He could hear the roars of the Umbre monster and the crowds around him cheering. But Coda Theodore Wolf could see nothing but the lacing on the bodice of the lady standing in front of him, blocking his view of the battle.
By stepping to one side a little and craning his neck, Coda could see the massive Umbre monster, pullback its long tentacles and stared longingly in its opponents direction.
His opponent, the Keeper hero, David White stood just a few feet away, smirking at the creature like it was nothing more than a game to him.
Coda could see the steaming black saliva dripping from its rotating rows of razor-sharp fangs. Its three eyeballs followed the Keeper as he darted behind a statue, its tentacles wriggling like manic snakes.
It looked more like a masque than a real event, and Coda watched it as if it were a court entertainment.
The Umbre lurched forward but lost its balance in the process. It's hungry for the Keeper, for everyone inside the Northern City of Winter's Edge and that's its mistake.
David White seemed to snicker then leaped forward, rolling so that his knees absorb the impact. David looked up. Above the streets, students and teachers watched from the windows of the local school, safe and protected behind the thick glass, watching the Telekinetic Keeper do what he was supposed to do: fight for Elyon.
Coda heard it slouching around, hear the wet smacking sounds of its tentacle feet. This one was clearly faster than the other Umbre have been. They are always getting faster. Coda watched as a tentacle began to snake its way around the base of the statue in front of the school. Coda looked up to see him: The first Northern King, Theodore Wolf in all his stone glory, his hands pushed out in front of him, his palms cracking with the telekinetic power.
David shook his head, his body hidden in the former ruler's shadow.
The plaque at the base of the statue reads All hail The First King, the most powerful Keeper of all time.
Coda eyed the creature as now was getting even closer to the David and eagerly waiting for him to do something. David spun, but was too late: He watched as tiny, wriggling creatures begin falling from its abdomen and slithering like mad towards the Keeper. The last thing Coda wanted was find one of these monsters coming up the drain in his bathroom.
He watched as David threw up his hands and focused on the doors and windows to the school. He spread his fingers wide. All at once, Coda could feel the rush of power leave through David White, draining him a bit as it goes, but all the doors and windows to the school slammed shut. Coda heard the collective groan of hundreds of students as their entertainment for the day was abruptly ended for their own safety.
Suddenly, the Umbre was upon David, wet tentacles all around as it heaved itself over the statue. Its fangs snapped hungrily as the tiny little barbs in its arm dig into his right foot and dragged him forward. David's head hits the ground hard and he was pulled toward it, sliding on his back through its nasty slime. It seemed like David wanted to scream hysterically like any sane person would when being dragged into the mouth of a beast, but instead he sighed and flexed his fingers and threw his arms wide, pulling the power back within himself and the creature fell to earth, screaming as it went. David calmly stepped back as it fell and pushed his hand out in front of his face, creating a protective pocket of air in front of him.
This is going to be gross, Coda thought.
The Umbre landed directly on top of the stone statue of the ruler. The large statue split its body down the center and it ended up a bloody, meaty donut at the bottom, a literal pile of steaming evil. David smiled dropped his arm.
David whipped out a dagger from his belt boot, and with a stroke like lighting, sliced the Umbre's tentacle holding his other foot, and it flopped to the ground. The creature let out a scream that curdles Coda's stomach.
David slowly climbed to his feet, aware that every move he made will be analyzed, slow-motioned, and catalogued. "David White defeats Tentacle Umbre," the papers would read tomorrow. The wind caught his jagged chin-length dark hair (trimmed every other week!) and whipped it around his head. He narrowed his olive-green eyes into a stare of determination and slowly raised his hands as the crowds cheered.
