Hope of a Golden Hero

     The day was almost over. With it, the end to a war, and a long journey. It was a day of many ends. None were more eager for it’s finish than the golden-armored knight looking down at his prey from above.

     With the world at his back, and the enemy laid out before him, the knight felt his heart pound and his hands shake. “This is it. With this, it’ll all be over.”

     “Oooph!” A large, gauntlet-covered hand slapped him heavily across the back.

     Next to the knight stood a giant. At nine-and-a-half feet tall he was the largest warrior in the alliance army. The giant’s red armor stood in contrast next to the knights, meant to distract and draw attention on the field.

     “Olaf, you oaf! Watch your strength. You’ll have me broken before the last battle begins.” The knight complained.

     “How are ya lad? You feeling queasy? Just treat it like your other battles and create a miracle for us again. All will be right as rain.” Olaf scratched his balding head. “’Sides, we need you with confidence.” He looked down on the knight with concern and not a little bit of kindness.

     “I’m fine.” The golden knight grumbled.

     “Ah, there she is. Is that why you’re up on this hill? Easier to spot from up here.” Olaf teased.

     Indeed, below them was a division of mounted archers, led by a woman dressed in plain leather. A blue and gold bow hung at her back. A divine weapon that matched the golden knight’s divine armor and sword. It was with the divine weapons the alliance had been able to get this far at all.

     The knight waved to her below, who smiled back in reply. She said something to her second, then split from the group to join the two at the top of the hill.

     “Olaf, what’s going on. Aren’t you two supposed to be preparing for the final fight?” She greeted them with a semi-harsh tone.

     Used to it, Olaf shrugged carelessly. “What’s there to prepare? I’ll be leading all on foot on a frontal attack. Ya will go with him, he’ll need a friend at his back.”

     “I intend to. You should go down there and start doing what you do best.”

     “Yes, Ma-am.”

     “Don’t ma-am me! My name’s Loretta. Get it right!” Loretta stomped her foot.

     “Hehehe.” Olaf left with a twinkle in his eye before he ran down the hill, creating a small tremor and spooking a few horses.

     “Geeze.” Loretta sighed, then turned to the knight. “Are you ready?”

     “As ready as I can be.”

     “Alright. Let’s go down and get you mounted up.”

     She took his hand and led him down the hill. They passed through the main camp, soldiers of all kinds hooting and hollering at them. It was no secret they had a close relationship. As a result, Loretta’s face heated up and she moved faster.

     They made it to the valley field. It was a natural meadow miles across. At the end was a river, and then the walls of the castle. The river was low now, enough to cross on foot. It was for this reason they had chosen this time to attack.

     The meadow would soon be a battle field. It’s lush grass stained with blood and remains.

     “Hey, mount up.” Loretta pulled the knight from his dark thoughts.

     She stood beside a black mountain stallion. It’s breed was twice the size of normal horses. Even Olaf could ride it. Unfortunately, the stallion only preferred one rider in it’s lifetime.

     The golden knight mounted the black steed. He got comfortable, then waited for Loretta to mount her brown forest pony. Though small, the pony was swift and had great stamina. Mounted, they made their way to the front lines. At the front, they both looked back on the army.

     The knight’s heart pounded again, this time with awe. The army was multi-colored, showing the gathering of countless countries and tribes. A million strong, easily filling up the valley side-to-side. Never had he seen a mass gathering. It made one’s soul shiver with expectation.

     “They’re here because of you.” Loretta said softly to him. “You did this.”

     “I know.”

     “You should give them a speech. Get their blood boiling. I’ll see you across the river.”

     Loretta joined her men’s ranks at their front, nodding back at the golden knight in encouragement.

     He let out a long-held breath, stabilizing his limbs. There was no point to lie or make false promises. He would be truthful. He held out a hand, silencing the masses before him. He yelled loud, the valley naturally carrying his voice across all.

     “I will not lie. I will not promise. Many of us will die today. I will not force you to stay. But remember why you are here! To protect those loved ones you have left behind! For if this battle fails, so too does the war, and our loved ones shall perish!”

     He took a deep breath before continuing.

     “Who shall stand to leave today?!” Then, he waited.

     His eyes roamed the masses, seeing not a single soul move.

     “Who shall stand to stay?!”

     The masses roared their response.

     “Who shall join me in battle?!”

     The roar was even louder!

     “Who shall join me in victory?!” He cried out the last, using all the force in him.

     The roar was joined with stomps and a waving of weapons.

     “To battle we go!”

     The knight turned his horse around, raising his sword high. He brought it down, urging the black stallion forward. It charged, giving it’s own battle scream to mix with his as they raced across the meadow. The mounted behind him followed, then those on foot.

