Age of Ancients (Shattered Kingdoms Book 1) Read online

  Dabu let out a low growl, then rose to his feet and began pacing. It was bad for his lungs, but he didn’t care. He was just too frustrated to sit still.

  “If I could just go through the Trials—” he started, unable to finish his sentence as his mother cut him off.

  “Absolutely not,” she said, her eyes hard as stone. “You are not strong enough to make it, and you are not a fighter.”

  “I can fight!” Dabu defended himself.

  Aho let out a long breath, then rose and walked over to him. She placed a hand on his chest, holding it there and feeling the irregular beat of his heart.

  “Do you know why I gave you your name?” she asked.

  Dabu glared at her sullenly, unwilling to go along with her blatant change of subject.

  “It was because I could tell, even from the moment of your birth, that you did not have the soul of a fighter. You were calm and gentle, and I chose the name of nature to reflect that.”

  Dabu ground his teeth together in annoyance. He hated when his mother brought this up. Everything about him was non-threatening, from his weakened constitution and scrawny frame to his name. Dabu, in the old language, literally meant nature. It wasn’t strong like Toka, which meant boulder, or majestic like Kahi, which meant pride. It wasn’t even beautiful like his mother’s name, which meant shine.

  No, his name, just like everything else about him, was weak.

  “Why do you not believe in me, Mother?” he asked, his throat beginning to tighten.

  His mother shook her head, tapping the center of his chest and looking him in the eye.

  “I believe in you more than anyone else, Dabu. Anyone can be strong or fast, or brave. But you have what most others in this world lack — compassion, resolve, and a sharp mind. You may have been born with a weakened set of lungs, but your mind and spirit remain unbroken. Even after all we have lost, you still have the strength to go on, and that is the essence of who you are. Nature is everlasting, and your legacy will be as well. I just know it.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead.

  “Go get some sleep. We can talk more about this in the morning.”

  She turned then and headed to the smaller second room hidden behind a hanging pelt.

  Dabu felt wetness on his cheeks, but he did not attempt to wipe away the tears. His mother always had a way of breaking down his walls, no matter how many times he tried to build them up. He let out a shuddering breath, then, instead of heading to his alcove, turned and headed out of the small house. He needed some fresh air and time to think over what she’d said.

  ***

  Dabu jerked awake, nearly smacking his head on the small lip of the overhang he’d sheltered under for the night. After sitting awake for nearly an hour, he’d finally decided to sleep where he was, not having the mental strength to crawl back inside. He did this often enough. So, he’d simply curled up beneath his favorite spot, tucked his chin behind the small lip to block out the light of the moon, and drifted off.

  He lie where he was for several moments, trying to figure out what had woken him up. There were no predators inside the Shukka Basin, as the Purus defended the only pass they could use to get inside, but there was a very distinct absence of the night sounds he was so used to. No insects chirped, and the wind seemed oddly still.

  It was only once he took a deeper breath and nearly choked that he understood what was happening.

  Smoke.

  Dabu rolled to the side and sprang to his feet. He was inside the house in an instant, his eyes flicking to the firepit, but everything was fine. The house was quiet and, after checking, he confirmed that both his little sister and mother were asleep.

  Heart still racing, Dabu headed back outside, realizing that there was only one other place where the smoke could be coming from. He felt a cold dread overcome him as he sprinted toward their small field. Even before he reached it, he could tell almost everything was gone. Despite the heavy smoke that hung thick in the air, Dabu raced in, trying to quell the fires that were eating up what little remained of their food.

  Frantically moving about, he stomped down on the raging fire, trying to smother it before it consumed everything. Sweat beaded his brow, his eyes watering from the thick haze of burning smoke.

  His lungs forced him to abandon the task as soon as he took a breath, sending him staggering out of the cloud, wheezing and coughing for air. He stumbled, dropping to his knees, and found the air quality to be much better closer to the ground. He turned, looking back to see the last small patch of their field go up in flames.

  A pair of legs came into view then. Still coughing, Dabu looked up to see Makai through teary eyes.

  The man grinned down at him, his white teeth flashing in the darkness and standing out against his dark skin. It wasn’t a friendly smile, rather one filled with malice.

  “Stand up to me again, boy, and it’ll be your house next time.”

  The man spat on the ground, then turned to walk away. More than anything in the world, Dabu wanted to attack the man who’d most likely doomed his family to starve, but his body betrayed him. His lungs seized, locking up tight and dropping him like a sack. Dabu lay there, gasping for air, but none would come.

  As blackness crept in, he couldn’t help but wonder if his mother would wake up to find his lifeless body next to their destroyed field.

  ***

  Consciousness rushed back, and Dabu came to in a hacking, coughing fit. He threw up, the meager contents of his last meal splattering to the ground as his lungs heaved. He was alive. He did not know how, but somehow, his lungs had loosened their death-grip, allowing him to breathe once more.

  His vision was hazy, but he could still see the dying embers of the fire, which meant that he couldn’t have been out for more than an hour.

