FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE Read online

  The main door opens ever so gently. The two rain-soaked figures step into the house. Immediately, the white wolf begins to snarl. Clearly seen at the end of the dark hallway is a pair of glowing, red eyes. The hooded man raises his right hand and gives a casual wave. Tiny little spheres of flames fly out of his fingertips towards all the torches throughout the house. Suddenly, all these torches come alive with vibrant flames. A motionless and rotting man lies in a pool of hardened blood in the middle of the hallway. His eyes are white and vacant and his body has turned dark brown. The stench that pervades the air is nauseating.

  The owner of the glowing, red eyes can now be clearly seen sitting vertically on the opposite wall facing the main door. It appears to be a male and is the size of an average man but it has a lizard-like head and its skin is scaly instead. Razor sharp teeth and a long forked tongue greet their sights. Its torso is shaped like a human though the long scaly tail and its long sharp claws remind any observer otherwise. Stains of dried blood can be seen on its lower jaw and across its chest.

  The hooded man stares unflinchingly at the hideous creature. The white wolf bares his fangs. A sudden crack of thunder breaks the eerie silence.

  “An Elementhar, I am indeed honoured! It would be an insult if they had sent an amateur instead! You see, these townsfolk are not too bright! All they seem to do is to hide in their homes. Huh! As though that could stop me! Slaughtering townsfolk is a boring sport. Killing Elementhars, however, is a whole lot more fun! Though I am fairly surprised that they had managed to find you so soon as your kind are supposed to be rare in this province,” says the lizard-like creature in a husky, hissing voice.

  “Rare _ we are of this but not extinct; and I can see that you have dealt with my kind before, demon, as my identity does not puzzle you; though you must understand that you will not leave here alive,” says the hooded man as he removes his backpack and casually drops it onto the floor.

  “Your threats I shall not take seriously as Elementhars these days are weak and relatively harmless. Your pet puppy might even pose a greater danger to me than you. Ha! Ha! Ha!” says the demon sarcastically.

  “Puppy _ my companion is not one of him but a polar wolf instead, though you are quite right, he poses a greater danger to you than I can possibly be; but remember this, he is on my side,” replies the Elementhar.

  The Elementhar removes his hood to reveal the fair skin of his goateed face. A jewel-encrusted silver headband with a large ruby in the middle flanked by two smaller brown diamonds secures his long dark hair to the back.

  “Indeed he is on your side but I fear neither puppy nor wolf nor soaking wet Elementhars! Your presence is merely a sport for me. Your death shall be entertainment. I shall taste your blood and feed on your soul. Your little puppy could be dessert,” says the demon.

  A shiny black sphere of condensed energy, the size of a large coin, bursts forth from a black slit in the demon’s forehead towards the Elementhar. The Elementhar raises his silver staff in casual defence. As it approaches, the energy sphere is halted as though it has hit an invisible barrier of some kind, and then it disintegrates and gets absorbed into the white diamond which had been encrusted into the staff.

  “Attempt _ an interesting one of this though very much futile, for your Dark Orb attack was rather weak, and now, I would like to return the courtesy,” says the Elementhar.

  The Elementhar thrusts his right index finger at the demon. A burst of energy that takes the shape of a fist-sized sphere of condensed fire cuts through the air at an extremely high velocity toward the demon. As the demon leaps sideways, this condensed sphere of fire hits the wall and explodes, dispensing its raw energy violently and completely. A deep hole in the wall comes into being from the explosion and the resultant thick cloud of smoke rises gently to the ceiling.

  “Fire! This cannot be! Your kind was eliminated 15 years ago! Impossible! Impossible!” exclaims the demon in surprise.

