The Dragon World
Prologue
“If this has reached you then I, Max Fanning, have left this world for a better one. It all started when some friends and I went exploring in a cave and I was separated and I found an old tome in the skeletal hands of a person in a robe and cloak. It had on it a dagger and a wand in its robes. I carefully pulled the tome out from its hand and stuffed it into my backpack. I noticed its purse was quite heavy and thinking that it won’t need it I took it to when I left the room it disappeared and behind me now were my friends I followed them back to the entrance and we left for our campsite. That night as I slept someone appeared to me in my dreams saying that it is time for me to leave this world for the one I belong.
“I do not understand.”
“Go now to the cave where my body lies and all will be explained,” said the voice as the person appeared it was a female night elf **** was she beautiful like the glimmer of diamonds laying amidst white sand sparkling in the moonlight, She had pale white skin, shoulder length purple hair, sparkling amethyst eyes, average height, above average chest size, mysterious, intelligent, and a skimpy black leather outfit. She was like the manifestation of beauty itself. Somehow, she seemed familiar.
“Are you an angel sent to tear me from this cruel world?
“No I am just here to guide you.”
“So you are not Satan are you?”
“No, I am here to teach you and guide over you.”
“Like a Guardian Angel.”
“Yes you could say that now go to the cave more will be explained there.” She said then she vanished and my dream went dark and another voice a man’s this time.
“No you don’t need these petty mortals as friends they never truly understand you they always questioning if you’ll try to murder them in their sleep. Join me embrace the truth you now it’s true. Forget the cave and forget the girl who needs a Guardian Angel when you can be ALL POWERFUL AND TOGETHER WE CAN RULE THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT.” I awoke to find Tyler, Logan, Josh, and Jonathon looking down at me asking each other if they should try to wake me, I stealthily moved my hand under my pillow and grabbed the stiletto I had carried. I then jumped up with my stiletto glimmering in the firelight.
“Whoa calm down,” said a startled
“Why were ya‘ll standing over me for,” I asked.
“Because you were tossing and turning saying I must get back to the cave I think you were just having a nightmare,” said Jonathon.
“Yeah I’ll just go walk around for a minute,” I said
“Oh no you don’t if know you the first thing you’ll do is
head straight for that cave. So I’m coming with you,” said
“I thought I told you to forget the cave and the girl, but I suppose the dragon inside of you has been suppressed to allow you to love, huh, love such a sign of weakness. You are just like the one before you weak unable to kill you love some of these mortal so it only shows some weakness,” Said the man from my dream. He was tall and wore a long black cape and he was shadowed no features could be seen.
“No your wrong I am not weak,” I said.
“Ha your showing the way you feel. Emotions all of them except anger are weaknesses. Love, optimism, melancholy, bliss, trepidation, all of them except anger so stop being mendacious to yourself and give in to your anger,” He said.
“No never” I said.
“You have lived here to long you are denying yourself the power that is your right.
“That is it I am tired of your nonsense,” I said as I drew my stave.
“HA, HA, So you would draw your sword on me then prepare to die,” He said as he drew his sword. I yelled and charged countering his blows.
“Ha it’s about time the dragon resurrected in you,” He said. I finally got past his defenses to land a solid blow to his arm.
“WE will meet again dragon boy,” he said then he disappeared. Then she appeared “Come now then Max it is time to come home. Trust your heart you can either step through the threshold and into the kind of adventures you dream of, or turn around and walk out and all will be forgotten. Choose but choose wisely,” she said. I took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the gateway.
“I am glad you made the right choice my friend. Now then, you were sent to this world because your true family was assassinated. While you the Royal Family’s only living heir were sent to this world for your own protection.
“Who was it that attacked me, and why did he call me dragon boy?”
“His name is not known however his title is the King of Shadows. He was the one who had your family killed.
“Why now, what will happen if I do not return to my home here?”
“They will forget you ever existed, any of your friend may chose to forget or remember.
“Will I ever be able to return?”
“No so say farewell and come back.”
“Logan, Jonathon, Josh, and Tyler your four are to remember me for I will never return and my family will forget I ever existed you 4 and any one else who liked me in any way will remember me now farewell.” With that, I turned and walked through the gateway, turned and waved.
“You are the most sought after man here because the person that finds you will become a hero. Thus, the slayer of you would become just as famous. So be on your guard at all times.”
“Where must we go and I need some sleep before we do any long distance travel.”
“Yes I suppose you do need to rest and so I set up camp over here, and I do not know why he called you dragon boy, Max.”
“How do you know my name when I have not told you mine and you have not told me yours?”
“The name of the heir to the Throne of Dragons is renowned through out the world. I know you want to know why so do not ask. Your name is legendary because the other nations would wish that you marry their daughters to become prominent, protected and to ensure that there daughter is cared for, and my name is Tenisi. I was your childhood friend and…girlfriend.”
“So you mean that the whole world is after me for reasons besides my death. D*** it the one time I get the fame I wished for half of them want me dead nothing like my last adversaries.
“Your last adversaries were mere children, besides you need to read that tome it will explain everything. With that she disappeared into the tent and I sat by the fire reading the book until at the fire burned down so I too retired to my tent. The next morning I awoke to find that Tenisi had rebuilt the fire and was cooking some animal over the fire.
“Tenisi, what is this tome; how can it contain so much knowledge yet say nothing about the Dragons.
“How can you already know about the Dragons?
“I don’t know I read a quarter of the tome and knowledge suddenly came flooding into my mind. I do not understand in here it says that on my last birthday I reached manhood, however what knowledge I retain from the other world is that manhood is 18 or 21.
Yet in this world, it is a lot sooner.
“Well you can read and dwell on that for the rest of the day. First, you need to follow me to the nearby river to wash yourself. I did as she said and noticed that she was my age, and that she was watching me out of the corner of her eyes.
“Why do you carry yourself like Royalty yet there are no guards with you.”
“Actually My guards are about 300 yards away from, and I am the Heir of the Throne of Elements the largest and most prominent ducal region.
“You forgot most beautiful.” I quickly realized what I said and shut my mouth before I said anything else to embarrass myself.
“You’re sweet, Max, underneath the cloak of darkness you have woven for yourself. You are the only person with an attitude like yours who will open up to people that is a very good thing, Max.
“Mi lady there are enemies approaching us we must leave immediately,” said a ranger who suddenly burst out from the underbrush.
“Everyone else has packed up both camps and they are waiting for us.
“Your Lordship forgive my intrusion I did not recognize you, please exonerate me,” said the ranger as he knelt.
“Call me Max,” I said as I pulled him from his knees.
“Yes, Lord Max, I shall.”
“No just call me Max okay.”
“Yes, I shall do that sire. Quick their here hide now.”
“I heard them over here. They must be here somewhere; we must find them,” said the deep dark voice, of a monstrosity of a person. It had glowing red eyes, horns, scaly demon wings, a tail, and huge muscles.
“Master, their hiding in the undergrowth over here,’ said an abomination with a grossly malformed body.
“Max, come out I know you desire power, and with me at your side we can be all powerful with all the Legions of Hell at your command we could sweep across the land like a wildfire growing more powerful each day until the whole world is your kingdom then we could assail the Heavens, and then we swarm the other worlds until we are the alpha and the omega, the ruling force, the Emperor of everything that is, was, and will be. Join Me and become the incarnation of power and royalty,” it said. Tenisi looked at me and motioned for me to stay still, calm, and quiet.
“Of course I should have known better your other emotions are holding you back keeping you from your full potential. It’s not surprising most people would not understand but you, you are different from the other mortals. You are weak. Just like the others.”
“No your wrong I am not weak,” I said as I burst out from the undergrowth.
“Ha, ha, ha, just like the rest anger brings them running. Where are the others boy tell me
“Never, you *******.”
“Oh look the ducal princess is here to,” said the monstrosity as he pulls her from the undergrowth.
“Put her down now!”
“No join us or she dies.”
I yelled in pain as my anger peaked to insanity a level never before reached by me; wings shot out of my back tearing the flesh, my nails grew to claws, my skin wriggled and turned to scales, and I realized now what they meant by dragon boy.
“What is happening, this was not supposed to happen.”
“Raul what is happening to Max?”
“He is the true heir however when they royal hunters killed the dragon they found and they royal family feasted on it, they cooks did not cook it completely done. Since the oil they cook with is absorbent it absorbed the blood of the dragon mutating Max’s genes causing him to be part dragon when he learns to control it he can stay partly human,” said Raul the ranger.
I seem to have lost control of my dragon form because I woke several hours later to find that camp was still in the same spot only most of the trees and bushes had been burned down. I asked Raul what happened here and he said that I burned the trees and all the monsters near us and that I picked them up, sat them on my back, and destroyed all the monstrosities except for the big one that held them he fled when I transformed.
We stayed there for almost a week and during that time, I
mastered my dragon powers though not the transformation, and my magic. My
fighting is significantly better though I still have a way to go. We left the
forest for
“**** I knew I was famous but **** I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d be this famous.’
“Inewi, just how far back in time is this world.”
“Well, Max, we have.”
“The Dark Age Middle Age whatever you want to call,” snapped the voice of Kiash, my instructor and defender.
“Kiash get off of the thistle you’re sitting on and help me with my training,” I snapped back
“Fine but don’t take that tone with me.”
“Why should I, I am my own boss.”
“Because you’re not all high and mighty yet, boy.”
“Fine now let’s go.”
“Okay first off is defense,” replied Kiash. After practicing, I set off toward town only to be caught by Tenisi.
“I thought we said no going to town alone, Max, however seeing as how we both want to go to town and no one is allowed alone we can go together.” We walked off toward town.
“The demons you spoke of attacked slaughtered Inewi and Raul as they slept; I fell here fighting them off while everyone rushed to your tents to protect you and they swarmed over me they destroyed the tents and everyone else stormed off toward the mountains to attack back of town no go uugh,”. Thus, Kiash died with a strange smile on his face. I tied to move him to bury him when blood spewed from his mouth as his lungs filled with blood and a dozen other spots including his stomach where all his viscera lay spread across the ground. Where he tried to crawl off to find us, his sword was in a million pieces where he fell fighting, and a giant horn lay cloven beside it.
“Max, please we must go back to town.” I turned and looked her in the eye and saw something a spark of what I cannot say, but it looked liked love. Oh shut up, Max, you would not know love if I hit you in the face, said the self-critical side of me. It would explain a lot, said another voice. Then one I knew was right said look just let him choose, it said Okay I thought I have gone crazy so I will listen to my instincts.
“Don’t worry Tenisi I will let nothing happen to you.
“Please don’t die for me I…I….I… I love you,’ she said as she burst into tears and fell into my arms. I wrapped my arms around her.
“Don’t worry I will see to it that you reach
“No please if you die and I life I will be banned and have to live out my life as a traitor in the South.
“Come let’s go to town I am sure someone there will help us and we will not touch that subject.
I turned one last time and looked at the ruins of our camp and said,” Fare thee well my friends your sacrifices will not go in vain.
“Okay lets go, Max, this place is really creeping me out. With that, we turned and left never again to look back.
“Tenisi what’s wrong,” I asked
“My…Father was in the group disguised as…as Raul, and Kiash said he was killed in his sleep, “she said and then broke into tears
“Tenisi does that make you the only living ducal family member alive?”
“Yes it does so I must decide what will happen to my lineage, and I think I know just what to do with it,” she said as she leaned up and kissed me. We walked into town.
“Tenisi, the horn beside Kiash’s sword it belonged to that
demon so that means he is going to attack town. Quick follow me.” We went to a
ranch, purchased a Stallion, and told the rancher to be ready to flee. We set
off with all due haste after getting some provisions to
“Max, why do we leave for
“If we leave on a single horse maybe we will be harder to track”
“Max, Look demons are ahead of us.”
“Not for long. The demons turned toward us and as they did, fire leaped from the void and burned them alive wriggling and screaming until they were, but ashes.
“Max what was that?”
“The Flame of the Void, The Fire of Creation, and THE POWER OF DRAGONS,” said the darker side of my personality.
“Forgive me, Tenisi, the allure of that power was to strong. I put forth too much energy it took over me.”
We rode on and when we reached Element Castle Tenisi ascended to the throne. There was a huge banquet. To me she looked like she was happy once more amongst her friends. I thought she is happy no need to drag her any deeper into this if she is hurt than I would not be able to go on knowing that was because of me. Thus, with saying anything I turned and walked out the door, and was once again caught sneaking off by Tenisi.
“You would leave me just like that.”
“I have no wish for you to be hurt because of me.”
“I thought you loved me?”
“I do that is why I was going to leave.”
“I can take care of myself besides I am going if you like it or not.”
“Fine then you can come.” She smiled and led me up to the front of the room where she introduced me as Max Prince of Dragons. Finally, when the guests were leaving I was taken to my chamber. It was blood red with a huge black bed, a closet, full-length mirror, and a huge window with a view of the full moon. I sensed movement behind me I turned knife in hand to find Tenisi.
“Your father was a great friend of my father this is the room he stayed in when he came to visit. He entrusted a zanbatou to us. It was made using Dragon’s fire and Mithril it was meant to be almost indestructible. Here he never named it you can finish it by naming it for him.”
“I don’t know what to call it.”
“Think of things you love and it will come to you.”
“I love you, name it for me.”
“Okay the Dragon Tooth.”
“Then so be it that is its name.”
“Good night, Max.”
“Good night, Tenisi.” I woke the next day and went to town and purchased a Diamond Ring and I slipped into my pocket thanked the clerk and left for the castle. I went to my room to lie down. As I entered my room, Tenisi called out my name.
“Max, my advisors have warned me that Wraiths are hunting you.” Wraiths, beings of shadows, they are creatures from the corporal plane and the spiritual plane, or ethereal plane, more shadow then body. They come wrapped in a cloak of shadows invisible and pitilessly massacre their prey.
“I fear neither shadows nor their undead masters. Not even the Guardians of the infernal abysses of perpetual darkness. I will vanquish any Wraith daring enough to stalk me.
“Max, come with me there is something I wish to show you.” She led me to a rose garden that formed a maze.
“Come on, Max.” We went through the maze but instead of going to the center, Tenisi led me to a secret room hidden amongst the vines on the wall.
“Max my advisors are forcing me to marry the King of Moles, a grimy repulsive almost blind person; because of his mining force he is rich. There will be the annual harvest ball tonight you will have to wear elegant attire.
“Don’t worry Tenisi I have an idea that will change everything. Just wait until tonight.
“O.K, Max, I will.” We left the room and she left to prepare for the ball. I went and purchased the finest suit at discount because of being the Prince of Dragons. I returned to the castle and was about to change when there was a knock at the door.
“Mi Lord Princess Tenisi has sent me with news that some one is here to see you,” said a boy.
“Thank you, bring them to my chambers and one last thing here go out and enjoy yourself,” I said as I tossed him some coin.
“Yes thank you Mi Lord I will, it was as they said.’
“Was as who said.”
“Lady Tenisi she said that you were a kind man.”
“She did now. Here tell me your name.”
“My name is Arstoth.”
“Arstoth can you do something for me.”
“Yes Mi Lord.”
“Take this money and get your self an elegant suit for tonight and one for your lady friend should you have one, and bring me this ring tonight when I announce something.”
“What are you announcing Mi Lord,” He asked with curiosity.
“I am going to propose to Tenisi.”
“Yes sir my lord.”
A chamberlain appeared in the doorway and told me of my heritage. When he finished I changed and I read the tome until time and then I got up and went down to the ballroom. Outside the doors stood Arstoth and a girl, they smiled at me and I smiled back.
“Max, it is about to begin you must go to your seat,” said Tenisi. We went to our seats and as the night went on Tenisi gave a toast. After she finished I stood and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Arstoth come up behind me.
“I propose a toast to Tenisi and to the Throne of Elements.” After that, I motioned Arstoth forward and knelt before Tenisi.
“Tenisi ducal Princess of Elements, will you marry me, Max Prince of Dragons.” Arstoth handed me the ring and I opened it as I said that. The crowd was stunned as was Tenisi herself.
“… … Well YES I will.” The felling that came over me I cannot name. I received numerous congratulations from everyone.
“Arstoth, tell me how do weddings proceed here.” He explained it to me, and I chose him as my best man.
Night approached and I stood waiting deep within the forest. In a secret location, I had found there were flowers of all types. It had a mysterious atmosphere when I was alone there, however when Tenisi arrived the atmosphere went to a mysterious and joyous mixture. I concluded that it amplified emotions. Tenisi left and I sat there thinking about my true family and became sad. The atmosphere changed to a mysterious sadness. An image of my true Father appeared. I then disposed of that thought and thought of my enemies. The atmosphere turned fiery red and black as night. Another image appeared this one of a shadow laughing, mocking me. My anger intensified and the atmosphere went a deeper flaming red and darker than night. Then as the darkness prepared to swallow me, a light shone through. It was my self-preservation, No it was my desire to live to see Tenisi’s smiling face once more. The light grew and overcame the darkness. I swore then that I would hunt The King of Shadows with bloody vengeance. The atmosphere changed to be Darker than the infernal pits of Hell and as Bright as the burning Sun.
Chapter 1
I awoke from a deep slumber when the air turned as cold as the north most Mountains. I saw then what no living man has seen before. The face of a Wraith all others died upon seeing it. I drew my knife and pierced the Wraiths face. It loosed a screech like a banshee, which awoke the whole castle, as it disintegrated the blade it planned to kill me with fell helpless on the floor beside my bed. Tenisi burst through the door followed by three knights and a mage.
“Max, are you okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine.”
“Max, you’re bleeding badly. Quick, get the physician!”
“I’m fine we’ll walk down there and prove that I’m fine.” I got up and started to walk toward the door when I collapsed on the floor. I awoke the next day in my bed with numerous bandages on my arm where the Wraith almost cut it off.
“W... What happened to me?’
“You passed out due to blood loss.”
“How long will it take to heal?”
“I can’t say for sure. The dragon inside of you seems to have come forth when it attacked you. You should have been in much worse condition but you seem to have an advanced regeneration rate.”
“You will be well in time for your wedding.”
“Good,” I said as I collapsed back onto my bed.
“My Lord you have awoken, thank the stars.”
“Arstoth, how long have I been out?”
“At least a day mi lord, the… the...”
“Wraith, Arstoth, that is what it is…was call it that. Fear of a name is stupid remember this quote Fear not the Dark But what lurks within the Dark.”
“Yes, milord I will remember that.”
“Mi lord I must go now Lady Tenisi wanted me to inform her of your awakening.” With that, he bowed and walked out of the room.
The next day the doctor came in with a medicinal potion and a bowl of stew.
“Here My lord you must take this potion with something else.” At that time, Tenisi came into my room.
“Max, you’re awake oh thank your stars,” she cried as she ran and hugged me.
“Careful, Lady Tenisi, your husband to be is not well yet.”
“Oh sorry,” she said as she let go of me and sat down on the bed beside me.
“Max, take this potion daily. It will help restore your stamina.” After that, he turned and walked out.
“Max, I thought you were dying.” She said bursting into tears.
“Tenisi don’t worry about me. I feared for you more than for my own life. While I was unconscious, I saw myself, or rather the Dragon inside of me.
The Wheel of Fate is turning few now can stand in its way. I stand perfectly poised to doom the world to an eternity of my sovereignty of darkness, or to ascend to my true form and overwhelm the overwhelming, control Fate, and became the Alpha and the Omega, the Champion of Champions, The Ruling Force, The…”SNAP. I literally snapped out of the trance I was in, and saw that Tenisi had slapped me.
“Max, I’m sorry you were scaring me.”
“No, Tenisi, I should be apologizing. The dragon took control.”
“Okay, Max, I won’t worry about it.”
Since it was late at night when that happened Tenisi was lying on my bed, while I was reading. It had been a long day for everyone. She fell asleep so I left her there and covered her up and fell asleep in my reading chair. I awoke the next day, and dressed in my finest outfit. I walked into the forest the Dragon Tooth strapped to my back and cape billowing in the strong wind. When I noticed that I was going to be, late I took my fancy shirt off, put my old cloak on, and sprouted my dragon wings. I arrived and changed back to my regal outfit and marched into the clearing forgetting to fold my dragon wings. Most people screamed, and then I realized what was wrong and folded my wings. That day I was married to Tenisi; I will never forget that day.
“Max, I want you to have this it is the Ring of Cortira. It has been in my family for generations. No one has ever found out what it does.” It was a silver band on the outside, however, when I put it on; I could feel magic in it.
I awoke the next day in my bed with a terrible headache, and no recollection of what happened the night before I opened my eyes and felt around on the table beside my bed for my glasses. I found them and started stretching my arms. I felt something warm brush my side; I turned and saw that Tenisi was lying snuggled up beside of me. I put my arm around her and held her close. She opened her sparkling amethyst eyes, and as I looked into her eyes, I saw something I hoped never to see in her eyes. Fear, not for me as would have been acceptable; fear of what I might become that I might destroy myself in my fury and quest for revenge. I held her closer to me I could feel her heart beating against mine. I could feel her chest rising and falling with each breath. A part of me it seemed hated being this close spiritually to a person. I could hear it screaming weakness, she will die, weak link.
“Tenisi do not fear for me. Just promise me that you will go on with your life should something happen to me. Promise me.
“Yes, Max, I will.”
“Good because I will never let anything happen to you.” She leaned over me and pulled me into a kiss.
The next day I awoke and went out to train with Dragon Tooth. When I returned to change my room was devoid of everything. I turned about to walk out when Tenisi came into the room.
“Max, there you are since we are married I had your stuff moved into my room or our room now.”
“So where is our room then, Tenisi?”
“Follow me, and I’ll show you.” I followed her up to our room. It was massive and was blood red with a huge black bed with silk sheets, and a door of yew that led out to a balcony. I walked out onto the balcony, and looked out we were in the tallest tower. The view was magnificent.
“The view is lovely isn’t it?”
“Yes, but not as much as you.”
“Max, what’s wrong?”
“Something is wrong, I can feel it. Animals are going mad, and attacking each other. People are doing the same thing. Something is going to happen. I don’t know what, but I know it has something to do with that towering volcano. It is driving me crazy I know that that monster is responsible. It is the same one that grabbed you. When I first arrived. I must go to that volcano. That is where I will find out what is wrong.”
“Then I will come with you.”
“No not yet I must go back to the forest first. I have some unfinished business to take care of.”
“Okay, Max, I will wait for you to return.”
“Good, I shouldn’t be gone for more than 15 days at most.”
“Max, will you take any one with you?”
“No, I have an idea that will give me all the help I will need.”
“Okay, then I will preside over our territory while you are gone.”
“If anyone asks say that I am bedridden. Also, keep the doors guarded at all times. I will pick out the guards today, and leave afterwards.”
“No, stay tonight, and leave tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll stay tonight.”
“Thanks Max!” she exclaimed as she hugged me tightly. I
walked down the tower stairs that led to our bedroom, and went to the barracks.
The Rocs, the elite cavalry, were in the barracks, and when I entered, they
snapped to attention. I picked out five of them to serve as the guards for
Tenisi. The Phoenixes, archers, spearmen, and the occasional sword or axe
wielders mounted on Wyverns, were in the aerie that was built for them. I
entered and they too snapped to attention. I picked one of the best to stand
guard on or around the balcony. Since I have described two of the four elite
legions, I should describe the rest. The Bears my elite infantry. Last but
certainly not least are The Falcons my scouts, and messengers. I picked a
Falcon, and sent him to the other dukedoms requesting information on my
enemies, their locations, and for help should I decide to march against them. I
went back with the five Rocs and
“Tenisi, I have assigned the guards to request the name and purpose of anyone who tries to enter our room.” She jumped when I said this.
“Max! You scared me!”
“Sorry, about that.”
“It’s okay, Max, I was just pondering something.”
“What, were you pondering, Tenisi?”
“How to unlock the secret powers of my blood line.”
“I think I may know. Sit down on the bed in front of me, and hold my hands.” She did and I concentrated all my mana into her. She gasped as the power resurrected itself in her.
“Max, what did you do?”
“I put forth my sprit power or mana, and channeled it into you. This boost of power gave you mind enough to bring the power forward. Now you must exercise your mind, and you will need to meditate. Everyone in our bloodlines will possess both my powers and yours, but they will have to train their minds to reach it. Although sometimes it will come forward when there are intense emotions like anger.”
“Max, you are leaving in the morning to attempt your plan aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am although it pains me to leave you so soon. But I don’t know how much longer it will take for them to find me so I must gather allies, and power so I can drive him back.”
“Then, we will spend tonight together, Max.” She said as she got up and went to the bath. She came out, got into the bed, and rolled up next to me.
I awoke at sunrise dressed in my traveling clothes and
Mithril armor, grabbed my weapons, wrote Tenisi a note, and walked out onto the
balcony. On the balcony stood the
“Good Morning, sire.”
“Yes and the same to you.”
“Today is when you set out on your journey isn’t it?”
“Yes it is. What is your name soldier?”
“Briash my lord.”
“You need not call me that on the battlefield or when we are having a 1 on 1 conversation.”
“Yes, sir, I’m still new to this military code.”
“Well you need not worry I am promoting you to Brigadier General. You will take orders from very few people.
“Thank you sir, I will.”
“HA, ha, ha, I like you; you are to be the leader of my Royal guard.”
“I must leave now guard Tenisi with your life.” I said as I started to transform. I stopped it halfway. My wings, tail, and horns had came out and my skin was hardened. My senses grew acute as I stood there I could sense what was going on around me. I jumped off the balcony in a dive. I spread my wings at the last second and soared off to the edge of the world.
When I arrived, the four Guardians told me to face them or to turn and leave.
“Then I will fight you!” They nodded in agreement.
“You must fight us each in turn then all at once.”
“Fine then, I will.”
“Choose which of us to face first.”
“Water, I have chosen you to do battle with first.” The Guardian of Water walked toward me and shrank to my size. It was in the shape of a man with short hair, aquiline features, and a spear. I drew Dragon Tooth from its strap on my back and took combat pose. I rushed at it, feigning a strong upward slash, but actually used a strong left downward slash. I stabbed out rapidly. It struggled to parry my blows. It lashed out and I grabbed the handle behind the spear point. I yanked it toward me and pierced my zanbatou into its chest. I pulled my weapon back out and backed up.
“Earth, I challenge you now.” The earth guardian warped into the space designated as the arena. It took the form of a huge man with arms the size of a bear’s and a huge maul. I once more took combat pose and stood still. It heaved the maul up and slammed it down at me I moved swiftly to the right. I jumped up on top of the maul and buried my zanbatou in to the earth guardian’s face.
“Air, you are next.” It appeared in the arena. It took the form of a thin man with long hair, a slender frame, and a whip. It quickly slung the whip out at me. I caught it around my zanbatou. It yanked and I let go of it and flew into Air knocking it onto the ground. I pulled out my knife and stabbed it into the air guardian’s neck.
“Fire you are last.” It appeared in the arena. The form it took was almost identical to mine, but it had a huge sword. I lunged with my zanbatou and succeeded in cutting its arm; I took advantage of its surprise and slammed my knife into its hand. I quickly sliced into its stomach.
“You are a worthy opponent. You have beaten us without ever taking a hit. We surrender. To honor this since it has never before happened we bestow upon you a gift. Give us your weapon.” I handed them the Dragon Tooth, and they transformed it into the Dragon. It now has the power to change shape depending on my will, and bestowed the powers of fire, water, earth, and air upon it.
“Here your Weapon is now perfectly suited to you.”
“I wish to proceed, and claim for a familiar a
“You may, and no creature here will harm you.”
“Thank you.” I said as I bowed to them. I walked on and got
a baby
I arrived and stood on the roof of his house. I watched him walk out with a battle-axe and attack a tree. I was getting ready to walk up to him when Fira set my tunic on fire. I scream slipped out as I fell off his house. I immediately put my tunic out and removed my dragon features. After I regressed back to human and walked out toward him.
“Hello Josh, remember me.”
“Max, is that you?”
“Yes, Josh, it is I.”
“I don’t know it could just be that this is my true form.”
“Why are you here I thought you could never come back?”
“I have come to ask you to join me. In addition, I temporarily created a rift in the space-time continuum. ”
“Join you in what?”
“A restoration of Power. I can give you anything you ever wanted. You just have to come with me. What say you?”
“I don’t know?”
“I can give you power, money, strength, anything.”
“Yes, I will join you. IF you can truly provide these things?”
“I can and you will see just how much life will be better.”
“What the hell is that?”
“This is Fira my baby
“Where are we going?”
“We are going to recruit the rest of my allies.”
“Like who?”
“
“You forgot someone, you forgot K.W. Hmm, than who are we after now?”
“Jonathon he will be needed in the coming fight. Yes K.W. when properly equipped will be Thor incarnate.”
“What coming fight?”
“****, I didn’t mean to say that.
“Let me guess I pull him off you.”
“Yes you Jonathon, and Logan. I foresaw that he would attack me and that you and the others would pull him off me; however, what happens next I do not know.”
“So then to Jonathon right?”
“Right, just know this know I cannot be seen by anyone except those who remember me.”
“Who all remembers you?”
“That I don’t know. Now then if I use my magic I should be able to teleport us to Jonathon’s location.”
“Okay then lets go.”
“Be wary for what happens next.”
“What do you mean what happens next?” I started to transform.
“What the hell is wrong with you your eyes are yellowish and your changing?”
“This is the true power within me, THE POWER OF DRAGONS! HA, HA, HA I WISH THE FOOLS WHO TAUNTED ME COULD SEE ME NOW HA, HA, HA. I CONTROL THE BEINGS OF THE VOID, THE ABYSS, AND THE DARK HA, HA, HA.” Josh backed away from me with a look of pure terror. He clutched his axe tightly to his chest.
“Sorry Josh that was my other personality. I must amalgamate with it to ascend to my true form. I warned you, but in this half form, I have a greater control over my magic. Now no one can see me or you now so hold still.” I put my hand on his shoulder and teleported us to Jonathon’s location. Unfortunate for us he was in a tree. We warped in beside the tree about twenty feet above the ground. I instantly unfurled my wings and flew into the tree. Josh snatched my ankle, and we fell the ground. I shifted at the last moment to keep from hurting Fira.
“What the hell was that?” I looked up and saw Jonathon in his tree stand. I quickly regressed to human and stood up. I held my left hand out to help Josh up, because Fira was cradled in my right.
“Hey Max, what are you doing?”
“Looking for you when Josh fell out of the tree and grabbed my ankle pulling me down with him.”
“What do you want?”
“Josh, explain to him what I want.” Josh nodded and walked forward and explained to Jonathon what I told him.
“Jonathon, the choice is yours. Live here nobody until your Dying Day, or Join me and be famous, rich, and powerful. Just know this you can have your deepest darkest needs fulfilled.”
“Fine, I will join you.” Josh explained how we traveled, and
then we left. We went through the same process with
“Okay if
“
“Only if I get to be a higher rank than them.”
“No, if anybody is a higher rank it will be Josh. He has the second best martial proficiency. Fine then if you are going to be arrogant, vain, and stuck up. I don’t need you.”
“YOU *******, I’LL KILL YOU FOR THAT!” He leaped at me and
succeeded in cutting my tunic up. Fira cried out in fear. That did it. Josh saw
it. HE told the others to try harder. What Josh saw was my eyes they were no
longer the purplish blue that they were earlier but a yellowish. My anger was
reaching close to the breaking point. The Dragon was starting to take control.
They pinned
“NEVER MESS WITH MY
“YOU…BACKSTABBING…*******!”
“You have all succeeded in proving your worth. In my true
world, I am the heir to the Kingdom that controls the continent. This means you
have saved a prince. Now then let’s go.” I took a final look at
I walked through the door to the throne. I saw Tenisi sitting in her Throne beside mine. She looked up and smiled.
“Who is the girl? Because she is beautiful.”
“That, my friends, would be Tenisi.”
“HOLY ****, Max.” Meanwhile Tenisi got up, ran to me, and wrapped her arms around me.
“Max, I missed you. What is that on your shoulder?”
“That would be Fira my
“These are my friends: the tall one with pale skin, white hair, and blue eyes is Josh, the one with the brown hair, blue eyes and tanned white skin is Jonathon, the one with brown hair, blue eyes and whiter skin is Logan, and the muscular large one with ear length dark blonde hair is K.W. Guys, this is Lady Tenisi, my wife.” They stood stunned that I, Max, the supposed Satan-worshipper got such a hot girl. Plus the fact that I had very pale skin, overweight, long kind of unkempt black hair, blue eyes, and glasses. I the biker-boot, trench coat, black leather wearing, pyromaniac gothic boy got the hot girl.
“Max, can I speak with you in private?”
“Yea, Josh. Tenisi please show these people to the rooms we prepared for them. Now Josh, what do you want?”
“You offered me what ever I wanted when you recruited me.”
“Yes, and no you can’t have Tenisi.”
“That’s not what I wanted. What I want is a girl one like me.”
“Okay Josh, I’ll pull some strings and see what I can do.”
We walked out and I showed Josh where his room was. I had a servant bring
“
“Is there another girl I can have?”
“Yes, go to the pubs in town mention my name and you don’t have to pay. This is only temporary tomorrow you will begin army work. On your way out tell the servant to come back here.” He left and as he did, the servant returned. I sent him after Jonathon.
“What do you want?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“When you find out tell me.” He left, and I sent another servant to fetch K.W.
“K.W. what do you want in return for your service?”
“I am not sure.”
“Just inform me when you know.” He left and went back to his room. An emissary from the Duke of Valahallea entered.
“Duke Max, my lord, Duke Sufatilias, pledges his loyalty to you. His daughter is of age and he wishes to find a suitable husband for her.”
“I know of one he is my close friend. I will send him with you to meet her.”
“My duke wishes for me to return quickly.”
“Stay tonight since the hour draws late, and tomorrow you can return.”
“Yes.”
“You servant fetch Arstoth for me.” She did as was told and brought him to me.
“Yes my liege.”
“I want you to find me 4 people who I can trust. In addition, they must be female. Now go find them for me.”
“As you command, my lord.”
“So Josh will be gone for a while. He can train while he travels. Logan and Jonathon will need to be trained.” I walked up to my room and out onto the balcony.
“Briash, come here.” He flew over from the other lower tower.
“Yes, my liege.”
“I need for you to train three men. They are to be trained with one of each weapon type. After finding out, which one they like, best train them for combat on Wyverns. Go to the courtyard and wait there.” He nodded and flew down there. I went and got Logan and Jonathon from their rooms and brought them to the courtyard. Josh also followed us there.
“Josh, I am sending you to meet with Duke Sufatilias’s daughter.”
“I know her.”
“Tenisi, how long have you been standing there?”
“Not long just long enough to here about Princess Aramatheia.”
“So that is her name.”
“What is she like?” Josh asked interrupting my sentence.
“Well she has long flowing blue hair, cerulean eyes, pale white skin, average height, medium chest size. She is also a lot like you, Josh, since she is shy, cute, and intelligent.”
“…When do I get to meet her?”
“Ha, Ha in three days; five at the most.”
“Duke Max, my convoy, and I are ready. I am here to get the man who will accompany us.”
“That would be the one beside me.”
“I am Josh Garner and I am ready.”
“Well met warrior I am Coldack.”
“Wait Josh, there is another who will be accompanying you.” At that time, Arstoth appeared with several beautiful women at the age of 15. The same age as us. There were also several that were 17 the same age as K.W.
“My lord, here are the ones who volunteered.”
“Good, Arstoth, you may leave now. Josh pick one of these women.”
“I will take her.” Josh said pointing to one with shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes, average height, above average chest size, curious, cautious, and intelligent.
“Now, mademoiselle, this is Josh you are to be his concierge or caretaker. Don’t be shy tell him your name.
“My name is Azayia, sir.”
“I am Josh.”
“You two it is time to go. And Azayia take this falcon and send me reports on how Josh is and of any important events that happen.” She nodded and they turned and left.
“Josh don’t be shy!” I yelled at him as he left.
“
“I will take her.” He pointed to the one with blonde hair to the middle of her back, golden eyes, tall, average chest size, flirtatious, and fun.
“My name is Sliany.”
“Mine is
“You want to come with me to the lagoon?”
“Sure, I’d love to. If, Duke Max, will grant me leave for a few days?”
“Go ahead I Duke Max Fanning grant you Logan Williams 5 days leave.”
“Come on,
“Well, Jonathon, which do you want?”
“I want that one.” He motioned to one with long red hair done up in a ponytail, ruby eyes, average height, average chest size, spirited, and rebellious.
“Hi, I’m Linius and you must be Jonathon. Do you want to go to the forest with me?” Jonathon looked toward me and I nodded that he could go. She smiled and pulled him off toward the forest.
“K.W. choose this is my way of thanking you for supporting me.”
“Okay how about her.” He chose a tall 17-year-old girl with short green hair, sparkling emerald eyes, above average chest size, trendy, cool, and fun.
“Hi, my name is Rayne. You want to go horseback riding with me?”
“Sure.” They then walked off talking.
“Hmm, I really should have sent falcons with the others to watch them.”
“What is wrong, Max, feeling left behind?”
“Not when I have you and Fira. Speaking of which I must be getting back to take care of him.”
“Max, they won’t be back till tomorrow afternoon if I understood what they were saying.”
“I know and tomorrow will be empty since everyone will be relaxing.”
“So don’t stay up all night.”
“Okay I won’t.” I walked off to the fortress that was being constructed in the forest exactly where the auras appeared. I gave them the information they required, and left. I arrived in our room and sat down with Fira and The Dragon’s Eyes my twin crystal balls.
I used one to track Logan and one to track Jonathon. I
watched and something of interest caught my attention. It was
“You know you must be famous or something to be the best friend of Duke Fanning.”
“I don’t know. We have been friends since before he was duke and we trust each other. That and he wants me to fight for him.”
“Oh, a warrior or is it a war hero?”
“I don’t know. Most likely a war hero. We are to be his Commanders.”
“So you three are the infamous warriors bound to be
“Tell me, Jonathon, what a person like you is doing alone.”
“Most people in the other world just didn’t like us.”
“Well it is too bad for them. I know how you feel people say I am too spirited and rebellious.”
“Yes and I think that you are not to rebellious.”
“We have a lot in common. You are also very sweet. I think I love you Jonathon.”
“And I love you.” With that, Sliany pulled Jonathon into a kiss. He hugged her back and they feel down into the soft grasses. Once more, I shifted my gaze across the land to Josh.
“Josh, talk with me. You have hardly spoken since we left.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Tell me about you, what are your aspirations, and your past, just you.”
“Okay, I am 15 as you know. Max and I have been friends for a while, and we are great friends because we can relate to each other. Like any friends, we don’t always see eye to eye. I am going to be the greatest swordsman ever known. Okay enough about me what about you?”
