With Blades and Flames: Awakening

by David Csontos

  With Blades and Flames

  Awakening

  By David G. Csontos

  Contents How the world was born (according to the Drualine’s books)

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: In the middle of nowhere

  Chapter 2: The man that saved his life

  Teeth and Claws

  Chapter 3: The pub

  Chapter 4: Near death and a long walk

  Let the light guide you!

  Chapter 5: And men will lead but heroes will fall

  Chapter 6: Pierced and thrown but still alive

  The Great War

  Chapter 7: With a pride or without a heart

  Chapter 8: Are you mad?!

  Go to Sleep

  Chapter 9: The Journey Begins

  Through dirt and snow with a hint of sword

  The poisonous news

  Chapter 10: A journey through the unknown

  An angry man and his followers

  Chapter 11: High up…

  Chapter 12: …Then Down low

  Chapter 13: A warm welcome

  Chapter 14: Long and quiet

  Chapter 15: Off we go

  Chapter 16: City of Thieves

  Chapter 17: Proof of bravery

  Chapter 18: Goodbye

  Epilogue

  This is my only memory. My print on the world. My last words and wishes. My hope that I am not going to be another forgotten piece of stone in the desert, same as the other thousand. I have never wanted to be like that and now, in my last moments I have a piece of paper and a graphite. If I survive this then there is nothing to worry about. You wouldn’t find or even know that this piece of writing existed. Nothing can stop death that takes without anyone al owing it. It just comes and goes whenever it decides. It gets to you without you knowing about it. You expect it but cannot pinpoint its exact arrival. Not a good poet or a very intelligent physicist can change certain people. Even God himself cannot create peace everywhere. There will always be people whose image of the world is different. They are the people that aren’t afraid to stomp on others. When they get to be someone the people believe in then you are never going to be able to destroy or even kill that person because he already made that single mark on the world that changed peoples’ beliefs and personalities. They became immortal whether you like it or not. If you are ever going to war, always remember this. You can always kill a soldier but to cripple him, that is the moment changer. When a soldier gets shot on the leg and there are other comrades around him there will always be someone who helps him up and carries him to the end.

  So, then you can shoot him too. War isn’t fought by soldiers, war is fought by minds. That war you will never be able to take on.

  That war is for dictators, politicians and hell, even our kings and queens. I am not sure why I am here and that is not important either is it? When they defy you by a simple eye contact you feel out casted. Nobody ever wanted this but we have to accept it.

  Well, there might be something that will stop all of this but that will not be in my time. Everyone is too scared currently to stand up against the opposition even if they know they are going to lose. It is not about the success but the will to fight. To have something to sacrifice your life for, a greater good if you want to call it that. Even a single spark can start a revolution and whether it is good or bad is on you. Even this piece of letter if it gets into the right hands can do it. To rise and awaken the suffering people that are led by Tyrants that are no good than the next murderer with the revolver.

  At the end I wonder, how can you stop someone from murdering without murdering him? Do you have to kill the queen of the ants, or the workers first? This is my last memoir that I have left for this world and hopeful y someone gets to read it. If you are still not through this whole thing by the time this is in your hands then good luck in hell.

  -From and unknown diary

  How the world was born (according to the Drualine’s books)

  In the beginning of time, there were thirteen settlers, thirteen brothers. It was thought that in the beginning of all there was a great blizzard, a storm that have destroyed all life in the known world. It was Muri, the god of the god’s that have sent it. It have got tired of the wars and the poisonous life that his insects did to the land he have once created. A world full of peace and hope, but they have destroyed it and now they must suffer the consequences. When Muri had come down to have a look at what he have done, he has discovered that thirteen children have escaped his wrath. They were found in a destroyed village when he promised to look after them. It can be a new start, a new generation. All of them grew to be strong and powerful by the god’s teachings and they were the ones that created Warlden. The leader of the god’s have shown the way to them their way to their destiny. To achieve that, they had to travel and created a new world. One night Muri came to all of them in their dream and gave them a gift. A powerful talisman that would be hanged on their necks in a golden frame. Every one of them had a different task. Ledol got the smithing, Raldon got the farming, Diebel got the building, Farlu got the magic, Numera received sewing, Drualine the light, Farendine the tools and Harulan got the belief and lastly, Ha’rrgen got the speech. They have all lived merrily in a village that they have made and practiced their new learned skills. All of them admitted to their tasks and managed to live with it. All of them except one, for Ha’rrgenwas jealous of his brothers and sisters. He was hungry for power.“Ha’rrgen”they would say“stop with this madness or you are to be punished!” but he did not listen. Still, he knew that one more and he would be punished. On one night, he creeped out of his house into Harulna’scarrying a knife for defence but this was a foolish thing to do. He knew that they must not kill. When he opened the door, the house was empty so he rushed to one of the cupboards and opened the top draw. He grabbed the necklace out of it and started walking outside with pride but when he opened the door his body smashed against her. In a second, unable to stop it, the knife had pierced through the air into her.“No!” he shouted once he realised what he has done. Harulna dropped onto the ground, crying. Muri have seen all of this and woke up everyone in the village. They started running towards her but by the time they reached her, Ha’rrgen was gone and Harulnawas in deep slumber.“I can still save her”came the sentence for the god when he came down from the sky“But it has a cost. She is going to be immortal and will not be able to enter my realm once her work here is complete”. When she woke up the knife turned to dust and the scar healed though she was in great pain to know that once they need to depart.“What is going to happen to him?” she wondered.

