Four Nations: Chapter One
My world is split up into four nations, the one I come from is full of humans, there's one to the west of us full of foxes, the nation is known as Vulpini, they are known for their knowledge with magic and being relatively quick on their feet. Then there is one far to the south filled with felines, its known as Felinae, their quite skilled hunters and warriors. Then there's a fourth far up north filled with monsters, no one of the three nations dare go there. I am known as Cethin, I am a Dark Knight, but I am the castle guard trainer, I teach the rookies how to fight. "Okay rookie," I called out, "give me all you got, don't hold back." The soldier nodded and held the training sword with both hands and sprinted towards me. He jumped up and brought his sword down, but I dodged it. "You can't hit a opponent with slow moves, try using a quicker move." I told him. He held the training sword with both hands and ran at me with all effort in it. He swung the sword to my left, but I caught it. "Good," I said, "continue practicing." He went to a training dummy and began practicing.
I went to leave, when the castle messager ran into me, he stumbled back onto his haunches. "Hey, you okay?" I held my hand out to lift him back to his feet. "Yes, milord, I was actually looking for you." "Oh? What for?" I asked. He replied quickly, "The king would like to see you."
"Do you know what for?" I asked.
"No, I don't, sorry." He replied.
I handed to messager a small bag of golden coins. The currency the kingdom uses are coins made out of different metals, copper, silver, and gold. Copper being least valuable and gold being most valuable. I walked into the castle, before walking into a four way hallway, I looked to my right seeing a few light mages with their faces crammed into books, most of them female. Looking to my left, I saw a couple dark wizards, also mostly females._ Why are most woman associated with magic now? I seem to be one of the few men left in this world who still has something to do with magic..._ I push the thought away and continue to the throne room.
Before entering the throne room, my someone ran into me. I looked down and saw my brother Nickolas. "Sorry brother, didn't see you there." I said. I held my hand out to pull him back up. "No," he said, "It's my fault, I wasn't paying attention." My brother was a skilled medic, he could tell you what a herb was and what it did without even looking at it. "How's mother?" I asked.
"She's still not getting any better." He said sadly, "No matter how many or what herbs I use, her fever won't go away, and just today she had a coughing fit. I think I saw blood." Mother was extremely ill, she recently caught some disease and hasn't gotten any better, each day her illness gets worse. She may not make it. "Anyway," he said, "I need to go, there are many ill soldiers I need to see to, bye." He ran by me and waved back to me. I waved to him and went into the throne room, The king looked at me and said, "Ah, Cethin, I've been wanting to see you." I walked up to him and bowed.
"My liege." I said, "What is it you need me for?"
"Scouts have just reported finding a strange ruin just inside the Mist Forest, I'd like you to see what is inside." He replied. I looked up and asked, "Did they report what I may find inside?"
"They said a few possible monsters but no less. I have faith you'll know what to do." He said.
I nodded then left the throne room. Walking out of the castle, a soldier stopped me. "Sir, the village to the east is being attacked, we need all able bodies to go there at once."
"Mist village, right?" I asked. He nodded and ran into the castle. The forest was just beyond the village so a short stop shouldn't do any harm. Although, it's been a few years since the last monster raid, what is making them attack now? I hurry to the village, or whats left of it, most of the buildings were burnt down. There were war cry's of monsters everywhere. Looking around, I could see a few goblins through the smoke and flames. One of them was wearing a horned hat._ Must be the chief, if I get rid of him..._ A goblin jumped onto my back, a jammed his knife towards my neck, but the armor I am wearing just made his blade bounce back.
I shook him off and drew my blade and shoved it straight into its chest. I pulled out my blood stained sword and ran toward the goblin leader. I jammed the blade into its back and piercing its heart. It fell down yelling random phrases I can't make out. The other creatures noticed their dead leader and ran into the forest. The village was in shambles but the residents were hopefully safe. I continued down the path and into the forest.
Damn mist, it's really hard to see... I wonder on the path for another hour, it was beginning to get dark. I stumble on a large stone and hit my head against a large rock._ Ow, dammit!_ I put my hand to my head to see if I was bleeding, and no surprise, I was. I hope there aren't any beast monsters in there. Monsters were classified in different kinds such as, beast, humanoid, insect, and so on. Beast monsters have exceptionally good scent, so if I go in there, I'll need to be careful.
I slowly walked down a set of stairs and come across a stone doorway. This has to be the ruins the king was talking about. I pushed it open, "Who's there?" I heard a voice call out._ There's someone down here?_ Might be a bandit, need to be on guard. I slowly walk towards the voice, "I smell human blood! Oh shit, someone knows were here!"_ Why would the voice refer to me as human unless, must be from one of the other nations. _
I looked around a corner, it was dark in the ruin so my armor blended in well. I could make out... one, two, three tails._ Must be from the Vulpini nation._ They have better vision in the dark, but I'm not worried. I walk towards the multi-tailed fox. He turned around, but I was already within reaching distance of him. I grab him by the back of the neck and hold him down. I hold a torch near him to get a better look at the kitsune.
Three tails, covered head to toe with white fur, "Let me go!" he yelped. I looked around but no one else seemed to be here, must've been trying to intimidate me. He was wearing bandit armor. "A lone bandit, here in a human nation? What're you thinking?" I asked. He scoffed, "You'd think I'd let you humans get the treasure for yourselves?"
"Treasure?" I asked. He swears under his breathe. I look around and see a pointed spike stick out of the wall. "Considering your here," I said, "you must have been chased out of the Vulpini nation, am I right?" He didn't budge. "Then no one will miss you." I pick him back up and slam his head into the spike. Blood poured from his forehead and down his body. Looking at his blood soaked body, Why is a Kitsune here? So far out of his own nation...
I continue to wonder further into the ruins and come across a small room. In the middle of the darkened room, there's a sword stuck in some stone. "Draw... the blade... dark knight..." I look around, "Who's there?" I call out. "Draw... the... sword..." Suddenly I couldn't control my body, on it's own, I slowly walk towards the sword. No matter how much I fought back I couldn't regain control. My hand wrapped around the hilt of the sword. I pulled the sword out of the rock then the room began to glow a blinding light.
When the light died down I heard someone laugh, "Gahah! I'm free at last!" I looked up and saw a monstrous figure with a dark aura surrounding him. "Who are you?" I cried out.
He replied, "I am the darkness that lies within the soul of every living being. I am known as Ahriman!" He suddenly vanished. The ground began to shake and the ruins began to crumble. With all my strength put into my legs I quickly run straight out of the ruins with a giant boulder collapsing behind me. Strange, where's all the mist?" Looking behind me is when I noticed a tower, stretching beyond to clouds. I pull out the blade that I drew from the stone, it obviously had some kind of seal on that... thing.
I hurry back to the castle to deliver my news to the king.