The First Episode

**The Sixth Warrior**

**War in Fantasia**

**Prologue:**

In an ancient time of war, magic, knights and a powerful wizard named Merlin, a disconnected man who corrected Evil had become Old and frail. The many races and empires arose to the point of uncertainty as wars they sieged upon each other would very well be their downfall. The Wizard couldn't stand to see his friends and innocents killed in the name of magic and justice. The former inhabitants of Earth feared the Wizard and began a world wide hunt to find and slay the great Merlin.

Merlin, now considered a menace, had been hunted to the far reaches of the Earth. Merlin knew he wouldn't escape Mans armies and so the very crusade the mages, elves and undead road on would be there undoing. Merlin had created a series of magical Books that could trap every man and woman who hunted him in the name of independence from the Wizards powers and ideals. The book housed a massive world between worlds reserved for those with unnatural abilities as well as the dozens of races and monsters. The mage trapped them all within his books of spells keeping them sealed away forever cursed and binded to the book. He stole magic from the world in an attempt to save it and eventually saw the world doomed so in fear he coward away with the remains of the Knights within the tomb he created…

He had created a place only reachable by those the Knights would select to serve Merlins council and enact his wills. The mage’s spell to seal magic and those who used it indeed worked, but came with unseen side effects. The warriors or humans summoned from outside the book had been hand picked by Merlin and his Knights and those chosen would be given great powers some considered Godly. Even with the great powers given to these warriors, not all of these “Chosen” were interested in peacekeeping, but rather self fulfilment and their personal desires. Those picked would serve Merlin and live happily. This method worked for a time but the powers seemed to blind some of the future warriors. The system the Wizard had created was quickly falling apart and failing and with his little power and limited council of knights he remained in his castle.

As the people of his mystical world thought all was doomed, a new menace arose from the ashes of a forgotten civilization buried within the tallest mountain. An army of Metal men assumed to be peacekeepers as they followed a Chosen Warrior. The people of Merlin’s world welcomed the new champion with open arms, However they were met with new unseen technology and unorthodox tactics. The Wizard realized things were only getting worse. He used what little magic he had left to summon his last hero.

Merlin waited for his new Champion for several years but he could wait no longer. The Wizard was forced into hiding in hopes he could seek refuge elsewhere away from the war. In the wizard’s absence, the world had become corrupt and ultimately his work appeared to be in vain. The Wizard’s realm was on the verge of extinction. Or so they had thought…

**Chapter I**

**Missing**

*“The war is nearing a close, it's up to you now.”*

I struggled to open my eyes as I began to wake myself. My eyes held heavy as my sockets ached in discontent. I rolled over sluggishly and opened my eyes to see my juvenile cat staring at me. I reached my free arm out and rubbed his head as he closed his eyes, relishing the feeling. I was almost surprised to see him in my room. My father hardly let him in any of the rooms. He usually was outside. *My father was pretty drunk last night meaning he probably didn't do anything but sleep.* I rolled over looking at my poster of two men with robotic helmets and guitars and hummed a song with a groggy tone.

I rubbed my eyes and moved to the edge of my bed. I looked to the carpeted floors for my metal leg. I spotted it near my dresser. I yawned. I hopped off hopping about on my one leg toward my prosthetic leg, my cat following me.

I attempted to get to my knee but fell to my knees rather. I sighed agitated by my mistake. I reached for the metal leg with a forced yawn. I moved my legs out and stared for a moment at the remains of my once fuller leg. I rejected the thought of using this stupid metal piece of junk as a means of daily life but anything more realistic was more expensive.

I held it in my hand and stared at it in spite. I was born with a pair of legs,  but growing up has been difficult, not only with my parents but for myself.

One day I was in my father's car shop for a father- daughter work day. I had been playing with his wrenches and hammers, pretending to fix his car. I was ultimately too small and in the way, or at least that is what my dad claims. I had my leg run over by a passing car.