     Soon, they met the calm river. Water splashed and churned. The earth shook and trees rattled as the sound of the massive army reached the castle walls. The castle gates opened to meet those that had already crossed. The enemy beast army flooded forth.

     Bi-pedal beasts of all kinds shot forth, their eyes red and glowing. The cavalry used momentum to crash into the bestial lines, easily taking down several rows before they engaged in direct combat. Both animal and human screams began to rent through the air.

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     The golden knight swung his sword, cutting a path through the beast army. The beast army was split directly into two and surrounded, backs to the wall, on either side of him. He did not stop there. He continued to race forward to the gate.

     With a beast’s monstrous howl, the castle gate began to close. He entered the gate, taking a direct route to the outer courtyard. There he began giving orders.

     “Take the gatehouse! If that gate closes, the war is lost!” He turned and yelled at a second group. “Secure the walls! Give the archers way!” He saw Loretta give orders, then join him.

     He waited a short moment for the two groups to clear, then waved at the rest. “To the inner courtyard!” As he saw Olaf join him, his heart strengthened. With his friends at his side, what couldn’t he do?

     They raced down a narrow road to another gate a half-mile away. More beasts came out of shack-like houses and burrows, ambushing their sides. Olaf swung his weapons, club and hammer, knocking beasts away like fleas. The knight stopped to help, but Olaf screamed at him.

     “Go! I’ll hold here!”

     The knight nodded solemnly and charged again. “Forward, men!”

     As they reached the second and last wall’s gate, beasts swooped down from above. Winged birdmen dropped rocks and stones. Some men were lifted into the air and dropped a distance away.

     Loretta spied the sky. She drew back the string on her bow, summoning the magic imbued within. Several blue arrows lined up and solidified. She swept the sky with the bow, taking aim. Letting loose, all arrows directed themselves to the targets, striking true. Five birdmen fell.

     As some fell, more arrived. Loretta turned to the knight. “Go, I’ll cut them off! Finish this!”

     The knight rose his sword high, summoning the blade’s divine might. The blade glowed, a crimson hue forming on it’s edge. When the hue glimmered, he slashed down at the gate. An arc of light burst forth, colliding with the gate. A crack formed, shattering the petrified wood.

     He raced past the rubble and went unheeded straight up to the castle double-doors. He dismounted and pushed open one of the doors carefully. Inside, he was met with silence. He crept silently, waiting for traps or ambush.

     Nothing got in his way as he crossed to the end of a long corridor and opened the door to the throne room. The room was dark, lit only with a few torches along each wall. At the far end, on the dais, was not a throne. A large object was covered with cloth, and at it’s base crouched a beast.

     The knight held his sword before him as the beast noticed him. It stood on two legs, revealing to be a large wolf. It’s hands clawed out, scraping the air. It stared at him with red glowing eyes, growling low. A crown adorned it’s head.

     “You are the Demon King? Come, meet your end!” He charged forth.

     The Demon King met him stride for stride. In but a few seconds they were clashing. Sword met claw. The wolf beast king was more agile, dancing easily around the blade. It’s claws rung out an ear-piercing screech each time it scraped the golden armor.

     The golden knight was pushed back, at a disadvantage. His eyes gleamed as he shouted, summoning the magic in his armor. The golden armor shined and a red aura burst forth, shoving the Demon King back several feet.

     The Demon King regained it’s balance, suddenly leaping forth. It’s maw opened wide, aiming for the knight’s head. Unwilling to be defeated, the knight swung forth, calling all the magic he had and blasting it into the sword. The gold sword hummed, auto-adjusting itself to face the Demon King. It sliced through the open maw, cutting the head in two.

     The Demon King’s lifeless body fell to the ground. The golden knight huffed. He was exhausted, having emptied all his body of magic. He stared at the Demon King, a strange look coming over him.

    The knight watched as the Demon King’s body disintegrated, turning into a red puff and shooting towards the covered object on the dais. No remains of the Demon King could be found.

     “What?” He muttered, moving towards the dais.

     As he got closer, his armor and sword began a soft vibration. The object on the dais also vibrated, causing the cover to fall. A giant mirror with black and red engravings on it’s wood appeared.

     “A divine artifact?” He stopped, knowing the mirror had consumed the Demon King. He looked into the mirror, seeing himself.

     The mirror responded, slowly changing his appearance. His golden armor turned red. His sword turned black. His helmet became a crown. His eyes turned a glowing red…

     The knight gasped and looked down at himself. His armor was red and his sword was black. He felt a connection to the mirror as his blood vibrated along with it. He knew what had corrupted the beasts.

