Chapter 18 The second dawn

Chapter 18
The second dawn

Once again, Rion was crossing the vast spans of the sand that was dyed in a lifeless gray shade under the dark skies.

Though this time his steps were not aimless and lost, they were assured and steady from the renewed purpose in his heart and strengthened by the company of the black beast who followed him all the way from the mountain. Despite the menacing light that weaved in the horizon, the beast refused to hide in his realm of shadows, and leave the side of his supreme master of shadows.

Rion was approaching the village; he could see it on the edge of his keen sight from many miles away. The village seemed in deep slumber that he truly envied. How he missed the blissful oblivion that sleep mercifully offered. He could only seek the fleeting moment he found in the eyes of his dying victims, when they knew there lives were no more, and that he delivered them oblivion he couldn't have.

But no more, he seeks death no more, not before he reverse his own curse. Not before he finds his own soul. Then he will let his soul decide if he should show mercy or not...

He listened to the whooshing voice of the wind in his ears, and hopped that its whisper will cleanse his mind for a moment of peace. Just a moment of fleeting peace.  He closed his eyes while walking. A fake sleep walker that never truly sleep, nor ever truly awake.

Then with the first golden streaks of light from the large sun, Rion heard the booming sound of the battle horn sounding from the village. The sound was muffled from the great distance, yet still very powerful. It was closer to the howling of a pack of wolves, which made the beast growl in alertness.

Rion stopped for a moment to ponder on the meaning of the sound, and the reason for it. He could not shake the feeling that the sound a call to him. He knelt to level his eyes with the beast and patted him strongly yet affectionately.

“Relax my companion, you accompanied far enough. You now must return to the shadows.” The beast roared reluctantly, “I will call on you when the shade is down, and only my eyes can see you. Now go, before the sun is out and the gates to the shadows are closed.”

The beast growled, he did not want to part with his master, but he was not to disobey his powerful master. He searched around with his glowing eyes until he found a large boulder that casted a wide enough shadow against the rising sun. He ran toward the shadow and jumped in it. His black fur blended perfectly with the darkness as if he was wrapped with it. Only his red gleaming eyes where visible, looking intently at Rion, then they retreated back into the realm of eternal shadow.

Rion turned to face the distant village, and begun running toward it as fast as he could.
*****
"come on," Said Brad urgently to Ellan and Kelly, "We must go now."

"Go where?" Said Ellan, still shaking from the booming horn sound and from the active pounding  of the villagers running outside, "What is going on?"

Brad paused to look straight at Ellan in hesitation and saw fear, he switched his eyes to kelly's and he saw innocence, he hated to destroy both but there was no running around it. For Brad, the word he was about to say was the one thing he was raised for, for them its the one thing they don't want see once again.

"War" he snapped back quickly to not see their reaction. Yet he could not avoid but to glimpse the horror in Kelly's eyes.

He walked toward the door and pushed it open, then stepped outside. Any other time, he would have basked at the soft cool breeze that the golden sun did not touch yet, he would have awed at the sparkling rays of light cutting their way through the dying nights sky like crystal swords, but the chill he felt behind him overshadowed all.

The peace and quite that the dawn usually brought to that desolate world, was stepped over by the heavy feet of the tribe all running toward the center of the village. Brad felt the ground trembling from beneath him, and his heart pouncing inside of him.

"War again?" spoke Ellan finally in horror. He was terrified from reliving a nightmare that almost shattered his soul along with home once again.

"Listen kid," Said Brad sternly while watching the people of the Blood tribe answer the call for war. The sound of their stomps became muffled to him, and all he could hear was his heart pounding in excitement and horror. "As long their is something precious to you, wars will be waged. Wars within your soul, within your heart, and with your blood. Stop asking why others wage wars on your precious, they must have their own precious that they are willing to pay with their blood for it, only ask how much blood you must give for your own."

Brad stepped outside and started walking along with the villagers to the path of the war of their precious. With shaken steps, he was followed by Kelly and Ellan.

Its was not long till they were close to the center of the city. They tried to make their way through the large crowd of faces that held no fear, but anticipation as they impatiently waited for their leader to tell them is their blood is needed.

Neither Kelly nor Ellan were able to see the central ramp from behind the tall posrure of the Guardians, even Brad with his relatively huge body, could only get a glimpse. But they all were able to hear him clearly speaking.

