Chapter 18 “Revealed”

Akira dodged the blow aimed at her chest, avoiding the sharp blade of the sword just in time. Redemption growled as he tried to reach her and yet Emerald blocked his way, seeming determined to keep him away from his rider.

“Seth,” Akira protested as she ducked to avoid another blow. “Stop it!” she leaned to the side, her eyes following the blade that passed inches from her face.

“I don't think he's listening!” Redemption thought as his tail swished and he glared at Emerald, seeming to consider how to best get around her to reach his rider.

Akira could do nothing but dodge blow after blow that Seth aimed at her, coming close to getting cut more than once. Once she paused and automatically reached for her sword only to remember that Seth was currently in possession of it.

She looked up too late to realize her mistake. Going for her sword made her pause, and pausing gave Seth the opening he needed. Her eyes widened as she saw the sword coming towards her.

“Akira!” Redemption roared as he sprang forward, his hind legs pushing him up as he attempted to leap over Emerald. Yet anticipating this move Emerald herself jumped up, meeting him in midair and sending the two dragons crashing to the ground.

Akira in the mean time felt a burning pain explode across her cheek as her own sword cut her. Yet as Seth drew it back again she felt more than surprised. He had the perfect opportunity to deliver a killing blow and yet he had opted to cut her instead. Before she could consider why, Seth lunged in to an attack once more.

Jumping back Akira felt determined not to let her guard drop again. Even though she was not sure that Seth was not intent on killing her, he certainly was not letting up and his attacks were getting more ferocious.

Redemption, who had untangled himself from Emerald, shot a look at his rider, and seeing that she was okay, turned to the green dragon, fury entering his eyes, fury that she would prevent him from going to his rider’s aid when she needed him. He glared at her before crouching, his tail swishing as he pulled back his lips and growled. His intentions were clear, friend or no friend, Emerald was about to find herself fighting against the dragon of legend.

Akira ignored Redemption's situation as she desperately avoided blow after blow while trying to talk sense in to Seth, yet her words seemed to bounce off him. It was as though he did not hear her, not reacting to her voice at all.

“What's wrong with him?” Akira thought desperately

“I don't know,” Redemption replied as he stared at Emerald, “But I can’t enter his or Emeralds minds. It’s almost the same as it was with Haiden and Fury's followers...” he never finished the sentence as with a roar he launched himself at Emerald.

Steeson sat in the plush chair, watching the screen before him with interest. When the door behind him opened he shot an annoyed glance back, wondering who it was that would disturb him. Yet upon seeing that it was Nemis a smile spread across his face.

“Ah Nemis,” he greeted as he turned his eyes back on to the screen before him. “You've come just in time to join me.”

Nemis seemed somewhat confused, yet as he caught sight of the screen before Steeson his eyes widened. For on the screen he saw two figures, one of a boy and one of a girl, seeming to be battling with each other. Upon a closer look he recognized the girl as none other than Akira, the rider of legend and the boy, the boy seemed familiar. He watched for a moment, realizing that the boy held a sword and was attacking Akira while all she did was avoid his blows, not doing anything to strike back.

“Interesting, isn't it,” Steeson spoke. “Even though he attacks her, she will not strike back. I see that she does not to wish to cause him any harm. Even her dragon seems to hesitate. He happens to have his color changed by the way, just as I predicted.”

“Isn’t that one of the promising new boys from the academy?” Nemis asked, ignoring the last thing Steeson had said, as he suddenly recognized the boy.

“Yes,” Steeson replied easily, seeming to be analyzing the fight taking place before him.

“What is he doing fighting the rider of legend?”

Steeson let out a sigh. “My dear Nemis, I see you are a bit behind.” He turned to Nemis and gave him a patient smile, “You see. Two of the new boys were not really new students; they were not even actually from our time.” He watched Nemis, waiting for what he had said to sink in.

For a moment Nemis seemed confused before he understood. “They were from the past!” he exclaimed.

Steeson nodded.

“Spies!” Nemis continued in wonder, “They sent spies!”

“Ah yes. Not a bad idea, I must complement their move,” Steeson smiled, his eyes wondering back to the screen as he seemed to watch Akira intently. “She dodges most of his attacks with ease even though she seems somewhat distracted. I wonder what she could do with a blade in her hand...”

“But how did you find out about the spies?” Nemis asked, not ready to move on from that topic yet.

“Because that’s exactly what I would have done if I was in our dear Akira's shoes and had no idea what my nemesis was up to,” Steeson replied as he watched the screen where Akira had dropped to one knee to avoid a blow, her eyes filled with confusion.

“But how did you know which ones?” Nemis asked.

“I just looked for the signs,” Steeson replied in a bored tone.

