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Kingdoms: Rebirth
Chapter 12 “Baptism by Fire”
By Sephzero

The Sea of Mokanna the north eastern waters of Darien had a foul reputation by sailors not only for the great sea predators but also the haunted shores of Taros. Even with the demise of the dread immortal necromancer it scarcely did much to change the foul reputation of the land. It still remained a twisted landscape thanks to the magic of its ruler. Only a few would dare brave these waters to get these forsaken lands. And one such group dared to venture through these waters.

A spectral form of the Taros ghost ship drifted through the waters hardly even touching the surface as it sailed onward. These ghost ships were feared for their haunted nature and ability to transverse both sea and land without fail. Some claim the crew themselves were in fact dead and bound to service these ghost ships till its destruction. That reputation alone was enough to make most stir their ship away at the sight of the ghost lights signaling the approaching ship.

On the top deck, the spectral crew worked hastily to keep the ship running. At the steering wheel their ghostly captain barked orders while his incorporeal beard flutter with the wind. It was a frightening sight which would chill the bones of any who saw it.

Derrick could care less about the condition of the crew only concerning himself with their destination. The captain had relinquished his chambers to Derrick’s personal usage till the voyage had reached their destination. He sat in a chair noting how the furnishing of the room was more suitable for the living then it was for the dead. It was likely design so the captain could reminisce about his days before being bound to service on this ship.

That was hardly matters which concerned Derrick. In his hand he held the crimson union stone presented back in Estoril. He studied the gem carefully in his hand watching the small flicker of fire in the depths of it. They had told him this item would be important to the soul union between him and the anima. It was interesting how they had acquired both such information and the item. Still he couldn’t sense anything suspicious with the gem as he studied it.

The item was indeed made of mogrium refined into a gem form. He could tell it had some of the properties of mogrite the derivative of the substance. It would both boost the mana power of its holder and provided limited healing too. Why would such an item be granted to the four was rather suspicious to Derrick thinking about it. The fact, their legacy items were lost, also made him wondered why these union stones were present for their use.

Clutching the gem in his hand Derrick squeezed it feeling the power from it surging through the arm to the rest of the body. He wouldn’t back down from any challenges at this point. He’ll use anything to bring down Kelnok. Everything had been prepared for this confrontation between them.

It was a destiny he couldn’t run from or hide.

A burning sensation on his back caused Derrick to wince. It was acting up again since coming to Darien there were periodic surges. It was likely Kelnok trying to make his presence known and quietly badgering Derrick.

Closing his eyes, Derrick remembered how he got that mark and learned the name. It was a memory he never forget for it was the one that fueled his drive and determination.

---

He remembered the flames as they licked all around him and the smell of death thick in the air while smoke billow up to the ceiling. Derrick felt tears well up in his eyes and he cried clutching his mother’s dead body. Blood flowed from her body staining Derrick and the floor, but despite his shaking she did not respond to him. Nearby there were charred bodies beyond recognition all that remained of some of the assassins which had barged into the house. He did not know who they were or why they hated him but they attacked him without abandon.

Servants had tried to stop them, but all died. Across the room, his younger sister Caroline’s unconscious body laid out. Her right leg ending in a broken stomp passed the knee where one of the assassins’ blades found it mark. There was nothing but fire and death around him as he continued to cry in despair.

Screams in the adjacent room caught Derrick’s attention. It was soon followed be a roaring laughter and crashing. Derrick knew what was going on in there even if he still wasn’t completely sure why it was happening.

An assassin stumbled out of the room heavily burned falling into the ground in pain. Twisting in agony, he turned to Derrick as their two eyes locked with one another. Derrick could see the hatred burning furious in those eyes.

“Curse you child! Even if we fail others will complete our mission, the Brotherhood will see your death!” He cursed angrily before massive flaming clawed foot crashing down on him.

It was a massive demonic looking creature surrounded by smoke around the black crackling body sheath in flames. When Derrick had seen his mother cut down by the assassins aiming for him, he felt a wave of hatred and fury burst from him. Suddenly this thing had manifested itself and began to ruthlessly tear the assassins apart. Derrick didn’t know why it had come all he could feel was the despair and hatred over the situation.