"The brave warriors of Blood" Xaun's voice was strong and steady for all to hear, and the crowd fell in silence to hear their leader speak, "Once again, the horn of war has filled the skies with the sound of our defiance to evil." a loud cheer rose from the crowd, "But I will not hide the price we are to pay nor the reason behind it. The Seers are under one command and marching toward our tribe to deliver extinction for us to follow the Eagle's tribe. They are after the half demon." Commotion rose among them louder and Xaun could sense and understand their objection,"They are jealous of us, for we hold the hope for a future they cannot see." He paused sternly, "Once again the the tribes failed to see the future we see, and refused to lend us their blood."

Silence had befallen the tribe from the shock, to stand infront of the hordes of the Seers with no one by their sides. Xaun stared at the thousands of warriors infront of him, the people of his tribe. For a moment he reconsidered what he was asking his people to do, a great price for a future uncertain. Doubt leaked into his heart when his eyes met those of his people, when he imagined the blood tribe fade from the world.

Then he saw him. Rion was standing over a roof top infront of Xaun, straightly eyeing him with two very strong silver eyes that struck the doubt in Xaun with a hammer of faith. He could see it, the silent promise that Rion made. Xaun smiled and nodded in approval of that promise. The future will be written by their hands.

"We may all die in this war, perish from the face of this alled world," Xaun's voice was once again strong and unshakeable, "but when we arrive at the eternal land of the brave, and meet our ancestors and children, we will not be in shame, for we will have the greatest tale to tell. And fear not, for this land will drink on our blood and for eternity retell our story for the generations to come of how we became KINGS."

Xaun unsheathed his sword and raised it to the sky, and with it the cheers of the tribes roared in thunder. The sun light sparkled over the diamonds of the marvelous sword, and it was like the rays of hope for his people.
*****
"Yea" yelled Brad in excitement along with the crowd.

Even Ellan who was very nervous from the idea of another even more hideous suicidal war, was moved by that ringing speech and by the courage of the Guardians.

Kelly seemed distant from all that, and only had a calm relieved smile on her face. She could see Rion standing there, over that far roof top, as if she could sense his presence before seeing him. But she could definitely sense his different aura.
*****
“Farewell your loved ones,”Xaun continued his speech after the crowd's cheers died out, “We march at noon. Every moment we lose, distant us farther from our holy goal. By tomorrow we will break through the great wall, or die in front of it.”

The cheers roared once again, and the crowd started chanting the name of their fearless leader. Xaun descended from the ramp and thats when the Mentor approached him calmly. “Motivating speech,” He said, “But how do you intend to prepare our army for a war that our tribe never encountered before in mere hours?”

Xaun lent toward him and whispered in his ears, “Have faith, father.”

“Faith will not be our salvation this time.”

“Yes father, but I will.” Xaun walked through the crowd who were still chanting his name.
*****
“Brad!” Called a sweet voice from among the crowd.

“Arielia?” Brad answered back, thrilled to see her.

Arielia came running toward him, not caring if the tribe could see her talking to him, a sinful human, but before she even knew it, she was surrounding him in her warm arms, and her rosy cheek was pressed against his broad strong shoulder, and he felt the moist of her flowing tears.

Brad wrapped his arms very gently around her, as if he feared his harsh metal arms could shatter her fragile beauty. With a voice as gently, he whispered, “Arielia, whats wrong?”

“Do you have to go?” The sorrow that was in her sweet voice stung his hear.

That pain and that tragedy that they both felt, was a thousand fold more crushing on the figure hiding behind the corner of the house near them. Who could hear both of their heart beats screaming close to each other. Who could hear the wails of their souls cry out to the mercy of fate to not be so cruel on them. Who was condemned to watch history repeats itself. “Do you have to go?” Echoed Lisa's voice in Rion's mind.

“I must go, Arielia.” Said Brad softly.

She raised her watery green eyes and said, “What if you don't come back to me?”

Brad felt her intermittent breathing against his chest, the fear she felt of losing him in his heart.

Brad opened his mouth, he tried to promise her that he will return, that he will marry her and forever be with her, but he knew better than that. He knew that promises are just a spark of hope, not a tie with fate. That promises sometimes...most of the times...Break...

“I promise you,” Rion who came out from behind the corner, “that I will not allow my history to repeat itself. I promise you this, he will come back.”

“Rion,” Said Brad in surprise, “You can't promise that.”

“Don't worry, This is a promise that wont be broken.” He said in an assuring voice.

Arielia broke away from Brad's passionate hug, and walked toward Rion. “Thank you.” Was what she said and truly meant with the last dying tear sliding on her cheek.

