by A E Stanfill
“Then what happens next is on you.”
“One day I will surely answer for my sins. Just not on this day.”
Ulrich held up the Reaper Blade, “What do I do next?”
Zerius leaned in close, whispering, “Concentrate all of your hate, all of your anger, and let all of your feelings out into one steady stream, focusing them into the blade.”
Ulrich did what was asked of him, and all the feelings that had been boiling over in him for years were brought to the surface. His feelings for Ellyn came to the surface as well. When he thought about her and how she left him behind it set everything into motion. He felt everything inside of him erupt through his hands and into the blade, followed by a strange calmness he had never felt before.
“That's good, that's good,” Zerius smirked. “Keep feeding the blade with your hatred.” He turned to face Alistair, “King Alistair, take control over the King’s Defender, make it realize you as its master. Once you have accomplished that, touch the blades together.”
Alistair closed his eyes, focusing all of his energy into taking control over the Kings Defender. He struggled at first, but then he remembered his vision for a new world, with all the kingdoms under one rule; his. That gave him the strength and the will to make the power of the blade he held his own. The blade glowed the opposite color of the Reaper Blade; instead of an eerie red, the King’s Defender glowed a bright blue. “Perfect,” Zerius smiled. “Touch the blades together, and bring the Reaper Blade to life!”
When Alistair and Ulrich touched the two swords together, a blinding light erupted from the stage. When the light faded, the King’s Defender crumbled into nothing more than ash in Alistair's hands. The Reaper Blade's appearance had changed as well. The rust on the broken blade had vanished and unlike most swords, the blade didn't have a shiny metallic look to it. Instead, the blade had a blackish purple tint, and the jewel on the bottom of the hilt stayed a dark blood red.
“Remember, this blade belongs to you young one,” Zerius whispered in Ulrich's ear. “But for now, you must give the blade of power to Alistair. When you are ready, seek me out and I will help you claim what is rightfully yours.” It was the same thing that the Teroc had said as well. Zerius turned and walked off the stage, with the men in black robes following behind him through the crowd.
Alistair held out his hand and smiled, “Hand the blade to me, Ulrich.” Ulrich bowed and handed the Reaper Blade over to King Alistair, “Thank you, Ulrich. You shall make a fine knight to serve the new kingdom.” But something changed in Alistair when he took the Reaper Blade for himself. His eyes went from blue to black as coal, evil emanated from his face, then he began to laugh maniacally as the Reaper Blade glowed with power.
“King Alistair?” Ulrich could tell something wasn't right.
“All is well,” Alistair smirked. “We have other business to attend to.” His voice sounded different, deeper, darker than usual. Was it still King Alistair that was speaking? Or had the dark powers of the Reaper Blade taken control over him?
Ulrich looked over at Caine, “Something is different about King Alistair.”
“Nothing is wrong with,” Caine replied. “The power of the blade is bringing out his true intentions. His one true self is about to be shown, this is all part of the plan.”
“What plan?”
“Watch and find out for yourself.”
“People of Drasal, I have sad news in light of what you have witnessed today,” King Alistair called out to the crowd. “I have found out what fate had befallen the good King Edward - he was killed and disposed of by people he had trusted most.” People out in the crowd hissed and booed, even started to demand King Alistair to tell them who had done such a thing.
A smirk creased Alistair's lips, “It was people within the Academy that conspired and killed King Edward. Even now they aim their sights at me. But fear not, when I took the responsibility of the King, I acted to end the tyranny. Executioner, would you please bring the traitors onto the stage.”
“The people at the Academy would never do such a thing,” Leon barked.
“Alistair set the Academy up to take the blame off him and Caine,” Gawain sighed.
King Alistair's executioner brought his prisoners onto the stage. There were two young men around Leon's age, a lady, and two older men with shackles on their wrists and ankles. Leon was quick to recognize who had been falsely accused, “It's Henry and Jeffrey,” Leon gasped. “They even have old man Altard in shackles, he is nothing more than a scholar. There's weaponsmith Barkentin as well, I would never have guessed he would go quietly.”
