Sphere 6. Between the "Worlds". Fantasy Cycle #6: The Separation of Light and Darkness. Beginning.

  This place was divided into two camps — Light and Darkness. But not as usual. At this time the army of Light was struggling — barely holding the line, which forced their general to intervene.

  Larivalion was one of the twelve generals of Light.

  The moment he entered the battle — the field became blinding and unbearably hot. He was the Holy Flame. One of the strongest generals. Golden hair, light white clothing — he had no need for armour. If anyone who did not belong to the army of Light tried to approach him — they turned to ash.

  The moment he stepped onto the battlefield — the side of Light surged with spirit and began to suppress the army of Darkness.

  At that moment a girl approached him.

  Golden hair. White armour, a pair of white wings at her back. One of the captains. Her responsibility — healing and support, though in certain situations she joined the front lines as well.

  She saluted:

  Raphael, captain of the healing and support unit: — Glory to the Light. Your Excellency, with your presence we will take this section of the front. But will the general of the Dark army not also enter the battle?

  She asked this out of concern — a clash between two generals would certainly cause enormous casualties on both sides. As captain of the healing unit she was deeply troubled by this.

  In response she received a smile and the reassuring voice of Larivalion:

  Larivalion, 9th general of the Light army: — Don't worry. The moment he shows himself — I'll challenge him to a duel. One on one. Not on the battlefield.

  The moment he finished speaking — someone appeared above both armies.

  Sharp horns jutting from his forehead. Imposing — as though this man was a king or a very high-ranking demon, rather than a creature of Darkness. Dishevelled hair the colour of black light. Eyes — like those of ordinary beings of Light or angels, but with black pupils. Light black armour covering his shoulders and the lower half of his body.

  A faint, prideful smile played on his face — looking down on everyone from above.

  This was the general of the Dark army — Varionier.

  The moment he appeared — both armies held their breath and went still.

  Three pairs of white wings appeared at Larivalion's back. He rose toward Varionier and introduced himself in a fairly friendly tone:

  Larivalion: — I am Larivalion, 9th general of the Light army, Holy Fla...

  He didn't get to finish — Varionier raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and said with light amusement:

  Varionier: — One strike. I won't defend or dodge.

  In an instant both armies fell into disarray.

  Among the army of Light, almost everyone shared the same thought:

  "How arrogant and reckless is this general?"

  "No wonder they call him Pride... no wonder Darkness gave him that name..."

  Larivalion went quiet. Looked at him for a second. Then drew his sword — it appeared from white flame:

  Larivalion: — I'll take that opportunity. Prepare yourself.

  Saying this — he charged at Varionier.

  Larivalion entered the black-and-white world — so that only captains could move at all. The general of the Dark army didn't even attempt to enter it — remaining like a frozen statue.

  When Larivalion emerged from the black-and-white world — he was already standing far behind Varionier's back.

  It was obvious that Larivalion had not aimed for the head or the neck. Instead he left a very deep cut — from the right shoulder to the left hip. The wound was so deep that several bones had been severed.

  Varionier touched the wound with his fingers. Took a little of his own blood. Brought it to his lips and tasted it.

  Even the army of Darkness felt uneasy at this.

  He laughed slightly and half-turned:

  Varionier: — Interesting... it's been a while since I tasted my own blood...

  Even Larivalion was slightly surprised — after such a wound, no follow-up attack came. No white flame. And during the attack in the black-and-white world he had felt just how solid his opponent's body was.

  He smiled slightly as well:

  Larivalion: — You are very strong. May I have the honour of leaving a mark in your memory?

  Varionier: — I'll remember you.

  After which — without waiting — he attacked. With bare fists. Ignoring Larivalion's sword blocks entirely. Suppressing him immediately.

  Both armies held their breath.

  The armies began to pull back — though they were already far below, they preferred to retreat even further. Varionier held nothing back — he was fully enjoying the fight. Larivalion only defended: his sword was nowhere near as manoeuvrable as his opponent's fists.

  When Varionier finished a series of attacks — he paused for a moment and left himself open. But Larivalion didn't dare take advantage of it. If he attacked — he would also open himself up. And although he could have defended against most of the damage — his body was not nearly as resilient. He chose not to risk it. He set his block in advance and reinforced it.

  Varionier crossed both arms and brought them down from above.

  Larivalion had already reinforced the block with Holy Flame — but still felt pressure so intense he nearly collapsed.

