《The Last Druid》


 Eternal Chamber

    Sweat all over his body, he woke up and nearly jumped. Deep breath before his wide dilated eyes wondered through the surroundings. His arms were being used as support, but he was trembling too much, with no hint of stability. His bones acted like a rusted machine and let cracking sounds escape.


    He coughed as there was just too much dust and noticed that he was over a hard stone tablet. It was hard to see the details in the dim place, but there were some sort of carvings, drawings, around the rock.


    A groan got out of his mouth as he fell back and was forced to hold his chest in pain. Looking at the ceiling, his hand felt something over his body. It was a pendant. He let his fingers wonder through it to feel its circular form.


    He pulled it to see the steel circle made like a knot and an artistic tree inside. The symbol was familiar, but he couldn''t remember. His face contorted and he pressed his hands over his head to stop the hurting, but he failed.


    Memories flooded his mind. A village, an old man with light brown beard on his knees while holding a child''s shoulder to look right into his eyes. A woman, pregnant and working around the sheep. A man, a soldier, holding a spear while walking through a town.


    The images faded like they never existed to let a new one appear. Fire, from the woods to the sky, the man was dead, his cloth drenched in blood. The old onewas running while carrying the young boy in his arms. The woman was nowhere to be seen.


    He opened his eyes again to see the whole room glow. The carvings around the steep rugged walls and blocks of stone shone with a gentle green color. The lines of the drawings were pure art, like waves on hard rock.


    It was too much for him to handle and his heart accelerated with his breathing. He took time to adjust his vision and see the room, the chamber. He moaned as the headache finally came to an end. A tear fell down his face. He was so confused.


    His mind was conflicted and couldn''t decide between rage, sadness, relief or any other feeling it didn''t remember clearly. His strength was used to push him up, nearly propelling him. It was his ttempt to stand up, but it failed miserably and he fell to the ground.


    "AH!!" There was definetly something broken around his legs. "AH! SHIT!" The thin pain, like a needle going thorugh his body, took over his mind. He was on the ground, trying to hold onto his legs to see what was wrong.


    The carving''s glow intisified and there was a burning sensation on his chest. It was his pendant with eerie aura, a mix of blue and green. The mist seemed to grow and cover him as he felt suffocated.


    Like to avoid drowning, he raised his head so it would not be covered by the fog. The burning became a warm wave and all the pain vanished. Like a drug, it seemed to get rid of all his problems.


    The lights got back to their original vigor as the mist faded. Silence ruled over the chamber, but his condition was better. His heart was beating normally and his breath was calm. He hesitated to move his legs. Instead, he pressed his hands around to check it.


    Every inch added to the movement, he could see that his legs were fine. He finally gained the courage to stand up, but he didn''t let the the leg carry the weight of his body yet and used the stone block as support.


    He could see it, the whole thing. It was not simply big, it was huge, the size of a palace. He turned his head from one side to the other to let his eyes wonder through the place. Lined up, the block he was laid over was among hundreds of equals.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The carvings over each of them was different, like they had something unique. He still didn''t know what he was doing there or what was that place, he didn''t know anything. He couldn''t answer who was himself.


    He cautiously walked to the nearby stone. Its drawings were not shining like his, none of the others were. He noticed a gap. It was a cover and the curiosity won. He pushed it with more effort than he had imagined.


    He took a few steps back, nearly stumbling. No treasures were there to be found, only a body, or what was left of it. Bones and dust, a skull that looked at him even though it had no eyes. He looked around. All of those, they had bodies on them. It was not a temple, not ruins, it was a thomb.


    The lines started to waver, they were losing their power. Fear hit him, if the glow stopped it would be completely dark again. If someone put them in the chamber, there should be an entrance, an exit. His mind refused to consider the possibility of having no way out.


    Turning from side to side, he found a place. It was different from anything else. A different stone, it occupied a part of the wall on the oposite side, nearly tentimes his height. There was an ominous feeling being emanated, but it was his best hope.


    He moved in a hurry. So many coffins, he could count them for a day and there would still be much left. It was hard to see how big that place was, but its size became clear when he spent almost a minute to walk to the other side, nearly running.


    He pressed both of his hands over it. A breach indicated that it lead to the other side, it was a door, everything he wished for. But it just didn''t move. He kept on going and going, using more and more energy in an attempt to open it.


    Darkness was slowly taking over and he felt nervous. It felt like he would get stuck there forever if he didn''t manage to unlock the passage. "Shit! Why aren''t you opening!!??" He punched it and hurt his fingers, a drop of blood ran down his hand, but he punched it again and again.


    ... ...


    --- P.O.V. of Kenna Leonclaw ---


    "Impressive.." King Brohm had sent her to the lands beyond the mountains of Exaron. She didn''t like it, but it was a way to prove her worth as a mage, to find a place among important people. She was looking from above into a deep ravine. There they were, something she thought could only be real in legends. The ruins of a great city, from the mouth of the steep formation, going deeper for miles.


    Reiner was just beside her. He was a knight, or should be one, but he was actually a squire. He had one job: to defend Kenna against anything that might come to harm her. It wasn''t a hard job, considerig the other twenty men that came with them in their journey.


    "We are going down! Someone help me prepare the ropes!" Captain Ron shouted his orders and people moved to follow them. Safety was a rare thing when doing things like that, but that was what the mages were for.


    It didn''t take long for them to start going down, but it was deeper than expected. But it was indeed not something they would see many times in their lives. There was a single problem. Rumors and stories also told about crazy traps to kill all invaders or maybe spirits, guardians of their holy space, or even demons, souls of the dead haunting their own homes.


    Most of them didn''t believe such a thing, but they couldn''t help but to feel that it could be real. They didn''t reach the ground, but the top of a house. Reiner got down first to help his lady. There was no time to stop "This is a good spot! We will set the camp here! It is better than doing it on lower ground! After we are done, we can explore"


    A breeze hit Kenna''s face and she felt some kind of power, very thin, very far. She turned around to see a giant door on the other side of the ravine. Reiner had bent down to look into some of his stuff, but stopped when he felt the strong grip on his shoulder.


