I'm not sure if I've already thanked them, but thank you Jaderill and Dark Elven Warrior for your reviews. Read and enjoy.
C6: Veron the Immortal
They walked along the Golian River and past the Sapphire Forest, Arion, Zeya, and Forion did. They were ready for their eight day journey to the Byorvin Kingdom.
The first day it rained with cold droplets coming from a heavy storm. It was going to be like that for probably another day. They were their cloaks, except for Forion who didn't mind rain. They didn't bother getting lunch because they had no appetite, except for Forion who left them for an hour to go and hunt for meat. He came back an hour later after following the path they had taken. The wind was unnaturally cold once midday approached, and a fowl and desolate wind swept through the air.
That night they had to go on until late that night, where they camped about a mile away from the river just in case anyone had come along their paths. They slept through the whole night in peace and quiet.
The next three days the violent storm continued. It was giving Arion a headache. Zeya always seemed to be studying the droplets or rain and collecting every bit of detail from lightening strikes. Several times the rain had cleared up for several hours and then returned. On their fifth day of journeying the rain stopped finally.
The water from the storm that rested on the wet ground was frosty and cold. Arion's feet got numb underneath his black boots. The same clothe that he had worn in his last day of training with Baleiar were a bit damp, but he got used to it. Zeya's clothe seemed to be waterproof. Forion never flinched during the storm, so it was not surprise that he slept in a very cold puddle of water that night. Zeya had been wondering with the powers Forion had, if the water would wipe out his power of fire. But she knew it didn't.
The sixth day approached, and they went most of the way. They hoped they would have been at Sayler Village already, but the storm had slowed them down. The seventh day of their journey, Arion, Zeya, and Forion finally arrived at Sayler Village. Forion, however, had to go around the village and far enough away from the village so he wouldn't be found. That's also when Forion's annoyance of the golden bracelet around his front leg got to him. Also for the past six days Arion had been practicing Spiriality many times. It had been improving, but now and then he would have great difficulty. Arion knew he wouldn't be able to tap into the full power of Spiriality until he was able to fuse his spirit with a living creature.
As Arion and Zeya walked into Sayler Village, Arion got his first glimpse of an actual civilization with busy communities as well as a large village that had no secrets from the Atlantian Kingdom. People were busy on the streets, 'Wanted' posters were all over town, and wooden huts were everywhere as well as inns, bars, shops, and police stations. Zeya put her hair over her ears so know one realized she was an Elf. She also had to wear different clothe that weren't Elvish.
They started to walk through Sayler Village. Arion communicated with Forion many times about where he was, and so did Zeya. At midday Forion told them he just stole himself a peace of raw meat from a shop, which angered Zeya but made Arion say, "Good job." Zeya poked Arion in the ribs hard, and Arion had to say something else after saying that. "Don't do that."
A few hours before dusk, Zeya reminded Arion they had to go and buy a boat. They searched a few shops, and found really good boats out of their price range and some not-so-good boats. Finally, they found a shop called 'Armada Supplies'. They found a good row boat that was about two times the size of Arion, with a sail and several peddles. It was made entirely of metal. Zeya bought it for one hundred gold coins, and it was then she realized she needed someway to carry it.
"Have any bright ideas?" she asked Arion as they stood in a corner of the shop where no one could hear or see them.
"Two, actually – and they're not my best ideas. One, I can make the boat super light for me to carry. Or two, we have Forion come and pull it for us."
"The first one sounds best."
Zeya walked back to the counter and told the cash register that she was going to take that boat. After they bought it they left 'Armada Supplies'. Arion bought himself this beautiful electric blue pearl. It was in his pocket.
When he and Zeya got outside, Arion used a spell first by saying, "Liteiria." And like a very strong man, Arion lifted up the boat with two hands and put it over his shoulder. He was trying to look tough as he walked by many people, and some did stare at Arion. But no one was impressed.
"Forion, where almost there," she said. "We have about a few minutes and – hide!" Zeya cried as she saw a man, and she grabbed Arion's arm and had to drag him in an alleyway. Arion almost dropped the boat, but stopped the fall with one hand. When they entered the alleyway, he looked around in dark corners as he looked up and down it.
"What's going on?" he asked as he looked up and down it.
"The man," she said while breathing heavily from shock, and she leaned over to look past the alleyway and look at the man again who was talking to many people as he passed them, "is part of the Last Zeron. He is Veron the Immortal."
Arion almost choked and jumped to Zeya's side to look at Veron.
