Addition One
Addition Two
Addition Three
Addition Four
Addition Five
Addition Six
Addition Seven
Addition Eight



A sword is a powerful weapon. Depending on the length, weight, thickness, and style of the blade, you can achieve almost any result out of any other weapon known to man. That’s why it’s a staple for an army, and the weapon of choice for leaders. The undersized sword allows the most skillful of moves for a kill requiring finesse, and the blade-too-large has always been thought of, as if to cleave through steed and man with one stroke.
Some time ago, a sword in a stone decided a king. King Arthur slid Excalibur from its stone, claiming its glory to earn the title of “King”. However, I can’t recall if he ever actually put that blade through a single body.
So says the legend, anyway… It’s been a few hundred years. The idea of a “sword in a stone” has intrigued many, but only one has been known of. Here, in Lancaster, is a very similar display. Within anvil and boulder is a sword, though nobody knows how long. From the length of the handle, it seems to be a hand-and-a-half sword. Many have boasted that, should they be able to claim it, they would only require one arm to swing it.
What intrigues us, however, is the blade. Kain’s steel shines a sweet silver, but this blade? I see it and wonder if it was forged within a rainbow. The blade shimmers with pinks, blues, and greens when under the light. Despite what seems to be two full lifetimes of standing there, it’s yet to rust or succumb to time. We all have agreed, there is a magic within it.
Just as sure of magic, we are sure of its passiveness and danger. A leaf blowing through the wind was cut in half against it; should it be swung into man, I don’t doubt the slice would be swift. However, despite somehow being abnormally dangerous, no amount of disturbing it sets any immediate danger off. Boys and men both have attempted time and time again to unsheathe the blade from its hold in nature, but it’s never budged the tiniest bit, save for being bent a bit side to side.
The blade reminds us of how light creates colors through glass, crystal, and prisms. So the blade has been thought of as Lancaster’s “Prism Sword”, though we do not know if it could even be drawn. Nor do we know if it could be extracted… Mining at the rock makes no clear progress. Trying to split the anvil from the stone finds the same success.
So it has been left unmoved since I’ve been in this world. That marks fifteen years of seeing it there, mocking everyone who wants to finally see it out of its holster.
Kain’s son, Leion, and I were always fond of wondering if the sword was as tall as we were. We had a friendly rivalry as well to be the one to pull it out before each other. Even now, as sweat slid down our brows from forty-six rounds of blows of wooden blades (and yet still somehow he hadn’t gotten through to hit me), I couldn’t help but imagine a rainbow shimmer to both our blades.
Finally, he swung with such force that I could bounce his blow up and make him nearly spin. Once off his balance, my hands thrust out and the side of the sword slid across his side in a thrust not meant to make contact. Once he realized, he relaxed and wiped his arm over his head. “Why do you boast so much skill, Bankar, when you have no will to harm or strike?”
“You bend your elbow when you fake a swing, and your step gives away your target. Surely it’s not that—“
“You see it not. Were I able to read your body how you see mine so easily, I would not have to strike fifty-two times to see the end of a bout. If you held any malice, or if you were not my dear friend, I would feat to face you even with these practice blades.” I hung my head and blushed. Every time I won a bout, it seemed he would give me such a speech, as if to force me to stop holding back and face him on the offensive.
I saw his blade coast over the ground and make contact with mine, lifting it. “Come, friend. Let’s test your defense again.”
So it was for nigh on two hours, splinters and welts appearing as out free day in the week progressed with many blows traded, blocked, and countered. The bell sounded, and much activity was in the air immediately despite the halt in movement between us. I turned to home, but Leion’s laugh broke out. “Bankar, see your blade!”
I looked down and gasped. Sometime within our fighting, it had taken enough beatings to start winding, appearing like a snake made of wood. My face softened at the sight as I shook my head. “We’ll simply have to make another when time allows… Come, Leion. Shall we see what our meal is tonight?”
The thought of food broke him of his fixation on my sword, and we began running home. The Prism Sword was along the way, still untouched by time and nature as our homes came into view. I will pull you… eventually. And I will on the first try, I thought to myself while passing it. However, as we came to home, I slowed and halted. Leion noticed my stop and turned to me. “Something troubles you?”
“I smell nothing, and I can see nobody. What’s happened?” My left hand instinctively slid towards my handle as I started my step again. Leion joined my side, and our procession was slow until Shiva’s face peered from the window. “Leion! Ban-Ban!” She threw the window open, revealing a wave of smoke and what seemed to be as many people as our home would hold. “You’re safe! Come, come!” She beckoned, and Leion and I could again relax.
Upon reaching the doorway, however, Fran began looking us over for injuries. “Fighting again… boys shall be boys, always seeking to show another their str—“
Kain interjected, “Then they are unharmed?”
“In a manner of speaking, aye… they were not attacked.” Leion’s eye found mine and we looked around. “Seems they were only truly after our stock.”
I tilted my head. “Our stock?”
“I can not say how, but we have lost one lamb and two hogs amidst our work. We have livestock to spare, but the speed of their actions is startling…” He tucked his fingers to his lips and stared to space. “Those three should last even a village for three days. We have the time to wait and plan, at least…”
The discussion continued as Shiva bustled around, setting out utensils and dodging the adults to place our meal where space allowed on the table. Marideth finally caught on and took Shiva’s place, giving her a free moment to find her way to my side. “How was today with Leion, Ban-Ban?”
I smiled and shook my head at the name. Ever since birth, Shiva had always referred to me as such, even now at twelve. I suppose all sisters know how to make their brothers feel special. “Yes. He finally made it through after four attempts… He’s been practicing.”
“Aye, but did he break you by skill, or strength?” The few times she’d come along after us, she still proved herself able to learn how our swordplay worked… It amazed me, truly.
“By force. I must train yet; it will not do to have well-placed blocks pushed back against me.”
Without a moment to think, I felt my stomach being held tight, Shiva’s hug as sudden as her thought to do it. “I was worried… I am glad you are well.”
“I am, too, Shiva. Promise you will come to me if you feel you are in danger.”
A light squeeze hit my stomach. “Aye, Ban-Ban. I’ll stay by you.”
With food served and ready, we all took our places and tried to put our events behind us. The meal seemed to do so, and everyone was merry again. As we ate, I had decided. If the animals could last a village for three days, as Kain thought, safe to say I could afford one night of training ere a small break from it.
The sun veiled itself behind the trees, and stars took the sky. As usual, Leion and I were restless. We turned our windows open and looked at each other under the moon’s light. “Leion, if I were to train, would you keep the village safe for me?”
He laughed quietly and shook his head. “Worried I’ll push you back again… But I can’t just let you go, Bankar. Not alone, anyway… We shall go together.”
I nodded and, tossing my still-crooked blade out the window first, clambered out to the fresh air. With swords in our hands, I turned to Leion as we walked. “Let’s not move too far away, lest something happen.” In a silent agreement, we stopped about halfway between our homes and the Prism Sword. Under the moonlight, its colors were only greater reflected in our eyes. “In time…”
“You’ll see me draw it.” I gave Leion a playful blow to the arm before we took our stances. Swords lifted overhead, and fell in a stroke ending at waist level as we stepped a leg out for reach. “One.” Again. “Two. Three.” Our count was a whisper, but the motions continued to fifty. We stepped aside and started slashing as flat as possible to the left, taking the step in the same direction with the blow ending pointing straight out. “One. Two.” Fifty blows to the left… Fifty to the right. Fifty slashing upwards across our body, fifty downward.
Use one hand, swing fifty times the same way. Use the other hand, swing fifty times the same way. The moon had already reached the sky’s center by the time we finished whistling the blades through the air. Leion was resting against a tree as I began swinging freely, my personal practice of style. “How… do you have… so much energy?” Leion pushed off the tree and started joining me, gasping out between breaths. “What’s, driving you, Bankar?”
Twist the blade, turn it for a stab, and arc it into the ground. With my blade planted in earth, I held my weight on it and tried to catch my own breath. “How… can I protect… if I don’t, have the strength?”
He stopped in mid-swing and our eyes caught again. The rivalry was not there. In its place, understanding; I knew of the reason behind his rivalry, and he knew of my drive to fight no matter how little I enjoy causing harm.
“Ba-a-anka-a-a-ar-r-r!”
Shiva’s voice! And she called me Bankar? Something was wrong. I turned to rush home, but she was already upon us. “Shiva! What is it, sister?!”
“They came, they came back!” She tucked behind me and pointed at the village. “They” was one man, looking very rough and gangly, a man living wild. In his hand… A saber. A real sword. My toy wouldn’t hold!
“Heheh… Three? I got lucky this night.” He started stomping towards us, oblivious to the lights appearing behind him. I began backing up, even seeing Leion locked up with his toy almost slipping from his grasp.
“Leion, run!” My cry brought him out of his trance; he rushed off wildly, leaving Shiva and me in the ruffian’s attention. My eye caught color, a blind hope as his sword lifted. The Prism Sword! It’s all that could save me, Leion, and Shiva… My hands grabbed it out of instinct, and I pulled as hard as I could. “Gah!” The sword slipped out with no trouble, light as a feather, shielding me from the saber coming down. It snapped where our blades struck, and the broken part flew into the ground.
“What!?” Led by a rush, I took the chance to grab his hand holding his broken blade and pushed it at his body. By luck, it caught him in the ribs, forcing him to let go and stagger. “You…”
“Ban! Shiva!” Kain came barreling out the door, claymore steady in his hands. “You, thief, do not move!” Kain’s eyes swept the area. “Leion! Leion, m’boy! Where are you, son!?” The rest of the village had awoken, and everyone was in shock. Leion only very slowly came back as Kain gave commands to bring everyone inside, ensuring the prisoner was bound and mended to not die from his own blade’s wound.
“Bank… That sw… How…” Leion finally saw me, Shiva held in my left arm and the Prism Sword in my right. Even then, it hadn’t fully sunk in that I held the Prism Sword; I was more intent on him and Shiva.
“You are well, Leion? Shiva seems to be…” A nuzzle into my side confirmed this.
“I am not hurt, but… Bankar, I… I was afraid.” He stopped at the doorway and hit it. “What do I train for if I can not protect those I love, same as you!?”
“Lei-Lei…” Shiva rushed out of my arm and wrapped around Leion. “No. You are my brother’s friend, and mine, and… you don’t have to be brave and strong all the time. I ran away, too, and you are still not an adult. Please, no anger?”
He stayed tense, but soon relaxed with a hanging head. I can still understand that reaction… “I panicked, Leion. I only hold this because it was my last hope. I certainly did not plan this to happen…”
“I know.” … An awkward silence was uncommon. I did not like it. “Shall we… join the others?”
I nodded and waited for the two to go inside before entering. Ensuring the door was shut behind me, I set the Prism Sword in the corner. Only then did I notice its details: nearly a foot longer than me (thus nearly six feet long), smooth as glass, and the end of the blade ended with what seemed to be a dragon’s head. As my hand started to leave the handle, Matthews’ voice rang out, “Stay that hand, boy. The Prism Sword… Bring it here.”
I gripped it again and picked it up, having to tread carefully to not accidentally cut anything on the way to the room’s center. Matthews… My father was the unofficial leader of our village, but I was afraid of speaking with my father. His hand was out. “By drawing it, the sword is yours, but… may I see the blade?” I nodded and, turning it in my hand, held the handle to his. The moment his hand gripped the bottom of the handle, I let go. The next moment, his entire weight dropped as the sword dragged him down.
“Papa!” My hand dived, lifting the handle to not risk crushing his hand beneath it. Gasps filled the room as I lifted the sword up, but in the panic, I could not grasp what the surprise was.
“Son… That blade… I could not even get it off my own hand. Yet you lift it as if it is a simple toy. I think… it truly is yours. Use it well.”

