A Hero's Rising: Chapter 1, Prologue (AIE)

>Here you are... In the Kingdom of Boletaria.

>Day... What day is it... You've been here so long, that you don't even know anymore.

>If it was as simple as arrive, do battle, leave.

>You'd hazard a guess at this being roughly your sixth year here.

>But no, unfortunately, it's not that simple, it never is...

>As you proceed down the seemingly endless void...

>Knowing full well what awaits you at the end.

>You're alone.

>Not completely alone, as you almost always seem to be surrounded by the beings of the kingdom.

>They're there, you know they're, you see them, and they see you, but that's as far as it goes.

>Nothing more than a phantom in the void, many other like minded Warriors, Mages, Archers, Sages...

>All warriors, tasked with the same task that was bestowed upon yourself.

>End the conflict with the Old One, Lull him back into his slumber, and free the earth of its demonic plight, a simple task right?.

>You laugh to yourself, you've grown tired of this endless conflict.

>Endless, but not endless for you it would seem.

>That's right.

>Remind yourself once again, fool.

>Remind yourself of the fact that while you fight the endless waves of the demonic scourge, going so far as to challenge the demon gods themselves to end battle after battle for the citizens of the world, a world that no matter how many times you save, or even doom, you never see peace...

>Suddenly you remind yourself of WHY you fight, you've seen nothing but conflict, from the times you were brought into this world, to the multiple times you've left it, all you've known is conflict...

>A fate you know is not a pleasant one to be seen, so you sought to end the conflicts, to save any and all future generations from seeing such a state.

>A state of death that covers all the earth.

>An earth lost to the demons, lost to the fog, and lost to all of humanity.

>And just as you remember the darkness cast by your fate, you feel a tug on your arm.

>Then you remember, that you are also not physically alone either.

>The one constant of all your fates.

>Her.

>The Maiden in Black...

 

>The only being, who you'd see as having a fate more desolate than your own.

>You've been here for 6 years.

>Her?

>I doubt even she can recall.

>She was there before the Old one awoke.

>She was there before the spirit Monumental's rose to fight back.

>She, as far as you knew, had been there from the beginning of time itself.

>If there was anything you could do to free her of such a fate, you'd gladly do so, even at the cost of yourself.

>You're not entirely sure why you're thinking this, it's not like this is an unfamiliar scene that you're in.

>This is the Pit.

>The seemingly bottomless chasm beneath the Nexus.

>The Hub that is your only connection to the outside world, The lands of Boletaria.

>The lands that have been your home for the last six years.

>The place she has called home for all of eternity.

>And down this pit, you find yourself falling, in the distant embrace of the Maiden.

>Once again to meet an end your fate, and to meet a new one.

>You've got your gear, ready for the next trip down “Memory lane” as it were.

>And as if on cue, you find yourself surrounded by light.

>Here we are again.

>On the shore of what you have fittingly dubbed the Sea of Fate.

>For this is where your fate has brought you, once again.

>The pearl white sands, ruins of the former battlements of a time long past, and breathtaking blue sky would be a thing to marvel, were it not for the mass of darkness that parts the sea from the skies in front of you.

>Steadily growing larger, you feel the presence of raw, undenied power change the air as it draws near.

>The wind of what one would picture to be a warm day is cold enough to chill the very life-essence that runs through your veins, once again, they come...

 

>As you rise to your feet, Fluted armour seemingly weightless for the expanse of time you've worn it, you hear a voice, looking at the source, you see the Black Maiden as she casually approaches the waters edge, as though it was something she has done before.

>She turns and says “Hark, I hear a voice calling thee... Let us proceed into its lair.”

>You know this statement, you've heard it multiple times, each time as level as the last, with that same calm tone.

>As she reaches the waters edge, she calls out, to the approaching hulking mass of dark force.

>”Old one... I have brought thou what you have wished, I have brought thou a new demon, come now...  here...”

>As the Old one approaches, you can't help but stop; an insignificant spec by comparison to the size of this monstrosity, the king of demons, bringer of this everlasting fog, of pain, of sorrow, of the demons you have sought to destroy from this land, the very being you have attempted to banish from existence time and time again.