Veron had stringy black hair that stretched to his shoulder, with white skin that was very pale – as if he was dead. He was tall and he had ruby-red eyes. Veron wore gray pants made of cotton, with brown and tan animal hide boots, a leather black belt with a beautiful golden buckle, and black gauntlets on both hands that had the long sleeves of his navy blue shirt tucking into. There was no cut on Veron's body, no marks, no wounds, and no signs of aging. He looked like he was about twenty-five years old – except with snow-white skin.
"That's him?" Arion asked stunned. "Veron? But –"
"Shh," Zeya whispered loudly, as Veron started to come closer towards the alleyway while asking different people something. "I think he's…" But before she could finish, they both heard him ask a question.
"Have you seen a redhead Elf around here, or a lion, or a man?" Veron asked a couple nearby.
"Run!" Zeya exclaimed lowly, as she shoved Arion down the opposite way of the alleyway. As they ran down, Arion had to push her against the wall and they hid behind a large, metal trash can. They knew Veron had heard them running, and they knew he was looking down the alleyway just then. They sat there for a few minutes waiting, and then they realized Veron wasn't coming down the alleyway.
"How did he know we're here?" asked Arion, while also communicating with Forion as well.
"What are you talking about?" asked Forion, who was most likely wandering outside the town.
"Veron found out about us!" Arion exclaimed. He was trying to think of the past when they might have let information loose to other people. He only came up with one.
"Queen Phadra must have told Veron!" Zeya exclaimed. Queen Phadra was queen of the Byorvin Kingdom.
"But Baleiar trusted her!" Arion exclaimed, anger rushing through his body.
"WHAT! WE HAVE TO GO NOW!"
"Let's go!" Zeya exclaimed as she started to stand.
"Hey!" Arion exclaimed as he grabbed Zeya's arm and pulled her back down. "Did Veron think I was a man? I'm sure Baleiar would have told the queen who would have told Veron I was an Atlantian."
"Do you think that Veron would go around saying there's another Atlantian still alive?"
Good question, Arion thought to himself as he and Zeya stood up straight. They looked up and down the alleyway, but Zeya was looking sharp and hard, as if someone was spying on them.
"Follow me," Zeya whispered. They walked down the alleyway opposite from where Veron was, and they walked out of the darkness and into the light.
They continued on the path out of Saylor Town. The boat was over Arion's shoulder again, but it was hardly noticeable. The dusk sky was almost completely black now, and Forion knew they were an hour late getting out of town because they tried to find a boat. Once they got to the edge of town, it was safe for Zeya to put her hair back again and out from over her ears.
They walked past a long field of glass – and out in the distance Lake Um'Laren could be seen. And even farther out in the distance, barely visible in the black sky, was the Byorvin Kingdom, which rested on the other side of the lake. Forion met up with them after a while, with rotten blood on his teeth and what looked like fresh meat.
As they got closer to the lake, Forion started to freak out. He started asking questions like "What if the boat tips and I fall in?" Zeya was getting annoyed by Forion repeating that, so Zeya asked Forion "How would you like the boat to tip up your ass?"
As soon as they reached Lake Um'Laren, they set up camp and ate dinner. After that, they all went to sleep. Zeya, however, kept herself awake to watch guard. She had a bad feeling. But after hours, she couldn't keep herself awake anymore, and she too fell asleep.
"Would you believe it?" Arion exclaimed loudly, laughing. Zeya shot up out of her sleep at the sound of Arion's voice, but Forion continued to lay in his position with his eyes open. "The boat's gone – stupid boat! The tide probably came up and took the boat away!"
Zeya looked around stunned. She didn't have any idea where the boat would have gone. She was only half awake still. "No, it couldn't have gotten anywhere – the boat doesn't have legs. Unless someone –"
"–followed the Elf, lion, and Atlantian," finished a voice from behind them.
Arion and Zeya leaped to their feet and turned to see who the man was, and Forion did the same, except he knew who it was. And it didn't take more then a second for Arion and Zeya to realize the man was Veron, the Immortal.
Veron walked towards them with a rather strong stature, of a higher power then they were. He seemed as though he was proud and brave, ready to face anything. A smile could be seen in his face, and the little bit of light coming from the dawning sun was the only producing light, but it was good enough to see Veron's face. His hands clenched the hilt of his sword, which was sheathed in his sword, but pulled out a bit to show a little of the blade of the sword. He stopped walking once he got about fifteen feet away from them, and smiled as he looked from one of them to the other and to the other. He had to say something about each of them however, and it made Arion realize how powerful Veron must be to show no signs of fear – and it was probably since Veron knew he could never die; he was Veron the Immortal.
