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PROLOGUE

Manny realized how terrible the mistake was he made a minute ago but it was all in

vain. He had signed an uncertain amount of his life away for the promise of a possible rank and a

very slight chance of a lot of gold. The recruiters were known and shunned in the outside world

for their false promises of wealth and renown, but in bars they were welcomed as heroes of old.

“Preying on the young and blasted again Finnick”? The barkeep greeted the recruiter

with a big gesture but he couldn’t hide the smirk that rarely graced his face as he thought of all

the gold he would earn from the recruiter tonight. Trying to hide his face he began to innocently

play with the bottle caps that were still on the bar.

“No Carl there’s only one today, I have been watching him for quite a while now and I

know he’ll only sign when he’s wasted”.

Carl nodded and pointed at the dark corner at the back of the bar where Manfred J.

Cosdan was sitting.

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“Give him whatever he wants tonight and tell him it’s on me”. Again the barkeep

nodded and called his oldest daughter to him.

“Ok Delphy, I have a special job for you tonight. You need to serve Manny all night

long. Oh, and before I forget tell him this ‘gentleman’ sends his regards and that he can drink on

his tab all night”.

Delphy’s expression was one of surprise because Manny had asked for her hand in

marriage but her father refused until he signed up for the militia.

Not even Manny’s feelings for her could convince Manny to sign he resented the kings

army more than anything in existence.

The reason they so desperately wanted Manny to join the forces was because he was the

only one to survive the trial of Crona.

The trial was created in the old days of kings and high lords to execute prisoners while

entertaining the masses. It was known to be impossible to pass as a human. So, after the last high

lord of Grandhall, Lord Baskt Grandhall, died. The trial was banned for being impossible and to

cruel. The trial was never used from then on till the conviction of Manfred J. Cosdan a.k.a. ‘The

Devil’s Thief’.

He got the name by the burn-mark tattoo on his back. It resembled a pentacle with devil

horns and wings black as a raven’s feathers. Under the pentacle was written: ‘The Devil’s Thief

has wings black as raven feathers and a mind clear as crystal’. The scarring that formed the

letters was blood red and the pentacle was always visible.

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Even if Manny wore a shirt you could see the madness radiate through the fabric as it

were a print on the clothing itself. Manny would never be able to hide the mark after what he did,

but that was to be expected. He was warned about the consequences before he did what he did

and now he had to bear the mark for his deeds. The pact he made was unbreakable but that was

to be expected when closing a deal with an Arrissen.

Few still lived in this world since the age of kings and high lords ended. At the end of

that era the Arrissen race was slowly losing its power in the councils and people feared them no

more they were seen as mortals instead of their all-powerful selves.

Hunting parties were organized to track them and The Order lured them out of hiding

with false promises of safety thou the only thing they got was a slow and painful death.

If it weren’t for some good souls like Manny’s great grandfather, they would have killed

every last one of them. But the pact that Manny’s ancestor made with the Arrissen left its mark.

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INTRO

“The demonic powers will manifest themselves in the same form as it has done since

the first that sealed the pact. It will give you the strength and skills to surpass anyone that stands

in your way”.

Manny didn’t trust the Arrissen one bit but he had no choice. He needed what the

Arrissen offered him. “What’s the catch”?

“There is only one”, the Arrissen began to chuckle. Manny was preparing for the worst

but the Arrissen interrupted his thoughts. “Nothing as bad as that, just a small compromise dear

Manfred. The ‘catch’ is that you can never mention my existence nor my name, which you think

you don’t know. Deep inside lies the answer to the questions that haunts your mind”.

Manny nodded and answered the boney man as he jumped up to follow him outside.

“What has to happen now? It can’t be just that”.

“There is only one thing you need to do”.

“What’s tha…” as Manny tried to finish his sentence a sharp pain tore through his

shoulder. A shiny bone dug its way into his flesh deeper and deeper. A burning pain shot through

his shoulder.

“Sorry for taking you by surprise but no one would let someone stab them just like that

let alone with a pactmaker”.

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Manny’s vision started to blur and the last thing he heard was the fading voice of the

ancient Arrissen.

“Do not forget the terms of our pact or the pactmaker will tear you asunder”. He finally

hit the ground and everything turned black.

No light, no sound, no air.

A FEW DAYS LATER

A burning feeling filled Manny’s lungs as he woke up. Darkness surrounded him. He

couldn’t figure out where he was but the way his body felt he could take an estimated guess.

