Days of the Living Darkness

At the dusking of the day, the sun conceals its presence behind the glooming woods of Lance, the supreme and largest kingdom in the western plains, ruled by his majesty; King Eric Levia. Along a rocky narrow path leading out of the woods rode a stallion mounted by Elroy, an average heighted fair alluring boy in his mid-twenties, with a good physique. He smiled so cheerfully even the unkind twilight breeze rejoiced in his short brunette hair.

"At last Celsius, our search is finally over." Elroy said, stroking the mane of the stallion, gazing up at the walls of Lance miles away.

At about half a mile, Elroy halts his stallion on seeing a boy struggling with a sack; out of his gentle heart he trots his stallion closer to the boy with an intention of help.

"Do you need help boy?"

"Sure, I'll be highly grateful" replied the young lad

Elroy immediately dismounts Celsius then walks up to the boy and lifts up the sack from the swollen hands of the young lad.

"Wow!" he exclaimed "This is heavy, what's in it?" he asked with a suspicious thought.

"Muerte y anos de sustantivo (Death and years of suffering)"

"Aha, you must be from the East." Elroy replied jokingly, not knowing what the young lad had said to him.

After mounting the sack on the back of his horse, a familiar stench came upon his nose; as he tries to grasp the stench a flash of lightning struck behind him, not too bright, but enough to cast a huge shadow in front of him. Elroy instantly turned around in a bit to draw his rapier, but what he witnessed was far beyond him.

He trembled in fear as chills strolled down his spine, for the aura blazing out into the atmosphere signified nothing but death. Before Elroy came back to the realism of the situation; he found himself spinning in the air, with a brutal force enough to knock a child out cold landed on the ground meters away from the creature.

The creature saw no pity in devouring Celsius alive; it nibbled and chewed like it hasn't eaten for days. Elroy, on the verge of blacking out saw a flash of blinding white light followed by the head of the beast gyrating into the dark.

At once Elroy opened his eyes with a weighty breath then exhales at a snail' pace.

'What a nightmare?' He thought, but came to realize he was lying on a bed stationed on a bunk in an unknown room; with each hand chained to each handle of the bunk. Likely to be owned by a shaman, it was stuffed with various sizes of kegs oozing with medicinal stench. Looking at his reflection casted upon the window by his side, he could see a white cloth tied round his head as well as a man standing by the entrance of the room.

"Hey! You" He called out to the tall sender man, with bristly white hair dressed in black wooly cloak, who gently turned to him, "Why have I been restrained?"

"Don't pretend to be innocent chap." The man said, disgust roving all over his ripened face, "either way my pay shall come."

"Let me go this instant." Elroy demanded, shaking the bunk as he tries to set himself free.

"You must recompense for the carnages you committed; Sara!!"

A young lady rushed into the room.

"You called for me sir"

"Go get the guard, tell them the boy is awake and fit, don't forget to collect the silver."

"Yes sir" Sara agreed then stepped out of the room.

Elroy now lost in the confusion of how he ended up in such an obscure situation, kept arguing in his thoughts failing to notice the shaman falling down unconscious due to a hard whack to the back of his head, nevertheless he soon came back to reality when he saw a light skin young lady, endowed with rare magnificence holding a wooden staff; she had the expression of one who wouldn't hesitate to run into evil, her dark hair knotted to a bun at the back of her head along with the brown leather sleeveless and trousers she wore crowned it all.

"Who are you?"

"You ask too many questions; so let's make a deal, shut up and stay still then I won't have to kill you."

Elroy nodded positively to avoid further implications while the maiden tried unlocking the bolt holding his left hand. Not quite long from when she had opened the bolt a warrior stepped in; cladded in dark blue leather armor with a white star crested at the chest region; the capital armor for a Lancian warrior. Looking at the floor he could see the unconscious body of the shaman, over at the bed Elroy being freed by a strange lady.

"You there, stop!" the warrior ordered, reaching for his sword

"What seems to be the problem sir?" the fair beauty asked kindly as she straightened up.

Not minding the words of the lady the warrior drew his sword from the scabbard hanging by his side, killing intent engraved in his eyes, but somehow the young lady had closed unto him; a swing from her staff unto the unguarded head of the warrior shattered the staff, knocking him out. Meanwhile Elroy had already unlocked the bolt on his right hand but most of all amazed at the girl's reflex.

