Final Destiny

[Xekester]

Final Destiny
And the Return of the Z-Hand
Written by Brian A Washington
The Lively Introduction

Long ago in continent of Shinook lived a Swordsman. Now this Swordsman did many great things throughout Shinook, this Swordsman name is Lloyd Willinger. Lloyd’s previous quest earned him an abundant amount of fame, in which the news quickly spread to all 6 corners of continent. Then in a matter of weeks Lloyd’s name was known by everyone who could acknowledge such a thing. Fortunately, the word reached all the way to the kingdom of Phebas which was currently being ruled by the new King; King Daniel the 3rd, for just a mere week ago King Daniel the 3rd’s father King Daniel the 2nd, (An equivalent but more exaggerated version of Prince John of England *December 24, c. 1166 – October 18/19, 1216) King Daniel the 2nd raised the taxes for the people of Phebas, causing a type of Depression effect on the community. So anyway, King Daniel the 3rd was eventually taken in on account of the fact of him constantly hearing his advisors and chancellor talking and steadily bringing up contents leading up to the subject. King Daniel sent his personal stagecoach to retrieve Lloyd the Swordsman.
Lloyd was summoned to the kingdom of Phebas by King Daniel, castle guards escorted Lloyd to Phebas by stagecoach. The journey was a long one, for Lloyd lived in the village of Luin, and should a person want to leave Luin he would have to climb an extremely steep hill, cross a murky swamp infested with piranhas, and then slide down the opposite side of the hill. All of that could take up to two days at the most.
At last Lloyd arrived, he was searched and then allowed to pass through the accesses and into to most populated town in the whole land of Shinook. As Lloyd walked, he began to notice that everybody had ceased what they were doing and was staring at him. Lloyd turned to face the crowd of the townspeople and waved. The crowd continued to stare. Lloyd started feeling a bit uneasy and unwelcome. Some girl broke the silence with her shouting, soon the townspeople joined in. The townspeople formed a circle around Lloyd. Lloyd is now feeling a bit scared and confused. The townspeople continued to shout and yell at him. Lloyd caught bits and pieces of the words that the townspeople shouted at him. One man yelled, “That’s the man who stole my prized hen I want him arrested!”, “Guards this is the man who I took into my home, who then stole from me!” Five Guards broke through the wall of angry townspeople. Lloyd instantly unsheathed his sword and vigorously fought off the Guards. Now Lloyd was the best swordsman in the land, so fighting these Guards was like a hot knife through butter. Even though the townspeople had started throwing rotten vegetables at him after the first Guard was pummeled to the ground. The small brawl with guards was over, but the townspeople continued to throw vegetables. For the townspeople were in luck, Lloyd was a swordsman of the Old Code. This meant he could not attack the townspeople. So instead he threatened the crowd with small thrusts with his blade to scare to angry mob. The mob scattered. Now this was Lloyd’s chance to escape, he took off towards the drawbridge. Lloyd quickly stated his name and gained access into the castle. It took a while for Lloyd to find the throne room. By the time he did find it, he was exhausted. Once again, the guards asked Lloyd to state his name. Therefore, he did. Finally, once he was inside the throne room, none other than King Arthur himself greeted him. The king actually shook hands with him. What a treat that was for him. “Ah, you must be Lloyd Willinger the lone swordsman am I correct?” “That I am, your majesty.” Lloyd replied. “Of coarse you are I mean you'd have to be a fool not to know a swordsman when you see one”. Lloyd smiled at the comment and took it as a compliment. “Now I have an important mission for you”. “You are to slay the Underworld monster, Behemoth” “Which I am pretty sure this will be your toughest mission by far”. Arthur added. “Well I like a challenge” Lloyd said. “So when do you want me to start?” “You will begin your quest immediately, and you are not to return to the castle until he is killed. Lloyd then left the castle.

Chapter I
The Thief Is Sighted

Lloyd left the castle of Phebas and headed for the village, for he was to meet a wizard named Elliot. Elliot was to help and aid Lloyd on his new quest. Lloyd spotted the blue robed wizard instantly. Lloyd was safe from the mob of angry townspeople, for the sun was setting in the west so the townspeople were asleep. Lloyd ran stealthily through the village towards Elliot. Lloyd had to look up because Elliot was twice Lloyd’s height, let alone the tall pointed hat the wizard wore on his head. Elliot stared down on Lloyd. The tall wizard smiled at Lloyd and spoke, “Arthur surely knows what he’s doing”. “Now I’m sure you know what you’re doing am I correct?” “Of coarse I do, all I have to do is cut off the demon’s head and take it back to the castle to show to the king” Lloyd explained. “Is that all?” Elliot asked sarcastically “Yes…” Lloyd replied sensing the sarcasm. Elliot then started laughing aloud. Lloyd frowned at this. “What’s so funny?” he asked in a demanding voice. Elliot stopped laughing, and then cleared his throat. “What’s funny is that you’re forgetting something, something very important in fact it’s so important that you couldn’t even begin your quest with out knowing this,” the wizard explained. Lloyd raised his eyebrow and asked, “What am I forgetting then?” “Well first of all you don’t have a map, which means you don’t know where to find the Underworld,” Elliot explained. “Technically that’s not true because you are the one who’s supposed to aid and help me on my quest, therefore I’ve forgot nothing,” Lloyd explained happily. “Is that what Arthur told you?” Elliot asked. “No, his Chancellor told me”. “Well then that explains everything, I must’ve misheard a few things,” the wizard explained. “Well then apologize for laughing at me, I think I’m deserving of one”. The wizard apologized. “Now, now that’s settled would you mind telling me the directions?” Lloyd asked. Elliot reached into his robe to retrieve a tattered map. “This here is the map that will guide you and me into the Underworld safely”. Elliot unrolled the map glanced at it then handed it over to Lloyd. Lloyd stared at the map then flipped it over. “Elliot there’s nothing on this map!” “You fool, of coarse there is, you can only see the directions when the moon shine through the back of the map” Elliot explained. “Oh, so then it’s a moon map” Lloyd held the map up towards to moon; magically blue letters appeared onto it. Lloyd frowned at what he saw. “Don’t you have a picture map?” he asked. “No, word maps are more detailed”. “Well alright if you insist”. “Let’s leave now while it’s still dark”.
At that, moment something zipped passed them. Lloyd quickly unsheathed his sword, while Elliot held up his magic staff, which had started glowing white. Half the town lit up from the glow. Both of them looked around but found nothing, but the man who claimed Lloyd of stealing his chickens at night saw something. The man came running out the backdoor, he was carrying a crossbow. “Get away from my chickens or else!” the man shouted. “Or else what?” returned a voice from inside chicken coop. “Or else I’ll shoot you dead” the man replied. “Not if I do you in first!” shouted the voice. Within a few seconds the man was on the ground, his own blood surrounded the man’s head. The murderer took off running through the darkness, Lloyd pursued after him, and Elliot followed. Lloyd followed the murderer into an enchanted forest, and that’s where he lost him, but he continued running for a bit before resting under an enormous Yggdrasill tree.
Soon Elliot arrived riding a Thorian Unicorn. “So did you catch him?” Elliot asked. “No I lost him”. Elliot looked up into the tree, then back at Lloyd. “Lloyd, stop breathing for a few seconds” Elliot ordered. Lloyd obeyed. There were a few more seconds of heavy breathing that was not coming from Lloyd, and then the breathing abruptly stopped. Elliot quickly pulled out his staff, held it up towards the branches of the Yggdrasill then yelled “Illuminate”. The Yggdrasill tree lit up brightly. The murderer fell from the tree after being blinded by the light. It was a Ninja; he was wearing a white shinobi shozoku uniform. The Ninja quickly jump to his feet and then spoke, “You ignorant fools you will die for you’re insolence”. The Ninja unsheathed dual katana blades then charged towards Lloyd. Lloyd jumps to his feet and unsheathes his Iron Two-handed sword, then leaps out of the way of the charging Ninja. Lloyd nimbly lands on his feet. In an instant Lloyd was knock off his feet, and then he was slammed back to the ground by a slash of a katana. Lloyd got back to his feet, then faced the running Ninja. The Ninja leaped into the air to perform a dyusheto sky attack. The Ninja started descending towards Lloyd. The Ninja slashed its double katana blades across Lloyd’s face. The attack sent Lloyd skidding backwards, but he remained on his feet. Lloyd stopped himself then took out a long sword. Lloyd slashed at the Ninja, but the Ninja absorbed the blow with his bracer. Lloyd quickly retaliated with a roundhouse kick. The Ninja staggered backwards. Lloyd then quickly rammed his sword into the Ninja’s chest. Lloyd removed his sword from the Ninja’s body the sound of the sword sliding between two layers of flesh was sickening. The Ninja fell backwards, soon after Lloyd blacked out from his injuries. Lloyd had a vague-vision (Vague-Visions are called dreams in the common tongue) of small man running away from him.
When Lloyd had awakened; he was lying in a bed, which was a bit too small for him. Lloyd looked around him and saw Elliot. Elliot was sitting on a chair next to his bed. Elliot noticed Lloyd had awakened. “Elliot, what happened?” Lloyd asked. “You blacked out from the large amount of blood you lost” Elliot explained. Lloyd quickly placed his hand on his face; he did not feel a scar or anything. Then Lloyd remembered the Ninja. “Elliot, where’s the Ninja?” Lloyd asked. “Still under that Yggdrasill tree” Elliot replied. “That’s right; I killed him before I blacked out, well as the saying goes, ‘eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’”. “Well for all we know; he still is” Elliot added.
At that moment, the room’s double doors burst opened. In stepped a Guard who was pulling on a rope. In came the person who was tied to other end of the rope. Lloyd jumped his feet and asked, “What kind of joke is this?” The person tied to the rope was none other than the Ninja, who Lloyd thought was dead. The Ninja also noticed Lloyd and Elliot and started struggling vigorously. The Guard gave the rope a sharp whip, making the Ninja stop struggling. “What’s going on here?” Elliot asked. “Yeah” Lloyd added. The Guard removed his helmet so that he could speak properly. “Is this the Ninja who attack you last night?” the Guard asked. “He most certainly is, he not only attacked me he also killed an innocent man just last night!” Lloyd replied. The Guard snatched off the Ninja’s shinobi shozoku hood, which revealed the Ninja’s identity. The room grew silent. Lloyd broke the silence. “Clay, is that you?” Clay stared at the ground, ignoring his brother’s question. “Clay what are you doing here, and why did you kill that innocent man?” Clay continued to ignore Lloyd. “Answer me Clay!” “Why did you kill that man?” Lloyd shouted. Clay finally looked his brother in the eyes than spoke.
“The night before you left for Phebes, I was coming home from the fields. As I walked towards the village, I noticed this large white lump protruding from the tall stalks of corn. I put down the cornstalk, and held up my lantern in the direction of the white lump which was shaking very slightly. I started walking slowly towards the lump. When I got within a few yards away of the white lump, it stood up and took the form of a vague human shape. Right away, I knew it was a Vampire; the white cloak threw me off, because usually Vampires wore black cloaks. The Vampire was holding a chicken by the legs. It had cut the chicken’s head off, and tightly tied a piece of twine around its neck to keep the blood from spewing out of that end. I picked up a nearby stick and started swinging it at the Vampire. The Vampire dropped the headless chicken and lunged at me. I ducked as the Vampire lunged over me. As soon as it landed, I tackled it to the ground. The Vampire started shrieking loudly. Moments later purebred Dembolian Vampires surrounded me. I got off the lacerated Vampire and made a run for the village. The bloodthirsty Vampires pursued after me. I easily out ran a few of them, but the others kept gaining on me. Soon they were right on my tail, trying to scratch me with their diseased infested claws. One of them jumped out at me and caught a hold of my tunic. As it tried climb up onto my back, I started jumping to shake it off. The Vampire lost its grip and started to fall. It reached out and caught a hold of my right calve with its razor sharp claws. That slash to my clave took me down, and I went down hard. I blacked out and knew no more.
When I came to, it was daylight and I was in the spot where I had fallen the previous night. I sat upright and held up my leg so that I could inspect it. The sight of my right leg was revolting I nearly spewed up. From the knee down had swelled up twice its original size. Rancid yellow fluid was oozing from the four slashes running down my clave. I decided not to try to move my right leg, but reconsidered because the smelly yellow fluid was attracting bugs. However, I knew I would have to endure excruciating pain. Finally, I worked up enough courage to get into the crawling position. I was relieved that I felt much lesser pain than I expected. I slowly lifted my left leg forward, leaving my right leg hovering a bit off the ground. The pain came in one big shock that completely knocked me over, and for the first time in years, I cried. I laid there and cried myself to sleep.
I was awakened by the sound of someone singing. I sat upright and saw a man standing over me applying some type of ointment to my right calve. “I see you finally came around” “I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it”. The man helped me to my feet and offered me a ride, which I hastily accepted. As I walked towards the farm cart, my olfactory sensed a trance-like aroma coming from the back of the farm cart. I walked towards the back of the cart and peered inside the bed. I saw chickens. At that moment, I started feeling extremely thirsty, not for water but for blood. I reached my hand inside to pick up a chicken, but a hand grabbed my wrist. “Hey, don’t touch that hen I just won it at the annual county fair today, it’s supposed to be a top of the line hen bred from the finest fighting cock in the world”. “We’d better hurry into town before it gets dark; I don’t want you outside at night until I know for sure you can withstand the thirst”. I sat up front with the man, as I sat there I thought about that prize hen and how delicious its blood would taste.
When we arrived in town, it was already starting to get dark. The man got out of the farm cart and unhitched the horses; he turned around and told me to bring the cart in around the back so that he can unload it. I acknowledged than jumped down from the passenger seat. I got behind the cart and pushed it around the back as just as told to do. I passed a chicken coop on the way there, so I kept that location in mind. The man met me around back He walked to the back of the cart, grabbed his prize hen, and then carried it to the chicken coop. He came back with a box in which he used to scooped the other chickens in and carried them inside the house. I followed him inside. As I stepped foot inside the house an incredible sensational aroma overcame me. This time the aroma was overwhelming, I was instantly taken in by the thirst for blood. I followed the aroma into a room in which the man was in butchering his chickens. The man had noticed me standing in the doorway. “Are you just going to stand there gawking at me or are you going to help me?” My senses came back but the thirst remained, so I was able to control myself. I nodded my head. “Well then can you take these chickens to the kitchen for me?” I walked over to the man and held out my hands. The man took one look at my hands and said, “Great Alexander, your hands are covered with dirt; go to the sink and rinse them clean!” I cursed the man under my breath as washed my hands. After that, the man gave me two headless chickens. The chickens were drenched in blood. The temptation was too great; I rushed out of the room and into the kitchen. I held one of the chickens over the sink, tossed back my head and dropped the neck into my mouth. As the blood poured into my mouth and down my throat, the thirst gradually went away. When the chicken had been depleted of its blood, I pour water down the neck and then shook it.
Meanwhile, back in the butcher room the man had finished butchering the other chicken and was heading for the kitchen. (I had sensed this somehow) The man walked in and took over. “Go wash up in the stream and get ready for supper”. I obeyed and headed for the stream, which happened to be right near the chicken coop. Instead of going to the stream, I hopped over the gate, grabbed the hen, and then disappeared into the night.
I ran into a forest, in which had an enormous Yggdrasill tree located at the heart of the forest. I climbed up to a branch about 15 feet above the ground. I stayed there, draining the life source from the so-called “prized hen”. The hen tasted exactly like the first one I had back at the butcher’s house. I hurled the hen to the ground in disgust. I sat up there, on that branch thinking about what I was going to do next. I thought about how I was going to conceal myself, so that that man would not recognize me if he was to see me when I need to feed off his chickens. Ample ideas came to me though some seemed too vague, while other seemed impossible to accomplish from the very start. Therefore, I decided to become a Ninja, which coincidently happened to be the “Master of the Shadows”. Nevertheless, doing this would mean I would have to find a way to get into the castle. That also meant I would have to pass through that town. Therefore, I decided to go while it was still dark, for the reason that I thought I might be less noticeable. I nimbly leapt to the ground, and then took off through the forest.
Several times, I lost my way in the thick foliage. However, eventually I found my way out of the forest.
When I reached town, I snuck around the back of the man’s house then ran for the castle. As I approached the castle’s drawbridge, I noticed the guards were fast asleep; one leaning against the stonewall and the other laying down on his side. I stealthily tiptoed passed the guards hoping not to wake them. Once I got inside, the interior guards immediately spotted me. I sprinted for the stairs leading to the church. I jerked open the stained glass door, and then walked inside. After closing the door, and causing it to crack through the middle, three Monks stood up in front of the altar. After apologizing for disturbing the monks from their meditating, I hastily asked them to bless me as a Ninja. All but one offered to bless me with the title. “I felt an evil presence enter this church along with you, please explain to me why you need this title”. I quickly fibbed to the monk, “I’ve been challenged to a death match by an anonymous warrior from a distant land, so I beg you please bless me with this title”. “So be it, I will bless you the title I’ll also pray for you victory” After getting my title, I was given official Ninja gear and a pair of Masamune katanas. I thanked the Monks and than left the castle, minutes later I was back in town heading towards the man’s chicken coop and that’s when you saw me rushing pass you.
Lloyd stared unblinkingly at his brother, he kept trying to speak but nothing would come out. Instead, Elliot spoke for Clay’s brother, “Why didn’t you ask the monks to cast an Esuna spell on you, you would have turned back to normal”. “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter why I didn’t because you can cast Esuna your own self, right?” Clay asked. “Yes I can, but what if I wasn’t able to cast Esuna then what?” the wizard continued. Clay quickly thought of a witty response, “Uh, as I said, ‘it doesn’t matter because you can cast Esuna your own self’”. “Your foolishness will lead you into agonizing devastation,” Elliot warned.
As Elliot cured Clay, Lloyd managed to speak. “Clay once again I ask you, why did you kill that man who cured you and took you into his home?” “I guess when I had seen the crossbow, it may have brought out my inherited animalistic nature” Clay explained. “He’s right, Dembolian Vampires are highly defensive, definitely when you bother it when it’s feeding” Elliot added. A bewildered look appeared on Lloyd face as he began to speak, “What does ‘highly defensive’ mean?” “Well, just put it this way; you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone okay?” Clay explained. Lloyd nodded his head in approval. Now all said and done, Elliot decided to ask Lloyd if he would like for his brother to come along on the quest. “What are you crazy Elliot, I mean what if he does us in like he did with that...” Hey, Clay interrupted; Elliot already explained that to you, it wasn’t my fault!” “Exactly my point, you won’t be able to control yourself when that, animalistic crap kicks in” “Will you two stop bickering, you’re acting like pesky brats” Elliot demanded. The argument stopped in an instant. “Well he started it” Clay whined. “Well I going to finish it…, now regarding what Lloyd said I have an enchantment that’ll prevent that from happening” Elliot held the tip of his staff over Clay’s head then cast the “Convert Hexes” enchantment. Once again a brilliant white light radiated from the staff. A few seconds later the white light died out and what remained was Clay’s limp body lingering above the floor. “Is he dead?” Lloyd asked. “Don’t be silly of course he’s not, he’s just in a ‘Signet Trance’”. “What does the ‘Convert Hex enchantment’ do?” “It’ll keep him from turning over”. After Clay regained consciousness, he still looked savage and capable of turning over. Lloyd decided to stay isolated from his deranged brother.