  As the demon recovers from its shock, a flaming sphere slams into its left shoulder. A spray of black liquid spurts out of the blackened wound as the demon screams in agony. Barely maintaining its balance, the demon sends another Dark Orb toward the Elementhar. As the Elementhar raises his silver staff in defence, the demon moves to its right and smashes through the wall with its right shoulder, blundering into the study room. The stiffened body of a woman lies in one of the corners of this room, an expression of immense fear frozen indefinitely on her rotting face. Then the demon finds the white wolf soaring through the air towards it. The wolf’s razor sharp fangs plunge into the demon’s jugular. A continuous spray of black liquid bursts forth from the demon’s neck as it screams in pure agony.

  In an act of desperation, the demon tries to stab the white wolf with its claws, but the wolf had anticipated this move. In a nimble move, the white wolf releases his hold on the demon and leaps well clear. Barely aware of its surroundings, the demon feels a heavy force slamming into its chest as the Elementhar thrusts one end of his silver staff into it. It stumbles and falls backwards, slamming into the shelf of books behind it.

  The demon struggles to stand up. The Elementhar approaches it with caution. With a sudden surge of strength and energy, it sends another Dark Orb towards him. As he raises his silver staff in defence, his view of the demon becomes obstructed. Seizing this opportunity, the demon spins to its right and whips its long scaly tail towards him. A loud slapping sound fills the study room as the tail strikes the Elementhar’s face. Drops of blood drip from his mouth as he falls sideways to the ground. The demon then discharges a Dark Orb at the white wolf. The white wolf manages to leap away in time as the Dark Orb explodes upon contact with the ground where he had stood only a heartbeat ago. Baring his razor sharp fangs, the white wolf circles the demon, looking for an opportunity to attack. The Elementhar now struggles to get back on his feet. Still feeling dazed, he staggers slightly as he tries to regain his composure.

  Alas, he is too slow. The demon catches sight of him, and with another spin of its body, its tail detaches from its torso and slices through the air to entwine itself on his neck. He drops to his knees, choking. His silver staff falls to the ground as he uses both his hands to free himself of his predicament.

  “Short of breath, are you? Soon you will be dead, Elementhar! I usually prefer my meals fresh but for you, I shall make a culinary exception. You should be honoured!” says the demon in a tone of false politeness.

  Seizing his opportunity, the white wolf lunges at the demon’s right calf, ripping off a mouthful of the demon’s flesh. A tortured scream fills the room as the demon falls to one knee. The white wolf circles the demon yet again.

  The Elementhar’s face is now as pale as a corpse. Slowly, he calms himself down; and forcing himself to focus, he gradually generates a steady flow of flames from both his palms towards the constricting tail. The tail burns and loosens its grip on his throat and finally falls off. The Elementhar coughs violently, and struggles to get air into his lungs.

  The white wolf executes a running leap for another attack, this time the intended target appears to be the demon’s left thigh. The demon prepares to deflect the attack by striking the white wolf in mid air with the claws from its right hand. However, at the last possible moment, the white wolf leaps sideways. A feeling of panic seizes the demon as it realises that the attack is a diversion. As the demon turns to search for the Elementhar, a flaming sphere pierces through the left side of its chest from the front and causes a burst-through explosion within it; sending flesh and blood splattering through the air. The demon’s glowing, red eyes open wide in disbelief. There are no screams of pain this time as it collapses to the ground lifeless.

  The heavy downpour had reduced to a light drizzle. The gusty wind had slowed down to a gentle breeze. Birds began chirping. Yet the silence within a large building in the centre of this town still remained. The twenty-odd townsfolk in this building stared at each other with worrisome expressions. Suddenly, the door swung open and the Elementh
ar entered along with his wolf companion.

  “Is it done? Is it dead?” enquired an old man who appeared to be the town mayor.

  “Done _ the task is of this and the demon’s head I have brought for you as proof,” said the Elementhar as he threw a cloth sack, which contained the lizard-like head of the demon, onto the table in front of the mayor.

  A mixed expression of shock and disgust filled the room.

  “Well then, a hundred gold coins as per our agreement,” said the mayor as he handed the Elementhar a pouch.

  The Elementhar took the pouch, felt its weight, peeked inside it to verify its contents and nodded his satisfaction.

