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A Hylian Legend II: The Rise of Ancient Shadows
By TMAS29More Info / Reviews
Chapter 1: Light concealed
The Legend of Zelda: The three swords Volume II
The Rise of the Ancient Shadows
Chapter 1 Light concealed
No sleep
No sleep until I am done with finding the answer
Won't stop
Won't stop before I find a cure for this cancer
Sometimes
I feel I going down and so disconnected
Somehow
I know that I am haunted to be wanted
In the shadows
Northern Highlands
A soft mist was descending upon the Highlands, it was cold and its humidity penetrated even the best of cloaks causing anyone traveling in that mist to shiver with the bone chilling cold. Being fed by the frequent precipitations, the grass in the hills was as green as it could get. So green in fact that the expression “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” never applied. Grass was maybe green, but as winter approached the rain got cooler and cooler, few peoples ventured in the hills because of the late fall weather.
At least one did though. He was standing by a jet black horse in a bowl like valley. His face was hidden by a black cloak and he had the sheath of a sword in his hand. His knuckles were turning white as the freezing cold forced the blood out of his fingers, yet he didn’t budge. He was as disciplined as one could get, water was accumulating on his shoulders and probably decreasing his body temperature dangerously. But he didn’t care much for that, actually he was able to control his body temperature as easily as one can blink.
He was a man of extremely high ethics, no one knew him quite well for the fact that he barely ever said anything to anyone. He was now a bit of a protector for that region, no one in his right mind ever argued with him for he had a bit of a short fuse and once he got going, well you were basically dead. Those were the rumors anyway, he was yet to be seen killing someone other than the thieves or monsters that ventured in the vicinity of the highland village. Yes he never killed anyone for being mad at him, but if ever you annoyed him, he would look at you through his cloak. His grey eyes would scare even the biggest and toughest of insolent soldiers that frequently visited the village. He scared them so much that there was even an order to stay away from his home and never to provoke him…
“How long? Three? Four? No…. Five, yes five years since I found out about my parents… My Mother… And twin brother… Now what? I’m hiding here… Yea hiding. But from what? I’m the fiercest warrior… Or maybe second fiercest… Brother can sometimes beat me… Hiding… From what?”
I've been watching
I've been waiting
In the shadows all my time
I've been searching
I've been living
For tomorrows all my life
In the shadows
He snapped out of it. Three forms drew themselves on top of the hill, and began the decent from the top of the hills to the bottom of the valley where the cloaked figure stood, shivering from the frigid rain…
The three horsemen coaxed their stallions in galloping down the slippery slope to meet the lone warrior.
“Your late” The cloaked figure whispered in his soft, young voice. “Late? We were the ones that challenged you to show here. We can show whenever we want” The man on the brown horse said. He was rather disgusting to look at; his face was scarred by the many illnesses he suffered and the constant weather changes had rendered his skin red and thick; his eyes were yellow and many of his teeth were missing or rotten…
“I don’t want to fight you and your friends, its not worth it and I cannot see the point in it” The figure began to turned towards his own horse and strapped the sheath he was holding in a leather belt hanging from the saddle. He was stopped in his work by the sound of three men dismounting… “Where do you think your going coward”
He turned again facing the three farmers and said more aggressively “Listen men, its your daughter that tried to kiss me, not the opposite”
“Oh so you deny having soiled my daughter’s pride”
“Yes” he simply replied as he turned again preparing to mount his black stallion
“Well I’m not ready to accept that kid”
They all unsheathed their old rusty swords and walked towards the black cloak… Feeling their presence approaching he tapped his horse who immediately trotted a few paces away.
“Believe me Hektor you really do NOT want to fight me” He said still facing the infinite beauty of the highlands
“Coward” he replied closing the few lat feet separating him from the cloaked warrior.
“If you want it that way” the warrior whispered almost inaudibly… As the three farmers walked the final gap he quickly spun around while dropping low and kicking at their legs. He took the elder down but his two sons were agile enough to dodge the swift blow. They immediately attacked the man with their heavy swords but he rolled between them before they could strike, he was way too quick.
The cloaked warrior regained his footing right behind them, still determined not to hurt them too much. They regrouped and menaced him with their rude weapons. Responding to the threat he pushed on his cloak, revealing a black tunic with strange hieroglyphs on it and the hilt of a sword.
In a swift movement he grabbed the black hilt and drew the sword, white silver was the color, its hilt covered in black leather and its thin blade curved in a perfect arc. The blacksmith who forged that sword must have been a master in his art, the blade was almost perfect…
“Please do not force me into using this”
“I will die before I take the insult”
The three men attacked again, but this time the cloaked warrior was ready. He performed a quick series of quick and precise movements, the first shattered one of the rusty swords by going right through it, the second cut open the wrist of the second closest attacker and in the last was lightning quick, he tapped the butt of the old rapier causing it to fly off from its owner’s grip. Mere instants after that was done he leaped forward with astonishing discipline incapacitating the man so that he could not use his sword again…
All three of them were there, speechless and holding their superficial wounds. The cloaked warrior was standing in a finished stance, his back turned away from them. Frightened and amazed the three farmers didn’t hang around much longer and sped away on their steeds…
The cloaked man stayed though, motionless like he was frozen in time, the only things moving (and if so very slowly) was his heart and lungs, working to provide the bear minimal for his survival. His mind was lost in meditation, feeling every molecule of water make contact with his blade, he wanted to be only one with it, an extension of himself. But after awhile his concentration was beginning to fault, memories he didn’t want to remember began to haunt his mind. He had trained himself to control it, but for some odd reason sometimes he couldn’t shut the door and they overflowed him causing his mental walls to fall and for instants he was vulnerable to anything…
Seeing this happening he opened his eyes and sheathed his sword, he had exercised enough for today, its time to go home. The warrior walked towards his black horse that was grazing a few feet away from him, but he stopped before he got close. His acute senses were detecting something, it wasn’t right… He cracked his knuckles, he was sure now.
