David_MacCallister
Codename - Joseph
Author's Note: These stories are the final chapters of my last book, and lead to what will eventually become a new series of RP sessions, if I can ever get them going. These last chapters were lengthy at best and may take some time to read, but they should be well worth it.
Before going further, I should explain who some of the characters are in the story. Otherwise you may become lost.
Raven Lionheart: The hero of the story who has fallen deeply in love with Malia Dualas. He is a young knight and will do whatever it takes to protect Malia, even if it means sacrificing his life.
Adrian Lionheart: Raven's father and a fellow knight of the Lionheart Kingdom. He has raised and trained Raven to be the knight that he is today and has been dispatched to destroy General Rosaline Alejandra.
Faith Lionheart: The Eternal Holy Knight. He has lived for generations as an immortal, passing on the teachings of the holy knights and serving as the guardian to the Sword of Zerathustra, the ultimate holy weapon. His ultimate quest is to destroy the dark lord Deimos Alejandra.
Cloud Striker: A holy knight trained by Faith Lionheart. He is Raven's brother-in-arms and a master of the double-bladed staff. While he is brash with his actions, this young man would sacrifice himself for the good of the Lionheart Kingdom.
Sremmos Van Deras: The mighty overlord of the Van Deran dragon realm. He is considered the most powerful holy knight, alongside of Faith Lionheart, and wields a mighty Greatsword. His power and knowledge of temporal physics are second only to Deimos Alejandra.
Vincent Alexander: A freedom fighter that eventually joined the ranks of the Holy Knights. He was one of Maylin Lionheart's guardians and is considered Adrian's brother.
Tina Dragonheart: A young and extremely enthusiastic holy knight gifted with the powers of elemental magic. Her proficiency with modern swords is lacking at best, but she makes up for it with her daggers. She is also a former freedom fighter.
Sho Joutenryu: The King of the Em'Zca Empire, under Tenkou Van Deras-Joutenryu's matriarch. He is a master swordsman and aids the holy knights on several occasions. It is said that while he appears human, he is actually a mighty dragon in disguise, but this has never been proven.
General Rosaline Alejandra: The ultimate knight of the Alejandra Empire. She is infused with the powers of the Nemesis sword, an evil blade that amplifies the strength and power of the user in exchange for their life force. She has repeatedly defeated the holy knights and eventually fell before Adrian Lionheart.
Malia Dualas: A dragon knight of a far-off land that found a home within the Lionheart Kingdom after her realm was destroyed by Deimos Alejandra. She and Raven have fallen in love and Deimos has used his magic to make her think that she is in mortal danger of death by an unknown type of magic. Her love for Raven is strong and she would do anything to ensure his safety.
Deimos Alejandra: The master and patriarch of the dark dragon clan known as the Alejandra Empire. His world lies underneath of the Lionheart Kingdom and he rules it with powerful sorcery and a skill with weapons that would make even the most proficient swordsman back away. His ultimate goal is to overthrow the Lionheart Kingdom and set it ablaze, but for him to do that, he will need a new ally...
"The Seed of Darkness": This is part of the evil magic performed by Deimos in the first book. It was planted within the Lionheart bloodline when the dark lord abducted Draco Lionheart's love and the queen of the Lionheart Kingdom, Valkyrie. Deimos and Valkyrie produced a son named Alexander, who would go on to carry this dormant seed through the bloodline of Adrian, his son, and finally Raven, his grandson. The Seed fully matured within Raven and allowed Deimos to control many of his actions.
__________________________________________
The Lionheart Saga: Chronicles of the Heroic Knights
Fall of Heroes
The war against Rosaline Alejandra had gone well for the Holy Knights of the Lionheart Kingdom. Through the guidance of Sremmos Van Deras, many of the battles were victorious, but a new enemy arose within the heart of the Lionheart Kingdom. The long forgotten Deimos Alejandra, thought to have been defeated decades before by Alexander Lionheart, was suspected to be alive and well and the Holy Knights, defenders of peace, believed he was embodied within Richard Lionheart.
