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Quest for the Lost Empire: And So It Begins

Part 1 of 3

Part: 1 Section: I - The Great War of the Empires

It was the end of the age of the empires, the world laid in ruins. The empires of the world had control over the different continents, until the people revolted against the rulers. There was a Great Civil War that covered the whole world, many people and things lost their lives because of this war. This war was called the Great War of the Empires or just simply as the G.W.E. Generations and generations talked about this war, the loss of many lives and the different heroes that arose during this time period. They also talked about creatures that would fight against the other empires and citizens as well. Minotaurs, Gorgons, Dragons and Sphinxes were just a few of the creatures used by the empires. These creatures were often named the 'empires' recruited help' and regarded as enemies because the empires attempted to use them as soldiers. However these attempts to control these creatures were often flawed as the creatures revolting against the empires. Not only did the empires ask for help from such creatures. The citizens often recruited help too; Gnomes, Elves, and Dwarves were often seen fighting by the side of the citizens. They were often regarded as citizens because they helped the citizens in their fights. However the citizens feared that the 'empires recruited help' would be used by a hidden empire that they called 'Hacotameia'. Thus they were not regarded as citizens. The G.W.E took place about a week after the revolts of the citizens and the 'empires' recruited help'. During the revolts, many of the creatures were killed or ran away from the empires. The bloodshed of this war was great and the lost of lives was astonishing. About five years later the last empire fell, and its citizens were free of the terror and torture of the emperor. It had been about fifteen years after the Great War of the Empires, and most of the creatures that were recruited for the empires had been hunted down and murdered in cold blood.

II - Maxim

However, there was one exception to the citizen's idea of an enemy. Know then there was a Minotaur named Maxim. The best way to describe Maxim would be a tall minotaur about 10 feet tall, muscular like a body builder, wearing a nose ring, black loincloth, brown short fur, black hooves, a tail, and two thick long white horns. His eyes were different from anything that most of the people had seen; Maxim's eyes didn't have an iris. So this meant that he had no color to his eyes they were just a pearly white. Maxim used a large double headed axe and a long sword in battle. The citizens of various cities often considered him as a citizen of their city. They thought that he was a rather strong, but gentle Minotaur. Many of them didn't understand his ideas and actions toward everyday people. He had often done work to help out the citizens of the cities that he had visited and received a token of their gratitude in the form of citizenship. He was now on a quest to find the last remaining empire that was called Hacotameia. He knew that this would be a fierce battle for him.

III - Maxim's Promise to Medusa

Medusa and several other creatures told Maxim about the lost empire and explained to him that this was why they were being hunted down and killed like wild animals. They didn't do anything wrong; it was just the concept of what they were. The people thought that the lost empire could use these creatures against them in any fashion they wanted. He decided to accept Medusa request.

"It is the least I can do. I understand what you are facing. You must promise me one thing though." Maxim insisted as he looked at Medusa.

"Yes?" She question as she looked the Minotaur over.

"Stay hidden until I come back and I will tell you what happens. If I do not come back in about a year, I am dead. Tell your friends that I will destroy the last empire, Once and for all! Remember that this will be a day that will never be forgotten." Maxim stated as Medusa and her friends watched him go into the forest.

The pounding of his hooves could be heard through out the forest. "May, the Gods bless and help him!" Medusa stated as she watched the Minotaur finally disappear.

IV - Maxim gains some friends

Maxim grew more and more determined as he traveled more and more each day. He knew that he had to remember Medusa and her request. "No matter what happens I will destroy the empire." He thought. On his way he met a human and a gnome.

"Hi I'm Maria." The human stated.

"I'm Homer." The gnome responded.

"My name is Maxim." The Minotaur replied.

Maria had long black hair and wore a white toga. She stood about 5' and 3" tall. Homer on the other hand, wore a green toga and stood about 3' and 2" tall. It had been a few days since they had started their journey. They had just conquered a city, when it happened. After the battle, there was a low growl that came from the Minotaur's stomach.

"Move away." Homer told the Minotaur.

"Relax it's just my stomach." Maxim responded to Homer.

Maxim had underestimated his stomach though. The second growl came and he had to grip his flat muscled eight-pack stomach. He was too hungry to fool around, Maria and Homer saw the pain in his face. The third growl came across, and Maxim fell to his knees.