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More to come. See here for the next addition.

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Goten is dead!

I like it, are you planning to continue this?

It also reminds me of a animated movie I saw once, can't think of the name though.

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Yes, I am. Had to go to bed, so it's unfinished.
... I should probably add that somewhere, that it's to be continued.

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Goten is dead!

As long as you keep writing it, I will keep reading it.

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Kain’s mumblings to himself sounded as though he was working out a possible way to help me hold the sword, or some such thoughts. I looked to Leion, and my eyes saw him looking away, determined not to meet mine. I sighed and stepped to him, offering the handle out. “Leion, ‘tis no secret you are stronger than I. I know not what led me to be able to draw this, but… You deserve it as much as I. Please, see if you can wield it as well.”
He glanced at me, then away, but soon reached his fingertips to the blade. The moment he touched skin to handle, the prismatic colors of the sword gave a violent twist. My hand dropped with the sudden weight of the blade, barely able to support its weight. “Ah! What is this!?”
Leion stepped back, and soon three adults moved to my side, grasping the handle and lifting with me. We managed to heave the sword up, not wanting it to lie so heavy on the floor. “Outside, men, let’s drive it to the ground!” Carefully, our bundle moved through the door and into mama’s garden, finding an empty place to set the blade’s tip. It fell quite deeply through the earth, nearly to the guard before it halted suddenly and stood quite still. Papa stood at my side. “Son… Have you any clue what happened?”
“I do not, Papa.” What had happened? It went from being as tame as a pet to threatening to crush my hand beneath it, only by a simple touch… But when Matthews grabbed it, I could wield it again. Leion’s touch, however, changed something… But what?
“I see… Come, son. ‘Tis time we found where our visitor hails from, and why he chooses to attack the innocent.” His hand guided me back inside, leading me to the bound stranger who still struggled against his bonds and shackles.
His name was Reyard, a hunter of a band of brigands who claim to hail from Sussex. Yet, they claim not to hold attachment to their land past its name, as they were banished… Should they have acted there as they seem to have here, there is no surprise in that. It was indeed his group, his “family”, that stole our stock. However, when questioned why he would attack us children, his face grew most pale. I shall never forget his response…
“I… I know not why this task was set upon me. But he was so persuasive… so… persuasive. “The blood of every child you meet holds power, greater and more fearsome than that of any God. I mean to master this power, and your help shall be rewarded, should you gain me the blood of every child you meet. Fail me not, Reyard, and their strength will see your hands as well.” With this, I fell into the darkness of his words, as did we all. Protect your children; I fear the shadow of his hand spreads wide across our lands. What his goal is, I do not know… Nor do I want to. Not now.”
He was released, and entrusted to lead his party away. Thankfully, we never saw them again. But that one day, full of mystery and so many oddities together, played through my mind for many years.
Thankfully, I had other thoughts on my mind during some of those years. Four passed, full of still-strong fighting as friendly rivals, daily life continuing to come and go, and much growth between us all. Daily, it seemed, I would see if the Prism Sword would slide from the earth as swiftly as it did that night, but it only moved a hair in response to my strongest tugs. Leion’s attempts met less success, though he continued to stay so far ahead of me in physical might.
As we grew, so did out interests and foundations for work. The son of a leader and growing up around swordplay, I found myself playing the role of the town’s sentinel. Though Leion and I always had our bouts by wood, I found myself with a sword in a scabbard across my back from dawn ‘til dusk. Thankfully, it was only a rare few times that sword had to find itself through the body of a threat.
Despite being the son of a blacksmith, Leion became attached to the physical work of a farmer. As rough as stone was his body, but the care he poured into his crops was clear as day. However, as the work gave as much time to be free as it did to do something, he found himself seeking the company and assistance of others, drinking information of everyone’s trade where possible. It seemed only a few moons ago that he became our home’s man to see about assistance with anything, for he was ready for everything.
The biggest surprise lied in Shiva. She always boasted a slender body and soft nature; we sooner thought her to join Fran in medicine than to become Kain’s apprentice in the forge. However, she grew most interested in crafts, and went from tinkering with small sheets and wires for simple things to being responsible for the crests we three Leion, Shiva, and I now wear round our necks as a sign of family. Not only did she take an interest in jewelry, her work with weapons soon rivaled that of Kain himself. Much like her delicate body, her work was slow and precise, but uncontestable in its precision and efficiency. ‘Twas her efforts that created the blade donned on my back.
Four years… Leion was now nineteen, as was I. Yet I was closer to twenty than he. Shiva had reached sixteen, yet still seemed as much a sweet younger sister now as then.
Late spring, and the temperatures were starting to soar. It was commonplace for the windows and doors to all hang open, every gust and breeze a welcome brush on the skin while under the sun. Leion had just finished trying to tug the Prism Sword from its place in the ground, again to no avail. “Gah… If only we knew the secret behind this thing. How do you remember claiming it?”
“I told you, no less than thirty times now, Leion…” My hands grasped the handle, a snug fit as back then. “That man came at me, ready to hew through Shiva and I. I saw this blade’s colors, and in a panic grabbed it. It slid out, weighing as heavy as the sticks we spar with, and stayed that way ‘til I offered it to you to hold. I never asked, because I thought it couldn’t be true…” I realized the danger in my words, and began pushing on the earth, trying to tug the blade up. It gave near on one inch before becoming impossible to lift.
I dropped it again and stood back, looking at it with great curiosity. Leion, however, chose to stare at me. “You never asked… what, Ban?”
“What…” I’m sorry, Leion. “What were you feeling at the time that might have had an impact? Your face then… I was afraid you’d hated me for my accomplishment. Did you…”
“Bankar, you really thought that?” I flinched and looked away in shame. I really had wondered if my best friend might have despised me over something as petty as a weapon. “… Aye. I hated. Not you, Ban, but that you could do so easily what we now struggle and fail to do today. The thought of powerlessness, and a life in your shadow, struck fear in me. I did not hate you, Ban. I was jealous.”
