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Read this file after completing "Forsaken Citadel"

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A lone tree stood in the center of the chamber. Why would a tree be here? 
Logan asked himself. Unless it was the tree that was really the bard Edward! 
It looked familiar from Murlocks vision.

He held out the Sword of Earth, pointing its topaz blade towards the tree. At
once, the blade began to glow with a bright brownish yellow light. The tree 
itself began to glow as well.

Then, before his astonished eyes, the tree began to change shape into that of
a human. As the light faded, the humans features came into full view.

Edward! 

So the tree really was a human after all!

Edward looked around, confused as his surroundings. Where? he asked. Where 
the heck am I? His eyes finally found Logan. You! Can you tell me where I 
am?

Logan was about to answer when Edwards eyes focused on the Sword of Earth.

Where did you get that sword? When last I saw it, it had fallen into 
Garibaldis hands and he used it to transform me into that tree! Oh, never
mind. Whoever you are good sir, you have my eternal gratitude!

Logan offered him the sword, which Edward took back into his hands.

How long was I a tree? asked Edward.

One thousand years, said Logan.

Edwards entire face became a mask of horror and disbelief. I spent a 
thousand years as a tree? I feel like Ive just woken up from a terrible 
nightmare from where there was no escape!

When this is over, the same shall happen to the people of this land. They 
will be free.

Why? What happened? asked Edward.

Garibaldi   Logan began. But at the mention of that name, he stopped as 
Edwards face darkened with rage.

Garibaldi! Edward interrupted him with a voice filled with anger. That 
demon! When last I saw him, he used the power of the Sword of Earth against 
me. What has he done to my beloved Minerva?

Calm down Edward. She is still alive. Garibaldi transformed her into a 
crystal statue with the Sword of Water when she once more turned him down.

He saw Edward calm slightly, but his face was still a mask of fury. When I 
get my hands on that fiend, he will regret it!

Are you forgetting what he did to you? asked Logan. Murlock showed me a 
vision of what happened that day so I would learn more about what Garibaldi 
is capable of.

The fury on Edwards face vanished at the mention of Murlocks name. You 
were sent by Murlock to save this land?

Logan nodded. He reached into his trench coat and showed Edward the Sword of 
Sky. Edwards eyes widen at the sight of the weapon.

He has placed his trust within you? asked Edward. But you are an outsider.
None have ever set foot within this world.

Logan wanted to tell him about Garibaldis followers now inhabiting this 
world long before he came, but fear of Edward finding out about his former 
ties to the Scourge and distrusting him as a result prevented him from doing 
so.

But what does it matter? asked Edward. We need a hero to free this world 
from Garibaldis clutches and his power. Right now you may be our only hope.

I made it this far, said Logan. I have a personal score to settle with 
Garibaldi. His troops invaded my world and slaughtered many innocent people
to use as minions in his army of the undead to conquer the universe. His 
ultimate goal is the extermination of mankind.

Weve got to stop him! said Edward. 

And at the same time, we must undo his curse over the land. We need the other 
three elemental swords to forge the Sword of Iconoclast!

Wait! Curse?

Logan explained everything to Edward, telling him about the Sword of Darkness 
and how Garibaldi used it to transform the people of the land into stone.

That fiend! Edward growled. He cant expect to get away with it or what he 
did to my Minerva!

Even so Edward, youre still luckier than I am.

Lucky? asked Edward angrily. Whats that supposed to mean?

I told you, said Logan. Minerva is alive. Garibaldi only cursed the woman 
you loved. He felt his eyes grow wet at the thought of Katrina. He killed 
mine.

Edwards angry look melted away. Oh, I am so sorry...uh...

The name is Logan.

Logan, Edward repeated as if to store that memory for all time. Then you 
and I have a common enemy and the same cause to fight for! Come, let us join 
forces and together well find the remaining swords.

Im guessing Garibaldi has them somewhere deeper within the castle closer to
the heart of his empire.

Then we must find them! The future of this land depends on it.

Logan opened the door at the opposite end of the chamber and stepped through
with his new companion into the next hall.

Suddenly, as the doors closed, the light of the torches suddenly went out, 
plunging the room into darkness.

What the? Edward shouted.

Get them! a mysterious voice shouted in the darkness.

Before Logan could react to defend himself, he felt something hit on the top
of his head. A sharp pain raced through his skull and the strength in his 
legs gave out. As he collapsed to the floor, his vision began to blur as 
consciousness slowly slipped away. There was another thump and he felt Edward
fall to the floor by his side.

Nice work, he heard one of his attackers say to his comrades. Alright we 
got him! Take them to Garibaldi!

Then consciousness slipped away and he heard nothing more.

					*
Get up!

