Previously, on Frozen in time

After winning a war, Mavros the hero killed a perma-frost hydra, but at a terrible price. He was encapsulated in ice for 800 years, and when he was awoken by High queen Ruby he was betrayed. He met up with the two white haired and red eyed siblings, Lamia and Ryko. A bounty was placed on Mavros (Who, by the way is called Kaneis because of the woman named Bell) with the vague description of "black haired person". Additionally, he just arrived at the second largest city in the empire - Torpedo city and went praying at the torpedo altar, in order to replenish his electrical powers.

Our story continues when our three heroes decided to split up and look for information.

Author's rant

I'm gonna be trying out some stuff, and making some changes here and there to what you know, and what you think you know about the story thus far. You might get to know our hero a little better.

Actual Story:

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“I’ll go to the inn and listen for information, you two can ask around.” Kaneis said.

The two of them nodded once, and Kaneis headed off towards the local inn.

It was a medium sized building, with two floors. The inn was made from solid gray stone boulders and wooden supports in the corners and around the windows. Kaneis stepped onto the wooden floor with his leather boots. Clack-Clack-Clack. The door slammed behind him. A small legion of people looked at him - ragged and worn travelers, locals coming for their evening drink with a bunch of friends, rugged veteran mercenaries, some local garrison guards, as well as several exotic and interesting individuals - a couple of fighters from the edge of the great desert all carrying curved swords and exotic headwraps, a handful of mages sitting around a single table with an orb in the middle and a handful of scattered beers with large heads of foam.

The gazes of all these people landed on the newcomer. for a brief time their eyes rested on Kaneis before they resumed to their business.

Kaneis walked up to the wooden desk where a stout bartender was rubbing a mug off with a ragged piece of cloth. “What cin’ i get yer?” he said in an almost comically over-the-top accent.

“Uh… I’ll have a beer.”

The bartender eyed him up and down. “Ya, but what kin’a beer?”

“.. Mead?”

The bartender hesitated for a moment.

“Barbarian… I like that… Rose! get im’ a mead from e’ cellar!” he howled at a busy looking woman with brown hair and white and brown dress going all the way down to her feet. She glanced over at the tall, dark haired bartender and made a short nod in confirmation.

“Not typical around here, huh?” Kaneis said to the bartender.

“A man like yer should join a mercenary troop, instead of runnin’ around ‘lone like a thief in the night” the bartender said.

Kaneis looked down the table, without moving a muscle.

“A’right, yer got yer reasons, I see. Just don’t make any trouble in ‘ere and we’re good.”

Shortly after the busy woman called rose appeared with a mug of mead. Kaneis dropped a silver coin on the counter and proceeded to sit in silence, listening for any indication of gossip about army movements, the woman named ‘impaler’ and other pieces of useful information. After a few sips an unusual noisy bunch from one of the tables called Rose over. They spoke a little while, and finally she headed straight towards Kaneis.

Rose came by and poked Kaneis on the shoulder. He stared at her with an empty gaze in response.

“Ahem… Those gentlemen wish to talk to you… outside.” she pointed at the small troop of guards from the local garrison that were stirring up noise.

Kaneis expression changed immediately. “Did they say why?”

Rose shook her head. “Better go with them..” she simply replied looking at the ground, before heading over to the next table.

Kaneis stood up from his barstool and walked over the wooden floor towards the guardsmen. “I hear you’ve been asking for me.” He politely said. “I’m Kaneis, pleased to meet you.” he extended an arm to the first guard.

The guard frowned “We should head outside.”

“Certainly.” Kaneis said with a pleasant smile. Two guardsmen left for the outside, and another three followed behind Kaneis.

The stone road under Kaneis feet looked like an unpleasant place to lay, he thought to himself.

“I assume you want something from me. Am I being detained, or are you merely wishing for a bribe or an inquiry of what I do here? which is it?” Kaneis asked.

the a man stepped forward, looking different than the rest as he was wearing a black hooded robe. “I know who you are. I’ve been watching you ever since you left the castle.”

“Why?”

