Begin Again
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Inferno continued walking. He didn't bother answering Leric's question. In fact, he didn't say anything. He simply let the other two follow along as he lead the way to their new destination.
It was half a day's journey, and they walked in silence the entire way. Inferno let their minds race with whatever thoughts they were going to. Silence was good for one's self-evaluation. When they finally drew near to the place he intended on taking them, he climbed to the top of a hill that overlooked a small village that was brilliantly colored, covered in bright light, and literally glowing with the magnificence of countless generations of the beings who lived there. Inferno stood quietly, and simply stared at the village.
Within only a few minutes, a man dressed in red and white robes that was obviously covering up some sort of armor came out of one of the buildings near the center of the village. He walked toward the trio, obviously in no hurry whatsoever. His expression let off an air of complete calm and serenity. Just looking at him would make one feel at ease. And he drew closer, he stopped halfway up the hill that Inferno had perched himself on, and he nodded his head. "It is good to see you again, Inferno. How have you been?"
"Just fine, Darion. I need your help."
"Then you have finally learned to let go of the past?"
Inferno scowled. Past hurts were obviously plaguing his mind. Ironic considering he'd agreed to help Leric to get away from his past. Now he was being forced to confront it. "No, but you and Fang are the only ones I know who can help these two learn to utilize their potential in battle, and if Fang does it he'll likely kill them. I know there's no fear of that with you."
The one called Darion nodded his head. "That may, very well, be. Let us see what we can do." He turned his head and whistled. Another being dressed quite similarly to Darion, but without the obvious armor underneath his robes, came running up. He saluted Darion with an arm across his chest. Darion gave him an order that sounded both kind and firm at the same time. He gestured to Bram as he spoke. "Take our guest here to see Anon. He will be able to help more than I."
The attendant nodded and signaled for Bram to follow. "This way, if you please."
Inferno watched as the two walked off toward the village and disappeared into one of the other buildings. He then looked at Darion. "Then you'll help this one yourself?"
"Of course, Inferno. Anything for a friend." Darion nodded and smiled.
"Don't patronize me, Angelus!" Inferno's anger burned more than obviously behind his tone. "I'm not like you. I can't so easily forgive past hurts!"
"You could if you wanted to, Lord Burster. Flame and Blaze did."
Inferno's entire body erupted into a blazing pyre. He screamed at the all too calm man standing down the hill from them. "Bide your tongue, Darion! You have no place bringing up my sisters' names! I brought these two here for you to help them. I don't need your charity or your preaching!"
With that, Inferno turned and launched himself into the air, a stream of fire blazing behind him as he looked like a comet streaking through the sky.
Darion sighed and shook his head as the Burster departed, then looked back at Leric with a smile. "Well then. Shall we go?" He turned to the side and held his far arm out toward the town. "There is much to do."
It was half a day's journey, and they walked in silence the entire way. Inferno let their minds race with whatever thoughts they were going to. Silence was good for one's self-evaluation. When they finally drew near to the place he intended on taking them, he climbed to the top of a hill that overlooked a small village that was brilliantly colored, covered in bright light, and literally glowing with the magnificence of countless generations of the beings who lived there. Inferno stood quietly, and simply stared at the village.
Within only a few minutes, a man dressed in red and white robes that was obviously covering up some sort of armor came out of one of the buildings near the center of the village. He walked toward the trio, obviously in no hurry whatsoever. His expression let off an air of complete calm and serenity. Just looking at him would make one feel at ease. And he drew closer, he stopped halfway up the hill that Inferno had perched himself on, and he nodded his head. "It is good to see you again, Inferno. How have you been?"
"Just fine, Darion. I need your help."
"Then you have finally learned to let go of the past?"
Inferno scowled. Past hurts were obviously plaguing his mind. Ironic considering he'd agreed to help Leric to get away from his past. Now he was being forced to confront it. "No, but you and Fang are the only ones I know who can help these two learn to utilize their potential in battle, and if Fang does it he'll likely kill them. I know there's no fear of that with you."
The one called Darion nodded his head. "That may, very well, be. Let us see what we can do." He turned his head and whistled. Another being dressed quite similarly to Darion, but without the obvious armor underneath his robes, came running up. He saluted Darion with an arm across his chest. Darion gave him an order that sounded both kind and firm at the same time. He gestured to Bram as he spoke. "Take our guest here to see Anon. He will be able to help more than I."
The attendant nodded and signaled for Bram to follow. "This way, if you please."
