Bladewarriors Book 1: Refresh

"That was a gigantic pain in the ass!" Frost shouted, crashing down to the frozen sand, next to the gigantic wall of ice he had just created. "You people make me work too hard!"

"I can't believe we actually won." Myst took a step forward, sliding her palm across the surface of the enormous glacier the whiner had just crafted, amazed at the abilities the boy's sword possessed. The nymph paused, stopping to look at the strange translucent blade still plunged into the icy wall.

"Never doubted us for a moment." Flare replied, smiling as he, too, allowed himself to crash to the frigid sand of the beach below, leaning his back against the crystal surface of the city's impromptu tidal barrier.

"What about when Myst died?" Frost questioned, tilting his head from where it laid on the beach to stare at the redhead. "I thought we were done for around then."

"I didn't die." Myst sighed, shaking her head.

"Damn near." Frost replied, refusing to be bothered by the insignificant details. "You were stabbed through the chest."

"But I'm alright now." Myst responded, reaching a hand up to absently slip her fingers through the tear in her shirt, running them along the skin visible there.

"By the way," Frost commented, tilting his head up slightly to stare at the blue-haired mage near him, "I can totally see your bra from this angle."

Myst felt her cheeks suddenly begin to burn as she quickly clutched at the gap in her shirt, forcing it closed. The nymph narrowed her eyes, glaring down at the pervert lying on the ground, for the first time understanding why he annoyed Ivy so much.

"What's really important, though," Flare spoke up, trying to quickly change the subject, "is that we managed to defeat the Sentry."

"Did we really?"

The group turned, focusing in on their green-haired companion as the girl spoke up, walking over to stand near Myst as she looked down at them with a forlorn expression.

"We didn't actually defeat the Sentry." She continued, lifting her eyes to the massive chunk of ice in front of her. "We just kind of… held him off."

"Same thing, isn't it?" Frost countered with a shrug.

"I'm not sure it is…" Ivy replied, frowning as she tilted her head up to the giant wall. While it was definitely a plus that they had somehow managed to survive, the tomboy wasn't sure she'd describe their situation as a 'win'. The Sentry was still out there, and it could still attack again. What was worse was that it now knew what to expect the next time – it knew what they were capable of. They had lost their element of surprise – an element that had proved nearly useless to them in the first place.

"I think that…"

Flare began to respond, then paused, turning his head back and forth, as if suddenly searching for something important.

"…Flare?" Myst asked after a moment of silence.

"You all hear that?" Flare questioned, turning to glance at his companions.

The group of them paused, focusing on the sounds around them as Flare prompted them too. At first, they weren't sure they could hear anything other than the sounds of nature – a sound of a gentle breeze, the echo of waves crashing into the other side of Frost's ice wall – nothing out of the ordinary. But as they continued to listen, and continued to stretch their auditory capabilities, a strange sound could be heard mixed in with the others, slowly growing louder.

"What is that?" Ivy questioned, unnerved by the growing murmur around them, turning to glance about as well.

"It sounds kind of like… a roar?" Myst suggested, also trying to locate the noise's origin.

"A roar!" Frost exclaimed, suddenly whining as he pushed himself up and ripped his sword from the icy wall. "Don't tell me this fight isn't over yet!"

"No…" Flare pushed himself to his feet, using the ice at his back for support as he looked inland, staring at the city that stretched out before him. He grinned, the noise growing ever louder as it grew closer and closer.

"It is a roar, but not from a beast." Flare replied, lifting an arm to point toward the town. "That's a roar of man."

The Bladewarriors turned, lifting their eyes to glance in the direction that the fiery youth was pointing – toward the growing crowd of people rushing toward them, cheering like nothing they had ever heard. The sound grew to a nearly deafening cacophony as the citizens of Sentinel Bay flooded the beach. Shock and awe filled the eyes of the Bladewarriors as the crowd continued to grow, rushing from the buildings and streets, from the distant reaches of the city and the fields beyond where they had been evacuating. The denizens of the port town rushed forward, screaming and cheering for these mighty warriors that stood on the beach, completely bewildered by the spectacle.

"Amazing!"

"Incredible!"

"I've never seen anything like that!"

Myst glanced around, unsure what to think as the people of Sentinel Bay crowded around them, patting them on the backs, thanking them, cheering for them. The smiles on their faces – the look of gratitude and amazement in their eyes – these people showed no hatred or suspicion of her. They didn't shy away from and torment her. They were… proud.

