His eyes slowing opened and quickly adjusted to the sunrise sunlight coming from the window. The nurse quickly bolted to her feet and rushed to the door. "Quick, get the king and queen. Tell them that he's awake," she said through a crack in the door. "Of course madam," a response came through followed by running foot steps. A faint groan came from the man lying on the bed. "No. Yu should not force your speech. You have lost lot of blood," the nurse said as she rushed to his side. After a few minutes a knock was heard on the door. She rushed to the door and carefully opened it. "Welcome King," she said bowing her head as Ozzy entered. Ozzy went to the man's upon seeing his condition. He placed his hand on his forehead and that made shudder. "I can tell he getting better. Good job Elizabeth." The nurse at the comment. Just then the queen barged in, rushed straight to the man and grabbed his collar. "Where's my daughter? What have you to my daughter? You were supposed to protect her," she screamed. Ozzy held her back so as to not hurt the man any further. "Lysteria it's not his fault. Look at him. He looks like he did all he could." "That's it Ozzy, you're too naive. You believe everything. You believe everything to the point of marrying your own daughter to a worthless nobody." "Are we talking about this again? Let's focus on why we came here. We'll settle that case in chambers," Ozzy said. Lysteria calmed and Ozzy went back to focus on the messenger. "Can you tell me from the beginning," Ozzy requested.
"From what I can remember we were on our way from [Kingdom name] when around the [Waterfall name] area we were ambushed. The men killed everyone and and took the princess. They said they would collect 500 kilograms of gold, 500 kilograms of gold dust, 500 kilograms of silver and 500 kilograms of diamonds. They then proceeded to molest me making sure not to kill me. Their final warning was that the ransom should be delivered by the moon's next phase." "That's in three days," Elizabeth said. "Thank you Elizabeth," Ozzy said. "We'll gear Achilles and the men up to go on the rescue." "They also said that the person who delivers the ransom should not be part of the army," the messenger added. The king rose to his feet and sighed. "Guess we have to organize a small tournament today." He then called the soldier guarding that room. "Get Achilles and Arschküsse. Tell them to get youngsters who are skilled in the art of the sword." The soldier nodded and left. "You should take your rest." Ozzy told the man as he left the room. Lysteria followed behind him leaving only Elizabeth and the messenger in the room. The man smiled warmly as he tucked into his bed.
The whole castle gathered at the castle's arena for a competition. Ozzy, Achilles and Arschküsse took their seats and Ozzy called for the commencement of the competition. Thirty-one teenage boys came out and stood in the pit. The king nodded to Arschküsse and he got up to address the crowd. "Ladies and soldiers of the castle, we welcome you all to this short competition to find the youngster most suitable to travel a perilous journey to rescue our beloved princess. Looking at them they all seem like capable young men but since they are an odd number we would either have to add one person or remove one person." The king smiled at this thought. "I think I might have someone in mind to make them even," Achilles said as the king was about to speak. "I'll be right back." He bolted out of the arena and went straight to the princess' room. "Draken! Draken! Draken I know you're in there. Open the door I need to talk to you." The door slowly opened and Draken's head popped out. "General. WHAT are you doing here?" he asked. "I have come to ask you to join a contest so that you can go and save your princess." he answered. Drake's looked down and said, "But I can't enter. I'm just a slave," "And the princess' slave at that. When you took this job as yours it meant you were ready to lay down your life for the princess so are you just going to sit there like that. Wherever she is, you best believe that she's whispering your name for you to save her. S are you going to make somebody's knight in shiny armor's faith go down." Draken smiled and looked up. "If the princess needs me to save her, then let's go win a contest," he said. "Now that's the spirit." "But only on one condition," Draken added. "And what's that may I ask?"
"Match 15 ends with Sekol as the victor. The last match for this stage is my own son against the general's secret fighter, but since said fighter hasn't arrived, that means my son wins on de...," "We're her Arschküsse. We've arrived." Achilles entered the pit and looked up at Arschküsse. "Where's your fighter General. You know you can't go right," Arschküsse taunted. "Who said I was the one completing." Just then a masked boy entered the arena brandishing only a sword. Arschküsse looked at him closely and blurted out, "Who, who is that?" The body looked up at the man talking about him and recognized him. "You're lucky, but remember, if you don't change this job of yours, I'm gonna make it a living hell for you" The words rang through his head. "I asked you a question Achilles. Who is he?" Arschküsse repeated. "Wait till the end Arschküsse. You'll find out." Arschküsse gnashed his teeth as Achilles returned to his seat. "So since the extra competitor has arrived, my son, Deville will go against...," "The masked warrior or Temaw. That's not his name but that he's using for this contest," Achilles whispered. "The masked warrior, Temaw. Begin and may the best warrior here win."