As the boy suddenly knocked Akira off her feet Steeson leaned forward in his chair, watching in anticipation. As the sword came down Akira rolled away, causing the sword to stab in to the ground. The boy easily followed her, yet this time he didn't manage to bring the sword down as Akira suddenly kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling back. While he recovered himself she scrambled to her feet.

“So that boy,” Nemis murmured as he finally caught on, “He's one of the spies,” he watched the fight as Akira resumed to defend herself. “You gave him the treatment!” he exclaimed, his eyes widening.

“Bravo Nemis, Bravo,” Steeson murmured dryly, still engrossed by the scene before him.

“But to what cause?” Nemis asked.

Steeson frowned.

“I mean why send the boy after like this in the open when you could have done things differently?” Nemis quickly added.

“I have my reasons,” Steeson replied as he leaned back in the chair, looking somewhat regretful. “Why does she not attack?” he sighed. “It’s so boring when she just defends herself.” He turned to Nemis, seeming to have lost interest in the screen before him. “Actually Nemis, I did not send the boy after the girl, I made her come pick him up, both of them actually.”

“The second one to?” Nemis asked, his eyes widening. His eyes darted to the screen, as thought searching for someone, “But where is he?”

A slow smile spread across Steeson's face. “Think five hundred years in the past.”

Nemis suddenly returned Steeson's smile. “I've got to hand it to you Steeson. You really know what you’re doing.”

“Just wait till my master plan,” Steeson replied as he smoothly stood up from the chair and stretched. He shot the fight another look before walking over to the corner of the room.

There, on a small table, stood a silver jug and two glass cups. He approached these and then lifting the jug, poured the red liquid from within it into the two cups. Putting the jug back down he picked up both glasses and gave one to Nemis while keeping the other.

He took a sip and smiled over the glass at the questioning look he saw in Nemis' eyes. “Go ahead,” he told him, “Ask.”

Nemis paused, before doing just that, “How...how did you get her to come for them?”

“Ah,” Steeson traced a finger around the edge of this glass. “I talked to her and let her know that her friends’ presence had been discovered, of cause I must admit somewhat shamefully that I did lie when I told her I didn't know who they were.”

“You talked to her?” Nemis' eyes were wide, “How?”

“Through a dream Nemis, through a dream,” Steeson told him. “Now,” he added before Nemis could ask further, “You must excuse me,” as he spoke he put his cup back down in the table, “But I've got a little project going that I need to check up on.” He gave Nemis a smile before walked to the door, yet upon reaching it he paused. “Do try and keep up next time Nemis, I don't expect to have to explain every detail to you.” In the next second he was out of the door.

Nemis stared after him before taking a sip of his glass. He turned and stared at the screen, which Steeson had thoughtfully left on. Steeson was devious and yet at the same time somewhat secretive. The fact that he had not told Nemis about the spies in their midst or his plan with them, was just one example. Yet the one thing that had Nemis interested the mos, was this project that Steeson claimed he was working on. Although Nemis had asked before Steeson refused to reveal what it was, saying that when it was ready he would know.

Hearing a snort Nemis' eyes darted to the source. In the shadows of the room he caught sight of a pair of yellow eyes that met his for a split second before turning to the screen. He tried to hide his annoyance at seeing Steeson's black dragon here, in the academy. Steeson had insisted that he keep the black dragon hidden for now, with good cause. For if anyone found out that the black dragon was around things could take a turn for the worse. Yet the fact that Steeson had thoughtlessly knocked down a few walls and joined a few rooms together to make a comfortable space for his dragon, bothered Nemis somewhat. For hundreds of years the council had kept the old academy building in good shape and then a young man who thought he knew better came along and knocked a few of the old walls down.

Upon finishing the liquid in glass in his hands, Nemis put it down beside Steeson's and then turned to leave the room. He had things to do, sitting around and watching the rider of legend fight a fight when she was obviously not going to die, was not something he was in the mood for.

Leaving the room he left behind only Deception. Her eyes were glued on the screen, watching the fight. As she caught sight of a neon green dragon to one side, hate filled her eyes and yet as her eyes wondered over to Akira something else flashed through them, something that looked suspiciously like longing and another look, one which said that this particular dragon, knew more than she let on.

Akira felt herself growing tired of dodging Seth's blows. Yet Seth was showing no sign of letting up. She was aware of Redemption and Emerald fighting to one side, clawing at each other and yet at the same time seeming to try and avoid giving each other serious wounds.

As she dodged another blow Akira decided that this had gone far enough. Seth was not listening to her. Whatever had happened to him, he wasn't himself. She dodged one more blow before turning and standing square on to Seth. She watched the next blow, calculating it and hoping that her idea would work.

This time, she waited as the blade approached her chest. Only at the last moment did she step aside. At the same time her hand shot out and she grabbed a hold of the blade just as it finished its momentum from being thrust forward. Without giving a surprised Seth the chance to think of pulling the blade back and easily cutting her hand, she placed her other hand on the other side of the blade.

