Heroes of Destiny Novel Sample by author Kevin Wong

HEROES OF DESTINY

Episode I:

Eternal Knights

By Kevin Wong

Prologue:

Before the world began, Gods and Demons ruled the heavens, the hells, the purgatories, and the earths. Gods and Demons were the two original creatures in the Universe, and each side vied eternally for complete domination over the other… But neither side prevailed.

As time passed, and as the Gods and Demons viciously fought with one another, thousands of heavens were destroyed, hells were uplifted, purgatories were closed, and earths were shattered, until only one of each was left behind… The ones left behind are those that we know of today.

Because only one battleground remained, and the war between them was not yet settled, the Gods and Demons called a meeting to determine — once and for all — who would reign supreme. Both sides agreed that because neither could achieve absolute victory, they would each create other beings to do their bidding and fight their war for them. Then, these beings would determine who wins and who loses their war, and thus who lives and who dies… The Gods and Demons created beings called humans.

One by one, humans were placed all over the final remaining earth. Some were culled from the one last heaven; some were culled from the one last hell. The humans culled from heaven were inherently compassionate, loving, and peaceful. The humans culled from hell were inherently malevolent, wrathful, and violent.

Some humans were even culled from the one last purgatory, and these humans were inherently neutral. They were souls who were neither good nor evil, but they could be turned towards the side of good or evil… with the proper influence…

In the last battleground of Eternium, the first Eternal War began between the humans chosen by the Gods — and those chosen by the Demons. This first war was also intended to be the last…

Every generation, these chosen humans fought against one another and continued the Eternal War that the Gods and Demons had started so long ago. The Eternal War was fought hour after hour — day after day — and year after year — until finally, one side emerged victorious…

After years of bloody battle, and millions upon millions of gruesome dead, the humans who were chosen by the Gods won the first Eternal War. As agreed by the terms of the Eternal War, all Demons were immediately banished far beneath the final remaining earth and into the depths of the one last hell — never to return…

However, the power and wrath of the Demons was unrelenting, and so the seal that the Gods created to lock them away was slowly weakening. The Gods predicted that the seal would only last one millennium, before the Demons could break free of it and roam the final battleground of Eternium once again…

One thousand years have passed since that fateful day so long ago, and the time has now come for a new Eternal War. However, during the past one thousand years since the first Eternal War, humans have populated themselves onto the earth a billion times over. As a consequence, the good, the evil, and the neutral are intertwined far more so than when the world first began…

But despite the uncertain loyalties of the humans of today, the time for questions has come to an end, and the time for battle has begun again…

The sides have been drawn…

The players are prepared…

And so, The Eternal War begins…

Chapter 1:

The Eternal Knight

When destiny beckons, no one can ignore the call. Do you believe this to be true? Until one knows, and perhaps even understands, the story that is about to unfold, no one can say for certain…

This story, known before now only by the Gods themselves, is perhaps joyful, perhaps tragic. But that is likely true of the very few things, or people, in one’s life that truly mean something… for without the risk of losing what, or who, one loves, one would not truly know what love is. Such is the very heart of the story that is about to unfold… a story that unfolds on a planet known as Eternium…

Like the many planets that support myriads of life, Eternium differs not. Animals roam the plains, forests, mountains, and skies. People, of all walks of life and of all ages, can be found as far as the eye can see. The four elements — earth, air, fire, and water — flow in abundance throughout Eternium. The four seasons — spring, summer, fall, and winter — come and go as surely as the sun sets and the moon rises. Woods, jewels, metals, and minerals grow and form in the grounds and in the recesses of the planet’s crust. Lastly, plants, fruits, vegetables, and all other matter with which life, especially that of human life, uses to survive and flourish, is present in the fascinating realm known as Eternium. Where Eternium differs from other realms though, is in its goods, and in its evils…

In the very centre of the wondrous world known as Eternium, lies a small continent called Eterniad. And in the small continent of Eterniad, lies an even smaller country called Eternia. Despite its small size though, the country of Eternia is a proud, prosperous, and perfect place. Eternia contains noble people, commands a grand army, sails a sturdy navy, possesses vast wealth, produces endless bounties, creates timeless histories, worships great Kings and Queens, and eliminates want and suffering. If ever a land existed that peace truly smiled down upon it every single day and every single night, the Kingdom of Eternia is that land.

In Eternia, the countryside is green and lush. Rolling hills and deep valleys punctuate its tranquil landscape, and amaranthine trees grow in limitless numbers. Flowers burgeon from in between every blade of grass, and countless animals accent the land, and in their abundance, they, too, often appear as if living in the dreamiest and most perfect of lands.

In a shallow valley, next to a powerful and majestic hill, stands a breathtaking castle… a castle that is so overwhelmingly beautiful and radiant, one would likely cry just to look upon it. This bewilderingly beautiful castle, well over one thousand years old, is called Eternia Castle. For countless generations, the Kings and Queens of Eternia have lived and died in this majestic abode, and justly and honourably ruled and led the citizens of Eternia to perfect days and peaceful nights. Through the tireless efforts of generations of Eternia’s Kings and Queens, the tranquility that all in Eternia know today, was established, and the beauty that is Eternia Castle, was formed.

Eternia Castle is a place like no other. Its beauty and majesty are unparalleled in both reality and dreams. Its stones and bricks shine like they are made from diamonds. Its gate is a masterful entranceway made from the purest gold and silver. Its ramparts are like large mountains — impervious to both might and magic — standing forever on guard. Its walls are covered in precious flags and draperies, all woven from the smoothest and silkiest of cloths, and coloured with the deepest and most powerful of colours. Lastly, its towers, seemingly reaching into the heavens above, have arched windows and quaint nooks and crannies for people to see the world below, in, and around the castle. And of these towers, the widest and tallest of them all rises in the very centre of the castle, and this tower is topped by a conically-pointed roof, which itself is topped by a single flag flying the official Crest of Eternia. And at this height, even from a great distance away from the castle, this Flag of Eternia can be seen flying mightily and gracefully, as if to say to one and all: ‘Eternia is Eternal’.