Rion smiled at her with such kindness that Brad truly missed for so long.

Arielia, too ashamed of herself from asking Brad to not join her people in the war, and for hugging him in public, she begun running away.

“Arielia, wait!” Called Brad on her, but she didn't stop. And he let go a long sigh murmuring “women...”
*****
“Kelly,” Said Ellan deeply in concern, “You do not look well, since the last day.” He brushed his fingers gently on her soft pale and she smiled affectionately.

They returned back to the house right after the speech was over. Kelly was in no condition to stand on her feet for long among the crowd and under the burning sun.

“There is nothing to worry about my brother,” She said weakly, “I will improve soon.” She gently patted Soupee who was sleeping peacefully on her lap.

“We should never have brought you with us. You don’t deserve this suffering.”

“It maybe true that no living soul deserves to suffer, but definitely no soul should suffer alone.” Signs of pain escaped to show on her face.

“But you are- Kelly what is wrong?!!” Ellan held Kelly from her elbows.

Kelly was screaming in pain. A great burning pain that felt as if her internals were set on flames. The pain was so great that it spread to engulf her into an oblivion world that is dark, scary, and lonely. She could see no light nor hear her brother and Soupee’s voice; she could only feel the searing pain and the faint distant pressure of her brother’s hands over her elbows, seeking to support her through the seizures of pain and out of the darkness.

It felt as if years of torment and pain passed before the pain stopped. As she opened her eyes to again feel her surroundings, and saw her concerned brother’s eyes, she threw herself on his chest and held him as if she never hugged him before. Ellan was surprised, but he closed his armed around his shaking sister gently. She was sobbing on his shoulder, but she had that happy smile on her face.

She felt she was going to lose herself in that oblivious world, but not to that searing pain she suffered, not the darkness that engulfed her, not to that fear that held her, but the loneliness that she felt. That great loneliness that told her that the world was gone and nothing and no one remained, that she was to live eternally in a void that only grows wider and colder everyday till everything burns, a loneliness that was so heavy on her heart that she felt was crushing her.  Yet somehow, she felt familiarity with it, as if loneliness was her only companion in the darkness she was never getting out of. She might have never survived it, if not of the faint feeling of her brother’s presence beside her.

Ellan helped Kelly back to the couch. She lied there panting, trying desperately to shake away the strong remnant of that horrible experience she went through.

“I know all about it,” Although his tone carried no accusation, but only sympathy, Kelly stiffened up from the surprise, “I know all about that bond between you and Rion.”

Kelly opened her mouth to say something that never came out, and Ellan continued.

“How could I not notice it? The crystal inside Rion’s right shoulder, although its form is slightly different, it is definitely a spirit vessel. It is used by our people to contain a wise spirit for guidance, or an evil one for imprisonment.
I would have normally thought it was for only containing the Demon, but I know that there is no spirit vessel, in any world, is capable of containing the ancient Demon that was able to escape the imprisonment of the demonic world. But even if it did contain only the Demon, the faint light in the crystal should have a dark red one like his true aura is, which we all saw when Rion held the sword for the first time, not a pure white light. There is something else holding the Demon inside,” He stopped and gazed in pity over Kelly, “Your  pale skin, and your and exhausted state, also the nature of the ritual you went through, I know that you left a part of your soul in that crystal, inside Rion.”

Kelly did not show any sign of surprise of what she heard. Her dreams bore the traces of that day when she spoke a thousand voice that were not her own. The tentacles of light that came dancing out of her body and restrained Rion. The details of what happens were fuzzy and hard to remember, as if someone or something kept that memory away from her, no matter how hard she tries. Only the threat of the Demon that kept coming at her in her dreams, or rather her nightmares.

“You must sever this link with that part of your soul you left inside the crystal,” Said Ellan sternly, “You must have felt that pain because Rion injected himself with the Darkmatter. The books of magic spoke of a few who were able to cut a part of their souls without resulting in ravaged madness or eternal slumber of the body. But you-There is nothing like this before, but you must close your mind shut to that link or there is no telling what can-“

“Sorry brother,” Said Kelly, “Maybe the pain will drive me mad, maybe my body will give up and sleep for eternity, but I will not let go.”

“Why are you eager to share that much pain with him?”  He got up on his feet in anger and disbelieve of why she would risk her life for someone who put theirs in risk.


She smiled back at him and said “Because no one is there to share it with him, he is just alone in that darkness.”

