Chapter 6: The “One Above All”

Orion shivered, his eyes fixed on haze as she walked ahead. "It's getting really chilly out here," he said, his teeth clattering.

Haze turned back, her misty aura swirling around her. "Yes, but trust me, it gets way worse. It gets freezing. We have to find shelter before then."

Jaxon's haze narrowed, his eyes fixed on Haze with suspicion. He tightened his grip on Orion's arm, holding him back.

Haze trotted forward, her footsteps light on the forest floor. She turned back, expecting them to follow, but Jaxon was holding Orion in place.

"Are….you guys…not…coming?" haze asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

Jaxon's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with skepticism. "What makes you think we gon follow you? So you just swoop in and save our lives from a giant troll…thank you by the way."

Haze mouthed the words, "you're welcome," a hint of smile on her lips.

Jaxon continued, his tone unyielding. "I may not have a bad feeling about you. But that does not mean I trust you!"

Orion shouted, "Jaxon! What is wrong with you?"

Orion tried to shake off Jaxon but his grip was firm.

"But what if I am right? What if she is one of them disguised as one of us." replied Jaxon.

Haze sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly.

"I get it. I mean, I expected this. Let me guess - my supernatural abilities scare you?"

Jaxon nodded, his jaw clenched. "Well, yeah. If you decide to kill us…you wouldn't break a sweat."

Haze shrugged, "well you're not wrong."

Jaxon continued, "what's stopping you from killing us then…huh"

Haze smiled, "my decision not to. You know…I could have watched you get mauled and eaten alive by that troll but I chose not to."

Orion looked up at Jaxon, "Jaxon! Stop it please. This is not the time or the place."

Jaxon's grip on Orion's arm tightened. "Stay out of this Orion!"

Haze looked at Jaxon with a hint of approval.

"Ouuu, fiesty. I like you already."

Jaxon looked at Orion, "we know nothing about her Orion."

Haze sighed, "look, I can't make you trust me, but I can tell you that I am not your enemy."

Orion turned to Jaxon, his eyes pleading.

"Jaxon, I know you're just looking out for both of us. But if she really wanted us dead, why save us in the first place? Plus….We would absolutely die out here. If not by the cold, then by the claws and teeth of a wild beast or even a troll bigger than gristle. Who knows what walks this forest floor at night?

Jaxon's expression softened, his grip on Orion's arms relaxing. "Please, Jaxon….we need this at least until we figure out what's going on."

Jaxon nodded curtly, his eyes fixed on haze.

"Fine…..fine..fine. But I am watching you."

Haze smiled, "fair enough, let's get moving."

With that, haze turned and began walking. Orion followed, casting a grateful glance at Jaxon, who trailed behind, his eyes fixed warily on haze.

...

Haze finally halted at a giant tree, its trunk as wide as a house. "This will do for the night."

Orion looked around, confusion etched on his face. "What? What will do? We can't sleep here. And we can't sleep there too."

Haze raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

Orion hesitated. "Cos it's way too high and we are bad climbers."

Haze nodded, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I see….but who said anything about climbing?"

Orion's eyes widened as he realized what haze was implying. "No…no…no!"

Haze just smiled. "Hold unto your pants."

With a sudden jolt, mist swirled around them, lifting haze, Jaxon, and Orion off the ground. They swooshed through the air, screaming their lungs out, until they reached the top of the giant tree.

Haze landed graciously, but Orion and Jaxon landed like they were spat out. Orion stumbled to his feet, dizzy and disoriented.

"If we are gonna stay friends, we need to talk about that first."

He face planted into the soft leaves.

Haze turned to jaxon, who was still on his hands and knees. "You seem fine."

Jaxon replied, "a minute" before puking.

Haze rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Weaklings." She gestured towards the tree house nestled in branches. "Make yourself at home."

The owl, Nocturnus, soared over the vast lands, passing over lush greens and barren wastelands, scarred by the dark energy that had corrupted them. She flew for hours, her wings beating steadily, until she finally reached the outskirts of a foreboding empire. The air grew thick with malevolent intent, and the land itself seemed to writhe in agony.

Nocturnus circled the empire's walls, her sharp eyes scanning the treacherous turf below. She spotted a figure standing atop a parapet, its arm outstretched in invitation. With a silent flutter, Nocturnus dived down, landing gracefully on the arm.

