Author's Note: Hey guys! As you'll soon be able to tell, this is my first time writing a story. Please feel free to give advice and critiques on my work. I want to be better. However, please address whether or not I'm taking too long to describe the setting before moving the plot forward, and whether or not my author's note is too long. Also as this is an intro there won't be as much dialogue, but that will be soon to change. Enjoy!
Failure, outcast, dishonored…. The scorning indignities coursed through my mind as what remained of my father's essence dispersed before me. However, the disgrace that had haunted my person for so long felt more like an old comrade than vile doubt. Through my journey of despair and new found loss, those words, those…slights against my character were, at times, all that kept me from becoming one with the Abyss. I had to make things right, not to regain my lost honor, but to prove I was indeed the sun's first born. I had to prove I knew what it truly meant to be a king. I sheathed my sword and placed my shield upon my back before raising my head to survey the inside of the Kiln of the 1st Flame. During the strenuous battle with my father, I was afforded little time to observe his grave, and realizing the magnitude of where I stood, I took in my surroundings at Twilight's end. Ashen walls enclosed the kiln. They were dotted with openings and crags likely created at the time The Lord of Sunlight linked the fire. As I peered through them, I could make out the forms of Anor Londo's once great knights. Once my father's most trusted guard, their singed frames now wandered the pathways to Lord Gwyn's tomb like lost lambs. The death of their king had seemed to rob them of their drive to kill me, and so they trudged onward, awaiting orders that never came.
I turned to the center of the room, and looked upon all that remained of the first flame. It was a disheartening sight. The roaring inferno, which had once bestowed the strength of lords to vanquish the everlasting dragons, was little less than embers, flickering against the cruel dark.
"My sun… my poor poor sun." I whispered to the dying flame. I knelt down and brought my trembling hands around the failing light, as if to protect it from some unknown assailant. In that instant my father's audacity was made clear. I too could not allow an ending to the Age of Fire.
"Never could a more befitting end be awarded to such a disgraced heir." I claimed resolutely. With purpose filling my heart, I allowed my right hand the honor of being 1st of my body to be consumed by fire. I quickly withdrew my hand and stood, my ring mail clinking with the sudden motion. I did not wish to burden the element with my physical body any more than need be. Flames that would force even the most battle worn undead to cry in agony consumed my armor and flesh the way olive oil would slide smoothly across the skin. Realizing that these were indeed my last moments, I pondered my story. I was a fallen god, returning when the fear of the inevitable gripped at my heart most, desperately pursuing any reason to strive onward in a forsaken land, until at last I discovered that no hope was to be found, and that only dark would remain. I chuckled as the sun I had painted upon my tunic became a red hue in the grossly incandescent light of my pyre. I knew I was only staving off what was destined, but I wasn't disillusioned by my knowledge. I had attained the key that would keep people alight in the new era of darkness that would eventually beset the world.
I had spent so much time searching for my very own sun, believing the object of my quest would await me in the kiln. How foolish I was. The true sun, the flame that will burn eternally in the darkest of nights, is the blaze, the first spark, we all carry within ourselves. If the rest of the world could learn this revelation with the time my sacrifice would buy, then there remained a glimmer of hope. As the flames covered my entire person, I raised my arms in a traditional Praise the Sun gesture. The fire erupted from my body in a huge explosion, roaring as it filled the kiln and burst forth through the walls. At this moment my physical body became fully consumed and consciousness left me.
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My eyes opened. At least, that's the closest I could describe it to any human. I had no body so there were no eyelids to open, but I did become aware. I was falling in a space of golden light, and It felt as if I was moving, swirling to be precise, in a wide circle. My lateral speed felt negligible. While my downward velocity was similar to one of the many falls I had taken when trying to make my way passed the archers of Anor Londo. I could sense 6 other presences in freefall with me, but besides that, I could tell nothing about them. It was minutes into my descent, when the thought that I was probably dead, occurred to me. As far as the afterlife went, I had very little knowledge. Of course your physical body could be reanimated by a necromancer. However, the only being that had any idea of what occurred to the mind or soul in the event of a normal death was a creature named Pinwheel, which I had slain. He was the only necromancer to bring back the minds of his resurrected, though it wasn't a perfect procedure. He and his resurrected wife and child had their bodies bound together after the ritual. Regardless, I knew his knowledge would do nothing to halt my endless dissension.
After hours of plummeting through the luminescent expanse, the ground finally began to approach me. I could make out 7 figures on the surface. 6 of them were mere silhouettes, but the final form was easily recognizable. A Bucket helm adorned with a red feather, a white tunic decorated with a sun sporting an aloof expression, without a doubt, it was my body, and it wouldn't be long before it and I met. My mind was whirling between wondering what was going on, and what would happen when I made contact. Before I could decide what I should figure out first, my questions were answered as I passed through my chest and stopped at my heart.