*****
“The army preparations are nearly done, my lord.” Said a seasoned looking warrior with a great scar across his right cheek. His muscles were huge and tuned from the many battles he has seen. “All those capable of holding a weapon, joined and ready.”

“Very well Gendar,” Said Xaun pleased with how quickly the army was prepared, “Summon the war commanders of the four pillars.”

“Right away my lord,” He bowed humbly, and walked out of the Mentor’s house. Xaun and the Mentor had spent all their time inside the Mentor’s simple house, trying to formulate the best course of action, but that proved to be difficult.

“This is futile,” Xaun slammed his palm on the rugged leather maps, which were scattered all over the white marble table, “There is no chance for us to last enough to see the dawn of the next day, if we are to fight in the open land.”

“We have no choice,” Said the Mentor firmly, “If we are to provide enough time for our women and children to escape to the nearby tribes. We must protect them.”

“Then I am doomed to lead my warriors into a certain death, without the hope of success?” Retorted Xaun.

“Not necessarily,” Said Brad who walked in with Rion on his side.

“You two,” Said the Mentor in surprise. Xaun did not divert his eye sight from the maps.

“We have been thinking,” Said Brad in slight hesitation, “That if we left the village now, me and Rion, the Seers will simply follow us and-“

“Our enemies are the Seers,” Said Xaun clenching his teeth, “They see and follow nothing but a path of blood. If you two run on your own, their army will still continue its march toward the village, and the companionship picked by Light will be broken. To drive you out of the village and diverse us is Darkness true intention. Nothing can be gained by that foolishness.”

“I bring only destruction, and I seek only destruction,” Said Rion in a cold voice, “There is no need for you to follow me down that path now.”

“Your selfishness amazes me,” Xaun spun to face Rion with anger filled eyes, “The path was never yours in the first place. The path is ours and we will follow it till the end.”

“Then you will-“

“Quite,” Shouted the Mentor, “Can’t you feel it on him, fool of a son?”

Xaun looked in puzzlement at the Mentor, whose eyes were widened in shock and fixed on Rion. He looked back at Rion, and he too felt it. And it was so obvious and strong that he couldn’t believe how he didn’t notice it the moment Rion walked inside the room.

It was an aura, a feeling so ancient that was beyond time and mind to absorb, an aura that was apart from the demon and even Rion, the aura of the immortal.


“It can’t be,” Said Xaun in disbelief.

Brad looked at Rion, who looked back at him as puzzled as him. “What is going on?” Intrigued Brad.

“Where did you go the night before?” Asked the Mentor firmly.

Rion hesitated for a second, and then said, “On the great black mountain.”

The Mentor’s eyes widened in disbelief, but then he walked to sit on the stone couch, “Then he is back,” He smiled, “The cursed mountain is back.”

“Back,” Said Brad in shock, “What do you mean back? From where?”

“We do not know,” Said the Mentor, “That mountain, that great mountain as black as its history, has been seen many times and in many places in our home planet, and it was only to stay for a few days then vanish out of sight. But it never appeared on the Everland before. You have the remnant of the mountain’s aura on you, or rather what is inside the mountain.”

“This can’t be a coincidence,” Said Xaun, “The prophecy, it must be true.”

“You can’t possibly mean those words of the sinner?” Said the Mentor in detest.

“Believe his words or not, he has the power to end the war, we must obtain that power.”

“This is madness; we should only focus on defending the tribe, not chase some old babbling words.”

“We will defend the tribe, and restore back its honor that is due from thousands of years by killing that sinner and obtaining the lost orb”

“Well, could somebody please explain what is going on?” Said Brad in confusion.

“We will explain everything, when the leaders of the four pillars of war arrive,” Said Xaun with the first sign of hope all day, “We are to put the plan for the war.”

*****
For the next hour, they stayed inside the Mentor’s house along with the four commanders, discussing the best tactics they will follow in the battle. The greatest battle to be fought from eons, the greatest tribe that will stand against an army of a foul race.

The army marched through the desert to a war with an unknown fate, but that did not hinder their heavy steps on the sinking sand, they just marched forth with a strong power that was not hope, not faith, but the shear call to defend their homes. Their shining armors sparkled under the light of the sun, for they are the stars of the sun on a mission toward light. No darkness could ever hide their gleam.

But each army need its heroes that will guide them through the darkest of times, and those heroes were at the lead of the army, carrying in their stead the burden of their fate.