The minion, a twisted creature with eyes that burned like embers, smiled." Ahhh, nocturnus. To what do I owe this visit?"

Nocturnus leaned in, her soft hooting whispering secrets into the minion's ear. The minion's grin grew wider with each passing moment.

"Truly, master will find this intel most enlightening," the minion hissed, its voice dripping with excitement.

With a sudden burst of speed, the minion rushed towards the palace, Nocturnus taking flight once more to follow. They reached the grand halls, but the minion was halted by a pair of hulking guards.

"What? This is absurd!" the minion spat, its face twisting with rage. "I have great news for the "One Above All"! Let me pass!"

The guards stood firm, their faces impassive. "You will wait, like all others," one growled.

The minion seethed, its eyes flashing with anger, but Nocturnus settled onto its shoulder, her soft hooting a gentle reminder of the importance of their message.

The minion's smile grew wider, its voice dripping with malice. "Certainly, you don't want to be the reason for the delay of such an important message, do you? What does master do to those who defy him? I think you know all too well."

The guards exchanged nervous glances, their face paling. The my knew the consequences of crossing the "One Above All".

"Let me pass or I will ask for your heads," the minion hissed, its eyes glinting with malevolence.

The guards stepped aside, pushing the gates open with a creak. The minion rushed into the halls, its footsteps echoing off cold stone.

Finally, the creature reached the throne room, where the "One Above All" sat in dark majesty. The minion bowed, its forehead touching the ground.

The "One Above All" hit his hand on the side of his throne. His presence filling the room with unspeakable horror.

"You have entered my presence uninvited.

Speak, and pray that your words are worthy of my attention."

"Master, I bring news of great importance," it whispered, its voice trembling with fear and excitement.

"Speak!" He commanded, his voice like a cold wind.

The minion lifted its head, its eyes shining with a mixture of fear and devotion.

"I have just received word from a trusted source of new entries into the realms… three mortals master but one seems to be a mist-wielder."

The "One Above All" leaned forward, his interest piqued.

"How...fascinating!"

The minion continued, its voice trembling with excitement. "They will be easy prey, master. Send your most potent assistants, and it won't be a fight for them, but a hunt."

Clarion's laughter boomed through the throne room, causing the minion to stumble backwards. "Your news is…..quaint. But ultimately, irrelevant," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I felt them enter MY realm."

The minion's eyes widened in surprise. "And they still live, master?" It asked, its voice barely a whisper.

Clarion the "One Above All" face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. He pounded his fist on the armrest, making the minion flinch. "You dare question me!" he thundered.

The minion cowered, apologizing profusely.

"I apologize, my lord. I got carried away. Your reign is supreme, and you, my lord, are everlasting."

Clarion's expression softened, his chest inflating as he inhaled, seeming to bask in the praise.

"Their lives are mine to extinguish, yet I choose to spare them…for the moment.

They provide a modicum of entertainment, a brief distraction from the tedium of omnipotence. And so, I shall allow them to continue their futile struggles, for my own amusement." he said, his voice dripping with magnanimity.

"To send the wild cards after them would be....redundant. Where is the sport in that? No, I am a generous overlord. I shall grant them a reprieve, and permit them to play out their pitiful existence, under MY watchful eye."

He leaned forward, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "Their existence is a candle flame in the tempest of my realm, flickering precariously in the winds of fate. How long will it burn before being extinguished? Only time will tell."

Clarion's eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued, "I shall admit, I find myself intrigued by their prospects. The possibility of their growth, their evolution into something worthy of my attention…..it's a tantalizing prospect."

The minion nodded, understanding it's master's desires. "So, what you are saying is that you're letting them be."

Clarion nodded, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Indeed! I want them to become the legends they were meant to be. And if they fail…well," he shrugged, his expression dismissive.

The minion's curiosity got the better of it.

"And if they don't?"

Clarion's smile grew even wider, "so be it! I am counting on their survival. I expect them to rise, shine ..and ultimately, to fall.

But in the end, it matters not. They are mere pawns, disposable pieces in the grand game of MY design. And when they have served their purpose…" he smirked.

"They will be discarded like the insignificant insects they are."

The minion shivered, despite itself. It knew that its master's games were never innocent and that those who played them often suffered terrible consequences. But it also knew that clarion's whims were not to be questioned, and that his mercy was a fleeting thing.

"Your will be done, master," the minion said, bowing its head in submission.