    "What is it, my Lady?" She blinked twice before looking at him in the eyes ".. I''m not sure.. I just.. I think I felt something coming from that door" He frowned as she pointed at it. No other mage had felt anything, or they simply didn''t mind it, but she was certain that there was something there.


    "We can take a look after we set the camp if you want" The breeze hit them again and she didn''t answer him. She kept on staring at that giant door that led into the ravine''s rocks. It wasn''t just paranoia.


    A muffled humming slowly grew to take over the entire ruin and the marks on that entrance shone some with some sort of green tone that reminded of grass.Scrunch. It moved. She widened her eyes as the members of the group halted their actions to focus on the source of the sound.


    Whoosh. The wind flowed inside and outside of the dark place and everyone stood still.

 Ruins of Eden

    Light blinded him. It was the sun and he would be happy ifhe wasn''t in such a state of confusion. His trembling hands tried to cover his face as the eyes adapted themselves to deal with the brightness. During the years of isolation, plants grew to cover parts of the walls. Broken pillars and shattered clear stones filled the floor of the deep ravine.


    Few steps foward and he looked at the scene around. It was all in ruins, but he felt a strange nostalgia. The place seemed to be alive with all the birds. Even with the steep rugged rocks surrounding the town, sunlight still came from above to illuminate and spread warmth.


    "AH!" He nearly stumbled on the destroyed ground and his hand grabbed his face, covering an eye. A piercing sound could almost make him deaf as pain made him let a shout escape. His thoughts halted with the sensation similar to being stabbed.


    The city was completely reconstructed in his mind, like a photo. Perfectly functional, a canal was created to make the water flow through the small cultivation fields. An animal, a creature he recognized as camelopard grazed around the green spaces. It was an strange beast, given that name for the similarities with a camel and a leopard.


    Crack. Everything shook and the earth got fractured. The walls simply crumbled out of existance, like made of sand, and he blinked. He wasn''t in the ruins anymore. He was in a house, wood windows and stone walls.


    Dim room, an old man looked at him with a gentle smile from ear to ear. He had a big light brown beard, but little to no hair to cover his head. The old man was saying something to him, but there was nothing, no sound, no noise.


    The image faded and he was floating. A strange sensation of comfort enveloped him, but a human form was right in front of him. A young woman with fiery red hair and honey eyes stared at him, deep into his eyes.


    "You woke up, son of Tien" Her voice echoed in a way he didn''t find possible. "I''m going to give you one last present. Something your mother would wish you to have, to protect you, to guide you" She opened her hand for him to see a small green crystal.


    ...


    He was back in the ruins, laid on the hard irregular floor. He quickly got back up and looked around. There were people, about twenty of them. Strong bulky men, with a viriety of skin colors, tanned, white, dark brown and so on. They were surrounding him.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    He thought of going back inside, but there was no one in their right mind who would dive into a dark cold place without thinking twice. There was a single woman in the group, standing behind the youngest male.


    "Aragar me erzt capentiean Ron. Naem rezt len!" He quickly turned around when a tall, dark skinned, strong man shouted. The words couldn''t make less sense to him and he let the mouth hung half open for a few seconds as his conflicted mind decided what to do.


    Suddenly, all of the others unsheathened their swords and blades to point at him and continue to close his paths to escape. He was in panic, so he raised his hand to his chest''s height and showed them empty.


    It was a way to tell them that he wasn''t going to do any harm. ".. I... I''m.. I.." He was about to tell his identity, but realized that he didn''t knew. "..I mean no harm!"


    --- P.O.V. of Kenna ---


    The boy stood there and she noticed his expression. He stuttered in confusion after raising his hands. She didn''t understand what he was trying to say. "Ume malts un rurtin!" She couldn''t help but frown at his voice. He was reacting like that becouse of the language, he couldn''t make sense of what captain Ron was saying.


    "Captain, Stop!" There was no meaning in the blades being pointed at him, but they ignored her and followed the orders of their commander. The boy looked frightened, his messy dirty dark brown hair wavering with the wind.


    By the time she had got the courage to stop it, Reiner put an arm on her way. "He could be faking it" She didn''t understand it for a moment. "He looks scared, but also came out of that place" Reiner said while pointing his finger at the dark thomb.


    "We don''t know what he is or what he is doing here, so they need to restrain him" The men had already surrounded him, but he did nothing. She looked concerned, but let things go as ordered.


    Still, the appearance of someone in the ruins, going out of an unknown place with that much show of lights, was not something to put aside. Her mind wondered through the possibilities of his presence while the soldiers encircled him.


    His normal clothing was an indication of peasantry, maybe an adventurous famer''s son that got to the ruins after getting lost from his group. The tongue he spoke, however, was strange. It sounded.. primitive.


    --- P.O.V. of main character ---


    It was impossible to keep an eye on all of them. He noticed it, they were trying to get closer slowly, making it seem like they were on the same distance. A whisper came, a woman''s voice muffled within the breeze and he widened his eyes.


    So that was his name. He finally remembered, Fel Cynwrig. He was about to grow a tiny smile, but something hit him. He fell to the ground and his face met the hard floor, letting dust fly a few inches away.


    The world started to spin and his vision got blurry. The back of his head was in pain because of the impact. Thud Thud Thud. He saw boots coming closer step by step as it all got dark. He lost his senses, like sleeping, and his eyes shut.

 Screaming instincts

    A thousand violins playing some sort of epic music. He didn''t know where the music came from, but opened his eyes to see a fancy house. He was sitting in a comfortable white chair just in front of a table, looking right at a woman on the other side.


    He had seen her before. The woman with fiery red hair was holding a stick while gesticulating her hands up and down. He noticed that the rhythm of the invisible violins followed each of her movements.