"I must get something to eat." The Minotaur stated as he looked at the other two. Homer ran into the city and look around for a little bit of food. He found a piece of meat and placed it into the Minotaur's mouth. Maxim swallowed and the meat fell down into his empty stomach.

"I must get some more." Maxim thought as he looked down at his stomach. The Minotaur caught several fish and brought them back to Maria, for her to clean them. The Minotaur started to help clean the fish.

"I have been watching you and I have noticed that you really like looking at me!" Maria looked at Maxim as he informed her. She did really didn't understand what was going on or how he would tell her something like that.

"Maxim what are you talking about?" Maria queried the Minotaur as she stared into his white eyes.

"What do you mean? I have watched you, Maria. And it appears that you have a burning desire for me. I mean don't be ashamed of your desires. Tell me, do you love me?" Maxim informed her as he looked at her with a serious look.

Maria thought for a few minutes and stared into the Minotaur's eyes for a long time. "Yes I do love you. Maxim the first time I looked at you, I thought that you were a jerk." The Minotaur looked at her and his narrowed dangerous as an angry expression grew on his face. "But you are not a jerk, you are a loving Minotaur. I should have known that you would love me. Maxim I will always love you, until Death breaks us apart." She told him. Maxim looked at her and smiled; he grabbed her and lifted her up to his face.

"Well it is about time that you admit your burning desire." He spoke to her in a soft tone. His low voice still sounded as he spoke to her. They looked at each other and kissed, and thought about their future life with each other. Homer walked away from the tree toward the two.

"I watched you two talking to each other. Well? What were you two talking about?" He questioned the other two.

"The love between me and her we now have a reason to love each other. I love her and I will kill for her!" Maxim exclaimed. Homer and Maria looked at each other. That night Homer and Maria had the same exact dream. It was like a ghost called out to them, they dreamt that Maxim was defeated in a battle because he was defending Maria. Maria and Homer woke up at the same time, sweating vigorously, they met in the forest.

"Did you know what I dreamed about? I dreamt that Maxim was defeated in a battle." She told the Gnome.

"I had the same dream, we must do something. I am assuming that it was a premonition." He replied seriously.

"Well we must figure out something, I don't want him to lose." She replied as she nearly started to cry.

"Don't worry, we will figure out something. He will not lose; he is just too strong for that. Let's get some sleep." Homer replied regretfully. The same dream occurred over and over again.

V - Maxim and Maria Play Around

The nightmare was finally over as the sun start to rise, Maxim woke up Maria by his growling stomach.

She looked at the Minotaur as he rubbed his muscled stomach, "I'm hungry, let's go get something to eat." He told her as he got up.

The river was very beautiful, especially with the forest in the background. The forest was alive with the sound of birds and different animals and the smells of different plants. Maxim caught some fish; Maria pulled out a knife and started to clean them. The Minotaur decided to help her after he caught the last fish.

"Please, go find us some firewood." Maria asked Homer.

Maxim was very anxious to eat the fish. He accidentally squeezed one of the fish too hard. The fish blood squirted on his face, and chest and then the blood slowly trailed down to his large abs. Maria watched as the blood squirted on the Minotaur, she could not resist, she had to laugh.

Homer heard the laughter, as Maria started to taunt the Minotaur. "What's wrong, the fish didn't like you? What did you want to make sure it was dead?"

"I guess you would like a fist in your face, huh?" Maxim remarked.

"Bring it on!" She cried. Maxim smiled as they engaged in play fighting; they smiled at each other as they each struggled with one another. Maria finally got the Minotaur on his back and grabbed his horns.

"Take this, and that and this!" She shouted as she playfully punched at his face, there was laughter and joy in that moment of playing around. Neither of them knew that Homer was slowly approaching them. She watched in horror as a dagger was slowly brought to the Minotaur's throat.

"What are you doing?" Maria screamed to Homer.

"I thought you were in trouble!" Homer exclaimed as he dropped his dagger. Maxim got up and looked at Homer. His eyes narrowed dangerously and his torso rose and collapsed rapidly as he stared at the Gnome before finally speaking.

"We were just playing around besides maybe you should mind your own business!" Maxim exclaimed harshly before he started to walk off to wash off the blood. Maxim walked to the river and jumped in. Maria watched Maxim as he washed the blood off of him. Maria had finished cooking the food, sat down beside a tree and started to cry.

Homer questioned her, "Why are you crying".

"You should have not done what you just did." She remarked cruelly.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were safe that's all." He replied.

