With Blades and Flames: Awakening

by David Csontos

  “I don’t want to be any‘chosen one’it is stupid. Anyone can be a chosen one if he hears a song about himself”

  “Then we got an answer”

  The boy instead of lying down stood up and started walking in the cold and hard snow. Every step made his heart beat more. Not knowing where he should go, he just continued on and on until he got to a safe distance away from their shelter. There, he looked around if anyone was looking. The wind was furiously hacking away at the mountain without results and once it got up to the top, it was happy to hack away at the travellers but this time it was quiet. Barely a breeze. Arkain raised his hand and tried to remember. Anything. Anything at all.He tried to concentrate but nothing happened. He finally looked up at the moon to see a bright half circle, far above surrounded by a couple of stars that remained, then decided to head back.“I guess you are the only one that can see me” whispered Arkain.

  The rest of the days were quiet. No-one talked to each other. Just tried to stay alive on the dangerous road that was sometimes leading up and sometimes leading down. Although it did not look like they will get anywhere, Agaroth was sure that they were going the right way and was solemnly dashing through anything that got in his path with Burdõl and Arkain quietly following from behind. As days have gone by they had to stop more and more often. The wind was starting to pick up and so did the snow. It was becoming dangerous to stay outside. Especially when the road they were walking on was slippery and slender. All they could do is hurry when the wind was low. Providentially the road had sometimes led into short caves. These provided a safe place to sleep and a protection from the wind. It also provided darkness, so they had to sleep close to the entrance. As light has disappeared from the world, the travellers were left in complete darkness and could only dare to move once the sun came up. As they headed further through time, they needed to go through caves often and nearly always faced the problem of light. They could not make any torches at all which was a bigger problem than Arkain thought. The many hours of travel in the cold wet snow had taken the tool on their equipment. Their shoes got wet along with everything that contacted the white powder. Unfortunately, here comes the problem. One would expect that they should dry it. This problem was far from being solved because to dry something you need heat and you can only get heat from fire. It was just a matter of time until one of them becomes seriously ill. The strongest out of everyone was Burdõl.“I got used to being cold. Back in the day, when I was at home, it was as cold as it is now. In the deep mines of Tránquildit was cold and could only be warm once the furnaces were packed with oil-dried coals that could burn as hot as the sun itself! But without them it was mostly cold. I cannot dare to imagine what it would be like now. This winter, came at the wrong time” There was no weak one in the group, in fact everyone tried their best to keep warm. Sometimes, one of them would get close to a wall or even sit down into a tiny corner because the nights were terrible, it was affecting their days equally. Tired, cold and wet, Arkain’s only reason why he kept going is that to find out who he really is. When he first thought about this journey it was not that big of a deal. As time started to pass he started to rely on his ultimate objective even more. By now, this was all that he wanted, find out who he really is, or at least try. He did not know where this is going to guide him but since nothing else is connected to him in any way that he heard of this is his only chance to even come close to his past. Maybe he will find something that solves all of his problems and shows him the answers to all of his questions. Given that there was not much talk going on yet again there was not much that each of them could do other than think. At least that is what Arkain did most of the time. It made him feel a bit open, and kept him going. This was his only chance of being open about something and helped him think, develop feelings and start imagining. Once he started to imagine he could go to distant places, travel hundreds of miles or just a few steps and all he needed to do is think. It was hard to create his own opinions about each and everything. It was like the world had started to reveal its voice. When a small breeze swept across the mountain like water on a hard rock, Arkain closed his eyes and started to feel much more than what could be seen. Freedom, the word that could have a thousand meanings. Free to do whatever you have wished without anyone or anything stopping you. Free to go wherever you want. When he opened his eyes, he started to understand, he started to feel the other side of him starving. It was like two personalities were trying to fight each other while in the process creating dreams and hopes but also pushing them into the abyss. One that craved to live his life and one that would want to find his origins. I guess I will just have to learn to live with that. That day was no different from the others. He woke up in a dark groove, looked out to see that hard snow was turning into ice, and small spikes grew on the entrance’s wall, hanging down from above reflecting the sunshine. He slowly made his way out, stood up and looked around. There were two other grooves in which the other two companions were sleeping. This was usual, considering that Arkain usually woke up before everyone else. He could not sleep for long.

