Encyclopedia Entry#1: The Creator and The Conductor

The Conductor:

The Faith Giver, it is said to be of human shape.  It was rumor that The Conductor had a secretive dwelling somewhere in O'Leus.  It has foreseen the future and knows the past.  The younger sibling of The Creator.  There was a report of a man who had seen the figure a mere 223 years, the man plead that the Conductor wore purple and gold garments that covered his entire body, and half of his faith.  He also plead that it was carrying a wand of some sort, or a stick.  Nobody believed the poor man, he wound up losing his sane, and proceeded to drown himself in a nearby river.  His body was never found, only his garments.  

The Creator:

The elder sibling of the Conductor, it was the first on here, on O'Leus, that is.  He was never seen, he stayed in his workshop, and created.  Nobody never really knew what he looked like until he arrived, chained from toe to torso, behind the Hooded Man back in Okyra. He wore torn up rags, and no footwear.  He was old, silver haired, not grey.  Grey symboled aging, since he was never young.  He is now a prisoner, nobody has seen him since the wedding of the King's Daughter.  

DP Book 2: Chapter 2: The Seven Brothers

The place known as Slaver City, home of over a thousand slaves and just a few slavers.  The city was filled with muck and dirt, wet damp roads filled the lonely city.  You could smell the despair and fear in the air, it was stronger than any other smell around. It was right in this town where I first noticed the seven brothers, all of them slaves.  There was Felix, he was the eldest of them all.  He was the most verbal as well.  There was Justus and Titus, they were very close to one another. Marcus and Marius followed them in age. Andreas followed them, and the youngest was Amadeus, he was a thinker.  The most innocent, and most brightest of the siblings.

"How long do we have to stay in this mud pit Felix!" The youngest asked.  He did this quite often, the questions would always spew out of him.  "We're not leaving, Amadeus!  Now stop asking me.  We can never go back home, back to Karrakia.  We're nothing but slaves now!"  The seven boys were in a filthy pit with 5 others, all of them were older guys, and from the coal colored skin, they were most likely from Karrakia as well.  A masked man approached the pit, his covered face was paler than a ghosts'.  

Every day he would point to a slave for selling, if the buyer didn't like what he or she sees, then the slave ultimately perishes.  He started to scan the mud pit, the brothers all clinching each others hands tightly.  He pointed to a nearby girl, then two guards went and secured her, bringing her to the front.  "Look at her stomach boss, she's carrying a child along for the ride."  The masked man started to laugh, the others following right along with him.  "Well, we can't sell a pregnant woman now can we?  Get rid of this one."  The masked man spoke.  "Sir, you want us to kill a woman who is carrying a child?"  The grunt seemed trepidatious in man's horrific request.

"Do you not understand what I ask of you, or are you just being disobedient? Now do what I ask of you or I'll kill you and the wretched girl as well!"  

"As you wish," the grunt reluctantly said.  The man approached the woman, revealed his short dagger, and quickly slit the woman's throat.  She fell over on her extruding belly, but it ultimately didn't matter, the girl was already dead.

"We have to get out of here Felix!" His younger brothers spoke to him.  "What do you want me to do guys, I have don't have enough strength to kill all these guys.  So just sit back, our fates have been sealed by the Conductor!"

The younger brothers crawled away from him in disappointment, Felix could fill it in the air.  They all huddled together, trying to keep themselves warm and comfortable.  Felix just sat there alone, by himself.  "Well it looks like he has given up, whenever he brings up the Conductor, its a sign that he has lost faith in himself.  I haven't heard him talk about it since..."  Justus quickly stopped what he was saying, he didn't want to bring relive the past, the pain was far to great.  The darkness of the night blanketed Slaver City, to an ever deeper somber state than it was previously in.  The air was getting colder, causing coldbumps to appear on any naked flesh in the city.  Felix had gone off to the most far part of the pit, he was alone and desperate.  A hooded figure came from the shadows, creeping its way closer to the pit.  "Its an honor to meet you Felix," a dark raspy voice spoke quietly.  "Who in the heck are you?"  Felix replied.  "You know, that isn't relevant as of right now, but what I do have for you is an interesting offer.  You seek revenge, reprisal, and retribution!  And I am hear to give you the power to fulfill your inner desires.  Are you interested boy?"  

Felix stood up from the muck, wiped his face and gave a sinister smile back to the the mysterious man.  

"Although I don't know who you are, I believe in what you say."  

"Ah, you have made the right choice boy.  Your brothers will no longer look down upon you with disappointment and shame, you will have the power you deserve."

"Give it to me already!" Felix demanded.

"You enthusiasm warms my bitter blood."

The hooded man revealed his hand from the shadows, a sphere of dark magic hovering right above the man's icy palm.  "Take this my eager boy, this power will grant you the power you need, your brothers will gain as well.  One last thing before I return to "where" I came from, if I ask you of a specific request, you will have to complete what I ask of you.  Do we have a deal?"

"Looks that way...."

DP Book 2: Chapter 1: The Beast in the Sky

The Dragon Prince and the Seven Shadow Warriors

He stood there, over the sorcerer's lifeless body.  The Prince wandered about his new friend, Liliana, she had gone back to help fight with the Spartans.  The last words of the Hooded Man were rife with threats and bold accusations.  Sam, now fully grown, from his recent transformation, looked as confident as ever.  The rain had stopped, but the sky was still dark from passing storms.  Sam had begun to traverse back the way he came, he had to get back to Liliana.  He suddenly stopped when he heard the roars from above.  There was a beast circling high above his head, roaring louder than the recent thunder strikes.  The flames of the beast spewed out of its mouth as it circled Sam's position.  The dragon started to descend closer to him, until it reached the ground beneath him.  The size of the beast was impressive, as big as the Cyclops that Sam had defeated in Athens.  It lowered its head, and started to speak in a foreign language.  The Prince listened closely to the scaly creature, as though he understood him, and he did just that.  Sam climbed on it's neck and held tightly to the rough scaly back.  It immediately flown back up into the dark sky, and started navigate toward Liliana's known position.  He quickly looked back at the courtyard, the body of the Hooded Man had vanished.

The beast, with Sam on it's back, soared at great speeds toward the battlefield outside of Tzaria and Okyra.  There were hundreds of men walking beneath him, but none of them were Spartans.  The place was a graveyard for the Spartan warriors, none of them survived the battle.  Sam searched the graveyard far and wide for the red aurora Liliana gave off.  He suddenly spotted her tied up, on a pole.  The men were prepping to burn her alive, a death supposedly only meant for a warrior.  "LIGHT THE TORCHES" A man shouted!  

"No!" Sam spoke to himself.  The dragon went into a deep descend, the Prince's hair flowing violently through the cold pounding air.  He jumped off the enormous dragon, in between the hundreds of warriors around him.  "Look who we have here boys, looks like we have the Prince of Dragons in our presence."  The army of men collectively broke out in snarky laughter.  The men stepped closer to Sam, "What do you plan on doing boy!  You are outnumbered."

The man continued to mock Sam, then continued at his original plan.  "Burn the girl!"  A man lit a torch and started to approach the subdued Liliana.  Sam pulled out his sword, his shield was left behind.  "Don't make a mistake, Boy!  Do you really expect to defeat all of us?"  The men continued to laugh around Sam.  

