Chapter 2

            The light blinded him, surrounded him, he couldn't escape it. The light completely enveloped his body and his mind. He could feel it inside of him, changing his thoughts, changing who he was. He grasped his head, trying in a futile effort to protect his center. His defenses were non-existent and the force just kept invading.

            He ran. Fighting was solving nothing at this point. But this light was quicker and larger. No darkness or shadow to hide from this light. It begun to burn him from the inside. The searing pain was tearing through his soul and making him go numb in the mind. He screamed, but the scream was silent, no one would hear it, not even him. The pain continued to grow until all he could do was collapse and fall into the darkness within his mind.

            Suddenly he jerked up, panting. The sweat covered his chest and his pillow was drenched. He brushed his hand through his hair and tried to remember what had happened. He shifted through the horrible memory of the dream to find any information he could find. His eyes widen in fear that there was no information. He had nothing beyond the dream. He couldn't even remember where, or even who he was.

            The boy looked around and took a long look of his surroundings. It appeared that he was in a bedroom. He looked at the dark walls that seemed as if he was living in a stone. He touched the walls and the coldness of the walls settled in. Though cold, it felt familiar; the coldness of the wall seemed comforting, as if, he too was cold along with it.

            He saw a mirror and looked into it. He was surprised at the image that was returned. Was this his face? Is this what he truly looked like? He was handsome, and the silver hair looked great on him. Truly he could not complain how he looked. Truly a perfect face, it would be a pity of something were to happen of it. He only wished to remember what he used to look like when he was a child. In fact, he wished if he could remember anything as a child.

            The door opened up and there stood a man in armor. He stood tall and proud, never slouched once. His eyes brown as well as his hair and beard. He word a red cape along with his silver armor. His sword hooked to his belt, the metal gleaming within the reflected light. The boy took a step back.

            "Who are you?" The boy shouted.

            The man chuckled and looked back at the child. "I know who I am, but I am certain that you cannot say the same for yourself, can you?"

            The boy froze. How did this man know that he had no past? He just figured it out a few minutes ago.

            "Not surprised, when we found you the sorcerers tried everything they could to save you. Though they succeeded in body, they were unsuccessful in saving you in mind. They said that your memory may never return."

            The boy started to cry. He fell, unable to keep the strength of his knees. His past erased? He didn't even have the pleasure of knowing his name. He looked up to the man. "Who am I?"

            The man smiled as if pleased with the boy's question. He approached the boy and rested his hand on the boy's shoulder. The warmth of the man's hand unsettled him; it felt too unnatural for his liking. He preferred the coldness of the wall. "Your name we did find."

            The boy opened his eyes in hope. He looked up at the man who gentle smiled down. The man came down to one knee and looked the boy in the eyes. The man's eyes flinched for a second and then brought back to their steady course. "Your name is Dilandau, and I am General Adelphos. I found you at a border village in the outskirts of Zaibach, your homeland."

            "My village? I have a home?" Dilandau asked.

            "Had," Adelphos replied lowering his head. He stood up and walked to a window. "Come here boy," he ordered.

            Dilandau stood up, following the General's orders as if by nature. He went to the window and looked down and in oddly excitement, saw an entire village being burned. A pulling instinct led him to believe that the burning rubble was his home. He continued to stare at the fire dancing. It was the fire burning the village that set his blood burning as well. "What happened?" Dilandau asked.

            "Enemies of Zaibach invaded our nation and destroyed your village. When we finally came the invaders were gone. We searched desperately for survivors but only you were found. I took you and brought you to my floating fortress, the Lione. I had my healers and sorcerers that were aboard to help save you from your wounds. They were horrible wounds, but we had very skillful healers and the sorcerers with their magic brought you to health without even a scar. You should thank them when you meet them."

            Dilandau absorbed the entire story. He was alone. The thought of him being alone sent a pain to his soul. He didn't want to be alone. That brought a familiar feeling that seemed to be linked to his past, but he couldn't remember what. He dismissed it.

            Dilandau turned from the window, he could take no more of this lonely feeling, and turning away made it fade. He looked towards the general who continued to look at the flaming village. "What will become of me?" Dilandau asked.

            "It is up to you, we could leave you at the closest village and Zaibach will make sure you are taken care of, or you could join us and learn under me and become a solder of Zaibach."

            Dilandau didn't think much of his first option; it was the latter that interested him. He could join the army of Zaibach and find those who had done this to his town. He would learn the art of fighting and become a solder. He looked up at the General. "I will join the Zaibach army."

            General's face suddenly became stern and emotionless. "Are you sure?" He asked. "I must warn you that a life in the Zaibach army isn't a proud and easy chore. It is tireless and always taken for granted by the civilians. You will most likely receive no praise, however if you join you shall never be alone and shall always have your brothers and sisters in arms. Are you sure that this would be the right path for you to take, Dilandau?"

            "General," Dilandau started, "I must join you. I have to take vengeance for my family and the other villagers. Those who dared to attack my home shall feel my wrath and I will bathe myself in their blood. I can see no other option that you allowing me to join your forces and become a solder of Zaibach. I am your to command as long as I shall be given the chance to slaughter the ones who dared to try to kill me. "

            The General looked deep into Dilandau's eyes. Dilandau could feel his gaze seeping into his soul. Dilandau just stood there gazing back letting the General see all that he could.

            "Very well," The General nodded. "You should rest up well tonight, young boy. Your training shall start tomorrow, under my instruction."