With his strength returning he felt something laying under his left hand. He grabbed it and

started touching it in the hope he could figure out what it was. It felt like a piece of paper with a

string attached. He tugged the thing string softly so it wouldn’t snap, but it did. As desperation

filled his mind he found what was on the other side of the string.

“An orb”? Manny’s voice didn’t echo but the orb began to glow softly. The light didn’t

reach far cause of the place Manny was in. He grabbed the note and started reading it out loud.

“This is the final gift bestowed upon you.  From now on you will only be known by the

name of the feral ancestor of the Arrissen Gronescro or in your language ‘The Devil’s thief’”.

As Manny spoke the last word the light began to intensify till it stunned Manny. Even

more darkness surrounded Manny now, but a small flickering of light was visible in the distance.

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The sound of Manny’s foot hitting the ground sounded like the armies of the world clashing,

metal on metal, a thundering roar and then complete silence.

“You probably wonder where you are”. Manny didn’t answer but started to look around

for any trace of the familiar voice.

“This is Eralden, once the home of the most ancient Arrissen ever to exist. Some say he

still lives on in this very realm”.

“How, what, why, where …” Manny stuttered as he tried to pick a question from his

head that was clouded by distant voices and a million random questions.

“Now you are starting to make sense. The last gift will be handed to you by Gronescro

himself. But beware none of your ancestors ever received this gift as they were not what the

ancient was looking for”.

As the words started to fade from Manny’s mind the flickering light came closer and

closer. It stopped a few feet away from Manny and started to expand. Becoming larger and larger

the light took form when it was the size of a full-grown troll.

As Manny tried to utter any word the light took the shape of a demon with odd looking

wings. They looked like eagle wings but made out of skin, like the wings of a bat.

“One word is what stands between you and the ultimate power that I can bestow upon

you”.

Manny instantly started to think of any possible word that could give him the power the

ancient spoke of.

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“Don’t think that much my dear friend, I only want to know the name of the Arrissen

that you made the pact with”. Like lightning the image of death shot through Manny’s head.

‘You may never speak my name or thy wilt be torn asunder’ the pact was very clear on

this. Still, the power promised to him was worth more than mere death.

‘I will be born again with this power so death will not stop me’. Manny’s thoughts

started to clear as if something was shredding the fog of questions and voices to pieces. The

more Manny thought about the name the lesser he knew until the words of Gronesco echoed

through his head for the second time.

‘Don’t think so much’.

Was that the answer? Manny let go of every thought and started to fall through the air

till he hovered a few inches above the floor.

‘Let go and knowledge will reveal itself’. It was an old saying in his hometown but he

could never grasp the reason behind it until now. The remaining sounds in his head decayed and

somewhere somehow the name echoed in his head.

“The name you want me to speak will make my death imminent but the Arrissen I

closed a pact with is …”. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder and right lung. Coughing and

almost out of breath Manny continued. “His name is …”. Another set of stings followed.

‘Don’t do it you can’t die by his trickery’. It was the Arrissen that closed the pact. ‘Will

you really sacrifice your life for this power’? Manny’s thoughts remained silent until he thought

‘YES’ as loud as he could.

The Arrissens voice sounded again. ‘It’s your funeral’.

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Manny hesitated but continued. “His name is Debrutsid”.

Gronescro laughed. “You do know you broke the pact right”? Manny nodded. He knew

more than well enough what he had done.

“None of your ancestors dared to break their pact. They feared their own deaths and that

of their loved ones if they didn’t obtain the power they needed to protect them. But since you put

your own life in the scales to protect everything you love and ever will I must give you the final

gift. It will remain a secret until it is released meaning you will know what it is when it

happens”.

With those words a string of light shot from the ancient’s body right into Manny’s

pactmaker. “You are the first of all who has ever made a pact with an Arrissen who has ever

spoken one’s name. The ultimate gift is now yours but I must warn you. This gift will make you

the most wanted man that ever lived in all Natagiv”.

As the last word of the ancient faded the link of light broke. The ancient lifted his feet

and as Manny almost hit the floor he stomped him right through.

“Be on your way my son. You will be the unknown that tortures the accepted evil”.

It felt like he fell for ages. A burning pain covered his back as the rest of his body was

cold as ice. After what felt like days he hit water. He felt his bones break and crumble and knew

his end was near. “Debrutsid you twat”. He cursed the Arrissen under his last breath.

‘This is only the beginning’. Like a piercing arrow the Arrissens voice shot through

Manny’s mind followed by a searing pain all over his body.

