Read Legends of Marithia: Book 1 - Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Extended Second Edition for Free Online Page A

the oak tree beside them. The sharp and sickening sound of bones
snapping filled the air, as the young boy’s body gave way to the
rock-hard surface that he hit with full force. Vartan froze, his
body like a statue as he watched helplessly. His brother’s
now-lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
    Vartan's eyes narrowed and
his body shook. “No! Why did you do that? He was just
a boy!"
    It seemed a fire began to build
inside his body, as though his chest burned with real flames. He
felt small sparks of energy surge from his chest and his body felt
more alive than ever before. He screamed so ferociously in his
overpowering fury that he lost his voice. As he released the arrow
from its confinement, both Vartan and the bow flickered with a dark
blue light, enchanting the arrow with lightning shards that ripped
their way into the air around it. It was only then, as the dark
woods were forced into light, that Vartan had his first true view
of the demon. Its skin rippled and flowed so rapidly that Vartan’s
eyes struggled to find its features.
    The arrow immediately found its
target, and exploded with immense power as it struck the centre of
the demon. The resulting explosion set the surrounding trees alight
like giant candles, removing all shadow and darkness from around
them. With no means of escape, the demon howled with pain as it
slowly dissolved, piece by piece, into nothingness.
    It dragged its decaying body
along the ground toward Vartan. A loud hiss erupted from the demon
as it dropped into the forest floor.
    “Just die!” cried Vartan,
dropping to his knees beside his brother’s broken body.
    Using his last ounce of
strength, he dragged Finn’s body away from the oak. Moments later,
a burning branch landed heavily in its place. Vartan’s vision
blurred as his anger gave way to his grief. Tears of pain blanketed
his eyes, and he sobbed uselessly. Suddenly he was completely
overcome with weakness, so physically drained, that he collapsed
onto the dirty forest floor next to his little brother. He couldn’t
move a muscle in reaction even as the faint but crescendo of
galloping hooves reached his ears.
    “There they are! Down by the
burning trees! We’ve found them!” yelled Leon to the horsemen
trailing behind him.
    “Wha... What has happened? No!
Finn!” cried Leon desperately, his voice wavering.
    Vartan parted his lips and he
whispered weakly, “Father, I couldn’t save him. I failed him...
I... Demon... sorry...”
    Strong arms lifted his body off
the ground as if he was as light as a feather. Vartan finally
closed his eyes and drifted away into sleep's deep embrace.

    Vartan found himself standing in
a well-lit cavern. He brought his hands to his face and his spine
tingled. Something did not feel right. It was as if he hovered
above the ground in a dream of some kind.
    “Where am I? Have I died and
gone to the realm of the gods?” he asked. His voice echoed through
the endless underground tunnels laden with a kaleidoscope of
crystals and diamonds.
    He squinted as the blurry
figure of a man appeared, standing atop a mound in the cavern
floor. “Far from it. More importantly, child, what you should be
asking yourself is, ‘ Who am I?’” The image of the man
flickered as it spoke. “You are not yet trained in the ancient arts
of magic, Vartan, and you are far too young to have cast the spell
of Sky’s Wrath without the proper training to control it. Many
paths lay before you, and there are many challenges which you alone
must overcome before we meet again."
    “ Magic, training,
paths—what are you talking about? Finn - my little brother - I
failed to save his life, and it’s all my fault!” cried
Vartan.
    “ You really do not know,
then? Who you are? Why you are here? That is an interesting conundrum.
Your brother chose his own path, Vartan, but you should ease your
conscience with the knowledge that he has passed into the afterlife
and will be born again."
    “Born again? What does