Chapter 1: Old Man's Cottage
Tails is running through the woods at top speed, when he suddenly crashes through a "barrier" of some sort with a flash of light. He slows down and looks around, confused.
"What just happened? I felt something strange..."
"Ah...he must really like you. You won't be able to leave now." came a mysterious voice.
"Who's there?!" Tails demanded.
The old man was in plain sight of Tails, but Tails was to confused and afraid to notice.
"Now, don't get so excited...I'm just an old man."
The old man was slowly circling around Tails. Inspecting him.
"You don't...seem like a monster."
(laughing) "Of course not. What is your name?"
"...Tails." replied the fox.
"Tails ...you're not Baron Miles Tails Prower?" the man wondered.
"Just...Tails. I have given up my title. And you, old man?"
(bowing slightly) "Pardon me, Lord Prower. My name is Silver the hedgehog."
"You can call me Tails, and I will call you Silver. Don't call me "Lord." We're equals now."
"As you wish. Now...please follow me to my cottage. I want to talk to you."
The two head back to Silver's cottage.
"Wait here a moment. There's something I want to give you." said the hedgehog searching for something.
"Silver, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Why are you living in a place like this?" the fox wondered.
"I have unfinished business with Christopher Thorndyke, the master of this forest."
"Unfinished business?"
"Not worth mentioning. I owe him."
"Well, I won't ask any more, but...you're not in danger, living so close to him?"
"It seems eternal life is extremely boring. He enjoys playing a...cat and mouse with the hunters that come here. Well, of course there's no way he could ever lose. He thinks that my helping the hunters makes the game more...fun."
"I see...But what do you mean by there being no way he could lose?" said Tails puzzled.
"Vampires are loved by the night, and this forest is locked in eternal darkness. He has never been defeated."
"Well that may be so, but I must go ahead and face him."
"Did he...take someone precious?"
"Yes...he abducted my betrothed. How did you know that?"
"It's what he always does when he starts the game. You came unarmed. Your courage astonishes me."
"I do have a weapon, just...not my sword. That belongs to the company, and I left it behind when I gave up my title."
"Heh...honest to a fault." said Silver with a small grin.
"I heard that many hunters have met their end here. If that's the case, getting weapons shouldn't be hard."
"Take this with you. It will help you against monsters."
Silver hands over a whip to Tails, who looks at it, slightly confused.
"What is this?" asked Tails.
"A whip made with alchemy. It's stronger than any dead man's discarded sword."
"Alchemy...I'm not familiar with that word."
"Not surprising. The field experiments with the principles of God's creation of the world. The only person who truly understands it...is Sonic." Silver said, staring into Tails's eyes.
"You know Lord Sonic?"
"I have known him longer than you have. His family has a book of secret arts, originally handed down orally."
"...Secret arts...? ...I never knew..."
"Of course not. Only a handful of people in this world know about it. There are some who consider alchemy to be heresy..."
"I see..."
"Are you one of them?"
"...No. If you are an acquaintance of Sonic, then you are trustworthy. I will use this whip with gratitude."
"Put your left hand out."
" My left hand...like this?"
Tails extends his left hand as instructed by Silver.
"Don't move now."
Silver begins to gather up purplish energy and sends it into the gauntlet, imbuing it with power. After he's finished, Tails looks at his hand in awe.
"That should do it. You can put it down now."
The gauntlet pulsates with power as Tails pays no attention to Silver.
"What was that?"
"The gauntlet is enchanted now."
"A spell?"
"Some enemies' attacks release a special power. If you block them with the gauntlet, you can gather that power."
"What can I do with the gathered power?"
"You will be able to use magical relics by releasing that power."
"Magical relics?"
"Right. Those who excel in magic can use them. I have cast a spell so you can use them as well. I have some; you should be able to obtain them in the castle as well."
"I understand."
"Right now, this is all I can do for you."
Tails makes his way to the door, but hesitates as his hand hovers over the handle.
"Silver...thank you."
"Wait a minute! I forgot to tell you something. The door to this throne room is guarded by five monsters."
"So I will need to defeat them first."
"That's right. That's essentially the test you must pass to fight him."
"What a bothersome---!"
"I told you before: to him, this is a game."
"I realize that, but---"
"If you have troubles, come back here anytime. They won't be free, but I'll have potions on hand for you." said Silver, interrupting Tails.
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
Tails opens the door and leaves.
