RISE OF LIGHT
Introduction
Light, Darkness, two entities that should never have met crossed paths, bringing forth the biggest ruthless war the world had ever seen. The forces of darkness were seen victorious when the light side was crippled by overwhelming darkness that the dark forces possessed. The master of light was defeated and so the light slowly faded away until there was only a resistance group working in various places. The master of darkness, Darkevera, claimed the world as his own and soon filled up this world with darkness. This disruption in the balance of power clouded the world leaving the lands in despair. Our story begins when a lonely young man wonders along a crowded street. This young man's life was only helping his uncle run his shop but little does he know that his life is about to change.
Chapter 1
Part 1
The young man walked down the already busy street lined by shop after shop with people waiting to get into the already crowed shops. He averted his eyes from catching anyone's eye contact so no one would disturb his quiet thoughts. He was thinking that the day looks gloomy when his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice shouted his name "VERTREX!" The young man stopped in his tracks and turned around to see who had shouted his name. Then he noticed a middle/old-aged man running towards him gesturing him to stop. When the man caught up with the young man, he stooped low trying to suck air back in his empty lungs and said in deep breaths.
"Vertrex … where … are … you … going?" finished the man between deep breaths as he tried to suck air back into his empty lungs after his apparent long run.
Vertrex just shrugged. He was expecting this question and he wasn't disappointed. "Well, you know, I was going to go to the shrine." he answered the older man
The shrine was built at Darkmaster's command to let people remember the defeat of the Light side long ago. Many people went there to commemorate, pay their last respects to those that have fallen fighting against the darkness.
The older man eyes widened at this and said in an anguished voice, "Have you forgotten what the rumours about the shrine?"
The young man just shrugged and said in a low voice, "Yes uncle, I know all about those rumours"
The rumour is that many people have never returned from the shrine when they visited it. They say the shrine is haunted and the ghosts of the fallen want revenge.
"Then I don't see the point in you visiting that haunted place" his uncle said curtly.
Vertrex looked at his uncle in the eyes and said very seriously,
"Uncle, are you afraid of the shrine because of these stupid rumours? What happened to that courageous uncle that I knew before?"
His uncle, not looking at him instead stared at the shops around as they walked and said, "I'm getting old and you can't expect people to remain strong and brave especially at my age"
Vertrex said nothing for a few seconds then abruptly continued his way towards the shrine. His uncle quickly followed him as he pushed his way through the crowded street. For a few minutes he and his uncle walked in silence. His uncle was lost in his thoughts wondering what to say next to his nephew when Vertrex asked him, "Were mum and dad like that when they were your age uncle?"
Vertrex's face remained impassive but he sounded a bit irritated. His uncle knew that his nephew values courage a lot so he spoke to him carefully, "Yes, your parents were courageous ok. It is just some people like me would find it very tiring to be courageous all the time. You do tend to get weaker as you get older you know."
"Yes I know that you get weaker as you get older but that is only to do with physical strength. Right?" said Vertrex smiling.
He knew his uncle was in his 50s but that did not stop him from cooking and cleaning when he, Vertrex, wasn't home.
His uncle flushed and said quickly, "What do you mean by that Vertrex?"
Vertrex grinned at his uncle and said sardonically, "Well I just thought if you were getting weaker then where did you find the strength to run this far from home?"
His uncle, a little taken aback by this sudden statement, said in a pained voice, "Oh damn! My leg hurts. I shouldn't have run like that"
Vertrex now grinning fully at his uncle realized that his uncle was trying to distract him from the question he just asked. He spoke to his uncle in a mockingly worried voice. "What happened uncle. You seemed fine until now."
His uncle bent holding his leg to make sure that his nephew doesn't realise that he was feigning it. Suddenly he looked up quickly at Vertrex. Something in Vertrex's tone set off alarms in his mind and he said quickly "No. To be honest it hurts a bit. I think I'll head back … yes I think that's a good idea for my poor old legs." And trying to change the topic added "Are you sure you will continue to go to the Shrine?"
They both came to a halt and some of the people that were behind them had to swerve to avoid colliding with them
"Yes. I'll be fine at the shrine. Now go home. I don't want you to put stress on that leg. It'll just get worse." Vertrex said reassuringly.