In complement to its beauty, Eternia Castle is guarded by the most powerful of protections. The castle’s outermost walls hold a drawbridge, made of the strongest and sturdiest of woods, and it gracefully bridges a seemingly bottomless moat full of pure, glistening, holy water that destroys any and all evil beings that come into contact with it. Protective shields, forged from the absolute hardest of metals, line the castle at every corner and every faceted point to protect the beauty behind them. Magic cannons and mortars sit atop all of Eternia Castle’s ramparts and towers, and from these paramount positions, they can not only fire offensive magical spells to destroy enemies, they can fire defensive magical spells to repair damage done to Eternia Castle’s walls. And should anyone of impure heart or thought still try to attack this sacred place, numberless soldiers from the Royal Army of Eternia patrol and stand guard at all of the strategic points of Eternia Castle, ready to trounce any would-be intruder or attacker… or intruders or attackers. However, for those good creatures or people who are meant to be in this special place, through these defenses, drawbridges, ramparts, and walls, lies the heart of Eternia Castle: Eternia Town.

Eternia Town is the life behind Eternia. It is here that the citizens of Eternia build their homes, live their lives, make their livings, and raise their children. The streets are always clean, as is the air and the water. The homes are filled prodigiously with love and peace — with parents who love and take care of their children — and children who love and take care of them back. The schools are immeasurably dedicated and infinitely knowledgeable, teaching lessons to people both young and old — in everything from languages, mathematics, sciences, history, philosophy, art, drama, and music — to treasure-hunting, horseback-riding, seafaring, astrology, warfare tactics, archery, magic spell-casting, and sword-fighting. And most importantly in Eternia Town: the people are good and pure-hearted — with everyone living good and pure lives, and caring more for everyone else than they do for themselves.

Music and songs are often heard playing in the air in Eternia Town, and the laughter of children playing in the streets can be caught amidst the harmonies of music and the vivacity of daily life. And vivacious it is, for Eternia Town is a bustling place — filled to the brim with shops and people, especially during the normal day and night hours. From breakfast-time when the sun fully rises, until the quaint night when it is time for young children to go to bed, anyone can find anything in Eternia Town. Weapons shops sell the strongest and most advanced weapons that money can buy — everything from the sharpest sword to the strongest bow — from the biggest axe to the most enchanted staff. Armour shops are just as refined, as they carry supreme defenses and protections that a rampaging ogre could not even damage or penetrate. Lastly, items shops carry daily goods and wares, along with a variety of unique accessories that are not available for purchase in either the weapons or armour stores of Eternia Town. With the diverse weaponry, aegises, and commodities available among these three types of stores, Eternia Town’s shops have something for every adventurer to buy.

Gold coins are the currency in Eternia — as well as throughout the rest of Eternium for that matter — but honourable barter and trade are commonplace forms of payment in addition to the monetary. Nowhere are these facts truer than in the marketplace of Eternia Town: where most people come to do their buying, selling, or trading of any type of good, such as sewing cloth or farm animals — or of any type of service, such as carpentry or blacksmithing. In the marketplace, restaurants, kitchens, and bakeries fill the air with lovely smells of exotic spices and home-baked bread, and fruit-stands, butchers, and fisherpeople set up their stalls every day and sell the freshest and tastiest foods available. Finally, as the symbolic heart of Eternia Town’s marketplace, the local Inn of Eternia is renowned not only for its hospitality, but for its ability to attract visitors from as nearby as the neighbouring hamlets and the borderline villages — to as far away as the frozen northern islands and the sweltering southern continents. Surrounded by good food and drink, buyers, sellers, traders, and visitors, from lands both near and far, often stay at this inn as they conduct their fruitful and unending business in the beautiful and unforgettable Eternia Town.

Shoppers and sellers; barters and traders; residents and visitors — old and young alike — each and all fill Eternia Town every day with voices and life from morning until night. In the early dawn, however, Eternia Town is as quiet as a deserted island in the stillest of seas — and nowhere is this truer than in the courtyard of Eternia Town: a capacious and grand space located in the centre of Eternia Town. Two people, a master swordsman and an apprentice swordsman, come to this magnificent courtyard every single dawn to train together — taking advantage of the one time of day when and the one place where Eternia Town is at its most peaceful. The two, though master and student, respect each other tremendously, and through their years of continuous training sessions the student has not only learned a great deal from his master, the master has occasionally even learned a thing or two from his student. And now, like so many times before in Eternia, it is again dawn, on a new beautiful day, in a new peaceful year, during a new halcyon era. And it is here: in this peaceful land, in this preeminent castle, in this prosperous town, and in this palatial courtyard; and now: on this picturesque, pellucid, precious, and promising new day; that our story truly begins…

“Ninety-six… Ninety-seven… Ninety-eight… Ninety-nine… ONE HUNDRED!” said the young man, while swinging a long, heavy-looking sword downwards with only his right hand, and in doing so was sweating lightly, yet looking somewhat refreshed at the same time. The young man’s name was Kevin. He was an energetic, charismatic, and fairly strong young man, who also possessed a keen, diligent, and intelligent mind. Courage was also immeasurably infused in him, as were compassion, optimism, and friendliness. He was fairly tall, not heavy, and he had a thin, yet ever so slightly muscular, build. His arms were long, as were his legs, and his smile was bright and contagiously addictive.

Kevin was extremely handsome, and his face was clean-cut and had an aura of strength and leadership. His hair was short in length and dark in colour, and his eyes were dark in colour as well. When opened, his eyes were wide and inviting like great pools of water. When focused, his eyes were as fierce and piercing as bolt lightning. His eyebrows were prominent and powerful, and they accented his already ardent eyes when open, and made them even more aggressive when focused. On his right wrist, he wore a sentimental bracelet hand-woven from red silver and black silk and finely embroidered with an intertwined dragon and phoenix. Around his neck, he wore a thin silver-chained necklace, and humbly hanging at its end was a small, but striking, green and white jade jewel. His clothes, though well-worn, were nicely groomed, and he stood straight and tall; and when he moved he did so very gracefully, yet with a degree of raw power. Kevin’s appearance looked like that of a young emperor. And with the slight sweat dripping from his forehead, he looked even more imposing and irresistible.

