Author's rant

I talk too much. It's almost as long as today's chapter.. but that's 5 pages!

So yeah, this is gonna be a little awkward today... I have to make this very clear: Mavros IS Kaneis.

It's supposed to be very clear in the story itself, but if you somehow miss that you'll be more confused than a man from 800 years ago stuck in a large modern city... So yeah, you won't get a thing.

Oh and about today's title "Betrayal"... I like that, because it can be interpreted in so many ways... Oh so many ways. Despite this fact, I have a single betrayal in mind for which the title stands... see if you can recognize it! I'll be dropping a few additional hints in the near future.

Why did i choose to do this name change? It's actually symbolic in parts, and in parts helping to avoid confusion in the future of the story! And... it's just pretty practical for him. I will be dropping hints for this, too in the near future... It's connected to the betrayal mentioned in the title!

I have investigated a previous comment and figured out, yes... Mavros (Aka Kaneis!) is very gullible... it's just in his nature. I'll explain sometime soon exactly why that is... When i figure out where exactly to force-feed y'all that chunk of background. (Because really, who cares about a 3-page backstory I made on that alone. Most dry read EVER.)

I should probably figure out where to incorporate that thing about the mage-symbol that seems like it could be a little confusing... that won't be now either.

I'll try to keep future amounts of main character getting his butt kicked to a minimum, I guess you don't really enjoy that he isn't too op?

Oh and as always, constructive criticism and general comments are most welcome and appreciated. I am still looking to become a better writer.

Actual Story:

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“Slipping… Slipping… I’m gonna turn to ash…” Mavros eyes became frantic, as the blue glow slowly faded on his mace. Slowly, terror spread in Mavros’ eyes.

“Ptoo!”

“He’s down, no need to expend more energy.” a familiar voice said.

The flame vanished as quickly as it had come.

Mavros eyes filled with hate, as his vision grew darker and darker.

He threw his dagger in the direction of Bell in one last fit of rage.

Ding.

She blocked it with ease. Mavros' vision turned completely black.

Thump.

Mavros was groggy as he opened his eyes a bit.

“Yeah. Just dump him there, he is practically dead already. Might as well get the satisfaction of knowing he suffered.” The voice was that of Bell.

Splosh.

Mavros felt his breathing being forcefully stopped. Mavros spun around, and gasped for air. He stared at the back of Bell, from amidst a pile of filth and unidentified excrement.

Bell felt the gaze and turned around. “I see you are already awake... If we ever see you anywhere near the palace, we will kill you.”

Dark cold eyes could be felt behind her veil as she continued

“And if we ever hear of someone claiming to be the hero… We will kill you. From now on, you are no-one. As such, your name will now be Kaneis… Literally, nobody. If we ever hear of someone calling himself Mavros… We will kill you.”

She turned her back to the groggy Mavros.. Nay, Kaneis.. and left. (Just to clarify once more. Mavros = Kaneis)

Kaneis slowly got up, and wiped dirt off his face. An unmistakable odor of human waste seeped into his nose. He gazed down at himself, to realize he was wearing nothing but undergarments and human waste.

Kaneis sighed. “Crap...Literally.”

Kaneis looked around - apparently he was in the outskirts of a small town, not far away from Voltimum… Yet Voltimum was off-limits for him. In this particular condition, there’s a fair chance this very town was also off-limits. So he decided against entering the town.

Kaneis slowly made his way up from the pile of filth and started walking out of town.

He headed towards a nearby forest - or at least he hoped it was as near as it looked.

While walking, Kaneis started thinking the things over - in a last ditch effort to stay sane.

“First, they all say everything and everyone i knew is dead… Then they steal everything from me … And not only my money and equipment, but my title and even my friggin’ name.”

Kaneis realized the futility of the situation and focused on the present. He walked towards the forest and when he finally arrived he already knew what he wanted to do.

As a man hardened by the conditions eight hundred years ago, he knew how to make a bow.

The first thing Kaneis did was look for vines and sticks.