"Well don't just sit there, we don't have much time; there is a troop of cavalry waiting downstairs."

"Then how do we leave this building?" asked Elroy while he stood up on his feet.

Devoid of much thought, the girl dashed towards the window pulling Elroy with her then off the window they went from the third floor of the four floor cottage, yelling until they crashed on a pile of haystack. Like the girl knew what was coming, five Lancian warriors stormed into the room with arrows drawn on their bows ready to annihilate any enemy. As Elroy and the girl got off the hay everyone in the hectic neighborhood began staring at them, murmuring indistinctly.

"Are you insane?" yelled Elroy, "What were your chances of landing safely?"

"Nothing" the girl assured with a smile.

"I'm not going anywhere, not until you tell me your true motives for helping me."

Within that instance, an arrow breezed Elroy's face, placing a sharp cut on his cheek before piercing into a moving wagon.

"Fucking hell" Elroy exclaimed, holding his cheek and staring at the arrow on the wagon.

An archer standing inside the room missed his mark due to the prickly rays coming from the afternoon sun; the girl quickly pulled Elroy towards the crowd. As they force their way through the enormous and eventful crowd, a group of Lancian warriors slacking behind raced after them.

"Hope you know how to fight?" asked the girl, now wearing a serious look.

"To an extent, why do you ask?" Elroy asked curiously, noticing her expression.

"You're going to need it."

As soon as they came to an open space in the district square, two royal guards wielding their long swords hurried out in front of them. Royal Lancian guards are heavy muscled warriors trained specifically to defend a royal blood or one of the council members of the king or heads in a district, attached to their Lancian armor is a black cape to single them out from normal warriors; although their brute nature already did so.

Splitting from each other one charged towards the lady while the other towards Elroy.

One look at the advancing warrior Elroy sneered like he knew the attack coming, as soon as the warrior swung his sword Elroy who was nippy on his feet avoided the fatal blow, which sent the warrior crashing into the dirt. One of the limitations of using a large sword; Elroy without delay followed the girl, who had already knocked out her foe and fled towards the bridge leading out of the district.

In the dark deep of night, the tranquil unruffled southern town, Urania, soon rose from its profound slumber when hoof beats and war cries steamed into the red-black cloud reflecting the cottages engulfed in flames. The first half of Urania was devastating, children watched as their fathers fell to the sword and their mothers dragged away as they screamed and begged for mercy. On the other hand, dying men along with bruised fathers drenched in their blood could not help but watch as their children were lugged into cages mounted on carriages.

Meanwhile in the second half of Urania, those with the sympathy to stay prayed out their eyes while others ran as fast as they could or rode on their horses into the forest nearby.

"Get on the horse now." Yelled a middle aged man at a child.

"No, I will stand and fight as a man..." Before the little boy of nine could complete his statement, a slap from his father pushed him to the ground.

"Dame you," he sobbed, "stupid old man, I hate you-I hate you, all you ever did was watch and pray to a dead God."

"Elroy!!!" The man snarled, his hand raised high ready to let loose agony.

"A God who prohibits his children from fighting back and wouldn't protect them is not worthy to be called a God" tears welled in his eyes. "Same goes to a father."

"God have mercy on your soul." The man prayed.

Elroy immediately stood up then turned his back on his father, off he went with his horse into the night.

"I'm sorry El" clenched his fists "some day you will understand."

Not quite long from then, the Drokan warriors rushed into the second half of Urania unleashing misery on the praying vestiges; Demons lust as they are called for their ungodly acts. All cladded in green armor and smirking steel mask covering their faces.

By the black sand bank of an Ocean, staring directly at the setting sun, Elroy opens his eyes to the babbling of the raging waters; beside him sat the fair maiden who rescued him, trying to set up a camp fire.

"Nice of you to join the living" said the girl

"It's a pleasure meeting a girl with more guts than men."

"I'm Mira by the way" the girl spoke with a friendly tune.

"Fuck the name," Elroy muttered before sitting up, "how confident were you in my swimming capabilities?"

"I only followed my instincts which turned out to be right."

Confused and bereft of answer Elroy lay back on the sand.

"Don't think too much on it Elroy"

"I don't remember telling you my name" sits up, "in fact why is it that you risked your life for me, a stranger"

Startled by Elroy's words, Mira instantly stopped what she was doing then glared at him.

"Stranger you say" chuckles "I thought you would have remembered me by now" Even more confused than before, Elroy took a good look at Mira, but still couldn't remember her.