"Myst!"

The girl turned teary eyes to the sound of her mother's voice as the woman forced her way through the crowd, rushing forward to wrap her arms around the girl, pulling her in tight.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Myst stood dumbfounded on the spot, unsure how to accept the praise of the population gathered around them. She just looked on, tears flowing from her eyes uncontrollably as the people around them continued to shout their appreciation.

"How did you do that!"

Children pushed through the crowd, popping their heads in from between the forms of the adults around them, staring up at the amazing men and women gathered their.

"How did you hold back that wave!" One of the young boys shouted, staring fixatedly at Myst's saber. A rush of panic passed of the girl as the child did, the glimmer in her eyes fading a moment as she feared that the population around her would discover her curse.

"Was it your sword!" A young girl inquired, pointing at the weapon. "Was it the Mystic Blade that did it!"

"That's amazing!" Another child exclaimed, staring at the weapon. "Can a sword really do that!"

Myst let out a sigh of relief. None of them seemed to realize the ability to hold back that tsunami – while heightened by her swords power – was actually her unique ability.

"No, that's not it."

Myst gasped as she heard her mother speak, turning to watch as the woman bent down to met the eyes of the children.

"It wasn't Myst's sword."

"M-mother!" Myst called, trying to stop the woman, but Ondine simply smiled and continued anyway.

"Myst can do that all by herself." Ondine announced, a few of the people around gasped and suddenly looked at Myst with a little less admiration in their eyes.

"By herself?" one of the kids asked, turning a curious glance to the blue-haired girl.

"That's even more amazing!" the first girl shouted again, jumping up. "How did you do it! Can you teach me!"

Myst froze, staring down at the young girl, seeing the look of excitement in the child's pale, green eyes. It reminded her of when she had first discovered her power, of how the other children had first reacted when she had shown them, too.

"I… well…"

"Is that true?" A parent stepped forward, eyeing Myst distrustfully a moment.

"W-well…" the nymph answered nervously, awkwardly reaching up to squeeze her own arm for support.

"Of course it is!" Ivy exclaimed, suddenly popping up beside the girl, slapping her hands on the girl's shoulder. "She just saved all of your lives… with magic."

"Who would have thought, huh?" Flare added, grinning widely at the confused face of the parent as they tried to decide whether to reject the blue-haired girl outright, or thank her for everything she did.

"Course… if you don't care for her magic…" Frost commented, tapping against the icy wall behind him. "We could always just… undo it."

The parent lowered their head a moment, shaking it, then lifted their gaze back up, revealing a burgeoning smile.

"No… that won't be necessary." The woman replied, turning the grin toward Myst. "Magic or not… you saved us. Thank you."

Myst paused, the sense of pride returning to her as she looked into that woman's eyes, finding no hate hidden there – finding no sign of her words being lies. She knew it was a far cry from being accepted by the whole realm, but… one person was more than enough.

"That was magnificent!"

From the crowd emerged another familiar voice and face as a man draped in white robes and wearing a strange droplet-shaped hat made his way forward. This figure had no need to force his way through as people stepped aside for him, clearing the way for The White Priest.

"I can hardly believe my eyes! That was incredible!" The man exclaimed as he reached the front of the crowd, eyeing the Bladewarriors with admiration and a touch of disbelief. "Even though I just watched it happen, I still can't believe what I saw. You actually bested the Sentry!"

The roar of applause heightened as the priest finished talking, the people around echoing his compliments and beliefs. In the ten thousand years since The Dragon King's rise and the establishment of The Serpent's reign, none had ever thought they would bare witness to such an event – to the defeat of one of The Serpent's most powerful warriors.

"You saved us all!"

"Hail the Mystic Bladesmen!"

"Our town is safe again! Thank you!"

The Bladewarriors turned, glancing to each other as the crowd around them roared. Flare could tell, as he stared into the eyes of each of his companions, that this was the first time they had been praised like this – the first time an entire town had stood and sung of their victory. For him, though, it was nothing new. Which was why he was the only one still able to look past the cloud of overconfidence and self-assurance that was building in hid friend's vision, and in the eyes of everyone around them.

"You're town isn't safe!"

Flare shouted the words as loud as he could, and as threateningly as he could manage, trying to be heard over the roar of the people. Instantly, those nearby quieted, turning to stare at the strange fire-headed teen as he narrowed his eyes, steeling his face as he scanned the crowd.

