Scene Transition: "-"

Normal Narration and Dialogue

"Internal Monologue"

"Voice of the gods"

Vangertz Family Farm - Past

It had been a few years since the Vangertz brothers had survived their ordeal in the forest. A group of local hunters had found them in the clearing and returned them safely to their home after convincing a strangely protective black eagle of their good intentions.

A subjugation force was sent from Castle Raven which cleared the forest and secured the border against Demon Lord Juno's territory to the north, hopefully preventing anything like this from ever happening again.

Around one in 5,000 receive a blessing from one of the eight Gods of power, seeing such a young boy receive the blessing of light from Hyperion was a very unusual occurrence.

Galahad's name had slowly spread across Verdun's poorer countryside villages as his tale of valor inspired many adolescent adventurers. But as fate would have it, aspiring adventurers were not the only ones to hear of his blessing, and the name of the boy who received it.

-

"Watch closely, it's all in the footwork" Haythem instructed while he expertly pirouetted through a series of well-practiced motions as his sword sliced through countless imaginary foes. He glanced over to the large black bird who rested on a nearby tree stump as it tilted its head quizzically and gave out a low chuckle.

Haythem regularly trained in a small clearing a fair distance outside of the village with his feathered friend. Every day he tirelessly trained his body for the adventure he knew he and his brother would one day embark on.

In a world so full of danger and uncertainty, power was the one currency that never wavered, and his lack of it had almost cost him and his brother their lives. To that end he ensured a day never passed where he failed to improve himself in one way or another.

"Come on Joker, work with me here buddy, what if I pivot here then spin back striking their weak side?" Haythem asked his avian companion who stopped cleaning his feathers to give him a bewildering glare, straining to convey that he had no idea what the fuck he was being asked....because he was in fact a phantom eagle, and not a human.

-

"It's perfect," Galahad told his much younger sister while resting a hand on her delicate shoulder. He gazed fondly at her gorgeous painting featuring a pair of crossed swords planted in the flowery field in front of their family's home.

Verena smiled as she signed a small "V" in the bottom right corner. "You really think so Gally?!" she squealed enthusiastically.

"Of course" he assured as he rustled her long black hair adoringly.

"Oh Verena, it's your best piece yet" their mother added from across the room.

"Gally...could you...ya know...do the glowy thing on it?" Verena asked her brother shyly.

"Alright, but if Hyperion comes after me for using the power of light to paint with I'm selling you out" he chuckled as he raised his index finger and closed his glowing eyes.

Verena took her brother's finger and pressed it against the painting's sun, which began to glow with radiant light. She giggled gleefully as the rays of golden light began streaking gently across the canvas.

Galahad stepped back and opened his eyes to witness a truly marvelous masterpiece. "Verena...it's truly beautiful".

Verena added a small "G" to the same corner as her mark and flashed a toothy grin to her brother.

Galahad's face darkened briefly before he turned his head towards the home's main entrance.

Suddenly a blood curdling scream ripped through the small village.

"Hide!" Galahad quickly yelled, as he immediately sprinted across the home to the equipment rack next to the front door. His Leather armor and sword only a few feet away when the front door blew open with an explosion of force.

Galahad froze in fear as the large bald man with a scar across his face covered in shabby gray hide armor and skin markings quickly grabbed him by the neck. "They grow up so fast" he sneered and threw him out of the home.

He landed in a crumpled heap; his worst fears realized.

The man with the scar, their village's personal grim reaper. He had returned to finish what he started 10 years ago. "Nine Lives"

Galahad's father served as the village's chief warrior, the bandit leader had killed him in a fierce battle when he stood up to their pillaging attempts. After the incursion, the imperial army drove the bandits deep into the nearby kingdom of Ashmir, where they had gained strength ever since.

Galahad looked around to a scene of absolute chaos, fires spread through various buildings, dozens of bandits dragged people from their homes and beat anyone who raised a blade against them. Wicked laughter and screams filled the smoky air.

Nine Lives reappeared at the doorway, holding the girls around their wrists as he threw them down the porch onto the dirt path next to him. Verena's head slammed against the cold dirt, blood trickled from her ear.

"Verena!" their mother yelled as she attempted to crawl to her side.

"You fucking monster! I'll kill you!" Galahad screamed furiously.

"Get 'em up" the bandit leader barked as the three of them were all hoisted up roughly, rusted blades placed to their throats.

Verena clutched her ears with her hands to Galahad's left, and their mother struggled to contain herself to his right.