>He grows larger and larger, drawing ever closer , drawn to her presence, that's the one thing that all this time, you've never been capable of figuring out, each and every time, you are the one to end the Old ones forces, but she is the one to end the conflict, sacrificing herself to bring the Old one back to his eternal slumber, at least all times up until now...

>Not this time, for now?, it ends...

>as you feel the Old one crash into the dunes beneath the waves, everything around you shakes, yet there is no noise, there is only silence, a silence brought by the sheer lack of life, the only living beings within many days walking are you, Her, and... Them...

 

>You approach the gaping maw that is the Old one, when you see the Maiden approach you.

>”Thou has been given welcome by the Old one, the fate of the world, rests with thee, and thee alone, I shall wait wait here till thine deed is done.”

>”Very well Maiden, I shan't keep you waiting.”

>You enter the maw of the Old one, slowly breaching the cluster of what appears to be dead branches, snapping and swiping as you go, your sword making quick work of them.

>You reach a shallow pool of misty water inside of a clearing, when a firm voice calls out to you.

>”You have been chosen by the Old one, should thou seek everlasting demon's souls, or should thee follow the wise words of the monumentals, it matters not... You are our first visitor, and thou art welcome here regardless.”

>The two choices, that you've heard so many times before, were it not for the fact that you've a plan of your own, the force behind the voice would surely leave little choice in such a decision, a lesser minded being would gladly succumb to the darkness and the power behind it, yet through all the countless times, your decision has been the same.

>You always refuse the darkness of the Old one, always one decision for the better of humanity over the better of yourself, the world needed peace more than you needed power.

>”Show yourself, True King Allant! The man who sold out the fate of his people for power!”

>You hear the sound of footfalls as you see a being exit a newly formed passage on the other side of the pool.

>The Old one speaks up, His raspy voice, quaking the walls around you.

>”It would not be wise to provoke combat with my champion, demon, he bears a strength known only to the darkest of beings.”

>You remember, vividly your first encounter with him, it was a long battle, it took everything you could muster to bring him to his knees, all the spells taught to you by those you met along the way

>By Sage Freke, the visionary, master of the soul arts, you had saved him from an unfortunate fate in the prisons of the infamous Tower of Latria, tainted by the calls of demons, it had been warped to an evil cause, imprisoning all those who sought to end the conflict such as yourself

>By Yuria the Witch, another master of the soul arts, dabbling in the more demonic side of the arts, looked down upon by her peers and met with hostilities in the Nexus by all but yourself

>Saint Urbain, Loyal disciple of the old-gods, taught you the way of the paladins in return for your rescuing him from a traitorous merchant in the Shrine of Storms

>Biorr, of the Twin-Fangs, a man who had almost lost himself to the temptaions of the demons after losing his brother, Vallarfax, to the Soulless fogs encroaching themselves on the Palace of Boletaria during his return from asking for aid from neighboring kingdoms

>The same Biorr whom you had rescued from the dungeons of the very castle he had once called home, trapped by the warped jesters of the False King.

>He had taught you the finer points of swordsmanship, and improved on your rather desperate form, to a point where you could spar with him on equal grounds and last through long periods of intense combat, he saw you as the lost part of the twin-fangs, his brother in spirit, to help fill the loss of his brother by blood, a position, you had felt honored to fill.

>The teachings, all of whom you owed your life to on many more than one occasion.

>And here you are again, in front of the man, no, the shell of the man who had brought on the endless conflict plaguing the world, in times long past.

”I know of the power he contains, Old one, and you would both do well to not underestimate the powers held by those in your presence.”

>Allant:”You dare to disrespect the Old one, naïve! You know not the forces you're dealing with!”

”Ahh yes, there he is... The champion of the Old one, tell me Allant, how does it feel to be nothing more than a puppet for the Dark-Gods? It must be fulfilling, for the price of millions of existing men, women, and children... Of land and life everywhere on this planet, just to sit here, a tool for the decrepit deity residing in this place.”

>Allant:”What would one such as yourself understand of the choices one makes to aquire power, fool.”

”All I have fought for... The souls I have ended, and the souls I have saved, I've done so for the sake of ending the both of you're miserable existences, and putting a stop to the plight on humanity, a return to the peaceful world this earth once was, such a journey does not come without acquiring ones own power!”

