Fan Fiction ❯ Roam ❯ Quests ( Chapter 2 )

Quests

"I must say, Sniper, that was a fine display of fervor."

"Not to mention a risky stunt." Captain gave me a wink, but kept his vigor.

The King stood from his throne in the council tower. "Whatever it was, I thank you, Roam. It is truth that you are a valuable asset to this kingdom. To the land of Hyrule."

I couldn't help getting a flutter in my heart from that. The King doesn't waste words on anyone. Huasu would be fuming. "Thank you, my sovereign." I bowed deeply.

"You are dismissed, Sniper." Agahnim said abruptly. It stung that my praise was that miniscule. "Your services may be needed later."

The trek down the corridors of steps was a short one, due to my dashing. I don't know why I ran, it was just something the body wished to do at the time. Maybe it was a 'lifting' of some kind…

My flight down ended abruptly as I smacked into a metal-clad chest, dazing me for a moment. "Fools shouldn't glide down corridors where KNIGHTS roam." Huasu. "Move aside, archer." He ordered and waited for me to do so.

See, most knights would say that and push past, but no, Huasu needed me to actually physically step aside. That was the only thing on his mind then. I didn't feel like fighting then, and moved aside obediently. He still shoved my shoulder on the way up.

When I emerged into the courtyard, however, a disturbing Sight found my eyes. I saw the black-plated hoofs, complete with shrouds of their own. The head had an emblem-laced, sleek helmet on a gray mare. And what reigned upon it, hidden by black cloaks but still the bulk of armor, was a knight of Silver bearing. There is only one class of knight that dons Silver. A paladin… My mind scoffed it, although I knew paladins were noble magic-users, my trust had wavered in them.

The Silver knight was blocked off by a handful of knights; Charles included.

"You may not pass!" one knight ordered.

"You must let me pass!" it was a crazed reply from whoever sat on that Silver horse. The horse reared up and clashed with the cobblestone. "I have an appointment with the King and his advisor!"

Charles held up his Blue gauntlet. "Show us a letter and we may let you pass."

"Arh, I have no time for this." The paladin revealed a massive warhammer, and immediately started administering blows to the nearby knights. The first victim received it square in the chest; I could tell something was broken. The second blocked with his sword, only to have it shattered. Charles used his shield and was flung aways, but charged back at him. The paladin swung and missed as the Blue knight ducked under the hammer and away.

I watched Charles roll out of the way of the silver-plated horse. "Impale him Roam!" was his order.

My crossbow denied my incentive. I would not kill him. But he would be silenced for a time.

The Silver knight barreled at relentless speed toward me. I once again took careful aim.

"Stay that crossbow, Sniper!" the voice was young, but commanding. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the robed body. Agahnim, the Sage, stood out from one of the catwalks. The Silver knight was not six feet from me.

I hesitated only a second, then rolled out of the way. The silver flash hurtled past without another care, and the drawbridge let him in. By the time Charles had found his ground again, the drawbridge had closed once more. My eyes, my head following, turned slowly toward the Sage, a question in them.

"We'll hold a council!" he called down, more to everyone than me. "This knight is a messenger from the Forgotten Wood." And he was gone in a cloud of mist. I hated it when he did that. Knights in the Forgotten Wood?

"This is most disturbing." The King shook his head in disbelief, "A resistance you say?" the Silver knight nodded.

"You have told us what you can, and I know you long to return to your home." Agahnim interrupted abruptly, dismissing the knight with a wave of his hand. The knight seemed to be expecting it. He bowed and walked bluntly out.

I was hiding behind the curtain before, but now Charles jerked his head to indicate I could come in. When I got up, I passed the Silver knight. He stopped, I stopped, and we looked at each other. His eyes were drowning, downcast…dead. But there was a red tint behind them, something I didn't notice before. I shunned it as nothing and went on into the room. Huasu shot me a glare as I entered. I avoided his eyes for a time. Agahnim was speaking.

"-there is something to his visit, my Lord." The Sage began. He paused for that to sink in. "For many days now I've been receiving disturbing visions. Things…dark things, flourishing from the Forgotten Woods to the Lost Woods. Last night, the darkness found the castle."

"Sage, I do not wish to be rude, but could you please simplify…" Huasu butt in.

"I sense, a presence approaching." Agahnim echoed.

"Another sorcerer?"

The sage shook his head, "No, something mortal."

