Ash rained from a sky with no sun. Not darkness. Not light. Just the grey in between. A boy stood at the edge of a forgotten village, staring at a statue that bled.
"You feel it, don't you?" said the old man beside him. "The pull."
The boy nodded. "Who was he?" He curiosly asked.
The old man hesitated. Then he laughed, dry and broken. "No one. And everyone. A lie we tried to kill. A god… no. A devil that we failed to bury."
The statue was crude, almost like it had been carved in rage and lividity. A man with broken chains around his limbs. His eyes weren't sculpted, but burnt into the stone. Beneath his feet, something had been scratched in over and over again until the stone cracked.
"From the dust you were formed. To the dust you will return."
"It's just a statue," the boy whispered.
The old man's voice went quiet. "That's what they said last time."
And then the ground trembled. Just slightly. Just enough.
….
With a bull leashed to his hand, he walked the dusty road to the market.
"Why do I always have to do this?" Lancelot sighed as he looked at the 2,400 lb bull that oddly followed him closely. He was tall with orange hair and hazel eyes. He had the average body of a teen who neither too skinny or too fat. However life in the farm did give him distinct muscular physique.
He clenched his chest abruptly, trying to subdued the sudden pain that overwhelmed him for a few seconds. This wasn't the first time it's happened. It usually occured twice or at most thrice a week ever since he was a small lad. However, lately it's been getting a bit too frequent. He didn't think that much of it though, telling himself that it will soon pass.
Though it's been a song at this point on the fact that he kept telling himself that since he was young.
A song… he hummed a lullaby his mother used to sing to him, it always kept him calm. Even though he felt as though it was incomplete.
From his family's humble cottage to the market wasn't a long weary distance, he just didn't enjoy the noise that was there, that also means he hated socializing.
It came as a shock to him that they didn't try to rob him. Maybe today will be different from the others or at least that's what he thought.He got to the market and found his stand still intact. Today's going great….. something is definitely wrong, he thought as he kept his sign board up.
BIG, FAT, HEALTHY BULL AT ONLY 250 GOLD COINS
"Now all that's left is to sell this bull as quick as possible and pray that he doesn't show-" He got kicked from the back by a tall, blonde, kid in a rich attire. Lancelot turned to face the kid he dreaded to meet. He had company this time.
"Well, if it ain't the farm boy himself. Back to try and help your family get rid of the debt you kept on them?" He looked at him with disgust and continued, "You disgust me, and the mere thought of you makes my skin crawl." His gang started laughing at him.
His voice and face was repulsive to Lancelot. He wanted to beat him up again but remembered that it would cause even more problems to his family and potentially an increase in their debt. I mean it is the duke's son afterall with his rotten rich friends. He checked his surroundings and looked at the gang in front of him.
Lancelot had lost his cool. He checked each and every one of them, carefully trying to analyse how strong they were. "Ho! Seems like Mr. Richards inn is gonna have a lot of money flowing in today." Lancelot spoke out, audible enough for them to hear. They looked at each other before laughing out loud. "Whats with the retard today? Didn't your mother teach you any manners?"
The redhead who asked him the question got mad and charged towards him with a punch, only to be countered with a kick to the face, sending him to the ground. He tried getting up but Lancelot didn't give him a chance as he stomped on his head. "Aren't you gonna help him? He is your friend right?" He asked them calmly, trying to keep his anger low.
They were about to charge at him when the blonde kid stopped them and said, "Did you already forget what happened the last time you beat me? We'll continue this after the grand announcement that's about to happen. You better listen to it closely Grieves!" He walked towards the redhead and dragged him away, his gang following him.
Grand announcement? He thought to himself as he turned to his bull which had sat down calmly without trying to wander off. He quickly tied it down. The guy thinks I won't beat him up since he's the duke's first son he thought, patting the bull's head.Suddenly, he shot up when he heard people running towards his direction.
He quickly took cover in his stand together with his bull only to see that they weren't heading in his direction but rather, the podium that was a few meters away from his stand. It was made to act as a place of announcing important things, live performances or executions.
They never got a lot of announcements or live performances since it was a small town in the nation of Cyndor. He just thought it was just another live execution. But this many people just to see someone getting beheaded? He thought as he came out of the stand. It was crowded, more than usual but he had enough space to move around.
A stranger, cloaked, brushed past him rather forcefully. He grabbed the strangers hand, wanting to know what was going on. The hood from the cloak fell, revealing her freckled face and bright emerald eyes. She looked at him with horror, as if she's trying to hide from someone.
She tried pulling away but his grip was firm.
"Mind if I ask a question."Lancelot asked.
"Mind if you let me go!"She demanded trying to pull away.
Ignoring her retaliation, "What's happening over there?"She glared at him but came to the realisation he wouldn't let go till he got an answer.
"It's a declaration of another Great Adventurer. The second to be more accurate. Now can I leave?" She asked, ready to attack him if he denied.
Another great adventurer! He thought with a smile on his face. It would be a lie if he said he doesn't know what that title means but to actually see one get it.
Spectacular.
