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  Celeste glanced between Kami-Shi and Shim, then grinned.

  “Lord Kami-Shi, is this really a good idea?” Mahnii asked.

  Kami-Shi glanced at Mahnii. “I have my reasons.”

  Mahnii took that to be a warning not to question him further. He threw up his hands and sat down also.

  Chapter 10

  ·-`*´-· Celeste ·-`*´-·

  “Finally!” said Celeste, “You all get ta see how strong I really am. Let’s see what that staff is all about!”

  Shim glanced at Mahnii, her eyes full of question. “She really has no clue, does she?”

  Mahnii just shrugged. “Only one way to find out,” he said. Surely by now, Shim had figured out that even if Celeste oozed magical energy, she wasn’t in control of it, if she was even aware of it.

  Shim shook her head at Celeste. “The staff is not for battles of strength. It’s about magic.”

  Celeste just scoffed, flipping one of her hands. “Magic or not don’t matter ta me. I bet I’d beat ya either way!” She paused, pointing at Kami-Shi and meeting his gaze. “After this, I get ta challenge you.”

  Kami-Shi ignored Celeste, instead tossing the black orb to Shim who caught it in her hand. She blinked, but then focused on the orb and in a flourish of black light, a rod formed descending from the orb at its tip until it touched the ground. “Well, alright then.” Her grip on the staff tightened and she lowered her stance.

  Celeste didn’t hesitate and rushed forward. “Ha!” she shouted as she swung her hammer down.

  ‘Holy hell, full force?’ Mahnii thought. ‘This isn’t a death match!’

  Shim, rolled, narrowly missing the hammer’s blow, and jumped to her feet. As soon as the staff touched the earth, a dark glow radiated outward engulfing Celeste’s body and forming a line of light between the two women.

  Celeste grunted, lifting her hammer once more and leaping toward Shim, but her movements were slower.

  Shim smirked, shifting the staff and pointing its tip toward the ground. The beam of light broke away from Celeste and shot into the ground, vanishing.

  Celeste tumbled as she fell, the earth rumbling and cracking. She blinked and frowned when skeletal fingers broke the surface of the earth and the dead began crawling up from the dirt and running toward her. Some were brandishing weapons: swords, axes, spears, while others merely swung their hands and gnashed their teeth.

  “What tha hell?” Celeste shouted, swinging her hammer and barreling into the army of undead. Bones cracked and body parts flew and scattered, yet they continued toward her.

  “My fight is wit’ you! Fight me!” she said with irritation, attempting to bypass the skeletons and swing at Shim once again.

  “I am fighting you with the staff,” Shim said with a smug grin. “I warned you it was magic.”

  Celeste spun, swinging her leg in a powerful kick that sent more skeletons flying. “Oh yeah? Well I’m still gonna—” She stopped as the staff glowed again, forming a beam of light between her and Shim’s bodies.

  “Good luck because right now I’m draining your energy and using it to fuel the skeletons. Soon you’ll feel your strength—“

  This time Shim had to stop and leap sideways once again as Celeste’s hammer came down on the spot where she’d been standing. Earth and rock exploded in all directions, the hammer leaving a giant crater behind.

  Some of the debris barreled into the skeletons, sending more bones flying as well.

  “How do you still have that much strength?” Shim shouted, this time pointing the staff directly at her opponent.

  Celeste grinned, “Guess I’m stronger than ya thought! I beat a dragon, remember?” She swung once more, her hammer slicing through the air and she followed the motion with a spinning kick.

  Shim grunted as she raised the staff, blocking Celeste’s leg though the mere force pushed her several feet backwards.

  “Damn,” she spat, pushing the staff into the ground as soon as Celeste leaped back again. Once again, the dark glow spread outward from the staff, though this time the light surrounded Shim. “That’s some serious energy reserve…”

  The skeletons were regrouping, clawing at Celeste.

  While she was distracted, Shim rushed forward.

  Thwack!

  Her staff made contact with Celeste’s neck and shoulders.

  Celeste fell, rolling for a moment and then grunting as she stopped. She blinked, her eyes dazed. “What?” she murmured.