I opened my eyes again and met his. “I see… Then what might have affected your efforts was your emotion. Yet what was different, truly? My own father, kind as he is, was unable to take the blade from me, either.” I looked back at the sword. Some of the color had shifted again, slightly, but it still looked the same. “What mystery and magic surrounds that thing?” I took a cautious step to it and tried to give it another tug. Same effect… none.
“We’ve no way of knowing, and I’d rather not seek the wizard who placed the spell on it, lest we learn a secret too grave or grand for us to live with. Come. Work calls, Ban.”
“Aye.” He and I set out, and close, much to my relief. I had always been afraid that mentioning my fear of his possible hatred would ruin us, and cost me my only true friend outside the family. What a relief it was that my fears led to not coming true…
Yet the sword still remained a thought. It had indeed been sharp enough to cause the ruffian’s blade to simply snap, a feat not even Shiva’s crafts can achieve. So its strength is beyond measure, yet when I had set the tip onto the wood of the floor that night, it didn’t cause damage or sink down as it did to the earth it sits in now.
What’s more is the manner in which it was wielded. I had no trouble moving it about, but neither Matthews nor Leion could hope to hold it. Even more unsettling was my same inability… The only idea we have still lies in what Leion was feeling when he touched the blade. Could it respond to emotion? No. No, if that was the case, it would have healed itself by now, would it not? The air had been cleared, yet it would not budge by my hand again.
“Ah!”
A voice came from the garden housing the Sword… Had someone hurt them self? “Leion, come!” I rounded the corner hoping to catch a sight of who it was, but there was nobody. “Hello?” I took a step closer to the garden before it finally hit me. The Prism Sword… It wasn’t there. I was gone. Somebody had removed it.
“… Ban… Ban?”
That tone… It was Shiva, and she sounded like she did something wrong. No… it could not be. “Shiva? Are you there?” I saw her hair appear, flaring red and hanging a foot off the ground. One eye appeared from behind the wall. Yet from what little I saw, I could almost swear she was soon to cry. “Shiva, what is it?”
She looked down, face hidden now by her hair as she stepped out as slowly as possible. Yet it took no time at all to see what she was attempting to hide. The Prism Sword was indeed in her hands. Despite years in the ground, it held not a speck of dirt on it. It still seemed flawless. Shiva stopped hugged her arms to her body, her biggest display of fear. “Do… you hate me? I heard, you thought Leion might have for your pulling it first…”
I relaxed instantly, and opened my arms. She dropped the sword immediately and found herself against me, burrowed into the cloth of my shirt. “No, Shiva. I could not hate you. We know not who that sword obeys, nor why. I wouldn’t hate my sister on its account.”
She nodded and stood back, blushing at her display. I imagine she was feeling the same as I had when I voiced my thought to Leion earlier. “Shiva, you know better than to think your brother could hate you.” He stepped to my side, one hand outstretched. “Come. I need to show you something.
Once her hand found his, he slid his free hand to his neck and tugged at a string. The crest Shiva made emerged from beneath his shirt. “We wear these because we love each other. A sword won’t change that. Do you remember?”
Her hands covered her face as she blushed beet red and giggled in spite of herself. “Yes… How could I forget?”
I smiled at the two before taking a step to the sword lying in the shadow of the trees. I knelt by its side and ran a finger down the flat of the blade. “What are you to be able to choose who holds you…?” A glint of light hitting it and reflecting in my face was the only response I got. Curiosity struck me, and my hand found its handle once again. I lifted… and it rose with me. Not as effortless as the first time, but properly heavy for a blade its size. With two hands, I tugged the sword up and over my head, basking it in the sun’s light. The area was soon set with vibrant colors reflecting off the metal, and Leion’s heavy steps came to my side.
“Please, Ban… If it was emotion before, I feel no spite. Allow me to try.” He held both his hands out, a sincere look on his face. I nodded and, once again, turned the handle to his hands. The moment he grasped it, the blade felt terribly heavy. I grasped it harder, trying to keep it up, but he shouted, “No! Let go!”
It took me a second to do so, but his determination won me over. I released my hand, and his fell. However, not to the ground… He kept the sword aloft, struggling like a child lifting something just barely not too heavy for him. “Leion… You can do it.” Shiva cheered him on quietly from behind as his face started shaking in effort.
“Aaaaaaah….” His feet were grounded, and his hands were locked tight around the handle. “RrrrrrrrrrAAAHH!” With a mighty push, he thrust the sword upward in an attempt to lift it, able to hold it out and nearly fully over his head. “Hah! Hah hah! I… I can lift it, too!”
Shiva and I exploded into applause at his personal victory. With a grunt and a push, he brought the blade into the ground again with a downward swing. The tip impaled the earth, and he held the handle with both hands still, keeping the Prism Sword from sheathing itself once again. As he caught his breath, the smithy’s door burst open. Kain, blackened with soot from the fire, stomped out. “What’s this racket?” He stopped immediately at the sight of his son. “Leion… My boy… You lifted it?”
He nodded and lifted a hand to scratch his head in embarrassment. The sword slipped from his other hand and fell to the ground, just missing his foot in its descent. “Well… Shiva was the first. She hid upon her feat of claiming the blade, for fear that we would resent her for doing what we could not.”
“But Ban-Ban and Leion told me it was okay, and Ban-Ban could pick it up like before.” Shiva stepped over to Kain and started brushing him off, despite the futile attempt at cleaning her teacher. The look she was receiving from him was of both disbelief and awe. It struck me as odd that she would be more worried about soot than a possible chance to boast.
“Not like before, but nigh on it. The weight of the blade felt like that of a normal sword of that size. Then Leion asked to hold it, and you heard his efforts.”
He looked down. “I know not why ‘tis so heavy for me. Yet I failed to get it properly over my head…”
Kain bellowed a laugh, spooking Shiva into jumping back. “But m’boy, you three were still able to lift it where generations before you have failed. Do you know what a feat that is?”
I looked at the sword, still lying on the grass, and could not help but wonder how it could make such a happy twinkle in the light despite all the trouble and curiosity surrounding it. I wanted to say an ominous feat, though I did not know why…