When confronted by Richard regarding Malia's health, Raven discovered that the man thought to be his uncle was none other than the dark lord in control of the most powerful kingdom in the Dragon Realm. Raven was presented with the opportunity to strike down Deimos, but he faltered when Deimos offered to save Malia from death. His mind in turmoil, Raven sheathed his sword and sought out Sremmos Van Deras, master of the Holy Knights.
Sremmos detected confusion and emotional distress in Raven and ordered him to stay in the Holy Knight's council chamber until Deimos was arrested while he and Cloud Striker attempted to confront the dark master. Alone in the council chamber, Raven could feel his love Malia from several miles away staring at the council tower, towards him. But at the same time, he could also hear Deimos' voice echoing in his mind. The possibility that Deimos could save Malia was almost too much for him to bear.
Raven continued to stare through the window of the council chamber tower towards Malia's location back at Lionheart Castle, the battle within him becoming fierce. However his emotions eventually took over and Raven found himself turning away from the window with his hand steadying his sword sheath. The young knight felt a tearing pain against his heart, but he knew that he had to act and get answers before things got out of hand more than they already were.
Malia, who had been standing silently within her quarters at Lionheart Castle, immediately dropped to one knee and yelled out in pain, feeling Raven's anguish. She and Raven were linked together and this meant that Malia could feel everything within Raven's mind and heart. She knew that her life was about to change and that a major event was coming.
Not far from Malia's location also in Lionheart Castle was Richard Lionheart, who sat on the throne of Lionheart Castle. He held several documents in his hands, reading through them and studying the status reports of the battles raging on the other side of the Lionheart Kingdom. However, before he could finish reading the report in his hand, the throne room doors swung open and Sremmos and Cloud entered.
"I take it that Master Adrian has destroyed Rosaline? I must say that you're here sooner than expected." Richard spoke calmly as he lowered his documents and saw that both of the knights before him held a serious look. He felt no intent from the two knights, but the swords by their sides told a different story.
"Under the authority of the council of the Lionheart Holy Knights, you are under arrest." Sremmos replied as he and Cloud both unsheathed their swords, should Richard refuse to cooperate. Sremmos stared down the man once thought to be his fellow knight and friend and hoped that the rumor of Deimos embodying Richard was nothing more than that.
"Under what charge, master Holy Knight?" Richard's brow narrowed and his eyes turned into a glare. His right hand began to twitch slightly as he felt Sremmos' power growing from an impending confrontation.
"High treason against the Lionheart Kingdom. Come with us." Cloud stepped towards Richard and was surprised to see him apparently cooperating. Although he was young, Cloud sensed something disturbing, causing him to grip his sword tighter.
"Hmm... It's treason, then..." Richard took a full stance and extended his right hand away from his body. At once, a shimmer of electricity flowed over his body and a powerful double-edged sword appeared in his grip. The sword emanated a dark and deadly aura, one that Sremmos had witnessed first hand a century ago, when the Lionheart Kingdom's first savior came to light. It was none other than the evil twin sword, Nemesis, completed and morphed into one blade.
Before Cloud or Sremmos could react, the electrical discharge peaked and knocked the two warriors away, thus revealing the dark lord of the Alejandra clan standing before them. Deimos grinned and lifted his left hand towards the two fallen warriors, beckoning them to approach. His power had grown to a level that not even master Holy Knight Alexander Lionheart could defend against.
Not far away from the battle scene was Raven Lionheart, who was charging towards Lionheart Castle on horseback. The Emerald Forest was nothing more than a green blur and the thundering horizon where Lionheart Castle stood was his destination. Storm clouds brewed and monstrous bolts of lightning struck the ground with tremendous force, causing small earthquakes within the vicinity of Helios Mountain, where Lionheart Castle was situated.
