Chapter 2

As Rowan opened his eyes, he took a deep breath smelling the chemicals in the air. He looks around noticing the all white walls, potions with dangerous side affects on the counter. Rowan sit up, and slowly leaves the healing pod. As he leaves the infirmary, he spots a man with that towers over him, with a staff in his hand, and the most odd set of clothing he has ever laid his eyes on. The damn thing seemed to notice his annoyance and seemed to shine brighter.

Hello young Lars, walk with me, said the odd man.

Who are you to demand an audience with Heir of the Lars family, said Rowan.

Did I forget to introduce myself, how clumsy of me. My name Blodwen Ambrosius , the wandering prophet, tamer of beast.

I have heard of your cursed bloodline, destroyer of Avalon, they say any prophecy uttered through the mouth of an Ambrosius have lead to the death of a nation, said Rowan.

Foolish child, Prophecy can't be fought, any prophecy that has led to the death of a nation was simply meant to happen, however I come to offer my services as your companion, you will soon need my help and expertise, said Blodwen.

No, if I wanted companions, I would find someone that I actually trust and that capable in battle. From where I'm standing you are neither, said Rowan.

Rowan walks away, which ever step cracks would appear showing his anger.

He couldn't help but ponder, how he fell to a few werewolves and goblins, he made many rookie mistakes that shouldn't have happened,

He pondered why he didn't push the werewolves into the magical traps, why did he stray from his allies? Why does the bloodline Ambrosius want with me, Rowan Pondered.

Rowan continue his walk through the town, arrives at the center and ask for the technician to set the coordinates for The Necropolis stadium. A glowing light hits him as he is whisked away. With a barely a moments notice he hits the ground with a thud. He stand up as he looked his gaze on everything around him, he saw all manners of creatures around him. From goblins to dwarves, werewolf to vampire, satyrs to centaurs, humans to elves.

He broken out of thoughts as he realizes someone is speaking to him.

He looks up to see to an elf with a pair of striking violet eyes that seem to peer into my very soul to judge me, with golden armor that seems to glow with an Otherworldly presence.

Not a fan of teleportation I see, my name is Luvon Liayarus.

Pleasure to meet you Liayarus, my name is Rowan Lars.

Please call me Luvon, said Luvon.

Only if you call me Rowan, said Rowan.

Will do, I never saw anyone fail at a teleportation that badly, said Luvon.

Well I'm personally not particularly fond of that particular mode if travel, said Rowan.

Not many people are. Is this your first time here, asked Luvon.

It is, I take it it's not your first time, said Rowan.

I've been here four times already, managed to win once, said Luvon.

Isn't this tournament held every forty years, said Rowan.

It is, said Luvon.

What magic do you wield, said Rowan.

That would be telling, in a battle knowing someone magic can be the difference between life and death, said Luvon.

Surely this matches rarely end in death, said Rowan.

On the contrary, this it's not only a tournament to decide who's the greatest mage, but a death match to appease the council, said Luvon.

It was originally made to act as a more civilized version of war, nations would send there most promising warriors to battle against other nations. The winning warrior got a fair amount of gold, while his nation got prestige and some very exclusive trade contracts.

Your quite the knowledgeable mage, said Rowan.

What made this a competition between mages rather than warriors like you mentioned, said Rowan.

The rise of magic made those that followed the ways of the sword hit a swift decline since one mage could decimate an entire band of warriors, said Luvon.

Wow, as fascinating as this conversation, I'm going to check out a few wares, said Rowan.

As will I, said Luvon.

With that Rowan walked away to check out the wares that were being sold.

Swords, spears, and shield, half off yelled a goblin.

Staves, staffs, and wands, buy one and get one magical items for free, said an odd looking man.

Hear a your awaited destiny, yelled a hag.

Purging crystal's for sale, yelled a dwarf.

Grimoires for sale, yelled an dark elf.

Alchemist supplies, yelled a dwarves.

How much for a card reading hag, said Rowan.

Name Grendel, for you human four hundred gold coins, said Grendel.

He dropped the coin on the counter and watched as the hag glowed a cobalt blue and she reached out and touched my chest with the tip of her claw.

Hey eyes flash through pallets of color, red blue, violent, yellow, neon green, and many more.

The dark one breaks free from it's shackles, a conquered throne heralds new alliances and destruction of old ones, A Lars hold the key to victory, but the first one shall shake the world, none can stop the forest guardians emergent.

Wow, a waste of good coins, said Lars.

No fake, non believer shall believe soon enough, said Grendel.

