Mark Hagbarth

Heart of the Dragon

~The Bronze Knight~

A thunderbolt ripped through the dark sky and bathed the even darker forest in a beautiful, yet terrifying light. But only for a tiny moment. The deep, rolling sound that followed, woke me up from my deep, troubled sleep. I opened my eyes slowly and grabbed hold of a small patch of grass beside me. I clenched my fist and crushed the grass in it, pulling my legs up under me in my agony. It was not my body that hurt. Not truly. It was my heart... my young, tender heart that had just witnessed my entire life gone to ruin. Everyone had been killed. Including Linnea. Linnea... just thinking her name made my heart throb painfully like it was some mortal wound and not the organ that kept me alive. Another thunderbolt ripped the skies apart, and i rose to my feet. I stood there, swaying for a moment, gathering myself. My thoughts. I cast a single look on the broken, bloodied shortbow that had been hers. It was nearly hidden in a large patch of grass just by the lake where she and i had spent our last, happy moments together. I turned my back to the bow and started walking away. I did not know where i would end up... i had no one left. No one knew me. I had neither gold nor weapons or anything that i could sell or trade for food... I spent two days on the road without eating. I found water though; there was a small stream accompanying me and the road for some of the way. My heart was heavy with sorrow, and one day, i just couldn't go on any longer. I fell at the side of the road and couldn't, wouldn't, get up again. I gave up. After a few hours, the darkness fell upon the land and the moon started to rise. The sky was as clear as I had ever seen it before and I caught myself at laying on my back and just staring up on them, wishing for death.

Just kill me... strike me down... let a vagrant pass by and slit my throat... or let me die of hunger and thirst... My voice was but a whisper and my eyes were half closed. I had no wish to go on, live on... I was ready to die. That was when he appeared. I heard the sound of metal on metal, plate on plate... armour in movement, shifting with each step it's wearer took. The sound came from a few meters further down the road, the way I had been walking before I gave up. I turned my head towards the sound as I glimpsed something odd... a few trees and a bush blocked my vision, but I was almost certain that I had seen some strange light coming from over there... I kept watching as the sound came nearer, and there it was again! Some strange, dark orange light faintly glowing between the trees like from a lantern... but this light was odd. Unnatural. The color of it was not like the usual light coming from lanterns or candles... it was warmer, somehow. For a moment, I forgot about my pain and sorrow, and I watched the road, waiting for the stranger to show up and reveal himself and his odd light. Around the corner came a tall man clad in bronze coloured armor. A full plate with some beautiful bronze-like metal scales between it's heavy plates. The knight wore a longsword at his side, resting in a long scabbard of leather. The handle of the weapon had the same color as the mans armour, bronze. A long, flowing cloak hung from his shoulders, it's color a deep red, almost crimson. On his head, the knight wore a full-face greathelm with two narrow eyeslits. This too, was bronzecoloured. A calm, soothing light seemed to emit from the knight and I noticed a beautiful bronze ring with a small, resting on his ringfinger on his gauntlet-clad right hand. The knight turned his head towards me, and I thought I saw a hint of green eyes behind the narrow slits of his greathelm. He stopped, and crossed his arms, watching me. I just looked at him, puzzled... this man had to be a knight or a successful adventurer. Why on earth did he even care to stop and look at some broken down whelp clad in dirty clothes, laying at the side of the road just waiting to die?

Are you done crying? asked the knight. His voice sounded like it would normally be friendly, soothing and even a bit melodic. Now, though, it was harsh and sharp. Like a commander giving orders to his soldiers. I stared at him and was about to open my mouth to tell him to get lost and let me be, when he spoke again: Are you done crying for something lost, and ready to pick up a sword and do what is right instead of acting like your life is forfeit? I sat up and snapped: What the hell do you know!? I lost everything, I don't want to live anymore! Just let me be! Let me die! My life is my own to throw awa- the knight took two steps toward me, grabbed me by the collar and heaved me on my feet. He looked me right in the eyes and said: You fool Darion. Just because you lost your home and those you love does not mean that your life is worthless. Far from. Everyone has a purpose in this world, and yours is not dieing out here, alone and unknown. You will listen to me now, or I will tie you up like a pig and shove a sock into your mouth. His green eyes burned through mine, and I said not a single word. The knight didn't wait for my silence to be confirmed: Life is a gift. A blessing. You do not throw a blessing away, nor do you throw a gift away! You will live and find your purpose, Darion. And I will give you one hint... The knight let go of my collar, and I took a step back. He was taller than me, almost by a head and his very presence felt simply amazing, unbelievably powerful... like he was in fact more than just a human... Freedom. said the knight. This time with a calm, soothing voice. I looked at him, puzzled, and said: Freedom? What do you mean? He smiled then, though I couldn't see his face... but I could feel his smile, see it in his eyes. There are many people in Dasaria that has no freedom, Darion. And they need someone who will stand up for them. A Breaker of Chains... This is your destiny, and whether you do it lawfully or not is up to you, though I normally approve of what is lawful... I would have laughed, japed and walked away from the man instantly... but something in his voice kept me from doing that. Instead, I felt something in my chest... something that started filling the giant hole in my heart slowly... a purpose. If this man, this glowing, armoured knight, believed that I was capable of doing something like that, breaking the chains of all the slaves in Dasaria, he was either mad, japing... or dead serious. You will do this, but whether you succeed or not, is up to you, and the Gods. Now go, Darion Crimson... train with blade and wits and heart, and when you are ready, start your journey in the city

of Cear. You will find both enemies and allies there. I nodded, a new determination in my movement. I will not fail you... whoever you are. I said. The knight smiled again, and said: It is not me that you won't fail... it is you. And with those words, the knight clad in bronze disappeared in a bright, white flash of light. I shielded my eyes with a hand, and when the light was gone, so was the knight. In his stead, laid a backpack full of food and two waterskins. Without another word, I scooped it up,, hung it on my shoulder, and started walking. I had a new purpose... a new life... a new chance.