Monarch of Darkness

"How much time has passed?", Evan asked old man Brasylx. "Just seven months. You have mastered a supreme element in this period. I don't know how to describe your acheivemet this time. Getting acquainted with a supreme element at your age is already an great acheivemet. But you broke through in a supreme element within mere seven months! Truely marvelous", Brasylx replied. He couldn't hid his surprise despite his age. Evan's acheivemet truely gave him a big surprise this time.

"I thought I am facing difficulties this time while cultivating and have taken a long period. But who knows it will be considered fast by old man Brasylx", Evan thought to himself.

"Grandpa, can you arrange a place for me to practice sword?", Evan asked old man Brasylx.

"Easily done. Give me a moment", old man Brasylx smiled. He waved his hand and some wooden material appeared out of thin air. He easily assembled them to make some creatures out of wooden material. What make Evan surprised was runes assembled in the wooden creatures. Evan could tell that the rune Inscription ability of old man Brasylx was at a master's level.

"Grandpa, can you teach me Inscription?", Evan asked Brasylx. Seeing the look on Evan's face, old man Brasylx chuckled. "Sure, I can teach you but let me remind you first. It needs much time to practice inscription", he replied. A smile appeared on the face of Evan and he decided not to bother the old man any longer. He took out his short sword and started his practice.

He started to swing his sword downward. Without changing his stance, he repeated his action. He fixed his total attention on sword. His conciousness was only wrapped on sword. One swing became two, two became four, four became eight and Evan lost count of the time. He was only swinging the sword with his physical strength without infusing it with magic energy. At a certain time, he stopped his sword. He decided to relax a little bit and sat down while holding his sword.

He stopped his physical practice but his mind was still occupied by the sword. He recalled the scene when his uncle was teaching him about cultivation. "Little Evan, stop. This is not the way of sword. Why are you swinging your sword in such a flashy manner? There was no meaning to it", a lean and tall man with a heroic appearance rebuked him. Evan was very little at that time and playing with a sword.

Evan felt wronged after listening to the tall and lean man. He was just following the steps he had seen earlier. "How can it be wrong. I have seen big brother Issac practicing these steps", he protested loudly. This time his uncle didn't point out at his wrong. He decided to saw action rather than talk. A long sword with sharp edge appeared in his hand. "Look closely and decide yourself, what is wrong", he spoke and started to display various sword stances.

His sword moves were completely magnificent. After some time Evan couldn't see even the sword as if sword became one with heaven. He could see the difference clearly after his uncle's demonstration.

"One mush thrive to be perfect. First perfect the basic sword techniques. Know your sword, feel it. Then you will become one with your sword", Evan recalled his uncle's words.

He got up and strated to practice the basic swing with new vigour. His sword started to pick up speed. After many swing, afterimpages started to appear with every swing. Evan continued his monotonous practice till he exhaust himself.

In the ancestoral land of Hendrickson family where there was neither sun, nor moon, Evan continued his practice without any sense of time. Time slipped past like the floating cloud. One day while striking his sword downward, Evan felt a wonderous sensation. This was a surreal feeling. It felt like his sword became weightless and was drifting in the cloud. He could feel a wonderful sensation, everytime he swung his sword. A smile crept into his face and Evan swung his sword downward repeatedly. His action was like he couldn't get enough of that previous feeling. Without his knowing, he had attained the stage of one with the sword.

- - - - - - - -

Time never wait for anyone. While Evan was practicing crazily in the ancestoral land of Hendrickson family, a silent storm was brewing calmly in the entire Northpeak empire and it seemed like the eye of storm was in Thousand swords kingdom.

At the extreme north of Northpeak empire, stood Thousand swords kingdom. At the center of Thousand swords kingdom, stood a city which had a size of more than hundred mile. At the eastern part of city, stood a magnificent building which had a gigantic sword embedded in earth before it's front gate. The building was the imperial court of Thousand swords kingdom.

In a certain room inside the Imperial building of Thousand swords kingdom, sat some important figures of the kingdom. They sat around a round table. At the center, a woman was sitting at the leader's position. She was clad in a warriors' outfit and currently listening to the various reports flowing out from various parts of country.

"Your majesty, my queen. This servant brought back a important news", a bald looking man spoke. "There is no need for honourifics. Tell us quickly about the situation", the woman in the lead chair commanded. The bald man nodded and started his briefing.

"As your majesty knows, we always have a hostile relationship with Blackridge kingdom. It escalates since the assassination attempt on prince Evan. This time Blackridge kingdom is doing something suspicious. There is large scale army movement on their part of border. Moreover skirmishes with their army increases lately. Two of our captain who are in my command, got assasinated when they were sleeping on their tents. I am here to report this since it happened under my command. I will take full responsibility", the bald man spoke solemnly. Anyone could see how much serious he was about this incident from his look.

Meeting ended with a heavy atmosphere. The meeting was full of bad news across the kingdom. After the meeting the lead woman walked toward the balcony. Her gaze was on distant horizon. "It has been two years since that child has disappeared. There is only a single message from him. What is he thinking? Olivia is crying everyday. There is also no news of Nathan. I wonder why the heaven is so cruel to us", two drops of tear came out from her phoenix like eyes.