The Legend of Talon
Chapter 1
Talon swore loudly. "WHERE IS IT?" He ran around his room tearing things from shelves. As he reached his desk, he saw himself in the mirror, noticing that his blond hair was sticking out in every direction again, but he didn't care. He grabbed the mirror and chucked it at the wall, where it shattered. He ran out of his room and out into the street. Fuming with anger, He dashed into the forge next door and dove for the old man standing over a water barrel, aiming a punch for his stomach. "OLD MAN!! ILL KILL YOU!!!!" He shouted. He was drawing closer…. closer…
WHAM.
His head connected with the side of the water barrel, and his fist with the wall. The old man stood on top of the water barrel, shaking his head. "What have I told you, Talon? You must learn to control your anger and not attack recklessly—"
"I know, Master, I know. But I would wish you would stop taking my sword from my room. I hate people touching my sword." Talon spoke quietly, but angrily.
"It was very dull. You must never fight with a dull blade. Do not worry, I will not break it." The old man said with a laugh. "Now, off to training with you! Master Tang has spoken!" he said proudly. "Ok, enough joking. Off to training, Talon" He handed back Talon's sword.
"Yes, Master. Thank you for sharpening my blade…." Talon mumbled. "I will try the 6th level again today, with your approval, of course…." He looked up hopefully.
Master Tang sighed. When he spoke, there was a tone of reluctance in his voice. "You can't do it, Talon. I know you can't. You will end up at Death's Door as you have so many times, and Barda will rescue you again. You simply cannot do it."
Talon laughed. "You really don't believe in me, do you, old man? With my new skill, it'll be like taking candy from a child!" Talon threw his blade into the air, jumped up, kicked the hilt, landed, and caught it, gracefully slashing it right at his master, tearing his tunic in half.
"I wish you would stop doing that, Talon, You've ruined half of my tunics already. Do you really have to ruin more?" Anger flashed in his eyes. "You're sixteen now, I can have you thrown out! You have to take –" - Master Tang jumped into the air - "- more -" – flipped once – "-responsibility!" –and launched off the roof, landing a kick in Talon's neck.
Talon stumbled, but expertly flipped in the air, landing on his feet. "If you weren't my master and an old man, I'd have hit you. But I wouldn't DARE hit you, of course. So may I have approval for level 6 or not?"
"Yes, I suppose, Talon. Do not blame me when you are seriously injured…with some bad luck, you could die.
"Me? Die? His lips parted from his teeth as he threw his head back and laughed. "Not possible. I've cheated death more than anyone alive. I'm as lucky as they come. If Arestolites existed, mine would have to be the best of the best. But your foolish legends aren't true, Master. Most of us know that."
Smirking, he turned around and stalked off. He walked past the Trainer's homes, where he lived, and walked through a tall adobe archway. There was a loud THUD, and a slab of stone was lowered behind it, and the arch became a wall. He was swallowed in complete darkness until a female voice came from above him saying, "State your Identity, Rank, and Approved Training Level."
Almost lazily, Talon said, "Talon Vernarn, rank 4, level 6." There was a pause, and then the very same voice came from above him again.
"That you, Talon? It's me, Anna!" The voice was excited.
Oh god, thought Talon. "No time to talk now, Anna!" Talon said evasively. It was common knowledge with the Trainers that Talon hated Anna, no matter how much she adored him. "Level 6, now! I have approval, now I want to get this over with!"
"Level 6? Well, if you were approved…prepare yourself. 3…"
Talon closed his eyes, and a vision of what had happened last time he had done this level jumped into his mind. He saw himself being beaten with the giant fists of a shadow. He was suddenly wrapped in fear from the flashback, and began to have second thoughts. Last time, he had received the beating of a lifetime and barely escaped alive, having been saved by Barda, who was rank 2, but a great warrior nonetheless.
"2…"
He then had a vision of his new technique, and how much it would help him in his training and fighting. As adrenaline pumped through him, his courage and strength broke free and he was suddenly full of power, raging, ready to fight.
"1…"
He raised his sword, and prepared himself for the ordeal to come…
"Go."
