MUD SPLATTERED about as a young silver-haired boy clad in tattered robes walked barefoot through a deep forest. He rubbed his callused hands against his arm and looked at the trees above as he followed an older taller boy ahead of him. The older boy had messy blonde hair, wore dirty clothes and had a dagger on his belt. The two were brothers.
"Keep up, night's nearly upon us." The older boy said.
The young boy nodded, following the older boy up to the edge of a cliff overseeing the rest of the forest. In the distance was a large and old monastery at the top of some mountains, a sight that put a broad smile on the older boy's face.
"We're almost there, Erhard."
THE DARK halls spread out before him as he walked amongst the members of the Order. His face was hidden beneath a heavy, sleeveless cloak, and he cast a shadow on those around him as he moved his large frame onward. Clad in a silver-plated armour top over black trousers, boots and silver gauntlets on his forearms, the Dragon god walked on when a voice called out to him.
"Lord Erhard," a young woman – his aide – walked up to him, "we've gotten confirmation, the stones are on transit as we speak. The Guardian of Fate is in progress."
"Good." Erhard said. "Anything else?"
"The Red Lotus is moving quite steadily and is now attacking the Table. They are drawing ever closer to summoning their goddess."
Erhard stopped and glanced around then started walking. "Make sure the stones reach the ley-lines and stay in contact with me."
"And what about the Red Lotus?"
"We will deal with them in time – those self-righteous zealots and their false gods can wait."
YOUNG ERHARD toppled over and fell onto the hard oaken floor of a dim room. His body was covered in bruises and he frowned as he turned to a monk who stood at the entrance of the room. "Now, you think about what you've done."
The door slammed shut, allowing the darkness to set in and Erhard got to his feet, dusting himself. He squinted and looked up, seeing a small window above and he looked around when he saw a girl seated at the corner of the room. She had large green eyes and cherry blonde hair and wore a grey apron and brown dress that was torn at her knees.
"Alana, what're you doing here?" Erhard walked up to her.
"I should be asking you that question." Alana said and Erhard rubbed his black eye. "Don't you care what your brother will say?" She asked
"He's not the boss of me." Erhard sat down. "Besides, he's out for the day, so he'll be back late." He huffed and leaned against the wall. "What're you doing in here? Finally broke one of their rules?" He chuckled then saw her bend her knees toward her chest, closing herself off. "You brought yourself here?"
"Why should I even go out there? They all hate me." She looked down at her feet then raised her brow as he didn't give a response. "You're not saying anything?"
"You seem to like being alone, so what am I going to say?"
"You're such a great friend." She said sarcastically.
"I am aren't I? I offer no friendly advice whatsoever!" He chuckled and saw her smile. "Look, the fact that you're alone means they see something in you that they fear. Embrace it." Alana looked at Erhard then stood up. "What're you doing?" He asked.
"How do you think I got in here the first time?" She drew a key out of her apron. Erhard grinned and followed her up to the door as she unlocked it. "After you, milady," she gestured to the hallway.
"Why thank you, kind lord," Erhard said as he walked passed her and the two laughed. "You don't happen to have the keys to the kitchen, do you?"
"Oh, if only these keys were magical." Alana pocketed them.
Erhard smiled at her and accidentally bumped into someone. "Hey, watch where you're ... oh."
Three tall, older boys stood in their way – the one in the front sporting a cocky grin as he cracked his knuckles. "So, you got out early, Erhard – that's good for us." He stepped forward. "And with a friend too? Must be my lucky day."
"I already beat you down, you bastard." Erhard frowned.
"I guess you can say that, but me and the lads thought, 'why don't we fight him three on one?' sounds fair, right?"
Erhard frowned and stepped back. "Stay out of this, Alana."
The boy in the front tried to punch Erhard and he quickly blocked it, retaliating with a blow of his own that knocked him down. Another boy came up from behind and backhanded Erhard, forcing him to the floor. The three boys stalked toward Erhard and Alana watched, her fists shaking in anger as she couldn't do anything to help him.
