*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
The sound of a blacksmiths hammer was clanging and reverberating throughout a total and complete black.
It’s so hot…
oh, everything is on fire. The buildings, the forest, the animals, the people, everything
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
I’m scared… am I gonna die? Why!? I don’t want to die! I’m…
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
I’m…
…What am I?
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
Who am I? Where am I?
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
“RISE N’ SHINE BOY!” A deep voice with a rich timber bellowed.
“WHO AM I!” A young boy shouted as he sat up in a cold sweat.
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
*TSSSSSSSSS
“Still having that nightmare huh?” The man asked as he dunked his latest creation into a bucket of emulsified saltwater and various animal fats.
The boy and the man were both in a quaint blacksmithing forge.
The forge had an open wall for patrons to walk in, plus the smithy was lit constantly; even in the winter months, so the smithy is a place for the community to commune so an open wall is convenient for everyone.
Kenny was sleeping in the back of the smithy right next to the forge so he can feel some warmth through the night from the last embers of the workday.
All up the back wall, where Kenny sleeps, the wall is completely covered in suffocating black soot from roof nearly to the floor. Tools as well. Tools of every sort, shape and size covered the back wall nearly as much as the soot.
Down on the ground next to Kenny was a bellow. A machine that blows air so as to raise the temperature of the fire in the forge. Next to the bellower was the forge itself, which was now housing a couple of logs and a full on inferno in lieu of the embers that Kenny fell asleep next to.
The anvil was stood right in front of the forge for convenience, as well as the aforementioned dirty looking bucket of saltwater and animal fat right next to the anvil.
In the middle of the room, there is a work table. It’s long, wooden, and rectangular. Originally it was a bright brown, almost a white wood, but now, like everything else in the forge; it is totally covered in a layer of black soot making it look a table made of ironwood when really it was just oak.
The table top was adorned with every kind of hammer you could think of, in any shape you could think of (that is appropriate for a hammer of course.)
As well as holding hammers, the table also doubles as a divide between the master blacksmith and his patrons. It stands as a clear indication to customers; a line you clearly should not and cannot cross. Lest you be invited.
“You keep lighting the forge and hammering away all while I’m still sleeping, It’s no wonder I keep having that nightmare old man.” The young man retorted.
“HAHAHA I guess you could have a point there! Your astuteness has always surprised me Kenny.”
Elexious, The blacksmith is a short and stout man. He’s built like a tree stump that was cut at waist height by a normal sized human man, although he is a human man himself. Many mistake him for a race of beings that are much shorter than humans but still have human traits. These people are called the Dorx.(plural for Dor; pronounced doors, not dorks) He had short wavy greasy black hair that was seemingly always tussled with bits of grey sprinkled in. His beard was a sight to behold. It effectively covered two thirds of the mans face with his mouth completely hidden.
Kenny, the young man on the floor, was already nearly as tall as Elexious, at the age of 12.
His hair is medium length and a light brown; almost dirty blonde in color. While having no specific hairstyle his hair was wavy, and tussled.
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
“Why don’t you go fetch some more wood for the forge boy?” Elexious suggested to the sleepy eyed Kenny. “We’re low; nearly none is left.” He said without even looking up from work.
*KANG* *KANG* *KANG* *TING*
Kenny eyed the robust pile of lumber in the corner that could surely last weeks but he knew what Elexious was referring to.
Elexious was referring to the community pile.
Kenny is actually the sole proprietor of the entire villages wood purposes; from wood for - firewood, boats, and even houses and construction purposes. He has been for 6 years. Elexious even pays him dividends ( in food and other goods) sometimes.
So, Kenny got up, got ready and set out to the woods just north of the small village they live in.
By now Kenny was keen to the old man’s word games. The chopped wood certainly is for the forge and the community, but the act of chopping was for Kenny’s benefit.
The village where Elexious and Kenny reside is called ‘Conifer Terra Forma’ or CTF; most just refer to it as ‘Conifer’ for short. Conifer is Kenny’s entire world. For the past 12 years Kenny has only ever known CTF, the beach and bay it is built upon and the dark wood to the north. As far as Kenny is concerned, that is the entirety of the world. Curiosity has yet to touch this boys heart but it still just may.
So, Kenny strode out of the outskirts of town into the dark wood whose entrance was a trail sheltered by the treetops on either side of the trail making a natural tree tunnel.
Kenny was going to the usual spot he goes to for chopping wood; a secret spot; about one and a quarter mile into the dark wood there is a fork in the trail, with a wooden sign that pointed down the left trail and the other pointed down the right trail. The sign pointing to the left read “Great Falls” and the other pointing to the right, simply said “death”, naturally, Kenny’s wood chopping area was down the “death” trail.
As Kenny strolled down the trail with an empty log carrier on his back he wondered;
I wonder where this trail leads that the sign must say ‘death’?
Eventually, on the left side of the death trail there was a familiar beaten down and trodden game trail that Kenny had blazed himself…well not just hisself.
It was about 6 years ago when Kenny first discovered his wood chopping and training area. It was a rather peculiar discovery. And as he walked down this trail like he probably has a thousand times before, he also walked down memory-lane and thought about the very first time he came to this place 6 years ago.
*** *** ***
(*** *** *** signifies the beginning and end of a memory)
One day when planning to go for a wash at the great falls Kenny saw a doe at the crossroads eating the sprouts and mushrooms that grew from the base of the sign post that had the ‘Great falls’ and ‘death’ signs. Finally, it noticed Kenny. He assumed when he locked eyes with it, that it would bound away into the brush never to be seen again, but it did not bound. Nor did it run or even walk away. It turned away from him and then turned its head back to look at Kenny as if to say “Will you come?” And then it began down the death trail.
Despite this seemingly obvious bad omen Kenny of course ignored all ‘signs’ (pun intended) and followed the majestic beast down the ‘death’ trail.
After following the doe for a number of minutes the doe slowed down and trying not to spook it Kenny slowed and stopped as well, keeping the distance consistent between them. The doe turned to look at Kenny again and then it looked off-trail into the thick and tall brush then back to Kenny; as if to say ‘I’m going that way now, follow if you can.’ It turned back away and frictionlessly, effortlessly, walked into the brush as if the thorns and the many other uncomfortable things in there did not bother or hurt the doe at all. The way the doe walked seemed truly divine.
After snapping out of his awestricken state Kenny pulled out his log cutting axe and began to clear away the brush and followed the doe.
After following the doe for a while there was a moment where Kenny lost the doe. He couldn’t hear it walking through the brush anymore, and lost sight of its bright brown fur amongst the thick greens and dark browns.
