Dark Warlord Chronicles

Deception of the Soul

Part 6
"Soul Song"

The shopping didn't go quite as hard as Unacera imagined. The Warlords managed to find clothes in their sizes, both formal and informal. Together the Warlords got suits, shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, boots and a few other items. Kayura got herself a few dresses, shirts, and the rest as well.
None of them, however, missed Unacera's face as she gave her credit card to the cashier in the stores. One after another, she maxed out a few of her cards. The Warlords couldn't help smirking behind the Archdruid's back at her painful facial expressions.
When they all arrived back at Unacera's house, they gladly went to their rooms to change into their new clothes. Dais was the first to come out, walking down the stairs from his room on the second floor.
"I'm leaving now. I'll be back in a few days," was all he said as he walked out the door. They all just shrugged it off. Even Unacera thought nothing of it, knowing that if a Warlord wanted a vacation, they sure did need it.
The Warlord of Illusion traveled far from town. He took a boat that sailed for the shores of China. Dais relaxed there until night fell. At that time he went to an abandoned shore. He held the silver flute in his right hand. He looked at it and then out into the sea. Without much thought, he banished his clothes for his green bicolor body armor. Dais walked into the water until it was up to waist height. He held up the flute to his mouth and hesitated. He didn't know how the heck to play a flute. What should I play anyway? Yet the elf told me to play it here. Dais thought back to the musical sounds of the land he saw in his dreams. He focused on that as he held the flute closer and started to play. To his surprise each note was hauntingly beautiful as it floated on the air. The Warlord did not take a moment to stop as he closed his eye. Dais never noticed that the serenity kanji glowed on his head as he played.
After a couple of minutes he stopped. How long would this take? What if it didn't work? His questions were quickly answered when a flash of light appeared, similar to the color of his armor. Suddenly two huge white statues appeared in the water. To the left was a statue of a griffin, to the right, a pegasus. Both stood facing him, appearing to be on guard. However only empty space was between them.
"Are the gates themselves an illusion?" Dais mumbled to himself out loud. He walked closer between the statues. Unknown to him, the statues watched the stranger as he approached. The Warlord focused on his powers again as he neared the area. A sound was heard and suddenly there lie the land he knew, the land of his dream.
Dais looked around cautiously. It looked so similar, though it was nighttime. Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the gate. When he finished, the gate and the world of Earth disappeared behind him. All that remained was more spacious land of this new dimension.
Dais walked down the darkened path. He longed for the daylight to come and show him the beauty of the land. True the night had a feel and beauty of its own, but Cale would be the one to best appreciate it.
The former Warlord also knew all too well the dangers that could easily sneak up to you at night. This was why Dais treaded as softly as possible. He didn't want to take his chances and underestimate the creatures that hid in the close shadows.
Dais looked at the night sky, similar in color to the other night sky he knew well, Earth's. There was only one big difference. In the sky were two moons, one waxing, one waning. One moon preparing to become half, the other preparing to vanish from sight. The two crescents pointed to the direction of the other moon. One shone to the left, the other at the right of the sky.
He then turned his attention back to in front of him. How long have I been staring at the sky? His feet had instinctively stayed on the path. Before him now was the pond with the path splitting and curving around it.
Dais knelt by the pond and cupped his hands. He drank deeply the refreshing cold water. As he looked at his reflection, a musical sound briefly filled the air. Dais immediately stood up and looked just above the pond to see. . . nothing. Yet he had felt her, a string tugged at his soul. He could almost hear her words speaking to him. "Welcome again Dais of Illusion."
Much time had passed, though the sky remained dark. Dais had been walking for hours. His armor would allow him to travel faster from one place to another. However he would not dare summon it at night or in this strange land. The transformation could attract unwelcome visitors. Besides, what if something, a spell of some sort, went off due to the transformation? No it's too risky to chance, especially when I really don't NEED it right now. Daylight should arrive soon, at least I hope so.
He felt his leg muscles ache again, begging for rest. Dais concentrated and pushed the pain back down. The beauty of the landscape helped him go on, to see what else lie ahead. Then there were the thoughts of her. Oh how pleasant they were, and how much better when they would be more than mere thoughts!
That was when the darkness tried to pull him in. Memories in the back of his mind declaring independence, wanting to be free in the spotlight. Two words whispered to his conscience from that corner, "Dark Warlord."

To Be Continued...