Chapter twelve – Old enemies part one – Revealing the truth

On the way back to the surface, Atilu was mesmerised by the craftsmanship that stood behind the great staff and was eager to try out its amazing powers. However, he did not know how soon he would have to because when they got outside they saw that Chula had returned. Not only had he brought more assassins than last time but with another demon as well, who was much stronger than what they had previously faced, and had surrounded the others. Chula, full of excitement, shouted at Rendo:
“I will not lose this time! So just hand over the staff and we promise to make your deaths as quick as we can.”
Rendo’s face expressed great fury and anger like never before but not because of the demon-treiner but because of the other demon that he knew all too well. The demon seemed to recognise Rendo as well. He smiled and spoke to him on a tone that expressed pride and a sense of superiority:
“I never thought I’d ever see you again. Certainly not in a place like this and with you siding with the enemy, even though you turned against us. After you left I did not want to believe a word they said about you, thinking they were just jealous because you were becoming more and more powerful. But seeing you like this, I wonder if I may not have been wrong about you all along.
While the demons spoke to their captain, everyone else had a confused look on their faces as they heard the demon talk about him as if he was a completely other person.
The demon frowned and said: “These pathetic creatures have made you weak! You have abandoned your demon powers for a simple sword and a few pathetic spells. You’re become inferior to who you used to be!
Hearing the word demon, everyone, except for Kadar, Zedana and Atilu, became more and more confused and a little firghtened by the new information and the demon realised they did not know who he really was. He smiled and with a vile look on his face said:
“They don’t know who you really are, do they?”
Rendo was close to bursting with anger but he could not risk a fight as long as the others were prisoners.
“Well then” the demon continued. “Why don’t I tell them who they are really travelling with.”
“Liten up!” he shouted turning to his prisoners. “This great warrior that fights against the darkness of Asgoth that travels with you is none other than Haelon Deathslash! The Dark Lord of Pain of Asgoth! And former right hand to the Dark One.”
Everyone froze when Rendo’s true identity came out, including the three who already knew about him. They knew his name but never that he used to be the right hand of Hargan, leader of Asgoth, nor that he had been one of the most feared demons in the dark realm of demons.
“A dark lord?” Jolan spoke braking the silence. “I knew he used to be a demon but a dark lord? The Dark Lord of Pain no less! That’s who we’ve been travelling with?”
The look on Rendo’s face turned from anger to sadness he felt as ig he had let them down somehow. However, Shakin frowned and shouted at everyone:
“So what if he’s a demon?”
Everyone looked surprised at him. Some thought he was a clown, others a common thief and others thought he was a traitor.
“I don’t know who this Haelon is but I do know who Rendo is!” the rogue continued. “He’s a brave warrior who almost gave his life for us in the Gobble swamp. He’s the one who watched over us when we slept at night and who went off to fight demons to keep them away from us, to protect us. You should be ashamed of yourselves for thinking otherwise just because a dumm old demon says he was once a feared demon.”

Chapter thirteen – Old enemies part two – The separation

Shakin’s words impressed everyone, especially Rendo, and they had to admit he spoke the truth. Their captain’s actions were proof of his character the demon’s words were nothing compared to them. Jolan was the first to admit it
“He’s right. And whatever you say you can’t make us believe that Rendo could be different from the way we know he is.”
Rendo smiled and spoke to the demon on a mocking tone.
“It looks like your plans are not going to work today. Why don’t youleave before you get hurt?”
“The only one who is going to get hurt is you! When you left I was your inferior but I trained hard and after two thousand years I took your place. Now that you have abandoned your demon powers you are my inferior and I will probe it!
Rendo remained calm as he responded: “When I left you were barely a low level demon with small powers that could barely have been considered as a threat, Mayan. But if you want to fight I have no problem with that but not while you hold my friends prisoners.
“Don’t worry, as long as we fight, your friends will not be harmed.”
Neither one wasted anymore time in starting the fight. Mayan pulled out his sword an attacked Rendo mercilessly who could barely defend himself with h is own sword and by using his spells. The difference of power became evident from the very beginning and it seemed that the demon was right, Rendo was easily tossed around by his opponent and barely had the chance to counter attack.
After knocking him down the seventh time Mayan spoke to him with a disappointed tone in his voice:
“I had hoped my teacher would be more powerful than this but I was right all along. You’re weak.
Suddenly Rendo started laughing harder and harder. Mayan and the other demons looked at him confused and thought he had lost his mind.
“You really don’t get it do you?” Rendo said standing. “Haven’t you noticed that I intentionally fell near your prisoners?”
“So what?” the demon replied. “You never got close enough to free them.”
“No… but I got close enough to do this: Impale!”
Roots shaped like spears jumped from the ground and stabbed the demons guarding the prisoners and the others immediately jumped to their feet and started attacking their captors. In the midst of all the fighting, Rendo stood up slowly and spoke to his opponent on an intimidating tone:
“Now we can fight freely but you were right. I’m no match for you as I am now.
The warrior threw aside his sword and took off his armour. A demonic aura started glowing around him, his muscles grew, his skin turned black, his nails grew longer and his teeth as well while his eyes were as red as fire. He had returned to the demon body that he used to have.
Fear and horror could be read on Mayan’s face but he was not about to just give up. He clenched his sword tightly and charged Rendo. He was trying desperately to hit him but Rendo easily avoided his attacks until he finally stabbed Mayan with his hand through his chest and pulled out his heart. Mayan fell to the ground without another twitch. Seeing their leader down, the other demons made a hasty retreat.
While everyone rejoiced, Rendo had regressed back to his less frightening form of grey skin, pointy ears and yellow eyes. Put on his armour, grabbed his sword and was going to walk away when Zedana stopped him.
“Where are you going? Wait for us!
Everyone turned their looks towards Rendo.
“It would be best… if you travelled without me,” he replied.
“Why? We already told you we don’t care that you’re a demon,” Shakin said puzzled.
“But they do! More and more demons will come after me and you. They’ll be one more powerful than the other. It’s better this way.”
Rendo disappeared in a cloud of mist and they were left with sad looks on their faces and his last words replaying in their minds: “Find the other artefacts, I will go to Asgoth to keep them busy.”

