Chapter 2 – Malakai's Past

Malakai finally awoke after a long sleep brought on by the previous day's battle. As he rose painfully from his sleeping bag in the tent, the events came rushing back to him.

He didn't seem to have any lingering injuries, thanks to the miraculous healing potions, but he was still feeling drained. It must have been from overexerting myself he thought to himself with a grimace. Malakai wasn't used to failure, and that was what he saw the quest as.

He heard footsteps and automatically reached for his weapon. As the figure came in through the tent, he dropped his wand and muttered "oh, it's you."

"Yes, it's only the person who saved your life" laughed Katara.

"Mmm" mumbled Malakai, laying back down.

"Akara and the whole encampment sends their thanks" Katara said as she handed Malakai some food and water.

Malakai simply grumbled as he begrudgingly took the food and water.

"Why so glum, you should be glad you're alive" laughed Katara as she watched her companion with amusement.

"Glad? Glad that I failed and had to rely on some wench to save my life?" shouted Malakai as he threw down the food and stormed painfully out of the tent, leaving an astonished Katara sitting by the bed.

"Who does she think she is" cursed Malakai. "I don't need her help, I don't need anyone's help" he thought to himself as he put on his gear and headed towards the gate.

"Wait! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Katara shouted as Malakai approached the gate out of the Rogue Encampment.

"Get out of my WAY!" yelled Malakai in rage as Katara stepped in front of him.

"What is going on?" questioned Katara, a sense of hurt in her tone.

"I don't need you, I never asked you to come with me. I'm not weak!" said Malakai in an impatient tone.

"I saved your life!" shouted Katara.

"I would rather have died!" screamed Malakai.

"Is that what you're so mad about? That a "wench" had to save your life? Is that all I am to you? Some "wench"?" said Katara in a low voice.

"I never asked you to come with me" said Malakai as he brushed her aside and stormed out of the encampment.

Katara stood at the gate, looking at Malakai walk out with tears close to forming in her eyes. She stood for a while, stuck to the spot, not believing what just happened.

Finally, she wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and went back to the tent, unsure of what just happened or what to do.

Malakai stumbled out of the rogue encampment with his golem and proceeded to walk as fast as he could.

"How could this happen to me, how could I have failed, been so weak" he thought angrily to himself as he traveled.

As he walked, memories of his departure from his home came back to him, and he got lost in a reminiscent moment.

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It was a momentous day for the priests of Rathma as they set out to choose their new champion. The Elder Prophet predicted that someone in the clan would be crowned the Heir of Trang'Oul; the one who would be the one to kill Baal and save the Worldstone.

Malakai was convinced that he would be the one. Both of his parents were great priests but died at the hands of Baal's minions, and he hadn't heard from either of his brothers since they went to war. Malakai hated Baal with a passion and would have given anything to go to war himself, but the Elders forbade it as he was the only survivor of his family. No matter what he said, no matter how hard he tried to show them that he was ready to fight, they would not let him.

"Today is the day they will see my true power" he thought to himself as he headed off towards the temple.

The crowd gathered and the excitement was almost tangible. Everyone was anxious to find out who was the one that would bring peace to Sanctuary.

As the Elder Priest made his way up to the platform to announce the prophecy, the crowd grew silent.

"Baal and his armies have spread great chaos and destruction throughout our land. We have lost many, many great warriors to him. His power is unimaginable, and the very sight of him makes even the greatest warrior tremble. But that is no more. One of us will be the one to slay this great beast and bring much vaunted peace to this war-torn world of ours. The great Trang'Oul spoke to me and chose one of you to don the sacred armors he left.

That person is…"

The whole crowd grew deadly silent; no one even dared to breathe. Malakai looked on with the others as the gleam in his eyes grew.

"Aldarius" the Elder said.

The crowd erupted into cheers as Aldarius made his way up to the stage, beaming.

Malakai's world shattered as he heard the name of another called. His calm, expectant face turned into one of fury. He couldn't bear the sight of a lesser warrior chosen to wear the sacred armors of the treat Trang'Oul.

As Aldarius donned the equipment, Malakai stormed off, furious at what just happened.

He walked to the great burial grounds, where his family was buried. As he kneeled beside their graves, tears began to fall from his eyes.

The injustice of what happened angered him, but it also made him sadder than anything else ever could. He wanted to avenge his family, his friends, all the proud warriors who fell at Baal's hands, but no one would let him. He just wanted a chance to prove himself.

As tears began to fall from his eyes, he made a vow to himself and the spirits of his family.

"I will not rest until I have slain Baal with my own hands. It is my one and only goal. You will all be avenged" he said slowly as he got up and made his way back to the temple.

The ceremony had ended, and Malakai made his way to the inner chamber of the temple where the elder council convened. He went up to the room and walked in, not caring about his rudeness.

"What is the meaning of this Malakai" asked one of the elders, clearly angry at being interrupted.

"I should be Trang'Oul's heir. I should be the one who wears that armor and slays Baal, not Aldarius" Malakai said calmly.

"How dare you question the judgment of the Elder Priest" seethed one of the others.

"My word is final Malakai, you are not fit for war, go back to your home" said the Elder Priest.

"I want to fight! I will bring honor to my family! I just need a chance!" yelled Malakai, startling much of the council.

"Watch your tone with me" said the Elder Priest quietly, which was a sign of his anger. He was not used to anyone questioning him, let alone yelling at him.

"You are too weak, you would not last a week against Baal's minions. What makes you think you have even a shadow of a chance against Baal himself? Aldarius is a great warrior, he will be the one to slay the Lord of Destruction, not you" said one of the council members.

"You're all wrong. I'll prove you wrong. Damn you, damn the council, I'm going to get what's mine" said Malakai as he stormed out of the room.

"You will die Malakai. Don't try to be something you are not" yelled one of the council members.

"You will all see what I am capable of" Malakai muttered under his breath as he stalked away.

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"I'll show them, I'll show them all" muttered Malakai as he walked past the Den of Evil.

As he continued on the path towards the Demon Queen Andariel, he said nothing more, only walking quickly with a manic gleam in his eye and a look of determination on his face.

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