Chapter II
The Swindler

Later that day as Lloyd and company headed back to the Yggdrasill tree to retrieve Lloyd’s long sword, when the unenviable Con-Artist who went by the name of Swindler was spotted by Elliot. Elliot and Lloyd ran up ahead towards Swindler and who was looking shadily like always. “What are you doing near the Yggdrasill?” Elliot asked. Swindler stood up and turned around to face whoever was speaking to him. “Elliot, what a surprise, I was just looking for artifacts and/or things that can be salvaged that is all”. Elliot stared into Swindler eyes and saw no flaws. “What were you planning to do with the items you found?” Elliot asked. “Well I heard back in Tecca that the Eccentric Circus is back in town, and that they pay 125 gold pieces per show!” “So I’m here looking for items to salvage which I could cash in for enough gold to buy a ticket” Swindler explained. “See, didn’t I tell you honest work pays off big sooner or later” Elliot complemented. “Well I figured that this way would have been faster than to just steal it; the ticket I mean” He explained. “Well anyway, have you seen a gory long sword near the Yggdrasill?” Lloyd asked. “As a matter of fact I have, but why you asked?” “Because I lost it here last night and if you really have it I really want it back”, Lloyd demanded. Swindler ran behind the Yggdrasill to grab his bag containing Lloyd’s long sword, then spoke from behind the tree so that Elliot and I couldn’t see him. “Well that’s just tough, because it’s mine now and you can’t have it back”. At this moment Lloyd was just about to lacerate Swindler when Elliot had felt Lloyd’s tension and placed a hand on his shoulder. “The hell you will, you’ll give it to me yourself or I’ll make you give to me and that option won’t be a pretty sight” Lloyd threatened. Swindler took off through the wood literally leaving a trail of aroused dust behind him. “Wow the little guy sure can run for his size…, hey Lloyd are you not going to run after him?” asked Clay. Lloyd turned to face his brother then spoke, “No…, no but I think I know where he’s headed anyway and besides I wouldn’t think I could catch up with that little guy even if it meant losing my life”

