face=Arial>Forged through the Darkness by Nu Akii Kuraii

face=Arial>      Chapter One

      Smoke bellows through the branches of a lifeless forest.  The trails are damp with earth rot, as if a light mist had recently passed through.  A clear night sky peers down upon the land below.  Closer to the city - closer to life, the pungent smell of charred wood and roasted meat excites the air.  A dry heat consumes the senses, the still of the night interrupted by a brilliant glow growing in the distance.

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      Screams and crying, even begging, pierce through the silence.

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      "What is darkness? Darkness is the times we live in right now...  The absence of light.  The absence of hope.  The absence of resolve...  Fear.  The only thing reflected during the absence of resolve is fear.  Nothing can be born of this...  These truly are the darkest of times we live in."

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      "And the Gods?"

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      "No where to be found."  The captain releases a long drawn out sigh to his friend and ally, hand on hilt - unsheathing his sword.

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      "Akii...  You have a son...  Something to live for...  Without you, he has no hope.  No light...  Go to him, fend off the darkness and see that you both safely join the others when times are in our favor."

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      "But my Lord..."

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      "Go.. I shall stay."

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      "Master..."

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      "Just as I have guided you along the path to understanding the world, you must do the same.  Teach him to wield a sword.  Challenge his mind as well as spirit.  Forged through the rigors of life his body shall become strong and agile...  However, unless his mind is tempered and refined in a way no sword-smith can ever equal, his skill and thirst for power will ruin him. 

Be conscious of all these principles and live well."

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      "Master..."

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      "Go now!!!  They have arrived."

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      The darkness boils over the makeshift defenses of the damned capital.  Lord Akii sprints through the hidden corridors gathering his serfs and equipment before retreating to the center of the village - to the guildhall where his fellow Knights and son await.

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      "No time for idle explanation," Lord Akii exclaims without wasting a breath for rest.  "The capital is under siege, the village lost.  We must take to the forests and regroup at the shores west of Drake-Crest Falls."

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      Without another word his Knights and servants gathered what they could and set out beyond the village end.  Forty days now traveling...  Lord Akii and the handful of his remaining Knights traveled along the riverbank.  Lord Merk, his lover and his serfs ventured through the wetlands; a much safer route but the journey costing them many more weeks.  The majority of the cargo and supplies traveled on steadfast throughout the nights, escorted by the renowned berserker Bodakus and famed Cyrin of the Crimson Feathers.  Upon the sixth week of the trek, Bodakus, Cyrin and their caravan arrived at their destination.  Defensive walls, community barracks and sleeping quarters were constructed quickly.  A small community for the forsaken emerged. Eighty-eight nights had come and just as quickly vanished.  Lord Akii and his followers were nowhere within sight. Obviously complications had arisen for that band.

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      Dawn had rolled in -this time to the promise of a new day.  Celebration and great rejoice awoke the slumbering community.  The last and long awaited caravan had arrived, tears of joy quickly disappeared when the details of the past weeks unfolded...  During the nightfall of last week Lord Akii had been slain.  The caravan suffered severe casualties and Lord Akii's son now an orphan.  Uncertainty settled throughout the small village.

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      "What happened to these men!?" One of the local Knights questioned with great anguish.  Lord Akii's son stood mute, unable to come to reality.

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      "The boy is in no shape to speak...  He's been like this since his father.." To everyone's astonishment, Lord Akii's son managed to give a few words.

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      "They were watching us.  Since Razor Pass...  They followed us in the trees.  Then...  At night...  Father heard the horses upset and went to calm them."

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After a long pause, Rina (Bodakus's wife) kneeled down before Lord Akii's son.

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      "Nu, what happened to your father?"

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      "He never came back. We heard his yell and the Knights ran to find him but.. There were too many. My father fought nine men! No one can fight that many and survive!! No one!!" Nu fell to his knees crying. "He should have run! Why didn't he run!? We could've helped him.. I could've helped him. He didn't have to die!" Nu screamed out - breaking down further. "I should have stayed with him! I could've helped! I could have saved him!"

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      "Nu, your father was a good and brave man. He lived well and was loved by all. He died saving you and all those whom he lead. He died so you may live.. That was his choice - he knew that. You're more important to him than anything. If he lost you.. I don't know that he could have continued."

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      "I loved my father.. And now he's gone.. I have no one! I have nothing!! I don't know what to do.."

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A shadow cast over both Rina and Nu, the firm voice of a war-torn Knight spoke consolingly.

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      "You have me, Nu. You have us."

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The young boy tilted his head up. Lord Merk stood with his back to the sun making his face shadowed and the details of his armor spark with intensity. The morning sun had risen to the promise of a new day...  A new beginning... A new way of life.

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-To be continued..