Curse of Alberosah

The wind brought forth a creature of greatness, it sored with scaly wings like swimming in the stars. The clouds brush passed his blue scales, his lizard like eyes find the stones that pierced the sky. The Northern Range being the only place no human would go because of the monsters, all of which feared him.

Perched on the highest mountain, in the cave it sprang flowers off all shapes and colors. No other monster appreciated flowers like he did, then again, he wasn't always a monster. He makes the attempt to sleep. However, all attempts became futile, an echo bringing a sound he'd not heard in a long while. Crying. Not just any crying, the cries of a child.

He scanned down below, with his keen eyesight the child is easy to spot. Lucky for the dragon no other creatures found the child once he got to it. The beast looms over the toddler, squinting to capture its every detail. When the child notices the Dragon, he stops crying and stares back. To the Dragons bewilderment it showed no fear, instead it smiled. It had been so many years since Alberosah had been looked upon with a smile.

The child would be perfect.

-

Ezymm stares at the gapping cave like it was made of unicorn shit, dirty yet majestic. Inside would be his final challenge and it had to be complete today on his sixteenth year. Scratching his yellow hair, he lifts his sword and remembers. His first memory was being found by his dragon mentor Alberosah, (Albe for short) finding him as a toddler. Long since that day Albe had trained him to be the strongest, saying it was his destiny. That his strength would lead him to everything he'd every asked for. He'd slayed and almost died from, dire wolves, unicorns, griffins, serpents, phoenix's, yeti's, wyvern's, Chupacabra and even snails. (Don't ask.)

In order to remove Ezymm from his daydream, Alberosah flaps his wings bringing a small typhoon. Once Ezymm turns around and looks at him with his jade eyes Albe professes, "Are you prepared child." His deep voice calming the atmosphere around them.

"I think so." Ezymm prepares to face his challenge but stops. Instead, he turns and faces Albe again. "Why do I need to do this, for all my life I was too afraid to ask but now I need to know." He demands ending with a foot stomp.

"I had thought you'd blindly follow my command by now and gotten rid of questioning my authority. Ezymm, you have to kill that beast." He answered simply yet frustrated.

"Why do I need I need to kill it?"

"So you can grow stronger."

"Why do I need get stronger?"

"So you will survive."

"Why do I need to survive."

"Because it is your destiny!" Albe says as if Ezymm somehow understands. "Now kill that beast or I won't fly you anywhere."

That's the final straw, he had no choice now but to take this seriously. "Fine, I'll be the strongest, and there won't be anything I can't kill."

Albe snickers, "You grow cocky child, there are forces not even you can defeat." His words ominous yet somehow not insulting.

"Like what?"

"That... is none of your concern. Now hurry up, I'm taking a nap and when I wake you had better kill it." Albe turns away leaving the discussion to a halt. Without wasting another second, Ezymm faithfully accepts his destiny.

Ezymm strolls through the cave with his sword in hand and his guard up. The rhythmic echo of water drips down into a small stream deeper within the cave. His attention so focused on looking for danger above he almost misses the one below. For a second he thought they were vines as thick as himself, but vines don't have scales. Tracking where the tail starts, he carefully finds it. A Gweillnar. The sleeping creature has the upper body of a wolf, the lower body of a snake and the wings of a bat. Claws still red from a recent kill, one paw alone was bigger than him. The beast is the only creature he had yet to kill or eat. Yet. Of all the monsters in the northern range, a Gweillnar is the only one Albe purposefully avoids.

Lucky for Ezymm the beast is still resting, relaxation fills his soul as he silently thanks the gods for the opportunity. Before that he takes off his leather poncho, made from unicorn hide he does not wish to get blood on it. He readies his sword, made from the bone of a dead wyvern, it had been sharpened into a curved blade. Step by step he carefully inches close enough he can smell it, its neck begging for his sword. With another step he felt a moist feeling between his toes unexpectedly. In a moment Albe would not be proud of, he squeals like an eagle while kicking the Gweillnar's excrement's off.

Wrong move.