Immediately after Kevin had just finished swinging his sword for the one-hundredth time, he brushed aside his light sweat and took a well-earned and re-energizing deep breath to gather his strength again. As Kevin breathed, at a distance of two arm’s lengths away a venerable, wise-looking old man was standing with him face-to-face. His hands were resting on a cane made of blessed oak, and he was wearing the robe of the official instructor of the Royal Knights of Eternia.

He had a long, silvery-white beard that reached down to his chest, and his hair looked like snowy silkworms nestling themselves into a full mane at the top of his head. His eyes were dark green like a dragon’s, and his voice was a low bass. He wore on his neck a faded-gold medallion necklace that had an emblem of a god and a demon fighting on one side, and a symbol of a glowing sword circumscribed by five different coloured crystals on the other. Although clearly aged, the man was tall, strong, and heavy-set. He looked like an old warrior that had fought over a thousand battles and had over a million stories to tell of those days of glory. The old man was Vordrogan: Kevin’s Sword Master. He was intently observing Kevin’s sword-swinging, when he suddenly spoke…

“I think you should finally show to me how well you have learned my teachings…” said Vordrogan to Kevin. “I want to see ALL two hundred and fifty sword sets — in order — right now.”

“Now??” asked Kevin — shocked at the daunting request from his master.

“Now,” commanded Vordrogan — not mincing words with his student.

Not one to disobey his master, Kevin patiently and steadily demonstrated all two hundred and fifty sword sets that Vordrogan had taught him over the years. Kevin executed all techniques in the order he had originally learned them from Vordrogan, and he performed each of those techniques with the utmost of precision, power, and ferocity. And after what seemed like days to Kevin, but was in actuality the rest of the morning, Kevin finally finished the two hundred and fiftieth sword set…

“Good!” Vordrogan roared while smiling at Kevin. “Very, very good!” Adding a subtle nod along with his even subtler smile, Vordrogan then said, “Kevin — I am impressed. Your sword arm has become MUCH stronger than it was at this same time last spring.”

Although he was sweating and panting from near-exhaustion, Kevin gathered what little energy he had left and bowed his head with great respect and deference to Vordrogan, and then in a short, but still strong, breath, Kevin replied, “You honour me with your words, Master.”

To prove to his master that he was physically, mentally, and spiritually fit, Kevin was not permitted to drink much water while he was demonstrating the multitude of sword sets to Vordrogan. However, now that the demonstration was finally over, Kevin ravishly gulped down an entire goblet of water as if he had just crossed a desert and found an oasis on the other side. As the goblet’s last drops of cold, clean, revivifying water approached Kevin’s impoverishly parched mouth, his master spoke to him…

“Do you think you are ready for the test?” quickly queried Vordrogan to Kevin.

Kevin, who was more rapt with quenching his immeasurable thirst than on listening to his master’s words, was stunned by this sudden, and significant, question from his master: Vordrogan. Although Kevin wanted more than anything to say “yes”, he shook his head rapidly from side-to-side to express saying “no” — causing some sweat to flicker lightly from his forehead and some water to spill from his mouth.

“No Master. I need to train MUCH harder before I am worthy of taking the test,” said Kevin decidedly to Vordrogan. “I am not prepared, and I am too weak to undertake the trials that the test will entail.”

“Really? And why do you say that my apprentice?” asked Vordrogan, who was secretly amused, and proud (as usual), by Kevin’s humbleness. He could never understand why Kevin thought so lowly of his own abilities; however, humility was a good trait, and Vordrogan always appreciated that of his loyal and dedicated student.

“My exercises still tire me Master. Unless I can swing my sword one hundred times without breaking a sweat, I am still too weak — not to mention the fact that I just nearly collapsed after executing all of the sword sets you taught me…”

Obviously thinking higher of his apprentice’s abilities than his apprentice himself thought of them, Vordrogan rebuked Kevin by saying, “That is not true my apprentice. Even the greatest swordsmen in the world still tire.”

“I cannot afford to get tired… not when I am charged with protecting Launa. Being able to swing my sword one last time may be the difference between her life and her death,” said Kevin resolutely — undoubtedly speaking about a girl for whom he cared immeasurably.

“I commend your desire to strengthen your swordsmanship my apprentice,” responded Vordrogan candidly to Kevin, “but always remember that true strength lies within one’s heart — not in the power of one’s arm. Although you tire from swinging a sword Kevin, I can see in you the strongest of people. You do not need further training.”

Kevin was taken aback with tremendous shock, and he also began to feel concerned, upon hearing these unexpected words from his master. From the time he had taken his first sword lesson with Vordrogan many years ago, to this very day Kevin had never heard Vordrogan ever once speak of their lessons ending. Startled by this revelation, and the fear that he may no longer be taking lessons from the sword master he admired and trusted so dearly, Kevin brought himself to speak…

“What —? Does… Does this mean I can no longer study under you Master?”

Vordrogan, although he wanted desperately to say “no”, slowly nodded his head in confirmation, and in a slightly pained voice uttered to Kevin, “Yes Kevin… You must pass the test before you can reach the next level — the final level — of swordsmanship…”

Vordrogan paused for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about what to say to Kevin next.

“Return home and rest,” said Vordrogan. “Tomorrow morning, I will send you on the test.”

