The Lord of Shadows Rises

by Terzian, James

  Getting inside he saw dust covering everything. Now what am I suppose to do? he thought.

  Suddenly Alexander starts to get dizzy. “What?” he said passing out

  Alexander was floating in a white space. “So this is the Grand Master,” said a voice heavy with wisdom. A man with a bald head appeared. He was holding a staff of a full foot in length and was wearing the robe of the Grand Master. The man puts his staff on the teen’s head and white mist appeared. “Awaken young one.”

  Alexander opened his eyes. “What?” His eyes widen in shock. He sees the whiteness of the area and opens his wide in shock. “Where am I?”

  “Calm yourself. You are in the void realm where the spirits are sent. I am neither amongst the living nor those who have passed.”

  “Who are you?” asked Alexander.

  “You are the Grand Master, yet you don’t know of me. What do they teach kids these days? I am Grand Master Eirik.”

  “It is an honor, Grand Master.” Alexander bowed his head to the ground. “I need your help to win a war.”

  “I thought as much. Tell me what you know of this evil.” said the Grand Master.

  Alexander sighed. “Not much, just that you defeated him.”

  “I see. Before I can train you, we must get rid of your dark side.”

  "What do you mean?” asked Alexander.

  “To be a true Grand Master you must overcome the Darkness in your soul, like I did. I had to go through the ritual during my tenure as Grand Master. I will start your training after you beat the Darkness.”

  “How do I beat this darkness?”

  “Follow me.”

  Further into the vastness of the void they walked. After a mile, they come on to a small altar with a gold dome roof and an arrow on the roof pointing to the sky. “Inside that dome is where you will meditate and face the inner darkness.”

  Alexander steeled his nerves went forward. Getting to the middle, Alexander sits down and begins to meditate. As wisp of smoke flew out of him.

  “Those you call friends will betray you,” said a dark voice. “You should join the Lord of Shadows.”

  Alexander opens his eyes and sees an exact copy of himself with black robes and eyes with yellow iris’ of a demonic look.

  “So you are my darkness?”

  “What is the point of fighting when afterward the world will go back to a bunch of squabbling nations?” asked the dark Alexander.

  “True, but the fact that the nations are willing to put aside their differences gives me great hope.”

  “So you won’t take my advice?” The dark copy grabbed his two swords, the good Alexander doing the same.

  The two clash as they try to overpower each other. Alexander goes for a strike, but it is blocked by the dark entity. The evil one tries to go for a kick which is caught by Alexander.

  The two continue to battle, neither able to get the decisive hit.

  Outside the altar, the spirit of Eirik watches as Alexander continues to sit there silently. “Let’s see what he can do. Taming the evil spirit is difficult.

  . Let us try something else, thought Alexander Switching his style to the dragon style, his opponent went into the snake style.

  “You think the world powers will change after this war?” Dark Alexander landed a hard punch to good Alexander’s chest only to receive a kick to the left side.

  “The fact remains that they are willing to fight for the greater good. After that, it is up to them on how to proceed. Be thankful for what we can accomplish,” said Alexander. “Darkness or light it makes little difference. Even the light can stray from the right path. Instead of fighting you, we should cooperate and become a whole puzzle instead of just pieces.”

  “The light and dark can’t coexist,” said Dark Alexander.

  “We will never know until we try. Without darkness, light cannot exist and vice versa,” said Alexander.

  “So you say, but it is not possible.”

  “We will never know without the attempt. What do you say, partner?” Alexander had his hand outstretched.

  The darkness sighed. “I will try.” They shook hands and the dark Alexander disappears.

  Eirik smiles. So he accepted the darkness and is going to work with it, he thought. That is a first.

  Alexander gets up and walks over. “Master, I have decided to work with my darkness and stay whole."

  Eirik smiles at Alexander. “Well done on choosing a different path. Before we start your training I must tell you who the Lord of Shadows really is.”

  “Wait. You knew?”