A good while later, he found a stick he could use - when he held it and stepped on the middle, it would bend without breaking. He had previously picked up a longer stick he planned to use as a melee weapon.

Kaneis was content with not finding any vines - it didn’t really matter. He found some natural fiber instead and wove it together to create a bowstring for himself. It took a while and he started growing hungry… But more so thirsty.

“Too bad I don’t have a way to boil water… I guess I’ll just borrow a little from a well somewhere.” he thought to himself.

Fortunately for Kaneis he stumbled upon a little farm outside the town. It was already getting dark when he arrived.

He sighed as he started pulling up a bucket of water from the small well… He knew what was coming next.

SPLASH!

he poured the entire bucket of cold water over his naked body, rinsing off the dirt in the process.

Kaneis hair was standing up from the cold, as he went to one of the barns. He slept there, and left in the early morning after filling up his belly with water.

After walking along the path leading to the farm for quite some time, he encountered a cemetery. Just outside the cemetery stood a pitch-black tree with red fruits.

Kaneis' stomach rumbled and complained. “Okay. Breakfast it is.” he thought to himself.

He walked over and reached out for a low-hanging red fruit the size of a large cherry.

Then he felt a sudden slap on his hand. He turned his gaze away from the delicious looking fruit to see the man who had slapped him with the flat of a sword.

“You better not eat that.”

“Why is that?” Kaneis asked

“It’s a death fruit. As the name implies, they are lethal to humans.”

Kaneis finally noticed the distinct features of the man in front of him. He wore a hat with a large shadow all the way around it. He had a dark robe on, with a nice white fluffy shirt. The man was incredibly pale. Whatever hair Kaneis could spot under the hat was completely white… Oh and his iris - completely red.

“Uhh.. Thanks for the advice, I should be on my way.” Kaneis quickly said.

“Say, you look like you are down on your luck, do you need some help?”

Kaneis pondered for a second. “Okay, let me just level with you here… We are close to a graveyard - the direction from which you came, no less.”

“That’s true, I was enjoying a stroll on the graveyard. I was just visiting my grandfather's crypt before… What’s your point?” The man asked.

“And you are pale… And you have red eyes… So… Since I don’t want to be breakfast, I don’t think I should go anywhere with a vampire.”

The man’s expression changed. “I’m NOT a vampire! Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“... But you came from a graveyard… and you are so pale.. And your eyes are completely red… I bet you have fangs.”

“I don’t have fangs!”

“Care to prove that?”

The man sighed. “I’m Ryko. If you don’t want my help, you can continue walking around in underwear.”

“... I guess you have a point. I’m Ma-... Kaneis. Lead the way.”

“Fake name, huh?”

Kaneis didn’t answer.

The two of them started walking.

“Where are we headed?” Kaneis asked.

“To my father’s castle.”

“I hope you are kidding me.”

“What, why?” Ryko asked in surprise.

“A castle? I’m about to be breakfast, aren’t I?”

“We aren’t cannibals, what are you talking about?”

“But Vampires?”

“We’ve been over this already. If you must know, I was born like this.” Ryko said.

“A vampire?”

“No! pale and with red eyes. It’s really quite a disadvantage. I burn easily in the sun.” Ryko flicked his hat. “Hence the hat.”

“By Draconia, I must be getting mad following you.” Kaneis sighed.

“Well… You do have a bow without any arrows, and a random stick…” Ryko sniffed the air “and an interesting odor.”

“Oh… right. Can’t argue with that.” Kaneis said.

Ryko sniffed the air again “Is that the smell of loo?”

“...”

“Oh, right…” Ryko started. “When we get to the castle, you better not bring up any talk of vampires… My father hates that.”

“Gotcha, no talk of vampires.”

“Good, we finally understand each other.” Ryko nodded a bit.

Kaneis was silent for a moment. “You’re actually quite unfortunate to be a man… If you were a woman, you’d probably be considered a beauty.”

Ryko scratched his neck. “I guess I’ll consider that a compliment.”

An awkward walk later, they finally arrived at the Castle.

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Thanks for reading!

I hope I made it clear enough: Mavros = Kaneis