The continent ofEsmeriahadbeen enjoyingrelative peace for the last few centuries. Only being interrupted byafew internalscuffles hereand there. Overall the continenthavebeenliving in pieceever since the darkness was defeatedand sealedaway…


    Close to the eastern border ofEsmeria,in the land ofAinalarthere wasasmall, modestvillagepositionedonlyfew miles of the coast.Justoutside this small village there wasalargeoaktree.Beneath the oaktreetherestoodatall elven girl withdeep-blueeyesand long,chestnut brownhair.She wasdressed inawhiterobewith greenfeatures, suchasthoseusually worn byapothecaries. Beside her stoodahuman boy with hazel eyesandahead full of disheveled light hair. He woreapair of leather pantsandasimple,white tunic. In the tree there satanhalf-elven boy. He had short darkbrownhair,hiding histwo gleaming-green eyes. He woreapair of leather pantsandan old, green tunic which seemed to have beenworn-out by its considerable use. The young half-elf looked downat his friends.


    ”Comedown from thereAren! Mother said we had to be home in time for dinner!”


    ”Yousay thatAllerín, but we both know that they wouldn’t care if we stayed here justalittle longer.”


    ”Theytell you that, just because they don’t want to make you feel bad!All because of your fragile emotions!”


    ”Sojust because my realparentsare dead theyaresupposedtobewalkingon eggshellsaround me!?”


    ”Yes!”


    Arenopens his mouth to say something,but remains silent.


    ”ComeonAren!Allerínand Iare tired, let’s go back!”


    ”You’retaking her side,huh Robb?Alright,just cause youask so nicely.”


    Just on the outskirt ofthe village;Aren,Allerínand Robb were walkingatabrisk pace through the underbrush to get back in time for dinner.


    ”Takeit easyAllerín, it’s not like we’re going todie if we don’t make it to dinner.”Allerínups her paceandalmost start to run.


    ”Someof us actually want to have hot foodArenand I thought you were the one who alwaysthrew a fitif anybody was late for dinner.”Allerínsays as she grins atAren.


    ”Comeon! That wasone timelikeadecadeago, besides,it was the first timeIwould get to taste meatafter my parents died.”


    ”Sonowyouareagainstthefactthatmyparentsarevegetarians!I’lltellyouwha–”


    ”Shutup!” Robb firmly planted his foot on the ground,ArenandAllerínpausedand looked backat him.


    ”Iget the sibling rivalry you two seem to have developed, but can’t we just getalong?” Justas Robb finishes his sentence the ground trembles withangreatroar.


    ”Whatis happening!?” Robb screamsas it seems that the whole world is quaking. Suddenlyagreat fissure opened up beside themand split the whole village in half, in what seemed likeacataclysm of universalproportions.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ”Wehave to get home NOW!” ScreamedAren.


    ”Yourfirstgoodidea,let’sgo!”


    As they reach the outskirt of thecitythey notice the frantic chaos enveloping the villageas people try to keep themselves out ofharmsway. Thefissurehadcleavedthe village in halfand createdacolossalravine, piercingright through the village. It seemed to glow withanotherworldly sheen, swallowingsome of the unfortunate houses situated in theaffectedarea.


    ”Haveyou ever seen something like this!?”Arenscreamedas they ran towardAllerínshouse.


    ”Thiscan’t be natural!”Allerínanswered trying to be heard over the ear-deafening quakecomingfrom theshakingground.


    ”Guys,whatisthat!?”Robbshakinglypointedatsomethingdarkcrawlingoutoftherift.


    ”I’mnot staying to find out, there is the house,let’s go!”As the words leaveArens mouth suddenly they watch in dismayas inaflash their house burst into flames.


    ”Nooo!!!”Allerínlet outascream of griefas she watched her family’s home erupt intoacacophony of sparksand flames.Arenstood petrified beside her, not knowing what to do, filled withafeeling ofanguishand sorrow. Everyone was filled with melancholy mixed with shock.


    They barely had time to process their emotions beforeall ofasuddenanaboutfive meter long snake-like creatureburst out from the canyon that was forming in the middle of the town. The snake immediately started slithering inandaround the withering houses. It continued to do so until it spotted the petrified bunch ofAren,Alerínn,and Robb. The giant snakecreaturewas cladin void blackarmor-like scalesand italso possessed two large piercing crimson eyes. It opened its great mawand coiled back ready to strike. Beforeashaggy-looking man inadark green cloak swiftly grabbedahold of the three friends. He then pulled them out of the fiercebeastssight.


    ”Wehave to get you out of here, into the forest!” The man said witharaspy voice. He pulledand they started to robotically follow, not knowing what else to do. Leaving everything they have ever known behindand withafaraway starerunning to safety.


    Eventually the group reached the forestand they stoppedastheystopped inasmall clearing.Allerínslumped downagainstanearby treeand started sobbing.Arenstanding withablank stareand the only one who managed to register whatwashappeningwasRobb.


    ”Whatis happening? Whoare you? Whatwasthat?” The man who Robb now could see better worean old green cloak. Under the hood he looked unshavenand it seemed like he had been living outside for some time.Robbalso noticed that the man carriedaknife in his beltandalong bow on his back. The man looked downat Robb in dismay.


    ”Calmdown there young man, Iam Boand that back there wasalindworm. One of theancient creatures from theabyss,I’veeveronly heardabout them in stories. Until today,andI’mafraid this isn’t the last time we’ll see creatures likethat crawling out fromtheabyss. That crack was caused by somethingancient that hasawokenandnow it hasreleasedtheancient horrors.”


    ”Howdoyouevenknowallofthis?”


    ”Ionce knew someone who had gone face to face with these horrors.”


    ”Soyouknowhowtofighttoo?Thenyoucanhelpmegettomyparents,theyareon theothersideofrift.”


    ”Iwish I could, butfrom what I’ve seen, itis lookinglikeit has probablyalreadycrackedall the way to the coast. The only way to get past it is to go westand goaround it.”


    ”But...”


    ”Iftheymadeittheywillprobablyheadwestaswellandwe’llmeetthemtherewhenwereachthecapital.”


    ”Okay…” Thewholecompanystandsinsilencecontemplatingthedaysevents.MourningthedeaduntilRobbbreaks thesilence.


    ”Bo? Like the bow on your back?” Bo rolls his eyesandafaintsmile can be seen on his face.


    ”Yeahkid, like the bow on my back, let’s just sleep.”