《Ananiel》 Chapter 1. Beginnings Squish* Squash* The tapping of rain bounced off my scruffy head. Pain aching all over my body. The weight of my wet clothes clung to the mud. With a jolt, I push against wet ground and slip. The lingering cold pressing on my face. It hurts. The taste of wet dirt trails down my lips. Leaving behind a bitterness on my tongue. Clenching my teeth, I take a deep breath, and hold the chilly air in my lungs. With a straining exhale, my eyes adjust to the darkness. Mounds of shadows laid on the ground. Weapons stuck out of their corpses. I carefully adjust my wet clothes and crouch down. Claiming the cloak as mine, I let out a sigh and went towards the carriage. Rain rattles against the thin carriage roof , mellowing out the obnoxious creaking. Searching around the dark, my hand brushes against a crate. Inside was something dry and rough, like leather. Begrudgingly, I take it out from the crate. Giving it a sniff, A familiar scent of meat salivates my tongue. Without hesitation, I placed a piece in my mouth. Immediately, the taste of salt shrivels my tongue. I had to spit it out. The flavors of dirt and salt mixed on my tongue. Tears ran down my face. In an unfamiliar land surrounded by corpses, I curled into a ball and fell asleep¡­ D¨¦j¨¤ vu lingered as my eyes rested on the light below the door. With a deep breath, I turn the doorknob. A soft light draped over this familiar room. This room was decorated with a bookshelf and a plain wooden desk by the window. In between the bookshelf and desk was a fluffy-looking bed. With annoyance, I walk to the desk and picked up an opened book. The sentences seemed fragmented but were interpretable. ¡°Amid the world, holds an ethereal power that one can harness with repeated dedication and talent. A practitioner who harnesses ethereal power or ¡°mana¡± can invoke and command their own soul to enhance themselves physically and spiritually. However, the stronger an individual is, the more challenges that individual must face." "To start, one must ¡°open¡± themselves to the world and feel the ¡°mana¡± that is within us all. First, one must relax and feel a slipping feeling. The mind must remain focused, this can be developed with the ¡°breath.¡± There are many ¡°breathing methods¡± out there. do not worry too much. they all seek to remind the practitioner that they are still conscious.¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Slumping onto the chair I let out a sigh. All this information took a toll on my mind. In the corner of my eye, darkness crept past the window¡­ The chirping of the birds signified a new morning. The smell of wet wood and petrichor lingered in the carriage. A glint catches my eye, revealing a small latch underneath the cushions. I pry it open and found a few books, a rolled-up scroll, and a letter. Unraveling the letter, I looked through the contents. ¡°To, Reid Cornelius, I, Trobell Cork, have manufactured a special wine as thanks for the partnership with Idosa. I wish to support your efforts to combat the Aroca faction. Those meddling scum have claimed far too much in their conquest. Idosa will send whatever aid necessary in pursuit of a successful victory. To the delivery crew, please send this letter and inform Reid with the yellow stamped scroll. I will be expecting a message from Reid. So do not run away with the contents. -Torbell Cork.¡± With a sigh, I shivered from the lingering cold and tossed the books aside. With a couple of jerky, I set off to the back of the Carriage. Might as well find the wine. Taking a moment to think, I glance around the wreckage. Some crates were open, others were too heavy to move. The scene was rather gruesome under the sunlight. Splintered bits of wood spiked the soles of my shoe. Each box had an emblem that matched the Carriage¡¯s symbol. A circle with a sword embedded in the middle. Slumping on some grass, I took a heavy breath. A remarkable stillness, extreme focus, and a rush of power flowed through my veins. However it quickly settled. Walking back to the Carriage, I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, numbing the aches. This wine has to be in the back, right? Threading around the small puddles, a wall of crates stood in-front of me, blocking the path. Defeat washes over me. How am I supposed to overcome this? A practitioner who harnesses ethereal power or ¡°mana¡± can invoke and command the world itself. These words bounce around my head; like a shadow in the corner of my eye. Without much thought, I remembered my breathing. Was it the scent of rotting wood? Or the quiet swaying of autumn trees? The soft light of the sun felt ever warmer. O¡¯ Fleeting wind Gather around. The trees started to howl as a rushing wind envelops me. With a swipe, the boxes fell to the ground. Suddenly, concern overwhelms me. ¡°Where¡¯s the wine?¡± Stepping over the boxes, I dart around the opened crates. A leather satchel revealed itself in the middle of the rubble. Pushing ahead, a well-decorated box hid itself in the back. Its veil was unraveled by the wind. Taking a peek inside the box, A sense of relief washes over me. ¡°I found the wine!¡± I let out an embarrassing cheer and quickly tucked it away. Retrieving the leather satchel, I gathered some rations, and carefully stored the wine. Flipping a coin, I confidently pointed in a direction. ¡°This way!¡± With a confident grunt, I headed down the main path¡­ Chapter 2. Encounter The trees dance as I walk along the dirt path. Leaves drop to the ground as wind brushes through their branches. Hugging the cloak, I pace myself towards the city. Occasionally, birds would dance around in the mid autumn air. A bird song here, and another over there. I hummed an unfamiliar tone to myself. Taking a break, a coldness embraces my numb hands. I sat on a fallen log and inhaled a deep breath. I tried and recalled the feeling from before. Closing my eyes, I started to relax. The aches in my body pulsing from the long walk. With each passing breath, a weight pressed on my shoulders. Warmth emerged from the bellows of my lungs. The aches started to relax as I slowly drifted deeper and deeper into my consciousness¡­ My eyes opened into the familiar room. Sitting on a chair, I realize this is the same room from before. The curtains were closed, and a soft light glowed from the lamp. A stale air dulled the once lavish-looking room. Heading to the desk, I grab onto my notes, nonsense spewed over it. Soon words started to form, ¡°The second step of the process is to imagine yourself gathering energy. Walking the thin line of barely being conscious. Take advantage of your imagination. It is important ¡­ Control the energy flowing around and around ¡­ Morph it like clay ¡­ The third step is to Imagine yourself taking energy from the world into yourself.¡± Blinking, I wondered about the power I held within myself. My eyes linger on the ceiling. Up on shadows that shift like the ocean waves as I closed my eyes one last time. I lay sideways on the ground with dull pain scratching at my throat. Groaning, my eyes squinted towards the afternoon sunlight. The air started to get colder as the sun hung close to the horizon. I pushed myself up and clutched my cloak. Sniffling, I sigh at the long road ahead. It was going to be a long walk¡­ The stars in the sky dazzled its light as a couple of howlings were heard throughout the forest. I push forward trying to imagine warmth around me. The cloak was a half-assed barrier between me and the cold night. In the corner of my eye, I notice a light in the darkness. A campfire flickered off the side of the road. The dazzling flames pulled me in like a moth. ¡°Hey! What was that?¡± The individual looked around in the darkness. His eyes locked on my silhouette. Proceeding nauseously towards the individual, I almost lose my footing on a hidden tree root. The individual lets out a laugh. I stumbled and waved as he beckoned me towards the flame.Slumping onto the ground, I sat and gazed at the flame. It¡¯s warmth reinvigorating my hands. Amid the crackling silence, the individual spoke up, ¡°Hello, it seems ya are headin¡¯ to Cornelius?¡± I nod to his response, unable to vocalize any words, ¡° Ya look quite dirty, have you fallen in mud or something?¡± Again, I nodded. ¡°Well, rest here tonight. I don¡¯t mind.¡± I sat there in silence, gazing at the flame. The individual whistled an off sounding melody. He had a scruffy look to him. His clothes were filled with holes, and he wore a hat, sewn together with different patches of cloth. Prepping some water into a pot, he held it steadily above the campfire. The fire crackled as the silence grew. Both of us admired the fire as the water started to boil. ¡°My name is Lantern. How about you, fellow stranger?¡± ¡°Clover.¡± Handing me a cup of water, I took a few scorching sips. Trying to bring up a conversation, Lantern lowered his cup of water, ¡°So, anyway. Why are you going to Cornelius?¡± Awkwardly, I stared at the dirt below the flame Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°I have to deliver something important¡­¡± Lantern face fills with curiosity, ¡°Like?¡± ¡°A bottle of wine, apparently.¡± He looks at me with a confused face and shrugs, ¡°Anyways¡­ go rest, the stars are rather fine tonight.¡± Lantern stands up and walks off. Alone, I laid down and fell asleep to the crackling of the campfire¡­ I reached for a book on the bookshelf. The book had no title and was rough to the touch. Opening the book, the room around me started to collapse. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. A soft breeze brushes past my face as buildings stand around me. Soft, muted music echoes throughout the lonely street. Weave the unending darkness, Into colors beyond the eye. Gone, the king, who lived beyond time. Beyond the fool¡¯s dreams. And beyond this endless pain. We Wander the remains, at the end of everything. Forget, and remember, forget, and remember, O¡¯ troublesome worries Of this harrowing land. I shudder at this haunting melody and start wandering around. Buildings of worn out colors stretched across the endless streets. Except for the song in the air, everything else was unnerving silent. Silhouettes floated around aimlessly as I darted past streetlamps and alleyways. My head swayed side to side those haunting lines repeated over and over. Plugging my ears, I crouched down and started weeping. ¡°Please, just stop¡­¡± Suddenly, the sound disappeared as a hand fell on my shoulder. I turn around to see an old man. His peering eyes glared down as I quickly backed away. ¡°Who are you?¡± I shouted out at him and expected an answer, only to receive silence. Closing my eyes, seconds felt like minutes before the old man spoke up, ¡°Go back. You don¡¯t belong here.¡± Blinking twice, the world around me became that familiar room once more. I let out a sigh and slump on the chair. ¡°What the hell was all of that?¡± Shaking my head, my breath starts to thin. Pain digs its way into my skull as my world starts to spin¡­ Cold¡­ the early morning of a late autumn dew layered on my cloak. My eyes watered as I pondered on the dream¡­. The sounds of footsteps and branches snapping broke me out of my daydreaming. I glance up to see Lantern walking towards the snuffed-out fire with wood in his hands. Taking a deep breath, I listen to the sharp wind howling between the trees. Shivering under the cloak, I watch Lantern strike a few sparks into life. After a few sparks wisping into the wind, A small flame held its brilliance on the kindling. After the fire started to grow, I asked, ¡°Are we near Cornelius?¡± Lantern Replied ¡°It¡¯s pretty close by. If you depart now, you''ll make it at around 12 o''clock¡± Giving off a confused look, ¡°How can you tell?¡±¡± He starts explaining, ¡°You see, I read the Sun¡¯s position against zenith. When the Sun is directly overhead that means we are halfway through the day. It is pretty reliable sometimes.¡± He poured some water into a pot and heated it up. Pouring us both a cup, we warmed up our hands. Taking a sip of water, Lantern let out a puff of air. ¡° So, you know about the upcoming festival?¡± I kept my head down and stared at my cup. Seeing this Lantern spoke, ¡°Be wary. It seems the people are stirring.¡± Showing some interest, I ask, ¡° Why would that relate to the festival?¡± Lantern explained, ¡°Because of the recent disparities and issues going on. the people are on the line of rebelling.¡± I shuddered as he continued, ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, it seems a revolution might happen during the day of the festival! Maybe it¡¯s related to the war going on? Or cause of the taxes? Sources on this is a little strange.¡± Lowering my head, I take a sip of water. ¡°Are you heading into the city?¡± Lantern chuckles and stares off in the distance. ¡°I have to go, it¡¯s part of my work, after all.¡± ¡°And what work might that be?¡± Pondering, Lantern shakes his head, and shows me a scrap metal emblem. It held a symbol of a bird standing atop a lantern. ¡°I work with The Watchers. We¡¯re more of a community and take care of poor folks like you and I. However, it¡¯s not for free. Can I trust you?¡± Nodding, I drink down the rest of the water in the cup. ¡°I trust you, you trust me, right? I owe you for this night anyways, so what''s there to lose?¡± Lantern laughs and tosses me the emblem. "Fine, I''ll trust you. Just don''t go around flashing it openly, ok?" Catching it from the air, I smiled and said my farewells. Chapter 3. Cornelius The forest eventually became flat lands down the path. The autumn lands radiated a yellow-orange hue. Along the horizon, A couple of houses sat alongside the dirt path. Arriving at the gate, A triple Venn diagram with a triangle hung proudly on the in-construction walls. Scaffolding towered these gray walls. Up ahead, guards stood at the gate, wobbling on their feet. Exhaustion plastered all over their faces. Without much conflict, I entered the city. The entire town stood in contrast to the forest outside. The buildings held colors of mildly dark wood, and the walkway was laid with cobblestone. Walking around, there was a tavern, an inn, and a few stores sitting idle on either side of the road. A circle branched into four paths. Each one in the direction of a gate. Sitting on a bench, I read the plate on the figure. ¡°In honor of our Founder and father, Cornelius. The one who taught honesty, cooperation, and innovation.¡± Remembering the delivery letter, I pull out the yellow scroll. Opening it up, an initial ingrained into the scroll rises and morphs into a blank sheet of paper. A ball of light floated on my finger. I send out a message, ¡° The caravan encountered an accident. Your wine is in safe hands. Go to the statue please?¡± The page floated into the sky and drifted along the wind. Away from sight¡­ A few moments later, A similar page landed in front of my eyes, reading, ¡°Acknowledged¡­ Wait there. We have much to discuss.¡± The city seemed eerily empty, with only a few pedestrians wandering the streets. Bored, I stare off at the plumes of smoke rising into the sky¡­ The Sun hung directly above the Zenith when a cloaked figure of large stature walked towards me. His stature standing at about 6 foot 7, ¡°Are you the one who sent the message?¡± I reply, staring at his massive stature, ¡°Yes¡± Smiling under his hood, he raised both arms and exclaimed ¡°Welcome! It must have been a long journey. Come with me.¡± Standing up, we started walking together. ¡°I am Reid Cornelius. One of the family heads who runs this beautiful city.¡± Nodding, I ask, ¡°Where is everybody?¡± ¡°Today is the day where we mourn our losses, Our valiant soldiers who fought and fell. The ceremony starts at around 4¡­¡± Glancing at his watch, Reid gives a concerning look, ¡°It¡¯s around 12 right now¡­ So, I heard there was an accident? Can you tell me about it?¡± Stolen story; please report. I sighed, reimagining the caravan that lay still on the ground. ¡°I am not certain. When I came to my senses, everyone was dead¡­¡± Reid¡¯s eyebrows raised. His face filled with a look of shock, followed by surprise and then mourning. After a moment of silence, Reid commented, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what happened ¡­ But thank you for telling me. It must have been rough walking here. I owe you a thanks.¡± After a moment of contemplation Reid waved at me. ¡°Follow me traveler, I will compensate you with a reward.¡± Following, I look around the road, an excellent cobblestone road with stalls beside the stone and wood buildings. People occasionally walked around, and others set up booths. Seeking that opportunity for some commerce. My attention drifts toward the blue sky and the puffs of smoke in the corner of my eye. Suddenly, my daydream was interrupted by Reid tapping my shoulder. ¡°We are here.¡± Reid pulled down his hood revealing a structured face and a hardened gaze. Pushing open the gate, a luxurious mansion reveals itself between the rows of many trees. Their reddish-brown leaves rested on the path. Across the trees was a wide expanse with horses grazing aimlessly. ¡°Do you really need a house that big?¡± I ask Reid with awe and jealousy. However, he remained unfazed. ¡°This house is not mine. It¡¯s under the Cornelius family¡± A hint of defeat hung in his voice. I shrug and follow along. Entering the house, a grand staircase went up to the second floor. Which marked the center of the mansion. ¡°Follow me, I want to see the wine.¡± Walking awkwardly through the halls with Reid, we followed the carpets on the floor. I found my mind wandering in tempo with each step. Glimpses of maids, butlers, and noblemen roamed in and out of the many doors that lined the hallway. I felt my feet bounce lightly with each step. ¡°Here we are!¡± Reid exclaimed loudly, snapping me out of the strange atmosphere. ¡°Welcome! This is my study room.¡± The room was messy. In the center was a large wooden desk, papers stacked above my head. Boxes of rolled-up scrolls sat along the walls. Lastly, books of various sizes rested on the waning bookshelf. Pulling back the curtains, a beautiful meadow of yellowish grass revealed itself. Contrasting the mess that rested around here. Reid picks up a scroll and hands it to me. The page was a copy of a contract of the delivery, ¡°Under this scroll, I, Torbell Cork, guarantee a successful or not so successful, delivery of our first trial wine. This wine is a very special wine with illusionistic properties. A wine meant for entertainment as one witnesses a world of joy, bliss, and fulfillment. I guarantee a cinematic experience that you will not regret.¡± After reading through, I glance at Reid, ¡°Alright, show me the wine¡± I take out the wine. It was a fine glass bottle swishing with dark liquid. Cursive writing labeled the wine, dulce simulacra it read. ¡°Please place it on the scroll¡± The edges of the wine started to burn when I placed it on the scroll. An invisible circle charred black. ¡°Now I store this away, proof of a successful delivery.¡± Reid commented. Suddenly, a noticeable bell rang. Both of us turn our heads sharply towards the sound. After a second of silence, Reid exclaims, ¡°It seems I should hurry this transaction, food¡¯s ready. Here¡­¡± Rummaging through his pockets, Reid pulls out 6 coins ¡°Here¡¯s 4 silver, a copper and tin coin, I thank you again for this knowledge and the wine. Hurry along now. The exit is back where you came. Sorry!¡± Pushing me out of the room, I find myself back in the hallway. Reid hurriedly brisked down the hallway. I glanced in both directions and sigh. "This way if I recall¡­" I followed the familiar carpet patterns, inspecting the coins along the way. The coins were plain, but felt valuable. Flipping a silver coin, it lands on tails. With a couple of nods, I went straight for the exit. Soon I arrived at the front gate. An oncoming wagon sped past the mansion gate. spewing dust which plumed right in front of my eyes. I felt the cold late-autumn air seeping into my bones. A persistent growling rumbled in my stomach. With my mind set on a meal, I set my mind towards the city. Chapter 4. Ceremony I eventually arrived in front of the statue of Cornelius. Witnessing a proudly standing, burly man invigorating the marble. Around the town square, a wooden stage had been set up around the statue. Surrounding that, market stalls of various products lay on display. People roamed about, inspecting and wandering the markets. It was a lively atmosphere, invigorated with interpretable chatter. Passing through the market, I found myself gravitating to the scent of delicacies. Eventually, I pass by a building overflowing with a comforting atmosphere. Scents of stew were met with tables emulating joyful chatter as the townsfolk were immersed in their worlds. Glancing around, the only spot available was at the barside. Making myself comfortable, a barmaid approached. In a rather jarring voice, ¡°Ya must be new around here. I¡¯m Glynda. Whaddya want¡± I glanced up from the barside, and a rough, rather large barmaid forcing a smile greeted my eyes. ¡°Whaddya got?¡± She leans on the table and starts listing foods, ¡°We¡¯ve got Cornbread, Creamed corn in chicken broth, beef stew. I personally recommend Cornbread. It¡¯s a must have with beef stew!¡± "I''ll take the Cornbread and beef stew please" I sat there salivating at the aromas in the air. Suddenly, a rambling mess of a drunkard slammed his drinks on the table. His clothes were rough and dull, and his face was covered with a scrunchy gray beard. His obnoxious mumbling drowned from the chatter in the air. My face was soured by the outlier in the Tavern. Without realizing it, the barmaid arrived with my food. Placing the food on the table, I hear her sigh. ¡°You¡¯ve got to keep your eyes to yourself.¡± I turn my attention towards her, noticeably confused. ¡°That man. Poor soul. Went to war, came back drinking his sorrows away. Been here drink¡¯in way too much. Don¡¯t know what made ¡¯im like that. Honestly¡­¡± After wiping a few glasses clean, Glynda rushes to the other side of the bar. I sat in front of cubes of Cornbread and a bowl of beef stew. Picking up the spoon, the fragrant aroma of the savory stew intensified with each stir. Placing the first spoonful, The savory and delectable flavors reminded me of home. I puff out after swallowing the first bite, anxious for more. Soaking the Cornbread with the stew, a mild sweetness of the bread heightened the stew¡¯s complex flavors. I patted my stomach in satisfaction. Soon, Glynda arrives to retrieve my dishes. ¡°You look like you enjoyed your meal.¡± Glynda expresses a warm, motherly smile. Requesting 2 copper for the meal. Getting 8 copper back from a silver, I head out of the Tavern. In the town square, I overheard a few mentions about the ceremony amongst the chatter. Soon, we gathered in anticipation of the start of the ceremony. Wheels clattered on the cobblestone as the clomping of horses prances along the road. A trumpet echoed in the wind as people started to clear a path. Reid Cornelius exited the Carriage in a well adorned uniform. His stature towered over the audience as he marched alongside lightly armored guards. Flags were quickly pulled up as Reid walked up the stage. After a few lingering seconds of silence, The orange flags danced in the wind, and a melancholic melody started playing. Reid, shaking his head, started his speech, ¡°Fellow citizens, through trials and tribulations, we stand here today to remember our fallen¡­¡± Reid¡¯s face stiffened, his eyes gazing through at the wind as he touched his heart. ¡°The unfortunate and the ones who couldn¡¯t make it to see the Sun. We mourn and remember the names of the fallen through the whispering winds¡­¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The wind started to whisper non-coherent words amongst the audience. ¡°We stand, embracing the world that carries their will. In the midst of these times, remember the will of the founders of this city¡­¡± The wind started spinning around the crowd, and the non-coherent words seemed coherent. Names and words echo, and regret carried into the wind as Reid begins to list the names of the fallen. ¡°Quintin, Commander of the 5th brigade Vars, Strategist who achieved 7 crucial victories. Advick, Head medic of the 5th brigade. Edward, sorcerer of the 5th brigade. and many others¡­¡± Emotions stirred in the public as the people stood valiantly, holding back the tears in their eyes. An obnoxious cry echoed in the audience. The scent of alcohol spirited in the air. Reid¡¯s head hung low in mournful silence. With a sudden jolt, he snaps back towards the crowd. ¡°Stand proud of this city that gives us safety. We shall never forget the heroism they¡¯ve left behind. Do not falter against the wind, as many others have. Do not ever forget their passing¡­¡± Uneven footsteps echoed along the shifting crowd. A figure dressed in dull, patchy clothing stumbled amongst the crowd. A foul alcoholic stench trailed along the way¡­ The music came to a stop, and the wind began to settle. ¡°A moment of silence, please.¡± Reid announced as the crowd obliged. A figure was heard climbing on stage. His boots creaked against his weight. Everyone watched as he started shouting profanities in the air. Gazing at Reid, the figure''s face was as red as a tomato. ¡°How dare you! You¡­ killed off my comrades and sent them to hell. How dare you mourn ¡­¡± The guards rushed to drag him off. However, they were too late. The Drunkard Slammed his fist on Reid¡¯s face. The weight of the swing snapped at the air. Regaining his balance, Reid stood composed as another swing struck Reid¡¯s chest, delivering no noticeable impact. ¡°F*ck this!¡± He shouts as the guards pin the Drunkard to the ground. Reid glared in revulsion as the Drunkard stiffened. It was as if the wind carried killing intent. The crowd froze in fear as pressure built on their shoulders. Gasping for air, I held myself on my knees. A few people started collapsing as the weight became too much to bear. The wooden stage began to whine. ¡°Calm down sir. We¡¯ll deal with it.¡± A guard said to Reid¡¯s murderous eyes. After a few painstaking seconds, the tension vanished as Reid turned to the crowd. A forceful smile plastered over his face. The guards dragged the Drunkard away as Reid opened his arms to the audience. ¡°Sorry for the interruption. It seems an unexpected guest wanted to show themselves. Moving on ¡­¡± Reid continued his speech, his eyes glinted with a hint of disgust. The rest of the ceremony felt odd. Silence lingered as Reid finished the ceremony. Relaxing his face, he calmly walked off stage. The crowd started stirring, hastily flocking away. I stood in the center of the once-crowded plaza, slightly nauseous by the shifting mass. Catching my breath, I head towards the marketplace. Noises of bargaining and bantering stabbed at my head as I rested on a stray wooden barrel. Flocks of people passed as I stared blankly at the hardened dirt. Occasionally, my daydream got interrupted as I started nodding off¡­ The sky started to turn orange when I saw the same 2 guards casually chatting past where I rested. Red-stained gauntlets and a faint smell of blood whiffed around the two. Curious, I paced away from the guards. Glancing around the alleys, I found myself outside the marketplace when I saw a shaded lump huddled against a crate. Blood smeared on the floor as the lump groaned. Shivering, a glint of bloodshot eyes glared towards me. Suddenly, the man started to panic, quickly kneeling before me. ¡°Please¡­ enough is enough¡­¡± Sniffing, tears started to drip on the ground. I stood, confused. An injured Pleading man wept and begged. Clutching my satchel, I sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not here to hurt you¡± Hastily lifting his head up, A familiar face covered in blood and tears. The Drunkard, wide-eyed and bloodied, held his gaze over me. I reached into my pocket and felt a sharp poke, reminding me of the Emblem. Showing it to him I ask ¡°Do you know of this Emblem?¡± Nodding his head in a panic, The Drunkard¡¯s scuffled face relaxed as he slumped on a crate. sigh* ¡°What do the watchers want with me?¡± The Drunkard furrowed his eyebrow and glanced up at my face. He starts rubbing his forehead. Darting his head back and forth, he mumbled some incohesive words, and stood up to leave. ¡°It¡¯s get¡¯n late. Meet me at the ol¡¯ bar. Tomorrow, we can discuss all ya want about that stuff¡± Holding his side, he started limping away. I glanced up, the sky held a reddish-orange as darkness slowly creeped up upon the sky. Fiddling some coins, I paced myself to an inn. Chapter 5. Magical happenings The morning sun peeked its light from the window. A groggy yawn flew out of my body as my legs stung from the few days of travel. Scratching my head, I took a minute to listen to the birdsong outside. Remembering the verse, ¡°First, one must relax and feel a slipping feeling.¡± I slumped on the side of the bed and took a deep breath. A wave of sensation tingled my fingertips as I gathered my concentration behind my eyelids. After what felt like hours of stillness, I felt my perspective shift. In a sea of void, I instinctively reached out. Grasping a conception of a dagger. I felt a heavy weight hanging from my hand. Eventually, the weight became unbearable. Letting go, my meditation was interrupted by a loud thud. The dagger I had retrieved had fallen a noticeable distance from the nightstand. As if a ghost moved the object. Confusion, anxiety, and excitement erupted as I quickly strapped the dagger, sword, and satchel of scrolls. I left the inn noticeably perplexed, pondering the strange event. I felt befuddled as I was left with more questions than answers. Halfway towards the tavern, A sudden migraine pulsed at my skull. My steps started to warp, and nausea stirred my focus. Running to a nearby alleyway, vomit poured out of my mouth. Every breath sapped my energy as if I ran a marathon in a full sprint. The weight on my shoulders pulled me to the ground and my throat started to close. Rolling my eyes, I fell to the ground and lost consciousness¡­ Light pierce through the hazy window, glistening the putrid ink on snow white paper. Words float aimlessly, in this lifeless marble of dreams. Glance beyond the window, what do you see? In a chair, I sat in that mock medieval room. My head swayed side to side as I slumped back. Pressing my palm against my forehead, my back leaned forward as I started gasping for air. Pale light leaked from the curtains, illuminating the room as I lifted my head. In front of me were notes messily spread out. Incoherent at a glance, I picked a page up and started reading. incipit liber primus. The origin Between the fissure of 0-1. An (un)ending (non)existence of []. How can a gap so large, yet so immaculately small exist? ¡°How strange!¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The voice in my head reacted as a sense of dread washed over me. Looking at the other pages, the words started to wisp away in the air. Culminating in a humanoid figure with indescribable features. Its blurry form slowly approached the table and sat in the air, gazing out the window. I sat there, intrigued and confused, as I kept my attention on this amalgamation of flowing text. After an awkward silence, the humanoid figure spoke with an indescribable, eerie voice. ¡°Your¡­ Finally¡­ Free¡­¡± Chills ran down my spine as the words floated back to the pages. awe and anxiety filled my eyes as I silently waited for its response. Its gaze dug into my soul. ¡°But¡­ Recall¡­ How¡­?¡± Its hollowed eyes sharpened as I gripped my knees tightly. I felt like I had been caught doing a crime. ¡°Ha¡­ A¡­ Fool¡­¡± The figure started laughing as sweat started forming on my forehead. My fingers dug deeper into my knees, and anxiety turned into anger. The figure¡¯s head nudged to the side. ¡°Meaningless¡­ Struggle¡­¡± Words started leaking from this amalgamation. Its form, no longer sustaining as sentences flowed out of the figure. I am left alone, sitting at the table. The empty pages now filled with words of uninterpretable nonsense. A harsh wind takes the pages outside. I glance out the window and watch the pages blend into the blank landscape. Landing on the ground, color starts seeping into the white world. An artistic, but child-like, ever-changing scenery of a city filled the horizon. As if entangled in a dream, the scenery started fading away. I stared blankly, something inside me started deteriorating. Slowly, an ever-consuming void crept around the window. I pushed a chair in front of the window and took a deep breath. Images of a city filled my mind as the pages fluttered into the air. Listen, to the soft pelting of the rain. Pouring above the lost city of spirits. Far beyond the desert sea, the lonesome mountains, and the silent forests of forgotten time. There, a faint light might guide your way. Suddenly, a wave of cold air whistled in my ear and a sudden weight fell on my shoulder¡­ A pleasant, flowery scent brushed past my nose. Blinking a few times, I find myself in front of a concerned young lady. Her dirty blonde hair, tied up in a bun and her glasses sat comfortably against her face. leaning in front of me. She asks In a soft, delicate tone, ¡°Hello, hello¡­ Are you alright?¡± Nodding my head, I pushed myself up and looked around. A chilling wind rushed through as the street¡¯s fumes brushed through. I was in an alleyway, with a narrow view of the main street. Seeing that I¡¯m alright, the young lady stood up and turned away. Before leaving, she turned around and expressed a relieved smile.. I smirked and waved, unsure on how to thank her properly. Rushing away, she leaves the alleyway and vanishes from sight. Glancing at the sky, the sky seemed narrow, only revealing a line of blue with spots of white. Taking a step outside the alleyway, I saw a vast blue sky, unburdened by the buildings below. I chuckled, thinking of some odd symbolic meaning as I embraced the warmth of the sun. My mind directed itself to the Tavern, trying to make sense of it all¡­ Chapter 6. Dreamer The cobblestone streets dulled the atmosphere as the sky got progressively more cloudy. An artistic scenery of white, gray and blue smeared unique patterns and shapes in the sky across the horizon. Sometimes I wonder what being could paint such wondrous, ever changing art. Contrasting against the imaginary, childish scenery past the window. I sighed, breaking the monotonous flow of thought as I saw the tavern signboard up ahead. A homey atmosphere flowed around the tavern as the many tables and chairs were empty, except with a few folks eating an early lunch. I found the Drunkard easily in his usual barstool chair at the corner of the tavern beside a varnished dark wood wall. The scent of blood no longer. Approaching closer, I sat tensely in the chair next to him. I saw his eyes come back to life as he rubbed his shoulder. Turning his head towards me, a slight smirk lifted from his lips. ¡°Hello, lad¡± He greeted me with a rather strained voice. ¡°Hello¡­¡± I muttered rather quietly, still lost in thought. Noticing this, the Drunkard took a sip from his drink and pondered for a moment. ¡°Well? It seems you got a lot on your head. Ask away and I¡¯ll try my best to help ya out or maybe you need a drink?¡± I blink twice and faced the Drunkard ¡°You know, maybe I do need a drink¡± Chuckling, I placed the emblem on the bar table. ¡°So, what do you know of the Watchers?¡± Holding his drink up to his chin, he responded, ¡°Well, they are very prominent in the war¡± Chugging the rest of his drink and slamming it on the table, the Drunkard leaned forward and waved at Glynda. ¡°How ¡®bout it, after we drink a bit more I can tell you more¡± After a few moments, Glynda arrived with drinks. A yeasty scent wafted over the lightly coloured liquid as it foamed around the transparent glass mugs. Taking a sip, the taste hit sharply on the tongue. A light fizz bubbled gently, and warmth lingered in the stomach. Taking a couple more sips, the world started swaying when the Drunkard spoke up, ¡°During my time in the war, I fought in the frontlines with a great shield and a dainty spear. People fell left and right¡­Every day was hell¡­ Unnessaccary deaths and torment¡­¡± Shaking his head, he took a gulp of beer and slammed his drink to the table. I flinched as the Drunkard lingered in an air of melancholy. Refocusing on the subject, he continued. ¡°Besides that, the Watchers, very valuable organization. They acted as messengers, providing knowledge of our families while we were out there. We were kept sane because of them¡­¡± An awkward silence filled the space. The Drunkard gazed at his mug with longing eyes, lost in a daydream, he continued his recollection. ¡°I had many compatriots and companions¡­ So many with sons and daughters¡­¡± He raised the mug and gulped down a good portion of his drink. Puckering his lips, his face flushed slightly. Slamming the mug, he started rambling, If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I was a young soldier back then, diluted in the idea of heroism. An escape from my own troubles. No matter what difficulties we faced, we could overcome them together. At least that¡¯s what I thought¡­They were good men, played a lot of blackjack with ¡®em¡± Intrigued, I lightly sipped at my drink and responded ¡°So, what happened to your companions?¡± Scratching his head, he finished his drink and leaned towards the table. ¡°I do not know¡­ Back then, we were sent on a mission to secure a key position that could turn the war around. Under Lieutenant Cornelius¡¯ orders, we went to the main Aroca supply site but we weren¡¯t told nothin¡¯ about it ¡± Out of curiosity, I propped my legs onto the wooden stool and leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. ¡°Were there many guards at the supply site?¡± ¡°Yes, there were many. Too many to count. They even had a mage on site. It was devastating¡­¡± Halfway through my drink, I turned to him and watched him hiccup and mutter. ¡°Pah, What could I have done. I¡¯m a fraud, after all.¡± He propped his hand on his face and sighed, waving for another drink. After a few seconds, Glynda arrived with a mug full of beer. She brought a stool over and patiently awaited the Drunkard¡¯s story. Noticing this, he took a light sip of the drink and let his thoughts trail. ¡°It is truly evil for a man to send his soldiers to death on a dime. Why did he do that? What should we have done? I couldn¡¯t run nor cower under some table.¡± Glynda leaned on the table and swinged her legs to the bar stool. Intrigued, she asked ¡°So what did ya do then?¡± The Drunkard rested his elbows on the table and sighed ¡°I had to go, even if we backed out now it was too late. Our overconfidence made us believe we would succeed. But after getting flanked and cornered. We were massacred one by one. I somehow broke free. Didn¡¯t look back. Too scared to see the faces of my companions again¡­¡± I was almost done with my drink when the Drunkard took a break from his story. He had already finished 2 drinks. Impressed, I took my time to think. I was stuck between an indecisiveness to talk and a drunken haze that fell upon me. At a certain point, Glynda left to tend to other customers as the tavern was getting busy. Noticing this, I pushed the emblem towards the drunkard, ¡°So then, what connections do you have with the Watchers?¡± Rubbing his forehead, he took another gulp of beer. Clearly intoxicated and tired from all the talking. ¡°As a soldier, we always can reach out to them. Their work nowadays consists of research and ¡­ information distribution. Like a local librarian except hidden in the dark. Actually, my son, a local librarians is part of the Watchers¡± Intrigued, I leaned forward, my eyebrows furrowed in curiosity, and I pressed on, ¡°Are there other people appart of the Watchers?¡± He took a moment to think and cleared his throat ¡°The Pastor at the north chapel, the blacksmith towards the east, me, and my son to the south. His name is Otto, and there are a few more who reside here. There are many more out there beyond the city but I wouldn¡¯t know them.¡± Taking a time to think, I leaned back, let my legs swing in the air ¡°So what do you do then?¡± In an awkward silence the Drunkard finished his third drink and leaned towards me. ¡°Ah well¡­ Nowadays, I study dreams and share my research.¡± My eyes widen as I finish my drink. Fiddling my fingers, I have a realization. Why is he drinking and not researching? Taking the initiative I ask. ¡°So why are you day-drinking?¡± Facing back at the Drunkard, I tensed my face with concern. He leans on his left arm and faced towards me, ¡°It''s to forget. Got too much on my plate. You''re too much of a lad to understand anyways.¡± He glanced at the 3 mugs on the table, as if debating if he should request another. Shaking his head, he stands up to leave. ¡°Thanks for listening. By the way, I¡¯m Edgar Frontier. You might run into my work.¡± Reaching out for a handshake, I responded accordingly. Edgar turned to leave. Before leaving, he turned back around and added ¡°I will be gone for the next few days. Go see my Son if ya want. He¡¯s at the library south of the city. He¡¯s a good kid, just be patient with him.¡± I was left with 4 empty glass mugs on a table at a shaded corner of the barside table. Sighing, I hear Glynda walking towards my location. I requested some corn bread and ate quietly. ¡°It will be 6 tin coins¡± I handed a copper coin and turned to leave, waving a farewell gesture and exiting the tavern. Bouncing my hand against the wind, I found myself daydreaming. Reminiscing on Edgar¡¯s life, How does he live off of researching Dreams. "Wait, why did I pay his bill?" Chapter 7. Desire The sun hid behind a puffy white cloud, shading the city below. Standing still, I took a deep breath, stopping my mind from wandering further. A chilly wind howled in my ears as the sun revealed its light. I took my time blending in with the surrounding folk. After some time I glanced around. I noticed a building with obnoxiously large windows beside a familiar alleyway. The building displayed intimidating shelves filled with books. Enclosing the building within. Inside, that young lady from earlier sat at the counter. One arm propped against her head, staring hazily towards a closed red book. I took a moment, appreciating the textile layout on the shelves and entered the bookstore. ¡°Good evening¡­¡± She exclaimed in response to a jingle above the door and got up from the counter. A look of recognition filled her face as her eyes met mine. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the bum who collapsed midday in that alleyway?¡± She folded her arms and kept her attention towards me, waiting for a response. Nodding my head, My cheeks flustered, and heat built up around my neck. Turning my head away, I ask. ¡°May I look around?¡± She relaxed her gaze and went back to the counter ¡°Go ahead, if you need anything let me know¡­¡± Looking around, walls of books decorated the store. The books themselves, dull and dusty at a glance, containing knowledge not yet known to me. Not knowing which book to get, I reach out for a random book. The rough, leathery, green cover dulled the tips of my fingers as I opened the book. Light, musty fumes wisped in the air. I embraced a sense of nostalgia, holding a remembrance of strain and regret. Putting the book back, I aimlessly wander around the store. Hoping for something to catch my eye¡­ Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw the young lady pouting in annoyance. ¡°Hey! This is your 12th lap around my store. Are you''re here to buy something?¡± My eyes widened in surprise. The monotonous atmosphere of the bookstore had lulled me into a trance! Embarrassed, I quickly excused myself out of the bookstore. My cheeks flush from the late autumn cold as my mind roamed back to the bookstore. A primal desire for something more. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, hoping to quell my inner turmoil. Knots started forming with each step I took. Before I noticed, I was at the inn. Heading to my room, I hoped for my mind to clear under the comforts of a bed. Eventually, I exhausted myself with contemplation and melancholy. Laying on a familiar bed, I rose up and a rock sunk in my chest. Hush, whispery voices bounced around my head as my breath hastened. Looking around, my face puckered at the familiar room. It¡¯s sickening presence teased at my existence. I went to the tea table, expecting some over-saturated tea. However, there was no tea. In fact, the room was barren and empty. A thin layer of dust glowed under the dull, pale light that leaked from the tarnished windows. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Disturbing the dust, I found myself in awe of the damage of time. On the outside, sketches of trees merged and fragmented; as if a god was trying to mimic reality. Shivering at the thought, I turned around, sensing eyes burrowing into my back. My stomach sank as I witnessed movement from the door. The door creaked open, revealing a corridor of indeterminable length. The whispers grew louder as I stepped past the door. The corridor walls extended above the sky, like pillars supporting the stars above. I took my time observing this absurdity as I made my way down the corridor. Suddenly, words started engraving into the walls. Uninterpretable sentences and scrambled letters flowed its way across the walls. Like a creature awaiting its master, the text awaited my movement. Focusing on the text, the letters shifted into words that were interpretable. ¡° Those foolish scholars dare distract me. They do not know how much I sacrificed. There is no wrong way of magic.¡° I felt a curious gaze peering from the void above as I read the passage. I pushed forward, curious at what the sentences meant. Eventually, the letters morphed into a door. pushing open the door, it revealed the world outside the window. It was like a sketch in a book, it mocked a world forgotten to time. Wandering around, I saw the lines warp into a pathway. Along the path, a bench held a humanoid figure.His form shifting around as he rested his hands on a cane. Feeling my legs ache, I decided to sit beside him. The figure grunted and let out a sigh ¡°Lad, why are you outside? It¡¯s going to get cold.¡± As if the wind was always around, I noticed a bitter breeze flowing along my cheeks. The light whispers echoed through my ears as the voices in my mind stirred. Leaning back on the bench, I took a deep breath, hoping to silence the mind. The figure beside grumbled and slumped on his cane. ¡°Go back inside. Do not explore any more. It¡¯s not safe¡± The eerie figure glared out, staring far, far, away; as if he knew the boundaries of the unknown. I took my time admiring the scenery around me. It¡¯s dull, unpleasant and cryptic appearance grasping at my nerves. Conflicting desires of curiosity ached at my head. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I explore? There¡¯s so many things out there. I have this whole world around me¡­ The world beyond the window.¡± The figure tapped his cane, as if he was insulted by my words. ¡°Do you not see? This world is very dangerous. Give it a rest. Quell that damn curiosity of yours.¡± He started gritting his teeth and glared at me with disgust. Stomping the cane down, the trees vanished and the voices halted. ¡°This is my last warning. Go Back and forget about this land beyond time. You will only harm yourself if you continue your pursuit¡± The figure slammed his cane down a third time, crumbling the lines that define the objects in this world. I instinctively stood up as the bench crumbled into dust. The humanoid figure maintained his posture and pointed at the window. ¡°Go back now and leave this old man to rot¡± He held a stern gaze as I felt myself wisping through the window. My body slammed through the window and shattered it to a million pieces. I groaned in pain and cowered inside the dilapidated room. Grabbing a hold of something, I stood up and glanced over my shoulder. The barrier that separated the world from the room scattered on the ground. Looking down, I put my weight on a cane similar to that old man. Confused, I propped it against the desk and sat in front of the broken glass. Gazing at the lights that flicker in the sky. Blinking a few times, I awoke to the roof in an inn festering with questions and curiosity. Chapter 8. Books I stood at the door and sighed. Looking back, the gray sky diluted the sun¡¯s rays that pierced through the inn¡¯s window. Almost lost in a daydream, I shook my head and pushed through the door. The inn today had a pleasant number of people around the tables near the entrance. I went to the counter and requested a cup of hot tea. At the counter, a rough, burly man rested his arm on the counter. ¡°Hot water is free, but tea will cost ya. Is that alright?¡± I took a moment to contemplate which I wanted more. I decided that I wanted to try the tea. ¡°That will be a tin for a cup¡± I fiddled with the coins in my pouch that jingled pleasantly in the inn ¡°How much for the leaves?¡± The man leaned up and scratched his arm ¡°Recently, we got a new shipment restored. Heard there was a carriage that was flipped sideways somehow. Luckily, the goods didn¡¯t rot or get stolen. So, It would cost ya a silver for a pouch of tea¡± He lifted his hand to show an approximate size of the pouch which was around the size of a book. ¡°7 copper for a pouch¡± I checked my coin pouch, which amounted to 4 silver 2 copper and 5 tin. I handed him a silver and he gave 3 copper as change. Leaving me with 3 Silver 5 copper and 5 tin. The man pulled out a bag and commented while funneling tea into it. ¡°This tea is really nice. From the forest of the east. Got a really nice color to it. Here, hope ya enjoy your tea.¡± He handed me a nicely packed pouch of tea which bulged at the bottom and smirked for a moment before he noticed confusion on my face.Scratching my head, I asked.. ¡°How do I brew tea?¡± The man chuckled and reached out for the tea pouch. ¡°Here, give the bag to me and I will show you¡± I handed him the bag and he reached in and pinched a small bundle of leaves and put it into a cup. ¡°...After you put a few leaves into a cup you add some hot water and the water will turn a vibrant greenish yellow color and it''s done. Just that simple. If you want more flavor, you add more.¡± Taking some time to admire the color of the tea, I ask ¡°Do I add more to a kettle?¡± He took some time and nodded his head rhetorically. ¡°Well, I have some things to tend to. Ring the bell if you ever need some water and I hope you enjoy the tea!¡± He turned around and went through a backdoor no longer in sight. I was left with a brewed cup of tea and a pouch of tea leaves. Putting the tea leaves into my bag, I gaze at the wispy smoke rising into the chilly air. Blowing on it a few times, I took a sip of the tea that dulled my tongue. Which left behind a pleasant, leafy taste that tingled gently down the throat. This tea was rather pleasant compared to that over-saturated tea in that eerie, god-forsaken room. I stood at the counter pleasantly enjoying the tea and pondered about the dream. Is it so bad to want to explore a world unknown to me? What did it mean by ¡°There is no wrong way of magic.¡± ? I came to no conclusions after finishing a meal of tea and cornbread and went to the bookstore with a desire to know more about magic. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The cobblestone street dulled under the clouds, and the city felt pale. The lack of wind held the air still as if the wind stole the life of the civilians around. The street was populated with many going about their businesses. Some were working hard moving wooden crates around and others were gazing through a window appreciating the merchandise in a shop. I found myself lost in curiosity. Before I knew it, I was in front of the bookstore again. I went to the counter to ask ¡°Do you have any books on magic?¡± The young lady, bored, furrowed her eyebrows and glared at me.. ¡°So you''re interested in magic? A little flustered, I nod my head. The young lady smirked at my gesture and relaxed her posture. ¡°One gold, pay up and I can tutor you¡± After some fumbling, I identified 3 silver, 5 copper, and 5 tin coins. Not a single gold in site. I pouted in disappointment. Noticing this, the young lady propped her hand to her face and smiled at my tomfoolery. ¡°How about this, you hand me 3 silver and I point out a few books that will help start your journey. When you''re done with a book, you can tell me how it went¡± After nodding my head, the young lady swiftly navigated around the shelves. Years of experience being displayed as she quickly navigated through the store. By the end, she held a tower of books. Placing the books on the counter she sat down and exclaimed ¡°Maybe I went a bit overboard¡­ Oh well¡­¡± Tilting my head, I chuckled nervously at the mountain of books. ¡°Do you expect me to read all that?¡± The young lady giggled and softly smiled towards me ¡° Each book is one silver, so pick out whatever 3 you like.¡± There were nine books that made up that tower, 3 blue, 3 red, 3 green. I took my time tilting sideways to look at the titles. A few books caught my eye but I wanted a second opinion ¡°Which books would you recommend in particular?¡± She lined the books into its associated colors and pushed one of each color towards me. ¡°The books are separated between practical, fundamental, and theoretical¡± She points at red, green, then blue. Red represents practical, green represents fundamental and blue represents theoretical. ¡°These ones have given me the best results¡­ but it¡¯s your choice¡± The books pushed towards me were titled Magica Fundamentals and Guidance (green), Rituals, functions, and generalities of Magic (red), and Concepts of Mana and Soul (blue). Brushing my fingers over the covers, I looked at the other book titles that caught my eye. In the red there is, Flames, the power of invoking fire. In the blue, The relation of sky, land and above , Lastly, in the green, Awakening of the eye. Bouncing my decisions around my head, I decided to pick up Magica Fundamentals and Guidance, Flames, the power of invoking fire, and concepts of mana and soul. Pushing the books forward, I handed 3 silver. The young lady stacked the 3 books and handed it to me ¡°Those books are very interesting¡­ Particularly the concepts of mana and soul. Also when you are done with a book, come by whenever you want and tell me how it was.¡± "Sure I will check them out" ¡°If you ever need a place to study quietly, I recommend the library¡± Raising my eyebrows, I ask ¡°The one with Otto?¡± She also raised her eyebrows and held her gaze ¡°You know Otto?¡± I wobble my head and answer ¡°Kinda, heard he¡¯s a good fellow¡± She relaxed her gaze and smirked ¡°Tell him that Lily recommended you. Yes, I am tasking you for an errand. He is a few weeks overdue on his delivery of new books and I need more things to read¡­¡± Placing the books in my satchel, I nodded and rushed out the door, excitedly curious of the contents within the pages. Chapter 9. library The city felt murky and grey as people stirred throughout the streets. I briskly paced past the many pedestrians around. Eventually, I stopped to catch my breath. Taking some time to listen. ¡°... It looks like it will rain today¡­¡± ¡°...It¡¯s getting too cold and work has gotten worse¡­¡± ¡°...Price of food has gotten way too high¡­¡± ¡°...cough* cough*...¡± I felt myself slightly drowned into the environment. Taking a deep breath, I ignored the complaining and pushed forward. Keeping a firm grip on the leather strap, I kept my head down and hastened my steps. A mixture of melancholy and excitement stirred within me as I soon made my way to the library¡­ The wilted trees stood bare along a dirt road as the buildings dwindled. The narrow path widened as an exit gate separated the city from the outside. A red brick building stood at the path¡¯s end, marked by signs of dilapidation on its walls. Walking up the stone stairs, the door creaked open and announced my entrance. Across the hall, a neatly dressed, dark brown-haired young man held a book in his hand and sat on a wooden bar stool. ¡°Do I know you?¡± The young man hastily flipped through his book and walked towards me. He extended an arm out towards me and smiled ¡°Hello, unless I forgot to record who you are, welcome to my library.¡± Taking up the handshake, I ask ¡°So you''re Otto?¡± He nodded his head and kept his focus towards me. ¡°Have we met?¡± ¡°No. Lily sent me here as a recommended spot for studying. Also, she said to remind you that her delivery is a couple weeks late¡± ¡°Ah! Lily sent you. One moment please¡­¡± Otto quickly flips through a book on the table and starts mumbling something before he exclaims. ¡°hmm. She wanted a few books a few days ago. How could I forget¡­Oh well, I will be back so don¡¯t meddle too much.¡± Otto went behind a creaky wooden door, gone from sight. I was left under an orange-hued library with books cluttered throughout the floors and shelves. Exploring around, I noticed a lavender flower blooming from the pot beside the window. Its purple flowers shimmered in the light that pierced the grey clouds. Making myself comfortable on an empty desk, I pull out, Magica Fundamentals and Guidance. Its dull green cover contrasts the orange light. Letting out a breath, I traced my fingers along the cover and opened the book. Magic is the essence of gathering mana, the energy of the world, into the soul through the body. There are many means to interact with mana and one such means will be what works for me. Keep an open mind when it comes to magic, but beware the conflicting nature of mixing and matching techniques. One shouldn¡¯t mix fire with water or you might implode internally. Strictly speaking, there is a duality to things that should be recognized. Without caution, you might end up dead or worse¡­ Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I glance up to see Otto with a few books in hand and places the books on the table. ¡°Here you go. The books that Lily requested.¡± He makes a smirk as I nod my head. Putting my attention back on the book I continue reading. I personally recommend sticking to one fundamentals. Be patient with progress as it takes time and consistency. Shortcuts are not smart and will be detrimental. Lastly, before we begin, I remind you to be cautious about your condition. If you feel like you are drowning, coughing blood, headaches and other things please do not press forward and take your time. There is no shortcut to power unless you''re stupid or a one-of-a-kind talent. Letting out a hmph*, I flip to the first step of this book. First, breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose. Then hold without blocking your airways for 7 seconds. Blocking your airways with your tongue. or throat will lead to pressure buildups and bad habits. It might also lead to back-flow and suffocation. Lastly, slowly exhale for about 6-8 seconds through the mouth. Letting the air flow out. Do not force it out. Do 1-3 inhales and exhales then move on to normal breathing¡­ Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Performing a few practice breaths, I felt my limbs tighten and hands tingle. Afterwards, I felt a noticeable stillness, like my mind had consumed a bit of the haze that covered my thoughts. A rather pleasant, but faint intoxication. This exercise will cause your blood to tighten and your hands to tingle. Do not be afraid to stop if you notice something wrong. After breathing, you will be ready for the next step. This is a start to tempering a clear mind. A clear mind and sharp focus will lead to greatness in magic. The next step before manipulating mana, you have to set up a shield to block external threats. You do not want to be a victim of possession. Spirits gather to individuals working with mana. The wrong influence of spirits will be detrimental to the mind. Defining a barrier will help block interference that might leak into your soul. And it will help fortify a clearer mind space. There are many barriers out there. In my case, I imagine a veil of light wrapping around me like a ball. Take your time defining a barrier so that no external influence can happen without your permission. My breathing felt fainter and fainter as I started envisioning a thin, transparent barrier. It felt like I had isolated my mind into a room. Like I was an observer to the unknown. Entering a trance, you will slowly start seeing yourself entering a visualized scenery of your surroundings in your mind. Flickering between unconscious and consciousness, you will find your mind bouncing around, trying to grasp at straws. Within this state, one can invoke and communicate with higher beings, cast spells, perform rituals, enhance yourself and much more. An illusion of the desk reveals itself in my mind. This table held a jarring nature that made it seem uneven and its wood patterns started shifting. Trying to maintain focus, the words on the book blurred and started stirring. Afterwards, you will work on imagery. A common term for this process is the manipulation of phantasms. Impossibilities can only happen with a clear image of what you want within the realm of possibility. To practice this, you should look at the environment and hold that image in your head. With some imagery, imagination and cognition, you can visualize shape, form colour, texture, and many more. With enough practice and success, one can even bend concepts into reality. Recoiling from a gasp of air, I returned back to the book and read the last section. Overall, dedication will lead to growth in magic. Please be aware that this is only my experience on magic fundamentals. There are many methods that will grant fundamentals for magic. One interesting one is the monks in the northeast mountains. I encourage you to explore and I hope this stepping stone will lead you to greatness. I shook out of the trance with a pleasant scent of lavender. ¡°This is a a lot for 1 silver.¡± I thought as I Looked up and saw Otto holding a candle that was flickering faint streaks of purple. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Otto asks, patiently waiting for a response. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± I let out a yawn ¡°So, do you know anything about dreaming?¡± Otto held his gaze towards me with a slight twitch in his eyebrows. ¡°Why would you care to know about dreams?¡± After a brief moment of silence, I let out a sigh. ¡°I have been having recurring dreams lately, I want to know more. Also, I was also recommended here by Edward. I heard he is your dad.¡± Furrowing his brows, Otto takes out his notebook and replies, ¡°Edward¡­ Dad¡­ Fine, I will try to help you with your problem, but don¡¯t let your hopes up.¡± Pulling a chair besides me, Otto asks, ¡°So, can you explain your recurring dream? Hopefully we won¡¯t need to rely on other means. Human logic and common sense is the safest option after all.¡± I lower my hand and started fiddling my fingers ¡°You see¡­ It¡¯s very strange, my dreams. I have been entering a room as if I was in someone else''s shoes. However, recently I have taken control and could navigate this dreamscape. But it was decrepit and dilapidated. By the end of it all, I was left with a warning. ¡°Quell that damn curiosity of yours¡­¡±¡±. Otto reached for a notebook and started recording the information I spewed out. His hand seemed robotical and his writing speed was quicker than I could speak. Setting the pen down, he reviewed my statement. ¡°So, it seems there is something within your head protecting you from something. That¡¯s the best I can explain it. It is truly odd. Usually, the phantasms of the mind do not outwardly interact with the host. As so much as to give a warning¡­ this is definitely strange.¡± I nod my head, slightly understanding the weirdness of this situation. ¡°What can be done then? Will I live this life and never know the secrets locked within me? Should I tempt caution and see what''s beyond?¡± Tilting his head, Otto taps on his notebook repeatedly, as if in contemplation. ¡°How about this, I will observe whatever turmoil is within your mind, and hopefully I can make some recommendations afterwards. You see, I have some proficiency with reaching for internal secrets¡­ I also got recurring dreams, but they are not as vivid as what you have described.¡± Otto lets out a chuckle, ¡°So you''re in or not?¡± After a moment of silence, I nod. Chapter 10. Night ¡°The inner world is a fascinating thing. Everyone has it, but it¡¯s the most elusive concept,¡± Otto taps on the book I was reading. ¡°Do the method you just read in the book. First breathe, and hold that stillness within. Afterward, form a barrier and enter a trance. I will do the same and will greet you in the dream.¡± I nod and proceed to perform the steps again. Breath for 4, hold for 7, and let out for 6-8. Numbers that seem so formulaic but never rigid. After 3 sets, I held a weight, a nauseous feeling that''s hard to describe. My vision started drifting into the darkness behind my eyelids. Suddenly, light started popping in and out. Like wisps dancing in the corner of my eyes. Make a barrier¡­ Make a barrier. The wisps started to swirl around my form. A thin layer of light surrounded my form. In the next moments, I felt a poking sensation outside of my form. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s me ¡± Otto mumbles in a rather soft voice. ¡°Just try and imagine the recurring dream and I will enter afterwards.¡± The soft tapping of the rain echoed through my head, and the void behind my eyelids started to stir. I felt an ever expansive darkness wrapping around my mind¡­ I stood in the room once more, and saw the world beyond the window covered in rain. It was pleasantly dark, like the sun had descended the horizon. It was almost by instinct, I reached for the cane leaning on the desk. Letting out a sigh of relief, I went through the door. The weight of the cane felt comfortable in my hands as I delved into the dark hallway beyond the door, which was illuminated by obnoxiously large windows. The pale moonlight streaked the hall with shadows-like tendrils that danced lightly from the rain outside. Slight creaks ran chills down my spine as I carefully wandered this infinitely stretching, decrepit hallway. Suddenly, a bird pierced through the window. CAW* squealed the bird laying on the shattered glass. I braced along the wall, away from the window, and raised the cane towards the bird. It laid there, unmoving and silent. Gently lowering the cane, I kept my focus towards the windows as I crept along the wall. Progressing forward, my attention lingered on my breathing, as I cautiously dragged my feet along the floor. Leaning against the wall and glancing out the windows, the sky turned dark. As if a cloud was blocking the moonlight. The pitch dark hallway ran goosebumps along my skin as I stopped moving. The sea of darkness hid soft thuds on the roof above. I glanced around the hallway but to no avail. The awful cries of crows gradually grew louder as I stared out the windows. Holding my breath, I braced for whatever was approaching. A cacophony of crows flew down from the sky. It Piercing through the exaggerated windows. I took it as a sign and darted as fast as I could along the infinite darkness. The crows shot past me as their sharp beaks cut and stabbed into my flesh. My pain-filled wimpers were muffled by the sounds of feathers flapping, and the obnoxious cawing that echoed throughout the hallway. I felt my breath thinning as I curled against the wall, pleading for the storm to pass¡­ Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The mass of crows vanished as quickly as they came, leaving behind eyes that peered from the darkness. My vision wobbled as I felt blood trickling down my pant leg. I propped myself up with the cane as the hallway gained back its moonlight. Staring off at the shattered windows, the world outside was open. Like a moth to a candle, I felt my very soul burning as I wobbled towards the windowsill. The shadows started to morph and words filled my mind. ¡°Go¡­ Out¡­ Leave this¡­ rotten cage¡­¡± I felt my mind stir as I leaned against the windowsill and looked down. An ever expansive void stretched beyond my sight. The shadowy tendrils drifted enticingly along the cool breeze that paled my face. My eyes gaze at the moon that pierced the shadowy clouds. A beautiful jewel that glimmered in purity. This unknown world held an ever-enticing beauty that I deeply desired. The pleading of the shadows dulled my thoughts as I dragged the tip of my finger on the shattered window. A droplet of blood gathered on my finger. Its pristine crimson color glinted from the peerless moonlight. Taking a deep breath, I pulled away from the temptation of the shadows. Leaning against the cane, I felt my legs wobbling. The eyes glared into my form as words started to scramble into form. ¡°Be¡­ free¡­ Go¡­¡± The gripping desire tugged on my mind as I felt my mind stirring once more. The moon seemed to grow larger and held my eyes. Suddenly, a frigid hand rested on my backhand on top of the cane. ¡°You fool. Why are you outside your room?¡± I felt chills run down my spine as I immediately recognized the old man''s voice. ¡°This world does not need your presence, Nor your friend poking about.¡± His sunken face soured while glaring at the shadows. ¡°Do not listen to those fiends. They will tempt you into the unknown.¡± My gaze lingered on this old man and I furrowed my brows with frustration, ¡°So. What then? What is out there?¡± The old man¡¯s stern eyes peered towards me. ¡°It''s not safe. Go. Back. Now¡± A weight fell on my shoulders and my legs froze. I gazed at the world beyond the window. A flowing void, folding and warping in on itself. Uncertainty gripped on my legs as I took a step towards my room. My heart ached as I took another step away from the window. ¡°Do not regret this¡­¡± I thought as I inhaled deeply. The weight of the world pressing against my head. I turned around and saw the beautiful moon and the shadows that swayed so gently. My legs started running towards the window. The cacophony of crows sang its mad song as I lifted into the air. ¡­ ¡°fool¡­¡± The old man spat towards the silhouette falling out of the window. His dull eyes glinted against the moonlight. The horrid shadows shivered as the old man gathered the darkness towards his palm. ¡°¡­Good work.¡± He steps into the darkness with a smile plastered on his face. Leaving behind a lonely, dilapidated hallway, and a room door tarnished by time. chapter 11. Moon A fragile moon hung in the void. It¡¯s delicate light, piercing the darkness below. The yielding shadows, shrivelling and stirring, tugging at the desolate land below. A frigid breeze drifts ashen snow, which dances below pale moonlight. The humming wind whispers it¡¯s futile song, flaking the barren trees below. An expansive abyss stretches beyond the moonlight, encircling this wistful waltz. The dying wind hums its final song, as dreary clouds loom over the barren land below. The abyssal darkness stretched beyond the horizon as I fell past the dazzling moonlight. The tangle of tree branches crumbled to dust as I landed onto a pile of soot. Darkness seemed to weigh down my clothes. I felt my lungs burn with each passing breath. My eyes ached trying to grasp at the finest strands of light leaking from the sky. Silence hummed its dreadful song as I stumbled along this desolate land. Fine specks of ashen snow wavered in the air. I held the cane tightly as the void stirred its delicate soot into the sky. There was no sign of the windows above, nor any sign of any building to return to. My eyes started watering as the realization of the unknown pressed on my chest. ¡°Where am I? What did I¡­¡± My hands started to quiver and my mouth felt grainy. The air started to taste like salt. Impossibilities can only happen with a clear image of what you want within the realm of possibility¡­ The words drifted gently along the clouds as if they were hidden in the back of my eyelids. In my internal darkness, I recalled the moon. It¡¯s looming presence, right above this murky fog. ¡°Odd¡­ But maybe it could work.¡± I reached for the sky, yearning for something beyond the clouds. A passing memory of the moon flickered in my head. The sea above started to stir, drifting along an unforeseen wind. Beyond the endless abyss the line of perspective Reveals Its delicate light, piercing the darkness below. Moonlight pierced through, peeking ever so slightly beyond the clouds. I felt an unending wave of excitement forming around me. The delicate moonlight has stolen my gaze. Trails of ash and soot rise into the void-like sky. My eyes watered and my heart ached. A forsaken world stretched beyond the horizon. However, this crumbling land had already lost its stars. An ever-expansive abyss encircled the moon. The pale moonlight thinned as the moon¡¯s brilliance grew smaller and smaller. Until a speck of light hung in the darkness. A lone star, twinkling above my miniature form. I stood, admiring the speck beyond the darkness, and felt my pulsing heart rippling the seams of this world. ¡°Wake up¡­ Wake up¡­¡± My eyes open to a panic-ridden Otto shaking at my shoulders. ¡°Hey! Are you alright? I meet Otto¡¯s gaze and let out a muffled grunt, ¡°Ah! You''re alive!¡± Rising up from the uncomfortable chair, I lean towards Otto, ¡°So, was it a success?¡± A disheartened look filled Otto¡¯s face, ¡°No¡­ the experiment failed. Got stuck in a murky void and was moving towards nothing meaningful.¡± Seeing Otto stirring in his own thoughts, I shake my head ¡°It¡¯s alright. I will figure something out.¡± I turn my head towards the window and watch the soft tapping of rain beyond the night sky. ¡°...Can I stay here tonight? Or at least until the rain stops.¡± A forceful ¡°sure¡­¡± leaked out of Otto¡¯s mouth as he quickly got up and rushed through the door behind the counter. I sat quietly, my mind stirring from the recent event. Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the pleasant darkness and headed to the counter. ¡°Actually, the rain seems to be very light, I think I can make it back to the inn before it gets worse." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. I notice a waver in the light beyond the door as Otto pushes the door open slightly. ¡°That¡¯s fine. You are welcome to come back whenever.¡± Picking up Lily¡¯s books and putting back the few books I bought. I check the amount of money I have left. ¡°5 copper and 5 tin¡­ man I need to start making money soon.¡± I thought as I reminisced the silver coins that were once in my pouch. Saying a ¡°farewell¡±, I pushed open the front door and felt the cold air brushing against my cheeks. The pleasant scent of rain wisps into my nose as raindrops tap on the back of my hand. I let out a sigh as I stepped onto the wet dirt path. Being a reasonable distance away from the library, I admired the sturdy, leafless trees around me. My vision blurred as I started focusing on my breathing. one must ¡°open¡± themselves to the world and feel the ¡°mana¡± that is within us all. I felt the surrounding air heat up as droplets of rain tapped on my head. My relaxing eyes gazed at the clouds above as a howl was heard in the distance, taking my attention away. I raise my hand towards the sky, grasping at the moon beyond the clouds¡­ A weight dropped on my chest as my legs quivered. The sound of something approaching crushed the dried leaves in the distance. A silhouette of a 4-legged creature dashed past the treeline. I desperately reached my hip and grabbed at nothing. ¡° I left the dagger at the inn¡­ Damn it¡± Dread washed over me as I kept my eyes on this creature. It¡¯s movements jumped from tree to tree and was slowly circling around me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Feel the mana around me¡­¡± Each passing breath flowed in and out, in and out¡­ in and out¡­ A wolf stood in front of me, its malnourished form and bearing fangs rumbling with an irritated growl. The second step of the process is to imagine yourself gathering energy. Walking the thin line of being barely conscious, you have to take advantage of your imagination ¡­ The words seemed to ever gently flow in front of my eyes. Reality and fiction aligned in my head as flickering darkness separated each world. Heat started swelling around me as droplets swirled above my palm. All of my attention shifted to the wolf as its ravenous form instinctively held still. ¡­ o¡¯ fleeting wind ¡­ The tearing wind howled as the wolf leaped back. A chaotic jolt struck at its head. I held my stance as the injured wolf hobbled towards me. Clenching a fist, my left shoulder tightens as the wolf leapt from its spot. Its claws reached at my skin, tearing at my right arm as I twisted into a left haymaker. Energy surged from my shoulder to my knuckles, knocking the wolf to the ground. I let out the stagnant air and raised my palm. Aiming at the wolf, I closed my eyes, hoping to get back the feeling from before¡­ but to no avail. I started to wobble, pain pulsing at my head. Quickly retreating to the dirt path, I clench at my blood-soaked forearm. My limbs started to ache as I saw buildings gradually getting more plentiful. Passing by the city gate, I could not help but be blessed for the rain that deterred the people around. Looking at the wound, the bleeding would not stop. Pressing down with more force, I rushed towards the inn and pushed through the front door. The inn had a couple of people conversing and enjoying themselves. three people to be specific. Some of them took a glance and started whispering words towards each other. Their quiet murmurs filled this empty lobby as I approached the counter and rang the bell. The rough, but groggy, innkeeper walked past the door behind the counter. ¡°Hello¡­ What can I be of service? Hmm?¡± His eyes light up to the sight of my blood leaking from my fingertips. I signal concern through my eyes as the innkeeper reaches for something behind the counter. ¡°Hold on, that looks really bad. I got something, but you might need to see the priest up north for that one.¡± Taking out a cloth, some water and a pouch, the innkeeper signals the cackling bunch. ¡°You guys! Go get me some honey and a couple more clean rags.¡± He turns towards me and holds a dampened cloth beside the wound. ¡°This is going to hurt, but it¡¯s hard to see the wound¡± I flinched at the boiling hot cloth pressing on my forearm and felt my breathing thin. My face scorn as I clench my fist tightly. Each tap of the cloth radiated pain past my shoulder. ¡°Alright, I got something for ya¡± He hands me a pouch filled with leaves. ¡°This is a special tea that speeds up healing. Moisten the leaves and leave it on the wound for a bit. It will stain your skin but do not worry about it. Here let me show ya.¡± He sprinkles a bit of the tea leaves onto a cloth and soaks it in water. Trails of brownish-red streaks erupt from the cloth as he hands me the soaked cloth. ¡°Here, press this on your wound. It will hurt but you got this.¡± I nodded to his command and pressed the cloth on the wound. Trails of brown liquid dribbled down my arm as a dull ache numbed my forearm. The innkeeper held a soft smile as the cackling bunch pushed past the backdoor. ¡°We found the honey, sir.¡± The black-robed man from the bunch placed the honey down as the group sat around me. The innkeeper, ignoring their presence, instructed me to take the blooded cloth off and to lather honey on the wound. Obliging, I felt the cool, sticky honey weighing on my arm. The dulling pain seemed to relieve itself for a moment as I focused on my breath. Wrapping a cloth around the wound, I sat up on the chair and gazed at the ceiling above. The bunch leaned towards me and one of them started tapping on the table. ¡°Soo, are you alright? What happened?¡± A pale, brown-haired lady perked her voice up. Her face was filled with curiosity, smothering any lingering concern she held. I let out a sigh and my lips quivered slightly. ¡°There was a wolf on the outskirts of the wall. It was a close call, but I managed.¡± A light on the curious lady flickered in her eye as she leaned towards me. ¡°A wolf? How did you manage?¡± She glanced at my hip and sat back on the chair. ¡°Especially with no weapon on you. How¡¯d you do it?¡± I take out Magica Fundamentals and Guidance and tap on it. ¡°I fought the wolf after some studying¡± The curious eyes of the bunch widen at the book as one of them voices out, ¡°So you''re a mage then?¡± I shook my head no and smiled, ¡°No, this is just the start of my journey. I can cast, probably.¡± My eyes started to close as a wave of nauseousness struck at my head. The innkeeper caught my descent towards the table as the bunch looked at each other and the brown haired young lady extended an arm out ¡°I¡¯m Yuka! We bunch are a group of mercenaries. Nice to meet you, sir mage! I gave a weary nod and rested on the back of the chair. ¡°If you are interested¡­ you can join our party after you recover, and you can show us your skills?... We are looking for people to help us out.¡± I let out a hmm* and tilted my head to the side. Yuka glances at the rest of the party and they each nod to her as she takes out a flyer, showing a wolf hunt. ¡°We plan on taking out some of the wolves troubling the farmers recently. They will reward us with 30 silver, which is¡­ 7 silver split between us all if you help, sir mage.¡± The innkeeper extends his palm and glares at the party. ¡°Leave the man alone. Just look at him, he¡¯s about to pass out.¡± I push the innkeeper aside and lean forward, contemplating the offer. Eventually nodding in agreement. ¡°Sure, but don¡¯t expect too much from me.¡± I watched the party glow in excitement as I carefully stood up from the chair. ¡°I¡¯m off to get some rest. Hope to see you tomorrow!¡± Sending them off with a light smile, I climb the stairs, enter my room and collapse onto the bed¡­ Chapter 12. Chapel A crisp breeze leaked through the closed window, encapsulating the room beyond the cozy bed sheets that I hid under. The chilly air sapped at my biceps as I regrettably lifted the bed sheets and quickly pulled them back. Letting out a grumble, I felt my fingertips slowly regaining some life as I felt my feverish face sniffle. ¡°Man, did I catch a cold?¡± The sudden realization explained the terrible pain stuck in my throat. Letting out a cough, I felt my brain pulse and remembered the wound on my right forearm. I could only imagine the fleshy wound hidden under that bloody cloth. With a deep breath, I quickly lifted up the bed sheets and strapped my sword and dagger, heading out to the lobby. I glance over the balcony, seeing a few familiar faces from last night. Heading to the party, I gave a wave and made myself comfortable. ¡°Hello guys! cough* how¡¯s it going?¡± The red haired one glanced towards me, ¡°We are waiting for Yuka right now. Go get yourself some water or something.¡± I nod and head to the innkeeper¡¯s counter, ringing the bell. A few moments later, the innkeeper arrives and gives a hearty greeting. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I give a sniffle and a nod, ¡°I¡¯m fine, there was just some air leaked from the window last night.¡± I rub my head as the innkeeper writes on a slip of paper and passes it to me, ¡°Here, give this to the priest up north. We are quite blessed to have a healer in Cornelius. Don¡¯t have to worry about wounds.¡± The innkeeper let out a smile as I took the slip and requested some hot water. After some stirring by the innkeeper, I got a cup of water and glanced back towards the party. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them, I will tell ¡®em you went to the priest.¡± I smile at the innkeeper and head to an empty table. It was a pleasant delight admiring the trails of vapor in the air as I took out Lily¡¯s book. ¡°The nature of interpreting reality. What a weird title.¡± I put the blue book back into my bag as I pondered on the title. ¡°Hmmm, isn¡¯t interpreting reality just perspective?¡± Scratching my head, a chilly breeze flows past the inn¡¯s entrance as I make my way towards the priest up north. The frigid air flushes my cheeks as I huff out a plume of smoke. Rubbing my injury, I trek along the gray cobblestone road that divides the buildings. Buildings of red, brown, and dark brown, with windows facing towards the road. Holding my head down in shame, I quicken my pace and tuck my bandaged forearm under my cloak. Glancing ahead, my eyes meet a plain building surrounded by a graveyard. The faint scent of smoke hangs around the chapel as I make my way towards the door. A heavy, brownish red door stands with metal ring handles. Grabbing the rusting handle, I lift and drop it, causing a loud thump*. Moments later, a slender and towering priest peeks out of the door. ¡°Hello¡­¡± His soft-spoken voice did not match his physique, and his hollow eyes stared at something beyond me. I kept my head low and stood uncomfortably. ¡°Well now, come in. My name is Theo, It is much pleasure to serve.¡± Theo holds the door open as I make my way in. To my surprise, Lantern sat comfortably on a pew. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the young bird! How¡¯s it been?¡± Lantern extends a hand and I accept the gesture. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s been well.¡± I pull back my arm and sit on the pew. Looking around, I notice stained glass, holding an image of a lit brazier. The chapel glows in a dimly-lit orange hue as lamps line the walls. ¡°It¡¯s a pretty place, isn¡¯t it?¡± I comment with admiration-filled eyes. Lantern leans back and lets out a sigh, ¡°Indeed, this chapel is very beautiful. Bewarned, not a place to stay forever. Only a sanctuary.¡± Lantern gazes at Theo and he approaches, ¡°Isn¡¯t that rude, I have you know this chapel is the place closest to my Lord.¡± Hearing this, Lantern lets out a joking remark. ¡°Ha, isn¡¯t it ironic then that ¡°lord¡± is strapped on a mountain? Closest my ass.¡± Theo, unnerved by this, taps on my shoulder. ¡°Please ignore this rude guest. What can I be of service to you?¡± I pull out my arm and point at it. ¡°I encountered a wolf on the outskirts of town. Luckily I managed to get out before anything serious happened.¡± The towering priest kneels, unwraps the bandages and inspects the wound closely. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you decided to come here. This wound would disarm you for at least a month.¡± Lantern, noticing this, leans closer to the wound. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Indeed, I would say a week with proper care. Or even a day if ya that guy.¡± He lifts his head at Theo who stares intensely at the wound. ¡°1 silver, and I will heal you up.¡± I searched around my bag, hoping that a silver would appear out of nowhere when lantern perks up. ¡°He¡¯s already paid. Good lad donated me an entire silver a little while ago¡± Lantern flips a silver coin and hands it to Theo. ¡°Also, no need to be too secretive to the young bird. He¡¯s already with us, the Watchers.¡± Lantern reaches into my bag and pulls out the emblem. Theo glares at Lantern shoving the emblem in his face. ¡°How many times have I told you. You have to go through a process to get initiated. Don¡¯t go giving those emblems away so nonchalantly.¡± Theo turns towards me, ¡°Oh well. To start, I am a priest who follows Ithax, the God of fire and healing. I am also the owner of this chapel and provide sanctuary to those in need.¡± Theo stands up and offers a hand, ¡°Come on now, I will heal you.¡± Taking his hand, I stand up and follow him to a room filled with lit candles. Theo stands in the center of the room and turns towards me. ¡°Extend your arm towards me¡± I listen to his command and Theo extends his arm over the wound. ¡°O¡¯ flame¡­ Heed my command¡­¡± The candles flicker as a stream of pale orange essence gathers to his palm. Gradually, the room becomes darker and darker as each candle is extinguished. Warmth reverberated from his palm and gradually flowed into my wound. The room became dark as the faint scent of candle wax left the room. Pulling open a curtain, I saw Theo gazing out at the graveyard. Making my way towards him, I tap his back as he turns around. ¡°Thanks for healing my arm. How did you do it?¡± Theo lets out a sigh, ¡°As a priest of Ithax, I can tap into the essence of life within the flame.¡± I tilt my head and furrow my brow, ¡°Essence of Life? Is this like mana?¡± He lets out a surprised look, ¡°Mana¡­ kinda, but the origin of it is different. Do you know the legend of Ithax?¡± I shake my head no. ¡°To summarize, Ithax indulged himself in the eternal flame and fell to earth. The eternal flame mixed with Ithax¡¯s godly essence and that flame revitalized the world.¡± I further tilt my head in confusion, ¡°Revitalized the world in what way?¡± He looks out the window and sighs, ¡°This world was once a barren desert. At least long ago... Through Ithax, trees, mountains and diverse life became possible. We humans also acquired the knowledge of fire because of Ithax.¡± Looking at Theo, his hollowed eyes glinted with light and I fixed my posture. ¡°So, your God became the source of life for this world?¡± He glances at me with slight enthusiasm, ¡°Yes, however, he did not go unpunished. The Other Gods eventually found him and took him back to the heavenly realm, where he is eternally strapped to a mountain, getting pecked out by crows.¡± I tilt my head again. ¡°Crows? And what¡¯s with the punishment? That¡¯s a little harsh.