Amidst the bodies of the fallen. Blood can be seen everywhere. A massacre of some sort had taken place inside the castle from where the king lies, bloodied, and desperately grasping for air. He speaks in a soft tone, conveying his feelings before he everything else.

"Remember what I had told you my son. I will give you a very bright future, clear of any conflict. I wanted to give you one, but I just was not strong enough for that. I was weak, and had given the people of our kingdom a very happy life, one that they could be content with, but I couldn't give you that... I a--argh- I am a disgrace of a father to you. I hope that you can forgive me." 

A man cloaked, but wearing armor on the inside approaches my father, and he carries a long blade. It is sharp to a point where you can see your reflection upon it. What will he do? Or rather what will he not do?

The man on the ground, the king, drowning in his own blood, faces the assailant. I hear the man say something in a light whisper.

 "I am sorry"

Without fighting back, the man on the ground is then impaled by the sword of the triumphant, straight to his heart. The last I see before I blacked out was my father facing me with a tear in his eye, and his eyes... Slowly.. Come to a close. His hands clenched, but opens showing that he has left.

I myself lose consciousness right after. I could not stop the man, I tried to, but he battered me continuesly to a point that even I couldn't speak anymore. My body is in pain. I am bruised all over, and at last; the throne room is filled with silence, life-less, and I am alone.

My consciousness fades. Will I be next? I am too weak to open my eyes, but everything ends there. 

All I can remember is up to that point in my life. Oddly enough; I couldn't remember anything further into the past. I'll just leave it there. It's all too painful to remember.

I was loved, and I loved my father, my mother; and everyone else in the castle, but I couldn't do anything. I was weak...why?..just why am I so weak? I don't want to feel this way anymore. Deep inside, I wanted to kill him, to avenge everyone...

I wake up soon after in an unfamiliar place. There stood a giant of a man. Leaning against the walls of what seems to be a wooden house. Dark, and silent, filled with dust. He speaks.

(???) "Wake up. Tell me what you remember about your past..." 

And that's how it all started. He made me hunt for our food. He showed me how to fight, survive out in the wilderness, and I grew stronger, even just by a bit. At that moment. He became a second father for me. Even if he was thorough in his teachings. Someone was there for me. 

(???) "I will help you become stronger, and you can face your past. Your corrupted and twisted past." 

"Ahh!" *panting* "I was--dreaming." *sigh*

("Your dream takes a heavy toll on you as always. How are you feeling?")

"Slightly better if you mean my wounds. It's already dark out."

I awake to a woods in the dark. The only thing that gave me something to see with was the moon. Now that you think of it. The moon is always there whenever I need it. I wonder why? I ponder on that, but I am interrupted by Marchosias.

("If you haven't realized it yet, you were out for 2 days with no food. I was amazed that you were still alive.")

"Well this was my first decisive battle. I guess I took it for granted. I'm still not that strong after all. Even with your powers, I still feel useless."

("Lose that thought. Make yourself feel useful, and feed us. Your horse had been eating off random fruits that fell off the trees, but you yourself have not had anything to eat. I'll die off if you perish from starvation, and that would be embarrassing from someone who wields my power.")

I just smile at his thoughtful remark, and take a fruit off a tree. I don't really mind what kind of fruit this is. As long as it satisfies my hunger

"Hey Marchosias.. I won't let it end like that. I'll finish them off. I need to. I know it's unreasonable to take lives without me hearing or knowing their reasons, but I made a promise to that girl; Rhiannon, and for some reason I don't want to leave it like that. I'll show you just how much I've grown in this small span of time, and when that time comes, the time I become stronger. I'll find the one that killed my parents, and I will avenge them, but I won't forget about finding Andour of course.

("I am very keen to see how you will back your words up. If not, then that will be the end for both of us.")

"Again. Thanks for the vote of confidence"

I sleep again through the night, resting my tired body. Ready to start once again.

~In the town of Rydia~

Somewhere underground. A cellar made into what looks like a dungeon sits in the darkness. If you listen closely, you can hear the faint sounds of people asking for help, some are angry, but there are some who stay silent. 

In a particular cell. There sits people who've been all cramped together. Some are not breathing anymore, and some are forced to sit there with the lifeless corpse of their companions; unable to do something let alone a proper burial. A woman sits alone in the corner of the cell, clutching herself into a fetal position. 

A man approaches the cell, and he has someone with her. A small girl with bright brown hair. The girl inside the cell recognizes her, and opens her eyes wide in surprise. Cursing the man, why? Why did he take her?