Erhard spat out blood and Alana ran toward him, ready to fight when he suddenly raised his hand up, summoning a light mandala. The three boys jerked back in surprise, afraid of the boy who was in shock at what he'd done. Erhard frowned at the trio and energy burst out of the circle, hurtling them against the wall.
The three boys got up and ran off in a panic, leaving Erhard who held his side in pain. "Erhard!" Alana ran up to him and held him. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I think so." Erhard grunted and he looked up and saw a monk standing the hallway, looking at him in surprise.
"So, you are one of them?" The man asked.
"One of whom?" Erhard questioned.
"Come with me." The monk walked up to Erhard and swiftly grabbed him by his wrist.
"Hey, where're you taking?"
"Erhard!" Alana tried to follow, but couldn't catch up to the tall man.
ERHARD TAPPED his foot against the floor as he sat in the office of the monk who moved around and flipped through books. "Forgive my impatience, but what am I doing here?" He asked, trying to hold back his anger.
"Do you know what we do at this monastery?" The monk asked.
"Recruit children so that they do your chores?"
"We open them up to endless possibilities." The monk moved up to him. "We unlock their potential."
"To do what?" Erhard crossed his arms.
"To change the universe." The monk laid down a large book before Erhard.
Erhard looked at the cover and couldn't read its words. "What is this?"
"Have you ever heard of magic? Sorcerers? Spells?" The monk asked.
"You mean folktales? I know that I'm young, but there some things that are too foolish to believe." Erhard said.
"You say that, yet you were able to summon a mandala of light at will, and at such a young age." The monk said.
"What, the light thing? I could sometimes." Erhard shrugged. "Just talent or something – I wouldn't think much of it."
"But you should." The monk stood up. "You're more talented than you know."
ERHARD SAT on the cathedra in his castle, his mind focussed on the past when his aide called out to him. "Lord Erhard," the young woman walked up to him. "We've just received word from the Table; it appears Arendelle is in peril."
"How so?"
"We just received a raven – the Red Lotus have captured Queen Elsa in Corona." She said.
"Hmm, so they have one half of the Key and Door." Erhard said. "They're about to perform their ritual."
"If they get a hold of Door, they will be able to summon their goddess." She said.
Erhard sifted his mind and walked on. "I must set sail for Arendelle."
"But, my lord, why do we care what happens to the Table? I thought it no longer holds a use for us." She followed him.
"There are much bigger things at play." Erhard said as he walked away.
ERHARD GLANCED around uneasily as he stood in a large hall amongst a group of boys, each clad in martial arts robes with symbols painted on their forehead. The monk from before paced before them and he yelled out an instruction in Norse, making them assume a martial arts stance.
"THE KEY to mastering magic is to master the mind and the body." The monk said. "You must train and sharpen your skills – if you cannot control the mind, you will not channel the energy of the cosmos."
He yelled out another instruction and they took on another pose.
THE BOYS sat in the great hall months later, each of them in the lotus position and facing each other in pairs. The monk yelled out an instruction and one boy from each group summoned a light mandala, its symbols simple yet eloquent. He smiled as he studied them then ordered the others in the pairs to do the same.
They erected magic circles of their own and he was impressed as well, but gasped in surprise as he saw Erhard's. The boy had created three of them, one before the other, each of different shape, size and symbology. The monk was in shock and the other boys were furious.
YOUNG ERHARD walked down the halls of the monastery, garbed in elaborate robes and moving past other children who eyed him with envy and contempt. He smiled smugly, almost feeding of their hate, and he came up to a corner where he saw Alana.
"Oh, Alana, are you going to the meditation hall?" He asked.
"It's time for lunch." She responded confusedly.
"Well, I'll see you later then." Erhard walked on.
"Erhard, don't you think you're overdoing it a little with your training?" Alana followed him. "I mean, you've skipped your meals three days in a row because of this. What does your brother have to say about this?"
"Andor? He's too busy trying to become a Knight, so he can have fame and fortune in the kingdom." Erhard scoffed. "Besides we're taught to overcome the body – I'm just following their teachings."
