Cythera Chronicles: Fanatic's Account Of The Undine Stronghold Part III: Guillotine

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Dark...dark...floating through a void...but...voices! Screaming! Driving me crazy! Then, far off in the distance...someone summoning a spell...still dark, but I was on my feet. On solid ground! There were no more screams. I then realized my eyes were closed. I opened my eyes, and saw that my death wound was gone. I stumbled, and tripped. I got back up, and Slayer stepped forward. "Fanatic," Slayer said, "you shouldn't surprise me like that! I thought you were a Demon! Next time, I might have enough power to revive you! As it stands, you'll be in no position to fight for a week!" Slayer finishes. I went and sat down against a wall, a plan forming in my head already. I watched as Kestrel fought the demon leader. Yes, this plan would work. All I needed was a few moments to gather energy...

I made up my mind. "Slayer...thank you...t-that was my fault," I said, "Those strange blue crystals, even though I destroyed them, they shattered my sword. I need to get a new sword...I know where..."
Slayer responded, "Are you crazy? You can't travel in this stat----Huh? Where'd he go?" Fanatic had vanished.

In a cave, somewhat northwest of the Undine Stronghold, A mage was finishing a magically enhanced sword. The sword glowed, but not like any other glow. It glowed black. It glowed black, blacker then anything ever seen on the face of the earth.
A voice called out from some distance behind the mage.

"Hey! how much for the sword?" I yelled. I stepped before the sword. The black glow...I knew that black... The cave seemed to shrink out of view. No, the sword was getting larger! I turned around, but the cave wasn't there! Then...screams! The screams! Not again! But they were dimmed, for it was only a memory.

I woke up on a bed. The cave. The mage. The sword... I immediately sat up and looked at the figure standing beside me, speaking. "Well, you seem to have recovered. Must have been a flashback. A sudden memory, but like a hallucination, triggered by something associated with that memory. As I recall, you fell to the ground after seeing the sword...but enough about this. you wanted to buy the sword?"
"Yes...what is your price?" I asked.
"200 obloi, no less."
That was a bit expensive, but... "Deal!" The mage walked to the anvil and picked up the sword. He then put it into a gold woven scabbard.
"Here's your sword, and a pleasure to do business with you."
I gave him the obloi, and took the sword and scabbard.

The stranger said one last goodbye to the mage and vanished.

Alaric sat on the throne in Land King Hall. A wearied looking man, though he still sat straight on the throne. Fanatic appeared before him.

"Greetings, sire." I said, bowing. "I ask nothing more than a bit of healing, as I am too weak to heal myself. I have died and been resurrected by a spell, and it took a lot out of me!"
Alaric seemed to be judging my state of health. "I see," he said, "I will heal you."
Sudden warmth welled up within me. A flash, and I stood up tall, my weariness gone, my wounds healed.
"Many thanks." I said, and powered up my spell.
"No pro----where'd he go? Oh dear, I must be getting old..."

Kestrel was still fighting the demon leader, and the others, demon and human, were watching. I rushed in. I took out my new sword and joined Kestrel. Slash! Stab! A squishing sound! Oh, er, was that supposed to happen? Another slash, and I stepped back, and left Kestrel to finish him. Kestrel resumed the fight, but he was weakening. He shouted for help, then slashed with his sword. Rogan stepped forward, powering up, and shouted, "Get out of the way!" The demon leader was covered in flames and electricity. It writhed in pain, but it should have been dead! I ran up to the demon leader and thrust my sword at it. light was escaping from the cloak it wore. Then I slashed at the neck. the head came off and vanished. A voice seemed to be reverberating around the cavern: "IF I GO DOWN YOU'RE GOING DOWN WITH ME!"

A loud explosion...

Then...dark. Screams, but this time I was ready. I shut the screams out, forcing myself to think of something else. A voice speaking to me. I opened my eyes. "You fool! You got killed again!" Slayer yelled. Ten minutes later, I appeared in front of Alaric in pretty much the same state I was in before.

Later...

"I...died...again!" I exclaimed.
"Oh dear..." Alaric said.

I named my new sword Guillotine.

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[This message has been edited by Slayer (edited 05-07-2001).]

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