Untitled

CHAPTER ONE1

The Battles2

Don’t stare into the sun. How many legends and fables passed down from generation to generation start with that sentence? How many made up children’s stories start with it? They all had different reasons and outcomes with them as well, mostly concerning going blind. Now they were a little to real and hit home a little too hard.3

Some said the sun was fading. Others said that it had turned evil. What they did know was that the sun had turned faded and watery looking, seeming less a massive ball of heat and light and more like a wilted face in the sky. It also looked bigger then it had before, as if it was closer, and yet the days were growing cold even though it was in the middle of summer where the heat was usually intense. The sun looked cold as well, and was more likely to give a person shivers just looking at it then make them feel the heat on their face.4

People were going blind, as well. Most thought it was because of the sun. Often, people looked up into the sun and suddenly a white hot pain shot through their heads and they collapsed, screaming. Later they would no longer have the ability to see. Yet there were plenty of people looking up nervously at the sun and they would suffer no affects other then the occasional shudder. It seemed as if the affects were at random, though they were beginning to believe it was more likely to happen the longer you stared at it.5

So the King had decided that he would send the best of the best out into the world to discover the cause and fix it. He was doubtful anyone could figure out what was going on. How can you fix the sun? No one even knew anything about it. Certainly no one could touch it to harm it, so how would one save it? But the King knew he had to try, if for no other reason then to help calm the people of Richend and hold off the panic that bubbled beneath the surface for as long as possible. He’d decided to hold a contest to pick the best people to send together to fight this unknown problem. Not only would that decide who the best was but it would also provide some entertainment for the people. Perhaps it would relieve some tensions.6

King Ricon sighed. Unfortunately, the best wasn’t always his guards. He had to open the contest to everyone, even some of the riff raff that lived in his little town. He tried not to look condescending as he stared down at the man currently at the bottom of the steps leading to his throne seat, which was placed high in the stadium above the battle arena. King Ricon was a good and kindly King, loved by his people, but sometimes he had a problem with prejudice.7

The man was named Nicolante, which seemed a bit feminine to the King for such a man as this. He was obviously a fighter, probably used as a front line man in the King’s armies. He was very large, his long legs and body stretching up taller then almost any man that King Ricon had ever seen, and his body wide and filled with hard muscles. A dark shadow of stubble shaded his strong jaw and long brown hair fell into his eyes. Once King Ricon allowed the man to stand he could see that he had bright blue eyes and an easy, almost amused smile on his handsome face. The King thought that most people would probably see this man as easy going and handsome, but the King him self thought the man looked like trouble8

With a stiff smile King Ricon stood. “Welcome, Sir Nicolante. I would like to congratulate you on your victory over your opponents. You will be dubbed Elite, and the first chosen of the group that will set out to save our very world.” Then the King motioned to his guards to show the man to a room in the palace where he could rest after the battle he had just endured. 9

The King wrinkled his nose in the direction of the stadium. He wasn’t sure you could really call it a battle. The fighter called Nicolante had torn up his opponents. He’d beaten every man and creature they’d thrown at him, and even took them down with ease if they came at him in multiples. It had been a bloody slaughter. The guards had kept letting lose more and more creatures and highly trained men, partly for the entertainment of seeing Nicolante slaughter them all and partly, the King suspected, in jealousy because the fighter was so good. The King had had to call down to them to stop, but Nicolante could have gone on for hours more.10

They’d even sent in two giants. One giant was the actual final test as it was near impossible for one person to kill a giant. It took a lot of resources just to keep one held captive, and he’d tossed them both aside like they were lunch, still smiling that amused and easy smile. Certainly, he was well trained and probably the best of any of the lot that they were going to find, but the King would have liked to do without him. He didn’t trust this Nicolante, but he couldn’t very well turn him away either.11

King Ricon sighed again and made a gesture to the announcer. It was break time. The watery sun was high in the sky and it was nearing time for lunch. The crowd had been there all day and the seats weren’t exactly comfortable, yet they groaned when the announcer’s voice rang out over the stadium calling for a half time. It had certainly been a long day for the King. He had never liked watching these bloody battles. He was, however, looking forward to the next contestant, his favorite of the paladin guards. Eniya.12

CHAPTER TWO13

Eniya14