That was the first thing he heard when consciousness and vision returned. He 
felt hands force him to his feet. There was a slight pain on the top of his 
head where he had been struck earlier.  His hands were bound behind his back 
with rope. By his side, Edward was forced from his knees to his feet.

A familiar figure approached.  His blurred vision prevented him from seeing 
who it was. But he had a suspicion who it was. Within moments, the blurriness
went away and his vision was restored to normal, revealing a smiling 
Garibaldi.

Did you have a nice rest Logan? he asked, sarcasm tainting his voice like 
the poison of a snakebite. Considering everything you went through to get 
here, you deserved one. He chuckled.

You! Edward roared. If not for the Scourge soldiers clutching his shoulders
tightly and for his secured hands, he would have throttled Garibaldi on the 
spot. Garibaldi, you demon! Where is Minerva?

Garibaldi only sneered. I never expected to see you in human form again 
Edward! One thousand years as a tree and you havent changed one bit.

Nothing you do to me can make me forget the woman I love! said Edward.

I could say the same thing about Katrina, Logan thought.

Does your blood still boil even after ten centuries? asked Garibaldi.

You should talk scumbag! said Logan. Its been a thousand years since you 
slaughtered the king and queen you formerly served and cursed this land with 
the Sword of Darkness.

Garibaldi arched his eyebrows in surprise and tilted his head towards Logan 
in curious interest. How do you know that?

Murlock showed me a vision what happened that day.

Murlock? Garibaldi blinked. Is he still alive?

Wizards cannot harm each other with their own magic. It was with his help I 
found this place.

Garibaldi seemed slightly taken aback at this statement, much to Logans 
delight. Logan couldn't restrain himself or his smile as Garibaldi stepped 
back.

I dont know how much you know Logan, said Garibaldi, but youre a lot 
smarter and more resourceful than Ive given you credit for. A sinister smile 
suddenly spread across his lips, filling Logans soul with dread. But now, 
youre in my hands, so this is where your struggle ends! All that effort, all 
for nothing!

The grim truth set in like a stone sinking in the sea. Logan felt like he was 
tied to that stone being dragged down to a watery grave.

Master Garibaldi, one of Edwards captors said, we found this on the boy. 
He held out the Sword of Earth.

Garibaldi gripped the hilt of the sword after reclaiming it. Good work men, 
he said. But there is supposed to be one more elemental sword somewhere in 
this world. We must find it and claim its power. Once we do, we will be 
unstoppable when we resume our war on mankindthat is, once weve disposed 
of this hero! There is much work to do afterwards. First we eliminate Murlock,
then we rebuild the ship, and continue where we left off before you interfered 
Logan.

Logan dared not smile or chuckle as the final sword was so close at hand. 
If only Garibaldi knew that the sword was in this room. But did he still 
have the sword? All of his other weapons were gone, confiscated by the 
Scourge when they searched him.

Maybe he did. If the Scourge had found the sword on him, they would have given 
it to Garibaldi himself right now.

What are you going to do? asked Edward, glaring into Garibaldis face like 
an archer aiming his bow at a target, determined to strike true. Turn me back 
into a tree?

No, said Garibaldi shaking his head. What I have in store for you Edward 
will make you wish you were still a tree. Enjoy the rest of your freedom 
while you still can! We shall see just how your spirit can endure the torment 
of eternal imprisonment.

He made a motion with his hand towards Edwards escorts. Take the boy to 
the dungeon.

Yes lord Garibaldi! The soldiers began to drag Edward out of the chamber.

When I get my hands on you Garibaldi, I will  ! Edward yelled.

One of the soldiers slammed his gun into Edwards stomach, silencing his 
sentence. The soldiers dragged him out of the room and shut the door behind 
them, leaving Logan and his escorts alone with Garibaldi.

And as for you Logan, said Garibaldi, I have something else planned for 
you.

Only when I have ceased to breathe with I be dead Garibaldi! shouted Logan
in defiance.

Funny you should say that. Just as I gave Katrina a fitting death for a 
softhearted coward who refused to kill, so too will I give one for a traitor
who used the skills he learned for the wrong purposes. But of course, your 
body will still be used for the ultimate undead soldier. Why waste it? But in 
order for it to be of any use to me or the Scourge, the body of the perfect 
soldier must be cleansed of the soul of a - 

With his fingers on both hands, he formed quotation marks. "Hero!" His face
becamed etched with an expression of scorn and disgust. With another motion of 
his hand, he gave a new order. Take him to the gallows and hang him there 
until he draws his last breath.

Yes Garibaldi! The soldiers saluted and escorted Logan out of the chamber.

And dont worry about your precious Katrina, Garibaldi chuckled. Youll 
soon be joining her in the afterlife. If only the same could be said about 
your body!

