to get power for himself.
That’s all it is. He is taking your frustrations with your father and the King
and making them seem bigger than they really are. You just can't march in
and...”
“I can, and I will. The Realm has caused too much trouble for
everyone. These people here in Belor suffer, the farmers back around Anikari
suffer, and you and I have suffered because of the politics of the Realm.”
“It’s not because of the Realm. It’s because of men in the Realm.
Don't fight against them. If you want to change things, fight from within. You
will die in a war, Darius.”
Darius laughed. “I will not die. Don't you see the loyalty in my
men and the men of the Preacher? They will protect us so we can save them.”
“You aren't doing this for them. I understand now.” Kelln walked
closer to Darius, his voice rising louder. “You want the power.”
“You’re right, I want power, Kelln. Have you ever felt the power
of an army behind you? Of winning a victory?”
“Darius!” Kelln couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could he
make his friend see how the Preacher was manipulating his insecurities? He
thought back to all the years they attended the Academy together. Darius was
always the one to smooth things over for Kelln when he got into trouble. Darius
was always careful in what he said and how he treated others. Darius always
wanted to keep the Realm peaceful, not destroy it for his own power and glory.
Darius always was the one to get Kelln out of trouble. Now it was Kelln’s turn
to help Darius.
“And most of all, Kelln, the power I have inside. It’s amazing.
The Preacher can teach me how to use it to its full potential.”
“No. Alastair told me the Preacher uses his power for evil.”
“He’s just jealous. You all are jealous,” Darius yelled, his eyes
going out of focus.
Kelln couldn't believe his best friend had turned against him.
They had ridden horses together, played ball together, studied together, and
shared their innermost secrets together. What had the Preacher done to him?
What power had he used?
“Darius, do you remember when we got caught down under the library?
Remember when we found out about your powers and were talking about what we
wanted to do in life?”
Darius nodded, and his eyes seemed to refocus for a moment.
“You talked about how you couldn’t understand how your father
seemed to crave the power and glory of politics and that you missed him being
away from you and your mother.”
Darius nodded again. “That is true. No one should have the power
he and the King have to control other’s lives.”
“But don’t you see, Darius? You are doing the same thing. You are
caught up in power and glory.”
“This is who I am now, Kelln. I have been given the ability to
change things. You will see.” A new fire of madness glowed in Darius’s eyes.
It scared Kelln and frustrated him to see his friend this way. He
had to try and break the spell. “Look at yourself, Darius.” Kelln paused, then
in anger yelled out, “You are no better than you think your father is!”
With one flick of his wrist, Darius sent the power at Kelln,
pushing him away. Kelln flew across the room and smacked into a small table.
His weight broke two of the table’s legs into splinters. Darius made the chair
fly across the room, breaking into pieces against the stone wall above Kelln.
Kelln covered his head. He felt blood in his hair and winced at the pain. He
wanted so much to get up and hit Darius back, but somehow conversations with
Alastair came flooding into his head. He tried instead to hold back the tears
and find peace.
“You have changed, Darius,” was all Kelln whispered. He sat
crumpled on the floor, bruised and bleeding.
“I am the same, Kelln.” Darius headed towards the door.
“You are looking on the outside. Look on the inside. It has grown
cold. Look into your heart. Please, Darius, don't do this.”
Kelln looked at Darius’s back and thought again
That’s all it is. He is taking your frustrations with your father and the King
and making them seem bigger than they really are. You just can't march in
and...”
“I can, and I will. The Realm has caused too much trouble for
everyone. These people here in Belor suffer, the farmers back around Anikari
suffer, and you and I have suffered because of the politics of the Realm.”
“It’s not because of the Realm. It’s because of men in the Realm.
Don't fight against them. If you want to change things, fight from within. You
will die in a war, Darius.”
Darius laughed. “I will not die. Don't you see the loyalty in my
men and the men of the Preacher? They will protect us so we can save them.”
“You aren't doing this for them. I understand now.” Kelln walked
closer to Darius, his voice rising louder. “You want the power.”
“You’re right, I want power, Kelln. Have you ever felt the power
of an army behind you? Of winning a victory?”
“Darius!” Kelln couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How could he
make his friend see how the Preacher was manipulating his insecurities? He
thought back to all the years they attended the Academy together. Darius was
always the one to smooth things over for Kelln when he got into trouble. Darius
was always careful in what he said and how he treated others. Darius always
wanted to keep the Realm peaceful, not destroy it for his own power and glory.
Darius always was the one to get Kelln out of trouble. Now it was Kelln’s turn
to help Darius.
“And most of all, Kelln, the power I have inside. It’s amazing.
The Preacher can teach me how to use it to its full potential.”
“No. Alastair told me the Preacher uses his power for evil.”
“He’s just jealous. You all are jealous,” Darius yelled, his eyes
going out of focus.
Kelln couldn't believe his best friend had turned against him.
They had ridden horses together, played ball together, studied together, and
shared their innermost secrets together. What had the Preacher done to him?
What power had he used?
“Darius, do you remember when we got caught down under the library?
Remember when we found out about your powers and were talking about what we
wanted to do in life?”
Darius nodded, and his eyes seemed to refocus for a moment.
“You talked about how you couldn’t understand how your father
seemed to crave the power and glory of politics and that you missed him being
away from you and your mother.”
Darius nodded again. “That is true. No one should have the power
he and the King have to control other’s lives.”
“But don’t you see, Darius? You are doing the same thing. You are
caught up in power and glory.”
“This is who I am now, Kelln. I have been given the ability to
change things. You will see.” A new fire of madness glowed in Darius’s eyes.
It scared Kelln and frustrated him to see his friend this way. He
had to try and break the spell. “Look at yourself, Darius.” Kelln paused, then
in anger yelled out, “You are no better than you think your father is!”
With one flick of his wrist, Darius sent the power at Kelln,
pushing him away. Kelln flew across the room and smacked into a small table.
His weight broke two of the table’s legs into splinters. Darius made the chair
fly across the room, breaking into pieces against the stone wall above Kelln.
Kelln covered his head. He felt blood in his hair and winced at the pain. He
wanted so much to get up and hit Darius back, but somehow conversations with
Alastair came flooding into his head. He tried instead to hold back the tears
and find peace.
“You have changed, Darius,” was all Kelln whispered. He sat
crumpled on the floor, bruised and bleeding.
“I am the same, Kelln.” Darius headed towards the door.
“You are looking on the outside. Look on the inside. It has grown
cold. Look into your heart. Please, Darius, don't do this.”
Kelln looked at Darius’s back and thought again
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