Chapter III
The Eccentric Circus

Swindler raced through the forest as fast he could to escape his adversaries who he supposedly thought were chasing him. Swindler soon arrived at the “Eccentric Circus”; first he went to salvage his artifacts including Lloyd long sword. Afterward Swindler went and purchased a ticket to gain access to the Ringmaster’s office tent. Once he got inside there was a line of four other applicants seeking jobs also.
Meanwhile back in the Enchanted Forest, Lloyd and company followed the travel-worn path leading to Tecca hoping to catch up with Swindler. For if they only knew what awaited them at the Eccentric Circus they would have taken the north path instead of the one path leading to Tecca. Now on the other hand Elliot the wizard foresaw this from the very start, which he had no authority of changing the course of Lloyd’s future; for this was Lloyd’s ‘Final Destiny’ in the making.
By the time Lloyd made it to Tecca it was near nightfall so they decided to head to the nearest lodging which happened to be the exact location where Swindler chose the rest at, “The Prancing Donkey”. Elliot went ahead and pays the overnight fee while Lloyd and Clay went to search for a room for three, and then that’s when Clay spotted Swindler leaving the male’s toiletry area. Within a split second Clay pummeled Swindler to the ground with enough force to cause him ricochet twice before coming a screeching halt on the sand like floor. Swindler quickly got up only just to fall face first to the ground by a nifty kick to the shin by Clay. Lloyd walked over to Swindler who was a complete bloody mess, and grabbed his blood matted hair and spoke softly in his ear. “Swindler, if you want to leave this lodge in one piece, hand over what’s rightfully mine”. Swindler got up once again with a keen close eye on Clay. “I don’t think that’ll be possible now…” “And why’s that?” Lloyd asked. “Because… I already salvaged and sold it, and I don’t think you’ll be able to get it back and on top of that it was just an ordinary long sword and you can buy those anywhere”. That last comment bought him a fierce thrashing by Lloyd. You idiot, that wasn’t just an ordinary sword, that was an enchanted long sword given to me by my father, and it was given to him by his father, and his father’s father, it was precious to me!” “I want you go get my sword right now!” Lloyd yelled. “But I can’t I already told you that, and plus I spent the money on an admission ticket to the Eccentric Circus. That comment bought Swindler another thrashing by both Clay and Lloyd, but this time Swindler fought back and somehow quickly gained the upper hand. Swindler was knocked through a window and skidded on the asphalt outside. As Swindler tried recover to his feet he was kicked in the chest by a leg armed with bronze greaves; they belonged to Clay. Half-processed oxygen forced its way out of Swindler lungs; he staggered backwards quickly unsheathing a concealed weapon, an enchanted short sword called the “Blade of Sparkshard”. The glow alone blinded both Lloyd and his brother Clay long enough for Swindler to make his escape. Now while all this took place, little did Lloyd know what was happening to Elliot. Soon Lloyd’s eyes had converted back to normal but still were dizzily delirious. Lloyd looked around for Clay; he was nowhere to be seen. The fog of death surrounded him as he started choking, seemingly he couldn’t breathe. Semi-transparent images flashed before Lloyd’s eyes; he saw vague pictures of Elliot. Elliot gaped in shock as a bolt of lightning shot through the air toward him… and then hit him, emitting a great CRACK! as it burned him to a crisp, right there in the air. A magical hand instantly blinked out of existence, and the ashes of Elliot floated gently to the ground.
Lloyd regained consciousness drenched in sweat. Lloyd stood up and looked around for his brother; seeing him leaning against the Prancing Donkey’s doorpost with his hands shoved in his pockets, he walked over to him. “Clay what happened here, last thing I remember is being blinded by a light then I began to hallucinate about Elliot being burned alive!” Clay glanced over at Lloyd then back to his previous state. “Hey I don’t even want hear you’re voice right now”. Lloyd was shocked to hear that coming from his brother, the guy who he saved his life countless times big and little, and the guy who he trained to the best of his knowledge to this day! “Why’s that?” Lloyd asked. “Don’t play me for a fool, you know what you did” Clay replied. “No I don’t…, what did I do?” Lloyd asked. “You left me out in the cold; you left me alone fighting off those monsters!” “Monsters, what are you talking about?!” Lloyd asked loudly. “Are you ******* blind, the mist… the mist turned the humans into monstrous beasts” “Humans, monstrous beasts, Clay, what the **** are you talking about?” “Okay I’ll explain since you seem to not know what happened” Clay said. “Do you remember when Swindler pulled out that Sparkshard blade?” “Yes I do” Lloyd replied. “Well not only did it blind us briefly it also summoned the mist from the mountains of Thordan, and along with the mist came the draft of Death, the mist converted all the humans who were watching us fight Swindler; attacked me after you fell into the mist” “The bodies of the humans are scattered all around you just reach your hand into the mist and feel around” Not believing a word Clay was saying, Lloyd dropped to his knees and started feeling around for any unstructured, and/or amputated limbs. Lloyd finally felt something, thinking it was a large stick Lloyd yanked it up without looking at it. “Is this you’re so called ‘bodies?’?” Lloyd asked. “Yes it is…” Clay replied. Lloyd quickly perusal his hand, noticing that it wasn’t a stick but a human’s leg he swiftly tossed the limb to the ground, “Oh my *** Clay, we better get out of here before the word gets out you’ll be posted on wanted signs all over Tecca, they’ll hang you for this Clay!” Lloyd shouted. A worried look came upon Clay’s face. “Lloyd, we have to get out of here before somebody sees us”. “Us, what do you mean by us I wasn’t the one who killed all these people I believe that was your doing not I or us but you and you alone”. Lloyd barked sharply. Clay looked around; the mist was beginning to clear and the blood had already started flowing out onto the main road, “Lloyd you can stay here if you want but I have to get out of here until this whole ordeal is forgotten”, and with that he took off running and then disappeared into the night. I stood there waiting for him to return; knowing him he had no where to go, nevertheless I had a feeling he wasn’t coming back but I still waited. He never came back, maybe he was serious this time maybe he really did have someplace to go but I didn’t let it bother me I had problems of my own to worry about.
First I had to find Elliot for I was really concerned about him and whether those images of him being burned alive connected toward reality or just lost thoughts haunting me, Swindler I could handle later. I decided to look around the last place I saw him, the front desk of the Prancing Donkey. I ran around the front and walked inside, unexpectedly inside the Pub area was Elliot all in one piece, though Elliot was sitting at a table with a group of thieves, one who had a dirk in his hand. Within a tenth of a second I had my blade up to the perpetrator’s throat, the entire Pub section grew silent. “Elliot I thought you said you wouldn’t call the authorities on me…” shrieked the dirk wielder. Elliot stared up at me and sent me an divinity message,” Lloyd remove your blade I’m in the middle of purchasing three ticket for the Eccentric Circus, just play along and ignore any infidelities I may say or make”. I nodded my headed then removed my blade. “Calm down Thaddeus, it’s just an idiot trying to cause chaos” “Idiot or not he needs to be taught a lesson!” Thaddeus exclaimed. Within seconds I was surrounded by six agile thieves. “Lloyd don’t fight them they fight unfaithfully the chances of you winning doesn’t exist”. Nevertheless I had to try; I had to defend myself at all costs I was not going down without a fight. Thaddeus and three other Thieves lunged out at me with daggers. These Thieves were faster than my own mind’s reflex; I was skewered in the chest multiple times before I could even pull out a weapon. I endured the horrid pain throbbing within my chest and then grabbed the third Thief by his hair and then tossed him at the first Thief who landed right on top of a nearby Berserker’s one pint of ale. The Berserker went berserk; hence the name of his profession, he picked up the Thief and broke him over his knee several times making him completely limp, no doubt that that Thief was dead. The remaining minion Thieves including Thaddeus attacked the Berserker all at once. Now this Berserker was at least 9 feet tall and immensingly bulky with bulging muscles. The Berserker swung the limp body like a whip, cracking all five Thieves and then hurling it at Thaddeus causing a ricochet effect. At this point the Thieves focus was fixated on the deranged Berserker; I took advantage of the opportunity I had, I snatch up Thaddeus and took two tickets from his interior vest pocket, Elliot insisted I take three but I told him about Clay then he reconsidered. Before long we were already headed for the Eccentric Circus, I was determine to make it to the EC and this time no more stops nor delays for we were already behind by two and a half days.
When we arrived onto the EC grounds the moon was three and three halves of a tenth quarters in the sky (4:56 AM; in the common tongue dialect) so Elliot and I hitched up a calibrated pavilion and rested there till daybreak. Day came quickly since it was Q2, so I didn’t get much sleep but nevertheless I felt not signs of physical fatigue.
I helped Elliot pack up the pavilion. The EC grounds were filled with tourists and children looking for a great time, and that baffled me because an Eccentric Circus was a place for Phoebefilias. (People who enjoy being scared) Well anyway, the only reason we were here was to find Swindler.
We approached the entry line and to my surprised it was completely empty; I guessed a lot the people walking around here weren’t interested in Eccentric Circus although I was very fervent to see how many people were actually inside. Elliot handed me two admission tickets in which I hastily gave to the Usher who then lacerated them into a discard box. “Thank you and enjoy the show”. Merlin and I walked into the entrance cavity of the Eccentric Circus’s main attraction tent. Merlin and I sat in the third row of the thirty-third section. The pandemonium was deafening for me, so Merlin had to talk to me in through divinity. “Lloyd, do you see Swindler anywhere?” Lloyd acknowledged Elliot’s message and looked around the center ring but didn’t see anyone resembling Swindler in any aspect of any kind whatsoever. “No, I don’t see him Elliot but do you feel his presence?” I asked. Beyond doubt he’s in here somewhere, for as I reminisce when we first sited Swindler near the Ygddrasill he said ‘Well I heard back in Tecca that the Eccentric Circus is back in town, and that they pay 125 gold pieces per show!” “So I’m here looking for items to salvage in which I could cash in for enough gold to buy a ticket’, so I presume we’ll be most liable to notice him participating in the act”. Lloyd looked over at Elliot with a perplexed look across him face, “Elliot, I can’t even see the Ringmaster down there, you’re the one with the eyes of a hawk” “Yes Lloyd I’ll tell you his coordinates when I locate him” Elliot assured. Lloyd nodded his head in acknowledgement.
Suddenly the entire tent lights went dim all except the nine burning torches forming a perfect circle around the Ringmaster. The Ringmaster stood up and shouted into a triangular cone attached with a handle. “Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen I like to welcome you all to our 23rd annual Eccentric Circus show, as always I should warn you that our acts by all means are meant to frighten our viewers, so people please vacate the premises if you don’t want to encounter your worst fears; thank you and please enjoy the show.

Chapter IV

The Z-Hand

The Ringmaster threw something towards his feet which caused a small blast of green smoke to continuously arouse around him until he was no longer noticeable and then he was gone. Suddenly the nine torch’s flames changed from it original color to an emerald green. Sparks began to fly from every direction, it was impossible to see where the sparks were coming from; apparently from ceiling. The emerald flames began to accumulate more and more until all nine flames came together forming one enormous flame, I was beginning to think that if that flame got any bigger this whole tent was going to catch aflame. Out of the flame came every kind of creature you would consider scarifying, from ghouls to werewolves to Ents, two things baffled me about the flame, one was that the creatures kept coming out from within that flame in which none of them seemed be in any pain caused by walking through the flame, and the other thing was that the creatures kept on coming out of that flame I mean how could all of those things fit in there, it was obvious that within that flame there is a trapdoor in which the creatures were coming out from and which also explains how that Ringmaster disappeared. I surprised myself with that theory I came up with.
After what seem like a whole 5 minutes, the flow of creatures seemed to lessen up which release a little tension of my shoulders. The creatures were running around the arena scaring the audience, a large portion of the audience fled the tent in horror. I laughed at the people as they pushed and shoved and trampled over those who unfortunately had fallen in the process of trying to flee the tent.
Next came an anticipated event, out of the flame came a magical hand; the same hand from my sub-consciousness the hand that burned Elliot to a crisp. The hand ran around the inner ring zapping the creature with one finger. In a matter of seconds the hand had fallen every single creature, the whole inner ring was layered in ash. Then it came to me I did foresaw Elliot death. The hand disappeared just as it did in the vision, but then reappeared in a few rows in front of Elliot and me. The hand raised its pointer finger and pointed it at me; a small orb of black chi appeared at the very tip of the finger and as each second passed the orb of black chi accumulated mass more and more. Finally the hand had accumulated enough chi that could take out a whole town, as it released the black chi Elliot jumped into the path of the speeding chi. “Elliot no!” I watched in horror as Elliot exploded. I looked back up at the hand which was starting the form another black chi orb. I took out my dagger and then flung it directly into the accumulating orb of black chi at first it seemed to Lloyd that he wasted a perfectly good dagger but a little after there was a huge explosion. The explosion was being contained within sphere barrier including the hand. I look around to find the origin of the barrier, when the explosion ceased I could see the hand squirming inside the barrier trying to break free. Soon the barrier started shrinking at a swiftly velocity. As the barrier continued to reduce in size, the hand started to crush by the transparent walls of the barrier until it disappeared out of existence, and there just as plain as day was the conjurer of the barrier; Swindler.
He continued standing there with both of his hands in a conjuring position. Many thoughts raced through my head; Swindler just saved my life even after I had beaten him a pulp. Swindler lowered his hands and tossed me my sword he stole. “Uh, thanks” “Yeah, just don’t leave things like this lying around you don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands. I stared down at my sword actually feeling relieved that it got returned back to me, after all I didn’t really think I was ever going to get it back. “Swindler I don’t understand what’s going on here” I asked. “I’m no smarter than you on the subject but I do know that you’re a target of a powerful Sorcerer whose name I dare not utter here” Swindler answered. “Wait a second a Sorcerer is targeting me, but why?” Lloyd asked. “What you didn’t know, I would’ve expected that that wizard would’ve told you about the quest you received from King Arthur…”, “Wait a second Lloyd interrupted, how’d you know that, how’d you know about King Arthur and the quest, have you been eavesdropping on me since then or worse earlier?” I questioned “No of course not but I was just about to explain everything to before you rudely interrupted me” Swindler rebuked. “Anyways as I was saying, the quest you received from Sir Arthur was an act of infidelity though I wouldn’t doubt the fact that Arthur had anything to do with the whole thing not even for a second, I think for now that it’s safe to say that Arthur was used as an delivery boy and Xian made sure he remained completely ignorant of what was really underway. Though two fortunate events took place that took a turn for the better which delayed you a day; and I most say if you didn’t have taken the path to Tecca and continued the path that led up to the Misty Mountains I sorry to say that you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me, but I’ll say I prevented that by taking your sword and running towards Tecca. And the other event took place before the one I just explained which included you and your brother Clay and that conflict you two had in the enchanted forest. And for the record if you recalled the final blow in which you skewered Clay in his chest, he did die but fortunately for him I was on my voyage to find you when I stumbled across him lying on the forest floor. After realizing that approximately 16 minutes had passed since he was slain I was able to save his life, luckily for him I was able to resurrect him; for if I arrive just four minutes later he would’ve been beyond all help”. “Wait a second are you telling me that this whole quest was rigged, well in that case I’m abandoning this quest to go find my brother with or without your consent” As Lloyd turned to walk out the pavilion he noticed from the corner of his eye as a broad blotchy firm hand reach out at him, sheer instinct insisted the inevitable. Lloyd unsheathed his long sword then swung the blade with the intention of amputating the hand. Lloyd felt the blade strike the hand but for reason there was an unexpected liberated delay then the suddenly sword jerked from Lloyd’s grasp. Lloyd spun around and what he saw sent chills throughout his body.