"Ok. Stay safe Vertrex. Remember, that place isn't safe these days either way," his uncle said in a worrying voice
"I'll be fine. You know me. I know about power and self-defence. Now stop worrying and go home." Vertrex said calmly.
His uncle looked at his nephew for a second or two with a worried face. Then turning around he said, "Easier said than done actually. Well now stay safe Vertrex." With that he turned and limped back the way they came
Vertrex watched his uncle's retreating back and wondered how it feels to be old. Then realising that he is a long way to go before it is his time, he smiled when he remembered his uncle's worried face.
Vertrex thought "Well uncle, I'll be fine as long as no idiot is foolish enough to take a chance at me. Now let us see what has changed at the shrine since the last time I've been there." And he made his way towards the shrine.
Chapter 1
Part 2
"Many things have changed," he thought as he stood behind the iron gates that led to the garden in the middle of which stood the shrine. He looked around him to see if anyone was around but there really wasn't any need for it. Mitchelldon was as still as a glass. From time to time he could hear the sound of the wind in the quiet street, whistling its sinister sound. He also remembered some people said that they have seen shadows moving around in the garden occasionally. "Hmm … shadows. I wonder what they really meant by shadows?" Vertrex wondered as he gazed at the garden. There wasn't much to see other that the fact that the garden once a clean one is now unkempt. Leaves that used to hang on trees have fallen down at several places on the tall grass.
He brought his mind to the present and focused it on his surrounds.
The eerie silence in this part of the district made him feel uneasy. He felt as if he was being watched, even though he couldn't identify who or what was watching him.
He shook his head to shake off the feeling then remembered what his uncle had said to him in one of his training sessions "You have to be strong to overcome fear."
Vertrex repeated those words over and over in his mind. He gradually felt his uneasiness slowly disappearing to be replaced by confidence and strength. As he did so, he pulled his hood over his head, completely hiding his face from view.
He gathered his thoughts and pushed open the gate slowly. The gate made a loud creaking noise which plainly suggested that the gate needs repairs.
As he took a few tentative steps towards the shrine, a lone figure came into view from behind the shrine. Vertrex stopped in his tracks as so did the figure. He quickly looked at the figure wary this might be a trap and wondered whether his uncle was right for once as he took a fighting stance.
This might have indicated a threat to the figure, as, at that moment, the figure called out, "Please wait stranger. I mean no harm to you. I have come only to visit the shrine."
The voice sounded like that of a girl's, he thought, as he looked at the figure, but he didn't drop his stance.
Then he heard her call, "Please believe me stranger. I am telling the truth."
Vertrex couldn't help himself, "Well that's what most people would say." To which, the figure called quickly, "Yes stranger. But please don't think of me like that. I'm not the type of person to trick people."
The numerous clouds hanging in the air made the surrounds very spooky to look at. At that point, Vertrex straightened up and said in a calm voice, "Very well. I believe you." Then he said in a warning voice, "But be warned, I am not the lightest persons you want to deal with."
The girl, relieved, walked slowly towards him as he stood his ground watching her come closer to him but also ready to strike if necessary. When she was two steps away from him she stopped and simply looked at him.
He said "Sorry about what I said earlier, I just cannot be too careful around here. Especially when rumours are doing rounds claiming that this place is not safe anymore.
She nodded and said in a mild tone, "Yes. I kind of figured that was the reason for the stance you have taken before and I still think you are having a hard time believing me. Are you not?"
She said the last four words with a smile on her face.
He shuffled his feet awkwardly and replied, "My instincts kept on telling at me not to believe you. So, yes, I did have a hard time believing you." To which she nodded still smiling.
Then she said in a puzzled tone, "Why are you hiding your face under that hood? People will think you look very suspicious. You know."
Clearly, she didn't see any threat in the current situation which was exactly Vertrex feelings were. So he hastily took the hood off his face and grinned at her as he finally had the chance to look at her properly.
What met his gaze took his breath away. She was tall and slim. Her hair, which was black in colour, was long and flowing. Her cheeks were rosy and her smile gave a feeling of warmth to anyone who looks at her smiling face.
What caught his particular attention were her eyes. They were blue, shining the light of happiness as she kept smiling. He felt that reassured that she was no hostile element.
He felt her warm aura, which was the indication that there are no sinister thoughts in her mind. He is not a mind reader but he has the ability to feel someone's aura and can tell what kind of nature that person possessed that they might hide from others around them.