  “Will there be others?” asked the mayor.

  “Demons _ there will always be of these!” answered the Elementhar coldly.

  “How can we find you if we need you again, Elementhar?” asked the mayor.

  “Find _ you cannot do of this of me, for I am merely passing through. Option _ your best of this is to send a rider to Monune White Diamond in North-western Falls Province or to Monune Grand in Fallsene City. Elementhars _ there will be of them there who can help you,” answered the Elementhar.

  And with that, both he and his wolf companion turned around and walked steadily out the door. The faintest of smiles began to creep onto the faces of the twenty-odd townsfolk. Suddenly, they burst into an expression of great relief and cheer. They turned and hugged each other with tears running down their cheeks. Finally, they have received the deliverance that all of them were praying so hard for. Finally, it has ended; this evil fate that has befallen them.

  Outside, the clouds disperse slightly. The faint glow of moonlight illuminates this obscure town. The townsfolk open their windows and doors for the first time in a fortnight. They walk out to the streets and celebrate. And they call out to the hooded man and the white wolf to join them in their joy. But the hooded man and his wolf companion just walk on…

  CHAPTER TWO

  THE NOVICE

  The constant buzzing of people’s chatter deafens the ears. It is the Tenth Noon of First Month of Wet Season in the Year 1200 of the Known Era, and the scenery at the market place of a little town called Greentown, Eastern Falls Province, is a hive of activity. A never ending maze of stalls shape this market place, offering a wide variety of food, clothes, tools, craftsmanship products and services. Hundreds of people make their way around looking for the best deals possible. In the midst of these frantic activities, an Elementhar and his white wolf companion walk steadily and calmly, their eyes’ registering the many different stalls and traders as well as their associated items and services. The Fallsian sun shines brightly up above, making them feel hot and sweaty. And the familiar vacant feeling in their stomachs reminds them that it is time for lunch.

  The Elementhar and his wolf companion sat themselves down at a long table at one of the many food stalls. No sooner had they done so, an elderly man ran out from behind the stall counter with a broom. It was clear that he intended to drive the white wolf off the table. Suddenly he felt the end of a silver staff pressing against his throat.

  “Friend _ of him, is one of mine not welcome at this table?” enquired the Elementhar in a stern voice.

  “But honourable sir, it’s an animal. It’s a beast! It isn’t a human. It has no business sitting at this table!” replied the stall owner.

  “Animal _ indeed he is one of it, and a beast he is as well, though not any different from you or me; for he feels love, compassion, happiness, gladness, weariness, pain, sorrow, anger, hunger and all manner of sensations and emotions as we all do! Ask _ I shall do of this again, is a friend of mine not welcomed at this table?” stressed the Elementhar.

  The stall owner stood frozen, either from shock or fear, no one could tell for sure.

  “N…n…no, of course not! He’s most welcome to feast at my humble stall! My dear sir, I apologize for my ignorance and inhospitality. With which dish would I relieve both your hunger?” replied the slightly quivering stall owner, who had decided not to offend the man who has the end of a silver staff to his throat.

  “Decision _ a wise one of this you have made; and a bowl of vegetarian noodles for each of us would suffice to relieve our hunger,” answered the Elementhar as he began to lower the silver staff and remove his hood.

  The stall owner hurried away to the counter where an elderly lady stood. She was the stall owner’s wife, now furious at him for allowing a wolf to sit at one of their tables. The stench and shedding, she believed, would drive all the other customers away, mess up the place and pollute the food that they served. But the stall owner told his wife to keep quiet and help him prepare the meal order. He knew better. It was never wise to be enemies with an Elementhar, particularly when the Elementhar was right. The wolf, like all animals, was no different from a human. As far as the Elementhar was concerned, it was, and still is, a human. But why so? The stall owner was unsure of this. He remembered some Receivers mentioning about souls, or what others called minds; and that they were made of pure energy. He recalled that all souls were made of the same type of energy, and that it was only the bodies in which the souls inhabited that were different, not the souls themselves. The concept was much too profound for him. What did he know? More importantly, why would he care? He was a cook, not a Receiver! Why would it matter to him!? But even as a cook, he knew enough to know that the Elementhar was right. And he also knew that he should never provoke a man who has a silver staff pressed against his throat. He asked his wife to hurry up with her part of the preparations. She gave him a scowl but she did as she was told.

