by GR Griffin
Just then, Fleck heard approaching guards. They needed to hide.
* * *
The two guards marched down the hall, the same one that they have walked down countless times. Sometimes, being part of the Monster Military was boring work, but the pay was good and there was always the unexpected factor to take in, like they were soon about to learn.
“Ah, look,” guard number one said, “the Emperor’s practice armour from when he was just a cub.”
The guards stopped and inspected the armour. Two days ago, they were calling it the prince’s armour, now, the emperor’s. They both recalled memories of when they were young, out on the field, watching as the headstrong and hot-headed young Zeus swung, dodged and stabbed in the training circle, giving more hits than he was taking.
“I can still remember when the emperor could fit in this,” guard number two recalled. “It feels like only yesterday. Funny how little he’s changed.”
“You can say that again. I feel sorry for his armour, though. It’s took some serious beating over the years.”
“Don’t feel bad, it’s done what it was meant to do. This armour needed to be tough and durable for someone like him, see?” Metal met metal as guard number two knocked his knuckles against the helmet. The armour rang a hollow thud… then fell to pieces. “I guess they don’t make them like they used to.”
There was a pause.
Guard number one said, “I didn’t see anything if you didn’t.”
“Let’s get out of here!”
They were about to sprint down the hall, but got as far as two steps before stopping again.
“Hey, what’s this?” asked Guard number two.
A metre away from the disassembled suit stood the strangest taxidermy statue they had ever seen. A short, funny-looking thing with scruffy hair and a striped shirt. The stuffed statue stood straight with one arm bent across the belly and the other pointing to the sky. The eyes blankly stared ahead.
“I have no idea.” Guard number one got closer. “I don’t even know where something this ugly could come from?”
“It’s got me beat.” Guard number two prodded it in the cheek then recoiled in disgust at how squidgy it felt. “But it’s so lifelike. It’s freaking me out, man!”
Guard number two picked up the pace. “I’m leaving. I’ve had enough strangeness for one day.”
The first gave chase. “Wait for me!”
When the two clanked out of sight, the statue exhaled. Fleck rubbed their cheek to rid it of the crevice left by that guard’s finger. Thank whatever almighty force out there that they did not choose to hide in the armour.
Before Fleck continued on their journey through the labyrinth, they glanced at Zeus’s childhood plate armour and realised that they needed to be prepared for anything. Fleck pushed back the breastplate to find the sparring sword lying flat on top of the shield. They picked up the sword first, then the shield, surprised by how light they were. The sword in their left hand was the perfect size, and the edges were blunt, designed to cause minimal damage. All the better for Fleck. They had no desire of hurting anyone, but it would come in handy for if the bullets fly. They felt much safer with the shield strapped to their right forearm, thankful to have protective equipment more capable than tutus, aprons and lockets.
Whatever it took, it was paramount that Fleck survived for the sake of their family and friends. They wondered what they were doing now, wondered if they were capable of finding their way up to the Outerworld.
* * *
After a few more minutes of blind wandering, they found a walkway. It was surrounded on both sides by windows. As they crossed it, they peered out and found a garden. It was more extravagant than anything from the Underground. In the centre of the garden, standing on a circular podium of white marble, was a strange monument. The rectangular pillar, cold grey with heavy erosion and barely legible engraved shapes and symbols, looked out of place in a land of perfectly divided flowerbeds and high archways.
The peace of Castle Highkeep was shattered as bells began to ring throughout the walls. It was either one of two things, an alarm or a dinner bell, and something told Fleck that it was the former. Their escape could not have gone unnoticed forever, unless the monsters believed that they – in the span of fifteen minutes – had grown three feet, gained five hundred pounds, and developed fur out of every pore. From all around, Fleck could feel it. The quake of metal against stone and the slamming of doors. Time to up the pace.
Fleck sprinted through the halls. Whenever they tried to go left, they hit a locked double door. Whenever they tried to deviate right, they hit another. Things started to look bad after they hit the fifth locked door, worse when they struck a tenth. Once, they found an open door, but a lone guard slammed it shut. Fleck was being forced down a certain path.
Eventually, the human had been channelled to a final stretch of stone hall. The double door at the end their only and final route of escape. The hall had no windows yet was somehow full of light, just like most of the places within this maze. Fleck was halfway toward the door when the metallic shift of many iron greaves came from behind.
A dozen guards, all armed with spears and large shields, formed at the bottleneck. They levelled their weapons on the human child and started their slow advance, treating Fleck – a three-foot-tall kid with the blunt blade and a dinky shield – like a humongous, fire breathing dragon.
Outnumbered and outclassed, Fleck turned on their heels and bounded for the door. The battalion continued at their pace, refusing to give chase, but why? When Fleck tested the door and found it to be open, the reason became apparent.
Fleck did not need to be a castle connoisseur to know which room this was.
It was the throne room. A vast room that ebbed with a royal power. Two great windows shone with light the colour of caramel, casting macabre shadows from the six pillars. The Emperor’s throne stood elevated on a three step platform. A sparkling, thick golden frame, ten feet high and cushioned with thick, red velvet cushions. Two lion heads were carved into the armrests. The back rose like molten fire. Only someone of the highest calibre was worthy of sitting upon that seat… and he was on it right there.