“Who are you?” Derrick sobbed looking at the demon.

“I am Kelnok, we were once one.”

Derrick didn’t understand what it was saying. How could he have anything to do with such a horrifying creature like this? He didn’t want any of this. He wanted his mother back and his sister well too. All of this was too much for the kid.

“You’re hatred called out to me from Darien. It was through our bond I was able to appear here.” Kelnok explained with morbid pleasure towering over the kid. “Who would have thought it would be you to call me here?”

“I called you?” Derrick repeated.

“Yes, the hatred that is our bond was the link. Do you not remember it, the hatred we felt to the world and others? To the ones we once called siblings?” Kelnok asked.

“I don’t hate my sister.” Derrick protested furiously.

“You don’t remember it seems. Perhaps the memories are still sleeping inside of you, but they are not for me.” Kelnok laughed. “Don’t worry.  You’ll soon remember who you are soon.”

“What are you going to do?” Derrick asked fearfully as Kelnok drew closer spreading its wing around them.

“Only what was destined. The fury of our flames will merge to become an even greater one. The flames of corruption will live once more.” Kelnok laughed as it prepared to envelop the boy.

Derrick could only wince his eyes closed clutching his mother’s corpse tightly. He didn’t know what was going on but he was afraid. Everything Kelnok said simply frightened and scared him. He didn’t want anything to do with this.

“That’s enough.”

The sound of his mother’s voice surprised Derrick. Also the scream from Kelnok as the anima stumbled back away from Derrick. Opening his eyes, he saw ghostly form of his mother standing in the way of Kelnok with determined look in her eyes.

“Cursed ghost, you have no business in the world of the living.” Kelnok roared angrily.

“Leave this child alone.” She said not wavering in her conviction. “If you try to take the child now, he’ll only be consumed by your flames. I will not allow you to do that.”

“You can not stop this. The time will come when we will rejoin as one again.” Kelnok warned angrily at her.

“I understand that, but I will not allow you to do so now.” She rebuked before turning to Derrick with a sad smile. “I am sorry that I can not do more for you, Derrick.”

“Mother…” Derrick choked looking at her.

“Remember I will always love you even if you become the Lord of Destruction once again. Don’t forget the love that we all have for you.” She kissed him on the forehead before vanishing away.

“Mother!” Derrick cried out before Kelnok’s laughter interrupted him. “Just leave us alone.”

“I will,” Kelnok said much to Derrick’s surprise, “my time here is fading fast. I couldn’t properly complete the union now even if I wanted. But I can leave you with this.”

Kelnok extended his hand as he muttered a few words. Derrick suddenly screamed as his back exploded in pain as magic tore its way across it. Carved onto his back the symbol of Taros stood out amidst the bleeding from Kelnok’s magic.

“Think of it as a memento of our meeting and a reminder of your fate.” Kelnok laughed as his body slowly started to fade away. “I look forward to our next meeting. Remember my name, Kelnok.”

“Kelnok,” Derrick choked from the pain lifting his head up to look at the fading anima, “I’ll definitely defeat you next we meet! You and everyone else how tries to get in my way!”

---

As he remembered it, Derrick knew that he would make Kelnok suffered for the ‘gift’ the anima had left behind on that day. The brotherhood too would pay for their actions that day too. He had carefully planned everything to this meeting. If he could defeat Kelnok and seized the missing part of Lokken’s soul then Derrick would have the power he needed to enact his revenge.  Little else matter to him except for ensuring this outcome.

He didn’t care if the world hated him. If they wish him death, because he’ll simply break the world if it was so foolish to stand against him. They had struck at him and now he will turn his eyes to anyone who dared now.

The sound of a light tap echoed from the doorway into the cabin.

“Enter,” Derrick ordered as Ralt stepped inside, “I trust it is news about our destination?”

“Of course, we have reached the shores of Taros.” Ralt reported humbly.

The elder was still nervous cause of the earlier snafu with mistaking Justin for Lokken, while Derrick could care less about the issue anymore. Ralt had constantly taken it upon himself to act even more groveling and subservient then ever. It was actually starting to get annoying.

