The Last Legend: Awakened

by Joshua B. Wichterich

  They rode on great white beasts which looked like a cross between an exotic cat and an owl, which had great white wings that thudded through the wind. The beasts had great talons like that of a mighty owl, and the faces and body shapes like mighty white lynx cats. The beings of light shot golden arrows down at the black monsters, appearing like fire raining down from the sky, piercing through the evil things. And in the lead of all of the wonder—there was the great white owl…

  Shaken, Tairren slowly stood up as the beasts gracefully landed upon the ground. He looked with wonder and somewhat disbelief. Some of the golden beings hopped off of the backs of the beasts while shooting their arrows. The beasts attacked the remaining black creatures that lingered around the ground—ripping off their black wings with great white jaws. Tairren watched with amazement and shock as some of the beings pulled out their golden swords from their jeweled scabbards and smote the rest of the low flying tormentors. The rest of the swarms of the black creatures quickly dispersed throughout the blackened sky, squealing and growling as they seemed to disappear into the shadows.

  Within seconds it was all over, and Tairren and Phillip stood quietly together, surrounded by the wonderful beings. Tairren quickly glanced at each one of them. They all resembled each other, but each one had their own look. All of them looked striking and they all seemed to have a soft glow about them. There were women amongst them as well, appearing just like the men did but they had feminine features. They were all tall, having many different body types. Some were bulky and muscular in build and others were lean and thin. Some looked at least nine and twelve feet tall while others looked even taller. They looked as if they were sculpted from glowing marble. They all had glorious long manes of sun-kissed hair that looked as if air and light lived within each strand. Each one had a large feather braided into their hair, looking like the feathers that adorned the flying beast’s wings. They all wore white tunics trimmed with gold and all wore golden circlets around their heads. Their armor was light and their weaponry consisted of bows and arrows and glorious swords.

  But out of all their appearances, there was one thing that stood out to Tairren the most. He noticed that they all wore the same wing pendant as he did, except their pendants were a solid yellow-gold and weren’t encrusted with jewels like his was. Tairren held his pendant in his hand as his heart pounded in his chest. He wanted to say something about them having similar necklaces, but decided not to.

  Tairren was distracted as he noticed that the great white owl gracefully glided around them, then landed on a boulder that sat a small distance from them. It sat still and silent, just watching.

  Natalia quickly ran over to them with teary eyes, hugging Phillip first then Tairren. She stayed where she was at, holding onto Tairren and resting her head against his chest. She was relieved and thankful that she was standing on solid ground and by his side again.

  One of the beings came to them through the crowd of light-people, quickly bowed his head, then looked into Tairren’s eyes. He seemed to be one of the captains amongst the large group. He was dressed in different garbs and the golden circlet around his head was slightly larger, embedded with small, sparkling stones of many colors.

  “You must be weary, Tairren, son of Timotheus,” he said in a tone that held no anxiety or fear but held only assurance and confidence.

  Tairren was surprised, wondering how he knew not only his name, but his father’s name as well.

  “My body is tired, but rest will not stop me while my quest is still at hand,” he said nervously, glancing back and forth from the captain to the others who seemed to have their eyes locked on him. “…Who are you and how do you know my name?” Tairren finally asked.

  “We are Legna,” he said proudly. “We are the Legion of Light from the kingdom of Nevaeh. Our Lord is The Great King of light—the king of all kings—whom we serve. I am one of the Archlegna—I am called Mikhal. We were summoned to these lands by our king and given the quest to find three keys and to stop the darkness that is consuming all of these lands—for it is spreading like evil waters across this very earth. As you can see—it has already begun,” he said in saddened voice as he motioned his hand towards all of the dead men and horses that lay upon the field. “Some will not have a chance… Minslethrate sits on the boundaries of death. As we speak, this darkness is making its way towards the northern parts where your kingdom resides—and you are all in grave danger.”

  As Mikhal spoke, the three of them glanced at each other. Everything Mikhal said just confirmed everything Tairren had been talking about. They began to worry as they thought of their families and the ones they loved.

  “I thought this great wall was supposed to keep all evil out,” Tairren said as he looked up at the mighty wall.

  “Yes, Tairren, this wall was built many ages ago to keep evil people out. But there is an ancient evil one who has been living on these lands for many generations and has now called upon the forbidden dark lord to make all evil rise. The presence of evil itself has taken physical form. These dead creatures you see all around you were summoned from the deepest parts of hell. They have escaped from the depths to torment—they are called Abaddon.”

  The three of them looked around at the ugly black creatures which lay dead all around them. They still sent chills up their spines, even when they were not living.

  “There are many more. All of these beings of darkness are called Nomed—and they come in many shapes and forms—they are the followers of darkness—servants to the great evil, sent to kill, steal and destroy... You will know when you see them for they are as black as shadows and carry an evil presence about them. They will look into your spirit and try to find a way in—and torment you. They will speak evil things to you, but you must not listen or yield to them. The stronger they get—the stronger their lust for blood comes upon them. The Nomed yearn for your heart and soul…”

  Just then Mikhal pointed over to the massive gate that sat right in the middle of the wall, directly in the center of the field. The gate seemed a great ways away and looked like a haunting door-way to the unknown. They never noticed before, but the gate was raised half-way open…

  “The gate has been opened, allowing these creeping things of darkness to escape towards the northern parts of Minslethrate—towards your people. Someone has opened and destroyed the gate. But it is useless now to fix and close it—for the powers of evil are stronger than ever and are already spreading.”