    She had her eyes closed and seemed to feel quite the delight. When he finally got the courage to call for her attention, his voice was muffled by the loud instruments. Her motion simply came to and end and every sound halted, leaving the room in sudden silence.


    "Didn''t expect to see you here so soon" A smile grew on her face. "..who are you?" She looked like she had just remembered what she forgot. "I''m Elaine. You could say I''m a friend of your mother.. well, kind of a friend".


    He was about to say something, but she raised her finger to shut him. "Now, darling, we don''t have much time left, they are coming" Her words sunk into his mind as questions came to him.Time for what? Who is coming? Who is my mom!? Where is she?


    Pointing at him, at his chest, she looked serious. "Use it when you need help. There isn''t anyone to help you anymore, kid. Your father, your mother, all gone now. Choose wisely the right moment to use it" As he wondered about what she spoke, something shone, making it visible from behind his shirt.


    It was the crystal she had shown before, next to his other pendant, on the same necklace. He widened his eyes. It was not possible, he didn''t put it there. "And remember. You are the last, their hopes are on you. Don''t fail them"


    The air imploded and the room disappeared. With a deep breath, he raised his head to look at a dark night''s sky. He tried to move, but he couldn''t. A rope was being used to tie him down. He was still in the ruins, over a flat roof of one of the houses.


    People around stared at him. Those were the ones the captured him, men that were ready to cut him down at any moment. The cold breeze got to him as his eyes wondered through his surroundings.


    He felt his necklace, the crystal was really there. The identity of the woman who stuck into his dreams, his allucinations, was getting on his nerves. There was no reason for her to not tell so much when knew it all.


    For a few seconds, nobody moved. They kept their eyes on him and their gaze made him uncomfortable as his fingers became restless. The woman, blonde with blue eyes, came to him first. She was cautious, but got fairly close.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Me erzt Kenna. Len naem" There were no meaning on her words, at least not for him. She frowned, but continued in a second. Pointing at herself, she tried again "Kenna" and then pointed at him "Len?"


    He was confused, but could understand the meaning of her actions. "Fel Cynwrig" He was pointing at himself. It was the start of a conversation, a talk between a noble woman and a tied unkown boy.


    --- P.O.V of Captain Ron---


    "Where is Ed?" The other man looked around before answering "He didn''t arrive yet". The captain frowned. The scout had been sent more than an hour ago and the man wasn''t supposed to take more than twenty minutes to come back.


    Another of his men got down from the roof to the base inside the small dim house. "The boy has awoken!" The mysterious boy was another concern to his mind, but his instincts screamed that there was something wrong.


    "Keep the boy under control. Knock him out if needed. I want all men in defensive positions!". They didn''t understand what was on his mind as there was nothing around that looked dangerous. There was nothing moving in the ruins, but they obeyed and quickly started to set all defensive measures.


    "I want everybody up looking! I don''t want anything to escape their sight!" The man that came to notify him nodded and headed back up. "Thomas! Aeron! You guys with me!" Those were the best warriors among the group. "Where are we going?" Aeron voiced his thoughts as they hurried out of the camp.


    "We are going to get our man back" Both of them moved like they were trained for. They kept some distance, but were still able to see themselves if one needed to help the other. Allways behind pillars, stones and walls, to be discreet.


    Ron found it strange. There were no signs of his man, but there was something there. The temperature around was cold, way below the one he was used to at the base. He gestured for his elites and they walked slowly to see ahead.


    The further they got, the colder it was. His men were just ahead of him. He completely stopped. There was no wind, no sound. The eerie silence invaded his mind and he whistled as quiet as he could.


    The worriors received the code and also stood still while looking at him. He pointed two fingers at them and closed his hand. It was another code. They found the best way to hide and laid down to be covered by the growing plants and the ruins.


    They slowed their breath and heartbeat. It was a position to hide from anything that came, not to fight back. They couldn''t see anything, but he could. Some sort of freezing fog filled the surrounding and he widened his eyes when he saw the reason why his man did not come back.


    --- P.O.V. of Fel Cynwrig/Main Character ---


    It was hard, but they were making quick progress. He already knew that her name was Kenna Leonclaw and that she was trying to speak with him. She pointed at the gigantic doors and asked something "Zwen len neh vaers dae?"


    Only he knew that it was thomb and the thought of going inside again disturbed him. She noticed his conflicted expression and thought that it was caused by the language barrier. They were not at the point in which communication was easy.


    "WRAITH!!" Every soldier nearly jumped, they unsheathened their swords and got ready to kill anything. It was a shout from a voice they recognized very well, captain Ron''s voice. The girl, that was bent down to talk face to face with him, fell on the ground.


    The boy couldn''t speak their tongue, but that word was universal and he somehow knew very well that it wasn''t good news.

 Nights fear

    --- P.O.V. of Reiner ---


    "I want everybody prepared!" The second in command shouted as Reiner looked at the captain ruinning from the three demons. There was no fear in his expression. The soldiers obeyed and started to adjust their leather armour and barricade the lower floors.


    He knew that it didn''t matter much. Wraiths were know to go through solid matter with no effort. "Kenna!" The princess was the only mage in the group and the only way to fight back. She quickly stood up and ran to the bulky tall man with little to no hair.


    "Can you deal with them?" She needed a few seconds to think, but time was precious. "We don''t have any time! Can you do it or not!?" She was clearly nervous, but answered immediatly "I-I think I can do it! But they need to stay still"


    "I also need a minute to cast the spell" Reiner frowned as a minute against those beings would probably mean death to most of them. "We can''t give you a minute" The second in command said. "I think I can make it in thirty seconds!"


    Reiner looked back to see his captain approaching the camp. The wraiths would soon be there. If she needed time, he would give her time. That was his job, protect her at any cost.


    --- P.O.V of Fel Cynwrig/Main Character ---


    "Kenna!"The girl ran to the others while he stood there. His strength simply wasn''t enough to escape from the ropes and he didn''t remember clearly the form of wraith, how it looked like, but his mind, his hazy memories screamed to warn him.