"Have you finished gawking, stranger?" she said after a long pause, bringing him back to the current situation.
Vertrex pulled himself back together and replied in an innocent tone "Gawking … at what?"
"Oh don't worry. Anyway aren't you going to see the shrine?" she asked looking at him curiously,
"Oh yes, yes, I almost forgot about that. Thank you for reminding me but I think I have seen enough of the shrine. I think it is time for me to head back home as the weather doesn't look good at the moment." he said as he looked up at the sky and the menacing dark clouds.
She also looked up at the clouds and said thoughtfully, "You are right." Then looking back at him said, "Well, I guess it is time for us to get going now before it starts raining." With an unmistakable disappointed tone
Vertrex glanced at her and said "Ok then, have a good day …" He hesitated not knowing what to call her without knowing her name.
She seemed to have figured his reason for hesitating. "My name is Sophia." she said holding her hand out for him to shake. "What is your name?" she asked.
He shook her hand and said smiled informing her, "My name is Vertrex."
She looked at him thoughtfully for a few seconds then said, "Interesting. I never met a man with such a name before" to which he simply smiled
"Well you just met someone with that name."
They looked at each other wondering what else to say. Then he turned around and started to walk back the way he had come to visit the shrine.
"Ok then bye Sophia. Have a good day now." Looking back he saw her wave at him and he replied by waving back at her.
"Same to you Vertrex." she said, as she walked towards the alleyway that he thought she might have come to visit the shrine from and he continued to walk back the way he had come before.
Chapter 1
Part 3
"Some one's following me" he thought.
He was walking through the quiet streets of Mitchelldon when he felt, rather than heard, that someone was following him. At first he thought it might've been a stray cat, wandering around the place but he knocked the thought aside. He knew whoever or whatever that was following him are professionals and he knew too well there are only one type people that are professional in these parts of the district, the resistance group or the dark users that filter in and out of places at random. He glanced ahead noticing that he has quite a distance ahead of him before he reached the main street. He thought about the problem at hand
"I wish uncle was here to help me through this situation," he thought bitterly realising not for the first time that his uncle won't be around all the time to help him.
"And this is the situation that my experienced uncle isn't around to help me" he thought grimly
He suddenly came to an abrupt stop and in that space of a second he heard it, a distinct but the unmistakable sound of boots on gravel when the man following him came to a sudden stop as Vertrex did.
Vertrex smiled to himself satisfied now that he was indeed being followed by someone and the aura that was emitting from that man was enough to set off alarm bells ringing in his mind.
He realised that the person following him was on foot. Just as he felt it, the strange aura faded away.
For a second or two Vertrex was not sure why he could not feel the stranger's presence anymore. "I wonder where the stranger is." Vertrex thought cautiously.
As he was about to turn around to look back the way the street that he had come through, the air around him suddenly felt very cold. It felt as if someone had dropped a small drop on the warmly lit candle inside him, extinguishing the warmth.
Vertrex turned quickly and faced the way he had came and noticed a dull mist was starting to hang around him. He only caught glimpses of the street lights that hung around the street. He felt a shiver run through his body at which he pulled his cloak over his head covering himself in its warmth. The mist is now very thick and now he is having trouble making out the silhouettes of the street lights.
"What- what's going on here?" Vertrex thought desperately as he turned to look back towards the main street that was a long way away but now it has disappeared as well.
Quickly he turned to look behind him which seems to be the place where all that twisting darkness was coming. What met his gaze made him take two steps back in shock! There, stood a man, with black robes and hood concealing his face from him. There was dark ness surrounding the man as Vertrex continued to gaze at him in horror.
"This won't be an easy fight, especially against a dark user like this one" Vertrex thought grimly as he eyed the cloaked man intently.
Vertrex took up his fighting stance as he glared at the cloaked figure and wondered about the cloaked man standing before him. The aura emitting from the man was pure darkness. The man spoke. His voice was deep and husky with no traces of feeling in them.
"Surrender now while you still can, boy!"
Vertrex, a little startled by the statement, nevertheless clenched his fist and said.
"I don't know the meaning of the word surrender." and he added as an afterthought "not in my dictionary."
Vertrex smiled at himself for that. He had been in the company of his friend, Daniel, for far too long. He sounded more like his friend than himself lately. The man started to move forwards slowly, all in while keeping the darkness around him as he went.
