Faul: The Reincarnation

Chapter 16: The Emergence of the Guardian

In the land of Kaar, two distinct factions held sway over the ancient and mysterious world: the knights and the mages. Knights were warriors, skilled in the arts of battle and forged through steel and blood. Mages, on the other hand, were masters of magic, their power stemming from ancient sorcery passed down through generations. It was said that those born with the potential to harness both knighthood and sorcery were destined for greatness. These rare individuals, known as Guardians, were unstoppable in war. With both the strength of a knight and the power of a mage, they could clear entire cities single-handedly. The world had seen them only once or twice in its long history, and their presence was as feared as it was revered.

For centuries, Kaar had been waiting for the return of the Guardians. It was foretold that one day, a "sun shall rise from a fallen city," but this could only occur when the city had already crumbled, and the world had descended into chaos. The prophecy had been whispered in every corner of the land, passed from generation to generation, yet the long-anticipated savior had never appeared. Ten cities of Kaar had fallen to the Red Death, a deadly plague that ravaged the land, but the sun never rose. No hero emerged to cleanse the world of its doom.

The prophecy was no longer a beacon of hope—it was a distant memory, and many had stopped believing. After the fall of Karaza, the last great city, hope seemed all but lost. The Knight School and Sorcery School, two of the largest institutions in Kaar, had long since stopped their search for the chosen one. But the appearance of a strange light in the Monk Temple a year ago reignited the flame of hope. The prophecy beam had lit up, signaling that the time had come. The search for the chosen one resumed in earnest. Yet, despite their best efforts, no one had come forward to claim the mantle of the savior.

It was in this uncertain time that the Emperor issued a decree to recruit young talents from across the land. Both the Knight School and Sorcery School would open their doors to any promising individuals who could potentially hold the key to the prophecy's fulfillment. The Emperor's hope was that from among the new recruits, the savior would emerge, the one who would rise to face the Red Death and restore peace to Kaar.

However, far away from the bustling cities, in the heart of the Red Death's territory, a different story was unfolding. Maria, once a promising mage, was now shackled by iron cuffs that bound her neck. These were no ordinary restraints, but magic-capturing cuffs, designed to trap and neutralize powerful mages. She had been imprisoned by a figure cloaked in mystery, a figure who seemed both familiar and yet entirely foreign.

Maria stared at the figure sitting by the window. "You know you can't keep me here forever," she said defiantly, her voice steady despite the dire circumstances.

The figure chuckled, a dark, hollow sound that filled the room. "Don't worry, Maria. He will surely come for you soon enough," the figure replied, his voice low and chilling. "When that time comes, I will drain every last bit of his essence. He is my brother, after all. I know how he acts. He never gives up on what he wants, and that led to his demise over and over in my hands."

Maria's heart raced as the figure stood up and turned toward her. He was tall, his presence commanding and ominous. As he approached, Maria's breath caught in her throat. The figure looked exactly like Faul, the warrior she had once known. His aura was unmistakable—dark, heavy, and full of death. His skin, however, was different. It was covered in scales, as though he were part-dragon, and there was an unmistakable malice in his eyes.

"You see, Maria," the figure said, his voice thick with venom. "I am Gag, and this body you see before you is not my true form. I have been trapped in an eternal slumber, but I have gathered enough dragon essence to awaken myself. Once I reclaim my body, I will unleash hell upon this world, and no one will be able to stop me."

Maria's mind raced as she recalled the stories she had heard about the tyrant dragon who had once ravaged worlds in search of peace. Gag had been a creature of unimaginable power, but he had been consumed by his own emptiness. After destroying countless worlds, he had returned to his own, hoping to find solace, only to be rejected by his people. In his rage, he had slaughtered them all. But it was his brother, Faul, who had ultimately struck the final blow, draining Gag's essence before killing him.

Yet, even in death, Gag had not found peace. He had wandered through the realms, eventually stumbling upon Kaar, where he sought to colonize the land. But Kaar's people fought back, and in retaliation, Gag had cursed the world before being sealed away. It was said that he would return one day, stronger than ever, and that the only thing capable of stopping him was a guardian, a being born of both knight and mage.

"You have heard the stories, haven't you, Maria?" Gag sneered, sensing her fear. "The tales of the tyrant dragon who wiped out entire worlds in search of something that would fill the void inside him? His brother, the one who gave him the greatest wound and sealed his fate? Well, now it's my turn to return, and no one will be able to stop me."

Maria stood tall, her gaze unwavering as she met Gag's eyes. "I know the stories," she said, her voice steady. "But I also know that there is hope. Faul will rise, and he will defeat you."

Gag's eyes narrowed, and a laugh escaped his lips. "We shall see. We shall see," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

As Gag turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the chamber, Maria's thoughts drifted to Faul. She knew that he was the key, the one who could defeat Gag and end the curse that plagued their world. "Faul," she whispered to herself. "I hope you grow stronger and fight for this world. Your mother believes in you."

With that, darkness overtook Maria as she once again lost consciousness, the magic of Gag's spell pulling her into oblivion.