It has been almost a year since the death of Chaos. The land has become green once again, and the townspeople are safe as they were before. It was tough bringing down the evil within the Temple of Fiends, but had to be done, as the duty of a Light Warrior. Although lately I'm beginning to regret being a part of the Light Warriors. Indeed, being a legendary hero has its benefits, yet who needs a Light Warrior after the evil's been thwarted?
My name is Estoch. I live in Corneria, always have and always will. Since I was a child I had practiced the art of magic. Of course, I liked being able to heal others, so I thought about becoming a healer, yet I wanted to have some fighting strength, so I yearned to study the black arts. Of course, my parents preached to me that only one way of magic can be learned, and I would have to choose. I guess it was their job to make everything harder for me, being 'parents' afterall. I ignored their nagging, and decided to learn both, becoming the Red Mage I am today.
That's only the beginning however. As I grew more angry with my parents, I left home and visited my uncle Terron. He knew of the trouble my parents had caused me, and asked me to move in. I left for my parents' house to get my things, but upon entering I heard a low voice.
"Give me the crystal," said the voice. "If you resist you will be slain."
I rushed in to see if my parents were unharmed, yet my hopes were struck down. As I gaze at my mother, I see her next to my father, who had been stabbed with a giant blade. I turn my head, and see a demon standing before me, holding a large sword. He looks straight into my eyes, as if he were gazing into my soul.
"Who are you," the demon asked. "What business have you here?"
"I should ask you the same, demon," I replied. "What have you done to my father?"
"Merely 'coaxing' him to give me what I want. Are you standing in my way?"
The demon pointed the large sword at me, keeping the point between my eyes. As I stood to him, my mother stood, and grabbed the nearest blunt object.
"Stay away from my son," she exclaimed. "He's the last thing I have! I won't let you take him from me!"
"What will you do," asked the demon. "Do you plan to strike me down with a table leg?" He began to laugh. "If you really think you can slay me in such ways," he pointed the sword at her, "then try!"
I became enraged by the monster's threats, and without thinking thrusted my palm into the air. "If you must take the life of another," I yelled, "then may it be mine!" A blue glow began to emanate from my hand I held in the air. The air around me became cold, and the glass of the windows began to fog.
"What," asked the demon. "A foolish attempt at magic?" He laughed again. "You humans are so pathetic! Just because magic exists you think you are superior in the art! Fine then, let me have your best spell. Try to stop me!" He began to laugh again. With every laugh my anger grew even more. The air in the house became frigid, grabbing the monster's attention. "An ice spell? Is that all you know?" He laughed even more.
"No," I replied, "it's all I need." The monster seemed a bit stunned with my response, but kept laughing. "See how it feels to die," I exclaimed as I thrusted my hand in his direction. "Ice!"
A frigid cloud rushed in the demon's direction, encasing everything in it's path in solid ice. The demon watched the cloud as it came ever closer. "It seems a bit drafty," he joked, then began to cackle vilely. As the cloud reached him, he stopped laughing. "Hey, this is cold," he said, startled. As the icy cloud enveloped his body, the monster began to yell in pain.
"Stop this ice cloud," he pleaded, "please stop it!"
"Never," I responded. "You've taken my father's life. It's time for retribution."
"No, please," the demon continued, "I'll revive him!"
"How am I to believe you?"
"I have a relic you could use!"
"What's to stop me from killing you then taking the item?"
"Dammit! Just stop the cloud!" The demon began to fall.
"How does death feel now that you are on the receiving end?"
"Shut up damn you! You'll pay for this! Lord Chaos shant be pleased with you!"
"I don't care about Lord Chaos. For all I know he doesn't exist!"
The demon fell to the floor, halfway encased in ice. With his last breath, he muttered, "You shall regret this... human..."
As the monster stopped moving, I moved over to where my mother stood, and my father lie. "Is there any chance I can heal him," I asked my mother.
"No," she sobbed, "his wond is too deep."
"I have to try to help him. He is my father after all." After saying that I held my hand over his wound.
"... son," my father spoke.
"Rest easy father," I responded, "you need not speak now."
"Listen to me, Estoch." He placed his hand at his side. "My time in this realm is over, but the journey shall not be in vain." He reached into a pouch tied to his belt, and pulled his hand out to reveal a small red crystal. "Take this crystal, and protect it with your life, as I have done. It will guide you to the right path."
"Father, please let me try to heal you," I exclaimed in desperation.
"No, it is too late. Take care of your mother for me. See you in the other realm..."
As his head slowly laid to the side, my mother began crying, and so did I. I knew not what the crystal's purpose was, or why demons wanted it. I wanted to find out, for my father's sake, and out of curiosity. I wanted to slay Lord Chaos for what his henchman had done. I stood up, and left, telling my mother, "I'll be home soon. I'm going to ask Uncle Terron about a few things."
~end chapter 1~