With Blades and Flames: Awakening

by David Csontos

  In the end Arkain had to give up his weapons and sit down. But as soon as he fell onto the wood every last person around the room had stopped talking and started staring at him. It was all quiet until a tall man in a brown rope did not walk up to the fairly sized bell that was hanging from a structure next to a pillar on the right hand side of the room. He carried an enormous hammer with him and when he got there, he have pulled up the weapon to swing it across half of the room, some could say, to smash the bell which for some reason could easily handle it and to his credit start singing. The long and powerful sounds have echoed throughout the room and it could be heard that every other in the building had started too. When it was all quiet, three men had walked out from a door that was behind the stage. All three wore white robes with a red line in the middle going all the way down from the neck to the bottom of the fabric. When the three men had walked up to each little stage to their places, no longer was everyone looking at the boy but the three beings that emitted respect and fear in their presence. The one standing in the middle raised his hand in which a necklace was hanging, to which all the others responded with the same movement but also saying“Tuthaim de rokchon tyy”. The words echoed in the room.

  “You!”roared the leader in the middle“Is your name the one that is sung?”

  Arkain hesitated a bit not knowing what he just heard“I want to know why I am here”

  “Tell me your name and I shall tell you mine!”

  “Why would I tell you my name if I am already here? You probably know it already. Now, tell me your name. I have been dragged through hell and snow, now I want to know your name though I did not. Why am I here?“

  “You really don’t remember, do you? I knew it. We should have got there quicker”

  “Why don’t I know?”

  “Because you are a warrior Arkain!”laughed“You are destined to be great and powerful, but most of all to help us!”

  “Tuthaim de rockhon tyy” yelled the crowd.

  “Did you had a nice trip? Was that barbarian treating you well? I have to say we did not expect all of this. You were ready too early. Well no problem. You are here now”

  “Stop talking in riddles and tell me the truth. Why would someone like you be interested in me? What have I done to deserve all of this?”

  “Everything that you see is for your own safety. You do not remember because of who you are!”yelled the man and then turned to the others“Brothers, Sisters! He does not know who he is! Well, tell him!”

  “He who dies shall rise! He who is born in battle shall belong to the light and fire would spread his thoughts to burn the darkness of our own!” They have chanted it.

  “You are the one that will unite the order and help us take the throne! No-one is going to be as strong as you!”

  “Shall rise!” repeated the crowd.

  Arkain looked around and saw all those people just standing there shouting his name. But he could not understand it. Why? What makes them think that? Have I done anything like that in my life? "I only came here to find out who I am. I am not going to lead an army”said Arkain but it looked like the leader didn’t care about his verdict. And in no time the chorus have started up again and he was talking.

  “You were born in a battle young man. When everyone else died you have survived. I am not going to lie. I was injured and sick. Broken like a twig in great wind. Only by luck have I found you when I heard your cry. I was astonished. Would it be true? Would the prophecy be true...? The prophecy has foretold that a boy would survive and would take the sword of the world when he grows up. And I knew that you were that boy. But now in all fairness, you are going to take my sword and help our cause. Because who would dare to stand against you? The boy from the prophecy! Sing my children, sing!”

  “Stop! Stop I say!”roared Arkain and stood up from his chair“What makes you think I will lead your so called army? I am not going to kill. Not for you. Not for anyone at that cause of yours. I am no-one special but single person in a big world. I do not care about you or your belief. I want to know who I am because you cannot talk simply”

  This time everyone had frozen in place. There were no more singing or chatter in the room but dead silence. Most of all it was only stares. Stares of the people that did not believe what he just said.“Not for anyone”echoed the sentence for a few seconds in everyone’s ears.

  “Of course you are going to help us”tried the leader to cheer up everyone“everyone that stand in our way, even if it is children, or women, shall not deserve to live though they put dirt in our pureness. That is what you were born to do. That is what you were meant to do.”

  “But one sword will rise to destroy the lies with a fire that cries” sang the crowd.

  Arkain remembered that sentence from the tent last night. This sounds awfully similar to the song last night, but that thing also mentioned a name. I believe a place, which might link to my past. I have to go there, see what she meant, because I do not believe to these people. They are crazy enough to make up stories just to help themselves.“I will not kill innocents just because your pureness. Find someone else that will”The man’s face have darkened all of a sudden, and a burst of anger could be seen clearly on it. He was furious. His mouth have started to open but by the time he said something Arkain had started to walk back the way he came from.“I am your God! I saved your life! Without me you are nothing!” howled the man with immense amount of breath and loudness. The boy just kept walking, did not look back, and tried to think where he must go. I have to find A….He could not finish that sentence. Two man in grey robes have stepped in front of him and grabbed him. Although he tried to get away by kicking and hitting it would not work. The two man placed an iron ring on his neck that had spikes on the inside.“If you turn you’ll die”screamed the man on the right hand side that was now walking away from the stage. The two guards turned Arkain around to listen to the last sentence that he would hear in this room.“Either way you are going to do what we say. We’ll see what you’ll be like after. Guards take him away!” said the man on the left hand side of the leader.

