This is Garth's story. The tale behind his origins and how he became to be the greatest Will User, Albion will ever know. Hope you enjoy it and without much further ado; Here's The Man Behind the Magic.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Very quick off the bat there hey?

Sounds interesting...

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Bang. Bang. Bang. Three bullets. Shot with perfect precision. He had flinched with every bullet and clenched his eyes shut against the sight of his parents and his sister, lying dead in front of him. They’re twisted bodies spoke of painful deaths that would haunt him forever. He shook his head and it swam from the smell of blood that rose up from the ground.

"You, should run boy, make it more fun for the hounds when they bring you down and tear you limb for limb" the man’s accented voice rang in his ears and he swallowed heavily, blocking his ears. "You be dumb boy?" the man continued to speak and he screwed up his face, squeezing his eyes shut.

"What did I say, boy? Answer me!" The man roared and stepped towards him. The man reached out to touch his shoulder. Crack. A bolt of lightening snapped clean through the man and entered the earth, leaving him standing frozen. The man’s hair stood on end and the smell of burning flesh swept through the air.

He stared at the man and opened his eyes wider, staring in shock. The man was dead. His heart raced, if he was found nearby when the man’s body was discovered they would blame him. He gathered the supplies; he could find and stuffed them into a small bag. Heaving it onto his small frame, he stopped at the doorway and stared back at his family. Their blank cold dead stares caused the tears to tumble from his eyes and he ran from the house.

He raced along the picket fences and towards the shore. Boats of all sizes were arriving at the docks, all hours of the day and a large trade ship would be arriving soon to dock before loading up and returning to Albion. He hoped with much luck and some help from higher beings, to be on the ship and destined for Albion, if all went well he would be on his way to a better life and freedom.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Hopefully It stays, Interesting.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

The waves crashed and broke around the ship. He stood on the bow and stared out to sea. Watching the horizon as the small dot of land, that was Albion grew larger and larger. Soon they would reach it and he would be safe. He sighed wearily and turned away from the spot on the horizon. Leaping down from the railing, he walked back to the cabin below deck.

Swinging in his hammock to the rocking sides of the ship, he woke to the sounds of gunfire. Bang. Bang. Bang. Three shots exactly. He stood from the floor and scrambled up the stairs to the upper deck. Reaching the deck as the engine room exploded. BOOM! He was thrown in the air and overboard.

Falling down over the railings. Past the windows of the cabin. Past the smoking crater that had a moment earlier been the engine room. Down. Down. Down. Into the choppy waters below. He screamed as he fell and broke through the surface of the water. Slipping further down into the sea’s embrace. Bubbles rose from his mouth and nose, rising to the surface as he drifted further down.

His eyes grew wide as he pasted the slippery eels that dwelt this far down under the waves. He struggled to breath. His lungs begging for air. He flayed around and began to slow kick up to the surface. Seeing nothing but a shiny shimmering layer above. He swam. Up and up. Up and up. Stopping every so often to relax a little. On to drift down and begin again. Up and up. Up and up. Never stopping. Never halting. Never breathing.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Tis , and so far it's easier to understand than magi...

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

He felt the chill as it sank into his bones. The icy cold that breathed down his airways and into his lungs, squeezing his heart in its fist. He struggled to breath, to cry out, to scream but only bubbles rose from his lips. His eyes widened in fear as it loomed in front of him. Its teeth glowing in the permanently gloom that hovered this far beneath the oceans waves.

What do you see? It whispered swimming past him. What do you feel? It asked winking its large black eyes at him as it circled. Is it your fear I can taste? It smiled showing its jaws, bearing it fangs before it swallowed him whole.

He struggled turning away, swimming steadily upward. Up and up. Rising defiantly to the surface and away from the deep depths of jaws that circled him constantly since he had sunk below the waves. Pushing against the water’s pressure, he burst out of the water like a cork, rising in the air only to stop and begin to slowly fall back down.

He saw the fins that sliced through the water, his face turned white but his eyes were drawn to the steadily growing mass of land that sat metres away. He drove back into the water and swam, stroke after stroke tore through the water. The desperation to live his driving force.

No matter the speed, the sharks followed his trail, hungry for him, hounding him for his death. He slid his hands deeper into the water and kicked harder, pushing himself to the end of his limit. Breaking the water and heaving his exhausted body onto the sand, he slumped in a heap away from the shore, waving with tired arms at the sharks that stopped and disappointedly turned away, heading back out to sea.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

He observed the strange land, he had arrived upon. Its sandy shores shone a glowing yellow, the colour of which he had never seen before. Turning his head in wonder as the new sights and sounds of the land, he walked steadily towards what he hoped was the nearest town. Snap. A twig broke behind him and he twirled round to face, the stranger who had been stalking him since the beach.