Chapter V Part I

The Truth Unfolds

There towering over him was a Centaur; (Part human and part horse, with a horse's body, including all four legs, and a human head and torso with arms. The human portion is joined at the waist to the horse's shoulders where the head and neck would be). The Centaur had caught the razor thin blade with its bare hand, despite the fact that blood was seeping through its clench fist. Mounted on the shoulders of the Centaur was Swindler. “Have you not comprehended to what I was telling you; first of all you haven’t the slightest idea of what you’re up against I mean for example the Z-Hand, don’t you recall how easily the Z-Hand disintegrated every single creature single handily now take that and times it to a thousand that’s a power level well over 620,000; a mere blast from a level 5 attack will eradicate you, no questions asked” he explained.
Lloyd reached out for his blade but the Centaur pulled it out of his reach in the nick of time. “Look, I know you’re lying there’s no such thing as a power level its called chi points” Lloyd beckoned. “Am I now?” Swindler asked sarcastically as he reached down into his bag and then pulled out some sort of metal device then pointed it at Lloyd. “Yeah…, what are you reaching for; wait!” Before Lloyd could grab his shield, Swindler already fired. Seconds later came a distinctive voice seemingly coming from the metal device. “Lloyd Willinger, race male, 28 years old, born year 1041, born in the town of Phebas, 5ft 11.6 inches, 198 lbs, hair color brown, and eye color left green right blue, power level 3 (Equivalent to 7,638,853,991 chi points).” “Now do you understand, all of those chi points actually is PL-3” “Well it depends if that thing is telling the truth and besides I’m the best swordsman in the world”. “Ha-ha, you’re the most naive Swordsman I’ve ever encounter; are you forgetting that brawl you had in the Prancing Donkey and I don’t recall you actually defeating the Thieves nor the Berserker” Lloyd’s face flushed a scarlet red from mortification. “How’d you know that, you couldn’t have possibly been there to see that happened, unless you ran inside the Pub after using that Sparkshard on me, it blinded me, causing me to hallucinate. “Well kinda, but pretty much yeah that’s about it” “ Well since you were there in that bar why didn’t you help me fight the Thieves, why didn’t help me when I was up against such odds, what would you have done if I was killed?” Lloyd asked. Swindler remained silent; knowing if he spoke he would reveal the dreadful future that was overdue to take place, but was purposely delayed thanks to he himself Swindler. “Well, speak up…!” Lloyd barked . He continued this until Swindler reached his peak; he was completely annoyed by the fact that he wanted to go off on Lloyd, but had to himself refrain after realizing he’ll need a logical reason to explain his actions, which was because he couldn’t reveal the truth. So Swindler lied, and let me mind you that Swindler is an expert liar, one of his tactics is when he manipulates the victim by making them lead him onto what they already know without the victim catching on. Then he exaggerates the truth in the same way he lead them through manipulation. In a way it's like he brainwashes the victims. After quickly getting into character, he lied flawlessly. “Well actually I was occupied by a confrontation of my own, quite similar to yours, I’d go into more details if only, just if only you’d straighten up and fly right.” “Okay then Swindler continued, right after I ran off I did indeed leave you and your brother in an uncoordinated condition, I really didn’t intend for it to happen that way but you left me no choice, you were lacerating the **** out of me”. “Well then what about Merlin, is he going to be okay?” “He’ll be okay I’ve got his ashes right here in this capsule, I can rejuvenate him as soon as I find a unicorns horn and “Bleikian’s Elixir”. “Bleekeon?” Lloyd asked. “No not ‘Bleekeon’, Bleikion…, they’re an inferior race of magic users, I myself am a Bleikian but I’ve chosen to not live a lifestyle of an primitive culture I was unfortunately born in” “So he’s not dead; that’s a relief” .Whilst this conversation was taking place, Lloyd kept an keen eye on the Centaur who was swinging his sword with incredible speed and expertise; Lloyd quickly envied the Centaur’s skill which was far more advanced than his, the conversation was quickly changed. “So Swindler, what are you doing with a Centaur?” Noticing the conversation was regarding him, he abruptly stop showing off his swordsmanship skill and step forward. “Oh, well I was back in Tecca, I bought a Beastmaster Profession, so now I’m capable of taming a few genre of beasts”. “Oh, well I’ve noticed he’s quite the swordsmen, and I was wondering if he would like to give me a lesson sometime”. “Indeed I do” said the Centaur. In instant Lloyd was knocked off his feet, he quickly scrambled to feet. “Arm yourself human”, growled the Centaur hurling Lloyd’s sword at him.

Chapter V Part II

The Truth Unfolds
(Lloyd’s accepts the truth)

The mere force of the blade knocked him off his feet. “Wait, let me catch my breath!”, Lloyd begged. “I wouldn’t be me If I did that, let alone be your enemy”. The Centaur used it’s tail like a whip; twirling it around Lloyd’s right ankle. The Centaur held Lloyd upside down whilst beating his redden face and taunting his helplessness.
Lloyd indeed was helpless, and he was beginning to believe what Swindler was trying to explain to him, but he wasn’t going to quit just because he knew he couldn’t possibly win; unless he had help. The Centaur cracked it’s tail like a whip intending to finish Lloyd off, but Lloyd isn’t the one to lose so easily. Lloyd jerked his right ankle to intentionally dislocate it, despite the excruciating pain Lloyd carried on with his planned tactic. Lloyd dropped to the ground then quickly scrambled for his Enchanted Sword, and at the speed of light Lloyd summoned Mesmeria (The Spirit of Cosmic Magnetism). “Mesmeria, infest my blade guide me the way to victory. Lloyd’s blade had began slashing, and thrusting, following the way of the blade. The blade was being controlled by Mesmeria and not Lloyd all he was doing was grasping it with all his might. The Centaur was now equally matched by the blade, this angered the Centaur something most fierce. The Centaur charged at Lloyd and attacked him savagely with his fists. The Centaur hands seemed to be made of steels; for he never flinched for every time the blade struck them. Lloyd couldn’t keep up with the blade, fatigue had gotten the best of him, he unclenched his hands and fell to the ground. The blade continued fighting for a few seconds before falling to the ground. The Centaur stomped it’s hoof on top of the blade warping it to a unusable state. At this point the Centaur had completely lost it's sanity, it was completely ignoring Swindler commands. The Centaur grabbed Lloyd around the ankles and started swinging him overhead in a circular motion causing Lloyd to hit everything in the path of the Centaur which included trees. Whilst Lloyd was being thrashed about, Swindler knew he’d be in a heap of trouble if Lloyd was to be killed, so without much thought Swindler rushed in and attacked the Centaur. After realizing his Sparkshard had absolutely no effect he tried paralyzing the Centaur. But in an instant Swindler was blown away after a hoof caved his chest in; Swindler fell over while trying to breathe but couldn't on account of his lungs were leaking vital fluids, he was dying.

Chapter VI
Clay the Feral Dhampyre

As Swindler laid dying and Lloyd being beat to death, they had little to no chance of survival, no one knew where they were. However yet there was still a hint of hope, for there was someone on their way to the to Eccentric Circus. Now maybe this someone wasn't an actual person; more of an combination of two species both man and vampire. This may lead you to think one may be a case of Dhampyrism, but the subject dwells much more complexity.
Clay took off running through the night, not being able to see where he was going he stumbled over a low laying wooden fence which surrounded a cemetery's tainted shrine. Clay went soaring through air landing inside of an desolated coffin. The coffin's cover slammed shut trapping Clay inside. Clay got to his hands and knees trying to raise the cover using his back he had no luck in effort, the cover was made of stone coated with Adamantium. (Adamantium is an impenetrable element or substance) Needless to say the stone cover weighed 335.00 lbs adding the Adamantium coating which weighed an astonishing 4,570,000 lbs per sq inch , there was absolutely no possible way for Clay to lift that cover in the psychical state he was currently in. Clay laid down, closed his eye's and started conjuring up an idea; alas he accidentally fell asleep inside the airtight coffin steadily inhaling precious oxygen and then exhaling toxic carbon dioxide.
Whilst Clay slept, his body was undergoing it's nightly anthropogenic process, Clay's body had evolved into a Dyhampyre. ( A Dyhampyre is a being that is half-vampire and half-human)
Clay was awakened by the sound of the coffin’s cover being split apart, he quickly pretended he was sleep; otherwise dead from the Grave Robber’s perspective, afterward the cover was slid apart revealing Clay’s sleeping body. “Hey Yhile, this one has a fresh body” “Does the coffin contain any valuable artifacts?” Yhile asked. “Nothing rare, just a pair of bronze greaves and… uh a nice pair of katanas”, the Grave Robber said whilst attempting to retrieve them. Clay grabbed a hold of the Grave Robber’s forearm squeezing it causing him to release to katanas from his clutches. The Grave Robber stumbled backwards from shock of seeing the hand of a deceased person come alive and grab his forearm. “Y-y-yhile he stammered, the guy in that coffin is still alive, a-and he grabbed my arm!” Yhile went over to inspect the coffin picking up a rusty pitchfork on the way over. Clay had sensed a high level of bravery coming in his direction, he hastily leapt out from inside the coffin and started attacking with perfect precision on account of the night vision Clay inherited. Clay ended up mauling Yhile to death on account of him tapping into highly defensive instincts. After realizing there were another Grave Robber besides Yhile; the one who opened the Clay’s coffin had escape. But with Clay newly enhanced sense of smell, he could follow the trail with his nose. Clay followed the trail for 2 days through the Enchanted Forest occasionally stopping for a drink of blood whenever he approached an chicken, whether it was domestic or wild.
Clay caught up with the Grave Robber after he trapped him inside the Eccentric Circus where inside he mauled the him to death.



© Copyright 2006 Xekester (FictionPress ID:511745). All rights reserved. Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Xekester.

