Chapter 6 - Failure is Not an Option

A bracelet? It seems made of stone, or is it some dense metal? It gives off a little blue tint, yet not much of a shine. Strangely, it doesn't feel cold either, so it's not metal. The inner ring radiates, not a lot, but some heat passes through, enough for me to feel it. The top and bottom rings don't move. They hold the symbols, encrusted, carved, and the bottom ones look deeper. Runes? Hieroglyphs? I have no idea. I've never seen such things before; they don't even look human to me. Some give off a slight shine on the touch. They feel electric, like striking a nerve somehow. And that's the strangest thing about it, I can feel through it every single time I touch it, and it's just weird as hell.

The beast comes closer, amused by my curiosity, smiling, eyes still glowing. She looks at the device and puts a finger on one of the symbols on the lower ring. Was that a spark just now? I feel her touch, electric again, a slight jolt, like licking a battery, with my hand, and it freaks me out. It must be electrostatic or something. A faint green light spreads from her finger to the symbol. Damn, I can even feel it flowing around!

The entire thing lights up. A shimmering blue-green light runs wild across it, flowing through its engraved grooves, propagating across the entire ring. A command? The middle circle starts moving again, silently, weightless, seeking its target. This must be its core; a command was given, and now it's searching for an answer. Or so it looks.

It found it! The energy light flows through the middle ring and accumulates into one of the top symbols.

It's... charged?

"Ank'th," I hear Rai'Ze speak, pointing at the top rune. "The Mark of Force."

I look at her, confused; her words make no sense, yet I somehow understand her. She points at the ground in front of me. Stone floor, dust, a bit of sand, nothing else. Does she want me to?....

I point the hand and touch the symbol.

"Ank'th."

Fucking fuck!!

So fast! So fucking fast!

A rush of.... energy? It goes through me, flows, and shoots out from the bracelet! Force? The air around my arm gets sucked and forced ahead! It compresses and hits the floor, pushing away everything in its path. Sand and dust blow sideways, leaving nothing but clean bare stone behind.

I'm speechless!

Is this... magic!?

It feels... fucking amazing!

I point the hand sideways at another dust-covered patch and touch the bracelet again.

"Ank'th!"

Nothing...

No light, no spin, no force, nothing. I'm confused.

She grabs my hand and touches the bottom symbol again. Damn! I can feel the energy flowing through once more. So sensitive, stinging, burning, and much more annoying than before. Her fingers light the entire device, and after a short spin, I get my top symbol shining brightly once more. It's charged!

I look around, searching for a suitable target, curious, excited, happy even!

There, that spot! There's a ton of sand accumulated at the base of the wall. I bet it'll look amazing when hit by my newfound power!

I point, touch, and...

"Ank'th!" Get fucked, you evil dust!

"Aaaahhh!!!" My heart stops, then rushes ahead, beating like crazy!

What the hell just happened?!

A kick! No, a push! The air pushed me so violently that I slid back toward the edge! My legs shake like crazy, and I can barely stand.

So much raw power!

The force was way stronger than before! The air was sucked from behind me, pushed forward, and hit the sand pile with such force that it blasted it sideways and back, leaving the stone ahead completely clean, much more than expected.

As soon as the air hit the wall, it had nowhere to go but sideways and.... back toward me, pushing me toward the edge. I quickly understand, uneasy about the thought, that the kickback was all my doing. I used too much force and almost got myself thrown off the terrace!

My heart still races as I look over the edge at the ground below. So high... a couple more steps and...

The beast looks at me, smiling. Was that intentional? Did she charge the damn thing with more energy on purpose? Was that a lesson?

She comes next to me and grabs my hand again. This time her grip is far stronger than before. I almost feel trapped by it. I feel anxious; she's charging it again. I feel everything, and it fucking burns! So much energy! So much power!

The bracelet lights up like crazy! The mid part spins, maddened, and its usual blue color turns red. An ominous red, metal hot red, burning lava red, all flowing and collecting inside the top symbol. It's glowing, bright, menacingly red. The beast overcharged it!

I stand there, staring at it, afraid to even think of the consequences. If a couple of spins were enough to push me back half the terrace, almost knocking me off my feet, then so many spins... must be over a hundred... who could have counted? They went on so fast!

"There," she whispers, showing me the ground below.

I look down. A pack of lazy riding beasts is sleeping, half buried in the sand. Their raiders left them unattended in front of the cave, probably rushed inside by the searing midday heat. I remember these animals. Massive boar-like creatures, more than double, no, triple in size than an adult bison! Some get saddled for riding; others get packed full of supplies for transportation. These seem to be the riding type. Smaller, stronger, with bulging back muscles, massive tusks, and thicker razorback hair.

Does she want me to aim for them? Will I even reach that far? She nods.

Sweat starts dripping down my spine. Thoughts form inside my head. None of them feels right. I brace myself and lean over the edge as much as possible, fearing the fall somehow less than the imminent blowback. If the force misses and touches the floor, I'm sure the back blast will be brutal, probably deadly. I'll get projected upwards toward the ceiling, probably squashed against the stone, like a human-size blood-filled fly.