Inferno watched as the two walked off toward the village and disappeared into one of the other buildings. He then looked at Darion. "Then you'll help this one yourself?"
"Of course, Inferno. Anything for a friend." Darion nodded and smiled.
"Don't patronize me, Angelus!" Inferno's anger burned more than obviously behind his tone. "I'm not like you. I can't so easily forgive past hurts!"
"You could if you wanted to, Lord Burster. Flame and Blaze did."
Inferno's entire body erupted into a blazing pyre. He screamed at the all too calm man standing down the hill from them. "Bide your tongue, Darion! You have no place bringing up my sisters' names! I brought these two here for you to help them. I don't need your charity or your preaching!"
With that, Inferno turned and launched himself into the air, a stream of fire blazing behind him as he looked like a comet streaking through the sky.
Darion sighed and shook his head as the Burster departed, then looked back at Leric with a smile. "Well then. Shall we go?" He turned to the side and held his far arm out toward the town. "There is much to do."
Leric nods at Darion and begins to walk toward him the crystal begins to glow brightly as he get closer chaos enters his mind "boy what are we doing here? Why ask help from such lowly creatures? You are not worthy of the gift you have been given." Leric stops and grabs his head with his left hand "Stay out of my head dragon I will not believe your words! I am not the child I once was I will have vengeance for my people!"
Darion shook his head and sighed, though it was obviously not out of frustration. He then moved toward Leric and cupped the lad's head with both hands. With the same peaceful tone, he looked straight into Leric's eyes. "The first thing we'll need to do to teach you control is let you hear your own thoughts."
There was a brilliant white glow that surrounded both of them. If he paid attention, Leric would feel as if the light were embracing him in warmth. It quickly faded, and by the time Leric would be able to refocus on his surroundings, Darion was standing back in his previous position, arm outstretched toward the village. "It is most definitely still present within you, I have simply silenced its voice for the time being. So I shall ask again. Shall we go?"
There was a brilliant white glow that surrounded both of them. If he paid attention, Leric would feel as if the light were embracing him in warmth. It quickly faded, and by the time Leric would be able to refocus on his surroundings, Darion was standing back in his previous position, arm outstretched toward the village. "It is most definitely still present within you, I have simply silenced its voice for the time being. So I shall ask again. Shall we go?"
Darion lead Leric to a small building and let him enter first. He then followed behind and closed the exterior door. It was a simple structure with nothing of any apparent worth inside. A basic wooden table and chairs sat in the middle of the room, a short distance from a small cooking fire. Along the wall were several bookshelves filled to capacity with tomes and texts of all kinds.
Darion motioned for Leric to sit at one of the seats while he retrieved a pair of goblets and poured some wine from a wineskin into each, then set one before him. "So why don't you tell me why it is you've come to see me?"
Darion motioned for Leric to sit at one of the seats while he retrieved a pair of goblets and poured some wine from a wineskin into each, then set one before him. "So why don't you tell me why it is you've come to see me?"
Leric takes a sit and with a bit of fear in his voice "Inferno said he would help me learn to weld this curse that has been given to me." Leric looks down at his right hand as the crystal warmly glows "I know the most high God has given this to me for a reason he knows I can bare this burden I just don't know how to weld it properly. This is not the first time I have run in to a angelic being as yourself. There is always something so different about you and I don't know what it is." Leric peers at the wine goblet and reaches out with his right hand and grabs the cup than takes a sip of the wine. "I have been sent on a mission to rid this world of that false king but I have no clue on how to weld this thing that has been placed upon my hand. That is why I have come to ask of you to help me learn how to master this thing and teach me how to be a true warrior."
"Curious," Darion observes. "that you have the wisdom to recognize that I'm angelic, and also to understand that it was The Creator who allowed you to have this burden placed upon your shoulders. And yet, at the same time, you express an extreme foolishness."
Darion reached down and took the other goblet to take a drink. After he swallowed, having allowed Leric a few moments to ponder his last statement, he clarified. "You recognize that the burden you carry is not one that you came across by accident, and yet you feel you must bear it in exclusion. If The Creator cares enough about you to give you life, do you not think He also cares enough to help you through that life?"
Darion shrugged. "As I said...curious."
Darion reached down and took the other goblet to take a drink. After he swallowed, having allowed Leric a few moments to ponder his last statement, he clarified. "You recognize that the burden you carry is not one that you came across by accident, and yet you feel you must bear it in exclusion. If The Creator cares enough about you to give you life, do you not think He also cares enough to help you through that life?"