“Yes Master,” replied Kevin, while quietly ruminating to himself that today’s training session, although like the countless ones before it, was the most important and special one he had ever had to date — and the most perplexing one he had ever had as well. Not wanting to delay obeying his master’s instructions though, Kevin graciously bowed to Vordrogan and then quietly left the courtyard. However, Kevin did not leave the courtyard unaccompanied, for countless thoughts about what had just happened this morning began to run through his young, yet complex, mind — and these thoughts palpably exited the courtyard together with Kevin…

It was now early in the afternoon when Kevin walked slowly away from Eternia Town’s courtyard: the sybaritic site where he and his wise master trained together every day, and where today his master had just finished teaching him another familiar and meaningful lesson in swordsmanship. However, despite the familiarity of today’s lesson in comparison to all those before it, Kevin could still not shake the feeling that today’s lesson was, indeed, very, very strange… As if he was carrying the weight of the heaviest of mysteries, Kevin would sometimes stop walking completely, and he would simply stare at the things in front of him — whatever they happened to be at the time that his mind so absorbedly started contemplating. However, Kevin soon refocused himself, and as he calmly rounded the final corner heading towards his home, Kevin suddenly heard a very beautiful voice… the most beautiful voice he had ever heard in his entire life…

“Hi Kevin!” chimed a young, and extraordinarily beautiful girl, while smiling and waving at Kevin. The young girl’s name was Launa. She was a vibrant, charming, and sweet young girl, who also carried within her countless abilities that were each limitless, and a love for helping others that was immeasurable. She was extremely gentle and loveable, yet she was also ardently fiery and passionate. Her eyebrows were thin, and her complexion was rosy and full of life. She had incredible, long, and silkily-flowing brunette hair, and absolutely gorgeous, deep, crystal-clear blue eyes. Her figure was like that of a Goddess, and her smile seemed to light-up everything and everyone around her, or in this case: Kevin!

Launa was wearing a stunning pink dress, which paled in beauty only to her. As it usually was, her hair was expertly styled; and the uniqueness, yet also the simplicity, of her hair made her appear even more welcoming and amiable. Around her neck was an awe-inspiring necklace, and on her arms were precious armbands that glittered like diamonds in the rain. Around her wrists she wore magical bracelets of silver and gold encrusted with enchanted emeralds. She had tear-dropped earrings that were made of the purest and rarest of white and green jade, and on her head was a sparkling gold tiara with a single shining red ruby in the centre. She stood with grace, and she walked with honour. Her entire aura was that of dignity and royalty, and this was not surprising, for Launa was the Princess of Eternia…

Launa was the daughter of the King and Queen of Eternia, and as such, she was the Princess of Eternia. Launa was also the love of Kevin’s life, and Kevin was the love of hers. Launa started to fall in love with Kevin shortly after she turned sixteen years old and her mind and body had matured; and her love for him quickly grew as time passed between then and now. In turn, Kevin started to fall in love with Launa as he spent more time with her and her outer and inner beauty endeared her to him; and his love for Launa grew as quickly and as truly as Launa’s love for him grew. Now, after so many years of intimacy, friendship, and romance together, Kevin and Launa have become inseparable, and their love for one another has blossomed into an eternal love — as evidenced by the heartwarming scene occurring now on this early afternoon, a small ways beyond Eternia Town’s fabled courtyard…

As the beautiful Princess of Eternia, Launa, stood before him, nervous smiles and profuse blushes began to appear all over Kevin’s usually taciturn face — proof of the intense effect Launa’s presence had on him. However, despite Kevin’s shyness and shakiness, he tried his absolute best to respond suavely to the cheerful and confident greeting of “Hi Kevin!” that Launa had said to him just moments earlier…

“Um… Hi… Hi Launa…” stumbled Kevin shyly. “How are you…?”

Smiling flirtatiously to Kevin, Launa, who was in far greater control of her emotions than Kevin was of his, said to Kevin with assuredness and sweetness, “I’m much better now that you’re around me!”

Although he was used to it by this point in their relationship, Kevin was almost always surprised by (and enamoured with) Launa’s forthrightness towards him. Because of Launa’s undeniable feelings for him, Kevin began to blush even more than he already was before, and he admitted to Launa, “You always make me blush…”

“Really?? You never told me that!” exclaimed Launa, who was extremely surprised by Kevin’s comment, and whether from surprise; from her amorous feelings for Kevin; or perhaps both; she began to blush herself as well…

As good as Kevin felt knowing that he just made Launa blush too, a thought suddenly came to his mind: although Launa was blushing, he was blushing far more than she was. As such, perhaps due to embarrassment, Kevin reminded himself that he was a man, and Launa was a woman, and so he began to look smug and macho. Feeling re-empowered, Kevin swaggeringly explained to Launa why he had never told her before that she always made him blush…

“Yeah, I never told you that you always make me blush,” boasted Kevin, “and for good reason too: men aren’t supposed to blush and be shy around women — so for me to act that way around you is very embarrassing!”

Launa was extremely annoyed by this chauvinistic statement from Kevin, and so she forcefully punched Kevin in his right shoulder as a reprimand for his stone-aged hauteur and said, “Oh, and I suppose women are supposed to act that way around MEN?!”

“That would be ideal” Kevin replied, while smiling jokingly.

Although she looked irritated on the outside, on the inside — and deep in her heart — Launa was falling in love all over again with Kevin because of his innocence, playfulness, and sense of humour, and so she coyly teased, “Well if that’s the case, I’m never going to blush for you again…”

“I’m sorry Launa, I was just joking,” said Kevin immediately to Launa, showing her how much she — and her feelings — meant to him.

Although he wanted to continue to speak, Kevin paused for a moment before doing so; he wanted to make absolutely certain that what he was about to say came out perfectly… And so, after taking a short breath, and while looking slightly down at the ground, but with Launa still in his eyes, Kevin confessed to her, “Launa… The truth is… I — I’ve never felt this way about a girl before… I… I don’t know how to handle it sometimes, and so… all I seem able to do at those times is to get shy and blush around you…”

After she heard this touching explanation from Kevin as to why he could not help but blush when in her presence, the inimitable smile that instantly brightened Kevin’s life beamed enormously and radiantly from Launa, and she immediately returned Kevin’s honesty with her own.