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See here for the next addition.

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Goten is dead!

This story makes me want to participate in another RP.

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Awesome Squall sprite courtesy of Goten! Check here if you'd like a runescape or game-themed sprite!

Heheheh.
Also, Lander. Fun fact. I mentioned to Tim that you couldn't decide if you hated or liked my writing style.
He knows how you feel. Apparently my introduction is very unconventional.

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Goten is dead!

It's true, and the fact alone that it still perplexes me as a Junior in college with an English major must mean that it's something special. I'm enjoying this story, though. Keep it coming.

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Awesome Squall sprite courtesy of Goten! Check here if you'd like a runescape or game-themed sprite!

I miss the days when this board was full of stories like these.

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I don't see you helping the cause.


But seriously, you're right. *sigh*

I've thought about writing, I even posted a short bit here last December. If I get a good idea in mind I will go ahead and put it here.

Maybe we can get Jaron to start writing again? Or you, or someone go find Ultima Cow, or get Top to scribble something down maybe?

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Too busy to write. Maybe during the summer.

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A shadow appeared, snuffing the small glint. Matthews stood at its base, stepping closer with interest. “I heard… You three could each hold it?” We nodded. “I see… Come, children. There is something you must hear. ‘T has dwelt on my mind since that fateful night of this blade’s first being held.” He walked over to the Hall, an almost sullen look on his face. He halted before turning a corner and out of sight. “Kain, you as well. They deserve the entire truth.”
Kain’s face contorted and he immediately had an air of remorse about him. Did he know, too, what Papa thought so ominous that some secret would become known? Shiva lifted the Prism Sword once more, tucking it close to her again as she, I, and Leion began to follow Kain towards the hall. Many of our friends and family began their exclamations and shows of surprise, but Kain’s hand stayed them from coming closer.
Did the whole village know?
We were soon inside, only the center table well lit and a few books strewn over it. “Matthews?” Leion looked around. “Why must we speak here, if not outside with all our family?”
Papa returned from the next room, yet another book in hand. He set it on the table and opened to a page I could not see from where I stood. “Tell me. You know of the legend of King Arthur, aye?”
Shiva piped up. “Yes, ‘tis simple. Arthur, a young lad, drew the sword Excalibur from a stone. The sword had been recognized as only able to be drawn by one who deserves the throne.”
“And what else has the legend spoke of concerning the King?” He turned pages without even looking at us. Was this a simple bedtime story lesson…? Or could swords in stones really be legends made real?
Leion took the chance to respond. “Arthur was accompanied by a wizard, Merlin. Said to be fair, powerful, and full of near all the world’s knowledge. He was said to be seduced by an enchantress and lost his life to her some years into being Arthur’s mentor.”
“But Papa, why bring up a legend? Is it not but that? A tale?”
“Were it but so, Bankar. Excalibur was a blade of magic. Nothing could etch its blade, no steel set against it would last, and time never had its mark on the weapon. More importantly, the sword recognized its master. Who? Only one who was righteous, fair, and fit to rule as a King. Why, Ban, were you able to draw the sword that night?”
The ruffian’s crazed face haunted my eyes again. “I was in a panic… Shiva, Leion, and I were in danger. I saw it, and I grabbed it…”
“To save yourself and those dearest to you. No malice, only a pure thought of protection. Does it come as a surprise to you that Shiva, whose heart could ever hold no darkness, is able to lift the sword as if lifting nothing? Recall, son. I took the blade from you, and it fell, heavy… So heavy. Heavy with my age, my vices, my thoughts of pride at wishing I were as pure as I was. I am old. I could not hope to wield the Prism Sword without years of meditation and seclusion…”
My eyes travelled to Leion. “Then… What of Leion? If you speak the truth, his attempt to lift the blade would have been the same as yours. Yet after it fell, even I could not lift it. The sword felt tainted, and its color was vastly changed in that short time.” I looked at it now, held with care in Shiva’s fingers. “Why did it resent me then?”
“I know not. Either Leion’s failure sparked a dark thought in you, or his thoughts at the time were misguided enough to drive the sword to trust nobody. Ask yourself instead; why can you lift it now?” He looked at Shiva as well. “She, pure of heart and loving all her friends and family dearly, might have brought such purity to the blade that it recognized a master again. Possibly, it also remembered you and Leion, however now without the burdens on your shoulders that tainted it in the past.
Kain let out a deep hum of thought. “Aye… ‘Tis eerily like the scroll we pored over, Matthews. A blade of the rainbow, set in Earth’s grasp, only able to be held by those who would seek to use it for others, and if possible, ne’er against a thing. Our blade is no “rainbow”, yet is gay in its color. I know not all the thoughts in these children’s heads, but two coins I wager they all have no desires of murder.”
All this was hitting me in waves. Swords that “knew”? A blade only wielded by those pure of heart? Age destroying purity? … Wait. Age… “Papa? You said, you grew darker with age. Yet, legend tells Arthur wielding Excalibur long into life.” Was I truly entertaining this thought?
“Aye… What of it, son?”
“I see it as a mystery. I drew the sword as a child, but lost it as a child. Shiva, a child, now holds it. Arthur, again a child, took from an anvil what many adults failed to grasp out of impurity.”
He nodded and looked down at his books again. “You see the link, son. Children. Many begin their lives the same way, when raised fair… Eager, energetic, young, pure, and simply small, good beings. Four years back, we were assaulted on one hunting for the blood of such children. I do not doubt the goal was some magic for an ability to take advantage of powers in this world only available to those who possess the raw, untainted traits within the young folk.”
Leion shook his head. “This can’t be. Magic? Bedtime stories of heroes slaying goblins and dragons are all and well, but… Magic? In our world?”
Kain laughed, but a dark, fake one. “Goblins… Feh. Worse are their cousins. Foul orcs…”
Shiva looked up in curiosity, and out of fear for him. She had never known her master to be more than a simple blacksmith; I imagine the thought of him fighting monsters stuck worry in her. “Kain? Truly, orcs?”
His hand lifted to the small metal place placed on his shoulder, at the neck’s base. “This is the time, Matthews?” Our heads looked from one adult to the other as Papa gave a nod. Shiva gasped and dropped the sword to cover her mouth, possibly stifling a scream at the sight of the skin under the plate. “Years back, an orc managed to find its teeth to this neck. Chance saved me, but the skin has never settled well…”
There were eight very distinct scars. Almost green tinted, in the shape of fangs—shouldn’t they be holes, instead?—and quite wide. Leion was stammering between “Orc”, “magic”, and “mad” as I finally snapped out of my own trance. “Orcs are… real?”
“Quite. Took out four before this befell me. Few know of it… I trust you three won’t spoil my secret to the village. I quite dislike the idea of pity about an age-old wound.” He placed the metal back over his skin and applied its straps again as Shiva shook her head to awaken herself from the worried daze she was in.
“Magic is real, children. The stuff of legends is in our lives. We, in Lancaster, are quite well remote and away from most of it. That Prism Sword now housed on our floor is the first exception we’ve had for ages. The second… was Reyard.” Finally, he turned one book to face us and pushed it to our side of the table. Shiva and Leion joined me in looking at hastily-drawn items and faded descriptions of each.