As soon as the Gweillnar's eyes shot open Ezymm leaps back and prepares. The confining caves made its roaring twice as unnerving for him. He now knew the beast feels threatened, in his experience a monster is only loud to hides its fear.

He locks eyes as he continues stepping backwards, not too fast but not too slow. Eye contact forces him and the beast on the same level, turning your back to one would be a death sentence. Once it knows he's a threat it will have no choice but to go on the offensive. He went first.

Striking with a clean cut of the blade, Ezymm leaves a nasty scar on the vicious beast's snout almost taking its eye. Ignoring the pain, with a twist the vicious beast uses its tail to strike the boy from the right. In the nick of time, Ezymm ducks under it and uses the opportunity to hide among the rocky terrain. When fighting Ezymm learned that one's surroundings can made or break a fight.

The deadly beast sniffs in all directions in search for a scent of him. Even through the rocks it finds Ezymm and thrashes the stones he hides in. His attempts to hide are pointless, eventually the beast corners him against a wall. If he moves left and right, it will surely catch him and swallow him whole. The Gweillnar creeps closer until Ezymm could feel it's hot breath against him. It lunges, jaws wide with both sides blocking his sides, when all sides are blocked where else can he go but up.

In the air Ezymm has the perfect chance for a clean decapitation. Gripping his sword tightly he prepares to strike as he descents to the beast. When it comes to the kill, never hesitate.

Only it never came.

It was so quick he'd thought he had fallen asleep, if only. The Gweillnar's snake tail slapped him with full force, his body crashing against a stone wall and into the lake.

The world goes silent, leaving Ezymm only with his thoughts. A memory strikes him like lightning. He was only seven at the time and covered in wounds after his first kill. A dire wolf as twice as big as a regular wolf, he remembers because he thought it was cute and delicious. With luck he tore of a branch and stabbed it in the neck, but not before he received a barrage of claw and bite marks. Once he returned to Albe and had his wounds patched, his mentor gave him a talk. "Whenever you feel weak or scared or feel all hope is gone, remember these words and they will give you power."

Ezymm launches himself from ground and takes the biggest breath he had ever taken. "All father, give me strength to vanquish my enemy."

As if time froze and the earth itself obeyed, power courses through his blood and ripples through his bones. His mind sharp as his bone blade, he focuses his mind on finding the Gweillnar's weakness. The caves darkness meant it was hard for it to see him, but its smell would give him away. If only there is something in the cave that could use to clean or even hide his scent. Ezymm hates himself, for figuring out the perfect plan to kill the beast.

The Gweillnar resumes to its resting place thinking all is safe. Its ears perk up when a hurdle of rocks the size of trolls are flung in its direction. After dodging a dozen or so they stop coming. Now on the hunt it sniffs its way through the stones like being led by a rope. Just when it thinks it found the boy it removes the rocks with its tail expecting to find him. It did not, the only thing it saw other than rocks is a leather poncho. Just what Ezymm wants. Taking advantage of the beast's confusion, with full force he plunges his bone blade into its tail and through rock. The killer beast crawls in a futile attempt to escape, with his tail stuck it won't be going anywhere. Ezymm more than anything was glad his plan worked, he wished however it was a cleaner one. Now covered from head to toe in the captured beast's faeces it was the only way to fool its scent and trap it.

Taking slow strides Ezymm then lifts a rocks three times his size and gives a whistle of victory. In taking his sweet time the boy fails to notice the beast biting off its own tail in order to escape. He should have known. In desperation, a monster will do anything to live. Not on his watch.

With the beasts weakened state Ezymm catches up to it with the rock still in his arms. The Gweillnar's hope escapes as the boy launches himself in the air and falls with the power of a meteorite.

Crush.

Before he awakens Alberosah smells what he thinks is the anus of a demon. But no, it is only Ezymm.

"Albe, I did it, I did it! I killed it see!" He jogs both hands lifting the Gweillnar's wolf head. "I have its head right here!"