“Then we’ll be proceeding onward to our destination.” Derrick noted opening his palm and staring at the union stone. “Tell me, do you know where Kelnok is lurking?”

“Yes, we’ve discovered its location a mere decade ago. He savaged many of our scouts who were investigating the area, but we have confidently confirmed his presence.” Ralt reported with a bow.

“I’ve look forward for many years in facing Kelnok. Don’t disappoint me on this.” Derrick said coldly.
“Never, the anima is there for the taking.” Ralt replied. “But how will you convince it to accept you? The anima is created from the old Lokken and will have likely inherited some of his traits too.”

“Simple, I’m going to crush him.” Derrick calmly replied.

“Preposterous the power of an anima is far greater then any others. They are a spiritual entity and are not vulnerable to most type of attacks. You would be risking yourself with such a move.” Ralt protested.

“Do you not have confident in my abilities?” Derrick asked.

Gulping, Ralt stuttered, “I was just concern about your well-being.”

“I understand the difficulties inherit with the anima, but when he takes a physical form. He exposes himself to certain vulnerabilities. Those will be exploited to seal my victory.” Derrick assured looking away from Ralt.

“As you say, master.” Ralt bowed before hastily leaving the cabin.

Scoffing at the Elder, Derrick knew it was not going to be easy to tackle the anima. But he needed its power too. Only one will emerge victorious from this confrontation. Derrick did not plan on it being him. Gripping the union stone, Derrick could not fail at this.

---

The ghost ship arrived at the destination with no trouble both Derrick and Ralt disembarked spanning the rest of the distance by foot. They climbed up the slope of a great extinct volcano the rising top lined with jagged spikes like some twisted maw. The landscape of Taros made it impossible to tell time as a thick layer of dark clouds hanged over the sky and the only illumination was from the glow of the erupting volcanoes in the distant. It was a harsh and unforgiving landscape.

Moving up the slope, Derrick felt the mark on his back increasing in intensity with each step. It was obviously reacting to Kelnok’s presence the other was probably aware. But he probably preferred to wait for Derrick to approach him first.

Resting for a moment on a rock, Ralt wheezed, “I must warn you again Master that the power of the anime is dangerous.”

Derrick ignored it as he continued onward.

“They are being of pure spiritual essence and possess a vast storage of mana unlike anything else. Even the greatest members could not bind these creatures to make this duty easier.” Ralt argued trailing behind.

“It is because of that makes it more important to return that power back to its rightful owner.” Derrick chastised. “Do you have anything useful to say besides endless prattling?”

“I do apologize,” Ralt gulped bowing his head down, “it is just that we have waited so long for your return. I would not wish it to end so abruptly.”

“The brotherhood will not wait for us. So we should not wait for it. We have to move our plans ahead regardless.” Derrick explained.

It was fortunate that the Brotherhood had not come upon any of them yet. They were probably still trying to piece together what had happened earlier. Derrick did not know the extent of the organization, but he rather erred on the side of caution on their capabilities. This only fueled his need to confront Kelnok in order to turn to other affairs.

“What is it that drives you so much?” Ralt asked.

“Acceptance,” Derrick explained pausing in his step, “I’ve accepted my destiny as Lokken and I will not shy away from it.”

“Is that so…” Ralt muttered to himself. “Yet why do you keep the company of the others? Surely aren’t they a threat?”

“They could be, but for now I see it advantageous to work with them.” Derrick said starting to move forward again. “If any of them should stand in my way, I won’t hesitate to remove them.”

“Wouldn’t it be more prudent to eliminate now. There is no way you can reconcile the differences that will inevitably emerge.” Ralt stated scratching his beak.

Derrick had already taken such contingencies in mind. Since he realized his destiny he knew that the other siblings posed a significant threat to him. They who had the same potential as him could make it difficult to eliminate if they came to blow. Yet his opinion them shifted dramatically upon their meeting, they were all unaware or in denial of their destiny. A golden opportunity for him and one he planned to manipulate to its fullest.

“You worry needlessly.” Derrick simply replied moving forward. “What you should be concerning yourself with assisting me with the fight against the anima.”

“You want me to participate?” Ralt balked at the idea.

“Yes, there is something you can do which will help me immensely.” Derrick smiled at Ralt.

