The bouncing of the carriage and rattling of chains grows louder. The dark interior was dimly lit by a small opening at the top. The Man sits on the right side of the carriage as it hits a massive bump. Slowly opening his eyes as the pulsing bruise on his head stings, he looks around with confusion on his face. His sharp steel eyes with an azure outline tries to make out the inside of the carriage. His slightly long brown hair catches on the splintered wood of the carriage. His diamond angled face and stubble had some dried blood on it. His muscular body sitting against cold iron bench as his bare feet rest on the wooden floor. A small grey rune with a circular design with two inverted v’s connecting to the top and bottom. The Man looks to his left hand and sees his birth mark was exposed. The main line running from the lower left to top right of his hand. A line extends from the tip and midsection of the line and to point to his heart.
Moving his hands apart they stop suddenly with a soft clink. Looking down, He sees braces on his arms and legs. Spotting a complex cross rune forged into of the Solaris star. Templar negating runes, he thought to himself as the carriage bounces up. He slides to the front of the carriage as it began to descend. He slams into the front of the carriage. Looking down, He notices he is wearing torn prisoners pants. Minutes pass as he sits patiently in the carriage. Feeling the carriage level out, it comes to a stop. He takes a deep breath and looks to the door.
The carriage began creaking as the driver moves about, and a loud thump echo out as the driver lands on the ground. He follows the sound as the driver makes his way to the door an comes to a complete stop on the other side. A sharp sliding sound rings out as the Templar unlocks the door and pulls it open. The suns light hits his eyes as a stinging sensation erupts. A Templar jumps up into the carriage and reaches up for the chain on the wall. Pulling the chain off he walks towards him. The Templar reaches the man, he slams his head against the wall and yanks on the chain.
The sound of metal running through metal loops comes to a stop. The Templar gently tugs the chain a few times before he gives it harsh pull. The man launches out of his seat and crashes on the wooden floor. Groaning with a heavy breath, he slowly begins to get up and feels the Templar dragging him towards the door. The Templar turns around and jumps down to the ground with a loud thump. Turning around the Templar yanks harshly on the chain and pulls him out of the carriage.
Falling to the ground, the man hits his left shoulder on the rocky ground and gasps in pain. Careful, I think you might hurt it, a second Templar said in a mocking tone. The man’s shoulder slowly turns a deep black color. The second Templar walks over and looks down to the man and laughs. Come on spell tongue, the First Templar said in a firm voice. Do some magic, the second Templar said as he pulls his leg back and kicks the man in the stomach laughing. The man grows weak as his stomach growls in pain. Weakly moving his hands, he shifts his shoulders and pushes himself up to his feet.
Breathing hard as his stomach turns blue, he looks around. Watch it, a Templars screamed. The man looks to his left. The man’s face turns to shock and anger. The man sees they had also captured a Wyvern. Valisa, he screams! Valisa lets out a hiss in response.
The twenty-foot-long Wyvern was thrashing about trying to break free. Chains were wrapped around Valisa’s rounded angle mouth, her nostrils flare with anger. Small spikes run along her lower jaw and around her golden eyes with a thin black pupil. Valisa’s serpent body is covered in beautiful emerald scales as she flattens the spikes that run along her back. Her back legs a flat foot with three toes and sharp claws with a claw higher up. Black sharp tips extend out from the edge in the mid-section of her wings. Her velvet wings were wrapped in razor chain. Her webbed tail whips back and forth swatting a Templar into a cart.
His anger burning in his heart as he sees his friend bound. The second Templar taking position on the man’s left and moves his right hand to his sword. Nudging his right elbow forward and strike him in the back. He holds his legs still as he turns his head forward. Get moving! A Templar yelled. The left Templar raises his hand and plants it onto his back and pushes him forward. He stumbles as he walks forward.
The high walls of the quarry rise to the sky. The man sees prisoners slaving away in tattered clothes. Some prisoners pass by carrying rocks. The man sees men and women barley clothed and looks away. A loud crack of a whip rings out causing people scream.