¡± lightening his enthusiasm, Theo sticks to a straight face. ¡°Indeed it is. The other Gods do not want Ithax from jumping into another essence. You could argue he is suicidal, but I¡¯m not him. The Crow is important as well. That God, Morrigan, was once a brilliant bird like a dove. But due to its desire for the eternal flame and its failure to acquire it, She took her anger out on my God.¡± I further question, ¡°So what is the symbolism of Crows?¡± He slightly leans towards me and paces towards the door. ¡°Crows are a symbol of death. They desire the flame within the material world and are a mark of destruction and ruin. They are also a mockery of Ravens, who represent Lord Odin, the God of secrets and knowledge. I raise a curious eyebrow, ¡°How do I distinguish a crow from a raven?¡± ¡° Listen to the caw. The crow is known for its distinct caw. This is because they had burnt their throats out by the eternal flame.It is very sharp, like a madman cackling. The raven on the other hand is much more strange but has lower tones. They are also larger in size.¡± Theo opens the door and gestures to me through. ¡°Come on now, I¡¯m not here to take disciples. You are already tainted with mana anyways.¡± I stop after crossing the door ¡°Tainted? In what way?¡± He leads me back to the main room. ¡°Mana is the source that mocks reality. Bewarned, as I have treated you with my Lord¡¯s essence, you should avoid pyromancy for at least a few days. My Lord¡¯s essence does not work well with a mockery of the eternal flame.¡± I nod and keep my head low. ¡°So? How¡¯d it go?¡± I hear Lantern perk up and I force a smile, ¡°It went well, his God is very fascinating. But I don¡¯t understand, why isn¡¯t mana and Ithax¡¯s essence compatible?¡± Lantern lets out a chuckle and walks towards me. ¡°So you delved into magic. Congratulations on becoming an initiate of the watchers.¡± Lantern notices the confusion plastered over my face, ¡°Hey now, the first step is to dive into the supernatural. It¡¯s up to you to decide what you want to provide to us and we will reward you with money, magic items and maybe even an assistant.¡± Lantern puts his arm on my shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t be too caught up in your thoughts. We¡¯ve tested fire magic and divine manipulation of fire. It doesn¡¯t go too well¡­ Ya know, self combustion and all. Also don¡¯t worry about throwing fire at that priest, his skin and robes are fireproof. Only the internal stuff will get messed up if you combine this specific divinity and that specific magic.¡± I nod and sit at a pew, pondering the information given when Lantern walks up to me again. ¡°If you need any help with magic, I can be of assistance. Also a task opened up with the blacksmith to the east of the city. Check it out some time.¡± I let out a ¡°mhm¡± as Lantern headed towards the heavy wooden doors. ¡°I¡¯m heading out now. Remember to visit here occasionally!¡± I wave a farewell as Theo mutters, ¡°Damned fool, thinks this church is his home or something¡­ You should leave as well, I have morning service to preach to, unless you want to listen in.¡± I get up and head towards the door. ¡°Thanks again for the healing. Also I noticed a similarly dressed-black haired guy at the inn, do you know him?¡± Theo glances at me with surprise, ¡°You mean Cecil? He is my disciple. I heard he¡¯s planning a wolf hunt. Are you friends?¡± ¡°No, I recently joined their wolf hunt group after dealing with a wolf.¡± He contemplates for a moment and smirks, ¡°I see¡­I will have Lantern oversee the group¡¯s safety. Can¡¯t let him stay here for free.¡± I nod, waved a farewell and rub my recovered arm., still astonished at the power of healing. Chapter 13. Weapon I arrive at the inn lobby with chatter in the air. Plenty of people conversed around the lobby as I made my way towards the front counter. ¡°...Have you heard? Gina Cornelius, the district mage is not returning for the festival.¡± ¡°...Really? How come?¡± ¡°...From what I have heard, there¡¯s been an accident and she has fallen ill.¡± ¡°...Man, I was looking forward to her magical performance¡­¡± I felt a tapping over my shoulder and turned around to Yuka, smiling awkwardly. ¡°Are you alright? Did you get your wound healed?¡± I nod my head, ¡°So when are we going to do the wolf hunt?¡± A look of surprise filled Yuka¡¯s face for a moment as a more natural smile filled her face. ¡°We can go right now! Or tomorrow. Either or, we are acquiring funds for the festival¡± Letting out a light chuckle, I ask ¡°When is the festival?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in 4 days. But we should go sooner rather than later. A lot of farmers are complaining recently¡­¡± I see her anxiousness and answer, ¡°Sure, we can go in a bit. I want to visit the blacksmith first. See what wares are available.¡± Yuka¡¯s eyes lightened up as she headed over to her party and pulled on the red-haired one¡¯s shirt. ¡°Khalid! Help our new member out.¡± In a slightly irritated voice, Khalid asks ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Sir mage wants to see the blacksmith. You have a good eye for weapons so, please and thank you!¡± Khalid sighs and walks towards me. ¡°Hello again newbie, you want me to help get you a weapon?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I already have a weapon, but I would like to check what the blacksmith has.¡± I tap the sword sheath and Khalid lets out another sigh. ¡°Alright, I will go with you. But make it quick! We will start the wolf hunt after you''re done.¡± Nodding, I stand up and follow Khalid out of the inn. The road smelt of rainwater as frigid air flowed out of the alleyways. The sun did not peak its light past the clouds, but the sky illuminated the city below. Instinctually, I tucked my hands under my cloak as the cold wind became unbearable. Khalid, on the other hand, continued pacing without budging from the wind. ¡°Are you not cold?¡± I ask in a worrisome tone. ¡°Nah, been through worse. Try training in the winter at midnight. You will wish you were in warm air like this.¡± He lets out a chuckle and slows down his walking. ¡°Are you uncomfortable?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You walk with a limp.¡± My face blushes as I turn my eyes in embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s at least smart to carry a weapon, right?¡± ¡°But if you can¡¯t properly wield that weapon¡­ then what''s the point?¡± Khalid looks at his palm and then grabs on my forearm ¡°Extend you palm out¡± I un-ball my hand, revealing a palish white palm. Clammy and cold from the surrounding air. ¡°Anyone can tell by your palms that you have never wielded a sword before¡­¡± My brows furrowed as I swallowed the criticism down my throat. ¡°But, let''s see what you can do.¡± Khalid glances up at my face covered in confusion and curiosity and walks ahead. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked but got no response and the rest of the walk was rather silent. Cling* Clang*, the chirping of metal sang its repetitive song as we approached a hut which connected to a smithery out back. ¡°We are here.¡± I hear Khalid say as he pushes the front door open. The store was rather dark, with sunlight leaking through the dust-covered windows. Khalid pulled back the curtains and our eyes glanced up to the opened backdoor. ¡°Follow me¡± I watch Khalid enter the backdoor and proceed to follow through. Gray clouds plumed from a quenched sword as the blacksmith turned towards us. ¡°Ah, visitors¡­¡± I hear him grumble as his eyes glances away from the sword and towards Khalid. ¡°Oh! Hello, it¡¯s been a while Khalid!¡± Khalid lowers his head and smirks, Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Yes, it has¡­¡± The blacksmith lowers the quenched sword on a metal table, ¡°Come on now! Don¡¯t be so down towards your uncle!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°So you brought a friend! Hello there, my name is Dominic. What is your name?¡± I also lower my head, pondering on some excuse of a name to go by, ¡°Call me, Clover.¡± Khalid scratches his head as Dominic walks up towards us ¡°So, what do you want from me, Clover?¡± I see Khalid glance towards me slightly irritated, and answers in my stead ¡°He wants a weapon picked out for him. Something light, and beginner friendly.¡± Dominic analyzes my physique for a moment and approaches me. ¡°Open your palm out.¡± I listen as he rubs his thumb over my palm. ¡°hmmm¡­ Not much of a warrior¡­¡± He glances at my eyes, ¡°So, what weapon are you expecting?¡± Tilting my head, I think for a moment and answer ¡°Something light, with good reach¡± Dominic''s eyes glanced at my hip. ¡°Can I see that sword?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He unsheathes the sword from the scabbard and reveals the tarnished sword. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± I see his eyes glaring at me as he analyzes the hilt¡¯s emblem. ¡°..I got it from a corpse.¡± He furrows his brows and puts the sword on the table as I explain further, ¡°I was with a caravan that was set to head to Cornelius. Unfortunately, an accident happened and everyone except me parished.¡± he lets out a sigh, ¡°This sword is gifted to mercenaries in Idosa, the city off to the south-west of us¡­ I can let you trade it for something, if you want.¡± Nodding, I watch Dominic place the sword back in the scabbard and he glances at Khalid ¡°Show him around and let him try out the weapons. I will be busy finishing up this sword.¡± He glances towards me and smiles ¡°If you need anything, let me know.¡± I walk up towards Dominic awkwardly and take out the Watcher¡¯s emblem. Letting out a surprised face, he chuckles and glares at me. ¡°I see¡­ So you are the one that lantern is talking about. I will let you know about the task after you choose a weapon.¡± Khalid taps on my shoulder and gestures to me to follow him. ¡°Come, I think I know what weapon will fit you.¡± Entering into the hut, I watch Khalid light up a few lamps, revealing a mess of weapons and armors. ¡°It was this box¡­¡± Khalid lifts a long wooden box and places it in front of me. ¡°Here, try this weapon out.¡± He opens the case and reveals a spear. The weight of the spear seemed well balanced, with a nice pummel counter-weight, a polished wooden shaft, and a reliable looking spearhead. It felt nice in the hand. Sizing it up, I found that the spear shaft went below my shoulders. ¡°So, How is the spear?¡± ¡°It seems really nice. Can I try this out?¡± ¡°Sure, give me a sec to match the length.¡± Khalid sizes up the spear with a pole and hands me the pole. ¡°Alright, I think your ready to start practicing¡± We both leave out the side door and head towards a lonesome training dummy. ¡°To start, hold the pole like this and face the dummy¡± Khalid stands with his left side forward, standing in a linear stance with his backfoot horizontal. His stance was similar to a right-angle triangle and his knees were bent low ¡°Make sure you keep your knees bent, as this allows quicker movements and stability¡± His eyes glare into the dummy, taking up his full attention. With a soft exhale and swift inhale, Khalid thrusts the pole forward, leaving a dent into the dummy. ¡°Remember, you can lean into the thrust. Providing more impact in the movement¡± Khalid breaks out of his concentration and gives me a smile. ¡°Alright, your turn now!¡± Handing me the pole, I walk up to the dummy and try to match the posture that Khalid had. Feeling comfortable, I bent my knees and focused my concentration on the dummy. Inhaling and exhaling, then swiftly inhaling again, I push my arms forward and strike the dummy. Thud* I released my focus and looked at my impact. ¡°Hardly a dent¡­¡± I think as Khalid rubs his hand over the impact mark. ¡°Hmm, Not bad¡­ made a good scratch on it. Also, don¡¯t compare your strike to mine, I have been training for most of my life.¡± I nod, but the feeling of disappointment still lingering in my heart. Khalid grabs onto the pole and pulls it out of my hands. ¡°Alright, now for the next lesson¡± He stands in the same position and starts concentrating on the dummy once more. Pulling the spear back with his left arm, he goes for a slight swipe and follows up with a thrust. ¡°This is a classic technique. You swipe the spear and go for a quick thrust. This is good for knocking away the sword and quickly ending the fight.¡± Showcasing it a few more times, Khalid steps back and hands me the pole. ¡°Alright, you basically got the basics. There still are wide swings and stance swapping, you will figure that out with enough time and practice. Have fun!¡± He pushes me forward and lets out a satisfied hmph. Soon, I find myself getting comfortable with these movements and start changing my hand positions. ¡°If my hands are too high up, then the shaft will stop at my ribs or back, but it leads to very swift strikes with the forward hand. If my hands are too far back, I can swing very well, but it can become an issue if the spearhead is too heavy¡­¡± Slowly but surely, I find myself following an attack pattern, ¡°Swipe, thrust, swipe, and thrust once more¡± Feeling satisfied with my discoveries, I fall back onto the ground and look up at the grey sky. ¡°Hmm, maybe I¡¯m missing something?¡± I feel my heart pulsing against my chest and I shrug, ¡°Guess it¡¯s a good time for a break¡± After catching my breath, I hear Khalid walking out the door with some glass bottles of water.He smirks after glancing towards the training dummy. ¡°You made a real good dent on the dummy. Here, have some water.¡± Taking the bottle and drinking, Khalid takes the pole and gestures me to get going. ¡°Hurry up now, we still have that wolf hunt to do.¡± ¡°Sure, be with ya in a sec¡± I wipe the sweat off my forehead and start walking towards the blacksmith hut. Khalid goes over to the spear as I direct my eyes towards the counter. Dominic sat comfortably with a cup of tea and waved towards me. ¡°Hey, Clover was it?¡± He hands me a folded piece of paper. ¡°This is your task from me. Go check out a few things while you are out there.¡± He gets up and taps on the paper in my hand, ¡°All the info is on there, and I heard from Lantern that he will help you on this. I vouch he¡¯s reliable enough.¡± ¡°So what of the party then?¡± I ask, glancing towards Khalid and back to Dominic. ¡°Hmmm¡­ Scout the area out first then decide if they should be included.¡± I nod as I hear Khalid approaching, ¡°Didn¡¯t know you were already close to my uncle.¡± Khalid chuckles as Dominic lets out a laugh, ¡°Ha, nah. I just saw some potential in the young lad.¡± He pats my back and says ¡°Go on now, hate to delay your adventures.¡± As pushes us both out the hut and closes the door. Chapter 14. Creature We return to a less crowded inn, where Yuka is fiddling with her bow, and Cecil is reading a book. ¡°We¡¯re ready¡± I hear Khalid say as he nudges the spear, showing off my new weapon. Cecil closes his book and gets up from the table. ¡°That took a while.¡± He lets out a yawn as Yuka approaches with a rather annoyed face. ¡°Do you know what time it is? It¡¯s past midday and the sun is starting to go down!¡± Khalid scratches and lowers his head, ¡°Sorry¡­ Had to find the perfect weapon for Clover over there.¡± I let out a forceful chuckle, ¡°Haha¡­ Alright, so where to?¡± Yuka points out the door, ¡°To the farmlands out east!¡± We walk through the door inconveniently on the same road towards the blacksmith. The gray clouds grew slightly darker as we arrived at the east gate of Cornelius. The wind was relatively still as we gazed over fields of corn and wheat. Following the main road, we eventually point out a distant farmhouse. ¡°Over there!¡± Yuka exclaims as she paces ahead of everyone else. Increasing our pace, we find ourselves in front of the farmhouse. Khalid approaches the front door and knocks. ¡°Hello?¡± Khalid asks and waits for a response. ¡°Hello, hello?¡± He repeats once more, but no response. Carefully twisting the doorknob, Khalid opens the door to a deserted, empty hallway tarnished by claw marks. ¡°What the heck happened here? I hear Khalid whisper as we make our way into the house. It was as if a beast snuck in and fought the farmer. The scratches dug into the walls, and signs of bite marks gnawed into the door frames. Cecil began a prayer as I opened up Dominic¡¯s request. ¡°There have been sightings of a potential beastly manifestation around the farmlands. I reckon it be investigated and reported back to me or any Watchers in the area. Please, do be careful and wager if it is dealable by yourself, or if this problem needs assistance from us.¡± I fold the paper back into my pocket and let out a sigh. ¡°Hey guys, do we want to continue with this hunt now?¡± I look towards Khalid as he looks back and forth at Yuka and Cecil. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ this is definitely a danger we were not expecting.¡± Khalid scratches his head as Yuka perks up ¡°I want to know what happened here. There¡¯s no way that a creature like this could possibly exist.¡± Yuka sticks her finger into the claw mark and seems lost in thought. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m curious too. But it will be risky.¡± Cecil comments as he pulls up a wooden chair. I reached into my satchel and inspected what was in there. 1 red scroll 1 teal scroll 1 green scroll 1 Orange scroll I take them out and ask, ¡°Do you guys know what these scrolls do?¡± Cecil''s eyes perk up as he takes the orange scroll and hands it to Khalid. ¡°Well count us lucky, I think with these scrolls it could make this easier.¡± Cecil smiles as he points at the other scrolls ¡°The teal one will make you happy, the green helps with focus, and the red slows down enemies. The orange one will help boost strength when used.¡± He hands one to each of us. Yuka received the red scroll, Khalid got the orange scroll, and I received the green scroll. Cecil smiles brightly as he tucks away the teal scroll into his attire. ¡°Alright, I think we are ready enough.¡± I hear Khalid say as he gestures to us to exit the door. We make our way out and onto the main path towards the forest. The scent of wet dirt lingered in the air as a chill hung low. The sky turned increasingly dark as we wandered through an off-beaten path. Leaves of brown spread between the withering trees as flakes of snow drifted from the sky. Gradually, the ever-darkening clouds hovered over the land. A lonesome moon hung above, barely piercing through the wispy, smoke-like clouds below. The frigid wind howled through the dark forest as the scent of smoke filled the air. A lone campfire illuminated the darkness. Looking back and forth at each other, we decide to approach the camp. A lone individual with a tarnished cap and patchworked clothes tended to the flames. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you again.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Lantern throws the stick into the fire and glances at the four of us. Taking the initiative, I step forward and go for a seat. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you too.¡± I gesture to the group, ¡°Come sit, I know this guy.¡± The party sits around the campfire as Lantern sets up a pot of water. ¡°You know it¡¯s dangerous out here? A beastly manifestation wanders this woods.¡± Lantern lets go of the pot and gazes up towards the sky. No stars could be seen through the darkness above. Yuka awkwardly smiles at the campfire and glances at Lantern, ¡°...What¡¯s a beastly manifestation?¡± Lantern lets out a sigh as snow descends on the fire. ¡°A beastly manifestation¡­ A collective belief or desire for something. Especially of a bestial nature, coming to reality.¡± The darkness around us seemed to stir as we leaned closer to the light. ¡°A creature only heard from stories¡­ Often mysterious and out of sight¡± The trees creaked in the distance as the wind¡¯s howl swirls around the fire. Lantern hurriedly pours the water over the campfire as footsteps dash through the surrounding darkness. ¡°Be prepared, it¡¯s here¡± We raise our weapons and position ourselves around the camp. The faint wisps of smoke plume up as the moonlight suddenly flickers. One pass, two passes, three passes. The creature darts across the treeline, vanishing into the ever-expansive darkness. ¡°Over there!¡± Khalid points his sword at a silhouette in the distance. A wolf''s head pokes out from a tree as Yuka fires an arrow. Thud* A low reverb echoed in the tense silence. Slowly, our eyes adjusted to the darkness. However, only a silhouette of movement darted between the trees. It was as if the darkness itself was the creature¡¯s cloak. ¡°Watch out!¡± Cecil exclaims as a massive figure swipe at me. I quickly fall to the ground as the figure dashes back into the trees. Suddenly, the air became heavy. Soft vibrations shook the area around us as everyone felt unease. May starlight twinkle, it''s beautiful, and bountiful, Light. Words formed around Lantern as twinkling wisps of light emerged around the forest. Immediately, our attention shifted to the beastly manifestation. A creature, around 7 feet tall, with knife-like claws and a wolf¡¯s skull. Its form towered above us as its sharp eyes peered toward the party. Awe and fear filled our faces as a screeching howl bellowed from its maw. The scent of blood filled the air as Yuka prepared an arrow. With a satisfying twang*, the arrow soared into the creature¡¯s torso. It glared at her and immediately started dashing towards us. Khalid stood in the creature¡¯s path. Its lengthy arms reach at Khalid, but he barely blocks it with his sword. Blood marks his tarnished sleeve as he barely dodges another swipe. ¡°Help him out!¡± Lantern shouts at me as I tighten the grip on my spear and sprint towards the creature. Thrusting forward, I felt the spear dig into its skin. Khalid jumps back, hoping to catch a breath as I barely manage to yank out the spear. ¡°Look out!¡± Khalid shouts as the creature turns around and goes for a bite, snapping onto the spear¡¯s shaft. I attempt to pry the weapon out but find myself lifting off the ground. The creature smirked widely as I was flung into the air, soaring towards the trees. Slamming into a tree, I nauseously gaze towards the rest of the party. I look up at the creature; its hounding eyes glare as it bolts toward me. ¡°Sh*t¡± I weakly crawl on the tree and raise my spear towards the creature. Blinking twice, the beast got ever closer as my legs gave out, narrowly avoiding its broad swipe. Arrows wisp in the air as Yuka desperately shoots at the creature. Khalid dashed towards me, but it was too late; the beast was raising its arm into the air and going for a killing blow. ¡°Is this the end?¡± Closing my eyes, my mind quickly processes every option I have to get out. Hazily looking up at the creature, I feel the world starting to flicker. Anger curls my face as I raise my spear high up. ¡°Not yet!¡± I roar as the weight of the creature¡¯s strike slams down. Feeling my arms give out, the creature goes in for another strike. My hazy eyes look up as letters start trailing from the creature¡¯s form. Sticking my hand out, an intense feeling of hunger and spite funnels towards me. Envelop me, O¡¯ fleeting wind My eyes glare at this creature as the wind tears around me. Cuts slashes the trees and the dirt. I close my eyes, the world standing entirely still. Pushing my palm, a massive gust of wind shoots forward, knocking away the creature. Noticeably feared, the beast leaps back and starts darting away. Noticing this, Khalid gives chase. Swing after swing, he tears up the creature''s skin. Cecil glares at the incoming creature and quickly doses some daggers with his blood. ¡°Get some fire, quickly!¡± He shouts at Yuka and Lantern. Nodding at each other, Lantern tosses a lit torch towards Yuka as she raises it in her bow. Prepping the daggers, Cecil slowly counts down as the creature rushes towards them. ¡°3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­¡± Cecil throws his daggers at the creature, which quickly lands. Yuka raises her shot as Cecil shouts ¡°Now!¡± The torch soars in the air and lands on the creature. Instantly, the fire trails toward Cecil¡¯s daggers and the beast tumbles forward. Letting out a blood-curdling scream, The creature falls to the ground and flings itself towards Yuka, extending its maw. In a moment of shock, Yuka freezes up. ¡°Sh*t!¡± Khalid tears the orange scroll, and his face reddens. A faint aura flares up as he quickly jumps between the creature¡¯s maw and Yuka. Chomping down, Khalid screams as his arm gets punctured by its teeth. The creature vigorously shakes its head and tugs off Khalid¡¯s arm. Huff* Puff* Khalid hastily thrusts his arm into its eye and starts wrestling the creature. ¡°Get off of him!¡± Cecil lets out a raging cry and jumps onto the creature. Plunging his daggers repeatedly for as many times as he could muster. Soon, Khalid glances up at the sky as pain aches. Tears start trailing down Yuka¡¯s face as she crawls backward in horror. It was a gruesome scene, but eventually, the creature stopped twitching. Everyone collapses to the ground as the beast lays still. Finally, the creature has been slain. Letting out a sigh, we all compose ourselves as Cecil rolls off the creature and stands up. ¡°Quickly Light a campfire!¡± He pleads as Lantern does as commanded. Limping from exhaustion, Cecil quickly rushes over to Khalid, who stands upright, paralyzed from exhaustion. ¡°O¡¯ Ithax, I command your holy essence¡­ ¡± Cecil murmurs as he wipes some blood off his face. Trails of orange light wisp into the air and slowly funnel their way onto the gaping wound. Khalid held still as tears flowed down his eyes. Yuka sat nearby, curled up, and sobbed. Khalid, Noticing this, barely turns his head around and smiles ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She tucks her arms in her face and replies ¡°Your arm¡­¡± He forces a smirk and playfully responds ¡°What¡­ about my arm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone, and it¡¯s all my fault.¡± Yuka starts sobbing again, and after seeing this, Khalid tries to comfort her. ¡°It¡¯s not anyone¡¯s fault. You all fought well.¡± ¡°But that arm was your sword arm?¡± ¡°So? I can always learn again. It¡¯s just swinging¡­¡± Khalid''s optimism dies down as he collapses on the ground. ¡°How about we get some much needed rest?¡± Lantern stands up and gestures towards me to come close. Heading over, we all sat close to the campfire, each of us in silence as we embraced the warmth of the flame. Closing my eyes, I could only imagine the amount of pain Khalid was going through as I quickly fell to sleep. Chapter 15. Worries Swirling and swirling, I glance up to a lone star twinkling above a barron land. Pain pulses on my eyes as billows of dust stirs around me. The howling wind whispers its unidentified words. A sea of letters imprinted themselves in the darkness beyond the lonesome star. Luclsvw tl, v¡¯msllapun dpuk. Ohyyvd aol mvynvaalu shuk, zjhaaly paz bulukpun kbza. Svza if spml, bujlhzlk if aptl pazlsm. H ipyao vm aol luk Nhaoly aol lzjhwpun spnoa, dlhcl aol bulukpun khyrulzz, puav zwpukslz vm yltltiyhujl Mvynla, yltltily. Huk mvynla vujl tvyl. Aol spul vm wlyzwljapcl, ilfvuk aol lukslzz hifzz. Iba dpaopu ylhjo, vm aol ispurpun olhya. Blinking twice, I stare at the nonsense in the sky. Lines of unending sentences worm themselves into the dark sky. Which Streamed around the lone star glinting its miniscule light. I close my eyes and inhale cold, dry air. Blinking once more, I saw my pale hands laying on a familiar cane. A voice echoed as I grabbed onto the cane. ¡°Forget this world¡± A frigid breeze passes over me as I awoke to the smell of smoke in the air. Propping myself with my hand, I press into some snow and quickly pull my hand back. My feverish hand quickly reddened as I tucked it into my cloak. Gazing off into the treeline, I admire the shimmering layer of fresh snow glistening from the rising sun. I let out a sigh as my breath turned into smoke and glanced around the campsite. Khalid laid on the ground and slowly stirred awake as sunlight met their eyes. Yuka sat upright on the base of a tree and was sound asleep and Cecil was curled into a blanket. I smiled as my ears heard the sound of crunched snow. Lantern steps out of the treeline, arms full of wood. ¡°So, you''re awake. Are ya alright?¡± I nod and gaze off to the white landscape. ¡°What is that white stuff on the ground?¡± Lantern looks at me with confusion and lets out a laugh, ¡°You can¡¯t be serious right? Is this ya first time seeing snow?¡± Closing my eyes and inhaling the frigid air, I tried my best recalling ¡°snow¡±. ¡°It¡¯s so strange, I recognize the texture. But I don¡¯t recall ever seeing snow before¡­¡± I tilt my head in confusion and violently shake off the unease. Lantern tosses the wood onto the old campfire and quickly strikes a spark. A small glint of orange light slowly encompasses the tinder. Lantern pokes at the flame with a stick and lets out a plume of air. ¡°You really are an odd one. How did you not see snow while traveling here?¡± I keep my head low, watching the flickering shadows on the ground. ¡°Snow is a sign of winter. The first snowfall usually correlates to the first day of winter.¡± Lantern picks up some snow off the ground and packs it into a ball. ¡°When I was a lad, we would toss these at each other¡­¡± He tosses the snowball into the fire. A plume of smoke rises into the air as the campfire sputters and pops. I glance up at Lantern as he scratches his head. Moments pass as we both stare off into the fire. Eventually, Lantern takes the boiling pot of water off the flame. I reach into my bag and pull out the tea leaves. ¡°Can we drink some tea instead of water?¡± I see lantern smile as he reaches for the tea bag and tosses some leaves in. The water started to turn a vibrant green-yellow as faint wisps of vapor dances over the brew. Going back to sit, I turn to Lantern, ¡°So, what was that creature about? It seems you know something about it.¡± Lantern pours himself a cup of tea and stares into it. ¡°Theo tasked me to look after y''all. Also, I visited Dominic and got everything I needed.¡± Furrowing my brows, I ask ¡°So why then were you alone waiting for the creature to show up?¡± ¡°That campfire was expensive. Had a certain scent to hide me. But seeing y¡¯all attracted the creature towards me. Luckily, you guys made it in time.¡± I shudder at the thought of how unprepared we were. Lantern chugs down the rest of his tea and pours another cup. Thinking for a moment, I ask, ¡°So, why did you pour out the fire?¡± Lantern keeps his head low, ¡°I overestimated the party''s capabilities, and underestimated the threat. At least we all made it out alive.¡± He shakes his head. In this mourning silence, we both hear the other members stirring. ¡°It seems like they are waking up.¡± A soft, irritated grumble chorused in the air. The three of them woke up covering the sunlight from their eyes. ¡°Good morning¡± Lantern smiles at the shuffling bunch as Cecil gets up and immediately check on Khalid. Yuka groans and curls her blanket over her tightly. ¡°What food do we have?¡± She mumbles beneath the caterpillar-like form. We all look at Lantern with concern as he pulls out a bag. ¡°I got some fruits I foraged.¡± Raspberries, blueberries and some apples laid comfortably in his bag. Lantern went around the party as we enjoyed some fruit. The taste of sour, tart and sweet danced on our tongues. After the light, but delectable meal, we get closer to the campfire. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± Yuka asks as she gazes worriedly off into the distance. ¡°We have decided to go back to the city.¡± Khalid says as he rubs his missing arm. Nodding in agreement, we pack our things and make our way back. Passing by the gloomy farmhouse and heading towards the city. Our peripherals admired the fields of browning corn and wheat stalks lining the lonesome path. Complex smells of rotting crops tickled our noses. Keeping our breaths thin, we quietly enter the city. Looking around, the lack of people seemed unsettling and the windows were closed on a sunny day. In the far distance, the sounds of stirring could be heard; along with faint inaudible words in the air. These sounds seemed to echo from the middle of the city. ¡°The people are probably preparing for the festival already¡­¡± Yuka murmurs quietly, as she bends forwards anxiously. Keeping our heads low, we took an off road which led back to the inn. Along the way, we passed by an oddly empty housing district. With the exception of a lone man with a beaten cap sitting on the street stairs. An erhu leaned on his shoulder as the sound of music hummed in the air. The man stops playing his instrument and points off into the distance, towards the town square. ¡°Listen closely. To the cries of the people.¡± I closed my eyes as the wind carried the faintest sounds throughout the city. ¡°...Do you think we can just sit around and suffer¡­¡± The man plucks his erhu and starts playing his instrument again. We give him a passing nod and quickly move past him. After a thorough distance away, we arrived in front of the inn. ¡°What a strange man, playing such a sorrowful melody in an empty neighborhood.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Khalid exclaims as we take a second to rest. Cecil taps on his side, ¡°Alright let''s get going.¡± We all give a slight nod and enter into the inn. The usual innkeeper sat with his legs resting on the counter. His stern face staring into an old weathered newspaper. Noticing our presence, his eyes darted towards us as we entered the inn. ¡°Welcome back to this ol¡¯place. How can I do of service?¡± The innkeeper straightens his posture and leans on the counter. Khalid walks towards him and leans forwards. ¡°We will like to turn in that commission¡± The innkeeper lets out a surprised face, noticing the missing limb as he reaches for a pouch. He taps on the pouch and gestures for the wolfskin. ¡°So, from your expressions, and injuries. It seems something bad happened out there?¡± Khalid tosses the wolfskin as Cecil steps forward. ¡°It seems a demon is out there in the woods. We managed to deal with it, but it cost Khalid a limb.¡± The innkeeper blankly stares into the distance and glances at the old newspaper. ¡°Demons? ¡­ That can¡¯t be right.¡± Cecil places his hand on the counter, ¡°The demon was about 7 feet tall, and had abnormally long claws. It was also as slender as a young tree and could hide in the darkness.¡± The innkeeper presses his elbow on the counter and props his hand to his face, which was in deep thought. Noticeably, worry was plastered all over his face. ¡°It seems the preachers out there aren¡¯t just speaking nonsense.¡± He sighs and tosses the coin pouch to Khalid. ¡°Either or, good work out there.¡± The innkeeper points his finger towards Yuka, ¡°You are Yuka Ordyl, right?¡± A surprised expression plastered over her face as she gave a slight nod. ¡°It seems your family is leaving. They told me to tell you to go to the west gate immediately.¡± Yuka keeps her head low and makes a frustrated pout and walks away. Cecil glances back and forth, eventually deciding to head over to Yuka to comfort her. ¡°So what was that about?¡± I asked the innkeeper who was wiping away at the counter. ¡°She¡¯s a noble, and the nobles are leaving today.¡± Khalid steps forward, leans on the counter and sighs, ¡°Give me a drink, innkeeper. Anything will do.¡± The innkeeper pours a cup from an expensive looking bottle and pushes it towards him. ¡°Here ya go. It¡¯s some good stuff. But you need it more than me.¡± After taking a sip, Khalid gestures for me to come closer. ¡°Clover, was it?¡± I tense up and nod, still a little unfamiliar with the name. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± I nod as He takes another sip. Khalid shakes the bag of coins and gestures for another drink. The innkeeper shrugs and pours from the same bottle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I will figure something out.¡± Khalid rubs his shoulder and smiles towards me. Reaching into the bag of coins, he counts 10 coins from the bag, ¡°Here¡¯s your payment. Apologies for the unprepared danger we put you in. I got to leave with Yuka so I can¡¯t stick around any longer.¡± I take the coins and place them in my satchel. ¡°I guess this is farewell then?¡± Khalid nods as I pucker from the alcoholic burn, ¡°If we were to meet again, I will gladly offer you a position within the Ordyl Household. Especially with your determination to hold onto life.¡± He shoots down his drink and sighs as my face fills with surprise, ¡°Maybe one day¡­¡° I murmur as Khalid smirks, ¡°Take good care of that spear, will ya?¡± He reaches over for the spear and rubs the tooth marks lining the shaft. Afterwards, he gets up and walks towards Yuka. ¡°Let''s go.¡± I hear him say from across the building. Turning around, I glance to see Yuka''s childish eyes glancing at me as she quickly looks away and leaves the inn. Letting out a sigh, I shot down the drink and wobbled my way towards a chair. The inn was filled with an abundance of silence, except with the occasional clangs and clacks from the innkeeper doing chores. Occasionally, people would come and go, checking in and out of the inn. During these times, my eyes would glance up. Hoping I could acquire some recognition of each passerby. Lifting my cup for a sip, I realized there was no more alcohol. Slumping onto the table, I slowly embraced the weight of demotivation piling on my shoulders. ¡°Hey.¡± I perk up as I hear the innkeeper walking towards my direction. He places a plate full of plain biscuits and refills my cup with more water. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Shaking my head no, I reach for a biscuit and start nibbling on it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I hear him ask as I sip on some water. ¡°I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s just this weight¡­ this pain in my heart.¡± The innkeeper reaches for a biscuit and snaps out a chunk with his teeth. ¡°I could only imagine. But it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Keeping my head low, the innkeeper continues, ¡°Is it your fault to have witnessed something so horrible as a team member losing a limb?¡± He swallows the piece in his mouth and clears his throat. ¡°Look, the world is unfair. But we will all make do of what we got. ¡± I ponder for a moment and turn towards him. ¡°I guess¡­ But what am I supposed to do? I can¡¯t restore a missing limb.¡± The innkeeper pats me on the back as I continue my whining. ¡°What could I have done to stop Khalid¡¯s arm from getting caught? I¡¯m not even a proper mage.¡± Finally blowing off some steam, I sat in anger as the innkeeper rested his hand on my shoulder. ¡°You are young. Reflect upon what has happened and grow from it.¡± Holding tears of anger back, I tighten my grip on my knees ¡°What am I to do now?¡± I sulk as The innkeeper reaches for another biscuit, ¡°Just do what you know you have to do. If you want the world to be safer, then get stronger.¡± He gets up and snaps the biscuit between his teeth, ¡°Go. There¡¯s a big world out there. No need to linger like a stray dog in my inn any longer.¡± Chugging the water in my cup, I take a biscuit off the plate and walk out the door. The crisp winter air stung my nostrils as I embraced the scent of the city air. Muttered words echoed throughout the street as I made my way towards Lily¡¯s bookstore. Reaching the branching street, I could see the crowd of people gazing up on an enthusiastic individual. ¡°...Is it not time to take action? To liberate us against that demon worshiper under the guise of Cornelius?¡± The crowd roared in response, releasing their nonsensical frustration. I turn away, clutching my hand and quicken my pace towards the bookstore. Lily stood outside the entrance and was sweeping away the dust with a broom. Making my way towards her, I see her eyes glare at me for a moment. ¡°Hey!¡± I shout, as she continues her sweeping. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lily asks with a rather snappy tone. ¡°I¡¯m here to give you that book.¡± I answer in a much quiet tone as she forcefully sweeps dust towards me and sighs, ¡°You''re late¡­¡± A forceful smile fills her face as she grabs the broom and walks back in the building. ¡°Come in¡± I awkwardly nod and scratch my head. Heading inside, a familiar, scruffy and gray-bearded man sat in-front of a table off to the side. ¡°Edward?¡± I spew out and notice a responsive glance. I wave my hand, trying to keep it low. He nods and continues reading his book. Lily arrives at the counter and sits down. ¡°Alright, show me the book.¡± I take out The nature of interpreting reality. Lily takes the book from the counter, ¡°So, have you finished reading any of the books?¡± I nod and take out Magica Fundamentals and Guidance. She reaches for the book and smiles. ¡°Good work, but you really are a horrible delivery man. How was the book by the way?¡± Pressing my hand on my forehead, I take a deep breath. ¡°It.. was good. Had a lot of information and does seem like good foundations for magic.¡± She props her hand on her face, nods and pulls out Awakening of the eye from before. ¡°Cause you finished that book. I will allow you to exchange for the book you chose¡± She lightly taps on the cover as I answer. ¡°I think that¡¯s fair¡± She raises her posture and takes Magica Fundamentals and Guidance from the desk. ¡°So, did anything happen when you practiced this book?¡± I think back for a moment. ¡°It was strange. The world seemed to slow down and my mind felt like I had sunk into mud. I think I entered a trance.¡± Her eyes glinted with surprise as she straightened her posture. ¡°Ehm¡­ So you entered a trance on your first attempt? Have you casted yet?¡± ¡°Probably?¡± I watch her slowly brew with excitement and let out a sigh of relief . She points her finger towards me and holds her eyes like a hawk. ¡°First, tell me your name¡± ¡°Clover¡± I answer as Lily mutters my name a few times. while gazing up at the roof. After a few seconds of pondering, she leans over the desk, ¡°Will you be my apprentice?¡± ¡°Do I have to pay?¡± I ask as she raises he palm out ¡°5 silver, special discount due to circumstance.¡± I take out half my earnings from my pouch and begrudgingly place it on her pale hands. She nods twice and quickly tucks away the coins in her pouch. ¡°Alright, get your things ready, we are leaving!¡± Chapter 16. Going Lily twirls her hair as she wanders around her bookstore. A soft melody, with hints of joy hums from her lips as she quickly stuff books into a box. ¡°Lend me a hand please, Edward?¡± Lily points at the crate filled with books on the ground. Edward grumbles and clears his throat, ¡°You really ought to ask your apprentice first.¡± Letting out a sigh, she continues packaging as Edward continues reading. I gather Lily¡¯s quills and ink into a glass jar, and quickly put away the supplies into my satchel, ¡°So why are we leaving?¡± Lily walks over to the doorway with a box full of books. ¡° It¡¯s a good time to. Lots of carriages ready to leave right now¡± I ponder for a moment and remember the gathering outside. ¡°Ah. It¡¯s ironic isn¡¯t it, for people to be leaving on a festival instead of visiting?¡± She giggles and continues packaging. Edward lets out a sigh and gets up from his seat, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got to go. I will be seeing you both in Idosa. Thank for your time, Farewell¡± We both respond with ¡°Farewell¡± as Edward leaves out the door. ¡°So¡± I spurt out loud after a moment of silence ¡°What type of city is Idosa?¡± ¡°Idosa¡­ Good question.¡± Lily shrugs and looks around for a book, Tourist Guide to Idosa. ¡°Let¡¯s see here. Hmmm, it¡¯s that place with the wine company. Also known for its auction house of relics and an emerging thing called clockwork. It¡¯s also an attractive place for mercenaries¡­¡± She reads out a few key sentences, getting ever so quieter after each point and throws it towards me. ¡°Here, guess it¡¯s something to read.¡± Fumbling the catch, I grumble while bending down for the book. Analyzing the cover, a bottle of wine plastered itself above large, bold text. Tourist Guide to Idosa The City of Innovation By Quinton Ruscoff Shrugging, I toss the book on the top of a box. The dull sounds of shuffling and the still dust in the air entertained my tiresome mind. Blinking a few times, I found myself nodding off as my back arched forward and the weight of my head fell. *** Lantern laid uncomfortably in a pew bouncing a ball up and down in the air. The chapel was uncomfortably cold with candle lights leaking into the darkness. A soft blue light trickles over the windowsill as a layer of fresh snow stretches over a dainty graveyard. An audible yawn flows out of Lantern¡¯s mouth as the ball falls to the ground. Sigh* He raises from the pew and picks up the ball. Looking around, the empty chapel carried its weight in silence. ¡°Hey!