Chapter 10. Dawn and Dusk

Well being here sucks, there is a dark elf here that's really nice, he's a healer. You might be wondering why I figured out he's a healer. Well you see the elf that wants me to fight in the tournament has been beating me day after day, I'm blindfolded so I can't see and my body hurts. I can't tell what he's hitting me with, but it feels like metal, solid metal. hitting my body, I'm starting to believe that my life consists of me being the body bag. I mean so many times I felt like I was gonna die and nothing has come, and I fear that I won't be saved from here, wherever here is.

"Anything"

I can't talk, I mean he knows I have a gag in my mouth, so all I can do is just get hit by his stupidity and gesture to him I can't

"Oh right, remove the rope from his mouth"

"Yes sir… done sir"

"Anything?"

I take a breath "no"

"Ugh, we've been here 4 days, the tournament is soon, you need to learn it"

"Is there any other way for me to learn the name? Other than through a ridiculous amount of pain?"

"I mean you can mediate and maybe the name will come to you, but other than that I don't know"

"Wait, I could have just thought about it, I could have found out its name. I swear when I break free I'm killing you."

I try to break free but my arms are chained to the wall he's got me strapped to. I'm barely covered and my body hurts from this mad man. Punching, kicking, whipping. everything to hurt me, but nothing that would work to reach his goal

"Ah ah ah" waves his finger in my face like I'm a non sentient being"if you could get out. Remember we have a tournament to attend too soon, you will compete with me. Know your place, child."

"If your already competing then why do you need me"

He stands silently, I make eye contact with the healer tending to my broken foot, he asks me if I wanted to cover my eyes or watch and I choose to cover, and the next thing I feel is my foot being shattered. From a hammer. A rock, I can not tell and then pull off my toe nails. He got tired of my screaming and put a rope in my mouth to shut me

"I need you to compete."

"Why?"

Silent again. Look away, the ground, the wall. The ceiling. And then

"So i can have fun, thats why"

And then he starts to walk away

"Hey, while I'm hanging here, literally. wanna tell me what your weapon and name is?"

"I won't tell you the weapon, but I will tell you its name. My weapon's name is Ground breaker, Rumble."

"Rumble?"

"Yes. appropriate if you ask me"

"It sounds like a dumb na-"

 He knocks me out with his fist, hitting my temple and i couldn't even fight back

"Finally. Some peace and quiet he. Heal him up, i wanna hurt him for insulting my weapons name"

"Yes sir"

"Oh, and stop making him go numb, I need him to suffer, so he knows who is the boss."

"Yess-"a

And he kicks him in the ribs, and send him to fly

He inhales deeply "wow, today has been great"

After some time, i wake up, and i'm no longer in the dark room, but floating in the sky,

"Oh, i must be dreaming"

I'm flying through the clouds in my mind, but it feels so real, the wind in my face, the cold from being so high, I feel like a bird, but I'm not flapping my arms, I'm just doing it, it feels so natural. I can't stop, I won't stop, I'm gonna ride this out as long as I can. Eventually the sun went down but that honestly made it better, the sun was hurting my eyes. The stars lit up the sky, and I was laying on a cloud, watching stars shoot past in the sky, I felt like I could go to the moon. I love this moment, I feel alive, I feel free.

I lost track of where I was flying while I was singing, I just closed my eyes and hoped I didn't hit a mountain. And after time, I rest. I rest my mind, and my lungs, I rest my body, and as my body rests, my ideas and thoughts catch up from following me. I follow the path that I had taken without realizing it, but I land at a floating castle. It's small, maybe enough room for 5 people. It reminds me of a tree fort but made out of stone of course

"Hey, anyone here?

A silent response

"Oh ya, its my dream, I can do anything i want"

I float towards the castle door, and I place my hands on it to push. But it isn't budging though. I'm pushing with all my might. I float back. It doesn't have a handle so I can't pull it. And there's weird writing all around the door and the entire castle.

