Joram eventually wakes up, he is on the ground, his staff next to him. Standing up, he takes his staff and charges it with Ki. It hurts, but far less than before. (this is the compressed Ki that was already a deposit in the staff, mixing with the uncompressed Ki that is in Jorams reserves). He gives a quick jolt of Ki, and a thin beam breaks through one side of the cave wall; and to the outside. Joram falls to his knees. “Well, I have another option.” he shakily stands up. The two suns are beginning to rise, and Joram sets out north (unknowingly to the Mountain Portal). Joram eventually comes to a frigid landscape, but keeps going. He comes to a mountain, and rests in a cave. Many days past, as Joram sat in the cold, freezing air. In a state of meditation, and hibernation. He trained his mind, he trained his body, he trained his Ki. For him, a week was a passing second. Joram opened his eyes, and he had grown weak. The cold began to kill him. He stood up, and dragged himself out, over to the mountain; the black sun was rising over the mountain. He fell to the ground, and a portal opened up in front of him. A chorus of voices rang over the north, and Joram was filled with strength. He stood up, and entered the portal. A white flash engulfed Joram, he was filled with knowledge and power. He was thrown against the rocky wall, his body was steaming and some skin was burnt off, and charred black. He stood up, he began to speak a language he never knew (that would be Kings Bashi). He was no longer cold, and he had restored energy. He flew south, and became lost in the equatorial forest caverns. The caverns echoed with each step, and the animals scattered every time he walked. The ceiling lanterns (an animal), glow with each step. Joram sits, and rests. The humid air begins to precipitate on his skin, and it makes his hoodie very heavy. Joram sits up, and takes a breath “Dante is a fool. He thinks he can contain a will for freedom.” Joram stands up “Well, he probably is worried I’m ravaging a city, or killing someone… better get back.”
Joram walks out, and eventually finds the Capitol. He walks in the front doors, and goes to the Throne room. (A giant room with basically no lighting other than the few lanterns that hung throughout the room, and one very large throne in the center) “Dante, I'm here… don't worry.” “Why would I need to worry my small friend? Other than for your safety?” Dante says happily. Joram blows off his remark, and walk into his cell, and leaves the door open. “What are you doing?” Dante asks mildly surprised. “Did Nuorala not tell you that we have a room for you?”
“No, I need a dark room to think… besides…. I looked at it…. It's too bright, and it is too crowded. I like the cell more, i would like a clay floor though.” “I can have that arranged. Any other requests Amico?” Dante says. “No, that’s it.” Joram says in his sullen manner. “Alright. Your new room should be ready in a few hours if Jerarus actually works rather than Holocube his wife” Dante says loudly A voice from another room says “I heard that” “You were meant to!” Dante says. “Servi! Tattica di Joram in una volte!” Dante says to a small group of women and men in a room nearby. Joram walks out of his cell, and pulls Dante aside once the servants enter the cell. “Dante, I need to ask you something.” “Of course, anything.” Dante says. “I was in The North… and had an encounter with a portal, white and swirling… I heard a choir of voices…. What is this… what does it mean?” “A choir? As in many voices?” Dante asks “You may have heard the ancestors of Yt Tariat. Meaning you must’ve been dying…”
