Chapter 1
The Dream
"This accursed nightmare, how long will it keep tormenting me, ill see you at the end Mavis". Watching the pink sun dawn on him, jesting him to keep going as the endless white sand blows forevermore. Cyrus looks behind him to see if they lost him, he caresses his necklace knowing his only choice is foward away from the Kingdom. Looking like he is miles alone he then looks at the shadow that is slowly nearing him. "Damn even demons wont leave me be" already tired from the Umbra guards chasing him. He then takes his white robes off to display his curved sword and with the other hand readys an incantion. To his luck a wraith slowly walks behind him, above the sand dune in deep sleep with its single large eye closed and triangular head. It keeps walking ahead in the same direction paying no mind to cyrus. Having been chased for a while cyrus sighs in relief and sheaths his weapon. "At least i dont have to fight" knowing that all he had to do was not get in its way he walks to his side and lets it trodd along. Seeing its black body with long arms disappear in the horizon, Cyrus keeps walking keeping his hood on as the pink sun never sleeps.
He slowly walks for two days always glacing behind his back and slowly makes it to a small town. Walking near the city gates made of sand stone with drawings of a god holding a pewter staff with rune words around it. He notices the guards coming by with their edged spears, black cloaks and tan skin, trying to identify him as friend or foe. "State your name" he says eyeing me down. Taking my chances i take off my hood showing my old aged face and short hair. "I am Cyrus follower of nadin" in a gruff voice slightly bowing, showing my circlet steel chains on my wrists. The guard approves and says "May Nadin find your end or the demons" as he gestures toward the entrance. "Looks like word of me hasnt made it here yet" thinking as i lose grip of my straight sword. Having stolen a fragement of a dark rune from the merchant King Yuma. After he showcased it in the black market it was only natural to take it before the Xanu mages got a hold of it. The Xanu Shadow mages are force to be reckoned with already and Lord Xanu is more fearfull than an army, commanded by the Umbra King. Taking the dark fragment was worth the chase as it took me one step closer to escape the pale desert in secrecy. Walking in throught the gates theres a statue of the very same figure but with more detail than the drawing. River god Nadin for he is who guides travelers to safety with warning, he has six arms with each different ornaments. A half human and half demon with a pewter staff, wearing only lower robes with golden runes enscribed.
"Five gods and one to praise are survival to escape, its a wonder how the others even got followers" while moving through the bustling streets of Noran. I glance in every which way to see many pale skinned people in black hoods with straps of books on their backs, dead bodies or demon body parts in wooden carts. The town as i walk by noticing the attention i was getting with the white cloak and sword. I look around and spot a merchant with many outfits and weapons. The merchant was bald with a long tangled beard, leather armor and black eyes with both white pupils. As i get his a attention he gestures me to the side and asks in bored tone "What is it you want old man" while looking at my circlet chains. "Black armor and flexible metal armor that makes me look younger" i ask. He smirks and says "ah look someone who doesnt bore me with a look of despair, alright". As i pay for the outfit, he says "didnt know you were one of the damned". In myriad, wanderers looking for a way out of the dream who are guided by the god Nadin. While venturing they wear black circlet ornaments on thier wrists to symbolize the years spent in the eternal sun to never forget the time past. "Sadly so if not for the demons who pass the time" i say. With more years crossing the desert and the bloodied body's smiling at the sun its kept me bitter to keep going.
Nodding him farewell, i walk toward the entrance only to hear THOOM as i see bits of wood go everywhere. "Fuck" i say as im sent flying towards the wall and the people scatter in all directions. "To think you were this easy to find" horsley says one of the three xanu shadow mages. With two speaking incantations they pull out their swords and start dancing. Sending sword slashes nonstop in the shape of a shodows towards my direction "damn depraved idiots Im Not Going To Die Till Nidan Says My Name"! I throw my sword to destract them and start an incantion for speed as i start running throwing black smoke bombs. "Dark Palm"! says the main xanu to blow all the smoke with a shodow hand. I duck and make to their frontline "Nadin My Path Doesnt End Here"! as i grab my sword and behead the two on the side that tried to dissipate into shadows. "Lord Xanu will have your head" he says as we both start slashing are sword at each other outside of the shop. Blowing white sand in every move "Die Wretched Nadin"! As he swings faster with more levity dashing side to side. As i pull out the fragment of the dark rune i bellow "Dark God Nikan Bestow Me Your Power!
