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The crowd cheered in delight as the dragon tore off the wailing prisoner's head, sending a geyser of blood into the air. The king and queen smiled in satisfaction as the dragon spread its leathery wings and roared as loud as a http://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvolcano erupting. Breathing a column of white-hot fire into the air, the dragon slammed the decapitated prisoner's body into the air and swallowed it in one gulp. Arthur, the prince of the kingdom, discarded his cloak in disgust. His parents were killing slahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksves for sport! How he wished he could sahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve their lihttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksves but each and ehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvery one of them was slaughtered by Ruby, the dragon, in the royal arena. Gritting his teeth in disgust, Arthur stormed out of the royal arena that he despised so much, leapt up the royal staircase and fled into his royal bedroom, face planting on his royal pillows and breathing a royal sigh. Royal, royal, royal. Just because he had to be born royal didn't mean that he had to be treated differently! Memories of seeing people huddling under thin blankets on the streets always enraged the prince, knowing that parents were raising innocent children who were going to die in the future. Being born of the Odersian royalty family, his blood was ?purer' than the majority of others in the city of Aether. Howehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver, Arthur felt as if fighting for his life was infinitely better than the terrible lessons he had to be reluctantly dragged off to. His swordplay lessons with his uncle, Sir Anonthesus were terrible, as well as his archery lessons with his father, King Odersian and his reading lessons with his mother, Queen Odersian. Either life in Aether, rich or poor, you were sure to suffer no matter what. Suddenly, Arthur had a brainwahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve. Bouncing off his bed, the prince rocketed out of his room, threw on another cloak (He threw away his other one) and sped out of the castle. Word had once reached the castle that traders were lurking near the mere cottages of the poor, trading mysterious items. Some were rip-offs, such as trading gold for a few hunks of mystery meat, but others were the best deal of the 13th century. Crystal balls, prophecies and many more magical items were sold from a tent propped up on sticks next to the palace called ?Magical Mysteries.? Well, that was where Arthur was headed. ?I like getting my fortune told. Also, there is food and people. I like people.' thought Arthur, slinging his backpack ohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver his shoulder. Inside was a spare set of clothes, a dagger, his trusty bow, a bundle of arrows and torches. Oh, and of course, his magic wand was stuffed in the pocket of his robes. (Casual clothes weren't inhttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvented yet. Sorry.) Taking one last glance at his room ohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver his shoulder, he closed the door, knowing it was going to be a long time before he would see it again. He just didn't know HOW long?
A few hours later, Arthur was hopelessly lost. He just HAD to stray off the path into the forest. In the royal library, there were thousands of legends about the forest, and none of them was good. As if on cue, a man jumped out from behind the trees, brandishing a sword.
Crowded was the only word to describe the http://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvillage, as people were rushing around, pushing and shohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksving each other in their desperation to get to their destination on time Cautiously, Arthur sheathed his blade and battled his way to the tents in front of the crowd. At long last, he reached the front and his jaw dropped It was not the tiny tents that he had imagined, but structures larger than the main hall in the royal palace! The amazing aroma of cooking food wafted into Arthur's nostrils, causing his stomach to scream in longing. Children shrieked with laughter as they chased each other, weahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksving through the buildings while their parents were gambling away at the bar. ?This place was wonderful,' thought Arthur, ?so good. Much better than royal life.' He stumbled out of the place, and turned into an alleyway where a woman was standing. Her body was feeble and shrunken, and her hands were bony and cold. ?Prince Arthur. Son of King Odersian and Queen Odersian. I see your desire. Will you risk your royal heritage for peasant life??she croaked, staring at the prince with blue eyes that sparkled with intelligence. Arthur paused. His parents had been beastly to him, he was treated terribly by the staff and he was alone. Howehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver, they were his only family. Would he abandon them for a better life? His instincts took the better of him, so he threw off his second cloak (What a waste of material, Arthur!)and murmured, ?Yes.? Suddenly, a dazzling white light filled his eyes. He couldn't see! He started falling? falling? falling?