A single tear was strewn across Raven's cheek as his bloodshot eyes focused on the castle and the thought of what he was going to have to do. He felt distress, moreover because he could feel Malia's pain, but he pushed it away with all of his might. He needed a focused mind for the coming confrontation. However as he crossed the threshold of Lionheart Castle's main gate, Raven's thoughts turned back to Malia. She was nearby.
The throne room of Lionheart Castle was in utter ruin as flames flowed to the ceiling and banners burned. Deimos Alejandra was definitely winning the battle against Cloud and Sremmos and the battle marks against their weapons was proof of that. Their encounter had eventually taken them out of the throne room and towards the balcony that loomed over Lionheart Castle's courtyard.
The dark lord had completely regained his power and Nemesis was driving him. Every move made was amplified by the cursed weapon, causing shock waves to fly in the wake of the demonic blade. These wave of dark energy ripped mighty gashes into the floor of the balcony, threatening to send everyone to a tremendous drop to the courtyard below.
However Sremmos managed to see an opening and, with the help of Cloud, disarmed Deimos with a powerful swipe. The dragon lord would not be denied his victory, and unleashed powerful streams of lightning from his palms at Cloud and Sremmos. Try as they might, however, the duo used all of their power to reflect these bolts. They continued to approach Deimos, backing him towards the edge of the balcony. Deimos knew that they were closing in on him, but then again, someone else was also closing in.
Raven exploded through the remains of the balcony doors in time to see Deimos take a step onto the edge of the balcony. His eyes widened, but then focused on his two friends and fellow knights. Raven's thoughts were in turmoil. Here was Deimos Alejandra, the sworn enemy of the Lionheart Holy Knights and the Lionheart Kingdom and the man who claimed to have the key to Malia's life. On the other hand, there were also his life-long friends and brothers-in-arms, Cloud and Sremmos, threatening to end the life of the man who could save Malia. Malia...
"Raven! I have the power to save the one you love! Choose now!" Deimos barked loudly towards Raven and lowered his hands, allowing the barrage of energy to cease and leave him wide open to an attack. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The Seed of Darkness within Raven was now in control, twisting Raven's thoughts. This final moment would decide Raven's fate.
"Don't listen to him Raven. Stay back." Sremmos didn't even turn to face Raven as he raised his sword into a ready stance. The damaged weapon would not last much longer, but it had the edge required to take down at least one more dark lord. Cloud and Sremmos had their backs to Raven, and with good cause. They both trusted him.
"You don't understand. I need him, Sremmos!" Raven tightened the grip of his left hand on the sheath of his sword. His hands were so tight that the wooden scabbard began to distress and crack. The emotions within him were now so mixed up that several thoughts entered his mind, and one of those thoughts was soon to become a reality.
Sremmos snarled and glanced back towards Raven, his grip tightening on his sword. He knew that it was against the code of the Holy Knights to just kill someone, especially a criminal, and although Deimos was a powerful lord, there were laws that ensured him a fair trial. However the thought of just getting things over with was all the more tempting. Once Sremmos had decided on something, he would commit to it, and he had made his decision.
"No!" Raven yelled loudly and moved his right hand to the hilt of his sword. With a mighty pull, the scabbard exploded into shards of wood and the weapon was freed. With all of his might, Raven charged Sremmos as he began his downward swing and moved his weapon into the knight's path. The weapons collided and Cloud immediately lifted one of his two swords towards Raven's throat, keeping the other at Deimos' heart.
"Raven, what are you thinking?!" Cloud exclaimed loudly towards his best friend, astonished that Raven was taking Deimos' side. Before he could react further, however, Deimos moved away from the trio of warriors, cackling loudly. Cloud slowly turned his gaze towards Deimos, narrowing his eyes.
"Raven... Destroy them." Deimos grinned as he stared at Raven, waiting to see if he would react. The result was immediate, as Raven stepped away from Deimos with his sword still ready for battle. As the dark lord stood by, flames began to engulf the ground around Lionheart Castle, spreading wildly towards the outer regions.