His mocking laughter could still be heard even as the doors were closed
behind Logans escorts.

					*

Most dungeons in medieval times through fiction Logan had read rang with the 
moans of the prisoners and the screams of the tortured. But here, there was 
nothing but silence. Perhaps the prisoners had lost the spirit and strength 
to make any sound or maybe they had all committed suicide? Who knew? Or 
perhaps they had met some other terrible fate? Attacks from rats and 
poisonous spiders? Starvation? He would never know the truth. Nor did he 
wish to.

Four Scourge soldiers escorted Logan through the dungeon towards the 
execution grounds where his sentence would be carried out. They rode up the 
elevator, across a steel bridge over a pool of acid, and up the stairs.

Well this is it, Logan thought. He had failed. Within minutes, he would be 
dead, and his undead corpse would be used in Garibaldis army. And with such
skills in life, he would have no control over his actions as many innocent 
people would die at his hands.

I was this lands only hope, but I failed. The land shall be forever cursed.
What's going to happen to the world?

But wait! Could it be? Yes! The ropes bounding him were slightly frayed. With 
some effort, he could break them and free himself. But then what? Even though 
he could feel Murlocks magical charm in his pocket, using it now to escape 
would only teleport him far away. After all he had been through without yet 
completing his objective, doing so would not only be foolhardy, it would be 
cowardly.

He felt something rub back and forth against his back inside his trench coat. 
He rubbed his loose thumbs against the back of his trench coat at the location 
where the rubbing was felt. It was smooth to the touch.

Finally, they came to a lone gallow surrounded by a vast pool of acid with 
large rocks sitting upon it. Logan saw several other gallows where the remains 
of those hung before him still remained, left for the vultures.

I see no reason for a final speech or last requests, said one of the 
soldiers. Execute the traitor immediately!

For the past couple of minutes, Logan had been struggling to break his bonds.
He was careful not to let his escorts know what he was up to.

Then at last, the ropes snapped and his hands were free.

Surprise! Logan shouted to the shock of his escorts. As they reached for 
their weapons, he quickly reached into the back of his trench coat. To his 
great relief, the Sword of Sky was still there. He pulled it out and swung 
it with all his might. A sudden fierce wind with hurricane strength blew all
around him, pushing two of the soldiers off the platform, into the acid pit.
Screams tore from their throats as the acid dissolved their flesh through 
their cloaks. Then the screams were silenced as their remains sank into the 
acid, pouring the corrosive liquid down their throats. It was a sickening 
sight and hard on the ears as well.

The remaining two soldiers, standing far back, remained on the platform. 
The wind had only pushed them back into a wall behind them.

There it is! one of them shouted. The last sword!

Freeze! the other shouted, drawing his shotgun and advancing towards Logan,
stopping several yards away. Even if Logan swung the sword again, from where 
the soldier stood, he would not be blown off.

Drop the sword! Now! he ordered.

Realizing that there was nothing more he could do, Logan loosened his grip on 
the Sword of Sky. It fell with a clatter of metal and crystal.

The soldier advanced. Stay back! he ordered. He stood several feet away 
from Logan and picked up the sword. You! he said to his comrade. Take it
to Garibaldi! He will be very pleased with us now!

He tossed the sword across the platform to his partner. The soldier saluted 
and left, taking the sword with him.

Watching the soldier leave, Logan felt a twinge of regret through his soul. 
Although he had done what he could to free himself, all four swords were now 
in the hands of Garibaldi. Who knew what power he would unleash upon humanity? 
Earthquakes to level entire cities? Floods to drown entire populations? Fierce 
wind storms to cause massive destruction? Fire to devastate widespread land? 
And what power would the Sword of Darkness unleash upon mankind as well?

And you! the soldier said, his attention turning once more to Logan. Im 
going to do this myself. And dont try anything stupid traitor! He cocked 
the barrel of his gun with a mocking smile. After all, I know how to use 
this!

Logan frowned. So do I!

He grabbed the soldiers hand. Just as his former comrade pulled the trigger, 
Logan twisted the arm so that the barrel pointed away from his own face, and 
directly into the face of his enemy.

The resulting boom was deafening at this close range. Buckshot tore apart his
opponents face in an instant as pellets ripped into his skin, punctured his 
skull, and imbedded in his brain. Some had even pierced his eyes. Rivers of 
blood flowed from his wounds. The whole sight disgusted Logan and he fought 
down his nausea.

The soldier collapsed backward, all life drained from his body. Mercifully, 
death had been instantaneous. Whatever pain he had felt in that final moment 
had passed quickly.

You idiot! Logan chuckled. Dont you know how to handle a gun? Youre 
supposed to point it away from your face and then fire! He picked up the gun
and reloaded it with shells taken from the dead soldier. Stupid bastard!