“Well I have lived in Element castle for most of my life. I was always shunned for wanting to learn and try things. I have never had a boyfriend. Have you had a girlfriend before?”
“Not in a traditional sense. But would you be the first?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Okay then tonight we’ll go to the creek Hawk the falcon, found.”
“I will then, Josh, and another thing I love you.” She kissed him gently on the lips and walked off to take care of her duties.
“Enough, they are not in trouble and besides they can handle themselves.” Fira flew off my shoulder to his nest and slept.
“That is not a bad idea.”
“Max, I have to tell you something. The fortress is almost completed. The workers are willing to work tomorrow to finish it.”
“Tenisi, tell them not to and come back here.”
“Okay, Max, I will.”
“Ahhh, that’s not true. Yes, it is like that, but no, I will not. Shut up! Shut up! Just shut the **** up…” With that I broke down the voices in my head had won for know. I vaguely remember Arstoth and Briash placing me on my bed with Fira rubbing against my face.
“How is he?”
“Something inside of him clicked and he must have finally gone insane. He was schizophrenic or having multiple personalities. He always talked to himself when he thought he was alone, and often times he answered in different voices. He constantly spoke of The Dragon within. Maybe he’ll improve. I hope so even if he doesn’t, I’ll always love him and care for him.” I only faintly heard the voices as I swam in and out of consciousness.
“Fira, tell them I’m okay and to just watch over me I am
going to confront, the dragon within and all the other voices that try to
control me. Do it, do it on your honor.” I said this through the telepathic
link I had formed with Fira.
” I will, father, or should I say Max.”
“Come out you pusillanimous parasite. I challenge you or are you too cowardly to face me.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to defeat you!”
“You cannot defeat me!”
“I can and I will you pathetic cowardly fool!”
“Then you will die fool for I am your demise.”
“FOR HONOR AND GLORY!”
“FOR THE GREAT WYRM!”
Chapter 2
Here begins the small script of Arstoth.
“I miss them: Max, Tenisi, Josh, Aramathia, Azayia,
This note came through one of the small holes in the void I created trying to get out.
“Judging by the way the paper is deteriorating I’d say it is about 100 years old.”
“So you mean we’re 115 years old, while I don’t fell any older than I did when we entered this world.”
“Yes and I’d say considerably faster and stronger in many ways.”
“Wow, I cannot believe we are that old.”
“Stand back I am going to try to open a bigger portal.” He succeeded in creating the hole but it still was not large enough. However, a new note came through.
The year is 2006. The conflict between House Fanning and House LaCrow has ended. Now the celebrant Erika rules every one. All weapons have been transported to a storeroom underground where they will be kept forever. ……….. The note is ripped from here down.
“**** it I hated LaCrow I should slay Arstoth’s descendant for that. THIS OUTRAGE MUST BE RIGHTED EVERYONE LINK HANDS AND CONCENTRATE ON PUTTING ALL YOUR POWER INTO ME!” They did and we ripped a hole big enough for us to escape.
“So this is where they are keeping the weapons. Quick everyone grab a weapon and let’s go!” I chose dual Colt 1911A1s with optional laser sight and scope, a Barrett M-82A1 sniper rifle, and an armored dune buggy with a minigun mounted on the back. The gun was a six barreled Russian GSh-6-23M that fires 23mm bullets at 10,000 RPM. I also took a standard issue huge backpack and stuffed it full of ammo. I took another backpack and filled it with food, water, medical stuff, and other necessary things. Everyone else did the same.
“Alright Josh get in a dune buggy. Jonathon get in the rear cannon of mine. Tenisi passenger side of mine. Everyone else load up and LET’S GO KICK SOME ***!”
“YEA, LET’S GO!”
“Hey, Josh, race you to the top!’
“You’re on, Max.”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, you’re never gonna stop me!”
“Max, that gate’s closed!”
“Shoot it, Jonathon; shoot the lock and the doors!”
“YEA!” I yelled as I slammed the brakes and turned the wheel killing all our speed and doing a doughnut.
“Hey you put the weapons down and surrender!”
‘Never!” I yelled as I pulled my 1911 and shot him. I gassed the dune buggy and moved out of Josh’s way.
“How in the **** did you move that fast!”
“I don’t know. It could be that the Limbo world we were in had an increased gravity that strengthened and quickened us. Yes, that is it. What is it Tenisi?”
“An entire eon has passed since we last saw the outside world. Your eyes are different they seem to get a yellowish color when your adrenaline starts pumping or when you are angry.
“Ha, ha, ha I guess that is what remains of the dragon within. I finally caused him to shut up. I will never let anything come between us, Tenisi.” I then leaned over and kissed her.
“Max, come on let’s git a move on.”
“Alright let’s head out. Josh take the right flank.
“Help me. Please help me.” She mouthed.
“Yes.” I walked back, got into my dune buggy, and drove straight into the camp. I spun around squishing one man. I jumped out with my 1911s, nicknamed Doom and Gloom. I landed on one knee with my 1911s blasting. I dropped five instantly as they ran for their guns. One officer drew his pistol and started firing. Tenisi shot him and his head erupted in a bloody mess. Jonathon stayed in the gun turret and opened fire decapitating one unlucky marine standing in the way.
“You there!” I turned and ran into a hallway. I stopped against the door at the end. I could hear them chasing me.
“Get back here!”
“If you want me than COME ON THEN!” They rounded the corner and I opened fire the entire first row fell as they rounded the corner. The second row fell facing my onslaught before they could stop moving. The rest I destroyed quickly.
“HA, HA, HA, HA I AM UNSTOPPABLE!” I sent everyone else to search and take over the campsite. I went back and freed the girl.
“Thank you, I owe you my life. You are a man of nobility. I, Charna, swear fealty to you and those who fall in your blood line.”
“I, Max Fanning, rightful heir to the Throne of Dragons
accept your oath.” She smiled and I introduced her to the others: Tenisi, Josh,
Aramathia, Azayia,
“May I call you Max?”
“Yes no one goes by formal titles in my group.”
“Okay, I wanted to thank you again for saving me and accepting my service. Many have turned me away because I am female.”
“I believe that men and women are equal, and that one man may be stronger, but one may be smarter and so forth.”
“Do you think that men should be the dominant gender?”
“No, I actually like women who like to take control.”
“Oh you do.” With that, she pulled me into a deep kiss. I modified my dune buggy to put in an additional seat. All the dune buggies were 4-wheeldrive so we didn’t have to mess with that. We returned to the village where we received a small reward. I learned the location of our original weapons and we once again set out across another stretch of desert. We followed what remained of a highway. It led us to through the plains into another village, this one drastically bigger than the last. I stopped and walked toward the edge of the cliff ahead of us.
“Oh shit.” I said in a quiet voice.
“Josh, Jonathon, K.W.,
“Yea what is it?”
“Look down there, and you shall see.” They too looked down the cliff and beheld what I saw first.
“And the legendary heroes gazed down.
And beheld a sight of horror.
For down below the evil gathered.”
“What was that, Max?”
“A part of a prophecy I read eons ago. Down there is where Erika is gathering the nonbelievers. From what I heard they have been condemned to death. If we rescue them, we can start the formation of an army. Which to combat Erika with.”
“Max, I don’t see another way down.”
“Look down there. That road is snakes its way up here. And that path over there cuts directly through that malevolent forest. There is something in the middle of that forest. I can feel its presence. It calls out to me constantly. Forget I said that and whatever you do don’t, tell Tenisi. Now then, we will rest here for tonight.”
“Max, come over here.”
“Yes Tenisi.”
“I want to know what happened between you and Charna.”
“This sounds interesting, Josh, shall we watch and see what happens.”
“Not a bad idea, K.W., don’t you agree
“Knock it off. This doesn’t concern you.”
“Sounds like you’re the one knocking off, Max.” The others started laughing, while the girls giggled.
“Shut up
“How do I know your not lying?”
“Because, Max is a man of honor,”
“I have no reason to lie to you. She kissed me goodnight that is it.” SNAP, Tenisi slapped me. Everyone looked at me and Josh broke out laughing. SNAP. Both Azayia and Aramathia slapped him.
“****, you hit pretty hard when you’re angry. And you look beautiful when you’re angry.”
“Okay, whatever happened is over now that this is settled lets get some sleep.”
“Yes, thanks, K.W.”
“Max, Come to me. Come into the forest. Come to me. Come into the forest. Follow my presence. Come on I know you desire to know what I am.” I rose silently, slipped out from between Tenisi and Charna, and stepped into my boots. I strapped Doom and Gloom around my waist so that they hung down to the exact spot where my hands fell. My sniper rifle I strapped onto my back. I put on my cloak and pulled the hood over my head where no one could see my face. I walked slowly toward the forest. Unbeknownst to me was the fact that I was being followed by K.W.
“Come closer Max. I alone know what you are.” I walked into a clearing and stopped in the middle.
“Throw off your cloak. And your weapons.” I did and then it appeared a shadow at first.
“Max, I am like you. I too am a hybrid being. What the mortal told you in the beginning is a lie. A deficient bag of protoplasm like him could never understand us. Now in his place in the void he watches with unholy fury that his daughter loves you.”
“Show yourself to me.” It walked forward and I saw what it really was. It was a woman at first with white hair pale, white skin, and white eyes. Then she transformed into a daemon. She was monstrous in size, with the unholy strength of 50 trolls. Then she turned back into a human.
“Show me, Max, show me the dragon.” I did and then turned back.
“Max come closer to me. Kiss me, love me.” I was unable to control myself. The Dragon was once again rising in me. It took control of me. We transformed, but only halfway. I used my astral projection and flew my spirit into K.W.
“Run now my friend run and do not come back for me. Tell them what happened and that the dragon is back. Now hurry run for the very foundations of the world are quaking in protest of the unholy union of Dragon and Demon. Run for all hell is about to break out.
I entered my body and I knew instantly what was happening. The Dragon locked me into the back of my mind. She was dying and I was killing her. She shrieked and then died. The Dragon then devoured her and much to my dismay; it was the most nourishing thing my body ever had. I felt another presence in my mind. The Demon and the Woman the Demon had been. I felt stronger now with all that power. Who needed friends, allies, or armies? I could be THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. I laughed maliciously and louder than any wolf. I turned and with a smirk walked off into the darkness. I saw before me the walls and towers of Erika’s smallest prison camps. I could sense their hate, anger, despair, and hope. It strengthened my resolve. I transformed into a Dragon-Demon hybrid. I was monstrously huge my muscles bulged outward growing to the size of tree trunks. I must have been about 45 feet tall. My skin was harder then before. My nails grew to 2 feet long claws. I had instead of the normal two wings, six wings. They were smaller and silvery. They caused me to float if I wanted to. I unleashed an unearthly, deafening war cry that woke everyone.
“LOOK THERE’S MAX!” I heard Jonathon yell.
“NO ****, I MEAN LOOK AT HIS SIZE!”
“STAY BACK I DON’T KNOW JUST HOW POWERFUL I AM!”
“SURE THING MAX WE’LL LET YOU HANDLE THIS ONE.” K.W. yelled back.
“Now I will show you what happens when you anger me. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha this is the true power I, Max son of Keldag heir to the Throne of Dragons wielder of The Powers of Dragon and Demon and fulfiller of fate. I CONDEMN THEE; FOLLOWERS OF ERIKA, TO SUFFER THE UNHOLY FURY THAT IS MY ETERNAL VENGENCE, THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL SUFFER ME WILL NOT BE SLAIN!”
“Come on let’s go help, Max, kick those guy’s *****.”
“No, he said to stay here.”
“He’ll understand, I mean damn it how come he gets to have all the fun?”
“MWUHA, HA, HA, HA, HA. JONATHON YOU WILL GET TO KICK *** AND TAKE NAMES LATTER FOR JOSH IS CORRECT. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU.”
“Alright, but, Max, swear that we will march into battle.” Jonathon said this and everyone agreed with him.
“VERY WELL, I MAX THE CHILD OF KELDAG SWEAR THAT WE WILL FIGHT TOGETHER.” They all yelled in agreement.
“NOW THEN PRISONERS STAY WITHIN YOUR BUILDINGS OR YOU TO WILL BE DESTROYED!” They did as they were told. I flew in and landed in the center of the base. I quickly conjured a fireball into my hand and started blasting the guards with fire blasts as their pitiable weapon fire ricocheted innocuously off my skin. I bellowed my war cry as one of the bullets struck my ear deafening me due to my preternatural senses though hearing was what was affected. My war cry echoed through the forests and cliffs. The guards trembled in fear. One dropped down on his knees begging for me to let him join me.
“STAND UP!” He did and I quickly sliced him in half with my claws.
“THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO TRAITORS!” I then slaughtered the rest of the guards mercilessly and swiftly. I regressed to my human form, and I yelled out to the prisoners to come out. They did and gathered around me.
“I, Max, have set you free from the bondage the tyrant Erika condemned on you!’
“REVENGE!’ Cried someone in the crowd.
“WE MUST RESTORE OUR HONOR!” Yelled another.
“YES WE MUST, BUT FIRST I BELIVE WE OWE THIS MAN FOR OUR RELEASE.”
“I wish for one thing…”
“I know what you want, Max Fanning. You are of the once prominent House Fanning.” The people in the crowd murmured in disbelief.
“Trust this man for he is right I am the Heir to House Fanning’s Throne.”
“I know this also. My people need to sleep let them go.” I agreed.
“Come with me I can reveal your history to you.”
“How can you do this?”
“When I was small I was possessed by a ghost. I left its mark on me and now I can contact the sprits of your ancestors. I am also the descendant of Arstoth’s second son.”
Chapter 3
“Long ago a traveler came to your grandfather and advised him to marry one a mage. He did and had two sons. The first died during a dragon attack. Your father killed the dragon and ate its heart while it was still beating. He some came to possess the power to transform into a dragon and control the powers of the dragons. When he came to manhood, the same traveler visited him and told him to marry the court conjurer he did and it produced no child. The traveler returned and said that with a coupling with himself, his wife, and her he would produce a son with the power of dragons. He agreed and you were conceived. The two women temporarily merged into one and the child that was created was you. After your birth, the traveler left after giving you the name Max. You were raised with your magic powers all your life. You used your magic constantly. Your mother and father were extremely proud of you and your younger brother. Everything was fine until one night you awoke from a nightmare. You looked around you and screamed waking the entire castle. You had summoned a demon during your sleep, and it a stood above you weapon raised. Your father struck it down and they tried harder to keep your powers under control. However, they could not the traveler returned and took you to the world your friends come from. There with magic no longer around you could be raised until you were ready to return. Your family was killed by demons and Archduke Raul took it upon himself to bring you back. He could not. Your childhood friend Tenisi was able to and thus that is why you knew her even though you couldn’t remember her. That is the history known to us.”
Everyone looked at me. I just sat there staring into space. Fira flew down from the rafters above us and landed in my lap. I lifted my hand and laid it on his back. Tenisi and Charna sat down beside of me. They laid their heads on my shoulders in an attempt to comfort me. I looked up slowly.
“Did any one kill the demons?”
“No, they soon took over the castle. Few managed to escape.”
“The hour has grown late. Can you find my friends a place to sleep?”
“Yes, I can what about you?”
“I want to look at something.”
“We’re staying with you, Max.”
“Okay, just keep up.”
“I too am going with you. You can carry me though.”
“Fira, you know you can just sit on my shoulder.” Fira nodded and flew up to my shoulder and perched there.
“Everyone else, sleep well tonight for we will be here for a while.” I walked toward the commanding officer’s building. I walked in and found a computer, a large bed, a bathroom, and other things.
“Max can we sleep in here?”
“Yes. Charna, we can. First though I’m going to explore this building more.”
“Hey, Max, look what I found.”
“****, that’s a big bathtub. I’ll be back in a minute.” I walked off and explored a little. I found a door and sealed, barred, and locked it. I returned and activated the computer. I activated the defense system, turned on all the cameras, motion detectors and announced over the intercom that the defense grid was activated and for everyone to stay inside. I looked up and Tenisi was about to get into the bathtub fully clothed.
“Tenisi, wait the water in the tub is perfectly clean and safe. You don’t have to bath in your clothes.” I showed her how to use the tub quickly.
“See perfectly safe.” Charna was standing in the doorway at that time watching.
“I guess if, Max says it’s safe it is.” With that, Charna walked over and felt of the water. “Well, okay then if you both say so. Wait what if someone comes in and sees?”
“No one can come in. The doors are locked and the security cameras are on.” She bathed and when she got out Charna got in. I experimented with the defense system. I explained to Tenisi how the cameras, computers, and everything else in this world works. After washing, I examined the bed. It had red covers, dark purple sheets, black pillows and it was all made of silk. I found a TV, satellite receiver, DVD player, and surround sound system. I lay down in the bed and turned on the TV. I stared for a minute then got up and said over the intercom.
“Josh,
“Tenisi, these people are the descendants of Arstoth and
“Everybody report to the mess hall for military equipment.” I said over the intercom. We equipped them with weapons and armor. Then we prepared to attack other prison camps and bolster my forces. Everything was going according to plan. The convoy with our weapons was to arrive at 1300 hours (Zulu/Military time). When it arrived, we opened the gates and let them enter. When they were in, we closed the gates and activated the communications (com) jammer. I then walked up to them and said.
“I believe you have something of mine.”
“No we don’t this all belongs to the great celebrant.”
“Actually, it belongs to Duke Max Fanning.”
“Yes, but he is dead.”
“Isn’t it rumored he could transform into a dragon.”
“HA, HA, HA, Yea like that one’s true. He disappeared and so Erika took his stuff from the old shrine.”
“Actually it is, because He never died. I AM DUKE MAX FANNING. BEHOLD THE POWER OF DRAGONS.” I bellowed as I transformed into the Dragon.
They screamed in terror and tried to run from me. I incinerated one, and let Jonathon and Logan take care of the others.
“Yes, here it is The Dragon my ultimate weapon. MY PEOPLE WE WILL HAVE OUR REVENGE!” I organized my forces, and I sent them out to take over other prison camps.
“Josh, K.W., I am leaving you two in charge. Something has come up and I must take care of It.” f
“Max, you’ll be awful lonely. I’ll come and keep you company.”
“I will too, Max, and we’ll both keep you company.”
“The matter at hand involves you two. So you will be going with me.” They both grabbed me and hugged me.” I gave my sniper rifle to another man with better eyesight. I turned the Dragon into a five ft. long sword that was four inches in width and two in thickness. I strapped it across my back, and adjusted Doom and Gloom’s holsters. I got into my dune buggy, and activated the rearrangement mechanism. I put the steering wheel and pedals in the middle, and then I got in. Tenisi and Charna got in, and as always Charna on the right side and Tenisi on the left. I drove us off into the deep within the forest. I stopped and climbed out through the back. I stood and drew in a deep breath.
“Charna, Tenisi, I have come to believe that something has drawn us together. I wish to find out why. Lately I have had dreams that have disturbed me. In one, I am standing in a field watching as you, Charna, transform into something. Another you, Tenisi, transform into an elemental. As I have said before this has disturbed me, and I wish to understand these dreams.”
“Max, if it was just a dream, why do you ponder over it so?”
“These dreams have beleaguered me ever since we crossed the rift into this world.”
“Don’t worry, Max, we both love you and will help you answer this enigma.”
“Wait a second.” I turned toward the empty space in the forest and used my magic to conjure a building. I also weaved a cloak of shadows and darkness around it to hide it from all eyes. I walked in it and it was furnished exactly like my room in element castle. I walked over to the bed and sat down on it reading. The next day we walked outside and I tried to understand my dreams.
“Charna come here. I think I understand your part in this mystery.” I placed my forehead against her and probed her mind. I then understood what I had to do. I transplanted the demon transformation powers into her.
“This power it is amazing!”
“Yes it is you must now learn to control it. Tenisi your turn.” I placed my forehead against hers and probed her mind. I then went inside of the Ring of Cortira and cloned the power within it. I then placed that power within Tenisi. They both transformed. They were both, beautiful and terrifying, powerful and stunning. I transformed and our power could shake the very foundations of the planets. We turned back to human, and I had to catch them. The transformations must have used up all their strength as I had to carry them inside and lay them down. I sat down and started preparing dinner. I placed it on the stove and started to cook. The aroma was so enticing it woke Tenisi and Charna. I sat it on the table, and conjured a bottle of blood red wine, poured three glasses, and sat it in a bucket of ice. We ate and drank joyously. When we finished I conjured the clean, while Tenisi and Charna went to wash up. Afterward, I sat down with my tarot deck. I began shuffling when suddenly Fira yelled.
“FATHER, THEY HAVE FOUND US, AND ARE COMING IN FORCE! PREPARE TO FIGHT!”
“TENISI, CHARNA, READY YOURSELVES FOR
“IF YOU WANT ME. THEN COME ON THEN YE WORTHLESS BEASTS!” They come into sight and I fired dropping 19 people. I drew The Dragon from it’s sheathe and charged, yelling my battle cry. I sliced the first in half when I saw Tenisi and Charna burst through the door. They had in their hands the weapons of old. Tenisi with her elemental magic and a zanbatou. Charna with a chain whip and black magic. They launched into a furious assault. I teleported as I ran changing The Dragon into numerous different weapons. We cut a path through the enemy forces. Bloodlust strengthened me, and I went deeper into Berserker mode. I could see my foes by the warmth of their blood. My eyes flamed with the anger and bloodlust within them. I roared my war cry as loud as humanly possible, and as it echoed away, my enemies paused. I could smell their fear, and it strengthened me. I slew the last one in a bloodthirsty rage that then disappeared. I looked down at my blade and hands. They were a deep dark crimson. The ground behind me was littered with corpses. Yet one remained. I grabbed him and changed The Dragon into a tanto. I placed it at his throat.
“Who sent you?”
“The Great Celebrant.”
“Erika, huh, why do you follow him?”
“I am on the road to redemption.”
“Redemption you say more like condemnation to me. He sent you to your death. I can free you.”
“Then free me.”
“I will free you, but even think of betraying me and this blade will pierce your heart faster than the eye can see.” He nodded in agreement.
“Let’s go everyone into the dune buggy. You state your name.”
“
“Normal.”
“Blaise.”
“Well then, Blaise, man the turret.”
“Sir, yes sir!” I drove us back to base. Where waiting for me was every able-bodied man from every concentration camp in a 500-click radius.
“Josh, K.W.! Logan, Jonathon! FRONT AND CENTER!” They fell in to line in front of me.
“How many men do we have?”
“Newest estimate is around 19,000.”
“Are they armed?”
“Yes.”
“Have they been instructed on how to use their weapons and on tactics?”
“Yes sir.”
“How far is it to Erika’s stronghold?”
“900-clicks, sir.”
“I want you all to talk to me in the same way when on duty as Blaise does. Now then, every one of you will lead a segment of my army. We leave for Erika’s stronghold in two days at 0800 hours. Now move!”
“Sir, yes sir!” I turned toward Tenisi and Charna.
“Come let us go and rest.” I walked over to them and put my arms around them. I slept well and woke early. I stood bedecked in my Mithril armor, hands clasped together behind my back, as I watched the sunrise. Soon and I will be able to finish what he started I thought. As I was standing there, I began to hallucinate. I saw the battles of old and the razing of towns. I saw one man dressed in the same garb as mine. He strode out into the middle of the battlefield. He unsheathed his berserker sword, and it shone deep red in the sun’s early rays. He bellowed a war cry startling similar to mine. He decimated his enemies with strength fueled by rage and adrenaline. Fire danced upon on his sword as he mercilessly slaughtered his foes. He looked toward me, and I saw that it was me that I saw. I saw a cathedral rising in the distance. I watched as tens of thousands of men gathered up in front of the cathedral. Then as 50,000 men gathered behind my banner. In my vision, I charged yelling.
“LET NONE SURVIVE! VENGENCE IS MINE!”
“Your lordship, we are ready to march upon Erika. Sir there are reports that The Demon is coming. You are The Demon, sire. It is also reported that Erika has been having nightmares about you.” I laughed manically at this.
“THEN I WILL SHOW HIM THE GREATEST NIGHTMARE. NOW MY WARRIORS ERIKA’S DEMISE IS IMMINENT. WE WILL RESTORE OUR HONOR, OR THE EARTH AND SEA WILL RUN RED WITH OUR BLOOD! FORWARD MY WARRIORS NOTHING WILL STOP US NOW. ONWARD THE FATE OF THE WORLD RESTS IN OUR HANDS. A NEW AGE IS DAWNING FOR THIS WORLD.”
“Max, are you crazy our numbers are too small. We will be crushed if we charge headlong into Erika’s fortress.”
“No, you are wrong. We will run rampant and crush his forces. EVERYONE ON TO THE TRANSPORTER.” I then teleported us 5 clicks west of Erika’s cathedral. I strode out in front of my forces as Blaise lifted my banner. Tens of thousands of men swarmed in front of the cathedral. I summoned every bit of energy I had and drew my sword.
“LET NONE SURVIVE! VENGENCE IS MINE!” My eyes flamed with inhuman fury. Fire danced across my blade, the earth trembled, and the sky filled with dark clouds. I bellowed an inhuman shriek as I turned partly into the Dragon. Beside me was Charna in Demon form and Tenisi in Elemental form. My enemies were terror-stricken. I swept a path through my enemies. I turned completely into the dragon. Our enemies dwindled as we out thought them. I called upon my dark powers and raised the dead. As corpse after corpse convulsed and skeletons rose. They picked up the nearest weapon and charged recklessly into combat. The sheer terror I unleashed was unthinkable. I pulled from the shadow realms, wraiths, banshees, and phantasms. And from the Burning Hells I pulled demons. As Erika unleashed every last man in a desperate attempt to destroy me. I pulled Demon Lords and raised the dead. My army increased tenfold. As the tide of battle turned Erika’s entire force was obliterated I dispelled my summoned warriors. I ran into Erika’s Cathedral as I regressed to human.
Chapter 4
“ERIKA, YOUR OBILERATION IS AT HAND. YOU ARE AT HELL’S GATE WHAT NOW?” I thundered.
“I can never die. My legacy will live on.”
“That is where you’re wrong. I am the undying. I will show you what your future is.” I drew the tarot cards that would be his future.
“The Demon, The Falling Tower, Death…”
“No more of this witchcraft.”
“Do not rush death.”
“Stop in the name of the Dragon God.”
“What do you know of the Dragon God?”
“He sent me on this quest.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Like it or not you have to trust me.”
“What is your destiny?”
“To reach the other side.”
“And what is mine?”
“That, I don’t know.”
“Renounce your reign and I will spare your life.”
“I, Erika, herby renounce my reign.”
“Come with me.” I opened a portal as he walked toward me.
“Here is your other side. This is your destiny.”
“Locked underneath the cellar is a portal to the Dragon
God’s
“I will go through it. Now step through the threshold to your Destiny.”
“Goodbye, ally, if Fate shall have it we will meet again.”
“Yes, we will…friend.” I held out my hand and he clasped it. He turned and walked to his destiny.
“Max, where is Erika?”
“On the Other Side. Gather our friends and bring them here, Tenisi.”
“Charna, Tell the troops to return to their homes and live on.”
“Fira, Come here my friend. What do you think of this conundrum?”
“It will be the start of a greater adventure.”
“Yes, it will. Yes it will.”
“Max, we have done as you requested.”
“Good. My friends yet again we must leap through space and
time. We go now to the Dragon God’s
“Whose temple?”
“The Dragon God’s.”
“Okay what now.”
“Discard your guns. They will cease to work when we go through the portal.”
“Max, where is the portal?”
“It is under the cellar, Tenisi. Every one now follow me. Prepare your weapons a Dragon Gate is always well guarded.”
“What was that noise?”
“A
“Who dares enter my lair?” I put my hand out to keep my friends from entering the room.
“I, Archduke Max Fanning, enter your lair for it is in the way of my destiny.”
“What kind of destiny can a human like you have?”
“I am no mere human. I control the powers of Dragons.”
“Prove it.”
“I shall.” I replied as I transformed into the Dragon.
“Very Well you may pass.”
“My friends are to come as well.”
“No I cannot allow it.”
“You will for I am the same Max Fanning of legends, and I know that you have a weakness. I also know what it is.”
“Fine then they too may pass.” I regressed back to my human form.
“Hurry my friends through the gate.”
“Max, that was so brave.” Tenisi said as she and Charna came to me.
‘These two are not complete humans either are they?”
“No, Tenisi is half elemental, and Charna is half demon.”
“Strange company for a Dragon hybrid. However it does fit.”
“What fits?”
“Legends speak of a Dragon, an Elemental, and a Demon. They are the ones who usurp the Dragon God’s throne.”
“Never heard that part before. Anyways let’s go.” I put my arms around Tenisi and Charna, and we walked through the portal.
“Max, I have awaited the day when you would come to me.”
“Show yourself to me!”
“Here I am.” He was huge. He had 3ft. long
“Show me my destiny. Why do I…”
“Quite. Your questions will be answered in due time.”
“What is my destiny? Tell me already!”
“Ah you are the biggest problem with balance there ever was. For you see you are unable to stay neutral. You also caused a problem with The Purpose and The Random. They both wanted to control you. So your destiny is only half, and it was to get here. Whatever happens next you decide for you are the one who will control Order or control Chaos. Either way, all will bow down before you in the end.” He kneeled down before me. I knelt slightly in return. Everyone else bowed down then.
“You hold the very elements that created the world under your sway. You alone have the power to raise the seas, level mountains, reverse the wind, and bring forth the flames. You are the one who can lead the world into a new age of peace, into an age of fire and chaos, or do the impossible control Order and Chaos! No matter what path you choose all will fall before you for you are the one.”
“So you mean I can rule the world with an iron fist, or rule it in peace?”
“Yes.”
“Only this can be said about your future. All hail the Dragon Lord Max! Now, Max, I must leave go back through the portal, and follow your heart.” After saying that the Dragon God vanished, and the portal behind us reactivated.
“Max, what do we do now? Since you have finished your destiny, and can now do whatever what will we do next?” Josh said with a confused tone.
“That, Josh, I do not know. That I don’t know. However let’s start by going to the top floor of this temple.” When we arrived, I looked around and found nothing of any use to me. I started to leave when a glimmer caught my eye.
“What a minute this is not an ordinary room. There see that beam it is impossible for it to hold up the ceiling because it is upside down. A hologram this all just a hologram and a dang good one at that.”
“What is a hologram, Max?”
“Jonathon, a hologram is a photographic record produced by illuminating an object with light like that from a laser. Though especially when creating a three dimensional object.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“Watch when I press this button the hologram will disappear,
and when I push this one.” I pushed the button and a holographic image of me
appeared. It walked around for a minute before unsheathing its sword and
attempting to slash
“As you can see it can’t hurt you. It is just an illusion like pulling a coin out from behind someone’s ear. This was used to hide this. This is another warp gate only this one is programmable.” Jonathon had wondered over to the hologram machine and had pressed a button.
“Max, if you are hearing this than you have spoken to the
Dragon God and lived. As well as sent me to the other side. This gate can be
transported to your stronghold wherever you choose to build it. It has two
locations set for you to go to when you first activate it. The first is the
“What was that all about?”
“You were there, Jonathon,
“No all we heard was some weird speech.”
“That was the tongue of the Dragons, and you were blessed to her it. All languages are based upon it.”
“Anyway for those of you who didn’t hear it; my destiny was only half, and it was to have that conversation with the Dragon God. The rest of my life is what ever I make it. Now two of the ruling powers in the universe are at conflict. As long as I am neutral, they are balanced, and I must tip the scale. Either Order or Chaos it is my decision.”
“I am going to Order first, and Logan and Sliany are coming with me. Just them because I want K.W. and Rayne to come with me to Chaos.” I activated the warp gate and we went through.
“Greetings, Archduke Max, Welcome to the
“Who is in charge here?”
“You could be if you join us.” She had her arms around Logan
and Sliany. Suddenly knives shot out, and
“Kill this bi…” He died as the blood gushed out of him.
“I will old friend I will. You will pay for this treachery. I, Archduke Max Fanning, swear it on my life and my honor, you will pay!” I heard a voice in my head.
“Use me, Max, I can destroy her.” It was the voice of my weapon, The Dragon, now in the form of a broad sword. I pulled it from it’s sheathe and buried it up to the hilt in the woman’s chest in one quick stroke.
“That’s for my friend, Logan Williams. You have been avenged, and I will see you again in the clearing at the end of the path.” I ran back through the gate and closed it immediately when I was on the other side.
“
“Glad you cud make it to our fortress.” It said.
“Excuse him, one too many blows to the jaw. He cannot speak properly.” Said a man who like my self was dressed in all black.
“And who might you be?”
“I am, Feardorcha, Ruler of Chaos. This is Cale my bodyguard. You of course would be, Archduke Max Fanning, correct, and these two are?”
“K.W. and Rayne, my bodyguards.”
“I suppose you have been to Order already haven’t you?”
“Yes and they murdered my other two bodyguards. I will swear not to attack your servants, if you swear to injure mine. Agreed?” I held my hand out for him to shake.
“Agreed.” We shook hands I saw that he didn’t have any black rings. Only one with his family crest.
“Let her go now!”
“No. she started this.”
“K.W. Rayne, What’s going on?”
“This person is messing with Rayne.”
“She attacked me.”
“I did not.”
“That is the problem with hired hands they fight your allies.” Then a great rumbling was heard and several monsters dropped down on Cale, K.W., and Rayne. Killing them instantly.
“Well seems like we must fight now ay, Max.”
“Yes it seems we must.” He materialized his blade in front him. It had an obsidian covered steel blade, about three feet in length, the guard looked like a golden claw reaching up, and the hilt was also golden and had a griffin head on the bottom.
“The
“The Dragon my perfect weapon. I can transform into a Dragon. Not so different are we?”
“No we aren’t.” I saw the monsters had a symbol burned into their skin. It was the Egyptian eye. It was colored black, and the symbol meant immortality. The holder of black eyes. We charged and attacked in perfect synchronization. Our blades hovering mere centimeters above each other when we swung through the middle person. They were all cut in half except the middle person, who was chopped into three pieces.
“I cannot stay here I need to decide but for now you have the upper hand. Goodbye friend.” We shook hands and I walked through the portal.
“K.I.A. right.”
“I didn’t know you knew military acronyms, Jonathon. KIA is killed in action. So what is MIA stand for?”
“Missing in action.”
“Good, Jonathon. Now then, we must find a suitable spot for my stronghold. We will uplink into the GPS network and find a suitable spot. Consider this good defensive options, high visibility, and surroundings. Preferably a mountain, volcano, plateau, or something like that. Ok, ya’ll let’s get to work.” Jonathon and Josh searched for a suitable location, Tenisi, Charna, Azayia, Aramathia, and Linius went about how to decorate it, most of their ideas I didn’t like, but we all get a segment of the stronghold to claim, and Fira and I tried to decide what kind of materials would be used.
“I found it, the perfect place for the stronghold!”
“Put it on the main view screen. You’re right that is perfect. Ha, Ha, It is all going according to plan.” I hired the experts on castles, and expert construction workers. I had them draw up the plans for my castle. They took the best defensive and offensive features into my castle. They decided to use granite, titanium, steel, concrete, sandstone, and others. Since it would be located on a mountain that had a flat top, a river circling the bottom about 250 yards away from the mountain base, a volcanic cavern, and a forest about 500 yards away from the river. It would have a primary sloping wall 10 ft from the edge of the river. Another wall 300 yards up the mountain, one more 600 yards, and the last around the entire top edge of the mountain. With great visibility, it was perfect for detecting enemies. I put forth my mana into the stones, mortar, steel, wood, and everything else. The area it was built on top of a nexus of lay lines. With the completion of my Citadel, I prepared to make known my presence. I would begin by recruiting a massive number of troops, as well as assume control of anything Erika left behind. As my numbers swell, I will challenge the nearest ruler. I will attack from the front, while Josh and Jonathon lead a strike team into the enemy stronghold to destroy any lingering troops or militia. I would place Jonathon on that throne and plot who I would challenge next. I would worry about that later. The time to act has come and I will make known my presence.
“Fira, tell Josh to come to my library.”
“Yes, Max.”
“Tenisi, come here.”
“Yes, Max…Wait. What’s bothering you?”
“I want to ask you something.”
“Then ask it.”
“No matter what happens will you always stand by my side?”
“Of course, my love.”
“Even if I rule over Chaos and bring about a resurrection of darker times. Mainly the Medieval time period.”
“Always.”
“I love you, Tenisi.” I kissed her gently on the lips.
“And I love you, Max.” She kissed me back. At that time, Josh walked through the door. He then turned around and started to leave the room. I broke away from Tenisi.
“Josh, I have decided that you and Jonathon will lead my army.”
“WHAT?”
“You and Jonathon are to lead my army to claim the neighboring dukedom.”
“Are you seriously going to let us lead this campaign?”
“Yes, I’d trust the both of you with my life. Fira, would you bring Jonathon here.” He nodded and flew off his perch after Jonathon. He came in the door a few minutes later with Fira on his shoulder.
“Yes, Max, you wanted me.”
“I did. I want you two to swear that if anything happens to me…”
“Like you get kidnapped, killed, or something.”
“Yes. Now I want you two to swear that if anything happens to me, anything you hear me, you will protect the ones I love.”
“Yes I swear it.”
“As do I.”
“Put out your right hand.” They did and in one quick motion, I cut their palms. They stared dumbstruck. I then sliced my palms.
“This is what is called a blood pact. It will bind you to your oath by your blood. If you try to back out of it or fail it you will die.” I placed my palms against theirs letting our blood join.
“We are now blood brothers. We will triumph. Go both of you prepare for your conquest. Remember reward bravery, and punish cowardice. Fight for honor and glory. Fight for me and you, and LET THE WORLD KNOW WHO WE ARE AND QUAKE BEFORE OUR POWER!” They ran out of the room. I walked over to the fire and stared into it.
“Now it begins.”
“Max, I grant me my request.”
“I will if you tell me what that is.”
“I want to be the Royal Handmaiden.”
“Very well. I Duke Max Fanning, hereby declare that Charna DarkDemon is my Royal Handmaiden.”
“Thanks Max, I love you.” She kissed me, and left happily.
I turned around and made sure that everything was off. I
returned to my room and slept. I awoke and walked over to the balcony. My room
was once more in the tallest tower. It was exactly the same as my room in
“MY WARRIORS THE TIME IS AT HAND. WE WILL DESTROY ANYONE WHO
CROSSES US. THEY HAVE INSULTED YOU AND THUS ME AS WELL. I AM THE ONE TRUE HEIR
TO THE THRONE OF LEGENDS. THEY SHALL RUE THE DAY THEY CHALLEGENED
“FOR THE ONE TRUE KING…KING MAX FANNING! LONG LIVE THE KING!” I smiled and watched as they descended through the gates.
