OoO( 38 )OoO

Lyle laid in the forest gasping for air. He had his back to a tree, cuts all over his body and nearly exhausted. He stood again with his sword held at the ready. As soon as he heard the beasts again, he hurled himself upon them. He shoved his blade through the back of one balverine, killing it almost instantly. Ripping the sword free, he slashed through another one with the razor sharp edge of his sword, sending its head off into the darkness.

A balverine jumped from behind him and bit at his armor, but was unable to pierce it. Lyle threw his blade making it sink up to the hilt right between the eyes of another before slamming the one on his back to the ground and snapping its neck with a sickening crunch. Another attacked him from a tree, sinking its teeth into his arm, but he slammed his armored elbow between its eyes, causing it to fall over stunned. Lifting his boot, he stomped on the creatures head until its skull was crushed under the armored boot.

Suddenly there was a growl right in front of him. He looked up and saw something else. It wasn't a balverine, nor was it any creature Lyle had seen before. It stood huge, at least 7 feet. It was pitch black, standing on its hind legs with rippling sinewy muscles covering its body. He knew what it was, it was a creature of legend. He had only heard of it in taverns when drunks tried to impress others by telling stories of virtue and bravery. But he knew they were lies. Nobody has ever really seen this creature in Albion for centuries and lived to tell the story. It was known as a lycanthrope, or to commoners, a werewolf.

The creature stepped out of the darkness and walked towards Lyle warily. Lyle backed up, noticing his sword sticking out of the balverines skull a few feet away. If he moved for it, the creature would surely attack. But he had to do something. He reached up and shot lightning from his hand to distract the creature, but soon regretted it. The spell hit the creature and as soon as it hit, it bounced strait back and nailed Lyle in the chest plate, sending him flying backwards landing next to a dead balverine. His body shook with the power of his own attack as he tried to sit up.

He reached up for the sword right next to him and ripped it from its prison. Standing up, he was immediately set on by the beast. It jumped on him and hurled him against the trunk of a thick tree, making his weapon fly off and sink into another tree. He tried to stand again but was lifted up and smashed through branches, then back against the ground brutally by the creature. The beast lifted him up again, but he reached out and grabbed the creatures head, locking it and forcing its face as he fell to meet his knee. The wolf growled in fury as it stumbled back from the surprise attack. Lyle acted immediately and jumped on the beast, slamming his fists into its muzzle and neck. The creature thrust him off with its hips and stood, temporarily blinded by the attack.

Lyle went to stand again, but fell to one knee. He tried to catch his breath as he stood to his feet again. His sword wasn't in sight and the beast was waking up fast. It turned and stared at him before running forward again. He stood his ground in front of a tree where he was attacked before. Ripping the branches from their dangling position, he stood in defiance. The beast jumped in the air in an attempt to bite him while he was holding still. But he grabbed the creatures outstretched claws, planted his boot in its chest and fell backwards, launching the wolf into the tree and impaling it on the broken branches that had been broken over his own back. The beast let out a loud howl in pain as the limbs sank into its flesh.

Lyle ran for his sword and pulled it from the tree, then ran back to finish the beast while it was injured. But, as soon as he was back at the former tree, there was another werewolf standing there waiting for him. He gasped and fell to his knees, letting the sword hit the ground. "You are a fine warrior human. Do not give your life up yet." said the creature. Lyle looked up surprised. The beast smiled. "Your face shows that you have never experienced a lycanthrope before." it said.

"Y...You can talk?" he asked. "Why did you attack me!" he shouted pointing at the creature who had now freed itself from the tree trap. It landed on the ground and fell over in pain.

"You...you attacked me first you fool!" he shouted as he began to lick his wounds. Lyle was stunned for a moment, then realized he was right. The creature hadn't attacked him until he shot the lightning. On his hands and knees, he apologized to the creatures.

"I...I'm sorry..." he said. "I just finished fighting those balverines...I thought...you meant to harm me as well." he said regretfully.

"All is well warrior. You harmed my mate very much so, showing that you are no ordinary human. What is your name?" asked the female.

Standing to his feet again, he nodded. "I am Lyle the Saber of Oakvale." he said. Walking over to the injured creature, he used his heal magic to try and cure the beasts wounds. But again, it didn't work and only reflected back on him. "Why is it that I can't use magic on you?" he asked.

The wolf reached up and pulled a black charm off his wrist and showed it to Lyle. "This is why. It was given to me by my mate as a gift. She was once like you humans and could use magic, so she gave it to me." he said. Lyle used his magic again and cured the beasts wounds completely. Once it was healed, the wolf stood to its feet again and checked over all of his injuries. "You are very good with magic hero. I now fear what may have happened had I not had that charm to protect me from your lightning." he said staring at the hero.