He first looked at Forion, with a smile on his face as though he were looking at a newborn child. "Is that Forion the Golden Lion? I must say, I pictured you to be much more cowardly – a lion you are – and a bit smaller." This made Forion angry, especially the way Veron said it in his British-type accent. "But it is an honor. I would have figured from the legends I've heard of you that you would be a fierce warrior. But I only bow to those who are worthy of it – you are not. Your adventures are nothing more then child's stories to me. After all, I heard you cowardly ran from many battles in Atlantian War – the war when the Last Zeron took control." Forion growled, but backed down slowly just a little, but he looked more vulnerable.
Then Veron looked at Zeya. He almost laughed as soon as he saw her but stopped short. He smirked instead, a grin of malice that could not easily be tested against. He looked her up and down, studying her body – this made Zeya angry, and she forced every bit of herself to ask, "What… you trash?"
Veron's sneer quickly faded away into a frown. Then, somehow, he started to laugh. Arion – who before knew nothing of Veron except of what Baleiar told him – now understood that Veron would not be an easy enemy to beat (and as I said before, he did know that Immortal meant 'never die'). Arion wasn't sure if everyone in the Last Zeron would be this menacing – and if it were, the fifteen of them against him, an Elf, a Golden Lion, and possibly the last Atlantian who wasn't evil, would be a great challenge.
"You must be Zeya Hyrule," Veron stated after his laughter went away and he was now beaming at Zeya, "daughter of King Hyrule the third. And if I'm not mistaken, he too was a coward; chucking everyone in prison who he feared was against him – even his own wife. And you know this. She's dead because of him – and not just because of him, but you as well." If Zeya was scared, sad, or angry, she certainly did a good job in not showing it. "You were joking with your father and he didn't know: am I right? Yes, I know I am. He thought you were serious when you said your mother was against him… she was committing treason. He chucked her in prison and to rid the pain he felt, he had her drowned in river, where her body still is today.
"But of course, you aren't a coward, as I recall, unlike your father. But from what I've heard about you (and trust me, there wasn't that many to hear about), you're just a bitch; a bitch without reason. Just know I like that in a woman." Zeya's eyes, her muscles (there were very few), her fist, all tightened up with rage. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Veron still had that same smile on his face. He didn't care what he said, but whatever he said about someone – Arion just realized (he was pretty sure Zeya and Forion now knew as well) – he would put them in some type of emotional state.
"You bastard," Zeya said to Veron. He anger led her to the point where she had nothing else to say.
"Elves are dying," Veron told her. "That's the only thing special about you. There's no reason for me to bow to you either, you are unworthy of it and have always been. The stories I've heard about you are just stories no one cares about. The only ones I've heard them from are from those who are in desperate need for money and don't know any decent tales."
Veron's smile quickly faded away as he turned his gaze from Zeya to Arion. He as well looked Arion up and down, studying him. "You're in a pretty decent shape. You look strong too." Veron looked into Arion's eyes to see who he really was. Arion shivered. He wasn't sure how to take this.
"You must be Arion Veldon, one of the Last Atlantians. I've heard stories of you."
"I know," Arion stated. "Your wife told you, didn't she? We were right not to trust Baleiar's decision about telling her." Arion showed no weakness as he said that.
"Why she certainly did," Veron stated. "Well, actually I found out after I read the letter from your Master Baleiar. He sounds like a good teacher. I found out you won in the match against him, so that makes you not just one of the last Atlantians and of Spiriality, but Arion the Warlock. You'll be a great threat against the Last Zeron. I honor you.
"And I've heard more to the story. You were frozen shortly after arriving unconsciously through the Atlantic, and stayed that way after millennia. Not too long ago you were brought back, and learned of a destiny that would mean the destruction of the Last Zeron. And now you are in your own league called the Pralontúr. But I doubt you've even learned your true power, the one given by the Midnight Clash. You see, the Last Zeron have named the powers – we call it Atlantacy. Your Atlantacy I don't know, but I do trust that you don't know but it'll be powerful."
Veron was starting to walk back and forth as he spoke to Arion, but kept his eye contact with Arion. "And probably what you've probably heard I'm not one of the higher powers in the Last Zeron – but I am part of it, and I'm not on the top because of my choosing. Being as an Immortal, I can live forever. There is no need to have all the power there is when you get to live an eternity of great pleasure. Just know Arion, this, you join the side of what is right – the power and glory – then it'll be yours for the taking. And someone will be glad to see you. So, tell me, what is your power?"
