The Challenge of Myths
By Star Otamon
In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful
Summary: Its full name is Section 1: The Silver Caste: The Challenge of Myths. It's the first part of The Silver Caste Seran or series. The Silver Caste's motto is 'Outcast Specialty'. It happens on another world with all sorts of species in it. Species from Dungeon Keeper 2 and Warcraft are going to be in here. I've wanted to do a Digimon story with fantasy attribute and I guess this is it. The title talks about a team that wears uniforms colored silver. Silver in such a world means that they're exiled from their lands; outlaws that have bounties on their heads; or simply outcasts. Check out the type of characters that are the DigiDestined. The main mission is for Sinzo Tracker, an elven ranger, to help avenge a fairy's sister's death. In the progress, journeying into different lands and meeting new characters. Each DigiDestined character has his or her own story, sometimes shared but mostly independent. Its what outcasts can do in changing a world. I've already thought of a sequel for it. My intention is to finish this story before this coming Ramadan and I kept to that intention. Rise of the Undead, the sequel to The Challenge of Myths, is going to start after The Challenge of Myths is completed and after Ramadan '06. : COMPLETED :
The cave tunnel was dark and damp, the two fairies carefully walked through the dampness. Their wings were folded and their fairy uniform was that of Dungeon Keeper 2 and colored purple, indicating that they were from the Land of Vigilance. They thought the tunnel was lighted with torches but they were wrong. Their blonde hair glowed through the darkness and their green eyes pierced the darkness of the cave.
"Why did they ever choose us, I'll never know." One fairy whispered, in her fairy voice.
"Shh. The Council of Rainbow Fairies chose us to investigate into these caverns. We're the best scouts the fairies have there Agita." The second fairy whispered.
The two whispered and continued walking into the unknown.
"Venera Stentor! You know as well as I do about the rumors here." Agita whispered.
"That's why we're here sis." Venera replied.
"Remember I'm the older one here... I should have refused the mission." Agita sighed.
Venera blinked and stopped with Agita. Agita had her head lowered. Venera turned to her older sister.
"Because of the Werewolves here? We're fairies! We can take on them." Venera assured.
"There are probably packs in there." Agita argued.
"Outnumbered?" Venera asked, whispered.
Agita flapped her wings silently and floated in the air. She folded her arms and nodded.
"Well then, we'll just have to wish that we never encounter them." Venera gulped.
"You're just as scared as I am." Agita stated.
"Aye that I am. Anyone that got too far into these caverns never came out, from the stories... I think we're far too deep in the cavern... Let's back track sis." Venera suggested.
Agita landed back down, Venera walked back towards Agita and passed her. Agita tried to stop her, but something else did.
"... Watch it!" Venera growled, bumping into something and falling on her butt.
She stared upwards and gasped silently in shock. The werewolf in front of her was gently and slowly heaving, a mocking grin dared them.
"Fairy blood..." The werewolf whispered, licking his lips. "I haven't had that in years." He hissed.
"And you never would!" Agita growled.
Agita zoomed at the werewolf, quickly maneuvering around, avoiding the werewolf's clutches.
"Venera... Hurry and... Escape... Find your... way out!" Agita urged, between avoiding the werewolf's clutches.
Venera was speechless, slowly nodding. She hovered off of the floor and back tracked their trail, giving it her top speed. Venera glanced back and heard a loud painful fairy shriek. Venera's closed her eyes and turned her head forward, tears slowly appearing on her eyelids.
ONE WEEK LATER...
Vigilance Land...
Venera was on the ground, facing the Council of Rainbow Fairies in front of her. The head fairy of the council stood up.
"Fairy Venera Stentor, we, the council of Rainbow Fairies, have reviewed your story and decided..." She began.
Venera stopped breathing. The head fairy sighed and closed her eyes, speaking the next words in that pose.
"That you are no longer part of the community of Rainbow Fairies. Your mission was a failure and you are to be exiled out of Vigilance Land." She decided.
