Power is power

Song recommendation:power is power - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfCuarZqJzM

Tomas flew forward tumbling with a crash against a clump of reeds. Both feet went straight into a bog-like reservoir of water and he pulled back startled. He fell back and landed on the bank with a slam.

"If you wanted to wash, you should have done it before we left," Michael stared down coolly.

"Where are we?!" Tomas exclaimed in confusion. He pulled a foot out of the muddy sludge and surveyed their surroundings.

They were in a forest of some kind. There were long pointed trees all around them. The ground dipped into thick muddy bogs all around. Rain was lightly drizzling from an overcast sky above.

"The West," Michael declared matter-of-factly, "Now, stop playing around and let's get a move on,"

"Playing around?" Tomas's eyes widened angrily. Michael ignored him and started with a quick step onwards. Tomas heaved a second leg out of the mud muttering profanities to himself. His shins were coated in mud. He gave a shake and a gust of wind splattered the mud from his body. He followed after Michael begrudgingly.

"Do you even know where we're going?" Tomas called from behind with irritation.

"Look for yourself," Michael stopped abruptly.

Without realising it, Tomas saw that they had come to the edge of the forest. They were up high overlooking a rolling measure of hills. Just beyond, he could faintly see the grey stone of city walls. Not just any city, it was the capital of the West, Lucia. He had been there once before as a child. Though never like this...

The sky above the city was black with smoke. There were fires burning all over. Just beyond the city border, the flags of war were waving and the battle cries were so loud, Tomas could hear them faintly carrying in the wind.

"What an earth is this?" he gulped.

"This is war," Michael answered in a low voice.

"War?" Tomas' breath unhinged, "but, I thought no one fought against Silthus anymore. They just handed over the land peacefully like in the midlands?"

"It seems the West has more courage than the rest of the continent," Michael remarked solemnly, "So far, Silthus' army has failed to conquer them,"

"Wait..." Tomas caught hold of Michael viciously, "Don't tell me you brought me here to help capture the WESt?!"

Michael slapped his hand away, "It's too late to go back now,"

"Why are you doing this?!" Tomas protested, "Don't you see this is wrong? It's one thing to make a deal with Silthus to preserve your own life, but what do you expect to get out of this?"

"Preserve my life?" Michael scoffed, " What is the point of being alive if you have nothing? I need power and this is the only way to get it,"

"So you would take these people's land just so you can become Silthus' lap dog?!"

"I am no one's lapdog," Michael's eyes narrowed cold-bloodedly, "I do what I want because I want to do it. In this world no one owns anything. This land doesn't belong to those people. That's why someone like me is able to take it,"

"And then what?!" Tomas fumed," What will that prove?"

"Nothing that I don't already know," Michael dismissed. " The point is not whether I should take it or not. It's that I can. That's what power gives you."

Tomas's eyes returned to the burning city in the distance and his heart sank, "I pity you, Michael. The way you see the world is so empty. "

"Delusions are comforting because they are delusions, "

Michael outstretched his hands. The dark sky cracked with thunder. A wicked flash of lightning lit up the sky. The clouds grew heavy and burdened. The whole land was enveloped with rain. The torrent fell viciously over the city. The fires were extinguished and the silence of the rain cover swallowed the valley. Tomas glanced at Michael uncomprehendingly.

" This is what power can do," Michael said in a low voice.

They both began a descent towards the battlefield. The ground was soiled with dead bodies half consumed by rain and blood. The path to the city was still in the midst of battle.

On one side, female warriors were clashing violently with Silthus' army. In Spite of the rain, a blaze of fire magic was tearing through the city's enemies. Silthus' army was returning blow for blow with his cloaked wizards behind the army lines. The battle was being waged across the threshold of the city gates. The outer wall had remained firm despite the battle, though the city warriors were beginning to recede back towards the city. Michael's magic had evidently weakened their offence.

Michael glanced at Tomas, "Clear the path," he instructed.

Tomas's eyes widened then contracted in anger. He inhaled deeply and his body trembled slightly as he held up his hand. With a blast, Tomas's wind threw the enemy lines apart and cleared the path.

They went straight towards the city wall. The gate was drawn and both sides of the battle were rousing to continue the fight. As a cohort of warriors rushed towards them, Michael's magic instantly came between them forming a wall of water. Michael stood before the gates with his palm to the bolted entrance. It began to rattle and churn.

" Don't just stand there!" Michael snapped, "the magic seal on this door isn't going to break itself,"

Tomas raised his hands to the door gravely. He could feel a surge of energy behind the door. It felt like a mechanism was whirling inside. Behind them, the clouds were beginning to clear and Michael's magic was waning.

"Why isn't it opening? " Tomas questioned fearfully.

"The mechanism is old magic. It takes some time," Michael's jaw gritted, " If I wasn't there when this magic was invented, it would be impenetrable,"

"Well you were there!" Tomas exclaimed, " so open it! They're starting to break through, "

"I know! " Michael snarled.

With one final heave, the doors were thrown back. The entirety of the door was blown off its hinges and fell back. Michael marched into the city. The city was a cobbled realm of houses and towers. All were untouched and the city appeared empty.

" What's going on? " Tomas remarked in surprise.

" Looks like the city hold was a diversion, " Michael surmised, " very clever, "

"So what now? "

"I didn't sense Silthus' other generals on the battlefield," Michael said thoughtfully.

"Maybe they are dead,"Tomas suggested optimistically.

"If Cora and Ace are anything to go by, I'd say that's doubtful, "Michael smirked, "and if they're not dead, that means they're in a place that shields magic. No doubt the rest of western warriors are there too,"

"A place that shields magic?" Tomas murmured.

"Do the west still worship the gods?"Michael asked.

"The temple! "Tomas exclaimed

Michael grinned, "lead the way,"

"How would I know where that is?"Tomas scoffed.

