the Immortal War : Tharins
Chapter one
The town was rather empty; the light was fading after a fresh, spring day. The street lamps were beginning to ignite, one by one they would come on, burning orange. The temperature was falling already, a little bit bitter than before. Most people had gone home because it was pointless to shop when all the shops were closed. Only, there were a few people rushing around to get home. One person in particular, walking at a fast pace, was heading towards the main square.
Elena Borquen kept her eyes angled to the ground. Her hands were thrust in the pockets of her black jacket, not knowing what to do with them. She thought that folding her arms was a sign of insecurity. Hands in pockets, however, gave nothing away. Her hair fell down her face, a deep brown colour. She dyed it last week, feeling fed up with her dull fair colour. A bird from one of the buildings lifted up suddenly, causing all the other birds to lift up in fright. Elena’s eyes snapped up, watching them cautiously. She didn’t fancy getting covered in bird-poo, so she waited for them to pass over head.
When she started walking again, her pace quickened. She looked at her watch, checking if she was on time. Her eyes marked out her path, not far now, she thought. Her heart beat quickened at the thought of meeting with him. She was excited, as always, to hear from the boss. She pulled her phone from her pocket, looking at the screen in case she had a text message. She thrust it back when she saw that no one was talking. She suddenly veered left, turning down an alleyway.
It was one of those alleyways that had always been there but no one thought much about it. Everyone accepted it, not thinking twice about it. That was why it way perfect for two secret people to discuss, well, secrets. Elena walked as far down the alleyway as possible until what light there was from the streetlamps had faded, leaving only the dullest of lights. She turned right, towards the dead end. The scent of urine and rubbish thudded into her, making her nose wrinkle. This place must be perfect for foxes, hence the smell.
But the figure at the end was not a fox; he was a tall, middle-aged man with jet-black hair. He wore a long trench coat and his back was leaning against the wall. In his right hand was a cigarette, burning away. When Elena reached him, she paused, staring at the cigarette.
“I didn’t know you smoke.” She said to the man as he raised the fag to his lips. He looked at her with brown eyes, giving her a calculating look.
“I don’t, I’m blending in with the surroundings.” He said, amusement edging his voice. Elena smiled, coming a little closer. The pungent smell of tobacco covered the gross smell of rubbish. An improvement at least, she thought, even if tobacco isn’t the nicest of smells.
“Fair enough, Valerian, I won’t tell anyone anyway in case you don’t want to tarnish your perfect reputation.” She said, smiling at his reaction. He frowned, throwing down the cigarette and stamping on it.
“No need, I think I’d rather eat a slug than smoke another one.” He said, and then looked at Elena carefully. “It’s a little dark here.” He said, after squinting at her for a moment or two. There was a click and the flame from Valerian’s lighter burned enough to show each other up.
“So, sir, what information do you have for me?” Elena said, returning to formal matters. Valerian reached inside his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a red envelope. Elena took it, surprised by the weight of it.
“Don’t open it yet, it has information for your next assignment.” Valerian said, noticing the flicker of surprise across Elena’s face. She gave him curt stare, then pocketed it.
“The Legion hasn’t given up on me then.” Elena said, her voice suddenly sounded full of emotion. “Even though I’ve proved that I’m unreliable so many times.” Valerian reached over and patted her shoulder, looking abashed.
“You aren’t unreliable. You’ve just been unlucky with the old harith problem. The Legion knows that you are talented and dependable.” He said, and then he frowned at her. “You aren’t blaming yourself are you?” He added, sternly. Elena met his gaze, and then looked down with a sigh.
“Not as much as I did the first time, when I lost my cousin.” She said, heavily. “That was the hardest because I knew Emily so well. But then, at least she didn’t die.”
“You tried, Elena, I know you did. But the Legion believes in you. Just look at the power you have, only sixteen and you are more powerful than most Legionnaires. The Legion understands that you don’t make stupid mistakes like some of us have done.” Valerian said, smiling at her to make her feel better.
“Well, it was a little stupid of Gareth to accept their offer then refuse it in front of them.” She said, and then shook her head. “Why are young potential so….foolish?”
“Some are still naïve, they don’t understand our world.” Valerian said, looking thoughtful. Elena nodded, folding her arms despite her resolve to not to.
“I hope this assignment is a good one, I feel like kicking some harith ass.” Elena said, and then smiled at the foolishness at her own words. Valerian nodded sincerely.
“Well, just as long as you do your job. I must say, after all these years of being in the Legion of Light, I have never kicked a Harith’s ass.” Valerian said, and then he looked at his watch. “I have to check on other Tharins tonight, not yet though. You remember Daniel?”
“Oh yes, wasn’t he the orphan?” Elena said, remembering the boy who she and Valerian found on one of her first assignments.
“I have a meeting with him soon; he’s definitely turned into clever Legionnaire. He’s training to become a Guardian.” Valerian said, smiling. Elena gasped; a Guardian was the term given to a Legionnaire whose job is to fight Hariths who threaten innocent lives. Elena knew that it was one of the most important jobs of the Legion.
