-"Look dad what are they doing?"-
:"They are working on their land. For crops. For food." :
-"I don't like those crops." -
:"Some people do." :
-"Why dad? I can't imagine…" -
:"That's why…hey…isn't that Sliver?":
="Sliver!"=
-"Nefu!" -
= "You have been away for a long time!" =
-"I have been traveling to the east! I have been beyond the mountains where the long dragon lives. I have seen the long dragons, I have seen the Baracada desert I…"-
= "The dragon? Tell me! Is he really that large as they tell?"=
: "Yes he is…now come on boys go inside, there is a dinner served there…and you Nefu, go wash yourself first, your covered with dust." :
-"Dad I am hungry, can I eat first?" –
: "No.":
{ "Sir I need to talk to you. There are reports about the dark lord, in the far east. He's comoing this way, quickly, conquering all the land."}
: "What?….Nefu go wash yourself, I come later. I have important buisiness to discuss now.":
*waking up*
[what the hell was that? Voices? Where did they came from…so familiar…no it can't be.
Just a dream…]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One thing Sliver would always remember, was the flying lessons of Nefu. One time he was allowed to see it. Nefu had hidden him in some bushes, so his father wouldn't see him.
It was already dark. There was only a sickel of the moon, almost completely dark, and no clouds at all. He spent some time looking at the stars, and was getting bored. It's difficult to stay stil for a five year old elvenchild.
Finally, they came.
They always glowed very softly, and normally, it was barely visible. In this darkness, however, they were very clear.
Amback raised his head and opened his arms. He glowed, he became brighter. He features were not visible anymore, only two light blue blurs for his eyes.
Two giant wings grew on his back. They didn't look like normal bird wings at all. They were made of pure, white light.
He gasped. He had never seen something like this before, such a beauty, such a light…
Nefu did the same. He laughed.
He didn't sound like he normal did. Lighter, more sparkeling, echoing. Like his voice was also made of light.
Sliver almost forgot he had to hide. He could only stare, and gasp.
Their light brightened the whole area, even the sky. The stars faded near their prescense.
Amback slowly lifted of the ground. Nefu did the same.
Amback nodded to him, and raised his right hand pointing to his right side. His closed his hand. A red ball of energy slowly moved down from his upper arm, to his wrist, and hand. He opened his hand. Red lightning. The next moment, he held a red sword in his hand, glowing like he did.
"Do the same. Call Rashkall."
Nefu did the same as his fahter did, but with his left hand. This time, a yellow ball of energy formed and traveled down to his hand. After the yellow lightning, he held a yellow sword, smaller than the red one, but just as bright.
They were silent for a few seconds, holding their swords, and floating just above the ground.
Than Nefu opened an attack. Amback blocked. They started a fierce swordfight. Flying up and down, pushing each other away with their wings, swining their swords at each other.
Sliver was watching with his mouth wide open. This was a spectacle he had never seen before, and only few, or none others had seen before. Even the best fireworks, made with the strongest magic, couldn't be compared with this.
Flying up and down, filling the sky with their voices, brighter and more beautiful than all the birds on this world, and their brightness filling the sky, taking night away.
He was standing upright, not even noticing he was. He was a kind of hypnotisesed.
Amback turned around, and looked him right into his eyes.
Sliver woke up from his trance. He screamed his lungs out. He laid down on the ground, wrapped his arms around his face and closed his eyes.
"Please!!!"
Amback floated to him. He didn't hit him, he didn't curse. He didn't even look angry. He laid his hand on Sliver's head.
"No reason to be afraid."
Sliver opened his eyes and looked at him.
He was relieved. Yes, such a bright creature wouldn't harm him. He smiled.
"What you saw…will not be seen again soon. So keep remebering this all your life."
Sliver nodded.
Amback raised his hand with the sword. Red lightning. His sword was gone. His light disappeared. So did the wings.
He was back to normal.
"Nefu, come down and get back to normal. It's late, you have to go to sleep."
He turned back to Sliver.
"Don't tell anyone about this."
Sliver nodded.
On their way back to the village, Nefu kept bragging about his sword fighting. That's one thing he liked, brag, and of course, he always wanted to be the best. When he later remarked that Nefu had to drag his ego with him on a line, because it wouldn't be able to fit inside him with that size, Nefu had acted quite offended.
