trapped lieutenant

"How could you betray your own people?" CLANK "Your country?" BANG "The royal twins?" SCREECH "Me?!" The swords jerked away from each other with a harsh shriek of metal against metal and Matthias breathed heavily as he struggled to suck air into his aching lungs. His mentor, father figure, and senior officer stared back at him coldly. It was a look of ice, made only chillier by the lack of emotion in his eyes.

"You think I cared for any of you?" Matthias froze as Zyra hefted his broadsword higher. "You were only a step along the way on my quest for power. When the queen died, killing those twin brats should have been easy. I never anticipated you would be such a thorn in my side, Matthias."

"The attack on the queen... You weren't where you were supposed to be..."

"Aye, that's right. Because I was in the process of murdering the queen. Has it truly taken you so long to realize this?" He set his jaw and corrected his stance.

"I'll end your reign. Right here, right now." Zyra laughed and smiled hatefully.

"I'd like to see you try, pup!" Matthias whispered a spell as Zyra lunged at him and fire coated his sword. The two blades clashed in a shower of sparks and they blurred with every parry and strike. The sparks from his sword singed his skin as each new blow caused the fire to rage. Yet it was doing its job and Zyra grunted as his hand slipped on the handle of his sword, the cloth burned off from the attack. The spell fizzled out and Matthias raised his blade, slapping Zyra's away and slashing down deep into his chest. Blood gushed from the wound and he kicked Zyra in the belly to send him sprawling on his back.

"This ends now, Zyra!" The general chuckled, blood sprinkling his lips.

"This is only the beginning, Matthias." He suddenly let out an inhuman screech and Matthias grimaced as he brought his hands up to clasp around his ears. The knight was nearly thrown off his feet as the ground shook beneath him, and looking around, he could see the other knights in his division struggling to keep steady. Bony hands shot up from the ground and Matthias jerked away when one nearly grabbed his boot. Creatures clawed their way up from the earth. Their heads were bald and scaly while wicked beaks adored their faces. Sparse feathers coated their skin and rags clung to their emaciated frames. Their eyes were like two burning coals and as they freed themselves from the ground, they let out the same awful screeching as Zyra.

Matthias barely had time to react as they flew at him, a speed unlike any he had ever seen. His blade raised on instinct and his eyes widened as wickedly long claws smashed into his weapon, dirt flying from where they had dragged themselves out. He was forced to go on the defensive as they battered at him, claws reaching over his sword to slice and nick at skin and armor.

"Hear me!" Zyra howled and Matthias's eyes snapped over to him. The general was rising shakily, two of the creatures on either side of him for support. One was drawing a sigil into the ground where he had fallen, using his own blood like ink. "I call upon the gods of old to grant me power! Fill me with your strength and take me back to the beginning so that I may fufill the prophecy you spoke over me so long ago!" Matthias was desperately trying to fight off his attacker as Zyra raised his arms. The sigil glowed a devilish purple and he spat out a spell. Fire erupted from his blade and the creature screamed while leaping away fearfully. He wasted no time and fled from it to run towards Zyra. Shadows were licking at the sigil, bubbling up like water and Matthias leaped over them, whipping his blade up.

"ZYRA!" He brought his sword slashing down in an arc the moment the darkness exploded up like a geyser. It slammed into him, seeping into his clothes, mouth, and nose, gagging him as it sought to drown him.

Back to the beginning, a voice whispered. I wonder if you can stop him again... Then he knew no more.

friends

Morgan

[ companion ]

Morgan is the girl that has apparently bought the game he has been trapped in by the his former general. She is aiding him in finding a way to break the curse and free everyone within his kingdom.

Niall

[ companion ]

A friend of Morgan she has trusted with his fate and asks for his aid in freeing him. Seems to be a kind lad.