“It is almost time,” Whispered the Mentor to Xaun while they were walking.

“It is the only way if we are to save the blood of our people” Said Xaun more to himself than to answer him. “The hammer slingers are gone to do their part, and it should not be long till we reach the mountain.”

The Mentor nodded in agreement.

“What is it that you are going to do?” Asked Ellan whom that war experience was overwhelming to him, “What is your plan that will stand in front of such an army?”

“There is no real plan, just a bet,” Said Rion who was wearing a black leather suit, which was especially made for him to not hinder him in the battle. “But I am willing to take that bet.”

“It is just as Xaun said, it is the only real chance for us,” Said Brad who wore on his army suit, and his Neutralizer on his back once again, “If it didn’t work, then we at least delayed them enough for the women and children to evacuate the village.”

“This desert thing is very fascinating,” Said Kelly completely out of relevance, “It’s the first time I have ever seen such a vast space at once.”

“You still didn’t answer me,” Said Ellan slightly irritated, “what is this plan of yours?”

“It is that mountain,” Pointed Xaun toward a mountain on the very edge of the horizon, its breath taking height was just appearing in the edge of the horizon In the clear of the day, its blackness was eluding.

That high black mountain that is the key to their plan, was the very same mountain that Rion spent the entire last night on its edge, fighting with his swirling emotions.

Was it fate, or was it him that choose that mountain last night? Was that his will or someone else’s? Is it just a pure coincidence that rivers of blood were about to be spilled in front of the same mountain that witnessed his rage and peace? But what was more curiously was the reason why they were going to that mountain, the thing that made that mountain of such importance to their plans, was it the same reason that drew him there?

“What a beautiful mountain,” Said Kelly awed at the scene of the mountain rising to cut the line that separated the sky from the land, in the same way that Rion’s soul awed at it before.

“The forbidden mountain,” Spat the Mentor in apparent disgust, “No one should ever go to that unholy place.”

“I swear by the great blue raven, I do not understand anything.” Shouted Ellan out of frustration that everyone knows what is going on but him.

“Come son,” Said the Mentor with his usual smile, “I shall tell you what will be written on the stones of history. The actions that will be our greatness or our downfall.”

Ellan listened as he told him all about the plan of the greatest battle…
******
[The first part and the most crucial one, is given to our trusted birds, the hammer slingers…]

“Are you ready slingers?” Shouted the slim commander of the hammer slingers, with his humped back, and his wide wings over his little body. “This is our slice of glory!! Lets show them the might of the hammer slingers!!” His wide dark eyes gleamed in excitement.

The battle cries of two hundred other figures similar in shape to x, filled the air. They raised their small one handed battle hammers in the air with its decorated inscriptions on its white blunt.

“We splat from them tall guys and sent to get to see the first drops of them cursed blood!! The cursed seers are going to pass by any time now, that is when we hammer their ugly heads to pieces, and go back to our tribe wiz their blood coloring our hammers!!” Loud battle cries roared among them.

[The hammer slingers are those who are born with the ability to fly off the ground, unlike most of us, they are lighter and much more capable of running fast and avoiding getting hit, which is essential for this part of the plan…]

“Where is our sky eye boy?” Asked the commander while looking around for him, “Wasn’t he supposed to return back now?”

“Here he is, commander Maroon” Pointed one of them toward the blue sky, there was a small black dot that appeared at first as a small bird, but as it drew nearer, it turned out to be one of the hammer slingers.

His wings were spread wide, and he was gliding down toward them. It seemed that there was something wrong, for he was swinging left and right uncontrollably and coming to the ground quickly. He slammed the ground with a great force and started rolling over the sand. His body was small, even in compare to the other hammer slingers.

The commander and the others ran toward him and lifted his head from the ground, “Boy,” Said the commander, “You look awfully tired.”

“Forgive me commander, I…” Said the young sky eye out of breath, and pale from the long hours of flying.

“Hold on lad,” He patted him again strongly with a smile, knowing that there was no serious injury with him, “First get your breath. Someone get this boy some water.”

One of them went on and brought him some water, which he almost spilled trying to drink it hastily.

X waited on till he was done drinking, then asked him, “So, did you see where are them cursed?”

“Yes,” Said the young Guardian with horror in his eyes, “They are heading our way, and they will be in our sight in mere minutes.”

“You hear that?” Shouted the commander, “The wait will soon be over!” They cheered in excitement that they are finally to see the honor of the battle.

