Steem Monsters Rare Card Fantasy Story Contest! // Week 5 //Entry

Zintar Mortalis

“Mortis is out home Zintar and never forget that. The rest of the Spliterlands looks at us with fear expecting evil deeds. That can push some of us to do evil. You will be faced with this more than most. The Dark Eternals see a power inside of you. They will help you grow it. They see something coming that will fear the others more than us and you will help us face that. You will be a hero to the land and a villain to some.”

Zintar would never forget the words of his father. His family had lived in Mortis for generations and yet he was first to be taken to train with the Dark Eternals. His people didn’t fear death the way many others did. Death is a natural part of life. It isn’t even the end of life just a changing of form. Yes, some of the next forms looked different than the others but still, a skeleton assassin could be your friend unless he was sent for you. Zintar had passed the first test just a few days ago and now he sat alone in a room waiting for what was next.

The door opened and a man in robes of black, purple and red entered carrying a bone staff.

“Zintar Mortails, hmm that is a new name are you first of your family to have the gift”

“Yes umm sir”

“You will call me Master for now. Not many first of their bloodlines last long here but we will see what you got young man. We get started early tomorrow.”

The Master toss down some robes and a wooden staff. As he left someone brought in a plate with bed and water. Zintar ate and sat in the room thinking. He was the first but his family was proud he wouldn’t fail.

The next months felt like years. The days seemed longer than possible like magic was extending the days. He came close to breaking but each time he could hear his father in his mind. He wouldn’t be sent home a failure. Then came the second test to see just what kind of magic you had. It wasn’t a hard test you simply walked into a room and touched a series of staffs. If one burned with a light you knew your area of study. You could become a priest, a spirit, an enchantress, a banshee or a summoner. Summoners where rare and most became a priest at best.

Zintar entered the room. His current Master Sat in the room holding his bone staff that showed his level as a priest. He was sure that Zintar would join him if he had any path here. He walked up to that staff first wanting to get it over and grabbed it but nothing happened. He went down the row. Staff after staff not reacting to his touch. He reached the last one and he looked at it for a minute. He had worked so hard it can’t end here he thought to himself. He started to reach for the staff and could feel something growing inside him.

“Impossible he can’t be a summoner”

Zintar turned to face him and the other Masters. He has had had magic flowing out of them the staff light brighter than any had seen before. The red crystal on top came to life with a dark swirling vortex at its center.

“Oh, you fool he isn’t just a summoner. Take a look at that staff, it should only shine. He has the masters gift to bring to life like that. Kid, what is your name?”

“Zintar Mortails sir who are you?”

“Looks I am your new Master. Come with me and go ahead and keep that staff”

His new Master picked up a staff that looked just like the one he carried just that the crystal was plain inside. They reached a door that was larger than any that Zintar had seen before. As they walked in he looked at it in wonder and stared around the large room they had found themselves in.

“Well, kid if you happen to summon up legendary beast we can’t have it destroying the room just by showing up.”

Zintar was shocked was that a joke. Who was this guy? Well, anything would be better than what he had been doing.

“You should try to remember that trick with the staff you are doing right now. It makes you look like a demon those yellow eyes that dark face and that raw magical power leaking out. That would scare anyone facing you in battle but here you should calm that down and not waste the power.”

Zintar hadn’t even realized that his appearance had changed that much. He took a minute feeling the power that was flowing in him. Starting to calm it down and control it like he had been learning the green sparks around his hands faded away and he could feel that well of power inside. it was so deep now.

“That’s better okay let us not waste any time. Our forces need summoners more than anything you know. Pretty soon your name will spread around. You don’t want people to come to see the might Zintar Mortails and have you only summoning an undead corpse or two.”
Zintar nodded and started to listen as the new master went over the art of summoning. The days seemed even longer now but still not enough time. The power inside kept growing and he always wanted to be working on his skills. The Master told him he was learning very fast and it was true others did come to watch them train at times. Those days he always wanted to do more. My people need me to be the best. I need to be ready to protect Mortis.

The years passed so quickly that when it was over Zintar was surprised. He had learned everything his master could teach. Him he now spent time in the library reading of the ancient summoners and the monsters they could summon. He heard the messenger coming and greeted him. A letter from home.

Zintar fell to his knees feeling grief and rage all at the same time. His father had been killed by a raiding party. He wasn’t the target but ran into the fight to try and protect the others. Once again his people felt a loss because someone thinks they are evil. Zintar left the school and headed home. His Master and told him to go and deal with this that some time in the land might help him grow even more.

Zintar reached his home after his father had been buried. He visited with others in his family before heading out to the grave.

“I could try and bring you back father but would you want that. To be an undead fighter? I don’t think so you taught me to be proud that we are humans that live in Mortis. That it was right to serve the Dark Eternals. That it was right to protect our home but also to protect the Spliterlands. Why should I not just destroy them? I want to show them that nothing should be feared more than I”

Zintar felt his power growing with his range and he could feel someone wanting to reach out to him. So he started to cast and this feeling guided his motions and words. When he finished he could see a giant beast standing near holding a whip of fire. He knew that images this was one of the Lords of Darkness.

“We could kill them Zintar you are right that your power is to be feared. It would be a lot of fun you know. Yet remember your father words. There is darkness out that that wants to end us all. You will lead out armies into battle. You will summoner us and many more to join you. When this battle is over you can seek out some revenge for this.”

Zintar could hear the words echo again in his mind so fresh again as if his father spoke them now.

“I will defeat this enemy but I will not forget what they have done to Mortis. After that fight is over I will give them a chance to make amends to us or the will face me and you will answer my call.”

“Young summoner we all will answer your call from now until your end. You are our grand master summoner reborn. You wield his staff and it lives for you. Here this will show you”

He tossed down a helmet made from a skull. The bone has been polished a bit. Zintar wasn’t sure what this meant but he wasn’t afraid so he picked it up and put it on. Knowledge of his past life flowed into him. He could remember all the spells forgotten to his people. He could see the powers he had before. He could see the powers of the enemy they would face.

“You see now. There is still much to do if we are going to be ready.”

“Yes, I see and don’t worry I will get them ready.”

Zintar left right away head back to the training grounds. It was time for him to be the Master. He would have them ready and when it was time he would show the might of Mortis”