The elder could only gulp at the look on Derrick’s face.

---

The journey up the slope was treacherous but bereft of any other obstacles the clouds above rained ashes down upon them from distant volcanoes. Only a few sparse vegetations was scattered about managing to survive in this hostile environment. Ashes coated the land in thick layers making the climb treacherous as the slope steeped. Derrick at times almost considered using his magic to augment the journey but choose not too. He would need all that he can at his disposal once he faced the anima within.

Derrick could feel the mark on his back pulsing almost like a heart beat as they grew closer. He had to concentrate to remain focus. Luckily, they were able to avoid any further journey outside as Ralt pointed out a cavern opening nearby. The rest of the journey would be traveling through the empty lava tubes once used by the volcano. Stony surface burned smooth by the passage of lava as it exited out of the volcano.

Inside the air was thick, but still breathable. Ralt took greater strain with the air hacking on occasions as the two made their way deeper. Small wisps of mana flew by them as they journeyed it seemed according to Ralt this area had a high concentration of mana affiliated to fire. It is probably the reason why Kelnok choose this place to roost.

The tunnel opened up into a massive chamber which held the central shaft in the volcano leading up to the opening crag and down to the bottom below. A small ledge outstretched from the rim overhanging the massive drop to the bottom. Derrick took a step forward place a foot on the ledge extension.

A loud roar echoed through the shaft causing it to rumble, but Derrick stood his ground. His wait was long as there was a massive rush of air as something huge went sailing straight up from below pass them. It then came crashing back down onto the edge of the ledge overlooking the pit as thick clouds of smokes spread out around it.

Kelnok had arrived.

“So you’ve finally come, boy. I have waited for this.” Kelnok roared spreading out his entire body dwarfing Derrick. “Do you still fear me?”

“Not anymore.” Derrick replied taking a step forward. “It seems you have hardly changed since we last met.”

“A being such as I can not grow, I merely on exist. But with you the potential I possesses can finally be unlocked.” Kelnok said boastfully taking a step forward.

This was all clear to Derrick. As a spiritual entity, Kelnok was able to sustain a vast amount of mana, but without a vessel to channel it through properly he was limited to what he can do. It was amusing despite the power of the anima. It was so limited in so many ways.

“I’ll enjoy exploiting your power for myself.” Derrick taunted with a grin.

Kelnok threw his head back laughing, and replied, “You amuse me boy! Do you think even with the time you had you can match a being like me? You think that your pitiful fire can stop my inferno?”

“Intend to.” Derrick replied flatly.

“You underestimate me.” Kelnok warned growling.

“And so do you. I have been practicing since that day and grown stronger for it too.” Derrick stated summoning up wisps of magic to his hand.

Kelnok’s eyes opened in surprise at the gesture before narrowing as it studied Derrick angrily. The boy showed no fear at the anima’s presence. In fact, Kelnok was feeling uncertainty creeping inside at the sight of Derrick. This boy possessed part of Lokken’s soul and that made him quite dangerous.  All this only served to infuriate Kelnok. It didn’t need to fear from some an insignificant mortal shell all it need was to consume the boy and seize power.

“So you’ve discovered magic, but do you think that will help you?” Kelnok snorted angrily.

“Are you not surprise at how I was able to do so?” Derrick questioned maintaining the gather energy in hand. “Did you not think it was strange how it could be done on earth?”

“Why should I care?” Kelnok muttered with a huff. “You have to learn magic while I can use it by bending things to my will.”

“Because I can learn and expand, you can only do what you have always been able to do.” Derrick countered with a grin. “That’s why you want this body, so you can begin to recover the rest of the memories of Lokken we both possess.”

“Yes, enough of this banters. It is time to end this.” Kelnok roared as its entire body burst with flames all around.

“Let’s do it.” Derrick grinned as trigged the magic he gathered.

Leaping forward, he slammed the spell straight into Kelnok’s chest as the anima screamed in surprise at the blow. A massive explosion erupted throwing the pair off the ledge as they plunged downward into the pit below. Kelnok tried to use his claws to slow his descent gripping at the walls of the pit, but Derrick easily stopped him slamming another spell at the anima and continuing their downward descent.

