Page 6 of Dark Reckoning
“Fuck, you are powerful,” Sage said under his breath, but I heard him just fine.
Kakashi sighed and stepped closer to us. “We can take on this Dark God, but not without losing our lives possibly, or the lives of millions, maybe even billions. As you now know the level of destruction that will happen when trying to send a Dark God back to their realm.”
“What about trying to kill one?” Sage asked.
“I'd imagine the destruction would be even more catastrophic. It's bad enough simply sending one back. Do you really want to see what would happen if we killed one?” Xirsi asked. “I don't know about you, but if we do survive, I'd still like a world left to live in.”
Sage was glaring at him. “So, in other words, you have no idea. You could have just said that instead of being an ass.”
Kirsi opened his mouth to say something, but Kakashi raised his hand. “I, on the other hand, am open to the option of killing one.”
Aldéric gasped. “You are?”
Kakashi nodded. “We don't really know what will happen if we manage to kill one. Maybe the amount of magic it took to send them back in the past is what killed those Councils. It is no easy feat to trap a powerful being like that and open a portal to their realm to transfer them back. In any case, we won't know until we try.”
“That's if there's even a spell that can kill a Dark God,” said Kyla.
"I aim to find one,” Kakashi said.
“Shit, I'm with him,” Sage agreed.
“You've barely cut your teeth on that grimoire of yours. Nobody cares what you think,” Aldéric snapped.
Sage snarled, then growled. “Want to test my skill, bitch.”
“Oh my god, we need to get along. This isn't helping. From this moment on, we will be working as one to save this world and keep the peace between not only the supernals, but between humans and supernals,” Maryanne said, her brown eyes sincere as she looked at Sage, me, Xirsi, and Aldéric.
Of course, I didn’t know why she directed that at me, I wasn't about to throw down just then, but whatever.
“I'm in a mood,” Aldéric said.
“And I don't give a fuck,” Sage snapped back. “We're here and we see what needs to be done now. I don't care if you like me or Adrian. But if you give me attitude, you're going to get it back. My nature won't allow anything less than me standing my ground.”
“Shifters are made from beasts, after all,” Kayla said.
Sage's beautiful gray and golden eyes panned over to her and I could feel his anger rising, it was that palpable. I reached down, taking his hand into my own. “It's okay, baby.”
He turned from her and kissed my temple and I could feel his temper cooling. “I'm good.”
“All right. Sage, I'm ready to join, are you?” I asked him.
“Not quite,” he said, then looked back at Kakashi. “You didn't finish explaining this life bond you're asking us to make.”
“Ahh, yes. If one of us dies, the link we had with them is broken. Their magical essence is then returned to the ether, so to speak. Left there for the next member to absorb. But we do not all die if one dies. That is not how it works. However, once the link is made, only death will break it. Now do you understand?” Kakashi asked.
The man really had a way with words, that was for sure.
Sage nodded. “Yeah, I get it now.”
Something Kakashi said earlier came to mind and I needed answers. “You said that only the mages chosen to become members of the Echelon Imperial have gained access to the knowledge of all those events that were erased by a spell. How does that happen?” I asked.
“Once you complete the ritual and our powers are linked, you will begin to receive such knowledge. It won't happen immediately. Over time, you'll get this knowledge in dreams or waking visions,” Kakashi said. “The knowledge of every member who came before us is passed down to the next members. That is why a ritual must take place after you've purified yourselves,” Kakashi said.
“Ahh, I see. That's intense,” I said.
“It's not as simple as a handshake and a membership card,” quipped Aldéric with more attitude than was necessary, in my opinion.
Sage rolled his eyes and scoffed. “You can kiss my entire ass, just so you know,” he told the mage and to my surprise, Aldéric chuckled. Sage returned his attention to Kakashi. “Since we're being all forthcoming, you need to know how my magic works, because I'm a dark mage.”
