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The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 01

By: Viper



The universe is divided into two worlds,
The human world and the nether world,
Humans, plants, and animals rule the first,
Demons and ghouls inhabit the other.

Once in a millenium,
The gate to the evil will open,
Darkness will lurk upon the land,
And both worlds will be one.

One man will rise from the shadow,
With royal blood he will rule,
He appears in all modesty,
And nobody will hear and heed.

But he will banish the dark,
With his sword he slays the evil,
Until one day people will know him,
As the Champion of the Guardian.

The silence of the night sang in the dark. There will be no more night lullaby; no more peaceful night. The darkness filled the sky as if it's trying to engulf the tiny earth with its mighty hands. The air was thin and uncomfortably hot. The mighty storm was coming, but this time, it was not an ordinary storm. It was the beginning of the Dark Age...

The Crystal Tower stood proud in the Northern Continent, as it was watching the Land of Lore. The amorphous pink crystal wall stayed erect despite the strong wind. The Kingdom of Aragon could no longer be seen because of the dark mist. For thousands of years the building had been the protector of the land. Now it was the main source of the disaster.

Goddess Gaea stood in front of the window, watching the wind. The room was getting chilly from the wind that made contact with the tower wall. She slowly wrapped herself in her thin robe that circled her slim body. A small star-shaped pendant kept the robe together in front of her chest, and a long white satin dress covered her body to her feet. A diamond-centered tiara rested on her long golden hair. Sometimes her own natural beauty amazed her.

But soon it will be useless. Her beauty would help her not. As the protector of the land, she was responsible to watch over the Dark Portal, the gate to the savage Nether world. For many years she had kept the gate in one piece, despite the attempts of the demons to leave their lair.

She always blamed herself for accepting the task from the Guardian, the highest God of the Realm. She would have been having fun in Heaven by now if she had rejected the offer, but she accepted her late mother's task. She had been staying in the Crystal Tower for years, alone, away from all civilization, but she accepted it anyway. The guardian of the tower received great honor among the Gods.

Honor and beauty... They would all be useless now, she thought. She knew everything would be over soon. The Dark Age was coming. The ancient prophecy about it had been spread across the land, and she knew the time had come. The Dark Portal was collapsing, and once everything was done, the mighty army of darkness would enter the human world, and the nightmare would begin. A big war would rage, and thousands would be killed, regardless their ranks or races. And she knew that she would be the very first victim.

The Guardian had said nothing, and the Gods had urged her to leave her place. But she had refused. She couldn't know why. She knew the risk of facing the army of darkness herself would be death, but she refused to flee. Perhaps she was sure that the Gate was her responsibility. Perhaps she knew it was her destiny. But it was too late to regret her decision. She was going to face it.

The air was getting colder and colder. The time had come, she thought. She walked slowly from her room to the main chamber. Her footsteps rang through the hallway, breaking the silence. The main chamber was a great room with crystal walls forming a huge cube. The crystal was clear, and she could see the starless night sky. In the middle of the room was a huge blue stone arc; the Dark Portal. Sculptures were carved nicely on the surface of the arc, and a large red gem stood on top of the gate; the Titan gem, stone of the Gods, the seal of the door that kept the demons from entering the human world. In the middle of the arc a large black swirling hole floated there; the doorway to the Nether Land. Gaea just stood there, enjoying the dark red gleam of the gem for the last time.

Then suddenly darkness covered the room. Gaea could no longer see the walls. She could not even feel the floor at her feet. Everything was dark. She could see only herself and the Portal right in front of her, with the hole turning to blood red. The cold mist had turned into phantoms of the dead, circling her body. She could hear the dying breath of the invisible specters around her, and sharp smell stung her nose; the smell of the rotten flesh. Fear began to envelop her, as the sensation grew stronger. Her hands unwillingly trembled behind her long sleeve. She, a god and the protector of the Portal, had tasted the world of the dead.

Then in a split second, the Titan gem shattered into pieces. Gaea thought her heart would leap and popped out of her chest. Instead, she just stood there watching the pieces of the seal of the Portal as they fell into the darkness below her. And then suddenly her body grew numb. She couldn't move a muscle. Even breathing was difficult as the air grew uncomfortably hot and the smell grew stronger. She felt that her power was being drained from her. She closed her blue eyes, tried to focus her feeling. She had to face it. She prayed that she would be able to handle this... or get over it quickly.

Then she slowly opened her eyes again. This time the specters had turned into real ghouls flying all over the place. They were filling her with their dying spirit, slowly draining her life and feeding her with fear. And then a huge black ball came through the Portal, followed with noisy cheers from the hole; the cheer from the army of darkness... so this had to be the leader, she thought. The ball slowly turned into a shape of a tall man, with dark long cloak covering his body. The man floated in front of her, examining her, while she was fighting to stop herself trembling.

"Greetings, Gaea. You are truly as beautiful as the Lord of Darkness told me."

His deep voice rocked her pride like an earthquake. She suddenly found herself slowly stepping backwards. However, the dark man seemed unmoved.

"There is no escape, my princess."

His words made her guts fall apart. That's a normal taunt in battle, but this time it was different. It was real.

"Perhaps my hasty approach startled you, my dear. My name is Daemon, Commander Daemon. I'm the supreme leader of the army of darkness, and I serve directly under Lord of Darkness. I must say it was an honor to have a beautiful goddess to be our... welcoming guest."

"You will not escape this..." she suddenly found herself saying. Her voice symbolized fear rather than a threat.

"But I will not escape from you, my princess. I have traveled through the dangerous inter-dimension portal to see you, my dear..."

"I am not your dear!" she began to get a hold of herself. Slowly she felt her power returning.

"Impressive." The dark man said. "I have been well known as the most ruthless warlord in the underworld, but you dare to challenge me. Do you know that nobody can stand against my wrath?"

"I won't let you take over the human world!"

Gaea lifted her hands and began enchanting her spells. She could feel her already-weakened power flowing through her fingers. It's now or never, she thought, so she used all of her available power for her spell. A blue bubble appeared in front of her, covering her with its protective shield. Then slowly she opened her eyes. The dark man was still there, unmoved.

"BANISH EVIL!!!" she cried and drained all her power. A wave of blue rays shot from her opened hands to the dark man.

Nothing happened. The spells just passed through the dark general, as if he was not there. His expression didn't even change. The spell had no effect o0n him. She felt her fear rising again. Her weakened body began to tremble.

"Nice shot, my lady, you hit me. Too bad you picked the wrong bullet."

He set his cloak aside, revealing a huge black shiny body armor. His body was very human. He lifted his gloved hand and opened his palm, revealing a small blue bubble.

"Your inexperienced power is very easy to be contained, even in my palm. Also remember where you are, my lady. This is not heaven. The human world and nether world are one once more. Your pathetic power doesn't work here anymore. I am in charge right now."

He closed his eyes and enchanted his own spells. Suddenly the darkness disappeared. Gaea found herself standing on the cold tower floor. But this time, they were not alone. The main chamber was now filled with ghouls, rotten zombies, orcs, goblins, and other condemned creatures. The army of darkness had arrived. And she was there, right in the middle of the crowds. The once-quiet room was filled with grunts of the creatures, rattle of the bones of the skeletons, and the clang of swords, axes, and clubs from the entire audience. This entire army could spread chaos to the entire land, she thought. Then she realized that there would be no escape for her in this matter.

A loud laughter came from the dark general. This time his eyes were blazing red. "I will have pleasure by drinking your fear, my little princess. But I will remove the barrier between us, so we could get to know each other better."

Suddenly, four pairs of tentacles appeared from the ground around Gaea and her magical shield. The tentacles were deep blue and had stink yellowish goo covering them. One of the tentacles in front of her whipped itself into the shield. The barrier deflected the attack, but she felt a severe blow to her power. Then in turn, the tentacles attacked with their slim bodies. Her power was quickly drained, and she began to get weakened.

With her helpless cry, the shield gave up, and a tentacle whipped her left leg, bending her to her knees. Another tentacle grabbed her right wrist and pulled it up, lifting her body by one hand. Three whips from the tentacles effectively ruined her robe. One tentacle slipped under her garment then tore it out, revealing her well-shaped breasts. Her long dress was torn the same way. She was now hanging on one bound hand, with ruined clothes still hanging on her prone body and her private parts revealed.

Then the other tentacles began whipping her bare back, not strong enough to create permanent welts, but enough to cause pain. Her cry rang through the now-quiet main chamber, as the entire army of darkness watched her being tortured and humiliated. There she was, a goddess and the protector of human world, for now she was nothing but a plaything for the foul folks. With her remaining power, she tried in vain to cover her naked body. With a final blow, she cried out loud, and the tentacle released her hand. She fell on her stomach, panting and sobbing. Tears fell from her tightly closed eyes, giving essential addition to her humiliated face.

"I suppose you have now understood our roles here. I rule; you heed. Look at yourself. You are nothing but a pathetic slut in front of our mighty000 forms. And I can assure you, that you will watch how our mighty army crushed the pathetic humans to the bones." His voice was calm and without expression, but his tones indicated that he meant what he just said.

But she opened her eyes, lifted her head, and stared at her enemy. "I'm not ready to give up yet, Daemon! I still have one more surprise..."

She reached for her pendant on her torn robe, and chanted her spell with her very remaining power. The star pendant shone brightly, blinding the crowds. Then the pendant shot blisteringly to the sky, through the tower ceiling, and headed directly to the mainland. Then the sky shone brightly as the pendant made its way through the dark sky, before the darkness began to take control of the sky once more.

"The pendant will find his master, who will become the greatest man in the history. He will slay the demons and bring peace across the land. And then according to the prophecy, he will be known as the Champion of the Guardian!"

Then she fell silent. She knew she had made her last mistake, but this time she would not regret it. Now she understood the prophecy. The Guardian had planned all this. And she was proud. She had become part of it. No more burdens were left in her heart. She had done her task; she had done it really well.

Suddenly the dark general lost his expressionless face. Anger rose in her figure, and his eyes were now burning with hellish hatred. His fists were clenched tightly. He stared at his helpless victim.

"YOU BITCH!!! Don't ever think you have defeated the power of darkness! The Champion of the Guardian will not succeed, and I can assure you that! Moreover, I will ensure you witness everything!"

He floated closer until his feet almost touched her face. "You will live, slut! I will not let you die. I'll make you wish you were dead. You will become the first slut for the army of darkness, and nobody will come and rescue you, for your fate has been sealed. You will provide the best breeding for the horde, and you will see how your children destroyed the creatures you're supposed to protect. I'll make you suffer FOREVER!!!"

He grabbed her head and lifted it by her neck, until she was facing his face and fighting for her breath. "And your pathetic hero will not make it. I will kill him before he realized that he is the chosen one. I will tear him limb to limb, and use his blood to decorate my brand new throne room!"

Then he turned to his men and ordered, "Trace the pendant! I want the baby that is born with the pendant die! Kill the baby, and bring the corpse to me! If you can't find the baby, kill every human you find! If we have to wipe out the entire race to find the baby, then be it! Do you understand me?!!"

The roar of the foul folks rang through the room. Then he returned to the gasping prisoner. "And for you, my little slut, we have a game to play. It's simple. You become a woman, I become a man, and we acted like ones!"

He softly chanted his spell and his armor was gone. Gaea stared in horror at his crotch. His enormous cock stood proud and was semi hard. The dark man jammed his two fingers into her cheeks to force her mouth open, then rammed his cock inside her mouth until it reached the back of her throat. He kept it there for a while, making her gag and choke. A pair of tentacles pulled her arms and tied her wrists together behind her back. Another pair did the same to her ankles, but they spread them open. Then tentacles lifted her arms so that her mouth and throat formed a straight line. Then Daemon began his assault on the poor goddess' throat. Gaea could only moan and groan as her mouth was fucked by the demon lord. She didn't know how long he tortured her with his oral assault, but with a loud roar, the demon lord shot his seeds deep into her throat. She had no choice hut to swallow them, or she could not breathe. Daemon pulled her cock out and shot his load to her face and hair. The poor goddess could not evade the assault, for her arms and legs were well secured by the tentacles. She could only sob and accept everything in complete humiliation.

Then Daemon took one step behind, admiring his work. The once-pretty goddess was now at his mercy, degraded and humiliated. Her beautiful figure was now ruined by her torn clothes and soaked hair. The tentacles turned her prone body around to reveal her pussy. She had no desire to protest; her hope to escape had vanished. The dark general slapped her buttocks several times until they are burning-red. Only moans came from her mouth, as her power was completely drained. Without warning, Daemon jammed his cock inside Gaea's dry pussy, passed the lips and tore the hymen. A loud wail came throughout the room as she felt a sharp pain stroke her. Her virginity, and also her dignity, had gone. She had been claimed completely by the demon.

Without giving chance for her to get used to the pain, Daemon began to mercilessly fuck her dry pussy. Her cunt was aching, but she could do nothing but wail and groan. Fresh tears came from her eyes. She could see the faces of the foul folks as they enjoyed the horrible view of her being fucked. Daemon was right. Now she had no desire to live; she wished she had been dead. But she was powerless. She had no choice to endure all these tortures.

The fucking went for a long time; she could not tell how long. Her lower part of her body had grown numb, but the pain was still there. She wondered why she had not fainted. Finally, Daemon cried his last triumphant cry and shot his load inside her womb, filling her with his devilish seeds. Her humiliation was now complete. She was no longer a goddess; she was now the demons' sex slave.

"I will make you a proud mama by bearing by child. And I will ensure you that my child will kill your Champion of the Guardian!" His voice was full with hatred.

Gaea had no power to counter that. She didn't even have the wish to do so. His hand grabbed her soaked hair and he pulled her face close to his.

"My little slut... I will fuck you! YOU WILL BE OUR SLAVE... FOREVER!!!"

His laughter rang through the room, joined by the laughter of the army of darkness. Their laughter filled the dark night sky, as they had fun all night long with their new slave...

To Be Continued...

The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 03



Ch. 03: The Battle

The forest of Labrador was calm as usual. Bird chirps could be heard from far away. Various animals were seen in every corner. The peace was overwhelming, but not for the two companions.

They made a camp two miles away from the village. Around them were thick walls of trees of the Labrador forest. The day was pretty hot for an autumn day. Atrus looked at the surroundings to make sure they were not being watched. His instinct told him it was safe.

He returned and found that the girl had made two piles of fallen leaves for both of them to sit on. She was eating her own meal. Atrus sat on the leaves, opened his backpack and took a sandwich Sylvia had made for him. They ate in silence. The girl sometimes looked at him, but he had learnt to completely ignore her. He knew the girl knew he was mad, but he didn't care. He could feel his anger was satisfied by his behavior.

Atrus finished his meal quickly, then using his backpack as a pillow he laid down to the ground. But instead of falling asleep, he quietly listened to his guest in front of him. He could hear her slowing down her eating. She was watching him, he thought.

But then he heard the voice he wouldn't expect to hear. It was a sob, and it came from her. He opened one eye and saw that she was sobbing softly. He grew tired of this annoying girl. His anger came again, and he quickly sat erect.

"WHAT?! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO YOU, WHINER!"

But when he looked at his guest, he was startled. She was indeed crying softly. Her eyes were moist with tears. Slowly his anger faded away, replaced by regret that he had just yelled at her.

"Forgive me..." was all he could say.

Both of them were silent for while, until she spoke up with her choked small voice. "You... hate me..."

Atrus was stunned with her words. He didn't argue. He had hated her all right. He just sat there, staring at the weeping little girl.

"Why...?" She managed to say.

"Why what?" Atrus asked.

"Why would men be attracted to women just because of sex...?"

"That's not true!"

"YOU'RE LYING!" She countered.

Atrus didn't answer. Something had to have happened to this girl that made her think that way, he thought. He let her draw another breath.

"You were kind to me so I will fall for you and make love to you..." She said.

Atrus couldn't accept such accuse. "I was not! I just wanted to thank you!"

"You're lying again. You have no right to call yourself a Ranger!"

"In the name of the Guardian, I'm telling the truth!" Atrus defended himself.

"SO BE IT! BANISH EVIL!!!"

She held her hands high over her head and produced a green ball of fire. Then the greenish fire shot out to Atrus' unmoved body. The fire quickly engulfed his body from head to toe.

"The holy fire will burn body and soul of liars like you! Feel the wrath of Guardian!"

Then she was shocked. Atrus just sat there, unmoved, looking at her. The fire was still burning around his body, but he didn't feel any pain. His body stayed intact. A moment later the fire disappeared. She looked at him in horror.

"It can't be... You... you're telling the truth..."

Then the little girl collapsed and fainted.

When she woke up, the forest was dark. The sun was gone, and the only light existed was the one came from the fireplace to her right. She was lying on a pile of leaves. She could feel the cold breeze touching her face, but her body was warm. Something was covering her; it was a blanket. She sat down slowly, fighting the dizziness in her head.

Then she saw him in front of her. He was sitting near the fire, cooking something. It didn't take too long until he noticed her waking up. She looked into his deep blue eyes, then the memories came back. She remembered everything she had done to him. Tears filled her eyes again. She wiped them out, hoping he didn't notice, but it was too late.

When she opened her eyes again, he was sitting right in front of her. This time he was very different. No sign of hatred existed in his eyes. His expression was calm and tender.

"You've been asleep for at least six hours. How are you feeling?"

Six hours? Had he done anything to her while she was asleep, she wondered. But she got rid of that thought immediately. She just nodded.

"Then you'll be fine. I examined your body. You were just all spent. You used up your power in your spells."

He examined her body? Again the same question arose. But he could read her mind.

"Don't worry. A Ranger won't do such thing." He stated.

She felt sorry for doubting him. She lowered her head and said, "I'm... I'm sorry, I..."

"I understand. I'm sorry for being too harsh to you."

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes. She felt no lies in his expression. She began cursing herself again for her past treatment. She wondered if he would accept her back.

"Perhaps we could start with some proper self introductions. My name is Atrus White Lion, a Ranger trainee."

He waited patiently until she spoke up. "Adriana Freesland, priestess of Lycra."

"A priestess? You're a priestess?" She heard him ask. Of course he would ask. The Lycra clan was one of the best magic users in the Land of Aragon.

A sharp pain stroked her heart as the painful memories came again. The memories that she wanted to forget. He noticed the change in her expression.

"If you don't mind, you can tell me what's wrong. I'm ready to listen."

She hesitated. Telling such story would be a disgrace for her, but she had no honor. No honor was left in her. She just lowered her head in shame.

"Very well, then, I understand." He turned away and headed back to his cooking. Her mind raced again. He might be the only one who could understand, she thought.

"W...wait... I will tell you... But please don't tell anybody..." She hated it when her voice sounded very helpless, but she couldn't control it. If she held it any longer, she's going to burst.

He smiled. "I need to look at our dinner. I'll be right back."

She waited for him in confusion. She thought about the things she was about to say, but her mind was blank. She just looked at him as he checked their meal. Five sticks with fish on the end were around the fire. Then she realized how hungry and thirsty she was. Then he returned with two well-grilled fish and a glass of water. She drank greedily, the taste of cool fresh water cleared her dry throat. He sat down in front of her, handing out her fish, then looked at her expectantly.

She slowly began her tales. "I... am no longer a priestess. I got kicked out..." She grasped for another breath. "Because... I'm no longer... a virgin..."

She waited for his reaction, but none came out. He sat there patiently, looking at her.

"I was an orphan. My mom left me in front of the door of the Lycra Shrine, North of Aragon. Then the priestesses adopted me and taught me the art of magic. However, I haven't made any friends there."

"How come?" She heard him ask.

"The Shrine head told me that I was born with bad luck in my blood. Everywhere I go and everything I do always brings trouble. That's why the priestesses hated me." Her voice was choked as she fought the tears in her eyes. "But I withstood everything... until one day..."

This time she couldn't hold again and began crying softly. She then felt his hands took her small hand and squeezed it, trying to soothe her. She regained her strength. She's not going to stop. She was going to tell him everything.

"I was sent with some priestesses to a village near the shrine to help some war refugees. I was left in a camp alone to cure some wounded soldiers. I didn't know it was going to happen..." She hesitated, her voice was getting softer, "They... they... raped..."

Before she could finish her last sentence, Atrus grabbed her slim body and pulled her close to his body. "That's enough, Adriana. I'm sorry I made you remember this again."

New tears sprang from her eyes. She began crying in his arms, this time she didn't hold back. She cried and cried like a little girl, trying to release all tensions she had been keeping for all this time. Atrus tried his best to comfort her. He now understood everything. That's way she had been so harsh to him. Her memories kept her from accepting any men because of her fear. She thought all men were liars and sex beasts. He felt sorry for her. In her cry, he could feel her loneliness, her eagerness of having a friend she could trust. Quietly he vowed that if she wanted him, he would be ready to be her friend.

It took some time until she regained her courage again. She let herself go, then sat facing the fire. Atrus hadn't paid any attention on her since she slapped him. She wore her priestess costume with green ribbon on her hair. Her green eyes reflected the firelight perfectly. Her lips were small and delicate. Her face was very pretty. She noticed that he was looking at her.

"You're the first man I ever allow to examine me thoroughly." She said.

"I'm most honored." Atrus smiled. "So tell me, what are you doing here in this forest?"

Adriana took a sip of her tea, then answered, "I have nowhere else to go. Therefor I'm going to do the thing only fools might do." She paused for a while, looking at him. "I'm going to find the Champion of the Guardian."

Atrus couldn't hide his surprise. "You mean the guy in that prophecy?"

"You've heard the prophecy before, haven't you?"

"Yes, I mean, who hasn't? But nobody believes it. How could a man defeat the darkness by himself? Don't tell me you believe the bullshit..."

"I do believe it, Atrus. It's not bullshit. The Dark Age is indeed here. All that we need is to find the lone warrior." She stated.

"But according to the prophecy, the guy you're looking for is supposed to be in the palace. He's supposed to possess royal blood. What are you doing here?"

Adriana looked at him deeply. "You mean you believe that Prince Roberto, son of King Edward? He's such a jerk! He can't be the warrior!"

"He's a good guy, I think... Although he's a bit pervert... But King Edward has only one son!"

"Haven't you heard that the king had another son, but he was lost fifteen years ago?"

"You mean Prince Alfredo? He's lost! Gone for years! Do you think he's the one?" Atrus kept on asking. But Adriana blew a sigh.

"I know it's dumb, and I won't ask you to believe me any further. But I'm going to look for him. And somehow I know I will eventually find him."

"I believe you will." Atrus nodded. He didn't completely believe that the prophecy was true, but he didn't think it was wrong. Until now every event was well predicted by the prophecy. The demons might be what the Dark Age was all about. Also, there seemed to be no end of this bloody war. If this long lost prince was really the chosen one, then he might be the lash hope of survival for every race in the land.

But he quickly switched his attention back to the present business. He yanked her hand that was holding the fish, reminding her that she forgot to eat her meal. "Eat before it gets cold. We will scout again tomorrow for the bandits. I have a feeling they're not far away from here."

Adriana just nodded, then began eating the fish. Not bad, she thought. "This is delicious. You should teach me how to make this."

"Nah, I believe you can do a better job." Atrus told her as he walked to the fire.

"I'm a priestess. I can't cook."

Atrus gave her a skeptic look and said, "WHAT? YOU CAN'T COOK? EVEN I CAN COOK!"

This time Adriana couldn't help but frowned. In the Land of Aragon, it was a big disgrace for a wife if she couldn't cook for her husband and family. Therefor, all girls had to learn how to do most of housework since they were young. 

"AAARGH! MY FISH ARE BURNT TO ASHES!!!"

The girl tried to fight back, but her strength was no match for the bandit. The villain threw her to the ground and pinned her body with his. He then grabbed her thin fabric and tore it into pieces, leaving her naked. The girl, knowing that she had lost the fight, tried in vain to cover her nakedness. She could only cry as the bandit stared at her, stripping her pride.

The muscled thug then spread her legs as wide as possible that she yelped in pain and humiliation. The girl repeatedly begged for his mercy, but he didn't care. Without any proper foreplay he rammed his hard prick deep into her vagina. A loud cry of agony was heard throughout the forest.

The bandit began thrusting in and out her pussy. Blood poured down her vagina as he fucked her mercilessly. Only within a few minutes the girl fainted, but the thug pressed the tip of his lit cigar to her nipple, making her wail and bringing her back to the real world. The torture continued until the bandit reached his climax and shot his load deep inside her. Then he dropped the girl to the ground and let her fainted again. He looked to the sky and yelled a cry of victory.

The poor girl was not the only one. There were at least ten of them. They were being used and tortured in various ways around the bandits encampment. And all Atrus and Adriana could do was watch.

The two companions had found the bandits camp and were now spying on them. They stayed behind the bushes only a few meters from the camp.

"Atrus, can't we just charge them right now and free those girls?" Adriana asked. Her voice was full of misery.

"And make ourselves vulnerable to them? Only fools rush in, my dad always said. After all, if we attack now, we might endanger the hostages." Atrus explained quietly.

"We can disarm a few bandits and use their clothes to sneak in." Adriana suggested.

"And how about you? I believe you want some actions, am I right?"

Atrus' answer silenced her. He was right. There was no female bandit in the group. The only females were the hostages. If she appeared in person, their cover would be blown.

"So what should we do? I can't stand looking at these tortures any longer..."

"Going back to the village will be useless. They are pretty near to the village. We have to stop them ourselves." Atrus stared at Adriana. "I like your idea, though. You see those barrels?" Atrus pointed at a pile of wooden barrels sitting next to a tent.

"Gunpowder?"

"Precisely. The tents were all made of fabric. I believe there are more barrels around the camp. If we can get close enough to the barrels and ignite them, we can burn their camp, and hopefully their supplies. Therefor they will have no choice but to retreat."

"Brilliant, Atrus." Adriana looked at Atrus in awe. "But how do I get past the guards?"

"We'll use your plan. We'll wait here until dark."

The camp was actually bigger than they thought. The surrounding was dark and gloomy. The bandits had started the fire and lighted the torches. Supper was being prepared. The thugs were gathering around the fire with their hostages.

Atrus walked slowly with the crowds. He wore one of the bandits' outfits from a fellow he had smacked earlier. Adriana followed only a foot behind him. Her skirt was ripped, revealing her well-shaped thighs. Her blouse was also torn here and there. She had taken off her gloves, boots, and ribbon. Two pairs of chains hung on her wrists and ankles. She didn't want to know where Atrus got these things. From afar, she looked like an ordinary hostage.

Adriana kept her distance as close to Atrus as possible, for she didn't want to attract any attentions from the bandits around them. Her manacles, although were locked loosely by Atrus himself, prevented her from moving freely. She tripped herself once and a while, only being held by Atrus before she fell. Luckily, the thugs around them were too hungry to pay any attentions to them.

Atrus' prediction was right. The barrels were scattered all over the camp. The bandits, not expecting an ambush, had set their camp recklessly.

As they approached a huge tent, Atrus moved slowly closer to the tent. Then in a quick succession, he slipped his hostage in behind the tent. Adriana immediately hid behind the tent and watched Atrus as he walked casually toward the campfire. Now everything was up to her. All she had to do was to sneak into the temporal guard post in the center of the camp, only a few meters in front of her. There she could have a clear shot to almost all barrels around the camp. Atrus would make some distractions to buy her time to escape the fire later. She quickly took off all the chains from her body then crawled stealthily to the base of the tower.

The tower was made primarily of bamboo poles tied up together with ropes. The construction was simple so that the tower could be taken off or reinstalled in an hour or so. A small wooden ladder was laid on west side of the tower. Adriana concentrated her instinct, trying to observe the top of the tower. One life form, looking at north, sleepy. She could see that he was carrying a curved sword and a torch. She felt lucky she had such skill. She began to wonder if Atrus would appreciate her skills.

No, she thought. Atrus was a great warrior. He didn't need her at all. Atrus wouldn't be interested in going after the Champion of the Guardian. He had his own life and she had hers. She had hoped Atrus would join her journey by promoting the prophecy and her crazy dream. Now she felt that she had been so selfish.

Then she felt a movement in her mind. The guard had turned East. This was her chance, she thought. She quietly climbed the ladder. The wood made cracking sound for every step she made, but the singing around the campfire had begun, concealing her noisy approach. Just when she was halfway to the top, she felt the guard moved again. This time he moved to her position!

She could see the guard at the top of the tower. He was a big man, all right. She stood still on the ladder, hoping that he would not notice her. The Guardian listened to her prayer. The guard just yawned then returned back to his post, facing east.

She wiped the sweat off her forehead then began climbing again. When she was about to reach the top, she quietly chanted the sleeping spell to the man. She didn't need too much power for that, for the man was already sleepy. The guard slumped to the floor then began snoring loudly.

The tower was basically simple and empty, but she could see nearly the entire camp complex from there. She began to note all the barrels lying around the tents. As a magic apprentice, she only had one harmful spell, magic missile. And she hadn't practice much for her accuracy. This time she had to do this right. Softly she prepared her magic missile spell.

The campfire was big and bright. Several men were roasting wild beasts on he fire. The others gathered around the fire, singing and yelling at one another. Some thugs were playing around with their poor hostages as their screams were joined by the bandit's laughter. The bandits had made this forest into their heaven. Now it was going to be their grave.

Atrus tugged his cloak closer to hide his face. The air was uncomfortably hot for his, for he didn't really like being in the crowds. His right hand rested on his sword, concealed by the cloak. He sat down on the grass, watching the bandits. All he had to do was wait for Adriana's signal.

Then suddenly somebody fell down on Atrus' back, pushing him forward. When he turned to face the threat, he saw that a hostage had been tripped by a group of bandits. She just lay on the ground, sobbing and breathing heavily. Her body was covered with mud and bruises. Her wrists were tied together with a piece of cloth. Her black hair was soaked with sweat and mud. Except for her restraint, she was practically naked.

"Come on, brother!" One of the bandits yelled at Atrus. "Do her! Give us a good show!"

The girl looked at him with her pleading eyes. Her body was trembling as she fought her tears. "Please, sir, have mercy..." Her voice was small, but full of fear.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 03



Atrus quickly grabbed her small body and pinned her to the ground. She was too weak to fight back, but managed to let a loud scream. The men around them began to cheer him up. The girl gave up the struggle and let Atrus kissed her tender neck.

"Don't worry. We're here to help. Now moan as loud as you can." Atrus instructed her softly near her ear to prevent the bandits from hearing.

It took a few seconds for the girl to understand. She began to moan every time Atrus kissed her. Atrus just probed her body with his finger before kissing her earlobe.

"Take all hostages to the village of Labrador. I'll meet you there. Understand?"

The girl let a soft moan, signaling that she understood. Atrus sat near her crotch, spreading her legs wide despite her cry of protest. Come on, Adriana, he thought, give me your signal!

"Wait a minute, I know you!" One of the bandits exclaimed. Atrus turned to see him.

He was the bandit leader he had fought in the forest earlier.

"Uh, hi, pal, I'm Johnny, a bandit from the West..." Atrus quietly cursed himself for not being good at lying.

"Traitor!" The bandit yelled. "We have a traitor here..."

Suddenly a big ball of fire erupted from the north side of the camp. Suddenly the sky became really bright and fire appeared in some tents. The bandits were all stunned. Atrus quickly grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her through the crowds.

Once they were hidden in the crowds, Atrus suddenly yelled, "We're under attack! We're under attack!"

This created a great confusion among the bandits. They began running to their tents to grab their scattered weapons. When they were ready for combat, they couldn't tell who were their friends or foes. Another explosion occurred in the east side of the camp, engulfing the tents and creating a chain reaction with another set of barrels. The bandits, confused like crazy, began killing and stabbing each other.

However, Atrus had no time to be confused. He took the girl's hand and dragged her to the perimeter of the camp, telling her to stay there. Then he drew his sword and got into the fighting crowds again, looking for the rest of the hostages.

Adriana launched her last magic missile to the center of the camp. The white ball appeared from her hands and soared to the barrels, destroying them. Fire had engulfed half of the camp and Atrus was making trouble in the south part. The air was very hot, and she noticed that fire had begun to crawl near the guard tower. She had to get out of there, or she would be burned to death.

Her legs were trembling as she stepped down the ladder. The magic missiles she had launched had drained her energy. Her sight began to grow dim. Carefully she went down the ladder, using her hands to keep her from falling to the ocean of fire beneath her. Her consciousness began to fade and her grips grew loose.

"I'm... sorry... Atrus... I... can't..." Then her grips let go and she fell...

... only to find herself in Atrus' arms. "Adriana! Are you okay?"

She slowly opened her eyes. "Atrus? I... can't..." She could feel the intense heat of the fire behind them.

"You can't give up now! I need your help!"

He needed her help, she thought! Atrus needed her help! Her brain began to work harder than ever, ordering her heart to beat faster. She could feel new power came to her. She began to regain her consciousness despite the extremely hot air around them. Her feet reached the ground and gradually supported her weight again. She looked at him in anticipation.

"What can I do for you?"

Atrus smiled at her. "Thanks for returning back to real world." He pointed to the west side of the camp. "I left some hostages there. Take them out of here. Run as far as you can go. I'll try to hold them off."

She looked at him in disbelief. "But you could get killed! Let me go with you!"

"Don't worry about me! You're the only one I can trust to bring them back home!"

Adriana was stunned. He... he trusted me...

A stray bandit ran toward them with his curved sword in his hand, but he was no match for Atrus, who quickly slashed him with his sword.

"Go! I'll catch you up later!" Then Atrus ran back to the confused crowds.

"Atrus! Be careful!" She cried. Then she ran to the direction Atrus showed her. Behind her, the bandits began to disperse and scatter.

Adriana kept on running and running, despite of the numbness that swallowed her feet. The eight other girls ran close behind her, suffering the same torture on their feet. Running in the forest barefoot was not a good idea, but they had to do that to escape the fire that had began to engulf the trees nearby the camp. Behind them, the land had become the hell on earth.

Yet she kept on running. Many times she failed to dodge the raised roots of the trees, but managed to get back up and run again. She would run until they reached their campsite. Then she would wear her boots and hide the girls until Atrus came. Then she would again ask if Atrus would be willing to accompany her in her journey... Perhaps not, she thought... But she would ask him anyway...

"HALT!"

She looked back to find the source of the voice. The girls were also startled and stared into the darkness. There, with the burning trees far away as the background, a single man stood. But he was not Atrus; he was bigger, far bigger. His expression was harsh and his broad chest was full with bruises from combat. However, he stood erect right in front of them. In his right hand was a huge axe and in his left hand a leather whip. The wicked weapon had already sent shiver to her spine.

"My name is Gorgon, the bandit king of Black Tooth clan. You have nerve by destroying my force. However your puny trick didn't work for me!" He raised his axe high. "Now is your chance to actually stop me. I challenge you to fight to the death!"

Adriana knew that the duel would be foolish, for she would surely be killed. Her body was also full with bruises created by branches. Her power was completely spent from her spells and her escape. She couldn't even stand straight.

"She is not responsible! I am the witch you're looking for!"

Adriana was stunned. One of the hostages stood forward and challenged the bandit king. The king was about to swing his gigantic axe when another girl stepped forward.

"WAIT! I'm the one who did it! Slay me if you dare!"

"NO! I'M THE ONE YOU WANT!" Another stepped forward.

One by one, all eight girls challenged the king. Gorgon looked at them in disbelief, then roared in anger. "DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME? I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"

"NO! Kill me first." Adriana yelled. "If you kill me, would you let them go?" She pointed at the girls.

"Perhaps..." Gorgon grinned.

Adriana had no other choice. Atrus trusted her to take care of the hostage. She would not fail him in any way. She would not fail her very first friend whom she trusted and who trusted her. "Very well. I'm the one who shot all those magic missiles. Fight me."

"Very well. On guard, witch!"

Gorgon slammed his axe to the ground, making the forest floor shake violently. Adriana, who was extremely exhausted, couldn't keep her balance. She fell on her stomach. When the girls rushed to help her, she raised her hand, signaling them to back off. She slowly stood up again. Then a sharp pain short through her left leg; he just whipped her leg. Again she fell to her knees. She could only wince in pain. The whip came again and another pain stung her right shoulder. Then she realized that her right arm were numb. She couldn't feel or move it!

Finally the whip coiled itself to her neck right above her collar, causing her to fight for breath to stay alive. Suddenly the whip pulled her head high, lifting her prone body. Her head was forced to face the sky, and her toes were barely touched the ground. She noticed that the whip was coiled on a strong branch of a tall tree. She tried to keep her balance on her toes to prevent her from losing her neck bones. With her right arm immobilized and her body in terrible pain and exhaustion, she knew she would not hold for long.

"Such a remarkable beauty... Too bad that in the inside was the spirit of a fool..."

A snap of a branch being torn was heard, and she knew the worst was yet to come. She was going to be tortured to her death! Gorgon swung the broken branch past her hips, creating bruises and welts. With his strong hand he ripped her blouse and did the same to her bare breasts. Than he pinched her nipples and yanking her body. She let a loud scream every time he tugged her nipples, as she tried futilely to keep her balance. The hostages just stood there, looking at the scene in horror.

After some time, Gorgon stopped his assault. Adriana was still hanging on the whip. Her body was covered with bruises. She was drenched with her blood and sweat. Gorgon stared at his handiwork in pride. Then he lifted his axe and positioned it near her neck.

"Let's cut this thing inch per inch... Don't close your eyes..."

Adriana had no more power to even close her eyes. She had given up everything, and still she knew she had failed him. She had failed her very first friend.

"My bad luck...I'm sorry, Atrus... I'm... over..."

Suddenly she heard a loud scream from Gorgon. Two seconds later, a blade flew and cut the whip. She fell down, but not in a crash. Somebody was holding her, preventing her body from collapsing to the ground. She couldn't see anything. She tried to talk, but only a mumble came out.

"Don't talk, Adriana. Just relax, you'll be fine."

Her heart was full with joy. It was Atrus, all right. He had come for her rescue!

Atrus held Adriana's weak body by his arms. He called one of the hostages to hold her for a while. Then he brushed her drenched hair and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, Adriana. I'll take care of him. I'll make sure you'll get your revenge."

Then he stood up and looked at his opponent. Gorgon had recovered from his attack. He was lucky he kicked his groin in time, or else Adriana's neck was no more. He unsheathed his sword and stared at his enemy.

Never in his life he felt such hatred. Never in his life he felt such guilt. He was almost too late, and it almost cost his friend's life. If he hadn't collected the gold pouches from the burning tents, this thing wouldn't have happened. He hated his greed, but most of all, he hated his enemy.

He took off his cloak and shirt. His body was also covered with various cuts from the battle in the camp, but he didn't care. He prepared his combat stance. His eyes stared at his enemy's movement.

Gorgon was actually surprised at his reaction. This little kid had turned to be a monster, he thought. But he drew his axe to his side.

"Ready to play, kid?"

It took some time for Atrus to answer back. "You call yourself a warrior, but you enjoy torturing women. You believe you are strong, but you only dare to fight the weak. You think you are brave, but your bravery was only to the inferior ones. You have no honor in what you have done."

He clenched his sword harder than ever. One of the girls could swear they saw smoke coming from his grip.

"I WON"T FORGIVE YOU!!!"

Atrus dashed toward his opponent. Gorgon was ready to swing his axe, but he stopped. Atrus dashed like lighting. Gorgon was stunned at his incredible speed.

"LIGHTNING SLASH!!!"

Atrus ran past Gorgon, making two cuts on both shoulders in a quick succession, giving Gorgon no chance to even deflect the blow. His sword cut Gorgon's body into four. Gorgon didn't even move an inch before the blow came. His corpse fell to the ground with a crash; his hand was still gripping the axe.

Atrus sheathed his drenched sword and fell silence in his prayer. When he was finished, he hurriedly ran to Adriana, who was lying on a girl's lap. He touched her wrist, sensing that her pulse was very weak. She was losing too much blood.

"Follow me! We have to get to the camp!" He told the girls.

Atrus carefully lifted the unconscious Adriana and carried her by his arms.

And they ran, ran, and ran...

She found herself hanging on the ceiling. A big guy was torturing her, and she was helpless. She couldn't see the face; it was too dark. Her head was tied high above her head, and her ankles were tied to the ground. Her body was in a great pain, and her soul was in a great fear. She couldn't either move or speak; all she could do was feel the terrible pain.

Then she felt the cold tip of a sword... no... it was an axe... a huge axe... pressed to her neck. Then it began slicing her tender neck, slowly... slowly... And in the corner of the room she could see somebody was watching her... He was... He was... Atrus...

Adriana let a loud cry as her body jerked. The pain was enormous and she thought she had arrived in the gate of hell. Then she felt something holding her body. Those arms... Somebody was holding her, preventing her from moving. She tried to fight back, but that somebody pressed her body closer to his. She could feel the warmth of his chest seeped into her body, soothing her pain. She could feel a hand brushed her hair. Slowly, she began to feel relaxed. This somebody held her body close, soothing and comforting her. But everything was dark for her. She couldn't see anything. She could feel tears flowing from her eyes.

Then a finger softly wiped the tears off her cheek. She could hear a soft voice through her ear. "Easy, my dear. Don't move. Don't be afraid. I'm here. Just rest... rest..."

Then she felt really sleepy and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Atrus walked out of the examination room to the doctor's office. He was furious, but also confused. They had returned to the village as heroes, but Adriana's condition was critical.

He turned to the doctor. "Tell me the truth, doc. How is she doing?" He demanded.

The doctor turned from his book to stare at him. "Pretty bad, I would say. The wounds outside are easy to be cured. I'm worrying about the wounds inside."

Atrus fell quiet. The doctor was right. Adriana had been having nightmares for almost a week with no sign of ceasing. He was always there to hold and comfort her, but he didn't know how to help her. She was battling deep inside, and he couldn't help. Slowly, his guilt of being late in the forest came again, and the doctor noticed that.

"Your guilt won't save her, young man."

"THEN WHAT WILL?" He found himself yelled at the doctor. Then he got a hold of his emotion. "Sorry, doc..."

"Never mind." The doctor smiled. "She is having a trauma right now, and she is fighting her fears alone. Looking at her condition, I can presume that she was losing."

He paused for a moment, then continued. "She needs a friend, a friend she could rely on. Young Ranger, she needs you."

Atrus sat next to Adriana, who was lying on the examination bed. She was still asleep peacefully, but he knew deep inside she was battling her fears. The wounds around her body were getting better, but in her dream she had felt extreme pain from them. Nearly half of her body was covered with bandages, including her forehead. However, her beautiful face stayed visible to him.

Slowly, his anger of himself began to arise again. He was guilty, he said to himself. He was greedy. Never in his life he had seen so many gold in the pouches around the camp. But now his friend was dying slowly. He wondered if Adriana would ever be the same again.

Tears filled his eyes, rolled down his cheek and fell to the blanket covering her body. He felt so useless. She was fighting for her life, and he was unable to help.

A brave man never cried; he could remember his father had said. A brave man cried with his heart. A true friend was the greatest gift in life, one in a million. He stared at Adriana. She was his friend. She was willing to die for him. Now he wouldn't let her go.

Atrus took her hand and stroked her golden hair softly. Then he recalled all the things his father had taught him. Man was a part of nature. He couldn't reach her from here, but through nature he would be able to see her. Slowly he closed his eyes and felt the warmth of nature around him. The world felt silent and he was alone with Adriana. He could feel the loneliness in the dark. He could see her, lying next to him, still expressionless. He tried to go deeper inside her, stroking her hair softly and comforting her. Slowly, he felt that her hand began to respond, tightening its grip to Atrus' hand. He suddenly felt a rush of emotion sweeping through his own emotion. He could feel what she felt as the nature gave way.

Then he found it. He could feel her fear. He could feel her loneliness. He could feel her sadness and despair. Softly, he massaged her hand as he began to speak.

"Fear not, Adriana, for I am here."

She found herself hanging on the ceiling. A big guy was torturing her, and she was helpless. She couldn't see the face; it was too dark. Her head was tied high above her head, and her ankles were tied to the ground. Her body was in a great pain, and her soul was in a great fear. She couldn't either move or speak; all she could do was feel the terrible pain.

Then she felt the cold tip of a sword... no... it was an axe... a huge axe... pressed to her neck. Then it began slicing her tender neck, slowly... slowly... And in the corner of the room she could see somebody was watching her... He was... He was... Atrus...

But this time it was different. She couldn't see his face, but she could feel his emotion. She could feel his anger of himself. She could feel his guilt. For the first time in her torturing moment, she felt she was not alone.

"Fear not, Adriana, for I am here."

His voice rushed like a cool breeze for her empty and lonely heart. She felt her pain began to subside. She could see that the big guy who had been torturing her was now still. She was alone with Atrus.

"Atrus... You've come..."

"Adriana, I'm here."

"I'm sorry, Atrus... have I failed you?"

She could feel Atrus' guilt began to rise. "No, I have failed you." He paused and said again, "I was looking for gold by the time you were fighting."

"But you came and saved me!"

"But I've made you suffer! I should have been there to protect you!"

Adriana nodded. "I understand. But you should know that I am very thankful you have come and saved me. I thought you wouldn't have come... I felt so lonely..."

"You were alone facing death, and all I did was looking for gold..." He paused again. "Adriana... I'm so sorry..."

She was surprised. His voice... he was crying! Even more, he was crying for her.

"Atrus... You don't understand how I felt. I felt so lonely. I thought if I had died, I would have failed your trust. I feared that you would not trust me anymore..." She felt tears began falling down her cheek. "When you came, I felt that you still cared about me... I felt that you would save me... That means everything to me..."

Atrus fell silent. She could feel that his guilt had subsided. She now could see his face. He gave her his warm smile. For the first time in her life she felt happy.

"Atrus... please don't leave me..."

"I will never do, Adriana. Do not lose yourself to your fear. You have to fight it."

Then Atrus' image began to flicker, then vanished in the darkness despite of her protest. The pain returned to her, and the shadow of the big guy in front of her moved again. She cried in pain, calling Atrus' name. Then she realized that she shouldn't give up. She had to bear this pain.

"NO...!" She could hear his voice. "Fight it! Fight your fear!"

She looked at her enemy. She knew that Atrus was with her. She could feel her power returning to her. The pain was gone as she gained her courage.

"I do not fear of you! I will not fall again!"

Slowly she concentrated her power, forming a green ball in front of her eyes. Then the ball of green fire flew to the big guy.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 03



"BANISH EVIL!"

Then suddenly everything turned white.

[break]

Slowly she opened her eyes. Atrus couldn't believe his eyes. She was awake!

"Adriana? Are you okay?" He yelled.

The doctor rushed into the room and was also amazed. "I couldn't believe this..."

Adriana closed her eyes before opened it again. "Atrus... Where are we...?"

"Adriana, you're safe. We're back in the village!"

"Atrus... I had a weird dream... But I saw you... You were there... weren't you...?"

He smiled warmly. "How's the fight?"

She stared at him, surprised to his question. "I... I've won..." She finally answered, smiling.

Atrus lifted her body and embraced her. She circled her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Then she cried, but her tears were now tears of joy.

Suddenly she remembered. She was going to ask him!

"Atrus... I... would you..."

"Yes, Adriana. I will go with you. After all, I can use a traveling companion"

She couldn't believe it. He's willing to accompany her!

"Atrus, thank you..."

The doctor gave Atrus a tap on his back. "Congratulation, young man. Now I can say that she will be fully recovered in three days." Then he turned to Adriana. "He's a great man, my dear. You should be proud of him."

Adriana smiled. "Oh, yes, I am. I am."

The doctor left them alone in the room. Adriana looked at him. He was smiling at her. His face was calm and friendly, unlike the one he showed before their mission.

"Atrus, I have one wish..."

"Say it, Adriana..."

"Please make love to me... Help me forget all my sorrows. Please..."

Atrus silenced her by putting his finger on her mouth. "Close your eyes." She obeyed.

The kiss was wonderful. Never in her life she felt so happy. Her first friend was making love with her! Atrus recalled his lesson with Sylvia. He put his tongue deep inside her mouth. She was shocked with this new intruder, but welcomed it. He believed her rapist hadn't done this before.

Softly, his hand played with her right breast, probing it and teasing her nipple. He had to be careful not to touch the bandages around her body for he didn't want to make her suffering worse. He kissed her neck and licked her earlobe, making her moan in passion. She put her body against his chest, caressing his back. He kept on playing with her right nipple until it was hard like a rock before going to the other nipple. Her moan grew louder as her nipples became supersensitive to touches.

"How do you feel?" She could hear him asking.

She blushed. "Don't ask that... I'm so embarrassed."

"Say it, Adriana. Say it. Tell me how do you feel."

"I feel... strange... But don't stop..."

"Do you trust me?"

She nodded. Atrus reached his hand to her crotch under the blanket. She was startled, but then relaxed herself. She didn't wear any panties, so he could feel that her vaginal area was already damp. She let out a moan as he touched her sensitive area. She tried to hold him close.

"Atrus... it feels strange... I feel so wet..."

Slowly he probed her pussy, opening her lips and locating her clitoris. She shuddered as he played with her clit. Then he could feel her love honey flooding out of her pussy.

Deciding that she was ready, he sat in front of her crotch, opened the blanket covering her body. The cold air swept pass her naked body, making her shiver. But she didn't try to cover her nakedness to him.

"Ready, Adriana?"

"Atrus... I'm scared... It's going to hurt, isn't it?"

"Don't you trust me?"

She smiled at him and nodded. Still locking his gaze into her eyes, he slowly entered her. She winced a little bit, but then looked at him in surprise.

"It didn't hurt... Why...?"

Atrus just smiled. Slowly, he began grinding his hips. She cried as pleasure swept through her body. His tender touch to her breasts gave her a wonderful feeling. She felt so happy that she wanted to cry.

"Atrus... It feels so good..."

Then she reached her climax, her first climax. She felt like she was in heaven. The pleasure seemed to be endless. New tears came out of her closed eyes. She pulled his body close, sharing her warmth with him.

"Atrus... This is so different... It was wonderful..."

Not long after that, Atrus came. He pulled out his member and shot his seeds on her breasts. Adriana couldn't overcome her passion and came again. After the feeling subsided, he collapsed next to her, fearing that he might hurt her if he crushed her. She embraced him and gave him a passionate kiss.

"Thank you, Atrus... for helping me forget all those bad memories..."

"I'm most honored..."

Then they fell asleep together, still embracing each other.

Sylvia cried in Atrus' arms in front of the crowds. "Why would you go with her...? Atrus... I love you... Please don't go..."

Atrus tried his best to support her. "I have a mission to do, Sylvia. I would rather stayed with you, but I really have to go."

"Can't you at least take me with you?"

"No. My journey will be a dangerous one. I fear of your safety. I promise, once I complete my journey, I will come back for you."

Sylvia hugged him as tight as she could, then gave him a kiss. She turned to Adriana, who stood right behind her.

"Please take care of him..."

Adriana hugged her. "Don't worry. I'll stay away from your boyfriend." She said teasingly. 

Adriana had recovered fully from her wounds, but she and Atrus had to stay in the village for another three days under request of the town people. They held a big feast for the two heroes. She had also recovered from her trauma. Atrus had been guarding her while she was sleeping, but her nightmare had gone. She had defeated her fear. Now they were ready for their journey.

Atrus shook the mayor's hand. "Thank you for your hospitality, mayor. I really appreciate it."

The mayor nodded. "Our people owe you our lives, Ranger. You are always welcomed in our village."

Atrus then turned to Kail. "Thanks for the sword. I found it useful."

"I'm proud that my sword has saved our village. May the Guardian protect you, Ranger!"

Then with the farewell cheers of the people, Atrus and Adriana walked out of the village.

"Well, where to, Adriana?" Atrus asked.

"You know what?" she turned to face him. "My name is pretty hard to say. Why don't you call me Anna?"

"Anna?" he lifted his eyebrows.

"Yeah. That's the name I have prepared only for my friends. You're the first one who can use it. How's that?"

Atrus smiled. "I'm most honored."

"And I think it will be better if you lead the way."

"Me? I thought you know where you're going!"

"That's why only fools do this. We have no clue where Prince Alfredo is! Sooner or later we'll find him!" Anna snapped back.

"Oh great..." Atrus answered. "But that's okay... We have plenty of money!" He held his gold pouch high.

"That money is not ours! We should spend it for good cause!"

Atrus turned to Anna. "Another Lycra teaching?"

"Hey! I thought a Ranger also honors nobility!"

"It's okay. I know what to do with this money. Let's go to the brothel!"

"ATRUS, YOU JERK!!!"

To Be Continued...



The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 04



Ch. 4: The Slave Of War

The town of Tiras was a small border town south of the Kingdom of Aragon. It served as a trading post for many adjacent towns. It was also the closest town to Labrador. The land was hilly and inappropriate for farming. South of this town was a vast range of volcanoes, one of the Forbidden Lands. Nobody who traveled through Forbidden Lands had ever returned back alive. The people of the town were mostly traders and crafters. Tiras ceramics were very famous across the land. 

The skills possessed by the town people were extremely rare and unique. They were skilled in making smooth sculptures on the ceramic surface. Rumors said that the clays used were only available in the volcanic areas south of the town. However, today was a very special day for the people. It was the time for the annual fair in Tiras. The merchants opened their store very early in the morning to attract customers who would like to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. In every corner of the marketplaces people gathered, browsing and spending their money. Cries of joy of children playing with their new toys could be heard clearly. The whole people from many cultures and ethnic were merged with peaceful harmony. It felt like heaven had arrived in Tiras that morning.

However, it's no heaven for Maya. She curled on the cold floor of her cell, trying to enjoy the sunshine passing through the small caged window on the wall. She could hear the cheers and laughter of the people outside. She could hear the joyous children walking around and singing merrily. But she couldn't experience it for herself. She could only imagine she could. Maya was a slave of war. Moreover, she was now a sex slave, the lowest status a human could ever reach in the kingdom. She was a human, eighteen years old. She wore nothing but her manacles. Heavy cuffs circled her wrists and ankles together. 

A big steel ball was chained to her ankle cuffs, preventing her from escaping. A thick rubber collar choked her neck. All manacles were securely locked with steel padlocks. Her black hair was pony-tailed behind her head with a simple rubber band. Her cell was one of many cells in the biggest whorehouse in the town. It was a small room with no comfort at all. The floor and walls were made of hard stone. A small window with steel cages was put high on one side of the wall, facing east. The room was damp and chilly during nighttime, but the stone could be really hot after in contact with sunshine too long. On one corner of the room was her bed. It was a wooden panel strapped on the floor. A pile of hay was spread around her bed, and a dusty old pillow lay on one side.

On the other side of the room, covered by a high stone wall, was her toilet. It was poorly maintained and hadn't been cleaned for a long time. All things in her room made her look more like an animal rather than a human being. But she was supposed to be an animal. It was in her contract. She had been sentenced to be an animal for her entire life. Moreover, she had been sentenced for the crime she didn't do. Maya had been the only daughter of John Murdock, or John the Plunderer, one of the greatest bandit-kings in the south. She had once lived in the taste of royalty from his father, who had worked with Baron Stoke, the governor of Southern Aragon. However, her father had been the supreme leader of a bandit band. He had been plundering the nearby towns, a fact that she still couldn't believe. The greatest man she had ever admired was actually a criminal.

Then the tragedy had came. When Maya was only seventeen, Baron Stoke discovered her father's business and involvement with the bandits. In a skirmish near the city of Bangor, her hometown, her father had been killed by Baron's army. Then the soldiers came to her house and arrested her. The Baron, who hated her father so much, ordered that she would become a sex slave for her entire life. She had been sentenced for a crime she didn't do. For a year she had been trained to become a sex slave by Baron's own men. The training was harsh. She had been chained. She had been whipped. She had been violated. She had been abused. Her freedom was taken away. Her pride was destroyed. Her dignity was stripped. Even her cherry was popped. She had absolutely nothing, but she hadn't given up. And here she was; an unwilling sex slave. She had been sold to the finest brothel in the town of Tiras. She had been sold to many men, but they preferred to sell her back to the brothel after using her because of her bad service. The brothel master had been annoyed, but he had made a lot of money by selling her

Sometimes Maya felt sorry of herself. Her body had been repeatedly used and abused. The training had taught her to obey her masters, but being a stubborn girl, she didn't give up, yet. She kept on hoping that someday somebody would grant her independence. She hoped that someday she would get out of this filthy place. However, even now her hope was beginning to fade. Deep in her heart she felt the hatred to her father, who had driven her into this condemned place. She was very disappointed with her father, whom she had admired so much. But now everything was useless. She had been trapped in this place, and she felt she's going to stay here for a long time. Sometimes she would cry all night, wondering why she had to endure this treatment. She wished she had been born as a normal girl. She wished she could grow mature and fell in love and made a family. She wished... only wishes she could make.

Suddenly she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. Her fear returned to life. Then the heavy metal door in front of her was unlocked and opened. Her master, wearing his usual formal attire, stood in front of her. Unwillingly, she knelt and put her head down, afraid to stare directly to her master. A mistake in greeting her master could grant her harsh punishments she couldn't bear.

"I see you are awake. Good. You have a customer. There's a guy who are looking for a slave." She stayed silent. She was not supposed to talk unless she was given a question. "He has been meeting many other slaves, but are unsatisfied. He said he wants the youngest one around, and I believe you can meet his expectation." She could hear a sardonic chuckle from him. "You'd better, for I'm getting tired of having you here... You must please him, so he will buy you, you hear me?

"Yes, master..." She answered. "If you fail to please him, I'm telling you... I will torture you ALL NIGHT LONG! UNDERSTAND?" "Y...yes master..." She answered again. Her voice was trembling. Her master unlocked her ball and ordered her to follow him. She quickly walked right behind him out of her cell and along the dark hallway. Walking was difficult with her ankle cuffs, but she managed to keep her pace. Her mind raced. This man who wanted to buy her had rejected many other slaves. But she was the clumsiest slave around here! Her stubbornness had prevented her from serving her masters well. She hated to act like an animal no matter what she would face. She knew that her master hated her, and he knew she couldn't do this job well. Then he would surely torture her to the death. Finally he found an effective way to get rid of her. She felt really hopeless and scared. Her stubbornness had finally rewarded her independence, but not the way she wanted.

Soon, they arrived in the guestroom. The room was bigger, with better furniture. Bondage utilities filled the walls and chains hung from the ceiling. The light was dim and several candles created scary fantasies in her mind. On the center of the room was a table with straps. On that table she had been violated many times against her will. She began to tremble in fear. She knew she would not survive another day. Unless... if he was willing to buy her. She only had one last chance. She would beg him, if necessary. She would beg him to buy her. "Take off her cuffs."

She noticed her guest on one corner of the room, sitting on a chair. He was wearing a dark cloak, preventing her from seeing his face. But from his appearance she knew he was a tall and well-shaped man. Her master usually protested at such request, but this time he obeyed. "Of course, sir." The manager took off her manacles, then left them in the room. She didn't move an inch, afraid of what's going to happen to her. She didn't even dare to stare at her guest. She tried to stand still, but her body was trembling. Her hands attempted to cover her nakedness, but no avail.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to eat you." His voice was full with dignity, making her shiver. She didn't know what to do. She was confused. "Why didn't you answer me?" he asked. "I... I thought you're going to rape me now..." Her answer was weak. "Should I?" His answer surprised her. "Look at me. I won't hurt you." Slowly she raised her head and looked at her guest. He had taken off his cloak. He was a tall young man. He wore a brown leather jacket and a pair of leather trousers. His chest was broad and his arms were muscular. He was also strikingly handsome! His smile was warm and friendly, and for sometime she just stared at him. Then she realized that it was a fatal mistake. She quickly threw off her sight. "I'm sorry, master... I stared at you in the eyes..." She heard him coming closer. She was finished, she thought. He was going to spank or whip her mercilessly...

But she felt him took her trembling hand. She tried to pull it back, but he held it firmly. Then suddenly she felt something warm covered her body. Her guest just covered her naked body with his cloak! "Look at me, my dear. Look into my eyes." That's an order, she thought. Slowly, she turned to see her guest again. His eyes were gazing at her, but his expression was calm and friendly. "You are different." He said. "I can see fear in your eyes. I can see despair in your gaze. Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?" His question startled her. She was a sex slave. She existed only for the pleasure of her master. But this man wanted her to tell all of her sorrows. She was now totally confused. He just smiled and let her hand go. Then he walked toward the examination table. She began to panic, but then she saw that he climbed and sat on the corner of the table.

"Come here and sit beside me... unless you prefer to stand." She was still scared. She didn't know what to do. But she realized that her feet were tired from her constant trembling. Slowly she approached him.

"Why, master...?" She managed to collect all her guts to ask him.

"Why what?"

"Why did you want to hear my tale...?" She asked again. "Because I'm the only one who might want to hear you, my dear." He was right. Until now she had kept the tale of her tragic life to herself. She hadn't dared to tell it to anybody. She feared that her masters would be angered by her whines. "Come and sit beside me. Don't be afraid. I won't strap you in." Slowly she climbed up and sat next to him, still afraid to stare at him. She pulled the cloak closer to her body to keep her warm and cover her naked body.

"What do you want to hear from me, master?"

"Let's hear about your story. Why did you become a prostitute?" Maya was quiet for a while, collecting all the courage she could find. Then she began telling her tales. She stopped once in a while to look for boredom in her master's face, but found none. He listened to every word she said. Her voice was full of bitterness, but she kept on going. Slowly she could feel that he was a reasonable man she shouldn't fear too much. When she got to the part where she was taken to become a sex slave, her eyes moistened. But he paid full attention to her story. She felt so free in speaking to him. She felt the burden in her heart began to soften as she found somebody who was willing to listen to her sorrow. She told him everything she felt. She told him the sadness she had been keeping for herself.

"When... when they took me to the dungeon... I felt really scared... But they didn't care... They stripped my clothes off... chained me... and whipped me..." Her tears began to fall. Between the words were soft whimpers from her long-kept sorrow. 'That night... I thought my... suffering... was over... They... they brought this man to me... He was horrible... he was ugly... and... and... his member... he... he... rammed it into me...!" Her master wrapped his arm around her shoulder, massaging it. Maya hesitantly lay her head on his shoulder and began crying softly. "They... they... raped... me...! And... and... I... was... only... seventeen...!" Maya felt a rush of warm and wonderful feeling swept through her heart as her burden she had kept for herself was released. She just stayed in his arm for a while, crying.

Then she remembered why she was here. She turned away from him. "I'm sorry, master, I made you listen to my whining."

"How do you feel?" He asked.

"Master?" She didn't understand.

"How do you feel after you told me everything? I do hope you feel better."

She did feel better. "Yes, master... Thank you very much..."

"No problem. I'm just happy that I can help." Now Maya couldn't stand it anymore. The tears in her eyes were full. She had to say it. If she waited, she was going to burst. "M...master... May I speak freely?" "Of course! Speak your mind!" She raised her head to look at him

"Master... You are... different... I mean from my other customers... You're willing to listen to me... Why? Why did you do this?"

He raised her eyebrows. "Why not? Even prostitutes are human! They need somebody they can talk their problems to!"

"Master... Most of my customers just grabbed me and used me once they saw me... But you are willing to listen to my story... You are so kind to me." Without waiting for his response, she jumped to her feet and knelt in front of him, her face almost touched his shoe. She hung her head down in submission. Her cloak fell from her shoulders, revealing her nakedness again, but she didn't care. "Master... please... please buy me...! I beg you..."

She could see that his master was surprised. She could feel her fear returned. But his master climbed down the table and knelt as well, leveling himself with her. "What is this sudden request?" He studied her face for a while, noting the fear in her face. "What did your master tell you?" He knew it! He could see it!

"If... if you don't buy me... he will torture me all night..." He fell silent for a moment. Maya felt hopeless. He was disappointed with her, she thought. He wouldn't buy her, knowing of her disobedience. And she knew that tonight her life would be forfeited. Her master stood up and walked to the door. He called the brothel master. The brothel master came in, looking at her with his sardonic gaze. "I hope she didn't cause you any trouble, sir."

"On the contrary, I want her." Both she and her master were surprised. Maya couldn't believe her hearing. He wanted to buy her! She was not going to die after all!

"Very well, sir..." The brothel master's voice was still full with disbelief. "For how many nights do you wish to have her?"

"Permanently." Again, she was shocked. He wanted her to become his permanent slave! He wanted her to become his! And she was going to leave this dreaded place!

"I'm sorry, sir. We have a policy that we cannot sell our prostitutes permanently." She knew that he wouldn't let her go easily.

"Of course you can." His new master said calmly. "She has been your pain in the ass, true?" Silence covered both men. At last her master said, "Very well, sir. I will sell her to you for a modest price, twenty-five gold ingots. How's that?" That was very expensive, she thought! He could buy a small house with that money!

"Agreed. I will pay in front." For the third time both she and her master were surprised. He could afford her!

"And I want you to dress her casually and take off all of her manacles. Is there a problem?" The brothel master answered quickly.

"No... no, sir! Certainly, sir!" Then he left. Maya looked at her new master in disbelief. He was staring at her, smiling. Her heart was flushed with joy. She ran to him and hugged his legs, almost knocking him down.

"Master... I... don't believe this... Thank you..." Then she cried again. She cried like she hadn't cried for ages. His master knelt and put her in his arms, comforting her. She knew at that moment that she loved him very much. He was her true savior. The brothel master came back with a set of casual clothes. She hadn't worn any clothes for a long time, and the touch of fabric tickled her body. She wore a sleeveless gym leotard, and her long pants showed her long slim legs. Two pairs of leather cuffs with buckles were put on her wrists and ankles. A leather belt circled her waist and was buckled in front. A pair of high-heeled shoes was put on, making her struggle for balance. Her new master helped her with her new outfit. And she was ready to go! Her master paid the brothel master, then walked to the exit.

She followed her closely, leaving the place of her torment and despair behind. The day was indeed beautiful. She loved it when the sunshine bathed her body with its friendly warmth. The town people looked at her casually, with no hint of humiliation that had been shown by her customers. She felt so happy. For the first time, she enjoyed the feeling of true freedom. Then she realized that she had forgotten her master, who had walked to the edge of the town. She hastily ran to him and followed him again. He didn't seem to be angry. He was indeed different, she thought. He didn't leash her collar and tugged her to follow him. He was truly wonderful. Near the edge of town, another girl was waiting. She was leaning to the wall of a store. She gave them a skeptical look as her master approached. "So this is your new slave, huh?"

"Yes. Isn't she cute?" Her master turned to Maya. "Maya, we're your new owners. My name is Atrus White Lion, and this is my associate, Adriana Freesland."

"M... master White Lion... Mistress Freesland... good morning." Maya didn't know what else to say.

"Call me Anna." Anna said. "And I think Atrus likes his name better, too." She added.

"Yes, master Atrus, mistress Anna. I'm Maya, your new slave."

"Yes, but not for long." Atrus added. Maya didn't understand, and she didn't hide her troubled look.

"You mean you're going to return me?"

"Nope." Atrus reached for her collar and took it off. "You're now free."

Both Anna and Maya were stunned. Especially Maya, who had never expected this.

"Atrus... I don't believe this... That's very noble..." Anna looked at him in wonder. "You should know better than just calling me a jerk!" He looked at her in his annoyed look.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear..." She gave him a peck on his cheek. But Maya just stood there, unmoved. She looked at Atrus in disbelief. Then tears sprang from her eyes. "Why... why did you do this...?"

Anna gave her an assuring smile. "We defeated a bandit band in the village of Labrador. We got a lot of money from the attack, so we decided to use the money for good cause."

"I went to the brothel house to look for a slave so we can grant her independence. But most of the whores I found enjoyed their slavery." Atrus told her. "Then I found you. I saw the grief in your eyes. Then you told me your story and how your master treated you. You didn't enjoy your slavery. Therefor I decided that you didn't belong there. Now, you can see, you are free!"

Atrus expected to see a happy look on her face, but she didn't show it. Instead, she took the collar on the ground and buckled it back around her neck. Now both he and Anna were stunned. "Master... mistress... You have been so kind to me... Please let me be your slave!"

"Maya?" Atrus didn't understand. "We let you go! You're free now!"

"You don't understand, master. I have been a slave for a long time. I never think I can have my independence, but at least I will be happy if I can find a master who understands me. But nobody wanted me. Nobody was pleased with me. I was about to give up hope when you came." She paused for a while to wipe off her tears. "Master, I have waited for a master like you. Let me repay your kindness. Let me be your willing slave! Let me follow you! I have nowhere else to go!" She was kneeling in front of him, looking at him with her pleading eyes. Atrus was speechless.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 04



"No offence, but we don't need a slave." Anna told her.

"I promise I'll be good! I'm a good cook, too!" Anna was immediately silenced with her answer, cursing herself for not being able to cook. "Maya, we're not on a picnic. Our journey is a dangerous one." Atrus added.

"I can take care of myself!" Maya countered. "I'm the daughter of a great thief, remember? Give me a blade or several throwing knives, and I'll be as deadly as any knights!" Atrus was about to counter again when Anna touched his shoulder. "You know what? We can't just kick her away. She's right. She has nowhere to go."

"Anna, which side are you on?"

"In this case, her side! You just don't know how it feels to be homeless!" Atrus thought again for a while. Maya was still on her knees, and it seemed she would probably stay knelt until he gave her permission. "At least we can take her until we can find the right home for her. It's not wise for a young girl to travel alone." Anna said again. "I can take care of myself!" Maya claimed. Atrus stared at her. "Actually we can use a chef..."

"I can cook really well!" She said. "... And a helper..." "You will find me useful, master!" She said again. "... And somebody to fulfill our needs." She fell silent, dropped her gaze and said, "I obey you, master, for I'm your slave." "That's the problem, Maya!" Atrus exclaimed. "Our journey is dangerous! We depend on each other's ability! There's no time to play this master and slave thing!" Maya sobbed again. This time she couldn't answer that. Anna felt sorry for her.

"Maya, I think what Atrus is trying to say is that we will welcome you if you want to forget your role as a slave. We can just be travelling companion, right?" Maya looked at her with her moist eyes.

"Tell me, mistress... I... I just want to repay his kindness to me... Tell me... Is that wrong?" Then she cried again. Atrus felt sorry that he just yelled at her. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Maya, I just don't want you to get hurt. I'm willing to accept you. I just fear that your feeling of submission to me will shadow your judgement." Then he knelt and looked into her eyes.

"I will accept you, then. You may come with us..." Before he had a chance to finish his sentence, Maya leapt to his chest and hugged him tight. "Thank you, master! I promise I will stay loyal forever!" Atrus looked at Anna, who gave him her teasing smile. "You have a better idea?"

"Nothing I have in mind, I guess..." Anna answered. Atrus let Maya go and stared at her again. "With two conditions you can come. First, you are a travelling partner. There is no giving away your life for any of us. Got it?" She smiled.

"Sure! I'll stay with you forever, remember?"

"Second, stop that master and mistress thing! Call us by our names!"

"I disagree! I swear I will repay your kindness! Please let me call you master!" Anna giggled at him, trying to hold her laugh. "I'm afraid you don't have any choices, MASTER ATRUS!"

"Okay, you win! Wait for us in the weapon store. We'll see you there." Atrus dismissed her. "Thank you, master!" She kissed his cheek, then ran toward the crowds. "Well, Atrus, what can I say? You have your own slave now." Anna chuckled. "Well, it's because of you and your big mouth! She called me master! It makes me look like an idiot!" "You are one!" Anna teased him. "Anyway, got an interesting job from the guild." "Go on..." "A small detachment of troops was reported missing a week ago. The royal army requested for any mercenaries to do a scout around the area for the missing troops." "And where did they go?" Atrus asked. "They headed south. Directly toward the Forbidden Land."

The environment around the volcanoes was very unfriendly. The air was hot, with the smell of sulfur everywhere. The ground was rocky and uneven. Only a little vegetation lived there. The volcanoes rose high to the sky like giants holding the curtain of heaven and hell. The three companions made a camp near the ledge of the mountain. Not far from there Anna had found a small hot spring, so they could get fresh water. Maya also had found a small bush of plants that she had claimed was safe to be eaten. Now Atrus was on lookout for any danger around them. Anna was looking at the map, plotting their way so they didn't get lost. Maya was busy preparing the meal, and nobody could deny that her cooking started to smell good. Atrus had let her roam around the market in the city, buying supplies for them. She had bought a big basket of spices for her cooking. When Atrus returned, Anna had finished plotting their position. 

"I must admit, she really can cook. Don't you think?" 

Anna gave him her annoyed look. "What are you trying to do? Bug me?" 

"What do you mean, I'm trying to bug you? I'm giving an honest comment!" 

"Yeah! Well, you're comparing her and me just because I can't cook! What do you think I am? Am I a housewife? Do you think it's easy to be a housewife?" 

"Well, at least I CAN COOK! HE...HE...! I CAN COOK!" Before Anna could answer, Maya appeared, staring at them in confusion. "I just joined you for half a day, and I've heard you quarrelling four times! How did you two decide to go together anyway?" 
"
He started it!" Anna mocked. "Hell, no! I just said she could cook well..." 

Maya's face was lightened by Atrus' compliment. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the camp. "Thank you, master! Let's have lunch together!" Then she turned at Anna. "And if you yell at my master again, you'll be eating gravel!" Then they both left. "It... it's... not... fair..."

The ground was getting steeper as they got closer to the volcano range. The strong scent of sulfur filled the air, suffocating the three companions. The air was also uncomfortably hot, especially for Atrus, who wore a leather armor outside his shirt. Both Anna and Maya wore minimal clothes, but they didn't escape the torment of the atmosphere. 

"Anna, are you sure this path is still passable?" Atrus asked. "According to the map, we can go a little bit farther until the path was completely blocked." 

"Can you use your magic to detect any life forms around here?" 

"I can try." She closed your eyes and began to meditate. Maya was amazed. When Atrus and Anna were discussing their mission, he was very reasonable and she obeyed him well. But when they were chatting casually, they always ended up fighting. A journey with them would be exciting, she thought. 

