Chapter 2: The Awakening
His vision was blurred and his footsteps weak. He didn't know if he could carry on anymore. Strange creatures had started emerging from the once peaceful land. It seemed that the age of monsters had come upon them again. But he would fight. He refused to give in to the darkness. He stumbled and tripped, falling to the ground, his sword thumped softly on the grass but it sounded so far away… He turned on his back and closed his eyes. His energy was exhausted. It felt like the world around him was drinking his life energy like it needed him to fight back the new darkness. But if that was so then why wouldn't the world just leave him alone? Leave him to fight for his revenge. The image of that creature, Joel, his burning village, all of it was scarred into the back of his tired mind.
His hand moved softly across the grass and found the handle of the sword and gripped it tightly. He could sense life forms approaching. They didn't seem human and yet, they didn't bear the same dark instinct as the monsters it seemed. He opened his eyes as much as he could, yet they were probably only half opened if even that. The moon, usually so bright and accompanied by energetic stars; was faded and dull, he felt like he wasn't in that world anymore.
It wasn't long before he could hear what was approaching and it was startlingly similar to wing beats. He wanted to get up. To defend himself. But the energy just wouldn't come. It seemed that whatever was nearby had landed as there were gentle thumps on the grass and the sounds of rustling feathers. There was also the sound of quietly clanking armour and weapons. His free hand twitched. He heard them approach and suddenly burning in front of his eyes were those dark forms that went into the temple. They were coming for him. They knew he had heard something about them. They wanted to kill him. He moved the hand carrying the sword slightly. A rush of energy came to him. He wouldn't die at their hands. Not now. Not ever. Suddenly he wasn't on grass anymore. He was lying on the stone road in his burning village. Now was the chance to protect it. He could save them. He could save everyone. They circled him. He swung his swords angrily at a pair of legs. But they jumped away quickly. They were saying something but he couldn't hear. He wouldn't hear. He got up on his knees breathing heavily. The world around him was… moving. Swaying, how was he supposed to fight like that? Then he understood. It was their doing. They were challenging him. And he would rise to meet it. He got up on his feet, his head slightly slumped. The figures weren't doing anything but then they drew closer. He would kill them. He would make them suffer. Suffer like Joel had. He would make sure of it. One got to close and he slashed out. Their outlines may be blurred but in his mind there was no denying it was them. He madly went about trying to slash and stab what he could, but he couldn't seem to hit anything… much.
"You won't…. kill me…" he said breathlessly.
Suddenly a figure rushed forwards but his arms felt like they were as heavy as gold and he couldn't raise his sword. There was an impact on his body and he gasped in pain and shock. The world faded away to black and he fell, and fell, and fell….
He was standing in a large field filled with tall grass and wild flowers. It was very peaceful. His parents stood in front of him, smiling, reaching out for him to join them. He smiled too, small tears of joy glistened in the corner of his eyes. He walked forward but as soon as he took that first step, monstrous flames rose out of nowhere. They licked everything tasting its destruction and roaring gleefully. His smile had dropped and his face was scared. He couldn't move his legs, no matter how much he wanted to. His parents faded away behind a barrier of flames. But a small ball of light remained and it approached him. As it did so, flames shrieked away from it and the light stopped close by, hovering in a window in the fire. Scared and uncertain he reached out and touched it.
He opened his eyes and squinted in the light of day. His arm was in the air, his fist clenched around an imaginary object. He brought it down close to his half opened eyes and opened his hand. Nothing was there. After staring at his lightly bandaged hand he heard a hearty laugh. He looked up confused and saw a man standing in some kind of doorway, he was grinning at him. He suddenly realised he wasn't in the open anymore and sat up in panic and looked around.
"Easy kid, you're safe here."
"Where am I?" He demanded angrily.
"The City of Wyndia. Relax kid!" The man laughed.
Ryu kicked off the covers. He didn't like it, not knowing where he was. He didn't like it one bit. He swung his feet around and got up to walk out but stumbled immediately and almost fell but the man rushed forward to catch him. It was then he noticed gleaming white wings. His eyes widened as he stared at them. Then it reminded him, he was thinking about wings not too long ago…
The man sat him back on the bed and sighed.
"Calm down kid! …What? Fascinated by these things?" He asked pointing to his wings.
Ryu got rid of the shocked look on his face. He didn't appreciate being called 'kid'. But the man laughed anyway.
"Have you been living under a rock or something? All Wydians have wings!"
"…All…?"
His father had wings, could that possibly mean…?
"But living under a rock or no…" The guard laughed but not as heartily, "You sure did put up a fight against our scouts!"
"Scouts?" Ryu asked, feeling very confused.
"Yeah… you... don't remember, do you?"
Ryu shook his head. What did happen before he came to this City? He certainly didn't remember going to Wyndia. But before that, after he left the village… he remembered… something… distant figures and muffled words… Was there a fight? Of course there was, monsters were crawling around everywhere. But…
"You should rest up some more… you were really beaten up. It's lucky our Princess still knows white magic. What happened to you anyway, you don't look like you come from around here…"
He looked up at the man, Ryu's face void of emotion.
"My village was attacked."
The man's eyes widened in shock and surprise.
"I... I'm sorry to hear that… It was… attacked by monsters?" He asked uncertainly.
Ryu felt fury bubbling up inside of him.
"Dragons." He said darkly.
The man's face almost paled, but his expression was almost angry.
"So the rumours were true… His Majesty should be very interested in hearing this. Listen kid," the man said placing a heavy hand on Ryu's shoulder. "If what you say is true, then you should explain your story in detail to His Majesty. But your health comes first, so rest well. Our medical staff shall do what they can to heal your wounds. I'll be back."
Ryu said nothing as the man nodded to him in encouragement and walked out. He didn't know if he was in the mood to relay his story. He definitely wasn't in the mood to rest either. However, he knew nothing about those dragons or… knights. It would probably be best to gather information first. As the dumb old Elder used to always say, 'knowledge is power'. He smiled half-heartedly. He was thinking about home already.
Ignoring the dull aching all over his body, he got up and looked around the room. It was simple, tidy, clean. It had to be if it were to hold sick or injured people. He looked to a small chair nearby; there was a sword (his sword?) in a scabbard and a new set of clothes. They were almost asking him to leave. He looked down at his torn clothes and decided it would be better to change. And so he did. He sauntered over and picked up the clothes on the chair. But under them lay the dagger. Ryu narrowed his eyes in anger and sadness. Was the village destroyed… for the dagger? It seemed a little… drastic. Shifting the clothes under his left arm, he picked it up and examined it again with his right. He assumed an average dagger was plain, so the dagger he held in his hand would be unique for the dragon. He then wondered… dragons attacking a village for a dagger with a dragon carving… the connection was a little obvious but there was still something off. He just couldn't put his finger on it.
He finished changing and already he was feeling refreshed. So there was no harm in a quiet wander around. He opened the door to his small room and almost stumbled backwards when he saw the massive layout of the building he was in. He gawked at the extravagant designs, shining ornaments and expensive looking paintings. Then he remembered the man saying something about a princess and healing arts. Did that mean he was in the actual castle or palace? Well, that was something. He grinned sheepishly at himself and quietly shut the door behind him. He carried the dagger at his side and the sword with a new scabbard on his back, and felt a little out of place. It was surprisingly quiet for the home of royalty, he imagined it to be bustling with servants and guards but there were a mere few maids walking about and one or two guards at designated spots.
Note: will update this chapter soon, just thought I'd give you guys something to read first, seeing as you have been waiting for a century and a half!
