DESTRUCTIVE MYTH
The Way Forward

One, two, three, then six, ten, twenty full-grown Gorgaknights were after Drathis soaring high up in the air diving for him fang and claw, Drathis was tired he could hardly run anymore fending off the creatures. Driven with his last will to live he jumped over logs, ducked under trees, and came to a screaming halt at the end of the mountain looking down over the cliff.

Ten landed with a hard thud behind him, he spun slicing at them.

“Leave me, ALONE!” He roared just as another landed within inches of him.

He stepped back with fright, heels hanging off the edge of the cliff, then charged at them driving the sword into its shoulder. The Gorgaknights pulled back slapping him with its powerful wings making the ground shake, Drathis got back up feeling the ground give in under them as they all fell into the endless pit.

“NOOOO!” Drathis roared sitting up straight, out of breath.

“Whoa, relax.” A hand held his shoulders, Drathis turned to see Paul sitting next to him eating a roasted bird. His shirt was off wet hanging behind him on a branch.

It was a new day, cold and dark with heavy clouds above. The air was still with fog rolling between the tall grass, Drathis got up slowly looking at the food rubbing his head, he was hungry with a killer headache.

“Bad dreams again,” Paul said softly.

“Yeah... Kind of.” Drathis replied his voice dry.

He sat back down closer to the fire noticing something amiss, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, he looked up from the flames to Paul’s face with a frown watching him rip the meat off chewing loudly, he looked up at Drathis and swallowed hard feeling slightly guilty.

“There’s some more fowl there if you want,” Paul said pointing to the bunch of feathers lying against the tree. Drathis sighed getting up to pluck a bird, he would eat first then try to gather his thoughts.

“Oh, yeah bet you wondering how you got down from the mountain hey?”

Drathis looked up to see where the mountains had been and saw nothing but swirling thick white clouds, the fog was too thick to see them. No, he hadn’t really thought of it how he had gotten down, he was waking up in a different place almost every time, it was starting to become a bad habit.

“Well, um, after about three hours or so I got worried, well more curious to see, um… if you were still alive,” Paul continued after another bite.

“Anyways, you were on the floor in a deep sleep and, the goddess was gone so, I took you down.” Drathis pulled his gaze from the fog to look at Paul then put his meat over the fire to cook.

“Didn’t think the healing goddess was so powerful until I saw your arms, they were completely healed and…” He stopped watching Drathis raise his hands to his face; his eyes grew in size as he examined them. They were flawless, not a mark, scratch, or scar. He jumped up pulling his shirt off placing his hands behind his back and over his shoulder to feel where once un-healable deep cuts were.

He placed his hands gently on his skin closing his eyes expecting the pain he knew by logic to be there, but his back was warm, smooth, and silky. He felt all around his back faster and faster best he could feeling everywhere but felt nothing, just smooth skin, and muscle. Paul watched him in amassment, he could hardly believe his eyes.

Paul had trained with thousands of other soldiers before but never ever saw a body like Drathis. It was a perfect olive tan on a hard as rock body. His arms were pure muscle and so was his stomach, not overdone and not noticeable with clothes on but oh so perfectly formed.

To say Paul was envious was an understatement.

“How, did you get so dam fit?” Paul asked clearing his throat feeling suddenly embarrassed.

Drathis looked down at his waist recalling his imprisonment, the constant fighting off the guards as a child, the torture and defenseless feeling growing up unable to fend off the endless assaults the guards would give despite his age. Drathis had learned at a young age mercy didn’t exist in the Black Mazer dungeon, to beat them you had to mirror the wickedness. He has been fighting off the queen’s relentless torture for more years than he had been free.

“Tell me how you did it! In all my life I’ve never seen such muscle! I’m not being wired don’t get me wrong, I just wanna develop mine like that too!”

Drathis frowned trying to forget the evils that forged him, bending down picking up his shirt and slipping it back on, focusing back on the now.

“Where’s your mother?”

“Oh. Yeah, she met up with some people that had escaped from the village fire.” He said looking down at the dying fire.

“Why didn’t you go with?” Drathis asked his voice soft as if he actually cared. He shook his head slightly aggravated by his almost concern. Humans are at the bottom of the food chain, they not worthy, he focused on the thought biting into his meal.

“I, she, well um… This is going to sound so stupid, call me mad, but I sense something very different about you… Almost as if you something grand is going to happen, like… Like you a warrior or prince or will be, one day. I need that kind of adventure in my life.” Paul explained, his face lighting up with excitement, and something else, something he wasn't saying.

Drathis whole body tensed slightly remembering the image he had under the tree a few days ago, maybe it was his demeanor that gave the humans the willingness to join him on quests they thought he might go on, the illusion of grand journeys. He didn’t recall discussing with anyone his boring plans to just replace his people’s land, apparently, it was north yet no one could say exactly where or if it was still standing, from what he could obtain it was nothing more than a myth, not on any map either, Talgrim.

He needed to change that.

