Kesac 9: You must look to the past...
OOC: Don't be prepared for a short little chapter here ;)
-|==========-
Kesac walked uneasily into the dark crypts in the mountain. He
looked over the walls cautiously. A torch was in the sconce by the
entrance. Kesac gripped the torch in his right hand, lit it, and
continued onward...into the depths. On and on he walked, down the
dark stairway...
-My ancestors lie here...but anything else could be down here also. I
better be careful. In mind, and in body also.-
Suddenly, a rat ran around the corner and scurried into the cracked
wall. Kesac felt that something was coming...but what? Kesac walked
around the corner...
...and nothing was there. -Hmm...nothing?- Kesac shivered. -I
should move on. No use in stopping for non-existent threats- Kesac
walked down the hall, looking at the dark walls. -Eh?- Kesac had
reached the beginning of the actual crypts. -The past...of my family.-
Each crypt had a plaque below it...Kesac read the plaques...
-|==========-
Naran Ruyil Died 953 AM
"A sword has two edges, just as the human mind is capable
of both good and evil. The choice of which path to take is
yours alone."
-|==========-
Kesac nodded. Swords are two-edged. Just as the human mind is
capable of both good and evil. However, Kesac had chosen a path...
how could this relate to him?
-|==========-
28 years past....
Rekar looked at Kesac sternly. "I have to go. Fear not, I am just
going to earn a living. You can stay here and practice all you want.
However, some of us want to get rich. Goodbye..."
Rekar began to walk away. "Wait." Kesac spoke to Rekar. "If you
should go, remember, always follow the path of the Light." Rekar
nodded. "I shall remember that..."
-|==========-
Kesac walked on. The halls were filled with the smell of death and
decay. Another golden plaque, obviously older, glittered in the
torchlight...
-|==========-
Nemid Ruyil Died 931 AM
"Young warrior, learn of those that come before you. Time
is like a river. History repeats itself. The cycle can only
be broken if people learn from the mistakes of the past, and
dam the river's flow."
-|==========-
Kesac looked eerily for a second. The past does seem to repeat
itself. With the legends of the War of the Magi, and the recent
'Kefka' incident...but what would repeat itself now? The past does
seem to be filled with evil events. But...not all events repeat...
Kesac walked on down the hall. Yet another plaque was set into the
wall, however, this one had diamonds around it.
-|==========-
Cehin Ruyil Died 899 AM
"Evil comes in many forms. Be prepared to recognize it,
whichever form it takes."
-|==========-
Kesac nodded. Evil can take any form, if not tangible...it can take
emotional forms also. Evil had claimed his father, undoubtedly...
hopefully, he could stave off the evil attacks...
Suddenly, a giant spider came around the corner. It appeared to be
about seven feet tall, with venom dripping off its fangs. Kesac heard
a voice in his mind...=Get ready=...no time for that. Kesac slashed
at the spider, drawing blood. The giant spider reeled back, then
lunged at Kesac. Kesac stepped to the side...and began readying his
sword. The spider lunged at Kesac again, only to be greeted by the
floor. Kesac started striking at the spider over and over...making
twelve little holes in the spider's skin. The spider reeled back
half a foot, and charged at Kesac. Kesac moved to the side, watching
the spider hit the wall. The spider fell over, stunned. Kesac walked
over to the spider, and sliced at it one final time. The spider fell
silent as the blade punctured his heart.
Kesac sighed. -That was a pretty tough battle...what lies in store
for me further down?-
-|==========-
Kesac walked on in the crypts. More plaques adorned the walls. One
caught his eye...
-|==========-
Takan Ruyil Died 446 AM
"Don't be afraid, sometimes we must do what is right, no matter
what the consequences are."
-|==========-
22 years past...
Kesac looked. The field of battle was set. Two knights fighting.
His father nodded to his son. "Fighting over a stupid thing such
as a single gold coin is wrong. Only fight when your life depends
upon it."
Kesac nodded. "I shall remember that."
Suddenly, a group of knights grabbed the small bag of money Kesac was
carrying. "Hey!"
"Let them go. It's not worth it. Besides, you did keep a few gold
coins in your pocket, didn't you?"