“MAX, WE WILL RETURN VICTORIOUS OR NEVER RETURN AT ALL! LONG LIVE THE KING!” Jonathon yelled this with Linius at his side. They saddled up and rode out the gate. Josh raised his Masamune and it glimmered in the sunlight. On his horse, Red Hare, he yelled out.
“MAX, I WILL RETURN. I, JOSH, WILL LET NONE SURVIVE. Those who cross us will fall! For Honor”
“For Glory.”
“For the King.” The last two were shouted out by Azayia and Aramathia, who had ridden up on horseback beside of Josh. They raised their swords and saluted me. I saluted them back and together the three of them rode off to get in front of the army.
“Worry not my lord they will return. Josh is not a normal human and neither is Jonathon.”
“Yes you are right, Caldock.” Caldock is my chief advisor.
“Milord, an emissary from a neighboring lord is here.”
“Very well I will see him bring him to the audience chamber.” I walked through the secret passage that led to the throne room. I looked at my throne and smiled. It was made of solid black diamond. The largest one ever found on earth. A red light hit it and it looked magnificent. I sat down with my hand resting on the hilt of my sword that stood straight up stuck in to the floor. I leaned back into the shadows and placed upon my head my crown of flames. It is made of a metal that can withstand molten lava, this metal is called Hellanium and is black, but when the sun hits it, you see red. Set in my crown are red diamonds. My black Mithril armor still shone like a black mirror. I looked like something out of a nightmare. My hair was in a braid as thick as a billiard ball at the end. It reached down to my calf, and when undone it fell around me like a cloak. I watched as the two doors opened and in walked Caldock and a troll dressed in traveling clothes. He knelt before me.
“I am an emissary sent here by The High Chieftain Blackhand to swear our loyalty to you, Great Dragon King. I am Bloodhand 19th son of Blackhand.” He pulled out a knife and slit his huge crimson hand. He clenched it tight and blood flowed through his knuckles.
“WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU! WE WILL DIE FOR LORD MAX!”
“Your pact is done. I, the newly crowned Lord of Fire and Dragons acknowledge your pact.”
“You must take a troll name for the clans to accept as you Grand High Chieftain. You are lord of fire and dragons. You will be known as Fireheart. At that time, Tenisi and Charna walked into the throne room from one of the side doors. Tenisi sat down in her throne of Amethyst on my left, and Charna sat down in her throne of garnet on my right side. Our three thrones sat on the top and sixth tier of a dais. On the fifth tier stood Jonathon, Josh, Azayia, Aramathia, and Linius’s thrones.
“Bloodhand bring me two of your clan’s strongest warriors.”
“Yes, Chieftain Fireheart.” He walked out the doors and out into the courtyard.
“What are the two trolls for milord?”
“Defense, Caldock, defense. Bring my horse, Flamemane, to the courtyard.”
“We will come with you.”
“No, I need you to two to stay here.”
“Milord, this messenger has just arrived with information concerning Sir Josh.”
“Bring him here now.”
Chapter 5
“Lord Max, an Orc raiding party has attacked the scout party lead by Commander Josh. The Orcs were killed with minimal causalities. However, Commander Josh and his steed have been killed. They tumbled into the ravine, and we could not find them. Commander Jonathon will continue the assault.” I looked down and said.
“We have lost a one of the best men I ever knew. He was truly an extraordinary man.” At that time, the doors were pushed open.
“Don’t count me out yet.” Josh limped through the doors and into the throne room. His horse was outside drinking from the water trough.
“I pulled Red Hare, my horse, and me from the water and up the mountain to the Castle. I will rest up and head back to the army with haste.”
“Josh, ride out with me I might need you to help with something.” I walked out and overheard Tenisi saying.
“He wouldn’t let us go with him.”
“He loves the both you. He would kill his self before he let anything happen to you two. ****, I would do the same for Azayia and Aramathia. He would destroy this entire continent before he let you two die. He would kill himself to save you two. You must understand. Max is well he tries not to show his emotions, but he can’t. I’ve known him since before he came to this world. He is deep and he is cocky, but he loves you two. I have never before seen a man that chivalrous and noble. He would charge the very gates of **** to save you two.”
“He would do the same for you, Josh, and you, Charna.”
“You’re right. Go I will stay.”
“I am Max’s blood brother, and I swore a blood pact to protect you two if something happens to him. I would rather fight the legions of hell then fight Max in dragon hybrid form. He punched straight through a steel beam in that form.”
“Josh, come we have a 3 hour ride as the crow flies ahead of us.”
“Alright, then lets ride.”
“Fira, take care of Lady Tenisi and Lady Charna for me! Onward Flamemane!” Flamemane reared back neighed and we galloped off toward the horizon with Josh right beside me on Red Hare. We rode on and at last, in the distance I could see what I was after.
“Hurry Josh that is the Templar’s tower ahead. We are almost near.”
“We won’t make it before sundown.”
“Our horses have magic also you know. Now Flamemane ride as fast as the burning winds! Red Hare, ride fast like the wind!” The horizon became a blur as we rode toward the tower. Flamemane’s mane had turned to fire and the ground his feet touched was scorched, the stream we crossed evaporated instantly. Beside me was Red Hare and the wind whistled like a typhoon. We reached the tower in about thirty minutes. We stopped outside the tower for 15 minutes recuperating from the ride. We entered the tower and walked up the spiraling steps to the top. I counted the steps and when we reached the door to enter the top room, I had counted exactly 9000 steps. I opened the door and the Templars stood facing us in a semi-circle.
“Greetings, he who will be lord of blades and he who will be lord of all. We are the Templars. What do you seek?”
“I want to see my prophecy and I want for us to brought into our godhead, immense power, do this for us.”
“Everything comes at a price, he who will be lord of all.”
“Name your price.”
“We want the third child of every one you bring into their godhead.”
“Okay we will send you the third child of everyone who comes into their godhead.”
“Here is your prophecy.”
There
will arise a boy who is nihilistic and possesses an inborn power that rivals
that of the Arch magi. He will be the known as the greatest wolf priest. He
will pass the tests of manhood during his half man-years. He will fall in love
with darkness. He will have been possessed by a flame daimone while he was in
the womb. Thus making him one of the flames. Together Fire and Darkness will
sire twins one a son the other a daughter. He will pass through the ether in
his corporal body, and rip asunder the Heavens and let loose an army of fire,
darkness, and spirit. He will crown himself with flames, dress himself in
darkness, and have powerful friends of earth, water, wind, and light. He can
burn the world and lead it into darkness, or heal the world and bring it into
the light. The world must show him kindness or risk his wrath. The fate of
Terra will rest in his hands. He is the undying flame of the void. His is the
power of Dragons and Phoenixes. He is the one chosen by the great fire spirit
to achieve the impossible. He is the
“My destiny…will be fulfilled.”
“Here drink of this to be brought into your godhead.”
“Thank you; we will uphold our end of the bargain.” I took a small drink of the draught and instantly felt untold power flood through me. My eyes went from bicolor to tricolor. The outside ring was bluish purple, the middle was black with stripes of red and purplish blue, and the inner one was red. Josh went through the same process and his eyes were blue on the outer ring, green on the middle ring, and red on the inner. We left and rode back to my Castle with all due haste. We arrived and I gave Tenisi and Charna their godhead. I gave the bottle to Josh who took it to Azayia, Aramathia, Jonathon, and Linius. I gave him explicit instructions to tell them the price of this power.
“Tenisi Charna, the price for this power is that you must give up your third child.”
“What kind of person would do this to us?”
“The Templars. You agreed to the terms they specified. The Templars are the last of their order. They are restoring their way of live.”
“Our line is one of power that is why they want one of our children. This journey has tired me the sheer energy I had to use to travel so fast nearly drained me. Come let us retire to my chambers.” We left and I slept and dreamed. I dreamed of fire. I saw myself sitting on my throne and all around me the world burned. I smirched as the unworthy fell dead around my warriors. I saw Josh standing in front of an army that I knew was his. He threw off his cloak and I could see that he was armed to the teeth with blades. He leaped down the cliff he was standing in front of and drew six blades. Three in each hand and while falling fling them into the hearts of six men. I turned and saw Jonathon on horseback. He held in his hand a recurve bow. Behind him were several mounted archers. They fired off a volley of exactly 35 arrows, and struck 35 men directly between the eyes. I turned again and saw Feardorcha fighting with a man dressed in all white. I looked back toward myself and saw an armada of ships crewed by the doomed. Behind it flew a squadron of airships. In the front ship, I stood piloting. With Tenisi and Charna at my side, I directed an army of the living dead. I smirked and laughed as the harbor behind me burned. I stood with my arms around Tenisi. When two adults walked up. They were twins a boy and a girl. They both looked very gothic. The man wore a black outfit with red armor and a black and red cape on. His black hair fell down to his ankles. The woman wore a red outfit with black armor and a black and red cape. Her purple hair also fell down to her ankles. The boy looked at me and said.
“We have mastered our powers, Father.”
“Our powers are growing, Father.”
“Good job, Cinaed and Nina, you are truly the best kids a parent could ask for.” They then walked up and sat down on their thrones. I saw myself sitting in the Dragon God’s position on my throne. The world went dark and there were screams. The lights returned and I saw Tenisi and Charna lying dead. I looked up to see who had done this and I saw myself standing there. It couldn’t have been me though, because he was wearing white. Behind him, I saw my self with my human heart ripped out. Beside it lay my dragon heart. I saw my son pick my sword up and drive it through the killer’s heart. The killer said one thing then died.
“Brother it was for the best…” I woke in drenched in cold sweat. It was raining heavily and thundering and lightning flashed. I jumped out of the bed and grabbed my sword. I magically hid Tenisi, Charna, Fira, and myself. I wondered around the castle. I searched for an intruder or assassin. I sensed something near Josh’s room. I went there quickly and saw something standing over Josh with a sword. I dropped my invisibility, hefted my sword, and grasped it with both hands and charged.
“Turn and meet Death head on, assassin!” I swung my blade with all the power I could muster. The assassin’s head flew across the room and the body collapsed and fell off the bed. I turned and began to leave when Josh threw a knife at me. I turned and with unnatural speed caught the knife.
“Take more caution in your life. You would have died had I not sensed this assassin.”
“I was baiting him see on his body there.”
I looked and saw 6 knives stuck in the body in vital spots. They had gone unnoticed and the assassin was dead by the time I swung my sword. I nodded and returned to my room after calling off the alarm. I slept and this time I saw nothing. I woke at sunrise and walked through my gardens. I went through the hidden passageway that led down to the caverns far underneath the castle. I reached out with my mind. I walked down the tunnel in complete darkness. I saw with my third eye, the one inside my head that was in tune with magic. I walked downward ever, ever downward. When I reached the bottom, the path opened up to a huge cavern. A hundred other passageways opened up to the cavern. I took the one that glowed of ethereal fire. It opened up to a cavern with a bottomless lake of fire, brimstone, and lava. I walked to the edge. I delved inward into my soul’s heart. My Heart of Fire. I unleashed the fire daimone within me and I blazed. My body was wreathed in flames. I walked out onto a small platform in the middle of the lake.
“Goddess of Fire, I beseech you come to me.” The lava shot upward and fire encircled the platform I stood on.
“You the usurper. What do you want from me?”
“Great Fire Goddess, I have not usurped anybody. I wish to know what I should do next.”
“You should call a council meeting with your commanders. You! You are the one! You are the one that Firaga, the Fire god, possessed and was absorbed. I ask your forgiveness.” She walked out of the fire and took on corporal form. Her skin was orange, her hair was red, orange, and yellow, and her eyes were fire colored. Her form was perfect. She was trying to bring out my human weaknesses. I unfurled my wings of fire and transformed my body to my soul’s form. Firaga came forward and took over my body. I let him and he embraced Firashi, the Fire Goddess. He kissed her once and then went back inside of me. I said farewell and left. As I entered the huge cavern, a horde of goblins came by.
“Take him to the Goblin King. Now get him!” They swarmed me and I let them take me to the Goblin King. The goblin king while only 3 ft tall was not to be underestimated. He had greenish-brown skin, fiery red eyes, and a rather burly build. In a deep, hoarse, rumbling voice, he said.
“Who are you to enter my tunnels?”
“I am Max King of ground above you. I carry within me 2 to 3 other people. One is Firaga the God of Fire, another is Draconic Maximus, the Spirit of the Greatest Dragon there ever was, and last is my alter-ego whom I haven’t named.”
“You are a man of power, but your power doesn’t impress me. I am Taknok Goblin King.”
“I offer you a taste of my blood and the blood of my enemies.” I pricked my finger and he tasted of my blood. He was tossed back into his chair stunned.
“You King of Goblin King now we will serve you.”
“I will need three of your warriors to serve in my Council.”
“You will get them I send them with you now.” He motioned
forward two goblins, 2 Red Caps, and a goblin/redcap hybrid. I led them to the
council chamber where Josh and Jonathon were seated with their girls beside
them. Bloodhand and his generals were also seated. The red cap goblin hybrid
said his name was Vicitious. I placed him as leader and he also sat down.
Aubrey the elf king and his guards sat at the table also. He owed his alliance
to Josh who rescued him from the river. Allanon, the lycanthrope king, whose sister,
“Friends I have brought you here to show you the future.” I said.
“You are not prescient, Max, you cannot see the future.” Said a girl from the doorway.
“I am Naomi, a prophet; I bring word from Kenshin, master of Ninjitsu and Samurai. He sends his apologies that he cannot be at your council. He says that he and his warriors will fight with you no matter what. Milord your wife’s soul is incomplete. Let me help you to restore her.”
“Only with Tenisi’s consent will I agree.”
“I agree to it, Max, let Naomi do it.”
“Very well bring Charna and Firashi.” They appeared and they were merged with Tenisi and she was made complete.
“Max I feel wonderful. This power is amazing.”
“D***, that gives a whole new meaning to the word “fiery” doesn’t it Jonathon.”
“Cut the sarcasm, Josh. Now back to business. The key to our destinies are one in the same. For example if I don’t become ruler of the southern domains, Josh will not be the Lord of Blades. No one can escape destiny. Lady Tenisi and I have decided that in order for our destinies to be achieved we must go to the Plain of Gigatech.”
“The Plain of Gigatech? Why do you need to go to that technological place when you can stay here on the Plain of Chivalry?”
“Simple I would say, Josh, but it is Max and nothing can ever be as simple as he says.”
“True, it isn’t simple which is why you will accompany me. Fira will sit on the throne and we will take care of business.”
“So, it is Max, Tenisi, Jonathon, Tara, Linius, Aramathia, Azayia, and Josh.”
“That’s right. Aubrey, Allanon, and Naomi will assist Fira.”
“Everyone,” I said as I stood up, “Get some rest for tomorrow we will leave for The Plain of Gigatech. Meeting adjourned.”
“Max, so what all does this Gigatech have.”
“Motorcycles, Sports cars, anti-gravity rings and the vehicles have jet-engines no more gasoline.”
“So you are telling me that the sports cars have a jet-engine.”
“The good ones have three or four.”
“Whoa now THAT’S WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR!”
“D***, Max why didn’t you tell us about this place earlier?”
“This world is insignificant to my cause were it not for the fact that Jonathon is ….”
“Is what Max, is what?”
“I can’t say not now.”
“That’s it I’m outta here!”
“I should have known he never would be able to live here.” Tenisi walked up to me and placed her hand on my cheek. And lovingly said.
“Max, he never was meant for this world not like you and Josh. It is not your fault just send him back to his world. He wasn’t suited for the hardships.”
“I love you, Tenisi.” I kissed her softly on the mouth. She hesitated for a second then she kissed back.
“Go get a room, Max.” Josh yelled. Of course, he just happened to be standing between Azayia and Aramathia.
“Likewise, Josh.” Tenisi said.
“Yeah come on, Josh.” Said Aramathia as she and Azayia grabbed his hands and pulled him out. Tenisi jumped on me and whispered in my ear.
“He’s just jealous.” I then carried her bridal style back to our room.
The next morning I was woken by a thump on the door.
“What the hell?” I murmured and slipped my full length, completely covering robe on. I answered the door and found Josh at the door. He was wearing his armor and his sword was strapped to his back.
“Jonathon is gone and so is his horse. He can’t stand the fact that there is any electricity or technology like there was in the old world. He is going for the barrier between this world and the old one.”
“Quick
mount Red Hare and meet me in the courtyard.”
“Max. I am
coming too.” I nodded and we dressed in our battle clothes. I put on my black
Mithril armor and my Dragon helm. The Dragon I held in my hand and formed it
into a Zanbatou. Tenisi was wearing her red Mithril armor and her Dragon helm.
She held a recurve bow in her hands and a quiver full of arrows hung at her
side. On her back was Zanbatou also. We ran from the 13th floor of
our tower to the 2nd story window and went out it. We jumped on to
the stable roof, entered into the hayloft, and ran across the rafters to where
Flamemane stood. We swung down from the rafters onto Flamemane’s back. We
didn’t use a saddle we rode like the Indians of the world Jonathon was heading
for. We rode out of the stable and past Josh, Azayia, and Aramathia who sat on
their horses. They caught up with us and we rode after Jonathon. Someone yelled
at us to get that insensitive b****** that broke his sister’s heart. I nodded
and we rode on his trail was easy to follow. Suddenly, I saw a shadow darting
through the trees on our right side. I felt Tenisi tense behind me. She was
talking to me with the telepathic link I had formed with her earlier. I nodded.
She wanted me to use my pyrokinesis or fire to set the tip of her arrow on fire
when she shot it. She drew her bow and nocked an arrow. I concentrated my energy
into the arrowhead. I envisioned it bursting into flames and burning madly. She
shot the creature and as the arrow was halfway between the creature and us. I
set it aflame. The creature fell out of the tree it was jumping to and landed
on the ground with a sickly thump. It was a demon a memory eater, a brain
devourer. Suddenly a horde of lesser demons appeared in front of us. I drew my
zanbatou as Tenisi drew hers, Josh unsheathed his sword, and Azayia and
Aramathia unsheathed their swords. I urged Flamemane on and held my Zanbatou
out on the left side and Tenisi held hers out on the right side. We crashed
through the first ranks I stood up on Flamemane’s back and jumped off into a
patch of demons. I swung back and forth cutting down their numbers. Josh did a
back flip off of Red Hare and landed on the shoulders of a demon. We fought
onward ever, ever onward. Finally, Josh yelled out.
“Max,
transform!”
“Tenisi,
come to me. Josh keep them off of us. Tenisi, place your palms to mine. Now
touch your forehead to mine. Good, now transform, but push your energy toward
me.” We merged into a monstrous creature of flame and darkness. We were one. We
were twenty feet tall, flaming, and well we were fire what did you think we
looked like. We charged incinerating all of the demons around us. We jumped
into the sky and blasted fire at all surviving enemies. We landed and
separated. I looked over at Josh. He stood stunned, mouth agape. I snapped my
fingers. Flamemane trotted over and neighed. I petted him while he ate out of
my hand. Josh finally walked up to me and asked.
“Max,
how…how did you do that?” I taught him the fusion spell, and we resumed our
search for Jonathon. We came upon a ruined campsite toward nightfall. It had
been 10 days since we left our castle and 4 since we destroyed the demons. We
searched the campsite and I found Jonathon’s hat.
Chapter 6
Suddenly Josh and I were pulled from our world
into another. This one was burning and lava flowed. The sky was dark and the
land barren. It was hellish. We were standing in a coliseum. Two creatures gave
us a shot and we could understand them then. They led us to our rooms. In my
room were Doom and Gloom laying on the bed and beside them Tenisi was lying
fast asleep. I strapped on Doom and Gloom and went back outside. In Josh’s room
was his Colt .45, a zanbatou, and Azayia and Aramathia. A loud speaker rumbled
out that, the first match was beginning and that Josh and I were in it. We went
into the ring; we both had a cocky look on our face. I saw the opponents and
that were outnumbered 10 to 1. He looked over at me and then nodded. He knew
what I was thinking. I was thinking of an all-out rush to take down as many as
possible. The gong rang for the crowd to be seated. Tenisi and the others were
sitting in the very front. The drum rang and we ran out bellowing our war
cries. I jumped off of the first one and drew Doom and Gloom. I fired at every
one of the b******* that was in front of me. I landed and sent out a shockwave
of energy. I pulled out The Dragon and turned it into a berserker sword. I took
off one guy’s arm and another’s head. I hated to have been the ring cleaners.
We slew them down to the last man and suddenly 50 more jumped into the ring. I
grasped Josh’s hand and we fused into a behemoth of burning rock. With our
minds as one, we brought terror down all who saw us. We brought their hopes and
dreams crashing down upon them. We split and they yelled out that we were the
winners and then we passed out. I woke up and saw Tenisi leaning over me.
“Morning,
Max.” She said as she kissed me.
“Morning,
Tenisi.” I looked around and saw Doom and Gloom on the bedside table and The
Dragon propped up beside me. I started to get up and felt a wave of intense
pain wash over me. I fell back down, saw bandages crisscrossing from my
shoulders to my sides, and then wrapped around me. My hands were also heavily
bandaged. I asked what happened and she said.
“The
battle and then the fusion drained you, and the stunt you pulled at the
beginning.”
“Oh yeah,
I forgot about that. It looked cool though didn’t it?”
“Yes, that
it did.”
“How is
Josh?”
“He took
some scratches and some big bruises, but other than that he is fine. You could
have killed yourself by taking the damage for both of you. What you did was
true heroics and reckless. I love you.” Someone suddenly knocked at the door.
“Max, open
up the door.”
“Tenisi,
hand me my weapon. I turned it into a walking stick and limped to the door. I
opened and Josh was holding a baby Terrabird, a small bird like creature
similar to a
“Look, Max,
I found it in my room.”
“Josh, you
are of the element Earth. This Terrabird is your soul’s animal companion. My
soul’s companion is Fira. Tis destiny that you would find him. Tenisi, Your
soul’s companion is a Shadow Phoenix. It is also the mate of Fira. Josh, when
is our next fight?”
“In two
days.”
“Good, go
hither and rest. Take care of your Terrabird.”
“Max, it
has told me its name is Dagda.” He went to his room and I heard the door close.
“Tenisi,
can you help me with something?”
“Sure,
Max.”
“I am
going to open a portal and I want you to go and get Fira and Ultima, your
Shadow Phoenix.”
“Okay.”
“Here tie
this robe around your waist and then I will open the portal.” I opened the
portal and I held the rope while she got our familiars. She came back and held
them both tightly to her chest.
“Max, what
the h*** happened to you?”
“Oh, nice
to see you too, Fira.” I finally was able to gaze upon Ultima. Her feathers
were an oily black with glimmers of the rainbow. Her eyes were a deep red; the
talons were an onyx black and extremely sharp. Fira sitting beside Ultima
seemed to grow more radiant. His feathers were a reddish-gold, his eyes a fiery
red, the talons blood red and also extremely sharp.
“Tenisi,
remove these bandages from my hands.” She did and I took the rest off them off.
There were several deep gashes and it was bruised all over.
“Tenisi,
embrace me. So that we may share our powers. Fira sit upon Tenisi’s shoulder.
Ultima sit upon my shoulder.” We pooled our energy and healed me. The gashes
and bruises were gone. Now only my mind needed to rest.
“Tenisi,
lie down we will require rest after expending our energy like we did.” I locked
the door with the regular lock, the crossbar, and a brace. I lay down and slept
for a day and a half. When I awoke so did Tenisi, Fira, and Ultima. We
immediately went after breakfast after I grabbed my weapons. I ate ravenously
and when I finished I had to rush to the arena with Josh ahead of me at every
step. When we entered the arena, I saw that Dagda was sitting upon Josh’s
shoulder. Ironically, Fira was sitting on my shoulder but opposite of Dagda. We
held our heads high with pride. I altered the magic currents around me to make
myself seem perfect and regal. All of sudden people began to chant my name. I
looked at the crowd, unsheathed my sword, and raised it high above my head.
Josh raised his Zanbatou and gave me a sideways glance. That look was cocky as
h***. Our opponents were also thunderstruck by my appearance. I turned my sword
into a Zanbatou and lowered it.
“May we
continue with the match now?” I asked calmly. The announcer nodded. I was to
fight first. Josh stepped off of the ring. I shifted into my combat stance and
motioned for my opponent to take to the ring. I twirled my Zanbatou around in
some fancy moves and slammed my foot down to announce myself. It was
unnecessary, but looked cool and caused them to pause. My opponent was a thin,
lean man. He held a slender sword in his hand. His hair was long and thin. He
had an air of dignity around him. I searched his mind and saw what he feared
most. It was scales, fire, and flying demons. How convenient. I tossed Fira up,
he flew to Josh, and I threw my Zanbatou up into the air. I jumped into the air
and slowed time. I transformed into my Demon form. I had no features only utter
darkness. I was 8ft, 5 and had blazing blood red eyes. I sped time back up and
caught my Zanbatou turning it into a berserker sword. The look upon my
opponent’s face was horrified. I yelled out in a deep, demonic, thundering
voice.
“NOT SO
TOUGH NOW! FIGHT ME YOU COWARD! FIGHT ME OR I WILL SLAY THEE WHERE YE STAND!”
That did it. He rushed me yelling.
“For his
Holiness!” I sped myself up with a time spell and sidestepped him. I swung my
sword with all my demonic might. He crashed into the wall and broke through the
wall. His body was a mashed gory pulp. Kind of like a rotten pumpkin that’s
been smashed. The bones didn’t break they dissolved. The remnants of them were
as big as a hair. The crowd was silent. My strength went to my head and the
blood-soaked ground sparked bloodlust. I was slowly slipping into berserker
mode.
“WHO ELSE
DARES TO CHALLENGE ME? NO ONE WILL FIGHT ME. SOMEONE MUST BE MAN ENOUGH TO
FIGHT ME! YOU BUNCH OF LITTLE GIRLS!”
“Max, snap
out of it! As your wife and Lady Tenisi, I command you to stop and come to your
senses.” I snapped out of berserker mode
and gazed upon the crowd. They that it was a show. They liked the bloodshed. I
understood what kind of world this was. I turned arrogantly, and I laughed.
Finally, someone came into the ring. I turned and there stood a man of average
build. He had no hair and was a berserker. I shifted back to human and changed
The Dragon into two single-edged swords. The Ring of Cortira suddenly froze my
hand. I looked down at it. It glowed like cold fire. It burned yet cooled. I
clenched my fist and felt cold fire race through my veins. The sky darkened and
the lights went dim. The ground below me froze and cracked. The sky opened up
and rain poured forth in buckets. The rain hit my swords and froze. Icicles
hung from my swords. He paused for a moment. He charged at me swinging his
club. I blocked it and sliced at his left hand. It froze solid. The crowd
cheered, and he paused. I hit his hand with my sword. It shattered into several
sizable chunks. I got cocky and attempted to dodge his sword in a cool looking
way. He shaved off my braid. It went from 4 ft. long to 2 ft. long. I charged
and when he swung flipped over him and while in the air stabbed him in the
back. I landed on his back and jumped off pulling my swords out at the same
time. His body froze slowly creeping from his back to the rest of him. When he
was completely froze I walked up in front of him. I stabbed my sword into his
body. I unleashed a burst of energy, and yelled.
“Hit the
deck!” I dived to the edge and looked up to see 2 shards. One heading strait
for Josh and the other for Tenisi. I stood up in front of Josh and Tenisi and
used my body as a shield for them. One hit my chest and the other my stomach. I
fell slowly.
“Brother,
take care of this, and Tenisi don’t worry I won’t die this easy.” I saw my opponent’s
memories briefly. Thoughts of a girl and children, his children. I couldn’t
feel bad. It was his life or mine. Better him than me. I felt my essence
leaking out of me.
“IF he
can’t stand up by his own power the match will be a draw.”
“F***.” I
muttered and slowly stood up I gathered my energy around me and stopped the
flow of blood. They announced me winner and then Josh was beside me helping to
support me so I could walk back to my room. We arrived and I fell back on the
bed. I saw Josh fingering his sword handle.
“Go on
kill me just remember if I die you will have to deal with Tenisi and Ultima. I
will also be reborn. I can see past lives now. I can see fighting off the
Saxons as Arthur with you beside me as Lancelot on Old Earth. You too will be
reborn and we will try this again and again for eternity.”
“Then
accomplish our goal or die trying. We will rule come H*** or high water or we
will be D*****!”
“H*** Yes,
Brother. To quote Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. We two have sworn eternal
brotherhood. Since the dawn of time, we have recited our oath and renewed the
blood. If you kill me you will also die.” He nodded and returned to the ring as
Tenisi came into the room. She gave me a potion, and I drifted to sleep. I saw
glimpses of past lives. I woke up and found the room empty. I quickly threw on
a new tunic, my armor, and belt. I attached two throwing knives on my belt, a
pouch of alchemical mixtures, a hunting knife, and my small coin bag. I
strapped a belt of shuriken on each leg, a thing of needles around my wrist, a
long knife in each of my boots, and several darts and a small wrist crossbow. I
put The Dragon, still in the form of twin swords, and Doom and Gloom on the
latter slung low gunslinger style, and walked out the door. I found Tenisi
eating breakfast with Josh, Azayia, and Aramathia. I ordered my food and sat
down with them.
“Max armed
to the teeth aren’t we?”
“Yes, you
never know what you might need.”
“I bet you
I know something you forgot.”
“What
would that be, Josh?”
“A
grappling hook.”
“You’re
right I did forget the grappling hook.”
“No need
for it I suppose.”
“Hey you,
human. Get outta here. You don’t belong in here.”
“Funny I
don’t see a sign that says stupid creatures only.”
“Get out
now human!”
“Are you
gonna make us?”
“Yes I
will.” He snapped his fingers and several huge demons came over to stand behind
him.
“Well, I
will take the 2 on this side and the middle one. Josh you take the others.” I
pulled out 6 shuriken, 3 in each hand, and flung them. Putting three in the two
henchmen’s heads. I got out my twin long knives and attacked him quickly taking
off his fingers and ears. I plunged my knives into his chest. I pulled out my
knives and shuriken, and cleansed them. Josh was also cleansing his blade. I
sheathed my weapons and returned to my meal. I finished and laid the money on
the table. Josh walked up next to me and asked what we would do next. I told
him I didn’t know. The girls went off shopping, and Josh and I walked off with
our familiars on our shoulders. I turned to Josh and asked.
“Well,
what the H*** are we gonna do now?”
“I don’t
know.”
“There is
that what I think it is?” It was a weapons, armor, and magic shop. We entered
looked around and left. We went our separate ways and returned to our rooms. I
hired a troupe of minstrels on the way and taught them many songs from Old
Earth. As I was returning to my room, I saw something that caught my eye. It
was twin ocarinas one looked like fire the other looked like water. On them was
the inscription “when I call my brother comes for me” I bought them and
pocketed them. I gave the one of water to Josh and he understood what it was
for. My minstrels practiced their songs. I meditated and practiced Chi. Then it
occurred to me Jonathon was not our third brother. Just who our third brother
was baffled me. Zhang Fei was the only one not accounted for. Since I was Liu
Bei, because I am the only one fit to rule due to my father’s blood, and Josh was
Guan Yu, because he has none of the characteristics of Zhang Fei. Will he die
before me? I wondered and thought on this for a great deal. Finally, it
occurred to me. If he were going to die, he would have already. There have been
thousands of different times; we could have killed over. I awakened the
telepathic link between Josh and I, and I told him of what I learned. I left
the telepathic link active and reworked my mental shields around it. I was the
eldest brother and the pentacle of our power, thus I served as the regulator
for our power. Tenisi burst through the door with her pack on and her 5-piece
chain whip/staff out. There was blood on the end.
“The
citizens are revolting against the government and they need a leader the
officials are attacking anybody with a weapon!”
“Now is
the time for action! Everyone gather at the town square!” I yelled out verbally
and mentally as I leaped up and drew my twin swords. My minstrels drew out
weapons and put up their instruments. I lead us out toward the town square. We
slew every officer that crossed our path. I was suddenly reminded of Stephen
King and his tale of Roland Deschain, when Roland and his ka-tet free the
breakers. We arrived at the town square. The statue of its founder was on
ground in several pieces. I stood up on the base of the statue and yelled out.
“THE TIME
HAS COME THROW OFF YOUR SHACKLES FOLLOW ME INTO A GLORIOUS NEW BEGINNING!” The
army marched into town and began to attack some were mages, some knights, some
gunslingers. The town’s people charged valiantly, but with no tactician, they
soon began to fall. A ceasefire was called and both sides moved the dead. The
enemy was still outnumbering us by thousands unless I could come up with
something quickly they would be slaughtered. Josh came to me and asked.
“What will
we do? If this continues, we will all die.” I had been staring at the stars and
the constellations of Pisces and Draco. I looked back down to earth and to Josh
when I came up with a devilishly clever idea. I said two names and he nodded
and prepared for my plan. I looked to the heavens and thought, “The stars have
seen me and all off my incarnations.” Tenisi came up beside me and laid her
head on my shoulder. I looked into her beautiful sparkling amethyst eyes and
smiled. It was a rare type of smile that showed inner radiance. Her dark purple
hair cascaded down to the small of her back. My own hair was done up in a
topknot like that the samurai wore. She smiled back and wrapped her arms around
me.
“The moon
and the stars pale in comparison to your beauty. Your moonlight skin is more
beautiful than all the world’s flowers.”
“Not the
entire world’s a stage, Max. You don’t always have to act.”
‘I don’t
always act. I love the night, and I regret that those who worship the garish
sun cannot see it. They with there skins the color of old cut pine. They no not
true beauty.” I leaned my head over and kissed her. Her hands slid to the small
of my back and pulled me closer to her. I swept her up into my arms, and held
her close. She carefully undid my hair and it fell down past my shoulders
approximately where my biceps were. She pushed it out of my eyes, and smiled as
it fell back down. I laughed and I started walking back to our room with her in
my arms. She nestled against me as I walked. I tried to kick open the door, but
it didn’t move.
“Great
job, Max that door didn’t stand a chance.” She said sarcastically.
“Did you
lock it after we left?”
“Yes.”
“Then,
that’s why.” I put her down and unlocked the door.
“I can
walk you know.” She smiled and walked in. I shook my head and walked in after
her. I pushed the door shut with my foot and threw my cloak into the chair
beside the bookcase. I took off my weapon stuff, and put them on the chest.
Tenisi had walked into the first bathroom and was bathing, so I went to the
second and bathed. I came out in a druid cloak. Tenisi was lying in the bed
wearing black lace outfit that looked like something out of a
Chapter 7
It has
been 2 weeks since the battle I have a renewed since of purpose. No longer will
I wander through life. The townsfolk will not look me in the eye. This town
will survive, but I can feel it in my body. This place is doing something to
me. I hope that Tenisi will not notice. I shook my head and continued on my
way. I found Josh and the others and together we returned to our world. I
searched my wardrobe and found my Shaolin Monk training outfit. I went deep
into the gardens into the secret chamber. It was designed to stimulate mental
energies. In this room was an exact replica of
“You lied
to me. I can still see the strands of Fate twisted about me.”
“Did you
truly think his sorry carcass would tell us anything true?”
“We should destroy you for this!”
“Hold your
tongue, Dragon, and, Firaga, we might just do that.”
“Ha you
cannot harm me Max!”
“We shall
see about that!” I charged at him, but he deflected me before I even approached
him. He slung me back and one at a time defeated us. Thrice more we tried and
failed. Finally, he cast us back to my body.
The three
of us tried to control my body at once creating disastrous effects. My dragon
wings shot out and caught fire, horns came out and caught fire. The sight of my
body sparked legends and killed the fainthearted.
“YOU WILL
NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS! I WILL BEST YOU EVEN IF IT TAKES A THOUSAND MILLENNIA!”
As I yelled, birds squawked and took flight; people awoke and held their loved
ones close. Tenisi came running in for she was the only other one whose
genetics would unlock the door. She had my sword, The Dragon, in her hand, and
upon her back her chain whip/staff nicknamed, The Elemental.
“Max, what
is going on?” She could not see me for the water. I forced Firaga and Dragon
back inside me and stepped out from under the waterfall.
“Nothing,
my love.”
“That was
not you yelling was it?”
“No, he
has returned hasn’t he?”
“Yes, this
time however he will not be able to return though.”
“MAX, OPEN
THIS BLASTED DOOR, BEFORE I BREAK IT DOWN!”
“ALL
RIGHT, STOP YELLING AT ME BEFORE I BREAK YOU!” I pressed the open button,
yanked out a few strands of Josh’s hair, and inserted his genetic code into the
computer database.
“That
hurts you know.”
“Yes, but
now you can enter and exit this room freely.” Suddenly thunder rang out. We
looked around at each other shocked. Suddenly the warning drums rang out in the
deep. The battle horns rang out. Bloodhand and several heavily armed trolls
came thundering into view.
“Grand
High Chieftain Fireheart, the castle is under attack! What are your orders?”
“Josh,
lead them to the main hall! Tenisi, toss me my sword!” She tossed it to me and
it changed shape in air to a Guan Dao. I caught it as Josh unsheathed his
sword. They set off to the main hall.
“Why
didn’t we go with them?”
“We must
take to the skies to fight.”
“ROCS OF
THE SECOND GATHER TO ME!”
“Sounds like
Josh will be fine.”
“Yes, and
so will we. PHOENIXES OF THE FIRST DIVISION GATHER AROUND ME! Tenisi, when I
transform climb onto my back and hold on.” She nodded and I transformed into my
most powerful dragon formation. It was the form of the Great Dragon, the
creator of the world, and I was only man alive with the ability to harness AND
control it. They had cast a shadow over the sun blocking it out. The fools I am
the King of the Night and Ruler of the Moonlit World! I yelled for all off my
troops to get indoors. I used my fusion ability, and merged with Tenisi to form
a gigantic draconic being. I unleashed all of my energy.
“YOU
INSOLENT CREATURES HAVE INCURRED MY WRATH! THOU SHALT NOT LIVE LONG!” They fell
back and attacked me with increased fervor.
“YOU WANT
A PIECE OF ME! I let loose every ounce of strength and energy in my body in one
stroke. My arms were flung back, my back arched backwards, my legs stretched
out, and my head threw back. With a feral roar, I sent all off the energy at my
disposal rushing out in a wave of fire and darkness. As my consciousness fled,
I changed form and fell from the sky. A
“You too,
Josh?”
“Yes, me
too.”
“What happened to you?”
“Sword
blow to chest!”
“You
passed out didn’t you?”
“Yes, I
took the blow by jumping in front of them two.”