Coda whipped out his old leather journal and pen, his eyes gluing themselves to the pages as his pen quickly wrote out what he just seen. "Telekinesis. The possibilities of such a power are almost endless. Although it could be quite destructive, as the user could choke a target or snap limbs. Other offensive capabilities of Telekinesis included: tossing a target about with blasts of force, telekinetically crushing a target, unleashing a telekinetic burst of concussive force in an area, or tearing apart an area with a psionic sphere. I bet the user would be quite lonely..." Coda stopped and looked around, eyeing the crowds cheering the Keeper. "Though, you would never know it."
"Coda Theodore Wolf!" boomed the strong familiar voice of his mother.
Coda blinked. Busted.
His mother pushed through the crowd of civilians without even giving them a glance, then snagged Coda's hand like lighting and moved him through the crowd, past the on lookers still focused on David and the few folks that just happened to turn and look and see a tall woman wearing a large dark cloak pulling a little boy by, past the line of knights who recognized the pair but said nothing. No one stopped her because she was Queen Rayla of the North and everyone was afraid of her.
They winded through the crowds until they reached the front steps, and the glass doors where two guards stood as still as statues.
Marching up to the doors, his mother whirled around at him. Her purple eyes that had slit-like pupils eyed him firmly.
"I'll save my lecture until tonight." She said. "As for now, you will march up those stairs and go to your studies like you're supposed to be. Sir Randall is waiting on you."
Coda nodded weakly, turned and gave one last glance around.
The drizzle of the morning turned into a storm and it enveloped the whole Northern Palace in a gloomy hush right as Coda entered through the palace doors. Turning to the spiral stairs in the main lobby before he shook off like a dog onto the polished floors and made his way up the stairs right as Count Bastion, the king's right-hand man, came down from the opposing set of stairs, his eyes glued down to the book he was reading. He took one step and slipped on the wet spot, slamming down on his back. The second he cried out, Coda's eyes widened, and he took off down the hall.
The royal palace was a place Coda knew every inch of, despite its massive size. He could locate every room and where every hallway led to. Sometimes, Coda believed he knew the palace more than the king himself, so he was sure he could outrun and hide that old count.
Coda reached the top of the stairs and turned left before walking up to a wooden door at the end of the hall. Coda opened the door and entered to see a large wooden room full of books, maps, and schooling posters. The room had one enormous desk and one small by the window.
Wandering over to the small one and took a seat as his tutor, Sir Randall was already by the board. "Seems your mother found you,"
Coda stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, eyeing the thin old man.
"Just open your Math book, so we may begin today's lessons."
He knew to be silent and begin with no more backtalk. Otherwise, he'd have the king's attention.
Coda shuddered at the thought.
Coda looked to his tutor who was mapping out the first equation on a chalkboard with his back turned to Coda, not paying attention to him. Coda remembered little about his early days, only what he was told.
Prince Zain, Prince Coda, and Princess Bayla were the children of King Endeavour and his wife, Queen Rayla of the Eastern Kingdom. Born a few years apart at the end of a dying century.
They were all part of the royal court by their grandmother, Queen Nevada. She was the only person their father showed fear towards because of her powerful will over her family.
"Did you see the fight with David White and the Umbre?" Coda asked.
"It was hard not to, my boy." Randall responded. "Since it shook the entire building and the Second Prince went missing right in the middle of it."
Coda chose to ignore the last words, eyeing his journal that lay before him on the desk. "I took notes."
"Of course you did." The man muttered, reaching down to get a new piece of chalk.
"Do you think it's possible for a Telekinetic Keeper to unlock a Telepath power?" Coda asked. "I mean, a lot of people say the two powers could be linked but truthfully I have never known how because we have never really come across a Keeper who could do both and also-"
A snap cut Coda off. He looked up to see Randall with his hand up, ready to snap again.
After a few seconds of silence Randall sighed. "You're not a Keeper, you know. Only Keepers have the powers and only Keepers save us from the Umbre and whatever sick monster lurks over the Southern border. Your job is learn and be the Second Prince of the North,"
"He's right, you know" A voice came from the door.