“Orders. Stop with the questions. You’re coming with us.”

Kaneis drew his sword. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Stop bluffing, you could hardly keep up with an old, lone ex-mercenary. Your companions did the heavy lifting.”

Kaneis sighed. “You know… Magic comes in many different shapes and forms. But the two main categories are personal power and god-granted power… You left me at the gates to set this up, correct?”

The hooded man looked a little confused “This is of no concern, I don’t care if you bought a throwing knife, you are outmatched. Surrender!”

“You don’t know what I’ve been up to.” Kaneis smirked. “You know who I am… so why do you take me lightly? God granted powers lessen when used… Of course, to replenish it you need favour of the god. Favour is gained from praying… and finally, your favour decays over time. I haven’t prayed for nearly a millennium… but last night, I did. I was not known as a hero for nothing. Now come at me if you dare.”

Kaneis pointed his sword at the hooded man.

“GET HIM!” the man howled, and four guards charged Kaneis, while the hooded man drew a bow.

“i̱lektrikí̱s!”

Sparks of blue electrical energy flew from Kaneis’ sword.

the four guardsmen approached rapidly, with swords drawn ready to skewer Kaneis.

“MORTIS!”

BZZ BZZ ZAM!

a blue jolt of pure electrical energy jumped from one guard to the next, leaving a spasming guard behind for each jump. Finally the electrical energy jumped straight through the arrow held by the bow of the hooded man, shocking him as well.

Kaneis took a deep breath. “I really don’t like this smell of charred flesh. If you had been mounted, it would not have been this easy.”

a faint voice resounded “Urghh.”

Kaneis glanced over at the hooded man “Still awake, huh? Such is the fate of the last in the chain of lighting.”

Kaneis grabbed the hooded man, and dragged him to his feet. “You’re coming with me. You’re going to be my free pass out.”

“I need to find my companions. Any traps for them?”

The hooded man remained silent.

“I asked you a question. You better answer, or I’ll show you the old fashioned way of asking questions to people who attempted to murder you.”

The hooded man glared at Kaneis.

Kaneis sighed. "Okay then... Remain silent. If you say as much as a single word, you’ll be struck by thunder from the skies themselves.”

Kaneis pulled the robe off the man and put it on. He then put the right arm of the man around his neck and walked with him, as if he had been drinking too much.

Kaneis walked towards the gates,.Not long after he started walking, on the wide - but widely abandoned - main street. Kaneis’ first challenge arrived. A troupe of city guards headed his way, in gray chainmail and a tabard with the city insignia - a black outline of a torpedo(-ray) on a turquoise background. Two handfuls of men walking as well as two mounted guards were about to cross his path.

Kaneis lowered his head, covering his face with the hood, and started walking onward. As the guard crossed paths with Kaneis he spoke up. “Inquisitor Adrian?”

Kaneis responded with silence.

“What happened?”

Hesitantly, Kaneis spoke. “He had too much.. got in a fight.”

“Adrian doesn’t drink… And he’s not even a fighter”

Yet again, Kaneis answered with a deafening silence. The smell of smoke filled the air, and the low hum of fires burning in each and every house could be heard, as Kaneis stood motionless in silence.

Adrian spoke up. “This kid had too much himself. He’s going to sleep it off in the barracks.”

Kaneis flinched and gazed warily at the Inquisitor who had just defended him.

The guard eyed Kaneis up and down.

“All right, I guess that explains something. Just be careful, there’s an a-class bounty on the loose in the city.”

“Who might that be?” Kaneis asked.

“A man known as Mavros… Just look out for suspicious pink-haired citizens and you should be good.”

“Pink haired?” Kaneis said with a voice changing from curious to anger midway.

“Exactly my thoughts. Take care.”

For a moment, Kaneis stood still as the guards passed by, each of them oblivious to the fact he was the very man they sought. A single phrase played over and over in Kaneis mind. “Pink hair.”

