Kellehendros
Eternal Wanderer
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The Defender was getting used to being ignored. Honor was apparently a distant concept for most of those gathered here, and while Elian could respect that each competitor was allowed their own opinion of what was and was not the right way to go about the tournament, he couldn't help but be a little disappointed that none of the other competitors in the Fountain Arena were willing to stand face to face in honorable combat. His sword lowered slightly, and he was about to do something, but was interrupted as a pair of metal bolts slammed into the back of his neck. Eli let out a choked cry of surprise, and stumbled forward, dropping his sword as he did so. Elian went down to one knee, his hand reaching up behind him for the darts, when there was a sudden, brilliant flash of light, and everything went black. His eyes snapped open a moment later, and Eli jerked reflexively, sitting up with a gasp. The first thing he noticed, was the clear blue sky above him, the occasional white fluffy mass of cloud scudding across it. The Defender stood, perplexed, as he realized his armor was gone, but then, so were his weapons. The young man cast around for his gear for a moment, noting the clumps of tall grass nearby swaying gently in the soft southerly breeze that ruffled his hair, bringing the scent of sun-baked grass to his nostrils. The jolt of realization that shuddered through him moments later was almost enough to send him back to his knees. These were the plains outside of Iasura. He whirled wildly, and there she was. His mother was small, older than he remember, a semi-shriveled shrew of a woman, who's eyes still held the fire of her fury at the world within them. Her voice was high, harpy-like, and sharper than any weapon. "Well now, what did I tell you when you left? You left me to die in that town, and all it bought you was an ignoble end of your own!" The young Defender flinched backwards as though physically struck. "What are you talking about? I'm not dead..." She laughed, shrill and grating. "Ha, then why are you here? In this place you abandoned so long ago, with the woman you scorned?" Eli shook his head in denial. "Those darts couldn't have killed me, not during the Ritual." Again, the laughter. "The Ritual? Have you ever considered that your precious Ritual failed? That it's worth as little as your word to your own mother?" Elian's fists clenched, his voice rising in anger. "The Ritual doesn't fail. And what about your word mother? You broke our agreement." "Don't turn this on me, boy! You abandoned me, just like he did!" "Leave him out of this, father was a good man, and he died as he lived, to help others." "What about us? Had he no duty to help his family?" "Enough! He did more for you than you will ever realize. He loved you, somehow, and I'll not hear you slander him!" She was gone. Again the young man glanced around in confusion, he had blinked, and then she was gone. The Defender glanced around, looking for her, or anyone else for that matter, and when he turned around his eyes met his father's, and his heart nearly stopped. The wave of longing and disappointment that washed through him was nigh indescribable, for the man's green eyes peering back into Eli's were not his father's, the orbs held too much, the wisdom and sadness of untold ages peering out through the eyes of the father-who-wasn't into the son's. Elian licked his lips nervously as the silence stretched between them until he could stand it no longer. "I-I, I'm not, not r-really dead, am I?" Eli's not-father didn't reply for a moment, and simply gazed at the young man, riveting him in place with his gaze until at least he shook his head slowly. Elian swallowed nervously. "Why am I here?" A slight frown from his not-father. "You did enter the tournament, didn't you?" "Y-yes." A smile. "Well, that's it then." He blinked in confusion. "But, this place, my, my mother." "A test." "I don't understand." "Perhaps you aren't supposed to." The not-father smiled at the look of confusion that crossed Elian's face at that pronouncement. He shifted ever so slightly, and addressed the Defender again. "Tell me something. If you could have one thing, anything in the world, what would it be?" Eli blinked, surprised by the sudden topic change, and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "Well, um, I'd like my gear back." His not-father smiled again. "Something besides that which you already have." The young man frowned. "What? But I don't-" He cut off in mid sentence, realizing he was suddenly clothed in his armor again, shield and sword slung on his back. "Oh, well, um... I guess I'd kind of like some neck protection then, you know, to stop darts and all." The man gazed at Elian levelly, voice even. "Let me get this straight. I offer to give you anything you want, anything in the world, and you ask me not for money, not for power, not for fame, but for a gorget?" The Defender considers this for a moment, a slight frown crossing his face. "Oh, um, is that bad? Was I supposed to ask for one of those other things?" His not-father made no immediate response, and then burst out laughing, doubling over and holding his stomach. Eli frowned. "What? What's so funny?" "Nothing, nothing at all." The man stood, and nodded gravely. "Very well, you shall have your scale gorget, and this one other thing besides." He waved his hand, and the young man stiffened, a scale gorget matching his mail appearing about his neck, and power flooding through his body. "For years the Defenders have passed down the techniques I taught, but always their use has drained them. This boon then I grant you. Though the Circle will drain you still, you shall be able to fight on, for the exhaustion will be less than that you have experienced before. Now, go, the Arena awaits." "Wait! No, won't-!" Elian started forward towards the man, and everything went black again. Surprised, the Defender blundered into a stone wall where moments later there had been none. Blinking in shock, the young man glanced around to find himself in a small stone cell near a gate. The gate cracked open with a stately majesty, and the roar of the crowd hit Eli like a physical blow, reverberating through his chest and the very stone around him. It was time, the Defender pushed the odd occurrences that had transpired behind him, grinning as he strode out form his gate and on to the red Arena sands. He moved forward confidently, striding towards the miniature tornado, unfazed by the winds that whipped about him, tugging at his helm, mail and shield. Coming to a halt near the Pillar of Wind, the Defender drew his sword with a flourish, shaking his kite shield down into position on his arm. Eli waved the blade enthusiastically, grinning as the crowd roared in response to the sight of the first Champion emerging onto the field. Whatever questions he had could wait, now was the time for action.
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