"Atrus, I don't know if this is only my feeling or not. But I've been sensing the same sense of life since we left our camp. It feels... something's following us..." Atrus raised his hand, telling them to be quiet. Just now, he felt he had heard something. He tried to rely fully on his superior Ranger hearing. Besides the continuous sound from the restless volcanoes around them, he could hear another voice. It was a cry... an inhuman cry... a howl... Slowly, he unsheathed his sword. Maya armed her short blade and prepared her throwing knives. Atrus had bought five throwing knives for her to use. Anna also chanted her only harmful spell she mastered, her favorite old Magic Missile. Weaponless, she had to stay behind Atrus or Maya all the time. She wished she had mastered more spells. Atrus' suspicion was confirmed by loud growls behind them.

Now blocking their way back were a pack of five black wolves. The wolves were staring at them with their angry gaze. Their sharp fangs and claws were the true signs of their unfriendliness. Atrus moved to the front row and prepared his fighting stance. "Maya, stay close to Anna." "Yes, master. Be careful." One of the wolves dashed forward, but Atrus had anticipated his move. He dashed backward, and by the time the wold landed, be sliced his skull open. Then another wolf attacked again. Atrus didn't see the other one sneaking from his back, and after he slashed the second wolf, a sharp pain came from his right shoulder, forcing him to drop his sword. When he looked behind, the wolf was ready to strike the second time... 

But Maya was faster. She slit his throat open with her blade. Atrus was surprised at her sudden aid, but realized the danger. The other two wolves charged Anna from both directions. Anna let loose a magic missile that knocked the wolf to the ground, but didn't have time to recharge her missile. The other wolf leaped forward, targeting her tender neck... Again, Maya's knife arrived first. The wolf yelped in pain when the throwing knife stroked his belly. His fangs barely scored Anna's neck, but created a short cut on her chin. She didn't waste any time and finished him off with her magic missile, silencing the wolf forever. After the battle, Anna cured her wound and Atrus'. Atrus just glared at Maya, who sat next to him. "I thought I said you should stay with Anna!" 

"Sorry, master..." 

Anna gave him her warning look. He knew what she was going to say. 

Then he felt sorry for his word. "Maya, thanks a lot..." 

She smiled brightly at him and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You're welcome, master! I told you I might become handy somehow!" Then she ran toward the path again. 

"Well, that was pretty mean!" Anna commented. 

"I said I was sorry! She didn't really take that seriously." 

"Well, she saved your neck!" 

"And she saved yours! You didn't say anything!" 

"MASTER!!!" Again, Maya stopped their quarrel, but this time there was a hint of horror in her cry. Atrus and Anna ran to the path Maya took. The path was simple and straight, but was very steep. Between them the hills were very high that they couldn't see the surrounding. In front of them Maya stood unmoved. When she saw him coming, she quickly ran to his arms and hugged him tight. Her heart was pacing fast. Once Anna joined them, she also cried in horror. The steep path ended with a level room surrounded by high hills. Around them were ten bodies laid on the wall of the cliff that surrounded them. The bodies could not be recognized well because they had been turned into black corpses. It seemed they had been burned to death. But one of them still held a long pike on his scorched hand. They had found the lost soldiers! Atrus slowly let Maya go and walked to one of the soldier. Their body was rigid and shapeless. On the disfigured face still existed the expression of extreme pain and agony. They had been burned slowly to death... "It's no use! We're all gonna die here!" 

Atrus turned around to see another man in the other corner of the room. He was a soldier with a torn badge around his shoulder. He wore a half plate around his upper body, but his long pants were full of bruises and cuts. His leather-cased sword was hanged on his waist. His beard was unshaved, and his face was also full of scratches. Looking at his appearance, he was as horrible as the other corpses. "Poor souls... you're trapped here with me..."

"What do you mean by trapped? We're here to get you out of here!" Atrus said. 

The lone soldier gestured at the bodies around them. "My fellow soldiers... that's what they said a week ago... Now... they're nothing but burned mannequins..." 

"I said we're going to get you out of here, and you're coming with us!" 

"M... master... I think you should see this..." Maya tugged his shirt. Around them, the cliff walls had vanished. Now surrounding them were numerous passages out of the room, and they're almost the same. The thick walls of rocks made it impossible to look at what's beyond the path without walking into it. 

"W... what happened...?" Anna asked. 

"Oh...! This place is cursed...! Nobody that comes here can get out alive! We're all the victim of the lizard!" 

"Lizard? What lizard?" Atrus demanded again. 

"Red! It's red! And it's hot, too! Oh dear Guardian, why should I get this torment?!" 

"Get a hold of yourself!" Atrus told him. "We can try every one of those paths!" 

The soldier stared at Atrus with angry gaze. "Do you think I'm incompetent? We've been here for a week! A full damn week! We tried every single path and ended up in this room again! One by one my men were fried by the damn lizard!" Suddenly Atrus heard another weird noise. He signaled his partners to stay alert. "Even at night... I can still hear their dying cry...!" 

"Hey, be quiet!" Atrus told him. 

He tried to concentrate. "Slowly they were burned... The thick flames engulf their body..." "QUIET! I WANT TO SEE THE DAMN LIZARD!" A loud roar came from his left. A bright red lizard slowly crawled out of the passage into the room. Its length was approximately a normal human's height. It stared at the group with its blazing red eyes. Sharp spikes covered its back, and on its tail was a pair of long tusks. Its body seemed to be heavy as it crawled really slowly. Thick scales covered its body like a body armor. 

"You called the damn thing... Now you get the damn thing..." Maya said. 

"Flame salamander..." Anna mumbled. 

"What?" Atrus stared at her. 

"Flame salamander... the primary beast in volcanic regions. It's the fiercest carnivore in those areas. Having no teeth, it uses its tail to strike the opponents. Plus, it can also breathe deadly fire from its mouth." She gestured at the burned bodies around them. "They rarely hunt down victims unless for food. I suppose this one is... special..." 

"It's cursed...! It's cursed...!" the soldier cried.

"Any suggestions on how to kill this thing?" Atrus asked again. 

"No... you can kill it using normal method. It's just the matter of staying alive long enough to kill it." 

"That sounds easy." Atrus mumbled again. "Maya, take care of the soldier. Don't let him run screaming to the lizard."

"Understood, master! Be careful..." She answered. 

"Atrus, show me your sword." Anna told him. Atrus showed her his short sword. Anna put her palm on the handle and chanted a spell. Suddenly the sword handle became really cold in his grip. He felt cool air run through his veins and the hot air that had tortured him didn't trouble him anymore. "I've put in your sword a limited shield against fire. It will work automatically, but it won't last forever. But you must keep the sword in your hand, or the spell won't work. Got that?" 

"Loud and clear." 

"Now be careful and kick that monster's butt!" The monster had reached the center of the room and growled, as if it was issuing a challenge. Atrus came forward and prepared his fighting stance. The lizard swung its tail toward Atrus, but he easily dodged the attack. After a few tail strikes, Atrus dashed forward and slashed its belly. A short cut was made, but the creature seemed unaffected. It continued its tail slashes, forcing him to keep running to evade the attack. However, the thin oxygen quantity in that area rendered him tired very quickly. His motion is getting slower as his power was drained. Then the creature stepped back and took a deep breath, sucking the air around him and almost pulling him, too. Then he realized, it's preparing the fire!

"ATRUS, WATCH OUT!" He had no time to evade the fire. The fire breath threw his body to the ground. The flames engulf his body and a sharp pain came from his entire muscles. But he was still in one piece. The shield did its job well. Recovering from the pain, he slowly stood up again. The lizard's tail came again, forcing him to jump around the room. He made several slashes across the creature's body, but it always ignored his attack. 

After his movement is halted, the creature used the fire breath again. This time Atrus had anticipated it and got a near hit. The pain, however, was unbearable. For the second time he fell on his knees. "Master! Let me help you!" "No, Maya, stay where you are!" Atrus told her. 

"Atrus, you cannot defeat the salamander alone..." Anna said. The salamander ceased his attack and waited for him to get up. Atrus thought again. His attacks were practically useless. His power was drained and he couldn't dodge the flame fast enough. He can feel his shield weakened. When he turned to his partners, they were talking to each other.

"Atrus, target his neck!" Anna said finally. Anna prepared her magic missiles. Maya dashed to the opposite side of the room and prepared her throwing knives. Then they launched their weapons together, making the creature wail. Atrus dashed forward, ready to slash the lizard. But he didn't see the tail coming from his side. The tail knocked him off across the room. The leather softened the blow, but the spikes made a wound on his left arm. Moreover, his sword was lying on the ground. The lizard noticed this and took another deep breath. 

"MASTER, NOOO...!!!" Maya dashed between the lizard and Atrus, protecting his stunned master. She didn't care about what he had told her earlier. She's going to protect her master even if it would cost her life. The creature opened its mouth and let loose the fire. The pain was intense. Her body jerked to the pain. In the distance she could hear Anna cried in terror. The heat was unbearable. She let go a loud scream. In her mind she could see herself being engulfed by the flame. But slowly the pain subsided. 

When she opened her eyes, she noticed that she was lying on something. Her body was not burned and was intact. Then she realized Atrus was on her side, holding her body. In his hand was his sword. He had grabbed the sword and touched her body to prevent her from being burned to death. He had saved her! 

"Master... I have disobeyed you... Are you going to punish me later...?" 

Atrus smiled at her. "Punishments can wait. I promise we'll get out of here alive." 

"I trust you, master... I trust you..." Then she fainted on his arms. Atrus slowly put her body down and stood up. Anna was making the lizard busy using her magic missiles. Atrus could feel the rage building inside him. This creature had killed almost an entire detachment. It had made the soldier mad. Just now it had almost killed Maya. His power returned to life as his anger reached the peak. 

"You are the worst killer I've ever met... I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!!!" He dashed forward as fast as lightning. The lizard's tail answered him, but this time he was faster. He dodged the tail, moved to its behind and slashed his sword on its tail, cutting it. The creature growled in pain and fury. Atrus gave it no chance. He quickly dashed to its side.

"LIGHTNING SLASH!!!" The sword made its way through the creature's neck, splitting its throat. The lizard stopped its struggle and collapsed to the ground. Then smoke came out of its torn neck. "Atrus! It's going to blow!" Anna ran for cover, and Atrus laid his body on top of Maya's, protecting her. A large explosion came, spreading the debris of the lizard's remains. When they recovered from the explosion, they saw that the numerous passages were now replaced by high walls of rock again. 

There's only one passage, that is their passage out. The bodies remained, and the spot where the lizard had been was a dark patch on the ground. The lizard remains were disintegrated by the explosion. "Do you have any theories about this?" Atrus asked Anna. "It seemed that the salamander was capable of creating hallucination, probably using the sulfur-polluted air around us. It seemed these soldiers thought they had explored the entire land. Instead they had been here all the time." The soldier slowly stood up and looked at Atrus in disbelief. "You... you killed the monster!" He turned to the bodies around them.

"My fellow soldiers... Your death has been avenged..." 

Atrus carried Maya's body on his arms, then walked out of the room. Anna helped the soldier to stand up and followed Atrus shortly. "I must say I appreciate your knowledge with that creature." Atrus told her.

"Finally you said that! I can't cook, but I can think, butthead! "You're calling me butthead? What do you think you are, egghead?!" "Butthead!" "Egghead!" And merrily, they walked out of the Forbidden Land.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 04



Atrus closed the room behind him. It had been a long day, he thought. They hadn't encountered any wolves on the way back. The soldier was now under treatment, and they had got their well-deserved reward. Anna had used up all her power to heal him and Maya. Maya was still too weak, so he had told her to get some rest. He himself was exhausted from the long battle. He unbuckled his sword and threw it on the floor. He changed his suit into a casual one, then climbed to bed. Just before he blew the candle off, somebody knocked on his door. "Come..." The door was opened slightly and Maya came in, closing the door behind her. She was wearing Anna's nightgown, for she had no other suit but her slave suit. She had also refused to take off her collar. Her untied hair hung on her shoulder. Illuminated by the candlelight, she looked like a little princess.

"Maya, didn't I tell you to grab some rest?" 

"Yes, master, but I'm fine right now. Can I come in? I have something I want to talk about." 

"Sure. Grab a seat." She sat on one of the chairs, then stared at him. "I want to thank you for saving my life there. I... you don't know how lucky I feel for having a wonderful master like you..." 

"Ah... don't mention it. I should thank you for saving my life." Atrus answered her. 

"And I'm very sorry I disobeyed you, master. I'm always ready to be punished." 

Atrus chuckled, then softly brushed her hair. "Just tell me you won't do it again, and you'll be fine." 

"You won't punish me?" 

"Why should I?" 

Maya's face turned brighter. She smiled warmly at him. "You're very kind, master... Most masters would punish me harshly if I disobeyed them." 

"You are not my slave. You just act like it." 

She walked to his bed. "I don't act like it, master. I become your slave willingly." 

Atrus raised his eyebrows. "What are you doing...?" 

"You see, I've been your slave for the whole day, but I haven't had a chance to serve you. Tonight I will please you, master." 

"Maya... you don't have to do this..." 

She climbed to his bed. "But I want to, master... Just relax and enjoy..." Slowly she took off her gown. She didn't wear any undergarments. Her cute breasts popped out of the gown. Slowly she moved toward him and kissed him passionately. Despite her young age, she was an expert kisser, he thought. She intruded his mouth, inviting his tongue with hers. The kiss seemed to last forever. After a while, she broke it. 

"How's that, master...?" 

"Not bad..." Then she began kissing his entire body, starting from his neck to his chest. She slowly massaged his broad chest and shoulders, avoiding his wounded arm. Then she took off his boxers, revealing his semi-hard member. Slowly she stroked it, feeling the heat building inside. Passionately she kissed the tip and licked the base. He let out a soft moan. Then she engulfed the member into her mouth and slowly sucked it. His cock was getting hard inside her mouth and almost hurt her jaws. But she didn't care. Her mind was drifting. She would do anything to please her master. 

"Maya, stop it." 

She was shocked. Slowly she sat up, facing him. His face was calm and unchanged. She looked at him in disbelief. Her eyes were moist with tears. "Master... you don't like me...?" 

Atrus stroked her long black hair and smiled. "No, that's not it. You know how to please, but you don't know how to love." 

She didn't understand him. "Master... can you show me how...?" 

"Of course. Close your eyes." Atrus softly kissed her again, but this time he was in control. He kissed her neck, then probed her body. He traced her breasts softly, evading her nipples. Her breathing was getting heavy as he teased her. When he touched her nipples, her body jerked as the sensation of pleasure swept across her body. "Master... it feels good... please do it again..." 

"First of all, we need to work on your submissive nature..." Slowly he laid her on the bed and covered her body with a blanket. Then he got inside the thick fabric and played with her breasts. She let out soft moans, as her body was being loved. Her nipples were as hard as rock. Atrus put his mouth on a nipple and suck it lightly while playing with the other one. Her moan grew louder that he thought the neighboring tenants might hear her. "Master... I feel strange... I never feel this before..." 

"How do you like it?" 

"I... I like it... I... I love it... I love you, master..." Atrus slowly opened her legs with no resistance from her. She turned away in embarrassment. Her crotch was already moist and her love-hole was leaking with her honey. He bent down and began licking her tender pussy, making her crazy with excitement. Her body jerked in every lick as he played with her super-sensitive part. "Master... stop... I can't... I can't... hold it... I CAN'T..." 

Atrus didn't stop. Maya couldn't hold any longer and exploded in ecstasy. Her body jerked with pleasure. When the feeling subsided, she saw Atrus' face was soaked with her juice. "M... master... I'm sorry... I couldn't hold it..."

"Show me how sorry you are." He answered. She smiled and began licking her juice off his face. She could feel the difference now. She loved him, and she was doing it willingly. She had no fear of being punished. She had no fear of being dumped. She only feared of... nothing. When he was with her, she feared of nothing. He was her dream master. She vowed she would serve him forever. He positioned his hips near her crotch. She gave him her nod, and he slowly entered her vagina. Her love hole was wet enough that he met no resistance. She smiled at him lovingly, giving him her blessing to continue. 

Slowly, he trusted his member in and out her pussy. She moaned in pleasure in each thrust. Her hands were holding the bedcover tightly, trying to hold the wave of ecstasy from her hypersensitive pussy. He played with her clit, making her squirm and moan louder. It didn't take too long for her to reach the peak. She cried in ecstasy when the orgasm hit her. 

Atrus didn't give any chance for her to recover. He thrust his member faster, increasing her pleasure intensity. "I... I... love you... Atrus..." Then he reached his peak. He pulled out his member and shot his load on her breasts. He collapsed beside her and she embraced him passionately. They kissed again and looked at each other's eyes. "Maya... you called my name..." She gave him her sneaky smile. "No, master. I'm still your old Maya." "So my effort in getting rid of your submissive nature is a failure?" "Do you know that I'm the most stubborn slave in the brothel, master?" "Yes, I do." Maya looked at him in disbelief. "How do you know? Did my master tell you?" He looked at her lovingly. "You never obey me." She kissed him deeply. "Master, you taught me a lot... You taught me how to love... You taught me how to love you..."

The next morning, Anna was waiting for them downstairs. She had ordered a pile of pancakes with honey and several bacons for breakfast. She wore her usual uniform, but she changed her hair bow to red. Her hair bow was the only one that changed from her clothes. She stared at them suspiciously as they approached. "Maya, I came to your room to check on you, but you were not there." "Oh, I was in master's room, mistress Anna..." Anna turned to Atrus and gazed at him. 

"Um... well... she just came to my room last night to... to..." 

"Sleep with him." Maya finished. Anna's eyes turned fiery. Her gaze demanded his explanation. "Uh... last night... she felt she was..." 

"Scared. I was scared to sleep alone since I saw the burned bodies. Master let me sleep on the couch. Nothing else." Again, Maya added his explanation. Atrus cursed himself for being bad at lying. If Anna decided to use her 'Banish Evil' spell on him right now, he would die. But luckily Anna seemed satisfied with the reason. 

"Sit down, then, and eat. I have another assignment from the guild." While they were eating, a man approached them. Atrus quickly recognized him as the lone soldier they saved the day before. His head was heavily bandaged. He bowed at them with respect and gratitude. Maya pulled a chair for the soldier to sit down, but he refused. "I won't be long." He said. "I just want to thank you all for saving my ass yesterday." 

"Don't mention it." Anna answered. "Forever I will remember your name. My name is Captain Hawk." 

"You're a captain?" Atrus exclaimed. In the royal army, a captain had the right to command a small detachment of elite soldiers. To become a captain, one required a lot of skills, fame, and years of dedication. "Such a dishonor for me as a captain to act like a coward yesterday." 

He hung his head. "But I will not hide it. I will write full report of this incident, and I assure you that you will receive full credit of what you have done to me." "Don't worry, captain. We've earned our pay." Atrus answered. "And you will receive more." He added. 

"If you, by any chance, ran short of work, please come to the castle. Just mention my name to the guards and you will be cleared to enter. The kingdom requires many good mercenaries like you."

"Thank you, captain. We will surely consider your generous offer." Atrus bowed. "We shall meet again, then. Farewell." He left the inn. 

"Well, Atrus, you just earned a contact in the palace." Anna said. "This might make our journey easier, master!"

"Perhaps." Atrus answered. "We don't know where we're supposed to go. Anyway, what job did you get from the guild?" He asked Anna. 

"Another simple scout. The army has lost contact with the village of Gideon, a few miles west from here. The last report said the villagers were mysteriously disappeared, one by one." 

"Disappeared? You mean lost?" Atrus asked. 

"No... That's not what the report said." Anna tried to remember. 

"The report said that they just... disappeared. I mean vanished! Gone!" 

They fell silent, trying to figure it out what she said. "We can still cancel the assignment if you don't like it..." Anna added. 

But Atrus stood up and carried his backpack on his shoulder. "Well, I think we have a job to do." Maya followed him out of the inn cheerfully. 

Anna followed shortly. He was a brave soul, she thought. She felt lucky she had him on her journey. She was sure she would eventually find the lost Champion of the Guardian. She hastened her pace and followed Atrus closely. "Alright, Gideon, here we come!"

To Be Continued...



The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 05



Ch. 5: Tragedy at Gideon

It was another beautiful day in the Land of Lore. The sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky. The wind blew lightly, creating a soft song as it flew past the autumn leaves. The Gideon vast green carpet of tall grass blanketed the land. The weather was perfect to spend time outside.

However, the land around it was not as friendly as it seemed. South of Gideon were the same long chains of impassable volcanoes. The air was uncomfortably hot and thick with the strong scent of sulfur. The land seemed deserted. No single deer or cattle were found in the vast meadow. The sky was also scarce of birds. Only a few groups of birds were spotted flying to the South, seeking shelter from the harsh winter. From afar, the angry roar of the volcanoes could be heard, warning every traveler. Aside from that, the land was very silent, very lifeless.

This, of course, bothered Atrus. He walked uneasily, observing the surrounding. His hand rested on his sword; ready to draw it anytime threats came. His eyes were spying on the vast grassland around him. He even slowed his breathing, trying to get his hearing to full sense. Slowly he walked along the well-paved road toward the mountainous region.

Adriana Freesland walked next to him, sharing the same feeling. She kept on monitoring the terrain through her eagle eye spell. She had learned more spells on the way, and was very proud of her new firebolt spell. She was not ready to let her magic missile go for she was very skilled with that spell now. Being weaponless, she had learnt to cast spells faster. Her constant training with Atrus had gradually increased her speed. But right now Atrus needed her skill. She kept on trying to survey their surrounding.

Maya walked right behind her, protecting her six. She had her blade on her right hand and throwing knives between her left-hand fingers. She was also nervous with her surrounding. She had sworn that she would protect her master. This mission seemed to be dangerous, but she didn't care. She would follow him regardless of the danger.

Gideon was a prosperous border town in South Aragon. It was located in the mountainous region near the Forbidden Land. It was well known for its rich vault of copper and tin. The volcanic region kindly donated a large amount of these metals inside many natural caves in the mountain. Miners from across the land came to reap the wealth, making the town flourish. Although the land around the caves was infested by beasts from the Forbidden Land, many brave souls established trading posts and forts near the town. The lack of flat land for farming forced the citizens to live from trading with the neighboring farming villages.

And this was the real problem. The neighboring villages had lost contact with the town for nearly two weeks. According to the data from Tiras town hall, the citizens would have suffered from famine by now. Therefor the guild had asked them to go to Gideon and reestablish contact with the town and the citizens. The royal army would send a detachment in seven days and would rely on their report.

The journey to the town took two days, and they had not encountered a soul in their way. Anna had felt the trouble since they started their journey, but Atrus had taken her warning lightly. Now he knew better than ignoring her.

The sound of the wind was getting faint as if trying to whisper a silent warning to the party. It was slowly replaced by the angry roar of the volcanoes around them. In front of them the unbroken view of monstrous mountains welcomed them. The scent of sulfur was intoxicating. Anna produced three pieces of cloth to cover their nose and help breathing. The tall grass around them prevented clear view of their surrounding.

"Master, wait!" Maya broke the long silence among them.

She pointed at the vast green grass on their side.

"There was a patch on the grass... there's something over there..."

She was right. A small portion of the grass was gone. Something was indeed there, lying on the grass. Maya slowly made her way through the grass with dagger in her hand. When she reached the patch, she screamed in terror.

Atrus and Anna rushed to her position. Anna arrived first and stood in her place, stunned by the view. It was a corpse of a man lying on his stomach. The body was in a very bad shape. His left arm was cut off from his body. His clothes were torn, his back was full of welts and bruises. A stone club was sticking on his right shoulder. A large pool of dried blood was formed on the grass.

Anna stepped back from the body, still stunned from the view. Atrus slowly moved closer and pulled the club from his body. The sharp edge of the club was coated with dried blood. The club was pretty simple. It was a hard stone with sharp edge, tied into a wooden stick with strong rope. The dried blood produced unpleasant smell. Anna tried her best not to puke.

"What do you think?" Atrus turned to Maya, who was still unmoved.

"I... I think he had been dead for days..." she answered. Her voice was trembling.

"True... He died three days ago, I guess. Looking at his condition, I don't think he died in peace..."

"Whoever killed him... was a monster...!" Anna found herself saying.

Atrus slowly turned the body around. The front part of the corpse was no better than his back. Multiple bruises were found on his chest. His eyes were staring blankly to the sky. His mouth was open wide as if trying to scream a silent wail. The expression in his face was full of pain and agony, and seemed alive in his lifeless form.

Then he noticed something was sticking on his belt. It was a paper. He slowly took the blood-soaked paper and opened it. It was a short text that looked like a letter. Half of the letter was drenched with blood, but it was still in one piece. The handwriting was awfully ugly, showing that the author had written the letter in a hurry.

Atrus withdrew from the body and joined the girls. Anna had regained her strength and looked at the letter curiously.

"Is that his?"

He nodded. "I found it on his belt. The handwriting is horrible, but readable. Whoever that man is, he died when he defended this letter."

"Why don't you read it for us, master?"

He nodded again, took a deep breath and then began reading.



They just appeared from nowhere. We don't know where they came from. We don't know who they are, but they're certainly no elves. They are powerful warriors. We haven't seen such evil threat for ages.

We are losing. Northern and western forts were destroyed. One by one our man vanished. We lost contact with the main cave. That might be the source of our trouble.

By the time anybody read this letter, our town might have been ruined. Please avenge our death.

If you receive this letter by accident, please pass it to the palace.



Leonard

Mayor of Gideon



The party went silent for a while. Atrus silently said a prayer for the poor soul who had carried the letter to warn the palace. Now it had cost him his life.

"He must be one of the villagers." Maya broke the silence.

"And he tried to escape from whatever had attacked the town." Atrus stated. "If not elves, then who else?"

"Or what else?" Anna spoke up. "They're monsters! Look at the dead body! Only monsters can do that!"

They looked at the dead man again. Judging at his wounds, the killer couldn't be human. Even the strongest knight couldn't swing a stone club so that it pierced so deep inside the shoulder. The terror in his lifeless face showed that he had been in horrible pain in the brink of his death.

Atrus approached the man, closed his eyes and mouth. "May you rest in peace, brother, your death will not be in vain." When he withdrew his hand, it was drenched with blood.

Anna looked at his hand in disgust. "If I were you, I would have puked..."

Atrus stared at her. "Aw, come on! The journey just started! You'll see many things like this later!"

"Well, I'm not like you! You have the blood of a killer! That's why you're not scared!"

"And what do you have? A blood of a coward?!"

"I'M NOT A COWARD!!!" She snapped.

"MASTER!!! MISTRESS!!!"

Again, Maya managed to stop the quarrel, but she was not looking at them. She was looking elsewhere.

"Look! A smoke, coming from that way!" she pointed at the western sky...

...At the direction of where Gideon was located...

"We're not too late! The town is under attack!" Atrus yelled. "Let's go!"



The town of Gideon was losing the battle. One by one the town defenders were slaughtered. Arrows with flame on their tips pierced the wooden roofs and engulfed them in fire. Corpses were collected in the town center and burned into ashes. Cries of men and women and children filled the sky. The small town of Gideon was turned into a sea of fire as the raider pillaged the town.

A group of goblins raided and searched every house for valuables and survivors as the orcs shot flame arrows with their crossbows. Their monstrous roar joined the cry of agony of the town people. With their blood-thirst nature they savagely tortured the surviving villagers. As the last defender fell to the ground, the town was utterly destroyed.

The goblins started to gather all females and maidens outside the burning town. Their pleas were ignored as manacles were fastened on their wrists, ankles, and necks. Slowly they were marched out of town and toward the volcanoes. Sometimes goblins would take maidens away from the group and raped them in the open.

Jenna was one of the maidens in the last group. She barely escaped the assault, but was discovered by one of the raiders when she tried to cross the river. The intense heat of the fire made the water extremely hot, and her painful cry led to her capture. She was dragged to the center of the remaining group of maidens surrounded by dozens of foul folks.

She couldn't stand straight as her legs were burning with pain. One of the goblins stepped forward and grabbed her long hair with his massive hand. She cried in pain as he pulled her hair, forcing her to stand on her toes. He wore a full body armor and seemed to be the leader of the raiding bands.

"So you tried to escape...?" His voice was hardly audible.

"You... attacked our village... You won't get... away with this..." She answered.

"Ha! So who do you think will save you?" His answer was followed by laughter from the rest of the goblin bands. "Pitiful Aragon armies will be crushed under our mighty horde. You humans will never survive our wrath!"

With one quick yank, the goblin tore Jenna's clothes from her chest to her crotch. Her young breasts sprang free from their confinement. Her hands tried in vain to cover her nakedness.

"Perhaps we will let you all live... if you serve us..." he whispered under her ears.

"I'd rather die..."

"Alright, folks, GANGBANG TIME!!!"

The raiding bands turned alive once more as the goblins attacked the captured maidens. Jenna watched in horror as her friends were bound and raped by the foul creatures. The view was horrible and she tried to look away, but the goblin leader held her face firm so she was facing the scene.

"Watch, little one, for your turn will come..."

"No... please..."

The agony of the prisoners before her was unbearable. Their wrists and ankles were bound by metal shackles, and a thick leather collar was placed on their necks. Each girl was raped by at least two creatures. Their bodies were thoroughly used and violated.

"Okay, fun time is over. Now it's your turn. Prepare her!"

Four goblins grabbed her trashing body and pinned her to the ground. Metal cuffs with short chains circled her wrists and ankles. The goblins pulled the shackles to four different directions, spreading her arms and legs. At the end of each chain was a metal stake which was quickly hammered deep to the ground as soon as her body was pulled. Now she was lying spread-eagled, so open to her assailants. Her muscles were throbbing as the chains pulled her body taut.

To her horror, the goblin leader was now standing in front of her crotch. She could feel he was rubbing her panties with his filthy boots. His dark eyes were staring at her, drinking her fear. When he knelt down, Jenna knew what was going to happen.

With a loud ripping sound, her panties were no more. Her pussy was now open and accessible for her assailants. She could feel the goblin's rough hand probing her hips and crotch. Two other goblins roughly grabbed her breasts and began playing with them. Against her will, she began to feel aroused as her body betrayed her. The leader plunged his finger inside her pussy, making her yelp in pain, before drawing it out. The finger is soaked with her love juice. She looked away in shame, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Now... for the finale..." the leader pulled his filthy member out of his leather pants. Jenna's nightmare had come true.

"No... please... I'm still a virgin..." she begged.

"Then I will pop your cherry with pleasure..." He placed his member in front of her pussy. It slowly spread her pussy lips and entered her vagina. She tried to close the opening with her muscles, but was rewarded with throbbing pain as he forced his member inside. Finally, the member reached her unbroken hymen. She looked at him with her pleading eyes, but he just sneered at her. The worst was about to come.

"It's going to hurt..." he grabbed her breasts roughly. "...a lot..."

"NO...!!!!!!"

"GRRRAWLLL!!!"

She didn't feel any pain. She even felt the member inside of her was drawn out. When she opened her eyes, the massive body of the leader fell beside her. A silver knife was stuck on his neck, gushing with blood. When the second goblin fell on her chest and smeared her body with his blood, she figured out what to do and began crying out hysterically.



Atrus dashed forward like a madman, slashing at everything that stood (assuming that all that stood on the ground were bad guys). Maya followed him closely with her combat knife ready in her hand. Adriana stood outside the scene, firing firebolts to any unlucky goblins who were still busy with their captives.

"Anna! Try to put the fire down! Maya, follow me!"

Anna ran to the burning village. It seemed too late, half of the houses had been reduced to ashes. Slowly she concentrated her power to summon the spell. Human were parts of nature. If they lived peacefully with nature, they might use the mighty power of nature to serve them. Priests of Lycra used this power to help others in need. She smiled as the power of nature enveloped her body, waiting for her order.

"I hereby call the spirits of water, banish the fire with thee power!"

As she uttered the spell, the wind blew hard from the east. Soon a group of dark clouds appeared from the eastern sea. The wind guided the clouds and put them over the burning village. To her delight, rain began to pour down, fighting the flame. Slowly the fire gave up and went out. However, the village was half-destroyed.

Still upset, Anna ran back to the battlefield. Atrus was still attacking the goblins, while Maya secured all the prisoners. Suddenly she spotted a lone goblin ran toward her with a wicked looking club in his hand. Anna didn't waste anymore time.

"Take this, bastard!" She let loose a firebolt that hit the goblin right on his chest. He growled in pain, then fell to the ground and was still. Another goblin ran to her and swung his club, but Anna dodged it easily and countered it with her firebolt attack. Slowly she made her way through the battlefield toward where Atrus was. The goblins were overwhelmed by their attack and began to disperse.

Atrus had multiple welts and cuts around his leather armor, but seemed unaffected with them. His vicious fighting style quickly spread fear among the goblins, which began to abandon the captives and run away. As Anna approached him, he was looking at the fleeing party. His breath was heavy and uncontrollable. His hand gripped the bloodstained sword tightly.

"Atrus...? Are you okay...?" Anna carefully asked. When she looked at his eyes, she could see the anger burning inside of him. He didn't answer her. An uneasy silent fell upon them despite the painful cry of the dying goblins or pitiful sob of the captives. She could recall the last time she had this kind of situation.

The forest of Labrador... a sweet yet painful memory. There, she had been on the edge of despair. In that time, she had been about to meet her ultimate fate. Also in that time, Atrus had saved her life and vowed to accompany her in her quest. However, Atrus had terribly blamed himself for putting her life at risk. He, burned with anger incited by his guilt, had defeated the bandit king in one blow. The coldness of his heart was very apparent in her nightmare. Now she felt the coldness again.

"Let them go, Atrus... They've had their lesson..." Anna said again.

"We're too late. The village..." He left his answer hanging.

"Don't blame yourself." She quickly replied "There's nothing we could have done to save the village. Those captives should thank you for saving their lives."

"I know..."

"Come... We need to check on the villagers..." She offered her hand. He didn't take it.

"You go back and help Maya with them. I will secure the surrounding..."

"No, you stay here with them." Anna answered. After thinking for a while, she continued. "I will do that."

Atrus stared at her in disbelief. "What? It's too dangerous..."

"Atrus, trust me!" Anna quickly snapped back. She took his left hand and closed it in her palms. "I'll be alright, okay...?"

Her assuring stare defeated him. He gave her a faint smile. "Okay, but get back here before dark. Don't make any contact with the creatures."

"I promise..." She lightly kissed his sweated cheek before running toward the mountainous region. Atrus watched carefully as she disappeared from sight, trying to notice any danger, but he found none. Slowly, he sheathed his sword and walked back to the village.



Adriana Freesland observed her surrounding for the fifth and last time with her eagle eye spell. The goblins were nowhere to be seen. Atrus's attack had to have scared them all like hell. She sighed in relief, then turned back to the village. The sun was setting down behind the mountains and the land grew darker. Mist came down the mountain, trying to drift her from her path, but with her spell, she wouldn't get lost. She pulled her cloak closer to her body as the mist grew cold...

...Cold...? But this was a volcanic region... Her mind raced to find the reasonable explanation. She didn't really like the result, though...

"Whoever you are! Show yourself!"

The mist around her grew thicker until she couldn't see anything but herself. The chilly air assaulted her body to the bones, and she could feel her body quivering from the cold. Her spell power began to degrade as her skin grew numb. Slowly a shadowy form shaped in front of her. It was a form of a tall young human, but she knew better.

"Lucius... the ruler of the Water Realm... I know you're him..." Anna slowly spoke up.

The shadowy form cast the mist away, revealing a figure of a man with deep blue full body armor. His face assembled a handsome and charming young man, but his blue eyes told otherwise.

"I'm amazed, Priestess Freesland... You are the first human who recognizes me..."

"You're not welcomed here, Lucius... You are our sworn enemy..."

"Yet you as my welcoming party will suffice... It seems to me that you're still looking for the man of your dream...?"

"I will find him! Then he will destroy you forever!" Anna snapped.

The man produced a hissing sound. "How pathetic... You haven't realized your effort is futile... Now you bring some friends to join your so-called holy quest... Shame on you..."

"They come with me willingly! And we will succeed in our quest!"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 05



"Really...? You're wrong... They follow you because they have to... They have no desire to follow your ideals..."

"You're wrong! You're just trying to incite tension between us! You will not succeed!"

"Well, see for yourself..."

The mist in front of her turned glassy and a vision appeared. It was the village of Gideon. Atrus was observing the land around him. His expression was as cold as before. In the background some girls were laying on the ground, sleeping with earth as their beds and torn clothes as their blankets. Maya was among them, tending the injured villagers.

"Why are you showing me this?" Anna grew restless.

"You said they followed you willingly...?"

The image turned into Maya. She was patiently applying bandages on a maid, whose arm was injured by goblin's claws. The maid winced a little, then relaxed herself on the ground. She turned to Maya.

"I must thank you for saving my life. But how do you know our village was under attack?"

"We met one of your villagers..." She paused for a moment. "We found the letter..."

"But why are you here? Isn't the letter enough to scare you away?"

"No... of course not. I have no reason to be scared." Maya smiled, then turned to where Atrus stood. The two of them watched Atrus for a while.

"You like him, I suppose..." The maid broke the silence.

"More than that..." Maya blushed. "He changed my life forever. I vowed that I would follow him no matter where he goes or what danger awaits us. I'm even ready to surrender my soul just to see him live..."

The words stabbed Anna to the heart. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It... it can't be...

"A holy quest to save humanity... What a pathetic excuse... She doesn't know what she is here for... Blind love... What a nice reason for finding the Champion of the Guardian..."

"It's a lie! This is not true!" Anna yelled.

"You are dreaming something that will not come true, Priestess Freesland..."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Your dream... your wish... your secret desire... your love... They will not come true..."

"SILENCE!!!" She couldn't hide her anger.

"Now you fear that they will leave you, true...? You fear that nobody will help you fulfill your quest... your dream... your love..."

"SHUT UP!!!"

The image flickered for a while before revealing the image of Atrus. He was sitting on a rock, looking nervously at his surrounding. His sword hung on his back. Unaffected by the darkness around him, he kept on staring at the mountainous region. Another figure approached him from behind. It was a maid from the village. Her long black hair was blown by the night wind, but Anna couldn't see her face.

"Sir, may I know what you're doing?"

Atrus didn't turn his head. "Looking at the sunset..."

"But the sun sets already..."

"I know."

The maid sat on the ground next to his feet, looking at the same direction as Atrus. A moment of silence fell upon them. The maid began to shiver from the cold. Her clothes had been reduced into shredded rags. She tried in vain to warm herself up, but the cold air had their victory. Suddenly Atrus stood up, took off his cloak, then wrapped it around the girl's prone body and embraced it lovingly.

"Sir...? What are you..."

"Your body is freezing, miss. Warm yourself up..."

"Jenna... That's... that's my name... May I know yours...?"

"Atrus, Atrus White Lion. It's nice to know you, Jenna."

"No, Sir White Lion... the pleasure is all mine. You must be Captain White Lion's son, I presume..."

"Yes. How do you know...?" Atrus asked.

"Your father's name is well respected throughout the land, Sir. No soul in this world ever hears his name and doesn't tremble."

"I know..." Then he fell silent again.

"Um... Sorry, did I offend you in any means...?" Jenna asked nervously.

"No..." Atrus smiled. "I'm just thinking... Will I ever be like my father...? I suppose that's why I'm here... I want to be like him..."

"You mean you're going to join the military?"

"No... I mean everybody praises my father's name..." He stared into the darkness. "I... I want to be praised as well, you know..."

Anna couldn't believe it. Now she knew Atrus' true intention. He was not there for her. He was not there for the sake of humanity. He was there for himself. Tears began to fill her eyes.

"Perhaps one day you will be praised more than your father, Sir. You will be praised and loved..."

"Excuse me...?" Atrus queried.

"Praised... and loved..." She grabbed Atrus' neck and planted a deep kiss on his lips. Atrus was unaware of this intrusion and unwillingly accepted the kiss. Jenna, however, refused to let go. She quickly took off her torn dress and guided Atrus' palms to her soft breasts. Involuntarily, his hands started to massage her breasts and play with her nipples. Jenna's body created an erotic dance around Atrus'. Soft moans of pleasure escaped her lips.

Then the image disappeared. Adriana just stood in place, unmoved. She was defeated. She used to have her friends to rely on. She used to have Atrus as a friend she could trust. Now she could trust nobody. In fact, now she had nobody.

"As you can see... you're alone... they deserted you..."

Anna didn't answer him. She was too much occupied by her own thought... her own pain. She hated Atrus. She hated Anna. Moreover, she hated herself.

"Now... how can YOU alone find the Champion of the Guardian, eh?"

"SILENCE!!!"

There was no more love in her, no more compassion in her heart. Only anger and despair overflowed her feeling.

"I will do this myself! I need no help from them! I'll show them I can do this by myself! I'll show them I can defeat you by myself!"

The shadowy figure produced a silent smile. "Then... the challenge has been issued..."

The mist around them subsided, and Anna felt her power returning. She let her power flowed through her body and prepared her best spells.

"Damn you, Atrus... I'll show you what I can do..."

And the fight began...

"Stop it, Jenna."

"Sir...?"

Atrus picked her small body up and away from him. Jenna couldn't understand it. She looked at him in disbelief.

"Do... you find me unattractive, Sir...?"

"No..." Atrus answered. "You are very attractive... But the time is not right for that."

"You... you lied... You find me dirty because I was almost raped..." She was sobbing uncontrollably.

Atrus took the discarded cloak and put it back around her body. She gingerly accepted it.

"It... it's all about that girl... right...?"

"What girl?"

"That... that sorcerer... You love her..."

"What... I... I..."

"You like her because she is strong and capable, and I am weak. That's why you don't like me, right?

"No... you misunderstand..."

SLAP!!!

"I want to hear from you no more!!!" She cried after slapping him hard. Then she ran into the darkness of the night. Atrus stood alone, trying to figure out what was happening.

"Did I pinch her nipples too hard...?"

He sighed, then return his stare into the darkness. His palms rested on his sword.

"Anna... where the hell are you...?"

"Atrus...!"

"Ow, mom... I don't want to go to the training today..."

"MASTER ATRUS!!!"

"Wha... OWW!!!"

And Atrus was awoken from his childhood nightmare as his head bashed the rock underneath. When he was fully awake, he noticed that he had fallen asleep the night before, laying his head on a rock. His entire muscles were protesting, and his throat was sore. Maya was sitting next to him, looking at him merrily.

"Rise and shine, master! And sorry about the rock... I couldn't stop your head in time..."

"Never mind that..."

The morning was beautiful. The sun shone brightly up in the sky, bathing the land with its warm sunlight. The vast carpet of green welcomed his gaze. Maya was also in her usual manner, happy all the time. She held a wooden bowl of soup. Atrus couldn't recall when the last time he had any meals.

He slowly tried to recall why he had slept in the wilderness if he could have stayed warm in his tent. Then he remembered that he had been waiting for Anna to return until... Anna?!!!

"Where is Anna?"

Maya's smile disappeared. "You mean you don't know, master? I thought she was with you all the time. I noticed her tent is empty..."

"No... she hasn't returned..." Atrus answered.

"Maybe she got lost..."

"With her eagle eye spell running? I doubt it..." He thought for a while. "Unless she is..."

"...In danger." Maya finished the sentence. She didn't like the sound, but that's the only reasonable answer.

"Oh, no..." Atrus quickly put his sword on and looked at the volcanoes far ahead. "I will look for her. You wait here until I get back."

"You're not going without me, master..." Anna also put her dagger on her belt. Her face was full of defiance.

"But you need to take care of the town-people..."

"They'll be fine, master." She answered. "The town is destroyed. I believe those monsters have no interest in this area anymore."

"How do you know?" Atrus challenged.

"If you're a bandit, which do you prefer? Would you attack a well-flourished town or a ruin?"

"But those women need us!"

"Then we won't go for long. I will follow you halfway to the mountain. If we find nothing, I will leave you alone. How's that?"

"We're not in position to make deals!"

"Come on, master... If mistress Anna is in danger, I want to be there to help her as well..." She pleaded. Her hands were hugging his arm.

Atrus thought for a while. Anna might be in trouble, but these women were vulnerable if the monsters decided to counterattack. He had to make a choice, and he hated to endanger any of them. Finally he came up with an idea.

"If you can ensure me that the women will be safe, you may go with me. If you fail to do so in five minutes, I will go alone." Atrus proposed his deal.

"Okay... I'll be right back, master..." Then she ran to the group. Atrus smiled quietly, thinking that she wouldn't make it.

And he had lost the bet...

Maya had found an underground storage room in one of the tavern at the town ruin. The tavern was badly destroyed, but the storage room was intact, along with small provisions inside. Atrus had checked the building carefully and had affirmed that the room could be used for a temporary shelter for the town-people.

And now Maya walked merrily beside him. He didn't want to endanger her life, but a deal is still a deal, and he had to allow her to come. Stupid bet...!

Sometimes he was amazed at Maya. She had had a lot of terrible experience in her life, just like Anna. But these two women were pretty much opposite in their behavior. Anna could be really gloomy in hard times, but Maya... happy all the times... regardless the situation. The roar of volcanoes and the eerie whistle of wind around them didn't seem to bother her at all. She was concerned about Anna's safety. She always came for his aid if he was in trouble. She didn't care for her own safety. Her concern was always for others. He was amazed that people like Maya still existed in these troubling times. He realized how grateful he was to have her as his travelling companion... or at least that's how he called her...

Anna... a very enigmatic person. She had had a bad experience as well, and she had kept it for herself for a long time. She had been living for herself before he met her... living in pain and despair from her own childhood. He was amazed at how she had endured those pains, yet still had spirit to stay alive. Perhaps her desire to look for the fabled Champion of the Guardian defeated all of her despair. Her reason for this quest was also unknown, and sometimes Atrus himself wondered why he had to follow her. Her intention in this quest was to save the realm from the evil menace, and his intention was to look for fame for his ranger title. Why should he follow her...?

"Why am I thinking about these...?" Atrus asked himself. "This is definitely not a good time for introspection."

Perhaps because his initial intention in this journey had shifted. Perhaps because he actually cared for his friends more than his own fame. Perhaps he had treated them as his own family.

Maya seemed to notice the change in his face. She looked into his eyes.

"Something's wrong, master?" She asked innocently.

He smiled at her, then stroked her pony-tailed hair. "No... everything is fine."

Maya squirmed at his touch, then responded with a smile. "You're in a good mood, master, especially in this situation. May I know why?"

"You want to know why...?" He answered. "Because I know we will win."

A vibrant light shone into her half-closed eyes, and Adriana returned to the world of the living. The chill air around her body welcomed her. She tried to squirm, but something was holding her body in place. Her eyes desperately tried to adapt with the surroundings.

She was in a big room... a hall... with walls made of stone... or boulders. Numerous metal poles with candles on top were around her. The candles seemed to make a certain formation... an inverted five-corner star inside a circle... a demonic symbol... with her in the center...

Then she noticed why she couldn't move. She was hanging in the air, spread-eagled. Her wrists and ankles were bound by metal shackles that were hooked on the floor and somewhere in the dark ceiling. Soon she realized why the chill air bothered her. She was naked! Her priestess suit had been stripped off!

To complete her fear, Lucius was standing behind her, enjoying the view. His armor was gone, replaced by casual blue suit. His deep-blue eyes were glowing in the dark. She couldn't read his expression, but she could notice a smirk in his smile.

"Too bad... don't you think...? Such a remarkable body... and it belonged to a priestess..."

"Don't you dare stare at my body!!!" She snapped.

"And what can you do about it...?"

He walked near and stroked her exposed ass. His touch was icy, making her body jerked. Slowly he traced her trembling skin into her private area. She cried in pain as her nerve turned numb from the incredible chill. When he touched her sensitive part, her body trashed around in pain. Tears fell from her eyes, and she began sobbing.

Then she found him staring deep into her eyes. He was floating in front of her. His cold stare added to her fear. He seemed to enjoy her horror. He let out a small chuckle.

"Oh... our little hero... now crying helplessly..." he mocked her.

She didn't answer him. Her power didn't seem to work here. She turned away in disgust. He seemed enraged with her lack of response. He pinched her left nipple as hard as he could. Her back arched as she squealed uncontrollably.

"ANSWER ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU!!!" He roared.

In response, she spat at him. Her saliva was instantly frozen on his face.

"That's an answer I can muster. Satisfied?" She bravely answered.

Now he pinched both nipples and her body trashed around again. But he didn't let them go. She kept in squirming in her bonds, trying to pull her tortured nipples away from his grasps, but it only added to her misery. After a while, her resistance ceased. She just hung there, defeated. Her nipples were numb from the chill. Her squeals had been reduced to protesting moans. Her nipples, despite the harsh torture, stood erect. Her body had been defeated, but her mind hadn't.

"Why don't you just give it up...?" He whispered in her ear. "Just give up this worthless quest... Why do you do something you don't know why you do it...?"

She turned to face him. "I have my own reason for my dream and I will not stop until it is fulfilled..." She answered in her weak voice.

"Ha...! Dream...! You humans are pathetic..." He sneered. "Let's make a deal... I'm willing to release you and all the town-people... if and only if you are willing to forget about your... dream..."

"And you will capture us again in your next raid... What kind of deal is that...?"

He let out an evil smile. "Well... of course our next meeting will be in a more... friendly environment... Or perhaps you will gain some... privilege..."

Anna gave him a weak smile. "Here's my deal... I am to go home safely with all the town-people... and you're dead..."

In response, Lucius grabbed her left breast and roughly shoved two fingers into her vagina. Anna had no more power to resist, and she could only whimper to welcome the pain. Her breasts, numb from previous torture, felt as if they were pierced by thousands of spikes.

Lucius kept the treatment for a while. Her moan turned more and more... inhuman. Agony had been carved in her face. She even wondered why she hadn't died yet. Finally he let go his grasps, although the pain remained. When she opened her eyes, a group of goblins had joined Lucius in the room.

"You all may play with her, but don't kill her... yet... We need her alive when her friends come..." Lucius ordered.

"My... my friends...? A... Atrus...? Maya...?"

He smirked at her. "That's true, to my surprise, they're coming to look for you... But that's okay... They will be my honored guests in your execution..." Then he vanished from sight.

"Atrus... Maya... Why...?" Then she hung her head in exhaustion.

And she knew that the goblins grew near...

The hot air around them made breathing almost impossible. Sweat covered their body and soaked their armors. The ground around them seemed unstable, ready to swallow anything on its surface. The volcano chains filled the background.

Atrus and Maya were standing in front of a huge cave mouth carved on the surface of a volcano. The cave had used to be the biggest copper mine in this area. This land around the mine was extremely dangerous because of the creatures infesting the Forbidden Land nearby. A tall deserted wooden watchtower was in front of the cave. It had used to be occupied by hired mercenaries to secure the labor settlement nearby and discourage the creatures to attack. Now both tower and village were deserted.

Human bodies were lying on the ground. Most of them were in a very bad condition. Several bodies were hung on the cave mouth. The strong scent of rotten flesh and dried blood polluted the air, making breathing even harder.

"I believe this is the main cave that the letter mentioned..." Maya said.

"I have no doubt about it... This place is like a slaughterhouse..."

Atrus climbed a nearby cliff and looked at the surroundings. Maya joined him by his side shortly. From afar, an image of another ruin could be seen. The burnt houses and buildings were the only things that were left. Piles of wooden poles that had used to be protective walls were now scattered around the complex. As the wind passed through the burnt structure, an eerie sound was produced, as if it was created by the souls who had once settled the place.

"Western fort... Nothing's left from it..." Atrus mumbled.
 Maya was silent. She could imagine what those creatures had done to the mercenaries. Those creatures were savage enough to be called monsters, but they were... different. Monsters never raided a town in such a huge group as before. Those creatures were more like an army...

"Do you think Anna came inside that cave?" Atrus asked her.

"Well, master, the letter said this cave is probably the source of the trouble, and mistress read the letter as well. So... I think we might as well check it out..."

"Good point... Come on!"

They walked back to the cave mouth. The place seemed deserted, but faint noise could be heard. Footprints were numerous on the cave floor, but since this was a mine, it could be anybody's. The inner cave was cold and dark, with no place to hide... a perfect place for an ambush. Atrus slowly walked inside the cave, trying to notice any traps. Maya followed him, covering his back.

"Welcome to my playground..."

The voice surprised them. Atrus spotted a man floating near the cave ceiling. The man wore a complete plate armor, a long sword was strapped on his back. Nothing was special about the man except for his deep blue eyes.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 05



"Atrus White Lion and Maya Murdock, I presume... My name is Lucius. It is a great pleasure to know you all..."

Atrus stepped forward. "And you must be our... welcoming committee?"

The man smiled. "No... THIS is your welcoming committee..."

Instantly the cave was filled with dozens of goblins. Their clubs and maces looked vicious. Around the cave mouth, a group of orcs appeared with their crossbows, effectively pinning them both down inside the cave.

"I think you deserve some more of my self-introduction... My name is Lucius, the..."

"...Lord of the Water Realm... The Army of Darkness... I should have guessed it from the start..." Atrus finished.

"You know me... I'm honored... You're the second human who actually knows me..." Lucius answered.

Maya spoke up, "The second human...? Then the first one must be... mistress Anna..."

"Very clever, little girl... And don't worry, you will be reunited once again..."

"You're not welcomed here, Lucius... You belong to the underworld!" Atrus snapped.

"Well, haven't you heard...? The Dark Age is coming... The world and the underworld will be one once again..."

"I have no interest in hearing a new prophecy from a guy from the Nether Realm! Now I believe you have something that belongs to us!"

Lucius' smile grew wider. "Such rudeness... You refused my sincere hospitality... I have prepared a guided tour around the cave... I hope you don't mind the mess..."

"GIVE ANNA BACK TO ME!!!" Atrus yelled, then wielded his sword. His action was welcomed by angry growls of the foul creatures around them. Maya quickly grabbed her blade and warned the creatures not to get any closer. Her threat seemed to work... for now...

"Violence... The main thorn in humanity... You call your race civilized...?" Lucius sneered.

"Quality is not determined by the actions, but by the intentions behind the actions..." Atrus answered. "Killing a villain like you is a sufficient reason for a civilized person like me to use extra violence."

Lucius' smile vanished and anger appeared in his voice. "You are getting annoying, sir White Lion... I will enjoy this fight until the end... But as you can see, you are fairly outnumbered here... And I believe you don't want your little friend to get hurt..."

Atrus turned at Maya, but she yelled back. "Don't worry about me, master! I will be right behind you! Let's just kill these bastards and free mistress Anna!"

Atrus thought for a second. He didn't want to cause Maya get hurt, but surrendering sounded stupid in this situation. Meanwhile Maya was ready with her blade... ready to fight to the death... There was no way that she could make it through this battle unhurt. He had to make the choice, but he hated to do so.

Lucius drew his sword. It generated blue glow from the metal surface. It looked vicious. "The choice is yours, young Ranger..." He threatened.

He finally made the choice. "I surrender."

He was struggling to hold the pain. His entire muscles were aching. It felt as if his body was being incinerated, although what he felt exactly contradicted the actual situation.

Atrus was encased in a big cube of frozen ice. His entire body was trapped inside the ice; only his head was not. The chilly ice forbid any movements from his lower body part, and also effectively caused terrible pain and numbness across his body. His armor did little in minimizing the pain and chill. He didn't know how he was trapped inside this giant ice cube, but he knew who did this.

Lucius was floating in front of him, enjoying his agony. He still wore his armor, and his sword was still strapped on his back. Behind him stood the entire Army of Darkness under his command. Goblins and orcs were gathering around the cave. Their laughter echoed along the cave walls.

"Feeling comfy, young Ranger...?" He mocked.

"Not bad... Want to join in?" Atrus answered.

"Very impressive... A fine sense of humor you're having..."

"You can tell me what you want. I will listen patiently before refusing it."

"Ah... My term is simple... Bring the girls!!!"

A few minutes later, a big group of girls were brought before him. They were bound by metal cuffs on their necks and their cuffs were connected to each other by short chain. They were mostly naked, except for their cuffs and some torn rags that were wrapped around their hips. They were hugging each other, sobbing and shivering both from cold and fear.

"You want your fame, right...?" Lucius whispered in his ear. "I'm willing to let these women go, so you can hand them over the royal army and make a name for yourself... I can even brainwash them so they will tell many great deeds you have done... You just saved an entire village... You can be a Ranger... You can fulfill your dream... Your father will be proud of you..."

Atrus didn't answer.

"Your part of the deal is simple... It's even something you really want deep inside... Forget about that Champion of the Guardian crap... You hate myths, don't you...? You can live a happy life as a Ranger without being bothered by those myths... And perhaps our next meeting in the battlefield can be more... challenging... What do you say...?"

Atrus turned to face him. "I used to think that the prophecy was just a myth. Now that you mentioned it, I'm getting curious... So... no."

Lucius' eyes were blazing with blue glow. "Very well, then... I have to use my next term. It's your... beloved ones... Adriana Freesland and Maya Murdock... You will agree to my term... or they and the entire villagers die before your eyes..."

Lucius raised his hand, and shortly after that two figures were brought before him. They were Anna and Maya, but in very bad conditions. Maya had her suit torn here and there. Her arms were tied behind her back by rope. Her hair and body was soaked. It looked like the monsters had raped her terribly. She was sobbing, but she did a good job not to cry. However, she looked at Atrus' torture in terror.

Anna's condition was worse. She was crying. Her suit was gone. She was cuffed by heavy metal shackles and collared on the neck like an animal. Her body seemed to be in a great pain that she couldn't even stand straight. Otherwise, her condition was pretty similar to Maya's. She looked away in humiliation.

"Let's have fun with them first, shall we...? Boys...!" Lucius signaled.

A group of goblins rushed forward and grabbed both bodies and pinned them down on the ground. Maya struggled as hard as she could, but were no match for the foes. Anna, on the other hand, had no more strength to resist. Both girls were once again violated, right before Atrus' very eyes...

The girls were quickly violated on their pussy and mouth. The goblins' filthy members quickly muffled their cry. Their bodies bucked involuntarily in every thrust. More goblins waited for their turns by playing with their breasts.

Maya was now crying uncontrollably. The goblins ravaged her body viciously, but despite her diminishing strength, she still tried to resist. She didn't want to destroy Atrus' trust for her. She didn't want to enjoy the rape just like those girls she had known in the brothel. She was not like them, and she didn't want to be like them. Her loyalty was only to Atrus alone. Her consequence was, however, that she had to endure a painful rape.

Anna was already defeated. She had no more strength to resist or will to do so. She had nobody, and her friends were here not for her. Her body had been badly tortured and abused, and her mind and soul were destroyed and hopeless. She had no more desire to live...

Atrus was in the biggest conflict in his life. He had to decide what to do. His friends were being raped to the death. His friends... who he had treated as his family... were in trouble... and he couldn't save them... He was worthless... he couldn't do anything...

"STOP IT!!!" He cried.

With a short signal from Lucius, the goblins stopped their work. "Have you decided...?"

"I will do what you want... just... stop it...!" He could feel tears fell from his eyes. He was crying... A brave man never cried, his father usually said. He was no brave man. He was now just a coward...

"Is that all you've got, Ranger...?!" Anna suddenly yelled.

"Anna...?"

"You disappoint me, Atrus... I thought you were a mature, honorable man... You are not..."

"Anna... what do you mean...?" He didn't understand.

"Fame, damn you! Is that your only goal in life?! So that you will be a famous Ranger like your father?!"

"Anna, what are you talking..."

"I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU, JERK!!!" Anna was crying now. Her words were hardly audible. "My dreams... my quest... EVERYTHING!!! They're all gone now..."

"Mistress Anna, that's not true..." Maya interfered.

"DON'T ARGUE WITH ME, SLAVE!!! She snapped back. "I know you will die for your... your... worshipful master! You have no dream! You have no ideal! You have no soul!" Her words silenced Maya instantly.
 Anna turned back to Atrus. "Go to hell with you, Ranger... Once you set everybody free, I want you to kill me... Or I will do that myself... I have no reason to live... My quest is over..."

"Anna... We came to save you!" Atrus insisted.

"Then why...?! TELL ME WHY, DAMN YOU!!!" Her cry was getting more violent. "Why do you come to save me if you're going to leave me afterwards?"

"BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!!!"

The entire room was shocked with the new intrusion. Near the mouth cave, a young girl stood alone...

"Jenna...? What are you doing...?" Atrus was shocked.

"I'm here to let her know how much she has been fooled by them! Whatever you're thinking, lady, you're WRONG!!!" Jenna yelled.

"SHUT UP, BITCH!!! You were teasing him that night! I've seen everything! You can't fool me!"

"Are you sure you've seen everything? Did you see how he rejected me because he was worried about YOUR safety?!!!"

"YOU LIED!!!"

"Then look at HIM!!!" She pointed at Atrus. "See that mark on his left cheek?!"

Anna was now in great confusion. She knew that deep inside she wanted to believe her, but the pain in her heart... She didn't know what to say... She didn't know what to do... She didn't know whom to trust... Atrus... that girl... or herself...

However, the intrusion was enough to annoy the demon. Lucius was enraged. He roared in anger, and his form suddenly changed. His body armor was gone, replaced by dark-blue skin. A pair of horns appeared on both sides of his now-hairless head. His eyes were now blazing with fiery-blue flame. His jaws were now filled with vicious-looking fangs. His demonic form spread terror even among his army.

"YOU HAVE FOILED MY PLAN! YOU WILL DIE!"

He drew his sword, then threw it toward Jenna. The blue-glowing sword pierced her chest and easily went through her small body. Her figure instantly fell to the ground and stayed still. Silence swept upon the room.

The scene shocked Atrus badly. He couldn't believe his eyes. One of his friends had been killed before his eyes. The friend who had defended him... who loved him... whom he had rejected... had died for him... and he could do nothing to stop it... nothing at all... He was worthless...

Suddenly deep inside his heart he could feel a rush of feeling that swept over him. He couldn't understand what it was... He couldn't understand why... The feeling was cold... unfriendly... dangerous... deadly... but who cared... Nothing really mattered right now... He slowly let the feeling overcome him...

...And he cried like he never cried before...

Anna had been shocked by Jenna's confession. Anna had been shocked by the scene of Jenna's terrible death. Now she was shocked by what had happened to Atrus.

He cried so loud that his cry was... inhuman... more like a roar. The sound violently shook the entire cave. Suddenly a bright light came out of him with a thundering blast. His form was now engulfed with flame!

She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Atrus' body was blazing brightly with flame. The ice that trapped him quickly melted down, and he was free. His eyes were blank and his expression was empty. He slowly descended from the ice. Once he touched the ground, the battle began.

Unarmed, Atrus charged the enemies before him. The goblins, paralyzed by the scenes, were unready. Atrus viciously attacked the nearest goblin, but his fighting style was not the Ranger style. He grabbed the goblin's armor, easily tore it from his body, then thrust his palm to the creature's belly. The palm went through his body, and the goblin died in a terrible pain. Atrus discarded the body, roared again, then attacked the next creature.

Anna was stunned. Atrus' style was very... savage... She watched in horror as Atrus shredded the next victim's body. Atrus had gone berserk...! He had turned into a monster himself...!

Maya, however, quickly reacted to the situation. She kicked her paralyzed rapist, grabbed the short blade from his belt, and slit his throat. She dashed into Anna and freed her as well. Anna, however, was still stunned.

"Mistress! Let's go!"

"A... Atrus..." That was what she could muster to say.

"Master!" Maya called. "Give me some more knives, and I will help you!"

But Atrus didn't hear it. He could have heard that, but he didn't react to her request. He just leaped from one creature to another, drawing more blood.

"I can't believe it... Atrus..."

"Mistress! We must secure the villagers! Come on!"

"Uh... right!"

Anna suddenly gained her fighting spirit back. She got up, cast a protective spell on Maya and herself, and then ran toward the villagers. The orcs guarding the villagers didn't notice them coming and became preys for Anna's firebolt and Maya's blade. The rest of the orcs drew their crossbows and began pouring the villagers with arrows, but Anna deflected their shots with her magic barrier. Their attack didn't last for long, however, because suddenly Atrus appeared behind them and wreaked havoc their ranks.

Anna released several firebolts at the creatures that guarded the cave mouth. Maya quickly herded the panicked villagers out of the cave. The creatures had no more intention in stopping them anymore as they began to disperse and flee to any directions. Anna guarded the cave mouth, spitting firebolts at anybody who dared to fight her. Maya joined her later with several knives in her hands.

"The villagers were safe in the fort ruins... Oh my..."

Before them laid a pile of dead creature corpses. The stink smell of blood filled the air. Atrus, unaware of the situation, was still busy with his killing business. He killed anything before him with tremendous hatred and cruelty. His anger was the only thing that was alive in him. Until now nobody could hurt him at all.

Lucius had been a spectator to the fight so far, and he was surprised to see how his army was slaughtered. With anger, he raised his right hand and formed a big blue hall, then released it toward Atrus.

"ATRUS!!! WATCH OUT!!!" Anna screamed.

The ball erupted in contact and for some time Atrus' form was covered with blue smoke. But shortly after, the flame around his body ignited again. The flame seemed to protect him from any blows. The attack was enough to divert his attention and he turned to face Lucius. His eyes were burning with anger and hatred as he dashed toward him.

Lucius delivered a direct blow on his belly, but it did little to stop his advance. Atrus responded with his own blow on Lucius' head and hurled him across the room. Lucius stood up again, only to find Atrus standing right in front of him. The second blow struck home on his chest, creating a cracking noise and a loud groan. His demonic form crashed on the far wall of the room.

Limp from the previous blow, Lucius created another blue flaming ball, far bigger than before, and propelled it toward Atrus. To his surprise, Atrus created a similar ball of fire in his palms and propelled it toward Lucius' ball, creating a huge explosion that rocked the entire cave. After the smoke was gone, so was Lucius' ball.

"Impossible...! Nobody could have done that...! Not even the demons...!"

Atrus gave him no chance to think any further. He dashed toward the stunned demon and sent another blow on his belly. His hand tore his skin like a piece of paper, and his hand was jammed inside his belly. Lucius' roar of pain was followed by Atrus' angry wail as the blaze around him was getting bright. Suddenly smoke came out of Lucius. Atrus was creating another ball of fire, right inside Lucius' belly!

"It... it can't be... You... you... are... AAARGH!!!"

Shortly Lucius' form was incinerated from inside. With a large explosion, it was disintegrated into the thin air. Atrus stood on his place. His breathing was slow and heavy. Both Maya and Anna were shocked at the view. Was that what Atrus could do when he was angry? What he had done was terrible... He was definitely not Atrus they had known... They thought everything was over now. They were wrong...

The death of their leader made the surviving Army of Darkness panic even more. Their growls attracted Atrus' vicious nature again and he dasher toward the monsters. Both Maya and Anna had to watch the slaughter in disbelief.

"M...mistress... What happened to master...?" Maya was shivering from her fear.

"He was controlled by his anger... He will kill anybody he hates... There's nothing we can do the stop him until... he is satisfied..." Anna slowly answered.

"How... how do you know...?"

"I can feel it... I can feel his anguish... I can feel his hatred..."

A few minutes later, the last of the Army of Darkness fell to the ground. Only Atrus, Anna, and Maya were left in the cave. Around them were the corpses of the goblins and orcs that had become preys from Atrus' anger. Suddenly Atrus turned to face Anna. He grabbed a sword from a dead goblin and walked toward her.

"Mistress... He didn't recognize us... Let's get out of here!" Maya pulled her arm.

But she refused it. "You go, Maya. I will stay."

"Mistress! He will kill you!"

"If that's what he wants, let him have it. I don't mind..."

Atrus stopped just in front of her. His eyes were blazing with anger. The air around him was uncomfortably hot from the flame around his body. The grip on the sword tightened as he raised the sword over his head.

"Do it, Atrus, if that's what you want."

"Mistress! Master Atrus... Please stop this..."

Atrus didn't move or answer.

"I know you were angry at me. I know you hate me for what I've done. What are you waiting for?! KILL ME!!!" Anna cried.

Atrus roared again, then swung the sword with all his might...

"MISTRESS!!!"

... only to stop an inch before her head.

"What's wrong?! Are you not man enough to kill me?!"

Maya fell on her knees and cried, "Please master... don't kill her... She was fooled by the demon..."

"Kill me, Atrus... I have nothing to fight for..." Anna continued. Her eyes were filled with tears. "I have doubted you... I thought you betrayed me... I have accused you for things you didn't do... I... I feel so... worthless... I have betrayed you... I almost got us all killed..."

"Master... please return..."

"So kill me, Atrus... I will die without honor if I perform suicide... But I want to die in your hand... I want to die in the hand of a friend I trust most... I just want you to know that... you're my best friend... and I will never feel sorry for meeting you... Now kill me..."

Anna fell on her knees before him. The sword was only an inch to her neck. Only a quick stroke and everything would be over...

But suddenly the fire around him subsided. Slowly his grip loosened and the sword fell to the ground. The sound of the sword as it hit the ground made Anna's heart jump, but she was surprised that Atrus hadn't killed her. She looked at his eyes...

And his eyes were there. His eyes were not blazing with flame anymore, and his gaze was no longer blank or filled with anger. His eyes were well focused, looking straight through her eyes. Those deep-blue eyes... the eyes same eyes that belonged to Atrus she had known... He had returned!




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 06



Ch. 6: Reunited

The three bandits ran as fast as they could, holding the sacks of gold behind their backs. The darkness of the night helped to conceal their retreat. The surroundings were dark; the cloudy sky hid the otherwise-full moon. Their plan was perfect. Their timing was perfect. The village of Lindenwood hadn't expected their coming. 

At last they arrived at their hideout. It was a small cave hidden behind waterfall. Inside the cave was another small lake with a small ledge at the other end. The strong smell of oil filled the air. The river was well known for its dangerous rapids, therefor the area around it was rarely patronized. Another perfect hideout, they claimed. Merrily they opened the sacks and divided their booty.

They had planned everything. They had never failed before. They had never been captured before. Their trail had never been tracked before. They thought they would never get captured. This time, they didn't plan one thing...

"Feeling lucky, thugs?!"

Adriana Freesland stood near the cave opening. Her priest costume was soaked by the waterfall. Her long hair was braided with a pretty red ribbon. She was standing in the middle of the lake. The water covered her waist. She was standing firmly despite the slippery surface beneath her boots. In her right hand was a metal mace.

Behind her was Maya Murdock. Her tight body suit was thoroughly soaked by the water, sending chill across her body. Her hair was tied in her usual ponytail. She held a silver blade and a torch. The fire illuminated the entire cave. She looked at the bandits cautiously.

"I'm afraid you'll run out of job pretty soon... In the name of the villagers of Lindenwold, we're here to arrest you!" Anna said again.

One of the bandits stood up and stood on the edge of the ledge. "I'm impressed. You're the first mercenaries who actually find us. Too bad you picked a wrong job..."

"Give up now. There's no way you can escape from us."

"We won't escape from you... We will kill you." He sneered. "Do you notice this smell?"

Both Anna and Maya did.

"Mistress... this is... natural oil...!" Maya exclaimed.

"Clever..." The bandit said. "You were standing in the middle of an oil pit. Unfortunately, you should know that bringing that torch is your biggest mistake..."

Without warning the bandit threw a small knife at Maya's torch, instantly knocking it out of her grasp. The torch fell into the water, and instantly the entire lake was ignited in flame. Maya screamed as the fire crept upon her body...

But she was not burned. Her body and Anna's were glowing. Anna had cast magic barrier bubble around them on time. The bubble kept the flame a few inches away from them, giving them extra space. But the barrier wouldn't last forever...

"A fast action... But too bad... We won't let you get out of here..."

One other bandit pulled a lever on the wall down. A metal cage fell from the ceiling at the edge of the ledge, sealing the ledge from their reach. A similar cage emerged at the cave opening from underwater, preventing any attempts to escape. They were trapped inside the blazing lake!

"The oil pit in this area is pretty generous, so I think the fire will not go out anytime soon..." The bandit sneered again. "Too bad... we could have had a good time together... but we will enjoy seeing how you will be fried... slowly..."

The barrier around them was getting weaker, and the water was uncomfortably warm. Maya looked for a way to escape, but found none. But Anna had another idea.

"Maya, swim underwater! We must find a way to open the cage!"

"Right!"

Both of them dived underwater, then a second later the barrier gave up and vanished. The entire lake had been covered with blazing fire.

"Where did they go?" the bandit asked frantically.

Anna guided Maya to the cave opening. Soon Maya could touch the cage. She was right! If the cage was raised from underwater, then the locking mechanism had to be underwater. She only needed time for her hidden talent, disarming traps, to work.

Anna cast another barrier on the water surface, created another bubble, and held it open with all her might. Maya surfaced later, took another deep breath, and dived again.

Slowly she examined the locking mechanism of the cage. She recalled all the training she had received form her father. Every trap had a trigger. If she could find out how it worked and reversed the process, they might be able to escape...

"Maya, make it quick! The water is boiling!"

"So this lever held the gears in place... and they held the cage closed... So if I get rid of this lever, the cage will pull the chain..." Maya quickly pulled out her blade and stabbed it on the lever. The wooden lever was cracked, but the cage stayed unmoved.

"Maya! Hurry!"

This time she stabbed the lever with all her might. The lever broke down, the gears started to rotate, and the cage fell. The cave opening was open!

A sudden rush of air escaped from the mechanism. Water entered her lungs and she involuntarily exhaled to force the water out. She was running out of breath! Her body began trashing around as she tried to get to the surface...

But a hand grabbed her collar and pulled her body. She tried to fight frantically, but suddenly she found herself breathing again. The hand kept pulling her along the rocky ground and into another water. She found herself hugging a big rock.

"Hold tight! Keep yourself underwater!" It was Mistress Anna.

She took another deep breath and did what she was told. She could feel the rapid river water dragged her body away, but she held tight to the rock. Slowly the water cooled her body and washed away the oil around her suit.

After a while she got up and joined Anna near the cave opening. The lake was still burning and the bandits were looking at them, smiling.

"Again I'm impressed... You escaped my best trap. But too bad, you can't reach us..." The bandit said.

"But you can't get out as well..." Anna answered.

The bandit lifted a bodysuit. "Asbestos armor... We can cross the lake without getting burnt. We've planned everything. Pretty clever, huh...?"

