Episode 45 (The End)

Ceri could only watch as Gillian approached the Nobu boy. He could not get up, with vague stabs of pain piercing his back.

"That does not belong to you." said Gillian, his voice dangerously low.

The Nobu raised an arm; Ceri felt his hair stand as the force of the blast passed by him.

Skin was stripped off Gillian, blood seeping into him. As Ceri watched the process reversed itself; Gillian continued walking, skin and body whole.

Surprised, the Nobu blasted again. Nothing significant happened to Gillian; he continued walking. Ceri saw the boy cautiously slinging the tube over his back, readying both hands for a full-on attack.

Gillian took out a dagger and threw it at the Nobu; the Nobu blasted. When Ceri opened his eyes again Gillian was pulling it out from his stomach, slightly wincing. The wound healed quickly.

Eyes wide, the boy did it again. Gilliant stumbled this time. The boy brought out both hands. Gillian dropped to the ground in unbearable pain. He was only five feet away but on all fours.

The Noby boy's mouth curved upwards. "And you're supposed to be the Broker, yes?" He kicked Gillian. "How pathetic you are."

"Gillian ..." Ceri managed to craok, his lips terribly dry. The Broker managed a discreet cough.

He moved so fast Ceri could not catch exactly what he did. Bishop let out a shrill, animal-like sound, and Gillian straightened.

"If you life your foot," he said, breath coming out in haggard gasps, "The life inside that dagger will incinerate you."

Gillian took the Janus from the suffering boy and bent over Ceri. "Mya has been called. Hang on there."

Ceri watched him as he trudged towards the forset. The only sound was the boy's strangled sobs, clutching his impaled foot. At the edge of the forest Gillian turned, saluted, and then he was swallowed by the undergrowth.

Ceri could hold on no longer. He closed his eyes for a long sleep, exhaling softly.

*

A few minutes later a boy with a backpack came to the forest gate. he had nearly lost the mark he was following, and he was worn out by the running and fighting. He regarded the scene carefully.

Ceri was on the floor, breathing weak and tortured. A solitary dagger was on the ground, with spots of blood trailing to the forest.

The boy knew his mark was after the Nobu with blood. That only meant one thing: they were hunting in the forest. That bode well for him - he had significant scouting skills.

Taylor smiled to himself. He may have lost Callie, he may have lost Alec, but he knew the Janus was somewhere in the green gloom before him. His future awaited, singing to him softly from under the leaves.

Power, power power ...

The sounds of attack in the academy were fading away, with the Nobu retreating - news that the janus was no longer there had spread quickly amongst the ranks. Taylor continued inhaling the clear morning air, feeding the fire of ambition within.

He threw one last look at the walls of the Dokan Academy. The magister workshops were burning - it was hard to believe he studied in the place not too long ago. Chong Fen had lost an arm, Yuki was gone. Ceri might die. The realities of war had settled around them quickly, warning of more to come.

Not that it concerned him. Taylor picked a stick from the ground and stepped over Ceri's prone body, whistling as he did so.

Destiny beckoned.