"Pulling out a knife on him?" She questioned him as more tears started to flow like a river down her face.

"Do you really like him as lover?" Homer questioned her.

"Yes and you should apologize." She demanded.

"Okay." He stated.

"Maxim! The food is ready. Come on and eat." She called out as she wiped the last of the tears from her face.

VI - Apology

Maxim walked through the forest, to the camp. "Someone wants to apologize to you." Maria told Maxim.

Maxim looked at Homer, "I'm sorry, I should have not pulled a knife on you." He stated as he paused for a minute. "I should have just joined in." Homer finished as he looked at the Minotaur.

"You know what this means, it's time to fight!" Maxim exclaimed.

They fought and fought until they were tired. Homer and Maria had bruises on their arms from the Minotaur because he played too rough.

"Let's eat now." Maxim finally responded as he caught his breath. Maxim ate his fish by swallowing them whole, Homer and Maria picked the bones out of their fish. The sun started to set, and they knew that tomorrow would be a long day. "Tomorrow we will attempt to take another city." Maxim proclaimed. They all went to sleep and dreamed about the next day. The next morning they started their journey to conquer the next city on their list.

VIII - Battle with 100 Soldiers

They reached the city's gates, and enter into the city's courtyard. It was a very beautiful courtyard. Close to the city's wall were flowers and shrubs. The color of the walls was earth clay red. The buildings had been placed in long rows. The appearance of at least 100 soldiers made Homer and Maria kind of nervous but Maxim was very determined. He started killing the soldiers as soon as they rushed toward him. The Minotaur's axe made blood spurted everywhere. The citizens didn't want anything to do with the battle because they saw what happened for the first five soldiers. Maria really didn't have anything to worry about. The soldiers wanted to go on a date with her, she was just too beautiful. They would ask her, and it was an easy slid of their throat, a very quick kill. Even though the soldiers saw what happen to the others, they would still ask her on a date. Unfortunately, Homer was always cornered; Maxim always managed to help him though. They managed after a long battle to bring the number down to five soldiers. The blood was all over the Minotaur, Gnome, and Human, and they were sweating vigorously.

"Let's finish this now!" Maxim exclaimed as he looked at the remaining soldiers. Maxim swung his axe rapid beside him in a circular motion as he moved with it. It almost looked like a saw cutting through meat, more blood flew onto them. Maxim stopped as the soldiers fell to their knees and fell on their sides.

IX - Painted with Blood

Maria and Homer looked at Maxim as he walked over to the dead soldier. Maxim kneeled down and placed his finger into the soldier's wound. He put his finger into his mouth and tasted the blood.

"Very good, this is very good. It is making me hungry." Maxim exclaimed as he tasted the blood.

"Are you ready Maxim? You are really scaring me, what are you doing? Hello?" Maria asked him as she walked up to him.

Maxim quickly turned his face to the now walking Maria, and stared at her. Maria was very shocked when she saw Maxim's face. Homer looked at Maria as she stand there looking at the Minotaur. Maxim had painted his face with his victim blood, his fangs showed through his lips. Maxim gave both of them a very long demonic stare.

"What are you doing?" Maria queried.

"You will see, you will see." He remarked as he snickered quietly.

He got off his knees, to his towering form and the final shock wave was given to the other two. They looked at the Minotaur in disbelief. The Minotaur from his face down to his hooves had painted his body with the soldier's blood. He had completely covered his face with the blood and his body with various designs, the blood slowly dripped off of his body onto the ground. His left hand remained clenched. He looked at the other two with hungry eyes and opened his mouth wide as he started his pursuit toward the two.

X - Maxim's Pursuit

Homer and Maria backed away from the advancing Minotaur. Maxim gradually approached the two as his hooves pounded the ground, his lips and fangs painted with the blood of the solider. Maria and Homer's back hit the wall, they were stuck!

"Why are you painted like that? Why is there blood on your fangs? Please don't kill us." She pleaded to Maxim.