Arion was stunned by what he just said and started to talk. "Mine's Spiriality: I can fuse my spirit with a person, object, or animal in combat." Then he changed subject (Veron had a look of great interest when Arion told him about Spiriality). "What do you mean 'Someone's glad to see me'?"
"I mean," Veron started with a smile, "that someone wants to see you. I'll leave it at that. But anyways: Arion Veldon the Warlock, wielder of Spiriality and one of the last survivors of Atlantis, do you or do you not wish to partake in the Last Zeron, and fight for power and glory. Your name will be everywhere. The Last Zeron could teach you powers and magic far beyond of what Baleiar has taught you." As Veron spoke, Arion began to take notice of how much the Last Zeron needed him. Should Arion or Arion not become the final member of the Last Zeron, for riches and power, or for peace and unity? But he didn't need to think his answer.
"What say you?" asked Veron majestically, as he now stood in front of Arion. It was now a dark blue sky, and Veron's face and every part of him – as well as the others – were now visible. "The union of the Last Zeron and the Pralontúr, fighting side by side in the greatest period mankind and magic-folk alike has ever seen. And perhaps more races together. All we need is you, Arion… just you. Leave everything you've got behind and we will show you the true meaning of greatness. Greatness is a word peasant's dream of but the Last Zeron is greatness.
"Join me!" Veron said proudly, as he put his hand into a fist to show his might and how serious he was. "Join us, Arion Veldon. You will go down in history books forever. You will be the Last Atlantian. You have choice Arion, life or death, glory or failure, virtue or vice. It is your choice Arion. Make it good one, and choose wisely."
Arion bit his lip thoughtfully, taking in every last word that Veron told him. But then he said his answer. "No Veron the Immortal. I am against you and your will to dominate. I will die trying to destroy the Last Zeron. One thousand years I saw peace; now I see darkness and I want that fixed. So Veron, the choice is simple. I choose no, I am not one of the Last Zeron."
Veron's happiness all of a sudden sunk into anger and spite. This was not what he intended. "So you choose death." "I choose death," Arion responded.
Then what happened next was too fast. Knights ran out from behind Veron out of nowhere and ran right past Veron. Arion and Zeya pulled out their weapons and Forion was ready to attack. They couldn't go through the water – they would die swimming and Forion couldn't swim at all. There was no place to run. But before anyone could think up a plan to come up with, the knights had already circled around the three, and each pointed their swords directly at them. There was no place to squeeze through, there were even more knights behind the knights circling them so there was no point in fighting. They were trapped. The only good idea Arion had to escape was levitation, but he and Zeya combined couldn't lift Forion – he weighed so much. They could only stand there and wait.
"Don't hurt them – especially the human!" Veron demanded from outside of the crowd. He certainly didn't want anyone knowing about Arion. That meant he wasn't going to kill them. And only seconds later Veron walked through the crowd of knights circling them, and walked straight to the Pralontúr. Once in the small circle, he looked at each of them, giving all three pity.
Veron yelled loudly so everyone could hear him, "We'll take the three to the Byorvin Kingdom, where there they will await trial, and what their punishment will be. Tie them up boys!"
With that, about ten of the knights came over – three with rope – and grabbed each their arms. Arion and Zeya tried to struggle after they watched about five of the knights knock out Forion by beating him on the head. But it was not use. There were three on Zeya and two on Arion (Zeya was a bit more fierce and hard to control). Once Zeya and Arion were tied up around their wrists, Veron walked in front of Arion and whispered in his ear. Arion had a face of rage and vengeance he wanted on Veron for tying him.
Veron whispered in Arion's ear, "Little boy, your girlfriend is on trial as well and will be executed very soon. She'll be glad to se you. She's the Elemental."
Arion looked up at Veron shocked and surprised, and he knew what Veron meant. He blurted out of his mouth so quickly he wasn't sure if he said the right name.
"Aylia!" he exclaimed loudly so everyone could hear them. But Veron had already nodded to the knights, and two of them took the hilt of their swords and hit Arion and Zeya hard on the back of their necks. They went out cold, and they were unconscious.
That's the end of this chapter. So some people can get it, this is thousands of years before the Time of Zelda. It links to Zelda because Zeya is one of Zelda's ancient relatives. I guessed that Zelda's last name is Hyrule and gave it to Zeya. And way in the story the Ocarina of Time will be given to Zeya, which will be passed down generation to generation. That's how Zelda got it. Those are the only real links between the video game. Now I must go and take a shower and then skateboard.
Chow my home S.H.I.K.s. (It means Shit Heads In Control – but you say it Shaks not Shiks.