Chapter 8: Demon's Reign: Trials (H&K)

(Note: The letters means that this story section is Harald and Kriel, and Jarald is taking the King position.)

Harald woke up with surprise when he discovered that Jarald was not sleeping above him.

Then everything from the day before came back. He wondered if Kriel would throw him against the wall like Jarald did. He looked quite muscular under all those clothes.

Peering over the edge, he saw, to his surprise, that Kriel was already awake. The king seemed lost in thought though, as if a daze.

"Lord?"

The king looked very surprised when he spoke.

"I'm sorry, did I disturb you?"

"No, no, not at all.."Kriel shook his head as if he just came in contact with reality. "Just, was..thinking about something."

"I thought nobles sleep in."

Kriel grimaced. "I dunno about the others, but I certainly don't. I rather not sleep away my days."

Harald chuckled."You'll certainly won't..."

Jarald woke up in shock. He wasn't in his room. Then he remembered the "stupid deal about a noble's business" he made yesterday.

"Arghhhhh. Can't believe I did that." Jarald cursed himself for stupidity, and resigned himself to look at his surroundings.

The room, which seemed much friendlier in the morning light, was completely surrounded by books. Thick ones, thins ones, well-worn, new, leather covers, or just plain paper bound, they were stacked in neat piles or shelved. A small desk of cherry stood in the corner, with scrolled parchments and a ink well, while a dresser propped up against another. A small table set stood in front of a cold, dead fireplace, with a basket of steaming loaves inside. A rainbow of lights splashed across the oak floor, and as Jarald rolled out of the bed, his feet touched a firm, red velvet rug with a pattern of leaves scattered around it. Besides the carved designs of the furniture, and the bed, it looked like a miniature version of the castle's library.

"Huh. Quite simple." Jarald helped himself to loaves on table, and rummaged through the dresser. Nothing was of his size though, so he shoved it closed.

A scrolled parchment was placed upon the dresser. The squire broke the seal, and Kriel's fine, spidery script jumped out.

To J or H (In hope you can read.):

Considering that you have no idea what I do, I wrote down what I usually do this moon. You don't have to follow though.

First off, clothes are in a box underneath the encyclopedias. I got your measurements from the tailor's, and had garments made.

Please take care of my books, graphs, maps, and sketches. I would be most angered if anything happens to them.

Usually, during workdays, I am in the gardens in the morning, until 12 o' clock. I've arranged lunch in the courtyard, alone, so you won't have to run into anyone. After lunch, I tend to either head to the library or observatory for four hours or so. At seven, I head out for an hour outside of the castle, then retreat at eight for supper in my room. I usually wander or stay in my room until ten, so during this time you can visit your brother, SECRETLY.

Restdays are spent the same way in the mornings, and after that I wander outside castle grounds. I suggest you take a weapon with you, and saddle my horse Epona.

Pelros in the Observatory can help you if you have any questions.

Enjoy your time. You'll enjoy the food, definitely.

Kriel.

After finishing the letter, Jarald started to roll it back up, decided better of it, and tore the paper into shreds. He searched for the box, changed, and headed to the gardens.

"Jarald, you're on time, I see..." Kriel gulped when he heard the twin's name.

"Psst. Say, 'yes sir'." Harald nudged the king.

Stammering, with a dry mouth, Kriel managed a feeble "Yes sir." and the Knightmaster walked by.

"Jarald, you seem flustered today." A squire standing next to Kriel sneered at him. "What's up, dead tongue?"

Kriel ignored him, since he didn't know who he was. Harald however, leaned over and tweaked his nose.

"Thanks, Barvoski, but as you see, Jarald isn't available today. I appreciate your concern."

Barvoski looked like he was going to throw back a sharp retort, but instead, grinned and slapped Harald on the back.

"Right," Silveryn said, when he finished with the attendance. "we'll begin duel practicing today."

"Shoot." Harald muttered, and turned to Kriel. "Are you okay with dueling?"

"Sort of.."

"Sort of. Really." Harald shook his head in awe. "You just went and annihilated all those pros."

Kriel stopped, a look of recognition spreading across his face. "Oh shoot..."

"Huh?"

"Is Jarald good at dueling?"

