Halo pressed his bandaged head against the wall, as Lady Veena snipped off the last bits of the cloth with a scissors. Blood was amass, but the wounds did not stop the old General from his conversation with the others around the room, who shared the same enthusiasm in unveling the mystery that should have been solved only in legends and folklore.
'What I'm about to say... Arrgh...' he paused as Lady Veena pulled the bandage tight. '..is going to be beyond your comprehension. But first, I must see how the wounded are doing.'
Lord Robson, hand bandaged, got up. 'Lord June is being treated with anecdotes to relieve the posion darts. But Prince Wai Kit...'
General Halo tried to shoot up, but the pain was unbearable, causing him to slump down once again. 'Arrgh...' Lady Veena interveined, 'Robson, please.... Let the General rest. He can see us in the morning and ...' General Halo grabbed Lady Veena's hand firmly. 'No.... no that cannot be done... I'm afraid there is little time left for me....' there was a pause, then suddenly, General Halo began to cough, and his body shoke, as though possessed. He coughed harder and harder, his hands leaning onto the floor for support. Then, red blood spluttered out of his throat, staining the white carpets in the room. Everyone rose to give aid, but Halo held up a firm hand.
'No... There's...' he coughed again, '..you can do... Now, Listen. Long ago, The Kingdom of Ezaroth was not ruled by the Five Kings now, but seperated into vast hectors of barbaric land. These lands were torn between many clans and factions, and of course... races.' Lord Robson looked sharply at General Halo, 'What do you mean, races?' general Halo gave an understanding nod. 'Its no wonder... The tutors and alchemists of the Middle Kingdoms have tried thier very best to hide the existance of the other races from your generation.' Lady Veena asked, 'But how? How could there be other races beside us humans?' General Halo coughed again, 'Listen, Lady Veena... what you know today is all but the tip of the iceberg of what I am about to convey upon you. Life, as you know it... cough... is not really about sorcery, magic and swordfights... there are... other creatures that are abound.'
'Long ago... Before this land was ruled by our Kings of the Five Nations, countless fractions of humans took up refuge in the riverbanks of Norshire and used its resources. For generations, they lived in harmony, until one day, a young warrior by the name of Ulgar, stumbled upon a strange fragment washed away in the river. At that time, the humans were at war with each other, hungry for land, power and territory. Ulgar came from a small weak clan known as the Stogards, the clans that still wonder around the woods of Norshire today, as Lord June should know. Ulgar thought the fragment to be of good quality, and decided to use it as an arrow head for his bow. But he found out, as he was grinding the stone fragment, that it did not chip, instead, the obsidian stones that tey used during those days to sharpen thier tools, wore out and eventually broke. He was baffled. Frightened, he threw the fragment onto the ground, and as he did, he cried out aloud, 'demon arrow!'. At once, the fragment began to glow, and in an instant, what looked like pure rock, was now an arrow. But the arrow head was fuming with thick smoke, fog that Ulgar had never withnessed before. The most powerful clan at the time were a barbaric tribe known as the ... cough.. Freyars. The Freyars..' Halo stopped, more blood coughing out. Lord Robson asked immediately, holding him from the side, 'Are you sure you're alright?'
Halo pushed him aside, 'Yes.. yes... I can manage... cough..' 'The Freyars tore into town, burning the village and illing the women and children. Ulgar and his army march forth, only to be taken down rather easily. As battle broke out, Ulgar spotted the enemy General on horse back riding towards his wife and children. Immediately, he took out the arrow, and thought to him self, 'Thor.. Give me strength! The arrow fired, and as though it was controlled by some divine force, adjusted itself until it pierced the General right in the head.' Halo paused for breath. 'But it didn't stop there. The arrow then morphed, it grew larger, bigger, and finally into a hammer. A most exquisite hammer, Ulgar had ever seen. And then, the hammer, by itself, began to strike at the Freyars. The Freyars were mystified, and fleed in horror.'
Halo then stopped, and reached into his pocket. He brought out a small sack, and poured its contents onto the table. A small, glowing object appeared. 'Here, my dear.... try saying aloud the word... cough... Halo's blade.' Lady Veenastood up puzzled, and looked at Lord Robson and Halo. Then, she said ot, 'Halo's Blade!' Immediately, the stone began to transform, and in an instant, became a magnificant blade. Halo unbuckled the blade he was strung to, and threw it on the table. Lord Robson was astounded. A perfect match. 'The Stone of Reviera, the Promised One. Capable of morphing into any weapon at the user's will.' Lord Robson was baffled, '...But how'd...'