He spun around extremely quickly, his cloak flying in the air. His hand driven by a supernatural force flew up and grabbed something our of the air… He hadn’t calculated the weight of the heavy crossbow bolt so it stopped a few inches closer from his face than he expected. “Dear god” he whispered mentally.
His eyes focused on the top of the hill, a knight on his steed was holding a crossbow. Detecting that his shot had failed he began to gallop down towards the warrior. “What is this? No one bothers me for years and then two fights in one day…” The cloaked warrior again unsheathed his white silver blade and just stood there, maybe he could reason with the man not to fight.
As the knight got closer at an alarming speed the warrior understood that there would be no reasoning with that man, he would only understand the pain caused by his sword.
The knight drew his own weapon from the sheath on his saddle, he would perform his mission, which was only to kill… As he came upon the black warrior he swept the ground with his sword in an attempt to shatter his opponent with raw power. But the cloaked warrior would not have it, he sidestepped and placed his blade in an angle so that the incoming one would only slide off of it effortlessly.
The knight turned his horse around and grabbed another weapon from his saddle; it was a small but vicious looking machete. The knight charged again towards the warrior with the same sweep technique. The warrior crouched low and placed his sword in a defensive position over his head, the knight came over him and swung his broadsword. The warrior jumped to avoid the sharp blade but he didn’t pay enough attention to the machete and he ended up with a cut on his right flank.
The warrior rolled on the wet grass and yelled to the knight “YOU WANT TO PLAY IT LIKE THAT? FINE” He then ripped his soaked black cloak from him, revealing his black tunic with a fine streak of blood dripping on his right side, deep grey eyes and wet dark blond hair. He then drew the other sword hanging on his back, it was identical to the one in his right hand. He crossed his two weapons in front of him and yelled again “LETS PLAY NOW”
The knight had no visible reaction, he simply charged again. This time though the warrior was ready, he deflected the broadsword with his right-hand weapon while the left-hand one scored a hit on the knight’s back. The knight growled in pain as he dropped his machete under the stinging pain.
The warrior smiled after his move. The knight was furious and came back rushing at full speed. The warrior lined up low, both his swords in a defensive position but as he attacked the knight anticipated the move and the warrior received his heavy boot in the chest. The warrior groaned and fell hard on the damp grass and slid a few feet away because of the low friction, he stopped and tucked in a defensive position only to see the knight gallop towards his own horse…
“Err no you don’t”
The warrior jumped to his feet and took off running. The knight had slowed down when he reached the warrior’s horse, he bent down to grab the sword tucked in the black sheath. The warrior was running as fast as he possibly could. When the knight’s gauntlet touched the blue hilt he was struck with a flashback, but it wasn’t his, he saw every waking moment the sword spent in its rightful owner’s hands. Yet, he didn’t live long enough to tell his superiors…
The warrior was flying through the wet air, the cold mist was assaulting his face but it never bothered his concentration. Just when the knight realised what and who he was up against he realised he was uncomfortable, he looked down to his stomach, through it was a silver blade. He died as he admitted defeat to one of the greatest warriors in the world.
The warrior took the knight down from his steed and sent the animal on its way. He then grabbed a shovel from his saddle and dug the valiant knight’s grave. As he placed him in the muddy hole and placed his sword over his body, he noticed the Hylian Royal Family’s Phoenix on the knight’s chest plate. This troubled the warrior deeply, why was the Royal family after him? He didn’t bother to answer those questions and buried the remains of the noble warrior…
In the shadows
They say
That i must learn to kill before i can feel safe
But I
I rather kill myself then turn into their slave
Sometimes
I feel that I should go and play with the thunder
Somehow
I just don't wanna stay and wait for a wonder
I've been watching
I've been waiting
In the shadows all my time
I've been searching
I've been living
For tomorrows all my life
Lately I been walking walking in circles, watching waiting for something
Feel me touch me heal me, come take me higher
Hyrule Castle
Link walked right passed the guards in the main hall and forced open the large doors leading to the Royal Council room. In it were ten richly clad men, all bowing to the ruler. But Link interrupted.
“ALL OF YOU OUT NOW”
The leader of the men turned and asked “What is the meaning of this Queen?”
“I SAID OUT ALL OF YOU… NOW”
Not knowing what to do the men slowly left the richly decorated room. Link followed them out and yelled as they exited “GO BACK TO YOUR FILTH AND NEVER COME BACK IN THIS PLACE”
One of the men replied before leaving “ YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS INSOLANCE BOY”
Link didn’t bother answering and slammed the doors shut behind them. He then walked over to the monarch and said calmly “The human invasion fleet has landed on the port of Hakgamar, they took over the city and their main armies are approaching now… Can’t you see they want what they asked for… And will take it by force…”
Zelda was sitting on her throne, her legs crossed and resting her head with her gloved hand. “Link, your manners are not improving. I made you commander in chief of the Hylian army, the least you could do is learn how to be somewhat more courteous towards our guests.”
