Magick Tale

[kirinelf]

Well, I'm not sure myself what this fanfic falls into or if it's even a fanfic. More like this huge sprawling crossover. XD Some characters from Groove Adventure RAVE, that I know for sure. I dunno. I wrote this story around two years ago, so I doubt it's THAT good. Still, read and review, guys! XD

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Magic is unbelievable, all the more so because the results of it seem unreal or fantasy-like. Many people think that magic is but a trick, a mere illusion designed to prey on the unwary. However, others believe that there is true magic, which exists within each person. I am one of the latter.

There are many stories about magic. Some include cute little fairies, others have towering dragons. Some types of magic require wands and strange chants or incantations; others use staffs and beautiful sounding words.

However, not all magic require these ?helping hands?. There are some types of magic that require no more than a thought, or a slight hand gesture. This type, or types, of magic, is called Old Magic. Another type of magic, which confers control over wild animals, is called the Wild Magic. The former calls upon the forces of the elements and those which create the world, the latter utilizes the strength of the wild, and all untamed places.

This story shall cover the above two, and maybe help readers understand that magic need not be far away and unreachable, but can be as close to you as your heart or mind. So it? begins.

[kirinelf]

It was a gray dreary day at the Glory residence. Sixteen-year-old Haru Glory was relaxing on his front porch when he heard a cry behind the house. ?What the heck??? he muttered, momentarily dazed by the cry. Suddenly, he came alert. Being an avid watcher of fighting movies, he recognized the cry as a battle-cry.

Quickly leaping to his feet, he ran behind. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. Before him was a true sword fight, like those he had seen on the anime shows.

?You?re? You?re kidding me!? he said out loud.

A smallish figure was clashing blades with a tall human, their blades ringing with each slash and parry. The small figure didn?t look too human, for he was barefoot, with a short cloak that billowed behind him as he moved expertly to counter each attack the taller human threw at him. His ears were long and pointed at the tips, and his face when he turned was small, contorted with concentration.

Suddenly, the taller human lashed out with a foot, tripping the small figure. He fell, but continued to fight his battle on the ground, although it seemed the battle was lost. The tall human bore down, using his weight to press down on his enemy, tiring him as Haru watched.

As the battle raged on, the hood of the figure fell back, revealing a startling fact: the smaller being was a girl! Or at least, a female of whatever she was.

Haru was shocked into action. It was against his nature to bully others, size or gender-wise. ?Hey! Cut that out!? he shouted. He picked up a rock and threw it at the human.

The rock struck the human on the head, sending him reeling back. The female grasped her advantage with both hands, so to speak, and thrust up with her short blade. Her blade pierced through the other?s leg, causing him to fall with a gasp of pain.

But before she could finish off her foe, he made a gesture in her direction, freezing her in place. He stood back with a laugh, somehow managing to control the pain he must have felt.

?You may think you have escaped me? But you will never be able to.? His voice sounded ethereal and cold, cold to the bone where Haru was standing.

To his horror, he then turned towards where Haru was. ?And you?I will remember you too, brat.? He curled his lip at the pair of them, the female being frozen by whatever it was, Haru by fear.

?You bastard, Dytraid! Even if you kill me, my spirit will come back and gnaw at you! The Old Magic will never allow your defilement of it!?

The words came from the girl, her voice high and clear in the still air. She sneered at the human, Dytraid. ?Remember my name, Dytraid, for when death comes knocking at your door, it will be my vengeance! Remember me, Arlisenda!?

Dytraid threw his head back and gave a throaty laugh. ?Very well, lady.? He said mockingly. ?I will remember your name. And you will remember mine, Periath.?

He made a gesture at the ground, then seemed to sink under it, leaving behind a silence broken only by the girl?s (Arlisenda?s?) struggles to get free.

?Hey you!?

Haru looked around, then remembered the girl. ?Yeah?? he asked.

?Can you please? c?mere and get me outta this?!?

?Oh? yeah!? he snapped back into alertness, running over to the girl as she struggled against the invisible ropes seeming to bind her. He stopped short.

?But what can I do?? he asked.

She rolled her eyes. ?How would I know? Do something for this Periath?s sake!?

?What?s a Periath??

?You humans wouldn?t know, would you?? she muttered. ?We Periath are the little folk. Smaller than you humans, at any rate. Also, we at least give out names!? She directed a scathing glare at Haru.

?Okay, since you insist, my name?s Haru. Haru Glory.? He couldn?t help grinning at the feisty Periath.

?And mine?s Arlisenda. Call me Arli. Call me Senda and I?ll rip you limb from limb. Now can you please get over here and gimme a hand?!? She renewed her struggling.

Haru went over to her. Slowly, he put out a hand. To his astonishment, he touched something solid encircling her. That reminded him of the sinister human.

?Arli, who was that guy?? he asked.

Arlisenda rolled her eyes, muttering something about humans? inability to concentrate on the task at hand. ?Why should you know?? she asked.

Haru grinned. ?Fine, have it your way. But if you don?t tell me, then I would have no idea how to help you. See you around!? He turned to walk away.

He hid a grin as he heard the Periath?s grumblings behind him.

?Okay! Okay already!? she finally said. ?As long as you c?mere and get me outta this!?

Haru turned to face her. ?Deal. But what if I dunno how to get you out of that??

Arlisenda grimaced. ?Let?s not think about that. But if that happens, then I want you to call out the words, ?Hiryu Mellon Arlisenda!??

?Why can?t you shout them yourself? I ain?t gonna be standing around shouting out nonsense!? retorted Haru.

?You really are stupid aren?t you?? came the reply. ?What are you talking to right now human??

Only then did Haru actually see what he was doing, talking to a creature that looked like it was out of the tale The Lord of the Rings as if it was completely normal and just witnessing a human being absorbed by the earth, as well as immobilizing the aforementioned Periath without even touching her.

?Good point...? he said, scratching his head. ?But that doesn?t explain why you can?t call them out yourself!?

Arlisenda rolled her eyes in despair. ?Stop being so dull! Stop your ears and see whether you can still hear me!?

Haru obediently covered his ears, smirking a bit at the thought that this Periath obviously doesn?t know much about physics or science. How was he supposed to hear if his ears were covered?

To his surprise, he heard Arlisenda?s voice in his head. ?See what I mean? I?m using mindspeech. I can?t move my entire body, let alone my mouth. Those words have to be shouted out, and I can?t do it! If you really can?t do it, then shout it out! Remember, ?Hiryu Mellon Arlisenda!??

?I must be going mad...? thought Haru. Still, he went over, noticing as he did so that the Periath was grubby, with dirt all over her. Shrugging, he crouched down to her level, and cautiously put out a hand to touch her. Again he encountered whatever it was, binding her to her spot, unable to move. He rolled up his sleeves, and slid his hand through a small hole he found, around the Periath?s back.

As he worked, Arlisenda began to work on her end of the bargain. She told Haru about the human, Dytraid.

?You call him human, but he is not one. Humans have hearts, even if they are sometimes hidden below deep feelings. Other beings too have hearts. Even we Periath are but a form of human, albeit with different roots.

?This being calls himself Dytraid, and he is an inhuman beast. He has no heart, believing that to attain immortality he must possess no heart. He has killed many, stealing their life force for his own. In your reckoning, he would be well over five hundred years, with most of them being stolen from others. He seeks to rule the world, killing any who oppose him. He is master of the Old Magic, which is what he used to stop me. He never uses it without good reason though, for each casting of the Old Magic takes something from the user, draining him of the years he has left in the world. However, he has not much in his way, for he can always drain more years off of another.

?He slew my parents, my friends, almost the entire Periath population. However, we Periaths are hardy warriors, and we rallied together to force him out of our land. I pursue him, for revenge. I brought him to bay here, at the border of the human realm. We fought, I for the sake of my friends and family, and for the lives and vengeance of the beings that fell to him; he for himself, his life, and for his dream of ruling the world. I think you know the rest.?

As the tale was told, Haru felt his anger, long held dormant, rising. His anger gave him renewed strength, and he ripped off the invisible ropes binding Arlisenda. As he looked up, he saw tears rolling down the warrior?s rigid cheeks.

Without thinking, he pulled her into a rough embrace. ?Don?t worry, Arli. We?ll bring him to justice, for the lives that he took,? he said, surprising even himself, not to mention the Periath girl, who returned his embrace, shyly at first, then more and more furiously, reaching out for another?s compassion.

Then, she pulled away from him. ?C?mon...? she said, not using mindspeech now. Her voice was gruff. ?I gotta go find him.?

?Wait,? said Haru. ?I need to get something inside. And... and tell my folks something.?

Arlisenda looked at him in surprise. ?But... but you?re not coming??

Haru grinned. ?Try and stop me. I have no idea why, but I loathe the idea that he lives still. Wait a sec...? He turned and ran into his house, leaving the Periath scrubbing at her tears, then brightening as she saw a small stream behind Haru?s house. She ran to it, first looking carefully around, then stripping and washing herself, all the while keeping her keen senses alert.

Inside his house, Haru was facing a dilemma. He loved his parents, and now he had to leave them on a quest that he didn?t know much about. He didn?t think that they would let him go with their blessing.

However, he soon found out something startling: His parents knew about the Periaths! Even more astonishing then that, they knew about and loathed Dytraid. ?Go and aid them.? said his father. ?Do not falter on the road, if you wish to go. The family name of Glory lies on your shoulders.?

?But how..??

?The Periath are our friends. Long ago, when I was lost in the woods, they came, and led me back home. We have been friends ever since. And we will not keep you from this quest, for I am glad of this chance to fulfill my debt.? He gestured at his wife.