Chapter fourteen – The demonic aura

After their captain had left the group, the others left for Fight Town.
It was the place where the most powerful and most dangerous warriors of Surinia and Atheon gathered. It was a place where if you weren’t quick to pull out your weapon to defend yourself, you would not last the night.
As soon as they arrived in town, they bought supplies for the road ahead then stopped at the inn because they all needed a drink. Their morale was as low as low could be and one question was present in all of their minds: How would they go on without Rendo?
Towards midnight, after several hours at the inn, and several drinks, Shakin said:
“Now what do we do? He went off to have fun while we have to go look for the rest of those artifacts. How are we supposed to have fun?”
Silence filled the room, no one wanted to say a word because they did not even know what to say until Kadar finally stood up and said:
“Listen to me! Rendo went to Asgoth to protect us. I know we all want him here with us but he is not it does not mean we have to give up. The next artefact is here, in Fight Town, hidden in the old ruins of the city that are now like catacombs. We get a good sleep tonight and start searching tomorrow at first light but be careful what you say and to whom. Any one in this city could be after the artefact as well.
After the general’s speech, they all went to their rooms to rest. Oddly though, the priest had a strange smile on his face.
After an hour had passed since they had gone to bed, Zedana and Atilu were awakened by the presence of a demonic aura close by. Both grabbed their weapons and ran out of their rooms.
“Where is it coming from?” the elf assassin asked.
“I think it’s coming from Mila’s room.”
They broke the door down and saw Mila and the priest who was holding a knife to the priestess’ neck. Atilu frowned and shouted with a threatening voice:
“Let her go, demon!”
“Now you find out where the source of the demonic aura had been hiding?” the priest said mockingly. “You’re weaker than I thought. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mandarin, one of the high priests of Asgoth.”
“You’ll never escape!” Zedana shouted.
“Oh I think you will let me go,” the priest said putting the edge of the knife to the young woman’s skin. “I have orders to kidnap or eliminate the priestess. Which order I carry out is up to you.”
The two realised they had no other choice but to let him go so they slowly walked out of the room but keeping a vigil eye on him. When he reached the stairs, Mandarin made a smoke screen and ran off with Mila.
Atilu and Zedana rushed to wake the others so they could plan their next move.

does anyone even read it anymore?

sooper mai poone mai poone vreau continuare

Chapter fifteen – The Swords of Tears part one – The Spirit

The Swords of Tears once belonged to a healer who after years of healing those injured in wars she had had enough of all the suffering and, aided by the elves, made the two blades to try and stop the wars herself. The legend said that whoever owned the swords became faster and had better reflexes in battle.
After everyone was up, Zedana wanted to run after the dark priest so he wouldn’t get too far. However, Kadar had a better idea:
“We can’t just storm after them, at least not all of us. Listen, Jolan and Shakin will go after him while the rest of us will search for the swords. If we leave here without them, we’ll waste time and that is something we cannot afford to do.”
Zedana reluctantly agreed, though she would have wanted to take care of Mandarin herself.
“But how will we know where to go?” she asked after the others had left.
Then Kadar pulled out an old map he had been bought from a mysticism shop.
“I got this map earlier today so we could be ready for anything.”
The three warriors went down into the catacombs and following the map, travelled deeper and deeper. Although Mila had been kidnapped, Kadar had a relieved look on his face as he told himself: “At least now I know who the traitor was supposed was.”
After walking for over half an hour through the catacombs, which was more like a labyrinth, they finally reached two large, old, wooden doors that stood at least fifteen feet high. They were covered with an ancient writing, elfish writing.
Atilu tried reading it but was unable and juse as he turned to Zedana to ask her if she could read it she said: “These words have been made to protect the innocent. If you do not have a pure heart, they will destroy you. Heh, you guys don’t believe in all this chosen one thing, do you?”
“I wasn’t until I pulled out the staff,” the wizard replied.
“And Jolan did pull out the Frozen axe after it froze dozens of demons,” Kadar continued.
As Zedana walked to the doors they opened all by themselves. Inside, shining writings that lit up the room covered the walls. They all said the same thing: “The swords are only to be used to protect the innocent.”
As she walked towards the swords that had their blades stuck in a large blue crystal, a phantom of a woman in a white robe emerged from the crystal and spoke to Zedana:
“If you do not have a pure heart or if you use them for anything than what their meant for, the souls of those slain by it will bring about your demise.”
Suddenly, growls and howls of demons were heard coming through the tunnels. The nature of their howls was proof of how smart they were unfortunately, there were a lot of howls.Kadar ran out of the room to see how close they were while Atilu walked up to Zedana and tried to speak to her but she seemed to be in some sort of trance.
“Kadar, she won’t answer!”
“Leave her!” the general replied. “We can handle them by ourselves.”
“How close are they?”
“Too close,” Kadar replied pulling out his sword.
“What are we going to do?”
“Let them come,” the Atheon general said posting himself in front of the entrance. “We cannot allow them to get in there no matter what!”
The noise was getting louder and louder as they got closer and closer. They were more and more nervous, almost frightened but they were prepared to give their lives if they had to.