Sky stick to the shadows in the foggy hallway like tunnel, eyes scanning his surroundings wearily. There was only one way out it seems. The way he came in, he must continue onward. He was not going back not without the pearl. He close his eyes, took a deep breath and step out of his hidden nook.
He exhale; the fog lifted. A stone pathway lit by torchlights. The probe left his side , a blue light scanning the heiragraphic murals along the walls. Scenes depicting battles, a large dragon and a woman, the ancient Kingdom of Sipar and her King.
"Fascinating," he whistled lowly. His fingers reaching out to touch the scales of the Dragon. The details so realistic, it look like the dragon was coming out of the wall. They soon cross over, grazing a figure like warrior in armor, sword raise high, surrounded by flames.
"Timmy, I hope you are getting this."
BANG!
Sky tense, placing a hand on his moon khukuri hilt. It was coming from up ahead.
Aah-aah-aah-ahh
'That voice!' He sprinted after it, his footsteps echoing eerily in the long tunnel. The voice continue to sing, the scenery changing to its glitz and glamour.
"It is a new day of a new era! A new beginning!"
Sky stumble over some downward steps, catching himself from falling face first. He look up and around, the probe scanning the dimly lit chamber. In its center, stood a statue. Sky step closure , running a hand over the statue's face which was in a growly snarl; the stone sword arm raise high in a striking pose, the shield arm was raise in the middle to protect the chest area.
"It look like you were in a midst of a battle," Sky mused.
"Huh, not so scary now." He touched the statue's chest, only to hear a clicking sound.
That's not good. He stepped back, watching the statue becoming undone. Large fissures crawl across the body until large chunks began to fall apart to reveal tan color skin.
"Protect the King!" A guttorial growl erupted, eyes blazing red.
"Woah!" Sky rolled to the side, barely avoiding the sword coming down on to him.
"Must protect the King!" The statue snarled. Sky pulling out his moon khukuri out, blocking it. The statue push forward, forcing Sky to be on the defensive. Sky fenced and parried away, bringing his shield up to slam it into the statue's face. He smirked, getting the upperhand against the onslaught of attacks of the broad sword.
"Come at me, big guy!" Sky shouted. "Show me what you got! I don't have all day to play around; unless you know where I can find the Heart of Nimue?"
The statue spun around, only to lodge his sword into the chamber's wall. Sky took that to his advantage, raising his sword down in attack mode. "Had to ask," he grunted slashing across the statue's shield arm. He let out a bellow of outrage. Blood that should be red, was green, ran down the length of his arm. Red eyes glare fiercely at the Crown Prince.
The remaining Specialists and Paladin were watching over Timmy's shoulders of Sky's fight.
"They're on parr." Brandon said.
"No, they're in sync," Thoren pointed to the small holoscreen.
"Look how they're fighting. They almost have the same fighting technique. But I don't remember Sky learning such a skill like that."
"He didn't, we would have been taught that back at either Red Fountain or Linphea College," the squire mused.
"Are his eyes glowing?" Roy asked.
"I thought I was the only one." Riven said. They look on, only hoping this fight could end soon.
"Is the Heart of Nimue, your King?" Sky blocked and thrust his sword forward. There were cuts along his batter uniform, blood seeping across in some places even across his left cheek.
"Must protect the King!" The statue was no better either.
Aah-aah-aah-aah
"That voice!" Sky spun away, taking notice of the statue stopping. Only for a moment before it began his relentless attacks.
"You know that voice," Sky smirked, watching as he knock the sword out of the statue's hand. He pointed the tip of his moon khukuri towards the statue's neck.
"Yield." The blond Specialist panted, his body running off of adreline.
"No. You are not my King. I will not bow down to a worthless scum like you!" Sky could only yell out in frustration. Something in him snap.
"I am your king!" Sky snarled, his voice booming across the large chamber. "You will bow down to me! Now yield!"
The statue's gaze harden before something akin to recognition appear across his face.
"My liege, forgive me for I did not recognize you. The Heart has been kept safe just like you ask me too."
Sky stared at him in beweirdlement, keeping an eye on him as the statue kneel down to the chamber's floor; until his head and knukles touch the floor. Sky turn around, making sure there was nobody else behind him that could the one the statue was addressing. Only the probe floating over a mural of a woman sitting regally in her setee. It was them two only in the dimly lit chamber.
Aah-aah-aah-aah
"Where is the Heart of Nimue?" Sky kept his voice steady. This guy thinks I'm his king. I better go along with this to gather more information. He glance over to the probe. Some help you are.
The statue stood up to his full height, towering over Sky by a few inches.
"I kept it safe like you ask me to," the brute of a warrior repeated, stepping back to reveal another chamber hidden from view. A narrow entrance was all it could reveal.
"It's in there?" Sky asked, putting his moon khukuri away. The larger man did not respond back, his red eyes only looking forward at him steadily.