Darion shrugged. "As I said...curious."
Leric drops his head "My father taught me more than just black smithing he taught me that the Creator gives us what we need and what he knows we can bare. I have meet a angle before right after I got this stupid gauntlet and he showed kindness to me when I deserved none. By my hand I killed the one I loved and my people died because of me and this stupid gauntlet. I am not worthy of life let alone the love of the creator. I have bore this for two years now wondering searching for something that I can not explain. I speak of vengeance for my people but will killing him truly put my people's deaths to rest? Or do I just blame him for my faults. I know I am weak and I have no clue how to use the thing but I do trust the creator because my father trusted him. Faith I have little of but trust I have in him." Leric takes another sip and looks to Darion "I am sorry for my complaining but it is the truth I do not know what to do."
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Darion chuckled. "What He knows you can bear?" He downed the rest of his wine and shook his head. "Or does He give you only what you can bear if you let Him help with the load?"
He released the goblet and it disappeared. He then moved over to a second door opposite the one they'd entered through. "But you have finally gotten to the answer to my question. Your own unworthiness and lack of ability is why you're here. So then, let's help you work through them. If you'll follow me."
Darion then turned and exited through the door, seemingly not waiting for Leric. He'd leave room for questions later. For now, Leric would just have to be patient.
He released the goblet and it disappeared. He then moved over to a second door opposite the one they'd entered through. "But you have finally gotten to the answer to my question. Your own unworthiness and lack of ability is why you're here. So then, let's help you work through them. If you'll follow me."
Darion then turned and exited through the door, seemingly not waiting for Leric. He'd leave room for questions later. For now, Leric would just have to be patient.
Darion lead Leric into what should have been, by viewing from the outside, a very small next room. What Leric would actually find, was a tremendously long hallway, with walls that seemed to stretch up fifty feet or more. On the walls were paintings far more numerous than anyone would dare to try and count. Each of the paintings was small, and yet was a full body view of some type of creature. Humans, unicorns, dwarves, sprites, entities, dragons, great cats, centaurs, and any other intelligent being capable of reasoning and communication adorned the walls of the, seemingly endless, hallway.
The angel stopped after a few paces and turned to face his guest. "Here, young Leric, is where we will find the answer to your troubles. Are you prepared?"
The angel stopped after a few paces and turned to face his guest. "Here, young Leric, is where we will find the answer to your troubles. Are you prepared?"
Leric stops to veiw the wonderful collection of paintings as he peers at one that is of a black dragon he feels nothing but fear.
"Am I prepared you ask? How is one ever prepared for that which they do not know? I am how ever ready to move foward."
Leric turns back to Darion.
"Am I prepared you ask? How is one ever prepared for that which they do not know? I am how ever ready to move foward."
Leric turns back to Darion.
"Fair assessment. Then we can begin."
Darion placed both hands in front of him, palms together, and spoke softly in a language that sounded both dreadfully ferocious and completely peaceful. The tone with which he spoke was almost musical. As the words flowed, whisps of color began to manifest, like smoky apparitions. Each of them would appear, dance about Leric's head for a moment, and then vanish, again.
At first this happened only one at a time, though soon several of these whisps were appearing all at once. At times, it would have been impossible for someone viewing from the outside to see any of Leric's head. This process went on for quite some time, until finally, no more of the whisps appeared at all. Darion's words quieted, and he opened his eyes, looking at Leric with a blank expression.
"I suppose I should have seen this coming. Just how badly do you want help, young Leric?"
Darion placed both hands in front of him, palms together, and spoke softly in a language that sounded both dreadfully ferocious and completely peaceful. The tone with which he spoke was almost musical. As the words flowed, whisps of color began to manifest, like smoky apparitions. Each of them would appear, dance about Leric's head for a moment, and then vanish, again.
At first this happened only one at a time, though soon several of these whisps were appearing all at once. At times, it would have been impossible for someone viewing from the outside to see any of Leric's head. This process went on for quite some time, until finally, no more of the whisps appeared at all. Darion's words quieted, and he opened his eyes, looking at Leric with a blank expression.
"I suppose I should have seen this coming. Just how badly do you want help, young Leric?"
"My friend the longer I wait to learn the more I fear I will lose myself to this beast. I will not lose myself to his rage and anger I will go threw anything to have control over it." Leric says softly as he peers in to Darions eyes as a single tear rolls down Lerics right cheek. "That is how badly I want help." Leric says as he drops his gaze.