“Commander, there is something I must tell you,” Said the boy with the horror in his eyes escalated to an epic.

“What is it boy?”

“Its their numbers,” His voice almost wavered when he said it, “Its far greater than anything we have expected. Its…Its…”

“It’s just the number of the bodies we are going to fell!!” Shouted the commander and raised his hammer to the air, and the rest roared after him.

“You have to return to the village now,” Said the commander to the boy.

“But I can fight,” Said the boy, “I am not afraid of them, I was just-“

“You are too exhausted from the fly to fight with us,” Retorted the commander, “There is no shame in this, and you did us a great benefit being our eye in the sky for long. This must have been a very difficult task. But you are not fit to carry the hammer now, just go home.”

“How can I show my face to the village?”

“You saw their numbers, right?” The boy nodded, “Then return to the village, and tell them of what you saw, let them warn the other tribes of the threat that walks our land. Rest now, for you have got a great task on your shoulders.”

Smiled the boy, while closing his eyes and fell asleep. The commander rested the boy’s head on the ground, and ordered one of them to carry him to a safe location away from the path of the army.

[The hammer slingers will be the first to set eyes on the real threat that is rising on us. Their eyes will be the first to see the great numbers of the blind army rising from behind the horizon, and the truth about this war will be clear to them.]

“This can’t be done!” Said one of the hammer slingers in absolute terror.

“Their numbers…They are…This is insane.” The terror among them was rising as they saw the army of the cursed Seers march from many miles away.

It looked like as if a flood of darkness was pouring on the pure yellow sand of the Guardians. Their numbers were endless and rivaled the sand they stomped on. That was not an invasion of a mere city; that was an invasion of an entire world.

The fearless warriors of the courageous tribe stood trembling from fear. Their flaming spirit felt trapped inside their thumbing hearts. And their eyes could not reflect all of the hordes of the army that knows no fear, nor courage to match theirs. An army that only knows nothing but one message, which they will deliver, and that is oblivion.

But who could blame them? Two hundred warriors are in charge of diverting an entire army away from the path toward their village. Only two hundred against what seemed to be the army of the entire race that never knew uniting now march with one purpose.

They have seen the seers countless times in countless battles before, but never did their hideous figures affect them like it did now. Their disfigured bodies with wrinkles of extra skin hanging off their ragged leather clothes. Their height and brutal muscles that almost rivaled that of the Guardians. And their humanoid faces that bore the sign of their sin, their entire head was wrapped in leather in order to prevent their eyes from opening…not before it was time to unleash their fury.

“Do you hear that?” Said one of the warriors unnecessarily, for the sound was filling the skies. A sound so strong and so bizarre that seemed like the crying of the land. Fluctuating from loud moaning to a beautiful song. Unreal as if it was being cried from beyond the walls of the world. Like a thousand horns that are being blown by the wind, playing an agonizing symphony that was so sad and grieving that if it was not played in the dry world of the Guardians, the skies would have cried rivers. And quickly the warriors became hypnotized by that strong calling.

[The lullaby of the soul singers, that is the real quest that the Hammer slingers are set after. The Seers have rarely assembled a large army as you know, but it doesn’t mean that they have never marched large armies before. It happened two times, and in both times it ended in blood flowing. To keep the sanity and control over a large number of Seers they must reduce their lust for battle, so in both times they brought along the creatures we call, the Soul Singers. Mysterious creatures that have the power of sapping the will to fight.]

Their grips loosened from around their hammers, their shoulders laid back, and their muscles relaxed. Slowly they were losing the very thing that truly defines the warrior, more precious than his weapon or his life even; they were losing their will to fight.

They all looked at their leader, hopping he could lead them out of that sucking darkness. But Maroon was standing still as if he was of stones and not aware of his trembling warriors, his eyes were watching the giant lizard like animals, walking among the army and singing and moaning their song while in leash by the Seers. And the army was marching relentlessly toward them, as if the song that was crushing their spirit was fueling theirs.

“Don’t insult me,” Said Maroon in a low voice as if speaking to himself, “Are you telling me that my will is weaker than that of your cursed masters? That my resolve is that easily broken by the agony of your moans and the softness of your lullaby? Don’t insult me creatures, the song in my heart is louder than thunders. So sing your lungs out, for it will be your last song.”

And without one word to his warriors, he spread his wide wings open, and pushed the ground to fly toward the army of thousands. The words and courage of their leader sparked their spirit back on fire. And the sky was filled by the Hammer slingers, whom defied fear and magic to throw their lives in mortal danger.