>Old One:”Very well then demon, let us see if your power is any match for that of the Dark-Gods!”

“I accept, but one thing before I slay this miserable soul selling fool in front of me...”

>You un-sling your Spiked Shield from your back, readying it in your left arm, trusty Draconic longsword in your right, King Allant doing the same.

“I'm no mere demon, I am a Godslayer!”

>And with this statement, you proceed to charge, once more into the fray of battle, hopefully for the last time.

>As your swords clash repeatedly, sparks go flying in all directions, you maintain your composure, standing firm, circling your opponent in the shallow pond, waiting for him to make his move.

>Biorr always said, “You're a better fighter when you fight on the defensive, it is your strong point, and with the demons, thirsting for blood, always making the first strike, it's a good thing that you keep yourself that way.”

“Whats the matter Allant? Afraid of the fact that there is one out there, capable of matching you on your swordsmanship?” you say as provocatively as you can.

>Allant:”You can't match me fool! You are but a boy, playing in a Man's world!”

>As he is distracted by your provocation, you swiftly remove your Insanity Catalyst from the slot hidden in your shield, making sure it's out of sight of Allant, slowly building up mana in your right hand

“Even boys can end battles, not that you'd understand, being naught more than a false idol to your kingdom!”

>You cast a misty veil of water around yourself and charge at Allant, slkewering him with your shield's jagged spikes, throwing him out of the pond, slamming him into the branchwork beyond its edges

>You rapidly sling your shield over your shoulder, grip the Catalyst firmly in both hands, and send a torrent of infernal flames towards your opponent

“How does it feel to burn like the people you abandoned!”

>You double your efforts, casting more and more flames, images of the burning districts within the castle walls, and of villages you had left behind.

>Corpses... Corpses everywhere.

>All the things you fight to end, racing through your mind, you stop the burning mass of flames at your fingertips, feeling the water veil wearing off, and the heat creeping over your body, you'd remembered the last time you cast a firestorm without any form of self protection, the scars on your right arm from a previous fate reminded you of that, though they had vanished after you awoke in the Nexus next...

>But that's a story for another time.

>You couldn't see anything in front of you aside from the wall of fire left by your spell.

>Its heat resonating through the room.

>But you're not done, and the lack of burning flesh in the air told you Allant wasn't either.

>Not that you'd openly exclaim it.

>It gave you an opening.

>You turn your back.

>Catalyst still in hand.

>Mana Gathering.

>And you step into the pond.

>One step forward...

>Two steps...

>Three steps...

>Fo-

>”RAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!”

>You cast a Heavy warding spell just in time for Allant to leap at you, driving his blade at your left shoulder.

>Yeah.

>The one with the shield covering it.

>Placing the Catalyst into a satchel on your hip, you draw your blade, slashing at his upper body.

>His water veil, was strong against flames, but there is a big difference between burning fire, and the cold hard Obsidian of your Draconic Longsword.

>A blade enchanted with the soul of a Fallen Flame-lurker itself by the legendary blacksmith of Stonefang Peak.

>Sharpened to a point, it made short work of the beings faded and worn finery.

>As blood as black as oil sprayed out from the large crevice that used to be his Chest, he curses loudly at you.

>Allant:”You lecherous scum! You Fight with the souls of the very Demons you seek to destroy embedded in your blade! THE OLD ONE WILL MAKE YOU SUF-”

>You had heard enough, with one wilful swing of your blade, you part his head from his shoulders, pick it up, and pike it onto a stray branch, jutting from the wall.

“May the bowels of hell treat you as you rightly deserve, scum, although that may still be too light of a punishment.”

>As you seat yourself on the opposite edge of the river from your handiwork, flooring your shield, sword, and other assorted gear, you hear the Old one call out to you.

>Old one:”You fight well 'Godslayer' I would treat a mighty warrior as yourself to all he could ever want, and as it just so happens, the role of champion, has just opened itself up!.”

>As he laughs to himself, much to your chagrin, you can't help but retort;

“If all life, no matter how mighty, nor how low, means as little to you as a joke, I'll gladly avoid such employ”

>Old one:”My, my, such fire, but let us not get ahead of ourselves, as we are no longer alone...”