“See, that’s a much better answer!” said Launa. “And… just between you and I Kevin… You… You often make me blush tremendously too… But I don’t want to look silly in your eyes, so I try to run away from you whenever it happens…”

“Ah, so that’s why you’re always running away from me,” said Kevin, as he smiled at Launa anew. “It’s ok though Launa, because I love chasing you…”

Launa, blushing greatly once more, whispered to Kevin, “See, you’ve done it again…”

“Good. Now we’re even.”

Launa giggled at Kevin’s playful joke, which was not unusual since Kevin often had that exact effect on Launa with his sly and witty sense of humour. Besides, Kevin was not one to shy away from telling a good joke — especially to Launa: the girl of his dreams. And so, through her giggles, Launa said to Kevin, “Oh, alright — I’ll let you win this battle! So, where are you going??”

“Well, I wish I could go somewhere right now with you, Launa…” sighed Kevin earnestly, as he ran his hands through the love of his life’s beautiful, silky hair, “but unfortunately, I have to go home right now, eat dinner with my mom, and then get to bed early tonight because… tomorrow morning… I am going to take the test.”

“Already??!!” exclaimed Launa, in astronomical surprise. “But you’re so young!!!!!”

“That’s what I thought…” agreed Kevin. “But Master Vordrogan thinks otherwise, and it’s not my place to argue with his counsel. If he tells me tomorrow morning I am to take the test, then tomorrow morning I take the test.”

“I’m so proud of you Kevin!” cheered Launa to her love, while smiling immensely. “Not even your father took the test at such a young age, Kevin, and he was the greatest knight ever in the history of Eternia!”

“Thanks Launa…” replied Kevin sincerely. “You know Launa… it’s because of you that I train so hard — I want to be able to protect you against anything… or anyone… always.”

Because of Kevin’s exceedingly heartfelt words, Launa began blushing again — this time uncontrollably — and she softly replied, “You’re so sweet Kevin… I’m… I’m so lucky to have you as my protector… and my love…”

“No, I’m the lucky one,” said Kevin, and then after he spoke, Kevin slowly inched forward towards Launa. Kevin then wrapped his sinewy arms around Launa’s sylphlike waist, and finally, he pulled Launa powerfully towards him…

Pressed against Launa’s pure, yet nubile, body, Kevin ran his hands down the small of Launa’s back, and caressed her delicately soft, smooth skin — causing tiny goose bumps to surface atop Launa’s back as his fingertips moved along it so seductively. While Kevin was becoming entranced with the feel of the satiny skin of Launa, Kevin was also growing spellbound with the smell of Launa’s intoxicating perfume, and more importantly: her absolutely mesmerizing natural scent. Akin to Kevin’s sensations, Launa could not help but become enraptured by Kevin as he held her so strongly, yet so softly, alongside his body, and she felt powerless to resist the innate scent of Kevin’s sweat and pheromones: a matchless musk that suddenly caused unbridled temptations to flow throughout her entire body, which was now trembling and wholly unable to resist succumbing to every one of Kevin’s whims — or every one of her own whims for that matter. While Kevin continued to hold Launa’s honeyed and ambrosial body close to his, and while they both continued to breathe and feel each other into the very recesses of their beings and souls, Kevin gently kissed Launa’s creamy, saccharine neck, and said to her, “I have to go now. I love you.”

Almost appearing as if she were about to cry, Launa looked straight into Kevin’s mysteriously dark eyes with her watery blue ones, and said back to Kevin, “I love you too.”

Kevin wished that he could have held onto his love, Launa, forever… However, he knew that he had to let her go, if just for today, and so after kissing Launa one last time — this time on the back of her delicate left hand — he reluctantly released Launa: the girl of his dreams; the love of his life. With the sugary-sweetness of Launa’s sensuous skin still fresh on his lips, Kevin told Launa forlornly that he was going home now, but that the instant he could, he would see her again. Even though she felt as equally sad as Kevin felt about having to part ways today, Launa knew why Kevin had to go home now — he had to tell his mother, too, about his test; and he had to prepare and rest for his test — and so she brought herself to wave goodbye to the love of her life, Kevin; and so, without the love of his life, Launa, beside him, Kevin somberly resumed his journey back to his home…

Although he was alone during his earlier walk home — before he saw Launa — Kevin felt considerably lonelier during his current walk home — after he saw Launa; and on top of his newfound loneliness Kevin had even more daydreams swimming through his head. However, this time, Kevin’s boundless thoughts were not on the dangerous task he had ahead of him tomorrow… This time, Kevin’s runaway thoughts did not bring him any anxiety; they brought him tremendous bliss… For this time, Kevin’s illimitable thoughts were not on gut-wrenching work; they were solely on heartwarming love… Kevin’s thoughts were on Launa: the girl of his dreams; the love of his life.

After parting with Launa, Kevin started to walk back home again, following his usual scenic route and — despite the sadness he felt in not being with Launa at this moment — Kevin happily talked to all the usual people he saw on his way to and from his home every day. However, as he approached his home, Kevin felt a sudden and strong urge to watch, just for a moment, the Knights of Eternia conduct their daily training session in the outer concourse of Eternia Castle; and so, Kevin followed his spontaneous yearning and watched them from one of the exquisite vantage points atop a high town wall near to the concourse. Kevin’s sudden wish though to watch the Knights of Eternia train was — like all the times before today — not surprising, because one of Kevin’s greatest desires in life was to become a Knight of Eternia.

As if his desire to become a knight were not already an incredibly lofty goal, another of Kevin’s greatest desires in life was to become the best swordsman in all of Eternia. And both of Kevin’s desires were why Vordrogan took him under his wing of tutelage; Vordrogan wanted to help Kevin become a knight — and he wanted to maximize Kevin’s swordsmanship potential. Through years of training tirelessly with his swordsmanship instructor Vordrogan, Kevin eventually became the best swordsman in all of Eternia. And because of his vast skills as a swordsman, and his infinite love for Launa, Kevin eventually became the sworn protector of Launa: the Princess of Eternia.