Halo stopped him, '...cough... But ah... That was only a part of the story. Ulgar and his men began to harness the new-found powers of the stone, and soon crushed all of its clans enemies. But it was not enough. Greed took over Ulgar, and he decided to find the source of this powerful stone. He assembled a grand army. The biggest in the history of the Middle Kingdom, and marched pward toward the river, the source of it all. No man has ever wandered past the fountains of the North and survived. Yet, when he got there, he was amazed. There were people. Litle people, building thier homes and castles, in gold. Pure, rich gold. The greedy Ulgar wanted it all. All... cough... all for himself... cough... cough...' Lady Veena went down on her knees, 'Please General... stop.... have some rest....'
Halo refused, and pushed on, '..But the little people were stronger than he had presumed. They had all the magic stones at thier disposal, and easily wiped out the humans. The little people, were elves. Magical creatures but with powerful magic. The humans were defeated but not lost. Ulgar decided to camp outside the elves's hideout, and wait for reinforceent. But two night later, a dark cloud loomed over the hills. A huge beast trotted in Ulgar's path, and as it walked, consumed all in its wake. Ulgar would later know them as the Undead, ghouls that were sworn enemies of the Elves. Ulgar, possessed with greed, formed what would be the most abominable alliance with the undead. The Dead promised the Elve's magic stones, in return for the sacrifice of 10 mortal flesh every month. ..cough... cough.. The battle was vicious. The Dead possessed powers beyond comprehension, but the Elves had every repelling counter curse and hexes, ad the battle was a draw. But, the humans had never come into contact with elves, let alone wage war. Thus, the human's bows and catapults tores down the Elve's defences, something dark magic would never be able to do. And soon, Ulgar and the Undead army marched into the Elve's mighty kingdom, and took every preious material, gold, jewels, sacred stones and all. Ulgar had power beyond his wildest dreams. Yet, it soon came for the day of sacrifice. Ulgar, fearful of the Undead's wrath, sacrificed 10 of his best men, and the Undead left the humans alone. But as the months passed, the demand for flesh increased, 20, 30 and soon 100 bodies a month.'
'People began to fear, and Ulgar, who was old at that point, could not go to battle. Yet, his son, Dyrad, found a way to solve the resolution. He said, 'instead of blind offering to the undead, why not send 10 of our best men, against 10 of thiers? Win, and they spare us the offerings for that month. Lose, and we give them the bodies thye want plus the souls of the 10 men.'
Halo stopped, blood was oozing out of his mouth, ears and eyes. Lady Veena tried to talk him into resting, but he pushed on, ' ...This vengeful competition was accpted by the Undead... couh.. thinking... cough.. it would be an easy fight, but the human champions had the power of the Reviera, and it was a tie. When the last of the champions, a name that you shall always remember, Wye I, the ancestors of our land, fought the Undead champion, the Highbourne, it was a tremendous battle, lasting 7 days and nights. But in the end, the humans prevailed. Ulgar then broke the treaty, sealing the Undead using th epower of the Reviera and selaing them within the caves of Belcrest. The very caves that caused us all this unrest...'
Lord Robson blinked, 'So... all this means that....'
Halo looked at him, and nodded. 'Every word, that I have uttered..cough... is true... and of all man... you, Robson... should know better...' Robson blinked, 'what do you mean?' Halo, suddenly laughed out loud. 'You means to say.. cough... harkkkk... Kh..Khaha...haaaa... that you have the ability to fire long range with point blank accuracy when others cannot? My child, it does not take a true Seer to know, that you, Lord Robson, are a descendant of the Noble Elves.'
Halo then turned to Lady Veena, '... cough.. cough... and you, Lady Veena.. you are human to the core.. but your father... your father was no ordinary man...' Lady Veena looked at halo for an answer, and as though Halo already knew her question, '... your father... was a Ghoul, and so is Lord June.'
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Lady Veena looked at Halo in respite. 'No... No! No! My father was a good man!' halo calmed her, 'Listen my child, cough... cough... Ghouls are not all evil... your father had the blood of a Ghoul, but the heart of a man, for your mother and father, they fell in love.' Lady Veena began to sob, 'By mother never told... could it be she did not..' halo wisked her silent, 'She knew your father was a Ghoul, yet... she married him. You see, Veena, races share not the same sources of power or compassion,. but one thing remains the same. Love. And what was between your father and mother had was pure love.'