"Kill him."  The man spoke.  Bundles of men scrambled toward Sam's position, with their swords and bloodied spikes charging him from all angles.  They all swung their swords and weapons with killing intentions, but each one of them missed completely.  The speed of the man was too great compared to his many attackers.  They all continued to swing away for Sam's body, but sadly, continued to miss.  The Prince evaded the blows like wind during a gusty day, moving vehemently, but elegantly.  The men started to become impatient with the Prince, they started to attack him more violently.  Sam finally unsheathed his sword, and began to counter the hundreds of blows that were sent at him.  All he needed was one swipe of his sword to kill each one of The Hooded Man's men.  One by one, the men fail to the ground, with their own blood staining their garments.  Liliana, still tied up, just watched as the once friendly boy from Okyra, butchered these pitiful men.  After a few hundred men dropped from their living state, Sam walked up to the pole where Liliana was tied.  He cut the restraints from her wrists and freed her.  

"Thanks, Sam!"  Liliana said with a smile.  She approached him closer, with a puzzling look on her face.  "You have changed drastically, what did you do to yourself?  Your hair has gotten long, and it looks golden.  You're finally taller than me as well."  Liliana pointed out.

"I don't know what happened, it just... happened."

There was a moment of awkward silence, as they both watched each other closely.  "So, whats your next plan, Sam.  I was thinking we could go back to Tzaria and you could help me find clean up my home.  I found a few survivors back home, and they have already started rebuilding."

"I am leaving, I am going to find out more about where I came from and what has happened to my body.  Maybe we'll see each other again someday..."  And just like that, he turned his back on the girl, and walked away....

Blog Post: Update #1: Starting Book 2

Hope you guys enjoyed the first book, I'll be writing and posting book 2 on monday.  I kinda rushed the first book towards the end, but thanks to the peeps who still liked the ending.  I'll also be putting up some character bio's for Liliana, Sam, and other big characters in the story.  Hope you guys enjoy the next book...  :O

DP Book 1: Chapter 22: The Rage, The Hooded Man, and The Boy

The courtyard was just up ahead, he made it there quickly.  When he arrived a top the hill, The hooded Man was there, sitting on the King’s throne, overlooking the courtyard.  There was one other person there waiting for him as well.  

“FINALLY, YOU’VE COME TO MEET YOUR FATE BROTHER!” JAMES SHOUTED.  “We can finally end this brother.”

The brother jumped down from the overlooking throne, to confront Sam in person.

“Brother, I’m so happy to see you.  Thats probably the first time I have said that.  Isn’t that funny?”  The brother erupted in laughter.  His mouth was so wide, it began to fill with the cold rain.

The Hooded Man rose from his seat, and glided down.  His staff was already clutched in his hands.  “Finish this, my friend.  I don’t have all day.”

The Rage grabbed his mace and approached Sam.  He swung the huge weapon at Sam’s head, but missed entirely.  “You’re faster than before brother, you’ve grown up.  Your 15 years of life has been a short one, but you have learned so much.”  The man concluded and rose his mace.

He sent out more attacks but missing every one of them.  The Rage was slowing down, but kept attacking the boy.  He finally landed a blow on Sam’s shoulder.  The blow separated Sam’s shoulder form its original resting place.  

The boy cried out in agony, the pain was starting to overwhelm him.  He fell to his knees, barely holding on to his sword to keep him from the ground.  

“AH, I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!” CHE-AHH-KO-DEE.”  The Hooded Man shouted it out the mystical phrase, raising James off of the ground.  The rain was pounding James’ face.  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING MASTER, WE HAD A DEAL!

“I don’t make deals with fools!”  The Hooded Man said.

“Sam, listen to me brother.  You have to save me, but you need the Rage inside of me to defeat the Hooded Man. HURRY, I WON’T LAST MUCH LONGER!  LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF AND EMBRACE THE RAGE!”

Sam accepted his brothers words.  The eyes of the boy lit up the night sky.  Sam started to chant some mysterious words.  “DRI-HAG-ZYE, DRI-HAG-ZYE!”  The chants got louder, and louder.  The boy was starting to transform into something completely different.  His short dark hair was starting to glow the color of the sun, and lengthened dramatically.  He was beginning to grow taller, the tone of his muscles were more defined than before.  His eyes no longer glowed white, they were bright red now.  The boy now stood up, grabbed his sword and walked toward the Hooded Man.  “I’ll kill you!”  The boy now man spoke.

“So you have grown, and you have gotten taller, and your hair has changed, that doesn’t mean you can beat me!”  

The rain continued to pour down on Sam’s face and muscular toned body.  “Lazarius, you are no more!”

“No, this can’t be.  I feel his power still growing, what are you!”

The sorcerer made one last attempt on Sam’s life, waving his staff high in the air.  The sorcerer sent a wave of energy toward the Prince.  The wave of energy ripped Sam’s leather armor off his body, revealing the strange markings on Sam’s chest and back.  The markings looked ancient, and not from his time.

“The Dragonian markings, it can’t be!  I haven’t seen those markings since.  Sam interrupted Lazarius, he stabbed the sorcerer directly in his belly.  When he fell to the ground, his hood was removed from his head.  The old man was sick, he had growths and warts all over his face and neck.

“I guess you now know my identity boy, hahaha.”  The old man started laughing hysterically.  

“Why are you laughing?”

“Have you forgot about my men, I sense that your precious Spartans have been obliterated, and I hope your precious female companion wasn’t there with them.  Or else she would have annihilated as well! Hahaha.  I guess in the end, I still win!”

The Prince just stood there, hoping to himself, that its not too late...

DP Book 1: Chapter 21: The Cannibal

Sam sheathed his sword, and repositioned his shield back onto his back.  Liliana walked slowly up to Sam, with the rain pouring on her face.

“Sam, I am going to stay back.  The Spartans are getting closer and I want to go back and regroup with them.  We will meet you in Okyra.  You don’t need me anymore, your strength has already surpassed my own, I just don’t know why I am necessary in this fight.”

She hugged Sam, and retraced her steps back to the road where you could hear the battle cries of the marching army.  

Sam continued on alone, he could see me but, it didn’t matter to him.  He has noticed me throughout this long journey, but kept his silence.  The look on his face was different, something had changed, not on the outside, but on the inside.  He started to trot towards Okyra, his home.  It wasn’t far, not for him anyway.  He was running so fast, the vultures eating their dead prey didn’t even notice a young boy running toward them at an alarming speed.

He made it to his home, the lost land of Okyra.  There were hundreds of men outside the South Wall, men of The Hooded Man.  He snuck by them with haste, but with patience as well.  He climbed the sturdy wall easily, as a boy he scaled walls like most boys his age, and made it inside the dilapidated city with ease.  While catching his breath, he noticed the ruins that his once home was in.  His grandfathers’ small home had been completely destroyed.  He walked over to the rubble, trying to find any remains of his grandfather.  He was unlucky...

Suddenly a voice came from the shadows, it was an eerie and scratchy voice.  “You won’t find your old man, because I killed him. Haha.” The man continued to laugh sinisterly.

Sam turned around and noticed it was the same monster who attacked him in Tzaria.  He noticed the razor sharp teeth of beast leering at him from the inside of the things’ mouth.  