"Clever indeed." Anna said. "But how do you get out of that cage?"

"Simple. Just lift it up."

The bandit held the cage and lifted it, but he withdrew his hand quickly and roared in pain.

"AARGH!!! MY HAND!!!"

The metal cage! The metal cage was extremely hot! Anna had known about this.

"So you guys have planned everything, huh?"

The other bandits tried using the suit to lessen the heat, but again they failed. They had to hold the cage long enough to lift it. They had made the trap, hoping that they only needed to use it once. That was why they hadn't tested it and had missed an important detail.

"So... you guys said this oil pit is pretty generous...? It might take a loooong time before it goes out..." Anna shot back. Maya just giggled.

The bandits, however, were getting panic. They tried using the lever, pounding the gate with stone, and digging a hole on the wall, but nothing worked. They were trapped inside their own trap.

"We surrender!" One of them yelled. "Please help us! I don't want to die!"

Anna smiled. "Don't worry... You have around an hour until the air become toxic and you will pass out. Just hope that the villagers will come to arrest you before it happens."

Anna turned to Maya and smiled. "Come on. We have to tell the villagers to pick them up later." She said. "And could you spend some time at the pub?"

"Yes, mistress..."

She walked a few paces before saying, "And good work on the trap." Then she walked toward the darkness. Maya merrily followed her, knowing that they had completed another mission.

Maya Murdock was sitting in the village pub in front of the counter. The surroundings were dark and gloomy. Few customers were chatting casually in the center of the room, but most of them chose to sit near the corners and concealed themselves in the darkness.

The village of Lindenwood was just a small farming village southwest of Aragon, but it was also a junction town that connected four other towns around it. Traders and merchants usually built trading posts and warehouses here to store their goods before delivering them to the major towns. This role made the little village significant in this area.

However the significance was not matched with the local security. The royal army had used to have a military outpost in this area, but since the demon menace arose, the troops had been put into active duty to defend many important defensive points across the land. Now Lindenwood was also patronized by rogues, bandits, and brigands. The trade routes that the village served offered many opportunities for those villains who wanted to take some cargo. It had only been three months ago that the village hall decided to start hiring mercenaries to help secure the traffic lanes.

And Anna and Maya had done their job well. They just captured the three most wanted bandits, the Drake brothers. These three scoundrels had not only been raiding the caravans. They had been raiding the village itself as well. The town council had offered the biggest bounty for those who could bring the three bandits back to the village, dead or alive, with or without their booty.

Their success in capturing the bandits had rewarded them a lot of cash, but cash was not what they needed. They needed fame. And they didn't do this for their own. They're doing this on purpose.

It had been six months since Atrus White Lion left the party. And it had been six months since both her and Anna started to look for him. They had been asking every people in every village, but nobody had heard or seen anything that matched Atrus' descriptions.

Anna had been very distressed about this. She still felt that Atrus' leaving was entirely her fault. When they had nothing to do, Anna usually spent her time daydreaming. Moreover, she sometimes forgot to eat and drink in the process. Maya could notice that Anna had been losing weight a lot.

That was the main reason why Maya had advised her to take skill training in a town. She chose maces as her weapons of choice since priests and clerics were not allowed to use any wicked-looking weapons and could only use them for self-defense. Recently Anna had been practicing with Maya, and her skill developed quite well. However, her concern about Atrus' whereabouts still remained.

Then Anna had developed a new strategy. She had been accepting many mercenary tasks from the town halls or guilds to gain fame. She hoped Atrus could hear about her success and would be convinced to join them again. But Atrus' intention was unclear. Until now no news was heard about him.

Maya, however, had her own strategy. She had been spending time drinking at the pubs. Especially in towns like Lindenwood, there were many things she could learn from the fellows in pubs.

Thieves' guild was an illegal underworld organization that accommodated many needs of the villains across the land. During less troubled times, the royal army had been trying in vain to suppress this group. Honest merchants usually would stay clear of this organization, but some merchants had been known to make contacts with the group. Thieves' guild offered many unique services ranging from mercenaries for hire, raiders to put down competitors' business, until the dirtiest business, assassinations. For less aggressive people, Thieves' guild was the best source of information in the realm.

The barkeeper approached her slowly and passed on a mug filled with ale. Maya quickly drank it, feeling the burning sensation in her throat, then returned the mug. He looked at their surroundings and said, "The man you want to meet is in the left corner, next to the window. He has a rose stuck on his shirt. He knows you are here. Don't attract too many attentions." he talked again in low voice. He refilled the mug, then left her.

Maya took the mug and slowly turned around. She found the man. He was sitting in the corner. His dark cape covered his face, but the red rose on his suit was visible. He was surveying the pub patrons. Maya stood up and slowly made her way toward him, only to be stopped when a hand roughly grabbed her arm.

When she turned around she saw a short man... a dwarf... was looking at her. His long brown beard dominated his face detail. He wore a leather suit and a worker helmet. Strapped on his back was a vicious-looking battle-axe. His gaze was unfocused and his breathing was stink... He was drunk.

"Aye... Where are ye goin', lad... We haven't had fun toogether..." His voice was rude and hardly audible.

"Let me go." Maya said.

"I 'now ye... Ye caught tee Drakes...Hey fellas...! She caught tee Drakes!"

The entire customers stared at Maya, made a few stupid comments before returning to their business, paying no attention on the drunken dwarf. Annoyed, the dwarf pulled her body closer.

"Ye became quitte famous aroound 'ere... How' bout some fun, eh...?"

"Let me go!" Maya exclaimed.

"Gimme those busts!" Roughly he grabbed her breasts and pinched her nipples beneath her body suit. Maya squealed in distress.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!!!"

She produced a knife and threw it to the air. Then she pivoted her body and kicked the dwarf on the belly, sending him crashing into a table and on the floor. A few seconds later, the knife fell down on the wooden floor just a few inches from the dwarf's face. He stared at it in terror before fainting.

Again, the customers stared at Maya, made a few stupid comments before returning to their business. Maya turned to the barkeeper, but he just smiled.

"It's okay. He's a regular customer, so I can take care of him later."

Maya smiled, then made her way to the corner of the room. She approached the table, put her mug down, the sat in front of the man. He was a middle-aged man with no special feature. He looked at her in the eyes. His eyes were dark and his stare was cold. But she cast her fears off and stared back.

"I notice the other seats are empty..." He said slowly.

"You were looking for me." Maya answered in her serious tone.

Suddenly the man smiled warmly at her. "Anna Murdock... The daughter of the great John the Plunderer... It has been an honor..."

The response shocked Maya. "How do you know me?"

"I am one of your father's man. I admired him so much. You inherit three things from him; your knife-fighting style, the way you talk... and your eyes..."

"Don't talk about my father!" She snapped. "Having him as my father had been a disgrace for me."

"You never forgive him, do you?" he asked. "He is a great man..."

"Stop it already!" She took a deep breath. "Back to the business, do you have what I want?"

He smiled. "You are looking for your master, Ranger Atrus White Lion. I'm quite surprised you were willing to enslave yourself for him. He must be a great man. I should meet him sometimes..."

He paused for a while, enjoyed her annoyed look, then continued. "I don't know where he is, but perhaps you can figure this out. Tell me what you know about what has been happening in the past few weeks in the southwestern region of the kingdom"

Maya thought for a while, then answered. "Several surprise attacks by unknown forces were reported on several villages in that area. All seven small villages and a town were utterly destroyed in the attack. No survivor was found."

"Quite right..." the man smiled. "But there's one thing that's not right. The attack didn't destroy all villages. One village is still intact, but the royal army lost all contact with the village. It's still there, hidden behind the enemy line. Rumors said they were rebelling."

"How do you know...?" Maya asked skeptically. 

The man's smile grew wider. "I thought you still believe, Miss Murdock, that we thieves know more than any souls that inhibit this land..."

"Of course." Maya agreed. "It's a small world."

"The forest around those villages is now infested with foul folks. It is possible that those demons were the unknown attackers. They succeeded in conquering those villages and killed all peasants... except one village. The name is Whitewater. The elves called it Mantanadaria... or in their language... the Blessed Land."

The man moved his body closer to her and lowered his voice. "The village is located next to the Elven border. It's the farthest one from the kingdom, so it's really weird to know that it stays intact while the closer neighboring villages were destroyed."

Again the man glanced to his surrounding, then continued. "Rumors said that the village is protected..." The man stared at Maya's eyes. He looked serious. "It's protected... by an angel... Local peasants had seen a lone figure slaughtered a large band of foul folks by himself... They called him Bakara, or in their local language, the Wingless Angel."

Maya was drowned in her thought. A lone figure who slaughtered a large band of demons... There was only one man she knew who could actually do that... Atrus White Lion...

The man drank his ale, then stood up. "I know you're worried about your friend, but that's all I know. If you want to investigate this thing, I must warn you that the journey may be dangerous. Expect a tough fight on your way to the Blessed Land." Then the man turned around.

"Wait... I must pay you..." Maya stopped him.

The man looked back and smiled. "A smile from the daughter of a man I honor most in my life is the greatest payment I can receive."

Maya blushed, then smiled warmly. "At least tell me your name..."

The man turned around and wrapped the dark cloak around his body. "Don't hate him, Miss Murdock... Your father was a great man..." Then he made his way to the door.

Maya sat on her seat for a while. The thought of his father bothered her. Her father was the one who had taught her many things... who had equipped her with skills to stay alive... who had inspired her in many ways... But he had also made her lost her childhood... he had made her lose her virginity... he had made her lose... everything...

But this man was still loyal to him even years after his death... why...? There were many things about her father that she didn't know... For many years she had seen her father as her symbol of disgrace for putting her life in misery... She hated her father... but why...? Was it because he had caused her to endure the slavery? But she was just like him... Her skills... her attitude... her eyes... She could remember his charming eyes that had always soothed her when she was only a little girl... That warm and loving gaze she had always received from him...The care and love he had given her when she was small was the same ones she always wanted to give to Master Atrus...

But she quickly set the deepening conflict in her mind aside and finished her ale. Then she walked out of the pub and headed to the inn. She had to tell the happy news to Mistress Anna...

And Anna had the same thought with her, and it didn't take too long for her to decide. They left Lindenwood the next morning. The villagers had urged her to stay longer so they could plan a party, but she politely declined. The villagers insisted that she take the heavy leather backpack they gave. Maya had to carry the extra weight over her shoulder, but neither she nor Anna wanted to offend the kind villagers. After a few miles from the village, they opened the backpack and were surprised to find food rations that were enough for at least a week.

The weather was fine, although the sky was cloudy. The worst time of winter had passed, and the wonderful spring was coming. Birds from the south had returned and sang their beautiful symphony. The wicked snow was gone, replaced by vast carpet of grass. Flowers of many kinds had blossomed and filled the air with their fragrance. This was definitely the best time of the year.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 06



The journey to the southwestern region normally took four days, but they could get a ride on a hay cart that was going in the same direction. On the second day, they arrived at the edge of the area of dispute. An army camp was built by hired soldiers at the forest clearing by the river. The soldiers were confused when Maya explained that they were going to go farther into the forest. They told them about the Army of Darkness that still roamed the forest, but it didn't stop Anna. Lastly the soldiers offered a shelter for them for a night, but again Anna declined and continued walking toward the forest. Maya followed her.

Deep inside Maya could understand her mistress' feeling. Mistress Anna hated hired soldiers and mercenaries. They didn't fight for the people; they fought for money and fame. They paid no respect to the peasants and villagers. Moreover, they had created a painful scar in Anna's memory, and the pain seemed endless. She had been brutally raped by those people. It seemed that she had been destined to hate those people for the rest of her life.

Until now Anna had only told this story to her and Master Atrus, her two most trusted friends. Slowly Maya felt happy that she had been treated as Anna's trusted friend. She ran after her and tried her best to cheer her up.

Halfway through the jungle they arrived at a large clearing. A large ruin that had used to be a village was there. It was utterly destroyed. The houses had been burned to ashes, and only a few scorched pillars stayed erect. The thick scent of smoke and burned material filled the air. Slowly they made their way through the ruin. On a clearing outside the town were rows of stones put on the ground disorderly; probably a small cemetery built carelessly by the soldiers for the villagers. Anna approached the graves, prayed for the poor souls, and then blessed the graves. Suddenly her muscles grew tense. Maya saw the change in her expression, and unsheathed her long dagger.

"I sense something." Anna said slowly. "We're being watched..."

Maya tried to listen to her surrounding, but she could sense nothing.

"The village of Whitewater was only a few miles west from here. We had better arrive there before dark. Keep your eyes open." Then she reached for her mace and held it tightly in her right hand. Slowly she made her way through the dense forest before them.

The forest was dark and gloomy. The small path through the woods was covered with weeds and wild grass, giving hint that the village of Whitewater didn't have a good relation with the neighboring villages. They met several deer around the forest having lunch. They watched the two girls carefully as they made their way through the bushes. Suddenly one of the deer ran away toward the darkness of the woods, followed by others. Anna signaled Maya to stop and quickly observed the land with her spell.

The forest turned silent. Occasionally there were strange sounds coming out of the thick bushes along the path, but the light wind made exactly the same sound. Maya couldn't recognize anything hostile around them, but her feeling told her otherwise.

Without warning Anna loosed three quick bursts of firebolts toward the bushes ahead. Several loud groans were heard, and suddenly several angry roars were heard from every corner of the woods. A pack of orcs appeared in front of them, blocking the path. Another group appeared behind them, pinning them down. Anna faced the first group, her mace was ready in her hand. Maya faced the other group, covering Anna's rear.

The pig-like creatures were staring at them. Wicked-looking axes were in their hands. Their thick leather armor provided them with extra protection. Instead of boots, their feet were wrapped with thick cloths, enabling them to advance around the woods without causing too much noise.

"Ah... humans, you seem to be in the wrong place and the wrong time..." One of them said.

"I disagree. We are here to teach you all a lesson..." Anna responded.

"Alright, gang! Let's have our lunch!" The orcs roared and approached them.

"MAYA, COVER MY BACK!!"

A huge orc dashed at Maya, but he was not a match for her superior speed. Two throwing knives found their marks on his forehead, sending him down. Another one charged at her, but again she was faster. Before he could eves swing his gigantic axe, Maya tackled him down, sat on his back, and slit his throat. Then she spotted an orc tried to throw his axe toward Anna. Again she dashed while screaming. The orc was surprised, but prepared. He successfully blocked Maya's knife. The rest of the orcs lost interest on Anna and tried to surround Maya. Maya readied her long silver blade and began dashing from one orc to another, trying to score a kill.

Anna, on the other hand, had an easier fight. She created an invisible force that pushed her opponents backward. The orcs fell on the ground, and before they recovered, Anna had begun her counterattack. She jumped from one orc to another along the path, bashing their skulls with her mace. Soon the path was once again clear. She turned around and loosed several firebolts toward the group that pinned Maya down, giving her a chance to escape.

"Quickly! This way!"

Despite her fierce fighting, Maya was wounded. A stray axe swept through her leather suit, creating a long cut on her left shoulder. Behind her the angry group of orcs were still pursuing them, throwing smaller axes blindly along the path. Slowly she retreated, following Anna and keeping the flying axes away from them. Anna later came to her aid, bashing the axes away with her mace and shooting firebolts at the pursuing party.

Maya led the way through the thick bushes in front of her. Her wound was bleeding and she had many smaller cuts around her body caused by the shrubs along the path. Her vision began to blur as fatigue overcame her body. Suddenly she found out that the ground underneath her was collapsing... It was a trap! But it was too late. Her body fell down into the pit trap. Anna involuntarily joined her shortly.

They were trapped inside a pit that had been dug on the path, concealed by the thick bushes. The pit was dug deep enough so that it would take a while to get out of there. Anna got on her feet again and found out that the pit mouth was now surrounded by a dozen of orcs. The creatures sneered at them.

"Look at them humans... Trapped like animals..."

Anna was about to loose some firebolts when she saw Maya's figure lying on the ground, unmoved. She quickly ran to her and turned her body around. She was groaning in pain.

"My... my ankle..." Her left ankle was sprained.

Anna tried her healing spell, but it could only soften the pain. Her power was drained already. Meanwhile the enemies were still around. Healing Maya completely wouldn't save them anyway.

"Well, how can we cook them...?" The orc sneered again. "We can rain fireballs into the pit... It can be an interesting show..."

"How do you like your meal? Do you like it well done or medium?" The other orcs laughed lavishly at the joke. Anna could only stare at them.

"Mistress... leave me... Save yourself..." Maya's voice was weak.

"No. We came here together, we'll go through this forever." Anna answered.

"But... Master Atrus... you must find him..."

"WE will find him... I'm not leaving you here... We will..."

Her words were interrupted by a long wail of one of the orcs. The group left the pit mouth, and a battle was happening outside. Suddenly an orc's head, cut from its body, fell into the pit, right beside Anna. The eyes were staring at her in agony. Despite her battle experience, Anna still didn't really like that kind of surprise. She yelled at the top of her voice, then quickly ran to the corner away from the head and dragged Maya's body with her. But the battle was not finished. One by one the enemies' body parts fell into the pit. An orc hand fell right on her head, making her scream. She ran from one corner to another, dodging the corpses that fell from the pit mouth.

While she was still terrorized by the corpses around her, she heard the sound that raised her spirit as well as gave her chills...

"LIGHTNING SLASH!!!"

Atrus White Lion!!!

Both Anna and Maya were paralyzed by the voice they just heard. Lightning slash was one of Atrus' fighting style. It couldn't be wrong. They had found him!

But the forest fell silent again. No angry groan was heard from outside. They were alone once again. When Anna recovered from her fright, she began calling him.

"Atrus! Atrus! We're down here!"

There was no answer.

"Atrus! Maya was hurt! Please help us!"

But the forest was silent. He had left... He didn't hear her... or he tried to evade them... The bitter memory of the battle of Gideon came back to her mind. She still remembered clearly how she had betrayed his trust. She had accused him as a fame-thirst ranger. No matter how many times she had apologized to him, she knew that her words had hurt him deeply.

"Atrus... why haven't you forgiven me..." She sobbed softly.

"Mistress... I'm sure he just didn't hear us..."

Anna approached Maya's lying body and helped her to sit. But when she held the back of her neck, she could feel that she was sweating... cold sweat... When she looked at her, her gaze was weak. Her breathing was heavy and her voice was faint.

"Maya... Are you alright?"

"I'm okay, mistress..."

She touched her neck with her fingers. Her pulse was weak... very weak. Cold sweat now covered her forehead and her lower body was shivering.

"You have a fever... Oh no... You've been poisoned..."

"No... I'm o..." Suddenly she coughed hard. Blood tricked from the corner of her mouth.

"Oh my god... hang on... I have to take you to the village..."

Anna drained her spell power on the healing spell, but it could only ease the pain. Despite the corpses around her, she walked to the nearest pit wall. It was well dug. The roots had been cut, making it impossible to use them to climb up, but she tried it anyway. Climbing was not her specialty, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get out of the pit.

Meanwhile the sky was getting dark. She checked Maya's condition once again. It seemed the cut on her shoulder caused the poisoning. She picked one of the axes and studied it. The tip of the metal had been smeared by strange substance, and despite her wide knowledge of poisons and hazardous substances, she couldn't recognize this one. Maya's body was getting weaker. The poison had been spread in her blood veins. Her condition was very... very bad.

"Oh no... Just hang on there..." She began to panic.

As if her prayer was answered, she heard footsteps from the bushes. It could be Atrus or more orcs, but she didn't care. Maya needed a shelter, even in the enemy's custody.

"HELP! PLEASE SOMEBODY! WE"RE DOWN HERE!"

Her scream was noticed, and soon the pit mouth was surrounded by several figures holding torches. She let out a sigh of relief when she noticed that they were humans.

"Please help us! My friend is gravely wounded! She needs a doctor!"

"Who are you, priestess?" One of then asked sharply. "If you're from the government, I have to ask you all to leave at once!"

"No, we're here at our own will! I can explain later, but please help my friend!"

Two men jumped into the pit and looked at the corpses around them. "Bakara was here..."

"The orcs attacked us on the way. My friend was poisoned by their axe."

One of the men sat next to Maya and examined her closely. "She's telling the truth... The girl is dying! We must bring her to the village!"

"Very well." The leader said. "Hurry! We must return before dark!"

The village of Whitewater was a small farming village next to the Elven border. It had been founded as a military outpost to deter the Elven menace a few years ago. However, the lack of ample transportation system around the village had urged the royal army to change the plan. Whitewater was just a poor hamlet in the west border of the kingdom. The lack of transportation granted them a privilege of not having to send any resources to the government. But the same reason resulted that they received little attention from the kingdom, especially during this conflict.

But the main reason the kingdom abandoned the hamlet was because the villagers had made a peace treaty with the Elves. The locals had helped a lone elf who had been injured near the border vicinity. In response, the Elven kingdom had declared that if they decided to attack Aragon, the hamlet would be spared from their wrath.

Despite the peaceful environment the villagers enjoyed, Whitewater was still a poor village surrounded by small farms and dense forest. The houses were mainly made of logs from the woods. A small river provided the village with enough fresh water throughout the year. A small temple was the only indication that this village was more civilized than a normal barbaric village. 

Anna was sitting on a wooden chair in an inn. The villagers had brought them to the village before nightfall. A weird local drink was served to her. It tasted like herb tea and it did a good job in keeping her warm. Several villagers were sitting nearby, watching her carefully.

Then one man whom she knew as the group leader approached her and sat down in front of her. He put down his ale mug, then stared at her.

"Very well, priestess. My name is Gordon. I'm the village leader. What's your name?"

"Adriana Freesland, or Anna. I must thank you for helping us."

"Priestess Freesland... You saved Gideon a few months ago. You work for the government?"

"No, I'm not. Why?" Anna asked.

"Answer me first. If you're not a government spy, why are you here then?"

"We're here in our own will." Anna explained. "I'm looking for the man you called Bakara."

"And what makes you think we're going to believe you?" Gordon asked again.

"We're his... friend." Anna carefully picked her words. She could only hope that Atrus would be willing to recognize them. If he didn't want to see them, the villagers would not believe her.

"Do you have any prove that you know Bakara as your friend?"

Anna tried to recall Maya's description. "I know his name."

"But we don't." Gordon said. "We called him Bakara."

"I know that he is a well-trained Ranger, the son of Captain White Lion." Anna tried again.

"Bakara is a very enigmatic person. We know nothing about his true identity."

Anna tried to figure out what the villagers might know about Atrus. Finally she said. "He lives in pain."

Gordon stared at her for a while. "You know him... It's true. He comes to the village often and seems to be very friendly, but we all know he's hiding a deep pain inside his heart..."

"I know..." Anna hung her head. "I... I caused it... I'm here to put him back together..."

Gordon smiled warmly. "If you are truly a friend of Bakara, then you are our friend. We are very sorry for the trouble we've caused. We are getting sick of the government's plot on our village. We are no longer loyal to the kingdom. That's why we don't trust outsiders."

"I understand." Anna said. "The king should pay more attention on the people's welfare."

"That's why we love our Bakara." Gordon said. "He helped us whenever he's around. He protected our village from the invaders. Moreover, he asked nothing in return. We have our own way to thank him in spite of our limited resource. We never charge him anything in the market. We occasionally made a small feast for him. We all love him."

"I know..." Anna just smiled. Then she remembered her friend. "How's Maya?"

"Your friend? Our doctor is examining her. Come..."

Gordon led her to a wooden door. He asked her to wait while he went inside. Soon he went out with another middle-aged man. His expression was gloomy.

"How is she? Can you cure the poison?" Anna quickly asked.

The other man shook his head weakly. "I've never seen such a violent poison before. I can only give a normal medicine to slow it down, but it won't stop the venom completely."

"Doctor, you must save her!" Anna begged.

"I'm sorry, but I can't cure her. But there's still hope..."

"I'm willing to do anything to save her!" Anna answered quickly.

The doctor turned to Gordon. The leader thought for a while before answering her. "Tomorrow we will take you to the mountain hermit... where Bakara lives..."

Anna watched over Maya right beside her bed all night. She was suffering from a terrible fever. Her body was shivering and cold sweat covered her skin. All night Anna sat beside her bed, keeping the sweat off her forehead. Maya's plea that she should get some sleep was ignored. They were so close to finding Atrus, and she was not going to let her friend die. The doctor occasionally came and gave her herb drink to keep her warm. It eased her fever, but wouldn't deter the poison.

In the morning, the villagers had decided to acknowledge Anna's sincerity. In turns they visited them and gave them fresh breakfast of newly baked bread and pancakes. Within an hour there was a huge pile of pancakes and three jars of honey on the table right beside the bed. Maya wasn't in a good mood to eat a lot and Anna definitely couldn't eat that much, so they decided to put them in their backpack for later use. Shortly after breakfast, Gordon came to pick them up.

In front of the inn there was a wooden chair with long poles on each side. The chair had a leather strap on the waist and a cushion on the seat.

"Since your friend wouldn't be able to walk well, we decided to carry her on this chair."

Anna and Gordon carried Maya's limp body and put her on the chair. The strap was secured to keep her from falling during the trip. Anna double-checked Maya's condition to make sure she was strapped comfortably. Four men slowly lifted the chair and held the poles over their shoulder. A few men joined them later, each carrying a short sword. Gordon himself had a sword strapped on his back. Anna was very amazed.

"You... you're going to escort us there? I... I don't know what to say..."

"No need..." Gordon said. "This is the least thing we can do for the friends of Bakara."

Gordon's word troubled Anna. Did Atrus still think of her as his friend? He certainly loved Maya like a sister. He had too many reasons to love Maya. But he had no reason to like her after what she had done. Deep inside she cursed herself for her foolish action back in Gideon. She decided she would accept it if Atrus hated her, for he had too many reasons to do so.

Gordon talked about the village along the trip. He talked about how the forest around here became very safe since Bakara began his action. He talked about the mountain hermit who inhibited the small cottage behind the forest. He said the hermit possessed a powerful magic that also protected the village from invaders. But he was still a hermit. Nobody in the village had ever seen him.

They arrived at a large clearing in the forest. The men slowly put the chair down. Anna checked Maya's condition, but there's nothing she could do to make her feel better. She was suffering gravely from her fever. Her eyes couldn't focus really well. Her entire body was shivering and sweating. She had no power left even to speak. Anna was even more worried than ever. Maya might not make it...

Then one by one the men left them. "We will not go any further." Gordon said. "Bakara would see you here... if he wishes."

Again she felt worried. Atrus might not want to see her anymore. He might just take Maya to see the hermit and leave her here. All her efforts in trying to find him would be in vain with his refusal. She felt she was going to burst in tears, afraid to see the outcome of this reunion. Maya noticed this. She weakly caressed Anna's palm, trying to convince her that it wouldn't happen.

The forest around them was very silent. There was nobody around but Anna, Maya, and Gordon. The sun shone brightly on the sky and through the trees, creating bright patches on the ground. The thin morning mist from the nearby mountain covered the ground. This area hadn't been touched by humans. It was like Eden. The peace and harmony was soothing, yet overwhelming.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 06



"Who want to see my master?"

They were surprised by the sound from the forest. Anna wasn't sure if that was Atrus'. The voice was rather vague, but audible. Gordon quickly answered it.

"We have visitors from out of the village. They claimed themselves to be your friends."

The forest was once again quiet. There was no answer. This time Anna couldn't hold it.

"Atrus...!" she cried. "I know you're listening to this... Please just hear what I really want to say..."

She paused for a while before continuing. "I know you're still mad at me for what I've done in Gideon. I know you hate me so much... I don't mind. You have rights to hate me... But Maya is gravely wounded here... I beg you... please help her..."

She couldn't stop the tears in her eyes. She could even hear Maya sobbing softly.

"If you don't want to see me... I will go back to the village now... I will leave the village tomorrow morning... and you will never see me again..."

When she turned around, she saw a figure standing in front of the mist. It was Atrus... He was looking into her eyes. His hair was a little bit longer than before. He still wore his usual leather suit, and a sword was strapped on his back. He was looking at her... and he was smiling...

"Anna... it's really you..."

Anna was stunned. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to say. She was speechless. But Atrus slowly approached her and put his arms around her body and embraced her lovingly.

"I miss you so much... Look at how much you've grown..."

"Atrus... I... I'm... just... so sorry..."

"It's not your fault." He quoted Jenna's words. "You were tricked. I understand your feeling. And no, I don't hate you. I miss you so much."

At last she cried so hard in his arms. All the tension that had been torturing her mind was released. He didn't hate her; that was all she needed to hear. She felt a great relief deep inside her mind. Atrus tried his best to comfort and support her.

After a while he turned to see Maya, still strapped on the chair. "You said Maya is wounded. What happened?"

"The demons attacked them, Bakara." Gordon explained. "We found them near the village. It seems that this girl was poisoned by one of the demons. We can't cure her, so we think that the hermit might be able to help.

Atrus approached and examined her. Maya gave him a weak smile and a faint whimper to tell him how happy she was to see him again. Atrus took her wrist and checked her pulse, only to be shocked by his analysis.

"She got venom all over her veins!" He turned at Anna. "What had happened to her?"

"I'm sorry... She protected my back in a battle with a bunch of orcs... The orcs hit her with a poisonous axe. I couldn't cure her on time... I'm just so sorry..."

Maya whimpered again, and Atrus represented her this time. "It's not your fault. There's nothing you could have done. I haven't seen venom so powerful like this before myself."

Atrus turned at Gordon. "I want to thank you for saving my friends and bringing them here."

"No need, Bakara." He answered. "You've always been our friend. Please come by our village sometime. We will make a feast for you and your friends." Then he bowed and left.

"Anna, help me with her! We must bring her to my master!"

After a short walk, they arrived at a small cottage on the other side of the forest. It was located on a ledge leading to a valley down the hill. From there they could see the thick forest covering the valley. The Elven border was only a few hours from here. On the southern land was a huge black mountain, towering the land.

Aragon people called it Mystic Mountain. When early travelers passed this to chart the land, this mountain suddenly rose from the ground with thundering roar and unleashed a violent earthquake that reached the capitals of both humans and Elven kingdoms. The travelers retold the mountain as "raised by a mystic power from the underworld". Nowadays people knew that it was a normal natural phenomenon, but the name was retained. Rumors said the mountain had some nasty critters inside.

The cottage, despite its size, was warm and comfy. There's a fireplace nearby. The furniture was simple, mainly made of logs. There were two doors leading to other rooms. Candles illuminated the rather-dark room. In the center sat a hooded figure. He was meditating on the floor.

"Master, I've returned. And I bring two friends here. This is..."

"Adriana Freesland... I've been expecting you..."

Anna was stunned. "How do you know...?"

The figure opened his hood and stared at her. He was an old man. His thin hair had turned white. A long white beard was dangling on his chin. But his face was familiar.

Anna quickly fell on her knees and bowed. "Lord Falagor...! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you... Anna Freesland, at your service..."

"Don't worry... Even my apprentice here didn't recognize me." He smiled.

Atrus was also stunned. His master was actually Lord Falagor, the royal advisor and the supreme wizard of the realm! He put Maya on the nearest chair and knelt down. "I'm sorry, master."

Falagor chuckled again. "Stand up. I'm no longer a royal advisor. I'm just a hermit living in a secluded cottage now... And I see that your little friend Maya Murdock was in need..."

Both Falagor and Atrus approached her body. Her stare was weak. Falagor took her hand and examined her. Atrus slowly stroke her long hair and looked into her eyes with great concern.

"Master, could you heal her?"

"I can't tell. I haven't seen the poison before. I'll bring her to my room for further examination." He looked into Maya's eyes. "I need to identify the poison. The process will hurt; you won't be able to endure it. Therefor I will shut down all your nerve system, except your sight. You can see, but you won't feel or hear anything. If you comply, close your eyes."

Maya helplessly looked at Atrus. "Don't worry, you can trust him. He will cure you, Maya... I'm sure you will be just fine..." Then he tenderly kissed her lips. Maya's heart was flushed with joy. Her master was here, and he was not going to let her go. Her fear vanished instantly. She turned back to Falagor and closed her eyes...

Anna stood in front of Atrus, her mace ready in her hand. She carefully watched him as he walked slowly, circling her position. She's not going to lose, she thought... not when he couldn't hurt her.

Atrus slowly circled her, trying to find a chance to strike. His bare feet produced almost no sound as they stepped on the rough ground. In his grip was a long rattan stick.

For her, the odd was clear. He couldn't kill her with his stick, but she could. Her mace was enough to crush his skull. His flexible stick might create welts and bruises, but those were easy to be healed. But Atrus still insisted that she should use her mace in this match.

"Don't hold back." He said.

Anna dashed toward Atrus and swung the mace, but Atrus was faster... way faster. He slid to her side evading her blow, then quickly tackled her vulnerable boot. When she regained her balance, the rattan stick was only an inch from her neck.

"If I've been a demon, you would have died by now. You must fight faster than that!"

Anna swung the mace again, but Atrus dodged it easily. Atrus dashed from one spot to another, and no matter how fast she tried, she couldn't match his speed. In one occasion, she got exhausted and rested for a while, only to find him dashing at her. She tried to cover herself, but the rattan stick was unstoppable. A long welt was formed on her left hip. It was nothing she couldn't heal, but it was annoying.

"I can't match your speed! You're simply too fast for me..." She said while panting.

"Nonsense! I presume until now Maya has been holding herself back against you..."

Anna couldn't accept the taunt and charged at him. This time she was faster. She began to study Atrus' movement as well. Slowly she built her pace to match his, but again he was faster. Her power didn't last forever, and when fatigue claimed her, Atrus created another welt on the other hip. It hurt a lot.

"You're still a sitting duck! You won't survive a battle with such ridiculous speed..."


This time Anna was pissed off. She followed Atrus' movement again for a while. When she paused, Atrus dashed toward her for another shot, just as she had planned. She let herself fall to the ground and used magic to soften the fall. When Atrus was about to step over her, she raised her legs and kicked his belly, sending him propelling in the air and smashing on the ground. Before he could recover, Anna pinned his body down and put her mace just an inch from his neck. 

"If I've been a demon, you would have lost your head by now..."

Atrus smiled. "Smart trick. You've been improving better than I thought. I'm impressed."

"And now your life is in my grasp, right...?"

Anna held his chin and kissed him passionately. He was surprised at the intrusion, but accepted the kiss. His hands slowly moved behind her body and embraced her lovingly. She missed that embrace so much. She held his body close, hoping that he would never let her go.

Suddenly Atrus rolled his body and pinned her body down. "Wrong... your life is in my grasp... But this time, I'll show you what to do to a female prisoner..."

Atrus kissed her again before moving to her neck. His hand slowly massaged her hair. "I don't know you've become a pervert..."

"It's your own fault..." Then he turned his attention to her pert breasts. He softly massaged her breasts under the thin fabric, teasing her.

"So tell me... what has Lord Falagor taught you...?"

"Many things..." Atrus answered without switching his attention. "When he met me, I was quite a wimp... I guess it took longer for me to recover from what I've done in Gideon... Then he put me back to my old self, I guess..."

"What did... he say..."

"He told me that I've been controlled by my own emotions... At that time I was so shocked that I couldn't think well... I felt I've been defeated by my own grief... I've killed an entire army and I almost... killed you... I couldn't understand what he was talking about..."

Anna looked at him lovingly. She could see the fear in his eyes. She kissed him again. She was willing to be there for him. She was willing to share his fear.

"Then he gave me an advice that I still remember until now... He said that emotions are our slaves... Fear, grief, happiness, sorrow, all of them... We only have to remember who the master is..."

He set her suit aside to reveal her cute breasts and began playing with them, making her moan and squirm. "Then I realized that I had been controlled by my own grief... I realized that I was supposed to be the master, not the slave... Then he helped me to master my fear..."

Now she was getting aroused. Atrus cleverly played with her breasts and evaded her nipples, making her frenzy. She looked at him with her pleading eyes, but he knew what she was thinking.

"So... you're... a brand new man...?" Her breathing became shorter and heavier.

"No..." he chuckled. "I'm just the same Atrus you've known... I'm just a better man..."

He was a better man now! She was getting crazy, but he still teased her so cleverly.

"Atrus... please take me..."

"No... you're not ready..."

"What do you mean, I'm not ready?! I'm so... so..." She couldn't say it. It's too embarrassing. But he looked at her lovingly.

"You look so cute when you're pissed off..."

Anna blushed. She rarely took compliments seriously, especially those about her appearance.

Suddenly Atrus disappeared from her sight. Then she felt him opening her legs, revealing her moist part. She was so embarrassed. Atrus, however, was happy with her response. He set her panties aside and licked her pussy lips. This time she couldn't hold it much longer and exploded. When she recovered, she giggled to see Atrus' face being covered by her cum. She happily licked him off.

"I suppose I'll make you pay for this..."

He laid her down again, moved in front of her opened crotch, and prepared his member. He looked at her, searching for a sign of objection, but found none. Anna was just waiting for him patiently. He slowly thrust his member inside. Her wet vagina made it easy for his member to slide in. When he put his full length in, she arched her back as pain and pleasure hit her.

"I'm sorry, Anna... Are you okay...?"

She smiled at him. "I'm alright... You can move now..."

Atrus slowly moved in and out of her in a slow rhythm to help her get used to having him inside of her. She responded with soft moans in every thrust. Her stare was locked on Atrus' eyes. Those charming blue eyes... They were the same ones that belonged to Atrus White Lion whom she had known... She knew that she had once again found him...

He slowly increased the pace as the feeling inside her was building up. Her vagina was now flooding with her cum. Atrus played with her nipples that aroused her even more. Shortly after, she reached the peak.

"Atrus... I... can't..."

She arched her back and cried as the ecstasy hit her nerve. Atrus held her body close as she came for the second time. It didn't take too long for him to join her. He pulled out of her, spurted his seeds on her belly and collapsed beside her. She rolled his body over and kissed him passionately.

"Atrus... that was wonderful... thank you..."

He smiled. "I'm most honored..."

This was the moment... She had to say it... She looked at him in the eyes.

"Atrus... I have favor to ask..."

He looked away. She could notice the change in his expression. "You want me back, right?"

Anna nodded. "Please join us again... Our journey is not finished yet..."

Atrus stood up and put his pants on, then looked at the vast landscape before him. "I'm willing to, Anna... But there's one thing that still bothers me..."

Anna turned away. "You still haven't forgiven me...?"

"No! That's not it!" He quickly answered. "I... I'm not ready for this journey..."

Anna watched him as he stared at the horizon. The sun was setting, adding wonderful touch to the evening sky. Silence crept upon them. Deep inside she could feel his emotion... his confusion...

"When I follow you, I have nothing to fight for but fame. I wanted to be a true Ranger. I wanted to be a strong man. I wanted to be famous." He turned at her. "I want to make my father proud."

He sighed before facing the horizon again. "Somehow in our journey, that desire has shifted. Suddenly I feel that I don't really care with my fame. I don't really care whether I can make a name for myself or not. When I realized that, I also found that I don't care about anything... I... I don't know what I'm fighting for... I have lost my desire... all of them..."

She listened to him silently. She wished she could help him, but she didn't know what to do. She could only listen as he continued...

"That's why I decided to leave you and Maya for a while. That's my main reason. And until I can find my real intention in this journey, I won't join you. I... I don't want to be a burden..."

There was a moment of silent for a while. She tried to find a way to answer his question, but none came out. She had to admit that their quest was vaguely described. Until now the so-called Champion of the Guardian was still an enigma.

"Why do you look for him...?"

His question startled her. "I... I don't know... To save the land, I guess..."

Atrus turned away again, but he didn't seem to be satisfied with the answer. But she couldn't say it... She couldn't say it until the time had come...

"I'm sorry... I... I can't help you... I..." She said slowly.

Atrus looked at her and smiled. "What for? You're willing to hear me. That means everything to me. I haven't talked to anybody about this. Not even to master Falagor."

"But I'm not very helpful... I can't do anything..."

"You don't have to." He offered his hand. "Come. We must return before dark. My master must have done his examination by now."

They sat inside the cottage in silence. The fire had been lit. The dinner had been served. But nobody wanted to eat. Nobody had the desire to eat. Grief and despair had engulfed them all.

"So, master... you can't save her..." Atrus said slowly.

Falagor sighed for the fifth time that evening. "I'm sorry, my apprentice, the poison came from a rare root that grows only in the underworld realm. Until now nobody in our realm can make the antidote. Magic could cure her, but the poison has spread even to her cells. It's already too late."

"It's all my fault... I should have cured her with my magic sooner..." Anna sobbed.

Atrus put his hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault. There's nothing you could have done. There's got to be another way to help her..."

"But even Lord Falagor couldn't help her! Maya... she wouldn't make it, would she...?"

"Actually there's still hope." Falagor quickly said.

"What is it, master? I'm willing to do anything to save her!"

He paused, then stared at Atrus. "There's a herb in this realm called Black Orchid. It is a flower that grows in the volcanic region. When mixed with several local herbs, it could create a poison so strong that it will slay anybody who drinks it instantly. However, it is known to have a powerful effect. It can be used to deter even the strongest poison in this realm, so it's a sort of poison against poison effect. That's why the elves called it the Almighty Potion."

He drew a deep breath before continuing. "We might be able to use Black Orchid to save Maya's life. But there's a problem. Its poison was so strong that the effect will solely depend on the patient's body. The venom is very violent. The patient may die a terrible death if he couldn't hold it."

"Master, are you saying that this poison can actually cure her?"

"Yes, but only if she could endure the torture." Falagor answered. "You and Miss Freesland are her friends. You will decide her fate. Her life is in your hand."

Anna looked helplessly at Atrus, who was just as confused as anybody else in the room. Letting her die in pain would be foolish, but using a stronger poison would make her suffer even more. Either way, she could die. They could only choose how.

"Atrus... I don't know... I don't want her die... but I hate to see her suffer..."

"No!" Atrus snapped at her. "I'm not going to let her go!"

Anna was stunned. There was a scent of anger in his voice. He was angry, all right, and she could understand him. His friend was dying. She could remember his angered expression after the battle at Labrador. She could remember how hard he had blamed himself for not helping her.

"Don't let your anger hinder your judgement, my apprentice." Falagor reminded him.

"No, master, I'm still awake." Atrus answered. "I can't represent her, but I know her well. I know she will not die without a fight. She needs the chance, and I will give it to her."

The room was silent for a while. Atrus was serious about his thought, and Anna knew better than trying to change his mind. She loved Maya, and she definitely wouldn't let her die easily. She owed Maya her life... she owed her too much...

"I will go tomorrow to find the flower..."

"WE will go tomorrow." Anna quickly added. "She's my friend, and I won't let her die."

Atrus looked at her for a while, then smiled. "Thank you, Anna..."

"I will put Maya in trance status. This might slow the venom's work, but not for long. You will have at least two or three days to find it and bring it back to me." Falagor said.

"Where can we find this Black Orchid?" Anna asked.

"It's very rare, but you're pretty lucky." Falagor answered. "There are some of them nearby... at the lava pool inside the mountain... the Mystic Mountain..."

They had a quick breakfast that morning. They had been eating pancakes for 2 days now, and since there was no honey in the forest, they had to eat them plain. Nobody complained, though, for they don't want to make Anna volunteer to cook.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 07



Ch. 07: The Quest for Loyalty

Atrus White Lion stood on top of the hill, looking at the landscape around him. The view of the Land of Lore never bored him. The long chain of mountains in the south, the unbroken view of forest in the west, the great canyons in the east, and the fearsome stormy Northern Ocean, added wonderful touch to the realm. From where he was standing, he felt as if he was standing at the top of the world. 

Behind him was the view of the little town of Rocklin. The town was dwarfed by the vast forest surrounding the land. However, another thing also made the town insignificant. Before him was a huge mighty city wall, and beyond it, Castle Stromgarde, the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon.

Castle Stromgarde housed the royal palace, where the king resided. Beyond the walls also lay the city of Stromgarde, surrounding the palace. As the largest city in Aragon, it held the main role in Aragon's economy and military strength. Numerous outposts and fortifications were built around the city. The castle walls were among the biggest walls in Humans history.

In his mission as the Guardian's prophet, he had to forge an alliance of the five clans of the realm. To do so, he had to confront the king and his royal subordinates. However, with the war raging across the land, a passage to the capital was highly forbidden. A special request had to be made to the royal army, forcing him to spend some time in the border town of Rocklin for several days until the permission was issued. Such bureaucracy always annoyed him, but he had no choice.

Confronting the royal members would actually be the last thing he wanted to do. The Kingdom of Aragon was not as mighty as it had used to be. The royal affairs were filled with wicked and corrupted souls. Stories about back-stabbing and struggle for supremacy of power in the palace could be heard from the corner of every pub in the land. That was why he never felt comfortable when dealing with royal members. His old master, Falagor, who had been the royal advisor for many years, seemed to share the same feeling, which brought him into exile.

He heard footsteps from behind and found out that Maya had joined him on the hill. "I'm sorry if you want to be alone, Master Atrus..."

"Not at all. I can use a company, after all."

He stared at his companion. Her long dark hair was pony-tailed by a simple band with a cute black ribbon on top. Her gray body suit shaped her slim figure. The thick leather collar fit comfortably around her neck. On her belt were a number of throwing knives and a long leather-sheathed silver blade.

Maya Murdock was his... companion. However, she still insisted that she was his slave, bought from the town of Tiras to serve him forever. He never treated her as a slave, although she acted like one. But instead of being a burden, Maya was a good addition in the group. Her quick thinking and formidable fighting techniques had repeatedly saved his life.

His thought turned to his other companion, Adriana Freesland. A loyal ally, Anna was a priest and an apprentice in the art of magic. Despite their routine clashes, he found Anna easy to work with. She was a great partner and a decent fighter, but her magical ability was her primary asset. Her vast knowledge of things had been proven valuable in many occasions. Her ideals in finding the Champion of the Guardian stayed intact throughout their rough journey.

He sighed at the sight before him. Many things had happened in the past few months. Once he had been an eager young Ranger, looking for glory of his own. Then he had found Anna, who had changed his life completely. He had joined her quest in finding the fabled Champion of the Guardian. 

Then he met Maya in the town of Tiras. Despite her slave status, her heart was full of determination and dignity. She had always been there to raise everybody's spirit when they were down. She had always been there to cheer them up. She had always been there to love and be loved. Then the Battle of Gideon came.

He still remembered clearly how he had been crushed. The loss of almost the entire village and the fact that he had almost killed his friends had shocked him. For six months he had put himself in exile, working with the great wizard Lord Falagor to sharpen his skill and regain his confidence. Again, Maya and Anna had interfered, helping him to bring his lost pieces back in place again. And now here they were, the Guardian's prophets, destined to find the Champion of the Guardian. In this time of trouble, he sometimes realized how lucky he was to have both girls as his companions.

"How are your feeling, Master?" Maya's question awoke him from his thought.

"I'm fine, Maya." He answered. "At least we're not looking for a fabled man anymore."

"You're right, Master." She nodded. "I suppose the whole things would be revealed in time."

"And we'll be the among the first to witness them." Atrus agreed.

Only If they succeed, of course. He had a feeling that his task would not be an easy one. The Guardian himself had promised to aid them with his selected warriors, which he had to find from the five clans. Finding them would be another problem. However, he had to admit that the whole thing was better than before. At least now he knew where to start.

"Anyway, Master, do you want to hear a secret?"

"What is it?"

"Do you know that Mistress Anna would turn nineteen next week?"

Atrus looked at her in disbelief. "How do you know?"

She just smirked. "I peeked at her diary."

"Oh, that's goo... WHAT?!! You did that?!"

"Of course. I don't become a thief for nothing." She snickered. "I even knew that you turned twenty last month."

"You... Don't tell me... You peeked into mine as well...?"

"Of course. Happy birthday, Master..." She hugged and kissed him on the cheek...

...just as Anna appeared in the corner of his eyes. She just froze for a while before finally approaching him. She tried to act as if nothing had happened, but he noticed it. Her long golden hair was braided with a pretty red ribbon. She wore her usual priest suit, which shaped her petite body perfectly. A metal mace hung on her belt. The light wind played her hair gracefully.

"I just want to tell you that the representative from the palace is here to see you."

"I see. I will be there in a moment." Atrus said.

She froze for a while before nodding. "Okay... um... sorry if I'm interrupting something." Then she quickly went back down the hill. Atrus just stared at her for a while.

"Can't you see that she admired you a lot, Master?" Maya asked innocently.

"I know. But I just don't know what to do..."

Maya just giggled. "You're worried about me, Master? You don't need to win my love, for my heart already belongs to you. But you'll be hurting her if you keep on acting like this."

"But I just don't know what to do." Atrus said again. "I suppose I'm not very good in dealing with this kind of thing. It's not in Ranger training procedure, you know..."

"Aw, you don't have to be a Ranger to be good in love, Master. Just be yourself."

"But I don't know how to start..."

"How about a sweet birthday gift?" Maya asked. "She would kill me for reading her diary, but it's a good start, right?"

Atrus just smiled. "Thank you, Maya. Anyway, let's meet our guest, shall we."


The knight sat erect on his horse. He wore a half-plate armor and a metal helmet. His metal gauntlets and boots made clanking noise in every movement. He was flanked by three other royal guards, distinguished by their lighter chain mails and simpler helmets. The guards were armed with long pikes.

Atrus had never seen a knight in full combat suit before, and the view astonished him. Anna and Maya shared the same amazement. The armor enhanced his appearance, giving him a full hint of honor and dignity of the figure beneath it. Atrus stood before him and saluted.

"I, Atrus White Lion, hailed and saluted you, Sir."

The chuckle escaped from the metal helmet, followed by a laugh. Atrus couldn't shake the feeling that he had been insulted, but the laugh seemed friendly.

"Please, don't be too formal, my friend. We've met before, have we not?"

Atrus turned to Anna for a clue, but she was as confused as he was. Then the knight reached out for his helmet and took it off, revealing a young man of his age. His long black hair was tied behind him. His overall appearance was unknown, but his face looked familiar.

"Try to imagine me without my long hair, my friend." He challenged again.

That face... he was familiar to him! It was in the town of Tiras...

"Captain Hawk?! Is that you?!"

The young knight smiled. "Long time no see, my friends. Many months have passed since my coward action back in Tiras."

Atrus remembered him as a young captain leading a small detachment of army to patrol the southern region of Tiras. They had been jumped by a giant lizard which had devoured all of his comrades. Atrus and the girls had saved him by slaying the lizard. At that time, Captain Hawk had had his hair short.

"Long time no see, indeed, Captain. And don't blame yourself for what happened in Tiras."

"Please, my friend, call me Hawk. I'm still in debt with you." He smiled, then turned to Anna. "Miss Freesland, I recall. It's been my honor to see you again."

Anna smiled warmly. "No, the honor is all mine. And please call me Anna."

He turned to Maya. "And you, young lady, I'm sorry I forget your name."

"Maya Murdock, at your service, Sir Hawk. Please call me Maya as well."

Hawk smiled at the group. "I'm happy to see you all. When we received your request, I quickly volunteered to greet you. And I have prepared three horses for you."

The two guards quickly dismounted from their horses. Atrus climbed on one, followed by Maya. Anna just stared at them hesitantly.

"Um, Maya... Can I ride with you...? I... I can't ride a horse..."

She could notice the grin in Atrus' face, and she swore she would incinerate him to crisp if he dared to insult her, but he said nothing. Maya, on the other hand, gave her an evil grin.

"Sorry, Mistress, but I'm not very good as well. I'm sure Master Atrus would do that."

Anna turned to Captain Hawk, but he answered politely. "I'm sorry, Anna, but you won't be able to hold tight since I'm wearing this body armor. Could you ride with Atrus?"

Anna looked at Atrus with pleading eyes, knowing he would take pleasure in mocking her, but before she made the request, Atrus offered his hand, which she accepted hesitantly. When the guards succeeded in helping her to mount, she quickly clasped her hands around Atrus' waist and refused to let go.

"Anna... I... can't... breathe...!!!"

Anna loosed her grip a bit, and Atrus quickly regained his breath. Captain Hawk just stared at them, confused, but Maya giggled at the sight. Anna still kept her body close to Atrus, shivering.

"Say, Anna... -grasp- You've never ridden a horse before?" Atrus finally asked.

"I... I have... B-but I have a bad experience..."

"Don't worry, Anna." Hawk said. "Just stick around with Atrus for a while, and you'll get used to it in no time."

Anna looked at the grinning Atrus. "I really doubt it."

Atrus just laughed, then turned to Hawk. "Say, Hawk, a race halfway through the city walls?"

"You got it, my friend!"

"NO!!! I mean... Atrus, please don't... I'm scared like hell..." Anna pleaded.

"Aw, don't be such a baby! Ready?!"

"You're on, my friend!"

"NO...!!! NO!!! KYAAA...!!!"

And the race began as both horses dashed toward the city, followed by Anna's cry of terror. Maya just laughed at the sight, and then raced her horse to follow them.

The race ended with Captain Hawk as the winner, since Atrus couldn't breathe for most of the route. Anna still kept her hands tightly around Atrus. She was crying openly now. Her face was full with fear. Atrus was busy in soothing her.

"I'm sorry, Anna... I don't know you're that scared... Forgive me, okay?"

"Just... just don't... do that... again... Oh God... I'm... so... scared..."

"I suppose Atrus can teach you how to ride a horse, don't you agree, Anna?" Hawk asked.

She just nodded slowly, her hands still refused to let go. They waited for a while until Maya could catch up, then proceeded to the city, very slowly.

"So, what brings you to the palace, my friend?" Hawk finally asked.
Atrus explained the situation in detail. Anna added a few details when needed. When they're finished, they were prepared to hear a mocking response, but Hawk just stayed silent. 

"I know it's hard for you to trust us..." Anna added finally.

"No offence, my friends, but you have to understand us." Hawk answered. "If it is true that the Guardian has decided to fulfill the Ancient Prophecy, this will be the first good news heard by the royal members for at least three years. I have faith that you will not fool me, but I find it hard to believe it, and you can expect the royal members to feel the same."

"We're quite aware of that, Hawk, and we're prepared for it. However, none of us has any experience in dealing with court members. We're travelers, not politicians. Anna knew a little about negotiation and diplomacy, but that's all we know. I'm afraid I'm not that good at presenting our ideas."

"You're lucky, my friend, because you're looking at a court member right now."

"You're a court member?!" Maya asked.

Hawk smiled at the reaction. "I was just appointed as the castle defense coordinator and royal guards drill officer. My authority is still highly limited, but I have little experience in dealing with the court members. I can represent you before the king."

"You're willing to help us?" Anna's face brightened.

"Of course. A life debt lasts forever. I cannot promise you anything, but I will do my best to gain the king's approval to your plan. There are a few problems, however."

"What is it?" Atrus asked.

"To do a royal mission, you must attain the rank of knight. I can help you a little, but you have to go through several tests to prove your worthiness. Are you prepared?"

Atrus nodded. "You promised to do your best in representing us. I promise to do my part. We'll just see what the outcome will be."

The city of Stromgarde was a very prosperous city, well known for its trade. As the capital of the kingdom, many trading companies built their headquarters here. The people's lifestyle was highly dynamic, very different from those from villages. Marketplaces were in almost every corner of the place. Many people sold different kinds of merchandise on either side of the paved road. Houses were bigger and could probably fir two families along with their children inside. The road was very crowded that Captain Hawk had to enlist some soldiers' help to clear the way for them.

Outside the city laid the vast farmland owned by the citizens. The farmland was located inside the gate to increase the survivability of the citizens and the castle defenders in case of a blockade by enemy troops. Large guard towers were built along the walls and around the city to discourage the enemy from attacking the city from the air. Barracks and guardhouses blended in with the local community.

The palace itself was located in the center of the city, flanked by eight guard towers and four guardhouses. The beautiful royal garden surrounded the palace. From the road the people could see the large fountains and flowers that decorated the garden. The garden was surrounded by high steel fence with eight gates around the palace. The security was very tight, especially on each gate. Hawk explained that getting into the palace would be at least three times as hard as getting into the city itself.

The palace was large, but still considered modest for a large kingdom like Aragon. It only consisted of the main hall and eight wings. It was not very tall if compared to the adjacent guard towers. The citizens had used to be allowed to enter the palace courtyard during peacetime, but not anymore.

All four of them dismounted before the palace door.

"I apologize, but we don't have much time to relax. I have arranged your audience with the king in about ten minutes. Please follow me." Hawk gestured at the door.

"Should I come with you, Master, or should I take care of our stuff?" Maya asked.

"Come with us, Maya. I will need all support I can get for this audience." Atrus answered.

The palace main hall was huge. The high ceiling gave a spacious feeling to its occupants. Carpets covered the entire floor of the room Beautiful carvings and chandeliers decorated the hall. A pair of stairs led to the palace wings. Before them was another huge door led to the court.

The court was a big circular room walled by sculptures and statues. A glass ceiling allowed sunlight to illuminate the room. In the center of the room were three rows of circular tables.

"This is the royal court. This is where royal members and councils hold their forums."

Atrus was speechless. The tables and chairs were artistically crafted. Beautiful sculptures were all over the place. On one end of the table circles were three huge chairs. They were exceptional. Most of the surfaces were covered with gold. A pair of ivories accompanied the central chair on the sides. The seat was topped with a brilliant gemstone. There had to be the king's throne, he thought.

"You will sit here." Hawk noted at the nearest chair.

Atrus slowly sat on the comfortable chair, feeling the soft touch of leather. The handiwork was magnificent. The wooden furniture was neatly polished, as if the entire set had been made just yesterday. The tables were perfectly rounded and adjusted for his comfort.

Anna sat right beside him, sharing his amazement. As a priest, she had never felt comfortable among luxuries, but the sight overwhelmed her. These were not luxuries. These were works of art! Maya's tug at her suit awoken her as she saw Atrus looking at her. She could see the worry in his eyes.

"Anna... I'm not sure if I can pull this off... I desperately need your help in this one..."

"Don't worry... I knew a little bit about diplomacy. I will keep you informed."

Soon one by one the royal members entered the court. Anna silently introduced some of the members that she knew. Her experience with the bureaucracy when she had still been a priest allowed her to overhear some of their names and exploits. Atrus tried to keep up with her update.

"And that's General Kepfer." She noted at the old man in uniform entering the room from the east wing. His well-built body and hard expression acknowledged his experience in the heat of battle. "He is the minister of war. He also handles foreign affairs. He hates Elves, so he might oppose our mission."

Atrus nodded. He had heard the General's contribution to the war against the Elves. Strongest objections might come mainly from him. To promote the alliance, he had to convince him, or his request would not be granted.

"And that is Lord Garth, the royal advisor. He replaced Lord Falagor. He is a master alchemist and a great scholar of magic. He's a reasonable man, but unbeatable in argument."

Atrus could not clearly see the wisdom behind the mage's face. He was rather young to become a royal advisor, but appearance could fool. Never underestimate your enemies, his father had said.

"Behold, King Edward of Aragon!!"

Everybody stood up and saluted. Three figures entered the room from the south wing. The king was a middle-aged man with royal suit and long robes. A decorated crown sat on his hear, partly covered his white hair. He also had well-trimmed beard and moustache. He also wore black gloves and long army boots. His well-built figure indicated that he had been a knight before becoming a king.

He was followed by two other figures. The first one was a young man wearing a full body armor and a long robe. He was roughly at Atrus' height. He stared warily at the audience, as if there was a spy among them. The other one was a rather-fat middle-aged woman wearing extremely luxurious gown and delicate tiara. Atrus could see the rings in almost all of her finger. She also wore generous amount of make-up that made her look more like a monster rather than a lady.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 07



The king sat down on the middle throne and the lady on the next one. The young man, however, stood beside him. The doors were closed and the meeting began.

"The man was Prince Roberto, the second son and heir to the throne." Anna whispered. "He is also the foremost knight of the realm. He wielded a giant sword called Kaiser Sword. Its power is unsurpassed."

"And who's the woman?" Atrus asked quietly without drawing attention.

"The woman was Lady Montana, King Edward's mistress and Roberto's mother. She is in charge of the civil affairs in the land, but rumors said she's... uh... horrible..."

Maya, who had been following the conversation, finally asked. "Why doesn't Roberto sit on the empty chair? Why do they keep the chair if nobody sits on it?"

"You know Prince Alfredo, the first son and the rightful heir to the throne?" Anna asked her.

"The one that we're looking for, right? He disappeared years ago without trace."

"True. The chair belongs to Queen Amalia, the queen of the land, Alfredo's mother." Anna explained. "She was poisoned shortly after the disappearance of her son. Her killer is never found. That chair is dedicated to her to symbolize King Edward's loyalty to his late wife."

"And what is Lady Montana doing here, then?" Atrus asked.

"She was the king's chief maid. One day, the king choked himself while having dinner, and she saved his life. In desperation of not having an heir for the throne, the king appointed her as his concubine. Roberto is the result. The king promised Roberto to become the heir if Alfredo can't be found."

"I can picture that both Roberto and his mom wouldn't like Alfredo back." Maya added.

"The court is in session." Lord Garth said. "Captain Hawk, you may begin."

Hawk stood from his chair and addressed the assembly before him. "The honorable royal members, I present you my friends, Ranger Atrus White Lion and his girls."

Atrus didn't like the way Hawk presented Anna and Maya as 'his girls'. However, he stood and bowed before the king. "Atrus White Lion, at your service, your majesty."

Anna felt the same, but did the same. "Adriana Freesland, at your service, your majesty."

"I'm Maya Murdock, slave of Atrus White Lion, at your service." Maya followed.

The king nodded. "You are the heroes at the conflicts in Labrador and Gideon, I recall."

"And you saved Sir Hawk's life in Tiras. I read your report, Captain. Are they the ones?"

"Yes, Prince Roberto, they are the ones, indeed." Hawk answered.

"They don't look special to me." Lady Montana added mockingly.

The remark stung the companions pretty badly, but they managed to control their anger. "We're no heroes, your majesty, just some travelers who want to do the job well." Anna said.

"A fine modesty, Miss Freesland, but your exploits are well known." Lord Garth claimed. "And what is your business in the palace?"

Hawk continued. "They are here to propose a new political move toward our neighbors, your majesty. They are here to form an alliance of all five clans of the realm."

The reactions came instantly from all around the room. General Kepfer quickly frowned at Atrus, while the other members busily debated the idea. The crowd silenced as Lord Garth raised his hand.

"And what is the reason?" Lord Garth continued.

"They claimed that Lord Guardian has sent them here..."

"LIAR!!!" Lady Montana cut Hawk off. Her curse was also welcomed with more objections from other members. This was not good, Atrus thought. He had to convince them, and it wouldn't be easy.

"Young White Lion!" The king suddenly called him. "I know your father well, and I believe you're not telling us lies."

"No, your majesty. I'm telling the truth." Atrus answered instantly.

"Then tell us. I believe you will enlightened us better if you tell us personally."

Atrus gave the girls a worried look, but they shot back an assuring smile. Atrus stood up and walked to the center of the room. He could feel all eyes were staring at him, but he hid his nervousness. He had to convince them. His friends were with them, and Lord Guardian himself said He would be, too.

"In our journey after the battle at Gideon, we traveled along the eastern part of the kingdom." Atrus felt reluctant in using the words 'we' and 'our', but he continued. "There Lord Guardian himself appeared before us. We were quite shocked, but we knew it was him..."

Anna cursed silently at the argument. It was a very weak one. Lord Garth noted it as well.

"How do you know it was him, young man?"

"I should describe him as... heavenly." Atrus answered. "His words, his voice, his message, everything he showed us were beyond imagination. I can't describe his appearance to convince you. But if you see him before your eyes, you know that it's not a mere illusion."

The answer seemed to satisfy most of the members. Anna sighed in relief.

"Then tell us his message, young man." One of the members said.

"He said that the Ancient Prophecy is about to be fulfilled. He also ordered us to find the Champion of the Guardian."

The court exploded with many different of responses. They eyed Atrus with suspicions, but he stood steadily before the king.

"I suppose we can't trust a person who believes in ghost stories." Lady Montana retorted.

"But it is not a ghost story, my Lady. The prophecy tells what is currently happening right now in this realm. It also tells what's going to happen in the future..."

"Such as he will rule the land after defeating the evil? This is treason!!!" She cried. "You make up stories to overthrow the king! Edward, can't you see?!"

Oh no... this was not good... Anna was getting panic. Lady Montana was trying to suck Atrus in. But Atrus just stood there calmly.

"I have no desire to overthrow anybody, your majesty. I just tell you what I was told to say. The Guardian has decided to fulfill the prophecy, and He will do it. I'm just a messenger."

The king turned at his advisor, but Lord Garth nodded. "Go on, young man."

"I was told to bear message to all clans of the realm. The prophecy has predicted the appearance of the demons as a new menace. To stand the menace we have to declare war and form..."

"You might be a demon-spawn!!!" Lady Montana cried again, louder this time. "You tried to infiltrate the castle with all your filthy ideas to drag us to war!!!"

Anna was getting furious. That old woman was annoying! She kept on disturbing him with her comments. Atrus, however, seemed to control his anger well.

"Young man, I do have an objection." General Kepfer politely spoke up. "War will only waste valuable resource and human lives. Our kingdom is in the verge of breakdown. Rebellions arise in many remote areas. Peasants started to blockade important trade routes. Villagers arm themselves and patrol the land, looking for trouble. The king has decided that declaring war will only weaken our state."

"Until now, many lives has been lost from the demon attacks." Atrus said. "The demons attacked town after town and killed all villagers. The survivors live in fear and terror..."

"Do you question the king's judgement? Do you think the king doesn't care of his people?! Do you blame the king for all the troubles in the outskirts of the kingdom?!"

"No, but it is time for the kingdom to fulfill its promises to its people."

Atrus' answer silenced Lady Montana again. Anna just stared at him for a while. He had said he had been lousy in diplomacy. It was either that he had lied to her, or the skill came naturally.

"Even as we speak, the war is raging outside the castle gate. However, the civilians are the ones that fight the war. Many have died, and many more will die. They don't rebel against their leader, your majesty. They're fighting for their lives. That's why they arm themselves. They're losing their trust to the kingdom, but they still hope that someday their leader will hear their cry."

Lady Montana chuckled mockingly, but Atrus' words seemed to convince some members. The tension in the room eased a bit. People began to look at Atrus expectantly.
"As I said before, we need to forge an alliance of all five clans of the land. All the conflicts right now are just the beginning. A far stronger Army of Darkness will eventually come, and if we're not prepared, we will be swept aside. If all beings in the realm join hand, we may succeed." 

"How do you know they will agree to your proposal?" Lord Garth asked.

"They will. I believe they are as concerned about their people as all of us here. If we fail, they will share the consequences with us. They realized the danger they face. They will agree."

"But how do you know they will not betray us? The Elves, for instance." The General asked.

"Even the Elves realized the danger. If we can convince them of our goodwill in this alliance, they will comply. We cannot waste anymore time. The longer we wait, the worse the damage will be."

"Young man, you know NOTHING about politics!" Lady Montana snarled.

"On the other hand..." Lord Garth suddenly said, "I think he is right..."

The whole room turned to face the young advisor. Lady Montana eyed him in disbelief. "You believe in this kid?!"

"The kid is right. We have to admit that we're losing the war. If we don't react soon, our people will suffer. With all political problems we're having, a large scale of drafting and recruitment will be impossible to do. An alliance will strengthen our defense while we try to regain trust from the people."

General Kepfer stood. "I agree. The boy is saying the truth. Young Ranger, I still doubt about the Elves' involvement in your plan, but you have my support."

"Thank you, General."

Then one by one the court members were convinced and approved the plan. Lady Montana was getting furious, for nobody seemed to support her anymore. The king, who had been watching the debate from his throne, smiled warmly at Atrus.

"As the majority of the court members have decided, I will give my blessing..."

"Your majesty!!! This is a mistake...!!!" Lady Montana roared in anger.

"This will be a limited meeting for the council of war!" The king announced.

Then several members began to leave their seats. Only a few remained in their places. Lady Montana threw Atrus a look in disgust, then left the room, cursing. Atrus found Anna standing right behind him. She gave a smirk and stepped on his feet.

"Ouch!! What was that for?!" He asked.

"For lying to me." Anna answered. "You speak like a master diplomat."

Soon the court was pretty empty. General Kepfer and Captain Hawk were still there. Prince Roberto was still beside the throne, staring warily at Atrus. He had to be pissed off, seeing his mother humiliated in front of the court. King Edward cleared his throat before continuing.

"Young man, I give you my blessing to forge the alliance you proposed. However, are you aware of the requirement for somebody to undertake a royal task?"

"Yes, your majesty. I have to attain the rank of royal knight." Atrus answered.

"And do you know what it takes to be a royal knight?" King Edward asked again.

"No, your majesty."

Prince Roberto stepped forward. "I am responsible in promoting people to the rank of royal knights. However, to attain a full title, you have to undertake as little as 25 tests to prove your worthiness."

Atrus didn't answer. Taking 25 tests would take too much time, and the search for the Champion of the Guardian would be delayed. The king, however, was able to read his thoughts.

"Roberto, can't we make an exception on this one?" The king asked. "This boy's reputation is well known and his dedication is proven. Doing all those tests will be a waste of time."

"I'm aware of that. I can cut all those tests into a duel. How's that?" The prince asked.

The girls were surprised, but Atrus nodded. "As you wish, my prince."

"Prince Roberto!" Captain Hawk stood up. "I would like the opportunity to do the duel."

"I appreciate your offer, Captain, but no." The prince said slowly. "I will fight him personally. If you defeat me fair and square, you'll get your title. GUARDS!! MY SWORD!!"

As Anna had said to him, any souls would tremble at the sight of the Kaiser Sword. It was at least four feet tall with long handle. The sword was made of reinforced steel. The design was not impressive; it was not made for beauty, it was made for power. The blade seemed to be able to cut through metal like butter. The sword looked very heavy on the guard's hand, but Roberto lifted it easily.

"Don't hold back, Ranger!" He said. "If you're hesitating, you get sliced. Got it?"

Maya came beside Atrus, bringing his sword. "Master, be careful..."

Atrus smiled, then told both girls to back off. He didn't draw the cursed sword, but instead just hung it on his back. The action startled the members of the council of war.

"If you don't use your sword, your little slave and lover will cry before your corpse!"

Atrus stared at the young prince defiantly. "I'm here at Lord Guardian's will. I believe He will fight the duel for me."

"Young fool!! Prepare to be slaughtered!!"

Prince Roberto dashed toward Atrus and swung the sword with all his might, but Atrus got out of the way. The gigantic sword smashed into the expensive table next to Maya and split it in half. Everybody in the room, including the king, grasped at the sight. Maya quickly clung at Anna, frightened.

"Come on, Prince, just between us." Atrus taunted. "I don't want my girls back in pieces..."

The prince easily lifted the sword and charged at him. Using his superior speed and dodging skill, he jumped from one spot to another, evading every blow Roberto could offer him. He didn't even draw his sword, knowing that even the magical sword would be smashed to pieces upon contact with Kaiser Sword. After a few minutes of intense 'cat-and-mouse' game, six sets of tables and eight chairs were wrecked. Only Anna, Maya, Lord Garth and General Kepfer remained in the seat. The rest of the council members hid behind the king's throne.

"You know what, Prince, I have a friend who is a carpenter. You can support his business if you keep on doing this everyday..."

The prince roared in anger at the taunt and dashed at Atrus like a madman. This time Atrus drew his weapon, ducked beneath the Kaiser's path, and hit the prince's left leg hit the sheathed sword. The covered sword didn't draw blood on his armored leg, but was enough to trip the furious prince. Prince Roberto smashed on a broken table, wrecking it even further and brought him down. Before he could rise, the demonic sword, now unsheathed, penetrated on the table next to his head. The cold-blue glow shrunk his guts almost instantly.

"I suppose the winner of the duel is already decided." Lord Garth declared.

The prince quickly rose up and challenged him. "The result is not fair! The Ranger cheated!"

"How so, Roberto?" The king asked.

"He taunted me! That is not a fair fight! He angered me..."

"And you were angered!!" The king suddenly roared. "You disappoint me, my son! As a foremost knight of the realm, you have violated every single code of honor of a knight!"

"Father, what do you mean...?" Roberto asked in confusion.

"Young Atrus didn't even use his swordsman skill." General Kepfer said coldly. "He was using your weakness as his strength. By doing that, he defeated you easily in what should have been a tough fight for him. He is under-armed and under-powered, but he outsmarted you. You are lost."

"But can't you see?! His sword... It's evil! I can sense it..."

"The sword is not important." Lord Garth said slowly. "The wielder is."

The prince was furious. "It can't be... I was defeated... by a Ranger...?" Then he rushed toward the door and left the court.

"The outcome has been decided." The king announced. "As the King of Aragon, I hereby appoint you, Ranger Atrus White Lion, with the title of royal knight. Wear it with pride, young man."

The king unsheathed his royal sword. Atrus knelt before him as he touched both shoulders with the sword. "Thank you, your majesty. I'm most honored."

"And I give you my blessing to forge the alliance of five clans. I will have my servants make the proposal. When it is finished, you will deliver it to the other four clans. I wish you success."

"Thank you, your majesty."

"But for the time being, I want you to do me a favor, Sir Atrus." The king continued. "I want you to do a royal task for me, along with your friends."

Both Anna and Maya joined Atrus before the king. "Anything that will please you, your majesty.' Anna politely answered.

General Kepfer stood up and walked toward the party. "Lately, our southern and western part of the kingdom has been harassed by the demons. Losses and casualties have been heavy. Our scouts have reported numerous abnormal patrol schedules and routes of our troops in that region. The question of the local officials' integrity is being questioned. A betrayal might be likely."

"Do you want us to investigate the matter?" Anna asked.

"Yes. You will go to Castle Stoke in the town of Blackwell."

"Blackwell...?!" Maya suddenly found herself saying.

"Yes, Blackwell. You will meet the governor of southern Aragon, Sir Anthony Stoke."