Ralt could only watch from the side at the whole scene unfolded he knew this was exactly how Derrick had described it out. The boy was ambitious, but Ralt wondered if things could still go according to plan or not? The presence of the anima was certainly humbling, the flames of Lokken still burned quite strongly in Kelnok. Did Derrick have the fury to overcome this or not?

He could only looked down at the pit below at the fading sight of the two still attacking one another despite the fall.
---

The battle between the two was intense as Derrick hurled all the spells he could muster at Kelnok who clawed at the boy whenever they got close. Every time Kelnok tried to slow himself down or use his wings to arrest his fall, Derrick would mercilessly pound at the anima. It seemed the boy was intent on seeing the two of them plunged into the depths of this volcano. Seething in fury at the affront from the boy, Kelnok reared back and breathe a massive plumage of fire. Derrick didn’t even try to block simply divine through the fire much to Kelnok surprise before slamming another spell into the anima’s face.

Struggling against one another the two plunged as the shaft open wide into a great empty cavern which once filled with magma. Now the stone floor had hardened and shielded the chamber from the heat of the magma deep below. Into this chamber they plunged drawing closer to the bottom. Seeing it coming Derrick immediately pushed himself away from Kelnok quickly chanting a spell to arrest his fall. Kelnok could only defiantly roar before crashing into the ground.

Derrick landed lightly on the cracked stone floor feeling the vents of heat starting to fissure out as the magma deep below was starting to rise. What concerned him more was the rising form of Kelnok.  His body showed signed of weariness from the battle as the shoulders heaved heavily. Glaring at the boy, Kelnok pulled himself out of the crack in the floor as bubbling bits of magma started to seep upward and spread.

“Why are my flames not scorching you?” Kelnok demanded looking at Derrick.

He showed scrapes and cuts from the battle earlier, but his clothing was the only sign of any burnt on it from Kelnok. Most of the shirt had been burned or rip looking like rags on the boy. Yet the parts which were exposed showed no sign of scorch marks on them.

“Don’t tell me it isn’t that obvious to you?” Derrick taunted grabbing at his shirt and tearing the rest of it off.

Across Derrick’s exposed torso there were dozens of magical runes interlacing it like a weaving across the surface. On the back the mark of Taros given to him by Kelnok too pulse with arcane energy running through it.

“You’ve used magic to protect yourself against my flames?” Kelnok realized at the runes. “How could you support the magic to protect yourself and still battle me? It is impossible for you alone to have powered all of those magic by yourself.”

“I didn’t all I had to power was my own spells to attack you. The protection was being fueled by him.” Derrick pointed up.

Slowly floating down the shaft into the chamber Ralt rode upon a flying carpet as he looked down at the two combatants pensively. He remembered when Derrick proposed this scheme in order to block the power of Kelnok’s flames. While he understood the scheme, this was incredibly draining on the elder and he didn’t know how much more he could support.

“Impressive, you are truly the reincarnation of Lokken.” Kelnok chuckled turning down to face Derrick. “But I’m afraid that spell won’t last forever.”

“It doesn’t need to. Just long enough to make you bow before me.” Derrick said chanting out another spell.
“What magic do you intend to unleash now?” Kelnok questioned throwing his fist down at the boy.

“Only this,” Derrick said pulling an arm back, “Icicle lance!”

The magic formed around Derrick’s hand before he shoved it forward manifesting it as a massive lance of ice surrounding the end of his arm. The ice lance easily ran through Kelnok as the anima choked freezing in place from the blow. Steam started to hiss from the contact point of the ice and the burning body of Kelnok but the ice still didn’t break.

“How does that taste?” Derrick smiled at the astonished anima.

“You…used…ice against me?” Kelnok choked shuddering as it felt the lance pierce through. “How could you a person of fire use ice?”

“Magic doesn’t treat itself to simple elemental affinity. It took some time, but I knew if I couldn’t trump you with fire that ice would be the means of your defeat. I will take any measure to ensure victory.” Derrick yelled thrusting the lance in deeper.

Slowly the ice land started to grow as thin tendrils of ice start to expand from the lance and spread across Kelnok’s body. These tendrils grew sharp pointed ice thorns as they pierce across the anima’s body all over. Soon they were stretching across all parts as Kelnok roared in agony from their icy stings as steams begin to billow all around them.