    He could do nothing to run. Warmth spread through his chest and he looked at the crystal''s brightness, visible even with the shirt. The people around didn''t see it as they were concerned with more urgent matters.


    Suddenly, his breath was visible, the temperature had dropped to unpredictable levels. "Ere erzts rien!" A soldier shouted and everybody became tense. Andrenaline took over and his heartbeat accelerated.


    For a few seconds there was nothing. Thud Thud Thud. The sound of steps from afar became louder and the air twisted. "AHHH!" Screams came from the part of the camp below and he widened his eyes.


    "Kenna!" He called for her since he wasn''t able to do anything without help. She didn''t hear it. There was too much panic. The shouting one got to her and held her shoulders to look right into her eyes. "Kame aet Spie!"Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    She seemed to realise something and nodded as the man let her go and got down in a hurry. There was something strange with the youngest one, he was extremely calm. Kenna started to say words very quickly while holding her hands together.


    She was trembling. The warmth became a hurting hotness as the crystal shone brighter. The noises of metal being broken and things being sliced continued, but fog started to fill the upper floor.


    Kenna''s words came out even faster as she tried to avoid stammering. A black figure started to float out of the ground, near the middle of the flat roof. It was like a shadow, the personification of darkness itself. Somehow there were eyes, more like eerie floating red lights on what seemed to be its head.


    A tear ran down from Kenna''s face as everybody stood still. They had no idea on what to do. Fel''s heart skipped a beat. The demon was looking right at him, out of all around, it was looking at him.


    Wide eyes and mouth half open, Fel struggled as he cursed the ropes in his mind. "Ah!" A man, throwed himself at the espectre, trying to cut it with his sword. The ''hands'' of the demon moved and, like sharp claws, blades, the man''s body was sliced and blood gushed out.


    It was a slaughter. The espectre ate the souls of those it killed, becoming even stronger. His eyes twitched. Voices came with the wind, whispers from the unknown. He couldn''t understand it. Images flooded his mind once again.


    ...


    The old man he had seen before in his visions was standing looking right at him. It was not an allucination like the others. It was so clear, the green of the trees and the sound of the water pouring from the stream.


    "Watch closely" The old man talked to him with a smile while showing a small seed in his hand. He watched him put it on the ground and pass his hand to put dirt over it. The bearded man stopped his movement and spoke to him "It is all about feeling it. There is life, you just have to feel it and ask for it to do what your wish. Remember, you must ask, not demmand"


    He raised his hands and the particles of dirt moved. The plant grew, following the old hands with a thin greenish glow.


    --- P.O.V. of Reiner ---


    Shit! The wraith had killed one of the soldiers. Another man prepared his sword to help his friend, but he failed. His bloodied corpse fell to the floor as the espectre looked at the rest of them. Something called for Reiner''s attention.


    The boy, he was convulsing.What the hell? He couldn''t keep his eyes away from the espectre as it was already moving to kill another soldier. A bright light blinded all around, but he was sure it wouldn''t stop the demon.


    Without seeing, he gently grabbed Kenna''s arm and she trembled. He quickly got in front of her to be a shield as the brightness weakened. The green glow came from the boy, from his chest, under his shirt.


    THUD. Another corpse fell. The being did not mind it as long as it was not sunlight. The muffled voice of the princess came from behind him.Thank god she is still casting the spell. The demon didn''t get to them. Instead, it turned to the boy that looked paralysed on the ground.


    The brightness had annoyed it. He whispered to her "Are you finishing?" and she nodded as the ghost-like being approached the boy. A cold breeze hit their backs and they refused to believe it. Another was floating right behind them.Oh crap...

 Bloodline

    Too much noise. He groaned before widening his eyes. His back was in pain and, for unknown reasons, he couldn''t move his left arm. The rope was not as tight as before, but was still limiting.


    The world seemed to stop for a single moment. A scared girl behind a young man and two floating espectres. Their presence was an indication that those men below were either dead or fighting the last one.


    Time was set in motion. The boy saw the young man push the girl to the side and barely avoid being torn apart by the ghost''s claws. It ripped through his clothes and skin, but there was no real damage.


    Fel struggled, trying to make use of the weakened knot. The cold wind twisted and he halted his actions to look above and see the creature staring at him. "LIEN ARAUX NOIN SHARKAL!!" Kenna''s voice echoed and a yellowish light blinded everybody.


    It was simply impossible to see.Shriek. Like an animal, the deafening cry faded with the brightness. It took time for him to open his eyes again. The wraiths weren''t there anymore. Some sort of pitch black dust was still dissipating with the night''s breeze.


    His eyes wondered restlessly through the flat roof. The young man was laid on the ground, blood in his shirt, but there was still no sign of him being badly hurt. Kenna was standing still, but quickly got to her friend, checking his wounds.


    The prickling sensation took over his left arm and started to spread through the rest of his body. It was hard to keep awake.


    ...


    "Don''t demand, ask" The voice invaded his mind. He blinked to see the old man again. The sapling grew calmly to become a young tree. "We are Druids and our job is to keep the life on its way"


    The gentle sun warmed his face as the old man smiled. "Don''t think you can escape from today''s lesson" He gently grabbed Fel''s shoulder and continued "The energy inside us is a way to communicate. We are a part of nature and it will help us when we need... Of course we also need to help it"


    His little hands touched the growing trunk. "Can you feel it?" A flow, an endless source of an energy, an aura, something hard to describe. It made its way through and out of the tree. It was comfortable, like a mother''s hug.


    ...


    "Ah!" He was suddenly awoken. The allucinations, the visions, faded like they never existed and he felt like he never needed to sleep. He was a druid. One more piece of his memory was put together.


    Kenna took a step back, she had been trying to undo the knot and free him, but got scared with his sudden movements. She calmed herself and kneeled again to help him as he watched her.