Maya shuddered at the name. Baron Stoke was the last man she wanted to see. He was her slaver. He had killed her father and degraded her like an animal. She had been captured in Castle Stone for a full year, passing days of pain and nights full with nightmares. The painful memory overcame her instantly. Her body trembled with fear. She could feel Atrus' hand reached out for her shoulder and drew her body close. Anna could only stare at her in sympathy. Maya snuggled close to her master. Her master and mistress understood her feeling. That was more that she could ask for.

"Young girl, is there something wrong?" The king suddenly asked Maya.

"Oh, no... I mean... yes, your majesty... I'm... not feeling well... That's all..."

"She's tired, your majesty." Atrus added. "It has been a long journey."

"Then I'll make this quick." King Edward nodded. "You will go there and convince Sir Stoke to begin countermeasure attempt to block the demon menace. That will include limited drafting of local villagers and constant training. Improvement of patrol schedule and garrisons placement will be in order as well. You will have my authority in this task. Do you understand?"

"We hear and heed, your majesty." Anna answered.

"If you complete this task, I will also appoint you and that little girl as honorary knights."

Maya stared at the king. "But, your majesty... I'm just a slave..."

"Status will never dictate dedications, young girl." Lord Garth said.

Maya hesitated before bowing at the king. "I'm in awe to my lord's generosity."

The king smiled. "Then I announce that the meeting is adjourned. Have some rest, little girl."

One by one the members left the wrecked court. Atrus held Maya's body, comforting her. Anna joined them in the center of the room. Maya was still frightened as the horrified memory returned.

"Master... Mistress... I... I don't know if I can do this..." She said slowly.

"You must, Maya!" Anna said. "We're with you! You will not be harmed!"

"I... I'm scared... I will jeopardize the mission..."

"Don't let your emotion control you." Anna suddenly found Lord Garth standing behind her. "That is what Lord Falagor, my mentor, has always said to me when I'm down."

Maya looked at her master. Atrus gave her an assuring smile. Her master had gone through bitter memory in Gideon, but he had managed to get out of his despair. She had his and Anna's support in this matter, and she knew her late father would want her to do this. She couldn't escape from reality, her father had told her. She had to confront her past enemy, just as Atrus had confronted his despair.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 07



"Okay... I will try..."

Anna smiled, then helped her stood up. "Come. You need some rest." She turned to Atrus. "Meet us back in Rocklin. We will be in the inn." Then they walked out of the room.

Atrus turned to the young man before him. "Thank you for supporting us back there. I guess I owe you an apology. I... doubted your wisdom as a royal advisor..."

Lord Garth studied Atrus' face for a while, then smiled. "You're not the first one who think that way, but you're the first one who actually admit it. I'm amazed."

"When you know him better," Hawk suddenly appeared, "you will be amazed even further."

"Captain, you too. I thank you..."

"Forget it, Sir Atrus. You did most of the job anyway. I just want to wish you luck for your assignment. Take my advice. I personally don't trust Sir Stoke." Then he bid goodbye and left.

"Any advice for this one, Lord Garth?" Atrus asked him.

"Yes. Take a good care of your... um... slave, although you treat her like your lover... Anyway, I can sense a great deal of frustration in her heart."

"Thank you. I will. And I want to ask you a favor, if I may..."

"Name it."

"In my journey I have to find 5 warriors from each clan that have been selected by the Guardian to assist me in finding the Champion of the Guardian. They should have had a dream about him. If you can, please search the kingdom for this warrior."

Lord Garth thought for a while. "Searching for one dreamer in a kingdom will be a difficult task... But I will try my best."

"Thank you, Lord Garth..."

"And one more thing. If you're ever in Whitewater, send my best greeting to my mentor." Then he left the room.

Atrus stared at the exit for a while. How could Lord Garth know where Lord Falagor was? He was Falagor's student, but as a hermit, no one knew where he was except Atrus and the girls. He waved the thought off. All wizards were mysterious, he decided...

Maya tasted the curry for the fifth time. This time it was perfect. Smiling widely, she picked the pan out of the fire and put it on the table. Master Atrus would definitely like it, she thought. She put another pan of steamed rice and cleaned the kitchen. The dinner was served.

She took a towel and wiped the sweat off her forehead. It had been a long day, she said to herself. Her entire muscles were throbbing. She stretched them for a while. She still needed to make meals for their journey to Blackwell, because they wouldn't have time to do so tomorrow.

Her body shuddered again with the recalling of the town. She knew she had been used to working hard since she had joined Atrus' cause. She knew that the chores couldn't exhaust her like this. She knew that she was depressed. A part of her wanted to follow Atrus, but another part wanted to stay behind. She was afraid. She was afraid that their mission would bring back memories she wanted to forget.

And she yelped when a pair of hands circled her waist, only to find her mistress holding her. She looked at her with worry in her eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you..." Anna said slowly.

"No, Mistress... That's all right. Do you like curry?"

Anna smiled. "Since I can't cook, I'm used to appreciate anything that is served for me."

"I see..."

"Do you know where Atrus is?" Anna asked. 

"No, I don't. I think he hasn't arrived from the castle."

This was no good. Their conversation didn't go well. Anna, however, noticed this as well. He reached out for Maya's shoulder, sensing the tense muscles beneath the sweat-covered skin.

"Oh my... Your muscles are tense... Are you okay?"

"Yes, Mistress... I'm just tired, I guess... I'll be fine..."

"Say... do you want to have a nice hot bath with me?"

Maya's jaw dropped at the request. She looked at her mistress in disbelief, but only saw innocence in her eyes.

"It's good for your muscles, you know? Come. The curry won't go anywhere."

Maya was speechless when Anna carried her to the only bathroom in their room. They had shared this room with Atrus, since there was only one room available in the inn. Being a gentleman, Atrus quickly claimed to living room sofa despite the girls' protest, so they shared a huge bed in the next room.

The bathtub was pretty special for an inn of its size. It was made of nice marble and was enough for two people. Hot water filled the tub. By the time Maya entered the room, the vapor instantly relaxed her muscles. Anna closed the door behind her and guided her to the tub.

"Take off your clothes. You don't normally take a bath with your shirt on, do you?"

Maya blushed at the comment, then began to undo her neck collar. Anna helped by loosening her leather belt. Then she helped Maya get off her sweat-soaked body suit. She was marveled at the sight of Maya's half-naked body. Her body suit did a good job at hiding her natural beauty beneath it. Maya's well-rounded breasts were bigger than hers were. Her muscular body gave her a slim feminine figure. No wonder why Atrus loved her so much. Anna felt envious at her, but she cast it away.

Anna was about to take off Maya's lower suit when she stopped her. She reached out for Anna's belt and undid it. Then she took off her priest suit, revealing her cute breasts. Anna blushed as Maya kept on taking off her clothes, leaving her naked. Then she proceeded to take off Maya's suit.

Once they were naked, Anna led Maya to the hot tub. Maya slowly put her leg into the steaming water. Her body jerked for a while, but then she put another leg and slowly lowered herself into the water. The heat gently massaged her muscles, relaxing her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling.

Anna approached the tub later, carrying soap and a piece of cotton cloth. She climbed into the tub and sat behind Maya. Then she applied the soap to the wet cloth and began rubbing Maya's back. Maya was in heaven. Anna was incredibly good at massaging. Her hands expertly played with her skin, awakening her nerves and sending incredible sensation throughout her body.

She couldn't take it anymore. She turned around and pulled Anna close and kissed her deeply. Anna was completely taken by surprise, but she didn't struggle. After a while Maya broke the kiss. Anna was staring at her, puzzled.

"Maya... What in Guardian's name are you doing...?"

"I'm in awe by my mistress' kindness. This is my way to say thank you."

Before Anna could reply, Maya kissed the nape of her neck then licked her body all the way to her breasts. Then she licked her right shoulder, her hands playing with her breasts. Anna was involuntarily aroused. A soft moan escaped her lips as sparks passed through her body.

"Maya... I'm not sure... that we're doing... the right... thing..."

"Don't worry, mistress... Leave everything to me... Just sit back and enjoy the ride..."

Maya continued licking her neck and earlobe while keeping the attention on her breasts. Anna's breathing was getting heavy. Her hands stroked the long dark hair as Maya expertly serviced her.

Then Maya took one of her nipples in her mouth, softly licking and sucking it. She shifted her free hand on her crotch. Had they not been in the water, Anna's crotch would have been very wet from arousal. Maya traced the tender skin around her pussy and found her clit, teasing it. Anna moaned harder in every stroke she made.

Then she entered one finger into her love-hole. Anna's back arched as the sensation hit her. Maya cleverly teased her sensitive spot without shifting attention from her breasts. With all her private parts teased, it didn't take long for Anna to reach her peak. With a loud cry, she hit the climax. Maya held her close as her body shook uncontrollably. After she recovered, Maya planted a deep kiss on her lips.

"What do you think, Mistress? A good slave can always use a critique..."

Anna just smiled. "Of course, naughty girl... I will teach you a lesson..."

Later that night, Atrus went home, only to find the dinner still warm on the table. Then he saw the girls sleeping soundly on the bed, holding each other close like a couple. Softly he put the blanket over both of them. Anna's figure stirred a bit, and fell asleep instantly, satisfied with the warmth. A smile was sculptured on her face.

The sight pleased him. Seeing both girls get along would make their journey pleasant, if not easier. At least he knew he could always count on them when he needed help. He had a quick dinner, then went to bed. Tomorrow they had a long journey...

...And at the end of the journey, an important mission awaited them...

The journey from the capital to Blackwell normally took three days, but the royal guards under instruction of Captain Hawk had lent them a pair of horses to make the trip faster. It took them a while to convince Anna to ride the horse. She finally agreed to ride with Atrus, since Maya volunteered to carry their backpacks on her horse. The party traveled slowly at first due to Anna's persistent demand, but halfway through the journey, Anna's confidence grew and they began to pick some speed.

The travel time was also reduced considerably because they used the main road to Blackwell. Flanked with thick forest on both sides, the road was highly unsafe from wolves and other beasts. Merchants always avoided the road; only royal army used it to transport soldiers, who could defend themselves. However, their horses effectively discouraged the beasts from attacking. They arrived at Blackwell before nightfall, unscathed. Anna, as usual, briefed them along the way.

The town of Blackwell was known as the unofficial capital of Southern Aragon. It housed many trading outposts and warehouses. It also was the main military headquarter In Southern Aragon. All patrols were routed from here, including reinforcements to conflict area. The town only had little farm area, for most of the villagers lived from trade.

Despite the security it offered, Blackwell was a town of conflict. The close proximity to the military had increased the tension in the community. Many fractions had rebelled against the ruler, but none had succeeded. One of the most famous rebels was Sir John the Plunderer, Maya's father.

Filling the horizon was the Castle Stoke. It stood on a small hill surrounded by plains. The castle was named after the owner, Sir Anthony Stoke, a hero of Human-Elven war. After the war he had been appointed as a baron and had been assigned to maintain the garrison in the south. He then had appointed himself as the governor of South Region. Royal court knew him as a loyal servant to the crown, but the people knew him as a ruthless administrator. The trouble in the south made the problem worse. The conflicts at Labrador and Gideon had gradually diminished people's trust to the kingdom. Whitewater's affair was a fine example.

The baron had been informed of their arrival, but they arrived a little early. The sun was setting when they approached the town. Suddenly Atrus jerked his horse to halt and signaled Maya to stop. He drew his sword and looked at the surroundings. He was sure he had sensed somebody was watching them. Maya also readied her blade, eyeing the forest around them. Anna, however, had the upper hand with her eagle eye spell.

"Five people on the left." She whispered. "And four on the right, all humans."

Bandits! "Come out and show yourselves!" Atrus yelled.

Instantly nine men leaped from the trees and surrounded them. They wore normal peasant's clothes and dark capes. They stared at the group angrily. All of them wielded short sabers, no match for Atrus' sword. Atrus was about to attack when Maya stopped him.

"Master, wait! I know that man!" She cried, then pointed at one of the men.

The man cast away his cape to reveal the face Maya knew well. He was the mysterious man she had met at the Lindenwood pub a few weeks ago. He was also the one who had given her the information about Whitewater conflict, which had crossed her path with Atrus'. All she knew he had said he was one of her father's man, so he couldn't be a bad guy.

"Finally, Miss Maya... I've been expecting you..." He said quietly.

All men withdrew their sabers instantly. Atrus, however, refused to do so. Anna also eyed the attackers warily, ready to cast spells when needed. The man turned to Atrus calmly and smiled.

"Don't worry, Sir White Lion, your exploits are well-known. We know who you are and why you are here. The baron's messenger is on the way, but we ask you to go with us for a while. There's something I would like to discuss with you. We will escort you there."

Atrus turned at Maya. She nodded in approval.

"You want to discus something with me, but you jumped me and my friends with men and swords. That will make me think twice before accepting the invitation." Atrus answered coldly.

Then to Atrus' surprise, the man fell on his knees, followed by all his men. "Then I will beg you to come with us. Please, Sir White Lion, we wished to enlist your help."

The men led them to one of the house in the outskirts of the town. They hid their horses inside a small barn. The house was a simple two-story building, enough to fit a small family who needed extra space. However, when they got inside, the living room was crowded with people. Most of them were peasants, still wearing wide hay hats. The rest of them wore normal clothes.

But the thing that surprised Atrus and the girls was that the people were armed. They wielded swords of many kinds, and were practicing inside the house. They honed their skills in two, dueling with each other. The weapons were not of top quality, but they were real ones. It seemed the people were very serious in their training, for they were willing to seriously injure themselves in the process.

At first nobody paid attention to the newcomers, but then one of them spotted Atrus. "Praise Guardian! Behold! The demon slayer is here!"

Almost instantly the people started to crowd near Atrus and the girls. The peasants looked at them in awe and respect. The men that escorted them had some difficulties in warding them off. Still stubborn, the people yelled noisily.

"Demon slayer! You will help us, won't you?!"

"Teach us how to fight, demon slayer!"

"Fight with us, demon slayer!"

Then the leader stepped on a table and raised his hand, instantly silencing the crowd. The man had to have a strong influence around here, Atrus thought.

"My brothers! Not too loud! The baron's army will find us!" He paused for a while before continuing. "The demon slayer is tired! Continue your practice! Let's hope he will help us!"

Then people began to disperse, returning to their practice. The leader led Atrus to a table in the corner of the room and pulled some chairs. A moment later, a maid brought four cups of steaming tea. They watched the practice for a while.

"Ironic, isn't it?" The leader spoke up. "The soldiers back in the castle are procrastinating and playing cards and dices, while we're here, practicing to death, just to stay alive..."

Atrus didn't answer immediately. He was busy in his thought. So the report from the royal court was right. In their way they didn't see any patrols. Something was very wrong here.

"It's just a matter of time until the Army of Darkness arrives and enslaves us all. Oh yes... they will enslave us... Stoke has been enslaving us; he will enslave us forever..."

Atrus turned at him, but saw no hesitation in his eyes. This man seemed to know something.

Anna suddenly caught something in the corner of her eyes. In the other corner of the room was a group of people, lying on the floor. They suffered from many different kinds of injuries, from a light wound to serious ones. Several maids were tending them, but the view irritated her.

The leader saw her concern. "As you can see, we're practicing with real weapons to prepare ourselves. Many of our men were injured in the process. Some of them were even... maimed..."

Anna looked at Atrus in distress. "Atrus, as a priest I have to help them! Whatever you will talk about, fill me up later." Then she left the table.

Atrus turned at the man. "Now we can begin the discussion with a proper self-introduction."

The man smiled. "My name is Leonard, also known as Stabber. I am a citizen and a wanted man to the royal army. I am an outlaw and a robber. I am loyal only to John the Plunderer, your father." The man pointed at Maya.

Maya looked at him suspiciously. She remembered the man had said so in Lindenwood. "I don't recognize you. My father never mentioned your name."

"He didn't want you to know." He answered. "The less you know, the better."

"Let's start the story from the beginning, shall we?" Atrus interrupted.

The man bowed slightly then started his tale. "Twenty years ago, after the great Humans-Elven war was ended, Sir Anthony Stoke returned after a glorious victory. He received the land of Southern Aragon for his bravery and settled down in a castle south of here. Then he declared himself the second ruler of Southern Aragon, next to the king. He collected many talented men to assist him in his quest of power and wealth. Sir John Murdock was one of them. He was appointed as the mayor of Blackwell.

"Everything went well, until greed began to take control. The great hero was overcome with wealth. He raised taxes beyond grasp and plundered our harvest. To suppress uprising, he drafted many hired soldiers and ruled with fear and intimidation. Then the Dark Age came."

Leonard lit a cigar and offered Atrus one, but he politely declined. "Sir John was, however... different. He was a fine mayor who ruled wisely. Unlike many ignorant mayors, he occasionally walked around the town and into the farming areas, visiting his people. He was willing to lend his ears to hear our pleas and sufferings. When the baron ignored his protest, he began his movement.

"Sir John rallied the people to form a small group of militia. He led the group to attack baron's caravans. He shared the booty with us, claiming that the baron had robbed us, so the booty was already ours. To the army, he was a criminal, but to us, he was our hero."

The story, of course, surprised Maya. His father was not an ordinary bandit. "A hero..."

"Indeed, Miss Murdock, a hero. During daytime he worked as a mayor loyal to the baron, but at night he raided baron's caravans. He didn't tell you because you were still a little girl back then. He didn't want to involve you in his dangerous business."

Leonard sighed heavily. "Alas, his action was later discovered by the baron. He was betrayed by his own man. One night we raided a caravan, which was just a decoy. We fought for our lives, but the baron's army was too numerous. Sir John, with his superior skill, covered our retreat, but he got captured himself. The next day, he was hanged before us..."

Maya could feel her tears filling her eyes. Her father was betrayed... He was not killed in the battlefield... He was murdered...

Atrus reached out and pulled her close. Maya began to sob in his arms. The sound of swords behind them didn't bother them anymore. Sorrow filled the air. From the other corner, Anna looked at them sorrowfully. She could only nodded in sympathy.

"We raced to Sir John's house that night to secure his family, but the house was empty. The baron had arrested you and your mother. We later on heard what happened to you. We were so crushed that we vowed to commit suicide together... Thirty people died together that day... I was the only survivor..."

"The only survivor...?" Atrus asked.

"Yes... I couldn't do it... I couldn't trust the sword to my belly... Killing myself wouldn't solve the problem. I can't story the castle to rescue Miss Murdock... but if I died, I wouldn't do anything anyway...

"So I planned to continue what Sir John had started. I rallied the people who loved him, and drilled them with all knowledge I had. We hoped we could rescue you and your mother, but we had failed... They had enslaved you... We had failed..."




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 08



The Castle of Stromgard was busy as usual. At the castle courtyard, soldiers stood in rows, responding to commands from their trainers. Sound of metal clashing and heavy boots thumping on the ground filled the air. The instructors drilled the soldiers vigorously, yelling and screaming all the time, and were quickly answered with the same intensity. For most people, they found the environment noisy and annoying, for the sound could be heard throughout the city beneath the palace gate. 

For Maya Murdock, the sound was extremely annoying. She was a nature girl. She loved being in places where everything was natural. She loved being alone in the forest or vast grassland or near caves and waterfalls where she could hear the sound of life around her. As a slave at the busy town of Tiras, she had been confined from that freedom for a long time, but since she joined Atrus' cause, she had had plenty of time to unleash her heart's desire.

Atrus... Atrus White Lion... Her master and hero. She could remember the very first day she met him. She could remember the fear, the amazement, and the excitement she had, blended together in their first encounter. Her vows remained that she would serve him completely, even if it would cost her life.

Her hands grasped the metal talisman in her neck. Her father's last memory, the talisman had proven to be magical. Anna had confirmed it that the talisman magically increased the wearer's speed and agility, enabling her to move and run faster than normal humans. The talisman should indeed be useful for her, for speed was indeed her most valuable asset.

Her mind shifted to Anna, Adriana Freesland, her mistress. As a priestess of Lycra, her magical ability was impressive. She was very smart, too, and in fact her vast knowledge impressed her the most. Just like her, Anna shared the same fate of her childhood. She was raped when she was only seventeen, and was therefor banished from the shrine. Yet she rose up from her grief and had become Atrus' most trusted ally.

The noisy sound stopped, but the training was far from over. Instead, the soldiers grouped together near the fountain where Maya was sitting. Today was a special day in the training schedule, for there was a special event being held. It was a joust between Atrus White Lion and Captain Hawk.

Captain Hawk was the head of the royal guard instructor team. Being the youngest captain in the royal army didn't mean he was incompetent, for he was the best man in lance and spear fighting. No one could match his spear skill. Atrus, however, was not good with spear, so he used his Rainbow Sword. He received the sword from Baron Stoke when they were battling the demons to save the town of Blackwell from destruction. Anna could not confirm it, but the sword was indeed magical. The metal was heavy and strong, but it was incredibly light in his hand.

From her spot next to the fountain, Maya got a perfect view of the battleground. Anna was nowhere in sight, for she was taking a private lesson with a knight on how to ride a horse. Maya couldn't help but laughed, thinking of her mistress, trying to control the horse. Well, she is going to miss the fight...

The soldiers sat quietly on the ground around the battleground. At the center, Captain Hawk stood proudly with his spear on his hand. The spear was real, with sharp blade at the end. Atrus stood defiantly, facing him. His Rainbow Sword rested on his back.

"This is real, Atrus... Real weapons and real blood..." Hawk warned.

"Indeed." Atrus answered calmly.

"I've never fought a Ranger before... Let's see how awful they are..." he taunted.

"Admit it, Hawk... You're too old for this..."

The battle started as dashed at each other and swung their weapons. The weapons clashed together and the two warriors broke their engagement. As soon as they were apart, Hawk's spear broke into two parts. The crowds grasped as the sight.

"Boy... this thing is pretty strong..." Atrus inspected his sword.

"Guards! Get me another spear!"

Quickly Hawk wielded a new spear with curled blade at the end, and charged Atrus with it. He played his spear with amazing skill, but Atrus also played his sword well, blocking every blow. Hawk was very skilled in using both ends of the spear and often surprised Atrus by using the other end. Atrus was indeed faster and was able to dodge the attacks. Suddenly Hawk leaped forward and swung the spear over his head. Atrus escaped the blow just in time as the blade sliced through the hard ground. He imitated the attack and made an overhead strike, but Hawk saw him coming and moved out of the way. The sword penetrated the ground and met the spear blade with a loud clash. When Hawk lifted the spear, the blade had been cut into two. Again, the crowd was amazed by the sword's strength.

"Oh my... I'd better be careful with this..." Atrus wiped the dust off his sword.

"Guards! Get me a lance!"

The fight continued as Atrus charged for attack and put Hawk completely on defensive. The lance's thick body offered more protection to the sword's blow, and Atrus held himself back a little bit. However, whatever in the sword's way wouldn't last for long. The sword cut through logs, metal posts, and even water pipes, which were made of solid stone. Hawk answered the attack by continuously jabbing the lance on the ground, targeting Atrus' legs, but never found his mark.

After fifteen minutes of harsh battle, the joust was decided a draw. Both men were exhausted, but no one scored any hits on each other. The losses, however, were high. Among those were 3 flag posts, 2 banner posts, 4 wooden benches, 8 lances, 11 spears, and a battleground itself. The entire battleground was filled with holes and cracks, that it badly needed repairs before it could be used again.

The soldiers clapped their hands as both warriors bowed. Then the crowd was dismissed for a short break. Atrus sheathed his sword again and faced his opponent.

"I have to say, that was a wonderful match. You are very good."

"You're not bad yourself." Hawk smiled. "Your sword is very deadly."

"It's rather new, but it keeps me alive until now..."

Their conversation was interrupted when somebody approached. It was Anna, and she was not in her best shape. She walked limply, with bruises all over her arms. Her priestess costume was full of dirt. The satin dress was ruined by the dirt. Her short satin skirt was torn here and there. A wide bandage covered her forehead. Maya quickly jumped on her feet and ran to her to help, but she brushed her away.

"Mistress...? What happened? Are you hurt?"

"Is that an honest question, Maya? Or are you just mocking me?!"

Maya stepped back quickly and Anna felt terrible. "Sorry..."

When Atrus saw Anna, he was completely shocked, but Anna cut him off pretty quickly. "Don't say anything, Ranger, or you're toast...!"

"What happened with you? You got stumped by the horse?" Atrus asked anyway.

"Yeah... twice... And got pulled by the horse all the way across the field..."

"It can't be..." Hawk grasped. "He was the greatest cavalier trainer..."

"Well, I'm not a cavalier." Anna grumbled, then looked at Atrus. "Don't give me that look."

Atrus snickered. "I know I should have been the one to train you..."

Again, their conversation was interrupted when a royal guard approached them. "Captain Hawk, Sir White Lion, the king wants your presence inside the courtroom immediately."

Hawk turned to Atrus. "They must have finished making the alliance proposal."

"The sooner we leave, the better. Come."

Both men left for the castle leaving the girls. Anna just stood there, watching as Atrus walked away. Maya's hand softly caressed her shoulder.

"Don't take it personally, Mistress... You know he didn't mean to insult you..."

Anna reached out for the earrings on her ears. Atrus had given them to her on her birthday. She loved them. She treasured them. They were the sign of Atrus' unspoken care to her.

"I know, Maya..." She smiled. "I know..."

"Come, Mistress... Let me tend your wound..."

The courtroom was silent. King Edward sat uneasily on his throne. Lord Garth, the royal advisor, stood quietly beside the throne. General Kepfer, the minister of war and foreign affairs, sat on his chair. Captain Hawk sat on the other side of the room, while Atrus stood before the king, unmoved.

"This is the fateful day for the kingdom, Sir Atrus." The king slowly said. "The kingdom has lost a hero to the enemy, and has almost lost you. We have carefully read your report. Sir Stoke's betrayal is unacceptable, but he will be missed."

Atrus stayed silent. Baron Anthony Stoke was a villain from the Southern Aragon that had almost sold the region to the demons. He was also Maya's former slaver and the killer of her parents. But her sincerity had turned the baron back from his wrong way and he gave his life to save hers. Finally, with his last breath, he gave them information vital to the kingdom about the demons' ultimate plan.

"And if the baron didn't lie, the plague of the undead armies will spell doom to the realm." King Edward continued. "The practice of bringing dead people to life is forbidden throughout the realm."

"Indeed." Lord Garth stared at Atrus darkly. "The demons have to be stopped."

"The alliance must be forged, your majesty." Atrus answered. "The kingdom of Aragon would not stand a chance alone, but if we join hands with other kingdoms, we may succeed."

"We have faith in you, young man, and your friends." General Kepfer spoke up. 

The king smiled, and lifted a scroll with his right hand. The scroll was made of fine paper, tied with a thin band.

"This is the proposal from the kingdom of Aragon to forge an alliance with other kingdoms. I will entrust you with the scroll. Go and forge the alliance in the kingdom's name. Our lives may depend on your success."

Atrus accepted the scroll. "I will do my best, your majesty."

"And do your best you will, Sir White Lion, because I will assist you in any way. You will not travel alone. I have chosen an assistant who will help you in your travel, and he is Sir Hawk."

Atrus was surprised, then turned to face his friend. Hawk just smiled from his seat. "That's right, buddy. I will go with you."

"But you're with the royal guards..."

"Sir Hawk has voluntarily left his position as the chief trainer for his new task." The king said. "He will be ready to go when you are."

"Thank you, your..."

The east door swung open with a crash, and a young man with complete plate armor barged in. Atrus had seen the man before. Prince Roberto was the king's second son, and as the foremost knight of the realm, Atrus had been forced to fight him to gain the king's trust. The battle had issued Atrus as the winner, and Roberto wasn't very excited with the result.

"Father, if these people go, let me go too!"

The people inside the court were surprised at his request. The king stared at his son, puzzled.

"Roberto, are you aware how dangerous the journey will be?"

"I am! I am the foremost knight of the realm. I fear no evil."

"But, Prince Roberto, you are the heir of the kingdom!" Lord Garth exclaimed.

"I don't care! I will go, and nobody can stop me!"

The king was silent for a while. It was clear that nothing could stop the young prince from going with Atrus. Yet releasing the heir of the kingdom to enemy's territory would be foolish.

"Very well... although your mother would not agree to this..."

"I have talked to her. She agrees." Roberto quickly added.

Finally the king nodded. "You may go. Pack your things up." He turned to Atrus and Hawk. "Please take care of my son."

But Roberto cut him off. "I will be taken care by nobody!" Then he walked out.

The court was silent for a while. The king sighed. "Please forgive my son, Sir White Lion, Sir Hawk. It's all my fault. I should have spent more time with him when he was young..."

"Please, your majesty, you have taught him well!" Hawk spoke up.

"Not well enough, I'm afraid. He is an able warrior, but he lacks experience and attitude. He keeps his pride high, and is willing to break his warrior codes. He is unworthy to be the king of Aragon. If I may speak frankly, I'd rather rule the kingdom from my grave than letting him take over my place."

All people in the courtroom were shocked at the king's confession. He was indeed deeply grieved by his son's incompetence. Then General Kepfer rose from his seat and talked to the king quietly. Soon he, the king and Lord Garth were engaged in a serious discussion.

"We have made an important decision." Lord Garth concluded the discussion. "We are to demote the prince from his royal position."

"What?!" Hawk blurted.

"My son is no longer the heir of the throne, at least for the duration of his journey." King Edward explained. "He will become a commoner, a normal knight under your command."

Atrus was stunned to find the king pointing at him. "My command? Your majesty, I can't do that... I mean, with the prince's safety at stake..."

"You have proven yourself, Ranger." General Kepfer said slowly. "We trust that you can protect the prince and bring him back alive."

"Please, Sir White Lion, I need your help. I need you to teach my son the real struggle of life, so we stripped him off his royalty to make your job easier. I'm growing old, and soon my time will come. I want to see my kingdom ruled by somebody worthy. I have confined my son for too long, and I'm too old to teach him anything.

"I therefor ask you to teach him all things a king needs to know. He had been confined inside the castle for too long, and he had grown superior here. It's time that he meets somebody superior to him. I cannot drill him. I want the fate of life to drill him, and I want you to watch over him. He may be a difficult man, but the fate of the kingdom lies in his hand."

The king stood up from his throne and stared at Atrus. "Sir White Lion, knowing the danger involved in your task, this is not an order. This is a simple request from the king of Aragon." And to Atrus' surprise, the king fell on his knees, and was quickly followed by Lord Garth and General Kepfer.

Atrus was in the greatest confusion in his life. The king asked him sincerely, and refusing him would be against his will. But taking the annoying prince with him could jeopardize the entire mission. The young prince had proven to be a major nuisance. But the king was right. The prince needed experience outside the castle. He hated to hold the fate of the kingdom in his hand, but he knew he couldn't refuse.

Atrus fell on his knees and bowed. "I will guard Prince Roberto with my life."

Atrus and Hawk sat uneasily on the bed inside their room back in the inn. The girls were listening carefully to their story, and somehow Atrus could guess their response.

"WHAT?!!! That little brat is going to travel with us?!!"

"Anna, I know this might sound crazy, but..."

"Crazy?!! It's insane!!" Anna regained her breath for a while. "Atrus, do you know what it means? We have our vows to the Guardian! That Prince Roberto might hold the fate of the kingdom, but if we fail, the fate of the entire realm is at risk!"
"Miss Freesland, may I point that..." Hawk spoke up. 

"Call me Anna, will ya?!!" She blurted out, then regained her breath. "Sorry, I'm freaking out. I just don't like the idea of having Prince Roberto in our party. What do you want to say?"

"It's not Prince Roberto, Miss Anna. It's Roberto. He is no longer the heir of the throne."

"What difference does that make?" Anna inquired again.

"A lot." Hawk answered calmly. "He will have to follow you and heed your orders. I am there to make sure he does that."

"Anna, you have to understand!" Atrus plead. "If you're in my position, you know that you can't refuse such request! We can still do our task. Hawk will help in dealing with the prince."

"That's right, Miss Anna. I will be responsible for the prince's safety."

Finally Anna agreed, although she still insisted that completing their quest was far more important than babysitting the prince.

"Maya, we'd better start packing up. We will leave tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Master." Maya bowed and left.

Hawk stood up and took his leave. "I'd better do the same. We'll meet in front of the inn tomorrow morning. I will bring Roberto along." Then he left.

Atrus turned to Anna. Maya had taken care of her bruises. It seemed that her training didn't go very well. He lay his hand on her shoulder, and she instantly winced in pain.

"Did I hurt you?" Atrus asked.

"I'm just a little tense, that's all... The training was harsh..."

"Harsh?" Atrus sat on the bed before her.

"Yeah... I never thought riding a horse will be that difficult."

"It takes time..." Atrus said, then reached out to touch the earrings on her ears. They dangled beautifully beneath her long hair.

Anna blushed. "I took them off during the training... I don't want to ruin them..."

"I'm glad you like them..."

"I... I treasure them..." She hesitated for a while, then boldly approached and kissed Atrus lightly on his cheek. "Thank you, Atrus... for the wonderful gift..."

Atrus softly lay her body on the soft bed. He could feel the tense muscles all over her arms, limbs and shoulders. While he was not good at massaging, he knew how to make her feel better. He undid her red bow, letting her long golden hair fall on the bed, and stroked her hair softly. She hummed in delight at the treatment, and her muscles began to relax a bit.

Anna was taken by surprise when Atrus' engulfed her small mouth. She gingerly accepted the kiss and almost ran out of breath when Atrus broke the kiss. Atrus continued his intrusion on her neck, arousing her. In his second kiss she was more prepared and responded fully.

"Atrus... take me..."

"No, Anna. You're tired. You need rest. I'll help you."

Atrus softly pulled her dress down, revealing her cute breasts. Her nipples stood erect instantly upon contact with the cool air. Atrus expertly played with her breasts, cupping them and teasing her nipples, arousing her even further. Her breath was getting short. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. When he touched her nipples, Anna almost jumped from the sensation.

"Atrus... please... don't just tease me..."

"Hush... just lie down and enjoy..."

Atrus reached out under her skirt and slowly removed her panties. They were soaked with her vaginal fluid. Anna was blushed at the sight of her own panties. When Atrus touched her tender nether region, she moaned in pleasure. He slowly traced his finger along her hips, probing her lips and finding her clitoris. She responded almost instantly. Her hips jerked violently at his touch. He played with her clitoris for a while, making her crazy.

"Atrus, please... please..."

"Let it go, Anna... let it go..."

Then he inserted his finger inside her pussy. She couldn't hold it anymore and exploded.

"Atrus... I... I can't..."

She arched her back despite all the bruises across her body. A silent scream escaped her lips as she reached climax. More vaginal fluid came from her vagina, drenching his finger. Her body tensed for a while before relaxing again.

Atrus helped her to lie comfortably on the bed. He wiped her wet region with a towel. He then put her dress back on and wrapped her weak body with a blanket. Anna was in heaven. She was completely exhausted from her orgasm, and was lying on the bed comfortably, wrapped in a blanket, tended by the man she loved. She looked at him lovingly; tears fell from her eyes.

"Atrus... you're the best... Thank you..."

Atrus kissed her forehead, just like a father kissing his daughter. "You're welcome, Anna. Sleep well. When you wake up, you will feel better."

The next day, Anna felt a lot better. In fact, she got the best sleep ever. The sore muscles were healed almost completely, and she had no problem using her new energy to heal the bruises. Maya served them a light breakfast, and they checked out.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 08



Hawk came later on his horse, towing two other horses. He wore simple suit and trousers. A chain armor covered his torso. On his right hand he held a fine spear with crescent-shaped blade at the end. He also wore thick leather boots and metal gauntlets. His cloak bore the crest of the kingdom of Aragon.

"Good morning. I'm ready to go. The prince is coming shortly."

Atrus helped Maya load their stuff on her horse. Atrus then mounted the other horse. Anna was to ride with Atrus for the time being until she could ride by herself. As usual, she instantly clasped her hands around Atrus, cutting his breath.

Prince Roberto arrived later on his black horse. He wore a full body armor, complete with helmet, steel boots and gauntlets. His long cloak greatly enhanced his dark appearance. On his hip hung the long sword: the four-foot-long Kaiser Sword. He stared at Atrus darkly.

"You win, Ranger. I'm no longer a royal prince. Are you happy now?"

"What do you mean?" Atrus challenged.

"Don't push me, Ranger..."

"Enough!" Hawk snarled then stared at the prince. "Roberto...?!"

It was clear that the prince somehow feared Captain Hawk. He held his anger and nodded toward Atrus. "I'm ready to go."

"Okay, here's the plan." Atrus began. "If we will move quickly, we can reach the nearest town, Lyrus, before dark. We will rest at Lyrus for a night before resuming our journey tomorrow to the border. If we do it right, we will reach the border somewhere at noon tomorrow."

Once the direction was given, Prince Roberto raced his horse away, followed by Hawk. Atrus looked at the frightened Anna behind him.

"Hold tight, Anna. We have to ride quickly. Tell me if you want to stop, okay?"

Anna nodded nervously, and Atrus raced his horse toward the other two men as Anna's cry echoed across the town. Maya giggled at the sight, and paced her own horse.

The journey went well. They stopped for lunch somewhere in their journey. Maya made a quick lunch of buttered bread with ham and lettuce. Roberto didn't join them for lunch. He seemed to bring his own ration. Maya didn't mind. She didn't really like the prince. Her other friends, however, were engaged in an interesting discussion, so she merrily joined them.

They arrived at Lyrus on time. Lyrus was a small satellite town near the Human-Elven border. It was heavily fortified by a mix of soldiers and mercenaries, therefor slightly hindering the town's growth. They rented three rooms at the inn. The girls would share a room, and Atrus and Hawk would share the other, since nobody wanted to be in the same room with the prince.

The party gathered again in the inn dining hall. Atrus and Hawk seemed to get along well, sharing their war stories and experience. Anna and Maya were also engaged in rather naughty conversation, with Maya teasing her about Atrus. A maid came to them with the dinner menu, and Maya busily inspected them, trying to find anything interesting to learn.

"Diced beef with mushroom cream and vegetables... this sounds good..." Maya looked at the maid with his pleading eyes. "Can I watch while you prepare this meal? Please?"

The maid blushed. "Of course... I guess..."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to open a restaurant. I just want to learn."

"Okay... I can teach you... The kitchen is..."

The party fell silent as Prince Roberto approached. He found the maid standing next to Maya. He took the note from the maid's hand and read it.

"Diced beef with mushroom cream and vegetables?! Doesn't sound like your stuff!"

"What's your point, Roberto?!" Atrus said coldly.

"She's a slave! A slave should eat leftover food, not main course!"

The party stared at the prince in disbelief. Tears sprang from Maya's eyes and she began to sob softly. Atrus couldn't hold his anger anymore and stood up to challenge the prince, only to be stopped by Anna. Captain Hawk was speechless, unable to figure out what to do.

"Roberto... Have I not make the vow to the king, you would have been dead by now!"

"Atrus, take it easy..." Anna tried to calm him down.

"Roberto, do you aware of what you just said?!" Hawk snarled.

"What? I said the truth! She's a slave!"

"Damn you, Roberto!"

"Master, stop it!"

Atrus turned to Maya, who were looking at her with her teary eyes. "I thank you Master... But he was right... I... I'm not supposed to eat with you... Good night..."

"Maya!" Atrus stopped her just before she left the dining room. "You are a slave. You are to obey my orders, right?"

"Yes, Master." Maya answered.

"You will do whatever I tell you, right?"

"Yes, Master."

"You will obey only me and people I tell you to obey, right?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then I order you to eat with us. Don't listen to this nonsense."

Maya stared at her master for a while, then nodded. "I hear and heed, Master. Thank you..."

Anna approached her. "Maya, the sun is still high. Why don't we eat dinner outside, just near the forest? I will spread several blankets for us to sit on. You can use the kitchen and learn how to cook that beef thing. You can even make your own dishes!"

Maya's face brightened and she nodded readily. "That's a wonderful idea, Mistress... Master, can you take me to the market? I have some stuff I need to buy for my dishes."

Before Atrus could answer, Maya grabbed her master's hand and dragged him outside the inn. Anna left the dining room to fetch the blankets. The maid left for the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Prince Roberto turned to Hawk, but was welcomed by his fist. Hawk punched the prince on his jaws, sending him crashing on the wooden floor. The prince was ready to fetch his sword, but the young captain's cold stare stopped him.

"Go on, Roberto! Kill me and make you father proud!"

The prince didn't move.

"You're a disgrace to your family! I can picture how happy your father will be when he hears this incident. I'm ashamed to hear such thing being said from a mouth of someone who will inherit the throne of Aragon! You're nothing but a damn little rascal!"

Hawk grabbed Roberto's shirt, lifted it, and slammed his body against the wall. "Now I don't have time to baby-sit you. We're going to trust our lives on each other, so if you want to see them save your ass, you'd better change your wicked behavior right now! Lecture's over!"

The knight dropped the prince down on the floor and left him. "One last thing." He said before he left for the door. "If Sir White Lion decides to kill you, the second blow will come from me."

Hawk opened the door with a crash. Anna, who had been watching the few last actions, stepped down the stairs, dragging a pair of blankets with her. She stared coldly at the prince for a while before exiting the inn. The entire inn had been quiet since the incident started. All eyes were looking at Roberto. But he just stood up and walked toward the stairs and into his room.

The dinner was wonderful. Maya memorized the recipe quickly and even added her own vegetables from the market. They ate while watching the sun go down. Hawk brought his wooden flute and played several songs, charming the party. They went to bed early, for they had to wake up early tomorrow.

The journey continued as they paced their horses past the fort of Lyrus and toward the border. Different from the area around the village of Whitewater which was covered with thick forest, this area was entirely grassland. The humans had erected a long chain of guard towers across the grassland to fortify the border. Although both nations were in cease-fire, the towers were all manned and alert.

Beyond the grassland lay a small patch of swamp, the border of the nation of Elom, the Elven kingdom. And beyond the swamp, the unbroken view of dense forest of Elom filled the landscape. The swamp served as the border and a trap for any intruders. Atrus had heard the story of the Elves thwarting an entire human invasion by charging them when they were crossing the swamp. The defeat had become the thorn inside all older human generals.

Atrus had learned many things about the Elves from Anna lately. The Elves allied themselves with their Mother Nature. They preferred staying in simple dwellings inside thick forests rather than cutting down trees to make better towns. The action of Humans destroying the nature was actually the main cause of the Human-Elven war. The Elves blamed the humans for destroying nature for their own benefits while the humans condemned the Elves' act in preserving the forest for themselves.

The Elves were somewhat similar with humans, except for several things. The easiest detail to spot was their pointed ears, which were their primary identity. Humans also found the way the Elves talked interesting, as their words flowed in melodious tone, just like a song. Their hearing was also excellent, making them great hunters.

Living inside their natural habitat, the Elves lived longer than normal humans did. An Elf usually died when they were around 300 years old. That was why the Elves were known to be highly skilled and wise in words and manner, for they used their time to develop their talents to the fullest. Fearing to ruin their Mother Nature, the Elves did everything to prevent destruction to their land. They wore leather suit from hunted animals. They gathered food from the forest, but didn't make room for farming. Their dwellings were made of logs taken from selected trees in the forest. Their industry was also environmentally friendly. Mining operations were performed carefully. A few paths were cleared around the jungle to ease the transportation, but they didn't have any paved roads or tiled streets in their land.

The guards from one of the towers stopped them, but let them go as soon as they saw the royal crest in Captain Hawk's hand. The party descended toward the swamp and dismounted. They had to walk from now on, for the horses couldn't pass through the forest. They got all their stuff off the horses and started walking across the swamp. The mud engulfed their boots and covered their lower legs, but they found solid ground beneath the mud. During wartime, they could expect to see a wave of arrows, the Elves' favorite weapon, flying from beyond the trees into the swamp. But now everything was quiet.

The party walked silently into the woods. Atrus led the way, followed by the girls. Roberto guarded the rear. The forest was very quiet. They might not be able to hear anything or see anyone, but somebody got a second pair of eyes.

"A few life signs, dead ahead." Anna reported. Her eagle eye spell had never let her down.

Atrus led the team forward. They had to find an Elf, for they didn't know the way to their capital. No humans had ever done that before and lived.

"Wait a minute... a man... and a girl... She is frightened... I'm not sure..."

She became really sure when they heard a girl's cry for help. The party dashed inside the woods toward the sound. A moment later, they found a middle-aged man holding a young girl in his grasp. The man was fully clothed, but the girl was naked. Her hands seemed to have been bound behind her back. Her beautiful breasts jiggled as she struggled for freedom. The man, seeing Atrus' coming, quickly placed a blade on the girl's neck, threatening the party.

"Move a little closer, Mister, and the girl's neck will become a blood fountain!"
"Please help me...!" plead the girl. 

The party didn't move. Atrus couldn't possibly attack him quickly enough to save her, and Anna couldn't use her spell without endangering the girl.

"Slave traders..." Anna muttered. "These inhuman merchants deal in slaves. They don't recruit. They kidnap."

"Subdue will be a better word, Lady!" The man grumbled. "By the way, you're quite pretty. We can sell you for a lot of money..."

"Sorry, but I have something that occupies me right now." Anna answered.

"Well, too bad... Your boobs are rather small, anyway..."

Anna was clearly insulted and angered by the taunt, but Atrus took over. "Easy, lad, we're just nice travelers... You see, my friend Anna here is rather annoyed by the treatment, but my pal Hawk and I don't really mind with that... And my girlfriend Maya... Maya... Where is she?!"

Atrus looked behind, but didn't find her. The man began to panic. "What do you mean? There is another one? Where is..."

When the man was distracted, Anna used her magical force and knocked the blade from his grasp. Before he could react, a silver blade was pressed on his neck. Behind him, Maya stood calmly.

"I believe you will make a better blood fountain..." Maya sneered.

The girl let herself go and fled toward the group. Anna nodded at Maya. "Nice move."

"Not bad, Mistress... And thanks for the distraction, Master... Very convincing indeed..."

"Anytime." Atrus walked toward the man and studied him carefully. Then he turned at the girl. "Well, let's hear your story. What's your name?"

"I'm Wilma, Sir... I'm just a servant... I live in a farm near the towers... I just came here to get some water off the spring near the swamp when that man caught me and caged me. They said they're going to sell me to slavery!"

"They?" Captain Hawk asked her.

"Oh yes, Sir... He has friends... In fact they erected a camp nearby from here. I believe they still have some captives there..."

Anna got some clean clothes from the backpack. "Wear these. We're going to free those girls. I believe this gentleman will lead the way..."

"DIE!!!"

The man suddenly reached out for Maya's belt, trying to get her one of her throwing knives, but he tripped his feet off. His body fell forward, and Maya didn't pull her silver blade on time. The blade slit his throat, and he died instantly.

"Master... I... I'm sorry... I didn't..."

"Not your fault." Atrus nodded and searched the dead man. He found nothing valuable.

"Excuse me, Sir..." Wilma was now dressed in one of Anna's casual dresses. "I might be able to lead the way... I guess..."

"Good. She can lead the way until I catch something with my spell." Anna proposed.

"Sir White Lion..." Roberto suddenly spoke up from behind. "I must remind you that some of these traders are working legally. Slavery is one of Aragon's most profitable activities."

"Stealing girls from their families to be sold as sex slaves?" Atrus asked. "I don't care if they do that legally or illegally. Slavery is slavery, and it is wrong."

"It's a strong business! It provides the backbone to Aragon's economy!"

"Strong perhaps..." Atrus answered coldly. "But it's morally poor."

"I don't think this is wise, Ranger!"

Atrus stared at the prince. "Wise? I'll teach you about wisdom, but I don't have time right now. If you can't wait, then stop me."

Before Roberto could respond, Atrus left with Wilma, followed by others. It didn't take too long for Anna to find the slavers' camp. The slavers had built their camp near the border, but deep enough inside the jungle not to attract attention. The camp consisted of three caravans, neatly arranged around a simple fire-pit. Six humans sat around the site, roasting something by the fire. Wilma was to stay with Roberto and Maya, while the other took the action.

The men were quickly alerted by their presence. "I don't recall that we are expecting guests..." One of them said.

"And I don't recall that this is a legal camping ground..." Hawk countered.

The other man laughed. "You're new, I see... You don't know who we are..."

"We don't care. I'm afraid you'll be out of job really soon." Anna said.

"Look at how the bitch talk!" One man yelled, and all men laughed. "A bitch like you should be properly trained to behave! We can teach you how to suck cocks!"

Before Anna lost her patience, Atrus took over. "We don't want anymore bloodshed here. Leave immediately, and we will spare your lives."

Atrus' offer was welcomed by mocking laughs from the men. "Guess what, he's trying to be a hero! See? You're outnumbered! Or perhaps we'll teach you how to count. BOYS!!!"

Three men drew their short sabers and charged them, but Anna easily propelled them backwards using her magical force. The other men fetched throwing knives and threw them at Anna, but Atrus and Hawk whacked the knives away with their weapons. Hawk stayed at Anna's flank as Atrus dashed toward the nearest men and smacked him with the back of his sword. Two other men dashed toward him, but their cheap sabers were not a match for Rainbow Sword. Atrus parried their blows, and the swords were turned to bits upon contact. They were dazed by the destruction of their weapons, and before they could react, a pair of magic missiles hit them on the chest, knocking them down.

"H... halt...!!"

The fight stopped when the leader of the men gave the order. He stared fearfully to the other side of the forest and saw Prince Roberto standing there, flanked by Maya. Roberto held the Kaiser Sword tightly in his grip. Wilma, the little girl, stood behind the prince.

"Prince Roberto...?" The man fearfully asked. "I can't believe it...!"

"State your business here!" The prince barked.

"We are here to collect prisoners of war, under the command of Baron Anthony Stoke of Blackwell. We are to catch wandering maidens to be sold to slavery."

"And the reason?"

"We're just following orders, Prince Roberto." The man smirked. "Plus, this can be a lucrative business..."

Roberto found Atrus staring at him, and he regained his composure. "Lucrative, perhaps, but it's morally wrong."

The men were shocked at the prince's statement. "But, Prince, The baron clearly said..."

"The baron is dead!" Roberto barked, bringing more surprised expression from the men.

The men didn't move for a while, staring at each other. The prince resumed his command. "As the heir of the throne, I order you to close your business and set the prisoners free!"

"Prince, you can't..."

"NOW!!!"

The men rocked in fear and started walking away. Atrus found Roberto looking at him and he nodded approvingly. But in the corner of his eyes, one of the men suddenly drew a long knife from his belt.

"Roberto, GET DOWN!!!"

It was too late. The man dashed toward the prince and jabbed the knife on his back. The prince turned around and cried as the knife pierced his back shoulder. The slaver jumped back and produced three knives and propelled two of them toward the prince, but Maya stood on the way and whacked the knives away. He didn't have a chance for the third throw for Maya arrived first and knocked the knife down from his grasp. The man found a silver blade pressed on his neck and stayed still.

Yet the prince refused to stay still. He grabbed the sword with his other hand and swung the sword toward the dazed man. The Kaiser Sword dove sharply, meeting no resistance. Maya felt tendrils of magical power encircling her body as Anna grabbed and pulled her away from the man. She could only watch in horror as the sword cut through the slaver and split him in half before her eyes. The man died instantly, his blood spurting all over the place.

Atrus had had enough. He approached Roberto and hit him on his jaws. The prince crashed against a big tree, completely dazed.

"What do you thing you're doing?!!!" Atrus snarled.

"That man!!" Roberto pointed at the dead man. "He's trying to kill me!!"

"But you could have killed her!!" Atrus pointed at the frightened Maya.

"Master, I'm not hurt. It's okay..."

"Silence!" Atrus barked. "What can you say about this, Prince Roberto?!"

The prince stared at Atrus darkly. "It's war. People die."

The party was surprised at the prince's statement. Hawk was ready to swing his spear, but was shocked by the sight before him. Atrus' body was covered with bright tendrils of fire, fueled by his anger. His grip tightened and the sword was engulfed by the flame. He was ready to charge when a hand softly caressed his shoulder, unaffected by the flame.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 08



"Atrus, do not heed him." Anna's soft voice came. "We have a matter to attend."

The flame subsided and Atrus was returned to normal. He nodded slowly, his eyes still staring piercingly at the prince. "Very well. I'll deal with him later."

Atrus walked toward the caravans, followed by Maya. The slavers had abandoned their camp after their friend's horrible death. Anna approached the dead slaver and worded a silent pray for the dead. Hawk checked the fire-pit and was excited to find six half-roasted rabbits on the fire.

Atrus climbed inside the first caravan. It was a small one, with two mattresses on the wooden floor and several bags. The contents were mostly uninteresting, except for several pouches of gold and silver. Suddenly a squeal was heard, followed by Maya's nervous yell.

"Master! I can use a hand here... Ouch! Get your claws off my ass!!"

Atrus ran toward the other caravan where Maya was inside and found that Anna was already there. But she was just standing in front of the entrance, staring inside with her jaws open.

"Mistress! Don't just stand there... Help me! Master?!"

The caravan was a lot bigger than the other three. It seemed to be the place where they kept the captured slaves. Maya was lying on her stomach, grasping for breath. A young girl sat on Maya's back, pinning her body down. The girl was completely naked, with chains circling her neck, ankles and wrists. She sat facing Maya's lower body. The strange part was that Maya's lower body was stretched upward, with the girl's hand holding Maya's legs. Maya was bent backwards painfully on her back.

"What do you say? Pretty neat, huh?" Anna asked him.

"Yeah... She's strong..." Atrus mumbled.

"Master... help...! She's trying to... dislocate my spine...!" Maya cried helplessly.

"No! I'm talking about her ears!"

Atrus spotted it! She got pointed ears! She's an Elf!

"Amazing... I've heard stories... I've listened to folk tales... But I haven't seen an Elf this close before..." Anna's voice was full with amazement.

"Indeed..." Atrus nodded. "There is something that tales can't describe..."

Atrus was indeed amazed. He had heard many tales from his father about the wonderful beings that inhabit the great forest west of the kingdom, but he had never seen one before. The Elf before her was a young female, with exquisite body and beautiful face. Her naked body dominated her beauty, with two well-shaped breasts and slim hips. Her long light-brown hair crowned her with astounding beauty.

"I heard Elves have melodious voice... Let's see if we can get her to talk..."

Their discussion was interrupted when they heard Maya's fingernails scratching the wooden floor. "Master... I'm going... to die!"

It took sometime for Atrus to return from his amazement, to figure out what Maya was doing down there, and to decide what to do. "Okay, girl... You can let her go now. We're friends."

The Elf stared at Atrus for a while. "You have a slave. You're a slaver. You're one of them."

The voice came like music. The tone in her words shifted beautifully, making it hard for him to decide her mood. "No, I'm not a slaver. We're here to help you."

"That's right..." Anna nodded. "We would appreciate if you can let our friend go."

The Elf stared at them for a while, thinking whether she could trust them or not. Maya was struggling for breath beneath, grasping whenever she could. Finally the Elf relented and let her lower body go, followed by Maya's grasp for air. She slumped on the floor, trying to get her lungs up and running again.

"Thank you." Atrus bowed slightly. "My name is Atrus White Lion, a royal knight of the kingdom of Aragon. This is Adriana Freesland, a priestess and a honorary royal knight of Aragon."

"Please call me Anna." Anna smiled.

"And you have made acquaintance with our friend Maya Murdock, also a honorary knight."

The Elf blinked for a while before smiling widely. "I suppose you're friends after all. Humans' names are hard to memorize. My name is Aurelia. Thank you for saving me!"

Aurelia walked toward Anna. Anna offered a towel to cover her nakedness, but she didn't take it. Instead, she poked Anna's priestess costume.

"This is so cute and pretty!" She exclaimed. "Can you make this dress for me?"

"Eh... yeah... Sure... I guess..."

Then she turned to Atrus. "You're very polite, Sir! I've heard many bad things about royal knights. My uncles used to warn me about knights being so evil that they will someday enslave me and do horrible things to me. But you seem to be a nice guy!"

"Uh... Thank you, Miss Aurelia..."

"Just Aurelia!" She snapped. "Elves have no titles, so call me Aurelia."

"Atrus?" Hawk called from outside. "Is everything okay there?!"

"Yeah! We found a survivor! She's..."

Before Atrus could finish his sentence, the Elf jumped out of the caravan, right in front of Hawk. He gazed at her, studying her face and her pointed ears, and took some time before realizing that she was completely naked.

"YIKES!!!" His knighthood dictated that he turned around before naked women. "S... sorry, Ma'am... I... I didn't mean to..."

"Hey! What's with you?!" Aurelia asked, then ran around him and faced him again. "Look at me when I'm talking!"

"YAAW!!!" Hawk turned around again, his face blushed in red. "S... sorry... I mean..."

Then Roberto came out from one of the caravans and met gaze with Aurelia. He stared at her for a while, and finally blood spurted from his nose.

"M... Miss Anna... You deal with this... I... I'll check the next caravan... Excuse me..." Roberto quickly wiped the blood off and ran toward the adjacent caravan. Aurelia watched him for a while before turning to Anna.

"What's with him? Is he sick?"

Anna gave her a nervous smile. "Uh... He's... Yeah... He's sick... Humans' sickness..."

Maya came limply out of the caravan, her arm around Atrus. Maya and Aurelia exchanged piercing stare for a while, then the Elf suddenly circled her arm around Hawk, who jumped on his feet.
"Look at that couple!" the Elf pointed at Maya and Atrus. "Aren't they romantic?" 

Hawk couldn't move, but his entire body was trembling. Cold sweat covered his forehead.

"I know what to do!" the Elf suddenly declared, making Hawk jump on his feet again. "There's a small lake somewhere nearby! It's very beautiful! Come on, it's going to be really romantic!!"

With that Aurelia dragged Hawk along with her. Hawk looked behind, gave the party a pleading please-save-me-or-I-will-die look before disappearing beneath the trees.

"Tell me, Atrus... Will this make our journey easier... or worse?"

"Honestly, I don't know..."

"If you ask me, I don't like her..." Maya grumbled.

"I don't need to ask for your opinion..." Anna grinned. "Let me take a look at your back."

After a short lunch at the camp, they resumed journey through the forest. Atrus had explained their quest and Aurelia had agreed to safely guide them to their queen. Their journey would be easier, for Aurelia knew the forest really well, and she easily dismissed the Elven guards they encountered. The Elves stared at them suspiciously, carefully holding their bows and spears, but the party showed no sign of hostility. Due to the uneasy cease-fire, war might be over, but hostilities between the two races remained.

Aurelia had proven to be quite a friendly Elf, despite Maya's constant grumbling. She took a great pride for herself, refusing to make any attempts of apology for her mischief back at the camp, alhough she thanked Anna for the priestess suit. She looked really cute in the suit, for the satin dress enhanced her long slim legs and well-shaped breasts. She seemed to quickly regard the party as friends despite the cold treatment the Elven guards were giving them. For unknown reason, she seemed to give special attention to Hawk, who had been sweating all the way.

They arrived at a large clearing inside the forest. There were several Elven dwellings, neatly arranged around the clearing. They were mainly made of logs with layers of wide leaves as the roofs. Several Elves were seen doing their chores, and were quickly alarmed by their presence. A group of Elven warriors appeared from the bushes and carefully approached them, their spears and daggers ready in their hands. Due to Aurelia's warning, the party refrained themselves from drawing their weapons, for such action would be the sign of hostility.

Aurelia and the guards were engaged in a discussion in language they could not understand. However, the Elves seemed to pay great respect to her. Then a big Elf approached them, wearing a full magnificent leather armor and holding a long spear with wicked blade. He seemed to be the commander of the Elven warriors. He stared at the humans coldly before turning his attention to the other Elves. Aurelia, on the other hand, quickly jumped on him and hugged him casually. He received the hug halfheartedly.

"Everybody, I want you all to meet Farn, my older brother!" Aurelia declared happily.

"That's Master Hunter Farn." The Elf declared with his thickly accented human language. His low melodic tone slightly justified his bad mood. "I heard that you rescued my sister from human slavers back in the border. I know that humans cannot be trusted!"

"Brother! These people saved me! They are good humans!"

Farn stared at the party for a while, studying their faces. "Nevertheless, you have done a great deed... at least for humans... I greet you, humans, but I do not welcome you. If you expect that you will receive great service from me for bringing my sister back, you are dead wrong!"

Anna bowed slightly and spoke in her best manner. "We greet you back, Master Hunter Farn. My name is Adriana Freesland, these are my associates Ranger Atrus White Lion, his servant Maya Murdock, Captain Hawk, and Prince Roberto, the heir of the throne of Aragon. We come in peace."

Farn walked casually around the still party and studied them one by one. He stopped before Roberto and gave an evil smile. "Well... We have the heir of the throne right here, far from his puny army's protection... Quite brave you are... Or perhaps foolish..."

"Watch it..." Roberto tried to answer as silent as possible, but quickly found that all eyes were now staring at him. He just turned away.

Farn turned to Maya, who didn't even dare to stare at him in the eye. "Look at this... A slave... the pride of human civilization... I will certainly enjoy the submissiveness in your eyes when we crush your pathetic kingdom! Perhaps we'll allow you to be our slaves... so you may feel proud..."

"We come in peace, and is this the way you treat us?!"

Farn quickly turned toward the voice and found Atrus staring at him. "Well... the son of Captain White Lion... Don't ever think that having a famous father would make you special..."

"I don't think that way!" Atrus boldly met his gaze. "But I do think that your behavior will spell doom to all beings in this realm, including the Elves!"

"What are you talking about?"

"The demon's invasion is growing near, and the realm is at stake! If you still keep that sentiment inside of you, we'll never be able to defeat them! Then Elom would fall as well as Aragon!"

"HOW DARE YOU!!!" The Elf raised his spear, but a magical force bound his arm in place, freezing him. The party drew their weapons, but Atrus' raised arm stopped them. A female Elf appeared behind Farn. She was older than the rest of the Elves and wore more gracious clothing, with numerous colorful beads hanging on it. Her exquisite dress and elegant crown on her head only meant that she was an important person in the land.

Atrus bowed before her. "We greet you, my lady. Thank you for saving my life."

The Elf smiled. "You know that I'm behind the crowd when you're talking to my son. Captain White Lion has taught you well."

"You know my father?"

"Of course. Nobody in Elom doesn't know him." She continued. "My name is Falencia. I'm the queen and the ruler of the land of Elom. I, in the name of the High Elves, greet you and welcome you."

The party was just as shock as Atrus. The queen approached Atrus despite the shouts from the warriors around her. "Silence you all!" She declared. "If they had wanted to kill me, they would have laughed over my carcass by now!"

"Mother! They killed father!" Farn cried.

"What change does that make?!" The queen asked. "Your father is gone, and he will stay that way! Killing the entire humans will not bring him back! You just want kill the living and blame the dead, and therefor you have disappointed him!"

The queen's remark effectively silenced Farn. The rest of the Elves were also petrified. The queen turned back to the party. "Forgive my son, loyal servants of Aragon. I know that his attitude should be fixed anytime soon. Now that everything is straight, we can speak now..."

"Forgive me, queen..." Hawk spoke up nervously. "If... If Farn is your son... and... and Aurelia is his sister... then... uh..."

"That's right!" Aurelia grinned. "I'm her daughter! I'm also the heir to the throne of Elom!"

Hawk's face quickly turned white. He had met the future queen of the Elves, and he had seen her naked! The queen noticed that, but she just smiled. "If my daughter bothered you in any way, I beg you to forgive her. After all, she's just sixty..."

"WHAT?!!!" Hawk's jaws dropped open. "S... sixty years o... old?!!!"

"Elves die when they're 300 years old." The queen explained. "So in human's equivalence, Aurelia is just eighteen years old. So she's just a little girl right now."

"Mom, I'm old enough already!" Aurelia protested.

"Anyway, humans, I know why you're here. The Oracle of Elom told me everything." The queen's tone got serious. "So Edward wants an alliance with our kingdom. Tell him that we are interested."

"Really?" Anna's face grew brighter. "That will be wonderful! I suppose we can win this war after all!"

"The war between Humans and Elves has wasted both lives and resources." Queen Falencia nodded. "I wish to end the war right now. This might be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. However, there is something the Oracle mentioned."

"What is it?" Anna asked.

"He mentioned about the prophets of the Guardian. Are they among you?"

"Anna, Maya, and I were sent by the Guardian to rally all beings of the land to fight the demons." Atrus bowed.

"It is unlikely that the son of Captain White Lion lies to us, but we have an obligation to test you." The queen continued. "You have to prove that you are worthy to lead us."

"Of course." Anna nodded. "What do you wish us to do?"

"Tell me, young lady. What do you know about Agar the dragon?"

"A little." Anna confessed. "It's a childhood tale about the giant gold dragon and his fellow dragons who battle the evil in the land."

"For humans, it might be just a tale." The queen nodded. "But for us, it's a part of our heritage. The tale has been passed for many generations in our heritage. Aurelia, you tell them."

Aurelia nodded, and continued the story. "Many centuries ago, when the earth was created, the Gods argued about their power and authority in this realm. They feared that one day their creations would turn back and fight them. Because they can't kill their own creations, they agreed to create a creature so strong that no beings could match him. They created a giant black dragon and named him Kastor. Kastor's task is to destroy the entire realm on behalf of the Gods, but can only emerge when the beings betrayed their Gods. To restrain the creature, the Gods gave Kastor to Agamesh, one of the greatest angels in Heaven, hoping that he could control the dangerous creature.

"However, drunk with power, Agamesh rebelled against the Gods and used Kastor to destroy Paradise. The Gods defeated him and banished him to the Underworld, where he became the Lord of Darkness. Kastor has been buried inside the earth crust and has been sleeping for many centuries, waiting to be invoked by his old master. Realizing the danger, Lord Guardian, the supreme ruler of the Gods, locked the dragon inside a containment spell and gave the key to the Fairies in Heaven. However, the danger remained. So Lord Guardian created another creature as Kastor's adversary. He created a gold dragon and named him Agar, the Guardian of Earth."

The queen continued. "Agar has a dominion of lesser dragons under his control. With this force, Lord Guardian hoped that Agar could contain Kastor's mischief should Agamesh succeed in freeing him. To avoid making the same mistake, Lord Guardian gave Agar to the beings in the realm. He appeared before our High Elven ancestors and gave us an artifact. It was the Golden Statue of Agar, which can be used to invoke Agar from Heaven to destroy enemies that threaten the realm, including Kastor. We all vowed to use the artifact only when it's absolutely necessary."

"Then something went wrong?" Anna asked.

"That's true." The queen answered with mellow sorrowful voice. "We have failed our vows. A small group of renegade Elves who called themselves the Dark Elves raided our land a few weeks ago, stealing the statue. Without the statue, we can't invoke Agar to assist us."

"And you want us to retrieve it?"

"Yes!" The queen nodded. "The Dark Elves have maintained a stronghold at Mount Karigor, about a day west from here. The land surrounding the mountain is completely barren and cursed. The mountain itself contains many caves, in which the Dark Elves dwelled. We believe the statue is somewhere inside the stronghold. We've sent many warriors to get it back, but no one has returned alive. We hope for the best, but fear the worst..."

"The Dark Elves are able warriors and excellent magic users." Farn suddenly added. "My warriors were easily defeated and only few returned. It seems they're more interested in taking a huge number of prisoners. I have no idea what they do to them."

"Sir White Lion, your task is to retrieve the lost artifact of Agar." Queen Falencia declared. "If you can, rescue as many captured Elves as you can. If you succeed, we will grant you our trust and devote ourselves in the alliance."

"Thank you, Queen, but there I something I would like to ask." Atrus said.

"What is it?"

"Under order of the Guardian, I'm supposed to find five warriors from five races of the land. One of them must be from the Elves. The warrior has to have a weird dream about the fabled Champion of the Guardian. I will bring the warrior along in my journey to meet with the Champion of the Guardian."

"I know who that warrior is!" Aurelia suddenly declared. "It's me!"

Suddenly all eyes were staring at her.

"I'm serious! Mother, remember when I told you about my weird nightmare one day?"

"Tell them your dream, Aurelia." Her mother ordered.

Aurelia turned to Atrus. "It's weird... Like every time you dream and you wake up, the dream seems to vanish instantly, but this time it's very clear and real. I dreamt of a cursed land, where there were beautiful houses, but nobody lived inside, where there were vast forests with rotten trees, but no animals lived around, where there were a horde of people coming from south, but no soul lived in their eyes. It seemed so dead... so lifeless... I swear I could smell the thick scent of rotten meat everywhere..."

Atrus fell silent for a while, trying to think of the dream. Suddenly something struck in his mind. "Oh no..."

"That's right..." Anna also understood. "It's the prophecy of the undead army! Remember that Baron Stoke warned us about that danger? It's real, and it's going to come..."

"You mean the demons are going to spread the undead plague across the land?" Farn asked.

"If it's true, we're in grave danger." Queen Falencia said slowly.

The crowd was silent for a while, not knowing what to say. Suddenly Aurelia spoke up. "Mother, let me go with them! I'm the warrior Lord Guardian mentioned!"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 09



Ch. 09: The War, Won, yet Lost...

The Crystal Tower would never be the same again. The once-majestic tower was now standing in the middle of a wasteland that stretched far across the Northern Continent. The very same tower was now the gateway of the realm of Lore to the cursed Underworld, realm of the demons. 

Supreme Commander Daemon sat uncomfortably on his throne. He was extremely displeased. He was displeased with the result of battle at the Dark Elven Stronghold in Elom. He was displeased that a sure victory had suddenly turned to a crushing defeat. And no soul in the world or even the underworld could comprehend what would happen if the Lord of Darkness' second-in-command was displeased of his subordinates.

"FOOLS!!!" He roared at the cowered Army of Darkness before him. "I want to hear no more failure from you! Begone!! Do some damage!!"

With the wave of his hand, the entire army vanished from sight and he was alone. He couldn't believe it. A small band of immature heroes had defeated his mighty horde. He knew he had to do something, or else the Lord of Darkness would definitely be displeased. He had to do something. He didn't know what, but he knew someone right for the job.

"Gareth!!" Daemon roared again. "I summon you!!"

An image of a tall human appeared before him. His form was somewhat vague due to the incomplete spell to make the perfect contact, but it was nonetheless enough. The man stood proud before the demon and gave a slight yet elegant bow.

"Greetings, Master Daemon. How may I serve you?"

"For a man of your caliber," Daemon started, "I believe you know what I want."

"Ah..." The man rubbed his chin. "You want me to neutralize those people who have been foiling your plans lately."

"Once again you've impressed me, Gareth." The dark man smiled. "Proceed."

"Just guide them to my lair." Gareth bowed. "I will deal with them personally."

The image disappeared. Daemon rose from his throne and walked toward the main room. He felt much better right now. He had his trusted man for the job. Now to make his feeling complete, he only had to release the grudge he'd been keeping caused by his incompetent subordinates.

At the center of the room another form hovered in the air. It was a beautiful woman with long golden hair. She hung limply on the air, bound spread-eagled by invisible shackles. Her eyes stared blankly into space before focusing on her dreaded enemy. Her renewed vigor entered race with her fear.

A race she knew she could not win.

"Ah... Goddess Gaea... Just as stunning as ever..."

Lord Daemon approached his captive. Gaea stared at him, hatred mixed with terror burning in her eyes. She twitched as his cold finger touched her naked body, yet the invisible shackles held her still. The demon lord chuckled, satisfied with her immediate reaction.

"And still as stubborn as ever... Well, I'm in a bad mood today, so I want you to do something for me..."

"Kill you? My pleasure." The goddess replied gruffly.

"Oh, nothing much..." He smirked. "I just want to see you dance."

Fear finally gained control of her. "No..."

"Yes... Fear me... I love to see it in your eyes..."

With a wave of his hand, her shackles relaxed slightly, giving her more room to struggle. Then a large black hole appeared beneath her, directly facing her nether region. The dark lord sat on his chair, watching in amusement as the once-proud goddess struggled against her bonds.

"Daemon... please... don't do this..." She begged.

"It's been three years since you learned how to beg." Daemon sneered. "Request denied."

A pair of long, slick tentacles shot out from the hole and circled both her hips, holding her body in place. Another pair reached out and lashed around her round breasts and began massaging and molesting her breasts. Then without warning a slightly larger tentacle shot out and forced his way through her pussy and into her dry vagina. It was not the first time it did such hideous thing, but her scream came out fresh and raw.

"Lord Daemon... p... please..."

The tentacle began fucking her vigorously. The two tentacles held her firmly in place, but her upper body struggled and fought against the pain. And she began to perform the unwilling erotic dance for the dark lord. Her vigor had been defeated, and it would stay that way for quite some time.

"Ah..." Daemon smiled. "After 20 years, she's just as young as ever..."


Holgreb was a dwarf. He stood on top of a hill, staring at the barren land before him and let out a sigh. Casually he swung his battle-axe on his side. The thought of never carrying the weapon again sent shiver through his spine. Slowly he cursed himself for things he could do nothing about.

He was very bored. He used to think that life was an excitement. He used to think that life would be more interesting. It used to be, but things didn't go as he had planned. His dream, if he indeed had had one, had vanished.

He used to be proud as what he was, a barbarian. Not the kind of barbarian that people would enjoy having in their living rooms. He was a raider, yet he was proud of it. Or at least used to be.

Holgreb took a moment looking at himself. As a dwarf, he was quite athletic and well built. Appearance was a prime factor for a barbarian. His small, short and puffy body hid his fighting potential. The rough expression he always wore in his face was well enhanced with his small dark eyes and long, unkept beard. He still remembered how he used to strike fear to the hearts of the enemies (read: peasants) by just staring at them. He remembered how he used to storm inside houses and defeated the enemies (read: peasants) and plunder their wealth (read: peasants'). Yet those exciting moments were now memories.

He's 60 years old. My enemies might still fear me, but nobody will if they knew how old I am. Common people, even barbarians, would declare 60 years old as the 'retirement' age, when they would waste their lives sitting in pub corners and drank ale all day and tell stories to the visitors. But he was uncommon. Even in his old age, his fighting skills never ceased or deteriorated. He could swing a battle-axe as if he was swinging a flogger. He could lift a boulder and threw it as if it was nothing more than a puffy pillow. He could bore a hole on the stone with his hand as if it was a toy wax. However, barbarians were not barbarians it they were not feared.

