It has been a long time since he has seen the light now.He spent so much time within the earth, trapped in his own prison, of his own making and design. Tunnels and twisting corridors that snaked and melded together. Within lied thousands of chambers for various persons, and he somehow found the use of each. Even those with little will carry out their piece of the puzzle. Till he figured that the puzzle could not be any more perfect. He even designed this throne room. A dark hollow chamber, large columns lining its sides, draperies of red and black, and the blazing insignia of Talin that decorated each one. The main floor empty, enough to fit a thousand people abreast, laid bare with only a few servants walking aimlessly around, their hands seemingly uncomfortable without holding or fixing anything. Their white, almost mist-like dress makes them appear like ghosts, a partial truth in honesty. They were indeed far from human.His dark eyes drifted to the door, large iron sets that wou

Last Updated : 2022-09-19

Chapter 1 Broken Arrow

Within the Liontari Kingdom, on the edge of where the plains meet the strange Forest of Secrets, there nestles a town hidden in the rolling hills. While it was quite the sprawl, large walls completely engulf it, skewing it from view. The dark forest looms ominously nearby, like a monster ready to fall upon them. Outside, farmlands decorate its exterior, where workers labor to gather the harvest before the coming winter, while men watched their efforts, as well as the hills beyond. Women and men alike bustled the tired streets in their day-to-day tasks, easy-going as it can be for this lax time of year. Children played after their school hours, acting as knights, damsels, lions, and dragons of legend. Such knights patrolled the streets as they chatted and monitored their homes. All things were peaceful, and no alarm had yet penetrated the gates of BrokenArrow. The town of peace and natural life.Beyond the borders, the hills and forest meet in a small concave dome. Here, two people spe

Last Updated : 2022-09-19

Chapter 2 The Enemy Returns

Festivities Brokenarrow had become alive once again. As the day slowly rolled into the evening, and the people came out in droves to prepare for the coming banquet, and festivals, Anyone could feel the palpable energy flowing in the air. Why would there not be? It is such a rare occasion that a knight is chosen within the plains, it is practically a requirement that celebrations must be had. Lyse has experienced many birthdays and other events where he was at the center of it all. But those were always focused just on his family and himself, with some blessings given by the other townsfolk. But tomorrow was different. It was just too surreal, to think so much could be done for just one person. As he saw tables being dragged into the central courtyard, tents being raised just for games, and musicians tuning their instruments to prepare their fanfare. Lyse even noticed some of his favorite tunes being practiced, no doubt commissioned by his parents. Lyse was just left standing near

Last Updated : 2022-09-19

Chapter 3 The Path Paved

Lyse sat on the dirt road that led to what used to be his home. Now, it was a hollow shell of Ash and cinders slowly sputtering under the cold night. His lungs still heaved as if still filled with smoke, but he did not care enough to notice. His hands were still caked in his father's blood, and he stared into the burnt house where his body still lay. He did not look at his mother, her unconscious body still lying limp a few meters away. He was still trying to comprehend the past few hours. Was it even real? Of course, it is, he convinced himself. Not even in his wildest dreams could he conjure such things. The only question left for him to ask was why. Why did this happen? He was so engrossed with his thoughts that he did not notice the call of his own name. Then, slowly, as if pulled from the abyss, he came to realize the wolf sage shouted his name, holding onto a wound on the side of his mother's gut with a determined look in her eyes. "Pay attention," she told him. Then, she grab

Last Updated : 2022-09-19

Chapter 4 Attacks from the Dark

By morning, they were off. Lyse and Edlund said goodbye to all their friends, the few who lived in the village. Those who lived on their estate were nowhere to be seen that morning. Hardly anyone took the time to greet them. Men and women sifted through some of the burnt houses for any property, a body covered in blood and ash. Finally, they were claimed by the masked doctor, who loaded them all on carts for proper pyre funerals. They wished to visit Lidia's noble family on the hill. Still, the doors didn't seem open for any visitors, as guards were patrolled even more tightly and turning away potential visitors. Lyse knew that it was partly in response to Lidia's late arrival home and the attack on his home, but he feels pained not to be able to say goodbye to her one more time. Next, he said goodbye to his fellow squires, most of which were other sons and daughters of farmers, merchants, and blacksmiths who yearned to be in their shoes. Even Edlund, as proud as he was, seemed a litt