"This is my dream, I can open it with my mind… right ?

After the doors refused to listen to me, I decided to fly back, so I could get as fast as I could.

"Okay…. 3…..2…..1 AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH"

I fly face first into the door. It didn't move

"Isn't this my dream, why is it not working?"

"A dream, who said this was a dream"

I look above me, and there's a man, holding two swords. He's big, very very big. His body is solid muscle, like he worked his whole life and never stopped working. His skin is smooth, and has a soft tan to it, he's lighter skin than me. His hair is long and black, it goes past his hips, and he's wearing a mask, it's all black, with red, gold and white accents around the eyes, the mouth, and cool designs, like a crown. He has on black and red pants, and holding two swords. They look the same, like opposite, one with a gold hilt, white blade and gold edges, there's what seems like words on the back, but I don't understand them. The other one is all black, with a red edge and a red hilt. The writing on it is different from the golden one. I can't see what it says but it looks amazing

"You've been bothering me ever since you entered here."

"Who are you?"

"Im mhkīçé2hjkld1æ" i couldn't here his name"i'm your sword"

" wait so i'm not dreaming"

"No… well kinda, we are in your mind. A subconscious, the materialization of your mind. It controls you and you influence it. But you are very wierd

"why am I weird"

"look around here, you must not think in order for this place to be so empty"

" Look I don't need this right now, what do you want?"

"I wanna fight, isn't obvious. I wanna see if I picked right"

" Picked right"

" Ya I chose you"

"why did you choose me"

"You're weak. Very weak. I wanna watch you become something…. Magnificent"

Who is This guy? He seems strong but I have no idea who he is.

"So you choose me because I'm weak?

"look I'm dead, I've been dead, I wanna have fun"

"Oh"

"Ya"

"am i gonna die?"

"maybe"

"Oh"

"Ya"

"So what do you wanna do"

He tossed me his sword

"Well what do you think"

"Um, use these to cook a delicious meal with chicken, pineapple, onion, and other fruits and or vegetables?"

He stands up there, looking me down.like I'm a child, who broke something.  He reaches behind him, what's he got, a knife, why would he have a knife. He has 2 huge swords in front of him. Is it another weapon? A fricken fireball for all I know. 

" You're not gonna kill me for that…. Are you"

And he pulls out a bottle, he bites the cork and spits it up. And then he starts chugging it

" What is that?"

" Alcohol, or atleast my version"

"Why, don't you wanna fight?"

" I'm drinking it cause I'm thirsty, it's been so long since I've had some. And i can drink myself to death, and you won't be able to beat me"

Someone's confident.

" Are you ready?" he sticks out his arm with the jug and the cork he spit. Lands perfectly in the hole

" Well not after that, how did you do that"

" Shut it"

" No seriously, can I do that? Can you teach me?"

And the next thing I know is he is in front of me, swinging his blade from his left hand. I think he's aiming for my neck. Out of fear I drop the blade and raise my arms

Swish.

The blade stops. It's barely touching my arm. And the man is looking at me furiously

" You imbecile. This is a blade. A tool. I could slice through a mountain with ease, and you think your arm is gonna stop it?"

" I'm 16, I'm not use to people swing a sword at me"

" Look at this weapon"

He pulls the one I dropped to his hand like it was attached to him. 

" Hold it. Feel it. Look at it. Understand it. What do you see? What do you feel."

It's cold. The hilt is soft. With a red chain hanging from the bottom. And as I see it I see the lettering was pounded in. And the edges of the blade is a light golden glow. And red is splattered though the blade. As if it wasn't made like this, but as if it came from blood

" What do you feel"

" I feel… like this is a waste of time"

 And with that he swings his sword down on my head. Chink. I, without realizing it. Blocked his attack, but the force of his swing, a swing that could cut a mountain. Splits the sky below us.

"Do you feel it now?"

