Random Post 2

 

Short Story Without Dialogue

In a world ruled by Mua, the goddess of light, Lasel knew nothing about magic and trained hard every day to become a knight like his childhood friend Dause. Along with Grey, an apprentice priest, the three were inseparable childhood friends who grew up in an orphanage. One day, Dause was dispatched along with other knights to Felidora Forest in order to address the rumors that the Demon Army had returned once again. 100 years ago, King Lyle of Porvelia took up the Holy Sword sent by Mua to combat the demons and destroyed the Demon Lord. However, King Lyle and the Demon Lord both disappeared, leaving the Holy Sword as the only sign that the battle ever occurred. Lasel was worried for Dause and Grey did her best to comfort him. After a week, Lasel made up his mind and announced that he would go into Felidora Forest to help Dause. Grey insisted that she go with him, especially because she had protective light magic granted by Mua. Lasel really didn’t want her to come, but he acquiesced. The two had always relied on each other in the past, and there was nothing stronger than the bond between them.

After a few days of cooking and eating giant spiders in Felidora Forest, Lasel and Grey found Dause fighting off the last of the undead monsters lurking around. Grey quickly called upon the blessings of the goddess and healed Dause. Dause was furious that the two had come into the forest, as it was extremely dangerous. His expression softened, however, because he knew Lasel and Grey cared for him and wanted to make sure he was safe. The three sat under the World Tree of the forest and had a peaceful picnic. The World Tree, the largest tree in the world and said to have been planted by Mua herself, began to shake. The trio immediately got up, but the shaking ceased just as quickly. Suddenly, the Holy Sword of legend fell from the sky and planted itself firmly in front of Lasel. 

Grey was incredibly surprised and told the boys that the Holy Sword had been sealed in the World Tree after the battle 100 years ago, and to have the sword reappear meant the Demon Lord was back and Lasel had been chosen as the Warrior of the Holy Sword. Dause told Lasel that he had been investigating reports of sightings of the Demon Lord in the distant Swamps of Hargoss and was worried that the undead monsters in Felidora Forest could mean the rumors were true. Grey was confident and assured the two that with Mua’s power and blessings, Lasel could definitely destroy the Demon Lord. Dause said his farewells and ran back to Porvelia to inform the authorities of everything that had just happened. 

On that cloudy day, a light as bright as the sun blazed brilliantly in the sky and an angel wielding a bow descended from the heavens. The angel nocked a blazing arrow of pure light and pointed it at Grey. He warned her that her impureness had better not interfere with Mua’s will or she would receive divine punishment. After that threat, the angel let his bow and arrow dissipate into thin air and flew up into the sky. Lasel was confused, but not as much as Grey. Grey didn’t know what the angel was referring to, especially because she had dedicated her whole life to priesthood and the channeling of Mua’s light energy. Over the next month, Lasel and Grey journeyed together through the Hammuah Plains, crossed the Begina Desert, and hurried over the Jagia Volcano, subsisting on slain corrupted animals and Grey’s healing powers.

The two reached the Swamps of Hargoss and could immediately feel the overwhelming power of darkness emanating from the castle in the distance. Lasel and Grey wanted to keep the Demon Lord from wreaking havoc on the world like he did 100 years ago, and quickly charged into the castle hoping to defeat him quickly. Suddenly, Grey fell to the ground with an intense headache. Lasel immediately turned around and held Grey in his arms. Grey told Lasel that Mua had suddenly given her visions in order to prepare them for the battle ahead. The new Demon Lord was actually King Lyle, but corrupted by the goddess of darkness, Mea. Lasel would need to be careful when fighting him and on top of that, they would need to get out quickly before Mea could corrupt Lasel too. 

With Grey recovered, the two walked into the central chamber of the castle. Immediately, the Demon Lord blasted the two with demonic energy. After the smoke cleared, Lasel took a look around and breathed a sigh of relief. Grey had put up a shield of light just in time. Now, it was his turn. Lasel called upon the power of the Holy Sword and it immediately ignited with Mua’s energy. The Demon Lord and Lasel fought with equal skill, with their swords clashing. However, the Demon Lord was imbued with the power of darkness and the only thing keeping that from overpowering Lasel was Grey quickly healing and shielding Lasel from a distance. 

The Demon Lord collapsed to the ground as Lasel struck him down. He whispered a thank you as his life ebbed away. Suddenly, Lasel dropped to one knee. When had he sustained so many injuries? He felt as if he couldn’t breathe. Grey ran over quickly and used all her power to try to heal Lasel with no success. Please, she begged the goddess, take my life instead. But Mua’s healing energy had no effect on Lasel. Grey couldn’t understand why the goddess had abandoned Lasel and became filled with grief, despair, and rage.

Dause burst into the room. He knew he was too late. He dashed over to the two and realized what was happening. Lasel was being corrupted by Mea, and in this cruel cycle of fate, would eventually become the next Demon Lord. Grey clutched her head. The memories of her past life flooded back to her. In that moment, she decided she would no longer follow the goddess blindly. 

Dause could only watch in horror as Grey unleashed the darkness sealed inside of her, planted there by Mea long ago. Mea had corrupted the Holy Sword itself and when it was sealed inside the World Tree, Grey wanted to live as a human and gave up her life as an angel. She descended from heaven through the Tree and became a human affected by the darkness. Now that Grey was fully corrupted, she healed Lasel with the power of darkness and the two, ignoring Dause, began their journey to destroy the World Tree, which was a pillar of Mua’s control over the world. Dause was devastated. He had just lost his closest friends to the power struggle of the goddesses. His friends were now the Demon Lord and the Fallen Angel. In a state of utter hopelessness and despair, Dause vowed to find a way to kill the goddesses and bring his friends back.