[Xekester]

Final Destiny
And the Return of the Z-Hand
Written by Brian A Washington
The Lively Introduction

Long ago in continent of Shinook lived a Swordsman. Now this Swordsman did many great things throughout Shinook. This Swordsman name is Lloyd Willinger. Lloyd’s previous quest earned him an abundant amount of fame, in which the news quickly spread to all six corners of continent. Then in a matter of weeks Lloyd’s name was known by everyone who could acknowledge such a thing. Fortunately, the word reached all the way to the kingdom of Phebas which was currently being ruled by the new King; King Daniel the 3rd, for just a mere week ago King Daniel the 3rd’s father King Daniel the 2nd, (An equivalent but more exaggerated version of Prince John of England *December 24, c. 1166 – October 18/19, 1216) King Daniel the 2nd raised the taxes for the people of Phebas, causing a type of Depression effect on the community. So King Daniel the 3rd was eventually taken in on account of the fact of him constantly hearing his advisors and chancellor talking and steadily bringing up contents leading up to the subject. King Daniel sent his personal stagecoach to retrieve Lloyd the Swordsman.
Lloyd was summoned to the kingdom of Phebas by King Daniel, castle guards escorted Lloyd to Phebas by his royal personal stagecoach. The journey was a long one, for Lloyd lived in the village of Luin, and should a person want to leave Luin he would have to climb an extremely steep hill, cross a murky swamp infested with piranhas, and then slide down the opposite side of the hill. All of that could take up to two days at the most.
At last Lloyd arrived, he was searched and then allowed to pass through the accesses and into to most populated town in the whole land of Shinook. As Lloyd walked, he began to notice that everybody had ceased what they were doing and was staring at him. Lloyd turned to face the crowd of the townspeople and waved. The crowd continued to stare. Lloyd started feeling a bit uneasy and unwelcome. Lloyd kept a firm concealed hand on his sheathed blade, and started to pick up his walking pace. Some girl broke the silence with her shouting, soon the townspeople joined in. The townspeople formed a circle around Lloyd. Lloyd is now feeling a bit scared and confused. The townspeople continued to shout and yell at him. Lloyd caught bits and pieces of the words that the townspeople shouted at him. One man yelled, “That’s the man who stole my prized hen I want him arrested!”, “Guards this is the man who I took into my home, who then stole from me!” Five Guards broke through the wall of angry townspeople. Lloyd instantly unsheathed his sword and vigorously fought off the Guards. Now Lloyd was the best Swordsman in the land, so fighting these Guards was like a hot knife through butter. Honestly, Lloyd could have accomplished a fair victory even if he was blindfolded. First of all the Guards he was currently fighting had no business being Guards in this first place, for they were taking turns trying to defeat Lloyd. After watching their Beloved Captain of the Guards be ricocheting by massive blows from a skillful Swordsman, the townspeople had started to throw rotten vegetables at him hoping to run the accused thief out of town. The small brawl with guards was over, but the townspeople continued to throw vegetables. For the townspeople were in luck, Lloyd was a swordsman of the Old Code. This meant he could not attack the townspeople. So instead he threatened the crowd with small thrusts with his blade to scare to the angry mob. The mob scattered. Now this was Lloyd’s chance to escape. He took off toward the drawbridge. Lloyd quickly stated his name and gained access into the castle. It took a while for Lloyd to find the throne room. By the time he did find it, he was exhausted. Once again, the guards asked Lloyd to state his name. Therefore, he did. Finally, once he was inside the throne room, none other than King Arthur himself greeted him. The king actually shook hands with him, what a treat that was for him. “Ah, you must be Lloyd Willinger the lone swordsman am I correct?” “That I am, your majesty.” Lloyd replied. “Of coarse you are I mean you'd have to be a fool not to know a swordsman when you see one.” Lloyd smiled at the comment and took it as a compliment. ““Now I have an important mission for you.” “You are to slay the Underworld monster, Behemoth” “Which I am quite sure this will be your toughest mission by far.” Arthur added. “Well I like a challenge” Lloyd said. “So when do you want me to start?” “You will begin your quest immediately, and you are not to return to the castle until he is killed. Lloyd then left the castle.




Chapter I
The Thief Is Sighted

Lloyd left the castle of Phebas and headed for the village, for he was to meet a wizard named Elliot. Elliot was to help and aid Lloyd on his new quest. Lloyd spotted the blue robed wizard instantly. Lloyd was safe from the mob of angry townspeople, for the sun was setting in the west so the townspeople were asleep. Lloyd ran stealthily through the village toward Elliot. Lloyd had to look up because Elliot was twice Lloyd’s height, let alone the tall pointed hat the wizard wore on his head. Elliot stared down on Lloyd. The tall wizard smiled at Lloyd and spoke, “Arthur surely knows what he’s doing.”” “Now I’m sure you know what you’re doing am I correct?” “Of coarse I do, all I have to do is cut off the demon’’s head and take it back to the castle to show to the king” Lloyd explained. “Is that all?” Elliot asked sarcastically “Yes” Lloyd replied sensing the sarcasm. Elliot then started laughing aloud. Lloyd frowned at this. “What’s so funny?” he asked in a demanding voice. Elliot stopped laughing, and then cleared his throat. ““What’s funny is that you’re forgetting something, something so very important in fact it’s so important that you couldn’t even begin your quest without knowing this,” the wizard explained. Lloyd raised his eyebrow and asked, “What am I forgetting then?” “Well first of all you don’t have a map, which means you don’t know where to find the Underworld,” Elliot explained. “Technically that’s not true because you are the one who’s supposed to aid and help me on my quest, therefore I’ve forgot nothing,” Lloyd explained happily. “Is that what Arthur told you?” Elliot asked. “No, his Chancellor told me.” “Well then that explains everything, I must’ve misheard a few things,” the wizard explained. “Well then apologize for laughing at me, I think I’m deserving of one.” The wizard apologized. “Now, now that’s settled would you mind telling me the directions?” Lloyd asked. Elliot reached into his robe to retrieve a tattered map. “This here is the map that will guide you and me into the Underworld safely.” Elliot unrolled the map glanced at it then handed it over to Lloyd. Lloyd stared at the map then flipped it over. “Elliot there’s nothing on this map!” ““You fool, of coarse there is, you can only see the directions when the moon shines through the back of the map” Elliot explained. “Oh, so then it’s a moon map” Lloyd held the map up toward to moon; magically blue letters appeared onto it. Lloyd frowned at what he saw. “Do you have a picture map?” he asked. “No, word maps are more detailed.” “Well, all right if you insist.” “Let’s leave now while it’s still dark.”
At that moment something zipped passed them. Lloyd quickly unsheathed his sword, while Elliot held up his magic staff, which had started glowing white. Half the town lit up from the glow. Both of them looked around but found nothing, but the man who claimed Lloyd of stealing his chickens at night saw something. The man came running out the backdoor, and he was carrying a crossbow. “Get away from my chickens or else!” the man shouted. “Or else what?”, returned a voice from inside chicken coop. “Or else I’ll shoot you dead” the man replied. “Not if I do you in first!” shouted the voice. Within a few seconds the man was on the ground, his own blood surrounded the man’s head. The murderer took off running through the darkness, Lloyd pursued after him, and Elliot followed. Lloyd followed the murderer into an enchanted forest, and that’s where he lost him, but he continued running for a bit before resting under an enormous Yggdrasill tree.
Soon Elliot arrived riding a Thorian Unicorn. “So did you catch him?” Elliot asked. “No I lost him.” Elliot looked up into the tree, then back at Lloyd. “Lloyd, stop breathing for a few seconds” Elliot ordered. Lloyd obeyed. There were a few more seconds of heavy breathing that was not coming from Lloyd, and then the breathing abruptly stopped. Elliot quickly pulled out his staff, held it up toward the branches of the Yggdrasill then yelled “Illuminate.” The Yggdrasill tree lit up brightly. The murderer fell from the tree after being blinded by the light. It was a Ninja; he was wearing a white shinobi shozoku uniform. The Ninja quickly jumped to his feet and then spoke, “You ignorant fools you will die for your insolence.” The Ninja unsheathed dual katanas then charged toward Lloyd. Lloyd jumps to his feet and unsheathes his Iron Two-handed sword, then leaps out of the way of the charging Ninja. Lloyd nimbly lands on his feet. In an instant Lloyd was completely knocked off his feet, and then he was slammed back to the ground by a slash of a katana. Lloyd got back to his feet, then faced the running Ninja. The Ninja leaped into the air to perform a dyusheto sky attack. The Ninja started descending toward Lloyd. The Ninja slashed its double katana blades across Lloyd’s face. The attack sent Lloyd skidding backwards, but he remained on his feet. Lloyd stopped himself then took out a long sword. Lloyd slashed at the Ninja, but the Ninja absorbed the blow with his bracer. Lloyd quickly retaliated with a roundhouse kick. The Ninja staggered backwards. Lloyd then quickly rammed his sword into the Ninja’s chest. Lloyd removed his sword from the Ninja’s body, and the sound of the sword sliding between two layers of flesh was sickening. The Ninja fell backwards, soon after Lloyd blacked out from his injuries. Lloyd had a vague-vision (Vague-Visions are called dreams in the common tongue) of small man running away from him.
When Lloyd had awakened, he was lying in a bed, which was a bit too small for him. Lloyd looked around him and saw Elliot. Elliot was sitting on a chair next to his bed. Elliot noticed Lloyd had awakened. “Elliot, what happened?”” Lloyd asked. “You blacked out from the large amount of blood you lost” Elliot explained. Lloyd quickly placed his hand on his face; he did not feel a scar or anything. Then Lloyd remembered the Ninja. “Elliot, where’s the Ninja?” Lloyd asked. “Still under that Yggdrasill tree” Elliot replied. “That’s right; I killed him before I blacked out, well as the saying goes, ‘eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’.” “Well for all we know; he still is”” Elliot added.
At that moment, the room’s double doors burst opened. In stepped a Guard who was pulling on a rope. In came the person who was tied to other end of the rope. Lloyd jumped his feet and asked, “What kind of joke is this?”” The person tied to the rope was none other than the Ninja, who Lloyd thought was dead. The Ninja also noticed Lloyd and Elliot and started struggling vigorously. The Guard gave the rope a sharp whip, making the Ninja stop struggling. ““What’s going on here?” Elliot asked. “Yeah” Lloyd added. The Guard removed his helmet so that he could speak properly. “Is this the Ninja who attacked you last night?” the Guard asked. ““He most certainly is, he not only attacked me he also killed an innocent man just last night!” Lloyd replied. The Guard snatched off the Ninja’’s shinobi shozoku hood, which revealed the Ninja’s identity. The room grew silent. Lloyd broke the silence. “Clay, is that you?” Clay stared at the ground, ignoring his brother’s question. “Clay what are you doing here and why did you kill that innocent man?” Clay continued to ignore Lloyd. “Answer me, Clay!” “Why did you kill that man?” Lloyd shouted. Clay finally looked his brother in the eyes than spoke.
“The night before you left for Phebes, I was coming home from the fields. As I walked toward the village, I noticed this large white lump protruding from the tall stalks of corn. I put down the corn stalk, and held up my lantern in the direction of the white lump which was shaking very slightly. I started walking slowly toward the lump. When I got within a few yards away of the white lump, it stood up and took the form of a vague human shape. Right away, I knew it was a Vampire; the white cloak threw me off, because usually Vampires wore black cloaks. The Vampire was holding a chicken by the legs. It had cut the chicken’s head off, and tightly tied a piece of twine around its neck to keep the blood from spewing out of that end. I picked up a nearby stick and started swinging it at the Vampire. The Vampire dropped the headless chicken and lunged at me. I ducked as the Vampire lunged over me. As soon as it landed, I tackled it to the ground. The Vampire started shrieking loudly. Moments later purebred Dembolian Vampires surrounded me. I got off the lacerated Vampire and made a run for the village. The bloodthirsty Vampires pursued after me. I easily out ran a few of them, but the others kept gaining on me. Soon they were right on my tail, trying to scratch me with their diseased infested claws. One of them jumped out at me and caught a hold of my tunic. As it tried to climb up onto my back, I started jumping to shake it off. The Vampire lost its grip and started to fall. It reached out and caught a hold of my right calve with its razor sharp claws. That slash to my calve took me down, and I went down hard. I blacked out and knew no more.
When I came to, it was daylight and I was in the spot where I had fallen the previous night. I sat upright and held up my leg so that I could inspect it. The sight of my right leg was revolting, and I nearly spewed up. From the knee down had swelled up twice its original size. Rancid yellow fluid was oozing from the four slashes running down my calve. I decided not to try to move my right leg, but reconsidered because the smelly yellow fluid was attracting bugs. However, I knew I would have to endure excruciating pain. Finally, I worked up enough courage to get into the crawling position. I was relieved that I felt much lesser pain than I expected. I slowly lifted my left leg forward, leaving my right leg hovering a bit off the ground. The pain came in one big shock that completely knocked me over, and for the first time in years, I cried. I laid there and cried myself to sleep.
I was awakened by the sound of someone singing. I sat upright and saw a man standing over me applying some type of ointment to my right calve. “I see you finally came around” “I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it.” The man helped me to my feet and offered me a ride, which I hastily accepted. As I walked toward the farm cart, my olfactory sensed a trance-like aroma coming from the back of the farm cart. I walked toward the back of the cart and peered inside the bed. I saw chickens. At that moment, I started feeling extremely thirsty, not for water but for blood. I reached my hand inside to pick up a chicken, but a hand grabbed my wrist. “Hey, don’t touch that hen I just won it at the annual county fair today, it’s supposed to be a top of the line hen bred from the finest fighting cock in the world.” “We’d better hurry into town before it gets dark; I don’t want you outside at night until I know for sure you can withstand the thirst.” I sat up in front with the man, as I sat there I thought about that prize hen and how delicious its blood would taste.
When we arrived in town, it was already starting to get dark. The man got out of the farm cart and unhitched the horses; he turned around and told me to bring the cart in around the back so that he can unload it. I acknowledged, than jumped down from the passenger seat. I got behind the cart and pushed it around the back as just as told to do. I passed a chicken coop on the way there, so I kept that location in mind. The man met me around back, he walked to the back of the cart, grabbed his prize hen, and then carried it to the chicken coop. He came back with a box in which he used to scoop the other chickens in and carried them inside the house. I followed him inside. As I stepped a foot inside the house an incredible sensational aroma overcame me. This time the aroma was overwhelming, and I was instantly taken in by the thirst for blood. I followed the aroma into a room in which the man was in butchering his chickens. The man had noticed me standing in the doorway. ““Are you just going to stand there gawking at me or are you going to help me?” My senses came back but the thirst remained, so I was able to control myself. I nodded my head. “Well then can you take these chickens to the kitchen for me?” I walked over to the man and held out my hands. The man took one look at my hands and said, “Great Alexander, your hands are covered with dirt; go to the sink and rinse them clean!” I cursed the man under my breath as washed my hands. After that, the man gave me two headless chickens. The chickens were drenched in blood. The temptation was too great; I rushed out of the room and into the kitchen. I held one of the chickens over the sink, tossed back my head and dropped the neck into my mouth. As the blood poured into my mouth and down my throat the thirst gradually went away. When the chicken had been depleted of its blood, I pour water down the neck and then shook it then drained the blood water mixture.
Meanwhile, back in the butcher room the man had finished butchering the other chicken and was heading for the kitchen. (I had sensed this somehow) The man walked in and took over. “Go wash up in the stream and get ready for supper.” I obeyed and headed for the stream, which happened to be right near the chicken coop. Instead of going to the stream, I hopped over the gate, grabbed the hen, and then disappeared into the night.
I ran into a forest, in which had an enormous Yggdrasill tree located at the heart of the forest. I climbed up to a branch about 15 feet above the ground. I stayed there, draining the life source from the so-called “prized hen.” The hen tasted exactly like the first one I had back at the butcher’s house. I hurled the hen to the ground in disgust. I sat up there, on that branch thinking about what I was going to do next. I thought about how I was going to conceal myself, so that man would not recognize me if he was to see me when I need to feed off his chickens. Ample ideas came to me though some seemed too vague, while other seemed completely impossible to accomplish from the very start. Therefore, I decided to become a Ninja, which coincidently happened to be the “Master of the Shadows.” Nevertheless, doing this would mean I would have to find a way to get into the castle. That also meant I would have to pass through that town. Therefore, I decided to go while it was still dark, for the reason that I thought I might be less noticeable. I nimbly leapt to the ground, and then took off through the forest.
Several times, I lost my way in the thick foliage. However, eventually I found my way out of the forest.
When I reached town, I snuck around the back of the man’s house then ran for the castle. As I approached the castle’s drawbridge, I noticed the guards were fast asleep, one leaning against the stone wall and the other laying down on his side. I stealthily tiptoed passed the guards hoping not to wake them. Once I got inside, the interior guards immediately spotted me. I sprinted for the stairs leading to the church. I jerked open the stained glass door, and then walked inside. After closing the door, and causing it to crack through the middle, three Monks stood up in front of the altar. After apologizing for disturbing the monks from their meditating, I hastily asked them to bless me as a Ninja. All but one offered to bless me with the title. “I felt an evil presence enter this church along with you, please explain to me why you need this title.” I quickly fibbed to the monk, “I’ve been challenged to a death match by an anonymous warrior from a distant land, so I beg you please bless me with this title.” “So be it, I will bless you the title I’’ll also pray for you victory” After getting my title, I was given official Ninja gear and a pair of Masamune katanas. I thanked the Monks and than left the castle, minutes later I was back in town heading toward the man’s chicken coop and that’s when you saw me running pass you.
Lloyd stared unblinkingly at his brother, he kept trying to speak but nothing would come out. Instead, Elliot spoke for Clay’s brother, “Why didn’t you ask the monks to cast an Reparix spell on you, you would have turned back to normal.” “I don’t know and it doesn’t matter now, because you can cast Reparix your own self right?”” Clay asked. “Yes I can, but what if I wasn’t able to cast Reparix then what?” the wizard continued. Clay quickly thought of a witty response, “Uh, as I said, ‘it doesn’t matter because you can cast Reparix your own self’.” “Your foolishness will lead you into agonizing devastation,” Elliot warned.
As Elliot cured Clay, Lloyd managed to speak. “Clay once again I ask you, why did you kill that man who cured you and took you into his home?” “I guess when I had seen the crossbow, it may have brought out my inherited animalistic nature” Clay explained. “He’s right, Dembolian Vampires are highly defensive, definitely when you bother it when it’s feeding”” Elliot added. A bewildered look appeared on Lloyd face as he began to speak, “What does ‘highly defensive’ mean?” ““Well, just put it this way; you leave them alone, and they’ll leave you alone okay?” Clay explained. Lloyd nodded his head in approval. Now all said and done, Elliot decided to ask Lloyd if he would like for his brother to come along on the quest. “What are you, crazy?” “ I mean what if he does us in like he did with that . . . ” Hey, Clay interrupted; Elliot already explained that to you, it wasn’t my fault!” “Exactly my point, you won’t be able to control yourself when that, animalistic crap kicks in.” “Will you two please stop bickering, you’re acting like pesky brats” Elliot demanded. The argument stopped in an instant. “Well he started it” Clay whined. “Well I going to finish it, now regarding what Lloyd said I have an enchantment that’’ll prevent that from happening” Elliot held the tip of his staff over Clay’s head then cast the “Convert Hexes” enchantment. Once again a brilliant white light radiated from the staff. A few seconds later the white light died out and what remained was Clay’s limp body lingering above the floor. “Is he dead?” Lloyd asked. “Don’t be addlebrained of course he’s not, he’s just in a ‘Signet Trance’.” “What does the ‘Convert Hex enchantment’ do?” “It’ll keep him from turning over.” After Clay regained consciousness, he still looked savage and capable of turning over. Lloyd decided to stay isolated from his deranged brother.