The Minotaur didn't listen to her plead; instead he proceeded on his pursuit. Maria and Homer paid close attention to his fangs and the demonic stare he gave. The Minotaur's hooves pounded the ground, hard, for the last time as he finally stopped his pursuit. He stood about an inch from Maria and Homer. The two of them felt Maxim's radiant heat that was coming from his body; they smelled his musk and felt the blood drop on them. The Minotaur looked down at them and opened his mouth wide. A little bit of the Minotaur's salvia mixed with the soldier's blood dripped on to the two of them. Homer and Maria looked up to the Minotaur and paid close attention to the Minotaur's teeth and his long stare. It wasn't five minutes into the stare that Maxim gave a long, loud hideous shriek. Maria and Homer tried their best to protect their ears from this hideous roar. Maxim stopped his roar after a few minutes. He brought his left hand up to his muzzle and opened it.

"Oh my dear Goddess, he has a heart in that hand." Maria stated as she looked at the opened hand.

His long tongue crept from his mouth and wrapped around the heart. The two of them watched in disgust as the Minotaur sucked his tongue back in. He then began chewing on the heart. He still gave them a long stare after he finished eating the heart and then he finally told them what he had to say.

"I am painted with paint because he was the last victim of my axe. It was too hard to resist, I had to taste of his blood." He explained to the two.

Maria and Homer looked at him with a shocked expression. "Aw, you know how it is. I just wanted to scare you. I mean it was nothing serious." Maxim responded.

They both realized that the Minotaur was fooling around and started to laugh at him. Maxim licked his lip, smiled and rubbed his big eight-packed stomach.

"It's called instinct; you couldn't help but be hungry." Homer reported informally. Maxim stared at Homer with the same demonic stare. "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't look at me like that!" Homer remarked as he watched the Minotaur's staring eyes.

Maria looked at the Minotaur as he snickered at Homer, who was puzzled at the stare. Maxim walked over to the center of the city's courtyard. He laid down on the ground, on his back, crossed his arms, exposing his armpits and gave a large sigh of relief as he finally responded to Homer's question, "It was you. I stared at you because; you made me think about how hungry I was." Maxim slowly stated as he started to chuckle softly. Maria slowly approached the Minotaur and laid down on his left side.

"I love you but you are crazy sometimes." She silently whispered in the Minotaur's left ear.

Homer joined in as he laid on Maxim's right side. "Please, don't do that again!" Homer whisper in the Minotaur's right ear.

Homer and Maria fell asleep on the Minotaur as they thought about his actions and his uncontrollably hunger.

"Partnership, this is how it should be. I love this." Maxim thought in his mind. It was very warm that night and the Minotaur's tail stretched across the two that were on top of him. Maxim's arms gently embraced the two in a hug of friendship. He finally fell asleep as his own thoughts turned into dreams.

XI - Convicting the Citizens to join in Their Revolution

The sun started to rise as its light showed the devastation and carnage of yesterday's battle. During the night the blood had dried to the walls, it was shown as the sun rose from its slumber. There was a cathedral which was in the center of the town. Maxim and the others walked in to the sound of voices, they were mourning the dead of the city. Everyone looked to the door as the three of them walked in, still cover in blood.

"What are you doing here; you are an abomination to this town." An elderly woman told as she looked at the Minotaur.

The elderly woman looked like she was in her late seventies. She had gray hair and blue eyes. She always wore a black robe, and the late wrinkles on her face could tell you that she was old. Maxim walked to the stand at the front of the cathedral. He didn't know how to react to the elderly woman. At first, he thought that she was completely annoying. Especially, if she was going to stay there and say what she had just said. The brown Minotaur did nothing about her but instead just stated what he had to say.

"I am sorry for those of you that have lost loved ones. You must understand what I am fixing to say. If you would have let those soldiers take this city then you would really have sorrow. Please understand this message. They would have made slaves out of you; many of you would have been under extreme torture. I am just here to tell about them, you really need to understand." Maxim explained in a defiant voice.

"Okay, I understand but, they promised us peace." The elderly woman stated.

"What is your name?" Maxim queried.

"My name is Shirley." She replied.

"Okay, Shirley here is an example. Okay let's say you own a city. A vast empire wants to take control of your city. What are you going to do? Let them take it or kill them? Which one of them, will you let happen?" Maxim questioned Shirley.

She thought a few minutes and answered, "NO!! I will kill them; no matter what kind of peace treaty they make!" Shirley exclaimed in a powerful voice. Maxim stared at Shirley as he smiled, everyone applauded as she and generally everyone else accepted the Minotaur's ideas.

XII - Let's eat

Maxim walked down from the stand and walked to the door of the cathedral.

"Where are you going, I know you are hungry. I saw you eat that solider yesterday. You must have a huge appetite, for such a large, strong Minotaur like you. Come on and eat." Shirley told the Minotaur.