"If you do this, Raven, you will become an enemy to the Lionheart Kingdom... And to me." Sremmos slowly raised his weapon and motioned Cloud to step away. Of the two, Sremmos was the most skilled warrior and could, at the very least, match Raven move for move.
"So be it, but know that I have no choice." Raven immediately charged towards Sremmos, throwing a series of sword strikes at the knight's body, but found his attempts perfectly deflected. He was acting on impulse and emotion and placed more ferocity behind his attacks, taking little regard for defense. Every offensive motion made by Sremmos was met with an offensive strike that threw both warriors back a few steps.
Sremmos could not believe that he was now facing his best pupil and fellow knight in mortal combat. He could feel Raven's intent. He knew that Raven wanted nothing more than to dominate whoever stood in his path to keeping Malia alive, friend or foe. As it stood, Sremmos had many opportunities to unleash a mortal blow on Raven, but hesitated and continued to bide his time to attempt to disarm him. He did not wish to kill Raven, even though he had basically turned his back on his beliefs.
Deimos stood silent, grinning as he watched his plans come to fruition. Raven was turning. The most gifted Holy Knight was turning into a Dark Knight. Deimos could sense Raven's power growing and his skill increasing. The Seed of Darkness was a powerful lure and could grant mortal men incredible strength.
Swords clashed loudly and streaks of lightning filled the sky with each collision. Each strike took both warriors closer and closer to the edge of the balcony, but it was apparent that the battle was leaning towards Raven. Sremmos was old and tiring from the confrontation. Although he had fought larger battles than this, he could feel his life force draining with each strike. Such was the power of Nemesis being within proximity to him.
Raven finally saw his chance and ducked one of Sremmos' attacks, then swiftly launched a powerful counter-strike, impacting the knight's sword at the top of the hand guard. This immense strike launched Sremmos' weapon into the sky away from the balcony, leaving him wide open to attack.
The final blow came with a single strike. Raven stepped away and began swinging his sword in a uniform pattern. As he prepared to unleash the final attack, Sremmos stepped back and lowered his head, thinking that Raven was going to use a powerful decapitation strike, but he was wrong. Raven spun into a circle and raised his weapon, thrusting it under his left arm and into Sremmos' chest.
Pain and agony usually accompanied a deathblow, but Sremmos felt nothing but peace. His eyes narrowed and the view of everything around him faded to nothing more than the image of his daughter Tenkou Van Deras-Joutenryu and his fallen friends. He saw images of his life flowing before his eyes, but then the thought of death shook him back to his senses and Sremmos focused on Raven.
The turned knight dislodged his sword from Sremmos' chest and swiftly performed a side kick, striking Sremmos and sending him off of the balcony and towards the fiery inferno below. Sremmos did not yell, but remained silent as he fell. He could see Raven above him, staring down at him, but the look on his face was not that of evil. It was of agony. Sremmos, deep down, understood Raven, even at the cost of his own life.
Sremmos struck the ground of Lionheart Castle's courtyard and groaned loudly, staring up towards the evil sky above him. Then, a streak of light seemed to form, flickering high above him, closing in. Sremmos slowly raised his head, gazing at the spectacle before him, only to realize too late what it was. His back broken, Sremmos could not escape the oncoming sight before him.
The great knight's sword tumbled towards him and penetrated his heart with a sickening slice that threw blood into the air. Sremmos gasped loudly, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to speak. Suddenly, everything faded unto nothingness and the master Holy Knight, lord of the Van Deran dragon realm and one of the most powerful Holy Knights ever, was dead. Sremmos' head finally fell back against the cobblestone ground as the inferno around him increased in fervor, swallowing his body.
Raven stood silent at the edge of the balcony, fighting back tears. Was this the true path that had to be chosen? Did things have to come to this? To Raven, nothing would stop him from saving Malia, but how far would he go? As it stood, he was now a traitor to the Lionheart Kingdom and would be condemned to death for killing a Holy Knight.