  The nightmares have sometimes stopped but started again after he woke up and tried to go back to sleep. All of them were equally menacing and made the boy wake up in sweat, hoping that he did not wake up anyone else. Unfortunately that was not the truth, Agaroth was nearly always awake as well, but did not show much sign of it. He usually just pretended that he was in a long, deep slumber but in fact he always knew when the boy was having a nightmare. He kept mumbling, sometimes letting out a small, silent cry but always woke up by the end. This was drastically different than when they have first met. None of these facts existed at the time so the only explanation he could rely on was that the boy was starting to remember. Arkain hoped that this would be true when he tried to figure out his problems but revealed nothing after a long sitting. So he kept trying. And this was the last. He slowly made his way a bit further away from the camp and tried to find a small path leading up, somewhere where he could take a look at the view. He looked around and saw a wall with the possibility to become a mean of travel. He quickly tested that by climbing up and taking his eyes towards the horizon, which was as unpredictable as time itself. As he gazed his eyes around he could see nothing more than the ending of the long, hauling forest. The terrain was starting to become clearer. Wide fields have started to take over the view as trees have stretched into tall grass and small puddles. The forest has started to disappear.“We are getting to the end of it. Wonder what lies behind and how long I have to travel”

  “Not long!”shouted Agaroth so that Arkain could hear. The boy quickly turned around and jumped down, once he got close enough to the ground.“We are not far in fact. Your goal is just beyond that grass field far beyond”

  “Are you really gonnaleave us?” he crashed to the point.

  “Tell me. Why are you so eager to get there?”

  “Because that is my only chance to find out who I am. I thought you knew that” answered the boy with a slight expression of confusion on his face.

  “Tell me. Would you kill the person responsible?”

  “Responsible of what?”

  “Chaos, death”

  He thought about this for a moment. What would I do? “

  I would make them pay for what they did. But not sure about killing. What did he do?”

  Agaroth did not answer. He looked away towards the campsite and only a few minutes later did he returned his eyes on Arkain.“If you would see this person, would you allow the people that have been damaged by him to return that favour?”

  “I am not so sure about killing”he repeated“I…do not know. If he done something terrible then he deserves to be punished no doubt”he hesitated for a moment“do you think I am someone valuable? I mean I do not seem to be. I haven’t done anything extraordinary yet”

  “Yet”repeated Agaroth. This conversation felt like it had happened many times before, still it was always forgotten and rephrased every time.“I have decided to go
with you. There is something I have to do in which I need your help however absurd this sounds”

  “For sure?” exhaled Arkain.

  “Yes. But only if you promise me not to stop when it is time”

  “What time?”

  “You will know soon enough. There should be no more talk about this. Go, we have to leave this camp. The mountain I am afraid is getting colder and colder. There is also going to be a storm that could devastate our journey. We will have to find a way down this instant if you do not want your journey to end. Go, we will need to wake up Burdõl”

  “Wait, how did you know all of this?”

  “Let’s just say we aren’t that different. Now go!”And Arkain ran. He stomped through the land back to the camp to see the dwarf still sleeping like he got smashed on the head with a cub the night before. A few seconds later Agaroth did the same. By that time, the dwarf was trying to stay upright.“What did you do?” asked Arkain because he knew it would not have taken as much time to come back unless he was late for a reason.

  “Climbed a bit higher than you did. We have got to leave immediately. The storm I have expected is faster. If we don’t find a cave soon, one that leads deeper into the mountain we will die”

  “How do you know that this storm is going to be that powerful?” asked the dwarf.

  “I think I am a bit more educated on this and spent a bit more time outside in the wild rather than cheating my way inside prison cells to stay for the night. Go! That way!” he said and pointed towards a wider path that lead forward. Then, all three of them made a run for it.

  This time everything seemed to go faster. Even the storm itself. By the time they were running for miles, Arkain was worried if they find a cave at all. For this reason, Agaroth was at the front. The wind was starting to move which signalled the oncoming rage that was about to happen. It was very cold, even colder than before as the chilling waves have hit their back. There wasn’t much time left. It has started raining. The wind was picking up even more, nearly blowing away the three of them with enormous power that could have moved a thousand rocks once it was at its fullest. Luckily it was still just building up to that final event.“I have never seen weather like this!” shouted Arkain.

  “That is because we are high up! The weather is always worse when you are this high!”shouted back Agaroth holding his hand in front of his face as small snow dunes started to build up on it. You could barely see anything by this time.“Do you know where the closest cave is?” asked Burdõl.