Coda looked up to see Zain leaning on the doorway, giving him a smug, playful smile as his tutor glared at his brother coldly. "We each have a duty to fulfill, including you." Zain walked up to the open window and peered outside. "It's a beautiful day today and probably one of the last before winter. But I am afraid the beautiful day will have to pass without us," Zain replied. "Father is on his way for a meeting later today. And requested you stay in the palace until he says otherwise. Probably because you're always sneaking off,"
"I understand," Coda stated weakly before Zain closed the window, latching it shut.
Lunch didn't mean the work stopped, it was just a place where the events of the North were discussed among the king and his court.
The table, set with an abundance of food, as always. Coda sat across the long table from his father, and servants surrounded the royal family. He sat quietly watching the king and the count discuss the rumors that were spreading from the South and other nations as Zain and his mother spoke separately down the long table. Coda looked over to his little sister sitting next to him at the table, playing with her green bean gelatin.
"Who makes this crap," Bayla uttered, poking the gelatin with her spoon.
"It's supposed to be healthy. You should just eat it" Coda said to her when a servant placed another gelatin plate in front of him and went on her way. Coda slumped down in his seat at the sight of gelatin.
"It's supposed to be healthy. You should just eat it" Bayla repeated her brother's words with a smile.
"Don't remind me,"
"One of the Southern captives from the last battle said something about an Eternal Flame," The count told the king.
Coda lifted his head from the gelatin. His eyes widened, then shifted his gaze to his mother, who only shook her head. Coda took a deep breath and pretended not to have even heard what they were discussing. Shifting his eyes back to the gelatin.
Endeavour too, glanced at Coda then diverting his eyes back to the count.
"Continue..."
The count cleared his throat.
"Well... Your highness. It seems one of our scouts at the border has sent word that the Southern Emperor and Western Queen are seeking to claim this flame..."
Endeavor's face stiffened, and Coda swore he saw his eye twitch a bit.
"I want a cupcake," Bayla said. "Maybe Aithusa and I can get some after lunch."
Coda looked at the eight-year-old. "You can't take your cat to a bakery."
Bayla brushed him off. "We'll be fine. And Aithusa is not a cat. She is a Regalia, duh."
"The closest thing to a cat I have ever seen," Coda responded, scooping a little of the gelatin with his spoon and taking a bite.
Instantly regretting, he had to take several moments before he could swallow it down.
"Why would the chief make this again?" Coda asked quietly.
"He didn't," Bayla added. "Mom did,"
Coda glanced at Bayla before frowning to the gelatin. "That explains a lot."
Coda was once again sitting in the schoolroom at his desk after eating with his family, staring at his daily assignment, twirling the pen in his hand while the tutor was out of the room for coffee or something. He looked up when the door creaked open and a familiar face poked his head in and looked around.
"Where have you been?" Coda asked him firmly. "What happened to yesterday's assignments? I had to tell Sir Randall that I lost them."
"Oh, cool." Luke Minkus said, pushing up his glasses a bit. "What excuse did you use this time? Was it a goodie?"
"This is not a joke," Coda said. "Where are the lessons from yesterday?"
"Relax, grumpy," Luke said before dropping nine muddy files on Coda's desk. Mud splattered up and hit Coda's cheek.
"There's supposed to be ten files," Coda pointed out, still holding a rather emotionless expression.
"No, there's not!" Luke protested.
"Yes, there is?!" Coda stated.
Luke leaped forward and placed his hand over Coda's mouth.
"Ok, don't freak out," Luke told him before he took a deep breath and letting go of Coda. "But I think it was eaten by a cow!"
Coda pulled away. "A COW?!"
His next words were back to his low tone. "Why were the lessons with a cow?"
"Well, I went to see Jolene today-," Luke admitted. "You know she loves me!"
"She ran you over with a carriage last week," Coda pointed out. "And that's not counting the other times-"
"-She's like your grandmother, shows her love by physical violence."