  Dabu slowly pushed himself to his feet, running the back of his hand across his lips and trying to rid himself of the acrid taste. That wasn’t the worst part. What hurt more than the burning pain in his chest and throat was the pain of failure.

  The Purus had struck once again, this time robbing his family of what little they had left. Dabu felt a mixture of anger and shame war within him as he staggered back toward the house. He would have to wake his mother and tell her what had happened. Perhaps she might be able to get some food from the neighbors or even manage to barter for some seed to start over and provide for themselves.

  Dabu stopped at the intersecting paths. One would bring him back to his house, and the other led to the mouth of the Basin.

  His mother and sister might be able to get food, but the other villagers saw him as a worthless cripple, a layabout who was a drain on his poor mother’s limited resources. If he were here, they might refuse them aid. But if he were to leave, things may be different.

  Dabu looked down the forking path, the one that would lead him right up to the mouth of the Basin. From there, he could sneak past the Purus – they generally only made sure things didn’t get in – and make it to the Trial gate.

  He looked back and forth, indecision keeping him rooted in place for over an hour. But as the first light of dawn began pushing away the darkness, Dabu finally made his decision.

  “I’ll be back in a month. Just wait for me until then,” he said, his voice hoarse from smoke inhalation.

  Dabu fought back tears as he went down the path to leave the Basin, already knowing how much this was going to hurt his mother and sister. But for their sake, and for the sake of all their futures, he knew that this was the right decision. He moved as quickly as he dared, pulling close to the tree line as he neared the exit of the Basin.

  His eyes, already accustomed to the night’s darkness, easily picked out the Puru at the entrance, though the so-called guard was asleep. Dabu let out a sound of disgust and felt his hatred for this group increase just a bit more.

  Getting past a sleeping guard was barely a challenge, and just a few moments later, he was walking free of the Basin for the first time in his li
fe.

  He felt his heart rate increase as the walls fell away, revealing a world that was wide open for as far as he could see. It was both terrifying and exhilarating, but the one thing that grounded him was the single beam of red and blue light standing out in the darkness.

  From inside the Basin, it was completely blocked off, but out here, with nothing but short grass and low shrubbery to impede his vision, the pillar of twining light stood out like a beacon.

  With his resolve hardening, Dabu took off at a fast walk, fighting to not look back at the only place he had ever called home. In his mind’s eye, he could see his mother and sister still lying in their alcoves, sleeping soundly, completely unaware of what they would find missing.

  He hoped they both slept late, if only to keep them from feeling pain for a few hours longer. Doing the right thing was never easy, even though he knew it was necessary. That was why he refused to look back and forced himself onward despite the pain.

  Dabu was barely aware of the passage of time, keeping his gaze locked squarely on the rotating pillar of color until it was all but blotting out the sky. It was only when he realized where he was standing that he came back to himself.

  Before him stood an ancient and weathered stone gate, and behind it was the rotating red and blue pillar. To enter the Trials, all he needed to do was walk through that gate. It would be a month before he’d be able to leave again – if he even survived that long.

  He hesitated for just a moment, looking back toward the Basin, which was now clearly visible as a rising hill in the distance. Sunlight streaked across the open landscape, painting the tan and green leaves in differing shades of color. Once again, he felt sadness flare up, and for a moment, he debated simply turning back and going home.

  Then he remembered what was waiting back there — a burned field and months of begging. He’d need to constantly keep his head down around Makai, the man who would see them all starve. With him gone, the neighbors would take pity. They would be more sympathetic to Aho and Kahi and would be more likely to take them in, offering sympathies while cursing Dabu for the monster he was.

  Letting out a shaky breath and wiping away the last of his tears, Dabu faced the gate.

  He would not back down now, not when he’d come this far already. He squared his shoulders, steeled himself, then stepped through the gate and into the light.

  Welcome to Trial #4431: Sandstone 290 - Trial of Ancients.

  Initializing…

  3: Entry

  Dabu staggered as he walked through the gate, blinking several times to try and get rid of the message that had appeared as though an invisible hand was writing it. Weirder still was the fact that he didn’t know how to read, especially not letters that were in a completely different language, yet he understood it perfectly.

  The letters vanished suddenly, giving him a clear view of the sprawling landscape that stretched out before him. He was standing atop a bluff overlooking a lush jungle. Bright sunlight painted the landscape, turning the winding rivers that flowed throughout the jungle into streams of silver. The air was damp but pleasant, not at all like the arid air of the Basin, and felt much nicer as it entered his lungs.

  Dabu had never imagined that a landscape could be so lush and rich, though he had heard stories from his mother when he’d been younger.

  From his vantage point, Dabu could see mountains rising in the distance, as well as a thick bank of clouds that blanketed its peaks. He had no idea what lay beyond that, but he could hardly wait to find out.

  As soon as he lifted his foot to take a single step forward, a new message appeared, impeding his vision once again. Only this time, it appeared inside a small translucent box. The text scrawled across, and Dabu once again understood the message.