“People call me The Cannibal.  I know who you are, my Prince, hahaha.  You know, I don’t favor that name.  I would rather be called, The Devouring, or the Consumer of Life.  Yea, that sounds a lot better than the Cannibal.  My mother would be so proud, hehehe.”  He continued to laugh for a few more seconds.  “Sorry about your grandfather, although he did taste divine.  I saved a piece of him.”  The man revealed a severed arm, and tossed it at the feet of Sam.  “I am going to visit mother, and I want her to try it.  She’s going to be so proud of me, hehehe.”

Sam’s eyes were beginning to glow white, “Yes that is what I want to see from the Prince of Dragons!  Show me your inner rage, just like your idiotic brother.”

Sam dropped his shield and threw it to the ground, his confidence was starting to effect his fighting style.  The beast started to move closer to Sam, his claws were starting to extend to a great length.  

The beast sent out a devastating rush of attacks with its sharp claws, cutting Sam with each hit, but he quickly retaliated with a clean swipe on the beast’s face, creating a large gash on its’ cheek.  

“I see you have some speed on you, kid, hehehe.” The beast said snickering.  

They watched each other with bad intentions, Sam’s eyes were whiter than ever.  “So, are you gonna attack me or what, kid?

Sam rushed the beast, cutting him with every blow from his sword.  The beast’s blood was different from a humans’, it had shades of green in it, instead of dark red.  

“You’ve got some power on you kid.  Too bad I’m stronger and much faster than you.”

The beast lunged at the boy, kicking him with his one large scaly leg.  The boy went flying back through rubble and debris.  He didn’t stay down to long, he rose up from the rubble, only getting knocked down once more when the beast clawed him right across the face.  There were four thin gashes across the cheek of the boy, blood was slowly starting to drip from his face.

“So, the Prince does secrete blood after all.  I was wondering if you were invincible, I know, how foolish of me, hehehe.”  

The boy stood back up, and grabbed his sword once more.  “Persistent are we? Hehehe, how sad?  You’re just like your father, the King.  Oh yes, I know him, if thats what you are thinking.  Pity you won’t get to meet him., hehehe.”  

The claws of the beast started to extend once more, but to an even longer length than before.  “Time to finish the job, boy.  Any last requests before I gut you, then skin you, then finally consuming you, hehehe.”

“He lunged at Sam one final time, but did not make contact.  Sam countered the beast, sending him off balance.  Then without hesitation, raised his sword high above his head, then thrusted it downward through the back of the beast.  The sword made its exit through the chest.  The dark green blood came spewing out the Cannibal, sending him face first in the wet dirt.  

The rain was picking up, it bounced off the beast’s back gracefully.    He started to speak in a faint whisper...

“I’ve see you’ve got me, hehehe.  You don’t have much time left kid, you’re gonna change soon, and you won’t have a choice, hehehe.  You will change just like your father, it happened to him as well.  It won’t matter anyway, The Hooded Man will have your head.  He WILL avenge me...”

DP Book 1: Chapter 20: The Suffering

The two were almost in Okyra, but were interrupted in Tzaria.  The villages were empty, this place was a ghost town.  There were signs of struggles and agony everywhere, blood was the main attraction here.  Liliana was shocked at the horrible sight, she fell to the ground with tears pouring out of her large green eyes.  “I didn’t expect this, Sam,” she said quietly.  

“Who could have done so much to my home?”

Liliana stood up, with the help from Sam, and wiped the tears away from her face. “Thanks,” she said.

There was somebody walking from the distance, the same figure that was at Okyra when The Hooded Man first showed up.  The man’s long dark hair swayed in the wind, while his head was still down.  You could see the tears dripping from his face, and the blood from his mace left a red trail behind him.  The sobs grew louder as he got closer to the two.  

“I know that man Liliana, he killed my family back in Okyra.  He’s the personal hand of The Hooded Man.”  The man got closer, and the sobs grew louder.  The bright sun was beginning to fade, soon there will be rain and storms.  “WHY WILL YOU DIE, AND I STAY ALIVE!” The man screamed.  

The man was now steps away from the two, then began to slowly speak.  “I...Its an honor to meet you boy, The Hooded Man has spoken highly of you.  Thats why he has chosen me personally, to kill you.”  The man took a long pause, while he grabbed his torso in agony and pain.  “Oh the PAIN, have you ever endured horrifying pain, boy.  I have all my life, my brother was the same way.  His arms were torn apart when he was a child, I haven’t seen him since he left me.”  He paused again, and grabbed his chest once more.

The man was wearing a large leather cloak, that covered his back and his front.  “Can I ask you a question, boy?”

Sam nodded while clutching his sword.  “Are you ready to DIE?  I have been ready for quite some time, but are you, is the question at hand.”

“I’m not sure if I am, I have a lot of things to live for.” Sam replied.

“Good answer my boy.”  The man started to smile but immediately started to frown with pain.  He grabbed his chest once more.  This time he couldn’t let go of his chest.  He fell down on one knee. The tears began to fall from his face and the sobs started to grow.  He rose off the ground, and proceeded to remove his cloak.  The man ripped of the garments and revealed his disturbing torso.  There were four metal rods jammed inside of him, two in his chest, and two in his belly.  The man rose his mace high above his head, and flung it down towards Sam.  It barely missed Sam’s head, removing strands from his dark hair.  Sam removed his shield and wielded his sword, clutching both tightly, making his knuckles turn white.  The crying man raised his mace once more and continued to swing attack the boy with great force, each time missing, and creating large craters in the ground.  

The boy was faster than before, not flinching at the sight of a large bloodied mace swirling down at him.  The Suffering man had a lot of power, but he was blinded by pain, mindlessly swinging his mace.  The man paused, and took a step back.  He was winded, gasping for air.  While trying to catch his breath, Sam went on the offensive.  He bashed his sword into the man’s face, sending him to the ground.  Liliana began to unsheathe her swords, but was interrupted by Sam.  

“I don’t need your help right now Lily.  I wish to fight my opponents on my own!”

“Fine...” Liliana said with shame.

“YOU WILL NOT WIN BOY!”  The man said while catching his breath.

Sam continued to send out a flurry of blows with his sword and bashing shield.  The man was heavily wounded, there were cuts on his torso and back.  The rods inside him looked as though they were even more submerged in him.  

The man countered Sam’s blows with one huge sweeping blow to the back of Sam., sending him to the ground.  The sky was darkened with every attack, the rain was starting to drizzle now.  Softening the ground with every drop of cold rain.  The boy stood up, with dirt covering his face, picked his sword back up, and went back on the offensive, knocking the sobbing man on his back several times.  Sam was confident, his posture was perfect, for the first time ever, he looked like a warrior.  Liliana stood back impressed  by how much he had grown since she had first met him.

“You can’t win, I have you beat.”  Sam said with confidence.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BOY!  THE FIGHT ISN’T OVER TILL I SAY IT IS...” The man plunged himself toward the boy with all of his remaining strength, but missed entirely, the speed of the boy just overcame whatever the man through at him.  Sam took one last swing of his sword, slicing open the man’s lower knee, with blood starting to spray out of him, the man hastily backed off, then started to speak softly.

“It seems you are right, you have me defeated.  Oh, I don’t even feel the pain of my knee, just the same pain I have felt my whole wretched life.  My demented mother put these “THINGS” inside of me when I was just a long boy, she said it would prepare me for the “real life.”  In some ways... She was right.  Sometimes I just wish I could have a normal life, with my two other brothers.  She also damaged them as well.  She severed the arms of one, then turned the other into some sort of raging beast.  I miss the oldest...  