     Not willing to be the new Demon King, he rushed the mirror and struck down with his sword. Just before the sword and mirror collided, the sword screamed and bounced back. He slashed the mirror again, only to have the same occur.

    “No!”

     He threw down the sword, aiming a punch at the mirror. His armor screamed and his fist struck wrong, only hitting air.

     “NO!” He denied. He was so close! 

    He tried taking off the armor, but it wouldn’t budge. He tried with all his might, only stopping when his fingers went numb. He fell to his knees, devastated. How could this happen?!

     As he got lost in his dark thoughts, the door slammed open and light flooded in. He looked up, seeing Lorreta enter, bow drawn.  He got to his feet, intending to explain to her. She saw him and her eyes narrowed. “Where is he! Where is the hero?!” She drew back on her bow, aiming at him.

     “Answer me, dammit! What did you do to him?!” Her voice cracked as she yelled.

     He raised his hands and stopped when a sudden idea came. He lowered his hands and smirked. “I killed him. I am the Demon King!”

     Loretta screamed and loosed five arrows upon him. His red armor shined and automatically blocked. Regardless, five divine arrows descended with precision and struck above his heart. His armor cracked, the glow fading.

     He eyed his sword next to the mirror, seeing Loretta follow his gaze. He ran forth, putting himself between Loretta and the mirror.

     “Like damn you will. DIE!” Five more arrows flew his way.

     With the armor broken, nothing could take him away from his position. The arrows struck true, breaking through the armor and piercing his heart, heading directly to the mirror behind him. The mirror screamed, shaking the entire castle grounds.

     The mirror began to crack. The black sword shattered. The bow in Loretta’s hands snapped in half. She dropped it and looked forward. Before her the Demon King fell, lifeless, to the ground. The mirror’s entire surface was riddled with cracks, shaking with force.

     Loretta’s eyes widened with horror as she watched the form of the Demon King revert back to it’s original. The blue glazed eyes stared ahead with kindness. A soft smile. A peaceful reluctance. She ran to him and embraced him.

     “What have I done? What have I done!”

     Finally, the mirror could no longer support itself and exploded. A strange black and twisting energy with red tendrils emerged. It vibrated with high intensity, then dispersed as a heated cloud. All within the castle were consumed.

#

     “Hello? Mortal, can you hear me?”

     What?

     “Can you understand what I’m saying?”

    Who?

     “I am the Goddess of Divine Seals. I’ve brought you and that girl’s soul to my realm.”

     Loretta? Loretta!

     “Calm yourself. She still exists.”

     Exists?

     “That evil energy consumed everything in that place. Your souls were touched with corruption. Luckily, I pulled you both out in time.”

     I can’t see.

     “You have no body silly. You died.”

     Aah….

     “I have a proposition for you. A trade, of sorts.”

     Trade?

     “That’s what I said. Are you listening? I’ll have you do a job for me, and I’ll save her soul.”

     What’s wrong with Loretta?!

     “Well, see, cleansing corruption takes a lot of divine power. I managed to cleanse you entirely. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough to cleanse her. I can only seal her and slow the corruption down.”

     What do I need to do?

     “Haha. No hesitation! I like that about you. Don’t worry, it’s a job you’re well suited for. I’ll create a golem body for your soul to inhabit. It’s growth potential is god-level. You just need to develop it. It’s a grand creation of mine, so don’t abuse it!”

     What do I have to do?

     “Oh, right. I’ll have you go to the Spherica world. The prayers for me down there have almost dwindled to nothing. It’s the source of my divine power. Raise up my faith and church. Learn the meaning of the seals. And seal away the corruption found on that world. After a little, I’ll be able to cleanse your girl and you two can reincarnate on Spherica.”

     What if I can’t? Can I trade my soul for hers?

     “So self-sacrificing. I also like that about you. It doesn’t work that way, though. The only way is to cleanse her through divine power. You can do that, can’t you? Do take my warning. The corruption on Spherica is much stronger and fouler than what you encountered before. You must become strong to face it. Mnn. Probably the strongest on the planet, then you might stand a chance.”

     Let’s do this. How long until Loretta’s soul is gone?

     “Well, at this rate it’ll be consumed in…two millennia? Maybe one?”

     I’ll die long before then!

     “No worries. My golem can live forever. It’ll stop aging about twenty-one years of age. I can also make it look like the locals. I’ll add a seal for soul protection. They have some crazy abilities down there. And..ok! I’m putting you in now. Down you go!”

     Aaaah!

      “Don’t worry, you’ll be safe!”

     The knight fell, gaining a new life, and a new journey.