Dark swore as Gadreel, Gaia's mount, threw him for the third time that
hour. His friend was refusing to look at him, but Dark knew it was because
he was laughing. He got back to his feet and wiped the sand from his cloak.
"Tell me again why do we have to ride that thing?" He pointed at the purple horse with his staff, staying far away from its hooves. Gaia finally turned and looked at him.
"You may very well be able to float and use magic, but I can't. Besides," He gave Gadreel and affectionate pat. "He's the fastest horse in the Kingdom. He'll get us there without you wasting your magic." He jumped out of the saddle and walked over to dark.
"I refuse to ride anymore. He keeps throwing me."
"Because you keep expecting him too."
Dark looked at him, completely baffled.
"What?" Gaia sighed.
"He's battle trained and whatever his rider wants he will automatically respond to you and since you keep expecting him to throw you, that's what he does." Dark blinked.
"Oh. That makes sense." He sighed. "I'm sorry I'm like this." Gaia stopped him from going on.
"Don't worry. I've seen Flame worried about his bonded and he acts much worse." He grinned. "Of course we teased him non stop, so that might have something to do with it."
Dark just looked at Gaia who tried to look innocent.
"Are all warriors like this?"
"Basically." Dark just shook his head.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
"Nothing. And it will stay that way until you find your elf." Gaia smirked. "Cause you are sure as hell not my type." He dodged the staff that was swung at his head but barely. Ignoring the indignant magician, he jumped back into the saddle and held a hand out for dark. "Shall we try this again?"
"Yes. But no more smart remarks." He grabbed the Knights hand and swung into the saddle behind him. Gadreel broke into a jog and they headed across the sand, Dark making sure he seemed relaxed to the horse. But something bugged him. It seemed Gaia had a fondness for the colour purple. Best not dwell on that thought.
He focused his attention back to its main concern.
Celtic. He knew they were close. He could feel it in his heart. The Elf had passed this way, but that was visible even without the bond. Wherever an elf went, the land felt revived and refreshed. It sang of power, a song that Dark knew well.
Celtic, being an elf, nurtured the magic that flowed through the land, and Dark as a Magician, worked with that power.
'Just another way we fit together."
The thought made him smile. But he knew he wouldn't be smiling for much longer. They were nearing the temple and he was scared. Scared that the Pharaoh wouldn't understand why Celtic wanted to be part of the Deck and why Dark, as he was slowly realizing, needed him there with him.
He sighed and leaned against Gaia. The knight had always been his support and security. He would never forget him.
'Even if Celtic makes it into the Deck, I'll still lose someone dear to me.'
He fought back the tears that threatened to form at the thought, but as he felt Gaia shift in the saddle, he knew that the Knight seemed to understand without being told. An armored hand grabbed his knee.
"Whatever happens, Dark, I'm glad I knew you and I would never ask for that to be taken away."
"Thanks. I'll forever be grateful, even if you drive me insane sometimes." He heard the smile in the Knight's reply.
"The feelings mutual."
Celtic got off Silver's back and looked around. The village was made up of many races, most peace loving creatures whom did not often fight, like the fairies, human civilians and beasts. No elves were here, but that didn't surprise him. His kin often stayed within the forest or sometimes the plains. Never out here among the sand and stone.
He noticed, however, that quite a few warriors walked among the people. Fighters of all races and each had a pendant with a simple symbol of a rectangle done in gold.
"Silver? What are those pendants for?" Silver looked over at him.
"They are the sign of a Free Card. They were those to show that they are proud of who they are and are here to protect those who do not wish to fight." Silver looked pleased at this thought. "There are many in the surrounding area of the temple."
Celtic placed a hand on his chest; over the same place Dark had sealed his card. He hadn't really thought about what being a Free Card meant to him. He was too busy thinking of his Magician.
'Wait a minute! My Magician? When did he become mine?'
He examined that thought but didn't have time to dwell on it as Silver bumped his great head into his side.
"I must leave you now. I have to get back to my post, that is my duty." He nipped Celtic's hand affectionately. "May we meet again, Warrior Elf." With that he took off, back out into the sand. Celtic watched him go for a moment until he realized that he wasn't alone.
"So, the wolf brought you here did he?" the elf turned and nearly jumped back. A fiend stood beside him, a gruesome creature, but it didn't seem to want to cause him harm and no one else was paying it unusual attention, almost as if he was commonplace.
"Yes he did. He found me out there and brought me here to get supplies." The fiend looked down at the elf, it's bones glinting in the light. Celtic again suppressed the urge to back away.
"An elf, traveling alone in the sands? That's unheard of in these parts. Are you suffering from sun sickness?" Celtic shook his head. "Then what were you doing out there? Without a bow or staff? Trying to get yourself killed?" Celtic grinned wryly.
I don't use a bow or magic, I use a sword so if you can point me to someplace I can get one, then you don't have to concern yourself with me anymore."