Wooden watch towers were on every level of the quarry. Check points along every level. He begins to formulate a plan. Seeing holes in the quarry supported with wooden braces. Men and women walking in and out of the mines shafts. Some pushing heavy carts of ore. The Man looks to his left and sees a carved fortress to his left. A prison was built into the lower layer of the quarry. Its main entrance was covered by two massive wooden doors with metal braces and plating. Two elegant rough stone pillars were built into the rock face just in front of the entrance. He spots two sentries perched on the top of the pillars. The man feel the Templar on his right pulls on his chain. The man lunges forward and falls to the ground.
The Templar looks down and begin laughing. The left Templar takes his right foot and brings it down on the front neck. He gasps for breath as fear erupts from his face as tears begin to form. Glimpses of a dirty blond woman in white clothes rushes through his mind. Mother I am sorry, he whispered with no sound. How long do you think this one will last with an inquisitor? The Templar on his right asked. The Templar removes his foot and reaches down and pulls him up and forces and back to his feet.
The man weakly tries to focus his attention on his balance. The man sees a high priestess walks towards him. Her robes were a golden crimson color with a white pattern running over shoulders and connecting on her chest. The High priestess holds a staff firmly in her right hand. The man looks upon the face of the priestess. Her long brown hair was starting to gray. Her face was starting to wrinkle under her eyes and around her lips. Her skin was peeling with a reddish tone.
The priestess stops a few feet from the man and looks him over. So, you are the one that killed twelve of my men, she said with a firm tone. The man does not respond as he turns his head and looking at the staff. His eyes widen as he recognizes the staff.
The bright grey metal staff’s shaft swirling pattern towards the top. Three dragon heads branch out and curve back to hold an arcane diamond. A grand white pyramid gem shimmers in the light. The man looks down and sees a long blade at the bottom.
Your name, spell tongue, the priestess screams! The man does not respond as he looks back to her. The Priestess’s face twists with anger. She angles the staff and strikes the bottom right of his jaw. A sharp look of pain breaks out on his face as his lower lip bursts. The priestess looks to the staff with a wicked grin and sees his blood dripping from the staff.
Your, NAME, the Priestess screams! He turns his head back and looks at the priestess. Alvor, he said. Leaning in closer, she looks deep into his eye. Spitting, Alvor shoots blood into her eyes. Stepping back as she wipes the blood from her eyes and looks at him and begins laugh. You will be fun to break, the priestess remarks. She slowly brings her face in closer, seeing Alvor’s busted lip. Blood drips from his lip as he rushes his head forward and smashes his head into her nose. The priestess screams and stumbles back as she reaches up and covers her nose with her left hand.
Feeling her nose, pain emerges on her face as she removes her hand. Blood dripping from her nose and hand, she back to him. Impressive, scum, the priestess said. Raising the staff, she swings the and strikes Alvor. Alvor feels his left cheek rupture and starts to bleed. Alvor does not make a sound as he focuses his eyes on the staff. The gem changes to a deep angry red as blood drips from it.
The priestess looks to the staff and sinisterly smiles. It likes your blood, the priestess said. She turns away from him and snaps her fingers. Take him to his cell, and call for a healer, the Priestess said as she flicks her bloody hand. The templars reach out and grabs Alvor’s arms and chain. The Templars start to pull and drags him across the ground. I will reclaim my mother’s staff, Alvor said.
Halt, the Priestess said out loud. The templars stop, keep an eye on him. The Priestess turns and slowly walks over to Alvor and stop a few feet from him. Religious fury burns deep in her eyes as she grinds her teeth. How stupid are you? You are here because of your sinful acts, the Priestess said! Magic is not sinful, you fanatics murdered hundreds and killed my mother, Alvor pauses. I will reclaim her staff and leave this place, Alvor finishes up.
