THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

The Name of a Hero

   Chapter III

“Arayan, I love you”

 The voice of the prince whispered with an ever daunting sound. Arayan looked around to see where the voice coming from, and brace herself from its horrible presence

 “You said you love me, you said you won’t leave me”

The voice continued into a loud whisper. Inciting her fright even more as she was standing right in the middle of a nauseous dim place, floating above a red liquor, with all the cells occurring every ending corner.

 Till another voice called

 “Arayan, love triumphs everything”

 A tender voice, warm and familiar

 “no, NOOoo!!!” Arayan shouted, finding herself awakened by yet another nightmare. The same nightmare she was having from the past few days even when she was still in the castle; the ground covered with blood; the overpowering smell of desiccated bodies, and the cells full of lifeless cadaver all came to haunt her every night.

“Arayan, what’s wrong?” her childhood friend Namasi overheard her from the outside. She collected herself from any negative emotions, then breathed to recover into senses after she heard her friend’s voice— an assurance that she is no longer in Shuixron’s castle and that everything else is a dream 

“Yes! I-------am” Arayan took her sleeves and went out to greet her friend who just arrived from the main kingdom. They’ve been travelling for weeks just as soon as the kingdom declared victory. Arayan welcomed her friend who’s standing gracefully in front of her tent, smiling with her arms open to embrace her

 “Oh Namasi heaven knows how much I miss you” they laughed together and walked with their hands still on each other. But Namasi’s laugh and smiles are strange enough for Arayan to notice.    

“Namasi is something wrong?” Namasi stared at her for long and looked away, inducing Arayan to suspect mischiefs happened during their stay at the Capital. Even she, who used to esteem the lavish citizens of the city, acknowledged the prejudice towards them.   

 “No it is nothing, it’s just—the City is too big for the likes of us. We are children of Nature Arayan, we are not fit to live in a city as crowded and loud as Acia” Despite their tribe's obedience and loyalty to the kingdom, not even the king could make his people accept them into their society. However, things began to change for her when her engagement to the prince was first announced to the castle. But this announcement did not reach her people from the other side of the city. Because if it did, they wouldn’t have left the capital until they are told to, Or, Namasi would’ve told Quamran about it and would have forced her to go back to the castle.

 “Arayan there you are '' said Lamon, approaching Arayan. He finally figured out the answer to Arayan’s problem, but he noticed Arayan is walking with Namasi and would only disrupt them from their conversation. Lamon turned back, yet it was too late for him to withdraw since Arayan already saw him “Wait!” said Arayan, she ran to chase her brother “What is it?” Lamon paused before facing her. He primed himself to his purpose of accommodating Arayan’s wishes

 “I think you’re right”

 “Right about what?”

 Arayan felt strangely uncomfortable having such a difficult conversation with her brother

 “The thing you said, I think going into a journey is the best for you” Arayan smiled broadly upon hearing his words, She never smiled since Shuixron, though it couldn’t solve anything, she only wants to refresh herself from all the guilt and mix feelings she have towards the kingdom they are allying themselves to “Thank you” this time Arayan knows what to do. She is no longer a child lingering around the forest of Asca chasing after the small goblins, nor a self-proclaiming Ashoqhamen, she is a bit of an Ashoqhamen herself now

 “I do believe that whatever it is in your heart that troubles you, you’ll find the answer through this journey.  But one thing! Bring Quamran with you” Arayan flustered upon hearing her brother’s request. She cannot possibly take away Quamran from Namasi knowing the connection between the two, but his brother’s adamant insistence left her no choice “Of course!” Quamran is the son of their Nagum Amagayun, He has the same long braided hair like most Ashohakays, but his neat features and timid personality differs him from the group, a complete opposite from the tribe’s Markham whom he grew up with

 “Are you okay with that?” Arayan turned to Namasi 

“ You will not be wandering around the world forever right? I guess I could wait” hearing those words from Namasi made her felt reluctant about her decision 

“ But it’s okay of you don’t want it, I can go with Kundra” Lamon walk closer to join the conversation                                  

“I am afraid Kundra can’t do such a thing” said Lamon                                                                                                                       

 “Why?” 

“I assigned him to do something”

“what?”                                                                                                                                                                                                

“Arayan, It is not for you to know”                                                                                                                                                      

“W-Ha but?” Namasi hold Arayan’s hand to acquire her attention

“it’s okay, I am completely fine with it, in that I will not worry about you”                                                                                

 “Namasi” Namasi smiled at her to ease her from worrying.                                                                                                             

“Well then, you should pack your things now” Lamon impedes, dropping his shoulders in a long sight.  

Even as a warrior, Lamon could get emotional over his sister’s departure, which he shouldn’t be, considering that he thinks of himself as a man of pure steel and cleverness. A very conceited proclamation for one’s self. Though everyone would agree with his titles.

 Lamon is a wise and well respected leader of his tribe despite his young age and churlish behavior. Wearing his braided hair loose. He also consistently maintains his hair higher at the back but cut at least above his shoulders at the sides. He loves experimenting his looks to compete with his childhood friend Quamran who was called a better looking warrior than his leader. His folly often gets mocked by Quamran, but he sees coolness in his style and wants to remain exactly as it is.                                                                                                                                     

 Arayan proceeds to pack her things, bringing only a few things for her journey. She exited her tent feeling anxious that she might never see this home again. She roamed her eyes around and walked slowly to see more of the houses. The children played around and the long timber walls protected them for many years. Her Nagum who held her hand tightly to escort her towards her wagon speak to her with both sadness and care “Arayan, know that wherever you may wish to go, fate will bring you to the place where you belong” it is hard to find any expression from her Nagum’s face, since the price of age is remarkably evident on her, but with her wrinkled eyes she smiled. Arayan hugged her Nagum firmly and bobbed her head “Yes, yes of course Nagum '' she gave her a farewell embrace, and headed towards the wagon. “I’ll be accompanying you until you reach the port” said Lamon

“Well then let’s go”.