Chapter II
The Swindler

Later that day as Lloyd and company headed back to the Yggdrasill tree to retrieve Lloyd’s long sword, when the unenviable Con-Artist who went by the name of addlebrained was spotted by Elliot. Elliot and Lloyd ran up ahead toward Swindler and who was looking shadily like always. “What are you doing near the Yggdrasill?” Elliot asked. Swindler stood up and turned around to face whoever was speaking to him. “Elliot, what a surprise, I was just looking for artifacts and/or things that can be salvaged that is all.” Elliot stared into Swindler eyes and saw no flaws. “What were you planning to do with the items you found?” Elliot asked. “Well I heard back in Tecca that the Eccentric Circus is back in town, and that they pay 125 gold pieces per show!” “So I’m here looking for items to salvage which I could cash in for enough gold to buy a ticket” Swindler explained. “See, didn’t I tell you honest work pays off big sooner or later” Elliot complemented. “Well I figured that this way would have been faster than to just steal it, the ticket I mean” ” He explained. “Well anyway, have you seen a gory long sword near the Yggdrasill?” Lloyd asked. “As a matter of fact I have, but why you asked?” “Because I lost it here last night and if you really have it I really want it back,” Lloyd demanded. Swindler ran behind the Yggdrasill to grab his bag containing Lloyd’s long sword, then spoke from behind the tree so that Elliot and I couldn’t see him. “Well that’s just tough, because it’s mine now and you can’t have it back.” At this moment Lloyd was just about to lacerate Swindler when Elliot had felt Lloyd’s tension and placed a hand on his shoulder. “The hell you will, you’ll give it to me yourself or I’ll make you give to me and that option won’t be a pretty sight”” Lloyd threatened. Swindler took off through the wood literally leaving a trail of aroused dust behind him. “Wow the little guy sure can run for his size but Lloyd, aren’t you going to run after him?” asked Clay. Lloyd turned to face his brother then spoke, “No, no but I think I know where he’s headed anyway and besides I wouldn’t think I could catch up with that little guy even if it meant losing my life”


