The voice that echoed from the fissure was chilling, its tone laced with a confidence that sent shivers down Lumumba's spine. The Sovereign. His presence was palpable, and even though Lumumba couldn't see him, he could feel his eyes on him, watching, waiting.
The ground beneath his feet trembled, the dark energy from the fissure pulsing in time with the beat of his heart. Lumumba gripped his twin swords tighter, his eyes fixed on the source of the power. He could hear Amara and Koffi still fighting behind him, their movements swift and precise, but the shadowy figures seemed endless.
"Lumumba!" Amara shouted over the din of battle, her voice tense with urgency. "Whatever you're going to do, do it now! We can't hold them off forever!"
He took a deep breath, forcing the Sovereign's voice from his mind, and focused on the task at hand. The fissure in front of him was a swirling vortex of dark magic, and at its center was a glowing, obsidian crystal that seemed to be feeding off the energy around it. Lumumba knew instinctively that this was the source. If he could destroy it, the fissure—and the shadowy figures it controlled—would collapse.
But the crystal was surrounded by thick tendrils of dark energy, like living chains that pulsed and thrashed wildly in the air. Getting close to it would be nearly impossible.
"Amara, Koffi, Mamadou—cover me!" Lumumba shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos.
Without hesitation, his friends sprang into action. Amara slashed through another shadowy figure, clearing a path for Lumumba, while Koffi cast a protective barrier around him, blocking the dark tendrils that tried to lash out at him. Mamadou, ever the opportunist, leaped into the fray with his twin daggers, carving through the remaining enemies with a gleeful grin.
"You got this, Lumumba!" Mamadou yelled, his voice full of adrenaline. "Just don't take too long—I'm starting to enjoy myself here!"
Lumumba smirked, despite the weight of the moment. He sprinted forward, dodging the thrashing tendrils of energy as he neared the crystal. The air grew heavier, thicker with dark magic, but Lumumba pushed through. This was it—the heart of the fissure. He could feel its power surging through the ground, threatening to tear the world apart.
With a final burst of speed, Lumumba lunged at the crystal, both swords raised high. He brought them down with all his strength, slashing through the dark tendrils and striking the obsidian crystal with a resounding crack.
For a moment, everything went still.
Then, the crystal shattered, releasing a blinding pulse of energy that knocked Lumumba off his feet. He hit the ground hard, his vision swimming as the dark magic around the fissure began to unravel. The shadowy figures collapsed, their forms dissipating into wisps of smoke, and the tendrils of energy that had guarded the fissure vanished into thin air.
Amara and Koffi rushed to his side, helping him to his feet as the ground stopped shaking.
"You did it," Amara said, her voice a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "The fissure is closing."
Lumumba steadied himself, his chest heaving with the effort. He looked around, seeing the remnants of the battle scattered across the landscape. The dark energy that had filled the air was dissipating, the fissure sealing itself shut with a final, soft whisper.
But the voice of the Sovereign still echoed in his mind.
"This isn't over, Lumumba," the voice whispered, its tone full of promise. "You've only delayed the inevitable. I will tear this world apart—piece by piece, fissure by fissure—and when I'm done, you will have no one left to save."
Lumumba gritted his teeth, shaking off the voice. "We'll see about that," he muttered under his breath.
After the Battle
The journey back to the academy was a quiet one. The weight of the battle, the Sovereign's ominous threats, and the physical exhaustion left little room for conversation. Lumumba led the group in silence, his thoughts swirling with a mix of dread and determination. They had closed another fissure, but the Sovereign was still out there, plotting something far bigger than they could fully understand.
When they finally reached the academy gates, Lumumba was greeted by the sight of Jon waiting for them. His face was unreadable, though Lumumba could see the tension in his posture. He had no doubt heard about the fissure and their success, but the air between them was still thick with the unresolved tension from their last conversation.
Jon approached, his arms crossed over his chest. "I see you're back in one piece," he said, his voice flat. "And the fissure?"
"Closed," Lumumba replied, his eyes locking with Jon's. "But there's more going on than we thought. The Sovereign's power is growing. This is only the beginning."
Jon's expression didn't change, but Lumumba could sense the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You could've used me out there," Jon said quietly. "We're in this fight together, Lumumba. You can't keep sidelining me."
Lumumba sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It wasn't about sidelining you, Jon. It was about making sure the academy was protected while we were gone. I needed someone I trusted here."
Jon's jaw tightened. "And yet, you don't trust me enough to fight beside you."
Lumumba opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Mamadou interrupted with his usual carefree attitude, slinging an arm around Lumumba's shoulders.
"Hey, lighten up, Jon," Mamadou said with a grin. "You're still part of the team. Just wait your turn—it's not like Lumumba's going to hog all the glory forever."
Jon's eyes flashed with irritation, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the academy.
"That went well," Amara muttered, watching him go.
Lumumba sighed. "We need to keep an eye on him. Jon's... not in a good place right now."
Koffi, ever the voice of reason, nodded. "We'll handle it. But for now, let's focus on what's ahead. The Sovereign is getting stronger, and we need to be ready for whatever he throws at us next."
The Next Day: A New Focus
After a night of much-needed rest, Lumumba gathered his core team—Amara, Koffi, Mamadou, and a few key members of the academy—for a strategy meeting. The dark energy they had encountered at the fissure was unlike anything they had faced before, and it was clear that the Sovereign's influence was spreading.
"The fissures are getting worse," Koffi said, standing at the head of the table. "We've confirmed that they're not random—each one is tied to a specific point of power in the kingdom. The Sovereign is using them to destabilize the region, weaken the borders, and spread his influence."
Lumumba nodded, his mind already turning toward the future. "We need more allies. The nobles are divided, the academy can only handle so much, and the Sovereign's reach is extending beyond just our territory."
Mamadou grinned. "Allies, huh? I've got a few connections we could call on. Rebels, mercenaries—people who aren't too fond of the current regime. If we play this right, we could build an army."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "And what's the price for this 'army'?"
Mamadou winked. "Let's just say, it'll be a mutually beneficial arrangement. They want freedom, we want fighters. Everyone wins."
Lumumba leaned forward, his gaze intense. "We need to be smart about this. If we push too hard, we'll alienate the very people we're trying to help. But if we don't act, the Sovereign will crush us all."
Koffi crossed his arms. "There's another option. The fissures aren't just a problem—they're an opportunity. If we can figure out how to control them, we might be able to use them against the Sovereign. Turn his own magic back on him."
The room fell silent as everyone considered the implications of Koffi's suggestion. It was a bold idea, but also dangerous. The fissures were unstable, unpredictable. Trying to harness their power could just as easily destroy them as it could the Sovereign.
"It's risky," Amara said, her voice cautious. "But it might be our best shot."
Lumumba's eyes flicked toward the map spread out before them, each fissure marked with a dark, foreboding symbol. "We'll need to investigate more of the fissures—find out how they're connected, what's fueling them. If we can figure that out, we might stand a chance."
Mamadou, ever the optimist, slapped Lumumba on the back. "Then let's get moving. I say we hit the next fissure hard, see what we can dig up. And if the Sovereign wants a fight, we give him one."
Lumumba allowed himself a small smile. "Let's do it."