BREAKING THE SEAL

Dartz paced around his room, trying to think of a way to defeat the Orichalcos God. Iona sat on the bed, watching her husband in his misery. She stood up and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked over at her and smiled. She took his good hand and led him back to the bed so he could sit. He had been pacing for a good two hours. She leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her, but he knew that if he was with her too much, the Orichalcos God would take her again. As if reading his thoughts, she sighed.

"He can't hurt me. He's not strong enough. But he will recover strength if you don't defeat him soon."

Dartz stroked Iona's hair, like the night he was supposed to take her to the world beyond Atlantis. She too, remembered that day, the day where the Orichalcos had first come to Atlantis. She wondered if it had fallen to any other places on earth. However, the God could only have one host, and unfortunately, it had chosen her Dartz.

"Iona, you look tired. You should rest. Let me take care of the Orichalcos God."

She smiled at him. He stood up and let her curl up on the bed. As she started to drift off, he kissed her forehead.

"Sleep well, love."

Dartz headed to find Timaeus. He found the knight in the courtyard. In fact he found all three knights there. They were sparring. Timaeus looked over at Dartz.

"Hello, Brother."

Dartz smiled. He looked at Critias, who had been sparring with Timaeus.

"Do you mind if I try?"

Critias laughed. "You had the upper hand last time, but Timaeus has improved a lot. Good luck trying to knock him down."

Dartz drew his sword, the Sword of Kings and faced Timaeus. The knight in green took the first move. His attacks were fast, but Dartz was managing to block almost every one of them. He wasn't attacking much himself, but that was due to his arm injury. He let Timaeus come at him, dodging some of the attacks with a simple jump back. Timaeus was impressed with Dartz's agility. He could tell that Dartz was still in pain. He wasn't holding his sword with both hands, and he most definitely couldn't hold a shield. Timaeus tried once again to knock the sword from Dartz's hand, but before he could, Dartz dropped it anyway. Timaeus stopped.

"Why did you stop sparring, brother?" the knight asked.

"It's not right to fight you. I took out your eye in the last fight we had. I think I caused enough damage to you."

Timaeus put his hand on Dartz's shoulder. The king smiled.

"I don't want to be used as a vessel for the Orichalcos God. And I think the first step is to learn humility."

Timaeus looked at Dartz's arm. It was healing. Dartz looked down as well. He stared in awe.

"Does this mean…?"

Timaeus nodded.

Dartz turned to Critias. He knelt before the knight in blue. "You swore loyalty to me and my family ten thousand years ago, and I betrayed your trust. I ask you for forgiveness, and to see me truly as your brother again."

Critias extended his hand to Dartz who stood up and smiled. Critias nodded.

"I always knew you were in there. Even through all the wicked things the Orichalcos God did, I knew the true Dartz was there."

Dartz then turned to Hermos. He put his hand on Hermos's shoulder. The knight in red smiled.

"Hermos, you have been nothing but a true friend to me. I remember the day where you and Critias and Timaeus rescued me from the bullies. I will never forget that day. You showed me that above all things, friendship and kindness can defeat all odds. I thank you for that, and I offer you in return, my eternal gratitude. I offer you all my loyalty, my eternal protection, and eternal friendship."

The three knights nodded.

"Now there's only one thing to do. The final duel with the Orichalcos God will prove to be my most difficult challenge, but with you and my family by my side, I know that I will prevail."