I lifted my legs stub and strapped the fake leg around the remains of my thigh. The leg was under my vent all night. It was cold to the touch. A feeling familiar.

My cat came over and rubbed his cheeks against my metal leg.

“Come on Christopher. I have to get dressed,” I said in a low unintelligible tone. He rubbed my leg one last time and pranced out of my room slipping through the cracked door. I got to my feet and turned my attention to my dresser.

I procrastinated for a bit to intentionally take up free time. I hated to have breakfast with my parents. They would always fight about something.

I walked to my old wooden desk and reached for my phone until the sound of my dad cursing caught my attention. I rolled my eyes almost instantly, shrugging it off. I grabbed my phone and held the power button for a moment until the screen was covered in light. I swiped across my phone, unlocking it as a text message box appeared.

Dakkarson Nemo: “Hey I have something I want to show you! Meet me at the creek's end.” I read the message in my head with an almost enthusiastic voice. He was always very upbeat and excited for pretty much no reason.

I tapped the “Mark as read” option and quickly turned it off and dropped it in my hoodie’s open pocket. I threw my hood on and pulled the strings just enough to cover my face. I grabbed my backpack that hung from my wall and swung it across my arm.

Christopher rubbed his head against the door as it creaked open slightly. He purred as he rolled onto his back. I kneeled down and rubbed his stomach. He laid there like he could enjoy this all day. I rubbed his head and scratched his ears then swiftly jumped to my feet and opened my door. It creaked early for a moment. I stared at the hall wondering if they were still fighting. I gained the courage to move but admittedly still scared. My father was not a man to mess with and I intended to keep our paths nowhere near each other.

I walked down the desolate hallway to see nothing but a darkened run down home. The site I had to behold every morning. I always hated living here, even when it was in its prime.

The yelling stopped with a loud slap. I took a deep breath and moved a step forward. As my foot met the floor the screaming continued. Like a berserk sargent, my father demanded perfection from anyone within his peripheral view. He was a man to be feared. Years ago he was in the military. He was a Sergeant Major in Infantry.

He left the military 15 years ago. Around that time he met my mother and everything fell into place, or apart depending where you would like to see it. I continued walking as I tried to block out the barriage of faint curse words. My mind went elsewhere. I began to think about my History final today.

I was what I considered to be an intelligent student. I excelled at historical events and writing from an early age. I could summarize the Battle of Normandy when I was nine and then the whole of the Whole World War when I was 13.  I still couldn't believe I was going to college two years early.

I crept down the stairs trying to keep myself quiet. The door was within view but was soon manned by my mom. She looked at me as if she were wanting to say something. Her arms were to her side. Her cheek was bruised.

I quickly flew down the stairs and grabbed her arms. I brought them over my back as I embraced her. She said nothing but laid her head on mine. She had a disorder where she was forced to pause herself when she would try to talk.

My father called out, demanding her presence. She let me go as if she wanted to say something. I reached for her hand and rubbed her palm. I loved her more than anything the world could offer. Yet, she never said anything anymore, even when she could. The only times I see her break that silence is when my Dad would attempt to bring me into one of his outbursts. She is suffering daily and my dad is to blame.

My Mother made her way toward the living room where my Dad was held up. I pushed the thoughts of my father and mother aside as I opened the door. My home was a dark place in one way or another.

I let go of the cold door handle as the door closed on its own behind me.

My father's red mustang sat outside the garage collecting dust. He had it since he was in highschool, when he was a football player. I looked to the trees as birds soared overhead traveling to the unknown. My excuse for home was surrounded by a small forest somewhat away from most of the apartments and other homes. The creek wasn't far from my house and I still had an hour or so before my major classes started.

I traversed the forest through the seemingly endless line of trees and bushes until I took a moment to stop. This is where I felt comfortable and at peace.

I used to come out here near the lake at night to watch the animals and listen to the insects talk amongst each other. I stopped coming out here as hunters ran around the creek with their dogs at night.

I used to see so many deer and now I see so few. It upsets me this world was so screw loose and frankly so uncontrolled.