The stranger’s ragged clothes masked a limber body that was littered with scars. His eyes glowed a menacing red from beneath a dirty mop of black hair. His smile was a mass of sharpened canines and broken teeth. Garth’s heart began to beat faster. His mouth turned dry and his hands started to sweat.

He could feel it in his bones, in his gut. Something was about to happen. His eyes widened as the stranger that was more animal than human, launched at him, running on all fours. What was this strange and depraved place, he had landed on? He marked the ground with his foot and stood perfectly still. Staring into the eyes of the charging animal, his hands rose beyond his control.

He heard the words in his head and they slipped from his lips. Terrified of this new found power, he clenched his lips mumbling several of the words. They dropped from his lips and slipt onto the floor. A crack of lightening snapped from the clear blue sky above. Crack! It snapped clean through the animal.

The same effect as the man who had slayed his family, didn’t occur with the animal, instead of being cooked from the inside out, it simply stood still and glared at him. Crying out in a high pitch that was barely coherent, it raised its head to the sky and the sounds of other cries met its call.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

His head ached and his heartbeat pulsed through his chest as if it motioned to burst right through. He rose from the dusty cavern floor and stood at the entrance looking down at the deep valley below. A wilderness of suburban houses crammed together in rows that marched along in military precision.

His eyes stared down at the small bustling town that seemed to bust at the seams. Its people rushed like ants from building to building, gathering supplies, items and packages. A growl came from the back of the cave and he turned to face his captor. Its strange glowing yellow eyes beamed at him from the murky shadows.

Its claws scratched the walls, grooves that marred its far from smooth complexion. He grimaced turning away from the odd creature, surprise marred his face and he shook his head violently trying to dislodge the strange thoughts that crept into his mind. It had saved him from the other creature, the one that had been attacking him.

He closed his eyes and drifted back to several days ago, when he had landed on the shores of this odd land of unknown. Faced with a creature of large proportions, laced with spikes and claws that reached the ground. He had stood terrified and frightened for his safety, when she had appeared. He turned to face her now, well he thought it was a she, he couldn’t be sure.

She growled and scuttled forward, tracing her fingers down his cheek. Her claws left light trails of blood that dribbled down his cheek; he ignored the stinging pain and stared into her yellow eyes. He had never seen such a creature before; it resembled human features and physical body but had animal characteristics.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Is the creature a balverine?

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

The female one or the one with spikes? She's a balverine. The one with spikes is a howler. A mutated balverine. Wonder where I got that idea from.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

The air was smoother than silk. Softer than cashmere. Creating ripples like those that break on the surface of water. Her eyes shone in the dark of night. She watched them, her eyes unwavering and yet they did drift along away from the smoky town that lay spread below. Standing to her hind legs she shuffled quietly over to his sleeping form.

Hush and the night was silent once more. A sound. Soft but loud enough to echo through her ears. His breath, a whisper against the night’s orchestra. She laid her head against his side and breathed deep his musty smell. Swallowing it within her, so it would become one with her.

A sound. New and strange. It disturbed his slumber. Standing to her feet, she trotted over to the opening of the cave and stood to watch the night. A sudden spark. SNAP! A twig broke to her left and she turned to stare as it struck her. BANG! The sound reached her ears too late and she fell backward wounded.

They walked over her with complete ignorance; their gazes unwavering looked towards his sleeping form. They had entered her home, attacked her not for defence and were now ransacking it whilst stealing him away. She howled mournfully and grasped at the last one’s ankle, digging in her claws as she looked into its merciless eyes. Begging. Pleading.

It smiled and lifted the shotgun. Unsure of this gesture she leaned closer. BANG! Blood splattered the walls and floor. BANG! BANG! BANG! Three pellets dropped to the floor and clattered among the pooling blood. His eyes opened to a world of darkness and horror. Staring down at her still unmoving body as they carried him away, he wept. Her eyes blinked at him and a hand lifted slowly to reach for him as they drifted over the hill and away from her forever.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Chapter two. Stolen.

He woke to the birds cries and felt the same within his heart. To cry to the sky and howl his despair. Leaping to his feet as the door suddenly opened he watched the observant stranger before him. Was it he who had stolen him from her embrace? He wondered with growing anger.

Clothes tumbled onto the bed and he slid them away with the push of his foot. Arrogance was the last tool at his disposal. The stranger turned and abandoned the room; he followed him strolling down the hallway towards a large room filled with bright light and people speaking in low tones. Entering the room behind the strange man, he stood shocked at the vast quantity of foods that lay abundance on a table spread the width of the room.