"The Sentry isn't gone!"

Flare shouted again, his voice carrying further as the exuberance of the town's citizens was stolen by the words, ending their accolades. The flame warrior let his red eyes scan across the many unfamiliar faces that surrounded him, finding the look of arrogance fading from the people's eyes as he spoke, and fading from the gazes of his companions.

"What are you saying?" The White Priest spoke up, his face stern as he glared at the warrior. "You just defeated the Sentry! You saved the town!"

"But the Sentry is still alive." Flare responded coolly, no longer needing to shout over the tumult of the people. "We may have held him off… but he's still out there."

"But… the wall!" A voice cried out from the crowd in response.

"The wall you made will protect us!"

The dissonance of the crowd began to rise once more, shouts of agreement echoing from people all around.

"No!"

It was Frost who shouted this time, stepping forward as his voice silenced the crowd.

"You can't rely on the wall." The faire-haired warrior turned, eyeing the glacier he had made a moment before facing the crowd again. "This barrier won't last forever. It's too warm here. In a few days, maybe a week, it'll soften enough that The Sentry will probably be able to topple it."

There was no argumentative response as Frost spoke, the boy sighing as he scratched the back of his head.

"This was a temporary solution." Frost shouted, trying to be heard by as many people as possible. "When it does weaken… it's just going to pose a larger threat."

"What?"

"Why?"

"How?"

The crowd cried out for answers, displeased by the sour news. As their uproar began to grow, though, a hand rose, and it was quelled instantly. The White Priest sighed, shaking his head as he put his hand back down. He eyed the boy with flame-like hair, wishing the child had not spoken so hastily.

"You're right, of course." The priest nodded, receiving gasps and awes from the people around. "But I wish you would have been less crass and allowed the people a few moments longer to celebrate."

"Sorry." Flare replied, shaking his head. "It's best to face reality early. Otherwise, it just leaves you open to another attack."

Myst frowned, lowering her head slightly as Flare spoke. Moments ago that same person had been speaking of their defeat of the Sentry, and already he seemed to be considering what would come next. He wasted no time reveling in the moment like the people of Sentinel Bay, and he hadn't allowed himself to get caught up in their praise like herself, and Ivy, and even Frost. He had instantly begun to address the inevitable consequences of their actions. It gave the girl the distinct impression this was not the first time he had rescued a town from the brink of destruction.

"The best thing to do now…" Myst spoke up, her mind clear of praise now, "is to continue the evacuation."

The crowd's response showed they were not pleased with the idea as they turned frowns and glares on the group, but few shouted back or attempted to argue. Flare's sobering words had reached them as well, and in their minds, they had already discovered the truth behind the nymph's words.

"If you stay, the Sentry will return." Myst continued. "He won't let our rebellion stand peacefully. He and The Serpent will wipe Sentinel Bay from the realm, and quite possibly target other towns as well. To protect yourself, your best bet is to travel inland, to seek refuge in landlocked villages like Dalga to the north."

"I agree…" The White Priest nodded and sighed. "But you have at least given us more time to accomplish our retreat. But what do you four intend to do now? How do you plan to fix this situation you've created?"

"I already told you." Flare replied quickly. "We're going to defeat The Serpent. And we'll take out the Sentry next time we meet him, too."

The White Priest was not quick to respond as the boy answered, taking a moment to judge the child before him once more. The teenager spoke with a passion and confidence that was not fleeting – he carried with him a drive to carry out these outlandish declarations. The priest had no doubt as he looked the boy up and down – as he listened to the fiery youths words – that this warrior from another realm truly believed he would do exactly what he was claiming he would do. When he had met the boy earlier, he had made the same outrageous oath. The White Priest had not questioned his conviction, but rather these children's ability to actually carry through with the promise. And while doubt still lingered in the priest's mind, after witnessing their battle, the shepherd was willing to hope they could.

"Well then," The Priest smiled, lowering his eyes, "how were you intending to find The Serpent?"

"That's sort of why we're here." Myst spoke up first. "We were hoping you might tell us where we can find The Blue Priest."

"As I thought." The man nodded, turning to glance at the witch – no, the warrior before him. When she had denied knowledge of The Serpent's demand for her surrender, he couldn't fathom a reason why she would have appeared. But if it was Okena, The Blue Priest, that they sought, finding him would be a good first step.

"Do you happen to know where he is?" Ivy questioned politely.