"Not really, why- Oh Peruse's Tears." Harald smacked himself on the forehead. "Well, he's gonna have a lot to look forward to when he comes back." Harald laughed.

Suddenly, a grrrrr was heard.

"What, what was that?!" The squire furiously scanned their surroundings

"Uh...it's my stomach..." Kriel blushed a bright red. "I haven't dueled that hard in a while..."

He could only watch, embarrassed, as the squire collapsed into a mess of laughter.

"Whew! This tastes great! What is it?" Kriel pushed away the bowl that he was eating from, empty, and completely licked clean.

"I thought you're a king..." Harald was staring at the king with surprise.

"And?"

"Wouldn't you have better table manners? And that's stew." Harald was still on his first bowl, and had stopped eating to see Kriel gobble up three bowls in under ten minutes.

"You're gonna get sick."

"Nah. Anyhow,what do you people do after this?"

"Uhh, free time. We're only allowed to either go to the library, horseback riding, archery practice, and..huh, well, training grounds."

"Mhm. See ya then."

"Huh?" But the king already left.

Harald made a move to go after him, but suddenly, a bright mess of red curls tackled him. "Harald!" Seriya yelled with enthusiasm.

"Mff uff." Harald was having the unpleasant experience of getting his face ground into the hard pavement.

"Seriya!" Sol can running up to the pair and pulled Seriya off.

As the squire stood up and brushed himself off, Sol asked the question which was bugging him.

"Who was that?"

Harald did his best not to show shock, but felt his right eyelid twitch slightly.

"What do you mean?" He asked with caution.

Seriya giggled. "Oh, Harald-san, we know that not Jarald-kun. He don't, eh, fight like that!"

(Cut in. ((Lol fail attempt at giving Seriya a Japanese accent.)) Done. Not intended to make her sound like a Weeaboo. I know Japanese, okay.)

"Uh..."

Sol, who usually didn't give threats, decided to throw one now. "If you don't tell us..." he fumbled for a convincing threat.

"Huh?"

"We'll tell Knightmaster!" Seriya helpfully added.

"Tell me what?"

"Crap." was all that Harald could manage.

Kriel originally intended to head to the library, but the feeling of foreboding had pried and pulled at him all day.

So instead of heading to the comfort of books, he found himself heading towards the castle's dark, cold storehouse to get that.

It wouldn't hurt, right?

"Lira Avol." Kriel muttered the words under his breath while picturing light, and sure enough, clear blue hovering ball of light appeared around shoulder height, lighting up the dark weaponry.

He stumbled a bit, tripping over boxes that he thought were shadows.

At the very corner, the dark hid a long slim box made of ghostly white ivory. Red rubies ornamented the box and glimmered in the bluish light, shimmering mystically as if they were burning with flame from their hearts.

"Lova Aril." The light went out, leaving the king in darkness. But not for long.

He blew gently on the box, and it responded with a warm glow of crimson

Something inside it clicked, and out slid a glowing, but very faintly, sword, similar to an Italian style dueling rapier. It was silver from tip to hilt, and a ice blue sapphire was set. Words were written, and as Kriel tilted it, they shone in gold.

Moda Quade Necess ne neque ol Calig

Only when needed and never for darkness.

"Never for darkness, huh." Kriel smiled grimly. "No one ever stays pure.."

And with that, Kriel sheathed his mother's sword in a black sheath. "Lira Avol." And left the weaponry.

The box shut with a sigh, as if it was in reminisce.

Kriel was locking the door, when someone came up from behind.

"Hey." Jarald said.

The king turned around quickly, and warily. When he saw it was the squire, he visibly relaxed, but kept a defensive position.

"Hey."

"Don't hey me." Jarald gestured to the light hovering next to Kriel. In his haste, he forgot to take it out. "Are you some mage or something?"

"No?" Kriel didn't feel like sharing his knowledge, especially with someone like Jarald.

"Great. All we need is some ruler to have magic now."

Kriel was sick of hearing everything he used was another way to "torture" the subjects. "So?" he snapped.

"So? You're father also used magic you know."

"That doesn't make me like him. Nothing makes me like him. Stop using your stupid, 'oh so superior' false knowledge as if every noble was your enemy!"

"They are."

"And, so what? It's not like all of us are the same!"