“Those dogs have put shackles on Lady Catherine,” Gawain snarled. “Who in the hell do they think they are?”
“You stopped me from charging the stage when they repaired the Reaper Blade, but you will not stop me from helping them.”
“Give me time to think,” Gawain grumbled.
What happened next was sad indeed. Alistair swung the Reaper Blade through the air, and the blade connected with weaponsmith Barkentin's neck. Sending his head falling onto the stage, blood spurted as the headless body collapsed. The crowd cheered at witnessing such carnage, “Behold. This is what happens when you go against the King Of Drasal.” Alistair swung the Reaper Blade again and old man Altard joined Barkentin dead before Alistair's feet.
Seeing both Altard and Barkentin beheaded sent a spark of rage flowing through Leon's body, the likes of which he had never felt before, “Don't do it, Leon.” Gawain could tell by Leon's body movements that he was preparing to rush the stage. “We will all die if you act hastily.” Leon didn't respond to Gawain's words, as he had his hand firmly around the hilt of his sword.
“Not even women, nor children shall be spared from the justice of the new era.” King Alistair was readying to take the life of Lady Catherine. Upon seeing this Gawain forgot about Leon and went into action. He pulled a knife from his belt and threw it at Alistair's chest. The knife sailed through the air, it seemed like the knife would hit its intended target. But Caine darted across the stage, knocking the knife out of the air with his sword before it could reach his king.
“Damn it,” Gawain grumbled.
“Did you think that would work, Gawain?” Caine shouted.
Gawain glared at Caine with fury in his eyes, “Leon, it is time. Be mindful not to die.”
“Same for you, Master Gawain.” Leon rushed through the crowd towards the stage. He had King Alistair in his sights, in his mind that was the first person he was going to kill. He made his way through the crowd and up the steps of the stage, only to find Ulrich standing in his way. “Get out of my way, Ulrich,” Leon hissed. “I do not wish to fight you.”
Ulrich lowered his head, “You intend to hurt King Alistair, do you not?” he said, with his hand on the hilt of his blade.
“I'm not going to hurt him,” Leon smirked. “I'm going to kill him for what he has done.”
“Then you leave me no choice.” Ulrich drew his blade. “I cannot allow you to do such a thing.”
“He has brought nothing but pain to everyone that has crossed paths with him. The man is pure evil.”
“King Alistair is not evil,” Ulrich snapped. “He is a man of vision, not only that, he is doing whatever it takes to bring forth a new world, no matter the sacrifices.”
“Is killing innocent people doing whatever it takes?”
“King Alistair is just in what he does,” Ulrich responded.
“You are just as delusional as Alistair and Caine,” Leon said with anger. “Do you not care about what he has done to our friends at the Academy?”
“They killed King Edward, that is why Alistair is King now.”
“That's a load of bull, and you know it!”
Ulrich looked at Leon and sighed, “I'm going to give you one last chance to stand down and if you do I promise no harm will befall you. I offer that only because we are friends.”
Leon looked away, “We are no longer friends,” he replied, unsh
eathing his sword. “If we were, you would be standing beside me, not against me.”
“I could say the same for you,” Ulrich said with sadness in his eyes.
“Then I guess this be our fates.”
“So be it.” Ulrich swung his blade, and metal crashed against metal as Leon blocked his attack.
Gawain was making his way towards King Alistair as well when Caine jumped off the stage with his blade drawn swinging downward at Gawain barely missing his face. “I'm surprised that you would try to attack your King,” Caine smirked.
“That man is not my King, I refuse to bow down to such a fiend!”
“Watch your tongue, I let you live the first time, don't make me regret it.”
“You, let me live?” Gawain laughed. “Words of a coward indeed.”
Being called a coward infuriated Caine to the point that he had forgotten that Gawain was needed for his master plan to take form, and he attacked him out of anger. Gawain parried the attack swinging his blade upward towards Caine's head, barely missing by just inches. “That was a close one,” Caine smiled. “I see you are playing for keeps this time.”