"Yeah, you're right. Sometimes it is better to let it go."
-|==========-
"And the knights ended up killing each other." Kesac looked solemnly.
"What is right is always the better thing to do." Kesac sighed and
moved on.
The crypts suddenly turned downward. "Woah..." Ahead were three
gates...
Inscribed on the wall was a message...
To pass these gates, you must pass three tests. Beyond
the gates are the answers to your questions.
Kesac readied his sword, and prepared to meet the challenges. Three
rooms, each about one thousand feet squared lay ahead of him. Kesac
gathered his courage and walked on into the first room.
A gate fell behind Kesac and another in front of him. A voice
sounded...
"Welcome, Kesac Ruyil. We have waited for you. You must pass three
tests however, to find out if you are truly the greatest Ruyil
warrior of the millennium..."
Kesac shouted back:
"Greatest...of the millennium?"
The voice shouted:
"You shall find that out later. However, now you must past the
three tests. The first test shall be overcoming fear."
Suddenly, a black mist rolled in. The eddies and swirls in the mist
congealed into the shape of...
"A Behemoth!"
The Behemoth lumbered toward Kesac. Kesac gawked in fear. But the
test...overcoming fear...
"You don't scare me! Yaaaaaaah!" Kesac slashed at the Behemoth...
...and his sword went straight through the Behemoth. "It's nothing
but an image! An illusion!" The Behemoth dissipated into swirls of
black fog, congealed into one spot, and into the figure of an old man.
"Very good, Kesac. You still must remember, that not everything
is an illusion...but know what your opponent is. As for me...
I misjudged my opponent once, and almost got killed. You must
not make the same mistake."
Kesac nodded. "The difference between Illusion and Reality is a
blurred line. I must find some way to know what my opponent is, and
if it poses a challenge before attacking."
"Very good. Now, I leave you to move on to the next test."
The ghost dissipated. Kesac walked on...
-|==========-
Kesac walked into the second room. It looked almost identical to the
first...
Another Voice boomed...
"Courage alone will not let you defeat your opponents...you must
have the Strength to defeat them also."
Five ghostly figures started fading into existence. Kesac watched
as the five ghostly knights faded in. The voice boomed...
"You must defeat each of the knights in one on one combat. When
you have defeated them all, the gate will open."
"First Knight."
Kesac readied his sword. The ghostly knight approached Kesac and
swung his sword. Kesac deflected the swing with his sword and swung
back. The knight deflected the swing, and tried to thrust at Kesac.
Kesac jumped to the side and slashed at the knight. The knight
attempted to deflect the blow, but too late. Kesac's slash hit the
knight, causing him to drop to one knee. The knight attempted to
thrust at Kesac again as he fell, but Kesac easily stepped to the side.
The knight started to stand back up, but Kesac slashed at the neck
of the knight, cleaving his head off. The knight fell to the ground,
dead. The body flickered out of existence.
"Second Knight."
Kesac whirled to meet the next knight. The knight charged toward
Kesac. Kesac dodged the charging knight and sliced at his backside.
The knight's charge carried him out of the range of the slice, and he
turned around, slicing at Kesac. Kesac parried the blow with his
sword, returning the blow with full force. The knight was stunned by
the force of the blow, and nearly dropped his sword. Kesac took this
opportunity to start readying his sword. The knight charged at Kesac
again, only to be met by Kesac flash striking at him. The knight
slumped down, and faded away.
"Third Knight."
Kesac whirled around. The knight looked a little more skilled than the
previous ones. Kesac carefully gauged his opponent. The knight
slashed at Kesac violently. Kesac stepped out of the way, slicing
back at the knight. The knight jumped out of the way, slashing back
at Kesac. Kesac ducked the blow, and returned with a pierce to the
knight. The knight jumped over Kesac, and slashed at his backside.
Kesac rolled away from the knight, and stood up. Kesac turned around,
and sliced at the knight. The knight parried the blow, and pierced at
Kesac. Kesac ducked, stood up, and sliced at the knight again,
hitting him in the neck. The knight gasped from the force of the
blow, and fell to the ground dead. The body faded away.
"Fourth Knight."