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‘Your body is like a ball of clay now, being molded by the Ancient. You will look the

same but your body will change. You will be able to sneak making less sound then a needle

falling to the ground and you’ll be able to cripple the strongest in existence. You will be able to

withstand insane amounts of pain and damage to your body. No one that looks for you will know

your real name because you have died the day you sealed the pact. See that as a little parting gift

from us’.

Manny tried to speak but not a single sound came.

‘Use your thoughts future Arrissen, it is the only safe way for you to communicate.

Every word you speak here will be spoken by your transforming body in the other world as well

and no one here knows who is near your body right now. But we have a faint idea who or better

said ‘what’ surrounds you right this moment’.

A silence fell as Manny tried to figure out what the Arrissen meant. Could it be that the

hunters found out about him and the pact he made? Would they really go this far to find every

last Arrissen alive?

‘Yes my friend that is what we suspect. The hunters will never stop even when the last

of us dies they will not stop hunting people down. You need to seek your kinsman as you are the

last hope of the Arrissen. They should have found you by now since your body already shows the

mark of the strongest Arrissen known to all. They will have put you in one of their negation

chambers’.

‘How do you know all this? And what the hell is a negation chamber’? An eerie silence

fell in Manny’s head.

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“It’s time for you to awaken, Devil’s Thief”. A voice from the other side, slowly pulling

Manny from the home of the Arrissen.

BACK TO THE LIVING

Manny opened his eyes. He felt a pressure chaining him to the chair he was strapped

into. Bright, weird looking, lights surrounded him and footsteps sounded in the distance. ”Where

am …”?

A fist found his jaw, the sound of bone breaking, blood gushing to the floor. Manny

clenched his teeth to suppress the urge to yell at the unknown person and to rip his jaw right

from his face.

“Calm down general, I have questions for this one. He’s different from all others we

have seen before”.

As the sound of the voice reached Manny’s ears it felt like the pactmaker was going to

change his lungs into Swiss cheese.

“Mr. Cosdan”.

He knew who was talking to him. It was the head of the ‘Arrissen Hunters’ king Marnac

Dracopen the third. His reputation proceeded him and for as far as Manny knew he would beat

him to a quarter inch of death if he had to, to get the information he wanted.

“Answers or death, those are you 2 options”. The ruthless king laughed amused as he

already knew the answer.

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“If I give you the answers you seek I’ll die and if I don’t I’ll die as well, so I’ll just sit

here and laugh at your feeble attempt to make me spill my secrets”.

“Oh that’s a surprise not one of you abominations ever refused me in any way. But no

stress I don’t need you to speak dear friend. You see, this is how it is”.

A smirk appeared on the king’s face and Manny knew this could only mean more bad

news.

“We captured one of the real Arrissen that has been tortured for years and he has to do

just one thing to get his wish fulfilled”.

“And that is”? Manny was mocking the king and he saw his smirk disappear and turn to

a furious rage.

“General get Sogra for me and tell him the day he longed for so desperately has finally

come”.

‘Sogra … hmmn that sounds familiar’ Manny wondered till an image clear as crystal

reminded him of who Sogra was. While Manny drifted away in his thoughts the general came in

with the prisoner.

“Sogra, you know what to do don’t you”? The kings’ rage subsided and his over-

confident smirk once again covered his ugly scarred face.

Sogra nodded and sat down next to Manny. His facial features were corpse like and his

voice sounded like he hadn’t spoken in ages.

‘Sorry friend but this is the only way’. Sogra’s words cut through Manny’s random

thoughts as a sword through flesh.

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‘No friend, there is another way’. Sogra’s expression changed from lifeless to a devilish

grin.

“Almost there Sir”. The king couldn’t hide the vile smile that appeared on his face that

confirmed his thought of an easy victory.

’I am your redemption old friend’. As the last word left his mind a strange, dark red,

glow started to emit from the tattoo on his back. ‘Let’s break these restrictions and with them

these bastards’.

Sogra stood up and bowed to Manny. “I will follow you wherever you go Master, Now

break those feeble bindings and satisfy the hunger you feel deep down in your soul”.

Manny’s muscles began to ache. ‘This is the moment I waited for, the door is locked

and before they can open it these walls will be painted red with their blood and intestines’.

The grin on the king’s face widened even more making his rotten teeth more visible

then before. “Do you really think any of the so called gifts the Arrissen gave you will work in

here?” The king chuckled. “Don’t be so naïve, this is a negation chamber. It weakens everything

that doesn’t have one of these”.

The guards started to laugh as the king dropped his fancy robe to reveal a shining armor.

“Do you really think you stand a chance against me while I’m wearing this suit of

armor? It’s made of every material that the Arrissen are vulnerable to”.