Collapsing on the food with a ravenous hunger that could not be quenched he devoured all he could see till none remained but empty plates and a very full and satisfied boy. He held his stomach and groaned, feeling the rising sense of nausea enter his throat, rushing from the room he abandoned his lunch in the nearest pot plant.

Standing again wiping his mouth with a napkin a man standing nearby passed; he exited the hall to re-enter the room. Whispers followed him in and observant glances draped him like the muggy thickness of a warm coat. Shaking off the stares he strode towards his visitor. Standing at the feet of a ridiculously tall man he stared down the eyes of his captor.

Grasping him from behind were the arms of a woman with long flowing hair that fell past her shoulders. She held him within her embrace crushing the remaining air from his lungs. Wheezing he clasped a hand on her face and pinched her nose, crying out she dropped him and glared holding her hand to her nose.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

A laugh broke the silence and Garth turned to face the man who had stolen him. "YOU!" he cried attacking the man with his fists and feet, striking and punching him. The man laughed again and lifted him by his collar, holding him at arm’s length to halt his attack, thought none of the blows seemed to hurt the tall man with collar length chocolate brown hair and ebony eyes that watched Garth warmly.

"Now, now my young apprentice, calm your temper!" barked the man, shaking Garth till he swung like a pendulum. "Apprentice?" snapped Garth snatching out a hand, to punch the man in the face. The blow didn’t land but Garth hadn’t expected it to, it was a lead in for the kick he launched at the man stomach, a strike that did land. The man doubled over with a gasp as the air exploded out of his lungs.

He loosened his grasp on Garth and he tumbled to the floor, rolling as he landed to spring to his feet. Surrounded on all fronts by a room of angry wealthy aristocrats, Garth spun on his heel and circled nervously watching, waiting for an exit, an opening. Seeing none apparent, he decided action was needed, a plan began to form in his mind and he smiled viciously."FOOL!" cried the man rising to his feet with the aid of another fellow dressed in a bright yellow coat.

"Do you really think I will simply let you stroll out of here? You’re to valuable an asset, to allow leave" he growled standing at his full height, Garth turned to glare at him. "Asset?" he screamed at the man as he approached slowly. "Asset?" he cried again shaking his head, "I am not a possession! An item! A prize to be won! I am a person! A being! You will understand that soon enough!" Garth yelled clapping his hands together; he threw down the smoke orb in his hands and watched it shatter on the marble floor.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

nice chapter, the smoke orb at the end was a bit cliche though,and where did he get it?

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

"FOOL!" spat the man, sliding closer to Garth as he stood in the circle. The smoke orb had shattered and bubbled giving off barely the whiff of smoke, with the slight smell of sulphur melding through the air. "You think a mere smoke orb, could stop me?" he snarled head butting Garth, the blow struck him and threw him through the air and slamming into the wall at the end of the room.

He sat up from his spot on the floor and glared at the man, blood dribbled out his mouth and he ran his tongue through his mouth checking for cracked or loosened teeth. Finding none, he growled low in his throat and stood slowly to his feet, noting the ache in his side and the twinge in his back.

Electricity crackled between his fingers and he flung out his hands, fire erupted into balls of snarling fury. Glaring head on at the man, he watched the other noblemen and women, whisper nervously at his fireballs. They moved back and watched him with white eyes that reminded him of scared cattle, he chuckled loudly and smiled, that what they were cattle! Sheep! Following their leader! Him he thought turning his gaze back to direct pure fury at the man.

"Come on boy. Give me your best shot!" yelled the man, sliding his sword from his belt. The blade shone dully in the light, he snapped his fingers and fire leapt to his hand, running it along the blade he set the sword alight. Holding it aloft, he swung it in lazy circles showing off more than spreading fear. Garth felt the smile trickle from his face and fear seep into his heart, he was scared but he was damned if he would let it show.

He clapped his hands together and melded the separate balls into one singular ball of growling rage. Bringing his hand back, he narrowed his eyes and watched the man, through a thin slit. Hurling his hand forward faster than he was able to see, he loosened the ball and sent it shooting faster than a bullet towards the man.

Without seeming to move or flinch as the speeding ball of flames, shot towards him, the man watched Garth with a stony expression. Barely flicking his finger, he lifted the sword at the last moment and made contact with the ball of fire. Swallowing it into the already crackling flames of his sword. Garth turned white and clenched his teeth, snarling angrily at the man as he smiled smugly back at Garth.