  “I told you how to be Grand Master I had to overcome my darkness?” Eirik receives a nod from Alexander. “However, I was not the only person to be chosen for the honor.”

  “What are you saying, Master?”

  “There was another student training next to me. His name was Gode and he was a prodigy with the sword. Even I was unable to beat him in all of the spars,” said Eirik. “He outclassed me in all areas.”

  Eirik grew silent as he recalled the summer of 1779. He had spent most of his life training in that old monastery. Though he had fought hard, sparring everyday with his master, he had always felt like he was behind. That day had been no different. He had met Gode in the training hall like any other day. The dark haired man had sparred masterfully against the baldheaded Eirik. The man had slammed his staff...

  A dark haired man fought in a sparring match against a bald headed man. The dark haired man slammed his staff into the other man’s chest knocking him down. “Come on, Eirik. Is that all? I thought you would have gotten better,” the dark-haired fighter said with a smug look on his face.

  “Well, you train yourself into the ground. That will kill you,” young Eirik said.

  “Enough,” said a deep voice as another man walked out wearing a monk’s robe and chain mail underneath.

  “Master Aldor,” acknowledged both fighters.

  “Gode, do not gloat over your victory. It shows a lot about who you are,” said Aldor.

  “Well, Master Aldor, what do you say?” asked Gode holding up his staff “Let me prove what you have taught me is not wasted.”

  The master faced his student. “Very well. Time for today’s lesson.” The master brought up his staff.

  The two clashed. Aldor proved to be the superior fighter by breaking his student’s staff in two. “That is your lesson for today. There will always be someone stronger no matter how strong you are.”

  “Yes, Master,” said both students bowing.

  “Come, it is time pick my successor." The three walk entered monastery.

  Both fighters went into the temple and waited until Aldor sat. “I have made my decision. Eirik shall be the new Grand Master.”

  Gode stood up. “Master, why him? He is not stronger than me,” he asked with a dark look.

  “True you have demonstrated great skill, but that is not the main quality I am looking for in my successor. Humility and restraint are another part of being a grand master. You have not shown either.”

  “Oh and Eirik has!” shouted Gode as he shook with rage.

  “He has not shown as much skill in battle, but he has shown great restraint and humility. He has never gloated when another opponent lost and never struck to incapacitate in spars.”

  “You always did play favorites,” snarled Gode as he stormed to the door. “Master

  Gode slammed the door of the monastery shut. Aldor sighed. “I hope he does not do something rash. Come, I will show you the responsibility of the grand master.”

  Xxx

  In the Army of the Order of the White Rose, Master Yuan was garbed in armor, with ten of thousand of troop behind him. “Onward to victory.”

  In front of them was an army of soldiers that numbered the same strength as the Order. They black armor with swords and guns. A man wearing the emblem of general smiled while observing his opposing force. “Destroy the rabble!” shouted the man, and his troops charged forward.

  �
�Attack!” yelled Yuan as the army went forward, brandishing the guns.

  Xxx

  Eirik’s head snapped up. “I sense a battle going on." Alexander looks at him. “Your friends will prevail; have faith in them and you will have faith in yourself.

  “The sooner I finish this training, the sooner I can help. Let us continue, Master.”

  Xxx

  Yuan saw his side start to take casualties and joined the fray. Using his curved sword, he cut down many of the dark soldiers before they knew he was upon them.

  The general of the Shadow Army ordered a full scale charge, hoping to overrun the Order. They came upon the Order of White Rose forces with a vengeance.

  The force marshaled to combat the Shadows, firing their guns, scoring kills as they grabbed their knives and melee weapons and came upon the enemy with a stampede.

  Blade to blade, both sides fight with reckless abandon. Yuan taking out soldier after soldier with his blade. Becoming surrounded, Yuan closed his eyes and calmed himself as the opposing soldiers level their gun at the Master. Opening his eyes, he sent them back with a powerful blast of chi.