It was just a month before they came, to kill everything in their way, and spread darkness across the lands. And Ambach wouldn't be there, to make the sky bright again with his prescense. He had been killed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
While goku proceeded the last two days, he saw more and more signs he was getting closer to the last untouched places of these lands. Sometimes a green leaf on the black trees, and another flower. Signs of hope. On one day, everything would be green again. He smelled the flower. A sweet scent. He increased his tempo.
His footsteps seemd to be echoing. An echo, in the woods?
Goku stopped. No echo.
"Hello?!"
Nothing.
He continued walking.
*crack *
A noise in a tree.
"Allright, who is there?"
*silence *
"I know somebody is there. Show yourself!"
* silence *
Goku looked around him. Nothing but black trees. Maybe it was just his nerves.
* crack *
Goku leapt to the source of the sound.
A man was hiding in a tree. His ears were pointy, he had long black hair and wore black clothes. He clenched his sword.
"No step futher, creature."
"Other creatures tried to stop me already. They failed."
The man swung with his sword. It hit the flower.
"A flower? Why…a flower?"
"Bad for you?"
The man looked at him for a few seconds.
"I think there is a misunderstanding here. You don't look like the darkness has swallowed you. And creatures of the dark would never carry a living flower. What are you doing here?"
"I'm going to Minchaen. I have a letter to Sliver, from Shen Long."
"Shen Long? To Sliver? Show me the letter."
Goku showed him the enveloppe.
"I see. I am the first guard, to watch the dangers lurking here. When creatures come to attack minchaen, I'm the first one to see them, and to warn the city. Walk that way. There's a clear path now. It will be two more days. I'll warn the other guards, so you won't face the same problem again."
He took a small trumpet and blew on it. A very high, and soft tone.
He turned back to Goku.
"Elves can hear these sounds on great distances. Now, go! I bet Sliver is waiting for you."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Nefu?"
"Yes?"
the man was battleworn. Full of scars, some bleeding.
"Your father…we got into an ambush. Many black raiders, one black dragon. They have endarkened Naya. He attacked. It was unsuspected. I was the only one that could escape."
The boy looked at him, fear written on his face.
His father was supposed to be invincible. To win…but he lost.
"And what about Kasjara?"
"The elven lord defended your father with his life…he died an honorable dead."
Sliver…orphan too..
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"What about Sliver and me?"
"Sliver is already in the capitol city. It will take us a week to get there. There you will be safe for the time being."
The boy nodded at the warrior, still with tears in his eyes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sliver looked in his mirror again. He had spent days in his room. He had barely drunk something, and he hadn't eaten something. He was really getting thinner.
This lurking danger, the thoughts about Nefu were eating on him.
He had known so few carelss happy days. It all ended when his father died in the battle against Naya. He had to take over the throne, as a child. His friend disappeared shortly after.
A high pitched sound reached his ears.
Danger?
He looked out his window.
Again.
No, not a danger. A friend coming to this village.
A friend? In these dark days? Somebody who wasn't endarkened yet? He couldn't imagine.
A man, too large to be an elf walked into the village.
*knock *
"Yes?"
The door opened.
A servant.
"There's a messenger from Shen Long."
"Bring him here. I want to talk to him alone."
"Yes sir."
Goku entered the room. The woman left.
"Well, a meesage from Shen Long. I haven't heard of him for a very long time. It's good to hear that he still isn't posessed. I heard you had a letter?"
"Yes, here it is."
Goku gave him the enveloppe.
"How did you travel to this place?"
"Walking."
"Seen strange things?"
"Everything is black. I have been attacked by several black creatures, but sun light saved me. It seems that it burns them. I have been in a village too…all the people are…like undead. They didn't see me, were very pale, and weren't even aware of each other."
"I know."
Sliver sighed.
"All the endarkened people are like that. Any other things?"
"Five days ago..in a kind of house, I found this."
He gave the small book to Sliver.
"It must have been from Nefu."
"His diary!! Maybe this will reveal what happened to him!"
"I also saw a small black diamond statue in a small room."
Sliver almost dropped the book.
"A boy?"
"Yes."
Sliver leaned against the table.
"No…"
"What does it mean?"
"When a minchen dies, its body turns into black diamond….Nefu…"
He cried.
"I hoped his light would restore these lands…what must I do now? What will become of us?"