Kesac glared at his opponent. This one seemed very skilled. Kesac
sliced at the knight. The knight dodged Kesac, and pierced at Kesac's
side. Kesac jumped forward, and whirled toward the knight. The knight
pierced at Kesac, attempting to run him through. Kesac sidestepped the
pierce, returning with a violent slash. The knight dodged the slash,
and sliced at Kesac madly. Kesac jumped out of the way, and sliced
back at the knight. The knight parried the blow, falling back a step.
Kesac took advantage of that, and sliced at the knight...only
contacting air. The knight took advantage of his further back
position, and Kesac's obvious fatigue, and sliced at Kesac. Kesac,
now on the ground from his missed blow, rolled to the side, and stuck
his sword up. The knight saw the sword up...too late. The knight ran
straight into the sword. His impaled body faded away.
"Fifth Knight."
Kesac, now very tired, watched his opponent. He mumbled to himself
"When is this going to end?" This knight seemed less experienced than
the other four...but still formidable. Kesac sighed and sliced at the
knight. The knight stepped back, and charged at Kesac. Kesac stepped
out of the way, and sliced at the back of the knight. The knight did
not see the blow coming, and was cleanly sliced in two. Kesac
watched the last body fade away, and another image appeared.
"Very good. You can overcome five against one odds. But brute
strength alone will not solve everything. You must solve some
problems with all of your skills."
Kesac did not have enough strength to reply, so he just nodded.
"You may rest here before proceeding to the next test. Nothing
will harm you now that you have passed the test."
Kesac rested for one hour in the room, and trudged into the next
room...
-|==========-
The last room looked smaller than the first two. Kesac knew that the
tests were nearly over...
"Congratulations on making it this far. But Courage and Strength
alone will not win all battles. Sometimes you must use your mind.
And now, let the test begin."
"You shall only be asked one question. What is the true meaning of
the Prophecy...-The Giant must be destroyed, or it will destroy
you?"
Kesac thought. The true meaning...
"None. The Giant will be destroyed eventually. However, it may not
be in my lifetime. It will happen, however...someone must do it."
A form materilized. "Very good. You understand the prophecy well.
Go on, and find your answers, and your destiny."
Kesac stopped. "My...destiny?"
The ghostly form just disappated. Kesac did not know what to think.
But Kesac shrug, and moved on.
-|==========-
Kesac walked on into a room with a pedestal in it. On the pedestal
was...a book.
Kesac picked up the book and read it...
-|==========-
BOOK OF LEGENDS
Ruyil Family.
Millennial Warriors
Legendary Conflicts
.
.
.
Other Legends
.
.
.
Millennial Warriors.
Every one thousand years, a warrior of great skill is born among the
Ruyil family. This usually happens during a time of strife in the
world. Something inside the knight drives him to go adventuring. The
Millennial Warrior usually performs some..reat act in his lifetime, but
usually overcomes a major struggle. (See Legendary Conflicts.) The
last recorded Millennial Warrior was Nayar Ruyil, around the War of the
Magi........ *The ink fades off here*
Legendary Conflicts.
There are two types of conflicts that the Ruyil family has to deal
with. One is good versus evil, the other is brother against brother.
Most of the time, the conflict is minor, but sometimes, it grows to the
point of death. Not much else can be said, except that the conflict
usually is greatest when the conflict involves a Millennial Warrior.
Legend has it that when two are born when it is time for a Millennial
Warrior to be born, one will go to evil, and one will go to good. They
will fight until one remains. However, whichever one remains is a
mystery. And until one side wins in the external world, this conflict
will occur again and again.
-|==========-
Kesac closed the book. It was one thousand years since the War of the
Magi. He must carry on his family's tradition. But the Legendary
Conflicts section bothered him. What *WAS* the 'external world'
all about? Does it mean when Good or Evil wins -absolutely- that the
conflict will end? Or does it mean there is some external force acting
on the family? Kesac shrugged. "I need to do more research." Kesac
heads for the entrance of the crypts...
-|==========-
OOC: Well! Finally finished! Notice the new address (kesac@linknet.net)
Not much else to say...look forward to Kesac 10.
Kesac the Swordsmaster
(
geocities.com/timessquare/dungeon/2574) (
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