I felt confused. How did I block that, this is my first time even wielding a sword, was it my reflexes? I had no idea they where that fast

" I feel… alive"

" Good, like to see your tiny heart ain't weak"

We start to laugh. But I can tell mine is out of fear and he is because he has nothing to fear.

" Now, you swing"

" I… how do I do that."

He grabs his blade. Both hands on the hilt.

" Make sure your edge is facing your target, you should never see the edge, and the back of the blade on an attack. If so, then that means that you swing loses power and the blade becomes more fragile and like bend or break"

I hold my blade in front of me, once I put my second hand I thought I heard something whisper my name. Zeph… Zeph. But I must have been imagining it. 

" Where do you want to hit me?"

" Um idk, where can I hit you."

" If you can hit me, anywhere. But find a spot, focus on it. Try to see how far away it is. And look at your arm and the length of your blade. You never want to hit it on the very top of your blade because it's easy to miss and easy to block. If I were you I would try to hit me lower on your blade. And swing"

I hold the blade. And slowly float towards him

And I try to swing but I lose my balance and fall. I'm in the sky, how do I lose my balance.

" Up, get up. Stand up straight, knees bent, your dominant hand over your other hand on the hilt. And bring it above you, like a fishing rod."

I do as he says and it feels weird but what do I know, he's the one who has 2 swords

" You never want to stay in this position for long, because it is very hard to block an incoming attack, and I could easily stab through you"

I don't like the idea of me dying in this Position

" Once you are ready, swing down. Take a step if you need to keep your balance"

I do what he says and I bring the sword down from above my head, out in front of me. And then above his head, and he blocks it. 

" Good, but be faster, stronger, and have more in control."

I did it again.

" Again"

Repeat

"Again"

Repeat

"Again,again, again"

Every time he talks I hear the clang of me swinging down. Over. And over. And over. And over. I can't hear his voice anymore, all I hear is a voice in my head. Attack. Attack. And the more I swing the more I realize how dark the world around us is turning. Not like a night sky but like a black paint, that was splattered against a once beautiful canvas. 

" Stop"

And I stop my swing. A few inches away from his head.

"We are done for, your emotions getting the best of you"

And I stop. And breath, my arms were starting to hurt, but I enjoyed this. It was fun, I have never held a weapon and I like the way it feels in my hand. And the more relaxed I became, the black started to fade away. And eventually the black turned into light

" Hey, I'm ready to go again"

" Okay but first, you're about to wake up. If you can enter your subconscious again, we can continue where we left off"

" What if I don't come back?"

" Then you will die soon"

And just like that my eyes, not even blinking, changed the background of the sky back into the temple. I'm breathing hard as if it was actually using my body.

" Hello there Zeph, welcome back, how was your little nap"

" Better than the name of your blade"

Smack

" Agian"

Clang

"Repeat"

Clang

"Repeat"

Clang

"Repeat"

"Harder. Swing harder. Left right, left right left right, it's a rhythm, you must master the rhythm"

" This is a lot harder than the first thing we tried"

" It's because it's a lot more important. You must be able to attack the sides of your opponent, to force them into a corner"

Clang

Clang

Clang

Dark

"Stop"

Light

Awake

" You better not say anything about the name of my blade again"

" I won't. But can I mention how big your forehead is "

Smack

"Again"

"Again"

"Again"

"Again"

Clang 

Clang

Clang

Dark

"Stop"

Light

Awake

" How was that nap, I hope you learned your lesson"

" I learned you smack like a my elderly grandma that died before I was born"

Smack

"Again"

Shink

"Again"

Shink

"Again"

Shink

"There will be people who will try to kill you, so you must learn how to block. It will not only save you in battle. But it will allow you to master the fight and can lead to you never once getting injured. That's if you are well trained enough"

"Again"

Shink

"Again"

Shink

"Again"

Black

Stop

Light

My body hurts. My brain feels like it's melting, and my lungs burn from deep chilly breaths

" Well I think you got the basics down. But you definitely need more work"

" I can work on it…. If I survive in 3 days"

"What's in 3 days?"