Becoming more and more worried he had lost the doe; Kenny kept slashing and slashing at the tall brush and reeds until eventually, Kenny swiftly swung down his axe and was met with no resistance, and he had found he had stumbled into a serene glade.
The deer was now just grazing underneath a single huge oak tree, that sprouted directly in the middle of this huge glade, with smaller, skinnier trees strewn all about the glade’s edge.
This time the deer immediately noticed Kenny and bounded away like a normal deer; as if it were enchanted to lead Kenny there before and was suddenly released of the spell when it had completed its task.
“Hey wait!” Kenny yelled to the beast in futility.
“What the hell?” Kenny began to wonder aloud.
“I don’t even know where I am now…” Kenny thought aloud as he looked around the massive glade. “but this place is amazing! I never knew a place like this ever existed in the dark wood. I wonder if this is a natural glade or if people cleared this area out?” Kenny just shrugged as he soon realized that thinking on the past is futile and pointless as he will never really know. “This place is perfect to do my wood chopping. It’s peaceful, full of trees, and it’s a bit further of a walk back to the village so that takes care of my secret cardio part of training at the same time as the anaerobic part! I like it!” (At this point in time Kenny had already been chopping wood for nearly 2 years. Kenny had also already figured out that the wood chopping Elexious was having him do was actually anaerobic exercise to make his little body stronger, and for the past 6 months Kenny had took it upon himself to do aerobic exercises as well and decided he would run the distance to the sign at the fork in the dark wood and back to the outskirts of the village and continue counterclockwise along the outskirts of Conifer. That way (counter-clockwise or south-west) from the dark wood entrance goes slightly downhill for about 5 miles all the way down to the beach where Kenny would finally take a rest before going back home. Kenny has been doing this run plus the woodchopping and carrying the heavy load of wood all the way back to the smithy nearly every day ever since but he would never do them both in the same day. He would do either one or the other. He would take one or two days off maximum from the wood chopping but he never skipped his run.)
So eventually, Kenny decided to just retrace his steps back to the sign at the fork and go to the waterfall for his originally planned washing feeling anxious to get his next training session started at his new training grounds.
*** *** ***
Snapping out of it Kenny realized he was finally at the glade and so began to chop down the tree nearest to the huge oak, whose limbs and leaves shaded Kenny and his log chopping stump.
He began by making his notch cut on the tree; first he made a few deep horizontal cuts then he made a downward angled cut to chop out an acute angle about a third of the way through the tree. He then proceeded to the opposite side of the notch cut he just made and began to make his felling cut. It only took a couple of horizontal swings until-
*CRRRACK*
Kenny looked up and stepped into the safe area; perpendicular to the cuts he just made so he’s not killed by the falling tree.
It wasn’t a big tree but its limbs and trunk were the perfect size to chop into for firewood.
He began by undressing the tree by cutting all the branches off and then began to chop sections starting at the top of the tree going down. Whenever demanded; Kenny would only undress the trees and cut the thin tips of the tops of the trees for making logs and those logs would be saved for construction purposes.
One tree typically gave Kenny about 1-1.5 cords of wood. This tree in particular gave Kenny half a cord of firewood, which doesn’t seem like a lot but half a cord still yields roughly 1,000-1,500 lbs of firewood depending on the wood type and moisture content in the wood and during this time of year there is plenty of moisture in the trees.
Soon his firewood carrier began to fill. When it was finally full he lifted it into his back and left everything as is, as his wood carrier could only hold so much; Kenny has to make multiple trips to the smithy and back to the glade to transport the entirety of the cord.
Kenny walked back over to the game trail and just then a doe appeared before him.
Startled by its sudden appearance Kenny let out a yelp. However to the surprise of Kenny, the doe did not even budge an inch. It just looked Kenny dead in the eyes. It was not afraid of Kenny’s presence.
It took a step toward Kenny. Then another. It’s very deliberate steps made it seem like it was testing Kenny; to see what he would do when it approached him. That’s what it seemed like anyway.
It kept taking steps until eventually it actually passed right by Kenny, walking into the glade; slowly and all the while keeping an eye on the young man.
At this point Kenny was looking back over his shoulder at the doe and the doe over its shoulder at Kenny.
Then it motioned with its head for Kenny to follow. A little surprised, but not really; as this was a familiar experience, Kenny turned around and began to follow the doe back into the glade. Once the doe realized Kenny was following, it walked all the way over to the far side of the glade. It walked right up to the edge of the woods, and right as Kenny caught up with it, it walked right into the thickets and disappeared from view, from existence.
Just when Kenny was about to write the whole experience off as him going mad, he heard something.
Something strange, something peculiar, something out of place.
Kenny heard the rumbling and mumbling of men talking. Kenny crouched down and crawled into the brush, and found a party of men taking a break by the great waterfall. The glade is settled on a plateau high above the great falls. At the foot of the great falls looking up, the water falls from about 100 feet up, but on the right side of the cliff that the waterfall falls from, rises up for about 80 feet. And in the shrubbery; young eyes gazed down to find out who or what was making all that commotion.
But what saw, he did not recognize. The voices nor faces of these men that Kenny spied on seemed familiar to him.
He couldn’t even understand what they were saying!
These men aren’t from Conifer?! How is that even possible?!?! They could be from across the ocean but these men are traveling south from north and they’re speaking some gibberish language that I cannot understand.
These men are strange. They give me a bad feeling. They are carrying so many weapons. Each man is armed. They have rations for months. And their clothes are strange as well. Some bits are shiny like metal. It’s strange but it would protect one allot better than just leather alone, that’s for sure.
This isn’t good. It can’t be. I’ve gotta get back and warn everyone.
Meanwhile down by the waterfall…
“Lord…” a normal looking soldier said to a well decorated man in a peculiar language.
“Where.” The well dressed man replied.
“ Up in that tree line, above and across the river.” The soldier replied.
“That disturbs me. Kestyk (this worlds version of a king or ruler) Romero’s post said that this village would likely have no spies as they have no knowledge of the current state of the world.” The leader said.
“I do not think it was a spy my lord.”
“ A coincidence then?”
The man nodded in affirmation.
“Still… follow them. They will warn all of Conifer; I’m sure of it. But be wary; this could be a trap set up by that sly Romero. I don’t trust that fat rat as far as I could carry him!” The leader commanded.
Back up in the tree line…
Kenny was confounded. He had never seen men like this in his entire life and as far as he knew, his village was the only one in the entire world.
Elexious had told me of another village that was; unlike ours, big, wealthy, and powerful but I only ever thought of it as a story; a legend, just a myth.
Kenny began to feel an overwhelming sense of fear envelop him.
Without any further delay Kenny dashed as fast as he could out of the bushes, through the glade, back onto the the death trail and and continued running down the trail back to CTF as fast as he possibly could.