"What do you see, Agahnim?" the Captain asked intently.

"Something we have feared for a long time, Captain. Mutiny." The room seemed to darken and Huasu and the other knights shifted nervously at the mention of turmoil among the ranks.

Cap slammed his gloved hand on the table. "This is all the more reason, then, that one of us should travel abroad, travel to the desert and seek out the bands of thieves."

"And we will seek out the corruption here." Huasu bellowed, but with honor. As he said this, I gained only a speck of respect for him.

Charles agreed. "This is a time for Hyrule to stand and vanquish any and all threats to life. This way, we can be certain to finish the job thoroughly. And," he continued warily, "I believe I have the perfect candidate for the Quests."

The King became interested, as well as Agahnim. You're gonna' nominate yourself, you egotistical bigot! "You have our attention, Charles."

Charles continued painlessly. "We must have someone who is fast on their feet, but sharp of mind."

"Go on." Agahnim insisted. Yes, indeed, go on.

"If your majesty has no objection, I would care to nominate our Sniper, Roam."

What the-? My mind flared up. A million thoughts and scenarios rocketed through my head. Especially worst-case scenarios. I stood instinctively at my name. All the other knights turned to look in astonishment at me, but Charles remained facing the King, his air of confidence intoxicating.

Strangely enough, Agahnim spoke first. "Majesty," he said, turning to his Lord, "this would prove quite helpful. This Sniper is more than capable and allows to keep all of our knights here, where they are needed most."

The King gave a quick nod, agreeing. "Roam." He beckoned. I stepped forward fast and prompt. "You will journey first to the Desert of Mystery and seek out any disturbances there."

I nodded. The King continued, "Next, you will find and beckon for the wisdom of Sahasrahla, the Wise Man." Nod. "Finally, you must scale Death Mountain to the Tower that cuts the clouds and see what you can see. The Tower of Hera has remained untouched by Hylians for much time, be careful."

I did not nod then. My mind had wandered to those clouds.

"Roam." Agahnim beckoned. I had been staring at him the whole time, but in that way that you never really saw him. He was young. His eyes glowed with blue energy and strange sapphire etches, similar to lightning bolts, seemed to grow down his face.

"Yes." Damn it, I let my mind wander again.

"Can you do this task?"

"Yes I can." Whoa, that was fast.

My extreme lack of hesitancy still surprised me as I made my way to the smith. I clutched in my hand a roll of parchment granting me access to any bindings or higher grades of weaponry I needed for my journey. Another roll for the bakery and potions mastery rested in my belt. Hey, these would sell greatly on the market.

The mason was nice as it was. She tempered my longsword and actually bound a handle, if anything else, for my new knife. "So, Sir Sniper, where're ya' headed?" her voice always had a joyous tone to it, but still remained gruff, probably from the smith itself. She had long, blond hair, most of it tied back into a ponytail, to keep it out of the fire I assumed. I let my mind wander on the age behind her smooth, smiling face…

"Hey, Sniper!" my mind was jogged back to reality, "Where ya' headed?" she was partly laughing now at my long pause.

When I spoke, it sounded much more confident than I felt. "Beyond the canyons to the Great Desert, and then to the Ruins, the Eastern Palace, to find the Wise Man, Sahasrahla."

"Oooh, dangerous I see. I wish ye' luck in your journeys." She winked at me. And for maybe for the first time, I noticed, I grinned back for a split-second. I don't do that much.

I heard the shaking of reigns and chain-links. The striking of clasps and grooves of metal-clad boots. The man who entered wore light chain-link sleeves, with a flowing white tunic. He carried himself high and respectful. This man was a knight.

"Afternoon, Lisa." The knight chuckled.

The smithy whirled around from her position and stood drying off her hands, then rested one on her hip. "Hey you. So what can I do for ye', Sir Knight of Hyrule?" she mocked.

"Well, this gauntlet," he yanked the gold-laced link off his arm, reworking the clasps before setting it on the counter, "has been giving me nothing but bruises and turmoil since I purchased it."

"I'll see what I can do to make a little more fit for ye'." She turned her back to him. I watched him take from his pocket two red rupees. They clattered onto the counter. Lisa's body flinched at the sound, then she giggled. "Ye' don't have to pay for this."

"This is for last time."

"Last time wasn't worth near that much." She observed lightly.

"I keep my promises. I didn't keep this one on time, so it doubles."

