Darkness, that is what Elliot found himself in. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell gave him nothing on where he was and why he was there. Moving proved nothing in this void and a heavy, pressure made his breathing raspy and choking. Was he dying, he couldn't tell if this was the after life or anything really.
'Elliot.' A voice popping into his head, the feeling of their lips pressed against his ear. Yet he couldn't look at who it was, with his body not listening to his request to move. 'Elliot.' The voice sounded off again, their lips whispering into his ear and the feeling of something soft pressing against his back.
"W-who are you?" Was all he could cough out, his voice feeling like knives with each word he said.
'Some one that's waiting for you.' They said in the same calm tone, hands slithering down his chest and rested on his stomach, allowing Elliot to put something together in his head. 'Soon, we're meet and you'll learn more then you could ever imagine, but for now...'
"ELLIOT" A new, stronger voice forced Elliot's eyes open and he shot up, turning to see Sir Nittle standing at the door to the barracks, his steely eyes staring a hole through him and all he could do was gulp seeing all the other empty beds that was shared with his fellow squires. "Five minutes, that's what you have or else you'll find your ass on the street." Nittle leaving allowed Elliot to throw on what clothes he could find and blew down the hall, nearly jumping down the stairs and moving out into the courtyard seeing a line of squires with Sir Nittle standing before them. A single spot was visible and slipping in with Nittle's eyes falling on Elliot before he started pacing before them.
"Rough night?" His partner from the night before asking with a smirk.
"You could say that." Elliot said back, knowing he was there and one of the key reasons he was late for this meeting. They turned back face forward with Nittle walking past, his eyes on them with a steely eye staring at each of them, sizing them up in silence and watching their reaction to how he was judging them for a ever moment before moving on to the next in line. Nittle returned to before them when he finished inspecting all of them.
"Men, I have news for all of you." He took one last look at each of them, staring into their eyes before staring ahead of them into space, "The Great Litch Clathcia has returned and I have been told to pick one of you to join the Prince on his quest to slay her." Mermers echoed with excitement rising from all of them, even Elliot's heart was high in anticipation of getting a chance to join the royalty of the kingdom, slaying a great evil that not even his drunken night before could pull him down.
"So, are these the men?" A new voice to many of them pierced through the courtyard and all heads turned to a young man standing in the middle of the doorway. His golden hair flowed in the light breeze, blue eyes like crystal staring at them, and his perfect sculpted features showed the power of his genes. To match his looks, he was built like a wall with broad shoulders and a thick chest capping off his 6'5 frame. He wear silver armor with a blue cape and the Kingdom of Riefle crest on his chest plate and a broad sword startled his back finished everything about him in a perfect package.
"Oh, Prince Bradly." Nittle voice sounded off seeing the prince there, "I was just about to pick your aid for you quest."
"Oh, then how about I pick them instead." He said, a charming smile filled his face and their eyes watching him walk up to them, his metal boots hitting the ground with thuds, and he soon stood before them, his arms on his hips and his blue eyes scanning their every inch, like a chef making sure he had the right meat for his meal. Gulps echoed with many averting their eyes from the towering prince or sweat running down their brows with each second he looked at them. Soon, his gaze fell on young Elliot and his gauntlet covered hand pointed to him, "Him, he'd work."
"Wha?" Elliot was lost for words hearing the prince say this to him and all eyes were soon on him, he looking to his fellow squires, who stared at him with disbelieve and shock with Nittle joining them.
"Your Leage, are you sure of him to be the one." Nittle spoke calmly yet nothing seem to be noticed by Bradly.
"Yes, he would be my perfect squire for this deed." Turing on his heels, Bradly started to the castle main building, "Gear him up with a sword and have him meet me in the stables, we ride today." The group were left there with Nittle letting out a long sigh.
"You heard him Elliot." Nittle turned about and began to the armory, "You need gear, come on. The prince is not one to except lateness." Elliot followed quickly into the room, finding many weapons and battlements, meant to outfit the guards and warriors that kept the kingdom from danger. "Here." Nittle tossed him a standard sword in its scabbard along with light leather armor and Elliot swiftly put them on, noting the perfect fit there where for him. With everything on, Nittle lead him from the armory to the royal chambers where the Queen sat at her husband bedside, allowing him to sleep and the glare she gave to two when they entered told Elliot was not happy they were in her private chambers or seeing the king in such a state.
"The meaning of this intrusion better be worth it Sir Nittle or...." Her eyes fell on Elliot for the first time and then they returned to Nittle, "Is he your pick for my sons squire?"
"Uhhh, yeah. Hand picked." Nittle stood straight with Elliot bowing, noting the beauty of the queen when he saw her up close for the first time. She stood from the bed and moved to him without the grace of a queen, but with one forced to watch her beloved to whither before her very eyes and the smile she gave Elliot made him want to ensure the kingdom would be safe for her.
"Then thank you, for joining my son on his quest and for putting your life on the line to save the kingdom." Her words were warm and caring, like a mother talking to her own child and Elliot couldn't up but have his heartbeat faster, excepting the warmth with another bow.
"I will my queen, promise." He turned with Nittle and they left the queen with her king, walking through the castle more until meeting the outside yet again and the sound of neighing pulled them to the stables. Prince Bradly popped out of the stable smiling when they arrived and a wave from him said that he was ready.
"Greetings." Bradly said looking at Elliot with a smile on his face.
"Elliot, Prince." Elliot offered his hand and the grasping gauntlet engulfing it force a strained wince from him.
"None of that Prince stuff, it's Bradly as my squire." He said releasing Elliot's sore hand, allowing him to regain the feeling back in his hand as Bradly lead the horses from the stable to a cart, "This will be our cart, I have enough food and water for us until we get to PaLinkia."
"Is that were the Lich is?" Elliot's question was answered with a hardy, full laugh from the Prince.
"Oh no, the two of us are no match for the lich by ourselves." He laced the reigns through the leads and pulled to insure it was tight enough for them to pull, "I have a few friends that will be meeting us there and then we can set a plan for us killing her once and for all." Elliot nodded, a part of him grateful that they would be getting help and stepped forward.
"So, would you like me to drive sir?" Elliot asked, climbed to the seat only for a small shove by Bradly to keep him on the ground.
"Oh no, it's a three-day trip and so we can take turns in driving." Bradly said, beaming a smile to them with Elliot and Nittle looking to one another with a confused expression.
"Uhhh, if you're sure." Elliot stepped to the back of the cart and climbed up.
'Elliot, see you soon.' The voice returned, a whisper into his ear from afar.
"What?" Elliot jerked behind and saw no one was near them, not a soul could have said those words.
"What is it?" Bradly turned back to him, wondering what he was saying and Nittle looked around, seeing what Elliot could have heard.
"N-nothing, just the wind." Elliot sighed, sitting in the cart and folding his arms, the hair on the back of his neck standing op.
"If you say so," Bradly turned forward with the reigns in hand and a quick crack started the horses. "We're off."