Chapter I

After being away from home for so long, I can finally see my home town, the City of Steringald, on the horizon once again. Joy filled my heart once again, like an overflowing cup of water.

“We made it back, Zarakus,” I told my horse while giving him a quick pet. He neighed in response with a small kick from his hind legs.

“What do you say we stop with this mere trotting and get home as quick as we can?” I asked him. Before I could hear a response from him, he set off with incredible speed.

Being the youngest of the Castle Guardians, my father sent me off to train and learn new skills once the spirit of the legendary Bastard Sword chose me. In the form of a red dragon, the spirit called to me 3 years ago and told me to seek him out in my dream. Once I told my father, he was overjoyed and directed me and showed me where I need to go. With nothing but my trusted horse and the skills with a dagger that my father taught me, I set off to seek the spirit.

I came across many monsters and obstacles in my way, but even when I felt like I had no hope in overcoming my enemies, I thought of my father who I wanted to make proud and my childhood friend, Alexis, the Prince of Steringald. If I become strong enough, I’d be able to be his Personal Guard and that was my goal. I knew that with the aid and the guidance of the Spirit, I would be able to make my aspirations a reality.

The guardian of the Bastard Sword was a tough beast, but I managed to pull through with a few scratches and wounds. I remember staring at the large sword which was lodged within a crystal and wondered why the Spirit chose me. The Legendary Bastard Sword is one of the Five Great Swords from the Viking Ages which meant they were quite large. This particular sword was almost as big and wide as me. How would I be able to wield it?

The Spirit then came to me once more and ordered me to pull him out, so I did. To my surprise the sword was heavier than I imagined. Struggling with the immense weight of the sword, I was beginning to feel that my journey might have been in vain.

“Nano of Steringald,” The Spirit called to me as I was flying past the green pastures of my home kingdom.

“Yes, master?” I called back.

“Am I sensing doubt within you once again?”

“No doubts, master,” I responded. “Just remembering first meeting you; that is all.”

“Good,” he said with a hearty laugh, “I was beginning to think all our training was for naught.”

I spent the rest of the time from my journey training with Kerin, the Dragon Spirit of the Bastard Sword. Ever since I set him free from the confines of the Crystal Cage, his spirit became linked with me. He trained me with rigorous exercises and showed me different stances that I could use with his sword.

I remember halfway through the training, I felt too weak to go on. That’s when Kerin gave me the lecture of a lifetime.

“Nano, are you unable to handle my training?” I remember him asking me.

“Master, I’m beginning to think I’m too weak to wield your mighty sword,” I admitted. “I thought I’d be able to handle anything that you’d tell me, but I feel as if I’m falling to short.” I responded.

“I chose you not for your strength, Nano, but for your loyal and caring heart. Your motivations are right and true. As you know, fire is a destructive element, based on rage and fury. Being under my previous wielder, I felt the fury that he felt, thus making him a powerful yet evil fighter. However, fire isn’t only based on those aspects. The fire of courage and bravery that fills the heart is stronger than any fire that hate alone has fueled. Nano, within you, I see the fire that I wish to be fueled on.”

That brought me back to my feet with the strength that I needed, and within a year and a half, Kerin told me that I was ready to wield him as a true Bastard Sword Apprentice. Before I made my journey back home, I noticed that the sword had gotten a lot lighter since I first started with it.

“Who goes there?” one of the guards from the gates called out to me.

“Olidard, do you not remember me?” I asked him.

“Nano?” he looked at me closely, squinting his eyes.

“Yes, it is I, returning home from my journey. I am quite tired so if you’ll let me pass…”

However, before I could finish speaking, Olidard called the other guards.

“All hail Nano, wielder of the Legendary Bastard Sword!” He said proudly. The crowd echoed a response before gathering around me as if I was of a royal bloodline.

“Olidard, that was unnecessary.” I said under my breath. However, he couldn’t hear me with the immense crowd that gathered and congratulated me.

“Steringald!” I called out for their silence. “Thank you all for the kind welcome home, but as you can see, I am quite exhausted from my journey.”

“Sire,” Olidard said bowing, “Please forgive my impudence. Do make haste to your father and get your rest.”

“Sire?” I asked myself as he cleared the crowd and made a pathway for me and my horse to gallop through. I then remembered that wielding one of the Legendary Weapons automatically boosts my rank higher than any official here. I can’t believe I completely forgot about that.

I finally reached home and brought my horse in to the stable for a much needed rest and a big vat of hey and water.

“Rest now, Zarakus,” I told him petting him. “You deserve it.”

I made my way out of the stable to see my father, waiting on the doorstep.

“The rumors are true,” he said under his breath.

“Father,” I said, my heart filling with joy once again. I ran to him and gave him a firm handshake. He shook back with tears welling in his eyes.

“My son, a Wielder at only 16 years of age,” he said.

“19 now, father,” I reminded him.

At that moment, I felt all the satisfaction I could ever need. My father was proud of me and that’s what I needed all along.

“Are you not glad you continued your training, Nano of Steringald?” Kerin asked me in my thoughts.

“More than ever,” I replied under my own breath.

“I trust you had a difficult journey,” My father asked me.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I replied to him with a sly smile.

“I am guessing you could not handle your armor,” he said motioning to my bare upper body.

“Should I tell him, Master?” I asked Kerin in my thoughts.

“I see no problem revealing one of my secrets to him. Your father was a noble Royal Guard in his day. Even I had caught wind of the stories of his expeditions with the King.”

“Master Kerin taught me that armor is a hindrance when wielding his sword. It also shows trust.” I explained to my father.

“Ah, the Great Master Kerin, the Fire Dragon Spirit of the Bastard Sword,” my father said in awe. He then bowed in front of me which made me feel incredibly uneasy.

That’s when a messenger riding a horse stopped onto our lands. I remembered him vaguely back in my childhood since I spent most of my time at the palace during that time.

“Master Nano, son of Thelo, I bring you urgent news from the palace,” he started. Both my father and I listened attentively. “Prince Alexis has summoned you to the palace as soon as possible for a royal hearing. They will be expecting a response.”

I sighed and wondered inside how word travels so fast in this kingdom. I looked to my father and he just shrugged his shoulders.

“Tell his majesty that I accept his summons,” I said regrettably.

“He will be pleased,” the messenger responded. “A carriage will be on its way to deliver you to the palace. Have a pleasant day.”

“A carriage?” I complained. I could not think of anything more embarrassing.

“A Wielder gets quite a treatment in your kingdom.” Kerin stated.

“It was not like this before,” I replied.