She rewarded him with wide smile and teasing glare. "Why ye' have to be so honorable, Sir Knight?" Then she took the rupees slowly and carefully worked her way to the back room. "I gotta' do some of this in the back, do ye' mind waiting?"

"Do I ever? Go on ahead." And she was gone. His gaze wandered over to me. I was surprised I hadn't left yet. "So," he called over, "this is our new hero in arms. The new Scout."

I rewarded him with a glare back. He either didn't notice or didn't care, for he greeted it with an enjoyable smirk. Arrogant piece of…

I began to trudge away from the knight, murmuring under my breath. "All knights are assholes."

I don't know if he heard me or not, or whether he yelled, but I heard him. He said, "I have a lot of regrets, but the point is that I keep living. I do not end myself, the gods end me."

What did he mean by that? Maybe they were words of wisdom, maybe they were just a secret way to get me back for my insult of his honor. Whatever it was, I was sorry for my words…

The castle gates opened to me and only a few archers, back from a scheduled scouting, came past me. There were three. The leading two pushed past without a care, but the third, named Cimon, started after them but stopped at me. He looked at me like he had just now seen me for the first time. I'll never understand how people can do that. "Roam, where ya' headed?" he asked cautiously.

"…Ask the King." I really had no intention of speaking with him now, I had a quest to get done. He could go back to kissing the boots of his ranking officers for all I care.

I dashed over the drawbridge and out onto the grass. The Wind greeted me in a powerful gust and I was off. It guided me west to the great Desert of Mystery… And died at its entrance…

The desert was another world in itself. The mountainous sands were churned by the Wind. The sun, however, beat down, due to the obvious lack of trees. And, much to my dismay, the Wind itself was heavy and dry. It fits its name…

The vultures perched on the rocks surrounding the Desert eyed me in curiosity, but none moved to attack. The few I passed on the cacti squawked acknowledgement to my presence, but that was all.

There were dozens of mounds of sand, miniature mountains on their own. Dunes. Their sizes fluctuated astronomically, as if they were a placement to a greater mountain. Perhaps they accented the ridges surrounding them. I passed by so many, I lost count, but they all ended at their peak. Their largest and highest dune. It was oddly shaped, but still a monument of the Wind.

The urge to get closer found a niche in my mind, then drove my feet to obey it. I didn't resist them. The mount itself was intriguing…

It shuddered. Literally. The dune itself shook and its own sand cascaded off it. Between the folds of falling, dry waves I witnessed a flash of fine purple and violet shells. An exoskeleton. At last, most of the sand was off, and I was a good many steps back from the waking behemoth.

It was a domed head, of what I did not know yet. Its scaly plates littered in firm, concave chunks down the back end, or front end, I wasn't sure. It had ceased shuddering; most of the sand now lay in a mound around it.

Once again, the urge returned, but was squelched by my caution…

A fold of violet split and a radiating, shattering red and green eye fixated on me. My feet had a different urge then, to which I didn't resist. I dashed backwards, but my eyes stayed on the ascending creature. It rose with magnificence and prowess. This was the queen of the Desert. A Sandworm.

The Worm began to sulk into the ground, as if it were water. A few vultures zipped by me and I glimpsed the last few flee from their respective cacti. I needed a place of refuge and I could not see the Worm…

She shot up in front of me, only a few feet from my position. I had just sighted the skeletal remains of a giant scorpion, half-covered in the earth. My feet rested firmly upon its back shortly.

The skeleton still held all of its appendages; its pincers, tail, even the sockets for its eyes. Two prominent curled spikes, along with its upturned tail protruded from it. The other spikes I thought came from another creature, perhaps in a battle. Is everything resolved in battle?

The Worm had begun to drive itself around at its full length and height. I could barely hear the slang of my sheathe over the crashing, brown waves. The sand rippled and I allowed my jaw to hang slightly at the violet behemoth swimming in front of me. Her massive body now blocked my one escape and I saw the sun behind thin clouds. Red.

I let the sunlight bathe over me, feeling its setting heat. The Worm writhed before me, and I charged off the carcass. My crossbow lay hooked over the scorpion tail…

My first charge was an ill-fated one. The Sandworm dived before I even swung. I dashed about, trying to catch it off guard. But our roles flipped. A purple pillar rose in an explosion of sand before me. Then it reared its ugly head. Adrenaline taking over, my sword became a frenzy. I only made breeze on its hull before it charged.