Sometimes I think he’s still out there waiting for all of us, I just don’t believe that he’ll be ready for what he will see in me, and especially .... Thomas.  If you see any of them, just promise to me you won’t hurt them, on the inside, they are good brothers, and good people.”  The man started to shed tears once more, but it wasn’t from the pain that consumed him, it was from shame and remorse.  These emotions will turn any man into water.  “One other thing, boy.  My name is Tomal.  People have been calling me “THAT” name all my life.  Do me the honor of calling me by the name my father gave me, long ago.  This life will tear you apart, no matter what you do to stop it.”  The man got up, and started to limp away, only saying one more thing to the boy, “You will just have to try to save a limb or two....”

DP Book 1: Chapter 19: The Demented Mother

It had been a few weeks since Sam and the girl had been walking from Greece, they were tired and hungry.  The pair decided to find a place to rest and camp.  They were far ahead of the marching Spartans so they had enough time to rest on their own.  There was a small village, west of Okyra, they had stumbled upon.  It was very quiet and only had a couple of houses.  It seemed like no one was living here, but soon noticed an old crone, tending to a dying garden.

The old crone was minding her own business, looking at her aging daisies and roses, they were almost as old as she was.  She was a nasty looking woman.  Her tattered garments barely covered her pale spotted flesh.  Her hair was dry and grey, similar to dust.  She spotted the Sam early on, giving him nasty looks, not encouraging a long stay at her home.  

“Excuse me miss, do you have anything to eat?  My friend and I are just passing through.”  Sam asked.

The crone responded with disgust and aggravation, “ No, I don’t know you, get the fuck out of my village!”  She left her yard and entered her old dilapidated home.

“What was her problem?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know but I don’t like it at all.  Come on prince, we need food.” Liliana said with a snarky attitude.  

Sam approached the house, and knocked on the door politely.

The old crone reappeared from the inside of her house.  She looked irritated and tired.  Sam asked her if she had any extra food she could spare, foolishly I might add, and she gave him more swear words.

“I have no fucking food for you imbeciles, now leave my home or else...”

“Or else what you old crone,” Liliana responded aggressively.

There was a brief moment of silence, then the old woman invited them inside for food, politely.  

Sam and Liliana gave each other an odd look, and proceeded to enter the house.  The small house was cold and dank, with old silver and leather lying around.  The smell was vile, it was the first thing I noticed.  It reminded me of myself, Death.  The old lady took a lot of time moving through her house, her body seemed as though it was on its last leg.  You want some leg darling, the woman asked.  

“Oh you have venison on hand, thanks.”

“Oh no venison sweet heart,” the crone pulled out a small leg from the cupboard.  There was dried up blood on the limb, ... it had been there for a while.  Liliana gave Sam the same look she just gave him moments ago.

“Come sit and enjoy this Karrakian boy with me, I had to travel all the way to Karakkai to get him but was well worth the travel.”  The crone said while nibbling on the boy’s severed leg.  “You kids ever had a boy before, you have to cook him just right, then season him to your liking.  The spiciness of a Karrakian is unrivaled.” The woman laughed sinisterly.

The room was instantly filled with shock and horror, Liliana started to tremble, while Sam remained quiet and still.  The old woman continued to eat the human leg, calmly and with a disturbed smile on her face.  “You know children, I didn’t know who you both were at first, until you came to my door.  My son has told me all about you, about how you barely escaped his wrath at the Tzarian town.  You haven’t escaped him yet, you’re running right too him.  I thought a young boy like you would want to live a full life, not a die in my son’s mouth.”

“Sam, we need to go now.  Okyra is not far from here and I don’t want to stay in this place a moment further.” Liliana said nudging pulling Sam’s arm.

“Oh don’t tell me you kids have to go so soon, an old lady gets lonely around here, won’t you spend a little more time around here.  Please, I’ve never had a Tzarian girl before.  Hahahaha....”

The two left the disturbed woman in her house, still hearing her demented laughter behind them.  “We’re almost home Sam, I hope you’re ready...”

“I don’t think I am...” Sam replied while staring at the ground.

DP Book 1: Chapter 18: The Rage is Growing

The two began to leave Greece, the stomping of 400 men shook the ground beneath them.  Roars of Spartan warriors filled the connecting roads and nearby cities.  A similar shadowy figure came from the forest, his hand holding the right side of his belly.  He limped in front of them, with a sinister smile across his bumpy face.  “Well well well, we meet again BROTHER.  

The man took a deep breath of the cool night air, with the same smile still on his face.  “I told you, I would find you again.  I hear you’ve made some new friends,” the man’s ear was leaning towards the marching Spartans.  He stepped a little closer to the boy, analyzing every inch of the boy’s small body.  

“What do you want, James?” Sam asked irritated.

“I’ve just come to see if you’ve changed yet, no no, you’re still trying to deny your fate.  Well, you don’t have much time until the Conductor sends you your destiny.  Once, that happens my poor brother, you won’t have a choice.  Why don’t you follow the leader, I have accepted my fate, you need to do the same.  Isn’t that what family is for?” The man said with slight smirk.  He inched a little bit closer to Sam, gripping his mace a little tighter.

“Don’t you move any closer you bastard!” Liliana shouted.

“Ah, I see you’re still tagging along with this red-haired whore.  The last time I bedded a Tzarian whore, was quite some time ago, I might have a second chance tonight.  What do ya say brother, give away your wench for old times say.”  The man said while chuckling.

“Lets go Liliana, NOW!”  Sam yelled.

“You know you can’t escape me, I’ll always be with you.  AHH, the wound you gave me is still fresh.”  James took his hand off the wound, rubbing it, and making the wound open up again.

“I love the pain, it feels my heart, and runs through my body like fresh water.  I can see that I am getting to you, boy.  You don’t like me?”  The man was right up under Sam’s nose now, wanting him to act, but Sam didn’t move an inch.  

“Well, I see you’re not ready to accept me as a apart of you.  I have faith that you will in time though.”  The man limped back into the shadows, while laughing quietly, just enough that Sam could hear him.  

“Are you okay, Sam.  Don’t let him get under your skin.”

Sam responded with silence, only moving to get back on the road....

DP Book 1: Chapter 17: The Spartans

The two had finally arrived in Sparta, or the Land of Warriors, some might say.  There were statues of past kings, including King Leonidas I, the great leader of three hundred men.  The monument was giant, sculpted out of the finest bronze in Greece.  There was gold that represented his armor, it was the first thing you noticed on the statue, which was the first thing you noticed in Sparta.

“I’ve never seen such a lavish place.” Sam said with a wide mouth.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Liliana replied.

They followed the road through the city, the citizens didn’t seem very welcoming.  Intimidating faces were leering at the two outsiders, children and their mothers leaving the roads and backing into their houses.  “I don’t think people were expecting to see us, Liliana.”

“Just keep quiet, the King’s castle is just up the road.” Liliana said with haste.

There were men everywhere, the city was predominantly male.  It was said that spartan men were more common than rodents in Okyra.  The King’s castle was surrounded with men in bronze armor with red cloaks on their backs.  The armor was smooth and the cloak was softer than a baby’s backside.  “Stop!  Who are you two.  What business do you have with the King.”  A brawny man asked with vigor.  Liliana stood in front of Sam, feeling the tension the men gave off, and feeding on it like freshly roasted venison.  

