I felt her hard stare directed at me and I introduced him to my friends, “this is Doodle Pigmy. Chef for Ullpli and he’s here to cook us breakfast.”
“I already made breakfast!” grumbled Thea.
“I think it’ll be hard to eat it now,” guffled the pig. “Aye! Mushrooms you used were… not meant for soup.”
“But Sammy said they smelt good,” said Thea and my dog's ears flopped down with guilt.
“He would say that! Anything smells good for dogs and I mean anything!” bellowed Doodle.
Indeed, he was as good as his promise and made a meal fit for kings. I was energised and less nervous about what awaited us in the day.
Doodle told us about his origins and was, in fact, once a guard for Eirik. Unfortunately, the news of the great king's demise had hit the pig hard and he was uncharacteristically silent for a while...
We got our things together and my armour was strapped tight and felt light for manoeuvres. I could tell the tension had risen and it was time. We arose and made our way into the hall.
“I'll make my way now, good luck to ya lad. All of ya stay safe and remember what you're fighting for,” and with those words the chef made his way down the slope, complaining about the steepness.
“Ullpli!” I shouted. “We are ready!”
The green man appeared before us again and opened a portal into the Entity’s realm. I stepped forward but was stopped by Bjorn.
“We shall go together. Everyone climber on my back,” he said.
We did, with Flit settling to sit on the Bears head and without hesitation; we went through the portal doorway. I heard a faint whisper from Ullpli, “Good luck, knights of Eve.”
Chapter Fourteen - The Shadow Realm
All I can remember was total darkness at first; there was no light to shine the way. I felt like we were back in my home basement, where the rays couldn’t travel. It was a good thing we all were together, riding on Bjorn’s back.
“What should I do?” asked the Bear.
There was only one way in my mind: “Just walk straight. I think it’s the only path that you can do, Bjorn…”
“Agreed, I just hope I don’t step in anything…” replied the Captain.
The grizzly bear walked for a short time and it certainly felt like it would last a millennium. He staggered a lot from the weight of us and after a while stopped.
“It feels like we are going around in circles…” said Flit.
“Maybe we are, there’s no way of knowing!” panicked Thea. She sounded frustrated like the rest of us.
My eyes caught a glimpse of a white fog that rose as smoke from below. Out of the shadows, a mirage faintly appeared before us and my eyes focused on the white scene. There were ghostly figures standing in a courtyard, resembling Thea's home. Behind it was the Watson's little cottage and the cathedral could be seen over the horizon.
It changed quickly to the town of Hethenheim, which consisted of Thistle's home and parts of the Divided High Grounds. Everything resembled what we had lost in the fight and the Entity was taunting us; his power had increased.
The scene passed and the friends who we had lost stayed to feed on our guilt and sorrow.
“It's not real,” I whispered, so that my friends could hear a familiar voice from the darkness. “Stay strong, we can get through this…” but no one answered my rally.
The fur that I felt between my fingers had gone and I was standing on my own. The apparitions had come closer and my friends had changed to white and had become like the rest! “Sam! Thea! Flit! Bjorn!” I yelled, but their eyes were hollow and soulless.
I ran towards them, but everyone vanished back into the shadows; except one. Thea stood before me and she looked sad. She came in close and reached out. I was transfixed and couldn’t move a muscle. She went for my sword, but the touch of silver made her face change into a strange form. I realised it wasn't her and with that notion, I broke the bind, which held me motionless and struck down my foe in one blow; it shrieked and disappeared.
A red sun appeared from out of know where and the darkness dispersed into the air. I was on a grey shoreline, full of shells, and rock pools. On the beach, my friends stood, confused.
“Hey!!!” I shouted and I waved my arms about and I felt relieved to see they had come to no harm, but something was still wrong. Sammy ran towards me with his tongue flapping out of the side of his mouth and barked loudly. He was a normal dog again and I felt smaller and certainly less physical. My armour felt loose and was a lot bigger than the first time I’d tried it on.
“Lucius! What’s happened to us?” said Thea; she looked equally as young as me. She had been affected too.
Bjorn came over with Flit who was still on his back. “Ullpli has no power here. This realm is a spawn of evil and he can’t reach us.”
“I don’t understand. How come you two are fine?” I asked.
“We're not. I can feel the effects myself, but we were born in Eve. It will probably prolong the change. We don't have long. Flit has lost his ability to speak! Which is probably a good thing,” joked the Bear. I looked up at the Hare who tried to retaliate but made a small squeak instead.
Thea strolled towards the shore and noticed a rowing boat anchored in the shallows.
“Hey!” she yelled. “Come, look at this!”
We made our way over and it appeared we had found our next destination. There was an island not far from the mainland and there was a huge, dark grey cloud, directly above it.
“Everyone in the boat,” instructed Bjorn. The Bear grabbed my armour and moved it around with ease, “Lucius you might want to leave your cuirass behind, it will be hard to move in. Especially as it seems you have lost your growth.”
We got in the boat and I left parts of my armour behind, leaving my bottom half shielded. Luckily, I still had my black cotton shirt, which I wore underneath my orphanage uniform, but the breeze from the red sea was cold.