"My execution"

Swing

Swing

Swing

I look to my right. And I see myself. Bent over and hands tied behind my back. And I keep watching someone cut my head off

"Whose killing you?"

"The elf king"

And then there he appears, out of thin are. I see him standing near my body, holding a huge axe. My death keeps repeating in my head. Like it's on a constant loop. No blood. No screams. Only the sound of a sharp blade cutting through flesh.

"Hmmmm… wait."

He walks over to the king and looks at his face

"Is this little eeto?"

" You know him?????"

" Not only do I know him, I fought his father from time to time. And the king was a strong person."

" Wait, I have a question. What are sprites? And how can elves uses there powers"

" Hmmm. Well have you heard of Rofona"

" I think I have. What is she"

" She's a god, she was the first person if not only person in history to merge her soul with a familiar, and in doing so. Reached an enlightened state and has lived for thousands of years, no one knows where she is or what she looks like. But all souls travel to her for judgement."

" But what are sprites"

" Sprites are souls who she has seemed fit enough to be merged with a familiar, and are then gifted to help people"

" But why only elves, there are other nations. I imagine that sprites don't go there"

" Well Rafona was an elf, she is biased of course. And if other nations got the power of sprites, it could drastically change the power balance between every nation in the world."

Well that makes sense, but I have so many more questions

" How can elves uses there sprites powers"

" Well from what the previous king had told me, Rofona is the only one who can merge a human soul, to a familiar. But since a sprite is a human soul and a familiar, it's able to merge with another soul. But the effects are dangerous"

" How so"

" Well if you overwork the sprite, you will die. If your sprite finds you unfit and you are merged, it will leave the bond and you will die. Sprites also have natural enemies for every kind she makes, she makes one that is opposite of it like water and fire. Or air and rock, it's the only way for there to be balance, you may be strong against one. But will be crushed ease against another"

It's hard to believe but it kinda makes sense. I mean at least in the world. No one can just merge with their familiar, and use it's powers, but if a soul and a familiar are already merged, I imagine it would be much easier. But how is Rofona a god?

" Are there other gods"

" Yes, a few"

" How did they become gods"

They were the strongest people of their time, and where chosen by Apex"

" Whose "Apex"?

" The thing that made this world"

"Also how old are you, if you knew eeto as a child, you must be very old."

"Well what year is it?"

"4,021"

"Well then I've been dead for…. 500 years?"

" That explains why I don't know anything of you, you're too old"

"Haha, very funny, maybe I should have not helped you, and you should be nice, I was nominated to become a god"

And he stands there, arms crossed and even though he is wearing a mask, I can sense the proud look of someone bragging.

" Uh huh, sure, why were you nominated"

" Because I was the greatest swordsman alive. And I believe I will beat anyone today"

" I hope so, if you turn out to be a fake, I will die way too quickly then."

We stand still. And with nothing around us it was hard to talk. And it we are in my mind, I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned the question I have

" What's your name, or your weapon's name? And what do you look like? I have no idea what

" I will not say, I feel like you are not worthy yet. But I will give you my nickname, will that do?"

" Well the dark elf says I need to know your name and the weapons name to use them in the shadow blade tournament."

" My nickname will do just fine, are you ready for it"

" I swear if it's bad like the dark elves I'm not talking to you anymore"

I start to laugh at my amazing joke but the man in front of me looks confused.

" You can call me… Dawn & Dusk, that is my nickname"

".... Why? That seems very contradicting"

"... Leave before I kill you"

I laugh at him. I think that was him trying to be funny, but it was still very threatening. He pulls out his bottle and does the same, biting the top off and drinking it. He is swallowing it down as if he's a camel in the desert

" So do you think I will be strong?"

" Do you want to be strong?"

" To be honest, I don't know what I want. If I'm strong I won't hate it, but all I really want is happiness"

He looks, his eyes are a brownish green, and they are staring me down, reading me. A book of pictures I felt and he was just going through me like I was nothing

" If happiness is what you want, then you will be strong. If happiness is what you are in pursuit for, then strength will come. Just like many other important matters will come too."

