CHAPTER 2 - PROVING STRENGTH
EXT. NORTH THELBIAN/RAZIAN BORDER GATE - DAY
As the Thelbian doormen and paladins slowly approach from behind, they halt in their tracks-
TOREN
STEP BACK!!! You decide to help now!!! This filth is mine to slay!
Guards stop in their tracks.
YUKDA
Raizians can’t wield blades and here I see you with a retractable thelbian blade.
TOREN
Silence! What I wield is none of your concern… Why are you killing so many innocents… for what? Who said the prophecy was coming to fruition?
YUKDA
It’s not a coincidence everybody has been having the same dream for 10 years.
TOREN
And this bloodshed specifically… why…
YUKDA
A new law has been passed, since the gold reserves of your capital, Fralon city were plundered a couple of years ago… now every raizians head will be gifted with its weight in silver.
TOREN
And you believe foolish promises to a king who lost his mind completely! This ethnic cleansing is meaningless-
Yukda leaps towards Toren STRIKING him with his sword.
Toren blocks it and is LAUNCHED to the gates behind him. A plume of dust covers him and silence ensues.
Toren retracts his thelbian blade and dashes to the side, finding himself behind Yukda. Yukda ducks and pulls a massive boulder of earth towards Toren.
Toren slices the boulder and Yukda backs off further, gaining the distance away from him.
TOREN
A warlock!?!?
YUKDA
Surprised?
TOREN
You're not wearing your sigil… doesn't your realm punish those who conceal their status as an active warlock?
YUKDA
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Yeah… well we’re not in Selcia are we?
TOREN
The Bards will find you and make you regret-
YUKDA
Explain to me why you are carrying a blade raizian! You haven't answered my question.
TOREN
I don't follow their creed, simply.
YUKDA
And the Thelbians left you to slaughter?
Toren picks a bow up from the floor and shoots Yukda before giving him another chance to ramble. Yukda pulls a piece of earth to block the projectiles but Toren appears from thin air and slices Yukdas long hair as he ducks for the second time.
Yukda pulls a long dagger out trying to slice some part of Toren's legs but Toren extends the blade blocking the strike.
YUKDA
Crafty you are-
Toren goes for a kick, landing solid contact on Yukdas stomach winding him, pulling out his blade from the dirt and going for a killing blow but Yukda pulls a stone and CRACKS Toren's head.
Left dizzy, gathering himself he turns to find Yukdas strike flying towards him.
They exchange a series of blows getting faster and faster until Toren disappears yet again. Yukda, surprised, quickly glances around to find Toren but he is moving too fast to focus and CRACK, a flying knee towards the stomach winding Yukda again.
Another piece of debris is launched at Toren but he slices it up in many little fragments. As it disintegrates, Yukda again is unable to find Toren, then, a long Thelbian blade RAMS down Yukdas torso through his shoulder getting stuck in the armour down through his belly.
YUKDA
H…HOW! AGH!!!
Yukda collapses on the floor bleeding out slowly and losing consciousness.
TOREN
Because I was faster!
Toren collapses on one knee bearing his sword, covered in wounds and blood not only from Yukda but from other people on the battlefield.
Toren breaths in gathering all his strength to stand.
More thelbian paladins, gatemen and Casias himself, standing and staring in shock.
CASIAS
… Did you kill all these Selcians?
TOREN
When they killed our archers and warlocks… I had no choice.
CASIAS
…And … What of the survivors?
TOREN
I'm the only one standing… even with my ‘half-breed’ speed and my ‘half-breed’ razian rage, I could only do so much.
Toren stumbles on his feet and looks at Caseas-
TOREN (CONT’D)
They raped, killed, murdered and decapitated everyone even the-
CASIAS
Enough… Did you men not heed my warnings…
PALADIN 3
It was a divine… order Sir CasIas-
CASIAS
THERE IS NOTHING DEVINE ABOUT THAT BROKEN KING!!!
CasIas clasps his face in dishonour.
CASIAS (CONT’D)
Toren… become my apprentice…
The paladins and everyone else are shocked, they break into murmurs.
PALADIN 1
A HALF-BREED CASIAS-
Launches towards Paladin 1’s neck, Casias pulls the earth and creates a sharp point tipped in steel barely scraping his neck…
CASIAS
I believe you're out of order… I’ll have you apprehended and sent to the cliff dungeons… THIS MAN IS MORE BRAVE AND THELBIAN THAN ALL OF YOU COMBINED!!!
Casias turns to face the crowd-
CASIAS (CONT’D)
Understand men we are in times of war… for a bard needs an apprentice and worthiness is more at stake than the purity of blood. After all the First Divine King was half white elf half white thelbian… Myth or truth we stand to know that is embedded in our Thelbian culture. He created what our race stands for to this DAY!!!
Casias turns and walks into the carriage.
CASIAS (CONT’D)
IT’S TIME WE LEAVE MEN… tend to that man's wounds and bring him to Sortik City with us.
END