[IC] The Legend of La Luz Fortaleza [TheMM00s3 and PajkaNight]

[PajkaNight]

"Long before time, lost within the threads of history, were great lands connected within the world. Kingdoms rise and fall as seasons pass but once there was a moment of bravery, of companionship, that would be nearly impossible to forget... but first let me tell you something that may deem important to the story I am about to reveal...

Back when the Gods ruled the Earth, they created two supreme beings; Light and Shadow. Light was the first to be birthed, with Shadow created for balance. Light wanted to make the Gods proud, ending up to be better and more loved that Shadow could ever be. Shadow's jealousy eventually got to it, spreading it's hatred through the lands. Shadow's corruption got the better of it, forcing it to attack the Gods themselves. Shadow was then banned from the Earth, forcing it to watch from the heavens. Little did the Gods realize that Shadow had more power than they intended it to have. Shadow flood the skies with it's darkness, killing any, and everything. In order for life to continue, the Gods sent Light into the sky to fight it's sibling. Though not defeated, Shadow was weakened, letting Light take over the sky. Light too weakened over time, giving Shadow the opportunity to take over once again, continuing a circle of life. Both would watch over the Earth with their singular eyes, gaining the names 'Sun' and 'Moon'.
Life continued to sprout.

A millennia later, One of the Gods had fallen in love with a human, breaking it's heart in the process of wooing the mortal. It retreated back into the clouds to shed a single tear that and fallen onto the moon from the heavens. The tear captured a part of Shadow's essence, falling to the Earth in the form of a black orb. From this artifact, Shadow could be closer to the Earth, planning to once again shroud the Earth with it's darkness.
An Oracle had stumbled upon the orb, sharing a vision. The vision showed a child with the power to destroy darkness and ruin any chance for Shadow to escape it's prison. Shadow was furious, shattering the Oracle's soul in it's rage. The orb-"

"Master, What does this have to do with my training?"
The young priestess; Castitas asked, tilting her head.
"I've heard this story many times."

"You hear but you do not listen. Now shush, and let me continue..."
The High-Priest hushes his pupil.

"My apologies, Master..."

"Now... Uh... Can't you see what you did?! I've gotten so old I can't even remember the story!"

Castitas giggled, apologizing once more.
"I am terribly sorry Master... I wish you could continue but it seems I've forgotten the rest of the story as well."
She lied, trying her hardest to keep a straight face.

"Bah! What do you care anyway. All you need to do is clean the muck out of your ears and only then will you be the perfect High-Priestess."

Castitas gave a confused look.
"Should I be honoured or offended?"

"You're old enough to figure it out, now, you may go and play with your friends-"

"Thank you, thank you!" Castitas hugged the High-Priest before she rushed outside to meet with the other priestesses.

The High-Priest shook his head.
"That child will be the death of me..."

[TheMM00s3]

"Yes Father, I know she is the Princess and I am a Royal Guardsmen. I never said that the two of us are courting." Markus snapped at his father, staring him down with an angry expression.

"Don't you raise your voice at your own Father, boy. I don't need you and the Princess getting close and the king becoming suspicious." His father yelled as he struck Markus across the face with his palm. "Now you listen here, you are not going to see the Princess today. You are to come right back here when the day has ended.

Markus held his hand against his face where it was struck and glared at his father, "As you wish." He stated simply and walked out, heading to the barracks. As he walked Markus punched a wall, "That insolent jerk! He does not own me, I am my own man and I will do as I damn please." After a few minutes, he appeared in front of the kingdoms barracks. Markus walked in, dawned his dark black royal armor and traveled to the palace, for he had received a message from the king not to long ago. Markus entered the Throne Room and approached the large throne, which in it sat an old deprecated man in royal robes and on his head was a magnificent golden crown. He knelt before the king, "You requested my presents, your Majesty."

The king looked down at the young knight, "I need you to send a message the the High-Priest that lives in the neighboring kingdom. This is urgent, so do not delay."