She nodded. ?Wait here, Haru. I have something for you that could help.? She went down a flight of stairs he had never taken much notice of, and returned carrying something that was shrouded in cloth. ?Here. Tell the Periath, Arlisenda was it? Tell her to teach you how to use it.? She handed the mysterious bundle to her son.

Taking it, he made to open it, but his mother stopped him. ?Not here. Later.? She said.

Haru nodded, and packing up a few essentials, he set out the door, to a new unknown.

?Farewell? our son?? murmured his parents behind him. ?Farewell??

Unseen by Haru, Sakura raised her hand. ?Noro go h?l, bado go Eru...? she muttered. ?Run with the wind, go with God.?

A small shower of stars cascaded around her upraised hand. Unseen by Haru, the bundle he held began to glow.

?Nam?ri?... Farewell...?

[kirinelf]

As he went out the door, he saw an unfamiliar figure standing in the distance, under the big tree that graced his family’s driveway. She was beautiful, but smallish. Flaming hair fell to her waist, and she was slender as a young birch. Haru couldn’t make out any details, but he felt there was something familiar in the way she held herself. Then, he noticed that Arlisenda was missing.

He ran over to the figure. “Who are y.....” he began, then his mouth fell open as she turned to face him. “A... Arli?”

The girl grinned. “Leave your jawbones unhinged any longer and it’ll hit the ground!” She said, giggling.

She was still wearing the clothes she was wearing in the fierce battle between her and Dytraid, but she had washed it and herself, cleaning the rest of the travel grime off her.

Her hair shone in the dying sun, her eyes sparkled sapphire blue. Her small face was finely chiseled, with high cheekbones hinting at a noble-born status. Her eyes held the depth of her sorrow and rage, with a daredevil look in them. She was beautiful in every sense of the word.

Haru couldn’t believe his eyes. Here was the Periath who had fought off a being whose reputation stretched across all of Eon, who had watched her parents being murdered, and who had been bind by ropes unseen. This was the Periath who had stared death in the eye, and walked away unharmed. One would expect one who had endured such perils to be as hard as diamond, and he sensed that she was, but her exterior was soft as melted butter, until you went deeper, and met her core of steel and diamond melded.

Arlisenda squirmed, uncomfortable under his stare. “What?” she muttered.

Haru shook his head, snapping out of his trance. “N... Nothing...” he said. “C’mon. We gotta go find him...”

“You sure you wanna come along? The road will be long...”

Haru nodded decisively. “Yeah. And my mom gave me this...” He unraveled the cloth around the mysterious object.

As the cloth fell away, he caught his breath. In his hands lay a magnificent sword, runes adorned its blade, rubies and diamonds were encrusted in the hilt. A large clear orb was encrusted into the pommel. A sheath was beside it, inlaid with gold and silver, with the sword’s name engraved along its side: Orenar.

Arlisenda gaped too. “Orenar... That means ‘Heartfire’ in the old tongue... You say your mother gave you the blade?”

“Yeah.... she said it would come in useful. You think...?”

“That you would have to fight Dytraid? Nah... Don’t think so. If anything, I would be the one who will fall him...” She gazed off into the distance, her eyes glazed and unfocused.
Haru, however, remained practical. “How d’you think she got it? I mean, I don’t think she is the warrior type....”

Arlisenda nodded. “Yeah... well, I dunno the ways of humans. Ask me anything about Periaths but not about humans!”

Haru shrugged. “Fine by me. Still, it makes me wonder...”

It did indeed. Haru had always thought of his mother as your average everyday mom, cooking and cleaning and doing whatever it was that moms do. Now, she had suddenly unveiled a sword! Where had she got it from? He shook his head, marveling at all the things that had come into his world today. First, there was the skirmish between Arlisenda and Dytraid, where he had first seen a swordfight and a Periath. Next, his parents had revealed a hidden aspect of themselves that he had never seen, indeed, even suspected, with his mom giving him a weapon that was obviously very well tended, without a single word of warning. Now, the Periath turned out to be a stunning specimen, so to speak, and he was off on a quest without even thinking twice. Well, he was committed now. As his father said, the family name was his responsibility now.

Haru steeled his shoulders and turned to face the Periath girl. “C’mon, let’s go.”

****************

Haru was impressed with the pace Arlisenda set up. Well, more exhausted than impressed. His feet were dragging on the road, his head hung low. “Where can we rest…?” he muttered, energy sapped to the point that even raising his voice was an effort.

Arlisenda looked back and shook her head. “I’m starting to wonder if I should have left you behind,” she said.

Haru hung his head even lower, if that was possible. “But I’ve never been on a journey this long!” he retorted.

“Get used to it. Who knows when we’ll find Dytraid…” she answered. “Besides, you need to train more. You wouldn’t last two seconds with him, even with his hands tied behind his back.”

A huge bead of sweat appeared behind Haru’s head.

“Anyway, to answer your question, we’ll stay the night there.” She pointed to a small wooden shack, old and crumbling.

“There…?!”

WHACK!!

“Ow….”


“Hyah!” Haru leapt up, swinging Orenar down in a powerful overhead smash.

Clang! Arlisenda blocked it without even turning around.

“That’s right; advertise your actions for the world to hear why don’t you? Pathetic…” she said. With a sudden whirl, she spun round, silent as a wolf, her blade spinning out and stopping right before Haru’s chest.

Haru’s face registered surprise at his partner’s swift attack, then relaxed. He stood back and laughed. “Alright, I admit, I could use the training. What plans do you have?”

Arlisenda’s face showed a sly expression. “Well…what would you do if someone laughs at you for being beaten by a girl half your size?”

Haru thought about it. “Well, they would have to be very brave since I’m the one with the sword. Otherwise, I’ll just beat the crap outta them.”

Arlisenda’s eyes narrowed. “And what if it was Dytraid?”

Haru pondered. "Well... I'll just... I dunno..."

Arlisenda rolled her eyes. "C'mere, and I'll show you. Hold the sword with your dominant hand right below or only slightly below the crossguard. That's right. Now, grip the very bottom of the grip with your other hand. No! Not the pommel! Right above it. A bit lower, that’s right. Now, look at that tree there. Hold your sword so its pommel is pointing at your thigh, with the tip aiming for your opponent’s throat. Let’s see…. Aim at that branch there. Good! Now, swing downwards, but don’t use your own strength. Let gravity work for you. On a side note, don’t grip the sword so tightly. Hold it loosely so you don’t waste energy.”

They continued like that, with Haru trying to do as Arlisenda said; and Arlisenda demonstrating with her blade. Finally, they called a halt, and returned into the shack.

“What the…!” Haru was blushing to the roots of his silver hair. “We’re gonna sleep together?!”

Arlisenda nodded. “Yeah.” She noticed her companion’s crimson face. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything to you and you wouldn’t survive another second if you pull anything on me.”

Only slightly reassured, Haru nevertheless balked before Arlisenda’s fierce stare and laid down, and was asleep in an instant.

Arlisenda smiled as she observed the sleeping young youth. He was so confident and outspoken, but she sensed that he was nervous, and didn’t know what to do. She had never considered herself beautiful before, but the look Haru had given her when he had returned carrying Orenar… It had raised something in her, something she had never felt. She shivered. But then a hard look returned into the warrior maiden’s eyes. Dytraid owed her a life, and she was not going to rest until she had claimed that debt. For now, she would relax.

From within the folds of her shirt, she drew a small flute. Placing it to her small delicate lips, she began to play. A haunting melody threaded through the thin night air. Arlisenda closed her eyes. The song was a lament to all the slain, the victims of Dytraid. As it rose through the air, Arlisenda threw herself fully into the song, subtly changing it. It became more personal, and any passer-by would have felt as though his or her heart was being wrenched. The pain and anger, the sadness and fury that wove itself in and out of the song, the feeling and emotion poured into it, this was Arlisenda’s personal mourning farewell, as she said farewell to her parents once more.

Every night she played, saying farewell to her parents again, as her mind revived the pictures it had stored. Like a cinema reel, it replayed itself in her mind over and over again, how they had begged her to leave by the back door as Dytraid slaughtered his way to them, how her father had attacked Dytraid in the hope of stalling him long enough for her to escape, how her mother had been killed by an icicle stabbed through her heart. She remembered the words that her mother had said in the Old Tongue before her last breath left her: “Onen I-estel Arlisenda, u-chebin estel anim...”

She heard it every night, the words ringing in her head. ‘I gave hope to Arlisenda, I have kept none for myself.’ They haunted her, how her parents sacrificed themselves hoping she would escape. But she didn’t. She did not wish to live as an exiled Periath, as a runaway. She mustered the remaining Periaths, and they charged Dytraid. With nothing left to lose, they fought with the ferocity of possessed beings, advancing and advancing and never looking back. Tears fell from the maiden’s clear emerald eyes, as her song sounded high and mournful over the slight rustling of the leaves blown by the night breeze.

The tendrils of the sweet lament slid into Haru’s sleep and dreams. He stirred softly, and opened his eyes. His eyes widened at the sight of the lovely Periath pouring her soul into her music, her tears falling unheeded. The music lifted him up, sending his heart into flames, reaching into his inner soul; it brought tears into his eyes.

Arlisenda continued playing until deep into the night, as Haru secretly listened, his tears mingling on the ground with hers as they both mourned the passing of Dytraid’s victims. Then, as suddenly as she had started, Arlisenda hid the flute, and laid on the floorboards next to Haru. Haru closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep as Arlisenda blew out the candle, leaving the shack illuminated only by the young moon in the night sky. Then the void of sleep cradled them both, refreshing them for the next day.