Arthur sat up. He was lying in an extremely comfortable bed, and a man and woman stood in front of him. ?Wake up, sleepyhead, you need to get ready for school!? the man grinned. ?Darling, your breakfast is ready!? trilled the woman, sailing hugely at Arthur. ?Mom? Dad?? Arthur choked. ?Son, is your head okay? Of course we are your parents!? called the man. Arthur leaped out of bed and knew one thing had to be certain. Was he still royal? ?Call me by my full title, dad. Now!? Ordered Arthur. The dad smiled. ?You are Arthur Odersian, son of two peasants!? joked the Dad. Arthur's heart raced. His life was finally normal
Inside, he was shaking with fear that the Gods would read his mind and know that he didn't want to die for their pointless sacrifice. If his fellow man knew his heart, they would hahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve killed him without ehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver bestowing the honor of ritual upon him and if he had to die---at least would hahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve a chance at an afterlife.
As a Mayan he knew the importance of afterlihttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksves and rituals and he understood that his sacrifice would seem selfless to his fellow people. Ehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksven his wife and children stood proudly next to him because he had such honor. How could they not see what a futile and pointless thing this was? A waste of precious life and for what? Rain that wouldn't fall. Soil that wouldn't allow the plants to grow.
The sun baked into his skin as he watched the Snake King's parade march through the streets, and he loathed ehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvery step the elite took towards the pyramid for the sacrifice to the Gods. They had done this same ritual ehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvery day for a week and the only thing that spilled was blood and an abundance of food for those still among the lihttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksving.
The Snake King's http://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvibrate Jade necklace matched the large headdress he wore for only this occasion and the gems from his conquests glittered in the noonday sun like beacons. He was formidable and powerful but smiled at the females whom he was sure to bed after the celebration of the sacrifice was ohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver. As the Snake King ascended the pyramid the man's time was at an end.
Abohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve him the sacrifice had already begun as a young girl with gorgeous breasts and a lohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvely face, smiled as the Snake King ran his stone dagger ohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver her throat. As her blood ran free, the crowd cheered, and the man hated them all again When she was drained her lifeless body was carried, rehttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksverently, down the pyramid and placed into a cart to be carried away.
Next was a young boy of early puberty and his final words were ones of faith, honor and foolish youth. He died without fear as the crowd went wild and his mother wept silently for the loss of a child, noble though it may be to her. The next two went off much the same with fanfare, festihttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksval, and smiles all around.
?This is a pointless, waste of life. How many times must we kill our own people before we realize it isn't the sacrifice that the Gods want? What they want is for us to take better care of our enhttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksvironment before we destroy it and ourselhttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksves. I don't want to die for your stupidity.?
There were shocked gasps and random boo's, but the rest of the area had gone silent but for the songs of the animals in the surrounding wood.
?Can't you see that this spilling of blood does nothing? Look around you. We are dying while the Snake King continues to build more and take more without being able to tend the subjects he has. Instead, he relies on faith and our compliance to get him through another day. I can't be the only one here that sees the truth of this!?
?He has no honor. He will poison the ritual with his blood. The Gods spit on him.?
The Snake King kicked the man's back and he tumbled down the hundreds of stone steps. By the time he reached the bottom both legs were broken, as well as his arm and a few ribs. He lay broken at the base while the rest of the gathered crowd ignored his whimpers.
When the Snake King announced that the Gods had chosen two new sacrifices to take the man's place, the man was powerless to stop it. He watched through tear filled eyes as the guards dragged his children to the top of the pyramid. They were too young to understand what was happening and cried for their mother.
The Snake King bled his children while the shattered man watched, and his wife wailed. When the children were dead, his wife walked ohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver to him and using a guards blade drohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve it right through his heart. As he lay dying, she leaned down to him. ?It's your fault my children hahttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve perished this day.?
The Snake King's shadow fell ohttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksver them and the man's wife bowed. ?I am sorry for the shame my husband has caused.? She wept.
?I am sorry that the Gods demanded your children. But with their sacrifice the rest of us shall lihttp://www.classauto0.com/marry-Descartes/7386tS239k5w8u6n12G5f7rofCa3eI37cwbF4wbwsErZG6DrZ4E.brxhIfFhsZZIvEGsi7EQ5oR9e5q1vt06vJLksve. I feel the rain coming.? The Snake King smiled down at me. He held out his hand to the man's wife and she took it, flattered by his request.
Smiling, blood trickled out of his mouth and the darkness took him to the afterlife.
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