“We’re here to speak with King Leonidas II.  We need help with a matter back home and he is the best candidate for supporting us.”

“And what might that be little girl.”

“I’m no girl, I’m a woman of 15 years.”  Liliana replied with confidence.  “Please let us speak with the King,” Sam stepped in and asked.

“Ah, look who we have here.  The famous boy who slain the Wolfman of Praya.  HAHA, I’ve heard stories of what you did to that beast.  If you didn’t arrive in time, those cowardly Prayans would’ve ended up as wolf feed.” The man said with a cynical smile.  

Then the man had an expression on his face of sudden realization, “You’re the boy who defeated the Cyclops!.  HAHA.  Men, we have a little hero on our hands.”  The men around him started to laugh and smile with approval.  “Come on, Let me introduce you to the King himself.”

The man escorted the boy inside, with Liliana following them.  “By the way, I am Kleitus.  Spartan commander, these are my men.  We have been in many battles together, they are good men.”

They arrived in the King’s throne room.  There were many servants, all of them were women, attending to every need of the King.  The man was a giant, standing at seven feet tall.  His muscular build was the ideal shape of any man, he was the peak of what men wanted to reach.  His armor was crafted of gold, different from his soldiers’ bronze armor, with the brightest red tunic revealing his toned legs.  His golden helmet only revealed his brown eyes, or the color of wet sand.  He noticed that his commander had brought him visitors, he proceeded in removing his helmet.  The man had a jaw you could sharpen an axe on, with short dark hair.  There was a large war wound on his left cheek.  

“Kleitus! Who have you brought in my chamber!” The king grabbed his nearby sword, and commanded him to approach the throne.

The tension was growing in the room rapidly, Kleitus was quieter than a rodent in a Hall of Worship.  He approached the intimidating king, not saying a word.  

“My king, I have brought the hero of Praya, and the slayer of the Cyclops of Athens.”  Kleitus replied with angst.  

The king suddenly erupted in a ball of laughter, “Hahahahaha!” 

“Well, Kleitus, you have brought me a real treat today.  The slayer of the Wolfman and the Cyclops.  I see you have brought his trusty red sidekick, she must be a Tzarian.  A fairly weak people in my opinion, but hey, in any Spartans’ eye, everybody is weaker. So what do 

I owe this honorable presence?”

The king sat down on his ebony crafted throne, and waited for a response from his guests.  Sam finally walked forward, and began to speak, but was interrupted by the king.  He commanded one of his servants to fetch him a ripe plum.  The woman came back with a bright purple plump plum.  The king quickly started to devour the plum, only stopping to tell Sam to “SPEAK.”

“Sir, we need your help.  Our homes have been taken from out beneath us.  Our family has been slaughtered.  The Hooded Man has taken my family away from me and is building an army of men.  Me and my friend have been traveling for a while now, and we need your support.”

The king stopped savaging his plum, the purple juices were spilling down his chin, “What exactly are you asking for boy?”

“We would like it if you would send some of your soldiers back home with us.  We need more people to fight along side us.  We thought that your men were the best fighters in the land.” Sam said with eagerness.

“Let me get this straight, you want me to give you some of my men, to fight in a war that has nothing to do with Sparta?”

Liliana stepped up to plead her case.  “Lazarius isn’t just going to stop in Okyra and Tzaria!  He will come here as well, we need to strike him while he’s still building.”

“Fine....”

“My king, what is your answer?” Kleitus asked.

The king raised from his throne, and flung away the remains from the eaten plum.  “You heard me Kleitus.  Our tensions with the Athenians have been growing, we don’t need other enemies getting in our way.  We will give you 400 of our men, that will be enough to settle in opposition.  My only condition, is that when your war is over, you will fight along side me, if the Athenians make their move.  I would love the hero of Praya fighting along us Spartans.  What do you say boy?”

Sam hastily accepted the king’s proposal.  

“My men will leave tomorrow, we will get our weapons and armor sharpened and upgraded.  You may stay in our quarters or leave now.  That is your choice to make.  May Ares look over you while you’re fighting.”  King Leonidas II left the throne and entered his private quarters.

Sam and Liliana left early.  They wanted to get a head start.  When they were leaving, men were already preparing to depart.

“Good job Sam, we now have our support.  We have a chance to get our home back, from The Hooded Man.”  With all the excitement building up, she put her arm around Sam.  Smiling, she pulled it back awkwardly...

DP Book 1: Chapter 16: "Get to Know You Better"

While Sparta was just up the road, Sam decided to ease the tension by asking a round of seemingly harmless questions to Liliana.

“Hey, what was your dad like?”

“What, Why do you want to know about my dad?”

“I’m just trying to get to know you better,” Sam said with a smile.

“Well, my dad was always hard on me.  He was one of the best warriors in my village and wasn’t a very nice man.  You probably learned that when you saw him.  He taught me everything I know today.”

“What about your mom?”

“I don’t want to talk about my mother, we never got along very well.  She was always very cruel to me and my father.  I never lived with her, just saw her from time to time.” Liliana said with discomfort.  “What about your mom, Sam?”

“Well, she was a wench, so I never saw her that much either.  I lived with my grandpa for most of my life.  I thought the king was my father, but he’s not.  I believe the Dragon King is out there with answers to my many questions.”

“Don’t worry, Sam.  We will find your real father.  We don’t have time to search for him now, but we will, you have to trust me.  We’ve been partners for quite a while now, and I will always help you.”

“Thanks,” Sam replied with a smile.

“You know back home, we Okyrians would welcome you if you’d want to visit me.  We’re not as as hostile as you Tzarians.”

“Oh we’re okay with outsiders, its just with all the invasions we have to watch our own.” Liliana said.

The two continued down the road discussing their own respective pasts and futures.  The Spartans awaited the two, including myself.  I’ve met one of their Kings before, stubborn fellow, he did not want to see me when I did.  He begged me to give him more time, so I did.  He told me he would be ready next time.  I gave him two more days, and at night’s last legs, I was to come for him.  So I waited until that one night, and I went to find him.  The air was brisker than usual, the hyenas laughter ran through the sky.  I found him in his home, having dinner with his wife and son.  I called him out so we could go, of course he wasn’t ready.  He asked for more time once more, but I denied him this.  His family came outside and discovered me.  I told them that it was time for your dad to go, and you will see him soon.  They did not want me to take him, sobbing and crying hysterically.  I hated this scene, so I made them a deal.  I told them that I would trade this man’s life for another.  I stuck out my cold barren hand, waiting for an answer.  I stood there for about a minute then I finally got my body.  The wife had stabbed the poor bastard with a butcher knife, that was just used to cut the man’s dinner.  He laid there dying while his wife was shaking my hand.  I took the man, while his wife and son entered the house again.  The fool thought he would be okay with Death, truth is, nobody can.  You just have to try, even though you’ll fail miserably, its a little easier to accept it when you do.  I guess the moral of this story is, never turn your back on your wife, because she might be carrying a knife....

DP Book 1: Chapter 15: "The Cyclops is Coming"

The city of Athens was their first stop, the city was known for its great people.  It is said that the great god Zeus was seen here, in his human form.  I have never seen the man before, but I would like too.  A man with that amount of power intrigues me.  The city looked different from the last time I was here, the place had been tattered and worn down.  It seems like there had been constant battles here...

There were people in the many alleyways, stricken with fear from something or someone...  “Who might you two be?” A man from the shadows asked.  “We’re just passing by, we aren’t staying very long.  Our business is in Sparta.”

