power can be channeled Adir,” Dov sighed, “You need to remember that. It is focused and directed, all of the holy ones agree with me.”

Adir slipped the periapt on his hand, and began to practice his forms, allowing his prescience to guide his movements.

Adir took what Jeriah taught him about making eidolons and began crafting one for himself. Every night he would hide away in the corner of his room constructing the AI and boards for the creature. His first attempt was to construct a Benben-stone, a small, stone obelisk, with golden letters engraved into one of its cold gray faces.

Finished, he ran his finger down the golden letters he had inlaid into the obelisk, one at a time, spelling out, “Light of Eternal Glory,” in the Enmadra language. Flames rushed out of the stone. The fire caressed his fingers like cool silk. A great Bennu-bird stretched her scarlet wings; the gold tips of the lead feathers glimmered like the sun.

Smiling, Adir closed the door to his room. “Nahimanna,” he called the Bennu by its name, “I need your help.”

Dov was the first one to arrive at the temple. Performing the obligatory bow to the altar, he recited the prescribed prayer. Adir and Tien arrived shortly and did the same. They all sat quietly in the pews awaiting Jeriah.

Adir had his eyes closed tightly, as he rocked back and forth in fervent prayer. Dov felt a chill move through himself as he watched Adir praying so fervently.

The doors to the temple swung open. Jeriah and three other Enmadra rushed into the room.

“I am sorry boys,” Jeriah said in a huff, “Something has come up, and I don’t have the time to explain more than this. I called you here to tell you that the trials to test your skills will begin shortly. I was going to give you the schedule, but an urgent matter has arisen that demands my attention. Sorry.” Without another word, he turned and exited with the other Enmadra.

“Do you think this has something to do with the defeat of the Uridimmu on Shana?” Tien asked.

“Typhon says the Uridimmu have been seen gathering near Al-Benu,” Dov sighed. “They may be coming after our home world soon.”

Adir continued to rock in prayer as if he did not hear them.

Suddenly, he stood up and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Dov jumped up to follow him.

Adir continued his march out into the chilly night air. The three moons shone as bright crescents in the sky.

Something moved across the jade moon, a large black bird swooping towards them. Knocking Adir to the ground, the creature stood up on its two legs. A horrid winged man, covered from head to toe in charred and blacked machinery with gold lines snaking over his body leered at them. Sharp nails grew from his fingers as the tips of his wings sharpened.

Adir knelt on the ground before it.

“What are you doing?” Dov yelled, forming a sword from the liquid steel in his periapt, “Get up and run!”

The terror laughed at Dov, and lunged toward him.

Dov rolled out of the way and swung the sword into the creature’s stomach. The blade shattered.

Laughing, the creature charged Dov.

Tien leapt up and planted both his feet in the creature’s back.

The beast stumbled and flapped its wings to keep from hitting the ground.

Flying into the air, the terror folded its hands together in front of its heart. With a sharp, single motion, the creature threw its arms out to its sides. A wave of force rippled in the wake, violently crashing into the temple. The façade exploded.

Debris rained down on them. Enmadra flooded onto the streets, armed and ready for battle.

Dov looked up through the dust and smoke. The terror was flying away. Adir still knelt in the same place. He had not moved.

In the days following the attack, Dov pitched in to help in the clean up. No matter how hard he tried, he could not get Adir to leave his room.

Why did he just kneel there and not fight back? Dov asked himself over and again. He wanted to ask Adir, but he could not get him to talk. He never even saw him leave for meals.

Sitting on the street outside their house looking up at Adir’s window, he worried about his friend.

“Are you alright?” Typhon asked as he sat beside Dov.

Dov jumped, “I did see you walk up,” he chuckled, “I suppose I am... just worried about Adir. I was so weak when that thing attacked.

“I lost any claim to glory or honor. I failed to subjugate that thing to my will,” he swallowed hard, and his expression turned cold, his eyes hollow, “Cursed be the Terror, and may we destroy it. Damn that creature for making me fear it, he controlled my will and my mind. It needs to be controlled... dominated.”

Typhon smiled as he listened.