"Dear me, you're an interesting case" the cloaked man said with the tiniest bit of sarcasm "Would you mind borrowing my dictionary then, boy!"
"Keep it!" Vertrex said and started forward but he was too late.
"Dark Infestation" the cloaked man roared.
Vertrex yelled as he was blasted off his feat and landed on his back, all wind knocked out of him in that instance as he let of a low "oof". Nevertheless he sprang back onto his feet and turned quickly to face the cloaked figure. He lifted both of his hands and pointed them in the direction of the cloaked man, he yelled.
"Light Saviour"
A huge beam erupted from between his hands and flashed away towards the cloaked figure but Vertrex heard the cloaked figure shout "Dark Shield"
'Dark Shield' is an attack that blocks an incoming attack form an enemy but the shield cannot prevent mighty attacks.
Vertrex saw the shield and his attack collide. A huge blast erupted, knocking him backwards. Smoke hung in the air as he looked for signs of the cloaked man, wondering where that man is.
"I hope he's gone." Vertrex preyed as the smoke started to shift. Then suddenly he felt it again, that weird feeling, feeling of darkness. He recognised that aura which belonged to the cloaked figure.
"No way" Vertrex thought desperately "He's still alive!"
As the smoke shifted Vertrex saw the man clearly now. His cloak was ruffled due to the blast but the man looked unharmed. Then the man spoke.
"I see now who my opponent is." there was malice in his voice now "You're one of those filthy light users, boy!"
"Yes he is and I don't take it lightly when some idiot makes a mess out of my friend!" a familiar voice shouted from behind Vertrex. Then Vertrex heard the unknown person behind him shout.
"Lightning Blitz"
A bolt of thunder came swooping over Vertrex's head and hit the cloaked man. Caught by surprise by the sudden appearance of a man behind Vertrex, didn't have enough time to dodge the fast approaching attack. They heard the man yell in pain as the lighting struck him knocking him to the ground, for a few seconds the man seemed to have been paralysed due to the sudden attack. At the same moment Vertrex spun around quickly to look back to see who has cast that attack but knew too well who could've pulled that off. Daniel!
Chapter 1
Part 3
His friend was walking towards him, grin on his face and gesturing towards the man.
"You've been having fun without me have you now?" Daniel said grinning at his best friend
Vertrex shook his head and said wryly
"Not really. That man did more damage to me than I did to him. It's good that you've come to join me Daniel and in time too."
Daniel smiled at him and said in a mock worry
"Has the light user snapped under the stress of having to face a dark user?"
Vertrex shook his head but before he could reply he heard the man scream with hatred emitting from him.
"You will pay for this, you insolent fiends! I shall not show mercy anymore."
.
And with that the cloaked man yelled.
"Nightmare Barrage"
Instantly Vertrex lifted his hands and yelled.
"Spiral Masquerade"
At the same time Daniel leaped towards the cloaked man yelling.
"Lightning Jab"
Vertrex started shooting balls of light at the cloaked man when the cloaked man's attack hit him. Vertrex yelled as he was blasted away a few meters just as Daniel jabbed at the man with his attack and jumped away.
The man screamed in pain as both of their attacks him but he stayed standing and started to attack fiercely at Daniel. Daniel danced around him, trying to avoiding the man's attacks. Vertrex knocked to the group with a low "THUMP" as he landed flat on his back, all wind knocked our of him from the last attack.
"Why is it always me?" Vertrex thought bitterly.
He stood up quickly and noticed Daniel dancing around the cloaked man, trying desperately to make an attack but still staying well away from the man's attacks. Then he realised that the man had completely forgotten about him. Daniel, noticed Vertrex, who was watching this little show, waved to him, clearly indicating him to distract the man long enough for Daniel to land a powerful attack on him.
The man saw the wave and turned around quickly. He saw Vertrex pointing both of his hands at him just as Vertrex shouted.
"Light Saviour"
Again a beam of light erupted from between his hands and headed straight for the cloaked man but the man countered the attack again.
"Dark Shield"
The blast was deflected by the shield that the man had used but he didn't have enough time to register Daniel's attack. He completely forgot that Daniel was behind him, too preoccupied with Vertrex's attack. Daniel took the opportunity that his friend had given him. He lunged at the man as he roared.