“Leave none alive, and spread out on my mark,” Ordered Maroon, as the raging army drew closer and closer to them, until they unleashed their fury on them, “For Light” Screamed Maroon in a battle cry and their flying formation broke off into groups of dozens in order to evade the rain of attacks the Seers hurled at them.

The Seers were hurling their Crude axes and long spears high in the sky at them, their flaming dark magic and curses were menacing to drop them to the ground, but Maroon and the other spun and swung in great gracefulness as they evaded them, while they were heading for the moaning creatures.

Each dozen warrior headed toward one of the creatures, and so did Maroon and the other warriors in his formation. The creature was huge, at the size of the Dinosaurs that once walked a planet called Earth. It was of a green color and greatly resembled lizards with very hard scales covering him. The creature was on leash by huge ropes wrapped around its head and tail, and being lead by countless Seers who struggled with the agitated animal.

“I have nothing against you,” Said Maroon as he flew directly toward it, “But for Light, you must fall.”

The surrounding Seers saw the future of what they were going to do, and suddenly concentrated their attacks on Maroon and the other warriors. One of the straying spears actually hit one of the warriors in his chest, and he fell rolling over the heads of the Seers.

Maroon suddenly took on a different kind of maneuver; he closed his wings and let himself fall while spinning around himself straight toward the miserable creature. Spears and arrows whooshed past his ears just like the wind that he let go, but none could stop him. He suddenly opened his wings wide, causing his speed to drop just when he was ten feet from the creature’s face. That is when he unleashed his white magical hammer to hit it between its large black eyes. The impact of the hammer was so great that it crushed a hole in the giant animal’s skull.

The Soul Singer let go a heart breaking scream. A scream of an animal that wanted nothing, but to sing his peaceful song for eternity, but even peace was abused in the never ending war of the Everland. The resilient creature swayed from the strike, but did not fall and tried to sing its agonizing song just one more time, in hope that peace will sing back a joyful song, but the fragile sound was muffled for eternity by the rain of hammers that the rest of the warriors showered over its head.

It swayed while struggling to cling on life, but blood was pouring from its skull, and the light of life was long gone from its eyes. It fell to the ground with a boom, crushing many Seers under its great body.

Maroon rose back in the air, while trying to avoid the Seer’s angry attacks. But they befell one more of the hammer slingers to the floor.

“May your song be heard where your spirit will rest,” Said Maroon in serenity while he was ascending to safety high in the sky with all who survived the initial strike. The Hammer slingers managed to drop many of the soul slingers and lost much blood too, but there were 5 more left and the element of surprise was gone.

They dropped from the sky toward the battle field again after organizing, only this time the scene was different. Most of the Seers had their leather blind folds ripped. They gazed on the Hammer slingers with lifeless white eyes, their steel flew to pierce their flesh, and their magic roared to scorch their skin. The bodies of the hammer slingers were falling from the sky and their blood rained over the blood thirsty Seers.

Brave they were, pushing against an army of thousands with no one thought of running away, like the legendary stories of the heroes they heard in their childhood. Only for them, that was no story, they did have fear and they did think of how impossible all of this was, but they pushed against that too. The bodies of the Hammer slingers may have dropped limbless into the arms of hell, but for them their spirits fell into an eternal heaven, that thought was the real shield they pushed behind as they fell from the sky.

They hailed their enemies with endless hammers, and every time they hurled a hammer to crush the bones of the Soul Singers, another magically appeared in their hands to throw back again. The song of the remaining Soul Singers changed; it no longer resembled a song in anyway, only an ear deafening crying. They no longer sang for peace, they just cried in despair.

[They will write a legend with their own blood. A legend that our children will beg their fathers to tell it just one more time. It’s a sacrifice that we will never be forgotten, if we are meant to survive this war.]

With a crash on the ground, the last cry of the Soul Singers was heard, and the Hammer Slingers succeeded in silencing that song that kept the Seer’s sanity. One hundred and sixty warriors of the Hammer Slingers fell from the sky; only forty of them with Maroon included survived the aerial strike. The Seers became divided in chaos, they no longer maintained their lines and some of them even started to throw their weapons aimlessly in the air, madness broke off.

[With the Singers down, the Seers will be drowned in lust and almost impossible to control. Not only that, but also their predictive ability will start diminishing before they face our army. But most important is that they will blindly follow...]