As he leaves he couldn't help but wonder how a lousy hag was able to hoodwink him to giving it gold, thought Lars.

Rowan walks around checking out the competition, many of them don't seem they have what it takes to battle with him, he almost didn't believe it when he saw someone jump at there own shadow.

It has been many eons since a Lars has entered this coliseum, said a deep voice.

He looked behind only to see a towering giant, with scars all over, Lars could almost taste the power of this giant as his hair stood up.

Who are you, said Lars.

Hahaha, a Lars who doesn't know of me, how times have changed. Names have power, to utter one's name so carelessly could lead to your very death, but you can call me Gru, said Gru.

Why should a Lars know your name, said Rowan.

Surely you forefathers have told you about me, the only one to escape your wretched prison, the Deadlines, said Gru.

That's not possible, he utters as he tries to summon the very earth to bend to his will, only for it to fail. As he reaches for his dagger and takes his eyes off Gru for a small moment.

Gru massive hands grabs his head in his clutches.

I have been known by many names, your forefathers imprisoned me and my master, when I escaped, I swore revenged against all members of the Lars family. I've have killed many Lars over the years but the chance to kill the clan head son, is it dream come true.

The giant Gru slowly started to crush Rowan head, as Rowan starts to fade a howling wind flows in the quaint little alley, his sense is assaulted by the fresh smell of a storm. Suddenly Gru dropped him, and smiled. His teeth seems to be sharpened. He could Taste the rainforest, he could hear the chirps of birds.

. It seems my master has awakened and it is calling his allies, you best prepare little Lars, said Gru.

With a massive leap Gru disappeared.

As Lars lay there coughing trying to get air back pack into his lungs, he suddenly realized that he almost died there. He hurries back to the main street.

As he looked around he couldn't help but notice Luvon walking towards him.

What happened to you. Said Luvon.

I encountered a hostile giant, said Rowan.

You should be careful, not everybody is as friendly as me, said Luvon with a slight grin

Haha, I'm starting to see that, said Rowan with a grimace.

The tournament for mage's start doesn't officially start until the end of the week, luckily they gives us plenty of time to explore the surrounding, said Luzon

Explore, what, this area is a an empty wasteland. Why did I arrive a so early if the tournament doesn't start until the end of the week, said Rowan.

Technically the tournament has started, the tournament for warriors is happening in two day, the alchemist competition starts tonight, the magical arts tournament starts in three days, said Luvon.

Why didn't I get told about the this other tournaments that I believe I could dominate in, said Rowan.

Everybody in the tournament is the best of the best, if you don't have any notable achievements in that field, then the tournament advisor won't even consider you, no matter your family is. Said Luzon.

Do you know of my family, said Rowan

I do, the Lars family is quite revered, said Luzon.

My father will be happy to hear that the Lars name is whispered throughout the realms, said Rowan.

But you are not your father, he has proved himself in a dozen battles, while your ancestors has dominated the fields of war and death.

Your journey has only begun, best not get so cocky because the of the blood in your veins, said Luzon.

I look forward towards the day I can prove my strength to you, said Rowan.

Only time will tell, said Luzon.

We could always have a practice bout, said Rowan.

Where, said Luzon.

Follow me, said Rowan.

As Rowan walks out the coliseum with Luzon following behind him, he couldn't see a single plant in sight.what battles this area must've seen for not a single plant to be in sight, he came across a clearing that seems far enough away. Rowan places his hand onto the ground let his magic seep into the very earth, creating a small arena complete with eight foot wall on each side of them.

Let's see if your all talk, Rowan said with a small smirk.

Let's do it, said Rowan.

Little did they know several individuals got curious about the structure that suddenly popped up, and started watching the private bout.

Rowan pulls outs his silver knife and turned in into a double edged sap sword, Luzon starts to twirl a Bo staffed around his body with a sudden shift of serious on his face.

Luzon point at me, and says are you ready.

I said nothing and pointed my sword at him.

Suddenly five Bo staffs materialized in front Luzon and fired straight at Rowan, Rowan turns his body as the first two flies harmlessly by him and then he knocks the third away with his sword, parried the fourth one one catches the fifth one with his right hand and flings the staff back at Luzon with pinpoint accuracy only for the staff disappear when it gets with in ten feet of Luzon.