Link was annoyed at the Queen’s nonchalance “Don’t you listen to me? They landed and are powering their forces with slaves they kidnap from the neighbouring towns and villages, if we don’t do anything they will be too strong for us to push them back… Remember we have limited military, we might even have to impose a draft”
Zelda raised an eyebrow and stood up straight on her seat. “I heard you the first time, those men were here to announce their intention to take over all of northern Hyrule for themselves by force if necessary. And Link, no draft”
Link jumped the few steps separating the audience platform and the Royal podium. “I knew you wouldn’t want a draft. But we need to do something about this… Its war Zel, we need every men and weapon we have and get them before its too late”
Zelda stood up and unsheathed the sword resting on the side of her chair, the Triforce on the back of their hands immediately began to shine… “Then find Kyul, before its too late”
Link didn’t waste more time, he ran down the stairs and headed for the military council… The stinking f***ers wanted war? They would get it… And they would witness the power of the Triforce bearers…
Northern Highlands
The cloaked warrior returned to the small village where he built his home, a medium sized log home at the far side of the village, near the cliff. The town itself was beautiful, the few homes were scattered around a rocky formation in the highlands, everything was green and alive, most inhabitants grew and hunted their own food, peoples didn’t ask questions and everything was extremely calm, a perfect environment for someone who meditated almost constantly. Of course every small town had their hicks and hillbillies but they were a very small percentage of the population and rarely caused trouble. It was paradise.
The warrior stealthily made his way to his home, he never liked attention. Once he got there he steered his horse in the small barn he constructed and generously fed the valiant steed. Once the small maintenance tasks completed in the barn he walked over to his house’s door.
As he walked through the entrance his dog walked to him, demanding to be patted with his large brown eyes. The warrior took his cloak off and pat the dog as he asked “Any visitors today Myki?”
“not really, but that girl did come for you, she patted me and then left…”
The warrior was intrigued “She came looking for me? Today? Interesting… Anything else happened?”
“That boy that stalks you is in the doorstep”
The warrior grabbed his sword and swung as he turned, the blade stopped less than an inch from the teen’s neck. Yet he didn’t flinch. The warrior removed his weapon from its precarious position and placed it back in its sheath, he then looked right in the boy’s eyes and asked “What do you want kid… You know that you shouldn’t be here”
The boy looked at his concealed face and replied by asking “ Are you Kyul Schattenfields sir?”
The warrior stumbled and caught his balance on the corner of his dinner table when the boy pronounced the name “Schattenfields”. He then lost control and slammed the teenager against the wooden wall and held a dagger to his throat “Where in the bloody hell did you hear that name kid and believe me I won’t ask twice!!!”
The kid kept his cool and replied calmly “An old man came in the village once and told the tale of a great Hero carrying the legendary Triforce. The hero had vanquished many evils and now traveled randomly in the plains in seeking calm and peace.”
The warrior released the boy and threw his dagger in the opposite direction. “Never heard of him… go home now” He then walked towards the stove and lit a fire… When he looked again towards the door he saw the boy still standing there, admiring the black shield hung on the wall.
"You know you should really take the ashes of of it, im sure its very nice" The boy then reached to clean out the black dust from the metallic surface. The warrior gently took the boy's hand away from the sheild and said "Since you obviously don't want to leave... What do you want?"
"I want to see your face, I want you to tell me the truth and if you want help me become a knight so I can fight the invaders of the west" The boy looked determined and while talking had walked right up to the warrior, cornering him against the wooden wall.
The warrior then took a knee. "You are a determined and strong kid, where are you from?"
The boy then approached the warrior once again "I come from the outskirts of the desert, my mother died at my birth."
"You do not look like desert folk, who was your mother?" The warrior replied, feeling a strange feeling when his hand brushed the kid's tunic.
"This is not about me, its about you... Who are you?"
"That I will tell you later, time is running short. I must eat and wash, I have someone to meet tonight."
"I beleive you, but I will come back. I must know."
Hyrule Castle
Link was making the last preparations for his trip to the front. Human armies were marching eastbound and southbound towards the center of the Kingdom, Link would take the 5th and 6th archery division and the 3rd infantry garrison to slow them down. Hopefully Kyul would show up for the fight and help him demolish the barbaric human war machines and regain control of the northern mountains and walk towards their initial invasion.
"Link? Am I interrupting?" The Queen Zelda walked in, followed by her royal guards, trainned by Link himself. "No, no. I was just tying up my bag. Is their something wrong?"
"Link the armies are restless, they know that once the enemy gets through the forest we will not ba able to hold them out of the royal fields, women and children are running in towards out gate. Link I'm scared."
Link walked towards the door, the guards knew they had to leave. Reluctantly they exited the simple room and closed the wooden door in behind them. "Zelda, I will protect you. No man nor Orc will cross the Hylian gates. No one army ever did. All the rests of the garrisons will be dispatched to protect the forest path and the castle. You will be safe."
A tear ran down Zelda's cheek down on her chin, distress emanated from her eyes and penetrated Link's soul as she fell in his arms. "Im pregnant Link, we will have children."
The mighty hero of time stumbled and tears of joy filled his eyes. Joy that quickly turned to sadness and then anger. If he didnt stop the Humans everyone, even his children would be turned into slaves. He then became dead serious. "Zelda if ever anything happens, go into the temple of time. Find our sages and hide there until our children can pick up the arms."
Zelda's single tear transformend into a stream of emotions. "Link, I will never forgive myself if I send you away. Stay here General Skyea can take the armies to slow the Humans."
"Kyul is bitter of war, he will only listen to me. You more than anyone should know that."