"Well!" Jarald was snarling now. "All the ones I've met are just foolish, selfish, power-hungry bastards! They take everything from you! You may not know this, but there are people out there! Starving, enslaved, killed, or tortured, all for your pleasures!"

"I KNOW THAT. THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO CHANGE IT. AND YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEMS, AS I SAID BEFORE. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A NOBLE'S LIFE SO FAR. IT'S NOT ALL FUN, OR PLEASURE." Kriel reached his breaking point, and yelled.

"Oh, really? Prove it."

"YOU don't have to deal with people trying to backstab you for their own needs. You don't have to witness a punishment or killing of a convict. You don't have to feel helpless as people die because of someone of the same rank as you. And...you've never...seen someone killed for a 'greater cause'."

"Greater cause?" Jarald was a bit startled at all the problems he never thought about, but the last one intrigued him. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." Kriel said gruffly, trying his hardest not to release the tears that came without warning. He hoped the squire wouldn't notice.

Unfortunately, with his experience of Harald doing the exact same thing, Jarald noticed.

"What's...wrong?" he asked awkwardly. He didn't expect that such a cold acting figure would cry.

"None of your business, nosy fool."

Jarald didn't know what to do. If I was Harald, I would make her lau- Her? He wondered why he mixed up genders. Taking a second glance, he realized that Kriel looked similar to Seriya's way of frustration.

And he remembered that position. From a while back.

That way Kriel rubbed the teary eyes and glanced away, whenever Jarald tried to capture the face.

And the position seemingly similar to defeat.

Same as his mother, that day when they had to leave the village.

"I'm all right. It's nothing. Don't you worry, okay?"

"Uh..." The squire opened his mouth as Kriel finally got a hold on the tears.

"What." The king snapped.

"I don't really know how to put this, but...Kriel...are you a female?"

Notes: DUN DUN DUN.

So anyhow, you saw Seriya's fail Japanese accent.

And how long this is.

And how I make up MAGIKAL WERDS.

Mhm, training went pretty well.

Well, action's a starting!

Lol i stole Epona's name from Legend of Zelda...Link has a horse called that. :V

Chapter 7.5: The Demon's Reign: Choice

EDIT: NEVERMIND RANDOM PEOPLE MEETINGS FOR EACH ONE :D

Dur hur, okay, I'm dividing this thing into two, with "Harald's Path" and "Jarald's Path". They fight the same things. Basically, the only different thing is how the other reappears and how they treat situations...along with the starting chars, Seriya and Sol.

"Well..." Harald stated.

"No." Jarald cut in abruptly. "There's no point in getting accused for treason and such."

Kriel sighed. "This is why I'm tell you guys this moon. This moon, no one really pays attention to the king, and I rarely have anything to do, only creating some documents. That, I can do even without either of you doing it."

"I kind of think..." Harald started up again, only to have Jarald cut in again. "It's stupid."

"Jarald. Shut up." The squire bonked his brother on the head, and continued. "It sounds fun."

"FUN!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN FUN?!" Jarald yelled at the grinning Harald while rubbing his head.

"You're just too scared." Harald teased the fuming Jarald, who replied with an indignant "I AM NOT."

Kriel laughed. "So, who's gonna go?"

Harald wondered what made him accept the insanity of this.

Was he losing his mind?

I guess it can't hurt, besides getting caught. He laughed silently on how disgruntled Jarald looked when he made him promise to look after Kriel, considering how ignorant he was probably about a squire's life. Harald headed towards what was apparently Kriel's resting room.

He didn't notice someone watching him.

But he threw off a cold feeling of fear that flowed from those very eyes.

************************************

Jarald was pissed.

He didn't want to Harald to be the one who suffers punishment if he got caught.

So Jarald took the request, and stormed out on a very surprised pair.

I'm gonna get you for this, 'My lord'. He hissed at the thought of having to be what he despised with his heart.

Without warning, he turned around and snarled. "Stop spying on me. Come out now, or feel my fury."

Proditus scurried out, cowering under the gaze of the enraged Jarald.

"Filth, stay out of my sight for a month." Jarald had seen the stout, sneaky, and ragged advisor and hated him. Hated him for doing his best to gain attention from the nobility.

"Yes, My Lord." Proditus squeaked.

