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The sun sank behind the far horizon, causing white clouds to grey, shadows to swallow everything in sight, and an orange glow to radiate from the sea before finally going out leaving only twilight behind. Though it was night, there was plenty of light on the coastal town, as bon fires built in the sand soared high swallowing the wood they were fed and giving off the smell of sweet herbs. Loud music floated on the air and numerous people were dancing on the soft sand of the beaches, singing out their merriment in a loud tune.
His face was only lit by a the fire as he danced in circles with the villagers around the roaring inferno. His black hair spun, as well as the small red cloak that dangled from his shoulders as his student danced next to him, teaching him her moves. Cara giggled loudly as she watched her mentor spin around, only to get dizzy and fall over, causing a large cloud of sand to fly into the air.
"How on earth you do that is beyond me..." said the mage as he shook the spinning from his mind and sat up in the sand. The girl helped him up, still stifling laughes from her teachers uncoordinated antics.
"I guess its magic." she said as a joke, making him laugh as they went to the feasting tables. Van sat down at the table and took a large tankard full of ale and drank it. He looked over at one of the many troupes that occupied the beach as well, playing music with their instruments and performing amazing acrobatics. But, his eyes wandered to one person in particular. He stood just about Van's height, with a very muscular build. But, his face was masked by the hood of a wolfskin. He was no doubt the bad guy in the troupe's plays and performances. He sat in the sand staring at the fire that many danced around as a young girl from the troupe came and sat next to him, giving him a drink as well.
"Van? Is something wrong?" asked a heavenly voice next to him. He looked over and noticed Alex in her new dress. His breath was caught in his throat, and he was certainly glad that he was used to her now. He didn't enjoy acting like an idiot in front of her.
"Y-Yes. Why do you ask?" he asked her smiling nervously.
"You just seemed dazed by something." she said smiling at him.
He chuckled. "Sorry, just thinking about things." he said.
"Well, now isn't the time for that! It's time for happiness, so lets see you up and dancing." she said pulling his arm until he stood again. He shook his head laughing more.
"Sorry, I've had my fill of dancing for now. But I'm sure there is someone around who would love to dance with someone as gorgeous as yourself." he said, making her cover her face with her hands.
She giggled, then pushed him, causing him to fall back into his seat. "Van, you always know how to cheer me up." she said with a large smile.
He looked at her curiously. "Was something wrong before?" he asked her. She shook her head. He nodded as he noticed the look on her face go from a smile to a half sad, half attempted smile. "I understand." he said as he closed his eyes. Opening them again, he looked into hers and it was as if they had a full conversation in the brief glimpse of each other. "You should be happy tonight. After all, it is a festival." he said standing and smiling again. She smiled again and nodded at him.
Aerika came up behind her wearing a simple white gown, with a familiar canine friend behind her. She had food in her hands and attempted to talk through mouthfulls of desert. "Big sister! You....gotta try....this food!" she said happily as she continued to munch on the food. Alex and Van laughed loudly as the wolf sat next to the girl, his tongue hanging out as he panted happily.
A man wearing a sophisticated looking top-hat approached and began to speak up above the din. The music and chatter all stopped to allow his words passage. "Now ladies and gentlemen, we will be holding a contest of one of the most ancient and graceful forms of art!" he said sparking cheers and shouts from the crowd. He stepped out of the way and there was a circle of rocks in the sand as large as the melee ring in the guild. Van smirked. "I welcome you to the King of Fighters challenge! Anyone may participate, and the winner will receive a one of a kind trophy as well as a desert made in their honor! Now! Who is up to the challenge!?" he shouted, getting roars back from the crowd as men and women alike ran to the circle.
"What do you think Van, should we enter?" asked Alex. He turned and looked at her curiously.
"You know how to fight hand to hand?" he asked her and she giggled.
"I had Whisper teach me as we were growing up. After all, a bow is only useful if you are at a distance. I needed insurance incase anything slipped past my bow." She said smiling.
"I see, so I take it you want to test your skills against me then?" he asked her smiling. She nodded and he laughed. "Alright then, lets see if my magic isn't the only thing I have going for me. " He said.
They stepped forward and someone was already waiting in the ring. A large man with a tribal-like tattoo on his back was standing in the circle stretching. "Who dares face the mighty Boris?" shouted the ring announcer.
"Drake! You should go!" shouted the girl, and Van's eyes went back to the man with the wolf skin and the girl attached to his arm. He looked hesitant, but the girl nudged him into the ring and the battle was on at the announcers call. Boris charged forward and took a massive swing at the mans face, but he only hit air as Drake leaned back away from the attack.
Suddenly, the warrior took up a martial arts stance. Van's eyes widened. "That style…Whisper…" he said surprised. Boris took another swing, only to have it blocked. Drake thrust his palm into the mans chest sending him stumbling backwards, before jumping into the air and spinning rapidly. His leg lashed out and connected with the mans head, sending him spiraling through the air and crashing to the sand with a thud.
When Boris rose, he looked at the marks on the ground and realized that he had been thrown from the ring. "Ayaa…." He said as he walked back into the ring rubbing his cranium where he was struck by the flying kick. He stopped in front of the disguised warrior and held his hand out. Drake looked at the hand, then took it and shook it without changing his expression. The crowd cheered and the two fighters left the ring. Two more took their places and the tournament began again.