Galahad's eyes glowed with rage as he began to summon his wings when he felt a hot breath on his neck. "Name's Graves, imperial spy, if you want your family to live, stay calm" the young bandit that held a knife to his throat whispered calmly. He felt a sword get slipped into his hand as he resisted the urge to eviscerate Nine lives on the spot with his bare hands.

"When I tap your shoulder, go for your sister" Galahad heard the voice behind him whisper as he pretended to wrestle him in place.

"How's the present my husband gave you" their mother jeered.

The bandit leader ran his finger along the scar across his face. "Slavery is too good for the likes of your filth; death is all that waits for those who bear the Vangertz name" he sneered. "Where's the other son?" He asked as he glanced around before drawing his sword. "Oh well, let's start with carving up the young one".

"Over my dead body," Galahad thought as he felt the tap on his shoulder and immediately dashed to his left. He ran his blade through the neck of the human trash holding his sister before they could react.

Galahad caught her before he glanced over to see that Graves sliced the other bandit's throat, freeing his mother. They quickly regrouped in front of the Bandit leader.

"Hold him off, I'm getting them out of here," Galahad said as he took the girls and began to make a break for the forest's edge.

"BASTARD!" Nine Lives roared as he leaped towards Graves with a massive vertical overhead slash. The imperial spy flipped his knife sideways and just barely parried the blow before leaping sideways.

Galahad heard a flurry of steel behind him as he continued to carry the now unconscious Verena off the battlefield. They made it around 70 feet into relative safety before a massive blow rattled the earth behind him. He glanced back to see Nine Lives holding Graves up by his loose black hair, limbs swaying unresponsively by his side. "Fuck. He didn't hesitate to risk his life for us. I can't just leave him like this"

"Meet up with Haythem, he's training in his usual spot," he told his mother as he passed Verena to her. Her protests were brushed aside as he quickly prepared to engage what was sure to be the strongest opponent he had ever faced.

Around a dozen more bandits had come over to support their boss, drawn by the commotion.

"This is what we do to traitors" Nine Lives spat as he rested the tip of his sword on the beaten man's heart. A sudden gust of wind assailed them, almost taking him off his feet as he dropped Graves and turned to the young man facing him.

Shining wings of power on full display, Galahad raised his glowing blade at the group before him. He planted his feet and took an offensive stance before taking a deep breath and exhaling. He dashed forward parrying and executing the first bandit who rushed out to meet him. He swiftly carved through three more before locking blades with his true target.

"Your judgment is death" Galahad Growled before he shoved his sword back and delivered a heavy slash, sliding his opponent back a few feet.

"I don't have armor, but I have the next best thing," Galahad thought to himself as he raised his sword, and a beam of light engulfed him, making an approaching bandit stumble back in terror.

"Get him!" the bandit boss hollered to the surrounding contingent as they all began to rush him in unison. Galahad parried and struck them down one by one, taking glancing blows throughout his body when they overwhelmed him with strikes. More bandits poured in as Nine Lives dashed in and struck the back of Galahad's leg while he was distracted by the onslaught of attacks.

Galahad cried out in pain as his sword glowed and he slashed through three in one swipe, he now stood above Graves' unconscious body. The holy protection barely shielding him from death's door, he launched a wide swipe to gain distance before he finally took a knee out of exhaustion. His breaths were ragged and sharp as he glared at the man who tore his father from him.

"So, you do have a limit. Let's finish this kid" Nine Lives said as he slowly walked towards the young man on his knees.

Galahad summoned all his strength for a final last-ditch strike, he quickly leaped from his position and attempted a lethal strike. His sword glowed as his massive overhead strike began to crash down, but before he could finish the blow a fistful of sand caught his face momentarily blinding him. The next sensation he felt was a cold wetness that spread through his torso as the world around him began to dim.

"I'm sorry dad...Haythem...everyone..."

"I'm going to enjoy watching the light leave your eyes kid" whispered into his ears as rain began to shower him. Thunder sounded in the distance as he began to slip away, his arms hanging by his sides as his glow faded and his sword clattered to the ground.

-

Joker looked over the horizon to where the town laid, naturally drawing Haythem's gaze with it. "What the hell is that '' Haythem asked as he could barely make out something black under the dusky cloud covered sky.

The color quickly drained from his face as he realized the worst had surely come to pass.

"Smoke"

He sheathed his sword and broke into a dead sprint, the familiar shadow riding by his side. His vision narrowed as he blazed through the forest as fast as his feet would carry him.

He soon ran into his mother and sister fleeing into the forest.

His world a blur, the only words he heard were "Galahad" and "Nine Lives" before he started to sprint again.

