Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2012 2:14:43 GMT
Ven awoke slowly, his eyes refusing to stay open. He had a headache that seemed to be trying to burst out of his skull and he wanted nothing more than to drift back into sleep again, forever. But he didn't recognize his surroundings. He struggled himself awake to see a wooden ceiling, it was meticulous and the grains were so straight that the mundanity seemed to stretch into infinity. Ven felt afloat on the bedcovers. Like It was like a fluffy cloud, and he could barely move because doing so sent sharp pains up his spine. When his eyes eventually adjusted to being open he just sat staring at the ceiling. It was so clean and bright, nothing like what he'd seen growing up in Ashwood, beaten by years of rain and corrosion, not to mention dark and jagged.
Eventually someone came into the room and looked over him. Ash.
"Hey buddy, how long have you been awake?" He asked.
Ven didn't know how to answer that question. Felt like seconds.
"I don't know." He responded honestly.
Ven followed up his answer with a question after a long pause.
"Where are we?"
"The knight academy. You were out for a week, we had to carry you here the whole way!" Ash exclaimed.
Ven looked downwards across the bedsheets. He couldn't see past the fluffy whiteness.
"I'm sorry. How long have you been here?" He asked.
"No problem. A day, I just finished getting back from initiation. Lilly also got in, too." Ash explained.
So, Ven had missed becoming a knight with Lilly and Ash.
"Do I..." Ven began.
"They said if you woke up they'd let you attempt initiation." Ash finished, sensing what was on Ven's mind.
Ash then continued.
"Raiark beat you up pretty good huh? But trust me, he's a nice guy. It was him and someone called Nitro were who we were going to meet. Raiark just saw us and attacked, I like his style! Raiark initiated with me, too. Sir Acemu they call him. I'm Sir Ashwood! I feel so awesome!" Ash said, his head up in the clouds, and a gleam in his eyes.
"And whats Lilly's name?"
"Dame Layfield. Thats her family name, right?" Asked Ash. Ven nodded slowly.
Ash calmed down and sat down on the bed. Ven spied the armor Ash was wearing, no longer wearing Ven's old rags, now in the apprentices uniform consisting of leather and a crest, Ash did not yet have any metal on him yet but nonetheless he looked stunning, especially with his striking black hair tied up in a ponytail.
Ash spoke.
"Look, you are totally ready for knighthood. Raiark has been training for years so it's no wonder you lost. Now get out of that bed man, your muscles must be jelly by now." Said Ash, he smiled apologetically and left the room, closing the door.
Ven stayed in bed for a long time, he may have even gone back to sleep. Soon enough, however, he just couldn't stand laying there. He rolled over and put his feet on the cold floor, easing himself up on unsteady feet. He was finally able to get a good look at the room he was in. It was a large room with 3 beds and 3 desks. It was mostly barren otherwise, save for a rug and 2 small windows to look out of. One bed look meticulously made, the other was a huge heap. Ven assumed that Lilly and Ash must have been staying in this room with him.
Ven stumbled over to the window in the odd, pajama like clothes he was wearing, white and comfortable. Outside was an endless ocean, it was a cascade of blue colours coming together to form the most breathtaking view Ven had ever witnessed. It was his first time seeing the sea. He could just about see a cliff edge, on which the academy must be perched. Ven pondered the curious position this establishment was in, then changed into some simple cloth clothes that had been left for him.
Just as Ven left the hall, he noticed Lilly was just about to walk into the room.
"Ven!" She yelled, hugging him immediately. She clung onto him tightly, and began to either laugh or sob.
"Don't do anything so reckless again... please..." She pleaded.
Ven was shocked, but he smiled and stroked her hair.
"I wont, my Dame." He promised, humorously pronouncing 'Dame' and smiling as he did so.
"... Idiot." Lilly responded.
Ven had been told to meet with Commandant Damien, the head of the knights of Akis. Ven walked through some incredibly huge, imposing black doors lit with flames and found himself in a dark room, circular in shape and with torches lighting up the sides. There was a light streaming down from the outside world above.