"I suggest I better not, I might eat too much." Maxim responded.

"I insist!" Shirley exclaimed as she grabbed the Minotaur's nose ring and tugged him to her house. Homer and Maria followed the Minotaur as he was tugged to her house. "Come on and set down at this table while I finished what I was cooking this morning." She told him.

Homer and Maria walked in the back door to the kitchen. "What are you doing, we need to go conquer the next city." Maria reply purposely to Maxim. Shirley came back in with a plate full of food, and she saw Maria and Homer.

"Oh! I forgot about you. Why didn't you tell me about them?" She questioned as she patted the Minotaur on his head.

She walked to the kitchen, and Maxim questioned Maria, "Why is she treating me like I'm so precious?" "I don't know, maybe she loves Minotaurs." Maria responded.

"This is very fascinating! You should really watch your back if we stay here for the night!" Homer prescribed in an enthusiastic voice. Shirley walked in and brought two more plates of food.

"As you can see I was kind of expecting you." Shirley responded to the puzzled party. "Let's go ahead and eat. I'm hungry." Shirley replied as she started to eat. Maxim stared at Shirley as she ate, he was completely confused. His face showed the expression on it.

"Oh! I forgot, what are you're names?" Shirley queried the three.

"My name is Maria." The Human answered.

"My name is Maxim." The Minotaur responded.

"My name is Homer." The Gnome replied.

XIII - Mysteries from the Past

"Do you want to know why I am treating you like a baby, Maxim?" Shirley questioned Maxim. Maxim looked at Shirley and gave an expression that looked like, how did you know that was my question.

"I overheard you talking or better yet, I heard you think about it. Well! Here it is, I love Minotaurs and no, you are not the only I have done this way. There was another Minotaur named Amicus. He wanted to do the same thing that you are trying to do. Unfortunately the next city he went to, he was met with fate. He was capture and taken to a slave camp. He is now in a slave camp tortured, and worked to death. Yet, he was not as muscular as you are. You are really muscular, I have to admit. I have never seen one as big and muscular as you. I will tell you something, if you plan to take the next city. Please be careful. I love you." Shirley informed Maxim.

Maria looked at Maxim and Maxim stared at Maria.

"I will join your quest. I am a magician or as you can say a summoner. I was hoping that this would have never happen but the times are changing, back to the way they were before the War. I am afraid that peace was short lived. I helped Amicus, but the city was too much. I would like to help you. In my younger days I was really good and I remember what happened to the various creatures that the empire had recruited. Before I can help you, I must practice on general magic and summoning. I wish I could find Amicus. Go ahead and eat as I practice my magic." Shirley told the Minotaur as he started to eat his food.

Homer and Maria had already finished their food because; they didn't have as much as Maxim. After Maxim was finished they walked to where Shirley was and she told them about a garden in her backyard.

XIV - Maxim's Determination and Shirley's Trick

Maxim and the other two walked to the backyard and where extremely shocked at what they saw.

"It is literally a garden forgotten by time!" Maria exclaimed. The garden had vines everywhere, plants everywhere in no particular order and everything was well grown.

"Well! How do you like the garden? Is it not forgotten by time?" Shirley questioned. Maxim walked over to one of the plants and picked the flower off of the plant.

"Ah! A gorgon flower, it reminds me of Medusa. I made a promise to her and I intend to keep it! That is why I am after the empire. They must die!" Maxim informed Shirley as he remembered his promise.

"Yes! He is very determined; he may very well be our last ray of hope. I must merge with him; I will become a part of him." She thought to herself as the Minotaur stared at the other three one at a time.

"Hey! Maxim you might want to watch this!" Shirley exclaimed as she sprinted toward the Minotaur.

Maxim turned to face Shirley who was sprinting straight for the Minotaur. Maxim was again baffled; he didn't understand Shirley's actions. Shirley stretched her head forward straight into the Minotaur's stomach as the Minotaur absorbed her into his body. As he absorbed her he was pushed back toward a wall. Maxim hit the wall with a large impact. He laid, against the wall unconscious for a few minutes as Shirley shoved her way out of his mouth like sputtering water from a faucet. Shirley appeared to be water or some kind of smoke looking creature as she came from his mouth. Maxim regained his conscious, slowly rose to his hooves and rubbed his muzzle to find out he was bleeding.

