3 The Knight of Yamata.

Chieftain Kekoa and the other men slowly approached the edge, standing beside Encara. The eerie silence and calm of the Maelstrom, made the Islanders feel uneasy. "How...how is this possible?" Chieftain Kekoa stammered. Encara walked off the cliff edge, with the others screaming after him. He floated down gracefully lowering himself to the Maelstrom's surface. He walked across the Maelstrom, each step rippling out, and stood over Yamada. Encara threw Yamada over his shoulder like a light sack.

The waters began to boil over, swirling violently and then suddenly erupted into colossal waves. Encara gazed around at the raging waters, the shadow of titan sized creatures lurking beneath him. A giant amber octopus surfaced, attempting to drag Encara and Yamada down. The large creature locked eyes with Encara's enraged scowl and froze in terror. "Float." Encara growled. The large creature was branded by the cross of blessing magic, and levitated into the air. The creature flailed frantically in the air. With a swift kick front kick, the creature was sent soaring into the air, Encara following after it.

Encara flew up to the cliff edge, gently placing Yamada down, shooting a cold gaze to Chieftain Kekoa. A shiver ran down his spine, his stout body jiggling as he shuddered. Encara clapped his hands, the ten amethyst hands reached out, surrounding the turquoise pentagram. "Corpulence." The curse symbol branded the creature. It bloated ten times in size, each tentacle puffing up with fat, and it plummeted down. Encara hoisted Yamada onto his shoulder; the others disperse in terror, as the creature crashed into the ground. "I trust you lot can handle a regular creature of the Maelstrom?" The others did not waste any time killing the creature. They could sense the anger radiating from the King. He snapped his fingers and the golden brand on Urkse disappeared.

Encara strolled into the village with everyone gazing at him in wonder and awe. "Where are this boy's parents?" He asked, looking around. The Islanders shook their heads, and were silent. Kale's heavy footsteps slapped across the dirt, with his heavy breathing echoing out, made Encara turn around. "Is...he..okay?" He asked leaning over his knees, haggard and covered in sweat. "He will survive." Encara said jostling Yamada. "Do you know who raised the boy, in the absence of his parents?" Kale nodded and gestured to follow him, holding his sides and taking deep breaths.

Encara followed the lumbering Kale down through the mountain side. The forest was dense and made of thick and mighty Kaioni trees. Kaioni trees were so dense that it would burn for weeks, and took a small army to cut one down. Encara spotted several fallen trunks, with splintered ends, and other trees on the path smashed in. They entered into a small clearing, with a large hut bellowing smoke from its chimney. Kale breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay good, Kupuna is already cooking." He made is his way in first, calling out to Kupuna, with Encara following behind in silence.

Kupuna was a petite older woman, past her seventies, with frayed long grey hair. Her skin bronzed and leathery, she wore a dirty and frayed skirt made of blue linen, and a shawl made of plant fibers. She peeked her head out seeing Yamada unconscious, and hobbled over, as fast as her weak legs would take her. "What happened to him? Is he okay?" She said checking his face, her voice filled with despair and fright. "He killed a draken by himself, and calmed the Maelstrom." Encara said casually placing him down in the hammock. Kapuna reeled back in disbelief, shaking her head and throwing her hands up. "He, he, he did what? How? Did you say draken!? Maelstrom!? He..." She stammered, taking deep breaths. Encara took a seat, scanning the dilapidated hut, and poor living conditions. "I understand your confusion, but I promise, you'll answer your own. If you answer mine first."

Kapuna and Kale sat down across from Encara, ready to answer to any question. They're hands trembling and their hearts pounding. "Firstly, where are the boy's parents? And who are you to him? You look nothing alike for his grandmother." Encara said looking back and forth between Yamada and Kapuna. "My name is Kahu, I adopted Yamada when he was a young boy. His parents passed, when Kal'Nar crossed the Maelstrom, and attacked." She said tenderly stroking his scarred hand. "The poor boy, he never forgave himself." Encara leaned forward, bowing his condolences. "I see." He nodded solemnly. "They were casualties of Kal'Nar's attempt to expand." Kahu nodded struggling for her words, tearing up, with Kale comforting her.

