"Kai, Vixus, come now, time to eat", a heavenly voice sings through the air.

In the empty training hall inside a massive, beautiful castle resides Kai, ten years old, holding a training sword, fighting with his older brother Vixus, fifteen years old. Both covered in sweat, creating a puddle beneath their feet.

Huffing and puffing Vixus says "Well little brother, I win again... Have you ever won a fight? It's probably your fate to always lose". Vixus jestering towards Kai, trying to get a reaction from him.

"No!" Kai replies bloodied and bruised from the beating Vixus has given him, He clenches his fists and lifts them, Kai stares at his blistered small hands from gripping the training sword too tight and says, "I haven't lost, I'm still standing and I'm still fighting am I not?". Words from an innocent naïve child.

Vixus lets out a little laugh but slightly surprised at his brother’s word. "True Kai but let’s say you are battling against someone, let’s say an enemy, he is barely standing, on the verge of death, could drop any moment..." Vixus pauses, starts to walk in circles around Kai, "Would you still say you are not the victor?".

Kai is silent, listening to Vixus' tormenting footsteps circling him. A few seconds later Kai says the words "No, the man has not lost yet, even on the very edge of death, even if the man has lost an arm, a leg or whatever, he gets back up and fights, you only lose if you give up."

Kai's passionate words inflict Vixus and makes him pause for a moment.

" The man can't get back up with no legs" Vixus replies to Kai sarcastically and starts laughing.

" Ahhhh shut up!" Kai screams and starts chasing Vixus while waving his wooden sword. Vixus is still laughing teasing Kai.

" KAI, VIXUS, GET YOUR BLOODY ASSES THROUGH HERE NOW!" That same heavenly voice has now turned into a hellish scream.

Kai and Vixus look at each other with scared faces. They drop their training swords and race out the training hall towards the dining area where their mother, the Queen, is shouting on them.

Kai and Vixus finally reach the dining room hall doors and barge right through them. as soon as they enter, they are greeted with a sweet aroma that drifts past them and floats around the air, the lit fireplace radiates the room and the nice warm heat that comes from it wraps around the brothers inviting them in. Of course, they are also greeted with daggers, Their Mother stares at them, doesn't say a word. The young brothers quietly shuffle towards the table where their father, the King, sits devouring his food. The boys drag out their chairs and sit, the whole-time avoiding eye contact with their mother. The father glances at the boys and says.

"Another second longer even the dead chicken on the table would have run for his life". The boys let out a little laughter, but quickly cover their mouth to hold it in.

" What was that dear?", the mothers daggers shift towards the father, while beating a wooden spoon of the palm of her hand.

" Oh, nothing honey just enjoying this lovely food you have made", the father replies and winks to the boys.

The mother sarcastically smiles and sits herself down to join her family. Kai, Vixus and the father munching away and the mother politely eats away. The family chatter and laugh like a happy normal family. Kai enjoys this cosy atmosphere, eating with loved ones, laughing away at his father’s stories, and bickering with his older brother like siblings do. This love he feels, this place he is in, he would not want to change it for the world and hopes that one day when he becomes king, him, his children and lover will be similar to this.

" Seems like your brother beat you again Kai" Their mother says, Vixus laughs.

" No!" Kai shouts, "I didn't lose, Father always says you only lose if you give up, and I never gave up!"

Their mother laughs " Ohh so a draw then?" she sarcastically says

Both Vixus and Kai shout back with "NO!".

Both their mother and father laugh at them and then the father puts his hand on Kai's shoulder and says, " You are right son, you kept fighting and never surrendered, but a man should know when he has lost".

Kai slightly annoyed at his father’s words and replies with "If I knew how to use my powers like you, I would have easily won".

"True, and when you do I know you will make a great warrior and a great king, after your brother of course" their father says.

"yes, Kai when you hone your abilities, I will need your powers to protect King and country" Vixus says patting Kai on his head.

Kai grins and his green eyes sparkle. He asks his father " Why doesn't Vixus have the powers of the gods?".

His father replies and says "Not everyone is chosen my son. Only a few get the powers given from the gods".

"yes, I do not own these powers our family have had for generations but even if you learned them Kai you still wouldn't beat me" Vixus jokingly says.

