Prologue - The End of Days
I can hardly see. The blood dripping from my head has almost completely blinded me, not that vision is a luxury granted in this place. Darkness surrounds me. The only light is coming from the maw of the mighty portal before me. Although contrary to that, no salvation lies beyond that gate. It may be the only light shining upon this hellish destroyed landscape of rock and ruin, but through it, only desolation waits. I can still hear the mewling and festering of the ungodly horde of beasts on the other side. I feel my legs ready to give way. Is it out of fear? From the blood loss? I do not know. All I am certain is that this is the end for me. My task couldn't have been simpler, but here I stand at the edge of failure. I was brash to have come on my own, I have no one but myself to blame.
A crack of rocks in the distance, I raise my spear at the approaching enemy as I feel a familiar rush of adrenaline. I may have conceded to the end, but that doesn't mean I can't keep fighting. I might not be able to see it, but I can hear the faint clicking of his feet on the ground. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. My master had taught me to use the sounds surrounding me to paint the very world itself, "Blind-fighting" he called it. He had told me the purpose for learning this was, "Darkness, shrouds the eyes, but for the skilled warrior, sound can always be found". As I listen I can see the shape of the beast approaching me, its long body known to me only by the clicking of its multiple legs on the stalagmites around me. I hear the dripping of its saliva on the stone floor, the sound is still moving. I have to wait for my opening. A shift in my metal armor makes some noise, and I hear an abrupt stop in the creature's movements. My chance! I turn to the location I heard it halt and throw my spear, aiming for the beasts head, but all I hear is my weapon clash with the rocks and the beast scuttle off...laughing.
I'm not in tuned to the surroundings enough. I drop my shield to my side, reach for my cloak and take it from my back. I apologize to the one who gave me this, but I know they'll understand. I tear the cloak, gaining a long narrow clump of fabric. I cover my eyes with the fabric and tie it secure. Just as my master taught me, "To fight blind, you must become blind" Now more than ever I understand his words. With the blindfold cutting off the last of my already cloudy vision, I begin to hear the world more clearly. The sounds echo through the cave creating a picture of my surroundings. "Giving up are you" I hear the beast call out with a cackle, "Fine by me human. That just makes you an easier to kill". I hear it…it's getting closer, "Thank you…for the MEAL!" With a wrenching snarl the beast flies towards me. My hands grab creature's mandibles, and I can feel the drool running from the creature's mouth onto my arms. "Back to the hell from whence you came wretched beast" I say as I pull my hands away, tearing the monster's face in two. The clicking and movement of the creature fall silent as its life comes to a close.
I stand there to catch my breath, listening for any other enemies nearby. No beast can be heard. I was just about at my limit, to think I might survive this. Remembering the task at hand I reach to take the blindfold off as to find my bag, but my hands freeze on the way there. This is strange, my…my body won't listen to me. The blindfold is lifted off my face. After a moment I can feel my ability to move my arms returning, but they feel heavy. I look down to them and see something coming out of my armor. My vision is failing me, but it's close enough that I can make out roughly that it's some kind of bladed appendage. Pain rushes through me and the blade retracts into me. I hear the sound of it exiting my back as I fall to my knees. I cover the wound with my hands, and they are quickly painted scarlet by my own blood. I feel...cold. I look forward to see a large figure before me, the blade shaped appendage floating above its head. A tail maybe? That's not important right now. I can hardly make out what the beast looks like, but I can tell it's raising the blade for one last strike.
So, this is it then…this is the end? I bow my head...I can no longer fight. I have no choice but to accept my fate…but…am I really meant to die like this? I hear the beast speak, but I do not listen. I brace for the pain to come as I hear the swish of his blade come down to rend my head from my body…but the pain does not come. Instead I hear the sound of its blade clashing with the steel of another, "Is that it then?" A voice asks me...a woman's voice. I can't think of the voice…my mind is too clouded from the blood loss, "Is this all 'The Mighty Pantheon' the Artisan of War himself has to give?" Shut-up. Please, I've already given up. There's no point in going on, "So that's it then!? You're just going to lie there in your own blood and die like a coward?!" So noisy. I just want to sleep now, why won't you just let me sleep?
That's the last I hear of her as my mind slips into the darkness. All that remains is the distant echo of battle fading in the distance. Battle...why did I fight? What was it all even for? Fame? Fortune? Glory? Honor? Nothing so simple. When I think about it, this all started a long time ago. Yes…a very long time ago…far away from here…a top that lonely old mountain…Targon.
Authors Note
Just thought I'd leave this here to let you guys know that this is actually the second version of the prologue. I saw say that a lot of people read the prologue, but didn't read on. I write because I love to write, but it stands to reason I want to be good at what I do. So, after much thought, this new version was created. I hope you enjoy it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.