“Sorry,” Akira apologized as her hands burst into flame and she concentrated hard putting as much heat as she could into the sword.

In response the blade began to heat up, the heat surpassing the blade and reaching the handle within moments. With a surprised yell Seth suddenly dropped it, clutching at his burnt hand.

Akira took the opportunity and lashed out with her foot, sweeping Seth's feet from beneath him. While he was on the floor she scrambled for her sword. She winced as she found that the handle was still somewhat hot, and yet the heat was deteriorating fast.

Feeling comfort in the familiar feel of her sword in her hands Akira turned to face Seth only to find that he was already back on his feet.

For a moment he stared at the sword in her hands.

“Come on Seth, snap out of it,” Akira told him softly.

In response Seth reached into a pocket and pulled out a small, familiar tube. He pressed the hidden button on it and the tube suddenly became a long metal pole.

“Oh great,” Akira muttered. She had forgotten that Dominique and Liam had given their weapons to Seth and Will before. “Seriously Seth?” she asked as she stared into his eyes to see the black ring was still there. She frowned. There could be only one explanation for all this. Yet it didn't make sense as Ray had denied it, and he had been telling the truth, at least he thought he had.

Seth suddenly lunged and Akira raised her sword to stop the metal pole he held from crashing into her head. Sparks flew as the two weapons collided and Akira shuddered at the lack of emotion she saw in Seth's eyes. He pulled away and whirled the pole around, sending it right at her feet. Akira jumped, avoiding the blow. Upon landing she took a quick step back.

What was the point in Seth attacking her? It just didn't make sense. It was as though he was determined to fight her and yet just as determined not to kill her. Whatever the case, Akira refrained herself from hitting back. Seth was not himself, she was sure of it. She blocked another blow with her blade, wondering if Seth was ever going to stop.

“Oh he's going to stop alright,” Redemption spoke just as Akira heard a crash. “And it’s going to be right now,” as he spoke Akira felt something come up behind her. “Duck,” her dragon ordered.

Doing as she was told Akira felt something sweep over her. She saw Seth's eyes widen before a force slammed into him, sending him flying backwards, the pole slipping from his grasp. Akira winced as he hit the ground.

“Was that really necessary?” she asked even as she hurried over to where Seth had fallen.

“Not sure...” Redemption replied as he turned to face Emerald who was pulling herself out of a small sized crater she had caused when Redemption had sent her flying backwards by ramming straight in to her. “But I thought that if he doesn't have any sense, why not knock it into him?” Redemption continued, as though it was the most logical thing and sending riders flying by knocking them with his tail was normal.

Akira didn't reply as she Reached Seth and looked down at him in concern.

“He alright?” Redemption asked just as he stirred.

Thinking fast Akira raised her sword, pointing its tip at Seth's throat. Her eyes narrowed as she watched his eyes flutter open.

Confusion and pain flashed through Seth's eyes yet the confusion intensified as his eyes wondered down and along the sword that Akira held to his throat. “A...Akira?” he asked as he looked up at her, “What’s going on?”

“Don't listen to him,” Redemption growled as he watched Emerald who stood glowering at him and yet did not make a move to attack.

Yet as Akira started at Seth she noticed something different. The black rings around his eyes were gone.

“I think he's okay,” she murmured.

“Akira, don't!” Redemption warned. Yet Akira didn't listen to him as she removed her sword from Seth's throat.

“You...weren't yourself,” she told him.

Seth seemed more than confused. He winced and his eyes wondered down to his hand. He lifted it up to stare at the fresh, angry red burn in on his palm.

“Sorry about that,” Akira apologized, “But things were getting a bit out of hand.” She reached out a hand which, after a moment’s pause Seth took and let her help him to his feet.

For a moment he seemed to sway and Akira quickly made him lean on her for support.

“Ah,” Seth pressed a palm to his head. “Why do I feel like I was hit over the head with a bad of bricks?”

Akira shot Redemption a look. “Actually, that would be a certain dragon's tail.”

“What happened?” Seth groaned. Emerald seemed to suddenly relax and Redemption shot her a look before doing the same.

“You went crazy on us and attacked Akira,” Redemption told him angrily.

“I what?” Seth asked as he stopped leaning on Akira and turned to stare at her with wide eyes. Seeming to see the cut on her cheek for the first time he reached out with a trembling hand as though to touch it. “Did I do that?” he whispered, sounding shocked.

“Don't worry about it,” Akira replied as she gently took his hand. “All that matters is that you seem to be yourself again.”

“He could be faking it,” Redemption said, distrust in his voice.

“No,” Akira shook her head.

“And how would you know?” Redemption protested.

“I think...” Akira paused. “I think it had something to do with the black rings around his eyes.”