"Fist of Fury"
Daniel hit the man as hard as he could in the chest. The man screamed in pain as he was blasted off his feat flailing helplessly with his hands as he landed a couple of meters away. There was an intense silence for a few seconds as Vertrex moved over to where Daniel stood watching the man on the ground intently. He did now take his own eyes off the motionless figure, lying on the ground a few meters away from him and Daniel.
"Thanks" Daniel said shortly as his friend stood next to him, still not taking his eyes off the man on the ground
Vertrex simply said "Anytime buddy, anytime."
Vertrex was hoping that this fight has come to an end. His hopes were shattered when suddenly the man showed signs of life. First he wriggled, then, very slowly, he stood up. He was facing the two of them; his hood fell of his head as he crashed a few seconds ago. His face, now free of the hood, revealed to them that the man's face was pale white; as if the man hasn't seen sun in a long time and also that he was bald. His face was livid with rage as he eyed the two boys with murderous intent in those pitiless eyes. Vertrex felt the madness in the man's power become more pronounced now than ever before. Daniel, who doesn't have the skill to sense other people's aura, spoke to the man carelessly.
"Had enough yet, dark user." Daniel smirking at him "or do you want to taste more of our awesome powers?"
"You dare!" The man said slowly, rage building inside of him "You dare speak to me, a user of darkness in such a way. Insolent fools!"
He roared the last two words at the boys as rage built in him to a breaking point. Then he straightened up and shouted at them, loathing plainly visible on his face
"Its time you perish, light boy and lightning brat!" as he started to raise his right hand high in the air above him to perform the ultimate attack.
"Actually" Vertrex retorted as he and Daniel quickly raised both of their hands in unison and pointed them at the man "Perishing is your job!" and they performed their attacks in unison.
Daniel roared "Dragon Fire Cosmo"
Vertrex shouted "Starburst Attack"
The two boy's attacks, two beaks collided with the man. The man let out a drawn out scream which echoed through the silent place. Then the man fell backwards as strength gam way and the remnants of his life disappeared. The man's body thudded to the ground. The man was dead, long before his body touched the hard surface of the ground.
Vertrex and Daniel looked at the lifeless body of the man that had given them such a hard time. They didn't know what to do next when suddenly they heard running feet of people from the main street. Vertrex completely forgot about the people in the main street, too engrossed in the intent on stopping this man who had mysteriously attacked him for no obvious reason for it. Then Daniel said hurriedly.
"Let's get out of here. It's not safe for us to stay here anymore Vertrex."
Vertrex could hear running feet. There were probably 10-15 people he thought. He simply nodded in agreement seeing the point. He and Daniel took the alleyway to the side of the street. The mist was receding but there was enough to cover their tracks as they run as fast as their battered legs would let them. As an extra precaution, they climbed onto the rooftops and jumping building after building they moved towards Vertrex's uncle's house. Vertrex felt like he couldn't go on any further and he was sure Daniel was feeling the same way himself but they knew better than to stop and rest. So they kept on moving as quickly as they possibly could. Just then small droplets of water started from above them. Looking to the sky he realised that it's starting to rain but there wasn't much that could be done about it, instead they pushed on. Vertrex was thinking back to when the man first talked to him.
"The man didn't want to fight me." Vertrex thought as they continued to move past building rooftop after building rooftop "He wanted to capture me without fighting me."
As he was thinking that something heavy fell into the pit of his stomach as he realised something else, how had the man knew where he was and also it was evident, now that he remembered something else. In the battle that took place a few minutes ago, which seem like ages ago, the man didn't know that he was a light user. Just then Daniel came closer to him and whispered to him, bringing him back to the present.
"We're here"
They landed on top of a tall building just above his uncle's house. They looked down and then they looked at each other. They nodded at each other and they scrambled down the backside of the building and landed down in an alleyway a few meters from his uncle's house. Taking a look at his uncle's house as they came onto the street, Vertrex felt he was home after a tyring day. Daniel smiled at him thinking of the same thing.
"You know what" He said, he sounded happy all of a sudden after the long run "Your uncle might approve of what we've done down at Mitchelldon." To which Vertrex just nodded, still tired from the long run
"Let's talk about it later ok. Firstly I want to have a shover and then get some sleep. I'm aching to the bone after the number of times I fell on my back."
END OF CHAPTER 1