Kenny ran like the wind. The greenery of the woods passed by in a green blur. Low hanging branches and sections of the trail that are botanically overgrown would occasionally whip and scratch at Kenny’s face as he ran but he did not slow nor hesitate. He didn’t know for sure, but Kenny could feel in his gut that his entire world is in extreme danger.
As Kenny ran as fast as he could; he was so focused that he did not notice that a shadow was following him. At any rate it did not matter to him or at all really. Kenny’s mission was the same whether he knew of the tail or not. He had to get back to CTF to warn every one of the impending danger.
As he burst through the exit of the dark wood he could just see the tips of the buildings of the village off in the distance, and Kenny instantly began to scan the village outskirts for people. Even out of breath, Kenny picked up his pace.
As he came closer to the village Kenny could make out some women and children just outside the town outskirts working in the village fields, and as Kenny approached they all looked up from working and playing to stare at the boy sprinting with all his might.
“Hey look it’s Kenny!” One of the children shouted as they began to realize who it was.
“My, he looks terrified.” One of the women stated wiping the sweat from her brow, leaving a dirt smear, and standing her plowing hoe up on its end.
As Kenny approached, everyone in the field converged to where Kenny was to see why he was sprinting and terrified.
“What’s going on Kenny?” One of the women asked with a concerned look on her face as she saw the concern on Kenny’s
As Kenny tried to catch his breath one of the little ones jumped into his gut.
“Come play with us Kenny! We’re playing siege and we want you to be the hero again!” One of the children asked excitedly.
Kenny, overwhelmed with distress, glanced briefly at the child, struggling to find the words to comfort them. With his mind consumed by pressing concerns and gasping for breath, he managed to speak, interrupted by each inhale.
“Strange men,” he gasped, pointing back towards the dark woods bent over with one hand on his knee
“At least thirty...coming from the Great Falls.” Kenny finished now with both hands on his knees and head hanging desperately trying to catch his breath.
“Stand up tall Kenny, stick your chest out and put your hands on your head.” The woman said with a calm voice.
Without thinking much about it Kenny complied.
Hey, I’m catching my breath a lot easier now! Kenny thought to himself. He looked up to the woman to thank her for her wise counsel.
But when Kenny looked up at the woman a darkness had fell upon her face, and she was glaring at the tree line intensely. It froze Kenny and he found no words as he forgot what he was going to say.
“Kenny go and find and tell Elexious of this matter and tell everyone you see on the way. All you children you do the same and then find a safe place to hide and DO NOT come out unless one of us villagers tell you to. Ladies with me!”
All the women that were in the field were now stoned faced, attentive and ready. Nothing like Kenny has ever seen on the faces of these women ever before in his life.
“NOW LETS GO!” The woman who Kenny was talking to shouted and all the women sprang into action running back toward the village to do whatever it is that they plan on doing. The children ran and went into hiding on the south side of the village. The coast is craggy and there are many crevices and caves to hide away in, so most if not all, went there to a certain cave.
Meanwhile Kenny ran into the village as well. Restlessly and feverishly Kenny ran through the village. Buildings and faces blurred and all the while, Kenny scanned places and people searching for Elexious, on his way back to the smithy.
Kenny finally spots Elexious at the smithy (of course) talking to a patron. As Elexious spots Kenny sprinting through the village up to the smithy and with no fire wood Elexious knew something was wrong and put his hand up to the patron who then turned to see Kenny running up to them.
“What’s wrong boy!?” Elexious asked just as Kenny approached with a concerned look on his face.
“The village is in danger!” Kenny managed to say through labored breaths and pointing back toward the dark wood.
That was when Elexious had begun to notice the ruckus going on the village. People running around hiding their belongings. Men and women alike were getting their armor and weapons ready for battle. Others brushed their horses with hay in the stables. Elexious recognized this behavior as a fyrd getting ready for battle.
“What did you see boy!?” Elexious inquired.
“Men - about 30 - all wearing weird bulky metal clothes - I’ve never seen - these men - in my life!”
A seriousness fell over Elexious’ face as well as the other man’s, just like the women in the field. They looked at each other and Elexious nodded at the would be patron and then he ran off just like everybody else. Elexious then turned to face Kenny.
“Kenny you must go to the coastal caves where the other children must’ve gone already. You go there and wait for us to come and get you.” Elexious demanded.
“No way, I want to come with you! What if you need me?!” Kenny retorted not wanting to leave Elexious alone.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“You don’t understand boy, the field north of the village is going to be a battle field. You’re just an inexperience boy, you would not be of help; you would be a hindrance. Do you understand?” Elexious demanded once again for a final time.
Instinctively Kenny did understand. He understood that he wouldn’t win the argument. So Kenny just nodded and went to find any children that were lost and gather them up. Luckily most of the children were already down in the caverns. Kenny was the only unhidden child left in all of Conifer.
Down in the coastal caverns…
The coastal caves have a rough and jagged terrain that is always wet as you could imagine.
At the maw of one of the many caves on the cliff side shore, there is a rock bed that was smoothed over by water erosian long ago when the water level was much higher. The erosion of the rock made it hospitable enough for the children to sit in there protected and out of site.
‘Im scared! I don’t want my mommy and daddy to die! I don’t want to die!’
All the children in the caverns were crying and whining something along these lines.
“Listen up everyone. Everybody in the village is going to be okay! They’re all really strong and dependable!” Kenny shouted to encourage the children to be brave while waiting for the fighting to end and for someone to come and get them. Although the possibility that they could lose the battle and nobody would come for them was in the back of everyone’s minds. Or even worse; one of the enemy could come find them after they defeated all of the villagers, but for whatever reason, Kenny believes that the townsfolk can win. He had never seen the adults behave in such a way. He could feel something from them that was similar to what he felt from the people down by the waterfall.
Those guys gave off a feeling that told me they were dangers and strong, but the feeling I got from the villagers was warmer, protective and more importantly, it was stronger.
Eventually hours passed. Kenny was beginning to become impatient. And nervous and anxious.
“Is all that true Kenny? What you said about all the grown ups? Are they all really strong?”
“Yea buddy I promise! I’ve never felt the adults feel so scary and strong in my entire life. It was like their fighting spirit or something and theirs was the strongest I’ve felt. I promise.” Kenny replied with a smile on his face so as to make the boy feel better. Although Kenny himself was feeling anxious about the battle going on too. He wanted to go see what was happening!
Just then Kenny decided to get up and go out to the battle field, but just to check out what was going on.
“Where are you going Kenny!?” A couple of the children said simultaneously as they all look to Kenny as their leader even before this disaster as Kenny is the oldest and biggest boy in the entire village. There aren’t any teenagers for some reason, but Kenny never gave it much thought. Everyone is either a child or full grown adult. Kenny was like the big brother to all of the children in the village.
