Brilliance Before The Dawn

[Orcleous]

"Brilliance Before The Dawn", spoke Orcleous as he sat next to a man that looked very similar to himself. The man next to him was Theokoles, Orcleous older brother. Even after Orcleous two years as a mercenary Theokoles still seemed larger than he was. They both stood about the same high, but Theokolese was naturally buff. The heavy labor he did around the village also helped, that and his new found career as a lumber jack.

Next to the burly man was a blade. From what Orcleous could tell it was a longsword or maybe a hand and a half sword. Either way it was a fine specimen of a blade. As his brother pulled the sword from its protective sheath light began to radiate from the blade giving testement to the magic sealed inside. The unsheathing of the sword grabbed the attention of all inside the restaurant.

"Yes the Brilliance Before The Dawn", spoke the burly man in a deep voice as he held the sword by the hilt. Looking at the blade for a moment he handed it over to Orcleous. "The name is quite the mouthful so me and some of the villagers came up with a different name for it."

"And that would be", spoke Orcleous as he looked at him.

"Luxcalabur", spoke his brother as he pulled off the sheath. The blade glisten as the tip touched the morning air. The flash of light told Orcleous all he needed to know.

"A magical sword", spoke Orcleous and his words grabbed the attention of everyone sitting in the room. Magic swords where rare and people did not see them everyday of the week. Some people even go there entire lives without seeing one. Now in the middle of the restaurant two individuals sat around the table talking about a magical blade in the public.

Seeing the sword Orcleous was forced to think back to his own magic sword. Fiery Dragon Blade was a treasure, but alas he was forced to break the blade in there last confrontation. That skeleton King was using it to try and murder him. If that beast would have escaped the ruin city with it things would have definitely heated up in Lycia. Now here he was in the presence of another magical sword. Though this one seemed to belong to his brother, thought he suspected that its destination was meant to be himself. With all things considered.

"So where did you find it", spoke Orcleous. His brother noticing the whispers around the table set the blade back down and covered it up in its leather sheath.

"We did not find it, but father bought it", spoke Theokoles. "A adventure came to town shortly after that monster slaying you had up in the mountains. He claimed to have found the sword in his journey and sold it to the local merchant."

"Claimed", spoke Orcleous as he looked at his brother. "By the way you speak is it safe to assume that he did not simply find it", spoke Orcleous.

"You would be correct", spoke Theokles. "The correct term will be grave robbed, and oh your going to love this one."

"Let me guess the crypt near the village", spoke Orcleous.

"Exactly", spoke his brother as he looked at the holy sword. "This blade use to belong to a village hero. Do you remember the table about the cyclops and the warrior. Mother use to tell it to us all the time when we where little."

" You mean the one about the holy paladin", spoke Orcleous as he looked at his brother with surprise. He thought that story was nothing more than children tales. Then again however so where monsters and now monsters walk the earth and dragons once again fly in the skies. Orcleous had meet both on his journey and he knew how real they where. So why not the paladin. "So this is his sword, the one that made the final blow."

"Yep, well father thinks it is", spoke Orcleous brother. "After the owner of the shop bought the sword Father placed it on credit. He then went into the catacombs and discovered that a hole was broken into a nearby wall. Inside of there he found a hidden tomb and words written in old Bernese language. The words spoke the hero name."

"What is it", spoke Orcleous as he looked at his brother with curiosity.

"Lux", he spoke as he looked at the sword. A frown crossed Orcleous face as he realized how the blade got his name.

"You guys could have had a little bit more imagination", he spoke.

"Hey it was in the honor of a fallen hero", spoke his brother. "Besides the name fits."

"So", spoke Orcleous as he took a gulp of the tea sitting in front of him. "Why is this sword sitting in front of me and not inside of Sir. Lux tomb."

"Now that is the golden question", spoke Theokoles as he chugged his drink. "Well father bought the sword with no intention of returning it to the tomb."

"Wait what", spoke Orcleous as he looked at his brother with confusion.

"Let me finish", he spoke. "He bought the sword because he thought our village needed some extra security in case the flying monsters returned. A magic sword seemed like the sure thing to keep the family safe. Especially after ..."

"I understand", spoke Orcleous avoiding mentioning her name and the tragedy that happened that day.

"Yeah, it is still kind of hard", spoke Theokoles as he touched the blade. The older brother began to think back on what happened. If only he was stronger. If only he had a better weapon. If he had LuxCalabur at that time just maybe. "No", he spoke suddenly gaining a perplex look from Orcleous. "Anyway", he spoke changing the subject back to its original coarse. "Father decided that the blade would simply be stolen again if we put it back. Instead he kept it at the home for protection. However he heard about your fight."