“I know every square inch of my domain.” Emperor Zeus’s hair was almost white in the light, but his eyes were emphasised by the shade on his face. “My men know every route and passage.” His gaze narrowed. “But, you, creature, do not.”
The guards behind Fleck reached the threshold of the throne room and stopped. There were a further two exits on the left and right walls, both were also guarded by heavily armed troops. They had front row seats to a showdown that would determine the fate of two entire races.
A nervous bead of sweat tingled on Fleck’s forehead as the emperor rose and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of a greatsword leaning against the side of the throne. It was as large as its wielder was tall. A thick blade of reflective metal, so shiny it could double as a mirror, yet sharp enough to slice through stone like parchment. The greatsword, named Heaven’s Shard, was his father’s. It had felt the fury of many battles, yet never suffered so much as a scratch.
“Your determination is for me and me alone,” Zeus said, approaching. Holding Heaven’s Shard in one hand. “Give it to me or I will tear it from your soul.”
Chapter 5: The Emperor
Was this the end of their journey? Was it over already? Fleck raised the shield so that the top was below their eyes. It smelled strongly of a coppery dust. The sword wobbled in the left hand, struggling to find a proper balance.
Emperor Zeus was within mere feet now. The edges of Heaven’s Shard caught the light, shining divinely. He examined the meagre armament the creature had managed to scrounge together, and then realised that they were his.
Zeus’s mouth formed a snarl of angry teeth. “My childhood sword! My training shield! Those were gifted to me by my father,” he bellowed. His greatsword shook. “This filthy insect has defiled them with their touch! How dare you defile
the memory of my father!”
Enraged, Zeus raised the sword high and slashed it straight downwards. Fleck jumped to the right. The tip collided with the floor, shattering a tile. As it shattered though, it looked… wrong. It was difficult to explain, but the way that the stone broke, the way it crumbled into fragments and dust and sand just did not look right, not at all how a rock should break.
Fleck stepped backwards across the room. Zeus effortlessly heaved his sword up and advanced on the human. There was nowhere for them to run.
Working up a mountain of courage, Fleck let the sword and shield drop to their sides. They looked Emperor Zeus square in the eyes and said that they did not want to fight him.
“If you will not fight,” Zeus said, “then you will die here.”
Zeus darted forwards and swung his massive sword across. Fleck tried to leap away, raising the shield at the last possible second. The impact sent the child flying across the room, sliding to a painful stop against a pillar. Fleck rose as Zeus lunged, driving his sword forward. Fleck moved just in time as the blade pierced the column, sending massive cracks up the length like bolts of lightning.
Fleck stumbled up the stairs. They raised the shield only to realise the damage caused by that single blow. There was a massive cut that ran four-fifths of the way across – almost separating the top from the bottom – mere millimetres below their arm. The mangled edges were jagged. Fleck was lucky, had the strike been slightly higher, the result would not have been pretty. They tossed the now useless shield away and took the sparring sword in both hands.
Fleck continued to plead with Lord Zeus, telling them that they had friends and family who loved them very much.
Zeus emotionlessly replied, “So did all of them.”
Taking Heaven’s Shard in both hands, Lord Zeus span around then swung it with a force so powerful that it sent a shockwave through the air, slamming into everything in his sight. The balustrades on the sides broke, and stools and benches were sent crashing against the walls and windows. Fleck was knocked back. Thankfully, the absurdly high, cushioned back of Zeus’s throne broke the human’s fall. Fleck landed sideways on the seat, their left leg propped up on one of the armrests.
The shellshock was so great that, for a moment, Fleck had forgotten where they were. They thought that the oversized seat was their own and that the angry, lion monster before them was but a servant.
“I wish there was another way, but I will not put the needs of one before the needs of many,” Zeus said with a sudden semblance of serenity. “If I must destroy you to save my people, I will.”
Fleck crawled off the thick velvet before it could swallow them whole. They shook the dizziness away, refocusing on their opponent. As they poised the sword, it occurred that there would be no chance of mercy here. It was either fight or perish.
The kid was now stepping toward the giant. Three small steps before lunging into a full sprint, screaming at the top of their little lungs. Dodging another swipe, Fleck moved in and, with all their might, swung at Zeus’s shin. The sparring sword bounced harmlessly off, not even scuffing the leather of his boot.
Fleck paused, then dared to look up. Zeus glared down, unsmiling, unamused. Fleck flashed a nervous smile that only fuelled the lion’s rage. Jeez, would it kill this guy to have a little sense of humour, or at least smile once or twice?
There was a break in the combat, the two of them toe to toe. It was unclear as to which one was waiting for the other to act. Fleck took the chance to swing again, hitting Zeus with another strike that did nothing. They swung a third time in the same spot, bringing about no pain whatsoever. Fleck’s forth swing was struck by Zeus’s greatsword. The razor sharp blade made short work of the dull one, slicing straight through, leaving Fleck with only the handle to work with.
