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[Isk]

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“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” –Matthew 7:27


Days before the invasion of Magincia…

How thrilling it is to have flesh again, to feel an axe in my hand, the sandstone beneath me… to run a hand over the surface of the steel. I feel a sense of intoxication your body has never or could never experience. But this is at odds with the reason I have taken your body, why I hold an axe with your borrowed hand. I already feel your will fighting mine, Magnate, but I have much to do.

* * * * * * *
Presently…

“Father. The jungle burns bright” Athlon said tentatively, his light blue eyes looked upon the shape of his father with scorn.

Isk did not wear the Hand of Evil set for fear that the invading daemons would strip it from him should he fall in the city’s defence. The dark suit had absorbed most of Magincia’s magics effectively blackening the gate and unwittingly allowing hungry daemons to enter, no doubt searching for the suit that made their presence in the realm possible. Presently it rested in a gold chest to the side of the room far from the moongate but still influencing Isk by its proximity.

“Why are you not out there fighting?” Isk asked as he turned to face his sod covered son. The anger was slowly rising in young Athlon’s heart as the teenager stepped closer to his father. Hurtful words on the tip of his tongue.

“Magincia is in pain. I can feel it screaming just as I can hear the Hand of Evil basking in the carnage” the Magnate said, envy green eyes locking with Athlon’s.

“You brought the daemons here!” Athlon shouted in accusation. It was the first time the young prince raised his voice against his father. A turning point on the journey from boy to man “Most of the citizens are dead, the western side of the city is in flames.” He spun his arm and knocked over a table for emphasis.

“Once we are through defending Magincia we will bring this kind of terror to our enemies.” Isk stated patiently. “There is no need to raise your voice”

“I can’t do this anymore. We are allied to Umbra and the nonhumans of Dark Cove, friends to a cult that wants nothing better than destroying the world. Can you not see the madness in that? Father, can you not see that you are being lead astray by your obsession with the Hand of Evil?!”

“You have some nerve to vent your anger at me.” Isk said with a rising agitation “I am the Magnate here!” In the corner a gold box shook.

Athlon’s hand moved to his sword “This obsession of yours has cut a wound into the family. Mother cries at night, Arella too. You have to stop this madness and destroy the armour!”

Shaking his hand Isk gazed towards the stirring golden box. “That is something you know I can not do. The power of this set is too great to give up”

“At the cost of your family?!” Athlon screamed. With a fluid motion Isk stepped in to cover the distance between father and son. Without hesitation the Magnate struck his son upon the head sending Athlon reeling back. Obedience son, he thought.

Instinctively Athlon unsheathed his katana. The moment had come. With a shaking hand Isk’s son held his blue blade tightly. The inside of Athlon’s blue mask, worn by every male of Isk’s bloodline, was wet with the teenager’s sweat.

“Are you crying?” Isk mocked as he placed his axe in both hands.

With a roar Athlon charged at his father, the clashing blades were as nothing compared to the carnage outside. Athlon moved about the room with great speed dodging the wild blows of his father’s axe. He manoeuvred himself close to the golden box which held the armour of evil but Isk intercepted.

“Some balls you have!” Isk hissed “To take on your father” With a downwards cut Isk crashed his axe through the air.

“You would lose a son for this armour?” Athlon gasped out as he tried to cut at Isk’s arm.

“You love Magincia more than your father!” Isk bellowed with the same emotion.

Dashing back Athlon held his sword in a now protective stance. “I do this because I love you. I can see that in your eyes you agree with me. When this armour is gone the spell it has over you will be broken”

“I am the Hand of Evil” Isk whispered. Slowly he began to move towards his son with his axe at the ready. He thought he would backhand the boy with the flat end of the blade and knock obedience into him.

“I can not let you kill everything we have worked for father.” Athlon walked backwards as he spoke. His movements were taking him towards the teleporter which lead to the streets of Magincia below. “I will find a way to save you… and if I can’t, then I will find a way to kill you.”

With a flash Athlon disappeared into the teleporter. Isk turned his head and walked towards the open arches of the second floor room. With narrowed eyes the Magnate watched as the blue robed teenager ran down the streets on a path towards the docks. In the distance Isk could see fire.