“I’m just going to get some firewood. This battle could take awhile.” Kenny fibbed, although it was just a half fib as he was planning on returning with firewood just as soon as he had assessed the situation.
“What’s going to take awhile?” A low voice from outside the cave bellowed.
The children all shrieked in fear and Kenny flipped around to see Elexious and a few others standing there at the maw of the cave. They were cut, bloodied, bruised and tattered but otherwise look uninjured. Especially Elexious, it looked like he hadn’t been fighting at all!
“Elexious!” Kenny shouted as he jumped into the man’s embrace.
“Mommy!”
“Daddy!” A few of the children also shouted and ran to their parents.
“Are you okay?” Kenny asked concerned for Elexious wellbeing.
“I’m fine buddy, not a scratch on me!” Elexious then let out a bellowed laugh to show he was quite right. There was not a single injury on the short man.
Meanwhile back on the battlefield
The northern field of Conifer was now littered with the bodies of the men that were previously at the waterfall and then had attacked Conifer.
But not all of the enemy had been thoroughly slain.
The decorated man that had seemed to be the leader had not yet succumbed to his wounds.
He had a slash across his back, and a deep puncture in his lower belly.
A slow and painful death.
Nonetheless, the man got to his elbows from his belly, suggesting that the slash to his back is what brought him down.
After getting to his elbows he belly crawled across the field toward conifer. He was on a line drive to an open hearth that was still lit. It took him a good while to crawl that distance. The entire way from where he started to crawl to the hearth was probably about 150 paces.
When the man finally made it; he set fire to the straw, wooden and dung buildings near by.
Soon enough more than half of the town was engulfed in flames and a huge plume of black smoke glittered with glowing orange and yellow embers floated up, decorating the grey clouded sky.
It was a smoke cloud that could be seen for a mile or more.
Back at the coastal cave hiding place…
“What happened out there Elexious!? Did you kill a lot of those guys!?” Kenny inquired now sure of Elexious’s good health with an excited tone.
That line of questioning made Elexious let out another boisterous laugh.
“Interested in war already huh boy?”
“Well yeah you’ve been telling me stories of war and sword skill ever since I was a little boy! And you’ve been promising to teach me sword skill for just as long!” Kenny replied.
“Those are cautionary tales that I’ve told you in the hopes you will learn from my past mistakes and never end up in those kinds of situations. And you are not ready to learn sword skills yet.” Elexious said seriously in response.
What Elexious said confused Kenny. This was actually a statement that Elexious has said to Kenny many times before in so many words but Kenny had never understood what he had meant when he would say“…not ready to learn sword skills yet.”
What does that even mean? He’s always saying that to me. When am I gonna be ready!? Every kid in Conifer is learning sword skills from their parents all the time but He never wants to teach me. He’s only ever made me chop trees and pound away at the anvil. At this rate I’m gonna die by some nobody before I’m ever ready in Elexious’s eyes.
As Kenny was lost in thought, something splattered onto his face, startling him. Kenny noticed it was warm and viscous as he touched his face to investigate.
It was also red.
Blood? Whose blood? Am I hurt? No; I’m not hurt.
Kenny’s mind began to race as he began to panic and looked his body over for injuries and feeling his face.
Then he looked up at Elexious.
The stout man had an arrow dripping with blood and flesh, poking through his left shoulder, awfully close to his heart.
“No!! Elexious!!” Kenny shouted in dread as he noticed Elexious was the one who was injured and bleeding; struck with an arrow. The arrow appeared to have come from the direction of the ocean.
As soon as Elexious was struck, the other adults instinctively grabbed for their weapons and unsheathed them in preparation for battle with heads on a swivel searching for would be enemies.
“Elexious! There’s a ship just off the shore!” One of the adults barked out.
As Elexious clutched his chest and stumbled to the ground; the adults backs’ turned to them, now facing the ocean, surrounded Elexious and the children for protection.
“2 of you go warn the village now! Tell them; there’s now a seaside attack! If we act quickly; depending on their numbers, I could still hold the advantage with the high ground giving everyone time to escape!“ Elexious barked orders from the ground clutching his wound.
Kenny was awestruck. In that moment Kenny saw Elexious as a shining god of war.
Between worrying about Elexious’s wounds, the new threat from the sea, the “general-like” way that Elexious was handling the situation and everything else that has happened since the beginning of the day; it was just too much all at once to try and make sense of so Kenny just froze, mind racing. Mouth agape. He didn’t even notice that Elexious was trying to talk to him.
“Do you understand!?” Elexious asked in futility.
“Are you listening to me!? Elexious prodded again.
Kenny did not register a thing. His eyes could only focus on Elexious’s unsightly arrow wound and the boat; that is now very close to shore and drawing ever closer still.
The cave was now empty as everyone left on Elexious’s orders, although that was unbeknownst to Kenny.
Realizing the futility of trying to talk to Kenny whilst he was in this state, Elexious pulled his grizzly paw of a human hand back, and slapped Kenny on the back.
Hard.
It nearly knocked all the breath out of his lungs, but Kenny was firmly back in reality; assessing the situation.
Where did everyone go? Everyone was in here just a second ago; now it’s just me and Elexious?
“Now listen to me boy!” Elexious demanded Kenny’s attention as time was of the essence.
Looking over Elexious’s shoulder Kenny could see the men of the boat were now flooding the beach.
“ I had everyone go north of the village to a glade that is near by the waterfall!” Elexious began.
“ When you get to the fork in the trail; go down the ‘Death’ trail - Don’t go all the way down! Keep your eyes peeled on the left side of the trail for a game trail. Do You understand?”
“Yes, Elexious, but - “ Kenny began but was cut off by Elexious. He had wanted to just say that he knew exactly what he was talking about and where to find it.
“I know, I know. I told you never to go down ’that’ trail, but trust me; I know of a safe haven there. Just follow my directions exactly and you will find it. I promise.” Elexious said with a warm look as a crowd of soldiers began to gather on the beach behind him, which grew larger and larger with every passing second as soldier after soldier leapt over the side of the boat and patronized the beach.
Kenny wanted so badly to let Elexious know that he’s been to that glade before, but for some reason he did not say a word.
The words were stuck in his throat. He couldn’t think of any good reason to keep quiet or to say anything at all for that matter, but nevertheless, he still couldn’t muster the will to get the words out anyway. He just sat there staring at Elexious with saucers for eyeballs.
“Now get going! Do not even think of leaving that glade until I come and get you myself! Do you understand!?”
Elexious did not give Kenny a chance to answer or retort; he just stood up and turned to face his enemies.
