Chapter Ashborn 389: Trial of The Iksana Bram (One)

Vir left the suspended city with a heavy heart and even heavier legs. He’d scarcely soaked in the spectacle when the Raja beckoned him down a dark corridor.

One that led deeper underground, to the very bottom of the subterranean city.

“This Trial of Bram. What does it involve?” Vir asked, his voice echoing off the cold stone of the pitch-black passage.

His query went ignored, as Vir half-expected. Silenced fell upon the group, allowing Vir to scrutinize his surroundings.

The passage, like most others, was dark to normal vision, forcing Vir, Ashani, and the wolves to rely on their prana senses. It was now clear why foreigners were forbidden from the city. It wasn’t just the Iksana’s elitism—this place was a genuine hazard.

If someone without the equivalent of Iksana’s Sight dared to enter, they could easily find themselves lost in one of its many tunnels. Even safely navigating the chute down to the main city would be a challenge.

It was, therefore, the most defensible fortress Vir had ever seen. He pitied any army that tried to conquer its depths. It was a place where numbers mattered naught, and where only death awaited those stupid enough to try.

“You see as we see,” Ra rasped. “This, I knew from the Tournament. And yet…”

Vir wasn’t sure if the Raja had asked a question, but deemed it wise to reply, nonetheless.

“I can,” he said. “And, as you’ve no doubt seen, I can enter the Shadow Realm at will.”

“Dance of the Shadow Demon, yes,” Ra replied. “How you gained this without a tattoo, I do not understand.”

“I… saw someone use it once. Shardul, my predecessor. I was able to deconstruct the basics after that.”

“Deconstruct!” Ra guffawed, and the echoes lasted long after he’d stopped. “Child. Bloodline Arts cannot be so easily copied. Else, others would. Understand? Your feat… Terrifying. Legendary.”

Again, Vir didn’t know whether the Raja was accusing him or paying him a compliment. This time, he opted to remain silent, and the group traveled the rest of the way in silence.

The journey into Jalak Kallol’s deepest depths took another ten minutes, and when they finally arrived, Vir was underwhelmed.

For what awaited them was no awe-inspiring construct, but rather a small, simple room, with a single wooden door on the far end.

“The Chamber,” Ra announced, gesturing to the room, as though that explained everything.

“Er, what would you have me do?” Vir asked again. “And what do I gain from this?”

“Gain!” Ra shrieked, as though the word was endlessly amusing. “Yes. Gain much. Lose much. All depends.”

Vir wanted to roll his eyes. Getting answers out of this demon seemed like a lost cause. His eyes were drawn to the bowl that sat on a pedestal in the otherwise empty room.

A bowl filled with liquid.

Curious, he walked over, wondering if it might be the same liquid he’d once seen in Saunak’s pool. The one that allowed him to see Maiya undertaking her blood ritual. The same liquid he’d found in the chamber with the tree, deep in the depths of the Ash. The chamber that, he now knew, had been constructed by those who called themselves the Fateweavers.

It was, unfortunately, only liquid, showing his reflection, and nothing else.

“Drink!” Sagun’Ra said.

“What is this?” Vir asked.

“Nectar of life. All Iksana drink.”

Vir glanced at Ashani, who peered at the liquid with intense concentration.

“It is safe,” she said. “It's... It will kill you.”

Vir frowned, spinning towards Ra. “What is the meaning of this?”

Ra, instead of answering, sunk into the ground, cackling madly. Then he was gone, leaving Vir alone with Ashani.

“Well, at least there’s no door blocking the exit,” Vir mumbled. “What do you suppose we should do?”

Ashani shook her head. “I’m afraid that is a decision only you can make, my liege.”

Vir did roll his eyes this time. He had to applaud her for staying in character. As far as the others were concerned, she was his bodyguard.

“Very well,” he said, fully aware that Ra was likely watching them even at this moment.

“You say it’s safe?” he asked.

Ashani nodded.

“Very well,” he said. “I’m sure this is part of the test, anyway. I’ll… drink?”

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Yet when Vir turned to the pedestal with the water, it was gone.

“Ashani? Did you see what happened?”

Ashani possessed a perfect memory. Her awareness was far better than his own, and no illusions could deceive her. If something happened, she would have seen it.

“Ashani?” Vir asked.

Ashani was gone.

The Ash Wolves were gone.

“What’s going on here!?” Vir asked, spinning around, flaring Prana Current to its maximum. “Who goes there?”

Cackling erupted all around him.

“Ra! Show yourself! Or am I to believe this is how the Iksana conduct themselves? Where is your honor?”

His response came in the form of a lightning strike, erupting from the purple clouds high above. Acid Rain fell all around him, soaking his clothing, tearing open his skin.

The earth quaked from underfoot, making him stumble. The rock split, falling on either side of him into the black abyss, leaving a small island around him and a bridge that hung above a vast chasm.

The bridge. They wanted him to walk.

Fine, he thought. If this is a test, then I’ll prove to them I am up for it. I’m the Akh Nara. There is nothing I cannot do.

“Then why did you betray me?” a voice asked. Blocking his path stood an armored knight with blonde hair, clad head to toe in shining plate armor so bright he could scarcely look at her.

On her head, she wore a crown.

“Tia?” Vir said, nearly choking on the word. “Why are you here?”

He’d never seen her in armor like this. She looked like a divine warrior princess, glowing with an unearthly glow.

She pointed her greatsword at Vir. “I’ve had time to reflect, you know?”

“Then—you understand!” Vir said, hoping blossoming in his chest.

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “I do. I understand demons cannot be changed. They must be saved. By killing them, I bring their salvation.”

Vir scarcely had a moment to react before Princess Tiyana Matali surged forth, clashing with the katar he’d raised instinctively in defense.