Lord Robson interviened, 'So it is to say that... we are all mixed with the blood of Elves and Demons?'
Halo shook his head, 'Not necessarily. I can teach you how to identity the bloodlines, but cough.. cough...' The raised his hand, now covered with blood, and showed it to Robson. '..I'm dying.. But there is one race that does not belong to either Human, Elf or Undead.' lady Veena asked, and which is that? Halo looked her in the eyes, his expression suddenly changing. 'Slayers and the Highbourne, true descendants of the fathers of the first battle. All possess a superior gift that outshines any mortal being.'
Lord Robson spoke, 'Does that mean there are Slayers among us? But if the Highbourne were sealed, then..'
Halo's expression grew grim. 'That was what I was afraid of... It must have seemed that someone, by chance or intention, has broken the seal of the Belcrest Caves. And now... after that assasination attempt.... I believe the worst has come.... The Highbourne is being revived, and the Undead will rise again.'
Lord Robson shoot up, 'I will never let that happen!' Halo smiled for the first time that day, '...then listen, and listen closely... ' Halo leaned forward until he was inches away from Robson's ear. '... I want you to locate the Slayers, and bring them to a place called the Santuary... You... must. cough... cough.... help.... them..... reunITE!!....cough...' Halo began to shake vigourously, and more blood began to splutter. '.... One... will arrive from the North... another from the seas.... The rest I cannot say.... but one... there is one... among us....' Then suddenly, he stopped breathing. With the last of his breath, 'the ....crest... on my left shoulder... the crest...... of the Slayers....' and with that, Halo lay motionless on Lord Robson's arms. Lady Veena began to sob uncontrollably. Lord Robson held the dead General's head in the palms, a shallow tear cascaded down his cheeks, 'Rest well, my friend... rest well...'
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Lord Robson, Lord Siow, Princess WanYi and Lady Veena stood in silence, watching the fire burn. The entire imperial guard stood at silence, head bowed. Halo's corpse, lying peacefully on the stakes of timber and wood, lay still as the last blessings were being read out by the Reverand. The coffin then lowered into the ground, and the final respectes were paid. King Wye approached from behind the royal gates, and approached the duo.'It is... most regretful... if only I had not been on a royal errand, I'll...' Lord Robson kneeled, 'No sire, it is not your fault. General Halo was a brave soldier, and he risked his life for your own. Seek joy in the fact that you were not here during the assasination, milord. Even if you were, Halo would have naturally done the same.' At the very moment, Princess Wanyi appeared at the doorway. 'Father!! Oh, father! I'm so glad you're back!' King Wye held the princess in his arms. 'Oh, my little angel! I was so worried.' Behind them, Lord Siow emerged, heavily bandaged from head to toe. King Wye looked at him in bewilderment, 'My god, Siow! You should get some rest!' Lord Siow managed a little smile from until his half bandaged head. 'And miss the chance to see my father again? Not a chance in the world....' King Wye hugged Lord Siow, only to realise the bandages. 'Oh, I'm so sorry..' The castle guards chuckled, then stopped at the sight of King Wye's menacing stare, as Lord Siow bounced back in pain. 'Ahh... Its... its alright...'
The very moment, the Royal medics exited the wards, and knelt before the King. King Wye asked , 'How are the other two?' The royal medics replied, 'Prince Wai Kit is in serious condition... the anecdotes work only temporarily, and it will be a matter of time before the poison attacks the heart and vital tissues. Yet....' King Wye asked, 'Yet what?' Oe of the medics replied 'Yet... he seems to be recovering at a amazingly quick pace... Its almost impossible for a human to sustain so much poison at one time, yet alone recover from it.' King Wye seemed pleased, 'Then there is hope yet. See to it that he gets all the attention he needs. And Lord June?' 'Lord June suffered several punctures from the darts, but the anecdotes are woring perfectly. He should be well in a week.'
They all seemed pleased with the news, and the King whisked the medics away. Lord Robson came forward, 'I hope those wounds are alright..' Lord Siow came back, 'Nonsense,' as he held Princess Wanyi close to him, 'If its my sister on the line, it would take more than that to break me.' Princess Wanyi smiled back, then turned to face Lord Robson. 'I... err.. didn't get to thank you for risking your life for me...' Lord Robson blushed a little.. 'It's... nothing really...' Lord Siow smirked, then took to the door. 'I'll leave you two love birds alone then~' he whispered in Wanyi's ear. The Princess gave a haughty push, and Lord Siow squirmed in pain. 'Oh.. oh.. I'm soo sorry...' Lord Robson couldn' help himself and uttered under his breath, 'runs in the family..'