Naturally, Kenny wanted to contest Elexious’s demands as he was worried about him of course.
There’s no way you can take them all yourself Elexious. Kenny thought.
The single boat at the shore was now empty and the beach was full of its men. All 52 of them.
I’m ready to fight with you. If you fight alone you’ll die… and I… I can’t… I’m not willing to live life without you Elexious! I’m not ready for that! I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want you to die!
Kenny stood up defiantly, staring at Elexious’s strong and broad back.
Without turning around or even looking Elexious raised his right hand and made a shooing motion, gesturing for Kenny to leave.
“I’ve something I need to tell you when Im done here boy.” Elexious paused for a moment.
“I will make it back.” Elexious said confidently in the hopes it would give the boy some as well, and convince him to leave.
Come on. Be brave Kenny. I know you don’t want to be alone but such is the cruelty of fate. What can I say to put your mind at ease and convince you? Elexious racked his mind to find the right words to console Kenny and give him courage.
“Kenny! The surviving men and women of conifer are all tired and some are even injured, in other words; with me being here and all, the people of conifer have no leader right now!”
Elexious now looked back over his shoulder toward Kenny.
“I’m counting on you.” Elexious said seriously.
Kenny felt the weight of what Elxious had just asked him and it made him happy.
Stifling his defiant attitude and setting aside his love for Elexious Kenny understood the greater good that Elexious was risking his life for by making Kenny directly responsible for that’ greater good’ thus Kenny was spurred on by responsibility and duty.
And so Kenny walked out of the cave bound for north. As he passed Elexious he glanced down toward the beach.
Those men down there are terrifying. Every one of them-
Just then two men caught Kenny’s attention.
Especially those two.
I can’t believe I- I’m such a…
I’m so stupid. Just a dumb kid. Kenny thought to himself with his shoulders slumped and his chin tucked down, nearly to his chest.
He then turned and ran in shame and frustration with tears falling like glitter from his cheeks.
Elexious noticed Kenny evaluating the men on the beach and ultimately having his will shattered. For some reason this made him smile.
Huh, perhaps I was the one who was not yet ready. Elexious thought.
The two men that Kenny was looking at were standing at the front of the rest of the men on the beach. Their armor and attire was completely different than the others. The man standing on the right was much taller than the man standing next to him on the left.
The big man had a black mask covering the lower part of his face. It covered his chin all the way up to right underneath his eyes. The mask was a snarling demon mouth design with tusks on either side reaching up toward his exposed eyes, which had black paint surrounding them. He was clad in all black armor with red accents which made it look like he was covered in blood even before any swords were unsheathed. He also had on a big black bear fur-lined hooded cloak that was clasped with a silver broach around his neck. In the mobile areas where armor would be a hindrance like the armpit, groin, elbow, etc. the glint of chain mail shown through brilliantly. He was thoroughly protected, and ginormous, but not fat.
That man himself was intimidating enough, but it was the smaller man that was standing next to him that truly sent shivers down Kenny’s spine.
He had two swords; one at each hip, and a long red coat that hung down all the way to his calfs and the sleeves blew behind him in the wind as he did not use them, but instead let the coat hang solely from his shoulders with his arms crossed. He wore no undershirt so his chest was exposed bare. His mid section was wrapped in a white cloth, and tucked into the folds of that cloth was a dagger. The handle stuck up out of the cloth just to the left of his naval. His pants were black and loose but wrapped up at the ankles with the same kind of white wrap that bound his mid-section. His hair; short, black, unruly and spiky yet a bit wavy. To finish his look the captain had a twisted rope tied around his head right at his hairline with the knot in the front just off to the side a bit askew, like the dagger tucked into his belly wrap.
They were standing next to each other but the smaller man was actually a bit further ahead of the big man, clearly indicating that he was the leader, but even if he wasn’t standing at the front; one who was keen on living would notice that that smallish man was not one to trifle with. He resembled Elexious in that sense. That small man exuded a suffocating bloodlust that even a kid like Kenny noticed and it shattered his pride. As Kenny ran off it even made Elexious suck his teeth in frustration at the realization of the difficulty of the task that lie ahead of him.
Despite that; Elexious stood erect and proud on the high ground ready to fight his enemies to the death to protect his home and his people. The small statured man seemed like a giant then.
The men on the beach had set up into rows now. The two men still stood out front but there was now 3 rows of men behind them.
The first row of men, each consisting of nearly 20 men or so, knelt down as low as possible on one knee hiding themselves behind their wooden shields.
The second row of men totally comprised of archers stood behind the first row at full draw.
The third row of men were holding their shields above their heads to protect the second row and themselves from returning arrow fire, of which there would be none as their opponent was only a single man who had no bow nor arrows. This fact encouraged some of the bowmen and shield men to chatter.
“Why have we assembled the shield wall in archer range? And against a single opponent no less?!” One man began.
“Hahaha, yes and look at the man! He stands no higher than my knee!” Another chimed in. And the two men laughed heartily together. Just then; the short leader man appeared before the laughing men and began laughing as well but the two men had stopped laughing as soon as he appeared suddenly before them stunning them silent with his speed.
“Hahaha yes how in the world could such a little man be powerful in anyway?! I mean who even is that man!? Why proceed with such caution Captain?! The captain said mocking the soldier.
“Do you even know who that man is!!?? The captain shouted.
“No? You don’t? Well, why don’t you go over there and strike the weak little man down?” The short captain taunted the first man to raise his voice, looking him directly in the eyes with a wry smile.
“Hm??” The captain continued. “Go on! Go!” The captain was now pulling the soldier out from behind the shield wall and pulling him up the beach toward Elexiuous waiting on the high ground. The captain pulled the man up close to him, turned him so he was standing behind him and the soldier was facing Elexious and the captain whispered in his ear while holding his shoulders-
“Go kill him, now. Do not return without his head.” As the captain said these words the confidence faded from his face and he no longer seemed energized like moments before.
“Go!” The captain yelled as he pushed the soldiers back.
“O-o-okay,” the soldier said hesitantly. “Yes captain Atlas! I will go, and I will take his head, and then we can all go home!” The man answered more confidently this time and began to shuffle up the hill, but it didn’t sound like he believed in his words nor did he look it, as the juxtaposition of his tough words and reluctant moves made the other soldiers laugh at the man.
Captain Atlas and the big man did not laugh.
Elexious bridled upon hearing the name of the short captain.
Hmph, so that little brat, Atlas, has grown up. Elexious thought.
The soldier kept on shuffling and shuffling up the hill for quite some time. The closer to elexious he got the slower the soldier moved. Nonetheless the man shuffled and shuffled along until he was just 15 yards from the short warrior.
A good distance to begin a duel.