A man sat cross legged on a cushion on the other side of the room. He had his eyes clothed and was wearing armour that was pure white, and had a sword that looked as sharp as a diamond, it's tips invisible.
He opened his eyes as Ven sat on a cushion in the centre of the room, where the light was coming from.
"I am Commandant Damien. You may refer to me as Sir Damien." The commandant said with a voice that resonated with the walls.
Ven looked down and nodded.
"Speak!" He yelled, voice booming.
"Yes, sir Damien. My name is..." Began Ven hurriedly.
"Venes. Yes, I know." Damien interrupted.
Ven looked down again.
Damien coughed.
"I must say, I wasn't sure what to say when I first heard of you from Sir Ashwood. Beated in single combat by Sir Acemu, not a terrible fate in it's self... but to be incapacitated for a full week?" He mocked.
Ven gasped as if responding, but only took in air with a squeak.
"You really are an uninteresting man. But you show courage, so I shall let you attempt the trial. Then you may become a student and learn how to defend yourself... and others. Tell me, dear Venes, do you know who Akis is?" He asked politely.
"No, I do not." Responded Ven truthfully. People had been refering to 'Akis' but the word meant nothing.
"Akis is the energy that flows through all, our power, and our potential. We do not know where he came from, but we do know that he is very much alive, and that he doesn't have a physical body. His teachings guide not only the knights who pledge ourselves to him, but all the people of this holy nation. His teachings have guided us all since birth, including yours." Damien explained.
Ven tried to process it.
"You mean.. a higher entity which controls us?" Asked Ven cynically.
Damien screwed up his face in distaste.
"He teaches the people, nothing more. But his rules are very relevant to the knights, and he has enemies. Sceith." Explained Damien.
Ven nodded. He had heard of Sceith, the knights boasted about killing them by the dozens whenever they came by on pilgrimages back at Ashwood.
"What are Scieth?" Ven asked coldly.
"Monsters. Beings who exist merely to defy Akis. But enough talk. You are here to meet Akis, for that is initiation." Said Damien.
"Meet someone so important?" Said Ven, intrigued.
"Yes. Up above is his main chamber, where he communicates with us It is the highest point in the academy and it is open air, watch out for the cold winds."
"But it wont be so simple." Said Ven.
Damien chuckled.
"Oh, you'll know when you get there." Said Damien, clapping his hands once. There was a sound as the floor below Ven began to move, Ven wobbled unsteadily, getting up.
"Nighty night Venes." Said Damien, looking upon him with eyes that didn't expect to see him again.
Ven was incredibly cold. He looked around, and saw only grey surrounding him. A fog, it didn't look like open air and certainly not the magnificent view from before, when he had looked out the window.
"Well what do we have here?" Spoke a voice from all directions.
"Are you Akis?" Asked Ven, looking around quickly.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Asked Akis.
Ven wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that.
"You did indeed calculate the probability of meeting someone called Akis here as being approximately 99.87%, did you not?" He asked.
Ven frowned.
"Don't mock me." He responded.
"Mock who?" Asked Akis.
"Mock me."
"Who?"
Ven sighed.
"Ven." He stated. This prick couldn't possibly be a divine benevolence could he?
"Well thats nice to know. So anyway I'm supposed to test you based on your... you." Akis explained, mumbling to himself mostly.
Ven bit his lip.
"Well I'm done, I suppose. Hmm... Well, whatever. Seen better seen worse." He said in a mater of face tone.
"So... can I go?" Asked Ven.
"Yep. Oh wait, there is this bit. Do you vow to always follow the teachings of me?" He asked.
"No?" Responded Ven.
"Well that was anti-climactic. Some variables changed there... alright, re calculated. Anyway, you cant become a knight until you promise." He explained.
"Yes." Pledged Ven through clenched teeth.
"Great. Now open wide!" Exclaimed Akis.