"You are...dismissed." The squire stumbled a bit on the command, whirled around, and continued heading towards the location of the resting room.

He did not see the advisor still standing, with malice laced in his eyes.

He did not notice the grin spreading across his face.

SPOOF:

"We're not doing it."

Kriel was disappointed. "Awww."

Kriel never talked to them again, but ruled as a fair king.

And evil probably never happened.

Probably.

...Probably.

Notes: Durhur, splitting! You'll see that Pont-Enemy Proditus is suspicious! (Proditus means Traitor in Latin, though he's not really a traitor...more like a power hungry foolish bastard.)

Harald will be whole numbers (8, 9, 10, etc.)

Jarald will be half numbers (8.5, 9.5, 10., etc.)

Whichever path you want!

ANYWAY YOU WANT IT

Chapter 7: The Demon's Reign: The Offer

Edits: Added Chapter numbers to prevent confusion. PLEASE CHECK EACH MONTH UNDER ARCHIVE.

"Back, huh." retorted Jarald, grumpily chained to the rest bed. This was his eleventh time trying to escape what he called a "torturing monotonous prison"; for the squire despised being idle, and would rather open his wounds again rather than staying indoors. " I still don't get why you keep bringing HIM along.." he scowled, refusing to lock eyes with Kriel.

"I'm not. He just wants to see you, that's all," Harald sighed with irritation at Jarald's attitude. "Besides, the Lord-"

"Kriel."

Harald continued on as if not interrupted. "-did save your ass, you muttonhead. And I can't very well tell off the Lord-"

Kriel coughed loudly, but Harald ignored him again.

"-to stay out, can I? He's above us. And Jarald, please stay in your room or Madame Karl warned me that she'll, er, increase the strength of your sleeping draught."

"But it's so boring in here...and those freaks come by and annoy me constantly."

"Seriya and Sol are not freaks."

"They're classified as freaks since they're mingling with people like me, so it's true. Tell them to stay away, will ya?" Jarald buried himself underneath his covers. Kriel was angry at how imprudent he was acting, and before Harald could stop him, he stamped towards the squire's bed, ripped off the covers, and proceeded to yell at him.

"YOU SELFISH INSOLENT JERK STOP INSULTING YOUR ONLY COMPANIONS-"

"I don't need companions. I do well on my own."

"STOP BEING A IDIOTIC BLIND NITWIT, YOU DON'T GET THAT THERE'S PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT YOU OKAY-"

"I DON'T need any pity! Especially from someone like you!"

"DOES IT GET INTO YOUR THICK HEAD? YOU'RE SO DENSE! A NOBLE'S LIFE IS NOT ALL PERFECT AND FUN AS YOU THINK-"

"WELL IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE IT, YOUR MAJEST-"

"SHUT THE BLOODY PIRERN UP. LISTEN YOU STEREOTYPICAL FOOL. YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE BAD PAST! YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO'S SUFFERED? WHAT ABOUT YOUR BROTHER?"

"THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH-"

"Yes it does." Kriel was still huffing from the yelling session. His change of tone stopped Jarald's ranting. "You're the one who's getting in trouble, and Harald has to always get you out. You're the one who's always complaining about what happened to your family and Harald always comforted you. What about Harald's thoughts and feelings? You're just a selfish IDIOT who only thinks of himself." Harald avoided Jarald's stunned look as Kriel went on. "And you, the pretentious, ignorant fool, believes you're so high and mighty because people choose to be harsh to you and you're better than those others since you can beat them up, and "teach them a lesson". And finally, those others that visit you, I don't know who they are, but if they risk getting treated like dirt just to visit you, and you're being rude to them, well, you seriously don't deserve anyone at all."

"I-" Jarald tried to say something but trailed off. The room was immersed in silence, only to be broken by the sound of Kriel clearing his throat.

"Well," he said hoarsely, "I'll be leaving now." Harald nodded dumbly at the king, and continued to stare with rapture at the blank wall.

Kriel left the room without so much a glance at the bedded squire.

"M-my lord. If you keep this up the Dukes and Duchesses will use this against you.." The short advisor struggled to keep up with the long strides of Kriel.

"Keep up what?" Kriel said mockingly.