The wall opposite of where he entered became an archway and Talon leapt out, sword raised. His eyes leapt around the large, square area of the training ground, noticing several people watching through small holes. He saw movement from his left, and jumped to the right, turning toward the movement. Where he had been standing a second before stood a hideous, huge red creature, spouting horns all over its body, armed with a falchion and a shield. It reared its huge head and roared, and aimed a mighty slash with its sword at Talon, who once again leapt away. When the creature (a Fallen One, more commonly known as Fallen) slashed his sword at Talon again, Talon hit it away with his mighty sword, and then threw his sword into the air. The Fallen slashed at Talon yet again, who ran at the wall, launched off it, kicked the hilt of his sword and landed on the Fallen's head and kicked off. He glided off into the air, catching his sword, and fell…he was almost to the ground…
The Fallen threw a mighty punch, which connected with Talon's foot, throwing him off balance. His sword flew out of his hand as he fell, flipping out of control, desperately trying to regain his balance, but he couldn't-
WHACK.
Talon landed on his back. Hard. His sword clattered to the ground next to him. And there he lay motionless. The Fallen picked up his sword, then stood tall over Talon.
The Fallen raised its sword, and plunged it deep through Talon's stomach.
Everything went quiet. He sensed everything around him, as his vision swam and everything close to black…
There were screams from the people in the buildings that he could not hear. Another warrior and a man in a white robe came charging out of the building. The warrior jumped and gave a mighty swing, and the Fallen flew across the battlefield. The healer ran to Talon, picked him up, and carried him inside.
He placed Talon onto a large adobe table, and placed his hands over Talon's stomach, pressing down hard. The people all around watched nervously, some praying for him to live, some just staring at the floor, some sobbing into their hands. The healer continued to hold his hands over Talon's stomach for a minute or so, then collapsed into a chair. "I've done all I can now. The rest…is up to God."
There was a loud "BANG" from outside, followed by a roar of agony, then silence. Then, the warrior who had charged out came back in, looking disgruntled, and threw Talon's sword on the floor next to the table, sheathing his own. He swore loudly. "Level 6? For him! Master Tang must be insane… he may be rank 4, but only I can take a Fallen head on! Everyone should know that by now!" He turned to the healer. "Is there any hope for him?"
The healer stared at the floor. "Yes, but very little. He may already be dead. He may at Death's door. He may be sleeping. Who knows?"
The warrior walked to Talon and placed a finger on his neck. "Master Tang taught me this. It's called a pulse." He closed his eyes. He stood there for a long time, holding two fingers to Talon's throat. When his eyes opened again, a look of sorrow filled them. He shook his head. "He's gone."
Chapter 1
Talon swore loudly. "WHERE IS IT?" He ran around his room tearing things from shelves. As he reached his desk, he saw himself in the mirror, noticing that his blond hair was sticking out in every direction again, but he didn't care. He grabbed the mirror and chucked it at the wall, where it shattered. He ran out of his room and out into the street. Fuming with anger, He dashed into the forge next door and dove for the old man standing over a water barrel, aiming a punch for his stomach. "OLD MAN!! ILL KILL YOU!!!!" He shouted. He was drawing closer…. closer…
WHAM.
His head connected with the side of the water barrel, and his fist with the wall. The old man stood on top of the water barrel, shaking his head. "What have I told you, Talon? You must learn to control your anger and not attack recklessly—"
"I know, Master, I know. But I would wish you would stop taking my sword from my room. I hate people touching my sword." Talon spoke quietly, but angrily.
"It was very dull. You must never fight with a dull blade. Do not worry, I will not break it." The old man said with a laugh. "Now, off to training with you! Master Tang has spoken!" he said proudly. "Ok, enough joking. Off to training, Talon" He handed back Talon's sword.
"Yes, Master. Thank you for sharpening my blade…." Talon mumbled. "I will try the 6th level again today, with your approval, of course…." He looked up hopefully.
Master Tang sighed. When he spoke, there was a tone of reluctance in his voice. "You can't do it, Talon. I know you can't. You will end up at Death's Door as you have so many times, and Barda will rescue you again. You simply cannot do it."
Talon laughed. "You really don't believe in me, do you, old man? With my new skill, it'll be like taking candy from a child!" Talon threw his blade into the air, jumped up, kicked the hilt, landed, and caught it, gracefully slashing it right at his master, tearing his tunic in half.
"I wish you would stop doing that, Talon, You've ruined half of my tunics already. Do you really have to ruin more?" Anger flashed in his eyes. "You're sixteen now, I can have you thrown out! You have to take –" - Master Tang jumped into the air - "- more -" – flipped once – "-responsibility!" –and launched off the roof, landing a kick in Talon's neck.
Talon stumbled, but expertly flipped in the air, landing on his feet. "If you weren't my master and an old man, I'd have hit you. But I wouldn't DARE hit you, of course. So may I have approval for level 6 or not?"
