The sun was slowly rising, its light pushing away the shadows of the forest as they dropped the earthen walls they made. They moved quickly, leaving behind their camp and by high noon, they could finally see the tall set of mountains that cradled Ile-Aye.

  “At this rate, we should be there in four days.” Atala said.

  Atala froze, his hair standing on end, his heart picking up speed. He pulled Ase into himself and took hold of Esu’s hand.

  “What-” Esu began when a great wind blew through the air and the grass around them broke apart. Atala bit back a gasp as their pristine green became a dry brown then nothing.

  “We meet again, Atala.” a voice rough yet sweet said, its melody seeming to pull something out of Atala. The air shimmered crimson, before taking the shape of a man. Iku was tall and broad shouldered, its dark skin displaying flowing crimson rivers. Around its neck rested a single bronze coin and on its waist was a blade and a wooden gourd also depicting those writhing rivers of crimson.

  “Iku.” Atala whispered, keeping hold of Esu while his eyes danced around, and he searched for any other presence.

  “It is just me,” Iku said. “I sent my army to prepare the way for my victory alongside my human allies”

  Atala froze. “Human allies?” he muttered. Iku’s face split into a wide grin and it replied,

  “For the first time in the annals of history; spirits and humans stand together as one to cleanse out corruption of Ayin.”

  It opened its palms and crimson gas rolled forth expanding into a scene. It depicted Ayin and its wall surrounded by an army of humans and spirits. The flags of the other cities rose high as they demanded Ayin’s surrender or complete annihilation.

  “You bastard, you are putting us against one another.” Atala growled.

  “True, but I noticed something…sick…about you humans. You need two things to be satisfied: a ruler and an enemy. It is like food and water to any group of your kind,” Iku explained. “I decided that to end this war, I would fulfill that craving and in doing so bring about a much more wonderful world.”

  “And it just so happens that what I truly want requires a lot of blood; all things worth having always do.” Iku shrugged its shoulders after that statement as if it truly had no choice. “Your city will be the source of that blood.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Anger swept through Atala, but the pressure of Iku’s Ase held him in place. “And what is it that you want, Iku?”

  “I thought you already knew that Atala.” Iku said, a mocking grin on its face. Atala took a breath, stilling his anger.

  “I would love to insult you further, but let us get personal, shall we?” The spirit went on, its smile vanishing; its crimson eyes burning. “My children, you killed them all.” it said, all signs of mockery and mirth gone from its face.

  “And you killed my people, used them as sacrifices, almost made me kill my wife and children. Made me kill my colleagues and friends, turned my kingdom against me and through your actions, my brother is transform-” Something struck the earth and Atala glanced back to see Esu, his arms shrinking as did his spine.

  “Esu-” he began when he sensed Ase flying towards him. Atala drew his sword from its sheath knocking the crimson ball of death energy into the ground. The already darkened earth grew even darker as death energy sank within. Imbuing Ase into his sword, Atala swung once more unleashing crystalline fire. Iku snorted with derision, his hand smacking the blast away only for it to transform into daggers that stabbed into him.

  “You killed my sons with these petty tricks?” it said. Atala tried to explode the daggers, but something held them together as Iku picked them out of its flesh and tossed them away. Finally, the blades exploded in a vision of white fire high in the air, their heat buffeting Atala’s face. Atala kept his face blank though his mind raced at what held his power back. If Iku could do that to all his attacks, what else could it do?

  “Esu, get back. I am-’ Atala began, as if Esu was right by his side instead of him. Suddenly, he threw his sword mid-sentence. Iku tried to swat it away, but the blade stuck to his arm like it held glue on its tip. Behind the blade trailed a flexible white string of Ase that shortened, pulling Atala towards Iku. Atala’s left hand imbued the air with Ase and a fist of white fire larger than his head materialized before the spirit. Iku’s hand now glowing with crimson light captured the large fist of Ase. The ground cracked beneath its feet, its eyebrows rising, the first sign of strain on the spirit's face. Atala, still holding the shortened string, swung his blade back at Iku’s neck, but once more Iku’s Ase rose to block the attack. They touched, and Atala tried to manipulate Iku’s very essence, but it pushed him away.

  The spirit’s eyes widened in anger and its lips opened as crimson gas spewed forth like fire. Atala jumped back, imbuing the wind with arms that pulled him back till he stumbled into Esu, knocking the latter off his feet. Even with that, Atala felt it within him, the essence of death draining his life force. Luckily, it faded away smothered by his strength of his vitality, but he recalled the feeling and shape of it and shuddered.

  “Now we run.” Atala said, as Iku’s crimson eyes now narrowed with anger fell on them. Without waiting for a reply, Atala touched the earth, and it rose, forming a wall, hiding them from view. Pulling Esu to himself, he imbued the earth with Asepushed it open to form a pit. Just as they entered, the wall shattered behind them and Iku, its arm cloaked with a crimson gauntlet broke through, flying right above them. Atala’s sword glowing white with Ase rose into the gut of the spirit.

  “Explode.” he said just before the blade touched Iku and his sword exploded. The fiery force pushed them further below and Atala made the earth beneath him soft, dragging himself and his brother far from the fiery force above.