I was flung nearly twenty feet and it hurt. Damn, this thing's huge. How the hell do I hurt something I can't see half the time? Then something sparked my senses, already of my internal scales. It came from the two outer corners of the mountains. A weaker rumbling on either side. The rumble wasn't even loud. It was more of a haunting rustle in the dirt. Sisters.

They came with patience and respect for their Elder, circling the outer rim, letting their Queen have the first strike. Their rustling echoed in my mind. The Queen stood resolute before me, as tall as my own tower. For a moment, I felt calmed by that thought…

My sword pierced the underbelly of the Worm. How I got there or how fast I drew I didn't dare measure, it was a chance, an opening. Most openings are based on the fear of the opponent, the intimidation factor. Thing is, I wasn't afraid in that moment.

Now I was. That didn't kill it? I barreled over the dunes, and the Queen squirmed behind me. The Sisters woke up then. They worked like a collective, simulating each other's movements. Parallel.

She was on top of me before I could see and then I noticed the dual pincers shooting out from her hulled head. It was also then I realized how they could track me. The Desert in itself was a dry ocean. Every footprint I made, they felt. I was running on their water, leaving puddles on my own. Damn it, I'm playing right into them.

I lunged for her with all my rage on myself. My swinging blade discouraged the Sister enough to retreat back into the ground. I took refuge behind one of the smaller dunes, and stayed there. The Desert became tranquil once again, but my breathing quickened. The dry Wind blew, brushing dust in my eyes. I had to think. There must be something I can use, something to battle them from a distance…

My crossbow! Yes, as sure as ever, it still hung from the giant scorpion tail. I took one glance back at the Worms, then bolted.

Fifty yards, no problem. Hey, I'm a sprinter. My legs carried me with a hawk's speed; only the Queen noticed my flight.

Twenty yards. Flesh waves crashed around me. The Worm's sisters had returned. Ten. They were converging on me, aim to cut me off. I only ran faster. Five. I took a leap of faith, literally. One foot skinned the bones, and one hand clutched the black finish.

My God! The bones shattered to oblivion behind me, a loyal sister crunching through them. Her blow made my other foot miss its mark and I stumbled. My crossbow fell in the fall.

I skidded through the crashed waves, splinters of joining me. I noticed a great darkness surround me. Its shadow. To my left was a large splinter. I felt the Worm's grotesque breath on my back. Wait. It's jaws opened. I felt droplets of saliva soak into my tunic. Now.

My gauntlet seized the shaft and my arm sank into the black chasm hovering over me. The thing choked, and my time was bought at last. The crossbow was back over my arm. I clasped the spike protruding from the sand. It was to be loaded before I fell.

The spike flowed into its armed socket. I turned in my own tranquility. My world now. The Sister materialized in a rush of flowing flesh, the waves parting again and again for her bulk. Her red and green eye grew wide with rage. I fired.

Her scream pierced the air, just as my spike pierced through her pupil. Her body arched back in immense pain and anguish. She fell and lay silent. Then I heard the rustling, the rhythm much slower than before. I watched her sink into the earth, like a fallen ship.

The little Sister was faster. Fiercer. The ferocity was an excellent rush. I took careful aim. The Worm jerked to the side at the last second, my spike crushing into a harmless plate. I leapt to the side and she surfed past me, immediately digging back into the abyss. I shouldered my crossbow and stayed loose.

I only needed to run a few feet till I felt the vibrations. I stood my ground…

The sand below my feet parted to reveal that glorious, single eye. I was rocketed high into the open air, still atop this growing monolith. The eye parted again and I drew my sword. I spun it twice around in the air, then aimed it down with both hands.

White-ish juice flowed forth like a geyser and I sprang off the dying beast. I sheathed my sword once again.

I heard a chorus then. A sound that crescendoed into a roar of feelings. Malice, hate, anger, glory, and triumph all mixed into this chorus. It was then I witnessed, lining the ridges, packed in so tightly that they made yet another layer on their own, the vultures sang. They shouted their approval of my presence and gave me warning.