Before going further, I should explain who some of the characters are in the story. Otherwise you may become lost.
Raven Lionheart: The hero of the story who has fallen deeply in love with Malia Dualas. He is a young knight and will do whatever it takes to protect Malia, even if it means sacrificing his life.
Adrian Lionheart: Raven's father and a fellow knight of the Lionheart Kingdom. He has raised and trained Raven to be the knight that he is today and has been dispatched to destroy General Rosaline Alejandra.
Faith Lionheart: The Eternal Holy Knight. He has lived for generations as an immortal, passing on the teachings of the holy knights and serving as the guardian to the Sword of Zerathustra, the ultimate holy weapon. His ultimate quest is to destroy the dark lord Deimos Alejandra.
Cloud Striker: A holy knight trained by Faith Lionheart. He is Raven's brother-in-arms and a master of the double-bladed staff. While he is brash with his actions, this young man would sacrifice himself for the good of the Lionheart Kingdom.
Sremmos Van Deras: The mighty overlord of the Van Deran dragon realm. He is considered the most powerful holy knight, alongside of Faith Lionheart, and wields a mighty Greatsword. His power and knowledge of temporal physics are second only to Deimos Alejandra.
Vincent Alexander: A freedom fighter that eventually joined the ranks of the Holy Knights. He was one of Maylin Lionheart's guardians and is considered Adrian's brother.
Tina Dragonheart: A young and extremely enthusiastic holy knight gifted with the powers of elemental magic. Her proficiency with modern swords is lacking at best, but she makes up for it with her daggers. She is also a former freedom fighter.
Sho Joutenryu: The King of the Em'Zca Empire, under Tenkou Van Deras-Joutenryu's matriarch. He is a master swordsman and aids the holy knights on several occasions. It is said that while he appears human, he is actually a mighty dragon in disguise, but this has never been proven.
General Rosaline Alejandra: The ultimate knight of the Alejandra Empire. She is infused with the powers of the Nemesis sword, an evil blade that amplifies the strength and power of the user in exchange for their life force. She has repeatedly defeated the holy knights and eventually fell before Adrian Lionheart.
Malia Dualas: A dragon knight of a far-off land that found a home within the Lionheart Kingdom after her realm was destroyed by Deimos Alejandra. She and Raven have fallen in love and Deimos has used his magic to make her think that she is in mortal danger of death by an unknown type of magic. Her love for Raven is strong and she would do anything to ensure his safety.
Deimos Alejandra: The master and patriarch of the dark dragon clan known as the Alejandra Empire. His world lies underneath of the Lionheart Kingdom and he rules it with powerful sorcery and a skill with weapons that would make even the most proficient swordsman back away. His ultimate goal is to overthrow the Lionheart Kingdom and set it ablaze, but for him to do that, he will need a new ally...
"The Seed of Darkness": This is part of the evil magic performed by Deimos in the first book. It was planted within the Lionheart bloodline when the dark lord abducted Draco Lionheart's love and the queen of the Lionheart Kingdom, Valkyrie. Deimos and Valkyrie produced a son named Alexander, who would go on to carry this dormant seed through the bloodline of Adrian, his son, and finally Raven, his grandson. The Seed fully matured within Raven and allowed Deimos to control many of his actions.
__________________________________________
The Lionheart Saga: Chronicles of the Heroic Knights
Fall of Heroes
The war against Rosaline Alejandra had gone well for the Holy Knights of the Lionheart Kingdom. Through the guidance of Sremmos Van Deras, many of the battles were victorious, but a new enemy arose within the heart of the Lionheart Kingdom. The long forgotten Deimos Alejandra, thought to have been defeated decades before by Alexander Lionheart, was suspected to be alive and well and the Holy Knights, defenders of peace, believed he was embodied within Richard Lionheart.