"Of course, my Lord" Markus stood as one of the other royal guards handed him a letter. "I will make hast." Markus gave the king a nod and rushed out of the palace. Jumping onto his horse at the stables, he quickly headed toward the neighboring kingdom. Markus glanced at the closed letter, curiously filled him. I wonder what is in this letter that is so urgent. He thought to himself as he shot down a dirt road on his horse.

[PajkaNight]

From the Temple's tower, The High-Priest watched over his beloved home, the kingdom of La Luz Fortaleza; City of the Gods. He knew it wouldn't be long before he saw the walls crumble and it's people ripped from history, but he had hope. He looked down, upon his 'hope'; Castitas, playing carelessly on the roofs of the townhouses below. She was the only being alive capable of taking his place, with the High-Priest's date of his death nearing. He sat down to meditate, hoping to catch any last visions before his time would come. He slipped deep into his spiritual slumber, looking through his mind's eye. Visions flashed, a storm as black as ebony, blood staining the land, and his final vision. He saw a woman using her blank eyes to pierce into his soul before she would pierce a dagger into his heart. He knew he could not fight this fate, but, there was still time for the girl. Before he faded from meditating, he foresaw a knight of black, riding towards his land with information of the Dark Cloud approaching. "So... the King had believed my visions to be true. I shall take this as a sign; there is more hope than I had originally thought for you, my dear Castitas."

Castitas jumped from the low rooftops, running though the crowds of the great city, her breath laboured as she spoke. "You'll have to be faster than that if you want to catch me!" She taunted to the younger priestesses that were in close pursuit. "I'm not even trying- Woah!" She hit the blacksmith, tumbling over him in a heap of coal he had been carrying. "Rotten children! Ya lucky I ain't got no swords! Coulda hurt ya!" He cursed at Castitas as she up and continued her run, picking up her pace once more. Later, after the had ended their games, Castitas and the others headed back to the temple, exhausted and hungry.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus slowed to a stop as he arrived at the gates of La Luz Fortaleza. He got off of his horse and approached a guard at the entrance to the kingdom, "I come with a message for your High-Priest." The guard nodded and with a motion of his hand the gates opened. Markus left his horse at the stables near the gates and walked to the temple. As he walked through the town many of the town folk starred at him in a mix of curiosity and fear. He pushed through some groups of people harshly, knocking some of them to the ground. They would yell obscenities at Markus as he shoved through them, but he never even gave them a second glace as he headed to his destination. When he approached the temple he noticed a group of priestesses heading there as well. "Good for nothing 'God followers'." He stated under his breath. Markus had never had good experiences with priests or priestesses and he always saw them as a lower form of society. He quickly entered the temple and looked around, he could not see the High-Priest and growled quietly in displeasure. He was going to fall into an endless rage if he had to be here any longer. The knight asked a few of the priests and priestesses around the temple of the High-Priests location. After a few, let's say, mind numbing conversations, Markus finally found him sitting up in the temples tower. He waked up to him, "I have a message from my king, he said it was urgent." Markus' voice was filled with irritation and impatience. Handing the High-Priest the letter, he stood arms crossed waiting for a response.

[PajkaNight]

The High-Priest looked took the letter without blinking, opening it and reading it patiently. He chuckled lightly at the young Knight's impatience. "Ah." The High-Priest petted his long braided beard. "Just as I had expected... You may join us for a hot meal if you wish it, Ser Knight." He folded the letter gently walking down the steps of the tower. "I'm sure you are eager to see the Princess once more... but best to travel on a full belly, eh?" He laughed heartily. "You are a growing boy after all."
As he walked the last steps of the tower, Castitas ran to the High-Priest, hugging him eagerly. "Master, I made supper!"
The Elder remained silent for a moment or two, leaning towards Markus to whisper to him. "Er... You may want to skip the meal."
"Master!" Castitas gave a sour look.
"Only jesting, no need to pout." He patted the young girl on the head before she bounced off. "I am glad that this is my last Supper... Come, Ser Knight, if you cannot stay for long, then let us pack you something to eat for the journey."