Coda rolled his eyes. "I don't think Sir Randall is going to believe a cow ate my tenth lesson," Coda said. "Much less let you and Jolene borrow them,"
"You would probably get in serious trouble if they found out you were letting servant kids look at your lessons," Luke said with a laugh.
"WHAT?!" A voice shouted before the two turned to see Randall had returned. "You have been letting those two peer at your lessons? Your father will have my head for this!!!"
"Busted," Luke said, turning to the window and leaping out onto the courtyard. Before Coda could reply, Luke reached in, grabbed Coda by the collar, and yanked him out of the window. Coda fell on his stomach, and took it in a few seconds then he got up and glared at Luke. "I'm going to get in trouble."
"You're already in trouble. Come on."
Coda gave a glance up to the window then ran off with Luke as Randall shouted at him.
Coda knew he shouldn't have gone with Luke, that both his parents and Zain would be upset with him but seeing how red Randall's face was. He let his friend pull him through the courtyard, and out onto the farmland near the barns and stables.
The two darted over the green hills until they ran up under the palace's largest tree before they stopped.
"You blab!" Coda said to Luke, panting.
"How was I supposed to know he was going to walk in?" Luke asked, sitting down and leaned his back against the tree trunk, giving a deep sigh.
"It's a schoolroom, and he's the tutor," Coda explained.
"Details... details," Luke said, waving him off. "Now be quiet and enjoy the day because when winter hits well be huddling in every warm cranny we can find,"
Coda looked back to the palace and his heart sank, Luke looked up and noticed Coda's expression
"You look depressed," Luke said to Coda. "Well, more than usual."
"Tired," Coda said, leaning against the tree as he stood. "I don't sleep well these days."
Luke shook his head. "Is it because of you know who?" Luke said to him.
Coda lowered his head, his face hardened as he crossed his arms and leaned against the tree trunk next to Luke. "Count Eagle offered up his daughter's hand to me."
"What did your father say?"
"In polite terms, he basically told him to go hang himself." Coda paused. "And his daughter,"
Luke stared at him puzzled. "I thought that is what you're supposed to do. You know marry a high ranking member of the court, he even has a few suitors picked out for Bayla,"
"... He wants me to lead his army when I get a little older," Coda spoke to Luke, refusing to face him. "It's all he talks about, anymore."
"Why?" Luke asked.
Coda looked up at the tree branches above them, at the way the light shined down through the leaves.
He wanted to tell his friend the whole truth, but if he did that. His life would be at risk, just like the others before him.
"I want to see the marshmallow fields when we get older." Luke spoke through his thoughts.
Coda glanced at Luke with the confusion anyone would have written on his face.
"Marshmallow fields?"
"Yeah, and the rivers are probably made of chocolate..." Luke went on before another thought popped in his head and he shouted. "HEY! Maybe the trees will be made of broccoli, you know, because trees look so much like broccoli... they're like little trees."
"I was going to say you've lost your mind, but I don't think you have ever had one," Coda said with a small smug smile.
"Do you know what we should do now to enjoy this exceptional day?" Luke then asked, sitting down on the grass. "Take a nap." Just like that, as if someone had flipped a switch, Luke laid out and soon passed out on the grass.
Coda rolled his eyes as Luke laid on the grass, snoring logs and glanced up to see Jolene wandering up to the gate, her arm in her basket as if she was looking for something, completely distracted until almost close enough to run into a tree she was walking upon.
"Jolene?!" Coda called, getting her attention, causing her to stop and notice the tree.
Scrambling to his feet and leaving Luke snoring in the grass.
The guards at the gates seemed startled by Coda's sudden appearance when he rounded the corner.
"Prince Coda! Sir!" They both shouted before Coda approached Jolene.
"Oh. Hi!" Jolene said as if it annoyed her he was there. She then looked back at the tree. "Is this new?"
"Uh, Relatively new," Coda said to her. "It's only been there for 500 years."
Jolene's face fell.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him.
"I needed some air." He said before listening to hear if anyone spotted him yet. "Suffocating doing all that schoolwork,"
Jolene took a step backward away from him.