"I read your diary, remember? " Michael sighed, " now stop the farce and bring us there, runaway Prince, "

"So this is why you bought me? "Tomas exhaled angrily, " I was only here once!"

"Well, then fly up and figure out where it is," Michael returned impatiently, "My magic can't hold them indefinitely,"

"Fine!" Tomas grunted as he launched into the air.

Once above the top of the houses, he quickly found the tall spire of the temple. It was a pristinely white building, grand with great golden windows. Tomas gave a sigh and returned to the ground.

"That way" Tomas pointed with chagrin.

They started through the town. It was a strange ghostly emblem of what Tomas remembered. His family had travelled there once as part of a royal gathering. He hadn't paid much attention to the trip. He was young, tired and indifferent to the ever-rolling necessity of aristocratic events. Still, he had remembered a much more vibrant place than the one he found now. One filled with music, food and sunshine. How it had changed...

The streets were bare, crying with rain and silence as they reached the temple. Michael walked towards the great white door inspecting it.

"The seal on this door has been broken," he said at a glance. He pushed the door back. With a sweeping turn, they have ushered inside the great hall of the temple. Its arches spiralled on high with colossal great pillars holding them up. Tomas was staring up in wonder. Until, he stumbled over something at his feet and his eyes panned down.

Tomas gave a cry and flew back a few staggering steps, "What the..."

At his feet, a contorted body of women was frozen solid in an ominous black sheen. Michael glanced back than ahead. There were more bodies flung across the aisle. All were coated in black turned into solid stone.

"No time to get cold feet," Michael breathed deeply.

"I'm not..just what is this? What is wrong with them?" Tomas exhaled uneasily.

"Dark magic," Michael answered, "the very darkest,"

They continued down the length of the temple. It was an octantal shape with pillars at each angle leading up to the windows. Beneath it, there was an alter knocked to the ground. Michael knelt down to inspect it. There was a little hatch where the altar must have stood. He pulled it back revealing a dark passage. Tomas stared down fearfully.

A little ladder led down to a tunnel underneath. The path was not lit. For a while, they continued in darkness.

"This is so creepy," Tomas shivered.

"I sense magic up ahead," Michael replied cautiously.

The passage opened up to another bright open octagonal tower. The ceiling seemed to extend up and out of view. At its centre was a vibrant robust tree. Its leaves were almost glowing with emerald light. The trunk was so wide it almost took up the whole circumference of the room. From behind its thick branches came a terrible scream.

A woman flew across the length of the room and hit the wall. She was followed by a gigantic, bulbous figure. A man bloated in muscles caught her by the neck. She struggled fiercely. From his hand, a black vapour crept over her face. Finally, she grew still and a snap echoed through the room. Her head fell to the floor and cracked into chunks of black stone.

Tomas flinched at the sound and raised his hand. Michael threw out his hand preventing him, "Wait,"

As Michael spoke, another figure appeared suddenly. A flash of flaming red hair flew past the man with a sword bared. The woman slashed through his wrists, her sword glowing white-hot. The man fell back a step. He threw his fist straight forward and it indented the wall but missed the girl. She swung round with great speed and dexterity. With another slash, she cut through his side. However, just as she dove out of reach, he caught a wisp of her red locks and pulled her to the ground.

He launched one furious punch after another. Though at first, she managed to keep up her guard, the weight of his blow was too powerful. Her arms fell to the ground limply as he dragged her up above the ground. She let out a stifled gasp as his hand tightened around her throat.

Suddenly, Michael burst forth. His movement was fast, Tomas could barely discern the moment he unsheathed his sword. Nevertheless with one fail swoop, he disconnected the man's head from his shoulders. The woman fell to the ground with a slam as his body followed.

With a splutter of coughing, she reached for her sword weakly. Michael kicked it to one side with ease.

"It's over," he said coldly, "Silthus' men have already breached the city perimeter,"

The woman's grey eyes fluttered back tears. She gripped her sword so tightly her knuckles turned white and she gave a scream of frustration. Her eyes panned up to Michael fiercely, though no tears fell.

"Are you one of Silthus' generals?"

Michael glanced down at the severed head by his feet, "I am now,"

The woman swallowed with difficulty and nodded bereft, "why did you save my life?"

"I didn't," Michael sheathed his sword, "I came here for him. I saw my chance and I took it,"

"You came here to kill him?" she returned surprised.

"And in doing so claim the land," Michael added.

"Our land..." she exhaled bitterly, "You and Silthus have taken everything from us. You've killed my mother, destroyed our city and stolen our soul,"

"And what will you do about it?" Michael met her gaze unrepentantly.

"I'll rip Silthus into PIECES!!" She screamed with such vengeance, it was as though her very soul had extended out from her, tearing the air apart.

"And how will you do that while you are trapped here?" Michael smiled darkly.

"I will FIND A WAY," she spat. Tears ran down her cheeks and her grey eyes grew cold and their colour savagely silver, "I will do WHATEVER it takes. No matter how long. No matter the cost I will give our people their freedom,"

"Then you'll do anything?" Michael smirked.

The woman's eyes narrowed, "What are you saying?"

"What is your name?" Michael stared down coolly.

"Estelle," she replied

"Then Estelle," Michael turned back to the exit, "If you want your vengeance, come with me,"

"Come with you where?" Estelle's brow furrowed, "You are one of Silthus' men, why would you help me?"

"I won't help you," Michael glanced back, "I'll give you a chance to help yourself. If you get in my way or go astray, I'll cut you loose and leave Silthus to string you up,"

"And what do you get out of it?" Estelle glared.

"Your loyalty," Michael replied, "At least while our goals align,"

"And what exactly is your goal?" Estelle demanded.

"To steal the world back from Silthus."