"I know Link, I know. But bring yourself and Kyul alive, I beg you."
"I will mein leibe as our friend the shadow would say."
Link then picked up his bag, the master sword and left through the door leading to the caserns. He assembled his commanders and they left under the protection of the moon.
Northern Highlands
A small troop of mounted knights entered the small village of Tehkmathil, raising fear throughout the villagers and the few Hylian soldiers protecting the gate. Zeigurd the chieftain of the village walked out of his domicile to meet them.
"Can I help you with anything my good lord? We are at your service." Zeigurd asked weary of their presence in his community.
The human captain spat on the ground and dismounted his steed, and faced Zeigurd. "You have probably heard of us? We are the venguard, the fifth army of Zeal. We come to select slaves from your people to serve us. We will require food and water for tonight. Oh and do not try and resist, I cannot take all of you and I would certainly hate to slaughter a good productive village."
Zeigurd looked to the dark soil he was standing on, he heard from messengers that such evil was spreading, yet he couldnt beleive that it was going to happen to his commune. "Yes, I understand. I will accompany you during your inspection."
"Very good then, let us begin."
Zeigurd felt sick at the idea of surrendering his friends and family but he had no choice, it was that or anahilation.
So the selection process began, and it seemed like it would never end. They rammed sacked every house in the village, picking randomly from each family, mostly young boys and girls. They were all instructed to report to their camp just outside the village gate in the morning, if they failed to do so, the village would be slaughtered and burned down.
"Well this was a pretty productive day my friend Zeigurd now wasnt it?."
The chieftain looked at him with hatred and depise "You will take men, women, even children, many of them my friends and some even my family. I cannot do anything to stop you but I will tell you one thing straight human scum do NOT call me your FRIEND."
The captain spat again and grabbed Zeigurd "Your lucky I dont feel like dismembering you in front of all your children, now take me to the last house... Now"
Zeigurd looked at the little wodden house and shivered... He glanced at the human with fear, and said "We cannot go there, he is not the most pleasurable character you know."
"Good, I do feel like doing some harm." The filthy human captain spat again and walked energetically towards the Log house.
Kyul Schattenfields was sitting at his table, eating a ominious looking soup when his door broke open revealing a large man clothed in leather and a dirty blue cape. "Get up elvish scum, I think I might choose you"
Kyul didnt even flinch, nor stop eating. Between two bites he replied "I do not take orders from anyone, especially persons that come into a harmless village to pick slaves out of the population"
The human walked in the house with his few followers, looking for something to break, hoping to attract more attention from the person sitting at the table. "Do you not follow your gods?" He asked after spitting on the wooden floor.
Kyul turned around and faced his foes. Uppon their sight he chuckled and stood up "I am one with my god... In some cases, I am god"
The Human walked over to Kyul "A few months in our conditionning camps will bleed that insolence out of you... Be noticed that you have been chosen to come with us, show up at our camp tomorrow morning or your friends will suffer atrociously" To those words he turned back and headed back out, without forgeting to spit again.
Kyul's face darkened, were the gods of creation conspireing to make him fight?
Northern lowlands
The hylian troops had just arrived to the lowland fields, the limit of the human invasion. They set up camp on top of an easily defendable hilltop, their tents littering the beautiful green grass blanketing the hills. Link entered the large round tent where his commanders stood around a table discussing the enemy forces and strategies, they all stopped when Link entered. Though they had immense respect for Link's powers and fighting abilities but they rarely approve of his tactics.
One of the commanders, Krystoph spoke first "Link sir we are ready to deploy our troops around the valley as you instructed. But I must protest that surrounding them like that would put our whole unit at risk... Including you."
"Never worry about me Krys I can take care of myself, and if my plan goes as it should, the rain of arrows that our archers can provide will do most of the work for us. Get ready men, we attack during the night..." To those words he walked out and headed for a quiet place where he could focus as night was creeping on the sacred lands of Hyrule.
Tehkmathil
Kyul was just done eating his soup and feeding Myki and Schattenjager when someone entered his house via the already broken door, a dagger swiftly slid into Kyul's hand, ready to strike. "Kyul? Are you in here?" An electric shock darted through his body and the dagger retracted itself from his hand. He relaxed as he saw Jhiry’s silhouette enter his home. “What is happening Ky? The village does not know what to do…”
“Jhiry, don’t worry they will not bother you again… Ever. I must rest now, stay if you wish.”
The two young elfs layed down in Kyul’s bed and held hands. They looked deeply in each other’s eyes knowing that it might be the last time that they would be together for a very long time, perhaps forever… They grasped each other and tears came rushing to their eyes. Not a word was to be spoken. Jhiry fell asleep but Kyul couldn’t he had too many things on his mind… Link, Zelda, the Sages and the whole human invasion thing… What were the gods trying to tell him, could it be another test?
As Jhiry lingered in the abyss of dreams Kyul got up and kissed her. He entered the main room of his home and took his shield off the wall. He slowly brushed the ashes off the Schattenreiter emblem and took a deep breath. The full moon was glowing brightly outside, prime weather for shadows. Kyul smiled as he strapped on his gear. As he was shedding his cloak and heading for the broken door he saw Myki sitting in the doorway to his room. “Take care of them Myki, if they come for me you know where I will be.”
“I sure will Kyul… Leave in peace.”
Kyul walked in his small stable and saddled Schattenjager. “tonight it’s the return to our ways… I knew it would come back to get me. You can go over the hills I shall meet you there.” The black horse nodded and trotted away stealthily.