"Once I learn I will definitely beat you" Kai replies while sticking his tounge out at Vixus.

The family burst with laughter and continue with their meal.

Moments later...

----------------------------------------

"BANG" an explosion is heard that sounds like thunder. The dining room hall shakes. Kai and his family confused at what has happened.

"THUD THUD THUD" The royal guards burst through the door.

"Your heiness, majesty, please come quick, Mendacium soldiers outside the castle gate, launching trebuchets at the town and castle, lots of civilians are injured!". The royal guard says in a panic.

"WHAT! Mendacium soldiers? our neighbours, we have lived in peace for hundreds of years, what is going on?" The king replies with a confused tone. "Right, get every soldier to evacuate and escort the townsfolk to the castle ground. Once escorted, leave a couple royal guards to protect them and get the rest down to the castle gate, it's the only way they can come in"

" Yes, your majesty" The royal guard replies and signals the others to go.

The royal guards rush out the dining hall and embark on their mission.

"I want you three to stay inside the castle, I'll get my personal guard to protect you" The king says to his family.

The king rushes out and follows the guards. Kai silently stares at his father's back, scared, and frightened he grabs his mother and brother’s hand.

"It's okay Kai we will be fine" his mother says clasping her hand round the back of his head.

More explosions are heard, and the castle is shaking like there is an earthquake. Kai, Vixus and their mother walk out the dining hall and go towards a balcony that overlooks the town. As soon as they open the balcony doors, they all gasp in shock. Flames fill the sky, black smoke surrounds the castle like fog, screams are heard, children wailing looking for their mothers, mother and fathers screaming looking for their children. A shocking sight. A beautiful, heavenly peaceful town has turned into hell itself.

"How...How can they do this, we were just eating peacefully, now there is a war down there" Kai silently says. Kai grits his teeth, his blood boils, his eyes turn red. He looks at his mum and says "They must die!".

Kai's mother already in fear from what is going on, shocked at Kai's eyes. "Kai..." His mother whispers.

Kai barges past his mother and brother. "Wait Kai!" his mother and brother shout. Kai ignores their words. Vixus tries to run after him but his mother pulls him back.

Kai runs through the castle barging through all the guards and maids while they all shout his name. After some time, Kai makes it outside to the courtyard where all the townsfolk have been escorted to. Kai shocked to only see a handful of civilians. A royal guard notices Kai and asks him to get back inside. Kai slaps away the guards’ hands and runs off towards the town that is crumbling down.

Kai now in the town, running through what were once lively streets are now dead. He is surrounded by flames and thick black fog, hard to see anything, or anyone. The cries and wailing can still be heard. The clashing of swords in the distance. The crackling sound of flames all around.

"It's hard to see anything" Kai says to himself while wiping away sweat from his forehead.

Kai trips, stumbles over debris from a destroyed house. He picks himself back up and freezes in place, he looks around. To his right he hears crying, he notices a little girl, holding a stuffed toy. The little girl looks at Kai, stretches her hand out reaching towards him. The ground shakes once more and houses start crashing down around Kai. Kai is hit with a blast of thick dust. Once the dust disappears, he looks out to where the young girl was. She has now been replaced with debris and flames.

Kai drops to his knees, eyes start to water. He sobs. He screams "WHY! Why us, we haven't done anything wrong. That girl...was younger than me." Kai on his knees just keeps crying, defenceless, in despair.

"Look there's a little devil!" A Mendacium soldier shouts.

Kai too shocked to move, his rage he had earlier gone, he doesn't even move at the sight or sound of enemy soldiers approaching. The enemy soldiers get closer and closer until they are towering over Kai. One of them swings his leg back and boots Kai so hard he goes flying across the ground. Kai spits blood and lays still on the ground, He glances towards the soldier but the soldier stamps on Kai's head, forcing him to eat dirt.

"Don't look at me with those evil eyes!" The soldier says standing upon Kai, putting more pressure down on Kai's head.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Kill him, we need to kill the rest of these Calios demons." One of the soldiers say.

"Gladly" the one standing on Kai says. He unsheathes his sword and Places it upon Kai's cheek.