"What did you do, and what for?" Maxim questioned in a harsh, angry voice.

"Yes it worked! I was inside of you!" Shirley exclaimed to the baffled Minotaur.

Homer and Maria were also baffled at what they saw as they watched Shirley come from the Minotaur's mouth.

XV - Relaxation

Although shocked at what happen to Maxim, Maria still had to ask her question. "Well I need to go wash; I have had this blood on me since yesterday!" Maria exclaimed to Shirley.

"I agree with your request, Maxim needs a bath too. I can smell his musk!" Shirley exclaimed playfully as she pretended to fanned Maxim's musk away from her nose.

Maxim smiled at Maria and Homer while he gave Shirley a long stare. Shirley guided them to a beautiful vast river as the other three followed her, and told them that they could wash here. Maxim jumped in and the other three did the same. They swum in the river and playfully splashed the water at each other. The four of them were very happy as they relaxed in the cool water of the river. They all decided that this would be a day they would take it easy and do anything to hurt anyone. After they got out of the river, Shirley and the other three walked back to her house. The last remaining light from the sun dried them completely as Shirley told them where they could sleep. The sun reached the horizon as its journey across the sky had ended.

Maxim told the other three that they would have a hard day ahead of them tomorrow. Maxim went to bed, and immediately fell asleep. He dreamed about what would happen tomorrow. He was actually kind of worried for some reason. Homer and Maria knew that Maxim was worried about tomorrow. They didn't understand why. Shirley also knew that the Minotaur was troubled about something. Shirley pondered and pondered about the Minotaur and his dilemma.

"Oh no, I think he will lose his battle tomorrow." She thought as she drifted off to sleep.

XVI - They Prepare to Leave

The sun rose from its slumber to bring light to the once darkened landscape. Shirley was the first one that woke up and she had started cooking breakfast. Maxim was the next one to wake up. He walked into the kitchen to where Shirley was cooking.

"Oh, you're cooking us breakfast?" Maxim questioned as he watched Shirley cook.

"Yes, I have heard that the only thing that you three had was fish." Shirley replied as she looked at the Minotaur's stomach.

Homer and Maria finally walked in as the two were talking.

"Well!" Homer exclaimed as he looked at the food on the table. "I have had fish almost our entire trip!" He stated as he looked at Maxim and Maria.

"I have a question. Do you have any kind of cloth or anything?" Maxim questioned Shirley as he looked down at his loincloth.

"Yes, I might have a little bit around here. Yes in the cabinet, look in there." She stated as her hand pointed toward the cabinet next the door.

Maxim trotted to the cabinet and opened the door. He retrieved the black cloth out of the cabinet and examined it. He tailored it to his needs in just a few minutes. By the time Shirley had finished cooking the food, Maxim had finished his loincloth.

"Let's eat and go. We are wasting time." Maxim reported.

"We will be taking some of this food with us." Shirley replied as she fixed the plates of food.

Maxim walked into the next room and changed. He walked back into the kitchen and sat down at the table. They ate and ate until they were ready to go.

XVII - Reconstitution and the Strange Feeling

"Just give me a few minutes." Shirley said as she walked to her room.

Shirley sat cross-legged as she slowly closed her eyes. The winkles on her face slowly faded away as she gripped her hands tightly. Her hair changed from dull gray to a lustrous black color and finally her worn body straightened up as she finally stood up.

She looked at Maxim and she responded, "How do I look?"

"You look ravishing!" Maxim exclaimed in delight as she put her black robe on. Maria looked at Homer and then at Maxim. "I mean she looks good. Does she not?" Maxim questioned as he looked at Maria.

"I'm not getting mad at you Maxim." Maria stated as she threw a smile toward Shirley. Homer had nothing to do but shake his head.

"Okay let's go!" Shirley stated as she walk to the door.

The four of them walked outside, knowing that this could be their last journey. They still embarked on this journey anyway. Unknowing to the four, The Fates had something in store for them, and it wasn't that cute for either of them. The party did know however, that the next city could be their last. There was also an unpleasant feeling about them. It was like the kind that you get when you about to go on stage or do something in front of a lot of people. One could say that the party was very nervous of what they were about to do.

XVIII - They reach the City's Gates

They traveled until they got to the city's gates and look at the inscription written on top of the gate.

"Welcome to the city of Hamlet." Maxim read the inscription and looked at the other three and looked back at the inscription on the gate.