The man’s sword was already unsheathed and now he held it ready in front of himself. Elexious just stood there, unmoving and sword still sheathed.
“Careful now son.” Elexious spoke to the soldier for the first time and he said nothing more. These cryptic words made the soldier feel even more uneasy.
What the hell is he talking about ‘careful now’? I’m more than ten yards away from him, how in the hell do you think you’re gonna hurt me from there? Calling me son? Who the hell do you think you are?!
“Who the hell are you calling ‘son’ old man” “Don’t Fuck with me!!” The soldier angrily shouted as the nostalgic feeling of fear turning to anger and rage to convince the body to go forward despite imminent danger, that all soldiers feel; especially newer ones. But this soldier was a seasoned vet as was the rest of the soldiers in Atlas’s crew.
Elexious’s condescending remark was enough to make the soldier charge at Elexious, however that remark was a genuine warning that should’ve been heeded as, the moment the soldier took a single step closer, his head fell to the ground from his shoulders with a soft thud onto the sand behind his still moving forward body. But that headless torso soon fell to its knees and limped over lifelessly.
“Did you see him move, Vax?” Captain Atlas asked the big man to his right whose name was apparently Vax(Voz).
“Yes sir, but just barely I don’t think I could’ve reacted.” Vax, the big man answered. The captain chuckled at his answer.
“Hm yes, well, at least you’re honest.” The captain replied.
“What the fuck just happened?!!” The other soldier that was laughing with the now headless soldier from earlier yelled out in astonishment. “That little dorx cocksucker didn’t even move! Look, his sword is still in its scabbard!”
“Vax, would you like to explain?” Atlas inquired of the big man.
“The little man simply drew his sword, swung it and then sheathed it all in one motion. The swing was nowhere near Khali but the strike still found its target all the same. After that, Khali’s head fell off.” Vax answered just staring at the headless corpse whose name was apparently ‘Khali’.
“Just who in the hell is that man boss?!!” Another man inquired. This one was an archer.
“That man” Atlas announced pointing a finger to Elexious. “is Elexious Zephyros, Rider of the Westward Wind” The Captain revealed still pointing and looking back at his men. Then a hushed yet surprised murmur made its way through the crowd of soldiers.
“Zephyros!? The General Supreme? That Zephyros? That’s impossible. I thought he was dead.” Phrases like that were murmured in hushed tones up and down and throughout the three lines of soldiers who were still in a shield wall after everything.
“Yes, the one and only man of myth; the legendary Elexious is alive and well, and he will prove to be our biggest hurdle on this mission.” Atlas continued.
“Wait, so we’re not here to capture him?!” A soldier asked.
“No we are not.” Atlas replied. A collective sigh of relief reverberated throughout the men. “But that does not change the fact that he is the last remaining obstacle between us and our goal! In the name of King Remero and the house of Nytherion we will take the head of Kenny Pallidane as a gift to my lord and any else who dare stand in the way of our consecrated quest!” Atlas yelled his agenda loud enough so Elexious could make out most of what he said.
“Pallidane?! As in the Holy Paladin Order?As in King Pallidane the Usurped!?” Some of the men voiced in surprise.
“Yes that’s right the great tyrant usurper king Pallidane still has a living bastard descendant!” The captain revealed.
So they are here for Kenny. I should’ve known. Why come after me after all these years of leaving me be? Of course they’re here for the boy! Tsk* I’ve been a fool!! Elexious thought to himself sucking his teeth in frustration.
I thought I would’ve had more time with the boy, to get him ready. I guess this world isn’t big enough to hide from those damned Nytherions.
Damnit! I wasted his early years on letting him be a boy! Had I started his training earlier he might be able to run away but he’s so ignorant of the world and as he is now he’s worse off than a normal boy.
Forgive me Kenny I have failed you.
Atlas instantly recognized the look of despair on Elexious’s face as it overtook him for an instant. It was unmistakable as Atlas is incredibly familiar with the expression. For the first time Elexious’s focus wavered to somewhere else and that fact was not lost on the sly captain.
“LOOSE!!” The small captain shouted, commanding his archers to fire their notched arrows. The arrows launched from their bow strings like lightning strikes.
“Block out the sun!!” The captain growled as he unsheathed his 2 swords and got into a lunging stance by moving his right leg back almost as far as he could. And with the arrows still airborne the captain dashed out forward at Elexious and in a flash, Atlas appeared behind Elexious.
“SHOW ME YOUR BLOOD GENERAL SUPREME!!” Atlas shouted as he lunged to close the distance and plunge his swords into Elexious’s spine.
Meanwhile in the hidden glade…
All of the children and adults of the village Conifer except for Elexious were all gathered standing in a group in the center of the glade. The adults were conversing amongst themselves while most of the children just slept on the ground or tried to occupy their minds by trying to play with each other.
Kenny sat by himself with his back to the conversing group of adults. His arms crossed and eyes closed, sitting criss-cross. He was sitting with his back against the huge lone tree directly in the middle of the Glade.
“I hope Elexious is okay out there.” One of the adults said.
“Of course he is! Elexious is the strongest man I’ve ever met. Ive actually heard that in his youth Elexious was a warrior of sorts!” Another adult replied.
“Oh who the hell are you trying to fool?! Did you not see how many men they had!? Did you not see the reinforcements?! Sure Elexious is the strongest man I’ve seen in my life as well but he’s just one man there’s no way he could defeat an army on his own. Elexious is as good as dead and so are we if we are found.” Another more elderly man chimed in negatively.
Kenny was now standing and facing the adults but the old man’s back was still to Kenny.
His face was flushed with blood making it bright red like a tomato and he had tears welling up in his eyes. His shoulders heaved up and down as his anger rose up from the bottom of his belly like a great wildfire that grew from embers.
“Elder please.” Another adult tried said trying to reign in the old man.
“The man was a fool! Trying to be a hero in the end; who the hell did he think he was?!” The old man continued and turned around to face Kenny as if he knew Kenny was standing there.
“…And now he’s left Kenny alone.” The elder said softly.
Kenny was taken aback by the old man’s expression even when just a second ago he was ready to punch that old man in the face for the audacity to face him whilst insulting the man he respected most. But now it was clear to Kenny, that the old man was hurt by the prospect of Elexious’s death and doesn’t want him to die either.