Last Updated : 2022-09-21

Chapter 5 Silondras

Looking down the path, Lyse could see the clearing of light that signaled the end of the forests of silence and the valley just before the mountain range north of Liontari. As they emerged, the image they received in return was breathtaking. They were met immediately with a giant wall of white limestone over fifty meters high—the walls wrapped around the city Silondras, the capital of Liontari. Several towers and buttresses were evenly spaced among the walls, and along with them, Lyse saw many ballistae and cannons aimed down the valley. The main entrance, a two-gated path heavily guarded with a few coming in and out, stopped, questioned, and then allowed through. Two twin lion statues, made of gold and silver, flanked the entrances and looked down menacingly at those who entered, the golden sun reflecting off their metal hides. And beyond the wall, behind the amalgamation of buildings from grand to mundane, is the grandest of all structures laid nestled near the mountain bed. The bea

Last Updated : 2022-09-23

Chapter 6 A Contest of Knights

Lyse sat on his bed, only thinking for the past few hours. Not even unpacking his things, as he understood there was a good chance that it would be useless to come the following day. He has the day to prepare himself, and they told him this. He seemed motionless as he peered at the ceiling, the breeze making his curtain wrinkle and flap. He doesn't know what this obstacle will be, so his only choice is to prepare mentally. The event will make or break him and his dreams and his life. Any search for his sister will be handicapped by what he will do, and his life might be in great peril due to this pendant he now possesses. He lifts it into his hand, the two gems still pulsing ever so faintly. Again he felt that overwhelming power as before, but no visions came to him, and his mind drifted as to what exactly this thing was and why his mother had it.He thinks back to the moment she gave it to him, thinking it was only a token of her faith and gratitude at the time. Then, remembering the

Last Updated : 2022-09-23

Chapter 6 A Contest of Knights

Lyse sat on his bed, only thinking for the past few hours. Not even unpacking his things, as he understood there was a good chance that it would be useless to come the following day. He has the day to prepare himself, and they told him this. He seemed motionless as he peered at the ceiling, the breeze making his curtain wrinkle and flap. He doesn't know what this obstacle will be, so his only choice is to prepare mentally. The event will make or break him and his dreams and his life. Any search for his sister will be handicapped by what he will do, and his life might be in great peril due to this pendant he now possesses. He lifts it into his hand, the two gems still pulsing ever so faintly. Again he felt that overwhelming power as before, but no visions came to him, and his mind drifted as to what exactly this thing was and why his mother had it.He thinks back to the moment she gave it to him, thinking it was only a token of her faith and gratitude at the time. Then, remembering the

Last Updated : 2022-09-24

Chapter 7 The Flaming Serpent

There was a sudden rise of confused and concerned whispers, which the king caught onto and smiled. He waved his hand towards the entrance, the mouth of the cave dark and inviting. "I understand your concerns—ten relics for 60 combatants. I can inform you that you all will be paired into teams of four. Every four-person team will have the chance to return with this artifact. But, there is another problem involved.""Problem?" Edlund asked, and Lyse looked a bit pale as he realized what the king meant and saw the same worried expression dawn on the faces of many around him.""Not every team will be able to uncover a relic, and those who don't will be disqualified and will have to return to their masters in shame," The king's announcements made the total confidence less and less. While Lyse tried to wear a straight face, he feared for the worst. That maybe he will not be able to uncover a relic. Immediately he and Edlund were at a disadvantage, as both knew no one outside of their town,

Last Updated : 2022-09-24

Chapter 8 The Lamia

The first sign that something was wrong was indeed the silence.The chamber ended abruptly at a large circular section, darkened without a flame in sight. Thankfully, no pit of lava, or any pit in which case, was visible. From where they could initially tell, the room was bare without any curious marking of any kind. The bricks laid undamaged, and the large slabs of rock that made up the floor were smoothed to a fine texture. And yet, they sensed an eerie presence lurking within, although entirely out of sight. Knights are trained to feel the life energy among living creatures. It helps when trying to track down animals and criminals in the wild. But they sensed nothing. So, where did this unease come from?Lyse decided to step in; first, his hand was firmly placed on his blade. There were no traps. All the bricks and slabs looked precisely the same, indistinguishable from one another. He still could not sense where this presence was, even if the room was nearly blank, until he notice

Last Updated : 2022-09-24