“Let the gods know… The triforce is back”
The Rise of the Ancient Shadows
Chapter 1 Light concealed
No sleep
No sleep until I am done with finding the answer
Won't stop
Won't stop before I find a cure for this cancer
Sometimes
I feel I going down and so disconnected
Somehow
I know that I am haunted to be wanted
In the shadows
Northern Highlands
A soft mist was descending upon the Highlands, it was cold and its humidity penetrated even the best of cloaks causing anyone traveling in that mist to shiver with the bone chilling cold. Being fed by the frequent precipitations, the grass in the hills was as green as it could get. So green in fact that the expression “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” never applied. Grass was maybe green, but as winter approached the rain got cooler and cooler, few peoples ventured in the hills because of the late fall weather.
At least one did though. He was standing by a jet black horse in a bowl like valley. His face was hidden by a black cloak and he had the sheath of a sword in his hand. His knuckles were turning white as the freezing cold forced the blood out of his fingers, yet he didn’t budge. He was as disciplined as one could get, water was accumulating on his shoulders and probably decreasing his body temperature dangerously. But he didn’t care much for that, actually he was able to control his body temperature as easily as one can blink.
He was a man of extremely high ethics, no one knew him quite well for the fact that he barely ever said anything to anyone. He was now a bit of a protector for that region, no one in his right mind ever argued with him for he had a bit of a short fuse and once he got going, well you were basically dead. Those were the rumors anyway, he was yet to be seen killing someone other than the thieves or monsters that ventured in the vicinity of the highland village. Yes he never killed anyone for being mad at him, but if ever you annoyed him, he would look at you through his cloak. His grey eyes would scare even the biggest and toughest of insolent soldiers that frequently visited the village. He scared them so much that there was even an order to stay away from his home and never to provoke him…
“How long? Three? Four? No…. Five, yes five years since I found out about my parents… My Mother… And twin brother… Now what? I’m hiding here… Yea hiding. But from what? I’m the fiercest warrior… Or maybe second fiercest… Brother can sometimes beat me… Hiding… From what?”
I've been watching
I've been waiting
In the shadows all my time
I've been searching
I've been living
For tomorrows all my life
In the shadows
He snapped out of it. Three forms drew themselves on top of the hill, and began the decent from the top of the hills to the bottom of the valley where the cloaked figure stood, shivering from the frigid rain…
The three horsemen coaxed their stallions in galloping down the slippery slope to meet the lone warrior.
“Your late” The cloaked figure whispered in his soft, young voice. “Late? We were the ones that challenged you to show here. We can show whenever we want” The man on the brown horse said. He was rather disgusting to look at; his face was scarred by the many illnesses he suffered and the constant weather changes had rendered his skin red and thick; his eyes were yellow and many of his teeth were missing or rotten…
“I don’t want to fight you and your friends, its not worth it and I cannot see the point in it” The figure began to turned towards his own horse and strapped the sheath he was holding in a leather belt hanging from the saddle. He was stopped in his work by the sound of three men dismounting… “Where do you think your going coward”
He turned again facing the three farmers and said more aggressively “Listen men, its your daughter that tried to kiss me, not the opposite”
“Oh so you deny having soiled my daughter’s pride”
“Yes” he simply replied as he turned again preparing to mount his black stallion
“Well I’m not ready to accept that kid”
They all unsheathed their old rusty swords and walked towards the black cloak… Feeling their presence approaching he tapped his horse who immediately trotted a few paces away.
“Believe me Hektor you really do NOT want to fight me” He said still facing the infinite beauty of the highlands
“Coward” he replied closing the few lat feet separating him from the cloaked warrior.
“If you want it that way” the warrior whispered almost inaudibly… As the three farmers walked the final gap he quickly spun around while dropping low and kicking at their legs. He took the elder down but his two sons were agile enough to dodge the swift blow. They immediately attacked the man with their heavy swords but he rolled between them before they could strike, he was way too quick.
The cloaked warrior regained his footing right behind them, still determined not to hurt them too much. They regrouped and menaced him with their rude weapons. Responding to the threat he pushed on his cloak, revealing a black tunic with strange hieroglyphs on it and the hilt of a sword.
In a swift movement he grabbed the black hilt and drew the sword, white silver was the color, its hilt covered in black leather and its thin blade curved in a perfect arc. The blacksmith who forged that sword must have been a master in his art, the blade was almost perfect…
“Please do not force me into using this”
“I will die before I take the insult”
The three men attacked again, but this time the cloaked warrior was ready. He performed a quick series of quick and precise movements, the first shattered one of the rusty swords by going right through it, the second cut open the wrist of the second closest attacker and in the last was lightning quick, he tapped the butt of the old rapier causing it to fly off from its owner’s grip. Mere instants after that was done he leaped forward with astonishing discipline incapacitating the man so that he could not use his sword again…
All three of them were there, speechless and holding their superficial wounds. The cloaked warrior was standing in a finished stance, his back turned away from them. Frightened and amazed the three farmers didn’t hang around much longer and sped away on their steeds…
The cloaked man stayed though, motionless like he was frozen in time, the only things moving (and if so very slowly) was his heart and lungs, working to provide the bear minimal for his survival. His mind was lost in meditation, feeling every molecule of water make contact with his blade, he wanted to be only one with it, an extension of himself. But after awhile his concentration was beginning to fault, memories he didn’t want to remember began to haunt his mind. He had trained himself to control it, but for some odd reason sometimes he couldn’t shut the door and they overflowed him causing his mental walls to fall and for instants he was vulnerable to anything…
Seeing this happening he opened his eyes and sheathed his sword, he had exercised enough for today, its time to go home. The warrior walked towards his black horse that was grazing a few feet away from him, but he stopped before he got close. His acute senses were detecting something, it wasn’t right… He cracked his knuckles, he was sure now.
