Post by Arin on Mar 1, 2018 0:13:36 GMT -5
Arin reached for the stone as it was flung up into the air, and clasped it in his free hand. As his hand clasped around the purple gem, he suddenly felt his mind...no, his soul being pulled into the stone itself. The stone was linking itself to his spirit, and he could feel the world around him fading to black as he fell toward the ground.
...Everything that happens next, took place within the blink of an eye...
Arin suddenly came to, and found himself surrounded by a black void, his body suspended as if he were in zero gravity. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was. As he scanned the darkness, he could see small flickers of light, as if there was something else in his presence "Hello? Is someone there?"
"Another thief, it has been some time since a soul has reached us, seeking our treasure."
"Do away with him, he is just like the rest...a common grave robber."
Arin could see more lights flickering into existence, and he could recognize some of the flames that were taking shape. But what stood out the most wasn't the fact that he wasn't alone, but that they were talking about a treasure that was theirs. Was this what the king's shield meant by being judged by the kings of old? Only one way to find out... "I am no thief! Show yourself, kings of the twilight kingdom!"
Each of the flickering lights shone briefly, before taking shape into human form. Men, women, both elderly and young, all began to take form around Arin, all adorned with various different styles of royal attire "You call upon the guardians of the twilight kingdom's royal arms. If you come lusting for our power, you must first face our judgement."
Arin fell, from the void he was in, only to find himself in a strange courtyard, surrounded by the kings and queens of old, their transparent bodies glowing, as if the light of god's judgement was shining down upon him "He is not even of pure royal blood, he is not worthy of our power. Execute him!"
A white flame began to slowly envelop Arin, and he fell to his hands and knees, yelling in pain. He knew that if he didn't try something, to convince them of his worth, he was done for. "Your putting the fate of your kingdom on the line...Is your power so precious to you...that you would condemn a commoner who may have royal blood?!"
"If that were true, mortal, how would you have knowledge of this. The royal bloodline has been closely watched since the beginning of its reign, since the world was first broken by the Castus Cruorem's genocidal pursuit."
Arin struggled with the pain of the flames, searing at his soul, but he forced himself up onto his feet, staggering, but stable as he looked up at the towering spirits "Then think back to before the kingdoms were born! My mother, Aria, the very person who saved your asses, went through every single trace of my bloodline, directly through me, and through the history books of my world! She said I was a descendant of Anaximander, the first philosopher in man's recorded history. I was born away from your sanctuary world! If there is royal blood in my veins, then let me own up to that! Let me restore this kingdom to what it once was, help me restore balance to our chaotic world!"
The flames begin to die down, ebbing and flickering out as Arin panted and struggled to keep himself steady. But the kings continued to stand around him, silently judging amongst themselves "Your words may have some merit, mortal. Still, our boon will come at a cost, fail to prove your worth, and your soul will be trapped in your own body, unable to reach out the real world, while your lifeless body rots as punishment."
Arin breathed deeply, recovering his strength, and chuckled "I'm not afraid of death. I came to these catacombs knowing full well I may die, but living without answers is more terrifying than dying and knowing the truth."
"So, you do not fear what may inevitably happen to you? You truly seek to restore the throne, as impure your blood may be?" "My impurity should mean nothing. Rebuilding what was lost to time and war, so that the twilight kingdom's legacy is never forgotten...that is what should matter..."
"...Hmm, perhaps you are worthy to take up the throne...Very well, we shall grant you our power. But remember, you must fulfill your promise to restore the kingdom, and you must continue the royal bloodline in our name, by your 40th year. If you fail to accomplish this, we shall reclaim what belongs to us, and your soul will be punished for your failures."
Arin started to dust himself off, taking a deep breath as he started to recollect himself. He actually did it. He proved to the kings that he was worthy of their power, he was one more step closer to becoming what Aria said he could become "...Heh, you guys drive a hard bargain..."
"......Where do I sign?"
Arin snapped out of the unknwon world that he was in before, and saw that he was right back where he was as he grabbed the stone. But as he flipped and landed on his feet, he noticed that the attachments on his arms had fallen off, and both his hands were free. But what he noticed first was that in his left hand was no longer a stone, but now, a silver brace, adorned with the twilight kingdom's emblem was now fastened securely to his wrist. He turned to face the wraith, not forgetting that it was there still, with him. He drew his sword, and his left hand started to glow brightly white, still in his light form "...You've lost. Leave this place!"