Goku put his hand on Sliver's shoulder.
"We will fight."
Sliver sighed deep.
"The letter…I'll read it. You can leave now…go eat something and rest. I'll talk to you later."
Goku left the room. Sliver sat down on his bed and continued crying.
Hours later he woke up. He must have fallen asleep. A flash of light had woken him.
Light?
It was night now!
Maybe it was a dream.
He decided to read the letter now.
"Dear Sliver,
It has been a very long time since I've spoken you for the last time.
I have been training the man who has brought you this letter. He is from the lower ream, he was the strongest man living there. I'm sure he will assist you to conquer the dark. He is strong, fast, and his heart is light. He won't be endarkened so quick.
Last time we spoke, before darkness parted us, you wondered where Nefu was. I still don't know, I haven't seen him. I guess you also, haven't seen him.
Do not lose hope. He had the brains of his father, and quite some guts. I'm sure he had found some way to escape his enemies.
I keep checking the lower realm. Maybe I'll bring some other warriors from that place to this realm. There were others, also strong, and good hearts.
We will need their help.
Trust me, one day, light will shine over this lands once again.
Your good friend,
Shen Long."
Sliver sighed deep. He wished he could be so positive as Shen Long. Maybe he could write something back? No, he couldn't risk the life and soul of this warrior to go back.
He looked at Nefu's diary. Maybe he should read the last pages. To see what happened. Who killed him? Who could it have been?
Third day in constellation rat.
Oray, one of my fahters loyal fighters, told me my dad is dead.
I can not believe it. He must be alive!
Sliver's dad is dead too. I feel sorry for him. Both of them I mean.
Our enemies are coming after us. Night is falling. With the new day we will travel to Minchaen. I can not sleep.
There is a guard, but what if the enemy comes?
I can escape.
I know that.
But than…I'm gone.
There are sounds outside. Nothing to be scared of yet.
That was the last message. Sliver looked through the white pages.
He would never be there to fill them with his thoughts again.
A few more sentences?
1 One life for magic
One life for wisdom
And a life for strength, experience, and love.
Sliver knew these lines. They were a part of a very long poetic work, about the circle of death, and rebirth. Did Nefu hope at that time to be reborn again?
:"They are working on their land. For crops. For food." :
-"I don't like those crops." -
:"Some people do." :
-"Why dad? I can't imagine…" -
:"That's why…hey…isn't that Sliver?":
="Sliver!"=
-"Nefu!" -
= "You have been away for a long time!" =
-"I have been traveling to the east! I have been beyond the mountains where the long dragon lives. I have seen the long dragons, I have seen the Baracada desert I…"-
= "The dragon? Tell me! Is he really that large as they tell?"=
: "Yes he is…now come on boys go inside, there is a dinner served there…and you Nefu, go wash yourself first, your covered with dust." :
-"Dad I am hungry, can I eat first?" –
: "No.":
{ "Sir I need to talk to you. There are reports about the dark lord, in the far east. He's comoing this way, quickly, conquering all the land."}
: "What?….Nefu go wash yourself, I come later. I have important buisiness to discuss now.":
*waking up*
[what the hell was that? Voices? Where did they came from…so familiar…no it can't be.
Just a dream…]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One thing Sliver would always remember, was the flying lessons of Nefu. One time he was allowed to see it. Nefu had hidden him in some bushes, so his father wouldn't see him.
It was already dark. There was only a sickel of the moon, almost completely dark, and no clouds at all. He spent some time looking at the stars, and was getting bored. It's difficult to stay stil for a five year old elvenchild.
Finally, they came.
They always glowed very softly, and normally, it was barely visible. In this darkness, however, they were very clear.
Amback raised his head and opened his arms. He glowed, he became brighter. He features were not visible anymore, only two light blue blurs for his eyes.
Two giant wings grew on his back. They didn't look like normal bird wings at all. They were made of pure, white light.
He gasped. He had never seen something like this before, such a beauty, such a light…
Nefu did the same. He laughed.
He didn't sound like he normal did. Lighter, more sparkeling, echoing. Like his voice was also made of light.
Sliver almost forgot he had to hide. He could only stare, and gasp.
Their light brightened the whole area, even the sky. The stars faded near their prescense.
Amback slowly lifted of the ground. Nefu did the same.