“Excalibur, a King’s Sword. Your “Prism Sword”, truly dubbed the “Dragon Heart”, only tamed by one pure enough to earn a dragon’s trust. The Mithril Sliver, a swift blade for one who would slay the world for the sake of protecting one or ones the wielder loves.” A guardian’s blade, then…? “Stardust, a sword to show the light that resides in all darkness. Vex Vorpal, the sword to give power to one whose mind would save the world if able.
“A blade of the just, the pure, the protector, the enigma, and the inventor. Tell me, does it not seem that all those young lads and lasses playing their days away fit one of those five types?” He smiled and gave us a sweeping look. “I certainly see at least two here.”
We nodded in agreement, but my arms folded across my chest. “But even should these exist, where does that leave our village? Or leave us? Are we expected to gather all the world’s children and keep them safe?”
“Nay. Such a task would fail for too many reasons, many clear without me delving into detail. Yet, you have not forgotten one important point. Magic, and the blood of children who may possess the gifts to holding these weapons, could turn great powers against the world. To use the powers, two things must be present.”
Shiva put a finger to her chin. “The children’s blood… And those who gather it?”
Matthews nodded. “Aye. One of the two are those under ‘his’ grasp, though I know not who ‘his’ hang belongs to, gather blood for this dark purpose.”
She clapped once in joy of getting one point right. Leion’s head tilted. “One is the means… the other is the ends.”
I nodded. “And the end goal is wielding the weapons. We are meant to gather them?”
“Gather, protect, destroy, just see that they are not put into evil’s hands if you can. At the best, the dark powers behind the spreading madness would be purged, but one cannot ask three children to save the world.” Papa began closing the books and scrolls left out.
Kain laughed again, finally a pure sound. “No, but one can ask three children to trek the world for items not recognized by man today.”
We all broke out into laughter that soon died out. Was this truly happening? Leion, Shiva, and I were being asked to save the world? “Do we even have a map to go by, or clue as to the whereabouts of our targets?”
Matthews smiled again and extended an arm holding a scroll. “I am glad you asked.” It unrolled, revealing a map of our country with perhaps eleven or twelve locations distinctly, freshly marked. “We do not expect you to leave immediately, nor to leave without guidance. Rest assured, you will be properly set and ready.”
A weight at least lifted from my stomach… from the bottom to the top. The idea of a conquest around the world was daunting, no matter what Papa may have prepared for us. But at least we were not soon to be thrown out of our own village in some impossible adventure. I turned, but my movements out of the Hall were immediately interrupted by the glint of many colors at my feet. “The Prism—uh, the Dragon Heart… We will be taking this?”
“Yes.” Papa stepped around and looked down at the blade, near the tip. “Only one of these magic blades can survive fighting with another. It will be a necessity in the worst case, and until the magic is complete, none could hope to steal the sword from your hands.”
From our…? “Shiva…”
“Yes, Ban-Ban?” She tilted over and looked up to my face.
“Take Leion’s training sword.” I avoided her eye, but soon found her seeking mine out too much to keep from locking sight with her. “The Dragon Heart recognizes you the best. But I must know… Can you fight?”
“Bankar… You mean to fight your sister?” Leion’s voice shook lightly.
“I would not dare harm her. Years of fighting you, Leion, and you cannot hope to count how many strikes I could have hit but stopped just short of. I want to know if Shiva can defend herself. If an orc could reach Kain, I fear that we may not be able to keep her close at all times.” I couldn’t look away from Shiva’s face, though it thankfully went from fear to relief.
“Ban-Ban… I will not let you down.” She lifted the Dragon Heart from the ground and dashed out, seeking Leion’s sparring sword.
Kain’s hand fell on my shoulder. “Do not hold back. Your sister, so close with Kain and yourself… Her life has been filled with weapons, fighting, and studying the same arts you practice. She will not buckle so easily.”
I set my hand on Kain’s and nodded. “You share my thoughts.” I let go and stepped outside, surprised to see her holding all three blades; two wooden, and one magic. She dropped both toys and turned the Dragon Heart to point downward before setting it into the earth. Unlike years ago, it did not sink nearly the full length; it was perfectly under her control.
Her face… I had only seen such a determined stare during her work crafting. Her eyes kept locked with mine as she knelt, hands reaching for the grips of our swords before holding Leion’s in one hand, the other out in an offering mine to me. Once I held my blade, hers was swung and stopped just short of mine, only tapping in the same act of grace Leion and I had before fights. The speed in which we swung was swift; working with Kain had shaped her muscles well, no matter how slow and soft she took her work.
We stepped back and held our blades ready, but a full minute passed of simply watching the other. A small shade of red showed on her cheeks. “I… do not want to strike first.”
I smiled at the thought; it used to be my very way to fight against Leion. “Nor do I. But one of us must… Hah!” With a shout, I flung myself at her, ready for her trial by fire. Three swings deflected, one ducked and a thrust sidestepped. Her sword came up, brushing mine and aimed at my arm. I could only spin to the side and trail my blade across the ground, aiming up to her side. She bounced back before sliding towards me, aiming her swing to strike my side just after my sword would leave me open.
Leion had been bested by that before… I grasped my handle with both hands, holding my blade firm and still for hers to clash with it. She pushed, but I felt the strength advantage that Leion would hold against me. I pushed up, taking her sword with me to swing overhead, intending to throw her off balance at the arc. When my sword was overhead, she pulled hers back and started a swing aimed at my chest.
One step back, and a swing down caught our swords together again. I took hers with mine and hers’ tip hit the ground. I turned mine sideways, intending to slide and swing up hers to her arm, but she had already pushed free of mine and was aimed for my leg. It went under as I lifted the foot, but she reversed her swing with such speed that getting my sword to my back for a parry was nearly missed.
She knew swordplay. Our spar from here would only be a test of energy… I loosed my left hand from the handle and grasped hers, tugging it from her own blade before spinning us together. I ended up crossing her arm over her chest, leaving her sword arm flailing as I brought my blade over my body, intending to come down on hers. Bent back and arm twisted, she could only place her sword over her body and push to keep mine from descending.
She held her guard long enough to move her foot and push against me. My balance was off just long enough for her to spin out of my arms and swing at me once more, a spinning move with a perfectly flat swipe. My one chance… I planted my feet and swung up, against her sword. I managed to catch the guard as our swords met, the shock hurting her grip enough to send her sword flying from her hands. Our breath was heavy, and we did not notice the murmurs of the crowd around us as Shiva kept her eyes steady on me. I realized I had not moved from the position I was in, sword still held up… I dropped my blade and looked at my hands, feeling the sting of my grip.
A shadow took over my hands. And soon Shiva’s fingers slid over my palms. “Ban-Ban?” I looked up to see her, hopeful but not hurt. “Did I do well?”
I gripped her fingers softly. “You have to ask? I still expect you to find me if you are in trouble. But now I know you will not see enough trouble to have to seek me.”
Her face brightened up immediately, and the wind was crushed out of me in the hug that followed. Leion laughed and finally came out from the doorway, clapping his hands on both our shoulders. “You two were excellent. A much shorter fight than our norm, Ban, but I’ll be damned if that wasn’t a grand show!”
Then… I really could trust our party to at least be able to survive. As for our success, and chance at it? Time, and the preparations soon to be made for us, would tell. Right then, I was just happy to know I could rely on my sister to be safe.