(Gordon) "This girl might be the catalyst to have the boy return."

(???) " you truly are shameless. No inch of humanity left in you, nor even if you did, it would just be meaningless to have."

(Gordon) "hmm you see mayor, power is everything. I am sick and tired of seeing the people of this once unparalleled country, fall into a weak state of nothingness. You see, My life had been a very thrilling one, but there was a story before that. Let me tell you."

"The neighboring country was at war with us, they had invaded the border cities, and coincidentally, the one where we lived in. My parents were working the fields, but despite that, our country was slightly larger than this one, it's name was 'Barda'. The people moving from here to there, and they were all busy, but from a distance you could see a massive army approaching under the brightness of the daylight. You would've thought that this was the allied army coming to reinforce the cities near the border, but I was wrong. I stared, and watched as our town was ravaged in an instance, burning the village. People's lives were taken easily because there was no one to defend them, but there was one. He was the bravest of us all, and he was my brother."

"He fought till the very end, defending our parents, and as I simply watched all their lives taken in front of me, and as I watched; I became even more terrified. Too scared to even move, but I became a coward. I pinned myself to the ground, staining my body with the blood of the fallen. Masking myself, presumed to be dead, and it had worked. "

"I was happy, but should I have just let them take my life so I could join my family, or should I live on, doing nothing with the rest of my life; as I rot away in this world filled with weakness. Then and there I realized that the strong will live on, and the weak will be left. Trampled upon on the ground, but now! Power is in front of me, and it has gotten away. I need that power, and with that I will destroy the country that killed my family. I've let anger drive me, it has become my motivation. Soon I will show you the power that will be everyone's salvation. Those who are imprisoned here. Those who've opposed me, they will turn their heads once they see that power that will save them."

(Mayor) "You desperate and sad man. Just to have power, you will kill innocents and those that oppose you without even harming you.

Forcing your ideals upon them, when they themselves are just struggling to live. We are not all like you. Some people do not want conflict, yet you force it upon us."

(Gordon) "I already command an army scattered, and influencing people all over the country. They are strong enough to pressure a country into ruin, but with that power, I can do so much more than just pressure them. I can destroy them. Now I just wanted to show you your sister, but we'd best be on our way. We're expecting a guest."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

The girl whispers to her sister in a tone that you could barely hear.

(Rhiannon) "I'll get you out of here, I promise."

The girl inside the cell simply cries as the little girl leaves with the man. What might become of her sister if that man becomes successful. He will force people to follow him regardless. Time will determine who will win in this battle, but one thing is for sure. The victor will be the one to make their mark upon the history books.

Will it be the one who dreams to conquer, avenging his parents. Or the one who dreams to become stronger in hopes of avenging the death of his parents, and to find the truth about his past.

~meanwhile, morning arrives~

Here comes the day of reckoning. A boy has been practicing his swordsmanship since the dawn's first light. He performs a beautiful waltzing combination of movements. His movements connect precisely, and he finishes with a powerful finishing blow, distorting the air in front of him. The leaves dance in harmony, and the day has begun. At the end, there will be only one victor, but the odds are stacked against him. 1 against a 100, or maybe more. 

He does not let that kind of thought bother him. He readies all of his Armaments. His armor in slightly good condition, but clearly battered. Wearing a  leather vambrace on his left hand, and lastly his short sword. Although close to breaking, he still entrusts his life to it.

"Let's go Marchosias. I'm ready to end this.

("Interesting. Not even a spec of doubt from your body can be sensed. Your resolution is clear. You are ready.")

The boy sheathes his sword, and rides Sleipnir, returning to the town where an arena is soon to be born. The people of the town, will become the witnesses, and they will spectate a battle between a boy of destiny, and a man of change.

He arrives after a while. Wearing his cloak, using the hood to avoid being too blinded by the sun. They are at the entrance of the town. Assembled, and ready to strike at any moment. Beyond that are groups of cavalrymen awaiting orders. They number over 100.

He gets off his horse, and he walks towards them slowly, but surely.

("Still no sign of doubt. Just what is driving you to do this I wonder.")

"I don't really know Marchosias. All I know is that I have to beat him somehow. No one really gave me a strong reason to do so other than Rhiannon, and that was just to save her sister, but enough talk. Help me out alright."

("If things get too out of hand. I have a 'secret' that might help you, but anymore power I give you will damage your body severely, remember, mana was not meant for humans.")

