Hand of Death Ch2

I awoke to the sound of screaming. The sky was dark, and the ground was cold. Raising from my bed in this desolate house in the desecrated town, I looked towards the sound. Outside, Sarah, Criss, Jeremiah, and Robin were fighting the Hand of Death. Grabbing my sword, I ran. I ran down the stairs and out the house to find everyone dead.
Enraged, I drew my blade.
“You Bastard!” I yelled, running and slashing. He grabbed my sword and deflected me with his bare hand. Every attack was futile, every movement was obsolete; I could not hurt him. Our fight was like nothing before. I had never been so outmatched.
Then, I awoke to the sound of screaming...my own screaming. We each claimed a place to sleep and I was so pissed. I took my sword and attacked the walls.
“Why must I be so weak!?” I said, crushing the bed with the blow of my blade
I crushed, I broke, and I slashed everything. Eventually, the sun rose. My friends came to find me, alone with my sword. Crying tears I should have cried three years ago. I failed then and surely, I'll fail again.
They looked upon me with silence. All of them knew why I was so distraught. They all knew of my failure three years ago, and there was nothing they could say. They eventually left, and I eventually sobered up.
When I came outside, they were all sat around a fire. It was cold today. My eyes immediately locked onto Criss and noticed something was different. He and Sarah had been together for over 4 years and I still don't understand the attraction. Sarah is happy-go-luck and affectionate, Criss, on the other hand, is pessimistic and not so affectionate. Yet, when I saw him he was all over her. He kissed her many times, many more than I've seen in their four years. It must've been their approaching separation.
When it came time for us to depart, we rode horseback in one direction, Criss walked in the other. His journey was very important and he was making it alone. Sometimes, he was the bravest of all of us. This was definitely one of his moments. I watched a shape shifter, no a man, walk away from the love of his life to a family that disowned him, to face the darkness that still consumes him.
I hadn't spoken since my breakdown. No matter if I would fail again, I will try to beat him, and save the ones I love. I dont have much choice; I have to try.
“How long will it take to get to Soteria?” I asked, yelling over the galloping of the horses.
“About a day!” Robin yelled back.
That was it, there was no more talking. We rode as fast as these horses could take us. We stopped at every puddle we crossed, hoping to keep the horses strength up. As far as I could tell, about 2 hours later we entered the forest they were hidden in. By sunset, we found the waterfall they were hidden behind. Leaving our horses tied outside, we jumped though the waterfall.
Soteria, was no more than a cave, but it was magnificent. It was the closest to a city that Neos had. Its cave's walls had some sort of diamond, and they're buildings were made of them. We walked through amazed, until the Soteria guard saw us.
“We dont recognize your faces. State your name, and reason for coming to Soteria. We all gave our names, and Robin said, “We are here because my Sight told us to be.”
Obviously, knowing she was a mage, we were taken to Soteria's leader's chamber. Outside his chamber one of the guards said, “Permission to enter Armand the Light's chamber”
A deep voice replied, “Permission granted.”
What we saw I had not expected. Armand the Light was a huge man of at least 6 ft. and 300 lbs. He wore a huge grin that just radiated happiness. There was no wondering how he gained his title.
He looked from the guards then us then back to the gaurds.
“Who are they?” He asked
“I am-” I started, “They are visitors. This one here is a mage.” A guard said, cutting me off and pointing at Robin. I had a feeling that guard didn't like me.
“A mage huh? Am I right in assuming you Seth Alexander are son of Charles Alexander the Shining Light?” Arman asked, staring me down.
“How did you know my name?!” I stared, placing my hand on my sword.
“Your father and I were friends. Until he betrayed Soteria, for that adeos, adeo, or wherever he ran.”
“It's Adeona. Don't you dare insult my father or my home!”
“Your father was a narcissistic warrior who fought for nothing and no one. What was that saying of his? Fight, and fight alone?”
“Its fight, and never be consumed!” I yelled, losing my temper. Someone I didn't know, anyone I did know for that matter, was not going to insult my father and my home. I drew my sword, slashing at Armand. The guard that had cut me off jumped towards Armand and blocked my blade with his. I slashed at him, and he blocked again. I powered him down then knocked him out of my way. I went straight for Armand. My friends stayed back because this was my fight and they knew it. Armand drew a huge two handed sword and slashed at me. I jumped onto his blade, and leaped forward slashing him. He dropped his sword immediately, and began laughing. What?
“You are just like your father,” he bellowed. Somehow, I dont think that was meant as an insult.
“I was testing you Seth. Come here and give me a hug” Armand grabbed me and hugged me, nearly squeezing the life out of me. When he sat me down, I looked at him confused.
“Your father was a dear friend of mine. We both grew up in our original towns; Original Adeona and Original Soteria. We met during a trade between our fathers and grew up togethor. Your father was a better swordsman than me, but I was more strategic, as some say.”
I let all this sink in, and only had one question.
“So why did you insult my father?”
He kneeled down and put his hand on the ground; a traditional respect to the dead in Neos.
“I did it to test your swordplay; which might I add is impressive, even for the son of The Shining Light.
Robin stepped forward and bowed, “Armand, Please tell me, do you know why my Sight led us here?”
He chuckled, and walked up to Robin.
“Young Lady, do you remember me?” She looked at him and he looked at her.
“I'm sorry but no I don't,” was her reply.
“Good, because we've never met.” He chuckled.
He turned his back and walked up and sat in a throne-like chair. He clasped his hands togethor dramatically then deflated himself. I had to question if he was all there.
“You are here to receive training.” He said, sternly.
We were quiet; thinking he would add more. Many minutes passed in awkward silence, Jeremiah broke it by saying, “Why are we just standing around!? We have training to do.” He said, with a confident, high voice
“Yes, train all of you shall. Be warned; they knew you were coming better than you did. No go, gaurds; take them to the training ground!”