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See the next addition here.

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Goten is dead!

My fingers stroked one part of the crest around my neck, back and forth, as if it would not touch my skin again. A long band of cloth was tied to my brow, both lifting the bangs from my eyes and allowing us an emergency cloth for tying a wound. Both strings of it fell to my stomach, now clad by a fine but well made chain. Half-plated armor covered the outsides of my legs, allowing me to not feel held back when attempting to move.
For all my armor, I was truly glad for only one part. Gauntlets, clad with claw-like guards over my fingers that would prevent my hands from being disrupted in a fight… the only true weakness I’d encountered thus far in training. Pinned to my chain was a cloak of deer hide, the fur cleaned but still on. It would make a fair blanket, at least.
Shiva looked the least like herself now than she had after our fight. Her hair was set back and rolled at the top, seeing as it would normally catch in her arms and disrupt movement. The upper half of her torso was clad in plate suited for her body, as were her hips and legs. Much of the rest was wrapped in leather or cloth, such as the cape folded over her arm.
For her height, the Dragon Heart was at least a foot greater. Her baldric must have been just as unique, then, and was being worked out in front of me. Where normally a blade was held either in a sheath or placed between two rings, she had one ring and one partial-ring that opened up to one side. She could then carry the blade high enough to walk with, and slide the sword to the side over her head to allow it to swing out sideways. What was being worked on currently was the height of the full ring, for she had to be able to draw the sword out of it, after all.
Leion was much more simple to outfit. Give him a mail of plate armor and braces, and he is set. Where the blade Shiva crafted for me was slender and fair, made to not clash but to strike a target, his was a claymore well suited for lasting through the most rough and ragged of fighting. Not always prone to smash, though, the great sword was on his back while a rapier quite like mine was on his left side.
“Hah! Got it!” I watched as Shiva slid her blade in and out of place with ease now… when put against previous struggle to get it free. I clapped at the success alongside Leion, happy that our gear would not cost us being stuck in the eye. When set with a short blade at her side on the belt of the baldric, Shiva seemed as well prepared for combat as Leion and I.
Kain clapped her back, eyeing the success of their combined work. “Just take care, child, when getting the blade out or in of the ring. A wrong push could very well snap the hold, and you’ll be getting much more acquainted with the handle.”
“I shall, Kain. I think it knows not to cut what I do not intend to damage, however.” It knows? I still could not believe it was a thought I was willing to play along to. She unfolded her cape and set it over one side, clipping it to her armor. Mine was a cloak meant to my whole back, and Leion’s short cape went ‘round his body but was the length of his waist. Hers well covered the side free from grasping her swords. I quite liked the variety in our equipment and coverings.
“We look like a funny troupe.” Leion was looking over each of us in turn, smiling at the mismatch. “Yet, we are clothed for a trip. I trust we are not meant to survive on the skin of Ban’s cape?”
Kain’s hand smacked the back of Leion’s head. Both he and Shiva laughed at the reaction from the joke. “Of course yer not. Fran, Bethany, and Matthews are overseeing the supplies. I imagine he’ll also share with you where your targets are, since it’s doubted you’re expected to simply walk the land without clue nor lead where what is.”
I nodded. “Just so long as we know what to expect.”
Kain turned to Shiva and started adjusting her cape. “Oh, lad, I don’t think you know what you can expect. Your fairy tales are real, in large. Goblins up to your knees or able to butt your heads, orcs who would put even Leion’s strength to shame, wizards and witches who tamper with the elements, and if you care to believe it, swordsmen with skill to match your own… or surpass.”
“Better than I?” “Magic is real?” “That large, truly?” Each of us came out with our own questions at once. That earned a short lived laugh. “Fine, it may be selfish if myself to think myself so skillful, and Leion need only look at Kain to know others may be strong. But Shiva’s wonder of magic, we all could do with teaching on.”
“Aye, I see. I only knew one mage, the man who saved my neck. It was my only experience in seeing it, but he was patient a person enough to answer my questions of the arts, too. People have a natural tune to the elements, some more than others. Take myself. I find a love of the flame of a forge, and the steel of the earth. But from my temper, I feel Leion could safely say I seem more a fiery spirited fellow.”
Leion chuckled again and rubbed into his hair where he had been slapped. “Not always as simple as that, but it can be. Light or dark, fire or ice, the earth or the air. As you may think, each element has traits one could associate with them. I would imagine, clear as day, Shiva could well be light in a human form. I know not all the relations between elements and people, and in uncommon cases, the matches are unclear or not present. “
I nodded and put my chin in my fingers. “Meaning one who knows and is in tune with their element has potential to use it in magic?”
“Only with much training, need, and work. My savior required years of practice before he could heal cuts and draw poison by magic, yet he claims to know a spear wielder whose lance would freeze behind it the skin it pierced after mere months of training. There is no “proper” way to apply or practice for magic, I suppose. Only effort and time will tell if you should even be able to use it.” He clapped his hands together and stepped back to admire the final touches of his work. “There. Now you three seem a fair travelling party, just ill-equipped for food and supplies, and only for the moment.”
Shiva clapped her hands together once and turned to Leion and me. “Father said he should be complete by the time we completed here. Shall we?”
Leion nodded. “Kain, care to join us?”
“Aye, must make sure nothing has been overlooked.” He hung his hammer and removed his work gear before opening the door out. The town was strangely busy; everyone seemed to want to get final glances at us three. Kain and Leion led, deep in discussion over the beast foreign to our town.
Shiva, however, clung to my side. “Ban-Ban, are you sure we will be able to last a whole journey? To travel a whole land as large as ours may take years.”
I swat the air in front of me as if to simply push the idea aside. “A glance at Papa’s map gave me the idea we shall not search every corner of the land. He has ideas of where to search, and legends of swords like yours or Excalibur simply cannot only include the two we know.”
She nodded and looked to Leion. “I agree… I still worry we may tire of each other in time.” Her hands found my arm, and it was hugged as she came to my side. “I do not want to lose my brother or greatest friend over a trip we did not forsee.”