[kirinelf]

This continued in more or less the same vein for a week, traveling and searching for Dytraid and any remaining Periaths by day, training and practicing, as well as sleeping by night. Regardless of rain or sun, they continued, searching for survivors of Dytraid’s massacre, as well as searching for the big fish himself. Haru too, continued to secretly watch Arlisenda’s mourning at night before she slept, and he secretly named it the Beautiful Sadness. He also got used to sleeping with Arlisenda, sometimes in the most intimate of positions as they holed down in a small hollow or in a single bed room. And his skill with the sword increased with each session.

But on the seventh day, as they were walking along a path, Haru suddenly threw himself to one side, catching Arlisenda on his way.

“What the...?” she stuttered, in imitation of Haru a week ago when he first saw Arlisenda.

“Shh...” Haru shushed her. “Look there...”

Arlisenda looked in the way he indicated, and caught her breath. Galloping across the road was a mythical animal that not even she had seen before.

The rising light of the dawn sun caught the flowing mane of the unicorn as it galloped past them. Its horn was angled in defiance of being tamed, cloven hooves striking the ground in a melodious rhythm; the white tail flew out behind its rump as it ran. But most beautiful of all was its eyes, its liquid eyes, like moonlight solidified, like diamond liquefied.

Haru lifted one arm and pointed. “Look...” he murmured.

Blood streamed from a wound in the unicorn’s silvery white flank, staining the ground silver and crimson. The twin streams of blood wound around an arrow shaft, buried deep in the unicorn’s side.

“Wounded... But who would wound a unicorn?” muttered Arlisenda. But Haru had gone.

“Haru? Haru!”

Haru streaked across the road, moving like greased lightning. Reaching the unicorn, he threw out a hand. “Stop! Tell me your problems cousin, and mayhap I shall be able to aid you!” he cried.

The unicorn halted, breathing heavily. Then, to Haru’s and Arlisenda’s surprise, it spoke. “Thy kind did this to me! Why should I stop for one such as thee?”

Its voice was like its eyes, gentle, but at the moment full of sadness and anger.

Haru stepped forward again. “We humans are not all the same. Some of us are, evil and conceited, Alas! They kill all who do not believe in their ways, and want nothing more than to rule. However, some others do not think alike, and wish only for all humans and living creatures to live in harmony.”

“But those such as thee are few and far between. How should I know that I am able to trust thee as thou says?”

“You have my word,” said Arlisenda, stepping out of her cover. “I am not human, however alike I seem. I vouch for this human, that you may trust him.”

The unicorn turned its noble head to look at her. “Ah... a Periath. I have heard of the tales of the little folk, and I am glad that I am able to meet one before my end.”

It turned its head back towards Haru. “Very well. Tell me how thy wish to heal me of this wound created by your kind.”

“I do not know much of the art of healing. But the Periath here is a traveler, shorn from her kind, and she may know the ways to heal you.”

Arlisenda stared in wonder at Haru. In the week that had passed since they had met, Haru had seemed no different than that first time, cheerful, joking, and a bit dumb, or one could say innocent. Now, as he stood before the noble unicorn, he seemed different, more like a nobleman’s son than a peasant’s. He held his head high, gazing deep into the unicorn’s eyes. His bearing seemed to radiate a powerful aura, while Orenar, strapped onto his back glowed golden.

“I may. However, I do not know the anatomy of equines, and my knowledge may not be right. My first step would be to remove the arrow....” she said. Haru nodded, and stepped forth.

However, as he tried to remove the arrow, the unicorn shied away, screaming a horse’s scream, which is one of the most terrible things in the world to hear.

“No! Do not remove the arrow! The head is barbed, and removal of the shaft shall destroy my body! Foolishness! Did thou not think, even for a second, that I will not remove the arrow of my own accord?”

“Barbed?!”

Now this was serious. Shooting a unicorn without reason was bad enough; using a barbed arrow was death-seeking. Orenar started to rattle as Haru barely contained his fury.

Suddenly, there was a burst of light. A sound like a blade being pulled from its scabbard sounded, as Orenar burst out of its scabbard. Haru reached up, palm up, as his sword swung around, catching it neatly by the grip as it came spinning back down.

Arlisenda shook her head. How many more times was Haru going to amaze her? She surmised that Haru had been secretly practicing every night every since she had taught him the basic maneuvers. Orenar had more power than even she realized, as it had shown by glowing whenever Haru’s emotions got too powerful, its soul connected with its wielder.

Haru, on his part, was literally shaking with anger. He had no idea where his anger came from, as he hadn’t even known the unicorn that long. All he knew was that at that moment, he would like nothing better than to rip the guts out of the guy who shot the unicorn. “My friend, rest assured that I will find the one who did this, and bring him to justice. Arli,” he beckoned to the girl. “Come and do what you can for him. I’m going hunting...” There was a strange glint in his eye as he said so.

“Wait just a minute! Where do you think you’re going now? It’s night already!”

Haru looked around. It was true. Night had fallen, and the only light was from the full moon above and the glow of Orenar, as well as the reflected gleam of the unicorn’s coat and the rivulets of silver and crimson blood flowing down its flank. Luckily, the bleeding had slowed. However, he could tell from the unicorn’s breathing that the pain had not lessened.

“I don’t care,” he said. “Someone out there has shot something innocent, without even the decency to help it out when he saw what it was. Moreover, he used a barbed arrow! You think I’m just gonna let it go?!”

Suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes where they had hidden before. Arlisenda leapt forward. “Get down!” she shouted.

As Haru ducked, an arrow sped over his head, whizzing off into the night. “What the...?!” Orenar burst into flames. “Lhach Rist!”

Haru swung the flaming sword, sending an arc of fire smashing into the bushes. There was a scream, a hoarse shout, then two men leapt out of the bushes, a third one rolling on the floor, trying to put out the flames on his clothing.

The two men drew their bows. The reddish gold light of Orenar glinted off the barbed heads of the arrows.

“Give us the unicorn, demon!” shouted one. “Then we shall kill you, aye, and the Halfling there!”

Haru pointed Orenar at them, as Arlisenda drew her blade.

“No. We shall not hand it over, anymore than we shall stand awaiting death!” shouted the Periath.

“Then die now, cretin!”

The twang of their bows sounded as they released their arrows, barbed heads seeking their flesh to lodge. Moving together, Haru and Arlisenda leapt towards each other, kicking each other’s foot to cannon off in the opposite direction.

The third man finally managed to put out the fire on his clothing, and stood up, a long serrated sword in his hand. “Vermin...” he hissed. “Demon spawn! Children of hell! Die!” He charged forward, swinging his sword.

Haru jumped forward to meet the attack, Orenar blazing in his hand. However, he had under-estimated his foe, as well as being inexperienced.

The man swatted Orenar away, then sliced back with the serrated edge. Only a lucky duck prevented Haru’s head from rolling on the ground. He rolled, catching up the man’s blade and swinging it away from him, then leapt back to catch his breath.

The man laughed; a cruel sound. “You are a mere talented novice! I have years of experience. Now you shall taste the wrath of Tyran! I will burn your skin, so that you will feel the agony of the searing flames!”

Haru closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a gold flame burned in them.

“First, tell me why you want the unicorn that much.”

The man eyed him. “Isn’t it obvious? They’re rare, and what’s rare’s valuable. I’m gonna take that there unicorn and sell it, then I won’t have to work again for the rest of me life!”

Haru swung Orenar, pointing the tip of the rune blade to point at the man. “Not while I’m alive. We are all the same, humans all. Why do we differ so much?”

“Who cares? You’re stupid, that’s all. Now c’mere. Let me put you out of our misery, then I can take back what is mine!” He lunged forward.

Haru didn’t expect the man to attack so fast, and even as he brought his sword swinging up, he knew he was going to be too late.

However, another shorter blade met the attack, throwing the man off balance with a shrewd twist.

“Need some help?” Arlisenda asked, taking a stand beside Haru. Behind her, the two rogues were lying on the ground, blood seeping out and staining the ground. The unicorn stood somewhere off, its breathing labored as it watched the two friends take a stand against one of the boy’s kind.

“Two of you? What are you little miss?” He took in Arlisenda’s beauty, and licked his lips. “You’ll be a fine mistress. Why don’t you join me?” Lust was heavy in his every word.

Arlisenda tossed her head. “Not for all the mushrooms in the world!” she replied. She, like all Periaths, had a passion for mushrooms. She levered her sword.

“Well?”

The man shrugged. “Well, if you don’t want to join me, I’ll just have to kill you.”

With a sudden spinning motion, he threw a small dagger that he had stealthily brought into his hand at Arlisenda.

Haru saw the dagger a split second before it left the man’s hand. “Arli!” he shouted.

Arlisenda’s sharp eyes saw the dagger too, but as she leapt to one side, the dagger meant for her heart was buried in her shoulder. “Argh!” she shouted.

The man grasped his advantage, slashing at Haru while he was distracted. However, the unicorn charged, catching the man in the hand with its sharp horn, impaling it straight through.

The man screamed, even louder than before when Orenar had burnt him. Blood spurted onto the floor, staining the ground crimson.

Haru turned swiftly, Orenar a blinding firebrand in his hand. “Bad move pal!” he shouted, bonfires roaring in his eyes as Orenar split into two flaming blades. “Flaming Retribution!” He brought his blades slashing down, roaring across the man’s chest with the heat of an enraged volcano, leaving a burnt ‘X’ shape in it’s wake.

The man screamed again, a dreadful sound that rose higher and higher until, with a final, ghastly, choking gurgle, he disintegrated into ashes.

Twin streams of flame swirled around Haru’s two blades, as they fused back into a single one. Orenar gleamed gold and red in the dawn sun. Haru blinked. He hadn’t known the extent of the sword’s power, and this release of it wasn’t intended. He also had no idea how long he had been fighting, but he guessed about a few hours, since the sun had begun to rise.

