The Nine Coloured Paragon - Chapter 18

On the filth ridden streets of a small town, a figure lay sat draped in a black cloak, a hood covering its face.

The torrential downpour flooded the cobbled streets as the orange lights from warm and comfy taverns teased this person.

From the large frame and muscles still visible from underneath the large cloak it was obviously a man.

The occasional drunkard ran by trying to forget about the hungry wife and kids back home as they immersed themselves in the sweet embrace of Plumsworth cider, the signature produce of the town.

Under the black hood of the man, there was a pair of eyes which were seethed in angst.

The mans young face had a sharp contrast with the many jagged scars running across his face, clearly a veteran of many battles.

If one looked closely, they could see a miniature sword hanging on a rusted chain.

The man was Raziel.

Many things had happened in the past two years, and none of the happenings were good.

After the academy principal disappeared the Sunscorch Kingdom was left vulnerable to attacks.

It was besieged by the wolfish Kingdoms which formerly coveted the fertile lands of the Kingdom, however they didn’t have the power to take down the Academy Principal, Gaius.

As war broke out the academy students joined the military and Raziel was no different, battling alongside his father Ser Lothar who was a Silver Knight and one of the Kingdoms top commanders.

The bloody and brutal battles which ensued served as a whetstone to the previously inexperienced Raziel and the other academy students.

Unfortunately, the experts of the other Kingdoms banded together to take down the Sunscorch royal family.

With the higher ups gone chaos errupted, Raziel, his father and Anna fled from the country, only to be hunted like stray dogs.

Many experts were sent out because of Raziel’s father, Ser Lothar.

Being a Silver Knight, he was one of the few people who could make the people of the Sunscorch Kingdom rise up, with his strength he posed a threat to the successful annexation of the Sunscorch Kingdom.

They were chased unrelentingly, a never ending pursuit of small skirmishes and fleeing.

Many good people died trying to help them, many bad people died trying to hurt them.

Finally they realised the pointlessness of it all.

Raziel was reminded of that fateful night, a night like tonight.

Thinking of such things, he fell into a deep sleep…

There was torrential rain, a thick mud clawed at your feet as you ran down the meandering path.

Raziel, Anna and his father came to a shelter, a small cave, and started a fire.

They had eaten nothing for almost three days and were constantly on the run.

The sound of the sloshing mud made the group’s ears prick up.

Peering into the darkness of the forest, Anna quickly extinguished the fire, but it was too late.

Raziels father stood in front of the two youths gazing into the darkness, “Run. Don’t look back. I’m sorry, this is all my fault. I will atone here, tonight.”, Ser Lothar said as he drew his silver sword.

“I only ask one thing my son, do you forgive me?”

Raziel felt Anna’s cold trembling hand, he watched his fathers sturdy silhouette under the moonlight.

Raziel couldn’t help blame his father for the events these past months.

“There is nothing to forgive.”, Raziel turned, he and Anna ran and ran in the darkness a whistling came from behind them landing nearby with a thud, Anna flinched slightly but Raziel thought nothing of it, Silver energy glinted, the horrific screams of dying men and clashing of metal became more distant.

Eventually all that they heard was the downpour as it pattered on their downtrodden clothes.

The bloody blisters which had formed on their feet during the relentless march burst, but they didn’t pause for a moment.

They ran until the sun teased the horizon and the moon descended.

Stopping to catch their breaths they gazed at each other.

They were all they had left, their families, friends and homes had all died along with the Sunscorch Kingdom.

Anna panted heavily, Raziel gazed at her in concern before she began to collapse.

Catching her Raziel examined her condition, lifting a hand from her back as he crouched over her, a red stain appeared on his leather glove.

Blood.

His eyes widened as he turned her on her side only to find a bolt deeply entrenched in her back.

Her face peered up at him from the ground, no fear in her eyes as she gurgled out, “Raziel, I’ve always loved you.. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”

Raziel’s bloodshot eyes teared up, his mind in chaos.

“No. No, this can’t be happening!”, he looked at her incredulously.

“Not you too! You can’t die. I love you! Stay with me!”

Anna raised a hand with the last of her strength, she kissed Raziel with her blood soaked lips.

Before her hand fell limply to the side.

Raziel was brought back from his dream, or rather, nightmare.

He felt the warm tear on his cheek and knew it was not rain.

