The Instrument (The dream I had last night)

In ancient times, there existed an instrument which brought forth an evil spirit which possessed the people of a small nation to the orders of the man who played the instrument. That man was Kang Yong. He was a malicious man who always remained cool tempered. However, this spirit only remained for 364 days. On the 365^th day, the spirit returned to the sprit realm until the instrument was played once more on the New Year. It was on this day that the greatest fighters in the land would come and challenge Kang Yong in order to become the new ruler, or to destroy the instrument and free the people forever.

A young man by the name of Lui was a drifter. He migrated to the village on the 365^th day and met Lily. On that day the two became in love and Lui wanted to take her away. It was then that another man informed him that she will be trapped there once the instrument is played. She would be possessed by the spirit and remain there for another year. Lui then proceeded to Kang’s palace to fight him. It was a quarter till midnight and Kang had the instrument displayed up high in a glass cone. Lui proceeded to fight Kang, but realized how strong he was. Two other men began fighting Lui until someone knocked over the glass cone and it fell on top of them, trapping Lui with the other two assailants. Kang took the instrument as the clock struck midnight, he proceeded to play. It was a long brown box-like figure with sharp spikes sticking up in lines across the wood. Kang took another wooden piece with spikes and ran them between each set of spikes. This made an earthshattering ring and when he finished. The dark spirit rose out of the ground all around them and entered into everyone except Kang…and Lui.

The spirit looked into the eyes of Lui and whispered,

            “You are his son, I cannot enter you or I will be destroyed.”

            “I dare you to, so I may not remember this love that I have for Lily,” Lui pleaded.

            “I will be destroyed,” the spirit uttered again before vanishing into another body.

When complete, Kang lifted the glass and ordered the men to the military chambers. All obeyed except Lui.

            “Are you ignorant? Follow the others.” Kang demanded once more. Lui rose up and turned to Kang. Kang then realized that he wasn’t possessed.

            “Why are you…”

            “My name is Lui Lang. My father was Mau Lang, the sorcerer who created that instrument in which you abuse. If the spirit entered me, it would be destroyed. My father made this so.” Shocked, Kang prepared for battle, but Lui said,

            “If I defeated you, the spirit would remain in them forever. I shall return again, when the spirit has left, to defeat you, your armies, and that instrument.”