“Bitter Truth”

“Gone?” Gina broke the silence. She scrunched up her forehead, trying to make sense of what Brandon had just said. “But you said Akira was not dead!”

“She isn’t,” Brandon replied softly.

“Then what do you mean by gone?” Seth demanded.

Brandon met Seth’s gaze evenly. “I am afraid,” he replied, “That it s just as Cain warned me it would be,” he paused.  “Akira has become the rider of a new dragon.”

“What?” Will asked.

Seth just stood where he was, shocked.

“You mean she has gotten a second dragon again?” Drake asked.

Brandon let out a sigh. “While Akira has had two dragons before it is not the same this time, it could not possibly be.”

“You’re not making any sense!” Gina protested.

“It’s simple,” Brandon spoke, his tone grim, “Akira has abandoned Redemption and chosen to become Deception’s new rider instead.”

Drake’s jaw dropped while Will stared at Brandon with wide eyes. Seth looked like he was frozen to the spot, his eyes unblinking as though he were trying to figure out if he had heard right.

“I beg your pardon?” Gina was the one to speak. “I thought I just heard you say–”

“I did,” Brandon cut her off. “Akira has become Deception’s rider.”

“Enough with the jokes,” Seth growled. “What really happened?”

Brandon turned his eyes on Seth letting him see the sadness within them. “This is not a joke Seth but the truth.”

No one spoke.

“I had Akira locked up as Cain told me that this would happen. He told me Akira would go to Deception and yet I hoped that by keeping her here we could prevent…” he trailed off as he shook his head. “It looked like in the end Akira found out and took Redemption and the two tried to face Deception and take care of things in their own way. However, things did not turn out well.” Brandon’s eyes fastened on Redemption who refused to meet his gaze. “Didn’t it Redemption? In the end Akira went with Deception, leaving you behind, ultimately severing her bond with you.”

“No,” Gina spoke up, her eyes flashing. “She would never do such a thing. This is Akira we’re talking about!” Her eyes darted from one person to the next until they landed on Redemption. “Some input would be nice here!” She told the white dragon in frustration.

“He can’t,” Brandon said softly.

Gina turned her heads to him, surprise written on her face.

 “When a Dragon loses his rider, he loses his other half. You could say he becomes broken. He loses everything he achieved with his rider, the maturity he gained with them and any abilities such as fire breathing, in Redemption’s case that includes communicating with us or other dragons.”

“And yet dragons who lose their riders are the most dangerous in a battle,” Will pointed out. He was the only one not standing in shock and seemed to have recovered to the point of treating this like an opportunity to learn something new. It was even as though he had forgotten Akira altogether. “Therefore how can you say they are broken when they lose their rider? From what I have seen, it has the opposite effect. They become stronger.”

Brandon shot him a quizzical look but began to answer anyway, “They are driven by anger and hate. This is a deadly combination of emotions. While they do seem stronger they are in fact weaker, their only advantage is that they do not have to look out for the safety of their rider anymore. I’m sure that you saw that in most battles, only a few dragons without riders made it out alive.”

“And yet there is still one thing that does not make sense,” Will responded. “Back when she faced Haiden and Akira died, Redemption reached maturity, not lose everything he had achieved with her!”

“That is true,” Brandon nodded, “But then again, Akira never truly died. She was on the edge or death and it was the thought that he had lost her that pushed Redemption to maturity, yet his bond with her had never been truly broken as she was not dead.”

“So…you’re saying Redemption can’t do anything anymore? I mean breathe fire and speak to us?” Gina asked blinking rapidly as she stared at Redemption as though he were something she had never seen before.

Brandon nodded.

“What about if he were to chose a new rider?” Will asked almost curiously.

There was a low growl from Redemption but he was ignored.

“Even if Redemption chooses a new rider, he will have to start again from the beginning to try and reach maturity as this is a process that can only be reached through a rider and dragon’s effort together. It will be the same for Akira,” Brandon spoke.

“Would you stop!” Seth burst out angrily. “You tell us Akira has become Deception’s rider only to start lecturing us on the bonds of dragons and humans?” He glared at Brandon. “I want to know exactly what Cain told you!” He demanded.

“Seth,” Brandon sighed. “I’ve already told you what he told me. He said with time Akira would become Deception’s rider.”

“A dragon cannot choose another dragon’s rider!” Gina protested before Seth could. “Therefore it should not even be possible.”