Darion nodded, and his eyes took on a steely seriousness. "That determination, alone, may be what keeps you alive during this process."
Darion gestured to the images on the walls. "These are not just pictures of different kinds of creatures. Each of these represents a very specific creature. Some of these creatures are native to the world of Ayenee. Many are not.
The angel continued without waiting for Leric to react to that statement. "Those points of light that appeared and then vanished represented a miniscule portion of each of these individual creatures' power. What you just went through was a test, of sorts. Whichever creature would have been the most suited to help you with your problem would have had the whisp that represented them join with the picture that represented them."
This time, Darion did pause. None of the whisps had settled on any of the pictures. He wondered, briefly, what Leric would think about this. He didn't, however, wait very long. Instead, he reached to his side and pulled, what appeared to be, a phantom image of a sword off his belt. "This, young one, represents the creature most suited to help you. And it also represents the creature most likely to end your life because of your problem."
Darion gestured to the images on the walls. "These are not just pictures of different kinds of creatures. Each of these represents a very specific creature. Some of these creatures are native to the world of Ayenee. Many are not.
The angel continued without waiting for Leric to react to that statement. "Those points of light that appeared and then vanished represented a miniscule portion of each of these individual creatures' power. What you just went through was a test, of sorts. Whichever creature would have been the most suited to help you with your problem would have had the whisp that represented them join with the picture that represented them."
This time, Darion did pause. None of the whisps had settled on any of the pictures. He wondered, briefly, what Leric would think about this. He didn't, however, wait very long. Instead, he reached to his side and pulled, what appeared to be, a phantom image of a sword off his belt. "This, young one, represents the creature most suited to help you. And it also represents the creature most likely to end your life because of your problem."
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Leric drops his gaze to the ground and strats to laugh at the ironic twist. Leric slowly lifts his eyes back to Darion and with a sharp tone "If in life or in death I am free of this curse than so be it I care not. I dont wish to die but if that is what it takes then I may once see those who I lost once again." Leric looks at the phantom blade that Darion holds "I donot fear if The Great I Am wishes for my time to end then it is his will and there is no changing it. I grow weary of this cat and mouse If it will help then please tell it I am ready if not I will look else where." Leric snaps out.
As those words flow from his mouth a vocie whispers to him "Why for do you grow angry with my servent? Has he upset you my son? Can you not bare this cross I have given you?" Leric feels his rage weaking " I can not bare this it is to great of a burden I am not even human anymore I am a monster." leric crys out to the vocie. "All of man has a darkside what makes you any diffrent?" The vocie softly whispers. "Not all of man has a dead dragons spirit traped with in a pair of iron gloves." Leric softly says. " Child this is true not all show their dark parts in the open but like you they all must find how to master them and I always provide a way to overcome the darkness of your heart. Have faith, be pateint, and hold to my words for this is but a season and soon the winter shall turn to spring." The vocie slowly fades away the heavy words that he was just given sink in to his heart and linger with in his mind.
Leric shifts his eyes from the sword and looks at Darion wondering if he know of the converstaion he just had with in his mind.
As those words flow from his mouth a vocie whispers to him "Why for do you grow angry with my servent? Has he upset you my son? Can you not bare this cross I have given you?" Leric feels his rage weaking " I can not bare this it is to great of a burden I am not even human anymore I am a monster." leric crys out to the vocie. "All of man has a darkside what makes you any diffrent?" The vocie softly whispers. "Not all of man has a dead dragons spirit traped with in a pair of iron gloves." Leric softly says. " Child this is true not all show their dark parts in the open but like you they all must find how to master them and I always provide a way to overcome the darkness of your heart. Have faith, be pateint, and hold to my words for this is but a season and soon the winter shall turn to spring." The vocie slowly fades away the heavy words that he was just given sink in to his heart and linger with in his mind.
Leric shifts his eyes from the sword and looks at Darion wondering if he know of the converstaion he just had with in his mind.
Darion offered nothing more than the same kind and compassionate smile he'd given from the beginning, though he did chuckle to himself at Leric's presumed assumption that it would be the blade itself that assisted him in easing the pain ofcaused by the dragon's spirit.
He began to walk back out of the room, gesturing for Leric to follow him. He explained as he moved."The weapon you see before you is but a reflection. It isn't actually here." He took a quick swipe at one of the pictures close to Leric. It had absolutely no effect. "In fact, if it weren't for me holding it, you would be completely unable to see this image at the moment."