Venera gasped, her eyes widening. Two other fairies approached her and changed her uniform from purple to silver, indicating that she was an exile. Venera hovered out of the council and an escort of five other fairies followed her until she reached the border. She passed it, leaving her escort behind. Once between the trees, Venera took one last glance at her beloved land and strolled on into the forest of Zovar.
Chapter 1: Stealth Ranger
7/2/353 MC, Twinkle
There is a land... A land full of harmony... With its prosperous people... Of noble species... A land yet full of mysteries... No matter the unveiled... Snarleos remains the wonder... A land full of harmony
A ranger in a silver uniform sighed, seated on the front stools of the hotel in Setista. The ranger grabbed another glass of the juice and was about to raise it to drink it, but something stopped him. He felt a hand on his left shoulder.
"Hey elf dirt, this is my stool!" The goblin growled.
A fairy with a silver uniform hovered into the hotel, searching for her requested escort and tracker. She spotted him sitting down at the front, with a goblin annoying him. The fairy seated herself nearby the entrance and watched with interest, investigating in her own way to see if he was worthy of the job or not: the one and only famed elf outcast ranger: Sinzo Tracker.
She heard rumors about him, where an army wouldn't notice him penetrate their lines; his death slash with his dagger was merciless and swift. Not to mention his high talent in archery. Sinzo was a master in it, able to maw down enemies 150 yards away, with help from a pocket telescope. Once he sighted his target, he won't look again, but would take aim and would always hits his mark, never missing. Sinzo was merciless and fearful as they came.
The fairy heard some whisperings of a gentle caring side of him, and she was intending to find out if he had such a side, once he passed. Sinzo momentarily ignored the goblin and drunk his drink in one swallow. He put it back down on the counter and kept his head forwards.
"Mind your own business Niblic and stay away from mine." Sinzo stated firmly.
"I warned you! Get out of my stool!" The goblin: Niblic, growled.
He tried to budge Sinzo off of the stool, but Sinzo didn't budge. Another try and Niblic found his face inches away from the counter, with a dagger to his throat and his right arm pinned around his back. Sinzo was inches away from Niblic's ear, holding him in that tight grip of his.
"Hear me..." Sinzo hissed. "This stool belongs to nobody and this is the first time I used it. From all the times I've been in here I haven't seen you once on this stool. Don't try to fool a master goblin crab. Annoy me again and I would be swift in my answer." He whispered.
Sinzo let go of Niblic and sheathed his dagger. Knowing Niblic, Sinzo grabbed his right leg and flipped him over the counter, landing on his butt dazed. Sinzo grinned and paid the Amazonian. Once Sinzo passed the test, the fairy gently smiled. He surely was the one she was looking for. Sinzo walked away, heading upstairs to his room. A few moments later and the fairy followed him.
The fairy knew where Sinzo's room was and silently approached it. Judging from her knowledge on Sinzo, she had a feeling that he would be hiding some where near the entrance of his room. She needed to be careful for there might be another ranger in there as well; from her knowledge of Kestian Land. She turned the knob and found it unlocked. She carefully opened the door and stepped in a few steps, knowing that Sinzo would grab her. That's what happened.
Sinzo was hiding beside the door and once the fairy passed him, he silently went behind her. He closed the door shut with his leg. He grabbed her waist and swiftly put his dagger to her throat, not pressing too hard. From his knowledge, he felt another presence in the room, in the shadows, way before he entered it. At the moment, knowing that the other presence wasn't hostile, Sinzo ignored it.
"Why are you following me?" Sinzo asked, whispering.
"I... I need your help." The fairy replied, with honesty.
"What's your name?" Sinzo asked.
"Venera, Venera Stentor." The fairy replied.