"She was a simple weaver and he was a hunter. They tried their best to put out the fires, while the guardians tried their best to fend them off. The stupid elders, they should have kept a better eye on him. If he had not seen what he had seen. Maybe then he wouldn't have the rage of Vasha inside of him." Kahu swore, clenching her fists.

"I apologise that we did not dispatch any mages earlier. At the time we did not believe Kal'Nar to be that feral and reckless." Encara said bowing his head in shame. Kahu tried to compose herself shaking her head. "It is not your fault my king, who could have suspected Kal'nar to cross the Maelstrom." "What happened, when he escaped the Elders' care?" Encara asked. "We do not know. We found him bloodied and broken, next to his dead mother, clinging to life." Encara stood up inspecting Yamada's torso. His skin was pristine and smooth, his muscles bulging and tense. Kahu and Kale stared on perplexed, cocking an eyebrow, at King Encara's actions. "How long has he been trained in manipulating arcane energy? And why does he not use Enk magic like the rest?" He asked taking a seat. Kale raised his hand, waiting for acknowledgement from Encara. "You are not at a school, speak." Kale nodded awkwardly. "He's been training for the last fourteen years." "And it is tradition on Yamata that your father passes on a weapon to you." Kahu added. "Now how does this answer my questions? How could he kill a Draken? Or quell the Maelstrom?"

Encara took a deep breath. "Arcane energy flows in everything, manipulating it in the way you want is a difficult thing. Except for when you have an affinity to the element and Yamada has one of water." Kahu and Kale stared stunned, not blinking and their jaws hanging. "I know, I know, no one has ever had a water affinity, but then again. No one has the power to quell the Maelstrom." Encara placed his hand over the burning stove top, to Kahu and Kale's dismay. "King Encara, what are you doing?" Kale asked.

"Yamada's absurd strength comes from a basic magic technique. To focus and condense arcane energy, through his body, like a suit of armour." Encara said waving his hand back and forth over the roaring flame. "Of all the prodigies and geniuses that have come to the Citadel to train, I have never seen one quite like Yamada." He said taking his hand away, showing his subtle hand to Kahu and Kale. Encara's hand was slightly pink from the warmth of the fire. He took a seat again, crossing his legs, and dusted off black leather pants. "Yamada's fists are overflowing with arcane energy. He's condensing more arcane energy into his fists alone, than some of the mages have in their bodies."

Through Encara's gaze, Yamada was engulfed in a gentle wafting azure flame, the sight enthralled him. He looked over to Kahu, with specks of magenta lingering around her, and Kale. Who had blobs of black inky fluids drip from his hands. The world around them sparkled and flickered with tiny magenta wisps in the air. The arcane energy on Yamata was weaker than Encara was use to. Each breath left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.

"When he awakens, and Urkse has chosen a suitable armourer's apprentice. I would like to take him to the Citadel, with me." He said. Kahu and Kale were filled with joy and excitement. "You're going to take Yamada as a student!?" Kahu said clutching Encara's hands. Her hands were rough and filled with thick yellow calluses, and the dug into his hands, with each of her eager shakes. "Yes, I believe he could be of great service to the realm of Jux." He said uneasy and uncomfortable, with her chumminess.

"Kale! Go tell the Chieftain, the wonderful news; I'll go gather his things." She ordered the two of them left with lightning fast speed. Kale's lumbering speed impressed Encara. It made him wonder why the trip to this hut took so long. Encara shifted his eyes around the empty dingy hut, seeing three hammocks, a small hamper of dirty clothes. "Things?" He muttered to himself confused. Night fell and the archipelago was bathed under the gentle pale moonlight. Encara sat in front of the hut, gazing at the night sky, filled with bliss. Yamada shot awake, falling face first out of the hammock, with solid thud. He let out a pained groan holding his nose, rolling over.

"You're finally awake. Come and sit with me." Encara said patting the dirt next to him. Yamada looked around confused, and cautiously approached Encara. "Are you going to keep your King waiting?" He said still gazing to the stars. Yamada cautiously sat next to him, his body feeling stronger and lighter than ever. He gazed up the fang shaped moon, bathing the dark forest with its pale moon light, and the twinkling stars. "You aren't even going to ask how you survived your fall?" Encara said shifting his eyes to Yamada. "I assumed you or Grand Mage Urkse pulled me out of the Maelstrom."