>As he finishes this statements, in walks the Maiden in Black.

>Slowly circling around the un-destroyed side of the pool.

>She stops next to you.

>M:”Thine work is done, slayer of demons... Go back above... The Nexus shall imprison thee no longer, and I shall lull the Old one back to slumber.”

“You dont know how little those words mean to me, after all these chances, I've not once been freed of such work...”

>She stops, staring down at you, shock on the features not occluded by wax.

>M:”What dost thou mean?”

“Don't act like you don't know, Maiden, I've seen the way you treat every encounter we have, always the same response, always well trodden, as though you've done this many times...”

>A brief silence falls between you.

>M:”...For how long have thou known?”

“I've been aware since the 5th end, that was toward the end of the first year, though for you, I take it I'm not the first to be in this state of damnation.”

>M:”... It is true, slayer, thou ar'nt the first to make the endeavour, Thine predecessor, was in fact none other than Allant, whom thou has't slain before us, but Thou is... The first to recall, of all those whom have come and gone...”

“Have you ever sought help of the chosen? Used us as a means to escape your solitude, I'm no scholar... But I'd say you have been here for far longer than one as peaceful as yourself has deserved to be”

>Her shocked expression becomes even more noticeable at the mention of her being peaceful.

“Tell me, Maiden, were we not to repeat the cycle of fate I have experienced more times than I care to note, what would happen to you?”

>She then proceeds to put on a slight frown, hanging her head a little

>M:”The Old one and I shall slumber interminable... That is the way it must be...”

“And tell me Maiden, have you ever sought a different way out?”

>M:”I know of no other... This is how it has always been.”

>You stand, Shouldering your gear once more.

>M:”Thou should go, be gone to thy world once more, before the Old one captures the new powerful demon at its side, for if you remain, the world will be engulfed in darkness”

“Once again, Maiden, those words mean naught to me, for I want no more part in this game of death, I'd rather accept power, and the darkness that accompanies it, than run another gauntlet opposing it”

>The Maiden's face seems more dissapointed than any other face you've seen, she steps back.

>M:"Very well, slayer, we shall not oppose you..."

>You cup your gauntlets around your mouth and call loudly.

“OLD ONE, COME FORTH, SHOW YOUR FORM, AND I SHALL CONSIDER YOUR OFFER!”

>A raspy laugh fills the room, shaking the very branch-walls around you, and making the Maiden take another step backwards.

>Old one:”You've proven yourself worthy, Warrior! denying the fate of humanity, for the simple fact that this will be an end to your journey!”

“ENOUGH OF YOUR TALK, I'VE GROWN TIRED THESE PAST FEW YEARS OF WAR, BRING ME PEACE!”

>No sooner had you finished that the phantom or pure black, thick, wispy fog in the shape of a man had appeared

>Old one:“Come, then, Slayer, allow me to put an end to your suffering!” he says, beckoning you over, waving his arms, leaving a trail of fog with every movement.

>As you walk towards him, arms swaying by your side, sword in your right hand, your left, covered  by your shield, resting in your satchel, It's time to put an end to this

>You're within feet of the ethereal demon king, you can feel the souls of the fallen oozing off his person, the air like Ice through your veins.

>You'll only have one shot at this, and now's the time to use it.

>He outstretches his arm.

>Old one:”One final handshake, to seal the deal, if such formalities are not above you”

“Of course not” you say, “I would be happy to oblige, if it means peace.”

>As you reach arms length of the being, you remove your hand from your satchel.

>Catalyst in hand.

>And you stop.

>Focus all you have into your right arm.

>And you push, sinking your right arm through the chest of the old one.

>Grabbing his very soul-being from the centre of his chest, you cast your spell.

>The Maiden looks on in shock, having no idea what's going on in front of her.

>The Old one let's out an ear-shattering scream.

>Old one:"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

"A soul-siphon, one capable of destroying your being with the right knowledge!"

>And feeling the immense force of the Old one coursing through your body, you do the next thing that comes to mind, And cast a spell, one taught to you by the mighty Saint Urbain.