            The General walked away and left the room. Dilandau looked upon the burning village again. The longer he stared at the fire and more his smile grew. He would bathe in the blood of his enemies and there will be no one who would stop him from achieving his vengeance. His sword will be his throat and he shall make sure it will always be thirsty, and blood shall be its only drink.

            Those sorcerers truly had done it this time. Making an innocent child such as that into a so-called perfect solder. When will those men ever learn that it takes strength and natural-born dedication to make a true solder. Their machines and science can only imitate those qualities but shall never duplicate it.

            Adelphos wasn't sure why the Emperor wanted this boy under his command. Any one of the other three generals would have done just as well. However he should be humbled and honored for the Emperor's decision of giving him the duty of teaching this child. However, there was something wrong with him. Whenever they pulled this ploy on a child they wanted to recruit, they always cried when seeing their village destroyed. It was never an easy task to destroy a Zaibach village, but sacrifices must be made. This boy however…stared at the fire. Not only that he could see something disturbing within the child's eyes. It was like looking into pools of blood. Blood of an innocent. It disturbed him slightly, but perhaps he could use it to Zaibach's advantage.

            "How is the child?" A voice from the shadow asked.

            Adelphos stood still. How he now loathed that voice. Ever since the Lione had come back to the capital to pick up this child, that voice had been following him better than his own shadow. "He is awake," Adelphos said. "Though I do not believe that this boy is all that you say he is."

            "I know," the voice replied, "He is more."

            Adelphos turned around. He had enough of this talk about this boy being the future of Zaibach. He flung his hand to the shadows and drew out a sorcerer. It was Marcel, though Adelphos could understand why he had such an interest in this child it was no excuse for him to bring an esteem general such as himself to the brink of madness.

            "I know how much Emperor Dornkirk values you sorcerers. You get recognition and you always have his ear while I had fight and kill to achieve the same honor that was just handed to you without combat. You may give us better Guymelefs, and better floating fortresses, but I tell you this and listen well: You shall never make a better solder than I or any other man of rank. Making a solder does not take tubes and machines. It takes time, dedication, and a lot of sweat, and most importantly, a lot of blood. What you have made is not a solder, but a monster… a freak who will most likely die in his first battle."

            Marcel removed Adelphos's hand and threw it back at him. "You will not speak to a sorcerer in that matter," Marcel growled.  "You may be one of the four generals but I am a highly valued sorcerer and the creation of your so called 'freak' was made by the order of the Emperor himself. He wanted to test a classified project and that boy is the result. He shall be the perfect solder."

            Adelphos stared back at the sorcerer's eyes. They stood frozen and they both weren't yielding their beliefs. Adelphos had learned under the past generals of Zaibach, that the sorcerers were the men who made life better, however, it was the solders of Zaibach that made life possible. He refused to yield by someone who hadn't even seen a battlefield, let alone combated in one. They were only involved with politics and science. He was involved in the survival and the prosperity of Zaibach.

            "You made have made him into the child he is now, but under my watchful eyes he will become the man I will make him to be."

            "Of course you shall, but be careful General Adelphos, though you may have him under your command, I can easily take him away with one word to Emperor Dornkirk."

            "Then do it!" Adelphos snapped. He had enough of this Sorcerer's mouth, he didn't care for his petty threats or his freak. All he cared about was getting back to the front lines. "But you will have to explain to his eminence why a border village of Zaibach is now burning to ash as we speak. Tell him why you ordered us to slaughter every man, woman, and child in that village just so we would give that child a reason to join our forces. Some of my men even had family and friends in that village, do you want to explain to them the real reason why they had to attack it. I would gladly beg of you to take my position and the decisions that I have to make. Do not threaten me!"

            The sorcerer had flinched, this was the moment that Adelphos was waiting for, a sorcerer's moment of weakness.

            "If you would like to come here and command an army of innocent men to stain themselves with innocents' blood, then so help me, do it! Get out from your laboratories and pick a sword and carry some armor, if not then let me do the work that I was made to do!"

            Adelphos took a deep breath. How he loved the taste of the facing a sorcerer. Though sometimes he would lose, it was the small victories against them that he loved. He never yielded to a sorcerer in the past, and he certainly will not yield to one now.

            The sorcerer closed his eyes for a second and looked back at the General. "I am now fully certain that you are truly the man whom would be best to teach little Dilandau the art of war. You most certainly passed the test. Emperor Dornkirk shall be pleased. I will recommend to the Emperor that you shall be given greater responsibilities and be given the head command of all armies of Zaibach if you do well teaching this boy. I thank you General Adelphos.

            Adelphos stood surprised. Was the sorcerer trying to get him to lash out at him? Why? What reason would there be for it? It was beyond his grasp as he stood quietly as the sorcerer Marcel left the hallway, and left the Lione.

            Marcel was most certainly pleased with the General's response. It was his pride and complete loyalty of the Zaibach Empire that removed all doubt from his mind. Truly Gular will not be able to corrupt this general.

            Soon the boy shall begin his training and the foundation of a perfect solder of Zaibach shall finally be made and soon the others who will follow Dilandau's path shall make the empire stronger and invincible.

            He turned around and saw the Lione preparing to leave. "Farewell, Dilandau, take care and grow strong. Do not let anyone stop you from your destiny and become the great warrior that I know you shall be. Tear down all your opposition and level all barriers that will stop us from achieving the ideal future that Zaibach was destined to have."

            He turned around and continued to walk down the hallway, down to the unknown territory that is called the future. He prayed to all gods living and dead that this journey shall be worth it.