The priestess laughs out loud. Magic goes against the will of Solaris, the priestess said. You trample the other gods because you are all zealots, Alvor said. Those gods are not even true, Solaris watches over us even now, the priestess said as she looks up towards the sky. The sun comes out from the clouds and shines down on them.
“Hear me lord Solaris, god of the sun and righteous justice, Bane of the wicked. Let this wicked man’s sin be forgiven as he repents with his flesh, the priestess said” The priestess lowers her head and looks directly into Alvor’s eyes. Repent, spell tongue, give up magic and lead a life as a silent monk, the priestess said. Alvor spits again and hits the priestess in her eyes. She reaches up and wipes the spit from her eyes and turns and walks away. Beat him, the priestess said. The Templars quickly raise their free hands and began punching Alvor in the back of the head. Losing his balance, he falls forward and lands harshly on the ground. The Templars begin punching and kicking him. Alvor tries to remain conscious as they continue to punch and kick. After a few minutes, the templars stop their beating.
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Alvor lays on the ground with his body twitching as blood pours from his wounds. Black bruising begins to from around his right eye as his vison slowly fades away. The world quickly goes dark for Alvor. Colors swirling as his eyes slowly close then feels a warm sensation wash over him.
Floating into an empty space, dots of light blink into existence. They begin to spin in place. Looking at himself to see no bruises or cuts on his body. Looking back to the dots they begin to slowly move to the right and left. The stars swirl around him as the black of the void stands still. The dots changing color as they spin. He feels the wind pick up as he began to fall, Alvor tries to figure out what was happening.
The wind rushes around him as he to falls towards a giant light. Reaching the light and enters it as the warmth disappears. Alvor lands on the ground, the soft grass rushes up against his body. Alvor moves his hands and feels the grass between his finger’s, and he pushes himself up. He looks up to see no stars in the sky but waves of whitish blue pulsing lines. Where am I? Alvor said out loud. He looks back down as he turns around in a circle and examines his surroundings. A slight crackle echoes out as a flame pops up in the distance. Alvor spots the flame and comes to a stop.
Alvor feels the flames calling to him and starts walking towards it. The soft grass feels good on his feet as his heart calmly beats. Reaching the fire, Alvor notices two wooden stumps around the small fire pit. Looking around, he tries to find out who had lit the fire. The wind picking up and begins to blow the grass around him.
You have grown, a voice said. Alvor hears a voice coming from behind him. Turning around slowly, Alvor sees a cloaked woman sitting on the far stump with her hands clasped together with her fingers intertwined. The woman’s cloak was fully wrapped around her body as the hood covers her face. She slowly gestures him to the other stump.
Please sit, we have much to talk about but little time, she said. Alvor slowly walks to the stump. Stepping over it and sits down and keeps an eye on the woman. The stump was uncomfortable as he feels jagged splinters through his pants. So, who are you and why did you bring me here? Alvor asked with a firm voice.
Each chapter ends as one begins, lost shooting stars look for you, the woman responded. The mountain of red ash stirs in the south, blood of false family turns to foe, the woman said. A Sage Lord born of ancient blood will rise to stop the end, the woman said as she leans back.
Alvor tries to understand these words, he knows his family turned on him a few years ago. But what of false family? Alvor thought to himself. Alvor still pondering these words and looks to his left hand. His birth mark begins to glow a whitish glow. What is happening to my birth mark? Alvor asked. Energy surging through his arm and falls forward. Be careful as you walk the path of danger, the ancient blood will awaken. Light erupts from behind the woman and forms into a serpent man with a long snout. Alvor remembers something like this creature and opens his mouth.
Wake now, the woman said. Alvor feels the world shake and crack. Light breaks through as the ground as it crumbles away. He falls and is engulfed by the light.