"You know I am not supposed to hang out with you, right?" Jolene whispered to him, looking around frantically. "Count Bastion will be furious if he finds out I helped you ditch your lessons."
"You would too if they cooped you up in a cage like a bird," Coda muttered. "But in my defense, it was an excuse to avoid my father and whoever else wants to chew my butt off."
"Prince Coda?!" Count Bastion's voice shouted, getting their attention and causing Coda to cringe at the sound of his voice.
Coda got quiet, turning to Jolene.
"So- w-what are you doing?" He then asked her.
"I was headed into town to fetch some sugar and flour," She replied. "Alone!"
Jolene turned to walk away and soon noticed Coda was following her like a stray puppy.
"You're just as bad as Luke,"
Coda darted in front of her right as the gates opened and waited until he and Jolene were down the driveway before he spoke. "So what are you cooking?" He asked her.
"Muffins," She told him. "I decided those chocolate chips you snuck to me yesterday would be perfect for muffins."
"I could go for a muffin," Coda said. "Or even better, a cinnamon roll."
"You're not supposed to leave the palace gates, you know." Jolene remarked blankly. "Again,"
Coda's face fell. "You heard, huh?"
"That the Second Prince ran off again? Yeah, seems to be the theme around here."
"Usually, I'm on the palace roof." Coda stated. "Or in a tree, but I watched the fight from earlier. It was awesome." Coda lowered his arms. "Until mother caught me. But I saw most of it."
"You know, there was an easier way to watch." Jolene stated. "It's called a window."
"Yeah, but everyone looks like ants and I wouldn't get the full view,"
Jolene rolled her eyes then she reached into her basket and pulled out a small book and handed it to Coda.
"Here's your book back," Jolene said in a sweet tone. "I like the ending when Moses parted the red seas, but it makes me wonder... Do you really believe in such things?"
"What things?" Coda asked.
"You know. The Spiritual Realm,"
"Of course I do," Coda said with a smile. "I mean we have Keepers and Umbre already and it's the only thing that keeps me going or makes me think the way I do, even though I'll probably be hearing about it later,"
"What do you mean?" Jolene asked him.
"Luke spilled the beans on what I've been doing with my schoolbooks," Coda mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess that's my fault for having a friend who is a blab."
"You won't get in that much trouble, will you?" Jolene asked him, her blank side, showing the slightest hint of concern.
Coda shrugged. "They should share knowledge among all, not just who has a higher status or whatever blood line they choose fit."
"It's nice you feel that way, to be honest," Jolene said to him. "You're probably the only one who feels that way."
They smiled at each other and continued on their walk for a bit. When they reached the edge of the city market Jolene glanced at Coda.
"I've been wanting to ask you something." She then said to him. "Rumors are going around that North has found a Southern relic... something called The Eternal Flame..." When Coda didn't respond, she went on. "Well, it's strange. Won't the South be upset when they learn we have something of theirs? I mean, most people who flee the South see the North as a holy land..." Jolene's voice trailed off when Coda didn't respond or even acknowledge what she said. "You're not concerned at all?"
"I don't think I should be," Coda muttered, averting his eyes from her hard gaze.
"But some relics of this land have power," She pointed out to Coda.
"Yeah, and I am sure the one they want is probably one of the most powerful," Coda replied.
Jolene glared at him.
"And that doesn't bother you?" She then asked him, stepping in front of him. "What are you not telling me?"
Coda glanced at the area before looking back to Jolene. Hesitation covering his face, he finally leaned close to her.
"It's not a relic," Coda admitted in a defeated tone. "It's a power that lives in a living vessel. The king already has it but doesn't want anyone learning he has it... yet,"
Jolene's eyes widened.