"Sorry to say Mira, I don't think we've met before."

"How easily you could forget me, my white Knight."

Elroy paused for a while trying to grasp where he heard that title from, but found himself in a memory where he was running and playing alongside Mira at a younger age. Full of joy as well as shocked Elroy quickly stood up on his feet.

"Wow!" he exclaimed, "Mira, I can't believe this, it's been so long."

Not impressed by Elroy's reaction, Mira turned her back against him.

"Come on Mira" Elroy said with a bright smile, trying to lighten the mood as he approaches her with open arms, "It's not possible to remember you after all these years."

Mira instantly held Elroy's hand before he could successfully wrap it around her.

"Sure Elroy; did you come looking for me?"

"I tried to, but my life took a drastic turn."

"That makes no sense Elroy."

"Well you're also at fault here; you and your dad didn't come looking for me."

"We did El, we searched for years; we even came back to Urania, only to find all the villagers slaughtered, your dad included."

"He was a fool."

"Don't say that, he is a hero."

"Hero" chuckles "Hero to who?"

"I thought you have gotten over this by now."

"You know what, just let it be."

"No matter the hate, your father will always be your father."

"I'll keep saying this, God created this world just to watch us feel pain and feel pleased."

"What has God done to deserve that, be mindful or you will regret it."

"Even if I talk badly about Him, He'll still turn a deaf ear."

"Changing your mind is a waste of time; what were you doing in the fifth district of Lance."

"Fifth district; When?" Elroy asked confusedly

"About a week ago"

"I was in the wastelands by then, I only arrived here three days ago before..." Elroy recalled being tossed in the air by a large figure and a flash of white light taking its head.

"What's wrong?" Mira asked noticing his sudden despair.

"This can't be; I'm supposed to be dead."

"What are you talking about?"

"I was attacked by something." holds his head trying to get his mixed thought straight "what is happening?"

Mira seeing the pain Elroy was feeling embraced him and then began petting his hair, "Sorry El I didn't know you were going through pain, but we will get to the bottom of this."

Kingdom of Lance

First district

Twenty-second hour

All doors were shut in the south section of the first district, no trace of sound or movement; the only lightened up building was the 'Black Bog' the main branch from which other branches of the three floor Inn operates; covering a bar as the main floor, an eating place as the first floor, a brothel as the second and a suite as the third. Mounted at the entrance were two Rare Guards, skillful warriors trained to protect the king or any member of his bloodline at the cost of their own lives. They are clothed in white woolly hooded cape by day and black by night.

Not minding the Rare Guards, a slim tan skin boy in his early twenties, with black bulgy hair advanced towards them wielding two short swords.

The main floor of the Black Bog was occupied by ten individuals; a boy of mid-twenties, willowy and pale with black dreamy shoulder length hair, vested in black robe with silver designs, which a royal may wear; four elderly as well as eight royal guards stationed at various ends of the bar.

The smooth going meeting soon came to a stop when the resounding of clashing swords filled the atmosphere.

A rare guard crashed through the door, landing on the ground with his back unconscious; urging the royal guards to draw their swords. Within a split second the tan skin boy stepped into the bar, his looks conveyed nothing but killing intent.

"You must be pretty skilled to have struck down two rare guards." The pale fellow spoke with a smile.

"You must be Prince fucking Phil" the enrage boy spoke noticing the royal design on his robe.

"Give the order my lord." Asked one of the royal guards; itching to put the brown boy to rest.

"Patience, what do you want commoner?" Prince Phil asked curiously.

"What do I want?" chuckles "What the fuck do I want?" he snarled "I want your fucking head on a spike."

"That's treasonous talk boy" Prince Phil advised then stands on his feet, signaling the Elders to give way.

"I don't bloody care, now come at me you spineless youth."

"Lower your weapons" Prince Phil ordered, forcing the royal guards to sheath their swords, "I warn you boy," draws his bastard sword which he held with both hands "your talent shouldn't go to waste here."

"Fuck you" the boy caused before charging towards Phil

Charging head on would have been a mistake, but Phil saw no opening; the attacks were aggressive, filled with hate and rage; Phil had to avoid some instead of checking or blocking them.

As soon as the boy saw an opening he swung one of his swords towards Phil's side, Phil being a good and experienced fighter quickly drew his dagger to deflect the fatal attack.