He spun around extremely quickly, his cloak flying in the air. His hand driven by a supernatural force flew up and grabbed something our of the air… He hadn’t calculated the weight of the heavy crossbow bolt so it stopped a few inches closer from his face than he expected. “Dear god” he whispered mentally.
His eyes focused on the top of the hill, a knight on his steed was holding a crossbow. Detecting that his shot had failed he began to gallop down towards the warrior. “What is this? No one bothers me for years and then two fights in one day…” The cloaked warrior again unsheathed his white silver blade and just stood there, maybe he could reason with the man not to fight.
As the knight got closer at an alarming speed the warrior understood that there would be no reasoning with that man, he would only understand the pain caused by his sword.
The knight drew his own weapon from the sheath on his saddle, he would perform his mission, which was only to kill… As he came upon the black warrior he swept the ground with his sword in an attempt to shatter his opponent with raw power. But the cloaked warrior would not have it, he sidestepped and placed his blade in an angle so that the incoming one would only slide off of it effortlessly.
The knight turned his horse around and grabbed another weapon from his saddle; it was a small but vicious looking machete. The knight charged again towards the warrior with the same sweep technique. The warrior crouched low and placed his sword in a defensive position over his head, the knight came over him and swung his broadsword. The warrior jumped to avoid the sharp blade but he didn’t pay enough attention to the machete and he ended up with a cut on his right flank.
The warrior rolled on the wet grass and yelled to the knight “YOU WANT TO PLAY IT LIKE THAT? FINE” He then ripped his soaked black cloak from him, revealing his black tunic with a fine streak of blood dripping on his right side, deep grey eyes and wet dark blond hair. He then drew the other sword hanging on his back, it was identical to the one in his right hand. He crossed his two weapons in front of him and yelled again “LETS PLAY NOW”
The knight had no visible reaction, he simply charged again. This time though the warrior was ready, he deflected the broadsword with his right-hand weapon while the left-hand one scored a hit on the knight’s back. The knight growled in pain as he dropped his machete under the stinging pain.
The warrior smiled after his move. The knight was furious and came back rushing at full speed. The warrior lined up low, both his swords in a defensive position but as he attacked the knight anticipated the move and the warrior received his heavy boot in the chest. The warrior groaned and fell hard on the damp grass and slid a few feet away because of the low friction, he stopped and tucked in a defensive position only to see the knight gallop towards his own horse…
“Err no you don’t”
The warrior jumped to his feet and took off running. The knight had slowed down when he reached the warrior’s horse, he bent down to grab the sword tucked in the black sheath. The warrior was running as fast as he possibly could. When the knight’s gauntlet touched the blue hilt he was struck with a flashback, but it wasn’t his, he saw every waking moment the sword spent in its rightful owner’s hands. Yet, he didn’t live long enough to tell his superiors…
The warrior was flying through the wet air, the cold mist was assaulting his face but it never bothered his concentration. Just when the knight realised what and who he was up against he realised he was uncomfortable, he looked down to his stomach, through it was a silver blade. He died as he admitted defeat to one of the greatest warriors in the world.
The warrior took the knight down from his steed and sent the animal on its way. He then grabbed a shovel from his saddle and dug the valiant knight’s grave. As he placed him in the muddy hole and placed his sword over his body, he noticed the Hylian Royal Family’s Phoenix on the knight’s chest plate. This troubled the warrior deeply, why was the Royal family after him? He didn’t bother to answer those questions and buried the remains of the noble warrior…
In the shadows
They say
That i must learn to kill before i can feel safe
But I
I rather kill myself then turn into their slave
Sometimes
I feel that I should go and play with the thunder
Somehow
I just don't wanna stay and wait for a wonder
I've been watching
I've been waiting
In the shadows all my time
I've been searching
I've been living
For tomorrows all my life
Lately I been walking walking in circles, watching waiting for something
Feel me touch me heal me, come take me higher
Hyrule Castle
Link walked right passed the guards in the main hall and forced open the large doors leading to the Royal Council room. In it were ten richly clad men, all bowing to the ruler. But Link interrupted.
“ALL OF YOU OUT NOW”
The leader of the men turned and asked “What is the meaning of this Queen?”
“I SAID OUT ALL OF YOU… NOW”
Not knowing what to do the men slowly left the richly decorated room. Link followed them out and yelled as they exited “GO BACK TO YOUR FILTH AND NEVER COME BACK IN THIS PLACE”
One of the men replied before leaving “ YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS INSOLANCE BOY”
Link didn’t bother answering and slammed the doors shut behind them. He then walked over to the monarch and said calmly “The human invasion fleet has landed on the port of Hakgamar, they took over the city and their main armies are approaching now… Can’t you see they want what they asked for… And will take it by force…”
Zelda was sitting on her throne, her legs crossed and resting her head with her gloved hand. “Link, your manners are not improving. I made you commander in chief of the Hylian army, the least you could do is learn how to be somewhat more courteous towards our guests.”