He chuckled to Yamada's confusion. "Tell me something Yamada." Yamada felt a wave of uneasiness wash over him. "What did you feel when that keg of blubbering lard, ordered you and the others, to run. And then proceeded to fail miserably to even wound that Draken?" Encara said, gazing to the stars. Yamada was silent, hesitant to answer and clenched his knuckles. Encara furtively glanced at Yamada, eagerly waiting for his response. "Anger, my King." Encara snickered and chuckled, shaking his head.

"At his incompetence to do his duty?...Or his weakness?" "Both." Yamada said unfurling his fist. "Draken or not, the people need to know that the guardians are someone to rely on, to keep them safe." Yamada said agitated, his anger bleed into his words. "A guardian like you?" Yamada bit his tongue; he could feel King Encara leading his words, to a place he did wish to go. "Satiate my curiosity, Yamada. How does it feel to give into the anger? The primal urge to rip and tear, what stands before you?"

Yamada tried to stand up, when he felt Encara tug at his arm. His long fingers wrapped around his wrist like a vine, but he could feel overwhelming strength, and Yamada was pulled back down. "Don't be afraid. Anyone who commands enough arcane energy eventually feels the same bloodlust. They are simply symptoms and a precursor to those entering their Draken state." Encara said looking at Yamada feeling restless. "Tell me what you know of Vasha."

"I know what everyone else knows. The same story told throughout the entire history of Jux." Yamada said puzzled at the question. "Then tell it to me." Encara asked, gazing back up at the stars. "Vasha was a four winged were-dragon, she stood on her hind legs, each of her claws crushed mountains to dust, and each wing cast a shadow over a country." Yamada paused, seeing Encara nodding along. "Her scales were black as the night, with burning crimson eyes. Her roar would echo over the world, and those who heard it, would turn into her Drakens. They are mindless beasts that imitate her form, and her bloodlust."

"Good they at least teach that here. So you know of the Draken hierarchy correct?" Encara nodded along. Yamada nodded, he could King Encara building up to something, what it was he did not know. "Great, answer one last question." Yamada held his breath, as Encara turned his head to him. His piercing silver eyes illuminated the night, more than the moon itself. "Who are you seeking vengeance on?" He asked with a grin across his face. Yamada paused and did not respond. "Come now, you don't get those scars, without wanting to kill someone." Yamada pulled his fists in, looking at the scars on his knuckles. "They are from training my King. I trained myself to punch through Kaioni." He said nervously.

Encara grabbed Yamada's wrist again. He was unable to pull away from Encara's grip. It was unnervingly strong and sent a cold shiver down Yamada's spine. His palm was forced open revealing four deep scars, in each hand. "I meant these scars." Yamada pulled his hands away. "Your Kapuna told me, they found you half dead, during Kal'Nar's expansion. Tell me what happened." He said gazing back at the stars. "I was a child, I don't remember..." "Don't lie to your King. Tell me what happened." Encara interrupted. Yamada took a deep breath, recounting the night.

14 storms ago. When the Maelstrom was at its calmest, with one whirlpool, and the waters were irritated at three meter tall swells. The islanders of Yamata danced and partied, around a raging fire bon fire, with the sun sleeping. Several large triremes sailed across the Maelstrom, whipped and lashed violently by the waves. Their flags branded with symbol of Kal'nar, two coiling Wyrms reaching to the sky. The Elves of Kal'Nar were slender and nimble warriors. They wore moss coloured leather armour, over their cheap linen and cotton garments, with two arming swords by each hip. Elves of Kal'nar were renowned throughout Jux as the most efficient killers.