  The enemy commander growled, seeing his forces decimated, and rushed toward Yuan, killing any soldier on his side and his opponent’s that was unfortunate enough to get in the way. Yuan slashed the oncoming general, decapitating him with a stroke of his blade.

  The soldiers, seeing their general fall, fled the battlefield. Yuan rallies his troops and pursued the fleeing troops killing many in their retreat.

  Xxx

  Eirik smiled “First victory goes to your comrades,” he said as Alexander was doing pushups.

  “So we won the first battle?” Eirik nodded. “That is excellent news!”

  “War can have turning points at any time. The real victory is the last battle. Now continue your pushups and we will move on after two hundred,” said the former grand master.

  The Lord of Shadows meditating when a messenger appeared. “Sir, I bring news from the front lines.”

  “Oh?” asked the dark lord

  “First battle goes to the White Rose my lord. The commander you put in charge was killed.”

  “This loss means little. However, we can’t let this defeat sit,” said the Lord of Shadows.

  “Orders, sir?”

  “Begin Operation Snowstorm.”

  “All shall fall like my former comrades,” the Lord of Shadows said and looks out the window to the snow.

  The snow swirled like it had that winter ten years after he had been overlooked as the Grand Master. The cold air had been nothing compared to the hatred in his heart. That is where he had changed his fate.

  Gode was walking to a cave when he was approached by a dark-hooded man. “It is a pity you were not picked; with your skills, you should have been chosen,” said the man.

  “What do I owe this second visit, Shadow?” asked Gode.

  “I wish to help you, as I offered ten year ago. I did tell you they would never accept you.”

  “Yes. I have decided to join you, Shadow. After all, I came this way to renounce my loyalties to the Order of White Rose.”

  “Let us begin your final training.” Shadow walks into the cave.

  Xxx

  In the Russian capital, President Boris was sitting with his ministers.

  A soldier ran in. “Sir, I bring urgent news! An army is approaching the capital!”

  Boris snoods up. “Prepare all troops and reserves. The Lord of Shadows will not take this country.

  Xxx

  Outside a small town, the Shadow Army approached, but were attacked by the Russian military. “For mother Russia!” shouted the commander, and his men fired on the Shadow Army.

  The Russians fought into the evening, forcing the enemy back when they were hit from behind with a surprise attack. The military started to take heavy casualties as they fight a two flank battle. “Keep fighting! Give time for our military to gather the troops!”

  The brave soldiers are boxed in when the Shadow Army fire a lethal volley of artillery

  The Shadow Army continues to the small town where they were ordered to burn it to the ground. Marching to Moscow, the Shadows Army was hit by the brunt of the Russian military.

  The battle rages as the Shadow Army used their magic and weapons to decimate the military. From a distance, citizens in hiding saw Moscow get taken. Russia fell despite the brave soldiers defending their nation.

  Xxx

  “So Russia has fallen,” said Guan. “This is troubling.”

  “For every victory we get we lose just as much,” replied Mason.

  “Can’t we send troops to help them?” asked Yuan.

  “If we do that we will spread our forces too thin,” said Guan.

  “We should take the fight to the Lord of Shadows himself,” said Lenora. “Kira told us of where he is.”

  “No, right now we need Alexander to learn from Grand Master Eirik. Charging in would be suicidal,” said Mason.

  Lenora slammed her hands on the table. “We can at least slow them down! Hamper their war efforts!” she said angrily.

  Bain walked in, his mind calm, and held up a parchment. “I found something in the archives.”

  “What did you find, Bain?” asked Guan.

  “The origins of the Lord of Shadows,” said Bain as he locked eyes with the master. “It took me a few hours to scour the library before I found it.”

  The temporary master walked to the table and sat. “He was trained by the prior grand master before Eirik. Considered a prodigy, he was denied the rank of Grand Master and left. However, this parchment is the Lord of Shadows on recollection of the event.”

