The Shadow of Amulets

Camp Felgraze

Link's POV

After about 20 seconds the burst of light stopped and it returned into the Amulet. We stood there silent for a moment realising the situation. "What was that!!!?? That was insane!" Alaan said completely star-struck. "That's the same thing that happened when I found my Amulet," I said in a serious tone. "There must be some sort of connection between these" Elvia proposed. "But that doesn't matter now! We need to flee from this area. It would be impossible to have not seen the burst of light. No doubt others are coming here as we speak. We must move now!" She explained.

"I think there's something your need to tell Elvia. Like how you came to know the whereabouts of this Amulet and what you plan to do next" Alaan said slowly.

Elvia looked at me and Alaan for a few moments. I didn't know if trusted her enough to tell her about the dreams... "I had a vision telling me to find this Amulet..." Elvia said slowly. "It wouldn't leave me, it kept happening so I knew I had to go and find it" she added. I looked at her for a moment in surprise. "That sounds similar to the dreams I kept getting telling me to find this Amulet," I said. "Oh yeah, your right Link. You were having dreams and now she's having visions? This is crazy" Alaan said.

"I think it's safe to say she's telling the truth, so we should leave now before others arrive" I propose.

We all agree and then take off immediately. As we were running through the woods, we ran silently to avoid people hearing if they were near. It was 20 minutes since we left the Elder Forest. "Link, I wanted to ask you something?" Elvia said as we were running. "What is it Elvia?" I reply. "I was thinking about the visions I was experiencing and the dreams you had. Do you ever think the vision or dream you had means something? She said. I was silent for a moment and then spoke." It's pretty much been on my mind this whole time. I thought I was only affecting me but to my surprise, you had a similar experience so there is a connection" I say with a serious tone.

After about an hour of running through the forest, we decided it was far enough. "I'm pretty sure the others won't run through the forest for an hour as we did so I think we're safe," Alaan said out of breath on the ground. "This will do for now, but I can't really tell where we are," Elvia said. "I don't recognise this area at all" I added.

"Well, well...who do we have here," a stranger said appearing out behind a tree. We immediately turn towards him completely oblivious of his presence. "I didn't even hear him," I say in my head.

"Two Archers and a Knight, now that is strange. Who might you all be if I may ask?." the stranger said.

"Not until you tell us who the hell you are and how you were here without us knowing Mr Mysterio" Alaan replied.

The stranger looked quite aged. Most likely in his 30s and he had a strange-looking bow.

"You don't look like harmful people so I'll tell you. My name is Valence" he said. "And my camp is very close so if you want to join me, your all very much obliged" he finished.

"Should we trust him. He doesn't seem like he would harm us" Elvia said looking at both of us. "Well I guess we have no choice, and besides it would be a fun scenario if he were to end up capturing us," I say excitedly. "Oh my gosh, you just read my mind Link. I was so hoping for him to be a psychotic murderer" Alaan said with glittering eyes.

"You two are something else you know that," Elvia said with a sigh.

We all turned to Valence. "Thank you for your invitation. We would love to join" I say formally. "Fantastic!. Well no use standing out here in the cold, follow me" he said as he pointed at us to follow in his direction.

After 5 or so minutes we passed a series of small woods to arrive at his camp.

"And here we are. Camp Felgraze is what it's called". "Felgraze huh, sounds pretty evil." Alaan added in. "That's an interesting sword you have there. It certainly was made by someone special" Valence said as he admired Alaan's sword. "Your damn right it's special. It's the best gift I could have ever gotten" Alaan replied with a grin.

We went to the centre of the camp where we met a rather old man. "This is the master. He's the one who found this camp and kept it alive until today." Valence said as he introduced him. "It seems you have brought friends here Valence. Where did you find them?" the old man asked.

"Found then near the outskirts, they mean no harm, they're just travelling" Valence replied. "Well then, you're more than welcome to stay here," the old man said.

"That's very kind of you sir but we really must be going soon," I say. "But what's the rush. I was actually hoping I could see how well you fight... Link was it?" he said looking at me. "I see you're an Archer and a skilled one by the looks of it. I can just sense something strong about you" he said. "You want to fight me? I say surprised.

Of course. Training with other Archers is my favourite pass time. I'm also the head of the camp and the strongest archer here" he replied.

"Ooooh you have to face him now Link, pleassse" Alaan said with loads of excitement. I chuckle at his facial expression. "Cmon you have to accept Link, I want to see how he stacks up to you hehe. Maybe he can actually beat you" Alaan added on with wide eyes.