We left the beach and paddled towards the mysterious island, gradually arriving on a dull, grassy slope. There was not much colour in the landscape and no life, for it was only us who breathed in the cool air.
Thea stepped off first and looked troubled. I asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been here before… this is where I woke up, alone. Ullpli heard me cry and brought me off the island. This is where he gave me the task of protecting your sword,” she said.
We overheard whispers coming from within and there was a cold chill up my spine.
“He is close.”
Thea closed her eyes and shuddered, “It’s waiting for us.”
We left the boat and headed inland, going through the darkened long grass. A monument surrounded by a circle of trees was hiding something within. We were cautious and were slow on approach; The Entity did have a tendency of surprising us after all.
“It’s quiet…” whispered Bjorn and Flit prepared his bow.
Sammy sensed something on approach, and he snarled. Thea and I drew our swords and stood at the ready. The ground shook from behind and a wild roar erupted. An arm thrusted from out of the earth and a decomposed face looked back at me.
“Dark Spirits! I thought they were a myth?” panicked Thea.
“They look real to me!” said Bjorn. The lost souls of the dead had woken from their slumber and advanced to attack us. The Bear pounced without hesitation and Flit fired his arrows from Bjorn’s back. The rest of us charged in and swung our blades, cutting down the creatures. Their numbers grew and replaced the fallen in seconds. A large silver back ape picked me out from the crowd of beasts and charged with a limp.
I recognised the animal from Maylok who looked to have a personal vendetta against me. Its black hair was matted with mud and its one eye was as red as fire. I managed to dodge its heavy-handed axe, which split from the impact on a rock. I cut at its feet and sliced its tendon, so that the Ape fell to its knees. I slashed the dead animal's head clean off and the strength of Ullpli’s magic was still part o
f me.
I watched my friends fight with every ounce of power that they possessed, and we were winning. Piles of the dark spirits had started to mount before our feet, but more still came.
“When will it end?” I panicked.
“Lucius! You must go and confront the Evil. We will be fine! Thea, go with him, you have as much part in this as he has!” commanded the Bear.
I looked to the mute pair Flit and Sam who both nodded in agreement. My dog seemed to have kept some part of his evolution and was certainly using it to his advantage. So, we left our friends to fight the dead and to confront The Entity; for, I hoped, the last time.
Chapter Fifteen - Its Name
We entered its domain and the atmosphere was silent and still. It was not cold, yet I had shivers down my neck and the adrenalin was pumping through my veins.
We stood in the middle of a large monument, which had carvings of an old Aztec deity. Beneath each of the strange demonic stone faces were four Knights. Their armour had faded and looked rusty, battered and beaten. They were all held up by clutching their long swords and Thea stopped to stare at one particular knight.
“I didn't know… Father,” she sobbed, and she opened his helmet to reveal a decomposed corpse. She fell back in shock and I held her up. “I don’t understand. Why is he here?”
Thea’s tears stopped once we heard a familiar voice; it said, “You weep for the dead. Why cry for someone who has been gone for so long?”
“Something you can't understand, vile creature!” I bellowed.
I felt the shadow stalking us from the corners of the monument.
“Hmm... a creature is what I am now, but I’ve not always been like this Lucius Domhill. I was once a human, a boy, like you, betrayed by the one’s I loved; abandoned and left to rot in my own filth and with no one to care for, except for the master who called me from out of the blackness. So, no - I do not understand why she cries, for I am the shadow, the Darkness of worlds - I am a Celestial – I am Dante!”
His name made the island shake and the clouds darkened.
“We have a name now, so show your face!” I commanded.
He breathed heavily and the power that surrounded us, made my legs wobble.
“My form is strong from devouring the realms of Eve, but I am not whole. I need one last part of the puzzle to show you my face, boy.”
I drew my blade and stood ready.
“You will try, but you will fail in possessing my body!” said I; the Entity laughed loudly, and I felt silly in my stance.
“I could have, if I wanted to. On our first encounter I was too weak for such a task and then you got your hands on the sword and have made it even more difficult for me to obtain you. You are a tricky one Lucius... You’ve always been tricky…”
What did he mean by that? I thought.
I looked at my blade and Dante continued.
“You know its power; it protects you because you are her weapon. Her last Knight,” he mocked.
“So, you want me?” asked Thea.
The shadow sighed. “No. The black blade which bound you to my will has been shattered by the light's magic.”
Thea demanded to know why her father was there, as she looked, desperately for answers.
“Why is he here?” she asked.
“Sir Arn Siegfried learned of my intentions of using you as my vessel to earth.”
“So that’s why you kidnapped me?” said Thea and the shock of the news hurt her greatly. To know this evil was the cause of her sorrow and to have it so close to us made me tighten my grip on my blade.
“Yes, child. He stayed on this island to protect you, but he fell quickly. Ullpli had found you before I could, and he finally had his human. A guardian for the sword. He has tried to protect you ever since, but his power seemed to diminish. Maybe - maybe because my power is growing, or he let you be taken...”
“Ullpli wouldn't do that,” defended Thea.
“Wouldn’t he? He didn’t tell you the truth -” She stuttered, and Dante continued, “- your task was over, and Lucius was his next priority.”