Kaneis snapped out of his thoughts as the man next to him mumbled something unintelligible. Though Kaneis thought he heard a slight laughter. Hastily he moved towards the city gates. Finally the surprisingly small wooden palisade showed itself. On the way in, the gates had been entirely open, this was not the case at this time. The palisade consisted of two separate wooden walls, made from large stakes that would be moved with the expansion of the city. The walls were only a small hindrance to attackers, and the city itself relied as such more on manpower for defense - the one thing which it seemed to have plenty of. The gates were merely two wooden gates on each their wall, with the stakes making a pathway through the no-mans zone between the walls. The walls themselves were merely three meters tall.

“HALT! who goes there, in the darkness of the night?” a guardsman atop the gates said, with a crossbow pointed at Kaneis. Him and a dozen of his fellow guardsmen were stationed atop the wall with crossbows, and seemed to have nothing better to do than point them at innocent travelers.

“Inquisitor Adrian asked to be taken outside the walls.”

“Nobody leaves the walls at night. He should know that… And so should you, yet you don’t.” he coughed. “Enough with the games, take off your hood and state your name”

“I’m not allowed to, according to my mission.” Kaneis insisted.

“It’s either that or become an artistic interpretation of a bolt quiver.” he waved his crossbow.

“Let me through or the Inquisitor will become a dagger sheath.” Kaneis threatened.

“Ah, you're the A-class bounty. What arrogance to think you can walk straight out of here. Our accuracy with the crossbow is renowned, you’re dead before you can even stab him.”

“Care to risk it? I’ve killed more men than you have shot bolts. Now open the gates.”

“Mavros…” A familiar voice said.

“Lamia?”

Kaneis turned his head, and saw Lamia and Ryko step out of the shadows from a nearby alley.

“It’s over… You better give up.” Ryko said, staring directly at Kaneis.

“With you here, We ca-”

Lamia shook her head. “No, Mavros. It’s over.”

A third character stepped out of the shadows.

“You heard the woman. You better give up, Mavros the hero.” the tall man clad in blue mage robes as well as dark gray steel full-plate chestpiece and leg protectors. As he stepped forwards his black leather boots came into the light as well.

“You might not have heard of me, I’m duke Aequus. The man who finally will end the shameful spot on Phoenician history known as Mavros.”

“What do you mean?”

“Really? You think we don’t know?” Aequus said.

Mavros responded with silence.

“You were never a commander or hero. You were the glorious first high queen's pet. A man who was honored, yet his greatest achievement was to disappear.”

“Our historians have found the truth.”

Aequus continued.

“Born and raised by petty farmers, this little runt sucked up to the powerful and beautiful queen. She took pity on him, and trained him for a while… And he followed her, like a puppy… He couldn’t even defend himself or the queen properly as they were both captured in battle. He couldn’t even die for his queen properly… When they were finally freed and went to battle, he just barked empty orders, that came straight from the queen herself. Essentially, a glorified repeating monkey! Hailed as the greatest hero in our eight hundred year history, known far and wide! Mavros the Coward!” Aequus spat on the ground in disgust.

“In a pitiful attempt to prove your usefulness you charged a permafrost hydra head on, like the pathetic idiot you are. You will give Poenica’s line the credit it deserves. As well as all our real great heroes… Like the true tenebrae hero… Capsicum Annuum and Mihole the wise!”

He sighed. “Poor, poor Adrian. This filth will soak you.”

“While that all may be true... I’m still Mavros.” Mavros looked up from the ground, straight at Aequus. “And I will not go quietly into the night.”

Placing the Inquisitor between him and Aequus, Mavros turned.

Instantly, Mavros froze, staring at a face he had hoped never to see again.

“Where are you going?” Ruby asked smirking only on the right side.

“You… You are supposed to be at Voltimum!”

“What battle? We aren’t at war, as far as I know.”

“What?!” Mavros said with a look of fear and surprise on his face.

Exactly from his left, he heard Lamia. “With this the deal is done, right?”

The four were now placed in a square formation around Mavros. A dozen guards were still pointing their crossbows at Mavros.

“Give up, Mavros.” Ryko said.

“Ryko… Lamia… Why?”