“See,
Josh, we were right I told you that love would get us killed.” I said
sarcastically and laughed. I stopped immediately though as it caused the both
of us great pain. He sat down on the bed and rested for a minute. I looked over
at him and put out my arm. He looked at me for a minute and then clasped my
hand. I gathered out collective energy and used it to heal our otherwise
grievous injuries. I gathered everyone into the throne room and sat down in my
throne. When everyone arrived, I stood up and commanded silence.
“My people
many fell during the attack last night. If not for the courageous charge lead
by Josh we all would have died. Now to celebrate and remember those who fell. I
command you all to eat, drink, and party!” I threw up my hand with my index and
pinkie fingers up. With that, my minstrels began playing a fast, thundering
beat. I had magically enhanced their instruments, and now they sounded like a
rock band from Old Earth. A servant brought the two of the biggest mugs in the
castle to Josh and me. They were filled to the brim with the strongest wine in
my kingdom. I picked up mine and held it out.
“Come now,
Josh, let’s have a little wager. First one to pass out losses, now here are the
rules: now spilling, no puking, no cheating, and no brawling, now let the
contest begin!” I lifted my mug up to my mouth, and drained it. I picked up the
next one and drained it. We stayed tied all through the night. Finally, after
three straight hours of drinking I passed out. Turns out, we tied in the end.
We were both walked into the garden at about
“Take this
to Ferrer, and tell him to make the two you customized swords, shields and
armor.”
“Yes, sir,
milord!”
“Ha, ha,
ha just like us.”
“Yep. No
come on let’s get that herb and cure these hangovers.” We found and cured our
hangovers. 30 minutes later the two boys returned my ring.
“Sir, he
said they would be done by tomorrow.”
“Good, now
run along home and this time tomorrow we will begin practice.” They ran along,
and I returned to the throne room. After hearing some minor complaints, I
shrugged off the rest of them and began up the tower stairs to my room. I
walked in took of my cape, armor and sword and placed them in a chair. I bathed
and changed into fresh clothes. I was lying in the bed, when Tenisi came out of
the bath.
“Max, I
need to tell you something. I’m pregnant.” I was drinking a glass of wine as
she said that, and I spit it out in shock.
“What?
Whoa, that’s great.”
For the next 9 months, time was both
a blur and a drag. Finally on The Day of The Dragon and The Demon of the 13th
era the twins Cinaed and Nina were born. I held them in my arms and saw that
Cinaed had my eyes, would have my hair, and take mostly after myself. Nina had
Tenisi’s eyes, her hair, and would take mostly after her.
Half a
year later a third child was born. The Templars took him quickly. Josh’s first
two kids were born on the same day as mine, and the third child was born on the
same day mine was and both were taken. Jonathon did not come into his godhead
and none of his genetics would ever be seen again on this world.
END OF
PART 1.
PART 2: To
War
Chapter
One: The Twins
13 years
later
“Cinaed! Nina! You two come out from
hiding! Prince Cinaed and Princess Nina, come out this instant!”
“We are
out!”
“Outside.”
“That is
it. I am getting your father.”
“What’s
wrong can’t handle us.”
“No more
games. Your father will take care of this.”
“Ha, HA, The
old father will get you threat. That will do Ryu.”
“Yes my
lord.” The Twins 14th birthday approaches and they are growing
restless.
Their
untapped power radiates from within.
“Father,
why did you interrupt our fun?” Nina said as she dropped out of a tree. She
looks just like her mother did when I first crossed over, but her eyes were
redder.
“It’s no
use, Nina, our fun is over.” Cinaed said this as he jumped out of the garden
pond. He spit out the bamboo stalk he used to breathe through, and walked over
to me. He looked exactly like I did at 16. Only he was 3 years younger, and at
first glance, his eyes seemed purplish.
“You two
act just like I did at your age. I feel it is time you get your own weapons and
armor instead of using the extras. Nina, here is yours. It is a mithril rapier
and small shield. Cinaed, here is yours. It is a berserker sword like mine.
Moreover, your armor and capes are here.” They now looked exactly like they did
in my dream.
“What is
all this for, Father?”
“The King
of Shadows, The Dragon God, and who knows how other many people, want you
captured.”
“We
understand, Father. We will not disappoint you.”
“I know
you won’t. I must return and take care of stately matters.”
“Father,
are you okay?”
“Why do
you ask?
“I felt
something just then it was you, but its aura was different.”
“You are
coming into your powers. Things will seem different.”
“Father,
thanks for the gifts.” They hugged me and ran off with Ryu right behind them.
“Max,
you’re getting old.”
“Like you aren’t, Josh. Seeing Cinaed,
Nina, Firion, and Amberle, running off together it does make me feel my age.
“Milord
King, I bring vital information for you from Lord Kenshin.”
“How long
have you been hiding in the shadows?”
“Long
enough to know you are old.”
“Ha, ha,
she’s got you there, Max.”
“Shut up,
Josh. Naomi, what is this information you have brought?”
“Not here
there are too many ears. Come with me.” She wrapped her arms around me, and
spun around. She teleported us to a secret location, so no one could here our
conversation.
“What is
it that forces this much secrecy?”
“We have
discovered a bounty on your head.”
“That’s
it!”
“No, this
bounty is more then your castle is worth. An assassin guild called Death’s
Breath. They have a highly trained member within your closest friends. Trust no
one, but Kenshin and me. Remember no one not even Tenisi and Josh. Everyone
around you has his or her destiny intertwined with yours. You are the Lord of
Fire and Darkness, just say the word and I or another will appear.”
“I…understand.
I cannot …trust… My own wife…” The total ness of this statement hit me harder
than the ice shard that almost killed me. I started to break down. My legs gave
way and I fell to my knees. For the first time in my life, my pride and dignity
meant nothing to me as I wept silently.
“Max, I am
sorry as a Kunoichi I was trained that personal feelings were weaknesses. I see
know that is wrong.” She wiped the tears from my eyes and kissed me.
“It will
be okay. There you go just cry it all out. Are you alright now?”
“Yes, I am
fine now. I will call you if I need help. Goodbye.” I teleported back to the castle
and locked myself in my training grounds. I steeled my resolve to heed Naomi’s
advice, as 20 replicating, repairing, almost invincible, magitechnology warriors
came running at me. I practiced and trained for 24 straight hours, using my
mana to keep going. I deactivated them and collapsed from exhaustion. I
stumbled into my meditation grounds and fell down in the waterfall.
“Naomi,
Kenshin, help me…” Naomi appeared in a dirt devil of cherry blossoms. She
looked around then glanced down. A look of horror and shock shot through her
face as she looked at me. She wore a red and black Kunoichi outfit, her amber
colored eyes full of feeling, and her bronzed hair was pulled back in a long
ponytail.
“Max, what
happened to you?”
“My…own…pride.”
“Your
pride?”
“I tried
to do…the impossible…”
“Why, Max,
why?”
“I was
going to show everybody that I was not just...”
“Oh, Max,
you…” Her lips kept moving, but I could not hear. My vision finally failed and
I fell into the blackness.
“HA, ha
the great Lord Max killed by his own ego. How hilarious I could not have done
better myself.”
“Where am
I? What happened? No, I…you are the Reaper.”
“Yes I am
the Grim Reaper.”
“Then that
means I have died.”
“Yes
foolish human you are dead. That is what happens when you try to overstep the
natural boundaries.”
“Go to
hell, Reaper.”
“If you
wish to rush things I can.”
“No, let
me see things first, and then I will come willingly.”
“As you
say we must finish your personal hell.” I vanished and appeared beside my body
in my meditation chambers. Naomi was sitting down trying to coax the life back
into me. She held my head in my lap, stroked my hair, and tried to revive me
the best she could.
“Touching…she
thinks that she can revive you. Look your ribcage was sliced open. It happened
a minute after you started fighting. Wait, I forgot to show you what was the
most hilarious.”
“WAIT,
REAPER, I SHALL SHOW HIM HIS TRUE DOOM. WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SHOW YOU HAS KILLED
MANY BEFORE YOU.”
“Who are
you?”
“I HAVE
MANY NAMES ANUBIS AND HADES ARE JUST TWO OF THEM. I AM THE GOD OF DEATH.”
“Show me…I
want to know how I would have died.”
“YOU ARE A
RESILIENT MORTAL YOU HAVE NOT YET DIED ENTIRELY.”
“Then
there is a chance that I might yet live.” I was teleported to the room above my
bedroom. It held all of my magic items. Tenisi was standing there talking to
someone.
“Yes,
master, he is dead he killed himself in a pitiful attempt to better himself.” I
was puzzled and then a voice I recognized and that would always haunt my dreams
spoke.
“GOOD…YOU
HAVE DONE WELL MY DAUGHTER. ARE THE TWINS HIS AND YOURS?” It was the King of
Shadows.
No, they
aren’t even real people but illusions. Real people altered to look the way they
do. A skill you taught me.”
“YOU HAVE
DONE WELL COME BACK TO OUR HOME AND THEN WE WILL DECIDE WHAT TO DO NEXT.”
“NOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
I yelled as loud as I could. The Dragon roared inside of me. The room shook for
a minute and then stopped. I had enough energy to alter the material realm.
“Great God
of Death, I beg of you let me live and I will do anything you ask of me in return.”
“VERY WELL
I WILL RETURN YOU TO LIFE, BUT ANOTHER SOUL MUST TAKE YOUR PLACE.”
“…Agreed.”
“THEN GO
YOUR BODY WAITS.” I passed a mirror and saw that instead of just me. There were
three. One was Draconis Maximus, the other Firaga, and I. I or we joined together
and returned to my body. It was just I now. My soul was whole for the first
time in millennia. I came around and saw that Naomi still held my head in her
lap and played with my hair. I heard footsteps that I knew were Josh’s.
“Is he…is
he still alive?”
“His heart
still beats and his breathing is regular other than that I don’t know.”
“Kasumi is
that you.”
“Max, how
do you know my true name?”
“Luck had
nothing to do with it, Max. So don’t say something cliché.”
“I saw
your soul, and that was the name it had.”
“Oh, Max.”
She started to cry. I sat up and held her close while she cried on my shoulder.
“Better
now?” She nodded.
“Josh,
where is Tenisi?” Naomi or Kasumi I should say slapped me across the face as
hard as she could.
“You said
you loved me, while you wee swimming between life and death.”
“Let me
explain….” I told what Death had shown me, and they understood.
“Max, how
horrible.”
“So who is
it going to be?”
“Tenisi,
she double-crossed me, and deserves a fate worse than death.”
“Max, I
will help you. By my sword or yours she will die.”
“Thank
you, Brother.”
“Brother?”
“He is my
oath brother.”
“Okay. Max
my katana is yours to command.”
“Thank
you, Kasumi. Send word to Kenshin. Warn him of this treachery.” I picked up my
sword and kissed Kasumi goodbye. I nodded to Josh and we took off. We ran as
fast and as hard as we could I kicked in the door and Tenisi turned startled.
“Max, you were
dead how can you still stand?”
“I made a
deal with Death.”
“I HATE
YOU!”
“Shut up!”
“NOW MY
DAUGHTER, KILL HIM NOW.”
“Speak of
the devil. Now I will finish my deal with Death and send both of you to Hell.”
I lifted my sword up and charged yelling.
“I will
kill you, Max.”
“No, you
won’t Tenisi.” She broke my left arm, but I kept going.
“You want
a piece of me…then here take my love, my sorrow, and ALL OF MY ANGER!!!” In one
last blow, I cleaved her in half. I looked down at her corpse and said.
“No one
betrays me and lives. No one.”
“NO MY
DAUGHTER YOU KILLED HER! YOU MONSTER!”
“You’re
next you *******!” Death came and took away Tenisi’s body and her soul. I
wondered into the gardens and gazed at the moon and the stars.
Chapter 2:
A New Beginning
“Max, let
me help you together we can heal you.”
“Yes,
together we can heal.” She placed her hand in mine. I held her close and
together we watched as a meteor shower rained above us.
The next
morning Josh walked into my study.
“Max,
there is something I must tell you.”
“What is
it?”
“Your
children and mine were illusions. They never existed.”
“Yes, I
know I just couldn’t bring myself to say it.”
“Max, your
eyes are different.”
“What do
you mean?”
“Look.” He
pointed at the mirror and indeed my eyes were different. They changed colors.
“It must
have happened when I fused my soul together.”
“Now what
do we do?”
“I have a
deal I must uphold.”
“Yes. Lets
go kill us a king.”
“Josh, we
are immortal now. We can be killed only by war. We are immune to times slow
decay.”
“Max, I am
going to say this straight out. Are you going to marry Kasumi?”
“That is
for Max to know and you to find out, Josh.”
“Yes,
Kasumi, I will wait, but, Max…”
“Yes, Josh
you will be the best man IF.” Josh left the room and Kasumi jumped onto me.
“Kasumi,
marry me.”
“I...
can’t I have become a runaway shinobi.”
“Yes, you
can No one will hurt you as long as I stand.”
“Max, I
love you.”
“So that’s
a yes.”
“Yes, it
is.” I kissed her, and she kissed me back.
About that
time, someone knocked on the door.
“Max, get
your clothes on.” I looked at Kasumi, and laughed.
“Okay come
in Josh.” He came in, and looked at something on the ground. I looked down and
laughed. Kasumi had tricked Josh by leaving a wadded up shirt on the ground.
“That’s
funny. Now what did you want Josh.”
“We have
reports of a
“Send word
to the engineers to prepare my airship.”
“Why
didn’t we use the airship before?”
“It would
not run before. The engine had malfunctioned. You know that no one here trusts
any type of machines. Right?”
“Right.”
“Okay,
since The Dragon God attacked us the people are revolting against the Church. I
have the upper hand now. I can unleash a fleet of airships crewed by mages,
gunslingers, and engineers, and piloted by Psychics. A Navy crewed by the
Damned, controlled by Necromancers, and piloted by Psychics.”
“Let’s
just go and kick his a**!”
“Max, no
it’s probably a trap”
“Then we
will just have to fight our way through it.”
“Now
follow me we will charge the gates of his fortress.” We ran down to my airship,
as the rest of the crew was boarding. We took off and not five miles out, we
ran into a storm. Our airship was struck by lightning and the weapon systems
were fried. Josh stumbled overboard. I recklessly jumped and didn’t make
completely over the rail. My foot hung on the rail and I smacked my head into
the side of the airship several times before getting myself loose. As I was
plunging downward, I twisted and saw Josh climbing back up a rope that came
off.
“Forget
this.” I changed into my dragon form and flew back up to the airship.
“Thanks a
lot, Max.”
“Don’t
make me throw you overboard.”
“Admiral,
damage report.”
“Steering
mechanisms are down; Stabilizer is on the verge of breaking…”
“Josh, get
down there and hold the stabilizer together. Captain, keep the power flowing no
matter what. Admiral, move over I’m taking the helm.”
“Admiral,
ship incoming!”
“Everyone
hold on!” I spun the wheel hard to starboard, and narrowly avoided a collision.
“RAISE THE
SAILS!” The Admiral yelled beside me.
“TO ARMS,
MEN, TO ARMS!” I yelled out. The storm was worsening; the winds were gale force
and blew in the right direction. Ahead it was the worst though. With our sails
raised, I plowed ahead through the worst of it.
“WHAT ARE
YOU DOING? YOU’LL GET US ALL KILLED IF YOU KEEP GOING LIKE THIS!”
“NO WE
WON’T. CAPTAIN, TAKE OVER THE STABILIZER. JOSH TAKE UP DEFENSIVE MEASURES.
ADMIRAL TAKE THE WHEEL.” He took it and I ran below and activated the
magitechnology I had hid inside the boiler room. The ships engines received a
boost of energy, the twin turbines on the back sped up, and we our speed increased
ten-fold. I ran back and took the helm. We were about to break free, when we
collided with another ship. Zealots and shadow monsters boarded my ship and
Josh was the first one to engage. He swung his mighty Pu Dao, Red Dragon, and
cleaved the first few in half. He swung dueling with one of them. I glanced
over at him and for a moment saw Guan Yu standing there. I looked back and it
was just a trick of the light.
“Keep us
at full power, and headed south.” I let go of the helm and drew my sword. I
climbed up the ladder onto the top of the bridge.
“Josh,
fall back!” He did and I leaped off the bridge. I slammed my sword down and
sliced a monster in half. The shockwave sent others sprawling. I got back up,
and Josh was at my back covering me. I turned and we began to fight our way to
the other ship. I began to grow annoyed with the monsters they just kept
coming. My blade combusted and fire burned around it. I swung it with renewed
vigor and slowly we got closer to the other ship. We pressed toward the enemy
ship. For every enemy we destroyed 2 more appeared. I ran ahead and crossed the
boarding plank to the enemy ship. I destroyed the plank, and yelled.
“Josh, go
on I’ll keep these ******* right here!” With that, I turned and transformed
into my dragon hybrid form. I laughed manically and began shredding everything
in my path to shreds. My laughter boomed and echoed across the thunderous
sounds of the destruction I wreaked. The enemies stumbled and faltered as I
walked toward them each step crashing into the deck. I reached the mast and
uprooted it. I swung it with all my strength into everything around me. The
ship was falling into the ocean quickly. I changed back to human form and ran
up the ship as it fell down into the dark depths of the ocean. I leaped off and
heard Kasumi scream.
“MAX,
NOOOOOOO I WON’T LOSE YOU AGAIN!” She ran and was about to jump off of my ship
after me, when Josh grabbed her and pulled her back onto the ship.
“DON’T BE STUPID;
MAX IS NOT SO STUPID THAT HE WOULD PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT WITHOUT A PLAN! HE
WOULD HAVE MY HEAD IF YOU DIED ON MY WATCH!” I didn’t hear anything else after
that. The Ocean surface rushed at me I tried to unfurl my wings but I couldn’t.
“**** THIS
IS ********!” I slimmed down to reduce wind drag and fell toward the ocean even
faster. I sent a telepathic message to Josh saying that I couldn’t transform
and not to look for my body. I yelled out once more before hitting the water.
“KASUMI, I
LOVE YOU!” I struck the water and it blossomed upward a 100 feet. I tried to
swim to the surface, but was drug down by my armor and weapons. A water dragon
swam up to me and said telepathically.
“Grab hold
of me and hold on tight.” I did and he dove deep underwater. I blacked out from
lack of oxygen. I woke up in a temple. I looked around and saw that it was the
“You have
awoken this is good. We wish to help you, but you are of the wrong element.
Bring us the one.”
“I will,
but where am I?”
“At the
“Did you
miss me?”
“Max!
You’re okay!”
“Yes, my
love, I came back for you.” I put my arm around her, and kissed her.
“Max, I
have upheld our oath. She almost jumped after you.”
“I heard
that. I thought that would be the last time I heard your voices.’
“Max, I
heard you yell, after Josh pulled me back.”
“She can
hit pretty hard you know. I thought the first thing you yelled was quiet funny.
It was just the sort of thing I would expect from you.”
“Now we
must finish this and take down the King of Shadows once and for all.”
“Yes let’s
take him down. HE KILLED MY KIDS. I WILL NOT REST TILL HIS HEAD IS SEVERED FROM
HIS BODY.”
“ADMIRAL,
FULL SPEED AHEAD!”
“YES,
SIRE!” HE pushed the engines for all
they had and we sped toward what could be our deaths. The Fortress of Shadows
loomed before us finally. I pulled out my sword as everyone else made sure
their weapons were out and ready.
“Admiral,
take the ship out 2 clicks when I give the signal come in to pick us up or disgorge
troops. Now go! Josh, me and you are going in alone okay?”
“Yeah.”
“No, Max,
I am going if you die then I will die beside you.”
“Josh,
turn around.” He did and from the hidden cargo holds out came Azayia and
Aramatheia.
“Okay I am
going to invoke the spirits step back. Great God of Death, I beseech you lend
me thine power.” He appeared before us and held out a tome.
“Take this
mortal, and use it well.” He disappeared after I took the tome. I absorbed its
knowledge and teleported it back to my keep.
“We’ll
let’s go see if anybody’s home.” I kicked in the door, and there stood the King
of Shadows. I saw his face and it was solid black he had no features.
“Welcome,
Max, prepare to return to the afterlife.”
“Then I’m
taking you with me.” His mood darkened. I charged him and sliced thin air. He
had moved back and changed forms to resemble my father.
“Would you
attack your Father?”
“Yes.” I
charged again and missed.
“Would you
attack your Mother?” I attacked again and missed.
“Would you
attack your brother?” Again, I attacked, and missed.
“Would you
attack your wife?” He changed form again this time to resemble my wife. I
faltered. Kasumi saw me and threw a shuirken. It struck him in the forehead.
That did it he charged at her, but I stepped in front of him and knocked him
back. We charged and fought gaining and losing the upper hand. I blasted him
with a fire blast, but he reflected it. It knocked me back, and he battered at
my defenses. Josh leapt to my aide and struck him hard in the back. I took
advantage of it, and I dropped my sword. I unleashed the dragon, and claws
burst out of the back of my knuckles. I struck him hard several times in the
chest.
“Josh,
protect Kasumi!” I kept fighting him back toward the wall. I pinned him against
it.
“Not so
tough now are you?”
“Never
underestimate me!” He blasted me back, and pinned me against the wall.
“I told
you not to underestimate me.”
“Look
down.” He did and saw that my claws were buried into his stomach.
“How did
you?”
“Never
underestimate a Dragon.” I picked up my sword and cleaved of his head. I
blasted a beam of fire up into the sky and my airship came toward us.
“Max the
castle is collapsing. Lets get outta here!”
“Go on I
have to get something.” I tossed the severed head to Josh, and ran over to the
throne room. I kicked over the throne and ran down the hidden stairwell. I
found a chest opened it, closed it back, and carried it out to my airship. I
tossed it onboard, and climbed on board.
“Here it
is the Orb of Darkness. With it I can…”
“Shut up,
Max.” I did and just held the orb in my hand. I absorbed into my body. The
power coursed through me. I wrapped my arms around Kasumi and held her close. I
kissed her tenderly, and then broke away. I walked over to the edge and gazed
out into the emptiness of the horizon. My thoughts wondered to the future and I
prepared for it. I enchanted the castle to disappear into the void if Josh and
me die.
Chapter 3:
The Change (Josh)
I have
decided to write down everything that I do or say. Max is planning something I
can see it in his eyes. They scream it out. They scream of death soon to come
and hold a spark of madness. I wish I knew what he was planning to do.
“Brother,
I must speak with you.”
“What is
it, Max?”
“I am
going to do the impossible and kill the Dragon God. I am going to charge the
heavens by myself.”
“Brother,
I am going with you.”
“Okay,
there is no one else I would rather have at my side then you.”
“Meet at
“Brother,
live a little before the end.”
“I will,
Brother, I will.” He left and I turned and sighed.
“He is
going to sacrifice himself isn’t he?”
“Yes, he
is and I am going to die beside him.”
“We will
die beside you as well.”
“I love
you two.”
Chapter 3:
The Change (Max)
I told
Josh of my plan to kill the Dragon God and he agreed to go with me. He really
is a brother to me in spirit if not in body. I held Kasumi and kissed her one
last time before the end, and at
Chapter 4:
The End of the New and the Continuation of the Old
It
happened fast before I knew what happened Josh and I were beside each other on
the ground. Both of us were dead before we hit the ground. We had been impaled
through our chests on his claws. Our immortal souls were out of our bodies and
we watched as it was finished. The girls went down half a second after we did.
It seemed to drag on forever. Kasumi fell on top of my body and Azayia and
Aramatheia fell on Josh’s body. Our blood had pooled together and covered our
bodies. Our weapons and armor was teleported into my castle due to the
enchantment I placed on them. Our souls departed and what we saw next cannot be
described there are no words in any language to express what we saw. Our
memories were locked into our subconscious and we knew no more………
End of
Part 2……
Part 3:
The Third Brother is found and the Oath renewed
Chapter 1:
A New Beginning
It had
been a weird month seven children had been born. Each of them was a commoner
except one had some royal blood in him though distant it was still royal. Three
of them had been born on the same day. They had been placed in the same room,
but somehow escaped their beds and found each other. They were also boys. One
had black hair and a weird blue color eyes. Another had pale blond hair and
pale blue eyes. The last had dark blond hair and brown eyes. The other four
were girls and also caused some mischief. The first had purple colored hair and
amethyst colored eyes; the second had a reddish-pink colored hair and brown
eyes, the third had blue hair and cerulean colored eyes, the last one had blond
hair and blue eyes. By the age of two, the three boys had formed an instinctive
bond together. They preferred to stay to themselves. Occasionally another child
would be seen with them but he would be left behind. At the age of 5 no other
children or adults would go near them. Their parents had been killed in a raid,
and they were placed in an Orphanage. The day that happened the three boys met
the girls. The Dark haired one had been named Valerius. The Pale haired one was
named
“Those
children cannot be normal.”
“Why do
you say that?”
“Look at
them, they don’t act normal especially the dark-haired one. See the way he
walks, talks, and acts.” As they, watched Valerius stuck out his hand. Leon and
Sampson placed their hands on Valerius’s. They heard them say this aloud.
“We
three-Valerius, Leon, and Sampson--though of different families, swear
brotherhood, and promise mutual help to one end. We will rescue each other in
difficulty; we will aid each other in danger. We ask not the same day of birth,
but we seek to die together.
May the Heaven’s guide us and the Earth care for us.” Leon and Samson kneeled
before Valerius acknowledging him as the Eldest and Sampson as the youngest.
“SEE, I
TOLD YOU! There is no way three normal five year old children could swear
brotherhood.”
“Keep your
voice down, lest they hear us!” At this Valerius turned and looked at the matrons.
Celeste walked over to him and laid her head against his shoulder. He put his
arm around her.
“If you
don’t wish for us to hear you close the window.” With that, Valerius and the others
walked into the forest.
“I told
you they would hear us.”
“I suppose
we should go get them.” As they, we walking out the door a horn sounded in the
distance.
“What was
that?” Suddenly a man on a white horse appeared on the top of the hill. He
pulled out his sword and motioned forward with it. Several other figures
appeared and all came running toward the matrons.
“BANDITS!
GET THE CHILDREN INSIDE QUICKLY!” The bandits came at them and killed them and
all the children. They burned down the Orphanage. One bandit was killed when
his horse tripped and killed him. Another man walked up to the man on the white
horse and said.
“They are
gone. We killed all of them and then burned the orphanage and we are setting
the woods on fire.”
“Good
let’s get out of here!”
The 7
children heard the screams, and took off in the opposite direction.
“Valerius,
what is going on back there!”
“I don’t
know, and I don’t want to find out!”
“I’m
scared, Valerius!”
“Don’t
worry, we’ll be fine!” Suddenly several cloaked figures burst out of the undergrowth.
“YOU WILL
NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!” As Valerius yelled this, a flaming serpent appeared in
front of him. The serpent blasted fire at the figures, but one of them
nullified it.
“We wish
you no harm!”
“How do we
know that?”
“Because,
look around you.” They did and others surrounded us. Valerius finally got a
good look at his captors. They were elves Dark, High,
“Come with
us!” They followed them warily. They walked in a circle the boys on the outside
the girls on the inside. Leon and Sampson held tree limbs in their hands.
Valerius still had the flaming serpent. Celeste became frightened and leaned on
Valerius as they walked. The serpent coiled itself around Celeste’s arm, and
another one appeared around Valerius’s arm. Then suddenly both serpents
disappeared. A bigger serpent of coldfire appeared over the group. Their
captors backed away from them. They could sense what lied within the
youngsters. When they reached the elfish encampment, the kids were taken to the
council of elders.
Chapter 2:
A Parting Of Ways
“You have
been brought before us so that we may decide what course of action to take
concerning you.” They told them of what had happened, and were then sent
outside.
“What
shall we do about them? The dark-haired one knows much but cannot remember.”
“We will
separate them each will go with a different race. Valerius and Celeste will accompany
the Dark Elf elder, Leon, Evangeline, and Rosalyn will go with the Gray Elf
elder, and Sampson and Stella will go with the Forest Elf elder. Is this
acceptable?” The elders agreed and the children were told. They said their
goodbyes, restated their oaths, and were separated.
“Valerius,
why did they separate us?”
“I don’t
know. Maybe they…” At that time, several Dark Elves walked up.
“You were
separated due to a prophecy dating back a thousand years ago. It is said then
when a child arrives under the dragon that The Three will ride through the
land.”
“The
Three?”
“The three
titans of destruction, death, and chaos.”
“No one
knows what they really are, but your guess is as good as mine. Anyways the one
that appears is the key to the future. That is basically, what it says. We
always thought that the key would appear under the Dragon stars. You were
separated to train and prepare.” They nodded and each child gazed to the moon
and the dragon stars. Unconsciously Valerius and Leon placed their hands on
their back and their chest.
“You, two
are coming with us to the Dark Forests. There you will study and train with
us.” The next few days were uneventful as each child was spirited away to
train. On the fifth day of traveling Valerius’s caravan came upon an overturned
wagon.
“Valerius,
what is going on why are we stopping?”
“I don’t
know, Celeste.” One of the guards walked by and muttered.
“Idiot is
probably drunk that’s why it flipped.”
“So a
wagon is overturned in the road?”
“Yeah, and
stay in there.” He said pushing Valerius back in the wagon. Suddenly shouts
were heard and bandits came swarming at the caravan.
“IT’S A
TRAP. CHARGE!” The
guard assigned to Valerius and Celeste looked out and was shot by an archer.
His short sword fell out of is hand in front of Valerius.
“When I
yell come to the opening got it.”
“Yes.”
With that, Valerius crept up to the opening and saw that the bandit archer was
directly in front of him on his horse. He leapt onto the horse yelling, and
stabbed the bandit. The corpse fell off and Valerius took the reins.
“CELESTE,
GET OVER HERE!” She came running and mounted the horse in front of Valerius. He
gave her the reins and she led them ahead while Valerius struck down the
bandits near them. The Guard Captain rode up beside them and everyone else came
up behind them. Celeste following a gut instinct swerved into the woods.
“I’m not
going to ask how you got that horse and sword. I am going to ask where you
learned to fight.”
“I don’t
know how. When I picked up the sword a flash appeared before my eyes and I just
knew.” Before anyone could say, anything two arrows came whistling through the
woods and struck Valerius and Celeste shoulder. They cried out, and their horse
took off. The guards followed them and they wound up back on the path several
miles ahead of the bandits. They stopped and Valerius reached up and grabbed
the arrow shaft. He steadied himself and with a shout of pain, he jerked the
arrow out. Then blood started to gush out of the wound. His head swam and
finally he blacked out. His dreams were filled with images of people and of the
past.
At the time,
this was happening
Sampson’s
group was avoiding bandits by sneaking through the woods. All of a sudden, an
arrow whizzed through the air striking a rotten limb. The limb shuddered then
gave way, and fell clipping Sampson in the back of the head. The blow rendered
him unconscious. His head went blurry and he also had visions of the past.
They did
not wake up for several days, but when they did; any mention of the events they
saw in their memories of past lives would send them into dreamlike state. They
would stay that way for several hours then return to normal. Or as normal as
three who have seen what no living man has seen before. As they grew older this
happened less and less, and then stopped. Valerius chose the path of a
berserker and the path of the black mage. He wielded weapons that were several
time too large, and he used all manners of dark and forbidden magic. Celeste
chose the path of the red mage and the path of the summoner. She could use most
skills of white and black magic and could summon powerful creatures to fight
for her.
Chapter 3:
The Return of the Old
“Brother!”
Valerius yelled when he spotted
“The
Council wants to see you. All of you right now.” With this, they got up and
surrendered their weapons the guards. When they arrived in the room, they
bowed. Only they did not bow with their bodies only their heads.
“You have
been brought here to discuss what you know of the past.” At this Valerius
stepped up from the others, and with a semblance of his old self-said.
“You
presume we know of our past lives. How are we to know them?” Suddenly everyone
in the council room was gone they had been leaving while Valerius talked. The
Elders formed a circle around the group.
“Of course
you would say that.” The head Elder said this and then all the elders launched
a blast of energy at the group. They screamed in agony and fell to the ground
no longer screaming, but wriggling in pain when suddenly Valerius stood up and
yelled.
“YOU WOULD
DARE ATTACK ME, LORD MAX. THE DRAGON HYBRID!” He absorbed the energy and
released it back at the council tenfold. The council was thrown backwards, and
then they realized the mistake they made when they read the prophecy. Valerius
or Max was the leader of the three. As every armed elf in the area charged to attack,
the Three they shimmered for a moment then were gone.
“We have
made a grave mistake.”
“Great
elders what do you speak of?”
“Those
children we took in 10 years ago where the three. Now we have woke their powers,
and have unleashed the destroyers of the world.” Everyone was stunned and no
one spoke save for one man.
“May the
gods protect us.” Was the only thing that was said after the three had awoken.
Max had pulled their castle, and everything that had belonged to them back out
of the void. The spell he cast centuries ago had done its job and brought them
to their castle.
Max stood
up straight and looked around him.
“Not
exactly as I remember it.” As he said, this Josh was pushing himself up.
“Yeah,
there used to be servants here.” As Max opened his mouth to say something, the
entire castle rumbled.
“Great now
what?”
“YOU STILL
LIVE!”
“YOU GOT
THAT RIGHT AND THIS TIME WE WILL WIN!”
“Good that
is what I want to hear Lord of Dragons.” A spectral image of the god of fire
appeared.
“You will
have everything returned to you. I will give you a kingdom….” Suddenly the air
grew cold as the god of death shimmered into existence.
“No I will
give you a kingdom myself.” Everyone
else had gotten up and was staring as the two gods argued over Max. Max walked
over to his throne and sat down. He placed his crown on his head as he sat
waiting.
“Give me
your powers and I will get my own kingdom.”
“You would
seek to take our powers for yourself.” They turned to face me and brought the
full weight of their eyes against me.
“Yes, I
would seek to take your powers, but not in the way you think. Grant me your
magic. Give me the power to assert my control on my surroundings.”
“You wish
to control the magic of the Underworld.”
“And you
seek the magic of the flames of the Void.”
“Yes, I
seek that which you have named.”
“Fine the
power of the Underworld is yours to command.”
“The power
of the Void is also at your disposal.”
They vanished and Celeste walked over and sat down in her throne beside
Max.
“Max, what
do we do now?”
“We scout
out the surrounding areas.
“Max, why
didn’t you let them give you a kingdom?” Max ran his fingers through his hair,
and looked at Celeste’s soft amethyst eyes and said.
“If they
gave me the kingdom they could take it away from just as easy. If I make the
kingdom they can’t take it from me.”
“You don’t
think they will try to take away your kingdom from you do you?”
“Yes, I
think they would. Come let us check my tower.” He put my arm around her shoulders
as they walked to Max’s tower. They scouted around, but nothing was found.
“Well
since there isn’t anything in the castle let us retire to our rooms.” As they
turned to leave, the doors swung open and in walked a man of monstrous
proportions.
Chapter 4:
The Promise of an Ally
His arms were the size of grizzly bear’s; he
was over 6 ft. tall, and wore iron armor with spikes upon the shoulders. He
held a long sword 2 and a half ft in length, the hand guard was a skull with
bat wings jetting out from the side, and at the bottom of the hilt was a 3-inch
long spike. His left hand held a shield that bore a dragon holding my family
crest. The tattered remnants of a cape flew to his right as the wind blew.
Suddenly Max had a vision of the man walking out of a fire. The man walked
toward Max and dropped to one knee. In a deep voice, he said.
“I have
traveled long and far to find you. The prophecies say that those who side with
the three will become extremely powerful. I swear servitude to you and yours.”
I laid my hand on his shoulder
“Arise,
Dragon Knight, I accept your offer. Welcome to my castle. I am Lord Max this is
Lady Celeste, Josh, Tyler, Evangeline, Rosalyn, and Stella.” He pointed to each
in turn. The man removed his helmet and he looked at them. He had brown eyes
and hair; his face had a scar running across his right check from a sword fight
in his youth. He had a rough look about him. He was unshaved, and he looked as
if he had seen many, many battles.
“I am
Brenan, but most know of me as Deathblade.” Max looked him straight in the eye.
“So you
are Deathblade, you look exactly like I thought you would.” He sheathed his
sword and looked around him. His eyes fell upon The Dragon, and he dropped to
knees.
“So it
does exist. The Legendary Dragon, the sword that slew angels and demons and
saved my ancestors life.”
“Who is
your ancestor?” When Max said this Brenan looked up at him and said.
“Feardorcha
is my ancestor. He owed you his life and he passed down an oath to his sons,
and their sons and so on. The oath was that when you reappeared his ring would
glow. 15 years ago, the ring began glowing. It glowed dimly for 5 years then it
grew blindingly bright for 2 days and then went dim. Now it glows again. I have
searched for you for 15 years to uphold the oath and find great power. The
prophecies speak of you as being great in power. I decided to serve you in the
hopes of gaining great power.”
“You will
find that power with me, Brenan.”
“My Lord,
let me guard you all while you sleep.”
“Very
well.” Max led them into the guest rooms. He picked the one with four beds and
few windows. Max lied down on one of the
beds and placed his armor and sword beside him. Celeste lied down beside him and
snuggled against him.
“Can we
trust him?” She whispered to Max.
“Yes, he
swore an oath and an oath to me will kill you if you break it.” He whispered
back.
“I love
you, Max.”
“And I
love you, Celeste.” As they, slept
Brenan stood watch. Suddenly the air grew cold, and Death appeared.
“Leave or
I will gut you where you stand…float” Death kept walking towards the
others.
“You think
you can stop me. I am Death. Now move out of my way.” Brenan turned his sword
toward Death.
“I am
Deathblade, and I command you to leave.” His sword began to give off a deathly
aura.
“You dare
threaten me. I will kill you.” Brenan
yelled and slashed at Death. When Brenan
yelled he woke everyone up. Max had a ball of what looked like blue flames in
his hand as he jumped out of bed.
“Even
Death knows when he is defeated. Now GET OUT OF MY CASTLE OR I WILL SMITE YOU”
Death nodded in defeat and vanished. The ball of blue flames in Max’s hand
illuminated the room.
“Max, why
is that fireball blue?”
“It is a
ball of coldfire. Brenan get some sleep I’m standing watch.”
“Yes,
milord.” He went off to the last bed and slept. As everyone else slept, Max
stood guard. His mind raced from one possibility to the other. When he started
to go too deep in thought, he heard a voice beside him.
Chapter 5:
A Nexus of Power
“Max is
everything okay?” Celeste said softly.
“Yes
everything is fine.”
“Max,
don’t lie to me.”
“Okay, I
don’t think we can succeed at this. Not this time. We have nothing, no troops,
no people, nothing.”
“Max don’t
worry we can still do this.”