  The white wolf wagged his tail as the two bowls of vegetarian noodles arrived. The Elementhar thanked the stall owner and paid him four bronze coins. Then both the Elementhar and his wolf companion began their luncheon feast. The stall owner pretended to look elsewhere as the duo feasted but his wife just stared at them with anger and frustration. It was the only thing she could do.

  The sun was setting west of Sunwarm Continent and a family of five in Sunbless Village at the outskirts of Greentown were towards the end of their daily chores. The man of the house was tilling the final patch of earth on this simple farm, using a tiller which was pulled by a buffalo. A slight smile of relief cut across his face as the long awaited rain had wet the lands and revitalised the nearby stream that was so important for the irrigation of his farm. He had fears of an extended drought that would lead to the utter destruction of his crops. Down by the tool shed, the first-born of the family, a young man of the age 13, was stowing away some of the farming equipment both he and his father had used earlier. His blond hair contrasted his fair skin which was darkened by earth and mud. Next to the tool shed was the family home; a humble building of two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. An elderly man, clearly in his seventies, sat on a chair in the living room smoking his pipe and staring into the fire-place. A little girl, of the age ten, lay on the floor playing with her doll. In the kitchen, the housewife was busy chopping up vegetables while managing a boiling stew. A few paces behind the house was a well, which served as a water source for drinking, washing and bathing.

  The housewife strode through the small living room and out the front of the house.

  “Lance! Come in! It’s almost time for dinner!” she shouted.

  “Smell’s good, mum! What are you cooking?” asked the boy as he ran in from the tool shed.

  “Meat stew and fried vegetables. Now go to the back and get cleaned up. Your father’s coming in soon, and then we can have dinner,” she replied.

  A quarter of an hour later, Lance sat by the fireplace next to his grandfather. The elderly man was staring at the flames.

  “When are you going to teach me, granddad?” asked Lance impatiently.

  “Not now! Not yet! You’re still too young and far too impatient!” replied the old man.

  “I’m not too young! Besides, what do I need patience for?” he protested.

  “A sword is a weapon, boy, not a t
oy! You need patience and you need to develop a deep sense of responsibility before you earn the right to even touch one! You could end up hurting yourself, or even worse, you could end up hurting others,” explained the old man.

  Lance stared longingly at the sword hanging by the mantelpiece just above the fireplace. The sword was sheathed in a dark brown hardwood scabbard and judging by the scabbard, should have a curved blade about the length of an average man’s arm from the shoulder to the knuckle. It has a thick silver hand-guard and a dark brown hardwood handle the length of an average man’s forearm from the elbow to the wrist. Engraved into the hardwood handle was the Fallsian Emblem, which showed a large crown on top of two converging waterfalls and beneath these, a dove on either side with its wings spread out wide, flying away from each other.

  Lance turned around to look at the old man. The dancing flames of the fireplace enhanced the wrinkles on the old man’s face, making him look much older than he was.

  “How long have you had that sword, granddad? Must’ve been at least 40 years, right?” he asked.

  “50 years, actually. It was my first and only sword. I was presented with it by the king himself when I was sworn in at the end of my training. The silver handguard signifies that it was a special issue as the standard issue ones have bronze handguards instead. The dark brown scabbard and handle signifies that I was a Provincial Guard. The Royal Guards were issued with swords that have golden yellow scabbards and handles. The Oceanic Guards were issued with navy blue ones instead. It is a good sword. I fought many battles with it. It kept me safe and alive until I retired,” answered the old man.