“Perhaps not an ordinary dragon,” Brandon agreed. “However, Deception is no ordinary dragon. Remember, even Redemption chose Akira as his rider when she already had Destiny. Apparently it is something the Dragon’s of Legends are capable of doing.”

“But if both Dragons of Legend chose Akira, why could she not have both?” Will asked.

Brandon ran a hand through his hair, seeming more than uncomfortable talking about this. “Ever since Haiden killed the rider of the other white dragon who ruled the Lands with him, the two Dragons of Legend are as different as night and day. To put it simply, one could represent the sun, the other the moon. There is no way they can both rule at the same time, when the sun sets, the moon rises.  One rules the day, one rules the night. Likewise, Akira cannot have both dragons as she cannot follow both of their goals. Redemption would want peace, Deception destruction. It is not possible to achieve both. Their goals conflict too much.”

“Then…” Gina whispered, her eyes wide, “Akira chose Deception over Redemption?”

Brandon nodded and Gina grabbed a hold of Drake, clinging to him as though he were a lifeline.

 “So…” Will began slowly, looking deep in thought. “If Redemption losing Akira makes him weaker, Deception gaining her as a rider does what exactly?”

Brandon frowned. “If I have it figured out correctly, the fact that Akira has already reached her full potential with Redemption will make it so much easier for her to achieve it with Deception. I think this is precisely the reason Deception has chosen Akira instead of another rider. For Akira is the one rider in the Lands who has not only surpassed all Riders of Legend before her, but will also be able to lead Deception to maturity much faster than any other. And once Deception has matured, she and Akira will be unchallengeable by anyone except by another Dragon of Legend, and his rider.” He shot Redemption a look.

“Cain warned you this would happen,” for the first time in a while Seth spoke, lifting his head to look at Brandon.

Everyone except Redemption turned to look at him.

“You knew,” Seth stared at Brandon accusingly. “Cain told you and yet you didn’t let us know!”

“Seth,” Brandon began. “It would not have changed–”

“You locked Akira up!” Seth glared at him, “Without telling her why. How did you think she would react?”

“If I had told her she would have gone and done something reckless,” Brandon replied evenly.

“Then why didn’t you tell us?”

“I needed time to think,” Brandon spoke. “Seth, there would have been nothing you would have been able to–”

“We could have helped!” Seth yelled angrily, he clenched his fingers into fists. “If you had told us all straight away we could have found a way to stop this, Akira would not have gone off on her own!” He took a step towards Brandon. “It’s your fault!”

“Seth!” It was Will spoke up harshly as he grabbed his friends arm. “Calm down,” he told him.

Seth did not response, glaring at Brandon.

“This changes nothing,” Will told him. “Akira is still gone. We need to think of a way to get her back.”

Seth relaxed; Will’s words making his anger at Brandon evaporate. He turned away from Brandon and Will’s grip on his arm loosened. Gina shot Will a grateful look. While it looked like Will was unaffected by any of what they had been told she knew it was only an act. He was trying to remain strong for the others, especially Seth.

Seth walked a few steps towards the trap door before he suddenly paused. “Who else knows about this?” He asked over his shoulder.

“Right now, only you four,” Brandon responded. “I will have to alert the council eventually, but for the moment I won’t. We need to see how things play out first.” He shot Redemption a look yet the white dragon seemed not to notice, his head still down. “We need to first confirm whether or not Akira has become an enemy.” His voice betrayed that he had no hope of things being otherwise.

Turning Seth walked to the trap door.

“Seth!” Brandon called.

Seth paused and yet refused to turn around to face him.

“I didn’t think Akira would choose Deception when it came down to it. I didn’t lock her up because I didn’t believe in her. I just want you to know that,” Brandon told him quietly.

Seth only nodded curtly before he jerked the trap door open and disappeared down it.

 “He needs to time to think things over,” Drake murmured.

“How long until you alert the council?” Will asked.

Letting out a sigh Brandon turned to look out across the blue sky. In the distance dark clouds were forming. “I have a feeling that they’ll find out before I get a chance to let them know of this.” He turned back to his three remaining students.

“I am afraid,” he began softly, “That we are about to face our darkest hour yet.”