  The world spun and then slowly came into focus, but it wasn’t Kami-Shi’s realm or her companions that Celeste saw. She was kneeling down in a field of some kind, surrounded by wildflowers.

  The air was warm, a gentle breeze flowing through her hair which was down and dancing around her face, and also just barely long enough to touch her shoulders.

  She was wearing a white dress, and the world seemed as large as it had when she’d been a young girl first encountering the giants.

  ‘Where am I? An’ where’s my braid?’

  She stood and turned, trying to find something familiar in her surroundings. In the distance was a small cottage and she saw a woman waving, gesturing for her to come.

  There was something familiar about this woman, but she couldn’t name her. As she ran toward her, she stumbled, rolling through the flowers and groaned, closing her eyes and putting her hand to her head.

  She blinked, trying to stand once again. When she opened her eyes, the vision was gone. She was once again surrounded by rock and earth in Kami-Shi’s realm, and Mahnii, Kah, and Shim’s faces were quite close, all staring at her.

  “Celeste, are you alright?” Mahnii asked, his hand held out.

  “Uh… yeah,” she said, gripping his hand and letting him help her to her feet. She looked around. ‘Wha’ tha hell just happened?’ Could it have been a memory? She wasn’t entirely sure, but something in her gut said that not only was she regaining the past, but that this had something to do with visiting Kami-Shi.

  “See, I told you it wasn’t for battles of strength,” Shim said with a smirk.

  Celeste frowned at the other woman but slung her hammer over her shoulder and shrugged. “Well we’ll see wha’ happens when I meet Ru-Kai!” With that, she moved toward Kami-Shi. “Tell me how ta find ‘im, okay?”

  Kami-Shi touched her shoulder briefly, “In due time. First—” he moved toward Shim. “While you were out, she returned those she summoned to the earth.” To Shim he said, “I see you are indeed gifted, and can handle the Staff. If you couldn’t, know that the Staff would in turn devour your own life-force as penance.”

  Shim glanced at the staff then back at Kami-Shi. “I know.”

  “I will entrust it to you, in part as I know you won’t be remaining in my realm. Can’t have word getting out I assisted a Necromancer when I forbid it, can I?” he added with a slight mischievous grin.

  Shim nodded before she twirled the Staff in her hand, another flourish of dark light causing the rod to vanish leaving only the orb. Kami-Shi handed her the pouch he had originally pulled it from and she returned the orb to it before tucking it away in her skirt.

  “So, what do you know?” Mahnii asked. Before the duel, Kami-Shi had cryptically mentioned they all needed to know about the near future. What had he meant, exactly?

  Kami-Shi sighed, turning around and ascending the magical staircase leading back to his castle while the others followed. As soon as they were inside once more, he began making his way down another of the palace halls.

  “Cel-Lok has seen a vision of a threat to come, though I can’t give you much detail. For now, you need to know that it involves you, Celeste, and your path ahead.”

  “Huh? Why me?” demanded Celeste. “I just wanna be tha best, mos’ powerful being alive! I was still plannin’ on challengin’ ya!”

  Kami-Shi shook his head. “I’m well aware of your intentions.” She hadn’t exactly kept them discreet since they’d come. “It’s imperative all of you visit Ru-Kai next as he will be ab
le to share far more than me. Fate has brought you together, so I can only assume whatever my sister saw involves all of you.” He paused, moving in silence a moment.

  “Shim, you’ll most definitely need the Staff of Naul. I merely had to be sure before entrusting it to you. Guard it with your life.” He paused again, turning down another hall and descending a few steps before entering a huge kitchen stocked with food and goods. “The fate of the world is at stake,” he finished.

  “Okay, I promise to visit Ru-Kai next,” Celeste said, glancing toward Mahnii.

  “Yeah, we promise,” Mahnii chimed in. Soon, Kah and Shim also agreed.

  “Good,” Kami-Shi said. “Now then, you’ll need some supplies for your journey. Come with me.”

  “Okay…” Celeste said.