Suddenly, at the corner of his eyes, he spotted something unusual. It looked like... a group of birds. It was late autumn, and the sight of birds flying south was normal. But the sight of two light-green birds and a dark-blue bird flying close together in tight formation and going east toward the city was anything but normal. Moreover, the birds had tusks.

Suddenly he recalled his many experiences in his 3 years of elementary school and 45 years of barbaric profession. He suddenly realized that he was seeing... dragons! He still remembered the number of dragons he had killed... none. He still remembered what he used to do when he encountered a dragon... run or hide, depending on the circumstances.

But now I will not run. He would prove the world that he was indeed the greatest barbarian of all time. As the dragons flew closer, he prepared his battle-axe and tracked his target. Then, with all her might he threw his axe toward the unwary dragons. Then he waited.

Nothing happened.

The dragons seemed to be affected. After years of practice, it was impossible that he missed his target. He never missed before. So it was either that the dragons feared him no longer, or they just ignored him, a wretched old dwarf.

The thought insulted him. He had been ignored! Those lizards have enough nerve to ignore me! He drew his breath and screamed at the top of his voice.

"DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME!! FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!!"

Suddenly he spotted something coming this way. I don't know that I can throw an axe like a boomerang... He studied the object for a while, and finally he understood...

And his heart was flushed with joy. I am noticed! I'm not ignored! I am feared! He kept on repeating the words over and over again... until the blue flame hit the ground and exploded a few meters before him. The explosion threw his small body a few meters off the ground. When he recovered, he was sitting on the hard ground, staring at the small crater before him. The dragons were nowhere to be seen.

"Dang!" He swore. "COWARDS!!! COME BACK HERE!!!"

But then he realized that he was not alone. When he looked back, he saw a group of dwarves armed with axes. They are all staring at him, and all wearing the suits adorned with crest he was quite familiar with. The royal guards!

He reached for his axe, and was not very surprised to find that it was not anywhere near to him. "What do you want?!"

"You're the feared Holgreb the barbarian, right?!" One of them asked.

After hearing the word 'feared', Holgreb quickly said the word he would later regret. "Yes!"

"Well, the king wants your head. You're surrounded and outnumbered. Surrender now and we'll do this the easy way!"

"I don't care how many you are!" Holgreb prepared his fighting stance. "Catch me if you can!"

And they could, after 80 dwarves charged Holgreb all at once, quickly defeating the dwarf. After some struggle, the barbarian was subdued.

"Hah!!" One of the royal guards taunted. "I'll make sure you'll understand the meaning of 'odds' by the time you're walking to the beheading table!"

Holgreb's head grew heavy. I should have listened to my math lectures in school more seriously... Then he fainted.


Anna screamed and screamed, but nobody listened. She struggled, but the intrusion continued. She could feel the intense pain as her vagina was violated. Her invisible assailant rammed his member deep inside her, satisfied with her scream of agony. Then she felt a pair of hands held her face still and forced her mouth open. She refused to do so, and was rewarded by his fingers pinching her nose close, suffocating her. She had rather die rather than giving her rapist what he wanted, but her mouth opened up involuntarily and the thick, disgusting member entered her mouth fully, almost reaching her throat.

"LET ME GO!!!" She could her herself screaming.

"STOP IT!!!" Her assailants roared together.

She struggled wildly, yet they held her body rigid. Her mind went to panic as she could feel the member inside her vagina began to throb.

"NO!!! LET ME GO!!!"

"ANNA, STOP IT!!!"

The view exploded before her eyes, replaced by the view of the barren land... from a few thousand meters off the ground...

"KYAAA!!!" She screamed and struggled, only to find a pair of hands tightened around her waist and drew her back up.

"ANNA, STOP IT!!!" She heard the voice from behind her and quickly calmed down.

"A... Atrus..." Anna panted for breath. "Thank Guardian you're here..."

Atrus held her close. "You're freaking the hell out of me! You've been struggling off my grasp!"

"I'm sorry..." Anna said slowly. "I... I didn't know what I was doing..."

"I know..." Atrus wiped the sweat off her forehead. "You're having a nightmare again?"

She nodded in silence.

"About... uh... it?"

Anna stared at him with her weak gaze. "Yes, I just dreamed of my... rapists..." Tears filled her eyes. "Why, Atrus... Why do I have to endure this humiliation?!"

Atrus stroked her hair softly as she lay her head on his chest. "But it's past, Anna. Let it go! Don't let your past control you."

"But I can't..." She replied meekly. "Forever I'll be damned to remember this..." She looked into his eyes. "I... I still have the trauma... Tell me, Atrus... Tell me I'm not crazy..."

"Anna, don't say..."

"Tell me!" She cut him off. "Please, Atrus... Just don't lie to me..."

Atrus gaze at her lovingly and kissed her cheek gently. "No, Anna. You're not crazy."

As Atrus held her shivering body close to him, he took a moment to look at his surrounding. Agar's dragons had taken them all the way from the Elven land of Elom, across the Human kingdom of Aragon and toward the barren Land of the Dwarves. The journey would have taken at least two weeks if they had decided to walk. The late autumn wind was blowing quite hard at this height that the party had worn extra thick clothes for the ride, especially Anna, whose thin satin costume would not offer protection.

Atrus took a glance at another dragons flying next to his. On the back of the nearest dragon were Roberto and Maya. Maya was sleeping peacefully against Roberto's plate armor as the young prince held her tight. At the far side, he could see Hawk and Aurelia the Elf, riding the last dragon. Neither of them was sleeping, yet they looked pretty tired. The journey had taken three days by now, only stopping at several places so Maya and Aurelia could fix some food for their meals.

They were in a rush. The demons' threat was getting worse. The demons had been brave enough to threaten the land of Elom, but the party had thwarted their plan. Yet at another part of the world, several cities in the Human and Dwarven territories had been invaded and utterly destroyed. The bad news was that no bodies were found in the ruins. Leaders from the two nations could not comprehend what had happened to those cities and their missing dwellers. What they knew for sure was that it wasn't good. 

"We should be arriving in Castle Hloffeth in an hour, partner!" Roberto yelled.

"Got it!" Atrus replied. "The Dwarves know we're here, so we can expect a welcoming committee!"

"Like a flying battle-axe?!" Hawk asked jokingly as Aurelia waved her trophy, the old rusted battle-axe that she 'collected' earlier.

"Uh... No, I don't think so..." Atrus answered.

"Well, we'll find out soon enough..."


The chamber was cold. It was supposed to be cold. It gave... a special meaning.

The demon stood alone inside the chamber. Several figures stood in the room, their eyes fixed, staring into empty spaces. Their rigid bodies decorated the otherwise-dull chamber. The statuettes, made as the memoir of many great heroes, had lost their purpose.

"Come! I summon you!" The demon roared.

A thick mist appeared before him. The mist subsided, revealing a figure of a beautiful maid. Her slim body shivered from the chill. Her beautiful eyes found the dark man and showed great fear.

"Worry not, my dear..."

"D... don't hurt me..." The girl pleaded.

"I won't... In fact, I can't hurt your body... I can only wound your soul..."

Invisible shackles seized her limbs and pulled her taut. She was soon hanging spread-eagled in the air, unable to escape. She desperately tried her restraints, only to find that they were holding her firmly. Her body shook in fear as the dark man approached, still wearing his cloak.

"What a lovely soul you are..."

With a jerk he tore her maid suit in half, revealing her slim body. Her firm breasts stood proudly, slightly hidden by the satin bra. With a rough tug, the bra was gone, and her breasts came free. She shivered and moaned in fear as the cold touch of his finger teased and tormented her sensitive skin.

"Please..."

"Ah... how... weak..."

Without a warning, the demon slipped his finger inside her panties and into her pussy. She jerked as the chill hit her tender skin, followed by the sensation of terrible agony. She wailed in pain as the demon tormented her. It didn't take too long until the pain became unbearable and she fainted.

The demon was extremely pleased with the reaction. The play went just as planned. Slowly he disrobed, letting his cloak fall on the floor. He grabbed the maid's small waist and quickly thrust his cock deep inside her pussy. The sudden chill sent her back to the reality and she let out a long wail of agony. He showed no mercy and the torture started immediately. He maintained a slow rhythm, pumping his member inside and outside of her, therefor maintaining her agony. He relaxed the shackles, letting her thrashing body entertain him. Every time the maid was about to faint, he twisted her nipples, sending her back to reality. The torture went on until he reached his peak and shot his load inside her.

The girl slumped back on her bondage. Her vagina muscles had turned numb from the terrible cold. Her head swung frantically in the air. The demon held her twisting head and forced her to look straight at him. For the first time she finally took a close look at her captor, and the horror came to her. She wailed and wailed as fear overcame her...

The demon waved his hand, and the girl vanished.

Yet he could hear her fear. He could feel her endless agony. The horror had been printed, and it would not be removed. It was destined to be eternal, except, of course, if he said otherwise...

He smiled...


The Dwarven Kingdom of Seraphim was the biggest Dwarven kingdom in the realm. Located east of the Kingdom of Aragon, Kastore had been Aragon's closest neighbor and ally. Unlike the Elves, the Dwarves welcomed warm relationship with the Humans. The alliance had lasted for ages and both races had been quite close to each other. The border was almost nonexistent, and both races could settle down in each other's territory.

However, the Humans would be greatly discouraged when moving to the new land. The Land of the Dwarves was almost completely barren. Rocky ground and mountainous range dominated the landscape. Unlike Humans, Dwarves rarely farmed. They found delight in staying near their beloved metal mines, where most Humans found this dull and annoying. This created a nice trading opportunity to both nations. The Humans would import ores and metals from the Dwarves and exported farming products.

Dwarves were about one-third shorter than average Humans. Their bodies were usually bigger and fatter too. The legend said that Dwarves used to stay deep beneath the ground, closer to the center of the earth. They had stayed there for ages mining their precious metals, and had suffered from gravity many times larger than the Humans, who had been staying on the earth's surface from the beginning. This theory was accepted as a valid explanation on why the Dwarves were so short. Yet inside their small bodies was power stronger than normal Humans were. A Dwarf with an axe was just as dangerous as a mountain Ogre after its winter hibernation.

They arrived at Castle Hloffeth, the capital of Seraphim an hour later. The Dwarves welcomed them warmly before the castle gate, although they looked at the dragons in annoyance. Dwarves hated dragons. They were excellent foot soldiers, but they couldn't do anything against flying enemies. During the history, Aragon had always lent the Dwarves its legions of archers if the Dwarves were under attack by dragons.

A welcoming committee waited patiently near the castle gate as the dragons landed before them. The party dismounted quickly and approached the waiting Dwarves.

"Fellow Humans!" One of the Dwarves, wearing neat, formal attire, welcomed them. "We greet you, faithful allies. My name is..."

"Omar, the minister of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Seraphim." Roberto smiled. "Omar... You're still the same..."

The Dwarf's face brightened. "Prince Roberto of Aragon...?! What a surprise! I didn't know that you're here! Look how much you've grown! And... you're... different...!"

"Ah, indeed." Roberto nodded and gestured at his friends. "These wonderful friends of mine changed my life." He introduced them one by one. "They are the real delegation."

"Very nice to meet you, Sir White Lion, Lady Freesland and Lady Murdock." Omar bowed slightly. "Your names have been well known even here in Seraphim."

Anna bowed. "Really, you're too kind." She said.

"And we have another surprise!" The Dwarf announced, gesturing at Aurelia. "It's been quite a long time since we had an envoy from the Elves of Elom. I hope everything is going well back home, especially with your mother."




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 09



"Thank you." The Elf-girl replied politely.

"Come, my friends. King Parson is expecting you in the throne room." Omar announced.


Castle Hloffeth was a majestic fortress built on top of a small hill, overlooking the capital city of Hloffeth. It was named after Hloffeth, the first king of the Dwarves who had merged hundreds of Dwarven tribes across the barren land into a kingdom. The majestic castle had been built from the finest material extracted from many underground mines and quarries. The design was simple, consisting of the main building and four castle wings, facing the four directions. Guard towers circled the palace complex, giving ample protection from airborne attackers.

Yet, the magnificence lay inside the castle. The party couldn't help but admire the interior of the main hall. Beautiful stone statuettes and sculptures decorated the spacious room, giving the sense of wonder to the visitors, regardless of their races. Numerous chandeliers and torches along the walls seemed to animate the statues to life. A pair of stairways was fixed on either sides of the room, leading to the palace wings. A heavy yet richly decorated stone double door led to the throne room.

Here the party separated. Maya volunteered to take care of their stuff. Hawk and Aurelia quickly offered their help. Atrus, Roberto, and Aurelia are the representatives of the three nations, so Omar insisted that they had to attend the audience. Atrus also insisted Anna to come with them for this. So far, only Anna had the necessary talent and experience in diplomacy.

The throne room was also magnificent. The half-circle meeting area dominated the room, with the throne on the middle of the half-circle. The chairs and tables were made of fine oak, probably imported from the vast forest in western Aragon. The throne itself was made of fine wood adorned with ivories. A circular glass-covered ceiling let the sunlight in, making a patch of light at the center of the room. The room was full with the royal members. The Dwarves in formal suits sat along the tables, staring at the party. King Parson, sitting on his throne, smiled at them.

"Welcome to Seraphim, my friends. I hope your journey was fine." The king announced.

"All is well, your majesty." Anna said in her best diplomatic tone.

"Ah... You must be Lady Freesland from Aragon." The king guessed. "You are even more beautiful than tales could tell."

Anna blushed at the compliment. "You're too kind, your majesty." She drew a deep breath. "Please let me introduce my companions..."

"Yes, I've known most of them." King Parson quickly said. "Sir White Lion... Your exploits are well known throughout our land. It's an honor to meet you."

"The honor is all mine." Atrus answered politely.

The king turned to Roberto. "I hope everything is well with your father, Prince Roberto?"

"My father is well, your majesty, thank you."

"And what do we have here?" The king gestured at Aurelia.

"My name is Aurelia, the princess and future queen of the Elves of Elom, your majesty."

"Welcome to my kingdom." King Parson smiled, then turned to the party. "I have received the word of your arrival. Do you have the scroll?"

Anna produced the alliance proposal scroll from her backpack and gave it to the king who, to everybody's surprise, refused to accept it.

"Y... Your majesty...?" Anna said in confusion.

"I have no need to read the contents. "The king answered flatly. "If old Edward wants an alliance, tell them that I accept!"

"What...?!" Roberto completely forgot about the diplomatic tongue. "So fast...?!"

"The Human and Dwarven kingdoms have been friends for many years." Omar the Dwarf explained. "After what our loyal ally has done to our people, we will accept any proposals whatever the terms are. The Dwarfs are honored to join your cause against the demons."

"But..." The king quickly added, "despite your great deeds, I have to test your ability as the envoys of the Guardian." The king stared particularly at Atrus. "I want you to do a task for me."

"What do you wish us to do?" Anna asked.

Omar approached the party. "Probably some of you are familiar with the geographical detail of our land. Our land is mostly barren ground, rocky mountains, and arid plains. Mining is our main source of living. To the west lie the fertile land of Aragon, where Humans settle down. To the east is the vast, unending Desert of Desolation, an uncharted and dangerous land. And to the north is the wild, treacherous Northern Ocean.

"For many years the desert to the east has been a haven for beasts and raiders. The Desert of Desolation has been a nightmare for our people. Ever since our founder King Hloffeth tamed the raider tribes along the perimeter of the desert, the Desert of Desolation has been proclaimed as part of the Forbidden Land. However, over the past years the desert seemed to possess more threat to our land. Just a few month ago, we discovered the source of the trouble."

Omar took a moment to regain his breath. "Many centuries ago, the desert was a part of the territory owned by an ancient civilization called Salthi. But for some odd reasons, the Salthi was wiped out. Their ancient city was the only thing left, and for many years it had been populated by beasts and many foul folks. A few years ago, a lone wizard came to the ancient city of the Salthi to put an end to the threat. Then the rest of the story is mostly myth. It is said that the wizard was overwhelmed and decided to lock himself along with all the monsters inside an impenetrable structure, so the monsters could not escape. With the rest of his magical power, he summoned a giant pyramid to rise and cover the ancient city, thus trapping the monsters inside. The wizard himself was never seen again."

The king continued the story. "Lately, the land around the pyramid, the Pyramid of Salthi it was called, has grown to the most dangerous land in Seraphim. We have many mines around the area and the workers are afraid of the pyramid. They claimed that the pyramid possesses a terrible curse to those who enter or disturb the trapped occupants. If the mining operation in that area is disturbed, our war effort will be greatly affected, and we can't devote our resource to the alliance.

"I want you to go there and investigate the matter." The king finally said. "Discover the mystery of the pyramid and do whatever you can to end the curse, if it really exists. If the area around the pyramid is secured, our mining operation can continue, and our alliance will prosper."

"Do you have any idea of the pyramid's threat?" Aurelia asked.

"We have many cases of sudden sickness and hallucinations." Omar answered. "Those are normal for miners working deep underground, but the close proximity to the pyramid enhanced the rumor of the pyramid's curse. Honestly, we don't know what you will expect inside. Be very careful."

"We have a small garrison near the area that can aid you should you need extra help." The king added. "But I really doubt the commander will agree to help unless the problem is solved. I personally can't blame him, so you're basically alone in this mission." 

"We'll do whatever we can." Anna replied. "But there is one thing we must ask from you."

"Name it." King Parson said.

Atrus took over the conversation. "The Guardian ordered me to find five Warriors of the Guardian to aid me in my search for the fabled Champion of the Guardian. One of the warriors is, I believe, among the Dwarves. The chosen warrior must have had a dream, a prophecy from the Guardian himself. He should also posses special ability. Do you know somebody with these characteristics?"

"Sir White Lion..." The king sighed. "You're aware that most of our population are miners, working deep beneath the surface. Words don't travel very far in those mines. Searching one Dwarf from our many mines will definitely take time, and time is not on our side..."

"Forgive me, your majesty..." One Dwarf suddenly rose up from his seat and approached the king. They were engaged in silent conversation for a while, until the king roared in anger.

"THAT'S ABSURD!!! He's a villain!!!"

"Young man..." The Dwarf said to Atrus despite the king's anger. "I think I know the man you're looking for."

"Sir White Lion..." Omar said. "This is Avitir, our defense minister."

"Young man..." Avitir the Dwarf said. "I don't know about the dream from the Guardian, but the man I know really possesses incredible strength and fighting skill."

"B...but... He's a criminal!!!" The king roared again.

"Your majesty..." Atrus replied calmly. "At least please let me see him."


A few minutes later, the party was standing before the cell door, stunned at the sight before them.

"You've got to be kidding..." Anna mumbled.

There was an old Dwarf sitting on one corner of the cell. His long hair and beard covered most of his expression, yet the many lines across his face confirmed his late age. Tattered clothes around his body revealed his muscular body, a rare sight for a Dwarf of his age. The chain on his ankle was connected to an extremely large metal ball, proving that he had to be a very dangerous villain indeed.

"The name's Holgreb." Avitir explained. "He's roughly 60 years old. He's spent most of his time as barbarian raider in the east."

"A barbarian raider?" Anna asked.

"Yes... you know... attacking towns, raiding temples, killing peasants, raping maidens... He's really good at his job. We're very lucky that my men surprised and seized him when he was not with his band. But I've heard stories that he could march alone against an entire squad of our soldiers and walk out victoriously. Now that's something."

Atrus peeped over the tiny window on the steel door to get a better look at the Dwarf. The Dwarf, however, quickly spotted him.

"Ah... visitors...! I love visitors!!!"

After saying that, the Dwarf charged toward Atrus despite the heavy metal ball on his ankle. A loud crash occurred before him. Roberto reflexively reached for his Kaiser sword of his back and didn't find it there. Aurelia jumped away for cover, and Anna hid behind the minister, who is in turn trying to get away. Atrus just stared at the sight before him. On the steel door a large chunk of the panel had been pushed outward, creating a mound on the surface.

A group of Dwaeven guards quickly arrived in the room and groaned. "Aargh! That's the sixth door he'd damaged in two hours!! Can't you guys just stop making him angry... Er... Hi, minister..."

Atrus stepped back and turned at the guards. "Open the door. I want to talk to him."

"Are you crazy?!" Avitir yelled. "He's just about to kill you!!"

"I'll be fine." Atrus answered calmly. "Just leave us alone after I enter the cell."

"After we enter the cell." Anna repeated sternly. "I'm going with you."

Atrus looked at Anna. He wanted to tell her how silly she was and how dangerous it would be, but she stared back at him, full with determination. He sighed and nodded.

The guards opened the steel door and stood aside, but the Dwarf didn't make any attempt to escape. Atrus came inside the cell, followed by Anna who kept close to him. The steel door slammed shut behind them and they could hear the people leaving the prison. 

"Go away and leave me alone!" The Dwarf snarled. "Or else..."

"We're not here to fight you." Atrus replied.

But the Dwarf decided that he should give them a demonstration. He suddenly dashed toward them, but was pushed back by Anna's magical force. The little man was slammed on the far wall. Although he was not really affected by the crash, the wall was. He was back on his feet in no time.

"Impressive, young lady." He said slowly. "It's been years since I met someone worthy."

"I would be honored to do it again if you don't cooperate." Anna warned.

"I have nothing." The Dwarf stared at Atrus. "Fight me or leave me."

"Holgreb, isn't it?" Atrus resumed calmly. "I heard... you're one of the most feared barbarians in the Land of the Dwarves..."

"Yeah... I'm the best..." He grumbled. "Or at least I used to be, until... Hey! What should I tell you this for?!"

"Because we're not sure." Anna answered. "Why did you get caught at first place?"

"Bah, I yielded! A fine barbarian never surrenders!"

"You yielded?"

"Yeah... I got tired of fighting. You know... When you have a gold mine and you can't find anymore gold, you abandon the mine..."

"You mean you can't find anymore gold when you're raiding villages?" Atrus asked.

"Bah! Gold! I need no gold!" Holgreb snarled. "Fame! That's what I need!"

"You don't get enough fame?"

"Bah! If people hear the name of Gurkhar the Dwarf, they shook in fear! When they hear that Oscar the Immortal is coming, nobody dares to stand on the street! But when they hear my name, they start talking about an old man who can't possibly hold an axe straight! My time has come to an end! Leave me alone! Let the execution come to end my misery!"

"Do you think you can make people remember your name by raiding and killing them?" Anna countered.

"Of course! Gurkhar the Dwarf! Oscar the Immortal! Jesse the Gutter! Glob the..."

"Is that how you want them to remember you?! As a killer?! As a raider?!"

"Of course! Every time you walk on the street, people sing your name with praise! Women offer themselves as offerings! Piles of gold and silver were filled in jars!"

"People don't praise you!!" Anna yelled back. "They curse you! They curse you for spreading misery in their villages! People curse you for their relatives you have killed! People curse you for their homes and farms you've burnt to the ground! And now you want to die! Then forever people will remember you as Holgreb the Barbarian, and they will sing your name in curse!!"

Atrus took a glance at Anna. He'd never seen her so angry before. She was completely pissed off. He just assumed that she knew what she was doing.

"So what?!" Holgreb shot back. "I'm 60! My days in this realm are numbered!"

"So you just want to give it up?! I thought a fine barbarian never surrenders!"

A long silence covered the cell. Anna's answer seemed to hit Holgreb at the back of his mind. And for the first time since he became a barbarian he thought. A thinking barbarian was a rare sight.

"Very well..." Holgreb finally said. "I have to admit... I don't want to be remembered as a killer. I... just want to be famous, that's all..."

"You can be famous in a good way." Anna's voice was relaxed. "You're a fighter. If you fight for the good of your people, they will definitely forgive you."

Holgreb chuckled. "Hah... I don't think the problem will be that easy... But you've convinced me, at least for now. Now speak."

Atrus nodded. "First of all, I want to know if you've ever had a dream from the Guardian?"

"Bah! I never trust gods! I'm telling you, son... Those divine creatures who keep on demanding sacrifices of livestock and town's finest maidens and sending floods famines, tornadoes and sandstorms in return? Pretty dumb, those creatures... At least I can teach my dog some gratitude!"

"Er..." Atrus was confused. "Answer the question, please..."

"But I'm telling you this, son. As a barbarian, I am fearless. But there is one dream I had that has been bothering me. Once I dreamt of clouds, a vast landscape with only clouds. Never seen something like that before in my life. But then I saw darkness fall over the clouds. Then I saw emptiness, but filled with agonizing cries and pleas for help. Like, I'm used to all of those things, but this time it was different. I know it was just a dream, but it was so real. Is that what you want?"

Atrus stared at Anna, who in turn stared at him. "Do you know what that means?"

"Honestly I don't." Anna muttered. "But it does sound like the Guardian's prophecy."

"Holgreb the Dwarf." Atrus announced. "I need your help in my quest to search for the Champion of the Guardian. Please join me in my journey."

"Is that an order or a request, sonny?" Holgreb smirked.

Atrus smiled and bowed slightly. "It's a request."

The Dwarf let out a light laugh. "Well, since you ask nicely, I will join you."


Anna entered the room, sat on the nearest chair and let out a long sigh. It had been a tiring day. They had finally convinced Holgreb to join the party. The Dwarf had been very excited when they told him that they were going to the Pyramid of Salthi. He said he had been in the area once and he knew some of the natives there. Hopefully their task would be a lot easier.

Atrus, Aurelia and Roberto were in the palace right now, trying to arrange Holgreb's release. Anna was very tired from their journey that she decided to retire for the day, thinking that she would not be very useful in the palace anyway. Now what she needed was a nice, long rest.

She yelped in panic when a pair of hands traveled along her neck and to her shoulders.

"Mistress, it's me." Maya's voice came. "I didn't mean to startle you..."

"I'm just tired, Maya... It's been a long day..."

She felt Maya's hands begin to massage her tense muscles. "I still remember when you massaged me back in Aragon..." She chuckled lightly. "I learnt how to massage from you, Mistress."

"Yeah... I even saw you doing this to Atrus a couple of times..." Anna said, without noticing the hurt in her voice.

Maya came in front of her, giving her a sad gaze. "Mistress... Do you hate me for that...?"

Anna was completely taken off guard. "What? Hate you? Why should I?"

"I mean... Master Atrus... I hope I didn't hurt your feeling..."

"Now, Maya, I'm just being silly." Anna explained. "But I don't hate you..."

"Mistress... I love Atrus as my master... He possesses me completely, but I can never posses him... I... I can never be his wife..."

"Maya, don't say that! I'm not going to let you enslave your life forever! Neither will Atrus!"

"Mistress..." Maya just continued. "I love you both as my saviors... I love you too, Mistress... Please don't hate me..."

Maya's face was now just a few inches from Anna'. Anna could see tears rolling down her cheek. Her love is true. Never before have I seen a love so pure, so honest, so devoted. Anna touched Maya's cheek and wiped her tears away.

"Don't worry, Maya... I don't hate you..."

Maya boldly made her first move and kissed her mistress lightly on her cheek. Anna was surprised, but she accepted the kiss. She allowed Maya's hand to circle around her waist and drew her closer. She was less surprised when Maya kissed her for the second time and inserted her tongue. Maya's hand expertly massaged her neck, relaxing the muscles and lifting the burden off her body She didn't resist when she was led to the bed and was laid down.

Maya slid Anna's upper costume, revealing her pert breasts. Anna just moaned as Maya expertly nursed the breasts, massaging them and playing with her nipples. Soon both nipples stood erect and were as hard as rock. Anna's breath became more and more ragged. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Maya just smiled at her playfully.

"Don't fall asleep yet, Mistress... I won't let you until I finish."

"It entirely depends... on how good you are... at keeping me awake." Anna answered.
Maya smiled again and crept down toward her mistress' most sacred place. She drew the satin skirt up, revealing her panties. Slowly she traced the flesh beneath the thin fabric with her fingers, purposely avoiding her pussy. She was definitely good at making her mistress crazy. Anna spontaneously raised her hips to invite her more. She just smiled and continued teasing her. 

Then Maya accidentally brushed against her sensitive clitoris, making her jerk from the stimulation. "Maya... please... I can't hold it any longer..."

Maya slid her panties aside, revealing her very wet pussy. She made some remarks, but Anna was completely lost to the sensation. Her hands involuntarily reached out and touched her breasts and began massaging them. Maya smirked, then slowly inserted a finger inside Anna's pussy, and followed by another finger. The sensation reached its peak and a powerful orgasm overcame her. A silent cry escaped her lips as the waves of pleasure bombarded her brain.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 09



When the sensation subsided, she found Maya sitting next to her. "I hope you like it, Mistress... No offense, but you're very easy to please..."

Anna chuckled, then grabbed Maya's shoulder and dragged her down on the bed. Since Maya didn't resist, Anna could easily pin her body down.

"I just learned this new trick from the Book of Elements..." She said slowly. "And you're going to be my first victim..."

Anna hung her palm over Maya's form and chanted the spell. Then tiny sparks appeared from her fingers and zapped through her thin bodysuit, striking her nipples. Maya let out a yelp and jerked from the shock. It wasn't strong enough to damage her body, but enough to induce the desired sensation. Maya moaned as Anna played with her breasts.

"Ladies?!! Are you okay?!!"

Anna slumped over Maya, startled by the intrusion. Neither of them expected that Hawk would hear them and decided to check.

"Uh... We're completely fine!" Maya answered.

"We heard some weird noises from next room." Hawk called again beyond the door. "I'm just making sure everything is okay."

"We're fine!" Anna said. "That must have been the royal swine from the pen next door!"

"Uh... okay... Sorry" Anna wouldn't think that Hawk would buy her story, but she sighed in relief anyway.

Maya woke up and kissed her on the forehead. "Sleep now, Mistress. I'll wake you up for supper later."

"B... but you haven't got your release..." Anna protested.

"Don't worry about me." Maya smiled. "My needs can wait. Plus, I really enjoyed your new trick. Now sleep. You need your rest."

Anna smiled warmly before exhaustion took control and put her slowly to sleep. This time, she dreamt of clouds.


The journey to the desert took two days. They had decided not to use the dragons to avoid too much attention. Unlike Humans, Dwarves didn't use horses for transportation, so they had to walk.

Canyons and rocky ground dominated the route. Although it was autumn, the weather was intensely hot due to the lack of vegetation around the area. The land was dry, parched by the sun. Dust filled the air. The only thing that could possibly cheer up the party was Holgreb's war story from his 45 years of being a barbarian. Unfortunately, it didn't do its purpose.

"But hang on..." Holgreb insisted. "Let me tell you what I did when I was with Gurkhar!"

"Yeah... for the 25th time..." Anna mumbled.

"Uh huh... I'd bet you killed 45 vampires, 105 trolls, 208 troglodytes and 315 hobgoblins then..." Hawk mumbled.

"That's right..." Roberto sighed. "And you killed one-eighth ogre as well..."

"One-eighth...?" Maya asked. "How can..."

"He's explained that before!" Roberto quickly answered, not wanting to make Holgreb start his story. "He shared the kill, equally, with his seven friends..."

"Oh..."

"Wow... you guys really like my story that much you remember the detail!" Holgreb smiled brightly. "Here... let me tell you a story when we defeated this evil spider queen..."

"Oh brother..."

"Atrus, how far is the nearest village?" Anna asked.

Atrus didn't answer. When she tugged his shirt, he turned at her and pulled the cloth from his ears and waited expectantly. Anna grumbled, slapped him hard, and repeated the question.

"According to the map, it might take another half an hour..." Atrus answered.

The party groaned. Anna slapped Atrus again, ignored his protest and plugged her ears with her earrings.

"Sorry for the interruption, folks..." Holgreb announced cheerfully. "Now for the story..."


They finally arrived at Niddol, a small mining village at the outskirts of the Desert of Desolation. They didn't expect a welcoming party, but they never expected to be welcomed by nothing.

The village was completely abandoned. There was nobody around. The houses were still erect, but the occupants were gone. The street was dusty and deserted. Only the eerie sound of the hot wind was heard.

"Spread out..." Atrus ordered. "See if you can find what's wrong with the villagers..."

The party spread out and entered the abandoned buildings while Atrus and Roberto stayed outside to watch over. They tried to notice if someone was watching them, but there was no one around. The village was indeed completely deserted.

"Master Atrus!"

Atrus and Roberto scrambled to the nearest building where Maya was. Maya was kneeling on the floor, staring at the rusted door before her. She traced the old door surface, revealing a thin, obscure line of red-smeared wood. A few red dots were also spread across the surface.

Blood!

"There has been a fight here, Master." Maya said slowly. "But there are no bodies..."

Together they searched the room, but they found nothing. When they got out of the building, everybody was gathering.

"I found nobody in the tavern." Anna reported. "But the tables and chairs were scattered around the room in a very odd way."

"Same here..." Hawk nodded.

"A very odd way?" Atrus asked.

"Yeah... like, a round table stuck on the chandelier on the ceiling." Anna replied. "It seems like there has been a tornado inside the tavern."

"There is one cupboard full of clothes." Aurelia spoke up. "But there was nobody around. They couldn't just abandon their homes without taking their clothes along!"

"Probably this is the pyramid's curse..." Roberto suggested.

"I won't be surprised!" Holgreb announced, then pointed at a direction. "As far as I remember, the Pyramid of Salthi is just beyond tha..."

The Dwarf didn't finish his sentence. Instead, his finger was stopped midair, pointing at a direction of a small sand dune. Beyond the dune, a thin trace of black smoke was seen.

"That... that's where the garrison is..." Holgreb muttered in shock.

"Smoke..." Atrus suddenly yelled, "The garrison is under attack! Let's go!"


They were too late. The party stared silently at the broken wooden gate. Several burnt buildings still produced black smoke from the fire beneath the stones. Deserted assembly ground was full with black dents of scorched ground. Whatever had attacked the garrison, it had destroyed it utterly.

Yet the problem stayed the same. The signs of battle were everywhere, but there were no bodies. There were spots smeared with blood. There were fallen axes and iron helmets scattered around the complex. There was a tumbled pot full of cooked lunch. But there was no sign of the survivors, as if the entire garrison occupants had been swallowed to void.

Anna knelt near the scorched ground and inspected it carefully. The scorched mark interested her. The mark couldn't be made by fire. The mark was a little jagged on the sandy ground. Whatever hit it, it had to be really powerful, for the blow left a small, yet deep crack on the center.

"Do you have any idea what caused it?" Roberto asked.

"Something incredibly hot and strong..." Anna rubbed the rough ground with her glove"

"A firebolt?" Atrus suggested.

"No... stronger than that... it fried the ground rather quickly..."

"Shock spell?" Maya answered. "It travels pretty fast..."

"Good point, Maya... If I'm not mistaken, this mark is probably caused by... lightning bolt."

"HAH!!!" Holgreb laughed. "In the desert! We see lightning bolt in the desert once in a century!"

"I know it's odd..." Anna agreed. "But I can find no other explanation for this..."

"Spread out, people!" Atrus ordered again. "See if you can find something interesting."

The team spread out, searching the ruins for something useful. There was hardly anything useful there, because most of the things were either broken or burnt.

"Uh, guys!" Holgreb suddenly called. "I can use a hand here!"

Roberto came and found that the Dwarf was standing before a ruin of what had used to be a storage shed. The building had crumbled down, leaving only a pile of big stones.

"You want me to lift these rocks up?" Roberto queried. "What would be beneath them?"

"You should trust a barbarian in this kind of event."

Roberto shrugged and took his gigantic Kaiser Sword from his back. He jammed the sword into the piles of rocks, which gave it no resistance. With a strong yank, the boulders gave way, revealing a golden chest.

Roberto gazed at the Dwarf. "Sixth sense?"

"The result of 45 years of constant training." Holgreb simply answered. "Now to open it..."

Holgreb opened the chest carefully and took a peek inside to make sure there was no booby traps inside the chest. Soon, he retrieved a small object wrapped in dirty cloth. Soon the party gathered around him. The object turned out to be a small round medallion made out of gold. The object was very jagged at certain edges. A strange sculpture of a spider was carved on the center.

"Wait a minute... I know this symbol..." The Dwarf muttered. "It's the same symbol carved on the pyramid walls!"

"So we're in the right track..." Hawk's eyes suddenly opened. "Wait a sec... You've been to the pyramid?!"

"Yeah... four months ago... with Gurkhar the Dwarf!"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT EARLIER?!!!" Maya screamed and later closed her mouth, realizing her mistake.

"You want to hear the story of how we defeated the goblins around the pyramid? Just say the word!! Well, I was with Gurkhar then when those goblins... Man, they're tough..."

The party sighed. "Oh brother..."


The maid screamed again with renewed intensity. The dark man was quite amused. She had been bound for three hours, and he had been entertaining her without stopping. He forcefully slammed his cock all the way inside her unwilling pussy. She struggled against her bondage, doing an erotic dance before her captor. Finally the agony became too much and she fainted as soon as the demon shot his unholy seeds inside her womb.

A thin mist appeared, slowly turning into the image of a ghoul; a soul in agony. The ghoul moaned around the air, twisting frantically fighting a losing fight for its freedom. Yet the message was sent.

"Ah... visitors... They have arrived..."

The demon waved his hand and the unconscious girl disappeared. He let out a wicked smile. He had been waiting for this moment. Finally, he could be free once again. His unholy prayer had been answered.

"Finally... The worthy one has arrived..."

A faint image of a young girl appeared before him. The petite girl was wearing the official priestess suit for the Order of Lycra. He could feel her strength. He could feel her determination. The girl, he thought, was the spirit of the group he was supposed to defeat.

"Defeat the soul... and the body will yield..."
The Pyramid of Slathi stood silently in the middle of the desert, reaching for the cloudy afternoon sky. To the east the vast field of sand stretched over the horizon, threatening unwary adventurers with beasts, deadly scorpions, and violent sandstorms. For many years the pyramid had served as the marking beacon for the Forbidden Land. For many years the pyramid was seen as the final safe haven for the lost adventurers as they were unaware of the ultimate danger lying beneath. 

Roberto slowly rubbed the cold stone surface with his palm. "It's odd... The surface is so smooth. There's no hint of age! It seems like the pyramid was built just yesterday, by the finest mason in the kingdom!"

"It's definitely protected by magic..." Anna closed her eyes and listened to her deeper sense. "It's not right... The magic is not bad... but it resists me... as if trying to ward me off..."

"I hope we have more choices." Atrus said. "But we'll have to enter the pyramid eventually."

The entrance was just as simple as a hole on the surface. The long tunnel was quite small for them, although it fit Dwarves quite well. The tunnel was completely dusty and dark, preventing further inspection. The think scent of mold filled their nostrils, defeating even the bravest soul.

"We can't get in now..." Aurelia said slowly in her low, melodic tone. "I'd say we camp at the garrison and returned tomorr..."

Before she could finish her word, a high eerie sound was heard in the air. The dark cloud stirred violently in the sky. Suddenly the air around them became uncomfortably hot.

"Wait a minute..." Anna muttered. "Atrus, this is a desert, right?"

"Right."

"There's no water in the desert, right?"

"Very little." Holgreb agreed.

"So there will be very little water vapor in the desert, right?"

"True."

"Then what's the cloud doing here in the desert at the first place?"

The party looked at the sky and was dreaded at what they saw. The dark cloud was getting thicker and thicker. An obscure, thin line of light appeared beneath the surface.

"Mistress... The garrison! There was indeed lightning bolt!" Maya suggested.

"What?!! It can't be!" Holgreb snarled. "This is a desert..."

Then he knew that he was wrong when a lightning bolt hit squarely on top of the pyramid, sending bolts of electricity throughout the surface and into the sand. The ground shook upon contact with the bolts. Tiny sparks blasted away from the tip of the pyramid and fell down on the ground. The party suddenly recalled one of many facts in the Land of Lore. If it didn't make sense, then it had to be magical."

"I'm not really sure, but I have this strange feeling..." Roberto mumbled. "I've been to this case before... you know... thick cloud, hot air... I've seen this before in Aragon... I believe they call this... uh... tornado?"

The Elf and the Dwarf were not affected at all, but all Human members quickly stared sharply at him. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?!!!" Hawk roared.

A loud roar at their back regained their attention. A large, dark cone appeared from the cloud and descended upon the sand, lifting it along its swirling surface. Then suddenly tiny bits of sand filled the air, hitting their faces and entering their nostrils. The party, especially Aurelia and Holgreb who had never seen a tornado before, began coughing and choking. Even slightly blurred by the sand, Anna could see the tornado closing on them.

"Come on!! Get inside!!" she yelled.

The party quickly scrambled inside the dark tunnel. Anna entered last and sealed the entrance with her magic barrier, preventing the sand from coming in. The tunnel was extremely dark and cramped. Nobody dared to move for a while, fearing what might lie beyond the darkness. The problem was solved when Anna summoned a few floating fireballs to illuminate the tunnel.

"What in the name of the Guardian was that?!!" Aurelia complained.

"Well, I suppose there's no turning back now." Atrus muttered. "We're going in."

The party readied their weapons, except for Roberto, whose weapon was too huge to be used inside the tunnel. Almost everybody had to crouch several times to fit inside. Outside, the sandstorm raged violently, occasionally producing low-pitch roar across the tunnel.

The fireballs guided them through the tunnel until they reached a larger room. As the party member emerged from the tunnel, mumbles of awe came in turn. The room was as big as a small house, except that it was completely fortified with stone. The ceiling was very high, too high for a structure built without purpose. But the main fact was that the walls were inscribed with strange sculptures and ancient writing. The writing went upward toward the high ceiling.

"Anna... Can you understand their writing?" Atrus asked, still staring at the wall.

Anna knelt before the wall and studied the writing. It was neatly marked and sculptured on the stone surface. Various pictograms were scattered around the strange letters. She had read several books about languages from nomadic age, but she had never encountered this style before. She shook her head.

"Never seen this kind before. I'll try to decipher it."

"No need." Holgreb mumbled. "We have what we need here."

The Dwarf walked clumsily across the room and brushed the stone surface with his hand, revealing a small hollow circle. "This might be some kind of keyhole. See the symbol here?" Over the hollow circle there was a sculpture of a spider, just like the one on the medallion. "We've found the key."

The Dwarf produced the medallion from his bag. Suddenly a loud roar was heard across the room. Anna's body twitched suddenly with a yelp. She stared blankly for a while; her breath raced quickly.

"Anna?" Atrus asked nervously.

Anna was silent for a while. "Something's wrong..." Anna muttered finally. "The strange forces around the pyramid jumped at the medallion... I can feel them probing my mind..."

"Are they bad?" Aurelia asked. "I can't feel anything."

"No, they're not bad... They're... If they were good, they wouldn't repulse me just like that... Something is wrong... I have a bad feeling about this..."

"Ignore it!" Holgreb claimed. "It can mean good charm!"

After saying that, he slammed the medallion in place on the hole. Suddenly the whole place shook with tremor. Thick dust fell from the ceiling, momentarily blinding them. A loud crash was heard, followed by a roar of mechanical gears, then silence.

"Nice move." Hawk mumbled. "Good charm indeed."

Soon they found that a large boulder had blocked the small tunnel, sealing the only entrance. Roberto and Hawk tried to push, but it seemed that the boulder was far too heavy. They had been trapped inside the room.

"Well, we're doomed." Roberto announced. "We'll probably suffocate in a few hours."

"Or not." Maya added slowly. "Hear that sound?" A low whistle of the sandstorm raging outside could still be heard. "This room has access to open air. Probably at the ceiling."

"Great!!" The prince said. "I suppose there Salthi guys prefer the slow and horrible death for their uninvited visitors. We could starve for days and stay alive!"

"Relax..." Atrus said slowly. "There's got to be a way out."

"I suppose so." Anna agreed. "I'll start by deciphering the writing. You guys can start searching. And Holgreb!" The Dwarf twitched at Anna's sharp call. "Touch nothing!!!"

Anna knelt back before the wall, facing the writing. She rubbed the stone surface with her bare hand, feeling the cold stone against her skin. When she withdrew, she noticed thick dust on her finger. This place had been abandoned for a long time since the lone mage summoned the pyramid. Now they had to find out what had happened to him, and to do so they had to enter first.

If you don't know where to start, start with the most apparent and obvious symbol, she recalled her knowledge, and start from there. Her eyes quickly picked up a rough sketch of five people standing in line, which was slightly bigger than other symbols. She traced the writing, skipping the weird language, and found another symbol in shape of a circle and a spider on top of it. Then she trailed the writing until she reached a strange symbol of a box with arc-shaped top. A door! And the spider medallion is the key! Then she met another symbol of a spider, a cloud, a lightning bolt, and an arc-shaped gate, followed by strange writing. Are they trying to describe a storm? Then what's with the second spider?

Something in her mind told her to check the symbols again. Slowly she rubbed the first spider symbol and was surprised to find that it was curved inside. Slowly and carefully she rubbed the surface, cleaning the dust. The spider symbol was made out of shiny stone, different from the rest of the wall. It was small compared to the entire writing, yet without the dust the spider would be quite apparent to normal eyes under plenty of light. She took some time to draw a deep breath, touched the symbol, and pushed the spider with all her might.

The symbol yielded to her push and a tremor shook the room again, refilling it with thick dust. A loud roar of mechanical gears was heard. When the dust cleared up, the party was staggered. A portion of the wall had slid down, revealing a door. Another dark and long tunnel waited beyond.





The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 10



Ch. 10: Plague and Cure

A little girl stood alone in the darkness. Her small body shivered from the chill. She was standing, cold and lonely, in the middle of nowhere. Her eyes tried to penetrate the darkness, yet they failed. She was trapped here, and she could do nothing. She was helpless. 

The lonely girl began to wander around, trying to find her way through the dark. She couldn't tell which way she was going, or what she was going to see. Her mind was blank. Her heart was in deep panic. Her soul was hopeless.

Finally her eyes caught something beneath the darkness. There were at least three figures sitting down on the invisible ground. The girl slowly approached them. When she got a closer look, she discovered that the three figures were soldiers, and they were badly wounded. Multiple cuts decorated their bodies. She felt pity of them, so she approached them, tore a section of her sleeve and bandaged the closest man's arm. The man turned to meet her gaze. She was expecting a warm, grateful look...

Instead, she received a cold, menacing look. Her face quickly grew pale. She stepped back, but the other two men blocked the way and quickly seized her arms. But she couldn't move. She was too shocked to move. She gave her pure, honest love, yet she received menace in return.

The two other men quickly pinned her down on the ground. A rough hand clamped around her mouth, silencing her scream. The man she had bandaged got between her legs, reached out beneath her short skirt, and tore her satin panties off her. She was petrified. Her mind went numb. She was going to be raped...

Raped...?! Again...?!

The thought hit her at the back of her head. She couldn't comprehend it, not know where it came from, but that didn't stop the men from doing their filthy job. They tore her blouse in a single jerk, doing their best to hurt her. Her pert breasts came free, her nipples rigid upon contact with the cold air.

"Please... don't do this... I can't..."

"Shut up, bitch!" One man barked. "You little teaser! We'll give what you want!"

"That's right... A priestess of Lycra... must be a virgin..."

"No... please..."

The man slapped her hard and her head slumped weakly against her shoulder. "That should shut you up for the duration..."

"Yeah... we should decide... who's going to drill her hole first..."

She sobbed as the men tossed their coin, trying to find the one who would pop her cherry. Then the rough hands pinned her down again, preventing any movements; another pair spread her legs wide, revealing her pussy to the assailants. She could feel the man's member touching her pussy. She began to struggle frantically, but her power was no match for the men.

"No...! No...!"

And the filthy member thrust inside of her. She screamed as the cock tore her tender hymen and her virginity was stolen from her. She cried and wailed uncontrollably. Her rapist fucked her mercilessly, slamming his cock deep inside her vagina using her blood as lubricant. Her body jerked from the pain in every thrust he made.

Then suddenly she saw the man's face again. She'd seen him somewhere. In fact, she'd seen these men before. She met her rapist's gaze, and then the memory flooded back to her. She'd seen him in her countless nightmares. His was the face she'd never hope of seeing again. He was her... rapist...

She threw her gaze away, only to look at another person holding her, and her eyes stared in horror. It can't be...! That face... That grinning face... belongs to one man she loves... Atrus...!!

NO...!!!

The dimension door sprung open and the view of vast, unending clouds filled the landscape. The party quickly shielded their eyes from the sudden glare from the sun. The sunlight was almost twice as bright, but the party quickly adapted to the light.

"We're standing on the clouds!!" Hawk declared.

"Yikes!!"

The party staggered to find solid ground, but found that the ground was indeed solid. "Don't worry." Lynn the Fairy giggled. "You can stand on the clouds."

And the view before them was stunning. A large gate stood before them. The gate was arc-shaped, probably made of pure gold and richly ornamented. The poles on each side supported two large, beautiful statuettes of angels, each bearing a long sword and a war banner. The legend of the marvel of the gate was indeed true. This was the one.

The Portal of Heaven...

Yet there was only one detail that bothered them. The gate was open.

"We're too late!" The Fairy screamed in her small, yet high-pitched voice. "The Portal of Heaven has been breached! Come! We have to rescue my sisters!"

"Get ready, people!" Atrus ordered, and everybody prepared their weapons.

The party raced past the gate and began to move between the clouds. Although it felt funny, the clouds in this region were fully solid, allowing them to stand on them. Hawk made the first mistake by charging through a seemingly thin wall of cloud that quickly knocked him back.

"Do you usually run through walls back in Aragon, O mighty warrior?" Aurelia the Elf smirked.

"Very funny."

The Fairy raised her hand, silencing the party. They could hear footsteps coming from beneath the clouds ahead. The Fairy flapped her small wings before them, signaling that Fairies usually flew even among solid clouds. Then footsteps could only mean one thing. The enemies were near.

"Master! Over there!" Maya pointed at a small opening between two cloud walls.

Atrus and Roberto hid behind the opening in the clouds, ready to ambush the attacker. The two men, although used to dislike each other, had developed a good partnership since the young prince joined the quest. Roberto's reliable Kaiser Sword was a fine partner of Atrus' magical Rainbow Sword. The rest of the party hid behind another patch of clouds near the opening.

The footsteps were getting near. With one signal, the two men jumped from their cover and charged with their swords... only to find that they were facing a pair of green, muscular knees. They looked up and found that they were staring at a...

An Ogre...

Everybody in the Land of Lore knew that fighting an Ogre in a close melee combat was a bad, bad idea, let alone standing before one and staring at it as if it was a clown. Being the first smart person in this scenario, Atrus quickly dove at the stunned Roberto and pushed him out of the way before the gigantic stone club smashed the ground.

"What is that Ogre doing here in Heaven?!!" Hawk demanded.

Another pair of Ogres appeared behind his companion, wielding the same stone clubs.

"Correction... Ogres." Hawk added. "Hmm... I thought they're an endangered species..."

"Prepare to fight, people!" Aurelia yelled. "And keep your distance!"

The Elf prepared her trusty bows and arrows while Maya wielded her throwing knives. Hawk and Holgreb the Dwarf, possessing no long-range weapons, stood before them to give them cover. The two girls began firing their weapons, giving cover as the other two men retreated.

"D...Did y...you see the size of that... thing?!" Roberto blurted out.

"Foul folks have touched their feet on Heaven!" The Fairy cried. "We have been disgraced!"

"Arrows and blades will slow them down," Atrus said, "but will not kill them. I'll have to confront them. Cover me, girls!"

"Prince Roberto, wear this!" Maya gave him her magical talisman, the last gift from her late father. "This will speed you up despite that heavy plate armor you're wearing. Go and help Master Atrus!"

Three Ogres marched at them, swinging their clubs wildly in the air. One of Aurelia's arrows found its mark right on the Ogre's head and the creature collapsed instantly. Atrus and Roberto rushed to meet their opponents. The Ogre's terrible speed was not a match for Atrus' agility. Atrus dashed around the creature, sending blow after blow against the creature's thick scale. The Ogre roared in frustration. Atrus quickly ended its misery by sending a Lightning Slash attack toward the creature's neck, beheading it.

Roberto fought a harder fight. Despite the talisman, he was not as fast as Atrus and had a hard time coordinating his attack. The Ogre kept maintaining its close distance, limiting the Kaiser Sword's effectiveness. One powerful swing from the club found its mark and threw the prince back on the ground. The plate armor he's wearing softened the blow, yet the force was enough to paralyze him for a while. Maya quickly threw a rapid wave of throwing knives, attracting the creature. The time she bought was enough. Roberto was back on his feet, wielded his sword and dashed toward the Ogre. He leaped and swung the Kaiser Sword with all his might at the Ogre. The sword flared as it regained its true power and sliced the creature in half. Blood spurted from the carcass, smearing the clouds.

"Now I'm mad!" The prince roared. "Thanks, girl!"

Two Ogres charged at Aurelia, trying to prevent her from firing more arrows. Hawk who was standing before her leaped to the side, swung his long spear and, thanks to his constant training back in the castle training ground, hit the creature squarely at the back of its neck, knocking its nerve system and killing it instantly. The other Ogre charged at the defenseless Elf princess, but a short creature hit its belly with his head and threw it backwards. For a Human, challenging an Ogre's might was considered foolish, but Holgreb was a Dwarf, and a Dwarf possessed far more strength than a normal Human did. The Ogre didn't expect that the Dwarf could match its strength and was taken back. Before it could recover from the blow, Holgreb brought down his trusty old axe and beheaded the creature.

The party regrouped again, only to find that the enemy ranks had been replenished. More Ogres appeared from the clouds, carrying more wicked spiked clubs. Now they definitely couldn't afford getting hit, for it would be fatal.

"Suggestions, anybody?" Atrus asked.

"Is retreat an option?" Hawk offered.

"We've gone too far to retreat now..."

"I'll help you!" The Fairy said. "Fear not, mighty Warriors of the Guardian!"

The Fairy raised her hand and the party began to glow in bright light. Atrus could feel strange power creeping inside his limbs. Roberto also felt the same force supporting his weight and making him unaware that he was still wearing a plate armor. The two men quickly charged at the Ogre ranks with renewed ferocity. This time the Ogres couldn't match their ability. One by one the foul folks fell to the ground.

"Wow..." Hawk mumbled.

"Now that's a slaughter..." Holgreb agreed.

"What did you do to us?" Atrus asked.

"It's a Fairy blessing." The Fairy answered. "It enhances your ability. Because you all have fought for my home, I will gladly lend my assistance."

"Excuse me, Miss... But you haven't told us your name." Aurelia said.

"You can call me Lynn." The Fairy bowed at Atrus. "I am one of the chosen Warriors of the Guardian. O Prophet of the Guardian, I salute you."

"What? You know that you are the one?" Atrus queried.

"Fairies are loyal servants of the Gods, O Prophet of the Guardian. We serve and receive orders directly from Lord Guardian. We therefor gain access to such information."

"Then you have the dream from the Guardian, then!"

"Oh, the prophecy, you mean?" Lynn thought for a while. "I once had this dream. I saw a bright golden light flying in the sky. Then I saw another light, this time it was dark red, just like the color of blood. The golden light and the red one twisted around and slammed into one another and a bright flash blinded me and awakened me instantly."

"Hmm... I honestly don't know what that means..." Maya muttered.

"Honestly, guys..." Hawk interrupted, "It's not a good time for deciphering a dream now."

"Well, it's been nice to know you, Lynn." Atrus agreed. "But we'd better be hurry. If there are still enemies around here, we'd better get rid of them quick."

"They must be in the Inner Sanctum right now. They had to be after the Holy Fire of Love! We must preserve the fire, or the wrath of the Gods would be upon us! Follow me!"

The party moved quickly between the clouds unchallenged for the moment. But soon they heard grunting and groaning sound from beneath the rows of clouds ahead. Finally they reached the end of the labyrinth and gasped at the sight. The majestic Inner Sanctum of Heaven stood before them, more exquisite than even the greatest storyteller could ever describe. The tall pillars of clouds supported the large conical roof. Various golden statues of angels in various positions filled the courtyard and carved on the pillars. A large golden altar stood proud in the middle of the temple. On top of it stood a large pit made out of metal. And just like Lynn feared, the fire had died.

"The Holy Fire of Love..." Lynn yelled. "It's gone...!"

The view of the courtyard was worse. Many Fairies were there, captured by the foul folks. The Ogres were torturing them viciously with clubs and whips. Most of the Fairies were being raped violently on the ground. Fairy blood smeared the courtyard. Ogres' groans and captured Fairies' pitiful scream filled the air.

"Dear Lord Guardian..." Lynn sobbed. "My sisters...!"

"Damn those Ogres! Let them pay!" Aurelia cried.

"Come on, people!" Atrus raised his sword. "Charge!"

Lynn raised her hands and cast blessing to the party. Then the party poured into the Inner Sanctum courtyard and engaged the unsuspecting enemies.

The first prophecy of the Guardian, the Siege of Heaven, had been fulfilled. Now they had to retake it.

The flame grew brighter as the Dark Lord approached the pit. Daemon took off his cloak from his body, feeling the warmth of the unholy fire. The violent snowstorm was raging outside the Emerald Tower, devastating the wasteland. He let out a simple smile. Destruction... How I love the word... 

The blue flame flickered, revealing a face of a demon he knew as one of his loyal subordinates, wearing a long dark cloak. "Greetings, Supreme Commander Daemon."

"Report." The demon simply ordered.

"The assault was a success, my Lord." The demon hissed. "The Humans were caught unprepared of our attack. The town of Blackwell stood before us and Stromgard. The castle north of the town is lightly guarded and shouldn't pose any threat. Soon the puny Humans will fall."

"Excellent... And I must praise you for your finest selection. You know my taste."

"It's been my greatest pleasure, my Lord."

"I await for the news of your victory. Now do what you have to do."

The demon disappeared from the flame. The Dark Lord walked slowly toward the next room. He was in a good mood. For once his subordinate didn't screw up in his task. And his artisans had finished refurbishing the new room, his playroom. For once he was truly happy.

The room was exactly where the old throne room used to be. Replacing the throne was a high stone chair. Gaea, the Protector of the Realm was sitting there, dressed in majestic gown and crowned with a pretty golden headband. Yet one detail stayed the same. She was shackled to the throne. Her body shivered on contact with the cold stone. The shackles on the feet of the chair forced her legs wide open. The gown had open slits in certain places, revealing her breasts and bare pussy. She just sat there weakly, defeated and completely humiliated.

Before her stood a wooden table. A young girl was strapped into the table with various shackles. Her mouth was gagged with her own panties. She was blindfolded, and was struggling against her bondage. Two small pins plugged her ears, cutting her from any contact from the real world.

She was the only survivor from the last raid. Yet her life would not last for long. She would hope that she would have died in the attack. Now she would beg him to kill her.

"How... magnificent..." Daemon muttered.

"Leave her alone, Daemon!" Gaea cried. "She's innocent! She has nothing to do with this!"

"Why, it will make the matter more interesting, will it not?"

The Dark Lord touched her pert breast. Her protest came instantly. She squirmed and let out a muffled scream. The demon lord chuckled, satisfied with the reaction.

"Please... let her go!" Gaea begged. "Just... do me instead..."

"Ah... you're offering yourself?" Daemon sneered.

"Y...yes... Please let her go... You can do anything to me..."

Lord Daemon approached the defeated goddess, lifted her head and forced her eyes to look into his. Determination quickly vanished from her eyes, defeated by fear.

"You are getting meek, my princess..." Daemon said softly.

"Y...yes... whatever you say..."

"Whatever you say, what?!"

"W...whatever y...you say... Milord..."

The demon lord smiled. "That's right. You are weak. You're not worthy as the Protector of the Realm. You're just a slave!"

"Y...yes, Milord..." Gaea hung her head in shame. "I'm just a slave..."

"And you will obey me! You will observe closely as I rape her!"

Gaea's eyes flared in fear. "No...! Milord, please let her go!"

The discussion was over. Daemon approached the bound girl and undid his trousers. His raging hard member stood in attention. He roughly licked the girl's dry pussy despite both girls' protest. Then without warning he slammed his penis deep inside the girl's pussy, stretching it to the limit. The gag couldn't stop the shattering scream of pain from escaping her lips. Gaea could only watch in horror as the demon lord raped the innocent girl mercilessly. The wave of guilt swept over her mind. She was the Protector of the Realm, yet she couldn't do anything to stop the horror before her. She had failed to do her job. She had failed the Guardian. She was not worthy as a goddess. I'm just a useless, wretched slave.

And as the demon lord reached climax, three screams joined together to form a perfect chorus: pleasure, pain and despair.

Atrus sat on the smooth, white marble of the Inner Sanctum and slowly took off his armor. The once-proud leather armor he'd received from a good fellow back in Labrador was now decorated with dents and scratches. That armor had seen many battles before, and had seen many more with him. Now it was hardly enough to deflect an arrow. It's time to buy a brand new armor, he thought.

The thought of Labrador brought back the memory of his first battle. He remembered fighting the bandits that had been pillaging the towns around the border. He remembered the kind people who had helped and supported him in his journey. He remembered the faith they had put in him when they elected him, just a young naïve boy, as their leader.

The thought also reminded him of Anna. It was the first time that he'd met her. The first meeting hadn't been very pleasant, but he'd gained her trust and respect, through tough battles and dire dangers, many of which could have got either of them killed. By any chance, he'd almost always been there for her in times of danger. Now Anna was nowhere near him. He didn't even know what had become of her. He didn't even know whether he would ever see her again.

The thought of Labrador bothered him deeply. Roberto had just confirmed that the army of the undead had raged through the south countryside and had pushed through the Great Forest. Now the small town of Blackwell, Maya's hometown, was the only town standing between the destruction and the capital of the Human kingdom of Aragon, Stromgard. Knowing that the enemy had pushed so far into the territory, Atrus was sure that among all towns in the south that had fallen, Labrador could be one of them.

And right now they were defenseless. Heaven, the home of the High Fairies, had been ransacked. They had driven out all the Ogres, but the price was heavy. Many Fairies were gravely wounded in the assault, but greater wounds lay inside. The Ogres had raped many of them before the party arrived. Plus, their holy symbol, the Holy Fire of Love was gone. Their physical wounds could be treated, yet their honor and dignity had been seized from them. Now they're reluctant to offer their support for the alliance.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 10



Right now Maya, Aurelia and Hawk were tending the injuries. The rest of the people helped rebuild the Gate of Heaven. The pitiful moan of pain and despair filled the air. If only Anna was here...

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, O Prophet of the Guardian..."

"Lynn, how many times should I tell you to call me Atrus!" He snapped.

"My fault, O... Prophet Atrus..." The Fairy cowered.

"Atrus!" He insisted.

"Atrus... I want to express my gratitude for your assistance to our race."

"Don't mention it." Atrus replied. "We have another important matter to attend."

"I agree, but as you can see, our home is destroyed. The enemies have... hurt us..."

Atrus stared at her. "What do you mean...?"

"I mean..." The Fairy couldn't look at him in the eye. "I'm afraid... we can't offer our support in your alliance..."

"What?!" Maya, who was tending a wounded Fairy nearby, couldn't help but cry.

I know this one is coming. "You know how important the alliance is for us?" Atrus asked.

"We understand, yet there is nothing we could do to assist. We've been... defeated..."

"No, you haven't!" Maya answered quickly. "We can still fight together!"

"Our purity has been robbed. The Holy Fire of Love from the Gods has been extinguished. We have betrayed our vows. It's only a matter of time until the Gods decide to punish us..."

"Nonsense!" Maya shouted.

"Is there anything I can do to prove you otherwise?" Atrus interrupted.

"You have passed our test by defeating the invaders..." Lynn answered slowly. "But we can't help you. We are sorry. Please understand..."

"But without your help, we all will fall!" Maya insisted. "Please help us!"

"Young lady, you don't understand what we've been through!"

"Yes, I do!" There was a hint of deep pain in Maya's voice. "I... I've been through things worse than this and I... I survived them!"

"I don't mean to offend you, young lady, but purity means everything to us..."

"So what?!" Atrus had never seen Maya so mad before. "What are you going to do right now?! Commit a mass suicide?!"

"Now, girls!!" Atrus finally decided to interfere. He looked at both contenders, then sighed. "There was a fight out there in Aragon and many innocent people were killed. Now that I'm sick of it, I don't want to hear another one happening here between us!"

When both girls finally settled down, he resumed, "Maya, I'm afraid she's right. We can't force anything from them after what they've been through."

"But, Master..."

"No buts!" Atrus said quickly. "And Lynn, I understand. We will do our best to defend the realm without your help." He stood up. "I believe my task is done here. We must go."

"Wait..." The Fairy hesitated. "I mean... you're just going to leave, just like that...?"

"I have done what I'm supposed to do." Atrus answered calmly.

"I... I'm very sorry." Lynn hung her head. "I really want to help, but..." She hesitated.

Atrus put his hand on her shoulder and gave her, despite the grueling feeling inside him, his best encouraging smile. "I know... Listen to your heart. That's what my father always says."

The party quickly regrouped at the temple courtyard. The repair of the Gate was halfway done, but they had to go. Another pressing matter was to be attended.

"Undead army had attacked Southern Aragon, destroying many towns in that area. We need to go and mount some sort of defense." Atrus said. "Roberto, I believe your kingdom needs you right now."

"Yes. I have to go home and rally the army. I would appreciate if Captain Hawk would come with me." The young prince said.

"No problem." Hawk nodded. "I'll go."

"Princess Aurelia, could you go to Elom and inform the queen about this" Atrus asked.

"Sure." The Elf nodded. "I'll rally the Elven defenders to reinforce your army."

"And I suppose I should inform King Hloffeth about this?" Holgreb asked.

"Please." Atrus nodded. "I can't come with you people, because I have another matter to attend. I have to go to the fifth and last race."

"Which is...?" Aurelia asked.

Atrus fell quiet for a while. "Good question. We've visited the Humans, Elves, Dwarves and Fairies. But there are supposed to be five races, or that's what Lord Guardian told me."

"Could it be the Gods?" Roberto offered.

"Nah..." Holgreb the Dwarf sneered. "Those stupid creatures won't even care!"

Everybody looked at the Dwarf for the moment. "Er... atheistic, I suppose?" Hawk asked.

"Very."

Maya spoke up for the first time. "Master, why don't you ask the Fairies? They said they have access to such information."

"Lynn...?" Atrus turned to the Fairy.

"I'm not sure that such information is... valid for you..."

"Well, I tell you this..." Atrus stared into the Fairy's eyes. "There's a war going on out there and people are being killed! Now I'm not going to sit here, wasting my time, thinking about where I'm supposed to go! Now if you really care about those poor souls, let me know where to go!!"

Silence covered them for a while. After being with Atrus for a while, everybody knew that no matter how a nice person Atrus could be, he was the worst person to be around with when he was in a bad mood. Especially when Anna wasn't around to counter his anger.

"All right, I'll tell you..." The Fairy cowered. "You've visited all high races in the realm and done what you have to do. The time has come for you to visit the last race, the race of the outcasts... the mages..."

"What?!" Roberto choked on himself. "Oh boy..."

"What's wrong?" Holgreb asked.

"Humans and Elves hated each other." Aurelia explained. "But they shared the same hatred against the mages."

"Why?"

"We thought that the mages were responsible for all the chaos that had been happening at that time. It was mostly political stuff. But an allied army of Humans and Elves really attacked the Great Temple of Magi in Northern Aragon, destroying the place. Now the Order of Magi settled down in far northeast of the land in a small peninsula bordered by mountains and the treacherous Northern Ocean."

"So I assume they won't be very excited with the idea of this alliance?"

"Definitely not." Roberto replied. "Atrus, do you want me to go with you to apologize?"

"That will do no good." Atrus answered. "If they don't want an alliance, they don't want it, even if you're there. I'll confront them. Now we'd better get going..."

"Wait...!" Lynn hesitated for a while. "I... I can help... I can open a set of dimension doors here to send you all to your destinations. I suppose that's the least I can do to assist..."

"Thanks." Atrus nodded. "Maya? Are you going with Prince Roberto?"

"No, Master... I think I'll stay here for a while to help... that is, if you don't mind..."

"Why, you're heroes!" Lynn answered quickly. "You're always welcomed in Heaven!"

"All right, people, let's move!"

Four magical dimension doors was opened before them. Prince Roberto and Hawk went in to Castle Stromgard to rally troops. Aurelia went back to Elom to prepare reinforcement while Holgreb proceeded to Castle Hloffeth to warn King Parson of the threat. Atrus faced the last dimension door that Lynn claimed to connect to the Land of the Magi.

"Be careful, Master..." Maya called.

Atrus gave her an encouraging smile, then entered the dimension door. The magical door was quickly closed behind him. He ran through the magical tunnel, ignoring various flashes and glows of the shrunk objects in the realm as he traveled through space and time. Everything flashed in bright light, signaling the end of the tunnel. Just in case, he reached out for his sword and prepared his fighting stance.

He failed. The ground wasn't there.

Atrus stumbled and fell instantly after going out of the dimension door. The door seemed to hover above the ground. He landed, thankfully, on a grassy ground. The height of his fall wasn't fatal, but the pain was enough to make him grumble. I'll deal with that Fairy brat later...

When he completely recovered from the fall, he knew he wasn't alone. In fact, he was surrounded by at least a dozen other men. They were all wearing long robes and high collars. Each of them held a long staff topped with a gem. They all didn't look very pleased with his sudden appearance. Atrus had heard stories about wizards. He'd thought wizards were just street magicians wearing long robes, thick beard and pointy hats. Now, facing a group of angry wizards, he knew he was in trouble.

His hand still rested firmly on his sword on his back. He could ignite his inner power any time, giving him an advantage in battle and offered partial protection against magic. But he knew he wasn't there to fight. He was there to plea for help from his race's greatest archenemy.

He put his hand down. "I surrender. Lead me to your leader."

She let his member enter her pussy. She let out a soft moan as the strong sensation hit her. Slowly her body yielded to the pleasure. She looked into his eyes lovingly. He was so tender. He was so charming. And he knew exactly how to satisfy her. The thought hit her for a second, but was washed away by the pleasure he was giving. 

"Atrus... That's so good..."

He didn't answer, but his quickening pace was enough for her. His thrust was firm yet gentle. She lifted her hips slightly to encourage him. Her prayer was answered when Atrus slammed his member deeper inside her vagina. He had never been so deep before. The thought of having him so deep inside of her excited her even more. She moaned in ecstasy as her peak was approaching.

Then he stopped. She looked at him. His gaze was different. He was smirking.

"Atrus... what's wrong...?"

He didn't answer nor move.

"Atrus...? Please don't stop..."

Still no answer...

"Atrus! Keep on going!"

He just stayed over her, keeping his evil smile. His member turned cold inside of her. She was frustrated now, both from his rude behavior and her unsatisfied passion. She began to move and wiggle her hips, enjoying whatever sensation the cold member could give her.

You're a slut!

The loud voice echoed inside her head. Her mind screamed instantly, causing extreme guilt to flood into her brain. Adding to her horror, the image of Atrus vanished instantly, replaced by complete darkness.

You're a slut!

"Who are you?!" Anna cried.

You're a slut!

She cried while clutching her head. The voice echoed in her head, shaking her will and shattering her soul. The pain was incredible that she wished she would rather die than endure it. Yet it wasn't over yet. Death was not her option.

And she was left once again, alone, crying in the darkness.

Roberto, the prince and heir to the throne of Aragon, ran like crazy along the hallway.

He was furious. His associates didn't do their job really well while he and Captain Hawk weren't here. The troop training had been a mess while they're gone. Now Hawk had been drilling the troops himself, preparing them for the upcoming battle. More reinforcement from the north wouldn't come in three days. With the current situation, Aragon wouldn't hold very long against the undead army. If Aragon fell the demons would have easy access to conquer the rest of the land. Their only hope lay on the reinforcements from other race. It had been two days, yet he hadn't heard anything from them.

He entered the castle courtyard and found Captain Hawk barking orders at the soldiers. Hawk spotted him and ordered the rest of the trainers to resume the drill. He approached the prince and frowned.

"Not good?" he guessed.

"Very bad." Roberto answered. "The troops won't come in three days. We're completely defenseless right now. My father has bestowed full control of Aragon military forces in my hand, but if this is all we have, we won't last for long."

"The troops are basically ready." Hawk said. "The only thing missing here is morale. They are elite troops, but inexperienced. They've spent most of their lives hunting down robbers and pickpockets. Facing a legion of undead armies would definitely be a dreadful experience."

"I've send words to the officials at Blackwell. They are mounting militia defense around Castle Stoke." Roberto sighed. "More innocent people would be killed. The more those demons could kill, the stronger they would be."

"I think I'll go there and check." Hawk suddenly said. "We need to spy on them. I'll have the squires prepare my horse..."

"Wait for me!!"

For the first time, the two knights were happy to hear that voice again. Holgreb the Dwarf entered the castle courtyard from the entrance. He was different. Instead of wearing his old leather suit he had worn during years of his barbaric profession, he now wore a shiny silver chain mail armor with a large blue Dwarven royal crest on the chest. His old rusted battle-axe was also gone, replaced by a large majestic steel axe, probably made by the best smith in the castle foundry.

"Wow..." Hawk muttered.

"Quite impressive, eh?" The Dwarf knocked the chain armor, producing a solid clanking sound. "King Parson's personal gift. Not a bad deal. From the most wanted criminal to a royal hero."

"Wow..." Roberto imitated.

"Quite an improvement indeed..." Hawk nodded.

"How did you get here?" Roberto asked.

"King Parson sent a herald for the Elves at Elom. I hitched a ride here."

"And how is it going?"

"The troops are ready and on their way." Holgreb answered. "They should be here by tomorrow, I suppose. The king sent three detachments of his hand-picked foot soldiers."

"Thanks, we're going to need them..."

The Dwarf turned to Hawk. "You said you're going to spy on the zombies?"

"Yeah. It won't take long..."

"I'm going with you. You might need a backup. I can recall my experience when I killed the entire army of skeletons with Jesse the..."

"Er... sure, tell me that later... but we'd better get going..." Hawk said quickly.

"Alert!! We have a dragon!!" One soldier screamed.

A dragon?! Here?! It has to be...

"Don't shoot!!" Roberto barked. "All archers, don't shoot!!"