"I've practiced a lot." he said looking at the ground. "Its been a long time since I was an amateur hero."

"I see. I remember you now. Lyle the Saber, champion of the Witchwood Arena." said the female.

He looked up at her, astonished. "You've heard of me? How?" he asked. She laughed, then went silent again.

"Watch me Saber and you shall see." she said. She held out her arms and suddenly, the fur on her body began to grow shorter and shorter, her body began to shrink, and long blonde hair grew from her head down to her shoulders. Her form became human again, with no trace of the curse left. Lyle stared at her dumbly considering she was completely naked. But, he knew he had seen her somewhere before. He just couldn't remember quite where.

The girl giggled and it slapped him in the face instantly. "Athena?" he asked. She nodded and he smiled briefly. "You...how did you? When?" he asked stupidly.

"I've been this way for a long time Lyle. My appearance in the arena is solely for entertainment." she said.

"But, how do you look so young if you have been this way for a long time?" he asked curiously.

"When Hades here found me, I was near death. The only way to save my life was to bite me and give me the curse. I owed him my life from that day forward. I changed my name and my life to fit his, as the curse not only saved my life, but it has kept me eternally youthful." she said.

"So...how long have you been living here?" he asked.

"A little over three decades now. When I found her, she was on deaths door. Her body was massively damaged from some great battle. I don't know what happened to her, but there was only one way to save her." said Hades.

"What did you do before you came here?" he asked getting even more curious.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you. I don't remember anything before he found me. I know I was a hero, and I know what the arena is. But other than that, I can't tell you anymore." she said.

"I see. Then can I ask you two a favor?" he asked. They looked at each other, then back at him. "I am on my way to the Hook Coast Cullis Gate. It's already been closed once, and it was broken once before from powerful magic. Now it has stopped working completely. I can't get to Hook Coast without that gate, and if I try it could take me months." he said.

"So you want us to guide you there?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yes, after I got attacked by that horde of balverines I got away from the path and now I am lost more than I ever have been before." he said.

Athena nodded. "We can do that for you. But, beyond this forest we cannot go. I can as a human, but I will let you to your business once you are at the gate. He nodded and was about to walk when Hades grabbed him by the shoulder.

"By the way, once you leave this forest, you must forget you ever saw us." he said forcefully.

Lyle just smiled. "Saw who?" he asked, and kept walking.

OoOoO

As soon as they arrived, Athena ran to the lifeless gate and spotted the problem immediately. "I see." she said staring up at one of the four red crystals lodged into the stone pedistals surrounding the gate. "This auracite has been unlodged from the gate. No wonder it wouldn't work..." she said.

"Well, lets fix it then." said Lyle.

"Its not that easy Lyle. It took something of great strength to move this, which means..." she suddenly stopped talking as the earth shook. An earth troll pulled itself clear of the ground in a matter of seconds and slowly trundled towards the trio. Both Hades and Athena backed away.

"Lyle! What are you doing! We must leave this place!" yelled Hades.

Lyle mearly stuck his sword in the ground and dropped his heavy chestplate to the ground. "I don't run from obstacles." he said as he flexed his arm. The troll got closer to the hero as the warrior began smiling. Stopping, the troll took a huge swing, trying to smash the warrior into the ground. "I go through them!" he shouted as he dodged and immediatly jumped onto the trolls arm. Running up the massive limb, he jumped and landed on the shoulder, then raised his fist and smashed it into the beasts eye. The thuggish troll roared loudly in pain and swiped at Lyle, but the hero jumped to the other side and did it again.

Lyle jumped off of the giants body and landed on the ground. Blinded by the attack, the monster began to take wild swings at the hero. Lyle called and cheered the troll, leading it closer and closer to the cullis gate until finally the troll took a huge swing and smashed the gem back into place. The whole cullis gate exploded with light as it came back to life. Lyle smirked and grabbed his katana from his back. Running at the monster, he dodged a swing and rolled between its legs exposing the creatures back.

"Is this what he was like in the arena?" asked Hades amazed at the heroes footwork.

She smirked. "No, he was even better if that can be believed." she said.

Lyle jumped up and landed on the creatures back, then climbed up and raised his sword. He thrust the blade through the back of the trolls massive neck, causing it to pierce all the way through to the other side. The creature tried to grab for the blade when Lyle jerked it out and stabbed it again. The beast tried to roar, but the blade puncturing its throat kept the troll from making a sound. Lyle thrust the blade into the beast one more time, before turning it sideways and jumping to the ground still holding the handle. The razor sharp edge, still in the beasts throat began to cut its way out of the creatures body as the heroes weight guided it to the ground.