They fired arrows with long thick ropes, into the mountain side of Yamata, anchoring their ships. Hundreds of Elven warriors scaled the ropes with alacrity, following the orders of a large armoured commander. He wore full emerald plate armour, with the Kal'Nar crest on his breastplate. His emerald gorget shaped like a lower Wyrm jaw, hid how big the Commander's head was. The Elven Commander towered over the other elves, and as the last of the elves scaled the ropes. The warrior pulled the other half of his helm down, completing the Wyrm head. He knelt down grabbing a war bow made of Kaioni, as large as he was. The quiver hanging at his waist, held arrows that could be mistaken for oars. A white magic circle appeared below him, with capricious and mirrored lines darted across below him, like a kaleidoscope. It was the magic symbol for light magic, the natural affinity for residents of Kal'Nar. The same magic circle appeared above the mountain, illuminating the night sky. Two weary guardians were blinded by the white light, shielding their eyes. The Elven commander teleported to the magic circle above, the light disappeared, and with the twang of the string. The arrow eviscerated through both guardians, and penetrated through an old Kaioni tree.

The Elven Commander waited atop the mountain side for all his warriors to breath from the climb. One of the Elven warriors, knelt by the Commander's side taking deep breaths. "The warriors await your command." The Commander raised his bow into the air. "KILL THEM ALL! AND CLAIM THIS LAND IN THE NAME OF KAL'NAR!" He roared with a deep booming voice. "FOR THE GLORY OF KAL'NAR!" They cheered, charging into the dark, dense forest of Yamata. The symbol of light hovered over the archipelago, illuminating the entire night sky. The Islanders all shielded their eyes looking up to the bright sky.

With a deafening battle cry, the Elven warriors rushed out, deftly and swiftly massacring the Islanders. Terrified screams rang out as the Islanders fled in terror. Some of the men grabbed torches, and others drew their weapons with Enk magic, out of their skin. Those who fled into the dense jungle land of Yamata were hunted down. Those who tried to fight were butchered with finesse, in a flurry of blades. "I remember sleeping in my mother's arms, when we told to run to away from invaders." He said with Encara watching from the corner of his eye. '

"We were running so fast that I could only hear the wind. My mother saw an elder and left me with them, rushing back to go find my father." Encara craned over, cocking an eyebrow confused. "She went to go and help deal with the fires correct?" "Maybe...I don't remember there being any fires when she left me. I only remember it being very bright, and that it hurt to look up." Yamada said look intently at his scarred knuckles. As the scared Islanders gathered with the elders, the Elven warriors carved their way through, with grim efficiency. Yamada's father; Yudai, was a scrawny man with light olive skin, long black hair, with a soft face.

He was brought before the Elven Commander, forced to his knees, bloodied and bruised. "Where is the weapon?" He said with deep growling voice. Yudai spat out blood, and swore, wearing a bloody smile afterwards. "The Citadel has been called! Mages and Knights will soon arrive." Another Islander yelled, struggling in the grips of the Elven warriors. The Elven Commander draped his thick bowstring on the nape of Yudai's neck, and planted his fang like sabaton down. Yudai desperately clawed at the Elven Commander's ankle, as he began pulling the bow back. The bowstring dug into his skin, and the sabaton crushed his sternum.

Yudai let out a scream of agony, with blood rushing out from the nape of his neck. The Elven commander let go of his warbow, and Yudai's skull and brain splattered against the ground. "I remember thinking, this was so stupid. If we were being attacked, why would, cuddling with no guardian to protect us, be a good idea." Yamada mocked. "And so you ran?" Encara asked. Yamada shook his head. "I didn't run till we heard the roar." A deafening, thunderous roar echoed out, and the circle of light magic vanished. Darkness be felled Yamata, except for the burnt orange sky. The Islanders and the Elven warriors gawked up to the sky. A colossal crimson scaled Ryū levitated down scowling down with golden fiery eyes. The Ryū's golden fiery mane, also ran down its spine, all the way to the tuff of its tail. A Ryū of this size, would normally cast a shadow over half of Yamata. However this Ryū, lit the dark sky like a sun at midday, and parched everyone who gazed at it. "YOU DO NOT LONG BELONG ON THIS ISLAND! LEAVE AT ONCE!" The Ryū bellowed with scalding smoke from its jaws. The Elven warriors and Islanders fell to their knees, clutching their ears, except for the Commander. He drew his Warbow, loosing an arrow. The arrow whizzed pass the Ryu's arm, with boiling blood dripping out, from the cut.

