Warrior - Cursed by Birth

Chapter 1 - Chaos/Failure

Chapter One

Chaos/Failure

The world around her was in flames.

But she didn't care. She was too engulfed in her own brand of fire. The heat of the fight, the taste of blood on her lips, the excitement of metal hitting metal or penetrating flesh – these were the things that made her feel alive. This is what she was designed for, this is why Alanis was created: to fight, to kill and to revel in it.

Chaos surrounded her, painful screams and shouts of agony and fear fed her resolve and will, as her thirst for violence grew stronger. Her Kingdom was falling and all she cared about, all she could see were warm bodies begging to be torn apart. She answered their pleas by slashing her sword across their fragile skin and enjoying every moment of it.

And then, suddenly, the world stopped. Silence engulfed her and her vision became focused, her mind resolute in one single purpose.

The sound of the horn was hypnotizing. Her King was calling her.

She had to go to him.

Nothing else mattered, nothing else existed. Only her King and his protection. There was no higher calling.

Alanis ran towards the castle, shoving and pushing whoever was on her way, friend or foe, there was no distinction anymore. They were just obstacles in the way to her King.

A man stood in front of her, his sword ready to strike. Without even slowing her step, she swung her own sword in front of her and, with inhuman speed and an inhuman heart, promptly slashed his chest open.

Ignoring the bloody carcass she was leaving behind, she ran. She ran towards the sound of the horn, to her King. She ran deeper into the darkness, into the Castle Grounds. The closer she got to the Royal Gardens, the lighter the air became, the sky was less red, it was deadly blue and the screams and echoes of the battle were only a distant noise. She always thought those woods were enchanted. Maybe they really were.

The Royal Gardens were so massive in size and splendor they resembled more a magnificent forest. They held a heavy aura of magic and wonder, beautiful and peaceful in all their natural darkness. It was a maze of old and majestic trees, wild flowers and hidden paths waiting for an outsider's soul to get lost in them.

It was her favorite place to be, apart from the place she held at her King's right.

She ran as fast as she could through the maze, guided not only by her urgency and knowledge, but mainly by instinct. Her body moved on its own, perfectly in synch with the natural world, completely dominated by her carnal need to save her King.

Alanis finally arrived at the Garden's entrance; a sculptural and ancient stone fountain surrounded by a semi-circle of stone benches, a place breathing history, where Kings of older times had held their war meetings, had signed treaties and dealt truces and asked important questions to the stars.

Immediately, she knew she wasn't alone.

He was waiting for her and, as soon as she saw his eyes and his stance, she knew he was her kin. She felt power emanating from him and wondered what he was capable of.

He didn't wait much to prove her right.

He never moved, but the world did. The earth morphed into a murderous wave and, with unnatural speed and brutality, tried to swallow her whole. In one swift and confident motion, she extended her arm, opened her hand and concentrated, creating an invisible and protective wall around her. The impact destroyed the earth wall and was so strong she had to concentrate to keep her shield intact.