As he realizes this, he readys to defend summoning deathly souls formed into a wall.
"He must be bluffing" thinks the xanu "nice try" as he cuts throught his own wall of defence at lightning speed charging at Cyrus. "He took the bait" thinks cyrus as he drops the rune fragment immediately and turns to the side. Only for the xanu to strike at air where the head supposed to be and be cut in half as his innards to spill from the sword slash. "Ughh" he grumbles at trying to speak words as he falls with black eyes rolling back. "Huff huff" i breathe deeply trying to catch air, "fuck that was close" lying on the floor gasping. As all the smoke clears showing its residents all holding weapons ready to fight. Seeing as a xanu gaurd was killed, they all run in desperation away knowing this would get lord Xanu's attention. The merchant from before covered in sand from head to toe brushes it off and says. "Ohh its been too long that i havnt seen blood"! shouting excitedly at me "Names Kanan young man" as he laughs helping me up. "I thought you ran" i say, "run no but watch behind my shield i did, hopefully that rock is fake if not i will kill you next time we meet". As he holds my sword "oh please im ill be too tired for a next time, fighting these xanu at my age" i laugh playing it off . He laughs "best you hurry now and grab what you can then, salvage from this shitty shop, as lord Xanu willl soon arrive" with a dark look Feeling the uneasiness just from his name i grab what little i can find that hasnt been slashed in two or blown to peices.
After packing what i could, Kanan says showing his full battle gear "damn reinforcements" as he looks beyond the horizon. With the thundering boom of a sandstrom, boyond the horizon are the horses dashing across the sand. Ever slowly but with bloodshot eyes as they hold their swords to the sky. Kanan blowing a whistle calls his black horse to him and mounts him. "Well see each other soon in battle follower of Nidan". Then riding away with a faint silver shimmering sheild he rides past the now deserted town of Noran. "He didnt even think about taking me" i smirk, thinking of the next place to go. To hide before the hounds find me "Maybe misdri nuns can help me" knowing there a bunch of hermits on mount kasamor. Deciding it i glance at my map then grab one of the black horses abandoned horses left by locals and head east. With the xanu on my left i lash the horse as it gallops in full speed out of the city towards the open desert. "Sand sand and more sand" i say looking around after losing sight of the xanu. With the constant beams of sunrays breaking me, i hood my self while giving the horse a break riding slowly endlessly. Above the wyrm drakes body miles in length sing in moledic tune in the boundless blue sky.
Nearing the bottom of a plateau i see a small cave no bigger than a wraith in the distance. As it overshadows me i kick with my back heel to slow the horse and jump off it. "Looks like were lucky" thinking while taking the horse with me. Sitting down inside with shade i take out the fragment dark rune. "Oh mavis if only you've seen me get this far" i say remembering are past travels ". Looking closely at the rune i only this much of the dark god. Nikan's dominant sorcery in myriad had the power of death for those who followed him in darkness. As such using it too much would drive them mad to death without his favor. "To believe this rock can drive me to rival a lord if i worshiped Nikan" i say looking at the runic words enscribed on it. Hearing sounds of the wailing horse out side of the cave "looks like i got a visitor this fast" i think as i brandish my sword. Knowing i have no way out i stand in position waiting tensely not knowing my fate. With a flash of lightning from the blade of a sword is slashed but stopped near the side of my neck as im too slow to dissipate. Shocked i let go of my blade and speak "A Sworn" i say as the lighting crackles throught the swordspear.