Gina blinked while Redemption lifted his head to stare in the direction of the dark clouds, his yellow eyes filled with pain. Brandon watched him, his heart weighing heavy. What he had told Seth was true. There was no way he had seen this coming. Akira choosing Deception over Redemption was more than unexpected and yet, it had happened and he was sure that everyone would suffer from it.

Seth walked down the Academy hallway with his head down. His hair flopped into his eyes, hiding them completely from anyone he passed, hiding the emotions that raged through them, the confusion, hurt, pain, the disbelief.

He could not believe what Brandon had just told him. There was no way Akira would choose Deception over Redemption, not the Akira he knew. He was angry, angry at himself for not being able to do anything. He had seen Akira was struggling with something in the last few months. He had known something was wrong and yet he had not done anything about it, hoping that Akira would come with it to him on her own. Had her headaches and the moments in which she seemed distance all been signs of this?

Letting out a frustrated growl Seth paused and ran a hand through his hair, ignoring the two younger riders who shot him curious looks as they walked past. Suddenly he froze, his hand still in his hair.

Cain. He stared down the hallway. Cain was the last person Akira had talked to before she had disappeared, perhaps he could help clear up Seth’s confusion.

Not giving himself a moment to consider if it was a good idea or not Seth hurried down the hallway. He headed in the direction of the new room Cain had been moved to after Akira had blasted a hole in the last one.

It did not take long for him to reach it. The two riders standing guard at the door straightened up as they saw him coming, trying to hide the fact that they had been slouching against the wall.

Seth ignored them and stepped towards the door. A sword appeared before him, blocking his way. Letting his eyes wonder to the owner Seth found himself staring at one of the two riders.

“No one gets in,” the rider spoke looking apologetic.

“I just want to talk to him,” Seth replied.

The rider opened his mouth to argue when he was cut off, “Let him in.”

Seth turned to see Linken standing behind him. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed across his chest, watching Seth closely. Seth only needed to take one look in his eyes to see that he already knew what Brandon had told him.

The rider who had blocked Seth’s path shrugged and sheathed his sword.

“I’m coming with you,” Linken told Seth.

Seth frowned and yet did not argue. He knew Linken was coming along just to make sure he behaved towards Cain. Ignoring his tutor Seth waited for the one rider to unlock the door before he impatiently pushed past him and into the room. Linken quietly followed.

The room was somewhat darker and smaller than the one before. It had a small bed in one corner and a table with a chair in another. The rest was bare.

A figure turned from the small window and Seth found himself staring at the future Cain. Unlike last time, he was not bound.

“What an honor, a great warrior of the first Academy, the rider hailed as one of the best graduates ever produced by an Academy in the Lands has come to visit a lowlife such as myself,” Cain mocked. “But wait, is that what they really think of you in the future?” He cocked his head to the side, “Or are you seen as a failure. Someone who could have been so much more who sank along with the rest?”

Seth didn’t react. He was well aware of Linken who stood quietly behind, surveying the scene from a distance that was not too far away so that he could intervene if needed.

“I’m guessing by the look on your face that Brandon told you about what the little love interest of yours decided to go and do,” Cain spoke.

Seth’s jaw worked.

“How do you feel now that she went to join the other side?” Cain asked. “Betrayed?”

Seth clenched his fists.

“Responsible?” Cain’s eyes showed Seth that he knew a lot about everything that had happened. “Or perhaps,” Cain continued as he began to pace, “Perhaps you came here hoping I could offer some solace. That I would tell you there is a plan to all this. That Akira knows what she is doing, that she is doing it for the good of the Lands.” Cain stopped pacing and looked up at Seth who watched him, his eyes not leaving him once, the hope in them clearly showing that Cain had guessed right.

“The answer is no,” Cain’s voice had no emotion in it as he met Seth’s gaze evenly.

Seth’s fists clenched tighter.

“She is Deception’s rider now and will be until the very end. There is no hope Seth, you cannot save her. The only way out of this for any of us is for her to die!”

Growling Seth sprang forward yet Linken reacted faster and locked his arms under Seth’s elbows, stopping him from making another move.

Cain stared at Seth solemnly. “She’s gone Seth and there is nothing you can do about it,” he told him.

“I’ll find a way,” Seth replied, determination in his voice. “I’ll find a way to bring her back!”

Cain took a step towards him and Linken’s grip tightened as though he were expecting Seth to try make a move, yet Seth stayed perfectly still, his eyes watching Cain.