[TheMM00s3]

"I do not wish to soil my time by spending it on you revolting fools." Markus' words were cold and heartless. He didn't mind speaking his mind bluntly, he had no real interest what these 'deity worshipers' thought of him. "You can go and have your meaningless end with your minions, I have matters to attend to." With that he pushed the High-Priest out of his way and started heading to the stables to retrieve his horse so he could leave. Suddenly, a town citizen threw a tomato at Markus and it splattered on his armor. Markus stopped and turned around, staring the citizen down, "Excuse me? I hope I'm mistaken, but did you just throw a tomato at me?" He drew his monstrous blade out of the sheath on his back and advanced toward them. "Let me teach you a lesson in manners, you insolent peasant!"

[PajkaNight]

Castitas, having watched the entire incident, lost all respect for the Knight, He had been nothing but rude and snobbish. She watched with good riddance that this pathetic excuse for a man was leaving. Castitas, about to head back to the dinning hall, heard one of the town's people cry for help. She came running back to see the Knight was about to attack a defenceless farmer. She ran out between the civilian and the knight in hopes she could prevent the destruction he was about to bring upon the poor farmer.
"Castitas!" One of the Priestesses went to run out after her fellow sister but was stopped by the High-Priest, who observed with a calm expression.
Castitas' eyes glowed white as a burst of white fire wrapped around the citizen like a shield. "I think you are the one who needs to be taught a lesson in manners!" Her voice echoed though the brick roads that traveled throughout the city, the white flames now spreading around them in a circle.
Her eyes faded to their normal deep green, her voice stern. "You will not harm a soul in this city."

[TheMM00s3]

Markus stopped in surprise as Castitas protected the peasant, then suddenly he started to chuckle. Soon the chuckling became load maniacal laughter, "Do you honestly think you could stop me? Please, a good for nothing, mindless 'Follower of the Gods' like you could barely stop a bee from stinging you." He continued laughing for awhile until he finally collected himself, "Look, priestess, I don't have time for you to be a hero here, I have things to do." He sheathed his sword and turned to walk to the gates, "You may keep your revolting swine of a peasant this time." Markus was about to walk away, but stopped, walked up to Castitas and flicked her forehead. After that he walked away, got on his horse and left. Arriving back at his home kingdom, Markus rushed to the palace. There standing at the entrance was the Princess.

"What took you so long?" The Princess smiled and waved at him.

"Sorry, had an urgent message to send to the neighboring kingdom. But no worries I'm here now." Markus laughed a little and scratched the back of his head.

"Well since you're here, why don't we take a little stroll around the palace garden?" The Princess smiled grabbed Markus' hand and lead him to the gardens. The two walked around in silence as they mindlessly wondered. Markus liked being around the Princess, it made him feel at home, like all his problems just drifted and all that mattered were the two. Suddenly Markus' face contorted into a sad look and he looked over at the Princess.

"I did it again. I acted like I was better than everyone and even threatened someone." He sighed

"Hey, it's okay. It's a defense mechanism you have, when you feel threatened or scared you become big headed." The Princess gave him a hug, "It's something you will have to work on, but remember you don't have to do it on your own."

"Thank you." Markus replied as they continued their walk.

[PajkaNight]

