Robot Girl

Prelude: EARTH II

In the middle of a misty night, a solitary castle stood unassailable in a swamp-like atmosphere. Bats and owls could be heard calling out in the night, flitting throughout their dark realm. A thick fluid oozed around the castle where water had once flowed. A strange murkiness filled the air, making it hard for the animals to breathe. Most of the smaller animals lay dead upon the ground, and scavengers happily picked at their carcasses. Lightning flashed, illuminating the monstrous castle, covered with smirking gargoyles.

At the drawbridge, a one-armed man sat on the ground with his legs crossed Indian-style. His eyes stared into the forest, as he felt the pain of the animals that had died because of him. The lightning flashed once more, revealing that he was garbed in a ninja suit with a sword slung on his back. Small rats gathered at the ninja’s legs, and a few even sat upon his lap. At the sound of loud thumps approaching, the rats quickly scurried away.

The ninja stood up, keeping his eyes forward and listening as the thumps grew louder. Soon after, a familiar voice filled the ninja’s mind. It was that of his brother, Monolith.

"Prazza is waiting for us on the inside. The ceremony is due to start," Monolith’s deep voice echoed inside of Eirion’s head. The thumps had stopped, and Monolith’s huge body came to a standstill beside his brother Eirion. Monolith had no mouth or ears, and leather straps crossed his face where these features should have been. Monolith had often been compared to a twisted demon ogre, carrying a large ax. The hilt of Monolith’s ax banged against the weak wooden drawbridge, to summon his brother’s attention.

"Well?" Monolith asked impatiently.

Eirion sighed before speaking aloud to his brother. "I’m growing weary of all this, Monolith. We have killed, maimed, destroyed, and plundered, and for what? Because Prazza wants us to... Our time has come, my brother. Our reign of supremacy is at an end. We are doomed to die, because nothing in this universe lasts forever. I have been seeing our deaths in a vision for quite some time now. Our killer approaches this very castle as we speak, and he is aided by a Naseline huntress. We will die." Eirion turned to face his brother. "Does death not frighten you?"

Monolith said nothing; he simply stared into the woods.

Eirion continued. "The suit that hangs upon my flesh is a curse, or rather a demon that tries to destroy the man that I was. It takes more of my soul every hour, and every moment I forget what it is and what it wants. But what do you care? You asked Prazza for invincible power, and it was given to you. You stopped fighting the demon a long time ago, though you may not remember. Now I am through fighting this curse. I will face it, and only one of us will survive." Eirion had turned to enter the castle, when Monolith’s voice entered his head again.

"We are the Sacred Seven. Thousands have tried to stop us, and all have failed. I too have seen this Spirit Warrior, but I know he stands no chance against us. Our souls swim in the black arts of sorcery. Soon Prazza will need your help on the inside, and I suggest you be there when he calls. You may fight whatever demons you wish beforehand."

"Fine, then as we have faced life we will face death. My brother is dead, and I no longer need to protect him." Eirion took his sword from his back and walked into the castle.