Coda bit his bottom lip. "I just feel sorry for the soul who had the guts to sneak over the border thinking it's something they can steal,"
Coda watched the sunset among the land when he and Jolene departed. He had vowed he would return to the palace and was on his way through the streets; stepping past people and seeing some folks bow to him as he passed. Coda had enjoyed that trip with Jolene, more than his own words could express. Jolene had gone home to make her muffins and Coda wandered up the palace driveway as the sun was setting.
As Coda walked up to the royal steps, he saw Count Bastion sitting alone reading a book.
Coda froze in place just as Bastion looked up.
Coda eyed the tall, thin man with pale skin, brown hair, and gray eyes. He sported the familiar goatee that was dotted with gray. He usually wore an intense expression to all but Jolene. His clothing consisted of mostly dark gray, black, and red robes, and he tended to carry around a long silver staff with a purple gem embedded to it.
"Enjoy your outing?" Count Bastion slammed the book shut, the loud thud giving Coda a startle. Coda found himself unable to do anything but stare at Count Bastion, every word he had in his head, stopped at his throat. "You disobeyed me." Count Bastion took a long breath then went on in a soft yet intimating voice. "You disobeyed the king, the council members..." Count Bastion stood up and glared at him. Coda felt his spine stiffen like a frigid hand grabbed him from behind. "I don't think there is a person in this kingdom you haven't disobeyed... running away repeatedly, allowing servant kids to use your books and ditching the king and the council members when they both requested you stay still."
Count Bastion approached Coda, towering over him, his shadow covering Coda like a blanket.
"Do you even care about this kingdom?" The count asked him.
Coda took a step back from the count.
"Prince Zain's destiny is to succeed to the throne, yours is to serve and support. I would urge you to accept your position in life and to dismiss any childish notions about rewriting the rule that better suits your character. We all have a role to play. Zain's will be center stage and you will be from the wings... if anything happens during his reign, the kingdom will be yours... This is not something to ignore or put aside, so stop trying."
"... I'm sorry," Coda uttered.
"Sorry will not save Elyon from the Southerners invading us and killing us all!" The count snapped.
The count took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. When he spoke, his voice was much softer. "If you were my son, I would have smashed your head against the wall years ago,"
With his eyes wide, breaths ragged and harsh. His hands trembled at his sides and he fell to his knees, tears pouring down his face.
Count Bastion turned to go up the stairs and glanced back to the young boy.
"I'll let you know when I have come up with a good punishment." Count Bastion said right before walking through the front doors.
Coda heard muffled footsteps come up behind him.
"Coda?" A voice asked. "Coda?"
When a hand touched Coda's shoulder, he spun around fast, a flash of blue coming out of his hand. "GET AWAY?!" He shouted, his blurred vision cleared a bit and he saw Luke ducking and looking terrified.
"L-Luke?" Coda asked puzzled.
Luke glared up at him and managed to keep a whisper. "You never told me you had a power?"
"Power?!" Coda asked, seeing his friend point to a bush burning in blue fire.
Coda swallowed hard.
Oh, my God. Father's going too....
Coda's eyes widened, clenching his hand closed and looked back up to Luke as the whisper disappeared in his voice. "You almost took my head off!"
Coda looked at the bush, that burned away slowly, covered in the familiar blue flame.
He smiled, shifting his gaze to Luke once more. "W-Would that be such a bad thing?" Coda panted out.
"On the other hand, that was the gnarliest thing I have ever seen!" Luke said.
"I'm sorry. Did you say "gnarliest"?" The two heard the guards approaching. Luke grabbed Coda by the collar and yanked him around a corner, and slammed Coda against the wall before peering out from behind the wall a few moments then looking back to Coda when they were gone.
"Is this what you could not tell me?" Luke then asked him. "What your father was training you for?"
Coda hesitated then finally nodded.
"Amazing!" Luke stated, smiling big. "You're a Keeper!"
Coda glared at him coldly, soon putting his hands on Luke's shoulders, and shoved his back against the wall now.
"This is not a joke," Coda said in a whisper, panic in his tone. "If my father finds out, he will kill you. He has done it before!"