Phoenix: The nuruk beast.

Chapter one: Encounter

Seated within many mountains and forests was a kingdom unlike any other, one that was feared throughout the land. After ending a war that strived for many a moon, the kingdom Dameran was renowned as a stronghold built on the wisdom of its leaders and the strength of its warriors like many other great kingdoms of the time. But unlike many, this precise kingdom was the home to a select few persons who would unravel a tale unlike any other.

William approached a young lad with dark caramel skin and short dull black hair sitting against the only apple tree standing within a grassy field or as William knew it, his friend's favourite reading spot. A shame such a beautiful place was so far from his everyone and everything, at least to William it was. The setting sun made the autumn leaves of the tree glow a tad in a golden-brown colour. William closed his eyes giving a weary sigh as he noticed the book in the lads' hands. 'Riveildian Tales' it read, he wore on a friendly grin and called on to him with his usual lively tone,

"Hello Aldrich."

Aldrich's gaze met Williams with a blank stare from his black half-closed eyes, something William had grown accustomed to.

"What do you want?" Aldrich said to William in a somewhat punitive tone.

William rested his lanky shoulder on the tree trying to have a peek at what Aldrich was reading but was stopped as Aldrich shut the book close, he looked at Aldrich with a grin on his face and asked,

"Since when aren't you delighted to see me?"

"Since I met you." Aldrich said derisively,

They both smiled and burst into laughter, he tapped Aldrich on his knee and said to him "come on, it's getting late." William was Aldrich's only friend at the time, though he wasn't the most skilled or outstanding person, he had a blithe personality which led him to always find himself in trouble, this made him someone Aldrich wanted to avoid. But after several juvenile challenges and unnecessary visits by William since Aldrich's arrival to Dameran, William had successfully pestered Aldrich into becoming his one friend, and Aldrich had, though unwillingly found his best friend.

It wasn't long before the two friends soon left the grassy fields and arrived in the cobblestone covered streets of their neighbourhood where the shop keepers and the likes by the street sides prepared to close their dealings and return to their various homes. The tranquil silence that filled the air was something Aldrich could not appreciate enough, for it seemed like only a few months ago when this new-found peace was something every person in Dameran longed for.

"I can't believe how much things have changed since the war ended" William said,

"It's almost like it was bad dream we all shared."

"One that ended in Dameran's victory that is."

"All because of the weapons master" Aldrich remarked.

Indeed, Dameran had suffered times of war. And one could only wish they were from times well past but the several losses the people of Dameran suffered, including the loss of the former king was a painful reminder of what tragedies the war had given them. However, the war was believed to be won by one person. A warrior who was known by many names, one of which explained the ability feared the most by the enemies of Dameran. Many believed this warrior to have mastery over every weapon made, yes, the warrior was known eminently by the people of Dameran as the weapons master, hero of Dameran.

The moon had completely revealed itself now and with it, came its light. Aldrich noticed a dim glow shining from Williams's belt. It didn't take long for Aldrich to figure that the light was being reflected from a daggers edge which was half tucked in its sheath tied to William's belt, he looked at him with twinge of frustration in his eyes and groused,