    "AHH! NOO! PLEASE N-" The shout came to an end with the sound of spilling liquid and a blade slicing through something. There was still another one to fight against. Kenna accelerated nervously as they didn''t have time.


    He was free, but the other wraith was already there, waiting to kill them. He could feel it, the same strange sensation with the tree, it was everywhere. The young man ran to them and Kenna stood up as the wraith approached them in a second.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Don''t demand, ask. Those words had so much meaning when he could feel. The energy quickly accumulated in his hand and burst to get anywhere it could. He just needed to ask and nature would help him.


    Stones shattered and trees moved, stalks and twigs destroyed the parts of the house and surrounded the wraith as Kenna and the young man used their arms to protect their eyes from the dust and pieces of stone.


    It was an attempt to halt the demon, but it could go through solid matter. Fel got up in a hurry while the beast barely got slower. He jumped out of the roof and a bough twisted. Kenna and the young man were surprised by his actions, but didn''t stop to think.


    He landed and used the other branches that were positioned as a stair while being followed by the two of them.


    --- P.O.V.of Reiner ---


    What? The boy jumped? It was their chance, Reiner pulled Kenna and followed to the boy. The nature around was helping them. He didn''t let his mind wonder about it, he needed to act, that''s what it was all about.


    Shit. He could see a few bodies laid on the ground and a lot of blood, but they continued after the boy. The boy wasn''t scared and lost like before, he knew something. "Kenna! Can you make another spell!?"


    She was out of breath, her noble body failing her. "I don''t have any mana!!" He could see she was really scared, her trembling hands and tears. "Run faster!" The wraith was faster than any human as they tried to avoid stumbling in the ruins.


    --- P.O.V of Aeron ---


    The screams came to their ears and the fog disappeared, their captain had ordered them to stay hidden and so they did. In their training, they learned to stay enough for the situation to settle.


    Aeron whistled after the screams. A way to speak with Thomas without showing themselves. Another whistle came and he understood. They would wait for about five minutes to get up.


    "AHH! NOO! PLEASE N-" The last shout came and he simply stood up. There was no way he could simply stay there as his friends were being slaughtered by beasts. "Thomas!" His best friend revealed himself and nodded with an expression of worry.


    "We need to help them!" The ground shook and they nearly fell. All the plants, the trees, moving. "What the fuck!?" Thomas said in surprise as Aeron quickly got closer to him. "Let''s move!"


    Running to the source of the previous noises, they stopped. The boy they had captured earlier was going on their direction, being followed by Kenna and Reiner. Aeron and Thomas unsheathened their swords and were prepared to recapture him, but saw the nightmare that chased after them.


    Aeron took a deep breath and both started to run just ahead of the other three. "Fuuuuuckk!" Thomas was panicking. He was one of the best warriors, but lacked in courage.


    --- P.O.V. of Fel Cynwrig/Main Character ---


    He had seen those men before, they were also among the ones that captured him and he thought they were dead. He dismissed it as they turned to run instead of pointing their blades at him.


    They were nearly there. The temple. It was a central plaza and the tall white building with statues and carving stood tall. Time wasn''t as cruel with it as it was with the houses.Ask, I just need to ask!


    He needed to keep calm and motioned his arm in a simple gesture. Another tree moved and its branches pushed the doors that were twice his height. It was too heavy, but the tree managed to open enough for them to throw themselves in.


    Of course the walls did not stop the wraith from going in. There was a hole in the temple''s ceiling. It was made so that natural light could go in. In the very center, a carved circle, like a knot with a tree inside, just like his pendant. The ceremonial circle.


    "Go to the circle!" The people around him were surprised by his words and continued to run.Danm it! I forgot they can''t understand me!He got the crystal from under his shirt and held it as he arrived at the sigil.


    Light erupted from the tiny green crystal and the espectre let out a sharp cry of rage. The wraith wouldn''t stop until it got the boy.

 New Day, New Age

    He throwed himself at the floor and pressed his hands at the stone sigil. The eerie glow intesified as the creature approached, unable to sense what was coming. The burst of energy turned the espectre into dust, but was silent and warm for all the others.


    The ceremonial circle was the place used for purification rituals and baptism. Anything that isn''t natural is denied and cleansed to go back to mother earth. The light died out and the night came back with its stars.


    It was too much energy to use. He was out of breath, but stood up. There were other problems to solve. His master, Bertrand, had taught him a lot, but there was a very long way to go before he could finish his education.


    Somewhere in the temple, a library had a book he needed. He looked around, Kenna and the trio were confused as the wraith was killed too quickly. However, he was concerned with his own situation.


    Eden was in ruins and the ones on the giant dark thomb were his friends and family. All of them dead, forgotten in history.Why was I the last one? How did I even survive this long? What happened for our kind to meet its end?


    The sensation took over his mind and he bit his lips. So bitter. Conflicted, he tried to dismiss the thoughts, but failed. He would not cry, he couldn''t.I survived for a reason and I won''t fail them... I just can''t fail them.


    Strolling through the temple, the others noticed his movements. "Ar len erzt gem!?" He didn''t care enough to look back and see who it was. His memory was still hazy, but it should be there.


    There were few doors and corridors, the temple was made to be an open space. A small wooden door in a tall structure of stone. It was stuck and he took a few steps back, widening the distance, before running and throwing himself at it. His shoulder hit it and he groaned, but opened enough for him to go insisde.


    Cough Cough. There was nobody to clean that place for so long. Uncomfortable pain in his head, not strong, but irritating.Just how long has it been? Shit! How am I supposed to find that danm book?


    Remember. Remember, danm it!Magic books were on the upper floor. The big adorned stairs on the center led him to even taller shelves.Ok.. now there is only a few thousand books.


    Kenna and the others continued to follow him, keeping some distance, but watching him. "Fel! hare erzt len den?" Kenna''s voice echoed. "Wait a second!" He knew she couldn''t understand his words, but hoped she could somehow understand what he meant.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Ok.. left is elemental... right is general magic. He turned right and completely stopped.Then I go to the end.. Ha! I know where it is!He opened a smile and headed to one of the last shelves.