...Everything that happens next, took place within the blink of an eye...
Arin suddenly came to, and found himself surrounded by a black void, his body suspended as if he were in zero gravity. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was. As he scanned the darkness, he could see small flickers of light, as if there was something else in his presence "Hello? Is someone there?"
"Another thief, it has been some time since a soul has reached us, seeking our treasure."
"Do away with him, he is just like the rest...a common grave robber."
Arin could see more lights flickering into existence, and he could recognize some of the flames that were taking shape. But what stood out the most wasn't the fact that he wasn't alone, but that they were talking about a treasure that was theirs. Was this what the king's shield meant by being judged by the kings of old? Only one way to find out... "I am no thief! Show yourself, kings of the twilight kingdom!"
Each of the flickering lights shone briefly, before taking shape into human form. Men, women, both elderly and young, all began to take form around Arin, all adorned with various different styles of royal attire "You call upon the guardians of the twilight kingdom's royal arms. If you come lusting for our power, you must first face our judgement."
Arin fell, from the void he was in, only to find himself in a strange courtyard, surrounded by the kings and queens of old, their transparent bodies glowing, as if the light of god's judgement was shining down upon him "He is not even of pure royal blood, he is not worthy of our power. Execute him!"
A white flame began to slowly envelop Arin, and he fell to his hands and knees, yelling in pain. He knew that if he didn't try something, to convince them of his worth, he was done for. "Your putting the fate of your kingdom on the line...Is your power so precious to you...that you would condemn a commoner who may have royal blood?!"
"If that were true, mortal, how would you have knowledge of this. The royal bloodline has been closely watched since the beginning of its reign, since the world was first broken by the Castus Cruorem's genocidal pursuit."
Arin struggled with the pain of the flames, searing at his soul, but he forced himself up onto his feet, staggering, but stable as he looked up at the towering spirits "Then think back to before the kingdoms were born! My mother, Aria, the very person who saved your asses, went through every single trace of my bloodline, directly through me, and through the history books of my world! She said I was a descendant of Anaximander, the first philosopher in man's recorded history. I was born away from your sanctuary world! If there is royal blood in my veins, then let me own up to that! Let me restore this kingdom to what it once was, help me restore balance to our chaotic world!"
The flames begin to die down, ebbing and flickering out as Arin panted and struggled to keep himself steady. But the kings continued to stand around him, silently judging amongst themselves "Your words may have some merit, mortal. Still, our boon will come at a cost, fail to prove your worth, and your soul will be trapped in your own body, unable to reach out the real world, while your lifeless body rots as punishment."
Arin breathed deeply, recovering his strength, and chuckled "I'm not afraid of death. I came to these catacombs knowing full well I may die, but living without answers is more terrifying than dying and knowing the truth."
"So, you do not fear what may inevitably happen to you? You truly seek to restore the throne, as impure your blood may be?" "My impurity should mean nothing. Rebuilding what was lost to time and war, so that the twilight kingdom's legacy is never forgotten...that is what should matter..."
"...Hmm, perhaps you are worthy to take up the throne...Very well, we shall grant you our power. But remember, you must fulfill your promise to restore the kingdom, and you must continue the royal bloodline in our name, by your 40th year. If you fail to accomplish this, we shall reclaim what belongs to us, and your soul will be punished for your failures."
Arin started to dust himself off, taking a deep breath as he started to recollect himself. He actually did it. He proved to the kings that he was worthy of their power, he was one more step closer to becoming what Aria said he could become "...Heh, you guys drive a hard bargain..."
"......Where do I sign?"
Arin snapped out of the unknwon world that he was in before, and saw that he was right back where he was as he grabbed the stone. But as he flipped and landed on his feet, he noticed that the attachments on his arms had fallen off, and both his hands were free. But what he noticed first was that in his left hand was no longer a stone, but now, a silver brace, adorned with the twilight kingdom's emblem was now fastened securely to his wrist. He turned to face the wraith, not forgetting that it was there still, with him. He drew his sword, and his left hand started to glow brightly white, still in his light form "...You've lost. Leave this place!"
Great to see this place still pluggin' along. I just wanted to pop in and say I'm getting rid of our affiliate system so you can feel free to take down our aff banner. Take care!