"Yes, I suppose, Talon. Do not blame me when you are seriously injured…with some bad luck, you could die.
"Me? Die? His lips parted from his teeth as he threw his head back and laughed. "Not possible. I've cheated death more than anyone alive. I'm as lucky as they come. If Arestolites existed, mine would have to be the best of the best. But your foolish legends aren't true, Master. Most of us know that."
Smirking, he turned around and stalked off. He walked past the Trainer's homes, where he lived, and walked through a tall adobe archway. There was a loud THUD, and a slab of stone was lowered behind it, and the arch became a wall. He was swallowed in complete darkness until a female voice came from above him saying, "State your Identity, Rank, and Approved Training Level."
Almost lazily, Talon said, "Talon Vernarn, rank 4, level 6." There was a pause, and then the very same voice came from above him again.
"That you, Talon? It's me, Anna!" The voice was excited.
Oh god, thought Talon. "No time to talk now, Anna!" Talon said evasively. It was common knowledge with the Trainers that Talon hated Anna, no matter how much she adored him. "Level 6, now! I have approval, now I want to get this over with!"
"Level 6? Well, if you were approved…prepare yourself. 3…"
Talon closed his eyes, and a vision of what had happened last time he had done this level jumped into his mind. He saw himself being beaten with the giant fists of a shadow. He was suddenly wrapped in fear from the flashback, and began to have second thoughts. Last time, he had received the beating of a lifetime and barely escaped alive, having been saved by Barda, who was rank 2, but a great warrior nonetheless.
"2…"
He then had a vision of his new technique, and how much it would help him in his training and fighting. As adrenaline pumped through him, his courage and strength broke free and he was suddenly full of power, raging, ready to fight.
"1…"
He raised his sword, and prepared himself for the ordeal to come…
"Go."
The wall opposite of where he entered became an archway and Talon leapt out, sword raised. His eyes leapt around the large, square area of the training ground, noticing several people watching through small holes. He saw movement from his left, and jumped to the right, turning toward the movement. Where he had been standing a second before stood a hideous, huge red creature, spouting horns all over its body, armed with a falchion and a shield. It reared its huge head and roared, and aimed a mighty slash with its sword at Talon, who once again leapt away. When the creature (a Fallen One, more commonly known as Fallen) slashed his sword at Talon again, Talon hit it away with his mighty sword, and then threw his sword into the air. The Fallen slashed at Talon yet again, who ran at the wall, launched off it, kicked the hilt of his sword and landed on the Fallen's head and kicked off. He glided off into the air, catching his sword, and fell…he was almost to the ground…
The Fallen threw a mighty punch, which connected with Talon's foot, throwing him off balance. His sword flew out of his hand as he fell, flipping out of control, desperately trying to regain his balance, but he couldn't-
WHACK.
Talon landed on his back. Hard. His sword clattered to the ground next to him. And there he lay motionless. The Fallen picked up his sword, then stood tall over Talon.
The Fallen raised its sword, and plunged it deep through Talon's stomach.
Everything went quiet. He sensed everything around him, as his vision swam and everything close to black…
There were screams from the people in the buildings that he could not hear. Another warrior and a man in a white robe came charging out of the building. The warrior jumped and gave a mighty swing, and the Fallen flew across the battlefield. The healer ran to Talon, picked him up, and carried him inside.
He placed Talon onto a large adobe table, and placed his hands over Talon's stomach, pressing down hard. The people all around watched nervously, some praying for him to live, some just staring at the floor, some sobbing into their hands. The healer continued to hold his hands over Talon's stomach for a minute or so, then collapsed into a chair. "I've done all I can now. The rest…is up to God."
There was a loud "BANG" from outside, followed by a roar of agony, then silence. Then, the warrior who had charged out came back in, looking disgruntled, and threw Talon's sword on the floor next to the table, sheathing his own. He swore loudly. "Level 6? For him! Master Tang must be insane… he may be rank 4, but only I can take a Fallen head on! Everyone should know that by now!" He turned to the healer. "Is there any hope for him?"
The healer stared at the floor. "Yes, but very little. He may already be dead. He may at Death's door. He may be sleeping. Who knows?"
The warrior walked to Talon and placed a finger on his neck. "Master Tang taught me this. It's called a pulse." He closed his eyes. He stood there for a long time, holding two fingers to Talon's throat. When his eyes opened again, a look of sorrow filled them. He shook his head. "He's gone."