“Okay I am
going to relieve myself stand watch for a moment.” With that said, he walked
out into the castle. He walked to his tower of old, and stood upon its
flat-topped tip. The night air was still, and overhead the full moon glowed
brightly overhead. He spread his arms out and leaned back his head. He began to
call upon his powers. His eyes were closed with concentration, and then
suddenly they opened quickly. With a smirk, Max began calling more of his power
out. The wind rushed by him flinging his cape and his hair out. They whipped in
the wind as he drew more and more power about him.
“Josh wake
up. Josh, get up. JOSH, WAKE UP AND GET YOUR *** OUT OF BED!” He grunted and
then shook his head. He looked up and Celeste was standing in front of him.
“What is
it, Celeste?”
“Max has
gone missing.”
“What how
could he just up and vanish?”
‘”He went
out to relieve himself and hasn’t came back. It has been almost an hour now.”
“EVERYONE
WAKE UP AND GET READY!” Josh yelled out.
“Shut up,
Josh, I’m trying to sleep here.”
“No get up
now, Max has gone missing.”
“It can
wait till morning.” That did it by saying that he condemned himself to excruciating
pain. Celeste pulled out her 9-section chain whip/staff and struck
“What is
he doing?”
“He is
drawing to himself all the energy in the area. It draws it from the very
darkness of the sky, the brilliance of the moon, and the very fires of the
earth.”
“Why, why
is he doing this?”
“That,
milady, I know not.”
“I am
going to him.” Celeste started to walk
towards the doorway when
“No, you
are staying here if he dies he will die alone.” Celeste tried to force her way
past him put he pushed her back. Josh caught her, and Brenan drew his sword and
pinned
“You vile
knave, I should kill you for your dishonorable ways, but his majesty will not
allow it.” He released
“If he
dies then I shall die beside him, and our love will continue in the next life
can you say the same for yourself.” She dashed up the tower and when she
reached Max, he was completely surrounded by a wall of spirits. She pushed
through them and rested against Max’s body. His arms wrapped around her, and she
laid her head against his chest. He held her close and together they amplified
the power both of them calling for it at the same time in unison. Josh looked
upward again and saw them embrace, and then flames swarmed around them hiding
them from view. The spirits strengthened and the well of power increased in
size and magnitude. It covered the entire land that belonged to Max. All of the
blackened ash covered ground that belonged to him was enveloped in the power.
He laid down a trail along the edge of his land. He drew all the power back
into his and Celeste’s bodies. Through the telepathic link between them, Josh
felt a portion of the power coursing through Max’s body. The raw power of all
the energy put Josh on his knees. The energy was still visible then it was
gone, Max and Celeste had absorbed all of it. Suddenly there was a huge
crackling noise and all of the energy came rushing out of them tenfold. Max had
created a warp in the space-time continuum. Thus slowing time in his lands. All
the nomadic people living on his lands became aware of the return of their
lord. They went down and Max explained everything to the others.
“From here
within my time slowed lands I have created a nexus of power from which I can
create a kingdom in which the whole world shall belong to. I shall build an army, and when it is
completed we can begin our conquest.” He sent Josh, Evangeline, and Rosalyn to
the north to bring back every tribe they found. Tyler and Stella, he sent
southwards to bring back all the tribes they encountered. Brenan stayed at base
to guard Max and Celeste.
Chapter 6:
The Search for an Army
“Josh, how
far north must we go?”
“All the
way to the edge of Max’s lands.”
“What do
we do if we encounter hostile tribes?”
“Rosalyn, don’t
act so innocent all the time.”
“Evangeline,
she was joking. We kill them simple enough. Max’s exact words were: “If they
show any hostility to you kill their leaders and take over.” See simple, but
not easy. Never the easy way with Max.”
“It
wouldn’t be as fun would though if it was easy. Right my love.”
“Yes,
Rosalyn, you are right. Look there up ahead smoke.”
“Come lets
go find out if they are friendly.”
“Hold up,
Rosalyn. Make sure your weapon will come out easily.” Josh reached back and
adjusted his 6 foot long Masamune. When instead of the cold handle he felt
something warm. It was Dagda, his Terra
bird, and he was sitting on the handle of Josh’s sword. Dagda looked like a
phoenix, except for his colors were brown, green, and tan. His talons were a
brownish-black, and he could communicate telepathically with Josh. Dagda is
Josh’s familiar from his past lives; just as Fira and Ultima are Max and
Celeste’s familiars. He held out his arm and Dagda hopped onto it. He stroked
Dagda’s feathers, and then he adjusted his sword.
“Okay here
goes nothing.” With his head held high,
his eyes cold and distant, and his mind on the task ahead, He started to walk
toward the smoke. They walked all day, and by sundown, the origin of the smoke
was visible. It was a temple looking building.
“Josh, are
we going to have a fire tonight?”
“No, we
can’t risk letting them know we are here. In the morning we will go and meet
them.”
“Maybe
they will attack us and we can have some fun with them.”
“What do
you mean have some fun with them?”
“Well, you
know fight some of their best warriors and then we could train them to be the
very best warriors in the land.”
“Evangeline,
I believe that is the best idea we have come up with.”
“Yes,
Josh, it is a good idea.”
“Will Max
let us though is the question.” Suddenly Josh heard a voice speaking inside his
head. It was Max’s voice.
“How goes
the search, Josh? Hmm, go ahead and create a private army for yourselves. Okay,
let me know if something starts going wrong, and I will be there in an
instant.”
“Yes Max, I
will trust you.”
“Max,
contact you telepathically?”
“Yeah,
just checking to see if we found anyone.”
“Well,
lets not stand here lets go.” With that, they started off toward the raising
plume of smoke. They had walked all day toward the smoke, but to no avail. As
night fell the smoke was lost in the dark.
“Well what
now, Josh?”
“We rest
for the night.”
“Do we
risk starting a fire?”
“Yeah,
we’ll risk it.”
“So who
goes on watch first?”
“Josh
does.”
“Okay, you
two get some rest I’ll wake up one of you later.” As Josh’s party, rested
Chapter 7:
The Breaking of the Oath
“
“So no one
will notice us.”
“That makes no sense what so ever.”
“Well
let’s just go find these people and bring them back.”
“Why even
go back? I mean the two of us could take control from Max.”
“True,
but…how would we go about it?”
“I can
help with you with that, my friend.”
“Who said
that?”
“I did.” A
glint of silver was seen and the Grim Reaper appeared before them.
“How can
you help us? I have not forgotten that you fled last time.”
“I can
give you an army. An army of fallen heroes, and the past lives of Max and
Josh.”
“So you
are saying you can send an army of the all the bodies they have lived in?”
“Yes.”
“Wait,
what do you want in return?”
“Isn’t it
obvious? I want the souls of Max and Josh. They have escaped my grasp one to
many times. This matter is no longer strictly business, it’s personal now.”
“I can
train them, and then when they are ready we can attack.”
“I will transport
you to the nether realm where they wait for you.” The Grim Reaper raised his
scythe and cut a hole in the fabric of time and space. Tyler and Stella walked
through, and were greeted by an army of thirty-five thousand fallen heroes, the
past lives of Max and Josh, and much more. He grinned to himself and set out
among them.
“We have
lost
“Max, what
do you mean?”
“Milord,
how can you know for certain?”
“I was
tracking him with my magic. He went through a portal with the Grim Reaper. They
made an agreement.
“Milord,
they are but 2 maybe 3 we have 6. They could not win.”
“He has an
army. We do not have one yet.”
“Max,
couldn’t you use your magic to protect us?”
“Yes, but
only for a little while. If only we had a grimoire of summoning.”
“Milord,
there exists a book like you wish. It is a dark book. They say that to read it
is dangerous to one’s health.”
“What is
the name of this book?”
“I cannot
say it aloud. To do so is to call upon the wrath of the Old Ones.”
“So it
does exist. I must have that book.”
“Max, you
cannot be serious?”
“Yes, I am
being serious. That book may destroy me, but you will live I think it is a fair
trade.”
“Max….”
“Stand
back everyone, I am going to contact the god of death.” He traced out a circle
on the floor, and stepped inside of it. He sat down in the middle of it, and
tried to contact the god of death. The god of death appeared in front of them.
“What do
you want now, you already have my power.”
“I want to
know the whereabouts of the dark book Brenan spoke of.”
“That book
will destroy a mortal, but you are no mere mortal. Very well you may have the
book, but do not speak its name aloud.”
“One last
thing. Why does the Grim Reaper seek to destroy me? Why does he want my death
so badly?”
“You know
the answer to that. Here the book you wanted. Don’t read more than a hundred
pages a day.”
“Why only
a hundred?”
“Fine 200,
but no more or you risk losing your sanity.” With that, he left and Max stood
in his castle holding the legendary book of darkness.
“It does
exist. Milord, the fates do not lie, surely if I follow you I too can become
powerful.”
“Max… What
do we do now?”
“We wait
for Josh to return. When he gets back if all else fails we seal ourselves in another
dimension until it is time to return once more.”
“What is
the best we can hope for?”
“That we
don’t die. Other than that I don’t know.”
“Max, what
about the Old Ones?”
“If it
comes to that, but for our sakes lets hope it doesn’t.”
“But what
are the Old Ones?”
Chapter 8:
A Shattering of Identity
“Titans,
Milady They were sealed away by the Gods. That book contains the means of
summoning them from their prison in the Heavens. Legends say that they fought
against the Gods. It is said that the Earth was torn asunder, the seas boiled
and bubbled, and the Heavens were slashed open. This war nearly destroyed all.
The Gods managed to subdue the Old Ones, and they sealed them under the seas.
All went well until the Watcher woke and a band of Humans released him. He woke
the others and with the power of the moon and stars released the others.
“Milord,
are you alright?” Max had snapped to attention and his face was a mix of emotions.
“Did you
say the moon and stars increased its power?”
“Yes, I
did saw that. Why?”
“My power
is increased with the moon and stars.”
“Is it
possible? No, that’s not it.”
“Brenan,
say what you were thinking.”
“Let me
continue with the legend first. They proceeded to create a quasi-human entity
to release them in case they were ever sealed away again. The Gods sealed them
away and the God of Death took that book and supposedly killed the quasi-human
entity. They sealed the Old Ones in a huge crystal of purest diamond. There
they slumber waiting to be summoned by the quasi-human entity they created.”
“It all
makes sense now.”
“Max…tell
me what it is. Tell me what you are thinking.”
“Okay,
here goes nothing. The God of Death sends the Grim Reaper to kill those whose
time is up. However when the quasi-human was to be killed The God of Death
himself went. The Grim Reaper was furious that he didn’t get to kill it that
and the fact that the God of Death didn’t kill it at all. It was left alone
only its book was taken from it. I am that entity.” Everyone was quiet and
Celeste walked over and embraced Max.
“I love
you no matter what you are, Max.” Suddenly the ground shook and the God of
Death burst forth from the ground.
“You have
got most of it right only one thing was wrong. I am not the God of Death. The
real God of Death is sealed away with the Old Ones. I am one of The Old Ones. I
will not let you free the others. I will destroy you here and now. For tonight
is the Full Moon, and in 1 months time the planets will align and the Old Ones
will cross the Path of the moon. They will remain trapped in the diamond while
I rule the earth.”
“You are
forgetting one thing Old One. My Power increases with the moon as well. That
and I hold the grimoire filled with their power.”
“You
cannot use that grimoire your dragon side will not let you.”
“The
Dragon side is gone. All of them are gone and only I remain.”
“No it is
not possible. You are not to have that kind of power. Her. She is the one that
did this. We made two of you. You two were supposed to destroy each other and
in doing so release the others and destroy the methods of sealing.”
“We will
destroy you.”
“Ha, you
have already condemned yourselves. You have destroyed all methods of sealing
things away.”
“Your
demise is at hand. Celeste embrace me.” Max and Celeste embraced each other,
and Max used the grimoire releasing a torrential flood of power that their
bodies absorbed. Several miles away Josh fell down and was hit by a flood of
power that absorbed into him. Max and Celeste and fell down, and now Max stood
up his hair no longer the pitch black it had been. It was now pure white. His
eyes still the Ice Blue they were.
“No. It
cannot be the third one is alive as well. You have awoken your godlike powers.
I can still destroy you. Starting with her first.” The Old One charged to
strike Celeste with its talon. Its arm slung out and went toward her.
Chapter 9:
Power Overwhelming
“YOU WILL
NEVER HARM HER!” Max yelled as he crossed his arm in an X-shape and stepped in
front of Celeste.
“NOOOOOOOOOO,
MAX!” Celeste yelled as a cloud of smoke enveloped Max. As the smoke cleared,
Max stood unscathed with his arms down.
“Impossible
no one has ever withstood my attacks.” Max put out his arm with his hand
halfway clenched. A sphere of pure blindingly white light formed in his hand.
Tendrils of power crawled over it. He clenched his hand and pulled his hand in
front of his face. He then slung down his arm as a beam of the white energy
formed in the shape of a huge broadsword.
“YOUR LIFE
ENDS HERE!” Max charged and swung the blade of energy cleaving the Old One in
half. Max knelt breathing deeply still
in the exact position, he landed in when he struck down the Old One.
“A twisted
web of deceit envelopes you, milord.” Max tried to stand up, and as he did he
fell to the ground.
“Max, are
you okay?”
“It didn’t
lie when it said nothing had ever withstood its attack.” He took his hand off
of his side and it was covered in blood.
“Brenan,
help me pick Max up and take him to the tower bedroom.”
“Yes,
Milady.”
“Brenan,
hand me my sword.” They carried Max up to his chambers and placed him on the
bed.
“Brenan,
hand me that roll of cloth.”
“Celeste,
what is the cloth for?”
“To dress
your wounds, now move your hand.” He moved his hand off of the wound.
“What
the…the wound…it’s gone.” She looked up to see what Max would say, but he had
passed out. A burst of light enveloped him and as suddenly as it arrived, it
disappeared. When Celeste opened her eyes, Max’s hair had turned back to the
pitch black it was.
“He is an
extraordinary being.” Meanwhile Josh, had woken up and was testing out the
limits of his newfound power. When it subsided, he spoke with Evangeline and
Rosalyn about what happened to him.
“You fell
over in pain and your hair changed to a greenish-black, and your eyes changed
to a dark green. You sat up straight and in Max’s voice yelled out as loud as
you possibly could “YOU WILL NEVER HARM
HER.” Then you just slumped backwards and slept.”
“Hmm maybe
we should contact Max?”
“Let me
try to contact him.” Josh cleared his mind and concentrated on talking to Max.
He managed to reach Max, but he was asleep and his mind was filled with
thoughts of the Old Ones. The creature struck Max down in his dreams, and it
stood there laughing as it turned and struck at Josh. Max stood back up to
fight, but was struck with a killing blow. Suddenly the dream ended and Josh
stood in the middle of nothing surrounded by white light on one side and utter
darkness on the other.
“So you
managed to get inside of my subconscious. Well done Josh.” Josh looked up as
Max materialized out of the darkness.
“What is
this place? Why is it half dark and half white?”
“This is
the inside of my mind. Actually there should be more shades of gray.” The area
changed and they were standing in an area of gray with darker shades leading to
black and lighter shades leading to white.
“I still
don’t understand.”
“Walk with
me Josh. As you can see there is black and white. Here this is for lack of a
better term the dark side.” They had walked over to the edge of the darkness.
“From here onward are the darker schemes, ploys, plans, thoughts and so on.
Watch.” Max waved his arm and an image of the King of Shadows appeared. It
showed Max charging slashing every limb off of the King of Shadows. It started
over and Max performed something different then the image vanished.
“As you
saw it was a dark thought. Over there are the light thoughts but mostly they
stay in the gray.”
“Why the
gray?”
“That is
the path of influence I walk. It is not good nor is it evil. As such, anything
is possible. Now what did you want when you came searching for me?”
“Why did
my hair change? Where did that power come from? What does all this mean?”
“Watch and
you will see.” I showed him what happened though it was only from my point of
view.
“I still
don’t completely understand.”
“I don’t
either, but to show you any more could send you off the edge. My thoughts are
dangerous places for outsiders.” Wraiths had begun to from around Josh and they
were fading in and out of existence.
“It is a
self-defense thing I created. Now we will talk later.” With that, Max sent Josh
back into his body. He explained everything to the girls, and then he lay down
to sleep.
As he slept,
he had his own nightmares.
“Celeste,
we cannot let the Old Ones resume their lives as gods and conquerors.”
“But we
can’t just ignore the calling they are exerting on us.”
“I said we
couldn’t let them bring terror not that we won’t free them.”
“You mean
to enslave the Old Ones?”
“Yes and
No. We will use them to destroy
“How?”
“Alchemy.”
“ I do not
need to remind you of the laws of nature and such do I.”
“No,
because we are going to use Alchemy after we destroy them. Hopefully
“How will
you activate the energy?”
“With the
strongest of emotions.” Max sat down on the bed and held his head in his hands.
“What’s
wrong?”
“Nothing
makes sense anymore.”
“What
doesn’t make sense?” He told her his thoughts on their origins.
“Max, all
that happened aeons ago. Don’t worry about it.”
“I have
tried. I can’t forget though. In all of my lives, this is the closest to
achieving my dream that I have ever been. I can’t let this get in my way. I
won’t let it get in my way.” He stood up and walked to the top of his tower. He
picked up a book on Alchemy and began to read. His
Chapter
10: A Finding of Old Friends
“Alright
lets get this over with and report back to the castle.” Josh walked into the village,
and the guards stopped him.
“Let me
pass I come from the castle of his eminence The Lord Max.”
“You come
from mountain of fire.”
“Yes. We
need to speak to your chieftain.”
“Follow I
take you to Chieftain.” Josh followed the man. He spoke a newer version of the
language Josh invented for secret meetings and such.
“Hail,
Chieftain Stoneheart.”
“Welcome,
pale one. Welcome to my village. What brings you here?”
“I am an
emissary sent by Lord Max.”
“Who is
this Lord Max?”
“Sorry you
might know him as Grand High Chieftain Fireheart.”
“You come
from the Grand High Chieftain Fireheart, He who dwells on the mountain of fire.
“
“Yes.” He
placed saluted Josh in the same matter that the troops of old did. Josh saluted
him back.
“We serve
the Grand High Chieftain. What will he have us do?”
“Are there
other tribes here?”
“Yes many
tribes.”
“We need
those tribes to come to us.”
“I send my
son to the gathering stone to summon the tribes to council.”
“Good.
Grand High Chieftain Fireheart will meet you there.”
“Take with
you some of my best warriors to escort you and the Grand High Chieftain.”
“Okay.”
Josh saluted him.
“Se koth
nor ron.” Which translated to go with the Dragon? The chieftain saluted Josh.
“Se koth
nor ron, Chieftain.” Josh left the
village with 10 trolls accompanying him and Evangeline and Rosalyn. They
traveled all the way back to Max’s castle.
“Ah Castle
Draconian. It’s good to be home.”
“Yes it
is, Evangeline. Come on lets not just stand here.” They entered the castle and
when Josh threw, open the doors to the throne room. Brenan sheathed his sword.
“Sir Josh,
it is good to you see you back alive.”
“Inform
Max of my arrival will you?”
“At once
sir.” Brenan turned and walked to the tower. When he was halfway up he meet Max
coming down.
“My liege,
Sir Josh has arrived.”
“Good,
come lets not keep him waiting to long.” Max walked into the throne room and
the trolls saluted him. He saluted them back.
“At ease.
So Josh it looks like all went well.”
“Yes, we
have the chieftains of all other tribes meeting at the gathering stone. You are
to meet them there to seal the agreements.”
“Where is
the gathering stone?” One of the trolls stepped forward.
“Grand
High Chieftain, the gathering stone is located several days to the east.”
“Ah yes
that huge piece of granite that used to be underwater. Well we leave for the
gathering stone in 2 days time. Be ready. Brenan, show the trolls to the
barracks and the guard posts and set up a schedule for guard positions. Josh,
come with me.” They walked to the top of Max’s tower and stood upon the roof.
On the roof was drawn a magic/transmutation circle.
“What are
we doing here?”
Chapter
11: A Seizing of Power
“We are
going to call up your true powers.’
“I thought
that already happened?”
“No, they
have awoken, they are just out of reach. Now stand in the center of the
circle.” Josh stepped inside of the circle. He looked back at Max.
“Okay. One
question though will this hurt?”
“Not
sure.” With that Max called up his own magic and stepped inside of the
circle. He released it in a flash of
light. Max stepped out of the circle suddenly. The light enveloped Josh in
swirling vortex of power.
“JOSH,
SEIZE THE POWER TAKE CONTROL OF IT. OTHERWISE IT WILL DESTROY YOU.” Josh yelled
out and clenched his fist. The light dimmed until only Josh remained. He stood
there taking deep breaths.
“You okay,
Josh?”
“If I had
any air in my lungs I would scream at you.” He said in little more than a whisper.
“If I told
you that it would be excruciating pain would you have still done it?”
“No.”
“Then you
would have been consumed by the power, and I would have to destroy you or bind
you to my will.”
“Okay I
get the point. Now help me down the stairs.” They took the stairs slowly, and
when they reached the bottom Evangeline and Rosalyn stood waiting. They took
Josh to their room and Max walked back up onto the top of his tower.
Chapter
12: Undying Love
“The moon
will be in zenith in a few days. My Power will be at its strongest. Then I can
unleash the Old Ones and bind them to my will. I can use my power alone to
defeat them.”
“Max, do
you actually mean by yourself?”
“Yes. I
would never forgive my self if I let something happen to you.”
“You can
depend on me and the others to help you.”
“I cannot
be certain of that. In the end your on own.”
“No.
You’re wrong.”
“If my
power fails me when I am alone it is only I that die. If it fails me when you
are with me, it is your death that will plague my soul. I would never be able
to go on without you.”
“Max… I
won’t let you go by yourself. I will go with you. Now and forever more I will
be by your side.”
“I knew it
would be so. It has always been that way. It always will be. Tell me something. In the life before this
one why did you not come after me yourself?”
“I had
been captured and was on the way to some prison. One of Kenshin’s warriors rescued
me. They trained me in their ways. They made me forget my existence before I
joined them. When you died…I regained those memories of you and me.”
“You can
stop. Come here let me show you something.” She walked over to Max’s side. He
opened his hands and in them, there was a pile of sand.
“What is
it?”
“Exactly
what it looks like. It is a pound of sand. Ahhh but watch and it will change.”
He dropped the sand into the center of the circle. He focused his mind on that
sand and envisioned it changing. White light enveloped it and the sand was
gone. In its place sat a gem. Max picked it up and gave it to Celeste.
“This is
no ordinary gemstone. It can only be created. It is never found in nature. This
gem is created from the very essence of the cosmos. It is more than just a gem
though. It can be used for many purposes.”
“For what
purpose can I use it?”
“That
depends on the person using it. The color also depends on the person it is made
for or by. What color is the stone in your hand?”
“Purple
like my hair.” Max placed another pile of sand into the circle. He turned it
into another gem.
“What
color is mine?”
“Is it black?”
“Yes and
no.”
“What do
you mean by that?”
“See mine
is black but all through it is silver. Look closely at it and you will see.”
She looked hard at the stone resting in Max’s hand. Then the silver started to
shine through.
“I see
what you mean now. What about mine?” She looked at it and the light from it was
also silver.
“Because
of our souls the stone shines silver in our hands.” Max laid his hands on
Celeste’s and changed its shape to look like a dragon. It was not a standard
dragon, but had a body that resembled a snake with fins. It curved in a
semblance of an arch. Max then changed the shape of his to a mirror version of
Celeste’s.
“Watch.
This is how we will keep the stones hidden. We will keep them in plain sight.”
He picked up both gems and held them facing each other. They formed a heart
shape. Max attached them to a necklace, and he placed Celeste’s around her
neck. He then draped his own around his neck.
“Oh, Max,
it’s beautiful. I love you.” She embraced him.
“And I
love you Celeste.” He wrapped his arms around her. She laid her head on his
shoulder. As the wind blew past them Max’s cloak fluttered around them. There
standing under the moon, they pledged their undying love for each other. Thus
stating it anew, they made their way down to the gardens where they laid down,
and watched the stars.
“Max, what
do we do now?”
Chapter
13: The Old Ones
“To tell
the truth I’m not sure. But I think I have an idea.” When the sun rose Max went
to his tower bedroom and slept in preparation for what he was about to
try. When the sunset and the moon rose,
Max woke up and stood in the middle of the circle on the top of his tower.
“Now it
begins. GREAT OLD ONES HEAR MY CALL. I CALL UPON THEE TO BREAK FREE FROM THY
ICY PRISON! I GIVETH THEE MY STRENTH TO BRING
“MAX!!!!!
JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING CALLING DOWN AND SETTING FREE THE GREAT OLD
ONES? ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MIND?” Josh yelled as he came storming through the
door leading to the tower roof.
“Get back
inside, Josh. I have everything under control.” Josh looked around and saw just
what Max meant. The ground was littered with strings of Max’s magic. It was a
spider web of power when the Great Old Ones touched the tower they would be
stuck to the fibers.
“Here they
come.” Max said as the Great Old Ones appeared in the sky and began to sink to
the tower.
“We are
here are you the one who called for us?” They spoke without moving their
mouths. Their speech was high and eloquent sounding.
“Yes I
called you and I am going to bind you to my will.”
“You
cannot do that to us you have no power over us.”
“Oh, but I
do. I called you down. I released you from your prison. And I have caught you
in a web of my magic. You cannot break it or you will be destroyed or re-imprisoned
so far from any magic user that you will never again be free. Now I bind you to
my will!” Max let his web of magic lift up from the ground and weave itself
around them and into their minds. He forced them to obey him, and as such, the
bodies they used were altered so they could be seen by everything.
“You are
now bound to my will. I trust you understand the completeness of this act.”
“We do
mortal. You realize we will be free when you die.”
“Yes and
when I wove the spell I made sure that loophole was gone. You are bound to my
family and to my blood. Now go and when I call upon you appear before me.” They
nodded and disappeared to see the world and have a bit of fun.
“You can
come out now, my friends, the deed is done.” Max let out a sigh and looked
upward toward the heavens.
“Max, what
did you do to them?”
“I bound
them to my family and to my blood. So any of my descendents have but to say the
word and they will appear ready to serve. Why do you ask, Josh?”
“Curious.”
“You are
an oath brother you can call upon them because I recognize you as family.
“Max, are
you alright? Just hold still, Max, I’ll go get Celeste.”
“No…” Max
fell forward and crashed into the floor.
“What is
the matter with you?”
“The spell
took a lot out of me. Help me to my room.” Max limped to his room with Josh’s
help.
Chapter
14: Don’t Let Me Be Alone When I Wake
“Bring
Celeste here would you and then make sure the castle is secure.” Max laid down
on the smooth silk of the covers and thought of the past.
“Celeste….
I don’t want to be alone anymore. Please don’t let me wake up alone again.” Max
said to the thin air.
“Max! I
won’t let you die on me.”
“Relax,
I’m not dieing just out of energy. I may be out for a few days don’t worry I’ll
be fine.”
“Max I
heard what you said when you thought no one was around. I won’t let you be
alone like that again.” Celeste said as she lay down beside him and curled up
next to him. While Max rested Josh had
begun his search of the castle. He walked down to where two of the trolls where
stationed on the entrance to the inner keep.
“Any sign
of movement out there?”
“No sir, Regent Marshal Garner.”
“Watch my back I’m going out there.” Josh shifted his sword so he could easily draw it and walked toward the outer walls. He walked up the stairs and stood on top of the wall above the gatehouse. A mass of soldiers was headed this way. Josh ran up the tower he was standing beside, and looked through the telescope that was mounted there. They would approach the first wall in 2 days. Josh swore then muttered to himself.
“This is bad we are vastly outnumbered.” Josh sealed the
triple gates from the top of the gatehouse then ran back to the inner keep.
“We have a
problem an army approaches us with seemingly hostile intent.”
“What do
we do, Regent Marshal?”
“Gather
everyone, but Max and Celeste, in the council chamber.” Josh headed there himself
after sealing the gate. When everyone was seated, Josh rose.
“Okay the
army will be upon us in 2 days. We have few choices, and we cannot abandon the
city. Any suggestions.” Brendan stood and said.
“This
council of trolls will be in session the day after next. I say we send a runner
to warn them of our situation.”
“Yes, Brenan,
we can do that, but still that requires that we hold out for at most a week. We
are but 20 warriors at most. We need a plan to defend the castle.”
“The
volcano. Max diverted the flow out of numerous openings in the mountainside. We
have an almost unlimited supply of arrows. If we let the lava flow that will
destroy a good many of their warriors. Max designed the castle so that the lava
could be a weapon and a defense. The only place that it won’t flow is the path
between the walls. A space 20ft wide if we place spears and traps along that
path we can destroy more. Then with
archer fire we can continue to inflict damage.”
“Good
work, Evangeline. Now does anyone know how to let the lava flow. Okay so no one
knows. Brenan, I didn’t want to do this, but go get Max and Celeste.” Brenan
walked off to get Max and Celeste as Josh sent two scouts to get ready to
leave. Brenan knocked on the door to
Max’s bedchamber when he got to the door.
“Come in.”
Celeste answered.
“We have
an emergency the two of you are needed in the council chamber.” Brenan said as
he glanced from Celeste’s face to the sleeping face of Max. “He looks to be at
peace with himself.” Brenan thought.
“Max, wake
up.”
“Huh, what
is it?”
“We have
an emergency, my lord.”
“What!
Okay lets go.” Max said as he got up and grasped his sword as he went out the
door.
“How long
has the council been in effect?”
“Over an
hour, my lord. Josh used his position of Regent Marshal to take charge and let
you rest. We were going to try to handle it without you so you could rest.” Max
walked through the doors to the council chamber and took his seat at the head
of the table.
“What’s
the situation?” They informed Max of their plan.
“Good, but
are we sure they are hostile?”
“No, we
were going to send a group to find out.”
“I’m going
by myself. I want everyone else to get ready for this trap to be sprung. I want
all the gates locked, barred, and sealed. Council adjourned.”
“Max, why
are you going by yourself?”
“Josh,
trust me I have a plan. Now go and prepare for war. Oh and watch Celeste for
me.” Max walked down to the stables, and found a horse there. It was a
descendent of his and Josh’s horses. He mounted it bareback and rode out to the
gate. He carried his banner with him and two figures rode toward him.
“What is
your reason for passing through my lands?”
Chapter
15: For Honor
“Your
destruction.” Hissed a voice. The figures threw back their cloaks and hoods. It
was
“If you
want me then fight me.”
“We also
seek your throne and power.” Death hissed again.
“I should
have known. Then come and take it by force. Max raised his hands and teleported
himself and the horse back inside. He completely sealed the gates and made sure
the only way in was to destroy the gate. The walls were lined with spikes and
almost invisible cutting wire. They were built so that they could not be scaled
for those defenses and the fact that the walls were slick. Max did that to
every gate on his way back up to the first wall. There were 6 walls not
including the castle walls. Every one of them was a force to be reckoned with.
Max sent the horse off to the stable and placed his hands together.
“Great Old
Ones, here my call. I command thee to come to me. I summon thine powers.” The
Old Ones appeared and answered.
“We have
arrived. What would you have us do?”
“Can you
give me an army?”
“We cannot
do that for you.”
“Then walk
with me and prepare for war.” They shimmered in the air then became clear
again. They held weapons and were covered from head to toe in armor. Max told
them of the plan and sent 13 of the 20 to the front lines where Josh and the
majority of the others were stationed. 2 were sent to guard Celeste, and the
rest were sent to patrol the wall. The leader of the Old Ones stayed with Max
to guard his life.
“So what
do you think of the situation as one man to another?”
“Good
chance of survival. I mean you did bind 20 immortals to you. Chances are that
army is full of your past lives and other monsters. Don’t let that slow you
down. Your mark on this world will be long
lasting. Know this you do not die this day.”
“Okay I’m
ready.” Max began to chant in the old tongue of the fire worshippers. The volcano
shook violently.
“Obey me!
For I am the fire god.” Max yelled as 6 seraph wings of fire shot out of his
back. He rose into the air, and his eyes burned fire red. They caught fire and
glowed evilly in the night sky. The volcano quaked once more and then the lava
began to pour it rushed outward consuming the enemy army. Max had reawakened
with in himself the spirit of the old fire god, Firaga. He forced the lava to
cover everything except for the path to his castle. The enemy army’s retreat
route was cut off. They had to fight or be destroyed by the lava. They began to
charge up the path. The traps were triggered forcing them to run faster up
ahead and onto the disguised spear points. The army was shrunk down to a force
of a thousand. Max stopped the flow of lava and it sat there burning.
“Now come
let us not miss any action.” Max said as he landed and called up his dragon
powers. He stood there a cross between a human, a dragon, and a fire god. His
dragon wings flexed outward taking the place of 2 of the fire god’s seraph
wings. His eyes changed to the yellow color of a dragon’s, but the red fire
burning them stayed the same.
“Okay here
comes the enemy. Everyone fight to the death. This battle will be legendary,
and we shall be heroes.” Josh yelled to
inspire the troops. As the first wave of enemies arrived, Josh swung his
Masamune cleaving off 5 heads in one swing. The troops clashed and the
fanatically loyal troops under Josh’s command keep them from getting past the
gate. They were, but 40 against over a thousand. Max liked the odds due to his romantic
nature.
“Your
destruction is eminent. Behold the face of your destroyer. I am he who was, he
who is, and he who will be!” Max yelled as he drew his sword and jumped from
the top of the gate where he stood into the middle of the enemy. With a blast
of fire and a swing of his blade, he made a circle and began to push forward.
“We must
not fall behind. Onward to victory for Honor and Glory!” Josh yelled as he began
to push towards Max.
“Brother,
if I must die then I would want it to be in battle with you at my side.”
“Save some
of the glory for me, Max. If we die we die as brothers fighting till the very
end.”
“TO
VICTORY!” Max and Josh shouted in unison as they fought back to back. Each
covering the other’s back as they fought off impossible odds. When the Old Ones
pushed through and arrived at their backs Max and Josh turned and side by side
began to cut a path toward where Tyler and Death. Celeste, in her full battle armor, ran on top
of the gate with Evangeline, Rosalyn, Brenan and 3 of the trolls. All except
for the 2 Old Ones and Brenan had out bows. They began to fire into the mass of
enemies. The battle grew more frantic as the sun began to rise. Except for Max,
Josh, and the Old Ones everyone was exhausted.
“Fall back
to the gate!” Max yelled. As Max and Josh held back the enemy, everyone else
retreated inside of the gate.
“Josh, on
three. One, two, three go now!” Josh ran back to the gate.
“Take
this!” Max yelled as he blasted fire forward in a wide arc holding back
everyone in range by setting the enemy afire.
Max backed slowly toward the gate. He kept his blade up and ready, while
he pored forth the fire.
“Old Ones,
let’s finish this.” Max yelled as he began to grow angry. He dodged a sword,
but cut his arm on a knife.
“I HAVE
HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!!” Max yelled as he called up his anger and his magic. He
sent it forward in a devastating blast. That caused the enemies bodies to erupt
in a fountain of blood and gibbets. The Old Ones charged forward with Max. Max
ran sword slinging as fast as it possibly could. He fought his way toward
Death. As his minions began to wear thin, Death took up his scythe and turned
his horse toward Max. Josh saw this and with renewed vigor ran toward Max. Max
had seen Death’s approach, and when he saw Josh running toward him he yelled
out.
“No, leave
Death to me and me alone. Go after
“I have
waited a long time for the day when I could mount your head as a trophy.”
“You will
not defeat me. Your days as an immortal, and as the Reaper of Souls are over.
This day you will die!” Max yelled as he thrust his sword up into the air.
Death held up his scythe and shrieked. The sound was awful to hear. Max dropped
to his knees and covered his ears. The sound was supposed to cripple him. It
didn’t. It awoke that which was thought to be dead, or at least what remained
of it. The sound awoke all the primal energy and fury of the Dragon within. Max
roared out as the energy flooded him. Death paused and looked at Max’s eyes.
They were solid red. They glowed with an unearthly, demonic rage. “Wait, this
isn’t the dragon!” Max yelled in his head. Aeons ago, Max had the powers of a
demon. He gave these powers, he thought, to another. He hadn’t though, and it
had lain dormant for all these years. Max’s skin began to stretch and crawl.
The muscles had enlarged, Max now stood over 7 feet tall. He thickened and
looked bigger than a bear standing on its hind legs. His skin turned black, no
not the brown of human skin, but black like the
“Now you
will die!” Max yelled as he laughed a deep, dark, malicious laugh.
“Never
will you destroy me!”
“We shall
see.” They charged at each other. Their weapons clashed against each other, and
against their bodies. Both stepped back, they were bleeding from numerous
wounds. They charged again, and blow after blow was struck. As Max and Death
fought, Josh had come after
“You dare
to stand against us? And to think you swore an oath with Max. You dishonor us.”
“Shut up!”
“I will
destroy you.” Josh charged toward
“You dare
attack me?”
“I was
always better than you. It is pointless to resist.” Josh said as he held his
sword up in front of him.
“We are
evenly matched.”
“I take
that as an insult, mortal.”
“You take
it as an insult. Ha I am more than you will ever be, tis an insult to me not
you. Now I’m afraid I must destroy you.” Max said as he began to laugh
diabolically. When his demonic powers came forward, Max stopped using his other
powers. Now he began bring that power back. He began to transform.
Chapter
16: Untapped Power of Four
With the
combination of demon, dragon, and fire god, Max’s body began to change shape
once more. He still looked like a demon, but his skin looked scaled. He grew
teeth like that of a dragon. His dragon wings burst forth from the flesh of his
back. They were larger than the demon wings. They overlapped most of the demon
wings. The seraph wings of fire burst forth and Max began to rise into the air.
As he was rising into the air, white light enveloped him. The light left
everyone who looked at blind temporarily. The battle that had waged on during
everything else had now stopped. The light suddenly exploded outward. Josh was
the first to open his eyes and look at Max. His skin was it’s normal color, but
was dragon skin. At his elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and knuckles spikes
had appeared. On his knuckles the spikes was just a large single spike coming
out of the back of his hands. Josh
looked for Max’s sword, but when he didn’t see it, he realized where it was.
The Dragon was the spike sticking out of Max’s body, no not spikes. The spikes
were actually blades, and needless to say, Max knew how to use them. The horns
had also changed they along with the spikes looked like an organic metal. Every
part of Max’s eyes shined pure silver. Around his head above his horns blazed a
crown of flames. Energy sparked between his horns, jumping across the gap
between them. His wings looked like normal, only they were larger, and the same
color of Max’s skin. At the tips of the wings were more of the blades/spikes.