"Is that all you got?" he called out, flinging out an arm to wave some men in crowd forward. Three tall muscular built men stepped towards him and he whispered into their ears, stepping back, he motioned to Garth and they nodded their heads. "You’ve got one more shot! Give me all you got and beat me! If you can do that I will let you go but fail and your mine!" he said with a cruel smile.

Garth swallowed nervously and ran through the man’s words in his head. Give him all he had? What did he have that he hadn’t given? He had tried fire and it had failed! What was left he thought. A woman nearby twittered nervously to her companion and Garth shot her, an angry look that silenced and further protests. He lowered his gaze from her and brought his eyes back to the floor, a glint from the light off her wineglass in her hand, brought his gaze back up and a look of wonder burst onto his face.

Of course! He thought in surprise, why hadn’t he thought of it sooner? It had saved him before, why should it fail him now? He would use lightning! He felt the electricity in his fingertips crackle in answer. He again brought back his hand and smiled at the man, flinging his hand forward he stopped and flung out tendrils of white searing hot lightning. It danced in the air and struck the man, shooting through his skin and lighting his organs on fire.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

He fell back, skin alight and burning the smell of charred cooked flesh wafting through the air towards Garth. He shook his head but it swam with the smell and the sight of the man writhing in pain on the floor.

A burning sensation bred up his arm, sending tingling feelings down and up. He scratched at the skin; it felt although it was on fire! He dragged the arm of the robe, up to his elbow and went white at the sight of the melted and scarred skin. His skin! It was burnt, like the man’s. He lifted his head and stared at the man, but he was no longer writhing on the floor now he was standing in front of Garth.

A wicked smile on his lips and his cold eyes trained solely on Garth. The man lifted his own arm of his robe up and showed Garth, the unmarked or blemished skin that lay beneath the robe. What had happened? Garth wondered staring at the man’s skin in a mixture of surprise and horror. It dawned on him slowly and he swallowed the heavy lump that was lodged in his throat.

The man had reversed the effects Garth dealt onto him back onto Garth himself. He couldn’t harm the man without harming himself! A sick feeling settled in his stomach and he raised a shaky hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. This battle wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought, considering now the ball was in the man’s court and all Garth could do was play along till he could deal the upper hand.

He bit his lip nervously, watching the man warily for any other sneaky tricks he had hidden up his robe sleeve. The man smiled and motioned with his hand for Garth to continue on, Garth snarled, oh he would like that, wouldn’t he? For him, to attack again with out warning and harm himself even further.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

nice chapter, things are starting to get itneresting. Just watch for your commas and read over the stuff before you post it, cause there are a few little simple mistakes out there that can easily be fixed.

job!

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Thanks. Will try.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

"Life’s difficult boy, it’s full of hard to make decisions and choices" the man drawled watching him. "And it’s also full of let downs and people only want to use you" he continued standing from his chair. He strode towards Garth watching him with a strong gaze and the air around them became quiet as the people within the room awaited his next move."But most of all, it’s full of people wanting to bring you down so as to take what you have gained and trust me they are not as bad as me" he promised with a cruel smile.

"I am worse; I want you only for your powers to use them for my gain, being too blunt for you am I?" the man asked as Garth gave him a strange look. His honesty was almost terrifying, he didn’t lie or falsify his reasons and it was brutally honest but neither the less that didn’t make the reason of his cruelty any better.

"And what would this gain be?" cried Garth glaring at the man as he sat back into the chair behind him. "So the lion cub can roar? I was beginning to assume that you could only speak in simple one word sentences" laughed the man watching him. "You want to know? You really want to know what I am going to do with your power once I have ripped it from your body and discard you like a empty bottle no longer of use?" whispered the man rasing an eyebrow in question.

"YES!" screamed Garth, "tell me!" he roared getting sick of these minds game. If the man wanted his power he could have it, it had not served him well, maybe it would serve the man better. "What’s your name boy?" asked the man watching him, Garth laughed it seemed an odd time to now be worrying about common courtesies such as exchanging names.

"Garth" stated Garth without emotion, "Garth?" asked the man snorting as the men and women around him chuckled and laughed politely behind their gloved hands. "Whats so funny?" snarled Garth glaring at the man. "Your not of Albionian birth are you?" asked the man curiously.

"No" barked Garth wondering where this sudden line of questioning was leading. "Figures, with such power as great as yours that you would be not of this land" said the man mysterious. "And what is yours?" asked Garth, "what is my what?" asked the man confused. "What is your name?" Garth asked, "Theodeous Tartalian Deicide at your service" said Theodeous with a condescending smile that sickened Garth.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?