After dining, most of the priestesses went to their chambers to rest for the night. Meanwhile Castitas and her Master discuss current events in the main hail of the Temple. "He flicked me! Not in an attempt to harm me, but to humiliate me! Arg! If I ever see his stupid face again... " Castitas punches the air in front of her. The High-Priest merely shook his head. "Repress your thoughts before the hatred corrupts your mind and sends you into the abyss. He may have acted harshly but that doesn't give you the right to as well."
"He was about to attack an innocent! Surely the Gods wouldn't mind if he had a bruised eye or a broken nose..."
"Enough, Castitas, the others are deep in slumber and you should be too."
The young girl sighed. "Yes, Master..."
Castitas sulked towards her bedchambers, planning to pray before she could finally rest herself.
The High-Priest, aware of the events that were about to happen next, stepped outside into the moonlight, looking into it's gaze. "You have yet to accomplish if you wish to defeat her, Shadow..." He whispered to the moon, knowing that 'it' was listening.
Moments pass as a storm rumbles in the distance, soon shrouding La Luz Fortaleza and the surrounding land. The rumble had sounded similar to dark laughter. Castitas, startled by the sudden growls in the air, paused her prayers for her to look outside, seeing the High-Priest.
From a distance, hoofs pounded the ground, giving a sound that could outmatch thunder. A large stampede of ox marked with white war paint was approaching, being ridden by savages with similar symbols painted on their flesh. The howled as the rammed up against the city gates, soon destroying them. The barbaric raiders rampaged though the city, killing civilians, setting buildings on fire, all of them eventually heading towards the temple. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of these strange people, all lead by one woman who rode with one of their warriors, stopping to where the High-Priest stood. The leader stared into his eyes, with it's own, cold and lifeless. She pulled out her dagger, swiftly thrusting it into the High-Priests heart. "This will bring the pretty bug out from hiding." The woman smiled, her teeth stained red from the blood that had splattered.
Castitas, who had been watching from her window, couldn't believe what she saw, her heart stopping.
"Master!" She called out, catching the attention from the woman who had attacked him. She nodded to her followers, not breaking eye contact from the young Priestess. "Get her!" The savages wrecked havoc through the Temple's halls, awakening the other priestesses. One of the youngest, hid under her bed, seeing her sisters torn apart from beneath her bed. She pulled her blonde hair back as she crawled from where she hid. After hearing Castitas scream, she swiftly snuck out from her window like she used to when playing with her fellow priestesses, dashing to the stables to steal a horse. She rode off towards the next kingdom, praying that she would make it in time to acquire help.

After her journey, the blonde haired girl dashed up the Palace steps with no time to explain to the guards as she skid past them, bursting through the large doors. "Help!-" She let out a strangled gasp. "Evil... killed Master... Save- her..." She collapsed dead onto the hard floor.

[TheMM00s3]

The palace guards swarmed around the now dead girl, "She's one of those priestesses from La Luz Fortaleza right?" The guards talked among them selves until the king slammed through the Throne Room doors and walked up to the deceased priestess.

"Are we going to just stand here and chatter? What happened here?" The kings voice was stern, but soft. The guards apologized and then explained what happened. He nodded, "Get me Markus." On of the guards ran off and after a few minutes reappeared with Markus trialing behind.

"Your Majesty, you summ.." Markus stopped speaking when he saw the young dead girl, he recognized her from the temple, "What happened here?" After he was told, Markus looked over to the king, "I will take it upon myself to investigate. I was the last one there and I also need to right a few wrongs if able." The king simply nodded and with that Markus ran to the stables, got onto his horse and quickly got to La Luz Fortaleza. When he arrived, he noticed the gates had been smashed open and he could hear the screams of the town folk. The young knight jumped off his horse and ran into town. A scene of devastation plagued the knights eyes, bodies of the peasants, guards, and even the priestesses law strewn across the ground. The buildings were destroyed and painted with dark crimson blood. Markus ran for the temple and there he found the corpse of the High-Priest, a bleeding wound on his chest. "What... Happened here?" The knight scanned across the kingdom, that's when he noticed that there was a body missing among the deceased, Castitas. There wasn't a single sign of the young girl anywhere. Markus dropped to his knees and took of his helmet, letting it fall to the floor, tears welling up in his eyes, "How could this have happened?" That's when he noticed a very slight scream, as if it was far away. Markus shot up and ran to his horse, who ever it was had to know something about what happened. Placing his helmet back on his head, he jumped onto his horse and made a dash toward the screaming.