"Th-those filthy squires.." Proditus flinched as the king promptly turned around and towered over the advisor.

"I order you not to call our subjects 'filthy', or you will get a lashing, understood?" Icy silver-blue eyes stared into frightened green ones.

"Yes sir, I'm sorry sir.." Proditus whispered in fear and scuttled away. Kriel sighed and kicked open the door to the throne room, where some were waiting.

"My Lord.." They all bowed. Kriel huffed and sat himself on a chair.

"Well, your affairs?"

"I request that Duke Inelia be hanged!" One duke yelled, while his duchness smiled sneakily.

"No, it is Duscea that must be punished!" Duke Inelia screeched in anger.

"You have performed treachery by insulting and plotting the downfall of the king behind his back!"

"How dare you lie! It is you, who is starting a rebellion and trying to overthrow the king for your own greedy means!"

"SILENCE!" Kriel ordered the two men. They fell silent, raging at each other, yet grinning with pleasure for the possibility of gaining more power.

"Papers, if you please, madame?" The servant, a bit shocked by the king's courtesy, hastened over with the charges in hand.

"As we see here..." Kriel began to read, "Duke Inelia is responsible for shipping weapons to our hostile enemies. Reports of the Duke's seal turned up in Alosia, and hidden forges were found in your fort." Inelia turned pale white while Duscea sneered with triumph as Kriel continued. "Reports that Duscea increased taxes upon his dukedom were brought in. Some claim they saw him bribing newspapers to print that I was planning to do the same to other areas. Those in anger are paid by the duke himself to gather groups. Duscea also made a speech that I was forcing him for the increasing, yet some say that he looks, 'potbellied' as ever." Duscea blushed at the incorporated insult. His stomach sick with fear, the duke glanced at the king, still browsing the papers. His duchess gave a short gasp.

"Both are you therefore are to be tried for treason and high offense of position."

Both dukes cowered before the stony gaze of Kriel. He smiled slowly with contempt and asked.

"Any questions?"

Looking at a flyer, Kriel sighed in displeasure. It was soon to be the month of Kaile, where subjects gave thanks to the God of Luck. The king was to attend the festivals and announce prizes for competitions. He found it all boring, for sitting for hours on end in the hot weather made him restless. Nothing interesting ever came up for even the dukes and duchesses got along during the month, eager to show off their skills.

While lamenting about the event, Kriel lightened with an idea...

"It's just a month you know." Back in the hospital, arguing with Jarald and Harald about switching places for a moon.

"Won't we get caught?" Harald was taken aback by Kriel's rashness and plan.

"Nope. Besides, you won't have to do anything, not even talk. I guarantee."

"Pfft. It looks like a king's life is simple." Jarald scoffed from his bed. Kriel, too intent on getting out of his role, grudgingly agreed.

"It's simple for this month. So please?"

Note: From here, I'm gonna divide this story into two parts. Ehehehe... Jarald's path, and Harald's path. Oh, and there's a bonus spoof soon~

Yeah the story sucks but I'm working hard peeps!

Pleaaaase comment! >:O

Chapter 6: The Demon's Reign: A past 2

Something...

It came.

"So you two survived...hm..? I thought the hiree would be good enough hm...? But you guys lived, hmm? And you two will die now...hmm?" It laughed, a chilling, fearful laugh.

Claws grabbed at us, and Jarald shoved me away.

"Jarald!"

"Only one, hmm? No matter, since I can always track the other, hmm? Eheheheh...or, want to watch your brother die...hmm? Better, yet, watch him die at the hands of your father, hmmm?"

And to the disbelief of my wretched soul.

Father.

"I rather let others do the dirty work hmm? Now..let's get the show started."

Father, no, the puppet lurched toward the struggling Jarald, while I stood frozen in fear, trapped by this horrible image, and the creature's piercing laugh.

None of this could be happening..

No..

NOOOO!

"No! You, you monster!" There was no thinking, no wondering of consequences. I picked up a knife and charged at the creature, only trying for Jarald. But 'father' attacked me. I fell the ground stunned, as he picked up the knife and creeped towards me.

"Harald! Harald! Run! Get up!" Jarald was screaming.

I couldn't do anything.

Closing my eyes, I waited for the end.

And in the midst of the darkness, I heard a swift slash of a sword, and the world faded to nothing.