Along with his heavy charge of protecting Princess Launa, Kevin — being a filially devoted son — made a related promise to his beloved mother: he promised that he would always stay in Eternia and take care of her. However, Kevin’s promise to his mother to remain forever in Eternia — although in keeping with his nature — was in conflict with his desires, for Kevin frequently dreamed of going on a grand adventure to see the many lands and visit the many people all around the world outside his birth and home country of Eternia. And even though Kevin’s hunger for adventure was already overwhelming to him in its own right, it was made all the more irrepressible because Kevin was a born leader, too.

Being an uncommonly sympathetic and charismatic person, Kevin gained the respect and support of nearly everyone he met, and he often befriended new allies who wished to back his beliefs and his causes. Kevin was also unwaveringly honest, he possessed the highest morality, and he was eternally faithful to his friends and loved ones. Consequently, another of Kevin’s greatest desires in life was to befriend talented and loyal people, who together with him, could achieve great things in the world and have the legendary adventures he so desperately sought his entire life. But despite Kevin’s secret wish to leave Eternia and go on these wondrous adventures with these wonderful people, his promise to take care of his mother, and his undying love for the Princess of Eternia, Launa, were all the reasons Kevin needed to stay in Eternia, always — and were the sole reasons that drove him to become the best swordsman in all of Eternia — as well as to become a knight. Watching the flawless drills of the Knights of Eternia, now, on this unique and perfect afternoon, only made Kevin even more determined to become a knight — and to be the best swordsman in all the land, always…

After he had watched the Eternian Knights’ drills for about five minutes, Kevin headed back towards his home. Kevin felt very gratified after watching the Knights of Eternia training so conscientiously, for it refortified his belief that all of his training would allow him to become a Knight of Eternia, too! And so, after a short distance’s walk from where he had just watched the Eternian Knights’ training, and with a mid-afternoon sun high in the air, Kevin arrived to the familiar and friendly yellow-gold and white oak-door entrance to his house.

Kevin’s house was a small, but welcoming, home that evoked feelings of hearth and family whenever he looked at it. The house had two, large, front-picture windows facing Eternia Town, with passion-red drapes hanging from within both of them. At the far sides of the house, two tiny windows promoted acquaintance and harmony with the neighbours, and brightened the kitchen and bathroom accordingly. Lastly, at the rear of the house, two large picture windows allowed one to see into the beautiful backyard, and discover for oneself all its delightful wonders.

The roof of the house was made of fired-clay tiles, and erected on the roof’s right side was a tiny chimney smokestack. The house’s walls were made of maple, and they were painted tenderly with hues of yellow-gold and cream. A tall, verdant willow tree grew in front of the house, and its loving leaves overlooked the tiny and humble home of Kevin. When Kevin’s mother was pregnant with Kevin, she had a recurring nightmare that evil spirits were trying to take Kevin away from her in her sleep; however, in that nightmare, the willow tree outside her home protected her and her unborn child. Ever since, Kevin and his mother both believed that their home’s willow tree brought them good luck, and helped to keep them safe from evil.

In the backyard, the house had a beautiful garden that Kevin’s mom tended to every day, and through her perpetual efforts, this garden was alive with gorgeous flowers of all kinds, and also several fruit trees, such as peach, pear, and plum. Strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry bushes also grew in the backyard, and even though his mom wanted usually to use these bushes’ fruits for cooking and baking, Kevin had a tendency to sneak out to the backyard and eat the just-ripened fruits right off these bushes’ branches (when his mom was not looking, of course!) Kevin’s mom even managed to acquire a rare mango tree and an exotic guava tree, and she used these fruits to make freshly-squeezed juice for Kevin every day, in order to help give him the strength he needed to undergo his rigorous training!

Although Kevin usually bounded inside his house after he finished his daily training, today, he hesitated. For several seconds, Kevin was locked in an endless deliberation-loop… one so deep that he could not even bring himself to open his front door and enter it. Standing outside his home’s front door, Kevin was still thinking about the love of his life, Launa; however, Kevin was now also preoccupied with how he could tell his mother, gently, that he was about to undertake an extremely dangerous test tomorrow morning…

After Kevin collected his thoughts and he was ready to enter his home, the day was still several hours from sundown. But even though the day was still young, Kevin was going to cut his day short and return home — where early tonight he could get some much-needed sleep before the test he had to take early tomorrow morning. And so, pressing down on its ornamented bronze handle, and pushing forward on its heavy wood, Kevin entered his home’s front door. It led into the kitchen.

Shiny pots and pans lined the walls and the counters everywhere in the kitchen, and innumerable spices and salts from all over the world were placed in tiny neat bottles on the spotless tabletop nearest to the stove. A refrigerator and a freezer were located in the kitchen’s corner, and in them were stockpiles of meats, poultries, fishes, fruits, vegetables, breads, juices, milk, cream, eggs, butter, honey, syrups, sauces, gravies, purées, oils, extracts, doughs, flours, frostings, fillings, and a plethora-more of other foods and food products. Anyone who saw this kitchen would know that no dilettante chef lived there. On the contrary, Kevin’s mom prided herself on being an exceptional chef, and she wanted everyone, especially Kevin, to know it…!

Kevin’s mom, like Kevin, was an extraordinarily kind person and possessed a heart of gold. Compassion and generosity came to Kevin’s mother as surely as waterfalls came to streams, and she, like Kevin, attracted good friends and good people into her life as pure nectar could draw butterflies. Like her son, Kevin’s mom also had dark hair (although her hair was considerably longer than Kevin’s), and her eyes were dark like Kevin’s as well. Kevin’s mother was significantly shorter than Kevin was, but what she lacked in size, she more than equated with her larger-than-life tenacity and fastidiousness. Kevin’s mother frequently chided and yelled at Kevin, wherever and whenever Kevin did or said something that did not sit well with her for whatever reason — and her continual reproaches of him often made Kevin feel very glum and upset. However, Kevin understood that, like most mothers, his mother was just overprotective of him and overly doting on him, and so Kevin just did whatever he could do to make his mom happy — even if it meant getting admonished by her every single day of his life.