Suddenly Ven felt his body stretch and his mouth forcibly open, and all the fog around him began to flow violently into his body. It felt like his insides were burning up, and he felt heavy. He couldn't move, nor breath anything except breath the thick, tar like fog. He felt his heart get attacked, beaten into submission. His entire body fell apart and suddenly he saw Ash standing before him, dressed in the same armour Damien had been wearing, holding a sword that was swinging towards Ven's neck. Ven tried screaming, but couldn't as the sword collided. He heard a manic laugh as he felt the world end in an instant.
Eventually someone came into the room and looked over him. Ash.
"Hey buddy, how long have you been awake?" He asked.
Ven didn't know how to answer that question. Felt like seconds.
"I don't know." He responded honestly.
Ven followed up his answer with a question after a long pause.
"Where are we?"
"The knight academy. You were out for a week, we had to carry you here the whole way!" Ash exclaimed.
Ven looked downwards across the bedsheets. He couldn't see past the fluffy whiteness.
"I'm sorry. How long have you been here?" He asked.
"No problem. A day, I just finished getting back from initiation. Lilly also got in, too." Ash explained.
So, Ven had missed becoming a knight with Lilly and Ash.
"Do I..." Ven began.
"They said if you woke up they'd let you attempt initiation." Ash finished, sensing what was on Ven's mind.
Ash then continued.
"Raiark beat you up pretty good huh? But trust me, he's a nice guy. It was him and someone called Nitro were who we were going to meet. Raiark just saw us and attacked, I like his style! Raiark initiated with me, too. Sir Acemu they call him. I'm Sir Ashwood! I feel so awesome!" Ash said, his head up in the clouds, and a gleam in his eyes.
"And whats Lilly's name?"
"Dame Layfield. Thats her family name, right?" Asked Ash. Ven nodded slowly.
Ash calmed down and sat down on the bed. Ven spied the armor Ash was wearing, no longer wearing Ven's old rags, now in the apprentices uniform consisting of leather and a crest, Ash did not yet have any metal on him yet but nonetheless he looked stunning, especially with his striking black hair tied up in a ponytail.
Ash spoke.
"Look, you are totally ready for knighthood. Raiark has been training for years so it's no wonder you lost. Now get out of that bed man, your muscles must be jelly by now." Said Ash, he smiled apologetically and left the room, closing the door.
Ven stayed in bed for a long time, he may have even gone back to sleep. Soon enough, however, he just couldn't stand laying there. He rolled over and put his feet on the cold floor, easing himself up on unsteady feet. He was finally able to get a good look at the room he was in. It was a large room with 3 beds and 3 desks. It was mostly barren otherwise, save for a rug and 2 small windows to look out of. One bed look meticulously made, the other was a huge heap. Ven assumed that Lilly and Ash must have been staying in this room with him.
Ven stumbled over to the window in the odd, pajama like clothes he was wearing, white and comfortable. Outside was an endless ocean, it was a cascade of blue colours coming together to form the most breathtaking view Ven had ever witnessed. It was his first time seeing the sea. He could just about see a cliff edge, on which the academy must be perched. Ven pondered the curious position this establishment was in, then changed into some simple cloth clothes that had been left for him.
Just as Ven left the hall, he noticed Lilly was just about to walk into the room.
"Ven!" She yelled, hugging him immediately. She clung onto him tightly, and began to either laugh or sob.
"Don't do anything so reckless again... please..." She pleaded.
Ven was shocked, but he smiled and stroked her hair.
"I wont, my Dame." He promised, humorously pronouncing 'Dame' and smiling as he did so.
"... Idiot." Lilly responded.
Ven had been told to meet with Commandant Damien, the head of the knights of Akis. Ven walked through some incredibly huge, imposing black doors lit with flames and found himself in a dark room, circular in shape and with torches lighting up the sides. There was a light streaming down from the outside world above.
A man sat cross legged on a cushion on the other side of the room. He had his eyes clothed and was wearing armour that was pure white, and had a sword that looked as sharp as a diamond, it's tips invisible.
He opened his eyes as Ven sat on a cushion in the centre of the room, where the light was coming from.
"I am Commandant Damien. You may refer to me as Sir Damien." The commandant said with a voice that resonated with the walls.
