“Take my finishing move Slash #45!!” ~Swiss Swosh~
The dull wooden sword swung through the air as young Tim executed his attack. This was around the 30th in a series of attacks young Tim was trying to perfect. He was dead set on finding a name for each of his finishing moves. Tim muttered to himself,
“45 doesn’t work either people are only going to ask me what happened to the other 44 attacks.” “It’s got to be cooler than that, Clive watch this!” Tim then proceeded to raise his sword high jump and swing it down into the ground as Clive the donkey swung his tail glancing at the young boy.
Young Tim, like many naive children, dreamed of growing up to become an honorable knight protecting princesses and fighting dragons. Every day he would carry his sword to, “always be ready” as he went out into his family's fields with his pet donkey Clive. He would spend countless hours swinging the wooden sword around in what he would proudly claim as, “training.” all to become like his inspiration, his powerful Grandfather the most powerful knight in the kingdom Steve. Today was one such “training” day.
“Clive, I got it!” exclaimed Tim as he grabbed the sword tighter he just knew this was going to be the right name for his move.
“Grass blade of the end!” ~Swiss~ ………~crickets~
“Dang it that’s not right either… Come on Clive lets go to the shade by the stream”.
The stream Tim wanted to go to ran through the wooded edge of the family farm, rarely used by anyone but the animals because it was so far away from the house but the water here was always cool and helped wash away Tim’s tiredness. Tim’s grandfather claimed the water came from a GOD far north in the mountains and was enriched with some sort of life magic. Tim’s grandfather always exclaimed that’s why he could grow so strong and live to be over 60 and be the strongest knight in history.. Tim wanted to be just like his grandpa so he always drank from the stream when “training” hoping it would make him become stronger. Tim grabbed Clive's lead and started walking to the river, Clive pulled back unwilling to leave as he had just found his favorite weed to chew, causing Tim to slip and fall. Tim brushed the butt of his pants off trying not to be embarrassed that he fell. Grabbing Clives Lead, Tim dug his heels in and pulled with all his might. Gritted teeth and cursing the whole time but Clive was not having it; this was Clive’s snack time and no one wanted to fight this stubborn donkey when it came to food even Tim’s grandfather would give up. Finally giving up Tim went by himself to enjoy the cool shade tired from the pointless struggle against the stubborn Donkey.
~~MEANWHILE~~
King Anthon the 13th of his name, ruler of Vera City of Hope, once leader of the Blades of Green, Defender of All was conversing with his council over the summoning this afternoon. King Anthon looked over the reports on his desk worried, his best knight Frank had just returned from the South Border having delivered the report he stood at ready. Frank a giant of a man, carried a giant green sword with him at all times, thanks to its size he was nicknammed Chopper by the people as when he swung the sword his enemies were chopped in half if he went all out.
“Frank are they really gathering on the south front already?”
Frank straight faced as always replied, “Yes your Majesty, their numbers are far greater than we thought I do not think we have much time before the Demon Lord launches his army onto our lands.”
Anthon took a deep breath, brow furthered, contemplating what to do. The Demons were always a problem but they were manageable with the Demon King wounded from the thousand years war 3000 years ago, but the many prophecies foretold he would return and destroy the world without a proper hero. Convene the council Frank we have no choice but to trust in the ritual of the Church of Destiny has been pushing for.
“Your Majesty do we not have any options left but to trust that bunch of hiding fools? They refused to come to our aid in the past spouting that their God forbade them from interfering. Now having lost their churches outside the border seeing the horrors of demons they have always hid from. It dishonors the fallen my lord.”
Sighing deeply Anthon replied, “Frank, I know the loss of your comrades in the last war trying to stop the demons has always worn heavy on the heart but you must understand, this is our last hope. Do you think we can really fend off the Demon King now that it's just you and me left? Have you even seen anyone a quarter as powerful as we were back then?”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Frank looked down knowing Anthon was right. There had not been anyone in the past 100 years that even showed talent in wielding sword mana those that did fizzled out. There was maybe 20 remaining that could stand up to a general of the Demon Lord.
The council gathered in the secret gardens to the north. Hidden in a spire that appeared from any who walked past as only trees as it was embued with magic eons ago only those that knew of it could find it. The council stood in a group by the huge floor drawing each hopeful that this ritual would pay off and save them. Most of the council was alive in the last war but a few were reluctant to accept that demons were a threat believing the army would protect them. Frank hated these naive fools, if it was not for the King he would have Chopped them decades ago just to shut them up.
Anthon was off to the side discussing the ritual with Dave the head Priest. “So how does this work exactly?”
“The God of Destiny in all his glory reaches through the stars and summons a hero one that will suit our needs, The God of Destiny ties the destiny of the hero to the race that summons it. The hero is given powers that suit the destiny thrust upon them. “
Anthon for the first time felt hope for the future, “So this hero will be given great power to protect us? That settles my mind. How then do we treat this hero? Will they know our language? This ritual is so old that without the scouts finding the scroll in the forbidden north we remaining races would not know of them at all I am worried if this is not a trap set by the demons”
“The God of Destiny commanded us to come to you and foretold the ancient scroll, you should have faith in the one true God… How do we treat the hero? That is an interesting question, once summoned we must revere the hero however as with our destinies being tied, if they rise we rise but more worrisome I am afraid if they fall we fall never to rise again. In the writings of old we found reference to one such hero summoned in the time of the Shadow Giants by the Elf’s. This hero was given dominion over all blades one swing of his sword would strike down lightning revealing and killing the dreadful terrors. The Elves feared the hero and tried to poison them leading to the fall of their race as you can see your Majesty the Elves are all but a myth now…. As for language our God does not say, we can only trust in Destiny.”
~~BACK AT THE FARM~~
Clive finally walked over to the stream where Tim was swinging his sword again.
“Dancing Mountains isn’t it either, it sounds too slow for a sword.”
“A finishing move should sound cool and have a unique sound like the one grandpa used to use.... What was it again? Ben, Bin? Dela? Vela? Ode? Over? … Byen Vera overføre”
All of a sudden the wind picked up and the sky started turning pitch black an ominous sign on any farm when you were caught out in your field. Tim and Clive started running for the closest barn and then ~BOOM~ lightning struck down towards Tim everything going white.
~~IN VERA~~
In the Garden Spire King Anthon was watching the magic ritual. Each corner of the complex drawing on the floor had a priest chanting obscure words from the scroll. Lighting struck down in the center no one could see but they felt something in the center of the circle a new presence that was not there before.
Wanting to make a good impression King Anthon started to speak,as his vision slowly came back, “Welcome Hero to Vera The City Of Hope, I am King Anthon the 13th of his name, once leader of the Blades of Green, Defender of All We Have Summoned…………… WHY THE FUCK IS THERE A DONKEY!?!?!"