Chapter 13: Resolution, Part 1: Acknowledgement

Ryukai stood in the main hall of GEARS University and looked out of the window. Anger raged inside of him as he saw the Shadowscythe destroying Soluna. It was a blurry image, as the barrier distorted the light, but he could see the destroyed buildings and the flames. 

 He was stuck here, where he could do nothing. Although, he knew it was the right choice. Dean Warlic wanted to ensure the survival of the students, the survival of Lorians. Ryukai still couldn’t stand it though. He wanted to help.

 “Why don’t you help then?” a voice said.

 Ryukai turned around to see who was speaking. He couldn’t see anyone or anything. “Is someone there?” he called out. The hall was crowded and it was possible that the person had moved when he turned around.

 “Not someone, exactly.” the voice said. “And certainly not here, Ryukai.”

“Who are you?” Ryukai thought.

 “Come to the RuneHawk dormitories. I will show you who....rather, what...I am.”

 Ryukai ran quickly to the stairs. He didn’t know what to think, but he hoped it was fate calling him. If he couldn’t fight the Shadowscythe outside, maybe there was something he could do here. Whatever was calling him, he hoped it was for that very purpose. Or did he know? Had the voice given him the idea?

 After climbing a few stories, he arrived at the House Circle. The entrances to the three Houses of GEARS could be accessed from here. Ryukai ran to the door with the blue hawk symbol and opened it.

 “Just a bit further” the voice said guiding him.

Ryukai then saw where he was being led. In front of him was a door. The door that led to the room where the Drakylon Cube was stored.

***

 “How...” Ryukai said snapping out of it. He stared at where Valoth’s body was lying just a few moments ago. “How could this happen?! Our lives were ruined because of him...and he vanishes just like that?”

 “He’s gone.” Mika said with certainty.

 “That’s it...he’s gone! No suffering, or pain...he’s just gone.” Ryukai screamed. It was over too quickly. There was an emptiness. He was not satisfied.

 In the corner of his eyes, he saw something emerge from another room. Sariel quickly turned and aimed its staff downwards. It was a Shadowscythe alien.

 “So Valoth is finally gone...” it said. “All these years of control are over.”

 “You can speak our language?” Omicron asked surprised.

 “Yes. I’m sure you are surprised because of our barbaric nature. Well, that was all Valoth’s doing. He stole our intelligence and made us all into soldiers.”

 “How long have you been under his control?” Mika asked.

 “Since he came to our world.”

 “I meant you specifically.” Mika stated.

 “The answer is the same.” the Shadowscythe said. “I am one of the oldest Living Shadows in existence.”

 “Is the war over?” Ryukai asked, his staff still pointed at the alien.

 “Of course. Valoth made us fight, destroy, and assimilate. But I will return to my people and take up leadership once again. We will begin to evacuate from your worlds and retreat back to our ancestral lands.”

“This is too easy...” Ryukai said.

***

 Ryukai stood before the Drakylon Cube. “You are the voice?”

 “That is right.” the Cube replied.

 “What are you exactly?”

 “A simple House Artifact. I am the prized possession of House RuneHawk. I am what they believe to be the key to finding the lost dragons.”

 “Are you? Is that what you will do?”

 There was a slight chuckle in Ryukai’s mind. “In a way yes. I am here to re-unite what has been lost. And I need your help, Ryukai.”

 “What do you need me to do?”

 “You and the others have been lost. You are not where you need to be, and you are not what you need to be. If you care about this world than I need you to find the others.”

 “Others?” Ryukai asked. “What are you talking about?”

 “The Chosen. You are the Chosen of RuneHawk. There are two others for the Wolf Blade and the MystRaven Door. I need you to find them and bring them to their artifacts. They must be re-united.”

 “How can I find them?”

 “You must search GEARS. Trust me, you will know when you see one.”

 Ryukai wasn’t sure what to think of this. He still hoped that this could be a way of helping, but he also had a slight distrust for the voice. After all, there was no proof that it was what it said it was.

 “You don’t trust me. This is not good. We are running out of time. Quickly, take three, just three, steps forward.”

 Ryukai did so, with a bit of hesitation. On his third step there was a bright flash of light. He was somewhere else now. The world spun around him and the colors changed. He could feel cold air.

 His vision cleared and he looked up. The sky was black, and it was moving. Fast. Ryukai looked around. He was standing on the roof of GEARS. All around him, he could see Soluna was destroyed. The city was burning and there wasn’t any sign of life around him.

 Then it roared. The sky. And he looked up again. This wasn’t the sky. The darkness, was shadow. As far as he could see, it looked like it was hovering over the planet.

 It roared again and tendrils of shadow shot forth and pierced the earth. The shadows kept moving, deeper and deeper. The land began to collapse inwards as the shadow roared.

 And then, it descended. Ryukai tried to run, but he couldn’t escape. The shadow collapsed and he was crushed.

“Save them.” said a voice. “Find them, and save them. You must realize your destiny before it is too late.”

Next Time on Gundam: Shadow- The search begins. Resolution continues.