Chapter III
The Eccentric Circus

Swindler raced through the forest as fast he could to escape his adversaries who he supposedly thought were chasing him. Swindler soon arrived at the “Eccentric Circus”; first he went to salvage his artifacts including Lloyd’s long sword. Afterward Swindler went and purchased a ticket to gain access to the Ringmaster’s office tent. Once he got inside there was a line of four other applicants seeking jobs also.
Meanwhile, back in the Enchanted Forest, Lloyd and company followed the travel-worn path leading to Tecca hoping to catch up with Swindler. For if they only knew what awaited them at the Eccentric Circus they would have taken the north path instead of the one path leading to Tecca. Now on the other hand Elliot the wizard foresaw this from the very start, which he had no authority of changing the course of Lloyd’s future, for this was Lloyd’s Final Destiny in the making.
By the time Lloyd made it to Tecca it was near nightfall so they decided to head to the nearest lodging which happened to be the exact location where Swindler chose the rest at, “The Prancing Donkey.” Elliot went ahead and payed the overnight fee while Lloyd and Clay went to search for a room for three, and then that’s when Clay spotted Swindler leaving the male’s toiletry area. Within a split second Clay pummeled Swindler to the ground with enough force to cause him to ricochet twice before coming a screeching halt on the sand like floors. Swindler quickly got up only just to fall face first to the ground by a nifty kick to the shin by Clay. Lloyd walked over to Swindler who was a complete bloody mess, and grabbed his blood matted hair and spoke softly in his ear. “Swindler, if you want to leave this lodge in one piece hand over what’s rightfully mine.” Swindler got up once again with a keen close eye on Clay. “I don’t think that’ll be possible now” “And why’s that?” Lloyd asked. “Because I already salvaged and sold it, and I don’t think you’ll be able to get it back and on top of that it was just an ordinary long sword and you can buy those anywhere.” That last commentry bought him a fierce thrashing from Lloyd. You’re an idiot that wasn’t just an ordinary sword, it was an enchanted long sword given to me by my father, and it was given to him by his father, and his father’s father, it was precious to me!” “I want you to go get my sword right now!” Lloyd yelled. “But that can’t be I already told you that, and plus I spent the money on an admission ticket to the Eccentric Circus. That comment bought Swindler another thrashing by both Clay and Lloyd, but this time Swindler fought back and somehow quickly gained the upper hand. Swindler was knocked through a window and skidded on the asphalt outside. As Swindler tried recover to his feet he was kicked in the chest by a leg armed with bronze greaves; they belonged to Clay. Half-processed oxygen forced its way out of Swindler lungs, he staggered backwards quickly unsheathing a concealed weapon, an enchanted short sword called the “Blade of Sparkshard.” The glow alone blinded both Lloyd and his brother Clay long enough for Swindler to make his escape. Now while all this was happening little did Lloyd know what was happening to Elliot. Soon Lloyd’s eyes had converted back to normal but still were dizzily delirious. Lloyd looked around for Clay; he was nowhere to be seen. The fog of death surrounded him as he started choking, seemingly he couldn’t breathe. Semi-transparent images flashed before Lloyd’s eyes; he saw vague pictures of Elliot. Elliot gaped in shock as a bolt of lightning shot through the air toward him and then hit him, emitting a great CRACK! as it burned him to a crisp, right there in the air. A magical hand instantly blinked out of existence, and the ashes of Elliot floated gently to the ground.
Lloyd regained consciousness drenched in sweat. Lloyd stood up and looked around for his brother; seeing him leaning against the Prancing Donkey’s doorpost with his hands shoved in his pockets, he walked over to him. “Clay what happened here, because the last thing I remember is being blinded by a light afterward I began to hallucinate about Elliot being burned alive!” Clay glanced over at Lloyd then back to his previous state. “Hey I don’t even want to hear your voice right now.” Lloyd was shocked to hear that coming from his brother, the guy whom he saved his life countless times big and little, and the guy whom he trained to the best of his knowledge to this day! “Why’s that?” Lloyd asked. “Don’t play me for a fool, you know what you did” Clay replied. “No, I don’t, what did I do?” Lloyd asked. “You left me out in the cold; you left me alone to fight off those monsters!” “Monsters, what are you talking about?!” Lloyd asked loudly. “Are you ******* blind, the mist, the mist turned the humans into monstrous beasts” ““Humans, monstrous beasts, Clay, what the **** are you talking about?” “Okay I’ll explain since you seem to not know what happened”” Clay said. “Do you remember when Swindler pulled out that Sparkshard blade?” “Yes I do” Lloyd replied. “Well not only did it blind us briefly it also summoned the mist from the mountains of Thordan, and along with the mist came the Draft of Death, the mist converted all the humans who were watching us fight Swindler, attacked me after you fell into the mist”” “The bodies of the humans are scattered all around you, just reach your hand into the mist and feel around” Not believing a word Clay was saying, Lloyd dropped to his knees and started feeling around for any unstructured, and/or amputated limbs. Lloyd finally felt something, thinking it was a large stick Lloyd yanked it up without looking at it. “Is this you’re so called ‘bodies?’?” Lloyd asked. “Yes it is” Clay replied. Lloyd quickly perusal his hand, noticing that it wasn’t a stick but a human’s leg he swiftly tossed the limb to the ground, “Oh my *** Clay, we better get out of here before the word gets out you’ll be posted on wanted signs all over Tecca, they’ll hang you for this Clay!” Lloyd shouted. A worried look came upon Clay’s face. “Lloyd, we have to get out of here before somebody sees us.” “Us?”, “What do you mean by us I wasn’t the one who killed all these people I believe that was your doing not I or us but you and you alone.” Lloyd barked sharply. Clay looked around; the mist was beginning to clear and the blood had already started flowing out onto the main road, ““Lloyd, you can stay here if you want but I have to get out of here until this whole ordeal is forgotten,” and with that he took off running and then disappeared into the night. I stood there waiting for him to return; knowing him he had no where to go, nevertheless I had a feeling he wasn’t coming back but I still waited. He never came back, maybe he was serious this time maybe he really did have somewhere to go but I didn’t let it bother me I had problems of my own to worry about.
First I had to find Elliot for I was really concerned about him and whether those images of him being burned alive connected toward reality or just lost thoughts haunting me, Swindler I could handle later. I decided to look around the last place I saw him, the front desk of the Prancing Donkey. I ran around the front and walked inside, unexpectedly inside the Pub area was Elliot all in one piece, though Elliot was sitting at a table with a group of thieves, one who had a dirk in his hand. Within a tenth of a second I had my blade up to the perpetrator’s throat, the entire Pub section grew silent. “Elliot I thought you said you wouldn’t call the authorities on me” shrieked the dirk wielder. Elliot stared up at me and sent me a divinity message,” Lloyd, remove your blade I’m in the middle of purchasing three tickets for the Eccentric Circus, just play along and ignore any infidelities I may say or make.” I nodded my head then removed my blade. “Calm down Thaddeus, it’’s just an idiot trying to cause chaos” “Idiot or not he needs to be taught a lesson!” Thaddeus exclaimed. Within seconds I was surrounded by six agile thieves. “Lloyd, don’t fight them they fight unfaithfully the chances of you winning doesn’t exist.” Nevertheless, I had to try; I had to defend myself at all costs I was not going down without a fight. Thaddeus and three other Thieves lunged out at me with daggers. These Thieves were faster than my own mind’s reflex; I was skewered in the chest multiple times before I could even pull out a weapon. I endured the horrid pain throbbing within my chest and then grabbed the third Thief by his hair and then tossed him at the first Thief who landed right on top of a nearby Berserker’s one pint of ale. The Berserker went berserk; hence the name of his profession, he picked up the Thief and broke him over his knee several times making him completely limp, no doubt that Thief was dead. The remaining minion Thieves including Thaddeus attacked the Berserker all at once. Now this Berserker was at least 9 feet tall and inmensingly bulky with bulging muscles. The Berserker swung the limp body like a whip, cracking all five Thieves and then hurling it at Thaddeus causing a ricochet effect. At this point the Thieves focus was fixated on the deranged Berserker; I took advantage of the opportunity I had, I snatched up Thaddeus and took two tickets from his interior vest pocket, Elliot insisted I take three but I told him about Clay then he reconsidered. Before long we were already headed for the Eccentric Circus, I was determined to make it to the E.C. and this time no more stops nor delays for we were already behind by two and a half days.
When we arrived onto the E.C. grounds, the moon was three and three halves of a tenth quarter in the sky (4:56 A.M.; in the common tongue dialect) so Elliot and I hitched up a calibrated pavilion and rested there till daybreak. Day came quickly since it was Q2, so I didn’t get much sleep but nevertheless I felt not signs of physical fatigue.
I helped Elliot pack up the pavilion, whilst the E.C. grounds were filled with tourists and children looking for a great time, and that baffled me because an Eccentric Circus was a place for Phoebefilias. (People who enjoy being scared) Well anyway, the only reason we were here was to find Swindler.
We approached the entry line and to my surprise it was completely empty; I guessed a lot the people walking around here weren’t interested in Eccentric Circus although I was very fervent to see how many people were actually inside. Elliot handed me two admission tickets in which I hastily gave to the Usher who then lacerated them into a discard box. “Thank you and enjoy the show.” Merlin and I walked into the entrance cavity of the Eccentric Circus’s main attraction tent. Merlin and I sat in the third row of the thirty-third section. The pandemonium was deafening to me, so Merlin had to talk to me in through divinity. “Lloyd, do you see Swindler anywhere?” Lloyd acknowledged Elliot’s message and looked around the center ring but didn’t see anyone resembling Swindler in any aspect of any kind whatsoever. “No, I don’t see him, but do you feel his presence?” I asked. Beyond doubt he’’s in here somewhere, for as I reminisce when we first sited Swindler near the Ygddrasill he said ‘Well I heard back in Tecca that the Eccentric Circus is back in town, and that they pay 125 gold pieces per show!” “So I’m here looking for items to salvage in which I could cash in for enough gold to buy a ticket’, so I presume we’ll be most liable to notice him participating in the act.” Lloyd looked over at Elliot with a perplexed look across his face, “Elliot, I can’t even see the Ringmaster down there, you’re the one with the eyes of a hawk” “Yes Lloyd, I’ll tell you his coordinates when I locate him” Elliot assured. Lloyd nodded his head in acknowledgment.
Suddenly the entire tent lights went dim all except the nine burning torches forming a perfect circle around the Ringmaster. The Ringmaster stood up and shouted into a triangular cone attached with a handle. “Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen I like to welcome you all to our 23rd. annual Eccentric Circus show, as always I should warn you that our acts by all means are meant to frighten our viewers, so people please vacate the premises if you don’t want to encounter your worst fears; thank you and please enjoy the show.

Chapter IV
The Z-Hand

The Ringmaster threw something toward his feet which caused a small blast of green smoke to continuously arouse around him until he was no longer visible to the naked eye. Suddenly the nine torches’ flames changed from it original color to an emerald green. Sparks began to fly from every direction, but it was impossible to see where the sparks were coming from, apparently from the ceiling. The emerald flames began to accumulate more and more until all nine flames came together forming one enormous flame, I was beginning to think that if that flame got any bigger this whole tent was going to catch aflame. Out of the flame came every kind of creature you would consider scarifying, from ghouls to werewolves to Ents, two things baffled me about the flame, one was that the creatures kept coming out from within that flame in which none of them seemed be in any pain caused by walking through the flame, and the other thing was that the creatures kept on coming out of that flame I mean how could all of those things fit in there, it was obvious that within that flame there is a trapdoor in which the creatures were coming out from and which also explains how that Ringmaster disappeared. I surprised myself with that theory I came up with.
After what seemed like a whole five minutes, the flow of creatures seemed to lessen up which release a little tension of my shoulders. The creatures were running around the arena scaring the audience, and a large portion of the audience fled the tent in horror. I laughed at the people as they pushed and shoved and trampled over those who unfortunately had fallen in the process of trying to flee the tent.
Next came an anticipated event, out of the flame appeared a magical hand; the same hand from my subconsciousness the hand that burned Elliot to a crisp. The hand ran around the inner ring zapping the creature with one finger. In a matter of seconds the hand had fallen every single creature, the whole inner ring was layered in ash. Then it came to me, and I did foresee Elliot death. The hand disappeared just as it did in the vision, but then reappeared in a few rows in front of Elliot and me. The hand raised its pointer finger and pointed it at me; a small orb of black chi appeared at the very tip of the finger and as each second passed the orb of black chi accumulated more and more mass. Finally the hand had accumulated enough chi that could take out a whole town, as it released the black chi Elliot jumped into the path of the speeding chi. “Elliot no!”” I watched in horror as Elliot exploded. I looked back up at the hand which was starting the form another black chi orb. I took out my dagger and then flung it directly into the accumulating orb of black chi at first it seemed to Lloyd that he wasted a perfectly good dagger but a little after there was a huge explosion. The explosion was being contained within sphere barrier including the hand. I look around to find the origin of the barrier, when the explosion ceased I could see the hand squirming inside the barrier trying to break free. Soon the barrier started shrinking at a swift velocity. As the barrier continued to reduce in size, the hand started to crush by the transparent walls of the barrier until it disappeared out of existence, and there just as plain as day was the conjurer of the barrier, Swindler.
He continued standing there with both of his hands in a conjuring position. Many thoughts raced through my head; Swindler just saved my life even after I had beaten him a pulp. Swindler lowered his hands and tossed me my sword he stole. “Um, thanks” “Yeah, just don’t leave things like this lying around you wouldn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands. I stared down at my sword actually feeling relieved that it got returned back to me, after all I didn’t really think I was ever going to get it back. “Swindler I don’t understand what’s going on here” I asked. ““I’m no smarter than you on the subject but I do know that you’’re a target of a powerful Sorcerer whose name I dare not utter here” Swindler answered. “Wait a second a Sorcerer is targeting me, but why?” Lloyd asked. “What you didn’t know, I would’ve expected that that wizard would’ve told you about the quest you received from King Daniel”, “Wait a second Lloyd interrupted, how’d you know that, how’d you know about King Daniel and the quest, have you been eavesdropping on me since then or worse earlier?” I questioned “No of course not but I was just about to explain everything to before you rudely interrupted me” Swindler rebuked. “Anyway as I was saying, the quest you received from Sir Arthur was an act of infidelity though I wouldn’t doubt the fact that Arthur had anything to do with the whole thing not even for a second, I think for now that it’s safe to say that Arthur was used as a delivery boy and Xian made sure he remained completely ignorant of what was really underway. Though two fortunate events took place that took a turn for the better which delayed you a day and I most say if you didn’t take the path to Tecca and continued the path that led up to the Misty Mountains I sorry to say that you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me, but I’ll say I prevented that by taking your sword and running toward Tecca. And the other event took place before the one I just explained which included you and your brother Clay and that conflict you two had in the enchanted forest. And for the record if you recalled the final blow in which you skewered Clay in his chest, he did die but fortunately for him I was on my voyage to find you when I stumbled across him lying on the forest floor. After realizing that approximately 16 minutes had passed since he was slain, I was able to save his life, luckily for him I was able to resurrect him; for if I arrive just four minutes later he would’ve been beyond all help.” “Wait a second are you telling me that this whole quest was rigged, well in that case I’m abandoning this quest to go find my brother with or without your consent” As Lloyd turned to walk out the pavilion he noticed from the corner of his eye as a broad blotchy firm hand reach out at him, sheer instinct insisted the inevitable. Lloyd unsheathed his long sword then swung the blade with the intention of amputating the hand. Lloyd felt the blade strike the hand but for reason there was an unexpected liberated delay then suddenly the sword jerked from Lloyd’s grasp. Lloyd spun around and what he saw sent chills throughout his body.