Albe does not speak, he doesn't seem to move. As if what the boy did defied the very laws of nature, something Ezymm should not have done. "Good, you have passed every test I have given you." Albe says trying his best to brush off his odd attitude. "Let us go celebrate, you deserve it."

Ezymm tilts his head confusingly whilst eyeing his mentor, "I'd really thought you would smile today."

"I do not smile." his tone tired from all the time he'd been asked before.

"Fine, but I will see you smile even if it will be my last night." Ezymm says smiling. Truth be told, Ezymm did not care about his destiny, making Albe proud was enough for him.

That night they ate until their bellies hurt and then sang songs they made up.

"Do you know what could make this night any better," He announces like a philosopher. "Beer."

"What's beer?"

"Heaven." Ezymm chuckles in response despite not knowing what he meant. Albe however is not done talking. "Ezymm, you know you are not my child. You are a boy I found and raised, that does no mean we are family. So don't you dare think of me as a father."

Ezymm's face becomes puzzled, "Why are you saying this?"

"Because it is true."

Those last words were the final touch that tore Ezymm apart, like when he did that Gweillnar's. Upset he leaves until he finds a river to cry in front of. He wonders why Albe said those hurtful words, did he do something wrong? All he'd ever done is everything his mentor asked of him. The light of dusk distracts him as the stars finally appear. The Star Bridge, when the sun rises across the sky it leaves behind a trail of stars that are only seen at night. Albe says that stars are the souls of the dead, they bring light to the living in the darkest of moments. He only wonders now if any of his real family are up there.

The moment the sun crosses the horizon, it begins. At first a rumble, Ezymm thinks he imagines it at first. The ground shakes, every time longer and more aggressive. Until the earth breaks open and below comes the shadow. Twice as large as Alberosah, its lower body like a centipede, a human torso with a mouth on it and tentacles where its head should be. Its skin an obsidian black and oily looking, gilded a moon light glow. It seems to have no eyes, until Ezymm saw the centipede body and on it several sickly yellow eyes along the trunk.

Before Ezymm could even comprehend what had happened, the Devil reaches with its tentacles and grabs him. No matter how much he resists he could not tare its grip away. The thing pulls him closer until he could make out every detail of rotten teeth in its chest-mouth. Its wet tongue tasting his body like he was made of candy, Ezymm would have puked had he not been so afraid.

"P-p-p-perfecto, he did not disappoint, strength flows through you unlike any other. I have to have you." Its voice like feeling one's skin peeling off, stabbing into Ezymm's mind, leeching for every drop of terror.

Behind the devil Albe drops from the sky, his scales revealing an Azure glow.

"Albe help me!" the boy calls in desperation.

The dragon did not move, he did not seem disturbed but instead calm. He just looks between Ezymm and the Devil like he knew this would happen.

"Albe help me." the Devil mocks Ezymm's word. "He won't help you, he wanted this to happen. This is your d-d-d-destiny after all."

The boy looks to his mentor, pain in his eyes. This is why he took care of Ezymm, and why he said those hurtful things. As much as Ezymm prays to the gods but there is no other truth.

"You didn't know, that makes it even f-f-f-funnier." The Devil's voice high with arousal. "Would you like to know why he did this?" It licks its lips, giving a trickle of glee as if it were a child.

Albe looks away from Ezymm, in shame or disinterest he couldn't tell.

"Many lifetimes ago, a boy stood in a forest crying. He cried after other children attacked him because he was weak, utterly helpless he pleads for the gods to give him power. So, I came along and made a deal with the child. That I would give him all the power he wanted, and on his death, he would repay me with his name. So came the tale of King Jedan, beloved ruler and founder of the nation of Alberosah. Many years after his peaceful reign he lay on his death bed. Soon he would soon succumb to age and die. And so, I returned, but did he honor our deal, no no no no he did not. One does not made deals with us and not pay his dues.

"The sight was g-g-g-glorious, his body morphing into a dragon leaving his home in ruins. All because he couldn't give me his name. And centuries went by the dragon had nothing to live for, his immortality prevented him from leaving the living world to his family.

"So, I came again and offered him a new deal. Bring me a host whose body was stronger than any monster in the land. Bring him in thirty years the night and he shall be human again."

