Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Lathanos's Great Journey ❯ Darkness Awaits ( Chapter 10 )

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

By: Pika189

Title: Lathanos's Great Journey

Author: the ultimate SoBe Master

Chapter 10: Darkness Awaits

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

Category: Fantasy

Eventually, they reached a small village called Uruviel. Something about it made it seem dark, sinister even. As they entered the village, a strange, old man in grey robes greeted them. “Greetings, younglings! Welcome to Uruviel Village! What brings you to this place?”

“We are simply traveling the land,” Lathanos said.

“My my, that sounds fun!” The old man exclaimed. He seemed quite strange to Elaina.

“Yeah…it is…” Lathanos replied.

“So, what is your means to travel?” The man asked.

“Well, if you must know, we are on a quest to destroy a very dark elf, known as Etheros, and his army of darkness.” Lathanos stated.

Romona jabbed Lathanos in the stomach with her elbow. “Shut up, Lathanos! You don't just go telling random people off the street about that!”

“No need to worry. This village knows Etheros well…it was one of the first to be taken by him during the war,” The old man replied. “Oh, where are my manners?! My name is Lezulis!”

“Nice to meet you…so this is Etheros's territory?” Romona asked.

“Yes, that it is,”

“But how are you so calm knowing that you could be killed at any moment?!” Lathanos asked.

“I simply don't think about it. Besides, Etheros is not here often…” Lezulis paused, and then added, “The tavern is just a short ways from here, so you can stay there if you are planning on staying awhile…”

“Ok, thanks,” Lathanos stated.

“One question, Lezulis: How strong would you say Etheros is?” Solem asked. “We need to know this if we are to have even the slightest chance of defeating him!”

“Oh, he is very strong, VERY strong!! But you won't even be able to touch him, for you will be slaughtered by his army way before you reach him!” Lezulis exclaimed.

“We'll just have to chance it then! Etheros must be destroyed!!” Solem exclaimed.

“Yes, well, enjoy your stay!” Lezulis stated, and he strolled off.

“What a strange, old man…” Lathanos mumbled. They headed into the village.

“I'm gonna go find the tavern. I'll find you guys after I have gotten our rooms. See you later!” Romona stated. She then broke away from the group, heading further into the village. She waved to them, and then disappeared from view.

“So Solem, know anything about Uruviel Village?” Lathanos asked.

“Just a bit. All I know is that this village is known for its weapon shop. It's supposed to house some rare and powerful weaponry!” Solem replied.

“Let's go then!” Sobasa exclaimed. They headed deeper into the village.

They soon found themselves in front of a small shop among many others. It had a wooden sign above the entrance with a sword and shield symbol on it. Unlike the other shops, however, this one had no door in the entrance way.

Upon entering the shop, they were greeted by a young man in extravagant, red and black robes with a katana sheathed to his side. “Welcome to Tarolom's Shop of Weaponry! I'm Gwindor Tarolom! May I be of any help?” The man asked.

“Thanks, but no thanks. We're merely browsing. We will tell you if we find something to our liking, Mr. Tarolom.” Lathanos replied.

“Very well, then. Carry on.” Gwindor stated. He then went back to the counter at the back of the shop.

Lathanos, Sobasa, Solem, and Elaina started looking at the different weaponry on the wall. Every wall was filled with rare-looking weaponry. There were katanas, daggers, short swords, long swords, nunchaku, staffs, bows and arrows, battle axes, etc.

Lathanos quickly spotted a long, glimmering, emerald green katana. Its hilt was wrapped in dark green leather. Next to it was a black, ruby and emerald-encrusted sheath of the same length as the katana's blade. “Wow! Sir, how much is that katana there?” Lathanos asked Gwindor, pointing at the green katana.

“That one there is 467 rupees without the sheath, and 523 rupees with it.” replied Gwindor. “That katana is said to give the wielder more power when fighting a demon. It would indeed be quite useful for the adventurous type when traveling these lands nowadays,”

“Indeed it would. I would like to purchase it, Gwindor,” Lathanos replied.

“Good choice, son! With or without the sheath?” Gwindor stated.

“With it, sir.”

“Very well, then!” Gwindor reached up onto the wall and carefully pulled down the katana and the sheath. He sheathed the katana and held it out to Lathanos.