Sinzo nodded, satisfied. He withdrew his dagger, sheathing it and let go of Venera. Venera turned around and stared at Sinzo for a moment, noticing his blonde ranger hair and spectacular emerald eyes. Venera gently smiled, knowing that she could easily lose herself in those eyes. She understood how someone could get lost by just staring at her own eyes. Sinzo turned his attention to the shadows, where he felt the presence.
"I've gotten over Kamisai's death and Flaring Eyes long ago Alleria." Sinzo stated.
Venera blinked in confusion. She glanced at where Sinzo was staring at, but saw nothing. Sinzo smiled and nodded. He knew Alleria's habits in such situations, probably too well. Sinzo motioned Venera over to his bed.
"Take a seat." Sinzo offered.
Venera nodded and sat down on the bed's edge. Sinzo took another seat in the room, a little distant from the bed.
"Ask any questions you have." Sinzo requested.
"... Who's Kamisai?" Venera asked.
"My older brother." Sinzo replied.
"Who were you talking to?" Venera asked.
Sinzo smiled, "Alleria. She was my mentor in elven warfare and was Kamisai's mentor as well." He replied.
"What's Flaring Eyes?" Venera asked.
Sinzo glanced at the shadows, with his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"You mean to tell me that back in Vigilance Land they don't teach you about history?" Sinzo asked, turning back to Venera.
Venera sighed, "I'm no longer part of it." She replied.
"What happened?" Sinzo asked.
"I was exiled by Sora Takenouchi: head fairy in Vigilance Nation." Venera whispered with her head lowered.
Sinzo nodded.
"Tell you what? I'll ask you a question you'll answer and ask me back, which I'll answer, etc. Fine with you?" He asked.
Venera raised her head and nodded.
"O.K. I already asked mine, now to answer yours... Ready yourself for a history lesson, a history lesson on a subject that I witnessed and lived in." Sinzo started.
Venera kept silent and listened patiently.
"Flaring Eyes happened three years ago to the day. It was a battle between humans and some swamps tribes. The humans, from Pride, were allied with Elven Kestian. That's where I and my brother came in. For the record, we weren't the only elves there. The swamp tribes were allied with Dragon Zapif herd, if you don't know; Dragon Zapif is the hardest and strongest Dragon herd out there.
"Anyways, it happened on between the borders of Prosperity Desert and Glide Plains. Alleria here was amongst the elves that accompanied my brother and me... Start to the end, Pride allies were crushed miserably. My brother died in it, toasted by one of the Zapif Dragons. It's called Flaring Eyes, because every one in that battle had their eyes flaring at their opponent. The goal behind the battle was the complete dominance over Trespass Swamps.
"The swamp tribes there wanted it to be their land completely, because some of it was under Kestian and Human control. At first the swamp tribes tried the diplomatic way, but both Kestian and Humans refused. War was declared, starting with the swamp tribes and since both Kestian and Human lands were threatened, both allied with each other to face off against the united swamp tribes.
"After the battle, Lava Smoke, the majority and strongest swamp tribe in the swamps, had the entire swamps region under its control. The other tribes gave way without arguing, since it was Lava Smoke that declared war and went into it. Lava Smoke shared Trespass Swamps with the Zapif Dragons and so they helped them out. My reputation of being a master was before that battle. I had my successes in that battle, but by losing my brother, I had willed no more to fight on." Sinzo explained.
"Where are you originally from?" Venera asked.
"From Young Owl: a town in Prosperity Desert." Sinzo replied.
"How long have you been living here in Setista?" Venera asked.
"I've been living here since that battle." Sinzo replied.
"And Alleria here has been living here also since then?" Venera asked.
Alleria appeared out of the shadows and Venera finally got a complete look on her. Alleria was an elven Ranger woman, dressed like one. Sinzo shrugged.
"I don't know about that. I haven't been keeping track of her. In fact, this is the first time we meet since the battle. Is that right Alleria?" Sinzo asked.
Alleria sighed and nodded.
"She's a ranger of few words, isn't she?" Venera asked.