    He didn''t care about those books. Every time he got one wrong, he would just throw it on the floor.Yes! Found it! It was an important book, written by an elder of the city in a time in which he didn''t exist yet.


    "Foundations of the universal language" He read it aloud before opening it and wondering through the pages. He tooka few minutes to find the right pace and start to read it. Since every being had the same enegry flowing inside them, the should be a way to communicate.


    He frowned.Communicate by not speaking..? There was no other choice. "Kenna!" He called for the only one he knew the name. Thud Thud Thud. She came in a hurry, probably expecting something bad after the last events.


    Gently, he let his energy go outside and slowly flow towards her. The invisible mist quickly became one with her own and she clearly felt something. She nearly fell, but was held by one of her friends.


    "Can you understand me?" She widened her eyes. "Eh?" He smiled back. "Can you understand me?" She looked to the each side, but saw nothing. Fel wasn''t moving his mouth, he was communicating without speaking.


    "It''s me, Fel!" The others were confused. "What!? How are you doing this?? Wait! Did you speak our language from the start!?" She shouted and the young was probably thinking she had gone mad.


    "I''m too tired to explain this right now, but it''s good that we can talk now" There was a strange silence in the room for a few moments. "Then.. who are you?" the answer was simplistic "Fel Cynwrig"


    "No.. I mean.. why did you get out from that place?" He thought for a second "Don''t know". She had her mouth half open with the mystery in front of her.


    --- P.O.V. of Reiner ---


    The boy shouted, calling for the princess. He quickly followed her as it was his job to stand beside her. Reiner couldn''t trust that boy yet, but didn''t do anything. It was better to think before acting.


    She got to him, but something really strange happened. The boy motioned his hand and there. The gentle breeze made him alert. There could be no wind, it was a close space. Kenna showed a scared expression and nearly fell, but he held her.


    What the hell? "What!? How are you doing this??" He was sure she was going mad, but the boy just kept on looking at her. The boy was trying something! He put one of his hands on his belt, prepared to unsheathen his swrod st any moment.


    --- P.O.V. of Fel Cynwrig ---


    The first step was completed, good news in a very bad day. "Now, I''ll go home" She didn''t understand and he repeated "I''m going home, one of the houses on the ruins" He was beginning to feel that she was dumb.


    "Wha- but.. Your house..?" He nearly face palmed, but tried to keep calm. "Yes, I want to see it, the lost legacy of the ones I love" He sighed. The situation was very similar to a dream, or a nightmare.


    "The sun should be rising any time soon and I want to go there, see what is left of my home" He was sad, tired. Maybe there was a message left to him, some explanation to what was happening.


    He cursed his lack of precise memories, but stood up with determination. He walked away and Kenna was taken by surprise "Wait! I''m going to!"

 Interlude: Academy of magic

    --- P.O.V. of Remis ---


    Ignoring his own reflection on the glass, he looked from inside of his moving caravan. The city was bursting with activity. The capital was an impressive place for its size and beauty. A journey of six days from his manor in Evire to the region.


    "Are you impressed?" Remis noded. "I find it interesting.. What is that structure?" He was obviously speaking about the four pointy towers surrounding the giant dome. "Oh! That''s the mosque of Agia"


    "I can''t even imagine how long it took to build it" The old man seated on the other side of the carrige laughed. "That was also my reaction when I first came here, but you''ll soon get used to it"


    "I wish to go see it" Once again, the old man laughed. "You''ll have plenty of time for that. Now, we need to get to the academy" The academy of Nosran, famous for being the best place to learn medicine, alchemy or magic.


    "Be proud of yourself. It is not easy to be accepted there" He paused "I also heard that the princess was studying there, but she got to travel with the royal guards on a mission to the ruins"


    "A mission to the ruins?" The old man sighed "Don''t ask me. I don''t know either, but I believe they should arrive by the end of the semester at most" The boy was interested in the world, fantasies of great adventures. He was barely fourteen suns old.


    "Is it far?" His mentor noded "More than three months to get there and head back, by horse of course" The boy thought it was very tiring to spend a few days travelling and couldn''t even imagine having to shit and piss on the grass for much longer.


    Some bumpings along the way, they got to a luxurious entrace facing a well kept garden of roses. It could only be described as odd as there was no gatekeeper or soldier. "How do we get in? Can we open it?"


    The old man seemed to have a lot of fun with the boy''s reaction. "There is no need for that here. Give me you entrance letter" The boy took it from inside his coat and handed it to him.


    "What do you need it for?" The old man opened the door without a single word and strolled to the gate. He showed it around for nothing to see, but it did work. The entrace was open. The creaking movement of the bars gave room for them to pass.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ...


    "What the hell is that!??" The old man was laughing louder every time. The boy was amazed by the show of lights produced by the training of lightning and fire mages. "My favorite part is the one they train the air mages"


    The academy was simply huge, with many buildings similar to palaces. The training grounds were just outside, surrounded by nearly invisible barriers that were used to protect the luxurious structures.


    Going through the gardens, he was already becoming tired of walking. "I forgot to ask, but.. Where are we going?" His mentor pointed at the tallest building in the complex "The main hall, the director wishes to speak to you"


    "Ahhhhh!" Remis nearly jumped as a boy came from the skies and fell on the ground, rolling down until his body hit a tree. The old man looked at Remis with a strange but happy expression "That''s why I love to watch the students of wind magic"


    "What!? Is he fine??" The boy looked back with worry while still going foward "Don''t worry, he will be fine! I''ve seen far worst" The boy gulped.


    ...


    The immense hall was intimidating. It seemed like made of gold with saphires, standing about twenty times his height. "You must be Remis Tinell!" A young man, around his 20s was wearing silk clothing, more discreet than most, but still quite expensive.