Elvia was silent waiting for what I would do next.

I stood there thinking about his offer. "How about this Valence...I'll accept your offer and fight you, but on one condition," I say. "And that would be?" Valence replied.

"If I win, you have to give us a map of this part of the land and we get to leave no questions asked" I finally say.

He stood there in thought and then started to speak. "Alright then, but if I win, you will all tell me who you are and what you were doing near our camp?" Valence said with a smile.

"Deal," I say and shake his hand firmly while we both stare at each other fiercely. "Yess! This is gonna be epic!!!" Alaan shouted with exhilleration.

"I sure hope you know what your doing Link," Elvia said under her breath.

After ten minutes, we were ready. The camp was cleared in the middle to give us a clear field for our battle. I had my gear ready and so did he. He looked really confident and he stared me down while waiting for the old man to begin the battle. "He must take sparring seriously...then so will I" I say with determination. "You got this Link!!!" Alaan shouted from the sidelines.

Elvia's POV

I walked up to Alaan to watch Link's battle. "You think Link will get the victory Alaan?" I say. Alaan turned his head to see it was me. "Oh yeah of course. To be honest, I wonder how long it will take Link to finish him?" Alaan said with a thinking expression. "What, really?. Your saying Valence doesn't stand a chance" I said shocked.

Alaan paused for a moment.

"When Link has his bow and arrows, he's literally invincible. I've lived with him since we were young and I've never seen him be beaten when he had his bow." Alaan said looking at Link "His strength had something to do with his early childhood growing up in the Forest with his Father" he added.

I looked back at Link and had a flashback of the time we met and we went to the house he grew up in.

"I wonder what happened that made him end up in the castle of Knights... Where did his father go?..." I say thinking in my head.

Link's POV

"Alright you two, the rules are the first person to say 'I quit' will lose the match. Best of luck to the both of you" the old man said.

I got my bow ready and stood there waiting for the signal. Valence on the other side looked totally calm and that really got me excited on the inside.

"Begin!!!" the old man shouted. Right after the old man shouted, Valence immediately shot three arrows one after the other towards me. I dodged the first, the second and third. He was definitely skilled, you would have to have amazing accuracy to shoot arrows one after the other that fast.

Valence dashed at me and threw some punches and kicks. I kept my distance and backed away to avoid his onslaught. After unleashing his vicious assault he backed away. He aimed his bow at me and shot, however, he tilted his bow downwards at the last second which caught my attention. The arrow hit the ground to my right side and what occurred after was a massive blast of smoke that covered the battlefield.

I was surrounded by a cloud of smoke courtesy of his trick arrow. It was difficult to track where he was since the visibility was poor. I closed my eyes and focused my ears to sense his movements. A flying kick came towards me but I dodged and replied with a quick jab to his inner leg. This would weaken his movement.

"I see you read my movements without seeing where I was. I knew there was something different about you" Valence said from a distance. "Thank you for the compliment but I'm afraid I'm gonna have cut this battle short," I say slowly.

"Huh" Valence said in surprise.

By this time the smoke mostly cleared out and I decided it was time for a finish. I proceeded to dash towards him. Valence was surprised I was going for the attack and responded by firing 3 arrows in my direction.

I started walking towards his arrows.

Arrow 1 - dodged, Arrow 2 - dodged and Arrow 3 I caught in mid-air.

"What!!. How did you?!! " Valence shouted as he saw me catch his arrows like he was in disbelief.

Everyone's faces in the crowd were shocked.

In one blink he saw me catch his arrow and then he blinked again and I was standing next to him.

Jab to the gut, sharp kick to his side leg and then I quickly knocked him on the head with my bow. He fell backwards onto the ground and at that point, I was standing on top of him with my bow pointing at him.

"It's the end of the game Valence," I say with a serious expression. "Say 'I quit'" I added.

Valence looked at me for a moment and then smiled. "Your one of the only few people to ever beat me in a battle. You are on another level Link. I quit" he finally said quite slowly.

"And we have a winner!!!. The victory goes to Sir Link" the old man shouted.

The crowd cheered on and so did Alaan. "I knew you would win easily Link!!! Never doubted you bro!!!" Alaan shouted with excitement on the sidelines like a cheerleader.

"Nice match Valence," I said with a smile as I reached out my hand to help him off the ground.

"Thanks, Link, I knew I was right about you. I just felt a strong aura when I looked at you" he said with a smile. "Haha, thanks Valence, it was an honour to battle you" I reply.

We both shake hands and then face the crowd to hear cheers.