The cold steel touching Kai's face puts fear into his eyes. Kai closes his eyes, tears streaming down his face, accepting his fate. His final thoughts are of his family, his wonderful kind mum, his brave older brother and his strong, humble father. Kai blocks out all the sound around him and thinks of the wonderful moments he spent with his family. He smiles.

"Swoosh"

Kai opens his eyes and sees red. The blood of the soldier who was about to kill him has spilt all over him.

"KAI!!" a great roar rumbles through the air.

"Father..." Kai whispers.

Kai can see his father. The King, running towards Kai with blade in hand, his other blade pierced into a soldier. Kai's father disappears, then suddenly reappears in front of Kai, his father takes out his second blade from the fallen enemy soldier.

"He's a warrior, he has the power of the gods, he can disappear and reappear out of nowhere!" The enemy soldiers scream in fear,

Kai's father phases, disappearing and reappearing at each enemy soldier slicing and piercing them at the speed of light leaving mirages of himself. One enemy soldier tries to swing at the king, but the king is too fast and slices the man's throat before he can lift his sword. In the matter of seconds Kai's father has killed seven enemy soldiers.

"This is the powers of a warrior" Kai says to himself in disbelief.

"Kai...my boy" His father says softly, while picking up Kai.

Kai's father starts to walk back to the castle while carrying Kai, his father is badly hurt and fatigued. Kai just smiles at his father, his father smiles back.

"Don't worry Kai, I'll take you back to your mother and brother". In the distance a royal guard from the castle approaches.

"Your Heiness" The guard shouts from far away.

Kai tears up from happiness knowing he has been saved and his family are still safe.

"Father, I'm so sorry, I was angry, I wanted revenge". Kai places his small hand on his fathers warm stubbly cheek. His father smiles and says " It's okay, I understand I'm just glad you're safe now".

"When we save our country, you will train me right?" Kai says.

" Of course I will " his father replies.

"Have a nice big meal with mother and Vixus too, yes" Kai says.

" Of course we will " his father replies with tears in his eyes.

Kai buries his face into his father's chest and whispers into it " I can't wait ".

"Thud".

Kai's father has dropped to his knees, still carrying Kai. Kai looks up to his father’s face. he sees tears, then sees blood, seeping out of his mouth. An arrow has pierced the king in the back, poking through his left chest.

"Father..." Kai whispers

"YOUR HEINESS!" the royal guard approaching them shouts.

"Take...Kai...Quick" The king says.

The royal guard tears Kai away from his father’s arms, Kai trying to hold on to his father. His father grabs Kai's hands and makes him let go.

"Dad! no!" Kai screams. His father just gives a loving smile back.

"I can help fight your heiness, please!" the guard says.

"No take Kai back to his mother and keep him safe, He needs to be protected!" The king said while looking at Kai.

"But..." The guard mumbles

"No! go please...please just go!" The king commanded.

The royal guard picks up Kai. Trying hard to keep him under control. Kai, kicking, punching, screaming at the guard, "What are you doing! Help him! Help him now! listen to me...Father!" Kai screaming at the top of his lungs, he tries to scream further but he just squeals "father...father...".

The royal guard faces towards the castle, not looking back. Kai still trying to fight the guard, but the guard does not hesitate and continues on with his king’s final command. Kai stares at his father. Mendacium soldiers, a whole platoon, approaching the king. Kai's father stands back to his feet, He pulls out two medium sized swords, one in each hand. Kai and the royal guard getting further and further away, the black fog starts to cover the king in the distance, eventually Kai cannot see his father anymore. He can only hear the sounds of blades clashing.

A few moments later the royal guard and Kai have reached the castle grounds. It is silent...

"AHHHH!" a massive groan comes from the direction where the fighting was. The sound of a lion, killed by a pack of hyenas. The sound of a king murdered by a platoon of soldiers and warriors.

Kai squeals and starts to hit the royal guards head, even though he is wearing a full plate of armour.

"Why didn't you help him! A royal guard and my father could have beat them! But you ran, you coward, you left your king to die!" Kai shouting and screaming.

The royal guard throws Kai to the ground, takes off his helmet and shouts " I am a knight and no matter what follows the kings’ orders! He ordered me to protect you and take you back to your family! You do not think I wanted to help! Your father...the king, I would lay down my life for him! But you Kai are the future, to take back our land and destroy our enemies, you are the only one, right now you do not understand but soon you will!".