Link was annoyed at the Queen’s nonchalance “Don’t you listen to me? They landed and are powering their forces with slaves they kidnap from the neighbouring towns and villages, if we don’t do anything they will be too strong for us to push them back… Remember we have limited military, we might even have to impose a draft”
Zelda raised an eyebrow and stood up straight on her seat. “I heard you the first time, those men were here to announce their intention to take over all of northern Hyrule for themselves by force if necessary. And Link, no draft”
Link jumped the few steps separating the audience platform and the Royal podium. “I knew you wouldn’t want a draft. But we need to do something about this… Its war Zel, we need every men and weapon we have and get them before its too late”
Zelda stood up and unsheathed the sword resting on the side of her chair, the Triforce on the back of their hands immediately began to shine… “Then find Kyul, before its too late”
Link didn’t waste more time, he ran down the stairs and headed for the military council… The stinking f***ers wanted war? They would get it… And they would witness the power of the Triforce bearers…
Northern Highlands
The cloaked warrior returned to the small village where he built his home, a medium sized log home at the far side of the village, near the cliff. The town itself was beautiful, the few homes were scattered around a rocky formation in the highlands, everything was green and alive, most inhabitants grew and hunted their own food, peoples didn’t ask questions and everything was extremely calm, a perfect environment for someone who meditated almost constantly. Of course every small town had their hicks and hillbillies but they were a very small percentage of the population and rarely caused trouble. It was paradise.
The warrior stealthily made his way to his home, he never liked attention. Once he got there he steered his horse in the small barn he constructed and generously fed the valiant steed. Once the small maintenance tasks completed in the barn he walked over to his house’s door.
As he walked through the entrance his dog walked to him, demanding to be patted with his large brown eyes. The warrior took his cloak off and pat the dog as he asked “Any visitors today Myki?”
“not really, but that girl did come for you, she patted me and then left…”
The warrior was intrigued “She came looking for me? Today? Interesting… Anything else happened?”
“That boy that stalks you is in the doorstep”
The warrior grabbed his sword and swung as he turned, the blade stopped less than an inch from the teen’s neck. Yet he didn’t flinch. The warrior removed his weapon from its precarious position and placed it back in its sheath, he then looked right in the boy’s eyes and asked “What do you want kid… You know that you shouldn’t be here”
The boy looked at his concealed face and replied by asking “ Are you Kyul Schattenfields sir?”
The warrior stumbled and caught his balance on the corner of his dinner table when the boy pronounced the name “Schattenfields”. He then lost control and slammed the teenager against the wooden wall and held a dagger to his throat “Where in the bloody hell did you hear that name kid and believe me I won’t ask twice!!!”
The kid kept his cool and replied calmly “An old man came in the village once and told the tale of a great Hero carrying the legendary Triforce. The hero had vanquished many evils and now traveled randomly in the plains in seeking calm and peace.”
The warrior released the boy and threw his dagger in the opposite direction. “Never heard of him… go home now” He then walked towards the stove and lit a fire… When he looked again towards the door he saw the boy still standing there, admiring the black shield hung on the wall.
"You know you should really take the ashes of of it, im sure its very nice" The boy then reached to clean out the black dust from the metallic surface. The warrior gently took the boy's hand away from the sheild and said "Since you obviously don't want to leave... What do you want?"
"I want to see your face, I want you to tell me the truth and if you want help me become a knight so I can fight the invaders of the west" The boy looked determined and while talking had walked right up to the warrior, cornering him against the wooden wall.
The warrior then took a knee. "You are a determined and strong kid, where are you from?"
The boy then approached the warrior once again "I come from the outskirts of the desert, my mother died at my birth."
"You do not look like desert folk, who was your mother?" The warrior replied, feeling a strange feeling when his hand brushed the kid's tunic.
"This is not about me, its about you... Who are you?"
"That I will tell you later, time is running short. I must eat and wash, I have someone to meet tonight."
"I beleive you, but I will come back. I must know."
Hyrule Castle
Link was making the last preparations for his trip to the front. Human armies were marching eastbound and southbound towards the center of the Kingdom, Link would take the 5th and 6th archery division and the 3rd infantry garrison to slow them down. Hopefully Kyul would show up for the fight and help him demolish the barbaric human war machines and regain control of the northern mountains and walk towards their initial invasion.
"Link? Am I interrupting?" The Queen Zelda walked in, followed by her royal guards, trainned by Link himself. "No, no. I was just tying up my bag. Is their something wrong?"
"Link the armies are restless, they know that once the enemy gets through the forest we will not ba able to hold them out of the royal fields, women and children are running in towards out gate. Link I'm scared."
Link walked towards the door, the guards knew they had to leave. Reluctantly they exited the simple room and closed the wooden door in behind them. "Zelda, I will protect you. No man nor Orc will cross the Hylian gates. No one army ever did. All the rests of the garrisons will be dispatched to protect the forest path and the castle. You will be safe."
A tear ran down Zelda's cheek down on her chin, distress emanated from her eyes and penetrated Link's soul as she fell in his arms. "Im pregnant Link, we will have children."
The mighty hero of time stumbled and tears of joy filled his eyes. Joy that quickly turned to sadness and then anger. If he didnt stop the Humans everyone, even his children would be turned into slaves. He then became dead serious. "Zelda if ever anything happens, go into the temple of time. Find our sages and hide there until our children can pick up the arms."
Zelda's single tear transformend into a stream of emotions. "Link, I will never forgive myself if I send you away. Stay here General Skyea can take the armies to slow the Humans."
"Kyul is bitter of war, he will only listen to me. You more than anyone should know that."
"I know Link, I know. But bring yourself and Kyul alive, I beg you."