Chapter V Part I
The Truth Unfolds

There towering over him was a Centaur; (Part human and part horse, with a horse's body, including all four legs, and a human head and torso with arms. The human portion is joined at the waist to the horse's shoulders where the head and neck would be). The Centaur had caught the razor thin blade with its bare hand, despite the facts that blood was seeping through its clench fist. Mounted on the shoulders of the Centaur was Swindler. “Have you not comprehended to what I was telling you, first of all you haven’t the slightest idea of what you’re up against I mean for example the Z-Hand, remember how easily the Z-Hand disintegrated every single creature single handily, now take that and times it to a thousand that’s a power level well over 620,000, a mere blast from a-level 5 attack will eradicate you, no questions asked” he explained.
Lloyd reached out for his blade but the Centaur pulled it out of his reach in the nick of time. “Look, I know you’re lying there’s no such thing as a power level its called chi points” Lloyd beckoned. “Am I now?” Swindler asked sarcastically as he reached down into his bag and then pulled out some sort of metal device then pointed it at Lloyd. “Yeah, what are you reaching for; wait!” Before Lloyd could grab his shield, Swindler already fired, seconds later came a distinctive voice seemingly coming from the metal device. “Lloyd Willinger, race male, 28 years old, born year 1041, born in the town of Phebas, 5ft 11.6 inches, 198 lbs., hair color brown, and eye color left green right blue, power level 3 (Equivalent to 7,638,853,991 chi points).” “Now do you understand, all of those chi points actually is PL-3” “Well it depends if that thing is telling the truth and besides I’m the best swordsman in the world.” “Ha-ha, you’re the most naive Swordsman I’ve ever encounter; are you forgetting that brawl you had in the Prancing Donkey and I don’t recall you actually defeating the Thieves nor the Berserker” Lloyd’’s face flushed a scarlet red from mortification. “How’d you know that, you couldn’t have possibly been there to see that happened, unless you ran inside the Pub after using that Sparkshard on me, it blinded me, causing me to hallucinate. “Well kinda, but pretty much yeah that’’s about it” “ Well since you were there in that bar why didn’t you help me fight the Thieves, why didn’t help me when I was up against such odds, what would you have done if I was killed?” Lloyd asked. Swindler remained silent knowing if he spoke he would reveal the dreadful future that was overdue to take place, but was purposely delayed thanks to himself. “Well, speak up!” Lloyd barked. He continued this until Swindler reached his peak; he was completely annoyed by the fact that he wanted to go off on Lloyd, but had to refrain himself after realizing he’ll need a logical reason to explain his actions, which was because he couldn’t reveal the truth. So Swindler lied, and let me mind you that Swindler is an expert liar, one of his tactics is when he manipulates the victim by making them lead him onto what they already know without the victim catching on. Then he exaggerates the truth in the same way he lead them through manipulation. In a way it's like he brainwashes the victims. After quickly getting into character, he lied flawlessly. “Well actually I was occupied by a confrontation of my own, quite similar to yours, I’d go into more details if only, just if only you’d straighten up and fly right.” “Okay then Swindler continued, right after I ran off I did indeed leave you and your brother in an uncoordinated condition, I really didn’t intend for it to happen that way but you left me no choice, you were lacerating the **** out of me.” “Well then what about Merlin, is he going to be okay?” ““He’ll be okay I’ve got his ashes right here in this capsule, I can rejuvenate him as soon as I find a unicorn’s horn and “Bleikian’’s Elixir.” “Bleekeon?” Lloyd asked. “No not ‘Bleekeon’, Bleikian, they’re an inferior race of magic users, I myself am a Bleikian but I’ve chosen to not live a lifestyle of a primitive culture I was unfortunately born in” ““So he’s not dead; that’s a relief.” Whilst this conversation was taking place, Lloyd kept a keen eye on the Centaur who was swinging his sword with incredible speed and expertise; Lloyd quickly envied the Centaur’s skill which was far more advanced than his, the conversation was quickly changed. “So Swindler, what are you doing with a Centaur?” Noticing the conversation was regarding him, he abruptly stopped showing off his swordsmanship skill and step forward. “Oh, well I was back in Tecca, I bought a Beastmaster Profession, so now I’m capable of taming a few genres of beasts.” “Oh, well I’ve noticed he’s quite the swordsman, and I was wondering if he would like to give me a lesson sometime.” ““Indeed I do” said the Centaur. In instant Lloyd was knocked off his feet, but he quickly scrambled to feet. “Arm yourself human,” growled the Centaur hurling Lloyd’s sword at him.



Chapter V Part II
The Truth Unfolds
(Lloyd’s accepts the truth)


The mere force of the blade knocked him off his feet. “Wait, let me catch my breath!”, Lloyd begged. “I wouldn’t be I If I did that, let alone be your enemy.” The Centaur used its tail like a whip, twirling it around Lloyd’s right ankle. The Centaur held Lloyd upside down whilst beating his redden face and taunting his helplessness.
Lloyd indeed was helpless, and he was beginning to believe what Swindler was trying to explain to him, but he wasn’t going to quit just because he knew he couldn’t possibly win, but maybe if he had help. The Centaur cracked its tail like a whip intending to finish Lloyd off, but Lloyd isn’t the one to lose so easily. Lloyd jerked his right ankle to intentionally dislocate it, despite the excruciating pain Lloyd carried on with his planned tactic. Lloyd dropped to the ground then quickly scrambled for his Enchanted Sword, and at the speed of light Lloyd summoned Mesmeria (The Spirit of Cosmic Magnetism). “Mesmeria, infest my blade, guide me the way to victory. Lloyd’s blade had begun slashing, and thrusting, following the way of the blade. The blade was being controlled by Mesmeria and not Lloyd all he was doing was grasping it with all his might. The Centaur was now equally matched by the blade, and this angered the Centaur something fierce. The Centaur charged at Lloyd and attacked him savagely with his fists. The Centaur hands seemed to be made of steels; for he never flinched for every time the blade struck them. Lloyd couldn’t keep up with the blade, fatigue had gotten the best of him, he unclenched his hands and fell to the ground. The blade continued fighting for a few seconds before falling to the ground. The Centaur stomped its hoof on top of the blade warping it to an unusable state. At this point the Centaur had completely lost its sanity, it was completely ignoring Swindler commands. The Centaur grabbed Lloyd around the ankles and started swinging him overhead in a circular motion causing Lloyd to hit everything in the path of the Centaur which included trees. Whilst Lloyd was being thrashed about, Swindler knew he’d be in a heap of trouble if Lloyd was to be killed, so without much thought Swindler rushed in and attacked the Centaur. After realizing his Sparkshard had absolutely no effect he tried paralyzing the Centaur. But in an instant Swindler was blown away after a hoof caved his chest in; Swindler fell over while trying to breathe but couldn't on account of his lungs were leaking vital fluids, he was dying.


Chapter VI
Clay the Feral Dyhampyre


As Swindler laid dying and Lloyd being beat to death, they had little to no chance of survival, no one knew where they were. However yet there was still a hint of hope, for there was someone on their way to the Eccentric Circus. Now maybe this someone wasn't an actual person; more of a combination of two species both man and vampire. This may lead you to think one may be a case of Dhampyrism, but the subject dwells much more complexity.Clay took off running through the night, not being able to see where he was going he stumbled over a low laying wooden fence which surrounded a cemetery's tainted shrine. Clay went soaring through air landing inside of a desolated coffin. The coffin's cover slammed shut trapping Clay inside. Clay got to his hands and knees trying to raise the cover using his back he had no luck in effort, the cover was made of stone coated with Adamantium. (Adamantium is an impenetrable element or substance) Needless to say the stone cover weighed 335.00 lbs. adding the Adamantium coating which weighed an astonishing 4,570,000 lbs. per sq. inch, there was absolutely no possible way for Clay to lift that cover in the psychical state he was currently in. Clay laid down, closed his eye's and started conjuring up an idea; alas he accidentally fell asleep inside the airtight coffin steadily inhaling precious oxygen and then exhaling toxic carbon dioxide.
Whilst Clay slept, his body was undergoing its nightly anthropogenic process, Clay's body had evolved into a Dyhampyre. ( A Dyhampyre is a being that is half-vampire and half-human)
Clay was awakened by the sound of the coffin’s cover being split apart, he quickly pretended he was sleep; otherwise, dead from the Grave Robber’s perspective, afterward the cover slid apart revealing Clay’s sleeping body. “Hey Yhile, this one has a fresh body” “Does the coffin contain any valuable artifacts?” Yhile asked. “Nothing rare, just a pair of bronze greaves and uh a nice pair of katanas,” the Grave Robber said whilst attempting to retrieve them. Clay grabbed a hold of the Grave Robber’s forearm squeezing it causing him to release to katanas from his clutches. The Grave Robber stumbled backwards from shock of seeing the hand of a deceased person come alive and grab his forearm. “Y-y-yhile he stammered, the guy in that coffin is still alive, a-and, and he grabbed my arm!”” Yhile went over to inspect the coffin picking up a rusty pitchfork on the way over. Clay had sensed a high level of bravery coming in his direction, he hastily leapt out from inside the coffin and started attacking with perfect precision on account of the night vision Clay inherited. Clay ended up mauling Yhile to death on account of him tapping into highly defensive instincts. After realizing there was another Grave Robber besides Yhile; the one who opened the Clay’s coffin had escape. But with Clay newly enhanced sense of smell, he could follow the trail with his nose. Clay followed the trail for two days through the Enchanted Forest occasionally stopping for a drink of blood whenever he approached a chicken, whether it was domestic or wild.
Clay caught up with the Grave Robber after he trapped him inside the Eccentric Circus where inside he mauled the him to death.

[BBallForLife]

Cool story.

[Borael]

I havent finished it yet but good so far!

[BBallForLife]

Is there any more?