I began stroking through her hair, catching her eyes. “Argue, maybe. Long for odd company, perhaps. But I have dealt with Leion for years upon years now. I fail to see how a journey like this could force us apart. And tire of my own flesh and blood? Nay, Shiva. We will last.”
A giggle was my response before she bounced to Leion, clinging to his arm now as we found the door to our home. From the window, Bethany’s curls could be seen bent over a table. Kain tugged the door open, and we entered to find three satchels being loaded. Fran shut it, keeping onlookers from spying on the room. “I told you, Matthews, if we let our people get wind of the journey, our privacy will be all but gone. But do you listen? No, let the lads and lass walk with their gear in broad daylight.”
“And I thank you again, Fran, for dealing with my judgment to assist us here.” I smirked, for this behavior between the two was a common show. “I think we have covered every possible situation—“
“And I hope “thinking” was enough to cover them all”, interrupted Fran. Matthews paid her no mind.
“—but in case we did not, your first stop in the journey is close enough that you may re-supply there. If your need is dire, home is never too far away.” He lifted the flap of the darkest, revealing the contents. “Most tools are here. Hatchet, cooking and medical supplies, flint and steel, grinding stones, and some of the most dried or salted foods we could store for very long life.”
He set it down and moved to the second, slightly larger than the other two. “Foods and water skins are within this one. Our hides gave you room for ten, which we suggest you keep full as often as possible. The foods are chiefly meat, bread, and what crops will last at least one moon.”
Shiva sniffed the air, leading Leion and I to search for what she smelled. She discovered it first. “It smells of garlic.”
“Aye. We pray, too, you must never use it.” Bethany stepped forward and grasped a clove, crushing it within her hand to expose the pieces within. The area soon filled with its strong smell. “Garlic is widely told to be effective against vampires. Even Kain knows not if they truly exist, but if rumors speak of them, chances ought not be taken. We gather that the taste, feel, and smell of garlic will tarnish a vampire’s powers ‘til they’ve had a drink of blood to refresh themselves.”
“Their powers?” This worried me. “What powers could a vampire have simply sucking the blood of people or animals?”
“Vampires are known to do well when trying to seduce and hypnotize. Also, their physical strengths are superhuman. Rumors claim one may be at your throat before your blade may be drawn wholly.”
“Past that, we have no information. If they are evil or merely attempting to survive, if they serve a higher power, or if these rumors even hold truth is beyond our power to tell.” Fran replaced the clove Bethany withdrew for her demonstration. “But, seeing as you children will be too far for me to mend, we’d rather you have at least some idea to fall upon instead of panic.”
“We love you, too, Auntie.” Leion set a hand on her shoulder while pointing the other to the one bag still unrevealed. “And in there?”
“Many cloths for beds, tents, and what have you. We do not expect you to simply sleep wrapped in a cape, after all. We also have wrapped within a sheet many strands and bits of pine needles, for leaves of evergreens are the most excellent tinder. The cooking pot is also within that bag, seeing as it would have made the supplies bag far too heavy for balance.”
Matthews closed them all up and rested the largest over his shoulder. “They all have been made as near equal as possible, so the responsibility will be to simply not forget them.” We chuckled at the thought of leaving something, given our lives seemed to depend on each satchel. “By Kain’s invention, we thought a way to make them easy to remove in times of need. At the base of the handle is a metal ring, cut at an angle. Press the ring in—“ he pushed inward with his thumb on the ring, revealing an opening, “and the end of the handle will slide off, loosing your satchel to the ground.” Indeed, as he spoke, the bag fell from his shoulder, only avoiding a small crash to the floor thanks to his having held the bag at its base while demonstrating.
Leion took the bag and began re-applying the handle to the ring. “So now we know how we are supplied, but where will these take us?”
From the bag of cloths, he found some papers and tugged them out. “Ah… Hm. Ah, here!” Once again, the map was unfolded and placed on a table. Every eye in the room was upon it. “We are here.” His finger rested on a small house shape, made distinct by the freshness of the ink. “Just northeast of us, by maybe three days, lies Graeburg, our most common trade route when trade is needed. Rikkard owes us a debt for outfitting their cavalry; we can claim it via horses for your traveling needs.”
I followed the trail, judging it to be maybe five days of walking before we would find Graeburg’s gates. Along the way lies Willowfields, another town as small as ours, perhaps smaller. “And… once mounted, our destination will be?”
Matthews shrugged. “It is not up to me. Your goal is to learn where the earth-bound swords lie, and to protect, or better retrieve them. The largest cities are marked, thus are the best places to ask for word on such weapons as your Dragon Heart.”
I nodded and replaced the scrolls within the bag before choosing the one full with supplies to wrap over my shoulder. “I hold one weapon, so I shall take the heaviest for myself.”
Leion took my idea and reached for the food, the middle in weight, but Shiva’s hands had already claimed the handle. “The Prism Sw… Um, Dragon Heart is light as air to me. I can take this.”
He threw up his hands and sighed with a laugh. “Fine, fine.” Slinging the satchel over his head to hang across his body, he gave me a playfully hard look. “But you, Ban, are going to take two swords so I can just have one, and that bag. I loathe not pulling my own weight.”
I gave him a pat to the back while walking across the room. “Fair enough. When I feel lazy, I shall let you carry my bag along with yours.”
His mouth opened in protest, but Shiva’s crossing cut him off. “As with me, Lei-Lei. I’m counting on you to not make me carry too heavy a load.” The only response was a load of stammering, and Kain’s accompanying laughter. Shiva and I reached Matthews together. “I will miss you, Papa.”
Matthews reached out and hugged her, one of the rare times I saw him act a father more than a leader. “Be safe. Remember, your family is always here, and will always be with you.” He pulled back and smiled at me. “As for you, just remember, you will meet a harsh whip if you let a scratch befall her.”
His tone was far from serious, so I winked in return. “And here I thought, after our fight, she was the one out to protect me.” I stepped over and took Papa in my arms as well, feeling his hard pats on my back. “We will not be gone long, Papa.”
“Good. You will be in my thoughts, always.” I could hear behind me Kain and Bethany giving Leion a similar talk, but my mind was only with Papa and Shiva. “You, and Eli. She would be proud.”