Dropping the handle, Fleck ran past Emperor Zeus just as he missed another strike. He swung around, reared his head back, then roared. A beam of energy shot from his mouth and struck the ground by Fleck’s feet, sending them down the stairs and sprawling on the floor.
The absurdly high ceiling awaited the human. They analysed the fight in their head; three hits, three harmless hits. Not bad for a first try. Fleck had nothing to fear. As long as they had their determination, they could not lose. As the emperor approached with Heaven’s Shard by his side, Fleck closed their eyes. They looked deep into their soul and ignited the power of their determination.
They reached for their save file and felt themselves being taken back.
Fleck opened their eyes and there they were, in the sky, gazing down at the Outerworld – the last time they were filled with determination. The sensation of lightness still felt so strange, especially the second time around. Castle Highkeep’s silhouette looked so majestic, and the lands so diverse and strange. They saw the beach island, and the snowy mountain, and the barren, rocky lands.
Fleck blinked… and caught Heaven’s Shard just in time as it was thrust downwards.
Instinct took over. Fleck rolled out of the way just in time as the greatsword reduced the stone beneath them to nothing. They scrambled onto their feet, taken aback by the sudden shift in surroundings. Fleck was back in the throne room, standing before Emperor Zeus himself.
Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. Why didn’t they go back?
Fleck focused once more on their determination, on the power that it granted them. Just like that, it sent them back to when they oversaw the hidden empire in the sky. Fleck was not imagining it, they were not dreaming it, they were there! The sensation of wind rustling their sweater; the whistling in the ears; the sun shining down, prickling the skin; the apprehension of being so high up without a safety net, it was all real. It was all there, right in front of them, as clear as crystal.
Fleck blinked. It disintegrated. They were standing in the throne room, before Emperor Zeus and the legendary shard from heaven.
“What’s wrong?” Zeus asked. “Can’t reach your save point?” He may have said that in a mocking tone, but it was difficult to tell under all that stoicism. “That may have saved you under Mount Ebott, but I’m afraid it will not save you here.”
Desperately, Fleck grabbed the nearest thing of reach – a glossy, ornamented stool leg – and held it out at arm’s length. For the first time, panic threatened to grip their mind. Fear started to take over. If they could not use their determination, if they could not reach their save point, then that meant one thing…
Death was the end.
No going back. No retries. Just cold, lonely death.
Fleck had to think of something fast. Talking was out. Fighting was out. Now, trying again was out. They only had one chance. Only one option remained: escape, but that one also dangled far out of their reach. The monsters guarding the exits would turn them into a pin doll if they tried.
They backed away down the throne room, keeping space between themselves and Zeus, buying valuable seconds to think of something. However, when they tried to think of a plan, their mind only focused on everything in the room. The floor was so shiny and smooth. The throne was something, for sure. The pillars, one broken, you would think that Zeus did not care about his own domain. The windows, glowing with the light of dusk.
Wait. It was not dusk yet. Last time Fleck checked, it was barely past noon. So how could those windows be that colour if the sun was not even there yet? It dawned on them that light seemed to work differently here. The always illuminated hallways. The way Master Scribe Rickard clapped his hands twice to light the cell room.
As Fleck moved back toward the hallways – the guards keeping their weapons trained on them – they had an idea. Taking the stool leg, they propped it under their arm.
“What,” Zeus said, readying his sword, “are you doing now?”
Lord Zeus raised his weapon as Fleck stretched their hands out. It was here where Zeus realised what the human was about to do.
“Don’t you dare,” Zeus exclaimed as he brought the greatsword down.
&nb
sp; The human child clapped their hands together.
Clap! Clap!
Just like a switch being thrown, the beaming light stopped, thrusting the royal expanse into darkness. The sounds heightened, senses trying to compensate for lack of sight. Metal clashed with stone. The shuffling plates of blind guards, their frantic voices. Two sharp claps.
Sunset returned. All eyes were trained on the human’s last know spot. All they saw was Heaven’s Shard sticking up from the floor. The four guards on the left archway had no time to react as Fleck charged, slipped through a gap between them, and took off down the hall.
“Hey, stop,” yelled a guard.
Emperor Zeus grumbled as the guards automatically gave chase. “Sound the alarm,” the lord roared a lion’s roar. “Cut off all possible escape routes! I want all units hunting that creature! Bring it to me alive!”
* * *
The drumming of pursuing feet gave Fleck the vigour needed to run faster. They almost went straight ahead at a crossroads, but at the last second, slid to a stop and went right instead. They followed the path and turned left at a corner, knocking over a suit of armour in the process. The soldiers were mere seconds behind their trail.
Fleck turned another right to find a massive figure standing further down the hall. At first, Fleck feared that the emperor was back, but realised that it was Private Perro – the same private they exchanged the bone for freedom with. The husky stood arched before them, knees bent and fingers in claws, ready to tackle like a gridiron player.
Fleck stopped and was about to about-turn when the chasing guards loomed from behind, forcing them further forward. With the glossy stool leg in hand, Fleck acted the only way they knew how. While running, they lifted the piece of wood above their head and whistled in a familiar tone.