As was evidenced by the tools of her trades hanging and stationed impressively throughout the kitchen, Kevin’s mom absolutely adored cooking and baking. But along with her culinary interests, Kevin’s mom was also highly fond of gardening, and in the backyard she grew her own vegetables, spices, herbs, and plants — in addition to her beloved flowers, fruit trees, and fruit bushes. Being a thrifty person, Kevin’s mom loved growing her own crops because doing so not only allowed her to express her love for gardening, it simultaneously allowed her to create an endless bounty of cooking supplies with which to concoct new recipes for food — many of which she had Kevin be the official taste-tester to see whether they were good, or (unfortunately for Kevin) bad. Luckily though for Kevin, most of the dishes that his mom made were good; it was only the time she cooked that liver stuffed with brussels-sprouts, and when she thought that ‘vegetable cookies would be a good idea’, that — to this day — still made Kevin think, “Why me…?” But behind her exuberance for her own life, and her continual pressing of Kevin to change or improve his, Kevin knew that his mom loved him very, very much — and he loved her very, very much too. And that was why, despite his wish to leave Eternia and go on a grandiose adventure, he promised his mother he would stay in Eternia and take care of her, always.

Upon entering their house today, Kevin could smell that his mom had baked some delicious sugar cookies with frosting (his favourite!) while he was training this morning. When Kevin smelled the intoxicating scent of his favourite cookies, his stomach could not help but rumble, nor could his mouth keep from watering. Spotting her precious child coming through their kitchen door, Kevin’s mom rushed to greet Kevin…

“Welcome back sweetheart!” cheered Kevin’s mom exuberantly, while smiling to her son. “How was training today?”

“Exhausting,” puffed Kevin, as he put his sword down against the kitchen counter, and then sat down in a chair at the kitchen table.

“Here — I baked you some of your favourite cookies — and I made you a large glass of healthy guava juice: your favourite! Now drink and eat up Kevin, and that’ll tide you over until dinner!” Kevin’s mom said, while handing Kevin a plate of the just-cooled sugar cookies that she had baked for him earlier — and placing next to him a mouth-watering glass of sugary-sweet and thirst-quenchingly good guava juice.

“Wow, thanks mom!” exclaimed Kevin, and then he quickly drank a huge mouthful of the delicious freshly-squeezed guava juice, and wolfed down three sugar cookies with frosting in under ten seconds — all of which just hit the spot to Kevin! As he drank and ate the tasty treats his mom had prepared for him, Kevin was bemused about how to tell his mom that, tomorrow morning, he was going to participate in an extremely dangerous test… one in which he knew his mom would undoubtedly disapprove.

“Um, mom, what are you doing tomorrow morning?” Kevin asked politely.

“Me? Nothing really. I was just going to go to the marketplace and pick up some fresh clams, milk, and butter — I was thinking of making some clam chowder for dinner tomorrow night. Why?” Kevin’s mom asked to her son.

“Oh, no reason… It’s just that I wanted to see if you’d be home… And also because… tomorrow morning… I’m taking the test…”

“WHAT?????!!!!!” shrieked Kevin’s mom, who was so shocked by what Kevin had just said that she nearly fell backwards. “No, you are most certainly NOT going to take ‘the test’!!! You’ll get hurt!”

“I won’t get hurt” Kevin replied firmly to his mother, while indescribably annoyed by her paranoia.

As she had a tendency to do with her precious son, Kevin’s mom became angry with Kevin, and he knew that she was about to start yelling at him. Although in her mind she probably thought that she was still just talking, Kevin heard his mother’s words to him in a rather different tone as she said, or rather, yelled, to him, “Your father took the test too soon as well!!!!! I didn’t agree with him about it then, and I’m CERTAINLY not agreeing with you about it now!!!!!”

“Mom, take it easy!” implored Kevin. “I won’t get hurt — I promise! You have to trust me once in a while, you know. I’m a good swordsman.”

Despite Kevin’s sincere effort to let his mother know that he would be fine, Kevin’s mother did not hear Kevin’s words; she was receptive only to her own. And so, as if no one else was in the room with her — and she could simply talk over whomever she wanted, whenever she wanted — Kevin’s mom picked up right where she had left off speaking earlier, and in one long breath and in one continuous sentence, said, “because if you get hurt, then I’ll be all alone, and then I’ll have to nurse you back to health…”

“Mom…” Kevin muttered, while getting annoyed.

“… And then, if I do that, my flowers will get sick, and then I’ll get sick, because I’ll be so tired from nursing you back to health, and then from nursing my flowers back to health after I nursed you back to health, and then from nursing myself back to health after everything and everyone else got the benefit of me nursing them all back to health…”

“Mom…” Kevin said, becoming more annoyed than he was just a moment before.

“… And I’m SO tired, because I get up SO early every morning, and I go to bed SO late every night. I get SO little sleep Kevin, and if you love me you won’t make me even more tired than I already am by making me have to nurse you back to health, on top of all of the other things that I do for you…”

“MOM…” Kevin bellowed, while growing even more annoyed than he was just seconds before, and now on the verge of running out of patience…

“… And besides you can’t afford to get sick, because you’re so fragile, and every time you get sick it takes so long for you to get healthy, and you cough and spit and look so horrible, and then how can you help me around the house, and then how can you spend time with Launa, and then I won’t have a daughter-in-law, and then I won’t have any grandchildren, and then Launa’ll be all alone, and then you’ll be all alone, and then I’LL be all alone, and then you’ll have BROKEN YOUR PROMISE to me; EVERYTHING will be RUINED; and my WHOLE LIFE will be OVER — and it’ll be ALL YOUR FAULT!”

“MOM!” Kevin yelled sharply, and because of his tone, Kevin’s mother finally snapped out of her usual trance-like tirade, and she realized that (as usual) she was, slightly, overreacting.

