The gods have all agreed to the contest and the arena has been prepared. One can sense the anticipation in the air, there’s nothing the gods love more than glory and everyone of them is looking forward to their champion winning the tournament.
The gods chose their champions for different reasons but all of them were already mighty mortals before they were chosen.
Lysander a renowned soldier and general kneels in pray with his spear and helmet beside him. The stature of Thariel towers in front of him. There’s other people praying with him today and the scent of incense and sounds of murmuring prayers fills the atmosphere.
Lysander prays quietly, almost in whispers or murmurs “Thariel, your light is the sun, watch over us when it gets dark. Guide our hearts and our swords as we defend your sacred city, give us the will and power to conquer your enemies.”
He falls silent for a while and there’s no response. He really wished his god would speak to him today of all days, but all he got was silence, deafening silence.
His men rose with him from his prayer position. They were with him everywhere and they’d follow him to their death if need be.
Kadmos, his son also stands beside him. He’s all grown now and is the leader of his squad. Lysander pats him on his shoulder as though to reassure him and he nods in understanding.
It’s a sudden gathering a little while before dawn but he can see his army standing on the horizon, waiting for his words, direction and command.
Their enemies today are not strangers, they’ve had a few battles between them over the years. They’ve ransacked the city and set its walls ablaze before, but they’ve always managed to keep the city from being seized.
This time though, the battle is different. They brought a monster this time. A monster as tall as the city wall and who with one swipe of his sword could wipe out twenty soldiers.
Their enemies, the Tartessians, are ruthless warriors, there’s even legends that claim their children are learn the rudiments of fighting and battles before they can speak.
As expected, Lysander stands before his troops and gives a rousing speech, “This will not be an easy battle he yells, Tartessos is a hardened place unlike ours with art and luxury. They’re a battle hardened people.”
The shoulders shift uncomfortably, fear gripping that heart with the stunning realization of what they’re up against.
You’ve heard by now that the Tartessian commander is fearsome to look at.
They sent four spies to check out their enemies camp and more importantly the tales about their monster commander. Only one of the spies had returned with terrifying news. He claimed the rumors were true and their commander was a terrifying monster with four arms.
The discomfort and murmurings at this news was as expected by Lysander and then in a swift loud shout he says “Let them send their monsters! Let them send their children who have been trained since birth”
Deep silence fell on the troops at this point as everyone paid attention to the Lysander.
He continues to speak, “to these barbarians, war is a way of life but for us, we fight today to preserve our way of life! We fight for our luxuries, our families, our beliefs, our philosophies! So that we and our children can live in peace and prosperity.”
The soldiers let out a loud cheer and Lysander screams again “the gods are on our side! And that’s why we are going to defeat them!
The soldiers scream one more time, the boldness and confidence of their General obviously penetrating them and driving away their fears temporarily.
They all begin to chant his name
General Lysander!
General Lysander!!
General Lysander!!!
They march and stand in battle formation against the Tartassians and General Lysander gives a loud battle cry that causes his troops to advance and clash with their enemies.
The Parthene soldiers and the Tartessian soldiers clash with one big loud bang. There’s chaos everywhere as sounds of screams, swords clashing and shields clanging against swords and spears.
Lysander gets into the battles and yanks a soldier down with his sword without thinking. He stops to look and was amazed he just knocked down a little boy. They’re all so young he thought.
Before he could finish processing what was happening he heard a sound, turns back and sees the monster demon prince marching toward him, towering above everyone. His axe alone is twice the size of Lysander. With every step the Tartessian army cheer him on.
When the first line of Parthene soldiers fight their way to him, he wipes them all out with one swing of his axe.
The panic begins to spread. Lysander’s men know they can defeat the Tartessians in mere mortal battles but this monster gives them an undue advantage. They know if they’re going to win this war they’ll have to find a way to end this monster.
Lysander give a command for his troops to fall back behind him. He intends to take on this monster alone. The soldiers retreat and form a wall behind him.
He marches a few paces forward, advancing towards the monster with some of his most loyal commanders with him. He instructs them to stay back and make sure the enemies don’t attack their troops while he takes on the monster.
He has his spear and his shield in his hands. Walks closer to the beast and yells at it “fight me coward! Or are you too scared to fight the champion of Parthon?”
The monster growls and starts walking toward Lysander.
General Lysander looks at his son kadmos one more time and his son has that assuring looking on his face, trusting his father would fight and defeat this beast.