His hair was not the pitch black it normally was nor was it pure white. It was
silver. True silver like his eyes so that it looked as if it were cast from
metal with craftsmanship to rival everything ever made. Josh looked down at his
own blade wondering if he too could fuse with his weapon. Max touched back to
the ground. When he did so, no one moved. He reared back and roared out his
battle cry. Josh took advantage of the moment to attack
“It would
have been too easy to let you die. Now you must life with the guilt of what you
did and without your arm.” Josh said as he turned his back on
“This is
it. One of us must fall.”
“I come
for you. No one has ever-beat Death. All your efforts have been in vain.”
“I have
heard enough of you.”
“Do you
wish to die sooner? If so I can kill you quickly.”
“Silence!
Your end is here!” Max charged at Death. At the last moment, he jumped. His
wings spread and he flew into the air. Max folded his wings back and began to
dive at Death. At the last moment, Death moved and sliced along Max’s arm. The
skin was tougher than Death expected. It merely scratched his arm. No blood
came from the wound and soon it would just fade away. Max attacked with every
blade on his body. Death could not keep up with all the blades, and soon his
robe was slashed in many places. As Max, pressed forward Death began to reel
under Max’s onslaught. Max began to slow his attacks and hit harder. With a feint from his left hand, Max lunged
with his right. The blade pierced Death’s chest. Max lifted him from the ground
and held him there. With his left hand, Max began a relentless barrage of
attacks. Max threw Death onto the ground. Max began to divert the flow of power
from his horns to his blades. That was the only way he could destroy Death once
and for all. With Death destroyed at Max’s hands, another reaper would take
Death’s place. But this one would fear Max, and his allies. Fear was a powerful
weapon when wielded properly.
Chapter
17: The End of an Aeons Long
“Now look
at this. Death is at my feet only he is the one losing.” The blades shined
blood red with power. Max pierced Death’s chest with both of the blades on his
knuckles. Max lifted Death over his head, and flew into the sky. Max ripped
Death apart and threw the halves to the ground. When they hit they turned to dust.
The beating of Max’s wings sent the dust flying up into the sky. Death would
never again hold that visage. The Death that would stop at nothing to destroy
Max was gone. His remains were blown to the far corners of the world. Max
landed and picked up Death’s scythe. Max was enveloped in light and when it
cleared Max was collapsed on the ground.
His armor was in a pile to one side, and his clothes were ripped from
where the blades had emerged. Josh ran to Max’s side as Celeste was running
through the still opening gates. Josh rolled Max over onto his back. When
Celeste got to Max’s body she dropped to her knees cradling his head in her
lap.
“Is he….
is he d…d…dead?” Celeste asked as she stared at Max’s face.
“No merely
unconscious. The last blow he struck drained him of his energy.” The leader of
the Old Ones said as he peered down at Max.
“Do you
see his sword any where, Old One?” Josh asked as he looked at the Old One.
“Yes, look
here.” The Old One said as he tore the right sleeve of Max’s tunic off. The
Dragon was tattooed onto his arm in perfect detail.
“When he
fused the sword joined his body.” Josh said in amazement.
“Yes, he
absorbed it into his body, and now when ever he calls it, it will appear. When
he died for the first time…” The Old One said as he turned to look at Josh.
“What?
What happened when he died for the first time?” Josh asked.
“He had
saved a dragon and Firaga. In the way he saved them he gave his life for them.
The army he had held off at the mouth of the cave they were hiding in killed
him. He was protecting you, Celeste, and several others. Among which were a
dragon and Firaga. When Max died the dragon and Firaga offered their lives to
save his. The spell they attempted backfired. It sucked them into his soul.
Thus Max began his ascent into legends.” The Old One said as he stared into
Josh’s eyes.
“You’re
hiding something from us? Tell me what are you hiding?” Josh asked.
“I had
hoped you would not order me to say, but. Max is not the only one who can transform.
What I am trying to say is this. Max’s element is fire in both personality and
mind. You Josh must find your element. You must find your true powers. Max may
have awakened them or so he says. He could not awaken your powers. Only you can
awaken your powers. Now be off, awaken your powers then come and see me.” The
Old One said. He motioned toward Max. The other Old Ones lifted him off the
ground and proceeded to carry him to his room. Celeste looked up at Josh. Josh
held out his hand to help her up.
“Go to
Max, I can manage the castle for a while. I must see to
“You have
about 3 options,
“Listen
up, all those who surrendered and wish to live approach the gates. Those who do
not wish to serve under Max go to
“Here is
my answer. Never will I bow before you or Max! Those of you who are going with
me come on.”
“
Chapter
18: Possible Allies Are Found
“Hail,
travelers.” Josh motioned for the gate to opened and back up to be brought.
“Hail,
friend.” The man in front replied.
“Enter,
the night can be cold and there are few other settlements near.”
“My people
and I thank you for your kindness.” The leader was a tall, robust, older man.
His hair was long and gray. His movements seemed to be wolf like. As they ate
and drank Josh introduced himself.
“I am Josh
Garner, Regent Marshal to Lord Max Fanning.”
“My name
is Ulrike. I am leading my people to someplace where we can be safe, and live
freely.”
“Tis a
noble thing you do, Ulrike.”
“I thank
you…what is your title?”
“My
title…” Josh laughed then he said. “Just call me Josh I don’t go by my title.”
“Okay,
Josh.”
“So what
caused you to start this journey?”
“My people
were not accepted in the town we used to live in.”
“Well,
stay as long as you like. We don’t have many people in the castle and there is
plenty of room for you and your people to stay.”
“Thank you
for your hospitality. When can I meet this Lord Fanning?”
“The thing
is…he currently is a bit under the weather. It’s a long story.”
“Tell me,
unless of course you have other duties.”
“No I was
just finishing my rounds when I saw you. Okay here goes. Did you see the army
that came through here earlier?”
“Yes, my
people and I hid from them. That was a massive army, what did they hope to
conquer?”
“Us.” Josh
told the story to Ulrike. He told of Max’s transformation and of their past.
“I think I
may know of a cure for Lord Fanning.”
“Tell me
what can cure him?”
“It is
dangerous to do, but if you think he will accept it I will perform it.”
“Knowing
Max he will let you do it, if it saves his life. So when you are ready tell me
and I will take you to him.”
“We will
have to wait for the full moon to rise. That will be tomorrow night. Bring Lord
Fanning to the courtyard, before the moon reaches zenith. Then I will cure
him.” Josh nodded and excused himself. He had to go tell Celeste of his plan.
Ulrike was forming a plan of his own. Given what he knew of Lord Fanning, it
might kill him if he beat Lord Fanning. However, his daughter could bite him.
She was expendable, at least to Ulrike. He had a son to take the throne. He
stood up and went to the rooms set aside for his people.
“Hannah,
my daughter, where are you?” Ulrike called out. Hannah ran to him and said.
“I am
here, father.” She said as she kneeled.
“Arise my
daughter.” She stood up and looked at Ulrike. She stood as tall as Ulrike did,
but her brown eyes came from her mother. Her hair hung down to her shoulders
and was curled loosely. It was almost the same shade as her eyes. The silver of
her earrings stood out against her hair.
She was muscular in a feminine sort of way. She was much stronger than
she looked.
“What is
it, father?”
“I have a
task for you…” Ulrike told Hannah of his plan. She agreed reluctantly. It
wasn’t as if she had a choice. Meanwhile Josh had told Celeste of the plan.
“What do
you think?”
“If it
cures him… but what if it doesn’t? What if it kills him?”
“Then that
man and anyone else who gets in my way will die. Max would do this for me, and
thus I will do it for him.” Josh began
to make the preparations and when he finished he retired to his chambers. When
dawn broke Josh had begun his patrol of the castle grounds. At his side walked
Evangeline and Rosalyn.
“Josh,
what’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Josh, you
can’t lie to us. What is the matter with you?”
“The thing
the Old One’s said to me. It has been bothering me for some time.”
“Ohh,
Josh. Don’t worry about that.” Rosalyn said sweetly as she kissed him gently.
“You’re
smart, Josh, you’ll figure it out.”
“I will. I
want you two to do something for me.”
“Yes,
Josh?”
“I want
you two to go prepare the courtyard for my plan.”
“Understood.”
They walked away and when they did Josh sat down on the ground.
“Maybe Max
will now what they speak of. If he doesn’t he can confront the Old Ones.
Speaking of which where are they?” Josh said out loud to himself. The Old Ones
suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Yes,
Regent Marshal Garner?”
“Where
were you? You were supposed to be patrolling.”
“We were
until you called us away.”
“No you
weren’t I would have seen you otherwise.”
“Just
because you can’t see us doesn’t mean that we are not there. We go invisible on
patrol so that if an enemy comes we can kill them before they realize it.”
“Whatever.
Return to you posts or whatever you were doing before.” The Old Ones vanished
and Josh stood up.
“I suppose
I should go get some rest. Especially if something go wrong.” Josh returned to
his room, and slept until the moon rose. When it did Josh went to Max’s room.
He walked in alone and looked down at him.
“Why does
this kind of stuff always happen to you? Why can’t I take some of the pressure?
Answer me! Why do you have to take all of the pain?” Josh yelled at Max’s body.
“He can’t
hear you, Josh.” Celeste said from the doorway behind Josh.
“Celeste,
I didn’t hear you come in behind me. What all did you hear?”
“All of
it. Now think of it this way. I’m married to him. Now think of all the times
something like this has happened. Now imagine how I must feel.” Celeste said in
an exasperated voice.
“I’m sorry
I hadn’t thought about it that way. Anyways I’m taking Max to the courtyard.
Trust me this will work.” Josh said as he supported Max on his shoulder and
began to head toward the door. He
carried Max down to the courtyard and propped him up against one of the walls.
Ulrike and Hannah stood in the courtyard. On the walls were several of Max’s
soldiers and a couple of Ulrike’s people.
“Go on top
of the wall with the others. Lock all exits or entrances to the courtyard. Lock
and bar the doors.” Ulrike said.
“Okay.”
Josh said as he placed his hand on Max’s shoulder than walked out the door. He
walked to the top of the wall. He stood above Max so that if it came down to it
he could jump down and protect Max. The spikes were pointed down, if done right
Josh could get to the ground unharmed. He hoped nothing would go wrong.
“Now throw
down the rope!” Ulrike yelled to the people above him. They threw down the
rope, and Ulrike was pulled up out of the courtyard. At the same time the moon
came out from behind the clouds. As the moon shone down upon the courtyard,
Hannah began to change.
Chapter
19: Nothing Is Inherently Good or Evil
“Oh ****.
She’s a werewolf.” Josh said under his breath. Hannah threw back her head as
the skin ripped and fur bristled beneath it. She howled up at the moon, as the
fur ripped and her skin was seen under it. This happened twice more before she
was completely in werewolf form. Her fur was a slivery-gray that matched her
earrings, her eyes shone green, and she howled once more. From where he stood
Ulrike laughed.
“About
time she starts to transform.” He said as he and his people began to change.
They changed into werewolves. Josh drew his sword in self-defense as he watched
them, forgetting for the moment that Max was down there comatose with a mad
werewolf. Hannah saw him and lunged at him. Her mind saw what was happening,
but her primal urge controlled her. She
bit down into Max’s shoulder. When she did Max yelled out in pain. His eyes
flung open and silver light burst out of his eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. The
power rushed outward and into Hannah’s body. The energy flung her back and as
she absorbed it, her powers that no lycanthrope alive should have were unlocked.
She howled in pain, as she changed into an actual wolf, then into an
anthro-wolf, back to her werewolf form, and then to human. Max had been bitten
and he was changing. His flesh bulged and then ripped, showing pitch-black fur
beneath. Max began to rip the rest of his skin off as he changed. The fur
bulged and split open revealing his skin. He reared back and howled as the skin
split and his fur was seen. He went completely mad with power, and as Josh hit
the ground to save him he lunged and bite Josh. When he did, Josh’s own power
flared to life. The resulting flow of power awakened that which had lain
dormant for centuries. Thundaga, the thunder god of old, was a part of Josh.
Now he made his presence known. With a flash of lightning, Josh began to change.
His eyes crackled as lightning danced over them. When Max bit him, the power of
the Thundaga prevented him form becoming a wolf. Instead, the tiger came from
within and seized the power. Josh’s skin ripped and beneath it was the white
and black fur of a tiger. The power subsided and Josh passed out upon returning
to human form. Hannah moaned and stood up.
“What
happened?” She asked as Max looked at her still in his werewolf form.
“I don’t
know entirely, we will have to wait until someone comes down and can answer
that.” Max said telepathically since his mouth could no longer form human
words. From up above there came murmurs of amazement and wonder. Max bent down
and picked up Josh.
“Come on
let’s find us some answers.” Max said telepathically to Hannah. He forced the
door open, and began to walk toward Josh’s room.
“Stop,
right there both of you!” Ulrike yelled from behind.
“You
cannot command me in my own castle!” Max yelled telepathically. His anger was
great enough that the message was heard as if it were actual words shouted.
“You have
no power while in that form. I can command you for I have power.” Ulrike yelled
back just as loud. The entire castle heard their telepathic argument.
“Father,
why do you do this?” Hannah asked.
“Silence,
girl!” He shouted not bothering to concentrate his thoughts. Max sat Josh down
on the floor and stretched his new body.
“I don’t
know who you are, but I have had about enough of you.”
“YOU FOOL!
If not for me you would still be lying near death!” Ulrike yelled at him.
“I KNOW
MORE ABOUT DEATH, THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW UNTIL YOU DIE! DON’T EVEN DARE TO
SPEAK TO ME ABOUT DEATH!” Max yelled his patience with Ulrike wearing thin. The
moon faded behind the clouds, and the werewolves changed back to humans.
“Now who
has power?” Max yelled as he willed The Dragon to appear. The tattoo of The
Dragon on his arm flared and The Dragon appeared in the air before Max. He
reached out and grasped the hilt as Ulrike stared.
“The moon
won’t stay hidden long, fool.” Ulrike said venomously. Max sent The Dragon back
into his body, and as he did, the moon came out. He changed into to a werewolf
and as he did, he lunged at Ulrike. They flew through the open doors into the
courtyard. Hannah followed them at a run, as did many others. Ulrike slashed
Max across the chest as Max brought his own claws down across Ulrike’s arm. As
they fought back and forth over the courtyard, it was clear neither could win.
Josh stirred where he sat as he slowly came to. He looked through the doors as
Max was flung backward. Max leaped at Ulrike slashing as he did. Josh’s energy
flared to life and brought forth the tiger. He was huge when he finished
transforming. He stood as nearly as tall as a man, from paws to shoulders. As
Ulrike pinned Max down, Josh charged him. Hitting him with his entire weight,
he knocked Ulrike back several feet. Josh circled Ulrike as he was standing up.
Seeing that Ulrike was outnumbered, another werewolf jumped into the courtyard.
Josh attacked him and when he did Ulrike jumped for Josh. Max punched Ulrike in
the face as he did so. Ulrike snarled at Max as he attacked with everything he
had. They fought on for the rest of the night. When the moon went down, the
werewolves changed back into humans. Ulrike stood shakily as the fight began to
take its toll. Max snapped his neck left and right as he popped his knuckles.
“Now I
have all the power I need. Your power depends on the moon. I can use my power
at anytime of the day.” Max summoned The Dragon and held the point at Ulrike’s
throat.
“No, don’t
kill my father.” Hannah pleaded.
“He has
grown weak. Kill him.” Came a voice from above.
Chapter
20: The Devil’s Voice Is Sweet to Hear
”My son, why do you want me dead.”
“You are
weak. A were newly come to his power defeated you.”
“Brother, why?”
“Silence.
You are not my sister. I never had a sister. Tell her, father.”
“You are
my sister’s daughter. I cared for you as my own when she died.”
“So you
will never reach the throne. That throne is mine and mine alone.”
“Ulfang,
you know the rules of the court. The true ruler must be chosen, or succeed
where others have failed. They must attempt to fulfill the prophecy.”
“Josh,
what do you think of this?” Max said interrupting the others. Josh changed back
to human form and said.
“Not sure
yet. I think we need to hear this prophecy, before we do anything. Ulrike, tell
me the prophecy. Just tell me what it requires not word for word.”
“They must
bring back our power. They must find the wolf-shield. It will lead them to the
means for us to regain our former glory.”
“Wolf-shield….
What exactly is it referring to by wolf-shield?”
“No one
knows.”
“Hannah,
concentrate all you mind on becoming a wolf. Do this and I won’t kill him.”
“Okay.”
She began to concentrate on becoming a wolf. Her bones rearranged themselves as
she turned into a wolf. Ulfang sneered at her. Max took the sword point away,
and he held out his hand.
“My name
is Randall Max Fanning.” Max said with a smirk on his face. Josh grinned for he
knew what Max name meant.
“Randall?
Wait…. no it…cannot be…you…are…. the…”
“Wolf-shield?
Yes I am. How else can you explain that
she has powers your people have not had since last I walked among the living?”
Ulfang drew his sword and slashed at Hannah. Max slung his arm out in front of
the blade, and when Ulfang’s blade struck Max’s arm. It struck with the sound
of metal on metal. When Max took The Dragon away from Ulrike’s throat, it went
back into Max, and when he threw out his arm, it reappeared in his arm.
“Shame on
you for attacking an unarmed woman.” Max said as he punched Ulfang in the
nose. Josh laughed and said.
“That’s
what happens when you strike your superiors.”
“HE will
never be my superior.”
“SILENCE
ULFANG! I am still king and while I am king you will obey. IF you truly are the
wolf-shield than were is the shield?”
“Did the
fact that his sword just struck my bare arm, and not cut or break it pass you
by? It doesn’t matter. Throw your swords with mine, and you can have your
powers back.”
“Never
will I submit to you.”
“Shut up
boy.”
“You cannot
call me boy. I am older than you are.”
“Have you
ever killed a man? Have you ever fought on the front lines in war? Have you
lived a hundred different lives? No, thus you are a boy. You are immature and
need to hold you tongue before I remove it.” Max said with a commanding gleam
in his eyes, and threat in his voice.
“You would
not kill an heir would you?”
“Yes, Ulrike, I would. Besides he is not the
only heir.” Max said looking toward Hannah.
“I don’t
want to rule.”
“You don’t
have much choice if I kill Ulfang. He deserves it for what he just did. You can
chose not to rule, and your people will eventually die out. Fighting amongst
themselves and other things. The deaths of many could rest on you, because of
your hesitancy to rule.” Max said calmly.
“We rule
through power, not family. That has been the downfall of many.”
“Silence!”
The other werewolves reached for their swords.
“IF I have
to kill everyone of you, I will. I have killed before, and you will be just one
more death.” Max’s eyes gleamed threateningly, as he grinned evilly.
“You
wouldn’t dare!” Ulfang cried.
“You
haven’t seen Max when he is like this before. Last time he was like this he
charged a thousand man army by himself. That happened all too recently. Three
days before your arrival to be exact.” Josh said as a warning.
“You mean
that unearthly, demonic screaming was coming from here?”
“From me
actually.” Max said with a hint of pride.
“If you
truly are a lycan, prove it. When I speak these words aloud, you will fall in
pain.” Ulfang whispered a word that only Max could hear. Max collapsed on the ground, his fist struck
the ground as he tried and failed to stand. Max yelled out and for a moment a
red aura visible to everyone was seen. Josh caught a glance of the turmoil
inside Max’s mind, when he tried to use telepathy. The room Max kept his mind
looking like was gone. Only darkness was seen. Fire occasionally flared
outward. It was the place in the Void reserved for Max should he die
permanently. Max stood with sword in hand against what looked like every past
life and every part of his psyche.
“What have
you done, Ulfang? Do you wish for all of us to die?”
“He must,
were it not for my command. Max’s death commandos would have done killed you
both.”
“You
caused him to fight himself didn’t you, Ulfang?”
“Yes I
did. Every life he has ever had and every part of his psyche has risen against
him.” Ulfang grinned and as he did, Josh punched him.
“You fool!
Do you realize what could happen if Max’s alter ego takes control?”
“Do what?”
“You have
started a chain of events that could destroy everything!” Josh explained to them what he meant, and to
their horror, they had heard of this before.
“Is there
none of you who would fight with me?” Max yelled as he brandished his sword.
“I will.”
Yelled several voices. One of them was the first life he had ever lived.
Another was the life before this one. To all of their surprise the Dragon stood
with Max, as did the Demon, a Hellhound, and the Fire God.
“We are
but seven against their many. However, numbers mean nothing. Look into my
knowledge look at what happened at The Battle of Chi Bi as well as Guan Du. We
can do this! If we die well let’s just say if it comes to that I have a
failsafe. “ Max managed to yell out in his body’s voice.
“Josh If I
start to act abnormal ask me a question if I can’t answer it KILL ME THEN!” Max
yelled out.
“Here they
come, let us fight until we all drop dead or they fall before us!” The Dragon
yelled out.
“TO
DEATH!!” Max yelled out as his battle cry. Josh watched the battle unfold from
within his own mind.
“Ulfang is
there no way to reverse what you have done?”
“No, there
is no way for us to reverse it. He is his only hope.” Hannah said with a sigh.
“May the
Spirits be with him.” Josh said as he looked at the ground.
Chapter
21: The Heavens Grant Guidance
“Master
Josh?” a voice called out bringing Josh to attention.
“Yes, what
is it?” Josh asked as he turned around. There stood the Old Ones, most of them
down on one knee.
“We have
found Lord Max’s Will. In it you are named as heir unless he has a son.”
“So it has
come to this. Has there been any change in Max?”
“A shield
of fire has enveloped him and it lashes out at anyone who comes close. Even
Lady Celeste has been lashed out at, milord.”
“I suppose
you have to announce this in front of everyone don’t you?”
“Yes,
milord.”
“Gather
everyone in the throne room. Except for five of you, those I want guarding
Max.”
“As you
command, milord.” Josh walked to the throne room and stood a step down and 2
paces to the right of Max’s throne on the raised dais. When everyone was in the
room, the doors were closed and they grew silent.
“Everyone
listen up! Lord Max Fanning has been rendered incapacitated. According to his
Will, Regent Marshal Josh Garner is decreed as Heir Persuasive and can take the
Throne only if there is no child of Max’s blood. Since there is no child,
Regent Marshal Garner is to take the Throne. All hail Lord Josh!” shouts of
Hail rang through the hall, but eyes darted to the courtyard where Max lay
within a shield of fire.
“I, Lord
Josh Garner, will do everything in my power to see that Lord Max Fanning’s
dreams are realized. I will stop at nothing to see to this!” Josh moved and sat
down on the throne, reserved for the heirs. He looked out the doors at the end
of the hall into the courtyard. There kneeled with one fist on the ground was
Max, surrounded by his shield of fire.
“This just
keeps getting better and better doesn’t it?” Max said sarcastically.
“At least
we have our backs covered.” Firaga replied.
“Who cares
about our backs I’m more worried about our front.” Yelled out the Demon
angrily.
“I see
only one way to end this right here and now.” Max said as he swung his sword in
an arc in front of him.
“Although
it is fun destroying you over and over, why didn’t you say that earlier?” The
Dragon asked slightly annoyed.
“I hoped
it wouldn’t come to it.” Max said with a sigh.
“Maybe I
can help.” Came a voice from within the mass of attackers.
“Who
speaks out at me?” Max yelled out as he warded off blow after blow.
“I did. I
am the incarnation of the Lycanthrope that you changed into.”
“He wasn’t
supposed to bitten. The Old Laws say it explicitly. He who has the Dragon,
Demon and Hellhound within is not to be given the gift of lycanthropic
abilities. Do not question why, it was written long, long ago.” The Hellhound
said.
“Then we
must purge this contamination from ourselves.” The Dragon said with a hint of
evil. They charged and struck down the Lycanthrope. The others stopped paused
long enough to be eradicated by an onslaught of attacks.
“Does this
mean that I can’t be usurped from my body?” Max asked.
“The only
outside force here was the Lycan. The rest were your past selves. They won’t
rise up like that again.” Firaga replied.
“I get
bored of sitting in here lets just fuse and get this over with.” The Dragon
replied.
“Yes, it
has been a while since I was seen within.” The Hellhound said. They fused and
Max took back control of his body.
“Now
things will get interesting….” Max said with a devilish smirk on his face. He
lifted his hand a little then slammed it into the ground. The shield of fire
shattered outward with a roar like a Dragon, scorching the ground near Max.
“What was
that, Lord Josh?”
“I don’t
know… Someone throw open the doors!” Josh yelled. As the doors opened Josh say,
the fires rush heavenward.
“Lord Max
has awakened!” Everyone stared awestruck as Max strode toward the doors.
Celeste jumped up from her throne and stared at Max’s face, her own face full
of love. Josh saw this look and yelled out.
“Make way
for Lady Celeste!” Max looked up at those words and saw Celeste standing at her
throne. He began to run toward her.
People leaped out of his way when they saw the look in Max’s eyes. Max reached
the thrones and embraced Celeste.
“I thought
I’d lost you, my love.” Celeste whispered as Max’s arms enveloped her.
“It would
take more than that to keep me from you, my beloved. For Hell hath no fury like
me.” Max whispered back. They stood embracing each other for a moment.
“Hey, get
back here!” Hannah yelled out. Max looked up and saw Ulfang headed toward the
doors.
“NO!” Max
yelled as he threw his left arm out.
Fire burst forth from the ground in front of the doors. The fire changed
shape to look like men and the color of the flames was black.
“No, I’m
trapped…” Ulfang muttered. He turned and drew his sword as if to defend.
“My son
come to me and put away that blade before you incur his wrath.” Ulrike said
calmly.
“Father….”
Ulfang said as Ulrike walked toward him, “You are weak.” Ulfang’s sword dashed
out and pierced Ulrike’s stomach. He twisted the blade and pulled it free in
one deft motion.
“No!
Father!”
“He is not
your father! Now I will slay you as well.” Ulfang said.
“Hold
fast! I will deliver you an ultimatum. Lycans here my words, those of you who
wish to follow Ulfang step outside. Those who will follow Hannah stay where you
are.”
“I will
follow you, Hannah, and if the need arises you have my sword and my life.” A
voice called out. The owner of the voice stepped forward. It was a man with a lithe figure. His brown
hair was pulled back in a ponytail that ended at the middle of his back. The
locks fell in the front flanking the sides of his face. Between the locks of
hair, burning like the sun, were his eyes. They were the color of the setting
sun, and the light from them shone brightly. He wore a light suit of armor with
his right arm uncovered. Under his armor, his clothing was green, ending in
brown boots. At his left hip, he wore a silver swept-hilt rapier, and on his right,
he wore a silver main gauche. He knelt before Hannah and took her hand in his
and kissed it.
“Andrei,
my friend, I am glad to see you.” Hannah said, a faint blush coming to her
cheeks.
“Fine
then, go with her I shall just kill you all in the end.” Ulfang growled. Max
looked at Andrei and saw the reason for the light in his eyes. He was
love-struck for Hannah.
“If you
attempt to strike her down her your life will be forfeit.”
“Max, you
haven’t wielded this kind of power in well over a millennia.” Josh said.
“I know,
and I am itching for an excuse to try it out.” Max said with a smirk.
“Filthy
swine.” Andrei muttered.
“I
challenge you, Hannah!” Ulfang yelled.
“I accept
your challenge.” Hannah replied.
“So be it.
Tomorrow at
“So you
are the mythical Dragon Lord?”
“Yeah,
what of it?”
“Nothing,
I just had this image of a half dragon being, you know.”
“Like
this?” Max asked as he changed into his
half dragon form.
“Yeah
that’s what I was thinking.” Max reverted back to his human form.
“Have
either of you ever heard of The Old Laws?” Andrei took a step backward and
placed his hand on his rapier.
“We don’t
speak of those. How would you know?” Hannah asked.
“I just
learned that I have a Hellhound within me. It said that I wasn’t supposed to
get wolf powers.”
“Great now
we have a Hellhound to contend with.” Hannah said her voice filled with sarcasm.
“There are
worse things, in this world than Hellhounds.” Max said his eyes blazing.
“Hannah, how do you plan on fighting Ulfang?”
Josh asked.
“I guess
with my wolf form.”
“Uh… you
do realize that everyone has a wolf form now. That and what the rest of the
lycans are calling anthro form.” Max said with a bit of a puzzled look on his
face.
“An anthro
form is the word we use to describe when we stay in human shape, but look like
wolves.” Andrei said, his hand still resting on his blade.
“Rest
easy, Andrei, if they attempt to attack you they will not live through the
night. I guarantee it.” Max said when he noticed where Andrei’s hand was.
“You make
many promises, Max, can you keep them all?” Hannah said with a smirk.
“I will do
the best I can. The entire world seems to be after me. All my old allies are
gone. This will be the capital. I wish it could become like it is supposed to
be.” Max said with a sigh.
“What do
you mean? It is dark, foreboding, and spiky. It is perfect for you. It is a
dark citadel of terror.” Hannah said with a laugh. Max laughed with her and
Andrei.
“It needs
more people in it, people and horses. At one time I had an army here, but I
don’t remember what happened to it.” Max said. He shook his head. He looked up
and thrust out his hand as if holding a blade. The Dragon materialized in his
hand, in a scabbard.
“Here, use
this against Ulfang tomorrow. Keep it near you at all times. If you don’t take
it freely, I will force you to take it. Andrei, you mean well, but you can’t
defeat me.”
“Okay. I
will take it, but only for when I fight Ulfang. The hour grows late, let me be
off.” Hannah said as she bid them goodnight and left for her rooms.
“Andrei, I
fear Ulfang may try to kill her tomorrow. I see the love in your eyes. I know
you would lay down your life for her. If it comes down to it kill Ulfang. Don’t
leave him alive, should he try it. I can’t kill him without it being seen as
murder. You however can get away with vengeance for a lost love.” Andrei nodded
his approval, then he too bid Max goodnight and left.
“Josh.”
Max called out.
“Yeah,
Max.” Josh said when he approached.
“Have a
sword made for Hannah. I trust you know what it is to be made of and what it is
to look like.”
“Yeah I
know what to do.” Josh said.
“Then be
off. I bid thee goodnight.” Max said as he headed for his room. When he walked
into the room, Celeste leaped into his arms. Max embraced her tightly and
stroked her hair back away from her face. She buried her face against Max’s
chest and cried. Max comforted her, and placed his hand under her chin. He
lifted her head up and kissed her.
“My
beloved, I will protect you from the world. I love you, Celeste.” Max said as
he held her in his arms.
“And I
love you, Max.” Celeste said and she kissed him deeply. Her hand reached up and
pulled the rawhide strap from Max’s hair. It fell down around them hiding them
within its blackness.
The next
morning Max and Celeste woke up in each other’s arms. Josh was at the door yelling for them to wake
up.
“What is
it, Josh?” Max yelled, as he looked around for the rest of his courtly outfit,
his black silk shirt and his red, black and silver cape. The
“Max,
Ulfang attacked Hannah. She appears to be dead. Ulfang fled with his followers,
after he killed her. Andrei and two others ran after them, hell-bent on
revenge.”
“This
isn’t good. Lets go!” Max yelled as they darted down the stairs. About halfway
down Max turned and crashed through the window. As he plummeted downward, he
forced his wings outward, but kept them furled against his body. As Celeste and
Josh began to run down the stairs, Josh had the idea to change his shape. He
leaped forward and when he did, he transformed. When he hit he took off as fast
as he could for the bottom of the stairs.
“You two
go on without me, I’ll just walk.” Celeste said as she laughed. Max and Josh
were usually itching for a fight.
“Race you,
Josh!” Max yelled out as he fell. As he neared the ground, he unfurled his
wings and leveled out. He saw Hannah collapsed on the ground ahead. He thrust
his wings backward and out to kill his speed. He landed hard, and as he did,
two female lycanthropes stepped in front of Hannah. They drew swords and waited
for Max’s movement.
“Owwwwww…”
Hannah mumbled as she tried to sit up. Max stepped past the two bodyguards and
helped her up.
“You all
right, Hannah?” Max asked.
“I think
so.”
“Good, now
I can hurt you.” Max said with a laugh.
“You can
try, Max, but don’t make me beat you up.” Hannah said then she laughed.
“Well,
you’re well enough to laugh so you must be okay, right?” Max asked.
“Yeah, I’m
alright.”
“Okay, so
you mind telling me what happened?” Max asked.
“Well, I was walking through here thinking that I need a Friesian stallion, and Ulfang jumped out of the shadows over there. He hit me with his sword right here, only your sword moved in front of his at the last second.” She touched her heart. “Then everything started to fade away and I yelled. I saw Andrei come running with his weapons drawn. Ulfang fled and Andrei went after him, then… Andrei!” Hannah yelled and she took off running the way Ulfang fled.
“Come on you two!” Max yelled as he started running after her. He pulled his wings back into his body.
“…no… can’t….die.” came a weak voice from behind the trees. As they ran around the trees, they saw that
Ulfang and Andrei lay dieing. Max drew the knife from behind his back as he ran
toward them. Hannah ran toward Andrei and dropped to the ground to try to help
him. Max glanced over at Ulfang. He was dead no other way to put it. Max knelt
beside Andrei, and started to look at his wounds. They were mortal wounds, that
much Max knew just by looking at them.
“Hannah….”
Andrei said in a weak, shallow voice.
“Shh, save
your strength, Andrei.” Max looked behind them and saw Josh bounding toward
him. Max held up his hand, and Josh stopped, shifting to human as he did. Josh
looked at Max puzzled, and then he nodded.
“Hannah, I
can’t make it…. I…..you….” Then with a groan of pain, Andrei died. Max laid his
hand on Hannah’s shoulder.
“There are
no words that can take this pain away from you. However, they can help you with
it. I am here if you need me, as is Celeste. Here you may have need of this in
the times ahead, as both a memory and as a defense.” Josh handed Max the sword
that was forged for Hannah. It was long and curved, with a black leather hilt,
with silver knot work on it. Imbedded in
the bottom of the hilt was a Peridot. On the blade were carved ancient
Lycanthropic and her name runes. It rested within a black leather scabbard with
silver knot work on it, and her name in the runes. Max placed it in her hands,
and pulled off his cape. He laid it down over Andrei. It was a sign of high
honor for a liege lord to place the cape or cloak off his back over a body.
“Max…. I
don’t know what to say…”
“Don’t
worry about it let’s just say men can see things in other men.” Max knelt down
and closed Andrei’s eyes, then covered his face with the cape.
“Max, we
can’t leave him here.” Josh said as he looked up.
“I wasn’t
going to.” Max picked up the corpse of Andrei, and wrapped it in the cape.
“Okay,
let’s go back to the castle. Hannah, you are his friend, what would he have
wanted done with his remains?” Max asked as they walked back to the castle.
“He wanted
to be burned. Like the heroes of old.”
“Okay.
Josh, take the trolls and gather wood for a funeral pyre. Place it on
the….the…”
“Highest
tower, if that is okay by you Max.”
“To the
highest tower with it Josh, quickly!” Max yelled at Josh. Josh muttered something
as he ran off. Hannah held her sword clutched to her. Celeste appeared at the gates, and then ran
over to them.
“Hannah,
I’m sorry. If you need anything, I am here for you. We both are here for you.”
Celeste said then she walked beside Hannah as they headed for the tower.
“Hannah,
what are you going to name it?” Celeste asked.
“I don’t
what to call it, just yet.” Hannah replied.
“Don’t
worry on it too much, you will find one.” Max said to her.
“Max, can
I ask you something?”
“What?”
“What did
Andrei say just before he…?”
“I’m not
sure, wait here comes, Josh.”
“Max, the
wood is being carried to the tower as we speak. However, the Lycans are starting
to ask questions.”
“Hannah, I
am not their king. You must speak to them, don’t worry just tell them what
happened.”
“Max, I
want you and Celeste beside me, just in case.”
“Okay,
I’ll protect you should they charge, or anything.”
“It would
be my honor to carry this noble man’s body to the tower. “Said one of Hannah’s
bodyguards.
“Then both
of you go, Josh show them the way. Alright then let’s get this over with.” Max said as he motioned Hannah forward.
“Wait,
Max, here your sword back.” She held out Max’s sword, and he clasped its hilt.
The blade shimmered then disappeared back onto Max’s arm.
“Thanks.
Let me go first, just in case.” Max said as he walked into the courtyard.
Before him stood the entire castle’s occupants, they were waiting for someone
to inform them.
“He is
very protective of his friends, Hannah, that’s why he went first.” Celeste
said, as Hannah stood confused.
“Okay,
we’ll let’s just hope it doesn’t come down to that. Well if it does, I won’t be
caught unprepared again.” She
walked through the door, followed by Celeste.
“Okay,
Hannah, just tell them what happened, Max and I are here if you need us.”
Celeste said as she moved beside Max.
“I am sure
many of you are curious as to why the massive amount of firewood, is being
placed on the tower there. I am here to tell you why that firewood is there.
Earlier today while, walking amongst the trees, I was attacked.” Some of the
people in the crowd gasped. “My attacker was none other than Ulfang. He
attempted to assassinate me. If it were not for Andrei, he would have killed
me. However, he did manage to knock me unconscious. A while later Lord Max woke
me. During the time I was unconscious, Andrei and Ulfang were fighting. Ulfang
lays dead were Andrei’s sword pierced his heart. Andrei died soon after we
found him, from a mortal wound inflicted by Ulfang. We are building a funeral
pyre for Andrei atop the tower.” Hannah watched as the realization of what
happened was sinking in.
“With
Ulfang dead, Hannah is the ruler of the Lycanthrope tribe. Henceforth she is
under my protection; any attempt on her life will be dealt with severely. May
the spirits bless your reign.” Max said The Lycans in the crowd knelt down,
before her. Hannah looked out over the crowd, and her eyes shimmered.
“Good
luck, Hannah.” Celeste said as she and Max began to walk away.
“Shinrai,
Max, that’s what I’ll call it.” Max turned when Hannah spoke. He grinned and
called out.
“Tis a
good name, may it stay faithful to you.” Max turned and as the wind picked up it blew his
hair to the left. She suddenly had a vision of Max walking towards her, His
eyes a blaze with fury and sadness. Across his face from his right temple to
the bottom of his left jaw straight across his nose, was a wound that would scar
over. The very air around him seemed to
crackle and burn with power. The building he was leaving was burning as he
stood in it. He came up to her and said.” She is dead, Hannah. The last reason
for me to life is dead. They said that the twins might die, if they do find me,
you will know where to look. Otherwise, I want you and Josh to raise them as my
children, and to be rulers when the time comes. Safeguard the kingdom my
stewards, Josh and Hannah. I might not ever return. Do not mourn me if I do. I will
be with my beloved again, and we shall wait until the next time to try for our
quest.” Then it was gone. However the haunted look in Max’s eyes remained.
“Max.”