Opening his eyes, Alvor feels the cold stones on his back. The stone room was small, a metal door with a slight opening with bars lay on the other side of the room. He feels a lot better than a few minutes ago. Hearing clanking from outside the door, Alvor feels his heart race. Report, a male voice said. The magical shit bag has not woken up yet, a female voice responds. He has been out for four days now, the male voice said. Would have been better to just kill him now, a female voice said. Alvor slowly reaches to his left and placing his bound hands onto the cold stone floor. Pushing himself up he sees his ankles were not in shackles anymore. Alvor tries not to make any noise as he weakly steps forward. Not an option, he killed twelve of our brothers and sisters, he may know some information, the male voice said.
Sir, what about the wyvern? the female Templar asked. What about it? the male Templar responds. It has killed several of us in the last four days, a dozen more are poisoned, the female exclaimed! We can sell the scales for extra coin, the male Templar said. Why sell the scales? The female Templar asked. We need more funding if we are to continue our crusade, the male Templar said. The chain pulling slowly, reaching the wall Alvor quickly braces against the wall. That will be all, the male Templar said. Hearing him walk away, Alvor waits for the door to open.
His breathing steadies, Alvor’s heart starts to race. Hearing the jingle of keys, Alvor starts to hold his breath. Hearing the key being inserted into the lock, a loud click echoes in the cell. The bar screeches as it slides away. Watching the door slowly start to swing outwards. He hears the door stop and the clank of the Templar starting to walk. This is my only shot, Alvor thought as he slowly extends his arms. Reaching the max on the chain, Alvor raises his arms into the air. Seeing the female Templar walk into the room she began to look around in the dim lite room.
Looking to where he was laying, the Templars shakes as she sees the prisoner is gone. Leaping forward, Alvor quickly wraps the chains on his cuffs around her throat and pulls back as hard as he can. The Templar rushes back and slams Alvor into the wall. Alvor’s head hits the wall hard as the Templar reaches for her sword. Gripping it in her right hand. Alvor pulls harder as he sees the Templar pulling her sword out of its sheath.
The Templar gasps as she slams back into the wall again. Alvor feels a massive pain in his chest after the impact. Hunching forward the Templar tries to break his grip and dropping her sword. After a few minutes of struggling the Templar falls forward and lands on the ground. A loud crashing sound echoes out into the halls. Alvor lifts the chain from around her neck, gently pulling off her helmet. Long brown falls out of the helmet. Reaching down, Alvor stops his hand in front of her mouth and nose. Feeling a breath coming from her, Alvor feels miffed that she was not dead. Reaching down, he finds her waist and places his hands on her back and pushes himself onto his feet.
Searching her waist, Alvor finds a key ring on her belt. The key ring held at least twenty keys, a little over kill but efficient, Alvor thought to himself as he reaches for the keys. Grabbing the keys, Alvor pulls the key ring off her belt. He begins to fiddle looking for the right key. Trying one after another, Alvor hoping for a key to his cuffs. Stopping at one Alvor hoping this was the right one.
Turning his head and looks for the key slot on his cuffs. Come on, Alvor said softly. Hearing footsteps, Alvor begins to worry and drops the keys. Alvor looking to his chain, carefully following it to the wall. Alvor sees a lock holding his chain on the far wall. Alvor bends down and takes the keys again and rushes to the wall. Alvor extends his hand with the keys as his legs began to weaken. Reaching the wall, Alvor looks up to the lock as chains rattle. Extending his arms upwards, the footsteps begin to pick up as the Templar got closer.
Inserting the key into the lock, Alvor began to twist. Damn, not the right one, Alvor thought as the footsteps grew louder. His heart racing as he tries to keep his head together. Lowering his arms and switching to the next key, come on, come on, Alvor thought to himself as frustration takes over. Stopping and reaching up with another key, Alvor tries the lock again. Well, my heads going to roll, Alvor thought to himself. Alvor feeling the keys, feeling carving in the keys. Running his hands though the keys, Alvor found a special one.