The whole battle field falls silent now, as everyone watches keenly the battle between the commanders.
General Lysander remembers to pray as he charged towards his opponent. But what should he pray for? Protection for himself or safety for his army?
He realizes at this time that only one thing is important and that is victory. So he prays to Thariel god of Light. “Guide my spear he says” and then breaks into a run towards the monster.
He knew if he failed there’d be no recognizable part of his body for his people to bury.
He looks one more time at how huge the creatures axe was and realized he had to attack first.
He charged towards the monster to get a better aim with his spear but before he could do anything, the monster kicked him with one of his giant doors and knocked him down.
He tries to stand up again but when he looks us he sees the axe of the monster coming for him. His reflex swung into action as he raised his shield to protect himself.
The axe fell on the shield and he felt his shield crack.
He prayed one more time in his heart “Thariel, protect me”
Before he could regain his stance he gets another attack on his shield and then another and suddenly all he could feel was his body giving up from the inside, splitting into a million pieces.
He tried to stay conscious but all he could see was light, bright blinding light.
He tried to speak but he had no voice just the screeching pains of his dismantling body.
Before he died though he managed to throw his spear at the monster, What could that really achieve any what, but it was all he had left to offer.
As his body dissipates, he hears a voice from the light - “Lysander”
The voice comes from all around him. He tries to find who is speaking but he can’t see anything, just blinding light.
The voice continues “you’re a righteous and bold man, you have fought well”
Lysander tries to react or speak or argue but there’s not an ounce of strength in him. All he could do was listen as the voice continued.
“I will need you in the future and so I’m sending you back”
Those were the last words he heard before he felt another sharp pain of agony as he began to feel his body coming back together!
He woke up fearing what might have happened to his troops.
A soldier shouted “General! I have found the General!” and immediately his men were all around him lifting him and taking him to the medics center.
Every part of his body that had been split is now held together with visible liquid gold that could be seen by all. They were all in awe and still amazed at what had happened.
Get a doctor, one soldier yelled!
He hears another voice at this time,
His own voice in his head...
“This is a gift, don’t waste it”.
As he’s borne away in the arms of his men he sees the monstrous creature slain, with several spears piercing his side. Then he turned and saw the city walls in flames. The devastation is evident even to the blind and audible to the deaf.
There’s silent whispers all around the infirmary. “See his face” “he’s glistening “ “what happened to him”
He totally shuts the voices off as the doctors walks him and order the soldier to bring him to a bed for special examination.
General Lysander shrugs their hands off him as he walks himself to the bed.
He asks after his son Khadmos and the doctor replied “he’s wounded, badly wounded but he’ll survive. You on the other hand we have to examine”.
He walks off the bed with the doctor hot in pursuit.
He found his son Khadmos, laying on the bed with bandages soaked with blood.
He turns to the doctor and asks “will he survive?” She give a positive reply.
He looks round, finds a parchment and a pen and he pens down his resignation letter.
I, Lysander, resign my office in the Parthene army. Do not look for me.
This was a few years ago.
And today General Lysander returns to the temple of Thariel, to say a prayer for the first time in years.
He was scared and confused as he remembered the voice that said “I am saving you for a future purpose”.
He is accompanied by his son Khadmos, who reassures him and says “it’s ok father, I have been praying for you”.
General Lysander gets on one knee, expecting the same deafening silence he’s grown accustomed to during prayers but this time he sees a great light.
Unlike his first encounter, this time there’s a figure in the light, it’s Thariel, god of light and Lysander remembers that all familiar voice
“Lysander of Pathron”
are you Thariel?
“Of course I am”
My Lord, Lysander replies
“You said you’ve not figured out why I sent you back?”
Until this moment my lord, I haven’t.
“As I said before, I kept you for a future purpose”
I don’t understand my lord, Lysander replies
“I know” says Thariel, “I know, but soon you will”
Immediately, Lysander sees the grand arena around him glistening with gold and sunshine.
Thariel speaks “I have need of a champion and I choose you. The gods have a tournament and you will be my champion”
My life belongs to you Lysander replies, it has and will always be yours but please permit me to say goodbye to my son this time.
Thariel permits him to go. But hurry! Time is shorter than you think!
As he turns towards his son, he immediately finds himself in the mortal world once again.
Father are you alright, you’re glowing? Khadmos says.
I am fine Lysander replies but there’s something I need to tell you.
The champion of light has arisen!