“Anna.”, he whispered to himself.

His broken heart flowed into his throat as he wallowed in despair.

He gazed at the dawning sky, one exactly like back then, thinking of what could have been.

Raziel was drawn back from his thoughts by the low rumble of the earth below him.

Immense vibrations caused walls to crack and buildings to collapse.

His teeth chattered as he looked around the town, people were all staring out into the skies.

A large nine coloured wave appeared in the skies met by a golden light.

If one looked closely there was a golden figure amidst the waves.

The figure darted across the sky until a “BANG”, the buildings in the town collapsed.

Raziel darted up from his seated position, standing in a clearing observing the golden figure as it flew out of sight and the golden wave dissipated.

His breathing hastened as he gazed at the nine coloured energy.

He felt an aura he recognised.

The miniature sword around his neck glowed vibrantly, but he ignored it as he recalled the strange man who visited him.

Before all these awful happenings that man gifted him the sword which had allowed him to survive the past two years.

Without it, he would have likely died.

Unknowingly, Raziel had clenched his fists in agitation.

Strength, he needed strength.

In this world, power was the only truth.

With strength he could avenge those who had died.

Averting his eyes and thoughts from the heavens he glanced around the downtrodden town.

People had lost their livelihoods but Raziel didn’t care, they had only treated him with scorn.

To gather strength, he needed a teacher and he had one person in mind.

Departing from the town Raziel had an idea to get the mans attention.

Raziel strode into a secluded waterfall before removing his damp outer cloak.

He then proceeded to carefully remove the sword before laying it on a rock.

Channeling his strength as a Magic Knight into the sword he connected to the consciousness within.

Only after becoming a Magical Knight could he communicate with the weapon spirit.

It had never mentioned anything about its previous owner, but this was Raziel’s only connection with the expert.

He had nothing to lose.

“I wish to become your previous Master’s disciple, Archaius.”

The sword lit up with a glowing light as it didn’t answer the question, but instead replied, “There are numerous enemies approaching, prepare yourself.”

Raziel was startled, quickly he activated Archaius turning to face the forest with his back to the waterfall.

“Hoho so you are sharp after all, Raziel, son of Lothar.”, An upright man adorned in a set of shiny plate mail with intricate carvings.

Three or four men covered in similar carvings, with many crosses and archaic symbols covering their armour stood out from the foliage.

“The Swords of the Gods? What would a bunch of warrior priests want with me?”, Raziel was bewildered by their pursuit.

“Hoho, we received news that a demonic artefact was in your possession and from the looks of it,”, the warrior priest gestured towards Archaius with coveting eyes.

“You must pay for the damage you have caused with your blood, only then will you receive forgiveness.”, another warrior priest spoke out, as if Raziel’s death was only the natural course of things.

Raziel knew these guys weren’t to be messed with.

He had to strike decisively, lunging forth to the foremost priest Archaius flared with bloodlust.

As if expecting the sudden attack a loud cacophony of laughter broke out from the warrior priests, “As expected of a heathen! No honour!”, they said each drawing white glowing blades, these were the signature weapons of the group.

The Swords of the Gods.

***

As they battled, in a distant place Jianyu had finished restoring the Soft-Slaughter Sisterhood.

Just at the moment of his departure with Xiaoling in tow, the voice of one of his soul treasures sounded in his mind.

Archaius.

Archaius was on a mission for him, in an effort to gain a powerful disciple the sword would refine the boy, Raziel’s mindset and drive in order to create a good seed.

“Master, the boy is ready. His will has steeled and his thirst for power has been ignited.”

“You have done well Archaius”, Jianyu replied.

Jianyu traced the final karmic bond connecting him with that planet, his eyes pierced through the millions of kilometers between them to see Raziel soaked in a bloody battle with Archaius by his side.

Jianyu smiled brightly observing the boy, his smile widened more and more as he watched on.

When he originally encountered Raziel, the reason he was so confident in him was because he reminded him of himself as a youth.

In fact, the similarities were uncanny.

Noticing her fathers peculiar expression, Xiaoling questioned, “What’s wrong Father?”.

“Hahaha, whats wrong? Soon you will have someone to talk to. I will be taking in a disciple!”, Jianyu laughed, it was truly a time to rejoice.

As Jianyu watched, Raziel faced the toughest tribulation of his life…

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