Dusk was upon the land of Ezaroth. A trickle of blood rolled down his chin, the trail of blood smudging his already tattered face. He was heaving heavily for air, yet it was impossbile to breathe. The wind was calm, yet eerie, as it began to call out his name, beckoning him to just go through to the end of the tunnel. In his left hand, a torch lit the way through the stone walls and endless mazeless routes that seem to lead to knowhere. He was afarid. Afraid he was being followed still. The miles after miles of tracking has made the deep cuts worst, filling them with minerals from the damp soil, and now every step felt like someone grinding a knife into his bones. He needed to rest. He paced a little more, found a dry spot and leaned against the cold, hard stone.
Just then, it appeared. He froze, and laid low, as two shadows loomed over the cave in the barely luminated space. He peeked out of the stone, careful not to let whatever they were to catch him, not in his condition. One of the two had a long blade clinging to its back, covered in what seemed like cloth. It was tall, looked rather strong, and had had long hair cascading down its front, making him hard to make out its face. The other was smaller. Way... smaller, and instead of a sword, it was holding two curved blades that looked like shields that weapons. The two figures looked around the cave, checking every corner and edge, leaving no stone unturned. The taller of the two suddenly looked up, and approached the boulders, coming within a few fet of where he was. He began to sweat, not that he wasn't already. Lowering himself even further, he let the shadows of the cave engulf his entire figure, slipping gently into the darkness. The tall figure was close now, as it began to inspect the rocks and rubble. It bent down for a while, and paused, as though it spotted soemthing. Cold sweat was trickling down his forehead. The tall figure looked up, and paused a little longer. It reached into its coat and took out what seemed like a rock, and then, without warning, tossed it so rapidly at where he was hiding that it hit him square in the forehead. He yelped in pain, realising it only too late as the tall figure unmounted the long blade from its back, grasped it with both hands, and came closer. He thought fast, drew his sword, and turned to face his assailant. What he saw was startling. The figure was no demon, but a man. The two just looked at each other for a few moments, neither moving.
'You.. you're human....' the footsoldier said.
The tall figure withdraw his blade. 'And you are wounded.' His voice was harsh and deep. He placed the long blade once more onto his shoulder, and called out to the smaller figure. It turned out to be but a young girl, no more than thirteen, as the footsoldier made out. The two just stared at the footsoldier. 'Who are you?' came the tall figure.
The footsoldier looked at the two, unsure of what to do next. He was told to trust no one, and besides, demons could change form. The smaller one looked at the footsoldier, and said in a sweet girlish voice. 'Please... Excuse my uncle. He's a little rough sometimes. He's Stogar the Great Bear, and I'm Little Bear, Henna. Nice to meet you.' The girl gave a little curtsey. It was akward though, as she was still holding the two curved blades, which he just could't stop keeping his eyes off. She noticed the footsoldier's discomfort, and replied 'These things? I've had them since I was a little girl. Nothing to be afraid of though. I know what I'm doing. So... What's you's doing here anyway? We're on our way to..'
The tall figure stopped her. 'No Henna. We still do not trust this stranger. Now... Tell me your name, stranger. I assure you of our peace. I seek no trouble.'
The footman looked at the two, and replied, 'Yet I do not believe you either. Demons have the ability to change thier forms. What makes it so sure you're not...'
Before he could finish, the little girl reached into her dress and took out a small horn. An Ivory horn.
The footsoldier looked at the horn, and recognised it instantly. 'The Ivory Horn.. You're Stogards!'
The little girl kept the horn. 'Now do you believe us?'
The footsoldier answered, 'Then it is all as well. I'm Furion, the last Prince of the Empire of Mecadon, a small Kingdom outside of the North County. Our people were attacked by demons one night. We assembled a small battalion to fight them, but the losses were great. These things... they were unbeatable. No matter how many times you kill them. They came from the skies.. The forests.... I'm the only one who survived.'
Great Bear came forward. 'Yes... I saw the crest of the Meadow on your sword the moment you pulled it out.'
Furion looked at him in bemusement. 'Then why did you ask..'
'To merely test you. Now I know you are not lying. So what intentions do you have crossing through our village?'
Furion stared at them. This man was not ordinary... He knew the crest of his empire... yet he was sure they have never met before. 'You're village? But I was barely...'
Just then, a sharp pain surged through his body. 'Arrgh!'
The little girl raced forward. 'You're hurt. Quickly uncle, give me the herbs!'
Great Bear hesitated, then, took out a small vial from his pockets. The little girl took it from him, and uncorked the bottle. 'Oh... it looks deep. Hold on... This is going to sting a little.' She poured a little of the clear liquid onto the wounds. It began to bubble. Furion felt an intense pain, as though someone just stabbed his leg with a pike. Then, it stopped. The pain began to ease away, and surprisingly, it began to disipate. He watched in amazement, as his wound healed without even a scar.