All of a sudden a warm feeling fell over the Minotaur, Maxim felt empowered by a strange force. He felt ready to conquer the world. Maria noticed a change with the words that Maxim spoke.

"Let's take this city!" Maxim exclaimed in a powerful voice. Maxim rammed into the city's gates and broke through the gates.

XIX - Familiar Events

The gates fell back with a large rumble and Maxim walked into the city only to find it deserted. Maxim was completely confused until he heard a strange voice come from the center of the city.

"Well, Well, Well!" The voice exclaimed as the four walked into the center of the city. Shirley tried to find where the voice was coming from. That was when she knew that it was a trap, the same one used on Amicus.

"Maxim it's a trap. They have fooled us in here, we must run!" She exclaimed as she look around the city's wall. She heard voices coming from the city's circular path of walls.

"How could this be? I have been fooled?" Maxim exclaimed in disbelief, he didn't understand. Maxim clenched his fist and roared in anger. The voice rose up from its hiding place as the Minotaur roared.

"You fool!" He exclaimed as he looked at the captain. The rest of the squad came out on the captain's orders. Shirley, Homer, and Maria were extremely shocked at the sight of troops, more than they could handle.

"Well, I should have known. The exact same way it went the last time." Shirley thought as she looked at the event unfold. "Maxim we must go, they will try to tranquilize you. It is best we run, now!!" Shirley exclaimed as she thought more into the future.

XX - Maxim goes Berserk

"No! I shall not go!" Maxim stated to the other three as he looked at the captain. "Curse you, curse you all. You dare fool me! I shall get my revenge. May, the Gods have mercy on your souls!" Maxim shouted as his overall anger grew. The captain slowly advanced toward the Minotaur; who was in complete anger over the event. "Get away from me, I will kill you." The Minotaur responded as the captain shuffled toward the Minotaur. Maxim swung the axe toward the solider

"Okay! Aren't we the hard headed one?" The captain responded as he backed away from the Minotaur. "I just wanted to talk to you, but hey I can be a fool too. Get him!" The captain shouted as he pointed toward the wall of the city. One of the troops carried a blow-gun.

The solider loaded the gun and pointed toward the enraged Minotaur. Shirley watched in horror as she saw past events unfold once again. Maria and Homer watched in horror as it was their first time. The solider blew into the gun until the dart shot out of it. The dart hit the Minotaur in his neck as it was accompanied by a short flash of blood.

The blood flowed down the Minotaur's neck as he pulled the dart out of his neck. Maxim gave a death stare and clenched his teeth at the captain, as his anger grew till it was unbearable. The Minotaur snarled at the captain and narrowed his eyes dangerously. He got up and ran for the captain with his axe.

"I have told you that I will get my revenge!" Maxim shouted as the axe came down on the captain neck. Maxim roared in delight as the blood of the captain gushed out from the decapitated body and it fell onto the ground. The head of the captain rocketed toward the wall and landed at the soldier's feet. The eyes looked at the solider and the solider looked down at the Minotaur who had killed the captain. Maxim fell on his knees as the captain fell to the ground.

"Well, we better get out of here. We will find him later. The tranquilizer is working. That thing took a long time to work; it didn't take that long for Amicus." Shirley tried to explain to the other two. Maxim gripped the body and ripped it apart as he had kneeled down on the ground. The sounds of the ripping skin, muscles, and bones were not too pleasing. Blood from the captain's body drenched the Minotaur. The organs of the captain fell down to the ground as he ripped apart the captain. Maxim resulted in eating the body after he ripped it in two. He first ate the heart and then started on the rest of the organs. After he ate the organs, he ate the muscles and then finished with the rest. The tranquilizer slowly made him fall asleep as he collapsed on ground.

XXI - The cost of Maxim's Rage

Maria, Shirley, and Homer spirited out of the city gates and into the forest, and the one with the blow-gun jumped down from the city's wall and slowly approached the Minotaur's motionless body. His rank had change and he was now the captain.

"He's dead asleep and what a mess!" He exclaimed as he looked down at the Minotaur's blood soaked body. "Load him up, and let's get out of here now!" He expressed as he looked toward the sky.

Now there were two questions that needed to be answered. What will happen to Maxim and what will happen to the others? Maxim was now on his way to Mesotempia, there to work for the rest of his life. Homer, Maria and Shirley had a new task upon them, to find Maxim.