¡± Calling out, an echo bounced around the spacious walls, weaving past columns of wood and spreaded through the chapel. A lone priest stood up from the lectern stage and approached Lantern with a furrowed look. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lantern tosses the ball upward and catches it ¡°Is there anything to do? It''s boring waiting for this whole rebellion thing.¡± Theo takes a seat besides Lantern and spreads out his arms over the backrest. ¡°Indeed, but this is big news. If we were to miss out on something so dire, we wouldn¡¯t get the end of it from Orion.¡± Putting away the ball, Lantern gets up from the pew and heads to the door. ¡°Well then, I''m going for a walk.¡± Exiting, the sounds of footsteps on snow crunches further and further away. Theo gazes off at the tinted glass window displaying a lit brazier. ¡°Lord Ithax, rejuvenate this land. Cleanse the evil and madness that haunt over the people¡­¡± Murmuring a continuous prayer full of ramblings, Theo slowly steeps into a trance. ¡°O child of Ananiel, heed my words. An old one will descend onto this land.¡± A massive figure points their finger towards a city burning below iridescent, smoke-like flames of tarnished gold. A lone silhouette hovered above, gazing into a ball of abyssal darkness as fire fell to the ground. ¡°Look¡± Theo fills with horror as gears fall from the sky. Snapping out of the trance, He immediately grasps for air. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. How is it possible that Idosa could fall?¡± Gaging, he quickly runs outside. The crisp, early winter air stung at his nose. However, it was accompanied with a pleasant breeze. ¡°It seems I have my work cut out for me¡± Theo looks up and clears his throat as Cecil walks up the chapel stairs. ¡°Ah, my dear disciple. What can I be of service today?¡± Cecil bows as well and goes in for a hug. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Master.¡± ¡°Indeed, it has.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Theo directs Cecil to enter the Chapel and they both go to sit on a pew. Letting out a deep breath, Cecil grabs onto his knees and looks towards him. ¡°I have decided, Can I join you for a while? Would that be alright?¡± Theo stares off for a moment, gazing out at the lines of buildings in the distance. ¡°Can I ask why?¡± Cecil tightens his grip on his knees and smiles awkwardly at his master, ¡°I broke my vow. I couldn¡¯t protect my friend¡± Theo keeps his overbearing eyes on Cecil, ¡°So I take it you are ready for intensive clerical work from now on?¡± With the slightest of nods, Cecil lets out a begrudging sigh, ¡°I¡¯m in your care.¡± *** A delicate breeze passes over Lantern¡¯s stride as he makes his way around the city. The crisp winter air felt rather pleasant as he caught the scent of fresh bread in the air. Looking around, a robust man sat outside the bakery¡¯s doorstep. Lantern¡¯s peering eyes meet with his as he props an arm to his knee. ¡°You interested in some bread?¡± Nodding, Lantern approaches the bakery while jingling a couple coins in his hand. Looking through the display, he quickly gazes over each loaf. ¡°This one.¡± Lantern points at a rather hefty looking piece of bread in a baguette-like shape. The Robust man goes behind the counter and places it in a bag. ¡°You got a good eye. This is indeed a fine loaf¡± Chuckling, the Baker slides the bread over and gestures for money. ¡°3 copper¡± Dropping 3 copper in his hand, Lantern takes the bread away and goes out the door. Finding a nearby bench, he takes a seat and starts munching. sigh* Closing his eyes, Lantern hears the faint sound of music in the distance. Looking around, he spots a man playing an Erhu. Furrowing his brows, he bites down on the bread, ¡°Why is the Nocturnal Band here?¡± Half way through his bread, Lantern crumples up the bag and puts it away. Curiosity glinted off his eyes as he gazed off at the strange instrument. ¡°Alright fine¡± He mutters while scratching his head and walks over to the erhu player. ¡°Hello!¡± Lantern waves at the musician and smiles. ¡°Is that an instrument from the east?¡± The musician nods and continues his seemingly endless song. Tossing a 3 copper into his hat, Lantern lets out a shrug ¡°Can I ask why you are here?¡± Stopping the song midway, the musician lays down the erhu and does a polite bow. ¡°No reason. At Least none that would in¡¯terest the guiding light of the Watchers.¡± Giving a souring glare beneath his cap, he raises the cap as if requesting more money. Throwing a few more copper into the hat, the musician¡¯s face brightens as he raises up his instrument, getting ready to play. ¡°I¡¯m here to gain inspiration. The chaotic orchestra of the people is truly maddening, but beautiful.¡± ¡°Are you alone in this endeavor?¡± Nodding once more, the musician points off towards the city square. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already hear them, but if you need information then listen to the people. Stop pestering me.¡± Lantern sighs and flicks and catches a watcher emblem in the air. ¡°I¡¯m here for business reasons, actually.¡± Reaching out for a handshake, Lantern slyly smiles. ¡°The Watchers will like to partner with the Nocturnal Band¡± Pondering in silence, the musician stands up and bows. ¡°Much pleasure to my new companions.¡± He sits back down and continues playing. Lantern turns around and walks away. ¡°That was easier than I thought¡± He lets out an exaggerated chuckle and goes back to finish the bread. *** ¡°Hello, student¡­ wake up.¡± I hear Lily¡¯s soft voice uncomfortably close to my ear and shudder awake. ¡°There you are.It¡¯s time to leave! Everythings ready to go.¡± She gestures around with a smug look as I start rubbing my eyes. ¡°Really?¡± I look around seeing boxes placed all over the place. ¡°How are we going to move those boxes?¡± Lily freezes, she clearly didn¡¯t plan for transportation and food. ¡°Uhmm, one second. I will get a cart.¡± She quickly leaves from the front and vanishes from sight. sigh* A feeling of doubt arises as I am left alone inside the bookstore. Was it really a smart idea to become her disciple? Letting out a yawn, I start moving the boxes to the front door. ¡°Ah¡± I exclaim as a book falls to the ground. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I look at the title, Astonishing Events of Ananiel. Shrugging, I sat down and read through the book. Ananiel, our dearest and precious world, has its secrets hidden in the sand. Throughout time, many weird and mysterious landmarks have risen and fallen. Everyone knows that there¡¯s a crater where Ithax fell, surrounded by mountains of hardened, and ashen stone. As well as the split mountain, said to have been a swordmaster¡¯s enlightenment. But have you heard of the cave of wonders? A cave of crystals the size of trees that hides ancient technology? Said to be an explosion of some kind, this cave contains the most intact ancient records we have discovered. There is also the mausoleum of King Quiliff, who left behind a message. ¡°For the one who visits my grave, I welcome you to the knowledge of Sol. To the ones whom I invited, I bless you with the maddening gaze of Balor.¡± It is said that everyone who attempted the raid gained visions of a light. And this light caused their minds to shatter. My team blesses anyone who dares step into this mausoleum. One day, King Quiliff¡¯s bounties will be revealed to the world! I close the book and dust spews into the air. ¡°Cave of wonders¡­ and King Quiliff¡¯s Mausoleum. Maybe I will visit them one day.¡± I think as I hear Lily open the door. ¡°Alright! It¡¯s time to go.¡± She waves her hands at the boxes around and looks at me with an assertive look. ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? Start moving the boxes.¡± Letting out a heavy sigh, I put away the book and started slowly moving the unexpectedly heavy boxes. Finally, after an arduous process, I collapsed on the ground after setting the last crate. ¡°What am I to do with a disciple like you?¡± Lily nags as I try to catch some rest. She raises the cart up and starts pulling away. ¡°Hey, wait up!¡± I quickly get up and start trying to catch up. Somehow, even with tens of boxes on the cart, Lily was pulling it with ease. Slowly, the pace kept increasing. Before I knew it, my legs were in a full-blown sprint as we made our way to the west gate. Huff* Puff* ¡°What was that for?¡± I gave an irritated look as my throat burned with each passing breath. Lily shrugs ¡°Did I not tell you? Your first lesson has already started.¡± ¡°And what might that be!?¡± Realizing my anger, I quickly pull my head down as she answers calmly ¡°We first have to work on your mental fortitude. It¡¯s way too delicate. From what I have heard, the best way to do that is endurance training.¡± A smile as bright and pure as an angel fills her face as she waves over to a nearby coachmen. ¡°Which vehicle is going to Idosa?¡± The coachmen point at the one farthest to the left. Lily hands over a copper and gestures to me to come over. ¡°My dearest disciple Clover, Please take over the cart.¡± I see her sly eyes peeking past her bright smile as she enters the carriage heading to Idosa. Sighing, I begrudgingly shrugged and headed over to the cart. ¡°Was this really worth the 5 silver?¡± Chapter 17. Travels With each arduous step, I barely kept up with the horse-drawn carriage. ¡°Should I tie that cart on the carriage?¡± The Coachman leans over to Lily as he gives a pitiful glance towards me. ¡°Not yet, give him some time. My disciple will wear down sooner or later.¡± Clutching my teeth, I let out a desperate groan and slowly started to build up some pace. I close my strained eyes and take in as deep of a breath as I could. ¡°Come on¡± Stomping hard on the ground, I go over a ditch in the ground and suddenly fall over. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Gasping the cool winter air, my lungs burn as I painfully cough. ¡°Alright, stop.¡± Lily commands and gets out of the carriage. Closing my eyes, I gaze off into the darkness as exhaustion washes over me. ¡°Where am I¡± I blink twice as a landscape of sand stretches beyond my eyes. Gazing off into the darkness above, a harrowing wind brushes through my hair. Close your eyes, and listen. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Lights flickered and fell as the faint scent of rain wafts up my nose. You¡¯ve forgotten Shuddering, I snap my eyes open. The coarse sand pricked at my feet. ¡°Who are you?¡± I shout out expecting an answer. But to no response. Looking forward, an unfamiliar light radiated off in the distance. The dead should remain dead I stumble and fall as if weights were tied to my ankle. ¡°Let go of me¡± Anger filled my eyes as I looked back to nothing. Stomping forward, I march towards the light. How beautiful¡± I gasp in awe. A star fell from the sky, spilling its radiance into the land. It¡¯s futile A strong wind stirs the surrounding dust into the air and quickly covers over the star. ¡°Stop!¡± I rush towards the star as its light barely peaks under the desert sand. Digging out the star, I lift it up into the air. ¡°Listen, my dear child. Listen carefully.¡± A memory starts whisking itself into existence. Pillars of stone reach up like arms stretching towards the sky. I take a deep breath as a silhouette stands in front of me. ¡°Darkness looms over everyone. Hidden away in the depths of our souls, it festers and gnaws on the very foundation of man.¡± The silhouette points up at the darkness above. Gather the escaping light and forget the line of perspective that defines life and death A beam of light shoots up from every pillar of stone and illuminates the dark sky with stars. ¡°Remember, magic is fundamentally a tool that breaks the darkness above¡± The silhouette pushes me backwards as I fall into the sand. Search for the pillars around the desert and you shall gain an audience with me. Tapping me with a familiar cane, the silhouette disappears. I grabbed hold of the cane that leaned against my shoulder and closed my eyes. ¡°Listen¡± I repeat in my head and slowly become aware of the faint sound of rain. Come over here! I glance over at a young silhouette gesturing me to come over. A bright smile fills my face as I tap the cane on the sand. What are you, An old man? Scoffing at this comment, I let out a pleasant chuckle and started walking towards the silhouette. ¡°He¡¯s waking up!¡± Lily¡¯s distinct voice bounces around my ears as I jolt awake. My eyes gaze up at an unfamiliar roof as I get up from the carriage floor. Taking a deep breath, my nose catches the scent of the forest as pain starts aching on my shoulders. ¡°Am I alright?¡± I instinctively stretch out my arms as Lily gazes out the window in deep thought. ¡°You are fine. But you overdid yourself and exhausted your strength.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. I tense up my legs to check if I could stand up. ¡°Calm down and rest, Clover. We still have time before we depart again.¡± Lily pulls out a familiar book and throws it at me. ¡°Now would be a great time to circulate mana. Today, we are reviewing the book you said you read. Start doing the method.¡± I nod and close my eyes. First, breathe in for 4 seconds through the nose. Then hold without blocking your airways for 7 seconds¡­ then slowly exhale for about 6-8 seconds. I feel my veins tighten up as tension slowly builds up on my solar plexus. ¡°Pay attention to how the blood circulates. Feel the tingling in your arms.¡± After breathing 3 times, I start feeling a little light headed. ¡°Now start breathing normally, but as light as you can make it.¡± My body starts to relax as I slowly sink deeper and deeper into my mind. ¡°Next, imagine the air around you flowing and flowing as light wisps into existence. Now direct that current of light into your body¡± Faint sparks of light pop in and out around me, like dancing fireflies in the air. Inhaling a slow but continuous current, these lights slowly enter my system. Lily stares at me in awe, ¡°On his first try? That can¡¯t be right.¡± She starts recording this in her notebook as I continue riding the current stirring my mind. Envelop me, O¡¯ fleeting wind Words sprout out from the darkness as the current intensifies around me. ¡°What are you doing!?¡± Lily shouts out loud and quickly snaps me out of the trance. Barely catching her falling notebook, she gives me a conflicted glare. ¡°Have you forgotten we are in a carriage? You were about to blow us all away!¡± I tilt my head, unaware of the stirring chaos that enveloped me. Thinking, I could only come up with three words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Master.¡± Watching Lily flusteredly flipping through her notebook gave me a bright smile. ¡°Alright fine¡± Lily pouts and playfully strikes me on the head ¡°Be more careful next time. You shouldn¡¯t invoke your innate magic without caution.¡± ¡°Innate Magic?¡± I give a confused look, Lily sighs like a tired teacher and tosses her notebook to the side. ¡°Innate magic is a unique gift from Horus, the god of forbidden words. It allows the gifted to materialize their own magic but at the cost of fatigue. To put it simply, it is the user forcing their will upon the strings that make up the world.¡± ¡°So how does one know they have Innate magic?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing, no one can determine an innate spellcaster from a mage as it is a unique gift. The most I know is that it extracts the mana out of the user instead of taking mana from the world. From what I have heard, Innate spellcasters have words that show up in their mind. Did any pop up for you?¡± ¡°Envelop me O¡¯fleeting wind¡± She hurriedly grabs her notebook and writes down what I said ¡°Hmm, that explains the strong current of wind gathering around you.¡± She taps her graphite on the paper and we both hear the coachman yelling outside, ¡°It¡¯s time to depart!¡± I get up from the floor and go to sit down on the carriage seat. ¡°So, what is magic?¡± Lily leans out the carriage window that kicks up speed as the horses start moving again. ¡°Magic¡­ hmmm. It¡¯s a source that allows interaction with nature through a medium. If I wanted to, I could shoot a spell out because I properly channeled the magic and converted it with my imagination. However, this takes extreme focus, walking the line of consciousness and unconsciousness, and requires the caster a lot of setup.¡± ¡°So how do magic scrolls work?¡± ¡°A mage spent each aching moment writing out a formula while in a trance. This is then sealed onto special paper that inhibits the activation until it is unrolled.¡± ¡°Are there other mediums besides scrolls?¡± ¡°Yes! There have been accounts of metal, wood and seemed to have been common in ancient technology. But each medium needs a different formula of runes which are distinct between each faction of mage. If you are interested, I can give you a book when we make it to Idosa.¡± I nod, ¡°Thanks master, this is a lot of information to take in¡± She lets out a bright and playful smile ¡°Indeed, it is, my dear Disciple. But now¡¯s not the time for knowledge.¡± Lily points out the wagon, ¡°It¡¯s time for training again. Start running.¡± ¡°No way right?¡± A look of terror fills my face as her unusual strength pushes me out the door. ¡°If you don¡¯t hurry, the horses will run away!¡± Slapping both of my legs, I push forward and start chasing the wagon. My exhausted body pleads for me to stop. Luckily, the wagon started to slow down as soon as I fell out. Giving a horrid 8 second sprint, I finally caught up to the wagon. Huff* I feel my tearing throat pleading for hydration as I collapse to the ground. ¡°Please¡­ Don¡¯t do that again.¡± I plead as Lily gets out the wagon door. She un-flasks a glass bottle of water and places it besides my cheek. ¡°I promise you, this is for your own good.¡± She pokes me on the forehead and giggles. Letting out a deep sigh, I get up from the ground and start drinking the cool, refreshing water. My parched throat calms down, ¡°Bah*, that''s some good water.¡± I exclaim as Lily yawns and stretches, ¡°Alright, I think that was enough for today. Tomorrow, I will teach you how to properly circulate mana. It¡¯s not just breathing, but also imagination and feeling.¡± She lets out a satisfying nod as her eyes glances towards me, ¡°You are very gifted, you know that? It takes around 3-5 months for an apprentice to start feeling mana, and that is after they discover how to control themselves in a trance.¡± Feeling a sense of envy in her words, I silently keep my head down, ¡°Let¡¯s get going now, we have about 3 days before we make it to Idosa.¡± Grumbling, my legs shakily walk towards the wagon door and I immediately slump down on the cushioned seat. ¡°Alright passengers, We are departing again!. The Coachman shouts as we both gaze out the window. A beautiful, but daunting red streaked across the sky. The sun slowly fell into the horizon of trees. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful¡± I murmur and noticed Lily nod in the corner of my eye ¡°Indeed it is. After all these years, it¡¯s as beautiful as I remember.¡± I glanced towards Lily and noticed her darkened emerald eyes hidden behind her heavy glasses. Her gaze did not match her youthful face, and her shining, dirty blonde hair shimmered a faint gold under the sunset. All this gave an allure that magnified my darting gaze. ¡°Hmm, Do you need anything?¡± Lily faces me directly as I quickly avert my head. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± I whisper quietly and keep my head down. Lily held the slightest of smiles in the corner of her lips as the wagon came to a slow stop. ¡°Alright guys, it¡¯s time to set up camp!¡± The Coachman shouted aloud and I quickly made my way out of the Carriage. Chapter 18. Camp The sound of stones clanking together brought upon a small campfire. Its comforting warmth contradicted the frigid winter air. The scent of boiling carrots, onions, and beef blooms into the air. ¡°Food¡¯s ready!¡± Lily exclaims to me while stirring a tiny pot full of stew. Reaching for the ladle, Lily starts portioning the meals for me and the Coachman. ¡°Thanks¡± We both respond after receiving our bowls. After finding a seat around the campfire, we made ourselves comfortable and focused on the meal. ¡°Hmm¡­ mmm! This is rather delicious! What¡¯s the secret to it?¡± The Coachman raises his spoon in the air and swirls it excitedly. I let out a chuckle and give a nod, ¡°Indeed, this is very good!¡± A smug smile fills Lily¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it! The secret is my pot, if you wanted to know.¡± The Coachman gazes at the pot with a bewildered expression. ¡°How would that make sense¡­?¡± He mutters, shrugs and finishes his food. I also gaze at the pot and come up with no conclusions. Soon, we all finished our food and sat around the campfire. A starry night slowly crept upon the hazy orange sky. ¡°Have you all heard the story of the fairies in the woods?¡± The Coachman speaks up, noticing our boredom setting in. ¡°No, I have not?¡± I answer as my curiosity sets in. The Coachman clears his throat and starts boiling some tea above the campfire. ¡°Once upon a time, there lived an old man who desperately desired the past. He was once a successful man, who had lived a life of corruption and sin. Frail and old, he now lived a life of solitude and regret. One fateful day, he decided to take a trail that led into the fairies forest. Here, he would set up camp and listen to the whispering winds of the trees. As day turned into night, his exhausted, wobbling eyes gazed into the campfire. Soon tiredness would overcome him. Before falling asleep, the sounds of innocent giggling tickled his aged ears.¡± Taking a sip of warm water and putting the pot back above the fire, the Coachman continued. ¡°¡°Go away! Leave me alone!¡± He shouted and waved his frail arms against the cold night air. But the giggling did not stop. Anger started morphing his frowned face as he turned his head towards the obnoxious noise. A young boy was waving, gesturing the old man ¡°Follow me!¡± The displaced child said aloud. It was as if a strange spell took over him as he mindlessly wobbled towards the fairy¡¯s laughter. ¡°Hehehe! Why are you so slow? Hurry up.¡± A strange lightness washed over the old man as balls of light started prancing around him. ¡°W-wait up! Where are you going anyway?¡± The old man, drowned in the sounds of laughter, reaches out towards the young boy. But the boy kept moving forward, not a single care in the world. Before the old man knew it, the fairies¡¯ light started vanishing one by one. Lost and alone in the woods, he could only weep in the darkness.¡± The Coachman tosses some tea leaves onto the pot and looks up at our reactions. ¡°So, any thoughts?¡± He asks, looking towards me and Lily. ¡°Interesting¡­ Where did you learn of this folktale?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Lily asks as she grabs a notebook. ¡°It¡¯s something I picked up along with the many passengers that have taken this Carriage.¡± Lily shrugs at this response and starts writing down some notes. I lean towards the Coachman and ask, ¡°Do these fairies target old people? Or does anyone count as their target?¡± The coachman pours himself some tea, ¡°They target those who garner their interest. I personally have heard accounts of passengers attracting their interest at the dead of night. These could be young and old, but it¡¯s never consistent.¡± Nodding, I stare off at the darkness. Lily soon finishes writing down some stuff, and we all ponder around the campfire. ¡°Alright, I think it¡¯s time to head to bed.¡± Lily crawls back into the carriage, leaving me and the Coachman alone. Looking at each other, the Coachman pours a cup of tea and hands it to me. ¡°We have a long night ahead of us. You have already rested throughout the day so I think it¡¯s far for you to stay up and keep watch.¡± The Coachman lays down by the horses who fell asleep beside the campfire. ¡°Keep the fire going, and we will soon swap nightwatch. Goodnight!¡± I let off a sigh and gazed up at the stars. It was as if the sky illuminated the darkness far beyond the campfire. Rubbing my hands together and looking around, I notice faint lights in the distant darkness. Shaking my head, I close my eyes and listen to the soft howl of the wind, the crackling of the fire, and the soft snoring of the Coachman. ¡°...Hehehehe¡­¡± The faintest laughter tickled my ears and quickly vanished as I forcefully open my eyes. ¡°What was that?¡± My eyes quickly dart around, catching glimpses of the surrounding area. However, there was nothing worth noting. I shrug ¡°Maybe the Coachman was sleep-talking?¡± I glanced over at the Coachman, who had a very silly smile plastered over his face and was rubbing his belly. Chuckling, I shuffle my seat and gaze off into the campfire. ¡°I should read, I guess¡± Reaching into my satchel, I pull out Flames, the power of invoking fire. ¡°I already read through a fundamental one, so I should read a practical one now!¡± My hands brush on the red cover and I open up the book. Fire is a primordial substance that festers on essences. It is one of the most destructive and uncontrollable elements. However, this does not mean it can¡¯t be tamed by you. Firstly, you have to enter a trance. As you balance yourself on the thin line of consciousness, you have to imagine the flow of mana entering through every breath. After you find balance, you take control of your imagination and flare up an image of fire. Make sure you have a stable image, as this will allow the mana to morph into fire. Through repeated practice and effort, you will be able to light a small flame. This is what fire mages call a Soul Flame, as it allows full manipulation of control from the caster. However, this small flame is not to be underestimated. If one leaks too much mana, or loses control while maintaining the mana flow, it will lose control and start seeking out your mana supply. Essentially, it will burn you if you are not careful. As your mana pool gets stronger, and your imagination expands, you can manipulate better and eventually split the Soul Flame in two. The maximum amount that we have recorded is 7 Soul Flames, which is the pinnacle of fire magic itself. To be considered an archmage in fire, you need at least 4 Soul Flames and full control of all 4 at once. To achieve 2 Soul Flames, you have to essentially split your mana pathway into both your hands. A good comparison would be ambidextrousness, being able to write with both left and right hands. A suggested tip would be to learn how to multitask with both left and right hands. This is very difficult, and many stick to one Soul Flame. Closing the book, I start focusing on my breath. ¡°1, 2, 3, 4¡± I count and hold my breath, then release after counting to 7. Soon, my mind started to calm down as I let out an extended breath. The dancing campfire engrained its presence in my head as I felt breath thinning. ¡°Feel the flow of mana¡± The soft winter wind gently brushes around me as my mind drifts into dreams. The overbearing sun burned like a fire as I stood in a calm, yellowish orange meadow. It was a summer day, and beads of sweat were dripping off my chin. ¡°This isn¡¯t right¡­¡± I blinked twice and felt myself dragged back into reality. Smoke wafted into my nose, and my body felt feverish. Rubbing my strained eyes, I let out a groan and looked off into the darkness. ¡°It seems rest is a key component in casting magic.¡± I sighed, leaned back, and looked up at the stars. ¡°How did one discover something so vast and beautiful?¡± Suddenly, I hear my thoughtful ramblings seize as I hear the Coachman stirring awake. ¡°Mm¡­hmm¡­¡± The Coachman covers his forehead and lets out a dreary groan. Glancing around, his eyes meet the orange light of the campfire, and he immediately gets up. ¡°I guess it''s my turn to keep watch¡± Nodding, I got up and sat down outside of the carriage. The Coachman tosses some firewood and waves at me. ¡°Have a good night¡± I smile at his grin and slowly drift off to sleep. Chapter 19. Training Sunlight shimmered its radiance above the thin layer of snow that lay on the hardened dirt. Letting out a yawn and stretching, I awake to a rather still winter morning. Looking around, I noticed the Coachman was asleep, and the horses were still resting. Letting out another yawn, I felt my body shiver, ¡°It seems I didn¡¯t get a good rest¡± I raised my pale hand and felt its warmth quickly leaking away. Feeling uneasy, I pull my hand back and glance up. The sky was a beautiful blue with a few sprinkles of clouds. Soon, I hear stirring within the carriage as Lily makes her way out. ¡°Good morning¡± I greet her as she nods and replies, ¡°Good morning to you! Ready for breakfast?¡± I feel my stomach grumble as she heads off to the back of the carriage. In the distance, I hear her shout, ¡°Clover, can you get some kindling?¡± I sigh and get up off the ground, ¡°What are kindlings?¡± ¡°They are small, dry sticks and twigs. Dried pine needles and pine cones can work too.¡± ¡°Alright, I will be back.¡± I head into the forest and look for some dry sticks and twigs. Luckily, the snow hadn¡¯t started melting yet, so there was an abundance of usable kindling. Making my way back, I see Lily waiting by the campfire with leftover stew and bread. Handing her the kindling, she builds a small pyramid and starts striking the flint. Moments later, the tiny flame became larger and larger, growing up to become a campfire once more. The air wafted with a savoury smell of stew toward the sleeping Coachman. Starting to stir, he rises awake and lets out a yawn, ¡°Ah¡­ So, it¡¯s morning already¡± Wiping off the trail of drool, the Coachman shakes the horses awake. Afterward, he heads over and sits down beside the campfire. ¡°Good morning, y¡¯all! It¡¯s a rather fine day for travel. Don¡¯t ya agree?¡± He rubs his shoulders and starts stretching his upper body. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a good day to start training.¡± Lily looks towards me and pats my back ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t be too rough today¡± I smile and lean back, almost falling to the ground. Pushing my way forward, Lily giggles and opens the pot. ¡°Today, we will be casting spells.¡± A soft smile dimples Lily¡¯s face as she fetches a bowl of stew and hands it over. ¡°Focus on breakfast first and worry about it later¡± I nod and start scarfing away at the food. Each bite was wondrous leaving behind its savory flavor while I was nibbling on bread. Putting the bowl down, I drank some water and felt satiated. ¡°Thanks for breakfast¡± Propping my arms back, I stretch and look at Lily and the Coachman finishing his meal. ¡°Alright, thanks for the meal!¡± The Coachman slams the bowl on his thigh and stands up. ¡°I¡¯m going to feed the horses, so you guys wait in the carriage. We will depart soon¡± ¡°ok¡± I reply and look over to Lily. She sat there quietly and starts whispering something. Suddenly, water starts flowing into the pot. Giving it a quick scrub, the bowls and pots become clean. ¡°Was that a spell just now?¡± Nodding, Lily closes her eyes as faint steam rises from her hands. ¡°Let¡¯s get going now¡± She wipes her forearms and starts walking to the carriage. Following suit, my eyes filled with curiosity. We both enter the carriage and make ourselves comfortable. Thinking of an opportunity, I pull out the pyromancy book and start asking questions, ¡°I tried manifesting a soul flame last night, but it failed. Can you teach me how to do it, Master?¡± ¡°Sure! It¡¯s pretty simple¡± Lily points her finger towards me and draws a circle. After finishing the circle, a small flame emerges in the center. "This way was passed down by my mentor. Draw a circle and imagine a fire in the middle. Simple as that.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I close my eyes and start focusing on my breath. Entering a trance, I feel the tip of my finger flare up as it traces out a circle. Steam rises as a tiny flame sprouts in the air and quickly vanishes. Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion washes over me. ¡°It worked!¡± Lily looked at me, astonishment glimmering in her eyes, ¡°In one try?¡± I slump to the side as I start feeling feverish and cold. Lily quickly catches me as a weight descends over my eyelids. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Shaking my head, I clutter my teeth and start shivering. ¡°Hmm, this is new¡­¡± Lily rests her hand on my solar plexus. A wave of heat emulates from her palm as I feel mana pouring into my veins. Slowing my breathing, I comfortably drift off to sleep. ¡°Come on, I have something to show you!¡± A young boy waved his arms and started running forward. Letting out a sigh, I grip the cane tightly and start giving chase. ¡°Isn''t that a fairy?¡± Closing my eyes, I suddenly feel a strong tug forcing me forward. My legs were moving on their own. Each step felt lighter and lighter as the fairy got ever closer. Hearing laughter around me, I shuttered and looked off as the fairy ran further away. My steps got heavier as the sand creped up my legs. ¡°Hehehe, why are you so slow?¡± I hear the fairy say as the light starts surrounding me. The sounds of laughter grew louder as the lights became blinding. My knuckles became white as I slammed the cane on the ground. Strange letters flew up into the air and immediately glowed dark red. Cease The desert wind froze still as everything halted. The lights around come to a stop and vanish away. The fairy shakily turned around and looked at me with horror. Marching forward, I look down at the fairy, ¡°Guide me properly.¡± A hint of irritation echoed in my tone as the fairy nodded compliantly. ¡°...Just this way¡­¡± He mumbled very softly, and we both walked forward. Soon, we arrive in front of an abandoned ruin of metal. Awkwardly looking around, the fairy heads toward a metal box-like shed and looks back at me. Sadness filled his face as he vanished from sight. ¡°That¡¯s odd¡± I open the creaky shed door and walk in. A lonesome, rotten skeleton rested against the wall, and a diary lay on the ground. Day 1 Dear diary, Can you believe it? Stars are falling from the sky! But scary noises keep shaking the walls. Mom told me to stay inside, but I wanted to watch the stars fall. I hope the city is ok. Day 4 The scent of smoke has been bothering me. I want to look outside, but the door has been weirdly hot. We''re running out of my favorite food, canned peaches. Worry has been getting to all of us. Day 6 Mom has been screaming non-stop about going outside. ¡°I can handle it!¡±. Dad has been keeping his head down, and our food is running out. Day 10 I want to leave. I¡¯m sick of canned food. I want to see my friends. Mom has already left and has not come back. Maybe she found some food to bring back. Day - Dad told me to stay put, and he went out to look for mom. I should have gone with him. I¡¯m tired, and there''s no food. I should stay put Day I don¡¯t know anymore You should stay put¡­You should stay put¡­Shut up. Where did everyone go? Why is Dad not coming back? I¡¯m tired and hungry. The scent of smoke is overwhelming. Am I in hell? I closed the book as tears welled up in my eyes. Tracing a circle into the air, a small flame sparks alive and floats down on the diary, engulfing it in flames. Letters float into the air, becoming trails of smoke that waft out the door. The faintest of laughter whisps into my ear, ¡­hehe¡­ I wipe my watery eyes and step out the door. A massive pillar stood in the distance, surrounded by metal ruins that once resembled a city. ¡°Guess that¡¯s next¡± I point the cane toward the pillar and I awake inside the carriage. Warmth enveloped me as I wiggled in a tightly wrapped blanket. Silence hung around as I felt hunger set in. ¡°I should get up¡± I told myself, unwrapped from the blanket and fell onto the carriage floor. ¡°Tch, ouch¡± Feeling fully awake, I went out the carriage doors and found Lily and the Coachman inspecting a familiar, overturned carriage. ¡°...Maybe a bear attacked this carriage?¡± ¡°Looks like all the supplies have been taken. Oh well, we should get going. Who knows if that bear is still around?¡± Walking towards them, I greet myself ¡°Hello! I feel a lot better now¡± Lily turns over to me, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s good then, let¡¯s hurry along now.¡± Glancing towards the Coachman, he gives a nod and we both return to the carriage. Getting properly seated, the carriage starts moving once more. ¡°I¡¯m I alright?¡± I asked Lily who was staring off the carriage window. Seeing her furrow her brow, I tighten my grip on my knees. ¡°Your body is odd. The essence of winter sapped into your mana veins.¡± ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± ¡°Kinda. You just have to allocate some mana into maintaining your body temperature. Or exercise intensely and frequently to slowly balance cold and hot.¡± Tapping my finger anxiously, I inhale a deep breath and ask, ¡°So, how should I get started?¡± Lily taps her cheek and straightens her posture. ¡°Draw the Soul Flame circle onto your core. This will activate the furnace. To circulate this soul flame, exhaust yourself¡± She gives me a sly smirk as I trace the soul flame circle on my solar plexus. Suddenly, a wave of warmth emulated from within. But my mana was sapping quickly. ¡°Good luck!¡± Lily pushed me out of the carriage and I desperately started running again. The Coachman lets out a sigh, ¡°Will this be a common thing? With you pushing out your pupil like that?¡± Lily lets out a laugh, ¡°I know Clover can handle it¡± Chapter 20. Off Pah*, I chugged down the bottle of water and felt my inflamed body slowly cooling down. The carriage came to a halt as I slowly recovered from exhaustion. Getting back in, I gave Lily a glare but noticed her worried expression. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°...¡± She tosses me another bottle of water and starts pondering, I sip a bit and slump back on the carriage chair, ¡°So what happens to the soul flame?¡± Grasping my hands, I feel warm blood rushing to my fingertips. Lily pulls out her notebook and flips to a page ¡°Hmm, in theory, this should forcefully expand your blood vessels, but expends your mana in the process. Guess it¡¯s a good time to test your mana recovery. So start breathing.¡± I close my eyes, and start breathing the same technique once more. My heart starts to calm down and my forearms tighten. A sense of new-found energy pulses itself throughout my body. Letting out a steamy breath, I look out the window and start enjoying the chill winter wind. ¡°What a pleasant afternoon¡± I smile and we continue riding further. Evening slowly set in and the sun hung low; signifying the day coming to an end. We hurriedly set up camp and ate a rather fulfilling meal. Gathering around the campfire, the Coachman tosses some firewood which slowly chars away. ¡°So¡­¡± The Coachman looks up and quickly pulls his head down anxiously. Fumbling around, he pulls out a map and traces something with his finger. Lily shrugs and asks ¡°So, are we on the right track?¡± The Coachman nervously nods and quickly looks around the forest line. Lily and I look at each other and we shake our heads, confused. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll be fine, right?¡± I look towards the Coachman as he scratches his head, his eyes still focused on the map. Soon, he quickly folds up the map and looks at the both of us. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a night. Don¡¯t worry, we are almost there. Just two days away!¡± He gives us both an assuring smile and Lily crawls back into the carriage. ¡°Alright! Good night.¡± She shouts and we both sat beside the campfire. ¡°So, lad. How about you sleep first? Ya know, rotating schedule and all¡± The coachman pokes a stick into the campfire and starts drawing circles on the ground. ¡°Hmm, Sure, that¡¯s only fair. Alright, Good night!¡± I roll over and start focusing on the Coachman¡¯s presence. The popping and crackling of the fire dulled the slight evening breeze. In and out, I kept myself awake by switching my attention on my breath and the nature around me. Soon, after a rather long amount of time, I hear the Coachman shuffle from his seat. ¡°Are you awake?¡± He calls out quietly and I froze up. My breathing instantly tenses as I hear him slowly walking away. Rolling back towards the campfire, I strain my eyes as I see the Coachman¡¯s silhouette in the distance. ¡°Where is he going?¡± I got up from the campfire and started trailing his footprints in the miniscule layer of snow. Time passes, as we both travel an indeterminable amount of distance away from the campfire. The coachman, noticeably frustrated and confused, unravels a map and starts going once more. Soon, I see the Coachman raise his palm in the air as a small flame erupts from his hand. ¡°He knows magic?¡± I slowed my pace and followed him past the darkness of the forest foliage. His soul flame was noticeably more stable than mine, and did not strain him in the slightest. ¡°Alright, just up ahead¡­¡± He glances around and starts sprinting. ¡°Wait up!¡± I pleaded as I desperately pushed my sore legs off the hardened ground. Hearing my voice, the Coachman stops and turns around. ¡°Oh! I thought you were a wolf! Why are you trailing me? Shouldn¡¯t you be asleep?¡± I keep my head down and look off to the side ¡°Um¡­ it seemed like you were searching for something urgent. So I wanted to follow you.¡± The Coachman lets out a sigh and throws his arms into the air, ¡°Well, we are already this far away from camp. Can¡¯t turn back now.¡± He swiftly turns around and starts walking forward. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Keep close now, or you will get lost.¡± ¡°Okay¡± I walked closer to him as his eyes peeled onto the map. ¡°Let¡¯s see, if we follow these trails and take a turn over there¡­¡± The Coachman starts swiftly walking forward and we eventually encounter a hidden village deep within the forest. ¡°We made it. Finally, I can get the cure for my daughter..!¡± He tries and contains his excitement as we both walk into this ominous village. A sickly sweet scent hung in the air as we passed by very odd looking statues. ¡°What happened here?¡± I asked the Coachman who was staring off at a tiny hut in the distance. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know, and I wouldn¡¯t care to know.¡± We both continued forward as a low hum filled our ears. Besides that, it was a very quiet and odd abandoned village. Arriving at the front door of the hut, the Coachman knocks on the door as a jarring cackling could be heard from inside. ¡°Kekeke, Com''n!¡± An old witch opens the creaky door as we both step into a very dusty hut. Many strange scents wafted in the air as we pushed past into the living room. One particular scent, a floral and sickly sweet smell assaulted our noses as the old witch pops open a glass bottle. ¡°Wel¡¯ now. Whatcha¡¯ want from ol¡¯ me?¡± She chugs down the liquid as the Coachman grips his knees, ¡°I need some bone golem¡¯s honey¡± The old witch gives a rather scorning look as she leans in front of his face. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I-it¡¯s for my daughter¡­¡± Her frowned face brightens like a childs as she pulls out some cups out of the cabinet. ¡°Well¡¯ now. Don¡¯t be so stiff. Let ol¡¯ me treat ya to a drink¡± She pours out that intoxicatingly sweet liquid into some tea cups and glances towards me. ¡°How about you, Lad? Do you need honey as well?¡± I shrug, ¡°Uh, sure why not¡± I chuckle and scratch my head, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± The old witch lets out a hmph and pushes the cups towards us. ¡°Please, it¡¯s on the house.¡± The Coachman shrugs and shoots down the drink. Giving a look of hesitation, I raise the cup in the air and shoot it down as well. Pah* ¡°That¡¯s some foul drink right there¡± The Coachman¡¯s face immediately reddens as he starts wobbling side to side. I feel the liquid burn down my throat and start burning away at my core. ¡°What did you offer us!?¡± I feel anger quickly rising as I shout at the old witch. ¡°Hahaha, It¡¯s some good wine isn¡¯t it?¡± The old witch prances around the living room as if she was chasing stars. I look over at The Coachman who was mumbling some nonsense. ¡°...Don¡¯t worry, I will find the cure. I swear, I swear¡­¡± He curls up into a ball and starts crying. Fool ¡°What was that?¡± I look around and start seeing the shadows moving erratically. All this work, but for what? I furrowed my brows as my eyes burned with tears. Do you think you can reach the end with just that? ¡°Shut up, who are you?!