“But maybe I’m just being dumb.” Paul finished looking at Drathis his excitement dying, Drathis noted he had been lost in thought again not responding to Paul’s requests, watching his dodgy eyes dart around unsurely. Since taking him home with him, Paul's eyes had been on him as if trying to set a trap. Drathis tried to ignore the edgy feeling, if it was a trap why help heal him?

He sighed laying back down, it was pointless to travel in such bad weather, they would travel in circles for hours without realizing it, might as well take a day of rest. Drathis closed his eyes with a smirk on his face, despite ignoring him he could still feel Paul’s eyes on him.

“No Paul, you need to go back to your people.”

“No why? We could live off the land I could help you on your journey, take control of the map and navigate us."

The map? odd request, the fool didnt even know his plan.

“What if you made a mistake? I did nearly killed you, or did you forget so fast?”

“I haven’t forgotten,"

Drathis noticed the dark edge in the voice.

"I just feel…”

“Paul, think this through, have I given you any reason to trust me?”

Paul was still a long moment, Drathis could almost feel the tension running through him as he tried to replace the right words.

“No, you haven’t, and maybe I’m a mad man to have brought you to my house and care for you, well my mother did, but you didn’t kill her or me or rob us. And we both sensed something very different about you, that’s why I had, have to follow you…”

“Breath boy…” Drathis grinned again, if only he knew how different exactly, or did he?

Drathis sat up taking his second bird on a stick and bit into it, just right, he devoured it in under a minute as its juices dripped down his chin.

The small things in life…

“How old are you?” Drathis finally asked

Paul sat up straight like a kid being given a new toy, his face lighting up finally glad he was trying to create conversation.

“Twenty-two in spring, and you?”

“Turned twenty-five, at the start of this winter.” He lied not sure if he got it outright, fact was he had given up on his birthdays since imprisoned, what was the point when all the days molded into one.

“What? Like two moons ago?” Paul asked confused.

“Yeah. At its first full moon.”

Paul jumped up.

“What?” Drathis asked raising one eyebrow, his eyes still closed, he strained his ears listening for any danger, there was none so why the sudden shift?

“You! You are younger than me! And you can fight the knights of Traka! No one ever has.” Paul shouted.

“Yeah maybe, but I didn’t know who they were!” Drathis shrugged rolling his eye.

“But no one has even killed them, they IMMORTAL gods! They come here from Avon searching for recruits.” Paul said raising his voice. Drathis frowned, it explained why he hadn’t defeated them easily enough, recalling the figure that shot the arrow, with such precision, was it perhaps Paul?

He recalled then the arrow that had saved him from the so-called knights of Traka wondering now who that had been? Was the arrow meant for him and the assailant had just missed?

“Could it be?” Drathis heard Paul whisper under his breath. Drathis opened one green eye and saw Paul scratching through his satchel through rolls of paper, pulling out and studying one in particular.

“What is that?”

“A drawing of a prisoner that escaped the Black Maser,” Paul said trying to hold the paper steady, his hands had the slightest tremble, Drathis watched him closely, it seemed to be a rehearsed act.

“Why?” he asked tensing slightly, he knew none escaped the Black Mazer except him, queen Dimas was relentless in that regard, what belonged to her stayed hers, she had even sent her flying demons after him.

“Drathis, a prisoner, and well this one, and everything said and explained on this poster, about this guy, fits you.” He looked at the paper then him again then back at the page.

“You fit the description!” Paul said reaching for his sword ever so slowly as if nothing was wrong. Drathis watched him through slit eyes, then, burst out laughing holding his stomach rolling over to his side laughing louder.

“This isn’t funny! You ARE him!” Paul shouted stepping over him as his shoulders jerked with laughter, he turned to look at Paul standing over him pointing his sword at his throat.

“Put your sword down, I’m not going to kill you fool!” Drathis snarled sitting up. his hands on the ground slowly picking up a stone keeping his eyes locked on Paul, Paul held his sword steady in both hands pointed at Drathis throat.

“Maybe but I might kill you!” Paul threatened.

“Don’t threaten me you little shit!” Drathis rose to his feet swatting the sword away from his face.

“I will cut you, stand still!”

“You haven’t enough skills.” Drathis snapped.

“Oh really? Just think if I killed you, I will be a hero! I will be put down in history for catching a thief, a murderer, an unworthy sack of meat! I will be, a high lord for catching you! The only one that ever escaped!” Paul spat at Drathis his eyes dark hazel, screaming anger. “The queen will pay me handsomely for your head.”

Drathis watched Paul carefully as he circled him.

“I am none of those!” Drathis snapped making his grip tighter around the stone as it slowly started to crumble.

“What? Not even a murderer?” Paul asked mockingly. “Says here your own killed your family.”

“I do not need to explain myself to you.” Drathis hissed through his teeth making the hair on Paul’s neck stand up.

“So you don’t deny it.”

“I never killed my brother.” Drathis hissed, it had been many years ago but the pain was still raw.

“LIER!”

“I do not need to explain myself to you.” Drathis green eyes seemed to burn a brighter shade, Paul watched him carefully wondering if it wasn’t just the fog playing tricks.

