Sleeping God

Chapter 2: The Runes and a Battle

A Lazuli Pen was used to draw runes in this world. They were produced by the Aurorans before their kingdom plunged into calamity. There were three types of runes:

Sanguis - a rune determining an individual's alliance and social status. Every newborn was bestowed with his or her family's Sanguis rune. It was like a birthmark.

Magis - a rune that gives the user magical powers for an hour. These magical powers may consist of the following: fire, water, earth, and wind.

Saltem - rune of health of nutrition. Due to the absence of the sun, farmers weren't able to grow edible crops for human consumption. Requila relied on artificial sun to grow food, but the growth rate wasn't fast enough to feed everyone. Food was scarce. A Saltem rune would prevent anyone from starving for a week.

Only official rune specialists were allowed to draw runes on people's bodies. They weren't cheap, but runes weren't something to be handled lightly. One wrong pattern may cost someone's life.

Riven knew what he was doing would get an earful from his father, but his people's lives were much more important.

~~

Riven and Aileen whisked off to the explosion point. Giant signboards strewed across the floor, paired with shattered glass pieces. Thick white smoke hung in the air, filling the area with a putrid scent of blood and gasoline.

In the middle of the chaos, civilians crawled towards them with hollow eyes. They barked and growled at the prince and the royal guard like threatened canines.

Aileen pulled out her dagger when a hooded figure emerged from the veil of smog.

The man withdrew his hoodie and revealed his red and unkempt hair. He opened his arms with a dramatic gesture. "Well well well...what a lucky day! I never thought I would meet Prince Riven in person."

Riven ignored him and swerved his attention to the foreign runes covering people's necks. He took a sharp breath, gritted his teeth and glared at the redhead. Drawing unknown runes was a life-threatening crime to the people.

"What have you done?" Riven's eyes went dark. He was even more incensed when the stranger started twirling around a Lazuli Pen. Stolen, Riven assumed.

The redhead tossed his magical pen and pulled out two fine blades from his pocket. "Aww...you're supposed to praise me, Your Highness! Instead of blowing these people to smithereens, I was able to make an army! It's not every day where you're going to encounter a skilled rune artist like me!"

"You're an illegal rune artist, a monster!" Aileen reviled.

The spiky red-haired male toyed with his blades. "I don't care what you think. I'm here to take down that spoiled prince with this majestic uproar. Do you know that not everyone is happy with your soon-to-be-ascension?"

Riven scratched his head and forced a laugh. "So do I. But duty is a duty."

"Riven!" Aileen hissed.

The redhead's playful expression crumpled to sheer furry. His green-cat eyes glowered at them. "You ungrateful swine. Not only you are a spoiled brat, but you take your throne for granted."

Riven sighed and turned to Aileen. "Got any swords?"

"Riven, please don't -" Aileen said.

"This is an order."

Aileen sighed, pulled out a dull blade from her sheath and handed it over. Riven's fiery index finger ran over the silver blade, coating it with dancing orange flames. The prince smirked, loving his new craft.

He pointed the blade at the redhead. "If you want it, why don't you take it from me?"

The two boys sprung from their position and clashed their weapons. Sword versus daggers.

The redhead swung his blades at the prince. Riven deflected the left dagger, but the right one sunk to his elbow. The prince winced. His breathing went heavy. His visions blurred. Was the dagger poisoned?

As the redhead ambushed Riven with his blade, Aileen jumped in and deflected his attack. Two daggers versus one. The three daggers clashed with satisfying silver clinks. The knife users were dancing with their blades until Aileen ducked and got her left leg sliced. She crashed to her knees, groaning.

The redhead roared and laughed out loud. " Is that all you got?"

While Aileen was wounded, the redhead used the wide opening to charge towards her. When he tried to move, something caught on his leg and dove his face to the floor. The redhead groaned and looked at his legs. Both of his shoelaces were tied together...but how? Aileen smirked.

"Do you think I'm playing around when I get to my knees?" Aileen stood up and pointed her blade at the fallen stranger. "Your momentary exultant cheer makes it easier for me to get the job done. Never underestimate your enemy."

"B-B-But how are you still moving?!" the redhead wriggled on the floor, panicked. "The blade is toxic. You're supposed to..."

The redhead whistled to his zombified troops. The civilians jumped at Aileen like a bunch of wolves surrounding a sheep. While Aileen wrestled with the zombies, she pulled a white signal flare and lit it up across the sky.

"I got this, Riven! Finish the hedgehog!"

The redhead's face twisted into disbelief. "What did you call me, woman?"