I came across the creek to see no one around. *Nemo is normally just as punctual as a clock.* I spotted his backpack in the creek as the water flowed over it. I threw my bag to the ground and ran to his bag. I pulled it from the water and quickly unzipped it.

I pulled the zipper and looked inside. I rummaged through his bag till I finally found his phone. I tried to turn it on but realized it had been drenched in water. *He never leaves his things behind. He is very protective…*

“Nemo!” I shouted his name hoping for a reply.

I dropped his bag and looked for anything he could have left behind. I jumped across the creek and almost instantly spotted a book near a rock covered in dirt. The odd thing was that it was only covered in dirt yet not soaked. I pondered whether the book was Nemo’s or not.

He often held on to old trinkets but he always hated reading. I grabbed the book and put it in my bag.

I threw Nemo’s pack across my shoulder and held mine in the other hand, beginning to walk toward my school.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed 911. I looked around as I held the phone to my ear. I listened to the dialing noise as it abruptly ended with “Your call cannot be made at this time.” The phone started. I shoved the phone in my pocket with a feeling of fear shaking my body. *Was he lost or even stolen?*

I continued to walk to school, still trying to think of a logical explanation for his random disappearance. I had yet to come to a conclusion but my thoughts were soon interrupted anyway.

A car crash was visible as I creeped out of the trees near the road. Two men were yelling at each other while the Officer was attempting to assess the situation. I turned toward my school now within visible range.

I looked back to the cop. He seemed busy and the two men looked like they were about to beat each other into the concrete. I brushed the cop off and decided to alert someone at the school.

I continued walking till a lamp post with a missing persons paper was hanging on it. I looked at the paper to see one of my friends was on it. I looked closer to the paper to identify the individual kids. Conroy William Kampfer Stein, Michael and Keith Wildheart, Benny Grant and Timothy Pines. Four missing kids and now Nemo… I felt powerless and the disappearances were common. People die or get kidnapped often here. Crime and other shinagens are somewhat of a norm so not even murder is a suprise.

I stared at the school for a moment studying the trees. A pair of squirrels spiraled around a tree branch together. Birds sang in a tree opposite the squirrels almost playing a song for them. Everything seemed so peaceful when I was at school. No one to bother me and all I did was learn. Sure it is very dull and yet it was so peaceful and quiet. It was all I needed in life. Yet nothing exciting ever happens obviously leaving more to be desired.

The school I go to is strict and offers no room for delay or mistake. Luckily I followed the directions and rules so I had no worries.

I continued to walk till I was face to face with the school doors.

I peered through the windows to see no one within the school halls. I opened the door as I exhaled a breath of agitation. I marched down the empty locker filled halls hoping for it to stay barren.

After I talked with my teacher about Nemo the school called the authorities. I was sent home for recuperation or something. It was confirmed no one had seen him all day or the days prior. I was confused and frankly shocked. He wouldn't get up and leave unless something horrible happened. I tried to shake the thought of Nemo never coming back away but his text rang in my mind like a siren.

We did everything together and to lose him was nothing I saw to be possible. I opened the creaky wooden door to my hoe and swiftly ran up the stairs.

I stomped down the hall trying to brush off my father's barrage of curse words that came from my mother and father's room. I threw my bag across the floor as it slid over to my bed.

I took my jacket off and hung it over my bed. I rolled onto my bed with a heavy heart. Crying was never something I hardly did anymore. But him being gone made me want to. He was my only friend. I honestly had no idea what to do, if there was anything to do. I turned my head to my backpack. I grabbed it by the handle at the top and lazily threw it onto my bed.

I moved up as tears began to materialize. I practically saw myself with him for the rest of my life and I had no idea if he would even come back. I always saw him to be my Brother. I had known him since first grade. I was always there and so was he.

I unzipped my backpack and to my surprise I still was holding onto the book I found. I pulled it out of my backpack as dirt panned off as I held it.