“You think nothing can surprise you Seth, you think you’ve seen it all?” Cain told him as he leaned towards him. “You think you can simply call Akira and she’ll come running back. That like every time before everything will be alright in the end.” His eyes flashed with emotions and to Seth’s surprise he saw among them pain and regret. “Believe me when I say you should brace yourself, because you’ve seen nothing, not compared to what is coming,” Cain’s eyes turned cold as he said those words and Seth felt the truth in them chill him to the very bone.

For a moment he just stared at Cain, wondering what this boy before him had seen, what he had been through to give him that haunted look of hate and anger.

“Okay, I think this is quite enough,” Linken spoke. “Seth, I think we should leave the prisoner be.” His grip loosened and Seth shook himself free.

“Let’s go,” Linken told him.

Seth paused, staring at Cain who stared right back.

“I’ll find a way,” Seth told him.

Cain’s lips twitched into a crooked smile. “That’s what I always liked about you, always stubbornly holding on to the last moment.”

Seth noted the past tense at once.

“We’re going,” Linken told him firmly as he grabbed Seth’s arm and proceeded to haul him from the room.

“I can assure you Seth,” Cain called after him as he left the room, “Things are going to get a whole lot worse from here on out!”

On top of a large building, with her legs dangling over the edge, Akira sat, surveying the scenery below. The building she was on had once been a beautiful palace with a flat roof and a tower on each of its four corners. Below it stretched out a small town, which had once too been beautiful. Yet now both palace and town were abandoned. There was not even a bird or insect in sight giving the entire area a haunting feel to it.

A wry smile was on Akira’s face as her eyes wandered over the town. This had once been Haiden’s dominion, the place where he stayed while terrorizing the Lands. He had been undefeated, claiming more and more of the Lands over hundreds of years. No one had been able to bring him down, that was until Akira.

A shadow fell over her yet she did not turn around to spare the black dragon that stood faithfully behind her even a glance. Breathing in deeply Akira’s smile widened, the silence of the area not bothering her in the least.

“They said I couldn’t do it,” she chuckled as she recalled the battle that had taken place below her. “Honestly, it was easier than fighting a draglin.”

 She remembered flying through the town with Haiden chasing her, how she had jumped onto his dragon, Fury, in order to try and reach him. Her smile faltered. Wait, how had she gotten onto Fury again? She had jumped from a high height, but from where? Glancing down at the roof she realized it was either from there or from Redemption’s back. Scowling as she realized she could not recall which it had been she leaned forward.

“Speaking of which, I wonder how that old me managed it,” she muttered moodily. For some reason she could not remember a simple memory she should know, and it was not the only one. It annoyed her. “It’s not like she even knew the meaning of true strength,” she added on. “She was weak, pathetic,” she spat to the side.

“You will surpass the old you,” Deception spoke up, confidence in her voice.

Slowly Akira turned her dark blue eyes on the dragon behind her. A slow smile spread across her face as their eyes met. “That I will,” she agreed. She held her hand out before her, frowning as she stared at her empty palm. “Once I get back what I had before, and you reach maturity, we will be able to show the Lands true, undeniable strength that even Haiden himself could not achieve.”

Deception nodded in agreement.

Turning her head Akira shot the scenery below her one last look before she suddenly got up. Dusting off her backside she turned to find Deception eyeing her outfit with distain.

“What?” Akira asked raising one eyebrow.

“That color does not suit you,” Deception told her, staring at the white battle Academy outfit Akira wore.

Akira responded by looking down at herself before looking back up at Deception, a grin on her face. “I don’t know. I think it makes me look…innocent,” she chuckled.

Deception snorted.

“An outfit can be changed,” Akira casually waved her hand. “However, something else bothers me much more.” She reached her hand over her shoulder and unsheathed her sword. Holding it up she shook her head, glaring at the blade. “It does not feel right. It is unbalanced. I cannot use it well like this.”

“It has abandoned you,” Deception spoke.

Akira shot her a glare only to find Deception’s eyes gleaming.

“If it is a new sword you seek I know one that would fit you perfectly.”

Akira raised an eyebrow in question.

“Haiden’s blade should suffice, should it not?” Deception asked cunningly.

A smile spread across Akira’s face, “Haiden’s blade huh?” She looked at the sword in her hands thoughtfully, “A sword which has seen both bloodshed and conquered much.” She nodded her head only to suddenly sheath it once again. “It’s perfect,” she told Deception.