A gasp of pain alerted him to his companion’s status, and he sheathed his blade as he ran to her. “Arli!” He knelt down by her side, carefully, drawing the dagger from her shoulder.

Arlisenda watched Haru unleash the strength of Orenar in wonder, the pain and the dagger in her shoulder momentarily forgotten. The flames lit up the area as if it was day, and she saw the unicorn narrow its eyes as it watched the young man who was her friend.

As Haru checked her over, she brushed him away. “I’ll live. What about the unicorn?”

“Wait. Let me help you,” replied Haru. He bound up her wound, not noticing the small red sparks left in her wound after he was done. The sparks merged with her skin, melding the torn flesh together and holding it firm, fixing it anew. However, no-one knew what had happened.

Haru went over to the unicorn. “How are you? Are you hurt?”

The unicorn shook its head. “Nay. No more hurt than I was before. Who art thou…?” it asked with a kind of respect.

“I am Haru, son of Gale,” replied Haru.

“I am Slivermane, foal of Shadowfleet. Art thou of the Wild?” it asked.

“No. What do you mean of the Wild?”

“The flames that surround thee… They are not normal flames. They have the scent of the Wild. The power that dwells within all things untamed, and the power that resides in the blade that which you wield.”

“Well…. I dunno…” said Haru, taken aback. “My mom gave me this.”

“Thy mother? What is her name?”

“Erm… Sakura…”

“Sakura!” Now it was the Silvermane’s turn to be surprised. “Sakura…” he murmured. He cleared his throat, a funny thing to hear a horse do.

“Haru, son of Gale and Sakura, dost thou speak the truth?”

Haru nodded, speechless for the moment as the gravity of the situation radiating from the unicorn silenced him momentarily. He glanced at Arlisenda, ready to smile off a joke. But Arlisenda was staring at him with her mouth open.

“You never told me your mom was Sakura!” she told him in a fierce whisper.

“That’s ‘cos I didn’t know that she was so important in the first place! Why’s she so important anyway?”

“Sakura is the greatest practitioner of the Wild Magic in the history of time! If you’re her son, then…” she stopped short, her eyes wide as they came to rest on Haru and the magnificent sword on his back.

Silvermane nodded. “The blade that which thy wield, may I see it?” he asked.

Haru nodded again, reaching behind to draw the rune blade from its scabbard. The rising sun caught it, sending rays of bright light glancing off the runes. Flames ran periodically along it, yet they did not catch. The unicorn gasped audibly.

“Orenar! Heartfire!” he said. “The Blade of the Wild!”

Arlisenda smacked a hand to her forehead, then winced at the pain in her shoulder. “I should’ve known! Back when you first got it, I thought it was some fancy of your parents’. Who knew it was true!”

“But what’s Orenar to do with it?” asked Haru.

Arlisenda rolled her eyes. “Haru, Orenar is the sword of the Wild Magic. It gives you power over all things wild, all things not under the control of man, Periath and beings. The fires of the volcano, waters of the sea, winds of the sky, and grounds of the earth all are under its control.”

“Aye. It is said the Abyss Warrior wields it, the warrior from the deep darkness,” added Silvermane. “He overthrew many great warriors. Many fell to Orenar, as he fought for his beliefs.”

“Abyss… Darkness… Does that mean the guy who’s gonna use Orenar is evil?” asked Haru.

“Nay. The Darkness as well as the Light can be used for good. It is only the will of the user that chooses which side to fight on,” replied Silvermane.

“Does… does that mean I am the Abyss Warrior?” asked Haru in awe.

The unicorn inclined his head. “There is only one way to know for certain. Say now: ‘Nin estar Iaothar, Orenar, anno nin tur!’ Then we shall see what befalls us.”

Arlisenda perked up her ears as Silvermane spoke. “Silvermane, do you… do you speak the Old Tongue?”

The unicorn smiled down at her. “Aye, little Periath. We unicorns speak the Old Tongue as humans speak the language they call Latin. Ceremonial, humans call it. We use it as a tongue of songs and poems, as well as to call upon the forces of nature to aid us in our lives. We ourselves are Wild. Therefore, the Old Tongue is embedded in us as well.”

Haru nodded, understanding at least part of it. He grasped Orenaar firmly. “So… here I go!” He took a deep breath. “Nin estar Iaothar, Orenar, anno nin tur!”

As soon as he said it, Orenar burst into flame again, but this time the flame was black, dark as the midnight sky. The flames roared along the blade, then leapt onto his body, twirling all around him, engulfing him in a roaring maelstrom.

Arlisenda watched in awe as the fire folded all around her friend. The heat was intense, but she didn’t move – no, couldn’t move. Her eyes were riveted to the sight of the roaring Wildfire, spinning around Haru like an avenging tornado of flame.

Silvermane nodded, as though his suspicions were confirmed, as they were. “I guessed it would be so…” he muttered.

Haru, for his part, felt a sudden rush of pure energy rush throughout his entire body. His eyes opened wide, exhilarating at the pure power that filled him. His fists clenched and unclenched, Orenar hovered unsupported beside him. All he could see was the eternal flames swirling around him, and on him. Armor appeared wherever the flames touched him, formed by black plates with dancing flames etched on them. Orenar vanished in a flash of fire, reappearing looking slightly different. The runes on the blade now glowed, flashing with an inner fire. Dragons were now entwined around the grip, eyes flashing with the same fire. A black helmet of onyx appeared on is head, with a mouthguard of ruby. Gold vines snaked on his breastplate; gloves of ruby onyx covered his hands. Boots with flaming eagles protected his feet; a cloak the color of crimson blood billowed behind him.

The flames dissipated, leaving the new Abyss Warrior standing in all his glory. Orenar gleamed anew in his mailed hand, a shield black with a crimson cross glittered in the sun.

Haru looked down at his new armor with surprise. Turning to Silvermane, he asked, “Is this what you mean?”

“Aye. Thou art the new Abyss Warrior, and Orenar is your blade. Thou art the Master of the Wild, and we art your subjects.”

Arlisenda looked upon Haru with renewed interest. “I think we can face Dytraid now… hopefully without dying,” she said.

Haru shrugged. “Well, we will see.” He lifted his hand and pointed in the distance. “Here he comes now.”

Arlisenda gasped, whirling around and gazing hard in the distance where he had pointed. A cloud of dust appeared in the distance, accompanied with a low long roar.

Silvermane raised his horned head and narrowed his eyes. “With a dragon.”

Haru nodded, his face grim. “We’ve got company. Big company.”

[kirinelf]

“Hyahh!”

Blades clanged as once again Haru and Arlisenda clashed blades. Haru feinted with a left slash, then moved gracefully into an overhead double-handed chop. Arlisenda however, brought her sword sweeping before her as she leapt back, countering Haru’s attack before dashing in low to the ground and slashing upwards.

The duel lasted a while, neither gaining ground, before they tapped their swords on their shoulders and called a draw.

“You’re getting better, Haru.” said Arlisenda.

“Well, I might be, but Dytraid will be better by now. I’ve only met him once, and I have already seen his power. You almost beat him, but that was after he was beaten by the Periath force. And still he managed to freeze you. What chance do I have?”

“You have the strength of the Wild Magic, and that of Orenar,” she hesitated, then added softly, “And me.”

Haru stole a quick glance at her as she said this. Her face was downcast, staring at the ground; the setting sun caught her long brown hair in a glorious sun shower. She had washed in the river soon after he realized that he was the Abyss Warrior, although now he had reverted back. Her beauty struck him anew again, and he wondered anew at her prowess in battle.

“Anyway,” he said to try and lighten the moment. “How’s your shoulder?”

“Huh?” Arlisenda looked at her shoulder. “I barely even noticed I was wounded!”

She pulled off the crude bindings then gaped at the unblemished skin that met her eyes.

“What… happened to the wound?” she muttered. “It disappeared!”

“The enemy draws closer…” Silvermane stepped behind them unnoticed, drawing attention away from her healed wound.

Both the friends had whirled around, blades out and ready, Orenar glowing with inner flame. The unicorn shook his head. “I am no foe. Your foe lies yonder.” He gestured with his horn at the large mass that lay further out from their position.

Haru shook his head. “I have no idea what happened, but it’s fine now, so let’s concentrate on the battle.” He said. “By the way Silvermane, how’s your wound?”

“It will mend, Iaothar.”

Haru had used the Wild Magic to heal the wound as best as he could, and had carefully burned the arrow away.

Some time had passed since Dytraid had appeared on the horizon. They had decided not to go out and face him directly, but to lead hit & run attacks on the enemy flanks. In between the attacks, they sparred with each other to keep their senses at a keen edge.

Suddenly, a horn sounded at the edge of the forest they were sheltering under. Immediately, the three sprung into battle stances, blades and horn pointing at the edge of the forest. “Are we not safe even here?” muttered Silvermane.

“Hikari Tsuki!” shouted Haru suddenly, firing a beam of light out of Orenar at the canopy above. The light illuminated the area, revealing a group of swords and spears, glinting off bows and arrows. However, the warriors seem extraordinarily short.

Arlisenda gave a shout of recognition. “I knew I recognized that horn call! It’s the Peria Council! The remaining soldiers of the Periath! They must have tracked me after they realized I was missing!” She ran forward, calling out.

A single figure stepped forward, and answered. “Arlisenda, daughter of Frena! We’ve found you at last! Hail, Queen of Periaths!”

Haru gaped. Silvermane blew out of his nostrils.

“What?” blushed Arlisenda. “Just ‘cos I didn’t tell you my father was the King of the Periaths…”

Haru gaped even more. Silvermane nudged him. “Close thy mouth, Iaothar. It does not pay to be so easily surprised.”