We arrived in a huge barren field. Being in a cave, it was obvious this wasn't natural. There stood four people. They just oozed power, and I was glad to know they were on my side. he first was an elf, I think, because she looked like Elza. Thinking this reminded me of Valden, and all that I had lost to The Plague. Snapping back into the present, I saw her walk up to Robin.
“I am M'era. I am to tutor you in magic, Robin,” She said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Robin nearly collapsed, and I rushed over to her. I looked at M'era and asked, “What did you do to her!?”
She waved her hand over Robin, and she regained her strength, standing up.
“If you were facing another mage, you would have been dead,” M'era said. Robin looked pissed, but at herself, not M'era.
“Follow me,” She said, opening a strange door at the end of the field. I somehow knew it would be awhile before I next saw her, but if anything, I had to trust Robin. I had to trust her to master her powers.
After that, another girl, with black hair, and a face as still as stone, walked up to Sarah. I had a bad feeling about these to.
“Hi, I'm Sarah. I hope we can be,” was all Sarah got out.
“Shush. I am your tutor, not you friend. I am Kiera, and thats all about me you need to know. Now, hit that target!” She said, pointing towards a simple target on a wall about 50 ft. away. Sarah looked a little shell-shocked but did as was told.
The last one was the most intimidating. He stood about 6'5 if I had to guess with scars all over his chest, which was exposed. He stood in nothing more than pants. He didn't walk up to Jeremiah; He attacked him! I barely saw him move; it was unexplainable how a man that huge could move so fast. Jeremiah barely had time to react.
I stood alone, with no tutor, when Armand walked up behind me.
“Wheres my tutor?” I asked him, looking around.
He responded, “Your tutor, as you call it, awaits you to find him.”
“Okay then, where is he?” I said, a little annoyed.
“If I told you, what kind of training would that be?”
“How is looking for a person I don't know training!?”
“You'll have to ask him,” Armand said, walking away.

I spent the rest of the day looking for someone who looked like a teacher. I had left the training field, and ran through town. I ran all around Soteria, and eventually just began asking people if they were my teacher. After hours, I just sat. It would be midnight by now and I still haven't found him. I sat and thought.
Soteria was so much alike Adeona, because it made me feel at home, but trapped far from the sun. I had to beat The Plague, I had to. This tutor was obviously toying with me...toying with me..I stood up and walked away.
I walked up the steps and stared at a man who was wide awake, sitting in his throne-like chair.
“Finally figure it out, eh?” Armand looked at me, mockingly.
“You know the minute I begin to like you..” I started, and was fending for my life before I finished what I was going to say. He simply overpowered me. He came at me from above, and struck me from the left. He swung from the right, and struck me from below. It took a few hits for me to realize he was using a metal pole so that at least I wasn't getting cut up.
I was on the ground before his assault was over.
“The first thing you will learn is to never, never drop your guard.” Armand said at me. As I looked up at the man who so easily defeated me, I knew this was a beginning, but a beginning to what I didn't know. He stuck at his arm and pulled me up. “We start tomorrow,” was all I heard him say.