Hannah called out, but he was already gone. She looked up toward the skies and
saw that it was almost
“Alright,
now we wait until sundown. Take your leave, for the day.” Josh said to the
workers. After they had all left Josh
looked out into the horizon, thinking.
“I wonder
what happened to
“Josh,
what were you looking at?” asked Evangeline as she walked up to him.
“Nothing
my dear, just thinking about the past and what will come from it.” Josh said as
he draped his arm around her
“Josh, we
have something to tell you.” Rosalyn said as she slid into Josh’s other arm.
“Oh no,
don’t tell me you two are pregnant.” Josh said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Not yet
anyways.” Evangeline said as she play punched Josh.
“We have
learned, why we are so alike the two of us.” Rosalyn said as she grasped
Evangeline’s hand.
“I have
wondered about that, so tell me why it is you are so alike?’ Josh asked, his
eyes shining with curiosity.
“We are
really one person; our soul was split when we were called down to this world.”
Evangeline said with uncharacteristic seriousness. Josh stood with confusion in
his eyes. Then after a moment, he spoke.
“Then what
does that mean you are? What do we have to do to…fix this problem?” Josh asked
his voice showing the utter confusion he felt.
“We were
an angel, but when we first fell in love with you eons ago, we forsook our vows
and come to you.” Their eyes watered, and Josh wiped the tears from their eyes.
“We will
find a way to restore you to your true form, trust me.” Josh said softly. He
held them tightly to his side.
“Let me
search through Max’s library for something to help us with this problem.” Josh
said then he kissed them, and walked down the stairs. When he reached the door,
to Max’s library of magic tomes, he opened the door slowly and walked in. Josh had never entered this library before,
and gazed with wonder at the tomes, grimoires, and other magic items in the
room. He walked toward the first row of books, when something caught his eye. A
book was sitting open on a desk. Max’s rough handwriting was visible. Josh
started to read the page it was open too.
“….are
getting stronger. I see now, what will happen in the not too distant future. The
signs are already here. The wolf queen, has revealed itself to be Hannah, the
two faced one, has yet to be seen, the twice betrayed, I believe is
“Enjoying
yourself, Josh?” Max asked as he stepped out of the shadows.
“Max, I
didn’t see you there…” Josh said suddenly.
“It’s
quite all right, Josh, I left it sitting open, you did what most anyone would
do. So tell me what do you think of my visions?” Max asked as he sat down in
the chair by the hearth.
“I only
read that one page, but I think I know who the two faced one is.” Josh said his
voice reflecting a bit of sadness.
“So, my
stone warrior is showing his emotions now. This does not bode well. Well who is
the two faced one?” Max asked his face going serious.
“Evangeline
and Rosalyn… they were one person, but somehow they were split in two. They
were an angel, but they loved me.”
“And they
were cast out of the Heavens. Yes, it is always the same when an angel falls in
love. So I take it you were looking for
some way to put them back together.” Max said after a minute.
“Yes, I
didn’t think you would mind me being in your private library after you learned
why.” Josh said as he sank into the other chair by the hearth.
“Ha ha,
this library is private merely because no one else can do magic. Others have
magic, but cannot use it. I know of a way to fuse them, but it will take some
time to prepare for the spell.” Max reached up and pulled out the two feathers
around his neck.
“Max, are
those from Fira?”
“Yes, they
are. Here, take them and give one to Evangeline and one to Rosalyn. Then when
my tower is recovered from the pyre, we will fuse them. Now, I trust you will
tell them the good news soon, won’t you?” Max said as he moved to his desk and
began writing.
“Max, I
was thinking earlier, what did happen to
“Truth be
told, I don’t know what happened to him. But I have a feeling that he will come
back.” Max said as he looked up at Josh. Josh nodded and walked out the door.
Max wrote down what he just learned, and then headed for the top of the tower.
The sun was about to set. When Max got there, he moved to stand beside the
pyre. Not soon after, Celeste and Hannah appeared, followed by the rest of the
Lycans. Josh brought up the end of the crowd. As the sun began to set Max
picked up a torch and said.
“We stand
here today to see off our friend, Andrei. He was noble of heart, and of honorable
mind. He followed with Queen Hannah, before she had a claim to the throne. He
is a man after my own heart, and thus I will do my part to help him.” Max held
his torch over a brazier then pushed it into the pyre and stepped back. Hannah
picked up a torch and moved to the front of the pyre.
“Andrei
was the only friend I had for the longest time. He was a loyal person who would
defend those who could not defend themselves. His is a dying breed in this
world, as Lord Max stands evidence to. As your friend and as your queen, Andrei
of the
“Hannah, I
think it’s best that we leave now. There is no more that we can do, and you
need to rest so you can heal.”
“Go on,
Hannah, Josh is right.” Max said as he turned his head to look at her. The fire
glinted in his eyes and she saw the sparks of sadness within them.
“I guess
your right. That and the smoke is starting to get to me. Night everyone.”
Hannah said as she went down the steps. Max looked back into the fire and said.
“The rest
of you go on as well. I’ll stay here.” The command in Max’s voice was thick,
and as he said it, a breeze blew the smoke toward them.
“Alright,
we’ll go. Come on Celeste, he said for everyone to go. The smoke won’t bother
him.” Josh said as they went down the steps. Max gazed into the fire, and the
visions played out before him again.
“My tale
will end in victory and with happiness. I swear it.” Max said as he stared into
the fire. As he gazed at the fire, Max heard Andrei’s voice beside him.
“Keep her
safe for me, Max.” It said. Max turned and saw that Andrei’s spirit was standing
beside him.
“I will
give it my all. I would have liked to know you better than I did, but when you
consider how alike we are, we already knew each other. If she dies then we all
die, Andrei. Have you seen into the future now that you are a spirit?” Max
asked absentmindedly.
“I have
seen bits and pieces it was merely the ones that concerned Hannah. I saw you
coming up to her saying…”
“She’s
dead.” Max interrupted. “I too have seen that vision. That is what will happen
in a few years.”
“Who is
that dies?” Andrei asked. Max’s eyes watered and he said. “Lady Celeste, my
wife.”
“I’m
sorry.” Andrei said quickly.
“Don’t be
sorry for what hasn’t happened yet. You should go speak to Hannah.”
“I can not
contact her. I have tried all day.” Andrei said exasperatedly.
“Then maybe
it is best that you do not talk to her. Think of what she would feel if you
told her you loved her, when you are already dead.” Max said.
“You are
right, I hadn’t thought about that. Is their anyway, I can help Hannah?” Andrei
asked softly.
“Yes, there
is a way. Show her, her future: The happy parts, the parts of joy, the parts
that pertain to my children. Show her the love her people have for her.” Max
said as he gazed into Andrei’s ethereal eyes.
“I will do
that tonight.” Andrei said quietly.
“Then go
quickly the moon, rises to zenith.” Max said as he turned to gaze off toward
the horizon. In the distance, he could hear drums, and the unmistakable clash
of steel on steel. A small skirmish was
occurring nearby. Max waited until the drums stopped, before he left the top of
his tower. He went down the caverns below his castle and began to search. As he
reached the center of the volcano, he looked down into the lava, and called
forth his fiery seraph wings. As they winked into existence, Max threw off his
weapons, his cape, and his shirt. Max walked out onto the lava, and waded waist
deep into it.
“I am he
whose blood burns with fire and darkness; I invoke the rights off blood, which
was established long ago.” Max called out.
“Prove to
us that your blood truly burns.” Came a female voice from beneath the surface
of the lava. Max extended his left hand and with one quick stroke cut open the
palm with a claw. The blood dripped out and where it landed, it burned with a
flame colored black and red.
“Is this
proof enough?” Max said as he trust his hand into the lava, and let the blood
flow. The entire surface of the lake of
lave began to burn with the black and red flame. Max floated up out of the
lava, his hand still dripping blood.
“Enough!
You have proven yourself. We are yours to command once more.” The voice called
out once more. As a distinctively human head rose out of the lava, Max smirked
as he saw the creatures rise from the lava.
“My
kingdom needs the help of your race. Your people have been trapped in the molten
depths too long. Accept me, as your lord, and you shall have revenge and a land
to call your own. Defy me and only the molten core of this planet will be your
home, if any of you survive my purge. Join
me or die.” Max said his arrogance burning, like the fury in his eyes, and the
motivation in his words.
“I am the
Lady Zareen; we have waited long for the day when we could have our revenge. We
yield to you.” The first on who had surfaced said. Max gazed at her face. Her
skin has a reddish tint to it, her eyes were solid red ovals, her hair black
with a red shine to it, her ears were pointed like those of an elf. Max let his
eyes fall to see the rest of her. She was a serpent from the waist down, and an
elf from their up. Her lower body had scales that were colored dark red. Her
hair fell down around her chest.
“You
surprise me, Lord of Fire and Darkness, have you never seen a female before.”
She said her voice strangely changed. Max cocked his head back in scoff.
“I have
seen females before, but never one quite like you. It would be bad for you too
continue calling me Lord of Fire and Darkness. Address me as Lord Max.”
“As you
say.” The Lady Zareen said. Across her back was slung a bow made of a wood like
material. The string on it was made out of crystal fibers, and had heads made
from bones of some sort. Max sank back down into the lava, and waded back to
the edge followed by Lady Zareen and two others. Max strapped his weapons back
on, and pulled his shirt on, fastening his cape on afterwards. Max held out the
hand he cut and a ball of flame appeared in it. The fire healed the cut on his
hand, and provided enough light to see by.
“Follow me;
the paths have changed over the centuries.” Max led them out of the caverns and
emerged in the predawn light. The castle was stirring and many would be in the
throne room soon. He lead Lady Zareen to the throne room, and sent them in to a
side room, were when announced they would come out into the throne room. The
room they were placed in had only the one door, and was used as a secondary
guardroom if the need arose.
Max took
his place on the throne, and placed his crown upon his head. Soon afterwards,
Celeste and Josh arrived. Then everyone else came in. Hannah took a seat, on a
lower step of the dais, as Josh took the one on the other side of her, leaving
a walkway between them that lead to Max’s throne. When enough people had
entered Max stood up.
“My
people, we are undermanned and for the most part inexperienced. Now I have
found a way to bolster our ranks.” After Max said that, Lady Zareen and her two
guards emerged from the side room to the shock of the entire court.
“Lord Max,
my people yield to your rule. We will serve you.” Max stood up, his crown
glittered darkly as he said.
“You shall
no longer dwell underground; henceforth you shall live here for as long as my
power rules!” Max motioned Lady Zareen forward and she moved to stand to the side
of Max’s throne.
“Do you;
realize that you just broke the Sacred Laws?” A voice called out.
“Who is
that speaks? Step forward or I will send Regent Marshall Garner forward.” Max
yelled out as he focused his energy. Josh nodded to Max, and then he stood up.
Josh unsheathed his sword and took a step forward.
“I said
it.” A short man in priestly robes stepped up to the dais.
“Who are
you? Tell me everything you know about the Sacred Laws!” Max said his voice
fiery.
“I am a
missionary sent by the church of the Dragon God, to bring god to you godless
savages.” He said with dignity.
“Godless
savages, you call us! Take a good look at your Dragon God, on the side of his
body are several scars. Max and I created those scars.” Josh yelled out his
voice thunderous. Outside thunder crashed loudly, right above.
“Ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, Josh has regained his abilities as the Lord Of Lightning. Now tell
me of the Sacred Laws!” Max yelled out his patience wearing thin. Between Max
and Josh, the very air around them was crackling with power.
“I would
rather die than tell you of the Sacred Laws.” He said indignantly.
“Is that
so?” Josh asked his voice full of anger. As Josh began to walk down the dais toward
the missionary, he tightened his grip on his sword. As he did, lightning
crackled into existence around his blade. The missionary stood his ground
defiantly.
“The
Dragon God will protect me, I don’t fear you.”
“That is
where you are wrong. Kill him, Josh.” Max said his voice full of anger. “But
don’t disfigure the body too much.” Josh nodded and drove his sword upward
through the missionary’s stomach, with the blade ripping free between his
shoulder blades. The missionary’s eyes shone bright with pain, and he gave a
death cry. Josh twisted the blade suddenly and sharply. The light left the missionary’s
eyes, as lightning crashed outside.
“Impale
the body outside the walls.” Max said as he gazed at the court. Hannah gasped
as he said it.
“He is
already dead, why do this?” She asked shocked.
“Let it
serve as a warning to all who oppose me. Let them see that not even religious immunity
will save them from my wrath. Let those
who follow the Dragon God quake in fear at the sight of my Arms!” Max said as he
stood up his voice a crescendo.
“A move
like this will surely draw attention, Lord Max.” Lady Zareen said.
“We must
make our move soon. Lady Zareen, bring your people from the depths. We may have
need of their expertise.”
“I will
bring them.”
“Does
anyone have anything to bring forward?” Max asked.
“Lord Max,
we have heard rumors that Queen Hannah’s father may still live.” Max sucked his
breath in, as he heard it.
“Can it be
true?’ Hannah asked quietly. The Lycan stepped forward. He wore faded brown and
green traveling clothes. He had short brown hair, and brown eyes like that of a
bird of prey.
“What is
your name?” Max asked.
“My name
is, Tamaska.” He said as he bowed before Queen Hannah, and then before Lord
Max.
“How did
you come across this information, Tamaska?” Lord Max asked.
“I met him
in the forests down by the river’s source.” He said calmly. Hannah turned to
look at Max.
“Can I go
search for him?” She asked Max with a look that said, “Will you come with me?”
“Josh, I
charge you with the task of watching over my lands, during any of my absences,
unless the Lady Celeste or my heir is present.” Max said as he leaned back in
his throne.
“I, Josh
Lord of Lightning, accept the task placed before me.” Josh said as he sheathed
his sword and bowed.
“Lady
Zareen, I hereby charge you with the task of defending my kingdom during my
absence. You are to fight only in self-defense unless I order otherwise. Lord
Josh, Lady Zareen, you are to defer to one another before any actions are
taken. Unless in the case of an emergency then do anything within your power.
As such, I hereby reinstate the code of honor. If found guilty, the punishment
will befit the crime, however no punishment is to be given until the guilt is
proven. In the case of murder, if at least three people witnessed the crime
then they will die, by a means befitting the crime or the presiding authority’s
discretion. In the case of rape, if proven guilty the perpetrator will be
killed by castration and his body impaled outside the walls. Any acts of
betrayal are to be met with non-lethal force. If guilty, they are to be
beheaded by Lord Josh or Lady Zareen, or in the case of lost honor, the victim
can perform the beheading. The head is to be impaled outside the walls or on
the walls. With that said are there any more matters for me to attend to?” Max
said his voice full of power. When no one said anything, Max stood up.
“Then, I
hereby declare this court session adjourned.” Max said. He moved to stand beside
Josh and said.
“Your
Terrabird is hibernating in the caverns, waiting for you to come to it. We will
use Dagda and Fira to communicate. I trust in you, do what you think to be
best.” Max said as he clapped Josh on the shoulder. Josh nodded and walked out
of the room. Hannah walked up to me.
“Before
you ask, we will leave at sunset. Meet me by the gates with only what you
need.” Max said as she started to speak.
“Celeste
isn’t coming with us?” Hannah asked. Max’s eyes temporarily showed pain, and
then burned with the false anger he used to hide his thoughts.
“No, she won’t
be coming with us this time.” Max said quickly before he turned and walked out
the doors. Celeste walked over to Hannah.
“He has
been acting strange when something is said about me leaving the castle.” She
said to Hannah.
“Do you
want me to try and find out why?” Hannah asked concerned for her friend.
“Yes, see
if you can get him to say anything. Meanwhile you had best go get ready.
Courtly dresses aren’t the best for traveling.” She said. They both laughed and
Hannah took her leave to gather up supplies. Celeste started to leave when she
was stopped by Lady Zareen.
“Lady
Celeste, may I ask you something?” Lady Zareen said with her strange serpent
like voice.
“Yes, Lady
Zareen, but please just call me Celeste out of court.” Celeste said as she
turned.
“Then call
me, Zareen. Has Lord Max always that apprehensive at court?” she asked.
“Only here
lately, Zareen. He has something big on his mind.”
“I see.
Well, according to our legends he is the drom’khal, the fire of darkness, the
one who leads our people out of the depths. We always thought he would be one
of our own.” Zareen said thoughtfully.
“Does Max
know of this legend?” Celeste asked.
“I don’t
know.”
“Hmmm,
well I guess we will learn eventually.” Celeste said her curiosity sparked.
“Celeste,
does Max know of the life you carry inside you?” Zareen asked quietly.
“No, I wasn’t
sure myself to tell the truth. How can you tell?” Celeste asked.
“We are
creatures of fire, my lady. We can sense these things, that and woman’s intuition.”
She said with a smile. “These two behind me are my sons. I can see the signs in
another. I need to return to my people to tell them the news; do I leave to go
my lady?”
Lady Zareen
asked going courtly once more.
“Yes, you
have your leave, Lady Zareen.” Celeste said. Lady Zareen bowed then left. After
she was gone, Celeste walked back to hers and Max’s tower, mainly to the
bedroom. The guard at the tower base, and only entrance, said that Max had
already gone up to their rooms. Celeste nodded to him and went to their
bedroom. She opened the bedroom door, to find Max asleep. He was still dressed
in the clothes he had on, and his weapons were still fastened on. She had
forgotten that he had been up all night. Celeste walked over to him and
carefully unfastened his weapons. She laid them on his desk. She changed out of
her court dress into a more comfortable silk one. Then she lay down beside Max
and rested her head on his shoulder. Her movements caused Max to stir in his
sleep, but he wrapped his arm around her and fell back into deep sleep. Celeste
looked at his face for a moment. He was beginning to grow a beard, and he
looked as young as he should with his eyes closed. As she drifted to sleep, she
heard Max mutter. She listened to what he was saying. It sounded like no don’t
die Celeste. Then Max rolled over, and his breathing slowed back down. He was
having a nightmare that was all. Celeste curled up beside him and fell back
asleep her mind going to the life she carried within her.
When the
sun went down, Max opened his eyes to find that Celeste had curled up in his
arms and went to sleep. Max carefully got up and changed into his armor. Over
it he threw a black traveling outfit on.
Max fastened his weapons back on.
He grabbed a pack and a black cloak. Max kissed Celeste on the forehead and headed
out the door. On the way down, Max stopped in his library and retrieved his
journal. Max walked to the farthest wall and pressed his hands to it. He sent a
pulse of energy into it and a doorway appeared. Max stepped though it and into
his collection room. In this room, he stored all of his treasures. On a
pedestal sat the dark grimoire of summoning, the Demonican. A mad human that
served the demons wrote it. Eventually, it was translated into the human
tongue. During a small uprising, it was found and destroyed. However only the
human copy was destroyed, the Demon’s copy now belonged to Max. Hanging on the
wall was a pair of crossed swords. The swords had belonged to many people over
the eons, and had caused chaos everywhere they arose. The swords fed on the
wielders anger, and their mind. Few have been able to control the swords. When
Max neared them, a voice called out inside his head.
“I thought
you were dead.” Max shook his head, and
took the swords down from their place on the wall.
“That is
not dead, which can eternally lie and stranger eons even death may die.” Max said
as he attached them around his waist.
“Daikonran
is here to serve he who has the power.” The sword said within Max’s head. Max
sealed the door behind him and activating his cloak’s ability to hide in the
shadows. Max teleported by the gate, and was waiting there when Hannah walked
up to the gate. Max walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder and
his other hand over her mouth. She jumped and then bit into Max’s hand. Max
suppressed a curse and teleported them out into the forest.
“Did you
have to transform your teeth, to bite me?” Max asked as he let go and held up
his hand. His hand bled from several spots where Hannah had bit him.
“It was
stupid to grab me like that anyways. Besides after scaring me like that you deserved
it.” Hannah said as she stuck her tongue out at Max. Max shook his head, and
rested his hands on the pommels of Daikonran. Blood gushed out of Max’s hand
and was absorbed by Daikonran. Then as
quickly as it began, it stopped and Daikonran pulsated with an evil aura for a
moment then it disappeared.
“Have you
had your fill of my power, Daikonran?” Hannah looked at Max for a moment then
said.
“Every
time I think I may have you figured out, you run out do something
unexpected. Who is Daikonran?” Max
looked at her for a moment.
“Expect
the unexpected. Yeah it is a cliché line, but it happens to work. Daikonran is
the swords I am wearing.” Max said as he
pulled his cloak back to reveal the swords.
“She too
has the ability to wield me, Max.” Daikonran said in Max’s head.
“You are
bound to me, Daikonran. Don’t ever forget that or I swear I will throw you into
a vat of boiling holy water. Then I will melt you down and turn you into a basin
for holy water. Imagine it, an eternity of torment soaking in holy water.” Max
said. Hannah looked at him once more.
“Okay,
this is going to take some getting used it.” She said a little annoyed.
“Try
having it constantly talking in your head. The voice changes depending on the
person, but it is always evil sounding. Daikonran says you have the ability to
wield it. Daikonran you can speak to Hannah just remember who you are bound
to.” Max said beginning to get annoyed as well.
“Greetings,
Hannah, I am Daikonran. I am the Sword of Chaos; I am the one who nearly caused
the destruction of the world eons ago.” Hannah gasped, and Max laughed.
“I take it
he told you the whole nearly destroyed the world thing. Yes, he almost destroyed
the world, but merely because of the battle between the Sword of Chaos and the
Axe of Law.” Max said his face normal.
“I don’t
understand, I thought swords represented law.” Hannah said confused.
“Most
people think that, but when people are executed it is with an axe or axe blade
weapon. Thus, the axe became the weapon of law. In the past, there was an order
of knights who were called the Justiculars. They wielded axes and used them extremely
well. Enough of the past, let’s get moving before we lose too much time.” Max
said as he began to walk. Hannah nodded still speechless from what Max had
said.
“Don’t
think too much on what Max said, Hannah. He is preoccupied with the future. I
see so you have seen that much of is visions.” Daikonran said to Hannah. Hannah thanked Daikonran in her mind, ran up
beside Max and fell into stride with him.
“Max, can
I ask you something?” Hannah said thoughtfully.
“Fire
away.” Max replied somewhat carelessly.
“Why is it
that you don’t seem to be paying attention to anything? You always seem to be
off in your mind thinking. What is it that is bothering you?” Hannah said
exasperated. Max stopped walking and looked up at the stars.
“I guess I
can’t keep it hidden too much longer.” Max sighed.
“I saw you
in a vision, after I addressed my people for the first time. You said something
about your last reason for living was dead. That and you said something about
raising twins.” Hannah said quietly. Max looked down to the ground and then
turned to face Hannah. When he did, she saw his eyes for the first time. They
were a blue of sadness and pain.
“My eyes
change color depending on my mood. Though it only happens when it is a powerful
emotion.” Max said as he gazed into Hannah’s eyes.
“Don’t
change the subject; tell me what is going on!” Hannah pleaded. Max nodded.
“Although,
you won’t enjoy the tale I will tell it to you.” Max said as he moved to sit
down in front of the river. Hannah sat down beside him, and waited.
“The
visions started after a destroyed one of the Old Ones. The Demonican revealed
to me what I needed, but at a price. Eventually the world would die before me.
Hat was what the book told me. It is alive in its own way, that book is. I
thought it meant that I would destroy the world or the world would be destroyed
while I watched, after reaching godhood. I agreed to it, but only here recently
have I realized what the book meant. Celeste will die. That is what the book
meant. She will die, and not only will I be unable to save her. I am the one
who kills her.” Max said his voice going out across the water.
“Why? Why
would you kill her?” Hannah gasped.
“I don’t
know the visions never show that part. They only show her dieing in my arms.
There isn’t anything that can be done about. What is done by blood is by blood
undone, the book told me. Daikonran confirmed that there is no way, for me to
save her. Why else would I openly wield the swords that drive lesser men
insane, and has caused the deaths of millions? I carry it because I cannot die.
I have lost the ability to do so. Why else would I let the cursed sword of
Chaos drink of my blood, because there isn’t any way it can take my soul?” Max
said.
“Max, then
who is really the cursed one here?’ Daikonran said to both of them.
“He has a
point, Max. You look to be the one who is cursed.” Hannah said.
“I am cursed? This is what I have always
quested for; Power is what drove me to seek the Demonican in the first place.”
Max said. Hannah looked over at him. The air around Max seemed to darken, and
then it flashed. She saw Max sitting beside a river in another land. His face
bore the weird scar, and Daikonran lay unsheathed on his lap. Then the vision
faded.
“Don’t
refer to Daikonran as a him. When I hear it speaking to me it is a woman’s
voice. It reminds me of Celeste’s. We need to move on. Daikonran, can you sense
if we are near Hannah’s father?” Max said as he stood up and unsheathed the
swords.
“I need
someway to track him something of his.” Daikonran said to them.
“We don’t
have anything that belongs to him.” Hannah said.
“NO!” Max
said to the swords. “I won’t let you taste her blood.”
“Max, it
is the only way.” Hannah said. She reached toward the blades, but was hit in
the side of the head with something. A rock floated to the side of her head.
“Hannah, I
didn’t want to do that, but you left me no choice.” Max said it as he crossed
Daikonran and cut his arms. The blood gushed forth and was sucked into
Daikonran. Max began to weaken quickly, until the blood stopped flowing moments
later.
“Why did
you do that to yourself Max?” Hannah asked stunned.
“Better to
use my blood than the blood of an innocent.” Max said as he sheathed the
blades. The pommels changed shape to have an eye on them. The eye was orange
and evil in general.
“Besides,
Max’s blood holds more power in it.” Daikonran said. “A few miles south of here
is a cabin with someone having a power signature like Hannah’s.”
“Then I
guess we head south, until we find a cabin.” Max said as they began to walk
“Father, I
am coming for you.” Hannah said quietly. After a while, Hannah dropped to her
knees, in the shade of a large tree.
“What’s
wrong, Hannah?” Max asked.
“I’m
tired. I haven’t done this kind of long distance walking before.” She said in a
tired manner.
“Then we
will rest here until later. Daikonran, don’t try anything while she sleeps.”
Max said. Max unsheathed Daikonran and chose a small tree. Max swiftly cut in
down in a few short swings. The wood dried almost instantly from the power in
Daikonran. Max built a fire and roasted some meat over it. He handed some to
Hannah, along with a water skin.
“Here eat
this it will help you recover your energy.” Hannah was too tired to complain
much so she ate it.
“I’ll take
first watch, Hannah.” Max said as he ate.
“Only if
you wake me up when you get tired.” Hannah said. Max nodded and propped up
against a tree. As the night went on Max blacked out and saw the visions once
more. When he woke up, the sun was overhead. Hannah stirred and woke up as
well, when Max stood up and stepped on the remains of the fire.
“What
happened here, Max?” Hannah asked as she looked around. They were in the middle
of a black circle on the ground.
“Max
unconsciously made that symbol and caused you two to sleep for two days.” Daikonran
said.
“Then we
need to get moving to make up for lost time.” Max said. As they headed deeper into the forest, they
saw smoke rising in the sky.
“Max, you
didn’t need to protect from Daikonran. I am not as innocent as you think. I
have killed humans before.” Hannah said as they were walking toward the smoke.
“You
killed in self-defense didn’t you?” Max said as he looked over at Hannah.
“Yes, they
were trying to kill us.” Hannah said defiantly.
“Then in
my eyes, you are still innocent. I have killed in cold blood, because it suited
me. I have sent thousands off to their doom, for nothing but power. I was
innocent once, but that was a long time ago.” Max said as he looked forward
again.
“Hmm, I
wonder what my father will be like.” Hannah said absentmindedly.
“Innocence
should be protected and kept for as long as you can. When you lose innocence,
your view of the world will change. There it is your father’s home.” Max said
as they entered into a clearing. Hannah took off running toward the door. She
knocked on it then opened it.
“Father.”
Hannah said quietly.
“Max, look
out!” Daikonran yelled. Max drew Daikonran and ran toward Hannah. As he was running Max saw a dark shape
slipping through the trees toward them. As Max slid behind Hannah and raised
Daikonran, the figure lunged at them. Max caught its blade, with one of
Daikonran’s blades. Max slashed with the other one, but he missed. The figure
leapt back and held its sword in a fighting stance. It had lost the element of
surprise. Max looked at the figure and saw that it was a man with brown hair
and green eyes. He had a lithe build and a calm face. Hannah turned and looked
at him with surprise on her face.
“You
demon, release the girl and prepare to die.” The man said.
“I am may
be part demon, but I am bound to protect this woman.” Max said as he moved into
an attack stance.
“I am
looking for my father, can you help us?” Hannah asked,
“Who are
you?” the man asked.
“I am
Hannah of the Rushing
“You are
of the
“You knew
them didn’t you? You are the one that was married to the king’s sister.”
“Yes, I am
that person.” The man said sadly.
“Then I
feel the need to ask. Why did you abandon your daughter?” Max asked harshly.
“My wife
and daughter are dead. How can I abandon them?” the man said rudely.
“Your
daughter didn’t die. She stands in front of you. Are you so blind you can’t see
the resemblance?” Max said.
“It can’t
be…. Why would you attack me if I am your daughter?” Hannah asked.
“I didn’t
know.” The man said.
“Max, he
is a demon. I can sense the power in him. I can sense it in Hannah as well.
This is the first time though.” Daikonran said inside Max’s head.
“Reveal
yourself. If you are who you claim to be then the pieces will fall into place.
If not, well, lets just say you won’t see another sunrise.” Max said.
“So you
can tell can you? Very well, I will show you myself.” The man said. He sheathed
his sword and his body changed. It changed to look like a demon, although the
color was dark green and his hair was black.
“So you
are the son of the forest demon lord. Hannah Daikonran sensed he was a demon.
She also sensed that you half demon blood in you.” Max said.
“My
daughter…..I am sorry for abandoning you.” The man said.
“Hannah, he
speaks the truth.” Max said as he sheathed Daikonran.
“Then what
happened to Mom?” Hannah asked.
“She was
killed by your grandfather. He hated me for marrying her. He said it dishonored
him. So he killed her and, he thought, you as well, but I know different now.” The man said.
“What is
your name?” Max asked.
“My name
is Xanael.” He said.
“So you
are the demon who hunts other demons.” Max said as he looked at Xanael. Across
his back was a bow strung with the hair of an angel, and arrows fletched with angel
feathers. The arrowheads had been forged
with holy water, as had his sword. On the blade were inscribed angelic runes.
Yet on the handle was a demonic signature.” Xaneal changed back to human. When
he did, he and Hannah embraced each other.
“I’ll leave
you two alone to catch up on things. Hannah, come to talk to me when you are
done.” Max said as his fire god wings appeared. Max jumped up and into the
treetops. When he reached the top of the tallest trees, he sat down. Max looked
out into the distance. Far in the distance, he could see the mountain that was
his home.
“My
daughter, I am sorry for not looking harder.” Xanael said.
“You did
the best you could, Dad.” Hannah said softly.
“Here,
come with me. I have something to give to you.” Xanael said. Max moved into a
different tree, and turned to watch. His arms crossed each going to Daikonran.
When Xanael opened the door to his cabin Max saw
“Here,
this was your mother’s ring. She would have wanted you to have it” Hannah
opened the box and sitting amidst the red satin lining was the ring. It was a
large ring made of the finest silver, shaped like the head and mane of a
beautiful wolf, howling into the wind. It was perfect down to the tiniest
detail.
“It’s
beautiful.” Hannah exclaimed. Max stepped through the door.
“Xanael,
where did you find that man?” Max asked rather rudely.
“I found
him floating on a stray timber in the river. Why?” Xanael replied.
“This man
needs to come back to the Castle Draconian with me.” Max said as he approached
“Castle
Draconian you mean that evil citadel built on the volcano. The one that is just
a few leagues north of here.” Xanael asked confused.
“Yes, that
is my castle. I mean ahh to hell with it. I am Lord Max Fanning, ruler of
castle Draconian and Lord of Fire, Dragons….” Max said.
“You, you
are the one who rules that bastion of fire and darkness.”
“Yes, I
am. Your daughter, here is Queen of the
“Come back
with us. I want you to be my advisor.” Hannah said. Xanael nodded.
“I have
been alone for to long. Its past time, I went back to civilization.”
“You can
stop using your human form, anytime you want while in the castle. I walk around
in my own, when I want.” Max changed to his demon from and then to his dragon
form and then back to human.
“Yeah,
stay in your original form, Dad.” Hannah said.
“Only
around the few that can be trusted.” Xanael said.
“Then
let’s leave.” Max said.
“Won’t we
need supplies?” Xanael asked.
“No.” Max
said as he knelt beside
“Ah, tis
good to be home, again. Guards, come here.” Max said. One of the guards from
outside walked in and saluted Max. Max returned the salute and ordered
“So this
is what the inside of Castle Draconian looks like.” Xanael said as he looked at
the black granite floor, the black onyx decorations, and the gemstone mosaic of
a dragon on the walls.
“It is
beautiful in its special dark way.” Hannah said.
“Now that
it is that it is. If you will excuse me, there are certain matters, I need to
attend to.” Max said as the doors swung open loudly. “That would be my cue.”
Max turned and Josh was storming into the room. Outside, the sky had darkened
and threatened the land.
“Max, you
said you would help them! You said it before you went off on some nonsense
adventure. First, the two of you disappear with out a trace, completely
throwing off the people I sent to follow you. Second, you spend almost a week
in a small woodland area. Third, you bring
“Listen,
in case you forgot, I told you it would take a few days to do the ritual. That
is because the ritual was lost to the outside four millennia ago. Besides that,
have you seen
“So what
they say about you is true.” Xanael said. Max turned to look at him and the
fiery aura around him began to dissipate. Josh turned and left, the lightning
around him fading away.
“What do
they say about me, and who is they?” Max asked.
“They said
that you made a deal with something worse than the demons of hell. They would
be the followers of the dragon god, the paladins, and most of the good aligned
beings. You rank above the Demon Lords, in danger and power.” Xanael said as he
looked into Max’s eyes.
“Is what
you just said true, Max?” Hannah asked him.
“What?”
Max relied confused.
“The part
about your souls and the part about being gods.” Hannah said confused.
“We didn’t
realize that our souls, would be taken until we struck the deal. We were given
one last day with our souls. So with no better alternative, I split our souls.
It was not against the rules we laid down in the agreement. So we remained some
of our humanity. Because, part of our souls is still held by that primal power,
they cannot be taken from us. In return, anytime we die we will be reborn at
the time suitable for conquest. We are not monsters; I have always been a loner
at heart except when Celeste is with me. Thus, I split my soul twice.”
“You
actually attempted the process of splitting your soul.” Xanael said
horrorstruck.
“Why not,
if it backfired we wouldn’t have died.” Max said calmly.
“What did
you have to do to split your soul?” Hannah asked, curiously.
“Hannah,
don’t ask him that. It varies from person to person.” Xanael said.
“It
doesn’t matter; let her know is she wants. It is always an evil task. I…killed.”
“Max,
there are lesser acts of evil that would have worked.” Xanael said.
“Yes,
Xanael, there were, but I went with the one that was a definite evil. I razed
an entire village. They committed no crimes or anything. I slew them, for
power. That village was the first sacrifice I gave on my path.” Max said
seemingly without regret.
“Don’t you
regret doing it?” Hannah asked.
“I did in
the beginning, but now I don’t. It was war. A war between the world and me.
“Max,
where did you place the third part of your soul?” Xanael asked. Max held out
his hand and the Dragon blazed into existence before him.
“This is
where the third and final part of my soul is. I placed it inside my sword.” Max
said as the Dragon disappeared again.
“You mean,
you gave me your soul to protect myself with.” Hannah said stunned.
“Why not,
if the sword were to break the fragment would just come back to me.” Max said.
Xanael suddenly turned.
“What’s
wrong?” Hannah asked as Xanael looked toward my tower.
“I sense
great evil in that tower.” He said quietly. Max nodded.
“Okay, the
two of you come with me.” Max said as he headed toward his library.
“We are
getting closer to it.” Xanael said as he clasped the hilt of his sword. Max led
them to his library and opened the door to it.
“There is
nothing here, but books.” Hannah said. Max smirked. He opened the secret room.
“This is
the evil you sense.” Max said as he gestured toward the Demonican.
“I didn’t
think it existed. No wonder they fear you more than the demon lords.” Xanael
said.
“Don’t
mess with. Okay, we have matters of court to discuss. Come let’s be on our
way.” Max said as he took them out of the room, sealed it and began to walk.
End of
Part 3…
Part 4:
Wherefore are you wandering?
Chapter 1:
A Gift from Heaven or from Hell?
7 years
later….
“drom’khal,
we have news from the front.” A serpentine voice called out. Max straitened up,
and turned around.
“Tell me,
how goes the war?” Max said. The voice belonged to a male of Lady Zareen’s
race. They called themselves the lava lamia, Max thought again. A lot had
changed in seven years. Max stood taller and his hair was longer now. He still
wore Daikonran around his waist, but often times he used the Dragon instead. Max
had grown a beard, but he kept it cut short.
“Lord Josh
has succeeded in breaking their defenses. We now hold the lands of Baron Taratheil.”
“Good,
send word to Josh. Tell him to strengthen the defenses. If the coalition of
theirs acts, we will destroy the head of it. We must not lose the foothold we
have obtained. You have your orders.”
“Yes,
drom’khal.” He said as he slithered away. Max turned to look back at the table
in front of him. On it was a map, and scattered over the map were metal dragons.
Max picked one of them up and placed it on top of a castle on the map.
“Our main
force led by Lord Josh, has taken the seat of power from Baron Taratheil.”
Around the table stood Lady Zareen, Queen Hannah, Xanael, Lady Celeste, and
several knights.
“So what
is our next move, Max?” Hannah asked
looking up from the table to look him in the eyes. She gazed into them
remembering the day so many years ago when they learned about Xanael. Back
then, his eyes were soft all the time. Now they were hard, and their gaze was
sharp as knives. His face was angry most
of the time, but it was just to keep things on the inside. Seven years ago, he
would not have been able to do that. That was before,
“Now we
wait. We will build up our strength and once more hurl it at our enemies. We
will wait for them to make the next move.”
Max said as he turned and looked into Celeste’s eyes.
“Then this
means that we are finished until we hear from the field again.” Xanael asked.
“Yeah, we
are finished here.” Max said as he turned and with his cape swirling behind
him, he walked out of the room. Hannah came up beside him and fell into stride
with him.
“You
cannot protect them from the world, Max.” Hannah said.
“What are
you talking about?” Max asked as glanced sideways at her.
“Cinaed
and Nina, you can’t keep them from the world.”
“Who said,
I was keeping them from the world. In case you forgot, we are at war. They are
my heirs. If they are taken, we may lose.” Max said his hands going to
Daikonran.