“Fine! Let’s see how well you fight without, a, sword!” Paul shouted swinging his sword sideways to Drathis right arm, he dropped to the ground faster than the sword watching it pass over his head, picked up another stone-throwing it at Paul’s two hands with great effort as he raised his sword to bring down on his head, the stone hit Paul’s fingers with a strong force making him drop his weapon holding his hand in pain cursing. Drathis jumped up and grabbed his own sword next to the tree, ripping it from the bag, and faced Paul picking up his own. He realized he had broken Paul’s fingers and they were bleeding where the stone’s sharp edge had hit.

“Oooo that must hurt!” Drathis mocked.

“Shut up!” Paul shouted charging for him with his sword vertical to the ground. Drathis rolled his eyes hitting Paul’s swords point down to the ground elbowing Paul hard in his back winding him sending him face-first into the dirt. Drathis kicked up the other sword into his hand stood dead still legs slightly apart waiting for Paul to get back up.

Paul turned over getting up slowly pulling an aching face. Drathis stood there expressionless with both swords in his hands pointing to the sky.

“You see? You have no skill! I could have sliced you into ten equal pieces by now! NEVER face your back to the enemy unless you KNOW you faster, better than them, which you are not!” Drathis hissed aggravated throwing Paul’s sword to the ground sliding his sword back in place.

“What are you?”

Drathis just stared at him, Paul tried again.

“Are you even human? The Tara gaurds didnt say.” Paul bellowed at him.

“I don’t have to explain myself to anyone, especially not you, I see now this was your plan all long, heal me, make me feel accepted, a friend then cut me down and hand me over!” Trying to remain calm, he turned his back on Paul who denied nothing and walked away, making a statement of his power over him.

He didn’t need to concern himself with the situation anymore, the human would be gone before long, they didn’t take defeat very well. Drathis strolled to a river nearby and picked up a pebble throwing it as far as he could slicing through the fog. He knelt down running his fingers through the gentle waves before they hit the shoreline trying to let the storm inside him settle. He looked out over the water, but the fog was still too thick so splashing his face he turned back to where they were camped to see what he could salvage before he made his way through the mountains.

Paul was nowhere to be found, the fire was out, and his horse was gone.

Bloody coward! Drathis thought placing the fowls left behind in a bag tying it in loops to sling over his shoulder.

“At least I now know where I am.” He muttered looking up at the mountains one last time. I should have killed him! Drathis thought watching the way the horse had taken off back to where they had come, he was no doubt going to bring trouble.

Securing his goods, he looked down at the poster of himself on the ground. Wow such a great reward for catching me? Drathis raised his eyebrows, he nearly considered turning himself in.

Pissed that the goddess had his means of travel he decided to stay close to the water line until he came across a harbor or something that could help him cross the sea.

He sighed longing for Galaxy wondering now what had happened to the queen’s horse, now that was a brilliant horse; she moved with grace and speed, faster than any average horse.

Drathis lost in thought had been following the shoreline for a good many hours, he still had the Shadow Mountains on his right and the fog was still thick.

It was eerily quiet and cold, growing dark by the hour. Drathis hated the fog, he couldn’t observe his surrounding, it felt as if something was watching him, he couldn’t see anything.

Eventually, all that could be heard was the running water and his boots on the ground, he stopped, it was too still for his liking.

He looked behind him then all-around best he could trying to sense from where he felt the danger, if it was more than two Gorganights, he was dead.

Walking towards the mountains, armed, nothing moved… It looked like something from straight out a horror story.

Maybe I’m just paranoid and expecting danger all the time, he thought turning back to the water.

“Or maybe you should listen to your senses.” A voice said echoing from everywhere. Drathis spun around looking everywhere.

“Velda?”

A little laugh filled the air. “Yes, but you do not have the right to call me that.”

“Oh yeah, ‘healing goddess’?” Drathis asked sarcastically bowing.

“Don’t be stupid! I don’t have time for your childish games!” Velda snarled.

“Well, then why you following me?” Drathis snapped.

“If you haven’t noticed, you ARE still in my mountains.”

“Only trying to get OUT the safer root!”

“Oh, so you suspect I’m safer than the Gorgaknights?” Velda asked trying not to laugh.

“I don’t know! You haven’t attacked me yet!” He wasn’t surprised she knew, what did gods not know.

“Because I am no fool! And don’t take me as one!”

Drathis rolled his eyes walking forward.

“Now why the hell, would I think of you as a fool?”

“You and I both know what I mean, one does not kill your kind without consequence.”

“Maybe.” Drathis said looking down at the sword getting shivers down his spine.

“You need to be wise… Your trip to Talgrim is going to be a very difficult one!” Velda said breaking the silence.

“Hard times? Like I wasn’t having any now?” Drathis roared

“I do not mean physically; your heart will be tested more than anything.”

“What are you my stalking fortune-teller?”

Her hair-rising laugh filled the air again.

“If you speed up traveling right through the night, in the morrow you shall reach a harbor. My mountains are not safe after dark, for tonight though, you will be.” With that, she disappeared reducing the amount of fog.

He smiled a little finally being able to see in front of him.