Thank you, I don't know your name, or much about you. Other than you could kill me with ease, and that you think I'm incredibly weak. I thank you for not laughing at my dream.

And every question I ask, another plagues my mind. It's just so hard to believe the world that he is describing, and the world I have lived in. It Sounds different. 

" When will I know your name"

" When I'm convinced that you are worthy"

" What can I do to get stronger? Practice? Eat certain foods?"

" Those will help, but the most important way to get stronger. Wither it be with your and my swords, or with your familiar, you must fight"

"I understand"

" You can use your weapons for whatever you want. Save a child in peril, or be the cause of it. I do not care or judge you, but from entering your mind, I believe you I'll help others''

" Thank you"

" But you're… Strange, there's something off"

" What do you mean, if you say my head is empty again I'm really just gonna head out.?"

But he stands there. Silent and then suddenly he turns around and flies. I think he wants me to follow, but what is there to show me. It's my mind, what couldn't he tell me something I don't know.

We fly shortly and he stops in front of the castle, but it's changed. The tiny castle, with not even the size of a house. Had now grown in size. The bricks are black, pitch black. And I touch the bricks, freezing cold. The writing on it also grew bigger

He goes up to the walls and touches it. And he looks bewildered at it. He turns to me and ask

" What is this?"

" What do you mean, didn't you make this?"

"When I entered your body, it was already here. It's been growing ever since you started fighting me"

" Do you have any idea what it is?"

" I do, but I don't know why you have it"

" What… what is it, I wanna know. Please tell me"

" It's a seal."

" How do you know it's a seal?"

"I've never seen anything like this before. But look at this writing. Nothing human could make that. But it feels familiar In some way, I have a hunch that it's supposed to keep something locked up"

" Like what"

" I do not know"

A mysterious castle. Keeping something hidden or surprised. Inside of my mind. Inside of my soul. I'm so confused.

We stand and continue to look at it.

" Should I name it?"

" What…. Why would you…. How did you even think of that?"

" Imma call it unknown"

" Oh my, why are you doing this"

I make a sign out of my mind. A simple wooden one, with easy to read writing. And I made gum glue appear in my mind, I slather it on the back of the sign. And place it on the castle

Surprisingly the sign did stick and with it I have now named this mysterious seal or flying castle as I see it, as unknown. 

I clap my hands and smack them together, like one does when he works hard and is done. I mean sure it's a sign, but it takes a lot of work making it even.

He sighs.  

" Why did I choose you"

" I don't know. Remember, I'm weak. That's your lousy excuse"

He doesn't reply, did I stump him? Haha loser. Get owned

" Hey Zeph"

Was that Sol? Me and… god do I really have to call him Dawn & Dusk. Either way, we look to where it was coming from. We look left and right, and nothing is there. And then. I see it. It's sol, running. In the sky towards us, yelling my name

" Who is that?" 

" Oh he's… idk know yet, I think we are friends"

" Oh. Why is he here?"

" Idk, I didn't think of him"

" Oooo I get it."

" What is it?"

" Your being rescued"

" What how do you know" 

" Well he's yelling at you, go wake up and get out of that place"

" really?"

" I can't stop you, and if you get out then you can try and save yourself, remember?"

" Right right, imma die soon, okay imma head out then"

I wave at him but he stops me before I do and say 

" Okay, but before you go I got something to say"

" Awwww. I get it, I know I'm pretty amazing and you're gonna miss me and what not, but just know. I won't forget you"

" That's not it, you can't use the swords in the real world"

" What?!?!?!?!!"

" Okay bye"

"What?!?!?!?!"

I wake up and I see Sol standing on top of me, I'm on the ground.

" Zeph wake up we need to get out of here"

"What?!?!?!?!??!?"

" Oh hey, get up we need to go"

" What's going on"

" We are breaking you out dummy"

" How did you find me?"