  “You can’t do this!” roared Arkain as he was taken away. He even tried to further escape but he got hit on the head by something, or someone and had fainted.

  Chapter 8: Are you mad?!

  The cell he woke up in featured a haystack and a window which was call a hole which had been blocked by iron sticks leaving little spaces in-between. When Arkain woke up on the cold ground the first thing he did was to jump up and look around. First, he have taken a look at the wooden door that was surrounded by strong metal, and was his only way of escaping. He walked back then ran and tried to bash it.“Let me out!” He did this multiple times but eventually had to give up. Then, he jumped up to the window to hold himself for a moment so he could look outside. Through it he could see the whole city. This must be under the building. He looked around to see if there is any way to escape but there were none. He fell back down on the ground. Why is this happening to me? Then ran back and started smashing his hand against the door. For this long I have been wanting to find out who I am but now I regret asking. What is this collar for? This is impossible! His hands flexed against the hard iron but he couldn’t take it off. His legs were tied to chains along with his hands. He could freely move in his cell but it wasn’t long enough to allow him to do any kind of complicated manoeuvres. I would have been better off if I ran away back then. Agaroth had betrayed me. Sold me like an animal. When I find a way out of here I will go to Kirlahad. This is all a mess and I need answers. I doubt that anyone believes what these people said.

  The couple of days went quickly. All he could do was sleep and eat, because, for his luck, the people weren’t starving him. Every midday a soldier would open the door for a minute and then try to throw a small bag inside that has some meat and a bread in it. And as you could read it, yes, the soldier would ‘try’ to open the door because Arkain was a type of person that doesn’t give up, or is not likely, so every time som
eone opened the door the boy made a run for it. Once he even managed to step outside for a moment, but by then there were a few guards waiting for him, given that the guard that gives the food, usually makes as much noise as possible if the prisoner tries to escape. Considering that the only time the guard came was afternoon, with a sword in his hand by now, he had to do something to make the time fly faster. He couldn’t sleep all day and all night so all he had left is to think. Think about what have been heard. If it is really true. If I am the one that has been sung then what am I going to do? I don’t even know this world enough to start fighting for it. Therefore before I do something I must consider my future. I have to go to Kirlahad whatever it takes.

  The last time Arkain tried to get out was on the twenty-fourth day on which he was pleasantly surprised. It was a dark afternoon because the sun had been blocked and scared away by the clouds leaving shadows and darkness everywhere. As soon as he heard footsteps the boy was ready to jump. He slowly started to stand up each second for each crack, and cricket outside. But when the prison cell next to him opened it wasn’t a guard that stepped inside first. It was half the size of the grown up man. His beard was black and was swinging from left to right as the creature stepped heavily. Behind him were three men pointing swords at his back.“I demand to speak to someone in charge!”boomed the small man and spat“You cannot lock me in here for long!”When he was completely inside they have shut the door and thus the man reacted with a punch.“Pig-shits” murmured afterwards then sat down. There was a small crack in the wall which allowed Arkain to see everything on the other side.

  “Afternoon! Now what the hell did‘you’do?” asked the man.

  “Why does it matter?”

  “You ARE a lovely chap! Muri, kill me!”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Why does it matter?”repeated the man just like he heard it from the boy but then started talking in normal voice“I had a few misunderstandings with these people. But just like before they are going to let me go tomorrow when the sun rises. But until then I have a shelter.”

  “Are you a traveller?”

  “We could say that. Yes.”

  Arkain stood up, stared at the man for a few seconds than looked out the window. The sun was going down slowly to hide under the horizon. Half of the streets were in darkness but most have still been shined upon. Then all of a sudden it started snowing. The boy sat back down again onto the cold floor. He looked at the man that was now stretching his legs who then asked if he could eat the remaining food from Arkain. The boy agreed to it, and not even a blink the food was gone.“You know it is pretty hard to find someone like you my friend” he said.

  “Why would someone want to find me?”

  “Why would I know? Maybe because you are important, maybe because you messed with the wrong people. What is your name?”