Haru closed his mouth, then stepped forward. Immediately, the Peria Council surged forward in a protective circle around Arlisenda, swords and spears leveled by those in front, those behind drew their bows.

“Hold back!” Arlisenda barked a sharp order.

Reluctantly, the Periaths lowered their weapons.

“This is Haru, my friend. Do not harm him, on pain of death!”

Haru had never heard Arlisenda speak with such authority, and he observed her out of the corner of his eye. He noticed, to his amusement, that he was not the only one. Many of the Peria Council were also looking at her, obviously besotted by her beauty. He also saw that the Peria Council also consisted of females, although after watching Arlisenda fight he had had no sexist thoughts.

In all the commotion of the arrival, he failed to notice another new arrival. A strange unicorn had cantered up, and was standing patiently next to Silvermane, waiting for introductions.

Haru turned to the unicorn, noting that this unicorn had a spiral horn instead of a straight one like Silvermane. Then, as he got closer, the horn started to glow. The bearer of the horn turned towards him, and he saw with a shock that the unicorn’s eyes were of a deep black. It was then that he noticed that the unicorn’s coat was of a deep black, like his armor in Abyss mode. He took a step back.

Silvermane turned, sensing his sudden movement. “Haru, this is Iamenel. She is the elder of unicorns. And, as you have seen, she is black, the steed of the abyss.”

Iamenel gazed deep into Haru’s blue eyes. Then, to his astonishment, she did the closest thing to a bow that a unicorn could do, bending her front legs down. “My lord…” Her voice was soft and low, like the smooth velvet of night. “My lord Ia. I am here to serve thee; the unicorns are under thy command.”

Silvermane bowed too, then standing up, he gestured with his horn to the eaves of the wood, further along than where the Peria Council had appeared. A herd of unicorns were clustered together, their white coats reflecting the setting sun.

Arlisenda went and stood beside Haru as he gazed out at his newfound allies. A bird flew overhead, piping a mournful song. Arisenda sighed, and without thinking, she slipped her hand into Haru’s. To her surprise, he returned her grip, tentatively at first, then more firmly. The two of them gazed out at Dytraid, who had amassed a huge army.

“This will be a hard battle…” said Haru, half to himself. “And I still can’t kill in cold blood…”

Arlisenda squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry. In battle, death is no one’s fault. You won’t be killing in cold blood, you’ll be killing in hot blood!” She grinned up at him.

Haru smiled grimly. “Orenar and I will have a lot work to do ere this is over at last, and Dytraid is vanquished…”

Arlisenda leapt up, and caught him in a hug, surprising even herself. “You silly idiot!” she scolded, hugging him close. “Don’t worry about all that. We’ll win this, for sure!”
Haru blinked, then laughed, a deep warm sound. He hugged her in return, then gently lowered her. As Arlisenda was lowered, she felt the muscles in Haru’s back ripple, and thought about how much the boy she had known had grew. In the week that they had been together, the boy had become a man, and her feelings had grown, more than she had known.

Haru, on his part, wondered what had caused Arlisenda to act like that. Not that he minded. Feeling Arlisenda’s lithe body against him, he wished that he could have held her longer, but he knew that he couldn’t force himself onto her.

The two of them stood side by side, their feelings and emotions hidden.

[kirinelf]

Haru swung Orenar, slicing a zombie in two. However, the zombie just stood back up, each half attacking him.

“Duck!”

Haru ducked instantly, and a barrage of arrows flew over him, stopping the zombie in its tracks.

“Don’ worry ‘bout those twitchy buggers!” shouted Idris, a Periath who had come with the Peria Council. “We gots ‘em where I wants ‘em, and no bastards gonna get past me, alive or dead!”

Iamenel reared up beside him, deterring the goblins near Haru from attacking with her sharp hooves and determination. Her horn glowed a ghostly white, and a ghostly call came up from her, rising higher and higher as it grew in volume, into a siren shriek, the war cry of the unicorns. It put new heart into the allied forces, and despair into the hearts of the incoming horde.

Idris answered the call, letting rip with a barrage of arrows, the two ranks of archers he commanded shooting alternately, the first rank shooting, then kneeling down to reload while the second rank shot, alternating in a seemingly endless volley.

The other Periaths charged, spears and swords bristling in a porcupine formation, especially useful for them because of their short stature. The unicorns charged behind them, cleaning up the survivors with their sharp horns.

Even with their superior numbers, Dytraid’s army was being slowly pushed back, due to the unending courage and determination of the defenders. Suddenly, a blast of fire smashed through the Periath porcupine, melting swords and spears, incinerating all in its way. The Periath, already heavily outnumbered, were further lessened.

Arlisenda gave a shriek of grief and anger. Drawing her dangerous blade, she charged, single-handedly forcing the enemy hordes back, bit by bit.

Dytraid, far above them on his dragon, grinned. “Just a bit further, queenling… Then you may feel the pain in my foot a hundredfold!” He winced, feeling again the pain in his foot that Arlisenda had stabbed, although it had long healed by now. His dragon roared, then slowly flew lower, hovering slower and slower until it was right above Arlisenda, who was oblivious to her situation.

“Arli!” shouted Haru, seeing her peril. “Arli!”

He ran towards her, but his way was blocked by goblins and zombies. A glowing spiral horn suddenly protruded from the heart of a zombie, which is the only known way of actually finishing off a zombie: stick something through their heart.

“Quick, get on my back. Thy beloved is in danger,” she said, rearing up to throw off a zombie who had leapt on her back.

Haru was taken aback to hear her say it so directly, but at the same instant, he knew it was true. He loved Arlisenda, and would do anything to save her. In one smooth leap, he was up on Iamenel’s back, Orenar shining like an avenging thunderbolt in his hand. “Nin estar Iaothar, Orenar, anno nin tur!”

Flames roared once again around him, as he willed it not to harm his allies, and especially not Iamenel and Arlisenda. The intense heat melted any zombies near him to the ground, setting the goblins on fire.

The Abyss Warrior sat atop his unicorn steed, Orenar blazing like a wildfire contained in his hand as he clove his way to Arlisenda.

“Pull back! You’re in too deep!” he shouted, hoping she would hear. Indeed, she was in deep, deep into enemy territory. Surrounded, the Queen of the Periaths fought a strong defense, keeping the zombies away. However, they hemmed her in, even as she fought valiantly, not for her own life, rather, but for the lives of those who had fallen. Her eyes shone as she anticipated her death to avenge her kinsmen, to go down in a blaze of glory, fighting to the very end. Failing to look above, she missed the slow arrival of the dragon as it swooped silently over her, moving carefully so its shadow wouldn’t be seen by its quarry.

However, being missed by Arlisenda didn’t mean it was missed by the others. I mean, how could a dirty big dragon be completely hidden? So while Arlisenda missed the hulking big flying lump behind her, many pairs of eyes saw it.

Silvermane was first to react. With a loud neigh, he leapt forward, striking down with his horn any who stood in his way. His cloven hooves trampled all enemies while his teeth and horn dealt with the rest. He shrieked loud and long, the battle cry of the unicorns as he went.

His call galvanized the others into action. The Periaths gave a roar of anger, and charged forward, desperate to save their Queen. Volley after volley of arrows rained down onto the enemy horde, spears and swords fell all in their way. “For Frena! For Arlisenda!” they shouted, as they heaved forward.

The unicorns neighed angrily, eyes flashing with the Heartfire that burns within all things Wild, and which Orenar was named after. They charged, horns thrusting out, hooves lashing, heading to distract the dragon.

But loud and clear above all was the battle-cry of Haru Glory, the Abyss Warrior: “Death! Death!” Riding bareback on the Abyss Unicorn, crimson cape billowing behind him, onyx and ruby melded in his armor, he looked the very embodiment of anger and war.

Arlisenda gazed in awe at the man that Haru had grown into, the role that he now played. A powerful aura radiated out of him, filling their foe with fear. The dragon gave an ear-rending screech, then reared up into the air, ignoring its rider’s shouts of anger.

The dragon was very confused. A dragon is both the Wild Magic and the Old Magic, and now faced with the prospect of two masters, it did not know who to aid. It roared its frustration. Flames sprang from its mouth, as it made its anger known.

The Periath immediately leapt onto the unicorns’ back, who made an instant break for safety. Haru leapt off Iamenel’s back, his cape liquefying, then solidifying into a pair of wings, one white one black. He flew to Arlisenda, raising his midnight shield up against the flames, hovering above the Periath Queen as the flames rained down on him.

“Haru, what are you doing?! Get outta here before you get burned to death!” shouted Arlisenda.

“I’m not gonna leave you here, Arli! If I go, the flames will burn you! And I won’t let that happen!” shouted Haru, straining with the effort of holding back the dragon’s flame.

Orenar gleamed, as a blast of Wildfire roared out, smashing as a solid wall against the dragon’s fire, holding back the flames with the shield. With the temporary relief, Haru quickly flew to the ground, picking up Arlisenda while firing a ring of fire around her to protect her. Wrapping his wings around her, thus protecting her, he flew out of the flaming death zone, leaving the zombies and goblins to perish under the dragon-flame.

As they flew, Arlisenda gently laid her arms around Haru’s neck, and together they flew to the safety of their allies.

[kirinelf]

Landing safely within a ring of steel, Haru laid Arlisenda on the floor and knelt down beside her.

“Okay, first of all, what the heck made you go out there all alone?!” He tried to make it sound stern, as though it didn’t really matter, but something made it come out more emotionally than he intended.

Arlisenda smiled up at him, realizing what was making him act like that. “Let’s just say that revenge makes the most seasoned warrior go crazy.” A shadow fell over her face. “Many of my friends have perished, and I will not rest until that score is settled. Rest assured, Dytraid, you will feel my pain…”

The rest of the Periath, now numbering only a score or so, nodded grimly.