Reaching up with the key and inserting the key, Alvor quickly turning the key. Hoping, Alvor felt the lock turn. The rounded bar sliding up into the contraption. The lock opens as his chain fall to the floor. Smiling, Alvor hearing the footsteps hurrying up. Bending down, Alvor grabs the chain on the floor. Standing back up as the footsteps where closer, Alvor turns around and begins to swing the chain. He sees a shadow growing in the hall, Alvor tries to time the entrance with the throw.
A Templar quickly turns and entering the room, Alvor throws the chain. The Templar reacts as she sees the chain, reaching with its left arm. The Templar allows the chain to wrap around her arm. Grabbing the chain, the Templar pulls hard and forces Alvor to lung forward. The Templar rushes her elbow forward and slams it into his chest. Alvor grunts as pain as the wind was knock out of his lungs and drops to his knees.
The Templar quickly rushes to her left and wraps the chain around his neck and pulls gently. Easy, the Templar said in feminine voice. Slowly releasing the chain around his, Alvor begins to breath regular. If you want to escape, you will need my help, the Templar said. Why would I trust a monster? Alvor responds with hate in his voice! The Templar quickly pulls the chain tighter and cuts of his breathing. Alvor feels the chain pressing even tighter against his neck.
Releasing the chain again, Alvor began to breath. Clink echoes out as the Templar dropped the chain. Alvor turns his head over his right shoulder, his eyes opening as he sees the chain on the ground. The Templar begins walks around and stopping in front of him. Kneeling, she looks him in the eyes. the Templar began reaching up for her helmet. Placing her hands on her helmet and began to remove it. Long blond hair falls out, Alvor looking upon the face of the Templar.
Her soft rounded face held two stunning blue eyes, her nose was slightly crooked. Natural red lips were sculpted onto her face. Slight freckles could be seen under her eyes. This is the one that knocked me out, Alvor thought to himself. Let me, get those cuffs off hand me the key ring, the Templar said as she extends her right hand. Alvor extends out his arms and dropping the key ring into her hand. The Templar quickly finds the key to the cuffs, an elegant key with a jewel at the end. You have got to be kidding me, Alvor said out loud. Lift your arms up, the Templar said as she holds the key.
Alvor lifts his arms up, the Templar seeing the key slot. Reaching up and inserting the key. Quickly turning the key and disengaging one of the cuffs. Pulling the key out and quickly unlocking the other cuff. Alvor feels the cuffs falling off and onto the floor. Feeling his wrists, the cuffs left their mark. Where is my gear? Alvor asked. Several levels above us, the Templar responds. I got the key to your wyvern, there is one lock holding it to the ground, the Templar said.
Alvor’s face quickly turning to anger, you treated Valisa like mindless beast, Alvor screamed! Not me, the others, the Templar responded. Alvor stands up as he forms a yellow glyph with zig-zagging lines across the edges and crosses in the center in front of his right and left hand, the Templar seeing this. Good your magic is unhindered, the Templar said with a slight strain in her voice. Leaning in close she begins to whisper something into his ear. Pulling her head back with a confident smirk on her face.
Quickly moving his right hand back and forth as he pulls in his two-middle fingers on both hands. Arch, Alvor says. Lightning shoots forth and hits the Templar, The Templar stops as she feels her muscles contract, falling to the floor as the lightning stopped. Twitching as she drops the key to Valisa chains, Alvor bending down and taking the key. Thanks, Alvor said as he began to move and rush through the door and into a stone brick hallway. Alvor hears a lot of footsteps coming from the left. Turning right, Alvor runs down the hall as he hears Templars right behind him. His heart began to race, breathing hard, his legs begin to hurt.
Forming a glyph in his right hand of golden light, the circle rotating with the lines crossing around a single ring. Throwing his hand up, restro, Alvor said as healing light erupts around him. Feeling his legs and muscles return to normal, Alvor began picking up speed. Now all I must do is escape, easy, Alvor thought as he runs for his life.