Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Draven and The Phantom Lord continued onwards toward Wildehollow. Their journey was quite easy, as Draven’s only obstacle was Spirighast. Now that he cleared it, nothing could stop him from reaching Battery and killing him. The Phantom Lord was quiet most of the journey. He never ducked under branches for fallen trees. His body simply went through them. All of the small obstacles simply phased through him. He brought the knight with him, for he knew that he was a powerful warrior and could be useful in the battle against Battery. Draven had a plan for attacking Battery. Instead of charging in head first, they were to sneak into his castle and assassinate him as quickly as they could. Draven didn’t want to have a fight with Battery. He simply wanted him dead, by any means necessary. Draven and The Phantom Lord would be able to clear the small forest they traveled through in only 3 hours, and make it to Wildehollow at sunset. “Hey, could I ask you something?” Draven chirped up. The Phantom Lord looked down at him. “What is it?” he replied. “Well it’s just, I never got a name for you.” he said. The Phantom Lord looked back at the path. “I don’t have a name.” he replied. “Then what should I call you?” Draven was quick to respond. “You can call me whatever you like.” he said. The knight looked over at Draven awkwardly. The knight took a chain from his pocket, tossing it over to Draven. Draven gazed at the silver embroidering. It read different letters that spelled Cravell. “Alright, I’ll call you Cravell.” Draven responded. He tossed the silver chain back over to the knight. They continued along the path for 3 more hours without talking. Once they were cleared of the forest, they saw, for the first time their destination. They were only some odd miles away from Wildehollow. They were close enough to see the entire thing. The clouds overhead were dark and red. The sun seemed to pierce through the thick smoke covering the sky. The giant castle sat atop a large mountain above the rest of the kingdom. It was made of a white and orange material unknown to Draven. They could see all different slaves working all types of jobs. From mining, to farming, to cooking. There were civilians getting executed in the middle of the streets, though Draven and Cravell could only make out certain blobs. “It makes me sick just looking at it.” Cravell said. “Come on, let’s keep moving.” Draven looked up at him, nodding. They continued towards the enormous kingdom. Draven and Cravell had completely different thoughts. Draven couldn’t wait to finally see Battery in person, as it would be the last time he would ever see him alive. Battery would die that day, and Draven could barely keep himself contained. Cravell on the other hand dreaded having to kill Battery. He knew that if Draven was the one to end him, he couldn’t use Battery as a soul puppet. But that didn’t matter to him, whether Battery became his puppet or not. If Battery were to die to him, he would make him a puppet, yes, but not to fight for him. He would torture the soul puppet for all eternity. He felt it was only right after what Battery has done to all of the innocent civilians of all different kingdoms and cities. Battery would pay for what he has done to hurt not only Draven and Cravell, but every other innocent civilian. 

Hunter returned to the large grass field where Draven waited for him. He had brought food, water, and a new book for them to read. But Draven was missing. He was nowhere to be seen. Hunter looked around worriedly. No. No, he couldn’t of. He thought to himself. Hunter was soon to realise that Draven no longer would wait in hiding. He was going to attack Battery at his own kingdom. He’ll die. He doesn’t know how powerful Battery is. Hunter continued thinking to himself. He dropped all of the supplies he gathered and immediately began to fly. He had to reach Draven quickly to save him. He would surely die if he ever fought Battery. He truly did not know how powerful Battery was. Even if Battery didn’t kill him, he would use him as a soldier, making Battery’s army even more powerful. Hunter had to hurry to reach Draven. He flew as fast as he could. Each flap of his wings sent out a shockwave. If he was too late, then all hope would actually be lost. Hunter wouldn’t have a chance against Battery, and with Polaris dead and Aza a slave, no one could go up against him. He truly was the most powerful person alive, and was also the most unchallenged person alive. With the speed of Hunter’s flight, he would be able to reach Wildehollow in 4 hours. No obstacles lie in his path. It was a straight line to Wildehollow.

A loud boom came from the enormous throne room Battery rested in. Battery shot up in his throne, looking in the direction of the noise. It was the doors, they were swung open very loudly. “Who slammed the doors open? Who!?” he shouted. Two soldiers stood in the room with Battery. They pointed at none other than Aza. She looked around. “Oh my, I’m so sorry your highness, I don’t know what I was thinking!” she exclaimed. “Don’t do it again! I’m trying to rest.” he explained. Aza nodded and returned to her duties at the kitchen. Battery was worried about the future. If he was going to be attacked, then why had it taken so long? His army was weakened, and most of his trump cards have either died or left him. The only thing he had left to combat these warriors sent after him was himself and his army. But it didn’t matter anyways, as long as these warriors were stupid enough to attack him head on, he could use them as part of his army. In reality, Battery had no worries. He truly was the most powerful person in the world. No one could stop him. He had worried too much. He thought less of himself than he needed to. No one could stop him, even if he didn’t have his ability. 