The few remaining Hammer slingers who escaped the rabies jaws of the Seers, landed on the ground just to be out of the range of the lethal army but not its cursed sight. The Seers, consumed in their lust and anger, begun chasing after them.

Maroon ripped off an arrow from his thigh, his left side and part of his wing were scorched by the Seer’s magic, but the sturdy warrior stood on his feet and ran along with the Hammer slingers. The rest of them were in no better shape,  their haggard and injured and their spirit beaten, yet their mission was far from over; they had to lead an entire army away from their village and to their army.


Like an avalanche, a swarm that engulfs the world, a tide that erases all, they Seers followed the Guardian heroes. Occasionally they befell one or two of the tired Hammer slingers; some of them just fell off from the sheer exhaustion and there bodies were stepped on by a thousand feet. But they continued, for they all knew what was at stake, and what will happen if the Seers reached the village first. Only women and children stayed there, their women and children.

They threw their hammers every now and then to stir the anger of the Seers and force them to follow. They pushed their muscles to the point where it screamed in pain, but the desire to stop was being held at bay in the depths of their minds.

Hours have passed and many miles were crossed in the wide desert. The sun was leaning back to her rest and the light was melting into a shade of crimson red, ready to accept the comfort of the night, but there was no rest for them, no rest for war, not in the Everland and not anywhere else; naïve the Soul Singers were, so naïve.

The mountain was finally in the horizon, the great black mountain where the warriors of the Blood tribe waited, where their greatest battle in thousands of years was to happen.

[Why this mountain? Why we offer our blood under that cursed dark mountain? Because this is a war a hope in winning it is merely an illusion. Our blood alone is not nearly an enough price this time, though we will pay with it in rivers. In dark times, we often tend to look in the old places for wisdom, look behind to see if we already missed the answer we seek along the path. There is an old prophecy as old as our history, it spoke of two great wars, one was fulfilled thousands of years ago, and one is about to happen, it was told to us by the first light, the first darkness, and the first traitor, who resides in that mountain…]


The army of light was in sight, the great warriors of the greatest tribe of the Guardians were there under the black mountain. Thousands they were with shining armors and perfectly forged weapons, with the memory of a thousand victorious battles and a spirit forever blessed by light. Five thousand warrior against one hundred thousand monster.

“The Blood army!” Screamed Maroon at the sight of his people. Life jumped into their haggard bodies and they ran as fast as they could toward them. The Seers lust raged on the sight of an army of their hateful enemy, and they too charged forth.

Maroon could see the Dawn caller, the most powerful and strong warriors, lined up in front of the army to make an impenetrable wall. They were all of great muscled bodies and tall even for the Guardians, but what gave them their name, what made them the ultimate protectors of the Guardians, was that they never hold a weapon, they only hold a great shield as long as their bodies, which could hold off the oceans angry waves. Those rectangular shields were gleaming in strong light as if the Dawn caller trapped the essence of the sun light in it with their iron grip.

Maroon and the nine other hammer slingers summoned the rest of their strength and flew into the air with a cry that the entire army heard, the army that the hordes of the Seers were closing in on them, the mountain behind them and the fight ahead of them, a scream for “Light”.

[“Mark the words of the cursed true seer, for here comes the birth of two great rivers, long and bloody they will be, and streams from the fake embodiment of Light be. One begins with the parting of brethren worlds and the other with the dark vessel who walks both worlds. The fate of the second river is shrouded from my two cursed eyes, yet it holds the fate of every world in its rise. Return back to the First sword, and he should have the final word. Far apart, those rivers may be, but arriving, they will be.”]

Just when the sun was to finally set, Light beamed from the hundreds Dawn caller shields, beams of golden light that seared and ripped the flesh of the Seers. The Guardians greatest and most powerful strike that the Dawn callers do when they trap massive amount of the sun’s light in their Darkmatter shields, and then unleash it at their enemies.

The light was so great that it seemed as if it was a glimpse of the sun that turned the dusk into dawn, the ground into sky, and the Seers flesh into ash. That dawn lasted for a few fleeting moments, and then faded.

[There might be not be a dawn for us, there may not be hope for us, but we are not to just fade, this is not the legacy of the great Blood tribe.]

The great strike of the Dawn callers was great, hundreds of the Seers who took the initial blow were turned into mere ashes, many more were scorched and injured and the entire army stood in shock from it; but that faded too. Hundreds fell down, but the thousands continued their march toward the Guardians with one will in mind,

let them see no second dawn…