Arayan and Quamran together with Lamon set off with a wagon pulled by gigantic animal creatures common to the far pampas of Shuixron borders. They travelled the forest of Gahan; a short cut towards the Palawer Harbor aside from Asca. But it would still take a few days before reaching the port, thus, Lamon suggested taking a rest for a little bit. They stopped in the middle of the forest, and made a camp to keep themselves warm. Quamran relaxed himself in a sitting position, while Lamon is preparing his catch by putting it on a stick before roasting it on the fire Arayan is making

 “So! You have met the prince huh!” Arayan clogged, he mentioned something she cursed to

Remember, but in order to cover up, she simply smiled back and hummed in a positive manner 

“So what does he like? We came back from the war for more than a week now; I never heard a word about’ em—from you. They said he’s very attractive and clever a---and?” he obviously wanted to pull a conversation to break the awkwardness between them, however, Arayan had no regard for his topic “You don’t find him lovable or nice? You used to be so crazy about him, what happened?  miracles do happen you know” said Lamon while placing the fish on the fire vertically “I don’t find him as attractive as what you say” her voice is cold “Wow—Okay, I can’t argue with you in your personal terms” Lamon stand up and grab his weapon “I’m going to catch more fish”—“Okay” It is hard for her to lie to her own feeling as well, but she can’t help herself out of it. She wondered how the prince reacted after she ran away, he must have been so upset with her and outrageous—in instance she realized, why would she be concern of his condition when she is supposed to abhor him, that diabolic creature does not deserve any pity from any one, not even the worst of men can be compared to what he is. The moving fire reminds her of everything she wanted to escape from. But like the dried branches, she will only burn and turn into ashes.  

She was about to get more branches when she noticed the strange footsteps approaching towards them. She hurriedly woke Quamran and yet told him to stay put “I got this” the approaching steps stopped near them, in fact, it is at the back of the old tree where Quamran was resting. Arayan grabbed a more intimidating weapon—which is her dagger-sword— and safely stalked the person behind the tree. It is definitely not her brother for her brother went off towards a different direction. And the shadow of this person is somewhat slender, probably a thin dwarf from Asca. For there are some rumors of why humans have been avoiding the forest of Asca, and it is because of the said massive population of dwarves. Dwarves they say, but when Arayan is about to hit the person, she noticed, it wasn’t a dwarf at all, it is a human with an extensive gray beard and a messy green coat, wearing a woolly green bonnet   “What on earth are you going to do to me?” the person spoke in a foreign accent; harshly terrified.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to--- I thought you are from Shuixron” she deliberately lied

 “No I am not! And why would you hurt me if I am?” said the man, yet suddenly, he felt a strange connection with this woman’s presence. Something that he cannot understand. His stare petrifies her, given that he does not just look so weird but acts weird-er “Nothing!” Quamran rushed to see what happened; he ceased when he saw Arayan is just as fine, though she is having a conversation with a thin ragged stranger. But it seems there is nothing to worry about, the man looks too fragile to bout against Arayan or him “Who are you? And what do you want?” said Arayan, the person sat down under the tree before exhaling his reasons of travelling around the Asca “I’m Magnus, I came here to see the Ascans, I was told I can find one here, and of course” Magnus noticed Quamran before he whispered  “to see the last Gathom”--“Gathom what is that?” Arayan sat down on the root as well, she put her puny weapon down to accommodate Magnus’s tale. But of course, she also have her reason why she has to ask. The last Gathom was his father. The champions who overthrow the Evil king from his throne. “Really? You must not be from around here, for you not to hear the legend of the last Gathom” Magnus said, trying to pull Arayan’s leg and a chance to brag his knowledge                                                     

“Skip to that, let’s get to your point, what is this Gathom?” Arayan demanded. Magnus maintained himself from Arayan who’s being so harsh on her words to him after trying to kill him on sight “You haven’t heard’em?” Magnus said, still in his odd accent, while thinking on how a person travelling or perhaps possibly residing in Shuixron, and yet, innocent of what the Gathoms are “No, I’m not, so please tell me” said Arayan rigorously, She finds him very suspicious and strange  but he pulls a quite interesting topic that speaks of her father  “Well, Gathoms are Berserkers, they are Heroes who protects the humanity and the Esels against the Evil king who ruled the world for a very long time, But the Esels… ”-----“Then why are you still looking forward to meet them if they’re gone now?” Arayan inquired “Ahh  So innocent. One of those Gathoms gave his son to a tribe, the only way to pay their gratitude is to give them a gift. The child being a Gathom can protect the entire tribe from the hostiles. and that gathom was left in the tribe of Li-gayun'' Arayan astounded, She is already aware of his father being the last gathom, but the tale of this gathoms was never enlightened to them and in fact was kept a secret.

On the other side of the forest, Lamon went back to the river to get more fish when suddenly a group of bandits ambushed him from behind. There were five of them, yet still, Lamon is in vast preeminence. He lifts them one by one and throws them into the river. Until an elf came and shot him with an arrow that contained poison; causing him to withdraw and drop himself unconscious. He fell down into the water and the bandits tried to move him towards the ground. Yet it is quite too difficult, for the man’s body is extremely muscular and heavy, however they managed to lift him halfly to the ground area, only enough for the body not to be shoved by the current. The elf came closer to see what he looked like and grinned tenaciously “Well, we meet again, Arman” , said the elf.