"How'd you..'
The little girl smiled at him. 'Family recipe. It lucky you bumped into us, you know. We are the best potion makers in the village. My uncle used to try so many herbs in our house near the river, until it was always overrun by mice. You know how much I...'
'Henna!' the taller man said.
The little girl shutted up, and went back to her uncle's side.
Furion looked up. 'I'm grateful for healing my wounds. Yet, what do you mean your village? Isn't this the route to Ezaroth?'
Great Bear looked at the Prince, eyeing him up to down. 'Then you took a wrong turn. This cave leads all the way to a dead end. Now, you are healed. You can go. Come, Henna.' WIth that he turned to leave.
'But uncle...' the little girl said, but kept silent at the sight of her uncle's stern look. The Prince was about to ask another question, before he a small arrow whizz towards the duo.
'Lookout!' the Prince shouted. Great Bear turned, in time to pull Henna out of harms way. He drew his blade, and turned to look, only to find about a dozen or more footmen looking over them from the cave's entrance. They all bore the crest of the Moon.
'MoonGlades! You! They must have followed you here!' Great Bear shouted. Without warning, another volley of arrows were fired. The two dodged it, as Furion raced behind a rock for safety, making it just in time to see three metal edges sticking right into the wall he was at moments before.
The MoonGlades kept firing arrow after arrow at the three, hiding behind the boulders. Furion kept his head low, awaiting the worst. 'There's no way we can beat them!' he yelled towards the couple hiding jsut a few feet away, behind another boulder.'
Great Bear eyed him. 'You cant. But we can!'
Just as he finished, Furion watched in amazement as the tall figure that was standing infront of him a second ago dissapeared suddenly, appearing just behind the MoonGlade archers.
'What the..' the archers didn't have time to reload before the huge blade knocked a couple of them to the ground. The others drew thier swords and struck at the Stogard. The MoonGLades were quick and agile, delivering sucessive blows with thier blades with blinding speed, living up to the legend of the best swordsmen in Ezaroth. They outnumbered the Stogard. Yet, the lone figure seemed undeterred, moving his unwound blade, blocking the attacks with surprising ease, ocaasionally sending one or two stary blows at the MoonGlades. Then, he raised the blade high into the air, and landed it on the ground with a tremendous thump, at the same time, the cloth covering the blade unfolded with the force, revealing a most magnificant weapon. It was gold and was embroided with fine stone. The ground shock violently, as several MoonGlades were thrown off thier feet. The remaining MoonGlades drew thier swords, not realising the shadow looming behind them. Within the fraction of a second, the young girl dashed forward with lightning speed, slashing the MoonGlades with the curled blades in her charge, so swiftly that none had the time to react. Furion was stunned. Speed and reactions even faster than that of a MoonGlade? Who were they?
Just then, he slipped, and a little rock tumbled out of the ceiling he was hiding within. One MoonGlade saw him, and sped towards him. Furin quickly drew his sword, and blocked the MoonGlade's blow. he was not quick enough for a second blow, that sliced him just beneath the chest. The young Prince cursed in pain. The MoonGlade raised his blade to finish the young Prince off. Then, the young Prince closed his eyes, and reopened them. His pupils turned from black to a sudden white. In an instant, everything seemed to slow down, then.. it stopped. All around. Things froze in time. The two Stogards, thier weapons close by, the freash blood plurting into the air. They all froze like a frame of a picture. The Prince could hear his own heartbeat slower than it used to be. His breath slowed to a halt. Literally. He quickly raised his sword, and with all his strength lunged it into the MoonGlades heart, then, he opened his mouth, gasping for air, as time resumed itself. The MoonGlade, unsure of what happened, realised the pain in his chest, and fell to the ground, eyes wide open.
The MoonGlades knew they were no match for the Stogards, and left in the sound of retreat. Little Bear wacthed, as the MoonGlades ran for thier lives, abandoning thier weapons on the ground. 'Yea! You better run! Come back again if you want a piece of me! Cowards! Chicken! Come back here and we'll give it to him! Right uncle? Uncle?'
Furion felt extermely dizzy, and fell to the ground, as Great Bear caught his fall in time. He stared at the Prince. 'Those eyes.... I know that power, young child.... You are no ordinary Prince, am I right? You are a Slayer.'
The young Prince smiled. 'I'm sorry... I lied...' and with that, his went pitch black.
