Chapter 1
A Stranger

Writer's Note: This takes place fifteen years after the young man's parnets died. He is now 20.

I walked out of the inn. A sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky. I stretched my aching arms and yawned.

Another day of fighting...

There was a war going on. A war for the Sacred Stones that locked up the Great Evil centuries ago. Grado has suddenly attacked the neigboring country of Magvel and has attempted to steal the Sacred Stone of this land.

I walked to the arena, like all other days. I took my steel bow in hand and admired it. It shone in the lite. I pulled out an arrow from it's carrying case off my back. It was thin, yet strong. The head glistened and shone in the light. I put it to my string and pulled back. The string stretched out to its limits. My fist clinching it tight.

Bump.

"I'm terribly sorry, mam," I said, quite embarrassed.
"No, it was me," she said.

I reached my hand out and pulled her up. Her warm, smooth skin cleansed my rough hand.

"Where are you headed?" she asked.
"To the arena," I replied and showed off my bow.
"It's beautiful," she pointed out.
"Uhh... Thank you," I replied.
"Oh, I must be going," she said. "I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble."

She walked off.

Ahh... What a beauty...

I regained my mind and continued my walk to the arena. I pulled open the lovely, red door and stepped inside. The cheers of fans and cries of battle echoed thought the building.

"Hey, Ephriam, you're missin' the fight!" my friend Dorcas called out.
"Hold on," I said and stated toward him.

I sat down on the hard splintered bench and watched the brutal fight. It was a thief and an axe wielder. Not a fair fight at all. But, that how they set them up, it made the crowd happy to see a blowout.

"Any last words?" the axe wielder asked in a mocking tone. He had the thief on the ground, holding him to the place with his foot.

The thief, quick as lightning, grabbed a dagger in each hand from his belt and dug them into the warrior's leg. He yelled out of pain.

"Oh, you're gonna' get it now!" he yelled and ran after the thief with his axe in striking position. He drew nearer and nearer, yet the thief didn't move.

Whoosh!

The warrior swung his axe for the head and got nothing but air. The thief had ducked. Seeing his chance, the thief took his sword and stabbed the warrior in the stomach. He fell down with a thump.

The crowd cheered and the thief was awarded his money. He quickly rushed out of the arena and off to wherever he might go.

"And the next contestants are Ephriam and..."

"And the next contestants are Ephraim and Lyn!" the announcer exclaimed and walked off of the battle field.

I walked onto the stage and looked at Dorcas. He game me a thumbs up and I drew my bow and set an arrow to the string.

And to my surprise, the lady who I bumped into walked onto the stage with a staff in hand.

What! The lady I ran into!

"Nice to see you again," she said mockingly and raised her staff.

"On the signal," said the announcer. "One... two... go!"

I let the string go and the arrow flew.

Bad aim...

She looked back for a second and smiled. A tempting smile. A smile that said: come and get me.

I couldn't help grinning also. I place another arrow on the string and held the string at my ear.

What is she doing?

A great question that was. She had her head down and was whispering something to herself. Then I knew, a magic user. If she fully recited that spell I would be dead... I let go of the string and the arrow zoomed toward her. It stuck her in the shoulder.

She let go a gasp of pain and smiled again. She lifted up her staff and shot a zap of electricity through my bones. I'd never felt anything like it before. It shut off you nervous system. My brain couldn't communicate with your body. I dropped my bow and fell to my knees. Then it all came back to me. What a dirty trick that was. I set another arrow to the string and fired without hesitation. The arrow zoomed toward her once again and stuck her in the hand holding the staff.

Clang!

That was my chance. I rushed forward and took the staff in my hand. I felt a feeling of acomplishment, like I had done something to win, yet I wasn't close.

She whispered a spell and five black clumps of darkness descended into the floor. I felt the floor rumbling. Then they emerged from the ground and rushed into my system.

What torture it was. My head throbbed. I yelled out in pain. But, I remembered something I never wanted to forget. My parents. There they were, so real, yet so white. I recognized the situation at once. The night.

Everything came back in a blink. I dropped to my knees and lowered my head. I could not win like this. Not with this torture she was sending upon me. I dropped my bow as a signal of surrender.

"And Lyn is the winner!" exclaimed the announcer.