"Yes, to overcome it, not starve yourself." Alana grew worried. "You're not even sleeping anymore, are you?" She looked at his darkening eyes. "Are sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Alana," He reached out to her, but stopped himself, "D ... don't worry about me." He looked her in the eye then walked off.
Alana watched him leave longingly and held her hands in worry. Erhard looked down at his palms and saw dark symbols slowly forming on them. His monk walked past him and noticed his palms as well. He smirked.
"Looks like we have one."
ERHARD BREATHED slowly, focussing on the energy around him as he sat at the top of a cliff at sunset meditating. He thrust his hands forward and opened his eyes, waving them around and slowly collecting energy. He was about to open a portal when he heard someone approaching.
"Alana, I thought I told you I'm busy." He said without opening his eyes.
"You know, if you keep pushing her away like that, you could lose her." A man's voice came. "I really don't understand what she sees in an oaf like you."
Erhard raised his brow and turned to see Andor approach him. "Brother, what're you doing here? Did Alana send you here? When'd you even return?"
"Whoa, relax; I just came to check on you." Andor put his sword aside and sat beside him. "She does worry about you, you know?"
"Well, it matters not." Erhard frowned.
"I've heard that you've excelled in your mastery of the arts."
"Like you care." Erhard frowned. "I've been training for the past few months and I haven't heard a word from you."
"Well, I'm here now." Andor draped his arm over his shoulder. "So, sorcery, huh? How's that going for you?"
"Leave me, I'm busy." Erhard shook his arm off.
"Fine." Andor begun to stand up. "I guess I won't give you the souvenir I obtained battling a basilisk in Gandor."
"You battled a basilisk?!" Erhard said excitedly.
"Ah, interested, are we?" Andor smirked.
"Come on, come on, tell me what happened?" Erhard said with child-like enthusiasm.
"But I thought you were so busy meditating." Andor teased.
"Andor, quit being a bitch and tell me already." Erhard deadpanned.
"Language, young man." Andor ruffled his hair and sat back down. "Well, let's see ... where to begin –," An explosion echoed from nearby. "What was that?"
Erhard and Andor quickly stood up and saw a billow of smoke coming from nearby. "The monastery!" Erhard jerked back.
"Ironically, it did start like that." Andor said.
"Stop quipping, we have to get down there!" Erhard yelled and ran on.
SCREAMS AND wails filled the halls as fire spread through the monastery and gutted every room. The orphans ran about in a panic in the main hall and monks battled men in dark robes that attacked with a flurry of dark spells. The abbots struggled against the onslaught, but managed to fight them off. However, the tables turned as more assailants burst into the halls, accelerating the building's collapse.
The robed men gathered together and made hand signs, summoning a massive light mandala on the floor and chanted a spell in unison, causing the symbols to spin and light up. Black energy burst forth from the magic circle, entwined with lightning, and blasted the monks, turning their bodies instantly to bone. The children screamed in terror as they were grabbed and Alana ran toward a window, about to escape when a man grabbed her leg.
"You're not going anywhere!" He pulled her down.
ANDOR AND Erhard rushed into the monastery grounds and were met with horror as corpses were splayed over. Erhard looked around at the rubble that'd spread, wordlessly seeing the home he'd grown in in shambles. He heard screams and ran on.
"Alana, Alana!" Erhard called. "Alana, where are you?"
"Erhard!" Alana screamed from the other room.
"Alana, I'm coming!"
Erhard ran on and rubble crashed in front of him. "Erhard, be careful!" Andor called, but Erhard ignored him and quickly climbed over the pile. "Erhard!" Andor made chase.
Erhard ran through the halls as flaming rocks came crashing down, unconcerned for his safety, and Andor became more and more worried as he struggled to catch up. They arrived in the main courtyard, finding it in shambles and the assailants rushing out with the children. Among them was Alana, struggling to break free from their grasp.
"Alana!" Erhard called.
"Erhard, help!" Alana cried out.
Erhard ran to her and Andor grabbed his arm. "Erhard, we can't save her – they're too many of them!"