"I'll never make it in time"

"Faster"

"He's alone"

"Faster"

"I have to go faster"

"FASTER"

"I need to go faster"

He began to grab the passing trees to launch himself forward, trading a small boost of speed for bloody fingers in the process.

"MORE!"

"Come on...faster...faster...FASTER!"

"GIVE ME EVERYTHING!"

The world around him faded away, all his wishes, his desires, his aspirations, he would throw away anything and everything to move just a little faster, to get just a little closer...

Haythem could feel a smile spread across his face as a bolt of lightning hurtled down, it ripped through his well-toned body with a warm crackling sensation. He exploded forward, his feet barely touching the ground. He could feel his heartbeat accelerate as the world around him slowed to a crawl.

"NOW SHOW THEM MY POWER"

He was out of the forest in a matter of seconds. He could see his brother on his knees, head hung lifelessly, a longsword resting in his torso.

His eyes narrowed in pure rage as he focused all of it on the man standing above his brother, an outstretched arm giving commands to the horde of bandits who were burning his home to the ground.

Nine Lives only noticed a slight blur approaching from his right side before he felt his entire rib cage collapse. The overwhelming force that had hit him shattered half the bones in his upper body as he was sent soaring 20 yards into the wall of a nearby home.

"You only have one life, and I'm about to rip it out of you" was all he heard before a rain of electrified punches began to rip his body apart.

Nine Lives laid in excruciating pain; arms motionless, unable to defend himself.

"The Vangertz family sends their regards" where the last words he heard before a pair of hands were placed on his head and a massive surge of electricity popped his head like an exploding watermelon.

Haythem slowly stood and turned towards the bandit hoard, bloody hand on his sword's hilt. They slowly parted as he made his way past them to his brother. He crouched and stared into his brother's eyes where he could swear a faint glimmer remained. He drew the sword from his chest and rested his forehead against his brothers. "I'm here bro, rest up"

"Make peace with your gods, you'll soon meet them," He said as he turned to face the hoard, swords in either hand, eyes glowing pure azure. Joker landed on his right shoulder; crimson eyes filled with just as much rage as Haythem's were.

-

Galahad blinked his eyes as the blurriness began to fade. He was laying on a white marble floor in what appeared to be an ornately decorated palace, wearing a white robe. Memories began to return to him as he writhed on the floor, tears beginning to stream down his face.

He slammed his fist against the floor over and over until his knuckles began to bleed. He could see his reflection in the smooth stone floor. "I'm so fucking pathetic," he thought to himself as he gathered his composure and began to stand.

"Welcome my child" thundered the mountain of a man who rested on the single throne in sight. The bearded man watched him intently, the wisdom of thousands of years held within his striking golden eyes. His flowing golden cloak adorned by wings of glowing light. Surely this man was the king of the kings.

"What is this? Where am I? Who are you?"

"You already know"

Galahad slowly kneeled and dipped his head.

"Hyperion"

"Raise your head boy"

"It's selfish of me to petition for another gift my lord, but please, I beg of you. My story has yet to be written, I'm not finished yet"

"There will be a cost"

"Anything"

"Eternal Salvation, perhaps my greatest gift to those who receive my blessing. That's the trade." The commanding voice boomed from above.

"Done"

Hyperion bellowed a laugh as a smile crept across his face.

"Give Shaltera's new child my greetings," he said as he held out his hand and Galahad began to feel a glowing warmth wash over him.

-

Galahad opened his eyes once again as he gasped for air. Haythem stood before him covered in blood, the bodies of countless bandits littered the ground around them.

"Fire volley!" boomed a voice from far behind them.

Suddenly a barrage of arrows rained down around them, striking a few of the remaining bandits.

A parade of imperial knights charged through the village and engaged the remaining bandits as Haythem walked over to his still kneeling brother and bent down.

The raging battle around them fell away from focus as they locked eyes with each other, their faces both drained from exhaustion.

"Welcome back to the land of the living" Haythem grinned.

A bandit attempted to strike Haythem from behind when Joker slammed into him sending him tumbling to the ground where a passing knight quickly executed him with a slash to the torso.

"You can't get rid of me that easily little bro" Galahad choked out before coughing up some blood onto the dirt. "Nine Lives?" he asked as he noticed Haythem's glowing turquoise eyes.

Haythem casually motioned his head towards the pile of flesh and blood lying against a partially destroyed wall.

A small contingent of guards formed a defensive circle around the boys facing outwards as a horse with the commanding office began to approach.