"If it's The Blue Priest you're seeking, you should head to Nehir." The White Priest responded, turning to point at the eastern horizon. "Its a few days to the east from here."

"I know where it is." Myst replied, nodding.

"A few days!" Frost exclaimed, groaning as he collapsed back the ground. "Didn't we just spend a few days walking here!"

"Another rare moment where we agree." Ivy moaned, sagging her shoulders at the unpleasant idea of another few days of walking through the rain. "I'm tired of walking…"

"Why don't you rest here, then?"

Ondine spoke up, drawing the group's attention as she did.

"The ice you created might not last forever, but it should at least hold for a few days, right?' The mother questioned, looking to Frost. "If so, you could all stay the night, and we could all celebrate! Then, in the morning, we can begin evacuating, and you all can head to Nehir."

"That sounds like a brilliant idea!" The White Priest replied, nodding his approval as he turned to face the Bladewarriors again. "What do you say?"

"Anything to put off more work!" Frost shouted, nodding his head.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt…" Ivy added, turning to look at Myst and Flare.

"I certainly wouldn't mind." Myst nodded, grinning.

"Well…" Flare sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "I suppose a night to celebrate our first victory won't kill us, and I wouldn't mind a rest. Why not?"

"Then it's settled!" The White Priest exclaimed, spinning to face the crowd still gathered around them. "In the morning, we will all pack our valuables and head inland. But tonight, we honor our heroes and host a festival like none seen before in our realm! Let us celebrate our first victory against The Serpent!"

A cacophony of cheers broke out amongst the people, rising to a deafening roar as arms were thrown in the air in celebration. The population crowded forward once more, congratulating the warriors and giving them thanks as the four teenagers smiled and enjoyed the praise. Even Flare allowed himself a moment to enjoy the applause before a tap on his shoulder pulled his attention elsewhere. The fiery haired youth turned, finding the White Priest beside him, the man leaning close.

"You seem to have a level head about you," the priest whispered into his ear, just loud enough for the boy to hear, "so I know you will maintain yourself and take this warning I will give you seriously."

Flare shifted his eyes, glancing at the man through his periphery as the priest continued.

"You surely know by now that there are three priests that rule the Water Realm," The White Priest continued. "I rule the domain of man, and guide and protect the people. The Blue Priest you seek heralds the word of The Serpent, and is responsible for carrying out her will. I cannot guarantee he will assist you, but… it is the third of us – The Black Priest – that you must avoid.

"The Black Priest will surely try to stop you all." The priest warned, his voice tense, his tone weighty. "The Blue Priest and I, in our own forms, are responsible for establishing the rules to maintain peace in our realm and avoid the loss of life. The Black Priest, however, if here to uphold them. He makes no exceptions, and in our realm, he is judge, jury, and executioner. Should he meet any of you… he will strike you down."

The White Priest pulled away, his expression staunch as he stared back into Flare's eyes, assuring the warrior or fire that his words carried with them absolutely no levity or humor. The Bladewarrior said nothing to the man, staring at the figure, trying to find the right response. Before it came to mind, though, Frost stepped between the two, swiping away the strange white hat from the priest's head.

"I believe this is mine!" Frost declared, sitting the droplet-shaped piece of headgear atop his noggin.

"What in the world are you talking about!" The White Priest shouted, reaching out to take the decorative accessory from the boy. The fool quickly stepped back, pulling the hat from the man's reach.

"No, no!" Frost shouted, reaching up to hold the hat on his head. "I bet you your fancy hat that we'd beat The Sentry! And what did we do?"

Flare grinned, trying to stifle a laugh as the priest stared dumbfounded at the boy from the Ice Realm, vaguely recalling the boy's comment from earlier, but not remembering actually having agreed to it. After a moment of stunned silence, though, the man broke into laughter, shaking his head.

"You beat The Sentry."

"I beat The Sentry!" Frost repeated, nodding his head emphatically. "So this hat's mine!"

"As you wish." The White Priest chuckled, nodding. "Enjoy it, then."

Flare grinned, slapping an arm down around his companion's shoulder as he leaned in.

"So… you beat The Sentry?" Flare asked, jokingly. "Funny, I though it was a group effort."

"Common misconception." Frost replied, shaking his head as he smiled. "Truth behind the story? The other Bladewarriors just ran around screaming while I did all the work."

Flare let out a loud laugh, punching the white-haired fool in the arm. Whatever the future held for them all, they'd face it together.