When confronted by Richard regarding Malia's health, Raven discovered that the man thought to be his uncle was none other than the dark lord in control of the most powerful kingdom in the Dragon Realm. Raven was presented with the opportunity to strike down Deimos, but he faltered when Deimos offered to save Malia from death. His mind in turmoil, Raven sheathed his sword and sought out Sremmos Van Deras, master of the Holy Knights.
Sremmos detected confusion and emotional distress in Raven and ordered him to stay in the Holy Knight's council chamber until Deimos was arrested while he and Cloud Striker attempted to confront the dark master. Alone in the council chamber, Raven could feel his love Malia from several miles away staring at the council tower, towards him. But at the same time, he could also hear Deimos' voice echoing in his mind. The possibility that Deimos could save Malia was almost too much for him to bear.
Raven continued to stare through the window of the council chamber tower towards Malia's location back at Lionheart Castle, the battle within him becoming fierce. However his emotions eventually took over and Raven found himself turning away from the window with his hand steadying his sword sheath. The young knight felt a tearing pain against his heart, but he knew that he had to act and get answers before things got out of hand more than they already were.
Malia, who had been standing silently within her quarters at Lionheart Castle, immediately dropped to one knee and yelled out in pain, feeling Raven's anguish. She and Raven were linked together and this meant that Malia could feel everything within Raven's mind and heart. She knew that her life was about to change and that a major event was coming.
Not far from Malia's location also in Lionheart Castle was Richard Lionheart, who sat on the throne of Lionheart Castle. He held several documents in his hands, reading through them and studying the status reports of the battles raging on the other side of the Lionheart Kingdom. However, before he could finish reading the report in his hand, the throne room doors swung open and Sremmos and Cloud entered.
"I take it that Master Adrian has destroyed Rosaline? I must say that you're here sooner than expected." Richard spoke calmly as he lowered his documents and saw that both of the knights before him held a serious look. He felt no intent from the two knights, but the swords by their sides told a different story.
"Under the authority of the council of the Lionheart Holy Knights, you are under arrest." Sremmos replied as he and Cloud both unsheathed their swords, should Richard refuse to cooperate. Sremmos stared down the man once thought to be his fellow knight and friend and hoped that the rumor of Deimos embodying Richard was nothing more than that.
"Under what charge, master Holy Knight?" Richard's brow narrowed and his eyes turned into a glare. His right hand began to twitch slightly as he felt Sremmos' power growing from an impending confrontation.
"High treason against the Lionheart Kingdom. Come with us." Cloud stepped towards Richard and was surprised to see him apparently cooperating. Although he was young, Cloud sensed something disturbing, causing him to grip his sword tighter.
"Hmm... It's treason, then..." Richard took a full stance and extended his right hand away from his body. At once, a shimmer of electricity flowed over his body and a powerful double-edged sword appeared in his grip. The sword emanated a dark and deadly aura, one that Sremmos had witnessed first hand a century ago, when the Lionheart Kingdom's first savior came to light. It was none other than the evil twin sword, Nemesis, completed and morphed into one blade.
Before Cloud or Sremmos could react, the electrical discharge peaked and knocked the two warriors away, thus revealing the dark lord of the Alejandra clan standing before them. Deimos grinned and lifted his left hand towards the two fallen warriors, beckoning them to approach. His power had grown to a level that not even master Holy Knight Alexander Lionheart could defend against.
Not far away from the battle scene was Raven Lionheart, who was charging towards Lionheart Castle on horseback. The Emerald Forest was nothing more than a green blur and the thundering horizon where Lionheart Castle stood was his destination. Storm clouds brewed and monstrous bolts of lightning struck the ground with tremendous force, causing small earthquakes within the vicinity of Helios Mountain, where Lionheart Castle was situated.