Kenny and the told man were not strangers to one another. They weren’t particularly friends but the old man was the eldest person in the entire village but he wasn’t held in esteem as a figure head like a village elder or anything like that. He was just the crazy old man in the village that would tell stories to children and beg for money outside the tavern. Kenny used to listen to his stories of war and strategy from when he was apparently a soldier for the royal army of some far off kingdom with an impossible-to-pronounce name. His stories where always entertaining to Kenny but Kenny never believed any of them were true and he honestly hasn’t talked to the old man or listened to any off his stories for quite some time now, but seeing his face when he turned to face him, Kenny could clearly see how much this whole situation was affecting the old man. He was just as distressed if not more so by the whole situation as anyone else and all Kenny could do in that moment was give the old man a hug. It was a hug that Kenny needed just as much as the old man. And when they embraced tears fell like a skinny, steady, slow-running stream of water from their eyes.
The other adults, men and women, came to console the pair with solemn hands on each of their shoulders.
Opening his eyes and looking around at all the villagers faces, Kenny realized they were all shedding tears for the man that he respected most, and apparently the man that the entire village respected with the utmost sincerity. This filled Kenny with an emotion he has never felt before but now more than ever he worried for Elexious’s life.
“Hey, what’s going on here? I’m not dead yet ya know.” A deep voice suddenly interjected from behind the group hug taking place.
The group of people turned to see a short bearded man that was sweaty, clammy, sickly-looking, but otherwise uninjured, save for a small cut on his right arm. It was Elexious. He was holding a head by the hair whose face was covered by a black demon mask with red accents. It was the man called Vax
However that was of little concern to anyone.
“Elexious!!” Kenny yelped as he ran to the arms of the short man who dropped the head of Vox got down on a knee and held his arms wide to receive the boy. They hugged tightly. Kenny was almost like a scarf the way he wrapped his arms around the mans neck and tucked his head into Elexious’s neck and scruffy beard.
“You’ve done well to get here boy. And there was nobody left behind in the village either. Well done boy.” Elexious said to Kenny as they disengaged and he held the boy at arms length by the shoulders.
“Yes I promise I looked through every building and alley, high and low for anybody who might be hurt and not be able to get the glade on their own. I helped every person I could find until I couldn’t find anyone else.” Kenny said in hurried and excited way.
“Aye it’s true! The boy didn’t rest until just up until a little while ago! Every time he came to the glade with someone and then he would leave again. He must’ve come back and forth a dozen times!” A villager chimed in.
“Yes I owe Kenny everything. He found my son when he was off hiding in the well when all the fighting was taking place. He was stuck in there and Kenny got him out and brought him back to me. I just feel so terrible. I didn’t even know he was stuck. If it weren’t for Kenny, my boy would still be down there right now.” Another woman added.
“Kenny even brought back my dog!” A little boy added excitedly.
“And my kitties!” A little girl with 2 small kittens in her lap added.
Elexious looked back to Kenny from the villagers and gave him warm look that was overflowing with pride. “You’ve done an even better job being a leader than I imagined boy. Maybe I didn’t do so bad with you after all.”
That made Kenny’s heart swell with pride.
“But listen close to me now boy I have something very important to tell you and not enough time. Im running out of time quicker than I thought.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m dying.”
Kennys face distorted to that of an astonished and confused one. Mouth slightly agape. Eyes wide yet, brows furrowed.
“That little bastard, Atlas, had a poisoned blade. Yep, a dishonorable tricky little move but he got me. It was just a scratch but he used a serious poison, and its moving fast toward my heart so Im sorry but I need to ask you to not ask any questions nor say anything until I am done explaining because I wasn’t able to incapacitate him. Atlas escaped after he scratched me with his little knife. Sly little bastard.”
“Explain what?”
Elexious gave Kenny a chiding look. Kenny covered up his mouth wide-eyed as If to stop the words from coming out and implying they came out without his permission in the first place. He then put his hands down at his sides and made a serious face.
“No! What are you talking about!? If you’re dying I want to- “
“Listen to me boy! I know this is hard and asking a lot but I’m serious Kenny; Atlas will be coming back after I’m gone to take you back as a prisoner and if that happens, the current Gallesian King will execute you. I need to tell you the truth about your life; where you are from , and more importantly; who you are.”
“B-b-but… but I… I - I” Kenny’s eyes welled up with tears. “-but I don’t want you die!” Kenny began to sob. Elexious pulled the crying boy close to console him.
“I’m sorry my boy. But in reality this was inexorable. The time came a little sooner than I would have liked, but I do not believe that the past 12 years have been wasted, my mission has not been a failure; in fact-“ Elexious turned to look at Kenny.
“I’d say it was a resounding success.” Elexious said smiling upon Kenny warmly.
"And hey don't think I haven't noticed all these tree stumps around the perimeter of the glade." Elexious looked at Kenny seriously. Then his face broke into a smile as he wrapped his arm around the boy's neck.
"You've been training in secret you little bastard!" Elexious porudly tussled the boys hair. Elexious then inhaled with a pained look on his face, preparing for his final speech and Kenny instinctively knew it was beginning too and knew now to stay silent.
“Up until about Thirteen years ago, I lived my whole life in a distant land across the ocean, far different from Conifer.
The buildings there were made of stone and wood, and the crowds of people often became more of a nuisance than a help. A village that large naturally needed a strong military to protect its wealth and citizens. For sixty-five generations, my family, the Zephyros clan, led this army. I held the title of ‘Supreme General’, a rank created just for me—a playful gesture from royalty to a commoner like myself. They think it shows the commoners that they recognize how much they rely on people like me for their safety, military honor, and especially their wealth, but in reality it only reveals how little they truly care. The disparity between what I’ve given them and done for them and what they’ve given me is just far too vast to ignore. The atrocities ive committed in their name for something so insignificant, for next to zero reward in comparison was-is unacceptable.” As he was saying this, Elexious began to visually and audibly get more upset and angry. The anger caused blood and spittle to rain from the mans mouth as he ranted, with pained coughs, grunts, and guttural moans throughout and between words he was speaking.
“They would cast me to the wolves without a moments hesitation to spare themselves even the slightest bit of inconvenience. If I failed to deliver their victories, they would sever my head and replace me with some other naive young fool, only to discard them once they gained wisdom to their scheming; repeating the cycle endlessly. The initial riches and accolades they offer are dazzling, blinding one to the sinister truth lurking in the shadows. Their scheme is now perfected to a dark art, but I managed to break free from their nefarious cycle before they discovered I had gotten worse to them; and I escaped.” Elexious continued.
‘How?’ Kenny thought to himself
“Well I wasn’t able to on my own of course;”Elexious continued, inadvertently answering Kenny’s personal mental question.
“It was your mother who saved me.” Elexious said,suddenly revealing a past relationship with Kenny’s mother.
“Had it not been for Ella I’d be there now, still serving the house of Nytherion, or dead.” Elexious went on.
When Kenny heard his mother’s name; Ella, for the first time in his life, he perked up, eyes widened and sat up a little straighter like he had just heard something very interesting. And I suppose he had.