Ven looked down and nodded.
"Speak!" He yelled, voice booming.
"Yes, sir Damien. My name is..." Began Ven hurriedly.
"Venes. Yes, I know." Damien interrupted.
Ven looked down again.
Damien coughed.
"I must say, I wasn't sure what to say when I first heard of you from Sir Ashwood. Beated in single combat by Sir Acemu, not a terrible fate in it's self... but to be incapacitated for a full week?" He mocked.
Ven gasped as if responding, but only took in air with a squeak.
"You really are an uninteresting man. But you show courage, so I shall let you attempt the trial. Then you may become a student and learn how to defend yourself... and others. Tell me, dear Venes, do you know who Akis is?" He asked politely.
"No, I do not." Responded Ven truthfully. People had been refering to 'Akis' but the word meant nothing.
"Akis is the energy that flows through all, our power, and our potential. We do not know where he came from, but we do know that he is very much alive, and that he doesn't have a physical body. His teachings guide not only the knights who pledge ourselves to him, but all the people of this holy nation. His teachings have guided us all since birth, including yours." Damien explained.
Ven tried to process it.
"You mean.. a higher entity which controls us?" Asked Ven cynically.
Damien screwed up his face in distaste.
"He teaches the people, nothing more. But his rules are very relevant to the knights, and he has enemies. Sceith." Explained Damien.
Ven nodded. He had heard of Sceith, the knights boasted about killing them by the dozens whenever they came by on pilgrimages back at Ashwood.
"What are Scieth?" Ven asked coldly.
"Monsters. Beings who exist merely to defy Akis. But enough talk. You are here to meet Akis, for that is initiation." Said Damien.
"Meet someone so important?" Said Ven, intrigued.
"Yes. Up above is his main chamber, where he communicates with us It is the highest point in the academy and it is open air, watch out for the cold winds."
"But it wont be so simple." Said Ven.
Damien chuckled.
"Oh, you'll know when you get there." Said Damien, clapping his hands once. There was a sound as the floor below Ven began to move, Ven wobbled unsteadily, getting up.
"Nighty night Venes." Said Damien, looking upon him with eyes that didn't expect to see him again.
Ven was incredibly cold. He looked around, and saw only grey surrounding him. A fog, it didn't look like open air and certainly not the magnificent view from before, when he had looked out the window.
"Well what do we have here?" Spoke a voice from all directions.
"Are you Akis?" Asked Ven, looking around quickly.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Asked Akis.
Ven wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that.
"You did indeed calculate the probability of meeting someone called Akis here as being approximately 99.87%, did you not?" He asked.
Ven frowned.
"Don't mock me." He responded.
"Mock who?" Asked Akis.
"Mock me."
"Who?"
Ven sighed.
"Ven." He stated. This prick couldn't possibly be a divine benevolence could he?
"Well thats nice to know. So anyway I'm supposed to test you based on your... you." Akis explained, mumbling to himself mostly.
Ven bit his lip.
"Well I'm done, I suppose. Hmm... Well, whatever. Seen better seen worse." He said in a mater of face tone.
"So... can I go?" Asked Ven.
"Yep. Oh wait, there is this bit. Do you vow to always follow the teachings of me?" He asked.
"No?" Responded Ven.
"Well that was anti-climactic. Some variables changed there... alright, re calculated. Anyway, you cant become a knight until you promise." He explained.
"Yes." Pledged Ven through clenched teeth.
"Great. Now open wide!" Exclaimed Akis.
Suddenly Ven felt his body stretch and his mouth forcibly open, and all the fog around him began to flow violently into his body. It felt like his insides were burning up, and he felt heavy. He couldn't move, nor breath anything except breath the thick, tar like fog. He felt his heart get attacked, beaten into submission. His entire body fell apart and suddenly he saw Ash standing before him, dressed in the same armour Damien had been wearing, holding a sword that was swinging towards Ven's neck. Ven tried screaming, but couldn't as the sword collided. He heard a manic laugh as he felt the world end in an instant.