A single tear was strewn across Raven's cheek as his bloodshot eyes focused on the castle and the thought of what he was going to have to do. He felt distress, moreover because he could feel Malia's pain, but he pushed it away with all of his might. He needed a focused mind for the coming confrontation. However as he crossed the threshold of Lionheart Castle's main gate, Raven's thoughts turned back to Malia. She was nearby.
The throne room of Lionheart Castle was in utter ruin as flames flowed to the ceiling and banners burned. Deimos Alejandra was definitely winning the battle against Cloud and Sremmos and the battle marks against their weapons was proof of that. Their encounter had eventually taken them out of the throne room and towards the balcony that loomed over Lionheart Castle's courtyard.
The dark lord had completely regained his power and Nemesis was driving him. Every move made was amplified by the cursed weapon, causing shock waves to fly in the wake of the demonic blade. These wave of dark energy ripped mighty gashes into the floor of the balcony, threatening to send everyone to a tremendous drop to the courtyard below.
However Sremmos managed to see an opening and, with the help of Cloud, disarmed Deimos with a powerful swipe. The dragon lord would not be denied his victory, and unleashed powerful streams of lightning from his palms at Cloud and Sremmos. Try as they might, however, the duo used all of their power to reflect these bolts. They continued to approach Deimos, backing him towards the edge of the balcony. Deimos knew that they were closing in on him, but then again, someone else was also closing in.
Raven exploded through the remains of the balcony doors in time to see Deimos take a step onto the edge of the balcony. His eyes widened, but then focused on his two friends and fellow knights. Raven's thoughts were in turmoil. Here was Deimos Alejandra, the sworn enemy of the Lionheart Holy Knights and the Lionheart Kingdom and the man who claimed to have the key to Malia's life. On the other hand, there were also his life-long friends and brothers-in-arms, Cloud and Sremmos, threatening to end the life of the man who could save Malia. Malia...
"Raven! I have the power to save the one you love! Choose now!" Deimos barked loudly towards Raven and lowered his hands, allowing the barrage of energy to cease and leave him wide open to an attack. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The Seed of Darkness within Raven was now in control, twisting Raven's thoughts. This final moment would decide Raven's fate.
"Don't listen to him Raven. Stay back." Sremmos didn't even turn to face Raven as he raised his sword into a ready stance. The damaged weapon would not last much longer, but it had the edge required to take down at least one more dark lord. Cloud and Sremmos had their backs to Raven, and with good cause. They both trusted him.
"You don't understand. I need him, Sremmos!" Raven tightened the grip of his left hand on the sheath of his sword. His hands were so tight that the wooden scabbard began to distress and crack. The emotions within him were now so mixed up that several thoughts entered his mind, and one of those thoughts was soon to become a reality.
Sremmos snarled and glanced back towards Raven, his grip tightening on his sword. He knew that it was against the code of the Holy Knights to just kill someone, especially a criminal, and although Deimos was a powerful lord, there were laws that ensured him a fair trial. However the thought of just getting things over with was all the more tempting. Once Sremmos had decided on something, he would commit to it, and he had made his decision.
"No!" Raven yelled loudly and moved his right hand to the hilt of his sword. With a mighty pull, the scabbard exploded into shards of wood and the weapon was freed. With all of his might, Raven charged Sremmos as he began his downward swing and moved his weapon into the knight's path. The weapons collided and Cloud immediately lifted one of his two swords towards Raven's throat, keeping the other at Deimos' heart.
"Raven, what are you thinking?!" Cloud exclaimed loudly towards his best friend, astonished that Raven was taking Deimos' side. Before he could react further, however, Deimos moved away from the trio of warriors, cackling loudly. Cloud slowly turned his gaze towards Deimos, narrowing his eyes.
"Raven... Destroy them." Deimos grinned as he stared at Raven, waiting to see if he would react. The result was immediate, as Raven stepped away from Deimos with his sword still ready for battle. As the dark lord stood by, flames began to engulf the ground around Lionheart Castle, spreading wildly towards the outer regions.