  Inside the large kitchen were things even Mahnii had never seen before, judging by the excited look on his face. Rare fruits, vegetables, dried meats and rich breads. There were sweets, magically preserved drinks, and in an adjacent room were all manner of travelling goods and weaponry.

  Having the assistance of a dragon-god was definitely a plus. Kami-Shi was truly good-hearted.

  “Celeste.” Kami-Shi gestured with a nod of his head for her to follow him while Mahnii, Kah, and Shim were busy filling sacks of goods for their travels.

  Celeste blinked, then shrugged.

  “I have a gift for you,” Kami-Shi explained on seeing her face scrunch in curiosity. He moved toward the room with traveling goods – which included weapons and artifacts in the mix. He selected a shin guard from a chest tucked away against a far wall and presented it. “You kick with your left leg, right?” he asked.

  Celeste continued staring at him, slowly nodding. “Yeah.”

  “Does it hurt?” Kami-Shi’s face was serious.

  “Yeah sometimes,” she answered.

  “Well wear this.” He grinned. “It’ll hit harder and make a much better impact.”

  Celeste finally understood and gripped the shin guard, putting it on and adjusting it. Her eyes sparkled and she grinned. “Thanks!”

  “Just take it easy on my brother,” Kami-Shi said with a wink.

  Celeste frowned for a moment, leaning closer to Kami-Shi. “Ya know, it feels like I’ve…always known ya. Odd. Cause at tha same time, I don’t know ya.”

  Kami-Shi just smiled and moved past her toward the rest of the group. “I hope you’ve gathered everything needed?”

  Mahnii just nodded. “Yeah, thanks!”

  As they headed toward the castle’s exit, Kami-Shi walked beside Celeste, slightly behind the others, though Shim was pre-occupied studying the staff they’d come for.

  “Of the three of us, Ru-Kai is the most gentle. It’s probably why he spends so much time with his people. He is powerful, so don’t let his demeanor or looks fool you, though,” Kami-Shi said.

  “What’s he look like?” Celeste asked.

  “He’s between our heights.” Kami-Shi gestured with one hand, measuring roughly where Ru-Kai’s head would be – slightly below his chin but definitely above Celeste’s head. “It’s clear we’re related, but his hair is long and he’s kind of scrawny. Though maybe that’s just in comparison to me,” he said with a slight smirk and a chuckle. “When you find him, Ru-Kai will be able to share with you more than I have.”

  Celeste nodded, wondering if Ru-Kai would also think she looked like he and Kami-Shi’s sister, and what information the latter was referring to.

  Kami-Shi and Seeki waved to the group as Celeste, Mahnii, Kah, and Shim exited the castle and descended the steps to the earth below with sacks of goods for their journey slung over their shoulders. Seeki seemed particularly enthusiastic, her face lit up with a wide grin.

  “Well, that definitely went way better than we planned,” Mahnii said as he stared forward.

  He glanced toward Celeste whose face was drawn in thought, her eyes distant. She’d heard him, but was still mulling over everything Kami-Shi had shared.

  Was it possible that their meeting was more than mere coincidence? Here she had been thinking of duels and conquering the world only to learn of a much deeper purpose. Although, if what Kami-Shi said were true, she’d still be seen as a powerful figure in the end.

  She grinned at the thought and stepped closer to Kah and Shim.

  “So, now that ya got tha staff, ya gonna come along wit us to see Ru-Kai, right?” She grinned at them.

  Shim glanced at Mahnii, then back at Celeste, her lips shifting. “Yes, Kami-Shi made it pretty clear we should come.” She glanced toward Kah.

  Her brother merely shrugged, “Yeah, sounds fun. We hadn’t planned our next move after Kami-Shi’s castle anyway.”

  “Great!” Celeste said, taking large strides forward and now excitedly leading the group. Despite what Kami-Shi had said, part of her still hoped she’d get to duel Ru-Kai, even if it were just to determine a winner.

  Mahnii sighed softly, lacing his fingers behind his head, “You’re hopeless, Celeste,” he said.