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The routes were bumpy and rather uneven, so they had to travel by foot. Siow could make out the silver lines of the huge building towering before them. The Castle of Ezaroth. The greatest Castle ever built in the entire land. It was massive enough to house ten of the Castle of the North, and with the royal guards quarter the size of a metropolitan city, it was undoubtfully the most well guarded as well. The paths before them cleared from bush to gravel, as they approached the castle gates. A huge drawbridge hung above the moat, seperating the entourage from within the castle's walls.
A guard noticed the flag that bore the Thunder's crest. 'The Elite has returned! Open the Gates!' With a loud tremble of the ground, the heavy gates heaved open, and the entourage entered within the castle grounds. The interior was even more massive than from the outside. A long and endless stretch of road lead to yet another smaller gate. On all sides, high guard towers were linked by thick stone towers as tall as fifteen feet. Every corner was occupied by at least one guard bearing either sword, spear or bow, eyeing every corner of the castle, both inside and outside for intruders. Then and again, huge patrol squads comprising of at least twenty footsoldiers marched across the palace grounds, excorted by yet another group of riflemen on horseback. On both sides of the gravel, rose bushes and willows welcomed them as they entered the inner gates of the castle. Siow was amazed. For the first time ever, he was about to set foot into the capitol of Ezaroth. This was a dream come true.
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Robson tried again. But the boulder just would not budge. June gave it his fifth try, pushing as hard as he possibibly could. The rock moved a little. He was delighted, and tried again. Robson saw the glitter of hope in his friend's eye, and joined him. The rest of the men came to thier aid. Within seconds, the huge stone began to roll, a little at first. Light began to emerge cracks. Then more and more until finally, it gave way. The flash of light from the outside blinded them for an instant, but soon, they got adapted to it, and was immediately amazed at the sight they behold. Ezaroth. Its lush green forests, silver rivers and most importantly, the Grand palace.
'We're here... finally...' Lord Robson said.
'We could have been, earlier, if you had not took us into your little 'shortcut'. Hmmph! Now I'm all tired, thristy and I need a good bath! Just look at me!' said Lady Veena in anger, her dress covered in soot and dust.
Lord June could help but smile. 'Then its better off to head to the castle then. I'm starving.'
Lord Robson kept his sword, and mounted his stallion. 'My apologies, my lady. But still.... We shared a little 'extra' time together didn't we? Haha!' he winked at Lady Veena, then, without warning, gave her a little pinch on the cheek. 'Race you to the gates! Hiah!'
Lady Veena opened her mouth in disbelief. 'Oh the nerve! Come back here you!' as she sped off to chase down her assilant. Lord June laughed out loud this time, as the he and the rest of the entourage kept close behind them, the two figures racing down the open meadows towards the castle gates.
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'Are you sure this is the right way?' Prince Wai Kit said, as he tried hard to avoid his face from being pricked by the thorns on the branches hanging just above him.
General Halo laughed. 'A little thorn in a bush won't do you any harm, maboy. Anyway, thank you once again for leading us to Ezaroth, borther.'
The monk looked at them. He tried his best to keep his composure. 'Of course, sir. It would be an honour to escort the Prince of the South to the castle in the place of his father. The Elders of the Temple had sent me to see to it.'
'Ah... that old hag. How considerate. You must send him my thanks the moment you arrive home, brother! Really you must!' said Wai Kit.
The brother was silent for few moments, before finally, uttered 'Yes... indeed I will. Ah, there we are.'
The three stood on the hill, as the endless seas of caponies and bushes parted in both directions, and unvealed an open space of fertile land, green hills and villages, free running cattle,free flowing rivers and in the midst of it all, the huge castle of Ezaroth. 'Ezaroth.. Its been years since my last visit. Nothing much has changed...' said Halo.
'Haha! Then you have got to show me around! This beats the mundane temples back at the monestry by a long shot!' He stopped, and looked at thier escort, and his cheeks turned red. 'Well... Not that it wasn't at all fun and all...'
The monk smiled. 'No need to feel sorry, milord. I understand.'
Halo glared at the Prince cheeckly, and with a laugh, trotted down the route of stone and gravel.
'What? What did I say?' said the young Prince, following closely behind. The monk smiled even more now. 'It is done.' The three figures rode slowly towards the the castle, Prince Wai Kit's taunts and Halo's laughter filling the air.
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Princess Wan Yi just returned from her daily visit to the royal stables, when she saw them. She could not make it out at first, but the moment he tossed his jet black hair backwards, she knew it could not be a mistake.
'It... it can't be.... Siow! Is that you!' she shouted, as she got off the horse and raced towards the gates. Lord Siow looked up. Could it be? He unmounted the horse, and held the running Princess in his arms, his expression bursting with smiles.
Tears of joy trickled down the Princess's cheeks. 'Oh god.... I'm so happy to see you again!'
The newly declared Lord of the North County felt the same hot tears swell up in his eyes. 'So am I, sister. So am I....'
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