Amback nodded to him, and raised his right hand pointing to his right side. His closed his hand. A red ball of energy slowly moved down from his upper arm, to his wrist, and hand. He opened his hand. Red lightning. The next moment, he held a red sword in his hand, glowing like he did.
"Do the same. Call Rashkall."
Nefu did the same as his fahter did, but with his left hand. This time, a yellow ball of energy formed and traveled down to his hand. After the yellow lightning, he held a yellow sword, smaller than the red one, but just as bright.
They were silent for a few seconds, holding their swords, and floating just above the ground.
Than Nefu opened an attack. Amback blocked. They started a fierce swordfight. Flying up and down, pushing each other away with their wings, swining their swords at each other.
Sliver was watching with his mouth wide open. This was a spectacle he had never seen before, and only few, or none others had seen before. Even the best fireworks, made with the strongest magic, couldn't be compared with this.
Flying up and down, filling the sky with their voices, brighter and more beautiful than all the birds on this world, and their brightness filling the sky, taking night away.
He was standing upright, not even noticing he was. He was a kind of hypnotisesed.
Amback turned around, and looked him right into his eyes.
Sliver woke up from his trance. He screamed his lungs out. He laid down on the ground, wrapped his arms around his face and closed his eyes.
"Please!!!"
Amback floated to him. He didn't hit him, he didn't curse. He didn't even look angry. He laid his hand on Sliver's head.
"No reason to be afraid."
Sliver opened his eyes and looked at him.
He was relieved. Yes, such a bright creature wouldn't harm him. He smiled.
"What you saw…will not be seen again soon. So keep remebering this all your life."
Sliver nodded.
Amback raised his hand with the sword. Red lightning. His sword was gone. His light disappeared. So did the wings.
He was back to normal.
"Nefu, come down and get back to normal. It's late, you have to go to sleep."
He turned back to Sliver.
"Don't tell anyone about this."
Sliver nodded.
On their way back to the village, Nefu kept bragging about his sword fighting. That's one thing he liked, brag, and of course, he always wanted to be the best. When he later remarked that Nefu had to drag his ego with him on a line, because it wouldn't be able to fit inside him with that size, Nefu had acted quite offended.
It was just a month before they came, to kill everything in their way, and spread darkness across the lands. And Ambach wouldn't be there, to make the sky bright again with his prescense. He had been killed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
While goku proceeded the last two days, he saw more and more signs he was getting closer to the last untouched places of these lands. Sometimes a green leaf on the black trees, and another flower. Signs of hope. On one day, everything would be green again. He smelled the flower. A sweet scent. He increased his tempo.
His footsteps seemd to be echoing. An echo, in the woods?
Goku stopped. No echo.
"Hello?!"
Nothing.
He continued walking.
*crack *
A noise in a tree.
"Allright, who is there?"
*silence *
"I know somebody is there. Show yourself!"
* silence *
Goku looked around him. Nothing but black trees. Maybe it was just his nerves.
* crack *
Goku leapt to the source of the sound.
A man was hiding in a tree. His ears were pointy, he had long black hair and wore black clothes. He clenched his sword.
"No step futher, creature."
"Other creatures tried to stop me already. They failed."
The man swung with his sword. It hit the flower.
"A flower? Why…a flower?"
"Bad for you?"
The man looked at him for a few seconds.
"I think there is a misunderstanding here. You don't look like the darkness has swallowed you. And creatures of the dark would never carry a living flower. What are you doing here?"
"I'm going to Minchaen. I have a letter to Sliver, from Shen Long."
"Shen Long? To Sliver? Show me the letter."
Goku showed him the enveloppe.
"I see. I am the first guard, to watch the dangers lurking here. When creatures come to attack minchaen, I'm the first one to see them, and to warn the city. Walk that way. There's a clear path now. It will be two more days. I'll warn the other guards, so you won't face the same problem again."
He took a small trumpet and blew on it. A very high, and soft tone.
He turned back to Goku.
"Elves can hear these sounds on great distances. Now, go! I bet Sliver is waiting for you."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Nefu?"
"Yes?"
the man was battleworn. Full of scars, some bleeding.
"Your father…we got into an ambush. Many black raiders, one black dragon. They have endarkened Naya. He attacked. It was unsuspected. I was the only one that could escape."
The boy looked at him, fear written on his face.
His father was supposed to be invincible. To win…but he lost.