This action brought shock to the boys' face thereby making him to lose focus giving Phil the opportunity to kick forward against his gut.

Staggering backwards, the boy missed his step then crashed into a bunch of arranged wooden chairs, but was quick enough to roll over to the side, avoiding a fatal slash from Phil's sword. He then stood up to take a defensive position.

"Why did you let him die, he trained you coward." With his attention aligned to the boy, Phil narrowed his eyes towards him as his brow furrowed "Whom do you speak of?"

"My father, Jerrod Rooks."

"Rooks!? Rooks always mentioned you in our brief moments; no one can out match the brave Tony Rooks he said, I finally get to meet you."

"It was your job to keep him safe, you shall pay for his death" yelled Tony before advancing towards Phil, who seems to have lost interest in the fight.

Immediately Tony's blades came whistling down on Phil; he dashed away from the attack leaving Tony wide open from behind, a direct blow to the back of Tony's head with the hilt of his sword knocked him out.

"Take him to the Castle dungeon and get medical attention for the Rare Guards" The royal guards responded with a bow before going on the assignment.

"What are your intentions my Lord" asked one of the elders

"I'll work with Sri Ivan and Commander Darren in search for Jerrod Rooks murderer as well as the two district massacre; let my brother work with the advancing army in fighting off the Drokan invasion."

"As you wish" the elder responded with a bow.

It was the dawn of a new day, the sky was cloudy, and the soil of the fogy Woody forest was wet and mushy from the heavy down pour at night. A young fellow swarming in wet sludge staggered his way through the soil. He soon missed his step which sent him tumbling down a slope towards a track, luckily for the lad a carriage happens to be passing by when he hit the ground.

Beside a cottage, surrounded by willow forestations at the top of a hill, the young fellow now clean and clothed in green linen gown lay peaceful and alive on a bed. By his left hand side sat a blond hair girl a bit younger in age, in same outfit as him; staring at his innocent frown.

By his right hand sat a young lady, also a blond, squeezing water out of a towel into a bowl before wiping the lads face with it.

"Is he going to be fine?" the little girl asked with a clean voice.

"Yes dear, nothing will happen to him."

"Mother, can you guess his name?"

"I don't know Luna; just ask him when he wakes up."

After a short while of tender wiping, the young fellow opens his eyes. The young lady immediately drops the towel into the bowl then began caressing his brunette hair. "How are you feeling?"

"Where am I?" the lad asked

"Don't worry, you are in Etrigon."

"Etrigon" The lad spoke delicately, tears welling in his eyes.

"Don't cry my friend" the little girl spoke passionately at same time wiping tears from the lad's eyes "you're safe with me."

"You've been through a lot already, you poor thing; what's your name?"

"Elroy" he sobbed, rubbing is eyes with his hands.

"Elroy, what a sweet name, I'm Linda" touches the girls head "this is Luna, my daughter."

"Nice to meet you El" Luna said with a smile then held his hand "I'll take good care of you."

Mid-Day

Lance Castle dungeon

Prince Phil walk his way through an old hall way, illuminated by lanterns mounted on each side of the cracked hollow wall towards a wooden door with transom, secured by two Lancian warriors. Immediately Prince Phil got close to the warriors, one quickly unbolts the door then opens it allowing him to walk in while Prince Phil followed behind.

The dungeon room was warm and partially dark, having only one window high from reach but low to ground level outside, that the feet of passer-by can be seen, the squeaking of rats could be heard but not one could be seen. At this instance Tony raised his head up towards the Lancian warrior, his lip curled as his nose crinkled. His hands were cuffed with a chain which was linked to the wall.

"What you looking at?" the Lancian warrior asked aggressively.

"You can leave us now." Prince Phil ordered. With a bow the warrior walks out of the room.

"You have a lot of guts showing your face down here Prince."

"Pain is only but an illusion Tony" clasps his arms behind his body

"You have no right to speak his words, NO FUCKING RIGHT."

With a scoff Phil walks to one end of the room, afterwards turns to Tony. "What's so funny about that?" Tony asked crossly

"You are grieved and hurt, I understand."

"For Christ sake, keep your shitty sympathy to yourself."

"Your father was a father to me as well you know" furrowed his brow, "do you think I would have sent him to his death."

"But still you let him go, he was all I had, he was the only happiness I had and you sent him to his death."