As much as the truth hurt him, Ezymm only felt shame. Shame of how he lived, that he was just a boy Albe found so he could be human again. But also shame that he did not feel hatred in his heart. That he still loves him, he only had one thing to say before he died.

"Will you smile?" Alberosah hears his words but does not react. Tears run down Ezymm's face like rain. "Maybe you will smile, after I'm gone."

From the Devils mouth came an enchanted sword like blood and smoke. It points to Ezymm's heart, he knew once the sword pierces him, he would die, and his body would belong to the Devil. "This will hurt, so please scream as m-m-m-much as you like."

Ezymm closes his eyes, waiting for death that will soon take him. Only death did not come, life prevails.

Alberosah's mighty fangs shred the tentacles holding Ezymm, breaking his deal with the Devil. Carrying the boy in his mouth like a lioness would a cub while escaping behind a hilltop. It is not to escape, simply to keep Ezymm safe so that he will face the Devil alone. "Do not follow, I must do this alone."

Over the hilltop the devil brings itself over, rage boiling as it casts a large shadow over them. "Stupid little lizard, did you think it was a coincidence I found you that day. I'd knew you'd never keep your end of the deal, that's why I did it. Even becoming a dragon, you couldn't even learn your lesson."

Albe attacks with full strength but to no avail, the devils body forming itself together like new. Its tentacles strike fiercely, none hit him once Albe takes to the skies. As fast as an eagle, Albe sores through the heavens in a snap. Seconds go by and nothing, just when Ezymm thinks he'd been betrayed once again Albe's bright scales reveal him falling. Making one powerful blow sending shockwaves over miles.

The dust clears enough for Ezymm to see the aftermath. The Devil still alive and smiling. In its hand holding the magically mythic blade. On top of it is Albe, a clean stab right through the Dragon's chest. Albe fell lifelessly to the ground. Ezymm runs wildly until he reaches his mentors body hoping it was not too late. The dragon still had breath in him, but not for long. He prays to the gods, or anything that can hear him, even if no one could hear he still prays.

"Ezymm?" Those words broke the boy from his delusional state. "What a father fears most for his chi... child, is repeating the same mistakes they made. Do not do this Ezymm, trust... yourself. For... for it is your destiny." Soon after he spoke there came not breath, no heartbeat, no life.

"Father"

"He did all that and dies anyway, oh well. Time for me to have your b-b-b-body now." The Devil speaks like talking about the weather. It felt nothing, not even seeing a boy watch his father die in front of him.

In a blind fury Ezymm grips his bone blade and charges to the Devil, it didn't even have time to move before Ezymm came inches to its body. He screams like the monsters he fought all his life and swings. Broken, the blade is left broken once it strikes the Devils skin.

Stunned by what happened, Ezymm hunches over in defeat. The Devil too seems paralyzed in fear, a smile forms then breaks into a theatrical laugh. "For a second it felt like you could really kill me. Hahaha, and you failed. No mortal weapon can harm me. I AM ETERNAL!" Its words bringing down its calm demeaner. In that moment Ezymm realizes, its afraid of him. It wanted his body for a reason, because he is stronger.

A monster is loud when trying to hide its fear.

He looks to the sword still stuck in Father's body. The mystical blade killed him, and in its own words Albe was immortal.

Beware of the one surroundings.

He runs, the Devil understanding the boys plan sends a barrage of attacks in his way. He is faster, his smaller body made dodging the tentacles easy. In its attempt to intercept him, the Devil goes to take the magical sword from the dragon's body but is too late. Ezymm takes the blade which somehow shrinks to fit his size. The Devil planned this however, vile tentacles come at him from all sides.

When all sides are blocked where else to go but up.

Feeling his hope drain the Devil sends all its oily tentacles at him as he falls straight to the it. Powerful and fast like lightning Ezymm cuts pass everything in its path. Once close enough to the main body, with both hands he grips the dark blade and swings. Its body vertically split in half, after the cut both parts of the Devil seem to melt. From the dark liquid, arose its true form. Not much bigger then Ezymm, it had a spider like body with hands as its legs and a mouth on its abdomen.