  “Yes, there is one not far from here! I have managed to get through here using one of the caves!”

  “What?! You mean there is more than one?!”

  “Yes! Even you should know! This place is scattered around with it” And just as he said it, a tall line of bright light have exploded into the mountain side shaking it, releasing rock from deep beneath the surface allowing it to tumble down next to the three men. Soon after another one hit the opposite side.“We have to hurry!”shouted Agaroth. The snow started to form small tornadoes on the ground, flying faster and faster until they have fluttered into something. The ground has started to become higher by the minute which meant that Arkain and the others could not run anymore. They needed to stomp through the thick snow.“Is Burdõlall right?”asked Agaroth“He hasn’t spoken much!”Arkain looked behind and saw no-one. Only snow. He looked back at Agaroth with worry on his face.“I can’t see him! I’m gonnafind him!”

  “Hurry!” yelled Agaroth. The boy, as fast as he could, started tumbling back and following the footsteps he made. Unfortunately the dwarf could not be seen. The boy ventured further in the snow until he found a body in it. When he looked closely it was Burdõl passed out. He quickly pulled him up and grabbed him around the shoulders. Then carried him back to Agaroth who was trying to find a cave. Luckily, there was a cave nearby which the traveller have found just minutes before Arkain got back. When he saw the boy and the dwarf hanging from his side, he quickly helped out and carried both of them into the rock tunnel. When they got inside, the entrance collapsed from boulders that weighed a ton and were now blocking all light from outside.

  Chapter 12:…Then Down low

  “No!”yelled Agaroth when his attempt to move some of the rock failed.“What happened to him?”Both of them looked at the dwarf but had no idea what happened to him until the traveller sat down and started searching for clues on his body. As soon as he checked his legs a bit mark could be seen on the cold flesh covered in blood under a small cloth, dirty and ripped.“Great!”said the traveller“Why the hell did he not tell us about this I don’t understand”

  “Is it serious?” asked Arkain.

  “Well, what do you think? He just passed out. He is losing blood from this and now it is infected him. We have to take him away to somewhere where there is medicine. I have a little but that is not going to help”

  “Where is the nearest village?”

  “That is a though question. Depends on how fast we get down from this mountain. I believe there is a small village nearby”

  “Then let’s go, what are we waiting for?”

  “I have to bandage him first”

  “I will see if there is a way down”

  “No, these caves are worse than labyrinths, and you would probably die. As soon as I have finished we have to go. Understand?”requested the man but by the time he has finished Arkain was already gone. In a nick of time, he patched up the torn skin and lifted the dwarf up to start walking after the now disappeared Arkain.“Agaroth! I have found something!”

  “Did you now?”whispered back into the darkness as he kept walking. On the end of the tunnel, a small light could be seen. A blue, silent light. Arkain was in there, staring at the walls that were miraculously covered in crystals. A small opening at the top allowed light to enter and be reflected on the minerals bouncing light around the place. Even the ground was from some kind of reflective rock.“Do you even know what this is?”asked Agaroth, slightly amazed.“Should I?” answered back the boy.