Ryko sighed. “We will see our mother again. This was the deal from the start. It’s nothing personal… Just… give up.”

“I thought we were…”

“Friends? allies? we’ve known each other for the better part of a week… I am sorry, stranger.” Ryko said.

Duuz... Duuz.. Duuz.

Mavros head turned to look at Aequus who merely smirked. Several purple magical gates which consisted of two circles, filled with inscriptions in the gap between them appeared one after another.

After a total of eight had appeared Mavros noticed Aequus was swinging a sling… A sling at full speed about to release a fist sized object with incredible power. Mavros threw the Inquisitor forwards, moving backwards himself from the inertia, and at that moment Aequus released.

WOOSH SNAP!

For every magical gate the fist sized metal ball passed the speed picked up what seemed two-fold, leaving the wooden palisade with a gaping hole.

Ryko’s eyes glowed red, and with incredible haste he snatched the inquisitor and stopped next to Lamia on the other side of the square formation, holding Adrian firmly over his shoulder.

“Vampires…” Mavros whispered. “So it was true.”

Mavros grit his teeth. “I will not go quietly! I am Mavros, First knight of the freedom federation, Follower of Torpedo!”

“Torpedo i̱lektrikí̱s Mortis!”

Bzz Bzz Bzz

Waves of thunder struck out, Striking Ryko and Lamia, jumping to high queen Ruby, who merely held out a fistful of flames, and quenched the thunder as it arrived. Lamia and Ryko shook it off without much complaining.

Twak Twak Twak!

Crossbow bolts were released, and Mavros grabbed his shield from under the robe and held it sideways, ducking to protect himself.

Klak Klak

Woosh Woosh Woosh.

A familiar sound reached Mavros' ears, as Aequus swung his sling.

WOOSH SNAP!

Mavros hastily threw his shield in between him and the metal ball, which thundered towards him, and struck the shield with such incredible force, that it warped -

KRRR SNAP!

- and made a large hole in the shield, barely missing Mavros head.

“Yikes!”

Mavros eyes darted between all four opponents, plus the gate full of crossbowmen, and determined the easiest target could very well be the queen herself.

Mavros darted at queen Ruby, Broken shield held high. With a short word he started glistering with electrical sparks.

“MOVE!” he shouted in command.

WOOOSH!!!

Mavros threw himself to the ground, as Aequus who had leapt through the very magical gates he had made to shoot mavros... and Aequus arrived in the blink of an eye, this time making portals turned the opposite way, apparently slowing his speed on the other side of Mavros.

“Don’t think for a second you’ll be touching the queen!”

Mavros dashed through the same portals Aequus had just arrived through, for every step feeling heavier, yet managing to accelerate between each of the eight gates.

“Coming for me in melee? You’re more stupid than I thought.” Aequus smirked.

After pressing through the last gate, Mavros sent a sword towards Aequus, which was blocked in an instant.

DING

tap.

Mavros threw himself backwards through the gates - and his guess was spot on. The one side speeds objects op, and the other slows them, leaving Mavros with a rocket-like speed away from the gates the way he had originally come.

WOOSH! Mavros left in the blink of an eye at incredible speed.

Aequus sighed. Mavros was already far out of earshot.

“With this, it’s done.” Aequus said. “Ryko and Lamia, feel free to go after him, you had some ploy of your own, right?”

Ryko nodded “But what of the impaler?”

“I will help you retrieve her. Fear not.” Aequus answered.

Ryko and Lamia ran after Mavros with incredible speed.

“With this, and your previous de-legitimation of the hero… he will no longer pose a threat. His spirit is broken, and will be of no help to Poenica now.”

Queen Ruby nodded. “Let’s get back to the actual business we have here, shall we?”

Aequus put his right hand on his left side of the chest. “As you wish, my queen.”

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Thanks for reading, hope you liked it!

I also hope I didn't confuse you all too much, let's just say some of the stuff Mavros has been told isn't the entire truth.

Oh, and the heroes are actually named after people I feel have helped me a great deal in writing... Guess who?

Regardless, I'll see you next week.