“Aye…” said a Periath who had scars all down her face. “Dytraid will pay for all he has killed, and more besides. My family…” She clenched her fists. “My family roam homeless because of him. My lady, you stand not alone.”

“Not alone.” chorused the rest of the Periaths.

Haru drew Orenar. “Not alone.” He said grimly, feeling the edge of the blade. He gazed upwards, at the small speck that was the dragon, still raining down flames on the battlefield.

Suddenly, he felt a sudden pain in his gut. “Ugh!”

Arlisenda was on her feet in an instant.

“Haru, are you okay?!” she asked frantically.

Haru waved her away. “I’m alright, but something else isn’t…” So saying, he pointed at the dragon.
It was falling through the air, a long roar trailing off as it fell.

“He… he killed her.” Haru said flatly. “Because she wouldn’t obey him. She said that I am her true master. That the Wild shall triumph over the Old, because of the defilement.” His own fists clenched. “I will not allow her death to be in vain.”

Arlisenda cupped her hand over Haru’s. “Don’t worry. We’ll all be there for you.” She pulled his head down and whispered into his ear. “Especially me.”

Haru grinned. “I know that.”

The two of them gazed out as the thud of the dragon’s falling echoed throughout the silent battlefield, oblivious to their allies around them. It was as if the two of them were the only living things left in the world.

“’Ware arrows!”

The shout broke them from their reverie, as they ducked instinctively to escape the arrows.

Haru laughed aloud. “Looks like they learned something ‘bout our way of battle eh?”

Suddenly, Iamenel came up to him. “Ia… hurry. There is something that thou must see…”

Haru looked around at the urgency in her voice. He nodded.

Iamenel led him to a shallow hollow in the ground just inside the forest. In it lay someone familiar.

“Silvermane!” gasped Arlisenda.

Silvermane was pierced with sword wounds, and five arrows stuck out of his body. One had pierced straight through his ribs, and was perilously close to his heart. Twin rivulets of blood pumped out of each wound, in a gruesome replay of the night before. His breath was fading fast, even as they watched, and his chest heaved.

Haru ran to his friend, the first unicorn he had ever met. “Silvermane! Hang in there, you’ll be alright!”

Silvermane, on hearing his voice, opened his eyes. “H…H…Haru…. Iaothar… I… I am glad, glad that I could… could fight for the legendary… Abyss Warrior… And… that I could… have aided… a Periath… The little folk… shall never be forgotten…”

His breath seemed to catch, but through an enormous force of will, he held himself at death’s door. “Farewell… my friends… I hope Dytraid will come… and join me… ere all this is over…”

He raised his noble head, exactly like he had that night when they had first met him, then he lowered it, and his chest stopped heaving. His troubles in this world had come to an end.

“Silvermane!” Their two shouts combined in the air, calling out the name of their friend.

Their tears mingled as one as they wept for the loss of a loyal friend, of one who had risked his own life to save another friend.

“Silvermane, Silvermane!” They cried out his name again and again, keening and mourning, their tears landing on his coat of pure white, now stained with crimson and silver as the twin rivulets of mythical blood of the unicorn continued to pump out of him.

Iamenel’s head was lowered, her tears were falling too. Around the small hollow the loss and yearning of the small army rose in an angry tide of rage against Dytraid.

Silvermane was the first unicorn to fall in battle; the noble creature’s horn was pointed in the defiant angle it was in, just like that time on the road when Haru and Arlisenda first met him. They had not known him long, but he was the first of his kind that they had seen. He was the first friend Arlisenda had after the slaugther of the Periaths, Haru’s first friend besides Arlisenda. Their loss devastated them.

For the first time, Haru felt the enormity of loss. He had felt terrible agony when Arlisenda was dancing on the brink of death, but at least he had managed to save her. Now there was nothing he could do to revive his friend, to recall him from the eternal void into which he had fallen. He felt terrible anger and rage against Dytraid, who could not have done more if he had personally stabbed him.

“Dytraid... Dytraid...... Dytraid!”

Suddenly, the ground around Haru exploded. A ring of fire completely encased him, the heat repelling anyone too close to him. Strangely, the heat didn’t affect Arlisenda, who was able to stay close enough to see through the flames.

Haru was floating slightly above the ground, fists clenched, eyes wide open. His mouth was open in a silent scream; his hair was blowing in a wind only he could feel.

Hearing the call of their master, the forest responded. The very trees uprooted themselves, the streams bubbled over. The creatures living within it answered the silent call, coming as one as a solid wall of flesh and muscle. No animal was afraid of the other, and the gentle lamb stood shoulder to shoulder with the fierce wolf; the sleepy bear alongside the cheeky squirrel.

The sky clouded over, lit as though by an inner fire. Thunder boomed as lightning forked along the edges of each cloud. The birds of the sky flocked over, from the lowly sparrow, to the noble eagle.

The very earth trembled, as huge fissures cracked the smooth surface. The creatures of the earth returned to the surface: huge snakes that had never seen the sun, moles and armadillos cracked the crust.

A lake nearby rose up in anger, in answer to the call, creatures of the deep somehow transported from the sea rose to the air at the summons of their master. Huge serpents slithered out of the water, water falling in sheets from their scaly bodies as the Leviathan and Kraken of tales long forgotten answered.

Salamanders from the molten core of the earth crashed out onto land, lava flowing from their bodies to melt the very ground.

Last of all, a vortex appeared behind the Abyss Warrior, bringing him the true steed of the Wild: Shin, the spatial dragon.

Iamenel nodded. Her role as the steed was complete; now the dragon awakes. With her role done, her horn twisted back on itself, becoming straight as a normal unicorn’s. Her coat lightened to a silvery grey, as she became a normal unicorn again.
Shin opened his mouth and roared, the sound of it awakening Haru from his trance. The fires died down, and he stood back up. “What… What happened?” he wondered. Then, he saw the dragon. “Shin…” he murmured.

Shin growled softly, stepping forward and kneeling before Haru.

“Ia… Abyss… I am here to serve you.”

Arlisenda stepped forward. “Haru…” she began.

Shin growled, turning with his mouth open. A ball of light and darkness mixed formed in his mouth, as he fired a powerful beam of energy at her.

“No!”

In an instant, Haru was at Arlisenda’s side, his shield up and deflecting the beam. But the beam was extremely powerful, and Haru’s shield was sliced neatly in two, as he pushed Arlisenda away. “Stop right now, Shin, Spatial Dragon! I, Iaothar, the Abyss Warrior command you!”

The beam stopped instantly. The huge dragon bowed his head. “I am sorry, master. But I will not tolerate anyone too close to you.”

Haru raised Orenar. “But her you will suffer, or be banished to the eternal night.”

“Very well…” nodded Shin.

Haru then turned, looking upon the body of Silvermane. “My friend, your sacrifice will not be in vain.” He lifted an arm, gesturing for the earth to bury his friend. A single flower, as white as fresh snow grew almost immediately, marking the grave.

Haru then addressed his newly increased army. “My friends and creatures, you have come to aid me in my time of need, and for that I thank you. But now, there is a flame to be stoked to a raging wildfire, a hatred to be multiplied a hundredfold! Dytraid is our enemy, and he will fall tonight! Let anger be our sword! Let hatred be our shield! Let our fires be the one who shall fall him, and rid this world of a scourge!”

He clenched his fist around his sword. “And for Silvermane, most noble of unicorns, who died defending us! For the foal of Shadowfleet, who fought valiantly for the Queen of Periaths, protecting her to the very end! Death!”

A huge roar answered him. The shouting of the Periaths and the battle-cry of the unicorns mixed with the unearthly roar of the assembled creatures. The low belling call of the Leviathan and the high screech of the eagles were as one. And not only were the natural creatures assembled there, the creatures and myths of tales long forgotten were there too.

Griffins screeched into the sky, giant lions roared their strength. Lesser dragons blew volcanoes of flame into the air; centaurs strung their bows with a low hum.

The army turned to face the still massive horde of Dytraid’s army. Haru mounted Shin, and bade Arlisenda climb up behind him. “C’mon. We’re heading straight for the big one,” he said, leaning over and holding out his hand.

Arlisenda nodded, and reaching out, grasped his hand. The moment their hands met, they knew that they would never part again. Their eyes met, and they nodded. In a single fluid movement, Haru lifted Arlisenda clear of the ground, while she spun around until she landed sitting astride the dragon’s back.

The Periaths and creatures of the Wild knew that the two of them would make a formidable pair, the Queen of the Periaths, and the Abyss Warrior.

Orenar glowed softly in the coming dawn as Haru lifted it high above his head, then burst into flame as he swung it down in an arc, pointing straight at Dytraid, who was standing on the carcass of the dragon, sneering at them.

“Charge!” rose the shout as, wild and free as his birthright; the Abyss Warrior flew into the sky on the Spatial Dragon, the Heartfire burning in his hand, the Queen of Periaths behind him.

Flying faster than the North Wind, the trio flew through the fouled air, straight as an arrow aiming for the sinister figure of Dytraid. Orenar burned in the air, the beams of light and darkness snaked through the clouds to punish the hordes of evil below.

Dytraid was waiting for them, his long katana glinting in the dawn sun. “Well, well, well… So the vermin arrive…” he sneered, lifting his sword to point at them. “And by this blade, my blade, they will fall. So sad.” He threw back his head and laughed, a cruel cold sound.

Haru swung Orenar in the air. “We will see who falls soon enough, Dytraid!” He shouted back at Dytraid. “The Wild shall vanquish you!”

Dytraid laughed. “Come down and fight me, then we shall see!”