[PajkaNight]

"You will pay for what you have done!" Castitas sobbed as she kicked and screamed, managing to crawl off the back of an ox which she was repeatedly put back onto. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?!" She struggled before the one woman looked back at her, sending chills down the Priestess's spine. "You may call me Umbra, if you wish, or if it pleases you; call me Mistress." She gave a sultry smile, gesturing to one of her henchmen. "For you are no better than a dying dog awaiting it's unchangeable fate." One of the savages grasped Castitas' hair, lifting her up that way. She screeched in pain, clawing at the one holding her. Umbra was growing tired, giving a final order to the henchman. "Shut her up!" One swift hit and the Priestess was knocked unconscious. "Hn, I nearly thought it wasn't possible to quiet the whore. Well done." Umbra and her followers built a camp when the sun started to set, though guards remained awake, guarding the Priestess who was shoved in a small wooden cage, the guards had eventually fallen asleep near the cage, occasionally jerking half awake to the slightest chirp in the night.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus looked up at the sky, "Already sunset, damn!" He stopped his horse and surveyed his surroundings. Suddenly he notices smoke, which seemed to come from a small campfire. He rode close to the campsite and got off his horse to remain silent. The young knight slowly approached some bushes and looked into the campsite, he saw a group of nasty looking savages, all asleep instead of the occasional guard that woke up to the sounds of the night. Then something interesting caught his eyes, it was a cage with a young girl inside. But not just any girl, "Castitas." He whispered silently to himself. Markus slowly and stealthily moved to the back of the cage so he wasn't noticed by the guards. When he got to the cage he stuck his hand in and lightly shook the unconscious priestess. "Hey, wake up." He said silently.

[PajkaNight]

Castitas awoke suddenly, her head was pounding painfully and her vision was slightly fuzzy. She grabbed ahold of Markus' hand, making sure it wasn't one of Umbra's guards. "Hel... p." Her grip loosened as she tried to push on the cage. Her vision cleared, seeing the knight's familiar armour. She went completely silent after seeing his face. The only thing she did was point to one of the daggers on the guard, then to the leather straps that held the cage together.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus knew she was not going to be happy to see him. When she pointed to the dagger and strap of leather he nodded and slowly crept up to one of the guards. He froze for a second when the guard shifted a bit, but continued when he was sure the guard was still asleep. The knight grabbed the dagger gingerly and ever so slightly removed it from the guards belt. After that, he moved back to the cage and cut a few straps, allowing enough space for Castitas to escape. Markus helped her out of the cage and he guided her to a safe distance from the camp. When they were far enough away to speak he looked at her, "Look, I know I'm the last person in this Realm you would like to see, but now is not the time for petty hatred. I saw what happened to your kingdom... and.. I'm sorry." His face was covered with a sad expression, one that made it obvious that he was being sincere. "And... I'm sorry for the losses, if I would have just stayed for supper and not have been a pretentious fool, I.." He paused and sighed, "I could have saved them."

[PajkaNight]

Castitas stood there, remaining silent as Markus spoke, glancing down at her feet. "...You are forgiven." She walked past him towards the remains of the great city she called home. "I need to cremate his body, my Master, it's what he would've wanted..."

Back at the savage's camp, Umbra made her way towards the cage to speak to this almighty Priestess. Upon arrival, she noticed the cage' empty. "You fools! Can't you hold a simple girl? Barely a child, yet she is missing?!" Umbra woke the guards near the cage, killing them with a flick of her wrist. She summoned two demon dogs that were larger than their ox. "Whisper! Murmur!" She called out the hellhound's names, showing them a lock of hair that had been ripped out of Castitas' head. "Find her, and bring her back alive, even if she a little broken." Umbra's devious smile curled onto her lips, sending out her pets.

Great walls that held La Luz Fortaleza were now heaps of meaningless stone, scattered along with the rest of it's insides. Castitas knelt down to her Master's corpse. "I'm sorry Master, Light has taken you in it's arms..." She sang a song of prayer, her voice soothing and calm as it float alongside the wind. She was about to take his hand as she continued singing, but his hand grasped first. "Cast-i-tas..." "Master, you're alive?!" Both surprise and fear came into her features. The High-Priest shook his head, coughing out blood. "Not for l-long, my dear... Y-you must return t-to the Light... Must r-return.." His grip loosed as he slipped into death once more. "Master, please don't leave me." She cried out loud, hugging her Master's body, trying to wake him up. "I don't want to be alone..."