My vision went jet black as I gained control of my limbs. Normally I would have panicked, but the stream of knowledge that had been implanted in my vessel's brain calmed my heart, and told me all I needed to know. When I linked the fire I had become a legend. When the age of Dark finally came, only humanity survived. Descendants of the sorcerers of Vinheim discovered a new magic they called Thaumaturgy and renamed themselves as Magus. They had turned on their brethren and slaughtered all those who practiced the soul arts. They, like their ancestors, kept their secrets from civilization, and now the common man only relied on technology to conquer his world. A new sun rose, new religions replaced mine and many wars raged between humans. I had been summoned to fight in one such war. A battle between seven masters and their servants awaited me. If I was victorious I would be granted one wish. This was the opportunity presented to all those who participated in the Holy Grail War.
-scene break-
"Thou who once bore the accursed Dark Sign," Commanded a voice holding unparalleled resolve, "In thine Pilgrimage to the Land of Ancient Lords, thou hast branded thyself into the archives of history. I pledge unto thee that mine cause is noble and mine edicts just. Warrior of Fate, Heir to the Sun, acknowledge my plea. Bear forth thine light upon the vile and wicked who would oppose my ambition. Fallen Lord, Guardian of thine disciples, heed my summons and present thyself before me!"
As the final chant of the summoning left my master's mouth, my legs felt ground beneath them, and my vision returned to me. I found myself at the end of an extremely well lit hall. I stood atop a stone circular dais inscribed with golden runes. An opening in the ceiling above me allowed sunlight to illuminate the ancient inscriptions, causing them to shimmer and dance below my iron boots. The walls were made of tan bricks, and were lined with stain glass windows decorated with colorful depictions of heroic warriors vanquishing dragons, abominations, and dark creatures. A red carpet, decorated with golden designs, stretched from the foot of the dais to the opposite end of the hall where two gigantic wooden doors lead to the outside. The floor was composed of gray tile, and marble statues of knights, archers, and spearman symmetrically lined the carpet sporting different martial stances and poses. Wooden arches held up the roof which ornate chandeliers hung down from, and the light which shone through the stain glass made them glint beautifully. A couple stood before me. One was a decrepit looking man clad in a frock and dress pants. He leaned heavily upon a cane and breathed with a dry rasp. The other person was a young woman no older than 24. She wore a black dress with red embroidery that started halfway up her neck, had long sleeves which ran to her wrists, and was long enough to reach her ankles. However, the dress branched out at her waist and then hung downward. The cloth that would have rested in front of her legs had been removed to reveal baggy white cotton shorts extending down to the knee and red high stockings both of which I assumed were to remove the impediments of a dress to allow for better mobility.
The pair eyed me for a short while as I examined them. Finally I decided to break the silence.
"Ah hello there," I announced. "Which one of you is my master?" Thankfully, my greeting elicited a response. The young woman straightened her back, stepped forward, and turned her arm to reveal 3 command sigils on the back of her hand.
"I, Eliswaren Lin Sophia-Ri, am your master. I look forward to our victory." She declared while looking straight into the eye slits of my helmet. Her hair was dark red and hung a little past her shoulders. Her brown eyes had a piercing gaze as she held eye contact with me. "I hope you find this building to be a suitable location for your summoning. We spared no expense to model it after what we believed would suit your tastes."
"Ah y-yes," I stammered, taken aback by the knowledge that my master had built an entire building to, as she said, 'suit my tastes.' "Truly such honors are not necessary. I will do my best to ensure we attain The Grail regardless of such extravagant gestures." Although…," I said in a jesting tone, "I wouldn't mind a monument in my name after we've claimed victory." I forced a laugh as I hoped my feeble attempt at humor would break her stony expression. Unfortunately, her cold demeanor remained undisturbed.
"Of course", she assured me. "Once we are triumphant, I will spare no expense to make sure your efforts are recognized." Stunned, I stared dumbly at her. Unable to see my expression beneath my helmet, she took my silence as approval, and continued. "Now that introductions have been concluded, I believe it would be best if we left for Fuyuki City. I have a carriage awaiting us outside. Once our journey has begun we can discuss what information you've gained when you attained the vessel of the Saber servant class." She turned and strode quickly to the exit, the old man following her with an uneven gate in order to open one of the large wooden doors that led to our transport. I quickly caught up to them and beheld a stagecoach upon a dirt path. It was midday and the sun shone brightly upon us as we departed from the site of my summoning. Surveying our surroundings, I realized Eliswaren's claims were indeed true. Grassy fields surrounded our party without a single sign of civilization in sight. The horses at the wagon's front eyed me with a disinterested gaze, and in the distance I could see the glimmer of light flickering off of a lake. We hadn't emerged from a building intended for some other purpose. It had been constructed with solely my summoning in mind. I wondered how important the coming battles were to Eliswaren, if she was so bent on making sure she was in my good graces.