While the king laughed Manny’s anger skyrocketed. “You forgot one thing dimwit …”

the laughing stopped as Manny broke his bindings and grabbed the king by his throat in the blink

of an eye.

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“I’m not an Arrissen nor am I human, I am the thing your nightmares are made of and

don’t you even dare to open that door you piece of shit”.

The guard froze in his steps as Manny addressed him.

“Get your corrupted soul over here. I think I might spare you by killing you quickly”.

Manny licked his lips as he punched a hole through the guard’s abdomen. “One down, one to go.

The others can go, but be warned. If you dare to ever think about hunting or ratting out an

Arrissen or a person that helps them you will face a fate ten times worse than that of your friend

here”.

They ran off and told everyone that if they wanted to be spared they had to shut their

trap and live according to Manny’s laws.

’Sogra could you break off one of the ribs of our dead friend over here and stab me with

it please’?

‘Master I cannot do that’.

‘JUST DO IT AND HURRY’! Manny’s voice made Sogra jump but he did as

instructed. “Now bless it I need one hand to keep this piece of shit from trying anything”. Sogra

nodded.

“Oh great Ancients Gronescro and Monola bless this pactmaker so it keeps the pactar

under oath of punishment ...” .

“Of subconscious terror and untreatable pain while his skin melts slowly and his

intestines boil but do not let him die, feeling his pain eternal”. Sogra looked shocked.

‘Master why did you interrupt my blessing’?

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‘I felt my punishment is more suitable for the head of the Arrissen hunters. Let him feel

the pain of all our slain brethren that died by the hand of the order or in its name. I will make him

live eternally so he has to accept the punishment laid upon him. He will have to live with the

knowledge of the Arrissen returning to this world and that he will never be able to do anything

about it’.

A vile smirk appeared on both Manny and Sogra’s face.

Sogra cut the king’s finger as Manny thrusted the pactmaker into the kings left side. “I

hereby declare you bound to the pact”. As the words reached the kings ears Manny used his free

hand to force the king’s blood onto the pact. “You can keep the pact. Maybe you can put it

somewhere you can see it every day so you don’t forget the terms”. Manny’s smirk turned into a

broad smile as he released the king.

As he fell to the ground he tried to utter his words of anger but the only thing that came

from his throat was blood.

“Let’s go Sogra, our work here is done”. Sogra remained silent but followed his master.

Manny gestured his him to walk next to him.

“What’s wrong Master”?

“You’re not my servant old friend. We walk as equals, as brothers, as Arrissen”.

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CHAPTER ONE

Slowly opening his eyes the king was blinded by the bright lights surrounding him. He

started to think about what happened. A strange sensation in his side made him wonder.

”Did it really happen? Did the Arrissen lord from the prophesy really rise”? He

remembered the parchment in his study and how it spoke of a half human, half Arrissen blessed

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by the ancient Arrissen himself. The framed document described the Arrissen lord as a wicked

being that devours the souls of its victims or make them live through their nightmares for all

eternity.

“We will never bow to you. You are not a king of men, you are a king of the damned”.

He remembered the words well. These were the first words that anyone said to him after his

coronation. On that day he swore to kill every Arrissen in existence to purge this world.

It was a memorable day but a lot of people hated the fact that he would become king.

He was hated by the people since he became crown prince of Dirgo. His arrogance grew with the

second after his announcement as future king.

The memory of his first stroll through the vivid city at night. He heard whispers in the

dark, and as he sneaked closer to hear the conversation he was shocked by what he heard.

A tall dark man with a butchers apron gestured some shady looking merchants and

warriors to come closer so no one else would hear what he was about to say. “We need to get rid

of the prince as soon as possible or at least find something to get him on our side”. The others

nodded and started to think.

“Maybe we can get him to join us by killing his old man”. An older man with a beard

stained by ale spoke freely as the others held their breath out of fear for the butcher.

“Yes Gores, that sounds like the perfect plan”. The butcher agreed with the old man and

hit the table with his cleaver. “Ale for all”!

“And how do you plan on doing that if I may inquire”? The prince spoke loudly and

didn’t care if others heard everything. The butcher jumped up and stuttered.

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“Did you euh, did you hear our little conversation great prince”? The butcher was

startled and confused. How did he know what we said? We took our precautions.

“If you are trying to figure out whether you are safe or not then you have the right to be

jumpy because I don’t know what I’ll do to all of you”. The typical sadistic tone in his voice

made the men fear what was to come. “So, explain to me how you are going to do what you

spoke of or I could just simply call the guards to take care of you and your little friends over

here”.

