Ulmir’s Castle, The Champions’ Lounge. One Day After Cane’s Arrival.

Lord Supreme sat in the throne room, observing the High Priest with livid eyes. He arrived a few hours ago, after receiving news of the end of the Holi Tribulations. It was a very unpleasant surprise to find out that the Painted World had disappeared without a trace. Lord Supreme had found many treasures in Ulmir’s Domain ever since he took over.

“Have you sent the other champions back to their lands?” Lord Supreme asked the fearful High Priest.

“Yes my lord,” Utar answered. “We’ve also taken the liberty of altering their memories. They now think they’ve been sent back early on the Hunter God’s orders.”

“Very well, I’ve also taken the liberty of preparing a speech for the Kozagans. Make sure your delivery is convincing.”

“Yes, my lord,” Utar answered then bowed.

“Have you checked the other painting?” he asked the High Priest. They were the only ones sitting in the spacious room. Multiple statues and paintings of champions of old decorated the place. They were a reminder of Ulmir’s era and his tradition of the Hunt.

“Nothing new to report, my lord,” Utar answered. He dropped his white robe for a gray sleeveless one. A silver brooch with a snake coiled around a sword hung on the left side of his chest.

“Tell me, High Priest, how much time have you got left?” Lord Supreme asked with a nasty grin on his face.

Utar looked at his lord with frightful eyes. That man knew everything about him, except the secret he fought hard to keep away from him. “About fifty years, my lord,” he answered. His voice was faint, almost a whisper. His hands shook and sweat covered his forehead.

“You do realize that the gate to the Holi Wars will soon open. Without my consent, you will not be able to participate.”

“Yes, my lord,” Utar answered. He was clenching his fists and jaw. He knew what awaited him now what the Contest was over.

“I had a little talk with the Alfa Photon,” Lord Supreme suddenly changed the subject. “She said she’ll order her little ones to resume their work. Everything should be operational by the afternoon. I want that champion ready for the ceremony. We need to get him out of here as soon as possible High Priest. Our silence has lasted long enough.”

“What about Darkstar, my lord?” Utar risked asking the question. He had nothing to lose anyway. Lord Supreme seemed to have taken his decision.

“Are you sure he’s in the Painted World?” Lord Supreme asked.

“Yes, my lord. He hasn’t moved yet.”

“What about Javad?”

“I can still sense him there too. I’m confident he’ll be able to bring the intruder back with him.”

Lord Supreme squinted at Utar. He slowly stood from his chair then walked towards the High Priest. When he reached him, he grabbed him by the collar, looked him straight in the eyes then smiled. When Lord Supreme spoke, his voice was filled with anger and malevolence.

“All these years in this place have made you soft High Priest. I was right to take you away from Avourel, you were a bad influence on him. This is not a game Utar! I specifically asked you to find the intruder, not Javad.”

“But –“ Utar stammered. “He volunteered to look for Darkstar my lord. He said it was his honor to bring him to you.”

“You lie, High Priest!” Lord Supreme was shouting. His voice shook the entire tower on which the Champions’ Lounge was situated. “The Alfa Photon stopped working because you let this whole mess happen. She only agreed to work with us today, for the ceremony’s sake. Unless you produce that intruder in the next twenty four hours, I’ll make sure you rot in the Well.

“All those years High Priest, scheming and collecting trophies, look at what it has come to. You disappoint me Utar. Find this Darkstar or your head will decorate these walls by tomorrow!”

Lord Supreme walked away from the room. He muttered a spell and a portal manifested in front of him. Lord Supreme turned to look at the High Priest. “Make sure you practice the speech I gave you. It’s important we get Kozag’s support!”

As soon as he disappeared behind the portal he created out of thin air, Utar let out a long sigh. He decided to jump inside the Painted World after the ceremony was over. It was either that or get sent to the Well. Lord Supreme’s powers were terrifying. It was thanks to his mastery over death and life that he ruled the planet with an iron fist. Utar summoned his guards and asked them to get Cane ready. He then went to his study to change and get ready for the speech.

‘Darkstar sure picked up a bad time to show up,’ he thought as he climbed the serpentine stairs that led to his private quarters. ‘What’s Javad doing anyway? I saw Darkstar before he entered this realm, he didn’t seem as strong as I first met him. Capturing him should be an easy task, even for someone as cowardly as he is.’

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With these dark thoughts, Utar entered his study. The place was buzzing with Photons that observed every move he made. ‘Lord Supreme has finally decided to take matters into his own hands.’ It was at that moment that Utar realized he was in a dreadful situation.

He couldn’t leave the realm without his master’s approval. In fact, nobody could. Lord Supreme knew everybody who worked in Ulmir’s Castle by name. He had handpicked them to keep the realm he’d captured safe and ripe for harvest. Not only did Utar allow an intruder inside the Castle for the first time in six hundred years, but he also allowed the intruder to destroy the entire Faery Plains.

As he put on his white ceremonial robes, Utar’s heart picked up speed. He now knew he was doomed. Even if he found Darkstar, there was no guarantee that Lord Supreme would allow him to live. He finished getting dressed then picked up the speech his master had prepared for him and started rehearsing.