He let go of her and climbed up the bull he had to get a better view of the scene. It was used to his shenanigans by now. Lancelot watched in awe, astonished by how everyone in the town decided to sum up at the podium.
The royal carriage had come up and in no time, Knights had already made two lines facing each other from the side of the door. Four figures came out, three in silver armour that had golden linings and the other with a crimson armour, golden linings on it and a crimson cape that matched her red hair.
"Holy- It's the four ark knights mate. To think we'd actually get to see them. This is a dream come true!" Lancelot happened to overhear a young lad speaking his dream out loud.
The 'four ark knights'? I thought they were just a myth. Huh. Odd.
Lancelot hoped that from the rumours that used to spread about them would actually make him feel at least the little bit amazed by them. However, it just felt bland to him after seeing them for the first time.
He expected more.
Lancelot then realised that he's been making eye contact with the crimson knight as he had his internal monologue. They used to say that her eyes burn with fury and authority and Lancelot was now experiencing it. It made him feel inferior and him breaking that contact would prove it.
He stared, long and hard not wanting to prove her right. It didn't last long though. After a short while, the crimson knight turned her head away, breaking the contact.
Ha! Authority my ass!
It was a small victory over that towering mountain, and Lancelot took pride in it. He looked around noticed how they were positioned. The crimson knight at the front right corner, scanning the vicinity with her dark brown eyes. Her silver long-bladed spear at her back gave her a more sense of authority.
A larger, bulkier man at the back right stood tall crossing his arms. His brown beard wild and thick. His eyes seemed to be covered by his thick brown brow. He had large battle axe that seemed to be as tall as Lancelot was. Maybe even taller.
That's a bloody giant! Why's its axe so bloody tall?
Lancelot was confounded by the knight's abnormal stature. With his size he might be the leader. Although something inside him was saying otherwise. His gaze fell on the crimson knight and it made him shudder a bit.
At the front left was tall(shorter than the giant) quirky guy that seemed to enjoy everything his eyes met. His blue crystal eyes wandered around trying to get everything in. His short black hair moved in the wind wildly somehow making him even more handsome.
"Oh my gosh! Eve look it's Aaron!" Lancelot heard the girls behind him squel in joy, it made him feel… envious.
As if to add salt to injury, Aaron turned to the ladies and waved at them, instantly making them squel even harder as if it was even possible.
Show off!
The last one at the back left was a lady ever so beautiful it made Lancelot wonder if she's really a member of the four ark knight. No scars or blemish on her fair, pale skin. She wasn't like the crimson knight who had small scar that ran down from the lower part of her cheek to the chin. No sort of damage was on that lady's skin. Her silver-blond hair flowed down her back, slowly moving to the winds will. Her bright red eyes shone softly as her eyelids seem a bit too heavy to keep open.
She wore no armour but a really light blue silk cloak, holding a staff on one the both of her hands leaning on it lazily. Lancelot was dumbstruck when he realised that she was not stepping on the ground but rather floating just a bit above it to make it look like she was still stepping on it.
Lancelot could hear the girls behind him click with envy as they watched her. "That witch has been using some of her magic to keep her that beautiful."
Lancelot didn't know why but that spiteful remark they made got him feeling a bit good. Not because he envied her but rather since he didn't have to look behind to imagine how they looked.
Suddenly a rather plump little man in a royal suit stood at the forefront holding on to a parchment.
"Ahem!" he shouted trying to get their attention but it didn't work. Murmurs were still buzzing in the air like busy bees.
"Ahem!" He shouted again in that soprano voice of his. No one took him seriously. It was as if he was just another crazy passer-by that announced random things that had no value. I almost feel sorry for the guy Lancelot thought as he stretched a bit trying to remove the tension in his muscle fibers.
"SILENCE!" a voice boomed with such tremendous authority that it caused larger wave of silence that engulfed the crowd later. Lancelot almost fell due to the shock. Just what kind of monster could do that.
Lancelot turned to look at the giant with nothing but awe in his eyes. Just by the voice one could tell just how powerful they were.
"Thank you Lady Naryl." The plump man offered his gratitude to her. She nodded while yawning as if ready to fall asleep any moment from now.
Lancelot's facial expression betrayed him. He was more than dumbstruck to find out that it was the witch who made such a sound.
What in the bloody hell was that! Lancelot thought trying to get his thoughts together.
"Now! I would like to announce the ceremony that you have been waiting for… ever since the rumours started spreading." he said the last part with disappointment in his voice.
"The rise of a new Great Adventurer. The second of that title as a matter of fact. However I would like to introduce the royal family who will take things from here!"
With that the carriage door swung open, revealing a young princess who looked to be the same age as Lancelot. Her jade green eyes and sweet smile always seemed to woo every man. The king followed next walking with might and courage. He's thick brown beard seemed to hide his mouth fully. He wore a red royal robe that seemed a bit too big for his size. A larger golden crown covered his head, stone jewels were embroidered on it making it in fact fit for a king.
The duke followed, in his pristine black and white suit and a scar on his face that told many tales. The duchess and their son, in matching coloured gowns. Lancelot clenched his teeth tight.