Hawk had already run halfway through the courtyard for a better view and was delighted to see the golden spot in the sky. "It's him! Agar is here!"

The golden dragon flew gracefully in the sky and approached the castle courtyard, momentarily interrupting the training. Soldiers gathered around the courtyard, fighting for a clear look at the monster. Agar landed on the ground before Captain Hawk and bowed. Aurelia popped out from his back and jumped down before the captain.

"Greetings, Captain Hawk. I hope I'm not too late." She smiled.

"No... not at all... in fact we're loo..."

The Elf wrapped her arm around him and planted a full kiss on his lips. The entire soldiers in the courtyard gasped at the sight. Hawk quickly broke the kiss.

"Er... Princess Aurelia... uh... You're not supposed to do that..."

"Why?!" She protested. "I just miss you!"

"After one day?!" Hawk shot back. "Look... We Humans don't just kiss in the public..."

"Oh, don't tell me it's just another Human rules and regulations..."

"Uh... people...?" Roberto said. "We currently have a problem here..."

"How's the reinforcement?" Hawk asked.

"It's coming. On time, hopefully." The Elf answered.

"I'm going to spy on the enemies. Care to join?"

"Sure. We can use Agar."

"Be careful, guys." Roberto said. "All you have to do is peek in and get out. Got it?"

"No battle?" Holgreb asked.

"No!"

"Boring... Honestly, I can slay them all, just like in that old mine when we..."

"Let's get moving, shall we?" Hawk hopped onto the dragon's back and helped Aurelia. "Holgreb, you're coming or not?!"

The Dwarf, still grumbling, hastily climbed the golden dragon and soon the monster lifted off and flew toward the southern sky. Roberto watched the fading dragon for a while before turning to stare at the soldiers, finding them all staring at the same thing.

"What are you looking at?! Hit something! Stab something! Practice, or we're DOOMED!!"

Atrus knelt before the small room that was supposed to be their 'throne room'. The room was basically the main chapel of the new Temple of the Magi decorated with long wooden benches and a small stone altar. The temple itself was built on a small hill at the edge of the peninsula, with the view of the Northern Ocean around it. It definitely was not a perfect place for a main temple, for the frequent storm around the ocean provided poor environment for a quiet sanctuary. Even the oldest lighthouse in Northern Aragon was a better place.

This isn't going to be easy...

The wizards around him hadn't hurt him, or at least not yet. They let him keep his equipment intact. They even let him keep his sword. This was an excellent warning, however, since now he knew that if he drew the sword, he would be toasted before he could use it.

Another man entered the room. Atrus had learned that all mages were basically the same. They consisted of all four high races in the land, but all wore long robes and high collars and held a wooden staff with at least one fake gem. They all looked like street magicians, only far more dangerous.

"Sir Atrus White Lion, the Royal Knight of Aragon, the Prophet of the Guardian, and the greatest demon slayer of the realm." The man spoke up. His cloak was lowered, revealing a middle-aged man staring sharply at him. "So young yet so experienced... too bad you're just a lesser being..."

Atrus clinched. He had heard how the mages referred to the races outside their community as 'lesser beings', just because of their lesser involvement in the world of magic. It was their way to insult other races for expelling them from the rest of the continent. His fear returned. If he said one wrong word, the entire mission would be jeopardized. Only if Anna is here...

He decided to stay quiet.

"Nothing to say, hmm?" The mage chuckled. "Very unlike other lesser beings you are. Very good, because I usually fry those who start lecturing me about our standards and principles."

No questions asked yet. Atrus remained silent.

"We wizards are very highly civilized people. We do welcome other lesser beings as... a decorative yet inessential addition to the realm. But, you know... there are times when the lesser beings' annoyance level... presumably fueled by their stupidity... surpassed our patience level. Those are the times when... accidents... happen."

Silence.

"Fine!!" The wizard roared, then sat on his chair. "What do you want?!"

Atrus met his gaze. "I have come to offer you peace and propose an alliance against..."

"An alliance?!!" The wizard laughed so hard that some part of the old ceiling rocked slightly. "Listen to that, boys! The lesser beings want an alliance!"

The small room was filled with laughter. Human, Elven, and Dwarven laughter was joined together, creating a bad mix. Atrus was not in the mood to join them. Instead, he remained calm and silent.

"Now I don't know what's wrong with you, little boy, but have you read your own history?" The wizard asked Atrus. "For two hundred years since the completion of the Great Temple of Magi, we, the greater beings of the realm, has been reduced into the scapegoat of the realm! For many years, with our great power we sustained the life and death of this universe!" His hand stretched out and showed the entire small room. "And now, see what you have done in return."

Silence.

"We aided you with our magic. We supplied you with endless tools for your welfare. We blessed the living and prayed for the dead!" The wizard stared into Atrus' eyes. "And in return, you attacked our temple, burned it to the ground, massacred our brothers and banished us from the main continent. Quite ironic, really, but true."

Silence.

"I have enough of this!!" The wizard roared again. "You will be sorry to ignore my words, young man! Who do you think I am?!"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 10



"A pathetic madman." Atrus answered.

Suddenly the room was filled with a dozen angry wizards each holding a fireball on their palms. "You take it back, buster!" The wizard threatened.

"Why should I if I'm also telling the truth?" Atrus said calmly.

"Any last wish, lesser being?!" One Elven mage hissed behind him.

"Nothing..." Atrus shrugged. "Just a regret that the greatest beings in the realm have really been reduced into the most barbaric tribe who could only pride themselves in the realm of the past."

Several wizards were ready to throw their missiles, but the one before Atrus, who seemed to be their leaders, raised his hand. "Very well... now let's hear your reasoning, that is, if you have one."

"I'm aware of your current stance to the rest of the races in the realm. I'm also aware that we have done many terrible things in the past. But a greater threat is coming right now. If the demons are not stopped, the entire realm will fall."

"Are you saying that we're incapable of handling this matter?" The lead wizard asked.

"Frankly, what I'm saying is that you'll be foolish to handle this matter yourself!"

The wizard seemed to burn in anger right now, but somehow he managed to refrain it. "I'm expecting a valid reason for that, young man!"

"The undead army is currently attacking the south part of Aragon." Atrus said. "If they succeed, they will have clear access to attack all nearby regions, the Elves', the Dwarves', and eventually, yours. The allied army of the Humans, the Dwarves, and the Elves will gather together and try to hold them back for the moment, but we need your help to defeat them."

"You need our help?" The wizard sneered. "Let me tell you something, kid. The wound from the past is very hard to heal!"

"Yet if you indulge yourself to the past, then no improvement could be made." Atrus countered. "I cannot change the history, and I can only apologize on behalf of other races for what they have done to you in the past. But now things are different. Now, for the sake of our children, we need your help. The past will not come again. The future will."

The room was totally silent for a while, except for the sound of the vigorous wind from the sea blowing through the roofs. Atrus sighed. He had sent his message. If they received it as it is, he might have the chance to succeed. If they didn't, he really doubted he could make it back alive.

Then the head wizard exploded in laughter. "I have to say, wisdom is a rare thing in the head of the lesser beings! Lord Guardian has indeed kept you well under His wings!"

"Wisdom is in everybody's heart." Atrus said calmly. "We only need to set it free."

The environment was a bit warmer for the wizards had ceased their hostility, at least for now. "All right, young man, you've impressed me with your wisdom. You're what Lord Guardian has told me."

"You've talked to him?" Atrus asked.

"Of course... in my dream." The wizard smiled. "My name is Calem. I am one of the Warriors of the Guardian, the man you seek. I also hold one of the prophecies."

"May I know what it is?"

"In my dream I see a lone island, surrounded by storm, covered with dust and topped with snow. And standing in the middle of the land was a small greenish gem. It was so small in the middle of the continent, yet it radiated a faint yet powerful wave of life... I don't know how I could come to that conclusion, but we wizards could feel what you less... uh... normal beings couldn't feel."

Atrus thought for a while. Holgreb's prophecy had been fulfilled. Aurelia's prophecy about undead army was coming. Both Lynn's and Calem's dreams were still puzzling. Anna was the best when it came to deciphering dreams. How he missed her...

"So are you going to help us?" Atrus finally asked.

Calem smiled. "You've told me, but you haven't convinced me."

"What should I do to convince you?"

"Leave us!" And the wizards around him left the chapel.

"A small task." The wizard raised his hand and a vision of a figure hovered in the air. "Do you know him?" 

The figure looked like a normal young mage with fine appearance and handsome face, wearing wizard suit. "No." Atrus shook his head.

"Oh, of course you know him..." The wizard smiled. "His name is Gareth Lightbringer."

A sudden wave of fear and anger washed over Atrus. He remembered the name. In fact, he would be damned if he ever forgot the name. He was the renegade mage, the Lich... the very man who had taken Anna from him back in the Pyramid of Salthi. He was his marked man.

"I know all about it." Calem said slowly. "I know how he took your girl from you."

"That topic is not open for discussion." Atrus answered coldly.

"Ah... that young man... I still remember when he was young... An eager young mage he was..." Calem said dreamily. "Too bad ambition gained control over him. That man could live a better life as a wizard than as a Lich."

"Do you want me to defeat him?" Atrus asked.

"No. I want you to save him."

Atrus' eyes widened quickly. "You want me to save the man I want to kill?!"

"Yes, indeed." Calem smiled. "This is a worthy test for all the wisdom you've said just now. I want you to save him from his evil ways and bring him back to the ways of the good. I'm sure he can be a worthy ally for our cause against the demons."

Atrus was silent. He couldn't believe it. After what that man had done to him and Anna, he had to save him. He was facing the greatest conflict in his life, and his friends were nowhere near so he had to decide himself. That very decision might affect the fate of the realm.

"You might have the chance to save her, that is, if you're not too late..."

The decision was made. "Anna is my best friend. " He said. "I will save her no matter what."

"There is something you should know." The wizard held up his hand. "They're in the Void."

"The Void?"

"The Void is the place of nothingness. It was the place where light and darkness fight an eternal battle for supremacy. You will have to navigate blindly inside to reach Gareth. It is the place outside our dimension, our perception and our comprehension..."

"Very poetic." Atrus interrupted, clearly confused. "What do I need to know?"

"It's a one-way travel." Calem continued. "Once a person goes in, he can only go out. But he is the one who holds the key. The mass equation works a bit stricter here. If he opens one entry portal, he can only reopen one exit portal. Those who fail to do so will be trapped for the rest of the eternity."

"So how will this work?" Atrus was even more confused.

"Gareth has opened two entry portals, one for himself and the other for your friend Anna. I can open one entry portal from here to let you into the Void. Yet, you have to convince him to return to the ways of the good and open the two portals he can open from inside."

"That means... only two out of three of us could escape the Void..." Atrus said slowly.

"Yes." Calem nodded. "They're Anna, and Gareth, and you. Two will escape the Void. The loser will be trapped in the Void until the end of time."

Again Atrus was silent. The choice was a hard one. If he had to save Gareth from the Void, then either Anna or he had to stay in the Void with no means to escape. He and Anna could never be together again.

Yet Anna had proven her true love for him. She had been willing to give her life for her friends. Atrus had never realized that love could be that strong. Now he understood everything, and if he had to suffer to see her live, he would do it. And then he would have no regret.

"I'll do it." Atrus said. "If I succeed, will you forget about the past and help us against the demons, even if I can't make it out of the Void?"

"Certainly."

Calem chanted the spell and a large dimension door was opened before Atrus. The black swirling hole was indeed frightening to the eyes. And beyond that hole, there was nothingness. He knew Anna was inside, and he knew, one day, this hole might be his new home.

"Good luck, Prophet of the Guardian. Let His Spirit guide your path."

Atrus entered the hole.

Maya sat heavily on the stone floor of the Inner Sanctum. Her muscles ached. She had to admit that she was exhausted. A gate as grand as the Heaven's Gate was so heavy. The Fairies had finally installed the Gate again, this time closing it to prevent more trouble.

After helping with the gate, she still had to help with the Fairies. The situation was quite bad. Those trolls had managed to violently rape some of the Fairies. Now they were still sitting on the clouds, sobbing uncontrollably. She had tried every method she knew to cheer them up, but there was something she didn't understand about the Fairies. They valued their purity over anything else. And when their purity was gone, they started thinking about a quick, effective, yet fancy way to commit suicide.

It had taken all her effort to convince them that it wasn't nice to commit suicide at night, because you couldn't see where you're stabbing. Now she was left with a number of aching muscles and terrible headache. At least they would survive until tomorrow...

"You never give up, do you?" A voice called out.

"No." Maya answered firmly.

Lynn came into view and sat next to her. "You're very kind... yet stubborn."

Maya chuckled lightly. "You're not the first one to say that."

"Your... uh... owner... said that?"

"Yeah. Master Atrus used to be very angry if I did something stupid just to protect him."

"Then why did you do that?" The Fairy asked.

"Because I love him." Maya answered firmly. "I care for him. I would do anything to please him. If I should... I would even die for him..."

Lynn stared at the view of her sisters around the courtyard. "Then I suppose you love us."

"Yes." Maya smiled. "We do. That's why we're here to help."

"Ironic, isn't it?" Lynn continued. "We could do nothing in return."

"Why?"

"We are dirty." Lynn replied. "We have been tainted by demonic seeds from our enemies. I'm still surprised why the Gods haven't ward us from Heaven, for we deserve it."

"No, you don't! You just lost one fight! It's a normal event in a war!"

"I know, but we're tainted!" Lynn insisted. "You don't understand it..."

"Nothing is dirty forever!" Maya said. 

She stared at her sadly. "Yet there is something in our life that stays unforgiven..."

Agar the dragon descended from the clouds and the view of the Great Forest came into view. Numerous smaller cities appeared as small dots, dwarfed by the forest. No wonder why this area was the best lumber producer in the realm. No wonder why the Elves wanted to secure this area so much.

"Yea, I can still remember..." Holgreb said dreamily. "The crushing of bones... the sound of the triumphant cry... how the great Jesse lifted his axe and..."

"Look!" Hawk pointed at the large city spot on the ground. "The town of Tiras! I can't believe the town survived the onslaught!"

"Agar, fly closer to the city." Aurelia ordered.

The dragon obeyed and approached the largest city in the southern border of Aragon. For a moment Hawk enjoyed the long chains of Impassable Mountains, a Forbidden Land, south of the city. There he had lead and lost an entire army detachment to a giant fire-breathing lizard. There he had been trapped in the mountain maze for almost a week, each day having to see one of his troops fried alive by the lizard. There he had met Atrus, Anna and Maya for the first time. They had once been only a group of lowly mercenaries looking for fame and wealth. It was impressive to think of what they had become now.

"This town surely brings back memories... bad ones, unfortunately..." he mumbled.

"You'll have to tell me that later." Aurelia grinned. "It's getting dark. I'll say we stay in the inn for now and begin our investigation tomorrow."

"Don't you think we should report to Prince Roberto right away?" Holgreb frowned.

"I propose we stay." The Elf insisted. "We can learn more from rumors in pubs and inns."

"I will stay in town with Aurelia." Hawk concluded. "Holgreb, can you ride with Agar back to Stromgard? Just tell Prince Roberto that Tiras survived the fight."

"Sure." Holgreb replied.

The dragon landed at the edge of town to avoid too much attention. Hawk and Aurelia dismounted the beast. They made sure they had all the equipment. The Elf even brought her bows along.

"Agar, go directly to Stromgard. We may still need your help." Aurelia said.

"Understood, Princess." The dragon grunted.

The dragon lifted off and flew to the north toward the capital. Hawk and Aurelia walked toward the city. The city hadn't changed a lot. A few new houses had been built at the outskirts of town. The usual city hall, markets and inns still retained their original places. The biggest brothel in town, Maya used to call it her former home, was still there. This place surely brought back memories for Hawk, but for Aurelia this was just another Human town. She tried to think of something.

"The town of Tiras..." Aurelia announced. "It is every Elf's dream to conquer this town."

"How so?"

"If this town belongs to us, we thought we could hamper the Human's careless destruction to the nearby forest."

"Nah... most of the people here are clay potters." Hawk said.

"Right. That's why the invasion never happens. We don't want innocents to get killed."

"That's very noble." Hawk smiled.

The Elf smiled and circled her arms around his and began walking slowly through the town. Lately, with all the wars going on, they had lesser time together. Now was the time. "Funny, isn't it?"

"What?"

"I mean... Humans and Elves hate each other... or used to hate each other... But when I see both of us..."

"Well, the hostility served us no good, right?" Hawk said.

"We Elves think that we can't live peacefully alongside Humans." Aurelia said slowly. "They think that Humans and Elves just don't mix together, just like water and oil. I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what...?" Hawk looked at her.

"Afraid of us..." Aurelia stared into his eyes. "I mean... you're simply just not like what my brothers and sisters have told me about Humans. You have great care about people around you. You're unlike them... You're... different..."

"I don't think so." Hawk smiled. "You can say so because you've been around with me and Atrus and other Humans. You can see things that other Elves can't. If they're willing to give it a try, I'm sure they'll think differently."

"I'm just thinking about us..." She replied softly. "I'm sorry, I'm just being selfish... But I'm really afraid of... us... I mean... d...do you love me...?"

Hawk, who had never heard a question so direct before, blushed in red. "Uh... what...?!"

"Don't ask me to repeat the question!" She blushed as well. "You heard me."

Hawk looked around them. Some people had stopped on the street to watch the couple. This time he lowered his voice.

"Aurelia... this is not the time and place."

"What do you mean?!" She protested.

"There's a brothel at the end of this street! If the people see us like this, they will think that you're a... sorry... a prostitute..."

The Elf stared at him innocently. "What's a brothel? What's a pro... prots... a what?"

"Uh... never mind..." Hawk took her hand and walked toward the nearest inn. "Let's find a place where we can have more privacy."

When they entered the inn nobody paid any attention. The room was packed with customers. Hawk approached the innkeeper and had no problem in getting a room for the night. The room was on the second floor and was quite cozy. It had been mainly built for new couples who wanted to spend the night in complete privacy. Hawk approached the window and peeked outside.

"Funny." He muttered. "There is a war going on in the nearby region, yet this town is as peaceful as ever. Don't these people realize what fate awaits them?"

"I don't know." The Elf joined him near the window. "I mean, telling them about the war will cause widespread terror and chaos. I'll say it is wise not to tell them right now."

Hawk watched as the sun disappeared beneath the mountains and sighed. "I wonder if this war would ever be over... Who the winner will be..."

"The good guys, of course!"

"We're outnumbered. Our hope lies on the Ancient Prophecy, yet the promised Champion of the Guardian has not yet been found. Now I'm getting worried..."

"Don't worry!" The Elf circled her arms around his, drawing him closer to her. "I'm sure Atrus knows what he's doing. If Lord Guardian has a plan, we should let Him finish it."

"I wonder... what would happen later..." Hawk said dreamily.

"Simple. We're going to win this war. Then," Aurelia drew closer to him and whispered in his ear, "if Lord Guardian allows it, we can be together..."

Hawk's face turned red. "I thought Humans and Elves can't... you know..."

"Say no more..." Aurelia whispered. "You're different. I trust you."

The Elf kissed him fully on his lips. The knight staggered for a moment, then regained his composure and accepted the kiss. She could feel his hands holding her waist and drew her slender body even closer. After a while she broke the kiss before losing her breath. She looked at him lovingly.

"I... That's wonderful, Aurelia..." Hawk panted.

"I know..." She planted a light peck on his cheek. "I'm glad you're happy."

Suddenly his arms grabbed her lower body and lifted her off the ground. She clung to him as he carried her in his arms toward the double bed. He's so strong... so handsome... There he lay her down on the bed and knelt on the floor. She smiled at him while he stroked her long hair. His touch was so gentle, as if he was afraid of breaking her. Deep inside she could feel her rising passion for him. She had to say it.

"Hawk... do you want to... uh... I don't know how Humans call it... mating...?"

The knight chuckled. "No... we humans call it... making love."

"Making love?" The Elf looked puzzled. "That's odd..."

"You'll understand later."

"Okay, then..." She blushed. "Will you... make love to me...?"

This time he kissed her first, savoring her wine. Then he moved toward her most apparent detail: her long extended ears. Softly he licked and nibbled her ear playfully. The Elf, who was highly inexperienced in sex, was quite confused with the sensation she was receiving, yet she fully accepted him.

"It feels... odd..." She whispered.

"Don't you trust me?"

She gave him a wide smile. "Yes... I trust you..." 

Slowly he slid her clothes up, revealing her pert breasts nicely covered in thin white satin bra. His hands reached out and cupped the two mounds and began massaging her breasts. Her nipples stood erect upon his touch. The Elf let out a moan as the new sensation hit her. He's so kind... so tender...

"Do you like it?" Hawk whispered.

"Please... do continue..."

His hands resumed their work on her breasts as he slowly kissed the nape of her neck, drawing another soft moan from her. Beads of sweat appeared from her forehead. Her eyes were half closed now. She was totally lost in the sensation. When he let his tongue brush against her nipple, her body jerked.

"Please... keep on doing that..."

Hawk put her nipple inside his mouth and began playing with it with his tongue. Her moan was getting more intense and erotic. His other hand kept on servicing her other nipple, massaging and tugging it, keeping it satisfied. The other hand crept on her lower region.

"Wait..." She suddenly shrieked. "Please don't do... that... I... I'm a princess... I want..."

"You mean you want to keep your virginity?" Hawk asked.

"Vir... uh... vigr... uh... what?"

"Uh... I mean... you don't want us to do an intercourse, right?"

"Inter... what?!"

"Never mind... But don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

His hand slid her panties aside, revealing her pussy lightly covered with dark brown bush. Slowly he traced the tender skin with his finger and quickly found her clit under its petals. Tenderly he began to massage her love pearl, making her squirm in pleasure. Unfamiliar with the sensation, she reached her climax quickly and cried as the wave of pleasure bombarded her. Her muscles tensed and her back arched. When the sensation had passed, her body collapsed onto the bed. Her body was covered with sweat and her breathing was ragged. Her nether region was wet with her vaginal fluid.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 11a



Ch. 11a: Waltz with the Demon's Pet 1

The room was dark and hot. The air was thick with vapor and scent of sulfur. The heat was so intense, even for the Dwarves. The cavern was located deep inside the bowels of the earth. It was a home of no one, for nothing could survive in these unfriendly environment, not even monsters or subterraneous beasts.

A lone man walked along the cavern, his long dark cape flowing freely behind him. Around him the air crackled continuously from contact of the intense heat with his invisible force field. The conflicting force didn't bother him at all. The man just walked deeper and deeper into the cavern.

And the air grew even hotter. At the end of the cavern, the walls were glowing in bright red, illuminated by the magma lake beyond the cavern. The ocean of magma rippled vigorously beneath. The lifeless magma chamber would not make a fine place to visit.

But the dark man stood near the cave opening near the magma lake. He had a purpose.

"Kastor!!" He screamed in his rich voice. "I summon thee! Wake up from thy slumber!!"

The dawn was breaking. The sun crept slowly from its hiding place, spreading its wings of light over the land. Various birds appeared from their nests and began their chorus of praise to the land. The fragrance of the flowers filled the air as their petals opened to greet the sun. The nature began their wonderful songs as the Land of Lore welcomed another beautiful morning. For normal people, this was just another ordinary summer day, but for certain people, this was another day full of excitement.

Atrus White Lion smiled widely. He was happy. Everyday was an excitement for him. He had everything under control. He had everything a man ever wanted. He had a job, a wonderful life, and a wonderful life-mate. Confidently, he rose his sword.

"Give me your best shot!" he said.

Adriana Freesland, the girl before him, tossed the object. Atrus leaped toward the flying object and swung the Rainbow sword. The enchanted sword flared as the magical force flowed through the metal.

"Sword Dancer!!"

Atrus delivered multiple short yet deadly cuts to the object, splitting and shaping it nicely thin pieces. Anna dashed forward and caught the pieces readily on her plate.

"Perfect, honey!" Anna smiled while toying with the perfectly cut potato slices. "This will be the best potato chips we've ever had!"

"Are you sure you'll be fine? Remember the steps?" Atrus reminded.

"Don't worry, honey, I remember." She pecked his cheek. "Now go. Men are not welcomed here in the kitchen. Wait for me in the dining room."

"Are you sure you'll be okay...?"

"Yes, now go! I need to prepare our breakfast!"

Atrus reluctantly went out of the kitchen and into the dining room. He put his sheathed sword on the table and sat on the big chair. His eyes wandered around the spacious room, way too spacious for a dining room. It was more like a grand wedding hall with a long wooden table and a dozen chairs on its flanks. The table itself was covered with decorated tablecloth. A Tiras-made vase decorated the table, topped with flowers Anna picked herself from the garden. Three grand chandeliers hung over the table, and another dozen of candleholders were set around the room.

He sighed. It had been six months since he took residence in the castle. Six months ago, he had been just a fighter fighting for the land against the demons and their undead army. Now he was Baron White Lion, the ruler of Southern Aragon and the master of his own castle. He even took the liberty of renaming the castle after his father's name, Castle White Lion.

The task as a baron hadn't been easy. After the war with the undead army, Southern Aragon had been devastated. The zombies had destroyed most of the towns and slaughtered the citizens. The undead had been defeated, but the destruction had remained. The reinforcements from the north had arrived shortly after the battle and had secured the southern area. Citizens had been allowed to settle down again. Starting a community from a scratch was already tough, let alone starting from a ruin.

Most of the town of Blackwell, however, escaped destruction, so the peasants had settled down there, increasing the city size. The kingdom had been sending settlers and volunteers to assist with the rebuilding. The Dwarves from the east had come and erected several guard posts along the southern border. Shortly as the security improved, villages began to sprout around those posts. The growth rate had been quite surprising, since the settlers had still had to cope with the harsh winter for months. The winter had passed now. Hamlets had become villages, villages had become towns, and towns had become cities. Blackwell herself had grown from a small city to the capital of Southern Aragon, matching the size of the old Tiras before the war.

A loud clanking sound was heard from the kitchen. Atrus grinned. It had been several months since Maya left them. She had decided to take a vacation to visit Castle Stromgard. Neither Atrus nor Anna had forbidden her, but she still had knelt before them and 'requested permission from her master and mistress'. She is definitely most annoying when she is on her knees.

And it had been several months since Anna decided to start cooking for them... or start learning how to cook. Atrus had been giving her a crash course in cooking. The result had been, so far, quite fatal. Throughout the winter they had called the local artisans at least twenty times to repair the kitchen. He simply couldn't understand how an explosion could happen in a kitchen, since the only thing burning inside was the stove, and it was made out of fine and strong bricks. She kept on claiming that the fire took too long, so she decided to use her magic whenever she could. Now he understood why magic books always advised using mini-burner for heating magical herbs rather than make-your-own fire.

A knock on the door awakened him from his daydream. The double door opened shortly, revealing a young man wearing formal suit and long pants.

"Ah, Leonard, good morning." Atrus saluted.

"Good morning, Lord White Lion." The man bowed. "May I have a moment of your time?"

Atrus grinned. He had met Leonard almost a year ago, when they were in a royal mission here in Blackwell. Leonard had been the leader of the local resistance against the wicked ruler at that time, Baron Anthony Stoke, Maya's slaver. When Atrus became the new baron, he had discovered the young man's talent in leadership and had appointed him as the governor of Blackwell. Leonard usually dealt with Anna most of the time, since governor's duties were mostly civil affairs, in which Anna excelled and Atrus dreaded. If the young man was looking for him, it should be either political affairs or military issues.

"How many times should I tell you to call me Atrus?"

"I'm sorry, Lord White Lion." The young man smiled. "I can't help it."

"Yeah, right. How's the road construction going?" Atrus queried.

"The road connecting Blackwell and Whitewater is almost completed, Lord White Lion." Leonard answered. "And the village chief Gordon expressed his deepest gratitude for the shipment of goods. They will begin building the fort as ordered once the stone shipment arrives."

"And how about the recent trouble south of Kitaria?" Kitaria was a new town near the southern border of Aragon, somewhere near where Labrador had once been. The town had been a favorite target for the demon raids for the last few weeks.

"We have sent squad four and five to reinforce the Dwarven fort there as you ordered. The frequency of raids has decreased rapidly. It was indeed a wise choice, Lord White Lion. I heard the little town was booming and our men received valuable experience."

"Very well, Leonard." Atrus adjusted his seat. "Now why do you need me?"

"A royal herald arrived last night, telling that Lady Murdock will come home this afternoon."

"Okay..." Atrus frowned. "So Maya is coming home. Why should I know this?"

"She's not coming alone, Sir." Leonard said. "A special herald from the kingdom is coming."

Atrus sighed. The search for the last Warrior of the Guardian among the Humans had been so far fruitless. The kingdom had spread news to find the one, but instead numerous warriors had appeared from all over the kingdom, claiming that they were the Chosen One. Those warriors had been fighting the demons openly to prove themselves, and the number of unnecessary casualties had been high. Yet until now no one was qualified enough (or alive long enough) to be the possible candidate. If the royal court is sending someone, then they probably have some important news...

"Thank you, Leonard. I will welcome them personally."

"Forgive me for asking, Sir, but," the man hesitated, "Lady Freesland is... you know..."

Atrus' brows twitched. "Yes, she's cooking breakfast."

"Cooking, Sir...?"

"Well, I don't know how she's doing it, but she's trying to make breakfast."

"Forgive me, Sir, because I won't actually call it cooking." Leonard peeked into the opened kitchen door. "She's torching the pan with her fingers, Sir, and she 's trying to open the oil drum as well..."

"Oh..." Wait a minute... oil DRUM? "What...?!!"

His question was answered instantly as a loud explosion was heard from the kitchen. Smaller pieces of wood flew out of the kitchen. Atrus hid behind the large chair and Leonard jumped for cover under the table. Smoke trailed out of the kitchen into the dining room. Atrus sighed. Had this happened five months ago, he would have stormed the smoking kitchen and started screaming for Anna and demanded if she's okay. Now he knew that this was just another regular event.

"What happened, Sir...?" Leonard asked.

"Nothing special... It's the second time this month..." Atrus grumbled. "She got cooking oil and stove oil mixed up again. For some reason, her nose couldn't differentiate the two."

"Is... is she okay...?"

"She keeps her magic barrier running when she's cooking." Atrus brushed the debris from his shirt. "Tell Thomas that we need him to fix the kitchen again."

"Right away, Sir!" Leonard left the room.

Anna appeared on the kitchen door. She was a mess. Her nightgown and apron was torn here and there. Her face was covered with black patches from the smoke. Her expression was threatening.

"Don't you dare laugh..." she grumbled.

"Why should I? This isn't new..." Atrus teased her.

"How many times should I tell you to put labels on the oil drums?!"

"Labels?! It's your fault that you can't smell that thing!!"

"Smell?! I don't have the nose of a dog like you, Ranger!!"

"It doesn't take a Ranger to... wait a minute...! You said I'm a dog?!"

Lord Daemon snorted as the view disappeared from his sight. Finally he couldn't help laughing. This was a rare sight to his subordinates. The demon lord had been furious since the defeat of his undead army at Blackwell. But he was indeed excited. His plan had gone well.

"This is perfect." He hissed. "How's the gem?"

"It's finished charging, but not full, sire." One hooded human figure, standing behind him, said in her steady tone. "It needs more power. We need more."

"I'm sure it will be no problem for you." The demon lord said. "You'll have no problem while those clowns are occupied with their session."

"Yes, Master." The woman replied. "Do you wish to observe the operation?"

Lord Daemon nodded and made his way back to the main chamber in the Emerald Tower. The chamber had gone through some modifications in the last six months. A torture dungeon had replaced the old throne room. Multiple wicked devices filled the room, from various racks, torture tables, chairs and wooden horses. Chains and shackles hung from the ceiling.

On the middle of the room was a young girl, sitting on a wooden horse. Her hands were shackled to the ceiling loosely so her weight pressed her tender pussy on the wood. Her ankles hung taut with additional weight attached to her ankle chains. She was whimpering helplessly as the wood dug painfully into her tender flesh.

And at the corner of the room sat the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He'd known her for twenty years or so, yet his opinion of her hadn't changed. Her grace remained despite the passing of age. The fact that she was shackled to a throne-like chair enhanced her beauty. The throne had no seat beneath, just simple padding for the back. The goddess' hands were bound behind the padding and her legs were spread wide and chained to the support extending from the padding, exposing her pussy.

"Good morning, Goddess Gaea." Daemon smiled. "I hope you're well today?"

Gaea, however, didn't answer. Her eyes stared blankly at the approaching demon.

"Oh, how I enjoyed breaking you, my dearest goddess." The demon stroked her chin, making her shiver. "Don't tell me I've broken you totally."

"Don't... hurt... her..." She answered weakly, almost unheard.

"Remarkable. You still care for those beings until the end." Daemon said. "But well... I'll have to let you down... Finish her!"

The woman in dark cloak approached the bound girl at the center of the room, carrying a long bullwhip. "Prepare yourself, bitch. Your pain is our power!"

The young girl's howl filled the torture room as the first blow struck her ripe ass. The whip created a long angry-red stripe across her skin. Her muscles quivered uncontrollably, making the wood panel dig deeper inside her. She tried to lift herself using her hands, but another blow across her back threw her effort in vain. The woman walked slowly around her, sending well-placed blows at her bottom, back and breasts, targeting specially her protruding nipples. The girl was in pain. She struggled, quivered, and screamed in every blow with her parched voice. Yet the torture continued.

"Mercy... mercy..." The girl pleaded as the torture was halted.

"She's ready, Master."

Lord Daemon approached the bound girl from behind and undid his pants. The hooded woman set her cloak away, revealing a beautiful young female human with long blonde hair and dark-brown eyes. She smirked naughtily at the bound goddess at the corner of the room.

"Greetings, Goddess Gaea. It's been an honor to see you in person."

"Traitor..." The goddess spoke up, angered. "Why...?"

The woman didn't answer. Instead, she knelt before her master and took his member inside her mouth. Gaea watched in disgust as the female Human, one of the being she'd been trying to protect, turned away from her and serviced her nemesis. The woman sucked the demon's member with lust, coating it with her saliva. She performed her duty well, making his member erect and rock hard.

"And now is the time..."

Daemon took his member and pressed it on the opening of the bound girl's anus. She quickly realized her next ordeal and squirmed for freedom, rewarded by sharp pain from her pussy. She whimpered and begged helplessly for mercy, but mercy was a stranger to her. She howled as the cock forcefully entered her behind. The pain was too much. She bucked like a wildcat as he fucked her mercilessly.

"Please... don't... hurt... her..." Gaea muttered.

The goddess screamed as the whip connected, creating a long stripe across her vulnerable breasts. The traitor approached her with the bullwhip on her hand.

"Oh, forgive me, goddess..." She smirked. "I really, really didn't mean to hurt you..."

She screamed again as the whip slashed against her spread hip. The woman whipped her mercilessly, leaving stripes across various places until the goddess hung her head, completely defeated.

The woman slid her panties aside, revealing her bald pussy. "Eat me, bitch goddess!"

Gaea couldn't resist when the woman grabbed her head by her hair and pulled her against her pussy. She choked from the steel collar around her neck. The evil woman's unholy musk filled her nostrils. The traitor rubbed her face against her pussy, enjoying pleasure from the goddess' agony and humiliation. Meanwhile the rape continued. The girl hung limply as the demon lord fucked her. At the same time, her body glowed. Green tendrils circled her bound body and embraced her. She could feel her power draining. Daemon grunted as he reached climax and shot his load deep inside her. Immediately the evil force invaded her body and drained her life force. She moaned in frustration as her power and youthful determination was robbed from her. Then she hung on her chains, helpless and defeated.

Daemon walked toward a corner of the room, revealing a big dark-green gemstone on top of a pillar. The gem glowed as he brushed the surface, radiating evil warmth. He hummed at the caress, yet it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to overthrow the Gods. The Titan Gem was not finished.

"We need more bitches." Lord Daemon approached the goddess and forced her to clean his member with her mouth. "I'm sure there will be no problem at all?"

"No problem, Master." The woman bowed. "And what should I do with the bitch?"

He glanced at the bound girl. "Discard her. Dump her to the barracks. Let the goblins have their fun with her."

Atrus sat uneasily on the big chair. He had been a baron for six months, yet he was still not used to sitting on his 'throne'. Plus, his suit was quite uncomfortable. It was a tight, formal suit used by government officials all across the kingdom. The tight collar made breathing a bit difficult, and the pants fit tautly against his legs, leaving uncomfortable feeling around his crotch. He couldn't understand why the kingdom ever developed such torturing suit for its officials. He made a mental note to send such petition to the royal court when the war ends.

Anna was standing next to his chair, her usual position during any legal event. Atrus had appointed her as his advisor. The decision had also demanded her to wear uncomfortable dress. The gown was hugging her waist and crushing her chest but showing her upper figure. The long and wide lower gown made her difficult to walk. No matter how civilized she was, she was still a priestess of action, forged in the heat of battle and therefor wore simple clothes to ease movement. Long gowns didn't work well with her.

"Hard to breathe?" Atrus queried, listening to her ragged breathing.

"Don't ask." She grumbled. "Every bit of air in my lungs is precious."

"The guests have arrived!" The herald announced.

Since Atrus had decided to welcome the guests himself, he approached the double door. Anna followed him slowly, trying not to stumble and embarrassed herself. Her high heel shoes clicked nicely on the marble floor, giving her a sense of superiority. Indeed, the official suits were designed for grace and authority, not comfort.

Atrus held the door handle and opened, only to find that the door was swung open instantly. A figure leaped on him, pushing him backwards. He stumbled down and fell on his back while Anna jumped to stay out of the way. When he recovered, he found Maya hugging him tightly, grinning. She was still wearing her tight bodysuit, complete with her battle-set on her belt. Her ponytail swung freely behind.

"Hi, Master Atrus! Long time no see!"

The little girl suddenly planted a full kiss on his lips, catching him completely off guard. He struggled for a while. Anna noticed the grin in the herald's lips and quickly put it down with her best glare. Atrus quickly recovered and broke the kiss.

"Maya, what are you doing?!"

"I miss you, Master! It's been so long!"

"Tell me that later, now get off me!" Atrus got on his feet quickly. "Not now, Maya!"

"Sorry, Master..." She hung her head. "But I do have a surprise, though!"

Then from the door came a man in a large silver plate armor. He reached out for his helmet and opened the hatch. The face behind it was familiar indeed.

"Prince Roberto..." Atrus bowed. "Hail and well met."




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 11a



"I do not expect such welcome." Roberto frowned, noticing Atrus' governmental suit. "How did you know I'm coming?"

"Our intelligence committee has correctly predicted your coming, Lord." Atrus answered.

"You're using your intelligence agents against us. Your loyalty is under question."

"If you want to demote me, Prince Roberto," Atrus said, "Now is the perfect time."

"Why is that?"

"I know more than I'm supposed to." He smirked. "And I'd like to be the first one to congratulate you in the engagement. You're a very lucky man."

Roberto's face turned red, and he turned to Maya. "You told them?!"

"No! How did he..." Maya instantly followed Atrus' stare to her finger, where a small yet lovely ring was tucked on it. "He's cheating! He's..."

"I told you not to wear that until we get married!!" Roberto looked horrified.

"But it's so nice!" Maya toyed with the ring happily. "I can't wait until next month!"

"You get married next month?!" Anna's face was brightened. "Congratulation!!"

Maya cowered under Roberto's glare. "Oops, sorry..."

"Let's keep this to ourselves." Roberto smiled warmly. "How is it going, partner?"

"Very good." Atrus gladly hugged the prince despite his constricting plate armor. "And it's a great honor to have you here in my humble hut."

Roberto turned to Anna. "His diplomatic gesture is getting worse. You taught him this?"

"Something's wrong with the potato he ate this morning." Anna smiled back. "You're well?"

"I'm well, thank you. My father extends his best greetings and gratitude for your service."

"So I'm free from my job?" Atrus asked.

"No, in fact, my father was planning to promote you into a deputy minister of defense, helping General Kepfer. Since I know you won't work well in the royal court, I took the liberty of going against the plan and refusing the idea on behalf of you."

"Thanks..." Atrus shivered. "That would freak me out."

"Anyway..." Anna turned to the prince. "What is your business here?"

"Ow, come on! Can't you see that I'm just visiting old friends to recount old memories?"

Anna smiled warmly. "No."

"Fine!" Roberto sighed. "There's trouble in Stromgard."

"What's wrong?"

"We think..." Roberto made sure he got everybody's attention. "We might have found a qualified candidate..."

"That's great!" Atrus said, then studied the prince's expression. "You're skeptical?"

"Wait till you see the guy, partner." The prince said slowly. "He's... weird."

"So does everybody else in the team." Anna added. "That's nothing new."

"No, he's different. You must see the person. Then you'll know what I'm talking about."

"So you need us in the castle?" Atrus asked.

Roberto nodded. "Holgreb is already in Stromgard. Calem is getting Hawk and Aurelia from Elom. We're here to get both of you and Lynn."

"We're ready to go," Anna said, "as long as you don't mind waiting for us to change."

"Not at all."

Atrus and Anna went back to the bedroom they shared together. Atrus had made a special order from a local armor-smith to make a brand new piece of leather armor. His new armor was made from finest leather, reinforced with thin yet strong chain layer around the chest and back. A red artistic royal crest was painted on the front part. The armor was enchanted personally by Anna herself, strengthening the leather even further. A long, golden cloak adorned the armor with royal crest pattern on the back. Since his old boots had been decimated during the firestorm six months ago, the town people had made him a new pair. His faithful Rainbow Sword, covered in a brand new sheath, added the last touch.

Anna still kept her old priestess costume. The dress fell to her hips while hugging her upper body snuggly yet comfortably. The belt circled her thin waist, turning the lower dress into a nice, short skirt. Her long gloves and boots came next, followed by her tight collar with a black gem on it. It was the general identity of a Priestess of Lycra, and although she was no longer one she still kept it. Her metal mace and leather backpack completed her preparation.

"Here we go again..." she sighed.

"You're worried, Anna dear?" Atrus asked.

"I know this is coming..."

"Don't worry, dear..." Atrus circled his arm around her shoulder. "We will fulfill our destiny. And when we do, I'll be there for you..."

"Thanks, honey." Anna kissed him. "I'm glad I don't have to lose you."

The couple returned to the main hall. Roberto couldn't stop whistling at Atrus' new outfit.

"You should consider granting an award to your smith, partner..." He commented.

"I did." Atrus said. "He has the second biggest house in town next to the governor's."

"Oh..." Roberto quickly turned to Maya. "So you said you know how to call Lynn?"

The girl produced a small pipe that looked like a flute, except that it was smaller. The flute seemed to be made out of wood, but the shiny white color suggested ivory. The design was simple yet amazing. It was the smallest yet finest flute they'd ever seen.

"Lynn gave me this as a parting gift back at Stromgard." Maya said proudly. "She even taught me how to play it. She said I can use this to call her."

"Okay, go on, then." Anna said, impatient.

"Lynn said the tune from this flute should reach the Heaven. Now let's see if I can do it..."

Maya took a deep breath, put the flute softly between her lips and blew steadily. Suddenly, the entire castle complex rattled in tremor as a high-pitch shriek came from the flute. Several windows were shattered in pieces. Both Atrus and Anna dove for cover behind the furniture while Roberto, who was unlucky enough to be standing right in front of her, was thrown backward from the powerful force. The sound waves echoed along the stone walls throughout the castle.

"Wow, girl!" Anna said after the ordeal was over. "Is that what it's supposed to sound like?"

"I hope not." Atrus said while looking nervously at the chandelier over his head, which was swinging frantically back and forth. "Or else, Lynn and I will be having a long, serious talk together."

"It worked well before..." Maya inspected the flute. "I don't know... let me try again..."

Roberto's head quickly popped out from the overturned table. "You know what, Maya... I thing we should... Maya?! No...! Don't... Yikes!"

Anna quickly created two magic barriers for Atrus and herself, but she was not quick enough to make one for Roberto. The prince leaped toward a long table and hid under it, just in time to evade the crashing chandelier behind him. The two magic barriers crackled as the sound waves pounded it with overwhelming force. The barriers held, but the occupants were forced to cover their ears tightly.

The door was opened quickly and Leonard peeked inside the room. "Uh, Lord White Lion? Is everything oka..." His jaws dropped open when he saw the devastated hall.

"Is that an honest question, Leonard?" Atrus scowled.

"Uh... I think I'll leave you in private, Sir..." Leonard quickly disappeared.

Suddenly a magical portal burst open in the middle of the room and a lithe form of a girl was thrown out from it. The girl wore thin satin dress with nylon rope around her waist. On her back, a pair of thin-yet-lovely wings extended gracefully. The girl crashed on top of a tumbled table and groaned in pain.

"Lynn is here!!" Maya cheered. "The flute works! I told you that the sound reaches Heaven!"

"Of course it does!!" Lynn growled while still lying on the broken table. "And because of you, Heaven almost lays in ruins! You should have seen the destruction you've..." The Fairy looked at her surrounding and noted the actual destruction. "Never mind..."

Anna helped her stand up. "I suppose your trip here wasn't pleasant." She asked.

"I was taking a nap when an earthquake occurred in Heaven!" The Fairy scowled. "My sisters quickly discovered the problem. They dragged me out of bed and threw me into the portal, and here I am."

"The flute doesn't work!" Maya protested. "It's not my fault!"

"Of course it doesn't!" Lynn advanced toward her, grabbed the flute and pulled the rubber plug off one end of it. "How many times should I tell you? Pull the plug first!"

Roberto slowly stood up and looked at the mess around them. "Atrus, sorry about this... I'll have some men repair the castle..."

"That can wait." Atrus nodded. "Lynn, can you take us back to Stromgard?"

"Absolutely, Prophet Atrus." Lynn bowed gracefully before stealing another annoyed glance at Maya. "Just fill me in with the details later..."

Hawk groaned in pleasure as the Elf softly sucked his member. He held her head and slowly caressed her hair as she pumped his cock with her mouth. Her warm and moist lips were wrapped around his shaft while her tongue teased it lightly. He could tell that her skill was improving well. She had learnt the way of the Humans quickly since her involvement in Atrus' cause, but he had taught her in this matter personally.

Her willingness to please him was the main reason for her burning passion. However, an Elven princess had to stay virgin until her enactment as the rightful queen. She had to dutifully obey the rule, but it didn't stop them from becoming more intimate each day. They always found a way to express each other's love without doing intercourse.

"Aurelia...!" He warned as he felt his sensation rising.

He groaned as the orgasm hit him. The Elf girl clamped her lips around his shaft, refusing to let go, and sucked hard. He exploded in her mouth. She willingly began to swallow his cum steadily, being careful not to choke herself and accidentally bite his member like the other day before. This time she did this perfectly.

Hawk lay down on the bed, exhausted. His eyes wandered around the ceiling of the hut they shared together. He was happy to get away from his duty for a while. His task as the chief trainer for the Royal Army and now also the Alliance Army was hard. He had taken a holiday here in Elom last month and had been surprised to find that Queen Falencia welcomed him warmly as a hero and a personal guest. While the queen had been skeptical with the idea of him sharing room with Aurelia, the princess had finally overwhelmed her mother.

After the sensation subsided completely, he felt something still clamping on his member. "Uh, sweetie...? You can let me go now..."

"Mmmfh..." Aurelia mumbled.

Hawk rose up and looked at her, finding her horrified look. He followed her gaze to the corner of the room behind him and was also horrified to find a tall human wearing long dark robe, standing there, staring at them. A swirling magical portal was still open behind him.

"Calem?!! What the...? What are you doing here?!!" Hawk yelled.

The old wizard was completely lost in his thought. "So that's how people do that..."

"What?! What are you talking about?!"

"I've been studying this subject for a while." The wizard said. "Would you two be my specimen for my study?"

"What?!"

"Old Calem..." Aurelia growled. "You're pathetic, old man..."

"Anyway..." Calem's expression turned serious. "We have a problem..."

King Edward of Aragon sat uneasily on his throne. It was clear that he had been stressed out, but he was so happy to see the party before him. At least, these were people he could trust.

"Thank you for your hasty presence." The king announced. "I trust your holiday was fun."

"Thank you, your majesty." Everybody chorused.

"Sir Atrus and Lady Adriana, I must thank you for your service to the alliance and the people of Southern Aragon." Edward smiled. "Your dedication will not go unnoticed."

"Thank you, your majesty." Anna bowed. "Without your help, we would have failed."

"And I hope everything is well with your mother, Princess Aurelia?"

"Yes, Sir." The Elf smiled. "She sends the best greetings from our kingdom."

"While I have spent some time with the rest of you, I haven't met you before." The king said to the Fairy. "I must thank you for helping us in the war six months ago."

"Lynn the Fairy, at your service, your majesty." The Fairy bowed. "The legion of Heaven is at your disposal."

"I have heard stories from my son and subordinates about your bravery." The king nodded to Roberto and Captain Hawk. "It is my greatest honor to meet you personally. And I want to introduce to you all, the royal advisor, Lord Garth."

The middle-aged man standing beside the throne nodded. "My honor to know you. I believe either Prince Roberto or Calem have filled you in on the matter, I'll repeat myself. You know that our kingdom has been looking for the possible candidate for either the last Warrior of the Guardian or even the Champion of the Guardian. Our agents finally have found one man, but... he's... weird..."

"So we've heard." Atrus said.

"He's a very dark, mysterious man, Sir Atrus." The alchemist explained. "You might want to take a peek. Guards, let him in!!"

The door south of the royal courtroom was opened, and all held their breath. A tall well built man stood behind it. The striking detail was his black plate armor. It was... weird. The armor covered his body almost completely. The breastplate, arm-plates, and leg-plates seemed to be welded as one piece, as well as the connecting elbow-braces and kneepads. The long boots and gauntlets completed the limb coverings. The helmet covered most of his head, revealing only his young face and his long hair flowing from behind the helmet. A sheathed long sword was tucked on the man's hip.

The man looked around the room before his gaze was fixed on Atrus. Suddenly Atrus felt a rush of mixed feeling inside of him, so strong it almost knock him off his feet. He couldn't understand it. He'd never felt anything that could do that. The flinch in the man's figure told him that he also felt the same. He reminded himself to talk to Anna about this.

"His name is Sir Falstoff, a honorary Royal Knight of Aragon." Lord Garth said. "Sir Falstoff, these are the people who will accompany you in your assignment."

He eyed the party one more time, paying special attention to Atrus. "Hail and well met." He answered darkly, clearly displeased to meet them. "But I need no help."

Then the man, without anybody's consent, without even addressing the king, left the room. How rude, Atrus thought. Roberto wasn't kidding when he said the man was weird.

"Forgive me, people, but there's nothing we can do." Lord Garth said slowly. "He's a very rude, ill-mannered loner. He came from the less civilized area of Northwest Aragon, near the Elven border. Rumors said he had been fighting beasts and demons for years, all by himself. The man was still a loner, having no friends at all. Our agent found him when he slayed a group of raiding orcs single-handedly."

"Quite a spirit." Holgreb said. "That reminds me when I attacked the bandit camp with..."

"Does he have any weird dreams?" Atrus cut him off.

"He denied it." Roberto answered. "We've asked him many times."

"I want you all to go with him." Lord Garth said. "We have an important task for you that might be good for Sir Falstoff to prove himself. Have you heard the news from the north?"

"Not exactly..." Anna frowned.

"We have reports about a weird attack from the villages up north." Roberto said. "We thought they're just normal raids from the demons, but one report claimed that the raiders also included a red dragon."

"What?!" Aurelia was horrified.

"Wow..." Hawk said. "One dragon was enough, but another one?"

"Are you sure about this?" Lynn asked.

"We have little reason to disbelief it." Roberto said. "Especially the report was filed by... forgive me, Anna... the priestess of the Order of Lycra..."

"No problem..." Anna was silent for a while. "You're right. It's not likely that they lied..."

"It can't be..." Aurelia said slowly. "Agamesh couldn't have escaped the Underworld... But could it be Kastor?"

"Who's Agamesh?" Holgreb asked.

"Known as the Lord of Darkness. He's the renegade god who rebelled against Lord Guardian." Lynn explained. "Kastor is his pet, a red dragon destined to destroy the realm. Kastor was imprisoned in the depths of the earth while Agamesh was exiled to the Underworld."

"Can anybody but Agamesh release him?" The Dwarf asked again.

"Less likely, but possible." Aurelia said. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Can't Agar defeat him?" Hawk proposed. "I mean they're dragons..."

"No, I don't think so!" Aurelia quickly shot back. "Agar is the Guardian of Earth! It's right that he's Kastor's match, he was not made to battle Kastor. Agar is here to protect the realm!"

"I have a feeling that the duel is inevitable..." Maya mumbled, then her jaws dropped open. "That's right!! Master Atrus, remember Lynn's prophecy? She said she saw two lights, golden and red ones would slam against each other and created a bright flash. I think it prophesied about the duel!"

"It can't be..." Aurelia rubbed the dragon statuette in her pouch. "Not my Agar..."

"I'll leave the discussion for you." Lord Garth interfered. "You are to go there and investigate the matter. Prince Roberto and Hawk will remain here and prepare the Alliance Army. They will depart to meet you in three days in the Shrine of Lycra. They will be bringing soldiers to man the new fort at that area, and if necessary, expedition to battle the dragon. They will need your report before that time. If they don't hear anything, they will assume the worst and bring along the extra troops."

"This task is very important, people." King Edward concluded. "If the report is true, this dragon can cause destruction throughout the realm, even worse than those damned zombies. You have to find a way to defeat that dragon, so the alliance can concentrate in more important issues. The war has cost us all, and we want to end it as soon as possible."

"Plus, there is one more thing." Lord Garth smiled. "You heroes all have been invited to the Order of Lycra high priestess enactment ceremony. This is a great honor, for such thing only happens once in eighty years or so, and only a few outsiders could witness this. Attend when possible."

"Good luck, heroes of the land." The king saluted. "And come back with victory."

King Edward staggered toward the door, Lord Garth following behind. The party was left in the empty room. Each of them had their own thought, but they shared the same impression on the new man.

"That really reminds you of old times, right buddy?" Hawk grinned toward Atrus. "That guy is just like Roberto before the whole ordeal."

"Don't talk about me when I'm around." Roberto warned. "Here, I'm the prince of Aragon."

"Is the king okay?" Calem asked. "He looks very tired."

"Honestly he's not." The prince answered sadly. "He's sick. That's why he's been handing most of the governmental affairs to me. He must have preserved all his power for this audience."

"That does make me feel bad." Aurelia said. "How's a treat before the trip? My treat."

"I'll catch you guys later." Atrus said.

The party left the room, this time leaving only Atrus, Anna and Maya. Anna was leaning on the nearby table, staring at the ground. She seemed quite devastated. Atrus knew she always felt bad upon a mention of the Order of Lycra since her banishment from it. But he'd never seen her so sad before.

"Okay..." Atrus nodded at Maya. "We're ready to listen."

"It's over, Atrus..." Anna touched the black gem on her collar. "I will never be a priestess of Lycra, ever... They will never accept me back..."

"What do you mean, Mistress?" Maya asked.

"I always wish to be a full priestess one day, but that day will never come..." she sobbed lightly. "When I lost my virginity, several priestesses framed me to the high priestess... They succeeded and they kicked me out the shrine... I've been wishing to go back one day, hoping to find forgiveness..."




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 11a



"Wait a minute..." Atrus frowned. "Your fellow priestesses framed you? How could they do that? I mean... they're supposed to support you!"

"I... I have a very close relationship with the high priestess... So they deliberately accused me before her... In her position, she had no choice but to banish me..."

"She had no choice? So the high priestess basically knew that you're innocent?" Atrus asked.

"Of course...! I mean... I just don't go around, begging people to rape me!"

"I believe that's not what Master Atrus asked, Mistress..." Maya said slowly. "We mean why don't you just expose the entire fraud? I mean, the high priestess in on your side, right?"

"Not anymore..." Anna sobbed. "She's the only one who still believes in me..."

"That doesn't sound too good." Maya mumbled.

"Now she's about to be replaced... The secret of my innocence will be lost forever..."

"It's not true!" Maya said. "We can tell them!"

"They won't believe you, because you're outsiders. Such matter is an internal issue, and no feedback from outside is accepted, let alone appreciated."

"We'll figure something out." Atrus said, then circled his arms around her waist. "Meanwhile, don't worry about it, Anna dear. We know the truth, and we will expose it."

"I hope you're right, Atrus..." Anna pressed her palm on the fabric on her chest. "Or else, this will be the last time you see me in this uniform..."

The journey to the north was uneventful. The area of Northern Aragon was the least developed part of the kingdom. The region was mostly vast meadow with hard and rocky ground, therefor unsuitable for farming, so only a few cities could flourish here. The climate was less friendly as they approached the Northern Sea, which was famous for its deadly storm. The wind blew hard, and the sun parched the land mercilessly. The only place that was quite habitable was the beach along the Northern Ocean, where several fishing villages sprouted there.

One of them, a city called Tymm, was the unofficial capital of Northern Aragon. It was famous for its aquatic products, such as fish, pearls, and the mostly needed salt. The town was prosperous from their fishing activity and trading. Some people even said that if the area decided to rebel against the government, the town's wealth was enough to support their own army. But the rebellion never happened, mostly because of the good moral and teaching the town had. Tymm was the center of activity of the group of priestess loyal to the Guardian, known as the Order of Lycra.

The Shrine of Lycra was located south of the city, but the party decided to bypass it and went to the city instead. They were exhausted. They had the best horses (a pony for Holgreb) in the land, Roberto had told them, but even the best mounts would be tired after a continuous two-day trip. They had decided not to employ Agar's dragons because of the possible encounter with the rumored dragon. They wanted to evade bloodshed if necessary.

"Finally, a sign of civilization!" Aurelia said while they were looking at the city from a top of a small hill. "I got bored seeing the prairie..."

"If you've lived most of your life in the desert, prairie is like heaven." Holgreb muttered.

"The thing is, I'm glad we're here." Lynn heaved. "Honestly, using portals are easier..."

"If the demonic presence is strong here, they will notice our magical force." Calem pointed out. "There are times when we want to be in low profile."

"Well, we're here." Atrus concluded. "Get rooms in the inn and get some rest. We'll visit the shrine tomorrow morning, then we should be ready for some action."

He glanced at the new guy. Sir Falstoff rode silently on his black mount. He hadn't spoken a word throughout the journey. Atrus couldn't be sure, but he could feel the tension rising between the new guy and the rest of the party. Just like Roberto, Hawk had said. He would say Roberto was cheerful compared to this guy.

"What do you want to do?" Atrus asked, keeping his polite composure.

"It's none of your business." The man grunted. "I'll see you tomorrow." Atrus fought to resist his annoyed feeling as Falstoff rode away toward the city.

The party departed for the city. Atrus rode his horse slowly, both because he wanted to see the sunset, and because he had Anna riding in front of him. She also had been very quiet through the journey she didn't even protest when they rode their horses faster. He could understand her distress, but he couldn't understand her total silence.

"Does it bring memories?" Atrus asked. "I mean going back to your hometown."

"Bad ones..." she answered quietly. "A small village west from here... That's where I was raped..." She choked. "Yes... I wish I would forget it..."

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better, dear?" Atrus asked again. "You've been very quiet I'm starting to worry about you."

"That's sweet, honey." Anna kissed his cheek lightly. "But let's get the job done."

Anna had changed her clothes to normal attire, stripping off all her Lycra identity. People in the town were familiar of Lycra costume and priestess collar, and they didn't want any unwanted attention. They headed to a small eating establishment in the outskirts of the town. It was a nice, quiet restaurant, serving local seafood. They were quickly seated. The restaurant was lit by little candles placed in each table, giving a romantic sense to the customers. Atrus took some time staring at Anna. She was indeed so beautiful by the candlelight. He could see the flicker of the fire in her eyes.

"Anna... you're beautiful..." Atrus commented.

"Thank you, honey." Anna blushed. "For a moment I just forgot my fear."

"For this moment you should forget your fear." Atrus smiled. "For the first time we can eat together by the candlelight without worrying that something is also on fire in the kitchen..."

Anna chuckled lightly. "You'll pay for that, Ranger..."

The waiter came by and took their order. Atrus used the chance to dig something.

"Is there anything else, sir?" The waiter asked.

"Yes. We're just married..." Atrus said, then looked at Anna who was blushing. "So my wife and I want to go for a vacation somewhere around here. Can you give us any suggestions?"

"What is your original plan, sir?" The waiter frowned. "If you're content with the seaside view, may I suggest the Grand Rock, a tourist establishment west from here? It's an excellent place for a honeymoon, sir. A few Elven couples went there last week, and they said they enjoyed their time there."

"How about the east part?" Atrus asked again.

The waiter quickly turned pale. "You... don't want to go there..."

"What's wrong?" Atrus mimicked a suspicious frown.

"I'm sorry, sir, we just don't tell our customers this. Fear is bad for business." The waiter hesitated. "We have a problem... a big one..." He lowered his voice. "We have a dragon..."

Anna posed the best freaked-out look Atrus had ever seen. "What?!" She hissed.

"Don't worry, you're safe here..." The waiter said quickly. "For some reason the dragon leaves this city and the rest of the western cities alone, so I'd suggest going west, but not east from here."

"How bad is the problem?" Atrus asked casually.

"It fried a few villages... It was a red dragon, and it could spit fire... Don't spread this news. This city is already in uproar from that rumor. As I said, fear is bad for business."

They continued their dinner in silence. An evil dragon would be the last thing they ever imagined to fight against. No further conversation was needed, for they knew what in each other's mind is. They'd learned one more thing; fear is bad for appetite.

Lynn hovered across the room and toward the bathroom. She was happy to be able to fly again. Throughout the journey she hadn't been able to fly so they wouldn't attract unwanted attention. Even worse, she had to fold her wings beneath her satin dress. But she really enjoyed her time with the party. It offered her new experience and view of the realm she vowed to protect. The entire realm was more magnificent than her home in Heaven. Clouds... clouds everywhere...!

She looked at the bathtub and tried to figure out how it worked. She had asked Aurelia earlier how to use the kitchen sink and she was embarrassed to ask the Elf again. It was far simpler in Heaven. You wanted something, you prayed to the Gods for it, and it would come true. Gingerly she toyed with the metal mechanism, trying to make it produce hot water.

Her antennas on her head twitched as she sensed someone coming. She was supposed to share the room with Maya, but she was supposed to be away until late at night. She frowned when she heard the door opened. She readied several volleys of magic missiles and met the unwanted guest.

"Stay where you are!" She yelled as she popped out of the bathroom.

The new guy stood near the door, staring at her, completely petrified. He still wore his black plate armor and carried his backpack. After a while, she realized that he was staring, specifically, not at her.

"What are you looking at?" She said, annoyed.

"You're..." Falstoff hesitated, "Naked..."

She looked at her body and remembered that she forgot to put on her dress back, but made no attempt to cover her nakedness. "Okay...? So...?"

"It's... uh... unusual for Humans... to... uh..."

"Then how do you guys take a bath?!"

"No... I mean... not in the public..."

"I'm not in the public! This is my room!"

"Oh..." The new guy looked along the hallway nervously. "I... I thought..."

"Your room is at the end of the hallway, next to Holgreb's, by the stair."

"Uh... thanks..." The man hesitated, but his gaze remained fixed on her body.

"Do you need anything else?" Lynn asked again. "Why are you looking at me?"

"Because..." He swallowed. "You're beautiful..."

She tried to act as calm as possible, but couldn't hide the blush in her face. "W...what?!"

"Never mind..." Falstoff quickly left and strode across the hallway.

Lynn closed the door and heaved. Her face was hot and her heart beat faster. She had never felt this before. She couldn't be sure what's wrong, but she had a hint. She couldn't stop thinking about him, and when she did, it got worse. She approached the mirror and looked at her body. Am I really beautiful? Her hands found her well-rounded breasts and tweaked her nipples. She'd heard that breasts were the ones that made a woman pretty.

Her heart almost jumped when a pair of gloved hands circled around her shoulders. "Don't scream yet, it's me." Maya said quickly.

"What are you doing here?! Can't you knock first?!"

"I didn't use the door." Maya gestured at the opened window. "And what are you doing, standing naked before the window?"

"Just wondering..." She hesitated. "D...do you think I'm... uh... pretty?"

Maya looked confused. "Um... I don't think I can answer it correctly..."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a girl. If you want a true, reliable answer, as the guys!" Maya looped her arms around the Fairy's waist. "But if you're that desperate, I say you're beautiful. You're in love?"

"No...!" She said hastily. "Are you tired? Do you need a bath?"

Maya smirked. "You can't operate the bathtub, can you?"

"How did you know?" The Fairy was surprised.

"Of course I do." Maya guided her friend to the bathroom. "It's a common Fairy problem..."

The girl squirmed and cried in pain as the dark lord thrust his member deep inside her womb. She struggled, but the chains kept her spread-eagled on the air. The dark lord stared deeply into her eyes, making her wince in fear. The pain didn't go away. Instead, fueled with the fear in her eyes, the demon jammed his cock deeper inside her. On the background she could hear the pleading cries of dozens of other young girls being violated elsewhere in the dreaded building.

The girl glanced at another form, pleading for help, but her hope collapsed when she saw that the woman was also bound on her chair. The goddess could only stare in horror as the girl was violated before her. There was nothing she could do. She only said a prayer she knew would come unanswered.

"You're mine now, bitch!!" Daemon roared.

The girl's body glowed brightly as the evil magic worked on her. She screamed as she reached an unwilling orgasm and felt the demon exploded inside her womb. The greenish tendrils sucked her power greedily, stripping off her youthful dignity. She slumped on her chains, defeated.

Daemon spotted the hooded woman standing on the door. "Your report?"

"They have arrived, Master." The traitor bowed. "What is your order?"

"Stick to our plan. They will offer no threat to you. In fact, my pets will occupy them while you do your part." Daemon stared at her sharply. "That is, if you do your part..."

"Don't worry, Master, I will!" The woman said quickly.

"Then make it so. It's your only chance of surviving the wrath of the Underworld..."

The great gate of the Shrine of Lycra welcomed them. The shrine was located on a small hill overlooking the city of Tymm. The complex itself stretched about a mile across the hill. It was worthy to say that the Order of Lycra was the biggest kingdom-approved religion in the land. A big hexagonal building served as the main building, connected to the rest of the complex with a network of tunnels and walkways. The rest of the buildings were located behind, separating the shrine from the living quarters for at least two hundred priestesses. A pair of tall towers stood between the main building which, Anna claimed, housed the two gigantic bells used to signal certain daily events in the shrine.

"Sleep well?" Atrus asked, noticing the outline around the wizard's eyes.

"No!" Calem snapped. "That Dwarf snores!!"

"I wasn't that loud!" Holgreb shot back.

"The sound pierced the magic barrier." The wizard added. "You know how bad it was."

Atrus looked at the nearby sun clock at the courtyard. "Ten o'clock... We're in time..."

"What?!" Anna yelled. "Cover you ea..."

Too late. There were two loud bangs followed by a stream of loud howl from the twin towers. While Anna was prepared, the rest of the party had to suffer the preliminary bang.

"What in the name of Guardian is that?!" Holgreb howled after the sound ceded.

"That's the bells', so get used to it..." Anna grunted. "It's ten o'clock, the end of the silence session in the shrine and the beginning of the routine daily activities."

"Make sure you make a copy of the schedule to each one of us..." Aurelia growled.

"It won't be as bad inside the shrine." Anna said. "They're supposed to be accepting guests by now. Come on!"

Lynn stole a glance at the new guy at the corner of her eyes. She wasn't sure, but when the sound waves reached them, she'd seen Falstoff unaffected. He'd never moved from his place. Did he have immunity to such waves? Suddenly Falstoff turned around and locked his gaze to her. Her heart jumped and her nicely folded wings jerked under her dress. She quickly turned away, her face blushing.

A massive double-door served as the main entrance to the shrine. Already a large group of people had been gathering around the courtyard. Anna said the shrine was always crowded with worshipers and volunteer workers. Such influence was remarkable for a shrine in a small town.

"Do we have a special appointment with them?" Calem asked.

"Not really. But they know we're coming." Atrus replied.

"Mistress Anna, are you sure about your outfit?" Maya asked.

Anna looked sadly at her costume. She was wearing her priestess uniform, complete with her badge collar, gloves and boots. She fingered her collar dearly.

"Honestly, no, Maya... I... I'm not even sure I'm welcomed here..."

"Nonsense." Atrus circled his arm around her. "Besides, you're here to help them!"

"No... I feel... so dirty..." She looked sadly at the shrine. "This place is a holy place..."

"And you think you're dirty just because you've been raped?" Aurelia whispered from behind. "It's not your desire to be raped, then why blame yourself?"

"I don't..." Anna sighed. "They did..."

The door swung open gracefully, revealing two tall women wearing almost the same costume as Anna's. It appeared that the uniform had evolved through time... although in a questioning way. The upper hem of the dress was slightly lower, revealing more of their bosoms. Their skirt was also shorter and tighter around the hips, unlike Anna's wider skirt. Atrus frowned at the sight of the priestesses. This was not something he was expecting to see from the priestesses of the most honorable order of the land.

One of the priestesses came toward Atrus and bowed gracefully. "We extends our welcome, Prophet of the Guardian. The Order of Lycra is on your disposal."

"How do you know I'm coming?" Atrus frowned.

"Our future High Priestess has seen your coming, Prophet of the Guardian. She's expecting you, and extends her regret of not being able to welcome you herself."

"Unfortunately, I'm not coming alone."

"The welcome is for everybody, Prophet of the Guardian." The priestess glanced at Anna. "Except for her..."

Atrus knew this one was coming. "Oh, why is it?"

The priestess stared sharply at Anna, making her cower. "She's a disgrace to our shrine!"

"She's a normal human and she wants salvation!" Atrus said loudly, making sure the people in the courtyard could hear. "Are you saying that you don't accept her before Lord Guardian?!"

The priestess quickly went pale as the crowds began to talk among themselves. The party began to play along, talking to each other silently. The panicked priestess quickly changed her mind.

"Of course... uh... Everybody is equal before Lord Guardian!! Now come inside!!"

"I don't think this is such a good idea..." Anna whispered while they went inside.

"Mistress, don't worry too much. Just play along!" Maya answered.

"That's right." Atrus nodded. "I'm sure they'll try again later."

Lynn walked along the hallway while talking to Calem when she noticed that the new guy wasn't with them. "Calem, do you see Falstoff?"

"Not exactly." The old man grinned. "I thought you've been spying on him."

Lynn blushed. "Don't say that... I mean... I thought we're supposed to keep an eye on him."

"I'd have to say he's not very friendly himself. Not a typical type of someone needing help."

"But that doesn't mean he doesn't need us!" Lynn insisted.

"Right." Calem sighed. "Let's face what the shrine has in store, then we'll talk to him."

Instead of the general sanctuary, the priestesses took them to a huge auditorium. The dome-shaped room with high ceiling gave spacious feeling to its occupants. Various sculptures filled the walls and some part of the ceiling, illuminated by sunlight passing through the windowed ceiling and nearby torches. The priestesses seated them on the rows of chairs and excused themselves.

"They said they're expecting us." Maya complained. "And they asked us to wait."

"Save your concern for now." Atrus warned. "There's a lot of time for comments later."

"I share your concern, though." Aurelia whispered. "This building is spooky."

"The design is quite tasteful, if you're asking a Dwarf's opinion." Holgreb said.

"Yeah, huge cozy halls connected by cramped tunnels. Just like underground mines."

"Hey, I don't mind living in the mines!"

"Yeah... and the rats, moles, worms, salamanders..." The Elf chuckled.

Before Holgreb could counter, three female figures entered the hall. Again, they wore the same uniform as before. Atrus could feel Anna's stomach tighten in his hold. Whoever these priestesses were, they had play parts somewhere in her childhood.

"I, Priestess Ursula, extend our warmest welcome to you, O Prophet of the Guardian."

Ursula looked like a middle-aged woman with fine appearance. Her blonde hair flew gracefully against her well-formed and slightly revealed bosoms. Her light-blue eyes stared intently at Atrus. Then she gracefully fell on her knees, took his right hand and kissed it. Atrus frowned. He'd never heard such culture before, especially when it involved a full, passionate kiss.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 11b



Ch. 11b: Waltz with the Demon's Pet 2

Anna found herself in the same position. She couldn't remember what happened after Ursula had left. She remembered a sharp, intense pain. Then she remembered sharp stings from different part of her skin, probably from the whip. Then she remembered nothing. She was glad that the unconsciousness had rescued her from further ordeal. 

But the spell... With the revitalize spell she was not supposed to faint. She took a glance on her body and gasped. Her naked body was decorated with red welts. Her nipples felt sore from the whipping and her throat was parched. She knew she had to have screamed like she never screamed before. Then the picture of the cruel whip came to her mind. The whip should have left bloody mess instead of normal welts. There could be one explanation to this.

She quickly found Sister Rosa standing next to her. "Sister Rosa... you saved me..."

"That's a quick thinking, Adriana." The other priestess replied gloomily. "That's right. I lifted off the flame and revitalize spell so you would faint immediately. Simultaneous pain will overwhelm your brain. I'm quite amazed you're not insane after the terrible torture you've been through."

"And... and the whip..."

Sister Rosa lifted a smaller whip in his hand. "This one will hurt you, but won't kill you. And if you haven't noticed, I've loosened your chains."

Anna still couldn't move, but at least she didn't have to endure the pain of her limbs being pulled out from their sockets. She quickly found the most comfortable state for her aching muscles.

"I... Why did you do that...?" Anna asked slowly.

"Because you won't be of any use if you're insane." The other priestess walked toward the sink at one corner and returned with a glass of pure water. "I will let you drink if you speak."

"Please, Sister Rosa, I'm innocent!"

"Adriana, I won't offer this twice..." She threatened.

"I'm telling the truth... I'm innocent!"

The enraged priestess tossed the glass to the wall. The glass shattered into pieces, making Anna gasped. She stared hungrily at the water pooling on the stone floor. She recalled her parched throat from hours of torment. Her instinct told her to give it up, but she refused to listen. She had a determination to defend and she would defend it to the end.