It is an entrancing book, yet it has no title. The book's design of metal around its spine was magnificently carved and designed. Although the cover had no title, no author or illustrations? It was a blank leather book. I turned the book over to find nothing.

I opened the book to see something of interest. A bold set of text read “Only the light may enter and those who are of despair and wicked intent will suffer the wrath of apocalypse. When the soul brightens and the victory of the confused light consumes thee the world shall be a new width-” The rest of the page was torn out leaving the rest of the testament like page unknown. I turned the page and what lay there left me in utter confusion.

The book’s pages were generating words and sentences before my very eyes. I studied the book as it became apparent it was writing about my very thoughts. I was confused and stunned. I had yet to figure out if it was magic or if it was simply my imagination.

I set the book in front of me and turned the page. The page was empty. I tried to turn the page but the pages were almost stuck together. As if it were impossible to turn the pages. I tried again and again still confused. I eventually gave up and simply stared in ah at the book. The book had been self-writing everything I thought.

The book is somehow connected to my very consciousness and writing my actions and words down. I closed the book and glanced around my room. I was wondering if anyone was near. Afterall the last thing I needed was someone watching me mess with some sort of magical book.

I looked back at the book and somehow it now had a massive 6 on its cover and the author's name now in place. The author was my name. 𝑀𝓎𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒶 𝐵𝓁𝓊𝓈𝓀𝒾 in cursive. My eyes widened as my thoughts scrambled into millions of questions. I tried to focus on what this could all mean. Every possible conclusion led to more questions. *What is happening? Why is it happening to me?*

*What happened to Nemo…?*

I was lost in my thoughts but soon interrupted by a blinding light. I covered my eyes and tried to carefully study it. The light had a faint blue mist seeping from out of the closed book. I closed my eyes and threw the book to the floor. The light dies out momentarily.

I looked over my bed to see the light slowly grow as I approached it. I hopped off my bed and kneeled down to the book. I began to open it cautiously.

I opened it half way open and turned away covering my face in fear. Nothing had happened. I turned back to the book. I stared in utter amazement. The book seemed to hold a massive black hole of sorts within it. A faint flurry of colors almost resembling the planet was within its center. I had a feeling, *a desire? No. I hungered to be in that world.  I had no idea where it led or if it was safe? Why would I even attempt such a dull thing?*

I paced back and forth in front of the odd book pondering if doing anything with a possibly cursed book was even a logical idea. I sighed and sluggishly stared at the book. I rubbed my face moaning in agitation as I knew I was going to do something disastrous with the book.

I prematurely ended my thoughts as my mind made itself up. The book offered something new, clearly, but what? I slammed my door and swiftly turned to the book. The once vision of a civilization had turned into a massive black hole. I stared at it. Studied it and before I could do anything I started to move yet not on my own. I looked to the ground as I stared at my frozen yet quickly advancing body. I was being pulled to the book?

I looked back at the door and attempted to grab the door handle.  I tried to move toward the door but before I knew it, I was in the air. I struggled to grab hold of anything but the book continued to suck me inside it. I closed my eyes tightly. I began to scream yet could not hear my own voice.

I opened my eyes with doubt of what was happening. No. I could see everything so clearly.

I looked around as my body began to fall into a deep freeze. My body instantly went soft. The massive piece of land I saw was an island filled with trees and mountains. It was just as I had seen it but clearier now. I tried to move my arms but to no avail. I was shaking, buzzing in fear. I hated heights and I was flying about 24,000 feet in the air. I was falling and falling fast yet felt no drag or anything. It was like a free fall into a void.

The feeling of death from a fall this high was now lingering in my mind. Where I was surely about to meet my end there was water within sight. A massive body of water surrounding the island and yet it seemed out of reach.

Then I felt the adrenaline kick in. My arms finally answered my call. I was able to move again finally out of the shadow of fear. I struggled to move at all as I had gained so much speed. I continued to try but before I could gain any progress everything went black. The only thing I could hear was a female voice. A calming angelic voice that sung a song of sorrow and beauty...