Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Fantasy

Chapter 3 The Curious Devil

As Illia took off early, Xyphas was left alone with plenty of time to burn... And so he let his curiosity take its toll.

Xyphas* Hmm... With Illia gone I'll be able to roam around for a bit. This is perfect. I should not be seen however.

(Xyphas blended with the shadows and cloaked himself with light rendering him invisible)

Xyphas* Yes... Now where to? Hmm I know, how about I pay a visit to that "Praetor" and see what I could find.

(As Xyphas glides through the shadow he overhead some of the soldiers talking)

Human soldier 1* What do you think, When should we strike?

Human Soldier 2* We have to wait until we get to "Elauria" she's too powerful.

(Xyphas wonders to himself, who could the soldiers be talking about)

Xyphas* ... (Hmm... Could it be Illia? I wonder)

(Xyphas dug deeper into what was going on)

Xyphas* Perhaps I should see what the "Praetor" Knows...

(A Human celebration was taking place and the Praetor POW can be seen being humiliated at the front)

Xyphas* I cannot talk to him yet... A distraction would do, But what-... Yes...

(Xyphas found a Human Battle mech that's in the repair nearby)

Xyphas* This will do...

(Xyphas tinkered with the Mechs controls and causes it to turn on)

(The dysfunctional Mech made a loud racket as it rampaged in the village)

(The Human soldiers readied their mechs and went to stop it. Halting the celebration)

Xyphas* I hope Illia didn't hear that... Now off I go.

(Xyphas approached the naked and injured Praetor at the stage, its legs were cut off and was tied on a pole)

Xyphas* You there lowly being...

(The Praetor looked around to see where the voice came from)

Praetor* W-who?

(Xyphas shows himself)

Xyphas* I am talking to you...

Praetor* What do you want from me? 

Xyphas* What do I want? I want everything... Tell me what you know about your Master.

Praetor* I will never speak Ill of Lord Renue. You can cut off my head but I will not talk.

(Xyphas tightened the ropes with his ethereal hands)

Xyphas* You are one to talk considering your people started this mess.

Praetor* We didn't start anything... It was your people who attacked us. We were only retaliating... We honored our tradition and ways, its not a Praetorian way to start something like this.

(Xyphas tightened the ropes even more, making the Praetor squirm)

Xyphas* Did not start anything? Because of you I wasn't able to get my body back! If your people hadn't stolen the "Orb of Annihilation" I wouldn't be in this mess. And I would have been able to lead my army here!

Praetor* Lord R-Renue didn't steal the Orb... We are protecting the Orb from you people.

(Xyphas begins to suspect something is up, and loosened up the ropes)

Xyphas* What do you mean? You even killed the Sepulcher out of vengeance.

Praetor* We did not kill Lord Demi... Nor have stolen the Orb, We still have it. And we never had troubles with the Undead. For they follow Lord Demi.

Xyphas* Then who is behind all of this?

Praetor* It was Ki--

(A plasma cannon from a human battle mech fired at the Praetor, Disintegrating him)

Xyphas* I must get Illia!

(The towering battle mech shone a bright light on Xyphas, Preventing him from Melding)

Xyphas* Hmph! So be it! 

(The Battle mech fired a burst of energy at Xyphas, But Xyphas was able to conjure a shield and the energy blast caused him to be propelled further away)

Xyphas* Idiots! Now to get Illia.

(Xyphas Was able to get away from the mech and bumped ito Illia on his way to her)

Illia* What's wrong, Where did you go?

Xyphas* We have to get out of here!

Illia* What, why?

Xyphas* Because of that!

(Xyphas nudges Illia to look at the towering battle mech that chased Xyphas)

(Without further delay Illia casted one of her spells to stop the mech)

Illia* Gather power in the sky and strike! Lightning Bolt!

(A massive bolt of lightning struck the towering Mech and paralyzed it for a bit)

Illia* We don't have much time, Conjure a portal!

(Xyphas Opened a rift)

Xyphas* Where to? This is one time use!

Illia* Castle Schrade!

(The portal sent both Xyphas and Illia away from the battle mech who just Regained control)

(The battle mech slams the floor where Illia and Xyphas were before being ported away)

(The battle mech stopped and opened afterwards revealing Commander Guilin as the pilot)

Soldier 1* Sir they got away!

Guilin* I know, I was there. 

Soldier 1* What do we tell the General?

(Guilin drew his gun and shot the soldier in the head)

Guilin* We don't tell him anything.

(Meanwhile Illia and Xyphas were ported to the Gates of the Ruined Castle Schrade)

(Illias tears slowly drip, her eyes hidden by the shadow of her hood)

Illia* Home...

Xyphas* I'm glad we are out of the way...

(Illia went inside the shattered gates and the ruined castle)

Xyphas* Illia...

(Xyphas follows afterwards)

Illia* these were once towering halls and walls...

(The castle from the inside has fallen into disrepair and destruction)

(Illia then remembers when she was a child running in these halls, She began laughing and singing as if time as been rewound on her. She skips and hops and stopped at the library door)

Xyphas* What are you doing?

Illia* Nothing... I just remembered something. Let's go inside.

(Illia opens the huge wooden doors whose age can be told by the creaking sound it makes, Inside was a room filled with books and tomes. Millions of years worth of history and magic)

Xyphas* Incredible... How is this one still standings.

Illia* Because-

Unknown voice* Because it is protected by magic... It can only be opened by a Styx.

(The voice startled Illia and Xyphas, Weapons drawn and wings Roaring)

Illia* Who goes there?!

Xyphas* This voice... Is familiar.

(A 7 foot tall Skeleton inside a black robe appeared from the shadows wielding a bone rod)

Illia* ...! Lich?! 

(The Lich stood tall and welcomed the Princess home)

Lich* Welcome home princess, We've all been waiting for you!

Xyphas* I supposed seeing you dead won't be simple... 

Lich* Xyphas... My quarrel is not with you.

Illia* How? I thought the Praetorians wiped you all?

Lich* What, Who gave you that idea?

(The candles in the room lit, and the some of the books fell from the shelves)

Xyphas* The castle is alive?

Illia* I-i dont understand... We were told father is dead, and I saw aunt Mavelle and uncle Balrog, She told me that the praetorians betrayed them.

Xyphas* Yes... We even had quite the conversation.

(The Lich looks displeased and bothered by what he heard from the Princess and the demon)

Lich* Illia... Mavelle and Balrog have been long dead, 7 years after you left.

Xyphas* I knew something was up... When they didn't follow us on the Human camp we found. I've been pondering on that for quite some time now. Meaning they were projections?

Lich* Yes, and the one responsible for this... Is the Warden king Aramat... He even made the Praetorians to be blamed.

Illia* But father? Is he alive?

Lich* Your father is alive... But I fear he won't be soon.

(The candles in the room died and the books stopped dropping and moving)

Illia* Please Lich... Take me to him.

Lich* By your command Princess.