With all its strength it crawls away in terror, it does not go far once Ezymm slices all the left arms. Now it just hunches uselessly as Ezymm slowly walks to it. Strangely he feels pit for it, but not enough to let it live.

"P-p-p-please don't!" It pleads to him as if somehow that would change his mind. Ezymm lifts the enchanted sword lunges with everything he has.

"I can bring him back!"

The magical sword stops just inches away from its ebony body, those words made Ezymm still as a statue.

"Yes, I c-c-c-can bring him back to life." its every word tempting Ezymm like meat to a starving predator. "If you do not kill me, I will even make him human as well."

The Devils talk puts him into a trance, the only thing of his mind are memories of his father. Happy ones, sad ones, the way he argued with him as well as his talks of wisdom. He wants it back, all of it. Then another memory claims him, Albe's last words. He never would have wished for Ezymm do what he did, he cannot make this deal.

In desperation a monster will do anything to live.

Before he can even react, pain take hold of him. The Spider Devil picked up a piece of the broken bone blade and stabs Ezymm with it.

"You did not actually think you would live through this? I am a creature of darkness, born from the corrupt hearts of men. You are a mortal!"

Ezymm stays still, blood continues to pour from his wounds but still he does not move. Instead, he grabs the Devil, squeezing so tight not even the gods can break it. "All father, give me strength to vanquish my enemy."

It tries to break away, but there is no escaping from justice for the thing that took his father away. He pulls the sword back and kills.

Never Hesitate.

Nothing but ash remains of it, he hopes if there is an afterlife that it will go to the cruelest one. He drops, his hard breaths continue as he looks to the heavens. The Star Bridge shines the brightest, he now knew someone he loves is up there to light his way.

-

The misty country village is glows from the afternoon sun, peaceful and quiet it seems as though nothing can ruin it.

Men and women drank within the tavern that's only enjoyable for its history and cheap beer. They groan and boo to the colorful man ruining their day. A lonely Bard without a tune in his voice, sang with his lute to every patron's annoyance. He only finishes the song once a hail of breads and fruits are thrown by the people. Using his blue coat, the Bard smiles to pick them up to enjoy his lunch. Before leaving a curious figure captures his attention, wearing a hooded coat and build like a fighter he was the only one who wasn't disgusted by his singing. He had to know why.

"Say friend, you seem rather undisturbed, a very unusual sight whenever I'm around." The Bard waits for an answer, but none came. "What, were my songs so bad it made you deaf."

"I have no problem with your songs, I've just heard those all before." the hooded man bluntly states, though not meaning to insult. "Plus, you can't sing."

"Well, isn't everyone a critic, I don't suppose you have any good songs to share." The Bard snidely remarks. He then notices something strange, hanging of the man's side is a sword unlike any he had ever seen. I didn't seem to be made of metal, rather like it was forged from darkness itself. "That sword? I've heard of you, the Devil Slayer! Ezra? Esara? Ezekial?"

"Ezymm."

"Yes, you are just what I need. I am Nyzah, traveling poet and stealer of hearts if I do say do myself." He terrifically announces like Ezymm cares. "Lately thought I've come into a slump on my writing, there are no good adventures to tell theses day. You yourself are just a rumor, hardly anyone knows anything about you. I can change that." He lifts his lute and plays a small tune. "I will sing of your every adventure, and we'll be rich doing so. What do you say?"

"I don't I can-"

"Splendid, we shall travel together far and wide. You just do the slaying and I'll take care of the hard parts, publicity." He smiles at the thought of money, like Ezymm is not a person but a wealthy prospect. "I just need a title, The great Devil Slayer Ezymm, and his cursed sword... um, you have a name for it?"

Ezymm looks down at the sword. It had been so long since he first took hold of it and slayed that Devil. He thinks only one name, a name that means everything to him. One that should be remembered though all of history, instead of the once great kingdom now forgotten.

"Alberosah."

The End.