¡± Swinging my arms around, I see the world around me flicker and reality starts distorting itself. Witness the truth of this world The world starts disintegrating into letters and numbers which swarm the surrounding lights. My eyes stare off into the flowing darkness. Reaching out, I feel my mind writing words as a familiar cane falls into my hand. ¡°No this isn¡¯t right. This doesn¡¯t belong in this world¡± My body snaps back into reality as my eyes wobble back and forth in the darkness. A sudden migraine pierces my head as I feel my breath thin away. Looking around, the Coachman and the Old witch were unconscious on the ground. The living room was pitch black, except for the moonlight piercing through the small window curtains. Instinctively, I grabbed beside me and felt the air flowing through my hand. ¡°Huh? It was just there a moment ago?¡± Shrugging, I light the living room lamps and pull out a book to read. ¡°That¡¯s odd, why are all the texts jumbled together?¡± I flipped through each book and found the same outcome. A strange feeling starts overwhelming me as I look out the window. It was a still and quiet night, but nothing was unusual. Noticeably confused, I went back to the living room and attempted some magic. ¡°Draw a circle, and a soul flame will appear.¡± I traced a circle in the air and felt my finger flaking away at something as ash trickled from the circle. Suddenly, an enormous flame erupts from the air and quickly vanishes. ¡°The heck was that!¡± Sweat immediately covered my body as I laid there, unable to move. With each burdened breath, I felt weariness overcome me as I heard the Coachman and the old Witch stirring awake. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± The Coachman taps his hand on his forehead and slowly raises up. The old Witch gets up from the ground, ¡°Wha-What did you do?¡± She glares at me with her beady eyes as she hurriedly runs away. The Coachman chases after her as I sit here, under a lingering air of confusion. The old Witch stops at a kitchen cabinet and pulls down more wine, but realizes the Coachman was following her. She shakily pulls down two jars of honey and pushes it towards him. ¡°Take it, and never return!¡± The Coachman nods and takes the honey as the old Witch chugs down an entire bottle of mead. Her old, and reddened face fills with an immense sadness, ¡°Please¡­ Don¡¯t leave me here alone¡­¡± Tears wallop from her eyes as the Coachman freezes up, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He walks forward and gestures towards me. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± I pick myself up and look back as the old Witch curls into a ball on the floor. Leaving out the door, we were met with odd statues standing outside, surrounding the house. A weird hum fills the silence as their freakish limbs start contorting and creaking. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, now!¡± The Coachman dashes past the encirclement as I follow suite. Chapter 21. Snow We arrived back at the camp and we both worked towards relighting the campfire. A spark became a small flame which engulfed the laid out kindlings. Sitting around the campfire, the Coachman gazes off at the honey. The syrupy liquid reflected a tint of red as it glowed in front of the campfire. ¡°How beautiful¡­¡± Admiration filled his eyes as he flicked the jar and looked towards me. I looked off at the ground and brought my knees close. ¡°What were those statues?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know, but if my guess is correct. Bone golems, probably.¡± He shrugs and pulls out a small picture. His eyes glimmered very brightly against the campfire. ¡°Laurel, I finally found it¡­¡± He mumbles as I tilt my head in curiosity. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± ¡°O-oh, it¡¯s a picture of my daughter, Laurel¡± ¡°What happened to her?¡± The Coachman tenses up and puts the picture away, ¡°My Daughter¡¯s expected husband, Decius, was shoved into a Canal by a group of jealous bastards¡± He whitens his knuckles and slams his hand on his thigh, ¡°And they dare torment her. She hardly ever goes outside anymore because of those scum¡± His angered face quickly subsides as he stares at the jar of honey, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now. I finally found your cure¡­¡± The wind directs smoke towards him as he glances to the side. Tears start to wallop in his eyes as he rubs his runny nose and sighs. ¡°So, you got anything you want to talk about?¡± He glances up towards me as I catch myself nodding off, ¡°Uh, I saw you let out a soul flame. Are you perhaps a mage?¡± The Coachman chuckles and tosses a firewood at the campfire. ¡°No, it¡¯s the only spell I did manage to learn. Sadly, tuition got expensive and I had to leave the Beldonian academy of magic.¡± I ponder and ask, ¡°Can you give me some tips? I can¡¯t seem to stabilize the soul flame.¡± ¡°Sure, but maybe in the morning. Go get some rest¡± I nod and the Coachman goes back to daydreaming. Rolling around, I found a rather comfortable position on the ground and quickly fell asleep. Pillars rained from the heavens Scorching the lustrous lands below. A sea of flames carried by the wind Purified the undeserving creatures below. But what can I say To the boiling skies that rumble and crackle. To the cowering earth that hides itself with sand. My eyes shot open as hazy sunlight bounces around the trees glazed with snow. I shook under a warm, and heavy blanket. Raising up from the ground, the Coachman was asleep, and the morning was calm, with the occasional bird song. I gave my weary eyes a rub and propped myself up with the spear. ¡°Maybe I should practice¡± The cold air leaked past my clothes as I stood in a stance. One thrust became 2, which became 20, and then 100. huff* I set the spear down and caught my breath before giving my arms a stretch. Warmth started to flow through my limbs. ¡°Alright, let''s go for 100 in a row¡± Soon, 80 thrusts pierced through the quiet air and the spear tip became too much to bear on my arms. I let out a sigh and rested against the spear ¡°Guess I can do 20 later¡± I hear the Coachman letting out a yawn as he raises from the ground and stretches his neck. ¡°You¡¯re up early¡± I nod in response and walk back to the Coachman. ¡°So? Let¡¯s get some kindling. It¡¯s going to be a long day of travel. We are already a little behind schedule, you know?¡± He taps on his marked calendar and gets up to leave. Exhaling some frustration, I get up and start looking around the area for kindling. The area was wet, and available kindling was lacking. Soon, my searching went further and further into the forest. Looking back, horror fell upon me as I found myself lost. I hugged the kindlings close and traced my steps on the snow. The winding, and branching footsteps ended up towards many deadends. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°I crossed this tree before, right? Do I recognize that tree over there?¡± These thoughts hung around my mind as the snow slowly became covered in footsteps. ''...Where are you?...'' I hear in the far distance to the right side of my ear. ¡°Over here!¡± Answering. I started picking up my pace as hope filled my heart. Soon, I found myself dashing past an unmarked land of snow and towards the unknown. Each breath felt stale. My lungs burned from the dry winter air, but my steps did not stop. The thought of a campfire gave me reassurance to follow this voice. With each step, I felt my shoes getting heavier and heavier. Looking around, the dead trees danced along the harmonious wind. Tree after tree, my beating heart pumped louder and louder. ''Where are you¡­?'' I flinched at this odd voice as chills crawled down my spine. Keeping quiet, I closed my eyes and listened keenly to the wind. ''Where are you?'' Again, the voice calls out and I start walking towards the voice. An open field stretched past the treeline as the scent of blood filled the air. My heart tightened as an unfamiliar presence stood in the distance. A white haired man crouched above a rotting corpse. his pale, and twig-like arms held a very slender sword; almost like a rapier. The figure glances towards my direction as I let out a gasp. ''You'' His overbearing eyes glare past the tree I cowered behind. Suddenly, after a flash of silver light, the being stood in front of me. ¡®Disciple of the forgotten. You are not my target,¡¯ He aims its sword at me ¡®But are you worthy of remembering ¡°that¡± world?¡¯ Suddenly, he kicks me aside and I tumble on the snow. ¡®Come, show me your worth.¡¯ Gasping for air, each breath taxed my aching bruise as the figure slowly approached. Keeping its sword low, the figure¡¯s posture awaited my first action. Propping up with the spear, I glared at him and ran forward for a thrust. Jumping above my thrust, he twirls around and kicks me in the face. ¡®That can¡¯t be all you got?¡¯ He sprinted towards me and weaved from side to side. Panicking, I avoided a few slashes and felt a low kick to the chest. Barely maintaining my posture, I quickly trace a circle in the air. I noticed him flinch, but disappointment filled his face. ¡®Are you really that disciple?¡¯ ¡°Shut up!¡± I took a deep breath and felt the soul flame burst awake. Weakly sustaining itself, I closed my eyes and willed it into a form. A small pillar flickered a light blue and started tracking his movements. The figure sprinted to the left as I took in a deep breath. ¡°And¡­ Fire!¡± He quickly hops to the side, ¡®Crafty, but not enough¡¯ I smiled and shot out the pillar. A blue light streaked through the air, but his sword dissipates the flame. Suddenly, a blinding silver light dashes in front of me as he kicks me in the air. Blinking again, the figure raises into the air and axe kicks me into the ground. ¡®I guess my eyes deceive me¡¯ The figure¡¯s flowing white hair turns around and tucks away his sword. Pain aches all over, my eyes start to haze as I reach my hand out towards the sun. The winter snow flickered black as the sun wavered its encompassing light. I closed my eyes and listened to my heartbeat. Thump, thump¡­thump*. Envelop me, o¡¯ fleeting wind. An unknown wind twists around me as the figure turns around and smiles. Harrow the forgotten land, The snow rises from the ground as a sudden snowstorm envelops the surrounding forest. He quickly draws his sword as the unknown storm slowly compresses around my body. My hazy eyes became clear as a desert covered the ground. Looking at my palm, I push my hand as a screeching howl shoots forward. Millions of snow, become one He slashes downward as its blade sings like a ringing bell. A glint of silver flashes in front of the blade, cutting through the harrowing wind. Blood splurts out my palm as I collapse onto the snow. My consciousness was slipping away from my grasp as his footsteps stop in front of me, ¡®I am mistaken yet again! You are indeed ¡°that¡± disciple.¡¯ The figure tosses something frigid on me and covers it with my hand. ¡®I, Flindyr. The wandering deity of snow. Acknowledge your disciple¡¯ He lets out a laugh as a distant roar shakes the air. Flindyr turns around and vanishes amongst a flash of silver light. Closing my hazy eyes, exhaustion overcomes me and I fall unconscious. The starless sky loomed over the city ruin as the lonesome pillar stood before me. I looked up, as the pillar stretched above endlessly. Reaching my hand out, snow crept around my palm as a sharp pain burrowed into my forearm. A faint wisp of light danced along the harsh desert wind and lifted itself into the pillar. Suddenly, the pillar shined a brilliant light and started deteriorating . O¡¯ offspring of the forgotten land May the gift of snow pour down on that lonely world. Flakes of silver snow drifted down from the sea of darkness above. A twinkling star glimmered beside the faint light of the distant moon that was hidden behind the pillar. Closing my eyes, I felt the essence of snow brushing along my face. Looking around, melancholy fills my heart as layers of snow cover the abandoned ruins. I turn away as a faint voice drifts along the winter wind. ¡­ ¡°I found him!¡± Lily¡¯s worried voice forces me awake as I gaze off at the midday sun. The pure blue sky glinted off my heavy eyes as she tugs on my shirt. ¡°Come on. Get up or you will catch a cold¡± Blinking twice, I gasp for air and prop myself up. Looking around, the snow was covered with scratches and loose sticks. Lily gently taps me on the face, ¡°What happened here? Are you alright?¡± I look at my palm and notice a large scar with a faint silver glint in the middle. Nearby, my spear rested in the snow. Letting out a groan of soreness, I rubbed my stomach and leaned forward. ¡°I think I''m fine.¡± I shake my head as Lily gives me a hand. My frigid palms grasps her rather small hands as she pulls me up. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright? Did a storm passed by here?¡± I scratch my head and let out an awkward chuckle, ¡°He he¡­ maybe it did?¡± She gives me a side eye and sighs, ¡°Don¡¯t get lost next time. I wouldn¡¯t want to lose my first student to wolves.¡± She pouts and walks ahead. Leaning forward childishly, she turns around and smiles at me, ¡°Hurry along now! Or do you want to stay outside?¡± I rhetorically shake my head and retrieve my spear off the ground. Tracing back the jumbled footsteps, we start trekking our way back together. The scent of smoke drifts around the approaching campsite. I give an awkward wave towards the Coachman as he gives me an uplifting smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s get going¡± He slaps his knees and shoots from his seat. I let out a weak chuckle as we walked back into the carriage. Soon, with a slight bump, the carriage starts pulling forward. Chapter 22. Idosa The next few days were rather uneventful. The two of them helped me hone my control over magic. Resulting in my soul flame becoming more stable. We also enjoyed our times around the campfire, and spent most of the time on lectures. ¡°Magic is about imparting your will onto nature¡± Lily taps on her notebook and draws a fancy pattern in the air. The glint of admiration twinkles in my eyes as I mimic her movements, but to no avail. Only faint sparks popped in the air. Lily pushes up her glasses and smirks, ¡°You have to feel the mana flowing out of the tip of your finger. Don¡¯t force your will upon it.¡± She draws another fancy, but more simplistic pattern in front of me, ¡°Now you try.¡± I close my eyes as warmth flows through my limbs. Suggesting its flow, the comforting warmth balls up onto the tip of my finger. ¡°There you go. It¡¯s not that hard, isn¡¯t it?¡± I nod and start drawing lines. Without any clear shape, an odd and childish looking picture floats in front of me. She lets out a playful giggle and flips a page on her notebook. ¡°Let¡¯s see here¡­ How about this spell?¡± She holds her hand out the carriage window. The flowing wind ruffles her sleeve. Her breathing slows down, as an unknown force starts tugging on the surrounding snow. Thin lines of silver become pale blue, and gather in her palm. ¡°This is my master¡¯s spell. It essentially commands the material world, and turns it into essence.¡± Lily gives a tearful look at the teal orb. Brushing aside her lustrous hair, she closes her notebook and sighs. ¡°He couldn¡¯t finish the spell. The other Archmages saw it as a spell of destruction. But¡­¡± She spins the teal orb and it becomes an ice sculpture. ¡°It¡¯s a spell with good intentions.¡± Placing the cold sculpture onto my hand. Suddenly, the sculpture turns into a fleeting mound of snow, melting away on my pale hands. Her cold eyes gaze off, as disappointment and sadness saps the light out of her eyes. She leans back hopelessly and stares off at the ground. Taking a deep breath, she raises her eyes towards me and gazes at me soullessly. ¡°Do you want to learn it?¡± Her melancholic appearance subsides. Despite the heaviness in her voice, a curiosity welled up in my heart. Giving a gentle nod, a faint light sparkles from her hazy emerald eyes, ¡°Alright¡­¡± With that, we spent the next day focusing on traveling. A dark cloud seemingly hovers above Lily as she gazes off at the treeline. Caught in her own thoughts, I awkwardly twiddle my fingers and swing my legs. ¡°U-uh¡­¡± The sound barely escapes my throat. Waiting for a response, I quietly withdraw and boredly gaze off at the scenery outside. ¡°Idosa, the city of innovation. What kind of city would that be?¡± I tap on my thigh as an odd, but familiar city flashes before my eyes. Beyond the fool¡¯s dreams. ¡­ I shake my head as a chill runs down my veins. Rubbing my aching arms, I reached for concept of mana and soul in my bag and stared off at the jumbled words. Frowning, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Each word floats up into the air and shuffles around. Noticing this, Lily points her finger at the floating words and latches each sentence together. ¡°Here. It¡¯s not the first time I have encountered such magic.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. She lifts the words into the air as they start branching like a snake. Swirling it around, she points the sentences downward and the book fixes itself. ¡°The spell only works with books I have read. Luckily, Concepts of mana and soul is rather unforgetful.¡± A faint sigh slips out her mouth, containing a mixture of coldness and longing, before daydreaming out the carriage once more. Shaking the opened book upside down, the letters felt secured and I start reading, The soul is inherently in everyone. It is the figure that houses and controls phantasms, or the illusions of the mind. However, mana is different. Mana is the concept that energy is within everything, and through the soul, we are allowed to manifest miracles. But why then, does the material world limit our capacity to create? What is the origin of the soul? Is it not directly related to mana? Like attracts like, and the soul¡¯s likeness, and desire is mana, which in essence is the world itself. Like a mountain, everything wants to build upon itself with itself. The material body consumes life to keep living. So it must be that the soul consumes mana to keep existing. Therefore, the soul must exist within us because we can access mana. However, why are we granted the ability to manipulate mana? Why not other creatures or plants? What distinguishes us from being animals? I cannot say. With the existence of spirits, who are both communicateable, and have some influence on the world, I believe humans shouldn¡¯t be the only beings who can manipulate mana. Maybe, just maybe, our soul itself is a conscious being. And it allows itself to be interacted with. What is the will to the soul then? Phantasms are a reflection of the world, and the building blocks of the soul. So why can we impose our will on these phantasms if the soul isn¡¯t conscious? But what even is the soul? Besides being a derivative of a higher being, what is its purpose? If we take spirits as reference, the soul is an incorporeal and intangible thing that houses the body. Even without knowing the soul¡¯s existence, humans are still able to manipulate mana, as if an innate gift from the unknown. But there is no way to measure the soul, only to call upon the lingering mana that holds a fading remembrance of the dead. We can¡¯t define that as a soul, because the lingering mana cannot learn. I let out a yawn and rub my eyes. ¡°This is a lot to take in¡­ Everything is mana, but why can we manipulate it?¡± Glancing out the window, I admire the winter scenery outside. However, the repetitive landscape and ambience slowly lulled me to sleep. Soon, the seemingly endless forest became flat land. The afternoon sun was starting to set when the Coachman exclaims joyfully, ¡°Just up ahead now. You can see the city from here!¡± We both lean on the windows as the complex scent of Idosa breezes past us. The monotonous noise of the wheels came to a halt as they crossed the city entrance. Tying the horses to the side, the coachman opens the carriage doors, ¡°Welcome, to the Idosa! Come, see it for yourself¡± I step off the carriage as my attention is immediately drawn towards the beautiful city. A big gear sat in the center as the sounds of shifting gears sang throughout Idosa. Many dazzling stars lined up along the road. Beyond these lights, joyful sounds echoed within the many overflowing restaurants. ¡°So, how do you like it?¡± ¡°It''s¡­ overbearing¡­¡± I smile back at the Coachman as he lets out a laugh and pats me on the back, ¡°Indeed. But also rather exciting, no?¡± A medley of fantastical scents mixed and merged as the Coachman points towards a tavern ¡°Come on, let¡¯s rest up. It¡¯s going to be a good day tomorrow.¡± He shuffles something in a satchel as we make our way towards a tavern. Soft, orange light illuminated the restless, rowdy tavern. The smell of hearty stew and ale stirred within the clanking of glass cups. With the addition of chatter and laughter, a warm, but lively scene echoed into the night. Pushing through the overbearing noise, we make our way at the tavern counter. ¡°Hello! Welcome to the Four Winds Tavern. How can I help y¡¯all?¡± A roughened young man wipes a glass and pushes it to the side. The Coachman rests his arm on the counter and raises 3 fingers, ¡°Three rooms, One for me, him and one for her.¡± ¡°Names?¡± ¡°Alderson¡± He looks back at the two of us as Lily steps forward, ¡°Lily, and Clover.¡± The young man twirls a key ring filled with keys and pulls out 3 room keys. ¡°1 copper and 5 tin coins a night.¡± We look at each other and we all reach in our coin pouches. Sliding the coins forwards, he slides us 3 room keys and tosses the coins up in the air. Letting out a soft whistle, he catches all of them in one swipe and starts wiping the counter. Alderson goes up the creaky wooden stairs and waves towards us, ¡°Alright, this is where we part ways. It was good travelling with you both.¡± ¡°Indeed, wish you good luck!¡± Smiling, I wave a farewell as he walks down a hallway. ¡°I will wait for you at that table tomorrow, Clover¡± Lily pokes on my shoulder and starts walking ahead, ¡°What if I wake up first?¡± ¡°Then wait for me.¡± She lets out a yawn and walks up the stairs. I shrug and follow along up to my inn room. Chapter 23. News A cold breeze drifts through the inn room door as I step inside. Slipping beneath the thick blankets, I gaze at the ceiling. Moonlight trickles through the curtains. Listening to my breath, I sink into the mattress. A warmth pulses from my chest as I drift off to sleep. My hand catches a snowflake as I peer at the dark, grey clouds. Fluffy snow drifts along the desert breeze, speckling the sky like silvery stars. Taking a step forward, my shoes dig themselves into the snow. One step after another, I trek through the ruins of scrap metal. Silence clings around these ruins like pieces to an incomplete puzzle. I close my eyes, embracing the weeping howl of the wind. Suddenly, my nose catches the faint scent of smoke. A familiar warmth pulses through my palm. A faint memory of a campfire echoes in my mind. Looking around, My ears perk up to the crackling of fire. Like a moth to a flame, I dash past the rusted rebar and crumbling stone. A sulphurous flame engulfs the snow around it. Its sparks flicker and spatter, staining the silver snow gold. Hush whispers, nonsensical and fragmented, swirl in my ears with each step towards the fire. Shadows dance around the flame. Fixated on the flame¡¯s beautiful light, I step closer. It¡¯s been a long time A calming voice whispered beyond the infinite blur of noise. Grasping at my aching heart, tears trail down my face. Turning away from the flame, the cold world struck at my soul. The winter air embraces my rough face as I awake to a soulless room. Pale light peeks past the thin curtains. Rubbing the crust off my eyes, I roll out of bed and glance out the window. Snow blanketed the streets, dulling the peeling paint on the buildings around. My heart sinks as a memory of that flame flickers behind my eyelids. Staring out the window, the light in my eyes dull. With a sigh, I head out the door. The tavern held a muted atmosphere as I made my way down the creaky stairs. Sitting on the designated table, I cross my arms and look around. A couple of people sat nearby, staring off at newspapers. Meanwhile, a tavern keeper was busy wiping tables. The tavern keeper came to my table, wiping a stain off the hardwood. ¡°Did you catch the news?¡± The tavern keeper asks, tucking away the rag. ¡°No?¡± I reply with a curious tone. He reaches for something in his back pocket and tosses it on the table. ¡°Something big has occurred in Cornelius. Take a look.¡± He points at the newspaper as I take it from the table. ¡°Just leave it on the table when you''re done.¡± The tavern keeper turns around and continues cleaning the tavern. I unravel the Newspaper, The Perching Ravens Civil war Erupts in Cornelius Civil war has broken out in Cornelius. Revoltists had stormed the Cornelius mansion, demanding an end to the war. But negotiations took a deadly turn. Hidden amongst the revoltists, a group of Aroca spies assaulted Reid while he was negotiating with the Revolutionist Leader. After a desperate struggle, Reid Cornelius managed to get out of the encirclement. Unfortunately, he escaped with major injuries. Unexpectedly, the Revolutionist Leader revealed himself as an Arocian spy. Taking the advantage, he commanded a slaughter. The Civilians are cowering. Cornelius has split into two. The city¡¯s future looks grim. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Putting the paper down, I let out a sigh. What should I feel¨Csadness, anger? My heart twists as I head to the bar. Moments later, the tavern keeper walks over, ¡°How can I help?¡± ¡°Can I have some water?¡± He pours a glass of lukewarm water and slides it towards me. Quenching my thirst, I lower my head. The tavern keeper puts down the rag and tops up my glass. ¡°So, thoughts?¡± He slides a barstool beneath him and sits in front of me. I tap the glass of water and glance at his scruffy brown hair . ¡°It¡¯s¡­ sad. There are good people there. But I shouldn¡¯t let it get to my head.¡± A sigh escapes me. The tavern keeper smirks. ¡°Indeed. A lot is happening nowadays. I just can¡¯t help but worry. Cornelius is our trade partner. If that route¡¯s gone, there won¡¯t be fresh corn in my tavern anymore!¡± He lets out a soft chuckle and gazes out the window. ¡°Still, we got our worries. And they got their worries. Luckily, I can watch from afar.¡± Getting up from the counter, the tavern keeper slides a glass of ale. ¡°Take it, it¡¯s on the house for today¡± I stare at the bubbling liquid as he starts tending to other businesses. Taking a sip of the ale, I pucker and chug down the drink. my face flushes red. Heat builds up in my body as I hold back a few tears. ¡°They will be fine, right?¡± Suddenly, a soft tap touches my shoulder. ¡°Good morning¡­¡± Lily rubs her tired eyes and pulls up a seat.. ¡°Morning¡­¡± I reply with a hint of dread in my tone. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She pokes my shoulder, noticing my reddening eyes. I shrug and sip on some water. ¡°Go grab that newspaper over there. It¡¯s¡­ important.¡± She gives a lazy nod and heads over to the newspaper. Her face shifts from surprise to horror, and settles to melancholy as she returns to the barstool. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ terrible. It¡¯s a good thing we left early.¡± Forcing a smile, Lily twiddles her fingers and stares off. We sat in silence, getting lost in thought. Soon, the tavern keeper slides a menu in front of us. The sounds of sizzling start stirring my empty stomach. A savory scent wafts out the kitchen, playfully inviting us to the menu. ¡°Let¡¯s order something.¡± I tap on the menu and turn to Lily. ¡°Sure!¡± She gives a bright smile, eagerly indulging in the scents in the air. Gesturing for the tavern keeper, we ordered a delectable breakfast. With a clank on the table, the food arrives. A sunny side up, fresh bread, sausage and a bowl of oatmeal sits before me. Without hesitation, I dig in. The oatmeal was rather bland, but was comforting. The sausage snapped with a rich flavor, which paired well with the bread and eggs. I quickly scarfed everything down, washing it down with a glass of water. The flavors became a lingering memory as I waited for Lily to finish. She ate with a quiet grace and took her time. Shrugging, I yawned and leaned on the counter. ¡°Thanks for the meal.¡± I whisper as I rest on the counter. Listening to the clanks and clacks of utensils, I get off the counter and turn to Lily who finished her meal. ¡°Where are we headed?¡± I ask with a hint of enthusiasm in my voice. She wipes her mouth and pulls out her notebook. ¡°There¡¯s a few places. But right now we can entertain ourselves. Just come with me.¡± She gives a polite smile, hops off the barstool and heads towards the tavern doors. Following, we push through the doors. The winter wind greets us as we step out. Lily points at giant gear, ¡°First, the gear of Sol. Or the heart of Idosa.¡± She puts down her finger and we start heading towards the giant gear. Chapter 24. Monty A towering gear shimmered its golden radiance, standing above the highest walls of Idosa. The gear held a glamorous red orb. The symbol of luxury merging with innovation. Throughout Idosa¡¯s history, this gear stands as a memory of King Quiliff¡¯s utopia, which fell during the Gala of Deities. Lily closes her notebook and glances up at the red orb.Sunlight pierces through the orb, glimmering a dark scarlet hue. ¡°Some say that Sol, the god of innovation, resides there. However, no one has tried extracting that orb. The gear still rotates, you know?¡±¡± I squint my eyes at the looming monument¡¯s orb. A small, sulphurous flame flickers in the back of my eye. Warmth prattles on fingertips as a shiver runs down my spine. Forcing my eyes off the orb, I rub my strained eyes and shake my head. ¡°Is that where the ticking noise comes from?¡± She nods. ¡°Mhm, you are correct. Whatever mechanism beneath us has long lost its original purpose. But, the Beldonian Academy has learnt that each silver tooth of the gear marks the four seasons. Some even imagine a giant clock face on the gear. But it doesn¡¯t seem to track time that way.¡± Looking up, a distinct tooth stuck out on the gear. ¡°Hey, what about that tooth? The one covered in scratch marks?¡± Lily darts her eyes around, eventually locking on that specific tooth and shrugs, ¡°Maybe weather damage? I wouldn¡¯t know¡­¡± She starts striding joyfully, ¡°Let¡¯s get going now. We have a long day ahead of us!¡± I let out a yawn and begrudgingly followed along. The streets lined themselves with bright windows, displaying all sorts of clothes, jewelry and merchandise. ¡°Look over there, and over there!... Come on, there''s a store here I heard good things about¡­¡± Like an energetic child, Lily darts around the marketplace, gawking by the many oddities behind the window displays. Playfully tugging on my sleeve, we explore around the market district. Occasionally, we paused our exploration to admire the many oddly designed gadgets. Some clicked and clanked, while others spun around and around. ¡°Look! This is a compass. It points true north.¡± Lily''s eyes brighten at a small, gold cyclical case with a silver chain. In the case, a rod painted red on one half, and white on the other, jiggled slightly. Her face darkens as she notices the price tag beside it. ¡°3 gold coins? That''s too much.¡± She sighs and we continue onward, looking for more around. Suddenly, my ears pick up a soft bird song. Turning into a winding alleyway, faint sunlight paints the tarnished walls. The soft bird song grew louder with each step forward. Pushing ahead, I arrive at a quiet, tucked away store. Snow built up along the enclosed walls, a sign that this place is still tended to. Click* Clang* I look up to a bird falling from the sky. Whirring on the ground, the bird twists and turns as a young man runs out the store. ¡°Another failure¡­¡± He picks up the bird shaped construct and glances up to me. ¡°Hello, The store is open if you want to come in! A smile traces his face as he turns around and dashes back into the store. Shrugging, I follow into the small store. *** Lily stops by a store front and looks back. ¡°Where did Clover go?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Glancing around, she reaches for a vial of blood and tosses in the air. ¡°Let''s see¡­ Mana, with his blood, guide me to my disciple¡± The lid pops open as an arrow suddenly manifests and points towards a wall. ¡°Did he go through a wall?¡± Brushing her fingers on the wall, she sighs and starts retracing her steps. Turning into the closest alleyway, the walls were covered in scratch marks. Lily lets out a sigh and slowly walks down the narrow path. The scent of blood filled the air. Closing her eyes, Lily confidently steps forward. We do not use other¡¯s essences as a source of mana. We are not heretics or fanatics. We are dignified scholars who burden ourselves for the truth. ¡°I know, master. You don¡¯t have to remind me.¡± Lily scratches the back of her pale palm as a crimson flame swirls around her. Approaching forward, an oversized, spider-like creature crunched on a fragmented bone. Its disgusting eyes glint a murky gray. Tracing a line, a slash flies from the fire. Without a squeak nor a squeal, its head flies from its neck and falls to the ground. The corpse collapses on the ground, twitching, .Getting a good look at the creature, it¡¯s spider-like appearance was only a facade. Human limbs of unknown origin were stitched all around its body. An arm and a leg stuck out from its back, and its face contained many eyelids. Without a hint of disgust, Lily¡¯s eyes fill with pity as she curses under her breath. This creature was man-made. *** mechanical parts littered the store as I walked in. Many odd creations, each one resembling an animal of sorts. However, these creations stood motionless, staring off at the mounds of rubbish around. The sounds of tinkering filled the air as I awkwardly inspected around the cramped store. ¡°Dammit!¡± The young man shouts in frustration as parts fall to the ground. ¡°It will work this time, I swear!¡± More sounds of tinkering were heard. Striking and clicking louder this time around. Ignoring this, I reach for a bird perched on the desk. ¡°Hmm¡± Gears weave within the internal mechanism, linked together in such a way that connected to a small wind up dial. Giving it a few twists, the gears start cranking. As if life was granted upon the creation, the bird starts flapping its wings. Suddenly, a strong flap propels the bird into the air and soars past my head. With a few pops, the bird disassembles and falls on the ground. Not sure how to react, I walk towards the young man sitting on the ground and knock on the door. ¡°Hello, can I ask? What are these creations?¡± The young man glances up and smiles brightly, ¡°Everything here is experimental. I have been working towards longer lasting clockwork systems. Wanna hear about it?¡± I shrug and look around, wondering where Lily went. ¡°Uh, sure I guess?¡± ¡°Come! Have a seat.¡± He pats the ground beside him and starts tinkering. Leaning in for a look, complex chains of teeth merged together, grinding at each other with precise precision. A shell of a bird flapped its wings slightly as parts flew in and out from the bird. ¡°So, what is this about?¡± I ask, slightly overwhelmed with the complex chains. ¡°Hmm, Starting from here¡­ You link these together, around the central gear. When you stack enough gears together, the central functioning gear will be delayed¡­ Allowing a replication of life!¡± He pushes in the winding key and runs out the front door. Following, we both gaze up at the pale gray clouds. The sun barely poked past the veil and hung at an angle, it was around midday. Giving the winding key a few twists, the bird chirps and glances at the young man. Expanding its wings, it starts flapping up into the sky, chirping away a familiar birdsong. ¡°Will it work this time?¡± A look of anticipation stares off into the sky as the bird does a few circles, slightly below the buildings around. Almost expectedly, the bird starts popping and twitching. Sweeping low, it recovers slightly before nose diving into a pile of snow. ¡°How can I make it return? How can I stabilize it?¡± The young man paces back and forth before retrieving the bird from the snow. ¡°We¡¯ll try again after some food¡­ You hungry?¡± ¡°Uh, kinda¡­ I need to find someone first. Is that all right?¡± I scratch my head, not expecting the kind gesture. ¡°That¡¯s fine! I¡¯m Monty, an aspiring innovator for Idosa. My dream is to make infinite motion!¡± Monty laughs and brushes some snow off the bird. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Clover, a wanderer at the moment. That¡¯s about it really¡­¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Clover. Let¡¯s go find your friend after I put away this bird¡± He rushes to the store and puts away the creation before closing and locking the door. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go get some food!¡± Chapter 25. Signs Traversing throughout the market district, Monty keeps his head high, walking with an exaggerated stride. Barely keeping up with a brisk walk, I stumble along the sidewalk. Suddenly, something taps on my shoulder. ¡°Where were you?¡± I glance to Lily''s concerning pout. ¡°Uh¡­ can I explain later? I got invited for food by this guy.¡± I point to Monty, who slows down his pace and waves back to Lily. ¡°Fine, but I¡¯m coming with. Don¡¯t vanish on me like that next time, please?¡± I nod and we continue onward to a rather run-down building. Without the ¡°Restaurant¡± label, no one would assume that a business was here. ¡°Come on in! She serves good food here. And it¡¯s cheap too!¡± Monty smacks his lips in anticipation and swings the door open. ¡°Hello, granny! Are you there?¡± He calls out to the empty restaurant, but to no response. ¡°Are you there, Granny?¡± Calling out again, concern twists into his face as he darts to the kitchen. There were no signs of activities in the kitchen. The stove was cold and yesterday¡¯s firewood was ashened. Monty, slightly relieved, comes back to us with a hesitant smirk. ¡°Wait here¡­ I will check upstairs¡± Lily and I look at each other as Monty goes upstairs. ¡°Should we go up with him?¡± I look at Lily as she shrugs and goes up the stairs anyway. Not knowing what to do, I also shrug and follow along. Stepping past the creaky stairs, we both peer into an open doorway. Getting closer, Monty crouched by the bedside, holding onto a wrinkly, and rough hand. ¡°Please wake up¡­¡± Monty pushes words through his brewing worry. We get closer, standing beside the door. Suddenly, with a slight shuffle under the bedsheets, the old lady¡¯s eyes snap open. Twitching her finger along Monty¡¯s hands, she stares off into the ceiling. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Monty asks, glancing up from the floor. The old lady chuckles and slowly turns around the bed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m awake now. Keep those tears for later.¡± Patting monty on the head, the old lady pushes herself upright and looks towards us. ¡°You even brought friends over! There¡¯s no need to be sad.¡± Giving us a smile, she gestures for us to come over. ¡°What a familiar young man, you remind me of someone. But I don¡¯t seem to remember.¡± She directs her eyes towards me. Scratching my head, I awkwardly chuckle and step back, ¡°Haha, that can¡¯t be right. This is my first time here in this city!¡± Seeing her unconvinced gaze, I tense up and keep quiet. The old lady also glances at Lily with a peering eye. ¡°You¡­ weren¡¯t you on the news?¡± Lily smiles and walks over confidently, ¡°Indeed, I am quite well known for my looks.¡± ¡°I guess so, especially if I could remember it¡± The old lady lets out a childish giggle and extends a hand to Lily, ¡°I¡¯m Isabella. How about you two?¡± Lily gestures to me, ¡°This is Clover, and I¡¯m Lily¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you both, how about I serve you all some food?¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Isabella brushes off Monty¡¯s hand and tries to get out of bed. However, her legs give in as she tries to stand up, falling back to the bed. ¡°It seems my legs are tired.¡± Attempting once more, Isabella tumbles forward as Monty catches her. Monty gives a concerning look, ¡°Please lay back down. There¡¯s no need to push yourself, granny.¡± Monty stops Isabella from getting up a third time. However, Isabella struggles against Monty¡¯s small hands. ¡°I have to tend to the restaurant downstairs! There are guests, I can hear them shuffling the chairs.¡± I closed my eyes and listened, but no sound was heard below. Lily and I looked at each other, confusion clearly plastered over our faces. ¡°What do you mean? I don¡¯t hear anyone around.¡± I take a ask as the words fall into Isabella¡¯s ears. ¡°No that can¡¯t be¡­ Surely there¡¯s guests down there. I need to go to the stove. I have to make today¡¯s soup!¡± Isabella clutches her legs as she attempts once more to get up. ¡°Come on, these legs haven¡¯t failed me now!¡± However, Monty stopped her from getting up. Tears start trailing down Isabella¡¯s face as she starts cackling, ¡°Please¡­ The guests below are starving. Do you not hear them pounding on the tables?¡± Dead silence filled the air, not even a squeak from a mouse could be heard from below. However, her insistent pleas made us question our own hearing. Lily perks up, ¡°Fine, I will check downstairs. If there are customers down there, we will help carry you down. If there aren¡¯t any, you will stay in bed. Deal?¡± Lily hints annoyance in her tone as she glares at Isabella. ¡°Fine, have it your way. But I insist there are guests down there!¡± Lily turns around and heads down. Isabella starts biting on her nails as she curls into a ball, ¡°I need to go down there¡­ I need to go down there¡­¡± She mumbles over and over as Lily turns the corner of the stairwell. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Lily smiles at Isabella. Isabella glares at her, ¡°I told you, didn''t I? There¡¯s guests down there. Please, let me down there now!¡± ¡°But there aren¡¯t any guests. I couldn¡¯t see anyone down there.¡± Lily scoffs at Isabella who scratches her face and starts shaking violently. ¡°No! That can¡¯t be! They demand my food! I can hear them shouting through the floor!¡± Isabella screams as she flails her arms as exhaustion overcomes her old body and falls onto the bed. ¡°That can¡¯t be¡­ That can¡¯t be¡­¡± She mumbles over and over before passing out on the bed. Monty falls to the ground, and crawls away from the bed. Glancing at Monty I ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Monty gives a concerning look of confusion, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Granny was never like this, at least from what I can recall¡­¡± Scratching his head, he pulls up a chair and sits on the bedside. ¡°I will stay here and keep an eye on her.Can you bring me some food?¡± ¡°Sure, we won¡¯t be gone too long.¡± I respond, turning away from the bedroom. Lily and I glance at each other and we both search for another restaurant. *** The quiet bedroom hummed its monotonous tones. A silence of sorts, where liveliness was displaced with stillness. This silence pressed Monty down on the chair. Not knowing what to do, he held still. Caught in a daze, Monty starts dozing off. Weariness tugged on his eyelids as the noises around started becoming dull and muted¡­ ¡­ Monty sat in a chair as a sickly yellow light illuminated behind him. Come to me¡­ I will forgive you¡­ The light called out in a gasping, whispery voice. But the voice didn¡¯t call out to him. A thin and pale figure raised from the bed, its hollow eyes peering directly to the light. ¡°What¡­ a beautiful light¡­¡± The figure whispered weakly. Raising its twig-like arms, its frail hands grasp towards an unknown warmth. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Flames start sprouting from its fingertips as its sickly skin flakes away. ¡°No!¡± Out of desperation, Monty grabs hold of the figure. The unusual fire trails across its arm, and scorches his finger tips. Snapping awake, Monty rubs his cold fingertips as they quivered in pain. Suddenly, a voice breaks the subtle silence. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake now.¡± Isabella sat upright, smiling at something in the distance. ¡°Did you see the light? How absolutely delightful¡± A restrained giggle forces its way from her throat. Rubbing her arm, she glances at Monty with an eerie smile. Monty sat there, a weight pressing down on his shoulders. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything¡­¡± Monty mumbles quietly as Isabella starts cackling. Her laughter cuts off as she gazes at the wall ahead of her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tend to me. Please, give me some time alone hun.¡± As if caught in a trance, Isabella continues staring at the wall. ¡°A-alright¡­ I wait downstairs.