A single golden wing radiated from Galahad's back as his brother grabbed his forearms and helped him rise. "Sorry I was late" Haythem whispered as they embraced each other tightly.

"Graves!" Bellowed the commanding officer, hopping down from her armored horse and striding over to the pair of young men still locked in an embrace. She idly scanned through the sea of bandit corpses, searching for the one who had summoned her here.

Galahad slowly turned and flipped over one of the younger bandits lying on the ground before he reached down and placed his hands on the man's torso before closing his eyes.

Light engulfed the young man as he jolted awake, sucking in a deep breath of air.

"Holy shit that felt incredible" Graves stumbled out as he began to sit up.

"The blessing of light, huh. So, the rumors were true after all" The young woman spoke, her elaborately designed white commander's attire accentuating her long, flowing sapphire hair and mature facial features.

Galahad helped the young spy up as the four of them came together.

"Ahhh Selena, thank the gods you made it in time," Graves said as he struggled through the lingering pain spread through his upper body.

"If you're done napping could I trouble you for a report?" The commander questioned the spy.

"Of course ma'am, it felt like taking a bath in a hot spring while being massaged by..."

"Not being healed you idiot, how did this happen? I thought we had more time..." Selena said as she held her head in her hand.

"Sorry ma'am" Graves began as his face turned more serious. "Nine Lives decided he couldn't wait and attacked a full week earlier than planned. I barely got that warning message out to Castle Raven."

"I'm just glad you're still alive," she said resting a hand on his shoulder before turning to the brothers. "Now how exactly did a couple of young villagers kill two dozen hardened bandits? By the look of the uniform on that one over there, their leader as well".

Haythem and Galahad glanced at each other before flashing their glowing eyes at her.

"Exceptional, to have two members of a single village receive a blessing from the gods..." She mumbled as she contemplated the implications.

"Well without your help this would have been a lot worse. The Empire owes you a great debt, as do the good people of this village" She said as she bowed her head lightly in respect.

"We'll be here all week" Haythem grinned as he sheathed his sword and tossed the bandit leader's sword to Selena.

"All part of being heroes I guess," Galahad said before turning to his brother. "Let's go get the girls" he continued as he began to turn away from the group, his brother shortly following.

"I'm proud of you little bro, looks like you saved me this time around, huh" Galahad smiled as he threw his arm around his brother while Joker landed on the other shoulder.

"Figure that would even us up is all, get ready to start doing your own chores again" Haythem chuckled in response as he petted the large black bird.

Galahad took a quick look back at the bodies of the bandits that lined the ground and the villagers cheering his family name once again. His brow furrowed as he felt the weight of the lives taken and the lives saved hit him, blood stained hand clenched tightly. "So this is the warrior's path"

"If you ever want to become knights of the empire come find me in the capital!" Selena shouted from behind them as they made their way into the forest.

Imperial Training Grounds - Present

"Did he just...teleport?" Princess Malta thought to herself as Haythem seemed to completely vanish, only to reappear standing in front of Galahad as a gust of wind blew his hair back.

"Well that was anticlimactic?" Haythem mumbled as he looked down to see that both swords had effectively shattered when striking Galahad's glowing chestplate at terminal velocity.

The crowd was completely silent, having absolutely no idea what had just happened.

"I doubt anyone...or anything for that matter could have dodged that strike if it makes you feel better" Galahad congratulated as he discarded his half-broken shield and chipped sword before he took his brother into a playful headlock.

"Hey, come on" Haythem said as he wrestled to get out of the hold "I knew you were pretty beefy but I didn't actually expect the swords to fucking explode" he laughed. "We'll call it a draw this time" He conceded as his brother finally released him.

"Shows over folks, thanks for coming by!" Galahad yelled to the crowd as he made his way over to the princess. "Equipment check completed your highness, results were.... underwhelming" he grinned as she softly punched his armored chest in response.

He reeled backward as if hit by a colossal blow before clutching his torso and dramatically falling to the ground much to the princesses chagrin.

She glanced down at her fist for a brief confused moment before failing to contain a smile.

"Medic! This man needs medical attention!" Haythem yelled enthusiastically as he ran then slid towards his brother on the ground and pretended to deliver CPR as the crowd burst into laughter.

"I'm demoting both of you to royal jesters for a week" the princess scoffed before she spun around and marched up the nearby stairs towards the palace, her pair of royal guards in tow.

"Good one your highness" Haythem complimented as she walked out of earshot. "Wait she can't do that...can she?" he whispered to his brother with a concerned voice.

"Of course not......on an unrelated note, you still have those juggling balls?" Galahad smiled in response.