Haru clasped Arlisenda’s hand, then to her surprise, leant forward and kissed her. “I’ll be back. For you,” he whispered in her ear. Arlisenda’s eyes were misted with tears as she returned his kiss with as much passion as she could muster. “Return, please…” she murmured.

Then all too soon they parted, as he stood, his cloak billowing in the wind, and leapt off into the air, his flaming green eyes never leaving Arlisenda’s blue ones. Turning in mid-air, he finally broke his final gaze with Arlisenda to stare Dytraid in the face. All fear had left him, all nervousness gone. This will be the final battle, and he held the hopes of all the free beings of the world in his blade.

“Flaming Retribution!”

“Death Snake.”

The two attacks clashed together in a blaze of fire and red energy, the three blades, with Orenar splitting into two locked together. An eruption crashed up around them, completely erasing them from view as the two of them struggled for supremacy.

A thunderbolt smashed down from above, summoned by Haru, but Dytraid sent a blade of wind to destroy it. A gale raged around them as they sprang apart, then dashed in again, Orenar fused and blazing in Haru’s hand, Dytraid’s Yagami katana flashing in a swift attack pattern. The sound of their blades clanging rang out over the plains where the fighting was as fierce.

Arlisenda leapt down from Shin onto the head of the carcass, watching fearfully as Haru, his face tight with concentration, fought determinedly with Dytraid. She had often wondered why people bothered to fall in love, if the pain of losing them was so great. But now she saw that even if fate calls your bluff, and you lose all you had and more, the brief time of happiness and belonging made it worthwhile. Even if the happiness you had was only temporary, the happiness was such that it was all worthwhile.

A tear rolled down the warrior maiden’s cheek, then her tears flowed unchecked as she watched each move of her beloved with fearful eyes, sending all of her hope and love at Haru in her hope that he would survive. She knew as much as he did he was walking on the boundary of Life and Death. Only his talent and skill with the sword was keeping him alive at the moment. Watching Haru’s creased brow, she knew too, somehow, that her love was also what kept the Abyss Warrior alive.

“Be strong, Haru, my love. I will be by your side, in life and in death…” she clenched her fist, as her tears fell onto it. “Be strong…”

[kirinelf]

Haru was tiring. Orenar burned as strongly as ever, and his will to win was as great as ever. But the pressures on his physical body was beginning to tell. Every now and then, Dytraid’s long katana would come swinging in too fast for him to parry or block, and he would score another gash on his legs or arms.

The worst thing was that Dytraid seemed to know it too. His smirk was growing, and he seemed to be deliberately playing with Haru, not fighting to the full extent of his power.

Haru grimaced. This was harder than he thought. He shouldn’t have rushed into the battle.

“Well? Do you want me to stop playing and just kill you? You are no match for me. Do you still wish to rush to you death?” mocked Dytraid.

Arlisenda was weeping freely now. Each slash that connected with Haru made her clench her fist harder, and her nails were beginning to cut into her palm. Each drip of blood that seeped from Haru’s wounds scored a deep gash in her heart. Yet she couldn’t attack Dytraid, no matter how much she wanted to. Some part of her sensed that if she attacked Dytraid, it would wound Haru’s wild spirit, which was the part that she loved best. Her heart bled as freely as the wounds on Haru’s body, and her anguish rocked her body. “Haru… Haru… Haru!”

She screamed out the name of her loved one, keening for each surge of energy that left Haru’s body, for each wound on her lover’s body.

As the last echo of her scream and the metallic clang of the twin swords faded away, the earth began to rumble again. Far across the battlefield, the army of Haru and the horde of Dytraid stood as though turned to stone. Blades were withdrawn, spears retaken. The battle came to a complete standstill.

Haru and Dytraid stood like statues, their swords, Orenar and Yagami locked together in an ‘X’, their chests heaving. Suddenly, Dytraid whirled, mirroring Haru as they spun, their blades whipping through the air with supersonic speed, vying for their flesh.

Haru was good, but Dytraid was better. Orenar skimmed harmlessly over Dytraid as he ducked, while Yagami stabbed straight through Haru’s left shoulder, perilously close to his heart.

“ARGH!” Haru’s face was stricken, his mouth opened as he screamed. His eyes were open wide, Orenar fell from his grasp, landing with a clang onto the metallic scales of the dragon’s corpse below him.

Dytraid smirked as he pulled his katana out with a vicious tug, sending Haru spinning until he was lying on the ground. Reaching down, he yanked Haru up by his hair, then pulled back with his katana… and thrust forward.

“Haru!” Arlisenda screamed as she ran forward, knocking him aside. The katana caught her right in the chest, going straight through and emerging on the other side of her small body. There it stayed; the hilt and part of the blade protruding from the front of her chest, the end of the blade thrusting out of her back. Her face was frozen in a mixture of shock and pain, yet there was a hint of happiness at the way the ends of her mouth turned up, as she saved her lover with her life.

She swayed, then fell, straight into Haru’s arms. “Haru…” she whispered. Then she gave a small smile. “Onen I-estel Haru, u-chebin, estel anim,” she whispered, quoting her mother. “I gave hope to you, Haru, I have kept no hope for myself.”

Then her azure eyes closed. Out of the folds of her shirt came rolling out a small object; her flute, which will never again feel the sweet lips of its mistress bring forth the sweet lament to her parents and friends, the same song that had ignited a fire inside Haru.

[kirinelf]

“ARLISENDA!!!”

Time stopped, as Haru mourned the Queen of Periaths, her beautiful face frozen forever, until the ravages of time took her away forever. His wound bled freely onto her body, but he was heedless of the pain. He tenderly reached down and took hold of the flute, grasping it to his heart before placing it on Arlisenda’s chest.

The Periaths, hearing his call, realized that their worst fear had come true; their newly found Queen had been slain. They gave a huge roar of fury, cleaving forward, never retreating, killing and killing in an attempt to avenge she who was slain.

When Haru next looked up, his eyes were blazing with the Heartfire. Orenar responded, blazing up in a spectacular bonfire.

“You…”

He stood up, gently lowering the body of Arlisenda on the carcass of the dragon that served as their arena. He closed her eyelids, blocking their blue gaze forever.

“You did this…”

He glared at Dytraid, the intensity forcing the other back a step.

“You killed her…”

Orenar flared up again, as Haru swung it in a flaming arc to point straight at Dytraid. “You killed her!” His wound bled, the blood splattering onto the ground.

Dytraid looked surprised. ‘This boy… Is he human?! I have slain grown men who would have died from that first stab I gave him, but here he stands, bleeding onto the ground, and he cares not! Who is he… What is he?’

As Dytraid watched, eight orbs appeared to hover around Haru. One was red; the one opposite it was light blue. Another was green, the one opposite was brown. Yet another was yellow, the opposite was dark blue. Finally, the top one was white, the bottom one was black.

Runes floated inside each of them, as follows: The Rune of Fire chose the red orb, Ice in the light blue one. The Rune of Wind resided in the green orb, opposing the Rune of Earth in the brown one. The yellow orb housed the Lightning Rune, while the dark blue orb selected the Rune of Water. Last of all the opposing Runes of Light and Darkness inhabited the white and black orb respectively.

Dytraid watched the orbs in horror.

“Fire, Ice, Wind, Earth, Thunder, Water, Light, Darkness…” he muttered, as he felt a sheen of sweat on his brow. “The elements of the world… All lined up against me? Very well. If they want a fight, they will get one!”

He twirled his Yagami blade, then charged forward.

Immediately, the fire orb glowed, sending blast of flame at him.

With a spinning slash, Dytraid leapt backwards, sweeping away the flames with a gust of wind that spun from his katana.

The ice orb glowed, sending a storm of icy shards at him, forcing him back.

All the time, Haru was standing in the middle of all the orbs, his eyes glowing red and blue alternately, changing color to suit the element that he was using. As the fire swept towards Dytraid, his eyes glowed red. As ice shards stormed onto Dytraid, his eyes shimmered a light blue. Orenar was sheathed in its scabbard on his back, but the large clear orb on the pommel changed to the orb of the respective element as Haru unleashed the wrath of the elements onto Dytraid.

However, as master of the Old Magic, Dytraid was in control of the elements too. Each time Haru sent an attack at him, he countered with an attack of the opposite element. Fire was met with ice, wind with earth, water with lightning, and light with dark.

Fortunately, Haru had his wrath on his side. Also, he felt a memory long forgotten stir in him: The first time he had seen Arlisenda in all her beauty. He felt again the wind that had tugged at her hair playfully behind her, the sun that had shone through her brown hair, much like it had when they had first met the Peria Council. And above all, he saw again the face that turned to face him, the blue eyes the color of forget-me-nots, the slight nose, the full lips, the high cheekbones, he will never ever forget them again. Through his memory came the sweet sad melody he had heard Arlisenda play that first night, the Beautiful Sadness.

Now his eyes were glowing like two independent flames, one green and one black as he unleashed the strength of wind and darkness at the same time, then releasing flames and icicles together.

Not even Dytraid had mastered the use of two elements at the same time, and he was slowly pushed back. He began to show the first sign of fear, at the warrior he was now facing. The use of the elements that he had used to counter Haru’s attacks had drained him of a lot of energy, and the effect was beginning to tell on him. His attacks were starting to get sluggish, and he went on the defensive rather than on the offensive.

Haru sensed this, and he pressed his advantage. The orbs continued to revolve around him, as he drew Orenar with a deadly determination.

“As you killed Arlisenda with your blade, you will fall to mine.”

The words rang in the air, cold and emotionless, a statement, no more. Yet the very flatness of Haru’s tone showed his anger. He was normally a talkative person, who wore his emotions on his sleeve. But when Arlisenda had fallen, it seemed that a part of him had died as well, the part of him that was open and happy.