Lathanos reached out and gripped the sheath of the katana. “Thank you ever so much, Gwindor!” Lathanos exclaimed.

“That will be 523 rupees,”

Lathanos paid Gwindor willingly. Lathanos took a piece of cloth from his robe pockets and tied the sheath to the side of his obi.

“Use that with great care, son!” Gwindor said.

“Don't worry, I will.” Lathanos replied.

Soon after, Elaina had also found a weapon. She was eying a shiny dagger with a blood red blade and a midnight blue handle. “How much for this one?!” Elaina asked excitedly.

“259 rupees. The sheath is free.” Gwindor retorted.

“I'm not sure if you should have that, Elaina,” Solem said.

“Don't worry, Solem. My mom taught me how to wield one when I was little. I'll be fine!” Elaina replied.

“Oh…very well.” Solem gave in.

“Very good! This dagger will give you an agility boost when fighting!” Gwindor exclaimed. Lathanos paid for the dagger, and Gwindor took the dagger off the wall. He reached into his back pocket and took out a leather dagger sheath. He handed the sheath and the dagger to Elaina.

“Thank you, sir!” Elaina exclaimed. She sheathed the dagger and tied the sheath to her upper leg.

“Sobasa, Solem, aren't you gonna get anything?” Lathanos asked.

“I'll pass.” said Solem.

“I don't really see anything here that intrigues me…” replied Sobasa.

“Very well. Let's take our leave then,” Lathanos replied.

As they were leaving, Gwindor said, “I hope you like your weaponry!”

Once they were back in the village, someone called to them from behind. “Hey, guys! Whatcha been up to?” They spun around to come face to face with a grinning Romona. Solem approached Romona, giving her a swift kiss and a meaningful look as Elaina rushed forward to hug her. Lathanos and Sobasa just stood back and watched.

Romona excused herself quickly. She squatted down to Elaina's height, and Elaina threw her arms around Romona, hugging her tightly. She shook as she whispered into Romona's ear, “I must go back home…my grandfather…” She sounded worried as she said this.

Romona could only nod in understanding, embracing Elaina tightly. “I understand. Solem will accompany you back, but be careful for your grandfather being ill could be a trick. I don't want you hurt, nor Solem for that matter,” She whispered back. She then pulled Elaina in and held her close, as if she were her own daughter.

Solem slowly took her, and the two of them exchanged looks before Elaina and Solem disappeared out of sight. Romona turned back to Lathanos's and Sobasa's dark faces. Her hands folded in front of her as she spoke, speaking slowly and quietly, “Her grandfather is dying. She is going to be with him, but we shall see her again,”

Lathanos was about to speak when Sobasa cut him off, “Well, this DOES make our travels easier…plus, I no longer need to ride with you Lathanos. I can ride with you, Romona!” No matter how hard he tried to hide it, there was an unmistakable grin on his face.

Twenty minutes later, Sobasa had finally been revived from the beating that Romona had given him. Lathanos could only laugh and say, “Romona, could we get another horse?” Romona only nodded, unable to speak since she was out of breath. Sobasa was finally sent to get the horse while Lathanos and Romona stayed at the tavern and discussed their journey.

Sobasa looked through this city, sighing. “That girl can hit…” He muttered. This was his punishment. He had to find a horse, and to Romona this was hysterical because he had to find one that could actually keep up with Black Star and Firebolt.

Cursing silently, he continued to search Uruviel, spying a blacksmith with a stable near his home. Approaching silently, he glanced at the blacksmith. He appeared to be covered in ashes. His pants and shirt were black. His apron, however, appeared to have once been white. He had a rough beard and short hair that looked like ha had cut it himself.

Finally Sobasa came forward. “Hello sir. I need to purchase a horse from you with considerable speed and that is used to the wild,” He said.

The blacksmith jumped and nodded, saying gruffly, “Follow me,” They stepped into the stable, where every description of horse was. From short to tall, from muscular to weak, Sobasa moved down the line of horses until he came to a pure white horse with fine muscles in its legs. The blacksmith, observing Sobasa, said, “His name is White Fire,”

Sobasa entered the pen that held the beautiful horse, and as it approached, he reached out to pat its head gently, whispering, “You are a beautiful fellow, aren't you…” The horse neighed at his touch. This was the horse he would choose. He needn't know anything except his name, only that the fire in its heart matched his own.

