“Am I a prince? Am I of royal blood?” Riant asked the little faerie.
“Thou art correct, Prince of thy kingdom of Windgold. Born of royal blood, Riant shall be thy kingdom’s next king. And I shall be thy guardian faerie,” Liami explained.
“But…if I’m a prince as you say I am, then what am I doing here?”
“Not so fast. Hear what I say. Thy prince has lost thy memory. Thy queen of Windgold, Amaldia, has been kidnapped by Blank Mage.”
“Amaldia…mother…kidnapped? Blank Mage? Who’s Blank Mage?” Riant continued to question. Liami fluttered to a small pool and water.
“Watch…” she said, tapping the water. Riant gasped seeing a figure cloaked in darkness.
“I know that face!”
“That is Blank Mage, the one who stole thy mother away. Thou see the murderous intent in thy eyes? Blank Mage is very powerful and manipulative, as well as dangerous. Last night, when the moon was bright and full, that was when he came.”
“I…remember…him? Storming into the castle…and then…” Riant said, shaking his head. “He brought me here behind the waterfall?”
“No Riant. You came here by your free will. But it was Blank Mage who ruined thy memory. Look harder…” the faerie said, pointing to the water. The ripples caused the image to shift from Riant’s enemy to a large courtroom. “Remember this?”
“At last, my long journey comes to a close. It's been a while Amaldia.” The rouge mage slipped past the mountains and through the main gate. “This kingdom hasn't changed much, still as pathetic as ever. Now it's time for the fun to begin…”
“I can't believe that it's been 18 years since the Silver Wars. You're growing up so fast, Riant. The king would be very proud of you,” queen Amaldia said.
“I miss father. I wish he was still here.”
“He is, Riant. He is always watching over you. I can see it, he's very proud of you. You've grown to be just as strong as him.”
“Mother, why are you talking like this? It's not like I'm going to die,” Riant said.
“Nothing. I don't know what just came over me. It's just that I know that the past will repeat itself soon and it is my destiny, which I cannot escape, to fight.”
“Your destiny?” Riant gasped hearing a crash from one of the halls behind him.
“Oh my… There must have been an accident,” Amaldia said.
“Accident? No, I sense danger. Mother, stay here.” With that, Riant took off for the halls.
It's starting… The horrible past is about to collide with our future… The Silver Wars… The Silver Sword of Creation Casting… The Blank Mage… All of that is coming back… Amaldia thought. A loud pounding on the chamber door caused Amaldia to just out of her seat. The doors flew apart and a mage in black stepped in.
“Such a warm welcome, Amaldia…”
Riant walked through the halls slowly, gazing around him. “I heard something coming from here.” He took a few steps forward until he heard another rustle in the hall. “Who’s there? Myna? Is that you?” he called out, but got no answer. “Something’s not right. I feel something strange in the air.”
Suddenly he heard a familiar cry echoing through the halls. “That cry…it’s…mother?!” He raced through the corridors until a bright light engulfed the castle.
“Leave this kingdom be, you beast! How dare you intrude!!”
“Mother!! Are you alright mother?!” Riant called out, groping the walls to guide his way through the light.
“Riant? Where are you?”
“I don’t know. It’s too bright to see!” The light dimmed a little and Riant was indeed beside his mother, who’s hands were folded. “Mother, I never thought you had such power!”
“I warded off this demon when your father died, Riant. And now I am willing to repeat it,” Amaldia explained, pointing at the figure in black. Riant grabbed his sword.
“Who are you? What are you doing here with my mother?” Riant demanded.
“Your mother has spoke of me and still you ask?”
“Are you…the Blank Mage?” Riant asked.
“And you are the son of Raiko Sorchar. Such a pitiful sight, your late father. I did the world a favor by killing him. No need to thank me,” the rouge mage laughed, Riant shivering from the cold coming from his voice. He even noticed the walls beginning to turn into ice.
“Thank you? You want me to THANK YOU?! I’ll never forgive you for murdering my father!!” Riant shouted, enraged.
