He who believes
The night was young, and Leths presence rested upon the heavens. Hundreds upon thousands of various light-emitting entities filled the skies above. Silent was the dreary and incredibly dark night. Accompanied by his “master”, Skyard strolled about alongside Aaron. Retracted talon-like claws rested within the folds of his skin, wind blew feverishly against his hide. Yet, followed by the sudden gust of wind another eerie silence fell upon them. Suspicions rose, and with his optics fixated upon the path ahead Skyard attempted to enjoy the silence. The night had been quieter then Skyard has ever heard it be before. There seemed to be no patrolling knights present either, but the Syliran Wild-lands were no place to be at night. Suddenly the volatile sound of metal against metal had been heard. Skyard foolishly thought nothing of it and strolled on as if he hadn’t heard it at all. The sound however grew perpetually closer, and more audible as it did so. The sound began to change, and it had been accompanied by voices.
The voices however sounded hushed, and almost silenced. Violent winds began to blow about and Skyard grew increasingly suspicious. He stopped in his tracks, and immediately he’d felt a stinging sensation at his side. Skyard had suddenly been thrown into Aaron. Aaron fell upon the cold soil blanketed by a plethora of leaves, bewildered and surprised. Aaron had forgotten how heavy Skyard truly was when he was in animal form. Yet, the situation only became worse, as a sudden flash of light; followed by the sound of whispering wind zipped past Skyards cranium. Skyard immediately knew what went on. Just as Aaron and Skyard attempted to return home after a long day of patrolling they were followed. A loud thud was heard as it impacted the Tree just yonder Skyards right side. Skyard extended the sharp talons from the folds of his flesh, and dug them into the soil. His forepaws extended, and his hind-legs bent slightly forward, Aaron attempted to recover from the fall.
The very moment Aaron attempted to get up, Skyard pinned him to the ground upon which he lay. He wouldn’t dare allow his master to be injured even if it meant that he would meet Dira. A powerful guttural roar exited the Felines lungs, and erupted off into the atmosphere. The roar was so powerful, and so loud that his master covered his ears to protect himself from the sound. Aaron felt a vibration in his chest from the sheer amount of sound produced by the roar. The roar had been territorial and incredibly common for Lions to display warnings to those in the area. Yet, the moment he let out that loud sound it seemed to only further tempt the adversaries. Skyard knew of the presence of one adversary, but not of any more then that. Yet another metallic object flew through the air, light glinted off into the atmosphere around the object. “They’re throwing…. Daggers. a--…” Skyard hadn’t had time to so much as complete his thought. He’d been stricken in his left leg, and the knife embedded itself deep into his muscle. His consciousness began to fade, but he fought back. He charged despite being disoriented at the first individual; black clad in his midnight-colored armor. Teeth gnashed and the talons of his claws dug deep into the Bandits leather armor.
Despite the fact that he’d hardly been able to fight being that he was disoriented he continued. He tore away at a large portion of armor; before he sank the ivories of his teeth into the adversaries calve. Aqua de vitae poured into his oral cavity, and he began to pull backward in attempt to strip muscle from bone. Just as suddenly as his teeth sank into the opposition; Skyard felt a burning sensation. Suddenly Skyard came to a shocking revelation; he’d been stabbed, again. This time however he could no longer resist, and had hardly been able to put up a fight. Thoughts came swiftly and just as Skyard thought he’d practically taken down his only adversary; another struck him down. “My entire life, you’ve been taking care of me. Since the day I was born and was but a cub you took me, and raised me as if I were your own child. For that I owe you a debt that I can never repay. Perhaps though if I were to fight, fight until I am dead if it means protecting you I will have paid back what I owe you.” Skyard thought whilst he collapsed upon the ground, before he struggled to stand back up. His hind legs and forepaws shook violently as he stood once more. However he never did let go of the man who he sank his teeth into, and he shook his head in a single snapping motion. The powerful motion stripped a large portion of meat from the Bandits bone. Heavy breathing accompanied by steam exiting his lips followed the motion. He dropped the meat and proceeded forth; Skyard charged into the second adversary. His mane fluttered violently; with each of his steps powerful thuds erupted from the ground.