“I won’t get hurt — ok mom?” said Kevin to his mother — whom he hoped would talk reasonably now.

In a brief moment of calm, Kevin’s mother realized that Kevin made sense, and sensing that she was, perhaps, overreacting, Kevin’s mom sighed and said to her son, “I know, Kevin… But you’re still my son — and you’re all I have left in this world — so I don’t want to lose you…”

“You won’t lose me,” affirmed Kevin — his latest attempt to reassure his mother that everything would be fine.

Kevin’s mom, who was still uncertain about whether she should let her son go on this dangerous test, asked her son, “You promise?”

“I promise,” said Kevin. “So are you ok with me going?”

Kevin’s mom, although wanting to disapprove, grudgingly nodded to Kevin in approval. At the same time as she gave her near-hidden acknowledgement, she whimpered to Kevin, “Alright… And since I’ve agreed to let you go, Kevin… I may as well help you, too… Tomorrow morning, before you go on the test… I’ll… I’ll give you some supplies…”

“Thanks mom… I really appreciate it,” returned Kevin sincerely to his mother. “And don’t worry mom: I’ll be fine.”

Kevin’s mom sighed deeply once again, and in an attempt to forget her solemn feelings she said to her son, “Anyways, I’m baking a roast beef right now. When dinner’s ready, we can talk some more about your test…”

“Ok mom!” agreed Kevin. “Hey, after I get cleaned up, why don’t I help you make dinner??”

“Well, after you get cleaned up, why don’t you set the table first…” suggested Kevin’s mother sneakily to Kevin — for she usually preferred cooking by herself, “and then you can help me cook dinner… After that, we can eat — and we can talk about your test, Kevin… I’m making a succulent roast beef for dinner, and while we eat it, we can talk about your test. There’s lots of roast beef Kevin, so we’ll have plenty to eat — and while we eat we’ll have plenty of time to talk about your test —”

“Mom, you’re repeating yourself…” informed Kevin sarcastically.

“Well if I don’t say something that many times, you — you won’t understand what I said!” Kevin’s mom blurted, in a somewhat shallow defense of her proclivity to repeat things many times…

“Sure mom” Kevin joked while smiling kindly to his mother, and then he went into the bathroom of his and his mom’s house to wash his face and hands. When he was finished, Kevin proceeded to set the dining room table, and then he returned to the kitchen to help — in what little ways he could — his mom to prepare a fabulous meal of (succulent) roast beef, rich gravy, plum purée, rice pilaf, fresh rolls, baked potatoes, honey carrots, maple-syrup squash, buttered broccoli, freshly blended strawberry-mango juice, and many other fine delicacies that only Kevin’s epicurean mom could make, and that, with his gargantuan appetite, only Kevin could fully eat…!

After Kevin and his mother finished eating the fantastic dinner that she had prepared for them, it was nighttime, and a thousand twinkling stars could be seen in the unusually clear and bright night sky. A dazzling shooting star was even seen soaring from the south to the north, and with a warm, iridescent glow, it gently illuminated the tranquil Eternia Castle and Town — even more than they usually glimmered on their own at twilight.

“Thanks a lot for dinner mom,” said Kevin sincerely, while swallowing the last bite of cherry pie that his mom had baked for dessert, “and for understanding.”

“Ok. But let’s not talk about your test anymore — otherwise I’ll regret my decision and get angry at you again” Kevin’s mom assured, while beginning to clean up the dishes.

“Here, let me help you mom. I’m done eating” Kevin said, while gathering up his plates too.

“No — leave everything alone! I’ll clean up!” directed Kevin’s mom to Kevin. “All I want you to do is to get some sleep! You have a big, and dangerous, day tomorrow, and I don’t want you to be tired on top of everything else that you’ll be going through!”

“Alright mom…” grumbled Kevin — frustrated that his mother was not even allowing him to help her clean up the table and dishes.

“Now, go up to your room, and get a good night’s sleep Kevin,” said Kevin’s mom.

“Ok. Good night mom,” replied Kevin lovingly, and then he hugged his mom tightly and kissed her on the cheek — and she did the same to him too.

After letting go of his mom, Kevin started walking towards the stairs to go up to his bedroom… but not before he grabbed and ate one more of the irresistibly-tasty sugar cookies with frosting that his mom had baked earlier today especially for him! And so, after he finally arrived to his bedroom, Kevin slowly took off all of his clothes, and he put on his fresh and relaxing pajamas. Exhausted after an exceptionally long day of training, talking, arguing — and of course, thinking — Kevin, deservedly, laid down in his nice, clean, and comfortable bed. Staring up at his bedroom’s gilded ceiling, Kevin reminisced about the unexpected things his sword master Vordrogan had told him today — and he wondered about the unknown test he was going to take tomorrow. Tired from his grueling swordsmanship lesson earlier this morning, and from his mind working overtime all day afterwards, Kevin closed his eyes, and he instantly drifted into a long, deep sleep…

Although he was not purposely doing it, as he slept, Kevin started to and continued to dream, over, and over, and over again about the very test he was about to take tomorrow… However, to Kevin these were no ordinary dreams, for they occurred in perfect clarity and with perspicacious exactitude. Every event, every action, and every detail from the test was somehow ingrained in Kevin’s mind, and all of these images kept repeating, and repeating, and repeating… The strange thing was: Kevin had obviously not yet taken the test. However, in his sleeping heart and soul, Kevin felt as surely as the night was dark that he had already taken this exact same test, many, many times before… just as he was dreaming about the test, over, and over again, with such unequivocal recollection. Was he predicting the future…? Was he reliving the past…? Was he doing both…? Unfortunately, Kevin could not solve this ever-elusive mystery of why he endlessly and so specifically dreamed about a test he had not yet taken; nor could he express his undying determination and fortitude to Vordrogan, to his mother, to Launa, and to himself; until he awoke with the dawn of the new day tomorrow: when, at last, his greatest test… his lifelong test… his destined test… would truly — and finally — begin…