  “He is going to a realm of sadness and suffering though he does not deserve it. I was foolish, good cannot exist without bad and I did not realize this before” he explained and disappeared in a bright flash.

  Eventually the brothers and sisters have chosen a leader. A king for themselves that would rule over the land and its children, and its children’s children. When they chose Farluhe told them to split up and create their own place to live.“Create lands around them, form mountains and valleys, form lakes and rivers” and when the moon and the sun wakes up on the last day they should come back to show what they have learned and gathered in Aurum Solitudo.

  At last decades later when they got old Muri expected them with a great smile on his face but also a crying eye on the other.

  Prologue

  It was midnight in the forest and the moon was brightly shining above in the infinite sky, looking down at what happened below him.“After him boys!”yelled the old man to his blood seeking dogs. Not sure what it was but all he knew is that it ran through his land and it needs to be taken care of. A rusty old sword was his o
nly weapon if the beast would have decided to attack him. It hasn’t been used in a while but it could still pierce a skin. Undoubtedly though, it wasn’t trying to fight. It ran, faster than anything he has ever seen. That is why he kept dogs. Trained, strong dogs that could easily take care of anything. If someone would doubt his pets than he would keep telling them that these are especially bred for defence. If a person still doesn’t believe him, then he would try and feed it to the dogs. It seemed cruel at first, but then he realised that his family must not be taken as a laugh. It was his family and he needed to protect it.“He cannot escape!”he shrieked again. The beast was now moving faster and faster. This time it cannot escape. It cannot hide or run because he will find it. Just when it seemed to have disappeared a great bang could be heard and the breaking of a few branches.“I have got you now!”he laughed while he ran closer. There were traps especially set out for intruders. Who knew he will catch something in them one day? Humans were too clever and could easily climb out of the holes that he have built so he eventually gave up on them and left it. It rotted, deformed from the rain and got filled with snow throughout the years but never once did he manage to find something in it. This time it cannot escape. As soon as he reached the puncture his hands were already up in front of him. It was dark, black coal covered dark which was impossible to see through. All of a sudden the beast leaped out onto him, his dogs were going wild and ran away in a blink. His breath has stopped as the thing started to growl. Its yellow eyes have looked deep into the man’s soul and saw the rotten memories. His true self, his inner personality. He tried to move his right hand to attack but the thing had bit into it. Dark red liquid exploded from his palm and flowed down onto the cold, hard ground. He tried to use his left hand in which a bottle had lay but it turned out to be the same. The creature ducked down then bite into it, making him scream out of agonizing pain. Then, when he was about to be knocked out the beast stopped and jumped off of him, continuing its way deeper into the woodlands.“What was that?!” whispered the farmer with terror. His heart was racing and he did not know what to do apart from one thing, lock the doors and pray.