" Oh Soa did that, but we will explain it later"

" Oh Soa, how is she?"

" She's good, she's really good. Dude, I had no idea how strong she was"

" Why what happened?

" Dude… she's kicking ass"

I crank my neck up, because for some reason Sol hasn't freed me yet, but I see her. She's on top of a guy's head, holding him down and kicking 5 others in the face, like she's a table top.

" Okay, get up, we need to get you out of here"

" I can't, if I could don't you think we wouldn't be in this situation"

" Do you know where the key is for the chains?"

I'm so bewildered by his question, I can't help but imagine his head must be full of calcite apes. tryna figure out how to use a stick as a weapon, or to scratch there nasty asses with. I spit on you good sir.

" Why are you staring me down, and ew why did you spit on me?"

"IF I KNEW WHERE THE KEY WAS, DON'T YOU THINK I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU ALREADY"

" Zeph calm down, I'm just tryna help, you act like you've been hit in the head a dozen times"

" You can't be serious"

"But hey, since you don't have a key, I have to carry you out with the cross"

" You. You can't be serious"

"Dead serious"

" But, but why can't you break it?"

" If I do that I could break you. Look, we don't have time for this. Hey Soa once your done help me get him out"

I look at her and she's standing in a pile of bodies, I don't even see a bead of sweat on her. Soooo hot

" Why, you're more than strong enough to carry him out"

" I know that's but what if I'm carrying him out and someone attacks us?"

" Throw Zeph at them"

" Objection"

" That's a good idea, I didn't think of that"

" No"

" And the more I think about it, if I do throw him, he will finally be useful"

" Stop it"

" Okay Soa"

 He picks me up and starts to carry me in his back, the cross and all

" Hey put me down, is anyone listening to me?"

And all I hear is both of them in sync say " no"

" Guyssssss, this is not fair"

" We do not care"

He starts to run, he's moving really fast for someone with a person and a wooden cross on their back, and this is so uncomfortable, I feel like I'm getting a massive splinter in my butt. And it's to bumby, I can't speak without shaking

"HeeeYYyYyYyyyY, CaaaAAan YoUuuUUoOoOu SllLOOow DooOOoowwWnnm"

" Can't, already done to much, we need to get out of here as fast as we can" 

We run left, then right, right and left, left and right. I feel like we are lost. I had no idea this place was so big and confusing

" Soa, where too?"

" 2 more right and a left"

" Okay sounds good"

Sol follows what she says, and surprisingly she was right. Sol jumps up and kicks through the door and we are finally outside of that old, dusty, and musty Temple.

" Where do you think you're going?"

On top of the temple, is the dark elf that's been torturing me for the past four day. His outfit is different, he's wearing loose dark green robes and loose grey pants.and his hair is up, in a ponytail with 2 long strands on each side of his face.

" Taking this loser with us, why do you ask?"

" Cause I need him"

" We can't do that"

" I never asked if you could or couldn't"

He takes a step forward and I can barely see him up there. He stepped in front of the sun and it was too bright. I see something is in his hands but I can't tell what it is. I bet he is smiling up there. He hops off the temple's peak, but the sun, I can't see him.

" Where did he go?"

" Hey, we should get out of here, if you can't remember I'm stuck on top of you"

" Ya I know, but where did he go?"

" I'm here"

And he appears above me, smiling. A smile of pear joy. And I look at his hands and I see he's holding something long and metal. And I try finding the end of it and I see it. He, he, he has a War Hammer. A large hammer with a long spike on the back. Aiming straight for me.

" Ah ah ah. Remember what I said, know your place, you insufferable fool!!!!"

And he strikes the hammer, hitting me right on the stomach. His attack not only hit me, but completely destroyed the cross I was on. And hit Sol as well. I'm flying through the air, trying to breathe. And I hit the ground and slid towards the temple. I was so close too. I could feel it. But now all I feel is my insides exploding. I need… we need.

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