Okay then, Sky huffed out, this better not be a death trap. The blond Specialist glance back before venturing over to the entrance. Stone steps led further down into darkness. He can vaguely make out murals of some sorts in the dark. Not waiting another second, he grab a wooden torch, and started his descent down. Moving the torch left and right, his gaze wander another dragon mural this time in swaths of faded oranges and reds. It's whiskers were whispy, framing it's long jaw elegantly. Sky can feel it's glare through it's yellow, slanted eyes. Daring him to attack it. The Specialist could only shudder, wondering what that dragon would have been like in real life. His gaze lower to beneath the dragon. Standing by its feet was a woman swath in colors of the sea and sky. She held in one hand a staff with the top rounded in an orb like shape while in the other hand held a sword which was shooting flames into the sky. He felt a tugging in his heart. A feeling of familiarity washing over him.
Who are you?
Aah-aah-aah-aah.
He glanced longingly at the mural before continuing his descent. It was some time before the stairs stop all together, leading into a small room. It was mainly empty except for a jewel box, cover in fire opals, on a marble pedal still.
"Are you guys seeing this?" Timmy looked on in wonder. "Look at all this data the probe is collecting!"
"Take it down a notch, Timmy, " Riven chuckled.
"I don't like this," Brandon said, folding his arms across his chest.
"You said that like five minutes ago. Stop complaining," Thoren chided.
"I'm his squire, it is my job to worry about him."
"We're pretty clear on your ongoing romance with my cousin." Thoren winked, humoressly. "Don't worry, I won't tell your girl anything."
Sky step cautiously over to the jewel box, something compelling him to move forward. His ragged breathing the only sound in the silent chamber.
Aah-aah-aah-aah
He walk closer, hand outstretch. A humming noise began, the closer his hand drew toward the box. He place his hand right on top of it.
"Presenting your King!"
Aah-aah-aah-aah
Sky let out a startle breath when he realize he couldn't remove his hand. His hand was stuck to the lid. He tug and tug but his hand wouldn't budge. Black ink like veins crawl under his skin painfully.
"All hail King…"
"All hail King…"
"All hail King…"
Sky screamed as the fire opals turn a bloody red.
The Paladin and Specialists screamed, "Sky!"
Brandon got up, a hand on the hilt of his laser staff.
"We can't!" Thoren grabbed the Specialist's shoulder, stopping him from leaving.
"Why the hell not?"
"For one, the statue might attack us if we enter; two, we can't go in because Sky was the only one able to enter out of all of us. I still don't know why though. I believe in Sky that he can handle this himself."
"He got to." Brandon conceded, his face etch with worry for his best friend.
"Um, guys," Timmy said, "you might want to see this."
"What is it?" Thoren asked him as the others peer closer. The orange-haired Specialist just pointed to his screen.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Riven swore.
Sky open his eyes, groaning in pain. He turn his head to the side to see sand. He shot up in shock. How did I get here? He turn around in a circle, only seeing large sand dunes surrounding him.
"Where am I?" He asked out loud, nothing of an answer responded back. He raise his hands to rub them through his hair when he notices of the ring adorning his right thumb. It was a thick silver band with a fire opal in its center surrounded by silver laurels. He took stock at what else that change. His rip-up uniform was replaced with a sun-white tunic that was open at the chest with silver threading around he hemming. A crest in the shape of a dragon's head lay across the left side of his chest. Same color linen pants and tan color leather boots. His head and neck was covered by a white turban. He pushed his blond side bangs out of his eyes, the scenery began to shift and change.
"Okay, this is clearly not normal." Sky said, feeling the ground shifting beneath his feet. When his vision stop spinning he was in a gilded room. There were paintings along the walls depicting different sceneries and people of different statuses. There was a long table with an array of weapons encased in glass. There was armor knights along the corners of the room. By the open windows, there was a chair and a magohony desk. On it were books and scrolls with some on the chair and marble stone floor. A multi-color woven rug lay below his feet.
It reminded him of his father's study back on Eraklyon. A feeling of homesickness wash over him. The bond between father and son has become strained as of late due to shifting ideas that Sky wants to implement for the kingdom and him dating Bloom over a marriage alliance with Diaspro.
"We must keep our bloodlines strong, Sky." Erendor said, looking out the window. "Diaspro comes from good stock."
"I am not ending my relationship over something like keeping our bloodlines pure!' Sky argued. "You like Bloom, why are you so against her?"
"I don't like her, I merely tolerate her. She is no longer Crown Princess of Domino."
"So only her status matter to you! You're such an asshole who only thinks his own ambitions than what your own son's wants!"
"Don't you dare take that tone with me, boy. I am your
first and foremost and you will obey my rules."
"I rather been raise on Earth than being raised by you!"
Sky remember leaving the study in fury, slamming the oak door hard off its hinges. He sighed, shaking his head. I need to focus.
He crossed over to the open windows that lead to a balcony in yellow and terra-cota stones. A crowd of people were celebrating below in the courtyard and beyond it walls.
"What's the occasion?" He asked, his brows knitting together in confusion.
Knock-knock
"My liege, they're here." A male voice said from the close doorway.
"Coming," a male accented voice responded back from somewhere behind him. Sky spun around, eyes wide.
It was like looking through a mirror.
Standing before the hearth, was him.