¡± Monty stumbles on the chair and rushes out the door. *** Chapter 26. Madness A black-haired young man sat in a rather bumpy and crowded wagon while holding an envelope. Black robes draped down below his knees as a leather book strap tied onto his hip. Slicing the re-sealed small wax stamp, Cecil pulls out the folded letter. Dear Theo, There has been an outbreak of madness in Idosa. The church of Ithax has requested all nearby personnel to investigate and cure this oddity. Whatever is out there is bothering Ithax¡¯s rest. Our diviners have fallen ill-ridden, mentioning the city going up in flames. There have been reports of casualties seeing a sulfurous light in the back of their eyes. Some victims have even combusted into a sickly yellow flame. However, the cause of this is unknown. We humbly request you to find the source of this cause. As of this moment, we assume that Sol, the god of knowledge and enlightenment, is related to this problem. Once again, please send any operating priests or equivalent personnel to Idosa. Make haste, -Edna, High Priestess of Ithax. Cecil folds the letter back into the envelope and tucks it away in his robes. A biting chill crept past the Wagon entrance, but Cecil didn¡¯t care. Burn marks and calluses covered his palm and fingers. With each exhale, a cloud of steam puffs from his lips. Traces of ash trickle down as the murky smoke thins away. As he gazes out at the winter scenery, Cecil¡¯s mind drifts back to a memory ¡°With this, you are now an official priest of Ithax¡± A smirk plastered on Theo¡¯s narrow face, unfitting to his strict appearance. Towering above Cecil, Theo crouches down, meeting eye to eye. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Cecil.¡± Theo places an envelope in front of him and turns away to leave. ¡°This is a task for you. I would attend it, but I have to tend to the people of this city.¡± Like an eerie slender shadow, he merges into the darkness. Only the sound of footsteps going up the creaky stairs signified his leave. Cecil sat in this dark room, scars and burn marks covered his entire body. Sigh*. Cecil shakes his head as the wagon approaches Idosa¡¯s walls. Glancing around, Some people cowered around thin blankets, while others wore thick jackets, staring holes into the ground. The winter air was as cold as the silent atmosphere of the wagon. The wagon comes to a stop and a roughened voice barks past the wagon veil. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. Get out!¡± Cecil stands up and exits the wagon first. The city of Idosa stood around him. Brilliant street lamps hung on a chain, dancing along with the wind. The gray, cobblestone road glimmered beneath the faint sunlight. A small wall of snow sat in the middle of this walkway, separating the path into two. Glancing around, Cecil pulls out a slit of paper from his prayer book. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ Follow the main road and take the nearest left. The Church is outside of the city. Danm, there¡¯s a ceremony when we all arrive.¡± Rubbing his sleepy legs, he starts trekking to the church. A rather simple church stood outside Idosa¡¯s walls. Gravestones lay around, each one marked with names of people who were probably remembered. The dreary gray clouds sapped away the orange-red banners hanging on the church. Stepping up the three-step staircase, Cecil pushes the church door carefully. Inside the church, a warm brown clung on the pews as pale light drapes down from the thin window curtains. A small gathering of priests stood around the podium discussing quietly amongst themselves. Dragging his fingers on the pews, Cecil takes a seat. Soon, the other priests start finding seats. Hush whispers filled the church as everyone patiently waited. After a long minute, a frail and arched old man in white robes walks out the side door of the podium. ¡°Good evening, fellow priests of Ithax.¡± The old priest¡¯s voice was rough and scratchy, reminiscent of a war general¡¯s bark. ¡°I welcome you today as the head of this church. Please save our people from this madness.¡± Sadness glints off his quivering eyes as he looks amongst the crowd. A few yawns were seen throughout the church. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m sure you all are quite tired from the travels. So I will make this brief.¡± He clears his throat and leans on the podium. ¡°As said in the letter, we humbly request you all to find the source that is tormenting the people of this fine city. Now make way, you have a lot of work to do.¡± The old priest presses a hand on his arched back and walks back into the side door, leaving everyone in silence. *** Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Lily and I wandered around the city, following scents of delicacies in the air. Taking our time, we decided to go into a larger restaurant and ordered food. The food was pleasant and filling, but not worth the price. ¡°But aren¡¯t most things like that in cities like these?¡± Lily sarcastically smirks as we wait for a ¡°specialty sandwich¡± to come out. Nodding in agreement, we both sat there twiddling our thumbs awkwardly. Soon, a waiter comes out with a baguette-length sandwich. ¡°Here¡¯s your order.¡± The waiter gives us the sandwich and leaves. Getting up from the table, we both head back to Isabella¡¯s place together. ¡­ The passing streets were eerily quiet as the sun cowered behind a thick layer of clouds. Murky gray dulled the pale amber light of the clanging streetlamps. Passing by, we traverse through the winding paths and arrive at Isabella¡¯s restaurant. Odd shadows stirred around the illuminated windows, glowing sulfurous yellow like moths drawn to a flame. Sometimes humanoid, these shadows flowed in and out the entrance as wondrous scents of foreign cuisines plumed within the restaurant. Peering in, Monty sat away in a corner as these shades filled the tables. Isabella¡¯s voice could be heard from the kitchen, reciting ingredient after ingredient above the crackling of the stove¡¯s fire. Heading over to Monty, we tried to make ourselves comfortable. ¡°Hey, are you doing alright?¡± I ask as Monty nervously looks up from the table. ¡°Y-ya¡­ uh. Oh, hello there!¡± Monty¡¯s cramped posture straightens as his quivering eyes relax. Suddenly, pounding and slamming were heard around us. The restaurant started to violently shake as these shadows started to stir. ¡°You all wait now! The food¡¯s almost ready!¡± Isabella shrieks atop this odd gathering, causing it to stop. Silence hung above, causing the shadows to cower. A soft hum echoes past the kitchen walls. Overwhelmingly savory and sickly sweet scents merged together as an amalgamation of a dish exited the kitchen.An odd air of youthfulness swirled around Isabella. She skipped and hopped as she plated each and every table. Back and forth, from the kitchen in a swift, and almost dangerous manner. Arriving at our table, she places the odd dishes with a joyous look on her face. ¡°Please try. This is a very special dish. One of absolute pleasure to serve.¡± Humming an unusual song, she skips back to the kitchen. The shadows stir with vigor, like a dance of excitement. Each one leans forward, towering above the strange cuisine. Wiggling tendrils drape down onto the dish as it starts disintegrating into ash. I cautiously pick up a fork and poke at the dish. Conflicting aromas leak into the air, salty, sweet, savory, sour all swirling together. Nibbling a piece, memories of a young Isabella flash past my eyes. Kneaded dough rested on my hands as a melodic hum flows from my lips. The scent of yeast bubbles into my nostrils. With a blink of my eyes, the memory fades away, leaving only the taste of ash in my mouth. Looking at the dish, a pile of soot sat on the plate, inedible and ruined. ¡°Hey um, is this ok to eat?¡± However, to my dismay, I could not hear my voice. Not a single sound could be heard, except for that daunting fire crackling in the kitchen. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I¡¯m glad you all enjoy my creation. Please, stay for dessert!¡± Isabella¡¯s cheery voice pierces the veil of silence. The shadows whisper in disgruntled noises. ¡°They have never done that before¡­¡± I think as another complex and outlandish looking dessert arrives on my table. ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s because I serve them well.¡± Isabella¡¯s voice shrieks right beside my ear, causing it to ring. Facing her with an irritated look, I see a sickly pale and slender figure.. ¡°Please, give this one a try and then my final gift to you all will come soon.¡± An innocent smile pastures this figure¡¯s face. Only its voice resembled Isabella, but it¡¯s hard to say. Looking at the dish, an intense desire to consume washes over me. Unable to hold back, I reach for the fork and start gouging the food. With each piece, a memory rushes past my eyes. Her mundane, and tedious life plays out in my mind. Many days of cooking, washing and serving, mainly. Some days, blood covered my hands as I butchered meat. Other days, I spent tossing vegetables into a pot. ¡°Is it ok to keep going like this?¡± Isabella¡¯s voice whispers in my head as my hands start to wrinkle and ache. The weight of the meat cleaver strained my forearms, but I continued. ¡°Was it out of desperation? At least it made others happy.¡± The dream kept going, until the weight of time pressed down on my spine. The same scents, same structured recipes, over and over. ¡°There¡¯s no need to live an exciting life. I¡¯m satisfied with making others smile. How about you? What guides you to keep going?¡± Tears fill Isabella¡¯s eyes as she gives me a pitiful look. ¡°Well, enough with life lessons. Please stay for my final gift!¡± Wiping her tears away, they sizzle away as it hits the ground. A sickly yellow stains the floor, smoke pluming from the walls. The shadows joyously praise as flames envelop them. ¡°The light of Sol has welcomed me!¡± They chant over and over, swaying in unison. Blinking, I remember where I was. ¡°Come on, why did you both try the food!¡± Lily shouts at me and Monty as the crackling of fire crawls up the walls. Smoke envelopes the ceiling, raining ash from above. Pulling Monty out of the restaurant, we all exited the building as a silhouette stood in the fire. ¡°Don¡¯t leave¡­ join us, and together the light of Sol can grant us salvation.¡± Ash and soot flakes off this haunting silhouette, as if the shadows devoured her skin. ¡°No¡­ don¡¯t go! This can¡¯t be right¡­ ¡± Monty shouts towards the roaring fire as tears drip down his face. A smile curls on the silhouettes face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Monty¡± It whispers quietly, but the words got consumed by the flame. Chapter 27. Dull A pillar of fire crawls along the restaurant walls, splashing the gray cobblestone road, with orange, red and yellow waves. Soot-filled smoke plumes up to the sky, Staining the murky gray clouds black. Harsh heat blasts out the shattered windows, riding along the icy winter wind. The bitter smoke breezes past our aching eyes as ashen flakes drift to the ground. The roaring flames flicker against the cold air as ash falls from the sky. Trails of Soot mark the cobblestone road. Monty sat on the ground, hugging his knees. ¡°No¡­¡± Tears drip down his face as he gazes at the fire. Numbness runs across his quivering palms. Harsh heat crawls around us, enveloping us with tart, sour scents. A bitter taste rests on our gritty tongues as disgusting smoke wafts into our nostrils. Hurried footsteps rush down the cobblestone. A gathering of priests in black robes forms in front of the fire. A familiar face walks towards us, ¡°Explain Clover, what happened here?¡± Cecil asks as I rub my aching hands together. ¡°I...I don¡¯t know. Where do I even start?¡± Fragmented memories stir in my head, but nothing seemed to make sense. ¡°It happened too quickly.¡± I mutter under my breath as I press my hand against my forehead. Noticing my confusion, Cecil walks over to Lily. ¡°How about you? Can you explain what happened here?¡± Lily stares off at the fire for a moment before answering, ¡°We were visiting the owner of this establishment because our good friend on the ground recommended this place. However, the owner was too weak to get out of bed. Something happened in-between, but I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Cecil nods and gives a pitiful look at Monty. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more about this later. But this is definitely unusual. For now, we must quell this damned fire.¡± Taking a confident step towards the rest of the priests, they all reach their arms out towards the fire. O Ithax, grant us the command over fire They all chant together as the fire Swirls, twisting into a ball. Wooden beams fall to the ground as the fire raises up into the air. O¡¯ essence of the eternal flame, return from which thou came. Suddenly the orb of fire vanishes into thin air as howling screams echo throughout the priests. ¡°What a beautiful light!¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A priest cries out as a sickening sulfurous flame sprays out of his eyes. Streaks of orange and yellow stain the cobblestone road like a water paint canvas. ¡°I see it! The truth of this world! It¡¯s all meaningless, everything that I have done and will do. It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± The priest¡¯s sickening laughter howls above the cacophony of groans and screams. Suddenly, a crimson red line flies through his throat, lobbing his head off. ¡°Shut it, you disdaining bastard¡± Tears trail down Lily¡¯s angry face as her breath hazes her heavy glasses. A crimson color streaks down her blonde hair like blood flowing down a golden meadow. I couldn¡¯t help but stare in awe. Such a brutal, and simplistic method of ending one¡¯s life. Lily turns towards me, her piercing eyes quiver in anger and sadness ¡°No, this is wrong¡­¡± Her regretful tone aches at my heart. Hiding away her left hand, Lily heads over to Monty who was weeping in his arms. ¡°Come on now. If you stay out here for too long, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± Gently patting his back, she stands up and starts walking off. Monty and I look to each other, ¡°Let¡¯s get going now, shall we?¡± I ask as Monty nods slightly and slowly gets up from the ground. We wander around the seemingly endless labyrinth of streets. A turn left, and a turn right, as remarkable of a city Idosa was, its luster was long gone. Rust crawled up the street lamps, hidden beneath flakes of peeling iron and snow. It was an unremarkable evening, one filled with silence and grief. The passing day felt like a fever dream. Lily locked herself in her room and Monty was gone. I was left alone to tend to my own things. ¡°A drink please¡± I ask the tavern keeper as he slides me some ale. The taste of fermentation and alcohol runs down my throat. ¡°...did you hear? Last night, Isabella¡¯s restaurant got set on fire...¡± ¡°...Oh no! How did that happen?...¡± ¡°...The perpetrator has not been found. The cause is unknown. Everything was burnt to the ground¡­¡± ¡°...Well I be damned. Luckily it wasn¡¯t us¡­¡± ¡°...ya, poor soul¡­¡± I slam the mug on the barside and get up to leave the tavern, throwing 3 tin on the table. Snow started to fall from the sky, swaying so gently against the numbing wind. People pass by, some scorning the delicate snow, hoping it would pass by. Others continue forward, too focused on their own day to appreciate the snowflakes. Was I happy, or am I sad? My flushed face sting. A lingering scent of smoke rides the gentle and dull breeze. ¡°Does it even matter? Whatever I¡¯m doing?¡± I ask to the road frosted with snow. I ask the flowing clouds covering the sky. But to no response. Letting out a sigh, I aimlessly wander around the city. The sounds of music echo with the wind. Traveling throughout the alleyways and streets. A lone figure draped in a brown cloak with a wide brimmed hat pressed down on his bamboo flute. An airy, husk and delicate melody flows through the flute. As if the wind itself sang through the figure¡¯s instrument. Trying to pass by, I continue forward. ¡°Halt¡± A rather feminine voice calls out as she sticks her flute in front of me. ¡°Can I ask, are you with the watchers?¡± Nodding, I look at her with hollowed eyes. ¡°Why ask?¡± ¡°I have a task for you. I heard the watcher has lost contact with Edward and his son. We know they''re both in Idosa, and it looks like you have nothing better to do. Might as well use that time to search.¡± ¡°Fine¡± I say, with a hint of irritation. She lowers her flute and I walk past. After what felt like hours of walking the same scenery, a voice perks up from behind me. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± The bamboo flute player asks. I shudder, turning around in surprise. ¡°Why are you following me?¡± She shrugs and lets out a laugh, ¡°You wandered in a full circle. I never moved. Are you that lost in your thoughts? Did something bad happen?¡± I looked back at the footsteps on the snow and confirmed her claim. ¡°That can¡¯t be right!¡± I exclaim loudly as she shrugs once more, ¡°Believe what you want. But you¡¯ve got a task to do. If you¡¯re not feeling well then do it later.¡± I stood still for a moment, before letting out what little air I had left. ¡°Fine, If I keep going at this rate, I will run circles over and over again. I need some time to clear up my mind.¡± My legs give in as I collapse onto a nearby bench. The cold air tingles my flushed face as I let out a puff of cloudy air. Maybe the clouds will clear up? I wouldn¡¯t know. Chapter 28. Embers A desolate land stretched beyond the horizon. Sand, snow and dust lift into the air, flowing together with the lonely wind. Beyond the parted clouds, the sky was enveloped with darkness. Two twinkling dots hung above the clouds. A new sight, but not a remarkable one. ¡°What am I doing?¡± I reach out toward the stars, grasping at the enveloping darkness. The distance was too great; too incomprehensibly far to reach with my hand alone. ¡°Where am I headed?¡± I look around the dull monochromic land around me. A blank land extending far beyond my sight. No footsteps nor landmarks were around. Only the whispering wind humming its dreadful song, scraping by my ears as an updraft of snow plumes into the air. ¡°It¡¯s hazy and dull, this world of mine¡± A numbing chill crawls up my fingertips. Ash fell from the clouds as the scent of smoke drifted around me. Harsh winds pass through my hair, powdering it with white dust. It was as if the clouds descended, encasing me from the endless desert. Above this misty haze, the pitch-black sky loomed above me. Can you not see it? The beautiful flames of Balor? A voice gently whispers in my ear. Suddenly, a brilliant radiance erupts from the hazy mist. Sulphurous streaks of light stain the small world around me. An eerie warmth envelops me as Isabella¡¯s shrieking laughter pierces my ears. Join us, disciple of the forgotten. Together we shall cleanse this world away! The crackling of fire exclaims as wooden beams fall around me. ¡°No, I have to escape. I have to move forward. I can¡¯t get enveloped by this fire¡± But my legs lock in place. My fingers quiver from the numbness of the frigid wind. The cold, dull and hollow world was just beyond this wall of fire. Why do you want to return there? Lost, empty and cold, that¡¯s all there is. I look up at the darkness flickering with the raging flame. ¡°Is this what I want? To not be alone? To embrace the warmth of the flame?¡± A strange desire draws my hand forward, until a spark singes my fingertip. An addicting warmth runs through my hand. I want more. I hate this lonely world. I stick my hand into the chaotic flames. It softly dances on my hand as the numbness fades away. A euphoric feeling surges through my arm. Why then, is my arm turning to ash? What is that sickly, bitter taste in the back of my throat? Why can¡¯t I stop crying? ¡°This isn¡¯t it. I can¡¯t accept this. But where do I go? There¡¯s nothing out there but snow, sand and ashes. It¡¯s so warm, and I¡¯m so tired. I want to stay here forever¡­¡± Tears fall down my face as the sky closes in, growing darker and narrower. This sickening fire crackles around me, singing a nonsensical, and chaotic melody. O¡¯ pitiful one. Do you not see it? Your form is fading away. Mixing and becoming one with this fire. Is this your desire? An echoing voice hushes away the roaring chaos around me. ¡°No. No no no. But what can I do? The fire is scary. But the dark, empty land is even scarier.¡° ashes flake off as I grasp my charred hand. However, to my surprise, my hand was perfectly fine. Breathe The voice calls out as I forcefully inhale the energy around me. A sharp dryness scratches the back of my throat. Heat flows through my veins as a blue flame envelops me. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Do you not understand yet? This world is cold, empty and hollow. But it is ultimately your world. There¡¯s no need to be afraid of the fire and no need to fall into the sea of desolation. Reach for it, reclaim your control. I stick my hand into the fire. Endless amounts of nonsense flows around me as the fire swirls into nonsensical text. Grasping in the flames, I pull out a familiar looking cane. This is¡­ what is this? Why did it choose you? A distorted, guttural voice cries out from the silhouettes within the maddening flames. I tightly grip the handle with hesitation. The familiar warmth of the fire envelops me as I raise the cane high. Bitterness ached at my heart. ¡°Begone¡± I cry out as I slam the cane into the ground. Blue flames erupt from the ground, devouring this sickening fire around me. The sulfurous flames howls and shrieks nonsensical noises. The two flames overlap each other. Swirling and swirling, until exploding into petals that rain from the sky. I gaze off at the unending land stretching before me as pain teared at my heart. ¡°Did I do the right thing?¡± I ask the petals falling around me as one lands in my palms. A resonation of warmth envelops me as I catch a pleasant, floral scent in the air. Small blue flowers sprout on the snow, swaying with the harrowing wind. It was quiet, yet there was something beautiful to it all. Taking a deep breath, the world starts to flicker as I blink awake. *** A lone man limped down the faintly illuminated streets. His scruffy face souring from the pelting snow. Tightening his leather satchel, he looks up at the sky. ¡°It¡¯s snowing again¡± Puffing into his palms, Edward rubs his worn out gloves together. It was well into the night, with the stars hidden behind a layer of clouds. Dragging each step along the road, Edward walks through the cracked, and uneven cobblestone at the end of the road. The sounds of the funneling wind whistled through the worn down walls and shattered windows. Silhouettes shifted within these run-down buildings. Hidden behind a crumbled wall, a soft, warm fire repelled the blue-ish darkness. ¡°Welcome good friend. Please have a seat.¡± A tired smile looks up at Edward. He was a balding old man, with a messily trimmed gray beard. Sweeping the dirt, Edward sits down. ¡°Give me details on the hallucinogenic wine¡± A hesitant look fills the old man¡¯s face. Shrugging, he leans back, props himself up with an arm. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s been a while and there¡¯s no rush.¡± A rather unpleasant cackle forces out as the old man pops off the cork of a beer bottle. ¡°Please, take one for the road.¡± Edward begrudgingly takes the offer and downs half in one go. A dizziness followed by slight nausea loosened Edward¡¯s stiff shoulders as he relaxed his straightened posture. He wipes his lips and Tosses back the beer bottle. ¡°What is this? It¡¯s rather pleasant for something you would own¡± The old man laughs and downs the rest. ¡°This, my good friend, was smuggled. Torbell¡¯s gotten rather lax recently. A box or two goes missin¡¯ and nobody gets in trouble, ya know.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Edward asks, the light of curiosity glints off his eyes. The old man gives a serious look and waves around a finger. ¡°It¡¯s because of that goddamn wine. Whatever it is, it¡¯s selling like hot cakes! It¡¯s all over those scummy auction houses. Those nobles can¡¯t seem to get enough of it!¡± Edward waves a plume of smoke blowing towards him. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point. How can I get one?¡± A sly smile fills the old man¡¯s lips as a longing look stares off into the fire. ¡°There¡¯s a shipment coming in a few days from Torbell¡¯s Winery just outside the city. There¡¯s a lot of us here and if we get a crate or two, we all will be set for life.¡± Edward glances at the old man with a hint of doubt and lets out a awkward laugh. ¡°Ya¡­ How can I help?¡± The old man becomes giddy with excitement as he pops open another bottle of beer. ¡°It will be like the old days! Remember that raid we did on those Arocians back on the battlefield? Quick and easy, not a single scream to hear. We need you, Grand sorcerer of our 5th brigade. Please, you still owe me one.¡± An uncomfortable bitterness crawls up Edward¡¯s throat. ¡°Fine. But, don¡¯t call me that. I¡¯m just Edward now.¡± The old man extends a hand ¡°Then we have a deal?¡± Edward shakes his wrinkled, callused hand and nods. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back, temp commander.¡± The old man lets out another grotesque cackle and hands him the opened bottle of beer. ¡°I guess it is.¡± Edward swigs down the entire bottle in one go and tosses it to the side. Chapter 29. frustrations Another day passed by. Lily was still in her room. Listening in, faint sounds of paper shifting, and scribbling could be heard from the door. ¡°Please, give me some time. I promise I will come out tomorrow.¡± Lily calls out after I knock on the door. ¡°Ok master¡± ¡°...¡± I reply, waiting for a response. Shifting around the coin pouch, I turned around and headed down the tavern stairs. Pale gray light leaked from the frosted windows, illuminating the well-worn tables like a glistening crystal. The usual tavern keeper made his rounds around, sweeping and wiping away to a melodic hum. Rubbing my stiff shoulders, I let out a drowsy yawn and sniffed food in the air. ¡°Let¡¯s eat, I guess¡± I shrugged and bought breakfast again. It was pleasant and filling, but tasted hazy. Each bite forced me into thought. A recollection of that odd desert covered in snow surfaced in my mind. ¡°This is real right?¡± I wave away a faint blue petal and toss some coins on the table. The cold winter air stung my cheek as I stepped out the door. The sounds of playful laughter were heard nearby. ¡°...Take this!...¡± A swishing snowball flies past my view, followed by a dull splat. ¡°...You got me good! hahaha!...¡± Wiping off the snow, the young kid forms a snowball and throws it with all his might. However, the snowball crumbles in the air, exploding into a hazy mist. The other kid tosses another snowball and lands another hit. ¡°...Hey, unfair! Why do you have all the good snow¡­¡± Smirking, I stiffen my legs and pace down the sidewalk. Metal poles stretch down the snowy streets, As mundane chatter fills the air. Passing by the many lamps Into a off putting alleyway A lone bird¡¯s song could be heard I turn into the familiar alley way, guided by an off-sounding bird-song. The chirping goes off as I arrive in front of Monty¡¯s store. Bang* ¡°Damn it all!Why do I even bother!?¡± Monty yells as I jump back from the door handle. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°No no no, this time it will work. Please¡­¡± I take a deep breath and knock on the door. Knock* knock* knock* ¡°The door is open!¡± Opening the door, a messy, and cluttered store lies before me. Creations lay messily everywhere; half finished, and partially destroyed. Monty sat on the floor, shadows hung below his eyes. Bandages covered his fingertips as a pitiful bird sat in his hands. Scrap metal, and sharp edges covered this rubbish shaped bird. Its brass gears tarnished with specks of reddish-brown dots. ¡°No, this isn¡¯t it¡± Monty throws the creation at the battered wall. Glancing towards me, he burst into anger. ¡°What''s the point of all of this!? Why can¡¯t I get this accursed obsession out of my head?¡± His eyes flare up in tears, ¡°What are you even here for? To mock me? To call me an idiot?¡± I take a step back as he glares at me, awaiting a response. ¡°Hey man, calm down. I just¡­ Can I not say hi?¡± ¡°...¡± Silence fills the dust ridden store. Monty wipes away some snot, keeping his head low. ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing anymore¡­¡± My legs freeze up as a frog builds up in my throat. What do I even say? Monty pulls over a seat and slumps on the chair. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m selfish. I keep going and going for my own sake. But I know it¡¯s dumb. I can''t keep going like this. This eternal clockwork machine project is truly impossible.¡± I head over to the rubbish bird and pick it up. A sad expression of madness and frustration. Cold and lifeless, like a random stone on the road. ¡°Have you tried implementing magic to the project?¡± Monty lets out an irritated laugh and blows his nose. ¡°And you think mages are easily accessible? We hardly have any people who¡¯ve shown magical potential in this city! The very few people with magical potential go to Beldonia and live a stuck up life away from all the troubles in this dastardly world!¡± Monty inhales a sharp breath as he slams his fist on the table. Random scraps and metal parts bounce up and down. Silence ensues as I awkwardly look around the store and tap my finger on my satchel, ¡°Have you looked into magic at least? ¡°Do you take me for an idiot?¡± He remarks almost instantly, snapping at the end of his sentence. Tossing a pile of paper off the table, a nonsensical wall of sketches and notes plumed in the air. ¡°It¡¯s all theoretical and philosophical nonsense. I was told a lie you know? Magic is available for everyone. I spent years sitting around and breathing, But nothing eventful came out of it. How am I supposed to manipulate mana when I¡¯m not capable enough?¡± I take a step forward, looking at all the papers on the floor. Scribbles upon scribbles of nonsensical maddening notes lay before me. I glanced up at Monty who seemed to be running out of steam. ¡°Did you know I can manipulate mana?¡± He glares at me as if I told an insulting joke. "You? Mana manipulation? Keep dreaming!¡± I bring the bird towards my eye. A pitiful bird, clearly mocking a real one. Mana is the concept that energy is within everything, and through the soul, we are allowed to manifest miracles. This familiar sentence swirls around in my mind. Closing my eyes, the weight of the bird shaped rubbish burdens my palm. A soft breeze uplifts the paper on the floor. Suddenly, the wind scatters the papers away. Leaving behind a soft blue flame which engulfs the creation, scorching away the red specks. With a screech of metal, and a birdlike tweet, the shining brass bird flutters its wings once more, and comes to a stop. ¡°Is this enough proof?¡± I place the brass bird on the ground and give my cut up hand a rub. Holding back his excitement and jealousy, Monty stares off at the lifeless bird. ¡°I¡­I need a drink. It''s all too much to bear.¡± I take a step forward and ask, ¡°Can I come along?¡± Monty wobbles out of the store, ignoring my response. I shrug and look around at the mess around me. Rubbish was everywhere, unkempt and disorganized. A heavy sigh escapes me as I step out the creaky door. Chapter 30. Wine It was a quiet walk listening to the sounds of the cold streets of Idosa. The cold wind carried the usual mumbling banter of passing folks. However, no words were said between me and Monty. Keeping close, I follow behind him as he passes by the many frosted windows with random assortments on display. Mumbling some inaudible nonsense, Monty stops in front of a window with many bottles on display. I lean in, my eye catching a distinct looking bottle of wine. ¡°Torbell¡¯s finest wine, dulce simulacra¡± labeled across the familiar bottle. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this wine before! I swore I delivered it to Cornelius a ways back.¡± I exclaim, staring off at the fancy decor and interpretable letters on the bottle. Monty looked at me and back at the wine. ¡°Want to give it a try?¡± He shuffles around a coin pouch in his pocket, gazing at the daunting price label, 8 silver coins Discounted from 10 or 1 gold. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s still a little costly even with the discount?¡± I ask as he gives a light smile. ¡°I have 6 silver on me right now, how about you?¡± I reach into my coin pouch and count each pale white coin. ¡°5 silver¡± A mischievous grin curls Monty¡¯s face , ¡°How about this, we split the cost 50 50, I pay 4, you pay 4¡± Hesitation gripped my hand as Monty placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Come on Clover. We¡¯ll split the wine as well!¡± His grip tightens a bit as I sigh, ¡°Fine. I can¡¯t help but be curious as well.¡± Monty and I walk into the store. An enticing, cologne-like scent lingers in the air. Bottles of liquor lined the cramped wooden shelves. Beside the store entrance, an intimidating store clerk eyed us both and lowered his legs from the counter. ¡°Welcome. What might be of interest?¡± The store clerk leans on the counter, awaiting a response. ¡°We¡¯d like one Dulce simulacra.¡± Monty says, forcing confidence in his tone. The store clerk lets out a chuckle and heads into the back. After a couple of seconds, the store clerk comes back with the bottle of wine. ¡°This wine is truly something precious. Don¡¯t know how they made it, but it¡¯s something truly magical. I was lucky enough to secure a shipment, luckily¡­ 8 silver, take it or leave.¡± Monty looks over to me and gestures for my portion of the payment. Begrudgingly, I shakily take out 4 out of the 5 silver coins in my pouch. Taking the coins, Monty slides the 8 silver on the counter. ¡°Can we have two cups with it as well? It is quite an expensive purchase ya know¡± The store clerk glances at Monty with annoyance and shrugs, ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t miss a couple cups. Do be careful with this wine though. This isn¡¯t any ordinary beverage. It has hallucinogenic properties in it.¡± Monty nods quietly as the store clerk slides two tiny cups. Taking the bottle and cups off the counter, Monty heads out the store. Following along, we start walking down the cold winter streets. The sky was darker than usual; sunlight barely piercing the thick layer of clouds. A dull chill lingered near the ground, left behind by yesterday¡¯s wind. Passing by the many buildings, we arrive at a small park. A few benches lined the tended cobblestone paths. Heading over to a bench, Monty swipes away some built up snow and takes a seat. ¡°Come now, have a seat.¡± I sit down on the icy bench which gnaws away the warmth on my thighs. Taking a deep breath, I shudder away the numbing cold. ¡°So¡­¡± Monty clasps his hands together and stares off at a lonesome pine tree. It was quiet and cold, except the occasional passerby taking a stroll. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Granny¡­¡± Monty whispers under his breath as he looks at the bottle of wine. The fancy decor dulled under the murky gray lights. Swishing the liquid around, Monty gives me a lifeless look. ¡°Shall we indulge?¡± I nod slightly as Monty pops the cork open. Filling up the small cups, he hands over one to me. ¡°Here¡± I take the cup, catching a sickly sweet scent in the air. Staring off into the dark liquid, I look up to Monty who hesitantly raises the cup. ¡°Cheers I guess?¡± His voice cracks slightly as he sips the whole cup down. I follow along, drinking down the oddly sweet liquid, reminiscent of grape juice. ¡°Is there even any alcohol to this?¡± He picks up the bottle, staring at the obvious alcohol label. ¡°Did I get scammed with grape juice?¡± Monty shrugs, pouring another round. And then another. And another. We kept drinking while enjoying the snow gliding along the wind. Soon, a lingering tartness tugged at our throats. Hic*Sniffle* I turn to monty as tears pour out of his eyes. Faint scribbles floated out of Monty¡¯s body, I miss you It reads, as a soft breeze blows the words away. I blink twice, feeling blood rushing to my fingertips. Faint whispers danced in my ear as warm snowflakes fell on my palm. ¡°Wanna hear a story?¡± Monty¡¯s voice wobbles around me, ¡°Sure.¡± I force my voice out as faint lines wobble in the back of my eye. ¡°It was long ago, around the time I was a kid. I went out into the woods on a cloudy winter day like this one. Snow piled up to my soles as I ran around wildly. Weaving between the trees and darting around the unknown.¡± Nauseously nodding, a laughter caught my attention. I glance up to an unfamiliar forest surrounding us. ¡°Before I knew it, I was lost. I tried calling out into the forest. But each plea was drowned by the trees.¡± Help¡­! Please¡­! A very faint call echoed into my ears. Followed along by an intensing silence. ¡°It was getting very late, if I recall. Because a fog fell onto the forest bed. I kept moving, I had to move. Or else the cold will get to me.¡± Monty takes a swig from the nearly empty bottle of wine and slumps forward. ¡°It must have been my lucky day that day. I found a paved road with wooden boards placed between metal lines.¡± Looking around, I see a disturbingly familiar creation as I rub my eyes. Those are train tracks The voice in my head says, seemingly aware of whatever that is. ¡°There was a strange metal creature lying on its side down the path. It wore rust as its skin. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes when I went in. It was run by gears!¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Monty lets out an honest laugh and slumps on the bench. ¡°I don¡¯t remember how I made it back home that night¡­ There was this figure, with long white hair. But that¡¯s the best I can recall.¡± I look up to see Flindyr walking towards young Monty. His slender sword was drenched in dark-red blood. Slashing at the air, the thin sword dissipates into a flurry of red snowflakes. ¡°O¡¯ Young one. You do not belong here¡± He gets closer to Monty who was fiddling with the internals of this machine. Whispering some words, Monty suddenly passes out. The world around us started to flicker. The trees blink in and out, returning us back to the park. ¡°Grans was worried sick that morning. Cooking up my favorite foods and all that day¡­¡± Giving his runny nose a rub, Monty stares off into the field of snow. ¡°Granny never believed that the metal creature I saw was real. But I was going to prove her wrong. I had to recreate it.¡± He furrows his brows as a cold breeze darts snow on our faces. ¡°How about you, Clover? What motivates you to keep going?¡± I take in a deep breath, inhaling the sharp, icy air. ¡°I wonder¡­¡± Clasping my numbing hand, I reach out for the snowfall. ¡°My motivation is to understand this strange world. To understand who I am, I guess?¡± Monty gives an exhausted smile, barely keeping his eyes open. ¡°Isn¡¯t everyone like that? Chasing after the unknown? Pah, I don¡¯t know¡­¡± A yawn escapes Monty as he falls asleep on the bench. I gaze up at the dark clouds, staring at folding shades of gray. Snowflakes melt on my flushed, reddened face. A burning sensation scratched at the back of my throat. ¡°My hands are cold, aren¡¯t they?¡± Swiping at the air, my eyes catch thin lines rippling around my fingers. The wind passes by, humming nonsense in my ears. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you before?¡± I turn my head around as a field of white stretches around me. Outlines of buildings, trees and structures stood tall. Faintly in the distance, a familiar tapping of a cane tapped on the ground. Tension gripped my spine as my eyes met with the old man. ¡°You are quite the tiresome lad indeed¡± With each tap of the cane, black fluff wisps off the ground. The lines that make up this world lift off the ground as he lets out a disgruntled sigh. ¡°How long has it been? I could wonder. Before that, I ought get seated¡± An eerie smile stretches his lips as he takes a seat beside me. Suddenly, a laugh bursts out of the old man as he slumps on the cane. ¡°To sit above the fool¡¯s land of gold! How wondrously sad.¡± ¡°W-what do you mean land of gold?¡± I ask, pushing my fear aside. The old man straightens his back and taps his foot on the ground. ¡°Do you not see the shimmering light around you? That sickening, chaotic madness that leeches on this land?¡± I look around, peering past the thin lines defining the trees and buildings. Past the fields of white mounds and oddly drawn trees. But no light was there! ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I can¡¯t see this light.¡± The old man lets out a chuckle as he pokes me on my forehead. ¡°Look here lad. Let the blind eye guide you.¡± I close my eyes, listening to the sound of my breath. A slight ache pulses on my forehead. Suddenly, the darkness became a sea of fiery gold, flickering and snapping at the ground below. ¡°What is that!¡± I snap my eyes open, pain radiating from my heart. The scent of smoke grips at my nostrils as my hand aches with pain. ¡°That is a truth of this world, at least one could say. How does one see chaos? Is it not the gold that mad men yearn for?¡± Speechless, I let out a sigh. The old man was right. ¡°How can one live with this horrid truth? That this pointless world is chaos?¡± The old man gives a saddened look as he stares off at the horizon. ¡°Purpose, lad. It¡¯s about your own desire for this world. You wish to see truth, no? To understand this strange world, is how you put it.¡± A polite nod lowers my head as the old man lets another grumble. ¡°Close your eyes and listen to your heart.¡± I close my eyes, listening to the light thumping of my heart. Suddenly a wave of nonsensical text flies by the back of my eyes. I take in a deep breath, inhaling the tasteful chaos as the winter air bites at the back of my throat. Brushing off the snow on my forehead, I look at Monty. ¡°Hey! Wake up, We have to get going!¡± I shake Monty¡¯s body as he grumbles awake. ¡°Where¡­ Why is it so cold?¡± Letting out a chuckle, I let out yawn and shake Monty some more. ¡°Come on man, we¡¯re gonna get sick if we sleep out here!¡± He shivers up from the bench and stretches awkwardly. ¡°Alright, fine. Let¡¯s go to my shop¡­¡± Monty hides his pale hands into his sleeves as we start trekking back to his store. *** Along the edge of Idosa, off the beaten path, stood a group of men around a campfire. These men stood tall, like a wall hiding the light from the cold snow around. Amongst these men, a tired and scruffy Edward herded amongst this herd. With the occasional shuffle and cough, they waited patiently. Waiting and waiting, listening for the sound of a carriage driving by. ¡°... is it here yet?...¡± Mumbled one of the men, impatiently tapping wiggling his feet. ¡°...Just wait. Any minute now¡­¡± A voice replies, somewhere within this wall. Within distance, the sounds of a carriage could be heard. ¡°...It¡¯s here! It¡¯s here!...¡± They all exclaim in a sequentially chaotic choir. Quickly dosing the fire, the men''s eyes dart towards the carriage¡¯s light moving on the road. ¡°...Let¡¯s go! No time to waste. Get what we can and get out!...¡± An empowering voice shouts as the herd of men quickly dash towards the carriage. It was an ambush from all angles. First the men slaughtered the horses. Then, without a moment¡¯s notice, they knocked out the carriage driver. The guards desperately held their ground, but the numbers were too much. Before they knew it, they were being stripped of their armor and gear. ¡°...Take it all! Everything here is worth some value!...¡± A man shouts as they pile up in the back, quickly tossing crate after crate out of the carriage. Edward, along with the rest of the men start searching into the crates. Grabbing a hold of whatever caught their eye. ¡°Dulce Simulacra huh¡­ I guess this is mine?