Arkos

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Rui stood looking down as his kingdom slowly burned away. The screams of his people pierced his soul deeply, the sound of countless thuds as their bodies slowly dropped to the ground. The sound of ripping flesh as the demons tore every limb apart.

A father stood near by getting torn to shred by the razor sharp claws of a demonic lion, screaming as his guts were being pulled out from his bottom torso. Rui winced as he saw a little girl nearby watching this all happen.

Trembling in fear, her little hands grasped onto the only remaining possession she had. A little teddy bear, a gift from her father, now being eaten alive right in front of her. Her eyes widened and tears of sorrow slowly dripped down her cheeks. She tried to scream out for help but she remained frozen, not able to speak a single word. She looked around her, fathers sacrificing themselves for their family, mothers shielding their children from the horror, children crying for their lives. As the demon finished off her father, it slowly came towards her ready to tear the little girl's body apart. She slowly closed her eyes accepting death just like her father had.

As the demon swung its massive paws in a crescent shaped arc at the girl's head, she didn't feel the impact. She slowly opened her eyes to see a man standing in front of her grasping onto the demons paws preventing them from reaching her. He stood wearing a massive cape, embellished with gold and diamonds. Although blood stained, the crest of nobility glimmered brightly in the surrounding flames. On his head was a crown that she would never be able to forget. The crown that symbolized her country, Arkos.

"King Rui?...." The girl said in confusion. "You're suppose to be our king! Get out of here before the demons get to you!"

Rui's eyes shined as he looked at the girl. "I have failed to protect this country and as a king I am a failure. Everything will be destroyed... However If I can save at least you, there is still hope left for this country. Your words just now have proven you are worthy of my legacy. I have never seen a little one like you so brave and willing to protect"

"I summon the power of the light! Light is the power to all life, it is the source of all life, Shine your light brightly on those who have fallen to darkness. Extinguish those that radiate with evil. Bring everything back to life! Ray of Entity!!"

Rui eye's slowly glowed like the sun and a beam of light flashed onto him from the clouds and engulfed his body. Slowly he grasped onto the girl and brought her closer to him.

"This is it little one, don't move until this is over!" Rui screamed.

The ray of light began to permeate and slowly spread towards his surroundings. The fire immediately was put out and the demons surrounding him were brought to their knees. Their high pitched screams echoed throughout the kingdom as the light spread across the whole kingdom. More demons joined the cacophony of screams as the burning light came upon them. They began to turn to dust as each ray of light brushed across their bodies. A slow agonizing death for every single one of them. Soon a deadly silence overcame the country. An empty silence that Rui was never used to. The sounds of laughter and happiness was no more.

As Rui's spell dissipated, he slowly dropped to his knees and coughed up blood. The girl in disbelief tried to aid him but he slowly brushed her off.

"Girl... this is it for me. I've used a forbidden spell that takes my life. I do not have much time. What is your name?" Rui asked.

"It is Urya Jean Qonia my king" she said as she slowly bowed down.

"Raise your head Urya" Rui said with a smile.

"You are a strong little girl and I'm afraid you have a long lonely journey ahead of you... but I am sure you will make loyal companions along the way" Rui said.

"Soon you will be the only remaining survivor of Arkos. Do not forget your roots young one and walk with pride... From here on out your name will be Urya Jean Arkos, Next leader and queen of our nation" Rui's voice slowly got weaker and weaker.

"I will now bestow the power of the light onto you, Only the nobility is allowed to have these magical powers but I am making an exception. Use this power for the good of mankind... Do not let this power fall to darkness."

Rui slowly touched Urya's forehead with the palm of his hands. Although his hands were rough and bulky, Urya felt a comforting sensation entering her body. Her body entered a relaxing trance as magical energy flowed through her body.

"I, 28th King of Arkos, Rui Lian Arkos, hereby declare the 29th Queen of Arkos. Let the light guide her path towards enlightenment. " Rui bellowed into the sky.

A circle of sparkling light particles formed around the two as the ceremony came to an end and slowly faded into the ground.

Rui slowly reached for his crown and with the last remaining energy he had, gently placed it on top of Urya's head. He smiled at Urya ... a gentle smile. A smile full of happiness and hopefulness. A smile full of regrets and mistakes. A smile containing every single emotion he had experienced in his lifetime. He closed his eyes as he faded into nothingness. He believed.