Derrick could tell that Kelnok was weakening. The anima would soon be unable to maintain this physical form with all this damage. When it was force back into a spiritual form is when Derrick would seize its power for himself.

Kelnok’s laughing interrupted this thought as he roared, “Yes, this is wonderful!”

“Have you gone mad?” Derrick inquired unsure of this laughter.

“Fire consumes fire. The fury of one consumes the other and becomes greater. You have grown most wonderfully.” Kelnok spoke struggling against the icy tendrils holding him.

“Thanks but why don’t you just hurry up and dematerialize.” Derrick suggested.

“Hardly,” Kelnok countered as he started to increase the fire around him slowly edging his way toward Derrick, “I won’t fade away yet. Not when there is one final thing I must do. Soul union.”

“What are you spouting?” Derrick wondered suddenly feeling the union stone in his pocket reacting.

“Let us both be consumed in fire and be reborn as something greater!” Kelnok roared before he surged forward and wrapped himself around Derrick.

The ground beneath suddenly exposed in a massive fireball which light up the chamber causing Ralt to shield his eyes. After the light had faded he could see the dramatic transformation the chamber had undergone. The entire floor brim with lava with the heat was already rising upward. Scanning around, he saw no sign of either of the two amidst the sea o f lava.

Despite the danger, Ralt urged the carpet to move closer to the bottom. It was a dangerous gamble as the carpet could easily catch on fire leaving him toast. But he had to do whatever possible to find the master.

A sudden splash caught his attention as a figure rose up from the lava, a long mane of white hair flying backward before resting on a back showing the glowing sign of Taros on it. Long pointed ears were visible from beneath the hair while the front portion covered the eyes as the figure stood naked in the lava for a moment. Looking down at his hands before gripping them tightly the figure started to laugh as it echoed across the chamber.

“Master?” Ralt asked hesitantly before the figure turned to notice him.

“Yes, Lokken has been reborn.” He said before he leaped out of the lava and easily landed on the carpet. “Give me your cloak.”

Ralt nodded as he removed his cloak and handed it over to Lokken who draped it over his naked body before sitting down. Slowly Ralt urged the carpet to leave the chamber as it slowly rose up the shaft leaving the bubbling pool of lava behind. Lokken did not say a word throughout the journey till they rose above the craggy top while a bellow of smoke rose out from the lava.

“It seems like I’ll need a new set of clothes.” Lokken mused tugging at the cloak. “You choice in attire are both ugly and itchy.”

“I’ll see to it,” Ralt nodded before clearing his throat, “so what shall we do next, master?”

“Return to the ship, we need to be heading back to Estoril.” Lokken mused with a grin showing his fang.

“But why, now that you have returned there is no need to associate-” Ralt tried to say before Lokken reach over and held the beak shut.

“Who is the master here?” Lokken asked threateningly.

Ralt pointed to Lokken. Nodding, Lokken released his grip before turning around to look off into the distance.

“Then don’t question me.” He said. “Or I may decide to have you replace.”

“I understand.” Ralt choked as he directed the carpet toward the ship again.

---

Lokken sat in the chair of the cabin, it was fortunate the Ghost Ship had some stores of clothing for him to select from. Comfortable in his new clothing draping the cloak back, he reclined in the seat as the boat made its voyage back. Power was finally his, the bothersome Kelnok was not more and that was a good turn of events. He was confident the others would too see success. They would find some way to coming to terms with their respective anima.

Gripping his hand, he could feel the power coursing through this body. This new form created from the soul union made him even more reminiscent of the old Lokken. At least he still kept his youth and not degenerate into an old shrivel windbag from it. This new body symbolized the union of the anima and Derrick. Not something old, but something new.

He noticed too the union stone had been absorbed into the body during the process. It was working its power within him too augmenting his power and body. He wondered still about the nature of these devices. Kelnok seemed to believed such a thing was not needed to unite the souls, but why were the Rebirth faction given it and by who?

Leaning against his arm in the armrest, Lokken smiled, “Despite it all, this changes nothing.”