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Addition Four is here.

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Goten is dead!

>.< Frick. I'm already falling behind in reading this. I have a long car drive ahead of me though. Hopefully I'll get to it then.

Not bad. I like where the story is going, for sure.

The only thing I don't currently care for is how fast descriptions of events seem to go, though I'm commonly guilty of that myself. When Shiva pulled the sword, I really felt like there was nothing besides “Leion, come!” to indicate that Leion was even anywhere nearby, as I thought "Work calls" meant he drifted off to his hobbies somewhere. Then the story starts going He did such-and-such and I thought you had switched it to third-person or something for a bit. On a related note, the entire discussion about the characters' main goal seemed rushed and sort of like they took it for granted despite their audible amazement. Stuff like that.

But it's good; you've got yourself a reader. Ride on!
I've been thinking about it lately. Been getting a few random people on RuneScape PMing me again about a Zamorak's Bane V, though I'm too far gone from RuneScape to know enough about what the scenery would be like. Despite that I've had a tale in mind for the past three years, but never managed to write more than the first chapter. I promised myself that if I didn't get a job last summer I'd have written at least a chapter a week, but...I ended up getting a job last summer. Still, hmm......

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.Legendary themed months are back! Maybe.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I don't know how to keep stories very slow. I'm surprised I've not rushed them into the actual questing yet and introducing more characters. >_>

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Goten is dead!

Well...even though it isn't a traditional story, The Adventures of Jimmy is keeping you busy for now isn't it?

Loving the story so far Kik, interested to see where the quest eventually goes.

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@kikori: Perhaps, but at the same time it nicely leaves a lot to the reader. The village and the house and the garden all have a special layout as I see them in my mind, simply because you don't decribe them very much. (Though, that can turn out to be bad if you start mentioning details of the house/garden that never existed before, because they'd conflict with how I viewed the non-descript area.)

Scar: Yes, perhaps it is; even too well. I think I'd also enjoy doing a traditional story (though what I have in mind has some rather non-traditional aspects maybe; dunno if anyone would even care to read it.)

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.Legendary themed months are back! Maybe.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heh. Too much environmental description can make reading very boring... High school taught me that one. So I try to leave the mental images to people; anything else will be drawn out eventually. X3

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Goten is dead!