Chapter 3

 Five nights had passed since Limiria had told Thalorian who ordered the attack on his village, Hirenlia. The flames of hate had not faded from his heart. Every day of training was torture, every ounce of mana used was another portion of mana he couldn't unleash on the Crown, each second he waited was another second of life the fool of a king had, he had to strike now the Crown needed to die. His body tensed as he squeezed the mattress of the bed he’d been sleeping in, at an old place called The Bailenshire Inn.

“Get up you log, we’re starting the attack today,” said Limiria, tired. Her black hair was a mess, obviously Limiria was up all night training. Finally, I get to kill the bastard who destroyed everything I know and love! Thalorian got out of his bed and grabbed his stuff, already dressed, ready to attack at any moment, Thalorian was ready and he wanted more than anything for the Crown to suffer. Suffer as much as he did. For everything the Crown had ever loved to be destroyed and burnt to the ground as if it was just an ignorant bug in the path of an elephant.

Limiria tossed a cloak at Thalorian. It had a dark fabric with silver shoulder plates on the top left and right corners. Each shoulder plate had a red dragon biting its tail with a strange symbol in the center of the dragon, it was a semicircle with three lines coming out of the top of the line and a small circle in the center. “Wear that, and tell the book to go to the page about weapons,” said Limiria.

Thalorian gazed at the monstrous hump of stone and glass that was The Crown's castle. “How could a person even find their way through that thing?” muttered Thalorian to himself.

“You ready?” Limiria asked to Thalorian. Turning her head to look at him.

“Yeah, let's kick this bastard's ass,” said Thalorian, already walking towards the castle. Their, or rather Limiria’s, plan was simple: sneak up the back of the castle, break into the castle room through the window and kill the Crown. Of course what kind of story would this be if there weren't complications.

“Havess nok Shuma,” Thalorian chanted quietly, reading a spell from The Eternal Balance.

“Perfect,” whispered Limiria while standing on a wall. Thalorian heard the thumping of Limiria's feet on the wall slowly ascending the deadly stone staircase that was the castle.

“Hey wait up!” said Thalorian running up the wall with her.

“You should probably get a weapon ready,” said Limiria plainly.

“Why? We’re not inside yet,” said Thalorian, confused.

“Because of them,” Limiria said, pointing up towards some gargoyles that were racing at them with their teeth bared and their giant elephant tusks of teeth creating sparks as they raced.

“Vael’tharos taal,” chanted Thalorian pulling a sword out of the book.

Sparks flew as Thalorian's blade clashed with the hard stone of the gargoyles. Thalorian kept swinging, each hit being easily countered by the tough skin of the gargoyles. Thalorian narrowly dodged a slash from one of the monsters, the claws barely missing his skin. I’m not helpless anymore, I can do this! Thalorian thrust his sword up into the cold hard stone blocking his path with every ounce of power in his body. He heard a crunch, No! This time I wont lose!! Thalorian looked up and saw it, a broken pile of dust, stone, and magical runes.

Thalorian glanced to the side to see if Limiria had dispatched her gargoyle, but she wasn’t there. Thalorian checked all around him and saw that Limiria was already halfway up the wall. Damn how is she that fast? “Zephra Elia!” shouted Thalorian, firing a gale of wind from his hands, rocketing himself up the wall and instantly catching up with Limiria. “How the hell did you kill that thing so fast?” asked Thalorian.

“My sword is enchanted with a strengthening spell, basically allowing it to cut through steel with ease,” said Limiria ,gesturing to the katana strapped to her back. “Hell, if I wanted to I could cut through diamond,” said Limiria, glancing back at Thalorian. Looking back at the sky, Limiria said, “Prepare to smash through some glass,” Bracing for impact, the two of them crashed through the window of the throne room of the castle.

“Ah, our esteemed guests have arrived,” said a tall man with spiked navy blue hair, a long sword strapped to his side, and the symbol of The Crown in the center of his chestplate.

“Aw crap they're here,” muttered Limiria under her breath.

“Who are “they”,” asked Thalorian, gesturing to the five people in front of them, instantly recognizing the man who destroyed his village.

“They, are the five leaders of the Fifty Knights of The Crown,” said Limiria, “Their names are Hanz Maximillian Von Forensberg, Herald Wirinthon, Byron Colesgate, Lilith Himinia, and Charlotte Lillania Masonberg,”

“Ah, an old friend joining us once more,” said the knight known as Herald, while smirking at Limiria. “Except this time she's not leaving, she's killing, or at least trying to kill,” smirked Herald.

They know Limiria, and Limiria knows all of them, does that mean that… no it couldn’t was she one of them? It doesn’t matter now she must of quit or something, can you even quit The Fifty Knights. Focus Thalorian Focus!

“Thalorian attack in 3… 2… 1… Now!” whispered Limiria as quiet as she could.

“Voltis Elia!” screamed Thalorian firing a giant blast of lightning at the knights and The Crown. The man named Hanz jumped in front of The Crown blocking any damage that came to him. After the smoke faded The Crown said, “Limiria I thought about giving you another chance but now… no no I think you should die,” slowly raising his finger The Crown said, “attack,”

The knights were in front of Thalorian before he could even blink. He felt immense pain in his stomach and he was sent flying back into the wall behind him. Ow… that really hurt. Getting back on his feet Thalorian rushed past the other knights and swung his sword at Byron. Byron easily blocked with his giant sword. Retaliating, Byron brought his blade into the air and brought it down upon Thalorian. He narrowly dodged the blade and stone flew all over the place. “Terris!” screamed Thalorian, sending all of the stones right back at Byron. Each stone made a tink noise as they bounced off Byron's thick armour. “Bastard!” screamed Thalorian finding a gap in between the plates in Byron's armour and thrust his sword in. Thalorian’s blade was covered in blood when he pulled it out.

“Damn you!” screamed Byron, the light leaving eyes.

“Ba’ra Lo’ri Shu’nown Hak’sha!” screamed someone on the other side of the room. Suddenly Byron's wound sealed and he got back up.

“I thought I killed you,” muttered Thalorian looking at the dead man who suddenly got back.

“We’ll you thought wrong, ant,” said Byron, swinging his sword with all of his might.

At the last second Thalorian shouted, “Aress!” The blade stopped just before it blew off Thalorians head off.

“Thalorian, we obviously can’t fight the five strongest knights in The kingdom by ourselves, I know this isn’t like me but… retreat!” screamed Limiria across the room trying to get Thalorians attention. No I can’t retreat, I can’t give up, I have to kill him- no… all of them now! Begrudgingly Thalorian ran toward the window dodging the swings of the other five knights in the room.

“Why’d You Make Us Retreat!” shouted Thalorian, angry at Limiria, “we had it, I killed one of them!”

“He let you kill him! That's how Byron works, he likes to toy with his enemies, especially ones he knows he could defeat without a doubt in mind!” Limiria shouted back.

“How do you know all of this!” Thalorian screamed at Limiria.

“Because I was one of them! I was the Second Knight of the Crown, I quit because I realized the Crown was an idiot, there that's the truth,” said Limiria, getting quieter with each line.

“You were one of them, one of the monsters that just destroy everything and anything,” said Thalorian, his voice shaking.

“While I’m at it I may as well tell you that Byron is my brother, my name is Limiria Colesgate takes this as my reintroduction,” said Limiria sourly.

Thalorian felt like the wind was knocked out of him. The person who had trained him and promised him revenge on the Crown was one of them. One of the people who did not query if destruction was wrong. She was a monster, but a monster with answers.