"If you do this, Raven, you will become an enemy to the Lionheart Kingdom... And to me." Sremmos slowly raised his weapon and motioned Cloud to step away. Of the two, Sremmos was the most skilled warrior and could, at the very least, match Raven move for move.
"So be it, but know that I have no choice." Raven immediately charged towards Sremmos, throwing a series of sword strikes at the knight's body, but found his attempts perfectly deflected. He was acting on impulse and emotion and placed more ferocity behind his attacks, taking little regard for defense. Every offensive motion made by Sremmos was met with an offensive strike that threw both warriors back a few steps.
Sremmos could not believe that he was now facing his best pupil and fellow knight in mortal combat. He could feel Raven's intent. He knew that Raven wanted nothing more than to dominate whoever stood in his path to keeping Malia alive, friend or foe. As it stood, Sremmos had many opportunities to unleash a mortal blow on Raven, but hesitated and continued to bide his time to attempt to disarm him. He did not wish to kill Raven, even though he had basically turned his back on his beliefs.
Deimos stood silent, grinning as he watched his plans come to fruition. Raven was turning. The most gifted Holy Knight was turning into a Dark Knight. Deimos could sense Raven's power growing and his skill increasing. The Seed of Darkness was a powerful lure and could grant mortal men incredible strength.
Swords clashed loudly and streaks of lightning filled the sky with each collision. Each strike took both warriors closer and closer to the edge of the balcony, but it was apparent that the battle was leaning towards Raven. Sremmos was old and tiring from the confrontation. Although he had fought larger battles than this, he could feel his life force draining with each strike. Such was the power of Nemesis being within proximity to him.
Raven finally saw his chance and ducked one of Sremmos' attacks, then swiftly launched a powerful counter-strike, impacting the knight's sword at the top of the hand guard. This immense strike launched Sremmos' weapon into the sky away from the balcony, leaving him wide open to attack.
The final blow came with a single strike. Raven stepped away and began swinging his sword in a uniform pattern. As he prepared to unleash the final attack, Sremmos stepped back and lowered his head, thinking that Raven was going to use a powerful decapitation strike, but he was wrong. Raven spun into a circle and raised his weapon, thrusting it under his left arm and into Sremmos' chest.
Pain and agony usually accompanied a deathblow, but Sremmos felt nothing but peace. His eyes narrowed and the view of everything around him faded to nothing more than the image of his daughter Tenkou Van Deras-Joutenryu and his fallen friends. He saw images of his life flowing before his eyes, but then the thought of death shook him back to his senses and Sremmos focused on Raven.
The turned knight dislodged his sword from Sremmos' chest and swiftly performed a side kick, striking Sremmos and sending him off of the balcony and towards the fiery inferno below. Sremmos did not yell, but remained silent as he fell. He could see Raven above him, staring down at him, but the look on his face was not that of evil. It was of agony. Sremmos, deep down, understood Raven, even at the cost of his own life.
Sremmos struck the ground of Lionheart Castle's courtyard and groaned loudly, staring up towards the evil sky above him. Then, a streak of light seemed to form, flickering high above him, closing in. Sremmos slowly raised his head, gazing at the spectacle before him, only to realize too late what it was. His back broken, Sremmos could not escape the oncoming sight before him.
The great knight's sword tumbled towards him and penetrated his heart with a sickening slice that threw blood into the air. Sremmos gasped loudly, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to speak. Suddenly, everything faded unto nothingness and the master Holy Knight, lord of the Van Deran dragon realm and one of the most powerful Holy Knights ever, was dead. Sremmos' head finally fell back against the cobblestone ground as the inferno around him increased in fervor, swallowing his body.
Raven stood silent at the edge of the balcony, fighting back tears. Was this the true path that had to be chosen? Did things have to come to this? To Raven, nothing would stop him from saving Malia, but how far would he go? As it stood, he was now a traitor to the Lionheart Kingdom and would be condemned to death for killing a Holy Knight.