The force put Sikandar to shame. That monstrosity of a sword felt like a pale imitation next to the onslaught of Tia’s attacks. They felt divine. Unblockable. A force of nature that could not be stopped. Certainly not by a mere mortal like him.

He was blown away, coming to a stop just inches away from the chasm.

Tia charged, but Vir rolled out of the way.

When he looked back, she stood on the edge of the precipice, tears of blood running down her face.

“Why?” she asked. “Why did you lie? We could have been great. We could have righted the wrongs this realm has wrought!”

She attacked. He locked.

“I never meant to!” Vir cried. “You were never my enemy!”

The bridge began to crumble, falling away into the black nothingness, piece by piece.

“Then why?” she asked again, charging forth.

“I just wanted a friend!” he said, deflecting her strike. “Do you have any idea what it was like growing up as a Prana Scorned? No, of course you wouldn’t. Princess. I was hated, Tia! Money and wealth meant nothing to me. All I ever wanted was to belong! When I met you, I thought I did!”

“Nonsense!” Tia shouted, smashing Vir with a devastating downward swing so powerful it formed a crater beneath Vir’s feet.

His prana-enhanced bones creaked and splintered, straining desperately against the almighty power of her strike.

This wasn’t a battle between mortals. Vir was fighting a goddess.

“If you did, you would have told us!”

“You were never my enemy!” Vir shouted back.

“Your kind killed my parents, Vir! How am I supposed to forgive that? How am I supposed to move on!?”

Princess Tiyana slammed Vir with a blow that cut into the very metal of his seric katar.

They stood there, their weapons intersecting each other. Vir, wearing an expression of utter anguish. Tia, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry, Tia,” Vir said at last. “I’ve wanted to say that ever since we separated. ”

“That’s it?” she breathed.

“That’s it. Just… sorry.”

A loud crack forced Vir to look down. The rock between them split. The bridge had collapsed.

Princess Tiyana Matali fell away, her eyes full of betrayal and hatred. And… vulnerability. Tia was about to die. Vir was the only one who could save her.

Voices sprang up in Vir’s head.

Why should he help her? He’d never wronged her. Hadn’t she lied about her identity? They were even! Were their positions reversed, would she show mercy to him? No. She’d have happily let him die. Filthy demon that he was.

Time slowed. Tia fell away. Beyond reach. Beyond his help.

Vir thought back to Avi. How she’d befriended him. How she included him, even when he’d erected an impenetrable wall between them.

“She doesn’t deserve this,” Vir whispered.

For all her faults, for all her hatred, Tia was a product of her times. And deep down, he’d seen the sort of person she might one day be. Noble, bold, strong. A protector of the weak.

If only she could be made to see it.

Vir was moving before he realized it. Jumping after her. Into the abyss.

Grabbing her, he kicked off a falling rock, Leaping

up onto the bridge on the other side. It wasn’t enough. He barely caught the rock, hanging by a finger.

“Why?” Tia whispered, tears streaming down her face.

“Because you are worth it.”

Bellowing a roar, Vir lifted Tia up with his other hand, depositing her on the bridge. Only then did he lift himself up.

Yet when he finally hoisted himself onto the rock, panting, Tia was gone.

Lightning struck in front of him, forcing him to jump.

Sweat dripped from his every pore, and he realized was alone.

Unable to bear the solitude, Vir ran. He sprinted as fast as he could down the crumbling rock bridge. Deeper and deeper, into the unknowable darkness.

He rounded the corner and found a great bear of a man on the ground, spear sticking out of his chest.

“Father!” Vir yelled, tears falling well before he arrived at Rudvik’s side. Blood pooled around the mortally wounded man and did not stop.

“Father, wait! I can help you! I’m stronger now. I can save you this time!”

“Not strong enough, I’m afraid,” Rudvik wheezed.

“No! That’s not true!”

Why am I saying all this? I need to get help.

“Someone! Anyone! Help him!”

Vir turned, and there she was. Tara. The most powerful healer he’d ever met.

“Tara. Please help my father. He’ll die!”

Tara walked over, taking her time, and crossed her arms. “He’s human. You expect me to help the enemy?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Vir’s eyes bulged. “The enemy? No! He’s a good person. He’s the man who raised me. Please, Tara. Help him!”

“I refuse.”

“Well then, I order you!”

Tara’s brow creased in disgust. “You can’t order me to do anything. I’m sick of you and your god complex. I’m leaving.”

The Naga turned on her heel and disappeared.

“No!” Vir cried, mashing his head upon the rock. “No…”

His chest throbbed. He wished to die. “What’s the point…” he whispered. “What’s the point of all this power if I can’t even save my own father!?”

Everyone’s leaving you, Sarvaak, said a voice in his head. Because you’re Ashborn. Prana Scorned. You let them all down.

“No!” Vir yelled, his voice hoarse and broken. “No… That’s not how it happened.”

Rudvik coughed up a wad of blood, turning weakly to Vir. “Vir. Adopting you…”

“No,” Vir said, stricken. He could see the hatred in the lumberjacks eyes. The betrayal. “Don’t say it. Please!”

“Adopting you was the biggest mistake of my life. “Should’ve left you in that forest. With that demon. Shouldn’t have given into fear.”

“No…” Vir smashed his eyes shut. The world spun around him. When he opened them, Rudvik was gone. The bridge and the abyss were gone. He was outside, on a hill under a deep blue sky. Next to a tree.

A tree he couldn’t ever forget.

Vir stood, spinning around. Several paces away stood a woman wearing a flowing white dress, her back turned to him. A woman so beautiful, she made his knees weak.

Her stress was stained with splotches of red.

Recognition dawned. She was older now. More mature. It was definitely her.

“Maiya?”