The Ryū roared, releasing a torrent of blinding white hot fire into the lands. The Elven warriors were incinerated instantly. Chaos and fear spread through the ranks, with all of them scattering into the jungles. The Crimson Ryū roared bellowing more flames and the Elven Commander darted into the jungle. Yamada's mother; Osore, was a demure woman with long flowing black hair and a thin body. She ran through the jungle with others, towards the fire helping others escape. "So you hear the roar of Draken, and then what?" Encara asked. "I ran out trying to find my mother." Yamada said glumly. "I don't know why I did. I couldn't help anyway. I was too weak." He said clenching his fists. Encara could not only feel the rage, but see the azure energy swirling around his fists.

Yamada ran through the jungle, his tiny Kāṣāya being picked apart, by the jutting bark of Kaioni trees. His legs and chest ached, the fear and tears made his vision blurry, and his body trembled each time he heard a roar. He called out for his mother frantically, running deeper and closer to the woods, hearing the screams and raging fire become louder. He entered into a clearing, seeing his mother beaten and bloodied. Her shawl was ripped, and she tried to cover herself, limping towards Yamada. "Run...Run..." She weakly croaked, falling to her knees. Yamada called to her, rushing over, with tears welling down his face. Osore pushed him away, and he looked at her shocked and confused, on his back and palms. "I SAID RUN YAMADA!" She screamed with all her might, tears pouring from her bloodied face. He froze seeing the Elven Commander loom over her. He grabbed Osore by both her ankles, lifting her into the air, her skirt falling down. She flailed about, trying desperately to free herself, as he began to split her apart.

"If that Ryū wasn't here, I would have enjoyed my time with you." The Elven Commander said with glee. Osore screamed in agony, writhing and reaching for her legs. "LET HER GO!" Yamada screamed, charging in. "With pleasure!" The Elven Commander exclaimed, ripping Osore in two, throwing her limbs to the side. Her guts and blood painted the earth and Yamada froze in shock. Encara watched on as Yamada continued to recount the story. "I didn't do anything for her...I watched her get split open like a banana..." He said holding back his tears. "You were a boy, and if that was an Elven Commander. He would have been wearing armour made of adamantine. Even some of the strongest knights of the Citadel would have had trouble breaking through that."

Yamada sniggered, leaving Encara puzzled. "What good is that knowledge now? I charged in anyway, flailing my stupid little hands at him. I didn't even make a proper fist." The Elven Commander laughed maniacally, watching Yamada futilely break his hands, against the adamantine tassets. His flesh peeled away, with blood gushing from his knuckles, and bones cracked and creaked. Yamada did not care, he felt only a desire to rip the monster in front of him in half. The Elven commander clutched both of Yamada's fists in one hand and raised him to eye level. He kicked and flailed with tears streaming down his face, but he had a scowl of a Draken. "Ahhh, that's good anger. You want to kill me boy?" Yamada nodded, kicking his gorget. "That is a right only reserved for the strong." He growled, crushing Yamada's hands. As Yamada howled in agony, his voice cracking, he was slammed into the ground, cracking the earth apart.

"That's all I remember. When I woke up the elders told me about me about my father." Yamada said, leaving out the Elven Commander's last words to him. "I am sorry for your loss." Encara said bowing. "Thank you for telling me your story. Now I know for sure, you won't refuse my offer." He said, standing up and dusting his cloak off. Encara offered out his hand with a big grin across his face. Yamada narrowed his eyes at Encara's hand and then cocked an eye brow at him. "What offer?" "Take my hand and find out." Encara said offering his hand again. "That's not how deals work." Yamada said shaking his head in disbelief. "It is when you're King. Now shake my hand." Yamada shrugged and got up to his feet shaking Encara's hand. "What's your last name?" Encara asked, firmly gripping Yamada's hand. "Ken...." He replied hesitantly. "Congratulations, Yamada Ken. You are now a squire to the Citadel. Tomorrow night, we will journey back to the Citadel, with Grand Mage Urkse and begin your training to become an Arcane Knight." He said with a smug smirk.