  She just grinned and otherwise ignored him. She wondered how long it would take them to actually find Ru-Kai once they got back to his realm. Their journey to Kami-Shi’s palace had taken weeks, so it would be at least that long.

  At least this time they were well-stocked with supplies.

  Chapter 11

  Now that they were traveling back into Ru-Kai’s realm, Mahnii felt it was best to establish some rules.

  When Kah and Shim had first joined them, it was with the intent of gaining their help, but now that they were a more permanent part of the adventure, he was sure that if they didn’t have some kind of boundaries in place, all kinds of squabbles would happen.

  He had already had a rough enough time keeping Celeste in check from her every whim. From what he had learned about their past, he knew Kah and Shim were prone to doing their own thing and if they were all going to travel together, they needed to stay on the same page.

  Celeste couldn’t help herself when it came to duels and displays of massive strength. And they were still getting to know each other.

  Setting clear boundaries was definitely the best course of action moving forward.

  He remained silent as he thought about the best rules to lay down, and further how to get everyone on board with following them.

  Kah and Shim seemed content to travel silently also, though Mahnii just assumed it was because of how quiet Kah normally was.

  What Mahnii felt was odd was how quiet Celeste also was. He hoped she truly was alright after her duel with Shim. She had insisted she was fine, but for her to be so lost in thought was unusual.

  He was wondering whether to bother her, asking more intently about her state, but he had no desire to argue with her either.

  No, the best thing was to decide on the rules and then start the conversation there. Plus, Mahnii felt he could get a better gauge of any trauma Celeste had suffered through such a conversation. He was convinced she wasn’t as ‘fine’ as she said she was.

  He glanced toward her.

  Her eyes were distant and even her walk was more casual instead of her usual intense, purposeful strides. Had something happened? Something that jarred her typically brazen and impossible-to-change attitude?

  Mahnii shook his head. He would ask her once he had figured out this whole rule situation.

  He stuffed his hands inside his pockets, glancing toward Kah and Shim, deciding the first rule should be no using magic between each other. The duel between Celeste and Shim had served its purpose so otherwise, he didn’t think any good would come of further such battles.

  Next, it was probably best if he were in charge. He might not have much in the magical abilities department, but as far as he could tell he had the most common sense.

  Mahnii frowned slightly. That one might not go over very well. Celeste would think she should be in charge because of her strength. Shim would think she should because of her magic.

  He glanced at Kah and then returned his gaze forward.
Mahnii wasn’t sure what Kah would think on that matter. He’d probably just go with whatever Shim wanted.

  “Firs’ things firs’, we need tah find Ru-Kai,” announced Celeste.

  Shim rolled her eyes. “No, really? I thought we were going to go sightseeing.”

  Apparently he wasn’t the only one thinking about their next actions. Mahnii had been so focused on thinking about rules to establish that he hadn’t noticed Celeste’s change in demeanor.

  “Before we go anywhere or do anything,” he interrupted, “we need to establish some ground rules. For one, things were way too chaotic at Kami-Shi’s castle—”

  “That was because of Kami-Shi,” Shim said.

  “No, that was because there was no specific plan or order. So, moving forward, no more duels between us. All of our energy and reserves should be saved for situations where we actually need them.”

  “Obviously,” Kah said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

  Mahnii ignored his remark, “And I think it’s best if we have more specific plans before we just march into Ru-Kai’s temple demanding to speak to him.”

  “Again with the obvious.” Kah smirked.

  “Anyways,” continued Mahnii, “I think I should be in charge of said plans because I can think about things rationally and objectively as opposed to wanting to conquer all with strength or magic.” He looked pointedly at Celeste and Shim.

  “Any other rules, Mahnii?” asked Shim.

  “Well…” he paused. He hadn’t quite gotten that far yet. “

  “Just have to encourage him, don’t you?” Kah muttered to Shim.

  She just glared at him.

  “Let’s just keep a low-profile and not draw any unnecessary attention to ourselves,” Mahnii finished. He was sure he’d think of more things as they went, but what he’d said so far felt good.

  The others shrugged, which Mahnii took as good enough. Hopefully, it meant they would agree and comply.