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18 years ago…

Harper, a blacksmith, looked upon the village of Whittlewood. He was a blacksmith beyond measure, forging blade of steel and magick beyond the skill of normal man. Lords and Kings across the world sought him out for his skill, purchasing blades for their own use. HE had everything he needed, everything that is, except love. There was only ever one in his eyes. Larnëa.
She was beautiful. Harper often came to this place, to watch as she worked. This particular day, Larnëa was doing laundry. Her long brown hair fell behind her shoulders, and her pale blue dress drifted slowly in the light breeze

“What the hell is wrong with me?” he whispered to himself, turning away “I can face down creatures of fiendish realm, fought the strongest swordsmen in duels and stared death in the face, yet I can’t even talk to this…woman. Why?....Why can’t love be simple?...Why can’t she just fall for me at first sight?” he spoke louder now.
“Oh… but she can” came a sinister voice from behind Harper. Harper sun round to face it, but no one was there
“Come out, whoever you are” he called
A rift opened to the realm of fiendkind, black fog seeping out only to quickly fade away.
Out of the rift came a fiend, who looked more man than demon. He wore a fair face, with short black hair that barely covered the two short pointed horns upon his head. Two smaller horns pointed towards each other upon his chin. He wore a blood red robe, edged with pale blue.
Harper drew a broadsword, glistening in the dim light, and held it towards the fiend. “Leave here fiend, of fall before Lunos”
“But master smith” it replied “What you desire can be yours…for a price”
“What do you mean?”
“She shall be yours, in love with you, until the very end”
“Really?” Harper’s eyes shone with hope “Name your price”
“I want a sword, capable of killing both man and fiend with ease”
“It will take time to make the blade, come when I have a son of twelve years”
“As you wish” the fiend smiled “I am Kaien-rah, fiend lord, and you are Harper, Master Smith. We shall not break our pact or our lives are forfeit”
“Agreed”
“Go to her, Harper, it is done” spoke the fiend, walking through the rift, pulling it closed behind him
Harper turned and walked towards the village, looking faithfully at his beloved Larnëa. She looked at him, smiled and then ran to him.
“Harper” she spoke, smiling seductively, “Won’t you stay for a while?”
“Y…yes” stuttered an overwhelmed Harper thinking ‘That fiend has done it!’
“I’ll make you dinner” she smiled
“Thank you”
After they had eaten, they looked longingly into each others eyes. ‘Her eyes have changed,’ Harper thought, ‘perhaps that’s the look of love’
“Larnëa” he spoke quietly
“Yes?”
“Will you join me tomorrow?”
“Of course” she replied, smiling softly

That was the start of something beautiful between the two. However…

16 years ago…

“It’s a son m’lord” spoke the midwife
“A son? Wonderful” shouted Harper
"However...m'lady will not last...she has lost too much blood"
"N...No!" spoke Harper, running into the room
Larnëa lay upon the bed, pale beyond comparison

"Harper.."she whispered feebly
"Yes?"
"You fool..."she whispered painfully "You lovesick fool.."
"W...what?"
"I never loved you Harper...I hated you for what you did to me...imprisoning me with a spell"
"Never..?" Harper whispered, tears in his eyes
"Never, poor Harper, you never gave love a chance. No amount of Magick can buy love, only actions from the heart can hope to do this"
"This can't be real" his eyes open wide, tears falling to the wooden floor
"It is..Harper...look after our son" With this, Larnëa lay still.
"Larnëa..Larnëa... don't leave me..." Harper broke down, ffalling to his knees and wept

Harper left the room, after what felt like hours, his eyes burning with tears of sorrow. The midwife, child in hand approached him.
"M'lord, I'm sorry" she spoke quietly
"There was nothing you could do" he responded quietly, no tears left to cry
"M'lord?"
"Yes?"
"The boy still needs a name"
"Call him Gaian" he spoke, looking towards his son.

4 years ago...

"You're doing well Gaian" shouted Harper, the swords clashing against one another
"Thanks Father" replied the boy, now twelve years of age
"To think you're this good, after only two months of training, but you're still no match for me, my son"
"You're going down this time, old man" laughed Gaian, swinging at the blacksmith's torso
"Not yet, you're not that good yet" spoke Harper hitting Gaian on the wrist with the flat of his blade
"I lost again..." spoke Gaian
"You left yourself undefended again, if this were a real duel you would be dead now my son"
"I know I know" said Gaian, rolling his eyes "So when can I try out one of your new swords?"
"Soon, my son, soon" spoke Harper slowly, as if his mind were on another realm. He was looking at the swords. There were two of them. They had been paid for with false love. The handles of the swords resembled Larnëa. The first sword had her made from gold, dressed in the gown she wore on the day they fell in 'love'. she was in angelic form, her Angel's wings forming the handguard. The blade shone at all time, illuminating even the deepest darkness. When used against fellow man, this blade was blunt, yet against the foul demons of the undeworld, it cut like a razor. The other sword was made of black obsidian, showing Larnëa again in the same gown, but in demonic form, her hair spread out behind her. Bat wings formed the handguard of this sword. Its's black blade was serrated, useless against fiends, yet it would rend human flesh with ease.
A bell rang within the forge
"A customer. wait here my son, and guard the swords"

Harper entered the forge and came face to face with Kaien-rah, the demon of his past "My sword, smith, where is it?" it spoke impatiently
"I'll go and get it, foul fiend" Harper replied coldly, leaving the forge
"Hurry" Kaien-rah called after him

Harper ran to his son, grabbing the white blade as he ran "Gaian, we've got trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Big trouble" whispered Harper "Take this sword, and run, never stop. If I live, I will find you. And whatever you do, never lose this sword"
"Okay...Father" spoke Gaian, choking on his own tears
"Son, I love you...now go!"

Gaian turned and ran. Harper watched him for a moment and turned, taking the other sword. He had no intention of giving the demon the swords
"Gaian, I'll give you time to escape" he said to himself "And perhaps you can avenge me"

Harper enter the forge, black sword in hand
"My sword, I hope" scowled the sorceror
"The deal was that you made Larnëa love me, right?"
"Yes Yes now give me my sword"
"No deal. Your spell wore off as she died...she hated me"
"It wore off, she was stronger minded than I thought then" laughed the sorceror "But if you won't give me my sword, then you die!"

The two fought, swords clashing again and again. They were evenly matched, but finally Harper caught the demon's chest, but the wound was as a child's scratch, barely skin deep

"That's no fiend slayer, where is my sword!?" shouted the demon, furiously
"You'll not hear from me!" reesponded the blacksmith with another cut. He was resigned to his fate, but he had given the demon slayer to his son. With that, at least he had a chance.
Harper gave the demon cut after cut, as the demon laughed "That tickles Harper...do it again!"
Harper aimed for the eye, the blade cut, just deep enough to cause the eye to burst. Kaien-rah screamed with pain, whilst Harper took a step back, readying himself

"Harper...how dare you!" Kaien-rah screamed "I was careless...but now you die"

Kaien-rah sheathed his sword and held up his hand, the other hand still clutching his eye. He began to speak arcane words from an evil language. Harper could only watch as every sword in the forge rose from its rest and flew towards Harper. Harper yelled, throwing the sword Kaien-rah, pinning the demon to the wall by his robe. The yell stopped and Harper fell to the floor, skewered by a hundred blades