  When he tried to increase the distance and entered the black-and-white world — he felt a searing pain in his side. A kick to the right side from Varionier. Because of this he immediately exited the black-and-white world and, like a cannonball, flew until he landed near the army of Darkness.

  Those directly beside Larivalion felt despair — they knew their general would not wait for them to clear away. Partly this was their own fault — they hadn't retreated as far as the Light army had.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  At that moment, within a radius of roughly one kilometre from where Larivalion had landed — Varionier's ability activated.

  "Awakening of the Abyss"

  A black pillar erupted from below — literally annihilating everything in its path. Those caught within the radius were simply erased — regardless of who they were. Only someone at captain level could hope to survive it.

  Because of this attack, most of Larivalion's clothing disappeared. He immediately summoned his armour — but it was damaged too. Finally he managed to break away from Varionier — though not in the way he had planned.

  When he flew upward — both armies saw his condition. Dishevelled wings. Dented armour. Some parts severely damaged or destroyed entirely.

  At that moment a girl in armour with a pair of white wings flew up to him.

  Raphael — the same captain who had met Larivalion when he first stepped onto the battlefield.

  She began to heal him. Larivalion, saying nothing, kept his eyes on Varionier's movements. Varionier in turn did not interfere — simply watched.

  Three quarters of a second later Raphael said with some concern:

  Raphael: — The remaining wounds I can't heal here — they need more time.

  With those words she left the battlefield and headed toward the Light army.

  Larivalion: — We can continue.

  The moment he finished speaking — he activated the Holy Flame, burning himself and everything around him within a radius of several kilometres. Varionier was caught in this radius too — his armour began to melt, his clothing to evaporate.

  Larivalion began to fight with full seriousness. To the death.

  Three pairs of coal-black wings appeared behind Varionier. More horns grew from his head — running backward, also regal. His former horns became even more imposing. A completely dark aura enveloped his body.

  The battlefield split evenly in two — the blinding white side of Larivalion and the absolute dark side of Varionier.

  Both armies suffered — but casualties were minimal. The Light army was already retreating on Raphael's orders. The Dark army, having learned its lesson, pulled back even further.

  The armies retreated so far that all they could see were two colours filling everything — though at that distance they had shrunk to the size of small mountains.

  Raphael had been watching the battle for an hour already — healing the seriously wounded during the retreat. The rest were being treated by her specialist unit.

  During her observation — the darkness suddenly swallowed the light on the open battlefield. And the darkness kept growing. And growing.

  Raphael's heart clenched. Her entire body went cold.

  She immediately ordered everyone to fall back. She herself — together with several captains and junior captains — decided to stand to the death, holding off the approaching Varionier.

  The Light army hadn't managed to retreat before Varionier appeared in front of Raphael, the captains, and the junior captains. His aura almost literally suffocated and crushed them.

  Varionier looked at them and smirked.

  Raphael decided to buy time — and to give heart to those who had stayed with her:

  Raphael: — Do not fear the Darkness. We will win without fail, and our sacrifice will become the foundation for that.

  The moment she finished — one of the captains decided to add something:

  Captain: — We...

  The moment he opened his mouth — he was swallowed by a beam of darkness that erupted from the air beside Varionier. Who stood with arms crossed over his chest.

  Silence.

  Raphael and the others felt despair. Some of the recently promoted junior captains were even trembling.

  Varionier, looking at them, smiled slightly:

  Varionier: — If you kill exactly half of yourselves — I'll let the rest go.

  Hearing this — the others felt fear and revulsion. Raphael even more so. She was someone who saved, not killed.

  Some of the juniors began to waver — feeling fear not only of Varionier but of the captains who had stayed. Those were more experienced and stronger than them.

  But then Raphael's voice rang out:

  Raphael: — May I ask you to let them live — in exchange for my life?

  This made some of the junior captains secretly exhale — feeling just a little hope.

  Varionier: — Who are you?

  Raphael: — I am Raphael, captain of the healing and support unit...

  Varionier (interrupting): — Tell me — why should I agree?

  Varionier wasn't bothered by Raphael buying time. He simply didn't care about the retreating Light army.

  A small hope appeared in Raphael:

  Raphael: — You are asking why you should agree. But you have already stopped and are listening to me. Which means the reason already exists — you simply want to hear it from me.

  Hearing this, Varionier thought for a moment — another killing held little interest for him. He considered it and said:

  Varionier: — Take off your helmet. I want to look at you.