"Adriana, I don't want to torture you further, but your foolish stance forces me to do so."

"I know the truth, Sister Rosa..." she sighed, "I can reveal this foolishness..."

"I don't want to hear it!" Rosa snapped. "Just confess, and everything will be over!"

"Will it?" Anna questioned. "I'll be damned if the truth I defend is lost."

"You give me no other choice, Adriana. I must torment you further."

"No, please listen to me!" Anna begged. "Have you seen the villages destroyed by the demons?"

The priestess thought for a while. "Three of them, I recall."

"Then you know the massive destruction those demons have caused."

"Yes..."

"Then why are you still alive?!"

Sister Rosa frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Look, if I'm a demonic abomination, you probably have been turned into ashes by now! They're capable of destroying a village in no time, why can't I fry one lowly priestess like you?!"

The priestess thought deeply. "You probably will seduce me to do your bidding!"

"Demons don't seduce people!" Anna shot back. "They kill, not enslave! Look around you! This very dungeon is the actual demonic abomination! Only demons can invent such hideous torture! Only demons can suggest such barbaric execution!"

"How do you know?!" Rosa replied angrily. "You must be one of them!"

"No..." Anna looked away. "I... I've been their prisoner... many times..."

"You... you have...?"

Anna nodded slowly. "I can tell you that the torture they've implement on me is nothing compared to the one you imposed on me just now..."

"So..." Rosa frowned again. "You're referring..."

"Yes, Sister Rosa... There's something wrong in this shrine... That's what I'm trying to find out... Please let me go. I must hunt this demon down!"

"You've told me, Adriana, but you haven't convinced me." Rosa shook her head.

"Perhaps I can help..."

Sister Rosa froze in her place when the tip of cold blade touched her neck. "Wh...what?!"

"Nice dream, Sister Rosa..."

The priestess felt a slight jab on her neck and she suddenly felt really dizzy. She scrambled for her own revitalize spell, but the drug won the match and she went limp before even remembering the spell chant.

"Honey, what are you doing here?!" Anna hissed.

"Oh, you're welcome, dearest." Atrus scowled. "It's hard to get real appreciation these days."

"No, that's not it!" Anna replied. "I was in verge of convincing her into our side!"

"No time to waste. Can you walk?"

"I doubt it. My bones have been turned into jelly."

Atrus expertly cut her chains with his sword and caught her falling body in his arms. She squirmed in pain at the sudden jerk, but relaxed quickly as Atrus held her naked body close, content with the warmth. Her arms struggled to return the embrace, but his coordination hadn't returned completely that Atrus had to help her. She stayed in his embrace for a while, enjoying every moment. Then she knew how much she missed him.

"I thought you'd never come..."

"And let you have the live burial fun for yourself?" Atrus smiled.

"How do you know?" She looked at him, surprised.

"We're all watching you, dearest."

"Watching me...?" Anna asked. "B...but I thought..."

"It's all Maya's plot." Atrus smiled. "She saw you fighting Daemon in the Sacred Sanctuary. She convinced everyone to blame you, so we can uncover all the oddities that's been happening in this shrine."

"S...she did?" She sighed in relief. "I... I'm glad, then... they don't hate me..."

"Hate you?" He grinned. "Maya is now blaming herself for putting you in such hideous torture!"

"I'm happy that you're here, honey." She kissed his cheek. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"As I said, I won't let you have all the fun." His ear twitched. "Someone's coming..."

"Oh no!" She went panic. "There is no other way out but the main door!"

"Unless we make one ourselves." He replied. "Ten more seconds..."

"Ten more seconds...?" Anna frowned.

"Hold on tight..."

She did, or at least tried to tighten her embrace. Atrus lifted her small body in his arms. Precisely ten seconds later, a dimension door sprung open directly before them, and Atrus made a run for it. Anna could still hear the sound of angry priestesses as the dimension portal shut. Atrus carried her for a short run until the space around her exploded in bright light and they returned to normal dimension. They were in the middle of a meadow outside the shrine, and it was nighttime already.

"Anna!"

She saw the Fairy into view, and she looked worried. She touched her hand on her forehead and chanted one of her songs Anna hadn't heard before. She could feel her magical power returning to her and every cell in her body refreshed by the songs. She readily chanted the healing spell of her own and was pleased as the spell caressed her body, curing her aches and easing her pain. The spell was not enough to completely heal her, but at least she could stand again on her own.

"I... I'm sorry, Mistress..." Maya approached, her head hung. "I didn't know..."

"Don't worry, Maya." She smiled. "You know what you're doing, right?"

"Of course!" She replied vigorously. "That Ursula fellow spooks me."

Everyone in the party was there, and all of them were happy to see her again. Falstoff was seen walking toward them. He also seemed fine from the last battle. A strip of cloth wrapped his right arm. He nodded slightly at Anna, acknowledging her presence, and turned to Atrus.

"There's an uproar in the shrine." He reported. "They're burning all the torches."

"That's probably for the High Priestess enactment." Anna guessed. "They'll be doing that this afternoon."

"We'll let them worry about that." Atrus said. "Calem?"

"I think I got it." The older man replied. "I might still need Lynn's help to keep the dimension door open, though."

"I can help, too." Falstoff added. "I can't cast magic, but I have the talent."

"Dimension door?" Anna looked at Atrus. "We're going somewhere, honey?"

"Yes." Atrus replied gloomily. "We're going to the Island of Paradise."

The last prisoner cried in mixed pleasure and pain as the tentacle pushed deep inside her vagina and shot its wad inside her. A pair of tentacles around her breasts bit into her flesh and sucked her nipples, making her moan louder. Finally her defiance collapsed and she exploded in a forced climax. Her soul surrendered to the ecstasy and her will was drained from her.

And the big gem at the center of the room glowed brightly. The pure gem now illuminated evil radiance throughout the room.

"Perfect!" Daemon exclaimed. "The Titan Gem is fully powered!"

The tentacles binding the girl vanished and the once-proud priestess collapsed to the ground. A bulky Orc warrior chained the girl's wrists and ankles and linked them together tightly, preventing her from standing. Then he put on a collar around her neck and attached a leash on it. The Orc tugged the leash, forcing the weakened girl to walk on all four like a dog. She was led outside the room toward the barracks, where she would spend the rest of her pathetic life as a demon's pet.

Daemon walked toward the bound goddess and casually stroke her pussy, enjoying her humiliation. "Aren't you excited? Really soon you will be my bride!"

"Please, Daemon..." Gaea pleaded. "Don't do this... You can hurt me... You can have me... but don't hurt my people..."

"Your people?" The demon lord frowned. "Soon they will be nothing but rotten flesh and bones laying around burned rubbles! Those who survive will serve as our slaves!" He leaned toward her. "Don't worry... you're still my favorite pet..."

"The Champion will stop you, Daemon..." The goddess claimed. "And I'll be the witness."

"Dream on, bitch, for you will live your immortal life in nightmare..."

"The sun is almost up." Aurelia reported. "You haven't found him?"

"Eagle's eye is a hard spell to master!" Calem said. "Especially if you want to stretch the distance all the way across the ocean."

Calem, Lynn, and Falstoff were laying their hands on Anna's shoulder while the priestess was concentrating on the spell. With plenty of magical power channeled for her use, her soul could soar high enough toward the direction Aurelia had given her earlier. She had found the thick cluster of clouds where Kastor was presumed hiding inside, but she hadn't found the mythical island. The renowned Northern Ocean was violently windy today. Her magical soul was not affected at all, but she could imagine what would have happened had they decided to use a boat to sail there.

Then she spotted a small patch of land beneath the thick clouds. "I found it!!"

The sudden movement startled everybody and they gathered around her. Nobody talked for a while, afraid to be blamed for her failure.

"Wait a minute... There's something..." Anna frowned. "Something's resisting me..."

The three people pumped more magic into her, but they could also feel the pressure. "It's strong..." Calem noted. "Very strong...even for the four of us..."

"Is it the dragon?" Holgreb asked impatiently.

"No... something else..."

An invisible force suddenly threw the four backwards. A bright light appeared in the air, hovering before them. The light was so bright they had to shield their eyes. Some of them were ready to draw their weapons, but the thundering voice coming out of the light stopped them.

"Who are you?!" The voice yelled. "Why do you bother me?!"

Atrus took the initiative. "My name is Atrus White Lion, and I come with my friends, some of them are the Warriors of the Guardian. We want to go to the Island of Paradise."

"I am the guardian of the Island of Paradise." The voice said. "And my order is clear. Only the true Champion of the Guardian and the loyal Warriors of the Guardian can enter the island to fulfill the prophecy. Do you have them among you?"

"Er..." Atrus thought for a while. "We're short of one warrior. And we're not sure who the real Champion of the Guardian really is."

"Then you're not welcomed here!!" The voice roared again.

"No, please!" Anna quickly said. "We suspect that the right man is among us, but we are not sure. Please let us in! We need your guidance!"

"You don't need any guidance! The prophecy tells it all."

"No, please listen!" She tried again. "The real Champion of the Guardian is presumed lost during his birth. He may have forgotten his true heritage, and the prophecy doesn't help. We need you to tell us where to find him!"

There was silence for a while before the voice answered. "In that case, very well. I will open a dimension door for you to come in."

The light vanished, replaced by a big magical portal hovering in the air. The party wasted no time and entered the portal one by one. During the short journey they felt an invisible wall that gave a nasty jolt, and they perceived that they just went through the magic barrier, probably weakened for their passage. Had they made their own portal, they might have not survived the trip.

The tunnel flashed and they arrived in the Island of Paradise, which was not really worthy of its name. The island was really a small patch of land in the middle of the ocean. There were no trees, bushes, or other amenities. The sky was dark and cloudy, even though the sun was rising. The sky also seemed to be glassy, presumably from the magic barrier. A small shrine made out of rough stone stood proud on the sandy ground. The design was simple, just several stone pillars supporting the high ceiling. The pillars, however, were full with runes and sculptures of symbols unknown to them. The stone seemed to be the strong type found around the riverbanks. The question of how it had gotten here arose.

A tall man with long white beard stood near the shrine and bowed, letting his long white robe hang freely from his feeble body. "Euclid, an old hermit loyal to the Guardian, welcomes you."

"Euclid...?" Anna frowned. "You... it... it can't be...!"

"Indeed, Miss Freesland. I am the one who spoke about the Ancient Prophecy."

"You... you know my name..."

"I know all of your names." The old man smiled. "My affiliation with Lord Guardian grants me this ability."

"But it can't be!" Aurelia added. "The Ancient Prophecy has been around for many years!"

"I can't even remember how old I am."

"Are you an immortal?" Calem asked.

"No." Euclid chuckled. "I'm just an old man sent by Lord Guardian to be the laughing stock of the entire realm because of my words. Then I'm doomed to live until the day my prophecy is fulfilled."

"But no one laughs at you anymore!" Aurelia said again.

"Of course." The man smiled. "Regret always comes after, never before."

"So, Sir Euclid..." Atrus began.

"Euclid." He cut him off. "Or call me old man."

"Er... old man... Do you know anything about the Champion of the Guardian, then?"

"The secret, unfortunately, is also kept well from me."

"Then we're stuck..." Atrus said mournfully. "The time has not come yet."

The poor priestess jerked in her chains as the cruel whip dug painfully to her flesh and made a long cut along her thigh, leaving a long, ugly welt. The chains tugged her weakened limbs painfully in all four directions, threatening to dislocate her joints at any moments by now.

"You've disappointed me, Sister Rosa."

"Please, Sister Ursula, have mercy!" The priestess in chains begged. "It's not my fault! That cursed knight drugged me and put me to sleep!"

"Silence!" Ursula roared. "You've let an important prisoner escape with her petty band of mercenaries. Those people might be dangerous to our existence."

"But why do you make me a subject of this hideous torture?" Rosa pleaded. "Please, Sister, I've had enough... My limbs are on fire, my skins are burning with pain... Please let me go..."

"Not yet..." Ursula sneered while walking toward the chain slot machine. "However, I intend to make you feel more... comfy."

Rosa's eyes were widened with fear and she begged for mercy, but Ursula ignored her and casually turned the wheel two more slots. The chains went taut and stretched the poor girl in all directions. Rosa screamed in pain as her limbs were jerked and extended even further. Her muscles were on fire and she could feel her joints in the verge of dislocating.

"How is it, Sister? Much better, isn't it?"

Sister Rosa looked at her with tears in her eyes. "It... it's true..."

"What's true?" Ursula frowned.

"Adriana's... S...something's... wrong... with... this... shrine..."

"Ah, I see..." Ursula smirked. "So our little priestess has succumbed to that demoness!"

"No, please li... Mmmph!!" Rosa was about to explain more, but Ursula magically gagged the priestess' mouth.

"I will make sure that none of your... demonic influence, affect this shrine again. In fact, in a few hours we'll be having a special moment, my enactment as the High Priestess of this shrine."

Rosa tried to protest, but her jaws were jammed close.

"Furthermore, I suppose I should subject you to the same treatment Adriana received earlier this morning." Ursula said. "In fact, your life is now in her hand. If she doesn't surrender herself by noon after my enactment, I'm afraid you'll be replacing her in the burial casket."

Rosa was now crying freely, knowing her horrible fate. She didn't even attempt to escape, knowing the terrible pain it would inflict to her.

"Now, we've had such a nice chat..." Ursula walked toward her, a wicked-looking bullwhip on her hand. "Where were we...?"

The sight of the renowned Shrine of Lycra looked pretty with the sunrise as the background. Although the clouds looked ugly, the welcome view of the ocean refreshed every soldier, who had been content with the sight of the prairie for the last three days.

Roberto was pleased to find a group of priestesses welcoming their arrival. They all wore suits just like Anna's, only a bit more... sexy. The low-cut dress and the short skirt made him grasp. Hawk, riding beside him, shared the same wonder, staring at the priestesses in disbelief.

"We welcome you to our humble Shrine of Lycra, Prince Roberto of Aragon."

Roberto nodded, but frowned. "Where are Atrus and the rest of the party?"

The priestesses murmured among them for a while before answering, "We're not sure, your majesty. But they are under our suspicion for treason against the shrine codes."

"Treason? That's impossible!" Hawk exclaimed. "Not Atrus!"

"We understand your concern. We are currently investigating the matter."

Roberto looked around and noticed the newly installed fence. "Is everything all right?"

"Oh yes!" She said quickly. "Everything is under con..."

Before the sentence was complete, no less than nine smaller versions of the Gate appeared around the shrine. And in just a few minutes the Shrine of Lycra was surrounded by hundreds of angry Orcs and Goblins.

"Yeah, right..."

Suddenly two small Gates appeared over them and six black-furred beasts came out. They faced the two men and snarled and hissed, showing their sharp fangs. This distracted the two knights, as they concentrated to control their agitated horses. The beasts quickly snatched the frightened priestesses and retreated through the holes. The Gates were shut closed before the knights realized what's happening.

"Those monsters just kidnapped the priestesses!" Roberto mused.

"Alliance army!!" Hawk barked. "Defensive posture, execute!!"

Although the soldiers were never trained together, they quickly assumed the standard defensive formation. The Humans stood in front, presenting their long pikes forward. The Dwarves stood among the Humans, offering protection with their shields. The Elven warriors lined up behind them, ready with their longbows, and the knights waited patiently behind, ready to charge the enemy with their horses at the right time.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 11b



"Fire!!" Hawk ordered.

The longbows proved their versatility as hundreds of arrows filled the sky and rained the field where the evil folks made their advance. Hawk could see a good number of creatures collapsing already. Each Elf retrieved no less than three arrows for each longbow and armed the weapon again. Another order was issued and multiple arrows blitzed the hellish horde and claimed more lives. The creatures now acknowledged the alliance's presence and marched to attack, leaving the shrine alone.

"Alliance army, slow advance, execute!!"

Then the longbows finally met their match. Instead of arrows, the Orcs began to throw... axes! The two leaders could only watch in horror as several axes were flung toward them. Most of them were deflected using the shields, but several Human pikemen collapsed from the attack. The axes were light and smaller than battle axes. The long handle made them easy to propel, although special training was needed to use them properly. It was clear that they were fighting professional army now.

"Maximum defense, execute!!" Hawk barked.

The Humans quickly abandoned their pikes and armed their shields instead. The Dwarves angled their shields slightly toward the sky, therefor completing a long line of shield wall on the front line. The knights stuck close to the army, using the shield wall as cover. The shield opened occasionally, and waves of arrows soared through the air, running the battlefield with deadly bolts.

"The dragon!!" One Elven scout screamed in horror. "The dragon is coming!!"

Roberto could see the silhouette of a dragon against the dense clouds. For an instant he wished he was seeing Agar, but his hope collapsed when the angry-red color was clearly visible.

"That's the red dragon." He muttered under his breath. "We're doomed..."

"Wrong. The time is near." Euclid said. "All five Warriors of the Guardian are present here."

"Yeah, but... What?!" Atrus exclaimed. "I... I thought we're short of one person!"

"You're wrong." He smiled. "The Champion of the Guardian is indeed near."

"No, it can't be..." Atrus frowned, then looked at Falstoff. "Unless..."

The new guy instantly stepped back. "Now if you're going to ask me again about weird dreams just like Roberto did, my answer remains the same! No, I haven't had any weird dreams!"

"Are you absolutely sure?" Lynn asked.

"Honest!" He said to the Fairy. "You know me! You know how much I love looking at the stars in the night! I have no time to dream away!"

"But you weren't born yesterday!" Holgreb spoke up. "You're what... nineteen, right? How about the dreams when you're small...?"

Falstoff fell silent, but Atrus could notice the sudden flash in his eyes. "What?"

The warrior remained silent, but Holgreb answered for him. "When the royal advisor interviewed him in the castle, I was there. He claimed that he lost his memory somewhere in his childhood. He can't remember anything from the time of his birth until..."

"Enough!!" Falstoff roared, his eyes fiery in anger. "That matter is not for discussion!!"

"Can't you understand, kid?!" The Dwarf persisted. "Your dream might be the final key to the entire prophecy! Your dream might save the realm from those demonic critters!"

"My childhood is my problem!" The warrior shot back. "It's lost, and it's lost forever!"

"I don't care about your childhood!! I care about the final prophecy!!"

Without warning, Falstoff drew his blade and was about to attack the Dwarf when the ground shook. Suddenly the sight of the sky around them turned crystal clear.

"We have a problem..." Euclid muttered gravely. "The magic barrier has just collapsed."

"Cover!!" Hawk barked.

All raised their shields just in time to face the mighty wrath of the red dragon. Kastor flew low and released a stream of flame from his gaping mouth. The flame hit the shield wall with tremendous force. Most of the wall section held and those who got knocked back suffered the consequence of being burnt to ashes. The Dwarves and Humans worked together well in holding the shield wall thanks to the special Dwarven metal alloy for their shields. The Elves, possessing shields made out of wood, had to duck for cover among their fellow races and popped back afterwards to shoot their longbows toward the dragon. Many lucky arrows met their marks, but none seemed to inflict serous effect on the beast.

Roberto frowned at the sight before him. 

The demons had opened nine Gates near the shrine courtyard and unless the demons are extremely dumb, the Shrine of Lycra should have been turned into rubbles by now. But the demons seemed to refrain from attacking the shrine. They loosed arrows and throwing axes occasionally, but not intended to cause real damage. It looks more like they're defending the shrine... But the small town of Tymm was already ablaze. Why are they destroying the small town with such a huge army...? If they just want to destroy the small town, why use the dragon...?

"Prince Roberto!" Hawk called. "I can't believe it! Kastor is leaving!"

He was right. The red dragon shrieked in anger and flew toward the east. The lizard soared through the air in great speed and soon disappeared beneath the clouds. Things are getting more weird...

"Let's go, people!!" The prince raised his sword. "We have a village to save!!"

"Warriors of the realm, I present to you, the Sword of Faith, the weapon of the Gods..."

The party gasped at the sight... not for long, though. The sword was jammed into the marble altar located at the center of the small shrine. The legendary sword of the Gods was merely a sword made out of stone. The design of the handle was remarkable, with safety pins at the end, fine and decorative handle, and even blood groove along the slightly revealed blade. The dark color of the sword contrasted with the pure white marble, but the blade seemed welded in one with the altar.

"Um..." Maya tried to break the silence. "Very... original..."

Euclid laughed lightly. "You haven't seen the actual sword. Only the Chosen One can use it."

The Dwarf eyed Falstoff angrily. "We could have known if this hunk had told everything..."

"You can't say that! He might be telling the truth!" Lynn protested.

"Now you're defending him!"

"Stop acting like children!!" Atrus yelled angrily, then turned to the hermit. "Continue."

"As the Warriors of the Guardian, you all must defend this site. I'm sure the dragon will soon return to claim his prize. The weapon of the gods must remain intact until the Chosen One arrives."

"Very well..." Atrus nodded.

"One warning." Euclid produced a small rock, tossed it into the sword and smiled at the party's amazement when the stone was zapped into dust. "Only the Chosen One and the Chosen One only can touch the sword. Anything else will be burnt to dust instantly. Understand?"

It took a while until Atrus could find his voice again. "All right, we'll do this. Holgreb, Falstoff and Aurelia, secure the perimeter. Calem and Lynn, try to erect an emergency magic barrier around the island. Do it, now!"

Everybody spread out to do his or her tasks. Atrus stared weakly at the sword on the altar. They had to protect that thing, he thought. And the odds were against them. For the first time during the time of his travel, he was afraid of losing.

"Honey..." Anna said slowly. "I'm sorry I can't help..."

"It's okay, dearest." Atrus put his arm around her shoulder. "You're still recovering."

"Master Atrus..." Maya came to him. "D...do you think... Prince Roberto is the one...?"

"We are just as clueless as you, Maya." Atrus admitted.

"But if he is, then we should bring him here! He's to arrive today!"

Atrus paused, then looked away. "That makes sense. I should have left someone to tell him."

"Master, I don't blame you!" Maya said quickly. "I...I'm just worried of the outcome..."

"Look at the bright side, Maya." Anna pointed at the altar. "Remember three years ago? We were merely mercenaries looking for money and fame. We just dreamed that we would find the fabled hero bound to save the realm. And now, we are fighting for the realm itself. Now, we are standing before the weapon of the Gods. Now, we are bound to be the witnesses of the salvation."

Maya smiled. "You're right, Mistress... We've gone this far. We can't give up now."

"You're not being yourself." Atrus grinned at her. "That's supposed to be your line."

"Let's just say..." Maya said. "This war has changed us all."

Atrus drew his Rainbow Sword and glanced at the blade. "You're right. Three years ago I'm just a Ranger-in-training, fighting for money and fame and skill to be a full Ranger. Now, I've forgotten all about the fame. After the Chosen One is revealed, my task for the Guardian is done."

"Then what you're going to do, honey?" Anna asked sheepishly.

"I suppose I'll get my Ranger status... then I'll come for the soul-mate of my life..."

"Atrus!!" Aurelia screamed in terror. "K...Kastor...!! He's coming right for us...!!"

"Assuming we survive this fight..." He uttered under his breath. "Get ready!!"

Roberto swung his Kaiser Sword, sweeping the area along the street as far as his horse carried him and slaying any demons foolish enough to be on his path. Captain Hawk followed him close behind, slaying the survivors from the first run. Behind them, the ragtag team of alliance soldiers and refugees worked together to ward off the critters and put down the fire. A dozen Fairies, arriving a little late, carried pails and dumped seawater over the burning houses.

The Army of Darkness, seeing this, threw flame-tipped javelins and spears, hoping to burn the entire village and trapping the alliance army inside the fire, but the high races worked together. The soldiers kept the Orcs and Goblins at bay while the refugees and villagers put down the fire. Another group of Fairies swooped down in the middle of the evil army and spread chaos in their formation. The Elves shot back with their longbows, claiming more lives.

Yet the fight went on and on like this. The Elves couldn't fight forever, and they didn't have unlimited arrows. The Gates, however, kept on spitting new creatures from the Underworld. Their waves, although unorganized, were endless. The foul army was keeping them away from the shrine and pinning them against the Northern Ocean.

"Roberto!" Hawk called. "The villagers claimed that the village is abandoned! Most of the refugees are safe inside the shrine!"

"What?!" His eyes darted toward the empty, burning buildings they were trying to save.

It was a trap. The attack to the village was a decoy.

He quickly noticed a pair of Goblins trying to sneak up from his back. He beheaded the first one with his sword and watched Hawk dispatch its partner.

"We can't keep on fighting like this!" Hawk gasped.

Tell me something I don't know... "Let's hope Atrus knows what he's doing..."

What am I doing?!!

This was the silliest idea, Atrus thought. Calem had erected a magic barrier, not as strong as the original one, but should be enough, at least he claimed. Anna had prepared the magic missile spells, Maya had her throwing knives ready, and Aurelia got her bow prepped. They were determined, but Atrus wasn't sure they would hurt the dragon much. The rest, Holgreb, Falstoff and himself would be sitting ducks, fine targets yet unable to strike back.

Kastor swept low and roared as it hit the invisible barrier. Anna released steady streams of magic missiles, knocking the dragon back. The beast withdrew quickly, evading the arrows and knives. It hovered in the air, glaring at them angrily.

Then he felt the sudden surge of air around him. His instinct screamed at him.

"It's about to breathe fire..." Aurelia confirmed his fear.

Atrus could see the bright flame coming from the dragon's gaping mouth and then there was a blinding light around him, stunning him for a while. The view returned, but his sight flashed madly from the light. A surge of searing hot air swept past him, making him flinch. He could feel a body, probably Maya's, slamming against him, pushed by the blast.

"Maya, are you okay...?"

"I can't see, Master..." She cried while gripping him tightly. "Don't let go of me...!"

He felt a soothing sensation caressing his mind and when he opened his eyes, his sight returned as normal. It was Anna who'd cured his sight. Most of the party were lying on the ground, panting and groaning from the attack. Calem was still up, leaning on his staff, trembling. The dragon was now flying over and around them for another pass.

"Never felt something that hot before!" Holgreb said.

"We're up against an angry dragon!" Falstoff snapped. "Get used to it!"

"If we do, we'll be dead in no time!" Lynn said. "Calem?"

The older man replied weakly, "I don't know how long I can keep the barrier. The fire breath drained my power considerably. If we don't figure something up really soon, we're toast."

Atrus felt the sensation of anger and despair in him and let it flow pass his mind barrier. The sensation exploded in bright flame now covering his body from head to toe, even to the tip of his sword. So far, the flame had provided partial protection against spells and physical impacts. Although he doubted the flame would stop the fire breath, at least he knew he was resisting it rather than being hopeless.

"Cover me." Anna said. "I'll snipe him."

Atrus stood in front of her, facing the dragon. Falstoff anxiously looked at the flame around Atrus' body and decided to keep his distance and cover her flank instead. Holgreb, still glaring at the new guy in annoyance, took the other flank.

"Here it comes..." Calem muttered.

Aurelia released a barrage of arrows toward the advancing dragon. The beast gnarled in pain and anger as the bolts punctured its thick hides, stopping it midway in his flight. It fired back, breathing thick burst of flame from its mouth. The flame, however, was too far from the party and therefor splashed harmlessly against the magic barrier. Anna saw the window of opportunity and released a burst of lightning bolt. The bolt hit the dragon's left eye with absolute accuracy.

"Way to go, girl!" The Elf cheered.

"Don't get excited yet." Lynn warned. "He's coming here, and he's mad..."

The dragon breathed its flame again, this time far stronger. The flame splashed against the barrier in bright explosion, shocking the ground nearby. A painful moan from Calem told Atrus that they were in trouble.

"Out of the way!!" He barked.

The Dwarf jumped for cover while Lynn pushed Falstoff away with her magic. Anna, however, was stunned by the bright explosion. Her body remained rigid on her feet. Atrus could see the flame puncturing the weakened barrier and coming to her way. No one was close enough to save her... but he was. He stepped before her and faced the flame.

"Master!!" Maya screamed in terror.

There was a blinding flash of pain surging through his body. His eyes snapped closed, yet he could see bright flashes before him. His skin screamed from the intense heat. He couldn't even yell. The pain was too much for him. Yet his feet held, resisting the powerful wave of flame from the beast.

Then he could feel Anna's body abandoning his back. For a moment he relaxed, knowing that she was safe. He could feel the flame engulfing his body. The pain was unbearable and he could feel his protective power yielding to the agonizing pain. He could even feel himself yielding to the pain.

His purpose was done. His journey was over and the only girl he loved was safe. If he had to, he'd embrace Death willingly.

And he didn't resist when the flame tossed him off his feet.

Anna felt the tendrils of magical power grabbing her lithe body and drawing her away from the line of fire. She stared in horror as the flame washed through Atrus' body, tossing it backward...

Backward toward the altar and the Sword of Faith...

If mortals touch it, the person will be burnt to dust, she recalled her mother saying yesterday.

NO!! The shock was too great she couldn't scream.

Atrus prone body smashed to the altar. The stone let out a loud crack before shifting slightly from the blow. And the Sword of Faith began to glow brightly. The light soon became unbearably bright that everybody had to shield his or her eyes. Anna turned away and froze as Atrus' earth-shattering scream filled the air.

She finally found the strength to scream back his name...

Roberto reflexively grabbed his horse's reins tightly as the steed shrieked and jerked aggressively. Hawk, who was fighting on his feet, stumbled forward as the ground beneath him shook violently. The entire alliance army instantly lay flat on the hard ground. Around them, the already-deserted town collapsed. The brick houses crumbled to the ground, unable to withstand the sudden and violent earthquake.

"What's happening?!" Hawk cried. "One of the demons' nasty tricks?!"

"I doubt it!" Roberto replied. "The Orcs are affected as well."

It was true. The Army of Darkness was scattered around the field, stumbling over each other. The demons might be fool enough to cast a destructive spell on themselves, but not like this, not when they were so close to victory.

Then the lightning bolts shot from the sky to the earth, striking the ground right among the Orcist horde. The ground exploded, scattering the Orcs all over the battlefield.

"Don't tell me Atrus did this..." Hawk muttered.

"If he did," Roberto replied, "he just enlisted his name on the royal court jester ranks..."

Continuous streams of lighting shot out from the sky and connected to the nine Gates around the shrine. Roberto could hear a strange roar coming from nowhere. Strange bright lights came out from the previously dark holes, and the Gates began to shrink in size, as if the lighting is welding them shut.

And he could see the brand new holes forming among the demon's ranks.

"Alliance Army!!" He raised his Kaiser Sword. "The Heaven is on our side!!"

And the war-weary army regained their lost spirit and shouted a new war cry. The Elves, disheartened without fresh supply of arrows, abandoned their bows and armed their lances. The Dwarves formed a long line of defense, ready with their shields and battle-axes. The last line, the menacing men-on-beasts, raised their swords, ready to charge their horses into the heating battle.

"CHARGE!!"

The knights headed the assault, led by the distinguished Captain Hawk himself. The disoriented Army of Darkness was quickly dispatched. The knights delivered a spearhead assault, making a direct path to the shrine, and expanding sideways. Roberto then led the remaining army to invade the shrine main complex. He paced his horse toward the courtyard, determined to know what's going on.

"Hawk, come back here!!" He called his second-in-command. "We'll start asking some basic questions..."

Atrus groaned.

His mind was a mess, but he tried to cope with his surrounding. He recalled the intensely bright light blinding his eyes right after the searing pain from the flame. Then he remembered a loud crash. The pain, however, was gone. He could feel something pressing on his body, but no pain. He tried to open his eyes and was startled with the light around him. Is this Paradise...?

Then he felt something poking his nose. He relaxed his neck, but went panic when he felt the substance creeping inside his nostrils. Reflexively he jerked and found rough surface on top of his body. Slowly he opened his eyes. He reached out for the surface before him and felt it. It was cold, and it had a smooth surface on certain side. Just like marble...

The shrine was made out of marble, he recalled. The loud crash had to be the shrine collapsing, and he had been beneath it. He blinked his eyes and touched the stone. It was so clear he could see the contour. He was buried beneath the stones, yet he didn't have problem seeing his surrounding. He gasped when his own hand passed before his eyes.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 11b



It was glowing. As he moved it near the stone, the glow shone upon the surface. He closed her eyes slightly and saw the bright flash he'd seen earlier. Slowly he turned his head and saw that his entire body was also glowing. The light emitted warm and soothing light.

His other hand suddenly felt a touch of cold metal. He froze in fear. It's the Sword of Faith! He recognized the runes carved along the blade. But the curse never came. His hand found the handle and held it tight. The handle felt warm with his touch. Then he felt the surge of power flowing through his right limb and around his body. I feel like I can conquer the entire realm today!

Then Atrus felt sand entering his nostrils, and he sneezed.

He just stared in awe as the stone boulders before him were tossed away toward the sky just like a strand of feather.

"Atrus!!" He heard a faint voice from somewhere outside. "He's alive! Help him!"

His eyes were suddenly blinded by the sunlight as the thick clouds over him were opened. He could hear a series of surprised remarks from his friend, but he couldn't make a word out of them. Blinded and unable to perceive speech, Atrus could only groan in frustration. His discomfort grew as he felt another surge of power coming from his right hand. He struggled.

Then he yanked his feet free. Two more yanks and his arms were free. His first instinct would he to get back on his feet so he did so. He could feel the blinding light leaving his vision. He opened his eyes.

He found himself standing on top of a pile of boulder where the shrine had once stood. The red dragon was nowhere in sight. His friends were around him, staring at him in awe.

"Dear Guardian..." Aurelia mouthed.

Atrus glanced at himself and was surprised to find his body covered with bright aura. His leather armor was a mess from the dragon's fire breath, but his skin was unharmed. The legendary Sword of Faith, illuminated in silvery glow, stayed faithfully in his grip.

He was not turned into dust. He survived the curse. He was...

"The Champion of the Guardian!" Euclid declared. "Now I've seen you with my own eyes! Lord Guardian, now I can rest in peace!"

"A...Atrus..." Aurelia mouthed. Her knees suddenly went weak and she fell on her knees. "Lord Atrus... We have been waiting for you!"

And one by one the Warriors of the Guardian before him. The sky was opened and thousands of seraphs came down upon the party, bathing them with divine light. Soon their bodies were wrapped with the same bright light currently covering Atrus. They just stared in awe as thousand-year-old blessings of the Gods shone down upon them. The blessings crept into their skins and soared through their souls, empowering them from the inside.

And Atrus was anxious. "I... I am the Chosen One...?"

"You are indeed, Lord Atrus." Euclid smiled. "The Guardian's will is unpredictable, isn't it?"

"L...Lord Atrus..." Aurelia was staggered, then she fell on her knees. "A...Aurelia of the Elves of Elom... at your command..."

The Dwarf followed next. "Holgreb of the Dwarves of Seraphim, at your command."

"Lynn of the Fairies of Heaven, at your command." The Fairy saluted gracefully.

"And Old Calem from the Alliance of Wizardry, at your command." The wizard smiled. "If you ask me, I won't be surprised, Lord. You've impressed me too many times."

"I never expected this..." Atrus admitted. "I've been looking for him all these years!"

"And here's what you've found, Lord Atrus." Euclid smiled. "You have found yourself. It's the greatest discovery one can uncover."

"The greatest discovery?" Atrus asked. "What do I discover?!"

"You discover your being, your purpose." Euclid replied. "Understand your destiny."

"B...But this can't be happening... I thought the Champion of the Guardian is only revealed when all the Warriors of the Guardian are..."

He just couldn't believe what he was seeing. The last tendrils of light soared through the air and circled around Anna. Her body instantly glowed brightly with the divine light. She just stood there, staring in horror at her body, then at him. Her body was trembling with fear.

"Anna...?" Atrus mouthed.

"Atrus..." Her voice was quivering. "I... I..."

"You knew it, didn't you." Atrus said slowly. "All those dreams you've been hiding from me are real. They are not merely nightmares. They're the last Prophecy of the Guardian."

"Atrus, you don't understand!"

"You lied to me, Anna!"

"No, please listen to me!" She pleaded. "I have my reason... I can explain..."

"Then explain!!" Atrus roared. "We could have done this sooner! Many have died unnecessary deaths because of your hesitation!"

"Forgive me, Lord Atrus," Calem interrupted, "but we still have a red dragon flying over our head..."

"Occupy him." Atrus ordered. "I will join you shortly."

The Warriors were confused at first, but they quickly went into action when the long-forgotten dragon prepared for another pass. Calem raised his staff and called for his magical power. The red gem on his staff glowed brighter than before. He was quite surprised with the new power he could harness. The divine blessings flowed through his body and into his magical reservoir in the gem, ready to do some serious spells.

Kastor hovered in the air and spitted three huge fireballs at the party. Calem chanted the spells and felt the sudden rush of magical energy being drained from the gem. A large portal popped open in front of the party, covering nearly the entire island with its immerse blackness. The fireballs were sucked into the hole harmlessly. A second later the same three fireballs shot back from the holes toward the dragon. Two of them missed their mark and splashed into the depth of the sea with explosions. The last one, however, exploded right on the dragon's chest. The beast roared in pain with its deafening sound.

While the dragon was paralyzed, Aurelia prepared her bow and armed three arrows. She could feel the blessings flowing through the weapons, strengthening and manipulating them. The bow adjusted itself in her pull and the bowstring remained taut and steady in her aim. As she released the arrows, the bolt tips instantly flared in blue flame. The bolts streaked through the air and hit the dragon squarely on three spots, his belly, his forehead, and his chest, right where his precious heart was.

And the Fairy took her turn. Lynn soared through the air, flapping her wings gracefully. She began singing her newly found song of divine. The seraphs of Paradise answered her rally and flew toward the dragon at her command. They flew around the beast, leaving streaks of magic that hardened upon contact with air. The seraphs instantly flew away, binding the red dragon with their strong magical rope. The dragon struggled, but effectively immobilized.

Holgreb the Dwarf sounded the loudest war cry that was ever sounded. With all his might he slammed his battle-axe to the ground, creating a slight quake to shake the little island. The follow-up was even more destructive. The ocean rippled vigorously from the shock wave. Suddenly a thin strip of rock blasted out from beneath the ocean and rocketed toward the sky. The sharp tip pierced the dragon's hide right on its belly and punctured through his body until it came out from the other side. The dragon was now spitted by a tall tower of rock standing in the middle of the ocean.

"Damn, I don't know I'm that strong..." The Dwarf amused.

"Explain, Anna." Atrus ordered.

The little girl was terrified. There was a battle going on around them, but the world seemed to single both of them out. There were only two of them, Atrus and herself. She looked into his eyes, looking for compassion, and found it. She had lied to him, but she couldn't find hatred in his gaze. Just sadness, utter sadness, from the numerous deaths this war had demanded. That fact made her feel guiltier than ever.

He cares for the world so much, and I only care for my selfish desire...

"It... it's not entirely a lie..." She started. "The nightmares were true... most of the time... But there is something else..."

"Something else?" Atrus asked, not affected by the battle occurring nearby.

"There is another dream... A dream you don't know..."

"Or a dream you don't want me to know." He accused.

"Yes, you're right." She admitted. "But you will... I hope you will understand..."

"Then tell me."

Anna took a deep breath, then began, "I was alone in the middle of nowhere, and darkness is around me. I could hear shouts of war from nowhere as the darkness was too much for my eyes to penetrate. Then just suddenly the shouting stopped completely. Then I saw a vast sea of fire stretching across the horizon, and a small streak of light came from the sky. The light was in form of a human, and it plunged into the sea of fire. Then came another roar, a barbaric roar of victory from nowhere. The roar filled my mind until everything went dark and I was taken back to reality."

Atrus was silent, probably trying to comprehend the last dream. Anna, however, was restless. She'd never thought that she would have to explain it to him.

"I don't understand why you should keep this from me." He finally said.

"Atrus, don't you understand?!" She finally broke in tears. "I... I dreamt of your death!"

"My death?" He was surprised.

"I was in the Underworld, the sea of fire! Then I saw you plunging into the fire and there was a roar of victory from the demons around you!"

"That's why you wouldn't tell me." He said softly.

She looked into her eyes. "Six months ago... you wouldn't tell me that you probably would part with me... H...how could you expect me to tell you the same thing right now?!" She sobbed. "I... I just don't want to lose you..."

To her surprise, she felt his arms wrapping against her body. She felt his warmth comforting her pained heart. Again, just like many years ago when they first met, she cried in his arms. And again, his hands stroke her hair, comforting her from her fear and sorrow.

"That's why you wouldn't tell me." He said. "Because if you wouldn't, you thought it wouldn't happen."

"I'm the selfish one, Atrus..." she continued. "I wouldn't part with you after all these years... And because of my selfishness I nearly send the entire realm into its doom... Then if that's the case... then I am guilty..." She fell silent, waiting for her fate.

"Mention it no more," he said after a long pause. "I understand you."

She looked at him. "You do?"

"Trust me." He beamed at her. "If I were you, I would have done the same thing. But these are the Guardian's prophecies. What must happen will happen."

"I know... I... I'm just being selfish..."

"You're not." Atrus said softly. "If you are, you would have left us, therefor sealing the secrets of the Champion of the Guardian forever. You stay with us all this time, wishing that one day we will know, don't you?"

Her face was brightened. "I... I never thought the Chosen One would be you... but yes... I... I wished it were you who would discover me..."

"What must happen will happen." Atrus nodded. "I'm glad you've decided to be with us."

And Anna knelt before her best friend, her love of her life, and now her lord and master. "Lord Atrus, I, Adriana of the Humans of Aragon, am at your command."

"Rise up, Adriana of Aragon." Atrus ordered. "Prepare to accept your punishment."

She glanced at him with worried look, but found a playful smile forming in the corner of his grin. He pointed at the form of the wounded red dragon spitted upon the spire towering from the sea.

"Our friends have done their part." Atrus said. "Your punishment, Adriana of Aragon, is to deliver the final blow."

A smile blossomed in her face. Her guilt was gone, replaced by happiness. She bowed obediently, then raised her hands toward the sky. A bright light covered her body, brighter than before. She felt a surge of power from nowhere passing through her body and gathering in both her hands. Her heart was calm and her mind was settled. The chanting echoed in her brain as her concentration reached perfection.

"BANISH EVIL!!!"

Then she felt the power draining from her and leaving her hands. She watched as the spell soared through the air and approached the trapped beast. Then the spell was broken into smaller magical bolts of holy energy. The bolts circled around the dragon and pierced the beast at the same time, drawing a loud roar from the wounded lizard. The holy bolts robbed the dragon off its evil seeds and separating them from the body. Then the bolts soared through the sky toward different parts of the continent and plunged into the earth, sealing the seeds deep inside the ground. With the evil spirits stripped and dispersed, the body was hollow. Kastor, the mighty destroyer, exploded with bright flash reaching even the Human capital of Stromgarde and the Dwarven Castle Hloffeth and a loud blast that could be heard even as far as the Land of Elom. The tall spire collapsed to the ocean floor, destroying the last piece of evidence of the great battle that had just occurred here.

The party watched Kastor' demise in awe and turned to look at Anna in amazement. Anna just smiled to them all and again bowed obediently toward Atrus.

"Your order is done, Lord Atrus." She said.

Atrus beamed at her with pride. "Remember my promise. We will fulfill our destiny. And when we do, I'll be there for you."

Her eyes sparkled with happiness. She could feel, despite her joy, tears falling from her eyes.

"You're very weird." He said. "I accused you and you cried. Now I commend you and you cry. Now tell me what I should do to get the right response from you."

Anna smirked, then caught him with full kiss on the lips, ignoring the cheers and applause from the party. She didn't need to feel ashamed, for her feeling for him was true. She loved him so much. She held the kiss for a while and broke it once Atrus started to escape, probably from the lack of air. His face was red with embarrassment, but he was smiling.

"If I've done something wrong, then I'm ready for another punishment, Lord Atrus." She pouted playfully.

"I don't know, Master..." Maya moved close to him and whispered, "But if I were you, I'll spank her all night..."

"Relax." Atrus said, brushing away his embarrassment. "I'll deal with her later. Now let's all go home."

"Not so fast, Champion of the Guardian!"

Atrus' body quickly tensed at the voice and the entire party spun around to face the new guy.

"I believe..." Falstoff drew his sword, "we have an unfinished business..."

Sister Rosa was a mess. She was hanging spread-eagled, held by chains dangling from the ceiling and anchored to the floor. Her body was as taut as a fully stretched rubber band in the verge of its elasticity. In fact, it probably only took one firm jerk to dislocate one of her joints. Her once-proud costume had been reduced into tatters of linen now hanging from her limp body. Aside from her gloves, boots, and seemingly worthless badge collar, she was stark naked. Her private parts were all exposed, and had been prime targets for the whips. Her body was just like a canvas, now decorated with angry welts and bruises from the last torture session.

And she was in the brink of madness. Her eyes stared blankly into space. Her body twitched uncontrollably from the invisible threat. Her tear-streaked face was quiet, emotionless. She had given up struggling and pleading her case, for she knew it was useless. Her fate had been sealed.

Her brain could not perceive sight or sound. Her brain could not perceive smell or taste. Only pain, and pain alone. There was only a moment of pain and a moment of relief. The latter one, she perceived, could only happen when she expired and descended to the Underworld. Yet her fate would not be like this. She was to die in the casket, the accursed one, and a victim of the terrible life burial.

Her body jerked again as the whip landed near her bruised vagina. Her throat was too parched to produce something humane. Again and again, despite the lack of determination from her brain, her exhausted tendons maintain the losing struggle to keep her joints together.

Somewhere deep inside her mind she made a promise. If she would survive this fight, she swore she would come to Sister Adriana and begged her to kill her. Now she knew Adriana was innocent, framed by her fellow sisters. She had tortured an innocent woman mercilessly, and she would pay for her crime.

Suddenly she heard, between the storms raging in her mind, the accursed woman crying and screaming in frustration. Rosa was prepared to receive the final blow, but it never came. Instead the woman just flung the bullwhip on the floor, marched toward the door and slammed it shut. A loud bang indicated that the door was locked from the outside.

Relief, relief, her mind screamed in celebration. But her body was too weak for her to do anything else. She just prayed silently that the darkness would take her away from this desecrated place. A slight smile was formed in her lips as darkness clouded her mind.

And she remembered nothing.

Ursula ran along the long hallway.

Prince Roberto is here... she thought. How could this be?!

She could hear the echoes of the heated argument happening at the end of the hallway. Her assistants had been handling Roberto while they had also silently contacted her through telepathic message. The young prince, however, was quite stubborn at seeing her. 

As she approached, she could see the prince flanked by two axe-wielding battle Dwarves and an Elven warrior carrying a long lance and a short sword. Her two assistants were trying their best to keep the prince from storming inside. While they were quite insistent, they seemed to also be disheartened by the sight of the gigantic Kaiser Sword strapped on the prince's back.

"Now, now, gentlemen..." She announced her arrival. "I'm Priestess Ursula. You are in the sanctuary reserved for Lord Guardian. Please refrain yourself from the use of violence."

"I'm Roberto, the Prince and the Foremost Knight of the Kingdom of Aragon, and I demand some explanation!" The prince exclaimed angrily. "There has been a battle outside and we've been fighting for hours trying to save the town of Tymm, yet we received no help from you! I demand to know your true affiliation in this war!"

"Calm down, Prince Roberto..."

"I cannot calm down!!" He roared. "I lost most of my men trying to defend this place! I lost my second-in-command trying to reach the front door, and if I don't get a sufficient answer I will soon lose my patience!"

"You lost your second-in-command?" Ursula frowned.

"Captain Hawk, the most decorated knight I've served with all my life!" Roberto said while pounding his bare fist against the pillar, drawing blood. "He's my best friend and my best mate! Now I demand a good reason!"

"And you will have one, Prince Roberto." Ursula bowed. "You see, we are having an important ceremony, my enactment as the High Priestess of the Shrine of Lycra, in just a few minutes. Orders have been sent that all priestesses in the shrine to do fasting and be isolated from the rest of the realm since this morning for, let's say, a long moment of prayer for guidance from the Gods. We have erected a large force field around the shrine to keep evil forces away. That's probably why the demons cannot invade us. The same force field has probably kept us from hearing the raging battle outside."

"This isn't fair!" Roberto wailed, then fell on his knees, only to be supported by his followers. "This... just... isn't... fair..."

"Prince Roberto, come..." Ursula said soothingly. "I understand the pain you're feeling for the loss of your best friend... But I assure you that Lord Guardian will keep his soul at rest, for he has fought bravely for your safety. Come, join us in the Sacred Sanctuary. Let the peace of the sanctuary calm your troubled mind. I'm sure your best friend won't want to see you troubled like this, right?"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 12a



Ch. 12a: The Final Prophecy – The Contested Realm

"You are all my guests. Please sit down. Forgive me for the bad furniture."

The Warriors of the Guardian were quite hesitant at Lord Falagor’s kind request, but obeyed once Atrus and Anna sat casually on the nearby tree stump. The small hut supported only simple furniture, mostly made from timber from the nearby wood. Even though the furniture was simple, the room was cozy. The small hut only had two exits, one led to the bedroom and the other one out. There was a small fireplace on the corner of the room with some simple cooking apparatus made out of clay. A round table and a few stumps were the only ‘valuables’ in the room.

"Tea?" Falagor offered.

"You plant tea around here?" Lynn the Fairy asked curiously.

"Good question, young lady." Falagor smiled, then picked a clay teapot. "Remember the principle, if it’s illogical, it’s magic."

The old wizard waved his hand over the pot and tilted it toward an empty cup. A hot stream of fresh tea came out from the pot. The party simply gazed in disbelief until they smelled the sweet scent in the air.

"This is impossible!" Aurelia exclaimed. "I know the scent! This is tea from…"

"…Land of Elom, southwestern region near the land of the Nomads." Falagor nodded. "You learnt your culture well, Miss Aurelia."

"Your fame is well deserved, Lord Falagar." Calem said.

Falagar gazed at the wizard. "You mean you can’t do this trick?"

"I can manipulate things, but not create things."

"I do not create things. No one can create things except the Gods." Falagar explained. "I manipulate things, just like you. All elements in the realm can be manipulated. You are all the chosen people, destined to fight for the very survival of this realm. The whole realm will be on your side. Only by manipulating them you can use their power and gain victory."

"Gain victory?" Holgreb was deeply confused. "But the war hasn’t started, yet."

"Then when does it start?" Falagor countered. "Tomorrow? The day after? Next week? Or perhaps yesterday or last week or last year? The real battle is not physical. The real battle was inside you."

The Dwarf, along with the rest of the party, was more confused than ever. "Don’t understand." He grunted. "I’m not good at philosophy."

And Aurelia was getting freaked out. "You’re not good at… what?!"

"Sleep on it." Falagor said, grinning. "You will understand soon."

Atrus felt that his cue had come. "Master, we are confused at what we should do now. We know all the puzzle pieces yet we don’t know where to go."

"You are restless, aren’t you?" Falagor asked Atrus. "You want to finish the war as soon as possible."

"The longer we wait, more innocent lives may be lost." Atrus answered.

"Is that all?" Falagor asked again.

Atrus hesitated, then glanced at Anna, who in turn looked at him. "No… that’s not all."

Falagor smiled. "You are honest, Atrus… forgive me if I called you by name. But there is more to be revealed before you are all set to go."

"More prophecy again?" Anna asked.

"You will see." Falagor said. "In fact, I’ve prepared a special audience for you all."

"An audience?" Atrus frowned. "With who?"

Falagor grinned. "I do hope you recognize your own father."

"My… my father…?" Atrus was shocked. "My father is here?"

And from the bedroom a tall figure appeared. The man was a bit taller than Atrus and almost as tall as the low ceiling in the hut. He posed a well-built body, showing the result of years and years of physical training. His face featured thick brown hair, brown eyes, and well-trimmed beard. Just like Atrus, the man also had think eyebrows and sharp gaze. He wore a set of leather armor of impressive design. Rows of silvery leather pad overlapped each other, topped with a single layer of chain mail. The armor and the armbands seemed seamless, offering maximum protection. A small slot on each shoulder provided a place to tuck the long golden cloak flowing on his back. On his chest was the picture of Aragon’s royal crest, carefully painted on the leather surface. On his hip hung a sword, covered in leather sheath. He held a giant war-bow across his left shoulder and a pack full of arrows across the other.

The man just smiled as Atrus gasped. "F…father…?"

"It has been two years and you’ve forgotten your own father?"

The two men embraced each other with powerful grip. Atrus couldn’t believe it. It had been too long. It had been two years, being on his own, living among his friends. But his father was here now. He was once again with the man he admired most in his life.

"I’m so proud of you, son," The man said. "Your deeds have not gone unheard among the Ranger clan. Your quest in gathering all races in an alliance has inspired all young Rangers to follow your footsteps."

"I didn’t do it alone," Atrus said, then looked at his friends around the room. "My friends did most of the job. I was just the message guy."

"Modest, as always," Holgreb grunted.

"That’s good!" Lynn commented. "Compared to you!"

"The distinguished Captain White Lion." Aurelia smiled. "It’s been too long."

"Old age hasn’t affected your memory, Princess Aurelia." The captain smiled. "How old?"

"Sixty-one this year." Aurelia replied, ignoring the dumb look from some members of the party. "But in Human life-span, I’m just twenty."

"In Human life-span, you’re just a toddler!" Captain White Lion chuckled. "But are you the mysterious pretty girl Atrus has been mentioning in his letters?"

Aurelia just giggled while Anna blushed in bright red. "I wish I was, Captain, but I’m not the lucky girl."

"Dad, didn’t I mention anything about a girl with ribbon?" Atrus grunted.

Captain White Lion quickly noticed Anna in the corner of his eyes. "Ah, she’s the one?" He frowned, eyeing her petite body. "This girl is small enough to be my granddaughter!"

Anna was dumbfounded as Aurelia struggled to keep Atrus from slamming his head against the wall. "Uh… thanks… I guess…"

"How old are you, young lady?"

"Twenty one, Sir."

"Twenty one? Your body tells me that you are only about fourteen."

"Uh…?"

"Are you sure you’re not lying about your age? You possess a body of a teenager, not a young woman." Captain White Lion stared intently at her breasts. "Your lower body is convincing enough, but your upper part… I don’t know…"

Anna had had enough. "Well, let me tell you something, mister! I have told you the truth and you didn’t believe me! I know that my breasts are small, and I don’t care! I know that I’m shorter than normal women, and I don’t care! I don’t even care the standard size of women you’ve been with all your petty life!"

The party just stared at the two of them, their jaws were dropped open. Atrus was ready to cry.

"What I do care is that I love Atrus with all my heart and I know he does as well! I don’t care about your judgement of my body! I don’t care about how young you think I am! In fact, I don’t care about you at all!" Anna glared at him. "One more thing, you are the most despicable man I’ve ever met!!"

Captain White Lion was silent for a while and the two of them exchanged glares. Finally the big man exploded in laughter and slapped the priestess, nearly sending the lithe girl flying across the room.

"Atrus, my boy, you’ve selected wisely!! I like her!!"

Atrus blinked. "What?! You… like… her?!"

"Of course! See how she responded to my taunts! Just like your mother!"

"You mean grandpa did the same thing to mother?!"

"Of course!" The Captain smiled proudly. "It’s a proud tradition to the White Lion family!"

"Uh…" Atrus was dumbfounded. "I’m not sure I’m… that proud…"

Captain White Lion turned to Anna, who was even more confused. "Adriana Freesland, right? If you really love my son, you have my full support! You have what it takes to wear the name of White Lion!"

"Uh… thanks…"

The captain nodded, then his face stiffened. He looked back at Lord Falagor expectantly.

"The truth must be revealed now, Lord Falagor," he said slowly.

"What truth?" Atrus asked.

"Atrus…" Captain White Lion paused for a while, "The time has come to reveal who you really are. You are ready to face the real truth."

"The real truth…?"

"The truth only one can provide."

A thundering sound of a violent storm was heard in the house, although nothing was blowing in the room except utter fear from the party. The two windows in the room were slammed close immediately and the candles were extinguished, leaving the room in darkness. Then a bright light appeared on the center of the room, blinding everyone with its powerful glare.

Both Atrus and Anna recalled the same event going on just a few years ago in the forest of Whitewater, just after Atrus’ reunion with the girls. "Lord Guardian?" Anna said while slowly falling on her knees, followed by Atrus, "I greet thee, Lord Guardian."

"And greetings to you, too, High Priestess Freesland, and to all of you."

"L…lord Guardian…?" Aurelia staggered backward. "T…the leader of the Gods of the realm…? R…right before us…?"

"Yes, he is indeed the one and only!" Lynn exclaimed, then fell on her knees, gracefully folding her wings, "I greet thee, Lord Guardian."

As soon as the Fairy validated the claim, everyone in the room fell on their knees, except Holgreb the Dwarf. "Oh man," the Dwarf grunted, "I’m so screwed…"

"It’s never too late," Falagor smiled. "You possess an honest heart the Gods approve."

Holgreb slowly stared into the light and slowly fell on his knees. "I wish I could believe sooner…"

"Yet my greetings include you, too, Sir Holgreb," the voice said. "And I am pleased to announce that the blessing of the Gods is upon you all. Your loyalty and dedication to us have kept the great races of the land together. You are all the life and blood of the alliance."

"Only with your blessing, Lord Guardian," Atrus said politely.

"Sir White Lion, I am pleased with you. Back then, you were just a mercenary, looking for money, fame, and your own identity. Now you are indeed a great warrior with great strength and wisdom."

"My friends deserve more honor than me," Atrus replied.

"Modest, as always," Falagor smirked.

"Lord Guardian, I’m sorry for my directness," Atrus paused, "I’m the Champion of the Guardian, or that’s what people tell me who I am. Then if I’m not from this realm, who am I? Where do I come from?"

"Ranger White Lion, perhaps you would like to explain."

All eyes turned to the war hero, now sitting on his chair, staring weakly to the ground. His mighty shoulders now slumped as the burden he’d been carrying all these years came back to him, and it was back with vengeance. His voice came out choked, filled with despair.

"Atrus… I’m not your father…"

Everyone gasped in shock as the statement came out like a jet of acid on a block of butter.

"Father… what do you mean?" Atrus asked in disbelief. "I’m with you since I was small!"

Anna added, "And you said I was worthy of the name of White Lion!"

"Captain, everyone in this realm knows that Atrus is your son!" Aurelia also added.

"Yes, but I lied!" Again the captain hung his head weakly. "For so many years I have been forced to keep this secret. For so many years I have lived in this world of lies. For so many years I have lived with fear that this day would come."

"B…but how could it be?" Atrus asked.

"It was the day that soon would be your birthday, Atrus," the captain began. "I just finished leading the war against the raiders from Southern Aragon, which we won easily. I was walking down the river when I saw the sky exploding in bright red and orange flash. Most of my men were either sleeping or sealing themselves in the tents, but I witnessed it with my own eyes. I quickly found that the source was from the north, probably somewhere in the mysterious Northern Continent. That was when I saw the bright light soaring through the sky. It looked like an object, a fiery object, flying through the sky, making it look like a vast sea of red blood. The object flew over me and slammed on the ground around the forest.

"I raced through the forest and that was where I found you. You were just a baby, lying on a cradle engulfed in bright flame. I noticed that the grass and dry branches under the cradle weren’t burnt by the flame, and the sound of your crying broke my heart. I picked you up and held you close, soothing you despite my anxiety and fear."

"I remember now," Old Calem said. "The day after that event, the kingdom of Aragon released a statement concerning the Night of the Shooting Star. They claimed that it was the sign from the Gods that the wizards had gone crazy and had to be punished. That event resulted the destruction of the Great Temple of the Magi and the massacre of hundreds of our followers." The wizard nodded at the captain. "I’m aware that you are not into it."

"That’s right, that’s why I condemned their decision, because I know what really happened that night," replied Captain White Lion. "Your mother, Atrus, was very delighted. She accepted you warmly and we finally decided to take you as our son, although she would not approve me telling you about your origin. I, on the other hand, believed otherwise. I knew you were special and blessed by the Gods. I felt responsible directly to the Gods in Paradise. That’s why I was so hard on you when you were small. That’s why I sent you to the Ranger camp, despite your mother’s protest, to attend the standard Ranger training. I knew you have a great destiny before you, and when it’s within your reach, I want you to be ready."

"All this time you’ve been keeping this from me," Atrus said. "Why? Why didn’t you tell me the truth?"

"Because you are not ready for the truth, Atrus!" Captain White Lion said. "Imagine what would have happened if I had told you the truth! You would probably leave us and deny your destiny altogether. What would I tell to the Gods?"

"Imagine the pain your father has to endure for so many years, Atrus," Lord Falagor kindly offered. "He has to live day by day with fear that one day, you’d probably hate him because of this."

"But that would never happen!" Atrus insisted. "Father, you know I admire you the most!"

"Correct," his father replied. "I would be the last person you would think of ever lying to you. You would have never forgiven me if I had told you sooner."

"But why? I mean, how could this be?"

The voice behind the light began again, "To answer your question, we must go back to the early days of this realm. Many centuries ago, we created this land. We, the Gods of Paradise, gathered together and with our power we began to fill the realm with wonderful creations. One God created plants, the other created animals, the other shaped hills and mountains, and so on. Every God strove to contribute something to the land, and the realm you are living in right now is the result.

"The creation process continued until one day there were only two Gods who hadn’t used their power, myself and a God named Agamesh. Using my power, I created great races of intellectual beings capable of conquering the previous creations for their welfare, Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and many other. The God Agamesh, however, created evil beings, Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and other foul folks.

"The two different factions, however, never got along together, causing uproar and bloodshed in our wonderful realm. For the first time we witnessed our creations turning into savage people. War rages across the land, sending civilization to ruins. The Gods went furious and demanded Agamesh to undo his creations. The agreement was finally set. When the war became inevitable, Agamesh would send the death angel, his own pet, the black dragon Kastor, to undo his creations."

"And Agamesh turned against the Gods," Aurelia guessed.

"Precisely," Lord Guardian said. "He used Kastor to instead raid my creations and helping his own creations to regain control over the land. If he had succeeded, he would have been the new leader of the Gods. However, we stopped him on time. With our power we created a pariah universe, the Underworld, and banished Agamesh and his creations there. His pet, Kastor, was imprisoned inside the bowel of the realm. Then we thought peace returned to the land, but again we were wrong. Agamesh kept on rupturing the barrier erected between the two realms and sending his armies to destroy the land. Every time we interfered, but the damage was done. My creations lived in fear and suffering."

"Then what happened?" Holgreb asked impatiently.

"Then the deal was made. Agamesh proposed a cease-fire. He proposed that we, the Gods, withdrew our affiliation with our creations, and in return he would leave the realm alone. However, the ownership of the realm was to be decided. Finally it was agreed that such decision would be made every a thousand years. At such time the seal of the Underworld would be opened. A selected warrior from the Underworld could pass through, destined to lead the army of demons to conquer the world. In response, the Gods would christened a warrior, born from and blessed by the Gods, to challenge the demonic warrior. That warrior is known as the Champion of the Guardian."

"So I am the one. Who am I supposed to fight? Where will this duel commence?" Atrus asked.

"The duel was fought in the Island of Paradise."

Atrus’ eyes went wide. "You mean the duel has happened?" He swallowed hard. "Sir Falstoff… he… he was…"

Atrus could see the sudden pain in Lynn’s eyes as the answer came, "Yes, Falstoff was the one. This time Agamesh has cheated the deal. Instead of sending a warrior through the portal, he captured the portal itself from the outside, defeating Goddess Gaea, the protector of the realm and the defender of Emerald Tower, and also your mother, who guarded the Emerald Tower where the portal was located. With the portal Agamesh sent hordes of the demonic army to this realm and began his conquest. He hoped to slay the Champion of the Guardian before the event of the duel. He failed, however, because Goddess Gaea had sent the baby, you, to the Human world, near the Ranger encampment, where Captain White Lion found you. In his rage, Agamesh allowed his general, Lord Daemon, to violate Gaea. Sir Falstoff was the result."

"Falstoff…" Atrus mouthed. "I… I just killed my own brother…"

"It was the plan. Agamesh would do anything to hurt you, my son. The more he can hurt you, the easier it would be for his minions to slay you." Lord Guardian paused for a while. "If the Champion of the Guardian expires, the seal would be opened completely and Agamesh would came out to claim his rule in this realm."

"But why don’t you stop him?" Anna asked. "Besides, you are a God!"

"We are the rightful Gods of the realm, and we will not betray the deal," Lord Guardian replied. "We, however, countered the action by calling forth five warriors of the land to become the Warrior of the Guardian, to protect the Champion before the event of the duel. The Champion will also have to undo the demonic treachery by securing the Emerald Tower and capturing the portal so a new seal can be placed. The Warriors will support him in his task."

"I must attack the Emerald Tower?" Atrus repeated.

"You will not be alone, my son. The blessings of the Gods are upon you. The sword that you are carrying holds the combined power of the Gods. And after the fight we stand ready to do our part in punishing Agamesh. You, my son, will lead the way."

"And you are not alone, Lord Atrus," the wizard Calem said to Atrus. "My destiny is to protect you, and protect you I will, even until the end."

"And I will be there, too," Aurelia said, smiling. "We’ve gone this far, so we’re not going to stop here."

"Yeah, me too," Holgreb cheered. "I got tired bashing worthless Underworld critters that I need true challenge. Battling an evil God should be… interesting…"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 12a



"And I will go, too." Lynn paused for a while, fighting over the sadness in her heart. "And I mean it when I say that… I hold nothing against you for Falstoff’s death… I… I know it must have been hard for you… I… I’m sorry…"

"There is nothing to be regretted," Anna said softly while circling her hand over the Fairy, soothing her. "We have come this far. We have shared joy and pain together. The time has come for us to witness the true destiny of this realm, and we are all going to make it happen." Anna looked at Atrus lovingly. "We are all with you, Lord Atrus."

Atrus couldn’t hide his awe as all his friends pledged their loyalty and support for his cause. The fear vanished immediately. They all would succeed. "Thank you, all of you." Then he turned back toward the light. "Lord Guardian… I accept my destiny."

"And accept it you will, Atrus," said Lord Guardian. "You will leave tomorrow morning. Falagor will send you to the Northern Continent for the final engagement."

"But how about the realm?" Atrus asked. "Who will protect the realm?"

"The Alliance you have forged will suffice to withstand the demonic assault."

"The demonic assault?" Anna frowned. "You mean the demons will launch another assault?"

There was a slight wait before Lord Guardian answered the question. "Yes, they will."

"Where?" Anna demanded.

Again, a slight pause. "If I tell you, I will betray the deal."

"Lord Guardian, the demons have repeatedly betrayed the deal!" Anna countered. "Many lives can be saved if we can anticipate the assault."

Finally, Lord Guardian yielded. "The final battle will commence… in the land of Elom… in three days…"

Aurelia gasped in terror. "They’re going to attack my homeland? We’ve got to warn them!"

"No need. I will return to Stromgard immediately with the news." Captain White Lion said. "Don’t worry, Princess. We will defend your homeland from those demons. I swear with my life."

"In you I have no doubt," Aurelia nodded. "Thank you."

"Warriors, I must wish you good luck in your journey," Lord Guardian said. "Remember, we, the Gods of the realm, stand on your side."

With that the bright light faded, and the room became quiet once more. No one spoke for a while. All were deep in thought. They were facing a great battle, a battle that would decide the fate of their beloved realm. Indeed, the fate of the Land of Lore was at stake.

Captain White Lion decided to break the silence, "I must waste no more time. Send me back to Stromgard. I must warn the royal court about the attack."

"Tell that to Prince Roberto," Aurelia. "He’s preparing the alliance army for the war."

"Good luck, Father…" Atrus said.

The captain hesitated as he looked at the young man he had used to call son. "Lord Atrus, I’ve told you before, I’m not your father!"

"Yes, you are. You have raised me since I was small. You have taught me everything I need to know to survive. Forever you will remain as my father. I will wear your name with pride."

And the father and son, once again reunited, embraced each other. Both were lost in their emotional moment. Both were lost in the wave of admiration for one another. 

"Blood doesn’t define a family, Father. Relationship does."

"I’m proud of you, my son…" Captain White Lion said. "My prayer will remain with you."

Anna chanted the spell, and a dimension door was opened at one corner of the room. Captain White Lion took a moment to glance at the party, wishing them good luck for the impending battle. After some exchange of words, he was gone, swallowed by the swirling hole.

"So, Lord Falagor," Atrus turned to the wizard, "What’s the plan?"

"Rest now." The wizard smiled. "You need your strength for tomorrow."

Roberto was furious, as always when things went insane.

Nothing seemed to work right. The preparation for the Alliance army had gone poorly as the trainers at Stromgard were taken by surprise. Although elite armies came from many places to Stromgard, special training was still needed to consolidate them as one army, consisting of five races working together. There were, however, problems. Some of the Elves still felt uncomfortable being in the same detachment with their old nemesis, the Humans. Some of the Humans didn’t like having the Mages in their army, which they affectionately nicknamed ‘nerds with pointy hats’. Finally, the Dwarves complained that the Castle Stromgarde didn’t have toilets short enough to accommodate their… natural needs.

And bad news came from all over the region. There was a locust outbreak at the western land of Aragon, threatening to destroy farms along the southern border. A flash flood near the Dwarven border slightly delayed the arms shipment from Seraphim. To top that out, various small raids done by the demons still raged across the land. The raids, even small, meant something. The demons were planning something big.

And he had known, right after Captain White Lion’s return to Stromgard with the news. He felt good at knowing where he could anticipate his enemies. On the other hand, the news could act as another bad news. The demons were planning a final assault, and the conquest would start from Elom.

Roberto had been drilling the army tirelessly, or at least in the inside. Physically, the effort had taken toll from his health. Captain Hawk was the only guy that stood between Roberto and total exhaustion. The young captain had used his personal friendship with the prince to ‘order’ him to take a rest. Roberto had grumbled all the way down the hall, although he didn’t dare to resist his friend.

But when he entered his bedroom, all grumbling stopped, replaced by grateful feeling.

At one corner of the massive bedroom, a young girl, Maya Murdock, knelt before his cabinet, cleaning the top with a small rug. Roberto couldn’t help but chuckle. Maya Murdock, the lady after his own heart, and now the future queen of Aragon, was on her knees, doing housework. She claimed she couldn’t resist the urge. She was indeed born to serve, and he admired that, just like Atrus admired her a lot.

Quickly Maya spotted him near the door and her face blossomed with joy. It didn’t last, however, as plain annoyance and anger built up on her face. She looks cute when she’s angry…

"You have outdone yourself again, Roberto!" she cried. "Two days and two nights without rest? Do you really want to die that much? With your current feat, it wouldn’t be long until you collapse during the drill from exhaustion. How do you like that?"

With old Roberto, he would have ordered his guards to have her flogged for insulting him. But after so many adventures he had shared with his friends, he knew that she just cared for his health. And he was thankful for it. "Hmm, I never knew you care."

"Of course I care! You’ve been drilling the army without rest since we returned here. Even Hawk had time to write a few letters home! I know you are dedicated to your job as the leader of the Alliance, but you just can’t go on like this! The battle might be lost before it even starts!"

Roberto laughed lightly, "Come on, spare me the preaching. Hawk has done most of the job."

"Of course! I made him do it!"

Roberto came toward her and gave her a quick peck on her cheek. "I know, honey, I’m sorry I made you feel worried. Thank you for worrying."

Maya’s pouting face brightened immediately after hearing the response. She lay her head on his chest armor and circled her slender arms around his neck. "In that case, welcome home, my prince."

Roberto trailed the curves of her face, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead and admiring the depth of her dark eyes, as if swallowing him whole. Softly he put his lips on hers and planted a deep kiss while pulling her waist closer to him. For a moment he was paralyzed by her charm.

At least until he felt Maya curiously poking her thumbs over the back of his neck. "Uh, Maya…? What are you doing?"

"My, my… Your muscles are all rock hard… Sit down. You need to relax."

Maya helped him take off the plate armor. It was a tedious work, as the armor pieces usually took a least five minutes to be put on, yet remained comfortable to wear once it was on. Then she led him toward the bed and ordered him to sit on it. She then cleaned her hand with a wet washcloth and climbed the bed behind him and began her magic. Roberto hummed in pleasure as Maya’s hands found his tense muscles and slowly worked them into relaxation. She was indeed a master in the craft. It was clear on how she could turn a terribly wounded Atrus White Lion into a battle-ready Atrus White Lion with just the touch of her hands.

"You have to teach me this sometimes," Roberto said. "I’d like to return the favor."

"It’s a tricky skill to master. A simple mistake can result a painful knot on your muscles that can last for a week."

"That bad, huh?"

"Just one of a few skills that I actually mastered from my days of slavery. You see, Mistress Anna insisted that I taught her this. Since then she had been using Atrus’ back as… target practice. You witness how… shaky their relation is right now."

"Fine." Roberto cringed. "I’ll let you do the job, then."

After only a few minutes of close contact struggle with his protesting muscles, Maya finally announced that she had won the match. Slowly she pulled his body down, allowing him to lie down on the bed. The instant his bed took over the support of his weight, he felt like heaven. His tense muscles had been beaten into submission and relaxed. Maya then began peeling off his cotton shirt, slightly drenched with sweat. Then she took off his pants and lifted both his feet from the ground and onto the bed.


Roberto was now lying on his bed, clothed only with his briefs. The wave of drowsiness quickly flew over him, but he quickly brushed it away. "Maya… I can’t go to sleep now…"

"Of course you can’t," Maya responded from somewhere outside his limited field of view. "You are lying on your bed, but your thought is still our there, somewhere in the courtyard, watching your troops training."

"I can’t help it."

"I know, and as long as you can’t help it, you won’t get a fulfilling rest. Let me help."

Maya came out in his field of view and Roberto gulped. She was dressed only in her undergarments. Her cotton white bras cleverly hid her breasts yet invitingly presented her charm well. She giggled as his gaze was quickly fixed on her breasts. "Naughty, naughty…"

"You do this to Atrus all the time, too?"

"Yup… That’s why Master Atrus is always afraid to be alone in a room with me."