The butcher took his cleaver from the table and began to get uneasy. “Ok, I’ll tell you

how we’ll do it”. An eerie silence fell in the tavern as every other person was sent out by the

prince.

“Continue butcher, you made me curious”. The prince was turning his knife between the

tips of his fingers.

“To make you king we must first see to your father as he is the one that needs to get a

visit from the rider on a pale horse”. The butcher saw the prince’s interest grow as his eyes grew

larger. ”We plan on getting someone on the inside to help us so we can proceed as planned but

when you get crowned you need to do us one favor”. The prince nodded as the butcher gestured

the old man to come closer. “This is Gores, he will be the inside man. He was a renowned doctor

in the east a few years ago but misfortune lead him here to the streets of Garla the capital of

Dirgo”.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll get him inside as my advisor and then we’ll see what we can

do”. The prince’s thoughts started to go all over the place as he started to think about all the

things he would and could do as king.

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“It’s a deal then ‘Sire’ ”? The whole group started to laugh as the butcher made the pun.

“Ok lads, this is the last one for today and then we’ll set our plan in motion”.

The prince nodded as the company of low-class heroes bottomed up their last ale and

left the tavern.

The king regretted that decision every day of his life and the guilt made him a miserable

excuse for a king. “What would have happened if I just called the guards on them instead of

collaborating with them? Would my father still be alive? Would I have changed my attitude and

become loved instead of the hated king I am”.

Memories yet again flooded his mind. ‘The old king Threndal’, that was written on the

crypt where his entire family was buried.

“Could I have stopped any of this? If I was just a little older I could have protected her”.

As tears fell from the young boys face a big hand rested on his shoulder.

“It’s alright to cry my prince, do not hide your true feelings”. The old man’s face was

scarred from the great Arrissen war that happened a few decades ago.

The old man tried to comfort the prince but it was all in vain. As he lifted his hand the

prince began to let his feelings take over.

“Why did this have to happen? You promised me the crown but why did she have to die

as well”?

“You will understand once you are crowned. There are letters in the kings’ quarters that

will explain everything”.

As the prince’s tears hit the floor a deafening sound struck them by surprise.

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“What’s happening Gores? Don’t tell me they’re”.

Another explosion erupted from the south, ripping the unsuspecting citizen’s limb from

limb and shattering the remnants of the castle walls everywhere.

“We need to get going prince, I know where we can safely hide and stay out of harm’s

way”. Gores walked off expecting the prince to know what to do. Hesitantly he ran after the old

man with the hope that nothing would happen. Walking fast but cautious they reached the secret

entrance to the dungeons quickly.

“Get inside kid, we’ll be safe soon”

“But I …” another explosion erupted and the entire gate was blown to pieces. Debris

flew everywhere and as the prince descended the moldy flight of stairs into the stench of the

castle depths he heard a scream of agony. Turning his head in fear of what he would see he saw

Gores leaning against the wall, his arm pierced by a piece of debris.

“I can’t believe it flew all the way here to just pierce my damn arm. Now get your royal

ass over here and help me. I’m the only person who can get you to safety and the only one that

knows where those letters are”. Using the little bit of leverage left to manipulate the prince was

his only chance of survival and that of his fellow members.

The prince ran up to Gores to support him as they descended the old, rotten flight of

stairs that creaked under their feet.

Fear struck the prince as he saw the faint flickering of torches further down the dungeon

halls. Gores saw he wanted to shout but silenced him by putting a finger to his mouth.

“Don’t call out to them it may be insiders or spies that rather see you dead than alive”.

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A scared but understanding smile graced the prince’s face as he continued to support the

old man, walking as fast as their legs could carry them, while heading for the secret passage.

“Here it is”, Gores whispered while he took a cubical object from his pummel. “I know

you wondered about this for a long time but since you are the only one who can change the

wretched future that awaits this world, I will reveal my deepest and darkest secret to you young

prince”.

Gores words echoed loudly through trough the abandoned halls of the dungeon. He

placed the stone cube into a strange statuette that resembled a knight and gears started to turn

slowly. “Promise me that you will never speak of what you see or hear inside”.

The prince nodded and the wall started to move backwards

“Get in and light the torch with this”. Gores took something from his coat pocket and

handed it to the prince. “Just hold it near the torch and it should ignite”.

He did as he was told but couldn’t stop wandering about what this place was and how

he never knew anything about any of this. The torch started to fizzle and before the prince could

get used to the light another one lit up spontaneously followed by at least a dozen more.