“I don’t want to waste anymore time with details about myself but it was important that you learned that.” Elexious said looking Kenny directly in his eyes. He now began to talk slower and with more purpose so as to portray that what he is saying now is what he actually needed to say. Either that or the passion was slowing his speech
“You must know that your mother; Ella, saved my life, and the night you were born, she saved yours as well.” Elexious began revealing Kenny’s origins.
“Your birth was intertwined with my fated retirement from the military. You see it was your mother who helped me escape the tyrannical iron hand that held me down by my neck my entire life. Forced to work and fight and kill for a man I never met my entire life. I became blood-sickened and weary. I wanted a way out and your mother provided one on one condition - that ‘One day she would have a son, and that she would not be able to raise it herself for whatever reason and that I must look after her boy, and train him and make him stronger until the time comes when they come for him and he can defend himself. When that day comes he must muster up an army and go to reclaim his birth right.’ I agreed reluctantly, and she smuggled me out of the country on a one man sail boat after I faked my death during a routine raid defense along the Southern Gallesian border. Made it look like I fell into the ocean and was bashed on the rocky crag below.”
“How could a single woman help you do such a thing?” A villager asked from the group. They were all gathered and listening intently to Elexious story as they all know and adore Elexious but the man is a mysterious enigma to them. He just showed up in conifer one day and the rest was history so this was a rather interesting story for the villagers.
Elexious turned to the villager and answered.
“Aye, it’d be farfetched for a woman to be able to smuggle the supreme commanding general of the royal army out of the country without the king or anyone else knowing, but Ella is no ordinary woman.” then turned back to Kenny.
“She is Queen Ella of Galley and all of its domains.” Elexious revealed. “At least she was at the time. I have no idea how she’s fared since I left but she suspected she’d need your help in time boy. She is waiting for you even now.”
“I know none of this makes any sense to you but you must know the truth of where you came from, and the fact that, the very place from which you hail is also your property by law as well as in the eyes of the gods and goddesses.” Elexious said seriously and sternly but his voice began to trail off weakly as the poison started to affect his speech. He coughed weakly and a bit of blood-mixed dribble flew from his mouth and landed on his big black beard and torso.
Kenny shuffled closer out of concern and so that Elexious won’t have to try so hard to project his voice for Kenny to hear him so he leaned in even closer. Now only Kenny could hear what the dying warrior was saying.
Elexious began again in a near whisper.
“I say the queen was the only person who could’ve smuggled me out without anyone finding out but I’m afraid smuggling you out wasn’t that simple. You see the day you came to me in Conifer I was expecting you, but I was also expecting one other; a nurse maid that lived in the Royal Villa. She was your mother’s favorite and my wife.” Elexious continued; revealing and broadening the world as Kenny currently understood it.
“When I fled Galley I so badly wanted to bring her with me, but alas the Queen needed her for child birth as the queen had just recently found out she was with child, and she trusted nobody else more than her, which superseded my worldly desires. So she stayed. She was supposed to come the day you were born with you in tow hidden under the smoke of a coup de tat, but I believe she was caught trying to get you out and as a result had to stay behind yet again as she set your boat out to sea with nothing but faith, hope, and prayer that the waves and unpredictable oceans currents would eventually bring you here; to Conifer. I once hoped she might escape and find her way back to me, but as the years passed, that hope waned. Yet your presence has been a solace,” Elexious’s face was solemn but silky tears fell from his eyes.
“and all the love I once had for her, I have poured into raising you. I strove to fulfill the Queen’s wish, as well as my beloved’s final wish—the wish she died for. They are one and the same and that is for you to grow up and live to become the rightful ruler of Galley and more importantly the one it deserves. Become the ruler-the man my love gave her life for. Be the man your mother wants you to be, needs you to be.”Elexious finally finished revealing Kenny’s origins as his voice trailed off weaker than ever before. He was hardly audible at this point; even for Kenny whose head was next to his and was now silently sobbing hunched over holding the back of the head the dying man.
“Go-go and be the man she knows that you can be Kenny- become the man that I know you are.” …” Elexious managed to force out with his hand on the boys chest and the other being held in the boys hands before letting out his last breath.
“Elexious? No… no-Elexious…” Kenny sobbed as he shook the lifeless body. All the villagers gathered round sobbed quietly as well.
“Oh!? Did the old man finally bite it?!” A theatrical voice suddenly interjected interrupting the weeping.
“Well that took an awful long time. I’ve never seen a man walk ten feet after taking a scratch from my Noxious Ophidia - the man said as he unsheathed a seax. “Much less run off into the mountains! I thought I must not have actually cut him! Really! hats off to the old goat; he really was a tough bastard!” The man said in jolly sort of way. It was Atlas, come to collect Kenny unbeknownst him.
Everyone was looking at the man at the forests edge from underneath the huge trees shade. Kenny stood and stepped out infront of Elexious’s body as if to shield his body from Atlas.
Atlas just stared at the boy then glanced down at Elexious’s lifeless corpse.
I can’t believe someone that powerful really existed. I could never have imagined someone like Vax just getting bullied like he was a mere child. The entire time he was dying while, talking to that boy, he was keeping me at bay with his gaze. He never let his guard down for a single second all the way to the very end.
Tsk* Atlas sucked air through his teeth.
That sly bastard. He made me backdown. ME!? Backed-down?! And by a dying man no less! With nothing but his gaze? Atlas glanced back to Kenny.
If a person like that was the one training this kid then I shouldn’t underestimate him, even if he IS pretty enough in the face to be a girl.
“You just get out of here! You got what you came for! He’s dead okay! You did it! You killed him and now he’s gone… he’s never coming back.” Kenny said quietly. “You got what you wanted now leave!!” Kenny now shouted at Atlas.
“He won’t leave Kenny.” The old man chimed in from behind.
“To collect a bounty, one must take the head of the wanted person to the authoritative organization that put the bounty on their head in the first place.” The elder continued.
“You are NOT taking his head!” Kenny retorted to Atlas.
“Don’t worry about your dear old Elexious. Believe it or not I actually do not wish to be known as the man who killed Elexios Zephyos Rider of the Westward Wind. I wouldn’t be able to show my face in Galley again if that truth came out to be proven fact. Especially with evidence backing that fact; like his fucking head being found in me back pocket.” Atlas jested.
“No boy. You and the old man are wrong about me. I did not come here to this forsaken place to kill an old man.” Atlas said this time in a serious tone.
“Then why are you here?! Why have you come here and ruined everything?!” Kenny shouted at Atlas, and that’s when atlas flickered from existence right before everyone eyes and then an instant later Atlas was stood directly in front of Kenny; his fist buried deep into the boy’s abdomen, and Kennys world went black.