The Swordmaster's Apprentice

Chapter Three

First Draft - Unedited

oOo

A thud sounded as Richard collapsed, hitting his head on a rock and instantly began to bleed, had he not been seriously injured Alyss would have been rolling on the floor with laughter. She rushed to his side propping his head up and cleaning the blood with a piece of cloth she had, had in her bag.

"You're right in saying he's an imbecile, but..." She glanced at Surriah, the tension between them passing, "please can you and Surriah sort out an area in your cave for him?"

She moved him into a position that had he been awake would have been more comfortable, waiting until either Harvald or Surriah returned to help her carry Richard. His body began convulsing, shivering and fighting to jump from her grasp, his mouth began to foam a white frothy liquid and his eyes were consumed by a cloudy white fog.

"Richard! Richard, wake up!"

He bolted up, but his surroundings were different. The last thing he remembered was seeing Harvald, then black spots had filled his vision. And Alyss' voice calling to him whilst his eyes felt as though they had bricks holding them down. Around him magma spewed from welts on the ground, the rocky terrain he had been stood on had morphed into red, cracked material littered in black veins. The sky was filled with black clouds, purple lighting striking the ground in front of him.

Black gates. He could see black gates, a sign of civilisation, a sign of... hope. It was strange, the gates brought a sense of death and depression to him, yet he was filled with hope. Hope that fueled him as he pushed himself up from the ground.

"Where am I?"

"Think human, what region is known for having lava... red, cracked ground and big black gates?" The voice sneered, laughing at Richard's thoughts spoken out loud.

"Hell... Wait! Who are you?" Richard spun around, searching everywhere for the voices form, "Show yourself!" His hand dropped to the hilt of a blade at his hip, sliding it from its sheath and standing in a defensive position.

Suddenly, a swarm of black flew from behind a rock, intertwining to form a giant figure, towering over him. It held a long broadsword that seemingly absorbed light into the abyss of black surrounding it. "I am the living embodiment of a god. My name... is one that your stories portray as a demon. But to you, I am a friend."

"Your name!"

"My name is not something you require at this moment. For now, call me 'friend'." His inhumane figure melted into one a little smaller than Richard, his face was shadowed by a void of black. His body melted into the shadows themselves.

"I-I..." Richard thought for a moment, "How do I get out of here... friend?" His sword was still at his hip, so if needed he could defend himself. For miles, red rugged rocks covered in lava dominated the landscape with not an exit in sight. The black gateway from before had disappeared. "There is no doorway... no portal, nothing!"

"You are the doorway, Richard!" The man reached forward before he could react, tapping on his chest, "Reach inside. Feel the power you possess."

Richard felt a surge in his stomach, a pang in his heart. Looking down he could see golden wisps enveloping his arms, spiralling up them in intricate patterns. Like rivers of shimmering light. Slowly his arms turned to dust, he could see the smirk on the man's face, the casted shadow had slowly begun to fade and his pale white features were beginning to show. "What's happening to me? I-I am I dying?"

"Ask your 'mentor', Harvey!" His smirk showed his yellowy decayed teeth, "Tell him that Morgiath said hi." He flicked his hand and a long black spike appeared. "Don't forget my mercy, Richard." He raised the spike to his chin. The golden light turning his body to dust had reached his shoulders.

"H-Help me, please! I don't want to die!"

"Why would I help you, Swordmaster?" Richard stared into Morgiath's eyes finding nothing but a void of black. He had no soul. "Till next time... friend."

Richard sputtered, sending the white froth filling his mouth all over Alyss' dress. He gasped in air, filling his lungs that felt as though they had been stabbed repeatedly. The golden glow remained. His arms were wrapped in it and his iris' were circled in a rim of bright yellow.

"How did you-"

"Harvald we need to talk!" Richard had pushed himself up, standing at his full height. He held an aura of authority, one that surpassed that even or Surriah.

"You found it on your own..." He shook his head, "It took me years to learn to harness it." Harvald turned to Surriah, "For his Celestial to have been awakened, it must have sensed great danger." He ran his hand through his hair, flexing his bicep, "Richard did you see anything whilst you were under? You muttered something about a gateway?"

"He said his name was Morgiath, he-"

"Did you say Morgiath?" He was shaking. His eyes were filled with hate. Harvald's hand had dropped to the hilt of his sword, which he had partially drawn.

"Yeah..."

"What did he look like?" He growled, not specifically at Richard, but at the thought of him returning.

"His face was covered for most of the time... but when I started to glow the shadow faded." Richard did the same thing as Harvald in pushing his hand through his messy mob of hair. "His face was- well, deathly white, his eyes were pure black, and he had long wispy hair that looked as thin as wire."

"Shit!"

"Harvald! Language!" Surriah scolded. Her tone was playful as if she were deliberately attempting to change the subject. She was. "There are children in our presence."

"Richard listen to me carefully, note every word I say and never forget them." He stared directly at him, locking eyes. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good, had I known before this, I would have already begun to train you. But I didn't." His glance left Richard's eyes and trailed to the sword at his hip, "You're a Braveheart Richard, you are a descendant of my family. Within you is the great-grandchild of Surriah, the last connection to the Celestials." He checked to see if Richard was paying attention, "You have a connection with the Celestials, our family always has. Ever since Surriah awoke within me, our family has had the capability of ruling the world. We chose not to, or at least we did have to option until they conformed to the fears of public." Harvald grew angrier by the second, "Our family. Your parents and their parents before gave up their heritage for a life of farmers. We were warriors!"

"But the Bravehearts are just the family from the myths, they disappeared years after Harva- you defeated Morgiath."

"Yes, my wife took my son and hid. It was my wish that they disappear, hid away from the forces of evil that remained. How I was wrong! I should have kept them by my side. Trained my son to be the warrior he was destined to be!"

"So you're like my great-great-great-grandfather?" Richard had sat down, resting his head in his palms. Alyss had wrapped her arms around his chest and sat behind him.

"Yes, I am your ancestor." He shook his head, "I tell you the tragic history of what our family. The protectors of Kings and Queens had become, and your first thought is 'your my great-great-great-grandfather'?" His face became shadowed with guilt and remorse, "This is going to be a lot harder than I thought!"

"What is?" This time it was Alyss that spoke up, "You keep saying that you have to do something, yet you never say what it is." She stood from behind Richard, "Don't get me wrong- I'm grateful that you came for us, but our town is down there being pillaged and raised by savages!"

"Sometimes my dear sacrifices are necessary." His voice trailed off, and he fell into deep thought. There was a loud crash and golden light flooded the plateau.