“This is the place. We should be safe in here since only a hand full of people know

about this place”, footsteps came closer as they took a few steps inside. “Walk on prince we

should reach the dome in a few minutes and we can’t afford to lose any time. The wall closed

behind them but it was too late they heard screams from the other side and they knew they would

have to hurry if they wanted to get away.

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As they hurried through the tunnels the prince noticed that there were no traces of mold

or decay on the walls. It was like this part of the castle was built a lot later then the castle itself.

While he drifted away in his thoughts they reached the dome and not a minute to soon. The

voices began to get closer and closer.

The prince froze in awe when he realized where he was. “What is this place? I knew the

castle had a lot of secrets and hidden tunnels but this is just …”

The old man hushed the prince and stumbled to a table in the middle of the room. “Shut

it and sit down, this isn’t the time to be amazed or anything like it and if you thought this is

amazing then close your eyes and enjoy the ride”. The old man hit the table full force as he saw

shadows coming from the tunnels.

“Damn they found us, we need to hurry”. As Gores talked on an angry but controlled

tone he pressed a button underneath the table. “Since we don’t have any second to spare we’re

taking the short way down, this may feel weird or even painful but don’t make a sound”.

The ground under the table began to shift and the prince pressed his hand hard on his

mouth to make sure he didn’t make any sound.

Only a few seconds passed and the ground supporting the table was gone entirely. The

old man whispered to the prince but as his first word aired the wind took over. They descended

at an insane speed and the prince felt the pressure change each second as they went deeper and

deeper into the earth. Still keeping his hand over his mouth to make sure he didn’t let the faintest

sound slip. Just when he thought that his body would turn into a gooey mess the table slowed

down.

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“We’re here Stephen. You will need to get the boy into the breather, he’s going into

shock ‘cuz of the pressure changes”. Stephen did as he was told lifting the prince from his seat to

ensure he didn’t do more harm to the fragile body that already endured to much.

“Put him to sleep as well while he’s in there. He needs to recover physically as well as

mentally”.

Stephen nodded and gently put the prince’s body on the bed in the breather, put a needle

in his arm and hooked it to a small dripper with synth. “This will boost his recovery and make

him more resistant to everything”.

“I know what synth is little brother, we spent decades in the lab to find a safe but

effective dose”. A smirk graced Gores’ face as he patted his little brother’s head while watching

the strange, futuristic, apparatus blow air into the breather room.

A loud bang and the horrid smell of burning flesh pulled the king from his memories.

“Sir we need to get you out of here? We are under siege”.

Still dazed by the rude awakening the king tried to find his footing as the unknown

soldier reached out to supported him.

“You don’t look so well sir. Allow me to support you while we try to escape and if I

may be so direct sir try to keep your breath shallow and your vision blurred? This bloodbath

looks and smells even worse than the purge of Dirgo on coronation day.

He didn’t remember much of that day. The day before coronation he was awakened by

Gores and Stephen.

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“Soldier”, the king had to speak in short shallow breaths since his lung was pierced by

the pactmaker, “are you by any chance Stephen”? The soldier grinned.

“How did you know Sir”? Surprise and hope filled Stephen’s eyes.

“Don’t ‘Sir’ me. You and Gores left the day after my coronation and the only thing you

left behind was a lousy letter telling me that I had to lead the hunters from now on and not to try

to find you guys”.

“But you did anyway. We know and we almost lost our most important research thanks

to one incompetent fool that couldn’t hold his liquor”.

“I”, the king coughed and as he inhaled, the vile stench of the muddy, blood soaked

inner courtyard almost made him puke.

”Oh I almost forgot that I have these”, Stephen pulled a strangelooking but small

apparatus from his side pocket and handed it to the king,” put this in your nose it should filter

moist of the vile smell out of the air you breed and Gores sends his regards. He couldn’t come

with because he is searching for the last ingredient that is needed to complete our latest and most

important invention”.

The kings face radiated happiness for the first time since he awoke in the breather room.

He saw an opening in the wall which should lead to a winding staircase that lead up to the family

vault. From there they could escape the castle through the tunnels that his fellow hunters built

over the years. “We can get out through that crack”.

Stephen looked around to find the fastest, safest, way to get there.

“Follow me Sir, I’ll get us over there in no time”.

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The king regained the strength in his legs due to the adrenaline rushing through his

veins. Step by step he became more hopeful as the thought of seeing Gores again began to seep

through. “Stephen hurry up they’ll get to the caverns soon and we need to get into the vault

before they reach it. There’s a mechanism inside that will make it impossible for them to

follow”.