My eyes broke from them and turned to the churning sand many yards from me. There I saw the mother Sandworm's head emerge, and heard its blood-boiling cry. I found, also, then, the tunnel leading to the deeper levels of the desert palace and a plan sprung in my mind…

I made a break for the tunnel. The Worm swam behind me, then… I heard much Wind, but not natural. I risked a glance behind me; the Worm wasn't there. And then I saw the great shadow growing around me. I sped up. My knees ached, my chest stung, but I knew this was not my time. Ten feet from the massive doorway, I drew my sword. I was encased in the dusk of shadow. Five feet, I stopped, or tried to and continued to skid.

Shoving my blade into the sand, I pushed off and landed on my back, the giant wiry feelers lining the Worm's armor generating gusts over me. The threads of its tail brushed against my boots.

The Sand Worm slammed into the land of stone within the cave, smashing its massive head into the wall. Its impact shook the doorway's structure so much it collapsed into itself on its own.

I waited a while before standing. Hey, I had to catch my breath. My shaking legs offered enough support anyway. I twirled and sheathed my sword. Then, after more waiting, impulsively swung my crossbow back over my shoulder and dashed out of the desert. Any thieves that had taken refuge there no long lived.

The mountain castle would be my last stop, I had mentally planned. I figured after that battle that this would be nothing and I could take my Quest in leisure.

I followed Hyrule River for a time before noticing the moon rising. I looked to my right.

The Forgotten Wood would be my sanctuary tonight…

The forest is silent. Not even my feet can be wrestled from this thunderous silence…

Something is following me. Above me, behind me, below me, beside me…

In front of me! I fall and reach for my sword. My hand clenches the air, my pursuer holds my sword. It's…Me. The same golden hair flowing. The same red tunic and black crossbow. I start to object, but my voice yields no sound. Then…

A deafening roar splits the trees and I cower down away from the figure. When I look back, a glorious red fire has encased my Mirror. From within flashes of the flame, I watch as a horrible transformation takes place, where my long nose changes to bone, and melts into my mouth. My hair becomes as feathers, and that is all I could see.

The werehawk opened from its shell, its wings of manifest flame spreading to the trees. But instead of torching them, more leaves and branches grew from them. The weeds and brush, however, turned to ash and were blown by the Wind. Its eyes were glowing white sockets, no pupils in my Sight. I could not tear away from those eyes…

The werehawk spread its wings of fire and roared its sound. My ears were ringing. I could not tear myself from those eyes…

"Squawwk!" I was bolt upright in a second. I expected the sparrows littering the grass around me to flutter away, but they instead stared at me. It wasn't a piercing stare, but one that searched for something. I instinctively stared back. And I counted my first sleepless night.

My padded boots made silent shuffles in the wet leaves. The rain was gentle when it washed over me, when I was without the cover of trees. The black sparrow flapped to the nearby branch at every halt. Each time he did this, I took a good look at him, to which he stared back. We always did this, perhaps just checking that we were still alive.

I emerged into a clearing, where the rain came down in steady waves, before the trees led the way to pieces of Hyrule River. I stood and was soaked. The sparrow watched from afar, and I was soaked. Soaked to the bone, soaked to the soul. I can't explain it, I like the rain. It calms me.

I opened my eyes and stared into the violet sky. "Who could ever label this as Forgotten?"

The trees parted to the River. I bent at the edge for a drink, but the sparrow stopped many feet from me. It was gazing intently toward one of the waterfalls. I followed its gaze and, I must admit, it wasn't the most extravagant waterfall. It was small, oval-shaped, with one rock to illustrate its fall. But then something seemed awkward.

I followed instinct and fell intentionally into the seaway. The layered leather of my boots held against the cool liquid. I moved through the ripples toward the falling water. The sparrow knew something I didn't, the water had a darker outline…A doorway.

I became instantly drenched as I ducked through the water. Amazing, I didn't crush my head. It was a cavern, a dark, wet, very dark, cavern. Strange enough, the walls were carved out of the stone, or so it seemed. So, theoretically, I was walking through hallway. Someone's hallway…

-Leave your weapon at the door-

I immediately jumbled excuses, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't know someone was-

-You seek Sahasrahla, am I true?- the voice was low, gravely. -Come closer, young man- it ordered.

I did as it commanded. The water split as I slid deeper into the cavern. My eyes began to focus. He sat on a rock. A single rock. His head was bald, with beard and sideburns falling over his robes. A faint light grew and drew back from a staff imbedded in the wet earth. I deterred that staff held him up.

"Follow the River south to the end of the Wood. There you shall find the Canyons and the Ancient City. But be mindful of the doors that shield away another quest. A quest not meant for you."

