Swords of Intent (sequel to Rose of Titanium)

Chapter 17: An Old Tale

POV: 3rd

Noble Six was being shown the past by Jinn. "Locked away by her cruel father, Salem was a girl who desired but one thing... Freedom." Salem looked outside her window to watch the world. "She lived in a time where kings and their kingdoms were plentiful, when men and women were capable of greatness, and magic was a gift from the gods that all could wield." Salem walked across the room to take a seat. She used her magic to make spheres that spun around wach other. "Yet there she sat in her tower."

The scene changed to the outsides of the palace.. "Until one day, a legendary hero came to brave the challenges within the castles walls." Six saw a man in armor with a staff that had a green jewel on the top. "The people of the land knew him... As Ozma." The spartan watched as Ozma walked toward the castle. "Unlike those who had come before, this warrior was not diven by the prize of the young maidens hand." Projections of various people were shown to have fought and died before even getting to the palace gates. "He fought only for righteousness, and his pure heart and courageous soul prevailed. Six was shown images of Ozma fighting his way through the castle. Ozma flung the door open, causing Salem to shoot up out of her chair, but when she saw it wasn't who she expected she gave a smile. "The two escaped the wretched fortress..." Images of the two battling the castle guards were shown. "... And yet, something bound them together."

The scene changed to show Ozma and Salem running from the castle, leaving it in the distance before they stopped to catch their breaths. "Ozma had been ready to give his life for justice countless times, but now saw a woman worth saving it for. And Salem, to her surprise, found her freedom not in the outside world she had yearned for; but in the eyes of the man that had saved her."

"So... Where should we go now?" Salem asked Ozma.

The hero offered his hand to her. "Wherever you'd like."

Salem took his hand as the scene changed again and Jinn continued to narrate. "The two fell deeply in love, planed adventures around the world, and lived happily ever after... Or at least, that's what should have been." The spartan found himself standing inside a bedroom. The sound of crying turned his attention to see Salem holding Ozmas staff as he laid in the bed. "Ozma, the Infallible Hero of Legend, fell ill. Where all the blades and the beasts of the world had fallen short, a single sickness prevailed."

Ozma disappeared in a puff of blue smoke. "How can the gods let this happen?" Salem had asked herself.

Two swirling orbs, one white and one black, turned his attention upward, Jinn continued to narrate. "The gods, brothers of creation and destruction, light and darkness. Salem had prayed that they would see the injustice that had befallen her love, and make things right again." The orbs trailed down, spiraling in a circle before they touched. A flash of light changed the setting once more.

Golden flower petals covered the ground as a path cut through them, leading to a staircase that trailed up the side of a mountain. "The Domain of Light was a sacred place." Noble Six watched as Salem set some flowers at the base of the steps as an offering before continuing up herself. "It was here that the elder brother dweled beside his fountain of life and creation. It was here where mankind would fall to ruin." Six saw at the top was a path that lead to a lake. More flower petals floated in the water, in the middle on its own island stood a tree that seemed to produce the flowers.

Once Salem approached the lake a gust of wind blew through the tree, causing some of the petals to be blown off it. The petals twirled in a circle above the water as that spot of the water started to glow. A figure rose out of the lake, not disturbing the waters at all. The gold figure had no face, but had antlers similar to that of an ancient Chinese dragon. The figure walked over to Salem as she fell to her knees. "Please, please bring him back to me" Salem begged.