Stephen nodded and shoved aside allies and enemies alike to make a safe path for the

king to cross.

“Hurry Sir, I can’t keep them off much longer”.

As Stephens last words aired time froze around the king. An eerie voice in his head told

him to dodge to the left so the arrow wouldn’t pierce his, already, badly damaged body.

‘The arrow glistened in the light of the early morning sun and Marnac saw it coming

straight at him.

‘Dodge, you moron! If you die here you truly are unworthy of your destiny’.

The voice in his head sounded familiar but he couldn’t recall who’s voice it was. ‘Could

it be my sister’s voice’? It sounded so perfectly similar but, how? He saw her die all those years

ago.

‘Yes brother, it’s me. Don’t waste any more time and get your scrawny ass off of this

battlefield, it reeks of death and Arrissen magic. You need to get into the vault and one more

thing. DON’T TELL ANYONE ABOUT ME’!

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As the echo of her voice began to fade he saw the arrow getting closer. ‘I need to react

now or I’ll die’. As that thought filled his head he darted to the left and the arrow missed him by

an inch.

An angry ranting came from the eastern tower.

Attempting to see who was behind this cowardly assassination attempt he thought he

saw his first apprentice, Kory. ‘Why would he try to kill me? I trained him and cared for him as a

father does for his son. He was my pride’.

“He’s undercover Sir”, Stephen interrupted the kings thoughts, “And the arrow? It was

an arrow designed to kill true Arrissen. Don’t you remember who you sent first to find us”?

The king’s thoughts went on a rampage as he tried ti recall who he sent out first. He sent

out a dozen of men to try and find the two brothers but none of them had any luck, some of the

men never returned either. Suddenly the memory surfaced of him sending out Kory with the

schematics for precisely the same arrow he dodged seconds ago.

“It was you who kept him from me”?

“Yes sir, but it was for his own good and his origin helped him greatly when he

infiltrated the Cavali that, to our belief, still has deep ties with the last remaining Arrissen cell

living just past the southern border.

The king’s mind went on a rampage gain giving him the most intense headache he ever

had. He froze where he stood as the strain on his, still battered, mind became too much for his

body.

“I can’t …” the king tried to speak but was interrupted by his old friend.

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“Come on Sir! Just a bit further and then we’re safe. Don’t give up on us now, not even

the state you are in right now should keep you from getting your revenge on the true Arrissen”.

The king’s expression changed instantly and the rage that boiled inside gave him the

strength to continue. ‘How does he know of all of this? Is he really who he is he says? I should

see through a morph but the condition I’m in makes all of my skills useless. I’ll have to trust

him, but keep my eyes peeled for any strange behavior if I want to see the light of another day’.

As the onslaught continued the sun began to set and in a short period of time the

opposition began to retreat to regroup and work on a better strategy yet again. The remaining

forces loyal to the king routed but their joy turned to sadness soon after when they began to

realize how many of their comrades had fallen in the struggle to keep the Cavali at bay.

“Tell me Stephen, where have you been the past six years and what has befallen the

others that I sent to find the two of you”?

“Sir, it has been longer than six years since we, as you call it, disappeared and this is nor

the time nor the place to discuss what happened. Let’s get to the vault first so we don’t encounter

any left behind Cavali. The condition you are in at the moment won’t allow you to take any more

damage to your body before you collapse”.

He knew Stephen was right but he still felt as if something else was present and ready to

strike him down when the opportunity presented itself.

‘Keep your mind clear, concentrate on the target. Calm your breathing and relax your

body’. The words of his father echoed through his head and as if there was magic involved he

regained some more strength in his legs. “Let’s go Stephen we have work to do”.

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Chapter 3

Manny and Sogra left the castle a few days ago and things seemed to be going well. No

patrols or even a banner with the king’s crest on it wherever they went.

“Sir we have been walking for a couple of days now and something is bothering me.

Shouldn’t we have at least seen a patrol by now”? Sogra’s voice still sounded raspy no matter

how much he drank or rested. The damage his body took in all those years of torture would be

permanent.

“Your patience strikes me friend. I thought you would have spoken your mind sooner.

But there is a reason that we walk the main road between the two royal districts”.

“What do you mean”?

“Well, I mean that all of this is one big game of chess”, Sogra’s face showed his

cluelessness, “If you want to keep your opponent from passing your defensive line than what do

you do? Right you cut off all of the paths that seem logical for your opponent to take but what

they don’t expect is that you charge right through the middle. That’s why we walk the main road

and not through the forests or over the hills where, I’m sure of it, we would be ambushed by a

ton of guards”.