“I could almost hear it singing in my head,” he continued, “Bending me to its will. It was a quiet voice, speaking to the core of my being. I did learn one thing from it.”

“What is that?” Typhon asked.

“There is only one truth in this life. Fear is power. To be strong, you have to be feared. I only hope I can learn to project that fear onto my enemies. I will learn to act as the very hand of fate, and become the thing the enemies of my people fear most. I will crush my enemies under my feet. My people will be safe.”

“I know how you feel,” Typhon nodded, “And I might be able to help you. I know a few things, and I think I can tune your periapt, and make it stronger.”

Dov smiled at Typhon, “You would do that for me?”

Typhon grinned, “We are fighting the same war against the same enemy. I need all my allies to be as powerful as they can be.”

Slipping the periapt from his hand, Dov handed it to Typhon, “Thank you my friend, this means a lot to me.”

Adir sat in his room shaking. Cradling the Benben-stone in his arms, he ran his fingers up and down the inlaid inscription in it. Tears streamed from his eyes.

“Not many chances left,” he muttered under his breath, rocking back and forth.

He had isolated himself for weeks, searching the futures for a road he could walk, but none of them appealed to him. There had to be a better way.

Someone knocked on the door downstairs, he heard Dov’s heavy footsteps move toward the door. The door creaked open.

“I have your periapt for you,” Typhon said.

Standing up, Adir took a deep breath. He walked to the window and watched Typhon leave and head up the street. Not long after that, Tien and Dov left. They were heading for the practice field.

Adir sighed, and grabbed his periapt off the desk and rushed to follow them.

As soon as he walked out the door, the raid sirens began to sound, a thick cloud of shadowy wraiths rained from the sky. They violently attacked the ancient city. Ripping stone from stone, they assaulted everything in there path.

The prescient fog loomed over Adir’s vision. He steeled himself against the images, but they persisted.

In the training field, that mechanical demon attacked Tien and Dov. Adir looked around for the Enmadra, but they were held up in the city fighting the wraiths.

The beast tossed Tien to the ground like a rag doll.

Dov tackled it and wrestled it to the ground.

Adir Radd vision blurred, the gifts forced themselves upon him. Dov and the demon continued to fight, but the more they struggled with each other, the harder it was for Adir to distinguish one from the other.

The beast now with two faces and four arms, leapt into the air and screamed. A wretched mechanical cacophony rang throughout the city. Two of the beast’s arms tore into its chest, and ripped Dov from itself. Tossing him to the ground, the beast howled in pain.

Dov hit the ground like a meteor. Flames and scorching wind flashed from the impact destroying the city. The stars themselves refused to shine. Everything was dead.

Adir felt warmth around his neck. Wiping his hand across his throat he looked at his hand. Blood... it had soaked through his shirt and pooled around his feet.

Horrified, Adir fell to his knees.

Dov heard Adir scream and spun around on his heels. Adir knelt on the ground with his hands around his own throat.

The beast swooped down toward him.

A large firebird descended from the sky and wrapped her wings around Adir, shielding him from the onslaught of the demon.

“Stop it!” Dov screeched. Light flashed from his periapt and the creature howled in pain. “Leave him alone!”

The creature grabbed his head and grimaced. “Betrayal!” he screamed. Charging Dov, the beast bared his teeth at him.

Dov threw his hand open, a thick, black fog filled with lightening shot from his periapt and wrapped around the demon. As he tightened his grip on the fog he could feel the life draining from the creature. He squeezed tighter.

The beast threw back its wings, scattering the fog. He hopped into the air and flew away. Dov ran to Adir. Tien was already there. Adir did not move.

The morning sun broke through the sterile hospital window. Dov had not slept all night.

Adir lay in bed, staring into the sky. From time to time he cried, but he did not speak.

“I know you can hear me,” Dov said gently, “I am going to keep saying this till you respond to me. The Enmadra chased that thing off world. It is gone. Everything is alright. I promised I would protect you, and I have.”

Tears welled up in Adir’s eyes again.

“I will always be here for you. As long as we are together, I won’t let anyone harm you.”