Head hurting, my surroundings slowly came into focus as I woke up to a bleak world dimmly lit by dancing flames.

"Where..is this?" I asked myself, with no response. Suddenly, things rushed into mind and I lurched out of the blankets I had been lying in. Surveying the site, I saw a man, grizzled with brown whiskers and mousy brown hair.

Carefully, as to not wake him, I grabbed a short stick underneath a tree and painfully crawled towards the man, with no sound except a rustle of leaves and the crackling fire.

Steadily raising my stick, I prepared to hit when he grabbed me by the arm.

"Hey, you're not supposed to hit someone who helped you." the man said, not unkindly.

"How am I supposed to trust you?"

"Who else are you supposed to believe?"

"Nobody!" I growled and flopped back down on the forest floor, ignoring the man's stare into my back.

I guess I needed someone to trust.

Jarald was wary of him, but I grudgingly got along with the stranger, who was called Kirsod.

He treated us kindly, yet strictly taught us in fighting. If we failed to live up to expectations of him each day, we went to bed hungry. Which was often.

But slowly, Jarald and I learned the rules and actions of battle. "You won't need me at this rate." he sometimes chuckled and said, as he prepared meals. We never asked about him though. All questions were turned into other topics faster then we could recall that it was a question in the first place.

All was peaceful.

"And then?"

"Kirsod went and died on us." Harald said bitterly.

"How?"

"He used to be a prisoner of war and when he escaped out, murdered masses of people in revenge. Bounty hunters finally caught him unwary and stabbed him in the heart, but suffered death for it. He told us what he actually was, and regretted it. Jarald took it hard, I think, since Kirsod was like a second dad."

"And what about you..?" Kriel asked with caution.

"I don't know anymore. I just don't know. But we wandered for a while until we listed in the King's Guard, well, I listed and Jarald unwillingly joined. He doesn't like noble folks ever since that day."

"And now you're here." Kriel leaned against the wall. "Through everything that happened, why'd you come here?"

"Because it was the only place left to go that has some safety left."

The king was confused. "Safety..?"

Harald shrugged. "It won't matter to you. Let's get back, shall we?"

Note: Mehehe...okay, this one took a while since I was busy, procastinating, and such. Thanks to my friends though, managed to finish it.

Yeah, lame a cliche, but what else? I like tragic stories...ehehe.

Chapter 5: The Demon's Reign: A past 1

Edit: Fixed the dialog.

"Who's Lord Kriel..?"

"You..you don't know..."

"I'm not smart like you Harald." Jarald, still a bit woozy, snapped at his brother.

"Well, for the start, he's the king. You should know that at least." His brother stated hesiantly.

"WHAT?" A long silence held the room. Harald wondered when Jarald had become so ignorant.

"Hey guys?" Kriel broke the quiet. "I'm standing right here."

"But, you're a kid!"

"And? You're a kid too."

The squire proudly stuck out his chest, and winced from his injuries. "Well, unlike you, Mr. Fancy Pants, I can kill a monster."

"Jarald!"

"Oh? It looks like you're the one who was about to get killed."

"I was NOT." Jarald replied indigantly

"Says the person who DIDN'T get out of the way."

"Guys, guys!" Harald tried to ease the tension between the two. "Shouldn't we try to get along? Besides, Jarald, His Majesty, uh, saved you."

"Oh great." Jarald growled. "Now I'm in debt to some noble. The spawn of that damn bastard of the king. Probably gonna be no good as him."

"Hey! You're not so perfect either!"

"I'm better than any greedy noble. Look how your father did. Do I really expect better from his son?"

"DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE ME TO THAT THING."

The king was about to throw another lecture when Harald tackled Kriel.

"Mmph!"

"Not now."

He dragged the resisting figure out the doorway.

"What's your brother's problem? He's so biased and nasty." Kriel grumbled, "And you didn't have to drag me out. He needs someone to set him right."

"I reaaally don't think you'll have lived with him in that mood."

"Why?"

"He gets kind of..scary. I'll say."

"Still doesn't explain his attitude."

Harald sighed. "I will tell you, but don't tell anyone else, okay?"

"If you don't want me to tell anyone, why are you telling me of all people?"