As the large army continued to trudge through the forest, a familiar voice yelled from the group. “Keep going everyone. We need to make it to Wildehollow before it’s too late.” a woman with long blue hair shouted to the troops. “Mary, don’t bosssss them around too much.” Azarath told her. “If we don’t make it to Wildehollow, Polaris may die.” she explained to him. He shook his head. “You know that’sss not why you command them to keep moving.” Azarath replied. Mary recoiled. “Shut up you stupid snake! You know nothing!” she barked. Azarath was shocked. Mary was tempered. Angry. Frustrated. She knew that if this army wasn’t at 100 percent, they would never conquer Wildehollow. She realised what she said and looked down at the ground. “Look, I’m sorry. I know you care about Polaris, but I can’t say the same. One person cannot equate an entire town. I’m doing this for my people, Azarath. You know that.” she explained. Azarath scoffed. “That’sss why we will never get along.” he replied. Azarath looked up at the sky. “He wasss a great kid. He alwaysss had thisss ssspark to him. Too bad he had to get corrupted by you and thisss horrible community.” he explained aloud. Mary’s eyes widened. She corrupted him? All they did when they were young was play with the other kids and occasionally have dinner together. How could she have possible corrupted him? By letting him have fun for once in his life? To try to suppress the memories of his dead parents? To try to make him feel better after being treated like dirt by the older boys? She was friends with him, for a time. When she grew older she realised that peprekas like him were not to be trusted. What if he lied about his dead parents to get an easy life? What if he stole from everyone else so his life was better than theirs? What if he tricked them into giving him free food and a place to live? The town was so generous to him, yet he always asked for more. He asked if he could have two meals instead of one everyday. He asked if he could get a place to stay in. He asked if he could be taught how to use a sword. Why would he need all these things? It still confused Mary to this day. Why Polaris needed all these things. He was truly selfish and never appreciated what he got. That’s why he was kidnapped. That’s why he was abused by Cliff. Why his life has been the sorrowful excuse it is. But all of these things were false. Lies told by the elders to make Mary distrust him. To corrupt her, along with everyone else in Sanitarium. But none of them knew that. Sanitarium was a place full of brainwashed morons. Polaris was one of a kind. An outsider. Someone who could not be tricked easily. That’s why they hired Cliff to kidnap him. To get rid of him before he ruined their entire system of government. But their plan backfired. This elite warrior they hired was soft. Cliff didn’t know that Polaris was just a child. They paid him to kill Polaris and leave the body so it would look like a normal crime. But it fell apart. Polaris disappeared without a trace. So many people had all of these questions that couldn’t be answered. They ended up saying Polaris ran away, but people found out he was kidnapped later. No one cared though. That this poor child, with no home, no family, and no friends was kidnapped. No one looked for him, because that is what they were told. That he was a menace. The day he was kidnapped, he seriously injured and almost killed Jareg, so why should they look for him? The only person who truly cared for Polaris was Azarath. He knew that Polaris was more than a delinquent. He knew he wasn’t some bloodthirsty beast. That’s why he sparred with him every once in a while. To train him to fight against the bullies and all the people who would hurt him in the future. But he never had enough time to truly learn the lessons. He was so young and wasn’t trained nearly long enough. So Azarath stood at those gates, hoping that one day Polaris would show up as a strong warrior who was unstoppable. That he would prove to all the people in Sanitarium that he wasn’t some delinquent. That he wasn’t some bloodthirsty beast, but rather a noble, and respectable warrior who would fight for the right cause. And Polaris did become that, but the people of Sanitarium still didn’t understand that he changed. They were scared of him. Of his power. They thought he was still some emotional wreck of a child. That one day he would snap and kill them. But he wasn’t like that. Even though he told himself that he did not feel emotion, deep down he cared about everyone in Sanitarium. He still seeked revenge for his parents. He would still help Draven and Aza and Hunter and everyone else. He was still a kind and noble wolfslayer. Wolfslayer. For him to brand the title of wolfslayer meant that not only was he physically strong, but emotionally and mentally strong as well. He had to make sure that his spirits were never broken. That he never did lose hope. That he never did lose all emotion. Because if he did, he would be a disgrace to the wolfslayer clan. He was a descendant of Tareek, one of the most powerful beings in all of history, right behind Ktulu. If he was weak, than how could he ever get revenge for his parents. How could he ever help those in need? He couldn’t, which is why he went after Battery. To show everyone that he was a noble warrior. That he was a hero, the sole savior of all people across the world. People would look up to him. His name would be written in history books. Folktales would be made in his name. He would become a legend, just like Tareek and Ktulu. He would become great, just like he always wanted. The army continued towards Wildehollow. Night was approaching, and soon, the town of Sanitarium would be a large empire and would prosper. And it would be because of Mary that all this would happen. Under her rule, Sanitarium would finally become a large kingdom full of riches. All because of her. All because of her.