Thread: Secret of Mana (Fanfic)

Matthew stared at the creature in shock a moment before dodging it's next attack. 'A Rabite?!? How? They're myth, monsters from the stories of the 'Great War!' Matthew thought to himself. He swung the sword down, striking the Rabite and killing it. The large, yellow furred rabbit with fangs was real. How and why, Matthew didn't know. A mystery for later, when he could ask his adopted father, the Elder of Potos. Matthew found that the forest was thriving with Rabites now. It had been only days since he'd last been in this forest, but the difference! Rabites seemed to be everywhere now, and he couldn't understand where they were coming from. He finally reached the Gate of Potos, and the gatekeeper looked at him, relieved. Matthew, you're alright! Elliot and Timothy said you had fallen off the bridge crossing the waterfall. Interesting sword you've picked up though. Come in handy? Matthew nodded. It seems Rabites have infested the forest. The gatekeeper was shocked at the thought. How? Why? You'd better tell the Elder about this. Matthew nods again, and walks through the Gate. Potos was a small village, surrounded by a massive wooden fence, with a stone gate. It had a shop, an inn, and several houses where woodcutters and hunters lived. Potos had been a peaceful village, mostly cut off from the rest of the world. The monsters that were a nuisance elsewhere never bothered Potos, until now. Matthew walked to the inn, wanting to quickly take a bath to wash up and clean the small wounds he'd picked up, fighting off Rabites. He noticed a man in armor, a rather unusual sight. As if reading his mind, Charity, the innkeeper's daughter and waitress, said to Matthew as he walked by, That man seems to be a knight from somewhere. He said he wanted to talk to the Elder. Matthew nods, and quickly gets into the bathing barrel. He quickly scrubs himself clean, body and wounds, and then puts on his clothes. Thanks Charity. Matthew says to her. No problem, it's my job. Charity says with a slight smile, both kind and wistful. Where did you get the sword? She asks. Found it stuck in a stone. Came in handy when some monsters attacked me. Matthew replied, picking up the sword. Charity was shocked. Monsters, here?!? Matthew nods. Rabites, at least. I'm telling the Elder when I meet him. Matthew leaves the gold coin it costs to bath on the counter next to the strange man, for Kerwin the innkeeper to pick up. He doesn't recognize the emblem on the man's yellow cloak. Matthew shrugs on his way out. Not really his concern, it is just his curiosity, the same one that had him falling off a waterfall. Matthew headed towards the house on the hill, slightly taller than the other houses, and saw the Elder grilling Elliot and Timothy. Now where did he fall, since you all decided to- Matthew! You're alright! The Elder said, a smile on his face. Matthew returned it with a slight smile of his own. I'm alright. Landed in a deep pool. Almost hit the rocks though. The Elder nodded. They just told what happened. Timothy added, We thought you were a goner! Elliot just scowls. I told you we shouldn't have brought someone like him along. Elder turns to them, anger on his face. You idiots! You were told not to go there! Huh? The Elder finally notices the sword Matthew is holding over his shoulder. Matthew, what's that you have? Matthew hefts the sword, putting it in front of him so the others can see it better. I found it stuck in a stone. Came in handy against the Rabites that have infested the forest. The Elder stares at Matthew a moment, shock and dismay on his face. Oh no, you couldn't have! Timothy is ecstatic. Cool! Did you find the treasure after all? Elliot gives a smirk. Way to go! The Elder cut any celebrations short. What have you done? How could you have pulled out the Mana Sword? It's impossible! Timothy is taken by surprise. The Mana Sword? Legend has it that our village will be destroyed... If the Mana Sword is removed from it's resting place. The Elder finished. And here it is! It's said that the sword protects our village from disaster. Elliot scowls, fury on his face. So that's why monsters have been attacking where they never where before. It's your fault! How can an outsider like you come and doom us all! Elliot says, before swinging at Matthew. Matthew dodges, while keeping the sword away from Elliot. Hey, stop it! Matthew yells, not wanting to hurt Elliot by accident. Elliot bulls forward, ignoring the sword in Matthew's hands. You did it! It's your fault! You! Elliot accuses. Please, stop! Matthew shouts, having almost cut Elliot with the sword while dodging him. Matthew didn't want to