"My fight", spoke Orlceous with confusion. "You have to be more specific", spoke the Hero. "I get into many battles."

"You know this one", spoke his brother as he motion to take a drink. He then realized that his cup was empty and settled to simply talk. "The one you ran away from, Faint of Heart."

"Oh that", spoke Orcleous as a frown crossed his face. "Of all the battles I fight and all the enemies I have slain. The only thing they remember is me retreating from a fight with a abomination", spoke the Hero. His brother took great pleasure in seeing his younger brothers sulking.

"Yep, that is how the world works", he spoke. "Mother took it well. She was just happy to hear that your alive."

"Mother would be happy if my face was covered in bruises", spoke Orcleous. "She did not care about the fight only that we where ok after it."

"Indeed", spoke Theokoles. "Still the word from the battle worried father. He figured you where running up on creatures that where to tough for you to handle. So he ..."

"So he decided to give me this thing", spoke Orcleous as he grabbed the holy sword.

[Orcleous]

"So father thought I could use a more fine tuned weapon", spoke Orcleous as he held the blade in his hand. The sword seemed to fit him perfectly as he felt it pulsate in his grip. Orcleous was not a weapon expert, but he had held two magic swords in his life. The first was Fiery the blade of fire. The second was Xigshaw the war hammer of light. The two had completely different feels to them and no Orcleous was not talking about the weight. Xigshaw felt uplifting and inspiring. Fiery felt natural and ferocious. Just holding the weapon Orcleous could get a idea of the power that was locked inside or to put it in more simple terms he could feel the school of magic in which the weapon was forged. There was no mistaking this sword for any other, this was indeed a holy sword.

"Do you have any idea what kind of spell is inside of the blade", spoke Orcleous as he looked at his brother.

"Not a clue", he spoke as he raised his shoulders. "If I had to guess it would probably be shine. You remember the legend about the holy light and monsters being set a flame. Clearly it is powered by the light of the sun and the flames burn away evil."

"The light of the sun", spoke Orcleous in a sarcastic tone as he looked at his brother. It was clear to him that the man had no idea how to fight monsters or what was effective against them. Sure when people talked about monsters and attacks it was mostly at night time, but sunlight itself did not slay them. Orcleous knew that for a fact. "You have been reading to many fairy tales brother", spoke Orcleous as he placed the sword by in the sheath. "The light of the sun does not kill monsters and by the description you gave me I doubt the power inside is shine."

"Oh I am sorry Orcloeus", spoke his brother in a sarcastic tone. "I had no idea that you where a magical expert. Please share some of your infinite wisdom on the arts of magic. You know the thing you studied for so long."

"Well if you insist", spoke Orcleous playing on his brothers Sarcasm. "First off I have been shot by shine", spoke Orcleous as he moved to a more serious tone. "Let me tell you it is nothing like fire. It is just a beam of heat and death. The beam that hit me nearly burned clean through me", spoke Orcleous as he pointed to a burn mark on his skin. "Shine does not set the undead a flame it disintegrates them. I once saw a bishop turn a zombie into nothing ,but cosmic dust."

"Oh", spoke his brother as he looked at Orlceous face. The Hero was very clear on the fact that there was a difference between them. That and his talk about magic kind of made his brother blood run cold. Orcleous said he was hit by that kind of magic before. This meant that he wnet toe to toe with a person who could turn you into cosmic dust. Though he was sure Orcleous was exaggerating with the cosmic dust part, but the meaning was transferred very well."So if it is not divine what do you think it is", he spoke as he looked at his younger brother.

"I have no idea", spoke Orcleous as a sly smile crossed his face. "Well I will find out soon enough", spoke the hero as he placed the sword on his hilt and rose from the table. "Lycia has enough monsters running around and there are plenty of mages. I am sure I will run int one of them that will give me my answer."

"Hmm, where are you going", asked Orcleous brother as he looked up at him.

"Sorry, but I need to go check in on a certain fair lady."

"Oh you mean the blonde you came in with. From what I heard from Xeldine ..."

"Drop it", spoke Orcleous as he began to walk off. "That girl exaggerates and places things where there is none."

"Really I heard there was a kiss", he spoke. His words stopped Orcleous dead in his tracks and answered his question for him. "So there was something there."

"Goodbye Theo", spoke Orcleous as he walked off and made his way back toward the Inn. His brother simply laughed and enjoyed the rest of his day.

[Thread End]