Adrenaline was the only reason he was even able to continue to fight. However the remainder of the battle was short-lived. As he recklessly charged the adversary he continued to take off balanced strides. Two daggers rested within Skyard now, one in his left leg, and the other in his right arm. Just as he opened his maw to viciously bite the other opponent a swift kick was delivered to his gut. All of the air left his lungs at that very moment, and he immediately transformed as he was off balanced. His nude flesh drudged across the soil leaves and rocks. Which left him scratched maimed and further injured. The daggers only embedded themselves deeper, and he found himself against Tree mere ticks afterward. His entire body had been suspended from the ground, and he felt the warmth of fingers coiled around his throat. A voice spoke, a raspy one and it spoke slowly.
“Listen here, you petchin’ animal. We’re going to have a little talk about you damned idiots who believe in the order of knights.” The Bandit spoke. Skyard lacked the ability to reply due to the fact that he was on the verge of unconsciousness. All he could do for now was nod in reply to the Bandits command.
“To that man that just ran away like a coward you are nothing but a slave. You people who actually go out of your way to serve those knights. You’re all nothing but a bunch of idiots. You all claim to be a force of good, but you are evil! Your master is Aaron; yeah He’s a mage squire! Magic is evil, it is nothing but a tool of destruction, and that man is nothing but a ticking bomb waiting to explode. He doesn’t care about you, he wants you dead! Do you not see what you’ve done for him? You’re going to get yourself killed for that evil bastard? Pathetic!”
Skyard nodded, before he attempted to speak. “You-“…
The bandit slammed his fist into Skyards gut. Immediately the breath left his lungs once more, and he coughed incredibly hard. The Bandit spoke again, in a few simple words, yet they were short. “Shut your mouth, I didn’t tell you to speak, Animal! You are going to listen to me, you will listen to me or you will die.”
“I am here to encourage you to change your aspirations. I want you to stop protecting people, and stop helping the syliran order. I want you to leave that damned coward of yours behind. “The bandit spoke, and suddenly Skyard realized that he was going to die right here and right now. Regardless of what he did either the poison would kill him or the Bandit would kill him. I am going to die, Skyard thought to himself as he was overcome with fear. He knew that he was genuinely afraid of dying, but for Aaron; death was a small price to pay for everything he owed his master. Although he could hardly speak he mustered up enough strength to deliver just a few more words.
“ou… ng..” He attempted to speak and he simply wound up grunting a couple of times. The bandit continued to strangle him a bit harder before he loosened his tight grip around the boys’ neck. “What was that fool? I don’t think I can hear you? Oh wait I didn’t think animals could actually speak human!” The bandit spoke sarcastically and scoffed.
“You’re wrong, you are nothing but wrong and you don’t even understand why!” Spoke Skyard. He took a moment to pause and catch his breath before he would speak once more.
“You are wrong, magic isn’t evil, No it is the way that people use it that makes it evil. Magic is a tool, and it can be used to protect people or it can be used to do harm to people. Magic is a tool that is so useful some people abuse it, and when you abuse magic you eventually lose control. You have no idea about the fact that Magic is no more evil then a sword. A sword is a tool that was made to kill people! At least there are various forms of magic that can protect people rather then do harm! I understand that magic can be used to harm, but honestly? There is no good, and there is no evil. There are people who choose to make decisions and rather they are good or bad they are still a decision. Good and evil are determined by people who justify the actions of the good, but even harm and murder can be called “good” if you have the right reason behind it right? No, the knights are not evil… You, you people are evil. You poisoned me, beat me, and attacked my master and for what? Is it because of your opinion of the knights? You don’t even know them, you may know my master by name but you do not know his heart...”