  Chapter 1: In the middle of nowhere

  Wake up! He woke up in the middle of nowhere with tall pine trees surrounding him. His eyes when opened revealed a cold, cold truth. He raised his hands but could not identify them. He looked around but did not know where he was. All he remembered is a name: Arkain. The words echoed in his head. A loud scream shouting the name. Without clothes or any memory he looked around trying to think about everything, the trees, the leafs, and the snow.“Arkain”came the sound of his own voice which seemed like he heard for the first time. Flashes of images came to his head with a sharp noise but they were all dark and hard to determine like mere water ripples.“Who am I?! Where am I?!”he roared expecting a reply from somewhere but fell back. His side was bleeding and small blood like raindrops fell onto the snow painting it red.“What happened to me?!” Every second seemed longer and every thought became shorter with new and new questions taking its place. Thoughts and feelings ran into his mind, overwhelming his thinking. His mind became clouded and all he could see is a smoke lane and a small light flickering in the distance which seemed to have been coming from a place on a mountain. Not entirely up on the top, but on the side onto which many roads had lead up through cavalcade of trees and bushes with steep sides and what looked like a very narrow path carved out between the trees. It was far and it was the middle of the night but he had to try it. The pain had pierced into him encouraging the travel. His eyes have looked around yet again to try and see where he is. His legs were deep in the snow though no footprints could be seen from where he came from. They all started where he stood up which could barely be seen in the dark, fortunately it was the early beginning of a dawn which would show him a new day. Whether it would be good or bad he did not know, it was all cloudy to his mind as he tried to trace back his past. Nothing, there is nothing. He could not remember however hard he tried. This would have continued on if it wouldn’t be the pain. His laceration was becoming worse and worse by the minute and it felt like the world has started spinning. His only option was to keep going and see what the fire will contain. One, two, three, he lifted his leg and stepped forward but as soon as the weight settled on it, he collapsed. One, two, three, he stood up and kept walking, sometimes tripping on small twigs. Eventually his body and mind got used to the monotone movement and by the time he got halfway it was a lot easier to meander. The weather started to become colder and colder as the seconds past while the sun was still asleep. One, two, three, he took a deep breath and persisted with his hand on his side. It was like a dagger being pushed deeper and deeper at every breath creating a blood line behind his steps. One, two, three, a small breeze have reached the land, carrying the smell of smoke. One, two, three, a tree had fallen over above which the boy had to climb over. His heart was pounding, his legs were shaking and every breath was harder to take. Soon, he reached the bottom, looked up, and then sustained the pace. It was cold, he had no clothes on and the breeze didn’t help either. This meant that it felt like centuries until he had grasped the sight of the top. Close to the edge a small fireplace was set up with small stones surrounding it. Its flames had casted shadows all over the ground near it. The snow has melted in a circular shape revealing the wet grass and soaked dirt under it. There was also a black stallion, tied to a tree nearby. The animal had many bags on it and a used saddle that must have been quite old. Then, the boy looked to the left where he saw a bag, hanged onto one of the trees around the height of his head. I could use that! One step after the other, he walked up to it quietly fearing that the owner might still be here but there were so many small pieces of branches on the ground that he managed to step on one of them. Quickly he stopped moving and looked around but there was no noticeable movement anywhere apart from the rusty leafs that followed the wind’s command. The horse was still frozen but its breathing could easily be heard. Slow and calm. The pain grew further barely leaving him standing. He stretched out his hand towards the rucksack and pulled it down, frantically going through it to find something that might help him. It took a moment to fiddle the buckle open but he managed to get it open. When the leather cap lifted though, he jumped back for there wasn’t anything he could use in it, it was exactly the opposite. It was a head of some kind of beast. Its right side had a wide thin hole in it from a sword piercing it and one of its eyes was none existent. The mouth had long tusks in it covered in black liquid with grey skin around it. Whoever wore this before wasn’t a human. Then, out of nowhere in a blink of an eye he was on his back. Someone pulled him from his hair with incredible strength which made him strike his body against the icy soil, sliding towards the infinite drop. Just before he reached the edge the snow stopped his body from flying over. A sword appeared in front of him and a man holding it. He had worn thick clothes with a few holes here and there and a coat which extended near to the sleet. He had brown eyes and had thick eyebrows with a long, brown hair on him which was straight and covered the back of his head. His face hosted a fairly short beard. In his hand was a long sword with writings on the guards and a symbol on the blade itself.“What do you want?”His appearance didn’t show any expression but he did see the lake of blood expanding under the boy. The last image Arkain saw is the man standing above him before darkness had ruled over his mind once again.

  Chapter 2: The man that saved his life

  Millions of tiny raindrops fell onto the ground, supplying the ever-growing chain of puddles. Some were dark but not because of the lack of light, it is because they contained a red liquid which turned into a glass mirror after it calmed down. Four bodies were laying around the wolf, all with their eyes open with ravaging bite-marks on their necks. Wake up.

  Tried to move but the pain had stopped him. Once he was awake again he realised that his body was now covered in clothes, mostly bandages, and his back was against a fallen tree next to the fire. Dawn had started to set in as t
he man tried to sustain his fire in front of him. As he opened his eyes, the dim light started to disappear with a flickering glow even though the man tried to do his best.“Is your name Arkain?”he asked in a deep voice once he saw the boy was awake. Arkain hesitated for a moment but then decided that there was no other he could have said.“Yes” came the answer to which there was little to no reaction just a long blank stare. The fire kept popping and the shadows lay long. How does he know my name?When the ‘conversation’ was finished there was nothing else to do but to assess the situation and keep looking at the potential enemy. There wasn’t much contact afterwards to say the least. It stayed quiet except for when the horse moved. Eventually, the fire had gone out from the lack of fuel which the man solved by going out into the forest for more, away from his campsite. Soon, the fire was lit again burning vigorously with him sitting right next to it throwing logs onto it. The sun started to come up and even though it was a spectacular show of lights, heat wasn’t being given off. It was still mightily cold; so cold that it even left the boy shivering.“Tell me”started the man quietly but loud enough so that anyone could hear it if they are near him“why should I spare your life? You have tried to steal my belongings and currently I do not see anything worthwhile in you. So tell me, who are you and where did you come from? I might just spare that little life you have left”These sentences didn’t make much sense though to the boy. He did as he was told and he explained everything even if he didn’t wanted it to. The man saved his life and he could at least try and repay him.“Thank you” thanked Arkain while he looked at the bandages that now covered up his injury. The blood might already be dried already though he does not know. The white covers were blood-soaked but dry.“I was simply looking for something that could help me” he continued.