“They have
the Old Ones protecting them, and the lava lamia protecting them as well. One
bound by blood the other bound by zeal. They worship you and your family. The
entire race would charge the kidnappers, in masse fueled by rage. The Old one’s
would descend upon them and rend the flesh from their bones. The have no chance
of taking them.” Hannah said.
“I am not
protecting them from the world, but the world from them. You don’t know what it
is like to have power you cannot control. To have that power constantly trying
to come to surface is almost unbearable. That was how I became a berserker.
When I came to this world, after spending my
life on a different dimension, all that power came rushing back it overwhelmed
me and when I got angry, it unleashed itself. The time when that happened is
just a black spot of nothing.” Max said.
“He was
trying to save the person who was impersonating me. She killed Max, in a
sense.” Celeste said as she caught up to them.
“I forced
myself to become stronger for her sake. It killed me. I took a wound in a
sparing session. It killed me, but I made a deal with the god of death. He
restored me to life, in return for another soul.” Max said distantly.
“Who did
you kill?” Hannah asked.
“I never
knew her true name; I suppose she was just Daughter of Shadows. It doesn’t
matter that god of death was destroyed, by my hand.” Max said in a tone that
implied that he was finished. Max went to his children.
“Quiet,
milord, your children sleep.” A voice from beside the door said.
“I know
this, Ayame.” Max said as he quietly walked to where his children slept. With
her, small mouth, large eyes, and oval face, Nina resembled Max slightly.
Cinaed had the large build, the hair, and the nose, like Max. Nina had
Celeste’s lithe build, high cheekbones, and her slender neck. Cinaed had
Celeste’s long fingers, oval eyes, and her sharp nose. Nina’s hair was long and
straight, like Celeste’s, but it was naturally black with purple streaks going
horizontally in it. Cinaed had long curly hair like Max, but his was naturally
black with purple undertones. Max looked at them, seeing the innocence of youth
in them. He stroked their hair back out of their eyes, and turned to go.
“Daddy?”
Nina said. Max turned around and saw Nina sit up in her bed. Her eyes, held the
same fire that Max’s did. Although hers was a bluish purple, but sometimes
there was red in them, that was Max’s trait. Max walked over to her.
“Yes,
Nina?” He said as she held out her arms, wanting to be hugged. Max hugged her
and as he did, she said.
“Your hair
itches, Daddy.” Max scratched his beard.
“Does it?”
Max asked her.
“Yeah, it
does. I don’t like it.” Nina said, her voice carrying the same stubbornness
that Max’s own voice had sometimes.
“Well,
we’ll see what your brother thinks, before I get rid of it.” Max said. Nina
looked down and said.
“Okay,
Daddy.” At that time, Cinaed sat up.
“Daddy!”
He said as Max hugged him.
“Your hair
itches, Daddy.” Cinaed said. Behind them Hannah and Celeste laughed.
“I guess,
neither of them likes your beard, Max.” Hannah said as she laughed.
“Mommy!”
Cinaed and Nina yelled when Celeste came in. She hugged them, and then hugged
Max.
“Well, do
you like my beard?” Max asked his voice carrying tones of humor and sarcasm.
Celeste rubbed his hand across it.
“It makes
you look dashing, Max.” Celeste said jokingly. Celeste kissed Max.
“Ewww.”
Cinaed and Nina said in unison. Hannah started to laugh again, and Max couldn’t
help but laugh with them. Cinaed and Nina
got out off bed and ran up to Max.
“Carry us,
Daddy. You said we could ride the horses, today.”
“You can’t
ride horses, wearing your bedclothes. Speaking of, Ayame do you have the new clothes
that were sent up here?”
“Yes,
milord, they are right here.” Ayame came from the Lycans, she was somewhat
short, but was very agile.
“Your,
lordship, shall I prepare the young majesties’ horses?” Conri asked from where
he stood guard over the twins.
“No, I
will see to that. Make sure Cinaed dresses correctly. Between the three of you
surely you can dress two six-year olds.” Max said jokingly. Conri was also one
of the Lycans. He was a head taller than Max, and a little wider. He wore a
large metal staff on his back.
“Hannah,
come with me and help get the horses.” Max said as he patted Cinaed and Nina on
the heads, and walked out.
“Okay,
just one question though. Aren’t horses a little big for them, to be riding?”
Hannah asked. Max looked at her.
“They will
be fine. It’s not as if they are going to get warhorses or anything. Trust me,
as much power as those kids have, the horse will be the scared ones.” Max said.
“Why, do
you insist they have all this power?” Hannah asked.
“I take
it, you have never seen Celeste transform. We share some of our forms. Her main
form is of a demon. My main form is of a dragon. We gave each other blood, so
we gained the other’s abilities to a degree. I have a demon form, but it is not
as powerful as Celeste’s, and vice versa. They will have both of our abilities,
and more. They will have access to the powers of the Fire god, the dragon, and
the hellhound from me, and from Celeste, they will have the powers of the
Goddess of Darkness, the demon, and the shadow hound.” Max said with a hint of
pride in his voice.
“Do they
have any control over these powers?” Hannah asked.
“Most of
the time, but not in cases of high emotion. Of course Cinaed will have more control
then Nina. Nina takes after me too much to have a lot of control. Celeste has
more control over her powers than any of us. That’s why you almost never see
her in demon form. She knows how to use the power without using the form.
Cinaed will be like that.” Max said. Hannah glanced sideways at him.
“So, when
will this power surface?” Hannah asked. Max stopped walking and looked at her.
“Now you
have hit the sum of all fears.” Max said darkly. Hannah stood shocked.
“You mean,
this power could hit them at any time. And they won’t be able to control it.”
She gasped.
“Yes, the
first time is always like that. Be glad that our powers don’t have to be bloodied.”
Max said as he started walking again. Hannah followed him out.
“Max…. it
will happen soon, won’t it?” Hannah asked quietly. Max suddenly lost the air of
dignity around him. His head dropped down, and an aura of sorrow covered him.
“Yes, it
will be soon.” Max recovered his dignity and kept walking. “Hannah, I want you
to raise them. You and Josh, along with Fira are to raise them.” With that
said, Max walked out of the doors. Hannah caught up to him as he was leading
the horses out of the stable. Max held
the reigns of two average size horses. Both of them were brown. Max was
followed by a huge black destrier, with a moon shaped patch of hair
on its head. Following close behind was
a large grey horse.
“Come
here, Shadow.” Max said, and the large black destrier neighed. It then walked over to Max.
“Good
boy.” Max said as he patted it on the nose. Max looked up at Hannah and said.
“Yours in
the stable, I took the liberty of obtaining it for you.” Max said as he
laughed. Hannah cocked her head sideways, with a look of confusion on her face.
Max laughed again.
“Go on, it
won’t bite, else it would have bitten me.” Max said. Hannah sighed and walked
into the stable. Inside was a large blood-red mare, it had a black tail and
mane, and its legs were black at the bottom and faded to red as they went up.
Hannah sucked in her breath and looked at it.
“Beautiful
isn’t she.” Max said from behind her. Hannah ignored him and walked toward it.
She reached out and started to pet it. It neighed at her as she petted it. Max
had placed Cinaed and Nina on their mounts, with Celeste mounted on her grey
horse between them.
“Do you
want the saddle?” Max said as he petted Shadow.
“No, I don’t
want it.” Hannah said as she gracefully mounted Akurei.
“Alright,
it’s your choice.” Max said as he swung onto Shadow’s back. They rode out the
gates. They rode around the grounds talking as they did. As the sun began to
set Max rode ahead of the group and went off into the trees. Max started to
walk into trees, so he could not be seen immediately. Just as he got to a spot
he thought good, he heard screams. Max yelled a curse, as he started running
flat out. As he broke out of the trees, Shadow reared up and ran toward Max.
Max leaped onto Shadow’s back at a dead run. Shadow charged toward Celeste his
eyes a mirror of the fire that drove him. Celeste stood in full demon form
fighting off a group of demons. Behind them, Hannah was protecting the twins,
in her werewolf form. Max yelled out a roar full of primal energy and reminiscent
of the damned. He changed into his true form for the second time, as he leaped
from Shadow’s back. He charged at the demons near the twins and began to
slaughter them. Celeste saw him, and ran toward him still in demon form. When
she got near Max, her necklace began to glow silver. Bright light enveloped her,
and she changed into her true form. It mirrored Max’s aside from the fact that
she had the Goddess of Shadow, where as Max had the Fire God. They fought on
slaying the demons that attacked them. However just when the battle seemed won,
a demon struck Celeste with a poisoned blade. She cried out and Max roared
striking the demon down. Not far from them was a wooden cabin that had been
abandoned years ago. Max carried Celeste there after placing a cloth over the
wound.
“It’s
okay, kids Celeste will be fine.” Hannah said her eyes tearing up. Cinaed and
Nina looked at her for a moment.
“No she
won’t. This is part of the future that was destined to
happen. Nothing we do can save her now.” Cinaed said his voice calm.
“Cinaed is
right. We saw Father’s visions sometimes when we dreamed. It won’t be soon
before father is gone too.” Nina said also calm.
“What do
you mean?” Hannah asked.
“After
Momma dies, Daddy disappears from the visions. We see someone who looks like
him, but it isn’t him. It will be 15 years or more
before we see father again.” Cinaed continued. When they reached the cabin,
Nina hushed them, and they walked in. Max was kneeling beside the cot, he had
placed Celeste on, he spoke up when they entered.
“She won’t
live long. The poison was made to kill demons. She doesn’t want the twins to
see her like this take them back to the castle.”
“Daddy,
what about Shadow and Momma’s horse?” Nina asked.
“It either
of you can tame Shadow then you can have him, otherwise turn him lose. Take
Celeste’s horse with Shadow. They were two of a kind those horses.” Max said
with a finality to it. Hannah and the twins walked outside again, and Nina
called for Shadow. Shadow walked near them and neighed. Cinaed walked toward
him, but it snorted and moved away. Nina shot him a mean look, and then walked
forward. She reached for Shadow, and when he didn’t move began to pet him. Nina
climbed onto Shadow’s back, as the others mounted their horses. Together they
rode back to the castle quickly. After the twins were safe, Hannah went back to
the cabin to check on Max. The cabin was burning and Max walked out of it, and
Hannah realized what her vision was about then. Max’s face bore the scar from
her visions. Hannah ran to Max, and grasped his shoulders to make him look at
her.
“She is
dead, Hannah. The last reason for me to live is dead. I want you and Josh to
raise them as my children, and to be rulers when the time comes. Safeguard the
kingdom my stewards, Josh and Hannah. I might not ever return. Do not mourn me
if I do.” Max said as he pushed Hannah away from him, and started to walk
toward the south. Hannah made a move to stop him, but Josh stopped her.
“This is
how his visions said it would be. Nothing we do can stop him right now. He is a
god now and forevermore. They will be together in the end, have faith in that.”
Josh said.
“Hey, Max,
we are brothers by blood forevermore, remember that!” Josh yelled at him. Max
grinned and walked off into the night.
Chapter 2:
It Burns Always
14 Years
Later, The Southern Continent.
“Have you
heard the rumors floating around?” A voice says. The voice belongs to a tall
tan colored man. He sits in a tavern in one of the numerous small towns built
around water in the desert that is the bulk of the Southern continent.
“There are
always rumors flying around, but which ones are you talking about?” A man
answers. He is a short man, but has a sturdy build. The first man takes a swig
of the beverage sitting on the bar in front of them, and says.
“The one
about the man-demon that wanders the desert and kills those who bother it. They
say it is headed this direction.” The first man looks toward the door as he
says so.
“You can
never trust rumors you know.” The second man replies.
“Tell that
to the man-demon, that just walked through the door.” The first man says as he
turns to face the wall. The second man looks around and to his horror sees the
man-demon. It is garbed in black robes, with a wicked looking spear in its
hand. Not much can be seen of its face except for solid red eyes and silver
hair with a streak of black through it. It looks at them for a moment its eyes
burning with some bottled up emotion. It walks to the bar and throws down some
coins and points at a barrel of ale. The bartender gives it a glass, and it
quaffs it. Then it stood up and began to leave. As it walks out the door the two men get up and begin to follow it. It walks
without purpose and without caution. The stars shine in the sky as the two men
follow the demon. It walks through the slums, a dangerous place for anybody to
be, seemingly without worry. A few blocks in a gang of bandits walk out of the
shadows to step in front of the demon.
“Kind of
late for a walk isn’t. How about you give us your gold and we kill you
quickly?” The leader of the gang says, his voice is that of one who’s orders are followed always. The men walk toward the
demon. It raises its spear casting off the wrapping around the blade.
“Then we
do this the hard way.” The leader says. The bandits charge at him, drawing
scimitars as they go. The demon whips his spear around taking off the bandit’s
hand. As the bandits rush him trying to kill him, the demon strikes them down
as soon as they near him. The leader curses and draws his sword and charges. He wards off the demon’s first blow, but is struck by the demon’s
fist in the process. He goes to strike back but the demon is too quick,
its spear already slicing through his sword hand. The bandit leader falls back,
and the demon stands over him.
“Never
meddle with forces you don’t comprehend.” The demon says, in a voice that
sounds as if it has not been used in a while, as it removes it mask, allowing
the bandit leader to gaze upon his face. The man screams, a high-pitched scream
like that of a banshee. The demon drives his spear into the man silencing him.
He turns to walk away and sees the two men standing there. The two men drop to
their knees.
“Almighty
One, we did not know your holy presence was upon us. We pray your forgiveness.”
The first one says. The demon looks at them.
“Why do
you call me such?” It says as it looks on them.
“The
legends speak of the desert demon who will lead us into a golden era. The demon
will not be a demon in truth, but a new god in disguise.” The second one says.
The demon nods then says.
“Then you
two shall be my voice. You will speak in my steed, unless I deem otherwise. You
are to journey with me.” The demon said.
“Are we to
be your disciples?” The first man asked. The demon nodded.
“What do
we call you, Almighty One?” The second man asked. The demon thought for a
moment. His memories were lost and something kept him from finding them.
“Xan.” It
said as it pulled its mask back down. The men stood up and said their names.
The first man was called Khalid, and the second one was called Hashim.
Chapter 3:
My Father
3 Years
after Max’s death/disappearance and Celeste’s death
“Nina, the
odachi is not a woman’s weapon. You might want to try something that requires
less strength.” The man said.
“You think
that because I am a woman I will use a different weapon.” Nina yells back at
the man. The man is appears to be young, but is roughly 50 years old. Cinaed looks at her for a moment then lifts
his rapier and dagger.
“I am
merely saying that you will be looked down upon for carrying such a weapon.”
The man said.
“Sensei, I
doubt that my choice of weaponry will cause me to be looked down upon. The very
fact of who I am causes many to look away from me.” Nina says. Josh is watching
them from a doorway. They stand in the courtyard choosing weaponry to begin
training with and studying. Josh’s thoughts drift to Max and
what might have happened if he lived. Josh had tried to enter Max’s mind
once after he left.
“Josh I
knew you would try this eventually. However, the part of my mind that I use as
our power base has been split off and separated. Do not worry
you will still have your powers. The information you seek is in my library.
Give my death commandos a new battle cry: For the Dragon King! Farewell Josh may
the spirits guide you.” Max had said inside Josh’s mind. Josh had found how to
fuse Evangeline and Rosalyn inside Max’s library, sitting on top of his
journal. Josh then sent for a scribe and ordered him to date and write down
everything that happens. Josh fused the two back together and they took the
name Yumi.
“Lord
Josh?” the man said. Josh snapped out of his daze and looked up.
“Yes, Ryuu?”
Josh asked as he walked toward the man.
“Do you think
Nina should wield the odachi?” Ryuu asked. Josh looked at him for a moment, and
then glanced at Nina and Cinaed.
“Let her
use it. Her father wielded a similar weapon and she is too much her father’s
child to take no for an answer.” Josh
said. Nina looked at him, for a moment then picked up the sword.
“I am the
Daughter of the Dragon. I will make my father proud.” Nina said as she looked
upwards.
For 11
years, the twins trained, grew, and learned. The kingdom flourished and grew as
it recovered from the war Max had started. During those years, Cinaed developed
into a problematic child. He listened to no one, grew angry, bitter, and used
his power for any gain. Nina on the other hand grew into a strong and honorable
woman more like her father with each passing day. She seemed more like a copy
of him rather than his daughter.
Chapter 4:
Across the Devil’s Sands
“Great
One, we are near the edge of the desert.” Khalid said as he turned to look at
Xan.
Xan sat
astride a horse and behind him were hundreds of Southerners who would follow
him to the death. He had liberated the Southern Continent from its rulers only
to have it kneel before him. He accepted the thrones but he wouldn’t wear the
signs of authority. “My appearance is authority enough. No man will blatantly
display signs of authority as they used to.” He decreed when they offered him
the crown. Instead, he had it preserved for history. He turned his eyes to the
north after a group of people sailed into port trying to convert people to
something called the Dragon God. When news of this reached Xan, he had the men
brought before him and he slew them. Then he proclaimed a jihad against this
Dragon God. Now here they were. At the thin strip of land that leads to the Northern
Continent.
“Great
One, these sands are said to be impassable. It is said that devils guard the
way across.” Hashim said from Xan’s other side.
“We cross
it.” Xan said in his deep, gravely voice. He started forward his black horse
slowly marching across the sands. Behind him several
drummers picked up a marching beat that had come to be associated with
Xan. Thump dum dum,
thump dum dum was the beat of the drums and the men
walked across the sands, using the beat to occupy their minds. Xan was silent
as he always was and behind him, the men talked amongst themselves. The men
would rather die than dishonor Lord Xan as they had taken to calling him. They
stopped at nightfall and set up camp. Just as they got fires
going a large sandstorm appeared in front of them and a figure stepped out of
it. Xan stood up and picked up his spear. He headed towards the figure and when
he got within 10 feet of it stopped.
“Who are you to attempt to cross my sands?” the figure said it was
the same color as the sandstorm behind it and looked generally like a man.
“Wait, you seem familiar. Yes, you came here once before only you were headed
to the South.” The devil said. Xan’s mind flashed something for a moment, but
he couldn’t grasp what it was.
“Let me and my men pass, devil.” Xan said.
“If you can best me, in combat then you can pass.” The devil said
as a long whip composed of sand materialized in its hand. The whip shot forth
like a serpent and Xan threw up his spear to ward the blow away. The whip fell
apart and reformed behind Xan’s spear. Xan cursed and jumped backwards before
striking forth with his spear in a vicious flurry of thrusts and parries. As
Xan continued to batter at the sand devil’s defenses, nothing changed. Sand
fell away with each blow, but moments later more sand
rose up to replace what had fallen. Xan
grew annoyed and with a sudden burst of anger caused the ground to be blown
away leaving hard bedrock with no sand on it asides from the sand devil. Xan
lashed out knocking the sand devil to pieces finally. “I’ve beaten you…let my armies
pass through.” He said and walked away. The sandstorm stopped and the sand
devil appeared once more. “Fine then pass as you want you and your armies.”
Then it faded away. With the devil gone, the armies rested and then continued
their march to the north.
Chapter 5: The Volcanoes
“Cinaed, stop being stupid. We have to share the throne and you
know that.” Nina said as she hit the table in front of her with her fist.
Cinaed sulked and yelled back at her.
“Then why should I share it with you. I am the oldest male. I
should inherit the throne.”
“Shut up both of you. Until you both fit to rule the throne
remains vacant and I rule as steward.” Josh yelled standing up. The three of
them were gathered around a table discussing the throne for what seemed like
the millionth time.
“You just want to keep it for yourself you damned man.” Cinaed
cursed at Josh. Josh punched him right in the cheek knocking him backwards in
his chair.
“I am still regent here. Your father’s orders were to not split the kingdom. Now then, we have news of a king
in the south that has put the entire land under his sword. We also hear that he
has declared a crusade against the Dragon God.” Josh said after he regained his
composure
“We should look into an alliance with him; we need more strength
at out call so that we can fight the Dragon God.” Nina said. She sounded a lot
like her father enough that it was scary sometimes.
“WE need to stop with that forget that and let us move on.” Cinaed
said.
“You call yourself our father’s son yet you say something like
that he would be ashamed of you.” Nina said hotly. Cinaed stood up and yelled
at her.
“I HAVE NO FATHER. MY FATHER ABANDONED ME AS A CHILD! MY FATHER IS
DEAD!” Cinaed walked out of the room slamming the door behind him as he did so.
Nina sat stunned as Cinaed left.
“Well it is as I feared….we have lost him also. Our father is not
dead as my brother would believe.” Nina said then she stood up and walked out
of the room. Josh sat there for a moment.
“Damn it…what is wrong with
that boy?” Josh asked himself aloud. Then he stood up and walked out of the
room. Josh thought over the past 10 years. Many things had happened; the Lycans
were gone with only one or two staying behind out of choice or duty. Josh walked
down the halls of the palace looking around him as he did so. A statue of Max
stood in the courtyard and as Josh opened the doors, he saw the statue again.
Max stood in the statue with his sword thrust into the air. His hair long and
flowing and his eyes were garnets. On the pedestal at the bottom was the
inscription:
Max
Fanning
Lord
of Fire and Dragons
Drom’khal
of the Lava
Grand
High Chieftain Fireheart of the trolls
A
man of honor and nobility he fought for his cause and in the end died for his
cause.
Josh glanced at it the inscription then up at the statue. “Where
did you go Max? Why did you abandon us when we needed you?” Josh asked the statue as he looked at the
face of the statue. His eyes were blazing and his face set in triumphant roar
as he Max looked after a battle. The Statue was bedecked as Max was in full
battle regalia with his cape blown backwards and his hair flung backwards as if
by the wind. Josh sighed and went into the throne room and sat down. It was
time to deal with the business of today.
Nina stood inside the volcano. Without realizing it, she stood on
the ground where her father had stood years before. She gazed out over the lava
and thought for a moment. She was deep in thought when all of a sudden a
woman’s voice called out to her. The Goddess of Fire appeared on the platform
in the center of the lake of lava.
“I am Firashi, the Goddess of Fire, come to me Daughter of
Dragons.” She said as she looked at Nina. Nina walked towards her and looked
her over once.
“How do you know who I am? How can you call me by my title so
easily?” Nina asked her.
“Because, I have met your father. I have known of your father
since the beginning. I was there when your father was changed to become the man
he is now. I saw him die for the first time...and I saw him make the deal that
leaves him unable to die the way a normal man does.” Firashi said.
“Does my father still live?”
“Your father is alive but dead, sleeping yet awake. You must be
wary of your brother. He has listened to the darkness for too long. Your powers
must manifest soon, as must your brothers.”
“What if his manifests first?
How will I defend myself?” Nina asked.
“I will show you, but it will cost you.” Firashi asked then she
reached up and grabbed Nina’s head with both her hands. Firashi showed Nina her
darkest fears and in response, her powers began to manifest. Her eyes turned
pure purple and she began to transform.
Her skin rippled and grew scaly, as the skin on her back split and
wings grew forth. Claws burst forth and she changed to look like a dragon-hybrid.
“Daughter of Dragons, this is your power, the power that you
suppressed. I did nothing but show the way back to the power. It is yours and
always will be.” Firashi spoke calmly as the beast in front of her stood
waiting. With a roar, Nina flexed her wings then took to the sky, her fears and
emotions driving her towards the south. She fell on a company of men that shot
arrows at her…these men were travelers and did not know better. However, they
were slaughtered nonetheless. Nina came back to her senses later and returned
to the castle. Her brother stood waiting as did Josh, waiting for her return.
She walked into the courtyard and faced the two of them. Josh’s katana hung at
his side. A faint smell of ozone pervaded the air around him. Cinaed however
stood seemingly calm….too calm. His eyes were dark as if the darkness filled
them.
“I already know what you are going to say Josh, and I don’t need
to hear it again.” Nina said as she walked past them.
“What I was going to say Nina…is that the army from the south has
an advance column coming this way. The scouts have reported it, and I have sent
an envoy to the column, to discuss matters of mutual benefit.” Josh said as he
crossed his arms and watched as Nina walked away. Defiant to the end, just like
her father. Cinaed turned to look at Josh.
“So you are just going to let her talk to you that way. Pitiful,
you are the person left in charge here….” Cinaed said then his eyes flashed.
“Father was last seen headed southwards, do you think he could
still be alive...and be in this army?” Josh looked over at Cinaed, his eyes
widened then they narrowed. “So that is
what it is. His personality is split...split from when Max left.”
“There is no way of knowing…but don’t lose hope your father was a
hell of a man.” Josh said trying to keep Cinaed in the state of mind. However,
Cinaed’s eyes grew dark and he scoffed.
“What father?” He muttered then he walked away.
Chapter 6: Who am I?
Xan surveyed the lands around him from horseback. Images flashed
through his head, but they were distant, dreamlike, and he could not hold them.
These lands brought the images and with the images came a nagging sense of
purpose, belonging, and the haunting of emotions. He tightened his grip on his
spear as he steeled himself for whatever was ahead of him.
“Hashim, Khalid, come to me. Gather three platoons, one of spears,
one of swords, and one that uses the magic powder. We shall ride for the castle
these scouts tell of, they seem to be opposed to the Dragon God.” Xan said his
voice still rough from disuse.
“Almighty One, are you sure of this?” Khalid asked his dark eyes
curious underneath the spiked helmet he wore. These southern warriors were
smart when it came to Desert Warfare; wearing cloth wrapped metal helmets, and
covering their bodies to hide what metal they did wear. Their weapons...that
was an all together different topic. The scimitars, thin, fast, and deadly,
their spears long and dangerous and the magic powder, black and smoky it used
fire and metal to injure.
“These bones along the roadsides are the bones of the Dragon God’s
followers. See the remains of the symbols they carry with them hanging around
the necks of their skeletons.” Hashim said as he looked at Xan.
“That is correct Hashim. Now go and do what I have asked we shall
ride forth at first light.” Xan said as he waved his hand for them to carry out
his orders. The platoons were gathered quickly, and it was quickly known that
the Almighty One was going to visit the Castle of the
Northerners. The Northerners some of them looked extremely pale, like Xan,
however they were colored differently. It didn’t matter Xan was a god waiting
to be reborn. These Northerners and their Dragon God would fall before the
armies of the Southern Continent.
Chapter 7: Now is the Time
The Southern Continent in ages past was one large continent
however long ago a river was formed cutting the mainly desert part of the
Southern continent off from the jungles of the Deep South,
right down the middle. This river was very powerful with fast moving currents
and deep as a sea. The jungle continent was ruled by a man who like all of the
men of the jungles was as black as the dirt they walked on. His name was Enitan
and he wanted the world to be crushed underneath his feet. His armies had spent
years building boats large enough and growing trees strong enough to hold
anchors. Now his armies were amassed and the boats were ready. He stood dressed
in furs, the main one being a tiger pelt with the claws and teeth still
attached. He set his armies to march while he stayed safe, hidden in the deep
of his jungles. As his armies marched into the desert, the massive beasts
spread fear and the army left a trail of corpses. As the majority of the armies
were in the north with Xan, the few left banded together and held their cities.
However, the army knew what was happening and marched for the North, intent on
cutting off any hopes of the army returning. Within the narrow strip of land that connected
the north to the south, the army fortified their position. It would be nigh
impossible to get back by land.
Chapter 8: One Not So Small Step For A Man…..
Xan and the small contingent of men marched towards the volcano
and the black castle perched atop it. Xan’s mind grew heavier, the pressure
increasing so that it felt as if soon his mind must burst, and everything
within it spill out. A sense of foreboding over took him and he withdrew into
himself even more, speaking nothing while they traveled. When they finally
beheld the main gates up close and personal, Xan felt a pang of momentary madness.
He shook his head, sending his braid across his back, to clear his head before
he started towards the gate.
“Halt state your business here.” A guard said from the threshold
of the open gate. Xan looked up at the guard then spoke, for the first time in
two days.
“I am here to speak with the…ruler of this land. I lead the army
of the desert…”
“Then you are expected, I shall escort you to the castle.” The
guard said then he motioned for someone to take his place, before leading the
way to the castle. It was a long walk to the castle, though to Xan it seemed to
take only seconds yet he waited for the sun to set and rise before he reached
the castle. The turmoil inside his mind increased with every step forward he
took. Whatever the cause of his distress it was located inside that castle. One
he entered the city proper located just outside the main castle walls; he was
greeted by a wall of steel and flesh. An army 10,000 strong was within this
city and it was loyal only to the Lord of Dragons. The men and women flanking
the path to the castle appeared to be dressed in ceremonial armor though a
twisted ceremony would entail this armor. All black with silver and red tabards
and cloaks, the armor itself had spikes on the joints. These 10,000 men and
women were the personal legion of the late Lord Fanning, last Lord of Fire and
Dragons….
Chapter 9: Once More Into The Breach
Nina was dressed in clothing that would have made her father swell
with pride. Dressed all in black armor with a purple and silver cloak draped
around her shoulders. Her broadsword was across her back on top of the cloak
but in easy reach. She stood in the throne room beside her father’s throne. She
stood on the right hand side on the left hand side stood Cinaed. He was dressed
in a light and thin suit of armor that gleamed silver. His paired rapier and
long knife hung at his belt, and draped over his shoulders was a cloak as blue
as the sky on a summer day. Lady Zareen waited nearby on the dais, behind the
throne and off to one side, her bow at the ready as it seemingly always was. Josh
stood on the tier just below the throne, right in front of it. Along the sides
of the throne room were soldiers and the various other people of importance.
The large doors swung open and Xan, Hashim, and Khalid marched into the throne
room. As Xan reached the large mosaic of a dragon on the floor in front of the
throne, a sudden sharp pain shot through his skull. He pulled back the hood of
his cloak and a visible ripple of shock, awe, and fear shot through the room. In
a weak and quiet voice, Josh spoke daring to voice what everyone else was
thinking.
“Max, is that you…the scar is the same but not much else?” Cinaed
appalled that Josh would even speak these words stepped forward, the unholy
fury that was one of his father’s traits blazing in him.
“My father is DEAD! This man is nothing but an imposter. A charlatan! This is treason! HERESY!” Cinaed yelled as the voices of darkness that
had haunted him since his father’s death/disappearance started to control him.
In his deep gravelly voice Xan spoke. “I know not who it is that you speak of…”
However, Cinaed cut him off.
“Fool! You shall die for this insult!” Cinaed yelled as he charged
pulling his rapier and closing the distance between him and Xan with a speed
few thought him capable of.
His speed and the element of surprise was of no avail to him, as
with one move, Xan countered. Though he was weaponless, his weapons having been
taken by the guards in the courtyard, he held no fear and lashed back the
instance Cinaed attacked him. In one fell swoop Xan, knocked the rapier aside
and drove a large broadsword that appeared in Xan’s hand through Cinaed’s
stomach, piercing the thin metal armor, splitting the leather and cloth behind
it to cleave the flesh. Pulling the blade straight back out without making the
wound worse, Xan stepped back into a defensive posture. A wave of revulsion
spread throughout the room leaving people speechless. One man in the throng
managed to find his voice. Lord Josh had drawn his Katana and lightning
crackled along the blade.
“Cinaed…no by the heavens NO! YOU BASTARD, DIE NOW!” Josh yelled
his voice like that of thunder that heralds the storm. People cleared away from
Xan…even Hashim and Khalid had stepped away from him. Josh charged lightning
flashing from his blade to strike Xan twice, once in the leg and once in the
shoulder as he charged at Josh and the lightning that spewed from his hands. Xan
caught the next bolt of lightning along the broadsword deflecting it upwards, closing enough distance to make Josh’s lightning dangerous
to both parties. With the fury of two demons the two men clashed, sparks flying
as their blades battered against one another. The metal only holding together
thanks to the magic and power invested in it. After several minutes both men
were tiring calling upon the last reserves of strength they launched one final
charge at each other. All the worlds had stopped it seemed as these two men of
legends, gave themselves over to the dance of death. When the blows finally
landed, after what seemed an uncountable length of time a strong wind bounded
outwards sending dust, dirt and grit flying. When people opened their eyes,
Both Men were two strides from each other their backs facing. Josh’s sword was
in his hands or at least part of it was the top half was broken on the ground.
With a blank face Josh turned and with what was left
of his sword tried to slash at Xan. However, Xan,
knocked it aside and drove his sword into Josh’s stomach. He wrenched it
sideways, and as he did, blood flowed from the wound, as Josh’s minds touched Xan’s.
“Too long has your mind been locked…”
Josh said mentally then he died he final words a curse at Xan. Xan’s face was
blank his eyes distant he stepped backwards and right into the middle of the
dragon mosaic as he did so, his mind was let free, the locks broken by
Josh…though it was an action of a desperate man, it would be as a stone in a
calm pond. Xan’s memories came flooding back, all of them every memory of every
life, they all come back to him at once. Xan dropped to his knees as the
realization of what had just happened sank in. He threw back his head and his
sword dropped from his hand, clattering loudly against the stones, a small cry
slipped from his lips, a cry that ended up becoming loud. A cry like the howl
of banshee, like the damned despairing against their damnation. That cry marked
the death of another…the death of Xan. No longer Xan, the desert demon who
conquered the south, he was Max once more…the man who had just
unknowingly…slain his only son. Somehow, he managed to find his way over to
Cinaed and he cradled Cinaed’s head in his lap. Pushing the black hair all too
much like Max’s own hair away from his face, Max held his only son.
“Father…..the darkness is gone now…I’m sorry, Dad…I love you…Mom
is here now...she’s waiting for me…don’t forget the path dad…” Max cried openly
cried as his only son slipped away from him.
“I love you too son….I love you too…” Then the light in Cinaed’s
eyes faded, as his father held him. In Max’s arms his only son died his last
words reminding him that what he started so many years ago cannot be reversed
only...carried onward…
Chapter 10: Eternal Damnation?
Max stood on the top of his tower, staring off into the distance
as the sun bled turning the ground red. It had been 3 week since Max’s return…3
weeks since Cinaed’s death. His body had been burned...as Max would have burned
his own body. Max’s appearance was back, though his hair still had one long
grey patch right in front beside his right eye, both of which were blue again.
He heard footsteps behind him but he did not turn. Nina stopped beside him.
“Father, the Southern Armies have reached the castle I’ve taken care of
everything for you. You can’t bring him back…he is gone he has no will to
return.” She said comforting her father in her own way. Max nodded and then he
spoke.
“But it does not change the fact that it was my hand that severed
his life. My son…taken by my own hand. What kind of father am I? He apologized
to me as he was dieing. He said he was sorry! He had nothing to be sorry for! I should have died not him ME! Even though my death
means a thousand years of damnation, if not damnation eternal.” Nina shook her
head and replied.
“He was apologizing because he has hated you ever since you left.
He even said you were dead even though we both knew you would be back, just as
we knew Mom would die. He knew you would not abandon us. Something dark took
hold of his heart when you left and it did not let go till death took him and
even then he may have taken it with him “
Nina turned to look at her father her bluish purple eyes moist, as were
her fathers blue eyes.
“Nina, you are a better daughter than a father could ever hope for
certainly better than this old man deserves…” Max said taking her in his arms
and embracing her tightly.
Chapter 11: Madness
As Max sat in the throne room learning of the past he missed out on, a runner dashed through the doors bringing
news.
“Almighty One, an army lies camped on the pass; they block the
entrance to the south.”
“Shit.” Nina cursed then she looked over at her father, lowering
her face to look at the ground as she did so. Max raised his eyebrow and looked
at her then shook his head. “You are grown now, what can I say to you.” Max
said then he looked at the messenger.
“We cannot allow the southern passage to be blocked off and
held. We must rout them! Prepare the
armies! They bring war to my doorstep then I shall bring Hell to their lands!”
Max said his eyes flaring as did his temper. Nina stood up beside him and
spoke. “Father…I am going to come with you.” Nina said in a voice that brooked
no argument and that Max for once did not feel like arguing with.
He nodded his consent then looked towards the ceiling. The armies were gathered
together into one massive group a collection of Southern Warriors, Northern
Warriors, and Lava Lamia. The army
marched for days with Hashim, Khalid, Lady Zareen, Nina and Max at the head of
it. As they neared the pass, they
noticed just how massive the enemy was. They were outnumbered Lord Max’s forces
at roughly 100 to 1. A man was dragged before Lord Max; this man was dark, dark
as the jungle floor he lived in. Lord Max dismounted and walked forward a
single talon appearing out of his right hand. He placed that talon under the
man’s jaw and lifted his head up. “I command you, tell me what you know.” The
man mumbled something in his own language that sounded like clicks and gurgles.
“SPEAK OR I WILL RIP THE SKIN FROM YOUR BONES!” Max yelled at the
man. The man nodded as Max flicked his talon ripping a small piece of skin off
the man’s neck. The man struggled for a minute then in a low rough voice he
spoke.
“Let the Old Ones take me then.” As he spoke, a large tentacle manifested
through his stomach, then wrenched free and vanished.
“We are always near the one who set us free within our chains.” A
voice spoke and the Old Ones faded into a hazy existence. Max looked at them
then grinned evilly.
“So even now you will still heed my call?” Max asked.
“We have always been near at least one of us has been. Ever since,
we were freed only to be chained to your blood. As
long as your blood runs through this land, we shall have a tie here.” They said
mentally to both Nina and Max. Max looked at them his eyes sparked as he asked
them.
“Have you ever unleashed the full extent of your powers?” The
answer was an unspoken yes.
“To destructive ends have you?” They looked at each other and what
passed amongst them was an unspoken consent to tell the truth.
“Once before but not again…..we used to be many, many more then
that happened.”
“Lend me your power, the full extent of it…let it flow through
me.” Max said reminding them that they were still chained to his will but that
they could try to refuse. They nodded in agreement it would not take much from
them to allow me to channel that energy. Max felt the channel open but his
exterior did not change, not yet anyways… Max looked up the few hundred Old
Ones left were gathering overhead as they opened the channel and several dozen
more came through. The entire group of them...I had enslaved the chain of
command…nothing more. Max turned to his army and issued orders to Nina that she
was to carry on as she fit after this engagement should the need arise, she should free the South again. Max started forward
transforming as he did so changing into his ultimate form, the form of the
dragon, demon and fire god combined. He moved quickly across the ground until
soon he stood near the enemy’s lines.
They were entrenched in the small pass. The sharp, thin ridges that
surrounded the land bridge made trying to attack it by sea a null attempt. Max
stood before them one man against a million. They laughed thinking Max meant to
parley with them, little did they now the beautiful but deadly visage they saw
before them would be the last sight their mortal eyes would ever behold. As a
pair of emissaries rode forth Max looked towards them the fire above his horns
crackling as if to stress his rage and impatience. The emissaries started to
speak in their, to Max’s ears, annoying and tribal.