Out of all the dark corners, a shadow formed and seeped into the four Knights. I watched the clunks of metal come to life and they walked forth with their long swords ready. The shadow filtered out of the helmets like a blaze and their eyes were pale white. I sensed his power and it was truly terrifying.
Thea’s Father brought his sword up high above my head and slashed down. I managed to evade his attack, which created a huge hole in the ground, but he quickly hit me hard with the hilt of his sword. I rolled across the grass in pain and Thea was backed into a corner by the other three.
What now? I thought. We were outmatched! And the Entity knew, all too well.
I watched the old knights adjust their weapons and held them up, over their heads. Again, Sir Siegfried came forward towards me and slashed down for what I thought was the last time, but something unexpected happened. When our blades clashed, the silver sword set a light. A blue flame engulfed my weapon and blocked the sword that would have caused my demise.
“What!?” screeched Dante and his tone wavered.
I rose up to face my enemy and for the first time, I was in control.
The knight came at me again and I blocked with ease. I couldn’t believe what I was achieving against a foe, who was twice the size of me. There was something that I could sense, something unnatural and spiritual, which resonated through the blue flame. The connection between me and my blade had grown tremendously, and a bond had been finally tied; the sword reacted to every counter.
The Entity instantly recognised its new threat and I suddenly had three knights to contend with. They stabbed, swung and slashed at me. It was too much and my newfound confidence was slowly disintegrating.
The shadow poured out of their helmets and Dante was focused on destroying me. I had cuts and bruises that bled down my arms.
Thea was trapped and sat, defeated, on the grass; guarded by one of the shadowed corpses.
“Thea!” I yelled. “Hold on!”
Dante was quick with his taunts: “You are failing Lucius Domhill and soon I will return to earth, in my new vessel!”
I blocked another attack and the blue flames sparked on contact. A segment of ash floated in the air and entered Sir Siegfried’s helmet. It burnt the Darkness and it backed away, surprised, it gave me an idea.
With my pace, I evaded the three knights and set alight the grey shrubs, which encircled the monument. It was a circle of a blue blaze that trapped Dante and the ash spread like wildfire. He screamed from the touch of flame and the voice breathed heavily with displeasure. “Clever - clever boy. The lights fire burns me… I feel pain…”
“Good!” said Thea, who was now stood over her guard. The knight trembled at being so close to the fire and the Entity had lost his hold on the corpse. She kicked her opponent, who stumbled and fell into the shrub and burned.
“Your power is waning,” I mocked, triumphantly.
He scowled and replied, “I think it’s time to show you my face.”
How could he show his face? Who was this vessel he mentioned? My curiosity was doused when someone entered through the blue flames. My grandfather stood still and rigid. His face was tired, and his eyes were hollow, Dante had possessed him.
The shadow crept over his body and I winced at the form, who had taken shape before me. Grandpa Egbert developed a silhouette of a horned man with blazing red eyes; he resembled the statue of Maylok. I noticed Thea who shook from the sight of the Darkness. All that I felt was anger and it raged throughout my core. This thing had taken my parent and guardian; turned him into the beast who stared with such malice.
“My form is near completion. Your grandfather's mind and soul will be mine, and then I will take back the earth!” threatened Dante.
I remembered what Ullpli had said about my self-doubts and that I must believe in myself or these worlds will be no more. I was my opponent and Dante was just an obstacle, who ne
eded removing from the equation. I’d been chosen since the beginning and in that moment, I had to believe my fate and let my destiny take its course.
I raised my sword and the flames burned brightly; my blade, eager to quench its thirst. I had been there before with Thea and I hoped no harm would befall my grandfather, but I had to believe, I would free him.
The clouds above had darkened the sky into total blackness. A raindrop ran down my face and I only noticed my grandpa's lips muttering in a strange tongue. It reminded me of the dialect that Flit had used on the warp stone.
Dante came forth and vanished in a flash; he was quick and the fires suddenly doused, in a second from the heavy downpour. The Entity had manipulated the weather to his advantage and was free from the flames torment.
I had a sudden blow to my stomach, and I looked down to see the red eyes peering up. I crashed hard against the wall and landed awkwardly on the ground. He was strong and I was helpless. Thea stood rooted and drenched not knowing what to do.
“Can you feel my power Lucius? The light has failed in trusting you to vanquish me! I am a god!” boasted the Entity.
I stood up with my legs shaking from the force that had stuck me and something unexpected happened.
I’d ran out of time.
“You are too late, it is done!”
The shadow left my grandfather’s body and he dropped, like a rag doll, to the ground. He shook on the floor showing me signs of life, but he looked to be deteriorating. A fully formed monster stood before me and a shadow blade moulded in Dante’s hand.
He smiled and brandished his pointed teeth.
“Now you see me, boy… can you finish the fight?”
Chapter Sixteen - A True Knight
I arose with my blade gripped tightly, I wasn't going to give up, there was too much at stake and I couldn't let the souls of the lost be trapped much longer.
I'd noticed a green light flash in the corner of my eye and the blue flame burned brighter than ever; we weren't alone. A green man stood between me and my foe.
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