The Dragon Chronicles: In Twisted Time

Chapter 3: The Nomad

(The Nomad was created by Kevin De Jesus (Estrong - Gladiator in game), our former Guild Master in Ingegneri Guild. So this one is for him ^_^)

"Ah, Saint Haven, we meet again."

 It is five past midnight, and a man is wandering on the streets of Saint Haven, scurrying about like a rat, looking for something. This man is wearing a hooded cloak, and slung on his back is an enormous sword and on his right hand, a gauntlet is worn. Moments later, near the grave yard on the south port of Saint Haven, the man heard voices. Voices, which delighted him.

As the man drew nearer the graveyard, he saw five people, a lady and four men. They were in a deep conversation, and on the center, there sit a well groomed man.

"It's midnight! In case you haven't noticed, we are all sleepy, so can you please cut this out?" said Yoon.

"I assume you have a very good reason to summon us here," said Adel.

"Patience is a virtue my friends, just wait," replied Darlant.

An owl hooted in a nearby tree, all of them are startled, waiting, until Jerhald spoke. "I sense a very malevolent presence, raise your guards. We do not want to die before we complete our mission." 

All of them scattered, they positioned themselves on every corner of the graveyard. It was silent, and then it came. 

A shadow is gliding from one of the corners where Zero is positioned. Before Zero could react, he was vaulted and tumbled to the ground. The shadow is moving towards the center, where Darlant is sitting.

"Darlant, get out of there!" screamed Yoon. As the moonlight shines on the graveyard, the shadow was no more. It was a man in a red worn-out hooded cloak, and before they could all protect Darlant, the man has drawn his sword and slashed Darlant's neck.

The silence was deafening. The moon hid behind the clouds as a gruesome sight entered the scene. An enormous sword is stuck on Darlant's neck, or so it seems. Yoon watched with horror as Darlant fell on his knees, clutching his neck and gasping for air.

"DARLANT!!!!! NO!" shrieked Yoon. "FIREBALL!!".

In a blink of an eye, the hooded man was on fire. He dodged the attack and dashed away from Darlant. He was swift, dashing from one place to another, giving his chasers no time to catch up and leaving dust and sand in his wake. He was unstoppable, but his swiftness did not last long. His way was blocked by a massive relic, forcing him to stop.

"Mind if I butt in, Mr. Swordsman?" taunted Jerhald.

The man turned sideways, but it was too late. Two lightning bolts struck him, and all he could do was block it with his sword and absorb the impact. Electricity ran through his body like a knife peeling his skin, bit by bit. The man thought it was over, but as he turned his head he saw the sorceress, her face contorted with anger and chanting strange words.

He knew what was coming, he could not evade. In a matter of seconds, his burning cloak exploded. He was flung into the air, and a couple of seconds of later another blast of lightning hit him. Not from the outside, but inside his body. It was a white hot pain, he was thrown to the ground and rendered paralyzed.

The four of them surrounded him, looking at him with disgust and hatred. Suddenly, a booming laughter was heard.

"That crazy ass bastard, trying to kill me like that HAHAHA..." a voice said. It was Darlant. He was panting, clutching his stomach while suppressing his laughter.

"What the??" Yoona exclaimed. "I thought you were dead?"

"Dead? Why should I die? He never slashed me up in the first place."

"But..but...you were gasping brother!" replied Adel.

"Of course I was gasping! I was trying to contain my laughter so hard that it was getting hard to breathe!"

"Laughing? Do you know what mess did you get yourself into? We almost thought you were killed!"

"No worries there, he must have an enormous murderous intent, but he can't kill me." Darlant steps up and walks to the defeated man.

"Long time no see my friend. It looks like you weren't Estrong enough." Darlant said, grinning.

The hooded man is lying on the ground of a graveyard in Saint Haven. There was smoke coming from his body, and a piece of a burning cloth can be seen at a corner. Surrounding him were five people, four of them are puzzled and the other, amused.

"Are you sure you're fine Darlant? I saw the blade slash your throat!" exclaimed Yoona. Darlant continues to laugh

"Why are you laughing? From the looks of it, you're not taking this seriously, what if you died, what if-?"

"Don't worry about me Yoon, worry about that guy that you just pwned to death. You were assaulting an innocent bystander." Darlant replied, laughing. "I still can't believe that he did it, that idiot."

"We killed someone, OH GOD WHY?" Zero said, he was shocked to know that by his hands, he assisted in killing someone, an innocent man according to Darlant.

"No worries there Zero, he was not sinless, he tried to kill Darlant. That enormous murderous intent is enough for him to deserve death, and we clerics have the right to deliver it to him, by any means necessary." said Jerhald.

"Don't be hasty Jerhald, never count your chicks before the eggs are hatched." said Darlant. "That guy is almost dead, but not yet, he will have to answer to me. Oi you, stop lying there and stand up." Darlant turned to the defeated man and shook him.

The hooded man is stirring, he picked up his sword and leaned on it like a staff. Under his hood, a very malicious smile can be seen. "You..got..me..there...Darlant.." the man said, as obvious sound of panting and heavy breathing can be heard from him. "I never thought that your "bodyguards" are prepared to kill anyone who tries to kill you."

"Careless as always, you never change Est. Your bloodlust cannot be contained, even I was surprised. You heard Jerhald right? The one that summoned the relic. Your intent to kill me is enough to deserve death. Nevertheless, I am happy that I am able to see you again, old friend." Darlant replied. He looked around and said, "Enough with this useless talk, introduce yourself to my comrades Est."

The man stood up and threw off his cloak. Like Darlant, he was grinning. All of them are surprised by what they have seen. As they see him, he was not a grown man at all, but a young man. He has a spiky brown hair and very deep brown eyes that has no hint of murderous intent at all. His clothes were burnt and full of holes but the thing that surprised them is that he was not injured. There was no trace of any physical damage on body. Even on his face, there was no scratch. Smiling, he looked at the surprised audience and spoke.

"I go by the name of Estrong, Nomad as they call me around these parts. Second-in-command of the great Admiral Darlant, lost friend and wanderer of the sands. I walk unseen, save this night. I am a Gladiator. I crave blood and I shall have it, in this life or the next." said Est. "You do not know me, and I do not know you. The night is long, I shall entertain your questions one by one, but not this time, I cannot continue. It's about time the Highlander wore off. "

He passed out and fell to the ground.