Katana: Here is the first chapter of my first original fiction. Read and Review, please!!

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Noir stepped into the Temple of the Oracle, his wolf-like ears twitching in anticipation, alert to even the smallest of sounds. But there was no one in sight. Odd, he thought. The villager he had tortured had claimed that a being in this temple would be able to tell him the future. And he needed to know the future, if his plans were to succeed.

Noir, like most of the creatures in this world, was a Hubeast. (Some extremely intelligent person had combined the words "human" and "best to describe their appearances.) He looked basically like any young man of around twenty or so, with long, raven-colored hair that fell in front of his eyes, except instead of a human's ears, wolf ears stuck up on the top of his head. A bushy wolf's tail drifted lazily behind him. He wore a red tunic and tan pants that ended in shiny black boots. A katana, a Japanese-style sword, in its scabbard was strapped to his back. A black crystal hung from a leather strap around his neck.

He spotted a glowing stone in the center of the temple and trotted towards it. This temple was deathly quiet, and cold, like a tomb, but that didn't bother him. He laid his hand on the stone, and was surprised to find that it gave off heat, like a living being. Suddenly, its glow brightened. A beam of light shot from the tone and into a corner of the room. In the corner, a woman materialized. She was clothed in a white kimono that was nearly indistinguishable from her milky skin. Her green eyes were dull and clouded, and her sky blue hair fluttered behind her, even though there was no wind.

"I am the maiden of the Oracle," she said. Her words echoed off of the stone walls, even though she had barely whispered them. "What is it that you desire, Noir?"

"How did you-" He stopped himself before he could finish the question. It didn't matter how she knew his name. If she really was the spirit she claimed to be, (and he didn't see any reason to doubt her word) she would have her own ways of acquiring information… "What do I desire?" he questioned.

"Yes," the maiden replied.

"I desire for the Crystal of Darkness," he began, fingering the crystal around his neck, "to awaken, molding the world to fit my desires! I know I will succeed," he continued arrogantly, "because there is no one alive who can stand in my way! I just want my views confirmed, that's all."

"What views?"

"Why, that I am the strongest swordsman in the world, and that no mere mortal can surpass me!"

The spirit's eyes glazed over. "I am afraid that will not come to be true. A red haired wolf-youth will receive the legendary Sword of Ever-Lasting Embers, and he will undoubtedly slay you. He will awaken the Crystal of Light, and cancel your evil reign. You cannot change your destiny…" Then, she disappeared.

"Ha. Me? Defeated? By a mere boy? Laughable. But just to be sure, I will have my servants search for this Legendary Flaming Blade. If this wolf-child never acquires it, he can never defeat me with it! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" And with that, he turned on his heel and left the temple. When this youth appeared, Noir would be ready…

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Katana: So, did you like it? Please review!! *pouty face* Pwease??