"I regret every moment of what I did" Phil yelled "I regret I was not by his side, I regret I was part of his death, every miserable day I curse that day that hour that minute that second; so you see, I care." he spoke heartedly

"But he died anyway."

"I pray you come to understand Tony, I really do." With these words Prince Phil walks out of the cell.

The Castle of Lance

This fortified structure is stationed at the middle of a courtyard in the north section of the first district; individual districts has four sections, the north, east, south and west. Each district also encircles one another, from the second around the first separated by a moat down to the sixth then an open land before the mighty walls of Lance; they are linked by two bridges, except the first which has just one bridge linking it to the second district. There are only two passages into Lance, the front gate called the Southern Gate then from behind, which has no gate but a dock.

At the balcony of the large Castle stood King Eric Levy, short flabby man, although not that good looking due to a scare across his wrinkled face; his dark shoulder lengthened hair gave him a bold look. He watched stewards care for the orchard and royal guards go about their various activities. The Kings relaxing view came to a stop when Sri Altai, a Lancian Elite, walks in; top ranked warriors tasked with coordinating war unit of Lancian warriors. There are thirteen high ranked swords men in Lance, six Commanders assigned to each district with twenty warriors; then seven Sri. Each Sri and Commander is cladded in chain mail tinted with dark blue. Altai is a black skinned average heighted man with a well-built body, a crew cut and side-burns united with his goatee adding to his fearless looks. His looks spoke evil of him, like he was happy doing anything bad; he wields a sword and a dagger cased in unique leather scabbard dangling from his left side as he walks.

"My Lord" Altai greeted with a bow.

"Speak Altai"

"Prince Richard and Sri Roderick's Calvary has engaged with the Drokans."

"What are the casualty estimates?"

"Casualty" Altai said with a smile, obliging King Eric to narrow his eyes towards him "the Drokans won't stand a chance my Lord, on the fore front is the Cavalry and behind awaiting orders are the infantry."

"Then we have nothing to fear."

"Before dusk the day after tomorrow Prince Richard will be back with the head of Zodiakal, the sixth in command to the Drokan armies."

"Well don't just stand here, tell Princess Atari to prepare her stewards for a large feast." Sri Altai quickly bows then walks away, not quite long from then Prince Phil walks into the balcony. "Tony is not helping Father."

"Give him time Phil; it's not easy losing your only source of happiness."

Stunned by his father's response Prince Phil walks closer to him, "You knew that?" Phil asked "and yet you suggested I send his father, my mentor to observe the chaos that ravaged on in the sixth district"

"Pay back is fragrant" King Eric assured with a wild smirk "when things go as planned, God bless his terrible soul."

"What's the meaning of this father?" Prince Phil asked now infuriated.

"I knew exactly what was going on and I knew Jerrod Rooks and his squad was no match for it."

"You sent him to die." Phil raged

"Hush now son, YOU" points his index finger at Prince Phil, "sent him, remember your place son, for I am still King." Prince Phil bowed out of respect to the crown then glared at his father before walking away. "Good boy" King Eric praised then focused on the beautiful female stewards tending the orchard.

District 4

Twenty-fourth hour

The busiest district in Lance, with business of various kinds going on mostly at night; there are five branches of the Black Bog in this troublesome district each pulling out at least three dead bodies from bar fights after every feast.

The night was cold and windy, streets almost void as various activities came to a close in the east section. A huge figure in black hooded cloak walks hastily from one junction to another where one of the Black Bog was located. After glaring up at a slim figure clothed in black hooded cape staring down from the balcony the huge figure walks into the Black Bog.

"Thank you for coming Thomas." The huge figure greeted as soon as he walked into the balcony.

"This meeting better be worthwhile Michael." The slim figure replied hastily

"Sorry for drawing you from your family."

"You left your wife and new born so we could meet, then this must be urgent."

"Yes indeed, Richard has been chosen to rule Lance after the reign of his Father."

"Well, that's good news, what about it?"

"I'm glad you asked; what does the Levia family have in common?"

"They've ruled Lance for six generations now, they contributed greatly to the building of Lance; they are very skillful fighters and fearless beings."

"Yes, rumor also has it the first Levia squired under the last descendant of one of the men trained by fallen Angel Azazel."

"Yes, there's that."

"What does Orrick Levia have in common with his grandson? Richard Levia"

"They are not as cold and bold as their families; although they are wild in a unique way"

"Then you understand why Richard has to join his grandfather."