"I will mein leibe as our friend the shadow would say."
Link then picked up his bag, the master sword and left through the door leading to the caserns. He assembled his commanders and they left under the protection of the moon.
Northern Highlands
A small troop of mounted knights entered the small village of Tehkmathil, raising fear throughout the villagers and the few Hylian soldiers protecting the gate. Zeigurd the chieftain of the village walked out of his domicile to meet them.
"Can I help you with anything my good lord? We are at your service." Zeigurd asked weary of their presence in his community.
The human captain spat on the ground and dismounted his steed, and faced Zeigurd. "You have probably heard of us? We are the venguard, the fifth army of Zeal. We come to select slaves from your people to serve us. We will require food and water for tonight. Oh and do not try and resist, I cannot take all of you and I would certainly hate to slaughter a good productive village."
Zeigurd looked to the dark soil he was standing on, he heard from messengers that such evil was spreading, yet he couldnt beleive that it was going to happen to his commune. "Yes, I understand. I will accompany you during your inspection."
"Very good then, let us begin."
Zeigurd felt sick at the idea of surrendering his friends and family but he had no choice, it was that or anahilation.
So the selection process began, and it seemed like it would never end. They rammed sacked every house in the village, picking randomly from each family, mostly young boys and girls. They were all instructed to report to their camp just outside the village gate in the morning, if they failed to do so, the village would be slaughtered and burned down.
"Well this was a pretty productive day my friend Zeigurd now wasnt it?."
The chieftain looked at him with hatred and depise "You will take men, women, even children, many of them my friends and some even my family. I cannot do anything to stop you but I will tell you one thing straight human scum do NOT call me your FRIEND."
The captain spat again and grabbed Zeigurd "Your lucky I dont feel like dismembering you in front of all your children, now take me to the last house... Now"
Zeigurd looked at the little wodden house and shivered... He glanced at the human with fear, and said "We cannot go there, he is not the most pleasurable character you know."
"Good, I do feel like doing some harm." The filthy human captain spat again and walked energetically towards the Log house.
Kyul Schattenfields was sitting at his table, eating a ominious looking soup when his door broke open revealing a large man clothed in leather and a dirty blue cape. "Get up elvish scum, I think I might choose you"
Kyul didnt even flinch, nor stop eating. Between two bites he replied "I do not take orders from anyone, especially persons that come into a harmless village to pick slaves out of the population"
The human walked in the house with his few followers, looking for something to break, hoping to attract more attention from the person sitting at the table. "Do you not follow your gods?" He asked after spitting on the wooden floor.
Kyul turned around and faced his foes. Uppon their sight he chuckled and stood up "I am one with my god... In some cases, I am god"
The Human walked over to Kyul "A few months in our conditionning camps will bleed that insolence out of you... Be noticed that you have been chosen to come with us, show up at our camp tomorrow morning or your friends will suffer atrociously" To those words he turned back and headed back out, without forgeting to spit again.
Kyul's face darkened, were the gods of creation conspireing to make him fight?
Northern lowlands
The hylian troops had just arrived to the lowland fields, the limit of the human invasion. They set up camp on top of an easily defendable hilltop, their tents littering the beautiful green grass blanketing the hills. Link entered the large round tent where his commanders stood around a table discussing the enemy forces and strategies, they all stopped when Link entered. Though they had immense respect for Link's powers and fighting abilities but they rarely approve of his tactics.
One of the commanders, Krystoph spoke first "Link sir we are ready to deploy our troops around the valley as you instructed. But I must protest that surrounding them like that would put our whole unit at risk... Including you."
"Never worry about me Krys I can take care of myself, and if my plan goes as it should, the rain of arrows that our archers can provide will do most of the work for us. Get ready men, we attack during the night..." To those words he walked out and headed for a quiet place where he could focus as night was creeping on the sacred lands of Hyrule.
Tehkmathil
Kyul was just done eating his soup and feeding Myki and Schattenjager when someone entered his house via the already broken door, a dagger swiftly slid into Kyul's hand, ready to strike. "Kyul? Are you in here?" An electric shock darted through his body and the dagger retracted itself from his hand. He relaxed as he saw Jhiry’s silhouette enter his home. “What is happening Ky? The village does not know what to do…”
“Jhiry, don’t worry they will not bother you again… Ever. I must rest now, stay if you wish.”
The two young elfs layed down in Kyul’s bed and held hands. They looked deeply in each other’s eyes knowing that it might be the last time that they would be together for a very long time, perhaps forever… They grasped each other and tears came rushing to their eyes. Not a word was to be spoken. Jhiry fell asleep but Kyul couldn’t he had too many things on his mind… Link, Zelda, the Sages and the whole human invasion thing… What were the gods trying to tell him, could it be another test?
As Jhiry lingered in the abyss of dreams Kyul got up and kissed her. He entered the main room of his home and took his shield off the wall. He slowly brushed the ashes off the Schattenreiter emblem and took a deep breath. The full moon was glowing brightly outside, prime weather for shadows. Kyul smiled as he strapped on his gear. As he was shedding his cloak and heading for the broken door he saw Myki sitting in the doorway to his room. “Take care of them Myki, if they come for me you know where I will be.”
“I sure will Kyul… Leave in peace.”
Kyul walked in his small stable and saddled Schattenjager. “tonight it’s the return to our ways… I knew it would come back to get me. You can go over the hills I shall meet you there.” The black horse nodded and trotted away stealthily.
“Let the gods know… The triforce is back”
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- Chapter 1: Light concealed
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