“Wow, I always knew he’d try to make as much change as possible.” Elena said, and then her smile faded as she remembered something that she wanted to ask Valerian. “I heard about Will, I couldn’t believe it when I heard. Someone actually betrayed him and told the Samovac about Will being in the Legion?” She asked, the story chilling her each time. Valerian looked grave all of a sudden.
“It was indeed a thrilling case. The Potential he found was working for the Samovac before hand. Will had no idea; he told the Potential everything, from his name to his job in the Legion. It wasn’t long afterwards when he was attacked by Hariths. Luckily, he was powerful enough to deflect them all and he escaped to the Tharikoa.” Valerian said, then shook his head. “It just goes to show that no one knows who to trust.”
“It makes me wonder whether it could happen to me. But then,” she said, her eyes blazing. “They wouldn’t have a chance against me. I’m lucky to have such developed power or I would have been killed so many times.”
“Oh, I better go. Daniel will be waiting by now.” Valerian said, and then he blew out the lighter. There was hardly any light now but it was only a matter of time before both Elena and Valerian could see perfectly. He pulled her into a tight embrace, hugging her tightly. When he stepped away, he smiled at her warmly.
“You know Elena; you are probably the most special Tharin I have ever met. You have lost so much to the hands of the Samovac when doing your job and still, to stand here as bold as anyone just to see someone finally reach the Legion safely.” He said, his brown eyes suddenly gleamed bright white. Elena’s blues eyes ignited with the same white light in reply. It was how
Legionnaires honour each other, or acknowledge each other.
“Thanks sir, good luck with the others. Tell them from me that you are the greatest Legionnaire of them all, and the cheekiest.” She said, grinning at him. Valerian laughed, it was a loud bark of expressed mirth.
“Sure Elena, I’ll try to remember. Good luck with your new assignment.” He said back, his smiled broad and happy. Then, in a whoosh of his coat, he leapt straight up into the air and disappeared. Elena watched him, and then sighed, feeling her jacket pocket for the envelope. She pulled it out, staring at her name embossed in silver in the front. She turned it over, about to open it. Her fingers wavered over the seal, hesitating.
She suddenly thought about the contents of the envelope. They were heavy, probably containing more than a briefing. Elena wondered if it was another Tharin mission. The Legion seemed to prefer her protecting Potentials. Elena’s, job, as it always has been, was to keep an eye of the young magicians in her area. Young magicians were almost always Potentials though Elena was a contradiction to that as she was a sixteen year old legionnaire. A potential was the name given to a magician who hasn’t discovered their magic so their mind is disconnect to it. Sometimes, powerful potential can be in danger because they don’t have any control over their magic. That was why Elena’s job was important, because it was easy for Hariths to find the Potentials and bend them to their will.
She thrust the envelope back in her pocket. She would wait until later to realise what her new mission was. Elena had been in the Legion for six years and in all of those years she had been a magician fighting for good and against the other type of magicians who wanted nothing more than to rule over humans, the Hariths of Samovac. Elena was one of those many people in the world who knew that magic exists everywhere but only those descended from the Old Immortal race can control it.
All humans have magic of some sort, it’s the energy that inspired life and creates it. It’s that spark of energy that makes the first movement of a new born baby. Only, there aren’t as many people in the world who can control this energy and manipulate it than there are people who don’t understand magic. Magic is ever constant, there is no end. It’s like matter, you can’t destroy it. The Hariths in the Samovac want to use magic in order to rule over humans, they are greedy and only want more power. The Legionnaires of Light use magic only to fight the Hariths and their leader, Harithia.
The war began years ago, before anyone can remember. There has always been war, ever since the first magicians came to be. Legend says that the war began when the first people on Earth were born, the race called the Immortals. They fought one another and spilt into two groups. Then, humans were dragged into it, the descendants of the immortals, magicians, joined it and that was that. But, only two immortals remain from the great race due to the flaw that they could only be killed by magic.
They are Harithia, the ruler of the Samovac and Tharius, the leader of the Legion. Elena had met Tharius three times and each time meant so much to her. The first time was her initiations into the Legion, he was there and he told her one thing. He walked over to her and to Elena, all time stood still as she looking into his eyes. There was so much energy inside his eyes that her breath was held back. He told her that the Legion needed her to help end the war.
The other times were when Elena had been to Tharius’s home, the Tharikoa. It was the headquarters, so secret that no one knew the location. The only way of getting there is a spell from the people inside. Elena saw Tharius when she went to get a debriefing after one of her first missions. He told her that she should expect loss and she shouldn’t be so hard on herself. It was that alone that made her feel better. The last time was when the Legion promoted her.
As she looked back on these special times, she realised that she had to get back. She looked at her watch and was surprised to she that it was past eight o’clock. Calling up her magic, she pushed off the ground and leapt straight up into the air. Effortlessly, she soared over the roof and disappeared into the darkness. Such things as flying were considered normal by a magician, especially one like Elena.
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