The next day, I awoke in the tent that Armand showed me to, and was quickly rushed to the feasting hall by people I didn't even know. I saw Sarah, Jeremiah, and Robin sitting near the back on a table and as I quickly made my way to them, thats when it all went bad. I saw him as he haunted me. I knew it wasn't but in that moment, the moment that almost cost me my life, I saw Damien. I failed him then, and he was telling me I would fail him again. Though I had seen Damien, It wasn't him that had come running towards me; It was Armand. I was too stunned to defend so all I did as his pole, luckily wooden this time, smashed me across the head, was fall with it.

I remembered faces, but never anything real. I stood alone surrounded by a crimson darkness.
“Where...where am I?” I spoke aloud.
This is the nightmare realm, a voice I never heard before spoke, You should know this place very well.
“Who are you? And why would I know that?” I yelled, for some unseen reason, I knew this voice was insulting me.
I gave birth to your best friend, your mortals know me as Kain.
“You gave birth to my best friend, what is that suppose to mean?”
Ponder it mortal and know, I exist within you.

I awoke to see my friends and Armand. I was on a bed in a little room. Was all that just a dream? Robin was the first to notice my awakening, and ran up to me. She had tears in her eyes and she yelled and mumbled at me, at the same time. I couldn't understand what she was saying, and she seemed to get that. She came and hugged me, held me tight. I looked at her and my friends confused.

Armand said, “ Your heart has been stopped for the past few minutes.” His eyes never looked away from me, and his veins were stilled popping. He looked very stressed. Jeremiah stood in the back, obviously beaten from the day before. I stood up and said, “What are we waiting for? We have training to do.” Everyone wanted to argue with me, I could see it in their eyes. No one would, though, because they knew it would be pointless.
Everyone returned to their tutor and as I watched Robin walk into that room again, I vowed to talk to her tonight. I had to tell her. She would know about the nightmare realm. As Armand trained me, it didnt last long. I was on the ground before I knew it.
“Second thing you need to learn, Never come from where your opponent is going to think you came from, if he thinks your gonna strike from the left, strike upwards. If he thinks your going to strike from below, strike slanted.” He said, pulling me up. I would remember this and I would beat him. Although, I didnt beat him then.
As I walked away at the end of training, I swore I heard him say, “Sometimes, the worse nightmare is your happiest memory.”

At supper time, I saw Robin, alone, in the back of the feasting hall. I quickly made my way to her, and we walked out alone. I told he what had happened during my unconscious moments and she agreed, it couldn't have been a dream.
“Do you think we have any chance of beating the Hand of Death?” I looked at Robin, but she didnt said anything.
I knew her all too well, “You know something.”
She sighed, “With M'era, I've managed to learn how to control the sight a bit and I took a look at the outcome of our journey...”
I stared at her intently. In the background, I could hear Jeremiah chugging away. Yet, I couldn't look away from her.
“I dont know the outcome, but I do know we either win or lose because of you, Seth,” she looked at me sternly, “Neos has chosen you to be its savior.”
I had to change the subject.
“So what about that flashfire fox thing?”
She grinned, “Its my guardian, sent by Neos.”
The rest of the night passed, and so did the next few days. I trained relentless and about one and a half weeks after beginning my training, I beat Armand. I actually beat him. I stood over him with my sword to his chest and I laughed.
“Don't get cocky,” he said laughing. He let me stop earlier that day and I went to the field. I was watching Jeremiah train with his tutor, whose name I learned was Belzar. Armand came and sat beside me.
“You are so much like your father,” He said to me.
“I miss him,” I admitted, “Its been so long.”
Sadly grinning, Armand said, “He would be proud.”

