The Marakese

Eternity

A slice of Heaven! uttered Darticus as he opened his eyes to the bright sun light with the leaves fluttering atop the trees. I must be dead, said Darticus only to be brought back to hell with the voice of Seronn. Darticus helped himself up and put the sword to the ground. He lay against the sword with his large frame digging a deeper grave underneath. Who are you? Darticus asked Seronn. I'am what you have become, replied Seronn as he came with his sword swinging only to be blocked by the king at the last minute. A fool? asked Dartcius. No, a monster, replied Seronn. Now fight me! he said and came lunging forward. Darticus used all his strength again and blocked him. His strength was all used up by now. He fell on the ground slowly. Kill me! said Darticus to Seronn. " Be done it with" he shouted. No, your death does not come with my hands nor are you worthy enough to give us your soul! said Seronn. Darticus lay there still with his hand grasping the soil nearby. You will die! but not in my hands, said Seronn and vanished into thin air.

"The troops of the north came searching for him and found him a while later". There he is ! shouted a soldier and the others came surging forward. They carried him and walked back towards the North. "Am I dead?" asked Darticus to the soldier. No my king, you are very much alive. Queen Angela sent us to bring you back home. Darticus closed his eyes. He could hear the gawking of the birds nearby screeching for his blood. Smelling and flying around the man whose corpse was more wanted by the foul birds that hung above than the man himself. The next time he opened his eyes he lay on the bed with Angela watching over him. What makes you so afraid? she asked him. Darticus closed his eyes again. She held his hands with hers. " What makes you run?" she asked him. Me! Replied Darticus. " What I have become". She held his hands even more tightly. " You have become what you were always destined to become" she replied. A monster? asked Darticus this time his eyes being wide open. No, a man! she replied. " A man who can make mistakes , a man who is not perfect, and a man who is not a god!" she said to him. He left her hands and Angela wondered if her words were comforting or it pushed him even further down the grave he had dug himself. She left him all by himself.

Archimedes.....

Got back on his horse and went back to training. " What does he train for?" Asked Hana to Zeno. What do you breathe for? Asked Zeno back. To live, replied Hana. Precisely, said Zeno. He looked at her and asked "Do you know how to fight?". With my hands yes, but with a sword i would be terrible, she replied. Zeno looked at Archimedes and was watching him keenly. Hana was perplexed as he had abruptly cut their conversation short. Uncle, she said. Zeno looked at her. "Will you teach me ?" She asked him. Teach me how to wield a sword and ride a horse, she asked him. I will not teach you, but he will, said Zeno pointing at Archimedes. When do I begin? She asked him. He looked around and so did she, seeing the state their homes were in. She understood and immediately walked down to where Archimedes was training. Hers walked to Zeno after seeing Hana had left him. Uncle? She said. Does she know? She asked him. She knows! Replied Zeno. That is a shame, said Hana. Not anymore, he said to her and turned his attention to Hana trying to get on a horse. What are they doing? asked Hera. Breathing! Replied Zeno. Hera did not understand what that meant , but she too joined Zeno in watching them train.

In a drastic change of weather, there were thunderstorms and lightning all around the mountains. Go inside! Said Zeno to Hera. And so did Archimedes say to Hana. To go inside while they were in the middle of training. Hana agreed to his request and went inside. Zeno watched as Archimedes trained under the heavy rainfall. "Archimedes" he shouted to him. Uncle Zeno, said Archimedes as he gathered pace around his horse. His sword was now high up in the air as a lightning strike came and struck it. Once, twice and a dozen times. Zeno walked back in well knowing that Archimedes has well and truly returned!