“Sparta!  What business do you have with those savages.”

“We need the help of their army.”

“Haha, with that King, HA!  King Leonidas II is just as stubborn as his father.  That imbecile tried to oppose the great Xerxes, and died foolishly.  Well, if you want to test your luck, go on.  Sparta is a quite a walk from here.”  The man vanished back into the shadows.  

The two began to explore the city of Athens.  The dilapidated houses caught the eye of Sam.  “Whats wrong with their homes, it looks like they’ve been attacked by something.”

“I don’t know Sam, lets keep moving.  I have to get something to eat, maybe some fresh roasted venison.”

“You must like your venison.”

“THE CYCLOPS IS COMING! THE CYCLOPS IS COMING!  FIND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND HIDE THEM.”

The ground began to tremble and shake, with every step the giant made.  “Sam get out of the way!  We can’t compete with a Titan.”

Liliana stood by the nearby alley, off the street.  Sam just stood there in the street.  There were people running by him, trying to get inside.  “I thought you were a born fighter Lily.  These people need our help.”

“Hey, we Tzarians know who or what to fight.  We aren’t in Tzaria anymore.  This is Greece, the home of freaks, and giants.”

The Cyclops stood up as high as the tallest building.  The bulging belly of the beast resembled waves of the East ocean.  His feet were the size of a man, and yet, the boy stood there.  The giant beast approached Sam, and leaned down to ogle the boy.  The giant eye examined him, the beast then started to laugh.  “Haha, Haha, you stand my way little man.  Why?”

“You won’t be hurting anymore people giant!”

“You expect to stop me.  I am a Titan.  The enemy of the gods.  I don’t even know who you are BOY!  How do you expect to beat me.  Look at me, you are nothing more than a rodent in my eyes.  I just have to give you a little squash!”

....Sam said nothing.

“Haha, I like you boy!  I’ve decided to not to crush, but too keep you as a pet.  I get lonely in my cave.  I would love to keep a nice rodent for amusement.”

The Cyclops reached out his hand to grab Sam, but was cut by the edge of Sam’s sword.  “Ah, you little pest!”

He reacted by flinging his hand at Sam, sending him back through the sky. He crashed on a wall made from stone.  Blood was starting to trickle down his spine.  He stood back up, sword and shield still in hand.  He charged the giant again, The Cyclops balled up his hand, and sent a vicious punch down at the ground.  The titan’s attack made the ground shake, it made the ground mimic the ocean’s great waves.  Sam dodged the blow, and proceeded to run up the beast’s arm.  

“Haha, I’ll crush you like a beetle, boy!”

He grabbed Sam with his left arm, clutching the boy’s body with great power.  

“I thought you were fast, I’ve got you now.  Well, now that I have you closer to my eye, you don’t look like a fighter too me.  Now, your redheaded friend over there, she’s a real fighter.  You’re just a little rodent.  I’m going to squeeze the life out of you...”

The hands started to get tighter, the giant was bearing down on the boy.  The sounds of screaming began to fill the city streets, there was blood coming through the gaps of the giant’s hands.  

“Haha, I can feel you bones starting to dwindle boy.  Not much longer now before you crack.”

“You’ve already lost giant.  I had to get you focused on me, so that my friend could line up a shot on you.”

“HA!  You think I wasn’t watching your red friend.  She is still behind the alley cowering like the child she is.”

Liliana had not moved from the spot.  Her fear of the giant had overcame her.  The sight of Liliana backing down from an opponent was a rare one indeed. 

“Haha, the sight of me always petrifies even the strongest of warriors.  Now are you the strongest, or are you the foolishest?” The giant asked.

“Come on Sam, I have to break through,” Sam muttered to himself.

“Any last words boy?”.....

The glowing white had returned...  It blinded the giant’s only eye.  “Ahhh, what is happening?  I can’t see!  You pulled a cheap trick on me.”  Sam then shouted out in the unknown language I haven’t since the dying dragon...

“DELA-SHALA-SCHOME-DELE!” He broke free from the tightened grip of The Cyclops.  As soon as the beast let go, Sam stopped the fall by thrusting his blade into the palm of the giant.

Now hollering out in pain, the giant began to fling his hand around like he was trying to swat a beetle away.  He wanted the sword out of his hand, but Sam was still hanging on by the sturdy handle.  The handle was slippery from blood from both of them, still dripping through Sam’s blistered fingers.  Eyes still white, he recovered his blade from the giants hand, while still being able to hang on. “I still can’t see.  I know you’re on me, I can feel your tiny rodent feel tapping on my skin.”

The giant was right, Sam was running up his arm.  He stabbed the beast again in his shoulder, but it was mostly bone.  The sword sent back a violent recoil that shook Sam like an Okyrian belly dancer.  The loud agonized filled screams of the Cyclops were ear-shattering.

“Beaten by a BOY?  Never!” The giant screamed.

Sam had recovered and made one last lunge, he was going for the only eye the giant had.  His grip of the sword could not have gotten any tighter, his knuckles were beginning to turn white.  The boy had made contact with the eye, barely piercing the eye, Sam shoved the sharp blade even further inside of it.  There was a fountain of blood that secreted from the wound, and it had covered Sam’s entire body.  The beast’s legs began to wobble, back and forth, side to side, until it fell dead in the street.  Sam was knocked off on impact, still soaked from the blood bath the beast gave him involuntarily.  He stood up, still trying to catch his breath.  Liliana came from the nearby alley, with other citizens emerging from there homes to witness the good news. 

“The wolf-slayer has slain the Cyclops!”  We are free from his tyranny.” One woman shouted to the townsfolk.  

The many persons crowed around Sam, thanking him and giving him blessings.  The children were giving him hugs and pieces of honey treats.  Liliana stood back and watched, she was shamed.  Her people’s pride was their biggest fault.  She regretted not helping out the boy fight the beast, her fear had taken control of her.  She grabbed Sam from the huge crowd of people, and pulled him aside.

“We must get going, Sparta isn’t far from here.  Don’t forget why we are here in the first place!  The Hooded Man is still killing people back home.  We need the Spartans help to take back control of our land.  No more helping people out!  Do you know how much time we have wasted helping these fools out!  Now lets go.”

“Liliana, are you upset?  I know we are in a hurry, but these people need our help.  I can’t just walk away from them.”  Sam said with vigor.  

“Yes, we are in a hurry, and everybody we meet doesn’t need our help.  You cant’t save everybody.  Didn’t that chained man teach you anything, you aren’t the only one who has a sword.”

The two began to exit the city.  Sparta was right around the way...

DP Book 1: Chapter 14: Prometheus

The land of Greece was getting close and you could tell by the environments, people just seemed more strange.  The two were traveling through a great mountain.  This particular mountain just so happened to be the Caucasus.  This land is infamous for its mad inhabitants.  After a few hours of traversing the treacherous mountain, they noticed a man.  Not your average man, he was incapacitated.

The old man was chained up, against a huge rock.  His exposed torso looked diminished and tattered.  “Hey you, are you okay?” Sam asked.

The man spoke  and answered in a faint whisper.  “Hello there boy, don’t mind me.  Keep on your path. Go on now, off you go.”  The man said with a soft smile.

“We must help you off this boulder...”