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Seventy miles away, flames were ablaze on Mt. Odyssey. The High Priest was pinned to the group by a huge beast, its horns pertruding out from its head. It raised its sword. 'I ask you again, old man, where is HE!!' The High Priest looked back at the Minotour. 'Kill me.' The creature was furious. It raised it's sword, but didn't strike. 'Silly old fool.... Even without you... the Undead will rise again and this time... the Slayers can do nothing about it...'
The High Priest, bloody all over, smugged at the beast. 'Kill me. Kill me like the way your filthy kind would to those who stood in your way. Animals...' The huge creature lay a blow on the High Priest, causing fresh blood to ooze out, overlapping the dried ones tat still lay by his chin.'
The Minotour looked at the Priest. 'So be it!' and with all his might, struck a heavy blow. The High Priest was sliced in two. But as the beast threw the dead corpse on the ground. Something amazing happened. The corpse suddenly began to glow, the High Priest stood up again, but this time, the blood stains were all gone. It was like he healed himself totally. The Minotour looked at the High Priest in disbelief. 'It can't be.... You're.... the Healer!?' The High Priest vanished sudenly, and appeared behind the Minotou within seconds, before anyone could react, he chanted a small spell, and a huge ray of light shot of from his finger and pierced the Minotour, dissintergrating it into pieces. The Minotour's lackeys scattered in all directions, 'Slayer! SLayer!!'
The High Priest let out a sigh of relief, as the demons dispersed. Then, he saw it. The Dark Clouds. More Demons must be on their way. He eyed the once beautiful santuary of Mt. Odyssey. Destryoed. Bloodshed and dead bodies layed at his feet. Once tall structures now lay in ruins. As he walked across the field, he spotted one of his wounded deciples. Quickly, he approached him, and placed his palm on his head. 'I'm sorry... Master can heal you, but you will never remember anything that happened before.' And with a glowing light, the wounds on the disciple vanished, and The Healer quickly held him by his shoulders, and vanished into the woods.
From atop the hills, an icy-cold pair of eyes staired at the fleeing Slayer. He laughed hysterically under the claok, a synister and chuckled laugh. The Croaked Wizard held up his Cold Blue Staff, and the orb within it swivled. And the image of the Healer began to float over the orb. 'The Healer... My opponent.... Nyahahahahaha!!!' And with that, a bluish mist began to emerge, engulfing the wizard, and then, it vanished.
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The only source of comfort she could get was by the dim glow of the candle. Making her way down the steps, the paused as she arrived outside his door. THere, she could see him. Her savour. He had risked it all just to protect her. To keep her alive. Tears swelled up in her eyes, as she pushed the door open gently. Wai Kit lay motionless, asleep under the moonlight. His head rested on a wooden pillow, and most of his body was covered in cloth, where damp spots of dried blood protruded. His upper body was not cover, and Lady Veena could claerly see the puncture marks all over him. All were blue and purple. She seemed lost for a moment, that she could not forgive herself if he had risked his life for hers, and lost it. Until, she saw his chest heave up and down. Slowly, but it was all the evidence she needed. Gently, she raised up her hands, and hesitated for a moment. His expression was at peace, a look that she had never seen before in any man she had been with. For a moment there, she actually felt attracted, and a huge urge of passion swept through her. Then, she caressed his face, slowly, gently, careful not to wake him up. She pushed his hair back, and for the first time had a full view of his face. A dashingly good-looking one too. She blushed a little, as Wai Kit began to stirr. She wanted to head out of the room, but she felt herself glued to her deat, her eyes not leaving his for a second. When finally, they opened.
'Hi.' she said, her sweet voice penetrating his consious.
'Owh.. where am...?' Wai Kit came to, slightly dizzly. Lady Veena gently placed her finger on his lips. 'Don't talk. You're safe now. That's all that matters.'
Wai Kit looked back at her, his voice slightly parced and croaked. 'And... What is that supposed to...'
Suddenly and without warning, Lady Veena's lips met his. A wet, tender kiss as thier tongues exchanged under the moonlight, as the candle that Lady Veena was holding blew off... and off they went into the night.
