Shadowlight: Barak Striker and Aidan Kross
On the continent of Heathenâs Kross, two teenage boys, one who grew up in riches, and one who grew up poor were the best of friends. Heathenâs Kross was known for being a place where crime was the popular thing, and the boys both knew this. But instead of there being chaos running rampant in the streets for these two young ones, there was order, especially in the kingdom city of Kurn. Kurn was one of the blacker sheep of the kingdom cities, because of how it runs crime on the continent. Instead of bandit raids, organized crime in Kurn authorizes the use of magick to sneak into places and steal treasures. A quarter of the population these boys knew, were also treasure hunters. Another quarter of the population of Kurn were magick users who used what they call Trials, as coming of age ceremonies. The other half were the elders, citizens, and facilitators of operations.
These two boys, one tall and slender, was Aidan Kross, an heir to the Kross Crime family, and soon to be new king of Heathenâs Kross, while a shorter, stockier boy was Barak Striker, a poor boy who left his clan, after it began to fall apart and disband. Aidan, at his age was considered fine to live on his own, with the exception of a few servants, trainers, and body guards. Barak, while being short and stocky, was an elf, and was well trained in knives and sneaking. The way these two met was rather uncanny so to speak. Barak always ran along the rooftops at night, and had seen Aidan, practicing archery in his courtyard, for another time in the past week. As Barak watched, knowing attacking the Kross family was forbidden, noticed that Aidan was having trouble with nighttime shooting. So he readied a throwing knife, knowing that he might have to teach Aidan to work on his aim, especially in the dark. The moment Aidan had missed the bullseye on the hay target, Barak threw his knife, in a way that it curved, to cut the arrow in half and still hit the bullseye.
Aidan became surprised and readied his bow again, aiming everywhere to find the source of the knife. Barak called out, âYour stance is choppy, and from what I can tell you shake too much to hold a bow, as if you arenât ready to use one.â
âWhoâs there, do you know who I amâ Aidan shouted out, âI have bodyguards posted nearby.â
âWell they never thought to stand on the rooftops like I doâ Barak called back, causing Aidan to look up for a sign of any person. Barak shifted, to keep himself hidden in the shadows.
âThe first sight of you, I will shootâ Aidan spoke, trying to track Barakâs voice.
âWell that depends on if you can find me, and if you can actually shoot meâ Barak replied, and with that phrase, Aidan had pinpointed Barakâs position down.
âWell fuck you thenâ Aidan screamed, notifying the guards as he shot an arrow in Barakâs direction. What was expected in Aidanâs mind was a sure fire hit. But his expectations were not achieved, because as if in slow motion, Barak leaped from his position, flipping over the arrow, swinging a dagger at it to cut it in half, and then solidly landing in front of Aidan.
âGood sir, you couldnât hit the broad side of a barn with that aimâ Barak bowed, winking at Aidan.
This made Aidanâs heart fluster out of nowhere. But that didnât stop a cacophony of guards to come and surround Barak with sword, spear, and bow at the ready. âMaster Aidan, are you alrightâ one of the guards questioned.
âI-I am actually. Lower your weapons, I believe he could be of some use to me, and I himâ Aidan responded.
âMaster, are you sure you havenât lost your head from training so muchâ a guard with a bow questioned.
âIâm fine Gene, everyone just go to the mess hall, I want to speak to thisâŠintruder, myselfâ Aidan nodded. The guards all lowered their weapons, and did as they were told.
âIt seems I winâ Barak smirked.
âFor nowâ Aidan spoke slowly turning back towards the bullseye, âWho taught you how to wield a blade?â
âMy father, it was the only thing I really learned from my family. I learned how to infiltrate places on my own. I honestly just have sheer luckâ Barak replied.
âYou have such lightning speed, have you ever thought of going into one of the trialsâ Aidan asked.
âI have actually, I heard there are multiple trials here, but the one that interests me is The Trial by Lightning. A rather pain inducing trial to absorb the energy of lighting. Some have said you need to have some real thick skin to enter that trial. To achieve success, you have to he high skilled at not only surviving lightning based runes and absorb the energy, but you have to enter combat at the same time. Any, and all weapons are allowedâ Barak explained, âIf you were to experience a Trial what would it be?â
âThe Trial by Fireâ Aidan spoke silently, drawing his bow once again.
âExcuse me. The Trial by Fire? You do know that is the most dangerous one right. Iâve heard rumors of hardly anyone coming out alive. You get stamped with runic firebrands, the brands transferring the power of pyrokinesis to the subjectâ Barak exclaimed.
âThat is the point. I excel at just about anything my family throws at me to train with, except archery. So I figured, why not compensate archery for magickâ Aidan responded, releasing the arrow, and still missing the bullseye.
âI dunno if your nuts, or extremely ballsy, but I like itâ Barak began clapping.
âLet me teach you one thing about the Trial by Lightningâ Aidan spoke up, âMy family, more specifically my uncle, runs that trial. Never mention we met, to him. Clan pride and all that bullshit.â
âOur little secret, Aidan Kross, but as long as you keep my secret. I am Barak Striker, the ex-member of a currently disbanding clan. And you know what happens when clans disbandâ Barak responded.
âI know, my family created that law. I swear they made it when their pride was the highest. By the way, if you need a place to stay I have an extra bed in my room. I know that the Trials are running tomorrow, if you need someone to walk with tomorrow, Iâm your guyâ Aidan offered, turning towards Barak.
Barak smirked, âIâll take you up on that offer.â
~Meanwhile, at the Banditâs Capital~
A crowd was gathering around for a public execution, âJoliah Striker, for the crimes of disbanding your clan, what say you, for your last words?â
The executioner was at the ready of a lever to release a guillotine on the man known as Joliah Striker. Joliahâs face was wounded, as if he had been tortured, and his hands broken in several places. Many of the members of his clan, men, women and children,were already executed, and the last in line was Joliah.
âI just wish I couldâve spent more time with my son,â Joliah spoke weakly, âI only got to do one thing for him, and he excelled at it. It is my hope, he becomes the future of a newfound clan, under the name of his own choosing. I would wish him good luck, but he already has it. Goodbye Barak, I wish you well.â
The judge of the execution began to speak once more, âYou have spoken your words to the Judge, the executioner, and to the crowd. I, Deriniah Kross, here by sentence you to death, for disbandment of the Striker Clan. Executioner Delvin Kross, clean up this mess.â Delvin nodded, and released the guillotine, ending the life of Joliah Striker, the father of Barak Striker, and ex-leader of the Striker clan.