  “That explains the great two-headed dogs that attacked us last night,” Tairren said to Phillip and Natalia.

  “You have seen some of the Nomed—only a taste of the evil that is now lurking upon these lands. But do not be fearful—for if you believe in Him, you and your family will be saved… Tairren, son of Timotheus,” Mikhal looked back into his anxious eyes. “Malakh was sent to you by The Great King of light and has revealed everything I have spoken unto you—has he not?”

  Tairren nodded his head as he glanced at the mysterious owl. It sat there in the beautiful silence and peace that surrounded them, just staring its dark eyes at him. Tairren wondered if the owl was the one called Malakh…

  “Yes—he has,” Tairren said.

  “Then you know that your quest is as much as an importance as our own,” Mikhal said, looking at each one of them.

  “Yes, and it is why we nearly died today… Thank you so much for saving our lives,” Tairren said as he bowed his head to them.

  “Yes—thank you,” Natalia spoke up, “Those black creatures would have gotten the best of me if it wasn’t for you and your people—my life would have been over… I owe you my being…”

  “No—we only do what our king commands us to do. You owe your life to Him—for he loves you and these lands so much that he died for you and your ancestors and now, sends us here to these lands to stop the darkness that is augmenting so strongly around you.” Mikhal spoke with a stern voice, but never sounded cruel.

  With that said, Mikhal spoke out in another langu
age that they had never heard before. He seemed to be giving the other Legna a command, for they began to get on their beast’s backs. Mikhal motioned for another Legna to come to him. The Legna came to Mikhal’s side and stood before the three of them.

  “This is the Archlegna Gaibriul,” Mikhal said as Gaibriul bowed his head. “He will guide you to the camp—you need rest.”

  Natalia looked at Gaibriul in awe as she realized that he was the one who rescued her in the midst of her fall of death—and she began to have the sensation within her that she was connected to him. He looked at her and nodded his head with a slight smile.

  All of a sudden Mikhal and his fellow Legna were up in the air on their beasts in a mighty whoosh of air. It was interesting to see how the grand beasts pushed their hind legs into the earth and then leaped up into the air as their magnificent wings opened up. They soared up into the dark sky and over the wall towards the south. After the thuds of their wings quieted in the air, they were gone.

  Tairren felt anxious and worried and did not want to follow Gaibriul to their camp—and wanted to continue towards the south. Every second seemed to matter—and it seemed as if they were running out of time. He thought of Marrisa and her beautiful face and worried that they would be too late… He trusted the Legna and their knowledge—he just didn’t trust Lilith and didn’t know what she was capable of.

  “Do not be afraid…,” a soothing voice said from within his heart. He instantly looked at the owl who still sat there. The voice seemed to come from the owl, but it seemed that he was the only one who heard it.

  The owl pushed himself up into the air and spread its wings and glorious feathers, going in the same direction as the Legna.

  “We must go,” Gaibriul said as he walked towards his beast.

  “Where are we going?” Tairren asked, watching as Gaibriul stood on the side of his great beast.

  “I will lead you to our camp—it is set up about a mile from here, in a clearing in the Black Forest.”

  They nodded, then looked around, realizing that their horses were not by their sides.

  “The horses,” Tairren said as he quickly looked around, “I fear they met their end by the tormentor’s wrath.”

  Gaibriul just looked at Tairren with his golden eyes, then stared towards the forests, as if listening to something. He stood still as his eyes intensely gazed across the field.

  “Never declare the workings of evil… Your horses are strong,” Gaibriul said as he held out his hand towards the forest.

  Relief fell over their bodies as they looked over to where Gaibriul’s hand had reached out to. The three horses came running towards them, safe and unharmed.

  “How did you know?” Tairren asked, shocked.

  Gaibriul was quiet for a moment, as he looked back into Tairren’s eyes. His gaze was intense and his golden-yellow eyes were welcoming and beautiful like the morning sun.

  “I hear their spirits,” he said in a low tone, almost whispering. “They are fast and free, innocent and loyal like that of a new-born child.”

  As the three horses approached, each owner greeted them with smiles, petting their faces and manes. The horses were excited from the action of that early evening and happy to see their owners once again. Gaibriul caressed each one of the horses’ faces while looking into their big, dark eyes—as if he were speaking to them with his own. They seemed to calm down and began to act as if they’ve known him their whole life. Tairren, Phillip and Natalia watched curiously, amazed at how receptive the horses were to Gaibriul. They weren’t afraid of Gaibriul’s mighty beast either, and seemed to like its company. After a moment he went to the beast and did the same thing to it: tenderly petted its face while looking into its eyes.