“I was in the northern most region… but what was the portal? I saw a... ah- black sun… the land was dark…. All i saw was that white portal, after I came out…. I could speak a language I never learned…. Or heard, ever!” “That IS strange, what language was it that you learned my friend?” Dante asks thoughtfully. “I’m going to say hello” Joram says inforamtively “H’eohleznito zanga monshio’tatza.” “Higher Bashii?! I barely speak that and I have lived here for over forty years!” Dante says amazed. “Quanta parte del nostro linguaggio lo sai?” “What?” Joram says dumbly. “Can’t understand Lower Bashii. But can understand more complex strains.” Dante says. “Strange.” suddenly a strange white creature comes bounding out of a vent and jumps onto Dante’s shoulder with a screech. “What’s that thing?” Joram says “Joram, meet Ori. He’s my pet” Dante says scratching Ori between the ears as he chirps happily. Joram looks at the white monkey looking creature with a strange look, and looks back at Dante “Anything else on the language, anything in your scriptures?” “I’ll have my scribes take a look.” Joram walks off, and goes to the highest point of the Castle. “N’zove bicykel nomena hygiea Okami Takena.” Joram sits down, and closes his eyes. “Joram nezato, comenya nigatro n’banyi. Concudelame yuio kiloafg’ay?” an elegant voice says. Joram turn around “Who’s there?” No one is to be seen. The voice calls again “Comandef’gua, comnbade meiaya Joram.” “Joram!” Dante yells from the lower level. “You have a visitor!” Joram doesn't move. “She says it’s important!” He slowly walks down. “She says her name is Akame. You know her?” Joram freezes on the steps. “Akame?” “Yeah. Why?” Dante asks very confused Joram walks around the corner, and sees Akame sitting on a chair. She jumps up “Joram, my god, are you okay!?” she begins to check Joram for cuts or bruises. She lifts up his jacket, which he quickly forces down. “Joram, there’s a huge scar on your back, are you okay?” “A scar, really?” Joram says slightly surprised. Dante questions Joram “Why did you not tell me about this scar, and where did you get it?” “I didn't know i had one, and I have no clue.” Joram says deadly. Akame grabs Jorams hand “Joram we are going back, it's dangerous here… I don’t trust these guys.” Joram looks at Akame “Neither did I, but I got to know them… they aren't that bad…. But you should leave. They don’t like uninvited guests… especially ones who have high power levels.” Akame looks at Dante “Well he was nice enough!” Dante smiles. “He’s the emperor, he needs to be.” Joram says. Dante frown again. “Well… um… his guards weren't nice, they seem dangerous!” “They won’t do anything but protect the King… so leave Dante alone, and you’re fine.” Akame sits down on a giant chair “But Joram-” “I’m not going back, this is the only safe place for me from Her!” Joram booms Akame sits quietly, analyzing Joram. Akame gives a quiet sigh. “I know you’re against fighting… but i think it’s the only way i can get you back.” “You won't win, and you won't fight m-ugh!” Joram is kicked in the gut, and sent flying back “Joram just come home!” Joram stands up, and picks up his staff from the ground “I’m not going back!” He lunges at Akame, and grabs her leg. Smashing her into the floor, he jumps back and uses a quick jolt of Ki. Akame Rolls to the side, and volleys Ki balls at Joram. He can’t react quick enough, so he braces for the impact. The impact never comes, Akame kicks Joram in the side, and drops him to the floor. Joram charges up a Ki blast, he grabs Akame’s face and throws her to the ground. He unleashes his Ki, and creates a large crater in the stone floor. Akame gets up, and Joram is bleeding from his eyes, ears and mouth. “Like i said, i'm not going back.” He is visibly shaking, and stumbles back “Dante, take her away.” “Sorry Joram, this is your fight.” Dante calls out from the ‘sidelines’. “Dante, i swear... “ Dante smiles, and sits down. Joram sighs, and prepares for the next barrage. Joram and Akame lock eyes, they don’t move. Joram quickly stumbles forwards and grabs Akame. She grabs hold a hold to him, and they begin to beat each other. Joram gets punched in the face, and lets go. He smacks Akame with the staff, and runs behind her. He grabs the back of her head “Akame, I don’t want to hurt you… surrender and leave.” he pauses and his voice gets very serious “Or you leave me no other choice.” She begins to tear up “Joram, why… I know you trusted us, I know you felt at home with us. Why, why did you change?”
YOU ARE READING
The Reign of Dante Salvatoria.
ActionA Fantasy/ Action story centered around Lord Dante Salvatoria. A king from a distant timeline. Dante's soul is slowly being consumed by an evil force known as Sirius. Dante and his Allies must defeat this force before it destroys them.