This Journey Alone

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

In the marble castle lay Theo in his room. Full of tapestries of ancient battles and stories now assumed to be myth. With a giant ornate glass window looking over all of the kingdom. As the rest of the lands were cut off by the cement wall. Reinforced with steel metal work on the inside to keep out all who lay siege.

At the foot of his royal bed. Lay the sword his father bestowed upon him today. The sword was very glamorous but different in the many I've used before. With two bronzed eagles as hand guards. A jeweled grip with a single large ruby that slides out to reveal a thin stiletto knife as long as the hilt and goes a little more into the blade. What did not make sense was the hilt. It fit a great sword not a short sword. As well as four unicorn horns to crown the eagles. In the heart of the eagles lay a glassed eye on each side. Not only creepy but these eyes were the eyes of a Phoenix above all.

Sometimes when I looked deep into the eye I saw a small flicker of flame wanting to burst out. Left in there by the now blind Phoenix. Waiting another 1000 years to be reborn again. With a gold blade edged with mithril. To an untrained eye this was a show piece, made for a prince. However if they saw the gleam of this mithril edge in the sunlight they would surely run. Even more intriguing was the blade and the edge were segmented. As if they were cut into parts, and then fused together.

Suddenly the bells chimed twelve. Which meant it was time for lunch. In the grand dining room lunch was set of honey glazed pork roast and steamed vegetables. For all the twelve council members, their family, and the royal family. After we ate the staff would eat, and instead of waiting for everyone to finish. The staff ate right after their seat at the table opened up. So out of courtesy I try to eat quickly so my butler Rulo may sit and eat as well.

After lunch I had sword practice where I sparred with Rulo. Who also doubled as a guard for me. It was always fun to spar with him because I've never had to hold back even on the most dangerous of moves. Such as a whirling pirouette with my sword outstretched. It was a new move I learned and I wanted to try it. However Rulo quickly taught me that I was unbalanced as I performed it when he told me "If u are going to take a risk like that make sure your opponent. Won't knock you down during the returning swing." Then shoved me to the ground before I could steel myself.

What happened after sparring was beyond my comprehension. Rulo showed me that the Phoenix eye rotates. Into the four Cardinal directions each one with a different weapon. Facing North the weapon would become a great sword. When it faced East as it did now it would be a short sword. However when it faced South the blade shortened just a bit and the hilt slid out to form a spear! Finally, when it faces West the blade curves down a bronzed eagle. To form a scythe and then the blade lengthens and curves downward ever so slightly.
This would be a very interesting story of how my father pulled this one off.