  They were intrigued at how peaceful and loving the beast was but it was so intimidating at the same time. The beast was beautiful and mind-blowing. It was massive and even when it sat on its haunches it was almost as tall as Gaibriul. Its fur was thick and white with golden-beige streaks on it and its wings were mighty and strong looking. Its talons were mighty and strong looking as well. Its eyes were of the same color as the Legna’s—beautiful and looked like golden-yellow raindrops.

  “Come Serafim,” he said as he petted the mighty beasts head, then pulled himself onto its back.

  The three companions pulled themselves onto their horse’s backs as well, but still watched Gaibriul and his beast. They could not take their eyes off of the strange and beautiful creatures of light.

  “This forest is filled with sadness and anger and will pull you into its madness if you allow it to. Keep your eyes on me and your mind on your quest if you begin to feel that you are being drawn into the darkness. Follow me closely and you will be safe. Serafim will not fly, but I will have him run upon the grounds as horses do so that you may follow me easily. Do not stray from the path or straggle behind me. The darkness is thick and the evil that lurks upon it is hungry.”

  They all glanced at each other, then took deep breaths. Gaibriul swiftly got his mighty beast going towards the gate. They didn’t get a chance to talk or make quick comments to each other before they went into the forest’s gloom, for the beast was swift and quick even upon the ground, but it never went too fast. The three companions rode steadfastly behind Gaibriul and made sure to never take their weary eyes off of Gaibriul or Serafim for more than a long minute.

  CHAPTER 19

  The Black Forest

  Within moments they entered into the treacherous Black Forest—the threshold to the Forbidden Lands. Gaibriul entered in first of course, then Tairren followed with Natalia following behind him and Phillip last, after Natalia. It was strange how quickly their surroundings changed. The atmosphere became darker all around them as they went further into the forest.

  The forest looked and smelled really old, and had the appearance that there hadn’t been any new life within it. There wasn’t any sight of new growth or anything green within the black clutches of the forest. The feelings of sadness and anger lay heavy upon them now as the forest loomed over them. They did not feel anguish internally but they could literally feel it all around them. The haunting trees began to close in behind them, stretching their dark and knurly branches all around them.

  The forest was cold and dreary, and the smell of decaying earth lay thick all around them. The trees had dark leaves on them but most of the wood looked dead and appeared as monstrous hands with arthritic, long fingers. Large, black crows sat on random branches, and spider-webs stretched here and there amongst the thick trees and shrubbery. The ground was dark and matted with dead leaves and branches and heavy roots. Mushrooms of many sizes and mildew of many shades of brown, gray, and black also covered the dark ground. There was nothing green or colorful within the forest and if there was any color at all, it was brown and the dark-green shade of some leaves. They could not go too fast anymore because the path was overgrown and had many holes, cracks and dips about it.

  They remembered what Gaibriul said and tried their best to keep their eyes on them so that their minds wouldn’t drift too deeply into the darkness. Gaibriul and Serafim looked beautiful even in the darkness of the wood, giving off a pale-silver glow like the moon, soft and illuminating. It was strange because they never glowed intensely like burning light, but they seemed to always have a soft light on them even in the blackness.

  “I do not like it in here—one bit,” Natalia said with shivers as she timidly looked all around her. “I feel as if I walked into a cold nightmare. I feel—sadness and anger—all around me…”

  “The sight of this forest makes my body feel sickened in the inside,” Phillip said in a low tone, looking all around him as well.

  They wished to be anywhere but there and longed to sit by a great, hot orange fire and eat and drink and lay down for more than twenty minutes. Even the thought of lying in a nice grassy green field below the sun comforted them. They missed their homes greatly and the familiar lands of it, but they knew it would not be the same if they stop
ped their quest.

  Shivers matted their skin as the temperature seemed to drop, going deep into their bones. The feelings of sadness and anger lay thick all around them—as if the forest itself felt that way. Their exhausted bodies became even more overwhelmed as the uncomfortable presence of darkness came around them. One would surely go mad if they were to get lost in that black labyrinth of trees and earth. Any soul lost in that forest would yearn for death to just take them, swift and painless.

  “Do not tremble—do not be afraid… Did He not proclaim his purposes for you?” Gaibriul said in an uplifting voice. “Always keep your eyes on the light, even in the darkest of hour.”

  They became quiet again, understanding the words that he spoke. But the quietness of the cold air and the feeling of anguish all around them were unbearable.

  Tairren noticed something lurking in the distance. It was quiet and black and looked like a shadow amongst the dark trees. At first he thought it was just a shadow because there were many of them in the thick wood. But when it began to move in different spots—he knew it wasn’t just a shadow. It was something sinister—and it seemed to be stalking them. It slowly crept behind the trees and bushes and seemed to fade in and out of the darkness. There was more than one. They appeared like black phantoms and they sent shivers through his skin.

  “I see something in the shadow of the wood, through the trees,” Tairren said in a quiet voice, not wanting to panic anyone.

  “They have been following us since we first stepped into this forest,” Gaibriul said in a calm voice. It did not seem to frighten him at all, but just make him more alert as ever. “Those lurkers will not come near you—but they will have you come to them if you allow them to...”