"It's best that you don't get her talking. Believe me when I say that I've heard Alleria talk and it isn't ever pleasant." Sinzo replied.
"So why did you pick Setista? Why not go back to Young Owl?" Venera asked.
"I thought I said one question each. It doesn't matter anyway. Young Owl is where I and Kamisai grew up together; it has a lot of memories of my brother in it. I picked Setista because: 1. it's an independent city; 2. it's literally impossible to penetrate, being a standing fort as it is with all the canyons around it and 3. Kamisai and I have decided long ago that when we retire, we'd settle here.
"Correction, I saw Alleria one last time after Flaring Eyes, and after Flaring Eyes, I stayed in Young Owl only for a night, and the next day, I came out here." Sinzo replied.
"... About the help I need you on." Venera reminded.
Sinzo nodded, "yeah. What is it?" He asked.
"I want to avenge my elder sister's death. Her name was Agita Stentor." Venera explained.
Sinzo shrugged, "and I want to avenge Kamisai's death by slaying the dragon that toasted him, and there's like a hundred or thousand Zapif Dragons in Trespass Swamps." He stated.
"Like there is of werewolves in Cavern of Myths..." Venera moaned, falling backwards onto the bed.
Sinzo and Alleria glanced at each other for a moment. Just as quickly, Sinzo turned his attention back at Venera.
"What werewolves and Cavern of Myths?" Sinzo asked.
"I'll understand if you don't want it." Venera whispered.
"I heard of the werewolves there. I've never been there myself and I've always wanted to see it. Besides I hear that there are angels there, deep in the center of the caverns, pass all the werewolves. It is told that the werewolves are like bodyguards to the angels." Sinzo explained.
Alleria chuckled, "lies, all damn lies. I won't believe such a fucking lie. Angels?! And Werewolves as their bodyguards?! Come on! No such a thing. Damn rumors and stories." She remarked.
"See." Sinzo nodded towards Alleria.
Venera nodded, "I wish I didn't hear that... Wait... You mean you're willing to do it?" She asked.
Sinzo nodded, "yep. We'll have to go to some places first." He replied.
"Like where some places?" Venera asked.
"Like Young Owl and Feather Snow: capital of Floating Flake. Feather Snow would be our final destination before Trespass Swamps." Sinzo explained.
Venera sat up on the bed and smiled.
"You're really going to do it?!" She asked, excited.
Sinzo sighed, "Yes. It's going to be hard and long. We'd stay a few weeks in Feather Snow before heading out to Trespass Swamps. After that, we're heading back to Vigilance Land and putting you back in it." He decided.
Venera narrowed her eyes, "I don't..." She started.
"Once I've made up my mind on something, no one can make me change it. Besides, we might not live that long." Sinzo noted.
"I'm not going to be a part in this." Alleria decided, leaving the room.
Alleria closed the door behind her, with Venera and Sinzo watching. Once closed and Alleria was out of hearing, Venera turned to Sinzo.
"... I guess... I just expect that. When do we leave?" Venera asked.
"We leave now. Let's just get some supplies and leave." Sinzo decided, standing up.
Venera hovered off of the bed and landed onto the ground. The two walked out of the room, with Sinzo in the lead.
Sinzo walked down the stairs in his full ranger uniform. He had his bow and quiver of arrows with him. Venera was behind him, hovering down. A person in a silver cloak approached Sinzo, making Sinzo and Venera stop.
"Excuse me lad, but I've heard you've been leaving." The person stated.
Sinzo nodded, "that I am. I and my friend here are heading to Feather Snow as our final destination." He whispered.
Venera was beside Sinzo, on the ground, listening to the two.
"Do you two mind if I accompanied you there?" The person asked.
"Are you heading to Feather Snow?" Venera asked.
The person nodded, with his hood covering his head. Sinzo couldn't see his face.
"I intend to head to Feather Snow myself, but I dare not travel alone." The person explained.
