Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Lathanos's Great Journey ❯ Lathanos's Brother ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

By: Pika189

Title: Lathanos's Great Journey

Author: the ultimate SoBe Master

Chapter 6: Lathanos's Brother

Email: mightysobe745_8@yahoo.com, sobe_rocks@hotmail.com

Category: Fantasy

Lathanos and Romona had left early in the morning. Both had wanted to leave the city, and both were eager.

Lathanos was slightly amazed when Romona emerged from her room. She was wearing her Elven armor. The metal was a dark green, vine-like substance. The breastplate was simple, cut at the top of the breast and trimmed in silver. Silver vines crossed her ribs and split the material, leaving her stomach bare. Her armor started once more on her hips, split on the sides.

The silver wire on her breastplate extended down her legs, keeping the inside metal in place. Her feet were bare at the bottom.

Her shoulders were plated with a cupping iron that let fabric float around her hands. Her long, red hair was floating around her face as her amber eyes sparkled, and she smiled at Lathanos.

Lathanos's jaw dropped as Romona chuckled, blushing. Lathanos was wearing a maroon, sleeveless robe. A black, flame-like emblem snaked its way down the back. He wore a pair of simple, grey slacks. He also wore a blood red cloth obi.

He wore black wrist weights and a grey weighted undershirt. The wrist weights were 40 pounds each, and the undershirt was 100 pounds. Romona was a bit amazed that Lathanos could even move with all that weighted clothing on.

When they finally left the city, Lathanos was still goggling until they had traveled one of the five miles to the next city. Romona looked back at him slowly, saying, “You look like you have a lot on your mind.”

Lathanos hurried to catch up to her. “I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought, that's all.” He said.

Romona glanced at him and could tell that it was something large, but instead started singing,

“Sparkle and Shine

The stars of night

And share your heavenly light

The sun will shine on the day

To brighten the world with light

And in time the moon will pass

Through its phases

And turn alike

Then of course will dance

The people of nature

A large bonfire will shed its light

And the forest will cast its shadow

And with the star light shining

We will dance to a heavenly tune

We will dance

Oh, we will dance

To ourselves,

And to our gods,

And in time all will understand

The tune of the night…”

Romona stopped singing and sighed gently.

Lathanos looked at her and said, “That was beautiful.”

Looking up, she saw that the city wasn't that far away. Smiling, she began to run, Lathanos following.

When they reached the city, they were both laughing. Lathanos finally gasped out, “I'll be back in a moment!”

Romona watched him run off as her eyes flickered. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned quickly to see a man dressed fully in black. Only his face was visible.

The man was startling, his face extremely rugged, but handsome. His emerald eyes were flecked with gold, making them extremely pretty.

The man smiled flatteringly and said, “Hello, my lady. I see you have just arrived here in Aldarion Village! May I give you a tour?”

Romona gave him a cold stare and said a defiant, “no.”

She turned, walking away before the man grabbed her hand. She turned as he said, “Hey babe, I asked you to come with me, and no one turns me down!”

Romona ripped her hand away, clenching it into a fist. “Back off!” She said angrily.

“When I said no one turns me down, I meant it! So please, babe, come with me!” The man exclaimed. He once again gripped her hand, this time applying a little pressure.

“Hey, asshole! Back off!” Lathanos shouted angrily.

The man turned, his hood dropping. He had short, spiky, deep red hair. He was grinning in a childish sort of way. “Brother! I didn't know you were here! When did you arrive?!” He exclaimed. He was still gripping Romona's hand, but he had loosened his grip.

“Awhile ago, but that's not important! When did YOU get here?!” Lathanos shouted.

“…Brother…he's Lathanos's brother…?” Romona muttered, a blank look on her face.

“Well, if you must know, I got here a few months ago, and have been living here ever since!” The man replied. He finally let go of Romona's hand and headed over to Lathanos. He was still grinning.

He slapped his arm around Lathanos's shoulder in a brotherly sort of way and pulled his head down low as if to talk to him in private. He whispered, “Man, why do you have to ruin everything?! There's a hot chick here! Don't worry, bro.! If I can't work my charm on her, you can have her! Just wait your turn!”

“Why do you have to be such a jerk?!” Lathanos asked angrily, pulling away from his brother.

“Because that's just what I am!” He replied. He continued to grin.

