The Dragon's Tome, An Original Fantasy Story Options

[Zalphon]

Prologue

They called me the Prince of All that is wrong in this world. In Mathoc. The land of magick and wonder. The frozen north known as the Frostblood Tundra. The southern deserts of Sunskar. The eastern jungles of Sythariss. The western mountains of Star-Reach. The Ocean of Souls and the Sea of Arcana... The Northeastern bogs and swamps of the Black Marsh. The Northwestern Forests of Dragonwood. The Southeastern plains of Shadow's Meadow. The Southwestern Deadlands of the Dread Plains...

They say I am all that is foul in the world... They called me a being of the Abyss itself. They called me the Lord of Unlife, the Master of Necromancy, the King of the Undead... They were right... My name is Zalphon Shadowheart Broodikus, Emperor of Mathoc... I am the Arch-Lich and the God of Necromancy and Unlife. I rule over the lands with an iron fist.

My empire is strong and built of the dead. Unlike previous liches and necromancers, those ressurected by me or students of the New Ways of Necromancy retain their intelligence if we so-choose. Mathoc is ruled by the living dead, for the living dead. Our foes are the paladins of Lightius Star, the Arch-Angel and Queen of Skyhaven, Realm of the Angels...

We constantly fight to conquer all who oppose us. The only threat to us, was the dragons... The Guardians of Mathoc, they called themselves. And their immortal followers (ageless), the Order of the Dragon. I once was a member, but after I learned the truth about what power they hid from us, it began...

If you've picked up this tome, you must be expecting a story... My story... My name is Emperor Zalphon Broodikus, and it begins thousands of years ago, during the Era of the Everlight Kingdom. My father's kingdom...

[Zalphon]

Chapter Two: Chosen

I awoke in my cell. With much effort, my eyelid lifted and I overheard a conversation. "I will not release him into the custody of the Order. He is my most powerful gladiator," Al'kar hissed. "If I do, I would like one-thousand platinum coins or the Spell-Book of Arcanikus."

"Tomorrow morning, a whelpling will bring the gold, now release him," another voice commanded. "Do so or suffer the wrath of Drakos, God of the Dragons!"

A sigh was heard and I saw the blue-skinned spellcaster walk in. He released me of my shackles and whispered, "You're free. May the Order watch over you, Zalphon." As I walked out, a tear fell to the ground. Al'kar wasn't losing his best gladiator, he was losing his best friend.

It wasn't Derek standing there. It was a Drakal, better known as Dragon Elves. Half-Dragon, half-elf. "Zalphon, my name is High-Cleric Lunardrake. I am here to take you to a new life. In the Order," the scaley elf said.

I nodded and instantaneously bright-blue flame surrounded us. It didn't hurt at all. Then we appeared in a rectangular room. In front of me stood a Council. "Zalphon, it is a pleasure to finally meet you," the Council-Leader stated. "I am Drakos, the first, the oldest, and the most powerful of our kind."

I deeply bowed and responded, "I am Zalphon, Darkal Gladiator, I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you, but alas, I am not a liar."

The Deity chuckled. "You are a funny one, but you'll learn quickly of respect."

In the back of the room a high elf stood. He wore Drako-Steel armor (much like normal steel, but hundreds of times stronger and much lighter). "Perhaps I should take him as my squire, Milord?" the Hyekal questioned.

"Sir Kalarn, are you sure?" the God asked. "I have seen his power. He is an embodiment of pure magick. Even the dragons are still partially flesh. This Darkal is the creation of magick. He is still of flesh, but in time he'll learn the secrets of magick that not even Arcanikus knows."

Kalarn nodded, "I would be honored to teach the Magick-Born."

"And so it shall be," Drakos said. "The Child of Magick shall be trained by Sir Kalarn, Knight-General of the Knights of the Dragon."

The Hyekal bowed deeply and motioned me to follow. I was quite curious to find out where this would lead. I was chosen... My life changed forever that moment...