The pulsing red glow is matching my heartbeat. I can feel it burning! So much energy, so much force! I stretch even more, arm extended, trembling, horrified by dreadful images of squashed insects. My own imagination is pestering me. And yet there's truth in it, I think, as I hold my breath. Whatever I do, I must not miss my target!

Here goes nothing!

"Ank'th!!"

"Aaaaghhhh!!!" As soon as the blast propagates through me, I let a cry out!

The power! Everything around got dragged in and, focused by the bracelet, downwards towards the sands. I feel breathless, barely able to keep my conscience alive, forcing myself as hard as I can to stand on my feet and not fall over the edge.

A strong gust of wind blows back toward me, pushing me back away from the edge. Why?! It doesn't make sense. Didn't I just push the air ahead? Did I miss? No, I didn't; I'm alive, not squashed against the ceiling! Wait...

Was that the.... backblast... from down below!? It can't be, I'm so far away... can it?

I look down, feeling curious. The sight makes me tremble. A massive sand crater lies bare right where the beasts lay sleeping just moments ago. I can see the sand pushed around, forming a cavity of sorts, but no sign of the beasts! Did I just... kill them?! It must be! I look around the impact area, searching for blood, body parts, or any other particularly gruesome remains.

Wait! The sand moves! I stare down, mouth open. One after another, five massive creatures dig their way out of the sand, shaking the dust off their thick fur, a bit annoyed and seemingly confused. Yells and cries of slaves, servants, and savage warriors echo through the cavern's mouth as riders rush towards their creatures, cursing menacingly at the sands ahead.

"Ukn'ar, you fuckheads!!"

The beast's shout almost knocks me off my feet, deafening me. Did she just curse at them? Was that a punishment? I look back at the savages below.

Her powerful voice makes them look up. It takes them just a moment to realize what's happening, and all their rage and anger instantly turn into guilt and shame. They stop blaming the elements, instead cursing the slumbering and confused beasts, dragging them inside the cave towards the riding pens where all of the beasts rightfully belong. The desert heat forced the warriors to rush inside, leaving the animals out there, blocking the entrance. Laziness? Who would have dared to challenge their actions if not the mighty Chieftain herself, who caught them and sent down a powerful warning from the above, one that they will surely remember for some time?

I look at her, speechless. This was another lesson; I wonder if for those below or for me.

Did I learn something from it?

Do not fuck around with the Mark of Force! Yeah, that's one thing to remember.

If blocked by an obstacle, whatever it pushes ahead will come back with a vengeance. If I don't fancy myself flying in the opposite direction, I better be sure to keep it away from walls, ceilings, floors, boulders, and heavy objects in general.

And there is more. The symbols need some kind of energy. The more you charge it, the stronger it gets. A small charge looks bright green and pushes the dust away from the floor; nothing to fear. A blue charge is no joke. If close enough, the backblast alone will knock an adult human down.

The red charge is a different beast entirely. Once overcharged, the Mark of Force transforms into a giant rocket launcher, an artillery gun, a bomb, all of them combined! Whatever the hell that thing is, I better not fuck around with it. Point it far away, avoid any kind of obstacle, make sure the target really really deserves it, and there's no one I care about anywhere near its blast zone. Aim and... pray? Oh, and still expect a strong backblast!

Hmm, what else? The riding beasts, yes. Those are some damn tough creatures. They can dig themselves in the sand, resist pressure and wind that can rip adult humans apart, just to get back on their feet as if nothing happened. I've seen them before, sleeping half-covered in sand, not giving a shit about the raging desert storm, yet I've never thought them to be so damn resilient. Good to know.

Lessons given, lessons learned. How many other lessons will this world teach me?

As soon as the beast finishes watching over those below, she turns towards me, pointing at the bracelet. I raise my arm and give it to her. Apparently, once spent, she's the only one to charge it back. That's another lesson to be learned. Is there a way to charge it by myself?

She lets go of my arm. The symbol is ready again, blue-green, low power. I feel safe.

"Ank'en'th," she speaks, pointing at the wall across the terrace.

I smirk confidently, barely hiding my disappointment. There is little sand left; this won't be much of a show, I think, raising my arm, ready to blast away.

Wait... this is... not right! A solitary thought passes through my adrenaline-hyped brain, slowing me down to a halt. I'm still near the edge, and the wall is facing me. If I'll push the air ahead...

This is another test! And I almost fell for it... almost!

But I'm too smart! I already learned that lesson, I think, proud of my judgment. I will get closer to the wall, leaving plenty of room behind for the imminent pushback. Not too close, though, since I don't fancy getting knocked off my feet by the returning air. There, just in the middle of the terrace, it's the perfect spot. I nod and head towards it.

Or at least wish to.

But no, I can't. The beast grabs hold of my shoulder and stops me near the edge, barely a step away from my last position.

