Ior

Chapter XXI

The human Army returned to the Castle. They began partying and celebrating the Victory in the halls. Leron was sitting alone Thinking about His brother. "That fucking..."

Dane and Henny Were drinking. They noticed Leron. They approached Him. "why aren't You celebrating with us?"

"No reason"

"Listen Leron we know it's about your brother"

"He is a fucking Traitor"

"Maybe He finally found peace with the Elves He didn't seem angry or anything"

"He is nothing to Me now"

"Forget about him Now let's celebrate the Victory!"

They all continued Celebrating as they drank. Lerons anger slowly faded away and he joined them in celebration.

After a long day, Leron left the celebration and sat outside looking at the Stars in the sky. A dark figure approached Leron. "Quit fucking around, Yaso," Leron said. Suddenly, a tall man with a wide smile appeared from the shadows. "So, our brother is now with the Elves?" Yaso asked.

"Yes"

"What a disgrace"

"It's not just that he is completely Changed"

Yaso scratched his head. "I never understood Barlon's character. He always seemed so mysterious."

Leron sighed. "He's a stupid, traitorous bastard now, that's what he is."

"So, what's your plan?" Yaso asked.

"Our mission is to kill every creature that isn't human," Leron said.

"I remember you when you were younger. You were weak and pathetic. Look at you now, a leader," Yaso said with a smirk.

Leron Looked at Yaso with dead eyes. "I wasn't weak. I was distracted."

Yaso Smirks. "I can say you were both," Yaso said.

"How was Dad like?" Leron asked.

"He was a decent man, But He had some issues," Yaso Replied.

"Like what?" Leron asked.

"I can say he was too nice. That's the reason he got killed," Yaso said.

"Dad wouldn't be proud of us then," Leron said.

"I can assure you that," Yaso said.

"Were you the person on the black dragon?" Leron asked.

"Dragons?" Yaso asked, surprised.

"Yeah I saw it in the sky that day"

"Do you know that no one has seen dragons since the days of King Randal?" Yaso asked.

"No," Leron replied.

"But how? Did everyone see it?" Yaso asked.

"Everyone on the battlefield saw it. They were shocked and scared," Leron said.

"Did it attack you and the others?" Yaso asked.

"The dragon helped us defeat the orcs. It was flying and burning the hell out of them. It wasn't targeting us or the elves," Leron said.

"That's weird," Yaso said.

"Indeed," Leron said as he turned and walked away from Yaso.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yaso asked.

"We're done for now, Yaso. I'll see you later," Leron said before leaving Yaso.

After the battle, Barlon and the others were on the ship leaving. Barlon was talking to Fulmar and the others. "where did you get this bow from?" Barlon asked. "It was actually my Father's Bow," said Fulmar. Suddenly Hermit appears on Barlon's Shoulder. "That is a Legendary Bow called 'Ior' it was owned by the seventh King of the Elves Named Urao"

"How do you know about this stuff?" said the woman. "I have been alive for a very long time and I have seen many things in my travels," replied Hermit.

Barlon looked at the bow with amazement. "It's a beautiful weapon," he said.

"Yes, it is. And it is said that whoever wields it will always have victory in battle," said Fulmar. Barlon continued to admire the bow as they sailed toward their next destination. "This bow must have a lot of history and stories behind it," he said. Fulmar nodded. "Indeed it does. The bow has been passed down from generation to generation in my family. It's a symbol of our heritage and a reminder of the sacrifices our ancestors made to protect our people."

Barlon sat quietly, taking in the words of Fulmar. He was fascinated by the rich history and legacy behind the bow. He thought about his own family, and the sacrifices they had made for their own people. The thought of his brother, Leron, filled him with sadness. He wondered what his brother was doing at that moment, and if he would ever find peace with his actions. As the ship sailed on, Barlon decided to seek out Hermit and ask him more about the bow and the seventh King of the Elves. He found the old creature perched on the ship's railing, looking out to sea. "Hermit," said Barlon. "Can you tell me more about King Urao and the bow?"

Hermit turned to face Barlon. "Ah, yes. King Urao was a wise and just ruler, beloved by his people. He was a fierce warrior, and it was said that he could bring down an army with just one shot from the bow 'Ior'. It was a gift from the gods, and it was said that whoever wielded it would always have victory in battle."

Barlon was in awe of the power and history behind the bow. He wondered if he too could possess such strength and bravery. "What happened to King Urao?" he asked. Hermit's expression became solemn. "King Urao was betrayed by one of his own, and he was killed in battle. The bow 'Ior' was lost for many years, until it was discovered by Fulmar's ancestors. It has been passed down through their family ever since, as a symbol of their heritage and a reminder of the sacrifices made by their ancestors."

Barlon thought about the betrayal of King Urao, and how similar it was to his own situation with Leron. He was filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. Barlon nods and Leaves Hermit and sits alone. The Woman approaches him. "hey Barlon, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. Barlon offered her a small smile, "I am, thank you. Just lost in thought."

She nodded understandingly and sat down beside him, "It's not easy, is it? Dealing with loss."

Barlon was taken aback by her understanding. He had not expected to find a kindred spirit in this place. He turned to her, "No, it's not. But, I won't let it defeat me."

"That's the spirit," she said with a warm smile. "We have to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it gets. It's the only way to heal and grow."

"Thank you"

"You are welcome"

"By the way, I Didn't Get your name"

She turned to him and said with a smile "I'm Bayla"

Barlon gave Her a little smile. "Bayla," he said. "That is a pretty name."

"Thanks" She replied happily. "Well, it was nice meeting you Bayla. I hope to speak again soon."

With that, Barlons thoughts drifted off into the night sky. He imagined himself walking alongside his brother once more; together they would stand strong against whatever came their way. He closed his eyes and tried to picture Leron standing before him, smiling confidently as they shared another laugh over something funny they'd heard. He opened his eyes and sighed sadly. He knew deep inside he wouldn't see his brother again. At least not anytime soon. With a heavy heart, he stood up and walked back onto the deck of the ship. He couldn't help but feel sad for his brother, knowing that he would never make peace with the life he chose.

Leron sat in the corner of the room, staring blankly at the wall. He wasn't sure where he should go. He felt numb and empty, devoid of any emotion. All he wanted to do was sleep, yet he didn't want to close his eyes because it might mean falling asleep forever. He glanced at his hands, noticing that they were shaking slightly. He clenched them tightly, trying to steady his nerves. He took a few calming breaths and exhaled loudly, hoping that the sound would calm him down enough for him to fall asleep without having nightmares. A sudden movement caught his eye. There was someone else in the room with him! He quickly looked around, searching desperately for whoever had entered the room. Then suddenly he spotted a shadow across the hallway. "Who are you?" he whispered angrily. "Where did you come from?"

The figure remained silent, watching Leron cautiously. "Why don't you answer me? Do you even know who I am?" Leron shouted. "Or are you just here to watch me suffer?"

There was still no reply.

"Fine," Leron grumbled. "Just leave already." He grabbed the blanket covering his legs and pulled it over his body, closing his eyes tight. He didn't care anymore; he just wanted to be left alone.

The door slammed shut, causing Leron to jump in surprise. When he opened his eyes, there was nobody in sight. He slowly sat upright, wondering who had just visited him. Whoever it was had scared him quite badly, which meant they probably weren't friendly. He listened carefully, straining his ears for any sounds of footsteps approaching the room. Nothing came, and he breathed a sigh of relief before lying back down on the bed.

End of the Chapter.