“Riant, this is the Blank Mage. The devil of the rouge mages. He is very dangerous, so keep caution,” Amaldia said.
“Yes mother. I understand, but now I must do a favor for father and stop him from shedding more blood.”
“Ah, but the bloodshed’s just begun, my boy. And it will never end until your father’s sword is within my grasp,” the Blank Mage explained. “You see, since your father has been sent to his grave, his sword has mysteriously vanished. All people know of his sword’s powers and only your mother and I know that once the current holder is killed, it goes back to its resting place to await it’s new destined holder. To obtain this sword, I need your mother’s cooperation to take me to it.”
“I will never reveal the lair of the sword!” Amaldia snapped. The rouge mage laughed.
“I was afraid you might say that and am prepared to inflict damage. But I cannot harm you or else I shall never reach the sword. Therefore, your son shall make the perfect sacrifice for tonight.” He held out his arms and Riant could feel currents of electricity flowing through his body.
“Riant! No! Let him be!” Amaldia shouted. Riant collapsed to the ground the second the Blank Mage lowered his arms.
“Then come with me, my queen. Don’t forget, your refusal will only kill your son.” Riant struggled to get up and gasped when Amaldia stepped forward.
“No, mother! Don’t do it!” Riant lifted himself off the ground and gripped his sword. “I won’t let you take mother!” he shouted, swinging his sword. The mage’s eyes glowed red and Riant gasped. “Oh no! I can’t move!”
“Blank Mage, leave my son alone! It’s me you want! Please let him go!” Amaldia begged. Riant collapsed to his knees once more and growled.
“It’s time to leave, Amaldia. The sword awaits for us,” the mage said.
“Leave…mother alone…now!” Riant clashed the sword into the ground and the floor rumbled underneath them. The floor split below the mage, but he simply levitated into the air. Riant slashed the air with the sword and powerful gusts of wind engulfed him. “Now run mother!” Amaldia backed up as Riant ran towards the mage, trying to slash the mage with his sword, but the Blank Mage simply blocked the slashes. He shoved Riant away with a powerful fire spell.
“Riant! No!” his mother cried.
“Run…mother!” he moaned. The Blank Mage gripped the prince by the throat and threw him into the wall. Amaldia brought her hands together once more, but before she could cast her spell, the Blank Mage froze her as well.
“Mother--!!!!” Riant shouted, leaping into the air, his sword a few inches from slicing the mage’s head off, but the mage shot him back with more fire spells. Riant fell to his knees again and backed up as the Blank Mage advanced. There was nowhere for him to run. All that was behind him was a stained glass window. The mage lifted his right arm and a black sphere formed into his hands.
That spell…! Amaldia thought. It was the exact same spell that killed her husband back during the Silver Wars! “Wait!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” she cried, but it was too late. The mage shoved the sphere into Riant’s chest and he was engulfed in shadows.
“Amaldia is the key to the greatest treasure in the world…immortality!” the Blank Mage said. The shadows sent the young prince flying back and he suddenly heard a loud crash. As the shadows disappeared, Riant saw the window fall away from him and the ground coming closer to him. Riant could see his life flashing before his eyes as soon as he made contact with the ground.
Riant was in a swirl of darkness and it was hard for him to keep his eyes open. Everything around him began to blur as people crowded around him. A girl cried as she knelt down to him. “Prince Riant!!! No! Riant !!!!”
“Thou was thrown out of the window of the castle and landed on the ground with a thud. Myna, your servant, was able to get you to see Dr. Veinher. I was surprised when thy prince survived, but thy memories were sacrificed instead of thy life,” Liami said.
“I thought I dreamed that fall,” Riant said. “So where is the Blank Mage?”
“I am sorry, but I do not know thy answer.”
“So I am a prince and my mother, the queen is gone. Then I must get her back immediately!”
“It looks as if thou has regained some of thy memory. If thou wishes to find thy queen, then I shall accompany thy prince on his fated quest,” Liami said.
“I’m sure I will be alright as long as you’re there to help me if I’m in trouble. OK Liami. Our quest begins…”