drop the sword, for reasons he couldn't explain. The earth beneath Elliot and Matthew rumbles. Ahhh, an earthquake! Elliot yells, frightened. Backing away doesn't do any good, for the ground sinks suddenly beneath them. Elliot falls straight through, bad luck or karma putting him in the middle of it. Matthew finds himself on the edge of it, trying to hang onto some rocks despite the shaking. It's no use, and he falls for a second time that day. The fall is shorter, but much harder on landing. Matthew tucks and rolls on instinct, from practice falling out of trees. He comes to his feet, sword in hand. Good thing, for there's a giant monster in front of him. You have a sword, right? Use it! Elliot begs, the coward in him clear to see. A different voice calls out, Hey, can you hear me? Watch how the monster moves before attacking! An older man's voice says. Matthew takes the advice in mind, and waits for it to move. It does so, a shuffling sidestep reminiscent of how a crab moves. It looks like a praying mantis, but with a much broader chest. It detaches a claw to throw at Matthew. Matthew dodges and lunges forward for a quick slice then backs away again. This continues for some time, until the giant mantis does a shuffling dance. Crystals erupt from the ground, slashing and stabbing into Matthew. He screams in pain, but wrenches himself free, blood flowing from over a dozen wounds. Hang on, I'll help you! the man from earlier calls out. Matthew wondered how he planned to help, since jumping down didn't seem the best idea. There wasn't a whole lot of maneuvering room down here. Then water flowed around him, cleaning and then filling the wounds on his body. After a tingling sensation, he saw that his wounds were gone. 'Magic!' Matthew thought, stunned. Clear your mind, and aim carefully! the man called out again. Matthew nodded. He had a monster to fight. He could marvel at magic later. The mantis had shuffled closer to him while he was distracted, and swung a scything claw at him. Matthew rolled out of the way, and swung the ancient sword again. Thus a dance of death began, with Matthew dodging around the monster's claws and the mantis shuffling away from Matthew's strikes, until Matthew got a blow through it's chest and pulled right, tearing open a huge and blood gushing gash in the mantis. It screeched in pain, and then slumped onto the ground. It started shaking and glowing. A bright light erupts from it, and then splits into a countless multitude. For a moment they expand away from the monster. Then they begin to contract, with Matthew realizing they were flowing around the ancient sword he'd picked up. A bright flash erupts from the sword, then there's nothing. You did it! Wait there, I'll pull you up. The man's voice called out. A rope fell down the hole. Elliot grabbed ahold of it and was shortly pulled up. The rope was lowered again and Matthew grabbed it and was pulled up as well. The man who had talked to him turned out to be the knight from the inn. Elliot ran crying and screaming off. That seems to be the real Mana Sword. The man said. Huh? What? Matthew replied. The Elder had said that as well. But how could this rusty thing be a sword of legend? It's supposed to be pulled out by a knight in times of great need. But you're too young! Something must have happened to the Mana Sword. Here, it's yours then! Matthew didn't want to mess up the world. If some knight needed it, and could fix it, then it was his. Matthew wasn't a knight, after all. Just an orphan. The knight just shakes his head. Sorry. But the sword is losing power, and must be re-energized. Only the person who pulled it free can do that. Then... What should I do? Matthew asked. He had no training with a sword, no knowledge of magic. All he had was instinct and stubbornness. How could he save the world? Visit Sage Luka in the Water Palace. She's been protecting Camfeld for 200 years, so ask her advice. Timothy walked up to Matthew. Matthew, the Elder wants to see you. The man turns toward the Gate. Here. Something to keep the Mana Sword in. The man said, handing over a scabbard. Well, I have to be going. Oh, my name is Jema, by the way. I'll see you at the Water Palace. Jema then left. Matthew sighed. This was just not his day. He placed the Mana Sword in the scabbard, noting that it was a perfect fit. So Jema had been looking for the Mana Sword, and now Matthew was responsible for it. And re-energizing it meant fighting monsters. Joy. Matthew headed to the Elder's house, scabbard at his hip. It felt strangely right. Another odd circumstance of the day. He reached the door and opened it, only to find the council in a discussion.