I stare back at her, trying to explain myself. I got it already; there's no need to get myself hurt! I'm smart, you know, a wizard and all that...

And yet I can't say a word to her. Her eyes are dead serious as she points toward the wall. There won't be any negotiation and no delay. I swallow thickly. She's one fucked up creature, that's for sure. I stare at the wall, trying to think ahead. Once the backblast hits, I'll anchor myself onto her. She's one massive beast; she probably weighs a ton too, nothing can move her. Also, the symbol is barely glowing. I don't need to worry so much; it won't even have too much of a pushback, right?

"Ank'en'th," she commands, slapping my back gently, almost knocking me over.

A deep breath, aim, and touch!

"Ank'en'th!"

"Aaa... gghhh...aa!!!" What the?....

My body moves... forward!?

I try to speak, but I can barely manage a grunt. Even my frightened squeals get muted as most of the air rushes out of my lungs.

Vacuum? My mind suddenly lights up! The bracelet forced the air sideways, somehow creating a low-pressure area pushing the wall and me toward each other. The wall stood still, as expected, and I got sucked in. It's the reverse of the push; it's some kind of pull now! And there it goes, just as expected. The air rushes back in, dust and sand filling the void and my opened mouth.

First a push, now a pull... interesting...

A new word, slightly changed, same symbol, and a completely different effect.

"Ank'en'th," I hear her repeat the new word as she grabs onto my arm and keeps the bracelet in front of my eyes. Damn, it burns!

The symbol... glows red!

"Ank'en'th," she repeats, letting my arm go.

I'm speechless! I now know what that means, and... I'm afraid... really, really afraid!

A vacuum, an overcharged vacuum! I look around, holding my hand away from me, afraid to touch it somehow, even by mistake. A vacuum of this strength can easily crush my lungs or blast me toward a wall with such force that I'll become an instant impressionist painting, and not a very good one, I may add.

My brain rushes ahead, filling my mind with all kinds of monstrous simulations. Such a strong force can pop out my eyes, suck my brains out through my ears, spill my guts through my mouth, break me apart, make my blood boil, turn me inside out...

But then, how the hell can I use this thing without... dying?!

I move towards the edge and look down. If I aim there again, I will get dragged out, sucked towards the sand. I'll be dead on impact. I turn around. The back wall is out of the question. I've already thought about it; I'll end up as a painting, a red blob of blood and bones. It's a terrible idea. The floor, nope, same thing. The ceiling, maybe? Higher, but deadly still. I wonder how my guts will look up there, slowly dripping blood down the floor... oh God, I better look away now.

I turn around again, holding my arm raised, far away from my body, searching for the right place to use the deadly overcharged power. Should I aim at the sands in front? A vacuum will suck me ahead over the edge; I'll fly forth for a while, and once the momentum stops, I'll fall like in a cartoon character. Maybe a bit of the momentum will be preserved... a falling cannonball then? Funny? Maybe. Deadly? Most probably.... yes.

Another bad idea. I'm running out of options. Damn! There's nowhere to use this! Wherever I point, the result seems to be the same; a quick and most horrifying death.

I look back, almost begging for an answer.

The beast's eyes are glowing. She's smiling, grinning, waiting for me to...

My blood freezes!

Fear! I feel it again, rushing through me, grabbing hold of my mind. She waits there, expecting me to... fail?!

This is just another test! She won't help! I'm all by myself! If I choose badly, I'll... die! My hand feels heavy; the bracelet feels menacing now. A bomb! I have a fucking bomb strapped onto my arm, waiting for a wrong move, ready to take me apart! Can I even get rid of it? No, I doubt that, but even if there is such a way out, I don't dare touch it while it's overcharged and ready to blast away. No, I better focus and find a solution. Come on, I'm smarter than this! My world has smartphones, damn it!

Top, bottom, left, right, front... there's no way! Every single direction will lead to disaster. No! There must be a way! Once more! Think, damn it! My mind goes wild, brain searching, eyes seeking, looking for answers. Cold sweat runs down my back. How the fuck do I solve this? Wherever I point it, whatever I do, I'll die!

Wait!

The beast!

She must know the answer!

I turn and look at her once again. Her eyes still burning, looking towards.... me? The answer is me?!

The time stands still.

The answer.... is... me?

S... sure... I think that could be, somehow. I'm the one tested. The one that decides when and how to use the powers given. I'm somehow the master of this damn thing. Am I? But right now, there is no good "how", I checked, and all the options are bad. If there's no "how"... then all that's left is the "when"...

Wait a moment!

I know it!

The answer, the answer is NOT NOW!

I must NOT use this thing right now!

And if that's the answer... it means.... it means all I have to do is power down the bracelet! The bomb will be defused. Yes, yes, that's it! Don't touch the top red symbol, and don't use the force! Find a way to shut it down!

I look at the bracelet, ignoring the burning red top mark. Down, the bottom ring, the light green symbol shining, barely a glow, that's the power symbol. All I have to do is to...

Just... calmly... power... it... down...