34 The Crusaders Pac (2/2)
Surprised with how much it sounded like a written contract, Will took as much time as he could to think it over. If the king should try anything troublesome in the future, he had every right to evict him from his mind. He had not planned to use his abilities for anything else than to help the land of Crystallia. The only part he was worried about was the laws of Crystallia. He had no idea what such a responsibility would entail. What if Ebonhart had executions? He thought back to Maya, the first day that he had met her. The so called Crimson Knights felt as though they were entitled to her. What if he had to uphold the same laws permitting such atrocities?
'No.' Will thought as he looked at the king. 'When I go back to Crystallia, it will be to fight for change. No longer will I see people taken from their homes or have their livelihood stolen.' Having agreed with his course of action, Will repeated the oath. As the words left his mouth, he felt the binding power of the agreement. The flames that were separate were now merging, becoming one. Soon, the two were within a swirling vortex of gold flame.
As the last words left Will's lips, flame shot up underfoot, completing a pillar of gold flame. Within the inferno, Will's cross once again burned within his shirt. As he noticed the glow coming from the pendant, he grasped it within his hand. Will didn't even need to break the chain for the sword to respond.
The cross responded to the pillar of flame, as if being called from its sleep by an unimaginable force. As the sword took shape, Will notice a difference in the design of the blade. Instead of the ruby adorned gold and silver blade he was used to, it now had three holes going down the pommel of the sword, as well as two at the start of the blade.
As he inspected the new design of the blade, the hand that was still grasping the kings burst into fire. Startled, Will retracted his hand and saw the pure golden flame crawling up the arm of his jacket. As his body from the top down was slowly but surly spreading with the fire, he noticed that the flame was no longer within his hand. It was moving as if it had a mind of its own, over the cuts and frays of his jacket. With every inch it went over, the jacket gave off a new shine, completely mending. A Will swore he felt an itch within the jacket where his mother's seal was placed. He could almost visualize the alteration of the seal. The flame was nearing the end of the jacket, yet it didn't slow. It continued off the leather as if to drip off and on to the golden stage he found himself on. As it continued its course, new leather showed on the trail to the ground, it seemed as if the flame itself wished to add to the design of his jacket. Within minutes, he stood not wearing his mother's jacket, but a leather trench coat of double the length.
Will stood within the crimson inferno, his sword and jacket having been forged in the flame. He could feel the strength of both artifacts. His jacket now felt as if it were a strong armor, yet light as a feather. The sword itself emitted a power that just hours ago he felt was unreachable. As he inspected his new equipment, Cainus chuckled. The inferno was already dying down as he looked at his ancestor.
”The pact is done, how do you like the results?” Cainus asked with a grin. Looking at his predecessor, he couldn't help but feel proud of Will's transformation. The pact hardly ever effected his subjects in such a way.
The scent of warm leather drowned out the fields fresh spring breeze. His new sword glowing bright under the sky of crimson.
Will looked up from his jacket to see a quizzical look on the late king's face. ”I guess this result differs from the others that came before me?” he asked as he turned the put the sword back on the chain. Instantly the sword shrank in his hand leaving the pendant hanging. Just as before, it had the ruby at the top, but now it also had three more sockets under it as well as two at the bottom. It almost looked like a new cross that was missing jewels.
Cainus couldn't help but smile, Will caught on almost instantly to his earlier thought. ”Do you remember the picture of your father holding you when you were a child?” He asked as he circled Will, taking in the transformation. Will nodded, it was hard to forget the regal look of his father holding the infant. ”That crimson robe was his gift, as well as the others that came before him.” Cainus said as he once again placed himself in front of the young man.
Will looked confused. Of course he didn't want such a flashy robe, yet at the same time he didn't understand why it would be different. If the robe was passed from father to son, why didn't he get the same one?
Will voiced his questions and Cainus laughed. ”What makes you different William, is that you did not grow up in the kingdom of Ebonhart. The gift responds to the upbringing you have received as well as your outlook on life.” The king said as he touched the material of the jacket. ”You are the first king candidate that has ever had this transformation, yet it will always know what is in your blood.” He reached for Wills arm and pointed to the shoulder. There was some sort of crest on the upper part of the arm. Will could make out a flame with a crown atop. ”This is the royal flame crest, showing your right to assume the throne.” He said as he looked at the new pendant. ”Though this,” he said as his eyes went wide in delight, ”not even I had this transformation.” he said as he ran his finger in the grooves of the sockets. ”It seems as though the gods are ready to give a mortal the challenge to join their ranks.” Will looked up from the pendant in surprise.
”How could I be any different from anyone else that has been born into the royal family? And what do you mean a god?” It seemed like all he had attained from his trip inside his mind was more questions. Each explanation left even more questions that he had no idea how to ask.
Cainus saw the look of confusion and took hold of the cross. ”For each of these sockets, a challenge awaits you. Do not ask me what they might be, this has never happened before. All I can offer you is advice.” He looked at Will with a thoughtful expression. ”Pay close attention to your dreams, they are more than what you think.” With that, the field once again assumed the image of the golden room. Cainus sat back on his throne and looked down on Will.
”The pact is done. I suggest you come to me every once in a while so I can train you in the art of the flame.” he said as a smile crept on his face. ”With the two of us, I can see a great future playing out for our kindom. I have many plans for you William Ragnos.”
Will wanted to ask more questions, he was dying for information. As he opened his mouth to speak, Cainus snapped his fingers. The moment the sound echoed through the hall, everything went black. 'There will be time for that later William, until then, happy birthday.' Will heard the kings voice radiating from his mind. Within moments he felt as if he were falling, The vertigo only felt stronger with his blindness, it felt as if he were flung out of the chambers with a snap of The king's fingers.