Cane on the other hand was being prepared for the ceremony by a dozen fair maidens. The previous night was the best night of his life. The maid from the common room introduced him to her friends. They were all infatuated by the champion who survived. The things he’d done that night, he bet even Darkstar couldn’t top them. And to think he landed in Ulmir’s Castle by coincidence.

When Qil-Al asked him to think of a place to go to, his first thought was of his house near Yanoku’s eastern gates. But remembering Black Eyes and the adventure he had lived since he met him, Cane found himself thinking of Ulmir’s Domain and the Castle. Luckily, Lillin didn’t think the same. He was announced as the winner, and what a winner he was!

The fair maidens prepared Cane for his big ceremony while showering him with kisses. Some of them had red, fiery hair. Others had jet black hair with the widest eyes he’d ever seen, clear blue and sparkling. They smelled of roses, lilac and gooseberries. Their skin was soft to the touch. And their lips… their lips were so delicious he could kiss them all night.

He wished he could just stay there. As far as he was concerned, he had died and was sent to heaven. But the dream had to end and he was being prepared to leave the realm. After they were done preparing him, they all led him to the Courtyard. They kissed him farewell then left to their private quarters.

Cane was now dressed like a king. He wore a white tunic with a navy blue vest on top. His navy blue trousers were attached to his waist with a brown leather belt. His brown leather shoes shone as the sunlight reflected on them. His big and muscular body was now well hidden underneath the neat clothes.

Utar soon appeared in front of him, slowly walking in his direction. A buzzing sound could be heard above them as the Alfa Photon watched their every move. It was broadcasting to the entire Kozagan Desert and to the Empire. Utar was holding a black sword on his hand. When he reached the champion, he urged him to kneel.

Cane, religious as he was, put one knee on the ground and looked at the High Priest. Utar touched the big bear’s head with the sword then spoke. “In the name of Ulmir, the Hunter God, protector of this realm and the realms below, I proclaim you winner of this year’s Great Hunt.”

Cheers filled the courtyard. Every Priest and every fair maiden came to watch the ceremony. Utar asked Cane to stand up. He then produced a small pouch from his pocket then handed it to the winner. It looked exactly like the one Zedd had given him before they entered the Castle, a bottomless space in which one could store anything.

The High Priest urged Cane to inspect the content of the purse. When the big bear snuck a peek inside, his heart skipped a beat. He saw so much gold that it could cover a hill. He looked up at the High Priest, a large smile drawn on his face.

“You’ve hunted one of the biggest preys in our Lord’s Domain. I congratulate you for your courage and devotion. Leave this realm, and know that your name will be remembered forever, Cane Moss.”

Cane could hear the maidens giggling behind him. He produced a sly smile as Utar began chanting a foreign incantation. The air in front of the High Priest started compressing then swirling. Soon enough a Portal was created and Cane was led outside. Utar then turned toward the Alfa Photon. The speech he had worked so hard to memorize had decided to go for a little vacation.

He opened his mouth but no words came out. He was sure that millions of people were watching him, expecting some comforting words from their God and savior. Everybody thought that Ulmir had forsaken them for allowing foreigners take part in the Great Hunt. His mission was to speak on behalf of the Hunter God and reassure his audience.

However, before Utar could mutter a word, a loud rumbling shook the entire castle. It seemed as though Ulmir’s Domain was shaking in its entirety. Utar cursed his bad luck. ‘An earthquake? And today of all days?’ he thought as he frantically looked around.

To the people watching from the comfort of their homes or in the multiple taverns in Kozag, the situation looked hopeless. They had received a word from their local temples that the connection to the Photon had been reestablished. They were watching the final ceremony in hopes of seeing their loved ones triumph. All they saw was Utar trying to keep a footing as the ground shook below him.

Then the sky above the High Priest darkened. Utar looked up and the look of terror and surprise on his face was broadcasted to the world to see. They saw the High Priest mutter some words. The devoted fanatics translated it to everyone watching in taverns and inns. The words were: “What the fuck is that?!”

The Courtyard was soon filled with guards and hooded Priests who observed the sky apprehensively. Even the Alfa Photon looked up, revealing the incredible scene for everyone. A ship that covered the entire sky flew in the air. Its cannons were aiming at the ground below. Everyone watched as the ship slowly advanced until it came at a complete stop above the Courtyard.

They saw a small silhouette jump down and crash land amidst all the guards and Priests. Everyone present covered their eyes as rubble and dust filled the air. When everything cleared, they saw what had just fallen from the sky. A hooded man, wearing boiled leather underneath ring mail slowly stood then looked around. Guards pointed their spears at him while the priests got ready to attack.

“Who are you?” Utar asked loud enough for everyone to hear.

The man took his hood off, revealing a man with Black Eyes and golden pupils. He looked at the High Priest with a nasty grin. Some jumpy guards tried attacking him but their weapons broke before they could even reach him. The man with black eyes looked at everyone around him then at the Alfa Photon above who was following his every move.

“I’m your worst nightmare!” he told Utar.

“And your divine blessing,” he continued as he turned to look at the fair maidens.