This might be fun, said Luzon

His staff shifted into a single edged sword, then he leaped forward and attack with a flurry of blows that immediately put Rowan on the defensive, hastily blocking the sword swings.Rowan stomp the ground causing a pulsing quake pushing Luzon away, Rowan creates a dozen of earth spears that shoots towards Luzon who seem to eye the spears with no regard to there danger as they shoot towards him, he suddenly throws his sword at Rowan who simple sidestep the sword but in a flash Rowan instincts flared up telling him to duck hastily as Luzon seem to flash toward his sword almost decapitating him, what is dangerous ability, thought Rowan.

Rowan jumped back sliding his hand on the ground throwing up dust that turned into a miniature dust storm.

Immediately a creating a triangular prism of earth around himself, then turned his sword into a pen a began a write Ancient Lars Art: Earthen Commander, with a final slash in the air the ancient runes activate, filling Rowan with power.

Almost immediately he knew exactly where Luzon is.

He burrows into the ground swimming through through earth until he's directly under Luzon, he jumps out the ground and grabs Luzon by his face and he flings him into the wall, only for Luzon to use the wall as springboard to jump right back at him like an arrow.as Luzon gets closer and closer Rowan feels the sharp pain of a staff hit him in the stomach with such a force that propels him into a wall.

Rowan stand up only for a brilliant beam of light hit him and the surroundings area, he could almost see every color in the light, before the feeling of something that seem to grab his arm and yank him away.

With a heavy thud, Rowan hits the ground hard. As Rowan rises he spits some grass he manage to get into his mouth. He looks around to get his bearing. He looks around and notice such magnificent maple trees that seem to stretch to the heavens. Grass so green, you could call this place Greenland. He could literally taste nature, to be able to see one of the few spots untouched by human hands, almost enough to bring him to tears. Unbeknownst to him the roots of the tree was slowly wrapping around his foot.. He could practically feel the magic of the tree's. He suddenly pulled down as he hit the ground, as he hit the ground he could see a thick maple tree branch seem to bearing down to end his life only for it to be entangled into a oak tree. He hurries to rip the roots off his leg. Man death by tree, I would never be able to live with that. Honestly what songs of valor would the sing of me. As he looks closer at the tree.This is not is definitely not Primwale, he says out loud.

I'm glad you are aware, said an unknown voice.

Rowan looks around trying to see if there's anybody nearby. Rowan doesn't see anybody. Wow truly a magnificent discovery. hahaha, a killer maple, an intelligent oak, and a lost rowan, seems like a bad tree joke, Rowan tells the oak.

Don't be stupid lad, trees can't talk, said an unknown voice.

As Rowan continue to lock around he notice something jump onto the forest floor, with a mighty thud.

He patiently waited for the smoke to clear.

Within minutes the smokes clears, he finally noticed the the figured that has a almost earth like skin, with golden irises that star back at him with uncertainty.

Don't you know it's rude to stare, the figure said.

What are you, and where am I, asked Rowan.

You know, for a Lars you're rude, it said.

It jumped up and turned into a blue ball of light and began to bounce from tree to tree then suddenly transformed back into the creature.

Boo, it said, as it got into my face.

I noticed his eyes colors seemed to shift from blue, black, violet, indigo, silver, and many more, with no discernible pattern almost like he doesn't know which color to go with. His ears appeared to have tilt upwards, his teeth appeared normal except two which seemed sharper than the rest.

How did you know that I'm a Lars, said Rowan.

Hehe, You're too early, said the creature.

Begone, the creature cackled.

A sudden force puts a weight on my back as I'm sent crashing into the ground, I'm filled with terror as not even my magic can stop this mystical force, I try to resist but nothing seems to work. Suddenly the ground seem to break, weirdly instead of filling a hard surface I feel like I'm being dragged through water then the weight dissipates. I slowly look around try to get my barrens. I don't see the strange creature anymore. As Rowan continue to look around he notice he's still in the forest, remembering the horrible sensation of not being able to use my magic I stomp creating an small quake. The familiar rush of the earth flow through me.

With a smile on his face, with a heavy jump creates a pillar a earth that uplifts him in the air, as branches, leaves, and bugs hit him on the face he could finally see over the trees. As he looks over the forest that seem to stretch for miles he could see ruins in the distance, several buildings on the outskirts of the forest.

Rowan takes a deep breath only for the pillar he's standing on to collapse causing him to fall from 60 feet.

Rowan reach's out hoping to grab a tree capable of stopping his fall only for branches to automatically break as soon as he touches them, right before he hits the ground a cloud like substance catches him, he tries to get up he could almost feel phantom limbs pulling him deeper into the cloud like substance.

With every passing second, he vows vengeance on this magic and whoever uses it.