The blacksmith eventually struck a deal with Sobasa, giving up the horse for 745 rupees. The two then left side by side. The horse and his new master were bonded by a fire only they knew, and only they understood. Romona would later observe and say, “If there was one love in Sobasa's life, it would have been the horse called White Fire.”

Sobasa found Romona and Lathanos talking at the tavern, enjoying a drink of elven wine. They were seated at a table by the window, laughing and joking back and forth. Sobasa broke the party, saying, “Let's get going. I've got a horse,”

Romona looked up slowly, saying, “Alright.” Lathanos silently agreed, and as they left, White Fire approached Sobasa, but would not let anyone else near it at all. Romona could only stare at White Fire for awhile. She then looked at Sobasa. “He suits you,” She said, being completely serious. Sobasa nodded. Lathanos found himself completely lost, and, finally giving up, turned, ready to leave.

On the outskirts of the village, Black Star and Firebolt were waiting. Sobasa had already mounted White Fire. Romona quickly mounted Firebolt. Lathanos had just mounted Black Star, when the area was suddenly enshrouded in a dark veil of evil. “So, we finally meet at last, Lathanos!” A voice behind them cackled.

Lathanos turned his head to face the one who had spoken. A figure in all black robes whose crimson eyes were all that were visible through his hood stood there. Lathanos hopped off of Black Star. Romona and Sobasa had already unmounted. “Who…who…who the hell are you?!” Lathanos asked angrily.

“You don't know who I am?! Hah! I am greatly surprised! Who else could I be?!” The figure replied.

Lathanos gasped. “You…you must be…Etheros!!!”

“Correct! I have been waiting a long time to finally meet you!” The dark figure laughed wickedly. “And now, I must kill you! You are the only one who poses a true threat to me!”

“Bring it on then!” Lathanos shouted, drawing his new katana.

“Ha ha HAH! You expect to defeat me with THAT?! How foolish! This shall be easier than I thought!” Etheros cackled. He then unsheathed a large katana from his back. The blade was a purplish black. The hilt was wrapped in bloodstained leather. “I shall deeply enjoy killing you!”

“I would like to see you try!” Lathanos said coldly. He charged Etheros, his sword raised and ready to strike. He swung at Etheros, who merely blocked. The sound of ringing steel filled the air.

“I say, that was pathetic, Lathanos, and to think that I actually thought you were the `great swordsman' talked about throughout this land!” Etheros laughed.

“You haven't seen anything yet, Etheros!” Lathanos replied viciously. He pushed off of Etheros's blade and shot into the air, unsheathing his other katana. He landed behind Etheros and swung his emerald sword at him, who turned and blocked. Lathanos grinned and swung his blue katana at Etheros's side. Etheros grabbed the blade with his free hand. Lathanos gasped. “What the?! But I thought that no demon could touch this blade!”

“Ah, but you seem to have forgotten, Lathanos, that I haven't a single drop of demon blood within my veins!” Etheros laughed maliciously. He pushed Lathanos back.

Lathanos jumped to his feet, rage coursing through his veins, and charged Etheros. Just as Lathanos had gotten to Etheros, before he could do a thing, Etheros grinned and thrust his sword through his stomach. Romona and Sobasa gasped. “Lathanos~~!!!” Sobasa cried, tears streaming down his face.

A look of agonizing pain was upon Lathanos's face. He dropped his katanas, coughing up a slight stream of blood. “…You…you…b…bastard…” Lathanos coughed weakly.

Etheros smiled maliciously. “Alas, you are not the `great swordsman' I had hoped for,” He pushed Lathanos off his katana, sheathed it, and turned to leave.

“You son of a BITCH!!!” Sobasa screamed angrily. He unsheathed a katana that had been hidden until now and charged
Etheros.

“You fool…” Etheros said darkly. He turned to Sobasa, unsheathed his katana, and struck him across the chest. He fell to the ground, blood oozing from his wound, and went unconscious. Romona gasped. “…Take her…” Etheros muttered as he sheathed his katana and once again turned to leave.

Suddenly, hundreds of dark, hooded figures appeared out of nowhere and advanced on Romona. She reached for her bow, but several of the figures grasped her wrist, and they disappeared, taking Romona along with them. That was the last thing Lathanos saw before he blacked out.

A/N: So, what did you think about Etheros?!! Evil, huh? Well, R&R!!!