The boy stops, only inches away from them. Gordon, the captain, and the leader of the soldiers, standing confidently. He speaks, welcoming the boy's arrival.

"Welcome! I see you've come prepared to give yourself up without a fight. That is a very wise decision. No bloodshed, the people and this country will gain its prestige back once again. It feels like you're helping the country itself already, but just to make sure you don't hesitate."

Gordon pulls out a girl from behind him, and sure enough, the girl is Rhiannon. The boy reacts slightly after seeing this, but remains calm and quiet. 

People from the town flock inside their homes and other various buildings, as they want to witness this spectacle, which they still do not know anything about, but they will soon know.

"Come little boy, offer me your power."

I do as he says... I walk slowly, changing into a run at breakneck speed. I become a blur to them as time slows down around me. 

What's this? Marchosias's power is immense. His enhancement of speed astonishes me, but no time to think too much. 

I rush the man named Gordon and deliver a powerful punch to his face, sending him flying towards his men. I whistle to call Sleipnir, and i carry Rhiannon into my arms. I then leap back to my original position, and saddle Rhiannon up to Sleipnir.

"Ask questions later. Just grab on tight for now."

I signal for Sleipnir to go. I'll have the problem of trying to find her later, but as long as she is safe for now, then I can focus.

"I'll ask you politely to leave this town alone, and no blood will be shed." 

Gordon gets back up, irritatingly retorts.

"Why you little bastard. Get him, I don't care how."

The battle finally starts, and the small army comes rushing towards me, but from my point of view. They all move slowly, thanks to the enhancement Marchosias gave me. I have a path planned out, and in one fluid motion, I move to execute my combination.

I jump, leaping into one of the Frontline fighters, and I strike my blade straight into his chest, the blade runs through him, blood splattering everywhere. I push the now deceased man onto the other soldiers, sending him tumbling into each other causing a domino effect. I spin my entire body with my blade, slashing my enemies from behind clean off. Lastly, I leap back, and channel a blue ball of flames onto my hand, sending it flying towards my enemies. Unable to counter this, they take it head on, and it explodes burning everything close to it including the soil from where they stand. Pain and agony could be heard all throughout the town.

(Soldier) "don't lose momentum now! The power that will lead us to power stands before us. Charge!"

They all boost each other's morale, and with that, they charge relentlessly. I on the other hand, need time to to reuse my power. So I will have to manage using my blade to aid me.

The people watching are baffled. Why would a single boy fight the bandit lord? Why does the boy have that much power? What is he fighting for? How can he use magic? Is he a demon child?

Those questions are continually raised as they watch, unable to peel their eyes off from this amazing display of strength.

*panting* "I'm staring to wear myself down. At this point, I don't think that I can use magic anymore."

I am slightly wounded, but Marchosias alerts me of any attacker that gets too close to me, I strike and end the life of the unfortunate soldier that dares to fight me. I receive wounds from being unable to react fast enough to Marchosias's warnings, but I still manage to counter them.

It becomes harder as they circle me tightly. Just a bit more, and it will be more difficult to move soon. 

The battle rages on for a while. No one knows for how long they've been fighting for, but dead bodies lay on the floor, showing the progress that the boy had made, but of course, that goes the same for the young Fafnir. He is wounded, and not just slightly anymore. His wounds are painfully obvious, and his left arm dangles freely, unable to move it anymore as it bleeds profusely. His right hand wielding his blade, and his legs are the only things keeping him alive. 

Half of the Frontline's soldiers have been killed, but there still remains another half, and the cavalry awaiting their moment to strike, but instead of having the cavalry charge the boy. Gordon, the leader of the soldiers emerge from the crowd of remaining soldiers, and draws his long sword, and that alone indicated that he wants a challenge between the two of them. No one shall interfere.

"So I guess this means you want to end this already don't you?"

(Gordon) "once and for all."

(Hey Marchosias. I'm almost out of breath. Hold off on that 'secret' for now. I'll handle this myself.)

("Very well. I will leave it to you then.")

Gordon approaches the boy, clearly half dead already. It is amazing that a child can endure so much pain. Is this all for a promise? Or merely for his ideals, But one thing is clear. He accepts the challenge, and in this one instance, Gordon strikes the child. The blade approaches him, but the boy does not dodge, but strafes slightly to the right. It was not enough.

At that instance, among the crowd watching, Deliah, the innkeeper is the one most shocked. The long sword runs through the boy's body, but they both stand there lifeless, and not moving, but blood spills from one of them, and it drips ever so slowly. 

~To be continued