“No, you won’t. This is my fate.  I am to be rescued later on, but not by you two.  But thanks anyway. Ahhh, Ahhh.”  The man was in excruciating pain.  The old rusty chains were tearing through his skin, he had been here for quite some time now.  Question is, how did he get here?

“Who is supposed to save you?”

“The hero of Greece, the one called Hercules.”

I have heard of this man, said to be seven feet tall and the strongest of all.

“Where is this hero, he obviously doesn’t know you’re waiting for him.” Liliana said with cynicism.  “Oh, you mock young one because you are foolish.  When you have been up here as long as I have, faith is all you are left with.  Zeus has sentenced me to spend an eternity on this rock while being eaten alive, but I have faith his son Hercules will save me.”

“What do you mean, eaten alive?” Sam asked.

“The evil bastard Zeus cursed me so that my liver will be eaten every day by a giant vulture.  My liver always grows back day so I live this nightmare everyday.  Now go!  Leave me to my fate.”

“You heard him Sam, lets go.  We don’t have anything to do this guy.  The Conductor will orchestrate his fate accordingly.  Lets just hope he saves him.”

The two left the poor man, chained up against the rock.  The sounds of a screams filled the mountain range, as the giant vulture fed on the man’s liver.  The two surprisingly continued on their journey.

DP Book 1: Chapter 13: The Rage

“What happened back in Cylara Sam, you should have easily handled that guy.  Usually when your eyes glow, you become stronger and quicker.  You might want to work on that, the road to Greece is shortening up.  It won’t be much longer now.”

“I don’t know what happened Lily, I just couldn’t... I don’t know. “

“Well, whatever problems you have, work them out.  We’ll be in trouble if you can’t do.. Whatever it is you do.”

Greece wasn’t much far now, but the road ahead will be more dire and treacherous.  I don’t like Greece, its filled with lunatics and mad men.  I never enjoyed doing business here, I would help my employees fill out their destiny, then leave.

An abrupt shout came from behind the boy, “BROTHER!”  A horribly disfigured man was following them, he was carrying a grey mace.  “AHHH brother, its been too long.  I haven’t seen you since you ran away, back in Okyra.  You left me to be beheaded by The Hooded Man.  I’ve come for vengeance, you don’t deserve to live after you left father and me.”

“James?  I saw you die.  How are you still alive,” Sam asked?

The boy was in shock, his mouth was as wide as the Desert of The Queen.  He couldn’t believe that his once dead brother, is now alive.

“You see, once I died.  The Hooded Man and The Creator brought me back to life, for one reason.  Ya see, he’s not a bad man little brother.  You can’t listen to everything you here or see.  He convinced me that killing father was a necessity, he was a nuisance. “

“You’re wrong, that man has killed our friends and family, he even took our home.  How is that the right thing to do?”

“Oh, you’re so blind brother.  The world is a much darker place than it seems.  The Hooded Man was kind of enough to show me everything.  He told me, how you and my brothers ran from the courtyard that day.  You turned your back on your family and your home. Nobody is to blame but you.  When he told me this, there was so much Rage building inside of me, I had to release it.  You caused this, but I will end it.  Samwell of Okyra, the great Dragon Prince.  Yes, I have known of this all along.  Your father didn’t want you, so he gave him to King Charles.  You’re still a bastard child, with your nasty whore mom.  So today, you will calm my Rage with death.  Are you ready to die brother, haha, that was a trick question.  No one is ready.”

The disfigured man came closer to Sam and Liliana, the mace slightly converging on their location.

“Oh, you’re mistaken James.  You have let this Rage build inside of you for two long.  It has festered into something completely different.”

“Shut UP! You don’t understand what I’ve been through.  I was in the Afterlife, stranded there.  I would have been there alone if Lazarius hadn’t brought me back.  Now your time has come.”

The deranged man grasped his mace and swung it at Sam, only just missing him.  The boy didn’t even wield his sword, he just dodged every move James made.  Sam was faster than James.  The brute strength of the disfigured man was great, but he was blinded by anger.  Each potentially paralyzing blow the man dealt out missed Sam completely, the boy was just too fast.  Sam only attacked once, and that was all the boy needed.  You see, he wasn’t the most aggressive of fighters, but he could outsmart you.

Sam thrusted his sword into the gut of James, sending him to the ground.  

“Finally Sam, you have attacked me.  You have rage in your heart just like me.  Why do you think your eyes glow a burning white.  I have followed you for miles, and have learned your ways.  You can’t kill me Sam, until you fully embrace the growing rage in your heart.  We will meet again...”

The wounded man began to walk in the opposite direction, slowly leaving my sight.  “Sam, why didn’t you continue to fight him,” Liliana asked.

“He said its not time yet, and I think he’s right.  Well, lets keep going, Greece is only a short ways away.”

DP Book 1: Chapter 12: The Knights of the Night

The two had continued to walk, after Liliana had defeated the weaponized man.  They had begun to arrive at a small kingdom, the kingdom of Cylara.  This place had been under constant attacks from many armies since the day they became their own kingdom.  There was a rumor that the residence possessed an oasis that had the power to make a man immortal.   

The city had no big, hulking gate like Praya, you could just walk right in.  This was probably one of the reasons why the city had been raided on so many occasions.  The citizens were friendly and inviting, especially to the boy.

“Oh, you must be Samwell, of Okyra.  It is an honor to have you here in Cylara.”

“Hello, how do you know who I am mister?”

“Ohh!  Everybody in Cylara knows that you killed the Beast of Praya.  Come, Come!  We have a room for you and your fiery partner.”

The enthusiastic man escorted the two through the beautifully designed kingdom.  Boys and girls were coming up to Sam thanking him and wanting to just touch him.  

“It looks like you have some fans, Sam.”  

“I guess...”

The two and the enthusiastic man arrived at an illustrious inn, with a mess hall filled with imported wines and fine meads.

“Where are all the guards who protect your town,” Liliana asked?

“Oh, here in Cylara, we don’t believe in fighting.  We just let nature take its course.”

“Thats probably why you guys constantly get raided by other cities who want your resources.  Kingdoms always need someone to protect them from invaders.”

“Well, you Tzarians are always so barbaric.  Just like the Spartans of Greece.  So quick to pick up a sword and shield.  Well, Cylarans don’t fight, so get used to it brute.”

The enthusiast left the mead hall, while Sam and Liliana were getting ready to chow down on freshly cooked venison.  

The hall was clustered with civilians and children looking at Sam.  Admiring him from a distance, they laughed and danced discretely.

“Lets get out of here and enjoy the Kingdom of Cylara, I’ve never been here before.”

“Don’t get two comfortable Sam, we still have a job to do.  Greece is not that far from here.  

You know what else, I know who we are going to ask for help now.  The Spartans!  That enthusiast said that the Spartans are barbaric, like Tzarians.  I would’ve asked my own people for help, but I’ve heard legends of how great the Spartans are at battle.  Hey you think the legends of this place are real Sam?”

“What legends are those?”

“The reason that this place is so coveted, it is said that Cylara is the birthplace of immortality.  It is said that there is a spring of water, and if you drink from the spring, you will live for all eternity.”

The two continued to explore the illustrious kingdom, taking in the beautiful artwork of local artists.

“Hey, this looks co...” 

The boy was interrupted by five black knights.  There armor was made from the finest ebonies.  There was an obvious leader of the pack, the tallest of them.  His helmet resembled the horns of a bull.  