  “Arkain”

  “Phew! No wonder they want you! I could literally shit my pants right now but I won’t. Trust me, it would stink”

  “What?!” the boy was starting to lose his head. Which world did I live in so far?!

  “Boy, trust me when you have been through the things I have been you manage to learn a few songs and notes that some very important people have taught us. You know what?! I will help you to escape tomorrow under two conditions. One, I will go wherever you go. Two, just shut up. Today we sleep.”

  “What?! You want to follow me?!”asked the boy but didn’t received an answer. I guess I will need to agree if I want to escape from this hell.

  “My name is Burdõlby the way”

  Not caring about any of this, the boy had laid down onto the cold and hard ground to await the cold night that was going to be ahead of them. Who am I?

  Go to Sleep

  “Mum? What was that sound?”asked the girl facing into the darkness. It did not take long until the parents arrived. They have both walked up the rickety old stairs and came into her room.“What is the matter Liolna?”asked the dad and sat down onto her bed.“Did you have a nightmare?”

  “No! This time it was real, I promise! It was a long howl that came from there!” pointed the girl towards the window.

  “I am sure it was only a wolf. There is nothing to be afraid of Liolna. These beasts cannot come in here because of the big walls. It protects us, from them” the mother continued the conversation.

  “But what if there is a hole in the wall?”

  “Go to sleep Liolna” ordered the mother and walked out of the room leaving the father and daughter alone.

  “I believe you” whispered the dad after the mother left.

  “Do you?” asked the girl on the verge of crying.

  “Oh, no, no, no. Don’t cry, my dear! I believe everything that you have said. But believe me, even if there is a wolf inside the walls, I am here to protect you”hurriedly said the father as small tears have started to appear in the daughter’s eyes. As soon as he finished even though he was tired from all the work, he decided to stay here with Liolna. The bed was big enough to allow space for both of them so he sat down next to the girl and closed her in his hands.“I will protect you. Whatever it takes” In the distance another howl could be heard coming from outside the walls.

  At the same time…

  “One more and I am going to have to leave” said Agaroth for the last time.

  “Why are you leaving so early? Stay for a few days! I haven’t seen you for such a long time”Both of them were sitting at the table eating dinner. Only a couple of small candles were lit around the room, but considering that it was indeed a very small room, the starving light that was released by the short sticks still managed to keep the room fairly lit.“You know that I cannot stay here for long”

  “That isn’t enough reason. You keep running and running but from what? Try to live a bit even if you are in this wretched world”

  “How many times do I have to tell you, that I am not running? I am travelling, this is how I stay alive, because even if this ‘wretched’ world is at the edge of extinction there are still people left that need me, and are prepared to pay for it”

  “Need you? You are no more than the wood the fire is burning on!”

  Both of them stopped talking and continued eating. When they have finished they have both left the table. The woman cleaned up the remaining and the man had started to pack his belongings. When both of them were finished the man walked out through the door at the back and the woman followed her. As soon as she got outside Agaroth was already packing on the horse heavy bags and some food. When he finished, he made the horse lie down so he does not get tired from the weight. After that they have both sat down onto a wooden bench that was placed onto the ground and its sides were deep inside the soil. Only then did they start to talk again.

  “Who was that boy really? He could not have been who I think he is”

  “Does it matter? I have got my money’s worth”

  “Yes, but why would someone like‘them’ need him? I thought they have hated Magia, just like everyone else nowadays. You think they are going to try and kill him? Like the others?”

  “I haven’t got the slightest idea but I don’t wish I had it also. It is not my job to know that, but you are might be wrong, if they would have wanted to kill him, they would have asked me. Either that or I might be wrong too”

  “Didn’t he saved your life? In the honest world this would make you help him, instead of throwing him onto some maniacs”

  “That might be true but I…

  Agaroth looked around. He smelled smoke. But not like a tiny amount. It was in masses. He looked around again but saw nothing. Luckily since the house was placed near the walls, which meant there was a way up in the vicinity which the traveller rushed towards.“What are you doing, didn’t I just…”

  “There is no time!”shouted Agaroth back. Both of them had ran up and looked around. The woman did not see much but Agaroth could. He saw thousands of tiny movements across the fields. All which were people. Black shadows that carr
ied weapons and in full-fledged armour they have crawled across the ground. No light, no source of fire.“Take my horse, grab a sword and try to get out of here as soon as possible. But don’t use the main gates. Use the tunnel in your house”

  “Understood”said the woman now also seeing the movement as the people have got closer and closer“No-one sees this! No-one knows about this!”