The fiend blinked in surprise and Celtic found he was getting use to that reaction.
"An elf, who uses a sword. Try another one elf. None of your kind ever wanted to be warriors."
"Which is why I'm the first." Celtic folded his arms across his chest and glared at the Fiend, no longer caring how frightening it looked. Why wouldn't anyone believe him? It was starting to get annoying. Only Dark and Gaia had taken his word for it. The Fiend grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the village.
"Okay then, elf. You're going to prove it." He grew alarmed. Prove it? He had had no formal training, just what he had taught himself. How was he going to prove it? And what would happen if he failed?
He was dragged through the village, into and through a blacksmith shop and out into a practice yard in the back where two others were fighting. A man in green armor and another with blue skin and armor covering his face and body. Both looked up at the fiend's entrance.
The blue skinned warrior spoke first. "Hey Skull! What's up?" He noticed Celtic and it seemed he smirked although he couldn't see his face. "Hey that's a cute one! Didn't know you were into elves though!" He walked over to them and Celtic glared as the warrior looked him over.
"I'm not. He says he fights with a sword instead of bow or magic. I wanted him to prove it." Green Armor came over and glared at Skull.
"So you just drag him over here? Really. Where are your manners?" Skull looked down at the human. Green sighed. "Never mind." He turned to Celtic. "My name's Masaki and this other guy is one of the M-Warrior brothers." The other saluted him. "Well, Skull here seems determined to see you fight and I have to admit I'm curious as well. Would you give me the honor of being the first to face you?"
Celtic nodded slowly. "I will, but I have had no formal training, only what I have taught myself." Masaki smiled.
"Well then. We shall see what you can do." He brought Celtic back into the shop and over to a rack of swords. "Choose one that feels the best and I'll go see if we have any clothes that you can duel in." He looked at the pale blue clothes Celtic wore. "Those aren't meant for fighting in."
Celtic nodded his head, preoccupied with the swords in front of him, testing each one he picked up. He didn't notice Masaki leave, nor the stares from the customers. No he concentrated on the weapons before him. Soon he found the one that called to him. It had a red jewel in the middle of the hilt and the sides were slightly spiked. It was a long thin sword and well balanced. He held it in one hand, then the other and then with both.
"Perfect." He smiled. Since being captured, he suddenly felt sure of himself. He knew he had made the right decision when he had taken up the sword all those years ago. This was his weapon and he was going to prove his right to use it.
'I have to. I will be with Dark. I can't live if I fail, I don't want to.'
"Tell me again why do we have to ride that thing?" He pointed at the purple horse with his staff, staying far away from its hooves. Gaia finally turned and looked at him.
"You may very well be able to float and use magic, but I can't. Besides," He gave Gadreel and affectionate pat. "He's the fastest horse in the Kingdom. He'll get us there without you wasting your magic." He jumped out of the saddle and walked over to dark.
"I refuse to ride anymore. He keeps throwing me."
"Because you keep expecting him too."
Dark looked at him, completely baffled.
"What?" Gaia sighed.
"He's battle trained and whatever his rider wants he will automatically respond to you and since you keep expecting him to throw you, that's what he does." Dark blinked.
"Oh. That makes sense." He sighed. "I'm sorry I'm like this." Gaia stopped him from going on.
"Don't worry. I've seen Flame worried about his bonded and he acts much worse." He grinned. "Of course we teased him non stop, so that might have something to do with it."
Dark just looked at Gaia who tried to look innocent.
"Are all warriors like this?"
"Basically." Dark just shook his head.
"What have I gotten myself into?"
"Nothing. And it will stay that way until you find your elf." Gaia smirked. "Cause you are sure as hell not my type." He dodged the staff that was swung at his head but barely. Ignoring the indignant magician, he jumped back into the saddle and held a hand out for dark. "Shall we try this again?"
"Yes. But no more smart remarks." He grabbed the Knights hand and swung into the saddle behind him. Gadreel broke into a jog and they headed across the sand, Dark making sure he seemed relaxed to the horse. But something bugged him. It seemed Gaia had a fondness for the colour purple. Best not dwell on that thought.
He focused his attention back to its main concern.
Celtic. He knew they were close. He could feel it in his heart. The Elf had passed this way, but that was visible even without the bond. Wherever an elf went, the land felt revived and refreshed. It sang of power, a song that Dark knew well.
Celtic, being an elf, nurtured the magic that flowed through the land, and Dark as a Magician, worked with that power.
'Just another way we fit together."
The thought made him smile. But he knew he wouldn't be smiling for much longer. They were nearing the temple and he was scared. Scared that the Pharaoh wouldn't understand why Celtic wanted to be part of the Deck and why Dark, as he was slowly realizing, needed him there with him.
He sighed and leaned against Gaia. The knight had always been his support and security. He would never forget him.