“Where is your leader, we must speak with him.”

A citizen lead the group of dark knights to the main courtyard, he spoke with the towns elder.

“Greetings Cylarian, we are the Knights of the Night.  My men and I have come to seek the Oasis of Immortality.  We know it is hidden deep in Cylara.”

“There is no such thing here, you must be mistaken,” the old man said.

“I don’t have time for your games Cylarian!” The leader pulls out an ebony made axe.  It was an impressive weapon, it was the same size as the man’s large spiked helmet.  “Tell me where it is now!”

“I’m sorry sir, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“So be it, grab him!”

Two of his men grabbed the old man and held him down.  The leader raised his axe and swung it down with strong force, the left leg of the of the old man was now separated from his body.

“AHHH, we don’t have anything like that here.  LEAVE US BE!”

“Men, Castrate him!”

“Sam, Help Him! A boy asked.

The boy had a concerned look on his face, but he didn’t budge. Liliana stepped in and told Sam to help her, and yet, he stood there idle.

“Do it now, Castrate the poor bastard!  Take his manhood away from him, and bring it to me.”

Sam finally approached the five men, and told them to put the poor man down.

“Well, look who it is.  The slayer of the Wolfman!  I’ve heard such great things about you child.  I didn’t know the child had gone mad, confronting the Knights of the Night.”

The leader started to chuckle with arrogance.  He then whispered to his men, “Kill the poor boy.”

Two of his men approached Sam, unsheathed there swords and attacked him simultaneously.  He quickly dodged both of there attacks and went on the defensive. 

“The boy is quick, too bad there are five of us, and only one of him.”

The rest of his men went at Sam as well, buy were quickly interrupted by Liliana.  Now both of them were fighting two knights at once, while the leader just stood and watched.

Liliana quickly dispatched of her two attackers, while Sam was getting beaten badly.  She started to move toward the other two knights, but the leader got in her way.  “Well well, it looks like we have a Tzarian in our presence.  Since you have taken out my weakest men, you will have to face me.” The man grasped his ebony axe, and clutched it with both hands.

There was a reason he was the leader, he was fearless.  The man started to remove his ebony armor, he took off everything except his undergarments.  “I want this to be interesting,” he said.

The man’s skin was the color of charcoal, there were old scars that ran across his muscular back.  His hair was more coarse than wool, a natural born warrior I presume.

He raised his axe and and flung it down, missing Liliana only by inches of her head.  Red threads of her hair had been removed, then she went on the offensive.  Sending out a flurry of attacks with both of her swords in hand, she missed every attempt at the dark man.  Sam was still on the defensive, trying to dodge every swipe sent out by the two knights.   Then both men landed a huge kick on Sam, sending him flying into a nearby wall.  There was blood leaking from his head., he was hurt badly.

“Knights come join the fight of your leader!”  The two remaining men came to the aid of their leader, and joined in the fight.  Liliana was becoming exhausted with each escape maneuver, she couldn’t attack without getting hit.  

“Oh, I love killing children, especially foolish ones who get in my way.  I see that you’re slowing down girl, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Sam please wake up!” A nearby boy said.  He started shaking him, begging him to get up.  “Sam, whats wrong with your eyes,” the boy asked?  The glowing white aurora coming from Sam, was great, it was a power I never saw before.  He rose up while blood was still leaking from his forehead.  He grasped his sword and shield, and rushed the three attackers.  He thrusted the sword and rammed his shield into one knight, he dropped instantly.  There were only two left, Liliana went after the grunt.  “It seems you have changed, whats different about you boy?”  Sam said nothing.  He charged the leader with great force, sending a gust of wind backwards when he made contact with the tall man.  The sound of metal clashing together rang through the sky, the tall man was quick and agile.  He was dodging Sam’s attacks with ease, “Die Boy!”

He swung his axe and struck Sam’s shoulder, now it too was bleeding.  Eye’s still glowing, the boy stood his ground.  Liliana had been busy fending off her attacker, she couldn’t help Sam.  “Oh, you really are quite strong aren’t you boy.  Well, I’m even stronger.  Your silly fans are waiting for you to kill me, too bad you have to disappoint them.”

The leader grabbed Sam, he had him beat.  The boy couldn’t move, he was pinned down.  “I want you to meet a friend of mine boy, he is waiting for me in the afterlife.  I killed him, and he is expecting me to follow him any moment.  When I kill you, give him a message for me.  Tell him, I can’t DI....... Ahhh!”

The man was interrupted by Liliana, she had thrown one of her swords at the man.  It went straight through his skull, killing him instantly.  His blood covered Sam’s face.  

She had also took care of the grunt, his face was in the ground.  “Thanks Liliana, you saved my life.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re not the hero anymore.”

People started to come up and greet Liliana instead of Sam.  They were rejoicing, asking them to stay.  But Liliana interrupted them, and told them that they were leaving for good.

DP Book 1: Chapter 11: The Blade

After Sam killed Gaius the Wolfman, they finally left Praya.  Back on the long road they traveled, stopping only for resting and hunting for food.   

“Sam, you have to show me your powers again. I want to see how you do it.”

“Do what Lily?”

“You know, make your eyes glow white.  Then your strength and speed heightens greatly.”

“I don’t know why it happens Lily, it just does.”

“Well, make sure you can do it when I need you.”

They were getting closer to Greece, but still had a ways to go.  The two had saw a man, standing in the open road.  He was waiting for the two to approach him.  This mysterious man was also a red head, like Liliana.  He no shirt on, which put emphasis on his disabilities.  He didn’t have any arms, I wondered If he was a threat.

“Are you okay sir, do you need any assistance?” Sam asked.

“No my friend, you are the reason I am alive.  Samwell, the boy who escaped Lazarius and his pet The Cannibal.  The Hooded Man has hired me to take your life, and bring it to him.  Will you come along nicely and save me the hassle of cutting your limbs off, do this for yourself.  I do not wish to fight, it brings me great pains, pains I will endure if I have too.”

“He’s not coming with you, we have somewhere to be.  Now if you’ll get out of our way, we won’t have to hurt you.”

“Oh, it pains me that nobody ever chooses the easy way out and accepts Death.  So be it....

If you will not come alive, you will have to be carried lifeless.”

The man started to shout in agony, “OH, THE CREATOR! WHY DID YOU FORGE ME IN THIS HORRIFIC WAY.  AHHHHH!”

While the man was screaming, two large blades came shooting out of his seemingly harmful limbs.  

“Oh the pain is unbearable, you must accept pain in order to embrace it.  Thats what makes men out of mice.”

The man approached Liliana first, walking slowly toward her.   She took out both swords and lunged at the man.  The next few minutes, the sounds of metal clinging and screams of agony filled the open road.  I could tell Liliana wanted to beat this guy, her ego was bigger than the average man’s.  She dodged and ducked at each attempt the man made against her life.  Sam just stood and admired the battle and will Liliana was exerting.

“Take this!” She shouted.  Her blade had pierced the man’s chest and he had fallen to his knees.  

“Oh you have beaten me, I hoped you listened to me.  You will want to embrace the pain, you can’t outrun it.  Believe me, I have tried.  Until I stopped and accepted it, I didn’t know who I was.  I don’t have that problem anymore.  When you see my brother again, tell him to stop shouting and embrace it.  You will see him soon, don’t forget.”

He fell to the ground while muttering out his last words in a faint whisper, “Thank you.”