The ground was now slick with his blood, mingled with Arlisenda’s as her blood seeped from the fatal wound that had pierced her heart.

Black flames ran along the length of Orenar’s blade, as the runes started to rearrange themselves. When they were finished, the runes on the blade matched exactly the runes in the orbs revolving around its wielder.

“Fire and ice, wind and earth, lightning and water, light and darkness. They will all witness your death.”

High above him, the low rumbling roar of Shin slowly grew into a mighty crescendo. Three larger orbs appeared on an inner invisible ring, colored magma, aqua and silver. There were no runes in them, but there was the picture of a dragon head in each orb.

“Dragon of Sea, Bahamut. Dragon of Earth, Neo Bahamut. Dragon of Space, Bahamut ZERO.”

As he said each name, each orb glowed, first the aqua, then the magma, then the silver.

“Dragons of the Wild, I summon thee. To vanquish evil, come from the watery deep, the flaming core, the eternal night. Come!”

At the final word, three immense dragons appeared behind Haru. One was all blue and watery, it fired a beam of energy that crashed through the battlefield, ionizing any enemies it hit. “Bahamut.”

The second dragon was all red and glowing as though with an inner fire, and it flew higher into the air, opening its mouth with a low roar. A massive plasma charge was gathered into its mouth, before being emptied all over the battlefield. Any allies hit by it were instantly charged with a powerful adrenalin surge, while all enemies were turned to ash instantly. “Neo Bahamut.”

The last dragon was even larger than the previous two. It spread its eight wings, gliding higher into the air, while a ball of space energy, the energy of nothing, was charged in its mouth. “Bahamut ZERO. Erase the meaningless creature.”

Haru pointed straight at Dytraid, who stood motionless with fear.

“Scared? You should’ve known better than to… to kill… her.” A single tear fell to the ground. “Now, you shall know death, the very thing you have been running from for so long.”

Bahamut ZERO roared, a loud cry that rang through the ears of Dytraid.

“Hyperion ZERO Dracon,” said Haru, his eyes never leaving Dytraid’s. His eyes now were so different to the eyes that had locked with Arlisenda’s clear green gaze only a while before; then they were a blazing green, now they were gold, rage condensed.

Bahamut ZERO thrust his head forward, firing the pencil-thin beam straight through Dytraid. As it connected, there was a single piercing cry of pain, of pain eternal, than Dytraid simply vanished, as if he was never there.

Bahamut ZERO, Neo Bahamut and Bahamut disappeared with a final roar, as Shin ordered the Periaths and allies away from the battlefield. As soon as they withdrew, Haru gestured once at the zombie and goblin horde. The earth cracked open, swallowing them up, then closed up again as Haru gestured once more.

[kirinelf]

Finally, Haru turned his empty eyes upon Arlisenda. Seeing her again, the green returned to his eyes, but they never reached the same blazing point they used to.

“Oh… Arlisenda… I never knew… that… I loved you… And now it is too late…”

His voice choked by sobs, he knelt down beside her. Taking her still warm hand between his, he focused as much of his power as he could, trying to retain the warmth.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Orenar flew out of its sheath, landing in his hand as he whirled to face his new threat. But it was only his family. Or was it? His mother was different than he was used to; armor glinted under her clothes, and she held a bow that was although short, seemed deadly. The funny thing was that she held no quiver, and had no arrows. His father wielded a tall spear, and he was dressed entirely in white armor. A helmet over his head depicted a striking wolf.

“My son, you can call her back, if you wish. It would spend your power, and the risks are great. The only one who can call her back is the Phoenix, the bird of life and flame. If you can call her, you may be able to save your beloved.”

Haru felt a sudden rush of hope, and his eyes flew back into his normal flaming green. “Really?!”

His father nodded. “Yes. I have dismissed the creatures of the Wild, but the Periaths remain. Their grief is great, but you may be able to ease it.”

“Why didn’t you... tell me? About... who you are? What I am?”

His father looked troubled. “We did not wish to trouble you…”

His mother silenced his father with a hand.

“Haru... this is no great thing. The night you were born, Orenar appeared. In human folklore, Heartfire, Orenar is the blade of sorrow and partings, and the Omega, the end. It floated next to you, and you put out a tiny hand and grasped its hilt. The blade’s runes rearranged themselves as they are now, before disappearing.

“Two years later, I was cleaning the house when a doorway shimmered into view, the door I went into before you left. It led down, down, to a small alcove. There, wrapped in chains and cloth, was Orenar. Its runes were different however, not as it is now. Over the years, I have tried to remove it from our home. But it would never budge.

“However, last week, I heard a voice saying that now is the time. I dreamt a voice was calling, the night before you left. It said:

The Old is corrupted and dying,
Now is the Wild’s awakening;
With the Heartfire blazing in his hand,
Thy son shall purge this land.

“The next day, when you came with tales of Dytraid and Arlisenda, I knew what the voice wanted me to do. I went into the secret door, retrieved the Blade of the Wild. I gave it to you, my son, for your destiny has come.”

Haru didn’t move; his mouth agape. “But... but... how did you know Dytraid? Why didn’t you tell me you’re the Master of the Wild?”

Sakura sighed. “Five hundred years ago, my great-grandfather had a huge battle. He was the Master of the Wild, and his opponent was...”

“Dytraid...” muttered Haru.

“Yes. Dytraid,” replied his mother. “The very same person whom you just slew; and the killer of your lover. He was alive back then, living on stolen life forces. My great-grandfather was skilled in the art of the Wild Magic, but he wasn’t so skilled with a blade. The very elements fought each other, water against fire, ice against earth. On the hill of breezes, Hwesta, they fought to the death. However...” Sakura clenched her fist. “Dytraid was cunning as a snake. In one swift slash, my great-grandfather was slain, and his life force was swallowed by his killer.

“Battle after battle followed, as my family tried to slay him and avenge my great-grandfather. However, we all failed, and only served to lengthen his life with theirs.” Here she smiled.

“But I think that the one weapon we did not have was the power of love. Your love for Arlisenda the Periath Queen did what none of the Wild has managed for centuries, the summoning of the sacred Dragons. None but them could defeat Dytraid. But enough of this. Call the Phoenix. Every second that passes brings your beloved’s soul further away. Call her!”

They did not mention their fear as they watched the blood of their son flowing away from the wound near his heart, as his face grew greyer and his voice grew weaker.

Haru nodded. ‘Hang on, Arlisenda. I will come to you!’ he thought.

He quickly retreated into himself, searching for the most powerful of his power. Grabbing hold of his core, he sent out an urgent call, summoning the Queen of Birds to come.

[kirinelf]

“What dost thou wish of me?”

The gentle voice of the Phoenix floated through his senses.

“My lady, I beseech you, awaken my love from death!” Haru said desperately.

“Death, my lord, is something that cannot be healed. But I will do my best, for it seems that only her hope of recovery binds thee to this earth.” A sad look appeared in her eyes, for she had the gift of foresight, and she knew that whatever happens, the consequences would be dire for the Wild.

She began to sing a soft song, a song about pain and loss, of death and war. It was a song of sorrow and grief, yet at the end, there was happiness, true happiness.

As Haru heard the song, he felt all the wounds that he had suffered in his fierce duel with Dytraid take their toll. He suddenly felt tired, very tired. He laid back, oblivious to his parents’ cries. So tired… he was so tired.

Suddenly, he felt as though he was in a different world, as though he was flying through a tunnel. There was light at the end, and he couldn’t wait to get to the light. He felt an enormous longing for someone, and thinking so, he burst through into the light. A haunting melody flowed through the air around him. At first, he could not place it, but then the familiar strands of the Beautiful Sadness enriched the air.

Waiting for him on the other side was Arlisenda, Queen of the Periaths. Her gaze was clear and green, her smile true. She laughed, a high clear sound, beckoning to Haru. “Come!” she seemed to say. “Come!”

Silvermane, foal of Shadowfleet was beside her, his noble head held high, his coat unblemished. His horn was held defiantly, daring all to tame him, his eyes showed sadness and happiness as one. He gestured with his horn at Arlisenda, who was waiting, a small smile playing around her lips.

He went, clasping her close, locking his lips around hers, feeling his heart almost burst with happiness as it beat in tandem with hers. Magic, he thought; True Magic.

[kirinelf]

The language that I call the Old Tongue in this short story is actually the language Sindarin, the Elvish language that Tolkien created. A site (http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/elvish/eng_to_elv.html ) has the information that you would need. Haru’s transformation chant, Nin estar Iaothar, Orenar, anno nin tur, literally means: They call me Abysswarrior, Heartfire, give me master! This basically means: I am the Abyss Warrior, Heartfire, give me the mastery!

The chant that Arlisenda tells Haru to call out near the beginning of the story, Hiryu Mellon Arlisenda, means Hiryu friend Arlisenda, which in turn means: Hiryu friend of Arlisenda, and is basically a summons to a friend of Arlisenda, who will not appear in this tale.

All characters and ideas in this story are entirely my own, with the exception of Haru Glory, who is a character from the popular Japanese anime series: Groove Adventure Rave, although I warped his personality to suit my needs, and the Bahamut line, which came from Squaresoft’s incredible RPG, Final Fantasy VII while the idea of Periaths came to me as an inspiration from the master writer J.R.R. Tolkien. His works inspired me to actually write stories. They were the hobbits, the little heroes of his tale. A few last notes: Anyone who has read the Cry of the Icemark before will recognize some elements of that tale in here.

[kirinelf]

Well, that's that, have fun with it! xD I'm actually working on a sequel, but it's on hold. Read and review peeps! xD