"Yeah, whatever." I said. I didn't much care about anything else except finding Sahasrahla. He needed to give me his wisdom to take back to the King…and Agahnim.

I surfaced from the cavern and donned my sword. The sparrow greeted me with a high song, as it hopped around on the land. Now I truly felt the cold of the water sucked into my boots.

The sparrow and I trudged across the mud lining the River. The rain had stopped, but the muck now gracing our talons was the consequence to the cleansing. The trees were becoming sparse, and the sparrow was lagging further and further behind my pace. I finally halted at its squawk and turned to face it.

We held the stare for the longest time; the farewell of a bird of vengeance. We also broke off simultaneously. I journeyed toward the canyons and the sparrow returned to the Woods.

Sun broke over the hills, igniting the mud driven rock of the Canyons. My pace lapsed into a light jog and I at last found my feet on grass, still wet from the downpour. A few more steps yielded to my Sight three brilliant sets of archways, giving accent to the first of the stairways leading into the ruins. There was less mystery here and more timeless aging. A testament to its own long life…

Moss stretched around the pillars. Rays of the sun sliced down onto the green. The blades sparkled like stars in a moss-colored sky. And, thankfully, the Wind blew. There was life here, and the air was full…

An Octorok, with its red tendrils and domed head, shuffled through the grass behind me. I felt its gaze on me and half-drew my sword, enough for it to catch the sun's rays. The Octorok retreated quickly.

As I made my way through the mazes of stone and mud, I noticed the pedestals and statues had a fine finish on them. Their surfaces were new, or seemed it. A few more curious Octoroks found perches to watch me, but did not linger long. I took time to notice the detail that was put into these carvings. They depicted no history, but still much heart. The next tile I came across, however, had been crunched to oblivion. I frowned upon it; usually ruins are left to degrade on their own, on nature's clock.

At my next step, my boot crunched down onto something. It was a shred of chain mail, and a chill danced up my spine. The fresh smell of clashed steel was blown through my corridor. My pace was slowed from both fear and my need to be careful. A battle was waged here.

It was only a handful more steps to the opening, and I hastened to the center of it for full observation. My Sight scanned the area. The terrace was larger than its brothers and sisters, and it fell only a few yards short of a very tall road of stairs to a sunken temple. Perhaps this is where the old man dwells.

What my eyes locked onto next made my heart jump and the chills return. In the far upper corner, there lay a set of tattered armor and chain mail. As I got closer, I noticed a shrunken figure hiding beneath its own armored contours. A skeleton. To make the moment worse, it was headless. The bone had been severed clean, obviously by a fine blade. Dregs of torn mail hung from the femur and remaining tendons…

[ Fall back mortal ] The wall rose in a thunderous wake, then jutted outward, sectioning off two of my paths. I noted that the only remaining way was where I had come from. My hand shuddered to my hilt and I stood my ground.

"I seek the Wise Man that resides here. Can you lead me to him?" I waited. Not even the Wind blew.

[ No… ] The statue nearest me quivered violently, giving off a golden tint from beneath its stone contours. This particular statue held a solitary polearm, a halberd, as it shook to life. The legs propelled out and it dropped from its short pedestal. I was surprised at how little sand fell off its tones.

There were others. Two other guardians against me, both of these with shields. One wielded a broadsword in his right rock hand and a heavy, cylindrical shield in his left. The other had a circular shield on his right arm, and a hefty battleaxe in his left paw. All of them wore ancient rune armor and horned helms.

As a collective, they waited, assuming positions all around me. The Halberd blocked my only exit now. The Halberd, also, charged first…

My crossbow was armed in less than a second, my arrow loaded in one. It fired in less than both…drilling into the upper right shoulder of the Halberd.

The colossus didn't even flinch, pulling out my silver spike and tossing it aside. I put back my crossbow, realizing its futility in this battle. It would serve me later I knew.

The Halberd continued its procession, and started swinging. I did not attempt to draw sword, and dodged right, then left, then back. My tactics, however, did not escape the wielder's blade from crafting a gash in my left gauntlet. It barely struck the skin. I leapt further backward.

My body sang backward till I struck my back on the clay tile. I elapsed to the right, but found myself staring into my reflection against the blade of the halberd. I rolled left and still glared into my own dark eyes. I then laid on my back and my Sight rose to the dark, eyeless sockets surrounded by blackened rock. If this knight had a soul, I could not see it without eyes to tear into. The wielder twirled his halberd overhead with great skill.