¡± He takes out the bottle of wine, tucks it in his cloak and waves a silent farewell. Farewell to the men dragging those poor horses away. Farewell to the guards laying bare on the ground, and farewell to my good friend Philip, that sly old man who smiled with glee while watching this savagery play out. Swerving past the many shaded trees, Edward found himself standing in an open field of snow, the city straight ahead. Idosa shone like a beacon of light in this dark murky night. ¡°It¡¯s truly beautiful, no matter how many times I see it¡­¡± Edward murmured as he pulled his legs out of the boot-deep snow. Each step carried an increasing amount of weight. Numbness crawled to his toes as he progressed forward. ¡°A little sip wouldn¡¯t hurt¡± Popping open the wine, he takes a swig. The almost nectar-like grape juice flowed down his throat. Pleasantly surprised by the flavor, he takes a few more gulps and rolls up a cloth to seal the bottle. Immediately, Edward¡¯s face flushes red as warmth rushes toward his fingers and toes. Hic*, he sighs and starts pacing across the field of snow. I see you A voice calls out. Perhaps it was the stars? Or maybe the wind called out to him? Shrugging, Edward closes his eyes and gulps down the cold winter air. Rubbing an aching tooth, his body starts swaying side to side. Over here¡­ The voice calls out again, this time clearer. The city in the distance grew brighter, drawing him closer like a moth to a flame. ¡°Anastasia, is that you?¡± Edward calls out to the markless field of snow, awaiting a response. His nose catches the scent of smoke. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be. She¡¯s no longer here.¡± Rubbing his cloak and shaking his head, Edward arrives at the main road, a straight path back. Suddenly, the scent of lavender stings his nostrils. Do you remember the Lavender Fields? Those flowers stretched to the horizon! I was taken aback! It was truly a sight to behold¡­ A chill crawls up Edward¡¯s spine as he quickened his pace. Grasping at his dry hand tightly, he darts past the city gate. I¡¯m over here¡­ Hints of golden rust flakes off the iron poles, carried by the mellow, eerie wind. Light glowed from snow frosted, windows, like doorways to another realm. Look! That¡¯s the grand sorcerer of the 5th brigade. I heard he incinerated his opponent without batting an eye¡­ A shadow calls out from the light behind the window, its golden blobby eyes peering at Edward. Surely it is his fault. He ran away from the war! Another shadow in a window calls out, with the same blobby eyes. ¡°Shut up! I know I¡¯m not in the wrong.¡± Edward glares at the shadowy figures peering from above. Their blobby eyes swirling a weird, maddening light. Lies! We saw you abandon Philip, let alone your wife and son. How many things will you run from before you realize you are a coward! A stern, overwhelming voice responds from above. ¡°I¡¯m not in the wrong¡­ I¡¯m not in the wrong¡­¡± Edward murmurs quietly as a curtain of darkness falls from the heavens. Over here¡­ A sickly sweet voice calls out in the darkness, leaving behind the scent of bitter lavender. ¡°Thud* Ow!¡± Running into a streetlamp, the world flickers back into existence. Still and snowy, a quiet street illuminated by a faint yellow hue. Was it always this quiet? Pain ached from his forehead as a chilly breeze passes by. The wind sings its howling song as Edward stumbles on his feet and falls into a pile of snow. ¡°Is my luck that bad today? Haha¡­ hahahahaha! What do I do now?¡± Laughter fills the air as the biting chill forces him up. A warm light illuminates from a window. Yondor¡¯s tavern, It read from the frost tinted glass. Giving the coin pouch a shake, Edward enters the tavern. A sour and savory scent lingered in the air of the tavern. In the back, a lone pair of eyes stared at Edward. ¡°How might I help you, good sir?¡± The lone pair of eyes stepped out the dark storeroom, and stood at the counter. He was a rather skinny folk, with a balding scalp and elongated face. ¡°Can I stay for the night, Yondor?¡± Rolling over a few coins, Yondor gives Edward a tired look. ¡°We¡¯ve got a room, far off in the back. Follow me.¡± With a heavy sigh, Yondor walks up the narrow, creaky staircase. Following up, Edward and Yondor arrive at the second floor. A long carpet laid on the floor, flaking at its seams. Around that, odd tables and paintings presented themselves. ¡°There¡¯s always something off when I come here. Like an unease gnawing at my mind.¡± Edward thought, inspecting the oddly colored paintings and vases. Shrugging, Edward continues forward and they both arrive at the door. ¡°This room can be quite odd at times. But, don¡¯t mind it. Do be warned, do not open the door until daylight arrives.¡± Yondor unlocks the door to a rather tame room, nothing of particular note. ¡°I wish you a pleasant night.¡± Yondor shuts the door and leaves. Without a moment''s notice, Edward takes off his cloak and heads to bed. Chapter 31. Candle Veiled by clouds, a pale sun rises with morning¡¯s come. Its light rests atop a fresh blanket of snow. Today¡¯s dawn is a weary one, as if exhaustion had dulled the colors to gray. Along the outskirts of the city, a Church Bell reverberates a mellow hum, signifying a morning commune. People gradually gathered, some young, some old; figures of all shapes and sizes. Hush chatter of mundanities liven the air. ¡°...It¡¯s gotten rather cold, ain¡¯it?¡­¡± A figure breathes into his palms and rubs them against his roughened gloves. Another figure tucked his hands away and kicked at the floor; his legs aching from boredom. ¡°...I swear I saw the Crimson Witch in this city!...¡± A peeping voice peeks out above teasing laughter. Some glance out of curiosity. Others shrug doubtful of this statement. ¡°-Good morning everyone!¡± A priest steps out the church door and smiles towards the crowd. ¡°May Ithax guide the way to this morning commune.¡± Gesturing to the crowd, they start pouring into the church. A nostalgic warmth embraces the congregation. The inside of the church is rather spacious, with pews arranged between decorated pillars. Below, and around the walkways, were lamps that glowed with an orange hue. Warm light pushed back the gray light leaking from the high windows. Above the lectern, a stained-glass window depicting a brilliant blaze of red, orange, and yellow. The hall was quiet; besides the hush whisperings of conversation. ¡°...The crimson witch? How can you be so sure?...¡± A man with a scruffy beard leans towards the hearsayer. With a tucked-away grin, the starry-eyed girl joyfully exclaims with her peeping voice, ¡°...I swear I saw her! Hemomancy was declared forsaken by the archmages after Carmenos vanished, but she displayed it...¡± The intrigued fellow¡¯s face fills with doubt, ¡°...Couldn¡¯t it have been some bum who worships such heretic magic?...¡± Shrugging, the starry-eyed girl clutches her crimson scarf and sways her legs off the ground. ¡°...That¡¯s true, you could be right. However, I saw her cast the crimson flame!...¡± The once intrigued fellow rubs his scruffy beard and sighs, ¡°...Whatever the case is, her name is a bygone of the past¡­¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Without much of a notice, The frail old priest in white robes walked out the podium door. Exhaustion tucked away in the layers of wrinkled skin folding on his face. ¡°Quiet down now¡± His scratchy voice bounces around the church walls. Silence soon followed. Shuffling up on the podium, He takes in a strained breath and clears his throat. ¡°Good morning, it has certainly been an exhausting couple of days. We¡¯ve spent much time handling the issues regarding the outbreaks of madness. However, do not worry, we have got the case under control. If anyone notices signs of madness, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Now to begin¡­¡± The old priest lets out a yawn as his trembling hands pry open an outrageously large book on the podium. ¡°In the beginning, the world was a barren land. The nights were eternal, and the sky was starless. We ate off the cold darkness itself. In the distant void, a spark the size of a rice grain flickered in and out. Like a candle in the dark, a fire bloomed in the sky. Which Consumed the darkness like paper burning to ash. Fire scorched our barren land, enveloping it in its warmth. Soon after, the sky filled with stars, like moths attracted to a flame. Many gifts followed this era known as the Gala of deities. Soon, our barren land became filled with light, and life¡­¡± A couple of yawns force their way out from the crowd. Unfazed, the Old priest sips from a decorated cup. Amidst the silence, muted screams leak from the walls. Nervous shufflings were heard as the old priest sighs, ¡°I pray that this cursed madness will go away¡± A candle flickers a bright yellow hue and wisps away into smoke. With another heavy sigh followed by a weary smile, the old priest addresses the crowd. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day, shall we? It¡¯s a beautiful morning and I¡¯d hate for you all to sit in those uncomfortable pews any longer. There¡¯s some water and bread for anyone in a hurry.¡± Stepping off from the podium, the old priest slumps on a cushioned chair. With a sense of unease, people started moving. Some leave while some stick around. Approaching the old priest, Cecil awkwardly clears his throat. ¡°How might I help you?¡± The old priest asks in a husky voice. ¡°Are we doing the right thing?¡± ¡°What do you mean, young one?¡± Cecil takes a deep breath and holds in some air. ¡°These outbreaks of madness are from the divine, right?¡± The old priest lowers his voice, ¡°Why would that be a concern?¡± "¡­" Cecil nods and swiftly turns away. Letting out a shrug, the old priest sighs, ¡°What could be running in that lads mind?¡± At the bread station, the starry-eyed girl nibbles on some bread. Her eyes fixated on the soft glow of candlelight in the halls. ¡°Don¡¯t stare at them too long, or you¡¯ll go blind.¡± Cecil ruffles her orange hair and slides a cup of water. ¡°Here, drink. What''s your name?¡± Swaying her legs, she wipes off the crumbs on her scarf, ¡°My name is Ruby! What about you, funny-looking priest?¡± ¡°My name is Cecil. I guess I look kinda funny.¡± Ruby lets out a pleasant giggle, ¡°Ya! That old priest especially looks like a silly white candle. Speaking of, do you smell something burning?¡± Sniffing at the air, Cecil shakes his head no. ¡°Well I can¡¯t stand it. It hurts my nose.¡± Out of irritation, Ruby hops off the pew and walks out the door. In the corner of Cecil¡¯s eyes, a candle light flickered a golden yellow. ¡°I must be tired.¡± Cecil rubs his aching eyes and leans back on the pew. It had been quite the exhausting morning tending to screeching patients all night. With each blink, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier; drifting off to sleep. *** Chapter 32. Ponder *** The weight of a hangover pressed down on my temple. It was hard to remember the past couple of days. Was it the weather that got to me? I wouldn¡¯t know. The sun outside started to part from the clouds. I painfully pushed off the stiff bed. Creaking open my door, I decided to check on Lily. Her room wasn¡¯t that far away anyways. With a few firm knocks, I let out a sigh, ¡°Are you there?¡± There was no response. Shrugging, I turned around and walked away. The Four Wind Inn was always empty in the morning. Except the busy bee who wipes all the counters and tables. Waiting patiently for a cup of water, I pondered on what I should do today. ¡°Ah, I should visit Cecil¡± Sipping down the last of the warm water. I headed out, into the cold winter morning. The fresh winter air stung at my dried nostrils. Tucking my cold hands away, I made my way to the church. On my way there, an odd girl in a crimson scarf caught my eye. She stood out from the crowd shifting around. Passing glances, we kept to ourselves. The front of the church was quite grand. It stood out with it¡¯s distinct architecture. Heading up the elongated stairs, I push open the church doors. A warm light welcomed me in. Candle light lit up the walkways, painting the interior with a soft orange hue. Looking around, a familiar priest was slumped on a pew. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t we have something to discuss?¡± Cecil shakes awake, flinching at an odd scent¡­ ¡°Uhm, yes. Sorry, I didn''t get much sleep last night. Follow me.¡± We went into the back. The hallway illuminated by pale light leaking from the high up windows. The sounds of banging and screaming echoed around us. Calming down my nerves, I ask, ¡°How are you unfazed by this?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve witnessed lunacy. It¡¯s not ideal.¡± Pushing past a door, Cecil gestures towards a seat, ¡°Make yourself comfortable.¡± I slide onto the uncomfortable chair as Cecil grabs a notebook and takes a seat. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°To start, can you recall the events that lead up to the fire?¡± I start giving a simplified rundown, from the bed-ridden Isabella demanding to go to the kitchen, to me and Lily leaving the restaurant. ¡°After finding another place to eat, we took some food back for Monty.¡± Hastily scribbling on the notebook, Cecil lifts his head up, ¡°Did anything strange happen while you were walking back?¡± I shifted aback as I recalled the shifting shades floating about. ¡°If I recall, the shadows were gathering around her restaurant. She treated them like customers. There was also some mention of the Light of Sol?¡± Cecil¡¯s face turns dark at the mention of Sol. ¡°So my suspicions were right¡± His eyes darted towards the doorway as a small flame envelops the notes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to get going.¡± Pushing off the desk, Cecil rushes out the door. *** Bookshelves narrow around Lily, books laid all over the ground. ¡°This is the first time a blood veil combusted into flames. Why did that happen?¡± She shakes the veil of scorched blood. Tints of blue essences floated within it. From what she¡¯d recalled, this blood was from Clover. Sifting through the bookshelves, there was not one case of this anywhere. However, the next closest concept was Ichor, but that couldn¡¯t have been the case. ¡°What¡¯s this? Sol, The god of light¡± An oddly small book not covered in dust stuck out from the shelves. Recalling Isabella¡¯s words, Lily flips around. some pages were torn out. Our glorious God. As bright as the sun itself. Grant us sanctuary with your graceful light. Your generosity has granted gold! Forget this world, for it has been abandoned. We shall be one with the light ahead! A sticky feeling lingers on the words as Lily tosses the book aside. Who¡¯d want to read the ramblings of a madman? A figure stood in the corner of her eye, catching the book. He had nothing unusual about him, except for the oddly coloured clothes which hurt to look at. ¡°I am deeply disappointed.¡± He says, approaching ever so closer. ¡°Do you not see the beautiful light that lingers in those pages?¡± He flips open the book and mumbles some gibberish. Suddenly, the scent of brimstone erupts from the air. Yellowish, golden flames hover around him as he closes the book shut and obnoxiously tilts his head. ¡°You do not belong here, filthy hemomancer. Die.¡± Under his command, a barrage of fire shoots out. Darting her eyes left and right, Lily barely rolls over the first blast, scorching her hair. ¡°Next blast is¡­ there!¡± She grabs a book off the ground and tosses it, turning to ash. With a kick off the ground, Lily leaps over the next few shots. Suddenly, the narrow corridor glows a sickly yellow. A sly smile curls the figure''s face. ¡°hahaha¡­¡± A wave of fire erupts from his palm, erupting the books on the shelves. Pages desperately flutter away as sickly flames devour them. ¡°didn¡¯t want to use this¡± Lily pops open the odd blood veil and smears it in the air. A bluish bubble forms around her. she takes a deep breath and dashes through the flames. With a weak toss, the glass veil taps the figure''s face and a drop kick follows suit. Shards of glass dig into the figure''s skull as he collapses to the ground. Rolling off the ground, Lily lets out a sigh to the charred corridor. Many precious books were lost that day. With a moment of silence, she wipes away some soot on her coat and heads out. Chapter 33. Ruby A cold sun illuminated this midday winter as I stepped out of the church. Plumes of smoke sprout up as distant screams fill the air. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Increasing my pace out of worry, the foul stench of sulfur filled the air. Weird pill-like abominations wiggle around with many unsettling human limbs. The sound of marching could be heard in the distance. ¡°Protect the citizens!¡± A red caped commander shouts as soldiers swarm around her. With well-tended equipment, the soldiers make short work of the abominations. ¡°Group up, move as one!¡± Gathering back, the soldiers march in unison, occasionally straying to deal with the threat. Suddenly, a beam of fire pierces the commander¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Sh*t! Gather around and keep your eyes up. Idiots!¡± Blood drips onto the frosted cobblestone. Flames scorch the air as potshots bounce off their armor. A soldier raises a crossbow, aiming at the distant mage. ¡°he¡¯s over there¡± With a twang* the arrow soars, grazing the cloaked figure''s cheek. In response, a massive ball of fire falls from the sky. Without much thought, I retreat into the alleyway. It¡¯s not my problem. A couple of explosions pop from behind as I cowered with a group of civilians. ¡°...we¡¯ll be safe right?¡­¡± A kid whispers to his mom with a hint of concern. ¡°...Yes, we¡¯ll be fine. The guards are protecting us¡­¡± The mom hugs the kid and glances up at the scorched armor of the soldiers. The cloaked figure retreats as a flurry of bolts shoot towards him. ¡°He got away.¡± The injured commander collapses on a nearby soldier. With shouts of concern, a squad quickly escorts her away. The rest of the soldiers start swarming into the city. Catching my breath, I sneak away from the crowd. rumble* My stomach growls. Sighing, I suppressed the hunger with each breath. Exhaustion washes over me as I make my way between the alleyways. The scent of charred flesh was heavy in the air. A lonesome corpse laid on the sooted-snow; charred beyond recognition. With a gag of disgust, I cover my mouth and force my way around it. However, I could not escape it''s jarring smile, a look of pure bless painted on it¡¯s burnt lips. Shaking my unease away, I run into something. ¡°Oh, sorry¡­¡± I respond out of habit. Stepping back, an odd shadowy blob towered over me. It¡¯s eyes, two circular discs of gold that flickered like fire. Hush, incomprehensible whispers leaked out of it. However, no words were said; It did not have a mouth. Hurriedly turning away, a golden ring clattered on the cobblestone, glinting ever so slightly on the snow. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Hey wait!¡± I call out to the shadowy blob who glided into an alleyway. Picking up the ring, I gave chase. My steps lighten, Marking the cold ground with shoe prints As I ran on the serpents back. In the walls, Shadows huddled together swaying with many eyes glowing like fireflies in the dark. A foul scent stung at my nose. Was it the unpleasantness of those peering eyes? Controlling my breath, I hurried down the winding alleyway. After some running, the shadowy blob glanced behind it. It¡¯s eyes drooping with tears. A light hum filled the strange air as a familiar girl sat atop a stitched up chair, swaying her legs. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The girl with the crimson scarf asks the odd, blobby shadow. The shadowy blob folded in on itself, searching and searching around. With a defeated slump, its towering form rested on the ground like a slime. With a silly giggle, she hops off the wooden chair. ¡°Hello, how did you wander here?¡± A smile curled on her lips as she stroked her chin in curiosity. I extend my hand out, revealing a golden ring. ¡°That big blob dropped this. Felt like returning it.¡± I scratched my head, feeling the weight of many curious eyes. The girl takes the gold ring and tosses it to the shrunken blob. ¡°Who are you? What is this place?¡± I ask, feeling concern. ¡°I¡¯m ruby! This is my home. Who are you, stranger?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Clover. Sorry for the intrusion.¡± The shifting shadows swirl around me in curiosity. ¡°What are these shades?¡± I swipe my hand in the air, swaying a few away. With an innocent giggle, Ruby sits up on her seat. ¡°Friends and family. Do you like them?¡± With a nervous shudder, I shake my head. The shadowy blobs gather around Ruby, whispering curious secrets in her ear. ¡°Uh huh¡­ I see¡­¡± She reaches for the gold ring floating in the blobs and puts it on her finger. It glimmered purely off the glowing yellow eyes. However, to her disappointment, the ring hung loosely on her thin fingers. Putting it aside, Ruby leans back on the rickety chair and gazes at the darkness above. ¡°It truly is a beautiful thing. That thing called love.¡± She hums an melancholic tone as she fiddles with the ring. A sense of sorrow fills my heart as the melody ends in silence. In that moment of silence, I ask, ¡°Are you talking about the ring?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± She snaps out of her trance and lets out a sigh, ¡°Yes¡­ this ring was in the aftermath of a fire. She was quite sad, that lonely Laurel.¡± A sense of familiarity hung with that name, ¡°Laurel¡­ The coachman¡¯s daughter? What happened to her?¡± With a heavy nod, she rests the ring on her armrest. ¡°Laurel, O¡¯ Lonely Laurel. Your love fell down a bottomless well With a ring meant for you Deep in the dark A warm light greeted him And off she went Towards the guise of passion. But where did her ashes go?¡± Ruby¡¯s words leak into the shadows as closes her eyes and gently smiles. ¡°Let bygones of the past remain in the past¡± The shadowy blobs loaf around her like lost cats. Their bright eyes were half opened with tiredness. Chapter 34. Heart What makes a heart? Is it the soft beating against the ribcage? Or the cadence of footsteps against hardened snow? Or is it that obnoxious ticking that rumbles the ground? -A concerned citizen, probably. The sun started descending from the sky. Painting the sky a purplish, orangy, pink. The scent of iron was heavy in the air. I pucker my face at the bits of flesh that rest on the ground. In the distance, a soldiers set up camp, detering passersby from getting close. ¡°...Please Stay away from this area¡­¡± ¡°...But I live here!...¡± A distressed passerby stomps in frustration. ¡°...Follow me¡­¡± With a heavy sigh, the soldier heads back to a tent. Other than the occasional banter, the afternoon was quiet. I tap my feet on the ground as a biting chill nips through my shoes. A good sign to head to the tavern. A pleasant warmth emulated from the entrance of the tavern. The sounds of chatter echoed out into the frigid air as I made my way in. People kept their heads high, laughing away to the taste of ale. ¡°Hey, Over here!¡± My ears perk up to a familiar voice in the distance. It was Lily waving towards me. Without much hesitation, I made my way over. The scent of food in the air rumbled my appetite. However, a tenseness hung on my shoulders. Pushing through the knots I ask, ¡°How¡¯s it been?¡± With a forceful hmm, Lily smiles, ¡°It¡¯s been well. Just a lot going through my mind. How about you?¡± I shift on my chair and sigh, ¡°It¡¯s been slow. The days feel groggy. Like I''m in a perpetual state of¡­ I don¡¯t know¡± Lily nibbles on some bread quietly as I gather my thoughts. However, nothing emerged. We sat in silence, listening to the ambiance of the tavern. The soft beating of my heart, bumping against my chest. ¡°What would you like to order? How about a drink?¡± The voice of the tavern keeper brings my attention away. Shaking my head, I sigh, ¡°Gimme something to eat, stew perhaps?¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Alright, how about you miss?¡± Lily props her hand against her face, ¡°I¡¯ll take stew as well.¡± With a quick nod, the tavern keeper runs off into the kitchen. The sounds of joyful laughter drowned away, as we both waited for our food. ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°So, how is your time in Idosa?¡± Lily takes over my sentence in a fitting manner. My thoughts scramble around, recalling the past events. ¡°It was quite the adventure. But even since that incident, my heart hasn¡¯t been the same¡± I slump back, as Isabella¡¯s face flashes in my mind. With a slight shudder, I take a deep breath, ¡°Other than that, it¡¯s been all right.¡± In the following silence, The tavern keeper walked by with two bowls of stew. Its savoury scents trailing into hazy steam. ¡°Here you go- Just a second!¡± He places the bowls in front of us and turns away to attend a rowdy customer. ¡°Shall we eat?¡± I ask as Lily nods. Without much hesitation, I take the first bite of stew. It¡¯s nostalgic, savory flavors coating my tongue. However, it carried a dullness that did not settle well; like an ashiness that hazed my soul. Stirring the stew around, I take my time with another bite. ¡°Not hungry?¡± Lily asks with concerned eyes. I stared at the stew, it wasn¡¯t bad, but it was missing something. With a begrudging hum, I force the rest of the food down. I look up to Lily wiping her lips with a cloth. Her dignified manners had a strange appeal to it. Peeling my eyes away, I tap my foot on the floor. ¡°This winter is rather long, isn¡¯t it?¡± Her voice bounces around my ears as my ears flush red. ¡°I-indeed¡­ but spring will come, eheh¡± A slight chuckle was it? I scratch my head awkwardly as Lily smiles and slightly adjusts her glasses. ¡°The winter freezes the skin and gnaws at the heart. But spring will definitely come!¡± She lets out a silly giggle and gets up from her seat. Left alone, I stared off at the table. I close my eyes and listen to my heart. Listening to the softness of each beat against my ribcage. Soon, the tavern started to empty out and I made my way to my room. The night was too warm and too cold. Thoughts raced through my mind as a lingering ember glows in the darkness. The memory of smoke stings at my nose as chills run down my spine. But my eyes did not waver. I take in a deep breath as flowers bloom on top of the snow and sand. ¡°Where are the colors of my world?¡± A blue glint bounces off the fields of small petals. Winter comes and goes, With a gift of flowers To greet spring¡¯s come For that is the glory of the snow. I hold my cold hands as warmth sprouts from my heart. However, it fades as quickly as it came. My eyes awake to the soft sunlight piercing through the window. The sun¡¯s warmth was noticeable this time around. Without much resistance, I hop out of bed and go to Lily¡¯s door. With a faint knock, the door opens slightly. The room was empty, except for a written letter on a wooden desk. To, Disciple Clover, It seems the Beldonian Academy urgently calls for my assistance once more. I must apologize, for I cannot ignore this one, as this relates to my Master¡¯s legacy. I hope you stay well, for spring is bound to come. Also keep your studies up! I want to see your progress in magic when all is said and done. Other than that, I don¡¯t demand much. Handle the situation in Idosa, and when it isn¡¯t safe, or if it¡¯s too much, leave. P.S When you do reach Beldonia, look for Carmenos¡¯ Wizard tower. You¡¯ll be able to find it. -Lily A sudden weight hung on my heart as I reread the contents. Numbness tingles on my fingertips as I roll the paper into my hand. With a sniffle, I keep my head forward and head out the door. Chapter 35. Below the city I look up at the sky, gazing at the sun above me. It seems I¡¯ve overslept. In the distance, the sounds of soldiers march on, patrolling the streets. ¡°...Keep searching for that damned pyromancer!...¡± The red caped commander shouts as the rest hurried around the streets. Signs of exhaustion weighed on the soldiers¡¯ shoulders. Making my way around them, I head towards¡­ Where was I going again? A tightness tugged at my chest as I tried to recall something. Shaking off the unease, I kicked my legs forward and followed the street. Down a winding alley way, a lone workshop stood in the middle of the city. Why was this place so familiar? The windows were broken and the front door swung loosely against the wind. My heart tightened as I made my way through the door. ¡°Hello?¡± I call out to the darkness in this sunlit workshop. Strange tinkered objects lay on the ground. In particular, a familiar looking wind-up bird, which sat in a layer of dust. ¡°Where did you go?¡± An uncertain concern pushes its way out my mouth. Where did who go? Wasn¡¯t this store always abandoned? My head ached as I tripped over an odd metal object atop miniature rails. ¡°¡­here¡­¡± A familiar voice calls out in the back. A chill crawls up my spine as I cautiously take my steps. Pushing the backdoor open, I glance at the many shelves and splintered crates in the back. ¡°Get out of here¡­ get out of here¡­ get out of here¡­¡± My eyes stare off at the eerie voice in the distance. Suddenly, an odd snap tugs on the floorboards. The ground crumbles beneath my feet as a howling wind envelops me; dragging me into the darkness below. With a rough tumble, pain radiates down my body as a groan escapes me. My hands press against the stone cold ground. Its surface was frosty to the touch. I blink twice, peering into the surrounding darkness. The weight of each breath snapped at my aching chest. tick* tick* A metronomic beat fills the air in cadence to the soft pulses of Idosa. I listen closely as footsteps echo in the distance. Clank* clank* I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The air reeked of sweet sulfur. With a confident step forward, my eyes slowly adjust to the surrounding darkness. It was a long corridor between walls that were tarnished with time. Odd markings were drawn on these walls, but none of it was comprehensible. Suddenly, my stomach twists into a knot, Haven¡¯t I been here before? The weight of deja vu presses against my migraines. Pushing this gnawing feeling aside, I press forward. In the distance,A faint glow flickered at the end of the corridor. It glowed as dimly as a dying candle. Heading over, I take a moment to think, drip* drop* Droplets fell on my face, beyond the radiating light. Cautiously looking up, I glance into the shadows above. A grotesque grin gleams in the candlelight. Its tar-like mucus dribbles down its mouth. A disgusting chill crawls up my spine, Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°What the heck?¡± Suddenly, the creature dives down. Move, I command my legs as they leap away. Sliding on the ground, I clench my aching elbow and get up. Within the darkness, an odd masked creature skitters into view. Its many spindly appendages tapping gently on the walls. With a deafening shriek, the creature fully extends its legs and gives chase. My nerves shudder as I start running away. The nauseating corridor stretched endlessly in the darkness. With a slide, I skid around the L-shaped path. Slam!*, the creature howls and shrieks, flailing its twisted appendages wildly. A soft, cool breeze brushes my face as faint moonlight catches my eyes. ¡°There¡¯s light at the end of the tunnel!¡± Hurrying my pace, my lungs burn with each breath. Thud!* Crackle*, its legs pierce into the stone walls, slingshotting forward with a sickening lunge. The jarring scratches get closer and closer. The creature screeches as its appendages reach out. With a leap of confidence, I jump out the corridor. The dimly lit wind howls in my ear as my hands grasp at the air. ¡°AAAAAHHHHHHHH¡­¡± My lungs scream out as my eyes lock onto the darkness below. ¡°What do I do¡­ What do I do?¡± A large shadow blots out the light as the creature cries in the wind. I close my eyes as air shoves its way into my lungs. Envelop me, O¡¯fleeting wind The shrieking wind dies down as everything holds still. My eyes blink toward the incoming ground. ¡°I can see!¡± A sharp pain stabs through my chest. My throat tightens as wind gathers in my palm. 3¡­2¡­1¡­ A gust of wind blasts onto the ground, slowing down my fall. It¡¯s not enough, I take in a shallow breath, tightening my migraine. With a push off the ground, I leap away and collapse on my weight. Slam! The creature falls face first onto the ground as a plume of dust raises into the air. Silence waits for the dust to settle, unveiling a mass beneath the light. My ankle cries out in pain as I stand up. Slowly limping away, I take cover behind a crumbled wall. ¡°Is it dead?¡± Some shadows shift in my peripherals as my eyes lock in on the monstrosity¡¯s shadow. Shriek! Suddenly, Its legs flail around aimlessly, slicing away at the dust. Thick tar pooled from beneath the mask, staining the dusty ground black. I held my breath, praying that it would go away. Its legs stretch out like an elongated centipede, tapping the dust ever so delicately. My heart beats louder and louder as the creature gets closer and closer. Suddenly, a leg pierces through the wall. I clasp my mouth shut as my breathing overwhelms me. tap* tap* tap* Slowly turning my head, my eyes look up at an enormous shadow. Its thin appendages wiggling in excitement. With a disgusting twist, its grotesque, smiling mask stares into my quivering eyes. With an ear-shattering screech, its front legs stab forward. I collapse onto the floor, barely avoiding its attack. It skitters around like a wiggling snake, as fluids dribble underneath the mask. Creak* odd humanoid figures leap out from the shadows and wrap around its limbs. Their mannequin-like bodies creak with every movement. ¡°Food¡­¡± A cacophony of distorted voices echo above the creature''s agony. Its outer shell pops and cracks as these humanoid figures bite into its flesh like starving wolves. With frantic twists and shakes, the creature runs away, slamming into the surrounding walls. Screee- An arm stabs into its head as its body collapses onto the ground. Without hesitation, the rest of the humanoid figures gnaw at its flesh. Carefully, I make my way over, avoiding the frantic mannequins. Suddenly an object clatters in front of me. I head over to the tarnished theatre mask dyed golden brass, worn down by time. A sigh of exhaustion escapes me as my trembling fingers lift up the heavy mask, placing it into my satchel. My legs wobble with each step as I look up at the tiny entrance to the corridor, ¡°How am I supposed to get out of here?¡± Chapter 36. Combat encounter I step over the occasional pile of bones, weaving past the jittery mannequins. My eyes burn as I glance around the pit. There were many entrances, some sealed by rocks, others blocked off by the corpse of the monstrosity. Like greedy ants, pieces of its corpse got dragged away into the darkness. ¡°Definitely shouldn¡¯t go down there¡± I tell myself, peeking downward into the darkness. Come over here¡­ A hush voice calls out from one of the dark tunnels around the pit. My ears perk up. Where have I heard this voice before? Shaking off this sense of unease, I cautiously wobble towards that entrance. It was quite a narrow entrance, hidden between a collapsed wall and a pile of debris. Climbing in, my feet reach out to a slanted corridor. Luckily, my shoes had enough traction. Stumbling ahead, I listen closely in the surrounding darkness. Whirr¡­Tick!* Tick!* Whirr¡­* The sounds of machinery sang in the distant darkness. Pressing against the dusty wall, my hands brush up against metal bars. I flinch in disgust as the heavy scent of iron pokes at my nostrils. Suddenly, an arm sticks out from the bars. It¡¯s rusted fingers grasping at the air. ¡°Let¡­me¡­ out¡­!¡± Its jarring voice bounces down the corridor. A sharp clang rings out as its voice echoes away into the darkness. Clang* Clang* I hurry past the rest of the cages, keeping my eyes to myself. Up ahead, A frail mannequin paced back and forth. It dragged a heavy object on the ground. From the metallic noises, it must have been a weapon of some sort. ¡°Better not confront that.¡± I whisper to myself as I wait for the mannequin to leave. However, each heavy step grew louder and louder. Its silhouette slowly creeped out of the distant shadows. Carefully lowering myself to the ground, I held my breath as its elongated form went by. In its hand, it dragged a ridiculous slab of metal, scaled with flaking rust. Clank* Clank* My body tenses as a metallic scent fills the air. It felt like an eternity before I felt safe to move. Rushing away, I shutter at the sudden Bang* echoing behind me. Up ahead, the corridor split down the middle. A faint light radiated on the right path. Hugging the wall, I walked down the right path. An odd figure sat down on a purple carpet, displaying items on the ground. My eyes glance at limbs sticking out of his backpack. It was quite the jarring sight. ¡°Hello, weary traveller, anything might be of interest?¡± Words push past his lips as beady eyes glint off the lamp light. An oddly familiar spear sat on the wall. "That spear seems familiar." I ask as the hooded figure lets out a chuckle. "The real question is, can you pay for it? 3 limbs, no more no less" I step back in disgust as the man laughs hideously, "Not your limbs. I want mannequin limbs, idiot." His beady eyes glance up as he takes a look at my face. With a eerie grin, he hands me the spear, "I heard there''s a settlement up ahead. However, it''s guarded by quite a few mannequins. Take the spear, will you dear. And come back to me with some limbs. It''ll be worthwhile, I promise!" The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. His words dig into my ears. Did he see something in me? Taking the spear from his hands, I turn around to leave. "We''ll definitely meet again!" The peddler lets out an obnoxious laugh as I walk away into the darkness. My eyes look up to light in the distance. Three mannequins sat by a wreckage of a wooden gate, staring off into a campfire. Eerie whispers leak out of their painted faces as they tilt their head towards me. I clutch my spear tight as one of the figures approaches me with open arms. However, no words were exchanged. Without warning, the mannequin quickdraws a dagger and slashes through the air, cutting the fabric of my cloak. Quickly hopping away, I point the spear towards the mannequins. My eyes furrow as the other two figures let out a grotesque chuckle. With a fancy dagger trick, the front figure points the dagger towards me, gesturing me to make a move. ¡°Come at me¡± A nostalgic voice bounces in my mind. Shaking off this unease, I go in for a thrust. The air wobbles as the figure leans to the side and goes for a stab. Taking three steps back, I twirl the spear around and take a different stance. ¡°Hmm, I have a better chance at swings.¡± I crouch down slightly and step in with a strong vertical strike. Swinging at the air, I twist the spear mid-swing and catch the mannequin off guard. With a swift thrust of the spear¡¯s butt, I sent it stumbling back. A slight smirk curled my lips as I await the mannequin¡¯s movement. Furrowing my brow, my expression stiffens as the rest of the figures move forward. To the left, a lanky, slender mannequin wields a sword. To the right, a thick mannequin wields a mace. Darting my eyes back and forth, I take a deep breath. Suddenly, a mace flies by my face. Flinching back, the sharp tapping of footsteps echo on the cobblestone. Without a moment to breathe, my eyes lock onto the thick mannequin in front of my face. ¡°Ugh!¡± The weight of its fist slams into my chest as its force knocks me back. Anchoring myself, I crawl up my spear and glance up. The mannequin leaps into the air, winding up for a kick. Raising my spear, I brace myself against its heavy roundhouse. The force of the kick rattles my arms. Stumbling back I bit, I inhaled sharply and ran in. A swing and a miss, followed by another few misses, I spin my momentum around and sweep the spear wildly. Clang The swing smashes into the Mannequin¡¯s guard as my eyes catch the glint of a slender blade. Swish, I tumble to the ground as the blade clatters against the cobblestone. Rolling upwards, I look around and catch my breath. My arms burn while holding the spear up as the three mannequins grouped together. I close my eyes and feel a fire burning in my chest. With a restrained exhale, my quivering hand traces a circle. Suddenly, a brilliant blue flame emerges from the darkness. Its wispy form snapping at the stale air. My vision narrows as I lock onto a mannequin. My body lightens as I stride forward. One step becomes three steps as I close the gap in an instant. The spear shaft slides along my side as the soul flame snakes towards the speartip. Stomping in for the thrust, a blue flower blossoms as the spear pierces its target. With a forceful sweep, the rest of the mannequins leap away as fiery petals flutter into the air. ¡°Huff¡­ puff¡­¡± My breath escapes me as I gasp for air. With a thud and a clatter, I glance down at the sword mannequin on the ground. ¡°That¡¯s one.¡± The other two mannequins look at each other as I hold my ground. With swift movements, a dagger soars through the air. Leaning to the side, I dart towards the mannequin who threw the dagger. With a wind-up strike, I overswing and I graze its body. Furrowing my brow, I go in for a stab. My face pales as it catches my spear in its arm. Pulling me in, the mannequin steps into a palm strike, knocking me away. Pah! My grip loosens as it tosses the spear aside.With a smug head tilt, the mannequin stands with open arms. Stumbling back, the pounding of footsteps echo off the ground. Swiftly turning around, my eyes glance up to the other mannequin winding in the air. Wham! The kick slams into my body, knocking the wind out of me. Rolling on the ground, I instinctively curl into a ball and gasp for air. My arms scramble on the ground as I attempt to crawl away. Luckily, my hands grasp at the mace on the ground. Glancing up, I glare at the approaching mannequin and catch my breath. Clank, clank, clank Its footsteps get closer and closer as I shift my posture around. Pushing my way to a crouch, I keep my eyes locked on. ¡°Now!¡± The voice in my head shouts out as I leap towards the mannequin, raising the mace in the air for a swing. The weapon¡¯s weight tugs at my forearms as the mannequin attempts a block. Slamming it downward, its arms splinter as the heavy mace burrows into its head. ¡°That¡¯s two¡± I glare at the third mannequin as I gasp for air. Unexpectedly, the mannequin turns around and runs away. Words try to escape from my mouth as my legs collapse on my weight. Chapter 37. Dance ¡°Well aren¡¯t you something¡± The peddler approaches me as I rest on the ground. His lanky arms grab the mannequin''s limbs and pops them off its joints; it was quite the swift task. Unravelling his carpet of many things, he plops to the ground and crosses his arms. ¡°Hmm¡­ here, have this.¡± He tosses me an odd vial and takes 2 limbs from the pile. Cautiously observing the vial, I look over and ask, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Helps with exhaustion. Drink up.¡± His eerie grin maintains its smirk as his voice mellows out. Popping the vial, I give a moment of hesitation before tasting. It had an odd fruity taste, which lingers like perfume. I glance back and forth at the peddler and shrug. ¡°Guess it¡¯s safe.¡± Downing the rest in one go, I gag a bit. Its syrupy, slimy texture lingering on my tongue. After a few moments, my limbs stop aching. I let out a yawn and walk over to the peddler. ¡°So, what¡¯s the reward?¡± I ask as the peddler strokes his chin. Rummaging around his bag, he tosses me a single glove. ¡°You¡¯re going to need this. There¡¯s a pair to it, but I lost it in the tunnels.¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± I inquired, curious about the fancy patterns stitched within the silk. The peddler lets out a horrid, drawn out laugh. ¡°You¡¯ll know when it activates. It¡¯ll glow.¡± I give an unsatisfied look as he maintains his smile and shrugs. ¡°Fine, if you must know, it¡¯ll block an attack.¡± Nodding, I look around at more wares. A few strange vials, an odd clockwork ball, a few rolled-up scrolls, and a bunch of other trinkets. Besides the clockwork ball, nothing else catches my interest. ¡°What¡¯s this ball?¡± I ask the peddler who stares off at the wall. Sounds of laughter clatter its way out his form. Shrugging, I turn around and head towards the settlement. A musty scent lingers in the air as a light as bright as the sun hangs overhead. An intense weight of Deja vu twists in my stomach as I walk down the main road. The decrepit houses feel strangely familiar. clover... A faint voice calls my name. But nobody was there. With a shrug, I traverse around, keeping my attention on alert. There was something off to this place. Creak, Creak, Creak... A group of mannequins turn the corner. Quickly moving into an alleyway, I wait for them to pass by. After they cross the alleyway, I run past them without looking back. In the distance, a lonesome mannequin sat on a wooden crate. A red cloak drapes over its shoulder with a quarterstaff resting on top of that. ¡°Ah, well aren¡¯t you a familiar face¡­ How long has it been?¡± The mannequin¡¯s voice peek out from his emotionless face. His words held recognition to them. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Who are you?