Venera and Sinzo glanced at each other. They both nodded.
"You're welcome to come along." Sinzo decided.
"Thank you. I'll explain myself more once we're away from Setista." The person whispered.
"O.K." Venera nodded.
The three travelers left the hotel side by side. Sinzo had already dealt with the departure documents from since he moved in there.
Sinzo tied his cloak better around his waist. He had supplies with him over his back, along with the secretive traveler. Sinzo got Venera a cloak suitable for the desert, from his close friend Grimoire Obol: a troll storekeeper. It was there that Sinzo got the supplies for their journey. Beside him, Venera was walking on the ground and shifting uneasily in her annoying cloak. The cloak was made especially to fit fairies and Venera was the first fairy to try it, fitting her beautifully.
She complained about it at first, but Sinzo explained the importance of wearing such a cloak in the desert. After that, Venera shut her mouth and kept her complaints to herself. The three walked in silence towards the only entrance and exit of the city. An arm, extended from an alley, caught their attention and motioned them over. Sinzo; Venera, and the secretive traveler walked over towards the alley's entrance. A huntress was there, but without her panther.
Sinzo recognized her instantly, as did the secretive traveler. The huntress was wanted by Kestian Land. She had a team of huntresses and her brother with her. She was Hikari Yagami. She was dressed in the night elf huntress uniform, except it was silver.
"I need your help, all of you." She requested, whispering.
"Why?" Sinzo asked.
"Where are you heading?" Venera asked.
"Is someone after you?" The secretive traveler asked.
Hikari blinked in wonder at the secretive traveler. She had heard that voice before. She shook her head out of such worries. She would find out anyway, if they allowed her in.
"I'm heading to Young Owl. Someone is always after me. The dwarf bounty hunter Iori Hida is here in the city and he's after me." Hikari explained.
"Bummer" The secretive traveler muttered.
"Young Owl is on our trail. You can join us if you'd like. Where are your panther and sisters?" Sinzo asked.
"Both are in Young Owl. I need to head there to regroup with them. If you're heading to Feather Snow, my sisters and I would like to accompany you there." Hikari requested.
"That is our final destination." Venera nodded.
"You and your sisters are welcome to join us. Can't you leave Setista on your own?" Sinzo asked.
Hikari shook her head, "no. Hida has alerted the guards there. If the three of you have to, you could lie for me. Say that I'm your bounty and you're heading towards my sisters' location." She suggested.
Sinzo; Venera, and the secretive traveler exchanged glances and turned their attention back to the huntress. Sinzo looked her over.
"At least you're equipped for the desert. Name's Sinzo Tracker, but you probably already know that." Sinzo decided.
"Welcome aboard. I'm Venera Stentor, previously from Vigilance Land. I'll explain later." Venera greeted, hugging Hikari.
Hikari returned the hug. The secretive traveler shook hands with Hikari.
"I'll reveal my identity once we are away from the city's outskirts." He explained.
Hikari nodded and let go of his hand.
"If you're going to be our bounty, you're going to have to act like one." Sinzo noted.
"Don't worry, I'm good in that." Hikari assured.
"Okay." Sinzo shrugged. "Let's go."
The four walked to the entrance of the city, but as figured, the guards stopped them, both being footmen. Hikari had her head lowered, and Sinzo had her in cuffs behind her back. He was holding one of her arms.
"Where are you four heading?" One of the guards asked.
"Heading and with this bounty." The other guard added.
"You two know who I am, these two here are my assistants. Here is my bounty and she revealed the location of her sisters. We're heading there now." Sinzo explained.
One of the guards raised his eyebrow, "intriguing." He whispered.
"... Very well, you four may pass." The other guard grinned.
He opened the gates and let the four out.
There is a land... A land full of harmony... With its prosperous people... Of noble species... A land yet full of mysteries... No matter the unveiled... Snarleos remains the wonder... A land full of harmony