'Even if Celtic makes it into the Deck, I'll still lose someone dear to me.'
He fought back the tears that threatened to form at the thought, but as he felt Gaia shift in the saddle, he knew that the Knight seemed to understand without being told. An armored hand grabbed his knee.
"Whatever happens, Dark, I'm glad I knew you and I would never ask for that to be taken away."
"Thanks. I'll forever be grateful, even if you drive me insane sometimes." He heard the smile in the Knight's reply.
"The feelings mutual."
Celtic got off Silver's back and looked around. The village was made up of many races, most peace loving creatures whom did not often fight, like the fairies, human civilians and beasts. No elves were here, but that didn't surprise him. His kin often stayed within the forest or sometimes the plains. Never out here among the sand and stone.
He noticed, however, that quite a few warriors walked among the people. Fighters of all races and each had a pendant with a simple symbol of a rectangle done in gold.
"Silver? What are those pendants for?" Silver looked over at him.
"They are the sign of a Free Card. They were those to show that they are proud of who they are and are here to protect those who do not wish to fight." Silver looked pleased at this thought. "There are many in the surrounding area of the temple."
Celtic placed a hand on his chest; over the same place Dark had sealed his card. He hadn't really thought about what being a Free Card meant to him. He was too busy thinking of his Magician.
'Wait a minute! My Magician? When did he become mine?'
He examined that thought but didn't have time to dwell on it as Silver bumped his great head into his side.
"I must leave you now. I have to get back to my post, that is my duty." He nipped Celtic's hand affectionately. "May we meet again, Warrior Elf." With that he took off, back out into the sand. Celtic watched him go for a moment until he realized that he wasn't alone.
"So, the wolf brought you here did he?" the elf turned and nearly jumped back. A fiend stood beside him, a gruesome creature, but it didn't seem to want to cause him harm and no one else was paying it unusual attention, almost as if he was commonplace.
"Yes he did. He found me out there and brought me here to get supplies." The fiend looked down at the elf, it's bones glinting in the light. Celtic again suppressed the urge to back away.
"An elf, traveling alone in the sands? That's unheard of in these parts. Are you suffering from sun sickness?" Celtic shook his head. "Then what were you doing out there? Without a bow or staff? Trying to get yourself killed?" Celtic grinned wryly.
I don't use a bow or magic, I use a sword so if you can point me to someplace I can get one, then you don't have to concern yourself with me anymore."
The fiend blinked in surprise and Celtic found he was getting use to that reaction.
"An elf, who uses a sword. Try another one elf. None of your kind ever wanted to be warriors."
"Which is why I'm the first." Celtic folded his arms across his chest and glared at the Fiend, no longer caring how frightening it looked. Why wouldn't anyone believe him? It was starting to get annoying. Only Dark and Gaia had taken his word for it. The Fiend grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into the village.
"Okay then, elf. You're going to prove it." He grew alarmed. Prove it? He had had no formal training, just what he had taught himself. How was he going to prove it? And what would happen if he failed?
He was dragged through the village, into and through a blacksmith shop and out into a practice yard in the back where two others were fighting. A man in green armor and another with blue skin and armor covering his face and body. Both looked up at the fiend's entrance.
The blue skinned warrior spoke first. "Hey Skull! What's up?" He noticed Celtic and it seemed he smirked although he couldn't see his face. "Hey that's a cute one! Didn't know you were into elves though!" He walked over to them and Celtic glared as the warrior looked him over.
"I'm not. He says he fights with a sword instead of bow or magic. I wanted him to prove it." Green Armor came over and glared at Skull.
"So you just drag him over here? Really. Where are your manners?" Skull looked down at the human. Green sighed. "Never mind." He turned to Celtic. "My name's Masaki and this other guy is one of the M-Warrior brothers." The other saluted him. "Well, Skull here seems determined to see you fight and I have to admit I'm curious as well. Would you give me the honor of being the first to face you?"
Celtic nodded slowly. "I will, but I have had no formal training, only what I have taught myself." Masaki smiled.
"Well then. We shall see what you can do." He brought Celtic back into the shop and over to a rack of swords. "Choose one that feels the best and I'll go see if we have any clothes that you can duel in." He looked at the pale blue clothes Celtic wore. "Those aren't meant for fighting in."
Celtic nodded his head, preoccupied with the swords in front of him, testing each one he picked up. He didn't notice Masaki leave, nor the stares from the customers. No he concentrated on the weapons before him. Soon he found the one that called to him. It had a red jewel in the middle of the hilt and the sides were slightly spiked. It was a long thin sword and well balanced. He held it in one hand, then the other and then with both.
"Perfect." He smiled. Since being captured, he suddenly felt sure of himself. He knew he had made the right decision when he had taken up the sword all those years ago. This was his weapon and he was going to prove his right to use it.
'I have to. I will be with Dark. I can't live if I fail, I don't want to.'