    The short light brown beard moved with his mouth. "I was already waiting to see you" He was welcoming, but had the aura of an imposing bear. "I-I don''t know you" The man smiled "I''m the director and you must be Lienz Melbert!" He turned to his mentor.


    "Indeed. It''s a pleasure to meet you" He started to walk and made a small gesture "Follow me". Busy people got around quickly without even paying attention to them. "Are you impressed? Most are when they come around. You''ll soon get used to it"


    ...


    "You can sit" Inside that giant palace fo gold, his personal room and work place was cozy and fairly small. The director had seated on the other side of the table while he and his mentor were in comfortable chairs.


    "Let''s get into business" He paused while looking at the indication letter given to him "Usually there is an entrance exam... but it seems like it won''t be needed" He gave the letter back before continuing "And usually there would be a small test to see in what class you would be, but that also won''t be needed"


    Lienz frowned and the boy didn''t understand "In what class will he go to?" The director leaned his body foward and let his elbows use the table as support "The special class" He watched their expressions and laughed when he saw the puzzled look of the boy.


    "You are a special case! Yes, quite special! You''ll be in Class 1"

 Healing

    It wasn''t supposed to be like that. He punched the ground of a place he once called home. Everything seemed have stopped in time. Nothing other than dust lived in his room, but the furniture was still perfect.


    Why!? He punched the cold hard stone once again as a tear came down his face. He was sure that the sun was about to rise in the sky, but nothing gave him strength enough to move. It was easier to stay there.


    Time kept flowing, slow yet so fast.Why did you have to leave me!? Parts of his memory were still hazy and he found no meaning in what was happening. No answer came to him, but he already knew that it wouldn''t come.


    When mourning, a minute becomes an hour. A small smile appeared in his face as nostalgia hit him. There was a small painting of a monocromatic elephant that he did as a kid with his father. Bittersweet.


    --- P.O.V. of Kenna ---


    She had left him alone, but he did not come out and it was already morning. "Heeeey!" It was Aeron''s voice calling for their attention. He had to scout the surroundings and take a look at the bodies of their fallen comrades.


    But there he was, running back to her and Reiner. "We found captain Ron! He is still alive, but is really hurt" Kenna looked at her squire and their eyes met. "Go help them. I''ll get Fel" He imediatly denied, but she continued before he could say anything "The captain needs help and I''m the only one that can speak with the boy"


    He hesitated, but clenched his fists as he accepted her reasons. Ron had spent nearly the whole night hurt and there was no time to leave him there. She ran inside of the house. Even in a hurry, she did not want to disturb him greatly as she understood that he needed the silence and peace.


    "..Fel?" He was there, kneeled on the floor. His knees were probably already hurt, but he had his mind elsewhere. She became worried as she saw the blood on his hands. He did not answer her.


    --- P.O.V. of Fel Cynwrig/Main Character ---


    His mind found peace in the best memories of his past. But it was all clouded by their deaths. The image of the bones in the dim thomb still haunted him. "Uh?" He was suddenly brought back to the ruins of his home to see a girl holding his shoulder.


    It was Kenna. She was beautiful, but her charm was destroyed as she coughed more than four times before trying to speak with him. "..Fel.. len nie em?" He let his energy flow into her once again and they were conected by a thin thread of life force.


    "Are you ok?" He did not answer, he didn''t feel the need to. Instead, he looked down. "...We found captain Ron and.. He is badly hurt" He was still listening to her in silence as she paused "And we are going to help him"Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    He couldn''t see any reason for her to be telling him this. "Are you coming with us?" Again, she got no answer. It was like a fog that made it harder to think as he clenched his fist and was about to hit the ground once again.


    But he did not.What the hell am I doing?Kenna got out to leave him alone again, making little to no sound.What am I even supposed to do? He stood up. At least his body was still strong enough.


    I''m going to do what I think I should... I have nothing else.. Kenna had said her captain was still hurt. He thought about it as he passed his hand through his face to clean the dust and tears. He would do what he could.


    Sunlight warmed his face as soon as he got out. At least his city became a natural haven, a paradise for plants and birds to live in. That''s what its past residents would want. The others were not there anymore.


    He closed his eyes to see all the lines, the thread that conected life to the earth. He felt it, they were quite far, near their camp. He hurried for he knew, as he was trained to be a doctor, that the captain couldn''t be left there.


    --- P.O.V. of Kenna ---


    "Is he ok!?" She asked Aeronwith a frownas Ron trembled. "He has a pretty bad fever, Thomasis trying to find some medicine among the things left from the other soldiers" He had already taken out the captain''s leather armour and his shirt was ragged and drenched in blood.


    "The cut was pretty bad... the fever probably comes from the curse of cuts" That''s how most would call a disease caused by an open wound. Reiner came back to them with a piece of clothing and Aeron handed it to Kenna "You need to press the cloth on the wound with strength. And by ''with strength'' I mean it" He turned to the squire "Get a bucket and fill it with clean water"


    Reiner nodded and Aeron began to examine him. "Do you know what you''re doing?" She was panicking. She didn''t know how to deal with that "..I saw a doctor doing this once"Oh no...


    Thud Thud Thud.Thank heavens... what? She was hoping it was Thomasbringing the medicine. There was no way there couldn''t be any in all those bags. Surely someone had thought about a situation like that.


    It was Fel. "Is your friend hurt?" She was not yet used to hear his voice directly on her head. "..He is captain Ron" She pointed at the blood in the cloth she was holding "And he is quite bad right now"


    Fel frowned as he remembered that he was obviously the one that gave the comand for him to be captured, but he had no grudge against him. "..I can help you if you want" Her eyes widened at his statement.


    "Can you!?" He crouched near her and nodded. He gently touched her hand to put it away and began to take the cloth away to see his wound. "What the hell is he doing!?" Aeron began to shout.


    "He said he could help!" Fel was already staring at the wound "And you simply let him do what he wanted!?" He was about to push the boy away, but something he only heard in legends happened. The flesh was being healed.