[TheMM00s3]

Markus watched from the side lines as the poor priestess hugged the corpse of her mentor. His head hung as he slowly moved towards her, knelt down, and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm so sorry." He knew telling her that wouldn't help, but what else could he do? The poor girl had seen the entirety of La Luz Fortaleza ripped to pieces by savages. He sighed quietly to himself as he stood back up, "I know you still harbor anger toward me, even if you forgave me, but let me help you. After we give him a proper burial I can take you to my king, he is sure to have resources, maybe even a shelter, that you can use for a little while." Markus looked around the town, those savages sure as hell did some damage, if they did that, then these two needed to be careful not to run into them again. Who knows if Markus is strong enough to take on the savages, or even be able to at least hold them off slightly. The knights gaze fell to the floor as he sighed silently to himself once more.

[PajkaNight]

Castitas listened quietly to Markus, nodding her head. For the burial ceremony, the High-Priest was cremated, his ashes spread among the earth. "You're not as bad as I though, Ser Knight." Castitas smiled at him, grateful for his help. She followed him back to his kingdom, wanting to reward him somehow. "I-is it alright if I bless you?" She asked, getting rather embarrassed. "Never mind, I shouldn't of asked... silly me..." She smiled awkwardly, looking around at anything but Markus. Whenever he didn't look her way, she would observe him, taking in his features. "You must be impatient to get to your lover." She giggled. "I bet you have a lovely family." She went on, trying to start a meaningful conversation.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus looked over at Castitas curiously, but shook his head when she referred to a lover and his family, "Please, I have no lover and my family is not loving." He placed his hand on his face where he had been struck by his father earlier, "My mother is not around and my father want me to do nothing but live the life of a royal knight," His face became contorted in sadness, "He doesn't understand what it means to have a normal life," Markus sighed, "But I doubt you care about all that." He walked up next to the Throne Room door and gestured toward it, "The kings in there, just tell him the situation and he will supply you with the necessities," He looked at the floor, "I have a father that I need to go see," The knight sighed deeply, "I hope every thing works out for you." He was about to walk away, but hesitated not wanting to return to the abusive father that waited for him.

[PajkaNight]

Castitas looked down to her feet, feeling sorry for upsetting him. "The meaning of my existence is to care..." She whispered to herself as Markus reluctantly went home. When he was gone, the young Priestess looked to the doors to the Throne room, about to enter but was interrupted by a vision. What she saw was hard to decipher, but one thing she was certain she saw was death. People all around her dying and in agony, and blood. It was the same destruction she had seen back in La Luz Fortaleza, and she was not eager to see it happen again. She left the palace, looking for elsewhere to go, somewhere that no harm would be done to anyone. Castitas ran, not planning to hide, but to draw the danger away. She tried to think quickly on a place to go, even as a start, then she remembered; the lake deep within the forest that stood between each old kingdom, was a rabbit hole that led to the Twisted Path. No one had gone there for it was easy to get lost or even eaten alive by the carnivorous trees, but it was where the first Temple of Light had been, there was only a small chance she could communicate with the Gods, but any chance was good enough, and she was willing to take it.

Umbra's hellhounds sniffed Castitas' trail though La Luz Fortaleza, heading towards their next destination before the wind could wipe away the scent. "Mother will be proud..." Whisper's raspy voice was upbeat as he spoke to his sibling. "Love when mother is proud..."
"Yes," Agreed Murmur. "Mother loves us when she is proud..." Their tails wag, thinking of their Mother Umbra, wearing one of her special smiles.
Though the monsters had a bloodlust, they acted like pups, anxious to head home to their mistress, who was zealously awaiting the priestess as a prize.

[TheMM00s3]

Markus walked into the door of his house and was immediately met with his fathers fist slamming into his face. The young knight dropped to the floor like a rock, "I thought I told you to stay away from the Princess you useless piece of shit!" Markus slowly got up and looked at his father, "Yeah, I heard you." His father responded by punching his son in the stomach and threw him out of the house, "If you don't want to listen, then you don't get to live under my roof." He walked inside and slammed the door. Markus was left to stand outside, blood running down his cheek. In his frustration he started running to the one place he went to calm down, a lake in the forest between the kingdoms. He ran tears and blood running down his face anger filling him with every passing second.