Chapter 11 – The Meeting of Destinies
Lion stares at the man before him in shock.
Lion:
— You said... Max?
Max, still pale and with deep wounds across his body, responds with a raspy voice:
Max:
— Do you have a problem with my name?
Lion:
— No! No problem with the name... But there's someone with me who's been searching for her son. She said his name was Max.
Max jolts and looks at Lion intently.
Max:
— Who is this person?
Lion:
— Her name is Zury. It's you! You're the one she's looking for!
Max's eyes widen. He struggles to support himself.
Max:
— You... you know her?! Where is she?
Lion:
— I don't know.
Max:
— But you just said you were with her! How do you not know?!
Lion:
— I was with her... but after a creature attacked us, I was taken away by force. Since then, I've been trying to find them again.
Max:
— Creature? What creature?
Lion:
— I don't remember clearly, only that it looked like a dragon... but different. Its eyes were pitch black. Whatever it was, it's connected to the dark elves!
Max:
— What you described... was the Draquia. One of the oldest creatures, the first born of Karips.
Lion:
— So that's it... But tell me, are you really Zury's son?
Max:
— Yes, I am. All this time I was trapped in that hell. Not a day went by that I didn't think of her... or my sister, Soleya. I thought I'd never see them again.
Lion:
— Then let's find them! You will see them again. You want that, don't you?
Max tries to stand but collapses to his knees, screaming:
Max:
— I want to... I want to... Karips! I want Karips!
Lion rushes over and grabs him:
Lion:
— Are you alright?
Max:
— Yes, I'm... I just need water. And to rest.
Lion:
— I'll get some. Wait here.
Lion heads to the nearest stream. As he kneels to collect water, a voice echoes in his mind:
Mysterious Voice:
— He has returned... He has returned... He has been reborn... You must stop him.
Lion, startled:
— What's happening to me...? I must be exhausted.
He takes the water and returns to Max.
---
Cut to: Southern Gyria
Victor gallops at full speed through the forest. Suddenly... an arrow strikes his horse.
The animal falls. Victor is thrown against a tree. Before he can fully rise, another arrow grazes his face.
Breathing heavily, Victor draws his bow and fires back. His arrow strikes the hidden dark elf right in the forehead.
Two more elves emerge. Victor readies another arrow, but before he can shoot, he's struck in the back.
He falls, and a dark elf charges him with a sword. Victor, swift, pulls the knife from his waist and throws it — embedding it in the elf's skull.
Despite his injuries, Victor yanks the arrow from his back, but the second elf kicks him. Victor crashes to the ground, and the enemy raises his sword to finish him.
But a sharp arrow pierces the dark elf — punching through his head and out his mouth.
Morfios and Seinal arrive on horseback. Morfios takes down two more enemies with precise shots.
Morfios:
— You alright, kid?
Victor:
— Yeah... Thanks a lot!
Seinal:
— Let's kill the rest before we start handing out thank-yous.
Another elf attacks Morfios with a sword. He parries and drives his blade into the elf's gut.
Seinal cleanly beheads an elf. The last enemy raises a bow — but Victor shoots first, nailing him.
Morfios, overcome with fury, climbs atop a dead elf's body and stabs his sword into the skull over and over.
Seinal:
— Enough! He's already dead!
Morfios doesn't seem to hear. Seinal yells:
Seinal:
— Hey! STOP! He's already dead!
Morfios:
— I'm sorry... I guess I got carried away.
Victor approaches.
Victor:
— Thank you both. I owe you my life.
Morfios:
— What's your name?
Victor:
— Victor.
Morfios:
— You've got guts. Want to join us?
Victor:
— Where are you headed?
Seinal:
— We're looking for those who can still fight for the kingdom.
Victor:
— I... I lost everything. My sister, my friends. There's nothing left for me to live for.
Morfios:
— Then fight for revenge. Fight for those who took it all from you. Give yourself a reason to keep going.
Victor:
— Alright... I'll go with you.
---
Cut to: Western Gyria – Dark Elven Castle
Six dark elves enter the throne room. One kneels before Valtherk.
Elf:
— Father... the prisoner escaped. Four of our brothers were killed.
Valtherk rises from the throne and walks slowly to the elf. Once near, he speaks in a calm voice:
Valtherk:
— Stand... raise your head.
The elf obeys.
Elf:
— I swear we'll find him...
Without warning, Valtherk grabs his throat with crushing strength.
Valtherk:
— I don't recall ever teaching that failures deserve forgiveness.
Elf, choking:
— Forgive me, father...
Valtherk:
— You are forgiven.
He snaps the elf's neck and tosses the corpse aside.
Valtherk:
— I do not tolerate failure. Go. Bring the prisoner back.
Elves:
— Yes, Father!
They leave. Nelan enters and kneels.
Nelan:
— Father, we've located the sorcerer Kaleos. Shall we bring him?
Valtherk:
— Excellent. Bring him in one piece.
---
Cut to: Northeast of Malonia
Kareos approaches Kravons.
Kravons:
— No need to explain. I heard your conversation with Clara.
Kareos:
— I'm sorry I can't help more.
Kravons:
— And this calling you feel... what's it like?
Kareos:
— It's as if my body isn't mine anymore. Like something is eating me from the inside.
Kravons:
— Rest. When you're ready... we'll need you.
Kareos:
— Yes, Your Majesty. I will follow that order.
Kravons walks over to Clara.
Kravons:
— Let's return to Gyria.
Clara:
— Thank goodness. I can't stay here any longer.
The group mounts their horses and departs.
Kravons looks back and shouts to Kareos:
Kravons:
— Don't forget... we'll be waiting for you.
Kareos:
— I'll take those words as a command.
But suddenly, an arrow from the forest strikes Kravons in the chest.
He falls from his horse.
Clara and Kareos rush to him, screaming:
Clara and Kareos:
— Your Majesty!
---
To be continued...