"Because I feel like I can hold your word for it. Not many people would charge a Ebony Bear just to save some random squire's life."

Kriel shrugged. "Couldn't leave someone to die."

Harald laughed. "Usually, if it's dangerous, no one would risk their life to save someone. Especially Jarald. Not even the Knightmaster. 'He's worthless.' is something we hear a lot."

"That's har-" Kriel recalled his own troubles. Memories resounded..and that moment..the moment where he saw his father push his mom down that hole..and something, something laughed...cruel and amused...

"Your Majesty?" The squire was looking with a worried look on his face. "Are you all right? You look a bit pale..."

"I'm fine!" Kriel snapped. Harald looked startled. ""I-I'm sorry. Just remembered something."

"Well.."said Harald, sitting up. "Is it a meeting or something perhaps? Did we sidetrack you from something important?"

"No..." Desperate to get the attention off, Kriel asked, "So, what's up with your brother."

Harald smiled sadly, as if he were reluctant. "Well...it happened years ago."

We lived in a small village, so small that it wasn't on any map we've heard off. The villagers there worship spirits of the dead, who they believed to foretell the future.

The villagers there had strange predictions. There was one, however, that was effective in our lives.

"When the two arrive, the doom will fall."

My father and mother were running..from something. They hid there, in the village. The villagers did not respond kindly to new residents. And when mother had us, they turned hostile. They believed that we were the two.

'Kill them, or we will kill you all.'

Mother and father were also visited by the lord of the village. Having been bribed by the villagers, and trying to gain profit, he asked them to give us to him, so he could sell us to the villagers who wanted to see us done away with.

'We refuse. We'll leave tomorrow.'

Father and mother fled the angry village, and lived in complete isolation in a forest. We were raised with care, but was taught to fear and be suspicious of people. For the villagers, still unsatisfied, roamed the woods, looking for us. Fortunately, our father used to be a ranger in the king's army, and was a roaming mercenary for years, and managed to hide us away. Until...

'He's been paid, he's coming...run!'

The noble has paid high sums by a stranger to get rid of us. He swept the forest with his men, and found the living place.

'Go! I'll hold them off. Take the two.'

Mother refused.

'I'm staying with you. Harald and Jarald are old enough to know their way around.'

No matter how much he argued, mother stayed. And so we were left, on our own.

The two of us were just a few meters away when the house caught on flames. The noble's men charged upon us.

'MOTHER! FATHER!'

'RUN!'

Not knowing where to go, and following no trails, I dragged Jarald through the darkened forest.

After running for what seemed forever, I finally heard the hoofbeats stop. Tired and still mourning, we collasped under a tree.

'Harald...'

'Yeah..?'

'Are they really gone?'

'I..I don't know...'

'What do we do...?'

'I guess we wait until morning and see if mother and father are still alive.'

The night was long, cold, and unfriendly. Both of us wished this had never happened.

Day came, and we found our way back to the remains.

I found the noble's slain body with father's swan arrow. Picking it up, I held it as I viewed the wreckage. There were many bodies that suffered the same fate. Some had sword slashes though, most likely from mother.

I was still in a daze when I heard Jarald's cry.

'Jarald?!'

Running to the sound, I found him sobbing uncontrollably near a recognizable figure.

It was mother, stabbed through the heart. But something wasn't right. She was a glowing pale white, and there was no blood. The wound was also jagged, not like an actual sword stab.

'Harald..' Jarald had stopped crying and was looking at me with a scared expression.

'I know.'

Something came.

Note: Yippee...more to this lame story. If anyone's reading this, they're probably bored by now.

Cliche beginning, cliche middle, lame ending.

But peoples, THIS WAS HARD.

Yeah.

Chapter 4: The Demon's Reign: Introduction P2

"GRRRROAAAR!"

From the depths of the forest near the training yard, an Ebony Bear charged out frothing at its mouth.

"You know what, change of plans. Whoever beats the bear first, is better." Jarald challenged his brother. Harald just grinned.

"Critical Pierce!" Jarald's lance pierced the bear though its shoulder. Pained and enraged by the lance sticking out of its side, the Ebony Bear charged at Harald, who was readying up a shot.

"Hail Wind!"

The bear had just swiped its claw at the small figure when it froze.