“Damn it, Sobasa! I already know that! But you never used to be like this. You used to be kind, gentle, actually QUIET!” Lathanos shouted. “But then one day, you completely changed! It was as if you were a completely different person! What happened to the Sobasa I knew?!” Lathanos's fists were clenched.

“People change, Lathanos. It's just life!” Sobasa exclaimed.

“I know, but not that sudden,” Lathanos replied.

“I just felt it was time for a change, Lathany!” Sobasa snapped.

“It's Lathanos!” Lathanos shouted.

“Right, whatever…anyways, just let me try and reel her in, and if she gets away, you can have a go at her!” Sobasa replied, smiling charmingly at Romona. Romona simply waved and smiled back, laughing nervously.

“Dude, can't you see that she doesn't want you hitting on her?!” Lathanos exclaimed.

Sobasa looked at Romona, who was now staring blankly at him. “No…”

“Oh my god!! You can be so dense sometimes, Sobasa!!” Lathanos shouted. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“I've been living here for almost a year! Didn't Mom tell you that?” Sobasa replied.

“No…no, she didn't…she…she…” Lathanos stuttered, turning away as a tear trickled its way down his face.

“She what, Lathanos?” Sobasa asked, making his way over to Lathanos and placing a hand on his shoulder.

“She…she…she was killed by Etheros's goddamned army!!!” Lathanos cried out, another tear trickling down his face.

“What?! NO!!! Why didn't you tell me earlier?!!” Sobasa cried, looking as though he was going to cry.

“I tried to contact you, but since no one had bothered to tell me that you were living here now, I couldn't!” Lathanos replied, yet another tear rolling down his face.

“Damnit, Etheros! I shall have your head for this!!” Sobasa screamed, a fist in the air. Everyone was staring at him.

“I know how you feel, brother. Why do you think I have been training myself with a blade?!” Lathanos replied, gripping the hilt of his demon-slaying katana.

“Yeah, I know. I have gotten pretty good with a staff. I have also been studying a bit of alchemy too!” Sobasa retorted.

“Awesome! Hey, we're on a quest to defeat Etheros and his terrible army! Care to join us?” Lathanos offered.

“Wait a minute! What do you mean `us'?!” Sobasa asked suspiciously.

“Me and Romona here…” Lathanos replied, gesturing towards Romona, who was blushing.

“You mean to tell me that you're here with her?! Hah! That's a laugh! Now really, who the hell are you here with?!” Sobasa laughed.

“He…he's telling the truth. He's here wi-with me…” Romona stammered.

“Really?!! Holy crap! Way to go, Lathanos! Now don't go screwing it up, bro.! You've got a fine hottie here! I would have no choice but to kick your ass if you lost her!” Sobasa exclaimed, grinning.

“It-it's not like that! We're just friends!” Lathanos said angrily, blushing slightly.

“Sure…whatever you say, Lathany!” Sobasa smirked.

“I told you, it's Lathanos!!” Lathanos shouted. His fists were clenched.

“Whatever…anyway, I would be glad to join you!” Sobasa exclaimed. “Let me just go get my staff…” Sobasa then headed off into the village.

“I'm fine with your brother accompanying us, but if he starts flirting with me again, or if he slows us down, he'll no longer be welcome in our presence, or at least mine,” Romona stated.

“Yeah, I know how he can be…” Lathanos replied. Romona smiled warmly.

Just then, Sobasa came running back towards Lathanos and Romona. He had a jet black warrior's robe, a pair of black slacks, a black dougi-obi, a deep red headband, and a pair of smoky black, 50 pound-a-piece wrist weights on. “What's up, guys?!” Sobasa exclaimed, grinning.

“Dude, what's with the outfit?” Lathanos asked, laughing slightly. Romona just stared at him blankly.

“Well, for your information, this is the outfit I wear whenever I train!” Sobasa scowled, noticing that Lathanos was sniggering.

“I'm just messin' with you, Sobasa. It's a nice outfit, really!!” Lathanos stated. He noticed the shiny, red staff in Sobasa's hand. He was holding it like a walking stick. “Whoa! That's a nice staff!”

“I know. I got it from Grandpa as a reward for helping him clean out his storage shed.” Sobasa replied. “It's really light, too!” A wide grin was spread across his face.

“Could I see it?” Lathanos asked.

“Sure thing, just be careful with it.” Sobasa replied. He carefully handed the staff to Lathanos.