    The skin conected itself again as if time was going back and Ron stopped trembling. He thought it was an allucination. There was some sort of faint, nearly invisible, mist eveloping his captain.


    There was no magic that could do that. He looked at Kenna for an answer, but she had the same expression. Half open mouth and wide eyes. There was nothing that could explain that. Even the greatest light mages couldn''t do that.

 The Queen and the fall of her Kingdom

    "Where were you?" That strange woman again, Elaine. He didn''t clearly understand the question, but she continued. "I thought you''d have come sooner" It had been four days since she had appeared in his dreams.


    "..What do you want?" She smiled. "Nothing.. I''m here to help you" Still, it did not make any sense for her to help him for no reason. "I know what you''re thinking, boy. Don''t misunderstand me, I''m only helping you because your mother asked me to"


    He was caught by surprise with her sudden cold and deep tone with serious expression. "I''ve called you here to tell you something" He thought of the last time she told him something and feared another wraith.


    "A path will open to you... and only you. Follow it" The room became hazy and faded like sand to the wind. He was on that dim forest once again. Kenna and two other men were sleeping, but the youngest one was there looking at him.


    There was something about that man. Kenna''s squire, she told him. Reiner was calm, way too calm, and the boy simply couldn''t trust him. They had been travelling together to somewhere called kingdom. Somewhere safe, they said.


    Fel looked to the captain. He had attempted to heal him quite a few times, but the fever kept coming. It was weakening, at least. However, he needed to consider the possibilityof being a curse carried by the espectre''s claws.


    Reiner continued to watch him in silence. Warmth spread through his chest and the boy knew it was because of the crysal, it was trying to show the promised path. He stood up and stared at his right.


    "What happened?" The young with concern for their safety. "I''m going to piss" The boy answered without getting his eyes away and retreated the energy that allowed them to comprehend themselves.


    He was looking at the trees, placed like lines on both sides, leaving a passage similar to tunnel. Walking through it with caution, small lights appeared. Images flooded his mind and he groaned as silently as he could.


    It was impossible to get used to the feeling. His mind came back to the path and he remembered. Those were fairies, spirits of the earth.Whispers. The little beings were talking among themselves as he observed them.


    For some reason, he couldn''t understand it, like there were no words, just sounds. A strangely open place with beautiful lake reflecting the moonlight. It was her again, but it wasn''t a dream anymore.


    She smiled as the boy finally knew who she was. "...Elaine, daughter of Titannia and Oberon... queen of fairies" She pointed at a chair.How did a chair even appear here?? He sat down and she got closer to him.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    It was the first time he felt that. Some sort of comfort, an inner warmth. "..Your mother asked me to help you" She began to talk and, for the first time, he was sure she was really there. "And she also asked to help your father at that time"


    He still didn''t remember his father, nothing more than a figure from afar. "At that time, the fae decided to help the druids... It was a mistake" He couldn''t help but frown. "Look at the place around you"


    Fairies everywhere, plants with overflowing life and a moon as bright as it could ever be. "That''s all that is left of us... We will not intervene once more. Just by helping you, I''ve put our sacred place, our last home, at risk"


    "This is the last time you''ll get our help" Somehow another chair appeared and she sat down with elegance. "Your mother was fairy, her name is..was Tien, one of our kind and my sister. That makes you one of us"


    He couldn''t understand her smile. It was almost allways there, even when she was obviously not happy. But it was quite the knews to him, he was a fairy, or a half. "Yourtalent to heal life is a common ability to us"


    It could have hurt his ego, but he did not care. Not at that moment. "..You''ve already met a few humans.. You could say they are the legacy of the druids. The few that lived after theevents eventually mixed with a few other beings.. the elves were a proud creation, a mix between fairies and druids, for exemple"


    "However, I''m not here to teach you about the world, kid" He had heard about those beings calledelves. Proud beings, Kenna told him. But he had no idea of their origin. "Wha-" He was about to ask something, but Elaine raised her hand to stop him.


    "I did not finish, kid" Her voicewas growing colder, but she kept her smile. "I''m going to be clear, here" She leaned her body foward a little and stared deep into his eyes "Don''t think that your existance has a meaning"


    "Your presence is not needed.. It is something that defies nature, it is wrong" Her smile finally came to an end. "There is no purpose for your life... Did you think that, perhaps, you were let to fix something from the past?"


    Mouth half open, he looked at her with wide eyes. "Time goes on. Good and evil change names and faces and keep on changing. What made your kin come to an end was nothing more than the evil they created themselves"


    "You are alive for the decisions of unwise men.. an stupid mother" She bit her lips. There was definetly something between her and Fel''s mother. But she was telling him that his life was a mistake. He should be dead, and that was probably true


    His face couldn''t show how conflicted he was. "Do you understand now, boy?" Her expression was bitter. She extended her hand and a letter appeared "It''s a letter from Tien.." She said as he slowly took it.


    "..There is no evil that lives as much as it would be needed to still be here... There was no mastermind behind the fall of your people... neither mine" She said as if it would be easier to have something to put the blame on.


    "...now, here you are, there is no point in complaining about what is already done" He opened the letter, but he was afraid. Fighting a wraith wasn''t as scary as that. Suddenly, he found himself in a strange time. His parents and friends? Dead. His home? In ruins.


    And she was telling him that his life meant nothing, that he was better dead. She rubbed her forehead and took a deep breath before opening a smile again and he figure seemed happy and radiant once again. Like a sad book with a smiling figure in the cover.


    "...The current beings will be facing difficulties, maybe just a crisis... or their doom"

 Letter for the son of Tien

    I''m sorry


    It wasn''t supposed to be like this. I still want to hold you, to feel you, to see you grow to be a fine man. I can only let the tears fall now. I know you must be confused, frightened,but I know you''ll ge through it.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    I just want you to know that I love you.


    You are not alone, my son. There are others. Find them, help them.


    Maybe... just maybe, you can forgive me for letting you go like that.