  “It was the last line that caught my interest,” said Bain. “My master showed me the light within the shadows, and together with my Master, who I have come to call Lord Shadow, shall we begin the purge of the light. However, I digress; the Master will fall to the student.”

  Guan closed his eyes. “I see; to be the Lord of Shadows he must kill the master. Did you find anything else, Bain?”

  Bain closed his eyes. “I am afraid it is worse than we thought. The purging of the light is the extermination and genocide of all living thing on the earth. It gets worse. Let me read the next part.”

  From anarchy, formed by victory. All life except those damned shall be destroyed as I rule a world with nothing but demon. I have prepared my troops, and the depths of hell lend me the forces necessary for victory. They shall be rewarded with the slaves and land of the conquered.

  Bain read last line.

  “Anything else?” asked Mason.

  "I am afraid it gets worse because of ascension to godhood. He calls it Shaitan, which is a term for all evil including Satan, orcs and demons,” replied Bain.

  The masters though for a moment. “With the orbs, and if he ascends, we will have a tough fight,” said Guan.

  . “You have improved greatly but I think we should stop for today,” said Grand Master Eirik as they ended the spar.

  Alexander sat, out of breath. “No wonder you were Grand Master. You are strong, Master Eirik.”

  “Strength does not always win battles. Strategy is always greater. The spoken word can stop a blade by its convictions,” said the Grand Master

  Alexander bowed. “I understand; violence should be the last resort.”

  “Now where was I at in the story? Ah yes. Gode, after learning from another master and being corrupted, attacked our master.

  In the monastery, Aldor was meditating, a tea cup beside him. “I never thought you would turn your blade on me, Gode,” said Aldor as he got up. He started to stumble as his move were sluggish. “How did you poison me?”

  “Your tea. Can you fight me, Master?” asked the voice with fake concern. “I dropped poison in tea water a few hours ago.”

  Aldor grabs a sword. “So it has come to this.” Aldor spun around and blocked a blade headed for his head.

  Gode appeared wearing leather armor with spiked shoulder p
ads. He went for a strike against his former master who grabbed the blade’s handle and kneed Gode in the chest. “Arrogance does not win battles. I thought I taught you better,” said the master.

  “I am no longer the student,” said Gode.

  “Yet you made a foolish error by attacking me,” said Aldor as he backhands his former student.

  Gode regained his balance and smiled.

  The master’s vision started to become hazy. I have to end this fight, he thought as he blocked a blow from Gode and was forced to his knees.

  The master dropped his sword and grabbed his chest, feeling the poison. Gode smirks and stabs his former master in the chest.

  The door opened as Eirik walked in and saw Gode standing over their master. “Master Aldor!” he shouted. Unsheathing his blade, he charges Gode, who disarmed him immediately.

  “You aren’t worth killing,” Gode said as he strooled away, leaving Aldor dead and Eirik on his knees.

  Xxx

  "I was too weak to fight him, at that time, and realizing my weakness, I left in shame to train,” said the spirit of Eirik.

  Alexander looked on. “How did you beat him in the last battle?”

  “I will tell you later,” said Eirik. “But now continue your katas and I will teach you to the next style I know.”

  Xxx

  The Lord of Shadows was in his temple as reports came to him of victory and defeats. “So the Order has gained a few victories, however it is the last battle that will determine the victor. I need the other orbs; prepare to storm the camp of the Order.”

  Xxx

  “Masters, we have an emergency. Scouts report seeing amassing of troops approaching.”

  “What?” asked Lenora.

  “This was not expected. We don’t have the manpower to take on this army,” said Guan.

  “What shall we do then? We can’t retreat. It will show weakness,” Yuan states.

  “We have to retreat. The most important thing is the survival of this order,” Mason counters.

  Guan sat as the two continue their debate. “By fighting even if we retreat. It will prove that we have what it takes to make the tough call. I want five hundred men to hold the line at all cost,” Guan said, stopping the argument.