Cole's Legacy --- Chapter 3

Hey guys! I'm trying to get back in the groove with this series, so if you haven't read the previous installments, it would make my day if ya checked 'em out. From now on, at the end of each chapter, I will post something random simply to give more insight into the vast world of the series. Let me know if you would like me to continue this. :D

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Nine people emerged from their places of residence to assess Alfred’s claim of danger. A handful of them came instantly, though the more stubborn group was held back by fear or disbelief. Both reluctances were understandable; this was the least likely of their exploration sites ever to witness an attack.

For Cole, this situation was a breath of fresh air. To say the least, before this night he was bored. He was at the mercy of his obsessive thoughts whenever he wasn’t presented with the busywork he was given. Often, his battle was between his mind and his body. He used his athletic abilities to distract his thoughts, though it was a complex struggle with no clear winner. Now, there was a much simpler conflict: Him and survival. And he was almost grateful for it. He recognized that he was thinking selfishly, but at this point he didn’t care.

An anxious, pacing Alfred suddenly approached him. “Cole, I think I may know what’s coming. Honestly, child, I don’t think you can help-”

Cole narrowed his eyes. “Don’t call me a child, Alfred. What could be here that my sword couldn’t defend against?”

Alfred searched Cole’s eyes, trying to find the source of this sudden fury. Giving up, he sighed and said, “That is the problem. You cannot slash or stab a tree.”

“Enough with the riddles!” Something inside of Cole snapped. “This is not a mystery, this is a pressing situation! I don’t know if your fascination is clouding your head… or.. or…” Instead of finishing his sentence, he exploded in a muffled shout, hating having to put his emotions into words.

He forced himself to squeeze his hilt and keep his calm. “Alfred,” he said, gritting his teeth. “Please just directly tell me what is happening. Do not worry for my protection, or anything.”

Alfred opened his mouth, searching for words, but pursed his lips and said nothing.

Cole tried his hardest to ignore any guilt pulsing inside of him as he stared into Alfred’s large, sad eyes. “I didn’t expect anything more.”

A red flare lit from deep behind the trees. Not long after, a separate light flickered, this time closer. The next anomaly was the humming. It was a vibrating, unnatural sound; signifying something alive and in motion.

As soon as it grew to its largest extent, Cole walked forward. Alfred screamed something for him to stop, but he thought he felt the source of the sound.

His curious pace transformed quickly into a determined sprint as he decided it was his responsibility to identify the danger. To his surprise, no one followed him into the shaded trees. It wasn’t before long that he was completely alone. Though Cole decided that wasn’t a fair statement. He never considered himself alone when his sword was with him.

Cole slowly placed his hand on the bark, and was immediately stunned by a powerful red glare. After a few seconds of blindness, his eyes adjusted as he confronted the source. They were eyes. On the tree, through the bark, were two hollow red eyes.

We have a human.

These words were raspy and serpent-like, no more than a whisper. It was evident this sound came from the trunk of the creature. Then, a chant of whispers erupted from all sides around Cole.

Human… human… human...

Cole did not have much time to process the fact that there were many creatures in front of him; their roots tore through the ground and knocked him back. Agony tore at his spine, but there was no time to recognize it. Every second he spent on the ground, more twisted roots slithered towards him.

Human… human… human.

His agony only fueled his rage.

Still blinded by red lights, he thrashed his sword in every which direction, noting the destruction of only the smaller twigs and branches. With every snap of wood, he could almost see the larger roots falter---could it be pain? Either way, it was barely stopping them. He had to get out of there.

Human… human… human.

Surrounding him was only danger, with glaring red beams of their eyes shifting. He would have appreciated if Alfred were nearby to help him, but it would have done nothing to strengthen Cole in combat. His arm pointed to every shift of movement, realizing he needed someone to fight alongside him. Someone different enough to compliment his own abilities, but strong enough to stay by his side.

And- at that precise thought- was when it happened.

An arrow flew from an unclear direction and struck the creature at the bark at the side of its eye. Cole looked around, but could not find any figure from which the projectile could have been fired. Soon after, a second was released, this time directly in front of Cole. Once again, it missed its target, and there was nobody around him. It did not seem possible, as the weapon appeared to fire just feet away from the creature. Finally, a third shot strikes the bark directly in the hollow eye, dissolving, and the red light faded. The creature stopped moving.

Seconds after, a boy materialized out of thin air.

Cole recognized him instantly as the Baoiken boy he found earlier.

“What is your name?” Cole blurted out.

The boy turned to him, the first time he acknowledged him there. “Viso.”

“Well, Viso, it seems you and your race are able to hide by disappearing in thin air. Cool stuff. Now let’s get the hell out of here.”

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“The universe began with few rules: matter exists, matter can change, and life can sustain. During that time, all was pure; all was simple. It was a golden age. But there were those who abused having life, those who wished to complicate the rules. They formed groups, laws, and new ideals that built communities of those contributing to this complexity. The Demons, one of the first ever races ever to thrive, knew this. They, even with their great power, were unable to stop the dreaded Imperials from building walls.

We are the new Demons. We are Destruction. And through Destruction, we can and must purify every world."

- The First Avonis Creed