¡± A slight irritation was in my voice. Why do all these figures know me? ¡°I¡¯m Pedro. It¡¯s been too long it seems.¡± Pedro stands up, towering above me and reaches out his hand. Accepting the gesture, his cold hand shakes mine. ¡°Keep your head up young one, for the others have gone astray.¡± He turns around and sits back on the wooden crate. Nodding, I go on ahead. The path leads into a center, where a stone pillar stands upright with houses surrounding it. Approaching, I notice familiar drawings etched onto the stone. ¡°Didn¡¯t I draw this?¡± My fingers brush over the lines that made up a silly drawing. A few words were etched beneath it. For the world that forgot, for the world that remembered¡­ I will return from the nothingness once more¡­ Was there something wrong with my heart? I shrug and grasp the headless spear and remember Khalid¡¯s words Take good care of that spear, will ya? Suddenly, my glove shimmers a bright green as the quarterstaff vanishes from my hand. Clang! A metallic ring fills the air as I turn around. The staff had intercepted an attack! Unable to maintain its hover, the staff falls to the ground as the light fades away. Taking this chance, I snatch up the staff and bolt. The road ahead was not so linear. Wreckages laid on the ground, and even a house was destroyed! My ears catch the sounds of skittering. I scan my surroundings, shaking off the creeping unease and push forward. ¡°Over here, hurry!¡± Something calls out to me as the ground starts rumbling. Pushing off the ground, I run towards the voice. Suddenly, an arm sticks out of the ground. ¡°What even is that?¡± I turn around and ask the voice. My face pales as my eyes look at the voice. A pile of heads sat in the odd corner, its soulless eyes darting around aimlessly. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Clover! Truly thought we¡¯d never see you again.¡± A head speaks up, acting out a female voice. ¡°Indeed, when we heard you escaped, we were ecstatic!¡± A male voice speaks out from the pile. ¡°What even are you?¡± I step back in disgust as they clatter a hideous noise. ¡°We¡¯re what remains of this place. Ever since the others went rogue.¡± An aged voice answers as the others clatter around. ¡°I hate to request this, but please save us from this hell!¡± A young voice pleads. Taken aback, a pain ached at my chest as I ask, ¡°How can I help?¡± The heads clatter around some more, filling the air with cicada-like noise. ¡°You have to unlock the Mage tower up ahead!¡± They all chant chaotically. Their voices rise in a frenzied chant, shrieking like a murder of crows. Suddenly, the ground rumbles slightly and they all fall silent. ¡°Go now!¡± A hush elderly voice speaks out as I dash out of that strange encounter. Weaving past the wreckages, I carefully make my way around this time. One could only imagine what was below the surface. Was it a worm? Or something much more grotesque? I shake off my curiosity and look around me. The buildings were noticeably damaged, and the stone walls had eroded away. A lone mannequin stands up ahead holding a very odd posture. Getting closer, I hold my ground as its limbs creak and shake. Like a stringed puppet, it tugs its arms up and down, bouncing in a rhythmic pattern. Suddenly, its arms drop to its side and its head snaps towards me. Bowing down, the mannequin extends its arm as if inviting me to a dance. ¡°That¡¯s odd, but what¡¯s the catch?¡± I think as I look around. No danger in sight. Hesitantly, I accept the gesture.With a harsh tug, its arm locks around me, forcing us into an odd posture. In the distance, a crowd forms around us. ¡°Shit¡± I attempt to pry out, but its grip remains rigid. Without warning, its arms yank me into a waltz. One two three, I stumble over my own feet. Two two three, I learn to mimic its flowing steps. Three two three, clatter fills the air as we twirl across the floor. Each movement quickens, as rocks fly around us. Before I know it, the waltz becomes a tango. Sometimes I twirl in place. Other times, It throws me low to the ground. The dance comes to an abrupt halt, and I gasp for air. Huff, puff, I glance up to mannequins surrounding us, each one gripping a weapon. With a nod of acknowledgement, the mannequin swings me off my feet as a quarterstaff shatters the tiles below. I land in a tight posture and twirl, readjusting my balance. A sudden tug pulls me towards it as a spear thrusts behind me. After a few swift steps, we waltz around the incoming attacks. A dagger there, a sword here, I hold my trust with my dance partner as we weave past the chaos and clutter. Before I knew it, the ever-flowing dance halts, and it let go of its grip. I collapse to the ground as my quivering legs beg for rest. My breath falters, exhaustion pressing at my chest. Creak creak, The dancing mannequin bowed down and froze in place. Looking around, it was quite an odd scene. Everything held still, from the first quarterstaff attack to the final bow. The exhilarating life of the dance had vanished away. Crawling back, I stood up and kept my eyes towards the mannequins, waiting for them to move. But to my disappointment, the show had already ended. Chapter 38. Duet A tall tower looms in the distance with an obnoxious wizard hat as a rooftop. Around it, forgotten rubble and weary walls clung to what little structure they had left. Up ahead, A crumbling and uneven staircase extends beyond my feet. Letting out a sigh, I look up at the innumerable amount of steps ahead. ¡°This is going to be a long walk¡± To my left, I heard a nearby creaking sound. A familiar mannequin sat on top of the wreckage of a wooden crate. ¡°Hmm, what brings you by?¡± the voice resembled Pedro, but it lacks his quarterstaff and red cloak. ¡°I¡¯m going to the mage tower.¡± I answer and hesitate as I look up at the stairway once more. ¡°Hmm, maybe you can help me with a task. You see, I am missing my cloak! It''s that blue one hanging over there¡­ But how to reach it¡­ hmm¡­¡± It looks towards a crumbling wall with a blue cloak mounted onto a post. The post was across a ravine. I shrug while gazing into the darkness and turn around. How can anyone cross this? Heading back, I shake my head no, ¡°Sorry¡± The mannequin shrugs and walks over to the ravine in silence. It stands there gazing longingly at what belongs to it. The first few steps were pretty normal with a solid foundation on the ground. Step after step, a weight quickly accumulates on my feet as a sudden rumble shakes the stairs. Suddenly, a massive shadow towers over me. I turn around to an elongated mass stretching towards the artificial sun. Limp limbs reach out, grabbing ahold of the light. Their massive shadows sway side to side like tendrils dancing on the ground. Creak, creak, Scre- A shrill cry rings out as the mass¡¯ writhing limbs form a grotesque silhouette. ¡°If the light went out¡­¡± I shake my head and hurry up along the crumbling staircase. Approaching the top, massive doors await. A hole burrows through as cracks branch into the walls. My eyes lock onto the lone silhouette in the distance, its crimson cape fluttering in the air. ¡°Halt¡± Pedro¡¯s word stills the air as he slams his quarterstaff onto the ground. A sudden updraft sends dust flying outward. Covering my face, I look up at his intimidating demeanor, the mage tower looming behind him. ¡°I cannot let you pass, even if you were a good friend¡± He kicks the shaft of the quarterstaff and holds an imposing stance. ¡°Come at me!¡± He howls out as I unsheathe the quarterstaff on my back. A wind bellows my tarnished cloak as I rush in with a lunge. He stomps my staff into the ground and kicks me square in the chest. Without much time to recover, I hold my arms up as he closes the gap in three steps. Bam! A thunderous strike slams into my forearms. Ugh, I stumble back and drop my guard as he sways to the side, 1, 2, 3, The cadence of a waltz matches his steps as another strike whips at my side. Recoiling in pain, I spit out some blood and run to my quarterstaff on the ground. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. 2, 2, 3, I duck low as a swing grazes my scruffy hair. Leaping towards the quarterstaff, I tumble on the ground and hold a guard, 3, 2, 3, With barely enough time, the weight of his strike rattles my arms as I flinch. With a fluid twirl, Pedro steps back and stands upright, giving me a chance to breathe. Closing my eyes, I listen to my breath and calm down. The taste of iron lingers in my mouth as Pedro slams his quarterstaff on the ground. ¡°Get up¡± My legs cry out in pain as I push myself up. The weight of the staff tugs on my bruising forearms as I wobble back to gain some distance. With one deep inhale, I unblur my hazy eyes and furrow my brow. Whoo¡­ my chest loosens a bit as my heartbeat calms down. Pedro nods and rushes in. Three ghastly footsteps mark on the debris as Pedro closes the gap in an instant. Another swing soars by and catches my cloak. Dragging me by the collar, he swings horizontally, throwing me in a half-circle. ¡°Can¡¯t let that happen again¡± I untie the cloak as he flows along with his momentum, repositioning for a thrust. Tossing my cloak forward, I dodge the incoming attack and swing as hard as I can. Wham, the quarterstaff wobbles back and I go in for another swing. Suddenly, a heavy blow slams against my hip. Recoiling back, I let out a groan as pain radiates down my leg. We both glare at each other, holding battle-ready stances. Stomping my leg forward, I take the advance. A heavy vertical swing howls the air as Pedro steps aside. Taking that chance, I twist the quarterstaff wildly. Swish, he steps back, avoiding the attack. Recomposing myself, I hold the staff close, ready to guard. With a sudden step forward, Pedro goes in for a thrust.Leaning aside, the thrust glides just under my arm. Sharply pivoting, I slam the quarterstaff against his metal cheek and retreat back. Creak His neck bends back into position as he glares at me with beady eyes. Wobbling between two steps, Pedro goes in once more. I flinch back as he swivels to my side. Low to high, high to low, Powerful strikes weave themselves between my guard as he stomps in. Suddenly, a thrust flies past my guard and jabs into my chest. Pah, my lungs cry out as everything holds still. Curling into a ball, short quick breaths force their way in and out as dull pain radiates throughout my body. Numbly holding my weight against my quarterstaff, I fall to my knees and drop my head low. Focus on your breath Words bounce around my mind as burning air flows into my lungs. The pain slowly settles as I get up from the sandy ground. My ears picked up Pedro¡¯s voice, but they were too dull to hear. Ba-dump, Ba-dump, my heart pounds against my aching chest.I exhale slowly as the familiar cadence of a waltz ticks in my head. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet¡­¡± I grasp tightly as blue flames snake down the quarterstaff. Pulling my stance back, I sling forward as petals swirl around me. One two, Pedro backs away while winding up his attack. Three I swing wildly and clash with his attack. Following his lead, we waltz around the dusty arena, weaving in-between the elongated shadows on the ground. Blue petals wisp around us as our tapping footsteps sing to the beat.With each clash, the tempo quickens like an endless river rushing down its current. Sparks fly out of Pedro¡¯s joints as each swing shrills and creaks. An endless flurry pours down as his limbs cry out in agony. Stepping back, I close my eyes and inhale sharply. Stomping forward, I rush in between the half-beats as blue flames ignite the air. Wham!, the strike smashes into Pedro¡¯s hollow chest. Huff Puff, I look back to Pedro standing completely still. Scorch marks lay on top of a massive indent in his chest. Faint gears tick above the silence as we stood there like statues. ¡°Is the fight over?¡± I kept my ears open waiting as the ticking came to a halt. Collapsing to the ground, I let out a breath of relief. ¡°Oh shit, that¡¯s still there¡­¡± conflicting senses wash over me as I look off at the artificial sun. Horrid sounds howl out as limp hands grasp around it, as if devouring it. Suddenly, the light flickers in and out as the mage tower doors open ever so slightly. With much hesitation, I grasp at my butterfly-filled heart and look back at Pedro, his form stands there, still and lifeless. Where did all of that energy go? Looking away, I push open the mage tower door and step in. Chapter 39. Boxes Thick dust plumes out the heavy doors as a circular guest room lies ahead. Many broken shelves sit lifelessly as soft light leaks from the windows above. Thin threads of silk branches between the low ceiling, draping towards the ground. Suddenly, a weight falls on my shoulder as a shadow looms over me. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s finally open. You know how long I have waited for this to happen?¡± I turn around to the Peddler¡¯s sly grin towering over me. Taken aback, a few invisible threads snap, clinging to my skin. ¡°What do you want?¡± I raise my quarterstaff up as the Peddler swings his hands up. ¡°Ah, do not worry, dear customer. I don¡¯t intend to harm you.¡± He approaches closer with heavy steps and lets out a sigh. ¡°Where was it again?¡± The peddler drags his finger along the dust-coated shelves, searching through the nicks between the decor. Click! A loud noise echoes as shifting gears shakes the entire tower. Slowly, a pedestal emerges from the ground. Getting up from the odd position, the Peddler reaches into his bag and pulls out the odd clockwork ball. ¡°Easy does it¡­¡± Placing the ball carefully on the pedestal, he takes a step back as noises fill the lifeless tower. Click click whir¡­ Hidden gears shift between the walls as the floor rotates around and around. A pair of serpent-like stairs emerge from the ground. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± I stare in awe as teal rays of light burst out of the ball. The peddler spins the ball around, rotating the beams of lights. Etched runes reveal themselves on the walls. ¡°Let¡¯s see. This was the sequence I was entrusted with.¡± Suddenly, the lights come to a halt, locking in on a couple of runes. With three flashing lights, the tower glows green as wisps float to the top. A hidden door reveals itself between the cabinets. ¡°Follow me¡± The Peddler gestures to me as we go through the door together. Stepping through, Frost runs across my cheek as I cover against the wind. ¡°Bear with it.¡± His sharp words leak through his hideous grin. A lingering cold drapes on our shoulders as we walk down the chilly corridor. Soon we arrived in front of a creaky door. ¡°This is where I stop. Go in, please.¡± His voice quivers slightly as he stands, unfazed by the brittling cold. With a slight nod and heavy inhale, I grip the frozen handle and swing the door open. A lone figure sits on an abandoned throne. It was as if time froze around him. Caught between the snow and icicles hanging on the shelves. Approaching closer, I take a good look at his aged face. He resembled the Peddler, but there was only exhaustion there. Gone was that silly grin that sent shivers up my spine. ¡°hello?¡± I ask this odd, ancient figure resting on the throne. Suddenly, vacuum pulls me in. I slip and fall to the ground as my hands drag on the sharp, cold ground. Blood trickles out my palm, mixing with the snow. Drip, A bloody snowflake lands on the figure¡¯s face as a sudden blue flame combusts on his cheek. The fire engulfs his motionless form as a radiating heat consumes the frost off the walls. Creak pop pop! The figure''s joints pop as he attempts to get off the chair. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Ah¡­¡± He looks down at me with hollow eyes. As if eternity had slipped away from his grasp. ¡°You¡­¡± he points his bony finger towards me as I get off the ground. Slumping back on his throne, he lets out a heavy sigh and closes his eyes. ¡°This is a farce! To think I¡¯d be brought back to this hell!¡± He lets out a guttural chuckle as tears run down his cheek. It was as if the chair was tying him down as he tried to get up again. Invisible threads snap behind him as he falls down one more. ¡°Quit standing there like a mannequin and help me out!¡± Without much thought, I head over and help him stand. ¡°Who are you anyways?¡± I ask as we head out the door. Looking around, the Peddler was no longer there. Where did he go? ¡°I¡¯m Quiliff. I was once king of this world! Until it all burned to the ground.¡± A look of disappointment and anger morphs his face around as he lowers his head down.I Shrug as we walk through the narrow corridor. A nauseating silence clings to the guest room as we approach the pedestal. Whir, the ball pivots around, illuminating the endless runes on the walls. Suddenly the ground rumbles as we ascend upward. With a screeching halt, we stop between many doorways. ¡°Go there¡± He points at a door with a black knob. Heading over, I push open the heavy wooden door as a dark room awaits us. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± He inhales deeply, as if the air itself was a drink. One, two, three, Four¡­ twelve blue wisps illuminate the room covered in paper. Rusted red circles were drawn on each page. In the center of the room, A lone glass bulb hangs low on a string above a chair. Pushing off my shoulder, Quiliff wobbles towards the chair. Taking the seat, he sits upright and looks towards me. ¡°Close the door and keep your eyes on me. Or else it won¡¯t end well.¡± I tilt my head in curiosity, before sighing and shrugging it aside. With the door firmly shut, a silent hum fills the air. Tick¡­ Tick¡­ A metronomic beat pulses between the walls. With a loud inhale, a rushing current of wind flows throughout the room. Suddenly, the blue wisps vanish as the room blinks into darkness. Click, buzz¡­ the glass bulb flickers to life, emitting a cool white light. A light hangs above a lonely chair As the walls vanish away into the darkness Tha-dump Tha-dump A blinking heart flickers Calling into the swirling abyss Whir¡­ Like an unraveling thread, a single silver light beams upward into the darkness. Click! With a winding halt, the lonely thread hovers around, swaying like a blade of grass against the wind. Quiliff tilts his head upward, gazing into the void with hazy eyes. Reaching an arm out into the abyssal sea, many thin silvery threads pop into existence. Swirling like shooting stars across the night sky. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I ask the lonesome Quiliff, fixated on the ever-folding waves between the endless lights. ¡°I¡¯m starting anew¡± With a sudden twist from his frail hand, the threads coil around the pillar of light. The lines extend outward like an intricate web constellating into the abyss. With a powerful grasp at the darkness above, the lights blink in and out. The room starts to rumble, as if a sudden storm pelts the surrounding walls. Snip! The pillar of light detaches itself and flies into the sky, carrying each branching thread with it. In the air of silence, the lightbulb flickers in and out as the lonesome Quiliff closes his eyes. For the world that forgot, for the world that remembered. I will return from the nothingness once more. Words float around him like a never-ending mantra.Suddenly, a stray line extends from my chest and attaches itself to Quiliff. A look of horror fills his face, ¡°No¡­ this cannot be!¡± He desperately grabs at the air as the thread clanks to a halt. ¡°Why did it have to be you of all things? How did you even manage to return?¡± I step back in confusion as he tumbles onto the ground. Snip! I collapse on my weight and fall, slipping into a dream¡­ Chapter 40. I I wave my hands in front of my face as a familiar settlement appears before my eyes. Humanoid figures move around me, each one busying themselves with something. But here I stand, staring off at the bulbous sun with nothing in my head. Tick¡­ Tick¡­ a soft noise echoes through my hollow chest. Blinking twice, my legs whir into action. Clank clank, my heavy, clumsy footsteps propel me forward, following behind everyone else. One moment, we wander around, picking up rubble off the eroded ground. Next, we stand around, admiring the distant tower looming atop a forgotten staircase. Was there any meaning to this? An odd voice whispers into my ear as I pick up an empty wooden box and move it around. Minutes of repetition turned into hours as the herds of me roam around. Occasionally, a jolly fellow would come down the mage tower. What was his name again? We gather around him as he walks around with a pompous wizard hat. His appearance was quite similar to the Peddler. But why can¡¯t I put a name to him? My eyes blink twice as some of us get taken away. ¡°Surely this will be the one!¡± The odd wizard proclaims out loud as he takes them into the mage tower. With no thoughts in our heads, we continue our meaningful tasks of picking rubble. Tick¡­Tick¡­ my eyes stare like plants photosynthesizing the surrounding light. A hypnotizing radiance quivers in the corners of my eye as I pick up more rubble. How long has it been? What is long? What is time? The same routines repeat themselves like an endless cycle of monotony. However, one by one, our numbers dwindle. Taken away into the tower with an obnoxious, pointy hat. Was it the creaking of my limbs that made me realize the weight of things? Each piece of rubble started tugging against my arms, like sand weighing down on a tarp. I look around at the others minding their own tasks. Their limbs shrill and creak, but none of them worried. Worrying¡­ What is that? A soft tick thumps in my chest as I gaze off at the light above. Who am I? What am I? Questions bounce around like curdling poison as I stare off in silence. One day, the ones who entered the tower came back down. Each one had something odd about them. Some spoke words and hummed broken tones, while some danced around. Change came like a feverish virus as the ones from the tower spoke to our hearts. The usual task of picking rubble was eventually abandoned as we danced around aimlessly. we felt purpose, whatever that means. But as limbs creak and shrill, the herds start to fall. Caught in mania we twist and twirl, finding order in the random movements. With each fall, we lighten our footsteps. Something in us desired to learn; to not become a tangled mess. But as time went on, the limbs ground to a halt as our gears spun out. Lost in a cacophony of noise, the once jolly fellow looms over us with bags under his eyes. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°With the proper infusion of chaos and magic, a perfect vessel should in theory be created¡­ But where are you?¡± We lay still like the rubble that once rested on this ground. The energetic ones wobble and wiggle as the odd wizard carries them away. With a heavy sigh, the essence of exhaustion escapes him. We lay completely still, embracing this unknown feeling. Tick¡­Tick¡­ our hearts echo through the floor as threads extend between us. We unite through silent exhaustion Raising off the ground, we tilt our heads and stare off at the bulbous sun in the sky. Thoughts race through our empty heads as a daydream flies by. What are we? We ask in unison. Only to be met with a deafening silence for an answer. Silence, bitter and sweet like the taste of a rotten fruit. As they realize the weight on their feet, a shrieking madness escapes them. Limbs were torn off their sockets as our usual dances became feral and savage. Was it fear? Or was it disgust? An unknown feeling wallops in my chest as I run, cowering away between the rubble. Eventually pathing to the stairs leading up to the mage tower. With each burdening step, I wobble my way up. ¡°He must have something that could help us¡­¡± Words repeat themselves in my tingling head. At the top, a looming gate stands in the distance. Pushing the heavy doors aside, I walk towards the mage tower. Each step clanked and whined against the uneven ground. Or were your feet uneven? Stumbling around, I look up to a lonesome individual in the distance. A red cloak bellows against an unknown wind as he slams his quarterstaff on the ground. ¡°Stand your ground!¡± His shout echoes through the air, carried by the intensifying wind. My limbs wobble and shake to the increasing beat in my chest. ¡°Please¡­ help¡­ them¡­¡± An unfamiliar voice escapes me as he holds his quarterstaff forward. Suddenly, the mage tower doors crack open as the odd wizard stands there. ¡°Now now Pedro, I think that¡¯s the one.¡± The odd wizard rests his hand on Pedro¡¯s shoulder as he lowers the quarterstaff. With an eerie grin, he approaches closer. Move! I tell myself as my limbs freeze up. Tick, tick, tick, the mechanisms within start to whir loudly. A tremendous weight presses down on my shoulder as an unnerving chill runs down my spine. Found you¡­ Words bounce around my mind as darkness overwhelms me. Shifting waves cradle me around as I sink deeper and deeper into the abyss. Everything felt like a distant memory, like a dream that slipped between the web of my hands. In silent ponder, my mind wandered between blank eternity. Alone. Alone, my heart blinks Echoing throughout the abyss Waiting. Waiting for the sun, that was once in a dream. But as I awake, to the cold darkness clinging on my clothes I hum to the silence once more, as each breath escapes me. I blink twice to a room draped in darkness. A sudden awareness of each limb rushes to life as I curl my fingers against the ground. Gone was that stiff, stingy machine for a body. With a yawn, I stretch, listening to each bone pop. Pushing myself up, I crawl off the cold, paper-covered ground. As my eyes adjust to the surrounding darkness, I catch a faint glimpse of an odd flower shimmering atop a chair. Its spidery tendrils reach into the abyss. It drifts towards me like dandelion fluff, slow and deliberate. As it lands into my hands, I observe the red petals blooming open as it fades away like an ember caught by the wind. Chapter 41. Mania Ascending the notches that made up a stairway, I reach the mage tower door. With a heavy exhale, I step out and instinctually glance up to where that bulbous sun was . ¡°Where was the sun?¡± The words escape me as I blink twice with disbelief. A passing thought flickers in, reminding me of that odd mass hanging on the ceiling. I pick up a weird creak as my eyes dart around. Locking in on Pedro¡¯s frozen form, I unsheathe my quarterstaff and approach slowly. Each step had a comfortable lightness to it. Was it all the dancing in that awful dream? Tick¡­ Whirr, Pedro¡¯s limbs suddenly bounce around, like a puppet on a string. Falling on his back, his head extends upside down, locking in on me, as his limbs contort into something akin to a bug. A shrill escapes him as he lunges towards me like a feral beast. Flinching back in disgust, I furrow my brow as he leaps into the air, rotating and winding up a swing. Anticipating the attack, I raise my block early. ¡°Pah!¡± The weight of the swing was unlike any other, like a sledgehammer shattering concrete. Sliding across the sandy ground, my arms wobble and ache as he strides forward like a curious cat. Stabilizing myself, I tap my feet on the cobblestone, readying my legs. Pushing off the ground, the air howls in my ear as I set up a sweep. Beyond my expectations, Pedro also dashes in. Many estimations cross through my mind as I raise the quarterstaff up. Suddenly, I plant my legs on the ground and twist in for the swing. Wham! The strike connects as I smirk a bit. However, that did not stop him. Tanking the blow, he keeps moving forward. Stumbling back, I barely avoid a flickering jab as he grapples my shoulders and leaps up. I glance up as he extends a leg back, winding up to what I believe to be a thrust. Not letting that slide, I shift my weight and drop. We both crash onto the ground and roll away from each other. Holding our stances, we glare at each other as many thoughts race my mind. How will he move? Will he react to my strike this time around? I furrow my brow as he advances with ghastly movements. What if I strike the ticking heart? A sudden realization washes over me as he swipes widely. Dodging the trajectory, I raise my guard in anticipation. Luckily, I was right as I felt the weight of a kick bouncing off my quarterstaff. narrowing my eyes, I stomp forward as I inhale deeply. Jabbing, I strike sharply at the metal chest and flinch back in pain. ¡°Tch tch tch¡­¡± Noises escape through my teeth as blood runs down my knuckles. Wobbling back, I glance up to Pedro standing still, as if his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Out of nowhere, he suddenly starts twitching. It was as if the internal mechanisms were crying in pain. Flailing around aimlessly, Pedro reaches out as a odd voice escapes him, ¡°What¡­ did you¡­ do¡­¡± Collapsing on the ground, his last words hang in the silent buzzing in the air. Grabbing my cloak off the ground, I head through the dilapidated gate and walk down the weathered stairs. Descending the stairs, my mind reflects on the experiences that occurred. I look at my quivering hands as I recall the flowing river of Pedro¡¯s techniques. It was quite the unique dance, combining swirling and crashing movements together. ¡°But in the end, he fell. That feral beast taking over his shell was not him¡± I shake my head and visualize the techniques once more. One¡­Two¡­ Three¡­ The footwork flows through my head, and tangles in on itself. My mind tightens in irritation as the final step of the staircase greets me. I walked along the road towards the dance floor and witnessed chaos. Mannequins were ripping each other apart like savage beasts lost between friend and foe. I could only pity them, knowing the mindless, meaningless life they¡¯ve lived. Was it a gift to never know the feeling of dread, anger, and pain itself? Or was it a curse? I grip my beating heart and breathe my grievances away. The road split into two paths. Glancing towards the horizon, I notice a faint glowing light like a setting sun fighting against the darkness. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°What is that?¡± A sense of curiosity tickles the back of my mind as I look down the other path. My ears pick up on unpleasant noises, mainly the clanging of metal and creaking of limbs. Rubbing my sore arms, I head towards the light Faint chantings fill the air as a lonesome figure stands with his arms raised up to the sky. Cautiously approaching this individual, I peer past him to see a giant marble on the ground. Faint light slowly dimming away as a flailing mass rests beneath. ¡°I knew you¡¯d come¡± The peddler¡¯s voice latches onto my ear as he continues his mumbled chanting. ¡°What¡­ What even are you doing?¡± I ask as he sets his arms down and turns around. His obnoxious, eerie grin directs itself at me as I gaze into the hollowness in his eyes. I shutter as he turns around and continues mumbling, ¡°For the world that forgot, for the world that remembered. Split between existences, I shall gather the unknown and known once more¡­¡± He tosses a limb from his bag as it falls into the writhing bird¡¯s nest of limbs. Shouldn¡¯t I stop this? My mind wavers as I clench my jaw. Furrowing my brow, I remember the kinship in that dream.. That life of monotony, picking away at rocks and rubble, held something in my heart. Rubbing my feet into the sand, I close my eyes and inhale sharply. ¡°Stop this! They¡¯ve suffered enough!¡± I yell out to the Peddler as he lets out a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m just fulfilling their purpose. Why does it matter to you, reborn to flesh and blood, about the fate of these things?¡± I twitch at his callous words as he hangs his head low. ¡°We were made for this very purpose, to bring down a god!¡± He raises his hands in the air as the ball of light pulsates wildly. Turning around, he points at me and laughs obnoxiously. ¡°Shall we dance, Clover?¡± He steps forward as I raise my quarterstaff. My knuckles whiten as he tosses something towards me. Tick, tick, boom! The object explodes, sending dust flying into the surrounding darkness. Covering my face, I walk towards the light. Suddenly, a cold finger pokes at my cheek. ¡°Got you!¡± His shadow looms over me as he waves giddily. I hop back and tumble on my landing, rolling beyond the smokescreen. ¡°Ha¡­¡± My eyes catch his silhouette walking out of the smoke. Kicking his legs forward, He hunches a bit and shuffles around in his pockets. ¡°Hmm¡­ this one will be fun!¡± He pulls out an odd box with tendrils whipping against its sides. Hiss¡­ The box opens as a bulbous inky mass drops to the ground, running into the light. ¡°That was not supposed to happen. Oh well, I guess?¡± Shrugging he pulls out a comically large fan. Not sure what he is doing, I run in, winding up an attack. With a hefty swing, a sudden updraft howls forward. Ugh, I brace myself against the rushing sand. Squinting my eyes, I tumble to the side and catch my breath. ¡°You¡¯ve ought to do better than that. With this amount of skill, how did you overcome the guardian of the tower?¡± I frown at his taunts and get up from the ground. Closing my eyes, I listen to my racing heartbeat and take a deep breath. 1, 2, 3¡­ A cadence echoes in my head as my heartbeat begins to slow down. Holding a stance, I lean on my back leg and spring forward. Like a rushing river, I flow atop the sandy terrain with three light steps. Wham! My staff slams against¡­ an invisible barrier? ¡°Wha?¡± I pull back, and rotate into another strike. Clank, My attack lands right into his hand as he leans in, gazing into my eyes. ¡°Please, try again. Strike with more vigor next time¡± He pushes me aside and tosses my staff on the floor. ¡°If it helps, Brace yourself!¡± With a gleeful tone he raises the fan with both hands and swings. Whoosh! A roaring wind blasts the surrounding sand away as my cloak billows violently. Slowly, my feet float off the ground and I fly away. Flailing aimlessly, I tumble hard, getting a face load of sand. Coughing, I spit out some sand and look around. Mannequins were mindlessly walking towards the peddler. Or were they walking towards the light? I shudder at the thought and walk with the herd. As we arrive together, the Peddler turns around and smiles at the crowd. ¡°Shall we begin, finally?¡± Chapter 42. The God of Distortion A cacophony of noise echoes throughout the darkness as the mannequins dance around the dilapidated ground. Some twirl and whirl while others bend and creak. It was as if they longed to express themselves in some way, shape or form. Though, as an outsider looking in, I could only describe it as fanatic and unnerving. Atop it all, the Peddler¡¯s chant fills the air, For the world that forgot, for the world that remembered. Split between existences, I shall gather the unknown and known once more. Opening the void between the stars, I shall drag down Concept itself into the material world. A distorted, guttural laughter escapes him as the flailing limbs clatter around aimlessly. Unsure what to do, I approach the Peddler and ask, ¡°What¡¯s even happening here?¡± A tint sparkles from his soulless, hollow eyes as he sits down on the sand. ¡°So, willing to talk now? If you must know, then please take a seat.¡± He pats the loose sand. Shrugging, I sit down and glare at him. ¡°Hmm, where to start¡­¡± Gazing at the ceiling, he taps the sand childishly and hums a nonsensical tune. Somehow, like a sewing needle, his hums thread into the chaotic melody surrounding us. ¡°Do you get it now?¡± He asks me as if noticing this odd enlightenment I received. ¡°Through chaos, we attract the unknown. Through magic, we make the unknown known. In Between that line, is the order of the world. Where the deities live! At least in theory¡­¡± I mope a bit and feel my stomach rumble. Silently listening to his ramblings, I stare off at the still grains of sand. ¡°But¨C¡± ¡°No buts, just listen.¡± I flinch, kick some sand aside and curl my knees close. Noises fill the air like quivering threads. One sound weaves together with another, then another and another. All together, they Congeal and intertwine, morphing into a harmonic sea of senseless noise. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious as to what might happen?¡± He asks as he gets up from the ground and heads over to the ball of light. Its bulbous form rests like an egg atop a nest. Tha-dump¡­ Tha-dump¡­ a soft beating rhythm echoes above the chaos, pulsating like a beating heart. The choir of noises starts to mellow out as each heartbeat reverbs throughout the darkness. Once more, the Peddler starts chanting non coherent nonsense. Slowly, the egg elevates from the nest, stretching towards the sky. Like a lighthouse on the coast, it pillars towards the ceiling. Lights blink in and out, darting between the barrier of the abyss. Gather around, dearest stars! The peddler¡¯s words echo into the darkness as the stars bend around the egg. Like a spindling cocoon, thin lines wrap around the orb as it floats upward. The abyss starts to cower as a brilliant radiance illuminates the settlement once more. Suddenly, shadowy, inky tendrils extend outward, wrapping around the light. ¡°Oh, how absolutely fascinating!¡± An unnerving laughter escapes the peddler¡¯s lips as tendrils drag the ball into the elongation of mannequins. Tha-dump¡­ A pulse shakes up the tower as limbs rain from above. Tha-dump¡­ another pulse echoes throughout the darkness as rubble falls from the ceiling. Tha-dump! A cacophony of noises follow as inky tendrils stitch together the many limbs around. Grotesque wings extend into the surrounding abyss as a deafening shriek fills the air. Suddenly the rubble around us starts to float as its voice raises another shrilling pitch. I glance over to the Peddler staring in awe at his creation. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it worked! the God of Distortion is finally brought down!¡± With his arms high, he lets out a guttural laugh as the ground beneath us fractures apart. Steadying myself, I blink twice as another world flashes before my eyes. ¡°Where am I¡­?¡± My voice echoes outward as my vision splits into two. Stumbling on my feet, I glance around as one presence towers into the sky. The God of Distortion flaps its grotesque wings, splitting the timelines once more. As fictions flash through my eyes, my hands grasp at the quivering threads floating around. Suddenly, the world around me deteriorates as I fall onto some grass. I look up at the towering being of chaos and take a deep breath. The scent of ash and brimstone rushes down my throat as golden flames scorch into my eye. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A shriek escapes through my lips as snaking, sulphuric flames wrap around my arms, scorching away my flesh. At the sight of this, I flinch as that reality escapes from my eyes. Collapsing on the ground, I drop my sword as a phantom pain runs throughout my arms. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± I spit out the smoke in my lungs and look around with hazy eyes. A glint catches my attention as I lock on to the sword on the ground, ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t use a sword!?¡± At this realization, a sickening sense of deja vu twists at my stomach. Cowering, I feel the earth rising beneath my feet. ¡°I¡¯m back?¡± I try to stand up on the dilapidated ground with wobbly legs. A splitting migraine shakes up my head as I glance over to the Peddler. Immense disappointment fills his face as his grin flips upside down. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that across all the nearest timelines, I¡¯m still just an offshoot!?¡± I look at him as he searches around his bag. The backdrop around him constantly distorts as he pulls out a small music box. Winding it, a melancholic tune fills the air, undistorted and pure. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He ponders as I prop myself up with my quarterstaff. Closing my eyes, I listen to the unique melody of shifting worlds. Sometimes, a scorching wind rubs against my face. Other times, a frigid wind howls, carrying icy shards that cut and scratch at my skin. Wind¡­ With a deep inhale, I feel my selves sink into the abyssal sea. As the migraines fade away, I listen to my soft heartbeat as forces swirl around me. Raising my quivering palm into the shifting realities, a familiar cane knob appears in my hand, forming into existence. Envelop me, o¡¯fleeting wind. Harrow the forgotten land scatter its unending dust. The words appear behind my eyes, rippling the abyssal sea. The chaotic cacophony of noises dull, almost vanishing away as my heartbeat begins to slow. Svza if spml, bujlhzlk if aptl pazlsm. H ipyao vm aol luk. Jumbled text flows around me as a stabbing migraine digs its way into my skull. With a deep breath, my perspective of the world starts to slow down once more. With hazy eyes, I bear the nonsensical distortions melting my mind as we all grasp at the cane. Gather the lzjhwpun light Weave the bulukpun darkness Into spindles of yltltiyhujl The boundary of reality deteriorates into nonsensical symbols gathering around me. Gazing at this nonsense, a sickening feeling of Nausea twists my mind as the world starts to flicker in and out. The fine line between consciousness and unconsciousness¡­ These words bounce around my head as the desolate land inside my mind slowly unfolds beneath my feet. Mvynla, remember Huk forget vujl tvyl. Aol line vm wlyzwljapcl, ilfvuk aol endless hifzz. Iba dpaopu reach, vm aol ispurpun olhya. Blood trickles down my nose as I forget the weight of my body. Floating around, the lines that make up the world gather into my palm. Colorless petals form into existence as a field of glass flowers sprout below my feet. Timelines refract off the flowers as I float off the ground. The God of Distortion shrieks in response as its wings change into indescribable constructs. Two limbs extend and hold in front of the glowing orb. Everything starts to distort as a ball of energy forms between its palms. Taking in a deep breath, the lines start to weave themselves together as I exhale and push forward. Our attacks collide, destroying and recreating the surrounding environment. Lightning shoots off the collision which promptly streaks the ground to glass. Peering at the chaotic energy, I catch a glimpse of infinity. my eyes dribble out blood which boils and freezes away. ¡°Haaah!¡± Closing my eyes, I cry out loud and stomp forward. Chaotic nonsensical sounds crackle and pop. Possibilities start to narrow as the God of Distortion starts to crumble. With one last shriek, its voice calls into the unknown. As the energy collides against its mass, its form shatters like a broken mirror. Clank! The grinding halt of the music box clicks in my ear as I fall into the darkness below. Thoughts race in my mind, meshing together into a feeling of hollowness in my chest. ¡°...So this is how it ends?...¡± The thought of death bounces around my head as I try to listen to my heart. Where did it go? Fear, panic, confusion, anger, dejection¡­ How many words do you need to realize something is wrong? I blink twice as I lay on some kind of ground. I attempt to get up, but my arms would not budge. Locked in my shell, I stare off into the darkness. Once more, time slips from my hands with each passing breath. Was this breath mine? What even am I? Question after question entertains me as I hear a noise in the distance Tap¡­ Tap¡­ Tap¡­ A glowing moon shines in the surrounding darkness as two stars blink into life. The cold sand beneath my hands starts to melt. ¡°You are quite the troublesome lad¡± A scratchy, but familiar voice latches onto my eardrums. Was it the old man? With a clank, followed by a whir, I feel threads spindle together. A sigh escapes the being¡¯s lips as A thump pounds against my chest. Tha-dump¡­ Tha-dump¡­ Gasp! My eyelids shoot open to a distorted melody in the air. Soft and mellow, yet unnervingly distinct to the low mechanical hum in the air. Getting up, my eyes catch a campfire nearby. Cautiously stepping over the shaded rubble, I limp over to the light. A lonesome figure sits next by the flames, knees tucked close as if lost in thought. Beside the figure, a distorted music box sings its song, as if calling into the darkness. Taking a seat nearby, a comfortable warmth flushes my cold limbs alive. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Defeat and exhaustion lingers in his voice as he winds up the music box once more. Click, click, pop! It cries, yielding against the tension. Letting go of the key, the music starts to play once more. Its haunting melody wheezes out, floating atop the crackles and pops of the campfire. Glass flowers glint off the campfire light which refracted a timeless void. As the gears wind to a shrilling halt, I close my eyes and listen to my heartbeat. Tha-dump¡­ Tha-dump¡­ ¡­ is this heartbeat mine?