I was the first one there, followed by Jeremiah. I looked at him, and could not believe I hadn't seen the change before. He was even more massive, but he was leaner. He looked like he could chase down a deer. He looked like he could wrestle a bear; he looked like a bear!
My eyes followed to see Robin. She looked tougher, but I could still tell she was that loving girl she was before. I noticed she had the Darkland letters for Wolf on her arm now...Criss, where are you? Criss, are you safe? I closed my eyes and prayed for my friend.
I saw Robin next and even though I saw her a few nights ago, her magical aura was definitely stronger. Her power as a mage as unlike any other. I feared fighting her in real battle.
On the plains, my friends and I stood. We had gathered to defend our homes and this moment seemed to define us. Armand and the others walked up and every tutor looked at their students with pride.
Armand spoke out loud to us and for everyone that had gather with his unorthodox, booming voice.
“Those of Soteria, we hide no longer! These people stand before us, after a journey of great loss. These people are heroes, these people are our saviors.”
He looked at us, and I've learned enough about him to know he looked upon us with sadness.
M'era walked forward and stopped before Robin.
“Robin, is this short time you have grown, magically, physically, and mentally. I am proud to have been your tutor and reward you with this,” she said, as she handed Robin a necklace.
Kiera walked forward next, stopping in front of Sarah.
“I dont need words to tell you how you've improved, because it shows. Take this with my blessing,” she said as she passed the necklace to Sarah.
Belzar spoke to Jeremiah and, like the others, handed him a necklace. Armand walked up to me last and stared at me. He hugged me, held me tight in his arms. He handed me a necklace and walked back, rejoining the others.
“These necklaces are the connection between you and Neos. Neos has chosen you few to defend it. Neos has blessed you each with a guardian. Now, take the amulet on the end of the necklace and pray to Neos. This will bring forth your guardian.”
We each did as told and a deep magic thickened the air. Robin's done this before I noticed, because she summoned her Flashfire Fox easily. Sarah was the next to successfully do it. She summoned a Giant Eagle. It shone as bright as the sun used to. Jeremiah was next to succeed. His guardian was an Ice Bear.
As I tried to summon mine next, I heard a voice, Don't.
Who are you, I thought.
I am Neos. Your summon must not be done now.
Neos, why did you choose me?
I never got a response. Everyone was looking at me whilst I communicated with Neos.
“I can't do it,” I lied.
“Its okay,” Armand said, “Its just not the right time.”
He said this while looking at me. He knew something had happened. Yet, he said nothing more.
M'era proceeded to the center of the field. She touched two fingers to the veins on her neck, and her voice was amplified as she spoke,
“Now, I have to turn this gathering into something sad,” she waved Robin forward, “Robin and myself have been using the sight to watch The Hand of Death.”
I immediately looked at Robin, who was intentionally looking away from me. Robin said, in the calmest voice, “The Hand of Death and an army of Bandos marches towards Soteria. He has discovered our whereabouts. He comes to destroy us. He will be here in thirteen days.”
There was a wave of fear throughout Soteria.
Armand quickly silenced them, “Be quiet! We are Soteria! We are the hope of Neos! We will not cower, we will not fail, we will defend our home!”

The night passed, and I was quiet almost the whole time. The Hand of Death was coming and so was my time of redemption. I would have thought I would be emotional at a time like this, but no; I was numb. It was coming and I had to handle it.
I was in my tent, polishing my sword when Armand walked in.
“I will die soon,” was the first thing he said. I looked at him confused.
“This invasion will be my swan song, my last time to spread my wings,” He said, depressed.
“This isn't like you; why do you say such foolish things?”
“M'era has foreseen it,” He said, “but I won't bow to her visions. Anyways, You and I are leaving.”
“What, where, why?” I blinked, suddenly.
“The tomb of Neos,” He tightened up, “It is your only chance of being able to defeat Him.”
“What makes you think I can't?” I spoke up, pissed.
“Because I know you, and what you know. I know Neos has chosen you and I believe you are the one to access the secrets of his tomb.”
“If it gives us an advantage, then I will go.”
“Say your goodbyes; we leave at midnight.”
“Why?”
“Every moment counts.”

I realize the events are going kind of fast, but i plan on going back and editing the training time, adding more detail. The story is also going to b told from Criss and Robin's side of the story...