  You have entered the Trial of Ancients, a test of character designed by the gods to see if you are worthy.

  The instructions for completing the Trials are simple — survive for thirty days, then challenge the Arc.

  While you are in here, the power you receive will merely be borrowed. Succeed in defeating the Arc, and the power will be ingrained within your body and soul, yours to do with as you please. Take heed, however. For those who are unworthy, the Trials will be your grave.

  You have fifteen minutes to leave. Remain past that time, and you will be unable to exit until the full thirty days have passed.

  Dabu carefully read and re-read the message. If he wanted to leave, the option still remained.

  He shook himself, dismissing the notion and banishing it from his thoughts. There was a reason he was here, and he refused to leave without the power granted by the Trials.

  The message vanished suddenly, leaving the white box blank and giving him a temporary view of the landscape. Then, more text began flowing across, cutting his view off once more.

  The status holds all information relevant to your abilities. You will not be able to choose what you receive, but rather, the Trials will judge your soul and choose them for you.

  Remember that while you are in the Trials, your power is provided by the gods and is held until you either succeed or fail. All progress made inside the Trials will remain with you, should you succeed in defeating the Arc.

  Information on all creatures and people within the Trials can be accessed simply by looking at the object in question and thinking the word ‘inspect.’

  To open your status, simply think the word ‘status.’

  The message ended there, and after a count of thirty, the text vanished, along with the translucent white box, giving Dabu an unimpeded view of the breathtaking landscape once again. He couldn’t help but feel that he was missing a good deal of the information he’d need to make it through here in one piece, but he figured that the price of power was one paid in blood and hard work.

  At least I have a starting point, he thought, then said the word status in his mind.

  This time, a transparent blue box flashed into view, and as text began to appear, Dabu was completely blown away.

  Name: Dabu

  Ability Type: Mage

  Rank - 0

  Energy to Next Rank - 0/100

  Ability - Soul Sphere

  MP - 70/70 (Regen - 0.6 per second)

  Strength - 3

  Agility - 3

  Constitution - 3

  Intelligence - 7

  Wisdom - 6

  Skills - Ember Blade, Spark Field

  He read it and realized he didn’t even know what half of it meant. He ran his eyes over the status several times, picking up the few things he understood and trying to focus on them. After staring at the Mage ability type for a few seconds, Dabu had an idea.

  Inspect.

  To his delight, the status vanished, and the white box appeared in its place, with new information being written out.

  Ability types: One of two types of abilities can be gained when entering a Trial — a Super ability or a Mage ability.

  Super: This ability type focuses on Strength and Agility, making for a more physically powerful fighter. Supers use chi Points, or CP, to activate their skills. The total amount of CP a Super has is based on their Strength attribute, while the rate at which it regenerates is based on their Agility.

  Mage: This ability focuses on Intelligence and Wisdom, making for a more magically powerful fighter. Mages use mana points, or MP, to activate their skills. The total amount of MP a Mage has is based on their Intelligence attribute, while the rate at which it regenerates is based on their Wisdom.

  Both have equally powerful skills and abilities, though on average, Supers will be physically stronger, while Mages will be stronger mentally.

  The information definitely cleared up some of the misconceptions Dabu had had about Supers and Mages. He’d believed that because of their differences, Supers would be the superior fighters. It seemed that Mages had plenty to offer, which was good, seeing as he fell in that category.

  Dabu continued down the list, inspecting the ‘Rank - 0’ part of his status n
ext.

  Ranks: The ranking system was put in place to assure that power could not be gained all at once and instead needs to be earned.

  Each Super or Mage can gain a total of 50 ranks before reaching the maximum capacity allowed by the gods. To move to the next rank, you must pay the required amount of energy displayed in your status. Each subsequent rank will be more costly than the last, as the higher you climb, the more powerful your attributes, skills, and ability become.

  Each 10th rank is called a breakthrough rank and will cost triple the usual energy to bypass. Once passed, you will receive a boost to all of your skills and attributes, making it far more difficult for those under the threshold to defeat you.

  Take heed in challenging those of higher rank, as their attributes – and power – are likely to be greater than your own.

  Understanding a bit more about the ranking system was nice, although Dabu distinctly noticed that the message didn’t tell him how to get the energy he needed to move up in rank. Still, he was sure he’d figure it out eventually. After all, how hard could it be?

  Moving on to the next part, Dabu continued to read.

  Abilities: These determine what path a Super or Mage will take. An ability is a broad idea, outlining their overall path. Skills branch off these and, depending on the ability, can be quite diverse.

  Soul Sphere: Use the power of your soul to project attacks within your sphere of influence. Your range will increase along with your rank.

  This was the most confusing part so far, and while Dabu had a basic understanding of what abilities were for, he had no idea what his could functionally do. How did one project attacks with the power of their soul, and what kind of attacks were they? Makai, from the Purus, had been able to use red-colored lightning. Did that mean that the man’s ability had something to do with lightning, or was it something else entirely?