Chap.1
He stared at it. It's purple irises glittered back at him. One thrust, one thrust of his sword in the right place and it would all be over. He breathed deeply, not getting enough air each time. Just one quick thrust. He had promised mother..he had promised. A knight always kept his promise. A King was bound to keep his promise.
No time to think. The dragon reared back, its scales shimmering in the golden sun, and a wave of sadness and awe washed through him. It was a pity so magnificent a creature had to die.
Then the dragon struck.
"Arghh..." He panted, jumping back. A pain on his right side jolted him suddenly. He stared down numbly at where his right arm should've been. Why didn't hurt, it was supposed to hurt. He was glad it didn't. It seemed like an eternity.
Its jaws wide, it reared again. He didn't have time to think. No time to react. No time to do anything but stare, oddly fascinated as death loomed closer and closer. Saliva dripped from its razor sharp fangs. Purple irises, diluted, almost a red. He could only hope that it wouldn't hurt too much.
"I'm...sorry.....Mother......" He whispered, he could feel the dragons breath on him. Darkness encompassed him.
A picture flashed in his mind. A girl....a girl with hazel brown hair. Green green eyes. A pendant. With a boy. A boy he recognized.
"....Van..."
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"Get the physicians to attend to him immediately. He has lost a lot of blood."
"Yes, your Majesty." The commander bowed, hurrying out of the dark room. Emperor Dornkirk stared at the body laying on the table in front of him. His eyes were closed, almost like a child, closing its eyes, willing the monster away. It could have been any ordinary boy. His commanders and officers had stared, wide-eyed, as the boy was brought in. Why was the Emperor taking so much interest in this boy, no more than a child? Sure, he was hurt, but the Emperor had caused much greater pain than that without batting an eye. What was special about this boy? Dornkirk only watched. That's all he ever did really, watch and peer through is chrystal. That damned chrystal, all that was left to connect him to the outside world. Oh what he would give to breath in the air..no, not pumped air, but the air that is real, nature's air, and bath in the cool springs. No, he wouldn't sink, not now, not when hope was so near. He wouldn't sink into a wallow of despair.
Dornkirk watched as the most talented physicians in the Zaibach empire entered. He watched as they performed medical miracles on the boy. Watched as they stood back, one by one, shaking their heads.
"..he's just too far gone...."
"...lost too much blood..."
"....nothing we can do...."
But he wouldn't have any of it. No, he insisted. He had seen, peered, spending hours gazing into that blasted chrystal, he had seen the boy. He had seen the wonderful glory, wonderful future this boy could bring Zaibach.
"But he's got no more life left." They protested. Dornkirk narrowed his eyes, scorn easily read in them.
"Take my life." He said. The words rang loudly in the dark room. All the physicians stared at him.
"Take some of my life, put it into him." Dornkirk repeated. For him, for this boy-child he would give some of his precious life energy. So little left, yet....No, he must. This boy must survive. It was everything Dornkirk had ever dreamed of.
The physicians stared at each other. Would it work? Shrugging, they didn't dare disobey.
Connecting wires, placing tubes, they hooked the boy up. So close, Dornkirk could feel the boy's faint pulse. It was so weak, almost non-existent. One of the physicians looked up at him.
"Are you sure, Your Majesty?"
"Of course. Do it!" Dornkirk snapped, getting a little irritated at their slowness. Didn't they understand? His life-support rumbled. He could feel his life, his energy draining, slowly. Yet draining none the less. At first, it showed no effect.
"More!" Dornkirk shouted. The physician hesitated.
"But Your Majesty...."
"Now!!!" He yelled. The physician did as he was told. The impact was so sudden, if Dornkirk had had a body, he would've collapsed. Even as it was, he was found it hard to keep his eyes open, his mind from giving up.
The boy gasped, his back arching off the table. He gasped for air. Weak, Dornkirk could feel the boy's pulse beating rapidly. The boy breathed deeply, quickly. Dornkirk felt darkness coming nearer. He looked down at the boy. The boy he had saved. Saved for all of Zaibach.
"My boy..." He smiled. Just as darkness encompassed him. "Folken...my boy..."
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He opened his eyes slowly. The room was dark. Where was he? Was this heaven? The last he could remember, the dragon had been close, death upon him. Then that strange vision, of the girl and his brother. What had happened? He looked down at himself. His tunic had been replaced with clean robes. Bandages covered most of him. Then he saw his arm.
"Oh gods..." He whispered. Where his arm should've been, now was a metal construction, extending out to what was supposed to work as fingers. The mere sight made him sick.
"So you are up, how are you feeling my boy?" A voice shook him out of his horror. He gazed up, at the head of an old man. Flowing beard, gazing down at him. He tried the prop himself up for a better look, but the pain in his side hurt too much.
"No...stay down. Give your wounds time to heal." The head ordered. There was a certain power to the voice. As if it was used to being obeyed. He lay back down. He lay on his back, the darkness seemed infinite.
"...where....where am I?" He stammered. He could hear the voice chuckle.
"Don't you worry, my dear boy. You are where you have been destined to be."
His mind whirled. Was this Fanelia? If so, where was his mother? Van?
"Am...am I in Fanelia?" He ventured again.
"You are in a place, far greater than that." The voice paused. "Now, you must rest. You must rest and be ready, for your destiny awaits you soon."
No! He didn't want to rest. He wanted to leave. Leave whatever cursed place this was and go back to Fanelia. But he could feel his strength ebbing. Sleep came. Peace.
He awoke again to the bustle of bodies. He opened his eyes and was greeted with light. Dim light, though it was, it was light none the less. His eyes, so accustomed tot he darkness, ached. He looked around.
He was on a large, lushly draped bed. The room was large, with windows along one side. People, obviously servants, bustled around him. He blinked.
"Ahh, you have awaken." An young looking soldier approached him. He was dressed in soldier garb, his face weather-worn and scarred. But he had upon his face, a smile and a twinkle in his eye. Folken stared at him.
"Tongue-tied, I'm guessing." The man broke into a grin. "Well, I'm Commander Kenton. You can call me Kent."
"Hello..." Folken replied softly. He gazed around The room. "umm...where am I?"
Kent smiled. "You are currently in a floating fortress of The Zaibach empire."
Zaibach? The name did ring a bell, but not a familiar one.
"How far...is it..from Fanelia?" Folken asked, softly. Kent laughed.
"Oh..hmm..young man is trying to escape then I imagine?"
"Am I a prisoner here?" Folken demanded angrily. Kent eyed him shrewdly.
"If I were you, I'd be count my blessings before trying to escape them."
Folken propped himself up on his pillow, staring at Kent. He didn't know what to make of this situation. Here he was, probably millions of miles of his home, with a nut who talked to blessings. Gods.
"Why...?" He started to ask. Kent seemed to anticipate his question.
"Why does The Emperor take such an interest in you?"
Folken nodded mutely.
Kent smiled wryly. "Why don't you ask him yourself." Kent waved at The door. Folken watched him mutely.
"Now?"
"Of course. The Emperor's waiting for you."
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To Be Continued...