"Oh great Harald, you got my lance stuck."

"Pull it out."

"Why don't you?"

"It's your property."

"Fine..." Jarald carefully climbed up the towering ice figure, careful not to slip. He headed towards his lance when...

"RAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Ice fragments flew as the bear broke free of its prison.

"JARALD!"

Trapped underneath the bear's paw, Jarald could only cringe as the Ebony Bear readied for the kill.

"May Beddor guide this blow, Dark Shatter!"

The fiend could only scream in agonized pain as it "broke" into shadowy pieces and faded in the sunlight.

"JARALD!" Harald rushed towards his twin, who was trying to stand up.

"Ugh, hey, well, it's a tie, eh...?" Jarald fainted from the agony of trying to stand on two broken legs.

"Looks like he's awake now."

The lancer blinked, slowly registering his surroundings.

"JARALD! YOU'RE OKAY!" Harald tackled the bedded Jarald, who immediately yelled with pain. His brother had landed on his newly healed legs.

"Get off!" He winced and pushed of Harald, who landed on the floor with a thump.

"Good thing we had a visit from a clergy eh?" Harald grinned at his brother, who painfully smiled back.

"Well, well, so this is the victim?"

Jarald could only stare in surprised shock as his savior looked quite..similar to the twins.

"You look like us..only much skinnier."

"That's what I've been hearing." Kriel could only chuckle as the squire tried to close his open mouth.

"Jarald, this is Lord Kriel...you know?"

"HE'S WHAT?"

Notes: Yes, moar lame-ass dialogue, but finally! I'm dun with the intros of chars introing each other! Nao teh hard part... Sigh.

Chapter 3: The Demon's Reign: Introduction P1

"Ah Jarald, once again...the late one."

Jarald looked at his feet, face turning red as Silvyren lectured him in front of his comrades.

"A knight must always be punctual. A knight that reports late to duties can cause deaths of innocent civilians, let a monster sneak into the town, cause plans to be delayed...."

Jarald wasn't paying attention however. He had heard this all before. Instead, his wandering eyes glanced toward a figure under a tree.

"...and so, Jarald, you will receive cleaning duties for a week. For every late minute, you will gain another day."

"Yes sir." The squire bowed awkwardly, clinging onto his lance as it threatened to knock him off balance.

"Alright now, break into groups of three. Six groups will follow me for patrol. Everyone else, train."

Relieved that the lecture was over, and a bit pissed at the thought of cleaning duties, Jarald walked off toward the dummies located at the edge of the field. Harald and his friend Sal soon caught up with the lance user.

" 'Least he didn't give you mucking duties," Sal sighed wistfully, recalling his own punishment for falling asleep while horseback riding.

"Well, I wouldn't have gotten the punishment in the first place if Harald hadn't woken me up." Jarald grumbled.

"Not my fault that you always toss me into a wall."

"IT'S REFLEXES."

"Hai guys, wanna go first?" Sal had a cocky expression, as if he was proud of something.

"Whatever, mister. You look like you have some new move," said Harald.

"Hehe, watch this." Whirling his mace at an incredible speed, Sal charged at the straw dummy, but, instead of colliding he leaped into the air. "ICE SMASH!", and with that, brought down the mace sealing the dummy into a block of ice.

"You missed the point of smashing it." Jarald pointed out dryly.

"I'm still working on it."

"While you're working on it, I'll show you something." Grinning, Harald spun an arrow, which ignited with golden flames. "Let the winds guide this purifying shot, Holy Arrow!" and fired.

It blasted through the ice block, shattering it into an shower of shards. The dummy however, was caught up on the arrow's momentum, and crashed into a tree. Streaks of gold light lingered against the blue sky.

"Nice..." the other two said.

"But, I bet I could do better." Jarald smirked at his twin.

"Oh, really Mister Lanceman? You can barely carry that thing around."

"I can hold it, and I am holding it."

"More like falling over to me." The siblings started to bicker, when suddenly a large roar echoed through the training yard. All the squires looked up in shock.

"Wha-what was that?" Sal stuttered.

Notes: Effing stuck. Just gonna post et. CLIFFHANGER! :D

I think the rawring thingy is gonna be some boar....o.o

Epically fail story, first time trying to work in some moves. ):