  “This kind of rock is worth more than you could imagine. With this much of it, you could buy a whole army! It looks like I do actually get a pay after all. And not the bad type!” smiled the traveller. An expression which have never been seen by Arkain and was surprised by it. Never the less, he was instructed to grab a knife and a satchel and start breaking the long spears into it. The traveller was on the left hand side of the circular room and the boy on the right. Burdõlwas left in the middle. The satchels quickly became full of precious gems and a few seconds later they were on their last bag. But something happened. When the boy tried to break off a bigger crystal, the whole wall came crumbling down. Most of the gems just fell on the floor, including the bigger ones. On the top of the wall was the biggest. A huge crystal that was connected to lots of other ones which increased the weight. Slowly but surely, it disconnected itself from the rock wall and fell down. Arkain quickly jumped away, because he didn’t want to get pierced by the sharp edges. It fell with enormous speed and smashed its way into the ground leaving half of it above and half of it below. Cracks appeared around it that started to grow and grow. Agaroth was also watching and was very much afraid that this floor might be from something else.“Don’t move!”he shouts.“The floor is from crystal too!”There was not much time to react. When the boy stopped moving the lines of lightning were still continuing their path and that path headed towards the dwarf.“One of us needs to get him!”exclaimed the boy and was ready to jump as soon as he hears the answer.“Yes but not you!” The traveller jumped and sprinted towards Burdõl, by the end sliding. As soon as he grabbed him the floor was no more, but tiny pieces of crystal shards, falling down into a hole including the three of them. Like bags full of sand, their bodies fell and plummeted down onto a slippery rock wall. Trying to control the descend Agaroth was grabbing onto Burdõlas hard as he could while sliding on a slope-like pothole. Arkain was in the front trying to stay upright without tumbling down onto his face. It was an immense tas
k given that he was traveling recklessly, sometimes spinning. Everything had become lines around him as his speed increased. Too fast, he could not latch himself onto anything to stop. It would just rip his hands out.“Don’t touch anything on the sides!” yelled the traveller from the back with all of his might. The boy tried not to move too much but when his body smashed into a small piece of rock, he started to cartwheel. His whole body crashed into the hard rock, turned around and did it again. There was blood dripping from his back leaving traces on it on the ground and that piece of stone that started it all. He was about to be knocked out. Faster than ever before, he lifted himself up away from the ground, kicked and pounded on the rock until he managed to come back into sliding position on his back but as he continued to slide, a sharp pain has taken over his whole body. It was coming from the back. No time to do anything, there was a light at the end of the tunnel and Arkain was confident that he could make it. He span his head backwards to see if Agaroth was behind but could not see anything because it was completely dark. That was the mistake. When he turned around, his body had smashed into another small rock, which was in the middle, he felt another sudden and immense amount of pain. First, he saw a flash brighter than anything in the cave, then everything went dark.

  Chapter 13: A warm welcome

  “Arkain!” An unknown woman, screaming at the top of her lungs was calling out for him. Run. Go faster. He dropped on four legs and sprinted towards the sound. But there was nothing. When he go there, it was completely quiet. All he could see is a ripped cloth on the brick road. Then, he felt a sharp pain from his back. Someone or something has pushed a long, iron sword through him.

  When the boy awakened, not being in control of his body, he sprung up, nearly banging his head into a wooden slab. To quickly assess his situation he examined the place he woke up. As he looked around, he noticed that he was still in a cave. Long ligneous torches were bolted into the walls with some sort of small mechanism. On the other side of the ‘room’, was one bunk bed. The phenomenon was held together by bolts and screws with slats. In it were two pillows, one on each bed. Animal hides were hanging from all sides, but most noticeably deer. When he tried to sit up, he saw that his clothes were missing. The only piece of clothing he wore was a rag, so he looked around to try and find something to wear. Fortunately, his original rugs were right next to him on the floor all dried up. Not being able to sleep anymore he got up and looked around yet again, but this time saw more given that he could turn his head fully around. There were some barrels behind his bed and a table next to it with a simplistic chair. Out of nowhere, he could hear whispers coming from the far end of the tunnel. From here, he could see that the tunnel had other tunnels leading away from it. There were two torches to light it up, both of them similar to the one in the room. He started walking towards the distant sounds. When he got to the first of the splits that led away from the main tunnel, he decided to go no further. Most of the sounds he could hear were coming from there. Whispers, like someone was talking. Beams of light were dancing in and out of the room. When he stopped at the entrance, everyone went quiet inside. There were three dwarves sitting on rough logs, each of them on their own around a fireplace, which had an iron stick hanged above it with cooking meat on it. Even from here it could be seen, that it was covered in dripping fat which, when it decided to fell, sustained the fire place also creating a mouth-licking aroma. The room was now taken over by the scent.“Come, sit down with us. You must be hungry so come on! Eat up”spoke the dwarf on the left hand side, now breaking the silence. When Arkain looked up from the fireplace, which nearly mesmerized him, he started walking towards them, just like the dwarf said. The small man quickly stood up lifted a log from nearby and placed it next to the fire, so that the boy could sit down. Now that he was close, he could see that the dwarves were wearing warm, thick clothes from goat skin which looked more grandiose than what a man would expect from travellers like these. They must have had better lives.“Here you go. Eat up!”he said, giving him a small bowl, and in it, a piece of meat. As the boy reached with his left hand to grab it, something wasn’t right. As soon as he raised it, a sharp pain that came from his fingers and ran across all the way to his back had made him pull it back and snarled.“I had to treat your hand and back from the fall. You have smashed yourself to pieces on that small piece of rock which should have killed you in my opinion. How you survived is beyond me. You must be a really good fighter Arkain”