In a flash of adrenaline, I was on my feet, and the wielder took action. I retreated backward, my hands open. Lowering myself, the halberd swung over my head, then as I flew up, it rippled below my talons. The halberd warrior then roared with its magnificent weapon. Its call sounded with crumbling rocks and the avalanche of dust regurgitated with dry air. Yes, there is no soul here. They are zombies of a master, whoever they're guarding.

The behemoth hurtled forward amidst its cry, ready to mangle my skull. I, thankfully, had other plans and the Wind blew between its legs. Thank you. I dived forward just as my spot received a blow that split the earth itself. I somersaulted under my assailant to my feet, turning and drawing my sword.

I wanted to yell, I wanted to scream at them for what I sought, but I know not why the words didn't escape me. Also, these rock soldiers were not proving to be much help in that area.

A massive battleaxe split the tiles to my right and I spun further away from its owner stepping to retrieve it. Upon my landing, I slipped and fell directly near something I did not wish to see. An empty skull, still screaming, lay next to me. The body is on the other side of this arena…

The tiles vibrated, thus causing the skull itself to shake and dance as a colossus approached it. The skull was split down its middle, and its silent scream stopped. I stared up the shaft protruding from it into the face of rock. It was the sword wielder's turn.

I stood slowly. His head rose with me, then his sword, the skull still hanging from it. The broadsword was swung hard, my longsword flying to my back. The force of impact was above human, but not enough to falter my adrenaline. I held the blow.

What the…! The axe wielder ascended to my left and I saw him swing the axe as I rolled forward. I swore I lost a few hairs in that slash. The Sword lost his left arm, shield with it.

Axe's turn. I was anticipating his moves, although they were quite frenzied. I don't believe, however, that this influenced by any form of fear. I was close to the mud wall now and Axe took to his duty of literally disemboweling it, splattering dry scraps of dirt at every successive blow. My body lingered around the incessant slashes and I found myself behind the giant.

When Axe whirled, both my hands were ready, grasping my hilt. The strength behind my slash was a mix of anger and disappointment. The disappointment I felt deep within myself, which fed my anger. My inner paradox flew forth and connected high at the axe wielder's face…near its soul-less eyes…

My body was spraying with its coarse, dry blood.

The axe wielder only staggered back from the blow, but did not clutch his face in agony. I had dug a six-inch deep gash, ranging from his rock forehead, down across and into the eyeless socket, to finally rest at its mouth-less jaw. My eyes swung around to the sword wielder in this momentary stalemate.

The rock goliath, the Halberd waiting patiently next to him, imbedded his sword in the ground and reached for his severed arm. The dark sand littered around it like blood. He picked it up and pressed to his blocky shoulder and what remained of the other half of the arm. The Sword rotated the arm for its positioning. I watched as the dust and sand fell. I watched as the fingers assumed movement once again. I watched as the Sword donned his shield again, and lifted his blade from the shattered tile.

My eyes flashed back to the Axe. The Axe was prying a piece of his shoulder off into his hand. He crumbled it to dust, then smothered it on his face. When the hand was removed, the gash I had made was filled. These warriors are immortal…

All three rejuvenated, they took their positions to attack all at once. My prayers were sent to the Wind and I stood my ground again…

"CEASE THIS INCESSANT BRAWL!"

The rock goliaths ceased their advancement. They didn't look at their commander, but I did, my Sight dashing up the steps to finally rest on a rather short, robed old man. He looked like the man from the waterfall, but his robes were green, not this dirty gold. He pointed a weathered finger down to me. "YOU! BOY!" I flinched that he would call me such a thing. "WHAT DO YOU SEEK HERE?"

Then the thought crossed my mind. Could this be him? "If you are the one they call Sahasrahla, then I seek you."

I couldn't hear him, but I saw his body shudder. He was chuckling. I changed my question, staying polite. "Are you the Wise Man?"

He chuckled again. "AH, IS THAT WHAT THEY CALL ME NOW?"

I tried a last time. "Are you one of the Seven Sages?"

"Ah, now there's a smart lad. Ascend these stairs and enter my shrine." And he turned and disappeared between the pillars.

Bewildered as I was at this turn of events, my colossal adversaries looked on. I gave them one last glance and started to make my long trek up.

The clouds shifted behind me.