"Let go!" Erhard sent out a wave that knocked Andor to the ground and he ran on.
"Erhard!" Andor called, "Erhard!" the younger boy didn't listen. "Erhard, listen to me!"
Andor stood up and panted as he looked around, seeing the invading sorcerers summoned a black magic circle over the monastery that began to gather energy. He started panicking as Erhard went right into the line of fire.
"Erhard!"
"Young man ..." An old, weak voice called out.
Andor turned and saw a monk trapped beneath rubble and he ran up to him, trying to help him up. "Hold on, I'll rescue you."
"No, it's too late for me," the abbot coughed, "take this ..." he held up small, blue gem, "and escape with your brother before it's too late."
Andor received the gem and sifted his mind. "Thank you." He turned and saw Erhard surrounded by four wizards. "Erhard, look out!"
Erhard swung his hand and sent the sorcerers falling back with a wave of electricity, quickly running past them as he drew closer to Alana. The young girl lurched forward and escaped the hold of the sorcerers, sprinting toward Erhard who almost reached her.
"Alana!" He stretched his hand out.
"Erhard!" Alana screamed as well.
Andor watched the chaos all around him and panicked as the wizards drew in on Erhard and Alana. Holding to the gem tightly, he ran up and grabbed Erhard, pulling him away from Alana. "I'm sorry, brother."
"Andor, let go of me!" Erhard struggled.
Andor looked into Alana's eyes, seeing her horror and he cracked the gem, summoning a portal behind him. Erhard reached for Alana, their fingers inches away from each other, and was immediately sucked in as the gateway closed.
ERHARD LOOKED at his hand and clenched his fist in anger, trying to shake off the memories that flooded his mind as he stood near the guardrail of his ship. A member of the Order approached and he turned to him.
"We have arrived at our destination, Lord Erhard," The man said.
"Good. Prepare to dock." Erhard said and walked passed him. "We have work to do."
SOUNDS OF explosions and crumbling rocks filled the air as Anna, Sandy, Ai and Merida rushed underneath a bridge in Corona. Merida fired an arrow at a Red Lotus member nearby and looked around in a panic as she heard footsteps above them.
"Great, we're screwed now."
"This wasn't supposed to happen, this wasn't supposed to happen." Ai muttered to herself.
"And what was supposed to happen, huh? Elsa's captured because of you and your bogus plan." Merida frowned.
"We have to go back – they're gonna kill her!" Anna ran on and Ai grabbed her wrist.
"No, they'll get you too."
"Oh, really? Isn't that part of your plan too?" Anna smacked her hand aside. "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you from the beginning and now Elsa's gone." Fire erupted from her body.
"Wait, you don't understand – I didn't expect this to happen." Ai backed away.
"Yeah? Why should we believe your sorry ass?" Merida aimed her bow at her. "Give us one reason I shouldn't light ya right here where you stand?"
Sandy ran up before Ai, getting in their way. "You're on her side?" Anna frowned.
Sandy shook his head and looked at the two women, slowly summoning sand on the water ground to separate them from Ai. "Move out of the way, Sandy – I know you're magic, but even your sand would turn to glass." Merida said, drawing back the flaming arrow.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on here!?" Jack flew up to them, followed by Tooth and North.
"You light up the flare and you start fighting?" North asked.
"They took Elsa!" Anna said.
"What?" Tooth jerked back.
"We followed Ai's plan to the letter, but were immediately ambushed – this lying bitch definitely set us up." Merida growled.
"Guys, calm down; we won't settle anything like this." Jack moved up between Merida and Anna.
"Jack is right. Look, we're surrounded by the Red Lotus on enemy territory – we don't need to fight each other." North said.
Anna and Merida shared a look and huffed, moving back from Ai. "Okay, what should we do?" Anna asked.
"Maybe you should stop bickering and find a better place to hide." A man said.
The group turned and were met with shock as Erhard landed nearby and approached them. "Erhard?" Anna turned to him.
"We have business to discuss." Erhard said.