The black dragon nodded. She stood where she was as Akira walked over and easily swung herself up on her back. Without a word Deception flapped her massive wings and rose into the air. She circled once above the palace and the town before heading away.

Akira watched the scenery below, a scowl on her face as she realized she did not exactly know the direction in which they should head. For some reason she could not quite remember. It was as though the new her was not able to remember everything about her old self. Shaking her head she tried to clear her head.

“Do not worry about it,” Deception told her. “Most of those memories are useless anyway. They are your old self, the new you does not need them.”

“But the sword,” Akira hissed.

“We will find it,” Deception calmly replied.

It was not long after that that Deception did indeed find the clearing where Redemption and Fury had fought their last battle. It was bare, even after all this time, not a single blade of grass had grown there. Yet Akira’s eyes were not on the clearing but on the rocky outcrop beside it.

“Through there,” she spoke pointing towards it. She remembered bits and pieces of her battle with Haiden that had taken place in a cave.

Deception responded by circling over the rocks once, her dragon eyesight easily catching sight of a dark hole among them. She descended and slowly landed beside the hole, which was in fact the entrance to the cave.

For a moment Akira just sat there, a memory of Haiden shooting her an evil grin before he disappeared through it flashing through her mind. With a snort she dismounted and her feet landed on the ground with a crunch. Without hesitating Akira walked toward the entrance and right through it.

Darkness wrapped around her. It was cold in here and other than the sound of dripping water there was complete silence. Out of instinct Akira put out her hand in order to create some light. Yet when the flame she wanted to form did not appear she frowned.

“Of course,” she muttered. It would take some time to regain that ability.

Not put off she began to make her way forward, her feet not faltering once. She was not scared of bumping into a wall, for while it was more convenient to have light, the darkness did not bother her in the least. It was one good thing the old her had acquired thanks to having been blind for a good few full moons.

Suddenly Akira paused. Her head turned slightly to her right. A picture of her running Haiden’s own blade through his body flashed before her eyes. She remembered the way he had stared at her with a shocked expression.

A confident smile came to Akira’s face. She remembered this part. She knew exactly where he had fallen. Turing to her right she walked a few paces forward before she came to a sudden stop. Crouching down she reached a hand forward and began to feel around. Her fingers felt something smooth and round almost at once.

Akira’s mind told her that it was a skull and her hand paused on top of it.

“Pathetic,” she commented as she remembered Haiden’s face.

With a snort she pushed the skull aside and moved slightly forward. Something crunched under her boots and yet Akira ignored it. When her hands made contract with cold steel, a smile spread across her face. Running her hands along it she found the hilt and enclosed her fingers around it.

Slowly she stood, lifting the blade. Without a word she turned, walking back towards the exit of the cave.

As she stepped outsight she raised one hand to shade her eyes from the blinding light. She blinked a couple of times and slowly her eyes began to adjust, the light become bearable so that she was able to see again.

“I see you found it.” Deception looked at the blade in Akira’s hands.

Akira looked down. Slowly she lifted the sword up, examining it as a thoughtful expression covered her face. It was a large blade, almost twice as big as her old one. Its edge was toothy instead of flat and yet its point was straight and sharp. It was also a lot darker than her other sword and also felt slightly heavier, yet otherwise, somehow it felt right holding it. It gave Akira a feeling of power, a feeling she enjoyed.

Deception watched, noting how although the blade looked too large and heavy for someone as small as Akira, she seemed to be easily holding on to it, the weight not seeming to bother her in the least.

“How does it feel?” She asked curiously.

In response Akira slashed the sword through the air before twirling it once. A slow smile spread across her face as she looked up to meet Deception’s eyes. “Perfect,” she said before she lowered the blade, letting its tip touch the ground as she gazed into the distance. “How about we make things a bit interesting instead of just sitting around?” She suddenly asked.

Deception felt Akira’s raging emotions, emotions of the need to fight, to conquer, and to become unchallengeable, emotions that matched Deception’s own.

“Sounds good to me,” she told her rider.

Akira grinned, her blue eyes flashing and Deception felt excitement course through her. She had waited so long for this, planned it all out, and now finally the moment had come. Akira was her rider completely, nothing would be able to stop the two, especially not once Deception reached full maturity and Akira gained back her strength. Then, the Lands would be theirs for the taking.