When the blade finally freed itself from the creature, there was a loud thud. The blade had completely severed the thick head of the troll, killing it and causing it to collapse into a pile of earth. Athena began clapping as Lyle walked back to where his sword lay. He looked up at her and smiled. "Liked that did you?" he asked as he put his armor back on.

"That was an amazing feet. You took the troll without even using magic." said Hades as he approached. "What is that weapon you wield?" he asked.

Lyle held the katana up in and looked at it. "It's a blade that has been with me a long time." he said. "Do you like it?" he asked looking at the shine in the lycanthropes eye. The beast nodded. Lyle took it in both hands and presented it to him. "Here, its yours." he said. "Now, the next time you find a troll, I want you to take that and show him who owns the forest." The wolf took the handle in his hands and looked at the blades fine edges. Swinging it around a few times to get the hang of it, he finally sheathed it in his sash.

"I thank you warrior. You are always welcome in these woods." said Hades as he held out a clawed hand to the warrior. Lyle smiled and shook his hand and thanked him.

"I hope to see you all again." said the warrior before he turned and walked into the cullis gate.

OoOoO

Lyle stepped into the crisp cool air again. He knew why he loved this place. It was clean. Everywhere else it seemed as if had some kind of mortal stain upon it. Oakvale and the fire, Bowerstone and Lady Grey, Knothole and Thunder. But here, here he felt as if his entire being was cleansed by the cool winds that whipped around him. He walked forward and saw a familiar face standing before him.

"Maze, here already?" he asked. The mage nodded with a smile.

"As soon as the cullis gate opened again I came here. I've been waiting for you." he said as he lifted a book from under his arm. "Come, let us get rid of this key." he said. Lyle nodded and Maze led the way through the town. They soon passed the tavern and arrived at a graveyard. They walked through the graves and came upon a large stone door. Maze stopped and held the book in front of him. "This is it. Now, to open the door you are going to have to speak old kingdom." said the mage.

Lyle looked at him. "But, I don't know how to speak old kingdom." he said.

"Don't worry, just repeat after me, word for word." said Maze as he stared down at the book. "This is it..." he thought to himself as he breathed heavily. "Inshala ma gasuvero sanctum!" he said.

Lyle shouted back the same words louder than before. Suddenly, a bell started to ring across the landscape. It sounded like an old church bell. The door cracked and began to open slowly as the warrior stared inside. There in the center of the courtyard was a fountain that was frozen over with ice. Though it could barely be seen, inside the ice at the top was a long dark shape.

"Why thank you. It's about time you got here." said a voice behind them. Lyle instantly knew the voice and drew his sword as he spun around.

"Jack! Where the hell are you!" he shouted. Then, his eyes widened. He spun around and saw the blood red cloak fluttering in the cold wind. He saw the mask with the eyes behind it as black as night. And he saw, his mother held unconcsious in the arms of his fathers killer. His blood ran cold in that instance.

Jack stepped up on the fountain as fire surrouded them. Lyle ran for the fountain as the ice began to melt. As soon as he reached the wall of fire however, he could go no further. The heat was too intense. Jack stepped up and grabbed the elongated key from the fountain and ripped it from the ice. "Now is the time...I finally have the key." he said. Then he turned to Lyle and began laughing maniacly.

"Leave my mother be! Take me instead!" shouted Lyle. Jack sneered behind his mask.

"I will have both of you eventually. But I want to save you for last my boy. You are the one who will suffer now." he said. "This is your final task Maze. Take this boy and finish him off. If you fail you will know no end to pain. I will see to that." he said, then he vanished into thin air.

"Noooooooo!" shouted Lyle as he ran towards the fountain. Stopping he turned and ran for the door. "Maze! We have to find him!" he shouted when he ran for the door. But Maze blocked the way with his stave. Lyle looked at him surprised. "Maze, what the hell are you doing!" he asked. Maze shoved him backwards, causing him to trip and fall into the snow. Lyle stood again. "Maze...whats the matter with you."

"Don't you know Lyle? He has been working for Jack this entire time." said his sisters voice. She was standing in the doorway to the monastery.

Lyle looked at Maze and glared darkly. "So...its true then. What Jack said...he wasn't just trying to fool me." he said. Lyle drew his sword and stood battle ready. Maze said nothing as he just stood there. "You coward. This is what it comes down to. You save me and use me from the time I was a kid, then as soon as I need you the most, you turn your back on me." he said in a deadly tone. "You will regret your betrayal Maze." he said.

Maze raised his hand and lightning shot from his palm. Lyle held up his sword and the lightning collided with it. Lyle didn't move back, didn't even flinch from the attack. He pushed forward as Maze's eyes widened. He ran forward and slashed the lightning away from him. He raised his sword, aiming strait for the wizards heart.