Kai can't accept those words, he is too young to understand. Kai curls up into a ball on the ground, whimpering.

"Kai!" His mother screams, relieved that Kai is still alive. She picks him off the ground and hugs him tightly. Vixus comes running out too and hugs them both. "Kai you're okay" Vixus says crying.

The royal guard that helped Kai back says, "Please your majesty, let's get inside".

"Thank you, Argon, for saving Kai" The queen smiles at him.

Argon faces down towards the ground and scrunches his face. "No your majesty, The king saved him".

"Father's still fighting" Vixus says.

Kai stays silent, crying silently into his mother’s arm.

" Is the King okay, where is he?" the Queen asks.

Argon looks up to the Queen, Vixus and Kai, "I'm sorry your majesty, but...The king ordered me to get the young prince safe and back to you, I wanted to help fight, I really did your majesty..." Argon starts to tear up, "But I had to follow his command and protect the young prince for the future of Calios." Argon now breaks down, falls to his knees and starts to bawl.

"But...But he's still alive right?" Vixus cries out. Kai's cries get louder.

" It's my fault...It's all my fault, if I just stayed in the castle, Father would not have had to rescue me. I'm stupid and still powerless...what was I thinking!" Kai is howling. "Father died because of me!" Kai screams.

The three family members, hug each other even more tightly, wailing. The sound echoes throughout courtyard, throughout the town, throughout the whole country of Calios. The surviving civilians and remaining guards, remain silent, shocked at hearing that the king has passed.

Calios is broken, country over run from a neighbouring country who they have been living peacefully with for hundreds of years. Most of the Calios soldiers dead. No warning from scouts, from villages or outposts further out, a whole army appeared out of thin air, to slaughter innocent men and women, innocent children. Yet the Mendacium soldiers were calling them devils and demons.

"ANOTHER ONE!" A guard shouts.

An explosion erupts, A flaming boulder hits the castle, debris from the castle flies off hitting the courtyard.

The Queen stands up and shouts "Guards take all the civilians to the back of the castle, there is a ship, get them on the ship and sail off north.

"yes your majesty but north, what is there?" the guard confusingly asks. "There is nothing to the north".

The Queen stays silent.

All the guards take the civilians and run off.

"Mum are we not going too?" Kai asks.

Kai's mother looks at him smiling, comforting the back of his head " Yes we will soon, we need to go into the castle and get something first". "Argon you are coming with us, keep us safe".

"Yes your majesty" Argon replies, saluting towards the queen.

Kai and Vixus confused, Argon also slightly confused follow the Queen back into the castle. They make their way through the hallways, every room they walk past the family reminisce on the happy times they had. Vixus and Kai holding on to their mother trailing behind silently sobbing. The Queen looks straight ahead acting strong for her sons, but deep down is shattered at recent events. Argon follows close behind the family, he keeps reassuring himself that he will protect them.

"In here quickly now" the queen orders them into the king and queen's chamber.

"Mum what are we doing, we need to leave with the others" Vixus says.

The queen ignores her son and starts frantically searching for something. Eventually she finds the thing she is looking for. In her hand she holds a black book, with the symbol of their family heirloom on the front of it.

"I'm sorry your majesty but we came here to get a book?" Argon says to the Queen.

"This is not just a book Argon, No one can ever read this book, Even I have never, only the king gets to, and now Vixus will be allowed to read it, and he told me that no matter what thus book must be hidden from the world." The queen replies.

The sound of chinking armour and footsteps can be heard in the distance.

Kai and Vixus hide behind their mother, Argon steps in front of them all with his sword in hand. The Queen hands the book to Vixus and tells him to keep it hidden.

Mendacium soldiers burst through the door, a crowd of them all surrounding the King of Mendacium, King Angus the first.

"I may be outnumbered but I will slaughter every single one of you." Argon viciously shouts.

"How could you do this." The queen says.

"I'm sorry Quin but this is to save the world." The King of Mendacium replies to the Queen.

The Queen, Kai, Vixus and Argon confused. " To save the world...I don't understand, you slaughter innocent people to save the world? " Argon replies.