“It's a pity the blade missed your neck, Caine,” Gawain laughed. “But there's still time to make sure that happens.” Gawain went on the attack, swinging his blade at Caine multiple times. It looked as though the two were engaged in some sort of ritualistic dance, both attacking, both blocking each other's advances. Sparks flew as their attacks increased with speed and intensity, Gawain thought that Caine wasn't giving his all. “Why are you holding back?” Gawain huffed.
“I'm not the only one holding back.” Caine blocked another of Gawain's attacks.
Not only was Gawain engaged in a heated battle with Caine, but so too was Leon against his former friend. Leon lunged with his blade in hand, but Ulrich was quick to knock the blade away before it could pierce his skin. “Why do you fight me?” he shouted angrily, swinging his blade in a slashing motion at Leon.
“Because you stand on the wrong side.” Leon pushed the oncoming blade to the side and connected with a punch to the face that sent Ulrich reeling backward.
Ulrich retaliated with a punch of his own that had the same effect on Leon, “I stand with the winning side,” Ulrich barked. He sighed, lowering his blade, “Join me, Leon, we can accomplish great things in the new world. Please, I do not wish to hurt you, you're the only friend I have.”
“I'm sorry, Ulrich,” Leon frowned. “But I chose my own path, as did you.” He hit Ulrich in the face with the hilt of his blade, hard enough that it knocked him right off the stage. Leon hated himself for what he had done, but it was his only choice. With Ulrich out of the way, he could work on freeing the others and possibly putting an end to Alistair in the process.
Caine sheathed his blade back to his side, “This has been fun old friend, but the time for play is over.”
Gawain wasn't done though, “It's over when I say it's over.” he grumbled. “Fight me, or I kill you where you stand.”
“I'm afraid you won't get that chance, not yet anyway,” Caine smirked. “Guards, arrest the traitors.” Twenty or so soldiers appeared out of the crowd, surrounding the stage with their weapons drawn. “Lower your weapon Gawain, or you will be killed.”
“You rotten son of a bitch,” Gawain spat. The situation was dire, and the chances of them escaping were slim to none.
Leon had yet to realize that the stage was surrounded by soldiers, as his focus was solely on freeing the others. He took his blade and broke the rusty shackles and chains that had Lady Catherine, Henry, and Jeffery bound. After they were freed he turned his sights on the man he hated most, Alistair. King Alistair stood there, watching everything unfold, but not once did he try to interfere.
To him it was amusing, that is until he realized that Leon stood before him with blade in hand. Alistair sheathed the Reaper Blade to his side, then held his hands out in front to show he was unarmed. “You wouldn't harm an unarmed man, would you,” he laughed
“A man as evil as you don't deserve to live,” Leon glared at him with such hate.
“Would kill your King?” Alistair asked.
“King? You are no King, even saying the word sours in my mouth.”
“Then go ahead, kill me. If you think you can,” Alistair smirked. Leon let his anger take control, thrusting the blade straight for Alistair's chest, but Alistair caught the blade with his hands. “What's wrong, child. Did you not expect me to do that?” Alistair was still smiling.
“How is that possible?” Leon swallowed nervously.
“That is the power of the Reaper Blade,” Alistair chuckled. “Hmm, what should I do with you?” What was left of the crowd started to jeer, “Kill him!” “Throw them both in the dungeons!” “Traitors of Drasal and the King do not deserve mercy!”
Alistair smiled happily, knowing that the townspeople were on his side, “You heard them, kid, for you to meet your end.” His hands glowed red, Leon could feel the hilt of his blade heating up. Then Alistair snapped the sword in half, and with blazing speed, he grabbed Leon by the throat lifting him up in the air. “Time to die, boy.” Leon gasped for air, and each time he did so Alistair's grip tightened, darkness was what came next.
21
The True Journey Begins
Leon awoke to find Robin hovering over him, “I had a feeling you would show up here again soon enough,” he chuckled. “To your feet boy, we have much to do.”