“The who ha what’s?” Redemption asked seeming at loss while Seth shot Akira a questioning look.

“I didn't notice at first but he had black rings around his eyes,” Akira explained.

“Now you've lost it,” Redemption snorted.

“No seriously,” Akira protested. “They were there, I saw them! I didn't notice them at first but they were definitely there.”

Seth looked completely at loss while Redemption seemed to ponder this new information.

“How...exactly did we get here?” Seth shot Akira a helpless look.

“We met you at the dragon wash, remember?” Akira told him gently.

Seth stared at her. “When?”

Redemption snorted.

“You mean....you don't remember?” Akira asked.

Glumly Seth shook his head. “No. The last thing I do remember doing was saying goodbye to Will after eating lunch and going for my next class...”

Akira frowned as she exchanged a look with Redemption before both dragon and rider turned their gaze on to Emerald who stood watching the entire exchange sullenly.

“Anything you want to say?” Akira asked the female dragon.

Seth looked at his dragon expectantly and seemed to communicate with her. With a remorseful look Emerald suddenly looked away and Seth frowned.

“She can’t tell me,” he murmured.

“Can’t?” Akira asked. Since when were dragons able to not tell their riders something or let alone even hide something they knew from them?

“He's right,” Redemption told Akira after a moment’s pause in which he seemed to be communicating with Emerald himself.

“How?” Akira asked confused.

“She just can’t,” Seth shrugged. “I can’t even find whatever she knows if I try to. It’s like a part of her memories are...blocked from me,” he looked confused even as he said it.

Akira shot Redemption a hopeless look, hoping he had an explanation, yet her dragon himself looked at loss.

“It’s almost like she was sworn to secrecy,” he thought.

“Sworn to secrecy?” Akira asked, doubt in her voice. “The only person who can control a dragon to that extent is their own rider. It doesn't make sense...”

“Unless I was the one that swore her to it,” Seth murmured.

“But if it was you, couldn't you just get her to tell you again?” Akira asked.

“Not with an unbreakable oath he couldn't,” Redemption replied. “If a rider makes a pact with a dragon and uses an unbreakable oath then nothing can ever change that, not even the same rider himself.”

Akira frowned. “So your saying that while Seth...wasn't himself, he made Emerald swear that she wouldn't breath a word of whatever happened, even not to him?” even as she said the words she felt doubt.

“It’s the only explanation,” Redemption replied while Emerald looked mournfully at Seth, as though apologizing.

“No way,” Akira shook her head, all this information was making her dizzy. Yet what could be behind it all scared her more than anything. “Seth suddenly attack me and then having no memory back to when he was at the academy, Emerald not telling him what happened...” she trailed off as the pieces began to fit in, “Ray seemed to go through the same thing. His dragon seemed to know more than she let on and yet Ray knew nothing. He thought that he really did go to sleep when really...”

“He was out in the woods hunting down his own brother,” Seth finished off for her in a murmur.

“It all adds up to only one thing,” Redemption thought grimly.

Akira nodded, feeling a chill run down her spine as she thought of the answer.

“Dominique was right all along,” Seth said disbelief in his voice.

“Steeson,” Akira muttered. “Somehow he's controlling riders, and by controlling the rider their dragon as well. And if can control riders to such an extent that they make unbreakable oaths with their dragons, who knows what else he's capable of!”

“And I thought Haiden was bad. All he did was make threats, but this Steeson guy had to be worse, a controlling freak. Well that sucks,” Redemption thought dryly.

“We've got to let the others know,” Seth said, seeming to be somewhat his old self again, though he still looked like he was in a daze.

“The others!” Akira exclaimed. “They'll be waiting for us at the acade...” she trailed off, her eyes widening.

“What?” Seth asked her.

“Will,” Akira whispered, her heart sinking.

“Will?” Seth repeated, confused.

“He went to the academy with the others,” wide eyed Akira stared at Seth. “If he's under Steeson's control like you were...” she left the sentence unsaid.

“Let’s go,” Seth said grimly.

“Great,” Redemption muttered. “First I get woken up in the morning by a lunatic of a rider who claims she's talked to Steeson in a dream. Next thing I know we're in the future and I don't even get to have a go at the dragon wash. Then the boy I did quite like turns out to attack my rider and the next thing we know is there's another one just like him probably running lose in the academy. Is anyone else thinking that this day just couldn't get any weirder?”

“Shut up Ree,” Akira muttered in reply as she swung herself on to his back.

“Right,” Redemption replied sulkily. “First I let you change my color, then I practically save you from your crazy boyfriend and all you can do is tell me to shut up?”

Akira didn’t reply.

“Fine,” Redemption sulked as he spread his wings. “Let’s go find Will then and find out of we have to knock some sense in to him to.”