Other Half VII

The boat hooked over to the left side of the island and brushed up on a beach that sat below an overhanging cliff.

"Thank you, Johnny, have a good night!" Raven waved as we hopped out of the boat.

"You know how to reach me in case you need anything. Call me when you're ready to leave," Johnny tipped his hat and elevator-ed down into the water.

"Follow me, we are not too far from my grandparent's house," Raven stretched out his hand and took mine.

Both of us sprinted down the beach and turned left as soon as the land sloped down enough. We followed a dirt path that was lit up by molumbite lanterns that perched on black narrow posts, giving world had a dark cherry glow. Huts with vast yards appeared on our left and right as we continued to jog along.

"This reminds me of farm country," I chuckled.

"Yeah, but with the castles and tower in the background, you know that you're in a different world."

"What's that thing over there that looks like a stadium?" I pointed towards the middle of the island where strikes of light came from a massive open-air cube.

Raven's face contorted like he just ate a bitter fruit. "That's Mortius Crossing. All of those flashes are coming from spells from mages and necromancers," he sighed. "We'll be getting to my grandparents' house soon."

We ran a few more blocks down a winding road and up a hill. In the background, I could see the mountain and the Royal Mage castle not far from it.

"Wow, your grandparents live pretty close to the castle," I observed.

"I don't mean to be rude but keep your voice down. When we get inside the house I don't want my grandma and grandpa to get too startled if they hear a foreign voice."

"Got it."

Raven opened up a wooden fence that blocked the view of the lawn. His grandparents lived in a yellow topaz hut. Although their home looked larger than the other ones by only two extra bedrooms.

Raven knocked on the white wooden door, but it cracked open. "Huh?"

"What's the matter?"

"My grandparents always lock their door, stay close by me."

We tiptoed inside the house, all of the lights in the living room and kitchen were turned on. I gazed at the wooden furniture and the trinkets made of gemstones on shelves and tables. No one was around.

"Grandma? Grandpa? It's me, Raven. Is anyone here?"

Silence replied.

"Is this normal? Is there any reason for old mages like them to be out and about?"

Raven shook his head and looked down the hall where the lights were turned off, his gaze was fixed on the ground.

"You alright?" I asked, stepping forward to see what captured his attention.

A tattered cloth fabric sat on top of the wooden floor. Tracing it back down the hall with my eyes, I saw a green light flicker. Raven and I backed away keeping our eyes forward as the green light came closer.

A gangly bandaged figure crept towards us holding onto its right shoulder. Both of us were paralyzed with fear. As soon as it stepped foot in the living room Raven held out his hands and yelled, "Arcane Bolt!"

At that same moment, the figure yelled, "Stop!"

A dazzling beam of light shot from Raven's fingertips towards the bandaged figure, but it unsheathed a sword from its back and cut away the blast in a fluid reflex motion.

Raven stumbled backward into me and we both toppled over.

"Please don't-!"

"I'm not going to hurt either of you you," the bandaged figure said. "Don't worry, your grandparents are safe. I know who you are, and I wanted to reach out to you, my name is Oloron," he put the sword in the sheath on his back and extended his hand forward to help up Raven and I.

Raven hesitated but took his hand and I grabbed the other as he lifted us both off the ground.

"Who are you? What are you? How did you make my arcane bolt disappear? That must be some sword you have there."

Oloron nodded. "You are the only child of a necromancer and mage. I was the previous one. Back in the day, I was mercilessly bullied because the secret came out. I went to mage school and everything, but one day someone who had suspicion saw me practicing necromancy in my bedroom.

"The bullying was so horrible that they pulled a wicked prank one day. They wrapped me in these bandages and tossed me into the water from a cliff. I used the only necromancer spell I knew that could keep my soul alive. Ironically, the spell also kills you. I'm now a skeleton, but a skeleton of my own free will. No one can summon me.

"I returned back home. My mom was a former Royal Mage and my dad was a former Royal Necromancer. The reason I say former, is because they had to step down once they knew they were in love. They lived a life of secrecy on the mage side of the island. There's a very difficult necromancy spell that changes your identity, and that's what they relied on. My lineage though comes from many powerful families. One of whom descended this sword to every generation."

Oloron unsheathed the sword once again. "This is the Royal Magnus sword. It's made of bone and molumbite stones. Apparently, it's the key in reuniting the divide in Fyra, legend has it only a half mage and half necromancer can wield the blade. Since I am no longer alive, I believe this sword is yours."

Oloron set the sword on the ground.

"I tried to see if I could unite Fyra with the sword. I'm the one who kidnapped Tyrael. Don't worry, he's safe, but I thought with this mission I could reunite the land once more, but with the battles that have occurred, it's obvious I failed," Oloron craned his neck down.

"Where are my grandparents?" Raven asked.

"They're at my hideout, by the bone and molumbite eye. I can take you to them right now."

Raven grinned at me. "Looks like you're in luck, Marla."

A bolt of light shattered the window in the living room. All of us ducked our heads as it popped like a firework.

"Come out here ya' double crossing 'mancer!" Lyzo screamed.