  This order puzzled everyone.

  Raphael froze for a moment. Then removed her helmet — golden hair, golden eyes.

  Before she could even look at Varionier — he was already standing in front of her. Everyone present tensed instantly, but no one dared do anything.

  Varionier tilted his head slightly, looking more into Raphael's eyes than at her face. Then he said:

  Varionier: — Beautiful eyes.

  Then he turned in another direction.

  A junior captain. A girl with white hair and violet eyes. He pointed at her and at Raphael:

  Varionier: — You and her — stay. The rest — away.

  The moment he finished — an aura of darkness erupted from his body. With enormous force — throwing everyone except the two he had chosen.

  Her and Lyriel — junior captain from her own unit, healing and support.

  Lyriel stood for exactly three seconds.

  Then her legs simply gave out. Not from wounds. From the fact that all the tension of the last few minutes released at once — and her body honestly said enough. She dropped to one knee. Then both. Braced her hands against the ground.

  She wasn't crying. Just breathing — quickly, unevenly.

  Raphael caught this from the corner of her eye — and stepped toward her. Reflexively. Captain to her soldier. Knelt beside her. Hand on her shoulder — firm, brief:

  Raphael: — Lyriel. Breathe.

  Lyriel: — I... am breathing...

  Raphael: — Slower.

  Lyriel listened. Once. Twice. Three times.

  It helped. A little.

  Varionier watched this — without expression. Without interest in Lyriel's collapse. Without mockery. Simply watching. The way you watch something that is happening on its own and has nothing to do with you.

  His gaze slid past Lyriel — and returned to Raphael. More precisely — to her eyes.

  Lyriel finally raised her head — but didn't dare look directly. Only at Varionier's feet. Then at Raphael.

  Quietly — only for her:

  Lyriel: — Raphael-san... the others flew away.

  Raphael: — Yes.

  Lyriel: — We stayed.

  Raphael: — Yes.

  Silence.

  Lyriel: — I'm glad I'm alive. Right now. Is that... is that alright?

  Raphael looked at Varionier — at his smile, at the gaze that looks at her but doesn't see her.

  Raphael: — Yes. It's alright.

  Pause.

  — Stand up.

  Lyriel: — I'll try...

  Raphael: — Don't try. Stand up.

  Lyriel stood.

  Unsteadily. With effort. But she stood. Straightened up beside Raphael — shoulder to shoulder. White wings. Violet eyes that still glistened more than they should — but looked forward.

  After this Varionier cancelled his transformation and returned to nearly his usual state — a pair of horns from his forehead and only a pair of black wings at his back. The aura that had enveloped him also disappeared, leaving his upper body bare. The lower half was in tattered clothing.

  The wound he had received from Larivalion's strike — was still there. Inside the wound his blood and flesh twisted strangely, trying to close it — but without success.

  The two sides — Light and Darkness — had their own peculiarities, especially in healing. The Light side needed specialists like Raphael and Lyriel — with particular mana and training. The Dark side needed only time. Depending on the severity of the wound, the strength of the creature, and the surrounding environment — the wound would close on its own. But almost never completely.

  The moment the last figures from the Light army disappeared from view — the captains and junior captains of the Dark army arrived.

  Seeing that Varionier was standing on the ground — they dared not fly any longer. They landed and all dropped to one knee at once:

  Dark Army: — May Darkness be eternal. May the general be eternal.

  After this the first captain raised his head slightly. Looked at Raphael and Lyriel. Then at those retreating:

  First Captain: — They're ret...

  He didn't finish — he was immediately destroyed by a black beam that erupted from the air beside Varionier.

  Silence.

  The other captains and junior captains didn't dare even breathe loudly.

  Varionier turned — already taking off, not looking:

  Varionier: — Zoarast. You're in charge now.

  The second captain — now the first — didn't dare ask anything. He answered with reverent fear:

  Zoarast: — As you command, Your Excellency.

  After Varionier took off — Raphael quietly rose and took off after him. She and Lyriel were now Varionier's prisoners of war. Since he hadn't ordered them to stay — they had to follow.

  Lyriel hesitated slightly — and followed after Raphael.

  When Varionier, Raphael, and Lyriel had gone far enough — the new captain exhaled without hiding it.

  Hearing this — some of the junior captains could no longer hold themselves together. And simply collapsed to the ground.

  — end of part one —