" You killed My father, you slaughtered my friends and you...and you murdered children and called us devils. If we are devils, then I guess the holy god you all worship must be evil. " Kai says in a pained voice wiping away his tears.

King Argus stares at Kai with widened eyes who didn't even notice a young boy was standing behind the Queen, almost feeling sorry for him.

" The young prince Vixus I believe. " The king replies.

" No, I am..." the Queen quickly shuts Kai's mouth.

" Wait...Another son, does he have the power of the gods?" King Angus says to the Queen.

The Queen does not say a word.

" Enough talk I'm killing you all now! " Argon lets out a massive battle cry. His left hand starts to emit magic, he runs it along his sword and now his sword is enflamed.

" Don't take him lightly he is a warrior...Kill them all, especially the children." King Angus says to his soldiers.

King Angus' knights charge at Argon one by one. Argons enflamed sword scorching them with every swing. Argon cuts down each soldier in his path, a graceful and beautiful fighting style, like a dance, blood paints the surroundings. This is the strength of a warrior.

" I guess only a warrior can kill a warrior, Bash! cut him down. " King Angus screams.

A massive muscly man with two small daggers enters the room.

"Humph..." Argon snickers

Both men swing at each other, each parrying attack after attack, the clash of blades echoing throughout the castle, Argon weaves and dodges every swift attack from the large man and with every massive swing from Argon, Bash narrowingly side stepping the scorching sword. Both warriors refusing to back down but acknowledging each other as warriors. Bash launches a series of lightning speed thrusts, Argon deflecting most of them, but some connect, piercing him but missing vital spots. Argon replies back with a fierce battle cry driving Bash against a wall. What seems like an endless fight both warriors struggling to get a clean hit on their opponent Argon sees an opportunity, he lets Bash unleash whistling attacks. Bash lunges forward thinking Argon has let his guard down but when Bash' attack is about to land Argon swiftly lifts his blade up and slices through the left arm of Bash. The arm drops to the floor. Kai witnessing this seeing how truly remarkable warriors are.

"AAAGGHHH! " Bash screams and drops his blade, holding his gushing wound, his blood creating a puddle beneath him.

"No wonder you were the King's royal guard, get back bash I will deal with this". King angus pulls out a sword. " You won't defeat me. "

The king rapidly lunges at Argon, Argon just manages to lift his sword to defend the attack, but the force of King angus' attack creates a massive shockwave blowing Argon back smashing against the stone castle wall, glass shatters, books from the shelves fall over and dust creates a cloud around the room.

" Argon! " The Queen screams, she stands up and pulls out a small dagger from her dress, readying to protect her children.

" Mum! " both the brothers say. The brothers stand up coughing out the dust in their lungs. They stumble over to where Argon is lying in pain. " Argon get up...please ". Argon takes off his helmet, blood spills out of his mouth.

" Your heiness please get back, I will protect all of you. " Argon manages to stand with the help of Kai and Vixus.

" Argon take both of them and get out of here...please...you have to, for the future of Calios they need to live. " The Queen says harrowingly, holding back her tears.

Argon looks down. " Again, I cannot protect anyone, not the King, nor the Queen, I will not be able to protect the young Princes either. ‘Argon sobs.’ “ No, I will save the Princes, I will give my life for them, for the King, Queen and future of Calios, I will protect them ."

" I promise your heiness, Calios will see your sons on the throne and the gods will shine the light on Calios once again " Argon says with tears like raindrops falling from his eyes.

The beautiful, graceful Queen smiles, she looks at her boys and gives the most heartfelt smile ever like a warming embrace, a sunlight breaking through clouds.

The boys start wailing, Argon holds them back, they are screaming trying to reach their loving mother. " Mum...please...Mum...Mother…Mu...Mum! " Kai and Vixus mumbling the words.

King Angus looks upon the boys and the Queen, almost feeling sorry for them, but he suppresses his emotions. " Quinn, I really am sorry. "

"Swish" A sword cuts through the air with a sharp hiss.

A haunting sight, a head rolls on the floor, the room is silenced, it was like time had stood still.

" AGGHHH, I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU "

"Swish" Another slice across the body of a young torso. the body drops.

" Smash ", King Angus looks to where Argon was, but he is gone along with Kai, the lone survivor and the final remnants of his countries flame.