Lathanos carefully examined the staff. He noticed a message carved into the staff which read, “ä»…ç»™å‡º 3;ƒ¨åˆ†ä»¥å·¨å ¤§ç²¾ç¥žèƒ½é 225;ä¸æŒ¥åŠ¨è¿™ 0; ·ç²¾ç¥žèƒ½é& #8225;çš„éƒ¨åˆ†å°& #8224;è¢«æ‹’ç»å¹¶& #228;¸”èŒå‘˜å°†å& #8250; è€Œä¿æŒä¸è&# 402;½å†ç”¨é€šè¿&# 8225;å…¶ä¸ä»»ä¸ 364;å±…ä½æ˜¯ä¸€ 29;ƒå¹´,” which means, “Given only to ones with great spiritual energy. Ones who do not wield such spiritual energy shall be rejected, and thus the staff shall remain unusable by any living being for one thousand years.”

“So, do you have enough spiritual energy?” Lathanos asked. He was still staring at the inscription.

“Seems like it, `cause it hasn't rejected me yet!” Sobasa replied, grinning.

“…That's true…” Lathanos mumbled.

“Well, shall we push onward then?” Romona asked. Lathanos and Sobasa gave her that you-ruined-the-moment glare. Romona glared back at them.

“Sure thing,” Lathanos replied, still glaring.

Suddenly, a voice rang through the village. “Lathanos!!!”

Lathanos turned on the spot. A tall man in a black warrior's robe and blood red slacks was standing a few yards away from Lathanos. “What do you want with me?!” Lathanos asked.

“I have heard that you are a skilled swordsman, and I have come to test your skills!” The man replied.

“That's not the reason! Tell me what you want with me!!” Lathanos shouted fiercely, gripping his demon-slaying sword's hilt.

“…Very well. I have come on behalf of Etheros! I have been ordered to kill you on sight!!” The man replied. “I think you should know the name of the one who kills you before the deed is done! It is Lenwe!”

“Well Lenwe, we'll just have to see who kills who!” Lathanos stated. He drew the sword he had gotten from Viscone.

“If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you get!” Lenwe exclaimed. He held out his hand, and suddenly, a long katana with a bloodstained hilt materialized in it.

“Brother, I'll handle this,” Sobasa said. He stepped forward and readied his staff.

Before he could charge, however, Lathanos stepped in front of Sobasa. “No, this is my fight. It's me he wants, so let me handle this!” Lathanos exclaimed.

“Fine, but if you get hurt, don't come cryin' to me!” Sobasa replied. He then stepped away from what was to become the battlefield. Upon realization that a battle was about to be fought, the town's people ran into their homes.

Lenwe was the first to move as he charged Lathanos. Lathanos merely stood there. Just as Lenwe was about to strike, Lathanos leapt into the air. “Wha…?!” Lenwe gasped. Lathanos raised his sword as he descended back to the ground. Just as he landed, he thrust his sword downward upon Lenwe. Lenwe fell backward, blood streaming as he hit the ground.

Lathanos then pointed the tip of his sword blade at Lenwe's throat. “Give up, you pathetic fool. It is as clear as day that you cannot win,” Lathanos said fiercely.

“You bastard! How dare you tell me whether I can or cannot lose!?” Lenwe shouted. “That was a lucky shot! I shan't allow it to happen again!” Lenwe shot to his feet and started swinging his sword wildly at Lathanos. Lathanos merely dodged everything that was thrown at him as if he were dodging air. Lenwe eventually stopped to rest.

“That was a crappy display of swordmanship. Now, let me show you what a true swordsman can do!” Lathanos exclaimed. Lenwe looked fearfully at Lathanos, who's face had become stone cold. Lathanos gripped his sword hilt tightly, and in a clean sweep, cut horizontally across Lenwe's chest. He then cut diagonally up his midsection. He then jumped back a few feet, and as if he were lightning, he cut straight through Lenwe, who then dropped to the ground with a heavy thud. Lathanos turned around and sheathed his sword.

“…You…bastard…” Lenwe stuttered, coughing up quite a bit of blood.

“I am surprised you are still alive. I would say you are lucky, but that is about to change!” Lathanos said coldly. He then unsheathed his regular katana. He thrust it through Lenwe's throat without a hint of hesitation. Blood spattered from Lenwe's neck. He now laid there, lifeless.

Lathanos sheathed his sword and turned to Romona and Sobasa. “Well, shall we carry on?”

“Y-yeah…” Romona replied. They then slowly made their way out of the village.

A/N: Well, what did ya think?! I told you it wouldn't take as long as last time! Well, later!