Sogra nodded and understood what Manny told him. “Let’s pick up the pace so we can

get to the village of Nephalam before nightfall”.

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Nephalam was a small rural village but with a certain danger for any Arrissen that dare

enter. It was the village where the last cell of Arrissen was murdered, or so they thought and

rumor has it that a guild of Arrissen Hunters still remained there.

The sun began to disappear behind the mountains as they reached Nephalam’s grand

gate protecting the village from the bushes who resided in the forest just a few miles from the

village.

A loud voice came from the walkway. ”Who are you and what is your purpose here”? It

was an older man dressed in a worn out guards uniform that was older than the village itself.

“We are weary travelers looking for a place to spend the night, since we were

approached by the Bushies we don’t dare to sleep at the side of the road anymore”

The guard leaned a bit more forward and saw that Sogra was injured and in need of

serious medical assistance.

“Open the gate for them and guide them to officer Reales. The one dressed in blue

needs urgent medical attention”.

The gate sprung open with a deafening creak, a guard rushed out to support Sogra and

they rushed off as fast as they could to go see the medic, officer Reales.

“It didn’t take long before they reached a worn down cabin isolated from the rest of the

village.

“The officer values his privacy above all”. As the guard reached for the door a low

raspy voice sounded from inside and he froze as if under a spell.

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“Send them in but return to your post at once, I have a feeling that something is about to

happen at the southern gate”.

As the guard ran back to his post the door swung open. “Come on in, I was expecting

you but I didn’t think that Sogra would be in such a bad shape. Seems our oppressor took a lot

more from him then just some flesh”.

Manny was shocked by what the man said and as he snapped out of his confusion the

older man dragged them inside.

“It’s not very safe in Nephalam for Arrissen and you my dear Manny are a big target wit

that Arrissen glow radiating brightly on your back”.

“Who or what are you”? Manny stumbled, still confused about all that had been said.

“I am the Arrissen off foresight but since you are what you are, you can call me

Chairon. I know it’s insane to see an Arrissen working as an officer of the guard in the village

where the last cell of Arrissen were executed but the reason is my foresight. I had visions off a

man coming here to collect the memories of our fallen brethren with my help”.

As Chairon finished his sentence the alarm bells began to chime.

“Another attack of our forest brethren. They keep chipping away at the defenses of the

village and at times they even get a hunter, but they are still to many of them. We can’t do a

thing while those assholes live”. A vile smirk appeared on Chairon’s face, “that’s why I need

your help. You aren’t vulnerable to their weapons and you would be able to use the Bushies to

overcome the hunters and to exterminate their presence here so we could be an Arrissen village

again. Also, Sogra can’t travel for the next few days or he would die of Arrissen fever. The

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downside of being an officer is that I can’t go get what I need to heal him myself since it’s

forbidden for an officer to go to the southern forest as that’s where the Bushies lives”.

“Tell me what you have in mind then”.

The old man sat down and placed his filthy boots on the corner of his desk. “Well, the

easiest wa to get rid of them is to wait for them all to gather in one place and as if by fate they

meet the thirds moon of summer and guess when that is”, A smirk disgraced the old man’s face

even more. “In exactly one week. So there isn’t too much time but there should be enough for

you to prepare the attack and to get some troops inside the village”.

“Will a week be enough? And how will I do all of that? I can’t do all of that on my own

and Sogra needs to rest so I can’t ask for his assistance either”.

“Don’t break your head on all those questions, go eat and rest. I will come and get you

at sunset”.

The door swung open and an almost breathless guard came in, screaming. “The Bushies

are at the gate Sir. You need to come at once”.

“Can it you imbecile I’ll be there in a second now go to your post if any get in I will

blame it on you and you know what happens then”. The look on the young man’s face said

enough and he rushed off as fast as his short stubby legs could carry him as the old man turned

back to Manny with a much more serious face than before.

“This is your chance to get some inside the village. There’s a breach in the western wall,

remove the branches and there should be some allies waiting for you. Hide them in the cellar of

the ‘Ol Barrel Inn’ and may your foes lay dead in your wake Sir. We will meet again when the

P a g e | 33

opportunity arises”. With those words he rushed off to the gate where his so-called enemies were

attacking. The old man handed Manny a piece of paper and told him to hurry.

Manny jumped from his chair and rushed off to the western wall barely looking at the

map the old man gave him. ‘I should be there when I get around this corner’. As he turned the

corner he almost crashed into the thick bush that hid the hole in the wall. He began to tear the

barricade apart when he heard footsteps closing in on him.