“I hope you are happy. Good night, Animal.” The bandit then flung forth his cranial structure. Which slammed into Skyards visage, and he fell unconscious his body impacted the ground with a loud thud. The following day he’d awoken from his sudden slumber. Bandages were wrapped around his body in various places, but especially thick upon his left leg and right arm. He could see crimson coloration in the pasty-white bandages.
Candles lit the relatively dark room he resided within. Skyards vision was blurred so much so that he could hardly make out the flame of the candles. He rubbed his eyes a bit before realizing that he had been laid in a bed. The moment he made that realization he tried to sit up. The moment his core muscles flexed he felt pain singe through his entire body. He felt as if he’d been shocked by electricity, and his head fell back upon the pillow upon which it laid formerly. He spoke “Ma-master!” in a rather loud tone.
Suddenly Skyard heard a voice, and it scared him speechless. “Calm down.. Aaron is fine, Skyard.”
Skyard was genuinely afraid at this point, because of the fact that he didn’t know who in the world this man was. “You know my--…”
The aklak cut Skyard off whilst he attempted to speak. “Why don’t you have a bit to drink first, you look parched. “ The aklak grabbed hold of a small glass filled with a bit of water and handed it to Skyard. Skyard grasped the glass and his fingertips coiled around it as he drank the entire glass in a single gulp. “Have a bit of food as well.” The aklak spoke again before he handed The Kelvic a bowl filled with nothing but a large amount of meat, rice and vegetables. Skyards animalistic side took over, and he slammed his visage into the bowl. He ate like a Neanderthal and completely forgot he was in someone else’s presence.
Skyard was starving, and he wondered how long he had been asleep, therefore he decided to ask the question. Yet, before he could so much as ask the question it had already been answered by the aklak. “It’s been three days since you’ve eaten or had anything to drink. You kelvics eat more then we tend to eat, but that should hold you for now, Skyard.”
“How do you know my name, if you do not mind me asking. Did my master tell you?” Skyard asked. The Aklak replied “No, I’ve been watching you for quite some time, Skyard. By the way, my name is Wysar.”
…”Wysar.. Don’t tell me that you’re really a--..” Skyard spoke before being cut off by the aklak once more.
“A god? Yes, yes I am. What is wrong am I not what you expected a god to look like?” Wysar asked with a smug smile upon his face. Skyard looked on in fear and asked another question.
“No.. I just don’t know why a god would want to talk to me.. What have I done that is worthy of a gods time to speak with me?” Skyard questioned. Wysar spoke in response immediately “You know it is odd when people question a god, but you’ve always wanted knowledge haven’t you Skyard? Nothing I wouldn’t expect to come from you.” Wysar chuckled a bit before speaking again. “I won’t tell you what you did to impress me, but know that I saw what you did for your master. I am impressed. Simply put, you’ve chosen the right way to go. Give me your hand.”
Skyard raised his hand although it was a slow motion; Wysar grabbed hold of the hand and yanked him to his feet. The very moment the god touched his hand he felt a strange sensation on the back of his neck; a tingling sensation. “This is a gift, and I am giving you this gift because I see a lot of potential in you. Use it often but never use it with malicious intentions.” Skyard had been marked by Wysar and he felt knowledge enter his system. Was this a gnosis? Skyard wouldn’t know, being that he immediately fell drowsy and had fallen asleep all over again.
Skyard awoke the following day, and thought that the encounter with the god was some sort of dream. Perhaps it was just the product of a radical dream. Until he attempted to tap at the back of his neck, and the moment he did so his Evantia Aura expanded. The sensation scared him because of how odd it felt and it off-balanced him the moment he stood from his bed. He knew now that the encounter was real and in fact wasn’t a dream. He spoke to the air itself and said “Wysar, If you can hear me.. then know that I Will never misuse the Evantia.”