“Don't rush me,” Leon mumbled, slowly getting to his feet. “Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?” Robin responded. “But be quick about it, for today you train with a blade.”
“Do you know if I am dead or still among the living?” Leon asked, scratching the back of his head nervously.
“Why do you ask such a question?” Robin stopped where two wooden blades lay across from one another on the ground, “Take a blade from the ground.”
Leon reached down, picking up one of the wooden swords, “Well the man that possesses the Reaper Blade had me by the throat, I could feel my life slipping away.”
Robin stabbed his cane in the air laughing, “If you were dead, then you would be in the cross plains. But you find yourself back here, that should tell you something,” he answered.
Leon smiled faintly, “Then I live, that is good to hear.” ‘I wonder who saved me then? Once I return, I will have to ask what happened.’
“No matter,” Robin huffed. “Time to start your training.”
Leon held up the wooden sword, it resembled that of the training swords Gawain was so fond of, but that didn't stop him from being an ass, “This is nothing but a toy. What would you have me do with this, pick my teeth?”
Robin snarled, bending over to pick up the other wooden sword, “I will show you the maneuvers that I want you to perform. Once you are done you shall understand why I want you to start off with a wooden blade.” He widened his stance, holding himself steady with his cane. Robin slashed the wooden blade through the air in different directions, twisting and turning with each fluid motion, “Practice these moves first and foremost.” He stopped looking over at Leon.
“Now it's your turn.” Leon took the same stance that Robin had shown him, “Widen your stance.” Robin tapped Leon's back foot with his cane, “That's better. Hold the blade high above your head, with an arch to your arm. Make sure you bend at the elbow slightly.” Leon did as the old man directed, “That's good, that's good. You learn quick, I'm impressed,” he smirked. “Swing the blade as I showed you, do not stop until I say.” Leon swung the blade exactly as Robin had instructed. “Faster,” Robin demanded.
After five minutes of swinging the wooden blade, the muscles in Leon's arm started to burn, but that didn't stop Robin from wanting him to increase his speed, “Faster!” he shouted. “Swing the blade with more force.” Leon did this for another ten minutes. He wasn't sure how much more his body could take, every single muscle, even ones he had never used before, ached with every move he made.
No matter how hard it got for him he refused to stop, he was going to show Robin just how strong he really was. Robin held up his hand, “That is enough, Leon. You may stop, it won't be long now until you return to your realm.” He motioned for him to follow over to an old wooden bench, “Please take a seat, we have much to discuss.” Robin took a seat first, and Leon joined him. “You look thirsty,” Robin said, reaching over to grab a bucket from the ground. “Here.” He handed Leon the bucket. “Freshwater.”
“Thanks,” Leon smiled, taking the bucket of water. “What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked before taking a wooden spoon full of water into his mouth.
“You said that the Reaper Blade had been claimed. Is that true?” Robin inquired.
“It's true,” Leon answered. “A man named Alistair took the power of the Reaper Blade for his own,” Leon frowned. “Alistair was King Edward’s first knight, he was a man of honor and pride, he cared deeply for others. But something changed in him, he became a man obsessed with power, and now he has it. I tried to go up against him, but he was too strong.
“I see,” Robin sighed. “That means his return is near.”
“Whose return is near?”
“The Dark One,” Robin answered. “He who controls all things unclean.”
“What is his name?”
“His name is Collin Grimewall, the Dark Mage I told you about, the one that caused the Great War.”
“The dead cannot come back to life,” Leon chuckled.
“This is no laughing matter,” Robin snapped. “Just because the man was defeated and killed does not mean his dark powers are gone from this world.”
“How is that even possible?”
“Collin transferred his powers into the Reaper Blade, claiming that one day someone worthy would take control over the blade and resurrect him, bringing darkness into the world once again. All who have come in contact with the Reaper Blade eventually lost control and would become mad, which is why the blade was broken into pieces and hidden from the world, by none other than Edward and your father. That kind of power should never fall into the hands of man, but it seems as though it has been resurrected regardless.”