Drake walked over and sat cross-legged next to the girl again. Van couldn't take his eyes off the warrior. "Something about him…" he said, then looked down at his chest. "Hmmm…can't be. No tattoo." He said, then looked over at the ring. Alex was standing smiling, her long dress tied around her waist to keep it from getting damaged. At her feet was a man that Van had seen in the pub often enough. The mage laughed to himself at the sight of Alex manhandling a big guy like him.
Suddenly, Van was alert when the white wolf laying in front of him jumped to its paws and spun around growling. Alex had also turned quickly in the direction the canine was growling. Suddenly, the creature let out an earsplitting howl that sent the beach into silence.
Everyone turned and stared at the beast. Then, the ground shook. Van looked off into the darkness for any sign of what was making the tremor. Then another shook the ground. Van's eyes widened in horror. "N...No!" he shouted as he saw two gigantic hulking forms walk towards them. They were tall, bulky, had small beady eyes, and were made completely of ice. "Alex!" he shouted and she nodded, then ran towards the weapon shop where the weapons were held for the celebration.
People ran screaming from the sands as the snow trolls lumbered towards the town. Van ran forward and attempted to draw them away from the buildings. Cara and the other heroes stood behind him, but they all knew how dangerous trolls where. "Cara, stall them for me!" he shouted and she nodded. Completing very quick hand movements, she caused the ground under the trolls to turn black. The two giant beasts began to sink into the ground, making them claw at the surface of the sand in an attempt to get out. They sunk until their legs disappeared, then the darkness vanished.
Van ran forward, his hands alight with fireballs, then dove into the air. He slammed into the trolls face like a meteor, throwing the two magic attacks into its face at point blank range, causing it to scream in agony before swatting him away and covering its damaged face. Alex had grabbed her bow and quiver, then ran outside when Van smashed into her and they both lay stunned in the snow. Alex recovered and pulled her bowstring back, then let the projectile fly. The arrow hit the trolls shoulder, immediately destroying its shoulder and causing its arm to fall off.
Van rose again and smirked. "Time to finally put this spell to use." He said as he ran at the damaged troll. Jumping into the air again he slammed his fist into the trolls forehead. It seemed as if nothing happened, but the troll screeched in pain until finally it burst into flames and ice. He lit a fireball and turned to the other troll, only to be sent flying again as the other beast punched him.
He flew and crashed through the wall of the weapon shop, the magic still flaming in his hand. Cara yelled for him, then turned back to the troll and glared. She placed her hands with their palms facing each other in front of her chest. A black ball of magic appeared and she vanished. She appeared above the crowd and the town itself. Raising the black ball above her head, she yelled and released the power of the magic. Hundreds of dark energy charges flew from the flux ball and smashed into the beast, causing an explosion that tore the remaining troll to pieces.
Van ran out of the weapon shop and was about to yell, but was halted as an explosion from within the shop sent him flying again. He landed on his knees and rose again as weapons thudded into the sand. He sighed and smiled as Cara appeared in front of him in a cloud of black smoke. "Nice shooting with the meteors." He said playfully. She smirked and shoved him.
"It's a new attacked that I have been working on in my spare time. And I couldn't attack from the ground incase one of them missed and hit the lighthouse." She said. He nodded. "What happened in the shop?" she asked him looking at the smoking building.
"Aye…when the troll smashed me into their, I landed next to an open gunpowder keg. My fireball touched it and it was instant blaze. I barely got out in time." He said holding the back of his head.
Suddenly, his instincts piqued and he felt his hair raise. He grabbed Cara and dove out of the way as a ball of white energy flew and skimmed them both. They landed in the sand and got to their feet. A large figure dressed in thick armor stomped towards them. "What is that?" asked the girl.
"A…A…summoner…" said Van growling.
The man stood with his face shrouded from them all by the wolfskin. He looked next to him where a sword from the shop landed wrapped his hand around the handle. The blade was thick and heavy, but he picked it up as if it were made of wood. Holding it at his side, he remembered his countless battles and ran forward.
Van saw him run past them and towards the creature. "No! Don't you fool!" he shouted and ran after the warrior. But Drake was fast, even with the giant weapon in his hand, he outran the mage. The man looked up and saw giant balls of white energy flying towards him. When he dodged to the left and right, it was as if he phased liked a ghost. The energy hit the ground and stopped Van in his tracks, blinding him with light. When he could see again, he looked up and his eyes widened.
Drake dove at the creature, shoving the blade under its thick helmet then twisting it sharply. It's head rolled off its back and fell to the ground. Out of the helmet tumbled the skull of a giant, lifeless sockets replaced by glowing energy. Van ran forward and yelled, "It's not dead!" Drake turned back to the creatures body just as it took a swipe with its sword. He barely ducked in time, the blade ripping the wolf skin from his head. Van stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the man without the mask.
Drake growled and ran forward again. His sword was like lightning as it dug under the army and tore the body to pieces. The summoner roared loudly as it was decapitated, but when the warrior finished, he raised his fist into the air and smashed it down in the center of the pile. A pillar of fire erupted strait up into the air and incinerated the remains, leaving just the armor and the skull of the creature.
Van walked forward and slammed his foot down onto the cranium, crushing it and killing the creature. He looked up again at the warrior in front of him. Drake turned around and glared at the mage. "We finally found you…" said the hero.