"And what about Kasjara?"
"The elven lord defended your father with his life…he died an honorable dead."
Sliver…orphan too..
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"What about Sliver and me?"
"Sliver is already in the capitol city. It will take us a week to get there. There you will be safe for the time being."
The boy nodded at the warrior, still with tears in his eyes
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sliver looked in his mirror again. He had spent days in his room. He had barely drunk something, and he hadn't eaten something. He was really getting thinner.
This lurking danger, the thoughts about Nefu were eating on him.
He had known so few carelss happy days. It all ended when his father died in the battle against Naya. He had to take over the throne, as a child. His friend disappeared shortly after.
A high pitched sound reached his ears.
Danger?
He looked out his window.
Again.
No, not a danger. A friend coming to this village.
A friend? In these dark days? Somebody who wasn't endarkened yet? He couldn't imagine.
A man, too large to be an elf walked into the village.
*knock *
"Yes?"
The door opened.
A servant.
"There's a messenger from Shen Long."
"Bring him here. I want to talk to him alone."
"Yes sir."
Goku entered the room. The woman left.
"Well, a meesage from Shen Long. I haven't heard of him for a very long time. It's good to hear that he still isn't posessed. I heard you had a letter?"
"Yes, here it is."
Goku gave him the enveloppe.
"How did you travel to this place?"
"Walking."
"Seen strange things?"
"Everything is black. I have been attacked by several black creatures, but sun light saved me. It seems that it burns them. I have been in a village too…all the people are…like undead. They didn't see me, were very pale, and weren't even aware of each other."
"I know."
Sliver sighed.
"All the endarkened people are like that. Any other things?"
"Five days ago..in a kind of house, I found this."
He gave the small book to Sliver.
"It must have been from Nefu."
"His diary!! Maybe this will reveal what happened to him!"
"I also saw a small black diamond statue in a small room."
Sliver almost dropped the book.
"A boy?"
"Yes."
Sliver leaned against the table.
"No…"
"What does it mean?"
"When a minchen dies, its body turns into black diamond….Nefu…"
He cried.
"I hoped his light would restore these lands…what must I do now? What will become of us?"
Goku put his hand on Sliver's shoulder.
"We will fight."
Sliver sighed deep.
"The letter…I'll read it. You can leave now…go eat something and rest. I'll talk to you later."
Goku left the room. Sliver sat down on his bed and continued crying.
Hours later he woke up. He must have fallen asleep. A flash of light had woken him.
Light?
It was night now!
Maybe it was a dream.
He decided to read the letter now.
"Dear Sliver,
It has been a very long time since I've spoken you for the last time.
I have been training the man who has brought you this letter. He is from the lower ream, he was the strongest man living there. I'm sure he will assist you to conquer the dark. He is strong, fast, and his heart is light. He won't be endarkened so quick.
Last time we spoke, before darkness parted us, you wondered where Nefu was. I still don't know, I haven't seen him. I guess you also, haven't seen him.
Do not lose hope. He had the brains of his father, and quite some guts. I'm sure he had found some way to escape his enemies.
I keep checking the lower realm. Maybe I'll bring some other warriors from that place to this realm. There were others, also strong, and good hearts.
We will need their help.
Trust me, one day, light will shine over this lands once again.
Your good friend,
Shen Long."
Sliver sighed deep. He wished he could be so positive as Shen Long. Maybe he could write something back? No, he couldn't risk the life and soul of this warrior to go back.
He looked at Nefu's diary. Maybe he should read the last pages. To see what happened. Who killed him? Who could it have been?
Third day in constellation rat.
Oray, one of my fahters loyal fighters, told me my dad is dead.
I can not believe it. He must be alive!
Sliver's dad is dead too. I feel sorry for him. Both of them I mean.
Our enemies are coming after us. Night is falling. With the new day we will travel to Minchaen. I can not sleep.
There is a guard, but what if the enemy comes?
I can escape.
I know that.
But than…I'm gone.
There are sounds outside. Nothing to be scared of yet.
That was the last message. Sliver looked through the white pages.
He would never be there to fill them with his thoughts again.
A few more sentences?
1 One life for magic
One life for wisdom
And a life for strength, experience, and love.
Sliver knew these lines. They were a part of a very long poetic work, about the circle of death, and rebirth. Did Nefu hope at that time to be reborn again?