The angel continued out of the room. This time, however, it opened into an open grass field, with a hard dirt circle in the middle. Darion gestured to the edge of the dirt. "Wait there. And uh...try not to freak out."
He began to walk back out of the room, gesturing for Leric to follow him. He explained as he moved."The weapon you see before you is but a reflection. It isn't actually here." He took a quick swipe at one of the pictures close to Leric. It had absolutely no effect. "In fact, if it weren't for me holding it, you would be completely unable to see this image at the moment."
The angel continued out of the room. This time, however, it opened into an open grass field, with a hard dirt circle in the middle. Darion gestured to the edge of the dirt. "Wait there. And uh...try not to freak out."
Darion was surprised at the lack of responses from the young man. Not only had he not made a comment about the phantom weapon, but he also seemed to have absolutely no reaction whatsoever regarding the shift in environments. They'd come into that room from within a building. They exited, through the same door, into a field. The angel silently noted to himself that, if Leric continued to have these types guarded reactions, he may be even too difficult to be helped at all.
Nevertheless, Darion was currently in a position where he had no other options. He moved to the center of the circle and placed the tip of the sword he held onto the ground. He then released it, and stepped back. The weapon remained in place, and was still visible. In fact, not only was it visible, but it began to pulsate with light. It was faint at first, but it quickly brightened. The pulsing also increased in speed, starting off slow, and working up until the flashes were so quick in succession that it nearly appeared to be a single, steady, glow.
At this point, Darion moved to the opposite end of the circle from Leric. In one motion, he threw off the cloak he'd been wearing, revealing the angelic armor he always wore. Almost instantly, the sword flashed, and there, in the middle of the circle, facing Darion, stood a man holding a sword that looked identical to the one Darion had placed there. This time, however, it was quite obvious that the sword was solid.
"You are a fool to think I will help this youth, Darion. The man's voice was deep, powerful, and literally echoed upon itself as he spoke.
"It's good to see you, too, old friend. I must say your welcoming could use some work."
"And why, pray tell, should I feel welcome? You know better than to think I am unaware of the reason you called me. If you believe, for an instant, I will not kill this whelp where he stands, you are sorely mistaken." Whoever this stranger was, he was obviously not pleased.
"Oh come now." Darion's voice was still just as peaceful and calm as it had been. Now, it seemed, perhaps, even a bit playful. "You know I won't let you do that. And so long as he stays here, you can't keep me from stepping in when I need to."
The man sighed. "Yes, Darion. I know. That does not mean I intend to help."
"Then why did you come?"
"I can honestly say, I do not know. Call it curiosity."
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"Well this is a surprise. I don't think I've ever known you to be curious about anything."
Darion looked over to Leric, and motioned for him to join them. "Come, young Leric. There is someone here you need to meet. Just stand behind him there."
Nevertheless, Darion was currently in a position where he had no other options. He moved to the center of the circle and placed the tip of the sword he held onto the ground. He then released it, and stepped back. The weapon remained in place, and was still visible. In fact, not only was it visible, but it began to pulsate with light. It was faint at first, but it quickly brightened. The pulsing also increased in speed, starting off slow, and working up until the flashes were so quick in succession that it nearly appeared to be a single, steady, glow.
At this point, Darion moved to the opposite end of the circle from Leric. In one motion, he threw off the cloak he'd been wearing, revealing the angelic armor he always wore. Almost instantly, the sword flashed, and there, in the middle of the circle, facing Darion, stood a man holding a sword that looked identical to the one Darion had placed there. This time, however, it was quite obvious that the sword was solid.
"You are a fool to think I will help this youth, Darion. The man's voice was deep, powerful, and literally echoed upon itself as he spoke.
"It's good to see you, too, old friend. I must say your welcoming could use some work."
"And why, pray tell, should I feel welcome? You know better than to think I am unaware of the reason you called me. If you believe, for an instant, I will not kill this whelp where he stands, you are sorely mistaken." Whoever this stranger was, he was obviously not pleased.
"Oh come now." Darion's voice was still just as peaceful and calm as it had been. Now, it seemed, perhaps, even a bit playful. "You know I won't let you do that. And so long as he stays here, you can't keep me from stepping in when I need to."
The man sighed. "Yes, Darion. I know. That does not mean I intend to help."
"Then why did you come?"
"I can honestly say, I do not know. Call it curiosity."
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"Well this is a surprise. I don't think I've ever known you to be curious about anything."
Darion looked over to Leric, and motioned for him to join them. "Come, young Leric. There is someone here you need to meet. Just stand behind him there."
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