>Your world flashes white, and suddenly you're back, inside the Nexus, Its monolithical walls rising high above you, still holding firmly to the being in front of you.

>”NOW WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” bellowed the Old one between cries of anguish.

>It seems as though the spell had been affected by the sheer power coursing through your body, as you had brought back someone you had intended on leaving outside the hub.

>No, it wasn't the Old one, you wanted his ass to stay here.

>That's why before you had left, you shattered the arch-stones.

>The monumental had been furious at you, but after you explained your plan, he saw reason in your choice.

>No...

>Unfortunately, you had also brought her along.

>you had figured that as long as the Old one was awake or alive, the nexus would remain a prison, holding all who are incapable of accessing the archstones, having destroyed them, this place would become eternal limbo for those unable to breach the spell of the Nexus pit, and the only being capable, was the Maiden.

>Who you had inadvertently dragged with you.

>Miracles be damned...

“GET TO THE PIT ENTRANCE MAIDEN, ESCAPE WHILE YOU CAN!”

>The Old was regaining himself, the souls you were siphoning building up inside you, not nearly enough to stop him, just enough for him to be caught so inexplicably off guard he'd be useless for a few moments at least

>However, what you hadn't accounted for was her being as stumped as he was

“I DON'T HAVE TIME TO REPEAT MYSELF, GET OUT OF HERE, HE WILL BE TRAPPED FOR ETERNITY, I SHATTERED THE ARCHSTONES, THE ONLY WAY OUT IS DOWN, RUN WHILE YOU CAN, LIVE ON FOR YOUR-”

>SMACK!

>You felt your blood start to flood down your head.

>The Old one had cottoned on to your plan and was doing all he could to get to the Maiden.

>You re-doubled your effort, locking down into a position to stop the Old one, never removing your arm from his chest.

>He was beating into you like there was no tomorrow.

>Well... for you, there wouldn't be.

>But that doesn't matter.

>You see out the corner of your eye, the Maiden had run to her staff, which had been dropped in the transportation.

“NO TIME FOR SPELLS, IF I'M GOING TO DIE, LET IT BE SO OTHERS DON'T HAVE TO, NOW GET OUT!”

>You start casting some of the most powerful spells you can, barraging the Old one with wall of fire after wall of fire, soul-arrows flying from all directions in-between, you summon a raging inferno to surround the two of you.

>You could feel your body burning up from the raging inferno.

>Sensing that he is also attempting to cast spells, no doubt capable of cleaving you in two with one fell swoop.

>You stop casting offensive spells, and cast the most powerful anti-magical barrier around him you can

>Looking back, the Maiden still standing there, unsure of what she should do

>You could feel your body starting to fail you, blood now pouring from every crevice in your armour, burning where you weren't drowning, your world fading around you.

>Once again, you scream at her;

“IF YOU STAY, EVERYTHING DIES, I'M GOING TO DIE REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME HERE, BUT IF YOU DO TOO, THE BARRIER CONTAINING HIM HERE, AND ALL OF EXISTENCE BEHIND IT FALLS WITH YOU”

>It seems that got through.

>She runs to the barrier.

>Enforces it with all the magic she can muster, then looking back at you, gives you a small smile.

>M:”Before we go, may I at least have thine name?”

>Coughing up a little blood, and feeling you're body failing you, you manage to say, barely audible through the blood, as you watch her fall through the barrier.

“My name... is... Anonymous”

>It was the last thing you saw, before darkness.

>And you where glad that it was...

 

>Once again...

>You find yourself falling, through the black, a feeling all too familiar, one you currently wish with all of your heart that you weren't feeling... The feeling of returning.

>Then you hear her.

>”Soul of the mind, key to life's ether, Soul of the lost, withdrawn from its vessel, let strength be granted so the world might be mended...Soul of the mind, key to life's ether, Soul of the lost, withdrawn from its vessel...”

>Steadily growing louder and louder, becoming clearer with each syllable.

>”...Let strength be granted so the world might be mended... So the world might be mended...”

>Then all was white, blindingly so.

>And there you were, once again, knelt down at the feet of the Maiden in Black...

>So why...

>Does this feel so different?