"I noticed the reason…"

Maya planted another deep kiss on his lips while slowly massaging his broad chest, relaxing the front part of his body. Roberto tried to pull her closer, but she slapped his hands away. She gave him her wicked grin, then resumed kissing him. Roberto decided to submit. Here he was, the future king of Aragon, being dominated by a Human slave.

Maya giggled as she noticed the bulge on his briefs. "Well, someone here is excited…"

"I should blame you."

Maya grinned, then kissed him again, occupying his mind. Her hands, however, found his member, aching in his briefs’ confinement. Teasingly she brushed her finger along its length, feeling it twitch. Roberto moaned in discomfort, yet she muffled him with another deep kiss. His member was now as hard as steel, even harder than any other muscles in his body before her treatment. And she would treat this muscle as well. Just in a different way.

She grabbed the nearest pillow and put it over Roberto’s head. "Now, you don’t want to see the guards flocking into your room because of hearing your moan. Trust me, you’ll want to use the pillow."

Roberto didn’t complain, so Maya resumed her work. She slowly pulled his briefs down, revealing his rock hard member, standing proud and erect. She began slowly stroking his member, drawing muffled moans from the prince. Then she took nearly the entire length of it in her mouth. Again, Roberto groaned because of the sudden warmth enveloping his member. Maya began moving up and down along his shaft, softly sucking his member. She lovingly played her tongue on it, making him groan even louder.

Roberto’s hand then found her crotch and surprised her by playing with her pussy beneath her cotton panties. She stole a glance at him and smiled warmly, admiring the prince’s stubbornness to love and please her. In return she doubled her effort, sucking his member vigorously. Roberto’s treatment was wavered for a moment, then matched her enthusiasm. The two lovers were engaged in a match of love, each working toward one another’s victory.

And the victor was decided quickly. With her years of experience as an unwilling slave, Maya finally brought Roberto to climax. He groaned loudly before shooting his load inside her mouth, which she gladly swallowed. Finally his body collapsed against the bed.

Maya knelt beside his body and slowly stroked his hair. "How do you feel, my prince?"

"Maya… thank you… that was wonderful…"

Maya kissed him lightly on his lips then whispered, "Then sleep now. I will tell Hawk to take care of the training while you’re gone. Everything will be all right."

"No…" Roberto said quickly. "You… you haven’t had your release…"

She smiled warmly, "That’s sweet, my prince. Your happiness is my release. Your smile is my heaven. You don’t know how much joy you’ve brought into my life."

"No, Maya…" Roberto struggled against the incredible wave of exhaustion from their lovemaking. "Please stay with me, then… At least until I go to sleep…"

Maya smiled and nodded. She then lay down next to him and rested her head on his chest. Roberto put his arm around her and pulled her closer against him, feeling her warmth. She purred softly as his hand in turn stroked her long hair. He was happy. The only girl he loved was here, lying next to him. Silently he swore, whatever it took, that he would protect her at all cost. No one, not even the Gods, could take her away from him without a fight.

"I love you, Maya…"

There was no answer. When he looked at her, he found the girl already asleep in his embrace. He just smiled. He already knew her answer if she had been awake.

And he surrendered himself to exhaustion and took flight to the world of dreams, knowing that his love was there as well, waiting for him.

A bad dream welcomed him, though. In his dream, he saw his friend Roberto fighting for his life…

"There are too many of them!!"

Hawk heard it. He also heard the pitiful cry of his wounded troops, blended well with the barbaric cry of the invading Orcs and Ogres. The battle rages around him, and he could still hear victory roar from everywhere. On the corner of his eyes he could see one of many towers of the Temple of the Magi slowly eaten by fire, releasing puffs of black cloud into the sky.

Fifteen minutes ago, he was still at the courtyard, drilling the Alliance troops, when a lone wizard stumbled out of a magic portal, with wounds all over his body. With his dying breath he informed him on the siege of the temple. Captain Hawk quickly rallied whatever troops he could spare and led them into the portal and right in the middle of the battlefield. Their initial mission was to push back the invading demons and defended the temple. Now their objective seemed to have shifted into survival.


Three Orcs decided to attack him. One never got there as Hawk’s spear met his neck first. The other one swung his huge falchion at him, but he easily dodged it. Hawk quickly pivoted his body and swung his own spear, cutting the foul beast into two. The last one was a bit smarter as he decided to run away. Hawk was quick on pursuit and split the creature’s skull open, instantly killing him. Some of his troops saw his action and roared victoriously, slightly increasing morale. At least for now.

Garmeon, the current leader of the wizards, was bashing one Goblin with his staff. Even in his late sixties, the mage fought like a tiger, not willing to surrender to the demons. The old man was just as eager as a young knight, and Hawk knew that if he didn’t do anything, the wizard might perish.

"Lord Garmeon, we must abandon the temple! Order your men to pull back!"

"Never!" the wizard replied angrily. "I will fight to death to defend this temple!"

For a moment the wizard was too distracted to notice a brave Orc storming from his behind, wielding a giant axe. At the last moment a Fairy tripped the Orc with her staff. As the Orc slumped against the hard ground, the Fairy swung her staff with all her might against the back of the monster’s skull, killing it instantly. Garmeon quickly found his savior and nodded his thanks.

"Lord Garmeon, we really must leave!" Lyra the Fairy pleaded. "If we stay any longer, we will have no chance of escaping later!"

"B…but… the temple…"

"Give it up already!" Hawk snarled. "When this war is over, we’ll build you a temple out of crystals! Now let’s go already!"

The wizard finally nodded. "Very well. We’ll go ahead and open the portal for you."

After Garmeon left, Hawk quickly issued the order, "All Alliance troops, commence slow retreat to the hill immediately! Spearmen guard the back, archers provide cover, and the rest protect the flanks!"

The troops didn’t disappoint him this time. They quickly assumed close formation and guard their comrades from all sides, deflecting the less-organized attacks from the foul folks. Behind him, the wizards had begun chanting their spell, working together to open a massive portal leading back to Stromgarde. Far beyond, the second tower surrendered to the fire and crumbled to the ground.

For the first time after the war against the undead, Hawk wondered if they could still win the war.

Atrus was awaken, probably for the sixth time that night. His shirt was drenched with cold sweat and he began to shiver. For a moment his mind was racing with the fleeing image in his memory. He couldn’t see anything. He couldn’t perceive anything. But he was sure he had heard something, during his sleep. Yet it was gone, blown by the night wind.

Tomorrow he was to depart to the Northern Continent, a journey to decide the fate of the realm. Yet just now he had heard things eerie enough to shake his guts. He could still hear the echoes of those screams in his head. Who were they, or whose voices were those…? The screams were of pain and suffering, eerie enough for him to feel the shiver in his bones. Why were they here? Why now?

His hand quickly darted to his side, trying to find Anna’s body, but he couldn’t find it. When he turned, Anna was nowhere in sight. She was supposed to be sleeping with him, for he remembered that she had always been awakened that night, too. Is she mad, so she left me? When he got up, he could feel cold breeze blowing from the open window. With the blanket still wrapped around his body, he darted through the door. Holgreb, Aurelia and Calem were sleeping in the living room, while Lynn was back to Heaven, probably sleeping on her own bed. For a moment Atrus wondered why the wizard and the Elf had volunteered to sleep in one room with Holgreb, since the Dwarf’s snoring was quite renowned. I wouldn’t mind my father’s snoring either, Atrus thought. These people are my family… we are all a family.

Quietly Atrus opened the front door and walked outside, resisting the biting cold breeze that welcomed him. The mosquitoes were terrible, even near the end of fall. The moon, however, was full and wonderful tonight. And with the moonlight’s help, he quickly found his love sitting near the ledge, facing the vast landscape beneath.

"You’re awakened again," Anna said without turning at him.

"Sorry, I keep on disturbing your sleep," Atrus said.

"No, it’s not your fault!" Anna quickly turned, smiling warmly at him. He could still notice the shadow around her eyes. She seemed to understand, too, and her smile faded. "It’s just… I… I could feel it, too…"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 12a



"You heard those voices?"

She nodded. "I’ve never heard such voices before. So full of pain… excruciating pain…"

"Who are they?" Atrus asked.

"Spirits of the dead," Anna replied. "Spirits from the world ages ago, probably not long after the time of creation."

"After the Gods created the realm?"

Again, Anna nodded. "All races of the realm prospered and expanded rapidly after the creation. Cities grew and evolved quickly in the face of the world. Then the war started. The foul folks, backed by the demons, invaded the land. The Gods rallied the races of the realm to defense. The great battle between good and evil was inevitable, and the place was at the Northern Continent. The Gods’ races were unprepared and were decimated quickly, forcing the Gods to intervene and banish the foul folks to the depth of the Underworld. But the damage was done. The once-beautiful continent is now nothing but a large patch of wasteland surrounded by stormy oceans."

"And the voices…"

"… were those of the dead, those who were slayed during that first war," Anna said. "They were forced to endure centuries of imprisonment in this realm as lost souls, waiting for those who could bail them out."

"We are the ones they seek?" Atrus asked again.

"No, there’s nothing we can do…" Anna replied weakly. "Only the Gods can reverse the curse placed upon them by the demons. And the Gods, as you know, won’t betray their words."

"Unless…"

That caught Anna’s attention. "What are you planning?"

Atrus grinned, "If you borrow tons of money from me, how do you finish the deal?"

"I… I’ll pay you in full," Anna offered.

"Or you can always kill me," Atrus smirked, "And the deal is cancelled, right?"

"So you are saying…" Anna’s eyes suddenly opened. "You’re going to kill Agamesh, the Lord of Darkness himself?!"

"If the Gods can’t do it, we can do it, right?" Atrus concluded. "This will allow the Gods to save these poor souls, and probably seal the fate of the realm forever."

"But you just can’t do that!" Anna hissed. "You have to either invite him to this realm or go to the Underworld yourself to defeat him! And you can’t do either!"

"I can do the latter." Atrus smiled.

"But that’s crazy! I can’t let you do that!"

"Anna, if it has to be done, it has to be done."

"I know, but…" she hesitated, then hung her head, sobbing silently. "I… I don’t want to lose you… I’m just a selfish brat, aren’t I?"

Atrus knelt before her, lifted her chin and kissed her fully on her lips. She was quite taken by surprise, but gratefully received the kiss. Her hands quickly clasped against the back of his neck and pulled them even closer together. They broke the kiss later, completely breathless, but the message was sent.

"I don’t want to lose you, either," Atrus repeated. "But if I have to do so, I will. And you will be there with me, right?"

"Yes!" Anna smiled, brushing the tears from her eyes. "I will be there for you."

"My loyal slaves, the time is near," Lord Daemon announced. "The demise of the Gods is close at hand!"

Gaea, the former protector goddess of the realm, didn’t respond. Still bound on her mocking throne and spread wide open for all eyes to see, the defeated goddess could only stare into empty space. Ursula, the former priestess of Lycra, was in no better condition, being sandwiched between two bulky Ocrist warriors. Her plea of mercy had long gone, knowing that mercy would never come for her. She could only grunt in pleasure and disgust as the Orcs continued their vile act.

"No congratulations, my dear?" Daemon lifted Gaea’s chin with his finger, only to receive a well-placed spit in his eye. The goddess’ plot to anger him failed as the demon lord just chuckled. "I don’t have to deal with you now, Gaea. After I install my master as the supreme God, I will teach you how to behave. Perhaps in a few centuries, but in time, you will recognize my power over you."

"Unfortunately, you’ll spend the next few centuries refurnishing your apartment in the Underworld," Gaea countered. "I will enjoy the last few seconds of my life watching you die."

"The Champion of the Guardian is not a match for my superior skill," Daemon smirked. "And what can you do, my dear? You are my prisoner. I can do anything to you and there’s nothing you could do to stop me. Like this." With that Daemon inserted his erect member into her exposed vagina. Gaea couldn’t help but gasp at the sudden intrusion. Despite the disgust she was feeling, years of slavery had weakened her stubbornness and crushed her defense.

"P…please… stop…"

"Oh, please." Daemon grinned. "Just tell me how much you love it. I know you’re enjoying every second of it."

Gaea tried to struggle, but every struggle only enhanced the sensation in her loins. The Orcs, long grown tired of Ursula, tossed her weakened body onto the floor and turned to watch the show.

"You can’t resist it, slave!" Daemon hissed. "You are enjoying the whole thing. You love being violated, right?"

"N…no… Ugh…"

"Go on, slave… Tell the world how much you love it…"

"N…no…"

Despite her resistance, she slowly succumbed to the pleasure building inside of her. With a loud groan the demon lord reached climax inside of her, quickly sending her to the top as well. Her sweating body bucked wildly as the waves of pleasure overcame her. For a moment she was lost in the middle of Daemon’s roar and the Orcs’ sneering laugh. As the sensation left her, she collapsed to the throne, exhausted and overcome with grief and shame.

"The little slave goddess is enjoying herself a bit too much," one Orc jeered.

Gaea just hung her head in shame.

"Don’t worry, my slave," Daemon finally said. "I’ll deal with the Champion of the Guardian and his petty band soon, then nothing can separate us anymore."

Not willing to experience the nightmare anymore, Atrus had decided not to go back to sleep. Therefore, he was glad that Anna had agreed to accompany him. Together they just sat outside, enjoying the night and taking pleasure in each other’s presence.

"It’s almost dawn," Atrus said lazily. He was feeling very comfortable, having rested his head on Anna’s lap. "Time walks fast when I’m with you."

Anna chuckled lightly while stroking Atrus’ hair with her fingers. "I disagree. When we’re together, there’s no such thing as time."

Atrus turned to her. "You mean you just don’t care?"

"That’s right, honey," she replied. "You always occupy the largest space in my mind."

Atrus grinned. He carefully slipped his finger into her golden High Priestess badge collar and slowly pulled her closer, making her bow forward. As their lips touched, he felt her hands lifting his head, crushing their lips together. He’d never felt so happy before. He was here, with the woman he loved.

Yet he’d never felt so… uneasy before. Perhaps it was fear? Fear of losing the very woman he loved? Fear of losing his friends he respected? Fear that he would be fighting his last battle?

Fear is the first step toward defeat, he said to himself. Yet faith grants strength to overcome the worst storm. Anna’s presence in the upcoming battle was like a curse, yet a blessing for him. For countless times she had been by his side, cheering him up when he’s down, backing him up when he’s weak. He wouldn’t know how to fight without her by his side.

"Hmm…" Anna hummed softly, closing her eyes. "Lord Falagor just woke up. He knows we’re here, too. He just probed into my mind."

"I wonder why Master Falagor won’t assist us in the upcoming battle." Atrus asked.

"Perhaps it isn’t his battle," Anna offered. "It’s ours."

"That sounds scary," Atrus agreed. "It seems that we’re the only one fighting for the realm."

"Prince Roberto is rallying his troops to hold the demons, true?"

"Yes, but it’s different…" Atrus hesitated.

"You’re afraid, honey?" Anna looked at him intently.

"Yeah," he nodded. "It’s my turn to chicken out. I’m sorry if I bring you down."

"You’re here with me," Anna smiled. "Nothing can bring me down."

"That’s swee…" Atrus didn’t continue. He fell silent just abruptly. He was sure he just heard something, like broken branches. They were in the middle of a forest; the sounds of broken branches were normal, but repeated sounds of broken branches weren’t. And the sounds were heard in slow intervals, as if the subjects were trying to conceal them.

Anna sensed his worry. She quickly chanted her Eagle Eye spell. Her mind wandered far high, as high as an eagle could fly. Then she observed the surrounding area, as careful as an eagle searching for its victims.

"There’s a crowd of people, probably about fifteen or sixteen of them, heading this way."

"Villagers?" Atrus asked. The hamlet was located near the village of Whitewater.

Anna hummed softly, then frowned. "No… The villagers were still back in the village."

"Then this means trouble," Atrus concluded. "Warn Master Falagor about this."

"Already did," Anna whispered. "He’s going to wake everyone up."

"Good," Atrus nodded. "Stay here. I’ll be right back."

"Honey, you’re unarmed!" Anna hissed.

"I’m just going to spy on them. I’ll be fine."

Before Anna could protest, Atrus dashed toward the woods. He was glad he still wore his rubber-soiled shoes, as it gave away minimal sound. His old days in Ranger camp had also taught him a lot about stealth. With his sharp hearing, he pinpointed the direction of the uninvited guests and headed that way. When he felt that he was close enough to them, he climbed the nearest tree, knelt on a branch and stayed completely silent. And he listened.

He couldn’t hear a thing! Could it be that they have somehow heard me coming? If so, then he was in trouble. He reached out for his left ankle and sighed in relief after finding his trusty dagger still tucked in its sheath. A Ranger never wanders around without a secondary weapon.

And the game began. The enemies he was facing were also masters of stealth and disguise. He could still hear weird noises, but not enough to allow him to pinpoint the source. This was just like his Ranger training years ago, when he had to play hide-and-seek with his Ranger fellow. This time, however, he was not familiar with the forest, especially at near dawn. And his life might be at stake.

His fear returned and urged him to come out from his hiding place and challenge his foes. With only a dagger? He cursed himself and waited again, trying to be as motionless as possible. He was one with nature and the nature was gratefully concealing him. But if he withdrew, the nature would reveal his position. He couldn’t afford that.

His heart almost jumped in excitement when he saw the silhouette of his foe passing through the forest path. The figure wore long dark cloak, perfect for near-dawn infiltration. The cloak covered its head, so Atrus couldn’t perceive his race, but the figure was as tall as a normal Human. Could it be that he’s just a normal traveler? No, he thought quickly as the figure stopped and drew its blade. The creature was hunting, probably for him.

With the alien figure standing close to his hiding place, Atrus couldn’t withdraw just like he had planned, at least without being discovered. If these uninvited guests were as skillful as he was in hide-and-seek game, he would be found sooner or later. However, he had a dagger in his hand, and the advantage of surprise was his. He could single-handedly thin out their number until his friends backed him up. He carefully shifted his feet, getting ready for his attack.

And Atrus leaped from his hiding place, landing near the cloaked figure. The figure didn’t even have a chance to flinch as the dagger reached its target and slit the figure’s throat. Fresh green blood spurted from the victim’s neck, staining Atrus’ shirt and cloak. The victim’s body collapsed noisily and Atrus turned to face the second victim.

There was no second victim. He was the only one standing on the forest path. His mind screamed in alarm. He had been a fool. This was a classic trap, using a bait to draw him out. Now the entire forest knew where he was, including his enemies. He went back to defensive, and his foes didn’t disappoint him this time.

The barrage of throwing knives came from all direction. Atrus quickly ducked and rolled away from his spot. One of the blades scratched his arm, causing a nasty burning sensation. He quickly checked the wound and found some green patches around the opening. The blades were poisoned! Following his survival instinct, he put his mouth around the wound, sucked the foul substance and spit it out. The burning sensation remained, but most of the poison was gone. Atrus decided that this was a good time to withdraw from battle. He pinpointed the direction home and dashed through the forest.

The second barrage came, and this time his eyes did their work. Atrus evaded the knives easily and found one of the sources, another cloaked figure hiding behind the bushes. Atrus leaped over the bushes past the victim’s surprised form, turned around and swung his dagger with all his might. The cloaked figure was on the verge of drawing its own scimitar when the dagger connected, leaving a clean cut across its chest. The second strike was fatal, a straight jab through the heart. Atrus didn’t even attempt to pull his dagger, but decided to take the scimitar instead with his blood-drenched hand. Another cloaked figure foolishly charged him, swinging its scimitar wildly in the air. Atrus parried the attack with his own blade, but his foe successfully made a small cut on his side. Atrus normally wielded a broadsword and therefore had little experience in using curved sword.

Atrus, retreat! Help is on the way!

Atrus’ thought snapped back. Master Falagor just called me telepathically! His opponent was still there, blocking the way back to Falagor’s shed. Atrus suddenly lunged forward, swinging his scimitar like crazy. The cloaked figure easily parried the blow, but was stunned by the ferocity for a moment. When it recovered and countered the attack, Atrus already went pass him and dashed through the forest. Not long after that he heard weird strange voice whistling in the wind, and quickly leaped out of danger’s way as three daggers landed near the tree trunk where his head would have been had he been late for another second. The cloaked figures quickly converged to his position, effectively trapping him in the middle.

And for the first time Atrus felt grateful at hearing the Dwarf’s usual war cry. Holgreb’s axe soared and landed a few feet from Atrus’ position. While the axe didn’t hurt anyone, it gave Atrus a split-second to knock down his nearest attacker with his fist and get out of the way. All hell broke loose as all the Warriors of the Guardian emerged from their hiding place and converged on the assailants.

Atrus quickly located Anna, who was having trouble carrying his stone sword. She launched her magic blasts at the pursuing figure, then tossed the heavy sword at Atrus. The moment he touched the sword grip, the stone surface exploded in bright light, and instantly turned pure crystalline. With the Sword of Faith in his hand, Atrus rushed back to the battle, joining Holgreb who was creating havoc in enemy’s ranks. Lynn appeared and hummed her magical song of valor, and Holgreb roared his famous war cry. By the time Atrus arrived by his side, he had dispatched three cloaked figures single-handedly. There was only one odd thing.

Atrus wasn’t empowered by Lynn’s song.

One assassin approached and tested his might, and he responded. He swung his Sword of Faith first, and the creature took defensive move. This time his crystal sword obeyed him and flared brightly as it cut through the thin scimitar blade, the linen cloak, and finally the creature’s belly. Bright green blood spurted from the doomed creature, staining the blade and Atrus’ clothes. He immediately took defensive stance and scanned his surroundings for immediate threat. There was none, but he felt a surge of energy coming from his sword. The Sword of Faith was glowing wildly! For a moment he was so dazed he didn’t see an assassin coming toward him until Aurelia planted an arrow right into its skull.

"Atrus, stop dreaming!" she scolded. "We’re in danger here!"

Calem the Wizard stepped out and cast a paralyze spell, freezing the assassins in place. Atrus and Holgreb simultaneously charged ahead slaying the immobilized demons around them while the rest of the party sniped from afar. The battle ended quickly, leaving no one but the party itself standing.

And Atrus was still troubled. The Sword of Faith hadn’t stopped glowing. Atrus tried calming himself and easing his breath, yet the sword refused to turn back to stone. The party, sensing that something was wrong, gathered around him.

"That is odd," Calem observed. "According to the legend, the Sword of Faith always obeys the Chosen One without question."

"Even though it has the power of the Gods flowing inside?" Aurelia asked.

"Yes, it’s the sign of the Gods’ commitment of resisting Agamesh and his minions, even after the treaty," Lynn nodded. "The Chosen One will wield the power of the Gods stored inside the sword."

"Then why doesn’t the sword obey him?" Calem asked.

"Look!" Anna pointed at the green stains on the sword surface. The sword blazed fiercely around the stains, slowly disintegrating the green substance. "The sword seems to be eating out the blood."

For a moment Atrus was quite fascinated. It quickly changed, though, as he started feeling lightheaded. He quickly brushed the feeling away, yet it refused to leave. He slowly felt his feet betraying him.

"Atrus!!"

Anna’s panicked cry was the last voice he heard before he slammed his back against something bulky that smelled like a Dwarf. Then darkness enveloped him.

Roberto woke up, fully refreshed, just in time to see his troops returning home after the battle at the Temple of the Magi.

He quickly went nuts when he saw his troops wounded and disheartened. He quickly found his friend Captain Hawk and sighed in relief to find him alive, wounded, but not badly. Maya who was with him quickly volunteered to help the Priestesses of Lycra in tending the wounded, leaving Roberto alone. He then proceeded with the normal formality to Lord Garmeon, expressing regret for the loss of his temple to the demons, and making promises for the future. The wizard, weary and sulky, held nothing against the prince, but his utter disappointment was apparent. He promised not to withdraw his support for the Alliance army, then left for his quarter.

The vice-commander of the army then approached the prince for the battle report, but Roberto quickly dismissed him. Reports could wait, and knowing that his friend Hawk survived the battle was enough. Hawk would definitely tell him the story later, and he wouldn’t exaggerate.

"Just check on the soldiers," Roberto ordered the vice-commander. "Send the wounded ones to the healer. Gather the rest on the courtyard. I would like to address the troops."

The vice-commander acknowledged the order and left.

Then he spotted Maya running back to him.

"I dropped Hawk off at the healer’s tent. They don’t have a room for me, though," Maya pouted. "There are already plenty of helpers, and they need professionals."

"Aw, come on, hon… They’ll see you as a professional once you show them your massage trick," Roberto offered.

She smiled cutely. "Nah… I usually reserve it for someone special."

Roberto just grinned. "Maya… What are you going to do for the upcoming battle?"

"Well… I suppose I’ll be helping the wounded…"

"Maya… I’d like to ask for a favor."

Maya blinked. "Why sure! Ask me anything!"

"Don’t be a helper," Roberto said slowly.

"What?!" She frowned. "You’re starting to sound like Master Atrus! You can’t just keep me away from action while you are doing your stunts! I want to go to the battle, too!"




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 12b



Warning: There are events containing graphic violence in the story. If you are a minor... man, you've gone really far into this (this is the 12th chapter already!). If you are likely to be offended by graphic violence, chances are, you will be offended. Proceed at your own risk. You have been warned.

* * * * *

Prince Roberto of Aragon, the future heir of the kingdom, stood beside the bed of King Edward of Aragon, his father. For a moment he was silent. It hurt him to see his father like this. The old king was sleeping; the not-so-peaceful expression in his face reflected the mortal sickness he was suffering.

King Edward had been sick since the war with the Undead. While doctors and healers from across the land couldn't determine the sickness, they all agreed that the king had been carrying incredible burden of his people due to the war with the demons. Since then, Roberto had taken over most of the royal duties from the king, but his health hadn't improved even a bit.

And the day Roberto had feared most had come. The final battle with the demons was at hand, and the king had summoned him. The timing was perfect.

Another figure stood close next to him. She was Maya Murdock, the lady after his own heart. She had been a slave until Atrus White Lion bailed her out of prostitution. And in her journey with Atrus, she had also felt the king's generosity during their first meeting, just before they departed to see Baron Stoke, years ago. She therefore insisted that she accompanied him in his father's chamber.

"Roberto... my son... is that you..."

Roberto felt a sharp pain in his heart as he heard the weak pleading voice of his father. That voice had used to be strong and full of authority, the very authority he had often challenged. Years ago, when he was still a young brat, Roberto had never got along with his father. Then Maya and Atrus taught him to understand others, and he saw all the things his father had been trying to teach him. He owed his father too much. Now his time was running out.

"Yes, father. It is I."

"And behind you... Is... is that... Lady Murdock...?"

"Yes, it's me, Maya, your majesty." Maya replied politely.

The king chuckled, although with great difficulty. "How many times should I ask you...? You are my daughter... Call me father, will you?"

"I'd rather disobey you than losing my manner, your majesty."

That gave Roberto a quick smile. Maya might have been a slave, yet she learned fast. Her manner was one of queens or royal family members, polite, yet full of sincerity. Although she tended to get fidgety at times, her social skills were something other royal family members should learn from.

"Well said, indeed..." the king announced. "You must remain strong in what you believe... Only then, you can straighten others in their paths..."

Roberto felt a rush of pride of Maya, shown by his warm smile. Maya noticed it and blushed lightly.

"Roberto... how's the preparation for the war...?" his father asked.

"Almost all is ready, father," he replied. "We are still waiting for the last group from Seraphim. King Hloffeth has promised his best Dwarven troops for the Alliance army. Sir White Lion is also marshalling his Ranger troops for war."

"Ah... my finest man has returned... Heed his advice, Roberto. He has the strength and intelligence of a hundred men..."

"I will do so, father," Roberto said. "Also, Priestess Rosa has contacted me that she's sending her best priestesses to assist us. We'll expect them to join us later. And finally, Sir Leonard from Blackwell, Atrus' personal assistant, is coming today with his hand-picked troops, trained by Atrus White Lion himself."

"Ah... so many souls will contribute to the battle tomorrow..." The king sighed loudly. "What do you think, Roberto? What do you think the outcome will be?"

Roberto hesitated for a while. Honestly, he was afraid of the upcoming battle. While he had the joint army of all five factions of the realm, he was facing a threat greater than anything he could ever dream of. The stake was quite high. If they failed in defending the Elven land of Elom, the demons will have a good foothold in the realm to take over the rest of the land. He had to win this war, or everything was lost.

And only Maya's supportive smile could lift up his confidence before his father.

"If the Gods are willing, we shall return victoriously," Roberto answered firmly.

"That's a relief..." The king slowly lifted his weakened hand over his face and watched sadly as he struggled to move each finger. "After our peace treaty with our fellow Elves, it has been my greatest desire to fight in our dear ally's defense... But look at me; I am old and weak... I can't even lift up a spoon, let alone wielding a sword... I can't walk to that door, let alone defending the Elven homeland..."

The king looked at Roberto sadly. "You're my only hope, son... You must represent my kingdom and me... Your appearance in battle will cement the tie between our nations... And there is only one way that you could do so effectively..."

"Father, you don't have to do this..."

"But I want to, son, for the time has come," King Edward insisted. "For now on, I am no longer the king of the kingdom of Aragon... You are."

"Father..." Roberto was stunned.

"You hear me, son. I am no longer your king. You are now the rightful king of Aragon. Rule wisely, my son..."

"Me... A king...?"

"Lady Murdock, pay your devotion to your new king," the former king ordered.

Before Roberto could protest any further, Maya quickly knelt down before him and bowed her head. "Maya Murdock, paying my devotion to you, King Roberto of Aragon. May you rule wisely, your majesty."

Roberto was speechless. He never dreamed such moment could come this fast. As the future king of Aragon, he had countless dreams for his country. Now Aragon and many others were in disarray, and it was up to him to settle things back to normal. He had the hope of Aragon, and probably the whole realm, lying on his shoulder.

But he was not alone. Roberto gently picked Maya up on her feet and met her smile, glowing with pride. Yes, she would always be there for him. And all his friends would, too. They were now probably somewhere in the Northern Continent, confronting the leader of the Army of Darkness. They were doing their part. It was time for him to do his.

"Very well. Father, please await for the news of my victory."

"The Gods watch over you, my son," the former king said. "Take care."

Roberto refused to look back at him, fearing that he might notice the tears running down his cheek. Maya noticed this, and she carefully brushed the tears with her finger. She looked into his eyes lovingly.

"Your strength with a sword is only matched by the strength of your heart," she said. "Come, the time has come, my king."

And she led him out of the room and along the long corridor of the palace. None of them said anything, knowing that nothing was needed to be said. They got a job to do and a whole realm to save.

They soon arrived at the courtroom of Castle Stromgarde. Maya recognized the room as the place where Atrus, Anna, and herself had been introduced to the royal family of Aragon. Her real journey started here, and she would hate it if the journey ended here. Several people had been waiting for them. Maya recognized Lord Garth, the royal advisor of the court. Captain White Lion, Atrus' father, was there, along with a young woman with flowing priesthood robe she recalled as Priestess Rosa, the temporary High Priestess of Lycra. There were several others from all five factions of the realm, probably representatives for the Alliance Army.

One Human stood forward and spoke up, "We wish to see the king."

"You are looking at him," Roberto replied calmly.

Almost everyone in the room gasped at this. "What do you mean, Prince Roberto?" One asked.

"I am no longer Prince Roberto. From now on, on my father's wish, I am King Roberto of Aragon, the rightful ruler of the Human Kingdom of Aragon. I will rule the kingdom with the blessings of my father and all my ancestors before me. Those who resist my rule resist my father and my ancestors, and therefore have no place in Aragon."

Roberto spoke with such authority in his voice that no one in the room dared to say anything. Lord Garth flashed a quick smile, while Captain White Lion nodded approvingly. Maya just grinned, enjoying the horrified look from some people in the room.

"I have an important matter to attend. If you have no further business, I appreciate if you don't waste my precious time," Roberto continued.

"No, Prin... I mean... King Roberto..." one quickly added, "We wish to report the preparation of the Alliance Army."

"I do not wish to take this into my hands alone," Roberto replied, and then gestured to Maya. "This is Princess Maya Murdock of Blackwell," Maya was dumbfounded with the title Princess he gave him, but made no complaints. "She will serve as my advisor and second-in-command. Speak to her if you wish to report anything concerning the Alliance Army. She has my full authority in this matter. Respect her the same way you would to me."

Again, King Roberto's order confused most of them in the room. They knew Maya had minimal military background. Some of them would rather die than accepting orders from a civilian, or even worse, an ex-slave. But the king's order was final. They just nodded frantically.

"Very well. Princess Maya, you have the lead."

With that, Roberto left the room. Maya casually watched him go, and then turned back at the audience. She just smirked.

"Well, folks, shall we begin?"

Atrus gasped as his lungs demanded for fresh air. But all he got was cold air, chilled for centuries of winter. For a moment he went panic as his lungs felt burning, but settled down as soothing sensation enveloped his body. His lungs ceased to hurt, and his breathing returned to normal. The air he was breathing was now comfortable enough for him to take. Slowly he opened his eyes.

A monster's face was only inches before his eyes.

"Yikes!" Atrus started to take a swing at him, but the monster simply deflected his weak blow.

"Kiddo, it's me, lad! Stop kicking me knee!"

Atrus cringed, trying to get a better look. His vision was blurry, either from his waking up from unconsciousness, or from the gale of cold wind smacking against his face. Slowly his vision was cleared, and he could see the real monster before him.

It was Holgreb the Dwarf. His face was partially covered with the cloak from the thick jacket he was wearing. Some part of his long beard had been frozen, and it seemed that jagged spikes had grown from his chin. Atrus blinked several times and tried to look at him carefully, before exploding in laughter.

"Will ye stop laughing at me already?! You'll choke yourself again, just like the last time!"

Slowly Atrus' memory crept back to surface. He remembered going through the dimension door, crossing the barrier of space and time between Lord Falagor's hut and the mysterious Northern Continent. He remembered running through the dimension tunnel, until he felt a sudden jab of pain in his chest... and then... he couldn't remember.

The pain in his chest? He instinctively touched his chest, covered with thick fur coat. The pain was there. Then he remembered the skirmish near Lord Falagor's hut, where he had been poisoned. The poison remained in his veins. Lord Falagor had to channel his friend' life force to him to keep him alive. He was now still alive, but the pain was still there.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You fainted during our travel through the dimension tunnel," he heard an Elven voice from his back. "You were lucky Adriana saw you before the portal collapsed. You could have trapped in the dark space forever."

"Anna?" Atrus shook his head. "She saved me?"

"Yes. You frightened us all for a moment there," Aurelia said. "You've been unconscious for a few hours now. Do you still remember why we're here?"

He did. He remembered what Lord Falagor had told him. He was to travel to the ruins of Emerald Tower and defeat whatever evil had taken refuge in it. Then he was to replace the seal on the Gate to the Underworld, trapping the evil god Agamesh and his minions in where they belonged.

He nodded.

"Good," the Elf said cheerfully. "How's your chest?"

"Miserable."

The Elf glanced to the Dwarf. "Well, at least he's honest."

"Yeah," Holgreb agreed, "Lying amateurs usually die quicker before they could draw their swords."

"Where is Anna?" Atrus asked. "Where is everyone?"

"Lynn was just here a minute ago," Aurelia explained. "She used her Fairy magic to heal your lungs and warm your body. The air you're breathing right now is instantly warmed the moment it enters your nostrils, so you don't need to choke."

"She's now calling your girl and that magician," Holgreb continued. "They went ahead to scout."

"Anna and Calem?" Atrus frowned. "Have I missed any battles?"

"There seems to be nothing here but a vast field of snowy wasteland surrounded by huge mountains," Aurelia said. "The fact that this was the site of the greatest battle of the Gods still amazes me."

"I told ye before," Holgreb added, "Those Gods were all stupid... They knew nothing but running rampage across the land and flatten yer houses..."

"But this terror must end!" Aurelia snapped. "We still have to defeat Agamesh and, hopefully then, the Gods will leave us alone..." She turned back to Atrus. "According to Adriana's magic, we're somewhere in the southern tip of the Northern Continent. The Emerald Tower should be somewhere north of here..."

"That's right, we're going north," Lynn suddenly showed up from a dimension door, followed by both Anna and Calem. Atrus noticed that Anna's face, partly hidden by the long coat she was wearing, was a bit tense. He was always annoyed when he found her spending time with Calem, as the old wizard seemed to talk... a bit too much.

"What is it?" Atrus demanded.

Anna hesitated, and Calem was staring at him weakly. The rest of the party was silent. For a moment no one spoke.

"Do you really wish to know, Atrus?" Calem asked finally.

"Is there something you wish to hide from me and not from others?" Atrus asked again.

"Atrus, we are not hiding anything from you..." Anna spoke up. "It's just that... I... I don't know if you really want to hear it..."

"I've heard worse. Spit it out!"

Calem sighed loudly, releasing thick vapor from his mouth. He then looked away and closed his eyes. "Your master, Lord Falagor, is no more."

Contrary to what he had said earlier, he was not prepared for this. "W...what?! What do you mean?"

"You heard him, Atrus," Anna said softly. "Our Lord Falagor is gone. I... I'm sorry..."

"Wha... how could this be?" Atrus demanded. "He just saved my life!"

"Indeed," Calem nodded. "You recall how I objected when he was about to use the Lifeleech spell to save your life. The spell would magically absorb some or all of the victim's soul and transform it to the caster to heal his wounds. Lord Falagor made a little modification to the spell, using his own body to channel the life force to you. However..."

"However what?"

"That... that's just... impossible to do..." Anna said. "One's body can only contain one soul. Should one's soul get damaged, it could absorb other souls for healing. If there is some excess soul left, it will be snuffed out, or stored for future use. However, Lord Falagor channeled the souls of four of us instantly through his body. Theoretically, his body would not be able to withstand such load, and would collapse."

"But he did not collapse!" Atrus countered. "He survived!"

"Indeed, he was a great mage." Aurelia said. "But his soul was wounded right after the spell. He knew he wouldn't survive, so he forbid Calem to say anything. Instead, with all of his remaining power, he invoked the dimension door here. That was why the dimension tunnel collapsed sooner than usual..."

"Master Falagor..." Atrus said slowly. "Master Falagor is gone..."

Anna flashed several signals with her eyes to the rest of the group, and they began to disperse, leaving both and Atrus alone. She approached him from behind and circled her arms around his shoulders. He gratefully held her hands against his chest and began to cry. The Champion of the Guardian, the future savior of the realm, the finest warrior chosen by the Gods, was now crying in a mortal girl's embrace.

"He revived me," he said slowly. "After Gideon... without him I would have killed myself... Without him I would never see you again..."

"Without him, the realm would have lost her only savior," Anna said softly. "You are born with a great destiny to take, Atrus White Lion. Lord Falagor has sacrificed himself to make it happen. You must go on and complete what you must do, and his sacrifice will not be in vain."

"But I can't do this!" Atrus roared. "For the destiny I'm going to take, many have lost their lives! Many have fallen to pave my way to victory! I am not without heart! I can't let these deaths go on!"

"And that's what you're doing, Atrus honey..." Anna lovingly stroked his shoulders beneath the thick coat. "You are to stop these deaths from going on and on. Remember, you are fighting not for the dead, but for the living." Anna pulled his gaze toward her. "As for the dead, you are to make sure their dreams lives on."

Atrus threw his gaze toward the great wasteland before him. "They're going to pay... They are all going to pay for this..." He stood up and roared in anger. "All of them!"

"Atrus..." Anna said speechlessly.

"Say no more," Atrus said coldly, still staring at the wasteland. "I will have my revenge."

Roberto returned to the royal courtroom to find Maya waiting for him. There was no one else in the room, which means Maya had taken care of them all. She welcomed him with a grin.

"How's my second-in-command doing?" Roberto asked.

"Never been better," she said.

"So can you give me the summary of the report on the Alliance Army?"

"Sure." She handed in a piece of paper. Dumbfounded to the fact that she had actually taken notes during the audience session, Roberto raised his eyebrows, but received the paper nonetheless. He found only one line written on it. "It says, 'everything is ready'."

Maya waited in anticipation. "So, what do you think?"

"Er..." Roberto drew his breath. "I'm expecting a more detailed summary..."

"Oh, you want that!" Maya drew her breath. "The troop commander reported that all troops are ready to move at any time. The minister of logistics reported that the last needed batch of supply convoy has arrived and is being prepared, as we speak. Captain White Lion reported that his Rangers detachment is standing by just outside the castle and waiting for further orders. The final Dwarven detachment has also arrived and is getting ready to depart. The Wizards also reported that they are ready to open the gate to the land of Elom as soon as you are ready. Finally, the Fairies will be joining our main group in Elom as soon as we arrive. The same goes for the priestesses of Lycra."

For a moment Roberto was silent, struggling to digest all the information. Finally he admitted that the true summary was indeed 'everything is ready'. He was soon marveled at Maya's ability to memorize everything from the audience.

"My smart little girl," he smirked, "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, boss," Maya smiled. "Anyway, the troops are ready for you."

Roberto nodded. "Let's meet them."

"We're going north now," Atrus said aloud, annoyed that the blizzard around him slightly masked his voice. "We're going to make them pay!"

No one in the group objected to that, although everyone was quite concerned with Atrus' newly found energy from his anger. All of them had seen how Atrus could transform into a formidable brawler when he was in anger. While most of them were concerned with his current injury from the poison, Anna was more concerned with his desire for vengeance. She had never seen him burning with passion for revenge before, and she was quite terrified. She feared his anger, but more than that, she feared she might lose him in the process.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 12b



"Beware, Atrus, don't let your anger cloud your mind..." Calem said carefully.

"I don't care, let's just get over with this!" Atrus said quickly. He took a stride toward the north before doubling over, holding his chest and coughing heavily. "Damn," he cursed.

Anna quickly came to his aid and eased his breathing with her magic. Atrus nodded in gratitude to her, and then turned toward the others. The Elf, the Dwarf, the Fairy, and the Wizard were all there, staring at him with concern in their eyes. The normal Atrus would have stopped and asked what was wrong, but the anger driven Atrus would not. He was quite annoyed.

"What are you waiting for? We have a realm to save! Come on!"

The party hesitated, as they all took turns to glance at Anna. Anna was quite speechless to the change in Atrus' personality. While she could understand his anger and sadness of losing his teacher, she could never expect to see him that mad. She just nodded to everyone.

"Atrus," Calem spoke up. "I do have something I must perform. I haven't donated my part of the soul. Will you allow me to give you my part?"

"Go ahead, Old Man, and do it quick," Atrus said, but hesitated. "You're not planning on dying, are you?"

For a moment the group thought Atrus was trying to make a joke, but his serious stare changed their mind. "No, of course not," Calem replied.

He then approached Atrus, put his hand on Atrus' shoulder and invoked the Lifeleech spell. Instantly Atrus felt refreshing mist entering his veins, numbing his pain and strengthening his muscles. He nodded at him approvingly.

"Well, I'm ready now," Atrus said. "Shall we go?"

"We will catch you up," Calem said. "We need to pack our camp first. You and Adriana can go first. We will catch you up in ten minutes or so."

Anna quickly noticed Calem's hard glare and turned to Atrus. "Come on, honey. I'll help you along..."

"I can walk on my own!" Atrus said gruffly, and began walking away.

Anna stared at him sadly for a moment, saddened by the rejection. The rest of the group looked at her with sympathy, but said nothing. Slowly she began to follow him toward the north, where their destination lay.

"Poor Adriana..." Aurelia the Elf said. "How could he hurt her feeling like that!"

"I'm telling you, that kiddo is not himself!" Holgreb commented. "He seems... possessed. Must be one of those Gods thingy."

"We must understand him," Calem said. "He's being ripped apart."

"Ripped apart? How?" The Elf asked again.

"This is to fulfill Lord Guardian's prophecy. Agony beyond imagination will threaten him. He will be tortured from inside out. Only then will he be ready to accept his destiny."

"I can understand him," Lynn said softly. "I felt the same way when I lost Falstoff." She turned to Calem. "I owe you one for beating me back to my senses."

Calem smiled. "No trouble at all."

"So who can beat him back to his senses?" Holgreb asked.

Aurelia sighed. "I'm sure Adriana can do it. But I fear she's just too heartbroken to do so. Poor Adriana..."

"She loves him so dearly she's willing to die for him," Lynn said. "Adriana loves him, Captain White Lion honors him, Lord Falagor died for him, and the Gods chose him. I too will lay down my life to see him fulfill his destiny."

"Right," Aurelia nodded. "Perhaps, then, he will find refuge from his sadness."

"Don'cha worry, I'll protect him like a hawk!" Holgreb said. "Well, enough talk! Let's follow the kid!"

And they did follow him.

King Roberto, riding his horse, couldn't help but gasp.

Before him was the vast landscape of the countryside around the city of Stromgarde the capital city of Aragon. But instead of farmlands, the land was covered with thousands of beings from all major races of the realm. This time, instead of fighting each other, however, they were all here for a common cause, their very own survival. Human Knights, Pikemen, Archers, and Rangers stood side by side with the Dwarven folks, consisting of their proud Axemen, fearless Berserkers, and Crossbowmen. The Wizards, consisting of many races in their ranks, were all ready with their own spell books in their hand. And at the other side of the realm, Roberto knew, the Fairies would be ready to support the troops with their heavenly songs.

He stared at them with pride. This was indeed the Alliance Army. Or half of it.

Riding next to him was a squire, desperately trying to ride properly. He was tasked to carry King Roberto's prized weapon, the gigantic Kaiser Sword. With the size of four feet in length and a foot in width, the blade was quite a bulky burden to carry, especially if one didn't know how to carry it properly. Most people will be amazed at Roberto's ability to wield the sword with ease.

Following on his other side was a war chariot, but the one riding on it was more important. Princess Maya Murdock, the future queen of Aragon and the second-in-command for the Alliance Army, stood proud on the chariot, watching in awe on so many men and women ready for battle. She wore a full set of studded leather armor with ring padding around her chest and waist. The armor bore the symbol of the Kingdom of Aragon, fresh from the castle forge. While she had no real military experience, she stood with such confidence that elicited awe and respect from the soldiers and military commanders.

Riding along with the group was the newly promoted Commander Hawk, the Supreme Commander of the Alliance Army, in control of all five races in the army. He rode proud on his horse, carrying his long spear. An old Dwarven general named Kerish was riding a chariot, leading his Dwarven army. The stable master had tried to assign him a pony, and failed, to the general's embarrassment. Besides, it was said that the general preferred to lead the army on foot, marching along with his men.

Riding behind him was Garmeon, the temporary Arch-Wizard of the Magi. He was going to lead the mages in the battle. Sign of weariness was apparent in his face. Only days ago, the wizards had lost their second home in the Northern Peninsula to the demons. The wizard was now ready to repay his losses. Behind him was the war hero, the reinstated Commander White Lion, the leader of the Human Ranger detachment. After so many years, Atrus' foster father finally put his enchanted white armor back on. The legendary Holy Sword was back in his hand, and his old bow was again strapped on his back.

Missing from the group of leaders was Lyra the Fairy, leader of the Fairies. She would be joining the group at the battlefield. The Elves had already begun fortifying their position in Elom, and it was rumored that Prince Farn himself would be leading it. Finally, Priestess Rosa from the Holy Order of Lycra had also promised to join the army in Elom, along with her ranks of priestesses of Lycra.

As the group rode away from the protective walls of Stromgarde, the entire Alliance Army roared together, demonstrating their eagerness to go to battle. Roberto stared at the ocean of troops lining up before him, with pride and pity mixed together. Most of these troops, he knew, were villagers whose family members had been killed throughout the war. While there were people with true dedication to their cause, such as White Lion's Rangers and the Elven troops, all were respectable armies with the sole purpose of defending their homeland and the realm. But the rest were either mercenaries looking for gold and fame, or conscripts seeking for vengeance. The latter concerned him the most, since undisciplined, anger-driven troops were very hard to control, and therefore, very hard to be kept alive.

In this case, Maya's advice in having Hawk as the leader of the Human army was indeed sound. Hawk, unlike other young commanders, possessed unique leadership skills that impressed friends and foes alike. He would charge forward, and his men would follow suit, screaming like crazy. He would fall back, and his men would retreat slowly, without anyone leaving the formation or running away from the battle. Since Hawk was going to be busy as the Supreme Commander of the Alliance Army, Commander White Lion would be taking over the responsibility if necessary. Again, everyone respected the war hero and would certainly obey him to the letter.

Dwarven General Kerish fidgeted uneasily on his chariot. "Are you sure this is going to work, King Roberto?"

Roberto just smiled. They were going to do the craziest thing one would ever think of in tinkering around with magic. The use of Dimension Door spell as a means of transportation was quite common for a mid level mage. The spell would create a magical tunnel breaching through the fabric of time and space, making a trip between two places separated by thousands of miles possible in a very short time.

This time they were going to try something different. They were not only going to send a person into the dimension tunnel. They were going to march the entire Alliance Army into the tunnel and send them across the continent, all the way to the valley near the remnants of Mount Karigor, in the Elven land of Elom. Roberto's own brainchild, this plan would cut the army traveling time to almost nothing, giving them more time to rest up and fortify the battlefield. Doing so, however, would require full concentration of at least a full detachment of experienced mages, as the energy required to maintain such anomaly of time and space would normally be enormous.

And Kerish, just like other typical Dwarves, was not as familiar with magic as anybody else. The fact that this whole stunt was freaking him out was quite normal.

"Don't worry, General," Roberto glanced at Garmeon. "I'm sure our wizard allies know what they're doing. Our names will go down in history."

"As heroes or as dead fools?" the Dwarf asked.

Roberto chuckled. "As very successful guinea pigs."

The Dwarf didn't get the joke and swallowed hard. But after the entire group exploded in laughter, he let out an annoyed groan and produced a little smile. A practical joke at such troubled time was always welcomed. The weary generals could definitely use some breathing room.

But Roberto threw his gaze back to his soldiers. How many of these people will remain alive after the war, he thought. Would I be one of them? This war had taken a toll in his life, and he just wanted to finish it. But they were incapable to do so. The purpose of this war was just to distract the demonic army long enough for Atrus and his companions to do their part. If Atrus failed to seal off the Gate to the Underworld, this war would be lost.

He caught Maya staring at him in concern. He knew she understood his fear. She could only beckon him to trust in Atrus' ability. The fact that Atrus was indeed the Champion of the Guardian gave him little peace, but nothing more.

He could only trust him. That's all.

Lord Daemon dismissed his subordinates with a simple swipe of his hand. He was tired. He was tired of this war. Moreover, he was tired of losing this war. This time, he had to win.

And his plan was flawless. There was no possible way that he could lose. The demonic army would come in legions, effectively overrunning the realm with overwhelming numbers. As soon as the portal between the Underworld and this realm was established, nothing could stop them. That pitiful ragtag Alliance Army would definitely challenge them, but they were just delaying the inevitable. Their troops would fall before the powerful demonic army, and their tormented souls would be fitting decorations to the halls of the Underworld. Then, once again, Agamesh his lord could demote the Gods and rule the realm with iron fist.

He approached the one who had captivated his heart and kept him company for years of his reign of terror.

"How are you feeling, my dearest Gaea?" he asked mischievously. "Have you considered my proposal yet?"

"Don't waste your effort, demon," she scolded. "Your demise is at hand."

Goddess Gaea, the protector of the realm, was still strapped on her humiliating throne. The throne was just a long horizontal padded board where she rested her body against. It had no seat. The captured goddess was hung by her arms over her head, while both her legs were hoisted up toward both corners of the wall, revealing her privates to all eyes and providing easy access to the demon lord should he wish to defile her. She was wearing a dress made from smooth, thin, see-through material that lightly covered her body, but still provided easy access to any hands. A steel band adorned with imitation gems circled her forehead, serving as a crown, in a mocking way, of course. The crown was also to remind her that once the Lord of Darkness seized the lordship of the realm from the Gods, she would be Daemon's, serving him unwillingly forever.

The final battle was at hand, and her fate was to be decided. And Lord Daemon seemed to take delight in crushing every hint of hope she might find.

Daemon casually kneaded her breast and pinched her left nipple playfully. "Of course, you are still expecting your so-called savior to come and set you free."

"Actually, I don't want to be free," she replied coldly. "I only need to see him slay you, and my desire is fulfilled."

Daemon just grinned. "I still don't understand you, my dear. You have such great honor of being here with me. You know that pawn of mine... what's her name...? Ursula! You know what she's doing now? I don't think servicing the lust of hundreds of Orcs and Goblins in their bloody dirty barracks really appeals to you."

Gaea saw her chance and didn't waste it. "Honestly, serving those critters would be thousands times much desirable than even seeing your face, Lord Daemon."

With speed unperceivable to normal eyes, the slap came hard, drawing a loud shriek from the defeated Goddess. While her divine properties prevented the blow from drawing blood, the bruise was painful enough to get her to sob pitifully. Within hours, the bruise would heal. This was one of many advantages of being divine that she came to despise.

"You ask for it, slave! If you are to be my bride, you might as well start learning how to behave before my subjects."

"There will be no such thing!" Gaea hissed. "The Champion will slay you, just like in the Ancient Prophecy. Your fate is sealed. You are one of the bad guys, and you are dead already!"

"Precisely," Daemon grinned. "Can this Champion kill a dead man? Can he kill me if he's already a dead man?"

The demon lord waved his hand in the air, and a view of the wasteland outside the Emerald Tower came to view. Also seen in the view were six small figures making their way through the blizzard. Daemon enjoyed seeing how the expression in Gaea's face changed from curious to horrified.

"They thought they could just stab me from the back door. Well, I'm not surprised." He stared into the vision intently. "I've ordered some of my best minions to meet with them and... uh... entertain them. Besides, I want to welcome them in my new domain, true?"

He walked toward the goddess and pinched her nipple painfully, drawing a gasp from her. "Meanwhile, we can have our fun. Death always turns me on, don't you agree?"

"Don't touch me!" she cried.

"Oh, don't tell me you don't miss my touch," Daemon sneered. "I promise it's going to be raw and hot."

His hand pushed away the veil that covered her crotch and grabbed her clit. She began to twist and jerk around, but that only increased her stimulation. Soon her body gave up and began its journey to submission.

The party walked slowly, inch by inch, through the raging blizzard. While they could walk probably twice as fast, none wanted to do so. Their fearless leader, Atrus, was already laboring with his breathing, and bringing the topic up would only get him to push himself over his limit. The poison inside was eating him slowly. Their destination was still nowhere in sight, and some were worried that they might not get there before it was too late.

Some of the party members were also worried about Atrus' sudden change of personality. The Champion of the Guardian was now a cold, angry man, ready to kill anyone in sight. While this might, in a way, serve their purpose, Atrus was never a cold-blooded killer. His Ranger training had taught him the ethics of slaying his foes. But right now, he was no more than a berserker turned loose.

Only Anna was willing to tend him. She remained close by his side, helping him walk despite his harsh treatment. For many times Atrus had refused her help, and most of the time, in a very rough manner, but the priestess remained stubborn and caring. Atrus' behavior sometimes sickened his other companions, but they had no choice. They had to understand him.

He was being ripped apart from inside out.

There was nothing left inside of him but murderous intent. And vengeance.

"So, this was the place of a great battle?" Holgreb's voice came faint due to the blizzard.

Calem smiled at the Dwarf's attempt to break the surly mood, although Atrus and Anna, who were ahead of them, couldn't hear it. "Yeah, there used to be a kingdom in this continent. A prosperous one, they said also. Too bad the war against the demons really devastated the land. The kingdom was utterly destroyed and the villagers were slaughtered. They said this field was a site of a great massacre."

Aurelia stopped on her track for a moment and threw her gaze at the endless field of snow. "I wonder if after the war the great forest of Elom will meet the same fate..."

Without letting her finish, Holgreb casually nudged the tip of his battleaxe on the Elf's ass, making her yelp. "Don'cha worry! Yer sweetheart will be defending yer homeland, right matey? Besides, we're not talking about a massacre! We're gonna win!"

The Elf stared at him sharply. "Yeah, but that's not a reason to touch me there, Dwarf!!"

"Actually, she has a point," Lynn the Fairy joined the conversation, although still in her usual surly mood. "We still don't know what await us in the Emerald Tower. With the Champion's condition, it's really hard to keep our hope high."

"But we can't give up now!" Calem insisted. "We've gone way too far to give up now!"

"It's not that! It's just my anxiety is entirely valid!" Lynn defended herself.

"Of course I know that," Calem quickly added. "It's just that I believe our cause is right. Besides, we have the Gods in our side. There is no reason for us to doubt our task. Also, we will start..."

The wizard never finished his sentence as he stopped his stroll suddenly, almost not moving a single muscle. Both Holgreb and Aurelia just stared at him curiously, but Lynn quickly understood what was going on. She called both Atrus and Anna to stop their progress as well.

"What's going on?" Atrus demanded impatiently.

"Something is out there..." the wizard muttered under his breath, just faint enough to be heard clearly by his comrades.

Atrus instinctively drew his Sword of Faith, which was now glowing faintly in his grip. He was quite curious with his magical sword's behavior, but decided to ignore it for now.

The party formed a ring of defense around Atrus, currently the weakest member in the group. While the rest of the group maintained silence to locate their enemy, Calem knew better.

"Show yourself, demon!" He screamed out loud, his voice penetrating the blizzard.

For a moment everyone in the party considered the wisdom of revealing their position to the enemy. However, all knew that it would make very little difference.

Only one thing mattered. They had been discovered. Now their lives, the mission, and the fate of the realm were in jeopardy.

Gaea grunted involuntarily as the demon lord slammed his member deep inside her. Despite her undying resistance, her many years of imprisonment had driven her to succumb to the growing lust in her. At this moment, resistance was futile, and would only work against her.




The Ancient Prophecy Ch. 12b



"Observe carefully, my princess," Daemon mused and waved his hand toward the glowing vision before her. "I have found them. They have nowhere else to go."

"No... Nowhere else... to go...?" Gaea struggled to reply.

"Precisely, my dear," the demon lord snickered while mauling her breasts casually. "They have nowhere else to go but here, or to their untimely death. Either way, they will make their way to me. Then I will do to them as I wish."

"W...what are you... going to do...?"

Daemon smiled and savored her fear. "Just observe, my dear. Observe..."

A lone figure appeared faintly against the horizon. The blizzard made it hard for any without magical aid to notice it. The figure seemed humanoid enough, with human-like appearance, but it seemed to be alone.

"Dang, he's just one guy!" Holgreb mused. "Let's take him out!"

"No, looks can be deceiving," Calem said. "He might look frail, but I can sense his power."

"Oh, how?" Aurelia asked.

"That man is a necromancer, a high priest of the dead."

"I've killed a necromancer once," Atrus said. "He was tough, but can be defeated."

"But you have a greater mission to do, Champion," Calem replied. "There is no need for you to heed his challenge. Let me handle this."

Atrus frowned. "What are you thinking, old man? At times like this, I would rather have us traveling together than dispersing."

To the party's surprise, as they were arguing the blizzard around them slowed down and was reduced to softly falling snowflakes, gentle and calm. The vision before them was cleared, revealing a large field between the party and the lone necromancer.

The horrified thought immediately struck the wizard. "There is no time to lose! All of you, keep going to the Emerald Tower! I'll handle this monstrosity!"

"B...but..." Aurelia protested.

"There is no time! Go!"

Two large bolts of lightning struck the ground with such power that shook the earth mightily. The blinding fast came immediately, which would have definitely scarred their eyes had Anna not projected a magic barrier around them in time. But as the vision cleared up, another horrifying view lay await. The large field before them was now crowded with figures, thousands of them. Most of the figures were humanoid, with various sizes. The figures were all limping toward them, carrying whatever bits of flesh still hanging in their bones. Eerie groans filled the air with pure horror.

"Zombies..." Holgreb said in disgust.

"This field was once a site of a great battle..." Lynn said, her voice shaking with fear.

"They used to fight each other," Aurelia mused. "Now they're fighting a common enemy. Us."

Then the wind began to pick up, and the blizzard was restored. Atrus spotted Calem just as he finished chanting his spell.

"What have you done, old man?" he demanded.

"I restored the blizzard," Calem replied. "The necromancer stopped the storm before. The storm would actually serve to mask your approach to the tower. Make haste now! I'll hold them back!"

"But what are you going to do then? Atrus asked.

"I will rejoin you in the tower! Now go! The rest of you, protect the Champion of the Guardian at all cost! Adriana, see to it!"

Everyone in the party voiced their readiness. Anna, who had been silent throughout the ordeal, just nodded.

"Now, go, go, go!"

With heavy heart, the party departed toward the now-raging storm, Lynn being the last. Calem gave the Fairy his reassuring smile, then disappeared among the blizzard. The Fairy considered saying goodbye, decided against it, and just proceeded after the rest of the party.

The battle fought long ago would have its rematch.

Prince Roberto marched proudly before his massive troops, along with his trails of heroes. Behind them, the majestic view of Castle Stromgarde slowly disappeared beyond the horizon. For a moment Roberto wondered if he would ever see his homeland again, the very land he would rule upon with the blessings of his ancestors.

The court wizard Lord Garth had been kind enough to announce the army's travel route to the surrounding villages and towns. Starting from the small supply town of Rocklin, and followed by three other villages along the way, hundreds of peasants had gathered to see the army off. The men gave hearty cheer and the women sang songs of praises to the passing army. The Alliance Army, whose morale had hit rock bottom due to the upcoming battle, was really rejoiced to see the cheerful, merry face of the people of Aragon. This, they knew, was only a small part of the realm they were trying to save. Deep inside, they knew, that somewhere out there, from the outer ring of the Forest of Elom to the vast Desert of Desolation, the dwellers of the land all prayed for their victory and save return.

With this very knowledge understood, the army gratefully returned the cheer mightily and mingled with the villagers to their best ability without seriously affecting their formation or discipline. Food was freely shared, promises were exchanged, and mementos were swapped.

Roberto had told his leaders not to stop these from happening. As their love of those they left behind grew stronger, their morale and vows of victory and survival grew stronger. A sense of brotherhood among the troops grew as well. The Humans of Aragon praised their Elven and Dwarven allies just as strongly as their racial brethrens, fascinating both foreign races. They would never look at their racial allies the same way again. Never in their lifetime would they raise arms against their former allies. Roberto smiled at the prospect. These troops, should they survive the war, would be the stalwart protector of the realm, and the symbol of brotherhood of the citizens of the realm.

Should they survive the war, of course.

Before him now lay a large green pasture where their wizard allies had been waiting. On this very pasture, the largest, and probably craziest invention in the history would be attempted. On this very pasture would stand the biggest magic portal ever erected, which would link the kingdom of Aragon with the Forest of Elom, the site of the final battle. Then, the Alliance Army would march through by thousands.

General Kerish shifted uneasily on his chariot. Roberto could understand the Dwarf. This was indeed a crazy attempt. If something went wrong, the entire Alliance Army would be trapped in the arcane fabric of space, helpless and lost to time itself.

They had to succeed. They had no choice.

"King Roberto..."

Roberto quickly turned to Maya, who gave him a grave look. She threw her finger toward the northern sky. He saw a mysterious gathering of dark clouds just over the horizon. It seemed to come from the Northern Continent, and it was spreading south.

"Atrus..." Maya mouthed weakly. "The battle has begun..."

Roberto nodded slowly. Silently he chanted a prayer of Atrus' party's safety. He had a nagging feeling that they were going to need it.

Another phrase said, and the powerful spell was triggered. Wave after wave of flaming balls slammed on the desecrated wasteland, scattering the vast army of zombies and burning their already decayed flesh. The view was so horrifying that Calem couldn't watch his own destruction before him. These walking corpses used to be citizens of the realm, he told himself, and now he was killing them again.

Is this why...? Is this really the reason...?

"You can't bear to see it, can you?" his foe sneered in his sinister voice. "It's against you, isn't it?"

"You make me do it, necromancer!" Calem replied angrily.

"Yet you can feel it, can't you? The guilt. The terrible guilt for the terrible lie you withhold."

"Silence!" Calem roared.

The silent necromancer reappeared amidst the raging blizzard, walking slowly toward him. "You founded the Order of the Magi yourself, Calem, with a vision that wizards should offer their wisdom for the greater good of the realm." The necromancer chuckled bitterly. "And how does it feel when the very creatures you're trying to guide turn against you, Calem? It hurts, doesn't it?"

Calem was silent.

"Doesn't it, Calem?!" The necromancer insisted. "Now you know the feeling! You know how hurt it was to be abandoned. Abandoned and banished. Banished and exiled. Exiled and alone."

"Alexander," Calem mouthed, horrified. "You're alive..."

"As it should be. Never think you can get rid of me easily, old man."

"You haven't repented, Alexander," the wizard said.

"Silence, old man!" Alexander cried. "You have no right to judge me!"

"You studied the forbidden art of necromancy, Alexander!" Calem countered. "The art of wizardry is supposed to be used for the good of the realm, not for one's selfish desire!"

"You still live in the delusion of your principle, huh old man? Look at yourself! Where's your once proud wizards army? What has befallen upon them?"

"Enough, Alexander!"

The necromancer was pleased to find everything falling into place. "How does it feel, Calem? When the races of the realm, the very creatures you were trying to serve and protect, turned against you? Feel the hurt! Feel the pain! Feel my pain!"

"You ask for it, Alexander!"

Calem dashed toward the dark wizard, oblivious to the raging storm around him. His mind raced to discover one most pleasant way to kill his former apprentice. A few alternatives came into his mind, and as more choices revealed themselves, his advance became faster and faster.

But a small voice inside him broke free. Why? Why is he doing this? To heal his pain? And at what cost?

Suddenly he realized what the dark wizard was trying to do. Quickly he erased the spells from his mind, and with skills gained only after years of study and training, prepared new ones that would serve his new purpose. He chanted his spell and hurled a large fireball from his fingertip.

"Fool!" Alexander sneered. "I am a necromancer, the master of destruction!"

With that, he raised his hand and summoned a long spear of dark energy from the Underworld. The dark spear streaked through the air and toward Calem. The two offensive energy forces met in the air, but the fireball, severely weakened by the blizzard around it, succumbed to the superior power and was extinguished immediately. The dark spear resumed its course toward the target and pierced Calem right through his stomach.

The arch wizard collapsed on his knees, weakly clutching the impaling spear on his belly. The necromancer let out his twisted laughter. The favor of the battle had been tipped over.

"Not so proud anymore, huh old man?" Alexander sneered. "How does it feel to sense your death approaching so close?"

Calem slowly lifted his head to face his opponent, and to the necromancer's horror, the wizard was smiling. A split second later, a similar spear made out of magically enchanted ice impaled the necromancer squarely on the chest, but this one was from behind. Alexander collapsed on his knees, his face twisted his disbelief on how Calem could conjure a second spell without his knowing.

And Calem gladly revealed the reason.

"My pride has sent me and my wizards to our doom... and our pride has killed both of us..." Calem said weakly due to his mortal wound. "But we're different... I repented... I know..."

Alexander tried to reply, but the shadow of death won the race. His form twisted in agony as dark energy escaped from his body toward the sky. As his dark power left him, his lifeless body collapsed to the ground with Calem's ice spear serving as his gravestone.

Calem weakly looked toward the north, where his friends were still making their journey toward the Emerald Tower. "I'm sorry... Atrus..."

And he too collapsed to the ground.

Atrus too collapsed to the ground.

"Atrus!" Anna went panic instantly and went down to help him stand.

"My chest..." he replied weakly. "It's burning...!"

Anna just stared helplessly as he twisted on the ground. Her divine healing spells would do nothing but hurt him more. Holgreb and Aurelia just finished their last Goblin pursuers and rejoined the group. Lynn knelt down and touched Atrus' forehead, examining him.

"This is most weird," she whispered. "The magic is weakening..."

Suddenly Atrus' eyes went wide open and he gasped in pain. "C...Calem..."

"He has not returned yet," Anna offered.

But he harshly brushed it away. "No... Calem..." Atrus gasped again. "Calem... gone..."

The message struck the party hard. Lynn gasped in disbelief, while others were dead silent. The last member of the Warriors of the Guardian had fallen.

"I can't believe it..." Lynn muttered softly. "The old benevolent wizard is gone..."

"Dang it, those bastards are gonna pay fer it!" Holgreb roared.

"Let's keep calm, everyone," Anna insisted. "We must concentrate on our mission. Let's just get Atrus to the Emerald tower for now."

"Adriana is right," Aurelia agreed. "If we stay here for too long, the demons may discover us. The tower is almost in sight. We must get moving..."

The Elf stopped her speech as Holgreb raised his arm. He curiously sniffed the air, and then a vicious smile blossomed in his mouth. "How convenient. Smells like Orcs around 'ere..."

"We must go now, then," Anna said.

"No, you go along," Holgreb countered. "With Atrus hobblin' around like that, we're never gonna lose 'em. Go now. I'll hold 'em back fer ye!"

"Silly Dwarf, this is not time to get separated again!" Aurelia scolded.

"Don'cha worry, Elf! It would take dozens of dozens of giants to take me down!" The Dwarf said cheerfully, the passion of battle burning in his eyes. "Now go! We'll meet near the tower base!"

Before any offered more protest, the Dwarf left them. Anna was feeling pretty miserable now. Atrus was still too occupied with his pain, Lynn was too downed in sadness, and Aurelia was as confused as ever. But they had no other choice. Holgreb's bold action would grant them a few minutes, which, in this case, was priceless.

Also, in this case, the difference between boldness and foolishness was small indeed.

"Let us move, then," Anna said. "Lynn, help me with Atrus here. Aurelia, take lead and scout ahead for us. Calem wanted us to protect Atrus at all cost. We're going to grant him his last request."

The troops emerged from the swirling dark hole, and the majestic view of the Elom countryside welcomed them.

For Roberto and Maya, this was not really the case. This site brought back many bitter memories for both of them, especially for Roberto. This site used to be a damned place called the Swamp of Dread. This place used to be the barrier to Mount Karigor far ahead, the former stronghold of the Dark Elves. When the party enlisted the Elven help on the Alliance before the Plague of the Undead, they had to help Aurelia retrieve the gold figurine of Agar, the Defender of Earth, from the stronghold. Their deeds had closed another Gate deep within the mountain and collapsed a wall connecting the surface to the bowels of the earth. The mountain erupted mightily and the swamp was instantly covered with molten lava.

Now everything had changed, of course. The fertile soil left by the lava allowed farmlands to be built, the Human's gift for the Elven people for their contribution to the Alliance. The Elves were thankful, as long as the farmlands would not violate their sacred forest, and the Humans simply preferred to extend their farms toward and around the mountain, making full use of the fertile land left by the lava. The Elves supported this, as the farms helped get rid of the fateful memory of their dark brethrens deep inside the stronghold.

Now, however, the farmlands were abandoned. The farmers had taken shelter in the forest among the Elves for the preparation of war. And the view of the abandoned land seemed awfully similar with the accursed Swamp of Dread they had encountered a few years ago.

"Brings back quite some memories, eh?" Maya asked casually.

"Yeah..." Roberto mused. "Some of them I don't really want to recall. I've met allies, yet I have paid dearly for it. Because of my immaturity, my friends like Anna and Aurelia had to suffer."

Maya offered a warm smile. "What's past is past, and those events really made you who you are right now. Considering so, I believe none of them would mind. We've shared too many together."

"We indeed have," Roberto nodded at Commander Hawk, who was now taking point far ahead of the army. "Hawk has always been there for me, especially when Atrus and I haven't gotten along well. I owe him much."

"Just as all of us. We owe each other our life, and our friendship is enough to make everything even. If you ever bring up one of those moments to Master Atrus when you and he almost killed each other, I'm sure he couldn't help but laugh to tears."

Roberto grinned at her last remark. "You still regard Atrus as your master, and he's just a friend. When we get married, I hope you don't start calling me something crazy."

"Master Atrus is not just an ordinary friend, just like all of you," Maya replied earnestly, then posed her most naughty grin. "Besides, I've prepared what I should call you once we're married..."

"Oh boy..."

Their conversation was distracted when someone pointed their finger toward the western sky. Beyond the hill was a group of soldiers waiting for them. Although they were still far away, Roberto could quickly recognize the tips of the typical Elven longbows the Elven bowmen were wielding. Separated from them and matching their Human counterparts, were a squad of Elven Rangers, wearing their traditional green camouflage suits and wielding the dreaded Elven warbows. Elven Rangers were once a thorn in Human's side, capable of fiercely defending their forest homeland from Human invasions. Their warbows possessed short blades on both ends, enabling them to enter melee combat with equal proficiency, something the Human Rangers never put much thought into.

And suddenly a rush of wind blew around them as a large horde of lesser dragons swept over the passing army. The troops cheered loudly at the majestic view before them. The Elven Dragonriders were the grandest addition to the Alliance Army since Atrus and his party recovered the long lost figurine of Agar from the Dark Elves. By using lesser dragons as their allies, the Dragonriders could easily provide cover fire with their bows before going offensive with their long lances. These many roles, although not as proficient in melee as the Human Knights or Dwarven Berserkers, and not as deadly with bows as their longbow brethrens or the Rangers, made them extremely versatile in battle.

The leader of the Dragonriders, which was also the leader of the Elven army, Prince Farn, hovered before them and threw a full salute. "Prince Farn, on behalf of Queen Falencia, and all Elven people of Elom, salutes and welcomes you all to our humble homeland."

"Greetings and best wishes go to you and your queen, Prince Farn!" Roberto cried back. "We heard there would be a battle here, so we would like to join in!"

Farn smiled and stretched out his hand in a traditional gesture of Elven welcome. "Then, my friends and allies, by all means join us! Why should we cut down the precious woods in Elom if we can build a mighty bonfire upon the remains of our enemies?!"

The Elves and the Humans, who had been spending most of the last millennium fighting over the woods, cheered at the remark.

General Kerish, the leader of the Dwarven army, chipped in. "Tonight, we shall feast upon the flesh of our enemies!"

The entire Dwarven army chorused their excitement, although Roberto flinched slightly at the thought of eating rotten Goblin flesh for supper.

Garmeon the Arch-mage responded with the same intensity. "We the wizards of the realm live to serve you all! How would you like your dinner served, well done or medium rare?!"