Both boys take their stand and began walking in a circle. Deville took the sheath off his sword and held it in front of him. He charged at Temaw, aiming for his right shoulder. Temaw dodged and kicked his leg causing him to fall face first onto the ground. He then put his sheath sword on his back and said, "Say the words." "Never!" he shouted. Temaw struck the sheathed sword on his right ribs causing Deville to scream. A gong was rang signaling the end of the contest. "End of match 16. Winner, the masked warrior." Temaw turned turned to leave the arena when Deville run up to try and take his mask off. Temaw without turning swung his sword to strike his hand as it reached for his mask. Deville let out another scream grabbing his arm in pain. "Did you not hear. The match is over," Temaw said as he walked out the arena without turning to look at him.
"The first round is over with sixteen contestants remaining," Arschküsse said. "So we therefore go on to the second round." "Rimore and Daelar, step into the pit." Two boys entered the pit and took their stance. "Ready. Fight."
"Round 2 match 1. Winner, Rimore. Match 2, Damil against Bolluck. Match 2 winner, Boluck. Match 3 winner, Ranae. Match 4 winner, Fraise. Match 5 winner, Coluom. Match 6 winner, Lokus. Match 7 winner Nemole. Match 8 winner, The masked warrior." "Round two is now over so we move on to the next stage."
"Round 3 commences. The first match is between Rimore and Bolluck. Begin."
"Match 1 over. Winner, Rimore. Match 2 over. Winner, Ranae. Match 3 over. Winner, Lokus. Match 4 over. Winner, The masked warrior." "Ladies and gentlemen, we draw near the end of the contest with three matches remaining and since our king is kind and generous, he has suggested that we all go and refresh ourselves and return at the 13th division (1 pm). Thank you all for staying with us this long." The people starting flocking out of the arena. They were all talking about the fighters especially who ever the masked warrior was.
"Hey wait for me," Achilles called out after Draken. "So what do you think of it so far?" he asked. "It's good. Te Person I really in the final is Ranae. He has potential to save the princess." Achilles smiled. "Well the middle division is not far. I'll see back in the arena." Achilles said as he went back. Draken was walking away when he heard someone call out to him. He turned and saw Beckett running to him. "Why Draken, why?" he said somewhat angry. "Why what Prince?" Draken asked surprised. "Why did you not join the competition?" "Sorry prince. I have my own reasons," Draken said as he started walking away. "Reasons. What reasons. Don't you love my sister?" That question made not only Draken but everyone who heard stoping their tracks. "You told me that good leaders always put things they love before themselves, no matter the reasons. That reasons shouldn't be the reason. You said the only reason should be that you're dead." Draken smirked and turned to look at him. "I also said a good leader is also time conscious." "What's that supposed to mean?" Draken pointed out the window and said, "It's the twelfth division." "I still don't understand." Draken pointed behind the prince. A servant girl rushed to the prince. "Dear prince, it's time for you lunch," she said. The prince turned to look at Draken just to realize he had disappeared. He grunted as he turned and left with the girl.
"So Ozzy, have you found someone capable for the rescue." Ozzy nodded. "Yes dear. A perfect young..." "I hope it's not your slave boy," "At this point I'm sure it's not him. The person I'm talking is skilled with the sword. He took out all those he fought with a strike or two and Draken can't handle a sword. He also wears a mask but Draken has nothing to hide about his face." As they were talking the prince entered the room. "How has your day been so far mother and father?" he asked. "Good son. How about yours?" Lysteria answered. "It's been good." "No it hasn't. You spoke with the voice you use when you are disappointed," Ozzy said as he stopped some wine. "Of course I'm disappointed. Draken told me about some qualities of being a good leader but today he has broken some of those rules." "Forget whatever Draken said son. Hes unimportant," Lysteria said. As the kept discussing, a soldier entered. "Sir it's almost time and your permission is needed for us to continue," the soldier announced. "Tell those two I'll be there in a jiffy," the king said cleaning the food crumbs on his mouth. "Well dear, I'm off to the arena."
"Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to the fourth round of the contest. The first match is between Sir Rimore. Son of the baron of the eastern districts of Eldrida and Sir Ranae son of the Count of Walden." Both boys walked into the arena. Rimore waved at the crowd his brown hair and white teeth gleamed brightly in the afternoon sun whiles Ranae just walked in with his face downwards. "Ready yourselves fighters," Arschküsse said. Both boys took off their swords and stood in their positions. Rimore put his left hand forward and raised his sword above his head using his right hand. Ranae just held his sword with both hands in front of him. "Please entertain me. No one has entertained today me so please do," he said. "Begin!" Arschküsse shouted as the crowd erupted into a loud scream. Rimore charged at Ranae who ducked under his attack, got up and slashed him on the back. Rimore was about to scream but he held his mouth. Rimore charged at him again, aiming for his legs. Ranae jumped out of the way and stepped on his sword before he could raise it. He kicked his shoulder making him turn around. Ranae made another slash on his back marking a big red X. Rimore still refused to let his screams out. He charged at Ranae again but lost his balance giving Ranae the chance to draw a horizontal line through the center of the X on Rimore's back. Rimore coughed and scoffed as he turned to face Ranae. "Is that all you you've got. My father is more powerful than yours and I'm in line to his position. What has your family accomplished for Walden. Nothing. Your good for nothing bedridden father has done absolutely nothing." Ranae smirked and charged at him with full speed. He raised his sword and was bringing it down on Rimore 's head when he threw the sword over Rimore's, went to his back, and made a vertical line through the mark on his back. Blood trickled down his back staining his clothes and the sand around him. Rimore stood there frozen as Ranae punched him to the ground. Rimore tilted his head to see what Ranae would do to him. Ranae looked at him with his warm blue eyes when they sharply turned crimson and smile turned upside down.
"I told you to entertain me, not offend me," Ranae said as he put his sword in the center of the slashes he made on his back. "Do you seriously think I care about you and your inconsiderate, obscure, corrupt, mistake of the gods, family," he said driving the sword into his back. "My family is better than yours in every aspect of life. You might argue that what I said is not true but anytime you open your big, bootlicking mouth to say that, I want you to remember who gave you these scars." Ranae drove in his sword causing Rimore to let out a loud scream. Ranae's eyes turned back to normal as he sheathed his sword and started walking out. "Match 1 winner, Sir Ranae."
"The next and final match for this round is between Sir Lokus and the masked warrior." Temaw and Lokus entered the arena and readied their weapons with Temaw's sheath still on the sword. "Ready. Begin." Lokus charged blindly at Temaw aiming for his head. Temaw just stretched his sword and smacked him in the ribs. Lokus screamed as the pain surged through his body. "Winner, the masked warrior."
"Now ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the final match. The one you've all been waiting for. Surprisingly the performance of these two young men has intrigued the king who now wants to congratulate them. So Sir Ranae and masked warrior, please step into the arena to meet the king. Ranae and Temaw entered the arena to meet King Ozzy." "Well done boys, I wish you both luck in this final round." Ozzy said as he shook her hands.
"Ready warriors, fight."
"Please entertain me masked warrior. Im bored." Ranae said as he charged. Temaw parried with his sword and kicked Ranae in the stomach. Ranae stumbled back surprised. "You kicked me," he muttered. A smile spread across his face as he charged for Temaw again. The clashed swords, Temaw blocking the all the attacks of the boy who seemed to have just turn mad. "Hit me. Hit me. Entertain me," Ranae said as the bloodlust spread in his veins. He tried hitting Temaw from above but he countered, spun around him and struck his back. "Yes. Jist like that," Ranae said with a smile on his face. Renae rushed to him and Temaw readied his sword. As Ranae raised his sword to bring it down on on Temaw's head, Temaw just used the tip of his sheathed sword to strike the middle of his forehead. Ranae instantly became dizzy as he swayed from side to side. Draken then pushed him on the floor and put his sword on his chest. "Say the words," Temaw said. "You entertained me," Ranae said as he forced himself up. Ranae went down on one knee and stuck his sword in the ground. "Winner of the competition after a long day is, the masked warrior," Arschküsse said as Temaw started moving out of the arena. "Wait," Renae said, grabbing on to Temaw's dress. With his pupils now brown he asked, "May I see the the face of the one who entertained me." Temaw sighed and removed his mask. The whole crowd gasped including the king and Arschküsse. "You have a beautiful face," he said, rising to his feet. "Thank you," he said as both boys walk out.
"Him Ozzy. Out of all the capable youngsters in the kingdom you choose him."
"But he won the contest."
"But..."
"But nothing Lysteria. I am not changing him to go and save my daughter. The gods granted him victory so he's going."
"Now Draken, go and take your bath. We'll set the ransom and the map down in the stable. When you're ready tomorrow then you'll set off."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Draken said as he turned and went out of the room and straight to his.
MEANWHILE
Her hands were chained to the wall while silhouettes of people walked through the cave. "Do you think he'll get it?" one man asked. "Of course he will. He be back in at least two days from now," a female voice said. ''Draken,'' Estelle said loud enough for the woman to hear. She walked over to her and slapped her. "Shut up you piece of manure," she said. "Someone will hear us because of you." "You worry too much Lovie. We're behind a waterfall. No one will hear her." "You're right," the woman said as she walked away from Estelle whose vision was now blurry. With the last strength she had, she muttered one more phrase, "Draken, come save us," before passing out.